Antonio Brown's brief stint with the Patriots is over, as the team released him Friday.
"The New England Patriots are releasing Antonio Brown," the team said in a statement. "We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time." Antonio hasn't been able to stay out of the limelight and judging from him walking out of the press conference Bill was done with the distractions to the team. Luckily, Brady was able to throw him a TD pass last week so he could add to his list of players who have caught at TD form them. The Patriots expected this to happen as they wrote language into the contact about activities detrimental to team activities so they will be getting most of the money back. I would think that the Patriots go looking for a trade partner with the freed up money, I'm guessing for a tackle to help solidify their broken offensive line.
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By Damon Young: Ben Roethlisberger needs surgery on his mysteriously injured elbow and will miss the rest of the NFL season. The Pittsburgh Steelers are dumpster juice this year—which is what tends to happen when you call losing your two best players “addition by subtraction” instead of “shit, I think we’re fucked now”—and a part of me believes Big Head Ben realizes this and would just rather spend the rest of the year eating corn nuts and buying OnlyFans memberships than playing football. Anyway, since trading away Josh Dobbs last week, the Steelers’ remaining quarterback is something called a “Mason Rudolph”—who sounds more like an oil baron or the founder of gout than a professional athlete, but apparently has some potential. Still, he needs a veteran back-up. And, possibly, someone to come in and snatch his gig if he’s not ready for it. Fortunately, there’s someone out there who qualifies. iSo, I’m going to switch gears a bit here, because the preceding paragraph was a bit of a lie. Now, were the things I said in it true? Yes! Mason Rudolph is now the starter, and after trading Josh Dobbs, the Steelers have no backup on their roster. The lie is the implication that I give a shit about the Steelers’ football-related reasons for signing Colin Kaepernick. I don’t! I don’t give a shit if he makes the Steelers better or worse! He could hopscotch with Nessa on the sidelines each Sunday! He could break huddles to tweetcap Succession! I. Don’t. Care. I just want them to sign him because I want to live in a world where he’s a Pittsburgh Steeler. I want to listen to all the talk radio call-ins from Brookline to Butler threatening to boycott the team. I want to read what Pittsburgh Post-Gazette executive editor and human-sized tick bite Keith Burris has to say. I want to see certain Pittsburghers twist themselves into Primanti’s origami attempting to justify how they can root for Roofie Roethlisberger and not Colin Kaepernick. I want to feel the heat as all the Blue Lives Matter stickers and flags attached to bumpers on Route 28 and I-376 spontaneously combust. I live a quarter-mile from Heinz Field, and I want to stand on my roof and witness the Yinzer Apocalypse. I don’t ask for much. Some nice cooked food. Some nice clean drawers. That’s all I need. I’m a simple man. But please, universe, just give me this. Pittsburgh needs it. And by “Pittsburgh” I mean “Me. Just me.” It's been reported that the New York Giants have benched Eli Manning in favor of rookie Daniel Jones. Barring an injury, or Daniel Jones completely tanking, it's unlikely Eli Manning ever throws another pass for the Giants. As such, it appears that his present body of work is pretty much finished, that it won't fundamentally change from now on. We can likely view his career, in it's near-finished state and evaluate it. The good, the bad, and the ugly. All of it.
What do we really have with Eli Manning though? Assuming his career is more or less over, has he done enough to merit induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, or is he going to be a bubble type player, someone who has some argument to be inducted, but can never cross over that hump with the selection committee? Awards and Accomplishments
Statistics Overall Record: 116-116-0 Completions: 4860 (#6 all-time) Attempts: 8061 (#6 all-time) Completion Percentage: 60.3 (#42 all-time) Passing Yards: 56,537 (currently #7 all-time, will drop to #8 as Rivers should surpass) Touchdowns: 362 (#8 all-time) Interceptions: 241 Yards Per Game: 241.6 (#16 all-time) QB Rating: 84.1 (#45 all-time) 4th Quarter Comebacks: 27 (#13 all-time) Game Winning Drives: 37 (#9 all-time) The Dolphins are making no secret that they’re tanking, while the Steelers are trying to get better even after losing Ben Roethlisberger.
Miami defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick has been traded to Pittsburgh, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The trade includes a first-round draft pick, although it’s unclear whether that’s the entirety of the trade. The Dolphins just drafted Fitzpatrick with the 11th overall pick last year, but since then they’ve gone into major rebuilding mode and are selling off all their assets. The Steelers, on the other hand, are eager to improve their secondary with a talented young player. Given the Steelers’ 0-2 start and the season-ending injury to Roethlisberger, their first-round pick in 2020 could be a high pick. Right now the Dolphins care more about high picks than wins, and they may have added another high pick, while the Steelers added a player who can help them win. The Steelers didn't lose to the Seahawks on Sunday because of Ben Roethlisberger's elbow injury. They lost because Big Ben failed to move his disjointed offense before he left. They lost because after he was gone, their defense gave up second-half touchdowns in three drives, then couldn't stop the Seahawks from icing the game with a soul-crushing, 12-play, 5:34 drive. They lost in a manner that felt all too similar to so many moments in the Mike Tomlin era. His defense, his secondary, couldn't make a stop.
The Steelers will lose plenty more in 2019 following Monday's news that Roethlisberger needs season-ending elbow surgery, but how they compete in Tomlin's 13th season on the job could determine his future with the organization. The Rooney family's famous patience and Tomlin's ability to overcome setbacks will be tested like no other time in his tenure. The shape of the 2019 NFL campaign didn't only change in Pittsburgh. The torn thumb ligament Drew Brees suffered in his throwing hand against the Rams on Sunday will keep the 40-year-old sidelined for at least six weeks, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, providing the Saints with an unwelcome preview of the post-Brees era in New Orleans. Eli Manning may have essentially benched himself after a rough outing against the Bills opened the door for rookie Daniel Jones to start for the 0-2 Giants as early as Week 3. Roethlisberger (in his 16th NFL season), Brees (19th) and Manning (16th) have been NFL fixtures for years. This edition of the Debrief will focus on all the characters impacted by a Sunday of pillars falling all over the map, starting with the embattled Steelers coach: Mike Tomlin, Steelers coach: First things first: No one should write an obituary for the 2019 Steelers just yet. The team second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph takes over isn't nearly as talented as the group Roethlisberger inherited as a rookie in Week 2 of 2004, but this isn't a hopeless roster. The Steelers have won games without Big Ben before, thanks to their organizational stability, talent and coaching. The NFL is far too unpredictable to assume the Steelers' veterans won't improve their play around Rudolph. The challenge facing Tomlin, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and defensive coordinator Keith Butler is to fix the numerous problems that existed for the Steelers independent of Roethlisberger, while Rudolph is integrated into the offense. The 2018 third-round pick made plays in his five drives at the helm on Sunday. Three of those drives ended in scores, and the first ended in an interception on a textbook third-and-long out throw on which the ball went through receiver Donte Moncrief's slippery hands, bounced off his helmet and was snared by Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald. Moncrief didn't play after that, his benching highlighting just how diminished the skill-position group looks, outside of receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Tight end Vance McDonald (nine catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns) and receivers James Washington (four catches for 74 yards) and Diontae Johnson (four catches for 42 yards) have yet to step up as reliable targets. Though pass protection held up, Roethlisberger didn't manage to complete a pass to a receiver until 5:49 left in the second quarter. The running game has gained a total of 113 yards in two weeks, and the Steelers were out-coached for a second straight week following Week 1's drubbing by the Pats. Pittsburgh's talented defensive line swallowed the Seahawks whole for most of the first half, but the Seahawks adjusted with quick passing that exposed holes in the Steelers' secondary. Tomlin's young group made mental errors, and their linebackers (Mark Barron and rookie Devin Bush) were slow in coverage. When your secondary is undisciplined enough to force Seattle coaches Pete Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer to go pass-heavy in a close game, something is seriously wrong. The continued mediocrity of the Steelers' defense is Tomlin's bailiwick for the next 14 games. His coaching background came in the secondary, and the Steelers' secondary is so often the team's biggest problem. With Roethlisberger out, Tomlin needs a carefully constructed defense at all three levels to carry the team. Through two weeks, Pittsburgh's defense has taken a step back from its usual M.O. of providing a slightly better than average, slightly disappointing performance. Without Roethlisberger around to carry the team, perhaps the Rooney family will more seriously examine what Tomlin brings to the table. He is a terrific communicator and leader of the franchise with a long history of success (a 125-68-1 record and a Super Bowl ring), factors that can't be easily replaced. He hasn't coached a single losing season in Pittsburgh and has proven remarkably capable of climbing out of ditches. Finishing with an 8-6 record with Rudolph as the starter would seemingly be enough to quell any job-security questions, even if the Steelers missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. That will take vast improvement by Tomlin's defense, not to mention the rise of a new Steelers quarterback ... Mason Rudolph and Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers quarterbacks: Roethlisberger's future will likely be up to Roethlisberger. The 37-year-old just signed a contract extension in April that included a $37.5 million signing bonus and a $12.5 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2020 league year. While he's publicly considered retirement before, Roethlisberger confirmed in a statement Monday that he plans to honor that contract, adding that he's "completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season," and that he has "a lot left to give." At any rate, the Steelers would take a huge salary-cap penalty to move on from the future Hall of Famer (per Over The Cap, they'd be on the hook for $25 million in dead money next season). Rudolph's performance this season will be more about securing Tomlin's future with the team, not to mention Rudolph's next contract, wherever that may be. After a typically slow rookie training camp in 2018, the Oklahoma State product impressed Steelers brass enough to earn the backup job in his second preseason with 8.6 yards per attempt, four touchdowns and one interception. That led to Josh Dobbs being traded to the Jaguars just last week. Rudolph showed off his strong arm, some improvisational skills and an ability to go through his reads against the Seahawks, finishing with 12 completions in 19 attempts for 112 yards, two scores and a pick. "He wants to be the show," Steelers guard Ramon Foster told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero after the game. "You see it in his face. Look at him. You see him. That guy is stone cold, man. He came from an offense that said that he's a playmaker. He shows that he's a playmaker, and he wants to be that. ... We didn't shrink the playbook at all. That little (flea-flicker) we had, I don't know if he even has done that at practice this week, and he did it in a major way. ... He's a capable guy." Guard David DeCastro went a step further, telling reporters he was "really, really, really" impressed with Rudolph's effort on Sunday. Playing that well week after week once defenses game-plan for Rudolph will be more difficult, but the Steelers weren't caught flat-footed by this injury. They've invested draft capital in life after Ben, and they have a strong offensive line with which to protect Rudolph. Conspiracy theorists might even look at the enthusiasm of those quotes from his linemen and wonder if the team is excited to win without Roethlisberger, although that narrative feels as lazy as the popular summer fairy tale that the Steelers' offense would be better without Antonio Brown. This is a diminished Steelers squad. Even though the situation isn't hopeless, with Roethlisberger out, the NFL's most rugged-looking division before the season suddenly doesn't look as tough ... The AFC North: The front-running Ravens are already two games up on the Steelers and Bengals. To get caught from behind by a Mason Rudolph-led team would be a disaster for the defending division champions. Browns fans also don't need to be reminded that the Browns have never beaten a Roethlisberger-led team in Pittsburgh, with the Steelers going 23-2-1 in all of Roethlisberger's appearances against the Browns. The path to the playoffs -- whether through the division title or the wild card -- is a lot easier for Cleveland if the Browns can finish ahead of the Steelers. Sean Payton, Saints coach, and Teddy Bridgewater, Saints quarterback: Unlike Mike Tomlin, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton doesn't need to worry about his future following a serious injury to his franchise quarterback. Hours before Sunday's NFC Championship Game rematch between the Saints and Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday, word emerged of Payton's five-year contract extension with the Saints. That guaranteed there would be life for Payton after Drew Brees in New Orleans in what will be a fascinating test of Payton's offensive genius. No one expected that test to start Sunday. The Saints recorded their fourth-lowest scoring game and the fourth-lowest yardage total since the Payton-Brees era began in 2006 during their 27-9 loss to the Rams. Putting that all on backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater doesn't feel right, considering Brees' interception in the first drive and the offense's sloppy first half against the Texans in Week 1. Still, it was alarming to see Payton's inability to adjust in nine drives with Bridgewater at the helm. The team had just two drives all day that included more than two first downs. In Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, Ted Ginn and a strong offensive line, Payton and Bridgewater should have enough tools to create yards. But it hasn't yet happened for them in a very limited sample size together. Bridgewater couldn't find open receivers down the field against the Rams, often taking checkdowns and missing a few key throws. This outing, combined with Bridgewater's blah preseason and rough Week 17 start last year, has the Taysom Hill truthers out in full force. Don't expect Sean Payton to go that route any time soon. The Saints have invested time, draft capital (the third-round pick New Orleans sent to the Jets for Bridgewater in August of 2018) and money ($7.5 million in 2019 base salary on his current one-year deal) in Bridgewater because Payton believes in him. Bridgewater hasn't translated his reportedly strong practice play to the field well enough, although his performances to date have come with mitigating circumstances. The Saints' offensive linemen were thrashed in the Week 17 start a year ago, while Bridgewater played with backups. I want to see what Bridgewater looks like after getting a full week of preparation as the team's starter, with Payton game-planning around his strengths. At his best in Minnesota, the 2014 first-round pick was an effective point guard who could create extra time in the pocket with his movement and made good decisions. That skill set should be perfect for Payton's offense. Turning 27 in November, he's a little more than 2 years younger than Hill and has more long-term upside. The Saints' schedule doesn't do Payton any favors. They will remain on the West Coast this week before facing the 2-0 Seahawks in Seattle, then return home to go against a budding Cowboys juggernaut. The Bucs, Jaguars, Bears and Cardinals follow before a Week 9 bye. Bridgewater will presumably be the starter for all of those games, although it's fair to expect a heavy dose of Hill in the red zone. The devastating knee injury that altered Bridgewater's career, ending his tenure as the Vikings' starter after 29 starts, happened just over three years ago, even if it feels like a lifetime. I've seen too much analysis that assumes Bridgewater can't grow, that a 26-year-old with 55 regular-season pass attempts in the last three-plus seasons is somehow a finished product. Bridgewater smartly turned down overtures this offseason from the Dolphins to take over the starting job in Miami, and this opportunity provides him with an incredible chance to show he still belongs in the NFL as a starter. It's also Payton's chance to reimagine his offensive bona fides, to show he's the type of generational coach who can create big plays no matter the quarterback, like Andy Reid or Joe Gibbs. A 4-2 or 3-3 record over the next six weeks is a fair hope for this duo, and either mark would keep the Saints in the playoff hunt. Based on Payton's track record, I'd expect it. The rest of the NFC South: It's safe to say Brees' injury got the attention of the rest of the division. Carolina's 0-2 start doesn't feel quite as hopeless as it did Thursday night, and the Falcons' win on Sunday night gives them a chance to grab hold of the division lead before Brees gets back. The Bucs were given the best luck of the group, as their trip to New Orleans in Week 5 will come against Bridgewater. (Then again, the Bucs are 4-4 against Brees in the last four years.) Tampa's revived defense may also face an untested quarterback in Week 3 ... Daniel Jones, Giants quarterback: It's time. I wrote in late August that Jones' sterling preseason after being drafted sixth overall meant that Eli Manning could -- and should -- be benched the minute the Giants fell two games under .500. That officially happened on Sunday, when Manning completed 26 of 45 passes for 250 yards, one score and two picks in a 28-14 loss to the Bills, and Giants coach Pat Shurmur seemed to open the door on a quarterback change during Monday's press conference. Shurmur, 5-13 since taking the job last season, is fighting for his coaching life, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he's more eager to make the change than his front office, which has a longer history with Manning. One truism I've learned over the years: If a coach is sticking with a veteran quarterback, he almost always makes it clear Monday. When he wants to change to the young guy, he usually keeps it vague before talking to all the appropriate parties. Benching a franchise legend involves complications, like getting ownership involved and having a media strategy, something that former Giants coach Ben McAdoo learned the hard way a few years back. But I'd expect Jones to start after Shurmur checks those boxes, very possibly this week. That would leave Eli's all-time record as Giants starter at 116-116. Giants fans love to point out that Manning is hardly their only problem, which is true. Daniel Jones won't save one of football's most talent-poor defenses. But he will make Big Blue's offense far more watchable, and it's fun to imagine Jones throwing to running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Evan Engram every week. The Daniel Dimes truly era started the minute he was taken with the No. 6 overall pick; everything that's taken place since has been part of an awkward stage of denial. UNSTOPPABLE PERFORMANCE: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs QB Don't take Mahomes' early prime for granted. There is no good NFL comparison for him, because the third-year pro and 2018 NFL MVP is accomplishing feats on a weekly basis that we've never seen anyone accomplish before. Dan Marino, who threw for 9,221 yards and 78 touchdown passes in Years 2 and 3 of his career, comes the closest, but even Dan Marino couldn't have pulled off a 278-yard, four-touchdown quarter like Mahomes did in Oakland on Sunday. The performance was a delight for the football senses; it felt like the Chiefs and Raiders were so exhausted from the spectacle that they stopped scoring altogether afterward. Mahomes is showing an improved ability to buy time to throw by escaping to safe tracts of land. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is even building some of Mahomes' unpredictable movement into the playbook, purposefully moving the pocket to the left or right in unorthodox fashion during his dropback. This only highlights the ability of the Chiefs and Mahomes to space the field, which is unmatched in today's NFL, not to mention yesterday's NFL. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Mahomes' defensive teammate, Chris Jones, was another candidate in this category, for almost single-handedly ruining the Raiders' offensive gameplan. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson also deserves credit for how routine and clinical he made his 300-yard, three-TD effort against Pittsburgh's scrambling defense look. It's a great sign that Wilson could be so efficient without even needing to lean on his usual theatrics. As the NFL celebrates its 100th season, it rolls out a nod to the Browns-Jets showdown that was the genesis of football's appointment television during the week.
In a week in which the Jets and Sam Darnold brought mono back into the social consciousness, New York heads into primetime absent a host of its star players. In contrast, the Browns are brimming with star power, but are coming off a weak opening act for a season in which the talent was prognosticated to match the hype for a Cleveland squad seemingly on the rise. From Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham to Here's what to watch for when the Jets host the Browns tonight in the 781st Monday Night Football game: 1. Will the real Browns show up or did we already see them in Week 1? In many ways, it was the Browns' Week 3 win over the Jets last season that started all this. That's when Mayfield left the bench, led the Browns to a win and never looked back. It was the first win of a 7-8-1 season that stirred hope for a new dawn in Cleveland, one in which the Browns were predicted to do big things with a young QB as brash as he was talented, complimented by a starry set of skill position players that included Beckham -- the highlight of a phenomenal offseason. And the defense, keyed by Myles Garrett, was supposed to be just as stupendous. And maybe it can and will be. The Browns began the season with a 43-13 loss to the Titans that was ugly, puzzling and popped the hype bubble. Most believe the Browns will win tonight and should do so convincingly. That's why this game is so important for the Browns, because it's time for them to start doing what everyone, including a talented cast of players, believes they should be doing. 2. Can Le'Veon Bell be the Jets' lone star? There was some concern that Bell wouldn't make it for this one, but he seems good to go, a shoulder issue not enough to stop him as he'll be looked on to shoulder the load for a depleted Jets squad. Trevor Siemian will be quarterbacking the Jets, but in terms of production, Bell will need to lead the way. And the setting is right. Better than any back in Monday night lore, Bell averages 112 yards rushing and 169 scrimmage yards per MNF game. If the Jets have a shot, they'll need Bell's outstanding Monday night norm to do so. 3. Next men up for Gang Green There's been plenty of jokes at the Jets' expense in the wake of Darnold's mononucleosis diagnosis. But linebacker C.J. Mosely, very much the quarterback of the defense, is out with a groin injury. First-round defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, the loveable man-child with the great grin, will be smiling from the sideline with an ankle injury. Starting offensive linemen Kelvin Beachum and Brian Winters are also questionable as the Jets' injury report basically resembles its roster. As it relates to silver linings and the NFL, they're really nonexistent, but the Jets will see how much mettle they have tonight with players grinding through injuries and second-stringers stepping up. In many ways, the Jets are full of fresh faces that we're getting to know and know well. Tonight's a chance for others to step up in the national spotlight. 4. Will we see same-old spectacular OBJ on MNF? There's been much ado made about Beckham's comments about Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams nudging his players to take OBJ out of the game. There's also the intrigue of a Jamal Adams-led secondary matching up with Beckham and Jarvis Landry. But this is Beckham's return to East Rutherford, where he starred for so many seasons with the Giants. And OBJ's MetLife return is also on a Monday and nobody's ever been better on Mondays than Beckham. To say Beckham will be in a comfortable setting is an understatement. Since its opening in 2010, MetLife has housed no more successful receiving act than Beckham, whose 198 catches for 2,900 yards and 23 touchdowns are all stadium-bests. And since OBJ's introduction to the league in 2014, his 51 catches for 755 yards and seven scores on Monday night are likewise the best in that timeframe. It's the time and place for Beckham to shine. Quick Highlights:
- Adm V is probably retiring tomorrow - Steelers in a tail spin - Miami is looking great for an 0-16 season. Houston Texans 13, Jacksonville Jaguars 12 1. Houston almost coughed up another late lead for the second straight week to open the season. Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew drove the Jacksonville offense down the field with chunk throws and heady big runs culminating in a touchdown toss to D.J. Chark with 30 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 13-12. Jags coach Doug Marrone elected to go for two points and a potential win. Leonard Fournette, however, was stuffed inches before the goal line, allowing the Texans (1-1) to escape without another late collapse. Houston breathed a sigh of relief but can't be thrilled by the limp defensive effort -- including more off coverage -- to close out the tilt. 2. Deshaun Watson was discombobulated behind a faltering offensive line against a Jags D that was missing star pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Watson was sacked four times Sunday and couldn't find the range deep throughout the tilt -- completing just two of 10 passes of 15-plus air-yards, per Next Gen Stats. The matchup between DeAndre Hopkins and Jalen Ramsey went mostly to the Jags corner, who held Nuk (five catches on eight targets for 40 yards) to short gains. Hopkins did much of his damage when Ramsey -- who blew up at the coaching staff on the sideline in the first half -- was in zone coverage. With Hopkins neutralized, Watson's passing game wilted. The Texans leaned on Carlos Hyde (90 yards) who out-carried Duke Johnson 20 to 6. Holding on for the win brings a modicum of relief, but the Texans need more when Nuk is negated as he was for the most part by Ramsey Sunday. 3. Minshew didn't look flustered in his first career start. The sixth-round pick got swarmed at times by the Texans front, getting sacked four times (twice by Whitney Mercilus) and fumbling thrice (losing one). The third fumble led to the Texans' only touchdown of the game. Minshew was solid when getting the ball out of his hands quickly and displayed plenty of touch, arm strength and accuracy to complete several long sideline throws. The rookie displayed positive running ability, leading the Jags (0-2) with 56 rushing yards on six carries, including big gains of 21 and 18 yards. After getting swarmed for three quarters, the man with the golden mustache showed moxie at the end leading to the final-minute touchdown, taking advantage of a loose Texans D. Minshew (23-of-33, 213 yards, TD) was scuttled behind a struggling offensive line and at times held the ball too long. But the rookie showed he can be a solid stand-in for Nick Foles if he gets more help from Fournette and company moving forward. -- Kevin Patra Buffalo Bills 28, New York Giants 14 1. Tasked with playing their second straight tilt at MetLife Stadium, the Bills (2-0) stayed in the same hotel -- with players lodged in the very same rooms -- to mimic their lead-up to last week's 17-16 comeback win over the Jets. The OCD/superstitious approach worked, with Buffalo unfurling a clean and effective offensive outing over Big Blue. Josh Allen caught heat for his four turnovers in Week 1, but the Bills second-year signal-caller authored a clean, productive game that saw him lead four touchdown drives and throw for 253 yards at a healthy 8.4 yards per toss. Rookie runner Devin Singletary helped with a dazzling 14-yard scoring dash -- more of him please -- while old-as-the-hills-but-still-wily Frank Gore plowed for 70 yards at 3.9 yards per carry. Third-year wideout Isaiah McKenzie helped with a 14-yard touchdown grab on a drive that saw trusty possession man Cole Beasley slice up New York with a 51-yard catch-and-run. 2. Same old tune for the wandering G-Men: Reminding us of last week's start against Dallas, New York barreled down the field on their opening drive, with electrifying runner Saquon Barkley (18/107/1) rampaging through Buffalo's defense for 55 yards with a 27-yard touchdown burst. The Giants (0-2) appeared entirely lost from there, with Eli Manning throwing for zero yards over the first four marches and finishing with just 202 yards at 4.8 yards per lob with a pair of picks. New York is struggling in a way all of America saw coming from 1,000 miles away: Can they surprise anyone after the opening drive? Tons of Barkley; Eli dragging the team down; a wanting, soft defense offering no help; and a playbook airmailed from 1948. This problem-laden offense looked even worse against a well-coached, smothering Buffalo defense that all but destroyed New York's two other squads over the first two weeks of the season. The Bills are a playoff team if the defense continues to operate this way while Allen continues to grow under center. 3. Describing New York's afternoon in a nutshell: Down 21-7 before the half, New York caught a break when T.J. Jones returned a punt 60 yards to Buffalo's 33-yard line. Two plays later, Manning's pass was batted by sensational Bills rookie Ed Oliver and picked off by Trent Murphy. Jones subsequently lifted an injury-ravaged receiver group with a third-quarter score off a dig route that brought New York within 21-14 of the Bills. Too little, too late, though, with Buffalo ending the game with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a Gore score. It's impossible to figure out how this Giants roster crawls its way to six wins. The real question is whether Pat Shurmur owns the requisite power to permanently bench his ancient starter in favor of rookie Daniel Jones. If not, the embattled Giants coach feels like a scapegoat-in-the-making for a team as lost as any league-wide. -- Marc Sessler Dallas Cowboys 31, Washington Redskins 21 1. With precocious play-caller Kellen Moore keeping another defense guessing, the Cowboys (2-0) topped the 30-point mark for the second straight week. After a sluggish first quarter, Dallas receivers roamed through prairie land in Washington's injury-ravaged secondary, as Moore continues to scheme his arsenal of playmakers into open spaces. While a rejuvenated Randall Cobb and a transformed Michael Gallup are making Dak Prescott's job easier this season, it was former Jets second-round pick Devin Smith leading the way with 74 yards receiving, including a 51-yard touchdown bomb against veteran cornerback Josh Norman. Ezekiel Elliott salted the game away with a 27-yard jaunt on third-and-5, pushing him over the 100-yard mark on the day. One of the NFL's scariest offenses this September, the Cowboys have expanded on the predictable Elliott-centric approach, torturing opponents with a well-rounded pick-your-poison attack. 2. Considering the strength of Dallas' roster and the beautiful mind of Moore, Prescott has a prime opportunity for a legitimate run at MVP honors in a contract year. After an early interception on an errant pass that ricocheted off Cobb's hands, Prescott completed 13 of his next 15 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns while the Cowboys ran away from the less talented Redskins (0-2). Bolstering his passing numbers, Prescott added 69 yards on the ground, the second-highest rushing total of his career. Through two weeks under Moore, a pinpoint Prescott has completed an astonishing 51 of 62 attempts (82.3 percent) for 674 yards (10.9 YPA), seven touchdowns, one interception and a 142.9 pass rating versus a pair of suspect secondaries. The downtrodden Dolphins are next on the schedule for Dallas. 3. Redskins rookie Terry McLaurin would have topped 200 yards in his NFL debut last week had Case Keenum not overthrown him on a potential 73-yard score in the second half. He faced a much stiffer test this time around, with Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones in his hip pocket all afternoon. McLaurin finally shook free for a 27-yard gain just past Jones' outstretched fingertips, igniting a 69-yard second-half performance that included a 1-yard touchdown late in the festivities. McLaurin turned so many heads in training camp, coach Jay Gruden relayed to FOX broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis, that the Redskins were forced to pull him off special teams even though the former Ohio State star was drafted with that skill-set in mind. It didn't take long for Gruden to realize that his third-round pick was his No. 1 receiver. -- Chris Wesseling New England Patriots 43, Miami Dolphins 0 1. All eyes were on Antonio Brown as he made his Patriots debut Sunday amid an NFL investigation into rape and sexual assault allegations made against the receiver in a civil lawsuit last week. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported during NFL GameDayMorning that the Patriots' game plan was to involve A.B. in the offense early against the Dolphins (0-2), and that's exactly what happened. Brown was on the field for the second play of the game and immediately snagged an 18-yard catch. Brown had three catches for 36 yards on the Pats' opening TD drive, and then looked like his vintage self when he corralled a perfect back-shoulder throw from Tom Brady for a 20-yard TD in the second quarter. Brown and Brady did seem to struggle at times to be on the same page, but that will be solved with more practice time, assuming Brown remains eligible in the coming weeks. While the NFL did not place Brown on the Commissioner's Exempt list ahead of Sunday's game, the league did not rule it out as an option entirely. Rapoport reports that Brown's accuser, Britney Taylor, is slated to meet with league investigators on Monday. 2. This Patriots' defense is an absolute bear. New England (2-0) has given up just three points through eight quarters, and after demoralizing the Steelers in Week 1, the unit laid waste to the Dolphins. The Patriots racked up 11 QB hits and seven sacks, logged three interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns) and completely prevented the Dolphins from having anything that resembled an NFL-caliber offense. Tom Brady and Co. will garner most of the headlines, but the defense in Foxborough might be one of the best groups in the NFL. NFL Research✔@NFLResearchThe #Patriots defense put up 37 fantasy points, the most by a defense since the Titans had 38 fantasy points in Week 17, 2012 vs Jacksonville 3. If you want to look on the bright side, Dolphins fans, the team held tough against the Patriots through 2 1/2 quarters. But when the floodgates opened, boy did they open. A 16-0 game quickly became 23-0 after a patented Brady sneak, and back-to-back pick-sixes from Ryan Fitzpatrick sealed another blowout loss. This is a talent-poor group that has been outscored 102-10 in back-to-back home contests. When they aren't struggling to get separation, receivers are dropping passes (at least four vs. New England). The defense failed to get consistent pressure on Brady despite the Patriots missing both of their starting tackles (Isaiah Wynn was lost to a foot injury and Marcus Cannon (shoulder) was inactive). Things won't get easier for the Dolphins in Week 3 as travel to Dallas to face the red-hot Cowboys. -- David Ely Green Bay Packers 21, Minnesota Vikings 16 1. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense blitzed out of the gate, showing how good Matt LaFleur's offense could be when in rhythm. The Packers (2-0) scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to open the game with a 21-0 lead. Rogers moved the offense swiftly with tempo and balance, starting the first quarter 9-of-10 passing for 134 yards, and 2 TDs, including 3-for-3 on third down. Davante Adams looked uncoverable. Aaron Jones ripped off runs like a bull seeing red. After the first three possessions, however, the Packers offense looked stuck in mud, much like it was in Week 1. After the first three drives, Green Bay's possessions went: fumble, three-and-out, punt, downs, punt, fumble, punt, punt, three-and-out, three-and-out, punt. Credit the Vikings defense for turning the tide and not giving Rodgers time to breathe the final three quarters. Rodgers (22-34, 209 yards, 2 TDs) couldn't find a rhythm and held the ball with receivers blanketed the rest of the tilt. The best Packers offensive player was running back Aaron Jones who toted a career-high 23 times for 116 yards and a TD. Jones blasted through the line several times for chunk gains, and his carries were the few good plays for the Pack in the second half. LaFleur sought balance with the run game and got it in Week 2 with Jones (who added four catches for 34 yards). Through two weeks, it's been baby steps for the Packers' offense. Getting two division wins while Rodgers and company sort out the kinks could prove massive come December. 2. The Vikings defense helped Minnesota (1-1) scrap back into the game, but Kirk Cousins threw it away. Dalvin Cook did his best to carry the Vikings offense, including a 75-yard touchdown blastoff in which he blasted past safety Darnell Savage to cut the Packers' early lead. Cook looked phenomenal all game, pummeling a gassed Packers defense in the second half en route to 154 yards on 20 carries, and added three catches for 37 yards. Cousins, however, struggled badly. The quarterback completed just 43.8 percent of 32 passes for 230 yards and one TD, fumbled twice (losing one) and threw two brutal INTs. The second interception was a boneheaded decision by the Vikes' QB. Trailing by five with 5:17 left at the eight-yard line on first down, Cousins forced a ball into the corner of the end zone to Stefon Diggs, which was picked off. The pass exemplified a day in which Cousins looked lost repeatedly and missed throw after throw high, wide, or in the dust. Outside of one great throw to Diggs for a TD, it was a forgetful trip to Lambeau for Cousins. With even slightly better play from the QB, the Vikings could have completed a massive comeback. Missing a field goal, having a TD called back due to OPI, a blocked extra point, and a bevy of other bad penalties will leave Mike Zimmer fuming on the trip home. 3. Credit the Packers' revamped defense with forcing Cousins into some terrible decisions. Savage once again looked like the real deal, breaking beautifully on a Cousins pass over the middle and breaking it up for a tipped INT by Preston Smith. Linebacker Blake Martinez (13 tackles) cleaned up all the garbage, while -- Kevin Patra Detroit Lions 13, Los Angeles Chargers 10 1. One week after an overtime win at home, the Chargers (1-1) weren't so lucky in their first road game of the season. Sloppy play and miscues plagued the Chargers in all facets of the game against the Lions. Bolts punter Ty Long assumed kicking duties for the second consecutive week as Michael Badgley was sidelined again with a groin injury. Long missed back-to-back field goals, which proved to be costly in the end for the Chargers. Kicking woes are nothing new for the Chargers and Bolts faithful. For several seasons, the team has failed to establish consistency at the position or have been faced with subpar stand-ins due to injury. 2. The Lions' defense was fueled by the stout performances of Darius Slay, Tracy Walker, Jahlani Tavai and Devon Kennard that kept the Chargers out of the end zone Sunday. In the third quarter, Tavai forced an Ekeler goal-line fumble (which was recovered by Kennard). Slay had five tackles on the day and picked off Rivers in the end zone to seal the victory for Detroit (1-0-1). Offensively, the Lions took to the air against a thin Chargers secondary. Matthew Stafford threw for 245 yards and two touchdown passes with a pair of INTs. Detroit rushed for just 94 yards, splitting the workload between Kerryon Johnson and Ty Johnson. 3. Chargers receiver Mike Williams, who was a game-time decision, had three catches for 83 yards versus the Lions. This week, Williams sat out of practice due to a knee injury. The oft-injured Williams has proved to be a game changer for L.A., when healthy, but the third-year wideout hasn't gone a full season without some ailment. Philip Rivers went 21 for 36, totaling 287 yards and one interception. While Rivers spread the ball around between Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, the offense failed to get a rhythm going. The Chargers' offense certainly missed tight end Hunter Henry today, who is out for a while with a knee fracture. -- Andie Hagemann Indianapolis Colts 19, Tennessee Titans 17 1. The Colts (1-1) really have a kicker situation with Adam Vinatieri. The veteran kicker had another unexpectedly horrible game. He missed two PATs against the Titans. Just last week, he left seven points on the field with a missed extra point and two missed field goals. If you're the Colts, do you start trying out other kickers? Do you cut the veteran, or does he just retire? The Colts are lucky the Titans couldn't convert on fourth-and-2 with 15 seconds left, or they might be 0-2 to start the season. After the game, Vinatieri told Stephen Holder of the Athletic that, "You'll hear from me tomorrow." Holder told him that they won't see him tomorrow. Vinatieri said, "Yeah, you will." Does the veteran plan to announce his retirement? Stay tuned. 2. The Titans (1-1) might've started off the game with fire due to some pyrotechnic problems but their offense didn't do enough to get a win. Titans offensive lineman David Quessenberry caught his first career touchdown against the Colts. The 2013 sixth-round pick was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. He returned to the field in 2017 after a three-year long battle. Head coach Mike Vrabel had 12 receiving TDs (including playoffs) as a linebacker (the most by a non-skill-position player in the Super Bowl era), per NFL Research. 3. Jacoby Brissett struggled a little in this game with two turnovers but overall this was a great team effort with help from the defense. Brissett threw for 146 yards and three touchdowns. Coach Frank Reich had confidence in his team and played very aggressive which paid off. -- Lakisha Wesseling Baltimore Ravens 23, Arizona Cardinals 17 1. Meet Lamar Jackson, the runner. In his follow-up to a near-perfect performance through the air in Week 1, Jackson had himself a day running the football posting a career-high 120 yards. Whether it be a designed running play or a scramble out of the pocket when under pressure, Jackson crossed the first-down marker often and his threat made it easier when dropping back to pass. Jackson ended the day completing 24 passes on 37 attempts for 272 yards and two touchdowns, but with the pesky Cardinals nipping at Baltimore's heels all game, it was Jackson's playmaking ability on the ground that was the difference. The Ravens (2-0) weren't relying on Jackson to create something out of nothing, however, as they relied on his arm to help seal the win. Up six late in the fourth and looking at a third-and-long, Jackson heaved a perfect deep pass to Marquise "Hollywood" Brown for 41 yards and that allowed the Ravens running backs bleed out the clock for the victory. 2. While "Hollywood" Brown is quickly becoming his best receiving threat, Jackson is also showing his love for the tight end. Mark Andrews matched Brown's eight receptions against the Cardinals and hauled in the Ravens' first touchdown of the day. Fellow tight end Hayden Hurst caught the other one. Andrews now has 16 receptions through the first two games and is quickly becoming one of the top pass-catchers at the position. Perhaps the tight end is a dynamic that has been overlooked when it comes to the Ravens offense, especially considering they want to deem themselves a threat on the ground and through the air on seemingly every play. 3. Although the Cardinals (0-1-1) kept settling for field goals, Murray played well considering he was constantly hounded by the Ravens defense, but that was due in large part to the Arizona wideouts. Often times lining up with a minimum of four wide receivers, the group was sure-handed and bailed out some of Murray's errant throws. The ball was distributed equally in Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid offense, with Larry Fitzgerald (5 receptions, 104 yards) and Christian Kirk (6 receptions, 114 yards) leading the group. Damiere Byrd also had himself a productive day catching six balls for 45 yards, and rookie KeeSean Johnson created a big play to extend a drive late in the game. Murray ended up with 349 yards passing with no interceptions but failed to get the offense into the end zone through the air. Growing pains were something expected for the rookie QB and head coach, but the talented receiving corps was a highlight to an otherwise inconsistent offense. -- Michael Baca San Francisco 49ers 41, Cincinnati Bengals 17 1. San Francisco has a true running back-by-committee and it was the catalyst to a well-oiled machine offensively. With Tevin Coleman going to injured reserve after Week 1, Matt Breida, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert combined for a halfback attack that gained 259 yards on the ground and 84 yards through the air. Breida led the RBBC in rushing with 121 yards on 12 attempts, while Mostert led the way receiving with 68 yards off three receptions. The trio was the heartbeat of a San Francisco offense that moved the ball rather easily against the Bengals, scoring five touchdowns, accruing 27 first downs, gaining 572 total yards and forcing Cincinnati to play from behind from the outset. Of course, leading the way was an offensive line that had no problem creating a push despite a few holding penalties (and Joe Staley's exit from the game with an injury). Just as effective was the play-calling from head coach Kyle Shanahan, who had Bengals defenders blaming each other every other play. All of which made it an uncomplicated outing for QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who, aside from an early interception, ended the day throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns in just 25 attempts, and wasn't sacked at all. 2. The 49ers defense is beginning to look like a force to be reckoned with. Following up their three-interception, two-touchdown stranglehold of the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, San Francisco's defense brought Andy Dalton back down to earth. Literally. The 49ers had four sacks of Dalton and hit him six other times. Meanwhile, the secondary of the 49ers provided great coverage as the defense caused havoc, breaking up eight Dalton passes for incompletions. Cincinnati had an even tougher time running the ball against the Niners, gaining only 25 yards on the ground on 19 attempts. As for the two touchdowns given up, one stemmed off of Garoppolo's INT at midfield and the other was a late-game catch-and-run that found the wide-open holes of a prevent defense. With new additions like Dee Ford, Nick Bosa and Kwon Alexander, veteran 49ers like DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas (who both notched a sack) are thriving. It's a sight for sore eyes in San Francisco, which has had an abysmal defense the last two years, but now starting the 2019 season, 2-0 -- the first time since 2012, when they reached the Super Bowl -- the 49ers are revamped on both sides of the ball. 3. If there was any good sign for the Bengals (0-2) in this one, it was the continuation of John Ross' hot start and Tyler Boyd's playmaking ability. Although Ross was the beneficiary of the 49ers' prevent defense in the fourth quarter -- a 66-yard catch and run that was made with his speed -- he ended the day with four catches for 112 yards and is certain to maintain the confidence of a second-round pick who had disappointed before 2019. As for Boyd, his day of 10 catches for 122 yards could've been better has a holding penalty not brought back a would-be TD reception. Boyd was sure-handed in catching all 10 of his targets, and was the only real bright spot of an offense that was frustrated all day. -- Michael Baca Seattle Seahawks 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 26 1. The Seahawks (2-0) could not get their offense going to start the game. Russell Wilson was sacked four times in the first half with three of them in the first quarter alone. Credit offensive coordinator Brian Scottenheimer and Wilson for adjusting at the half. They switched to quick throws and Wilson ate up the Steelers' zone defense. Wilson went for 29 out of 35 for 300 yards and three touchdowns. 2. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger exited the game right before halftime with a right elbow injury and did not return. So, in came second-year QB Mason Rudolph in his first NFL game. The Steelers (0-2) actually moved the ball better with him behind center. Rudolph threw on time and dove for first downs. He finished with 12 out of 19 attempts, 112 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. 3. Despite having another disappointing game, Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster surpassed Hall of Famer Randy Moss to become the youngest player to reach 2,500 career receiving yards in NFL history, per NFL Research. -- Lakisha Wesseling Kansas City Chiefs 28, Oakland Raiders 10 1. It's becoming redundant at this point, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to prove he's the most exciting player in the NFL. Down 10 points after the first quarter, the Chiefs seemed to be in for a competitive game against their AFC West rival, but Mahomes quickly put an end to that. Mahomes had four touchdowns and 278 yards passing in the second quarter alone to give Kansas City the ultimate swing in momentum and a 28-10 lead going into halftime. Evidently, that's all that was needed to deflate the Raiders. Mahomes ended the day completing 30 of 44 for 443 passing yards, and although there weren't any more scores, the third-year QB led long-enough drives to maintain the lead on a day when the Chiefs ran for 31 yards. 2. No Tyreek Hill, no problem. The Chiefs' offense didn't skip a beat with their top playmaker out with an injury, and fourth-year receiver Demarcus Robinson filled the role perfectly. Robinson amassed 172 yards on six catches and scored two touchdowns, leading all Chiefs receivers and making some eye-popping plays downfield averaging 28.7 yards per catch. Travis Kelce had his rudimentary stat line with seven grabs for 107 yards and a touchdown, Sammy Watkins was relatively quiet with six receptions for 49 yards, and rookie Mecole Hardman found the end zone on a 42-yarder in one of his two receptions. It sure seems like whoever is catching passes in Andy Reid's system will produce with Mahomes flinging the ball. 3. Derek Carr etched his name into Raiders history in the defeat. Carr became the Raiders' all-time leader in passing yards, passing Hall of Famer Ken Stabler, who held the top spot with 19,078 yards through the air. On the day, however, Carr didn't do much worth celebrating, ending the day completing 23 of 38 passes for 198 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Carr accomplished this early in his sixth season with the Raiders, and did so in what is sure to be the most Raiders-ey historical footnote: the last NFL game ever played on the dirt of a baseball diamond. -- Michael Baca The Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled its list of modern-era nominees for the Class of 2020 on Thursday.
The list includes 122 players eligible to be selected to next year's class. The list will be whittled down to 25 in November and to 15 finalists in January. The finalists will then be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting on "Selection Saturday," the day before Super Bowl LIV. Highlighted on Thursday's list are eight first-time candidates: pass rusher John Abraham, linebacker Lance Briggs, returner/receiver Josh Cribbs, running back Maurice Jones-Drew, safety Troy Polamalu, defensive end Justin Smith, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and linebacker Patrick Willis. This year's compilation includes 63 offensive players, 43 defensive players and 16 special teamers. Here is the full slate of nominees and you can vote for your favorite candidates at www.nfl.com/HOFvote: QUARTERBACK -- Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Boomer Esiason, Jeff Garcia, Jeff Hostetler, Dave Krieg, Donovan McNabb RUNNING BACKS -- Shaun Alexander, Mike Alstott, Tiki Barber, Earnest Byner, Larry Centers, Corey Dillon, Eddie George, Priest Holmes, Edgerrin James, Daryl Johnston, Thomas Jones, Maurice Jones-Drew, Eric Metcalf, Lorenzo Neal, Clinton Portis, Fred Taylor, Herschel Walker, Chris Warren, Ricky Watters WIDE RECEIVERS -- Isaac Bruce, Gary Clark, Donald Driver, Henry Ellard, Torry Holt, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason, Muhsin Muhammad, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne TIGHT ENDS -- Dallas Clark, Ben Coates, Keith Jackson, Brent Jones, Jeremy Shockey, Wesley Walls OFFENSIVE LINEMEN -- Willie Anderson, Matt Birk, Tony Boselli, Lomas Brown, Ray Donaldson, Alan Faneca, Kevin Gogan, Jordan Gross, Chris Hinton, Kent Hull, Steve Hutchinson, Lincoln Kennedy, Olin Kreutz, Chris Samuels, Jeff Saturday, Brian Waters, Richmond Webb, Erik Williams, Steve Wisniewski DEFENSIVE LINEMEN -- John Abraham, La'Roi Glover, Casey Hampton, Chester McGlockton, Leslie O'Neal, Simeon Rice, Richard Seymour, Justin Smith, Neil Smith, Greg Townsend, Bryant Young LINEBACKERS -- Carl Banks, Cornelius Bennett, Lance Briggs, Tedy Bruschi, James Farrior, London Fletcher, Seth Joyner, Wilber Marshall, Clay Matthews, Willie McGinest, Sam Mills, Chris Spielman, Takeo Spikes, Darryl Talley, Zach Thomas, Jessie Tuggle, Patrick Willis DEFENSIVE BACKS -- Eric Allen, Steve Atwater, Ronde Barber, LeRoy Butler, Nick Collins, Merton Hanks, Rodney Harrison, Albert Lewis, John Lynch, Terry McDaniel, Tim McDonald, Troy Polamalu, Bob Sanders, Troy Vincent, Darren Woodson PUNTERS/KICKERS -- K David Akers, K Gary Anderson, K Jason Elam, P Jeff Feagles, K Jason Hanson, P Sean Landeta, K Ryan Longwell, K Nick Lowery, P Reggie Roby, P Rohn Stark, P Matt Turk SPECIAL TEAMS -- Johnny Bailey, Josh Cribbs, Mel Gray, Brian Mitchell, Steve Tasker The Hall of Fame Board recently passed a resolution that suspended the Hall of Fame's Selection Committee By-Laws for the Class of 2020 election cycle only. The measure is intended to honor the NFL's Centennial Celebration through a special Centennial Class that will be comprised of 20 members in 2020. The group will include five modern-era players to come from the list announced in addition to 10 seniors (a player who has been retired for more than 25 seasons), three Contributors (an individual other than a player or coach) and two coaches. The Selection Committee will meet on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 in Miami to elect the Class of 2020 that will include five Modern-Era players. The Modern-Era Finalists will be trimmed during the meeting from 15 to 10 and then from 10 to the five who will be elected as part of the Class of 2020. The determination of the seniors, contributors and coaches finalists will be led by a special 25-person Centennial "Blue-Ribbon" panel who will review the backlog of deserving seniors, coaches and contributors. The Blue-Ribbon Panel will be comprised of Hall of Fame Selectors, Pro Football Hall of Famers, media members, football historians and industry experts. The Centennial Class of 2020 will be formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the annual enshrinement week from Aug. 6-9, 2020 and the Centennial Celebration in Canton on Sept. 16-19, 2020. I think Troy Polamalu is the only sure fire Hall of Famer. I think Reggie Wayne was pretty good but I never thought of him as being the absolute best wide reciever any year he played. I'm eh about Willis, too many injuries. The most controversial selectee I think next year will be Bob Kraft. I think he gets in with the expansion. He obviously deserves it based on his contributions to football over the last 25 years but his arrest will be brought up along with the Patriots cheating habits to keep him out. Sam Darnold was out of practice yesterday with what was designated “illness.”
Now that they know which one it is, he may be out even longer. According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, Jets coach Adam Gase said his quarterback would miss this week’s game against the Browns after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. Gase said Darnold could miss several weeks, and has lost a significant amount of weight. They’ll need another quarterback, as Trevor Siemian is the only other one on the 53-man roster at the moment. The good news is that Le'Veon Bell doesn’t have mono. The bad news is that the Jets running back isn’t 100 percent. At the same press conference that saw head coach Adam Gase announce that quarterback Sam Darnold is out indefinitely because he has mononucleosis, we also learned that Bell is headed for an MRI. It’s a shoulder injury that’s being checked out for the big-ticket free agent acquisition. Gase said that Bell is experiencing soreness and the team is hopeful that it isn’t anything more than that. Linebacker C.J. Mosley is not practicing because of a groin injury, first-round pick Quinnen Williams is not practicing because of an ankle injury and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa‘s season is over because of a neck injury, so optimism feels like a tough sell for a team that opened the year by blowing a 16-0 third quarter lead in a 17-16 loss to the Bills. On Monday, Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Malik Jackson suffered a "significant injury." It's so significant that the defensive tackle is expected to miss the rest of the season.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that Jackson suffered a Lisfranc injury Sunday versus the Redskins and will have surgery next week, per sources informed of the situation. Jackson is expected to be out the balance of the year. It's a blow to the Eagles, despite their depth along the D-line. "Malik's an important part of what we do and we'll certainly miss him when he's on the field but we got plenty of guys that can step up and play and that's nothing new in the NFL," Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz told reporters Tuesday. "Doesn't change our task from game-to-game and it doesn't change our task over the course of the year. We'll get him healthy and get him back. If I know Malik, he'll do a good job staying engaged while he's rehabbing. I've been really impressed with him as a professional, not just as a player but as a professional." Philly brought in Jackson this year on a three-year $30 million contract to help replace Michael Bennett along the line. While the former Pro Bowler's production sank with a reduced role in Jacksonville, Jackson looked to bounce back in 2019 as a people-mover who can clog the middle and take advantage of single-blocking situations as a pass-rusher in Philly alongside Fletcher Cox. The injury hurts the defensive-line rotation in Philly, which entered the season planning to rotate bodies to keep their studs fresh. Timmy Jernigan will see his snaps increase alongside Cox. Garafolo later reported that the Eagles are signing Akeem Spence, who started 16 games for the Dolphins last season, to a deal following Jackson's season-altering injury. Fourth-year defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway will also see an uptick in playtime. |
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