NFL News

[Futureshock]

Report: XFL lost $60 million in 2023

Posted by Mike Florio on June 12, 2023, 12:37 PM EDT

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The XFL could eventually be the ex-FL, again. For now, though, the spring league will keep moving forward.

While there’s no panic yet from new ownership that features Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the third iteration of the league founded by Vince McMahon in 2001 lost $60 million in 2023, according to Jabari Young of Forbes.com.

For 2024, Young reports that the XFL projects revenue of $100 million, with $20 million coming from ESPN.

“We’re extremely well-capitalized for the long-term,” XFL co-owner Dany Garcia said. “This is our new WWE. The next massive live property.”

XFL co-owner Gerry Cardinale “expects the XFL to become cash-flow positive by 2027,” and that the metrics from the 2023 season “suggest that the league is on its way.”

It’s still hard to sell football when it’s not football season. Although the availability of pro football on TV (especially over-the-air networks) will generate decent numbers in comparison to alternate programming, spring football is a long way from being a happening.

Alternate leagues have been trying to make that happen for years. From the original USFL to the NFL-owned World League (under various names) to the original XFL to the AAF to XFL 2.0 to USFL 2.0 to XFL 3.0, nothing has truly taken root.

A minor league arguably would have a better chance of making it during football season. And it’s surprising that no one has decided to dust off the old NFL rulebook of the ’80s and ’90s and embrace full-contract, old-school, rough-and-tumble football.

Setting aside the ethical dilemma of re-introducing brutality and big, dangerous hits into the game, it could be the only way to create a “massive live property” that is sufficiently different from the type of football to which we’re all accustomed.

Above all else, it remains to be seen whether either the XFL or the NFL can make enough money over the long haul to keep going.

[jaadam4]

I just don’t see this making it

[Futureshock]

Cam Jordan takes a little shot at Kirk Cousins

Posted by Mike Florio on June 12, 2023, 10:51 AM EDT

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For seven years now, pass rushers gather under the leadership of Von Miller to compare notes about how to get to quarterbacks.

In a clip posted on Twitter by Bleacher Report, Saints defensive end Cam Jordan explains the difference between making quick decisions and making slow decisions — both from the perspective of pass rushers and quarterbacks.

Jordan emphasized the importance of making fast decisions without thinking.

“A fast, right decision, your’re a winner,” Jordan said. “And a slow, right decision, get your ass on the bench.”

Jordan quickly pivoted to the decision-making process from the perspective of the quarterback.

“Slow, right decisions, we love them,” Jordan said. “We call them, ‘Kirk Cousins.'”

Harsh, but hard to argue with. Cousins can get it done when everything goes well. When the walls begin to close in, he often freezes in place just long enough to keep him from making chicken salad on the fly.

He has the mobility, if he chooses to use it. The challenge is, above all else, accelerating the process of deciding to access it.

Slow, right decision. That’s Kirk. Until it’s too late to make and decision other than to duck and cover.

Meanwhile, Cousins will get a chance to show Jordan some fast, right decisions on November 12, when the Saints visit the Vikings.

[Futureshock]

Broncos Unlikely To Sign Dalvin Cook


June 11th, 2023 at 9:30pm CST by Rory Parks

The Broncos’ running back depth chart is presently topped by Javonte Williams, who tore his ACL in October, and career second fiddle Samaje Perine. Given that, and given GM George Paton‘s Vikings ties, Denver has been considered a logical landing spot for four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook, who was released by Minnesota several days ago.



Mike Klis of 9News.com has thrown some cold water on those rumors, reporting that the Broncos “do not appear to be in on” Cook. Before Cook’s release became official, Klis reported that Denver was highly unlikely to swing an eleventh-hour trade for him, and financial considerations certainly played a part in that decision. Had the Broncos acquired Cook via trade, they would have been on the hook for his $10.4MM salary in 2023, as Cook had no desire to work out a restructure as part of a trade. And the Vikings, who clearly cut Cook for cap reasons, may not have been inclined to eat much salary to facilitate a swap.

Even though Cook is now on the free agent market, money remains a key issue. Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter), Cook still wants to make close to the $10.4MM salary he was due to earn with the Vikings, and multiple reporters (including Jackson) have suggested that he is willing to be patient in his efforts to secure that payout. At present, the Broncos only have about $6MM of cap space.

Of course, Denver could create the necessary salary cap room if it really wanted to, but on-field factors are also influencing the club’s decision to stay away from Cook. Williams participated in OTAs, and though he has yet to take part in 11-on-11 drills, Klis estimates that the third-year pro has a better than 50-50 chance to start the regular season opener. Williams clearly has RB1 ability, and even if he is not fully healthy for the start of the 2023 campaign, it does not make sense to sign Cook to a lucrative contract and not have a spot for Williams when he is ready to return to the field.

Klis does believe that the Broncos could seek to add another player with starting experience to its running back room, as the options behind Williams and Perine — Tony Jones, Jr., Tyler Badie, and UDFA rookie Jaleel McLaughlin — are either uninspiring or unproven. Such an addition, though, would be considerably less expensive than Cook.

If Cook’s market does not materialize in the way that he hopes, or if the current reports on Williams’ prognosis prove overly optimistic, it is possible that the Broncos could circle back to Cook (after all, they have reportedly monitored the Florida State product for some time). Until then, however, it appears that the Dolphins will remain the frontrunners for his services.

[jaadam4]

Cook is going to Miami. There’s no doubt about it. He should consider San Fran though

[Tom]

SF has McCaffrey.

[jaadam4]

As I was..

Miami it is

[Futureshock]

You don't think Denver has a shot?

[Futureshock]

Good for Peppers...

Bill Belichick on Jabrill Peppers: Oh my god, he’s a much different player from last year

Posted by Josh Alper on June 14, 2023, 7:48 AM EDT

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Safety Jabrill Peppers joined the Patriots last year while recovering from a torn ACL and he was able to play well enough while appearing in all 17 games to earn a new two-year contract with the team this offseason.

Based on head coach Bill Belichick’s assessment of where Peppers is at this point in the offseason, the expectation in New England will be for an even better year for Peppers. Belichick was asked at his Tuesday press conference if he’s seen any “particular growth” from Peppers heading into his second season with the team.

“Yeah. Oh my god, yeah. He’s a much different player now than he was last year at this time or even in training camp,” Belichick said. “A full year after the injury, a lot of confidence in the communication, the system, his assignments. He’s playing fast, aggressive, helping out his teammates. Last year he was trying to learn things, now he’s helping out his teammates, anticipating, making calls or adjustments that maybe help him or possibly help his teammate be in a better position to defend a certain play or type of play. Yeah, he’s been great. He’s way ahead of where he was last year.”

The Patriots have a number of options at safety with Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, and Jalen Mills also on hand, but it seems likely that Peppers will be seeing a lot of the field if the rest of his offseason goes as well as it seems to have unfolded to this point.

[Futureshock]

Najee Harris: “Eye-opening” to see how NFL values running backs

Posted by Josh Alper on June 14, 2023, 6:50 AM EDT

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Steelers running back Najee Harris ran for 2,234 yards, caught 115 passes, and scored 20 touchdowns in his first two seasons, so no one would blame him for having some thoughts about angling for an extension if he produces more of the same in his third NFL campaign.

No one would blame him if he despaired about his chances of landing one either. This offseason has seen the releases of Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott while Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard were each franchise-tagged by their teams. None of those three players has signed an extension, which has been seen as the latest sign of how the value of running backs in the NFL has slipped over the years.

On Tuesday, Harris said he’s taken notice of these recent developments.

“To see people like that get released, especially in my position, it’s like, damn, what did they do?” Harris said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. “Is it because of their age? You know what I mean? Dalvin Cook is coming off of multiple 1,000 yard seasons. What? I don’t know. Is it money from the team? They got to pay somebody? I don’t know. But it’s eye-opening, for sure.”

Harris said “the position is an art to me” and feels “it’s kind of crazy” not to put a higher value on players who run the ball, catch the ball, and protect the quarterback on offenses around the league. Other backs have shared similar feelings, but NFL teams haven’t been swayed by any of those arguments when it comes to contracts.

[Futureshock]

Stefon Diggs breaks silence on Instagram

Posted by Mike Florio on June 13, 2023, 9:37 PM EDT

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During a day in which, per the Bills, receiver Stefon Diggs reported for mandatory minicamp before leaving the team facility prior to the start of practice, Diggs had nothing to say. Later in the day, Diggs broke his silence on social media.

Diggs posted two different messages on his Instagram story. The first said this: “I just be letting people cap. If them lies help you sleep better tell em big dawg.” The second said this: “My phone been silent for like 6 years. Ion play all them sounds and shit.”

It’s unclear why he thinks people are lying about him, or who he’s referring to. The team said he was there and he left. Coach Sean McDermott said he’s “very concerned” about Diggs’s absence.

Quarterback Josh Allen later told reporters, “Internally, we’re working on some things. Not football-related. Stef, he’s my guy. I fucking love him. He’s a brother of mine. This does not work, what we’re doing here, without him.”

No one has reported anything about why he’s not there. It’s unclear who’s lying or how. And if Diggs wants to set the record straight, he can do so whenever he wants.

All we know is that the team said he was there, and then he left. No one knows why. No one is saying why.

What are the lies? Who’s telling them?

Nothing is clear, other than the fact that there’s an issue that caused Diggs to report and then to leave.

The next question becomes whether he’ll show up for training camp, and whether in the interim he’ll share more information as to why the issue is.

[Futureshock]

FF owners note. He's going to blow up with Carr...

Chris Olave: I want to be the best

Posted by Charean Williams on June 13, 2023, 9:19 PM EDT

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It’s been three seasons since Michael Thomas had his record-breaking season with the Saints. Despite that, he remains the most talked about receiver on the team.

But Thomas no longer is the best receiver on the Saints.

Chris Olave, the 11th overall pick in 2022, made 72 catches for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie. Thomas and Jarvis Landry combined to play only 12 games and catch 61 passes for 443 yards and four touchdowns because of injuries.

Olave is hardly satisfied.

“Just been working on some of my weaknesses, trying to be stronger at the catch, just being stronger after contact,” Olave said, via John DeShazier of the team website. “And trying to work on my [yards after catch].

“I’m just trying to come down with every target thrown my way. I feel like last year, I kind of struggled with that and I just want to keep getting better every year.”

Olave made his mark with Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston as his quarterbacks. He has Derek Carr this year.

Thomas’ return to health — if he can stay healthy — also will help Olave. Thomas, though, has missed 40 of the past 50 games with ankle and toe injuries.

“That’s something I can’t really control,” Olave said of Thomas’ possible return. “I know Mike is doing his best to be out there. He wants to be out there. But I’m trying to be the best at what I do, so I’m looking at that right now, whether Mike is out there or not. When Mike is out there he’s one of the best, too, so I feel like that can add a lot to the team.”

Olave has a simple goal that is more complicated to accomplish.

“I want to be the best,” Olave said. “That’s always been my mindset. I just want to be the best. I try to do that every day, stay consistent with my work and do everything I can to be at my best. That’s my goal.”

[Futureshock]

Kevin O’Connell sees Danielle Hunter staying with the Vikings as a “real outcome”

Posted by Mike Florio on June 13, 2023, 4:51 PM EDT

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With the Vikings moving on from plenty of veterans, another potential future former Vikings is absent from mandatory minicamp, unhappy with a contract that pays $5.5 million in 2023.

Coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about pass rusher Danielle Hunter‘s situation; specifically, whether it can be resolved in a way that keeps Hunter with the Vikings.

“I definitely see that as a real outcome,” O’Connell told reporters, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, “but there is a lot to be determined and I want to be very sensitive to [allow] that situation to play out both for our organization and for Danielle.”

Hunter clearly wants more than $5.5 million, and he undoubtedly deserves it. If the Vikings would trade him, the new team would have to find a way to pay him, too.

It all comes down to what Hunter wants, whether the Vikings will pay it, and (if not) whether someone else will.

Also, if the Vikings have decided to fully embrace Purple Purgatory as they eventually try to get the franchise quarterback they haven’t had since Fran Tarkenton, the draft pick or two they’d get for Hunter could help in that effort.

[Futureshock]

Calvin Ridley: Just stay away from gambling if you can

Posted by Myles Simmons on June 13, 2023, 4:26 PM EDT

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Calvin Ridley received a year-long suspension for betting on NFL games.

But even after that happened, several players have now been suspended for the same violation — while others have been suspended for lesser violations of the league’s betting policy.

On Monday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Ridley is willing to be a great resource for fellow Jacksonville players when it comes to complying with the NFL’s rules. Ridley said this week that he’s been bothered by some of the things that have happened since his suspension came down back in March of 2022.

“Yeah, it bugs me a little because my NFL buddies didn’t look at me and say, ‘Aw man, hell, that’s serious,’” Ridley told Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union. “I wish they would’ve looked at me and said, ‘Wow, they did him like that? I hope it doesn’t happen to me.’ Because that’s what I would’ve done.

“If I would’ve seen one of my NFL buddies get slammed like that, I would’ve been a little bit afraid and watching myself. But you know, it is what it is, they have to learn the hard way like I did. It’s gonna be alright though.”

Ridley noted that some players have reached out to him and he tried to educate them on the seriousness of the situation.

“I think, even for me, once I found out I was getting investigated, I didn’t even know [how serious it was],” Ridley said. “I was like, ‘OK, cool.’ I didn’t know how serious it was until I left that interview.

“It’s just schooling the guys on not to do it. It’s not worth it at all. I really think we don’t understand how serious it is. We kind of go over it and then it’s gone. It’s a real serious offense. You don’t want to do it, mess with the integrity of the game and your job. Just stay away from it if you can.”

Ridley, who was reinstated in March, now has a chance to resume his career with the Jaguars after he was traded by the Falcons during the regular season. But not all players who get embroiled in a betting scandal will have that second opportunity.

[Futureshock]

Dalvin Cook: No rush to sign, I’m looking for right situation

Posted by Josh Alper on June 13, 2023, 3:52 PM EDT

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Running back Dalvin Cook became a free agent when the Vikings released him last week and it may be a little while before he is back under contract to an NFL team.

Cook appeared on The Rich Eisen Show Tuesday and said he’s “looking forward to this next step” in his football career. He said he’s had a lot of people reach out to him since his release became official, but doesn’t feel “it’s a rush” for him to sign with anyone right away.

“I want the value,” Cook said. “I want somebody who values Dalvin Cook. I want somebody that wants me to be there and give me the ball. I just want to go into the right situation so I can go help somebody win. Like you said, the money is going to come. If you play good, they’re going to pay you. I just want to go somewhere where it feels like it’s home to me and help somebody win and just go be me. Just go turn it loose and look for a home. That’s it.”

Cook said his shoulder is “feeling great” after having surgery earlier in the offseason, so that shouldn’t be an impediment to him landing a deal once he’s ready to start the next chapter of his playing career.