NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Finally some Gridiron action tonight...

 

Derrius Guice being evaluated for a knee injury... hope that's not serious.

 

Thompson’s FF draft value just sky-rocketed

 

There’s been a lot of buzz about rookie running back Derrius Guice around Washington this summer, but it will be replaced by a lot of holding of breath for at least a little while.

Washington announced that Guice is being evaluated for a knee injury during Thursday night’s preseason game against the Patriots. Shots from the game made it appear the training staff was looking at Guice’s left leg.

Guice ran six times for 19 yards before leaving the game.

Quarterback Alex Smith said recently that there’s no real weakness in Guice’s game. Every NFL player is vulnerable to injury, though. Guice and company will be hoping that he has avoided a serious one.
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He will have MRI today (Friday)

 

Dez Bryant says he’s visiting the Browns next week...

 

Thursdays Preseason Finals...

 

Baker Mayfield shines in Cleveland Browns debut...

Baker Mayfield's first NFL drive came and went in a blink.

His second, though, put on display some of the qualities the Browns -- 20-10 winners over the Giants on Thursday -- fell for in drafting the former Oklahoma star first overall in April's draft.

After an opening three-and-out, Mayfield returned to guide Cleveland on a 14-play, 72-yard scoring march highlighted by a 21-yard strike to C.J. Board on third-and-18. Mayfield also showcased his mobility with a pair of chain-moving scrambles to keep the series alive.

The second of those scampers -- a five-yard, red-zone dash on fourth-and-2 -- set up Mayfield's 10-yard touchdown toss to David Njoku. It was impressive to see Mayfield patiently roll through his progressions -- eyes scanning the field -- before finding the massive-bodied tight end near the back of the end zone.

Mayfield returned in the third quarter to spin additional magic, rolling to his right on a third-and-7 from his own 22 to find rookie Antonio Callaway along the sideline for 24 yards. Initially ruled an incompletion, officials overturned the call after replays showed Callaway stay in bounds with a brilliant, leaping grab.

That connection wasn't finished as Mayfield opened the fourth quarter with a 54-yard touchdown lob to the fourth-round wideout, who finished with 87 yards off three catches and looked good doing it.

Mayfield closed 11-of-20 for 212 yards with two scores on the night. A few of those incompletions were throwaways and a handful were off the mark, but here's the bigger takeaway: Mayfield looked at home. (NFL.com)

 

Andrew Luck leads two scoring drives in Colts return...

For the first time in 19 months on Thursday night, Andrew Luck played in an NFL game -- and had fun doing so.

In his first game back since a shoulder injury derailed his 2017 season, Luck led two scoring drives in the Colts' 19-17 preseason victory in Seattle.

"I tried to make it as normal as possible," Luck said of returning to the field. "For a moment, I was like how do I coach it, especially leading up to the game, I was trying to control my emotions, but then I just sort of said, 'Screw it. Whatever I want to think and I want to feel, I'm going to feel it and then let that happen.'

"It was kind of like the pressure was off for me and I really had fun. I really enjoyed it. Like I told you guys earlier, I didn't quite know if I would have this much fun practicing football. I didn't know if I'd have this much fun playing football."

Attempting mostly short to intermediate throws, Luck finished 6 of 9 for 64 yards. The quarterback led drives of 12 and nine plays, both of which ended in field goals. Three of his completions were successful third- or fourth-down conversions.

"Offensively, obviously, Andrew looked good," Colts coach Frank Reich told reporters. "That's exactly what we we're hoping to get as far as him finding rhythm, moving the ball. Obviously, we want to finish in the end zone, have to finish in the end zone. But that was a good start there.

"The emotions were flowing. He was pretty jacked up. So it was fun. It was fun to see that from him."

Luck completed passes to the usual suspects, longtime Colts T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle, but told reporters he also relished getting on the same page with new faces (for him) like Marlon Mack (two receptions) and Chester Rogers.

"After [the first play], it sort of slowed down," Luck described, "and the rhythm, the flow of the huddle, calling a play, knowing where the play clocks are, how you get to the line of scrimmage, what your cues are, that operation takes over, and for lack of a better term, it's all natural.

"It felt right." (NFL.com)

 

Saquon Barkley makes immediate impact for Giants...

The second-overall pick in the draft was the first to make an impact for the New York Giants on Thursday night.

Saquon Barkley spun magic right away, taking the ball on New York's opening snap for a tantalizing 39-yard gain.

The highly touted back out of Penn State grabbed the handoff from quarterback Eli Manning, scanned the line, cut to his right, spun around Browns defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah and showed his speed blasting upfield for a big chunk of real estate.

Barkley was slowed from there, doing his best to pull a later carry toward the sideline -- it would have worked in college -- but finding a defender clamping down here in the NFL.

Asked about facing the pressure of saving a New York ground game lost at sea for eons, Barkley told the Giants broadcast he's "not caring about it" and "not thinking about it."

Finishing with 43 yards off five totes, Barkley is destined to enchant Fantasy Heads all month before giving New York a much-needed anchoring force on the ground come September. (NFL.com)

 

I understand what your saying and you’re smart to preface it with the notion of may or may not.
The non doctor professor of psychology that has his name on this is not as smart in saying that CTE “is much more rare than we thought”....... in his regional study that actually can’t definitively say whether anyone involved has CTE or not.

 

These GOAT's believe they are the GOAT...

 

who? i didn't watch any games...

 

He's battling Guice for the Redskins RB1 position...

 

thanks Will. i had to catch up on 3 shows last night. pre-season is just too much for me as a lot of guys get cut etc bf game 1.

 

NFL: Football used in Steelers-Eagles game “found to be defective” in third quarter...

The NFL has issued a statement about their look into a football used by the Steelers during Thursday night’s game against the Eagles.

Howard Eskin of WIP was a sideline reporter during the game reported the NFL was investigating what appeared to be an underinflated ball after seeing a football that looked “like a marshmallow” on the Steelers sideline. NFL vice president of football communications Michael Signora issued a statement on Friday about the incident.

“All footballs were in compliance with NFL rules following the pregame inspection process and all proper procedures were followed. In the third quarter, a football that was found to be defective was removed from play and will be sent back to Wilson for review.”

That does not sound like the precursor to another Ted Wells report or deliberations about the application of the Ideal Gas Law, although one can never know for sure what twists and turns may lie ahead. (PFT)

 

Redskins RB Derrius Guice diagnosed with MCL sprain...



The Washington Redskins appear to have dodged a major injury bullet Thursday night.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday morning that running back Derrius Guice received an initial diagnosis of a sprained MCL, according to a source with knowledge of the injury. The rookie will undergo an MRI to confirm the injury.

Guice is expected to miss time and could be held out the rest of the preseason as a precautionary measure, but the injury could have been a lot worse.

The second-round pick exited Thursday's preseason loss to the New England Patriots after six rushing attempts that went for 19 yards.

In the locker room after the game, Guice dismissed the injury telling JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington "all is well."

The rookie is expected to play a prominent role in the Redskins' backfield as an early-down power runner. Missing preseason action could curtail his role to open the season, but he should make up ground once healthy. (NFL.com)