It isn’t a big deal Black Matt Ryan Jersey , but definitely worth mentioning"It’s the first day of voluntary team workouts, and e receiver Julio Jones won’t be present, according to ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure. Jones does, however, plan on attending mandatory minicamp in June.This really shouldn’t be a story at all but we have to mention it, considering the fact that Jones held out of mandatory minicamp and almost the start of training camp last offseason in search of a new contract. He still hasn’t come to terms on a new contract with the team.McClure’s report that Jones plans on being in the building for that mandatory minicamp come June 11 indicates that the two sides are most likely actively working on that contract extension in good faith. For what it’s worth, at the beginning of the month Jones talked about how he’s not currently worried about his upcoming contract extension, while hinting that he’d miss some of the voluntary team workouts throughout this offseason. This seems like nothing more than those hints coming to fruition.Julio Jones is coming off of another very successful season in which he won the receiving yards crown with 1,677 yards Matt Ryan Jersey 2019 , while also hauling in eight touchdown passes (the most he’s had since 2015). He was selected as a Pro Bowler for the fifth consecutive season and for the sixth time in his career.If in the off chance there is some sort of a falling out between Jones and the team (highly unlikely), don’t expect the reticent Julio to stir up a circus and turn into a social media villain the way Antonio Brown has the past few months. NEW YORK (AP) — Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have that familiar look that the rest of the NFL has grown accustomed to over the years.Championship contender.The Patriots remained No. 1 in the AP Pro32 poll on Tuesday , receiving 10 of 12 first-place votes for 381 points in balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL.New England (12-3) needs just a win or a Pittsburgh loss to claim home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs again.“The road to the Super Bowl will undoubtedly go through Foxborough — again — now that the Patriots are one win away from clinching home-field advantage — again — in the AFC playoffs,” Newsday’s Bob Glauber said.“Rob Gronkowski makes the Bills pay — again — for not drafting the hometown star tight end, as the Pats dominate Buffalo.“All they need now to clinch the No. 1 seed is a season-ending win over the Jets — a layup if there ever was one.”The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, who received one first-place vote, are tied for No. 2.“Don’t think Ben Roethlisberger and company wouldn’t relish a rematch against the Patriots, even if it’s in Foxborough with a Super Bowl berth on the line Black Vic Beasley Jr Jersey ,” Ira Kaufman of SB Nation Radio said of the Steelers.Despite having the NFL’s best record at 13-2 and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles, who received the other first-place vote, couldn’t make up any ground and remained No. 4. The Eagles got past the Oakland Raiders 19-10 on Christmas night in a sluggish game.“Doug Pederson probably has won Coach of the Year, managing to keep winning without Carson Wentz,” said Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.“But the Eagles didn’t look like Super Bowl contenders against the Raiders.”Another NFC division champion, the Los Angeles Rams, maintained its spot in the poll at No. 5.“Keep hitting high notes,” Fox Sports John Czarnecki said of the NFC West champions.The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers Vic Beasley Jr Jersey 2019 , tied for first place in the NFC South, followed at No. 6 and No. 7 respectively.“It has to please Sean Payton how well the defense is finishing the season,” John Clayton of 710-ESPN Seattle said about the Saints coach. “What a turnaround.”The Jacksonville Jaguars, set to host a playoff game for the first time since the 1999 season, remained at No. 8.“Does anyone outside of Jags HQ trust Blake Bortles in the playoffs?” asked Alex Marvez of The Sporting News.The Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) and Atlanta Falcons flipped places from last week to round out the top 10.

Are the Panthers a better team after one week?"plash in the first week of free agency Youth Greg Olsen Jersey , at least for the Panthers anyway. In years past it would be a week before the Panthers made their first significant move. Instead the Panthers filled three critical gaps by securing center Matt Paradis, offensive tackle Daryl Williams and defensive end Bruce Irvin. Paradis was arguably the best interior offensive lineman on the market and they signed him right out of the gate. What is this madness?Not only that, but the pundits love it too. Even more madness!In order to avoid showing bias to one side of the possible grading selection in the poll, here’s some red meat for the other side, the never happy crowd:Where’s the free agent safety we need huh? What about the back-up running back? Get with the program Hurneynator! Salary cap! Dead money! Cam’s shoulder. Ahhhhhh!So think long and hard and put a grade to it. In addition to rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder Blue Devin Funchess Jersey , Panthers quarterback Cam Newton‘s offseason focus is losing weight.Newton released a video showing his offseason work, which doesn’t sound a lot different than the goals of a lot of Americans who want to slim down.“This offseason, I was like, ‘I want to talk something different.’ I’m vegan now,” Newton said.Newton is listed at 245 pounds Devin Funchess Jersey 2019 , but coach Ron Rivera has said that during the 2016 season he got into the 260-265 range. Newton wants to be a lot lighter than that.“During the offseason, honestly I really try to get as small as I can,” Newton said. “Last offseason the smallest I was was like 242. This offseason I’m shooting to be like 235, 238. At his particular point in time I’m trying to focus on shredding a lot, toning a lot. I go to a boot camp class.”Last season was a frustrating one for Newton Stitched Greg Olsen Jersey , and he’s hoping smaller numbers on the scale can lead to bigger numbers on the stat sheet.

nference of free agency. We’ve got a live stream."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 49ers Salary CapLevi’s Stadium Events49ers Transactions49ers Injury News49ers Press Conferences & Conference Calls49ers press conferences & interviews49ers free agency 201949ers set to introduce Kwon Alexander Mike Person Jersey , Dee Ford at free agency press conference New,105commentsThe 49ers have plenty to discuss at their first press conference of free agency. We’ve got a live stream. PDTShareTweetShareShare49ers set to introduce Kwon Alexander, Dee Ford at free agency press conference The San Francisco 49ers announced their two free agency signings on Wednesday evening, and Thursday will bring the introductory press conference. Kwon Alexander and Dee Ford will meet with the media at 12:00 p.m. PT at Levi’s Stadium. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will also be on hand.There’s no word yet on if Tevin Coleman will be joining the group for the presser. Given that the signing happened Wednesday, he could be able to make the trip, we’ll wait and see. You can stream the press conference live at 49ers.com/live, and the team will also broadcast it on their mobile app and on Periscope. We’ll have follow-up after the press conference ends, and then a transcript later. In the meantime, here is our Twitter list of 49ers beat writers.A Twitter List by NinersNation The 2018 draft was already decent, but he gave it a bit of a bump."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 49ers Salary CapLevi’s Stadium Events49ers Transactions49ers Injury News49ers Press Conferences & Conference Calls2018 NFL Draft: 49ers picks, mock drafts, news, rumors, analysisMel Kiper moves his grade of the 49ers 2018 draft class up a (very small) notchNew Adrian Colbert Jersey ,67commentsThe 2018 draft was already decent, but he gave it a bit of a bump.PDTShareTweetShareShareMel Kiper moves his grade of the 49ers 2018 draft class up a (very small) notchWe’re only one year removed from the 2018 NFL draft, and yet there’s so many positives found in that one year. The typical amount of time to judge if a draft was a success is in the ballpark of three-five years, but in one year the 49ers have had several starters emerge and play at a high level. ESPN’s Mel Kiper took a look at every NFL team’s draft from 2018 and re-graded them where appropriate. He gave the 49ers a B- in 2018 and bumped his grade up to a B. So...progress? Like we said: it’s going to take a few more years to really see where the 2018 draft class stands as far as solid production, but the first year was definitely something. It more than made up for the rocky start the 2017 draft class had. Yes, 2017 got George Kittle, but it also had Reuben Foster and Solomon Thomas, the earlier is already on his second team thanks to legal issues and the latter has been disappointing thus far. The one thing Kiper brings up is McGlinchey replacing Staley. In college, McGlinchey struggled at left tackle. I’m of the notion if it ain't broke, don’t fix it, but wouldn’t be surprised if the 49ers tried a flip/flop of the two in the preseason just to see how McGlinchey looks. Do you think this draft deserves a better, worse, or the same grade?

on the road Samson Ebukam Jersey , putting up 35 points against a good New Orleans Saints defense. The only problem was that the Saints offense scored 45. The game proved that the Rams aren’t the only elite team in the NFC. So, why the panic from Rams Twitter? Because it’s Twitter and panic is one of the main ingredients in 2018.Best Overreaction:CB Marcus Peters is a legit liability on defense; the Rams would be insane to resign him if he continues to play like this.When the Rams acquired Marcus Peters, the knock on him was that he was an emotional ball-hawk that would have his great days and his extremely frustrating days. That’s the player that we saw with the Kansas City Chiefs and on Sunday, we got the latter, with an embarrassing showing. Peters was obviously not the only reason the Rams defense struggled, but he was the biggest name that fans could use as a scapegoat. Yeah, it’s unfair, but the numbers fit, so rage away, Ramily. I’m thinking that Peters might be walking at the end of the season; it’s been that rough for him in his tenure with the Rams.I would love for Marcus Peters to turn it around during the second half of the season. Who knows what needs to happen, the return of Aqib Talib perhaps? But right now, the cornerbacks for the Rams are playing similar to the presumed weak spot for the team: the linebackers. Worst Overreaction:Coach Sean McVay screwed up and got too cute on Sunday, going for it on 4th down when they should have played more conservative on the road. And RB Todd Gurley needed way more than 13 carries!It was obvious that the Rams were going to shift to a pass-happy offense once the Saints proved that they were going to score on almost every drive in the first half. However, it was hard to watch Todd Gurley not get the rock when the offensive line was playing so well. And many Rams fans were enraged that P Johnny Hekker was running for a first down instead of Gurley. But the Saints defensive line were able to provide an answer for Gurley in the first half that many of the other teams that the Rams played this season could not come up with.So, it didn’t bother me that Jared Goff threw the ball 40 times.But the way McVay coached the Rams was also exciting, surprising, and gutsy. The way Coach Sean McVay coaches is in stark contrast to the way the old crusty dudes handle their business in the NFL. But guys like Doug Pederson and McVay are the future and it’s going to be a mix of thrilling and maddening — you know, however the football bounces. In this case, the Rams didn't get the calls they needed to get and relied on chance too many times. But I don’t think McVay got “too cute.” If anything, he got “too unlucky.” McVay is a guy that’s constantly thinking of ways to outsmart the opposing team and I can’t get mad at that. More often than not, he’s going to lead the Rams to victory. ATLANTA (AP) — Hey Josh Reynolds Jersey , have you guys been here before?If you’re a New England Patriot, the answer pretty much is “all the time.”If you play for the Rams, the reply basically is “never in my life.”So if experience is a factor in Sunday’s Super Bowl, the overwhelming edge is with the 2½-point favorites from Foxborough who are 5-3 in NFL title games with Tom Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick in the hoodie on the sideline.The Rams, whose past two Super trips were representing St. Louis in 2000 and ’02, have four players who have gotten this far. New England has four on its defensive line alone.“Probably, throughout the week, it gives them an advantage,” Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth says — and he’s finishing up his 13th NFL season, though it’s his first that ends in February.“They kind of know this week. They know when things are a little anxious, when to kind of, ‘Hey, turn it on and get ready to play.’ They probably have a process and plan for the week.”Athletes in every sport talk about how helpful a comfort zone can be. It’s even more pronounced when it accompanies events such as the Super Bowl, which, for better or worse, transcends football.Brady and most of his teammates, in their third straight visit, barely flinch at all the attention, media demands and alterations to the norm they encounter during Super Bowl week — although they were taken aback somewhat by the cacophony and circus atmosphere of opening night on Monday. Aside from Aqib Talib, C.J. Anderson, Brandin Cooks and Sam Shields John Johnson Jersey , for the Rams this is uncharted territory.Rams coach Sean McVay tends to dismiss that theory, however. Using quarterback Jared Goff as an example, McVay could have been speaking for his entire squad, which has made a sensational turnaround in his two seasons in charge.“He’s an unfazed quarterback,” McVay says. “I think his way to have success and handle adversity the same demonstrates that poise and confidence you want from your quarterback.”Nowhere is the experience matchup more uneven than at QB. At 41, Brady already is the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. Goff is 24 and one of the youngest.Well, maybe nowhere is an exaggeration, because Belichick, at 66, could become the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl. He has worked 41 postseason games, with 30 victories, most among head coaches in NFL history. He’s the only head coach with five Super Bowl rings.McVay is half his age and in his first NFL title game, the youngest Super Bowl head man.Rams President Kevin Demoff hears all of that so-called evidence, then cites so many positives about McVay that he sounds like the next dominant coach.Sunday will be a powerful acid test for McVay and his team.Some other things to look for in Super Bowl 53:GRONK’S FINALE?There’s widespread speculation that Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski could be playing his final NFL game. The four-time All-Pro has been plagued by injuries for much of his career, and only in his first two pro seasons did he play a full 16-game schedule. In 2018, he made it into 13 games.Gronkowski has battled through back, knee, ankle and arm injuries throughout his nine pro seasons, and thought about retirement after last year’s Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. If this will be it for the big-play tight end with superb blocking skills, he isn’t letting on.“As of right now, those are the last things I’m thinking about Gerald Everett Jersey ,” Gronkowski says. “I love playing the game. After a long season, after the (Super Bowl), a few weeks down the road, you sit back, you relax, you get some downtime, enjoyment time. And you just see where you want to go with it.“That’s a tricky question. You’re trying to get around me. You’re just trying to get you some answers over there, baby. But like I said, I don’t know. I haven’t done that sit-down yet. I’ve got to do that sit-down. About two weeks after (the Super Bowl), then I’ll know.”DONALD’S DOMINANCERams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the only unanimous All-Pro this season, led the NFL with 20½ sacks.Considering that Brady barely has been touched or pressured in two playoff games — both against teams with strong pass rushers — it is incumbent upon Donald to be a factor Sunday.Make that a major factor.“We’ll get to him, but we have to stay patient and don’t get frustrated,” Donald says. “We’ve got a great secondary that will do its job and make sure he doesn’t have easy throws. If he has to hold onto the ball, we’ll have our chances. We just have to go get him.”Otherwise, the most accomplished quarterback in Super Bowl history might tear them apart.CLOSE ONESThe Rams’ past two trips to the big game were tight affairs in which they beat Tennessee and lost to New England. In all of the Patriots’ eight previous trips in the Brady-Belichick era, the result was in doubt until the final moments.So to expect a romp at Mercedes-Benz Stadium seems foolhardy.“It would be nice to get one of those,” Patriots receiver Chris Hogan. “But the idea is to win, no matter how you do it.”The largest margin in a Patriots Super Bowl under this regime has been the eight points the Eagles beat them by a year ago.

There are still more picks to be made!" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - ityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryVikingsOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Vikings 2018 SeasonVikings 2019 OffseasonU.S. Bank StadiumMinnesota Vikings PodcastsFiled under:Minnesota Vikings 2019 NFL Draft2019 NFL Draft: Third round discussionNew Garrett Bradbury black jersey ,976commentsThere are still more picks to be made!CDTShareTweetShareShare2019 NFL Draft: Third round discussionChristopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsThe 2019 NFL Draft continues on from Nashville, Tennessee, and we are here to talk about all of the action that’s taking place. The Vikings used their second-round selection on Alabama tight end Irv Smith, Jr., and now they’re going to be making another selection here on Friday night.As of now, the Vikings are slated to make the 17th selection in the third round, which is #81 overall. If they don’t trade the pick, it is set to be announced by former Vikings’ tight end Steve Jordan. There are only five minutes between picks now that we’ve reached the third round, so we probably won’t have to wait long.Then again, Rick Spielman hasn’t made a trade yet Garrett Bradbury Jersey Mens , either, so we might see that at some point as well.We’re going to be tracking everything that the Minnesota Vikings are doing throughout the NFL Draft on our draft stream, so that whenever the Vikings make a selection or a trade you’ll be able to find it there. I’m also going to be manning the Daily Norseman Twitter account throughout draft weekend, and you can see everything we’re talking about right here.Tweets by DailyNorseman Once again, we would like to ask that there not be any GIFs in the comments during the Draft discussion threads, as they’ll cause things to bog down for people that are coming here to potentially get information.With that, let’s get things going for Round 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft, folks! We hope that you’re enjoying everything so far, and hopefully the Vikings will make it possible for us to continue enjoying it. With a boost from an illegal block penalty by the Buffalo Bills during a punt, the Minnesota Vikings finally crossed midfield with 9:36 left in the third quarter.Their next two plays were an incompletion and an interception.That was a fitting sequence in a game dominated from start to finish by Football Olisaemeka Udoh Jersey , not the 16陆-point favorite Vikings, but the previously winless Bills in the 27-6 decision ."I have not lost faith in this football team, but it just shows you every week is a new week," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "You've got to go out and play. Just because somebody says that you're supposed to win doesn't mean that's going to happen."The Vikings (1-1-1) have returned from the NFC championship game appearance with again one of the strongest rosters in the league, a desirable mix of experience and potential going on five seasons under the guidance of Zimmer and his staff.The other reason why the boss didn't sound worried about his team bouncing back was that he's seen this type of total-breakdown performance before.In 2014, after beating Atlanta handily in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's first NFL start, the Vikings lost 42-10 at Green Bay four days later with an injured Bridgewater held out. In 2015, they opened the season on the road with a 20-3 defeat by a San Francisco team that finished 5-11.In 2016, with the playoffs still within reach despite a 1-6 stretch coming out of their bye week, the Vikings lost 34-6 at home to Indianapolis. Then there was the 38-7 blowout at Philadelphia that ended last season one game short of the Super Bowl."If we want to get to where we want to be at the end of this Youth Garrett Bradbury Jersey , this might be a good thing. A kick in the tail every once in a while helps," tight end Kyle Rudolph said. "I'm glad this happened in September."This was the eighth time in 67 regular-season games under Zimmer the Vikings have lost by 17 or more points. They've won three of the follow-ups, but this one is on the road on Thursday night against the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams .Lost in the shuffle of this one-sided show on Sunday was a sack by blitzing linebacker Eric Wilson on Buffalo's third play from scrimmage that would've forced a punt for the Bills from their 24-yard line.Wilson had quarterback Josh Allen well wrapped up as he began the takedown, when defensive tackle Linval Joseph joined the effort with a lowered head. The instant his helmet collided with Allen's, the yellow flag flew into the air.First down, Buffalo.Aided by another 15-yard personal foul later on the drive by linebacker Anthony Barr for a facemask, the Bills finished the opening possession with a touchdown run by Allen and a lead that was never threatened. The Vikings had six penalties for 59 yards in the first half."Penalties are always costly, man, no matter if you get one or however many we had," linebacker Eric Kendricks said. "First down Mike Hughes Jersey , second down, third down, it doesn't matter. They always cost us, and they are not good."Though the most devastating developments for the Vikings were the two lost fumbles by Kirk Cousins, triggered by sacks inside their 20-yard line on consecutive drives, the awful afternoon was full of preventable setbacks.On the last play of the first quarter, Allen was forced out of the pocket by Danielle Hunter on a play-action pass on second-and-17.Near the sideline, Allen threw back across his body to the middle for running back Chris Ivory and a 55-yard completion . Kendricks followed tight end Charles Clay to the flat, where cornerback Mackensie Alexander also arrived.Ivory sneaked behind Stephen Weatherly as the defensive end pursued Allen, and nobody was left in coverage.Nobody was willing to identify which player was at fault Anthony Barr Jersey , but that was clearly a blown responsibility.As was the touchdown pass by Allen to tight end Jason Croom earlier in the game, when both Kendricks and cornerback Mike Hughes bit on a fake throw to running back Marcus Murphy. When Murphy motioned toward the sideline before the snap, Kendricks moved left but Hughes raised his hand as if to signal his intent to leave the slot for the flat."We did all of the things," Zimmer said, "that cause you to lose football games."

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bill Fralic Stitched Mohamed Sanu Jersey , the burly, bruising and tlanta Falcons and was a three-time All-American at Pittsburgh, has died. He was 56.He had cancer and died Thursday at his home in suburban Atlanta, the university said.Fralic was the first offensive lineman to finish in the top 10 in Heisman Trophy balloting — finishing eighth in 1983 and sixth in 1984. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. The school retired his No. 79 at halftime of his final home game in 1984.Pitt made Fralic part of its inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, a class that included former teammate and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.“Bill Fralic is the best,” Joe Moore, who worked as Pitt’s offensive line coach during Fralic’s career, once said. “If you can find somebody better, bring him to me. I’ve been privileged to coach some good ones here Youth Mohamed Sanu Jersey , but none better than Bill Fralic. Those kind only pass through once.”Atlanta selected Fralic with the second overall pick in the 1985 draft. He spent nine seasons in the league, including eight as one of the few bright spots during a difficult period for the Falcons. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and earned All-Pro honors in 1986 and 1987. The NFL placed him on its All-Decade Team for the 1980s even though Atlanta struggled during much of his career. The Falcons went 27-67-1 during Fralic’s first six seasons before finally reaching the playoffs in 1991.Current Atlanta owner Arthur Blank called Fralic a “cornerstone” of the franchise, adding “he was a beloved Falcon, and we will always be grateful for the impact he made here in Atlanta.”Fralic attempted to serve as a whistleblower against what he considered rampant steroid use in the NFL. In 1989 he told the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee that “steroid use in football represents a vicious cycle” and estimated that 75 percent of offensive and defensive linemen and tight ends used the performance-enhancing drug. Former Vice President Joe Biden, then chairman of the committee, lauded Fralic’s candor.It was just another area of Fralic’s life where he stood out.“Our football fraternity lost a great one,” tweeted former NFL defensive lineman Tony Casillas, a teammate of Fralic’s from 1986-89 before later facing Fralic while playing for Dallas. “I had so much respect for this man.”Fralic grew up in suburban Pittsburgh, starring at Penn Hill High School before joining the hometown Panthers. Fralic never forgot his roots Stitched De’Vondre Campbell Jersey , footing the hotel bill for the Penn Hills football team last week when the Indians traveled to Hershey, Pennsylvania, to play in the Class 5 A state title game, which they won.“Bill Fralic was not only an all-time player at the University of Pittsburgh, but also an all-time human being,” Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi said. “His generosity, support and concern for others was unmatched. For as hulking a figure as he was, Billy was even larger in his kindness and passion for others.”FOX Fantasy AutoForm a Racing Team, Compete for PrizesPlay Now! The Thanksgiving night game on NBC will blur the lines between and . Mike Tirico Youth De’Vondre Campbell Jersey , Tony Dungy, and Rodney Harrison will be in the booth for the Falcons-Saints game.Tirico, one of the finest play-by play voices in all of sports, has done many games. Dungy has been in the booth before, too. For Harrison, it’s all new. Here’s a prediction: Rodney will be great.“This is definitely unfamiliar territory for me,” Harrison recently told Barry Wilner of the . “I’m trying to figure what I want to talk about, how I want to focus on the offense or the defense. Mike [Tirico] tells me just to talk about what you see, that my being on the field and in the locker room as a player Stitched Brian Poole Jersey , just talk about what you feel like you want to talk about and have fun. . . .聽I am not going to try to be Cris Collinsworth or Troy Aikman. I will trust my instincts.”Rodney’s instincts are telling him to say less, not more.“One of the things I am focusing, there are many announcers who think they have to talk about every single thing they see on every single play,” Harrison said. “That’s one of the things that really irks me when I watch a game. I promise I will not be that guy. There will be no one saying, ‘Shut the hell up Rodney, I am tired of listening to you.’ That will not happen.”“I think Rodney really will give some insight they do not really get elsewhere,” Dungy told Wilner. “Especially in a game like this, which will be so much of an aerial attack and passing. So, what should and can be done on defense to counteract it? In that area Youth Brian Poole Jersey , I think we will both have good things to say.”Harrison has always provided clear, blunt, and insightful opinions on . Check out the video attached to this post, where Rodney said (to Dungy’s dismay) that Rodney would never hire a defensive coordinator to be a head coach in today’s NFL.

r is they both need it to be right.The Panthers owner said multiple times during an interview Tuesday that he didn’t know any of the specific details of Newton’s progress from the shoulder injury which torpedoed the 2018 season. But he also emphasized that the Panthers have to be prepared for anything in 2019 Greg Little Jersey , including the possibility that Newton may need more time.“We’ve got to make sure we have our options open in all ways possible, just in case,” Tepper said. “We’re all hoping everything will be great — and it could be great. Look at [the Colts’ Andrew] Luck this year. Who knows?”Following up on that rather significant stumbling block he threw in his own way, Tepper emphasized the need to make sure Newton is healthy.“If you told me that he took a year off and could be fully recovered and everything else and that’s what it took, an extra year, why wouldn’t you do that?” Tepper hypothesized. “Now, we would have to do other things and we’d have to go out and get another quarterback, which, if you could find me some more cap space https://www.pantherslockerroom.com/authentic-will-grier-jersey , I’d appreciate that.”At another point in the interview, he said: “Hopefully Cam’s shoulder is fantastic and we’re all hunky-dory.”The reality is, until they have a clearer picture of Newton’s physical condition — which they don’t at the moment — they can’t know for sure. But the need for a Plan B was clearly on Tepper’s mind (nothing against Taylor Heinicke or Kyle Allen but they needed then and still need an experienced option). He’s also cognizant they’re near the bottom of the league in cap space, which could require a creative solution. SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP)Captain Munnerlyn took one glance at the Carolina Panthers wide receivers’ 40-yard times and couldn’t believe what he saw.The veteran cornerback has never seen such a compilation of speed amassed at one position on a roster in any of his 10 NFL training camps.”Oh man, we got some fast receivers,” Munnerlyn said. ”I was like, `Wow, almost everyone runs a 4.4 or lower. That’s crazy.’ We have some speed on this team – and we probably needed it.”That’s an understatement.The Panthers offense stagnated last season as quarterback Cam Newton found himself with no deep threats after Ted Ginn Jr. left to sign with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent and youngsters Curtis Samuel and Damierre Byrd went down with injuries.The trickledown effect of not having anyone to stretch the field Womens Christian Miller Jersey , combined with three-time 1,000 yard receiving tight end Greg Olsen missing most of the season with a foot injury made Newton’s job last season extremely difficult. It also played havoc with the team’s running game as opposing defenses were able to walk an extra defender into the box. Carolina still finished 11-5 and earned a wild card despite finishing 19th in offense but lacked the firepower to make a run in the NFC playoffs.General manager Marty Hurney wasn’t about to let that happen again.The Panthers upgraded their speed at wide receiver by trading for Torrey Smith, signing free agent Jarius Wright and selecting the elusive D.J. Moore from Maryland in the first round of the NFL draft.Smith has averaged 16.4 yards per catch during his seven NFL seasons with the Ravens, 49ers and, most recently, the Super Bowl champion Eagles. Wright joins the Panthers after six seasons with the Vikings, where he worked under new Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner and averaged 13.3 yards per catch. Moore caught 80 passes last season at Maryland and earned a reputation as a receiver who makes defenders miss and piles up yards after the catch.With Samuel and Byrd coming back from injuries, Newton should have no shortage of options when it comes to stretching the field.”I think we would probably have the fastest track team in the NFL for sure,” Wright said. ”We got a 1A and a 1B team. That’s how fast our receiving corps is.”Coach Ron Rivera is quietly optimistic.He said the Panthers ”have some speed that we haven’t had in a while” at the wide receiver and defensive back positions.”I think that is a good thing for us Jordan Scarlett Jersey ,” Rivera said. ”We can be a fast team.”All of that is good news for Newton, who was limited to 22 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions in 2017 – two years after throwing 35 TD passes and 10 interceptions while earning league MVP honors and leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl.The logical thinking is if defenses have to honor the deep threat it will allow Olsen and No. 1 receiver Devin Funchess to work underneath the coverage – and also free up rushing lanes for running back Christian McCaffrey and Newton, the team’s leading rusher last season.Funchess may not be the fastest wide receiver on the roster, but he figures to play a huge role in the passing game.He moved over to the ”X” position, or No. 1 receiver spot, during the middle of last season after the Panthers abruptly traded former No. 1 draft pick Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills.Funchess and Benjamin were considered similar possession-type receivers, and Hurney said at the time he wanted to get more speed on the field.Funchess responded with some solid games in Benjamin’s absence, and finished the season with 63 receptions for 840 yards and eight touchdowns despite routinely seeing double coverage. He’ll have plenty of motivation to improve on that production given that he’ll become an unrestricted free agent after the season.”I focus on strictly football and that part has nothing to do with me,” Funchess said. ”If (the Panthers) want to (get a deal done) Blue Greg Van Roten Jersey , they can. … I’m out here to play football, work with coach Turner, work with the rest of the wide receivers, and talk a little trash to (Panthers linebacker) Thomas Davis.”Wright likes what he sees so far from the wideouts.”I think we have one of the best groups in the NFL,” Wright said. ”We have so many guys that bring a lot of different things to the game. But every guy can run out there. With so many playmakers, an experienced offensive coordinator and an MVP quarterback like Cam Newton our offense should be rolling.”—

ategory sometimes Dorian O'Daniel Jersey , so it’s easy to shrug when they are among the slowest to get something done.But with the other remaining head coaching vacancy, the Dolphins will at least get to claim that they got their first choice 鈥?such that every team doesn’t say that anyway.With the rest of the league in a rush, the Dolphins have one interview left (with special teams coach Darren Rizzi), along with the four they’ve already interviewed involved in the playoffs (Brian Flores, Eric Bieniemy, Dennis Allen http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authentic-derrick-nnadi-jersey , and Kris Richard).As noted by Adam Beasley of the , the Browns and Packers had interest in Flores before going with Freddie Kitchens and Matt LaFleur, respectively, and the Buccaneers met with聽Bieniemy and Richard before hiring Bruce Arians.The Bengals also talked to Bieniemy, though most people expect them to hire one of the guys they already know (Hue Jackson or Vance Joseph, or both).Now the Dolphins only have to wait for the season of their top target to end Womens Kendall Fuller Jersey , which could be this weekend or another three weeks from now. The NFL MVP will be part of a new school that will teach American football to British teenagers." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteArrowhead PrideArrowhead Pride | Kansas City Chiefs Schedule, News, Roster and StatsLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpSeriesLatest NewsFanpostsFanshotsCommunityAboutStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteSeries Stagner ThingsLottery Tickets ’19Summer of SpagsDixon’s MailbagLatest News Fanposts Most recentMost activeFanshots Community Community GuidelinesContactAbout StubHub ✕Patrick Mahomes will serve as ambassador to new London football academyNew,22commentsThe NFL MVP will be part of a new school that will teach American football to British teenagers.CDTShareTweetShareSharePatrick Mahomes will serve as ambassador to new London football academyPhoto by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesKansas City Chiefs quarterback (and NFL MVP) Patrick Mahomes will be among the current and former NFL players who will be part of a new academy to encourage British students to learn about American football, and possibly play in the NCAA and NFL.According to London newpaper The Evening Standard, the new academy — based at Barnet and Southgate College — will open in north London this September with about eighty students who will be selected in tryouts over the next few months.Six American football coaches have been recruited to work full-time at the academy.Mahomes — along with other NFL stars like Odell Beckham Jr. Anthony Hitchens Jersey , Juju Smith-Schuster, Jerry Rice, Jason Bell, Jay Ajayi, Osi Umenyiora and Efe Obada— will serve in “ambassadorial” roles, and will visit the school at least once a year. Ajayi and Umenyiora were born in Britain http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authentic-chad-henne-jersey , and Obada grew up there.Mahomes has no known British connection, but that might not last — at least according to friend-of-the-site Tom Martin of KCTV5.Ajayi was present for the launch announcement at the NFL’s London office, and told the Standard it was about time for there to be an American equivalent to the British academy system that teaches football (what Americans would call “soccer”) to kids.“It’s a crazy thing in my mind because knowing what the academy system means to kids in London in football,” Ajayi said. “Now to have an American football academy here for kids that are passionate about it and want to chase that dream is really important.”It is not yet clear if no-look passes will be part of the school’s curriculum.Kidding.Maybe.

The Miami Dolphins lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night Cheap Myles Gaskin Jersey , dropping their third preseason game out of three played. While there were lots of questions that have yet to be answered for the Dolphins, including the backup quarterback, linebackers, and cornerbacks, there was one moment in the game that got the most attention, and received some answers after the game.Near the end of the first quarter, the Dolphins stopped the Ravens on a third-down play, with linebacker Kiko Alonso in on the tackle. After making the play, Alonso got up and ran to the sideline, appearing to be a little confused about which way everyone else was running. When he got to the sidelines, well Myles Gaskin Miami Dolphins Jerseys , he had run to the Ravens’ side of the field.Join The Phinsider FanPulseAfter the game, Alonso immediately told the media, “You don’t need to ask. I don’t have much to say. I did a flip and that’s it. I kind of ran off the field and I was fine. It was just silly.”He was fine, but that does not mean the rest of the team is going to let him forget the funny moment. “Yes, of course I’m definitely going to hear that for a while and it’s well deserved,” the veteran said. “I just kind of – like I said, I did a flip after I tackled the guy, and kind of just ran over there and it was the wrong sideline.”He added that he knew people were concerned that he had a concussion, but said he just got up from the flip, and started running to the sideline without realizing he was running the wrong way. Once he got to the sideline, he was not sure what to do because the Ravens were already lined up for the kick and he did not know if he was allowed to run across the field.After Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said something to him Miami Dolphins Jerseys Stitched , Alonso ran back to Miami’s sideline. He was penalized for a delay of the game, but the Dolphins would block the field goal attempt. Alonso finished with a game-high seven tackles on the night, five solo.Miami visits the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday in the final preseason game of the year.What is a practice squad in the NFL? Who can be on it and when can they sign? The NFL’s roster cut deadline is looming, coming on Saturday at 4pm Eastern. As teams look to trim from the 90-man limit used during the offseason and preseason down to the 53-man roster limit for during the regular season, there is still a hope for players who are released and not claimed or signed by another club - the practice squad. This additional group of players get to workout with the team and continue to develop, but they are not members of the game-day team.What is exactly is the practice squad, who can be on it, why would someone want to be on a practice squad, and can the player join another team during the season? All your practice squad questions are answered here.What is the practice squad?Each team is allowed one group of players who do now count against the 53-man roster. The practice squad is used, typically, to develop a younger player Replica Myles Gaskin Jersey , while also giving the team a group of players who are used to replicate the offense or defense of the up-coming opponent.How big is the practice squad?Four years ago, the NFL and the NFL Players Association agreed to expand the practice squad to ten players.EligibiiltyThe standard eligibility for a player to be added to the practice squad is he is a free agent and has not accrued two years of NFL service. A player can only be on a practice squad for three seasons total in his career (six weeks on a practice squad in a season counts as a season for these purposes).The league does allow for exceptions to the less than two-year rule, which was expanded with the 10-player rule. Teams may keep up to four players on their practice squad who have accrued two seasons of NFL experience, which allows a fringe player the chance to stay with the team, even if he already has been in the league, while also allowing the teams to keep more veteran players.Accrued seasons are earned by being on the active (53-man) roster for a team for six games in a single regular season.SalaryPractice squad players receive a weekly salary, though there are no guarantees so they can be cut at any time. The practice squad minimum salary is $7,600 a week. Teams can choose to pay a practice squad player more, which teams will do when they like a player and are trying to keep him with the squad. Otherwise, he could be poached by another team.Practice squad salaries do count against a team’s salary cap.What is poaching?Practice squad players want to be 53-man roster, NFL players. The NFL allows a practice squad player to be signed by another team Stitched Myles Gaskin Jersey , if they are going to put him on their 53-man roster. When this happens, the player is giving a guaranteed three-week salary and he is added to the 53-man roster for three weeks - even if the team decides to release him before those three weeks are up. There are other rules as well, including limiting when a team can sign a practice squad player from their next opponent (six days prior to the game, or ten days if he is on a bye week), but those are not major ones you need to understand the practice squad.What if a team promotes their own practice squad player?A team can choose to sign their own practice squad player to the 53-man roster as well. Often, a team will use the practice squad to keep depth in case of injuries, so they will call up players if an injury occurs. Teams will also call a player up to the 53-man roster if they feel another team is trying to poach a player the original teams wants to keep.When can teams start signing practice squad players?Typically, any player who has cleared waivers and fits the eligibility criteria, can sign with a practice squad. A player who is released from a practice squad are also free to sign with another practice squad. When it comes to the final round of roster cuts - which happened on Saturday - the league shotgun starts the practice squad signing an hour after the waiver period ends. That means teams can start signing players to the practice squad as of 1pm ET Sunday, September 2.

r him a tryout Jason Verrett Color Rush Jersey , James-Michael Johnson had had enough.Still reeling from a year in which he spent time with five teams and got cut six times, the NFL linebacker passed on the chance to grind it out in camp.He retired at age 27 after four seasons. He wasn't sad to see his playing days come to an end."It's just better now, knowing that if I go to work every day, work hard, get better at my job and learn everything I can in the occupation, that I'll continue to progress," said Johnson, now 29, who works as an emergency medical technician near his hometown of Fairfield, California, with hopes of joining a fire department. "Everything's not based on my 40-yard dash."While the league this week will celebrate the longevity of 41-year-old Super Bowl quarterback Tom Brady and others like him, stories resembling Johnson's — a short stay in the league, followed by a virtually unnoticed retirement — are far more common.A first-of-its-kind analysis, conducted by The Associated Press , found that the average amount of experience on opening-day NFL rosters has dropped from 4.6 to 4.3 years over the past 14 seasons . That's despite provisions in the NFL's collective bargaining agreement that had the potential to extend players' careers.Had Johnson chosen to stick it out and made it onto the Chargers' roster Denzel Perryman Color Rush Jersey , they could have gotten him for cheap. Under one of the provisions covering veterans, he could have received a one-year contract for the 2017 league-minimum $775,000, and it would have counted as only $615,000 against the team's salary cap.But Johnson, a fourth-round pick in 2012, had stuck around long enough to qualify for a modest pension and, with the help of the NFL, had a decent 401(k) started. He loved helping people and looked forward to a different kind of life.So he decided to give up the game before some assistant coach or general manager he barely knew made the decision for him.Johnson — who played what is considered one of the league's most disposable positions — said that he had never even heard of the salary provision that might have helped him, but that it didn't sound like a realistic way of keeping guys like him around."They're always going to go with the younger player," Johnson said. "You're always going to go with the first-year undrafted free agent over the fourth- or fifth-year guy, when you're dealing with the roster bubble and a couple hundred thousand dollars."Eric Winston, president of the NFL Players' Association, agreed: "There are very few positions outside of quarterback where teams are going to want to keep a veteran who's decently paid and doesn't start."There were other factors at play in Johnson's decision.The Hollywood hit "Concussion" came out during his final season. The movie is based on the real-life investigation into the brain disease caused by multiple hits to the head — a disorder discovered in more than 100 deceased former NFL players who donated their brains to science.Johnson estimates he has had scores of head traumas over his dozen years of football at the high school, college and pro levels. He tells of one instance — not all that uncommon — when he got hit so hard against the Cowboys that "I felt like someone had thrown a grenade at me.""I don't remember how I got to the sideline Antonio Gates Color Rush Jersey ," he said. "But when you watch the film, you see me, and you say, ‘All that happened was he got hit, hopped up and jogged off.' Nobody knew anything bad had happened to me."Because of what he knows now, Johnson feels compelled to someday spell out the risks to his 4-year-old son, James-Michael Jr., if he wants to play football."I still wonder how that's all going to play out for me when I'm 45 or 50," Johnson said.Though he misses the competition, he doesn't miss football itself. In fact, he barely ever watches it.His best memories of the NFL will be what happened off the field. He loved the Tuesdays when he would be invited to schools, food banks or charity events for a chance to meet people in the community. He made friends in all the locker rooms he was part of.Fresh out of football, Johnson considered scouting and coaching, only to be turned off by both.Invited to an NFL rules meeting, Johnson said he felt the priority wasn't to make the game safer or more fair.Meanwhile Derwin James Color Rush Jersey , coaches he looked up to in college described a transient existence of slowly working your way up the ladder in a career that is ultimately dependent on head coaches who commonly get fired every four or five years.To Johnson, it sounded not all that different from the life he had just left. In all, he got cut seven times by six teams.Though his paychecks are not as gaudy these days, Johnson feels as if he can breathe again."Now, I know if I do my job to the best of my ability, I can keep coming to work," he said. "Someone's not to call me up into the office and say, ‘We looked at the tape, and we're thinking about bringing in a younger, better player today.'" Antonio Gates briefly was out of football in the offseason. His absence from the game lasted five months.The Chargers publicly bid Gates farewell in April, a month before Hunter Henry tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Los Angeles re-signed Gates the week of the season opener.Despite only 28 receptions for 338 yards and two touchdowns this season, Gates sounds as if he thinks he has more football in his future.“I try to evaluate myself,” Gates said, via Steve Wyche of NFL Media. “I can still beat a linebacker. I feel like I can still play.“The hard part is I set the bar at a certain level, but I’ve adjusted to my role http://www.chargersfanstore.com/Joey-Bosa-Jersey , and I just love my teammates. I love this staff. I’ve learned some new dances. I’m just having so much fun.”Gates, 38, has played 350 snaps, or 37.4 percent of the team’s offensive plays, as Virgil Green has gotten the bulk of the work at the position. Gates played 500 snaps, or 47 percent, last season and made 30 receptions for 316 yards and three touchdowns.Gates knows the end is near. But in reminding everyone he “hasn’t taken that wear and tear” because he didn’t play college football, Gates has started campaigning for a 17th season.“I’m on third base, and I’m heading home,” Gates said, “but I’m feeling so good about all this.”