NFL News

[Futureshock]

Commanders finalizing trade of William Jackson III to Steelers

Posted by Michael David Smith on November 1, 2022, 2:22 PM EDT

USA Today

The Commanders have finally found a trade partner to move on from cornerback William Jackson III.

The Steelers are finalizing a trade that will acquire Jackson from the Commanders, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Jackson, who signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract with the Commanders as a free agent in 2021, has made no secret that he wanted out, and the Commanders were reportedly planning to cut Jackson if they couldn’t get anything for him in a trade.

There’s no immediate word on what the Steelers are sending to Washington to acquire Jackson, but it’s likely nothing more than a late-round pick, as the Commanders wash their hands of a player who hasn’t lived up to expectations and doesn’t want to be there.

[Futureshock]

Bears agree to trade for Chase Claypool

Posted by Josh Alper on November 1, 2022, 1:41 PM EDT

Getty Images

The Bears have been sellers on the trade market the last two weeks, but they switched roles to become buyers on Tuesday.

Field Yates of ESPN reports that the Bears have agreed to a trade with the Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool. A 2023 second-round pick will be going back to Pittsburgh.

The news comes a day after the Bears traded linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens. They also traded edge rusher Robert Quinn to the Eagles last week and picked up three 2023 draft picks, including Baltimore’s second-round pick, in those deals.

There are conflicting reports about whether it is the Bears’ original second-rounder or the one they got from the Ravens that will be going to Pittsburgh.

With the Steelers struggling and Diontae Johnson signing a contract extension earlier this year, Claypool’s name has been mentioned as a trade candidate in several corners in recent weeks. The Bears were rarely mentioned as a landing spot, but it seems Chicago see him as a piece that can help quarterback Justin Fields build on some promising recent performances.

Claypool was a 2020 second-round pick in Pittsburgh. He has 153 catches for 2,044 yards and 12 touchdowns over the course of his career.

UPDATE 2:03 p.m. ET: Reports that the Bears were trading the Ravens’ second-round pick to the Steelers have been corrected and all reports now indicate it is the Bears’ 2023 second-round pick going to Pittsburgh.

[Futureshock]

Condolences to the Rivera family

Ron Rivera missed time last week to see his mother, who died Monday

Posted by Charean Williams on November 1, 2022, 3:50 PM EDT

Getty Images

Commanders coach Ron Rivera was out of the office for two days last week for personal reasons.

He flew to California to spend time with his mother, Delores, the team announced Tuesday, and she died Monday night.

“We are saddened to announce that coach Rivera’s mother, Delores, passed away peacefully yesterday evening with her husband and family members by her side,” the team said in a statement. “Coach Rivera is grateful he was able to spend two days with her last week. The Snyders and the entire Commanders family extend their heartfelt condolences to coach Rivera and his family.

“The Rivera family would like to say thank you for the many kind thoughts and prayers they have received. Arrangements are pending, and we would ask everyone to please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”

The Commanders did not announce whether Rivera would miss time away from the team this week.

Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio ran practice last Wednesday in Rivera’s absence before he returned Wednesday night.

[ghandi]

ALso former Viking coach Mike Zimmer's son died this week....I think he was 38 years old?

[Futureshock]

That's so young and sad.

[Futureshock]

DC would do well to see if Zim would want to come be his DC. But he would be afraid Zim would take his job.

[Futureshock]

Bears acquire WR Chase Claypool from Steelers for 2023 2nd-round pick
I like the idea of this trade for the Bears. Chicago's front office did a poor job of surrounding Justin Fields with talent this offseason, neglecting to fill the major holes at receiver and on the offensive line. The Bears are at least making amends for that by trading for a talented receiver.

That said, I'm dubious about surrendering a second-round pick for Chase Claypool, even if it's Baltimore selection (via the Roquan Smith trade.) Claypool had a great rookie year, but has disappointed since, and there are some character concerns that should be worrying. I would have thought about giving up a third for Claypool, but not a second.

I'd say the Steelers won this trade. They have two other talented receivers in Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, so they were able to afford to offload Claypool before his big contract. They obtained great value for Claypool.

Grade for Bears - C
Grade for Steelers - A

[Futureshock]

Bills beat deadline, agree to trade for Nyheim Hines

Posted by Josh Alper on November 1, 2022, 4:04 PM EDT

Getty Images

The Bills added another piece to their offensive backfield just ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s trade deadline.

According to multiple reports, they and the Colts agreed to a trade that will send running back Nyheim Hines to Buffalo. Hines had been the subject of plenty of trade chatter in recent days.

Hines has spent the last five years with the Colts and has carved out a role as a receiving threat out of the backfield. He has 235 catches for 1,725 yards and seven touchdowns as a receiver to go with 300 carries for 1,205 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Devin Singletary and James Cook have been the main backs in the Bills offense so far this season. Hines will begin working his way into the mix for his new team in practice this week.

[jaadam4]

And why can't we trade away someone? It's not like we're chock full of guys that will be here when the dust settles. I'm looking directly at TJ

Well you called it

[Tom]

The fact that Minnesota and Chicago both got receivers to help their QBs and GB did nothing does make me chuckle a little.

My pettiness is all I have as a Lions fan…

[jaadam4]

The fact that Minnesota and Chicago both got receivers to help their QBs and GB did nothing does make me chuckle a little.

My pettiness is all I have as a Lions fan…

I just don’t get what their deal is. It’s like they severely don’t care about surround Erin with help

[Futureshock]

Well you called it

Do you think I named myself Futureshock? It's what I do big dog. They just don't normally do the right thing. And even with this they had to trade him in division, so it isn't a clean break. So SOL still

[Futureshock]

The fact that Minnesota and Chicago both got receivers to help their QBs and GB did nothing does make me chuckle a little.

My pettiness is all I have as a Lions fan…

I was thinking about that the other day too man as I cheered the Bills on to beat GB. These azhats just gotta do better don't they? FFS

[Futureshock]

Bears believe Chase Claypool will allow Justin Fields to continue to grow

Posted by Josh Alper on November 2, 2022, 6:44 AM EDT

Getty Images

One of the more surprising pre-trade deadline moves on Tuesday was the deal that sent wide receiver Chase Claypool to Chicago from Pittsburgh.

While Claypool’s name came up often as a trade candidate, the Bears were not seen as a potential landing spot. They traded Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith in deals that seemed to point to the team building assets for the offseason, but the Bears sent a second-round pick to the Steelers as part of the Claypool deal.

After the deal went down Tuesday, Bears General Manager Ryan Poles said he was more comfortable making a move now than waiting for free agency to find a receiver who can help quarterback Justin Fields to build on the progress he’s shown recently.

“I like the way Justin is trending,” Poles said, via the team’s website. “And I think adding another big body who’s physical, explosive, great leaping ability, can stretch the field but also is violent with the ball in his hands, as well as a blocker, enhances everyone around him. . . . “You can never have enough weapons and guys that help your quarterback gain confidence. I know a lot of the guys are starting to make plays for us. Adding another receiver is going to allow him to continue to grow and gain that confidence.”

Fields has completed 30 of 43 passes for 330 yards with three touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the last two weeks. The Bears have scored seven touchdowns overall in their last two games, which is a step up from nine in their first six outings and the hope is that Claypool will help the points keep coming.

[Futureshock]

Lol.
ESPN doesn’t release Bronco-Jaguars viewership numbers

Posted by Mike Florio on November 1, 2022, 8:15 PM EDT

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On Sunday morning, the Broncos faced the Jaguars in London. The game was available only on ESPN+. On Tuesday, ESPN proclaimed that it was the most-viewed event ever on the subscription streaming service.

However, ESPN provided no numbers to back it up.

“On Sunday, the first-ever exclusive NFL game on ESPN+ — the Denver Broncos 21-17 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wembley Stadium in London — became the most-viewed event ever on the industry-leading streaming service,” ESPN said in a statement.

It’s meaningless without the numbers. And if the numbers were good, it’s a no-brainer that ESPN would have announced the numbers.

Implicit in this reality is that, if Broncos-Jaguars was “the most-viewed event on the industry-leading streaming service,” no other events on ESPN+ have done much to brag about.