NFL News

[Futureshock]

NFLPA survey says Jaguars had a “rat infestation” during 2022 season

Posted by Mike Florio on March 3, 2023, 10:04 AM EST

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In 2021, the Jaguars were coached by Urban Meyer. In 2022, they had a rat infestation.

Players surely still preferred 2022.

The NFL Players Association survey regarding the various teams included this observation about the Jaguars: “Players reported that for 3-4 weeks this past season, there was a rat infestation in the locker room and laundry hampers.”

The Jaguars came in 28th when all categories were taken into account. They got a D- for the rat-infested locker room.

Presumably, the problem has been solved. If it happens again, the players should consider the rats pets. Like Mr. Jingles in The Green Mile.

[Futureshock]

Report: Daniel Jones wants more than $45 million per year

Posted by Mike Florio on March 3, 2023, 9:46 AM EST

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After word emerged that Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had switched representation from CAA to Athletes First, we noted that Jones wants “as much as $45 million per year, or more.”

Reportedly, it’s more.

Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that Jones’s agents are asking for more than $45 million per year on a long-term deal.

This makes it even more likely that the Giants will apply the non-exclusive franchise tag at some point before Tuesday’s deadline. That would give the Giants the ability to keep Jones at a one-year offer of $32.416 million — far short of his reported goal.

If that happens, Jones would have options. He could, for example, stay away from the offseason workouts, training camp, and the preseason, showing up just before the start of the regular season and getting the full $32.416 million. But he’d risk not being prepared to have the kind of season that would make him an attractive option in 2024.

Come 2024, the Giants could tag him again, at a 20-percent raise over his 2023 pay. That’s $38.89 million, for a two-year take of $71.31 million.

Jones may not like it, but that’s how the Collective Bargaining Agreement works. Regardless of what Jones would get on the open market, he can’t get there until 2025, at the earliest.

And who knows? Maybe the Giants would tag him a third time, despite the 44-percent increase over $38.89 million in 2024. If he plays great for the next two years, and if the salary cap and the market keep going up and up (and up), $56 million won’t be a ridiculous amount to pay — especially since it would push Jones to a three-year haul of $127.3 million, an average of $42.4 million per year.

Even then, it’s less over three years than what Jones wants now. So why wouldn’t the Giants just tag him?

They undoubtedly will, barring a short-term deal or some other win-win that gives him what he’d make under the tag (and maybe a little more) but nothing close to $45 million or more annually.

[Mainevent]

Have fun playing on the franchise tag.

[Nick Pappageorgio]

He’s gonna be the next Cousins

[Futureshock]

Robert Saleh: Derek Carr “in line with” where Matthew Stafford was before going to Rams

Posted by Josh Alper on March 3, 2023, 7:42 AM EST

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Derek Carr had a second meeting with the Jets this week and any team that winds up signing him will be hoping for a successful second act for the longtime Raiders starter.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh invoked the best case scenario when talking to reporters about Carr on Thursday. Saleh said Carr has “an elite, elite mental makeup with regards to football IQ” and praised his accuracy and arm strength while referencing the move that Matthew Stafford made from the Lions to the Rams before the 2021 season.

“He’s been asked to do a lot in his career,” Saleh said, via Brian Costello of the New York Post. “I think he’s more in line with what Stafford’s career has been. If you can just get him to a place that can surround him with all the pieces to just allow him to play quarterback 10-15 times a game, it would be pretty cool. He’s a solid young man.”

Stafford had not won a playoff game before leading the Rams to a Super Bowl win in his first season after being traded. Any team that lands Carr will be dreaming about the same outcome in 2023.

[Futureshock]

As a fan of both teams I can honestly say that Carr has had much more talent (at times) around him and Stafford is a better QB. There's some similarities, but almost everything was on Stafford when he was a Lion.

[jaadam4]

He’s gonna be the next Cousins

With even less talent

[Futureshock]

NFL declines comment on law firm lawsuit over Maxx Crosby commercial

Posted by Mike Florio on March 3, 2023, 6:32 AM EST

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Sometimes when the league is sued, it says plenty — like it did when it initially said the Brian Flores discrimination lawsuit was “without merit.” Sometimes when the league is sued, it says nothing.

In response to the filing of a lawsuit in Las Vegas by a law firm that was threatened with litigation over a commercial using Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby in a silver and black football uniform, the NFL has opted for the latter.

In response to an inquiry from PFT, the league declined comment regarding the complaint filed earlier this week on behalf of the Dimopoulos Law Firm against the NFL over the question of whether the commercial infringes on the league’s trademarks. The lawsuit was the response to a cease-and-desist letter the league had previously sent to the Dimopoulos firm.

It’s a fairly simple case. There’s no complex evidence to present. No damages award to be determined. The law firm wants a declaration that the commercial doesn’t infringe on the logos and marks owned by the league and its teams.

The league undoubtedly will argue that the commercial creates confusion, given the similarity of the jersey and the helmet to the Raiders’ jersey and helmet. The complaint contends that the Dimopoulos firm was using silver and black as its official colors for the firm, well before the Raiders moved to Las Vegas.

Still, it’s obvious that the commercial was trying to come as close as possible to putting Crosby in a Raiders uniform without using the team logo, the NFL logo, or the Nike logo that appears on every NFL jersey. The question becomes whether that’s too close for comfort, in the eyes of the law.

[Nick Pappageorgio]

With even less talent

I’m not sure that’s true….Cousins has always been pretty underwhelming in so many ways

[Futureshock]

Players say Chiefs discourage them from reporting injuries, have NFL’s worst training staff

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 3, 2023, 4:50 AM EST

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The NFL Players Association says the Super Bowl champion Chiefs have dropped the ball on player health.

The union’s report card for all 32 teams ranked the Chiefs dead last in training staff, giving them a grade of D- and saying that many players have major concerns with head trainer Rick Burkholder.

“They feel discouraged from reporting their injuries,” the NFLPA says of players on the Chiefs. “They do not feel they get the level of personal care that they should. They fear retribution for speaking up for better care.”

On the field, the Chiefs are the top team in the league, but the NFLPA survey found that players don’t think much of the way the franchise treats them. The Chiefs also got poor marks for an outdated facility and for uncomfortable travel arrangements, and overall the NFLPA ranked the Chiefs 29th of the 32 teams.

[Futureshock]

Report: Jaguars moving on from Shaquill Griffin

Posted by Charean Williams on March 2, 2023, 7:27 PM EST

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The Jaguars will attempt to trade cornerback Shaquill Griffin, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Given Griffin has an $11.5 million salary, a $17.1 million cap hit and is coming off a back injury that limited him to five games in 2022, chances are slim to none Jacksonville can find a trade partner.

The Jaguars are expected to release Griffin if they can’t trade him, per Fowler.

It does not come as a surprise since Griffin’s release will save the team $13.1 million in cap space.

Griffin, 27, spent two seasons in Jacksonville.

He made 78 tackles and 11 pass breakups in 19 games, spending most of last season on injured reserve.

[Futureshock]

The Raiders are the betting favorites to land Aaron Rodgers

Posted by Mike Florio on March 3, 2023, 11:52 AM EST

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Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn’t seem to believe that the time is now to let his wishes for 2023 be known. His current team and potentially interested teams may feel otherwise.

So where will Rodgers eventually end up?

Via Oddschecker.com, the Raiders are a -200 favorite to land Rodgers, with the Jets at +140 and the Titans at +900.

That’s surprising, given that Vic Tafur of TheAthletic.com recently reported that Las Vegas G.M. Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels “have apparently agreed” that the Raiders won’t pursue Rodgers. And, frankly, it’s never seemed that Rodgers and McDaniels would mesh the way they need to — given that McDaniels doesn’t seem to be inclined to tiptoe around the delicate genius who is Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets reportedly are willing to wait for Rodgers. That could cost them Derek Carr but, frankly, there’s a fundamental difference between Carr and Rodgers.

Actually, if the Jets are serious about trying to salvage Zach Wilson‘s career, Rodgers makes more sense than Carr. Rodgers won’t be there as long, and Wilson grew up idolizing Rodgers. (Whether Wilson would feel that way after they become teammates remains to be seen.) Rodgers can play for a year or two, and then Wilson can take over.

None of it matters until Rodgers lets the Packers know what he wants to do. If currently seems as if he’s opting to be more than a little passive aggressive. He has said he won’t hold the team hostage, but he sort of already is — even if he stubbornly refuses to admit it.

[froot loops]

Wait a minute, someone is actually has put forth a strategy that for the Jets are going to try and rehabilitate Zach Wilson and the way to do it is trade for A-aron? Wonders never cease. First off, if you grew up idolizing Rodgers, something might be off that can't be fixed. Secondly, I'm sure Rodgers is going to be totally up for the mentor role to a guy who looks like the elf that betrayed Santa.

But I'm all for Rodgers dealing with the NY tabloids!

[CGVT]

He's having "conversations"

What a fucking jackass.

[ghandi]

His stats do not scream this guy is worth 45 million per year.....image.png