NFL - NEWS & NOTES

https://www.nfl.com/news/will-4th-and-15-be-better-than-8-out-of-63
Think we might see the end of the onside kick. Damn near impossible to recover one with the ways the rules are now, and even before odds definitely were not in your favor. Takes a perfect bounce and a lot of luck to recover it. The way I have seen it written, you have to be down and can only attempt this alternative 2 times a game. Not sure if there's a time frame like the last 5 minutes in the fourth quarter like the AAF used or not, but I would think it would be similar. Personally I would trust the ball coming out of my QB's hands more than off my kicker's foot any day. Except last year for the Steelers of course

 

They should allow it anytime you want to do it. You can onside kick every time you kick off. So why not allow you to attempt a 4 and 15 from your 25 anytime of the game?

 

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has no doubt that the NFL will have a season this year.

Ross said today on CNBC that the games themselves are not even in question anymore, and the only issue is whether stadiums will be full.

There “definitely will be a football season this year” and the “real question is will there be fans in the stadium,” Ross said, via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.

Ross said the Dolphins do expect to have fans in attendance, but that’s not something he can guarantee will be feasible in three months.

The NFL has conducted business all offseason as if the season will start on time. Free agency, the draft and the schedule release all proceeded in a manner that suggests the league thinks it will be ready to go in September. Ross is echoing that, while allowing for the reality that full stadiums will be the hardest thing to pull off.

NBC

 

The governor of New Jersey is the latest public official to get behind the return of pro sports.

Governor Phil Murphy said today that he is in favor of pro sports teams in his state — including the Giants and Jets — having their training camps and games as long as they follow health protocols.

“Professional sports teams in NJ may return to training and even competition – if their leagues choose to move in that direction,” Murphy wrote on Twitter. “We have been in constant discussions with teams about necessary protocols to protect the health and safety of players, coaches, and personnel.”

States are increasingly moving in the direction of reopening businesses, including pro sports. Much can change in the coming months, but at the moment the situation appears to be trending in the right direction for football to return as scheduled in September.

NBC

 

Frank Reich “super pumped” about Parris Campbell



The Colts have high hopes for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. after taking him in the second round of this year’s draft, but he isn’t the only young receiver they hope to see step up alongside T.Y. Hilton this season.

Indianapolis drafted Parris Campbell in the second round last year, but didn’t get a lot out of him as a rookie. Campbell dealt with a variety of injuries, including a broken foot that ended his season, and caught 18 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown in seven games.

The failure to launch last year hasn’t dimmed head coach Frank Reich’s enthusiasm about what Campbell brings to the table.

“I’m super pumped about Parris and his upside,” Reich said on a conference call, via Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan.

Reich said that Campbell will play more in the slot than he did as a rookie. Presumably that would put Pittman and Hilton on the outside of an offense the Colts hope catches fire with Philip Rivers at quarterback.

NBC

 

Report: Coaches could return next week, opening door for June minicamps



So far, even in places where NFL facilities are allowed to open, most teams are gradually bringing back employees, but none from the football operation.

That could be changing soon.

According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, NFL head coaches could return to their facilities as soon as next week, which would open the door for possible minicamps in June.

That’s a significant step forward after a virtual offseason has left teams to communicate by Zoom calls and work out on their own.

There are many hurdles to be cleared before the sight of teams conducting minicamps is a common, with several states yet to open things up in a way that would allow large gatherings of players and coaches. California is a particular concern, with three teams based there, and getting a go-ahead from Governor Gavin Newsom would be a key for the league to signal it’s ready to get back to business.

According to the report, the window for minicamps would be between June 15 and June 27, which is later than normal (teams usually begin a six or seven-week break before training camp in mid-June). It’s unclear how that would impact starting dates for training camp.

NBC

 

Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey will be at training camp, whether he has a new contract or not.

Ramsey, who will make $13.7 million this year in the final season of his rookie contract, told reporters that his agent and the team are on the same page, and he’s confident things will work out one way or the other.

“The Rams know where I stand, and I think that’s all that matters at the end of the day,” Ramsey said.

If Ramsey wanted to hold out, he’d have leverage. The Rams traded two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to get Ramsey from Jacksonville, and they obviously want to see some return on that investment. They want Ramsey on the field, not holding out for more money.

And the Rams would also surely like to get a deal done with Ramsey because that $13.7 million cap hit puts them tight against the salary cap. A long-term deal that lowers Ramsey’s cap hit this year would create some breathing room.

But if it doesn’t happen, Ramsey is satisfied playing out his contract.

NBC

 

I wouldn't hold my breath on Newsome giving the go ahead...those teams might need to find alternate places to conduct mini-camps.

 

NFL: We are not putting dates on a potential return

A report on Tuesday that indicated teams could hold minicamps at their facilities in June was met with a quick response from NFLPA president JC Tretter and another one from the NFL.

The report said that head coaches could be allowed back at facilities next week, which would then open the door for potential minicamps the weeks of June 15 or June 27. Tretter noted that offseason programs are set to end on June 26 by the joint agreement of the NFL and NFLPA and that the union has not agreed to any reopening plan.

NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy said the league continues working with the union and that there are not ready to talk about specific dates for any change to the current operating procedure.

“We are not putting dates on a potential return,” McCarthy said, via Albert Breer of SI.com. “We have been and will continue working hand in hand with the NFLPA. We will base our decisions on the latest medical advice and in compliance with local and state guidelines.”

With facilities in much of the country now cleared to reopen to some personnel, the league appears to be on track for a larger return to business as something closer to usual even as concrete timelines remain elusive.

NBC

 

"well im just a chickillo and every where i go, people want to talk about me..."

Seriously folks.

Anthony Chickillo excited for new opportunity with Saints



It took over two months of free agency after his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers for Anthony Chickillo to find a new home with the New Orleans Saints.

But even after playing the waiting game, Chickillo is pleased with his new destination with the Saints.

“Couldn’t ask for a better organization, with a better head coach, better team, better quarterback and I’m just really excited to get to New Orleans and to get to work,” Chickillo said Tuesday via a team transcript.

“It’s a winning organization and I wanted to be a part of a winning organization. I was lucky to be in Pittsburgh the past five years. I feel like I’m coming from a winning culture, so I feel like I’m going to fit in well with the locker room.”

Chickillo signed a one-year deal with New Orleans last week after spending the first five years of his career with Pittsburgh. A sixth-round pick in 2015, Chickillo appeared in 65 total games for the Steelers with nine starts. Chickillo has been a rotational pass rusher and key special teams players for Pittsburgh. He had 7.5 sacks for his career with a career-high three sacks coming in 2017.

While Chickillo was a linebacker in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme, he’s set to play more of a traditional defensive end spot with the Saints. It’s a role he played in college at the University of Miami.

“It’ll be different playing in a 4-3,” Chickillo said. “In Pittsburgh I got used to the 3-4, but in college I played with my hand down in a lot of different positions. I’m excited and I think I’ll be a good fit for the team.

“In Pittsburgh, we were in a two-point stance. We were in a 3-4 and still on some passing situations I was able to put my hand down, so it’s not like I haven’t done in the past five years. … I’ve always liked rushing with my hand down, better than out of a two-point. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

NBC

 

The “fourth-and-15” alternative to the onside kick has been tweaked in advance of tomorrow’s vote by NFL owners.

The biggest change to the rules proposal is that it will now be an untimed down. The initial proposal put forward was for the clock to start on the snap and run as it would on a normal play. But as we’ve previously noted, that would give a team that takes a lead with a few seconds remaining an easy way to run the last few seconds off the clock: Have the quarterback scramble around and then throw the ball deep, like Patrick Mahomes did on the last play of the Super Bowl. As an untimed down, that’s no longer an option.

Changing the play to an untimed down makes it more exciting regardless of who’s winning: It both prevents leading teams from using it to run the rest of the time off the clock, and also gives trailing teams more time to mount a comeback. Under the current rules, a team that scores a touchdown to make it a one-possession game with 0:01 remaining on the clock has no chance, because an onside kick would use that last second. With the untimed onside kick alternative, that team would have a chance.

Other tweaks to the rules proposal include a clarification that the fourth-and-15 play can be used in regulation only, not in overtime. And a team that initially declares its intention to use the onside kick alternative can change its mind and kick off, but only if it calls timeout first.

Owners will vote on the onside kick alternative and other rules changes in a virtual meeting on Thursday.

NBC

 

What about the surprise 4-15 play to start the second half of the SB? It’s been done a couple of times with the onside kick.

 

Also if I was Atlanta I would stick with the guy in the picture kicking onside kicks because he had three successful ones in one game even though one was called back because of penalty.

 

There were a pair of proposals to add an eighth official with access to video and the ability to communicate with on-field officials this offseason, but neither of them is going to be adopted in a vote of NFL team owners.

Neither of the proposals will even be voted on during Thursday’s remote league meeting. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the the two proposals — one called for a booth umpire while the other wanted to establish a technological advisor with both often referred to as creating a “sky judge” position — have been withdrawn ahead of Thursday’s vote.

It’s not a particularly surprising development. NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said last week that there is not a pipeline of officials able to fill the roles at this point.

There had been some talk about adopting one of the proposals for the preseason and Pelissero adds that the league may still test some “expanded booth-to-official communication system” despite there being no chance of it being adopted for the regular season.

NBC

 

Free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney apparently doesn’t want to go to Cleveland.

The Browns made an aggressive offer to Clowney, who balked at going to Cleveland, Adam Schefter said today on ESPN Radio in Cleveland.

According to Schefter, the offer the Browns made was clearly the best Clowney has received, but he didn’t bite.

Browns General Manager Andrew Berry said last month that Clowney is a good player and he’s always looking to add good players, but otherwise the Browns haven’t said anything about their level of interest.

The problem, however, appears to be Clowney’s level of interest. He’s recovering from surgery on a core muscle and may not have many suitors right now, but he appears content to wait to see if someone else comes along, someone more appealing than the Browns.

NBC

 

The new NFL stadium in Inglewood was supposed to open in July, with a Taylor Swift concert. That event has been postponed. The first football game to be played there has not.

The Rams announced on Wednesday their preseason schedule, which begins with an unofficial christening of SoFi Stadium on Friday, August 14. That night, the Saints will visit the new venue.

The Rams play three of their preseason games at home, given that they “visit” the Chargers the following Saturday, August 22. After hosting the Broncos on Saturday, August 29, the Rams wrap up their preseason with a short trip to Las Vegas for a game against the Raiders, in their new stadium.

The announcement, which includes an invitation to buy tickets for the games, acknowledges the possiblity that the games won’t proceed, or that fans won’t be present: “If games are cancelled or played without spectators, any tickets purchased directly from the Rams or through Ticketmaster for Rams home games will be refunded within 30 days of cancellation or decision to play without spectators.”

So fans who buy tickets to the game will get their money back. From now through 30 days after a decision that would make the tickets moot is made, those purchases become, like all tickets bought to game that may not be played this season, an interest-free loan for the team.

NBC

 

A penalty that was called in error too so there is no argument that that failed attempt was tainted by any advantage from a foul.

 

NFL tables proposed fourth-and-15 onside kick alternative

The proposed alternative to onside kicks was not passed by NFL owners at their virtual league meeting on Thursday.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the proposal to allow teams to try a fourth-and-15 play from their own 25-yard-line as a way to regain possession in lieu of an onside kick has been tabled. There will be further discussion on the proposal in the future, which did not come up for a formal vote on Thursday.

Per Pelissero, an informal show of hands showed that the proposal would not have passed in such a vote.

PFT reported on Thursday that some opponents of the proposed change believed that it would lead to the elimination of the kickoff altogether. The NFL changed kickoff rules a couple of years ago with an eye toward player safety and some of them, particularly the inability for members of the coverage team to take a running start, have contributed to a drop in successful onside kicks when it’s obvious a team is going to try one.

A drop in comebacks meant less excitement late in some games, which was part of the reason why the alternative was proposed. For now, though, that excitement will have to come from other methods.

NBC

 

The NFL didn’t move forward with votes to add a new booth official to crews for the 2020 season, but they will experiment with a tweaked role for existing replay officials in the preseason.

League owners approved a preseason trial for the proposal made by the Competition Committee to allow for more communication between replay officials and the crew on the field. That’s more limited in scope than the proposals that would have added a “Sky Judge” to the officiating crews with the power to make calls from the booth based on video.

Under the revised proposal, officials on the field can speak with the booth during crew conferences or until there are 25 seconds left on the play clock. The replay official will not be able to stop the game and will have access to the broadcast feed when consulting with on-field officials.

The proposal left the door open for the league to adopt aspects of the test for the regular season as well.

NBC

 

Should read " more appealing than the Browns offer".. reportedly a one year deal offer. Clowney wants multiple years. I love how they spin it that it is all about the Browns or Cleveland. Gotta create stories out of rhin air when there is absolutely nothing to report right now.