NFL News

[Futureshock]

Aaron Rodgers thinks Packers needed a wake-up call

Posted by Josh Alper on October 19, 2020, 5:27 AM EDT

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The Packers went up 10-0 in the first quarter of Sunday’s game in Tampa, but it was all Buccaneers over the final 45 minutes of action.

Buccaneers safety Jamel Dean became the third player to return an Aaron Rodgers interception for a touchdown early in the second quarter and the Bucs would pile on 31 more points in a 38-10 win that left the Packers with a 4-1 record on the season. Dean’s pick was the first that Rodgers threw this season and he added a second as everything came crashing down for Green Bay.

After the game, Rodgers tried to find a positive spin on getting blown out after such a strong start to the season.

“You don’t ever want to lose like this,” Rodgers said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “I felt like we needed a little bit of a wake-up call at some point this season because things have been so good and there’s been so much talk maybe outside the building about the ease with which we’re moving the ball on offense and scoring. I think we needed kind of a kick in the ass a little bit. There’s a little bit of wake-up to stop feeling ourselves so much and get back to the things that got us to this position. I think this would be, unfortunately but fortunately, something we can really grow from.”

Rodgers picked up injuries in two previous road games against the Bucs, so things could certainly have been worse. The coming weeks will show if it left the Packers better off for the future.

[dpatnod]

Suh is happy to provide him that kick in the ass.

[313LionsFan]

What is Vrabel doing differently then other ex-Pats? Maybe not going full Pats?



Mike Vrabel: Everyone in Titans organization will get a game ball

Posted by Mike Florio on October 13, 2020, 10:36 PM EDT

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At one point in the not-too-distant past, it seemed like everyone working for the Titans would get COVID-19. Instead, they’ll all be getting a game ball from Tuesday night’s impressive 42-16 victory over the Bills.

Coach Mike Vrabel announced at his post-game press conference that all members of the organization will receive the honor — all players on the active roster and the practice squad, all cafeteria workers, every member of the cleaning crew. Everyone.

The team has been through plenty the past two 16 days, capped by a very real belief in league circles last week that the league would impose “historic” punishment on the Titans for violating COVID-19 protocols.

Apart from Tuesday’s win, the best news could be that the NFL apparently won’t punish the Titans at all, a notion punctuated by the Commissioner’s comment to Jay Feely of CBS that no one from the Titans “willingly” broke the rules.

And so the Titans apparently have crawled to freedom through five hundred yards of s-it smelling foulness I can’t even imagine. They’re also 4-0, thanks to their most impressive win of the season, by far.

I wish we could have hired Vrabel instead of clown show Patricia

[Forsh]

I wish we could have hired Vrabel instead of clown show Patricia

They could have

[LightninBoy]

I can't find it now to confirm - because the search feature in this new software is worthless - but I'm pretty sure DanO was forshing Vrabel hard during the last coach search. DanO deserves a Kleenex for that call.

[Forsh]

I can't find it now to confirm - because the search feature in this new software is worthless - but I'm pretty sure DanO was forshing Vrabel hard during the last coach search. DanO deserves a Kleenex for that call.

Absolutely

[Futureshock]

Too bad we don't have a GM that would take advantage of this type of situation...


Report: Geno Atkins frustrated by role with Bengals

Posted by Josh Alper on October 20, 2020, 6:34 AM EDT

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When Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins played 19 snaps in Week Five’s loss to the Ravens, it seemed like the Bengals were working the two-time All-Pro back slowly after he missed the first four games of the year.

Atkins played 18 snaps against the Colts in Sunday’s 31-27 loss while recently signed Xavier Williams and former practice squad player Amani Bledsoe were the starters. The change in his role reportedly isn’t sitting well with him and he has some company on that front.

Defensive end Carlos Dunlap went public earlier this month with his displeasure about how the Bengals handled a change in his role and Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports Atkins is also frustrated with a move that’s left him to play a rotational role on third downs.

Dragon reports that both players were told that the changes were what’s best for the 1-4-1 team and that other players in the locker room “are wondering why Dunlap and Atkins have been relegated to situational players” at this point. He adds that there are no plans to trade either player before November 3, but the right offer could change that stance given how the Bengals appear to view both players.

[Futureshock]

They could solve their interior problems with a 2nd (that BQ would surely use on a slow LB/CB/TE)

[Futureshock]

Cowboys giving up points at historic pace

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 20, 2020, 5:22 AM EDT

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The Cowboys are giving up points like no NFL team in decades.

After Monday night’s 38-10 loss to the Cardinals, the Cowboys have now given up 218 points through six games this season. That’s the most since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, and it puts them on pace to allow 581 points over a 16-game season. That would break the all-time NFL record of 533 points allowed set by the 1981 Baltimore Colts.

The only NFL teams that have ever given up more than 218 points through six games were the 1950 Baltimore Colts (235 points), 1961 Oakland Raiders (228 points) and 1954 Washington (223 points).

All of those teams were among the worst in the league, but the 2-4 Cowboys are, amazingly, still in first place. The NFC East is so bad that the Cowboys might just break the all-time record for points allowed, and still win the division.

[Futureshock]

This fu(ker. He almost single handedly lost my matchup this week.

[Forsh]

This fu(ker. He almost single handedly lost my matchup this week.

At least he didn't Calvin Ridley you

[Futureshock]

At least he didn't Calvin Ridley you

Noted, but he tried. Sheesh.

[Futureshock]

BQ: "We don't operate like that. We need a couple months to look into this and to figure out if it's something that fits for our team."




Andy Reid on adding Le’Veon Bell: “We don’t turn away good players and he’s a good one”

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on October 20, 2020, 1:04 AM EDT

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With rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushing for 161 yards on 26 carries Monday evening in Buffalo, it may not seem as though a big name running back was among the most pressing needs for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs rushed for 245 yards on 46 carries in total in their 26-17 win over the Bills. Now that rushing attack gets to work former All-Pro rusher Le'Veon Bell into the mix starting this week. Bell officially signed with the Chiefs over the weekend after being let go by the New York Jets after repeated spats with head coach Adam Gase.

So why add Bell to the equation?

“We don’t turn away good players and he’s a good one,” head coach Andy Reid told reporters postgame. “It’s exciting to have him around and we’ll see how he does.”

Bell had just 74 yards on 19 carries in two games played for the Jets this season. Mired with the moribund Jets, Bell is also coming off the worst statistical full season of his career with 789 yards on 245 carries last season. But after Damien Williams‘ decision to opt out from the season in July, Bell adds some veteran presence to the backfield of Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams, DeAndre Washington and Darwin Thompson moving forward.

“He’s got to get in the playbook and learn everything but he’s a pretty smart kid and has been doing it a long time so I don’t think he’ll have a problem with that,” Reid said.

Bell is expected to make his debut for the Chiefs next week against the Denver Broncos.

[Futureshock]

Rob Gronkowski: It felt good to get into the end zone

Posted by Josh Alper on October 19, 2020, 5:30 PM EDT

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Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady have hooked up for a lot of touchdowns, but they still accomplished a first on Sunday.

Brady hit Gronkowski for a touchdown for the first time since both players joined the Buccaneers this offseason. It was also Gronkowski’s first touchdown since 2018 as he retired after that season and did not play in 2019.

“It felt good to get into the end zone, to get back into the end zone. It’s been quite some time,” Gronkowski said in his Monday press conference.

The score was part of Gronkowski’s most productive day of the season thus far. Gronkowski finished the day with five catches for 78 yards. He’s had a varied role in the offense through six weeks and said Monday that he’s prepared for anything because “you just really never know until the game starts.”

Three of the four catches that Gronkowski made outside the end zone went for first downs and that’s another familiar sight from his days with Brady in New England. Those flickers served the Bucs well on Sunday and they’ll likely be looking for more in the weeks to come.

[Futureshock]

Report: David Njoku looking for a trade again

Posted by Josh Alper on October 19, 2020, 3:04 PM EDT

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Tight end David Njoku has reportedly changed his mind about a trade again.

Njoku requested a trade away from the Browns in July, but rescinded that request in early August after the team opened up training camp. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Njoku is again looking for a move to another team.

The trade deadline is November 3.

Njoku spent three weeks on injured reserve after hurting his knee in the opener. He returned in Week Five and has two catches for 13 yards over the last two games. He played 44 snaps in those games, which puts him behind Austin Hooper and rookie Harrison Bryant in the pecking order at the position.