NFL News, Rumors and Musings

[Extra Point]

I developed a dislike for Matt Nagy when he threw his own player under the bus. Kicker Cody Parkey had a kick blocked in a playoff loss. Nagy acted like he just missed it when in fact it was blocked. He never defended his player. Parkey was widely blamed for the playoff loss when it was the fault of the black left side of the Bears' offensive line that allowed the blocked kick and the black defense that choked in the clutch. You'll never hear Nagy criticizing them.

Nagy is also an anti-white racist who discriminates against white players. Look at how he's treated Ryan Nall, his best running back.

 

[Shadowlight]

Yes I basked in the glow as S Daniel Sorensen and TE Travis Kelce took starring roles as the Chiefs marched their way to a stirring Super Bowl victory. They displayed transcendent talent and were two notable key cogs for the Chiefs glorious season.

But this is a team that has downshifted. Not surprising since this team has veered to caste overkill more times than not anyway. And talk about putting salt in a wound it looks like stud Sorensen is not listed as a starter. Gag me with a spoon already.

Doesn't look like WR Gehrig Dieter will make the team but might land on the practice squad.

 

[Leonardfan]

I'll get this out of the way. I do not like the Broncos. This is a team that is built on caste principles.

The most intriguing thing about them is their QBs. Starter Drew Lock is a very good athlete. I was surprised to see Jeff Driskel as the back up. Driskel has bounced around ( Lions, Bengals) and I am not sure he is starter material but I root hard for him anyway. This once baseball prospect is easily one of the fastest QBs in the NFL.

On the back end of the TE depth chart Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli look to battle it out for a spot. Michigan vs. Wisconsin all over again. Ha.

GM John Elway who is marinated in caste think shocked me when he drafted promising DE Derek Tuszka. They have been working him out as an outside linebacker ( think Rob Ninkovich and Trent Murphy mold) so at this point I would say it is 50-50 he makes the team. If he does make the roster it would be a nice development for a team with so little to cheer about.

I am not defending Elway in anyway but I also think Fangio has something to do with the make up of the current team. Under Fangio both Wolfe and Gostis are gone. Josey Jewell is on the bench. Really the only think that keeps me interested is Drew Lock - he is top 5 in the NFL in terms of pure arm strength - right up there with the k@lergi man and throws one of the prettiest balls in the league. I look forward to watching him develop and hopefully cement himself as the starter in Denver. One of the highlights for me last season was watching him lead the Broncos to a victory over the Texans.

 

[Leonardfan]

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-...sign-of-looming-jets-running-back-controversy

Some Jets rumors. Sounds like Blake Cashman will have a big role this year as long as he stays healthy and to no one here's surprise Chris Hogan has come in and established himself as a quality player and should have major playing time. Good news for Darnold who has had some of the worst skill position players around him so far in his young career. Hopefully Hogan servers as the #2 and Berrios gets work in the slot.

 

[Red Raider]

Yes I basked in the glow as S Daniel Sorensen and TE Travis Kelce took starring roles as the Chiefs marched their way to a stirring Super Bowl victory. They displayed transcendent talent and were two notable key cogs for the Chiefs glorious season.

But this is a team that has downshifted. Not surprising since this team has veered to caste overkill more times than not anyway. And talk about putting salt in a wound it looks like stud Sorensen is not listed as a starter. Gag me with a spoon already.

Doesn't look like WR Gehrig Dieter will make the team but might land on the practice squad.

The best thing Gehrig Dieter has going for him is that he is best friends with Patrick Mahomes, I think that’s why they have kept him around so long. At worst they may put him on the practice squad for the 4th season in a row.

 

[Don Wassall]

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-...sign-of-looming-jets-running-back-controversy

Some Jets rumors. Sounds like Blake Cashman will have a big role this year as long as he stays healthy and to no one here's surprise Chris Hogan has come in and established himself as a quality player and should have major playing time. Good news for Darnold who has had some of the worst skill position players around him so far in his young career. Hopefully Hogan servers as the #2 and Berrios gets work in the slot.

Hogan's playing time will depend a lot on the health of Breshad Perriman and rookie Denzel Mims, both not practicing right now because of knee and hammy injuries respectively. Perriman is a first round bust who finally started to put it together last year in Tampa. Mims is one of those boom or bust types with excellent athletic measurables but has shown signs of being a blockhead so it won't be a surprise if he busts, which would obviously help Hogan get on the field more.

Hogan undoubtedly would be a better fit for Sam Darnold than a high-strung rookie with bad hands like Mims. Other than Jamison Crowder, and Perriman and Mims if they can produce, the Jets have garbage at receiver once you get beyond Hogan and Berrios on the depth chart.

If Cashman starts the Jets will actually have a second White starter on defense to go with Henry Anderson. It's been a while since that last happened, if memory serves not since they were starting both Jim Leonhard and Eric Smith at safety a decade ago (and getting a lot of grief for it).

 

[Shadowlight]

Just to piggyback on the potentially good news emanating out of Jets camp ( see two informative posts above) the 53 man roster situation offers little intrigue.

 

[Aus2G]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here, but Dan Chisena has swapped position from WR to safety. Sounds like a move to keep him on the roster!

 

[Shadowlight]

Thanks for the breaking news regarding Chisena. This is an important development but only if Chisena lands on the practice squad.

Normally if a team shifts a wide receiver to safety it annoys the hell out of me. But Chisena is a special case. First he has safety size at 6'3" 203. Secondly even I wondered about his wide receiver skills since he played only one season at that position at Penn State and then barely played. Sure he has true blazing speed (4.32 in the 40) but none of us here can verify his skills at WR simply because we never really saw him in action. I suspect he might have had the potential to become a great WR if he was given a football scholarship out of high school but that is all water under the bridge now.

But in his case this looks like a good move because it gives him a better chance of sticking. Now all of this will go down the drain if he is released by the team. Chances are slim he will make the 53 man roster but if he is selected for the practice squad there is a decent chance we will see him play on Sundays. That is because for the first time without risking losing a player to waivers, a team can call up to two practice squad players every week and special team type players would be ideal for slotting them in for the game then sending them back down after the game.

This would give Dan time to learn his craft at safety. They liked the way he tackled at Penn State on special teams so for him it won't be a huge learning curve but still a switch like this can take some time. So what seems like bad news at first swipe is probably good news at the end of the day as long as they keep him on the practice squad. His chances of sticking with them at WR were remote anyway so what the heck?

 

[Shadowlight]

Seattle has long been a thorn in the side. Like a long duration bad cold you just can't shake them as they hang around near the top every year. Wiggle master Wilson is particularly dangerous in the second half of games.

But I detect some slippage too. They haven't been in a Super Bowl for a while and they aren't quite as fearsome as they used to be. HC Carroll remains one of the game's biggest pricks and caste purveyors. It is always fun to see his mug after a loss.

That said the past few years the caste grip has loosened if ever so slightly. They brought in aging TE Greg Olsen who appeared to be on the down side of a tremendous career. He was the best TE deep threat in the NFL for several years. Word out of camp though is that Olsen seems refreshed and bouncy in the legs so maybe he will have a big season. The position with the most talent in the NFL is tight end and the Seahawks are loaded there too with Olsen plus Will Dissly coming back from an injury and Jacob Hollister who displayed good speed last year.

LB Cody Barton is safe and might see his snaps increase. Word is LB Ben Burr-Kirven will cling to one of the last roster spots because of his special teams prowess. I don't understand the drama here? He looks like a legitimate NFL LB to me.

WR Cody Thompson has a decent shot to make the practice squad. They might need him. I fully expect steroid king WR DK Metcalf to succumb to injuries at some point this season.

 

[Shadowlight]

Strip away several top players from the 49ers and you are looking at a caste outfit. Beyond DE Nick Bosa, who is easily their best defensive player, I don't think there is another white defender on the roster?

The return of WR Trent Taylor helps sweeten the pot and who doesn't like TE George Kittle who plays with the sort of toughness that recalls NFL players of the past. He stands out in this day and age of an NFL cluttered with underwear workout wonders who prefer to get their hands manicured rather than dirty.

Rugged QB C.J Beatherd looks to nab the 3rd QB spot. He has some talent. Rookie TE Charlie Woerner also has a decent chance of sliding in as a 4th TE.

 

[Shadowlight]

Edge Clay Matthews looked like he regained his form last season but the Rams let him go. He has yet to be signed so I suspect someone will nab him within the next week? Who will it be? Seattle?

The schizophrenic Rams are looking to cut WR JJ Koski who went undrafted like all the other white wide receivers in this past draft.

LB Troy Reeder was a revelation last year and will likely stay in the rotation. Rookie LB Clay Johnstone looks like he secured a spot. Good player who had his season disrupted by a torn ACL. Funny his head coach at the time Matt Rhule drafted seven defenders ( all black) and ignored his two Baylor lynchpins Johnstone and DL James Lynch. Thanks for nothing coach.

DT Greg Gaines also looks likely to land a back up role.

Look for star WR Cooper Kupp to have a huge year.

 

[Shadowlight]

You like high drama? James Bond movies? Hitchcock movies? I do I do I do and then some. Well the Giants are for you then. Too bad one of the plots involves that underwear rearranging situation of white on white crime. You said you wanted drama. Ha.

There is no young QB I would want today to lead my team other than Daniel Jones. As many know I like Josh Allen a heck of a lot and both 2020 draft picks Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert look extra special. But Jones blew me away last year. He looks like the next superstar QB in the NFL. He is the complete package and like Tom Brady is ultra smart. And he is very exciting.

Mini fact. Mel Kiper hyped Josh Allen, Daniel Jones and Justin Herbert. Todd McShay dissed on all three of them. Why is McShay still employed?

Unlike so many teams the Giants are moving in the right direction. Bringing in two Packer LBs Martinez and Fackrell. Drafting LB Ryan Connelly last year. David Mayo is banged up for a few weeks but Martinez is penciled in as a starter and if Connelly is fully recovered from his ACL tear he will start too.

Patriots special teams star Nate Ebner joined the Giants this off season.

It looks like for the moment rookie LB Carter Coughlin will likely not make the squad but I would be shocked if they don't place him on the practice squad. Admittedly I am having problems reading the tea leaves coming out of the Giants camp.

Now for the movie climax, the wide receiver cliffhanger. It appears there are two spots left and the competition is between three players. Austin Mack who went undrafted this year, David Sills ( whose name rings a bell ha) and Alex Bachman who along with Sills went undrafted last year. As of today it looks like Sills has the inside track and has developed a rapport with QB Jones. The speedy Bachman might be on the outside looking in since they designate him as a slot and they don't especially need extra depth there.

But it would be really neat if both Bachman and Sills make the team. Of course this is the NFL and that would be downright un-American. That would screw up the quota program and we can't have that. A part of me says who the hell am I kidding. We'll probably find out Saturday that both Bachman and Sills were dropped like lead balloons.

But in the meantime let's hope for the best outcome.

 

[Shadowlight]

Sorry about being ambivalent here but the Saints 53 man roster is maze like and very confusing. So I wouldn't get too settled in on anything.

If LB Kiko Alonso is not fully recovered from yet another ACL tear it appears they will release him. If he is deemed ok to play then he will join the fray. Other names on the chopping block include Chase Hansen and Anthony Chikillo. Plus big ex Colts Margus Hunt might not make the cut either.

Rookie LB Joe Bachie might squeeze in though. Again nothing is set in stone here.

Rookie small school TE Adam Trautman does look like a sure thing as the 3rd TE.

Then there is the complicated situation of QB/Athlete Tommy Stevens. At the end of the day I surmise they want to keep him one way or another so the practice squad is in the mix. The list I am looking at has three QBs with Taysom Hill battling J Winston for the primary back up spot.

But that same list had Stevens as their 4th TE. Obviously I want him to make the team which is much more preferable than the practice squad but I would be surprised if that happened. Hope my instincts are wrong on this one.

 

[Shadowlight]

The Vikings situation is unsettling. It is like being in a boxing match and getting some clean blows in but by the end you've lost a couple of teeth, suffered a broken nose and end up losing.

A brutal mostly ugly affair.

Both draft picks DE Kenny Willekes and DL James Lynch look to be heading to the practice squad.

It doesn't end there. While WR Chad Beebe looked like a pretty sure bet to make the team late word suggests he too will be heading to the practice squad. Beebe has proven he has NFL talent yet the Vikings are falling in love with some so called up siders.

Is there any good news to report? Well for some reason athletic rookie LB Jordan Fehr was not drafted yet his black teammate LB was selected. This topic was broached during the draft since Fehr was the star and headliner for Appalachian State last year yet his name "mysteriously" went missing come draft time. Well time to move on and nailing a roster spot makes up for all that other crap so good for Fehr.

Still overall if all of what I mentioned comes down it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. This team just can't seem to add another white WR to the brilliant Adam Thielen. Ass wipes.

By the way the last practice squad spot might be between Beebe and now S ( see discussion above about it in above posts) Dan Chisena, who changed his number to #39. That will have me twisting in the wind!

 

[Shadowlight]

Same old boring Bucs this off season. Nothing much happening to get your attention. Ha. The NFL better find a way to nationally televise all the Tampa Bay games now that Tom Brady is there. And icing on the cake with TE Rob Gronkowski joining him.

Miniscule roster intrigue. Chances are pretty good both LBs Jack Cichy and Anthony Nelson will make the roster. Big Nelson was a terror at Iowa. They would be wise to step up his snaps as he can create havoc batting down passes and throwing around backs like rag dolls.

Obviously the biggest story line will be how 3rd and 4th wide receivers Scotty Miller and Justin Watson will perform. Both are super excited to have a chance to play with the legend. The key to playing with Brady is rather simple. Follow his instructions. If you do, things will work out. If you don't ( calling Brandin Cooks) you will be shown the door. Both Miller and Watson should have no problem following the plot.

But some things don't change. Tampa still plays in that swampy cow pasture. But at least it is grass.

That concludes the NFC for me. Seven AFC teams to go.

 

[Shadowlight]

The Jaguars made a grown up move by getting superb LB Joe Schobert in the offseason. Instantly Joe takes over the defensive leadership role so expect a more disciplined unit.

They ditched RB Fournette which leads me to think they want to open up the offense a little more and move away from the grind away method of yore.

It looks like return specialist Michael Walker is nowhere to be seen on their 53 man roster.

But below is a list of players who seem safe:

FS Andrew Wingard

DL Adam Gotsis

The most mysterious player in this year's draft might be TE Tyler Davis who was a big part of the Connecticut offense before disappearing at Georgia Tech. Interesting player. He is very fast and one to keep an eye on . It looks like the Jags will keep him on the roster and I saw a list where he was listed as the number two TE already.

 

[Shadowlight]

The only thing of importance with the Steelers is whether WR Ryan Switzer makes the team or not.

Well up until about a week ago Ryan was having a superb camp and looked like a lock. Then he hurt his foot and at the moment his condition is up in the air as is his roster spot. Damnation this player can't catch a break. Neither Dallas or Pittsburgh have found a way to maximize his talents beyond being a solid return man.

Looks like we will have to sweat this one out on Saturday.

 

[Shadowlight]

Maybe I am in the minority but something about the Bengals has me paying close attention. Their new era has begun kicked off by selecting QB Joe Burrow who was essentially perfect last year with LSU. And rookie LB Logan Wilson is a gem. He will be joining underrated DL Sam Hubbard.

I was impressed by the way young HC Zac Taylor weathered their slow start and got the team moving in a better direction. They showed some spunk as the season wore on. They really do need to change the stagnant culture there that settled in over the years.

Looks like rookie TE Mitchell Wilcox will land on the practice squad.

WR Alex Erickson, much like Switzer, has had a great camp. All indicators suggest he will make the roster and once again probably handle some return duties and hopefully expand on what was his best season as a receiver.

 

[Shadowlight]

The Dolphins are in the process of developing new faces of the franchise and I think TE Mike Gesicki and LB Andrew Van Ginkel are excellent candidates.

They smartly brought in vastly underrated S Clayton Fejedelem. Maybe he can start for a change?

So far flop QB Josh Rosen will land the 3rd QB spot.

The following three players are likely not to make the team as far as I can tell:

S Nate Holley

LB Calvin Munson

FB Chandler Cox

It is unclear what the Dolphins plan to do with them as far as the practice squad.

And there is that small matter of RB Patrick Laird. I am cautiously optimistic they will keep the versatile back. Clear sailing right? Not exactly. If they pick up a RB like Fournette it could screw everything up for Laird but for now things are looking good so I'll keep annoying thoughts at arm's length for the time being.

 

[Shadowlight]

From my height of indifference I offer you the Colts. The Colts don't do it for me. For years now.

It is a crap shoot as to whether rookies DT Robert Windsor and S/LB/ST Jordan Glasgow make the team.

My guess is one of them will and odds are longer both make it. The Colts like both of these feisty players so the practice squad is waiting for them if they don't make the main squad.

 

[Bucky]

Appreciate the short write ups and keeping us in the loop!

 

[Bucky]

From my height of indifference I offer you the Colts. The Colts don't do it for me. For years now.

It is a crap shoot as to whether rookies DT Robert Windsor and S/LB/ST Jordan Glasgow make the team.

My guess is one of them will and odds are longer both make it. The Colts like both of these feisty players so the practice squad is waiting for them if they don't make the main squad.

Highlight of The Colts will be their SnowPlow which is the cream of the crop for NFL OLs.

Keeping a close eye on Glasgow and Windsor no doubt. Windsor was criminally underrated at Penn State. Another big 6'5 280+ guy that we've been getting blessed with in NFL.

I miss Luck..

 

[Bucky]

The Jaguars made a grown up move by getting superb LB Joe Schobert in the offseason. Instantly Joe takes over the defensive leadership role so expect a more disciplined unit.

They ditched RB Fournette which leads me to think they want to open up the offense a little more and move away from the grind away method of yore.

It looks like return specialist Michael Walker is nowhere to be seen on their 53 man roster.

But below is a list of players who seem safe:

FS Andrew Wingard

DL Adam Gotsis

The most mysterious player in this year's draft might be TE Tyler Davis who was a big part of the Connecticut offense before disappearing at Georgia Tech. Interesting player. He is very fast and one to keep an eye on . It looks like the Jags will keep him on the roster and I saw a list where he was listed as the number two TE already.

Joe "The Show" Schobert going somewhere that appreciates him is awesome! Big time signing for the Jags. Glad Wingard and Gotsis are safe, sucks to see Walker getting buried who by all accounts was a good returner last season!

I agree with both you and @Leonardfan Jags should open up offense a bit more now that the plodding Fournette is gone. Maybe some reps for Walker in the slot.

 

[Shadowlight]

The Titans were the true surprise team from last year knocking off media darling Ravens in the playoffs. And QB Ryan Tannehill shut up some of his critics. Hopefully WR Adam Humphries stays healthy . He is pretty darn good. The problem with the Titans is their defense is generally white free. Not a good look.

Cripes I usually know most white players but DT Matt Dickerson and former Chargers special teamer Nick Dzubnar escape me as does Nick's last name. Ha. But both are listed as making the team.

Ex Cowboys TE Geoff Swain is hoping to latch on which I see as a 50-50 chance.

WR Cody Hollister will probably just miss out. I have no idea what they plan to do with him?

WR Mason Kinsey, who I pegged as the best white WR in the draft (he went undrafted of course), doesn't look destined to make the team. But they had him fielding punts and my best guess is they place him on the practice squad who might get called up during the season for a spell?