MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Im leaning towards, Yes, but Camp and preseason will be very important. A true QB battle will be played out, imo.

 

Chris Ballard: Anthony Richardson is full-go for training camp

The shoulder soreness that Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered from early this month is not a concern for the Colts heading into training camp.

That’s the word from Colts General Manager Chris Ballard, who says Richardson will be ready to do everything the Colts ask of him in training camp.

“He’ll be full-go,” Ballard said on the GM Shuffle podcast, via NFL.com. “He was full-go all the way up until the last day of OTAs, and we had two heavy throwing sessions the two days before, and so we backed off a little on the last day.”

Richardson’s sore throwing shoulder was a concern because an injury to the shoulder cut his rookie season short and required surgery last year. Richardson said he has been dealing with soreness since he resumed throwing, but he also said it’s minor enough that he would throw through it if not for the team’s medical staff telling him to take it easy as his shoulder continues to heal. The Colts know that getting Richardson healthy and keeping him healthy is a top priority for the franchise, but they don’t appear to be overly concerned that his shoulder will be a problem.

PFT

 

Deshaun Watson on his shoulder: I haven’t had any setbacks or anything holding me back

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been on a throwing program this offseason after his 2023 was cut short due to season-ending shoulder surgery.

During a press conference at his annual 7-on-7 tournament in Cleveland on Wednesday, Watson told reporters that his shoulder is doing well with camp set to begin next week.

“I just have been taking it one day at a time,” Watson said, via Zac Jackson of TheAthletic.com. “Everything has been set in stone [with the rehab schedule], and I haven’t had any setbacks or anything that’s holding me back.”

Watson added that he’s “in a great state,” though he declined to answer whether or not his passing will be restricted when camp begins.

However, Watson did say he has been throwing every day, including a trip down to Florida where he met up with Cleveland’s receivers, like Amari Cooper. Watson was limited during the offseason program after he started throwing again in April.

Entering his third season with the Browns, Watson has completed 60 percent of his throws for 2,217 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 total games for the club. Last year, Cleveland was 5-1 in games Watson started.

PFT

 

Texans' DeMeco Ryans shares how C.J. Stroud excelled this offseason

C.J. Stroud exceeded expectations as a rookie and has set a high bar for himself and the Texans moving forward. It sounds like the young star has spent his offseason making sure he'll be able to meet the raised expectations heading into his sophomore campaign.

During a Thursday news conference, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans discussed how Stroud embraced his role as the offense's undisputed leader during Stroud's first full NFL offseason as a starter.

"I think C.J. has done a really good job this offseason as a leader when it comes to working with other guys — knowing that he’s not just working by himself but finding the avenues to get a group together and work together," Ryans explained, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "That’s very important, especially when it comes to timing in the passing game for receivers and quarterbacks. They have to be in sync. And it shows that they see how important that was because guys were working together this summer."

A report from earlier in July detailed how playing in the Snoop Youth Football League founded by entertainment superstar Snoop Dogg helped Stroud develop traits he flashed en route to earning Offensive Rookie of the Year Award honors this past winter. It was revealed last year that Stroud paid for flights and hotel rooms to work out with teammates following spring practices even though he hadn't yet been named the team's QB1 at that time.

Per Pro-Football-Reference stats, Stroud finished his first NFL regular season ranked sixth in the league with a 100.8 passer rating and first with an average of 273.9 passing yards per game. He tossed 23 touchdown passes with only five interceptions across 15 contests, and he then guided the Texans to the divisional round of the playoffs.

On Thursday, Ryans challenged Stroud to "continue to become the leader that we want him to be" as a second-year pro. Ryans also indicated Stroud has already shown he can handle the high expectations many have for the Texans ahead of August.

"You see how much better he got from his first day of camp last year until our last game — how much better [he got], you saw the growth of him," Ryans added. "And that’s the same thing as we come into this season."

As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Stroud second among the betting favorites behind only Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs (+475) at +850 odds to win the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2024 regular season. Stroud could get his hands on multiple trophies between training camp and Super Bowl LIX if he manages to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump that often impacts players who enjoy stellar rookie campaigns.

YARDBARKER

 

Jordan Love not practicing at Packers training camp as QB searches for extension with Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers opened up training camp on Monday, but as the club takes the field to begin their preparations for the 2024 season, they are without their starting quarterback. Speaking with reporters earlier on Monday, GM Brian Gutekunst relayed that Jordan Love will not practice until he has a deal in place. Love's camp told the Packers brass of this holdout on Saturday.

"This is something that we're all working on," said Gutekunst. "We certainly understand where he's coming from. We'd like him to be out there. It's important for him to be out there. Obviously, you guys know how important practice is and working with his teammates. As of now, until we get that resolved, he will not be practicing. He reported last week and is taking part in everything else."

In the aftermath of the Packers trading away Aaron Rodgers last season, the club signed Love to a one-year contract extension worth up to $22.5 million for the 2024 season instead of giving him the fifth-year option. At the moment, he's only under contract for this coming season with a base salary of $10.5 million, which is far below the figures of a starting quarterback in today's landscape.

"I think so," Gutekunst said when asked if a new deal for Love is on the horizon. "Again, you never know. We're working really hard to get that done. I think it's really important for us. At the same time, the thing that I have confidence in is that we both want the same thing. We want Jordan here for a long time, give that stability for him and it gives us some stability for our group as well.

"... I'm optimistic. These are big deals that take time. They are not as easy as some people may think."

A previous report from ESPN noted that the two sides aren't close to a new deal.

In his first season as the full-time starter, Love impressed and helped the Packers to a playoff berth and a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Super Wild Card Weekend. In that game, Love threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns to give him a near-perfect passer rating. In the regular season, Green Bay was 9-8 with Love under center as the QB threw for over four thousand yards and 32 touchdowns.

CBS

 

The wrist is healed up and the do is the talk of the Queen City.

Joe Burrow, sporting his new-look blond buzzcut, addressed the media for the first time in training camp on Wednesday.

Following a summer of updates on his wrist, conversation went a good deal north to his hair, which has drawn comparisons to Eminem and pro wrestler Cody Rhodes. Another fresh development for Joey B will be playing in the preseason, something he's done to the tune of just three snaps in his career.

Burrow's excited to do it despite injury concerns.

"I think that's the best way to go about it this year to try it out," Burrow said of playing in the preseason, which kicks off for the Bengals on Saturday, Aug. 10 against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I think it's important for us to be our best in the beginning of the year I think we kind of need that. It's something we wanted to do in years past but haven't been able to. But I'm excited to get that done this year."

Head coach Zac Taylor said Monday Burrow was cleared following an offseason of progress in his recovery from wrist surgery last year and also said he intended for his QB to play this preseason. Just how much Burrow will partake in the preseason remains unknown according to the blond bomber.

"We haven't really had those discussions yet," Burrow said on Wednesday. "I imagine how we play in that preseason game when we're in there will also play a part. I think there's a lot of factors."

Entering his fifth NFL season, the 2020 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick has been snake bitten when it comes to getting onto the field in the preseason. His rookie campaign was one in which COVID-19 led to the cancelation of each preseason tilt. In 2021, Burrow played the aforementioned three snaps as he was coming off an ACL tear that cut short his rookie season. An appendectomy forced him to miss the preseason the following year and last season it was a calf strain that kept him from action.

Burrow did play in the season opener, but his 2023 season was cut to 10 games after he tore a wrist ligament.

So far so good on Wednesday, Burrow said.

"I was happy with today," he said. "Still feeling it out, still have some throws where it's like, 'Well what did that look like?' Usually goes where I want it to but doesn't spin the way I want it to. So, we're still working through that. But I feel really good about where I'm at. I feel like I kind of figured something out toward the end of the practice there in individuals. So, looking forward to exploring that a little more."

As for the trending topic of Burrow's hair and why he changed it up, well that was simply boredom.

"I got bored, that's about it," he said of the reasoning behind his new do, which is a different color and cut from each of his previous years in the league.

He was also nudged to do it by 310-pound defensive tackle B.J. Hill, whom Burrow said must now follow suit with the same look.

"B.J. said if I buzzed it and bleached it, he would do it, too," Burrow said. "So now everybody's gotta hold him accountable 'cause he's gotta do it in the next week."

The blond Bengal look is in in Cincinnati just as Burrow will be this preseason.

NFL.com

 

Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa agree to record $212.4 million contract extension: reports

Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards in 2023



After the best season of his career, Tua Tagovailoa isn't going anywhere.

He and the Miami Dolphins have reportedly agreed on a four-year deal with $212.4 million with $167 million guaranteed.

The $212.4 million is the 10th-largest in NFL history, and the largest over a four-year span in league history, as well.

His average salary of $53.1 million per season is the third-highest in NFL history, behind only Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence.

Tagoavailoa has been a polarizing quarterback since he was drafted fifth overall out of Alabama in 2020. He suffered two documented concussions in 2023, one of which saw his fingers curl up, causing a major shakeup in the league's concussion protocol. He appeared dizzy just four days prior and fell to the turf, but he played on Thursday night anyway. The NFL ruled that he had not suffered a concussion in the first incident.

The quarterback, though, did suffer a concussion later on in the season, and wound up remaining in that game against the Green Bay Packers.

Many wondered whether Tagovailoa was, and still is, one hit away from his career ending abruptly. He even admitted last year that he had contemplated retirement after his scary 2023 season.

However, he played all 17 games last season for the first time in his career and set career highs in yards (an NFL-leading 4,624), touchdowns (29), completion percentage (69.3), and wins (11).

The Dolphins lost the AFC East title on their home turf in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills, and then had to travel to sub-zero temperatures in Kansas City against the Chiefs, who beat them, 26-7, en route to winning their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Tagovailoa is now the seventh quarterback to earn an average per-year salary of over $50 million ever (all since last year), joining Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Jared Goff, Lawrence and Burrow.

In his career (53 games, 51 starts), he has completed 66.9% of his passes for 12,639 yards, 81 touchdowns, and a 32-19 record.

FOX

 

Jordan Love, come on down! Your the next contestant on the price is right!

 

Can you believe this!?!?

 

Schefter says he's the highest paid QB ever, but NFL.com is reporting he is tied with the Jags Lawrence. Thems fightin' words.

 

Dak is going to want $221M now.

 

Tua wants a re-due. probably holdout now.

 

I doubt that happens. Win a couple of playoff games and come talk to me.

 

Alex I'll take teams not competing for the next 5 years for $500

 

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes both make less annually than Tua Tagovailoa, Lawrence and Jordan Love now, but the Chiefs shifted Mahomes to a long-term deal to surpass the cash flow in the contract signed by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. But Josh Allen is still down from these recent signings. I gotta wonder how that sits with them and how high is this going to raise the bar?

 

Speaking of QB's, Lamar Jackson is still missing practices. Id bet he has a case of nolikeypracticeitis.

 

One more thing Id like to bring up. Love had 32 TD's and 11 picks last season, a fantastic season. Prior to that absolutely nothing... he gets paid all this without a track-record. IMO, its risky.

 

He's returned to practice today. (illness)

 

Dak Prescott is entering the final year of a $160M deal that pays him an average annual salary of $40M, tied for 14th-most among quarterbacks with the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and the Giants’ Daniel Jones. In leu of what just happened contract wise, Daks contract aspirations just sky-rocketed, imo. Jerry Jones probably just shit himself or maybe lets Dak check his options for another team.