NFL - NEWS & NOTES

This is sickening.

 

To your main response . . . Talking about winning a division, advancing in the playoffs and ultimately winning a Super Bow is precisely what fans do in March. For a very few teams, the fan talk is objective. For the rest - its subjective. That's what fans do.

To your post script: Gone are the days when the Browns can hope to sneak up on anybody for exactly the reason you gave.

Regarding the AFCN. I, for one, haven't ruled out anybody.

• Even though Pittsburgh has been the victim of some internal drama and, as a result, have lost 2/3's of their "big three", they STILL can field a formidable offense. The combination of JuJu and Washington will keep opposing defenses on their toes and Conner has already demonstrated he can play at this level.
• Baltimore won the AFCN last year on the strength of their defense combined with sneaking up on opponents with the running game. Defensively, they have been field dressed in Free Agency. But, through the years, they have demonstrated they can hang with the better defenses through the "next man up" mentality. The only thing I question is whether Lamar Jackson can physically hold up over the course of an entire season.
• True to form, NOBODY knows what's going on in Cincinnati. They could be the team that once again sneaks up on people this year. A healthy roster combined with a new coaching staff has me concerned.

 

To your main response . . . Talking about winning a division, advancing in the playoffs and ultimately winning a Super Bow is precisely what fans do in March. For a very few teams, the fan talk is objective. For the rest - its subjective. That's what fans do.

To your post script: Gone are the days when the Browns can hope to sneak up on anybody for exactly the reason you gave.

Regarding the AFCN. I, for one, haven't ruled out anybody.

• Even though Pittsburgh has been the victim of some internal drama and, as a result, have lost 2/3's of their "big three", they STILL can field a formidable offense. The combination of JuJu and Washington will keep opposing defenses on their toes and Conner has already demonstrated he can play at this level.
• Baltimore won the AFCN last year on the strength of their defense combined with sneaking up on opponents with the running game. Defensively, they have been field dressed in Free Agency. But, through the years, they have demonstrated they can hang with the better defenses through the "next man up" mentality. The only thing I question is whether Lamar Jackson can physically hold up over the course of an entire season.
• True to form, NOBODY knows what's going on in Cincinnati. They could be the team that once again sneaks up on people this year. A healthy roster combined with a new coaching staff has me concerned.

 

Thanks for the responses...now to the bigger question...

Who is a contender for the Super Bowl in 2019? I would appreciate a "why" added to your answer, but at least a list of teams would get the conversation started.

 

And that could throw a wrench into the gigantic contract he is negotiating...

 

Patriots - Because every football fan outside of Boston obviously committed some kind of wrong and we are all being punished.

Steelers - Even after their personnel losses I can see them as a team that wins just enough games to make it to the postseason and then go on a run. It's still too early for me to call this franchise dead in the water.

Browns - Because you can't ignore how much talent is suddenly on that roster.

Chiefs - Hill has thrown a wrench in this probably but this team is still loaded and they have the MVP at QB.

Colts - I expect Luck to be even better next season and he was very good in 2018.

Cowboys - Really good defense...one of the best running backs around. Prescott had a better season than he gets credit for and I can see him improving on it.

Bears - Defense and an ever improving Mitch Trubisky in year 2 under Nagy's offense.

Packers - Because Aaron Rodgers. That QB that had a "bad year" when he threw for 4400 yards and just 2 picks.

Saints - Any offense this good is gonna be hard to beat. The loss of Ingram and addition of Latavius Murray could actually make the offense better if Murray stays healthy.

Rams - High scoring offense plus a good defense should have them right back in it next season, despite the history of teams that lose the SB.

Seattle - They were much better in 2018 than I thought they could be. I used to be a Russell Wilson critic but he just knows how to win.

Probably a list sure to be wrong in a lot of spots.

 

Patriots: Brady + Belicheck= contenders every season

Saints: A missed PI penalty away from playing in the Super Bowl, didn't lose anyone major I don't think. Brees is a year older but they have Bridgewater for insurance.

Bears: With that defense, they are never out of a game. Solid run game to help shorten games.

Rams: Made it to the Super Bowl and the team remains mostly intact. If Gurley heals up and returns to form they will have a shot.

Cowboys: If they get Lawrence signed to a long term deal, this is a team that could fly under the radar. With Elliot, and Cooper and Prescott they are pretty solid on offense. Defense, they can get after the QB and have a fairly underrated secondary. Would not shock me at all to see them make a run. And with the Eagles the only threat in the NFC East, they should make it to the playoffs

Chiefs: They have the reigning MVP, one of the best offenses in the league. I almost left them off because they lost two good pass rushers from an already bad defense, but their offense is that damn good.

Thats 6 teams. There are a couple that are close, like the Browns, Colts, Chargers, Vikings, Seahawks, Falcons, Ravens and Steelers who after the draft may enter the conversation. As of now I wouldn't be shocked if the teams on the close list go either way once the regular season gets underway. As always, health and depth will play a huge role.

 

John Dorsey waiting for Hill's release...

 

Max Unger is retiring.

Raiders release Donald Penn

Bengals re-signed Tyler Eifert

Jaguars signed Chris Conley

 

This move actually makes a lot of sense and will probably go under the radar as a quality get for the Titans.


I like this signing..........a very good BU and the "O" Line has improved.....I'm hoping they can compete for the Division.

 

Browns open as favorites to win the AFC North...

The Browns have arrived.

They’ve still won nothing of consequence. They haven’t been to the playoffs in 17 years and counting. But they’ve arrived.

Vegas knows it. Via ESPN.com, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has made the Browns +140 favorites to win the AFC North.

The Steelers are close behind at +160 (i.e., bet $100, win $160). The Ravens have +250 odds to win the division.

This places even more pressure on the Browns, who went winless in 2017 and won only once in 2016. The bar is now high, and the Steelers will be able to find plenty of motivation in the notion that no one believes in them. That could fuel the Steelers to do more than anyone expects them to do in 2019.

But that’s for down the road. For now, the Browns and their fans can enjoy something that hasn’t happened since the team re-entered the league 20 years ago: The Browns actually are expected to be successful next season. (PFT)

 

Dolphins sign Ryan Fitzpatrick...



Fitzmagic has hit Miami and we aren’t talking about defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s bid for a trademark on the phrase.

According to multiple reports, the Dolphins have signed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The move comes after a week that saw the Dolphins trade Ryan Tannehill to the Titans and meet with Teddy Bridgewater about a deal before Bridgewater opted to re-sign in New Orleans.

Fitzpatrick opened last season as the starter in Tampa with Jameis Winston suspended and threw eight touchdowns in back-to-back wins. Fitzpatrick threw three touchdowns and three interceptions in a Week Three loss and then got benched in favor of the returning Winston during a 48-10 loss to the Bears the next week.

Winston was benched in Week Eight and Fitzpatrick made three more starts before returning to the bench for the rest of the year. He was 164-of-246 for 2,366 yards, 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions overall.

It was the 11th straight year Fitzpatrick started at least three games and he’s done it with six different teams. With David Fales and Luke Falk the other quarterbacks on the Miami roster, he looks like he’ll have a good chance to add to both marks, although the draft and the rest of free agency could change that outlook. (PFT)

 

Bengals move on from Vontaze Burfict...



The Vontaze Burfict era finally is over in Cincinnati.

Burfict, who went from undrafted in 2012 to becoming a cornerstone of the Bengals defense, has been released, per multiple reports.

Signed by former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Burfict’s hard-nosed style resulted in plenty of penalties, fines, and suspensions.

He was due to make $5 million this year in base salary, with up to $2.25 million in per-game roster bonuses. The Bengals will absorb a $1.8 million cap charge by releasing him.

Burfict was suspended four games in 2018 for violation the league’s PED policy. He was suspended six prior games for violations of player-safety rules, and fined many thousands of dollars. Most recently, he was fined $112,000 for multiple violations in a 2018 game against the Steelers.

In all, Burfict appeared in 75 regular-season games, with 73 starts. Still only 28, Burfict’s career likely will continue, somewhere. (PFT)

 

Report: Bashaud Breeland to sign with Chiefs...



The Chiefs will be seeing Antonio Brown a couple of times a year as long as Brown is a Raider and they’re reportedly signing a corner with some history against him.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports that the Chiefs are signing Bashaud Breeland. Breeland agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers around this time last year, but it was wiped out when Breeland failed a physical due to a lacerated foot.

Breeland wound up signing with the Packers in late September and started five of the seven games he played in Green Bay. Breeland had 20 tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown in those appearances.

The connection to Brown comes from the first week of the 2016 season and it’s not a feather in Breeland’s cap. Breeland was on Washington at the time and was charged with covering Brown for most of the night, which turned out well for the Steelers as Brown caught eight passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-16 win. (PFT)

 

Tom Compton signs with Jets...

The Jets are set to visit with Stefan Wisniewski on Tuesday and they have added another offensive lineman to the team on Monday.

The team announced that they have reached agreement with Tom Compton on a contract for the 2019 season. The Jets also added guard Kelechi Osemele in a trade with the Raiders this offseason.

Compton spent last season with the Vikings and started 14 games at left guard. He’s started 15 other games over the course of a seven-year career that started as a 2012 sixth-round pick in Washington and has included one-year stints with the Falcons and Bears.

Osemele has been pencilled in at left guard, 16-game starter Brian Winters is back at right guard and Brandon Shell is back at right tackle, so Compton may be providing experienced depth if everything goes according to plan for the Jets. (PFT)

 

The Cowboys announced they signed free agent defensive end Kerry Hyder on Monday.

They had a need for defensive linemen with Randy Gregory indefinitely suspended and David Irving a suspended free agent. The Cowboys used the franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence, but he has not signed it as the sides work on a long-term contract.

The Lions chose not to tender Hyder after he had only six tackles and a sack in seven games last season.

Hyder, 27, is an Austin, Texas, native who played collegiately at Texas Tech.

He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Jets in 2014. Hyder signed a futures contract with the Lions in 2015 and spent four seasons in Detroit.

His best season came in 2016 when he had a career-high eight sacks.

Hyder missed the entire 2017 season after tearing his Achilles in the preseason. (PFT)

 

Eric Berry visiting Cowboys...

The Cowboys quietly have addressed their needs with the return of Jason Witten, the re-signings of Tavon Austin and Cam Fleming and the additions of Kerry Hyder and Christian Covington.

It leaves an obvious need at safety after the Cowboys decided not to make an offer to Earl Thomas, who signed with Baltimore.

To that end, the Cowboys are hosting Eric Berry for a free agent visit Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports.

It is Berry’s first visit since the Chiefs released him last week after signing Tyrann Mathieu.

Berry, 30, spent all nine of his seasons in Kansas City. He made five Pro Bowls and three times was voted All-Pro.

He has 445 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 50 passes defended, 14 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and five touchdowns in his career.

But Berry has played only four games combined the past two seasons, including the AFC Championship Game, because of a ruptured Achilles and a heel issue. (PFT)

 

Be curious to see if he has anything left, what kind of money he's seeking...

 

Cowboys to meet with former Seahawks second-round pick Malik McDowell

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...er-seahawks-second-round-pick-malik-mcdowell/

Berry, McDowell - looks like Dallas is kicking the tires on some guys who've had injury woes, hoping to grab a buried gem a la Marc Colombo.