NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Sadly this group of Steelers likes to talk.

 

I was very surprised by the timing and the things said. Steelersking makes a great point... should have took the high road and wait till after Playoff business is conducted to make statements regarding the future. Maybe bell was scripted too, maybe by his agent? I don't know. Just seemed very odd with the timing of the whole thing.

 

Le’Veon Bell says he’s not thinking about next year

On the same day running back Le'Veon Bell said he may sit out 2018 or retire from football altogether if he’s tagged again by the Steelers, Bell has quickly changed his tune.

“I’m trying to win a super bowl,” Bell said on Twitter. “I can care less about what happens after this season…my biggest thing I’m focused on is this team I’m on right now, playing for/with my brothers, & bringing back a 7th ring! what happens next year is irrelevant to my goals.”


That’s what he should have said when asked about what may happen if he’s tagged again. It’s better that he said it late than never at all, as it relates to the potential creation of distractions.

Still, Bell’s comments raises a real question about the leverage that a franchise-tagged player has once the postseason rolls around. I’m studying the CBA and talking to people who know more about the rules than I do (it’s a very low bar), and we’ll explain tomorrow or Saturday the significant power that a tagged player may have when the playoffs arrive. (PFT)
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That's more like it...

 

Steve Young says NO...

Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Jon Gruden on Monday Night Football, but he says he’s not interested.

Young, who works at ESPN in a studio role, says there have been talks from time to time about him working in the booth. But he says he isn’t interested because it’s too big a time commitment when he has a wife and four children.

“I cannot take a job where you disappear for four days a week for five months,” Young said on KNBR, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “If I could do it from my backyard, sure, I’d do it.”

Young does travel for his current ESPN job, but not as much as he would have to if he worked in the booth each Monday night. He says he’s at his travel limit, so if ESPN wants him in the booth, they’re out of luck.
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I bet they hire a woman. I was just getting used to Chucky too.

 

Norv Turner agrees in principle to be Panthers' OC

Norv Turner is returning to the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.

The veteran coach has agreed in principle with the Panthers to become their new offensive coordinator, NFL Network's Tiffany Blackmon reported Thursday. Turner takes over for Mike Shula, who was fired Tuesday.

Turner, who interviewed with the team Thursday, was considered among the top candidates to join Ron Rivera's coaching staff.

The 65-year-old returns to the coaching ranks for the first time since his stunning decision in November 2016 to step down as offensive coordinator of the then first-place Minnesota Vikings. Prior to walking away from the Vikings, Turner had served as an NFL head coach or coordinator since 1991. (NFL.com)

 

I'm shocked he's only 25. wow.

 

Buffalo Bills...

The Bills will be on the hunt for a new quarterback this offseason, but they’ll be hiring a new offensive coordinator first.

The team announced on Friday that they have fired offensive coordinator Rick Dennison. The move comes less than a week after the Bills failed to score a touchdown in their 10-3 Wild Card loss to the Jaguars.

 

Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said this week that he expects to play a reduced role in the team’s defense during the 2018 season and he won’t wait around for that role to grow even smaller in 2019.

Davis told Brooke Cersosimo of NFL Media that 2018 will be his final season as an NFL player.

Davis joined the Panthers as a first-round pick in 2005 and made one start as a rookie before moving up the depth chart in his second year. He’s started all but three games that he’s played for Carolina since the start of the 2006 season, but missed all but nine games from 2009-2011 because he tore his ACL three times.

He returned to play in strong form, making second team All-Pro in 2013 and the first team in 2015. He was also named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2014 in recognition of his off-field work.

 

The question is do the Panthers speed it up by cutting him and saving almost $6M? Do they say he can have his final year but only if he resigns after being cut? Is Davis saying this to pressure the Panthers from not cutting him?

 

Pittsburgh Steelers...

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to be a game-time decision, a source told PFT, as Brown’s calf injury remains an issue.

The Steelers listed Brown as questionable in their Friday status report, though coach Mike Tomlin said he didn’t “have a lot of reservations about [Brown] from a physical health standpoint.”

Brown injured his calf on the 21st offensive snap against the Patriots on December 17. He missed the past two games.

He was a full participant in practices Wednesday and Thursday before not practicing Friday after being sent home with an illness.

The Steelers need Brown against the Jaguars’ stout defense. He caught 10 passes for 157 yards against them in Week 5, although Jacksonville won 30-9.
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He will play... even on 1 leg, I would guess.

 

Reuben Foster was arrested in Alabama for possession of marijuana. He was already in the substance abuse program thanks to his diluted samples at the combine. It is unknown if he was cleared or not. If he wasn't then he is at least in Stage 2 and he will face a 4-game suspension.

 

NFL playoffs: Storylines to watch in divisional round...

5. Let’s start on Saturday, and with the No. 1 seed in the NFC that no one seems to think is really No. 1-seed quality, the Philadelphia Eagles. And the reason why so many feel that way is simple. Carson Wentz is out and Nick Foles is in. So we’ve got how Foles plays against a fast-improving Falcons defense that slammed the brakes on the Rams last weekend. Foles was good in his first start, four weeks ago, and hasn’t been since.

4. Let’s stay with quarterbacks and turn our focus to Marcus Mariota, who showed his ability to take over late in the Titans’ win at Arrowhead. The challenge gets tougher this week with a trip to Foxboro. Mariota was uneven for much of his playoff debut last week, but if Tennessee’s going to have a chance, Mariota is going to have to flash some of that playmaking ability to loosen up a Patriots defense that’ll be geared up to stop Derrick Henry.

3. Can a playmaking Jacksonville defense take over again at Heinz Field? The Jags’ performance in October was their D’s coming-out party—their fearsome front terrorized Ben Roethlisberger, which led to Roethlisberger throwing five picks. Two of those were returned for touchdowns, which meant that the Jags’ defense outscored the Pittsburgh offense in a 30-9 win. And based on how the Jaguars’ offense played last week, it may take a similar type of effort for Jacksonville to advance. Also, Antonio Brown’s health should play into how that plays out.

2. The matchup of the weekend: Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara and Mike Thomas taking on a fearsome Minnesota defense. Four months ago, before any of us knew how good the Saints were, Minnesota stopped what would become a powerful New Orleans run game and cruised to victory. How long ago was that? Adrian Peterson led the Saints with 18 rushing yards on that Monday night. We’ll see how much things have changed since Saints-Vikings in Week 1.

1. At number one we’ve got the Patriots, the favorites to win a record-tying sixth Super Bowl title, and it’s not so much any aspect of their game that I’ll be looking for as it is the edge the Patriots will come out with. It was a tumultuous bye in Foxboro, and things have been uncomfortable all season in the building. Historically, circumstances like this have brought out the best in the NFL’s premier modern-day dynasty. We’ll see if Bill Belichick, at 65, and Tom Brady, at 40, can harness this wagon one more time.
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These are the views of Sport Illustrated and don't reflect my opinion necessarily...

Maybe the Falcons overlook the Eagles... big mistake. If I were an Eagles player or fan, I would be just about sick and tired of hearing how Philly is the underdog here. Might be just the motivation needed and the right fuel for the fire to spark the Foles controlled offense.

 

Houston Texans...

Deshaun Watson has gotten his wish.

The rookie quarterback wanted coach Bill O’Brien to stay, and stay he will. Via multiple reports, O’Brien has a four-year extension. Coupled with the five-year deal given to new G.M. Brian Gaine, both are signed through 2022.

 

Keith Jackson, legendary college football announcer, dies at 89

Legendary college football announcer Keith Jackson, who also was the first play-by-play in Monday Night Football history, died Friday night, ESPN announced. He was 89.

Jackson, who retired from announcing in 2006, started calling college football games for ABC Sports in 1966. He called the first ever Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Sept. 21, 1970. He also announced American Football League games in the 1960s and USFL games for ABC in the 1980s.

In addition to football, Jackson covered the World Series, NBA games, 10 Olympics and auto racing over a career that spanned more than 50 years. He was a five-time National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association National Sportscaster of the Year recipient.

"For generations of fans, Keith Jackson was college football," said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "When you heard his voice, you knew it was a big game. Keith was a true gentleman and memorable presence. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Turi Ann, and his family."

Jackson called some of the most iconic games in college football history. He called 15 Rose Bowls and 16 Sugar Bowls. He's best remembered for using the phrase "Whoa, Nellie" during broadcasts while also describing the Rose Bowl as "The Grandaddy of Them All." He also is credited with first describing Michigan Stadium as "The Big House."

The 2006 Rose Bowl, which featured Vince Young leading Texas to victory over USC, was the final college game Jackson called before retiring.

Jackson was born on Oct. 18, 1928, in Georgia and served in the Marines before attending Washington State University, where he started his broadcasting career in the early 1950s. Prior to joining ABC Sports in the 1960s, he spent 10 years at ABC affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle in news and sports production. (NFL.com)
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Whooooooooooooa Nelly!

 

The Falcons don't need to "overlook" the Eagles for things to go horribly wrong. Steve Sarkisian is a rookie OC who had half a cup of coffee as an assistant at the NFL level many, many years ago. His game planning has been more "miss" than "hit" all season long.

As we head into the second quarter, this one is already looking like a clear "miss" of an offensive game plan. The Falcons might pull it off, but it will have to be in spite of the offensive coaching staff rather than because of them.

 

Their looking good so far... bend but don't break defense is working so far too. Good game.

 

Honestly, my interpretation is that Davis is saying this to motivate the rest of his team to help him win a DaMN Superbowl before he hangs them up. (ala Ray Lewis riding off into the sunset)

 

Eagles defeat the Falcons, 15-10... will host the winner of the Saints vs Vikings game.

 

It will be interesting to see if Atlanta makes any coaching changes on the offensive side of the ball for next season.

It's something that I made my top priority in our mock offseason here last spring. The problem isn't just that Sark had no NFL experience coming into this year. The new QB coach is an NFL rookie who barely had any experience working with QBs even at the college level. The new offensive assistants that they added this year are all brand new to the NFL.

The RB coach switched over from assisting with offensive linemen. The WR coach came over from the defense last year and focuses on strategies in the passing game. It worked last year because they had an assistant who was an experienced WR coach. But they lost that assistant, so this year they had no one at all with experience working with WRs on fundamentals and techniques.

Basically they needed more experience in the offensive coaching staff, and all season long they paid the price for not having it. It was particularly noteworthy with the WRs, where Atlanta shot up to the second most drops in the league this season.