NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Robert Nkemdiche era is over in Arizona.

The Cardinals announced on Saturday night that they’ve released the 29th pick in the 2016 draft, as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract.

The move comes just before Nkemdiche would have earned a $400,000 roster bonus, due on the fifth day of training camp.

He’ll enter waivers with no guarantees in his contract — and with the $400,000 roster bonus due soon. It will be interesting to see whether the Buccaneers make a run at Nkemdiche, given that Bucs coach Bruce Arians led the Cardinals when Nkemdiche was drafted, and in light of the extended absence of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

After notching zero sacks in his first two NFL seasons, Nkemdiche managed 4.5 in 2018. He has appeared in 27 of 48 games, earning $6.975 million during his time in the NFL.

 

Landon Collins warns Dave Gettleman not to get close during pregame warmups

Landon Collins left the Giants for Washington this offseason, and he does not have fond memories of Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman.

Asked on NFL Network what he’ll do when the teams meet this season if he sees Gettleman on the field during pregame warmups, Collins said he’d look for an excuse to run into Gettleman.

“I would try to tell one of my defensive back coaches, Throw the ball in that direction. Give him a nice little thud, a little run over,” Collins said.

Would Collins knock Gettleman on his butt?

“I don’t think he’s got the skill level to stay on his feet,” Collins said.

It’s easy to see why Collins isn’t thrilled that Gettleman didn’t give him big money to stay with the Giants, but Gettleman actually did Collins a favor by not slapping the franchise tag on him and instead letting Collins shop himself to the highest bidder. Maybe Collins should give Gettleman a break, and just leave him alone when their teams face off this season.

(PFT)
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Shouldn't that threat be a suspension?

 

Chiefs corner Keith Reaser carted off, team fears Achilles tear



Chiefs cornerback Keith Reaser was carted off the practice field this morning, and the early indications are not positive.

According to Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said it looked like Reaser suffered a torn Achilles.

Reaser spent most of 2017 on the Chiefs practice squad and was released last season with an injury settlement.

He played for Orlando in the AAF, and had three interceptions in eight games before the league folded.

A former fifth-round pick of the 49ers, Reaser has played in 38 games.

(PFT)

 

Jerry Jones: You don’t need the rushing champ to win a Super Bowl



The Cowboys won three Super Bowls with Emmitt Smith as their top running back and Smith was the leading rusher in the NFL in each of those seasons.

One might assume that would work in Ezekiel Elliott‘s favor when it comes to hammering out a new deal with the team. Elliott has led the NFL in rushing two of the last three years and the team went to the postseason each year.

They didn’t win the Super Bowl, however, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pointed out in an interview with CBS DFW that having the rushing champ isn’t a prerequisite for winning the big one.

“The point there is, you don’t have to have a rushing champion to win a Super Bowl . . . Emmitt was the first one to do it . . . . That’s one of the dilemmas at running back is that the league knows that you can win Super Bowls and not have the Emmitt Smith back there or not have Zeke back there,” Jones said. “You’ve gotta do all of the things along with having Zeke that allow you to have other players so that you can win the Super Bowl. That’s what we’re going through.”

The Cowboys have a couple of other players to pay right now and neither quarterback Dak Prescott nor wide receiver Amari Cooper has a team option on their contract for the 2020 season. That may wind up working against ending a holdout that’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
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No, but it sure helps.

 

Falcons line “a work in progress”



It’s reasonable to think the Falcons offense might not be clicking at the moment, with wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley on the sidelines.

But they’re also getting used to a new look up front, after their offseason rebuild of the offensive line.

After spending in free agency on James Carpenter and Jamon Brown, the Falcons used a pair of first-round picks on Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary as they worked to protect quarterback Matt Ryan a little better. Given that turnover, expecting a smooth transition would be unfair.

“You’ve got four news guys in the building that are talented, tough and add to the unit as a whole,” Ryan said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Right now, it’s a work in progress. We are figuring out who fits well together and who fits where. I’m just happy with the way those guys are approaching it, working it and competing in a good way to make us better.

“Guys have worked really hard, but we’ve got a long way to go to be the kind of football team that we want to be. We’ve got a lot of hard work in front of us.”

By playing in the Hall of Fame Game Thursday, the Falcons had an extra week of work. But during recent scrimmages, the first offense has been unable to sustain drives, suggesting the extra time is needed.

 

When the Raiders signed linebacker Vontaze Burfict after he was released by the Bengals earlier this year, part of the explanation for the move was that Burfict was well versed in defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s scheme after their shared time in Cincinnati.

That experience showed itself during the offseason program and it has continued to be in evidence at training camp. Linebacker Brandon Marshall called Burfict “one of the smartest football players I’ve played with” and several other young players on the defense say they’ve benefitted from Burfict’s knowledge of the system.

Burfict said that providing that assistance has been a plus for his own game.

“It kind of keeps me sharp on my game. You know, if you’re not talking football, if you’re not thinking about football, then what are we here for,” Burfict said, via the San Jose Mercury News. “So, like a lot of guys want to watch film with me to see how much I know. At the same time I’m coaching them, I’m coaching myself. I enjoy being a leader and I want all 11 to think the same way when we’re out there so we can all play fast.”

The Raiders would like to have Burfict manning a pivotal role in their defense well beyond training camp. Recent history — he hasn’t played more than 11 games in a year since 2013 — suggests that may not happen, but his contributions to the unit apparently aren’t going to be limited to on-field work.

(PFT)

 

Jerry isn't wrong - about his assertion about a team needing a rushing champion - but Dallas' offense will look vastly different (i.e., less effective) if they're trotting out Alfred Morris and seventh-round rookie Mike Weber against the Giants opening day.

 

Axe are you worried this holdout goes on for a long time ?

 

Him and Gordon. RBs think that the holdout is their only negotiation tool.

 

Gidi........did you see where Levon Bell apologies to Fantasy owners for last year's disaster.

 

He isn't wrong, but he needs Zeke. To big of a piece to just put a plug-n-play type player in there, in my opinion.

I think there is a lot of posturing going on and a war of words by both sides... neither side wants to budge, but in the long run, Jerry better break out the checkbook and Zeke better be fair also.

Good luck...

 

Right now, no - it's too early to worry. But I recognize that Zeke has a knucklehead gene...

 

https://popculture.com/sports/2019/07/30/roger-goodell-testify-nfc-championship-game/

 

Michael Thomas is getting paid!

The Saints and Thomas have agreed on a 5 year deal worth $100M ($61M guaranteed).

 

WOW 61M guaranteed

 

I guess it pays to hold out these days. A new bar/standard has been set...

 

The family of Pro Football Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti announced on Wednesday that he has died at the age of 78.

Buoniconti was a 13th round pick of the Patriots in the 1962 AFL Draft after playing tackle at Notre Dame, but switched to linebacker and went on to make five All-Star teams in his first six years with the team. He was traded to the Dolphins and continued to excel as a fixture of the No-Name Defense that helped the Dolphins win two straight Super Bowls under head coach Don Shula.

Buoniconti played his final season in 1976 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

After retiring as a player, Buoniconti remained in the football world as a co-host of Inside the NFL. He also supported research into treatments for paralysis after his son Marc was paralyzed by a neck injury suffered while playing football.

Marc Buoniconti remembered his father with a post on the website of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

“My dad has been my hero and represents what I have always aspired to be; a leader, a mentor and a champion. He selflessly gave all to football, to his family and to those who are less fortunate. He made a promise to me that turned into a revolution in paralysis research. We can best honor his dedication and endless commitment by continuing with our work until that promise is fulfilled and a cure is found.”

In recent years, Buoniconti was outspoken about the belief that he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy as a result of hits to the head during his football career. He said he would donate his brain to CTE research after his death.

Our condolences go out to Buoniconti’s family and loved ones.

(PFT)
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Another great player from my youth passes. I'll always remember Nick... RIP

 

Now lets play ball !!!!!!

 

He's gonna say what's already been said. "WE SCREWED UP !"

 

We've got one of the to two QB's in the NFL, One the top two RB's in the NFC and certainly a top 10 WR. As long as we can keep these guys on their feet all year, we can't possibly screw it up this year.