NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Yeah I'm confused. You mention the Steelers would have needed to pull the trigger on a TE prior to the 6th round (which I agree with) but then you follow up with a comment about taking a player to fill a more pressing need. So what position should they have drafted (in the 6th round) that represents a "pressing need" if it isn't TE?

 

If the argument is they had money to burn than I have no argument. They do indeed. But by the same token the Steelers have draft picks to burn. They don't have too many roster spots up for grabs when you pencil in the five players taken in Rounds 1-4. Heck, just last year their 6th round pick got swiped off the practice squad. Is that a better option?

The reason the single year sticks out to me for the Browns LS is because it was completely unneccessary. He was scheduled to be an ERFA. It was premature and they gained little by doing it.

 

These are two completely separate points in relation to the same draft. Neither of which were made by me originally, BTW. I just understand why each was made.

point one: They knew they needed a TE, with the early departure of Green, yet chose to ignore it. I even defended that choice by pointing out the need at QB might outweigh the need at TE...however, I was responding to the question at hand. If they knew Ladarius Green wasn't in their future plans, why ignore a historically deep TE class?

point two: unconventional draft choices, with another one being, taking a LS in the 6th round, when conventionally LS is not drafted at all..Nearly every team in the NFL has filled that position, quite well I might add, using UDFA.

These are two points being made as to the questionable picks on draft day...unrelated directly, but related to the overall point.

 

For the Browns, they merely skipped the steps of ERFA..They paid a premium for one year in the form of a signing bonus and now have the player they want for the next 6 years under contract for league minimums in 2018 and 2019, with $0 cap hit after year 2017 if they cut him. There is no negative about rewarding a guy that has played his position so well over the past two years.

 

After thinking about it, I don't think the team knew that Green wasn't going to be on the roster. He was working out with the team during the OTAs, so its possible at the time of the draft Green was in the plans and the team didn't feel TE was a position of need, though if the Browns didn't jump in front of the Steelers in round 1 it would have been interesting to see if they pick would've been the same. Anyways, back to my point: those workouts were the first mandatory check ins for players. After those workouts, he began to have concussion symptoms and the team went through it last year and did not want to do it again, so cut him with a failed physical designation (*this part is an educated guess, haven't read any official reports to confirm this). If that is truly the case, the Steelers FO may be considered foolish or hopelessly optimistic for not addressing the TE position; or they have that much faith in James and Grimble. Honestly rounds 1-4 hit areas of need, and I believe all the TEs with good potential were gone by the Steelers 5th pick (not positive, going off memory at this point) which means there likely wasn't anyone they felt were better than Grimble so they moved on to other positions of need. Yes, a lot of this is based more on my opinions than reported fact, but regardless the Steelers got the consensus best LS and did not have to get in a bidding war or risk losing him to a team, like the Chiefs.

Definitely not going to argue he was the steal of the draft or anything, but there is some logic behind the pick. I'm guessing the team knew Warren was going to be released, which probably led to the team going after the player they wanted.

 

What I would like to know is...How was he participating in OTA's...AND THEN failed a physical? Aren't these players supposed to pass a physical in order to participate? Or is that just for training camp? I know in the past the Browns have had players that couldn't participate until they passed their physical AND conditioning test. I don't know if there are actual rules in place for this though. I hadn't seen any details of the concussion symptoms being the reason for the failed physical..if so, that explains a lot.

It could also be that Jesse James came in and showed them something he hasn't in the past during OTAs and would rather spend reps on some of the other unproven players at the position. That is an expensive risk while still in OTAs at a $3.5M dead cap hit.

Despite all of that, if they planned to have Green a part of the immediate future, the question begs to be asked, why would they cut him in OTAs due to a failed physical? Why not allow him time to pass said physical prior to training camp?

Regardless, they have moved on from Green and being a Browns fan, I am actually happy to see it. I haven't seen the same potential from James, so concussion or not, I think their roster is a tad weaker now than it was. It may have never made a difference, but now we know he won't.

Although, there is still a long list of veteran cuts to be made that the Steelers will most likely have their choice to sign once they happen. They could easily end up filling the position using that route.

As for a Long Snapper...I concede, if you like a player well enough to cut the long time veteran he is replacing before having a competition between them, then a 6th round pick is worth spending on him.

 

Per Adam Shefter - NFL overtime expected to be reduced today to 10 minutes from 15 minutes. "It's happening," said one league official.

 

Give me Larry Fitzgerald handing the ball to the refs over all the new jackassery we're going to get.

 

The Dallas Cowboys' pass rush could be down another player to open the season.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports defensive lineman David Irving is facing a four-game suspension for violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, according to a source. The issue stems from a supplement Irving had a marketing deal with, per Rapoport.

Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas first reported the development.
Irving is appealing the suspension, per Rapoport.

Irving came on strong down the stretch last season, morphing into the Cowboys' best pass rusher. The 23-year-old notched four sacks in 2016, including three in a two-game stretch in December.

The Cowboys added to their pass rush with first-round pick Taco Charlton, and are expected to get Demarcus Lawrence back healthy, but if Irving's suspension isn't overturned, it's a big blow for a thin group to open the season.

 

NFL relaxing touchdown celebration rules for players

The NFL is putting the fun back in football.

On Tuesday, the league announced it will relax rules on celebrations.

Bring on the fade-away jumpers, snow angles, and group dances.

In a letter to fans from Commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL said it wants to allow players "more room to have fun after they make big plays."

Goodell spoke with more than 80 current and former NFL players about relaxing the rules on celebrations.

"We know that you love the spontaneous displays of emotion that come after a spectacular touchdown," the Commissioner said in the letter. "And players have told us they want more freedom to be able to express themselves and celebrate their athletic achievements."

Examples of celebrations to be allowed under the new guidelines:
?Using the football as a prop after a touchdown
?Celebrating on the ground
?Group demonstrations

The relaxed rules aren't a free for all. Offensive demonstrations, celebrations that are prolonged and delay the game, and celebrations directed at an opponent, will still be penalized, the letter said, in order continue "sportsmanship, clean competition, and setting good examples for young athletes."

In short, three-pump twerking is still a no-go.

The decision to let players celebrate more freely is a long-awaited relief for players and fans alike. Commence the creativity.
_____________________
__________________________

Bring the 'hotdogs' !!!

 

RIP, Cortez Kennedy.

 

Cortez Kennedy has passed away at 48. I'm sorry for the bruskness of this, but I do not have details. Thoughts and prayers are with his family.

 

(NFL.com)

 

these ex-athletes are dying way too young ! 48? Jeez man! I'm 45 and can't imagine dying in 3 years. Very sad for his family, friends, colleagues and ex-teammates.

 

I agree, Cat. At 48, I would have been dead over 20 years ago.

RIP, Cortez.

 

Great players dying young and being crippled well before they should be.

 

[twitter=https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/867100303862243330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Fnfl-owners-reportedly-moves-super-bowl-55-to-tampa-super-bowl-56-to-be-held-in-l-a%2F][/twitter]

 

Not sure what it does for the other 2 years of his deal.

 

Ezekiel Elliott injures head in car crash, misses practice

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday after he suffered a head injury in a "minor car accident" on Sunday night, the team announced.

Elliott will workout off to the side of practice Wednesday as a precaution, NFL Network's Jame Slater reported.

At the moment, the head injury does not seem significant given that Elliott is present and accounted for at the team facility. Due to the hands-off nature of offseason training activities and Elliott's stellar grip on the offense, it makes sense to take all the precautions necessary. (NFL.com)

 

Myles Garrett sits out practice with undisclosed injury