NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Khan artist

 

One former Steeler might get a little playing time Friday in light of the Rondale Moore injury. James Washington is trying to come back once again after missing 2022 with a fractured foot. He signed with the Saints right around OTAs last year but was released before camp, then went to camp with the Colts but didn't make it.

So he's trying again this year, and a week ago he signed with Atlanta. He's way behind the other receivers in learning the system, putting him at the bottom of the depth chart as one of two newcomers. Still, he'll have a shot at making a good showing of himself on Friday vs. the Dolphins.

 

Yes, I'm optimistic for the season. The team does still have question marks, but there are a lot of positive signs and a lot of improved depth.

Cousins has been sharp. We probably won't see him at all in the preseason. Fine with me... I'm actually stoked to watch fourth-string newcomer Nathan Rourke and see what the ex-CFL quarterback can do in the second half. That's the only real QB controversy we have at the moment - whether Taylor Heinecke can hang on to the QB3 spot or if Rourke can come in and take his place.

 

I don’t know what up with Washington but he seemed like he was going to be a really good NFL WR but the wheels fell off in the ditch.

 

Looks badass.

 

There’s a lot of undeveloped area in Brook Park. They are basically going to develop the entire commercial area. Brook Park is only a 20 minute train ride into downtown. This would be good for everyone in my opinion.

 

And to beat this horse some more, the NFL said this... “The individual team practices would be for the teams themselves to monitor and oversee,” a league spokesperson said" This is two-faced language in my opinion. Brutal fights in Seattle with a player swinging a helmet gets no fines by the NFL and the NFL basically turns a 'blind eye' to that and other similar situations. A fight is a fight, whether 2 opposing teams or just a team practice. If your going to single out certain players in a joint practice and fine the teams, make it contingent across the board. And players like WR Hill in Miami running his mouth that the fight at the Dolphins game was cool, STFU!... I bet its real cool when someone nocks your teeth out of your mouth, right? There are some coaches that dont mind the fighting, then there are some who recently said in team meeting that fighting wont be tolerated, so its all mixed up.

Either fights are ok or there not... set a boundary, make a decision, period.

Not a week goes by where Goodells NFL doesn't piss me off about something, but man, I love this game.

 

The Saints have locked up one of their key defensive players.

According to multiple reports, linebacker Pete Werner has agreed to a three-year extension with New Orleans.

The initial reports indicate Werner’s deal is worth more than $25 million with $17.5 million guaranteed.

A second-round pick in 2021, Werner has developed into a consistent starter for New Orleans. He started 16 games last year, recording 93 total tackles with four tackles for loss, an interception, and two fumble recoveries.

He was headed into the final year of his rookie contract but is now tied to the organization through 2027.

stolen from PFT

 

Falcons WR Rondale Moore's injury is season ending.

 

2 games tonight... 7 PM ET Starts.

 

Frank Gore thinks Taylor will get 2000 yards this season, Id like to see that.
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Jonathan Taylor was widely considered one of the NFL's top running backs not long ago, until injuries cost him a combined 13 games over the last two seasons. One of the league's all-time leading rushers envisions a major bounce-back for the Indianapolis Colts star in 2024, however, with Frank Gore telling ESPN he believes Taylor can make history by clearing 2,000 rushing yards.

"JT is built different, man," Gore said. "If he stays healthy, I won't be surprised if he gets 2,000. With his ability and with the way he moves, it's crazy. I already knew he was fast. But what I like is how he moves in small spaces, man. I didn't think he had that."

Gore and Taylor spent part of this offseason training together, per ESPN, which is just one sign of a markedly different approach from the Colts running back compared to last year. For much of the 2023 offseason, Taylor found himself in a public and private back-and-forth with Colts brass, even briefly requesting a trade over failed long-term contract talks with Indianapolis. He went on to play in just 10 games, making seven starts, after missing the start of the season while on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

"I know what I can do when I'm healthy," Taylor told ESPN, citing his improved condition this summer.

CBS

 

Lions QB Hendon Hooker flashes before leaving with concussion

Detroit Lions backup quarterback Hendon Hooker participated in his first game in 21 months following an ACL tear at Tennessee. The preseason debut ended after 19 plays.

"Yeah, he got a concussion, so he's obviously in the protocol and he'll be evaluated," coach Dan Campbell said of Hooker following the Lions 14-3 preseason loss in New York. "I don't know how long it's going to be. I know he got his bell rung, so that's what that was. Obviously, we would have loved to have gotten more time with him, but that's one of those things that happens. One of his runs there he must have gotten it."

Hooker injected some life into the Lions offense when he took over a listless offense in the second half from veteran Nate Sudfeld. Hooker completed 5-of-9 attempts for 36 yards. He added four rushes for 34 yards, leading two drives, including one that stalled out on the 3-yard-line. He ran over a safety on one rush attempt, offering some vivacity to a rain-soiled affair at MetLife Stadium.

It was on one of those runs that Hooker picked up the concussion.

"Well, that's what happens when you run," Campbell said. "In this league at the quarterback position, I mean you're going to take some hits, and so you've got to be real selective. He's going to have to learn to be selective, he's going to need to slide, so some of those things, if he is going to use more of his legs it's good, it gets you out of trouble, but that's the downside of it. You expose yourself to hits. I think him being able to do some of that would be good for his game, but certainly, yeah, we need to limit that, and he's got to play in the pocket and make some throws there."

Campbell said he's unsure how long Hooker will be out with the concussion.

NFL.com

 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he has no 'urgency' to get CeeDee Lamb deal done; WR responds

Three days before the Dallas Cowboys' preseason opener and a month before they kick off the regular season, owner Jerry Jones is in no hurry to work out a new deal with CeeDee Lamb.

As the Pro Bowl wide receiver remains a holdout in search of an extension, Jones held court and let his stance be known on Thursday.

"I don't have any urgency to get it done," Jones said.

As Jones' comments spread across social media, Lamb tweeted a response of, "lol."

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott also had a response, one contrary to his owner's take.

"I got urgency for it to happen," Prescott told reporters.

While Jones' lack-of-urgency comment garnered an overflow of attention, it did follow a somewhat optimistic outlook from Jones initially.

Asked if he could envision the regular-season opening and Lamb not being ready to go, Jones said he believes the parties were at the least headed in the right direction.

"Well, I don't know about that, but I know that we're getting great work [done], making real progress and I don't think [we're] losing a step where we are now," Jones said.

It was then that Jones was asked about a sense of urgency, to which he responded simply, "No."

When pressed to explain, he didn't clear up why but delivered the aforementioned "urgency" excerpt.

For Dallas, it seems puzzling that Jones would be in no hurry to end the drama and get one of the NFL's best wide receivers back with the team practicing and prepping for the 2024 season.

It's definitely a change in tone from Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones saying a new offer had been sent and conversations were good on July 27.

It's the latest in an offseason-long stalemate for Lamb and the team that selected him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 25-year-old did not attend voluntary workouts or mandatory minicamp and has been a no-show at training camp, which makes him subject to daily fines. Lamb is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which means he can be fined $40,000 per day for each practice missed. He is due $17.9 million in 2024 on the option.

However, Lamb is on the heels of his third straight Pro Bowl campaign and also garnered his first All-Pro selection. His season included 135 receptions, which led the NFL, for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns -- each of those career bests.

Thus, in an offseason rife with wide receivers hauling in huge paydays, Lamb wants his day, as well.

Lamb isn't the only high-profile Cowboy due for a raise. He is one of three Dallas superstars in line for extensions, as Prescott is also headed into the final year of his current contract, and linebacker Micah Parsons certainly warrants a new deal that will be massive.

There's no telling how much of Jones' comments are posturing or not, but it would seem the Lamb holdout isn't ending anytime soon.

NFL.com

 

3 more on tap for tonight...

 

I would love to trade for Cede Lamb. He’s a million times better than Aiyuk.

 

Stadiums keep looking more and more awesome the Browns Stadium looks AWESOME

 

Here is the latest, and it means absolutely nothing...

 

I wonder does Brandon Aiyuk realize how good he's got it in San Francisco