hot news
– The tag franchise season is open!
Aaron Rodgers fuels rumors
The four-time NFL MVP has the whole league running. Not very active on social networks, Aaron Rodgers (QB, Packers) poured jet fuel on the fire of rumors by posting a “#MondayNightGratitude” on Instagram. In a long message, the Green Bay quarterback thanks his (ex?) fiancée, his teammates, his staff and calls for happiness, friendship, and memories. Thought of the moment, harbinger of a departure, announcement of a retirement? It’s hard to pinpoint the intention, but everything about A Rod is critically sensitive. Invited on the Pat McAffe Show, the quarterback indicated that he had not yet made his decision. As for the photo posted, showing a vacant space usually occupied by Rodgers between Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, it would be his favorite shot from last season. It was taken during the game at Kansas City Chiefs, while the quarterback was out due to COVID-19.
When I received this photo of Randall and Davante, I had tears in my eyes. Because these are my guys standing up before the game. Randall [Cobb] is always on my right, ‘Tae [Davante Adams] is on my left, and I kiss them both after the anthem. It’s part of the pre-game ritual, but it’s also a statement about the friendship, love and bond we have collectively and individually. It moved me. It’s one of my favorite pictures of the year.”
The continuation to the next episode and it is probably David Bakhtiari (OT) who summed up the situation best in his response on Twitter: “And shit, here we go again”.
Brian Flores: the outstretched hand of Mike Tomlin
Brian Flores (Steelers) explained to Real Sports that his commitment as a defensive assistant and coach of the Pittsburgh linebackers was very quick. After a few conversations with Mike Tomlin (HC) about his prospects, a proposal materialized within 48 hours.
Yet Flores was questioned about Tomlin’s motives. This opportunity, a gesture of support for a man who attacks the NFL for discrimination?
“I’m a very capable coach in this league,” Flores replied. “And I think he saw a situation where a very experienced coach could help his staff, who is also an African-American coach in this league. And I think that illustrates what we’re talking about today.”
Coaches
– The bengals signed James Bettcher (ex-DC, Giants) to resume their position as linebackers coach. Cincinnati also enlisted Charles Burks (CB coach, Dolphins) and Derek Frazier (assistant OL coach, Wyoming), and promoted Jordan Kovacs (assistant LB coach).
– The Chargers announced the recruitment of Brendan Nugent (OL coach, Saints), Chris Gould (assistant ST coach, Broncos) and Mike Hiestand (offensive assistant, Broncos).
– The Broncos announced the hiring of Andrew Carter (Kansas) as coach in charge of defensive quality control. The position will be Carter’s first in the NFL.
– Adrian Dixon (Titans) will be the new head of athletic conditioning for Ravens.
– According to ESPN, Cato June has accepted a position as assistant linebackers coach with the Colts. June spent last season coaching outside linebackers at Bowling Green.
Transactions
– After four years in Kansas City, Anthony Hitchens (LB) was cut by the Chiefs. The club is expected to recoup $4.2 million in payroll from the move. (ProFootballTalk.com)
– Arrived during last season in New Orleans, Brett Maher (K) will not continue the adventure in Louisiana. The kicker was just cut by the franchise (ProFootballTalk.com).
– Tenth pick of the 2019 draft, Devin Bush (LB, Steelers) could receive an $11 million salary in 2023 if Pittsburgh waives his optional fifth year of rookie contract. Although he showed optimism on the record, Kevin Colbert (GM) announced to the team’s website that the club has not yet made a decision. Injured in 2020 and not very flamboyant in 2021, Bush will have to convince. (ProFootballTalk.com)
– Slated to become a restricted free agent, Josh Woods (LB) will stay with the Lions. Detroit announced the re-signing of the linebacker recruited from the Bears practice squad last September. (ProFootballTalk.com)
– Trent Taylor (WR) going to stay a little longer in Cincinnati. The team have announced the signing of a new contract for 2022. (ProFootballTalk.com)
– According to his agent, Chris Myarick (TE) will sign with the Giants for the 2022 season (NFLTradeRumors.com)
– The Dolphins add a new quarterback to their roster. The franchise announced the signing of Chris Streveler. He will be on the 90-man roster when the new season officially begins next month.
– The Titans add depth at the receiver position. Tennessee said it agreed with Josh Malonepassed by the training teams of the Broncos and Packers in 2021.
– According to ESPN, Green Bay has hired Dominik Eberle (K).
– The Bears announced the signing of Noah Dawkins (LB).
– The Texans re-signed the long snapper Jon Weeks for a one-year contract (Yahoo Sports)
– Former Buccaneers linebacker Jack Cichy announced his retirement. Plagued by injuries since joining the league in 2018, he ended up playing just 16 games in 3 years, the last of which was in the 2020 season.
injuries
– Jarvis Landry (WR, Browns) is in bad shape in Cleveland. In his final year of contract, the club can cut him cheaply to recoup nearly $15 million in payroll. The Akron Beacon Journal reported that the franchise has not approached him to restructure his commitment and a future departure is brewing. In a series of posts on Twitter, the former Pro Bowler revealed that he played a good part of the season with serious injuries. Since week 2, he has been suffering from a severe knee ligament sprain, a partial quadriceps tear, and a bone contusion.
Justice
– In an interview with Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, the attorney for Brian Flores (ex-HC, Dolphins) announced that the technician’s legal team will present to the NFL the evidence it has of the attempted bribery by Stephen Ross (owner). The proposal would be made on the sidelines of Flores’ legal action. Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would investigate, and if the charges were found to be true, the NFL could rule on Ross’s removal.
Suspension
The free agent Amani Bledsoe (DE) was suspended 6 games for violating drug laws (NFL Network). Last year, Bledsoe appeared in five games for the Titans, including two starts. In 2020, he played for the Bengals (14 games). He was previously suspended by the NCAA in 2016, following a positive anti-doping test during his university course in Oklahoma.
Doug Pederson: ‘I don’t care what went wrong with the Jaguars in the past’
Aside from the conference final in 2017, the Jaguars’ last sporting decade was crowned with poor results. Jacksonville has finished in last place in its division for the past 4 seasons. And for the 6 years leading up to 2017, they never passed the 5 wins per year mark.
newly appointed, Doug Pederson (HC) arrives with the firm intention of making things happen and makes fun of what may have happened in the past.
“It’s hard for me to talk about what went wrong or what’s wrong or anything. I don’t know, quite frankly, and I really don’t care about that,” Pederson said. “What matters to me is to move forward since I was hired two weeks ago. That’s what we’re trying to change. That’s what I’m trying to change. I try to make it a winning program, a winning organization.
“Are we learning from the past? Sure. You study it, of course. But at the same time, I have always emphasized a forward thinking approach in everything we do.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown: ‘All I can do is prove my rookie year wasn’t a fluke’
51 receptions for 560 yards and 5 touchdowns in the last six games, Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, Lions) finished his first professional season as a cannoNBAll. Benefits he intends to continue next year to prove that he can be a viable threat in the long term.
“I really don’t have anything to say about people who may think my rookie season was a fluke,” St. Brown said. “All I can do is try to prove them wrong. I don’t really care about other people. I just focus on me, the team and what I know I can do.”
