2018 nfl football sneak peek at teams/predictions/news/notes/picks etc. !

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Browns players respond to LeBron's departure
July 2, 2018


With LeBron James heading to one of the NBA's most storied franchises, several members of the Cleveland Browns said they were willing to step up in his absence.


A four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, James announced Sunday that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time in his career -- this time, to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $154 million contract.


So, what was the reaction to "The King's" latest decision?


"KingJames if you don't want to take your throne with you I'll take it," Browns defensive end Myles Garrett wrote on Twitter.


"KingJames thank you for all you've done for Cleveland! Much Respect King!!! #cleveland," Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey tweeted. "Time for me to take the throne! #kirkoland."


"Time to take over the city . . . #WeUpNext #DawgPound," Browns free safety Damarious Randall wrote.


Optimism abounds for the Browns, who last made the playoffs in 2002 and own a dismal 1-31 mark over the last two seasons after finishing the 2017 campaign with a winless record.


--It appears that Kam Chancellor is putting football in his rear-view mirror after posting Sunday on Twitter that it's "time for the next chapter," saying test results on his injured neck showed no improvement.


Although Chancellor never used the word retirement in his long social media post, all signs point to the four-time Pro Bowl safety never playing another down for the Seattle Seahawks.


"To walk away from the game by choice is one thing, to walk away from the game because of the risk of paralysis is another," Chancellor tweeted.


Last season, Chancellor was limited to a career-low nine games because of the neck injury suffered in November during a game against the Arizona Cardinals.


--San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo recently gained the advantage over former teammate Tom Brady in one regard.


Garoppolo occupied the No. 2 spot for jerseys sold from April 1-June 23, per NFLShop.com. He resided one spot behind New York Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley, who also held the top position in the DICK'S Sporting Goods list released last month.


The 26-year-old Garoppolo did not register in the Top 10 of the DICK'S Sporting Goods list. He was ranked 25th in jersey sales through January, per NFLShop.com.


--Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota made good on a promise he made in March by spending a little extra time with his wide receivers this weekend.


Mariota joined a select group of wideouts during a two-day throwing session in Nashville, Tenn., per the team's website. The identities of the recent receiving group weren't divulged, but Corey Davis, Rishard Matthews, Taywan Taylor and Tajae Sharpe joined Mariota and tight end Jonnu Smith for workouts in California earlier in the offseason.


The Titans are in the midst of change and saw plenty of alterations to their coaching staff this offseason, including new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.


--Last week, the NFL suspended Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston three games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, and Monday it was reported that Winston and his agents have parted ways.


Winston has been represented by Greg Genske and Kenny Felder since he entered the NFL, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the relationship has ended.


It remains unclear whether the agents or Winston initiated the breakup.


A source told Florio that the change had been discussed for a few months. Winston wants more experienced football agents to negotiate his next contract, according to Florio's source. Genske and Felder are primarily baseball agents.


Winston must wait five days after parting ways with his agents to hire a new agent.


--Bucs wide receiver DeSean Jackson showed his support of teammate Winston on the heels of the quarterback's suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.


Jackson told TMZ the following when confronted at the airport in Los Angeles and asked for a comment about Winston's three-game suspension:


"You can't turn your back on someone when they (are) going through something," Jackson said. He also said of Winston that "he's a good dude and a good teammate ... he's a champ ... (has) been through a lot in his career."


--Former Buccaneers guard J.R. Sweezy is visiting the Seattle Seahawks, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported.


Sweezy is also taking a physical, according to the report, which suggests he might be returning to the team that drafted him.


The Bucs released the 6-foot-5, 298-pound Sweezy last week. He was scheduled to make $6.5 million this coming season.


--The Alliance of American Football, which is set to begin its inaugural season in February 2019, announced it will hold three combines in August to look for players.


The combines will be held in Los Angeles, Houston and Atlanta, giving players not in the NFL an opportunity to go through measurements and a variety of tests for scouts.


--New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee is going to have added responsibilities this season.[/B]


Lee, who was the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, showed promise during his transition to inside linebacker last season. So much so that the 23-year-old will be calling the defensive signals for the team this season.


"He can be as good as he wants to be," linebackers coach Mike Caldwell said, via the New York Daily News. "He has all the tools. He's getting better by being able to see things faster. His eyes are better. He's just learning the game. Coming from college, it took him a while to understand the professional game. He's done a good job of finding his niche."

--Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett admitted that he has seen significant differences in quarterback Blake Bortles during the last three seasons.


Hackett told SI.com that Bortles was willing to check down to running backs as opposed to force the ball to wide receiver Allen Robinson. The safer approach worked best for Bortles, in the eyes of Hackett.


"We're in a great situation, because a very good line, and we have very good running backs, which will allow us to run the ball," Hackett said. "Now it's going to allow us to be a lot more aggressive, because you can trust that Blake is going to make right decision more consistently."


--Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Chris Baker is hoping a few familiar faces will aid him in posting a bounce-back season with his new team.


Defensive line coach Jacob Burney and linebackers coach Jim Haslett were with Baker in Washington from 2011-14.


"(The two men) groomed me and really believed in me," the 30-year-old Baker told the Bengals' website.


Baker had five productive seasons with the Redskins (2011-16) before signing a three-year, $15.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to last season. He recorded 33 tackles in 15 games and had his effort questioned before being released by the Buccaneers on Feb. 18.


--Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones used the offseason to build up his body, hoping to prevent the kind of knee injuries that affected his promising rookie season.


The work has paid off in other ways as well.


"I'm bigger all around," Jones said on the team's website. "That's something that's going to help me in pass protection and that's something I want to get better at. I'm stronger, so definitely when a defender who's bigger than me comes up I can hold my ground this year.


"I feel like any athlete wants to get bigger, stronger as long as they can stay explosive. I still feel just as explosive as I was, if not even more."


A fifth-round choice in the 2017 NFL Draft, Jones rushed for 125 yards in the Oct. 8 victory over Dallas and ran for 131 yards in the Oct. 22 loss to New Orleans.


However, injuries to each knee limited his production over the second half of the season. He finished with 448 yards while averaging 5.53 yards per carry.


--Los Angeles Rams wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods see the team's potent offense getting even better this season.

The Rams led the league in scoring at 29.9 points per game during coach Sean McVay's first year with quarterback Jared Goff.


Cooks was acquired from the New England Patriots and effectively replaces the departed Sammy Watkins, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.


"Coming here from a distance, you knew this offense was special," the 24-year-old Cooks said, per the Los Angeles Times. "You always wonder why. And now, you get here and you're finding out all the reasons why that's the case. It's great to be able to come in here and have some freshness to it. It makes you want to learn more and become a better player."


"It's how can we improve in other ways just to be ready for the season," the 26-year-old Woods said. "We've got it. We're loaded up and just fine-tuning."


--The Philadelphia Eagles will wear their home green jerseys when they face the Saints in New Orleans in Week 11 this season as a result of a golfing bet between Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and Saints head coach Sean Payton.


Pederson and Payton made several bets while playing a round of golf during the league meetings in March, according to ESPN.com.


The first was the jersey wager to determine which team would wear their traditional home colors during their November meeting. That competition ended after a three-hole carryover.


Payton also lost a bet that will require him to send the Eagles' coaching staff some New Orleans food.


"Hey, if I'd have kept playing, he'd have been in our locker room," said Payton during a conference call with Pederson and Arizona State coach Herm Edwards in advance of their appearance in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe later this month.


--Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was the second player taken in the 2017 NFL Draft, and he hopes a year of experience helps him perform on a level befitting his draft status this season.


"The experience aspect and how to prepare day in and day out," Trubisky said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "The grind of how long the season is, because you obviously don't get that from the college season. You add a bunch more weeks in the NFL in everything you've got to do on a day-in, day-out basis. The speed of the game, and how there's no weak spots on the other side of the ball. Everyone's a baller in the NFL. You've just got to come prepared or else you're not going to be able to do your job correctly. I definitely learned a lot about how you have to handle yourself as an NFL quarterback and being prepared on a week-to-week basis and just being the leader my team needs. I've learned a lot over the last year, and I'm looking forward to using all that information and continue to learn and get better for the future."


Trubisky is learning the offense installed by new coach Matt Nagy.

 

[CNOTES]

Handicapping Houston (9)
July 3, 2018


The Houston Texans enter the 2018 season with a lot of optimism, as their two star players, Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt are both returning from injuries. The Texans have a very favorable schedule in 2018 and oddsmakers believe Houston has a good chance to be a playoff team.


The Texans are close second choice to win the AFC South behind Jacksonville and the win total for Houston for 2018 is set at nine.


Let’s look at the schedule for the Texans to see if they will go over or under that number.


2018 Houston Texans Regular Season Win Total
Over 9 (-1115)
Under 9 (-115)


2018 Houston Texans Schedule Analysis


Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. at New England Patriots


The Texans are not without a chance to win this one, but only if Watson and Watt are completely healthy. The Patriots rarely lose at home, but Houston has the offense to trade points with New England and the Texans have the defensive line to harass Brady.


Sunday, Sept. 16, at Tennessee Titans


The Titans should be better on defense this season with Mike Vrabel as defensive coordinator, but Houston has more talent on both sides of the ball than the Titans and they should get this road win.


Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. New York Giants


The Giants could be improved this season, but it is hard to see Eli Manning having enough time to throw in this one and the Houston offense should be able to exploit the Giants defense.


Sunday, Sept. 30, at Indianapolis Colts


The Colts should have Andrew Luck back at quarterback, but they are still not a good team. The Texans have more talent all over the field than the Colts and Houston should get the road win.

Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Dallas Cowboys


The Cowboys have Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott so this could be a tough home game for the Texans. Houston has the better defense and that should be the difference, as the Texans get the home win.


Sunday, Oct. 14, vs. Buffalo Bills


The Bills don’t have enough talent on either side of the ball to give Houston much of a challenge. The only danger is that the Texans are looking ahead to next week’s game against Jacksonville.


Sunday, Oct. 21, at Jacksonville Jaguars


The first of two huge meetings in the AFC South this season takes place in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are the defending champs and if Houston wants to win the division they have to beat the champs.


Thursday, Oct. 25, vs. Miami Dolphins


The Texans could have a letdown this week against Miami, but they still should have too much talent to lose this one at home and it is a national TV game on Thursday night.


Sunday, Nov. 4, at Denver Broncos


The Texans could be in trouble in this one, as it won’t be easy to go into Denver and win this season, as the Broncos are much better on offense and still very good on defense.

Sunday, Nov. 11, BYE


Sunday, Nov. 18, at Washington Redskins


The Texans get extra time to prepare for the Redskins and they should be fully prepared to handle Alex Smith and Washington. The Texans also have a much better defense than do the Redskins.


Monday, Nov. 26, vs. Tennessee Titans


The Texans will be home favorites in this one as the schedule for Houston gets easier for a few weeks. Houston should get the home win.


Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Cleveland Browns


The Texans should not have any difficulty in handling a Cleveland team that is improved, but still nowhere near a contender.


Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. Indianapolis Colts


The Texans should be able to get big pressure on Andrew Luck in this one and rout the Colts in Houston.


Saturday, Dec. 15, at New York Jets


The Jets are not at the level of the Texans, but there is a danger that Houston could be looking ahead to the end of the season and two huge games at Philadelphia and home against Jacksonville.


Sunday, Dec. 23, at Philadelphia Eagles


The Texans will get a good idea if they are a serious Super Bowl contender, as they go into Philadelphia late in the season to face the defending champs.


Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars


It is possible that this game could decide the AFC South in 2018 and if that is the case, the Texans have the home field edge and that could be the difference.


2018 Houston Texans Regular Season Win Total Prediction


The Texans are a popular pick to do well in 2018, but it is hard to argue. Watson was excellent last season in just six starts as he threw 19 TD passes. He looks like a future star and the Texans should be vastly improved on defense with Watt returning. The schedule is very favorable for Houston in 2018 and it is easy to see the Texans winning at least 10 games and going over their win total of nine.

 

[CNOTES]

Teams to Watch - AFC
July 3, 2018


The New England Patriots are always one of the strongest teams in the AFC each year, and this season will be no different. Tom Brady, who will turn 41 in August, is back to lead the charge. Despite being one of the NFL’s oldest quarterbacks, he remains one of the best too.


The Patriots are the reigning NFL runners-up after winning another AFC title in 2017 and falling to the Eagles in the Super Bowl. They have won three of the last four AFC titles and eight in franchise history. New England is the clear preseason favorite again this season, according to both experts and oddsmakers. They have +280 odds to claim yet another conference title.


There are a host of teams expected to challenge them. The team with the second-best odds is the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they will once again roll out the potent trio of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and wideout Antonio Brown.


The Los Angeles Chargers have surged up the odds list and are now being wagered on as the third-most likely team to win the AFC, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who nearly knocked off the Patriots in the AFC championship game a year ago. There are longer shots beyond those four teams but the Eagles showed a season ago that a preseason sleeper can always make a deep run if the stars align in AFC wagering odds.


Odds per BookMaker.eu

AFC ODDS
New England Patriots +280
Pittsburgh Steelers +435
Los Angeles Chargers +600
Jacksonville Jaguars +790
Houston Texans +1175
Kansas City Chiefs +1200
Oakland Raiders +1503
Tennessee Titans +2005
Baltimore Ravens +2005
Denver Broncos +2600
Indianapolis Colts +2917
Buffalo Bills +3600
Cleveland Browns +4500
Cincinnati Bengals +4650
Miami Dolphins +5000
New York Jets +5300


AFC STANDINGS (2017 Season)
1: New England Patriots (13-3)
2: Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
3: Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
4: Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
5: Tennessee Titans (9-7)
6: Buffalo Bills (9-7)
7: Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
8: Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
9: Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
10: Oakland Raiders (6-10)
11: Miami Dolphins (6-10)
12: Denver Broncos (5-11)
13: New York Jets (5-11)
14: Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
15: Houston Texans (4-12)
16: Cleveland Browns (0-16)


AFC TEAMS TO WATCH


Los Angeles Chargers
Current Odds: +600


The Chargers did not even make the playoffs a year ago, finishing two games above .500, but the betting public is hot on their tail for success in 2018. It is easy to understand why. For a long time, the Chargers had an upper-tier quarterback in Philip Rivers but lacked a running game and defense. Melvin Gordon has helped solidify the running game while defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback Casey Hayward has helped turn the defends into a strength. The Chargers look like they could do damage, but the play in the tough AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos, so it could be tough to lock up the all-important first-round bye.


Indianapolis Colts
Current Odds: +2917


If you are interested in a longshot choice, the best odds go to the Colts. They struggled throughout 2017 but that was because superstar quarterback Andrew Luck was on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. He is hoping to get back this year and when healthy Luck is one of the game’s best quarterbacks. Keep an eye on his status. The AFC South has gotten much better with the emergence of the Jaguars and the Texans, but at these odds it is worth a shot in the dark to hope Luck can return to form and get Indianapolis back on the winning track.


Denver Broncos
Current Odds: +2600


It wasn’t too long ago that the Broncos won the Super Bowl behind a great defense, but that group has lost some talent. More concerningly, the team has not found a quarterback since Peyton Manning retired. Case Keenum was signed in free agency and while he is not a superstar, he did a great job last year with a Vikings team that also boasted a great defense. The Broncos may have to rebuild if this season is unsuccessful, but with pieces like Chris Harris and Von Miller on defense, the ability is there for a turnaround if Keenum can find some success like he did in 2017. This is another intriguing darkhorse in MLB gambling.


Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today!

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Packers' Jones, 49ers' Foster, Rams' Brown each suspended 2 games
July 3, 2018


Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones was suspended for the first two games of the regular season for violating the league's policy on substance abuse, the NFL announced Tuesday.


Jones will sit out a pair of home games against NFC Central rivals -- the Week 1 opener against the Chicago Bears and the following week's matchup versus Minnesota Vikings.


The second-year running back will be eligible to return to Green Bay's active roster on Sept. 17. Jones is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games. Jones apologized for his transgression via a posting on his Twitter account on Tuesday.


Jones started four of 12 games during an injury-plagued rookie season in 2017. He finished with 448 yards rushing and four touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.


--San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was suspended two games for violating the league's policies on personal conduct and substance abuse, the team announced.


The disciplinary action stems from separate incidents involving a misdemeanor weapons charge and misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.


Foster will miss the season opener at Minnesota and a home game versus the Detroit Lions. He is eligible to return to San Francisco's roster on Sept. 17. The second-year linebacker out of Alabama will be eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.


--Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jamon Brown was suspended two games for violating the league's policy on substance abuse, the NFL announced.


Brown will have to sit out the 2018 regular-season opener at the Oakland Raiders and a home game versus the Arizona Cardinals. He will be eligible to return to the Rams' active roster on Sept. 17.


The 6-foot-4, 340-pound Brown will be eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.


A third-round pick of the Rams in the 2015 NFL Draft, Brown started all 16 games at right guard for the Rams last season.


--New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. showed no signs of an ankle injury that ended his 2017 season in a workout video posted on social media.


Beckham appeared to be 100 percent recovered from last year's ankle surgery during the video featuring a one-on-one drill that was featured on the account of his agents, Exos Sports.


Lining up against an unidentified player at UCLA, Beckham faked a move left before making a sharp cut to the right, leaving the defender in his wake.


For good measure, Beckham topped off the play with an acrobatic catch, reaching up with his right arm and snatching the ball with a backhanded grab.


--Terrell Owens announced that he will return to his alma mater of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga to celebrate his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement on Aug. 4.


Owens caused a stir last month by declaring that he would not be in attendance for the festivities in Canton, Ohio.


"After giving it much thought I have realized just how much I want to celebrate what will inevitably be the best weekend of my life at a place that means so much to me," the 44-year-old Owens wrote on Twitter.


--Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy remains motivated despite rushing up on his 30th birthday next week.


"I have more to prove," McCoy said, via PennLive.com. "It's just like, 'How long can he do it? How long can he keep being productive?' And that drives me. It really does."


McCoy eclipsed the 10,000 career yards milestone last season and has his eyes set on 12,000. He has even coined a new hashtag on social media in regard to the goal: "#12KUpNext."


McCoy rushed for 1,138 yards with six touchdowns in 16 games last season. He also had 59 receptions for 448 yards with two scores.


--Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson spoke glowingly about rookie quarterback Josh Rosen.


The seven-time Pro Bowl selection praised the throwing motion, pocket presence and quarterback IQ of Rosen, who was selected by Arizona with the 10th overall pick of the 2018 draft.


Rosen initially caused a stir on draft night when he said "there were nine mistakes ahead of me," but Peterson said on "The Rich Eisen Show" that the rookie hasn't provided any distractions with the Cardinals.


"Honestly since he's been with us, he's been the total opposite of what you hear from the media or you hear from outside people," the 27-year-old Peterson said, via NFL.com. "The way he's able to grasp the offense and get guys in line right now, I've been very, very impressed with that. As far as his throwing motion and his quarterback IQ and his pocket presence and all that stuff, it's off the charts. I've never seen a rookie come on a team and do some of the things he's doing."


--Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick didn't mince words when asked about star wideout Julio Jones' contract situation with the team.


"To my knowledge, Julio is holding out for a bigger contract and Julio deserves it," the 38-year-old Vick told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Julio and Matt (Ryan) are the ultimate combination. They just paid Matt and I think Julio should get everything that he deserves, too."


Jones elected against participating in the Falcons' voluntary offseason program and did not attend the team's mandatory minicamp. The five-time Pro Bowl wideout could be assessed an $84,435 fine per the league's collective bargaining agreement.


"He'll be professional," Vick said. "He'll go about it the right way. But you know, this is a grown man who has (surpassed) expectations even though everyone expected him to be great and this guy continues to get it done for the Falcons."


--The Houston Texans plan to use a number of tight ends to make up for the loss of C.J. Fiedorowicz.


Fiedorowicz was limited to just five games after sustaining three concussions last season. The 26-year-old elected to retire once the campaign came to an end.


The Texans have seven players at the position on their current roster, and tight ends coach Tim Kelly said he won't be shy about getting what he can from the lot.


"I think they all have different strengths and weaknesses that they have to work on," Kelly said, via the Houston Chronicle. "As far as replacing anybody, I don't know if one person is going to do it. I think it will be more of a collective effort. But again, if you look at the tight ends and how they played last year, it's more of a collective group, even when C.J. was in the room."


--La'el Collins went from a potential first-round pick to undrafted in a span of a few days, but he doesn't dwell on what might have been.

Despite the stunning turn of events just over three years ago, Collins is now entrenched at right tackle with the Dallas Cowboys and feels fortunate to be a part of perhaps the league's best offensive line.


"Honestly, it's that times 10," Collins told the Dallas Morning News of how landing with "America's Team" turned out better than he could have imagined. "I never knew what it was like being a Cowboy. Now that I'm going into my fourth year, I really understand what it's like, and it's great."


Collins was projected as a first-round pick in 2015 before he was listed as a person of interest in a Baton Rouge, La., murder investigation two days before the draft. His stock spiraled even though he was never a suspect in the murder and the former LSU star wound up signing a three-year, $1.4 million contract with Dallas as a free agent.


--Jay Cutler initially announced his retirement last year and was set to begin a career in broadcasting before an opportunity arose with the Miami Dolphins.


Now with a healthy Ryan Tannehill back under center in Miami, Cutler was questioned about his future on "Very Cavallari," his wife's reality television show. When she asked if he's 100 percent done with football, Cutler stopped short of saying he is definitely retired.


"I mean, I can't say 100 (percent). Probably," the 35-year-old Cutler said. Kristin Cavallari asked the follow-up question of when he'll know for sure if he's retired.


"September," Cutler answered.


--Jason Garrett hasn't always been a popular choice as Dallas Cowboys head coach since he assumed the position in November 2010.


Garrett has led the Cowboys to just three winning seasons and two playoff appearances in that time while posting a 67-53 overall record. While former Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens openly questioned Garrett as the team's coach recently, Daryl Johnston came to the defense of his former teammate.


"I think you've got to be able to give a head coach time," Johnston said during an appearance on DFW's Fox4, per the Dallas Morning News. "It's one of the great things John Madden said, and this was about the San Francisco 49ers when they moved away from Steve Mariucci, but they had no plan after that. Sometimes you do that and all of a sudden you find yourself in a decade of mediocrity, and in San Francisco's case, not even mediocrity. That was a tough decade. They made a change for change's sake and nobody was there.


"Jason Garrett, in my opinion, moving forward gives Dallas the best opportunity. They've got that window right now with a quarterback (Dak Prescott) and a very talented running back (Ezekiel Elliott) on rookie contracts. To make a change right now, that would be sabotage to that organization. Keep everything in place, take a run with this window that's there."

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Trump now says anthem policy might be 'worse'
July 6, 2018


President Donald Trump's latest statement on the NFL's new national anthem policy contradicts what he said when the league announced the change in May.


When the NFL announced that players should remain in the locker room rather than kneel during the anthem, Trump said he was for the move. Now he has changed his tune.


"How about the NFL?" Trump said Thursday. "Look, I don't want to cause controversy. They passed this stupid thing, you don't have to do this anymore. If you don't respect the flag or if you don't like the country or whatever it is, just go into the locker room.


"I think in many respects, that's worse. Isn't that worse than not standing? I think that's worse. So they say, 'Go into the locker room.' So, OK, the anthem is getting ready to play, they run into the locker room, then they come back out. You know what? It doesn't play. I actually think in many ways it's worse."


On May 24 after the NFL announced the policy change, Trump said on Fox and Friends: "I think that's good. I don't think people should be staying in locker rooms, but still I think it's good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there, maybe you shouldn't be in the country. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem and the NFL owners did the right thing if that's what they've done."


-- Offensive tackle Donald Stephenson has yet to play a down for the Cleveland Browns and it appears he never will.


The Browns placed Stephenson on their reserve/retired list, the team announced.


The move ended a brief but turbulent tenure in Cleveland for Stephenson, who signed a one-year contract with the team for $2.5 million in March.


The deal included $1 million guaranteed, which Stephenson will not collect because of his decision to retire, according to Cleveland.com.


Last month, the 29-year-old Stephenson was suspended for the first two games of the 2018 season by the NFL for violating the league's policy on substance abuse.


That punishment would have cost Stephenson $294,117 in salary and bonuses. He also was fined $84,435 by the Browns for missing the team's mandatory minicamp.


Stephenson spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, starting a career-high 12 games in 2016.


A third-round pick of Kansas City in the 2012 NFL Draft, Stephenson appeared in all 16 games in three of his first four seasons with the Chiefs, making 21 starts.


-- The Dallas Cowboys and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence are expected to engage in contract talks next week, according to The Athletic.


Lawrence has been seeking a long-term contract but is set to play for just over $17 million in 2018 after the Cowboys slapped the franchise tag on him in March.


The clock is ticking on a deadline to reach a new term. All franchise-tagged players have until July 16 to sign a long-term contract with their current team.


Lawrence, who started all 16 games and amassed a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2017, is seeking a five-year deal, The Athletic reported, citing a source.


A second-round pick of the Cowboys in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Boise State, Lawrence landed his first Pro Bowl berth last season after tying Calais Campbell of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the second-highest sack total in the league.


The 26-year-old Lawrence's breakout season occurred after he underwent back surgery for the second straight offseason in January 2017. In four seasons with the Cowboys, Lawrence has 23.5 sacks and 133 tackles.


--The NFL, in its 2018 rulebook, made it a 15-yard penalty if a team has anyone clear the field on a snowy day to make it easier for a player to attempt a field goal, extra point or kickoff, or to punt.


In a game late last season, the Indianapolis Colts had several players and sideline personnel clear snow off the field to give Adam Vinatieri better footing for a game-tying extra point attempt against the Buffalo Bills.


Vinatieri's kick was good and sent the game to overtime, where the Bills prevailed.


At the time, the NFL said the Colts violated league rules, but there was no penalty stipulated in the rulebook.


Now, the rulebook has been amended to read: "It is impermissible for the grounds crew or other team personnel to clear away snow for a Try kick, field goal, punt, or kickoff. The penalty would be 15 yards."


The most infamous such incident came in 1982, when New England Patriots coach Ron Meyer had snowplow operator Mark Henderson drive onto the field to clear the way for John Smith to kick the winning field goal against the Miami Dolphins.


Meyer claimed it was quarterback Steve Grogan who suggested the move.


The Patriots won 3-0 in what became known as "The Snowplow Game."


-- Nick Foles is returning to a backup role with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he is rising up one depth chart during the offseason.


Foles, who came off the bench when starting quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending injury and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl championship, is expected to land on the New York Times' best-seller list next week.


Foles' autobiography, "Believe It," which chronicles his improbable rags-to-riches storybook tale of 2017, is poised to debut at No. 5 on the Times' hardcover non-fiction list, according to book publisher Tyndale House, per Pro Football Talk.


The book also will debut at No. 3 on Publisher's Weekly hardcover non-fiction list and is expected to be on USA Today's best-seller list as well.


Foles stepped in when Wentz suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14. He capped Philadelphia's postseason run by completing 28 of 43 passes for three touchdowns and 373 yards in a 41-33 win over New England in Super Bowl LII.


The performance gave Foles MVP honors in the Super Bowl and marked the first championship for the Eagles since 1960. Foles also caught a TD pass right before halftime on the famous "Philly Special" play.


This from a player who signed with Philadelphia in March 2017 after the Kansas City Chiefs declined Foles' contract option. He played one season with the Chiefs after he was released by the Los Angeles Rams following the 2015 campaign.


Foles, who restructured his contract in the offseason to remain in Philadelphia, is donating all proceeds of the book to charity.


-- Frank Gore always believed he would wind up playing professionally in Miami, even if the journey to get back there was longer than expected.


The veteran running back realized his dream when he signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in March, returning to the city where he was born and starred at the collegiate level.


Gore, who turned 35 in May and will be entering his 14th NFL season, told the Miami Herald that he was certain that he would wind up playing in his hometown.


"I remember when Bobby McCain, when he was in his rookie or second year, we trained together over the summer," said Gore, per the newspaper. "I told him before the end, I'm going to be in the locker room with you. I remember when I signed, he said 'Boy, you were right.' I'm happy to be here. Now I just want to show everybody that I still can play."


The only running back in the league to rush for at least 900 yards in each of the last three seasons, Gore ran for 961 yards last season for the Indianapolis Colts.


It was third season in Indianapolis after spending his first 10 years with the San Francisco 49ers. Although he scored only three touchdowns last year, matching his career low, he believes playing on natural grass in Miami will be a boon in what could be his final year.


"Turf is tough on your body and it'll have you swollen," Gore said. "Playing on turf, I wouldn't get my body back until that Friday. But when I'm playing on grass, I'm good after the game. I'm happy that I'm on grass."


Gore has defied the odds for an NFL running back, still producing at an age when 30 years old typically signals a dramatic decline at the position. Not to mention he suffered two torn ACLs while playing for the University of Miami.


"I still feel good," Gore said. "I think about it sometimes. I think about how blessed I am to still be playing a game that I love since I was a kid. I always hear it every year: 'When you turn this age, you can't do it anymore.'


"Especially with what it took me to get here, to play in this league, with the injuries that I had, and still to be blessed to play this game and have pretty good years, I think that's a blessing."


Gore rushed for 2,953 yards and 13 touchdowns while starting all 48 games during his three years with the Colts. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, he has eclipsed 1,000 yards nine times, most recently in 2016.


A major milestone is within Gore's reach. He has rushed for 14,026 yards during his career and sits 76 yards shy of passing Curtis Martin for fourth place on the NFL's career rushing list.


Gore looks forward to boosting his totals on his home turf.


"Coming from Coral Gables and going to the University of Miami, it's been good," Gore said. "Now I've got to make sure that I'm ready for the season and do some good things for the team."


-- Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson has an issue with an NFL provision regarding violations of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Johnson sent out a brief but succinct tweet in response to the idea that the NFL's Management Council could reduce any player suspension if the alleged violator provides information that reveals others who attempted to circumvent the policy.


Posting on social media, Johnson tweeted a simple "No snitchin'" atop a story by Pro Football Talk that details the league policy that would reward offenders for providing information on other violators.


Johnson has an intimate history with the league's policy on PEDs, twice receiving suspensions for violations in the past four seasons. He was suspended for four games in 2014 and received a 10-game ban in 2016.


There is an obvious deterrent for any player wishing to share information with the league, even with the incentive that it could cut up to 50 percent off the suspension.


Since violating the PED policy results in an automatic four-game ban, a player who receives less will automatically draw suspicion as to whether he cooperated with the NFL. The entire policy, per Pro Football Talks, is as follows:


"The NFL Management Council may, prior to the conclusion of a Player's appeal, reduce the length of the suspension and corresponding bonus forfeiture by up to 50 percent when the Player has provided full and complete assistance (including hearing testimony if required) to the Management Council which results in the finding of an additional violation of the Policy by another Player, coach, trainer or other person subject to this Policy."

 

[CNOTES]

Future Bets - NFC West
July 7, 2018


Is a L.A. Rams Dynasty Within the Division on its way?


Now that July 4th has come and gone, it's time to really start focusing on all things football as the season is just around the corner. I've had you covered so far with a look at four of the eight divisions in the league (NFC South, NFC North, AFC East, AFC North) and it's time to continue that look forward with the third NFC division to cover: the NFC West.


Last year we saw a changing of the guard in the NFC West with the L.A. Rams winning the division crown thanks to a 11-5 SU record. The Rams got a division title just one year after selecting QB Jared Goff with the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft and the path of this franchise really looks bright.


They've got their young stud QB entering his 3rd NFL season, their young stud coach entering his second with the club, and have built such a deep and complimentary team on both sides of the ball that it's hard not to see the Rams as favorites to repeat in this division.


But are they going to take the proverbial step back this year or continue on their upward ascent?


Odds to Win NFC West
L.A. Rams (-125)
San Francisco 49ers (+300)
Seattle Seahawks (+400)
Arizona Cardinals (+1000)


I'll get to my discussion on the Rams again in a bit, but regarding these division future prices it's easy to dismiss Arizona right off the bat. The Cardinals are in that transition phase the Rams were in back in 2016 when they had a rookie QB coming to town as “the Savior” working with a new coach that hopefully can build said team into a perennial contender.


Arizona had been there back in 2015 when they went all the way to the NFC Championship game, but they were a veteran-laden squad then that had only really gotten older in the two years since. The Cardinals knew it was time to hit the reboot button on their franchise and get a lot younger, and having QB Josh Rosen as the new face of the future, the future is bright for this Arizona organization, just not the future of the 2018 NFL season.


San Francisco is an interesting case study as they spent the past few years rotting away at the bottom of this division while they searched for a franchise QB. They got theirs in a trade with New England last year when they brought in Jimmy Garappolo and he provided an exponential amount of hope with his play late last season. Garoppolo didn't lose a game as the starter for the 49ers and after signing a big extension this off-season, the 49ers are his to run for the next few years.


Yet, the 49ers were so bad for so long that I'm not sure finding their guy under center is going to be enough to turn it into a division winner a year later. San Francisco still lacks a lot of playmaking weapons around Garoppolo – especially at WR – and things never seem to work as smoothly as they do in the final 5-6 games of a lost season like the 49ers had going for them last year. Similar to the Rams of 2016-17, this 49ers group is probably a year away from serious consideration as a division winner, but they should be a much improved squad that could end up division champs if a few things break their way.


Which leads me to Seattle who have still pushed the “pause” button on their rebuild/reload as the championship window they had wide open in the early stages of this decade have probably been shut closed. Many big names of Seattle title teams have moved on and all the salary cap issues they've dealt with the past few years after paying big sums of money to those big names has left the Seahawks cupboards rather bare in terms of overall depth. Seattle basically is the “Russell Wilson Show” these days and will probably continue to be in 2018.


Wilson is a dynamic playmaker that can create huge plays out of nothing, but I'm not sure even that can carry Seattle over the hump. The Seahawks home field advantage is another great factor working in their favor, as is the whole idea of you can't completely cast aside a past champion with the resume the Seahawks have this decade, but it really does look like Seattle isn't ready or willing to admit their past missteps and are hesitant to hit refresh.


That makes them a tough team to count on either way – they could show that veteran scowl and compete for this division crown again, or age and lack of depth really shows its face and a 4-12 season is the end result – and because of that it makes the +400 odds on the Seahawks a little intriguing.


It's a huge payout if Seattle throws back the clock for one more year, which they surely could do, but given that this is a team that won or threatened to win this division every year this decade outside of last season and the oddsmakers still have them as 3rd best in the odds to win tells me it's probably better to pass on Seattle's chances in 2018.


Which leaves me with no other choice but to back the L.A. Rams again this year as they've got all the tools to get things done. The offense is going to be better and more comfortable in Year 2 of the Sean McVay era, and considering how well this offense was a year ago, that's a scary thing for opponents (and probably a good thing for 'over' bettors).


Defensively, the Rams have improved significantly as well, and although it was just a lone playoff game of experience for them last January, that type of experience can prove invaluable for a talented young team with a very young core like the Rams have. To have that taste of winning end as early as it did only gave this Rams team more of an appetite for more this year and it should come there way. L.A. simply has too many playmakers on both sides of the ball not to run away with this division, barring injury.


So until the 49ers get a few more playmakers on the outside and Arizona goes through their growing pains with a young QB, it looks like we may indeed have a L.A. Rams dynasty on our hands in the NFC West for at least the next year or two.



Best Bet: L.A. Rams to win division (-125)

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Cardinals GM Keim cited for DUI
July 7, 2018


Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim could be facing league disciplinary action after he was cited for driving under the influence July 4.


Police in Chandler, Ariz., confirmed to multiple Arizona media outlets that Keim was arrested Wednesday morning during a traffic stop.


Keim, who could be in violation of the NFL policy on personal conduct, apologized in a statement released through the team. He has been with the Cardinals since 1999 and served in a number of capacities. He was promoted to general manager in 2013.

-- The NFL announced its roster of 121 game officials for this season Friday, which is three fewer than last year.


Among the newcomers are seven college officials promoted to the NFL, including Land Clark (Pac-12), Matt Edwards (Big Ten), Chad Hill (SEC), Anthony Jeffries (SEC), Tony Josselyn (SEC), Mark Stewart (Big 12) and Don Willard (Big Ten).


Though the NFL gained seven officials, it lost 10. Longtime referees Terry McAulay, Ed Hochuli, Gene Steratore and Jeff Triplette retired earlier this year. The other six are side judge Laird Hayes, field judge Buddy Horton, line judge Jim Howey, field judge Jon Lucivansky, line judge Ron Marinucci and down judge Ed Walker.

-- NFL teams have until July 16 to work out long-term contracts with franchise-tagged players.


Of note, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah and Los Angeles Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner have franchise tags on them.


If deals are not signed and approved by the league before 4 p.m. ET on July 16, the sides cannot agree to new contracts until after the regular season is over.


Lawrence, Ansah and Joyner have each signed one-year franchise tenders. However, Bell has not signed the franchise tender.


The Cowboys and Lawrence are expected to engage in contract talks next week, according to the Athletic.


-- Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett was an emerging star in his second NFL season, landing Pro Bowl honors and living up to the expectations of a first-round draft pick.


That 2015 season seems like a distant memory for Verrett, who has played five games since because of a knee injury that ruined each of the past two years.


As he prepares to enter his fifth NFL season, Verrett is determined to recapture the form that had him on track to becoming one of the league's best at his position.


Verrett started 14 games during his Pro Bowl campaign, registering 47 tackles and three interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown. But he has been unable to stay on the field in his other three seasons, appearing in 11 games. A shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve in his rookie year and a partially torn ACL in his left knee ended the 2016 season after four games.


He underwent surgery to repair the knee but experienced soreness in the 2017 opener and went back on IR two weeks later. That led to another knee surgery.


-- The New York Giants were among the league's worst teams at getting after the quarterback last season and lost their top pass rusher to free agency. They attempted to shore up the position by taking two defensive linemen in the 2018 NFL Draft, but the biggest hope for boosting the sack total will come from within.


Defensive end Olivier Vernon, signed to a free-agent contract two years ago, will shift to outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme to maximize his pass-rushing skills.


New York is counting on an impactful season from Vernon, particularly after Jason Pierre-Paul signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason. Pierre-Paul had a team-high 8.5 sacks in 2017.


Despite missing four games with an ankle injury, Vernon collected 6.5 sacks last season. He started all 16 games and registered 8.5 sacks in 2016 after signing a five-year, $85 million contract that included $52.5 million in guaranteed money.


-- Running backs Frank Gore of the Miami Dolphins and LeSean McCoy of the Buffalo Bills may be AFC East rivals, but that does not affect their friendship. The running backs are working out together and complimented each other on Instagram Friday.


Gore has spent 13 years in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts. In March, he signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins.


McCoy posted a photo of himself with Gore on Instagram with a caption that read: "When you talk about greatness you talking Frank Gore," McCoy wrote. "Learning from the best."


Gore returned the favor by commenting on McCoy's Instagram post. "The best running back in the NFL Shady McCoy 10 years in still doing it," Gore wrote.


-- Duce Staley was hoping to move up the coaching ladder after being part of a Super Bowl-winning staff with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.


However, while Staley did have another title added to his resume, he was bypassed for two offensive coordinator jobs in the offseason.


The Eagles considered Staley and wide receivers coach Mike Groh to run the offense before selecting the latter as Frank Reich's replacement. Staley, the running backs coach with the Eagles, was elevated to assistant head coach upon the announcement of Groh's promotion.


Staley also was in the mix for the offensive coordinator's post with the New York Giants, a job that eventually went to Mike Shula, who served in a similar capacity with the Carolina Panther

 

[XSPower]

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Seahawks, Cowboys reportedly discussing S Thomas
July 8, 2018


Multiple reports indicate trade talks between Dallas and Seattle for veteran safety Earl Thomas are heating up.


Talk of Thomas being unhappy and wanting to play in Dallas sparked rumors during the NFL Draft of a potential trade, but the Seahawks' reported price of a second-round pick was too steep for the Cowboys. Now with the start of training camp just weeks away, talk of Thomas to Dallas was reignited on Saturday.


Thomas, a former University of Texas player, reportedly told Dallas coach Jason Garrett to trade for him after a December game between the Seahawks and Cowboys.


Thomas is set to make $8.5 million entering the final season of a four-year, $40 million deal he signed in 2014. The six-time Pro Bowl selection has skipped organized team activities throughout the summer.


-- With the NFL supplemental draft just days away on July 11, the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills have been listed as likely teams who might make a splash.


Of the five players available, the most interesting, Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal, could land on the shores of Lake Erie, with the Browns or the Bills. Every team sent a representative to Beal's supplemental workout, where he ran a wind-assisted 4.4 in the 40-yard dash as well as a 4.55 40 against the wind.


The Browns have two picks in the third round, and Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com projects Beal as a third-round pick.


The other players available in the supplemental draft are Mississippi State safety Brandon Bryant, Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander, Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu and Grand Valley State running back Martayveus Carter.


-- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was pleased to discover that the "home team" recovered his lost wallet.


A man, who was identified only as "Charles" in a tweet by ABC6 in Indianapolis, discovered Luck's lost wallet on a bike ride. The Good Samaritan returned the wallet to a security guard at the Colts' training facility.


Luck took a few moments to pay it forward, signing a football to go along with a special note for "Charles."


"Many thanks! You made my life much easier, ha! Thanks for reminding me of the 'kindness of strangers,'" the 28-year-old Luck wrote.


With his money and credit cards secure, the three-time Pro Bowl selection can focus on returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the 2017 season.


-- Johnny Manziel came to the Canadian Football League with plenty of fanfare, although that noise has been silenced by the play of Jeremiah Masoli.


Manziel once again watched from the sideline as Masoli tied a CFL record with his ninth consecutive game of at least 300 passing yards in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' 18-13 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The record is held by Montreal's Sam Etcheverry (1956) and Saskatchewan's Kent Austin (1991), according to TSN.


While the former Oregon standout leads the league with 1,378 passing yards, Manziel has been reduced to the role of a spectator. A former Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M, Manziel has not played in a regular-season game since the end of the 2015 season with the Cleveland Browns.


-- Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee said he needs to help fill the void left by retired tight end Jason Witten.


"There is no question that I need to step up because he's gone," the 31-year-old Lee said, via the Dallas Morning News.


"I think it's a responsibility for me, similar to how it was for Jason Witten. Jason kind of set the tone for us. Not only did he set the pace leadership-wise, but he also knew that you had to pass the leadership down and you had to be gracious and try to help guys. That's something I am really trying to do also. If you want to have a great team, the leaders got to bring guys in. You can lead by example, but you've also got to get the young guys working the right way too."


Lee had 101 tackles and one interception in 11 games last season. He missed five games with hamstring issues.


-- The helmet worn by Eli Manning when he and the New York Giants rallied to beat the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII is expected to fetch more than $130,000 at auction.


The bidding begins Monday at the Goldin website and will continue through Aug. 2 when bidding will end in a live auction at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland.


The Giants were significant underdogs and trailed the Patriots 7-3 in the fourth quarter. Manning led the Giants to two fourth-quarter scores, including the winner to wide receiver Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left in the game.


According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, if Manning's helmet does bring in $130,000, it will be the most expensive helmet sold in auction. A helmet worn by Rudy Ruettiger while at Notre Dame sold last year for $126,500, Rovell said.


-- Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley said he's motivated by the city's newest arrival: LeBron James.


A four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, James announced last Sunday that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time in his career -- this time to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $154 million contract.


Gurley spoke about the impact of James joining the Lakers will have on the Rams during an appearance Saturday on the "PFT PM" podcast with Mike Florio.


"Once I heard about the LeBron signing, it just kind of made me wanna go out and just work out," the 23-year-old Gurley said. "The guy's been to the Finals the last seven, eight years so that's coming to the city. The NBA Finals is coming to the city. That's what LeBron brings."


-- Former NFL tight end Dwight Clark's final resting place resides next to a memento from his most famous play.


Clark, who died last month, was cremated and his ashes were buried next to the goal post from the Candlestick Park end zone where he secured "The Catch," the winning touchdown in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. 10, 1982.


That goal post now resides on former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo's ranch in Montana. Former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci tweeted a video showing the goal post and Clark's final resting place.


Clark reeled in 506 passes for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns during his career with the 49ers. He died June 4 after a battle with ALS. He was 61.


-- Los Angeles Chargers first-round pick Derwin James made good on his promise to purchase a home for his mother.


James, who was the 17th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, received a $7.1 million signing bonus as part of his four-year, $12.39 million deal with the Chargers.


The safety wasn't shy about letting the world know about his mother's new two-story house.


"Today was a special day. Bought my momma her dream house I always promise her since a kid," James wrote. "I don't think there is anybody more deserving in the world then her. Love you."


The 21-year-old James had 186 tackles and three interceptions in three seasons at Florida State.


-- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin decided to put a portion of his new three-year, $20.3 million contract to good use. He bought his mother and sister a new house.


On Thursday, Goodwin posted a video to Instagram that shows the manner in which he surprised his mother, Tamina, and sister, Deja, who has cerebral palsy. The latter two were blindfolded until Goodwin revealed their new home.


"I know mama... I can feel your energy in this video! All the obstacles WE have overcome," Goodwin wrote. "Man...I love you so much mama... thank you for EVERYTHING! Especially blessing me with a sis like my Deja!!!"


Goodwin notably played through personal anguish last season, as his infant son died from pregnancy complications. Five weeks later, his father died before a game against the Tennessee Titans.


The 27-year-old Goodwin had career highs in catches (56) and receiving yards (962) to go with two touchdowns last season.


-- The Indianapolis Colts might not be that far off from being a contender in the AFC once again. At least that's the feeling second-year safety Malik Hooker has been spreading this offseason.


There's a renewed energy and vibe around the Colts. Frank Reich is the new coach, and the staff has been revamped. And of course there's quarterback Andrew Luck, who has not played in a game since Jan. 1, 2017.


Much of the Colts' success hinges on Luck and his rehabilitated shoulder. But even if Luck isn't under center, Hooker thinks the Colts still can contend.


"I'm definitely the guy that I feel like we're capable of winning now," Hooker told the team's website. "You know, we've got a lot of great players, a lot of good players coming back as well. So I feel like this year, we've got a young, fast and good, physical team, so I feel like we're definitely capable of winning now."


-- Josh McCown is No. 1. Teddy Bridgewater is No. 2. Rookie Sam Darnold is No. 3. The New York Jets head into training camp with a clear definition of what their quarterback room looks like, but Jets fans should not be surprised if that changes sooner rather than later.


Darnold, the team's top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, was impressive in minicamp and seems to get better each day, according to McCown, who gushed about the 21-year-old on Sirius XM radio during the weekend.


"With Sam, we have the right guy, he's wired the right way, he loves the game, he asks the right questions and he's willing to work. ... That's the foundation. You have to have that," McCown said.


-- Washington expected wide receiver Josh Doctson to fill a huge void when he was drafted two years ago with the 22nd pick in the first round out of TCU. The reality is that Doctson has been a huge disappointment.


Doctson does not have a 100-yard receiving game, nor has he caught more than four passes in a game. ut as he prepares for training camp and his third year, he says he's ready to take a huge leap forward.


"Every new year I'm looking to be better. I have been better," Doctson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Saturday during a football camp he hosted at TCU. "Just off the field maturing, off the field understanding how to be a NFL player," he said.


Last year, he had 35 receptions for 502 yards and six touchdowns, but with Terrelle Pyror leaving via free agency, the door is open for Doctson to be the No. 1 wide receiver. And new quarterback Alex Smith could make a difference for Doctson.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Bills' McCoy denies domestic violence accusations
July 10, 2018


Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy denied accusations of domestic violence, child abuse, animal cruelty and performance-enhancing drug use in a statement posted on his Instagram account on Tuesday.


Earlier on Tuesday, a woman posted a graphic image that showed McCoy's reported former girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, bruised and bloodied. The post also accused the 29-year-old McCoy of beating his dog until it developed kidney failure and "viciously" beating his son.


"For the record, the totally baseless and offensive claims made against me today on social media are completely false," McCoy wrote. "Furthermore, I have not had any direct contact with any of the people involved in months."


Police in Milton, Ga., released a statement in response to the incident, detailing how officers responded to a home invasion at 3:18 a.m. Tuesday, although McCoy was not mentioned by name.


"The preliminary investigation indicates that this residence was specifically targeted by the suspect or suspects, and not a random incident," the statement read. "When officers arrived they found one victim who had been physically assaulted by a lone intruder. During the altercation, the suspect demanded specific items from the victim. An adult female victim was treated and released at North Fulton Regional Hospital. A second adult female victim also sustained a minor injury during the incident."


--The NFL Players Association filed a grievance against the league's new national anthem policy.


NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced in May that the league would enact a national anthem policy for the 2018 season that requires players and league personnel to either stand for the anthem or remain in the locker room. The policy subjects teams to a fine if a player or any other personnel do not show respect for the anthem.


"Our union filed its non-injury grievance today on behalf of all players challenging the NFL's recently imposed anthem policy," the NFLPA said in a statement. "The union's claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL's governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights.


"In advance of our filing today, we proposed to the NFL to begin confidential discussions with the NFLPA Executive Committee to find a solution to this issue instead of immediately proceeding with litigation. The NFL has agreed to proceed with those discussions and we look forward to starting them soon."


--Former NFL cornerback Brandon Browner was charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder.


Police in La Verne (Calif.) also charged Browner with three other felonies -- robbery, burglary and false imprisonment -- in the wake of his arrest Sunday for allegedly breaking into a home of an ex-girlfriend who has a restraining order against him.


Browner also faces two misdemeanor charges of child endangerment for allegedly attacking the victim with her two children present. He was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.


A Super Bowl winner with both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, Brown could face a possible maximum life sentence in prison if convicted.


--Former Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander will not have to worry about one issue entering Wednesday's NFL Supplemental Draft.


Alexander, one of five players available in the draft, received a clean bill on his drug tests, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network.


There have been character concerns surrounding Alexander, who was dismissed from Virginia Tech in May due to academics. Alexander also was arrested on a marijuana-related charge in 2016, but he has passed all of his drug tests over the past eight months, Garafolo reported.


Alexander, Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal and Mississippi State safety Brandon Bryant are considered the top players in the supplemental draft. Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu and Grand Valley State running back Martayveus Carter are also available.


--New Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper wants to create a more open "family" atmosphere in the wake of the troubles that surrounded previous owner Jerry Richardson.


Tepper addressed this topic, the Richardson statue outside Bank of America Stadium and the team's coaching staff during Tuesday's introductory press conference with reporters.


"I like to have an open environment. Where everybody feels safe like a family," said Tepper, the founder of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, based in Miami Beach, Fla. He paid $2.275 billion for the right to own the team.


The Panthers came under fire in December when Sports Illustrated published a report alleging that Richardson was accused of racial and sexual harassment. The 81-year-old Richardson, who elected to sell the team amid a league investigation, was fined $2.75 million by the NFL on June 28.


Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill weighed in on the recent alcohol-related arrest of general manager Steve Keim, vowing there will be consequences for what he termed "inexcusable" behavior.


Bidwill told radio station KFYI on Tuesday that Keim made an "enormous mistake," referring to the general manager's arrest on charges of driving under the influence in Chandler, Ariz., on Wednesday.


"First of all, I'm extremely disappointed," said Bidwill. "It's inexcusable. He did bring it to our attention right away that night and has been extremely remorseful and contrite. He's taken steps to make things right, but the reality is that there is a process in place that the league has and there are going to be consequences here."


Keim could be subject to disciplinary action for a violation of the NFL policy on personal conduct. More details from the incident became available Tuesday with the release of the police report, which noted that Keim refused to participate in a number of sobriety tests. Keim willingly provided his name to officers, according to the report, but he identified himself as the team's director of security.


--DeMarco Murray was quite complimentary of both fellow running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Marcus Mariota when asked about their respective futures with the Tennessee Titans.


Murray, who was released by the Titans in March, addressed both players when talking to ESPN's Adam Schefter recently.


"I think Derrick's a smart guy. He's a fast guy, very physical, athletic, and now that I'm not there I think he can hone in on being the guy," the 30-year-old Murray said, via Titans Wire. "And if they use him the right way and if he can consistently be the every down back, I think he has a great future, a bright future."


Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur told reporters last month that the running game will remain the focal point of the offense with free-agent signee Dion Lewis joining incumbent starter Henry in the backfield.


--Washington Redskins rookie running back Derrius Guice continued his generous offseason by surprising his mother with a new car.


Guice, who was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, shared a video on Twitter of his mother's reaction as he arrived at her Baton Rouge, La., home in a white Jaguar SUV with a bow on the hood.


His mother, Beulah, could barely contain herself before her son christened the car with a bottle of champagne.


Guice was raised by his mother after his father was murdered when he was young. The 21-year-old Guice's most recent gift comes on the heels of raising money for cancer research and taking random Redskins fans to the movies.


--New Orleans Saints stars Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore are looking to elevate the bar after becoming the first teammates since 1967 to win NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.


"We talk about it all the time, we're just trying to be the best," the 22-year-old Lattimore said, via the New Orleans Advocate. "We won rookie of the year, now we're trying to win Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year."


Lattimore, a cornerback, is focusing his attention on his technique as opposed to "training for the 40" at the combine like he did prior to the 2017 draft.


"That process, the draft-combine-pro day, it's a tiring process," Kamara said. "It's hard, coming from college, transitioning from being an amateur to a pro. It's hard, there's some growing pains. I was learning as I go, but now I have some experience, I know how to manage my time."


--Tony Romo may have retired from playing in the NFL, but that doesn't mean he is through with competitive sports.


The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS analyst matched his old jersey number by breezing to a staggering nine-stroke win at the Racine Tri-Course Amateur Championship. He also won the tournament in 2004.


"I stayed aggressive," Romo told The (Racine) Journal Times. "I took mostly conservative lines and aggressive swings, and that's the approach you take when you have a lead. When you're hitting it as solid as I've been hitting it, you can trust it -- commit to the swing and hit it.


"I was able to do that throughout the week. It was hard to do when you're not hitting it where you're aiming, but I was (doing that) this week."


-- New York Giants defensive tackle A.J. Francis went on a profane tirade on Twitter after the Transportation Security Administration allegedly left open the urn carrying his mother's ashes.


Carrie Leanne Francis died on June 26, according to a post on her son's Instagram account. A.J. Francis posted a picture Monday of his clothes covered with what appeared to be ashes in his suitcase along with a notice of inspection from TSA.


"Hey you (expletive) at TSA next time you (expletive) feel the need to go thru my mother's ashes for no reason, make sure you close it back so her remains aren't spilled on all my clothes... the least you pieces of garbage can do is your (expletive) job," the 28-year-old Francis said in a tweet.


AskTSA responded to Francis' complaints with an explanation, apology and condolences.

 

[CNOTES]

First Coach to be Fired
July 11, 2018


NFL Props – First Coach Fired in 2018 Regular Season


Teams usually wait until the season is over to make coaching changes, that’s why the first Monday after the regular year ends is termed “Black Monday.” That’s not always the case, however.


Sometimes a club is so bad or fails to reach expectations that a move is made during the season. There were seven coaching changes following the 2017 season with only one – Giants Ben McAdoo – relieved of his duties prior to the end of the season.


Coaches are hired to be fired and five other coaches were dismissed after the conclusion of the 2017 regular season and one retired, leaving the door open for seven new men to test their luck.


We can eliminate those seven from our list, and the odds at BookMaker.eu for the first coach fired during the regular season doesn’t include any of them.


The heat is on Cleveland’s Hue Jackson, who is the favorite at +317 to get the axe first. He has the highest losing percentage of any coach that’s been around for two seasons and it was amazing he was retained after going winless last year.


The Browns have just one victory in Jackson’s tenure and with an upgraded roster, the pressure is on him to win and win early.


Odds For First Head Coach Fired During 2018 NFL Regular Season


No Coach Fired +306


Cleveland Browns - Hue Jackson +317


Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Dirk Koetter +516


Denver Broncos - Vance Joseph +548


Field (any other coach fired) +621


Miami Dolphins - Adam Gase +781


New York Jets - Todd Bowles +1330


Washington Redskins - Jay Gruden +1387


Dallas Cowboys - Jason Garrett +1829


Baltimore Ravens - John Harbaugh +1879


Seattle Seahawks - Pete Carroll +2113


Houston Texans - Bill O'Brien +2201


Cincinnati Bengals - Marvin Lewis +1167


Carolina Panthers - Ron Rivera +4500


Coaches To Watch


Hue Jackson
Current Odds +317


It’s hard not to put Jackson at the top of the list and the odds are favorable. In his two years the Browns have won just one game and last season they became the second club ever to go winless during a 16-game regular season. Ownership made changes elsewhere within the organization and you can bet Jackson has a short leash entering 2018. Much more than just a few victories are expected for the Browns this season and if they stumble out of the gate, Jackson’s shelf life will have expired. He isn’t a bad coach, enjoying success as an assistant and coordinator. However, some guys are meant to be in the background and Jackson is one of them.


Dirk Koetter
Current Odds +516


The Tampa Bay coach was given the job to mentor Jameis Winston, and that hasn’t worked out. With the 2015 No. 1 overall pick stagnant in his development, the Bucs haven’t progressed after going 9-7 and narrowly missing the postseason in 2016. The team stumbled to a 5-11 record last season and failed to win a number of close games. With Winston suspended for the first three games in 2018 with matchups against New Orleans, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the seat will get warm quickly under Koetter’s derriere.


Jason Garrett
Current Odds +1829


Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones doesn’t go for the quick fix and make changes on a whim. He also doesn’t care for mediocrity. And that’s what the Boys have been under Jason Garrett, who enters his eighth full season with just two playoff appearances and one victory. When those two playoff years are eliminated, Garrett has a record of 42-46. He’s failed to build a consistent winner and even has former players calling out his competence as a head coach. The Boys need to be better because that’s what their owner expects, giving Garrett has plenty of value at +1829.


Vance Joseph
Current Odds +548


John Elway went out on a limb with the hiring of Joseph, and after a 5-win campaign the branch is about to snap off. Three years removed from a Super Bowl victory, the Broncos were atrocious in Joseph’s maiden season. Elway isn’t shy about pulling the trigger on any move and if he feels the club isn’t responding, you can bet Joseph will be the scapegoat.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL Notebook: Giants, Redskins pick up DBs in Supplemental Draft
July 11, 2018


In today's pass-happy era, one can never have enough defensive backs.


That likely was the mindset that led NFC East rivals New York and Washington to invest third- and sixth-round selections in the NFL's Supplemental Draft, making it the first time since 2010 that multiple players were picked in the league's annual second-chance draft.


The Giants invested an early pick -- technically the third selection of the third round of the draft -- into the draft's top-rated prospect, Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal.


Washington, which was slotted 20th, selected Virginia Tech defensive back Adonis Alexander three rounds later.


With the selections, both clubs forfeit the corresponding selections in next spring's draft.


Once the players come to a financial agreement with the clubs, they are eligible to practice and potentially play immediately.


--Running back LeSean McCoy of the Buffalo Bills reportedly has hired a prominent attorney as police investigate a home invasion in Milton, Ga., in which his ex-girlfriend was assaulted.


According to WSBTV.com in Atlanta, defense attorney Don Samuel will represent McCoy, who has not been charged or even mentioned by authorities as a suspect.


Samuel, who defended former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis during his 2000 murder trial in Atlanta, said he is "getting up to speed" on the case and added that he will be speaking with the Milton Police Department.


McCoy's former girlfriend, Delicia Cordon was bruised and bloodied in what Milton Police called a "targeted" home invasion early Tuesday morning. A friend of Cordon's accused McCoy on social media of being responsible, even though he was in South Florida training at the time of the incident. McCoy has denied any involvement.


--Free-agent cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was involved in a physical altercation in which he was attacked by an employee associated with an Atlanta airport, according to a published report.


Per TMZ Sports, Jones was at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday night when Frank Ragin -- an employee of the facilities management company ABM -- "made a gesture" toward him. Police said the two exchanged words before a fight ensued, with Ragin causing a laceration to Jones' face following a strike with a closed fist.


TMZ Sports reported that police said Ragin also hit Jones' female companion at some point during the fight, injuring her hand. Jones soon knocked Ragin to the ground with a punch to the face. He then hit Ragin one more time before another man helped break up the fight.


Police determined that Ragin was the primary aggressor, and he was arrested on two counts of battery. Ragin was taken to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries.


--Jeff Fisher, who has coached in the NFL for 22 seasons, is in talks with FOX about joining the network's team as an analyst in the studio or the booth, the Sporting News reported.


FOX will begin hosting Thursday Night Football this season with its No. 1 team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth. Indications are that means Buck and Aikman will take some Sundays off.


The 60-year-old Fisher has said he would prefer another coaching job in the NFL, but FOX has invested an additional $550 million per year for the broadcast rights to "Thursday Night Football" and might make him an offer he can't refuse.


Fisher has coached the Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans and the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, compiling a 173-165-1 in the regular season and 5-6 mark in the postseason. His 165 regular season losses are tied for the most in NFL history.


--Eli Manning admitted to being pleased that the New York Giants opted against selecting a quarterback of the future with the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.


The Giants passed over Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen to select Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, who rushed 217 times for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-3, 233-pound Barkley also caught 54 passes for 632 yards and two scores, as well as returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.


"It was kind of a vote of confidence in that they trusted in me that I can play at a high level, can win games, take us deep in playoffs and win championships and win championships still," Manning told Sirius XM NFL Radio.


"And you know what? I want to prove them right and I want to make them look smart and make them to have made the right decision in doing that. I want to go out there and do great things, do my job and lead this team and make guys around me better and do what I'm supposed to do to put us in position to win those games."


--Free-agent linebacker Connor Barwin is setting the bar high for his next employer.


Barwin told Sirius XM NFL Radio that he's looking for something specific from a team looking to add him to its roster.


"We've had interest from a number of teams all offseason," Barwin said. "The offers I have, I think I'll make my decision before camp starts. I'm not going to go somewhere that I don't think can win a Super Bowl."


Barwin recorded 34 tackles and five sacks in 14 games for the Los Angeles Rams last season. The 31-year-old was playing in his first year with the Rams after four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He admitted that he had conflicting emotions after watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl.


--Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown turned 30 years old on Tuesday.


A signature birthday in one's life to be certain, but Brown wasn't worried about that number representing a potential decline in his skills on the football field.


"I don't pay attention to my age," the six-time Pro Bowl selection said, via ESPN. "I'm feeling great, I'm healthy and I'm in great shape. I feel as long as I have that, I can continue to be productive. ... Life is all about challenges and working to be the best. You never want to limp away from the game."


Brown hasn't limped much at all during his NFL career. In fact, his 733 receptions for 9,910 yards are more than any other wideout since he entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft.


--Safety Brandon Bryant of Mississippi State, who was passed over in the NFL Supplemental Draft, is expected to sign with the New York Jets, the NFL Network reported.


Bryant was one of three eligible prospects who were not selected in the Supplemental Draft. Only two players, Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal by the New York Giants and Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander by the Washington Redskins, were chosen.


Bryant is expected to be a backup to Jets' starting safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, who both were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft.


--The Cleveland Browns didn't make a selection during the NFL Supplemental Draft, but they did hold a workout with defensive back Jordan Holland, the NFL Network reported.


Holland most recently played last season with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL and is the son of assistant coach Johnny Holland of the San Francisco 49ers.


Jordan Holland, 23, is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound cover man who was undrafted out of Prairie View A&M in 2016.


The Browns have been rebuilding heir secondary, selecting cornerback Denzel Ward in the first round of the NFL Draft, signing E.J. Haines and Justin Durrie, and trading for safety Damarious Randall.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: McCoy's house visited by police 3 times
July 12, 2018


Police have visited the Georgia home of Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy three times in the past year, according to a published report.


McCoy is the subject of a police investigation in which his ex-girlfriend was assaulted at his home early Tuesday morning in Milton, Ga. The incident has been termed a home invasion by police.


The Athletic reported Thursday that Milton police were called to McCoy's residence for domestic disputes three times since July 2017, although they found no evidence of violence in either instance.


McCoy's former girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, was bruised and bloodied in what Milton Police called a "targeted" home invasion early Tuesday morning.


A friend of Cordon's accused McCoy on social media of being responsible, even though he was in South Florida training at the time of the incident. McCoy has denied any involvement in the incident.


--Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has been named in two separate lawsuits by women who claimed he sexually assaulted them while they were unconscious.


One day after a Jacksonville, Fla., station reported that Dareus was being sued for sexual assault stemming from an incident in April, he also was named in a suit involving a different woman that dates to January 2017, according to the Tampa Bay Times.


The earlier incident occurred on Jan. 7, 2017, in Lutz, Fla., two days before the national championship game between Alabama and Clemson, the newspaper reported.


The woman alleged that Dareus groped her at a party, which featured alcohol, drugs and up to a dozen strippers. She said she later woke up in bed with Dareus and "began to immediately realize that there had been sexual physical acts upon her person."


--The Pro Football Hall of Fame will ostensibly ignore former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens during this year's induction proceedings.


Joe Horrigan, the Hall's executive director, told Clark Judge of the Talk of Fame Network that Owens will not be individually introduced at the Gold Jacket ceremony. In addition, Owens will not be announced the following night at Canton's annual induction ceremony.


Owens announced last week that he will return to his alma mater of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga to celebrate his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement on Aug. 4.


"The focus is on the guys who are here," Horrigan said. "... There's no reason to bring him up as an individual. He's not here."


--Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt donated $10,000 to help the family of a Wisconsin firefighter killed in an explosion, multiple media outlets reported.


Watt, who is the child of a firefighter, was born in Waukesha (Wis.) and played collegiately at Wisconsin.


The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year donated to a GoFundMe page created for Sun Prairie (Wis.) Fire Department Capt. Cory Barr, who was killed Tuesday evening.


A natural gas leak in Sun Prairie led to an explosion that injured 15 and killed Barr on Tuesday evening. Barr leaves behind a wife, Abby, and 3-year-old twin daughters.


--Former NFL referee Terry McAulay said the NFL's revised rules on kickoffs could cause issues for the officials this season.


McAulay retired last month and will serve as an on-air rules analyst for games on NBC Sunday Night Football.


The 59-year-old spoke to ESPN.com about the rules, specifically where players line up prior to the kick, the elimination of wedge blocking and where the receiving team's players are permitted to initiate blocks.


"It isn't getting as much press, but the kickoff change, this may be the biggest change I've ever seen," McAulay said. "People know so little about it. There are so many restrictions on what either side of the ball can do. ... I spoke with a special-teams coordinator who is excited about it, and I know we all feel it can be great for the game. But (officials) have to wait and see. There are a lot of intricate rules in terms of what (players) can and cannot do."


--Adonis Alexander wound up in the NFL Supplemental Draft due to some off-field transgressions in college. He vowed not to be tripped up by similar issues at the professional level.


Alexander, who was taken by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of Wednesday's supplemental draft, said he will not repeat the same mistakes that he did at Virginia Tech.


Academic issues led to the defensive back's dismissal from the school in May. Alexander also was suspended twice by the Hokies, including once for a marijuana-related charge in 2016.


"I have definitely used it as a learning tool," said Alexander via the Redskins' official website. "I definitely made some mistakes at Virginia Tech but I'm using those -- just learning from them. Using them to help form a better character, form myself as a man. I'm trying to benefit from the things I did in the past in a good way."


--Las Vegas will become home to the Oakland Raiders in 2020 and the city's long wait for an NFL franchise finally will be realized.


A $1.8 billion stadium is about 15 percent complete and is being built on the far south end of the famed Las Vegas Strip.


And on Wednesday, the Las Vegas *************** reported that Personal Seat Licenses will cost up to $75,000 apiece.


PSLs are agreements that give fans the opportunity to purchase season tickets. According to the Las Vegas newspaper, there are three tiers of PSLs and in total they will generate $160 million.


--Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara has set the bar extremely high for this season.


"I'm really looking for a 10-pick season," Amukamara told the Chicago Tribune.


A lofty goal to be certain since Amukamara has just seven interceptions over the span of his entire seven-year NFL career. In fact, his last pick was in September 2005 when he intercepted then-Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins.


"I'm reaching for the stars, right?" the 29-year-old Amukamara said. "But at the same time, I know what I'm capable of. I know how hard I've worked. And every year I keep putting those goals out there. Because when it finally does happen, I can circle back to the time that I said it."


--A current Dallas Cowboys star player will join a prominent former one when the second National Fantasy Football Convention gets underway this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas.


Per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has joined former Dallas quarterback Tony Romo as a part owner of the group. Executive Director Andy Alberth and business partner Mark Hulme are also part owners.


Elliott is expected to attend the event which reportedly will include Los Angeles Rams star running back Todd Gurley and Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon as well as Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.


"It's more than doubled from where it was last year," Alberth told the newspaper. "The players are excited. The fans are excited. It's Disneyland for fans of all ages.


--Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and wife, Ciara, tagged a pair of rhinos during their recent trip to South Africa.


The duo participated in a rhino microchipping trip outside of Cape Town as a means to combat poaching.


"Ciara and I worked to help save two Rhinos from poachers by microchipping them today!" Wilson wrote on Instagram. "It's an important task because over 5,000+ Rhinos have been killed by poachers in the past 6 years. We all need to play a part in an effort to Save the Rhinos in Africa from being wiped off the earth.


"We were able to name them after our kids' middle names, Zahir and Princess! We can't wait to meet again! Run safe & free babies! #SaveTheRhinos"

--The New York Giants had a changing of the guards, signing Zac Kerin and waiving Ethan Cooper.


Kerin has appeared in 14 regular-season games, making one start, in four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.


An undrafted free agent out of Toledo, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Kerin appeared in four games in 2015 and nine in 2016 for the Vikings, but he was waived at the start of training camp a year ago. The Detroit Lions claimed Kerin on waivers and he made his first NFL start on Sept. 24 last season.


Cooper has never appeared in an NFL game. He spent most of the 2016 season on New York's practice squad and spent the past offseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was cut in early September.

--The Baltimore Ravens placed rookie center Alex Thompson on the reserve/did not report list.


The move came one day after Baltimore's rookies were schedule to report for training camp on Wednesday.


Thompson signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Monmouth. He started 44 of 45 games at the school.


--Former NFL coach Jeff Fisher will serve as an analyst for FOX in at least one game next season, according to a published report.


Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported that Fisher will be joined by play-by-play announcer Dan Hellie for the Sept. 30 game pitting the New York Jets against the host Jacksonville Jaguars.


Marchand reported that more opportunities could be in line for Fisher, who was dismissed by the Los Angeles Rams with three games remaining in the 2016 season.


FOX will begin hosting Thursday Night Football this season with its No. 1 team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth. Indications are that means Buck and Aikman will take some Sundays off.


--Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow II will stand trial after a judge in Vista, Calif., ruled Thursday that there was sufficient evidence to move forward with the case.


Winslow will face a number of felony charges, including rape and kidnapping, as well as multiple misdemeanor charges including indecent exposure and trespassing, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.


Superior Court Judge Harry Elias set bail at $2 million for Winslow, who may face additional charges during a hearing scheduled for later Thursday afternoon.


The 34-year-old Winslow stands accused of raping two women and exposing himself to a third. He also was accused of entering the homes of two other women with the intent to rape, prosecutors alleged.


--The Alliance of American Football hopes to generate fan interest by stocking team rosters with players who have local ties.


J.K. McKay, the head of football operations for the Alliance, told Pro Football Talk that the league will put an emphasis on keeping players as close to the colleges where they played.


The eight-team AAF is scheduled to begin its inaugural season in February 2019, one week after the Super Bowl is played. The league has franchises in Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and San Diego.


"You want to keep local kids home when you can," McKay told PFT. "It creates fan interest. Our Birmingham team will have Alabama and Auburn, and that will draw some fan interest."

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Owens reveals why he's skipping HOF
July 15, 2018


Terrell Owens shared a glimpse as to why he has elected against attending the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony next month.


Owens, who will celebrate his big day on Aug. 4 at his alma mater of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, responded to a person on Twitter who was criticizing the wide receiver for citing Jerry Kramer's decades-long snub.


"I'm SO HAPPY for JERRY (Kramer)!!" Owens wrote. "(He) shouldn't have had to wait that damn long either! I'm doing this for guys like him. Past, present and the future."


Kramer, 82, was a pivotal member on Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers teams that won five NFL championships as well as the first two Super Bowls. The guard was named to the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1960s and -- for the time being -- remains the lone member of the league's 50th Anniversary Team that resides outside of the Hall of Fame.


Prior to his modern-era eligibility expiring in 1988, Kramer was a Hall of Fame finalist nine times. He also was a senior finalist in 1997.


A finalist for the past three years, Owens was selected for enshrinement in the Class of 2018 along with linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, wide receiver Randy Moss and safety Brian Dawkins. They will be joined by Bobby Beathard (contributor) and seniors committee nominees Kramer and Robert Brazile.


Owens caused a stir last month by declaring that he would not be in attendance for the festivities in Canton, Ohio.


The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday that it will ostensibly ignore the 44-year-old Owens during this year's induction proceedings.


--Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas criticized Terrell Owens for his decision to boycott this year's enshrinement ceremony.


Thomas, who starred for the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s, said he is upset that Owens will not attend the Aug. 4 ceremony in Canton, Ohio.


Owens will instead celebrate his big day at his alma mater of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.


"I'm a little ticked off that he's not coming," Thomas told the Professional Football Researchers Association Convention on Saturday, according to the Buffalo News. "But it's his choice. ... I think it was a bad P.R. move on his part, but I do get it. ... Every guy thinks they should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I remember Deacon Jones telling me after I didn't get in the first time ... he said, 'Whether you're going to get in the first time, the second time, the third time, it's when you get in that you should enjoy it.' "


--Defensive ends Demarcus Lawrence and Ezekiel Ansah are expected to play on the franchise tag this year, according to a published report.


NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that both players likely will not receive long-term deals with their respective teams prior to Monday's deadline, "barring a significant turn of events."


If deals are not signed and approved by the league before 4 p.m. ET, the sides cannot agree to new contracts until after the regular season is over.


Lawrence, who has been seeking a long-term contract from the Dallas Cowboys, is set to play for just over $17 million in 2018 with the franchise tag.


The 26-year-old Lawrence started all 16 games last season and amassed a career-high 14.5 sacks.


Ansah recorded a team-high 12 sacks, 44 total tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery last season with the Detroit Lions despite missing two games with a back injury.


The 29-year-old Ansah has registered 44 sacks over his first five seasons, including 14.5 sacks in 2015. He had just two sacks the following year while being bothered by a high ankle sprain that limited him to 13 games.


--The Los Angeles Rams chose to slap a franchise tag on safety Lamarcus Joyner back in April. The two sides have been talking, but no long-term deal is expected to be reached, a league source told ESPN.


They have until Monday's 4 p.m. ET deadline to agree to a multi-year deal. If a new contract isn't signed, Joyner will play this season on the franchise tag. The Rams could then tag him again next offseason or he would become a free agent.


The Rams decided to franchise Joyner instead of receiver Sammy Watkins, who later left for the Kansas City Rams. The 27-year old played slot corner his first three years in the league before moving to safety in 2017, where he notched his first three career interceptions.


--Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is thinking positive as it relates to the franchise tag negotiations surrounding superstar running back Le'Veon Bell.


Tomlin told WAVY Channel 10 in Virginia that he would like the Steelers to sign Bell to a long-term contract prior to Monday's deadline (4 p.m. ET).


"Obviously we want to get a deal done, he wants to get a deal done, everybody has said that," Tomlin said. "Now it's just about the negotiators getting into a room and doing what it is they need to do. I'm excited and hopeful. Hopefully we'll have some exciting news before Monday."


Tomlin expressed a similar sentiment prior to last year's deadline, when the Steelers failed to sign Bell. The running back didn't report until training camp ended and signed his $12.12 million tag on Sept. 4.


Should Bell and the Steelers fail to come to terms this time around, he will play on this year's tag -- worth $14.5 million. Multiple media reports have Bell seeking at least $17 million annually.


--Tony Romo's admittedly early prediction of the Green Bay Packers facing the Jacksonville Jaguars in Super Bowl LIII drew a response from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.


The NFL's official Instagram account posted a photo of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey with the prediction of Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback turned CBS analyst.


Brady, who is a five-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, opted to chime in on Instagram.


"We will see tony, we will see !" the 40-year-old Brady wrote.


Romo picked the Jaguars in part because they "had the Patriots on the ropes" in the AFC Championship Game. With that said, Romo was quick to praise the Patriots for their consistency over the years.


"You can never count out New England," Romo said. "As long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are breathing, the easy pick is them."


--Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles signed a one-year, $1.415 million contract extension in May. That appears to be his last NFL deal as he announced his decision to retire after the 2018 season.


In a blog post, the 35-year-old Sproles said he plans to play just one more NFL season. He had planned to make 2017 his final season but he tore his ACL in Week 3 so he decided to return for 2018.


"I feel like I left a lot out there, and I couldn't let my career end like that," Sproles wrote in the post.


"I'm excited to come back and I am even more excited to come back to the defending Super Bowl champion, Eagles," Sproles wrote. "We have something special here with the team, the fans, and the city. We made history bringing the first Lombardi trophy to Philly and now we want to go back-to-back."


--Cleveland Browns defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah is ready to take the next step in his development, according to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.


"I'm so excited to see how well (Ogbah's) doing out here this year," Williams said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He's night and day more relaxed and doing things more instinctively, not overthinking and not as afraid to make a mistake as he was last year because we moved him into a new position. Knock on wood, staying healthy, he's going to really stand out this year."


Ogbah, a second-round pick in 2016, had 29 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in 10 games last season before a broken foot landed him on injured reserve.


The 24-year-old will also have another year under his belt with fellow defensive end Myles Garrett, who was the top overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.


--Doug Pederson took the high road and turned a negative into a positive when addressing former New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo's comments about the Philadelphia Eagles' chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions.


McAdoo lobbied the following shot last week to the New York Post:


"I think Philly, how much success has Philly had?" McAdoo said. "I think they're gonna have a hard time handling success."


While Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills quickly dismissed McAdoo's words as "irrelevant," the Philadelphia coach took a different approach.


"I think there's a point there," Pederson said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. "I mean, quite honestly, complacency can set in. You can skip an OTA, you can maybe skip a workout or whatever. But what I saw from our players was not that. Our players showed up for OTAs, they spent time getting themselves ready.


"... It is my job to make sure they don't get complacent and we stay hungry and there is an edge. And we're going to get everybody's best each week and that's what we want. I think anybody that plays on Sunday wants to play the best.


"So now we've got the targets on our backs and we're going to embrace that and get ready this training camp and we are going to try to defend. But at the same time, we're going to take it one week at a time and build the season just like we did last year."


--Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles may be willing to take less money in the future so the team can fill other needs to make the team better, he recently said in an interview.


Bortles could have played out his $19 million fifth-year option for this season but instead signed a three-year, $54 deal a month after helping the Jaguars reach the AFC championship game. The deal includes $26.5 million guaranteed over the first two years.


Bortles said he preferred the security of the multi-year deal because he did not "really care about how much money" was in the one-year option.


Bortles praised New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for taking less money over the years to free up resources to improve other areas of the team. Bortles hinted he may do the same in the future.


"I think definitely the way the Tom has done it is the way to try to model," Bortles recently told Sirius XM NFL Radio. "Having guys and putting pieces around him was definitely something. When you take up a ton of money you kind of limit your team and who they can help you out with and put around you. I'm not naive enough to say that we don't need a run game. We also need a good defense, we need good receivers, we need all these pieces. You can't play as a quarterback and do it yourself so I'm more than willing to take less money than somebody else might in my position to put good guys around us."


--Arizona Cardinals All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson has praised rookie quarterback Josh Rosen, but believes veteran Sam Bradford should still be the starter.


Earlier this month, Peterson said he has been very impressed with Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft. However, Bradford signed a one-year, $20 million contract with the Cardinals in March and is the presumed starter.


Peterson told NFL Network recently that he agreed the veteran should get the starting nod.


"Well, right now I'd probably take Sam due to his experience," Peterson said. "Due to some of the records that he has in the league. Because when Sam is healthy and is on the field and has talent around him, he's a top-10 quarterback."


The 30-year-old Bradford has a lengthy injury history, appearing in only two games with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. He has played 80 of a possible 112 regular-season games. If he can stay on the field, the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick in 2010 is expected to be under center in Week 1.


--Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has routinely shown a soft spot in his heart for children.


Kelce surprised 10 kids at his first annual Elite Pro Skills Camp on Saturday with a free shopping spree at DICK'S Sporting Goods.


"It's something that my mother taught me," the 28-year-old Kelce said Saturday of the gesture, per the Kansas City Star.


Kelce's charity, Eighty-Seven & Running, shared some photos from the experience over social media. Per its Twitter account, Eight-Seven & Running is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to empower disadvantaged youth to cultivate their talents and achieve success.


The generosity is nothing new for Kelce, who hosted a private shopping experience for 50 underserved children in December 2016 at a JC Penney in Independence, Mo.


--Odell Beckham Jr. is recognized wherever he travels, due in large part to his colorful wardrobe and daring sense of style.


Perhaps it comes as little surprise that the New York Giants wide receiver was named Sports Illustrated's Most Fashionable Athlete of 2018, which will be on newsstands Monday.


"Everybody was getting their suits and I was wondering, what can I do to be different?" the 25-year-old Beckham told Sports Illustrated. "That blazer might have been a size too big at the time, but I just had to have it. To me, it was the hottest thing in the world."


Beckham made the list during its inaugural issue in 2016. The three-time Pro Bowl selection won the "Swag" Award last year.


New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady also made the "Fashionable 50" list, despite receiving questionable reviews from several of his peers for wearing an all-black suit with elaborate designs on the lapels at a recent Met Gala.


--Former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson is best known for two memorable plays during his NFL career.

Although he famously fell short of the goal line during the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV, Dyson wasn't denied in his doctoral pursuit recently -- and he couldn't be happier.


"A lot of people have looked at me crazy when I've said this, but to me this is a lot greater accomplishment than being drafted in the first round, than my football career," the 43-year-old Dyson told The Tennessean. "... I went to school so I could play sports. I had to be eligible. I didn't take education nearly as seriously as I should have and as I do as an adult. So this was greater because I've never considered myself academic. ...


"Athletically, I was blessed with some gifts and I enhanced those skills. Until a few years ago, I never wanted to do anything like this. That's why it's my greatest personal accomplishment. It's my Mount Everest."


Dyson's two-year climb ended in him claiming a doctorate in education in leadership and professional practice. He also has two master's degrees from Trevecca, in education and leadership.

 

[CNOTES]

Wagers to Watch - Week 1
July 17, 2018


Early NFL week 1 odds roundup: Top Betting Lines


The opening week of the NFL season is still about a month and a half away, but with the lines for Week 1 are already up at YouWager.eu, which means that it might be time to start thinking about getting some wagers on. No matter what people think, it is never too early to bet on football, so keep in mind that the odds posted now may well be the best that you get for the games you like.


The odds will start to shift, and not necessarily in your favor, once preseason begins and injuries and other issues start to taint some teams that you may otherwise have liked.


Let’s take a quick look ahead to Week 1 to see what games & odds you should start betting right now.


Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (OVER 46 ½)


The opening game of the new season looks as though it might well be a good one. The defending Super Bowl champions are not being given an easy game after they hoist their championship banner, as they are going against what is potentially the best offense in football. The Eagles are going to want to put on a show in their first game back home after being crowned, while the Falcons will know that they are going to need to put some points on the board to get out of Philly with a win. I think we could well be in shootout territory here, which is why I really like the OVER.


Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) at Cleveland Browns


The Pittsburgh Steelers have absolutely owned the Cleveland Browns over the past few seasons, going 9-1 SU in their last 10 meetings. Things are not quite so concrete ATS, though, as the Steelers are just 5-4-1 there, which may lead you to believe that the Browns can keep this one close. If you look at those last 10 games, though, you will see that the Steelers have outscored the Browns by an average of over 7 PPG, which is why I believe the 6-point spread here is a decent pick at good odds. Yes, the Browns have made some big moves, but it is still going to take time for this group to gel, assuming they even do.


Tennessee Titans (-1 ½) at Miami Dolphins


2017 was a breakthrough year for the Tennessee Titans, as they made it to the playoffs and managed to win a game there. I think that this team is ready to take another step forward this season, and they may end up being your eventual AFC South winners. They have a tricky opening day game against the Dolphins on the road, but you have to wonder what we are going to get out of Miami this season. They are coming off a 6-win season and don’t look to have done much to improve. Games between these two are traditionally tight, but I think the Titans can win and cover this small spread.


Kansas City Chiefs (+3) at LA Chargers


Yes, there are some doubts about the Chiefs this season given that they will have a young QB starting under center from day 1. There are sure to be some mistakes made along the way, but the general consensus on Patrick Mahomes is that he has what it takes to be a solid starting QB in the NFL. I am betting that we find that out early on, as I like the Chiefs to head into LA and get the win. KC are 8-2 against the Chargers in their last 10 meetings, outscoring them by an average of around 10 PPG.

 

[CNOTES]

Handicapping 49ers (8.5)
July 17, 2018


The team with the most hype surrounding them heading into the 2018 NFL regular season is definitely the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers won their last five games a year ago and they look to be even better this season.


San Francisco will have a full season with Jimmy Garoppolo under center and the 49ers went out and added big time free agents in Richard Sherman and Jerick McKinnon. They also got Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first round of the NFL Draft. Expectations are sky high for the 49ers this season.


Let’s look at the win total for the 49ers, their schedule for the 2018 regular season and our win total prediction.


San Francisco 49ers 2018 Regular Season Win Total
Over 8.5 (-110)
Under 8.5 (-120)


San Francisco 49ers 2018 Schedule Analysis


Sept. 9, at Minnesota


The opener for the 49ers is a difficult one, as the Vikings have a tough defense. What might help San Francisco’s cause is that this will be the first regular season game for Kirk Cousins with the Vikings. It is also a bit of a revenge game for McKinnon who plays against his former team.


Sept. 16, vs. Detroit
The 49ers should be able to handle the Lions, as it may take new head coach Matt Patricia some time to get everyone on the same page in Detroit.


Sept. 23, at Kansas City
The early season schedule is definitely difficult for the 49ers, as they have to travel to take on Kansas City in Week 3. The Chiefs have a new starting quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, but winning at Arrowhead is never easy.


Sept. 30, at L.A. Chargers
The Chargers don’t have much of a home field edge, so there may be as many San Francisco fans in the stands for this one as Charger fans. This is a winnable road game for the 49ers.

Oct. 7, vs. Arizona
The Cardinals have a new quarterback in Sam Bradford and a healthy David Johnson, so this may not be an easy home game, but it is one that the 49ers need to win.


Oct. 15, at Green Bay
This is a Monday night contest and it figures to be a shootout between Garoppolo and Rodgers. It is not out of the question that the 49ers could find a way to win this one.


Oct. 21, vs. L.A. Rams
This is a Sunday night game and a huge one for the 49ers, as the Rams are considered the team to beat in the NFC West. The winner of this one will likely take the early lead in the division.


Oct. 28, at Arizona
This is not a sure win for the 49ers, as they have lost their two at Arizona, both by three points. If the 49ers are serious division contenders, they simply have to win games like this on the road.


Nov. 1, vs. Oakland
This will be a Thursday night game and it should be an interesting one with Shanahan facing his former mentor Jon Gruden.


Nov. 12, vs. N.Y. Giants
This is another Monday night game for the 49ers and they get some extra time to prepare. The 49ers should be able to control this game throughout and get the home win.


November 19 – BYE


Nov. 25, at Tampa Bay
The 49ers get a lot of time to prepare for this one and that should help them, as they travel to the East Coast. The 49ers have only played the Bucs in Tampa once in the last 14 years.


Dec. 2, at Seattle
This is a Sunday night game and huge one for Richard Sherman as he faces his former team for the first time. The Seahawks are not the power they once were and this is a winnable road game for San Francisco.


Dec. 9, vs. Denver
This is a letdown spot for the 49ers after facing the Seahawks, and this year’s Denver team should be much better with Case Keenum under center.


Dec. 16, vs. Seattle
This will be the second matchup in four weeks between the 49ers and Seahawks. The Seahawks had won nine straight in this series before the December 2nd game.


Dec. 23, vs. Chicago
This will be the fifth straight season these teams have played and it has been even, with each team winning twice. This should be a home win for the 49ers, as they are farther along than the Bears.


Dec. 30, at L.A. Rams
The regular season finale could be a huge one, as these two teams are expected to battle for the NFC West this season.


2018 San Francisco 49ers Win Total Prediction


There is no question the 49ers are going to be a team to watch this season and they may very well be good enough to win the NFC West. The schedule is difficult and the win total is high at 8.5, but the 49ers have the look of a playoff team in 2018 and that means they should win at least nine games and go over their win total.

 

[CNOTES]

Futures Outlook - AFC East
July 17, 2018


NFL Futures – Odds To Win AFC East


The AFC East has been owned by the New England Patriots over the last nearly two decades and 2018 doesn’t appear to be any different. There are questions surrounding the Pats, mainly the age of Tom Brady and the loss of Julian Edelman for the first quarter of the season. But even that isn’t enough to deter oddsmakers from setting the Pats as a heavy favorite. In fact, New England is the heaviest favorite at -680 to win any division in the NFL.


The Pats have won the East for a league record nine straight seasons and 15 times in 17 seasons since Brady became the starter. We can throw away the 2008 campaign when Brady went down in the opener with a knee injury and the Pats finished second. That means the duo of Brady and Bill Belichick were denied the division crown just one time. That’s a remarkable run. The Pats could slip to nine or 10 wins and still claim the division with a group of rebuilding teams.


2018 AFC East Odds


New England Patriots -680
Miami Dolphins +845
Buffalo Bills +1400
New York Jets +1500

Division Breakdown


Are the Pats really worth taking a wager on? That’s the big question. Bettors will have to put down a good chunk to see a worthwhile return, but it will likely pay off for the 10th season in a row. New England’s dominance starts within the division where the Pats have won nine of the last 10 games against their AFC East foes. Over the last five seasons they are 22-8 against the Jets, Bills and Dolphins with Buffalo and New York winning just two games in that time.


New England is easily the best team in the division heading into 2018, but that will change soon. Brady will be 41 by the time the season starts and he looked old and slow in the Pats’ Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia in February. But despite that unusual showing, Brady had another MVP season, throwing for a league-best 4,577 yards with 32 touchdowns. He threw the most passes in the NFL last season and was intercepted only eight times.


There will be some changes to the roster in 2018. Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks are gone and Edelman will miss the first four games due to a suspension. That leaves holes in the receiving corps. But it also opens up Rob Gronkowksi to have a big season. It doesn’t seem to matter who the Patriots are missing, Belichick is a master at bringing in players to fill needs. He’s done it his entire career and who doesn’t want to play for a team that contends every season?


We thought Brady was done last year, and the year before that. But he keeps coming back for more. As long as he’s running the offense, there are no problems. The Pats led the NFL in total yards last season while finishing second in scoring. They’ve finished among the top-four in points every year since 2010 twice leading the NFL. Defense was an issue in 2018. The Pats ranked 29th in yards allowed, but they stiffened when it mattered, giving up 18.5 points per game to place fifth in the league.


The battle is for second place in the division with the Dolphins getting the early edge at +845. The return of Ryan Tannehill plays a part in that, but the Fins lost some important pieces to their offense. Jay Ajayi, who was leading the team in rushing, was dealt during last season, and the NFL’s leader in receptions Jarvis Landry was traded to Cleveland this offseason. The defense lost Ndamukong Suh and it’s hard to imagine the Dolphins competing, despite the moves that improved team chemistry.


It was a season fans in Buffalo have waited nearly two decades for. The Bills ended the longest active playoff drought by qualifying for the playoffs last season for the first time since the 1999 season. It didn’t last long with an excruciating 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in the wild card game. And it’s hard to argue that the Bills are better heading into 2018. Tyrod Taylor was traded away and A.J. McCarron is the new starter, at least for now, keeping the seat warm for Josh Allen. Buffalo was arguably one of the worst playoff teams and the cloud surrounding LeSean McCoy could be a factor in their expected return to non-playoff combatant in 2018.


The Jets are the longshot at +1500 and they showed competitiveness that few expected last season. With the No. 3 overall pick in the draft the Jets landed what many believe is their franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold. Gang Green hasn’t had one of those since the days of Joe Willie Namath in the early years of the franchise and Todd Bowles isn’t in a hurry to rush the youngster. That means the Jets are at least a year away from contending, but they could finish second if things go their way.

 

[CNOTES]

Fade Alert - Bills
July 17, 2018


A strange thing happened to the Buffalo Bills last season on their attempt to to miss the playoffs for an 18th straight year.


They made it.


They gave it their best not to make it tanking by trading down from 10th to 27th in the draft, dealing Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby - two of their best players - for draft picks and letting Stephon Gilmore walk to the Patriots.


Yet the Bills snuck into the playoffs by virtue of the fourth tiebreaker when the Bengals scored on a 49-yard pass from Andy Dalton to Tyler Boyd with 44 seconds left to beat the Ravens, 31-27, in Week 17. That play eliminated Baltimore and put Buffalo in the postseason.


Buffalo was outscored by 57 points last season. The Bills were fortunate going 6-2 in one-score games and that it was an overall down year in the AFC. The Chargers, Ravens, Texans, Broncos and Colts all figure to perform better this year.


The Bills figure to perform worse because of a downgrade at quarterback from Tyrod Taylor to either A.J. McCarron, or rookie Josh Allen, losing perhaps their three best offensive linemen, the expected continued downward trend of LeSean McCoy - if he's not suspended - and perhaps the league's most brutal first-half schedule.


McCarron is immobile and unproven far more suited to being a backup than starter. The Bills are really going to miss Taylor's legs and toughness with offensive left tackle Cordy Glenn going to the Bengals, center Eric Wood retiring and left guard Richie Incognito in retirement, too, at least for now. Buffalo also has one of the worst group of wide receivers in the league.


McCoy is 30. His 3.9 rushing average per carry was the lowest of his nine-year NFL career. He's looking at defenses stacked against the run and nearly a new offensive line.


Buffalo had a below average defense last season ranking 18th in points allowed and 26th in yards given up. So the Bills' defense isn't nearly equipped to carry a weak offense.


Then there's the schedule. The Bills open up with a road game against the Ravens. Then host the Chargers, who beat them by 30 points last year. That's followed by consecutive road games against the Vikings and Packers.


Buffalo is home to the Titans in Week 5. But then are away matchups against the Texans and Colts. If you count the final preseason game against the Bears in Chicago, Buffalo will have played six of eight games on the road since Aug. 30. The Bills are home in Week 8 - but that's against the Patriots. So it's entirely realistic to project the Bills to be 1-7, if not 0-8.


If the Bills fall out of contention, they probably would turn to Allen, who completed just 56 percent of his throws in college and was intercepted in 21 of his last 25 games. He would be a disaster if he had to start as a rookie. The Bills are used to disasters having started Nathan Peterman against the Chargers last year. Peterman lasted a half having thrown five interceptions and trailing, 37-7, before mercifully being pulled. I have to wonder just how much defensive-minded coach Sean McDermott knows about offense with his decision to bench Taylor for Peterman in that game.


I'm not sure how good of a coach McDermott is right now. I do know this: The deck is stacked against him. These Bills aren't winning seven games.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Bell likely to skip training camp
July 17, 2018


Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell plans to repeat last year's script by skipping training camp before reporting ahead of the season opener, his agent said on Tuesday.


"Barring something exceptional ... that is correct," agent Adisa Bakari said on Sirius XM NFL Radio after being asked if Bell plans to follow his steps from last year. Bell has been unable to reach a long-term deal with the Steelers after receiving the franchise tag in consecutive offseasons.


The Steelers report to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., for training camp on July 25. They open their season on Sept. 9 against the AFC North-rival Browns in Cleveland.


Bell is set to make $14.5 million this season under the franchise tag. He will become a free agent after this season.


"His intention was to retire as a Steeler," Bakari told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "But now that there's no deal, the practical reality is this now likely will be Le'Veon's last season as a Steeler."


Bell, who signed on Sept. 4 last year, struggled to get going in the early weeks of the 2017 season before finding his stride. In last season's Sept. 10 opener against the Cleveland Browns, Bell had 10 carries for 32 yards and three receptions for 15 yards in the Steelers' 21-18 victory.


The 26-year-old was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2017, when he led the NFL in regular-season carries with 321 while gaining 1,291 rushing yards. He also had 85 receptions for 655 yards.


--Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly will undergo an unexpected checkup after "something came up" in his recovery from surgery that removed oral cancer and reconstructed his upper jaw.


Kelly said the upcoming visit to New York will occur during the second week of August.


"I'm not sure what's going on," Kelly said Tuesday at his football clinic for children at St. John Fisher College, per ESPN. "I have some things that I want to have looked at, and then we'll go from there. I don't know whether I'm going to be here for two days, four days or in and out. And then hopefully I pray when September has rolled around that I can finally bite into a piece of meat and not soup every day."


Kelly underwent planned follow-up surgery on his upper jaw in June in preparation for permanent dentures to be inserted in September.


The 58-year-old announced in March that scans showed evidence of cancer returning in his upper jaw.


Kelly was diagnosed with cancer in his jaw in 2013 and underwent surgery. After doctors determined the cancer had spread to his nasal cavities, he underwent additional treatments and had another surgery in March 2014.


--Even though television ratings for NFL games were down last year, the league's revenue was up.


Each of the league's 32 teams took in $255 million in national revenues in 2017, according to a report by ESPN's Darren Rovell. That adds up to $8.16 billion for the entire league, and that is a 4.9 percent increase over 2016.


Financial figures were revealed Monday by the Green Bay Packers, a team that is a public company.


National revenue comes from a variety of sources, including the league's TV deals with NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN and DirecTV, as well as licensing and merchandise revenues. The television contracts make up most of that total revenue.


That money is divided evenly among the 32 teams.


--One of football's most famous voices could be returning to the broadcast booth but this time on the radio side.


According to a report in the Las Vegas *************** on Tuesday, Brent Musberger agreed to a three-year deal to serve as the Oakland Raiders radio play-to-play.


Citing two sources, the newspaper said the move could be made official later this week.


The final year of the deal is 2020 when the Raiders are slated to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas.


--Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim was suspended for five weeks after pleading guilty to extreme DUI, the team announced Tuesday.


Keim was arrested July 4 in Chandler, Ariz. and his blood-alcohol content was .19.


He also was fined $200,000 and the team said it will donate the money to the Arizona chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.


"Once again, I apologize to everyone who has been negatively impacted by my actions and incredibly poor judgment, in particular the Cardinals, our fans and my family," Keim said in a statement released by the team. "I fully deserve and accept the punishment that has been issued. My goal is to do everything I can to grow from this personally and help others learn from my inexcusable behavior."


--Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones attended quarterback Matt Ryan's passing camp, per rookie Calvin Ridley's Snapchat post.


Ridley, who was the 26th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, posted a picture of an 11-person group that included Jones. In addition to Ridley, Jones and Ryan, tight ends Austin Hooper and Eric Saubert, wide receivers Justin Hardy, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Hall, Reggie Davis, rookie Russell Gage and assistant equipment manager Kenny Osuwah are in the photo that has since been posted by the team.


Jones elected against participating in the Falcons' voluntary offseason program and did not attend the team's mandatory minicamp in a bid to rework his contract. The five-time Pro Bowl wideout is set to make $10.5 million in 2018 in the third season of a five-year, $71.25 contract extension he signed in 2015.


--Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has committed to play in his 15th season in 2018.


While Fitzgerald hasn't decided on 2019 and beyond, the 11-time Pro Bowl selection did reveal he'd only play for the Cardinals if he does suit up.


"If I'm not playing in Arizona, I won't be playing anywhere," Fitzgerald said, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I've built a good life for myself down there. Playing in the same place for 15 years is a true blessing."


Fitzgerald, who reportedly mulled retirement the past two seasons, said in January that he'd play for as long as he can perform at high level.


--Disenchanted Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas has made it known that he's interested in playing for the Dallas Cowboys and he was at it again Monday.


In an Instagram post on Monday, he said, "Always been the underdog ain't nothing new. Extend ... if you don't want me let's make a trade happen. I understand it's a bizz."


Thomas began following the Cowboys' official Instagram account just recently. That comes after he told Dallas coach Jason Garrett after the Seahawks' win over the Cowboys last year that when Seattle "kicks him to the curb, please, the Cowboys, come get em."


Thomas skipped the Seahawks' mandatory minicamp in June. He is demanding a contract extension for a trade. In 2018, he will make $8.5 million during the final year of his contract with the Seahawks.


--Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Taven Bryan agreed to a four-year contract worth $10.2 million with a $5.5 million signing bonus, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday.


The contract also includes a team option for a fifth year on Bryan, who was the 29th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. The 22-year-old is expected to join the Jaguars rookies at training camp on Wednesday.


Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com wrote the following of the 6-foot-5, 291-pound defensive tackle heading into the draft:


"One of the most gifted interior players in this draft class, Bryan has outstanding athleticism and upper body power, but is currently a liability vs. the run and needs to turn his splash plays into consistency."


--Tom Stephens, who was an original member of the Boston Patriots, has died. He was 82.


The New England Patriots said in a release on Tuesday that Stephens passed away while surrounded by loved ones at his home last Thursday in Naples, Fla. No cause of death was given for Stephens by the team.


Selected in the 11th round by the Baltimore Colts in the 1959 NFL Draft, Stephens signed with the then-Boston Patriots of the AFL for their inaugural season in 1960. He appeared in 49 games over five seasons as both a defensive back and tight end, recording 41 receptions for 506 yards and five touchdowns.


--Wide receiver Brandin Cooks has reached agreement with the Los Angeles Rams on a five-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.


The extension puts Cooks under contract through the 2023 season.


Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported the extension is worth $80 million. It means Cooks is on the books for $88 million over six years with the Rams,


"Brandin Cooks has shown himself to be a class act on and off the field since the first day he joined our team," Rams head coach Sean McVay said. "He's a proven professional in this league and signing him to a long-term contract was always our goal. We're excited to keep Brandin in a Rams uniform through 2023."


Los Angeles acquired Cooks during this offseason. The Rams traded their 2018 first-round selection (No. 23 overall) and sixth-round selection (No. 198 overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for Cooks and a fourth-round pick (No. 136 overall).


--Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has been reinstated by the NFL after sitting out last season because of a substance-abuse policy violation, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.

Gregory's lawyer, Daniel Moskowitz, told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that the NFL did not oppose Gregory's petition to be reinstated.


"I've never been more proud of any individual in my life," Moskowitz said. "I'm very excited for Randy and his daughter and the rest of his family."


Gregory's most recent game was the final game of the 2016 regular season. He played in just two games that season and recorded one sack with nine total tackles. Gregory played in 12 games with no starts in 2015 as a rookie, and he had 11 total tackles and no sacks that season.


--The Carolina Panthers announced Richard Rodgers as the secondary coach on Tuesday in the wake of former defensive backs coach Curtis Fuller resigning for inappropriate conduct.


Fuller resigned May 4 amid complaints about inappropriate workplace conduct. The Charlotte Observer reported that Fuller, 39, who joined the Panthers as a coaching assistant in 2013, sent inappropriate texts and emails to an unknown number of female staff members.


Rodgers is in his seventh season with the Panthers and was the assistant defensive backs coach since 2015 after initially joining the team as a special teams' assistant in 2012.


Last season, seven of Carolina's nine interceptions in the final nine weeks were from its secondary, helping the Panthers accumulate the league's third-best turnover differential at plus-eight. Since 2015, Carolina's 51 interceptions are second in the NFL.

 

[CNOTES]

Musberger agrees to Raiders radio deal
July 17, 2018


One of football's most famous voices could be returning to the broadcast booth but this time on the radio side.


According to a report in the Las Vegas *************** on Tuesday, Brent Musberger agreed to a three-year deal to serve as the Oakland Raiders radio play-to-play.


Citing two sources, the newspaper said the move could be made official later this week.


The final year of the deal is 2020 when the Raiders are slated to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas.


Oakland's current radio voice is Greg Papa, who might not be aware of the change according to the newspaper. Papa has been the Raiders' play-by-play man since 1993 after taking over for Bill King.


Musberger, 79, currently writes a weekly sports betting column for the *************** and helped launch the VSIN (Vegas Stats and Information Network) after retiring from a 27-year broadcasting career with ABC and ESPN. With the legalization of sports betting in several states, content from the service are published in various newspapers.


Before his stint with ABC and ESPN, he hosted "NFL Today" from 1975 to 1989 on CBS. where he was best known for his catchphrase "You are looking live". At CBS, he also did play-by-play for the NBA finals, college basketball, college football and the Belmont Stakes.


After leaving CBS in 1990, he was the halftime host of Monday Night Football on ABC from 1990 to 1995.