NFL News

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On May 1st


Which teams would be interested in trading for Kyler Murray?

Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2022, 8:23 PM EDT

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This article presumes plenty of if’s coming to fruition. I know that. Regardless, I’m going there.

If Kyler Murray asks to be traded and if the Cardinals are willing to do it, who would make a move for him?

The most obvious candidates would be the three finalists for Deshaun Watson who didn’t get the new Browns quarterback: Panthers, Falcons, and Saints. This assumes that each of those teams would be OK with a quarterback who is on the very short side, by NFL starting quarterback standards.

The Eagles possibly would be interested. In the AFC, Texans also would potentially explore the possibility.

Whoever does it would have to be willing to pay Murray what he wants financially and to give the Cardinals what they would require by way of compensation. That could be more than some teams would want to invest.

And that ultimately may be the best thing the Cardinals have going for them. If no one wants to pay Murray or to give the Cardinals what they’d want to make a trade happen, no one will come to the table and Murray will continue to be a Cardinal. At least for now.

[Futureshock]

Mike Mayock wanted to keep Rich Bisaccia, which likely explains Mayock’s departure

Posted by Charean Williams on April 14, 2022, 6:50 PM EDT

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On Jan. 17, the Raiders requested interviews with three General Manager candidates before the team announced Mike Mayock was fired from the position. When the Raiders didn’t retain interim coach Rich Bisaccia, Mayock’s future presumably was decided.

Mayock had a strong belief the Raiders should promote Bisaccia, previously the special teams coach, to the full-time head coaching job. Mayock fought for Bisaccia to owner Mark Davis several times, including the day after the postseason loss to the Bengals, Paul Domowitch of the33rdteam.com reports.

Bisaccia got an interview. He didn’t get the job.

“The two (special teams) guys I pushed for for years to be head coaches were John Harbaugh and Richie Bisaccia,” Mayock told Domowitch. “I thought both of them would be special head coaches. To the point where I recommended both of them to Boston College, a school near and dear to my heart, back in 2007. Harbs interviewed for the job and didn’t get it. The following year he got the Ravens job and is one of the best coaches in the league.

“In my mind, I felt Richie had earned (the opportunity to be the team’s head coach). I thought we worked incredibly well together. I think the way we looked at the situation was, we got this thing going the right way. We built a strong foundation. We had one of the youngest rosters in the league. Our salary cap situation was outstanding. We felt like we had the right kind of people in the building and the foundation was built. Now let’s continue to build on it. The bottom line was we were both pretty excited about the future there. Obviously, that’s not what happened.’’

According to Domowitch, Davis “never was sold” on Bisaccia and the owner “pretty much” made up his mind to move on when the Raiders were 6-7. The Raiders rallied, went 10-7 and made the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Raiders players publicly campaigned for Bisaccia, while Mayock was doing the same behind the scenes. It likely is what cost Mayock his first G.M. job.

The Raiders turned to the Patriots organization to hire Dave Ziegler as G.M. and Josh McDaniels as head coach. Bisaccia moved on to the Green Bay, returning to being a special teams coordinator, and Mayock remains without a job.

[Futureshock]

Matt Eberflus: Justin Fields in “a great spot” learning offense

Posted by Josh Alper on April 14, 2022, 6:05 PM EDT

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The Bears are coming to the end of their second week of offseason work and head coach Matt Eberflus updated the progress of one crucial player during an appearance on The Cris Collinsworth Podcast.

Eberflus said last mont that he is looking for a big jump from quarterback Justin Fields in his second season with the team. It will be his first season running the offense being installed by offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and Eberflus said that he likes where Fields is in his adoption of the new system.

“I think he’s in a great spot,” Eberflus said, via the team’s website. “He’s been meeting with the offensive staff, and he feels very comfortable in this offense. This is a rhythm-and-timing offense. It’s based in the West Coast system. It’s going to be very quarterback-friendly for him. It’s been quarterback-friendly for a lot of guys in the past. You can see the way that it’s coached, the rhythm and timing of it, of the passing game, is really going to help him understand when to get rid of the ball, what his progressions are. He’s going to have a clear understanding of what the offense is. And he’s really doing a good job right now of grasping that and helping to teach it to the other players as well.”

It’s way too early in the calendar to make any judgments on how Fields will do in the offense, but the team will step up their work a little next week with a three-day voluntary minicamp.

[Futureshock]

A.J. Green is re-signing with Cardinals

Posted by Josh Alper on April 14, 2022, 3:13 PM EDT

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Wide receiver A.J. Green won’t be heading to a new team for the 2022 season.

The Cardinals announced on Thursday that Green has agreed to re-sign with the team. It’s a one-year deal for Green, who joined the team as a free agent last offseason.

Green started nine of the 16 games he played for the NFC West club in 2021. He caught 54 passes for 848 yards and three touchdowns, but never found the end zone after scoring in a Week 6 win over the Browns.

The Cardinals saw Christian Kirk depart for the Jaguars early in free agency, so Green will be joining DeAndre Hopkins and Rondale Moore at the top of a receiver depth chart that also includes Antoine Wesley, Andy Isabella, Greg Dortch, and Andre Baccellia.

[Futureshock]

Lol. Okay buddy.



Garett Bolles to Russell Wilson: “You’re not going to get hit here”

Posted by Charean Williams on April 14, 2022, 3:13 PM EDT

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One of Russell Wilson‘s complaints in Seattle was the Seahawks’ inability to protect him. The star quarterback took 266 sacks in his 10 seasons with the Seahawks, including a league-high 49 in 2019 and a career-high 51 in 2018.

He tied his career low in 2021 with 33 but played only 14 games, which is close to the per game average his previous nine seasons.

The night he was traded to the Broncos, Wilson FaceTimed with left tackle Garett Bolles, who said he delivered good news to his new quarterback.

“I know you’re used to getting hit. You’re not going to get hit here,” Bolles said, via Zac Stevens of DNVR.

The Broncos gave up 40 sacks last season and 32 in 2020, but they have not had a quarterback as good as Wilson since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 championship season.

“I’m going to make sure his jersey stays as clean as possible,” Bolles said.

[Futureshock]

Packers signing Sammy Watkins to one-year deal

Posted by Josh Alper on April 14, 2022, 2:21 PM EDT

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The Packers have added a piece to their receiving corps.

Veteran wideout Sammy Watkins visited the team on Thursday and things went well enough that Watkins has agreed to a one-year deal with the team. According to multiple reports, the deal is worth up to $4 million.

The Packers will be Watkins’ fifth NFL team. He spent three years with the Bills, a year with the Rams, and three years with the Chiefs before joining the Ravens in 2021. He played 13 games for Baltimore and ended the season with 27 catches for 394 yards and a touchdown.

Watkins joins Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard at the top of the Packers wide receiver depth chart. Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree, Malik Taylor, Rico Gafford, and Chris Blair are also on the roster in Green Bay.

[kreton]

Packers signing Sammy Watkins to one-year deal

Posted by Josh Alper on April 14, 2022, 2:21 PM EDT

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The Packers have added a piece to their receiving corps.

Veteran wideout Sammy Watkins visited the team on Thursday and things went well enough that Watkins has agreed to a one-year deal with the team. According to multiple reports, the deal is worth up to $4 million.

The Packers will be Watkins’ fifth NFL team. He spent three years with the Bills, a year with the Rams, and three years with the Chiefs before joining the Ravens in 2021. He played 13 games for Baltimore and ended the season with 27 catches for 394 yards and a touchdown.

Watkins joins Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard at the top of the Packers wide receiver depth chart. Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree, Malik Taylor, Rico Gafford, and Chris Blair are also on the roster in Green Bay.

Most people won't care, but I hate GB signing anyone. I especially hate Rodgers getting a new weapon. This one sucks.

[Tom]

Has Sammy Watkins done anything of significance anywhere?

[chemiclord]

Watkins has had some pretty good PARTS of seasons. He's definitely had trouble staying on the field.

He could be a good weapon for Rodgers, but the odds don't seem in his favor.

[edindetroit]

New Chicago Bears QB Trevor Siemian's vehicle stolen at Beverly Country Club: report

CHICAGO - It is the welcome to the Windy City that no one would ever want.

The Chicago Bears new quarterback Trevor Siemian had his car stolen before the season has even begun.

The Chicago City Wire confirms that Siemian's new Dodge SRT was stolen while it was parked at the Beverly Country Club. It was one of two cars stolen from the club.

Siemian was signed by the Bears in March as a backup quarterback to Justin Fields.

Siemian has appeared in 33 games and started 29 while throwing for 6,843 yards, 41 touchdowns and 27 interceptions for the Denver Broncos (2015-17), New York Jets (2019) and New Orleans Saints (2020-21). He starred at Northwestern before getting drafted by Denver in the seventh round in 2015.

Fields is coming off a shaky rookie season after Chicago traded up to draft him with the No. 11 overall pick. The Bears also have Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles on their roster.

The Bears decided to make big changes after going 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the ninth time in 11 years. They hired general manager Ryan Poles to replace Ryan Pace and Matt Eberflus to take over for Matt Nagy. Chicago also traded star pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers.

https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/new-chicago-bears-qb-trevor-siemians-vehicle-stolen-at-beverly-country-club-report?utm_campaign=trueAnthem_manual&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0mMcLNMmmqZwsKxAYgM_web0IChgJ2OYId657Y1AXTvMSTWBjtrYgU8XQ

[Futureshock]

Panthers reportedly have the “inside track” to land Baker Mayfield

Posted by Mike Florio on April 17, 2022, 7:57 AM EDT

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The Panthers apparently hope to corner the market on top-three draft picks from 2018 who play quarterback and who are due to make $18.8 million in 2022.

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Panthers have “the inside track to land” to land Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The report raises more questions than it answers, especially since it mentions that there are “several interested teams,” but doesn’t name any of them.

Mayfield, in a recent podcast appearance, mentioned only the Colts (while acknowledging that the ship has sailed) and the Seahawks. It’s unclear why the Panthers would want Mayfield. Unless it’s all part of a pre-draft smokescreen, it could mean that the Panthers have decided as to the top options in the 2022 quarterback class “none of the above.” With the Panthers striking out twice on Deshaun Watson and currently staring down the barrel of a full season of Sam Darnold, Mayfield could become the latest trial-and-error option in David Tepper’s ongoing hedge-fund quest for a franchise quarterback.

It’s even less clear why Mayfield would want the Panthers. He knows that 2022 has become a pivotal season for him. Why would he want to play for a team with a coach on the hot seat and a fifth- or sixth-choice offensive coordinator, given that the candidates knew they were taking a job with a team whose owner has a finger hovering over the reset button?

The biggest factor that gets overlooked in the various reports and speculations regarding Mayfield’s destination is the power he possesses. Yes, he only gets his $18.8 million if he shows up. But if he makes it clear he doesn’t want to play for a given team before that team trades for him, why would that team want to do the deal?

The Panthers currently have Darnold, the third pick in the 2018 draft, under contract at the identical guaranteed salary as Mayfield. Mayfield’s next team surely wouldn’t be paying all of it, especially since Cleveland’s only alternative to keeping him on the roster (and lovers of chaos should be rooting for that outcome) would be cutting him, having someone else pay him the minimum of $1.035 million, and forcing Cleveland to pay roughly $17.7 million for him to play for someone else.

The rub is the timing. The Browns can squat on Mayfield, delaying his opportunity to get properly ensconced elsewhere. How would Mayfield respond? Would it make him more likely to accept a trade to wherever? Or would he decide that he’s going to show up for everything, exacerbating the distraction that his lingering presence would create — at a time when the team already has 22 distractions at the most important position on the roster?

Cabot says that the move of Mayfield to Mayberry “could happen sometime over the next couple of weeks.” Two weeks from today, the draft will have come and gone. And maybe, just maybe, the vague hint of the Panthers wanting Mayfield at some point in the next two weeks is meant to keep other teams from thinking that the Panthers will target a quarterback with the sixth overall pick in the draft — or at a lower spot if they eventually trade down.

If all else fails, they can trade for the player whom receiver Robby Anderson has already made it clear he doesn’t want on the team.

Maybe lovers of chaos shouldn’t be pulling for the Browns to keep Mayfield, but to send him to Carolina.

[Futureshock]

They don't select until the second round...


APRIL 15TH, 2022
BEARS' EBERFLUS EXPECTS TO LAND THREE 2022 STARTERS IN DRAFT


BY: BRYAN PEREZ

[Futureshock]

They should call it Melissa, Mike and the Huckleberry show

NBC announces Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark as SNF broadcast team

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 19, 2022, 9:49 AM EDT

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Sunday Night Football officially has its new broadcast team.

Mike Tirico will call play-by-play, Cris Collinsworth will serve as the commentator and Melissa Stark will report from the sidelines, NBC announced today.

Tirico had long been expected to succeed Al Michaels in the Sunday night booth, and he and Collinsworth have already called 21 NFL games together. Stark’s long broadcasting career includes a three-year stint as Monday Night Football sideline reporter from 2000 to 2002.

Tirico, Collinsworth and Stark will have their premiere broadcast on August 4 at the Hall of Fame Game, and they will call the 2022 regular season opener on Thursday, September 8.

[Futureshock]

Hue Jackson claims he tried to blow whistle on Browns “two years ago”

Posted by Mike Florio on April 19, 2022, 6:43 AM EDT

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When a statement appeared last night on Twitter from the Browns regarding the existence of an NFL investigation into claims of tanking made in early February by former head coach Hue Jackson, the reason for the timing of the disclosure wasn’t immediately clear. As it turns out, the Browns were providing a quote to SI.com in connection with an investigation on the matter.

As part of the investigation, SI.com obtained a comment directly from Jackson. He claims he previously reported the situation to the NFL.

“Two years ago I tried to do this the right way, through the bylaws and constitution of the National Football League, to ask them to investigate the Cleveland Browns for all the allegations that I’ve made,” Jackson said. “So why open an investigation now?”

It’s the latest confusing comment from Jackson on the matter. He made the claim that he was paid to lose games, and then he retreated from it. Now, he’s going the other way.

As explained last night, this may not be a situation of Jackson claiming that he received a specific offer of money for losing games. Instead, Jackson could be alleging that the Browns had a system of incentives tied to factors that made it harder to win, such as unused cap space or stockpiled draft picks or other factors that would point to an analytics-based strategy of building a better team in the future by not being very good in the present.

That’s essentially what Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wanted, based on the claims made by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores. Ross wasn’t looking to lose games because he was placing bets on the team’s opponents. Ross, under the theory advanced by Flores, wanted to lose games in 2019 in order to secure the top pick in the 2020 draft.

The Browns, on Jackson’s watch, secured the No. 1 overall pick in 2017 and 2018. Thus, if they had a system of incentives based on losing now to win later, the first part worked. The second part didn’t work quite as well, at least not yet.

[Futureshock]

Once again when a guy looks out for himself, stupid fans take the side of the team/league. It's embarrassing.


A.J. Brown is already being called a “diva” and a “bad teammate” for trying to get a new deal

Posted by Mike Florio on April 18, 2022, 11:07 PM EDT

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Once again, fans line up behind the laundry.

Whenever players want more money, plenty of fans tend to side with the team. They presume the player is being greedy. Being selfish. Wanting more than he deserves, operating under the presumption that he’s already getting more than he deserves. Screwing up the salary cap, and making it harder for the team to compete.

On Friday, 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel said he’s getting death threats and racist comments due to his effort to get a new contract from the team. On Monday, Titans receiver A.J. Brown started hearing it, because he has dared to withhold services from the team’s offseason program as he tries to get the contract he has earned.

“I’m a diva and a bad teammate all of sudden, lol ok,” Brown tweeted. “Do what you have to do then and so will I.”

Folks, a player who is trying to get paid isn’t a diva, a bad teammate, or anything else that would justify a negative label. Players have limited opportunities to get paid. They need to take full advantage of those opportunities.

They have no ownership, no equity. They get one or two contracts, if they’re lucky, beyond their slotted rookie deals. There’s nothing wrong with doing whatever they have to do to get the best deals they can.

Especially in April, when the player is fully within his contractual rights to stay away from the offseason program.

So let’s lay of Brown or Samuel or any other player who is trying to get paid. They’ve earned it. They deserve it. The salary cap is moving higher than ever. The owners are making more than ever. Let’s not get worked up about the efforts of the men who play the game to get paid fairly and appropriately for doing so.