NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Vikings will win the division, Lions second, Bears third, Packers fourth.


Excellent prediction dline and glad to hear you and Family are liking Life in the North.

It would be nice to see the Lions and Bears battle out for a Wild Card and it might come down to week # 18 Jan 7th/24

Bears play the Packers and Lions play the Vikes.......NFC North is going to be interesting to watch this year.

 

I think the most competitive top to bottom, NFC North and AFC North... Though it's yet to be seen how much the Packers lose on offense with Love at the helm. There is a lot more unknowns on the Packers offense, imho, than any of the other 3 teams.

 

Love it another die hard Bears fan I also think they will be good and take some teams by surprise

 

The AFCN is the only division on paper that has a potential to put all four of its teams in the playoffs.

 

I really think the Packers will attempt to establish a power type offense to take some pressure off of Love. They'll run a lot and use the TE position.

 

In relation to something ive been harping on since day 1...
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Marcus Allen: Running backs are “sadly undervalued”

The deadline to sign franchise-tagged players to a long-term contract is Monday. Three running backs are among the four tagged players still looking for long-term deals, but there are no indications Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, Giants running back Saquon Barkley or Cowboys running back Tony Pollard will reach agreement before then.

Pollard is the only one of the three to have signed the tag, and Barkley has threatened to sit out into the season absent a deal.

Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen is disheartened by the lack of contractual respect given to running backs.

“Unfortunately, there is a prevalent assumption made by all of these teams that these top running backs aren’t worth investing into beyond four years and it’s not true,” Allen told Bill Williamson of Silver and Black Pride on Wednesday at the American Century Championship at South Lake Tahoe.

The franchise-tagged running backs are scheduled to make $10.1 million in 2023 under the tag. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, at $16.016 million per year, is the highest-paid running back in annual average, with four other running backs at $12 million or more per season.

Allen is frustrated that most running backs aren’t getting what he thinks is a fair shake after they play out their rookie deals.

“I know there have been some cases were top running backs saw their careers end early, but it’s not all of them,” Allen said. “These teams have to look at it individually. It’s not all of them. You have to value these guys, and they’re sadly undervalued. It’s a copycat league, so one team follows the other when it comes to valuing running backs. It’s prevalent, and I don’t know if it will change, but I’ll be watching and hope it does change. . . . It’s intellectually dishonest.”

NBC

 

The Cardinals are the clear favorites to have the worst record in the NFL in 2023.

Arizona is a +225 favorite to finish the regular season with the fewest wins, via BetMGM. Tampa Bay is next at +850, followed by Houston at +900.

Bettors are overwhelmingly betting on the Cardinals to finish with the fewest wins in the league: More than half of all the money bet this offseason on the team with the fewest wins has been bet on the Cardinals.

With Arizona coming off a 4-13 record and Kyler Murray’s status uncertain following last season’s knee injury, it’s no surprise that not many people are expecting much of the Cardinals. The silver lining for an ugly year may be the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

PFT

 

RB Breece Hall on Jets' offense: 'I think we have an answer for everything'



The New York Jets made arguably the most noise of any team this offseason with their trades and signings, bringing in four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers and kicking off a summer of discussion over whether the moves will be enough to turn things around from perennial fourth-place finishers to potential AFC East champs in 2023.

Speaking with Mike Yam on NFL Total Access, running back Breece Hall said that with the bevy of options now available on both sides of the ball, there's not a scenario they cannot account for with someone's skill set, and therefore no limit for this year's squad.

"I mean with the offense we have right now, I think we have an answer for everything," Hall said. "If you don't want to load the box, Aaron's going to get the ball off all day, if you do we've got the RPOs and we've got him to take shots, and we have the receivers that are going to make plays for us, as well. And if the offense is struggling, we have the backbones of our defense to rely on, so we're excited for that, for sure."

Hall himself is expected to play a key role in this revamped offense after his promising rookie year was cut short by an ACL tear suffered in Week 7. But through those first seven games the rookie amassed 463 rushing yards and 218 receiving yards, giving Gang Green a glimpse as to what he could do given a full slate of games.

Despite the lengthy rehab timeline for ACL injuries, Hall said he's still planning to be available by Week 1, backing up assertions from head coach Robert Saleh a month ago, who said things were still going smoothly.

"I'm doing pretty good right now," Hall said. "I've been saying I'll be ready for the first game, so right now I'm just focusing on getting my knee as strong as possible, just getting that confidence back. But it's been going well so far."

Along with the anticipated return of Hall, Rodgers will also have at his disposal the 2022 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in wide receiver Garrett Wilson, former Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman, and familiar targets in former Packers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb.

And on the other side of the ball, the Jets will have the Defensive Rookie of the Year, cornerback Sauce Gardner, leading the secondary and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on the line, leading Hall to say that it's hard to guess who will be the most impactful person on the roster with the many stars available.

"With our offense and the guys we have, with the defense we have, I feel like as long as we do our one-eleventh on each side of the ball -- offense, defense and special teams -- we'll be fine," he said.

New York will open its season with a division matchup against the reigning division champion Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, at which point we can start to find out if the Jets will live up to the hype they've built up this offseason, and whether Hall will be on the field as they kick off that effort.

NFL.com

 

Steelers want Darnell Washington to be “allowed to grow”



The Steelers are expected to throw first-round pick Broderick Jones right into the fire at left tackle this season, but the plan for third-round pick Darnell Washington is a bit different.

Washington had a lot of admirers because of the potential he showed as a receiver and a blocker while playing tight end at Georgia, so some might have expected him to be on the fast track to the lineup. The Steelers have Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry back from last season, however, and tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts said that will allow them to take a more measured approach to working Washington into the mix.

“It takes a little bit of pressure off Darnell because of what you’ve got in that room ,” Roberts said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “As he comes in, he can come in slowly and be allowed to grow. As he does that, I think he can be a real problem for people to handle.”

The Steelers got good returns from last year’s draft class in quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver George Pickens. More of the same from the likes of Washington and Jones would help transform the offense along with improving the team’s hopes of returning to the playoffs.

NBC

 

Lions GM Brad Holmes: Jahmyr Gibbs is 'special weapon' like Marshall Faulk or Christian McCaffrey

The Detroit Lions remade their backfield in 2023, swapping D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams for David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. The question entering training camp is whether the changes significantly altered the Lions' offense or just swapped names.

Speaking on The Season with Peter Schrager podcast, general manager Brad Holmes was emphatic that the moves will better fit what the Lions want to do on offense.

"When you look at it systematically, I do think we'll be better offensively," he said. "That's no knock on the contributions that those other two guys gave us. Swift is a dynamic player and Jamaal was a great leader for us, and he did so much for us. He had a great season. But I think Montgomery and Jamaal are different backs. Montgomery does a little bit more in the passing game. And being able to add Gibbs, he's just so dynamic as a receiver. Look, he's a home run hitter as a running back, that's the easy part. What he does as a receiver -- he runs routes like a receiver."

Williams rushed for 1,066 yards and led the NFL with 17 touchdowns (13 coming inside the 3-yard line). In two seasons in Detroit, he caught 38 passes for 230 yards (both fewer than he had in 2019 with Green Bay). Swift rushed for 542 yards with five TDs last season and caught 48 passes for 389 yards. Injuries were an issue for the former second-round pick before being traded to Philadelphia this offseason for a future ham sandwich.

Montgomery, meanwhile, rushed for 801 yards and five TDs and caught 34 passes for 316 yards for Chicago in 2022. Last season at Alabama, Gibbs rushed 151 times for 926 yards, caught 44 passes for 444 yards and scored 10 total TDs.

Montgomery might bring a little more pop than Williams. Behind a struggling offensive line in Chicago, Montgomery also got stuffed less last season. Williams' stuff percentage in 2022 was 16%, while Montgomery's was 13.4%, tied for fifth-fewest in the NFL among backs with 100 carries, per Next Gen Stats.

Gibbs, however, is the more intriguing swap. It's no secret the Lions wanted to move on from Swift, who struggled to stay healthy and got caught trying to hit home runs too often. But using the No. 12 pick on a pass-catching back surprised many during the draft.

All offseason, Holmes has argued that Gibbs is more than just a back, so the club isn't worried about positional value. The GM told Schrager he views Gibbs as a "multi-phase, elite, explosive, positionless weapon."

The GM mentioned Gibbs could have the same impact on the Lions' offense as two of the greatest dual-threat backs in NFL history.

"When I first got with the Rams in 2003, Marshall Faulk was still there, and I was a huge Marshall Faulk guy -- just kind of seeing what he does in both phases," Holmes said. "And just from a scouting standpoint, when Christian McCaffrey came out, he was the last guy that I was like, 'Holy cow, this guy can run routes like a slot receiver but also run it.' So, you start getting reminders of those players. I'm not sitting here saying Jahmyr Gibbs is those players, but (he's) just a special weapon like that. We have a lot of excitement and optimism."

If Gibbs turns out to be a Faulk- or CMC-type player for the Lions, Detroit's offense should soar. But given the high praise Holmes has had to use this offseason to justify selecting an RB that high, there is a lot of pressure on the rookie to prove his worth early in his career.

NFL.com

 

Bijan Robinson has impressed teammates since Day 1



As soon as the Falcons made Bijan Robinson the eighth overall pick, the running back had a request for General Manager Terry Fontenot. Robinson asked for the phone numbers of the team’s offensive linemen.

“Here’s a cool thing: He texted the offensive line when he got drafted,” right guard Chris Lindstrom said, via Scott Bair of the team website. “He said that he’s really happy to work with us. I’ve only known him for a little while, but he has been pretty amazing around the building. I think all that speaks to who Bijan is and everything he’s about.”

Robinson made a positive first impression . . . and second impression . . . and third impression.

Only three months into his NFL career, Robinson has impressed everyone within the organization in every way.

“He’s amazing,” Lindstrom said. “You don’t pay much attention when you’re on the field because you’re doing your job but, when you step back and watch, you can see how good he is. He’s great.”

Robinson had 599 touches in three seasons at the University of Texas, running for 4,215 yards and 41 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2022.

His teammates already are calling him special.

“Certain dudes, you can just see the way they move,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “That it’s special the way you carry yourself. He’s going to be a heck of a player. He’s put so much tape out already through his college career, but I am sure they are going to have a great plan for him. I don’t see him missing a beat. The better he does, the better for the team.”

NBC

 

Quinnen Williams, Jets agree to four-year extension



Quinnen Williams and the Jets have gotten a deal done.

According to multiple reports, Williams has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Jets. The deal is reportedly worth $96 million with $66 million in guaranteed money.

The full details of the deal are still to come, but that total value and per-year average is more than Williams’ fellow 2019 first-round picks Jeffery Simmons, Dexter Lawrence, and Ed Oliver got in the extensions they signed earlier this offseason. Rams star Aaron Donald is the only interior defensive lineman with a higher per-year average.

Williams is coming off his first All-Pro season. He started all 16 games he played and recorded 55 tackles, 12 sacks, 28 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He did not take part in the team’s offseason program and skipped their mandatory minicamp during his push for a deal, but should be at training camp now that the two sides have finally come to an agreement.

PFT

 

Report: Josh Jacobs won’t report to camp without a new deal

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs told Paloma Villicana of Fox5 News in Las Vegas that he is “feeling great” and “explosive.” The team, though, might not get to see for itself for a while.

Jacobs will not report to training camp absent a new deal before Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, according to Villicana.

There is no indication the sides are close to a long-term deal, but deadlines tend to prompt action, and the Raiders are running out of time.

Jacobs is set to make $10.1 million on the franchise tender this season.

He is one of three running backs with the franchise tag, and only Cowboys running back Tony Pollard has signed the tag. Giants running back Saquon Barkley has threatened to sit out into the season minus a deal.

Jacobs was a first-team All-Pro after rushing for 1,653 yards with 12 touchdowns. He also led the league with 2,053 yards from scrimmage and 393 touches.

NBC

 

RBs don’t fare well when they sit out a season. I would advise them to just play on the franchise tender and figure it out later.

 

Austin Ekeler: Seeing some backup WRs making more than me is going to piss me off

Earlier in the offseason, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler received permission to seek a trade after it became clear that Los Angeles was not willing to give him a contract extension.

No trade materialized, in large part because no team was willing to give Ekeler the contract he was looking for. But Ekeler will get the chance to earn some additional money via incentives added to his Chargers deal.

This week, Ekeler appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and shared how he’s feeling when it comes to the running back market.

“If I’m looking at some of the backup receivers out here that are still making more than me, that’s going to piss me off, right?” Ekeler said. “I’m a little bit like, OK, wait a minute, so you’re telling me these people are the No. 3 receivers and they’re going to make more than me? And I’m the starter? I get more carries, I touch the ball more, I have more of an impact.

“It causes us to question, right? We’re going to fight for that. I’m bringing more value to the team than this person. I think I should be compensated for that. ... It seems like it’s about money, but it’s about principles. It’s about the principle of adding value to a team.”

But for Ekeler, the three franchise-tagged running backs — Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and Tony Pollard — and now free agent Dalvin Cook, the reality is that teams have not been willing to agree to significant contracts to players at that position. Ekeler said he can see the rationale for that.

“If they’re like, hey, none of these other running backs are getting paid, let’s just see what happens. Let’s franchise tag these guys and let’s wait a year. Let’s see what happens,” Ekeler said. “So, both sides are playing this game. And how it turns out, time will tell.”

The franchise-tagged RBs have until Monday to strike a new deal with their respective teams. As of now, that doesn’t necessarily seem likely to happen.

“It’s going to take something — whether some guy stands out again, whether it’s this year, one of these guys holds out and gets a big contract,” Ekeler said. “But we need that needle to move to push us over the edge, because here’s the deal: salary cap goes up every single year. So you see new highs in every single position.

“And I’m not saying we’ve had another Christian McCaffrey-type guy who’s going to blow up the market for running backs and put a new high. We’ve had people get close for sure. Maybe you can justify that they haven’t. But there’s no one who’s even been close to those contracts — not even close.”

NBC

 

He has a point!!

The market is the market, but why are 3rd look WRs making more than starting RBs? There isn't a justification to it. Unless he's just talking about the end of their rookie deals..

I would love to see very large incentive laden contracts for RBs. I get they have a history of injuries.. because they are doing more than anyone else on the offense.. They are put in harms way more than anyone but linemen. Yet, for some reason the league has deemed there is a glutton of RBs to be had, which is probably true. Doesn't mean the top ones shouldn't somehow be compensated.

If a guy stays on the field for 14+ games AND has huge production, they should get paid for it. That's why the incentive laden contracts work so well for the position group, otherwise, they aren't getting paid, so why not offer it to appease them?

 

NFL players don't want incentive laden deals. They want guaranteed money.

 

I agree with both, Beach and Irish. Ive been clamoring since the beginning that the RB's are basically getting hosed. Their position on the field is top tier, critical, crucial and the bread & butter of a working offense. Im witnessing defensive players at tackle, LB and DB get bigger signings than RB's, in a word this is weird. WR's that are 2nd , 3rd on the depth charts are making more. Anyway we all know that. When it comes to contracts, why are the Giants, offering a $13M contract to Barkley? Why in this situation did he not except it? He (Barckley is now denying the offer existed) ought to have taken the 13M, if true and ran with it.

Whats boggling to my mind, is why are the RB's being singled out? If long term deals are the problem along with guaranteed money, why not offer as GM's/Owners rich 1 or 2 year deals and see what said p[layer can do? What will Bijan Robinson make? Why if he makes a ton is he any different when he hasnt even taken a snap at the NFL level?

The whole thing has had my attention from the git-go. Players like Cook (Vikings) for example are well worth 10M per year as well as anybody else on the field with his type of numbers and accomplishments. Chubb is an on-going big contract guy, if someone puts up his numbers, why shouldnt they get a piece of that pie and why does anyone in the NFL need guaranteed money... take your multi-millions for the 1st year and see if you can sustain it.

RB's are fed up and I dont blame them. It sounds laughable, but they might have to organize their position which would open up a whole giant can of worms for NFL owners, who frankly are bringing this on themselves.

It was always the kickers who got no respect, even tho they would lead their teams in scoring and win last second battles... move over kicker dudes and make way for the running backs.

 

If you have a good line and QB that has good weapons to work with at WR, then you can get enough out of lesser tier RBs. I know when the Steelers had Bell he was not available for the post season. If you can’t ever make it to the playoffs available then you really aren’t helping your team win a championship. RBs don’t seem to be able to make it through a season anymore. Defenses try to take them out. I know that the Bengals purposely took out Bells knee two different times.

 

I understand the risk injury factor and thats part of my argument. The Running Backs are always going to be at risk because of the position they play, but why are they being picked on and down-graded because of the injury factor. There must be a better option contract wise to pay these guys like the position deserves. In my opinion, an offense is lead by #1, a great QB, #2 a great RB/WR, so why pick on the spot that has always been the position of interest since the inception of the game?