"He was a true gentleman and trailblazer in the sports television industry and will be remembered for his accomplishments and the paths he paved for those who followed," Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, said in a statement.
Cross was drafted by the Eagles in 1961 from Northwestern and appeared in Pro Bowls in both 1964 and 1965. He was traded to the Rams in 1966 but he would eventually return to the Eagles in 1969, retiring that same year.
He was with CBS for 23 years, 14 of them as an analyst on "The NFL Today," and was the first Black recipient of the Pete Rozelle Award. The award was given to a member of the media by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for "longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football."
Zappers, and he'll have a familiar face throwing him the ball in the coming weeks.
Gordon will be joined by former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel upon signing with the Zappers. Manziel joined the new startup league in December after stints in the Alliance of American Football as well as the Canadian Football League.
Gordon last played in the NFL in 2019. He was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in December 2020 after a year-long suspension for violating its substance abuse policy, but he was placed on the commissioner's exempt list shortly thereafter. Gordon has been suspended six times since 2013, logging stints with the Browns and Patriots during his time on the field.
Manziel and Gordon briefly intersected in Cleveland in 2014 as Gordon played the final five games of the season. Manziel logged just eight starts in two seasons with the Browns, throwing seven touchdowns and five interceptions in 2015 as Gordon served a year-long suspension. Gordon reached the Pro Bowl in 2013, leading the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards.
Perhaps the pair of former teammates can find success together in the FCF. The Atlanta-based league broadcasts all games on Twitch, where fans can call plays and engage with coaches and team owners.
“I don’t have an answer for you as to how to make it better,” Tomlin said. “The optimist in me says things will get better, but there’s been no evidence in the recent cycles to back that up. Without evidence, all we have is hope. We just haven’t been able to move the needle.”
Tomlin specifically addressed Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who has not followed in the paths of previous offensive coordinators under Andy Reid that have gone on to become head coaches. That Bieniemy has yet to matriculate to the next level is, to Tomlin, a "real head-scratcher."
“Every offensive coordinator Andy Reid has had in the last 20 years got a head job," Tomlin said. "One of those guys, Brad Childress, hired me in Minnesota in 2006. Now, Andy has the best offense he’s ever had and (Bieniemy) can’t get a job?”
Tomlin also addressed the issue of him not having a Black coordinator during his 14-year helm with the Steelers. Last offseason, he interviewed Pep Hamilton for his vacant offensive coordinator position but ended up promoting quarterbacks coach Matt Canada instead.
“I always do what is best for our organization,” Tomlin said. “I believe in hiring from within in most cases. ... I’m highly sensitive to it, but I don’t regret (not having a Black coordinator). I’ve had some good (Black) coaches leave for other jobs. Ray Horton. Scottie Montgomery went back to college. Kirby Wilson was hurt in that house fire.”
Tomlin is one of three Black head coaches in the NFL, along with Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins and David Culley of the Houston Texans.
With Ciara's song "Level Up" playing in the background, Cantrell made her case for why Wilson should make his way to the Big Easy.
"I've heard the rumors now, and I want to make sure that you understand that the city of New Orleans is a place for you and your beautiful family," Cantrell said. "I know, Mr. Wilson, that you will be a great addition to the New Orleans Saints, and more importantly, I can see us in that number winning that Super Bowl championship once again."
Cantrell also said she could see Ciara on the main stage of the annual Essence Festival that is held in New Orleans.
After rumors of Wilson demanding a trade from the Seahawks began to swirl earlier this week, Wilson's agent Mark Rogers told ESPN that Wilson informed the team he wants to remain in Seattle. However, if the team did entertain trading him, he'd only consider the Saints, Cowboys, Raiders and Bears.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is still on the roster.
You’d think the network would want to use someone who has a connection to the NFL or college football, but that isn’t nearly as important as the opportunity for cross-promotion that Greenberg provides.
The fact is, Greenberg has sort of become the face of ESPN. I’m not sure there’s another employee the Worldwide Leader values more outside of maybe Stephen A. Smith.
ESPN broke up a successful morning radio show (Mike & Mike) so they could give Greenberg his own morning show (Get Up) and then ended up giving Greenberg his own radio show (Greeny) in addition to the morning show.
So it’s not a shock that ESPN would go out of its way to give the public even more Mike Greenberg. (If Greenberg isn’t your cup of tea, however, you can always watch the draft on ABC where Rece Davis will anchor the coverage.)
Now this is the part where I’m supposed to get snarky and say that ESPN is giving us more Mike Greenberg even though no one has ever asked for more Mike Greenberg. But that’s mean. I don’t want to be mean. I’m sure Mike Greenberg is a very nice guy. And it’s not like he’s bad at his job.
I get why ESPN loves him. He’ll be a professional; he won’t say or do anything controversial or memorable and he’ll keep the NFL happy. Those are the most important things for ESPN. Personally, I’d prefer someone who is somewhat entertaining, but like Curtis said, people tune in for the event, not the person calling the event.
2. I love this Inside the NBA bit in which Shaq gets quizzed on the first names of NBA players.
3. Since there has been a lot of talk this week about changing the NBA logo, I'd like to throw my two cents in and say that THIS should be the NBA logo.
4. Now that Russell Wilson has made it known that he would accept a trade to the Bears, a couple of Chicago players are going into recruitment mode.
5. Mike Tyson is very unhappy that Hulu has made an unauthorized documentary about him, so he put out a statement on Instagram asking people not to watch it, which will now lead to even more people watching it.
6. The latest Sports Illustrated Media Podcast features two interviews. First up is Bryan Curtis, Editor-At-Large for The Ringer.
Curtis talks about a recent article he wrote that connects Brent Musburger's firing from CBS in 1990, which elevated Jim Nantz as the network's lead voice, to Nantz's current contract situation with CBS. Curtis also discusses the NFL asking networks for a 100% rights fee increase on their TV deals, why announcers don't matter as much as we think and much more.
Following Curtis, Alan Sepinwall, the chief TV critic for Rolling Stone joins the podcast to share some television recommendations for listeners. In addition, Sepinwall and Traina discuss Your Honor, Ted Lasso, Young Rock and Schitt's Creek. Sepinwall also shares his thoughts on this week's Golden Globe Awards and gives us his personal picks for some of the categories. Lastly, Sepinwall, who wrote the book, The Sopranos Sessions, talks about how many people watched the smash HBO show for the first time during the pandemic
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Stitcher.
You can also watch the SI Media Podcast on YouTube.
7.RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: If you can deal with Jimmy Fallon constantly throwing his body around and laughing in such a ridiculously exaggerated manner, this clip of Eddie Murphy imitating famous people and telling stories is worth your time.
“There must be accountability for the actions we believe are detailed in this report,” the employees wrote in their letter to Goodell. “But there cannot be accountability without transparency. And there cannot be healing for any of us without understanding the truth, which will provide confirmation that we are not alone, and that our allegations are supported by others.”
A spokesman said the NFL had not yet received the final report. Wilkinson declined to comment on the status of the investigation, referring comment to the league office.
“If the NFL does not yet have the report, it should let us know when it expects to receive it and commit to making it public (at) once at that time,” said Lisa Banks, one of the lawyers representing 40 former team employees.
Goodell said at his pre-Super Bowl virtual news conference that Washington “has made a lot of changes already.” He said findings from Wilkinson’s report would be shared with the team “and others.”
“They asked for this type of review,” Goodell said Feb. 4. “They asked for the recommendations on this. Dan and Tanya (Snyder) are going to be done making those changes for the football club. ... It’s good to see that. But I expect that Beth’s recommendations will be something that will be added to that.”
Seventeen former employees signed the letter to Goodell by name and three others anonymously. They asked for identities and other private information to be redacted but for the league to make the results of the investigation available to the public.
“Not to do so here would be a betrayal of the many women who courageously came forward to provide vital information to assist with the NFL investigation,” Banks and fellow attorney Debra Katz wrote in another letter to Goodell dated Thursday. “For its own credibility, it is crucial that the NFL release the investigative report, while also protecting from disclosure any witnesses who requested confidentiality. Without public scrutiny of the report’s findings, our clients and the public at large will not be able to trust the NFL to police this type of behavior and act decisively to penalize those in its ranks, including owners, who allow women to be exploited and mistreated.”
If there’s a statistical "ugly duckling" among rookie offensive skill positions, there's no doubt it's the tight ends. Typically, they don’t make much of a fantasy impact. Case in point: The 2020 class didn’t have a single player who scored more than 62 points. Dating back to 2016, the lone rookie player at the position to score more than 130 fantasy points is Evan Engram. He scored nearly 174 points back in 2017.
Since 2000, we’ve seen just three tight ends (including Engram) score more than 150 points in their rookie campaigns. That’s not good. What’s more, the top-10 point producers at the position during that time include guys like John Carlson, Timothy Wright, Jermaine Gresham, and Tony Moeaki. That’s not exactly an elite list.
The 2021 class of tight ends isn’t deep and likely won’t curb this trend outside of one potential star: Kyle Pitts. So, for those fans looking to get a head start on doing their due diligence at the position, here’s my (short) look at the top tight ends for 2021.
Note: Age listed is at the start of the 2021 NFL season.
Pitts is considered one of the best tight end prospects to come out of college in the last decade or more. The word “generational” is often used to describe him, and comparisons to Tony Gonzalez and Travis Kelce aren’t uncommon. In his final season at Florida, Pitts led all tight ends with 770 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
A big target at 6-foot-6 and 246 pounds, Pitts is a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. He’s athletic, possesses good route-running skills and hands for a player of his size. He’s a versatile receiver too, lining up in-line, H-back, inside the slot, and outside. Pitts was so good in college that he earned a 96.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. That’s the best grade their scouting department has ever given a tight end.
Possible destinations: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles
Freiermuth was on pace to produce strong numbers this past season, but an injured shoulder that required a surgical procedure ended his campaign after four games. He is expected to be fine for the start of the 2021 NFL season, and the ailment isn’t going to keep him from being one of the first tight ends picked in the upcoming draft.
Freiermuth, nicknamed "Baby Gronk" due to his similar skill set, can be a real playmaker on the next level. He scored eight touchdowns as a freshman and found the end zone 15 times in his first 25 games at Penn State. He was also tough to bring down in his final full season of 2019, breaking nine tackles on his 43 catches. He could turn into a true fantasy football star, in time, at the next level.
Possible destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Jordan enjoyed a productive 2020 campaign, ranking tied for 12th in targets, tied for eighth in catches, and sixth in receiving yards among tight ends. He also led the position in yards after the catch and averaged an impressive 9.3 yards per reception. His skills as a playmaker in the passing game make him intriguing in fantasy land.
Jordan thrived in the slot, ranking first in yards per route run from that spot on the line of scrimmage per Pro Football Focus. He has some work to do in terms of his in-line blocking, so I’d project him to be used primarily as a pass-catcher who can create mismatches at the next level. The Hurricanes have also produced more than their share of productive NFL tight ends, making Jordan even more attractive.
Possible destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
Long is coming off an impressive 2020 campaign that saw him lead all tight ends in targets (89) and catches (57) while also ranking second behind Kyle Pitts in yards (685). He was especially productive when Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec took over as the Eagles’ quarterback, but Long does have questions at the next level.
While he’s a nice route runner with good hands who did well against man coverage, Long is not on an elite level when it comes to his athletic prowess. He also broke just three tackles on his 57 receptions in 2020, and he’s not what you would call a matchup nightmare like Pitts. Long is a good blocker, though, and he should be a solid addition at the next level. Whether he can be a fantasy star is in question.
Possible destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael onTwitter,Facebook,YouTube, andInstagramfor all of the latest breaking fantasy football news and the best analysis in the business!
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recently listed the Cowboys, Saints, Bears and Raiders as preferred destinations; of the teams on that list that could even facilitate a trade involving multiple first-round picks, are any of them just one Russell Wilson away from a Super Bowl?)
The Patriots are without a quarterback at a fascinating time. The Cam Newton era, which, in another world and at another place in Newton’s career arc, might have been the perfect bridge to a new brand of football beyond Tom Brady, was not enough to propel New England into the postseason. Their “down” year consisted of a 7–9 record with wins over a handful of good teams and their first missed playoff berth in more than a decade. It seems they are now on the lookout for another option.
Bill Belichick is presumably getting more of his defensive starters back alongside a great deal of cap space and one of the highest draft picks he’s had as a head coach in New England. Who he picks to operate under center, or who picks him, will speak volumes about where the rest of the NFL is headed for a few reasons.
While I would never argue that Brady’s Super Bowl championship in Tampa legitimized the idea that he was the brains behind the Patriot Way in New England, we all heard former Patriots during Super Bowl week echo that idea. It may not be a correct perception, but it is now a perception that exists in the NFL’s collective psyche. How does that impact, if at all, Belichick’s ability to continue luring premium talent on affordable deals with the idea that he can magically hoist them into the playoffs with his sheer force of brain power? Does Brady’s success elsewhere lower his old team on the totem pole for a prospective free agent or player with a no-trade clause who can effectively force his way out of town? While it’s not surprising that the Patriots were not on anyone’s leaked list of preferred trade destinations (Matt Stafford, reportedly, specifically asked not to be traded to New England), it is notable so far. This ties into the fact that Patriots assistants and executives have been leaping off the bandwagon for some time now and raises questions about how they might feel about the state of things.
If Belichick manages to score a top quarterback on the market—betting service PointsBet recently listed Marcus Mariota as the odds-on favorite, followed by Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jarrett Stidham, Andy Dalton, collegiate quarterbacks Mac Jones and Trey Lance, and Derek Carr—how does a rebirth of the Patriots’ machine affect the plans and expectations of everyone else in and around football? For example, there is a good chance the Bills are going for it this offseason while Josh Allen is still on his rookie contract and coordinators Brian Daboll and Leslie Frasier are still in town. There’s a good chance the Jets are looking at drafting a rookie quarterback or trying to formulate a presence in the Watson sweepstakes. There’s a good chance the Dolphins view themselves as one or two key pieces away from lording over this division for some time.
Belichick’s reestablishing the fact that he is the greatest head coach in modern NFL history and attaining a quarterback befitting of that notion—something that would not only affect the AFC East, but our thoughts on the future of the Chiefs’ potential dynasty and beyond—will almost certainly matter more in the lives of the lay NFL fan than one of these other superstar quarterbacks moving to a new place that has sacrificed so much draft capital to attain them that it will somewhat negate the quarterback’s presence in the first place.
Belichick’s failure to do so would also speak volumes about what the NFL will look like over the next decade.
remained on the schedule. But every other all-star game was gone, and so too, as Farrand had feared last March, was the combine. Also out: private workouts, in-house “30” visits and any in-person interaction past what the Senior Bowl had arranged in January. And so that means, from this point forward, players vying to for their football future are left with pro days and Zoom interviews.
Which makes every exposure a player gets to a team and a team gets to a player all the more important. Which brings us to the one that EXOS is creating over the next two days.
Friday, players will arrive and Dominik and Gregory, at their respective locations, will do height, weight, hand, reach and all the other measurements to start the day, and the guys will get a body composition test. Then they’ll do the broad jump, the vertical and the bench press. On Saturday, the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and position-specific drills run by EXOS coaches.
And, as Farrand said, the integrity of the results is important—as is the form in which they come. NFL teams will want to know, for example, that a player didn’t get 15 cracks at running the 40. Which is why getting Dominik and Gregory aboard was vital. Because the two have relationships in the scouting community, and have worked dozens of combines and hundreds of pro days, their word that this is happening on the level goes a long way.
“I would hope my reputation holds up somewhat,” said Dominik, who got his start in the league working as a combine assistant for the Chiefs with Jeff Ireland. “And my relationships with a lot of people still in the National Football League would help.”
From there, EXOS will package the results with video files, and give them to the agents of the players to distribute to teams. Farrand says that EXOS did consider streaming the event for teams, but the multilocation nature of it made it a little too complicated to pull off.
In the end, Dominik—who helps prepare players for the interview process for both EXOS and a number of agents—hopes it’ll give the guys participating some peace of mind, in that they have something on the ledger with so much uncertainty still ahead.
“What happens if one of these young men that work out, it rains on the day of their pro day, and now it’s a wet track?” Dominik said. “At least you’ve got accurate times on them. If they worked out at this pro day that EXOS is working on, they’re still going to want to go work out at their pro day. But again, what if it’s a young man that goes to South Dakota State, or what if it rains in Indiana that day and it is a bad track or a bad spot to do the drills? What if we have an outbreak and for some reason California schools get shut down?
“It’s an opportunity just to let these kids have every opportunity, based off of what this year has been like. … And there’s a chance that there’s a guy that, at his school, is going to run in the 4.3s, and this gives [teams] time to say, Let’s go back and look at that guy, maybe we’re missing something, instead of waiting to their pro day. So it helps these guys maybe get on the map a little bit sooner.”
This year, as Dominik sees it, is about checking boxes. And in his interview coaching, he’s telling players that. Teams are further behind than they normally would be, so in some of these Zoom meetings, there could be a list of 10 things a team has to get out of the talk. Chances are, giving them those 10 things probably won’t make for the most exciting interview, which presents another challenge of 2021.
“The main thing I tell them is this: Most of these guys that are going to go in the first four or five rounds, you’re going to do these Zoom interviews 32 times,” he said. “And after the 20th, you’re going to get tired of talking about your hamstring [injury] that you had when you were a sophomore. But if you walk into that 21st one, and it’s the team that likes you the most, and you don’t have energy in a Zoom, there’s a chance that area scout’s gonna go, He’s not who I thought he was.
“And it’s all because you don’t understand that this is your first chance to make your first impression with 32 clubs. And you have to take every one of these interviews as if it’s the only time you’re ever going to speak to the organization.”
On the flip side, as Farrand sees it, the 2021 class is uniquely positioned to show its strength in everything it’s been through. The opt-outs spent the fall mostly in relative isolation. The kids playing went through as trying a college football season as there’s ever been. Now, they’re flying at least somewhat blind into a draft cycle unlike any other. And because of that, Farrand says, “The resiliency of these kids this year is unbelievable.”
Then there’s this: Farrand, who’s captained EXOS’s combine training for a decade, and worked there for 15 years, believes the kids will test better, too.
For some, the reason is obvious. Guys like Chase and Rousseau have had months to get healthy when they’d normally have been grinding through a football season and prepare for the Olympic-style testing that the combine brings. For others, it’s a little less apparent, but should show up all the same.
“The combine, in its essence, is designed for these guys to fail,” Farrand said. “It’s designed for these guys to go and not perform at their best. It’s to test resiliency, right? Because you want to see after interviews and medicals and drug tests at five in the morning and all these things, will they come out and compete that last day, and compete at a high level? Well, now you don’t have sort of that three-day lead up.
‘These guys are sleeping in beds they’re used to. They’re going to a facility they’ve gone to for between three and five years. So I think the familiarity, not having all those outside elements leading into when they actually go and perform at the pro day, I think across the board you will see pro day numbers be better than in a traditional combine year, I would anticipate from just that standpoint.”
And the hope for these guys is that’ll show up not just at the traditional pro days scheduled over the next month or so, but also starting the next two days in Arizona and Texas.
Regardless, the guys competing will get something on the books. Which, in this weird year, isn’t something promised to anyone.
POWER RANKINGS
Since it’s combine week, I figured I’d take my first stab at ranking how the quarterbacks will come off the board. Here you go …
1) Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Range: Pick 1). If someone tells you Lawrence won’t be the top guy on every team’s board when all’s said and done, don’t listen. He will be.
2) Zach Wilson, BYU (Range: Picks 2 to 6). He’s a lot of fun to watch, but the league still has a lot of work to do on him. If I had to do a mock today, I’d pencil him in to the Jets.
3) Justin Fields, Ohio State (Range: Picks 2 to 8). I had a couple of scouts bring up Justin Herbert when talking about Fields, saying everyone’s overthinking it. I’d agree. To me, the biggest question on Fields revolves around how easy certain things have come to him physically, and how that might change in the NFL. He’s plenty competitive and tough.
4) Trey Lance, North Dakota State (Range: Picks 2 to 12). Lance was very highly thought of coming out of 2019. And I don’t know how much stock you really can put in the one game he played in 2020, the weird one-off in which he wasn’t great. Despite concerns on his level of competition and number of starts, Lance does check a lot of boxes.
5) Mac Jones, Alabama (Range: Picks 8 to 47). A lot of scouts have said to me they can’t see Jones going in the first round. But he has strong advocates in Tuscaloosa and would come in as ready to play as anyone in the class, outside of Lawrence.
THE BIG QUESTION
Are the franchise tags bargains for teams this year?
I had one team’s cap chief run all the numbers for me this week, and I can tell you that the difference in where the numbers will be vs. where they likely would’ve been without the pandemic is significant.
To illustrate that, let’s assume the cap will land at $183 million, and that it would’ve climbed to $210 million without COVID-19 (which would’ve followed the year-over-year trends of the seven years before this one). As it is, the running back number will land around $8.68 million. As it would’ve been? Around $9.96 million. The corner number will be around $15.1 million. It would’ve been in the neighborhood of $17.33 million. And at receiver, it’s $16.03 million versus about $18.392 million.
Those gaps may not seem like a huge deal. But they are, and for three reasons. First, they’re used as leverage points/framing in negotiations on long-term deals, and often work to set the total in guaranteed money and average per year. Second, a second tag is 120% of the number, which means a team’s ability to franchise a guy again in 2022 is directly tied to the tag now. And third, in a tight-cap year, every dollar in a lump-sum contract counts.
That leads to these situations with some key names …
• The Packers will likely be able to take Aaron Jones off the market for less than $8.7 million. That’d put him well below even the second-tier level at his position, which sits at around $12 million per year with guys like Joe Mixon and Derrick Henry, and should work to keep Aaron Rodgers happy.
• Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin, Detroit’s Kenny Golladay and Chicago’s Allen Robinson would be looking at about $16 million, which is right around what the Rams are paying two receivers (Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp) in that range. And for the Bucs, Godwin’s number will probably come in around $3 million less than a second tag for Shaq Barrett would cost.
• The Panthers will likely be able to keep Taylor Moton at around $13.8 million (that’d be on a $183 million cap), which is some $2 million less than it would’ve been on a $210 million cap, and more than $4 million less than it’d cost the Patriots (Joe Thuney) or Washington (Brandon Scherff) to give their star offensive linemen second tags.
These are just a few examples of where the numbers are pretty workable from the management side of things. Some teams (Pittsburgh, New Orleans) might not be able to take advantage of this dynamic because of their own cap issues. Others will be able to.
WHAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT
How the NFL calendar is about to change.
Let’s start here: Fewer than 12 months out from Super Bowl LVI, Los Angeles organizers are unsure of when the game is going to be played. And that has nothing do with the pandemic, or the Los Angeles County’s stringent restrictions connected to it. It’s more about whether the league expands the schedule to 17 games in 2021 and, if it does, whether it decides to reconfigure its calendar in a fairly significant way.
For now, everyone’s waiting on the TV contracts, which will likely trigger the NFL to exercise its CBA-negotiated right to go to 17 games.
Once that happens, a week will be added to the year, with the plan being to play a 17-game schedule over an 18-week span. Which, obviously, means change will come to how the NFL has long set up its schedule, with the season starting the weekend after Labor Day and a five-week playoff culminating in the first week in February.
One thing I know is that the L.A. organizing committee, as league bylaws dictate, has blocked off three February Sundays for the Super Bowl—Feb. 6 (which is the originally scheduled date for the game), Feb. 13 and Feb. 20. And another thing I feel like I can say with some level of certainty is that the NFL isn’t going to move the start of the season to Labor Day weekend. The last time the season began that weekend was in 2000. After that, because it’s a bad TV weekend, the NFL moved Week 1 to the week following the holiday.
So with that in mind, all three of those dates remain in play, as I understand it. The least likely outcome, it seems, would be keeping the game on Feb. 6, since you’d have to kill the Super Bowl bye week to do that. As such, moving the game to Feb. 13 would be least disruptive, since you’d just be backing up the normal playoff slate a week to accommodate the 18th week (and 17th games) of the regular season.
But there’s an appeal to Feb. 20, too, in that it falls on Presidents’ Day Weekend, and moving the game to that particular holiday weekend has always been an interesting talking point. Lots of people have that Monday off, and in some states (like the one I live in) it’s a school vacation week.
And it’s possible that I’m personally too in the weeds on this, but it feels to me like what the NFL decides to do here will be a pretty big deal, since it really is charting the course for what’s annually one of, if not the, biggest weekends on the U.S. sports calendar.
THE FINAL WORD
Since it’s combine week, and there’s no combine, I wanna ask everyone to help out the capital of combine: St. Elmo Steak House. Go to their website and buy yourself a bottle of their cocktail sauce. You won’t be disappointed.
While you’re doing that, support your local restaurants, too. We all know how badly they need it right now.
Smith reportedly told the agents to expect the 2021 season's cap to be close to a $180 million "floor," per Graziano. The NFL and NFLPA negotiated these terms, and the caps for 2022 and 2023 are also expected to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to revenue losses.
Smith encouraged agents to push back on teams cutting their players for cap purposes and to consult one another (and the NFLPA's cap department) about free-agency offers, per Graziano. The executive director then took it a step further, saying it's alright for agents to "collude" during free agency for the best possible deals.
The NFL and NFLPA are still working on the final figure for the cap floor, which will reportedly depend on the new TV contracts the NFL is negotiating. Smith did say during the videoconference that he expects it to be much lower than this past season's $198.2 million.
Smith also noted the 2021 offseason program will be collectively bargained between the NFL and the union, per Graziano. Last year's OTAs and minicamps were held virtually.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that the Texans and Watson could enter a "stalemate" for several months, with the team still maintaining it won't trade its star quarterback.
Watson's frustration with the franchise began before the 2020 season when star receiver DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals. The Texans then went 4–12 despite a strong season from Watson, with significant organizational instability creating further discontent. Watson said after the 2020 season that the Texans needed "a whole culture shift."
"We just need new energy," Watson said on Jan. 5. "We just need discipline. We need structure. We need a leader so we can follow that leader as players. That's what we need."
The Texans drafted Watson with the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Houston has logged two playoff appearances with Watson, advancing to the AFC divisional round in 2019. Watson threw for 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns last season.
CBS Radio's The Zach Gelb Show on Wednesday, Christensen said Brady's decision was influenced by Peyton Manning's success with the Broncos after he left the Colts.
"He said one of the things that looked really fun and challenging to him is what Peyton did in Denver," Christensen said. "There was something about that challenge that hit [Brady] right. 'Hey, I'm going to go see if I can do this again somewhere else.' I do think that the challenge of that was a huge thing for him.
"Twenty-one years (with the Patriots) is a long time. Sometimes there's time for a change. He's mentioned several times that he was impressed with [Manning's success in Denver] and that looked fun and challenging to him."
Brady found success in his first season with Tampa Bay by winning Super Bowl LV earlier this month. Manning, likewise, captured championships with two franchises.
Manning's transition took a slightly different path than Brady's, since he left the Colts in 2012 after missing the entire 2011 season due to multiple neck surgeries. During his 14 seasons with the franchise, Manning led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl win in 2007 and earned four NFL MVP awards. He then joined Denver, where he was named NFL MVP in 2013 before winning the Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
Brady, 43, now has seven championship rings and has been named Super Bowl MVP five times. He played in New England for 20 years before signing a two-year contract with the Buccaneers last offseason.
According to The Athletic, possible destinations include the Dolphins, Jets, Saints and Raiders.
Wilson's name has been floated in trade rumors this offseason, stemming from a reported frustration with the franchise.
Among other conversations, The Athletic reported that Wilson spoke with head coach Pete Carroll in the days after Super Bowl LV about the team's offensive line issues. Per The Athletic, a plan "wasn’t relayed to him, at least not to Wilson’s satisfaction," and Carroll told the quarterback to "have faith."
"Not as much," Wilson responded when asked if he had been involved in personnel decisions. "I think it helps to be involved more, but I think that dialogue should happen more often."
Earlier this week, NFL Network's Mike Silver reported that teams have been calling the Seahawks to inquire about Wilson and said that a possible price for Wilson would be at least three first-round draft picks.
Wilson, 32, is under contract for at least three more seasons. Despite the quarterback's individual success—he has made seven Pro Bowls with the team—Seattle has not made the NFC title game since 2014, which was Wilson's third season in the league.
According to The Athletic, some people around the league think a trade could happen, if not this offseason then sometime in the near future.
“It’s a great story,” a coach from another team told The Athletic. “There is a lot there — money, greed, power and control.”
Sources told Russini that "the most lucrative offer Watt currently has on the table is believed to be worth between $15 million and $16 million per year."
On Wednesday, veteran NFL reporter John Clayton told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh that the Titans, Packers and Bills are the frontrunners to land Watt, adding there's an "outside chance at the Raiders."
Clayton later clarified in a tweet that while Tennessee, Green Bay and Buffalo are the three leading teams, Watt hasn't narrowed down his list. The Browns and Oakland are still in the mix to acquire the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Multiple reports have said the Browns are interested in signing Watt, but according to ESPN, it's unknown if Cleveland has submitted an offer to the 31-year-old.
The Texans released Watt on Feb. 12 after he initiated the move, telling fans in a video on Twitter that the two sides "mutually agreed to part ways." The five-time Pro Bowler became an unrestricted free agent following his release.
Following his departure, ESPN reported that a dozen teams–including the Browns, Steelers and Bills–expressed interest in signing Watt.
In his 10 years in Houston, Watt was named first-team All-Pro five times, and he won the Walter Peyton Man of the Year award in 2017. He totaled five sacks and 36 solo tackles during the 2020 season. The Texans went 4–12 on the year and missed the playoffs.
Watt was set to enter the final season of his six-year, $100 million contract with the team in 2021.
published a story Wednesday about the financial decisions Baltimore must make about its pass-rush personnel. Outside linebackers Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee are all free agents, and it seems unlikely that the team will be able to retain all four.
Judon, a two-time Pro Bowler, played this season on the franchise tag, and Hensley reported that the Ravens tried to lock him up with a long-term deal months ago:
“According to a source, the Ravens tried to strike a long-term deal with Judon this summer by offering him what Za’Darius Smith received in Green Bay (an average of $16.5 million) but he declined,” Hensley wrote.
The article was later updated to include the following line: “Judon has disputed this report.”
“Disputed” is putting it mildly. Judon went scorched-earth on Twitter, calling Hensley a liar and accusing him of fabricating the report.
Judon already had a problem with Hensley after Hensley reported late last month that he was seeking $20 million per year in his next contract—Judon denied that report in a video on Instagram—which he brought up again now that Hensley had more details about his negotiations.
Things got really weird when Judon took the fight to Instagram, where he demanded an “ESPN-sourced apology or I’m leaking these photos I got with you in the strip club.”
Even if he’s only joking about blackmailing Hensley, it’s a puzzling move for Judon to refute Hensley’s report so aggressively. Judon’s denial is based on the idea that Hensley’s report is false simply because it’s against league rules to offer a contract extension when Hensley says the Ravens offered one.
“I know y’all don’t know because I just found out this year but you have about a month to sign a long-term deal after being franchise tagged,” Judon wrote on Instagram.
That’s simply not true. The deadline to apply the franchise tag to a player is in March. Teams and players then have until July to work out a long-term extension. So when Hensley wrote that Judon was offered the $16.5 million “this summer,” it was well within the rules.
Judon will be free to sign a new contract once free agency opens next month. Hensley is probably hoping it's somewhere other than Baltimore.
There was a time when rookie wide receivers didn’t make much of an impact in the world of fantasy football. Even some of the eventual greatest players at the position, including Jerry Rice, Antonio Brown, Isaac Bruce, and Calvin Johnson (to name just a few), failed to produce huge numbers during their first NFL seasons.
However, things have certainly changed over time as changes to NFL rules and more pro-style college offenses have made rookie wideouts more attractive from a fantasy standpoint. During the Super Bowl era (1966-present), six of the top 10 best seasons from first-year receivers based on fantasy points have come since 2003.
Since 2000, we’ve seen 21 different rookie wideouts produce at least 200 fantasy points in a single season. That includes three players (Odell Beckham Jr – 2014, Justin Jefferson – 2020, Michael Thomas – 2016) who all rank in the top four at the position who have started their professional careers in the last seven seasons.
Jefferson broke the rookie record for receiving yards by a wideout and finished sixth in fantasy points at the position this past season. We also saw other first-year receivers like CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, Chase Claypool, and Brandon Aiyuk all make some noise in the stat sheets. The 2021 class is very deep, and there are plenty of players with upside. So, for those fans looking to get a head start on doing their due diligence at the position, here’s my look at the top wide receivers for 2021.
Note: Age listed is at the start of the 2021 NFL season.
Chase opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but his 2019 campaign was next-level impressive in the stat sheets. He produced 84 catches, 20 of which he took to the end zone. He also ranked seventh among wide receivers in yards after catch and broke more tackles (23) than any other player at his position.
Chase was so good in 2019 that he actually still led the nation with the most 20+ yard touchdown catches over the last two seasons. And again, he didn’t play a single snap in 2020. The former Biletnikoff Award winner has the skills to thrive at the next level, including quickness, playmaking ability, route running, and strong hands to win 50/50 balls and contested catches. He’s the complete package.
Possible destinations: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith was the best wide receiver in the collegiate ranks this past season. He led the position in catches with 117 (no other wideout had more than 86), his 1,856 yards were 663 more yards than the second-best total, and his 23 touchdowns were also tops in the nation. Smith was also number one in terms of yards after catch (952).
Smith has all the tools to thrive in the pros. He’s a fluid route runner, he has great hands and body control, and his quickness makes him a tough cover. Smith is also versatile, playing on both the inside and outside. He has good but not elite speed, and Smith might need to add some weight in the pros. Still, Smith is one of the best playmakers in the 2021 class, and he’s a virtual lock to be a top-15 overall pick.
Possible destinations: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles
Waddle played in only four games this past season after suffering a right ankle break that required a surgical procedure to repair. He did make a return for the National Championship Game, finishing with three catches for 34 yards. The numbers didn’t pop off the page, but it showed he’ll be fine for the start of the 2021 NFL season.
Waddle’s career totals at Alabama weren't at Chase or Devonta Smith's level, but he played behind and with guys like Smith, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs III. He’s always been an electric playmaker, whether lined out wide or in the slot, and he can make an impact on special teams. His former college teammate, Cowboys DB Trevon Diggs, compared Waddle to Tavon Austin in terms of his talent and skill set.
Possible destinations: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team
Bateman initially opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he returned when the Big Ten decided to bring back football. He played in just five games, finishing with 472 yards and two touchdowns. His 2019 campaign, when he put up 60 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns, was far more impressive.
The 2021 class of wide receivers is a very deep one, so Bateman might have been ranked higher had the list of playmakers not been as long. During his best season, 2019, Bateman led the nation in yards per route run and was 13th in yards after first contact. He can play on the outside or inside, and he’s certainly among the bigger wideouts in this draft class. Bateman could be a first-rounder.
Possible destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Marshall wasn’t able to showcase his skills for much of his collegiate career, as he played alongside Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. But with that duo no longer in the mix, Marshall proved his stock last season. Before opting out, he averaged over 100 yards a game and scored double-digit touchdowns as the Tigers' top wideout.
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Marshall is one of the bigger receivers in a class loaded with smaller, dynamic players. He can line up both on the inside and outside. Marshall does have to grow his route tree, but he had proven to be a playmaker with good speed for a player of his size. Marshall, who comes from a long line of stud wide receivers out of LSU, could sneak into the first round of the NFL draft.
Possible destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Moore is coming off an impressive 2020 campaign where he produced huge totals despite playing in just eight games before opting out to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. His 86 catches and 1,193 receiving yards ranked second in the nation among wide receivers, behind only Devonta Smith (who played in five more games).
Moore ran the vast majority of his routes at Ole Miss out of the slot, and he had the tools to come right in and start at that spot in the NFL. Despite his lack of size, Moore still broke 31 tackles on 153 receptions in his final two collegiate seasons. Per Pro Football Focus, he also made 22 catches on 39 contested targets in his career. Some draft analysts have compared him to former fantasy star Steve Smith.
Possible destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Toney produced career-best totals during the 2020 season, recording nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdown catches as the Gators’ main slot receiver. He also saw some burn as a runner, carrying the football 19 times for 161 yards and one score. Toney’s 70 catches tied for the seventh-most in the nation among wide receivers.
A former high school quarterback who also ran track, Toney has a chance to be a dynamic athlete at the next level. Not only can he be an NFL team's top slot man, but he can also be used on jet sweeps, seam routes, and in other offensive trickery. He’s drawn comparisons to Tyreek Hill due to his versatile skill set, and Toney himself has said that he models his game after fantasy superstar Alvin Kamara.
Possible destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Moore is considered a wild card at the wide receiver position. He played in just seven games over his final two seasons with the Boilermakers due to injuries. His most productive college season came in 2018 when he produced 114 catches, 1,258 yards, and 12 touchdowns while also rushing 21 times for 213 yards.
His 114 catches that year led the nation, and Moore accomplished that feat as a true freshman. He was also 11th in receiving yards, first in yards after the catch, and first in yards after contact among wide receivers. If he can avoid injuries, Moore could be a gamechanger at the next level. However, that's a big if, and his lack of size and stature could keep Moore from being picked in the first two days of the NFL draft.
Possible destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Wallace had a very productive career with the Cowboys, totaling 205 catches, 3,434 yards, and 26 touchdowns while averaging nearly 17 yards per catch in 37 games. His 102.4 yards per game average this past season was good for 15th among wide receivers. He’s mostly liked to be used as an outside receiver at the next level.
Wallace possesses strong hands, which was evident in his 44 contested catches in his collegiate career per Pro Football Focus. He has tremendous ball skills and was often featured on screens at OSU to showcase his skills in the open field. If Wallace lacks in one area, it’s in his route tree. The Cowboys Air Raid offense didn’t require much route versatility, so Wallace will have to work on that aspect of his game.
Possible destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Atwell is undersized at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, but that didn’t stop him from putting up 115 catches, nearly 1,900 yards, and 18 touchdowns. In his breakout season of 2019, he had 13 targets that came 20-plus yards downfield when he was “open” per Pro Football Focus. That means he can separate with his ridiculous level of speed.
That’s probably Atwell's greatest asset: speed. Lining out in the slot most of the time in college, he’ll be a threat to score anytime he touches the football in off-man coverage. Whether or not he can produce against press coverage at the NFL level at barely over 150 pounds is a big question mark. Still, Atwell is a dynamic playmaker who can bring a different dimension to any offense. He’ll be a Day 2 or 3 pick.
Possible destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael onTwitter,Facebook,YouTube, andInstagramfor all of the latest breaking fantasy football news and the best analysis in the business!
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