MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Scapegoat thats why Canada is still there when they miss the playoffs or lose in the first round again matt is the sacraficial lamb that will let Tomlin continue on as the head coach of the Steelers.[/QUOTE]
Tomlin is a HOF coach, the Steelers don’t want to get rid of him.

 

Allen Robinson on Kenny Pickett: You don’t see guys that young with command that strong

Quarterback Kenny Pickett’s growth heading into his second season has been a topic of conversation throughout the Steelers offseason.

Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi recently said that he’s seen “true growth” in Pickett’s confidence and demeanor since the end of his rookie year and those traits have also stood out to those who were not members of the team last year. Wide receiver Allen Robinson joined the Steelers in a trade earlier this year and he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week that he’s been impressed by the way that Pickett is leading the team so early in his NFL career.

“Coming in seeing Kenny now going into his second season, the command that he has for a second-year player is awesome,” Robinson said. “I personally feel like you don’t get a chance to see guys that young with a command that strong as far as leading us, getting guys together, throwing after watching film. Across the board, he’s very experienced. It’s been fun to see and it’s been fun to be a part of.”

Glowing offseason reports can fade away quickly if the results during games don’t measure up to advance billing, so the Steelers will be hoping that Pickett shows the same growth in that area come the regular season.

NBC

 

Lavonte David: Baker Mayfield is “great for our locker room”

Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. recently described the competition between quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask as a 50-50 proposition. Another defensive player has explained that Mayfield has one big factor in his favor.

“Obviously, Baker already he’s been ‘the guy’ and, you know, he’s expected to live up to what everybody expected him to be,” David said in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, via JoeBucsFan.com. “Baker is great for our locker room. I like the way Baker carries himself coming in with a ready-to-work mentality. Everybody loves him already and the way he approaches practice is great to see. So there’s definitely some great things to see out of Baker.

“He’s a guy who’s done it before — took his team to the playoffs and done some great things so far. So the competition with those guys is going to be very, very competitive and I’m glad to be a part of it. . . . During minicamp it was really fun to see, man, those guys are really having fun with it and they’re helping each other throughout the way. So that’s definitely something I love to see, as well.”

It’s unclear why the competition is so wide open. Mayfield was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and a starter for most of his four years in Cleveland. He has had two very good seasons, one bad season, one season marred by injury, and then in 2022 a strange, nomadic existence. Trask was a second-round pick in 2021, and his is fully unproven, untested, and inexperienced.

Earlier in the offseason, new coordinator Dave Canales suggested that there’s a political element to the competition, with Trask’s draft status earning him more of a chance than perhaps the circumstances would require.

Regardless, at some point the Bucs need to pick a horse and get him ready to run for Week One. Unless, of course, Tom Brady decides to try to join the race after it starts.

PFT

 

Yeah Tomlin really needs a scapegoat. He's on the hot seat for sure.

 

I know this is sarcasm because Tomlin is the furthest coach from the hot seat.

 

Good job Gid, you really sniffed that one out!

 

Steelers head coaches aren’t forced out, that’s for sure.

 

Laremy Tunsil: C.J. Stroud came in ready to lead

The Texans have not named their starting quarterback for Week One at this point, but first-round pick C.J. Stroud didn’t let that stop him from acting the part during the team’s offseason work.

As the second overall pick in the draft, Stroud has every reason to believe that he’ll wind up starting ahead of Davis Mills and left tackle Laremy Tunsil said at his youth football camp that the rookie started carrying himself as a leader from his first moment in the team’s facility.

“Man, you should have seen how he came in the building,” Tunsil said, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC. “He came in the building already a leader. He voices himself in the huddles. He’s one of those guys that’s like, ‘Yo, I’m going to lead, and y’all just follow me.’ That’s what we’re doing, It’s not surprising at all.”

The quarterback competition will resume when the Texans start training camp later this month and it’s a good bet that Stroud will wind up being officially anointed the team’s leader before the summer is out.

NBC

 

Dak Prescott: I won’t have 10 interceptions this year

Dak Prescott expects to turn the ball over a lot less often this season.

Prescott only made 12 regular season appearances last year, but his 15 interceptions were both the most of his career and the most of any quarterback in the league. Prescott threw two more in the team’s divisional round loss to the 49ers, so it’s not surprising that the giveaways are a topic of interest heading into the season.

While at his youth football camp earlier this month, Prescott expressed confidence that the issues are in the past because of the work he and the team’s receivers have done with head coach Mike McCarthy this offseason.

“I know who I am, and you can go back and take away half of those off drops,” Prescott said, via Gabriel Trevino of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m not saying it’s on the receiver, but if you cut that in half then we start talking about those, nobody is talking about it. . . . Some of it is the offense and them understanding exactly where we are. Mike does an amazing job with those guys. They know where to be, why to be, when they’re getting looked at. That’s going to be a big jump. I won’t have 10 interceptions this year.”

Prescott has thrown 10 or more interceptions in three other seasons, but he played 16 games in all of those campaigns and any developments that lead to fewer turnovers along with more availability will be welcome ones in Dallas this season.

PFT

 

Probably, 15.

 

Probably set the all time record for most ints.

 

Jets WRs coach makes admission about working with QB Aaron Rodgers

It was only a matter of time before the Aaron Rodgers hand signals discussion began again. Last season, there was a great deal said about how then-rookies Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure were going to struggle early because their quarterback refused to work with them until training camp even though Rodgers’ infamous hand signals are notoriously complicated for rookies and veterans alike.

As it turns out, they are difficult for coaches, too. In a recent article published by the New York Post, Jets wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni admitted that he does not know what all of Rodgers’ signals mean. He also said it is up to the receivers to learn and figure them out, not him.

Assanni said:

“That’s all on them,” receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. “I don’t want to speak for Aaron and [Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett], but we’ve probably done about less than 10 percent of that stuff signal-wise [in the spring]. Those things grow exponentially as we grow.”

"The guys are like, ‘What’s that signal?’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t know,’ ” Azzanni said. “It might have been from 2011, but let’s get on the same page. That’s what’s cool about those guys all being here [voluntarily], working through those things.”

The Post also referenced an article in The Athletic last year in which Doubs, Jordan Love and Sammy Watkins all said that Rodgers’ hand signals were difficult to learn.

However, it seems as if Rodgers is taking a more active roll in teaching the Jets wide receivers about his hand signals than he did for the pass-catchers in Green Bay:

“He’s a great communicator, and he’s a great teacher,” quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese said. “When he’s talking with the receivers or tight ends on how he wants certain routes just from experience, it’s special.”

Must be nice.

All of this being said, it is far from likely that the Jets’pass-catchers will be able to master all of Rodgers’ signals before the season begins. This could lead to Rodgers relying heavily on his former Packers teammates Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb in crucial situations.

As the Packers learned last year, that is not always a good thing. The fact of the matter is that Rodgers often forces passes to the receivers he is most comfortable with, regardless of who is open elsewhere on the field.

If the Jets offensive line is as bad as it was last year, and if the receivers do not master Rodgers’ hand signals to a level that he is satisfied with, it could be a very long year in New York.

YARDBARKER

 

This makes no sense why would you make the hands singals very difficult Christian Watson((GB ) is a very good wr that you did not work with,will Garrett Wilson share the same fate?

 

I think the point is that they were difficult because Rodgers wasn't in Green Bay last offseason. And with him being a full participant this spring they shouldn't have the same problems.

 

Let's hope so after Christian Watson dropped a sure TD pass against the Vikings last year he wouldn't work with him I just wondered why ? and would Garrett Wilson share the same fate if he drops a pass

 

Steve Keim: Kyler Murray is under a lot of pressure, because he’s got a lot to prove

Steve Keim drafted Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. He’s the one who gave the quarterback a five-year, $230.5 million deal that includes $160 million guaranteed in 2022. He’s also the one who put a homework clause in the contract that eventually was taken out.

Murray recently has taken some not-so-veiled shots at Keim and former coach Kliff Kingsbury, who were replaced by Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon respectively. He also had a quote that he surely thought sounded better than it reads.

“I’m going to listen. I’m going to be coachable, and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability,” Murray told the team’s website, “but if the shit ain’t working, at some point, we all have to look in the mirror.”

Keim joined Colin Cowherd on FS1 to discuss the comment and Murray’s future.

“I think in terms of quarterbacks, what he said you don’t love it, just because of the standpoint when he added the word ‘but’ in, generally behind a positive the word ‘but’ does not end in a positive light,” Keim told Cowherd. “I certainly didn’t want to hear that. And nor do fans want to hear a guy who’s making $46.1 million a year blame anybody but himself. I’m not saying he’s a guy that blames people. Yet at the same time, when you get that bag of cash, everybody expects you to take it on your shoulders, and that’s what a franchise quarterback does. This is a big year. I would have actually had Kyler in my top five for guys under pressure, because what if they have a bad year?

“He’s coming off the injury. He’s got to prove himself. What happens, as what people forecast, that they have the No. 1 pick, they’re in a real predicament.”

Murray has a 25-31-1 regular-season record with one postseason appearance and no postseason wins in his four-year career. His return is uncertain as he works his way back from reconstructive surgery Jan. 3 to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The Cardinals are betting favorites to finish with the No. 1 overall pick, and USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick.

PFT

 

If they pick Caleb Williams, what the heck do they do about Murray and his albatross of a contract?

 

It's a prove to me year

 

Bears QB Justin Fields explains why he’s optimistic for 2023 season



Despite the Chicago Bears winning just three games last season, there’s a ton of optimism surrounding this team heading into the 2023 season. And for good reason.

The Bears made some big moves in the offseason, including acquiring a No. 1 wide receiver in DJ Moore, linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards and shoring up the offensive line with Nate Davis and top rookie Darnell Wright. Then there’s quarterback Justin Fields, who’s expected to take a massive step forward in his third season after those offseason additions.

When asked about why he feels optimistic, Fields couldn’t just choose one reason. But it’s clear the new additions on the roster are a big reason why Fields believes it’s going to be a “fun” year.

“There’s so many reasons — I don’t think there’s just one particular reason,” Fields said, via the Sun-Times. “We have a bunch of new pieces on defense. The leaders we have. Just the camaraderie with everyone on the team — I think that’s the biggest thing. We try to have closeness with each other and grow every day.

“The leaders that we have, like Tremaine, T.J. — of course, DJ on offense and D’Onta at running back. We have a lot of new pieces, and everyone’s excited. We’re all here to push each other to get better. It’s gonna be a fun season.”

There’s a new swagger about this group, which was evident during the offseason. That has to do with returning veterans, as well as the new guys on the roster, including some established veterans who shored up some positions of weakness.

When listening to players this offseason, they understand that everyone is counting them out. But it’s just as evident that they’re ready to prove doubters wrong.

YAHOO/BEARSWIRE

 

Patrick Mahomes: Kirk Cousins is the most underrated quarterback in the league

If you didn’t get enough of the eight-episode Quarterback series, there’s more. It’s only eight minutes, but it’s better than nothing.

A video emerged on Thursday of a joint interview from the subjects of the show. It apparently was filmed at the time of the premiere — unless each of them wore the exact same clothes they wore to the premiere for the extra session.

Various topics were addressed by Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota. Roughly five minutes in, the question of the most underrated quarterback in the NFL was addressed.

Mahomes pointed at Cousins. “I think this guy right here,” Mahomes said. “I mean, if you look at Kirk over here, man. Wins every year. Puts up great stats. Did it in Washington. Does it in Minnesota. Talk to any other quarterbacks in the league, and they’re gonna say the same thing.”

“I’d agree with that,” Mariota said. “I’ve been in a few systems and [with] a few coaches. And a lot of the tape that we’d watch was of Kirk. A guy consistently, year in and year out, continues to prove why he is one of the top quarterbacks in the league.”


Kirk loved it. “Any time you can be complimented by your peers,” he said, “it beats any compliment coming from anybody else in your life.”

But is Cousins really underrated? He’s regarded as a fringe top-10 quarterback. Most would say the following players are better than him: Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, and Deshaun Watson (if he can play like he did in 2020). That’s nine. In the same cut as Kirk are Matthew Stafford, Daniel Jones (if last year wasn’t a fluke), Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson (if last year was a fluke), and maybe Ryan Tannehill.

And how can Cousins be regarded as underrated when he has four career playoff appearances and only one postseason win? Mahomes has been a starter for five years, and he’s been to the AFC Championship every single year.

Two factors hold Cousins out of the top 10: (1) chronic inability to step up in big spots; and (2) lack of mobility/creativity to make chicken salad when the play that was called doesn’t work.

Also, based on what we learned about Mahomes in the Quarterback series, there’s another potential element at play here. Week Five. Chiefs at Vikings. Mahomes is smart enough to say nothing that will make Cousins circle that game even more aggressively than he already has. Look at how Mahomes worked pass rushers in the Quarterback series. He admitted that he routinely compliments them on their efforts because he wants them to like him, so that they won’t be inclined to try to hit him harder than they do.

That same mindset applies here. Mahomes is working Cousins, knowing that in an ultra-competitive AFC, it’s critical for the Chiefs to go to Minnesota and find a way to win.

If Kirk likes Mahomes, maybe Kirk won’t make an exception to his every-Tuesday-off approach when the Chiefs game is approaching — and when Mahomes is spending a big chunk of his own day off preparing to go beat Cousins.

Regardless, Cousins is not underrated. He’s accurately rated. Until he makes an appearance in an NFC Championship game, that accurate rating won’t change.

NBC