NFL - NEWS & NOTES

By the end of the first quarter the Cowboys fans will see how bad they suck and go to bed

 

Frank Clark WTF is going on? I don't get the acting stupid

 

Maybe because they are still the #1 ranked team in terms of worth. Their current value is 5.7 billon

 

Within the criminal justice system, Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark faces charges that could put him in prison for up to three years. Clark also needs to be concerned about the NFL’s justice system.

“We have been monitoring all developments in the matter which is under review of the personal conduct policy,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told PFT via email early Friday evening.

Ultimately, Clark faces discipline from the league based on the substantive allegation of felony possession of an assault weapon. Beyond the fact that he can’t play if incarcerated, the NFL could suspend him without pay.

The fact that Clark has been charged with a felony subjects Clark to the possibility of paid leave. The quote from the league came in direct response to a question from PFT as to whether the case is being evaluated for potential paid leave.

PFT

 

Free agent wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has not determined whether he will be back for an 18th season.

In an interview today with Rachel Nichols on ESPN, Fitzgerald said he’s undecided on whether he’ll be back with the Cardinals, or any other team, or whether he’ll retire.

“I haven’t decided anything,” Fitzgerald said. “Training camp starts in a few weeks. I’m excited, it’s going to be another great year for the NFL.”

It’s unclear to what extend the Cardinals even want Fitzgerald back. Although they wouldn’t publicly say they don’t want one of the most beloved players in franchise history, Fitzgerald will turn 38 last month and is coming off a season in which he had career-lows in catches (54), yards (409), yards per catch (7.6) and touchdowns (one). The Cardinals signed veteran wide receiver A.J. Green and drafted Rondale Moore in the second round, and they may not think Fitzgerald has a role in their offense going forward.

Still, if Fitzgerald does decide he wants to play, he could likely find a job somewhere. A return home to Minnesota, where he grew up, would be an intriguing possibility. And Fitzgerald might just take his time and even decide after the season has started where he might want to go next.

PFT

 

Kenyan Drake: 'I feel like I might have a big role' in Raiders offense

The Las Vegas Raiders signed running back Kenyan Drake to add versatility alongside Josh Jacobs in the backfield.

While Jacobs will remain the workhorse, Drake told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he expects to have a sizable role within the offense.

"I'm definitely excited to see how our roles continue to develop with obviously Josh being the main guy to do what he needs to do because I have much respect and love for him and his game and what coach (Jon) Gruden has planned for us in that specific capacity," Drake said. "But I feel like I might have a big role in this offense. With them being a top-10 offense last year, the sky is the limit for us. I'm ready to see us take it to the next level."

Drake could be used more as a receiver than last year in Arizona, where Kliff Kingsbury keyed him in as an early-down runner. It's possible Gruden could get Drake into two-back sets with Jacobs or split the newcomer out wide more this season.

While in Miami for three and a half years, Drake played with QBs Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Jay Cutler, Brock Osweiler, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen. In Arizona, he played alongside Kyler Murray for a year and a half.

Drake boasted about Derek Carr's vast knowledge of the system giving the Raiders offense an edge.

"He's just very cerebral," Drake said of Carr. "Like I said, it's not taking anything away from the guys that I played with. But he has the ability to kind of be the OC or the coach on the field. Obviously, that's what you look for in a quarterback, in general. But with him being the longest-tenured Raider, with him having the kind of connection that he has with Gruden, it's kind of crazy. It's almost like when we're in meetings, literally any question Gruden asks him, it's like second nature to him. He just has the ability to kind of spit off anything that Gruden wants him to do. Gruden's always really touting about how if there's a look on the field, he gives Carr the option, two, three plays, deep within the play to get to the best play that's gonna give us success."


Drake believes the QB's knowledge and ability, along with the playmakers from the backfield and at receiver and tight end, should make the Raiders one of the best offenses in the NFL this season.

"I feel like, from looking at the film from last year and getting a better idea of how the offense was rolling..." he said. "I see how some of these plays may not be the best look for the specific play that you first called. He has a great feel for getting to the play that the offense needs to be successful. Like I said, adding me, a couple more weapons, Willie Snead, John Brown, I just feel like this offense, like I said, is definitely destined for great things."

The Raiders' offense wasn't the issue last season. It was a swiss-cheese defense that held back Vegas from taking a step toward the postseason.

NFL.com

 

Allen Robinson extension with Bears unlikely ahead of next week's deadline

The seven franchise-tagged players who haven't signed long-term deals have until next Thursday, July 15, to get a multi-year contract done. Otherwise, they'll play 2021 on the one-year tender.

The two star wideouts on the list, Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin, don't appear close to getting deals done, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Pelissero reported Thursday on NFL Network's Total Access that Robinson and the Chicago Bears have had "no substantive talks" in months about a long-term deal that would keep the club's most important pass-catcher in the Windy City beyond next year. Those discussions happened right after the season and haven't progressed since.

"At this point, it seems unlikely a long-term deal will get done," Pelissero noted.

Robinson wants to be paid like the top-tier receiver he has become. The 27-year-old carried the Bears offense the past two seasons playing with Pixy Stix quarterbacks. After missing out on a massive payday last time he was set to become a free agent -- due to an ACL tear -- Robinson seems destined to hit the open market next year when he could finally cash in.

Robinson is due $17.98 million on the franchise tag.

As for Godwin, Pelissero noted that there is "nothing imminent on that front" with the deadline looming. The Bucs have managed to keep their core together for another Super Bowl run. Godwin is a still-ascending talent that the Bucs would like to keep long-term.


If Bucs GM Jason Licht can't lock down Godwin in the next week, he'd still have time before free agency hits next offseason to get a contract done with the wideout.

Godwin is due $15.983 million on the franchise tag.

In addition to Robinson and Godwin, safety Marcus Maye, safety Marcus Williams, guard Brandon Scherff, offensive tackle Taylor Moton and offensive tackle Cam Robinson are also currently slated to play on the tag.

All seven of the franchise-tagged players signed their tenders, so regardless of whether or not long-term deals get done by the July 15 deadline, each is expected to report when training camp opens later this month.

NFL.com

 

Washington Football Team will unveil new name and logo in early 2022



The Washington Football Team will continue to be known as the Washington Football Team through the 2021 season, and then a new name and logo are coming in 2022.

Washington Football Team President Jason Wright told Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post that a new name and logo will be revealed in early 2022.

The team’s colors, which have been burgundy and gold throughout franchise history, will remain in place.

Washington has hired a branding organization that is helping it determine the right name and logo, and is conducting surveys and focus groups of fans in the effort.

PFT

 

They've actually been decent against the Ravens. There last 10 division wins have been 5 Cleveland, 4 Baltimore, 1 Pittsburgh

 

Bruce Arians wants Buccaneers to remain “the hunter and not the hunted”

The Buccaneers, with a team that won the most recent Super Bowl and that returns all starters on both sides of the ball for the first time in decades, will be wearing a bull’s-eye all year long. Coach Bruce Arians wants it to not be that way.

“I think for me I’m going to have to be harder; make sure that we stay the hunter and not the hunted,” Arians recently said in a feature posed at Buccaneers.com, via JoeBucsFan.com. “We’ve relaxed a lot already this spring. Teams are getting ahead of us right now but I think we can catch up quickly.”

Arians undoubtedly is referring to the fact that plenty of veterans opted to skip formal offseason workouts to do their own thing, led by quarterback Tom Brady. Arians knows that the various teams trying to keep the Bucs from becoming the first team to repeat since the 2003-04 Patriots took full advantage of their offseason programs.

That won’t matter to Brady, whose desire to turn his seventh Super Bowl win into an eighth will provide more than enough motivation for the rest of the team. But Arians knows that complacency becomes the biggest foe for any defending champion. They climbed the mountain. They’re trying to do the same thing they just did all over again, when 31 other teams that didn’t climb the mountain want to do it instead.

Arians previously said that “I’m going to beat the shit out of them” during training camp, and maybe that attitude will be enough to keep the Bucs from resting on their laurels. Far more effective, however, will be Brady’s unrelenting drive toward creating a legacy that no one ever will match.

Regardless, Arians knows that things can go haywire for a defending champ. For every one since 2004, something has happened between Week One and the Super Bowl to prevent another title. The Bucs could very well be the first team to run the gauntlet (one that now includes 17 regular-season games) successfully. They’ll need the mentality that they had last year, and it will take plenty of effort and focus and work and cussing from Arians to ensure that it happens.

Still, it all comes back to Brady. He showed his value last year. He’ll show it again this year. Although a second boat parade remains far from guaranteed, Brady will treat this year like every other year of his career. As he used to say, his favorite Super Bowl ring is the next one. He’ll be trying to get that next one during every year that remains of his career, no matter how many more next ones there may be.

PFT

 

Linebacker Anthony Chickillo won’t be on the field during the 2021 season.

Chickillo became a free agent in March and did not sign a contract with any team this offseason. On Sunday, Chickillo announced his retirement in a post to Instagram.

“My whole life my dream was to go to the University of Miami and play in the NFL,” Chickillo wrote. “I am so grateful for the opportunity and thankful for every one of the teams that gave me a shot. The game of football is apart of my family and will always be forever. Thank you for the support everyone!”

Chickillo went to Miami and was a 2015 sixth-round pick of the Steelers. He had 97 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 65 games over five seasons in Pittsburgh and he had 11 tackles and a sack for the Broncos last season.

PFT

 

Tyreek Hill has been “grinding my tail off” after Super Bowl embarrassment



Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce isn’t the only one still salty about Kansas City’s 31-9 loss to Tampa Bay. Receiver Tyreek Hill remains upset more than five months after having the deuces thrown his way, too.

“Man, you know what, man?” Hill recently told TMZ.com. “I’ve been grinding my tail off ever since that loss. . . . I feel like we was kind of embarrassed on national TV during the biggest game, you know, in the last game of the year.”

And like every player from every team that ever loses the Super Bowl, Hill intends to return.

“We definitely don’t want to go down that route again,” he said. “We’ll be back.”

It won’t be easy, as if it ever is. The AFC has plenty of teams good enough to get there instead. And if Aaron Rodgers gets his beautiful-mystery wish via a trade to the Broncos, that’s another team that becomes an instant contender in the division and the conference.

PFT

 

D.J. Humphries: Complacency kills, every week has to be the same preparation



Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins won an ESPY for the best play of the year for their Hail Mary to beat the Bills in Week 10 of the 2020 season, but there weren’t any prizes for the Cardinals after that thrilling victory.

Arizona was 6-3 after Hopkins’ touchdown, but they went 2-5 the rest of the way and wound up missing the playoffs. Injuries played a role in their ill-timed slump and left tackle D.J. Humphries suggested that the team may have taken their eyes off the prize as well.

Humphries said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that “when you get unto the mind frame of, ‘We’re good, so we beat this team,’ it’s going to get you every time” and that the team has to realize that doing well for half the season doesn’t guarantee that they will succeed in the second half as well.

“Complacency is a real thing and it kills,” Humphries said, via Jess Root of USAToday.com. “When you feel like your [s–t] doesn’t stink, it’s eventually going to start stinking and it’s going to show. And that is something I learned quickly. Every week, it has to be the same preparation. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing Monday night football this week or Thursday night football. It doesn’t matter, Every week has to be the same preparation.”

The Cardinals added some more big names to the roster this offseason and stopping short after a strong start to the season won’t be enough to fulfill the outside expectations that they carry into the fall. Humphries’ comments make it clear that won’t cut it internally either.

PFT

 

Report: N’Keal Harry to report to camp if he isn’t traded



Wide receiver N'Keal Harry asked for a trade away from the Patriots earlier this month and his agent said he thought “a fresh start” was in the best interest of both sides after two disappointing seasons for the 2019 first-round pick.

Harry’s push for a move hasn’t led to one at this point and it remains unclear if any team will strike a deal with the Patriots before training camps get underway later this month. While Harry wants out, word is that he won’t be staying away from the team if no trade is completed.

Josina Anderson reports that Harry plans to attend Patriots training camp. There’s no word on what he’d do at camp, but an injury during practice would complicate any hopes of finding a new team and that wouldn’t seem to be in anybody’s interests at this point.

Harrry is set to make over $1.4 million in 2021 and over $1.87 million in 2022.

PFT

 

Eagles RT Lane Johnson: 'Last year was an embarrassment for everybody involved'

A four-win season in 2020 led to a Philadelphia Eagles reboot, with the ouster of Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson and importing Nick Sirianni.

After three straight playoff appearances, including a Lombardi-hoisting 2017 run, the poor campaign left a bad taste in the mouths of many of the veterans left on the squad.

Right tackle Lane Johnson joined NFL Network's Good Morning Football and said the groundwork has been laid for a turnaround after last year's "embarrassment."

"Really looking at our team right now, we had a great OTAs," he said. "(We're) moving forward, learning the playbook. I feel like coach Sirianni's just taking great command of the team, holding everybody accountable. I know camp starts here in a few weeks, (July) 27th, and everybody's looking forward to that. But a lot of veteran leadership, a lot of young, hungry guys ready to prove themselves, and that's where we're at. Last year was an embarrassment for everybody involved, and looking forward, we're ready to change that."

There were some questions about Sirianni after a shaky introductory press conference. The 40-year-old spent the past three seasons under Frank Reich in Indianapolis. It's that relationship with the former Eagles OC that gives the veteran's confidence heading into the season.

"I think we gained a lot of trust just from having him from Frank Reich, who was the head in Indianapolis, and having him come from there, knowing he was a great dude," Johnson said of his new coach. "First thing that he came in and did was he took great command of the team. I think he created a lot of energy. Every day's fun. During practice, there's always some type of competition period. Sometimes even the coaches get out there and compete, too, so that's what I like about it. Going into the building, man, it's been really cool. But right now, we're learning a new offense, we're trying to get that going, and that's really where we're at. But so far, he's taken great command of the team, and he commands a lot of respect."

Despite the overhaul, the Eagles remain a veteran-laden team, particularly in the trenches. In a wide-open NFC East, it could be a quick turnaround in Philly if everything jells. But that success or failure will be decided by how quarterback Jalen Hurts transitions to the full-time starter and whether Sirianni doesn't crash and burn in his first stint in the big chair.

NFL.com

 

One thing the Eagles have going for them is they are in the unpredictable NFC East... Dallas looks good on paper offensively, but that doesnt mean shit and they still have to play the games and defense. Washington will be better as will Philly, but they will also be beating each other up.

Jalen Hurts is the Wild Card here... the Eagles can and probably will go as far as he can take them.

Cant sleep on the New York Football Giants either.

As I mentioned... unpredictable. Maybe the team that plays the best outside of the Division can win this Division.

Since its "unpredictable", here is my prediction as based on absofreakinlutely nothing;

1) Dallas
2) Philadelphia
3) Washington
4) New York

 

the NFC EAST is tricky and very unpredictable

 

Von Miller believes this is best Broncos team “in a long time”



Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is extremely bullish on the outlook for his team this fall.

Via Mike Klis of 9NEWS, Miller believes this is the best team the franchise has been able to put together in several years.

“This is the best team we’ve been able to field in a long time,” Miller said. “The offense is going to be ridiculous. We’ve got Courtland [Sutton], Jerry Jeudy, Noah Fant, Albert [Okweugbunam] – I don’t want to go through the whole thing — Melvin Gordon and all these other big-time guys. The defense is just as stacked.

“A lot of guys are motivated. Everybody’s tired of losing. Everybody wants to win and I’m excited. Not being able to go to the playoffs the last five years, everybody’s feeling it at Dove Valley. From John Elway to G.P. (George Paton), the chefs and cooks, everybody involved. We should be highly motivated to go out here and play some good football this whole season.”

The Broncos have managed just one winning season since winning Super Bowl 50 at the end of the 2015 season. They managed a 9-7 record the following season in 2016 and haven’t managed more than seven wins in the four years since.

A couple things that could hold the Broncos back are the quality of the team’s quarterback play and the quality of the AFC West overall.

Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater will have to deliver at least a competent level of quarterback play to get the most out of the talent the team does have on offense. Somehow getting Aaron Rodgers in trade from the Green Bay Packers would definitely check this box as well.

However, the Kansas City Chiefs have proven to be the best team in the league over the lat two seasons with a pair of Super Bowl appearances, the Los Angeles Chargers look talented as well after a strong rookie season at quarterback from Justin Herbert, and the Las Vegas Raiders aren’t a pushover either.

The 2015 Broncos won a Super Bowl in spite of diminished quarterback play from Peyton Manning in his final season in the NFL. Perhaps the 2021 edition of the team is similarly talented enough to win big without major production from the position.

Miller said he’s comfortable with Lock as the team’s quarterback and he might be poised to take a step forward entering his third season in Denver. But the road ahead will be a difficult one for the Broncos even if they are better on paper.

PFT

 

NFL suffers setback in Rams relocation litigation



The massive lawsuit filed by St. Louis against the NFL over the relocation of the Rams will (barring a settlement) culminate with a full-blown trial, which is due to begin just as the Rams prepare to host a Super Bowl in their new stadium. Along the way, the two sides will engage in many battles. Today, St. Louis scored a major victory in one of them.

Via Randy Karraker of 101 ESPN, a judge has ruled that the plaintiffs in the litigation shall have access to information regarding the financial worth of Commissioner Roger Goodell and five NFL owners: Rams owner Stan Kroenke, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Giants owner John Mara, and former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson.

The outcome has significance in large part because really rich people never want to be forced to disclose details about what they have. For a judge to tell six of the wealthiest men in America that they must turn over that information represents the kind of slap in the face that folks holding that kind of power and money rarely if ever experience.

The reason for the conclusion has significance as well. The judge, who made the ruling from the bench (which means the evidence pointing to it was clear), concluded that clear and convincing proof exists to support a finding that those individuals operated in a fraudulent manner. As to the rest of the owners, St. Louis has 10 days to present evidence supporting that they should be forced to surrender their financial information as well.

The financial information has relevance as to the question of punitive damages. If a jury ultimately decides that the NFL and one or more owners operated in a way that justifies an award over and above the money actually lost by the St. Louis plaintiffs because of the move, the financial worth of the defendant becomes critical to determining proper punishment. The more money someone has, the greater the award needed to punish those individuals for engaging in bad behavior and deterring others in the future from conducting themselves in a similar manner.

So, in other words, the judge is satisfied that enough evidence exists as to the individuals listed above for a reasonable jury to conclude that an award of punitive damages should be entered against them. That conclusion alone suggests that plenty of evidence exists to support that someone from the NFL and/or one of its teams said or did something that he shouldn’t have said or done in connection with the relocation of the Rams.

Part of the evidence includes a phone call from 2013 between Kroenke, Goodell, Mara, and Steelers owner Art Rooney (it’s unclear based on Karraker’s tweets whether Rooney is required to surrender his financial information at this point). During the conversation, Kroenke said, “I’m going to buy two parcels of land and build a stadium in L.A.,” and that he’s trying very hard to stay under the radar screen and keep it hidden. Goodell said, “We will respect your confidentiality.”

Rams COO Kevin Demoff later gave Goodell talking points regarding the land purchase for his pre-Super Bowl press conference in 2014. Here’s part of what he said, at a time when Goodell already knew that Kroenke intended to build a stadium on the land he had purchased:“Stan is a very successful developer. He has billions of dollars of projects that are going on around the country in real estate development. So I think instead of overreacting, we should make sure we do what’s necessary to continue to support the team locally as the fans have done in St. Louis. And make sure we do whatever we can to make sure that team is successful in the St. Louis market. . . . There are no plans to my knowledge of a stadium development.” (Emphasis added.)

Also, Jones admitted during his deposition in the case that he urged Kroenke to move the Rams. One day after the vote approving the move happened, the Rams signed a contract with Legends Hospitality (partially owned by Jones) to sell PSLs and luxury suites.

Karraker’s tweets have one other fascinating tidbit, in light of prior claims made by the NFL in the litigation. But since it’s sort of slow and because I’d like to keep these blurbs short, I’ll do a separate item on it a little later.

PFT

 

Bobby Wagner has become last man standing from Seahawks’ Super Bowl defenses



Michael Bennett. Earl Thomas. Cliff Avril. K.J. Wright. Richard Sherman. Kam Chancellor. Byron Maxwell.

One after another, they departed Seattle, as did other defensive players from the “Legion of Boom” era.

Unless Wright re-signs, Wagner will become the last man standing from the team’s Super Bowl defenses.

“I think as you get older – for me – I’ve always had the idea I’ve wanted to play for the Seahawks my whole career,” Wagner told Nate Davis of USA Today. “So I kind of knew at some point, as we started getting up there in years and started getting up there in age, we weren’t going to be able to play with each other for a long time.”

Wright remains unsigned and 2020 first-round pick Jordyn Brooks is penciled in as his full-time replacement. But Wagner remains hopeful that Wright still might return.

“Things get figured out. Hopefully the team makes the right decision,” Wagner said.

Wagner, 31, is a six-time All-Pro since the Seahawks drafted him in the second round in 2012. He hopes to finish his career where he started it and where he became a star.

PFT