MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

In a season where the expectations aren’t as high for the Steelers it would seem to be the perfect time to start your rookie QB and just roll with the changes.

 

But, you roll with Trubs and have the ace in the hole!

 

The one chasing is better than the Mitch

 

I miss Lemme!

 

When does the deadline arrive for Lamar Jackson, Ravens?



Recently, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson suggested during a press conference that there’s a Week One deadline for getting a new deal done. So when specifically does the window of opportunity slam shut?

Given that the Broncos and Russell Wilson selected midnight on September 1, the Ravens and Jackson are either past the deadline or getting damn close to it.


For starters, we’re assuming that Jackson has made it clear to the team that Week One is the deadline, and that the Ravens are willing to act accordingly. What if they offer him everything he wants in Week Five? Will he refuse?

If there is a deadline, it likely arrive at kickoff of the Week One game against the Jets. Soon, preparations will commence in earnest for the game. To the extent that Lamar the agent had time to negotiate on behalf of Lamar the quarterback during training camp and the preseason, he’ll have even less once it’s time to practice and study film and otherwise get ready to go.

Whatever the deadline, the objective should be: (1) to get Baltimore’s best offer on the table; and (2) to properly evaluate the pros and cons of accepting and rejecting the offer. Those goals would best be achieved with the assistance of a good agent.

Consider the various teams in recent years that have gotten their franchise quarterbacks paid. With very few exceptions, owners know when it’s time to open the vault. Washington never valued Kirk Cousins properly (or, as some Vikings fans would say, they valued him just right), and Dallas thought it could aw-shucks its way into getting Dak Prescott to take less. Otherwise, teams know when to make a significant offer — and the players know when to accept.

Maybe the Ravens are playing with fire. If they are, they learned nothing from their experience 10 years ago with Joe Flacco. Either way, a deal isn’t done and, without Jackson hiring an agent, it’s hard to imagine that happening.

PFT

 

For Week One, nine games pit first-round quarterbacks against each other



In four days, the 2022 season begins. By the time Sunday night rolls around, more than half of the games will have featured a pair of quarterbacks who arrived in the NFL via round one of the draft.

Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes that nine games feature first-round QB1 vs. first-round QB1. That’s the most since 1967. The prior record came in Week One of the 2012 season, with eight.


The nine games are Bills (Josh Allen, 2018) at Rams (Matthew Stafford, 2009), Saints (Jameis Winston, 2015) at Falcons (Marcus Mariota, 2015), 49ers (Trey Lance, 2021) at Bears (Justin Fields, 2021), Steelers (Mitch Trubisky, 2017, or Kenny Pickett, 2022) at Bengals (Joe Burrow, 2020), Patriots (Mac Jones, 2021) at Dolphins (Tua Tagovailoa, 2020), Ravens (Lamar Jackson, 2018) at Jets (Zach Wilson, 2021, or Joe Flacco, 2008), Jaguars (Trevor Lawrence, 2021) at Commanders (Carson Wentz, 2016), Giants (Daniel Jones, 2019) at Titans (Ryan Tannehill, 2012), and Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes, 2017) at Cardinals (Kyler Murray, 2019).

The number would be 10, if Deshaun Watson weren’t suspended. But for the suspension, the 2017 first-rounder would have been taking on the 2018 first overall pick when the Browns face the Panthers.

Only two games in Week One don’t have at least one first-round quarterback starting for either team, and they’re two of the biggest: Buccaneers (Tom Brady, round six) at Cowboys (Dak Prescott, round four) and Broncos (Russell Wilson, round three) at Seahawks (Geno Smith, round two).

PFT

 

Robert Saleh: It’s possible Zach Wilson could start Week One



Zach Wilson may be behind center to open the season after all.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters during his Monday press conference that Wilson went through a workout on Monday. Now New York will see how the quarterback’s knee responds over the next day before making a decision on whether Wilson or Joe Flacco will start against the Ravens for Week One.


Saleh explicitly called it “possible” Wilson starts on Sunday, adding that he wasn’t really surprised that’s on the table.

“Everyone heals differently,” Saleh said in his press conference. “Like I said, we’ll see what happens tomorrow and all that stuff. But everyone has a different — I almost feel like some of the guidelines that are put on are guidelines. But everyone responds differently.”

Wilson suffered a bone bruise and a meniscus tear during New York’s preseason matchup against the Eagles. He underwent surgery to trim the meniscus on Aug. 16. His timetable for a return was two-to-four weeks.

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Mitchell Trubisky named one of Steelers five captains



Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has not yet publicly named a starting quarterback.

But Pittsburgh may have given a clue as to who will line up behind center when the team takes on Cincinnati to open the season on Sunday.


Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has been named one of the Steelers five captains for 2022, the team announced on Monday.

Trubisky, who signed with Pittsburgh in March, put together a strong preseason, completing 70.6 percent of his passes for 283 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 14 yards.

Even if Trubisky begins the season as Pittsburgh’s starter, it’s likely only a matter of time before the team turns to first-round selection Kenny Pickett. But if Trubisky and the Steelers start winning and keep winning, Trubisky could hold Pickett off.

Pittsburgh also named running back Najee Harris, defensive tackle Cam Heyward, edge rusher T.J. Watt, and safety Miles Killebrew as captains.

Heyward is a defensive captain for the eighth straight season. Watt is a second-time defensive captain. Harris and Killebrew are first-time captains on offense and special teams, respectively.

Last year, Pittsburgh had only three captains: Heyward, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and fullback Derek Watt on special teams.

PFT

 

John Harbaugh: Lamar Jackson is “locked in” on football but still “hopeful” to get new deal



The clock is winding down on contract talks between Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, nearing the quarterback’s Week 1 deadline for a new deal.

Only six days remain before the Ravens kick off the season against the Jets.



With or without a contract extension, Jackson will open as the team’s starter. Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that there has never been a discussion with Jackson about him not playing absent a long-term deal.

“No,” Harbaugh said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “Lamar has said he’s focused on the season. He’s under contract, and he’s going to have the best season he can have. He’s hopeful to get a new contract, and we’re hopeful to get him a new contract. All the rest of it is business. There is nothing other than coming to something that is mutually agreeable.”

If Harbaugh knows where negotiations stand, he isn’t saying.

“I don’t have any updates,” Harbaugh said. “My interactions with Lamar have been all football. He’s been focused and locked in on that, 100 percent, from a football standpoint.”

Jackson, who represents himself, is scheduled to play on his fifth-year option, which will pay him $23.016 million.

Deshaun Watson‘s five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract has complicated talks, something Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti acknowledged in March. But Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson both received less guaranteed money with Murray getting $189.5 million guaranteed in July and Wilson $165 million guaranteed on Thursday.

Jackson and the Ravens have a few more days to try to come to terms, something both sides have a desire to get done.

“He’s hopeful to get a new contract; we’re hopeful to get him a new contract,” Harbaugh said. “But all the rest of it is business. There’s nothing other than coming to something that’s mutually agreeable. That’s the way that all of these deals are done. So, obviously, I’m very hopeful, and I know everyone is really hopeful to get it done.”

PFT

 

Zach Wilson won’t be available until at least Week 4



Joe Flacco will be starting at quarterback for the Jets against the Ravens this Sunday and he’ll be starting all of their September games as long as he remains healthy enough to play.

Shortly after word that Flacco will get the nod for Week One broke, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said in a press conference that Wilson will not be available until Week 4 at the earliest. Wilson is recovering from having meniscus surgery after injuring his knee in the team’s first preseason game.


Wilson will not go on injured reserve because the Jets want him to practice in the coming weeks.

The timeline is a major change from what Saleh and the Jets have been saying recently. All word from the team was that Wilson had a chance of playing in the opener, but it appears that was just misdirection from the team about their plans.

After hosting the Ravens, the Jets travel to Cleveland and return home to face the Bengals in Week Three. They face the Steelers on the road in Week Four, so Flacco could get a long walk down his AFC North memory lane if Wilson remains out into October.

The Jets have maintained that Wilson will be the team’s quarterback as soon as he’s healthy enough to play, but an extended absence opens the door to the possibility of the team playing well enough under Flacco that some might argue against rocking the boat. While that would be a good thing for the Jets in the standings, it wouldn’t be the ideal way for Wilson’s second NFL season to unfold.

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Flacco stock just went up!

 

Mitch Trubisky: Going to be huge to start Sunday’s game



Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin waited until Tuesday to officially name Mitch Trubisky the team’s starting quarterback for their Week One game against the Bengals, but it didn’t come as a shock to Trubisky.

In addition to the numerous and easy to read tea leaves pointing in that direction, Trubisky told reporters on Wednesday that Tomlin let the quarterbacks know his decision last week. That’s given Trubisky some time to reflect on how it will feel to lead the offense into Cincinnati on Sunday.


“It’s going to be huge,” Trubisky said, via the team’s website. “It’s something I looked forward to, something I’ve worked for. I’m just grateful for the opportunity and I’m going to take full advantage. . . . “I had a really good camp. I came in here with a lot of experience, showed I could lead the team. Showed I’ve been playing really well, throwing the football really well. Now we go out there and execute on the field.”

Trubisky started three openers during his time with the Bears and he said that he thinks his experience in Chicago “helped me get to this point” with the Steelers. He also said he thinks he’s improved his processing since his time with the Bears and that he believes he’s more accurate while getting the ball out quicker as a result. Sunday’s game will provide the first test of that.

PFT

 

Rookie coach. No reason to volunteer that information.

 

It's never talked about yet so crucial at the NFL level. For all the talk of Josh Allen's arm strength, it's the speed of his delivery that makes him so hard to defend. If Trubisky has improved that part of his game, Ken Dorsey probably deserves some of the credit.

 

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson sets Friday deadline for extension: 'As of right now, we're still talking'

Lamar Jackson's contract situation has been dragged out beyond the point of discomfort, but it might finally be heading toward a resolution.

Jackson told reporters on Wednesday he and the Ravens are still discussing extension terms, and he set a deal-making deadline for Friday. Jackson also pleaded ignorance when it came to how close he was to coming to an agreement.

"I have no clue," he said, via the Washington Post. "You have to ask the guy who I'm talking to."

Jackson cautioned patience, even if the window is incredibly short to get a deal done, telling reporters: "As of right now, we're still talking. The week's not over yet."

Still, the timeline makes sense. If Jackson were to agree to an extension, now would be the time. Otherwise, it would come in the offseason, meaning Jackson would play his fifth and final year of his rookie contract without long-term security.

It's a risk. Jackson suffered an ankle injury that prematurely ended his season in 2021, and another injury would hurt his value, though not to the degree one might imagine.

The 2019 NFL MVP isn't concerned with the hypotheticals, though, telling reporters he doesn't see playing out his current contract as any more of a risk than previous seasons.


This concern could be alleviated entirely with a new deal. Time, though, is running out.

NFL.com

 

Exhibit A on why you pay an agent, especially when you've never been the brightest bulb at any previous institution.

From one perspective, I get that he could have wanted to be the last QB to sign, giving him the best shot at a bigger deal. But there are no more QB's signing. So that theory doesn't seem to be working.

 

Aaron Rodgers: Other teams in the NFC North always think it’s their year, hasn’t been the case



Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are seeking their fourth consecutive NFC North title this season, and Rodgers sounds confident.

Heading into Sunday’s season opener at Minnesota, Rodgers said he’s expecting a tough game, but he then noted that the Packers seem to find their way to the top of the division one way or the other.


“All the other teams in the NFC North, it seems like every single year, I think their fanbase and their teams feel like, ‘This is our year to win the North.’ Hasn’t really been the case during my time, for the most part,” Rodgers said.

Since Rodgers became the Packers’ starting quarterback in 2008, Green Bay has won the NFC North eight times, Minnesota four times, Chicago twice and Detroit not at all. If Rodgers sounds confident, the rest of the NFC North has given him reason to be.

PFT

 

May the Bears, Lions and Vikings smear this guy and his cheeseheads!

 

Baker Mayfield saying all the right things as another revenge game approaches



Baker Mayfield‘s football life has been filled with revenge games.

He returned to Texas Tech in 2016 after transferring from Oklahoma and outdueled Patrick Mahomes in a 66-59 win. A year after Ohio State won in Norman, Mayfield planted an OU flag at midfield in Columbus after a win in 2017.


In 2018, Mayfield stared down the Bengals sideline after former Browns coach Hue Jackson joined the Cincinnati staff.

“When Baker is out there, swinging (his arms), with his chest out . . . that’s what we want to see — him talking his talk, and walking his walk,” Panthers receiver Rashard Higgins, who spent four years with Mayfield in Cleveland, said, via Steve Reed of the Associated Press. “When he’s jacked up, he plays good. So I want to see it from him.”

Mayfield is jacked up all right.

He has denied telling an NFL Media reporter that he was going to “f— up” the Browns in the season opener. But his camp did begin selling T-shirts with Mayfield in a cowboy hat with the words “off the leash,” showing him breaking free of a chain on a dog collar.

Mayfield said the T-shirts had “subliminal messages” but added that he didn’t design them.

The fifth-year quarterback admits he is looking forward to “smack talking” with former teammates, but he didn’t give them any bulletin board material Wednesday.

“I’m grateful for my time in Cleveland,” Mayfield said. “I started my career there and it ended abruptly and unexpectedly, but we’re here now and everything happens for a reason. I’m rolling with the punches.”

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Mayfield wants to take it out on the Browns on Sunday, but it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens if he does.

PFT

 

Patrick Mahomes: Every week a different guy will have a big game



Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a message for fantasy football players on Wednesday and it’s one that he likely won’t mind if opposing defensive coordinators pay it some attention as well.

The Chiefs passing game revolved around Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce the last few years, but Hill is now in Miami and that’s led to questions about what the offense will look like this season. Internal answers have stressed the depth of options available on offense and Mahomes continued banging that drum.


He said Kelce will likely continue to have a lot of catches, but that starring roles will otherwise rotate among players like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman, Isaiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and others.

“The biggest thing is there’s going to be a different player every single game that has the big game,” Mahomes said, via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. “It’s not going to be just necessarily Tyreek and Travis every single week, where it’s like one or the other having a big game or both. Every single week, it’s going to be someone different. So I’m sorry to all you fantasy football guys. It’s going to come from everywhere, so you’re going to have to kind of choose the right guy every week.”

That’s not great for fantasy football and it’s not great for defenses who will have to cast a wide net as they try to keep Mahomes from picking them apart this season.

PFT

 

Matt Ryan can reach 60,000 career passing yards on Sunday



In his first start as a Colt on Sunday, Matt Ryan can reach a milestone only seven quarterbacks before him have achieved.

Ryan had 59,735 passing yards during his time with the Falcons, so if he passes for 265 yards on Sunday against the Texans, he’ll reach 60,000 career passing yards.


If he does it on Sunday, Ryan would have reached 60,000 yards in just 223 games, the second-fastest player ever to do it. (Drew Brees got to 60,000 passing yards in his 215th game.)

The other quarterbacks in the 60,000-yard club are Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Dan Marino.

Ryan also has 73 career games with at least 300 passing yards, tied for Philip Rivers for the fourth-most ever, and will have fourth place all to himself the next time he has a 300-yard game. Only Drew Brees (123 games), Tom Brady (108) and Peyton Manning (93) have thrown for 300 yards in a game more time than Ryan.

The 37-year-old Ryan is still 24,785 yards behind Brady, so he’d have to play at least six years after Brady retires to reach the all-time record. That’s probably not going to happen, but even if Ryan never reaches No. 1, he is putting himself in some very elite company.

PFT