NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Calvin Johnson is in no mood to deal with the Lions, but other NFL teams he’s willing to visit.

Megatron is at the Falcons’ minicamp today, and he was seen on the field talking to owner Arthur Blank and head coach Dan Quinn.

Johnson was born and raised in the Atlanta area and went to college in Atlanta at Georgia Tech. He still has plenty of ties to the area, and those ties extend to the Falcons.

At the same time, Johnson has no remaining ties to the management of the Lions. Johnson said two weeks ago that he still resents the Lions forcing him to pay back a portion of his signing bonus when he retired, and until the Lions show him the money, he’s not going to be involved with the team he played his entire career for.

It appears that Johnson is now a Falcons fan, not a Lions fan.
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Come back? Money talks... a lot.

 

It's funny all this is all due to the cap. If there was no cap he would never have had to pay it back, nor would the team not want to pay it back now.

 

Saints sign Rishard Matthews...



Veteran wide receiver Rishard Matthews tried out for the Saints during this week’s minicamp and he’s set to be with the team at training camp as well.

The NFL’s daily transaction report brought word of Matthews’s signing on Thursday afternoon. The team waived wide receiver Travin Dural to make room for Matthews on the roster.

Matthews opened last season with the Titans, but asked for and was granted his release in late September. He signed with the Jets in October and had two catches for 13 yards before landing on injured reserve. He had 228 catches for 3,147 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Titans and Dolphins before landing with the Jets.

The Saints also added Chad Hansen to their receiving group this week and have 13 wideouts on the roster overall.

 

Pat Bowlen, the principal owner of the Denver Broncos since 1984, passed away Thursday night at age 75 after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

The Broncos released a statement from the Bowlen family just after midnight in Denver announced his passing.

“We are saddened to inform everyone that our beloved husband and father, Pat Bowlen, passed on to the next chapter of his life late Thursday night peacefully at home surrounded by family. His soul will live on through the Broncos, the city of Denver and all of our fans.

“Our family wishes to express its sincere gratitude for the outpouring of support we have received in recent years. Heaven got a little bit more orange and blue tonight.

“Pat Bowlen had a competitive spirit with a great sense of humor. As fun-loving as he was, he always wanted us to understand the big picture. We will forever remember his kindness and humility.

“More important than being an incredible owner, Pat Bowlen was an incredible human being.”

Bowlen’s illness was first announced by the team in July 2014. He stepped down from the day-to-day operations of the team and placed eventual stewardship into the hands of a three-person group of trustees. While family infighting over the controlling interest of the franchise has been a legal battle since, Bowlen’s wife, Annabel, and his seven children: Amie, Beth, Patrick, Johnny, Brittany, Annabel and Christianna, were all named in the statement released by the team early Friday morning.

With Bowlen as owner, the Broncos have won three Super Bowls, appeared in four more, won the AFC West 13 times and made 18 total playoff appearances. Bowlen is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August after being elected in the contributor category in January.

Bowlen is the fifth majority owner of an NFL team to pass away since the start of 2018. Tom Benson (Saints, March 2018), Alex Spanos (Chargers, October 2018), Paul Allen (Seahawks, October 2018) and Bob McNair (Texans, November 2018) have also died in the last 18 months. (PFT)

 

Vets addressed Duke Johnson remarks with Mayfield...

Baker Mayfield wasn't pleased with how Duke Johnson handled his situation, including a trade request, last week during the team's minicamp.

Some Cleveland Browns teammates weren't pleased with how the quarterback handled his response.

NFL Network's Michael Silver reported Thursday that, according to multiple sources, several veteran Browns players approached Mayfield in the locker room after the QB's critical comments about Johnson to register their displeasure and hash out their differences.
"So it is rather striking for a player to get involved in a teammate's business in anything but a supportive role," Silver said on NFL Network's Inside Minicamp Camp Live. "We saw it last year with the Steelers and Le'Veon Bell -- that was an anomaly. Baker Mayfield is the clear leader of that (locker room) but I'm told by multiple sources that several veterans came up to him in the locker room after those comments about Duke Johnson and let's say voiced their displeasure, saying, 'Listen it's one thing to be the leader but this is a guy who is going through something, it's business and we need to support him.' Baker may not have agreed with them, but he heard them and so that is something to keep an eye on as a very, very talented team gets ready for what could be a big season."

Last week, after Johnson reiterated he'd prefer to be traded, Mayfield essentially said good riddance.

"That's something that we've been dealing with for a while," Mayfield said at the time, via The Plain Dealer. "If we have guys that want to be here, they'll show that, they'll voice that. Obviously he's going to handle his stuff how he wants, but you're either on this train or you're not, it's moving. You can get out of the way or you can join us. So it is what it is."

Mayfield also said Johnson's situation was "self-inflicted."

"I wouldn't say I'm not happy about it," Mayfield added. "It's just the way he's handled it. It can be a stir-up in the media, it can be however it wants, but if somebody wants to be here, they'll be here in that situation. You've got guys within our locker room that are dying to get playing time, that are dying to be here, and I get it...."

Conversely, Jarvis Landry spoke in support of Johnson.

"I hope he understands and feels that guys are here for him, whether he is here or not, that the relationship goes beyond the player, the person as well, so I definitely hope he understands that and knows that there are guys that are here for him," the receiver said.

The Browns don't practice again until training camp in late July, when the locker room will reconvene to hash out any lingering issues, if they even remain relevant by then.

Silver also noted that head coach Freddie Kitchens is playing a bigger role in the offensive installation through June practices. (NFL.com)

 

The Texans’ General Manager’s office will remain vacant.

After trying and failing to lure Nick Caserio from New England, the Texans have decided not to hire anyone at all, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Instead, head coach Bill O’Brien will team up with Executive Vice President of Team Development Jack Easterby to handle the personnel duties, in consultation with the Texans’ scouting department.

That means O’Brien is getting a firmer grip on power within the franchise, and Easterby’s rise up the ranks continues. Easterby just got hired this year but has already acquired significant power in the organization.

It’s unclear whether the Texans will hire a new G.M. before free agency next year. It seems likely that if this year goes well, Texans CEO Cal McNair will figure O’Brien and Easterby have earned personnel authority on a permanent basis. If this year goes poorly, a new G.M. is likely to come in — and then questions will be raised about what that new G.M. thinks of O’Brien and Easterby.

 

Cowboys TE Rico Gathers suspended for Week 1...

Months before the season begins, we know at least one player who won't suit up for Week 1.

Cowboys tight end Rico Gathers has been suspended without pay for the first game of the regular season for violating the NFL's policy and program on substances of abuse, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The team later confirmed the suspension.

The violation came as a result of his 2018 arrest for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Gathers can participate in the team's offseason and preseason practices and games. He can return to the active roster on Monday, Sept. 9 after the season opener.

Gathers, 25, has struggled on the field since being drafted by Dallas in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has just three career catches in 15 games played.

 

Michael Roberts isn't joining the Patriots after all...

One day after Detroit traded the tight end to New England on Thursday in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2020, the pact has been voided.

Roberts was reverted to the Lions' roster and was subsequently waived, the team confirmed Friday.

Roberts battled injuries during his two seasons in Detroit, which hindered his impact on the field. The 2017 fourth-round pick compiled just 100 receiving yards in eight games last season.

While the trade did not fully materialize, Roberts could end up joining the tight end-needy Patriots via the waiver wire at no cost to their future draft picks.

 

Michael Irvin says Cowboys should pay Dak Prescott...

Count Michael Irvin among the group of Dak Prescott supporters.

After a report from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram claiming that Prescott's agent has "broached" a deal in the range of $34 million per year, Irvin loudly voiced his support for Prescott.

"Every minute you wait, it's costing money," Irvin said, via 105.3 The Fan. "This is an asset that's trending in the right direction. You got to pay him this money."

The Prescott contract talk has intensified since Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz -- a fellow 2016 draftee -- signed a four-year extension worth an average annual value of $32 million (contract worth up to $144 million, $66 million guaranteed). Now, Prescott and Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, are waiting on their own extensions.

Irvin believes Prescott will command more than Wentz -- and if the Cowboys don't oblige, the team is in trouble.

"Dak's agents aren't gonna let you come in under Carson Wentz," Irvin said. "If they don't pay Dak, we can all pack it up and go home. It's over. How are you going to get anything out of the other guys if they're seeing that you aren't taking care of the top guy? Why should I give you all I got? You got to be smart about this, and this is a no-brainer."

Prescott is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season because he was a fourth-round pick. Goff and Wentz -- the top two overall picks in the 2016 draft, respectively -- have similar four-year rookie deals, but first-round picks have a fifth-year team option as well. This makes the sense of urgency with Prescott higher than Goff.

Prescott has publicly stated his desire to work out a deal, but notes that he "can't really say" how close an agreement is because his agent is handling negotiations.

"I want to be a Cowboy forever," Prescott said in May, via DallasCowboys.com. "I think the people that are doing the deal feel the same way. So to me, it's no rush. I know it will get done."

In his first three seasons with Dallas, Prescott has started all 48 games (32-16 record), throwing 67 touchdowns to 25 interceptions and leading the Cowboys to the playoffs twice. He is a two-time Pro Bowler. (NFL.com)
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I say; Pay the man...

 

Spotty offseason attendance fueled Desmond Harrison’s release from the Browns...



When it comes to players skipping voluntary offseason workouts, coaches know to tiptoe around saying anything that would indicate that the voluntary offseason workouts actually aren’t voluntary.

The situation becomes a bit more complicated when a player intends to participate in offseason workouts, but misses one or more of them.

The abrupt decision of the Browns to release tackle Desmond Harrison during the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp came with a vague explanation as to the reasons for the move. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media said that Harrison “start[ed] missing or being late to responsibilities.” Since the release came after only one day of mandatory practice (and after weeks of voluntary practices) it appeared that, while the last straw came when Harrison missed the first day of mandatory minicamp, the frustration grew during the voluntary phase of the offseason program.

An article regarding Harrison in the Arizona Republic seems to support this conclusion.

“He missed a series of practices during organized team activities and according to reports, routinely showed up late for team meetings,” Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic writes. While it’s possible that the latter happened during the 2018 season, the former clearly occurred during 2019 voluntary offseason workouts.

And that raises an interesting point: Can players who plan to participate in voluntary workouts but who miss them for whatever reason have those absences counted against them? For Harrison in Cleveland, it added to the perception that Harrison can’t be relied upon, and it made the team more inclined to cut him loose when he missed the flight for the only three mandatory workdays of the offseason.

The workouts are still voluntary. But it’s abundantly clear that what players do during those workouts, and whether they show up for all of them and on time, will be a major factor in the competition that ultimately whittles the roster from 90 players to 53. Clearly, offseason habits influence the endless roster churning that has guys routinely come and go during OTAs, with players undoubtedly being cut due to perceived inadequacies in their overall performance during voluntary workouts.

So, yes, the workouts are “voluntary.” But that’s a luxury that can be exercised only by the players whose September roster spots are safe. For players No. 30 (or so) through No. 90 on the roster, not choosing to attend, failing to show up consistently while attending, and/or not performing well enough during the workouts can, and often will, get you fired. (PFT)

 

This pretty much sums it up.

 

That means that the cowboys should cut Dak because everything that Irvin says is shit.

 

Unless he's giving you advice about hookers and blow. Then you shut up and listen.

 

LOL

 

Wow, Micheal Roberts waived again... this time because of failed physical with Packers.

 

NFL finalizes pass interference replay for 2019 season...

The pass interference review rule for the 2019 season is officially finalized.

The NFL Competition Committee unanimously recommended the rule for instant replay of pass interference for this season only, the league announced Thursday. This comes exactly one week after the league announced teams had a week to provide additional feedback on the final rule.

According to the final rule, pass interference reviews after the two-minute warning of each half and during overtime will be initiated by the replay official. The replay official will only stop the game when there is "clear and obvious visual evidence" that a pass interference penalty may or may not have occurred.

In an effort to limit excessive stoppages, any stoppage will occur under stricter criteria than other reviewable plays. Calls will only be reversed based on "clear and obvious visual evidence" that an incorrect call was made, which is the same standard for all reviews.

Even under two minutes, all passing plays can be reviewed for pass interference. Any "Hail Mary" play at the end of a half or game will be reviewed in replay consistent with the guidelines for officiating the play on the field.

 

Not NFL but it's football and this took BALLS.
He didn't give the single, avoided a tackle at the 1 and then went back into his own endzone before a 113 yard missed FG return TD. That took big skills and a big pair.

 

Watched it 3 times.




And down 41-6 when that happened.

Sometimes ?? It's just not your day.

 

I forgot the CFL started. I like some football in the Summer from Canada anyways. Looks like the league is putting up some big scores/numbers... good stuff from the little ive seen.

CFL.ca is a good site for those of you interested.

 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..........CFL means "Cash Flow Low".........lol

I do admit to following the BC Lions (Vancouver) ....who are 0-2...But overall find the League boring.......TERRIBLE reffing....Huge Field.....TWO 50 yard Lines.