NFL News

[Futureshock]

Report: “Very reasonable” Kyler Murray signs extension before camp

Posted by Josh Alper on July 14, 2022, 10:11 AM EDT

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Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said in June that he is praying for the team to come to an agreement with quarterback Kyler Murray on a contract extension before training camp, but they haven’t been able to wrap up negotiations yet.

There’s still some time before camp opens for Arizona, however, and the prospect of getting a new deal in place remains in play.

Jeff Darlington of ESPN reports that talks between Murray and the team are “going smooth” at this point. As a result, it is considered “very reasonable” that they could reach agreement on a pact before veterans report to Cardinals camp on July 26.

If that turns out to be the case, it will end to an offseason filled with drama about Murray’s future in Arizona by ensuring that he’ll be sticking around for years. If not, there will be questions about Murray reporting with the rest of the team and what work he’ll do if he does report. Those will be accompanied by larger questions about the commitment to Murray as he heads into his fourth NFL season.

[Futureshock]

Like a wha...


Darren Waller: Not many people can effectively replace Tyrann Mathieu

Posted by Myles Simmons on July 14, 2022, 9:52 AM EDT

USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs have undergone some significant personnel changes this offseason, highlighted by the team trading receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins.

But Kansas City also has to replace one of its key defensive players, having let safety Tyrann Mathieu walk in free agency.

The Chiefs signed safety Justin Reid, ostensibly to fill that void. But on the Green Light podcast with Chris Long this week, Raiders tight end Darren Waller said part of what makes Mathieu so effective is the emotional lift he provides as a leader.

“I feel like it’s just the dog nature. That dude is like a lion out there, you know?” Waller said. “There’s not many people who can replicate that level of raising everybody’s intensity level and energy level and just a collective confidence. So I wonder who’s going to be that for them now, because there’s few people — if any — who can do it the way that he does. And I feel like he gave them identity.

“Especially when, I feel like they struggled during the season, but then when it came time during the playoffs, they were just able to flip a switch almost. And I knew who had to have been leading them on the front lines of that mindset and that mental shift. So, we’ll see how that works for them.”

Mathieu has performed well against the Raiders throughout his career, recording a pair of interceptions, three passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries in seven games.

The Raiders beat the Chiefs in Kansas City back in 2020. But they were blown out in both matchups in 2021. Time will tell if the changes Las Vegas and Kansas City have made during the 2022 offseason will produce different results.

[Futureshock]

You want to know the saddest thing that may, or maybe not, haunt Watson? IDK if he has corrected his behavior for the future. We can't really tell, but, it's not like he seems remorseful about anything. Making the chance he continues, or eventually just does it again. He needs serious help and reconditioning.

Texans settle with 30 women arising from alleged misconduct of Deshaun Watson

Posted by Mike Florio on July 15, 2022, 12:58 PM EDT

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The Texans are doing what Deshaun Watson should have done. The team is resolving all cases against it, quickly.

Via KPRC 2 in Houston, the Texans have negotiated settlement agreements with 30 women who had potential claims against the team, arising from the alleged misconduct of former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

“I will have no further comment on the allegations or the Texans’ role, other than to say that there is a marked contrast in the way in which the Texans addressed these allegations, and the way in which Watson’s team has done so,” attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement. “As previously reported, only one of the 30 women who made allegations against the Texans filed a formal lawsuit. That particular lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice as soon as the appropriate settlement paperwork is complete.”

This leaves four pending cases against Watson, given the recent settlement of 20 claims.

“We hope to try them all in the spring of next year,” Buzbee said regarding the four remaining claims against Watson. “In the meantime, we will continue to do the important work to prepare for such.”

The fact that the Texans settled with 30 women suggests that six more lawsuits could still be filed against Watson.

In the one lawsuit that had been filed against the Texans, it was contended the team knew or should have known about Watson’s alleged proclivities but failed to take action to stop it. Instead, the team allegedly facilitated Watson’s habit, actual or perceived or otherwise, of arranging massages through social media and trying to make them into sexual encounters.

Ordinarily, the terms of such agreements are confidential. Whether the league will allow the Texans to enter into a broad nondisclosure agreement is a different question. Mary Jo White, after investigating the Panthers following the departure of founder Jerry Richardson, recommended that the league prohibit teams from using NDAs that would limit cooperation with league investigations. The league apparently has not yet adopted that recommendation.

It also remains to be seen whether the settlements will spark an investigation of the Texans. We’ve posted that question to the league.

[Futureshock]

NFL uses its platforms to push flag football World Games finals

Posted by Mike Florio on July 15, 2022, 10:05 AM EDT

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The NFL wants to globalize football. The latest goal in that regard centers on making flag football a truly global sport.

More specifically, the league wants flag football to be included in the Olympics. Toward that end, the league is now actively promoting flag football to its domestic audience.

On Thursday, the USA beat Italy for the gold medal in the first-ever flag football World Games. The NFL heavily focused on the game via its website and massive Twitter footprint of more than 30 million followers. A full-blown game story ended up on NFL.com, with a link on the front page of the league-owned website.

Also on the front page of NFL.com is a link to the story regarding Mexico defeating the USA in the women’s flag football final.

The league can use its platforms however it chooses, obviously. In this specific case, the league wants people to embrace flag football. The league wants flag football to grow. The league wants flag football in the Olympics. The league eventually wants tackle football in the Olympics.

It’s all part of the broader effort to turn a billion-dollar sport into a trillion-dollar sport. It’s about making the National Football League truly international. It’s about getting more and more people beyond our borders watching games and buying merchandise and spending time and effort consuming NFL-related content.

So if you’re wondering why the NFL is suddenly force-feeding flag football onto an American audience that seems dubious at best about it, that’s why. It’s not about us. It’s about the league getting more people around the world interested in the sport.

We’ll see if it works. The first specific objective will be to get flag football in the 2028 Olympics.

[chemiclord]

Flag football could definitely find a niche.

I don't see the full contact version ever really finding saturation across the world.

[froot loops]

Welcome to yet another example of the shell games wealthy people play to hide their money and drive narratives for fans to gobble up uncritically.

Remember stories like this whenever a billionaire team owner cries poverty and says having a higher payroll is reckless and unsustainable.

Preach Brother Chemiclord!

[Cody_Russell]

No one has mentioned the Zach Wilson story….

#gocougars
#thejetsfinallyscoredover40

That Zach Wilson story is probably the only entertaining thing to come from football since the draft. The memes are great:

https://twitter.com/search?q=zach%20wilson&src=typeahead_click

[kreton]

I don't understand the poor slobs who will back the team/corporation in a NY minute over a guy/girl just making as much as they can in the short span of a work-life.

It is a business. Owners should make as much as they can for their company. It is not different than any other business. Players are the same. They should go get paid, and make as much as they can. It doesn't have to be either or. Players and owners are doing the exact same thing. To me it doesn't make sense to condemn one or the other, or only praise or encourage one.

[jaadam4]

That Zach Wilson story is probably the only entertaining thing to come from football since the draft. The memes are great:
https://twitter.com/search?q=zach%20...ypeahead_click

Oh man, the internet is a hilarious and yet brutal place. I would not want to ever be in the public eye. It has to be terrible

[chemiclord]

It is a business. Owners should make as much as they can for their company. It is not different than any other business. Players are the same. They should go get paid, and make as much as they can. It doesn't have to be either or. Players and owners are doing the exact same thing. To me it doesn't make sense to condemn one or the other, or only praise or encourage one.

Because owners do two major things players don't really do (especially lately with Free Agency allowing players to shop themselves around):

1) Owners actively cultivate a product that says it's about more than the money, that it's more than just any other business. They have to at least put on airs that they are trying to win games, or at least putting a competitive product on the field, which for many owners is more uncertainty in their profit margins than they are willing to take (you see this a lot in MLB, with at least half the league at any given time trying to do as little as they can get away with no matter how terrible the team actually is).

2) It's not a level playing field in the slightest, and owners lie and manipulate their money in ways players don't. Owners hand out a contract that they have no intention of fulfilling to the numbers they claim, then use those same numbers (again that they have no intention of fulfilling) as an excuse to not do more. They stuff the money in their back pockets as they pull out their front pockets trying to convince you they're empty. Owners can pretty much void a contract with impunity, and claim that's just how the business works... but the instant a player tries to negotiate for more money, they cry that the player isn't honoring their commitment to the team, and the fans gobble it up like idiots.

[Futureshock]

That Zach Wilson story is probably the only entertaining thing to come from football since the draft. The memes are great:
https://twitter.com/search?q=zach%20...ypeahead_click

Oh man, the internet is a hilarious and yet brutal place. I would not want to ever be in the public eye. It has to be terrible

Maybe not... I like Zach. His page is hilarious

[kreton]

Because owners do two major things players don't really do (especially lately with Free Agency allowing players to shop themselves around):

1) Owners actively cultivate a product that says it's about more than the money, that it's more than just any other business. They have to at least put on airs that they are trying to win games, or at least putting a competitive product on the field, which for many owners is more uncertainty in their profit margins than they are willing to take (you see this a lot in MLB, with at least half the league at any given time trying to do as little as they can get away with no matter how terrible the team actually is).

2) It's not a level playing field in the slightest, and owners lie and manipulate their money in ways players don't. Owners hand out a contract that they have no intention of fulfilling to the numbers they claim, then use those same numbers (again that they have no intention of fulfilling) as an excuse to not do more. They stuff the money in their back pockets as they pull out their front pockets trying to convince you they're empty. Owners can pretty much void a contract with impunity, and claim that's just how the business works... but the instant a player tries to negotiate for more money, they cry that the player isn't honoring their commitment to the team, and the fans gobble it up like idiots.

I disagree with your assessment that players don't do it. They do. They hold out and opt out for money. And they should. If you can get more, get it. But the same goes for the owners. It is a business. I don't see a problem on either side.

The only issue I do have with how owners treat players is regarding medical treatments during and after playing. Beyond that players and owners are both making insane amounts of money and the both like to play victim. Internet people eat it up on both sides.

[Futureshock]

Report: Leonard Fournette weighs almost 260 pounds, Bucs coaches aren’t happy

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 18, 2022, 11:28 AM EDT

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Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette has reportedly drawn the ire of the team’s coaching staff by letting himself get out of shape this offseason.

Longtime Buccaneers beat writer Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times said on his podcast that Fournette, who is listed at 228 pounds, actually weighs about 30 pounds more than that.

“The last time we saw Leonard Fournette he was about a donut shy of 260,” Stroud said. “He certainly didn’t look like a guy who could play every down.”

Fournette decided not to participate in voluntary Organized Team Activities, and when he showed up at mandatory minicamp, the coaches felt he has a long way to go to get into playing shape.

“Coaches were not happy, and that’s an understatement, when he didn’t participate in the OTAs, but then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing damn near 260,” Stroud said. “And that’s not a good sign for a guy that you just spent a three-year contract on.”

The Buccaneers spent a third-round draft pick on running back Rachaad White, and they have running backs Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Giovani Bernard and Kenjon Barner on the depth chart as well. All of those backups may need to get themselves ready for the possibility that Fournette is going to need more breathers than usual.

[Futureshock]

Hold on. What?

Stefon Diggs appears to want the Bills to take a look at Joe Haden

Posted by Josh Alper on July 18, 2022, 11:25 AM EDT

Getty Images

Veteran cornerback Joe Haden remains unsigned with training camps about to get underway, but one star wide receiver appears to want Haden to join him in Buffalo.

Stefon Diggs posted a video of Haden going to work out to his Instagram story over the weekend and added the familiar eyeball emojis in what appears to be a suggestion that the Bills take a look at signing the three-time Pro Bowler.

It’s not the first time this offseason that a Bills player has made eyes at Haden. As pointed out by Ryan Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com, linebacker Von Miller and safety Jordan Poyer have both made it known that they’d like to see Haden on the AFC East club.

Tre'Davious White is working his way back from a torn ACL and the team also has first-round pick Kaiir Elam, Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, and sixth-rounder Christian Benford at corner. Haden would provide them with a more experienced option to go with White, but there’s no sign that a signing is imminent.

[Futureshock]

Week 1

Nick Sirianni: Expectations may be higher, but same amount of work is required

Posted by Josh Alper on July 18, 2022, 10:16 AM EDT

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With a new head coach and a first-year starter at quarterback, the Eagles didn’t go into the 2021 season with the highest expectations for success on the field.

A 2-5 start seemed to confirm those opinions, but things came together for that new head coach Nick Sirianni and the rest of the team over the second half. They finished with a 9-8 record and advanced to the playoffs before bowing out against the Buccaneers.

Those results raised the bar a bit and an offseason featuring the arrival of wide receiver A.J. Brown, edge rusher Haason Reddick and others have pushed it even higher. Running back Miles Sanders said it feels like an “unstoppable” All-Star team, but Sirianni’s message is that the team has to approach things the same way despite the different circumstances.

“The same amount of work is going to be required,” Sirianni said, via Chris Franklin of NJ.com. “Regardless of whether you have high or low expectations, you have to work. How many times have we seen a team start off really hot and then maybe buy into the hype? I know what some of these guys are hearing from outside noise, whether it’s media, friends, or family members.”

Brown said something similar in response to Sanders’ comments and the Eagles will get a chance to show they’re willing to put in that work when their rookies and vets report to camp on July 26.