NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Green Bay Packers could begin the regular season without a starting linebacker.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Jake Ryan continues to undergo tests, but the fear is Ryan suffered a "serious knee injury" during Monday's practice, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday, via a source informed of the situation.

The potential loss of Ryan, who was carted off the practice field Monday, would leave the Packers with a major hole in the middle of the defense.

Ryan started 12 games in 2017 and proved effective against the run, totaling 81 tackles on the season. Over the past three seasons, Ryan has appeared in 43 games with 27 starts, including 22 over the past two seasons, while totaling 213 tackles.

 

Foster has a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise. Should be good to go week 1, but he’ll miss the rest of TC and preseason games.

 

Doug Baldwin out multiple weeks with sore knee...

The Seahawks will be working without their top wide receiver for the near future.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said on Tuesday that Doug Baldwin came into camp with a sore knee and that the issue will force him to sit out at least the next couple of weeks of training camp.

“It’s a little bit of a problem,” Carroll said, via Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune.

Baldwin led the Seahawks with 75 catches and 991 receiving yards last season.

While he’s out, the team will have Brandon Marshall, Tyler Lockett, Jaron Brown, Marcus Johnson and David Moore among their options at wideout. It’s a pretty thin group, which makes it all the more important to the Seahawks that Baldwin finds his way back to good health sooner rather than later. (PFT)

 

Now I read this.

 

FACT SHEET – USE OF THE HELMET

The Rule: As approved by NFL clubs in March, it is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent. Contact does not have to be to an opponent’s head or neck area – lowering the head and initiating contact to an opponent’s torso, hips, and lower body, is also a foul. Violations of the rule will be easier to see and officiate when they occur in open space – as opposed to close line play – but this rule applies anywhere on the field at any time.

Penalties for Violation: Loss of 15 yards. If the foul is by the defense, it is also an automatic first down. The player may also be ejected. Ejection standards:

1. Player lowers his helmet to establish a linear body posture prior to initiating and making contact with the helmet
2. Unobstructed path to his opponent
3. Contact clearly avoidable and player delivering the blow had other options

NFL WAY TO PLAY

NFL Way to Play is an educational series about proper use of the helmet to protect players from unnecessary risk and to foster culture change across all levels of football.
Emphasis on Stance, Posture, and Technique
* Knees Bent
* Pads Down
* Hands First
* Head Up and Out of the Way



Educational sessions were held with coaches May 1-2 in New York. Webinars and conference calls with all 32 coaching staffs were held May 16-17. Officiating sessions with players are occurring during training camps.

A PROCESS DRIVEN BY SCIENCE, DATA, AND EXPERIENCE

A comprehensive review of data and video demonstrated the increased risk associated with lowering the head to align the neck and spine before initiating contact. This behavior puts both the player making the contact and the player being struck at greater risk of injury.

Why the Rule?
* Conforms to modern coaching methods and reflects the most up-to-date science and medical knowledge
* Protects players from unnecessary risk and reduces injuries
* Proper use of helmets has long been a part of NFL rules
* Intent is for the helmet to be used strictly as a protective piece of equipment
* Works hand-in-hand with efforts to improve the protective quality of helmets
* Promotes culture change across all levels of football to remove the head from the game

How – Our Process
* Research/Science/Data (Science and Data Video)
* Engineering
* Input from Players/Legends, Coaches, Officials, GMs, and Owners
* College football analytics

(In part by PFT, also on NFL.com)

 

Packers LB Jake Ryan (torn ACL) will miss 2018 season...

The Green Bay Packers' worst fear has become reality for a key member on defense.

Starting linebacker Jake Ryan has been diagnosed with a season-ending torn ACL, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a source informed of the situation.

Ryan suffered the injury during Monday's practice and was carted off the field. His absence now leaves a gaping hole at the inside linebacker position.

Since joining the Packers as a fourth-round pick in 2015, the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Ryan has appeared in 43 games with 27 starts over the past three seasons, totaling 213 tackles. He was also set to enter the 2018 season in the final year of his rookie contract.

The Packers now must go about identifying a replacement to play alongside inside linebacker Blake Martinez. The options include rookie Oren Burks, the team's third-round pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, and second-year pro Ahmad Thomas, among others.

 

That is such a thoroughly garbage team without Rodgers. One of their LB's missing won't matter - their record hinges on whether Rodgers is under center, and whether he has living bodies to throw to. It may make life harder on him, but it's definitely not "the Packers' worst fear" - that's Rodgers health.

 

Also, Oren Burks is much better anyways IMO. Rook should get his shot now.

 

Pats moving on from Jordan Matthews following injury...

Wide receiver Jordan Matthews' time with the New England Patriots proved short.
The Patriots are moving on from Matthews following his "significant" hamstring injury, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday. Rapoport added New England is working out an injury settlement with the receiver, and Mathews will continue seeking opinions on his hurt hamstring.

Jim McBride of the Boston Globe first reported Matthews' pending departure.

Matthews, who was set to enter his fifth season, joined the Patriots on a one-year deal during free agency. He previously spent time with the Eagles and Bills.

While the 26-year-old Matthews has been dealing with an injury, his release comes at a time with the Patriots dealing with a handful of other ailments to the wide receiver group, specifically Kenny Britt (hamstring) and Malcolm Mitchell (knee).

Additionally, the Patriots will start the regular season without Julian Edelman, who will be sidelined while serving a four-game suspension.

New England recently hosted veteran wide receiver Eric Decker on a free-agent visit. (NFL.com)

 

Josh Doctson being evaluated for shoulder injury...

 

Patriots sign Eric Decker, cut Jordan Matthews.

 

Browns move Joel Bitonio to left tackle...

Last month, the possibility emerged that the Browns would replace Joe Thomas at left tackle by moving Joel Bitonio from left guard. The Browns already have decided to give it a try.

Via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Bitonio received first-team reps at left tackle on Wednesday.

Coach Hue Jackson explained the move by saying that Bitonio “gives us the best chance” at left tackle, for now. “We’re going to play the best five guys,” Jackson added. Cabot points out that it’s possibly not permanent.

“Just because you’re the best guy doesn’t mean you’re in the best spot,” offensive line coach Dan Wylie said earlier this year. “Joel is an elite left guard. Could he play tackle? Sure, but it would take a while for him to learn the nuances. If he’s the best lineman, is he really the best left tackle? Not necessarily.”

The question becomes whether using Bitonio at left tackle outweighs losing him at left guard. Austin Corbett received the first-team reps there on Wednesday, in Bitonio’s absence. (PFT)

 

Isn't that what I said before should happen.

 

Yes, yes it is.

Hey, maybe they should learn to listen to the LAOJoe !!!

 

Or . . . Maybe just stop and understand that the Browns said they were going to try this lineup for quite a while.

Think about it . . . Bitonio has zero NFL experience at LT. Corbett has zero NFL experience at LG. So, by moving Bitonio to LT, they would end up with zero NFL experience on the entire left side of the line. Nothing Mary Kay Cabot reports is carved in stone.

 

Wasn't it just suggested and Hue said no originally? Regardless, it only makes sense to trot out the best 5 you can and place them where they will benefit the team as a whole.

I said this before and I'll say it again... I cant wait to see the Browns this season. They are, to me anyway, one of the more interesting storylines to watch unfold.

 

Don't recall Hue ever saying that he wouldn't look at any possibility to get better.

Sometimes the best 5 players don't make up the best total unit. Maybe in this case it would. Training camp is the time to find out, eh?

 

Re: NFL Helmet Rule
I played football from little league thru high school and never heard the term “pads down”. Do they mean shoulder pads, thigh pads and/or knee pads. If your pads are “down”, then you are most likely on the ground and practically useless. Even this (4) technique notation is full of shit, so of course a group of officials wouldn’t be able to explain the paradigm of the new rule.

Pure comedy.