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Eagles sign Tartt.

 

Sweet Tartt???

 

Mark Ingram believes the Saints can “make a lot of noise”



It’s a rarity that a head coach leaves but, for the most part, the rest of the team remains the same. That’s exactly what the Saints will be doing in 2022.

Sean Payton, who arrived in 2006, is gone. But nearly everyone else is back.


One guy who knows a thing or two about the Saints, thanks to his extended time there (with a detour to the Ravens along the way) is running back Mark Ingram. Via the team’s website, Ingram recently addressed the state of the team, with Payton gone — and with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen getting the job.

“I think that was huge, keeping the DNA the same,” Ingram said. “It’s not like it’s a full rebuild here. I think you have a team that can make a lot of noise and make a run at it. Obviously, we have to improve and get better and gel as a unit, but I think keeping the DNA of the team, the culture of the team the same, I think that’s huge and I think we’ll all benefit from it.

“Obviously, D.A. is different from Sean. But D.A. has done a great job of just trying to keep it as normal as possible and adding his own kind of flavor to it. I think the defense is more used to it, because they spent so much time with him in defensive meetings. We only saw him sometimes when he had to fill in. But I like him a lot.”

Allen filled in last year for a Sunday night game against the Buccaneers. And the Saints shut out Tom Brady and his teammates, 9-0.

“I think he’s doing a great job with the team, he’s doing a great job in the team meetings, he’s doing a great job with us out there telling us let’s get our work done, let’s be efficient, let’s be effective, let’s improve, let’s work, let’s have a sense of urgency,” Ingram said. “He’s going to take care of us and get us off the field. I think he’s done a great job. Just having the same DNA, the same culture of the team, I think that’s going to be good for everyone in the locker room.”

Allen turned around a defense that had disintegrated post-bountygate. For reasons still not obvious, Allen never got any real consideration for a second chance as a head coach, following a tour of duty with the Raiders. Fortunately for the Saints, he was available to take the baton from Payton.

And Ingram is right. The Saints can make a lot of noise. They nearly made the playoffs last year, despite plenty of injuries and a Monday night COVID debacle against the Dolphins, which included an effort to get Drew Brees to unretire and Payton walking into the locker room before the game and seeing multiple players in uniform whom he didn’t recognize.

The Saints should be largely recognizable in 2022, even though Payton won’t be there. The real question is whether they’ll be as competitive without him.

PFT

 

Chase Claypool: I know I’m a top-three receiver in the NFL



The Steelers have become somewhat of a receiver factory over the years, developing some of the best players at the position.

But there’s one Pittsburgh player who thinks he should be among the highest-rated receivers going into Year Three — though he knows he still has plenty to prove.


Chase Claypool made an appearance on the latest episode of the I Am Athlete podcast and told hosts Brandon Marshall, LeSean McCoy, and Adam “Pacman” Jones just how confident he is in his ability.

“I’m going to say, my second year, I was a better player than I was my first year,” Claypool said. “The plays just didn’t work out, right? Some of the plays just didn’t go my way. I didn’t make some plays I need to make. But as a football player, understanding the game, knowing what to do, knowing where to be, I was better. So I’m going to be better this year.

“And just like you said, understanding I’m not normal — I feel that way when I’m on the field. I know for a fact I am not like the rest of the guys in the NFL. I know I’m a top-five receiver. I know I’m a top-three receiver.”

Claypool continued that he feels that way in large part because of how he’s able to execute when he’s on the field.

“When I’m working, I’m like, ‘I’m a dog.’ I’m gonna dog people that are lining up across from me, too,” Claypool said. “And I’ve just got to bring that confidence and I’ve got to bring that spirit and I’ve just got to show people. And it’s going to happen. And we’re going to rewind this and we’re going to see this clip in a little bit and they’re going to be like, ‘Damn, he was right.’”

Claypool has displayed plenty of ability in his first two seasons. He caught 62 passes for 873 yards with nine touchdowns as a rookie. But he only had a pair of TDs in 2021, catching 59 passes for 860 yards.

After Claypool made his lofty statement, McCoy wanted to hear numbers — what kind of stats does Claypool anticipate having in 2022? The receiver said 1,300 yards and 10-plus touchdowns.

That could be difficult to do with either Mitchell Trubisky, rookie Kenny Pickett, or Mason Rudolph as his quarterback in the coming season. But if Claypool isn’t confident in himself, who will be?

PFT

 

Please just shut up Claypool.

 

Marcedes Lewis wants to break the NFL record for most seasons played by a tight end



Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis is heading into his 17th NFL season, and that has him setting his sights on his own place in NFL history.

Only two tight ends have played 17 seasons, Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. No tight end has ever played 18 seasons, and that’s something Lewis wants to do.

“This year, I’ll tie the record,” Lewis said. “It would be great to break it and then I would consider, ‘OK, I’ve done that.’ Eighteen is kind of bizarre, especially at the tight end position.”


Lewis played his first 12 NFL seasons with Jacksonville and is now heading into his fifth season in Green Bay. Once he plays this season he’ll break out of a tie with Antonio Gates, Pete Metzelaars and Jackie Smith, all of whom played tight end for 16 seasons.

In addition to playing at least two more seasons, the 38-year-old Lewis says his other goal is winning a Super Bowl.

PFT

 

Rob Gronkowski announces retirement



Rob Gronkowski retired before the 2019 season but came back in 2020 to follow Tom Brady to the Buccaneers. Maybe the tight end returns again, considering he’s only 33, but Gronkowski announced Tuesday that he’s retiring.

He wrote a long post on Instagram, saying goodbye.


“In college, I was asked to write about a dream job opportunity that I wanted to pursue and where the location would be,” Gronkowski wrote. “Every time I had to write about my future, no matter what, I picked being a professional football player. For that assignment though, we had to pick the location. So I wrote that I wanted to play in Tampa for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for many reasons, the sunny weather being #1. I completely forgot about writing this report until two years ago when I had the opportunity to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And let me tell ya, the journey in Tampa over the last two years has blown away what I originally wrote about in college, big time. And for this, I want to thank the whole entire first-class Buccaneers organization for an amazing ride, trusting me to come back to play and help build a championship team.

“I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field. The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well. From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all. Buccaneers fans, the Krewe, without you guys, none of this is possible, all of ya brought it every game, thank you for all you do. Cheers to what’s next, maybe sailing the seas. Arghhhhhh!!”

Gronkowski had a fun offseason that will continue into the season unless his good friend, Brady, can entice him back. The Bucs expressed optimism all offseason that Gronkowski would return, but they drafted Washington’s Cade Otton and Minnesota’s Ko Kieft to go with Cam Brate.

Gronkowski earned base salaries of $9.25 million and $8 million with the team the past two seasons. He also reached $1 million in incentives last year. It is unknown if the sides even talked about money before Gronkowski made his decision.

Gronkowski caught 55 passes for 802 yards with six touchdowns in 2021, playing in 12 games. In his career, he has 621 receptions for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns.

If this is it, Gronkowski surely will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot after the mandatory five-year waiting period.

PFT

 

Until week 10 rolls around and a playoff bound team calls to see if he wants to join on the playoff run, lol.

 

CeeDee Lamb: Becoming the No. 1 receiver has raised the standard



CeeDee Lamb was working out in a Fort Lauderdale gym when he found out he had become the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver. Lamb said he was caught by surprise March 12 when he saw on TV that the Cowboys had traded Amari Cooper to the Browns.

That elevated Lamb to WR1.


“I was like, ‘Wow, that’s crazy,’” Lamb said on Mike Silver’s podcast, Open Mike. “And then my phone started blowing up literally minutes after. It’s been a crazy story ever since.”

In his second season, Lamb became the Cowboys’ leading receiver. That’s a big reason the team traded Cooper and his $20 million base salary in return for a fifth-round selection.

Lamb had more catches (79) and more yards (1,102) than Cooper last season and scored six touchdowns.

Lamb is ready to take on the new job title in 2022.

“It kind of, in a sense, raised the standard,” Lamb said. “Obviously, I hold myself to a high standard already, but at this moment there’s nothing else you can really do but take it on. That’s the energy I have.”

Lamb has thanked Cooper for taking him under his wing after the Cowboys drafted Lamb in the first round in 2020.

“Just wanted to thank him for everything he had done for me in the first two years,” Lamb said. “Those are real important to me and my direction and trying to find a place in this league where there’s a lot of great receivers. A lot of guys can do a lot of things well in this position. Just giving him his roses for taking me under his wing.”

PFT

 

Good Morning!

Everybody on this thing have a good and safe day!

Thats an order!

 

Mike Tomlin on Antonio Brown’s possible return: Y’all know that ain’t happening



Antonio Brown said last month he wants to retire as a member of the Steelers. The Steelers might be open to that, but they’re sure not open to the receiver’s return on more than a one-day contract.

Brown remains a free agent and has said he’s not playing in 2022, likely because he has received no interest.


Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made clear that Brown’s career in Pittsburgh is over after nine seasons.

“Y’all know that ain’t happening,” Tomlin said of Brown’s possible return while on The Pivot Podcast, via SI.com. “In terms of putting a helmet on and running out of the tunnel and playing ball and stuff like that, man. You know he’s moved on, and we’ve moved on. We can sit around and chop that up like it’s a realistic conversation, but we know that’s not realistic.”

Brown showed Hall of Fame potential while with the Steelers, earning seven Pro Bowls and four All-Pros. He had 837 receptions for 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns. But Brown was not able to duplicate that success with the Raiders, Patriots or Buccaneers, and his time at each of his four stops, including Pittsburgh, ended poorly (and memorably).

“What I’ll say about AB is this man, we had nine great years,” Tomlin said. “I appreciate that dude in ways I can’t explain to y’all. I won’t even bother to attempt to explain to y’all because it sounds like I’m defending him in some way, and to me from that standpoint, the nature of our relationship and what we all did together requires no defense. You could digest it however you want to digest it. [Tomlin blows a kiss.] I don’t think enough gets said about the will of that dude. About the work ethic of that dude. About the fearlessness that he played the game.”

Brown played 12 seasons, but he saw action in only 16 games total his final three seasons.

PFT

 

Ravens TE Mark Andrews shares what he’s seen from WR Rashod Bateman’s route running



The Baltimore Ravens will be relying on many different young contributors to step up at the wide receiver position after the trade of Marquise Brown. One of those players is Rashod Bateman, who is entering his second season in the NFL after having a solid rookie year.

After one of Baltimore’s mandatory minicamp practices, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was asked about what he’s seen out of Bateman’s route running. The tight end discussed how the wideout is running great, mentioning his burst of speed as well as how he’s getting open at the line.

“He’s running great routes. A lot of his releases, and everything … He’s getting open at the line super, super quick. And then, he’s got a burst of speed that people don’t really talk about. And again, [in his] second year – he’s a guy that’s just going to get better, better, and better. The sky is the limit for him.”

Bateman is now the unquestioned wide receiver one on the Baltimore offense, so he’ll be taking on a much bigger role than he had during his first year. Andrews will be there to take some of the load off of him from a pass-catching perspective, but the former University of Minnesota star will be leaned on in a big way by quarterback Lamar Jackson.

YAHOO

 

Bears minicamp review: Solving O-line issues key to Justin Fields' growth

With Bears mandatory minicamp in the rearview mirror and the dates for training camp officially announced, it's time to set the stage for the Bears' 2022 season.

Most of the conversation will rightfully focus on two things: the development of quarterback Justin Fields and Matt Eberflus' first-year impression.

The media got three looks at the Bears during OTAs and three more during mandatory minicamp. We won't see the Bears again until training camp on July 28.

So, we'll be reviewing what we know about each position group after the offseason program.

First up: the offensive line

Projected starters
LT: Braxton Jones/Larry Borom
LG: Cody Whitehair
C: Lucas Patrick
RG: Sam Mustipher
RT: Teven Jenkins/Larry Borom

Overview

For all the hemming and hawing about the Bears' wide receiver corps, the offensive line is the team's biggest issue by far.

New general manager Ryan Poles has a vision of how he wants the Bears' offensive line to look. It's safe to say the 2022 version won't be it.

The Bears signed Patrick after a successful run with the Green Bay Packers. Patrick's familiarity with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's scheme should make him a reliable pivot for Fields.

Whitehair is a decent veteran guard everyone is penciling in for an above-average season.

The Bears need Patrick and Whitehair to be healthy and stable options on the interior because the rest of the line is suboptimal.

The right guard was the obvious hole entering the offseason.

Mustipher and offseason addition Dakota Dozier were expected to compete for the starting nod. They split first-team during OTAs, but Dozier suffered a leg injury on Day 1 of minicamp. The Bears placed Dozier on injured reserve Tuesday.

Unless rookie Zachary Thomas makes a training camp push for the starting job, it's looking like the right guard spot belongs to Mustipher. Last season, Mustipher surrendered 28 pressures and one sack in 128 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. The Bears need Mustipher to be better this season if he is indeed the starting right guard.

That brings us to the elephant in the offensive line room: the tackle position.

Jenkins committed to playing right tackle, the position he manned in college, and reshaped his body to thrive in Getsy's wide-zone scheme. That paved the way for Borom to be the Bears' expected starting left tackle. That's how it played out early in OTAs.

But halfway through the offseason period, the Bears moved Borom to right tackle, inserted rookie Braxton Jones at left tackle, and moved Jenkins to second string.

Eberflus claims the Bears planned on looking at different combinations and that the staff would get together after minicamp to evaluate the different combinations. He also wouldn't rule out moving Jenkins to right guard.

"That's a good point," Eberflus said on Day 1 of minicamp when asked if it would be better to have a set combination in camp as opposed to moving players around. "And to that point, you want to start honing it down. Guys getting the same looks all the time, 'I'm playing right guard, I'm playing right tackle,' and getting the same looks, the same mechanics, so to speak. The technical mechanics to play the position.

"We want to hone that down. The sooner, the better. We just don't have the answer right now."

That last sentence tells you all you need to know about where the Bears stand on the offensive line.

Biggest question: So … who are the tackles?

X factor: Teven Jenkins

The Bears like what they have seen from Jones, but it would be a lot to ask a fifth-round rookie to step in and protect Fields' blindside. Could the Bears start Borom at left and Jones at right with a plan to flip them after Jones develops? Perhaps, but that's not a combination they have shown yet.

Jones has been getting a crash course on the first-team offensive line. Mistakes will happen, but Jones is trying to ensure he never makes the same one twice.

The Southern Utah product understands the spot he finds himself in as a fifth-round draft pick now competing for a starting job.

"I mean, not really doubt creeped in, but just like uncertainty in certain areas," Jones said after the final day of minicamp. "Now I feel like I get more uncertain in areas where before just kind of running maybe with the threes or something like that, it's just like that, and now you're kind of questioning yourself, so not going back and questioning yourself, just believing in yourself that you know it and that you belong there, period.

"I know I'm a fifth-round draft pick and everything like that, but I was drafted for a reason, and I'm here for a reason, so that's the biggest thing, and it's going to be a process for sure. It's just taking day by day and getting one percent better every day."

Jones may very well become a franchise tackle for the Bears. But trotting him out there in Week 1 on the left side might be detrimental to his and Fields' development.

It would be best for all parties if Jenkins answers the bell in training camp, earns the right tackle spot, and bumps Borom back to left. That would give Jones a full year to build up his strength and fully adapt to the NFL game while allowing Eberflus and Poles to get an extended look at a guy with second-round talent in Jenkins.

Verdict: To quote Eberflus: "Get your track shoes on," Justin.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO

 

You, too, Willie. Thanks for being good people.

 

Josh Allen: It’s awesome to have a guy like Tavon Austin



The Bills signed Tavon Austin earlier this month, adding a veteran receiver with significant experience.

It didn’t take Austin long to garner the respect of his teammates in the locker room, according to quarterback Josh Allen.


“When you have some of these young guys in here, they know Tavon Austin from his highlights on YouTube,” Allen said during his minicamp press conference. “I know that I watched those as a kid. As a kid growing up, his college highlights were unbelievable. So I know some of those receivers have so much respect for him already. So when he talks, they listen.”

Allen also noted that Austin had been a “true pro” in his attitude and work ethic since joining the team.

“He’s only been here a couple of weeks, but even in walk-through, how attentive he is — he’s right behind me basically listening to the play call, jogging out, and standing behind someone in front of him going through the play,” Allen said. “You guys saw him in warm-ups, he’s behind the guys catching punts — he’s right there behind them doing all the drills and making it game-like reps. He’s trying to get those reps without actually getting them. So, again, his attention to detail has been awesome.

“His whole approach to guys, how he talks to his teammates, the other receivers is awesome. He’s bringing those guys along. So it’s awesome to have a guy like that, who’s been around the league for a long time, that people respect so much.”

The Rams’ No. 8 overall pick of the 2013 draft, Austin never quite lived up to his draft status. His best season was in 2015 when he recorded 907 yards from scrimmage — 473 receiving, 434 rushing — and nine touchdowns. Austin has since bounced around, spending a pair of years with Dallas, part of the 2020 season with Green Bay, and the 2021 season with Jacksonville.

Last year, Austin recorded 24 catches for 213 yards with a touchdown. He also returned a pair of punts.

The Bills have talent at the top end of their receivers with Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. But Austin could find his way onto the club’s initial 53-man roster with a strong training camp.

PFT

 

Tony Siragusa has passed away, age 55. Rest in peace, Goose.

 

Micah Parsons eyeing NFL sacks record



Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons had one of the best rookie seasons in history for a defensive player. He won defensive rookie of the year unanimously, made All-Pro and finished second in defensive player of the year voting after 13 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and 30 quarterback hits in 16 starts.

COVID-19 in Week 18 prevented Parsons from getting a chance to break the rookie sacks record of 14.5 set by Titans edge rusher Jevon Kearse in 1999.


Parsons, who earlier this offseason informed DeMarcus Lawrence the defensive end wasn’t getting the team sacks lead back, is eyeing even more sacks in 2022.

“Yeah, 15’s like the minimum. Fifteen is what I want to hit,” Parsons told Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports. “But definitely 23 is that goal, to break the record.”

Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt tied Michael Strahan’s single-season record last season with 22.5 sacks. Watt won defensive player of the year over Parsons.

Parsons faces even higher expectations in 2022.

“I just take the blessings that God gave me,” he said. “I don’t feel like I need to reach anyone’s expectations but my own. If I can live with it, I can deal with it. I’m going to just go out there and play my game. I don’t want to go out there and chase no one’s story. I’ve just got to do my thing, and that’s what got me here, and that’s what I’m going to keep doing.”

Parsons revealed this offseason that he played 2021 with a knee injury. He downplayed his health all season but finally admitted he hyperextended his knee in a joint training camp practice against the Rams on Aug. 7.

So, this season, he hopes full health and a year of experience will help him accomplish even more in his second season.

PFT

 

Denzel Ward: Foot will be good for training camp



Browns cornerback Denzel Ward hurt his foot in the team’s final minicamp practice, but reports indicated that tests showed he avoided a serious injury as the team’s offseason program came to an end.

Ward sent the same message on Thursday. He was wearing a walking boot during a visit to a youth football camp in Akron and said the foot was sore while predicting that all will be well once it is time for the Browns to get back on the field.


“Yeah, I’ll be good,” Ward said, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Ward signed a five-year extension worth $100.5 million this offseason that speaks to his importance to the Cleveland defense. That should lead the Browns to move cautiously if there’s any doubt about Ward’s health early in camp, but, for now, it doesn’t sound like there’s much for them to be concerned about.

PFT

 

Are there any other teams with as much roster upheaval as the Falcons this year?

I looked for players who started over half the season last year (9+ games started) to see who I would project as starters again this year.

I only came up with six, and there are only four other "maybes".

(Yes, that's a link above. Shameless plug...)

The starting QB and backup QB have changed. Two of the top three running backs have changed. The top four - and maybe top five - WRs have changed. Two of the top three TEs have changed. Three of the offensive linemen have serious competition and are 50/50 at best to keep their starting jobs. Three of the four edge rushers are new. At least one and likely both starting ILBs will be different, with two new backups behind them. Three of the four starters in the secondary will be different. Two of last year's three starters in the interior are gone, with the team likely to add at least one more player to the mix for before the season. Even two of the three specialists have changed.