NFL - NEWS & NOTES

NFL legend Franco Harris, known for Immaculate Reception, dead at 72
The Steelers were about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the miraculous catch



Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers running back who was known for making a miraculous grab in the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the Oakland Raiders in 1972, has died. He was 72.

Harris’ death came days before the Steelers were set to retire his No. 32 jersey and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception at Acrisure Stadium. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talked about Harris’ catch on Tuesday when he addressed reporters.

"I was in Section 135 that day. I was eight months old. I think it's funny. Surprisingly, I’ve probably met 75,000 people that were there that day," Tomlin said. "It's just one of those beautiful things in the history of our game. It’s humbling to be in close proximity to it, to work for this organization, to understand its impact on this organization, the career it spawned in Franco [Harris], a gold-jacket career, what it did for them that season in terms of changing the trajectory of that season, what it’s done for this franchise …

"There are many things that make it the play that it is and the most significant play in the history of our game. It’s just an honor to be in proximity to it. To know the man involved, to call Pittsburgh home, and so it's awesome to be a part of and to witness. But at the same time, we understand that we've got business, we’ve got present-day business and the best way we can honor him and that is by performing. We're going to work extremely hard to prepare ourselves leading up to it."

WTAE first reported the shocking news about Harris. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

Harris’ son Dok told the Associated Press his father died overnight.

Harris was a first-round pick of the Steelers in the 1972 draft out of Penn State. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year when he rushed for 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns. His prowess in the Steelers’ offense under legendary coach Chuck Noll quickly made him a big piece in the franchise’s dynasty.

He ran for 12,120 yards in all and won four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers in the 1970s. But there may not have been a dynasty without his heads up play against the Raiders in the 1972 playoff game.

The Steelers were trailing 7-6 and facing a 4th-and-10 from their own 44-yard line with 22 seconds remaining. Pittsburgh had won the division with an 11-3 record and raced a Raiders team that was 10-3-1 and hungry for a run to the Super Bowl.

Terry Bradshaw took the snap and threw deep to Franch Fuqua. The running back collided with Raiders defensive tackle Jack Tatum and the ball somehow made its way to Harris, who caught the ball and ran it back four a touchdown and the first playoff victory in the franchise’s history.



In 2020, the play was celebrated as the greatest in the NFL’s 100-year history.

"That play really represents our teams of the ’70s," Harris said at the time.

Harris would go on to play 13 years in the NFL – 12 with the Steelers and one wit the Seattle Seahawks in 1984 before he retired. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler and was an All-Pro once.



FOXNEWS

 

Sad to hear this, especially since 72 is becoming less and less old as medicine advances. Franco had size and agility and was a cornerstone on the early championships as the Steelers groomed Bradshaw and their young receivers.

RIP Franco

 

What a team/Dynasty the Steelers were back in the 70's... and Franco was a cornerstone (great descriptive word, dirk) of that legendary team.

As a Vikings fan... I learned real quick to hate the Steelers, but I always respected what they were able to accomplish. The hatred was really etched in my mind because of the 16-6 smoking of the Purple People Eaters, by a team that fed the PPE's a heapin' helpin' running-back attack for about 135 and a TD by, Franco.

I started as a wee kid getting into football in the late 60's, but 70's football was what hooked me... and if i go back and make a list of the most memorable players from that era Franco Harris is probably top 10, in my mind. There was so much talent back then, but a few really stood the test of time and Harris was one.

 

Back then there was a lot fewer teams and teams could accumulate more talent on one team. Franco was one of ten HoF players on the Steelers 70’s team. That will never happen in this era. Makes you wonder how talented teams could be today if they weren’t watering down the talent so much with 32 teams in the league.

 

lol... i knew this was going to raise its head again...



Free-agent tight end Rob Gronkowski has said he’s done playing. His agent has said he doesn’t believe Gronk.

And the rest of us have believed that Gronkowski could possibly return if/when Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady turns on the Gronk signal.



Fully aware of those dynamics, Gronkowski tweeted on Wednesday, “I’m kinda bored.” And while he may try to insist he did not intend that to reflect any interest in potentially playing again, he’s smart enough (I think) to realize the manner in which his tweet will be interpreted.

Because he’s a free agent, Gronk can sign with any team at any time. He’s not limited by the usual rules and deadlines for emerging from the reserve-retired list.

So he could join the Bucs or any other team, whenever he wants to join them.

And if he signs with the Bucs, that would definitely change the perception of the team’s chances as the postseason approaches.

PFT

 

Sounds like the guy in the commercial for orbits gum jumping off the elevator to the song this is crazy and dancing his way down the stairs.

 

The, PRO - SNUB list... add to this, or subtract from this if you wish. In other words... Fire At Will.

Tyson Campbell
Jacksonville Jaguars · CB
_________________________

Alex Highsmith
Pittsburgh Steelers · Edge
__________________________

Tyler Linderbaum
Baltimore Ravens · C
___________________________

Matt Milano
Buffalo Bills · LB
_____________________________

Jaelan Phillips
Miami Dolphins · Edge
________________________________

Rhamondre Stevenson
New England Patriots · RB

_______________________________

Tua Tagovailoa
Miami Dolphins · QB

_______________________________

Christian Wilkins
Miami Dolphins · DT

______________________________

Justin Fields
Chicago Bears · QB
_______________________________

Dre Greenlaw
San Francisco 49ers · OLB
________________________________

Javon Hargrave
Philadelphia Eagles · NT
________________________________

Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers · RB
____________________________

Isaac Seumalo
Philadelphia Eagles · OG
____________________________

Penei Sewell
Detroit Lions · OT
______________________________

Amon-Ra St. Brown
Detroit Lions · WR
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The players on above list were mentioned on NFL.com... and here at L4SN they will get some notoriety also.

PRO-SNUB list continues...

Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler
The Chargers’ “political” bid to get Ekeler into the Pro Bowl didn’t work. And that’s a shame.

Ekeler’s 1,324 yards from scrimmage ranks eighth among all NFL players, while he ties Detroit’s Jamaal Williams with 14 total touchdowns this season for the league high.

Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook
Cook is the only NFL running back who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards (1,045) and did not make the Pro Bowl.

He also scored 10 touchdowns this season, one more than his teammate — receiver Justin Jefferson — for the NFC North champions.

Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle
Maybe Waddle was overshadowed by his fellow receiver Tyreek Hill, who earned a Pro Bowl nod.

Waddle’s 1,117 yards rank seventh in the NFL, while his seven touchdowns are in the top 10. But the Bengals' Ja’Marr Chase, who has eight touchdowns, got the Pro Bowl nod.

*** I understand that not all the good ones can go and some go on what seems to be a popularity thing... its not a perfect system. My point was to mention a few snubs for the sake of conversation and discussion on some really talented/gifted players who didnt make the cut. We all have our favorites, but in most of the players listed above, the numbers dont lie. Ive always had more fun talking about the SNUBS than the actual game played itself ***

 

Super Bowl champ Ronnie Hillman dead at 31 after cancer battle

Hillman spent most of his time with the Broncos



Ronnie Hillman, a Super Bowl champion running back who played with the Denver Broncos, has died, his family said in a social media post on Thursday. He was 31.

Hillman’s family said the former NFL player was battling renal medullary carcinoma, a "rare but highly aggressive neoplasm form of cancer that primarily affects young African Americans with sickle cell trait," back in August. He was placed in hospice care earlier this week.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son, brother & father, Ronnie K Hillman Jr.," the running back’s family said on his Instagram. "Ronnie quietly and peacefully transitioned today in the company of his family and close friends.

"We as the family, appreciate the prayers and kind words that have already been expressed. We ask that you would give us time to process our feelings as we prepare to lay our precious RJ to rest."

Hillman was the Broncos' leading rusher in 2015, the same season they won the Super Bowl — he started 10 out of 16 games and ran for 863 yards on 207 carries, seven of them touchdowns, mostly splitting touches with C.J. Anderson.

Hillman was a third-round pick out of San Diego State in 2012. He was on the Broncos when the team made it and won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers during the 2015 season.

FOXNEWS

 

Playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 16 of 2022 NFL season


AFC
CLINCHED:

• Buffalo Bills -- playoff berth
• Kansas City Chiefs -- AFC West

Buffalo Bills (11-3) (at Chicago (3-11), Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS)

Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:

1. BUF win or tie OR
2. MIA loss or tie

Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) (at New England (7-7), Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS)

Cincinnati clinches playoff berth with:

1. CIN win or tie OR
2. NYJ loss or tie

Baltimore Ravens (9-5) (vs. Atlanta (5-9), Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX)

Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:

1. BAL win + MIA loss or tie + NE loss or tie OR
2. BAL win + MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR
3. BAL win + NE loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR
4. BAL tie + NE loss + NYJ loss OR
5. BAL tie + NE loss + MIA loss + LAC win OR
6. BAL tie + NE loss + MIA loss + NYJ tie OR
7. BAL tie + NE loss + NYJ tie + LAC win OR
8. BAL tie + NE tie + NYJ loss + MIA loss OR
9. BAL tie + NE tie + NYJ tie + MIA loss + LAC win OR
10. NE loss + NYJ loss + CLE loss or tie + LV loss or tie + TEN loss or tie + LAC win

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) (at Indianapolis (4-9-1), Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Los Angeles clinches playoff berth with:

1. LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE loss + NYJ loss OR
2. LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE loss + NYJ tie + MIA loss OR
3. LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE tie + NYJ loss + MIA loss

NFC
CLINCHED:

• Philadelphia Eagles -- playoff berth
• Minnesota Vikings -- NFC North
• San Francisco 49ers -- NFC West
• Dallas Cowboys -- playoff berth

Philadelphia Eagles (13-1) (at Dallas (10-4), Saturday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX)

Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:

1. PHI win

Philadelphia clinches homefield advantage and NFC's lone first-round bye with:

1. PHI win OR
2. PHI tie + MIN loss or tie

New York Giants (8-5-1) (at Minnesota (11-3), Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX)

New York clinches playoff berth with:

1. NYG win + WAS loss + DET loss OR
2. NYG win + WAS loss + SEA loss OR
3. NYG win + DET loss + SEA loss

Per; NFL.com

 

NFL announces Sunday Ticket deal with Google/YouTube



Once Apple exited the talks, things moved very quickly.

Less than a week after a report emerged that Apple, the longstanding frontrunner to become the successor to DirecTV for the Sunday Ticket package, had pulled out of the discussions, Google/YouTube has a deal in place with the league.


The NFL announced on Thursday morning that, starting in 2023, Sunday Ticket will be available only through YouTube. It will be an add-on package for YouTube TV, and a standalone option for YouTube Primetime Channels.

Google, which owns YouTube, reportedly will pay $2.5 billion per year for the rights. The price for consumers will be comparable to the current cost through DirecTV. As CNBC reported in June, the league’s deals with CBS and Fox prevent a dramatic reduction in price.

Apple reportedly wanted to make it cheaper for customers. It will nevertheless be available to anyone who wants it, and it should be a better product that it has been.

So DirecTV has three weekends left, before a relationship that started in 1994 ends. Starting next season, it’s streaming only through a service that started as a way for people to post videos of their cats doing funny things and has become a multi-billion-dollar behemoth.

PFT
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Wille announces pay-per-view sports still suck!

Stream On Bitches!

 

Bengals expect to have Trey Hendrickson back this weekend

It looks like defensive end Trey Hendrickson‘s absence from the Bengals lineup will end at one game.

Hendrickson fractured his wrist in Week 14 against the Browns and did not play in last Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers. He has been practicing this week, however, and head coach Zac Taylor said on Thursday that the team plans on having him in the lineup against the Patriots this weekend.

“He’ll protect himself, but I feel good about where he’s at,” Taylor said, via James Rapien of SI.com.

Cornerback Mike Hilton (knee) is also expected back, but Taylor said no call has been made on tight end Hayden Hurst. Hurst has missed two games with a calf injury and said this week that he is preparing to play against New England.

YAHOOSPORTS

 

'We've got the talent, baby': Dolphins' postseason hopes hinge on accountability



MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill played deep into the postseason each of the last four years with his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs. And Hill has all the confidence his new team can make the playoffs this season.

The Dolphins (8-6) will host the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day, hoping to snap a three-game losing streak which has taken Miami out of the AFC East lead, and treading water for a wild card playoff spot.

What makes Hill so confident?

“Because we’ve got the talent, baby,” Hill said with a smile in the Dolphins locker room before being named to his seventh Pro Bowl on Wednesday.

“We’ve got one of the most swaggiest coaches in the league. Then, we’ve got one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league. So, everybody believes. Nobody has lost faith. And we’re going to keep rolling and keep chopping this wood.”

Talent and swag are reassuring for Miami – but the Dolphins are holding themselves accountable for their three-game skid..

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers, causing his league-leading QBR to drop from first to second (71.8), now behind Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes (79.8).

Against the Bills, Tagovailoa threw a 67-yard touchdown Jaylen Waddle and a 20-yard touchdown to Hill in the third quarter, to help Miami take a 29-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

Bills star Josh Allen tied the game, and Buffalo kicked a game-winning field goal in the final seconds. But the Dolphins regret two early red zone opportunities that resulted in field goals during the first half.

“I had a crucial drop in the end zone, which can’t happen to a top-tier guy, a leader on this team,” said Hill, who played in four straight AFC title games and two Super Bowls with the Chiefs.

“We just have to make plays. We made plays down the stretch, but we have to make those key plays that can really change the game around and turn three points into seven points.”

Tagovailoa, who did not make the Pro Bowl despite leading all players in fan voting, hopes to build on his performance against the Bills last week for a strong finish in Miami’s final three games.

“Let every game stand on its own merit. Don’t let what ended up affecting us offensively from the 49ers game to the Chargers game into the next game that we played, which was against Buffalo,” Tagovailoa said

“I think a lot of those things were corrected by a lot of us offensively. And it took the leaders to step up. I would say we did offensively and really we just got to continue to build off of that.”

The Dolphins have the worst 3rd-and-short conversion percentage in the league (21 of 49 attempts, 42.9 percent, on third and 1-3 yards), which is unique because they have the third-best percentage on third and medium situations (17 of 29, 58.6 percent, on third and 4-6 yards), according to TruMedia.

“The reason I know we’re last in short yardage, I live it,” McDaniel said.

“I take that super seriously and I’m not going to put it on players and I know that it needs to get better for us to win football games in big-time moments. … I know run or pass, the idea is that the team needs us to stay on the field and so we need to do a better job collectively and it starts with me.”

Staying on the field has been one of Miami’s biggest problems this season.

As a result, the Dolphins defense ranks in the lower half of the league in many top defensive categories like 23rd in total defense, 26th in scoring defense, 27th in passing defense, 27th in third-down defense and tied for 29th with just 13 turnovers forced.

Now, the Dolphins must prepare to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, whose two-headed monster at running back in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon accounted for three touchdowns last week against the Rams. The Packers’ young receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs have hit their stride, but Green Bay is 6-8 and vying for a playoff spot just like Miami is.

“[Our defense] earned the right to play on national television, took it very seriously and got embarrassed in their own minds. Their expectation was to do well and it wasn’t,” McDaniel said.

“So, I think we’ve really attacked the possible reasons for those things. And my expectation is that they improve drastically in a short amount of time.”

The Dolphins host the Packers, visit the New England Patriots, and host the New York Jets in the season finale with hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Miami has reached the postseason just twice since 2002.

“We have a lot of goals that we set as a team, and that’s really the main goal for me and for the team is to focus on this game first, obviously, but make a playoff run,” Tagovailoa said.

“And hopefully, we get that opportunity to win those games deep in January and then make a make a Super Bowl run.”

YAHOOSPORTS
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Big time game for the Dolphins to bounce back in... and nothing more fitting than to see them knock-off the Packers in Miami.

 

Chase Young will play on Saturday



Commanders defensive end Chase Young will not have to be patient for too much longer.

Young has been on the active roster for several weeks and has been practicing for more than a month, but he has been inactive on gamedays and not played since tearing his ACL 13 months ago. That is set to change against the 49ers this Saturday.


Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said on Thursday that Young will make his 2022 debut this weekend.

Young was a 2020 first-round pick by Washington and he had 70 tackles, nine sacks, 16 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in his first 24 games. The Commanders will be hoping that he’ll be able to pick up where he left off because it would prove a shot in the arm to their hopes of advancing to tj r

PFT
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Tough way to go in San Francisco, but its good to see him back... its gotta help.

 

Not a bad half of football... I think JAX will pull away in the 2nd half, tho.

 

Thursday Night Football: Jets bench Zach Wilson, but Jaguars still win 19-3



The Jaguars are still in control of whether or not they’ll make it to the postseason.

The Jets are reeling and have more uncertainty at quarterback — though Zach Wilson certainly doesn’t look like he’s going to be the answer for the franchise.


Jacksonville defeated New York 19-3 on a rainy Thursday night, controlling the ball and the clock as the Jets’ offense was largely ineffective.

Though defensive lineman Quinnen Williams strip-sacked quarterback Trevor Lawrence to end Jacksonville’s first drive, that was one of the few positive plays for the Jets all night. After New York took a 3-0 lead off that fumble, the Jaguars scored 19 unanswered points through the rest of the game.

Lawrence finished 20-of-31 for 229 yards. He also rushed for 51 yards on seven carries — including a 1-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

Evan Engram led the way with the receiving attack, catching seven passes for 113 yards. Travis Etienne had 22 carries for 83 yards plus three catches for 29 yards.

Riley Patterson hit four of his five field goals, missing one from 44 yards out.

But on the other side, Wilson was benched for practice squad quarterback Chris Streveler after the Jets went three-and-out on their first two drives in the second half. New York had just three first downs with Wilson behind center, netting only 66 yards in the first half. After the first two drives of the third quarter, the Jets had just 63 total yards.

Wilson was just 9-of-18 passing for 92 yards with an interception.

So, head coach Robert Saleh elected to put in Streveler with 3:31 left in the third quarter. While the Jets didn’t score with him in at quarterback, Streveler provided an immediate spark. The Jets went 73 yards in 16 plays on his first drive, with Streveler tossing a long pass to C.J. Uzomah and rushing for 37 yards. But on fourth-and-2 in the red zone, Streveler’s pass to receiver Garrett Wilson fell incomplete.

Streveler finished 10-of-15 for 90 yards while rushing nine times for 54 yards.

But aside from Streveler, the Jets rushed for just 12 yards on 11 carries. Overall, the offense had just 10 first downs, 227 yards, and was 2-of-13 on third down.

With the victory, the Jaguars are now 7-8. They have the Texans in Week 17 before taking on the Titans in Week 18 — possibly for the AFC South division title.

Also now at 7-8, the Jets’ postseason chances took a hit with Thursday’s loss. They’ll travel to Seattle in Week 17 before heading to Miami in Week 18.

PFT

 

Cincinnati Bengals clinched a Playoff birth with the Jets loss.

 

Seahawks expect to have Ken Walker, DeeJay Dallas on Saturday



The Seahawks listed running backs Ken Walker and DeeJay Dallas as questionable to play in Saturday’s game against the Chiefs because of ankle injuries, but that doesn’t sound like the best label for their chances of being in the lineup.

Head coach Pete Carroll discussed the status of the two backs after Thursday’s practice and he indicated that both of them are going to be in the lineup. Walker is dealing with back spasms in addition to his ankle issue, but Carroll said he’s on track to play.


“He’s OK,” Carroll said, via the team’s website. “I’ve got to wait and see. He had something, little spasms or something today, but he looked good yesterday, so he should be ready to go.”

Carroll said Dallas was limited in Thursday’s practice because he’s “done enough to show us he can play” after missing the last two games. Tight end Noah Fant (knee) and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (wrist, ankle) were also listed as questionable and were given similar outlooks by Carroll heading into a game the Seahawks need to have to keep their playoff hopes percolating.

PFT

 

Emerging RB prospect Caleb Huntley has joined the lengthy IR list in Atlanta after suffering an Achilles' injury last weekend. The irony is that his performance throughout the season was one of the main factors in the team's decision to release Damian Williams rather than bring Williams back from IR.

With the injury coming so late in the season, there's a strong chance he won't be ready to return by the start of the 2023 regular season. If he does end up on PUP status, the team still has Cordarrelle Patterson under contract for 2023 along with recent draft picks Tyler Allgeier (fifth round, 2022) and Avery Williams (converted DB, drafted 2021).

 

A post from Sports Illustrated this week makes the Ravens-Falcons game this weekend a little more interesting. Jeremy Breiner at SI suggests that talks between the Ravens and Lamar Jackson's agent aren't getting anywhere and that the Ravens might trade Jackson rather than carry him on a franchise tag. If so, Reiner puts the Falcons at the top of the list of potential trade partners.

Its plausible. Atlanta will have the cap space to sign him to a long term deal, and their exploration of a potential Deshaun Watson deal shows they would be willing to spend some draft capital to land their next franchise QB.

It's also intriguing. Jackson would be a perfect fit for Arthur Smith's style of offense. Atlanta's offensive line is improving, and they have developed a solid running game. Most of the WRs are pending free agents, but Jackson would at least have Kyle Pitts and Drake London as receiving targets, and running backs Cordarrelle Patterson and Avery Williams are also potential weapons in the passing game.

 

Very interesting to say the least. Jackson under that offense sounds intriguing and I had no clue as to the disgruntled sounding situation still playing out in Baltimore.

In my opinion, fwiw, the Falcons are real close to putting a very explosive offense on the Field, but i wonder how much time and looks they will give Ridder before going all out on Lamar (potentially). On the other hand, if they can intise Lamar to Atlanta, might as well go full throttle in snagging him regardless of how bright a Desmond Ridder future looks.