NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Packers rarely make moves for veteran free agents.

But they clearly feel like they need the linebacker depth.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Packers have agreed to a one-year deal with former 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks that could be worth up to $5 million.

Of course, the “up to” is always subject to a closer look at the real numbers, but the real story is that the Packers felt the need to add a 33-year-old linebacker.

With Julius Peppers leaving in free agency and some injury concerns among their existing options, they clearly felt the need to add to the mix.

 

Per; Adam Schefter

 

Joe Haden’s first game not as a Brown: Sept. 10, at the Browns.

 

Okay I do remember that photo. But I also remember support for him betting on himself.

They're all overpaid in my book... except Brady.

 

Pretty shocking to hear 7M in 2017. Probably means 6M to sign, 1M base for a cap charge of 3 million. They'll likely Jettison Cockrell and his 1.7m tag. So plus 1.3M.

I guess I'll lean on the Steelers evaluation. I've thought he was overrated for years. Maybe it's just because I've seen Antonio have his way with him.

 

And now, Coleman will finally have someone to burn

 

So what's you're saying is you want to trade for Coleman?

 

Assuming he can stay off of the Injured list.

 

touché

 

Vontaze Burfict’s suspension reduced to three games


Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict had his suspension reduced to three games, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Burfict had appealed the five-game suspension, and appeals officer James Thrash decided to reduce it by two games.

Burfict was suspended for an illegal hit against Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman on Aug. 19. He also served a three-game suspension to start last season for violating player safety rules in a 2015 playoff game against the Steelers.

The league has fined Burfict nearly $800,000 for 16 unnecessary roughness penalties.

He will miss games against the Ravens, Texans and Packers.

The league confirmed the three-game suspension, with Jon Runyan, the NFL’s Vice President of Football Operations, writing to Burfict: “This is not your first offense with respect to illegal hits to defenseless players; to the contrary, this incident is consistent with your pattern of egregious safety-related violations including your hit on a defenseless player during the 2015 Wild Card game and your hit against a Baltimore tight end away from the ball on January 3, 2016. When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player . . . you must be held accountable for this continuing unacceptable conduct.”

 

Must be held accountable, but we're reducing your punishment? Sounds like the words and actions are a bit conflicting. This is the second time he is getting suspended for this kind of hit, the punishment should be increased from the previous one.

 

The Eagles have signed DE Steven Means to a 1-year extension through his restricted-FA year in 2018. With that the Eagles are essentially saying he made the team ahead of 2016 7th round pick Alex McCalister.

 

Thursdays Schedule...

Thursday, Aug. 31: Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons 7:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills 7:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers 7:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts 7:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets 7:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers 7:30 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: New York Giants at New England Patriots 7:30 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Washington Redskins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7:30 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears 8:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans 8:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings 8:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints 8:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs 8:30 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos 9:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders 10:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31: Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers 10:00 PM

 

Retired LB Zach Orr to Join Ravens Staff as Coaching, Personnel Assistant

 

Just an FYI, in case you hadn't heard already..

Cowboys at Houston has been cancelled. Cowboys will hold an open live practice/telethon from a local TV Station with all proceeds going to flood victims.

 

Zeke Update...

While the standards remain unclear and the procedures ambiguous, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s appeal hearing has now stretched into three days. The hearing continues in New York, and it’s expected to wrap today.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson then will have five days to issue a ruling, in order to ensure that the suspension will become effective as of Week One.


Details remain scant and fleeting regarding the appeal hearing. More details likely will be provided once the hearing ends. It’s safe to assume that Elliott’s representatives are doing everything they can to promote Elliott’s credibility and to challenge the credibility of his accuser, Tiffany Thompson, without the benefit of questioning her or scrutinizing the notes of the NFL’s multiple interviews of her.

The two-pronged question Henderson faces is whether Elliott committed domestic violence and, if so, the six-game suspension fits the infraction. The question Elliott faces is whether to go to court if the suspension ultimately is reduced.

Some think that it could be reduced. I’m not yet ready to share that optimism. With the NFL’s baseline for domestic violence at six games and with Elliott accused of multiple acts of violence over multiple days, this continues to feel like an all-or-nothing proposition for Elliott. And it’s hard to imagine Henderson, who truly isn’t neutral, opting for nothing.

 

Report: Elliott appeal over; arbiter pressured to decide soon

Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his six-game suspension wrapped up Thursday and arbitrator Harold Henderson is under pressure to have a decision by Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
The appeal lasted three days and more than 25 hours, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Dallas Cowboys' star running back was banned six games in early August after the NFL determined after a year-long investigation that Elliott violated the league's personal conduct policy. The NFL determined there was "substantial and persuasive" evidence he engaged in physical violence with a former girlfriend.

Elliott has denied such claims and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently stated the league has "no evidence" to support its findings.

Henderson is expected to render a decision within a short time frame, considering the preseason comes to a close Thursday evening and the Cowboys' open their regular-season slate in 10 days. The franchise would like to know their rusher's fate before the season kicks off.

As it stands, Elliott would be unavailable to the Cowboys until an Oct. 29 Week 8 contest with the Washington Redskins as their bye week falls within their first six games of the year.

 

Elliott will play Week One if there’s no ruling by Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET

With the Ezekiel Elliott appeal hearing over, he’s a point from earlier this week that bears repeating — and highlighting: By rule, any player suspension that isn’t final by 4:00 p.m. ET before a given Sunday does not become effective that week.

This means that, if arbitrator Harold Henderson doesn’t issue a ruling by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Elliott will be able to play in the Week One game against the Giants.

Henderson is expected to issue a ruling by then. Regardless, he’ll have his work cut out for him as he digests 25 hours of hearing time and crafts a ruling that is aimed at surviving a likely challenge in federal court.

Commissioner Roger Goodell previously suspended Elliott six games for violating the Personal Conduct Policy, based on alleged domestic violence committed in July 2016.

 

I never knew before but the Sunday Ticket package which was available in one form or another on cable or satellite is no longer available on those providers. The rights were bought by a streaming service and will now only be available online in Canada.

I know it's the future but it's not the easiest thing to get up in a living room, especially if you don't have a smart tv or good laptop to connect or God forbid limited internet or crappy connection in your living room.

 

Watch the game on your phone with virtual reality glasses.