NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Aikman blows. So does Buck.

I was originally very down on the Ward pick...thought they passed over much better players. It's still way way way too early...but he looks legit.

And I would no doubt start Mayfield moving forward.

 

You can't break a football game down to black and white, it isn't either/or. There are hundreds of things that go into a games winner and loser when it is decided by 10 points or less. There are some days that a team just dominates. But that team can be dominated the following week with the same exact personnel. You trying to break it down to a if/or situation is ridiculous.

 

But you can rank QB's simply by using QBR?

 

Without Elliott AND (more importantly) without Tyron Smith. Dallas' replacement LTs last year were f'ing dreadful.

That said, Prescott was STILL above average last year TD passes (12th), completion % (13th), and QB TDs [pass+run] (8th); average in passing yards per game (16th); and below average in QB rating (19th) and yards per attempt (22nd).

Those numbers are - with the exception of QB rating - better than Taylor's 3-year averages.

 

I'm literally just quoting you, and following your train of logic.

If it doesn't make sense, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe your realities change. I just know that they're not everyone else's.

It's all good. Tyrod Taylor is a QB who won't lose you games if your team is good enough, but if he / they should lose, it's because of a variety of factors that can't be accounted for and it's neither of their faults. I assume you'll be passing this on, next time analytics is thrown around on the Browns board (such as the time analytics was used to say that Tyrod Taylor was a good QB). Glad we figured this out.

 

Talking about Ward make no mistake I really like him. I just don't think he was the right option for who was available. But I reserve judgment at least until end of the season because it's not all just about the splash plays. Carey Williams and Robey come to mind on mixed bags.

 

You do realize a mediocre team AND QB will only win 50% of the time, right? That's exactly what makes them mediocre...

 

I'm moving on...The only point I have to make now is, Baker Mayfield is well above mediocre, as I have stated since last fall, months before he actually became the Browns QB. He is the future and what I personally should be focused on.

 

I still think the Browns passed up the best player on the board twice. And it’s way too early to tell anything. It takes a few seasons before you can judge a draft.

But so far Ward looks really good though.

 

Didnt the Bears pass on Mahomes?

 

Not only passed on him and Watson...they traded up to get to Trubisky.

 

Ouch

 

Yep.

 

Damontae Kazee fined $10,026 for hit on Cam Newton...

Falcons safety Damontae Kazee has apologized for his hit on Cam Newton on Sunday, and the NFL is trying to make him a little sorrier.

Kazee was fined $10,026 by the NFL for the hit, which also drew an ejection.

That $10,026 fine is the standard for a first-offense unnecessary roughness penalty, but Kazee is lucky he didn’t get worse. Newton was in a feet-first slide when Kazee hit him in the head. That easily could have drawn a suspension, which would have cost him a game check, which at his salary is $32,647.

This was the second high-profile penalty drawn by Kazee in the last month. In the preseason, Kazee caused Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee to suffer a serious knee injury when Kazee lowered his helmet into Lee’s knee. Kazee was flagged for that hit but not fined. (PFT)

 

Buster Skrine fined $10,026 for facemask...

Dolphins receiver Jakeem Grant accused Jets cornerback Buster Skrine of a “dirty hit.” The NFL called it unnecessary roughness and fined Skrine $10,026.

Officials flagged Skrine for a facemask penalty in last week’s game.

It appeared to be closer to a clothesline play, and Grant compared it to something he would see in pro wrestling.

“Yeah, it was a dirty hit,” Grant said, via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. “But I don’t think they’re trying to target me because of their size. I think they’re just trying to make a play. I gave him a good move. The only thing he could do was facemask me or simply miss the tackle.”

Skrine tied for the team high with seven tackles against the Dolphins. (PFT)

 

Questionable players are uncertain to play, doubtful players are unlikely to play and out should be self-explanatory. Players who are on active rosters and don’t appear below should be considered healthy enough to play barring any announcements on Saturday. The teams playing on Monday night won’t release their injury reports until Saturday and are not listed here.


With that housekeeping out of the way, here are all the injury reports for Sunday.

Saints at Falcons

Saints DT Tyeler Davison (foot) and LB Manti Te'o (knee) are both out and make up the team’s entire injury report this week.

RB Devonta Freeman (knee), DE Takkarist McKinley (groin), LB Corey Nelson (calf) and DE Derrick Shelby (groin) have been ruled out by the Falcons.

Broncos at Ravens

The Broncos didn’t rule out any players this week. CB Adam Jones (thigh), LB Brandon Marshall (knee), S Dymonte Thomas (abdomen), and T Jared Veldheer (concussion) are considered questionable to play.

The Ravens got LB C.J. Mosley (knee) back at practice Thursday, but he sat out on Friday and was listed as questionable. CB Anthony Averett (hamstring), DT Willie Henry (abdomen) and TE Hayden Hurst (foot) were ruled out. LB Matt Judon (hamstring), DT Michael Pierce (foot) and T Ronnie Stanley (elbow) also drew questionable tags.

Bengals at Panthers

Bengals RB Joe Mixon (knee) and C Billy Price (foot) will not play this weekend. LB Preston Brown (ankle) and DE Michael Johnson (knee) were listed as questionable.

TE Greg Olsen (foot), WR Curtis Samuel (medical illness), S Da'Norris Searcy (concussion) and G Trai Turner (concussion) will miss this Sunday’s game for the Panthers. WR Damiere Byrd (knee) and CB Donte Jackson (groin) were listed as questionable.

Giants at Texans

The Giants ruled out CB Eli Apple (groin) and LB Olivier Vernon (ankle).

CB Kayvon Webster (Achilles) is out for the Texans. WR Sammie Coates (hamstring), WR Keke Coutee (hamstring) and TE Jordan Thomas (hip) are considered questionable to play this Sunday.

Titans at Jaguars

Titans coach Mike Vrabel said he’ll make a call in the next 24 hours about QB Marcus Mariota (right elbow).T Jack Conklin (knee), LB Kamalei Correa (back) and S Kendrick Lewis (foot) are also questionable while RB David Fluellen (groin) and T Dennis Kelly (illness) are out for the Titans.

G A.J. Cann (triceps), RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring), CB D.J. Hayden (toe), CB Jalen Ramsey (ankle) and RB T.J. Yeldon (ankle) have been listed as questionable this week.

49ers at Chiefs

49ers G Joshua Garnett (toe) was ruled out on Friday. WR Marquise Goodwin (quadricep) and S Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) are listed as questionable.

It looks like another week with no S Eric Berry (heel) for the Chiefs. He was listed as doubtful along with LB Ben Niemann (hamstring). RB Spencer Ware (knee) is likelier to play after being listed as questionable.

Raiders at Dolphins

DT P.J. Hall (ankle) remains out for the Raiders. CB Nick Nelson (hamstring) is listed as questionable.

The Dolphins only listed S Reshad Jones (shoulder) on this week’s injury report. Jones is questionable to play.

Bills at Vikings

RB LeSean McCoy (rib) is questionable after a week of limited practices for the Bills. CB Phillip Gaines (elbow), CB Taron Johnson (shoulder), RB Taiwan Jones (head), and WR Ray-Ray McCloud (knee) are also listed as questionable while DE Shaq Lawson (hamstring) is out.

RB Dalvin Cook (hamstring), DE Everson Griffen (knee), TE David Morgan (knee), and CB Marcus Sherels (ribs) were ruled out by the Vikings.

Colts at Eagles

The Colts had a big group of players ruled out on Friday. DT Denico Autry (ankle), T Anthony Castonzo (hamstring), TE Jack Doyle (hip), RB Marlon Mack (foot, hamstring), DT Hassan Ridgeway (calf) and CB Quincy Wilson (concussion) will all miss the trip to Philly. S Clayton Geathers (knee, elbow) and CB Chris Milton (concussion) are questionable.

Running backs Jay Ajayi (back) and Darren Sproles (hamstring) are out and Corey Clement (quad) is questionable, so the Eagles have some injury issues in their backfield. LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (groin), WR Alshon Jeffery (shoulder) and T Jason Peters (quad) are also questionable, although Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Friday that Jeffery has yet to be cleared.

Packers at Washington

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (knee) is listed as questionable and set to practice on Saturday. LB Oren Burks (shoulder), CB Davon House (biceps) and S Josh Jones (ankle) drew the same listing while CB Kevin King (groin) has been ruled out.

S Troy Apke (hamstring) and G Shawn Lauvao (calf) will not be in the Washington lineup this week. LB Zach Brown (oblique), WR Maurice Harris (concussion) and WR Paul Richardson (shoulder, knee) are listed as questionable.

Chargers at Rams

T Joe Barksdale (knee) and DE Joey Bosa (foot) will miss the battle for Los Angeles. WR Travis Benjamin (foot), TE Antonio Gates (illness) and RB Derek Watt (thumb) are all listed as questionable.

Rams K Greg Zuerlein (groin) is out and LB Mark Barron (ankle) is unlikely to play given his doubtful tag.

Bears at Cardinals

The Bears have ruled out CB Marcus Cooper (hamstring) and S DeAndre Houston-Carson (forearm) for this Sunday.

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday and drew a questionable tag on Friday. S Rudy Ford (ankle), LB Dennis Gardeck (ankle), DE Markus Golden (knee), and TE Jermaine Gresham (achilles) are also questionable for the home team. DT Olsen Pierre (toe) and T Andre Smith (elbow) have been ruled out.

Cowboys at Seahawks

Cowboys DT Maliek Collins (knee) and C Travis Frederick (illness) will be out this Sunday. WR Cole Beasley (ankle), LB Sean Lee (hamstring) and S Xavier Woods (hamstring) all drew questionable tags.

WR Doug Baldwin (knee), G Ethan Pocic (ankle) and LB K.J. Wright (knee) have been ruled out by the Seahawks. C Justin Britt (shoulder) and LB Mychal Kendricks (ankle) will be game-time decisions after being listed as questionable.

Patriots at Lions

WR Josh Gordon (hamstring) is considered questionable to play in his first game since being traded to the Patriots. TE Jacob Hollister (chest) has been ruled out and two others — S Patrick Chung (concussion) and DE Trey Flowers (concussion) — are set to miss the game after being listed as doubtful. T Marcus Cannon (calf), CB Keion Crossen (hamstring), S Nate Ebner (hip) and CB Eric Rowe (groin) join Gordon in the questionable category.

The Lions ruled out T Andrew Donnal (knee). DE Ziggy Ansah (shoulder), LB Eli Harold (hip), WR Marvin Jones (ankle), G T.J. Lang (back), TE Michael Roberts (knee) and CB Darius Slay (concussion) are questionable for Sunday night’s game. (PFT)

 

Are You Ready...

 

If I had to pick 3 games this week that interest me the most I’m going with CIN vs CAR, CHI vs ARI and DAL vs SEA.

 

I'll be paying attention to CIN @ CAR, DEN @ BAL and PIT @ T.B. (for obvious reasons).

 

That CIN/CAR match-up looks like it could be the game of the week.