NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I understand that line of thinking and Im not trying to be dogmatic in my opinion, but Im thinking there is alternatives to the guardian-cap that just might resemble an actual NFL helmet. I am a huge fan of NFL helmets from the classics to the present and technological advances are being made even today where there is a choice of about 8 different modern helmets that are available for players to wear... my main 'beef' is the pillowheaded look and its just not cool. Where do we draw the line? If you risk a concussion and it scares you, dont play the game. There is always risk involved in this violent sport, thats nothing new, but to wear something so hideous that reduces practice field results of concussions by just 20% isnt flying with me

Im old school on this matter, not helmetless old school, but in the sense we all know the game is violent and dangerous and these concussions are nothing new. Its also my opinion that the NFL is going to try to pull rabbits out of their hats and experiment all types of things before they wake up and realize, this isnt going to work and the game is what it is. Put technologies into helmets that look like part of the uniforms or resemble an actual classic NFL style helmet, not pillowheaded things.

Everybody on the face of this Earth knows football is dangerous and this goes back to gladiator times. Lets stop trying to change the game and just educate the players and others involved, proper techniques, tweak the NFL helmets we all know and love, and just move forward.

Playing the game is a choice, so accept it at face value... violent and dangerous as it is.

 

According to ESPN.com, the Raiders have agreed to terms with receiver Michael Gallup. It’s a one-year, $3 million deal.

The Cowboys cut Gallup in March. He had 34 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns in 2023.

The Cowboys signed him to a five-year, $51 million contract in 2022. After a pair of disappointing seasons, the Cowboys moved on.

The depth chart in Las Vegas is led by Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. They drafted no receivers last week.

 

Report: Bengals’ offer to Tee Higgins “never approached” $20 million a year

Tee Higgins wants a long-term deal or a trade. Neither seems likely.

Instead, as the Bengals’ receiver conceded two weeks ago, he’s likely to play in Cincinnati this season on the franchise tag. He then would become a free agent in 2025.

Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports the Bengals’ offer to Higgins “never approached” the $20 million per year range. The offer wasn’t enough close enough to get Higgins’ representation to discuss guaranteed money, per Conway, so the sides haven’t negotiated in more than a year.

Higgins is scheduled to make $21.8 million on the one-year, fully guaranteed franchise tag. That should be the starting point in negotiations.

Eighteen receivers make more than $20 million a season.

Higgins wants something in the range of what the Colts gave receiver Michael Pittman, what the Commanders gave Terry McLaurin and what the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel, according to Conway. Pittman recently signed a three-year, $70 million deal, with an annual average of $23.33 million. McLaurin makes $23.2 million a year and Samuel mads $23.85 million a season.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor recently said the team is excited for Higgins to play for them this season.

“We’re excited for Tee to have a great year for us,” Taylor said. “We think he’s our best chance to help us win a Super Bowl. I’ve enjoyed working with Tee the last four years. I expect this year to be no different.”

Higgins, 25, played 12 games last season, missing four games with a fractured rib and then Week 18 with a hamstring issue. He caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns, all career lows.

Higgins had 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 and has 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in his four seasons in Cincinnati, which made him a second-round pick in 2020.

PFT

 

Tight end Kyle Pitts is set for a fifth season with the Falcons.

Field Yates of ESPN reports that the Falcons are picking up their option on Pitts’ rookie contract for the 2025 season. The fully guaranteed option comes with a salary of $10.878 million for the fourth overall pick of the 2021 draft.

Pitts made the Pro Bowl after catching 68 passes for 1,026 yards and a touchdown. Pitts was the second tight end in NFL history to pick up 1,000 yards as a rookie, but a knee injury limited him to 10 games during his second season.

Pitts returned to catch 53 passes for 667 yards and three touchdowns while playing in every game. Monday’s call to pick up the option suggests the Falcons think he has a chance to improve on those numbers in new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s offense.

 

They drafted no WIDE receivers last week.. They fail to mention they now have two pass catching TEs in Michael Mayer and newly drafted Brock Bowers. This offense is starting to look like the Tom Brady offenses of New England heyday.

 

The Browns are keeping one of their key defensive backs around for at least another season.

According to multiple reports, Cleveland has exercised the fifth-year option on cornerback Greg Newsome’s rookie deal.

Newsome is now set to make $13.3 million guaranteed in 2025.

The No. 26 overall pick of the 2021 draft, Newsome has appeared in 41 games with 39 starts over his first three seasons. In 2023, he ended the year with 14 passes defensed, two interceptions, four tackles for loss, and a half-sack.

 

Wide receiver Zay Jones is the odd man out in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars announced on Tuesday that they released Jones and kicker Joey Slye.

Both releases come after the Jags found replacements in the draft last week.

There was chatter early this offseason that Jones could be out in Jacksonville, but those talks died down after Calvin Ridley departed for Tennessee. However, following the Jags' use of a first-round pick on rookie Brian Thomas Jr., Jones found himself on the chopping block.

in part/NFL.com

 

I forgot to mention, this extension makes Brown the highest paid receiver in the NFL.

Que, Kwesi and Jefferson to get it done.

 

The comparison is people said wearing helmets sissified hockey.

If the guardian helps prevent concussions then players who use it ate not sissies nor does it sissify the sport. If it had arrived sooner perhaps we could get 5 more years of Luke Kuechly. Which is a positive thing.

Now if you want to argue how the data is inconclusive because it hasn't been used in regular season games then yes there is a point to be made. However the only way to get data is to use them in regular season games which they will now do.


Well said Jean...........it was nice to talk about Hockey on a Football Web Site....\+/...BEER

 

My guess is, it won't be adopted quickly, however.. I could see one

Spoiler: Tua Tagovailoa

prominent player

that takes to it immediately.

 

You get the spoiler messages reversed?

 

haha, yes

 

Steelers decline Najee Harris’ 2025 option

Thursday is the deadline for teams to pick up their fifth-year options on contracts for 2021 first-round picks and most decisions were made known in recent days, but the Steelers’ call on running back Najee Harris remained unknown into Thursday afternoon.

According to multiple reports, that decision is now in. The Steelers have declined to exercise their option, which means Harris, who was the 24th pick of the draft, will be on track for free agency after the season.

Picking up the option would have guaranteed Harris’ salary of $6.79 million for next year.

Harris has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons with Pittsburgh and he’s scored 28 touchdowns while playing in every game, but Jaylen Warren was more explosive last season and the team clearly doesn’t think it needs to guarantee Harris’s salary for 2025 until they see how the 2024 season plays out.

PFT

 

I feel like I normally have my finger on the pulse of the Steelers but this shocks me.

 

I'll I can figure is the money. They must think the 'dime a dozen' RB's are just going to appear from nowhere and play cheaper. RB's get no respect and its spreading.

 

Honestly, FA this year was pro-RB.

 

They are just replacing RBs with committees they get in the draft's later rounds. They aren't wrong... I still haven't figured out why teams keep throwing money at mediocre QBs to keep up with the Jones's. If you don't have an opportunity for a high probability improvement at QB, be the team that starts the new old trend of winning with the best defense, best offensive line and most talented RB.

Teams are so enamored with points these days, mediocre talent QBs are being drafted, taken in free agency or traded at an alarming rate that the league is becoming more ordinary.

Maybe take a look at an offensive line made up almost entirely of run blocking specialists and have a second tier of run blocking specialists. The defenses today aren't built to go an entire game in the trenches. Have two overly capable run blocking lines and swap them out every other series. Have a RB that swaps out with that line. Run a two back set with a guy that can catch short passes. I think the 3 and out issues we have in today's game, with offenses that have lackluster QBs might go away.

It's an old strategy for sure, but with EVERY team building their defense to stop the pass, it would probably work.

 

It’s as simple as this. You can draft a RB in rounds 2-3 and get good enough production to balance the offense. Then once his contract is up in 4 years; you repeat it with a new, fresh talent.

The odds the RB plays through the end of a second contract, let alone with better production at 3-5x the value of his rookie deal is very slim.

 

Beckham could have made more money elsewhere, but he preferred the Dolphins.

 

I regard to Najee, maybe the Steelers are just gambling with him, a wait and see what he does this year. If he runs for a 1000 again, they might change their minds, but then some other team might give him more or he (Najee) just might want out of Pittsburgh.