NFL News

[Fraquar]

Brady basically says what has for the most part driven me from watching this game anymore. Over-officiated shit and the guys on defense really don't know what they can or can't do anymore. Watched a penalty last weekend on a literally perfect sack (Dolphins game)- was like what? What the fuck do you expect a 330 lb D-lineman to do? He grabs QB, falls sideways so he (DT) hits the ground first - BLEEP!!! That will be 15 yards and a 1st down - thank you very much.

[Fraquar]

Sewell isn't dominating shit the way he's playing.
He's like a guy at a pistol shooting contest shooting off his heel - got no forward momentum to deal with the recoil that WILL come. Rounds land all over the place.
Maybe over time, a couple of years - maybe......

[dpatnod]

Nah. You can't win with that guy.

[dpatnod]

Brady basically says what has for the most part driven me from watching this game anymore. Over-officiated shit and the guys on defense really don't know what they can or can't do anymore. Watched a penalty last weekend on a literally perfect sack (Dolphins game)- was like what? What the fuck do you expect a 330 lb D-lineman to do? He grabs QB, falls sideways so he (DT) hits the ground first - BLEEP!!! That will be 15 yards and a 1st down - thank you very much.

[froot loops]

It has been very apparent he has been driven from watching this game.

[chemiclord]

Back when no one cared if a retired football player put a bullet through his chest due to sustained brain damage was SUCH a better time, dontcha know?

[wcfwtf]

What Brady said was that QB's and other offensive players no longer play the game well enough to protect themselves from getting killed.
so there have been penalties put in to protect a player that have taken away from the game.
He gave the example of the Justin Fields sack.
He said the QB is responsible for knowing and calling protection calls.
He said a sack now will draw a flag when it it just a bad play by QB or O line.

[wcfwtf]

He gave examples of receivers going over the middle and being hung out to dry by a bad pass placed in bad location.
He didnt say anything about wanting kill shots allowed.
He just said bad play has made bad new rules that hurt the game.

[froot loops]

Brady has also been known to talk trash to defenders saying, "I'm the leagues golden boy, you can't touch me." So some of what he says has some merit, he has been the biggest beneficiary of how they call the hits on the quarterback. Take his virtue signaling with a gigantic grain of salt.

[Futureshock]

There's rumors that the rookie was helping Newton with the offense. Cam is toast. Lubinized


Bill Belichick: Cam Newton gave us everything he had

Posted by Josh Alper on September 7, 2021, 7:55 AM EDT

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The Patriots revealed their starting quarterback choice a week ago when they released Cam Newton and left Mac Jones set to claim the starting role as a rookie.

Jones taking the No. 1 job wasn’t a shock given his status as a first-round pick and his strong play during the preseason, but Newton’s release was more surprising given the way Bill Belichick had talked about the quarterback over the last two years. Belichick didn’t offer much about Newton during a press conference the day after the move, but had a bit more to say on WEEI Tuesday.

Belichick said there was some thought to keeping Newton as a backup, but “in the end we did what we felt was best.” He also said that he no bad memories about Newton’s time with the team.

“I have nothing but positive thoughts and feelings for Cam,” Belichick said. “He came in here, he worked hard. He gave us everything he had. Right now, our future is going to be Mac at quarterback, and that is where we’re going to go.”

Newton has not signed with another club and it’s not clear when or if another opportunity is going to come, which leaves him with plenty of time to see how Jones does as the starter in New England.

[Futureshock]

Ja’Marr Chase blames drops on lack of concentration

Posted by Charean Williams on September 6, 2021, 8:31 PM EDT

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The Bengals used the fifth overall choice on LSU receiver Ja'Marr Chase. They have to hope his rookie regular season goes better than his rookie preseason.

Chase has struggled with dropped balls.

He addressed his problem holding onto the ball Monday, saying it stems from a lack of concentration, and admitted he didn’t get as much out of the preseason as he and the team had hoped.

“I know I left a lot of stuff out there,” Chase said, via Ben Baby of ESPN. “But that’s all in time for me to get better, of course. I’m not afraid to get better. That’s what I’m here for — to work, to get better, make the team better, make the organization better.”

Chase dropped 4.8 percent of his targets in 2019 at LSU when he won the Biletnikoff Award given to the best receiver in football, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He failed to catch four of five targets in the preseason.

“If you look back at it, I jumped in the air when the ball got to me,” Chase said. “That means my eyes weren’t concentrated on the ball. I didn’t keep still. So that makes my eye adjustment for the ball move around.”

Chase opted out of the 2020 season, so he hasn’t played in 20 months. That could have played a part in his slow start. Chase also referenced the bigger ball the NFL uses that has different markings.

He catches 40 tennis balls a day to work on his hand-eye coordination, Chase said, and he also spends time with the JUGS football machine.

The Bengals maintain confidence in Chase, who still has confidence in himself despite his recent butterfingers.

“Everyone wants to see this and that, but I’m excited to show literally me, myself,” Chase said. “I’m excited to do what I came here to do.”

[Futureshock]

Gus Edwards' ADP is gonna soar...



Report: Justice Hill tore his Achilles

Posted by Josh Alper on September 6, 2021, 5:17 PM EDT

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After the Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins for the season, head coach John Harbaugh said he had “full confidence” in the ability of the other backs on hand to carry the load.

Losing another running back for the year may be pushing the team toward adding outside help. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Justice Hill tore his Achilles in practice.

The report came shortly after the league’s daily wire brought word that the team worked out veterans Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman. Elijah Holyfield, who spent offseason time with the Eagles this year, also worked out for the Ravens.

Todd Gurley also visited the team earlier this year and they could revisit that option with Gus Edwards and Ty'Son Williams currently left as the only two backs on the active roster.

[Futureshock]

Jaguars work out Reuben Foster, sign Duke Johnson to practice squad

Posted by Michael David Smith on September 6, 2021, 5:11 PM EDT

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The Jaguars are taking a look at a couple of well-known veterans.

Jacksonville signed running back Duke Johnson to the practice squad and brought in linebacker Reuben Foster for a workout today.

Johnson played for the Texans last year and did not play well, managing just 235 yards on 77 carries, a career-low 3.1 yards per carry. The Jaguars lost first-round running back Travis Etienne for the season to a preseason injury, so they’ve been looking for some help at the position.

Foster was a 2017 first-round pick of the 49ers whose career has fallen well short of expectations. He played in just 16 games in two seasons for the 49ers before he was released for off-field reasons, and then signed with Washington but never played because of a severe knee injury in his first practice. He hasn’t played in an NFL game since October of 2018.

[Futureshock]

Ravens worked out Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman

Posted by Josh Alper on September 6, 2021, 5:00 PM EDT

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The Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins for the season to a torn ACL and they’re bringing in a couple of veteran backs for workouts as they assess their backfield needs for the regular season.

The league’s daily transaction wire shows the Ravens worked out Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman. Gus Edwards, Ty'Son Williams, and Justice Hill are the backs on the active roster in Baltimore right now.

Bell has not been linked with any teams since playing out his contract with the Chiefs. He ran 63 times for 254 yards and two touchdowns in nine games, but fell out of the rotation down the stretch and has since been critical of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Freeman spent time in camp with the Saints, but was released when they dropped to 53 players. Elijah Holyfield also worked out for Baltimore Monday.

UPDATE 5:17 p.m. ET: Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports Hill tore his Achilles, which would make the need for backfield help in Baltimore a bit more urgent.

[Futureshock]

Steelers’ stubbornness on guarantee structure could blow up T.J. Watt talks

Posted by Mike Florio on September 7, 2021, 4:29 PM EDT

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We recently pointed out that Pittsburgh has two informal contract rules that could complicate the negotiations with linebacker T.J. Watt. Apparently, they could crater them.

Via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Media, the Steelers’ refusal to offer full guaranteed beyond the first year of a veteran contract is “threatening to sink” the Watt negotiations.

Aditi adds that she was optimistic about the chances of a deal getting done last week, but that she’s now less optimistic.

The clock is ticking. Loudly. Watt’s hold-in, which has been permitted by the team, threatens to wipe out his availability for Week One. And that’s when another Pittsburgh informal rule becomes highly relevant — the team doesn’t do new contracts after the season starts.

So, at some point, the Steelers need to tell Watt that, if a deal can’t be done, it’s time to get to work. That’s when the concept of team-endorsed hold-ins collapses on itself. When the player who has shown up but who has not yet suited up is left with no choice but to play, what will he do?

We possibly will be finding out. Soon.