Football

One of the most talked about moves of the offseason was wide receiver Wes Welker trading in life with Tom Brady for life with Peyton Manning. Welker’s new Broncos teammate Demaryius Thomas will stop by Pro Football Talk on NBCSN on...
One of the most talked about moves of the offseason was wide receiver Wes Welker trading in life with Tom Brady for life with Peyton Manning. Welker’s new Broncos teammate Demaryius Thomas will stop by Pro Football Talk on NBCSN on Wednesday to talk about how the offense is looking now that Welker has joined… Source: ProFootballTalk » Pittsburgh Steelers The post PFT on NBCSN: Demaryius Thomas, AFC North burning questions appeared first on Pittsburgh Steelers Blog - NFL - PlanetSteelers.com.
22 minutes ago
Former first-round pick is looking to re-establish himself as one of the NFL's top tight ends.
Former first-round pick is looking to re-establish himself as one of the NFL's top tight ends.
25 minutes ago
Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; Detail view of an NFL football before the AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports So here we a...
Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; Detail view of an NFL football before the AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports So here we are. Still sludging our way through the NFL Off Season. Bear with me as I try to keep your football pulse alive by giving my take on the Tight End position’s top 15. Instead of the standard order of going QB, WR, RB, TE, K and D, I though I’d bounce it around a little.We know it’ll be a while before we’re drafting any TE’s from Jacksonville, so unfortunately we won’t be seeing Marcedes Lewis on here any time soon. And keep in mind, this is MY OPINION and these ranking will change up until the kick off of the season opener. To me the TE is the hardest position to draft for. This is due to having only 3 studs….. and then everyone else. You could take one, but may miss out on a stud running back or wideout. My strategy has been this: try to get one of the big 3, if I fail to do so, then I draft two really good ones and rotate them week to week based off of production and match ups. 1. Rob Gronkowski- I struggled with the top three. Especially with Gronk’s medical issues (his arm is infection free at the moment). But Brady needs a new security blanket and Gronk has quickly developed into this during his time in New England. Minus Welker out of the equation and there you have it. 2. Jimmy Graham- Brees is generous with the ball. Graham is a match up nighmare that doesn’t need to be open to get the ball. Sean Payton is back and will make sure Graham maintains his dominance. 3. Aaron Hernandez- It doesn’t really matter which one of the top three you draft IMO. Just as long as you have one. The TE’s could easily dominate the passing game in New England next year. 4. Vernon Davis- Crabtree is in all likelyhood, out for the season (Achilles tear). Delanie Walker is no longer there. And it’ll take time for Anquan Boldin to build chemisty with Kap. He could have a monster year. 5. Tony Gonzalez- They’ll have a legitamite run game this year, giving the Falcons one of the most well rounded skill position rosters in the NFL. They fell short of going to the Super Bowl. Gonzalez ain’t going out like that this year. 6. Martellus Bennett- The Bears now have a TE that can catch the ball. They have a QB that can throw the ball. There you go. 7. Jason Witten- I really wanted to put him higher, but I think Dez Bryant is the new Sherrif in town. Still, he’ll have a good year or two before the Escobar era begins. 8. Kyle Rudolph- Besides AP, he’ll be Ponder’s most trusted weapon. 9. Dwayne Allen- I‘ll get a lot of boos for putting him this high, but Indy is switching up their offense. This means Luck won’t be forced to throw bombs down field all day. My only reservation would be Fleener poaching from him. 10. Dennis Pitta- Him and Flacco are BFFs. Rice in the back, Pitta in the middle and Smith out deep. 11. Jermichael Finley- I truely believe their improved back field will help solve a lot of their problems. Finley will return to form. 12. Greg Olsen- Cam Newton came on strong in the second half of last season. This is a shining spot on Olsen’s outlook. 13. Antonio Gates- Remember when Gates dominated the TE position? Vaguely? The new regime will try to resesitate him. 14. Brandon Pettigrew- He’s got a cannon throwing him the ball. Not much reciever depth either. 15. Owen Daniels- In theory, the addition of Hopkins should spread the secondary. Feel free to comment back. I’d be curious to see who you’d take higher or lower. -Jason Abarca
36 minutes ago
Every Thursday on ESPNBoston.com, there is a Patriots chat in the early afternoon. Today's chat is scheduled to kick off at noon, and questions can be asked in advance. Catch up then.
Every Thursday on ESPNBoston.com, there is a Patriots chat in the early afternoon. Today's chat is scheduled to kick off at noon, and questions can be asked in advance. Catch up then.
about 1 hour ago
Cowboys Notebook From Inside OTAs « CBS Dallas / Fort WorthMike Fisher delivers his OTA observations a day late, but not a dollar short. Here's one of many interesting observations: "I noticed the Cowboys working on a little Pis...
Cowboys Notebook From Inside OTAs « CBS Dallas / Fort WorthMike Fisher delivers his OTA observations a day late, but not a dollar short. Here's one of many interesting observations: "I noticed the Cowboys working on a little Pistol wrinkle. This is not meant as a read-option play, but rather to help the running back – lined up directly behind the QB, who is three yards back rather than seven yards back as in the Shotgun — with pass-blocking angles." Carter Will Thrive In 4-3; WR Williams Catching On - DC.comBryan Broaddus expands on his earlier OTA summary and takes deeper look at Frederick, Carter, Kowalski and Callaway, and ruminates on the roster battles at wide receiver and safety. Garrett on Dez Bryant: "We watch the tape and say, ‘Boy, you can play so much better. So much better.’ ” The Cowboys are already very high an Dez Bryant, and think he can do even better than the 1,382 yards, 12 TD effort of last year. “He’s really , really a joy to coach,” Garrett said. “He has such passion for the game. He loves it. He loves his teammates. He loves to play.” Who are the Cowboys' 'one jersey' players? - ESPN DallasOn the occasion of Brian Urlacher's retirement, Todd Archer writes a nice piece on Cowboys 'one jersey' players: players who played every snap of their NFL career for the Cowboys. Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin are the most recent exmples, but Archer argues that Witten, Romo and Ware could be next on the list. Draft Profile: B.W. Webb - Bob SturmBob Sturm continues his in-depth look at the Cowboys' draft picks with B.W. Webb. "Again, this cannot be over-stated. This team has not enjoyed corner depth over the years where they have even opened the season recently with just 3 corners on the roster (2011). But, now, after losing Mike Jenkins, they appear to have an option in Webb that can help them cover themselves. He is not strictly a slot corner, but that is his natural NFL spot, it appears, provided he can handle runs to his side. I think the attributes that will serve him well are clearly his battle and desire to mix things up. He is a very aggressive, emotional, and competitive player - all things that you look for in a corner who is going to be attacked on a regular basis until he proves he belongs on Sundays." Anthony Hargrove hopes to take advantage of another chance - Star-TelegramDefensive tackle Anthony Hargrove’s NFL career has been about as erratic as it can possibly be. He hasn't played football in almost a year and is now already on his seventh team. But Hargrove sounds like he's determined to look forward and take advantage of his last chance at organized football. Steve Spurrier 2.0 - ProFootballTalkRon Jaworski says Chip Kelly’s Oregon offense won’t work in the NFL. Eli Manning is missing his wide receivers - ESPN NFC East BlogNo, this is not about Manning's embarrassingly low career completion rate of just 58.6%, which ranks him 26th among all active quarterbacks, just one spot ahead of Cowboys backup QB Kyle Orton. This is about Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, who are both no-shows at Giants OTAs over contract disputes. Watkins suspended for opener - San Antonio Express-NewsUnfortunately, this article is about St. Louis Rams offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins. More Cowboys Coverage Dez Bryant May Be Comfortable But Not Complacent Building The Cowboys Roster: 2014 Draft and Positions of Strength Dallas Cowboys Rookies: Evaluating The Playing Time of Recent Rookie Classes Cowboys OTA Day One: Video Recap Plus Guestimate Depth Charts Dallas Cowboys OTA Wrapup 05/21/13
about 1 hour ago
STEPHEN ROSS: Dolphins' Ross: Public-private funding needed to fix stadium - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.comIn wake of missing out as Super Bowl host, Dolphins' owner stresses that the community benefits from staging big-time events DOL...
STEPHEN ROSS: Dolphins' Ross: Public-private funding needed to fix stadium - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.comIn wake of missing out as Super Bowl host, Dolphins' owner stresses that the community benefits from staging big-time events DOLPHINS QUARTERBACKS: Ryan Tannehill feels 'comfortable' in Year 2 - AFC East Blog - ESPNThis time last year, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was considered a project and an afterthought. DOLPHINS WIDE RECEIVERS: Dolphins four-wide package a big upgrade | Miami Dolphins In DepthOTA days don't directly translate to regular season success. Players that look brilliant in shorts sometimes fade in the padded violence of games. But OTA do speak to alignments and the vision of a coaching staff. They do serve to... Tannehill likes the look of Dolphins four-wide package | ProFootballTalkThe Dolphins spent the offseason insulating second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill with weapons. And a first look in OTAs at a four-wide package had him thinking big things were possible. Dave George: Wide receiver Mike Wallace personifies... | www.mypalmbeachpost.comThe rain drummed down hard in the final minutes of practice Tuesday, as sudden an introduction to South Florida training conditions as any Miami Dolphins newcomer could want, and the passes just kept flying out of Ryan Tannehill’s right hand. Cohen: Everything Upbeat For Mike WallaceThe big play receiver is quickly adjusting to his new team and his new quarterback and says confidently: "This is where I want to be." DOLPHINS TIGHT ENDS: Dion Sims to Miami Dolphins more than coincidence to former Michigan State LB Chris Norman | MLive.comWhen former Michigan State linebacker Chris Norman saw Dion Sims taken by the Miami Dolphins, he couldn't help but laugh at the coincidental destination. DOLPHINS SECONDARY: New Miami Dolphin Brent Grimes could be become cornerstone - Miami Dolphins - MiamiHerald.comIn the Dolphins’ first organized team activities of the year open to the media, new cornerback Brent Grimes showed his impressive athleticism. PHINSIDER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: Miami Dolphins News You May Have Missed - 5/22/13 - The PhinsiderA collection of Miami Dolphins stories from around the internet over the past 24 hours.Today's articles include Brent Grimes has a solid outing on the first day of OTA's, Jamar Tayleor had hernia surgery, and Reshad Jones shows up for OTA's. Around SB Nation: What Other NFL Blogs Are Discussing - The PhinsiderWeekly, we take a look around the SB Nation family of NFL blogs. Here are the news stories and analysis they are discussing. NFL.com: Which rookie is under the most pressure? - The Phinsider Every year, some rookies come into the NFL with higher expectations than the rest. Whether it's college performance, their selection, or something else, some rookie just face more pressure than others. NFL.com took a look at who that is in 2013. Dolphins WRs Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline talk to media after OTA - The Phinsider The Miami Dolphins are currently holding their first OTA of the 2013 offseason, beginning yesterday and continuing through tomorrow. After the completion of the day, yesterday, wide receivers Wallace and Hartline spoke with the media. Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Jared Odrick - The Phinsider Over the course of the offseason, we will take an in-depth look at every member of the Miami Dolphins' roster. All 90 players will be spotlighted. Today, we look at defensive end Jared Odrick. Ryan Tannehill speaks to media after OTA day one - The Phinsider The Miami Dolphins are currently holding their first OTA of the 2013 offseason, beginning yesterday and continuing through tomorrow. After the completion of the day, yesterday, Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill spoke with the media. Dolphins present team awards on Tuesday - The Phinsider The Miami Dolphins presented several team awards on Tuesday, including the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player, Don Shula Leadership
about 1 hour ago
Nov. 25, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (90) against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports In 2012 the Arizona Cardinals ran a...
Nov. 25, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (90) against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports In 2012 the Arizona Cardinals ran a 3-4 defense under former defensive coordinator Ray Horton. The defense was confusing and aggressive as Horton was unafraid of dialing up pressures on apposing offenses. Horton’s scheme allowed players like Daryl Washington to shine, however a player like Darnell Dockett had a poor year because his responsibilities in the scheme did not fit his skill set. Dockett is the type of player that makes his living in the backfield and playing in a 2-gap defensive front certainly isn’t one of his strengths. Dockett’s age (31) has lead many to believe that he is not the player he once was. Nevertheless Dockett seems as motivated as ever to prove his doubters wrong and make the 2013 NFL season a successful one. The Cardinals opened the 2012 regular season against the Seattle Seahawks. According to Pro Football Focus Dockett registered 10 quarterback disruptions and six defensive stops in the run game  (subscription required). It seemed like the defensive lineman was setting the stage for a monster season, but unfortunately he failed to grade positively for the remainder of the season with the exception of Week 11 versus the Atlanta Falcons. How can the 2013 NFL season be  one of resurgence for Dockett and how can the coaching staff put him in position to be successful? It all starts with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who plans to install a 3-4 defensive scheme similar to Horton’s scheme. In contrast to Horton’s 2-gap scheme, Bowles will implement a 1-gap scheme that will allow Dockett to use his explosiveness to attack gaps and be disruptive. The coaching staff also plans on allowing Dockett to play different alignments along the defensive line and allow him to take advantage of mismatches on passing downs. Attitude plays a big part in a players sucess. It is hard not to notice how Dockett attitude has changed since the end of the 2012 NFL season. The new coaching staff and scheme appear to be a fresh air to Dockett and it seems that he is solely focused on the 2013 NFL season. If Dockett can maintain his high level of focus, look for him to bounce back and have a steller 2013 NFL season. Aug 5, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Chase Daniel (10) runs past Arizona Cardinals defensive end David Carter (79) during the first half of a preseason game at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports Another player that could have a breakout season in 2013 is David Carter. Carter doesn’t garnish much attention from fans or the media but he could have an impact on the defensive line as a rotational player. Carter is a versatile player that can play anywhere across the defensive line; he can play nose tackle and defensive end in a 3-4 defense. This type of versatility allows the other starting linemen to rest and it also gives the Cardinals a solid rotation on the defensive line. Carter a 6th round pick in 2011 from UCLA was mostly a backup to nose tackle Dan Williams in his first NFL season. In 2012 he was still the back up nose tackle but he also was able to to start in place of  Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell when they where forced to sit out because of injury. Carter started four games in 2012, his first start was against the Atlanta Falcons. Against the Falcons Carter registered three quarterback hurries and one batted down one pass, while grading positive against the run(stats available by Pro Football Focus). In Bowles defense scheme, Carter will continue to play multiple positions. If the Cardinals employ some 4-3 looks, Carter becomes more valuable as he is capable of playing anywhere on the interior of the defensive line and possibly can play strong side defensive end in certain defensive fronts. In 2013 I fully expect to
about 2 hours ago
This week on the BSR Podcast, the guys discuss Kevin Gausman‘s promotion, Jim Johnson‘s recent struggles, the Orioles snapping their six-game losing streak and Jab’s new neighbor. Join Zach, Patrick, Matt and Jab for th...
This week on the BSR Podcast, the guys discuss Kevin Gausman‘s promotion, Jim Johnson‘s recent struggles, the Orioles snapping their six-game losing streak and Jab’s new neighbor. Join Zach, Patrick, Matt and Jab for this week’s edition of the best sports podcast in Baltimore, the BSR Podcast. Subscribe to the BSR Podcast on iTunes or listen on Stitcher Radio. Follow Zach Wilt, Matt Lund, Patrick Guthrie, Jabby Burns and The BSR Podcast on Twitter. You can get in touch with the BSR Podcast by sending your emails to podcast@baltimoresportsreport.com. The post BSR Podcast: It’s Kevin Gausman Time appeared first on Baltimore Sports Report.
about 2 hours ago
Did you ever talk to the anonymous person who made comments in the offseason or try and find out who it was?|Actually, I think the anonymous person was next to me in the locker room, but actually t...... Source: Pittsburgh Steelers : New...
Did you ever talk to the anonymous person who made comments in the offseason or try and find out who it was?|Actually, I think the anonymous person was next to me in the locker room, but actually t...... Source: Pittsburgh Steelers : News The post On The Field: LaMarr Woodley appeared first on Pittsburgh Steelers Blog - NFL - PlanetSteelers.com.
about 2 hours ago
Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson wasn't expected to be on a football field until July as he continued his rehab following surgery to fix a broken leg. He admits that he is not at full strength, but he was taking part in organized team a...
Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson wasn't expected to be on a football field until July as he continued his rehab following surgery to fix a broken leg. He admits that he is not at full strength, but he was taking part in organized team activities earlier this week. quot;It's as healed up as it's going to get," Burleson said of his repaired right leg, via The Detroit News. "The good thing about being out there is I am playing at a high level and I am not 100 percent. When it gets stronger and I get endurance back in it, I will be back to play with extreme confidence." One Lion who is being held out of action is running back Mikel Leshoure. Head coach Jim Schwartz didn't specify what Leshoure's injury actually is. "He's battling some stuff," Schwartz said. "He can do some individual stuff but he's not ready to do any team work." FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's May, and Leshoure is already banged up. Brilliant. He will be a complementary player behind Reggie Bush this year with most of his value coming from potential goal-line touches. I will be staying away from him. It's impressive that the 31-year-old Burleson is months ahead of schedule in his recovery. He could be very important to a Lions offense that lacks a clear No. 2 WR right now. The team may look to Burleson to fill that role for most of the season, at least until Ryan Broyles returns from his ACL tear. That's a sweet gig for any wide receiver in a pass-happy offense, but Burleson should be drafted as a WR5.
about 2 hours ago