Player Notes

Browns rookie OT Dawand Jones on chasing Joe Thomas’ legacy and how to make 31 grown men cry ·

CLEVELAND, Ohio — When you throw up on the sidelines of your first rookie minicamp practice for all the media to see and write about, there’s nowhere to go but up, right?That’s the inauspicious way the NFL career began for Browns rookie right tackle Dawand Jones — pressed into service as the Browns new starter now that Jack Conklin is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL.But if it ends the way ...

Ravens film study: Rookie WR Zay Flowers lives up to ‘Joystick’ nickname in debut ·

It didn’t take long Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium to see why Lamar Jackson gave the nickname “Joystick” to rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers.On the third play of the Ravens’ second possession against the Houston Texans, Flowers, the 22nd overall draft pick out of Boston College, lined up in a bunch formation wide left along with tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to his right at the Texans’ 28-yard-line. ...

“A lot smarter than people give him credit for” - Baker Mayfield’s ability to decode Vikings’ defense signals has fans praising Buccaneers QB ·

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield impressed many people in his debut with the Bucs.He led his team to a road victory against the NFC North champions from a season ago, the Minnesota Vikings. Mayfield threw for two touchdowns, no interceptions, and 173 yards, but he did something more impressive on the field that didn't show up in the box score.According to running back Rachaad White, ...

Baker Mayfield runs angry but Bucs may need to protect him from himself ·

TAMPA — Baker Mayfield took off running with the football, planting his left hand into the sternum of Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy. It was first down on the Minnesota 33-yard line in the fourth quarter with the game knotted at 17-all.The blow sent the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Murphy flying. Popping up off the ground, Mayfield then landed something that hurt more than that stiff-arm Sunday.“Get that ...

Tackle is a problem: Jason Peters, 41, from his Texas couch to Seahawks starter Sunday? ·

Jason Peters was putting on his shoulder pads for his first Seahawks practice. It was another, countless practice of his seemingly endless football life.A new locker neighbor came over to the 41-year-old former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro and Super Bowl champion.“Hi, I’m Noah Fant. I play tight end,” Peters’ new teammate and neighbor on Seattle’s offensive line said. “Nice to meet you.”Then the 41-year-old ...

Kawakami: The 49ers’ big ambitions, $42 million in cap space and some potential trade opportunities ·

Keep an eye on the ambitious, free-spending Super Bowl contender that just created the most 2023 cap space in the league, is known for splashy midseason moves and has one or two obvious positions that could use significant improvement.Or put another way: Never discount Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch and Jed York’s enthusiasm for keeping all of their personnel options open, especially the expensive and creative ...

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk named NFC’s offensive player of Week 1 ·

SANTA CLARA — Brandon Aiyuk joined Jerry Rice and Anquan Boldin as the only 49ers wide receivers to win an NFC Player of the Week award via a season-opening showcase.Aiyuk drew that career-first honor Wednesday for his spectacular showing in the 49ers’ 30-7 win Sunday at Pittsburgh.“It was definitely cool,” Aiyuk said. “Do I get something for that?”Nothing other than a line on a growing resume. For ...

49ers’ Fred Warner leads defense into rivalry week against Rams ·

SANTA CLARA — Tackle No. 699 of Fred Warner’s career was unlike any other. It came with speed, power, force and a season-opening message.“That was the one you dream of, to set the tone,” Warner said of slamming Najee Harris for a 2-yard loss early in Sunday’s 30-7 win in Pittsburgh.With all due respect to the 49ers’ overall dominance, and without diminishing Drake Jackson’s three-sack outburst in Nick ...

Jalen Hurts is blowing up: Eagles QB lands on TIME100 Next list, nabs another major endorsement ·

It’s been a whirlwind seven months for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts since his team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in February.Hurts, who was the runner-up for the NFL MVP award, has gone from promoting a drink called Lemon Perfect to representing the Jordan Brand — and, as of Wednesday, Beats by Dre. He also went from earning a master’s degree to earning a Sports Illustrated cover. ...

Giants' Amani Oruwariye leaves practice facility in ambulance ·

Giants cornerback Amani Oruwariye left the practice facility in an ambulance on Wednesday after suffering a neck injury.The 27-year-old practice squad member was placed on a backboard and carted off the field after a special teams kickoff drill, according to The Post’s Paul Schwartz.Oruwariye had movement in all his extremities and was taken to Hackensack Medical Center for further evaluation.Giants ...

Recent Stories

NFL roster madness explained

Something always has to have a nickname. Like “Black Monday” in the NFL, when head coaches are fired the day after the end of the regular season, it was only a matter of time before someone slapped a name on the cutdown in the NFL. Some have called it “Black ...

CeeDee cashes in, sets stage for rookie WR class

Now that the Dallas Cowboys finally quieted the daily discussion about wide receiver CeeDeee Lamb with a massive contract, there is no doubt the trend is to covet these pass catchers second only to the almighty quarterback. The prolific All-Pro wideout agreed ...

Must-see 2024 NFL rookie QB battles

After the first 12 picks in this year’s draft were complete, the 2024 quarterback class was destined to be forever linked to that celebrated 1983 draft, which also saw six quarterbacks, including three Hall of Famers, taken in Round 1. With the countdown to the ...

Rookie IOLs with mettle to medal

Amid the Summer Olympics, the NFL season has officially begun with a full slate of preseason games. This is the time of year when the attention is typically on the skilled position players as fantasy football degenerates are fine-tuning their draft strategies to ...

When Life Choices Become Grave Mistakes

I'm deeply saddened to hear about the tragic "accident" that claimed the lives of three young men: Khyree Jackson (24), Isaiah Hazel (23), and Anthony Lytton Jr. (24). These childhood friends shared dreams and aspirations of becoming professional athletes. They ...

Running back: Devolution of a proud position

In this, the first in a series on the state of running backs, we discuss how a dramatic evolution has negatively impacted a once proud position. The series will look back at RBs selected in the 2024 draft, ahead to a 2025 class that seems loaded with runners and ...

Trump's forgotten charge: Killing the USFL

July 11, 2024, is already etched in history as the day former President Donald Trump will be sentenced for 34 felony convictions. Regardless of the outcome, I am reminded of July 29, 1986, when he actually won his battle in a New York court and lost the war. Trump ...

Larry Allen: A long road to respect

Arguably the most dominant offensive lineman in football history, Larry Allen died Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. He was 52.   His life story redefined perseverance. It could have been the original plot line for Straight Outta Compton, but ...

Controversy: Are punters, kickers NFL-draft worthy?

Kansas City Chiefs’ placekicker Harrison Butker made an impression in 2023 by making 33 of 35 field goals. Last week, he made quite an impression at Benedictine College, where Butker, shall we say, pushed his commencement speech wide right.   Controversy and ...

Jim Otto, the original Mr. Raider, dies at 86

The original Mr. Raider has passed. Jim Otto, the first Raider to touch a football, died Sunday at his Auburn (CA) home, with his family at his side. He spent most of his 86 years sneering at the inevitable, enduring last rites three previous times. Otto is survived ...

2024 Draft: A next-gen affair

As we look forward to watching the 257 draftees selected last week in the 2024 NFL Draft, we also gaze in the rear-view mirror at those relatives who preceded them and established the family name long ago. Fathers, uncles, and brothers with names everyone ...

Calculating the 2024 Draft grades of all 257 picks

 2024 DRAFT: 32 TEAMS AND 257 PLAYERS GRADED Exhale. The 2024 NFL Draft did indeed conclude when Mr. Irrelevant, Jaylen Key (DB, Alabama) was drafted by the New York Jets with the No. 257 selection. We can break out the calculators and over analyze the selection ...