NFL News

[LightninBoy]

I think we're going to eventually see two things.

1) There's going to be a significant redesign of football headgear, as in a complete rebuilding from the ground up rather than iterating on past designs. It will be touted as far superior to the "dangers of the modern game."

2) That despite this, there's simply not much that will be able to reduce concussions and the lingering threat of CTE outside of a drastic changing of how the game is played, and as that becomes clear, the NFL might not be able to hide it or avoid a potentially business changing choice.

3) Fuck it. Propose extending the season to 20 games and wave money and marijuana at the player's union until they agree.

[Futureshock]

Noone wants that. Hard to spend your money when you have no idea what money is...

[Futureshock]

Report: Serious knee injury feared for Ryan Jensen

Posted by Josh Alper on July 28, 2022, 5:10 PM EDT

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Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen was carted off the field at practice on Thursday and the only official word from the team at this point is that he suffered a knee injury.

According to a report from NFL Media, the initial fear is that he’s suffered a serious one. Tests are still being done on the knee and a final diagnosis should be known in the coming days.

If those fears are realized, it seems likely that Jensen will miss the remainder of the season. That would be a major blow to the Bucs as they re-signed Jensen to anchor their offensive line shortly after quarterback Tom Brady reversed his decision to retire from the NFL.

Robert Hainsey took over at center on Thursday. If the Bucs are going to look outside the organization for center help, they’ll likely consider former Browns starter JC Tretter as an experienced option to plug in front of Brady.

[Futureshock]

https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2019/12/12/21005035/fumble-pile-violence-nfl-stories

The gore, guts and horror of an NFL fumble pile

“As a defenseman, recovering a fumble was the difference between getting off the field or having to stay there for another 10 plays and getting your head caved in,” Smerlas said. “They were huge. You trained for them since when you were a little kid. And then, boom! A fumble happens and everything goes dark. Only the ball lights up. No matter what’s around you, you go for that thing. When those lights go out, it’s ‘Here we come!’”

[Fraquar]

I think we're going to eventually see two things.

1) There's going to be a significant redesign of football headgear, as in a complete rebuilding from the ground up rather than iterating on past designs. It will be touted as far superior to the "dangers of the modern game."

2) That despite this, there's simply not much that will be able to reduce concussions and the lingering threat of CTE outside of a drastic changing of how the game is played, and as that becomes clear, the NFL might not be able to hide it or avoid a potentially business changing choice.

#1: There is nothing they can do in terms of helmet design that will reduce the effects of repeated collisions.
#2: That is the only saving grace, but don't hold your breath thinking it will happen.
In terms of organized sports, Football is the closest thing you will see to the "Colosseum" era of Rome.
Even Rugby, without pads is safer than Football.
Why? They don't have protection for the head so they don't use it or attack it.
When they do, there is no question of the consequence.

[chemiclord]

I didn't say it would work (except maybe in the most marginal of ways that they can then tout as "proof"), just that they would try.

[Cody_Russell]

Reading other team camp reports, it’s like EVERY high draft pick rookie looks great. No busts! Hype up the rookies. Everyone is a winner this time of the year. At least until the pads come on or actual games are played…

That said…
George Pickens does seem to be getting more praise than the norm for a rookie. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s legit. Always thought he was a top 10 talent that only had the injury question.

Oh, and Cade York is apparently a stud kicker for the Browns so far. Surprise, surprise. “Rock star.”

[chemiclord]

I do like how Campbell acknowledged that when he was asked what rookies he noticed. He said something along the lines of, "Well, it's kinda hard to say without the pads on, but..."

[jaadam4]

Reading other team camp reports, it’s like EVERY high draft pick rookie looks great. No busts! Hype up the rookies. Everyone is a winner this time of the year. At least until the pads come on or actual games are played…

That said…
George Pickens does seem to be getting more praise than the norm for a rookie. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s legit. Always thought he was a top 10 talent that only had the injury question.

Oh, and Cade York is apparently a stud kicker for the Browns so far. Surprise, surprise. “Rock star.”

Pickens will be good. He's really a good WR


The trade up for Williams took our ammo away in the mid rounds to get York. I would have loved for the Lions to draft him but i think we did pretty well in this draft. We drafted for talent and need. Hopefully we find our next Jason Hansen next year.

[chemiclord]

I really don't think York was on their radar at any point. I think they were/are/will be perfectly fine with Patterson (even if I have significant doubts about his leg strength). Considering how aggressive Campbell seems to want to be on offense, I doubt he was thinking "we need someone who can drill it from 60." He's thinking, "If I have fourth and a reasonable distance from the 40, I'm going for it anyway."

[froot loops]

I think Jameson Williams and Cade York are going to be forever linked like Terry Fair and Randy Moss. Haha.

[Nick Pappageorgio]

6 games for Watson….the crowd who’s perpetually offended by everything won’t like it, but it’s probably a fair conclusion.

[chemiclord]

I mean, to an extent... I get it? The NFL kinda wants to be the arbiter on ON-field shenanigans, not making judgments about off-field behaviors beyond what the deal with the NFLPA permits.

But man, it can sure seem pretty incongruous to a dude putting down 20k on a game he's not even playing in to be banned indefinitely, but a dude hitting up 60+ massage parlors pushing himself on women to get a handy is regarded about the same as a dude getting popped for the first time with a joint in his hand.

[Futureshock]

NFL, NFLPA must publish Judge Robinson’s decision in the Deshaun Watson case

Posted by Mike Florio on August 1, 2022, 10:25 AM EDT

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So why did Judge Sue L. Robinson suspend Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for six games? Great question. And it’s impossible to answer that question without reading her ruling.

We’re told that it’s a 16-page document. But we haven’t seen it yet.

For now, the NFL and the NFL Players Association have not published the decision. The union responded to our question as to whether the decision will be released by saying that it doesn’t know. The league has not yet responded to an email and a text message raising the question.

The decision needs to be released. Freely and publicly and openly. Not as a commodity slipped to a reporter who is either on the NFL’s payroll (literally) or who has put someone at 345 Park Avenue on the Christmas chocolate list. It need to be posted by the NFL and the NFLPA at their websites, now.

That’s how it had always been, before the Washington investigation was brushed under the rug. Full transparency. How else can anyone understand why Judge Robinson did what she did? To the extent that the league needs the general public to buy in to the decision, people need to be able to read it. To understand it. To see what the evidence was. What it wasn’t. And how she came to the conclusion that Watson violated the policy and should miss six games for it.

Obviously, the names of the four accusers whose claims triggered the suspension would have to be redacted from the ruling. (And maybe they already are.) It would be unfortunate, but not surprising, if the league doesn’t want to do that.

Concealing the names of the accusers would expose the stupidity of that NFL’s position that it wasn’t good enough to simply change the names of the cooperating employees in the Washington case, and that the only way to protect the witnesses was to hide all of the evidence. If the league releases Judge Robinson’s ruling with the names of the accusers omitted, the league will face a renewed call to do the same thing with Beth Wilkinson’s report in the Washington case.

[Futureshock]

Won't keep him off my FF (Fanduel-Season-Long) team


Deshaun Watson stands to lose $345K in salary with six-game suspension

Posted by Josh Alper on August 1, 2022, 9:11 AM EDT

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Monday brought Judge Sue L. Robinson’s long-awaited ruling on discipline for Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.

Robinson ruled that Watson should be banned for six games and did not issue a fine. While he won’t be fined, Watson would forfeit his salary for his absence, but the structure of the deal he signed after being acquired by the Browns this year makes that a minimal hit.

Watson’s base salary for the 2022 season is $1.035 million, which is broken up into 18 weekly payments of $57,500. That means he’ll forfeit $345,000 if the suspension is not changed following an appeal by either side.

Before the trade to the Browns, Watson’s contract called for him to make a $35 million salary in 2022. A six-game suspension under those terms would have cost him $11.6 million.

Watson’s $44.965 million signing bonus is not impacted by the suspension and he has fully guaranteed salaries of $46 million for each of the next four seasons, so the financial blow dealt by the suspension will be a minimal one if Robinson’s decision holds.