The Bengals showed some signs of life in the 2018 offseason by being slightly more aggressive in free agency and drafting immediate impact players. If they want to back up new head coach Zac Taylor’s statements about being forward-thinking Womens Trey Hopkins Jersey , the Bengals need to build off last offseason and continue evolving their team-building process this year.Let’s take a look at some of the best ways for the Bengals to prove they are serious about establishing a winning culture. 1. Nail the remaining coaching hiresThe Bengals still have two huge hires that they have to make and they have to get them right if they want to succeed: defensive coordinator and offensive line coach. The reported candidates for defensive coordinator are slightly concerning with Dom Capers emerging as the favorite; however, they could still get it right with a hire out of the blue. They were previously linked to Bill Callahan coming from Washington to become their offensive line coach, but recent reports state that Jim Turner is now the preferred candidate. There’s still time to get these hires right Joe Mixon Jersey White , but these two would not instill the most confidence.2. Be aggressive in free agencyThe Bengals have two major needs at offensive tackle and linebacker. It would be best if both of these positions were comfortably filled before the NFL Draft so they wouldn’t have to play rookies in those spots. The market for offensive tackle isn’t as strong as it is at linebacker, but there are a handful of players who the Bengals could afford to man the right edge of their offensive line. At linebacker, there are several impact players for the Bengals to choose from Womens Darqueze Dennard Jersey , C.J. Mosley of the Ravens being the cream of the crop. Addressing both of these positions by signing quality starters would go a long way of establishing a different culture.3. Draft immediate impact playersThe Bengals did well with this last year, drafting starters with their first two picks and a heavy rotational player with one of their third-round picks in Sam Hubbard. If the Bengals want to continue to show that they are serious about winning, they should continue to draft players that can make immediate impacts. They should Womens Cordy Glenn Jersey , however, not be sacrificing talent at the same time. The Bengals cannot reach for a player, but they cannot afford to draft players to sit on the bench for most of their rookie contract either. The Bengals need to find the best mix of need and value.4. Continue to explore the trade marketIt is not clear yet what players are on the trade block for every team http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-malik-jefferson-jersey , but rumors always pop up and the Bengals should not be afraid of making another trade like they did last year when the acquire Cordy Glenn. The Patriots got their left tackle Trent Brown, who played all season for them in a trade that cost them almost nothing, and the Bengals themselves upgraded left tackle by simply dropping nine spots in the first round. There have been rumors that the Bengals may be interested in moving on from Andy Dalton and bringing on Ryan Tannehill which could net the Bengals positive value through trades. If there is a player who a team is trying to trade who would fill a need for the Bengals they should try to acquire them. Look heavily at linebackers that teams are not happy with or on teams that are trying to tank Carlos Dunlap Jersey , and most importantly be aggressive. Marvin Lewis is out after 16 years in Cincinnati and some members of his coaching staff are reportedly set to interview with the team as part of the search for his replacement.Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the team plans to conduct interviews with members of the staff soon. Pelissero reports that the group is expected to include offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons.It’s not clear whether Hue Jackson will also be on that list. He returned for a third stint on Lewis’ staff after being fired as the Browns’ head coach earlier this year and Lewis said at his press conference on Monday that he hoped Jackson would get a chance to speak to the team about the job.Lazor joined the Bengals as quarterbacks coach in 2016 and moved up to offensive coordinator when Ken Zampese was fired last year. Simmons has been with the Bengals since 2003.
As another draft looms for the Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins Jerseys 2019 , both the team and its fans are wondering whether this will be the year that we finally see an effective, cohesive offensive line on the field for the..." As another draft looms for the Miami Dolphins, both the team and its fans are wondering whether this will be the year that we finally see an effective, cohesive offensive line on the field for the Dolphins this season. It may not be easy. The Dolphins have a top tier player at left tackle in Laremy Tunsil, a decent starter at right guard in Jesse Davis, an underachieving, try hard guy at center in Daniel Kilgore and not much else.As always, it often helps to look at the team from a historical perspective to see what has happened in past drafts, as it relates to Miami’s offensive line. This team has a history of just missing out on some real studs in the draft, watching other teams pick, or trade, ahead of them and snap up the good players before the Dolphins can get them. We saw this in the first round of the 1995 draft, when in Don Shula’s final draft for Miami, Minnesota selected all America Ohio State tackle Korey Stringer with the 24th pick. You would think, that with the top two tackles off the board (Tony Boselli went 2nd, to the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars), Shula would have gone in a different direction, but no -- he plowed ahead and chose offensive tackle Billy Milner from the University of Houston with the 25th pick . Milner played in only nine games for the Dolphins.In 2004, the Dolphins were mired in what has become an irksome trend for them: instead of a viable player at a given position, they often instead prefer a gaping hole with a big neon sign above it that reads, ‘We Need __________, Bad’. In 2004 Chandler Cox T-Shirts Jersey , that gaping hole was the entire right side of the offensive line. Gaping holes with neon signs above them allows other teams to project who your favorite team is likely to select at a given spot, and then trade with another team that’s picking ahead of your favorite team, so they can draft that player before your team can get him. Shawn Andrews was the top guard available in ‘04, so naturally, the Philadelphia Eagles traded ahead of the Dolphins and selected Andrews with the 16th overall pick, leaving Miami to settle for hometown product Vernon Carey, from the University of Miami. Carey played eight seasons for the Dolphins, and had a decent career, but Andrews made two Pro Bowls in Philly before he got injured. Remember that embarrassing 1-15 season in 2007? To be sure, the Dolphins had lot of problems that year, including at the center position, but if the Carolina Panthers hadn’t taken center Ryan Khalil with the 59th pick, Miami wouldn’t have had to settle for pint sized Samson Satele with the 60th. Khalil would go to five Pro Bowls for Carolina, and not getting him was a big reason why the Dolphins had to burn a number one pick on Mike Pouncey four years later. It was in 2012, though, that the Dolphins really missed out, and did it ever cost them. Having finished with an identical record as the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins’ strength of schedule was a couple of hundredths of a percentage point higher than the Bills’, which gave Buffalo the 41st overall pick and Miami the 42nd, in the top half of the second round. Former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland wanted University of Georgia’s Cordy Glenn, but was forced to settle for Stanford’s Jonathan Martin, a quirk of fate that still haunts the Dolphins seven years later. Martin eventually imploded in Miami Infant Chandler Cox Jersey , and touched off the BullyGate scandal that made the Dolphins a national laughingstock. Glenn was good enough in Buffalo that the Bills were able to package him with some other picks and move up in last year’s draft to select their quarterback of the future, Josh Allen.2014 was a similar scenario to 2012, but at least when Miami missed out on four time Pro Bowler Zach Martin, Ju ‘Wuan James didn’t bring any scandals to the Dolphins. He also didn’t go to any Pro Bowls, either and he now plays for the Denver Broncos.To be fair, many of the above events were beyond the team’s control, but they didn’t have to take the players they chose after better guys at the same position had already been selected by other teams. Aside from hoping that their abysmally bad luck takes a turn for the better, is there anything Miami can do for itself, to improve the offensive line? I would say yes. Get rid of that ridiculous finesse blocking system that both Joe Philbin and Adam Gase’s staffs used, and go back to a more physical, power based scheme. Maybe the X’s and O’s guys on the Phinsider can help me out a little bit here, but I’ve read that if you see the guards pulling on running plays, that’s an indication of a power based blocking scheme. Most of the top offenses I’ve seen the past couple of years, the Kansas City Chiefs, etc, have had their guards pulling frequently, and I didn’t see the Dolphins doing any pulling, at least in the games I saw. As I’ve said before, you don’t bring a knife to a gunfight and you don’t send finesse blockers to contend with the physical odd front defenses that are found in the AFC East. That’s the wrap for today, have a great week, everybody. The Dolphins are many things at the moment.Bad at football, being strip-mined of talent Chandler Cox Jersey nfl draft , and becoming a national laughingstock are just a few of those things.But what they can’t be is in denial, according to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.Via Adam Beasley of the , the wise elder said it was important for the Dolphins to be clear about what’s happening around them, after recent trades that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh and Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to Houston.“The elephant in the room. There are certain things, whether it’s the Minkah trade or Laremy or Kenny or dropping the ball or throwing an interception that some people treat them as taboo, but you have to be open about it and put everything out there and knowing guys are going to make mistakes, but maybe getting to the root of why it’s happening,” Fitzpatrick said. “I just think as a whole, overcommunicating on all that and getting it out there is an important thing.”Fitzpatrick’s steady nature may have a lot to do with him keeping the starting job, despite leading the team to 10 points in two games. It’s probably inevitable that they’ll let Josh Rosen start (What’s it going to do, get worse? Trick question, it can always get worse), which Fitzpatrick will accept as part of the business.“I’ve seen it every way,” Fitzpatrick said. “I truly have. . . . There’s a million things and ways it’s happened in my career. For me, always being ready and knowing that when I have my opportunity, I have to go out there and do my best.“My whole career has been like that. I try to do my best in putting my focus in what I can control. The first two games, there’s a lot of things that I need to do better in order for us to perform better, and that’s where my focus is on right now.”With so much to work with, not recognizing the obvious won’t help.
Should the LA Rams trade Jared Goff before giving him a massive deal? An interesting topic came up on twitter today Tyler Higbee Jersey , when ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested that a team would potentially try to - and the Rams might be interested in listening to - trade offers for Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff a year or two down the road.Now this is obviously not a rumor or speculation, but more so a look at how the Rams could continue to keep star talent all over their roster by not having to potentially pay Goff $100M(+) when the time comes due. It’s certainly a very risky proposition, as there are no guarantees the Rams don’t completely fall apart without a strong QB. There are a few things to consider here. First of all, you’d have to come to grips with trading away the No. 1 overall pick without any guarantees of acquiring an even half decent starter. Sean Mannion certainly wouldn’t be able to carry the team to the postseason. And then you’d have to consider whether or not Sean McVay would be the QB whisperer to another young QB and provide the same type of results we saw from Goff in 2017. But if you can wrap your brain around the idea, the next question is what the compensation would look like.If the Rams were to be offered a 1st round pick, the answer is definitely no. But if a team, let’s say a not very good team with a huge need for a QB, was to offer you TWO first round picks, then maybe it’s something to consider. Maybe not. But at some point in time the potential trade compensation has to get you thinking. At any rate, the TST staff were having some fun with the idea...well, we were mostly bickering, but I felt it might be something the TST fans - who are smarter than us - might enjoy. Here are a few of our thoughts. We hope you’ll share yours in the comments below: Sosa KremenjasYeah, I’d be open to it. I think it could be a stroke of brilliance if performed properly Taylor Rapp Jersey Cheap , though the NFL is a very old-school type of league so let me preface this by saying I don’t think it’ll ever happen. But back to the pros/cons. This offense has far more to do with Sean McVay than it does with Jared Goff. He simplifies the game for the QB. His route combinations and plans of attack are downright brilliant. You have arguably the best RB in the league. The offensive line is strong. The trio of weapons are among the best in the league. If you can find another QB who can offer you 5 years of controlled costs (as well as potentially multiple draft picks) to improve the team elsewhere, you’re a Superbowl contender. It also helps to do it in a year where there’s a strong draft, particularly at QB, such as the past two drafts. Lastly, how many QB’s could start for Sean McVay right now and give you what Jared Goff gives you? 10? 15? Maaaybe 20?Again, I don’t think it will happen, but it would absolutely be something I’d be open to.Tevin BronerI can’t see the Rams trading Goff. Teams are scared to trade or get rid of QBs like Blake Bortles or Andy Dalton. Hell, I was surprised when the Rams got rid of Sam Bradford.With that being said, I could imagine a scenario with the Rams finding a QB in the draft and maybe Goff gets injured. But it just seems far-fetched, even if I think that he’s a system QB.Charlie HillerI’ve wondered about the idea of flipping Goff for a rookie/FA when the time comes but it’s incredibly risky. If you think that McVay truly is a QB whisperer who can turn an average-to-replacement-level guy into a serviceable starter, then pull the trigger. But if Goff had any bit to do with last season’s success, I think you have to keep him and build around him. Who knows, maybe he’s one of those “team friendly” guys when it comes to be contract time. That being said Taylor Rapp Jersey Womens , if there’s a QB projecting to be a late 1st or 2nd rounder and McVay wants him...I think he’s earned the benefit of the doubt. Even at the risk of plunging the team right back into quarterback hell.Eric NagelNo, trading Goff is a silly idea. Quarterback is easily the most in demand position in football, and getting rid of someone, who admittedly the jury is still out on (but put up nearly 4000 yards and 30TDs last year) is quite frankly stupid.Teams would kill for that level of production, and there is no guarantee a rookie would be able to replicate that.Put it this way - you don’t trade him, and you’ll probably get similar stats. Trade him and it doesn’t work out? Somebody is getting fired. If that’s your level of risk, cool. But it isn’t mine.HotdaddywagsShort answer: no. No, you don’t deal a promising QB prospect at or near the end of his rookie deal. We’ve played hell trying to find a capable signal caller for a decade, and we’ve got a kid who has a high ceiling and is a good fit for our offense. Still, it’s an intriguing notion – if Goff is average in 2018 and the Rams fall short of expectations based on his play, you have to wonder how that impacts his sticker price. And if that price is too high, and you’ve established a strong trade market, identified a veteran stopgap solution and a draft target Taylor Rapp white jersey , you definitely consider it. But until we have more information, I’m in the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” camp and am hopeful Goff silences his critics and becomes a guy worthy of the big bucks.Joey AucoinI would hope that if Goff isn’t a top 5-10 QB, his agents won’t ask for the farm. Like, if it’s clear that he’s Andy Dalton or Blake Bortles (which is not the case yet), he shouldn’t get Derek Carr money. I want Goff to succeed and still feel like he’s getting better. I want this season to be proof that all of the “Goff sucks” jerks have been jumping the gun.seattleramsRight now I’m a big no. The Rams spent 8 years looking for someone to fill the position after Marc Bulger left. Goff might not be Drew Bree’s, but it’s working, so leave things as they are.However, with that said... I am on board with allowing Sean McVay to do anything he wishes with this team. If he wants to move Jared Goff along for a used pizza box, I am going to trust his beautiful ass to make it work.Brandon BateI’d definitely listen to offers. I realize it’s a huge risk trading away your quarterback. I also think Sean McVay has the potential to turn an average QB into a very good one — especially if he’s able to maintain the talent level around him. The setup the Rams have now, with Goff on his rookie contract, is ideal. It’s a large part of what’s allowed them to build the roster as you see it today. Again Taylor Rapp Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , it’s risky, but I would put my trust in McVay to get a signal caller - whether it be a free agent or a rookie - ready and make the Rams a consistently solid team. The Los Angeles Rams are far from 100% entering Week 8, where they’ll host the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium in London. Starters Aqib Talib, John Johnson III, and Joseph Noteboom have all been placed on IR with the potential to return later in the year. Specifically regarding this Sunday, they will be without RB Malcolm Brown, and linebackers Bryce Hager and Clay Matthews. Rams’ Head Coach Sean McVay is optimistic that Matthews — who’s been out since suffering a broken jaw in Week 5 against the Seahawks — will soon return. The initial recovery timeline was that Matthews would be out 4-6 weeks, the front end of which would have him return in Week 10 when the Rams head east to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Clay was having a very productive start to the year prior to injury, having started all five games tallying six sacks, two forced fumbles and 19 tackles. It goes without saying that having him back would be a huge boost the Rams, as they look to string together wins and climb up the NFC West ranks.
Fresh off a big victory against the Cincinnati Bengals Long Sleeve Nick Allegretti Jersey , the Kansas City Chiefs stay home for another week and take on a familiar adversary: the Denver Broncos.Here are five things to watch during the game:1. Dueling blowoutsMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsBoth of these teams are coming off blowout victories in the previous week — and as it happens, the final score of both games was 45-10.That seemed like an odd coincidence to me, so naturally, I wondered what kind of history there is for this kind of situation.The RundownSubscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.It turns out that since the 1970 merger, there have been only four games in which both teams won their previous game by 35 or more points — the most recent in 1986.In 1972, the Dolphins beat the Jets 28-24 in Week 10.(That Miami team, of course, is the one that went undefeated through the Super Bowl that season).In 1973, the Falcons defeated the 49ers 17-3 in Week 7.In Week 9 of 1977, the Raiders beat the Oilers 34-29, and in 1986’s Week 5, the Bears blanked the Vikings 23-0.So in a very limited sample size, half of the games saw the teams put up a fair number of points in a one-score game, and in the rest of the games, one of them walloped the other. (I didn’t really expect to learn anything from this.It was just fun to look up.I love my job!).In this game, both defenses have just given up fewer points than any other game this season.And both offenses have just put up their biggest scores of the season.(It’s the Internet, so I know some wag is going to point out that the Chiefs offense only scored 38.OK, fine.The Broncos offense only scored 31.Feel better?).You could reasonably expect both units on both teams to come out swinging.And it’s a division game.The Chiefs are 6-5 against the Broncos since Andy Reid’s arrival.Reid lost five times in a row, and has now won six straight — but only three have been relatively easy victories.In each of the last two — both with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback — the Chiefs have had to come from behind to win.So don’t look for a blowout in this game.Look for it to be an incredibly physical battle that will be played to the final whistle.2. Don’t overlook the Broncos defenseMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsAs a division rival, it’s easy for Chiefs fans to discount the Broncos.But it would be a mistake to discount the Broncos defense.The unit is, after all, the only one to hold the Chiefs to less than 30 points this season — albeit on their home field.They no longer have some of the players that made them one of the NFL’s top defenses, but there are still some very talented players on the Broncos defensive roster.This week Nick Allegretti Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys , Broncos safety Justin Simmons told Denver’s KDSP that Denver knows what it needs to do.“If we want to win this game, it’s going to come down to us defensively, and we didn’t get it done in the fourth quarter,” Simmons said of the first game against the Chiefs. “This time it’s the same recipe.It’s going to come down to us — not only holding them to less points but creating more turnovers, creating more opportunities for the offense to have more time of possession and more chances to move the ball down the field. If we’re going to win in KC that’s what it’s going to take.”Simmons told KDSP that he might be playing in the slot more against the Chiefs — something that Broncos head coach Vance Joseph seemed to be hinting in remarks about Simmons on Monday.“He’s a good football player, he’s very smart,” Joseph said. “He allows us to play some base versus three-wide because he can cover the slot for the most part.He’s guy that’s valuable to us — as a leader, as a guy that can cover slots and as a blitzer that plays the ball from the high zone.”3. Organic pressureIsaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SportsLast week, I pointed out that the Chiefs were going to have to pressure Andy Dalton without blitzing him — because Dalton isn’t good under pressure, but is good at making defenses pay for blitzing.Apparently, Bob Sutton knew that, too. As Craig Stout pointed out in his analysis of the Chiefs defense against the Bengals, Sutton blitzed Dalton exactly once — but still got a pair of sacks, a quarterback hit and 11 pressures on 33 passing attempts. Dalton slinked away from Arrowhead with a passer rating of 63.6 on the day, and the Chiefs held a good offense to just 10 points.Case Keenum isn’t quite in the same league as Dalton, but pressure will disrupt him, and like any experienced NFL quarterback, he capable of making a blitz backfire. Sutton would be wise to adopt a similar approach this week.4. Embracing the chaosRon Chenoy-USA TODAY SportsSince their backup quarterback Chad Kelly was arrested for criminal trespass in the early hours of Tuesday morning after attending teammate Von Miller’s annual Halloween party — and was subsequently cut by the team — it would be pretty easy to conclude that the Broncos are self-destructing from lack of leadership.And it’s possible that’s exactly what’s happening.But from long experience observing these kinds of incidents on NFL teams, I think it would be a mistake to assume that’s what’s going on.It’s not at all unknown for something like this to galvanize a team.It’s easy to imagine that Von Miller — embarrassed because this happened in connection with his party — to be doubly motivated to have a big game.It’s possible that Keenum — suddenly without a quarterback controversy swirling around him — could react in a similar way.In short, it’s impossible to predict what effect this incident will have on the Broncos. But it will be more than interesting to see how it plays out.5. More Mahomes recordsMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsPatrick Mahomes has thrown 22 touchdown passes in the first seven games this season — a feat that only Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have accomplished.If he gets three more against the Broncos — can you believe we’re calmly discussing the possibility that a Chiefs quarterback could throw three touchdown passes in an upcoming game as if it’s something that happens all the time? — he’ll have 25 in eight games.Both Brady and Manning have done that, too — but it would exceed the number thrown in eight games by Andrew Luck, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys Stitched , Aaron Rodgers and Dan Marino.That’s some pretty hefty company.It’s also worth noting that if Mahomes makes it to 25 touchdown passes on Sunday, he’ll be the youngest player to throw that many through eight games of a season.Manning has done it twice — at 28 and 37 — and Brady didn’t do it until he was 30.Those three touchdown passes would also keep him ahead of Kurt Warner’s record for touchdown passes through nine career games — and in all probability, also push him above Warner’s passer rating of 116.1 through those games. NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The big boys showed up this weekend and showed those usurpers from the wild-card round how it’s done.The top two seeds from the AFC and NFC returned to action in their comfortable home settings — ice and snow and chills be darned in the AFC — and swatted aside the survivors of the opening set of games. Only the Saints struggled against the resilient defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, and even as that game wore on, New Orleans wore out Philadelphia.Sure, the Eagles had a chance to move on even after blowing an early 14-0 lead and then being dominated for nearly three quarters. But the Saints (14-3) got through it, and they’ll likely be the better for it when they host the Rams (13-4) next Sunday.It’s certainly easier on the nerves when you pretty much blow away the opposition, as the Chiefs (13-4) and Patriots (12-5) did. The Rams never seemed threatened by the Cowboys down the stretch Saturday night. But Drew Brees and company have some evaluating and adjusting to do after the banged-up Eagles nearly pulled off another stunner.Brees is certain a lesson has been learned.“We found a bunch of ways to win during the season,” Brees said after the 20-14 victory . Every game kind of stood alone, but many of them came down to third quarter, fourth quarter, second half-type comebacks and it took everybody. It took maybe a big play on offense or a big play on defense or a big play on special teams to kind of turn the tide. But they were all great team victories and it looks like that carried over into the playoffs.”One lesson, perhaps, from all four divisional-round contests: Balance is going to matter.We know these teams can light up the scoreboard; for the first time, the top four scoring clubs in the league make up the final four. But if you can’t play solid defense at some point, you’re probably doomed.“The only thing we’re thinking is get on the field and get back off the field,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said after a 41-28 romp over the Chargers. “We play defense. We know how hard it is if an offense has a long drive …and if we can go and get stops and get the (New England offense) right back out there. It’s tough as a defense, for one, to get the adjustments that are happening, to catch your breath — like, you just feel like you’re out there, you’re out there.”If there’s one defense among the final four that might not be on the field for long stretches, it could be New England when it journeys to Kansas City. Not because the Patriots are staunch Nick Allegretti Jersey nfl draft , but because the Chiefs have a tendency to make big plays, to score quickly.New England — and New Orleans — showed tremendous aptitude for long, clock-eating drives on Sunday. The Rams have their super running back in All-Pro Todd Gurley, and a dynamic offensive scheme. No matter how it’s sliced, championship weekend is going to have a shootout taste.So let’s see who can sour that taste with a huge helping of D.Maybe the Chiefs, who romped past the NFL’s hottest team, Indianapolis, 31-13. KC is adept at rushing the passer and that seemed to be its only strength without the ball. Ask Andrew Luck and Marlon Mack, though. They’ll bear witness to the Chiefs’ ability to take control on defense.Maybe the Patriots, who other than a long TD pass to Keenan Allen in the first quarter, never were pushed by Philip Rivers and the Chargers’ offense until garbage time.Maybe the Rams, who held league leader Ezekiel Elliott to 47 yards rushing in a 30-22 victory over Dallas that was more one-sided than the score shows.And maybe the Saints, who yielded 153 yards in the first quarter at New Orleans, then gave up 72 in the next two periods combined.Or maybe nobody, and these two rematches of points extravaganzas will set all kinds of records.“It’s just about the approach we are taking out there,” Chiefs linebacker Anthony Hitchens said. “It’s not what coach is calling, it’s not what we are doing, it is how we are doing it. We are playing with aggressiveness, we are having fun, we are jumping around. It’s just a different type of feel and vibe from our defense. It is never too late, and we caught on at the right time, and these past couple weeks we are playing good ball and we just need to keep doing that.”Times four.
While the New England Patriots are among 12 teams left standing after the regular season Yodny Cajuste Buffalo Bills Jersey , 20 others are already on to the new year — among them the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns. The three clubs all fired their head coaches after (or in Carolina’s case, during) disappointing 2019 campaigns and now have openings atop their staffs. In order to fill them, they have set their sights on the reigning world champions.While the Browns and Panthers both asked the Patriots to interview long-time offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Giants want to speak not just to McDaniels but have also expressed interest in wide receivers/special teams coach Joe Judge. It seems as if all three teams have been granted their wish: as first reported by the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride, New England has given them permission to talk to the two assistant coaches.So, what comes next? NFL rules prohibit the teams to talk to coaches whose teams play on wild card weekend, which means that the Giants, Browns and Panthers will have to wait until next week to conduct interviews whether the Patriots advance past the Tennessee Titans on Saturday or not. However, those talks can only take place in New England in case the Patriots will have to prepare for an upcoming divisional round game.As for this week Color Rush Yodny Cajuste Jersey , the interest in McDaniels and Judge should not be much of an issue as the former pointed out during a media conference call earlier this week: “I’m 100 percent fully invested in getting ready for Tennessee and trying to put our best performance of the season out there on Saturday night. We have a lot of work to do and that’s really where my focus will be, that’s where it’s at now and it will stay there.”“That’s the best thing for our team; that’s the best thing for me. We’re one of 12 teams that have an opportunity to compete in the postseason and that’s the only way I’ll ever do it,” McDaniels added. There is a chance, however, that next week does look different and both he and Judge will have to prepare for a game against the Kansas City Chiefs and potential head coaching interviews. With Patriots safety Patrick Chung indicted on felony cocaine possession charges, Patriots fans are bracing for (and non-Patriots fans are rooting for) Chung not being available this season. While that would happen if the Patriots choose to release Chung, the league cannot suspend Chung, with or without pay, based on these allegations.Chung’s alleged misconduct does not fall under the Personal Conduct Policy. The substance-abuse policy covers criminal conduct involving substances of abuse, and the substance-abuse policy contains clear language on what can Youth Yodny Cajuste Jersey , and thus can’t, be done to a player who merely faces criminal charges, whether misdemeanor or felony.First, nothing can be done until the charges are resolved. The league can’t, and won’t, conduct its own investigation and take action independent of the criminal process.Second, Chung can’t be suspended with pay pending resolution of the charges. It’s simply not available under the substance-abuse policy. The Commissioner-Exempt list applies only to potential Personal Conduct Policy violations involving alleged crimes of violence.Third, Chung will be subject to NFL discipline only if he ultimately is found responsible for a drug-related offense. This requires a conviction, a guilty plea, a no-contest plea Womens Yodny Cajuste Jersey , or entry into a diversion program. If Chung fights the charges and wins exoneration, the league can do nothing.Unless the wheels of justice move more quickly than they usually do, this case won’t be resolved until at the 2019 season, at the earliest. Thus, the league will do nothing — indeed, the league do nothing — until the case ends, at the earliest. While this doesn’t prevent the Patriots from making roster decisions in light of the allegations against Chung, it definitely keeps the league from imposing any sort of sanction.
While the New England Patriots are among 12 teams left standing after the regular season Yodny Cajuste Buffalo Bills Jersey , 20 others are already on to the new year — among them the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns. The three clubs all fired their head coaches after (or in Carolina’s case, during) disappointing 2019 campaigns and now have openings atop their staffs. In order to fill them, they have set their sights on the reigning world champions.While the Browns and Panthers both asked the Patriots to interview long-time offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Giants want to speak not just to McDaniels but have also expressed interest in wide receivers/special teams coach Joe Judge. It seems as if all three teams have been granted their wish: as first reported by the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride, New England has given them permission to talk to the two assistant coaches.So, what comes next? NFL rules prohibit the teams to talk to coaches whose teams play on wild card weekend, which means that the Giants, Browns and Panthers will have to wait until next week to conduct interviews whether the Patriots advance past the Tennessee Titans on Saturday or not. However, those talks can only take place in New England in case the Patriots will have to prepare for an upcoming divisional round game.As for this week Color Rush Yodny Cajuste Jersey , the interest in McDaniels and Judge should not be much of an issue as the former pointed out during a media conference call earlier this week: “I’m 100 percent fully invested in getting ready for Tennessee and trying to put our best performance of the season out there on Saturday night. We have a lot of work to do and that’s really where my focus will be, that’s where it’s at now and it will stay there.”“That’s the best thing for our team; that’s the best thing for me. We’re one of 12 teams that have an opportunity to compete in the postseason and that’s the only way I’ll ever do it,” McDaniels added. There is a chance, however, that next week does look different and both he and Judge will have to prepare for a game against the Kansas City Chiefs and potential head coaching interviews. With Patriots safety Patrick Chung indicted on felony cocaine possession charges, Patriots fans are bracing for (and non-Patriots fans are rooting for) Chung not being available this season. While that would happen if the Patriots choose to release Chung, the league cannot suspend Chung, with or without pay, based on these allegations.Chung’s alleged misconduct does not fall under the Personal Conduct Policy. The substance-abuse policy covers criminal conduct involving substances of abuse, and the substance-abuse policy contains clear language on what can Youth Yodny Cajuste Jersey , and thus can’t, be done to a player who merely faces criminal charges, whether misdemeanor or felony.First, nothing can be done until the charges are resolved. The league can’t, and won’t, conduct its own investigation and take action independent of the criminal process.Second, Chung can’t be suspended with pay pending resolution of the charges. It’s simply not available under the substance-abuse policy. The Commissioner-Exempt list applies only to potential Personal Conduct Policy violations involving alleged crimes of violence.Third, Chung will be subject to NFL discipline only if he ultimately is found responsible for a drug-related offense. This requires a conviction, a guilty plea, a no-contest plea Womens Yodny Cajuste Jersey , or entry into a diversion program. If Chung fights the charges and wins exoneration, the league can do nothing.Unless the wheels of justice move more quickly than they usually do, this case won’t be resolved until at the 2019 season, at the earliest. Thus, the league will do nothing — indeed, the league do nothing — until the case ends, at the earliest. While this doesn’t prevent the Patriots from making roster decisions in light of the allegations against Chung, it definitely keeps the league from imposing any sort of sanction.
The Morning After: Raiders flat performance falls squarely on Jon Gruden’s shoulders It’s amazing how quickly good feelings from a win can go away. The positivity from last week’s win against the Cleveland Browns has already disappeared with this loss to the Los Angeles Chargers Antonio Brown Jersey White , quickly dissolving back into the negativity that had preceded the Raiders lone victory. It isn’t just that the Raiders lost, it’s that they played so badly in a huge game for them. This was a divisional rivalry that could have gotten the Raiders out of the AFC West cellar with a victory, and Oakland just completely whiffed on even making the game competitive. It wasn’t just a loss, it was an implosion. That is on Jon Gruden not having his team ready for this game, he needs to make sure the team is better prepared and motivated for such an important game.Once again though, a horrible decision by Derek Carr in the end zone directly affected the outcome of the game. It was with a minute left in the 3rd quarter, the score was 20-3 and the Raiders had 1st and goal at the 1 yard line when Carr threw another absolutely ridiculous interception. Let’s just repeat that for a second, it was 1st and goal from the 1!Not only was it an awful call to even throw the ball there instead of run Marshawn Lynch, but there was absolutely no reason to force a throw into traffic in the middle of the end zone anyway. It was just plain stupid and unforgivable of Carr, there was no chance he was going to complete that pass to Derek Carrier and he threw it directly to Melvin Ingram like Ingram was the intended target.How many times do we have to say this anyway, run Marshawn Lynch in that situation every single time. Lynch is the most violent runner of the past decade, you give him the first opportunity to score from the goal line. This shouldn’t have to even be said. Don’t be cute, don’t be creative, just hand the ball off to Beastmode and let him dominate the defense even if they know it’s coming. If he gets stopped then MAYBE try something else, but don’t throw the damn ball on 1st and goal from the 1 when you have Marshawn Lynch.If the Raiders score a touchdown there the game is 20-10 going into the 4th quarter and all of the momentum would have been on Oakland’s side. Who knows what happens after that? The game was fully in reach if Carr doesn’t throw the bonehead interception. It’s ok to throw the ball away in order to live to fight another day, but Carr consistently makes these horrible decisions instead.Then to make matters worse, once the offense got the ball back after the Chargers scored another touchdown they showed absolutely no urgency in trying to come back from the 26-3 deficit. The 9 play touchdown drive would have been beautiful if it had happened any time before the 4th quarter, but it was agony to watch the team walk to the line like they had all the time in the world.They weren’t likely to come back anyway Bo Jackson Jersey White , but that doesn’t mean you don’t still do everything you can in trying to make the improbable happen. There was just under 10 minutes left in the game for the Raiders to get 23 points, and they took 4:31 off the clock on the one slow moving drive. There was no fire, no rhythm, no anything of what you actually would want to see from your favorite team in that situation.The one bright spot to point out in the whole game was that Daryl Worley looked really good at times coming back from suspension. He had 8 tackles in the game and at least two of them were on third down plays where he came up with the stop when nobody else was going to be able to. There is a reason that he played 77% of the snaps despite only having 3 practices since preseason ended, and hopefully he continues to show that type of play going forward.A semi-bright spot was the play of Martavis Bryant who had 3 receptions for 91 yards, however that’s only simi-bright because of his extremely costly fumble in the 2nd quarter. The Raiders needed to respond to the Chargers touchdown that took the lead 10-3, but Bryant’s fumble led to another LA touchdown and the Raiders never were really in the game again after that. Still, it’s great to see him continuing to get comfortable in the Raiders offense and to put his impressive speed on display. He is showing what the Raiders saw in him to trade a 3rd rounder for him, he just needs to clean it up a little more and secure the ball much better than he did on that fumble.There is no excuse for such a lackluster offense in such a big game for the Raiders though, Jon Gruden absolutely has to do better than this. This clearly looks like a lost season already at 1-4, but that doesn’t excuse having such a flat, uninspired offense like they showed against the Chargers. There is no excuse for the offense to play like they did yesterday, and that is on Jon Gruden to make sure the team isn’t flat like that.That’s the most frustrating part of the whole thing. Gruden is a master motivator (maybe) and instead of showing up for a big game like this the team just completely folded. Where is the fire that Chucky is supposed to have if it isn’t showing up in an AFC West rivalry game to get out of the cellar of the division? Losing is one thing, but losing with no heart is another and this was the latter.Next up is Seattle in London, a game that seemed a lot more winnable a week ago. Still, a win against the Seahawks before facing the Colts at home and the 49ers in Santa Clara could put them right back on track to getting this season respectable at least. Right now even hoping for a .500 season is hard to do, but a win against Seattle could reinvigorate the team and the fanbase.Sadly, it’s awfully hard to be optimistic going forward after flopping like they did against the Chargers in such a big opportunity for them. If the Raiders continue to play with as little heart as they showed yesterday then there’s a much better chance that Oakland would be battling for the top pick in the draft rather than being anywhere near 8-8 when the season ends. Raiders NewsRaiders' Worley Believes His Best Is Yet to Come - NBC Bay AreaRaiders re-signed Worley this spring https://www.raiderslockerroom.com/authentic-derek-carr-jersey , but he'll be challengedRaiders' Davis: HOFers' families should get ringsRaiders..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesSilver And Black Pride homepageHorizontal - WhiteSilver And Black Pridean Oakland Raiders communityFollow Silver And Black Pride online:Follow Silver And Black Pride on TwitterFollow Silver And Black Pride on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchSilver And Black Pride main menuFanpostsFanshotsRaidersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Silver Mining 7/3: Raiders CB Daryl Worley believes his best is yet to come New,11commentsPDTRaiders NewsRaiders' Worley Believes His Best Is Yet to Come - NBC Bay AreaRaiders re-signed Worley this spring, but he'll be challengedRaiders' Davis: HOFers' families should get ringsRaiders owner Mark Davis hopes the precedent of the family of late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen receiving a Hall of Fame ring and gold jacket "opens the door" to awarding rings and jackets to the families of all deceased enshrinees.Raiders’ training camp not open to the public If you want to see the Raiders' training camp, you'll have to watch Hard Knocks. The Raiders have announced their training camp schedule, which runs from July 27 to August 19, and no practices are open to the general public. 4 Raiders who will make their first Pro Bowl appearance in 20194 Raiders who will make their first Pro Bowl appearance in 2019Maxx Crosby could fit in right away as Raiders' situational pass rusher | NBCS Bay AreaThe Eastern Michigan prospect could be a major player or rarely active on defense, depending on how he fares this preseason.AFC WestThree interesting nuggets from Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo - Arrowhead PrideSpagnuolo attended an event called Venom Camp last month and shared some notes about the Chiefs and training camp.Patrick Mahomes working to ‘define’ his body this offseasonCue the theme music from "Rocky."2019 NFL preview: Broncos, John Elway still searching for a QBThe Broncos are still searching for a post-Peyton Manning answer at quarterback. Joe Flacco and Drew Lock are next up.Which skill player is most critical for Denver’s offensive success? - Mile High ReportWith both Phillip Lindsay and Emmanuel Sanders coming off of injuries, which offensive star is most critical to Denver to have when the season starts?Los Angeles Chargers present best cornerback trio in the NFLThe Los Angeles Chargers present best cornerback trio in the NFL.Wait, so there’s no alternate future where Rivers wins a ring? - Bolts From The BlueSB Nation dives into What-If scenarios, but that raises even more questions!NFL News2021 NFL CBA negotiations - The nine biggest looming issuesRevenue split. Stadium credits. Drug policy. These are the main issues around which upcoming CBA talks could revolve.Top 10 RBs in NFL: NFC East stars Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott lead the way - CBSSports.comCBS Sports' NFL team collectively ranked the top 10 running backs in football right now3 quick ways the NFL can make its free agency as exciting as the NBA’s - SBNation.comRetired lineman Geoff Schwartz says the NFL isn’t that far away from having a frenzied free agent period like the NBA — it just needs to make a few changes.Who Is the Best Wide Receiver in the NFL? - The RingerThere may be more receiving talent in the league than ever, and five players have a claim to be the best at their craft. Does Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Thomas, Julio Jones, or DeAndre Hopkins reign supreme?
Texans Rosterology: Pre-Training Camp Edition Making the 53 man roster for any NFL team is tough work. The uphill battle begins when you walk in the building during OTAs and minicamp; it does not end until September 1st Womens Brandon Dunn Jersey , when the league mandates roster cuts. There are some important dates ahead in the football season, but roster cuts are always part of the more interesting narratives in the offseason. Last year started a new era in the NFL, one where there is only one roster cut - from 90 to 53 - instead of a preliminary cut to 75 after Week 3 of the preseason. This change allows every player on the roster to get a better look by the franchise they signed with, but it consequently blurs the line for us to see who has separated themselves from the pack at training camp.As a result, every Monday and Friday until the first 53-man roster is released I will deliver to you updates on the players at training camp who are battling for the final spots on the team. The last spots on the roster are always up for grabs, and as the Texans found out (and the Eagles demonstrated) last year, having depth can make or break your season. The Texans have 90 men on the roster as of now. The battle for the last 8-10 spots on the team will be a vigorous competition between unproven veterans looking to prolong their career in the NFL and newcomers looking to begin their career in the NFL. For more clarification, I’ll list out the supposed depth chart as the roster would stand today at the end of this article each week. Safe, But In Position BattlesStephen AndersonAnderson was good for about one or two catches every game this past season. Will that workload be increased now that C.J. Fiedorowicz is gone?Will Anderson’s targets get gobbled up by the many other mouths to feed? The Texans have four tight ends with legitimate claims to roster spots, but there may be only three spots to be had. Anderson in his third season must make leaps in route running and blocking to see more time on the field. Corey MooreThis past season was a streaky one for Corey. He started the season as a major contributor in the secondary, playing 68.8% and 85.9% of the defensive snaps in the Texans’ first two games. After that, he played less and less until he was placed on IR during the last week of the season. Moore is used to battling for a roster spot; his entire career since being signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Texans in 2015 hasn’t given him any reason to feel like he’s a lock for the roster. He is now up against Kevin Johnson, Kurtis Drummond, and a flurry of rookie defensive backs looking to start their careers.Alfred BlueThe Love Ya (Alfred) Blue days are still rolling along as the Texans re-signed Blue to a one-year contract about three months ago, With D’Onta Foreman’s injury last season, Blue stepped up and was a relatively productive backup running back. His return to Houston for another season is due to the trepidation behind both Foreman and Tyler Ervin’s injury recovery and potential availability for the start of the season. Blue could easily seal his spot on the roster with a quality preseason of good reps, or he could be the first to fall off the 53-man roster when the younger, more agile running backs get back to health.Tyler ErvinAnother running back on this list shows that there is not much confidence in this entire group. I said earlier in the offseason that Ervin would make this team over Braxton Miller, and I have not seen anything that changes my mind about that. The injury-prone running back really must flash his talents in the coming weeks, because the Texans have given him a ton of slack after putting him on IR for the past two years. I am definitely an Ervin fan, but the Texans cannot waste their time on a third-year project. Last Four InTreston DecoudThe move from corner to safety should fit Decoud’s skill set better, but may not increase his playing time by much. Although Decoud was a renowned tackler at Oregon State, he must prove that he can be a long-term option for this team. Young safeties take time to develop - and given the circumstances and having seen his play last season - Decoud should be on the roster come September 1st, but he needs to show out during training camp.Kyle FullerFuller was a sufficient guard late in the season when everyone was injured. He is a massive figure and is a prototypical guard in this offense. The biggest need for the Texans is on the offensive line; if Fuller could develop into even a rotational guard piece, it would take a giant load off. Coming from Baylor, Fuller’s technique was definitely in need of reconstruction. I wrote previously that I believe he will become a long lasting part of the Texans’ offense with some time to develop.Braxton MillerProbably the best match-up of the offseason will be Braxton vs. Keke Coutee. We have been waiting awhile for Braxton to turn the corner in his NFL career. Watch any highlight video of Miller in college and you will immediately start dreaming of that athleticism on the same field with Deshaun Watson. The slot receiver battle for Houston will definitely be one to watch. As of now, Miller is in, but one slip up and he is a free agent.Joe Webb IIIWebb’s here because the Texans do not like to keep more than two quarterbacks on the active roster at a time - I do not know why since we have such a GREAT history of healthy QBs.Webb can contribute on special teams as well Jordan Akins Jersey White , which makes him a unique option to have in Houston. If Watson stays healthy and the team has other needs, Webb could be placed on the practice squad or jettisoned fairly quickly.First Four OutKurtis DrummondThe Texans made the secondary a priority this past offseason. Adding Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid, combined with Kareem Jackson switching to safety, immediately swipes roster spots away from other defensive backs. Drummond played only 7.23% of the plays on defense and was primarily a special teams asset last year. Although Drummond has been with the Texans for a couple years now, he will be in a dogfight to make the roster.Sammie CoatesThere are a lot of factors that could affect Coates’ future with the Texans, like the tight end battle, injury, and changes in the offense, just to name a few. All of those will be deemed insignificant if Coates can resurrect his career during training camp by demonstrating his top-level speed and decent hands. He needs to be more than a Will Fuller backup plan - he has to be a deep ball threat as well as a red zone target. Don't sleep on Coates, but as of now, it is an uphill battle for him.Jermaine Kelly Jr. Rookie seventh round draft picks have a hard time making this, or nearly any, roster. The Texans have a history of drafting defensive backs late in the draft, so it will be interesting to see if Kelly Jr. is a playmaker or not. We could desperately use him on special teams and in nickel packages. He’s a tall corner, but he does not have the athleticism to keep up with top level receivers. Due to depth and unknown talent, I have Kelly on the outside looking in.Chis ThompsonI like what Chris Thompson has to offer: a speedy receiver who runs good routes in the middle of the field. The numbers game has Thompson on the free agent market after camp, but you can tell the Texans see him as a weapon and do not want to give up too quickly on his career. Biggest RiserTerry SwansonI have been high on Swanson since the Texans signed him as an UDFA. Even Swanson’s former teammate Kareem Hunt has voiced his own excitement about Swanson when he told “Good Morning Football” that “this young cat has got some skills”. It won’t take long for a running back to shine in this system, and Swanson could quickly make a move up the depth chart in the coming weeks.Biggest FallerKurtis DrummondSee above.The Texans have acquired talent that will leapfrog Drummond on the depth chart, but his reliability on special teams makes him hard to move on from. With that, here is the current projected Texans’ 53-man roster:LDE: J.J. Watt, Carlos WatkinsNT: D.J Reader, Brandon Dunn,RDE: Christian Covington, Joel HeathLOLB: Whitney Mercilus, Brennan Scarlett, Peter KalambayiILB: Benardrick McKinney, Brian PetersILB: Zach Cunningham, Dylan ColeROLB: Jadeveon Clowney Braxton Miller Jersey , Duke EjioforCB: Aaron Colvin, Kevin JohnsonCB: Jonathan Joseph, Johnson BademosiFS: Justin Reid, Kareem Jackson, Treston DecoudSS: Tyrann Mathieu, Corey MooreQB: Deshaun Watson, Brandon Weeden, Joe Webb IIIFB: Jay ProschRB: Lamar Miller, D’Onta Foreman, Alfred Blue, Tyler ErvinTE: Stephen Anderson, Ryan Griffin, Jordan Akins, Jordan ThomasWR: DeAndre Hopkins, Keke Coutee, Braxton Miller WR: Will Fuller, Bruce EllingtonLT: Julie’n Davenport, Kendall LammLG: Zach Fulton, Kyle FullerC: Nick Martin, Greg ManczRG: Senio KelemeteRT: Seantrel Henderson, Martinas RankinLS: Jon WeeksK: Ka’imi FairbairnP: Shane Lechler The Houston Texans roster can still stand an upgrade or two..." Red Zone PlayRed Zone Play: Best of the Rest (Part I)New,6commentsThe Houston Texans roster can still stand an upgrade or two... CDTWith just about everyone handing in a below average to failing off-season grade for the Houston Texans, and glaring holes still visible to anyone with a passing eye for NFL team construction, it’s not a stretch to think the Texans might still bring in some more players to help in 2019. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some players that are still out there that, theoretically, could still come along and be the best teammate they can be... Cornerback Morris ClaiborneHouston still needs a solid upgrade in the defensive backfield and while Claiborne isn’t the next Deion Sanders, he’s certainly able to add depth Whitney Mercilus Jersey , savvy and veteran leadership to a cornerback room that spent most of last season getting torched. Claiborne has started 73 of his possible 77 games during his career, only a few more than Kevin Johnson (sic) which makes his best ability - his availability - an asset to whatever team signs him. Since Houston is one injury away from calling guys off the couch this season, getting ahead of the curve now makes sense. Defensive Tackle Muhammad WilkersonAnother solid player with a stout, injury-free career. Wilkerson wasn’t re-signed by the Green Bay Packers this off season, although rumors swirl that that Pack is looking to bring him back once they get a handle on their cap situation and projected roster. With J.J. Watt nearing the twilight of his career, bringing in a guy like Wilkerson, or even Ndamukong Suh to force teams to think twice before double-teaming Watt and Jadeveon Clowney makes a lot of sense. Sure, Suh isn’t the Captain “Boy Scout” America persona Houston usually goes for, but a little bit of nasty along the defensive line might be the spark this defense needs to get over the top. Offensive Tackle Donald PennWhile 36 years old is a bit long in the tooth for offensive linemen (or any NFL player to be honest) Penn most likely still has gas in the tank, can offer a lot of wisdom to the likes of Tytus Howard and Max Scharping and can play both left and right tackle. He aged out of Oakland, and is most likely still on the couch due to age, but that doesn’t mean he’s done. For a team like the Houston Texans, who are clearly thinking about the future instead of the right now, Penn can help bridge the gap between Deshaun Watson’s lung injury and a future with a solid, young offensive line that protects the franchise on nearly every down. Running Back Alfred MorrisSpeaking of Captain America and the Avengers, Alfred Morris is a clean cut, high honor, solid role model kind of guy who might offer a great change of pace for RB1 Lamar Miller. In 2018 Morris ran with a 3.9 yard per carry average, which is enough to move the chains. He’s certainly not going to light the world on fire, but he won’t burn it down either. And, anyone who thinks he’s not a solid upgrade over Alfred Blue hasn’t been paying attention. Other Potential Houston Texans Roster Upgrades:Wide Receiver Jermaine Kearse - he can fill the gap Demaryius Thomas was to fill last yearRunning Back Jay Ajayi - a 4.1 yards per carry average might be just what the A-Gap needsOffensive Tackle Jared Veldheer - at 6’8” 321 lbs, if he just makes edge rushers run around him, it gives Watson a few extra seconds in the pocket. Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn - a little veteran savvy and swagger can’t hurt, right? What do you think? Is there a player or players on this list you think the Houston Texans should target? Have someone else in mind? Give us your thoughts in the comments box(Stay tuned for part II)
Last Week: 8-8Weeks 1-3: 23-24-1Home team in聽bold. Odds taken from Odds Shark.Green Bay (-9.5) vs. BuffaloBuffalo surprised just about everyone vs. Minnesota last week Sylvester Williams Jersey , including myself. But can they do it back-to-back weeks.. On the road against a Packers team looking for a bounce-back win? I have my doubts.Pick: Green Bay (-9.5)Atlanta (-3.5) vs. CincinnatiBoth of these teams have issues on defense, so this one should be high scoring. With new weapon Calvin Ridley & Julio Jones leading the way, the Falcons take it at home.Pick: Atlanta (-3.5)Dallas (-3) vs. DetroitLast week, for the first time since 2013, the Detroit Lions had a running back rush for 100 yards. That is crazy. The Lions aren’t as bad as their start to the season made them look, but I’ll take the Cowboys at home.Pick: Dallas (-3)Indianapolis (-1) vs. HoustonThe winless Texas DESPERATELY need a victory to kickstart & keep their season alive. I think they get it in Indy.Pick: Houston (+1)New England (-7) vs. MiamiCan’t see New England dropping three straight.Pick: New England (-7)Jacksonville (-7.5) vs. New York JetsThe Jaguars defense gets a struggling rookie (Sam Darnold) at home. Expect a few turnovers and a bounce back win.Pick: Jacksonville (-7.5)Philadelphia (-3) vs. TennesseeThis seems to be a popular upset pick, but the Titans offense has averaged just a tad more than 16 points per game in their first three contests. The champs get it done and cover on the road.Pick: Philadelphia (-3)Chicago (-3) vs. Tampa BayThis Bears defense is GOOD.Pick: Chicago (-3)Oakland (-2.5) vs. ClevelandAll three winless teams get their first victory this week.Pick: Oakland (-2.5)Seattle (-3) vs. Arizona聽Sam Darnold won his first career start. The other top SoCal quarterback to come out of the draft, Josh Rosen, will earn one too.Pick: Arizona (+3)New Orleans (-3) vs. New York GiantsDrew Brees is 39. Eli Manning is 37. Both have good performances in one of the better games of the weekend.Pick: New Orleans (-3)Los Angeles Chargers (-10) vs. San Francisco 49ersWith Jimmy G out, the rest of this season is looking pretty bleak for the 49ers.Pick: Los Angeles Chargers (-10)Pittsburgh (-3) vs. BaltimoreThese games are almost always close.Pick: Baltimore (+3)Kansas City (-4.5) vs. Denver聽Can’t bet against Mahomes…. right now http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-matt-prater-jersey , at least. Also, KC is riding a five game winning streak over Denver.Pick: Kansas City (-4.5) ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Bob Quinn had a lot to answer for during a rare news conference.The Detroit general manager spoke for over 40 minutes Friday, recapping a disappointing season in which the Lions went 6-10. A year ago around this time, Detroit fired coach Jim Caldwell after back-to-back 9-7 campaigns. Quinn said then he felt the team was capable of more, but the Lions struggled from the start in 2018 under new coach Matt Patricia.“Disappointing season for us overall, on the whole. All of us kind of had high expectations going into this year,” Quinn said. “My position as the general manager here, I’m accountable, I’m responsible. I put this team together Womens Anthony Zettel Jersey , and I feel like we have a good team. We didn’t win as much as we should have this year.”Quinn said in no uncertain terms that he has confidence in quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose future with Detroit has been the subject of some speculation after he threw for 3,777 yards this season, his lowest total since 2010. Quinn said he feels the Lions can win a Super Bowl with him.“Matthew Stafford’s our quarterback. He will be our quarterback here,” Quinn said. “This guy’s a really talented player, and myself, the coaches need to put him in better situations.”Stafford turns 31 next month and just finished his 10th season with the Lions, who drafted him with the first overall pick in 2009. He threw four interceptions in an opening-game loss to the New York Jets that set the tone for the season.Quinn takes questions from reporters so infrequently that on Friday he still faced queries about issues that came up before the start of the season. In May, the Detroit News reported that Patricia and a friend were indicted 22 years earlier by a Texas grand jury on one count each of aggravated sexual assault. The accuser did not testify and the case was dismissed.Patricia maintained his innocence in a news conference after that report. Quinn was at that news conference but did not speak. On Friday, Quinn said he found out about the allegations not long before the report.“I first found out about it a couple days before the article came out Womens Barry Sanders Jersey ,” Quinn said. “Matt had got wind that the article was going to come out and came and told me. So we had extensive conversations with myself, ownership (and team president Rod Wood) about everything.”Quinn said the issue had not come up during a standard background check during the hiring process, and he indicated such background checks are beyond his area of expertise.“I’m not paid to do extensive background checks. I’m here to select a head coach,” Quinn said. “I’m very comfortable with Matt Patricia as our head coach.”Patricia’s first year was a rocky one for the Lions on the field and off, and Detroit fans may not have much patience if things don’t improve quickly in 2019.“He’s very self-aware,” Quinn said. “He has a good understanding of his strengths, his limitations. He’s going to take this offseason, as we all do, to look back and say, hey Womens Levine Toilolo Jersey , what can I change? Because obviously, we’ve got to do better.”Detroit is now in the market for a new offensive coordinator after deciding not to renew Jim Bob Cooter’s contract .“We need to do a better job of going into each week, looking at the opponent, and saying, how are we going to beat this team? They have a great run defense and a poor pass defense, maybe we throw it 45 times. And vice versa,” Quinn said. “We want someone that thinks that way. That thinks that, hey, I have an offense, but my offense is adaptable.”Detroit’s late-October trade that sent Golden Tate to Philadelphia didn’t help the offense. The Lions were 3-4 at the time and faced the possibility of losing Tate to free agency. They received a third-round draft pick for him.“It was just an offer that we really couldn’t refuse Eli Harold Jersey , for what the value was, and for what we had left of the player, which was eight games,” Quinn said. “We felt we had a balanced offense at that time.”The next big name to depart could be defensive end Ziggy Ansah, whom the Lions kept this season on the franchise tag but who played in only seven games because of injury problems.“Ziggy fought through some things this year,” Quinn said while remaining noncommittal about Ansah’s future. “Ziggy’s extremely, extremely tough. I’m proud of him being a Detroit Lion.”
NEW YORK (AP)Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback George Iloka have been suspended one game each by the NFL for violating league safety rules. Smith-Schuster was flagged for unnecessary roughness and taunting after a blindside hit on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh’s 23-20 victory Monday night. Iloka was penalized for unnecessary roughness for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Jon Runyan Cordy Glenn Jersey , the NFL’s vice president of football operations, ruled that Smith-Schuster ”delivered a violent and unnecessary blindside shot to (Burfict’s) head and neck area.” Burfict left the game on a stretcher and did not return. Runyan suspended Iloka for striking a defenseless receiver in the head and neck area. Brown, who caught the game-tying pass on the play, remained in the game. — As a nine-year veteran Dre Kirkpatrick Jersey , Andy Dalton never had to worry about his job before Zac Taylor came to Cincinnati. The Bengals have been building around Dalton for the better part of a decade and it all came crashing down in an 0-8 start to Taylor’s first season as head coach. And for the first time in his career, Dalton paid for the losing.Taylor announced that Dalton would be benched for rookie Ryan Finley and his future in Cincinnati looked bleak at best. The 32-year old Dalton didn’t hide his initial disapproval of Taylor’s decision, and three weeks later, Taylor soon realized he was better off with Dalton out there instead of Finley.The decision to bring Dalton back off the bench was validated instantly in the form of the Bengals’ first win of the season over the Jets. Dalton’s 8.75 adjusted yards per attempt from the first half were all the offense needed to stay in front of the lifeless Jets for the remainder of the game http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-c.j.-uzomah-jersey , and two quarters later, a gatorade shower was bestowed upon Taylor’s backside.Right after the game, Dalton talked with CBS commentators Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta about his first game back and what this means for him and Taylor.Moments later inside the Bengals locker room, Dalton received the game ball from Taylor and gave a game ball right back to Taylor in congratulations on his first win as a head coach.The partnership between Dalton and Taylor may not last beyond this year Womens Kevin Huber Jersey , and it certainly hit a road bump just a few weeks back, but it was heartwarming to see Dalton and the Bengals rally behind their first-year head coach after the first win of his head coaching career. Winning is required when establishing a winning culture. One win may not mean much, but this can what sparks the kind of culture Taylor wants to establish in Cincinnati for the long-term.
Wed Feb 12, 2020 1:09 am
