NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I'm sure you can massage it out of him.

 

According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, several teams have checked in on Cam Akers, including the Bucs, Ravens, Raiders, and Browns.

The Ravens and Browns checking in on Akers makes sense since both teams lost their starting running back in the early weeks of the 2023 season; however, the Bucs and Raiders being on this list is interesting. Rachaad White had a solid Week 2 performance for Tampa Bay, but it’s possible the team is not convinced that he or Sean Tucker is ready to carry a full workload. Meanwhile, the Raiders may be doing due diligence on potential options if Josh Jacobs leaves town after this season, which could mean they are not sold on Zamir White. However, it’s important to understand that all of this is still in the early stages and no deals appear imminent and no offers have been reported. This could very well just be teams trying to gauge what the asking price is for Akers.

 

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Jerome Ford will be the feature back in Cleveland.

Stefanski was clear to mention that this would be the case even if the Browns brought in another running back; although, he dodged questions about whether they would entertain bringing Kareem Hunt back. Ford impressed in relief of Nick Chubb on Monday night, rushing 16 times for 106 yards in the Browns’ Week 2 loss to the Steelers, while adding 25 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Given how much Cleveland leans on the running game, and how bad Deshaun Watson has looked, Ford looks to be a clear top waiver wire candidate as the lead back behind a strong offensive line.

 

Gather around boys and girls, its story time!

Just wanted to share a little something from my life and it has a football twist.

In 1978 I was in high-school and one of my classes was called, 'Health Class', which to this day I cant remember what it was or what I learned in that class, but here's my thing.

My teachers name was, Robert Momsen, he was a giant of a man in physical stature and as soon as we had a chance to talk, we immediately become pals, mainly because of fishing stories. As a young lad, I frequently would skip school and brag to the teachers I wasnt coming in, because I was going fishing, so I pulled that bit of news on him... he told me if I wasnt in class Friday, he would paddle me in front of the class (he was well feared for his ability to light your ass on fire). I was getting pissed about that and then he laughed and gave me pointers on where to go wadding in the Maumee River downtown Toledo to get in on some good action.

As we would BS after class he opened up and told me about himself. Turned out he became a 'hero' of mine. This is why... he was an OSU Buckeye graduate who just happened to be a First Team All-American Guard for the Buckeyes in 1950. He played for the Detroit Lions and became, 2nd team All-Pro in 1951. After the Lions he was picked up by the San Fran Cisco 49ers.

In 1954 he even had a Buckeye tree planted in his honor at the OSU Buckeye Grove. He's even a member of the OSU's Athletic Hall of Fame. When learning these things about him, Id ask him a bazzilion questions about life in the NFL (or whatever it was called back then) and with the Buckeyes, always a jaw dropping time.

Reason I thought of him today is I decided to read a verse or two from my old King James bible this morning which was gifted to me in 1980. When I opened it up the newspapper clipping of him fell out and i relived out times together back in the day.

 

That's cool Willie

 

Football players didn’t make shit for salaries back then. They had to get a job in the offseason and after retiring. He graduated too to become a teacher. Most football players never graduate college anymore.

 

Jake Camarda named NFC special teams player of the week
Nick Folk kicks his way to AFC special teams player of the week
Micah Parsons is the NFC defensive player of the week
Alex Highsmith named the AFC defensive player of the week
D’Andre Swift named NFC offensive player of the week

 

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Saquon Barkley (ankle) is “week to week.”

Barkley, by all accounts, avoided a serious ankle injury against Arizona in Week 2, but has almost no shot of suiting up Thursday night against the 49ers. Rapoport said Barkley could miss the team’s Week 4 game before returning to the lineup for Week 5. In the meantime, Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell will likely share backfield duties. Breida makes for a decent flex option in 12-team formats.

 

MAYE DAY, MAYE DAY!

Saints safety Marcus Maye will be unavailable for the next three games.

The NFL announced that Maye has been suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Maye was sentenced to six months probation in August after a plea deal to resolve a driving under the influence arrest from February 2021.

New Orleans will face Green Bay, Tampa Bay, and New England during Maye’s absence.

Maye has started both games for the Saints this season. He has 13 tackles, an interception and a sack in those appearances.

The suspension was likely once Maye’s legal case reached its conclusion, but the Saints will still have to shuffle some pieces in order to fill in for his absence while continuing to play at the same high level they’ve reached in their first two games.

NBC
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Wish they'd say what the substance was, oh well. Maybe they did previously, but i missed it.

 

Why? You want some?

 

Im not doing drugs these days. Moved on. Crazy enuff as it is and I did so many drugs over the decades, im still high all the time... doubt i ever come down.

 

It’s official. And it could end up being a steal.

The Vikings and Rams have announced the trade that sends running back Cam Akers to Minnesota. As surmised, the 2026 draft picks include the Vikings getting a seventh rounder and the Rams getting a sixth rounder.

The conditions were not disclosed. Presumably, they relate either to Akers playing in a specific number of games in 2023, or the Vikings signing him to a new contract.

Akers is in the final year of his rookie deal, at a salary of $1.451 million.

NBC

 

Barkley is ruled out as the Giants go to San Francisco. This one might be ugly.

 

Getting an actual roster-caliber player now just for swapping late rounders three drafts from now? It's already a steal.

 

Agreed. Akers and the addition of Risner on the o-line is a start in the right direction. I hope Risner is a quick study and can contribute immediately, he is needed NOW. Its was good to see the Vikings brass address a critical need as it was unfolding, sometimes its not always this easy, but the Vikings impressed me with their attack of filling a few holes offensively.

 

Giants-49ers Preview

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Matching the biggest comeback win in franchise history was cause for celebration for the New York Giants.

But they know it won't be nearly as easy climbing out of a big hole this week when they take on the powerhouse San Francisco 49ers (2-0) on Thursday night as it was against the bottom-dwelling Arizona Cardinals.

“We can’t afford to do that against any team,” safety Xavier McKinney said about falling into a deep hole. “We can’t keep having slow starts. We’ve just got to correct it. It’s only so much talking that we can do about it, we’ve just got to go out there and execute the things that we’re practicing and the stuff that we go over in these meetings. That’s what we’re going to be looking to do. But we definitely cannot keep doing that.”

Accomplishing that for the Giants (1-1) will be a lot harder without star running back Saquon Barkley, who will miss at least this week's game after spraining his ankle late in the win against Arizona.

That puts even more pressure on quarterback Daniel Jones to play the way he did in the second half against Arizona and not like the first six quarters of the season.

“Daniel has got his job to do, just like the running backs have their job, the receivers, the offensive line,” coach Brian Daboll said. “It’s individually taking care of your responsibility, whatever that may be and doing your job at a high level.”

The Giants didn't do that to start the season. They got off to one of the worst starts in recent history in the NFL, losing the opener 40-0 to Dallas and then falling behind 20-0 at the half to the Cardinals and 28-7 in the third quarter.

New York was the first team in 45 years to allow at least 60 points before scoring for the first time in a season. The Giants then scored 31 points in the second half behind 317 yards of offense and three TDs from Jones.

The 49ers have struggled at times in recent seasons slowing down mobile quarterbacks and view the matchup with Jones as a big challenge.

“It starts with his legs,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He’s willing to run. He’s physical when he runs. He’s got the skillset to run away from people. So anytime you have a quarterback like that, the challenge that does just schematically, unlocking your defense and making you have to play a certain way is always a pain. Then he’s got the ability to play in the pocket and beat you that way too. So he’s getting better each year.”

REPLACING BARKLEY

The Giants will use three backs to try to replace Barkley. Veteran Matt Breida should get the majority of carries. Second-year running back Gary Brightwell and rookie Eric Gray will pick up the slack.

Breida has started only two games since leaving San Francisco following the 2019 season. But he topped 100 yards rushing five times in 18 starts in 2018-19 for the 49ers.

“We are comfortable with all those guys. Whether that’s run or pass,” Daboll said. “Certainly things that we could all improve on, but they are all here for a reason.”

SEEKING SACKS

The 49ers vaunted defensive line got a bit frustrated last week with how quickly Matthew Stafford got rid of the ball, limiting San Francisco to just one sack on a blitz by linebacker Fred Warner. Nick Bosa and crew see some opportunities this week against Jones, who holds onto the ball longer and has taken 10 sacks this season.

“It’s going to be pretty much opposite of what we just did with Stafford," Bosa said. "Definitely can hold it a little bit and we just have to keep him in the pocket. He’s going to try and get out any chance he gets. Just trying to close it in on him, be good in our rush lanes and we could have a good day.”

Complicating matters for the Giants are injuries on the offensive line with left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and LG Ben Bredeson (concussion) out this week.

DYNAMIC DEEBO

Niners receiver Deebo Samuel had harsh criticism of his performance last season when he admitted coming into camp out of shape and never finding his stride. He vowed to change that this year and is off to a good start after posting his first 100-yard game from scrimmage in the regular season since Week 4 last season. Samuel had 68 yards receiving, 38 yards rushing and a TD.

“He’s in the best shape,” Shanahan said. "He doesn’t have to come out as much, doesn’t have to take as many plays off and is playing as good as I’ve seen him play.”

SHORT WEEK

With only three days between games, the Giants stayed in Arizona after last week's game to prepare for the Niners. Both teams essentially held only walkthroughs this week with the focus on installing the game plan and recovering physically.

“You’ve got to prepare hard in the meetings, and you got to treat those lighter practices with great detail and attention to the specifics of what we need to get accomplished,” Daboll said. "It’s a quick turnaround, but everybody has to play them, so that’s what we will do

AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed to this report

 

Anyway you slice and dice this game tonight, the Giants will 'tap out' probably by the end of the first quarter. And yes, I will still tune in. Its football.

 

More like the opening kickoff Willie

 

They oughta not even get off the plane.

 

Trevon Diggs, gone for season, torn ACL.