NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Saints sign veteran defender Tony McDaniel

The New Orleans Saints still need all sorts of help on defense.

On Thursday, they addressed that need in the form of veteran defensive tackle Tony McDaniel.

McDaniel, 32, spent last season with the Seahawks -- his second stint in Seattle -- after runs with the Buccaneers, Dolphins and Jacksonville.

It's fair to wonder if the signing could have anything to do with the status of Saints interior defender Nick Fairley, who is still waiting for a third opinion on his heart condition.

The Saints also have last year's first-rounder, Sheldon Rankins, at the position along with David Onyemata and Tyeler Davison. If he still has any gas in the tank, McDaniels brings trustworthy depth for a defense that has faltered for years.

Most remember McDaniels as a core piece of that dominant 2013 Seahawks club that put a hurt on Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. This New Orleans defense is a million miles away from that unit, but McDaniels is the latest addition to help turn the tide.

 

I can honestly see Wentz stepping it up this year and finishing at 10-6. Unfortunately, 4 of those 6 will be to the Cowboys and the Giants. IF (and this is a bit IF) they make the playoffs, it will be because of a Wildcard tie breaker.

1. Cowboys 12-4
2. Giants 11-5
3. Eagles 10-6
4. Redskins 8-8 (maybe)

 

Gid - yeah and he had you, me and Axe as WRs! Come on. And he lost Pro-Bowler Lane Johnson for 10 games. Not really fair there to not say he had a decent rookie campaign with what he had on he field and a new HC too last year. It's not like he was Tim Couch or Akili Smith out there ! He got valuable playing experience too. Now he's a lot more seasoned.

Add Jeffery, Smith, Blount, and Johnson back for a full season and even with a very difficult schedule, i see 10 wins.

 

G-men with 11 wins...man that's bold!

 

So was the Iggles with 10.

 

touche !

 

Giants should be in position to challenge for the division title. The Cowboys are a bolder pick than the Giants.

 

The biggest bust in the last five years and one of the NFL's worst offensive linemen gets shipped to the Lions for a sixth-round pick.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...obinson-traded-detroit-lions-los-angeles-rams

 

The Lions also signed Cyrus Kuandjio (I know I didn't spell that correctly), formerly of Buffalo. They're hoping that one of two athletic busts ends up having a spark. As a Bears fan, I hope they're both well-oiled turnstiles.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/j...is-release-shows-cutthroat-nature-of-the-nfl/

Maclin found out he was being released by KC by a voicemail left on his cell phone. wow.

 

Maclin is a better man than the KC brass. If this story is true, Maclin didn't even say one bad thing about KC... I would have handled it differently, I'm sure.

$10M cap savings isn't the answer either. They must have something against Maclin.
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Is Andy Reid and Dorsey behind all this? If so, they are completely cold blooded.

 

Or maybe Maclin is just a hard guy to get a hold of.

 

Floyd due back in court following flagged alcohol tests

Michael Floyd potentially is in more hot water.

TMZ first reported Friday that the Minnesota Vikings receiver tested positive for alcohol this week. Floyd is on house arrest and prohibited from consuming alcohol as part of his sentence for DUI, stemming from an arrest in Arizona in December.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Floyd is due back in Scottsdale court on June 26 to explain the flagged tests, according to the court.

Floyd is required to undergo alcohol testing and is forbidden from consuming alcohol or missing tests per the terms of his probation. At the time of his event on June 11, Floyd had served 90 of the 96 required days on house arrest, Rapoport added, per a source directly informed of Floyd's situation, and samples containing alcohol were reported in addition to a missed test.

Each test took place between 5:30 a.m. and 6:33 a.m. on June 11, per Rapoport. The highest blood alcohol level recorded was .055, Rapoport added, the lowest was .044. Floyd then missed the final test at 6:33 a.m. local time. when court officials contacted Floyd, per Rapoport. Floyd stated he had drank Kombucha tea, which explains why the sample contained alcohol.

Floyd, however, adamantly denies any wrongdoing, telling the St. Paul Pioneer Press, "Totally false. The whole thing is false. You can't believe everything TMZ says."

The Vikings released a statement on Floyd's situation:

"We are aware of the situation involving Michael Floyd and are looking into the matter," the statement read. "We are still gathering facts and will withhold any further comment at this time."

The Cardinals cut Floyd after his December arrest. He was claimed by the New England Patriots and appeared in three games. Floyd signed a one-year contract with the Vikings in May. (NFL.com)

 

Saints' Terron Armstead out 4-6 months after surgery

The New Orleans Saints' offense got some brutally bad news following minicamp.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that left tackle Terron Armstead is scheduled for surgery on Monday to repair a torn labrum. Per Rapoport, Armstead suffered the injury on Wednesday and had tests on Thursday that confirmed a torn labrum, per sources informed of the situation.

The timetable for Armstead's rehab is four to six months, which puts his potential return between late October and December.
The news is a crushing blow for a Saints offensive line that already saw Max Unger undergo foot surgery this offseason.

Armstead, a promising young left tackle who has grown into the position since being drafted in the third round out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2013, signed a five-year, $65.25 million contract extension last offseason. The 25-year-old missed nine games in 2016 due to injury. (NFL.com)

 

Eric Decker agrees to a one year contract with the Titans.

 

Supreme Court ruling on trademarks expected to help Redskins

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday struck down part of a law that bans offensive trademarks in a ruling that is expected to help the Washington Redskins in their legal fight over the team name.

The justices ruled that the 71-year-old trademark law barring disparaging terms infringes free speech rights.

The ruling is a victory for the Asian-American rock band called the Slants, but the case was closely watched for the impact it would have on the separate dispute involving the Washington football team.

Slants founder Simon Tam tried to trademark the band name in 2011, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the request on the ground that it disparages Asians. A federal appeals court in Washington later said the law barring offensive trademarks is unconstitutional.

The Redskins made similar arguments after the trademark office ruled in 2014 that the name offends American Indians and canceled the team's trademark. A federal appeals court in Richmond put the team's case on hold while waiting for the Supreme Court to rule in the Slants case.

In his opinion for the court, Justice Samuel Alito rejected arguments that trademarks are government speech, not private speech. Alito also said trademarks are not immune from First Amendment protection as part of a government program or subsidy.
Tam insisted he was not trying to be offensive, but wanted to transform a derisive term into a statement of pride. The Redskins also contend their name honors American Indians, but the team has faced decades of legal challenges from Indian groups that say the name is racist.

Despite intense public pressure to change the name, Redskins owner Dan Snyder has refused, saying it "represents honor, respect and pride." (in part from, NFL.com)

 

Falcons win 11 games. And the Superbowl. This is our year. The rest of you just watch and weep.