MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Jaguars to bench Blake Bortles for Cody Kessler...

The coordinator isn’t the only thing changing in Jacksonville today.

Coach Doug Marrone just announced to reporters that Cody Kessler would start this week against the Colts, instead of Blake Bortles.

That comes on the heels of this morning’s firing of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and suggests that no job is safe after a seven-game losing streak.

Bortles was 12-of-23 for 127 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in yesterday’s loss to the Jaguars.

His three-year, $54 million contract extension last offseason will create plenty of buyer’s remorse for the Jaguars, and it’s not as if anyone thinks Kessler is part of the long-term solution. (PFT)

 

Bengals place Andy Dalton on injured reserve...

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton‘s season is over.

The Bengals have placed Dalton on injured reserve after he suffered an injury to his throwing hand on Sunday.

Dalton was knocked out of Sunday’s loss to the Browns and replaced by Jeff Driskel. After the game there was some optimism in the locker room that Dalton’s injury might not be too serious, but he went through tests today that apparently showed a more serious injury than initially realized.

Driskel will make the first start of his NFL career on Sunday against the Broncos. Tom Savage has been claimed off waivers to serve as Driskel’s backup.

The Bengals’ playoff odds have gone from slim to none. (PFT)

 

Gonna go ahead and call a couple of shots here...

Blake Bortles will be signed by the Washington Redskins this off-season on a one year 'show me' kind of deal.

The Bengals will spend no less than a third round pick on a quarterback in this draft and I'm leaning towards a first round selection if they sit high enough and an option presents itself.

 

The only people in the world who thought the signing was a good thing was the jags front office and bortles. How anyone keeps their job after this season in jax is beyond me but then again I don't know what Marvin Lewis still has a job.

 

The wheels fell off in a hurry and in a big way. After last seasons run and the start they had this season, I thought they were legit. Their star RB, Fournette was incredible, stout defense, but average or even sub-par play from Bortles and they still looked strong. What a difference a season can make. They are a 1 man team and that wont cut it.

 

Bears remain unsure if Mitch Trubisky will play this week...

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky missed the Thanksgiving game in Detroit with an injured throwing shoulder. Will he also miss Sunday’s game against the Giants?

That remains up in the air.

Bears coach Matt Nagy told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Trubisky remains day-to-day and the Bears aren’t sure yet whether he can play this week.

Nagy compared the Bears’ approach with Trubisky to the team’s handling of injuries suffered by linebacker Khalil Mack and wide receiver Allen Robinson. Mack and Robinson were both held out of two consecutive games, against the Bills and the Jets, and the Bears won both games anyway. They may feel like they already beat the Lions with Chase Daniel and should be able to beat the Giants with Daniel, so it’s not worth risking Trubisky if he’s anything less than 100 percent healthy.

Trubisky’s status may not be known until Sunday, but Nagy certainly doesn’t sound like he’s in a rush to get his starting quarterback back on the field. (PFT)

 

The Bears have almost wrapped up the NFCN, but If they want a bye week they better make sure he’s ready to play and play good against the Rams.

 

Big Ben: I've 'earned the right' to criticize teammates...

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't hold back on criticizing teammates and even play-calling following Week 12's loss to the Denver Broncos.

During his weekly Tuesday radio show on 93.7 The Fan, Roethlisberger took issue with Antonio Brown's route running on a late-game interception, rookie James Washington dropping a pass and offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner not calling JuJu Smith-Schuster's number enough on the final drive.

While some could raise their eyebrows over a player publicly airing opinions, the Steelers' signal-caller believes his status on the team affords him the leverage to do it.

"I think I have earned the right to be able to do that with as long as I have been here," Roethlisberger said Wednesday, via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "and I'll just be just as critical of myself [in the media], as well."

Roethlisberger voicing a strong opinion isn't new, of course, as he hasn't shied away from calling out teammates or confronting them on the sidelines throughout his 15 seasons.

And with two Super Bowl rings and six Pro Bowl appearances in his accomplished career, the quarterback certainly has the hardware to support his standing on the roster.

"Being around for a long time with a lot of different players," Roethlisberger said. "You have to know how to motivate different guys in different ways. I think that's part of being a leader, being a captain, just understanding players. Sometimes you just grab them off to the side, and sometimes you have to be honest with them."

While he is correct in stating a leader should speak out or confront others when something is wrong, the bigger issue surrounds doing it publicly, especially when considering one of the targets of Roethlisberger's critiques fell on a four-time All-Pro wide receiver.

There's a long-standing unwritten code among players that what happens within a team should stay among those in the locker room. For a player, regardless of status, to do otherwise could cause friction and disrupt team chemistry, both of which would not be ideal for a team making a push for the postseason.

So, how does Roethlisberger think those he openly critiques -- whether it is on his radio show or through other media outlets -- will react?

"Go ask them," Roethlisberger said. "I have no idea. I would hope that they would understand that as the quarterback and the captain that I have the right to do those things. I don't feel like I abuse that situation. So I don't think it's an issue, but you would have to ask them."

Needless to say, it is reasonable to believe the question will come up in the coming days in the Steelers' locker room. (NFL.com)

 

I did not look at the interview did he call himself out for the game killing interception?

 

Good point. He made, with his statements, himself fair play also.

Im not for players, captain or not, to throw others on the team under the bus, especially publicly. Even in the locker-room it can cause a riff or even fighting, but to do so publicly is never a good idea.

Lead by example is my motto and if anything is said out-loud, let it be for lifting up and motivational, not condemning... but that's just me and my opinion.

 

I second your opinion. Shame is not a motivational tool.

 

Report: Bears plan to start Chase Daniel on Sunday...

Mitchell Trubisky was able to do enough work at practice to earn a limited listing on the Bears’ injury report Wednesday, but a return to the starting lineup may not come for at least another week.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that the Bears plan to start Chase Daniel at quarterback against the Giants on Sunday. Daniel started in Chicago’s Thanksgiving win over the Lions while Trubisky was inactive due to the right shoulder injury he is still dealing with this week.

Garafolo also reports that Trubisky could play right now, but that the team is choosing to play it safe. Head coach Matt Nagy has hinted that the team would go in this direction by comparing Trubisky’s situation to the one the team was in with linebacker Khalil Mack and wide receiver Allen Robinson earlier this season.

Both those players were held out of two straight games earlier this year to ensure they recovered fully from injuries before getting back on the field. The Bears won both of those games and they’ll be hoping that things play out the same way if Trubisky is sidelined again this week. (PFT)

 

No, that was the play he "blamed" on Brown.

He was no critical of himself in the interview, he simply said he'd earned the right to criticize, as long as he's been there, and that he would be just as critical on himself with the media...yet he wasn't... I obviously don't keep up with social media, but I haven't really heard of him being real hard on himself in the past...is he locally?

 

To bad I cant get the media to circle around me I would blame him for a Tie in one of my leagues rather than a win as his 2 interceptions led to -2 being added to his score and thus a tie.

 

Ben sure messed up a day that could have been one of his best of all time. He could have went over 500 yards and 4+ TDs if the Steelers hadn't had turnovers

 

Aaron Rodgers has an “interest on who the next guy would be”...

Duh

The elephant in the room for the Packers continues to be the relationship between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the next head coach. But everyone involved in the process is trying to downplay that reality, Rodgers included.

The 35-years-and-one-day-old quarterback met with reporters on Monday, and he tried to walk the line between making his preferences known and minding his own business.

“I’m obviously an older player in the league, I still have a number of years on my contract, would love to still play to 40, and I think there’s an interest on who the next guy would be,” Rodgers said, “but Mark [Murphy] and Brian [Gutekunst] and I have always had good lines of communication. Their offices like they say are always open . . . . I’m not needing to be involved in that process.”

So he doesn’t need to be involved, but he has an interest in who the next guy would be. Which meshes with statements from Murphy and Gutekunst from Monday that Rodgers is free to provide input, but that he’s not going to be involved in the process. Because Rodgers made it clear that he doesn’t want to essentially be his own offensive coordinator, Peyton Manning style, but that Rodgers instead wants to be coached.

“I enjoy being coached,” Rodgers said. “I think any player does. You love the conversations, the feedback, and I think any great player holds himself to really high standards so first you have to be very critical of your own performance, but it’s always nice having a voice in there that’s gonna hold you accountable. I think any player, especially an older player, you want that, you want that feedback, somebody holding you accountable, someone coaching you up.”

That’s all the more reason for Rodgers to be fully on board with whoever is coaching him up. Especially since the goal will be to get him and everyone else coached up quickly, so that the next coach can win a Super Bowl faster than McCarthy or Mike Holmgren did — in their fifth seasons on the job.

“Brian and Mark are committed to winning now,” Rodgers said, adding that a quick turnaround is “definitely doable in this day and age.”

It is, if they hire the right coach. And the right coach will be the coach who can get the most out of Aaron Rodgers, ASAFP.

Good luck doing that if Rodgers isn’t involved in the process. (PFT)

 

Falcons “concerned” about all the hits Matt Ryan’s taking...

Nothing about the Falcons season has gone according to plan, and even the stars who didn’t end up on IR have to be hurting.

Quarterback Matt Ryan has been sacked 36 times in 12 games so far this season, on pace for a career-high 48 sacks (topping the 44 he took in 2013).

That creates a reasonable concern about his condition over the last four weeks of the season.

“Well, No. 1, I’m concerned about it because if we’re not protecting him in the way that we can, then that gets hard,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “And there’s some games that the score’s out of whack and it turns into a dropback game where there’s going to be more chances for a defense to go after him.

“At the end of it, yeah, I’m concerned. But I’m as concerned about us playing as well as we can. And if we do do that, and if we play better on some of the third downs and allow some of our run game to get going again, I would anticipate those numbers going back the other way in terms of hits on Matt.”

Ryan’s being hit an average of 7.7 times per game, and has taken more than 10 hits in three games — against the Eagles, Steelers and Saints. Some of that’s reasonable after they lost both starting guards to season-ending injuries, and aren’t running the ball well in the absence of Devonta Freeman. But the biggest problem’s probably getting behind and staying behind, forcing Ryan into position to become a sitting duck. (PFT)

 

Chiefs not worried about Patrick Mahomes running...

In their first game after releasing leading rusher Kareem Hunt, the Chiefs let Patrick Mahomes run more than he had all season.

But Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that was a function of the Raiders defense, rather than a desire to cut Mahomes loose to make plays with his legs.

The MVP candidate ran nine times for 52 yards Sunday, as they chopped up the carries with Spencer Ware and Damien Williams and Tyreek Hill. Mahomes hadn’t carried more than six times in a game this year, and while some were scrambles, Reid said there were a few designed runs in there.

“Some of those were off the (run-pass option) stuff and the reads,” Reid said, via Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star. “Then he had a couple just by the way they were playing. They were pushing towards the RPO stuff and they created seams there, so we were able to attack those when we had a true pass on. . . .

“They were good adjustments, and he’s not taking big hits on those. He’s getting down, and we’re getting out of bounds — which is important. I’m not too worried about that. There are going to be games when you’ve got to do that. That’s what’s available, and you’ve got to take advantage of that. I’ve got confidence in the other guys, the other two running backs, that they can play. I don’t have a problem there.”

Combined, the Chiefs ran 30 times for 174 yards against the Raiders, who are next to last in the league in rush defense. As the competition improves, it will be interesting to see if Reid’s still as open to letting his most important offensive player take off running. (PFT)

 

Mitch Trubisky confident he'll play for Bears vs. Rams...

Mitch Trubisky is heading toward a return.

The Chicago Bears quarterback said he expects to play in Sunday's showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.

"I do. Just have to show coach," Trubisky said Wednesday, via NFL Network's Stacey Dales. "I feel confident that I'll be ready to go."

Speaking prior, Matt Nagy wouldn't state unequivocally that his starting quarterback would return after sitting out two games with a shoulder injury but sounded optimistic. The coach just wanted to see his starter on the practice field first.

"I feel strong that he will play, but I have to see more," Nagy said. "I feel good about it. I'm anxious to get him out there and see him throw the ball around in practice with the guys."

Trubisky missed the past two games after injuring his throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter of a Week 11 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on a late hit by safety Harrison Smith after a play where the QB scrambled out of the pocket.

"Arm feels really good," Trubisky said. "Just throwing as much as they'll let me and taking care of it. I'm just making sure I'm 100 percent when I get back out there."

Chase Daniel started in Trubisky's stead, leading the Bears to a victory over the Detroit Lions and an overtime loss to the New York Giants. Daniel is a fine veteran backup, but the NFC North-leading Bears need their starter back as the games begin to ramp up, starting with Sunday night's tilt versus the star-studded Rams.

Trubisky's likely return would represent a big boost for the Bears. The second-year signal-caller progressed each week under Nagy until the injury struck. His dual-threat ability to win with his arm or legs stresses defenses in ways Daniel could not.

Chicago, as it had with Khalil Mack and Allen Robinson, provided Trubisky two weeks to get as close to full health as possible.

The quarterback said Wednesday he feels "real close" to 100 percent.

With Trubisky looking like he'll be back, the Bears should be near full force as they speed towards their first postseason appearance since the 2010 season.
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I personally wouldn't want it any other way. This is going to be a good game and im curious to see how well the Bears perform.

 

If he doesnt play I dont think they have a chance vs the Rams