NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The entire o-line is so banged up that they can field two full squads when practice is going on.

He's been with the 1s at LT the past week.

 

Looking like the week 1 starting LT is Borom or Bars at the moment, presuming Borom's concussion protocol is nothing to worry about.

Ryan Pace, everyone.

 

The return of the NFL preseason drew a big audience on Thursday night.

The Hall of Fame Game, the NFL’s first preseason game of 2021 after the entire preseason was canceled in 2020, drew 7.326 million viewers, FOX announced.

That’s an outstanding number for a preseason game. It’s a 37 percent increase over the last Hall of Fame Game, in 2019, which drew 5.343 million viewers, and it marks the most-watched preseason game in the NFL in four years.

The two teams participating in last night’s game, the Cowboys and Steelers, have two of the league’s largest fan bases, which surely helped. This year’s extra-large Hall of Fame enshrinement class, which features popular players like Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson, also probably helped draw attention to this year’s Hall of Fame festivities.

The big number is a good sign for the NFL, which is continuing to generate big audiences at a time when network television viewership has declined significantly.

PFT

 

Report: Michael Thomas ignored calls from Saints’ coaches, trainer for three months



Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas reportedly spent much of the offseason ignoring calls from the team checking in on the status of his ankle injury.

Jeff Duncan of Nola.com reports that Thomas ignored multiple calls over a three-month period as then-Saints trainer Beau Lowery, wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson and head coach Sean Payton all tried to reach him to see how his ankle was doing.

Thomas was initially advised by the Saints’ medical staff to have the ankle surgery immediately after the Saints’ postseason came to an end, but after getting a second opinion he decided to try a more conservative approach and see if the ankle would heal without surgery. That didn’t work, and Thomas ultimately had the surgery in June. The recovery time from the surgery will cause Thomas to miss several games at the start of the season, and Payton said recently that Thomas should have had the surgery earlier.

If Thomas had stayed in touch with the team over the offseason, the determination that he needed the surgery might have been made earlier, and he might have recovered in time for the regular season. Instead, Thomas disappeared for much of the offseason, and now the Saints won’t have him to start the season. And it’s clear that the Saints aren’t happy about that.

PFT

 

Colts, Darius Leonard agree to five-year extension



Colts linebacker Darius Leonard will stay in Indianapolis for years to come.

The Colts and Leonard have agreed to a five-year contract extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The report says the total value of the contract is $99.25 million and the guarantees are $52.5 million, although the full structure of the contract has not been revealed.

The 26-year-old Leonard went to the Colts with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft and was heading into the final year of his rookie contract.

Leonard was the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year in 2018 and has been a first-team All-Pro twice and a second-team All-Pro once in his three NFL seasons. He has earned a big second contract.

PFT

 

By the way, that makes Leonard the top paid ILB in the NFL.

 

The owners shouldn’t have cut the cap unless they were going to cut out the ever escalating salaries for the same amount of time. They are spending money like the cap took a big jump

 

Xavien Howard, Dolphins agree on restructured contract



The Dolphins didn’t want to trade cornerback Xavien Howard and they won’t have to trade him.

Howard requested a trade when he reported to training camp because the team had rebuffed efforts to revise his contract. Howard indicated last Sunday that he was still open to resolving things with the team and the two sides have come to an agreement.

According to multiple reports, Howard and the Dolphins agreed to a restructured contract. Howard’s agent David Canter posted a tweet thanking the Dolphins for “doing something unexpected and difficult” with “absolute class and professionalism.”

The new deal bumps his guaranteed compensation in 2021 from $12.075 million to over $12.785 million and adds incentives that could push his payout to more than $16.285 million.

Howard’s 2022 compensation of $12.975 million has also been guaranteed against injury and will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the next league year. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins have also given Howard assurances that they’ll revisit the deal early in 2022 to bring it in line with the market should Howard be both healthy and productive this season.

Howard’s been out of practice for most of camp with an ankle injury. We’ll likely find out soon if the contractual change gets him back up and running.

PFT

 

Jaguars WR D.J. Chark has surgery on broken finger, expected back by Week 1

 

Urban Meyer: Jaguars don’t have a four-year plan, we have a one-year plan



Despite taking over some bad teams, Urban Meyer never had a losing record in four stops over 17 seasons as a college head coach. Meyer has no plans to lose this year as head coach of the Jaguars, either.

Meyer took over the worst team in the NFL, but he says he wants to win in 2021, not slowly build his team up. And he says that’s why he hasn’t yet named No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence the starting quarterback, because Lawrence has to prove he’s ready to win this year, not simply that he’s the team’s quarterback of the future.

“No, oh no,” Meyer told Judy Battista of NFL Media. “If he’s not the quarterback we think we can win with — we haven’t made that decision. It’s not a four-year plan. It’s not fair to these players. It’s a one-year plan.”

Meyer says Lawrence will be judged on whether he can win.

“What makes Tom Brady the greatest quarterback of all time is he find ways to win,” Meyer said. “Whether he’s a Buccaneer or with the New England Patriots, he finds a way to win. I’ve had quarterbacks like that — they win. I don’t know if we’re going to tell in a year. He throws a nice ball, that makes him one of about 60 to 70 quarterbacks. Does he win games?”

PFT

 

Steelers star T.J. Watt wants contract extension, not participating in drills at training camp



Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt is staging a hold-in. Although Watt has been in attendance at training camp since it opened, he is not participating in any hitting or team drills. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler confirmed that is because Watt is waiting on a contract extension.

“I don’t blame him for [sitting out] because you don’t want to get hurt when you are trying to get your contract done; then you lose some sort of flexibility in terms of what you can sign,” Butler said, via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. “I hope they get it done.”


The Steelers do not like to engage in contract negotiations once a season begins, which means that the club’s Week 1 matchup with the Bills on September 12 would be the deadline for finalizing a Watt extension this year. But while head coach Mike Tomlin generally eases his top players into the grind of training camp, the team still wants Watt to get involved in team activities well before the regular-season opener.

Regardless of when it happens, the Steelers will need to dole out a ton of cash to keep Watt in the fold for the long haul. Kaboly expects the Wisconsin product to become the highest-paid defensive player in league history, which would mean an AAV of more than $27M with roughly $80M in full guarantees.

Watt’s performance to date justifies that type of expenditure. Stout against the run and pass, the 26-year-old (27 in October) graded out as Pro Football Focus’ third-best edge player last season out of 108 qualifiers. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, and he has averaged about 14 sacks a year since his sophomore campaign. Even though Pittsburgh is entering something of an organizational crossroads due to its quarterback situation, retaining Watt seems like an absolute must.


The club did add a little pass-rushing support for Watt when it signed Melvin Ingram last month. Pittsburgh was also in on Justin Houston, who ultimately signed with the division-rival Ravens. Houston himself said he was very close to signing with the Steelers, but that Baltimore was his first choice, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Ingram, like Houston, is a complementary piece at this stage of his career, and his presence doesn’t necessarily give Pittsburgh any more leverage in Watt negotiations.

YardBarker

 

Giants RB Saquon Barkley to come off PUP list, practice Monday

The New York Giants began their Monday with excellent news: Saquon Barkley will be back on the field.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Big Blue running back would come off the physically unable to perform list today. NFL Network's Kim Jones added that Barkley will join practice.

The New York Post first reported Barkley would come off the PUP list this week.

Barkley ripped up his knee, including an ACL tear, in Week 2 of the 2020 campaign. After surgery, the rehab process has been slow and arduous for the dynamic playmaker.

The Giants hoped to get the star back on the field in early August, but some reluctant comments from Barkley and the club when camp opened gave the indication his timeline could be pushed. Rapoport noted last week that the Giants pegged anytime between Week 1 and 3 for a Barkley return.

Even if he doesn't do much, Barkley returning to the practice field today and exiting the PUP list is the first glimmer of hope we have gotten that the former Pro Bowler might be ready for the season opener. The Giants could have kept him on the PUP list for several more weeks, so his return to practice today indicates that both Barkley and the team are comfortable with where he is in rehab.


Expect the ramp-up period to be lengthy for Barkley. The Giants haven't pushed him throughout his rehab, and they won't start now. Day by day, however, we expect to see baby steps from Barkley with the hope that he'll be full-go to open the 2021 season.

NFL.com

 

Patriots TE Hunter Henry (shoulder) to undergo MRI on Monday

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry suffered his first ding with the new club.

The TE is undergoing an MRI on his shoulder Monday morning after leaving practice early Sunday, NFL Network's Mike Giardi reported, per a source informed of the situation.

The hope is that the shoulder issue isn't anything serious, but given Henry's history, it's always notable when the TE has an injury scare.

In five years with the Chargers, the TE never played a full 16-game slate and missed the entire 2018 season due to injury. He played in 14 games last season.

Henry inked a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the Pats this offseason as Bill Belichick remade his tight ends room. Along with fellow free-agent acquisition Jonnu Smith, New England plans to sport a bevy of two-TE sets this season. But, first, the hope is Henry avoided a major injury that could alter those designs before the season kicks off.

NFL.com

 

These GM's know how the game is played. I've been watching Mickey Loomis (Saints) do it for years. He keeps redoing contracts that more or less, just keeps kicking the can down the road. Now, they can't keep doing that forever. At some point your going to loose some players to free agency or have to pay the piper. And I think they all think that the cap will take a big jump next year.

 

The deeper that Atlanta gets into training camp, the more this year's camp reminds me of 2008. Some of the parallels are bloody obvious - the team is coming off a 4-12 season and has a new head coach and a new GM.

But the thing that really stands out to me is that with the coaching staff stressing that playing time and roster spots are up for grabs, the prospects and reclamation projects are actually getting a fair shake in camp - and many of them are stepping up and standing out.

That was also the case in 2008, though that aspect of that year's training camp and preseason has largely been forgotten.

Going into training camp that year, Harvey Dahl had been known as an eternal practice squad reject for the 49ers. Tyson Clabo was a career backup. Brent Grimes was a failed UDFA who got a shot on the practice squad after a stint in NFL Europe. One potential starting DT was a career backup (part of the time at DE) while the other was an aging free agent signed off the street in mid summer. In the secondary, the most experienced cornerback had 11 career starts. You had a rookie starting quarterback and a QB#2 who had been out of the league selling insurance one year earlier. And they were playing behind what was universally called the worst offensive line in the league.

The Sporting News predicted that team would go 1-15. They ended up 11-5.

No telling yet if they can pull off the same surprises this year, but a lot of otherwise unknown prospects and laughed at projects/rejects have been turning it on in camp. Duron Harmon and Fabian Moreau are shaping up as leading contenders to start in the secondary, with draft busts Chris Williamson and T.J. Green looking likely to be key reserves. RB2 Qadree Ollison worked with a trainer to learn how to run properly (a rather important skill for a RB) and is showing more power. On the offensive line, XFL tackle Willie Beavers worked his way into getting reps with the first team, with the head coach saying it wasn't about the other guys - Beavers simply earned it. Likewise, fifth round rookie Ade Ogundeji has worked his way into getting some of his reps with the first unit defense.

I still have questions about some of the position coaches (not much experience working with their respective position groups - which was a huge issue in 2018-2019), but the practices do seem to be more focused and more physical this year than what I saw in 2017-2019. I thought the team didn't look prepared going into the 2019 regular season, and there's no doubt about it for 2020. Five weeks in, they still looked like they were in preseason.

This year's team might surprise people once the season begins. And if they do, it will again be with a lot of prospects, projects and rejects who turn into diamonds in the rough, like in 2008.

One thing's for sure... TSN and other media outlets will NOT project them to go 1-15 this year.


(It's a 17-game season.)

 

Good stuff, Torgo and good luck this season!

More Falcons News...

Falcons sign running back D'Onta Foreman

The Falcons have signed running back D’Onta Foreman, per a club announcement. The former UT standout will now battle for a spot on the roster with just a few weeks to prove himself before final cuts.

Foreman, a 2017 third-round pick of the Texans, saw time in 10 games as a rookie, notching 327 rushing yards and two scores on 78 carries. The Texans saw him as a possible heir to Lamar Miller in the backfield, but his season was cut short by an Achilles tear. His 2018 follow-up was limited to just one game and he was subsequently released.

Foreman then had a cup of coffee with the Colts, but sat as a free agent for all of 2019. In 2020, he caught on with the Titans and tallied 22 totes for 95 yards – good for 4.3 yards per carry in a very limited sample. For his career, Foreman has 421 yards rushing and a decent 3.9 YPC average.

For now, Foreman will practice alongside veteran Mike Davis, wide receiver-turned-running back Cordarrelle Patterson and 2019 fifth-rounder Qadree Ollison.

YardBarker

 

But the thing that really stands out to me is that with the coaching staff stressing that playing time and roster spots are up for grabs, the prospects and reclamation projects are actually getting a fair shake in camp - and many of them are stepping up and standing out.


I wish you luck this season Torgo...First Pre-Season game for Falcons and Titans is Friday the 13th and Both these teams have made Major changes.

It is going to be interesting to see how Jones does in Atlanta.....I'm willing to bet he will only play the 1st Q......a TD would be Huge.

Good luck in /21 season.

 

Saints’ Patrick Robinson retires



After 11 years in the NFL, mostly in New Orleans, Patrick Robinson has decided to call it a career.

Robinson, a veteran cornerback who was expected to be a starter this season, has instead retired, his agent told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Although Robinson turns 34 next month and is getting old by cornerback standards, there had been no indications that he was contemplating retirement.

The Saints took Robinson out of Florida State in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played five years in New Orleans before playing one with the Chargers, one with the Colts and one with the Eagles. He then returned to New Orleans in 2018 and has been with the Saints since.

The departure of Robinson makes the recent signing of cornerback Brian Poole even more important to the Saints, who now are seeing a valuable member of their defense walk away.

PFT

 

NFL to ‘strictly enforce’ taunting rules this season, possibly suspend players



The NFL on Tuesday released its annual video explaining rule changes and points of emphasis. One of the biggest takeaways is that players had better think twice before taunting opponents this season.

One section of the five-minute video explained how the NFL has instructed officials to be less tolerant of taunting. Two taunting penalties will result in an automatic disqualification, which has always been the case. The NFL says players could also face fines and suspensions.



“We saw an increase in actions that clearly are not within the spirit and intent of this rule and not representative of the respect to opponents and others on the field,” the video stated. “Game officials have been instructed to strictly enforce the taunting rules, and players and coaches are reminded that two taunting penalties committed by an individual player will result in automatic disqualification. In addition, the taunting player may be fined and/or suspended depending on the severity of the actions.”


There haven’t been any rule changes with taunting, but the NFL feels it became a league-wide issue last season. Because of that, we may see more unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in 2021.

Many fans feel that gestures like this are all in good fun and make the game more entertaining. The NFL apparently does not agree.

YardBarker

 

They will be too strict about taunting if they do that. Tyreck Hill and Minkah Fitzpatrick flashing piece signs or waving goodbye to the other team when they are scoring a TD isn’t taunting.