MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Braxton Berrios: Zach Wilson “aged so much” mentally, physically since last year



Count wide receiver Braxton Berrios among the Jets who think quarterback Zach Wilson is poised to make a significant jump from his performance as a rookie.

During a recent appearance on The Adam Schefter Podcast, Berrios said that Wilson is in “a different world” after a “whirlwind” start to his NFL career. Wilson had to learn a new offense and get to know new teammates before trying to acclimate himself to a faster, more complicated game of football than he was used to at BYU.


Berrios said he saw things “slow down” for Wilson in the final weeks of the 2021 season and he believes the work that Wilson has put in on all fronts will pay off with more success this fall.

“Everything is there from a physical standpoint, and now everything from his mental [standpoint] has aged so much since just a year ago that I can’t wait, again I hate talking about it, I hate hype — I can’t stand it, but I can’t wait to see him Week 1 and see what he can do because he’s in a different place than he was last year,” Berrios said.

Week 1 brings a date with the Ravens and a good outing for Wilson will be a good sign that it’s more than offseason hype in the air around the Jets.

PFT

 

What did Murray do to be suspended?

 

Nothing, just a preemptive in case of emergency break glass type of thing.

 

You know, maybe he was going to get a message.

 

From Garcia ???

(Google it)

 

??

my Google must be broken

 

It’s to Garcia Irish. Murray is kind of kinky, he’s giving instead of receiving.

 

Jimmy Garoppolo’s agent says shoulder recovery is on schedule, Bucs report is false



There was never any chance that Jimmy Garoppolo was going to be traded to the Buccaneers this offseason, but just in case anyone wanted another denial, Garoppolo’s agent has provided it.

Don Yee, the agent for both Garoppolo and Tom Brady, told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that the podcaster who claimed Garoppolo could get traded to the Bucs is wrong.


“He’s progressing well and on schedule,” Yee said. “We’re optimistic about the upcoming season. Over the weekend, a report came out that asserted that I had spoken to a media member about his future, but the report was false.”

The 49ers have decided to move on to Trey Lance after trading three first-round draft picks to acquire him last year, so Garoppolo is on the way out in San Francisco one way or the other, but his shoulder injury and his $24.2 million base salary for the 2022 season complicate things. Eventually, Garoppolo will be elsewhere, but “elsewhere” will not be Tampa Bay.

PFT

 

NFL, NFLPA briefs due today in Deshaun Watson case

The hearing ended 11 days ago. At some point today, the NFL and NFL Players Association will be submitting their written paperwork to Judge Sue L. Robinson regarding the question of whether Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson should, or shouldn’t, be suspended.

It’s technically called a post-hearing brief. It’s a common step in a situation like this, where one person hears the evidence, determines the facts, and applies the relevant law (here, the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy) to those facts.


Judge Robinson eventually will make a decision. She will (or at least should) prepare a lengthy, written ruling that identifies the specific things that she believes happened, or doesn’t believe happened. She will (or at least should) explain carefully how the policy does, or doesn’t, point to discipline.

The league will (or at least should) make her entire written ruling available for review by fans and media. (Since it doesn’t involve a team or an owner, the league probably will.)

A decision could come at any time. I’ll be watching the week of July 25, with the possibility of a decision coming on Friday, July 22. If she generates a ruling too quickly, it may seem rushed. She needs the public to understand and accept her findings and reasoning. Part of achieving that is to wait just long enough so that people will believe that she spent enough time working on it.

A settlement also could come at any time. As someone said last week, an agreed resolution isn’t likely while the lawyers are running the hourly meter on generating the written briefs. Once the paperwork is in, maybe the lawyers can bill some time to trying to negotiate a deal.

It still won’t be easy, especially for the league. Above all else, the NFL can’t afford to be perceived as being too lenient with Watson. Judge Robinson’s decision will give the league cover, if she decides that he shouldn’t be punished to the extent that the NFL wants him to be punished.

And, yes, public reaction is critical. The entire Personal Conduct Policy apparatus is a P.R. tool. The vast majority of American employers do not discipline or discharge employees based on off-duty misconduct. As long as the employee is able to show up for work (and isn’t, you know, in prison), it’s not the employer’s business.

The NFL, with the agreement of the NFLPA, has made off-duty behavior its business, because it believes fans will be less enthusiastic about paying for tickets or watching games if the NFL shrugs at players, coaches, executive, owners, etc. who do things while not at work that result in arrests or charges or allegations or some combination of the three.

This will be the first application of the new procedure crafted by the league and union in 2020. And, as it was under the old procedure, Commissioner Roger Goodell continues to have final say — unless Judge Robinson finds that Watson shouldn’t be disciplined at all.

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Report: Seahawks have had internal discussions about adding Jimmy Garoppolo



The future of 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains murky. One of the team’s top rivals has explored the possibility of being the one that provides clarity.

Via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, the Seahawks have had internal discussions about the possibility of adding Garoppolo.


That could happen in a trade or, if Garoppolo is cut, by signing him as a free agent. And while intra-division trades often are frowned upon, the Patriots traded quarterback Drew Bledsoe to the Bills in 2002, and the Eagles sent quarterback Donovan McNabb to Washington in 2010.

The challenge becomes figuring out the right trade compensation and the right contract for Garoppolo, regardless of where Garoppolo goes. Surely, however, the 49ers would like to send him to any team other than the Seahawks. If possible.

PFT

 

Baker Mayfield thinks he and Sam Darnold can make each other better



Panthers head coach Matt Rhule has spent much of the offseason praising quarterback Sam Darnold, but the decision to trade for Baker Mayfield makes clear that Darnold will have to beat out Mayfield to win the starting job. That could create some tension in the quarterback room, but Mayfield insists it won’t.

“Sam reached out, got my number first,” Mayfield said, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “We’ve been talking about how to get the guys together the last minute before camp. It’s been great. Sam just wants to win. That’s just who he is. Our personalities might be different, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the same goal, and that’s to win and help this team out. I’m really looking forward to being in that room with him and just challenging each other, and elevating each other.”


Mayfield sees some similarities between his trade from the Brown to the Panthers and his college decision to transfer from Texas Tech to Oklahoma.

“Obviously, the NFL is different than college, but walking on twice, and having to go through that process, you level the playing field,” Mayfield said. “You compete against other guys, and you build confidence in yourself. It’s very similar to when I left Texas Tech to go to Oklahoma. They had one of my best friends, Trevor Knight, who had just won the Sugar Bowl, was the MVP, he was going to be a sophomore. I decided to transfer there, knowing there was going to be competition, and it wasn’t going to be easy. It’s about betting on yourself and believing in that, and giving it your all. And just trying to be a good teammate and help everybody win.”

That’s what the Panthers hope they get from their newly expanded quarterback room.

PFT

 

Darnold and Mayfield will morph into one... Darnfield.

 

Or...

Mayfold

 

Due date for NFL, NFLPA briefs in Deshaun Watson case is today



At the conclusion of the three-day Deshaun Watson hearing, it was reported that the NFL and NFL Players Association were due to be submitted to Judge Sue L. Robinson on Monday, July 11. That deadline has, at some point, been extended by one day.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the post-hearing briefs are due today, July 12.


Judge Robinson then will digest the documents and, eventually, make a decision. It will be important for her to write a clear and understandable ruling. She will make specific findings of fact, which will be binding on any appeal, if there is one, to Commissioner Roger Goodell. The document, if published (as it should be) will be scrutinized and analyzed and possibly criticized.

When will the decision come? I’m still pegging the week of July 25, especially with the process now delayed by a day.

And remember this — a settlement can be reached at any time. If it isn’t, Judge Robinson will make a decision. Unless she imposes no discipline at all, either side can appeal to Goodell, who will have final say.

PFT

 

Scott Fitterer: This is an open competition at quarterback



When the Panthers traded for Baker Mayfield, the general assumption was that the 2018 No. 1 overall pick would be behind center for the Week One game against his former team.

But Carolina is going to make Mayfield earn the title of QB1.


In his Tuesday press conference, Panthers General Manager Scott Fitterer said it’s an “open competition” at quarterback, with Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker, and Matt Corral already on the roster.

“The reason why we added Baker was to make the group better as a whole,” Fitterer said. “Our whole philosophy is to add competition not just in the quarterback room but every position. So if we see an opportunity to get better, where we can add a player that makes sense for us as a team, makes sense for us financially, makes sense for us just from an addition standpoint, we’re going to do that. And with Baker being out there, having the conversations, it made sense for us.”

Fitterer added that he thinks the competition will also make Darnold better.

“Sam really had a nice spring for us, stepped up, showed a lot of edge, threw the ball really well,” Fitterer said. “And I think competition would be good for him, would be good for P.J., it’s good for Matt Corral — the young guy that’s going to be in the room learning. And it’s good for Baker. It’s a fresh start for him.

“So I think overall, it’s a very healthy situation for us all to be in.”

The Panthers finished last season 5-12. Though the club was second in yards allowed defensively, it was 21st in points surrendered. That’s in part because of poor quarterback play, as Carolina led the league with 32 interceptions and was 31st with just 14 touchdown passes.

Improved execution behind center could make the Panthers a contender for a playoff spot in the NFC.

PFT

 

Report: Jimmy Garoppolo began throwing 2-3 weeks ago

Jimmy Garoppolo‘s agent, Don Yee, said earlier this week that the quarterback’s rehab is on schedule.

Matt Barrows of TheAthletic.com added detail to Yee’s report of Garoppolo “progressing well” from offseason right shoulder surgery, citing a source who told him Garoppolo resumed throwing 2-3 weeks ago.


That follows what General Manager John Lynch said during draft weekend about the team expecting Garoppolo to begin throwing in late June.

Once Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache clears Garoppolo to resume football activities, then the 49ers can attempt to trade Garoppolo. The 49ers were “close” to moving Garoppolo before his March 8 surgery took the team by surprise and brought trade talks to a “screeching halt.”

With training camp rosters set, the 49ers might not find a taker this late. The Browns are awaiting word on the length of Deshaun Watson‘s suspension, so that could end up a possible landing spot.

But Garoppolo has a $24.2 million salary, so it probably takes the 49ers paying some of the salary and Garoppolo being willing to cut his salary for a move to be made. The 49ers also could just release Garoppolo.

Garoppolo is 33-14 as a regular-season starter, and he was 4-2 in the playoffs for the 49ers.

The 49ers traded up to draft Trey Lance with the third overall selection in 2021, and Lance is expected to take over the starting job this season.

PFT

 

Patrick Mahomes getting in extra work with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson



Patrick Mahomes finished in a tie for 51st among 87 golfers at the American Century Championship. He is much better at his day job.

The Chiefs quarterback got back to work this week after returning to Texas from Lake Tahoe.


He has two of his new receivers, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson, working with him and backup quarterback Shane Buechele at APEC in Fort Worth under the supervision of Bobby Stroupe, Charles Goldman of USA Today reports.

Mahomes got in extra work with rookie receiver Skyy Moore in late June.

He will have new weapons this season with Tyreek Hill now in Miami, so Mahomes is doing as much as he can to get to know them before training camp begins later this month.

PFT

 

Is it just me or does Mahomes helmet look too large and he has a beer gut?

 

Lamar Jackson, Bernard Pollard have an extended Twitter battle
Posted by Mike Florio on July 14, 2022, 12:27 AM EDT



Nothing helps fill the slow time better than a good, old-fashioned Twitter beef. Especially when it doesn’t involve me.

On Wednesday night, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and former Ravens safety Bernard Pollard got into an extended back and forth on social media, sparked by Pollard chiming in on the ESPN-generated talking point of the week.


Is Lamar Jackson a top-1o quarterback?

We won’t try to parse through the various punches and counter-punches that were thrown, primarily because there were too damn many of them. It just kept going, with Pollard questioning Jackson’s skills as a passer and Jackson questioning Pollard’s skills as a player.

Lamar comes off as being a little too sensitive to the criticism from Pollard. If, as Jackson seems to believe, Pollard wasn’t much of a defensive back, why would Jackson react so strongly, so persistently, to the things Pollard said? It would have been better for Jackson to ignore it or, at a minimum, to make a comment or two and just let it go.

He didn’t. Check his feed. Check Pollard’s. Again, there’s simply too much to fully digest.

It actually started on Tuesday, when former NFL safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark argued that Jackson should be among the list of top-10 quarterbacks, as complied by an ESPN survey of unnamed executives. Pollard said this of Jackson: “He’s def a Top 10 talent, but as far a Top 10 QB I don’t see it. I believe he should get paid by the #Ravens and should get TOP dollar!”

That one didn’t spark a response from Jackson. This comment, posted on Wednesday night by Pollard, did: “No TOP Wr will ever come there while LJ is there. Plenty of WRs have been available to get in the off-season while LJ has been starting, but nobody wants to go. They give him the respect, but they don’t want to play with him. LJ is good but he’s not able to make the throws.”

Jackson told Pollard: “You sound dumb asf.” Replied Pollard: “We’ll wait and see if one signs.”

Making Pollard’s point even more delicate is the fact that receiver Hollywood Brown wanted to be traded out of Baltimore. Jackson, who according to Brown knew about his discontent, responded with surprise and frustration to draft-night news that the team had traded Brown to Arizona. Although former Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III later claimed that Brown wanted out because of the offense and not the quarterback, the fact remains that, in Baltimore, Jackson is the offense.

And Jackson just wouldn’t let it go. He attacked Pollard for being largely unknown. (Tom Bray definitely knows who Pollard is.) He attacked Pollard for a missed tackle in Super Bowl XLVII. He attacked Pollard for a locker-room dance capped by a split, saying “I only thought cheerleaders did the splits not players too.”

Jackson is undoubtedly a great player. He was the MVP in 2019. He deserves a massive second contract. But this stuff just seems beneath him. Frankly, he has developed a recent streak of sensitivity to criticism that rivals the one exhibited for years by the guy who has won the MVP award in each of the two years since Jackson did.

PFT