NFL News

[Futureshock]

Source: One NFL player lost $8 million from gambling in 2022

Posted by Mike Florio on June 14, 2023, 9:58 AM EDT

Getty Images

The NFL prohibits all non-players from betting on sports. Players, for reasons neither obvious nor apparent, are permitted to legally wager on non-NFL games and events.

Here’s another reason why they shouldn’t be.

Per a league source with knowledge of the situation, one NFL player lost $8 million last through gambling in 2022.

Again, the NFL fully controls the gambling policy, with no input from the NFL Players Association. And the league inexplicably has decided to let players legally bet on sports, even though non-players cannot.

Chris Simms’s theory, as expressed during Tuesday’s PFT Live, is that the league lets players legally bet so that the sports books can make money from young guys with lots of cash to burn. The fact that one player lost $8 million last year tends to bolster what otherwise could be dismissed as the musings of a Howie Roseman top-five conspiracy theorist.

How much money are others players betting? How much money are all players losing?

The reality is that the house ALWAYS wins, over the long haul. The house hopes that you become sufficiently emboldened by short-term success to believe that you’ve stumbled onto a system, or something. That you’re going to keep winning and winning and winning.

You won’t. You’ll lose. They win. You lose.

My dad, whose crew inspired Father of Mine, was a bookie. I never bet because he shared with me at a young age this simple, three-word lesson: You. Can’t. Win.

So, again, why let the players wager on sports during their NFL careers? The Commissioner giveth, and the Commissioner can taketh away. The problem is that, if the rule were to change to prohibit all forms of sports betting by players, he’d be taking away plenty of money from the sports book partners that give plenty of money to the NFL.

[Futureshock]

Bears' Justin Jones blasts 'obnoxious' Packers fans: 'Half of them don't even know football'

Published: Jun 14, 2023 at 08:06 AM Kevin Patra

Around the NFL Writer
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Justin Jones has stirred up a bloody hornet's nest now.

Jones was asked Tuesday about facing the Green Bay Packers now that Aaron Rodgers is in New York. The DT, who joined the Bears in 2022 after four years with the Chargers, took the question and ran with it.

"I wish he played one more year with Green Bay, honestly," he told reporters. "We went up there, and we played a pretty good game, but they got away from us at the end, obviously, and they won. But their fans are really s----y. So, yeah, I wanted to go back up there and I wanted to play them and I wanted to beat them. And I wanted him to be there so he could see it. But the fact that he's gone, it's cool. I guess it's better for him not to be here. But yeah, I'm ready to take it over. It's a good time to be a Bears fan. I'm not even gonna lie to you."

The Bears had been mostly roadkill for Rodgers' Packers for the past 15 years. The four-time MVP owns a 24-5 record against Chicago, throwing 64 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions with a 109.0 passer rating in 29 starts. He's dunked on Chicago with every turn, famously telling fans, "I own you" after a game-sealing touchdown in 2021. The Bears haven't beaten the Packers since 2018 and haven't won in Green Bay since 2015.

With Rodgers out of the picture and Jordan Love taking over, the Bears see an opening to flip the script.

Jones was asked what made Packers fans so annoying, in his opinion.

"Just the way they're obnoxious," he said. "Just yelling and all that other stuff about things that don't even matter. Like, we're not even running a play, and you guys are talking about, 'Oo oh yeah, go Green (Bay).' Like, what are you even talking about? The game hasn't started yet. Like, what are we talking about? Half of them don't even know football. It's so weird to me. But I'm just ready to go out there and play. I want to go out there, and I want to beat the hell out of them on their field. And I want to hear the boos, then. That's what I look forward to."

If the accusation here is that Packers fans are obnoxious because they yell "Go team!" at any and all moments, well, Jones must loathe the other 30 fan bases as well. That's Fandom 101.

The Bears open the season facing Love's Packers at Soldier Field and don't travel to Lambeau until Week 18. We're positive Jones will get a warm welcome from Green Bay fans in the frozen tundra that week.

[Futureshock]

Dennis Allen: Cam Jordan’s minicamp absence is “old age related”

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 14, 2023, 2:46 PM EDT

Getty Images

Saints defensive end Cam Jordan was not with the team today at mandatory minicamp, but head coach Dennis Allen indicated that there are no concerns.

Asked if Jordan’s absence was injury related, Allen implied that he gave the 33-year-old Jordan an excused absence to let him rest.

“I call it old age related, but Cam’s fine. He’ll be fine,” Allen said with a smile.

Jordan has been in New Orleans since he was a first-round draft pick in 2011, and he has played in 192 games for the Saints, the fourth-most in franchise history. This season he’s set to move ahead of Rickey Jackson (195) and Morten Anderson (196) for the second-most games as a Saint, behind only Drew Brees (228). He’s earned some time off.

[Futureshock]

Report: Dalvin Cook wants something “far closer” to $10.4 million than $5 million

Posted by Mike Florio on June 14, 2023, 1:54 PM EDT

Getty Images

Former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was due to make $10.4 million in 2023. The fact that the Vikings weren’t able to trade him means no one is willing to pay him that.

Now that he’s a free agent, what does he want?

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald recently reported that Cook is looking for something “far closer” to the $10.4 million he was due to make than $5 million.

Cook was released on Friday. There have been no reports of any offers. Teams seem to realize that the right play in situations like this is to sit and wait for the player’s expectations to soften.

Cook will make $2 million from the Vikings this year, if he doesn’t play. He’ll likely get much more than that, whenever and wherever he signs.

The question is how much will he get? And is he looking for top dollar or an opportunity to play for a contender?

He also could wait for an inevitable injury to create an opportunity both to be “the guy” and to be paid accordingly.

Potential destinations currently include the Dolphins, Jets, and Cowboys.

[Futureshock]

Jahan Dotson: I think QB situation is settled, Sam Howell’s our guy

Posted by Josh Alper on June 14, 2023, 1:49 PM EDT

Getty Images

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said the team will continue to run a quarterback competition into training camp, but a member of the team’s receiving corps thinks the battle is already over.

During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, wide receiver Jahan Dotson was asked where things stand between Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett after the team’s offseason program. Howell has been working as the No. 1 quarterback and Dotson said that he thinks the 2022 fifth-round pick has secured the job.

“I think we got our quarterback situation settled,” Dotson said when asked about Washington’s recent revolving door at the position. “I think Sam Howell’s gonna be our guy. I have complete faith in him. He makes throws look super effortless on the field. He’s been a great leader. He’s learning how to lead an NFL offense. . . . So I’m super excited for him. I can’t wait to make plays for him.”

Given how much we already know about Brissett, it would be a surprise to see the Commanders turn away from the chance to see if Howell has what it takes to be a long-term starter in the league but any official word is going to have to wait for a couple of months.

[Futureshock]

Shad Khan bristles at question regarding “wiggle room” in proposed split of stadium costs

Posted by Mike Florio on June 14, 2023, 1:26 PM EDT

Getty Images

The Jaguars have launched the inherently political process of persuading the powers-that-be in Jacksonville to devote significant amounts of taxpayer money to the renovation of the stadium, and the development of a surrounding entertainment district.

The whole thing is expected to cost $2 billion. The team has suggested a 50-50 split of the total expenses, which means (math is hard) a billion in taxpayer money.

The Jaguars have begun to take their case to the streets — specifically to the sports bars and other locations for a series of “community huddles.” The stated goal is to answer questions and provide information about the project. The real objective is to rally support for the public money the Jaguars are seeking.

Via David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union, team owner Shad Khan made a “surprise appearance” at the first event.

Khan apparently was surprised by one of the non-softball questions he received. Per Bauerlein, a reporter asked Khan if there’s any wiggle room regarding the 50-50 split.

“You know, are you negotiating for the city?” Khan said. “OK, so end of question.”

It would have been a lot easier to say something less confrontational, such as, “We won’t be negotiating publicly.” Really, if Khan wants to pull this thing off, he needs the local media on his side.

Then again, he likely views the question itself as some sort of effort to subvert his effort to engineer progress and innovation in Jacksonville. That’s part of the game that will be played. You’re either for our effort to get a billion in free money, or you’re against the best interests of the city.

Negotiations have not yet started between the Jaguars and Jacksonville. A new mayor takes office on July 1.

The team’s stadium lease runs through 2029. The Jaguars surely won’t sign a new lease without a renovated stadium.

So the clock is ticking, softly for now, on working things out. It will be interesting to see whether Khan gets other fair but pointed questions on the project, and whether he’ll realize that these folks are just doing their jobs.

[Futureshock]

Isaiah Simmons wants to “master defensive back” this offseason

Posted by Josh Alper on June 14, 2023, 12:13 PM EDT

Getty Images

Questions about the best role for Isaiah Simmons on the Cardinals defense have been asked since the team took him in the first round of the 2020 draft and they have not gone away over his first three seasons.

Simmons has seen time at linebacker, safety and nickelback as a Cardinal and this offseason’s coaching change led to more discussion about how Simmons will be deployed. The answer during the offseason has been as a defensive back and Simmons said this week that he’s hoping to stay there long enough to fully master what’s asked of him at the position.

“Only time can tell,” Simmons said, via the team’s website. “This is a new defense. Personally, I’d like to master defensive back first before I dive into playing with outside linebackers or whatever else that might come about. . . . I’d like to be a master of at least everything in the secondary before I go on to other places.”

Any reference to Simmons’ next place includes more than a possible shift in responsibilities on the field. The Cardinals declined their option on his contract for 2024, which puts him on track for free agency along with another potential shift in position after the 2023 season.

[Futureshock]

Tom Brady plans to have a “very passive role” in management of Raiders

Posted by Mike Florio on June 14, 2023, 11:04 PM EDT

Getty Images

Tom Brady is in the process of buying a slice of the Raiders. The specific amount has not been disclosed; we’ve reported it’s believed something more than ceremonial.

Brady, in a recent interview with the Associated Press, made it clear that his role in running the team will not be significant.

“I’ll be playing a very passive role,” Brady told the AP.

Passive or not, it sounds permanent.

“This is something that I’m interested in doing for the rest of my life,” Brady said. “This is not something that I’m into it for a year or two years. You know, I’ve got a lot of responsibility with my Fox job, which I take very seriously. But if I’m looking over the course of my life, to have the opportunity to be involved in the NFL is a dream come true. And if I could help the NFL and continue to contribute in a positive way, then you know, that’s been a very enjoyable part of my life.”

Brady called the Raiders an “iconic” NFL franchise.

“When I look at a lot of the people that have impacted the NFL over a long period of time in the most positive way, Al Davis is one of them,” Brady said. “And he’s not with us anymore but I’ve heard incredible stories. And then the opportunity came about to become a minority owner in the Raiders, it was a dream come true for me.”

It remains to be seen whether Brady eventually acquires more of the team, and whether he becomes more involved in managing it. Some think he’d like to eventually be the controlling owner of a franchise.

To do that, he’ll need a lot more money than he currently has.

[Futureshock]

Despite absence of “no tag” clause, Vikings can’t tag Kirk Cousins next year

Posted by Mike Florio on June 14, 2023, 10:26 PM EDT

Getty Images

With quarterback Kirk Cousins saying he doesn’t intend to resume contract talks with the Vikings until March 2024, a thought came to mind.

What about the franchise tag?

Cousins’s current contract doesn’t include a clause preventing the Vikings from tagging him. It doesn’t have to. Per a source with knowledge of the deal, the contract voids after the deadline for applying the franchise tag.

In other words, Cousins won’t be on track to be a free agent when the Vikings have the ability to tag him. Only after the window for using the tag closes will Cousins’s contract expire.

Even without that clause, it would still be different for the Vikings to tag him. Although his current cap number is $20.25 million, it’s believed that the 44-percent increase for his third career tag would be based on his pre-restructuring cap number of $36.25 million. That would result in a franchise tender of $52.2 million.

Again, it doesn’t matter. They can’t tag him. So either they’ll re-sign him before the start of free agency, or Cousins will become a free agent — six years after he became a free agent in Washington and signed with the Vikings.

[Futureshock]

Deion Sanders may need to have his foot amputated

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 16, 2023, 4:44 AM EDT

Getty Images

Deion Sanders may have his left foot amputated as he continues to experience significant problems with blood flow to the area.

Sanders, who has already had two toes amputated on his left foot, allowed a camera crew to document a meeting with his medical team at the Colorado football facility in which they discussed the concerns about his health.

“You just have to understand what the risks are,” vascular surgeon Donald Jacobs told Sanders. “Things can cascade.”

Jacobs then told Colorado athletic trainer Lauren Askevold, “He could lose the foot.”

Another vascular surgeon, Max Wohlauer, told Sanders that the blood pressure measured in his lower leg had previously been the same as the blood pressure in his arm but is now only about two-thirds the blood pressure in his arm.

“So those arteries have shut down,” Wohlauer said.

Sanders is heading into his first season as head coach at Colorado. He indicated that if he’s going to need a major medical procedure, he’d rather get it over with now than have it take him away from coaching when the season starts.

“I want to do it this summer, because when we get rolling, I’m not going to have time to do it,” Sanders told the doctors. “This is the best down time I have.”

The 55-year-old Sanders had to miss three games during the 2021 season when he was coaching Jackson State because of complications from a previous foot surgery.

Sanders was a college football Hall of Fame cornerback at Florida State and played in Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington and Baltimore in his Pro Football Hall of Fame career. He was the Southwestern Athletic Conference coach of the year each of the last two seasons at Jackson State before leaving for Colorado in December.

[Futureshock]

Rashan Gary on ACL recovery: Going 100 percent every day, I’ll be ready when I’m ready

Posted by Josh Alper on June 15, 2023, 2:44 PM EDT

Getty Images

Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary has not practiced this offseason because he is still recovering from the torn ACL that ended his 2022 season and he’s not making any predictions about when he’s going to get the green light to get back on the field.

Gary said “I’ll be ready when I’ll be ready” when he was asked about his timeline during a press conference at minicamp this week. He went on to say that he’s focused on making sure he takes every step and checks every box to make sure he will be confident in his health when it is time to return to action.

“One thing I told myself is throughout this process I’m taking it day by day,” Gary said, via Steve Megaree of the Associated Press. “I’m just making sure I’m squeezing the towel as much as I can every day, making sure I’m not leaving not one inch of doubt of if I pushed it to my all, so that’s all, man. Just going 100 percent day by day and we’ll see where I’ll be.”

Gary had six sacks in nine games last season and he has 20.5 over the last three seasons, so his return to the defense will be a welcome development whenever it’s able to happen.

[Futureshock]

What a space cadet



Antonio Brown’s arena team in Albany gets kicked out of its league

Posted by Mike Florio on June 15, 2023, 1:40 PM EDT

Getty Images

Sports teams take on the personality of their owner. Well, at least one does.

The National Arena League has kicked out the Albany Empire, owned by former NFL receiver Antonio Brown.

“After exhausting all avenues, the NAL board of owners have decided unanimously to terminate the membership agreement of the Albany Empire,” the league said in a statement. “The decision was reached after an emergency conference call of the members in good standing to discuss the Empire’s failure to pay their league mandated and overdue assessments. Each team is responsible to pay for 1/7 of the league’s operating budget via monthly assessments starting in April. The Empire’s owner, Antonio Brown, was also fined $1,000 for Conduct Detrimental to the League for his recent public comments. Mr. Brown refused to pay that fine.”

The team was given until noon ET on Thursday to make its required payment. It failed to do so, and the team was removed from the league.

Last night, Brown gave a rambling, shirtless press conference during which he wondered whether A.B. would pay A.B. $1 million to play. How have the negotiations been going?

“I’ve been trying to talk to him, and the guy’s got like three different personalities,” Brown said, regarding A.B.

That pretty much says it all.

[Futureshock]

Report: Raiders are “likely” to sign Marcus Peters before training camp

Posted by Mike Florio on June 15, 2023, 1:23 PM EDT

Getty Images

Last month, free-agent Cornerback Marcus Peters visited the Raiders. By next month, Peters could be signing with the Raiders.

Via TheAthletic.com, the Raiders are “likely” to sign Peters before training camp opens.

Per the report, the two sides have remained in contact since the visit. Peters continues to explore the market.

The Raiders could pursue other veteran cornerbacks. So it’s not a sure thing that the Raiders will sign Peters. But, for now, it’s potentially pointing in that direction.

Peters, a first-round pick of the Chiefs in 2015, has played for the Rams and Ravens. He missed all of 2021 with knee injury.

[Futureshock]

Matt Eberflus sees Justin Fields growing as a leader

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 15, 2023, 12:34 PM EDT

Getty Images

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus says quarterback Justin Fields has grown in his leadership this offseason.

Asked what he has seen from Fields that impressed him, Eberflus said Fields has gone beyond leading by example with his hard work and now more than ever looks like a veteran the other players look to.

“I just see leadership,” Eberflus said. “He’s always the hardest worker, always the first guy out, last to leave. He’s always done that. But now I can see that, because his confidence is growing, he’s taking that to a different level as far as being a vocal leader and talking to guys and being able to bring guys together.”

Fields is heading into his third NFL season, and while he has shown flashes of talent, it hasn’t translated to wins, as the Bears are 5-20 in games Fields has started. This year Eberflus believes Fields can lead the Bears to new heights.

[Futureshock]

D.J. Wonnum working to make “that Year 4 leap” with Danielle Hunter absent

Posted by Josh Alper on June 15, 2023, 11:58 AM EDT

Getty Images

Danielle Hunter‘s absence from the Vikings’ offseason program has created questions about whether he will be a member of the team this fall.

It’s also created more opportunities for another one of the team’s edge rushers. D.J. Wonnum has been working with the first team while Hunter has been away and he said this week that he’s trying to use the increased reps as a stepping stone to a breakthrough in his play.

“It just showed me that my coaches or the front office — they believe, and I believe in myself,” Wonnum said, via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “Not something I’m foreign to. I’ve done it before. Just getting better at [being a starter], and just making that Year Four leap.”

Wonnum had four sacks in a reserve role last year, but led the team with eight sacks while making 14 starts during the 2021 season. If he’s back in that role this year and shows he can be productive, he’ll wrap up the final season of his rookie contract with a chance to cash in as a free agent.