NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Whatever issues came up for the Bills and receiver Stefon Diggs on Tuesday appear to have been resolved.

According to multiple reporters on the scene, Diggs is back at the facility and is practicing with Buffalo on Wednesday.

Head coach Sean McDermott said he was “very concerned” on Tuesday after Diggs left the team before minicamp practice began. Buffalo later confirmed that Diggs had been with the club on Monday and on Tuesday morning, but departed before the session began.

Quarterback Josh Allen and edge rusher Von Miller were also vague about whatever issue may have arisen between Diggs and the team when speaking after practice, though Allen mentioned it was a non-football issue.

It’s unclear whether Diggs will address the media to discuss whatever came up on Tuesday. But at least Diggs is back.

PFT

 

In regards to, Diggs, Looks like he and Sean McDermott have made up for now.

 

Big deal Sean McDemott and Diggs made up huh didn't we see something like this in Minnesota between Mike Zimmer and the Vikings Ðiggs so sick and tired of this guy you just have to wonder what's next

 

The paranoia is a big indicator of that. His social media entries make no sense.

 

Its comical and weird all in one that a lot of these pro athletes, especially NFL types are so cryptic and vague in their Social Media comments... might as well come out and say what you have to say and quit beating around the bush. Usually when these guys do that, people tend to speculate as to what the actual meaning is and then the poster comes back and denies it or switches it up to vindicate himself. 99.9% of the time its nutjobs sending those cryptic messages in the first place and frankly they just look entirely stupid... thats an opinion of mine, most of those guys arnt too fond of me either.

 

Homer Jones, Giants’ big-play receiver, dies at 82



Homer Jones, who was known as both one of the fastest players of his era and as the inventor of the game’s most common touchdown celebration, has died at the age of 82.

A wide receiver who played mostly for the Giants in the 1960s, Jones was known for his blazing speed and is still the NFL’s all-time record holder with a career average of 22.3 yards per catch.

But Jones may be best known as the first player ever to spike the football after scoring a touchdown. Jones recalled years later that he had a different celebration in mind, but the threat of an NFL fine led him to simply throw the ball directly into the dirt, and soon other players were emulating him.

“I had always said that when I made my first touchdown I was gonna throw the ball in the stands,” Jones said. “They changed the rules in the offseason to I think a $500 fine for throwing the ball into the stands. And as I crossed the goal line my intention had always been to throw that ball into the stands, but I thought about that $500 and I threw it on the ground. So that was the original spike right there.”

Jones originally signed with the Houston Oilers in 1963, but the Oilers cut him when he injured his knee in training camp. He then went to the Giants, where his signing bonus was the price of a bus ticket to New York and a promise that the Giants would pay for his knee surgery.

Still recovering from the injury, Jones didn’t play at all in 1963 and didn’t do much in 1964. But in 1965, he showed off his big-play potential, averaging 27.3 yards per catch. From 1966 to 1968 he had three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and he led the NFL in touchdowns with 14 in 1967.

Jones was traded to the Browns in 1970, and he’s best remembered in Cleveland for returning a kickoff for a touchdown in the NFL’s first-ever Monday Night Football game. Jones was traded again in 1971, to the Cardinals, but knee injuries had slowed him down and he retired, having played his last pro football game at age 29.

“Homer Jones had a unique combination of speed and power and was a threat to score whenever he touched the ball,” Giants owner John Mara said. “I remember him as an easygoing, friendly individual who was well liked by his teammates and coaches.”

PFT

 

It validates their relevance.. In most cases, that is ALL any of this is about. Some of these players ego's are so large, they simply need something, especially in the off-season, to make them seen.

 

We’ve seen this before not too long ago. It’s sad when a HOF potential career is destroyed because you burn every bridge around you.

 

There is a reason the Vikings moved on from him. While the Diggs drama has died down for now you know it will be back the first moment things go sideways in a game

 

Saints sign Lynn Bowden, Keke Coutee



The Saints signed veteran receivers Lynn Bowden and Keke Coutee after workouts on Thursday.

They waived offensive lineman Yasir Durant, receiver Malik Flowers and running back SaRodorick Thompson.

The Patriots cut Bowden on May 10, and he has remained a free agent since. The Raiders made him a third-round pick in 2020, but he never even played a game for the team.

The Raiders traded Bowden to the Dolphins before his rookie season in a swap of late-round picks, and he played 10 games as a rookie. Bowden never got on the field in 2021, and he appeared in only one game for the Patriots last season.

He has 28 catches for 211 yards in his career.

Coutee worked out for the Packers in May but had not received an offer until the Saints decided to take a flier.

The Texans made him a fourth-round pick in 2018, and he spent three years in Houston before going to Indianapolis for two.

He played only 10 games and caught two passes for 25 yards the past two seasons with the Colts, though he did return 17 punts for 152 yards in 2022.

Coutee has 85 receptions for 966 yards and four touchdowns in his career.

PFT

 

Free agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins completed his visit with the Patriots on Thursday.

Mike Reiss of ESPN reports that “barring an unexpected turn,” both sides are expected to take some time to assess where they are.
Hopkins posted a photo of himself on Instagram with Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon from inside the team’s locker room and included the words “La Familia.”

The possible addition of Hopkins has excited Patriots fans and players alike.

“I think DeAndre is a great player,” Patriots quarterback Mac Jones said. “You watch his film from college all the way through the NFL, he’s done a great job. So obviously we’d love to have him, but we do have a great group of guys.”

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton continue to work their way back from injuries, leaving nine-year veteran DeVante Parker and seven-year veteran Kendrick Bourne as the team’s top wideouts this offseason.

Hopkins immediately would upgrade the receiving corps.

The Cardinals cut Hopkins on May 30, making him a free agent. He first visited the Titans, who reportedly have made an offer.

Hopkins, though, has not appeared in a hurry to sign.

The Patriots conclude their offseason program Friday before reconvening at training camp in late July.

PFT

 

Report: Bears are unhappy with Chase Claypool



The Bears gave up, as a practical matter, a first-round pick to get receiver Chase Claypool. They reportedly aren’t getting what they bargained for.

Via NBCSportsChicago.com, Marc Silverman of ESPN 1000’s Waddle & Silvy recently explained that the Bears are not happy with Claypool.

“All I can tell you is it isn’t trending in a way that the Bears have wanted it to trend in this offseason,” Silverman said.

“I have heard from a few people inside that building that he is not somebody who is very self-motivated,” Silverman added. “There’s a long way to go. Chase Claypool can change the narrative.”

The narrative began in a very positive way in 2020, when Claypool made a splash with 11 touchdowns. But then came the first hint of trouble, when an item on the Steelers’ official website described Claypool has having a “diva quotient.”

It was a strong hint regarding the things coach Mike Tomlin might have been dealing with behind the scenes. And perhaps, when the Steelers made him available at the 2022 trade deadline, the Chicago Bears should have exercised a little caveat emptor.

In the end, the Steelers picked the Bears over the Packers as the next destination for Claypool, given that Pittsburgh believed the Bears would have a higher spot in round two of the 2023 draft. Pittsburgh guessed right; coupled with the Dolphins losing their pick, the Chicago’s first overall pick in round two became the 32nd pick in the entire draft.

And now the Bears have a player who is reportedly giving them concern. It’s in his best interests to turn it around, given that he’s entering his contract year. While he might want to be paid now, he’s not going to get anything until he produces and quiets any chatter about his attitude.

The key is always production. Teams will tolerate plenty from a great player. Claypool hasn’t played great enough since his rookie year to get the benefit of the doubt, at this point.

Last year with the Bears, he had 10 catches for 140 yards — in 10 games. He’ll need to do a lot more than that to get the Bears, or anyone else, to pay him.

PFT

 

lol, another Diva in the mix.

I'll tell you what - Mike Tomlin is underrated, period. He's a no-nonsense coach with a freeking brain in his head and I appreciate that.

 

Chiefs got their new SB rings, 629 diamonds... classy.

I could live a life-time on one of those, lol!

 

Back to the Steelers for a moment...

Alex Highsmith: Steelers can have the best defense in the league



The Steelers brought in a lot of new pieces for their defense this offseason and one of the team’s holdovers believes the blend of old and new has created the potential for great results this fall.

Linebacker Alex Highsmith said he feels the unit “started playing our best ball at the end of the year” in 2022 and that the additions of players like cornerback Patrick Peterson, linebacker Elandon Roberts, safety Keanu Neal, linebacker Cole Holcomb, and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. can help them build on that success.


While it might seem like a difficult task to hit the ground running with so many new parts to integrate, Highsmith cited the high attendance for offseason work helping “us to communicate well and be able to play fast” right out of the gate. If that translates to a fast start in the regular season as well, Highsmith sees no ceiling for the defense.

“I know 100 percent we can be the best defense in the NFL, especially if we all stay healthy,” Highsmith said, via the team’s website. “I am excited about the guys that we have. We have depth at almost every position. It’s been good seeing guys come together and get better and better every day. The sky is the limit for us. I am excited to see how we continue to grow.”

The Steelers offense also hopes to build off their close to the 2022 season and finding a way to keep things rolling on both sides of the ball would be a good way to avoid the slow start that kept Pittsburgh from making it to the playoffs last year.

PFT

 

Don’t trade with the Steelers for WRs. They only trade the problem children. And without Tomlin behind them pushing them they turn to crap.

 

Nobody has dealt with as many problem children as capably and quietly as he has. That’s a remarkably unique skill.

 

He’s one of those coaches that when he decides to call it a day, his impact will be felt.

I still remember fans saying it was gonna be ugly after Cowher left. Fortunately is hasn’t been, but I can’t imagine they get the same type of replacement after Tomlin.

 

I'm jealous what an awesome looking ring I just wonder what the Vikings SB ring would look like