NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Still looking for “right situation,” Dalvin Cook mentions Dolphins and Jets as possible destinations



When free-agent running back Dalvin Cook last mentioned his aspirations in a new team, he said he wants to win a Super Bowl.

On Thursday, he was asked to name the teams he has spoken to that could make his objective a reality, during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. He mentioned two teams.

“You know, a lot of people got me pegged going back home [to the Dolphins],” Cook said. “A lot of people got me going to the Jets. It’s all over the place right now, but what’s gonna be important for me is just going to that right situation and helping somebody turn the page. I want to go and be the piece that can just help somebody win and get over the hump and whatever that situation comes with, if it comes with me taking less reps, but me being in the perfect situation to hold up that trophy, I don’t mind. I just wanna go somewhere I can just get the ball and just help somebody win, and turn the next page.”

He was asked specifically about the Miami roster and the other pieces they have on offense.

“Yeah, it’s an exciting situation to go into when you got guys that can stretch the field on the outside,” Cook said. I think that defense is pretty solid to me. Tua [Tagovailoa], when he’s out on the field, they got a winning a record. Like you said, as a running back you look for a certain scheme and I know the scheme that I’m good in, and that’s outside zone, and that’s what the Miami Dolphins run. So it’s like, you know, it’d be a perfect fit. And the roster, like you said, speaks for itself.”

Cook has spoken on at least three occasions since become a free agent. He doesn’t seem to be close to making a decision.

But he has time. Camps don’t open until late July. In fact, given the injury rate at the position, he could actually end up getting a better deal if he waits for someone to get injured — and for a team to become desperate.

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Travis Kelce to Ja’Marr Chase: Don’t you ever disrespect Patrick Mahomes



The Chiefs and Bengals have gone back and forth on the field the past two seasons, quickly becoming one of the league’s best rivalries. They now are going back and forth off the field, adding fuel to their rivalry.

It started innocently enough when Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow called Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes the best quarterback in the league. Burrow added he doesn’t “think there’s any argument right now.”

Apparently there is.

Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase backed his quarterback as the best in the league but added “Pat who?” when told that Burrow had tabbed Mahomes. Chase intended it tongue in cheek, but Mahomes and the Chiefs took offense.

After the Chiefs’ Super Bowl ring ceremony last week, Mahomes tweeted a photo of himself wearing his two Super Bowl rings with the declaration: “That’s who.”

During their “New Heights” podcast this week, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce, discussed the beef.

“I thought it was a little bold,” Travis Kelce said, via Charles Goldman of USA Today. “[Mahomes is] a two-time league MVP, two-time Super Bowl MVP. To say ‘Pat who’ is like. . .”

“It’s a little disrespectful,” Jason Kelce piped in. “Pat didn’t like it.”

Jason Kelce went on to describe Mahomes’ tweet directed at Chase.

“It is what it is, dog,” Travis Kelce said. “Who doesn’t love some good locker room banter, man? Shoutout to Ja’Marr Chase for holding it down for his QB, but don’t you ever disrespect Pat Mahomes now. If you want to talk your shit, talk your shit, pimp. Just better back it up.”

It will be awhile before the two teams play: They are scheduled for a Dec. 31 game in Kansas City. But it surely isn’t enough time for the trash talk between the two teams to be forgotten.

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Love the smack talk and they have there QB's back

 

That if one strange looking helmet and this represents the JETS?

 

Its actually a Mexican artist rendition I found on the web... he did all the NFL teams.

 

James Cook feels he’s “obviously RB1” for the Bills entering 2023



We may not yet know where Dalvin Cook is playing in 2023. But his younger brother, James, has big plans for the upcoming season.

In a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Bills running back James Cook replied, “Obviously RB1” when asked what his role would be this year.

“[J]ust come in and do what I do. Change the game with my versatility,” Cook said, via Ryan Talbot of NYUp.com. “Catching the ball out of the backfield. Pass blocking. Just try to do what I can do to help the team win games and ultimately win the Super Bowl.

“I’m ready to work. This is a big step and a goal that I wanted to accomplish in the NFL. Just do what I can do to help the team win games.”

Buffalo selected Cook in the second round of last year’s draft. He was third on the team with 507 rushing yards last year, behind Devin Singletary and quarterback Josh Allen. But Singletary is now with the Texans and the Bills have signaled throughout the offseason that they’d like Allen to run a little less — or at least take fewer risks when running it.

That should open up more opportunities for Cook — though Buffalo also has Latavius Murray, Nyheim Hines, Damien Harris, and Jordan Mims on its roster.

“My goal is to be an All-Pro or Pro Bowler like my brother,” Cook said. “Hopefully be in the Pro Bowl with him one day.”

We’ll see if Cook can take the reins as Buffalo’s top back and how he produces in the fall.

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It ĵust make me say WTF are they going to change ĥelments and uni like the Oregon Ducks? it might ɓe a Mexican rendition but it looks strange to me

 

I just watched a special series about the life of Bill Walton. Very talented but injury plagued NBA star. He attended over 1000 Grateful Dead concerts. I was just wondering how many were with Aaron Rogers?

 

Laughing at that it's Aaron Rodgers so ŵho the hell knows

 

Three reasons the Bengals will win the AFC North



The AFC North may be the most competitive division in the NFL in 2023 with every team seemingly getting better this offseason. Here are three reasons the Bengals will take the North.

Joe Burrow
What hasn't been already said about Joe Cool? He has turned Cincinnati's franchise around, making back-to-back AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance over the past two seasons. Burrow has also led the Bengals to two straight AFC North titles and there aren't any apparent reasons that he won't be able to repeat that success in 2023.

Skill-wise, Burrow is probably the second-best quarterback to Patrick Mahomes right now. That said, Burrow did start 3-0 vs. Mahomes to start his career, along with posting a better completion percentage (69.4 percent) and passer rating (104.5) than him the past two years. However, Burrow has his sights on overtaking Mahomes if given the chance.

"I don't think there's any argument right now. It's Patrick [Mahomes] until someone has a better year than he's had. He's the one to knock off," Burrow says.

Chase, Higgins and Boyd
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have a strong case for being the best wide receiver trio in the NFL and an even stronger argument as the best in the North. They combined for 2,837 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2022 and will likely only continue to get better with Burrow.


Cincinnati may not only be the best offense in the division, but they might also top the entire league in 2023. This is largely to do with these three players. Chase missed five games last season with a hip injury but still tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (nine) in the NFL. If not for Chase, Higgins would probably be a WR1 on a large percentage of teams.

A complete O-line
The Bengals have been rebuilding their offensive line for a couple of seasons now and it might finally be complete after signing left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency. The biggest question mark on the O-line remains at right tackle, but Cincinnati has a couple of options.

La'el Collins, who tore his ACL late in the season, will be the starter if healthy but his timeline to return is still unknown. Jonah Williams, who requested a trade from the team following the Brown Jr. signing, has experience playing on both sides and has since welcomed the thought of playing for the Bengals in 2023.

"There's 64 tackles spots in the league," Williams said. "To have any of them is a crazy amazing opportunity. And I'm super grateful, you know, for the chance. So, you know, the plan is to play me at right tackle."

YARDBARKER

 

I can think of 3 reasons why it might be difficult for the Bengals...

Steelers, Browns and the Ravens.

 

Three reasons the Ravens will win the AFC North



The AFC North may be the most competitive division in the NFL in 2023 with every team seemingly getting better this offseason. Here are three reasons the Ravens will take the North.

A happy Lamar Jackson
For a large part of the offseason, many believed Jackson had played his last snap in Baltimore. But the Ravens finally put their money where their mouth is and made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. It's a lot to invest in a player who has yet to make it past the Divisional round of the playoffs, but the 2019 NFL MVP is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Jackson also missed five regular-season games along with the team's Wild Card matchup, which it lost 24-17 to the Bengals. If he had played, things may have turned out differently. Jackson can rewrite his script in 2023.

Weapons upon weapons
Baltimore signed wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor in free agency as well as drafting WR Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They join an offense that already includes All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews, former first-round pick WR Rashod Bateman and RB J.K. Dobbins.

It would be difficult to argue that Jackson's 2023 supporting cast isn't the best he's had in his career, and he knows it. Jackson said he wants to "throw for 6,000" yards this season, which would destroy Peyton Manning's record of 5,477 yards. Given the people he's throwing to, it might not be as far-fetched as it seems


Young defense
The Ravens defense has a ton of upside heading into 2023. Safety Kyle Hamilton and edge rusher David Ojabo could take massive leaps in year two after showing promise in 2022. Hamilton had 62 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble as a rookie. Ojabo, who tore his ACL during his Pro Day, only played in two games to end the season but had a strip sack in his NFL debut.

Along with both second-year players, Baltimore also has LB Patrick Queen (23), edge rusher Odafe Oweh (24), LB Roquan Smith (26), safety Marcus Williams (26) and CB Marlon Humphrey (26) as young, key pieces to its defense.

YARDBARKER

 

Three reasons the Steelers will win the AFC North



The AFC North may be the most competitive division in the NFL in 2023 with every team seemingly getting better this offseason. Here are three reasons the Steelers will take the North.

Year two of Pickett and Pickens
Pickett and Pickens seem to be a duo poised for a big leap in 2023. Following Pittsburgh's bye, Pickett threw for 1,442 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception. He was also 6-2 down the stretch and became the first rookie in NFL history to have a game-winning TD pass in the final minute in back-to-back games.

Pickens may have even bigger expectations than Pickett in 2023 after hauling in 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. The 22-year-old showed tremendous body control with several acrobatic catches like this one against the Browns in Week 3.



Rebuilt offensive line
The Steelers finally put an emphasis on strengthening their trenches this offseason and it will likely pay off. Pittsburgh not only spent its first-round pick on left tackle Broderick Jones, but the team traded up to get him. The 6-foot-5, 311-pound lineman has major upside and could develop into Pickett's blindside blocker for years to come.


However, the Steelers didn't stop there. They also signed guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency to pair with guard James Daniel on the interior. Pittsburgh's O-line isn't complete quite yet, but with veterans Mason Cole and Chukwuma Okorafor are viable options for now.

A healthy T.J. Watt
Watt played in just 10 games during the 2022 season after tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 1. His lack of presence was continually felt when not on the field and he was never fully healthy following his return either. If the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year can stay healthy, the Steelers defense will be one to be feared in 2023.

This is especially true after LB Alex Highsmith broke onto the scene with 14.5 sacks and a league-leading five forced fumbles last season. And that is said without even mentioning DT Cameron Heyward, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and Pittsburgh's new free-agent acquisition of CB Patrick Peterson.

YARDBARKER

 

Three reasons the Browns will win the AFC North



The AFC North may be the most competitive division in the NFL in 2023 with every team seemingly getting better this offseason. Here are three reasons the Browns will take the North.

A full offseason for DeShaun Watson
Last offseason was a loud one for those in Cleveland after the team made a blockbuster trade for Watson and gave him an unprecedented four-year, $156 million fully guaranteed contract. Before Week 13 of last season, Watson hadn't played since 2020 and it showed. Watson was rusty in his return, throwing for 1,102 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions along with going 3-3 down the stretch.

Now with a full offseason, Watson can knock off the rest of his rust and get back to his 2020 form when he led the league is passing yards (4,823). The Browns even traded the Jets for WR Elijah Moore this offseason to help him find his footing once again. If Watson isn't better in 2023, Cleveland is in trouble.

Nick Chubb
Chubb is one of the best running backs, if not the best, in the NFL. The 27-year-old has had 1,000+ rushing yards every season of his five-year career except his rookie season, when he fell just four yards shy. With still one of the better offensive lines in the league, the Browns should lean on Chubb early and often in 2023.

With 6,341 career rushing yards, Chubb is also entering this season with a little extra motivation. He has the opportunity to move into second place on the franchise's all-time rushing yards list. Chubb is just 200 yards away from surpassing Mike Pruitt (6,540) for third and 934 yards from surpassing Leroy Kelly (7,274) for second.


Myles Garrett and (finally) company
It's no secret Garrett is one of the best defensive players in the NFL as he is coming off back-to-back 16 sack seasons. However, for the longest time, Garrett was the only player that was truly feared on Cleveland's defense. In 2022, no player outside of Garrett eclipsed three sacks.

That finally changed this offseason. The Browns signed DT Dalvin Tomlinson and DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in free agency and traded for DE Za'Darius Smith. With the added reinforcements, Garrett will likely see fewer double teams, giving him and others more opportunities to create splash plays, which may just lead to his first Defensive Player of the Year honors.

YARDBARKER

 

This concludes todays look at the best Division in the NFL this season. We now return you to your mediocre Divisions.

 

Details of latest Tyreek Hill incident remain murky



There are at least two versions of what transpired on Sunday at the Haulover Park Marina dock in Miami between Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and a man who was allegedly hit in the head by Hill. One appears in the police report. Another appears in a new item from Charles Rabin of the Miami Herald.

The latter is slightly more interesting.

Per Rabin, the incident happened after Hill wanted to fish for tarpon from the dock. They’re prevalent in the shallow waters, due to scraps thrown overboard by the boats. Hill was told to stop fishing from the dock.

Words were exchanged. And then Hill allegedly struck one of the men telling him to stop fishing.

The police report, as noted by Rabin, doesn’t mention tarpon fishing. The police report suggests the argument began when two women were on a boat at the marina without permission.

According to Rabin’s report, police were not called to the dock at the time. The alleged victim reported the incident on Monday.

Whatever happened, the issue definitely is not over from the perspective of law enforcement.

“The Miami-Dade Police indicated to the[ [State Attorney’s Office] that they will be forwarding the information to our office for further review,” state attorney spokesman Ed Griffith told Rabin.

The NFL has not issued a comment on the matter. Under the terms of the Personal Conduct Policy, the league should be investigating. If the alleged victim wishes to press charges, he presumably would be willing to cooperate with the NFL’s review of the situation. And if surveillance footage exists (the police report says it does), the NFL would be wise to track it down — because if the NFL doesn’t, TMZ inevitably will.

And remember this: Hill’s history could be used to enhance any penalties applicable to the latest incident. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to charges arising from the choking and punching of his then-pregnant girlfriend.

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Melvin Gordon still wants to play, but knows market is tough for running backs in 2023

Add Melvin Gordon to the list of running backs waiting out the market and hoping for a break.

Gordon remains unemployed as the calendar nears July, and unlike the trio of other notable running backs awaiting an opportunity, one might not arrive at the veteran's door. The 30-year-old spent the last three seasons in Denver but appeared in just 10 games in 2022, rushing 90 times for 318 yards and two touchdowns. He joined Kansas City's practice squad late in the 2022 season and received his first Super Bowl ring, despite not having played a down in a game for the team.

Gordon crossed the dreaded 30-year-old mark in April and might not have many -- if any -- suitors in 2023. Still, though, Gordon wants to give it another go, if a team will have him.

"I still want to play. I still got some tread left on the tires," Gordon said during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show. "(Chiefs) coach (Andy) Reid kind of sat me down and he told me, 'You still can play.' It's about the right situation.

"It's so tough for running backs right now, man. You have a lot of running backs that's out there and we just don't get no love. It's literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks. I'm just staying ready because I know what I can do. I know once I get in camp or any camp, I can turn some heads. I know what I need to do. I know my mistakes that I've made and you have to be able to correct them, but I'm ready to go.

"I'm just staying ready -- it's hard, though. It's hard training knowing that you're not gonna be on a team. It's tough mentally. But I talked to some players that went through it and I'm just taking their advice, being a sponge, and it kind of helps you get through it."

NFL.com
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One thing that is intriguing to me is the fact not one on these free agent RB's has said he would take a pay cut. When you've already made millions and still want to play and potentially make more, why not sign for $6M instead of $10M?

These RB's are going to form their own union.

 

George Kittle: Fun to be on a team with too many mouths to feed



The primary offensive focus of the offseason for the 49ers has been on the quarterback position because Brock Purdy‘s elbow injury has created uncertainty about who will be under center in Week One of the regular season, but any quarterback for the team will be helped out by the overall state of the offense.

Having running back Christian McCaffrey in the lineup with the likes of tight end George Kittle and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk means that there are a lot of places to go with the ball on a given play. That makes life easier for a quarterback, but it could make some players bristle about not being the No. 1 target offensively.

That’s not going to be an issue for Kittle.

“If I have one catch a game, I know my fantasy football coach would be really mad at me for that, but it is what it is,” Kittle said, via the team’s website. “As long as we’re winning games and we’re feeding the right guys the ball – I’m never going to get mad if Christian McCaffrey has 20 carries and 10 catches for 300 total yards, I’ll never be upset about that because he’s such a talented football player. It’s really fun to be on a team that does have a problem of too many mouths to feed, because coach Shanahan does such a great job of scheming everybody into getting certain plays and it’s just really fun to be a part of an offense that has so much talent on it.”

The 49ers have gone to the last two NFC title games and they made it to Super Bowl LIV, so their approach has paid off on the field and that makes it much easier to sell players on giving up individual glory for team success. The goal this season will be to finish the job and take home the team’s first Super Bowl win in two decades.

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Davante Adams assault case is closed



Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is no longer facing misdemeanor assault charges for shoving a cameraman in Kansas City after a game last season.

A prosecutor dismissed the charge, and the Kansas City municipal court confirmed on Friday that it is now considered a closed confidential case under Missouri law, according to the Kansas City Star.

The cameraman, Park Zebley, also filed a civil suit against Adams. That case is still listed as pending in the Missouri court system.

As Adams was walking off the field following the Raiders’ loss to the Chiefs on October 10, he shoved Zebley to the ground. Zebley said he suffered a concussion.

Adams issued an apology after the incident and acknowledged he was in the wrong.

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