NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Ben Roethlisberger has big expectations next year

Ben Roethlisberger faced a crossroads in his career two years ago, as the Steelers asked him to transition from physical marvel to cerebral quarterback.

To Roethlisberger's credit, he embraced the change, flourishing in Todd Haley's offense which allows him to make better pre-snap reads and get the ball out of his hands faster.

The result has been a historically prolific aerial attack for stretches of the past two seasons.

"I feel like I'm playing my best football," Roethlisberger said this week, via ESPN.com. "That's a big credit to the guys around me."

The Steelers boast the NFL's most dynamic wide receiver corps, with Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton stresses defenses at every level. The improvement in pass protection has gone overlooked, however, as offensive line coach Mike Munchak masterminded the lowest sack rate (1.66 per game) of Roethlisberger's career.

Roethlisberger has led the NFL in passing yards per game in each of the past two seasons. Judging by his passer rating (94.5) and TD-to-INT ratio (21:16), one might reach the conclusion that Roethlisberger was merely a mediocre quarterback in 2015.

The reality is Roethlisberger passed better than ever, relentlessly attacking downfield while leading the NFL in plays of 40-plus yards and finishing second in yards per attempt (8.4).

By December, he became a football litmus test. Anyone doubting his prowess as a top-tier quarterback wasn't watching the games.

With playmaking tailbacks Le'Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams returning to join the league's most dangerous wide receiver trio, Roethlisberger should be a trendy preseason pick for MVP honors next summer. (NFL.com's Chris Wesseling)

 

According to ProFootballTalk, the league is unlikely to change any of its overtime rules this offseason.

I still think both teams should get a possession.

 

Packers should consider kicking onside if they get it and score even with a FG its game over. If they don't big deal their defense isn't stopping anyone when it counts.

 

Randy Moss' son commits to North Carolina State

The younger Moss, an athletic four-star tight end prospect at Charlotte Mallard Creek High, chose the Wolfpack over UCLA, Texas A&M, Georgia, USC, Nebraska and Arizona State among offers from many others. Oddly, he narrowed his options to six last August, excluding Texas A&M, but subsequently made an official visit to TAMU in November and had the Aggies in his final three along with N.C. State and UCLA.

Moss (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) intends to sign with the Wolfpack on national signing day, Feb. 3, and would be eligible to play as a freshman in the fall. The elder Moss averaged more than 1,000 yards per season over a 14-year NFL career, most of it with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots, and caught 156 career touchdown passes.

 

Broncos LB Von Miller makes life hell for Tom Brady

For four straight quarters on Sunday, New England's Tom Brady spent life on the run.

Brady was trying to evade Denver's trio of pass-rushing whirlwinds -- Derek Wolfe, DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller -- who dominated the Patriots all afternoon in a 20-18 win over New England in the AFC Championship Game.

Miller was otherworldly, slashing past Patriots right tackle Marcus Cannon for a gameplan-crushing 2.5 sacks, which set a single-game playoff record for the Super Bowl-bound Broncos. Miller also set up Denver's second touchdown with an athletic interception of Brady, who threw for a pedestrian 5.5 yards per toss against a frenetic Broncos secondary that noticed Brady was feeling the heat:

In a punishing defeat, Brady absorbed a whopping 19 hits, the most on a quarterback in a single game since 2006, when Cleveland's Charlie Frye was hit 20 times by the Ravens.

With Miller rampaging off the edge, Wolfe dominated inside, piling up six solo tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and three additional hits on Brady. Ware was kept at bay early, but finished with half a takedown and seven hits on the quarterback for a Broncos club that won its 11th game of the year by seven points or fewer.


These tight wins have plenty to do with a spotty Denver offense that couldn't seal the deal in the second half, but that only magnifies the accomplishments of a Broncos defense that forced New England into six punts, two failed fourth-down conversions and a pair of turnovers.

Pundits talked all week about Brady and the Patriots replacing their anemic ground game with a rash of lightning-quick passes. That worked against the Chiefs, but not on Sunday.

Denver never flinched, digging in from the first whistle to shred a wanting New England O-line that wasn't up to the challenge, leaving Brady with plenty of ugly game tape to ponder in the lonely months to come. (NFL.com)
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It was amazing how many times his name was called...

 

It's nothing more than a negotiating point. He's not getting $25 mil, and he (and his agent) know it. You never come in with your low offer.

 

They opening a new college bar in Milledgeville...?

 

Eagles ink Zach Ertz to a 5-year, $42 million extension

The Philadelphia Eagles locked down Zach Ertz.

The team announced the tight end inked a five-year contract extension on Monday, keeping him in Philadelphia through 2021.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the extension is worth $42.5 million, with $20 million in guarantees, which makes Ertz the fourth-highest paid tight end in average and guaranteed money. Jimmy Graham ($10 million), Julius Thomas ($9.2 million) and Rob Gronkowski ($9 million) are the top three in average per year.

 

Thomas Davis breaks arm, intends to play in SB50

Thomas Davis could play in Super Bowl 50 despite suffering a broken arm in Sunday's NFC Championship Game win.

The Carolina Panthers linebacker underwent surgery early Monday morning and coach Ron Rivera told reporters that Davis could play in two weeks.

"If it all goes well, it should be something he will be able to play with," Rivera said.

 

News you cant use... "Broncos choose to wear white jerseys in Super Bowl"

Breathe easy, Broncos fans, your team won't be wearing orange this Super Bowl.

Denver, the home team in Super Bowl 50, chose to wear white threads.

"We've had Super Bowl success in our white uniforms," John Elway said, via the Associated Press.

The color choice is less about success in white than it is their 0-4 record wearing orange (losses to the Cowboys in 1977, Redskins in 1987, 49ers in 1989 and Seahawks in 2013).

The Broncos are 1-1 wearing white in Super Bowls. Denver lost in 1986 to the Giants and beat the Falcons in 1998 when Elway dawned white under center. The Broncos are also 1-0 wearing blue in the Super Bowl (1997).

With the Broncos choosing white, the Panthers will wear black unis in two weeks. In their only other Super Bowl appearance, Carolina lost wearing white jerseys.
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I dont think the uni has a damn thing to do with the game, but thats just me.

 

$20 mil guaranteed? he better become half of gronk and better than the others for that kind of coin! jeez. he's a good player when the ball is thrown to him. however that doesn't happen that often from game to game. when he's thrown too, he's great. when he's not, he's just on the field doing nothing. get him the damn ball.

 

that's silly. only the people in the jersey matter.

 

Actually if it were a normal game weather can have an effect on the jersey color. For example if you have a home game were the sun is out and the heat is nasty you were your light jerseys and force the opponent into dark jerseys.

 

good point Jean.

 

He's nowhere NEAR close to deserving to be the 4th-highest paid TE.

 

agreed! $20 mil guaranteed is insane for him.

 

Who does he think he is Jordan Reed?