NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Mekhi Becton likely out for year with avulsion fracture of kneecap



Jets head coach Robert Saleh sounded pessimistic about right tackle Mekhi Becton‘s outlook for the 2022 season after a Monday knee injury and things don’t look any better after more visits with doctors on Tuesday.

NFL Media reports that Becton has been diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of his right kneecap. He is set to see a surgeon on Wednesday and Saleh confirmed at a press conference that the 2020 first-round pick’s season is “more than likely” over as a result of the injury.


Becton missed the final 16 games of the 2021 season after hurting his knee in the season opener. That will leave him with a lot of time on the shelf heading into his fourth season and the lack of time on the field will make it impossible for the Jets to count on anything from him in 2023 or beyond.

It will also likely leave them looking for help in the short term. They signed a pair of depth linemen on Tuesday, but signing a veteran like former Seahawk Duane Brown, who recently met with the team, or making a trade for another tackle may be the path the team winds up taking.

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Ryan Poles: My intention is to make sure Roquan Smith is a Bear



Bears linebacker Roquan Smith went public with his desire to be traded on Tuesday morning and General Manager Ryan Poles offered a response from the team at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Poles said he was disappointed that things have progressed to this point because he loves Smith as a person and a player and “thought we’d be in a better situation” by this point in the summer. Poles said that he thought the offer of a new contract for Smith showed “him the respect he deserves,” but that a deal has to make sense for both sides and “obviously we’re not at that point.”


Neither that disappointment nor Smith’s request has Poles ready to say things have reached a point of no return, however.

“Right now, my intentions are to sign Roquan to this team,” Poles said. “We’re going to take it day by day. At the end of the day we have to do what’s best for this organization, but my intention is to make sure Roquan Smith is on this team.”

Smith’s stated intention is to play for someone other than the Bears, so something’s gonna have to give in Chicago for the status quo to change.

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Owners approve sale of Broncos to Rob Walton’s group



The Broncos finally have an owner again.

For the first time since Pat Bowlen placed the team in trust while he battled Alzheimer’s disease, the franchise has one person in charge of the team. That person is Rob Walton, the former Wal-Mart CEO and the son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

The vote, which required at least 24 owners to secure approval, was never in doubt. The league announced that it was unanimous.


Walton becomes the richest owner in the NFL, by far. He has a net worth of nearly $70 billion.

Currently, no other teams are for sale. That could change if the owners ever manage to nudge Daniel Snyder out in Washington, or when the Seahawks are sold by the estate of Paul Allen. Any sale of the Seahawks before May 1, 2024 would result in the state of Washington getting 10 percent of the proceeds.

Allen’s sister, Jody, recently issued a statement denying that the team is for sale. It was clear within the broader context, however, that it eventually will be.

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Saints' Taysom Hill on switch to TE: 'This isn't necessarily what I want, it's what's best for the team'

A year ago around this time, Taysom Hill was embroiled in a quarterback competition with Jameis Winston.

There is no QB battle in New Orleans this year, though. Instead, the longtime Saints Swiss army knife is being asked to add another tool to his arsenal and play tight end.

Having long aspired to play quarterback, Hill isn't getting what he was hoping for, but he's going full speed ahead in his latest task.

"Things aren't up to me," Hill said Tuesday, via the team website's Michael Hull. "I'm willing to do what I need to do to help us win football games. … I love playing, and so it creates opportunities for me to add value and be on the field and compete.

"That's the nature of the NFL. This isn't necessarily what I want, it's what's best for the team and I'm good with that."

Thus, Hill has hopes of catching passes from Winston rather than competing with him.

Currently, Hill is learning a new position while on the mend from a 2021 season-ending Lisfranc injury and a rib injury suffered on July 29, according to the team.


"I'm just starting to ramp up again and take it one day at a time," said Hill, who wore a non-contact red jersey the last two practices.

Hill has started at quarterback for the Saints, come in on gadget plays, played at receiver and been a special teams standout. While he's dabbled at tight end a bit, he is now tasked with truly learning the position.

"I know some of the things they're going to ask me to do," said Hill, who shares the TE1 spot with Adam Trautman in the team's first unofficial depth chart. "I'm still very raw in a lot of this stuff, but it's nice to get some exposure."

The 31-year-old Brigham Young product is heading into his sixth NFL season, but lining up in a three-point stance, for instance, is a novel concept.

"I've never done that before," Hill said. "Like I said, we started from ground zero, and we just started building from there."

With starts and reps at quarterback -- and receiver -- Hill is able to lean on past experience to aid him a bit in the maturation process.

"I kind of just do what I would want a tight end to do if I was playing quarterback for that rep," Hill said. "I've taken that mindset into the tight end position."

But, realistically, playing quarterback and tight end are vastly different.


"I think the element of my game of playing quarterback, there was a physical element to that, but it's a completely different mindset playing tight end versus quarterback," Hill said. "There's certainly a mental element to (tight end), but a far more physical element to play in that position than the quarterback position."

Hill's upfront about the struggle in changing positions and that he'd rather be taking snaps than blocking and catching balls. Ultimately, he's confident he'll still be able to bring his versatility to the Saints offense, even if his primary position is changing from QB to TE.

"We've got a structure of what we've been doing in the past," he said. "I think we'll just continue to build on that.

"I don't think what I have been doing is going to change, it's just expanding that role. …They're trying to give me the best opportunity to be successful."

NFL.com

 

Embarrassing.

 

Look at this sad fuck. He's just figuring out something that Bears fans have known all their lives, and is well documented, and decided he'd try and use it as ammo in some self-created crusade against Bears fans just because we disagree with his unfounded, absolute confidence in Mitch Trubisky.

Look at this sad fuck. Embarrassing.

 

Tonights Action...

 

Here is an interesting stat...

The Ravens head into tonight’s preseason game against the Titans on an unprecedented winning streak: Baltimore has won 20 consecutive preseason games, the longest streak in NFL history.

Baltimore hasn’t lost a preseason game since 2015, and last year the Ravens broke the all-time record for consecutive preseason wins, a record that had previously stood at 19 straight by Vince Lombardi’s Packers from 1959 to 1962.


The Packers’ streak was broken in a loss to a college all-star team (yes, NFL teams used to play against college all-star teams in the preseason), and the Packers then went on to win four more consecutive preseason games against NFL teams, so those Packers still have the record for most preseason wins against NFL teams at 23. If the Ravens go 3-0 in this preseason, they’ll match that record.

The preseason is meaningless, so perhaps no one should even care about this record, but Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said last year that he and his teammates do care.

“We want to win at the end of the day,” Jackson said last year. “I don’t care if it’s preseason. We compete against each other in practice. We want to win. It’s good to just keep winning.”

The Ravens will try to keep winning tonight, and make it 21 in a row.

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Dolphins may use Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert on kick returns



Teams rarely use their best offensive playmakers on special teams, thinking the possibility of a big play is outweighed by the risk of injury. But the Dolphins may use their top two wide receivers and starting running backs as returners this year.

The Dolphins’ official depth chart lists Tyreek Hill as a starting receiver and the No. 1 punt returner, Raheem Mostert as a starting running back and the No. 1 kickoff returner, and Jaylen Waddle as a starting receiver and the No. 2 returner of both punts and kickoffs.


Asked if he’d really be willing to use his offensive starters on special teams, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said, “I’m willing to do anything at any given time at any given moment.”

McDaniel added that if he needs someone to make a play, he’ll use anyone on the roster.

“There’s an open competition everywhere,” McDaniel said, via the Miami Herald. “Shame on me if I’m anointing for no reason. We have a lot of people that have the ability to return the ball in the punt and kickoff game. During the season we plan to utilize everyone that makes most sense for the team. Remember, special teams yards are yards. Same as defensive yards given up. Same as offensive yards gained. So, we’ll use our players to best move the ball down the field to score touchdowns or stop other people from moving it.”

As a rookie in Kansas City, Hill handled all the punt returns for the Chiefs, and he was outstanding: Hill led the NFL in punt return yards, average and touchdowns that year. As a rookie first-round pick last year, Waddle handled some punt and kickoff returns. And Mostert returned kickoffs early in his career. All three of them may be starters on offense, but they also may make a big impact on special teams.

PFT

 

Thats all fine and dandy till someone gets hurt, lol. I wouldnt run my #1's out there... no way.

 

Steelers used Brown quite a bit on punt returns. I feel like a few other teams have used thier #1 wr on punt returns regularly as well. Kick off returns not so much save for late in the game when you need something special to win the game. Tim Brown was another #1 wr big on punt returns

 

James White announces his retirement



Patriots running back James White has not practiced with the team during training camp this summer and he won’t be getting on the field at any point in the future either.

White announced his retirement in a Twitter post on Thursday. White thanked his family, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, his teammates and others for the role they played in helping him achieve his goals in the NFL.


White was a fourth-round pick in 2014 and only played in three games as a rookie before taking on a more meaningful role in his second season. He was a frequent target for Tom Brady in the passing game and delivered a memorable performance to help the team come back to beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. White ran for a touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and then ran for another one to win it in overtime. He also caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

A hip injury ended his 2021 season after three games and continued issues with the hip led to White’s inactivity at practice this summer.

White ends his career with 319 carries for 1,278 yards and 11 touchdowns and 381 catches for 3,278 yards and 15 touchdowns in the regular season. He had eight touchdowns in 12 postseason outings and won another Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl LIII.

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Duane Brown agrees to deal with Jets



The Jets lost a starting offensive tackle this week and they’ve struck a deal with potential replacement in the starting lineup.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that they have agreed to a two-year deal with former Seahawks and Texans left tackle Duane Brown. Brown was a Pro Bowler last season, but did not re-sign with the Seahawks and remained on the market until meeting with the Jets this week.


That visit came before Mekhi Becton suffered an avulsion fracture of his right kneecap this week and that injury likely sped up negotiations with the Jets because Becton is likely to miss the entire season. Becton was slated to play right tackle with George Fant starting on the left side, but Brown’s arrival could lead to a change in plans as Fant has experience playing on the right side.

Brown was arrested in July at Los Angeles International Airport for carrying a concealed weapon. He is subject to discipline by the league under the Personal Conduct Policy, but such a decision may not be made until the case has been resolved.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m. ET: According to multiple reports, the two-year deal is worth $22 million.

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The Steelers made a change to their wide receiver group on Thursday.

The team announced that they have signed Christian Blake to their 90-man roster. Javon McKinley was waived with an injury designation in a corresponding move.


Blake appeared in 41 games for the Falcons over the last three seasons. He had 28 catches for 257 yards and recorded eight tackles while playing on Atlanta’s special teams units.

He signed with the Cardinals in May, but was waived by the NFC West club early this month.

McKinley signed with the Steelers on August 1. He will revert to the Steelers’ injured reserve list if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

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Bears head coach Matt Eberflus did not sound happy with linebacker Roquan Smith today.

Smith has been cleared from the physically unable to perform list and is healthy enough to practice, but he’s sitting out as he seeks a trade to a team that will give him a lucrative contract extension. Eberflus encouraged reporters today to ask Smith why he’s choosing not to practice.


“Roquan Smith came off PUP. He was cleared by our medical staff as healthy. And he did not practice. And the reason why for that is, you’ll have to ask him. We expect all of our healthy players to practice, and that was his decision, and like I said you’ll have to ask him. I have not talked to him about it so I have no further comment on that situation,” Eberflus said.

Eberflus made those comments unprompted at the start of his press conference today, before taking any questions from reporters. Asked if Smith will face discipline for refusing to practice, Eberflus said that’s not up to him.

“That discipline comes from the front office,” Eberflus said.

What’s clear is that Smith and the team are not on the same page. How much longer he’ll be on the team is unclear.

PFT

 

Ah, so it's not just the front office he's having issues with, it's the coaches too. Cool, cool. That tells me this is a lot less likely to work out well.

Now, Flus's words sound to me like a coach who is just saying that he's got stuff to do, can't control that, and doesn't have answers for it. That's all fair. But typically when a situation like this occurs, coaching staff has a more sympathetic, hopeful tone. Either this is just Flus being extra no-nonsense, having better stuff to do, or it's showing a real divide. Either way, it seems like an opportunity to publicly mend fences going missed.

 

I’ve seen articles saying that the Steelers should trade for Smith, while he would be a great addition to the steel curtain, he thinks that the NFL owners have unlimited money to pay him. This is his second holdout which sounds like a problem child to me. I would pass on him and just keep Bush and Jack in the middle.

 

This should have been a layup for the Bears. The guy is a Top 5 NFL linebacker. He's 25 years old and they have 97 million in cap space in 2023. Darius got 5yrs, 98.5M. Give Roquan 5yrs, 100M and call it a day.

 

Ravens extend preseason winning streak to 21



Well, we have to keep hearing about it for another week.

By defeating the Titans, 23-10, the Baltimore Ravens have won their 21st straight preseason game, dating all the way back to 2015. It’s an all-time NFL record. But since it involves games that are inherently meaningless, what meaning does it really have?


Last year, coach John Harbaugh defended the significance of the record when the Ravens got to 19, matching the Lombardi-era Packers.

“There’s going to be people that are going to say this doesn’t mean anything,” Harbaugh said. “There’s going to be people that are going to look at it and say, ‘Wow, that’s something.’ I’m of the belief that everything has meaning in life. . . . All those guys who were a part of that over those years should be proud tonight of that because it’s something only one other team has ever done — the Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers. I’d say that’s notable.”

It’s a testament to the intensely competitive nature of John Harbaugh. And as long as his competitive nature doesn’t get him to do stupid things, like re-insert starters late in a close game (e.g., Rex Ryan getting Mark Sanchez injured in the Snoopy Bowl), it’s no big deal.

Still, it really is meaningless. Preseason records evaporate as soon as the exhibition games end. The 2008 Lions went 0-16 after going 4-0 in the preseason. Those August wins aren’t any type of silver lining on a season of sewage.

Roughly a decade ago, while folks were complaining about the quality of preseason games, I suggested making preseason record one of the final tiebreakers, just above coin flip. And that made plenty of people lose their minds.

So it’s meaningless. If the Ravens want to give meaning to it, that’s their business. But if they ever let that get in the way of what really matters, they cross the line from competitive into colossally ignorant.

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