NFL News

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pooch...


DeAndre Hopkins tweets “life is good in Arizona” after J.J. Watt signs

Posted by Josh Alper on March 1, 2021, 3:35 PM EST

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Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is closing in on his one-year anniversary with the Cardinals and he has a new teammate to celebrate the milestone with later this month.

That new teammate is also an old teammate as Hopkins and defensive end J.J. Watt were both on the Texans until Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals last year. Hopkins reached out to Watt on social media last month to pitch him on joining the Cardinals and was back online after Watt announced he was signing a two-year deal with the club.

“Life is good in Arizona,” Hopkins wrote.

Hopkins wasn’t the only Cardinals player to react to the Watt news. Chandler Jones shared a text he sent Watt last month saying that he’d be Watt’s personal chef if he signed with the team and asked what his new teammate/pass rushing partner would like to eat.

[Futureshock]

No 2021 OTAs could be the quid pro quo for final salary cap number

Posted by Mike Florio on March 1, 2021, 11:31 AM EST

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Although the NFL and NFL Players Association strike a comprehensive new Collective Bargaining Agreement once every decade or so, any terms are subject to negotiation and adjustment at any time.

In recent months, the NFLPA has taken aim at the offseason program. Although the vast majority of the sessions are voluntary, players feel compelled to show up because if they don’t, others will. And if young, cheap players show that they can get the job done, veterans become at risk of being squeezed to take less or being cut.

Coaches like Bruce Arians can see right through the push by veterans to reduce offseason workouts. While it’s always good to have down time, it’s always better to protect turf. Having few or no offseason workouts helps achieve that goal.

So with the NFL and NFLPA due to finalize financial terms for 2021, including most importantly a new salary cap, the NFLPA can ask for whatever it wants as part of the negotiations that will conclude with a spending limit for the coming league year. For example, the NFLPA can ask for another virtual offseason program in 2021.

Although coaches won’t like it, they don’t get a vote. Owners decide the terms of employment, and a pattern has emerged over the past decade in which the NFLPA asks for tangible things that cost the owners no money, making them more likely to agree.

It will cost owners nothing if there’s no in-person offseason program in 2021. If anything, they’ll save money via per diem payments and other expenses related to opening the facility for 10 weeks or so between April and June.

It’s one of the many conflicts inherent to the unique dynamics and parameters of the NFLPA. Veterans typically benefit from no OTAs. Younger players typically benefit from OTAs. But veterans tend to run the union, giving them far more influence on matters like this.

Thus, as we get closer to learning what the salary cap will be in 2021, don’t be surprised if the agreement regarding the cap includes an agreement regarding a reduced or eliminated in-person offseason training program for 2021, just as it was in 2020.

And to the extent that not having an in-person offseason training program impacted the on-field in-season product, no one seemed to notice. Scoring was up, games were exciting, and football continued to look and feel like football.

[TheLondonLion]

That’s one tough division Stafford has joined.

[jaadam4]

Watt isn’t worth that kind of money anymore but I’m certainly glad he didn’t go to GB.

[BJK]

That’s one tough division Stafford has joined.

For the sake of the draft picks the Lions will be getting, I certainly hope so.

[Futureshock]

Matt Nagy makes Bears a logical landing place for Alex Smith

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 2, 2021, 4:52 AM EST

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Within hours of the report that Washington is parting ways with quarterback Alex Smith, reports started pegging the Bears as the logical next stop in Smith’s career.

Smith could make sense for Chicago because the Bears need a quarterback, and because Smith has a strong relationship with Bears head coach Matt Nagy, who was the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator during Smith’s five seasons in Kansas City.

Shortly after the Bears hired Nagy, Smith told the Chicago Tribune that Nagy is a tremendous coach.

“He and I spent five years together and we were about as close as it gets from a coach-and-player relationship,” Smith said of Nagy. “To see him grow as a quarterbacks coach, then go to coordinator and now I am pumped for him as he becomes a head coach. I think he is going to do awesome.”

Whether Smith is going to compete for a starting job or be a veteran backup, he’s the kind of player Nagy would like to have.

[Futureshock]

At this point the legend is greater than the player, but whatever...



Chandler Jones feels bad for Russell Wilson after Cardinals addition of J.J. Watt

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on March 2, 2021, 12:47 AM EST

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Russell Wilson‘s clamoring for more help along the offensive line in Seattle is only going to be heightened now that the Arizona Cardinals have added J.J. Watt to their defensive line.

Wilson already had to see Aaron Donald twice a season for the last seven years with the Los Angeles Rams. Now Watt is teaming up with standout pass rusher Chandler Jones in Arizona to bring more firepower to the NFC West. While Jones is excited to have Watt join him on the Cardinals defensive line, Jones expressed some sympathy toward Wilson in what he has to face in the division.

“Also feel bad for my guy RW3 lol,” Jones said in a tweet.

Of the last nine winners of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, six of them are split between Watt and Donald. Wilson is now going to have to spend a quarter of his season in Seattle squaring off against teams featuring Watt and Donald. Then add in Jones, who had 19 sacks for Arizona in 2019 and was runner-up to Stephon Gilmore for the player of the year award.

Jones has sacked Wilson 14.5 times in 10 career games against Wilson, including Super Bowl XLIX with the New England Patriots. Donald has sacked Wilson 15 times in 15 games, including January’s playoff victory over the Seahawks.

Watt may not be his peak self anymore, but paired with Jones he could still be a big problem for Seattle.

[Futureshock]

Report: New NFL TV deals could coming within the next two weeks

Posted by Mike Florio on March 1, 2021, 11:58 PM EST

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Nothing is done until it’s done, but the NFL’s new TV deals are very close to being done.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that new deals officially could be announced by the league later this week or next week.

Per Ourand, deals with CBS and NBC are “virtually done.” Each network will pay roughly $2 billion per year to keep their current packages.

Ourand reports that FOX has been “pushing back” on the asking price of $2.25 billion per year, more than double its current rate of $1.1 billion annually. Ourand writes that the current gap isn’t enough to jeopardize the deals.

Last week, Ourand reported that a deal is in place between the NFL and Disney for Monday Night Football. The league took affirmative steps to deny that report. Some believe that the NFL wants to preserve its ability to announce the deals on its own, with no advance leaks. Disney is expected to pay in the range of $2.6 billion annually. The package will put ABC back in the Super Bowl rotation, and it’s expected to include some ABC simulcast of Monday night games.

Finally, Thursday Night Football “appears to be headed” to Amazon Prime, per Ourand. Amazon is expected to pay a fee “well above” the current $730 million that FOX and Amazon currently pay together for the package. That deal could be shorter than the rest of the deals, sine it continues to be, as Ourand says, “experimental” in nature.

The league wants to get the new deals in place before officially adopting a seventeenth regular-season game for 2021 and beyond. It’s not believed that the new deals will have a major impact, if any, on the 2021 salary cap.

[Futureshock]

Jack Lambert auctioning off personal items, including his teeth holder

Posted by Charean Williams on March 1, 2021, 9:02 PM EST

USA TODAY Sports

Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert is auctioning his personal football collection, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Lot. No. 590 of the Lelands Spring Classic collection includes the container that held Lambert’s false teeth during games. The teeth are not included.

Lelands called it a “most unusual but intriguing and important piece of football history.”

“Some of the most recognizable photos of Lambert on the gridiron are of his menacing grimace, missing his front teeth; this is where those teeth resided until after the games were over,” Lelands wrote, via Rutter. “Light blue plastic container has ‘58’ in bold black marker on the top and on the front, on one side Jack has written ‘Teeth Holder in Locker’ and on the other side he has signed and inscribed with his number 58 and ‘HOF ‘90’ in black Sharpie. Teeth not included.”

The teeth holder has an opening bid of $300.

Bidding on the 23 items began Feb. 25 and runs through April 2.

An autographed game-worn helmet from the 1976 Pro Bowl has a high bid of $7,320, while a game-worn jersey from another of his Pro Bowl appearances has a high bid of $3,630.

Lambert, 68, retired after the 1984 season and earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

[Futureshock]

If the Lions cut Coleman (should), Skrine should be on their short list as a temp. replacement...


Bears cut Buster Skrine

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 1, 2021, 6:22 PM EST

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The Bears are saying goodbye to their veteran nickel cornerback.

Buster Skrine is being released, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Skrine played 52 percent of the Bears’ defensive snaps and 18 percent of their special teams snaps last season despite missing the final month with a concussion.

By releasing Skrine, the Bears are saving more than $2 million on their 2021 salary cap.

Skrine turns 32 next month, and his history of concussions is worrisome, so it’s unclear what his future will hold.

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LEONARD WILLIAMSDL, NEW YORK GIANTS


ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports Leonard Williams' grievance over his position label with the NFLPA remains unresolved.


It's an impactful ruling for the entire league since the franchise tag for DEs would jump from $16.1 million to $17.8 million if Williams, eyeing a potential second consecutive tag, wins his case. Otherwise he'd remain labeled a DT and earn significantly less money in 2021. Those numbers would obviously matter immediately since the Giants are still reportedly trying to ink the 26-year-old to a long-term deal. Williams' play under first-year DC Patrick Graham resulted in a team- and career-high number of sacks (11.5), likely keeping the former in New York for $17-$20 million annually.

SOURCE: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter
Mar 1, 2021, 2:34 PM

[Futureshock]

TEDDY BRIDGEWATERQB, CAROLINA PANTHERS


The 49ers have reached out to the Panthers about a potential trade for Teddy Bridgewater.


The Niners' interest in Bridgewater doesn't necessarily mean they're keen on replacing Jimmy Garoppolo as the team's starter. 49ers general manager John Lynch has said the team needs to upgrade its backup QBs as to avoid a lost season if or when the oft-injured Jimmy G is sidelined. Carolina is among the leaders in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, making Bridgewater expendable if a team has a solid offer for the veteran. There's almost no chance Bridgewater starts for Carolina in 2021.

RELATED:

• Jimmy Garoppolo

SOURCE: The Athletic
Mar 1, 2021, 9:57 AM

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CAM NEWTONQB, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS


The Boston Globe's Ben Volin reports Patriots coach Bill Belichick "has done nothing but rave" about QB Cam Newton this offseason.


Newton battled through COVID, learned a new offense without a traditional offseason, and picked up a few wins for the Patriots in 2020 so it's not surprising that Belichick has a healthy amount of respect for the veteran passer. The real question is if that respect turns into another shot at starting for Newton, who is currently a free agent. Reports from earlier in the offseason indicated that a return to New England was unlikely but subsequent news has painted a much more optimistic picture for Newton. The Patriots have the 15th overall pick which may not be enough to land them the caliber of QB prospect they want. If that's the case, using the draft and free agency to give Newton some better weapons to work with seems plausible. The former Panther threw more interceptions than touchdowns last year but his top two receivers were both UDFAs with a combined seven starts before 2020. Newton may not be as physically gifted as he was in Carolina but building up a project QB via the draft doesn't seem to be in the cards for the 68-year-old head coach. Newton has a real shot at opening 2021 as New England's starter and would be an intriguing fantasy option because of his running ability.

Get an Edge: Check out the updated live odds and projections for the 2021 season with our exclusive Betting Tools, which you can get by purchasing the with EDGE⁺ Max premium package.

SOURCE: The Boston Globe
Feb 28, 2021, 9:28 AM

[edindetroit]

Skrine turns 32 next month, and his history of concussions is worrisome, so it’s unclear what his future will hold.