NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I can tell you how remembrance of Dillion most people have. We forgot that he even existed until the article came out. HOF voters don’t remember him either, so how can they vote for him. He’s the last person on earth that I would think of if I listing my top favorite 100 RBs of all time.

 

My first year of Fantasy Football (2004) I drafted Corey Dillon when he was with the NE Pats......and he had a great year.

But I don't think he belongs in the HOF.....I never liked his OFF Field Antics and I think Integrity is a prerequisite to get in the HOF ???

Great Quote by Irish.

Lesson in life, don't burn bridges, especially while you are standing on them.

 

Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt believes Adam Thielen will lead the Panthers in receptions in 2023.


“Thielen is probably the favorite to catch more balls than anybody among that group of receivers,” Gantt said on a recent Rotoworld Football Show , breaking down Carolina’s pass-catching pecking order. “He’s going to be set up to catch a bunch of short touchdown passes this year.” Panthers head coach Frank Reich and team owner David Tepper have said Thielen’s precise route running should mesh well with Bryce Young. Gant said to expect Carolina’s passing attack to include plenty of shorter and intermediate passes — a potential boon for whoever is playing from the slot. Thielen, whose stats dropped off in 2022, could be an interesting PPR option in deeper formats if he indeed leads the Panthers in targets and/or receptions.

 

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans observed third-round rookie Tank Dell was “open a lot” in offseason practices.

“Tank’ Dell comes in, providing his route-running ability,” Ryans said. “He’s been open a lot in OTAs. So that’s exciting.” Ludicrously productive at the University of Houston, Dell forged an off-field friendship with new Texans QB C.J. Stroud, which surely played a part in his Day 2 selection. It is going to be easy to get overly excited about Dell at the expense of veteran Robert Woods, but there is no question Dell is where the upside resides. It is just a matter of if he can establish a PPR floor first. Dell is an interesting late-round flier in receptions-based formats.

 

ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime reports third-year pro Nico Collins has been No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud’s “favorite target” so far in offseason practices.

We are talking about pad-less practices in May and June, but the Texans certainly need Collins to step up and serve as the primary boundary threat in an offense with smaller wideouts like Robert Woods, Tank Dell and John Metchie. Slowed by injury and terrible quarterback play, Collins posted just a 37/481/2 line in 10 games last season. Headed into his age-24 season, a good fantasy outcome for Collins would be emerging as a touchdowns-based WR4.

 

Panthers don't get to happy there he's not a young man anymore could get very interesting if he stays healthy tho

 

Richard Sherman: DeVonta Smith showed me I don’t got it for these young dudes

Richard Sherman says it was a game against the Eagles in 2021 that told him his career was just about over.

Sherman said on his podcast that while covering DeVonta Smith, he felt the physical pain of his body not being able to cut on a dime the way a cornerback needs to do against an athletic young receiver like Smith.

“DeVonta must’ve run this comeback ,” Sherman said, via Doug Farrar of USA Today. “I had him under control, I was like, bam, quick jam, easy, had him under control. He must’ve stopped and I tried to stop and my whole groin said, ‘Snap, snap, snap, snap,’ and I said, ‘Whoa, whoa.’”

Sherman said he toughed it out and stayed in the game, but knew at that moment that he couldn’t keep up anymore.

“Then you’re trying to guard and chasing him around and you’re like please don’t throw him the ball, please. My coach is looking at me on the sideline like, ‘Hey, you wanna come out, you wanna come out?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but they’re in a hurry-up,’ so I’m like bailing out. At that moment I was like yeah, this is probably my last year. I don’t got it for these young dudes right here,” Sherman said.

Sherman missed the next two months after that injury, came back and played briefly in two games late that season, and that was the end of his career.

NBC
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Yep, Sherman is an old fart by todays standards. Guess Im ancient history now or have been for ions.

 

Report: Dalvin Cook decision to wait until closer to training camp

Fullback Alec Ingold would like to see running back Dalvin Cook join him in the Dolphins backfield, but there doesn’t appear to be anything imminent when it comes to a deal.

Jeff Darlington of ESPN reports, via DolphinsTalk.com, that there is “nothing urgent ” in regard to Cook coming to terms with the Dolphins or any other team right now. Cook is expected to wait until closer to training camp before making an agreement on where to play during the 2023 season.

As previously reported, the Dolphins made Cook a contract offer after he was released by the Vikings. Cook has not been willing to accept that offer, but there’s been no word of offers from other clubs that would push Miami to up that offer or put them out of the running for Cook’s services.

There are several other veteran backs available as free agents right now as well and plenty of discussion about the low value that teams have put on running backs this offseason. Neither of those things suggest that a massive offer lurks around the corner for Cook, but it seems he’ll still be taking his time before accepting anything that’s already come his way.

NBC
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Last month, receiver DeAndre Hopkins visited the Titans and Patriots. Since then, he has played the waiting game.

Via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, Hopkins is waiting for another team to enter the mix . If that happens, his value could increase.

Obviously, this implies that neither the Titans nor the Patriots have made him an offer he can’t/won’t refuse. Per Reiss, both teams have indeed made offers — and the Titans have been “more aggressive to this point.”

It’s unclear whether another team will emerge before camp opens. Hopkins could choose to wait until a veteran currently on a team gets injured or displays ineffectiveness, creating on-the-fly interest in his services. If, as many believe, Hopkins isn’t a fan of practice, waiting until the season approaches to sign could be enticing to him.

Still, at some point, he needs to get ready to make an impact right away, especially since his eventual contract will include incentives based on playing time and/or production.

Reiss also notes that, if it ultimately comes down to the Patriots or the Titans, Hopkins could ask himself which one gives him a better chance to reach his incentives and max out his earnings. His experience with Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien could be a plus in that regard.
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Its all a gamble, like Russian Roulette when it comes to RB's and there is a half-way decent list of FA's out there. So I suppose while FA's hold out and test the waters for best team and cash monies, the GM's are also willing to wait to see if they can get the same kinda production from another body.

What I dont understand is the delay in signing obvious studs like Justin Jefferson, Hockenson, Burrows, Prescott and Herbert, just to name a few to extensions. Why wait, seems it can only lead to trouble.

 

Running back Jonathan Taylor missed time with an ankle injury and he had surgery to address the injury this offseason. That kept him from taking part in the team’s offseason program, but Irsay said on The Pat McAfee Show that Taylor is “healed up ” with training camp set to start later this month.

Taylor is headed into the final year of his rookie deal. He said this offseason that he is comfortable playing out the pact without an extension, but there have been some talks about a new deal.

Linebacker Shaquille Leonard missed even more time than Taylor as back surgeries caused both a late start and early end to his 2022 season. Leonard remained off the field this offseason and there was no timetable laid out for his return, but Irsay said things are moving in the right direction.

“He’s working hard,” Irsay said. “We’ll see. He has a chance, he’s working really hard. He’s getting a little better each day.”

Getting Taylor and Leonard back at their previous form would be a positive development for head coach Shane Steichen’s first season in Indianapolis.

NBC

 

If Dalvin Cook goes to NY JETS what happens to Breece Hall he was pretty good before he got hurt and if the JETS don't want him be he'll be a nice pick-up for the Cowboys IMO

 

Alvin Kamara also civil suit stemming from Las Vegas fight

Saints running back Alvin Kamara has agreed to settle the civil case against him stemming from a fight in Las Vegas during the 2022 Pro Bowl weekend.

Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the victim of the alleged assault, announced on social media that “this matter has settled on confidential terms.”

Kamara issued a public apology to Darnell Greene as part of the settlement.

“Please accept my sincere apologies for the events of February 5, 2022 in Las Vegas. I am happy that we are able to get on the other side of this unfortunate incident, and I wish you the best for the future,” Kamara wrote in the letter released by Buzbee on Instagram.

Greene had filed suit against Kamara in Orleans Civil District Court in November, seeking $10 million in damages.

Earlier Tuesday came news that Kamara is pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace from the same incident. Kamara is required to complete community service and pay Greene $100,000 for medical bills

Kamara still faces possible punishment from the NFL under the Personal Conduct Policy.

Kamara and three other men, including Bengals cornerback Chris Lammons, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit battery and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. The men are accused of hitting and kicking Greene after he and Kamara got into a dispute outside a hotel elevator on Feb. 5, 2022.

Kamara entered a plea of not guilty in March.

The five-time Pro Bowler is entering his seventh NFL season.

NBC

 

Report: Jarrad Davis out “long term” after surgery

Giants middle linebacker Jarrad Davis will be out “long term ” after undergoing surgery this summer, Pat Leonard of the Daily News reports. It’s unclear why Davis required surgery or what he had repaired, as Leonard calls the surgery “undisclosed.”

Davis, 28, was taking first-team reps in Wink Martindale’s defense alongside weakside linebacker Bobby Okereke.

Second-year linebackers Micah McFadden and Darrian Beavers are behind Davis on the depth chart and likely the first to get the chance to fill the void left by Davis’ absence.

McFadden, a fifth-round pick in 2022, made 59 tackles and two sacks in 17 games and seven starts as a rookie. Beavers, a 2022 sixth-round pick, tore an ACL in a preseason game last summer and spent his rookie year on injured reserve.

Davis signed with the Giants off the Lions’ practice squad late last season and started one regular-season game and both postseason games. He recorded 18 tackles, two quarterback hits and half a sack in 165 defensive snaps.

The Giants re-signed Davis to a one-year, $1.18 million contract in March. The salary goes from $1.08 million to a $550,000 split salary if he’s not on the team’s active/inactive list, per Leonard.

NBC

 

What is the Chargers' strongest position group?



ESPN's Seth Walder and Mike Clay have unveiled their NFL roster rankings, with the Chargers coming in seventh.

The duo identified Los Angeles' strongest unit as its edge-rushers.

"Joey Bosa was limited to two full games during an injury-plagued 2022 season, but he was a superstar during his first six seasons (58 sacks) and is at the prime age of 27," Clay wrote. "Opposite him will be one of the league's best edge rushers of the last decade, Khalil Mack. Mack is now 32 years old but remained effective last season (82% of snaps, eight sacks). Versatile second-round rookie Tuli Tuipulotu brings some much-needed depth."

Bosa at full health flanked by Mack forms one of the best edge-rusher duos in the league. But the position isn't Los Angeles' strongest group. The wide receiver group should get the nod.

Also an injury-plagued unit in 2022, the group is back at full health heading into 2023. Keenan Allen missed seven games due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 1 -- the most games he's missed in a season since missing all of 2016 with a torn ACL. Mike Williams missed a career-high three games due to a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 7.

Allen had the 11st-highest Pro Football Focus grade among wide receivers and tight ends in 2022. He was 15th in yards per route run, a metric that better predicts future production than yards per reception or target, per PFF. He didn't drop a pass all season. There's every reason to believe a healthy Allen will still be an upper-echelon receiver entering his age-31 season.

Williams finished 2022 with the 21st-highest grade and was 23rd in yards per route run among wide receivers and tight ends. Williams' targets jumped from 7.15 per game when Allen was active to 9.17 per game when Allen was out. He only dropped one pass the entire season.

Beyond Allen and Williams, No. 3 receiver Joshua Palmer had a career year in 2022, catching 72 passes for 769 yards and three touchdowns. His targets jumped to 7.7 per game when Allen or Williams were inactive, averaging 55.7 receiving yards in those contests. In Week 11 against the Chiefs, Palmer hauled in eight passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns while Allen and Williams were active.

Palmer's spot in the starting lineup isn't guaranteed. The Chargers drafted TCU receiver Quentin Johnston 21st overall in the NFL Draft this past spring. Johnston claims he's already won the No. 3 receiver job. Regardless of who falls where on the depth chart, Los Angeles enters 2023 with one of the best and deepest receiver rooms in the NFL.

YARDBARKER

 

Can the Lions handle the heat there's so much pressure ( Detroit Lions NFC North Champs? ) even the Vikings didn't have this kind of pressure they better come out on fire and not stumble or will it be just same old Lions good and tough but not good enough time will tell

 

The Vikings will win the division, Lions second, Bears third, Packers fourth. You could convince me to switch CHI and DET, but I'm not there yet.

 

I think you may be right, and I'd rather see the Bears take a not-too-distant 2nd, because I'm a huge fan of Fields, I've always thought he is going to be special, just need to build around him offensively and form the offense to suit him with the best schemes and players possible. If you find a way to compete defensively, I see a huge turn around (same for Minnesota). It really is time for the' Black & Blue' Division to get this right... defense baby.

PS - glad you posted, been a while... probably busy settling in. Hope all is well for you and family, especially the little future Vikings fan.

 

Don’t laugh. Look how many Browns fans there are because they grew up in Cleveland.

 

Yeah, you're dead on. Chicago has added a lot to the offense, but needs to prove that the differences matter on the offensive line, and then still need to fix the defense. The Vikes have to prove that the offense can still hit while improving the defense as well.

And it's definitely good to get here and catch up a little. Life has been crazy since the move. Cannot express how much we're loving it here - a vast improvement over where we were. And don't worry, I'm going to deck the house out in Bears stuff to try and combat the local Vikings influence. Our neighbor is a big Vikings fan, so that'll be fun over the years.

 

I'm laughing because Willie is poking the Bear... literally in this case.