NFL News

[Futureshock]

Pete Carroll looking to get starters action in preseason finale against Chargers

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on August 27, 2021, 2:48 AM EDT

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The Seahawks have yet to see most of their starters play in either of their first two preseason games this August. They’ve had over 25 players sit out in each of their first two games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos the last two weeks.

But while the Los Angeles Chargers will continue to sit stars like Justin Herbert and Derwin James when they travel to Seattle this weekend, the Seahawks will give their starters a chance to play prior to the start of the regular season.

“Week three is a big deal for us,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ll go back to a lot of the other guys that haven’t played in the first two games to prepare them for game one of the regular season. That’s been the plan all along.”

Russell Wilson, Chris Carson, Tyler Lockett, Duane Brown, Gabe Jackson and Gerald Everett are among the starters yet to play at all on offense through the first two games. Bobby Wagner, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs headline the group of defensive players that have yet to play.

With Brown still holding-in and not participating in practices along with multiple injuries at tackle, putting Wilson on the field up until now wouldn’t have felt all that prudent for Seattle. But with a new offense in this year under new coordinator Shane Waldron, getting some game reps for the first-team offense would be a good benchmark for the team to have before their Week One trip to face the Indianapolis Colts.

“I’d like to see us play a lot cleaner at the line of scrimmage and with the football,” Carroll said. “Last week was a disastrous day with the football and we had five penalties at the line of scrimmage. We need to get out of our own way and that needs to show up this week if we’re going to make good progress on the game field. From the first group, when they’re in practice and the work that they’ve done, I don’t see those same issues.”

Carroll is also a big fan of the two week break between the end of the shortened preseason and the start of the regular season. He feels it will give teams that little bit extra time to get players set for the start of the year.

“I really like the two weeks. We’re trying to take full advantage of that. I think that’s a great deal for the league and I think everybody’s going to really appreciate that. I think it’s a really good idea,” Carroll said.

[froot loops]

So he didn't play his starters for two games and will probably play his starters for a whopping two quarters and he loves having two weeks before the real games begin. Another piece of evidence that the exhibition season is meaningless.

[chemiclord]

I think it's more that coaches think there is some meaning to the exhibition season, but not enough to be worth the fight if it was abolished entirely (see also, no NFL coach was losing their mind when there were no preseason games last season).

[froot loops]

Coaches also have to maintain the kayfabe that it is of value, no owner is going to like a coach saying the game isn't worth much.

Injuries happen all the time in the NFL and if a key player gets injured during a regular season game nobody blames the coach. But you should pity the coach who loses a key player in the exhibition season, the pitchforks are deployed in that event.

[Futureshock]

Okay we get it. YOU do not see any value.

[Futureshock]

Report: NFL expects to generate $270 million from gambling deals

Posted by Mike Florio on August 27, 2021, 10:57 AM EDT

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The NFL has gone from hating gambling to loving it, because the NFL has found a way to turn gambling into an extremely viable revenue stream.

With more and more American states legalizing sports wagering, and with the NFL abandoning its past shunning of most things gambling, the league will be making plenty of money from its altered position.

Via the Washington Post, the league expects to generate roughly $270 million in revenue this year from sports betting and gambling deals. NFL executive V.P. and chief strategy and growth officer Christoper Halpin says that, eventually, gambling will become a 10-figure revenue stream. Annually.

“You can definitely see the market growing to $1 billion-plus of league opportunity over this decade,” Halpin told the Post.

That’s great news for football, but it comes with an inherent warning for the current stewards of the game. If some of that revenue isn’t devoted to ensuring the accuracy of calls, protecting inside information, preventing corruption of coaches, players, and officials, and otherwise safeguarding the integrity of the game, the league will be stepping into a bear trap, eventually.

As more and more dollars are legally bet on pro football games, governmental officials will demand that the playing field becomes as level as possible. One scandal will potentially light a fuse for legislation, regulation, and/or prosecution.

Early in the process of various states adopting gambling programs, some sports leagues wanted a piece of the action for the sole purpose of financing programs aimed at ensuring the integrity of the games. That approach never took root, but that doesn’t mean the sports leagues shouldn’t strive for the highest degree of integrity possible.

If they fail, the federal government will do it for them. Thus, the NFL and the other sports leagues must think creatively and proactively to identify all potential problems and to solve them. Unfortunately, creative and proactive thought and execution isn’t one of the NFL’s strong suits.

[froot loops]

I always wanted to be able to have legal gambling but I didn't realize how many commercials about it we were going to have.

[Futureshock]

Gerald Everett: This is my first time playing with a QB of Russell Wilson’s caliber, want to take advantage of it

Posted by Josh Alper on August 27, 2021, 10:45 AM EDT

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The offseason started with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson expressing some frustration with the team’s direction, but he was singing a much happier tune once the team got to training camp.

One of the changes between February and August was the acquisition of tight end Gerald Everett. The former Ram signed with the Seahawks as a free agent and the two players bonded during offseason workouts in California.

Reports from Seahawks camp have pointed to Everett winning Wilson’s trust in the passing game and Everett said he’s devoted to making the most of his chance to play with his new teammate.

“I mean, this is the first time in my career playing with a quarterback of his caliber,” Everett said, via Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. “I really want to take advantage of this opportunity, whether I’m here for the short term or long term. Every day is a blessing . . . and working closely with a guy like Russell, I just want to [home] in and make sure I become the player I’ve always wanted to be.”

With DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett at receiver, defenses are going to have a hard time paying extra attention to Everett and the Seahawks will be tough to stop offensively if his connection with Wilson proves to be a fruitful one.

[Futureshock]

Can Sean Payton get Jameis Winston to play within his physical abilities?

Posted by Mike Florio on August 27, 2021, 10:14 AM EDT
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From his “eat a W” pregame speech to his unconventional workouts to his 30-interception performance in 2019, Jameis Winston has become a punching bag for many NFL fans and media — a Michael Scott-type of figure who thinks he’s in on a joke that he’s actually the butt of.

The reality is that Winston has a high degree of football skill. He wasn’t a reach as the first overall pick in 2015. He was the consensus top choice, to the point that the Buccaneers definitely tanked in the last game of the 2014 season (coincidentally against the Saints) to get him.

And he had his moments. In 2016, Winston emerged as an MVP candidate, leading a five-game winning streak that resulted in the Bucs being flexed into primetime for a showdown against the Cowboys, who finished the year as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Dallas popped the Tampa Bay bubble with a 26-20 win.

Then came 2019, when Winston threw his 30th interception in overtime of the last game of the year. He also became only the eighth player in league history to throw for 5,000 or more yards, joining Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, and Dan Marino. Indeed, only four men have ever thrown for more than Winston’s 5,109 yards, his first and only one with Bruce Arians and his “no risk-it, no biscuit” offense.

Not surprisingly, Winston risked it. He got plenty of biscuits. If he had thrown a biscuit or two less to the other team, he possibly wouldn’t be viewed the way he currently is.

One of Winston’s biggest problems over the years comes from his decision to periodically try to do more than he’s physically capable of doing. We’ve seen those moments from time to time, starting with the Rose Bowl pratfall against Oregon. It’s a common dynamic for athletes; some don’t understand that their body can’t do the thing their mind wants to do, and it all goes sideways.

If Saints coach Sean Payton can get Winston to stay within the bounds of his considerable physical skills (especially when it comes to making throws that maybe he can’t make), it will work. Payton surely believes he can pull it off, or Winston wouldn’t have won the starting job. As Buccaneers fans laugh (perhaps nervously) at the prospect of facing Winston twice (and maybe a third time) in 2021, they need to remember that Winston has never had the benefit of a coach like Sean Payton.

This could work very well for Winston. If he stays within the boundaries of his abilities, it could work better than it ever has for him.

[Tom]

I always wanted to be able to have legal gambling but I didn't realize how many commercials about it we were going to have.

The volume of commercials is ridiculous.

[Cody_Russell]

Geez, up to 6 sportsbooks commercials per game. Sounds terrifying.
It can't be as bad as AllState commercials during the last NCAA Basketball tourney. The annoying Pet Shop Boys "Let's Make Lots Of Money" commercial that was played EVERY commercial break.

...

So that's what ~ $6 billion looks like. I like it. Have seen cooler stadium and facility perks in college football. Oregon football for example.
Supposedly the Dallas Cowboys facility is absurd according to people that have watched Hard Knocks this year.

Inside The SoFi Stadium Like Never Before Episode Highlights

[froot loops]

It isn't just per game, they flood the airwaves like campaign ads during an election season. You can't go an hour without seeing Jessie Field.

[froot loops]

[Cody_Russell]

Ouch, that sucks for Dobbins.

Less important related subject. It acts as a reminder to never have a fantasy draft before preseason ends. Happy that my league holds the draft a couple days before the regular season every year.

[jaadam4]

Ouch, that sucks for Dobbins.

Less important related subject. It acts as a reminder to never have a fantasy draft before preseason ends. Happy that my league holds the draft a couple days before the regular season every year.

Yeah that’s the preferable way to run things but Future has a loved one with a birthday on every weekend day from the end of August until mid Sept. It always made things fun to schedule