NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Colts signing Eric Fisher to one-year deal



The Colts have found a new left tackle.

According to multiple reports, Indianapolis is signing former Chiefs No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher to a one-year, $9.4 million deal.

Fisher was a mainstay on Kansas City’s offensive line since his selection in 2013. But he tore his Achilles during the AFC Championship Game against the Bills on Jan. 24. The Chiefs then released Fisher and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz on March 11.

The Colts needed a left tackle after Anthony Castonzo elected to retire following the 2020 season. While they didn’t select a tackle in the draft, the club did sign former Charger Sam Tevi in free agency. He started 14 games at the position for L.A. last year. Prior to Fisher’s signing, he was in line to protect Carson Wentz‘s blindside.

With Fisher now in tow, Indianapolis has the No. 1 overall pick from 2013 and the No. 2 overall pick from 2016 on its roster. The Colts also drafted Andrew Luck at No. 1 overall back in 2012.

NBC

 

Saints not requiring COVID vaccination proof for fans to attend home games | Fox News

The New Orleans Saints made clear Friday that the organization wasn’t going to force fans to show proof they've received a COVID vaccination before entering the Superdome for games.
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Hope the other teams do the same. I know it's a county, state decision, but at least NOLA got the ball rolling.

The card board cut-outs are going to be pissed.

 

Jaguars to have no tryout players, including Tim Tebow



As veterans like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Kelvin Benjamin attempt to resurrect their careers by participating in rookie minicamps on a tryout basis, one team currently considering bringing a veteran back to the league after nine years of not playing is having no tryout candidates at the 2021 rookie minicamp.

According to the Jaguars, they will have zero tryout participants at the first rookie minicamp of coach Urban Meyer’s NFL career. By rule, each team can have up to five this year.

The decision comes at a time when the Jaguars are poised to sign tight end Tim Tebow. Which raises an obvious question: Why not have him participate in the rookie minicamp?

It’s one thing to work out alone for coaches. It’s quite another to compete, even in the low-intensity (supposedly) environment of a minicamp.

Whether he’s at the rookie minicamp or not, it appears that the Jaguars have decided to add Tebow. Given the things Meyer has said about his former Florida pupil, it would be a surprise at this point if it doesn’t happen.

NBC

 

Whats the difference? It's getting as easy to get a fake vaccination card as it was to get a fake ID at 16...

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-cut-right-tackle-ja-wuan-james-achilles

Not a good look for the Broncos.

 

DAMMMMMMMMM!

The Miami Dolphins' first first-round pick of 2021 is under contract ahead of rookie minicamp.

Jaylen Waddle, the No. 6 overall pick, signed his fully guaranteed four-year contract with the Dolphins on Friday, the team announced. Waddle's deal is worth over $27.086 million and includes a $17.059 million signing bonus, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

NFL.com

 

Saints sign Deuce Wallace, Sutton Smith, Easop Winston



The Saints signed three players and waived two others Friday.

The team announced it signed defensive back Deuce Wallace, linebacker Sutton Smith and wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. and waived defensive backs Eric Burrell and Trill Williams with failed physicals.

Wallace, 24, played at Louisiana-Lafayette, finishing his college career in 2019. He appeared in 40 career games and totaled 73 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, four passes defensed and one forced fumble.

Smith entered the NFL as a sixth-round choice of the Steelers in 2019 out of Northern Illinois, where he made 30 sacks and 58 tackles for loss. In 2019, Smith had stints on the practice squads of the Steelers and Jaguars.

He spent the 2020 offseason with the Seahawks.

Winston spent the 2020 preseason with the Rams following a two-year career at Washington State. He made 137 receptions for 1,624 yards with 19 touchdowns with the Cougars.

NBC/PFT

 

"Why wasn't I drafted" Trill Williams cut after failing a physical.

 

Broncos also saved 15 Million cash/money that was guaranteed to him also.

 

Travis Etienne playing wide receiver at Jaguars rookie minicamp



The Jaguars bucked the trends by drafting a running back in the first round this year, but that running back might not actually play running back.

Jaguars coach Urban Meyer said today that Etienne is working at wide receiver at the Jaguars’ rookie minicamp. Meyer reasoned that Etienne is going to get a lot of passes thrown his way no matter where he lines up, and the Jaguars want to give Etienne all the experience he can get running pass routes.

“Worst case scenario you have a running back that’s elite with receiver skills,” Meyer said, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that Etienne is going to prove to be elite in the NFL, either as a runner or a receiver. And it’s valid to ask why the Jaguars didn’t just draft a wide receiver if they wanted a wide receiver, instead of drafting a running back and playing him at wide receiver. (Meyer has admitted the player he really wanted to draft was wide receiver Kadarius Toney, whom the Giants selected.)

But the Jaguars have an abundance of running backs, with last year’s impressive undrafted rookie James Robinson and this year’s free agent signing Carlos Hyde. Etienne’s best bet for contributing as a rookie may be to play wide receiver.

NBC/PFT

 

Urban Meyer on Tim Tebow: A decision is coming soon



Jaguars coach Urban Meyer continues to talk about signing tight end Tim Tebow. Without actually signing Tim Tebow.

On Saturday, Meyer once again suggested that the official acquisition of Tebow could be coming soon.

“I’ve leaned on my staff for that,” Meyer told reporters on Saturday during the team’s rookie minicamp. “And I imagine a decision is gonna be soon. . . We’ll have a chat Sunday.”

Meyer has suggested that Tebow will indeed be signed. But the signing hasn’t happened.

So what’s the delay? Is it an extended trial balloon? Or are the Jaguars simply waiting to trade or release quarterback Gardner Minshew, so that the Jaguars instantly can capitalize on selling as many “Tebow 15” jerseys as possible?

Whatever the reason for the delay — and whatever the basis for the decision not to simply have Tebow participate in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis — a decision is coming soon. There’s currently no reason to think the decision will be anything other than to add Tebow to the 90-man roster.

NBC/PFT

 

Steelers RB Najee Harris: 'I'm going to be utilized everywhere'

Najee Harris has always stood out on film. It's largely what made him the top recruit in the country and, four years later, the first running back selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Rookie minicamp is giving Steelers coach Mike Tomlin a closer look at what has separated Harris from his peers.

"I think he is as highly conditioned as anybody out there, and that's a great place to begin," Tomlin told reporters Saturday. "I think he's got a nice foundation from that perspective. He's a sharp guy, he's a football guy. You can tell he passionate about football. He can articulate the game very well, so there's a lot to be excited about."

Harris has begun to deliver on that promise before putting on the pads. Rookie camp is a time for teaching, with limited numbers creating a more intimate setting. Tomlin said the first-round pick has especially impressed in his 1-on-1 time with running backs coach Eddie Faulkner.

"It provides plenty of opportunity for him to verbalize his knowledge and things of that nature," Tomlin said.

There's been football highlights as well. Harris showed off his pass-catching ability Saturday with a one-handed grab, which led to a humorous exchange with a Steelers beat reporter who asked about the play afterward.

"You saw that?" Harris responded. "… You guys were here? … Where were you guys at?"

This is also a learning time for the No. 24 overall pick, who discovered that members of the media are allowed to view some practices and were stationed on a balcony overlooking the field.

"Man, I thought y'all was boosters," Harris said. "What the hell? That's crazy."

The first-year back was less enthused when asked if he had returned to Alabama for his senior season to sharpen his receiving skills. Harris noted the Steelers have discussed deploying him regularly in the passing game and even splitting him out wide at times.

"I've always been catching the ball, man," an incredulous Harris said when probed about his acrobatic reception. "I always do that. I always do that. Not to brag or nothing but it's like, it wasn't luck. I can tell you that. Since y'all was watching, I'll do it again. Nah, I'm going to get in trouble. But it's not something I work on. I just, I've been doing that since middle school. I got big hands, man."

Of course, those hands will be put to use more so to carry the ball. The Steelers were among the league's worst rushing outfits last year and were clearly in the market for an upgrade after allowing James Conner to walk this offseason. At 6-foot-1, 232 pounds, Harris is built to carry a hefty load. He also believes he'll quickly be comfortable in offensive coordinator Matt Canada's scheme, pointing to the overlap with Steve Sarkisian's offense at Alabama

"The inside zone, the outside zone, the power plays, the one-back power, the duo plays," Harris said. "Just a lot of what they do in their offense really resembles a lot of what we did (in college). Just putting the players in the best position to make a play. And really not doing too much thinking, just fast playing. The more you think, the slower you play."

That's why Harris prepares the way he does, and why he plays the way he does.

"We did a lot of studying at Alabama, a lot of film work, but I think here it's reached another level, how much time I've spent learning the plays," he said. "I'm going to be utilized everywhere, so they want me to know multiple positions. It's a lot more film work than college, but I don't have school no more, so I'm glad off that. I have no issue with spending that much time in the film room. It's something I like. I'm ready for the challenge. It's something that they picked me for."

What Harris put on tape helped, too.

NFL.com

 

The Steelers always seem to find good rb's

 

They are even better at snagging Centers (though not always through the draft).

 

I've long thought they do a really impressive job drafting WR's.

I couldn't tell you every draft pick they've made over the last decade or more, so im sure there are some misses in there like any other team. But just from what i could name off the top of my head id say they have an excellent record at that position.

 

They got a good number of misses that people (steelers fans) seem to want to push under the rug in order to make it look like they are wr gurus. Weaton, Coates, Sweed and even Bryant right off the top of my head.

 

Fair enough i guess. But as an illustration of what im talking about i do have to point out that 2 of the 3 guys you just listed had multiple 50catch, 600+ yard seasons. 750 yard seasons actually. They may never have got the 2nd contract, but as 3rd/4th round draft picks who were "misses" those are pretty damn good numbers ha. We should all be so lucky.

By comparison the Bears 4th round pick Riley Ridley has 10 catches in 2 seasons and doesnt even play ST. Now THAT'S a miss.

 

Ryan Kerrigan signs with Eagles



Ryan Kerrigan is heading to Philadelphia.

Kerrigan, the veteran pass rusher who has spent his entire 10-year NFL career in Washington, announced on Instagram today that he’s signing with the Eagles.

“I know I probably wasn’t your favorite player over the past decade, but Philadelphia Eagles fans I’m fired up to be playing for you guys now!” Kerrigan wrote.

Kerrigan previously announced that he would be leaving Washington, which drafted him with the 16th overall pick in 2011. Last year he played in all 16 games but was in on a career-low 38 percent of the defensive snaps. He recorded 5.5 sacks.

NBC/PFT

 

Always liked Kerrigan. Solid player that was simply replaced because they could get Chase Young and they don't rotate their rushers much. In Philly he knows he probably isn't starting but at 3rd or 4th in the rotation he's getting his snaps. I'm surprised he didn't get a larger deal elsewhere.