Cnotes 2017 NFL camp openings

[CNOTES]

Houston Texans Outlook
August 1, 2017


Shocker! O’Brien Likes His New Rookie Quarterback


In what can only amount to jaw dropping news, head coach Bill O’Brien of the Houston Texans showered praise on rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson. “He’s better than any other rookie quarterback I’ve been around,” said O’Brien. That’s high praise coming from a guy who’s been around highly touted rookies like Ryan Mallet.


The running gag in the NFL is that if the Houston Texans like a quarterback, then he can’t possibly be that good. This is a team that invested in Matt Schaub, Sage Rosenfels, T.J. Yates, Matt Leinart, Case Keenum, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Hoyer, Tom Savage and Brock Osweiler. Their track record for grading NFL quarterbacks is simply awful. You’d expect one of those guys to be at least serviceable, right?


That’s why it’s impossible to take O’Brien’s praise of Watson seriously. The guy’s a totally fine coach. He has a great team, and Watson is a super exciting talent. But assessing and developing quarterback talent haven’t been strength of this coaching staff (or the coach’s staff). So if you’re looking at the NFL futures markets with BetOnline.ag it’s very hard to figure out exactly where to pin your money when it comes to the Houston Texans.


The quarterback position is truthfully the only thing they’re actually missing. They were the top-ranked defence in terms of total yards allowed last season, and didn’t have any huge gaps to fill in that department. Where they struggled is with a quarterback, and the general hope is that Watson just has to be decent and that fixes everything. Right? Let’s dive a little deeper.


HOUSTON TEXANS REGULAR SEASON WIN TOTAL – 8 ½ GAMES (O/U -110)


In 2016, the Houston Texans stumbled to a 9-7 SU and 6-9-1 ATS record that saw them beat the Raiders (without Derek Carr) and then get obliterated by the New England Patriots. No matter which quarterback is at the helm, this sort of record seems to be their destiny. The Texans have finished 9-7 SU for the last three years straight.


It’s worth highlighting that they went 9-7 SU despite having Brock Osweiler on the field, and J.J. Watt of of it. So even if they get menial play out of the quarterback position, they are probably going to trip in to a 9-7 SU record. The main reason you bet the UNDER is because they got very, very lucky in some games last year including a 12-10 win over Cincinnati in Week 16 and a 20-13 win over Detroit in Week 8.


You can check out all the NFL regular season win totals at BetOnline.ag by clicking here.


NFL FINAL STANDINGS – HOUSTON +185 TO WIN AFC SOUTH


One of the standard markets in the NFL futures is division winners, but BetOnline.ag takes it a step further with NFL Final Standings. You can specifically bet on where the Texans will finish in the AFC South. Right now, they’re poised to win the division according to the oddsmakers.


Houston Texans Final Standings in AFC South
1st (+185)
2nd (+210)
3rd (+260)
4th (+450)


As always, no bet really lives in a vacuum. The Indianapolis Colts have seemingly stepped sideways while the Tennessee Titans are also emerging as a real threat to take the division with +215 to odds to finish first. The only team the oddsmakers are set on is the always-awful Jacksonville Jaguars, who are -110 favorites to finish dead last in the division.


So where do you fall on Houston?


DESHAUN WATSON IS NOT A SAVIOUR


We’ve seen rookie quarterbacks be amazing in their first season. Dak Prescott is a prime example of a player in a prime situation, but he also came from a program that ran a pro-style offence. Deshaun Watson did not, and that adjustment can be a massive one. Watson threw 17 interceptions in his last year at Clemson which should serve as a red flag. Those picks came because he was asked to run less in order to preserve his health for the important games.


Watson is an incredible athlete, which is a given. But O’Brien runs a traditional NFL offence that is predicated on a pocket passer. That is not Watson’s strength. He’s most hostile when he’s agile, and lobbing up passes to a freakishly large target like Clemson’s Mike Williams (now a Charger) bailed Watson out of some spotty throws. Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins need accurate gunslingers.


Now, mind you, scouting reports on Watson in general are a mixed bag and he doesn’t come in with the same sort of hype that guys like Newton, Mariota and Winston did. A lot of people believe that Houston reached for him in the first round, especially considering that they traded two first-round picks to get him.


There’s always a chance that Watson is a breakout star. But Houston of all places has a notoriously bad record of overpaying for under-qualified quarterbacks. If all of your NFL futures bets regarding the Texans are hinging on Watson becoming the second coming of Dak Prescott, then you’re taking a much bigger gamble than you think.

 

[CNOTES]

As Brady turns 40, some other old athletes for the ages
August 2, 2017


Tom Brady is celebrating his 40th birthday like no one before him.


Having won a fifth NFL championship ring and a fourth Super Bowl MVP at the age of 39, the New England Patriots quarterback has shown no signs of aging even as he inevitably gets older. He'll turn 40 on Wednesday, and fans usually celebrate by singing ''Happy Birthday'' to him during training camp.


Brady just keeps on going.


Golfers such as Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin won majors in their 40s. Bill Shoemaker won the Kentucky Derby at 54. George Foreman was heavyweight champion at 45. But for team sports - especially at a position as important as NFL quarterback - it has been a while since an athlete has been this good this late in life.


Here are some of the active fortysomethings in sports, along with all-time greats whose careers stretched into a fifth decade.


BASEBALL

Bartolo Colon, 44, is the oldest active player in the majors. But he is 2-9 with a 7.70 ERA.


Ichiro Suzuki, five months younger, is a reserve outfielder for Miami. Carlos Beltran is a role player at 40, but for the best team in the AL.


None of them is going to make anyone forget Satchel Paige, who, because of the color barrier, didn't reach the majors until he was 41. He stuck around for five seasons, and then made a one-shot appearance at the age of 58. Pete Rose led the majors in hits at 40, played every game the next year and broke the career hits record at the age of 44.


Honorable mention: Carlton Fisk, who was an All-Star at 43 and played until he was 45 - as a catcher, the most grueling position on the field.


BASKETBALL

When you're 39, like Manu Ginobili, every game can be your last. So San Antonio fans gave him a huge cheer when he was pulled from the playoff game against Golden State that eliminated the Spurs from the Western Conference finals.


''It felt like they wanted me to retire,'' Ginobili said with a smile. ''Like they were giving me sort of a celebration night. And of course, I'm getting closer and closer.''


But Ginobili, who turned 40 a week before Brady, is coming back for a 16th season with his only NBA team. Vince Carter, already 40, will be back with his seventh team.


They'll have to keep it up to catch Hall of Famers Robert Parish, who played well after his 43rd birthday, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who started every game of his final season at the age of 42.


HOCKEY

Jaromir Jagr, 45, is looking for a team after finishing his 24th pro season with the Florida Panthers, when he played every game and scored 16 goals with 30 assists. The previous year, he was awarded the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and sportsmanship.


But the king of longevity on the ice is Gordie Howe.


Mr. Hockey finished in the top 10 of the NHL MVP voting every year until he turned 41. He took one more spin around the league, scoring 23 goals, and then took a few years off before a comeback with the World Hockey Association that brought him to the age of 50.


He made another comeback in the NHL at 51, playing with his sons Mark and Marty on the Hartford Whalers and scoring 15 goals while appearing in 80 games.


In 1997, he made a cameo with the Detroit Vipers at the age of 69 - making him the only hockey pro to play in six decades.

 

[CNOTES]

Don't look for Dak, Zeke, Carson or other stars for HOF game
August 2, 2017


CANTON, Ohio (AP) �� Don't look for too many stars on the field Thursday night when the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals kick off the NFL preseason in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game.


Don't look for many starters, either.


For those who believe four preseason games are too many, seeing their team play in Canton isn't a welcome sight. Both coaches, Jason Garrett for Dallas and Bruce Arians for Arizona, will covet getting an extra chance to watch their rookies and fringe guys compete. That's it.


As for the Dak Prescotts, Jason Wittens and Ezekiel Elliotts from Big D, forget it. Same for Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson for the Cardinals.


"This will be about the young guys," Arians says, although top draft choice Haason Reddick of Temple , who is making a switch from defensive end to linebacker, will see limited action, too. He "is not going to play a ton," Arians said.


Both teams are heading to Ohio from out west, with Dallas holding early training camp in Oxnard, California. The reason they were chosen for the game is simple: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner will be inducted into the hall on Saturday night. Fitzgerald plans to stay for the ceremonies, as does Witten.


Some things to look for as the Hall of Fame game switches from its usual weekend spot to Thursday night on NBC.


BACK IN THE SADDLE: Kellen Moore is likely to see his first action since the end of the 2015 season with the Cowboys, when he made his first two career starts. He made his NFL regular-season debut off the bench that season, his fourth year in the league. It was mop-up duty back then, with Dallas finishing a 4-12 season ruined by Tony Romo's twice-broken left collarbone.


Moore broke his right ankle as Romo's backup in training camp last year, the first domino to fall in Prescott's path to the starting job. Romo's back injury last preseason cleared the way for Prescott. Moore is healthy again, and a backup again - this time to the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

NOT IN THE SADDLE: Not only will Palmer, coming off a mediocre season, be sitting out, so will his backup, Drew Stanton. The quarterbacking duties will fall mostly to journeyman Blaine Gabbert, seeking a spot in Arizona after supplanting Colin Kaepernick as San Francisco's starter last year. With the 49ers going 2-14, Gabbert didn't exactly light up the Golden Gate Bridge.

DEBUT FOR TWO? While it's unclear how the defensive rotation will work, two young defensive ends are eagerly awaiting their NFL debuts: Dallas rookie first-round pick Taco Charlton and second-year player Charles Tapper. A third-round pick last year, Tapper missed his rookie season, preseason included, with a back injury. Improving the pass rush is a high priority for Dallas, and these two prospects are supposed to be part of the solution.

FIELD IS READY: Last year's game was canceled when the field was unplayable , an embarrassment to the hall and league that left an empty spot on the national TV scene, too.


Hall of Fame President David Baker promises the new turf will be as good as any the Cowboys and Cardinals will play on. He said it "passed the test with the NFL's game operations folks." Baker joked that the football team and cheerleaders from McKinley High School next door had been successfully practicing on it.

 

[CNOTES]

First Coach Fired in 2017
August 2, 2017


Who Will Be First NFL Coach To Be Fired


The oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag have released an interesting NFL futures market recently. It includes betting odds for which coach is going to get fired first. For the sake of brevity, I’m only listing coaches who have odds of less than 20-to-1 to be fired during the 2017 NFL season.


First NFL Coach To Be Fired in 2017
Todd Bowles (NYJ) +550
Marvin Lewis (CIN) +550
John Fox (CHI) +600
Chuck Pagano (IND) +600
Hue Jackson (CLE) +1000
Jim Caldwell (DET) +1000
Bill O’Brien (HOU) +1400
John Harbaugh (BAL) +1400
Sean Payton (NO) +1400


That above list has nine guys on it, and the two headliners seem like strange choices. Marvin Lewis is the second longest tenured coach behind Bill Belichik, who has a comical +20000 number in this NFL futures market. It would be a shocker to see the Bengals all of a sudden lose faith in a guy they’ve stood behind since 2003. During that span, Lewis has had 10 winning seasons and is coming off just his fourth losing one after going 6-9-1 SU last year. The Bengals, like the Steelers, are not about serious turnover.


As for the Jets, they went out of their way to acquire Todd Bowles two years ago after he had served masterfully as a star defensive coordinator with Bruce Arians in Arizona. Despite the odds at BetOnline.ag, Bowles feels relatively safe. The guy who isn’t? Whomever put together the worst NFL team we’ve seen since the winless Detroit Lions. The Jets could very well go winless after jettisoning all of their useful players. None of that has to do with Bowles.


Both Chuck Pagano and John Fox seem weirdly safe for different reasons. It’s not easy finding a good head coach, and the Chicago Bears would do themselves a lot of favors surviving this season with Fox instead of blaming him for any problems. They’re in a rebuilding process after finally moving on from Jay Cutler and Fox – like Bowles with the Jets – is a very important part of that.


Pagano seems to have the undying faith of lunatic owner Jim Irsay, and if he hasn’t been fired yet he’s not getting launched towards the unemployment line anytime soon. Contracts don’t equate to job security all that much, but It’s worth noting that Irsay handed Pagano a four-year extension just last year when they went just 8-8 SU. For the record, the Colts went 8-8 SU last year as well.


Where this market actually gets interesting is in the 20-to-1 range. Jay Gruden, Adam Gase, Doug Pederson, Ben McAdoo and Mike McCarthy are the five guys that have that exact number. Of those five, I actually think McCarthy is the best bet because there have been simply too many rumblings about how predictable the Green Bay Packers seem to be getting. They took a massive leap forward at the end of the 2016 season, but before that it was utter turmoil. McCarthy is already on a shorter string than most fans imagine, and the memory of the Super Bowl he helped lead the team to is fading fast.


But let’s remember that most NFL teams don’t fire head coaches midseason. It’s become more rare. Jeff Fisher of the Los Angeles Rams was the first to be handed a pink slip in 2016, and he was quickly followed by Gus Bradley in Jacksonville, Rex Ryan in Buffalo, Chip Kelly in San Francisco and Mike McCoy in San Diego. Almost all of those firings came right at Week 17.


The reason is simple. Owners are realizing more and more that finding a new head coach is a laborious task that’s compounded by idiot general managers and team presidents. The guys who are on really thin ice are also in terrible situations, so it’s hard to drop the axe on their necks.


If you’re cranking my arm, however, the guy I’d put money on is probably Jim Caldwell. All the other guys seem too well liked, or in precarious situations that aren’t entirely their fault. Bowles is in the worst situation possible but there’s nobody on the staff really ready to take his place if he’s fired. It might not matter if the Jets just don’t think that Bowles is the guy to rebuild this wayward franchise. The fact that he has no successful experience as the man in charge doesn’t bode well for him overall.


To be clear the best way to play this market is if you’re a fan of a certain team and you absolutely hate your head coach to begin with. So If you’re in Indy and you are no longer standing by Chuck, or you’re sick and tired of watching Caldwell stare blankly in to space while the game unfolds, then fire away.


In terms of value, Bowles is still a great take at +550. He inarguably has the worst team in the league. Someone’s going to eventually take the blame for that and I don’t know if he has the credentials to fully insulate him.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Rams DT Easley (knee) out for season
August 2, 2017


Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Dominique Easley is out for the season after an MRI confirmed a torn ACL, according to multiple reports Wednesday.


The Rams confirmed that Easley will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, but did not specify the injury.


"We received word that it is going to be an injury that's going to require surgery, and he's going to be out for an extended period of time," head coach Sean McVay said on the Rams' website. "But he's a guy that's done all the things we've asked of him. And we love Dominique. We're going to embrace him."


Easley went down with a knee injury during a full scrimmage on Tuesday. The fourth-year veteran was helped off the field by two trainers and then carted to the locker room.


--The Miami Dolphins confirmed running back Jay Ajayi has been diagnosed with a concussion and ruled out of practice.


Ajayi, 24, was hit hard during Monday's full-contact practice and was escorted off the field. He will miss at least a week of drills, sources told the Miami Herald.


The 6-foot, 223-pound Ajayi led the Dolphins last season with 1,272 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games to earn his first Pro Bowl selection. He also caught 27 passes for 151 yards.


Dolphins starting safety Reshad Jones was activated off the non-football injury list and will practice for the first time since training camp opened a week ago. He tweaked his calf during personal workouts this summer.


--Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller is out indefinitely with a broken collarbone after leaving practice with the injury.


Fuller was a first-round pick in 2016 and earned a starting spot opposite DeAndre Hopkins.


Dropped passes were an issue for Fuller, but head coach Bill O'Brien said Fuller worked diligently in the offseason and was looking like a more complete receiver.


Fuller caught 47 passes for 635 yards and two touchdowns last season.


--Jacksonville Jaguars running back I'Tavius Mathers was released from a hospital, one day removed from sustaining a cervical spinal cord injury during practice.


The team announced the update on Mathers, noting that the medical staff will work with him to "decide the best course of action for his recovery." He was back at EverBank Field on Wednesday.


Jacksonville also signed third-year running back Tyler Gaffney to fill the roster spot made available after offensive lineman Branden Albert opted to retire.


Mathers, 23, was strapped to a board and carried off the practice field Tuesday following a collision with a defensive back during a run-game drill.


--Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti continues to be torn whether to sign controversial free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick because of the possible backlash from fans.


Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome support the signing of Kaepernick but have met resistance from Bisciotti, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.


Newsome responded to Wednesday's report from ESPN regarding Kaepernick.


"We are going through a process, and we have not made a decision," Newsome said in a statement. "Steve Bisciotti has not told us we cannot sign Colin Kaepernick, nor has he blocked the move. Whoever is making those claims is wrong."


--Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates will attend former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday.


Gates, however, will not be accompanied by quarterback Philip Rivers, who will remain with the team for Saturday's joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, coach Anthony Lynn said.


"Antonio's going to go and be with L.T. at the Hall of Fame, and Philip's going to stay and be with the team," Lynn said. "We're going to the StubHub for the first time. It's a dress rehearsal for our organization, for our players. We've got a lot of things to work through that day, and Philip wants to be there. He was torn. He wants to be with L.T. as well.


"But like I said, we're all good. L.T.'s happy. And this whole deal is about L.T., anyway."


--New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard was carted off the practice field after sustaining an ankle injury.


Giants coach Ben McAdoo told reporters it appears Shepard avoided serious injury.


"It looks at this point like he has a rolled ankle, a basketball-type ankle," McAdoo said. "We'll see how he responds to treatment and go from there."


Shepard needed to be supported by trainers after suffering the injury in practice before being taken inside to undergo tests.


--The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent offensive tackle Arturo Uzdavinis and waived tackle Jerry Ugokwe.


The 6-foot-7, 305-pound Uzdavinis most recently spent time with the Minnesota Vikings before being waived on July 26. He also spent time with the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2017 offseason.


In 2016, Uzdavinis spent time on the practice squads of the Jaguars and Chicago Bears. He originally signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2016. Uzdavinis spent the 2016 offseason and training camp with the Texans before being waived on Aug. 30.


The 6-7, 321-pound Ugokwe signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 4. He participated in the three-day rookie minicamp and 2017 offseason program.


--The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed rookie wide receiver Shaq Hill and waived/injured wide receiver Jhajuan Seales.


The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Hill originally entered the league in May with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent after playing at Eastern Washington. He was on the roster when Houston opened camp on July 26 but was waived two days later.


Hill played four seasons at Eastern Washington and caught 178 passes for 2,818 yards and 34 touchdowns. In his senior season, he caught 77 passes for 1,157 yards and 17 TDs.


Seales signed with the Bucs on Sunday. He spent the first part of the offseason with the Chicago Bears after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State.

 

[CNOTES]

Crowded House; Steelers have depth, diversity at receiver
August 2, 2017


LATROBE, Pa. (AP) Their All-Pro wide receiver spent the day welcoming newborn son Apollo into the world. Their talented but enigmatic project watched practice in a long-sleeved T-shirt and shorts waiting for the NFL to fully reinstate him after a year away from the game for running afoul of the league's substance abuse policy.


The guy with more receptions of 40-yards or more than anyone on the team last fall jogged around with his surgically repaired left knee wrapped in ice.


Oh, and perhaps the NFL's best running back remains in Miami, his pen yet to sign his franchise tender.


And yet even without Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Sammie Coates and Le'Veon Bell on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger weren't exactly lacking for options.


There was veteran Justin Hunter - trying to catch on in Pittsburgh after splitting last season with Miami and Buffalo - using every inch of his 6-foot-4 frame to haul in a pass in the back of the end zone. There was Eli Rogers - a slot guy by trade - lining up on the outside and winning a 50/50 ball. There was 20-year-old rookie Juju Smith-Schuster - fresh off an ankle injury that forced the second-round pick to watch the opening few days of camp from the sideline - making a sliding grab one minute then showing off his blocking prowess for former Steeler wide receiver Hines Ward the next.


Brown will slip back into his familiar No. 1 role when he returns. Bryant will be given every chance to show he can be the No. 2 provided he keeps taking all the necessary steps. After that, the picture is considerably blurry. And that's a good thing for an offense that expects to be among the NFL's most dynamic.


Maybe that's why Roethlisberger is even chattier than usual these days. The depth and diversity at wide receiver has never been greater in his 14-year career. So is the potential.


''I want them to know what I see and I expect when we're out there,'' Roethlisberger said.


Namely, production. Lots of it.


Roethlisberger won't lack for options, a sharp contrast to the makeshift group the Steelers took to New England in January. Bryant was suspended. Coates wasn't anywhere close to 100 percent. Markus Wheaton was on injured reserve. Tight end Ladarius Green in sweats dealing with a concussion.


In their place were seventh-round pick Demarcus Ayers and undrafted free agents Rogers and Cobi Hamilton. Hamilton provided Pittsburgh's lone touchdown, a 30-yard rainbow to save a little face at the end of a 36-17 blowout. It was also a cap on Hamilton's rise from a player who began 2016 on his couch to significant contributor on a division champion.


Seven months later, Hamilton is well aware a job come early September is anything but assured. That's the business.


''Every team drafts a wide receiver, every team went out and got a wide receiver from another team,'' Hamilton said. ''This is kind of how it goes.''


Brown, Bryant and Smith-Schuster's spots are secure. Darrius Heyward-Bey remains one of the fastest players in the league and is a special teams ace. That leaves two spots at most to emerge from a cluttered group that includes Hunter, who has played for three teams over the course of the last two seasons searching for the right landing spot.


Hunter has spent most of the opening week working with the starters while Bryant clears the league-mandated procedural hurdles required to end his winding path back to the team. The former second-round pick hasn't wasted any time making an impression, making at least one highlight reel grab during every session.


''I thrive off competition,'' Hunter said. ''I like the offense and how they distribute the ball real well during the season. I just wanted to be a part of it.''


Hunter and Smith-Schuster give the Steelers some insurance in case of another misstep by Bryant, one that Bryant knows would likely end his career. He and Roethlisberger sat down for a heart-to-heart recently to clear the air after Bryant took issue with the quarterback's public admonishment of him following Bryant's most recent suspension.


Roethlisberger stressed he and Bryant ''were never really off the same page'' and that ''there never was an issue.'' Roethlisberger is more concerned with getting Bryant back on the field, saying Bryant has ''paid his dues.''


Bryant's absence, however, will provide Hunter, Smith-Schuster and everyone else an opportunity to get a long look. There's no doubt Brown is the alpha dog. After that, it's kind of wide open. While the receivers insist they're not counting reps, when one of them gets going, the rest take notice.


''When (Hunter) made two great catches with the (starters), it's like `OK, now I've got something I've got to do when I come back,''' he said. ''At the end of the day, we're going to play the best players the (most) and it's going to help us win the Super Bowl.''


NOTES: RB James Conner is day-to-day with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. ... Brown wasn't the only Steeler to welcome a new addition on Wednesday. Defensive end Cam Heyward was excused from practice to attend the birth of he and wife Allie's second child.

 

[CNOTES]

The Latest: Man on probation wishes for Christie's nachos
August 2, 2017


TRENTON, N.J. (AP) The Latest on Gov. Chris Christie restraining himself from dumping his nachos on a baseball fan who heckled him at a game (all times local):


8:25 p.m.


A former high school classmate of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who masterminded the 2013 George Washington Bridge lane-closing scheme says he wasn't as lucky as a baseball fan who got away with heckling Christie at a Milwaukee Brewers-Chicago Cubs game.


Christie on Wednesday reminded people he didn't dump his nachos on the Cubs fan who heckled him days earlier.


But former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official David Wildstein tweets he wishes all Christie dumped on him ''were some nachos.''


Wildstein contradicted Christie's account that he didn't know about the plot to deliberately create traffic jams at the bridge until months afterward and was sentenced last month to three years of probation. He said then he had put his faith ''in a man who neither earned it nor deserved it.''


Christie wasn't charged in the traffic jams scheme at one of the world's busiest bridges.


---


3:30 p.m.


New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is reminding people he didn't dump nachos on a Chicago Cubs fan who heckled him.


Speaking Wednesday at an event in Trenton, the Republican governor said won't quit attending baseball games. The declaration came three days after he confronted a heckler at a Milwaukee Brewers-Cubs game.


Christie was carrying nachos when he was caught on video calling fan Brad Joseph a ''big shot.'' Christie says Joseph heckled him once, and that he confronted him after a second jibe.


Christie was loudly booed at a recent a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets after snagging a foul ball.


His next opportunity to be booed could come Friday when he attends the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

 

[CNOTES]

Vikings kicker competition: Will winner be Forbath or Koehn?
August 2, 2017


MANKATO, Minn. (AP) Whether they pick Kai Forbath or Marshall Koehn, the Minnesota Vikings badly need their kicker to come through after all those points squandered last season.


Koehn sure delivered last year.


While Forbath was settling in after a midseason switch from Blair Walsh in Minnesota, Koehn was making carpet and tile drop-offs for a flooring company in eastern Iowa. He lived with his parents and tried to keep his leg, mind and body in shape on the side between deliveries.


''It was a really good gig,'' Koehn said. ''My boss was pretty good to us.''


Kicking for the Vikings would be a pretty good job, too.


Their home games are indoors, after all, about a 4 1/2-hour drive from the Iowa City area where he was raised and eventually became a pro prospect with Iowa. He started as a walk-on and tallied 95 points in 2015 for the Hawkeyes, the ninth-most in program history.


Koehn vied last year in Miami with Andrew Franks, who'd been the Dolphins' kicker in 2015, before being cut at the end of training camp. Koehn has the home run hitter's leg, giving him a probably advantage in kickoffs and long-range field goals, but Forbath has the 58 games of NFL experience and an 86.6 percent conversion rate for career field goals.


''I've been in a couple competitions like this, and I know it brings out the best in both guys,'' Koehn said. ''Hopefully that'll happen here too.''


Forbath made 15 of 15 field goals in seven games for the Vikings, despite missing three extra points. The scramble for a roster spot is familiar to him too.


''Obviously it's a competition, but I don't see it that way,'' Forbath said. ''I just see it as a way for me to get better. Obviously it's the best man wins, but I don't focus on what anyone else is doing. I just kind of focus on myself and getting myself ready.''


Walsh never recovered from his failed 27-yard field goal try in the closing seconds of a 10-9 loss to Seattle in the first round of the playoffs after the 2015 season. After missing four extra points and four field goals in the first nine games, Walsh was released .


One week before that, the Vikings included both Forbath and Koehn in a group of six free-agent kickers for a tryout. With that, plus about two months of organized spring workouts and the first week of training camp now on tape, the front office and the coaching staff have already had plenty of time to formulate an opinion about which of the two will be better to keep for 2017.


The kicks that will really matter, though, are about to come in the form of four preseason games. That starts with Minnesota's opener at Buffalo on Aug. 10, with both Forbath and Koehn likely to take turns on extra points, field goals and kickoffs. The Vikings are also choosing a punter, between Ryan Quigley and Taylor Symmank.


''You always want a strong-legged guy, but again, Kai is better than he was a year ago in my opinion. Marshall is a strong-legged guy. Marshall, his task is to be more consistent on field goals, and Kai's is continuing to be consistent on field goals and of course extra points for both of them and to be better on kickoffs as well,'' special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said.


Though Forbath has live action in the league on his resume, Koehn is no stranger to pressure after kicking in Big Ten games with an ardent fan base behind him. As a junior in 2014, in the second game of the season, he missed two field goals under 40 yards.


''Basically got booed off of Kinnick Stadium,'' he said.


Then he bounced back the next week with a 44-yard make late in the fourth quarter to tie the game against rival Iowa State.


''That's what your coaches want to see, how you're going to respond when you're down,'' Koehn said. ''You can't let one kick affect the next.''

 

[CNOTES]

Preseason Betting Tips
August 2, 2017


It may be HOT and many folks are still on vacation, but August kicks off the best time of the sports betting calendar: Football season! Competition on the field won't be as intense as September, of course, as wins aren't as important as evaluating young talent and trying to keep players healthy. However, there will be betting lines available on preseason pro action and it's possible to cash winning tickets. Here are some things to keep in mind when watching preseason football.


Coaching Strategy: An understanding of what coaches are trying to accomplish each week in August is essential. With four preseason games to play, NFL coaches will typically go with starters one quarter or less in the first August game, one quarter-plus in second game, the first half and into the third quarter in the third game, and then very little in the fourth game. Keeping starters healthy while getting them some competition against the opponents' first stringers are the obvious reasons.


Coaches will often use "vanilla" game plans, working on short passes and running plays. This is why preseason totals are lower than the regular season. Last year, the NFL Hall of Fame game was cancelled (Colts/Packers), but the previous season the Giants topped the Bills, 17-13. QB Eli Manning threw only seven passes and the five other QBs in the game were named Nassib, Painter, Tuel, Lewis and Manuel – no future Hall of Fame signal callers in that group!

Three years ago in the first preseason game, the high-powered Broncos offense played the 49ers, but it sailed 'under' the total in a 10-6 Denver win. Four years ago, the high-powered Saints played the Cardinals and the total was 34. It stayed 'under' in a 17-10 New Orleans win with four turnovers as the teams combined to go 9-of-28 on third down.


If the game had been during the regular season, the total would have been closer to 44. In fact, when the Saints did open the regular season the total was 50 against Washington and their lowest total all year was 49. In the third preseason game, starters are projected to play the most. Working on basic plays and keeping things simple are often the case for the first two weeks of preseason.


Home Field: While home field is a big edge when games count in the post and regular seasons, home field can be less important in preseason, especially in Week 4, the most meaningless of games where coaches are more focused on the opener the following week. Last year the home team was 8-8 SU, 6-10 ATS in Week 4. The last three preseasons the home team is 24-23 SU, 18-27-2 ATS. That's not unusual. Five years ago, the home team was 7-9 SU, 6-10 ATS in Week 4.


Newspapers: Keeping tabs daily on what local beat writers are commenting on is important. Many times coaches will hint at potential strategy, such as "We're going to open up the passing game a bit in the first half this week. Or, "Our starters will play two series just to get their feet wet." These tidbits are key and a successful sports bettor knows how to evaluate coaching comments, injuries, and how strategy changes may influence the side and total.


A few years ago in a preseason game, the Atlanta Falcons coach was furious with his team's play the week before and announced that the starters would play the entire three quarters. The line jumped from Atlanta as a 2-point favorite all the way to 5, and went off at 6 by kickoff. Sharp bettors wasted no time in hammering the Falcons, who won and covered the game easily, all because of the extensive game plan (and anger) revealed by the coach.


Quarterback Play: Quarterback is the single most important position on the football field. Think of the Super Bowl matchups the last decade: How many below average QBs have gotten their team to the big game? The Ravens in 2000 with Trent Dilfer and Chicago's Rex Grossman. Last February's Super Bowl pitted two of the best in the game, Matt Ryan and Tom Brady.


QB play is essential and a key this time of year as starters don't play the whole game. When wagering on a favorite in preseason, it's important to carefully evaluate the No. 2 and 3 QBs as they often play as much as the starter or more. A team with a great starter expected to play just two series, with a rookie or poor backup QBs playing most of the game can be at a disadvantage.


Coaches: Coaching is such an important part of football, as so many players need to be organized and taught various roles each week. Some coaches are more demanding in preseason, while others are more laid back. Notice that Bill Belichick is 45-32 SU, 42-31-2 ATS all time in preseason. A year ago in preseason, the Pats won their first three preseason games but packed it in for Week 4, losing 17-9 at the Giants, getting outscored 14-3 in the second half with rookie QB Jacoby Brisset getting sacked 3 times.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Dolphins QB Tannehill suffers knee injury
August 3, 2017


Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill sustained an injury to his left knee during Thursday's practice.


ESPN reported an MRI exam revealed that Tannehill did not suffer a tear in the knee, but the extent of the damage and how long Tannehill will be sidelined remain unclear.


Tannehill was scrambling toward the sideline and went down without contact. Trainers were examining his brace-covered left knee before taking the 29-year-old inside for further evaluation.


Tannehill sustained a sprained ACL and MCL in the same knee last season, but did not require surgery. He missed the Dolphins' last three regular-season games and their playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.


--Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did not throw at practice for the third consecutive day because of right shoulder soreness.


Head coach Ron Rivera said a change in the offensive scheme means Newton will run less this season, but that was before the Panthers ran into Newton's nagging right shoulder issue that prevented him from throwing passes Thursday and three straight training camp workouts.


Newton fled the practice field on a utility cart, first speeding away from media in reverse across the football field before shifting into drive and fleeing toward the locker rooms. Joe Webb was a stowaway in the bed of the cart.


--The Philadelphia Eagles added depth to their secondary by signing free agent defensive back Corey Graham to a one-year contract, the team announced.


Graham will be reunited with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who held the same title while the former played with the Buffalo Bills in 2014.


The 32-year-old Graham spent the majority of his career at cornerback before shuffling to safety for the last two seasons in Buffalo.


Philadelphia likely will use Graham as a cornerback with the team aiming to upgrade from Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson, rookie Rasul Douglas and Ron Brooks.


--The New York Jets have attempted to trade defensive end Sheldon Richardson on a few occasions this offseason, but to no avail.


Richardson told the New York Daily News that he was asked to take a pay cut to make a trade work.


Richardson is slated to make $8.1 million this year and can be a free agent at the end of the season. He recorded 62 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 15 games last season.


--Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Corey Davis will undergo an MRI exam after sustaining a hamstring injury during seven-on-seven drills, coach Mike Mularkey said.


Davis' soft-tissue injury comes on the heels of him missing the first two days of training camp while finalizing his contract. Davis, who was the fifth overall pick of the 2017 draft, received a four-year contract worth an estimated $25.4 million, with a $16.6 million signing bonus, according to The Tennessean.


--The New England Patriots think the world of Tom Brady, with the term "GOAT" (Greatest Of All-Time) often linked to the five-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback.


The Patriots showed their appreciation for Brady on his 40th birthday by bringing five baby goats to training camp. The adorable creatures were each fitted with a No. 12 jersey.


The team also set up a mammoth "GOAT" sign in his honor.


--The San Francisco 49ers waived wide receiver Bruce Ellington, the team announced.


Ellington did not play last season after being placed on the injured reserve list with an ailing hamstring in August.


The 25-year-old reeled in 19 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns in his two previous seasons with the 49ers.


--Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Malik McDowell reported to training camp and was promptly placed on the non-football injury list, the team announced.


McDowell, who was a second-round selection of the 2017 draft, reportedly sustained a concussion and facial injuries in an ATV accident a couple weeks ago.


--Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, was dedicated hours before the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys were to meet in the Hall of Fame Game.


A larger-than-life statue of Benson also was unveiled.


Benson gifted $10 million toward the construction of the 23,000-seat stadium in 2014. He also made a $1 million contribution toward the creation of Legends Landing, an assisted living facility which will be part of the Player Care Center at Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village.


--The Jacksonville Jaguars announced that long snapper Carson Tinker will miss the entire season after sustaining a torn ACL in a non-contact drill on Wednesday.


Tinker, an undrafted free agent out of Alabama, has been the Jaguars' long snapper the past four seasons. He signed a four-year contract extension prior to the 2015 season.

 

[CNOTES]

Six QB options for Dolphins without Tannehill
August 4, 2017


Ryan Tannehill might require season-ending surgery on his left knee. Then again, he declined a repair last year.


While the facts of the prognosis settle in for the Miami Dolphins, hindsight is blinding. Tannehill's injury might well have been avoided had he opted for ACL surgery last year when he suffered a partial tear of his MCL and ACL.


Letting the injury heal over the next two months and attempting to play on an unstable limb keeps Tannehill on the field and the Dolphins in precarious waters.


Hitching their wagon to the 29-year-old Tannehill equates to risking the season on his wobbly knee.


Here are six other options for the Dolphins to consider:


1. Alex Smith, Chiefs


Where have we seen this before?


In 2016, Teddy Bridgewater and the playoff-hopeful Minnesota Vikings saw their expectations crumble to the field during a non-contact play during training camp. Bridgewater tore his ACL and dislocated the same knee, and he still isn't participating in on-field drills with the Vikings.


Minnesota traded a first-round pick to the Eagles for Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2010, and competed in the NFC North until the final week of the season.


Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, is the warfare equivalent to a slingshot -- deadly accurate from close range and effective enough to beat most opponents when played perfectly.


The cost would be reasonable compared to some other quarterbacks, but the Chiefs seem legitimately concerned about forcing rookie Patrick Mahomes, the No. 10 pick in the 2017 draft, onto the field too soon. Then again, the Eagles were saying and stressing the same pressure points about playing Carson Wentz this time last year -- and he had less than 40 preseason game snaps when Bradford was traded before Labor Day -- before the Vikings floated a first-round pick.

2. Brock Osweiler, Browns


Osweiler could walk into the team facility at Davie, Fla., this weekend and pick up the offense without touching a playbook. He lived it in Denver with current Dolphins coach Adam Gase. Then a Broncos assistant coach, Gase handled a one-on-one workout with the 6-foot-8 QB project before Denver drafted Osweiler in the second round in 2012.


Gase praised Osweiler for his ability to adapt -- his release, role as a backup and work ethic -- almost immediately as an NFL player.


"His biggest thing he was trying to work on was his mechanics and how to be a quarterback. He knew that he had time to do that behind Peyton (Manning)," Gase said in 2016. "That was one of the reasons we wanted to draft him: We knew his work ethic was off the charts. We knew he was smart. We knew he understood his role that was going to happen in the organization.


"He was the right guy for that kind of role for us, but we had great confidence he was going to be the next guy for us as well. It just worked out different than probably a lot of people foresaw."


Osweiler is competing for a roster spot in Cleveland after a crash-and-burn season with the Houston Texans. A fourth team in two years might be a label Osweiler could accept if it meant reuniting with Gase.

3. Jay Cutler, FOX broadcasting

It's fair to contemplate whether Gase's intimate familiarity with Cutler -- as a person, as a flammable surveyor of sideline still shots, as a hot-cold-hotter-colder quarterback -- works for or against Cutler.


When interest from actual football teams was limited to a poke test from the New York Jets this summer, Cutler, not long after being cut by the Bears, decided to join another team -- FOX's broadcast crew -- and will call the Week 1 Chicago-Atlanta game at Soldier Field, according to the network.


However, if Gase is willing to present Cutler an opportunity to start at, say, $10 million for a playoff contender, would he drop the mic and pick up a helmet?

4. Tony Romo, CBS broadcasting


Romo sounded half-committed when he was introduced by CBS as the new No. 1 analyst alongside Jim Nantz, bumping Phil Simms to the studio show much as Dak Prescott pushed Romo aside.


The well-played scenario for Romo's return -- even Dallas QB coach Wade Wilson admits he has done it -- was the vision of him returning to save the Cowboys after an injury at the position forced the team's hand.


But if the Dolphins find the magic words and enough money, might Simms get his gig back and Romo ride into South Florida for one final season?


A QB-friendly offense that lifted Tannehill to new levels of respect and performance -- including a completion percentage better than Aaron Rodgers' -- could be enticing.


5. Mike Glennon, Bears

Does anyone other than Glennon believe the Bears when they say "Mike Glennon is our starting quarterback"?


Chicago shifted fault lines and sacrificed half of its draft to move up one spot in April and select Mitch Trubisky, the unproven, one-year starter from North Carolina and the by-default top-ranked passer in a draft most agreed was without a franchise-changer at the position.


To hear general manager Ryan Pace tell the story, Glennon (guaranteed $16.5 million to sign a three-year deal in March) is the right fit for the Bears this season.


That narrative could change should the Dolphins decide that surrendering a first-round pick, or even a second-rounder with future picks thrown in, is worth it to get Glennon.


6. Colin Kaepernick, free agent

His 2016 statistics match up quite favorably to Tannehill's, and Kaepernick's ability to run and escape pressure are excellent traits when paired with a play-action-fueled running game led by Jay Ajayi. The Dolphins are not exceptional on the offensive line, but Kaepernick knows all about that, having survived last season behind the 49ers' front five.


Owner Stephen Ross is on the record as saying Kaepernick should be considered by any team he can help win, regardless of his outspokenness on social issues. Then again, several owners seem to think Kaepernick should be on an NFL roster, and he remains unemployed.

 

[CNOTES]

Dolphins Injury Outlook
August 3, 2017


Tannehill’s Potential Injury Goes From Bad To Worse


Let’s get the forecast out of the way. The news on Ryan Tannehill is not good. He’s going for an MRI, nothing out of Dolphins camp has felt positive regarding the injury and the incident was non-contact. Those three elements always add up to a bad situation for the player.


Another thing we have to discuss is whether or not you feel Ryan Tannehill is truly a franchise quarterback. He signed a 4 year contract worth $77 million, with $23.5 million guaranteed. He’s already coming off an ACL/MCL recovery and the big elephant in the room is that the Dolphins can cut him after this season with minimal dead cap.


This is why Tannehill’s injury could go from really bad to way worse. And here’s the reason that Miami might already be considering a change at the quarterback position regardless.


Player 1 – 240.8 yards per game / 2.3 TD per game / 1.0 INT per game
Player 2 – 230.4 yards per game / 1.5 TD per game / 1.5 INT per game


I know you probably think that Player 1 is Colin Kaepernick, but it’s actually Matt Moore. That four-game sample was the perennial backup’s production in place of Tannehill pre-injury. Player 2 is Ryan Tannehill averaged over his 13 games. Yes, these are real numbers from real people in real NFL football games.


Nobody has ever watched Tannehill with an objective eye and said, “Man that guy is the future.” Miami has had a solid look at him for the past five years, and Adam Gase has to have a sense of what he’s capable of.


It’s also worth mentioning that his teammates reportedly don’t like him that much after that whole “practice squad” incident from last year.


This isn’t meant to deride a player, especially when he’s at an unfortunate crossroads in his career, but the business of football – and football betting – is cruel. To put things in perspective, BetOnline.ag has the Miami Dolphins as +2500 to win the AFC. That puts them behind the Baltimore Ravens (+2000), Tennessee Titans (+2000) and right on even keel with…the Los Angeles Chargers. The Patriots hold sway in this market at a monstrous +165 to win the AFC in 2017.


Those were the odds before Tannehill was hurt. Who knows what’s going to happen. Oh wait, we know how this unfolds.

YES WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT KAEPERNICK


It’s really difficult to discuss Kaepernick without getting in to the whole racial thing. He is being allegedly blackballed by NFL owners for his views on a ton of important social issues, which is absolutely insane. And without taking up too much space talking about it, I’ll just say that I support him on a broad basis. I think it’s important for celebrities to try and use their platform for social improvement.


Beyond that, I think Kaepernick is a really good quarterback. Give him a solid coach and he excels. Provide him with a former janitor as a coach, and he’s going to be bad. You can argue about the value of a scrambler versus a traditional pocket passer, but the truth is that some players are at their best when they’re moving. Kaepernick isn’t Big Ben or Cam Newton. He’s more elusive and evasive. Whatever. You know how Kaepernick plays the position because you probably – you know – watched him play in the Super Bowl and almost win it.


You can argue that Kaepernick isn’t a franchise quarterback, or that he’s not what certain coaches like to see at the position, but one thing isn’t up for debate. Kaepernick is the best quarterback remaining on the market. If guys like Geno Smith and Luke McCown are getting signed, eventually some team is going to be forced to take Kaepernick on because football is about winning games and putting the best product on the field that you can (unless you’re the Jets).


What is the worst case scenario for the Miami Dolphins if they sign Kaepernick to replace Tannehill? They’re either going to move on from Tannehill after this season, or release Kaepernick back in to the wild and stick with their guy moving forward (after potentially two knee surgeries). If Kaepernick is great, everyone wins. If he stinks, they at least get a good draft pick out of it.


Or you can just hand the keys to Matt Moore and that 7th rounder and hope for the best.


Or do what Twitter suggests and coax Jay Cutler out of retirement.


If the news on Ryan Tannehill is bad, then there’s only one move left on the board. The Miami Dolphins and Colin Kaepernick need each other.

 

[CNOTES]

Saturday’s six-pack


— Ohio State transfer Jaquan Lyle signs up with New Mexico.


— Doc Rivers lost his front office role with the Clippers Friday; he has $20M, two years left on his contract, and will just coach from now on.


— Nationals 4, Cubs 2— Daniel Murphy homered twice for Washington.


— Jaime Garcia started on the mound for his third big league team in 15 days last night.


— San Jose State finally got around to hiring a new hoop coach; Colorado assistant Jean Prioleau will get the job on Monday


— Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin had his contract extended thru 2020; Pittsburgh has had three head coaches……..since 1969!!!!


Saturday’s List of 13: Random thoughts on a summer night…..


13) So I’m having dinner at a Ruby Tuesday’s last night; there are 5-6 people sitting to my left. Next thing I know, the two guys in the group are in the parking lot, trading punches. Cops were called, I think both of them got arrested and that was that. Just another Friday night in Canton.


12) Spent several hours at the Football Hall of Fame Friday; if you like the NFL, this is an excellent place to visit. So much history to re-visit, the room with the Hall of Fame busts is very impressive, but bring your walking shoes to get there.


11) Parking at the Hall of Fame isn’t great; the area is probably too small to host a venue that is so popular, and with all the construction going on, its a pretty good hike from where you park to the actual Hall of Fame.


When all the construction is done in 2020, there will be a Hall of Fame Village, with shops and places to eat. Look forward to seeing that.


10) Pretty cool to see the Lombardi Trophy, which has its own display area upstairs in the Hall of Fame. They also have all the Super Bowl rings displayed in a case; they’re pretty big now.


10) I was in here once before, in 2001, when Jackie Slater/Jack Youngblood were inducted; it is so much different now, so many more sponsors’ exhibits- the memorabilia tent is like a small building now. Back then, it was just a regular-sized tent.


It is normally $25 to get into the Hall of Fame; it is $30 this weekend. Cheapest ticket for the induction ceremony Saturday night is $40. Worth it, but listening to people this week talking about how much autographs/memorabilia cost now— this is definitely big business.


9) Rams played Miami in the Hall of Fame Game in 2001; the induction ceremony wasn’t in the stadium, it was outside the Hall of Fame, with portable bleachers. Now the ceremony is in the actual stadium. Hope it doesn’t rain…..or my butt is going to get very wet. LOL


8) It is ironic that the head of the Hall of Fame now is a guy named David Baker; when Kurt Warner played for the Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena League, Baker was commissioner of the AFL— he ruined the league by moving teams in Iowa/Albany (where I live) to NFL cities, with hopes of making the AFL a AAA-league for the NFL.


The Arena League was awesome; we regularly drew crowds of 11-12,000 people in downtown Albany, where Touchdown Eddie Brown (Antonio Brown’s father) was the best player.


Baker’s son Sam was a tackle at USC and later for the Atlanta Falcons.


7) In either 1996 or 1997, the Firebirds lost a home game 77-76 to Iowa; highly entertaining game. Little did I know that night that in 1999, the Barnstormers’ QB that night would lead the Rams to their first Super Bowl title. If it was a movie, it wouldn’t be very believable.


6) What an honor to be selected as a presenter for the Hall of Fame; imagine it can be a touchy thing, especially for someone who may have changed teams, like Warner— he chose his wife, as did Jerry Jones. I wonder if Mike Martz will be here tomorrow; he and Dick Vermeil deserve so much credit for Warner’s initial success in the NFL.


5) Jerry Jones’ Hall of Fame party here in Canton tonite is at a country club that he rented……for $5M. For one night.


4) Dolphins are talking to Jay Cutler; looks like Ryan Tannehill is out a minimum of six weeks, with a strong possibility that he misses the whole season.


3) Fantasy football is also a big business; ton of sites sites are advertising for leagues to sign up. Our baseball league is run by CBSSports.com, which does a great job.


2) Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent was talking Friday about how legalized gambling is going to help pro sports; this is the same guy who put Pete Rose in baseball prison for his involvement in gambling. Life can be very ironic sometimes.


1) Can you imagine what is like, at the Gold Jacket Dinner for Hall of Famers, walking thru that gauntlet of Hall of Famers? The icons of the sport, all there to see you get inducted into the Hall of Fame. What a feeling that must be.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Cutler agrees to deal with Dolphins
August 6, 2017


The Miami Dolphins agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with quarterback Jay Cutler on Sunday, according to multiple reports.


The deal also includes incentives that could push Cutler's income to $13 million.


Cutler was sought by the Dolphins after starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill sustained a serious injury to his left knee on Thursday. The former Chicago quarterback worked with Dolphins coach Adam Gase when the latter was offensive coordinator of the Bears in 2015.


Cutler was released by the Bears this offseason and retired to take a television job with Fox Sports as a TV analyst in May. He indicated he would consider a return to the NFL under the right circumstances.


The Dolphins have not announced a timetable for Tannehill's recovery or even if he will undergo surgery, which likely would be season-ending.


Cutler, 34, enjoyed success in his one season playing under Gase. He compiled a career-best 92.3 quarterback rating. He passed for 3,659 yards and 21 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.


--The San Francisco 49ers' worst fears were realized regarding an injury suffered by linebacker Malcolm Smith on Saturday as an MRI exam revealed a torn pectoral muscle that is likely to sideline him the entire season.


Immediately after Saturday's practice, coach Kyle Shanahan said Smith would probably be out for a long period, but might be able to return sometime this season. His chances of returning this season were diminished considerably by the MRI findings, which were confirmed by the team.


Smith joined the 49ers as a free agent in March after signing a five-year, $26.5 million deal. He played in 15 games, including 14 starts, for the Oakland Raiders last season, and he started all 16 games in 2015, when he had four sacks for the Raiders.


Smith was the MVP of the Super Bowl following the 2013 season while playing for the Seattle Seahawks


--Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins has been suspended 10 games without pay for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances for the second time, the league announced.


Collins, 24, served a four-game suspension last season for his first offense.


"We are extremely disappointed that for the second straight season we are dealing with a suspension for Jalen," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. "Such are the consequences when certain choices are made. Our decisions going forward will be based on what (coach) Dan (Quinn) and I feel is best for the team."


Collins is allowed to participate in practice and preseason games during his suspension, which starts at the beginning of the regular season. He is eligible to return to the Falcons' active roster on Nov. 21.


--New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft surprised Tom Brady's mother with a Super Bowl LI ring in recognition of her health scare fighting cancer and the impact it had on her son last season.


Brady collected his fifth Super Bowl ring in February when the Patriots overcame a 25-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.


Brady dedicated the game to his mother, Galynn Brady, and said the victory was that much more special when she was able to travel to Houston for the Super Bowl. Kraft revealed after the game that Galynn underwent chemotherapy and radiation to treat cancer throughout the 2016 season. Brady's father, Tom Sr., previously told the Boston Globe that Galynn finished cancer treatments in April.


--The New Orleans Saints added a second kicker, Patrick Murray, to their 90-man roster.


Murray agreed to a deal with the Saints, according to a tweet from his agents, Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod.


Murray spent the 2014 season as the kicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making 20 of 24 field goals and all 31 extra points in 16 games. He spent the 2015 season on injured reserve and was released after the Bucs drafted Roberto Aguayo in the second round in 2016.


Murray landed with the Browns last season and spent just two weeks kicking for the team before a knee injury ended his season.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: 49ers LB Newsom seriously hurt in collision
August 8, 2017


San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Donavin Newsom was carted off the field by ambulance and taken to a hospital after colliding with a teammate in Tuesday's practice at Santa Clara, Calif.


Newsom was hurt when he ran into safety Chanceller James as the two players were attempting to defend a pass over the middle. He lay motionless while his teammates took a knee and formed a circle around him.


Although Newsom appeared to lose consciousness, according to the Sacramento Bee, coach Kyle Shanahan said the player's eyes were open and he had feeling in his lower half and hands.


Newsom was strapped to a back brace by emergency medical technicians and placed in an ambulance on the field to be taken to Stanford Hospital. Shanahan expressed optimism that Newsom would be all right but didn't want to get ahead of himself.


"I'd like to talk to the family and find out everything before I start speculating on anything," Shanahan said.


--Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will not play in Carolina's preseason opener Wednesday against the Houston Texans.


Soreness in his right shoulder limited Newton in training camp practices and the Panthers are taking the risk-averse route in August, coach Ron Rivera said.


Newton was able to throw in practice Monday and again Tuesday, when he worked mostly on a side field with a trainer.


Veteran Derek Anderson filled in for Newton in the past. But while Anderson has been steady at times, he lacks the dynamic elements that Newton brings to the offense.


--Former Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Flowers announced his retirement.


The 31-year-old Flowers played nine NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. He was released by the Chargers in March.


Flowers completes his career with 21 interceptions and he returned four for touchdowns. He also had 490 tackles, four forced fumbles and three sacks.


Flowers played his first six seasons with the Chiefs and totaled 17 interceptions. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2013 and then departed as a free agent and signed with San Diego and had four interceptions in 31 games with the Chargers. But he played in just six games last season due to injuries.


--The Green Bay Packers parted ways with troubled defensive tackle Letroy Guion by announcing the release of the 322-pound run stuffer.


Guion was arrested on drunk-driving charges in June and also received a four-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.


The suspension, which was set to begin at the start of the 2017 season, marked Guion's second dose of league discipline in three seasons. He received a three-game penalty in 2015 for his first offense.


Guion recorded 30 tackles last season, his third with the Packers. He played his first six campaigns with the Minnesota Vikings. Guion posted 173 tackles and 8.5 sacks during nine NFL seasons.


--Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis will be away from the team to deal with an unspecified "minor health issue," the team announced.


The team said in a statement that Lewis' absence is expected to be brief, with a possible return on Tuesday night or later in the week.


The 58-year-old Lewis is in his 15th season as coach of the Bengals, guiding the club to a 118-103-3 record. Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons will lead the team during Lewis' absence.


--Retired NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason said Monday on his WFAN radio show "Boomer & Carton" with Craig Carton that he believe he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, during his storied career.


Esiason, 56, also said he believes all NFL players probably have CTE, which is associated with concussions.


"If I died tomorrow and my brain basically was taken and researched and I was found to have CTE, which most likely I have, because I think all football players probably have it," Boomer said.


The retired quarterback played 14 NFL seasons from 1984 to 1997 with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, throwing for 37,920 yards (20th most all-time) and 247 touchdowns (22nd all-time).


--Film director Spike Lee is using social media to invite fans and supporters to gather in support of unemployed quarterback Colin Kaepernick this month.


A social media post from Lee called for a "Rally for Colin" and "United We Stand" rally and will start at 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 23 at 345 Park Avenue in New York City. The address is noteworthy as the headquarters of the NFL administrative offices.


Kaepernick remains unsigned one month before the start of the 2017 regular season. Lee and others have suggested Kaepernick, who was 2-10 as a starter with the 49ers last season, is not employed by a team because of his public position on social injustices.


Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem before games last season to raise awareness for such issues, but declared in the offseason he would not bring any form of protest to a new team in 2017.

 

[CNOTES]

Falcons' Freeman signs 5-year extension, becomes highest-paid RB
August 9, 2017


The Atlanta Falcons made Devonta Freeman the highest-paid running back in the NFL, signing him to a five-year contract extension on Wednesday.


Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Michael Silver of the NFL Network reported that Freeman's pact is worth $41.25 million.


The extension, which runs through 2022, has an annual value of $8.25 million, topping the $8 million yearly salary of Buffalo's LeSean McCoy. Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell will surpass both when he signs his franchise tag tender.


The 25-year-old Freeman was a big part of Atlanta's run to the Super Bowl last season, starting all 16 regular-season games and leading the team with 1,079 rushing yards to go with 462 receiving yards on 54 receptions. Freeman had 13 total touchdowns.


"We are very pleased that we were able to get this extension done," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. "Devonta embodies everything we are looking for in a Falcon, and we are proud that he'll be able to spend his career here in Atlanta."


A fourth-round draft pick out of Florida State in 2014, Freeman has amassed 2,383 rushing yards in his three seasons, earning a pair of Pro Bowl berths by going over 1,000 yards in 2015 and 2016.


"This is where I've always wanted to be," said Freeman in a statement. "I want to thank Mr. Blank, Thomas and Coach (Dan) Quinn for all of their support. I feel extremely blessed, but the work and grind are just beginning."


Freeman rolled up 3,175 yards from scrimmage over the past two seasons, second in the league to teammate Julio Jones. He has rushed for 11 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons and has 29 total TDs in 47 regular-season games.


In addition, Freeman is the only player in the league with at least three games of three rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons.


Atlanta, which blew a 25-point second-half lead before losing 34-28 in overtime to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, plays its first preseason game on Thursday night at the Miami Dolphins.

 

[CNOTES]

Richardson rips Marshall -- Again
August 8, 2017


FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Head coach Todd Bowles has moved on from the Sheldon Richardson-Brandon Marshall feud that helped bring the New York Jets down last season. Unfortunately for Bowles, Richardson hasn't.


Richardson once again dredged up old family business Monday afternoon, when he blasted Marshall and said he quit on the Jets last season during an appearance on ESPN Radio in New York City.


"That man knows what he did," Richardson said of Marshall, with whom he nearly got into a fistfight following a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last season. "I was the one who addressed it and I would still address it to this day."


Bowles would rather he wouldn't. The normally low-key and close-to-the-vest head coach snapped at reporters for asking him about Richardson's comments numerous times during Tuesday's post-practice press conference.


"I don't have time for B.S.," Bowles said. "We've moved on. You're going to get that answer the next 30 times you ask it. We can move on or the interview can be over. I don't care. Either way is fine with me."


If Richardson's history is any indication, Bowles will probably be asked again about the battle between his star lineman and former wide receiver - maybe even later this month, before the Jets and Giants play their annual preseason game. Marshall signed with the Giants shortly after being released by the Jets in March.


Richardson, who said during the spring there were "15 reasons" why the Jets had a better locker room this season - Marshall wears No. 15 - said he would like to play linebacker against the Giants, presumably to get a shot at tackling Marshall in the open field.


Marshall, no shrinking violet in front of the cameras, has generally remained mum regarding Richardson. For now, anyway.

 

[CNOTES]

Denver Broncos Outlook
August 8, 2017


What Is Jon Elway Thinking?


If there’s one team in the AFC that nobody seems to be betting on despite their surreal talent, it’s the Denver Broncos. BetOnline.ag has them listed as +1400 to reach the Super Bowl which puts them in the same range as the Titans (+1800) and the Chiefs (+1200). This shouldn’t be happening. Not with how well this team is built.


So why is John Elway wasting his time with Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch?


Paxton Lynch was a late, first-round pick for the Denver Broncos in 2016 and hasn’t sizzled at all. The 6-foot-7 Memphis product has reportedly struggled mightily with the playbook that Vance Joseph and his staff have been trying to implement, which was sort of the problem with him last year as well. It’s not that Lynch is a bonehead, but nothing he’s doing at the position screams “franchise player”. Lynch recently went through an entire scrimmage without completing a pass!


I’m not willing to write Lynch off completely, but he’s being clearly outplayed by seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian who did an admirable job last year as the stater for the Denver Broncos. Siemian’s numbers weren’t great, but they also weren’t garbage. With 3,401 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against 10 picks, Siemian checked out with an 84.6 quarterback rating as a first-year starter last year. Again, that’s totally fine.


None if this is meant to put either quarterbacks’ careers on tombstones just yet, but I’m not rushing to BetOnline.ag to bet on them as MVP’s either.


What I’m curious about is the timing. The Broncos boast perhaps the league’s best defence, even without the recently retired DeMarcus Ware. Von Miller, T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and Derek Wolfe anchor a squad that ranked 4th in points (18.6) and 4th in total yards agains (5,057) but didn’t have an offence that offset how well this unit performed.


And that’s the crazy part. This team is literally one player away from being a real Super Bowl contender and there’s nothing out there which suggests that Lynch nor Siemian is really capable of pushing this team over the edge. Say what you will about Peyton Manning towards the end of his career, but he at least knew what he was doing (outside of being a freaking Hall of Famer).


The move to ignore the quarterback position falls outside of what the team has been doing in the off-season for years. They gave Demaryius Thomas $43.5M and Emmanuel Sanders $26.9M in guarantees. They just dropped $70M in guarantees over a 6-year, $114.5M contract to Von Miller. They even rolled the dice on Jamaal Charles. Everything that the Denver Broncos have done and are doing screams, “This is our window and we are locking this down.”


When everything – and I mean everything – about the Denver Broncos is geared in Win Now Mode, there’s no excuse for having a quarterback that is as inexperienced and unproductive as Trevor Siemian. BetOnline.ag has the Broncos listed at a Regular Season Win Total of 8.0 games. That’s inexcusable given how talented this roster is, but it’s well justified when you look at how weak of a link that they have at the offensive helm.


So what’s the plan in Denver? Why pass up on Colin Kaepernick? Why not kick the tires on Jay Cutler? Why aren’t you throwing whatever you’ve got at Tony Romo? Why aren’t you trying to upgrade the position in the slightest just in case?


There’s also no hard proof that the staff in Denver is capable of developing a young quarterback. Head coach Vance Joseph is a defensive coordinator by trade, and Mike McCoy will be running the offence. I think McCoy is a very good coach, but he also had the supremely underrated Philip Rivers to work with. The step down to Siemian and Lynch must’ve been a gut punch.


Bill Musgrave is more specifically the quarterbacks coach, and he has spent the last two seasons developing Derek Carr in to the highest paid quarterback in the league. It’s one thing to take a second round pick who was always highly rated and help him blossom in to a franchise superstar. Siemian’s standing as a seventh rounder that nobody really wanted says plenty, and there weren’t enough glimpses in 2016 to suggest that he has what it takes to push this team over the edge.


The prevailing argument is that Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl, and helped this team to the playoffs, despite being in the twilight of his career. I’m sorry, but that argument is totally bunk. Comparing Peyton Manning at the end of his career to Trevor Siemian is ridiculous. You can’t just rely on overall talent at skill positions and an all-world defence to break through in an NFL that routinely tailors its rules to make things easier for a quarterback.


As they say in the NFL, it just takes one bad game for New England to get bumped from the playoffs. The Broncos are most certainly built like a team that can challenge for the AFC Championship. They just forgot to construct their foundation around the pillar that’s probably most important. I’d be willing to overlook this oversight myself if there general manager wasn’t Jon Elway.

 

[CNOTES]

Depth gives Packers D more versatility
August 8, 2017


GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Josh Jones is listed as a safety on the Green Bay Packers roster, though he eventually he might be better known as a jack-of-all-trades player.


The hard-hitting rookie drafted in the third round has left a strong impression so far in training camp, showing the potential to contribute quickly at an already strong position.


There are safeties in numbers in Green Bay, giving coach Mike McCarthy the kind of depth and flexibility needed to keep up with pass-oriented or spread offenses.


''I mean it definitely fits my skill set. I can do a lot of things for a defense,'' said Jones, who had 229 tackles and eight interceptions over three seasons at North Carolina State. ''I don't put a limit on what I can do as a football player.''


There might be limits, though, to how much playing time he will get as a rookie. Strong safety Morgan Burnett and free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who made his first Pro Bowl last year, are the unquestioned starters.


Micah Hyde left in the offseason to sign with Buffalo, but coaches like what second-year player Kentrell Brice has done in camp. Brice and fellow safety Marwin Evans were the only rookie free agents to play in all 16 Packers regular-season games and three postseason contests last year.


Hyde's value came in lining up at various positions. Sometimes, when Burnett was used more like an inside linebacker in early-down situations, Hyde would play a more traditional safety role. Hyde could cover the slot receiver. He could line up wide when the cornerback position was decimated by injuries.


It's a versatile role that Brice or Jones could be slated to fill. Jones might also be used at times like the 6-foot-1, 209-pound Burnett, as a defender closer to the line more adept at covering receivers than a traditional inside linebacker.


''So the ability of those guys to play the nickel, the dime, the sub linebacker and free safety, strong safety, that speaks volumes. Morgan does that,'' McCarthy said. ''That body type, that position, the importance of the safety position I think is critical to the way you need to play defense in today's NFL.''


Safety was a problem area for the Packers not long ago. Clinton-Dix has become a core player after being drafted by the Packers in the first round in 2014, filling what was then a critical need.


Burnett is an important piece in the Packers' evolution into becoming more flexible. Once primarily a 3-4 defense, the Packers have gone with five defensive backs more often on early downs to better match up with offenses. It's called a ''nitro'' package when Burnett is in the box playing more of a linebacker role.


''Everyone in the room is capable of doing the same thing, doing each other's job,'' said Burnett, entering his NFL eighth season.


Jones is listed at the backup to Burnett on the depth chart going into the preseason opener Thursday against Philadelphia. Cornerback Davon House has described Burnett as a ''thumper,'' and the rookie out of North Carolina State has a stoic demeanor that backs up his early reputation as a hitter.


''I come to work, a blue-collar type of dude,'' Jones said. ''I want it the hard way, and that's what I do, I just play football.''


NOTES: McCarthy said before practice Tuesday that the Packers haven't determined yet how much playing time to give QB Aaron Rodgers in the preseason. The two-time NFL MVP is entering his 13th season and 10th as the starter. ... Backup QB Brett Hundley appears likely to get the start against Philadelphia. McCarthy said coaches will determine playing time at a meeting Wednesday. ... CB House (hamstring) was considered day to day, though McCarthy said he had ''no long-term concern'' about the injury.

 

[CNOTES]

Chiefs QB Mahomes to start second half
August 8, 2017


ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) It has been years since the Kansas City Chiefs gave their fans any reason to stick around after halftime of their preseason opener, when the starters and backups generally take a seat.


That will change Friday night.


Chiefs coach Andy Reid plans to give each of his quarterbacks a full quarter against the San Francisco 49ers. That means Alex Smith will start and veteran backup Tyler Bray will get the second quarter, while first-round draft pick Patrick Mahomes II will start the second half.


It's arguably the most anticipated preseason debut by a Chiefs rookie since 1983, which also was the last time Kansas City spent a first-round draft pick on a quarterback.


Asked what he wants to see out of his young signal caller, Reid replied: ''I'd tell you this with everyone: execute. Obviously the quarterbacks have a little more responsibility with all the calls and so on, but the main thing is to execute.''


Reid said most of the starters would play the first quarter alongside Smith, while the backups on the depth chart this week will have Bray under center. So whatever the outcome for Mahomes is Friday night, it must be examined through the prism of working with third-team players.


Likewise, it will almost certainly come against the second- and third-team 49ers defense.


That's one reason Reid was reticent Tuesday following the Chiefs' final open practice of the week to put too much stock in a single preseason game. He instead will lump the performances in a game setting along with what he's seen out of practice and the meeting rooms, and begin deliberating with his coaching staff on what will ultimately comprise his 53-man roster.


With changes to the cutdown rules, he'll also have three more games to examine.


''The first preseason game, everyone has an opportunity to play. After that, it's not guaranteed,'' Reid said. ''That kind of stuff has never changed. The thing you don't want to do is give another team, if possible, a good player. You want to make sure you do as thorough evaluation as you can.''


Several starters are also unlikely to play because of injuries, and one of them forced the Chiefs to make a roster move ahead of their preseason opener. Incumbent kicker Cairo Santos is out while nursing a groin injury, so the Chiefs signed Sam Ficken late Tuesday to handle those duties.


They placed wide receiver Corey Washington on waivers to make roster space for him.


''He's going to be fine,'' Reid said of Santos. ''It's not a serious deal.''


Most of the other injury woes have occurred on defense.


Rookie lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon was the latest to go down with what Reid called shin splints. DT Bennie Logan has already been out with a knee injury, while second-year pro Chris Jones remains on the PUP list following offseason knee surgery.


DT Roy Miller, signed last week, continues to work his way back from a torn Achilles tendon sustained last October. He has yet to practice with the team.


In the secondary, star safety Eric Berry is unlikely to play while dealing with a heel injury that has sidelined him since Saturday. Cornerbacks De'Vante Bausby (ankle) and Jacoby Glenn (concussion) are also out, while linebackers Tamba Hali and Dadi Nicolas remain out with knee injuries.


The positive of all those injuries is that others will have an opportunity to stand out.


''You get to see them with the swings that happen in games. That is really what it is all about,'' defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said, ''is how you deal with these swings and can you get your focus right back in. Can you let that play go, good or bad, and get right into it? Or hey, we have had two or three series that have not gone the way we wanted it to go on defense. So can we get this thing back on track and get in position to win the game?


''We have a lot of young guys,'' Sutton said, ''so I think it will be exciting to see them.''