NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Patriots WR Julian Edelman undergoes knee surgery, will miss game at Bills

Julian Edelman won't suit up for the 2-4 Patriots against the rival 5-2 Bills this Sunday in a matchup that could allow Buffalo to pull further away from the back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back AFC East champs in the division.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Edelman is out this week due to a knee injury that has been bothering the wideout all season.

Edelman recently underwent surgery on the knee, Rapoport added, which explains why he missed Thursday's practice.

Edelman was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday.

Like most of the Patriots' passing attack, Edelman has been mostly nonexistent this season. In six games, he has generated 21 catches for 315 yards and zero TDs. Outside of his eight-catch, 179-yard Week 2 against a historically bad Seattle defense, Edelman hasn't cleared the 60-yard receiving mark. The past four weeks, he's averaged two catches for 19.75 yards.

How long the 34-year-old will miss after the knee procedure remains to be seen. After Sunday's battle against Buffalo, the Patriots face the Jets and Ravens in prime-time affairs.

NFL.com

 

You think he would net a 1st?

 

I really don't think the Pats would want the Bills to have Gilmore back. Best Man CB joining the best Zone CB is a nightmare for offenses.

 

Blidi Wreh-Wilson interception of Teddy Bridgewater seals 25-17 Falcons win over Panthers



The Atlanta Falcons have seen many games slip away in the late stages this season. But Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons managed to seal the deal.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson intercepted Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgwater inside the final minute as Atlanta held on for a 25-17 victory.

Younghoe Koo converted four field goals and Matt Ryan and Todd Gurley each rushed for touchdowns as the Falcons earned their second win of the season. Wreh-Wilson’s interception combined with a pair of fourth down stops defensiveline for Atlanta also contributed to the victory.

The game could have been much more heavily weighted toward the Falcons if their red zone offense had been more effective. The Falcons constantly managed to drive inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line but weren’t effective once they got there. Atlanta settled for three field goal attempts and a lone touchdown on four trips inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line in the first half.

Koo converted field goals from 20, 37 and 36 yards with Matt Ryan scoring on a 13-yard scramble as the Falcons built a 16-14 lead at halftime.

Ryan completed 21 of 30 passes for 281 yards with an interception and his rushing touchdown for Atlanta. Julio Jones caught seven of those passes for 137 yards.

Meanwhile, Curtis Samuel scored on a 12-yard run and caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Bridgewater for the Panthers before the break.

Carolina had two straight drives split between the second and third quarters that resulted in failed fourth downs. Bridgewater was tracked down by Foye Oluokun on a fourth-and-1 carry and Mike Davis was stopped on a fourth-and-1 run to thwart potential scoring chances for the Panthers.

Koo added his fourth field goal, a 29-yard kick, in the third quarter to increase Atlanta’s lead to 19-14 before Joey Slye‘s 39-yard conversion closed the gap again for the Panthers.

Davis had 66 yards on 13 carries for Carolina.

Gurley scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 11:01 left to play that could have made it a two-score game. However, Younghoe Koo missed the ensuing extra point to keep the deficit at eight, 25-17, and the game within reach.

Gurley would then make a mental error for a second straight week as he ran out of bounds to stop the clock on a third-and-14 run that allowed the Panthers to get the ball back without the clock running down any further. It gave the Panthers the ball back with 2:58 remaining.

A 42-yard strike from Bridgewater to Moore on third-and-18 moved the Panthers inside Atlanta territory with less than two minutes to play. However, Bridgewater was then picked off by Wreh-Wilson with a minute remaining to end the Panthers chances.

Bridgewater was briefly knocked from the game after taking an illegal hit from defensive end Charles Harris in the third quarter. He was cleared of a concussion and missed several plays due to a neck injury before returning to the game. P.J. Walker took the snaps in place of Bridgewater for Carolina. Harris was ejected from the game for the shot to Bridgewater’s head.

Bridgewater completed 15 of 23 passes for 176 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception.

NBC

 

Julio Jones matches Randy Moss with 35th career 125-yard game



Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones had 137 receiving yards on Thursday night, putting him in some very elite company in NFL history.

Jones now has 35 career games with at least 125 receiving yards. That ties him with Randy Moss, who also had 35 such games in his career.

Only Jerry Rice, who had 49 games of 125 or more yards, had more such games in NFL history. Even though NFL passing offenses are putting up stats like never before, no one is close to catching Rice’s career receiving records.

Jones went through a rough stretch this season, missing two games and playing sparingly in two others because of a hamstring injury. But when healthy he’s been as good as any receiver in the NFL this season. And he’s one of the best ever.

NBC

 

Unlikely but I don't think a 2nd is out of the question.

 

John Schneider isn't afraid to deal picks.

 

Report: Stephon Gilmore tweaks knee at practice on Thursday



In the looming battle of Stephon vs. Stefon, the “ph” version may not be available.

Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore popped up on Thursday’s injury report as limited with a knee problem. He hadn’t been listed on Tuesday.

Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Gilmore “tweaked” the knee. It was bad enough to trigger an MRI.

Per the report, the injury was deemed minor. He’ll get a label, if any, regarding his availability later today.

Gilmore’s name has percolated in trade chatter in advance of the deadline. If the Patriots lose on Sunday, it could be fire-sale time for the Patriots.

Before then, the Patriots will need someone to cover receiver Stefon Diggs. It make not be Stephon G.

NBC

 

Ronnie Stanley said in August that a new contract wasn’t a top priority for him this year, but he won’t be hitting the open market in 2021.

Stanley is in the final year of his rookie deal, but he and the Ravens have moved to make sure that he’ll remain in Baltimore for years to come. The team announced that Stanley has signed a five-year extension with the team on Friday.

The team did not disclose any financial terms of the deal, but multiple reports say it has a maximum value of over $112 million with more than $70 million in total guarantees.

Stanley has started all 61 games he’s played for the Ravens since joining the team and he was named a first-team All-Pro last year. He’s set to make his 62nd start against the Steelers this Sunday.

NBC

 

Aaron Jones will miss another game with calf injury



The Vikings plan to have their starting running back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Packers, but Green Bay won’t be in the same boat.

Aaron Jones has been ruled out for the second week in a row as a result of the calf injury that he suffered late last week. Jones missed all three days of practice this week and will shoot for Week 9 against the 49ers instead.

Jones will have a short week to get ready for action as the Packers will face the Niners on Thursday night.

Jamaal Williams got the start in Jones’ place last week and AJ Dillon took on the No. 2 role in the backfield.

NBC

 

Ravens sign Ronnie Stanley to five-year, $98.75 million contract extension

The Baltimore Ravens locked up star left tackle Ronnie Stanley through the 2025 season.

The team announced it signed the Pro Bowl blindside blocker to a five-year contract extension.

The deal is worth $98.75 million in new money with a max value of $100 million, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Add in his 2020 salary, and the deal comes to $112.866 million in max value, with $58 million in new guarantees and $65.569 million in total guarantees including this year. Stanley will earn a whopping $47.116 million by March 31, 2021.

Stanley gets $22.5 million in a signing bonus with a $16.25 million option bonus received by March. His deal also comes with $1.25 million in Pro Bowl incentives each year.

The $19.75 million per year in new money makes Stanley the second highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. Laremy Tunsil's $22 million per year on a three-year deal is the only higher contract for an O-lineman. Stanley's deal is tops in terms of max value and total guarantees.

NFL.com

 

The Ravens are going to cap hell when Jackson wants to be paid

 

Wow that some crazy money

 

The Ravens are going to cap hell when Jackson wants to be paid

Gidi correct me if I'm wrong......Lamar makes 2.2 M $ / Year and Patrick Mahomes makes 50 M $ /Year.

WOW Baltimore has a Problem.

 

You're wrong. Jackson is still playing on his rookie contract. Not if - but when the Ravens exercise their 5th year option, that $2.2M cap hit becomes about a $28M cap hit. They currently have only about $3M in cap space.

 

Jon Bostic fined only $12,000 for hit that knocked out Andy Dalton



The NFL’s system of fining players is the resulted of a negotiated process with the NFL Players Association. That doesn’t necessarily make it seem fair and reasonable, in application.

Case in point: Washington linebacker Jon Bostic was fined a mere $12,000 for the illegal hit on Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton that knocked Dalton out of the game and left him with a concussion that will keep him from playing on Sunday night at Philadelphia.

Bostic was ejected for the illegal hit and not suspended.

Again, the punishments are largely automatic and the product of fairly mechanical application of the agreed-to fine schedule. It would seem, however, that the league and the union would agree to a more stringent punishment in situations like this, where a reckless technique inflicts a head injury.

NBC

 

If it’s your first fine it’s usually not a lot of money.

 

They have to decide on the fifth year this offseason

 

Steelers, Wow !