MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Vikings have entered this season in a similar place Jake Matthews Jersey 2019 , almost eerily so as they prepare to play each other in the opener.With Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins, they’re driven by a polished quarterback who has made 4,000-yard seasons a habit. In Devonta Freeman and Dalvin Cook, they have a dual-threat running back from Florida State whose impact has been limited lately by injuries and a vulnerable offensive line. Kickers Matt Bryant and Dan Bailey, both in the top eight on the NFL’s all-time list for career field goal percentage, were considered for replacement.The strongest common thread? That lies with the head coaches and their beloved side of the ball. Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer, though born 15 years apart, are each making the play calls for a proud and experienced unit, a couple of defensive-minded bosses trying to make it in this post-modern, pass-preferred league with rules that typically favor scoring touchdowns over stopping them.Article continues below ...“You have to play extremely hard. You have to play fast. You have to play smart. If you don’t run to the ball, if you don’t get going to the ball and swarm the ball, then you’re going to struggle,” Zimmer said. “That’s what makes it hard.”The Vikings finished with the fourth-fewest yards allowed last year Black Andy Levitre Jersey , but their defense didn’t have quite the same edge as the season before when they came within one game of the Super Bowl. They missed the playoffs at 8-7-1.The Falcons lost linebacker Deion Jones and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen to injuries in September and stumbled on their way to a 7-9 finish that kept them home from the postseason, two years after they were NFC champions. Quinn returned to his roots, essentially becoming the defensive coordinator after firing Marquand Manuel and hiring Bob Sutton as an adviser, for his fifth year on Atlanta’s sideline. Zimmer will mostly call the plays again in his sixth season in Minnesota, with George Edwards again as the defensive coordinator.“I have very high standards for the defense,” Zimmer said. “I expect them to live up to my expectations, so I’m going to keep pushing them until we get there.”Here are some key angles to follow for the game Sunday:BRYANT’S BACKAfter cutting the 18th-year veteran Bryant during the offseason, the Falcons endured a tumultuous preseason before settling on, yes, Bryant as their kicker.Giorgio Tavecchio missed five field-goal attempts in exhibition play, and the team even brought in former Vikings kicker Blair Walsh for a brief look in practice, but in the end the familiarity and reliability of the 44-year-old Bryant won out.Bryant missed only once in 21 field goal attempts in 2018, but missed three games with a hamstring injury and enters 2019 as a bit of a question mark without any work in preseason games.The Vikings are under special teams scrutiny of their own. They stuck with Bailey after bringing in a training camp challenger in Kaare Vedvik Andy Levitre Jersey 2019 , but they picked up 10th-year veteran punter Britton Colquitt this week to replace Matt Wile.As for Walsh, the 2012 All-Pro pick who was cut by the Vikings halfway through the 2016 season and last kicked in an NFL game on Dec. 31, 2017, the opportunities to get back in have been dwindling.“You felt the competitiveness. You could feel how badly he wants to get going,” Quinn said. “Being out was hard on him.”LINE REVAMPThe Falcons were still waiting this week to determine two starters on their offensive line. Either Matt Gono or rookie Kaleb McGary will be the right tackle, and the left guard position will go to either Jamon Brown or James Carpenter.McGary, a first-round draft pick at 31st overall, couldn’t play until the final preseason game after undergoing a heart procedure and conceded this week he’s not yet in optimal physical condition. Brown and Carpenter were two of the primary offseason acquisitions, but only one will start. The Falcons drafted Chris Lindstrom with their first pick, 14th overall, and he’s locked in at right guard.The Vikings made Garrett Bradbury the first center drafted in the first round in team history, 18th overall, and shifted Pat Elflein to left guard. Josh Kline is the new right guard for a team that ranked third-worst in the league in rushing Black Ryan Schraeder Jersey , three spots behind the Falcons.SOUPED UPThe Falcons have two former college teammates at Minnesota, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman. Though Hageman is suspended for this game because of an NFL substance abuse policy violation, Campbell has begun his fourth season as the starter in the middle.“The progress and development that he’s made since he’s been here has been remarkable. He’s always had a real older soul to him in a way, like he’s always searching how to do it better,” Quinn said.HARD TO HEARThe newbies up front for the Falcons will have their hands full with a stout Minnesota defensive line and the deafening crowd noise at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Vikings are 18-7 in the regular season and the playoffs since the translucent venue opened in 2016. They’ve won their first three home openers.“They don’t really get fazed by anything,” Ryan said, referring to his young blockers. “I think that’s a really good quality for a young player, to be kind of low-pulsed and even-keeled. Those guys have shown that.” Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley is one of several key players from the team who has been absent from the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, but he confirmed that his absence won’t stretch into the mandatory portion of the schedule.The Falcons will wrap up the offseason program with a three-day minicamp that starts on June 12. Beasley told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com that he will “definitely” be in attendance.Beasley declined to provide a reason why he opted to work out on his own this offseason. He’s entering the final year of his contract after the Falcons exercised their option on his contract for this season. He’ll make $12.81 million and will be in line for a bigger deal should he post strong numbers off the edge this season.Beasley had 15.5 sacks in 2016, but has dropped to five sacks in each of the last two seasons. Head coach Dan Quinn said early in OTAs that there were “specific exercises and techniques that I wanted [Beasley] to work through” this offseason, but that work will have to be done at minicamp or training camp instead.

hit free agency Blue Matt Paradis Jersey , and it’s fully possible he could end up back in Carolina at some point."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomCarolina Panthers name Ben Jacobs assistant special teams coordinatorNew,48commentsThe long time special teams player will hit free agency, and it’s fully possible he could end up back in Carolina at some point.ESTShareTweetShareShareCarolina Panthers name Ben Jacobs assistant special teams coordinatorCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsWell I just heard the news today... that Ben Jacobs has been named the assistant special teams coordinator for the Panthers. Jacobs replaces Heath Farwell, who left Carolina to be the Buffalo Bills’ special teams coordinator.The Panthers released Jacobs yesterday prior to him becoming a free agent in March, and there was speculation that coaching was in his future. It appears that speculation was true.Jacobs joins Chase Blackburn on the Panthers’ special teams coaching staff.In news that is sure to rival the response to Eric Reid signing a new three year contract earlier today, the Carolina Panthers have granted linebacker and special teamer Ben Jacobs his release, per Field Yates.As alluded to in the above tweet Matt Paradis Jersey 2019 , this makes Ben Jacobs eligible to be signed by any team immediately as opposed to being forgotten about in the free agent frenzy. Moves like this are usually extended as an act of courtesy to players who have decent tenure on a team, but for whatever reason are not going to be re-signed. The Panthers don’t owe him any additional money, and this allows him to garner some attention during a time where not a lot is happening across the league other than re-signings.This also means that Jacobs could find his way back onto the team anyway, should he not garner much interest in the open market, as right now the Panthers need to keep their cap options open for other priority signings. We wish Ben Jacobs the best, as he has been a good special teamer for us for quite awhile. Maybe he’ll get a chance to play more linebacker somewhere else in the league. No matter how much you want to keep Daryl Williams, it’s not a good idea."The Carolina Panthers are not expected to use the franchise tag on any of their 2019 free agents and that’s a good thing. Their large class of out-going free agents consists mainly of role players and depth. They only have three free agents who could conceivably draw attention from other teams (excluding the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants). If they were to use the tag Blue Eric Reid Jersey , the deadline is today.Daryl Williams, Devin Funchess, and Thomas Davis are the only noteworthy players with expiring contracts who, at present, do not intend to retire when the league year opens at 4 P.M. on March 13th. The team has already announced that it does not intend to bring back Thomas Davis, despite his wishes, and is therefore obviously not an athlete they would consider tagging. Similarly Eric Reid Jersey 2019 , the team has made no attempt to re-sign wide receiver Devin Funchess. A breakout year by rookie D.J. Moore combined with a lackluster season by Funchess has left both sides looking elsewhere in 2019.The only real candidate for the franchise tag this year would be Williams. He is a former All-Pro player at a position of real need for the Panthers. The only problem is that All-Pro players don’t come cheaply and neither do franchise tags. The tag number for offensive linemen last season was about $14 million. The Panthers currently have $17 million in cap space and a list of holes long enough to preclude blowing their whole budget on one player.A long term deal could be creatively structured towards a reasonable cap figure for this year. Unfortunately for the Panthers, there are plenty of teams in the league with loads of cap space and gaping needs on their offensive lines. Williams doesn’t need to sign a creative contract with the Panthers when the Colts can give him more money overall and more money sooner.With the market working against them, the Panthers’ only hope of signing Williams is to tag him and sign him to an extension. There is no requirement for Williams to sign that extension and it is becoming increasingly more common for players to hold out in protest of the tag being used this way. They, understandably, want to test their value on the open market. The other risk is that Williams could sign and play underthe tag number but refuse to negotiate an extension, thus burdening the Panthers with an untenable contract that prevents them from fielding a competitive team next season.The likeliest way that Williams does remain a Panther is if he tests the market in free agency and finds teams wary of his recent knee injury (torn MCL, dislocated patella in his right knee). That eventuality could see him return to the team on a short term Blue Ian Thomas Jersey , likely one year, prove-it deal to demonstrate his health. I consider this to be an unlikely scenario as teams like the Indianapolis Colts, with over $100 million in cap space, can afford to bet on his health.As much as it sucks to watch home-grown talent at a position of dire need walk out the door with the only recompense a future, largely worthless compensatory draft pick, it remains the correct course for the Carolina Panthers. They simply do not have sufficient resources to have options when it comes to Williams’ future.

DAVIE Chandler Cox Jersey nfl draft , Fla. (AP) — rehead as he stepped up to a cluster of media microphones to kick off training camp.Nervous? Nah.“Let me catch my breath,” he said. “I just got a workout done.”Flores said his camp routine will include daily CrossFit training, which means pullups, pushups and squats — as if he doesn’t have enough to do trying to orchestrate a Dolphins turnaround.Their multiyear rebuilding project began a new phase Thursday when 86 players took the field in sweltering sunshine for practice.“A lot of excitement,” Flores said. “We’re raring to go.”Coming off a 7-9 season, the Dolphins are a 500-1 bet to win the Super Bowl, which makes them the NFL’s longest long shot. They’re more likely to contend for worst in the league, but according to Flores, there will be no maneuvering for the No. 1 draft pick and a shot at a franchise quarterback.“We’re going to have a tough, smart, disciplined team that works hard and is not going to beat themselves,” he said. “We’re going to fight to win every week.”Plenty of players will fight for starting jobs in the next few weeks, most notably at quarterback, where for the first time since 2011 camp began without Ryan Tannehill. He’s now a backup for the Tennessee Titans Super Bowl Chandler Cox Jersey , and newcomers Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen are competing to replace him.Fitzpatrick took most of the snaps with the first team Thursday, as he did in offseason workouts.“I’m just trying to be the best version of me that I can be,” Fitzpatrick said.Flores said the depth chart will be fluid at all positions, and to underscore the message that the roster’s far from set, the Dolphins hosted former Miami Hurricanes receiver Allen Hurns on a free agent visit. Hurns suffered a gruesome broken ankle in the playoffs last season with Dallas, and Flores said the Dolphins will evaluate his health before deciding whether to make a contract offer.Receiver Albert Wilson, who missed the final nine games last season with a hip injury, was limited as he eased back into the practice regimen.“I’m definitely getting stronger, and I feel like I’m getting faster,” Wilson said. “I’m feeling pretty good.”Safety T.J. McDonald, tight end Dwayne Allen, linebacker Mike Hull and cornerback Cordrea Tankersley began camp on the active physically unable to perform list.Flores roamed from one group to another during drills. The former linebacker was the defensive play caller last year for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, but said his attention on the field will be evenly divided between units.“I’ve got my eyes on all parts of the team, all parts of the organization Football Chandler Cox Jersey ,” he said. “If someone needs a good yelling at, I’ll get where that needs to be.“If someone needs a pat on the back, I’ll do that as well. You won’t see too many of those.”The real test must wait until the Dolphins start to lose, but so far Flores’ players are praising his approach.“He’s got a great demeanor,” said Fitzpatrick, a 15-year veteran. “He’s very genuine when he talks. With the message he’s trying to get across you know it’s coming from a good place.“We haven’t played a game yet, but he has the attention, command and respect of the team right now. And that’s a hard thing to do so early as a coach.”Flores said the goal is to improve every day. That goes for the coach too.“I’ll try to cut the sweat down a little bit tomorrow,” he said with a chuckle as he gave his glistening forehead another swipe. “It’s my first day, all right?” With three offensive linemen hurt, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was feeling the heat Monday.From his critics, that is.Tannehill took a pounding in the Dolphins’ latest defeat Sunday at Cincinnati, and then caught plenty of blame for his team’s second ugly loss in a row. Coach Adam Gase, ever loyal to Tannehill Jesse Davis Jersey , mounted a modest defense by noting problems with pass protection.“I don’t think he was horrible,” Gase said. “When a (teammate) gets beat so fast he can’t defend himself unless he’s Houdini, not many guys are getting away.”More Miami Dolphins newsDolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick will play vs. Patriots despite trade requestDolphins will try to regroup for Patriots after drubbing at the hands of RavensDolphins can’t contain Lamar Jackson, lose big at homeDolphins versatile offensive lineman Jesse Davis signs extension through 2022Dolphins trade Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills to Texans for draft picksThe Dolphins are 3-2 and tied with New England for the AFC East lead, but it hardly feels that way. In the past two weeks they’ve lost at the Patriots 38-7 and blown a 17-point lead at Cincinnati , leaving Gase forced to address the question of whether Tannehill remains his starting quarterback (the answer was yes).Tannehill took responsibility for the Dolphins’ collapse Sunday, when they were outscored 27-0 by the Bengals in the final 21 minutes left and lost 27-17. His ill-advised pass under pressure was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, and a strip sack produced Cincinnati’s final score.“It all started with the turnovers,” Tannehill said. “That’s on me.”In Tannehill’s defense, he was hit 11 times in the second half. Protection by Miami’s injury-riddled line disappeared after left tackle Laremy Tunsil was sidelined with a concussion.This season’s offensive line was expected to be the best Tannehill has played behind, but instead the perennial problem of poor pass protection persists. The Dolphins lost left guard Josh Sitton and center Daniel Kilgore to earlier season-ending injuries.“Anytime starters go down, it’s hard,” Tannehill said.When Miami was 3-0 Kenny Stills Jersey , Tannehill had a quarterback rating of 121.8. But in the past two games it’s 54.0, with one touchdown pass, four turnovers and five sacks. He has struggled mostly on third down and late in the game, a career-long pattern.No letup in pass pressure is likely this week, when the Dolphins face the Chicago Bears (3-1) and Pro Bowl end Khalil Mack, who has at least one sack and at least one forced fumble in every game.How will the Dolphins slow Mack down?“You’re not going to slow him down,” Gase said.Sam Young flopped as Tunsil’s replacement in Cincinnati. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said the Dolphins missed Tunsil, especially because they left Young in one-on-one situations.“It makes a difference when you lose a tackle at this level of football,” Lewis said. “And they didn’t seem to want to help the guy when they left the guy out there. Our guys did a nice job. We had blood in the water, and we went after it.”Gase said he’ll re-evaluate the line this week and make “a couple of decisions” regarding who plays where.“We’ll figure it out,” Gase said. “That’s what we do. They’re not going to stop the season. We’re going to play next week no matter how many guys we’ve got.”

Last year Chad Henne Jersey , receiver Sammy Watkins got to the open market and signed a contract that, in many respects, was better than Odell Beckham’s eventual new deal.r than the contract signed last year by Watkins.Watkins, who was unrestricted and could have gone anywhere, will make $48 million over three years, with $30 million fully guaranteed at signing. Brown, who was under contract for three more years and supposedly had no leverage at all, will make $50.125 million over the next three years, with $30.125 million fully guaranteed. That’s an average from signing of $16.7 million — higher than the value of any receiver deal when assessed as a full-value, moment-of-execution deal. (Beckham’s deal is worth $16.4 millon from signing, but he’s under contract for five more years.)It’s unclear how much of the $50.125 million Brown actually will make. Watkins likely will be released after 2019 Kendall Fuller Jersey , but he’ll still exit with $34 million over two years, an average of $17 million per year.Brown, if he stays only two years, will earn at least $30.125 million — and he’ll have a shot at the open market at the age of 32 going on 33 (not to be confused with 32 going on 73). Issues like whether he’s likely to stay with the Raiders for all three years along the amount of money he’s expected to earn as a practical matter will become more clear when the final terms surface. For now, though, Brown has a deal that trumps all others under a new-money analysis, and that rises to the top of the stack when considering the value of the contract at signing.Of course, that may not last very long. But, for now, Brown is the king of the receiver hill, again. The star tight end is the only player in the tight end room who is a lock to play the position this September" Kansas City Chiefs NewsChiefs tight end Travis Kelce should be ready to play by training campNew,18commentsThe star tight end is the only player in the tight end room who is a lock to play the position this SeptemberCDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce should be ready to play by training campTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesThe Kansas City Chiefs now have seven tight ends on their 90-man roster — Travis Kelce is a lock as the starter. The Chiefs will carry two — possibly three — tight ends on the final roster when the season begins.So six players are competing for one or two roster spots — the heaviest competition at any position on the team — but right now Eric Murray Jersey , the Chiefs are having trouble putting very many of them on the field for OTAs.Thus far, Kelce has been held out of offseason practices because of the ankle surgery he had after last season.But according to head coach Andy Reid — who spoke to the media after the team’s OTA session on Thursday — two more were sidelined.“There are a couple of guys that are nicked up just a little bit,” he said. “Blake Bell’s back locked up on him — just spasms — so he didn’t practice today.”Bell, a former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback who converted to tight end in his final college season, came to the Chiefs after stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers — who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.But Reid said another one of his bevy of tight ends was kept out of practice on Thursday.“Deon Yelder, the tight end, had a little bit of a hamstring strain,” Reid said. “He’s just precautionary — keeping him out today and we’ll see how things go down the road with him.”Yelder — an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky — spent the first part of the 2018 season on the New Orleans Saints practice squad.Released by the Saints in early October, he was signed to the Chiefs practice squad and promoted to the active roster a few weeks later.He saw special teams action in three games last season.That leaves John Lovett, David Wells, Joe Fortson and Nick Keizer — the latter signed just a week ago after being released by the Baltimore Ravens.“We just signed a new kid Terrance Smith Jersey , Keizer, and actually he’s doing a nice job,” Reid told the press on Thursday. “Wells is in there too doing well. We’ve mixed both of our fullbacks in to take some reps there and they’re doing a nice job likewise.”Both of their fullbacks?Former Green Bay Packers fullback Aaron Ripkowski had been one of the Chiefs’ early offseason signings, but he was released several weeks ago; only longtime Chief Anthony Sherman is listed as a fullback on the current Chiefs roster.Reid’s words suggested that Lovett — another converted quarterback whom the Chiefs had previously said was getting work at the fullback position — might be seen by Chiefs coaches as more of a fullback than a tight end (perhaps even an H-back, if you will).Reid’s next statement amplified that idea.“If you’re going to play fullback here you’re also going to have to play tight end,” Reid said. “All in all, they’re getting great work. With Travis not being able to practice they’re getting great work.”Reid’s statements provide some hints about how the Chiefs might intend to structure the 53-man roster in 2019.The Chiefs carried just two tight ends in 2018, but they could decide to keep an extra one this season if that player could also serve as a fullback.Or to put it another way, the Chiefs could decide to keep two fullbacks — one of whom could also be used as a tight end.As always, Reid likes to keep opposing defenses guessing. That kind of versatility built into his offensive roster could add another layer of uncertainty to what the Chiefs might do when a particular group of offensive players is on the field.But one thing remains certain: Kelce will be the starter at tight end.Reid was asked if Kelce would be ready for the mandatory minicamp that begins June 11.“I don’t think next week,” Reid replied. “I think you’ll probably see him at training camp.”

It’s not Neon Deion Cheap Julio Jones Jersey , because that would be too easy." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesoholican Atlanta Falcons communityFollow The Falcoholic online:Follow The Falcoholic on TwitterFollow The Falcoholic on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchThe Falcoholic main menuFanpostsFanshotsLibraryFalconsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Library FalcFans Podcast on The FalcoholicContact The FalcoholicFalcons StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Falcons NewsYahoo Falcons Team PageYahoo Falcons ReportYahoo Falcons Depth ChartYahoo Falcons TransactionsYahoo Falcons PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Falcons trivia: Who averaged the most punt yardage in team history? New,9commentsIt’s not Neon Deion, because that would be too easy. EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Falcons trivia: Who averaged the most punt yardage in team history? TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailThe Falcons have had some truly legendary returners pass through Fulton County Stadium, the Georgia Dome, and...so far not Mercedes-Benz Stadium. From Billy “White Shoes” Johnson to Deion Sanders to Allen Rossum and Devin Hester, there has been no shortage of greats, though few have spent more than a handful of seasons in Atlanta.When it comes to the very top marks in franchise history, though, there are some quirks. Darrick Vaughn still has the the highest kick return yardage average and the most kick return touchdowns in team history despite spending only two seasons in Atlanta, and the highest punt return average in team history belongs to a man whose name probably doesn’t readily spring to mind either.The man in question spent a single season in Atlanta Custom Julio Jones Jersey , averaged a phenomenal 14.1 yards per return, and was then gone. Despite his short stint with the Falcons, he is actually one of the more underrated punt returners in NFL history, with a similar number of returns and yardage to the legendary Devin Hester and a better yards per return average, though he has less than half as many touchdowns.Who’s the man in question? Le’Veon Bell doesn’t want to be a Steeler unless he can glean a market-resetting long-term contract. Pittsburgh has made it clear it won’t meet his demands. And saddling him with the franchise tag for a third straight season wouldn’t just be prohibitively expensive — it would also likely trigger another lengthy holdout.Bell failed to report to the team’s practice facility by Nov. 13, which means per the league’s collective bargaining agreement, he’s obligated to sit the whole season out. When the 2018 season comes to a close, he’ll be able to hit reset on his career after a year-long game of chicken where neither side blinked.But that doesn’t mean the Steelers are going to just let him walk away for nothing. The league’s transition tag could help them recoup some assets in an offseason trade, and even help Bell secure a front-loaded big money deal in the process.Wait, what’s the transition tag?The transition tag is a less-expensive version of the franchise tag that allows a player to garner contract offers from other interested teams. It offers a team the right of first refusal when it comes to one of its unrestricted free agents. That gives the free-agent-to-be more leverage than he’d have under the franchise designation — but it benefits his current team as well. The tagging franchise has the opportunity to match the terms of the contract its player would otherwise sign elsewhere.Like the franchise tag Julio Jones Jersey Discount , it also comes with a designated one-year contract. In this case, it’s the average salary of the top 10 highest-paid players at the tagged player’s position, or 120 percent of what the player earned the previous year. So, based on what Bell earned in 2017, the transition tag means he would be in line for the same $14.5 million that his franchise tag was supposed to be worth. That is, if he were to sign his transition tender (he wouldn’t). Teams can use the transition tag once per season. Teams cannot use the transition tag and the franchise tag in the same year. And, unlike the franchise tag, if a player signs elsewhere, the club gets no compensation for its loss.The transition tag effectively turns an unrestricted free agent into a restricted one, though without the added team security of receiving draft picks should the player leave. By tagging Bell Julio Jones Jersey Super Bowl , Pittsburgh could sit back and wait for other teams to make offers on the All-Pro tailback. Once he gets a offer to his liking, he’ll start the clock on the Steelers’ seven-day window to either match the contract or let him walk. That would give Pittsburgh the opportunity to re-sign Bell at a lower figure should his market never materialize, or use its transition tag-given right to sign him to an astronomical deal, then trade him to whichever interested party is offering the biggest return for Bell and his new contract.What are the chances Pittsburgh transition tags Bell?It’s reasonable gambit for the club, but not a great one. James Conner has been a star in his own right filling in for Bell this season. Plus, teams rarely use the transition tag because it’s easy to game. A team with oodles of cap space in 2019 — say, the Colts or Jets or Texans or really any of the 28 franchises carrying less salary into next year than Pittsburgh — could offer Bell a front-loaded contract. The Steelers would have to match any deal to its exact terms, putting an incredible strain on their cap space. A deal with big money over the first year or two would make sense, too. Bell isn’t getting any younger, so paying out the nose early in a contract to lessen the cost of a running back’s age 30+ seasons is a smart move. And Bell would happily sign any deal that gets him the guaranteed money for which he’s been searching Julio Jones Jersey For Sale , but especially so if he knows it puts Pittsburgh in a position where it can’t match.On the other hand, the team doesn’t have many feasible options to recoup more than a supplemental draft pick in exchange for losing a homegrown talent. The Steelers could franchise tag Bell again, but that would be a major drain on the club’s offseason cap space in the lead up to any deal. Since Bell would be entering his third year under the designation, he would cost the team the average salary of the league’s five highest-paid quarterbacks — approximately $25-26 million, depending on how the rest of the year shakes out.So the transition tag is on the table, but ultimately it might not have much of an effect aside from earning Bell a contract that pays big over his first year or two with a new team. Still, it would at least give Pittsburgh the opportunity to retain Bell and extend the club’s window to work out a trade with a needy franchise. With the dynamic tailback almost certainly out the door come 2019, that’s better than nothing.

CHARLOTTE Donte Jackson Jersey White , N.C. (AP) —ug tested by the NFL six times in the past 11 weeks, his Panthers teammates and coaches are growing increasingly annoyed at the frequency of the league’s “random” drug testing policy.Coach Ron Rivera quipped Thursday at his news conference that “if my name came up that many times I would buy a lottery ticket.”Carolina wide receiver Torrey Smith added, “it’s very excessive.”“I don’t think there’s any secret about it that something is wrong with that https://www.pantherslockerroom.com/authentic-dj-moore-jersey ,” said Smith, who noted that he has been tested “two or three times” this season in 15 weeks.Several veteran players say that is about the average for an entire season; Reid said that was his average before returning to the NFL.Reid said he has taken seven drug tests in all (one was mandatory) since signing with Carolina on Sept. 27, fined three times for illegal hits totaling nearly $50 https://www.pantherslockerroom.com/authentic-curtis-samuel-jersey ,000 and ejected once.The sixth-year safety believes it all stems from his pending collusion case against the NFL that alleges owners conspired to keep him out of the league for kneeling alongside former San Francisco 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem to protest social and racial injustice.“I’ve been a part of depositions,” Reid said. “I have been a part of this legal process and I’m not surprised in the slightest.”Reid said his teammates were more shocked than he was when he was selected to be tested again after Monday night’s loss to the Saints.The 27-year-old said he is not concerned about failing a drug test because he’s never failed one before, but he wants “it to be dually noted that it has happened. … It’s like stop-and-frisk. If am walking down the street it doesn’t mean I am doing anything illegal Blue Matt Paradis Jersey , but that doesn’t mean I should be stopped every time.”Reid said he’s not buying that the league doesn’t have any control over the random tests.“I perceive that the league is full of you-fill-in-the-blank,” Reid said. “I wish I could see y’all’s faces when, or if Matt Paradis Jersey 2019 , what I know becomes public from this (collusion) lawsuit.” I expected the line to be six or seven points but was pleasantly surprised it is only two and a half points in favor of the Patriots. I’m through betting against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Yes I know they lost the Super Bowl to the Eagles last year. But they won the year before. My hope is that if Brady wins a fifth sixth Super Bowl ring he will finally retire. He’s 42 years old for heaven’s sake, what more does he really need to accomplish? He’s now on his ninth Super Bowl in eighteen seasons. Even I am begrudgingly willing to call him the GOAT quarterback if it will get him to retire. Here’s the full line from Top Bet:Regarding the over/under of 58 points scored, I think the over is again the way to go with two high scoring offenses on the field. The Rams offense can put up 30 points on the Patriots no problem Blue Eric Reid Jersey , and still lose of course. So I like the Patriots to cover the two and half points with a three point win somewhere in the neighborhood of 34-31, something like that. Get those bets in now because I see this spread increasing as we get closer to the game.

"Thomas Dimitroff really hit a grand slam in his first ever offseason as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons Calvin Ridley Jersey Boys , didn’t he? First, he used the No. 3 overall pick in the draft to secure Matt Ryan, who would go on to become the team’s franchise quarterback for the next decade plus. Then, he brought in maybe his greatest free agent acquisition ever — Michael Turner.Turner was the big prize of the free agency pool that offseason, hitting the market after proving himself as a capable running back in San Diego, but blocked from the starting job by the legendary LaDainian Tomlinson. Dimitroff won the Turner lottery, and lured him to Atlanta with a six year, $34.5 million contract.Turner was spectacular as an Atlanta Falcon, especially in that initial 2008 season which was his magnum opus. He was a First-Team All-Pro selection after totaling 1,699 rushing yards and a league-leading 17 rushing touchdowns in Matt Ryan’s rookie season Cheap Calvin Ridley Jersey , leading the Birds to an unlikely 11-5 record and playoff appearance.Turner spent five wonderful years in Atlanta, and he exceeded 1,300 rushing yards in three of those seasons (he didn’t achieve the feat in 2009 because of an injury which cost him five games). The Burner also scored double-digit rushing touchdowns in all five of his years as a Falcon.Turner was the engine of Atlanta’s offense in Matt Ryan’s early days, and he would carry the weight of the load on his shoulders in between 2008 and 2011, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in the 2008 and 2010 seasons (he led the league in carries in both of those years).Michael Turner rushed for 6,081 yards in his time as a Falcon — second in franchise history behind only Gerald Riggs; and he totaled 60 rushing touchdowns — by far the most in franchise history (Gerald Riggs is second with 48). His 81.1 rushing yards per game is also the best mark in franchise history by a substantial margin (Gerald Riggs is second with 72.9 rushing yards per game).The numbers are spectacular to look at, and they make the Burner arguably the greatest running back in Falcons history, but Michael Turner’s impact can’t be measured simply by looking at the numbers.A young Matt Ryan’s life was made so much easier because of Turner’s presence in the backfield, and with the knowledge that he could be leaned on when the Falcons needed it most. Ryan was able to develop at his own pace, and win right away at the same time Custom Calvin Ridley Jersey , because of Michael Turner. Who knows how different things would be Ryan today if not for Turner’s impact in those early days.A salute to the great Michael Turner, who once upon a time turned the power running game into an art form for the Atlanta Falcons. Our staff roundtable covers the games we’re most looking forward to, the ones we dread, and our overall thoughts."How are we feeling about the newly released 2019 Falcons schedule? Let’s find out.Dave ChoateGame I Can’t Wait For: vs. Rams, Week 7Game I Dread: @Saints, Week 10Irresponsibly Early Prediction: 9-7 I’m not ready to get overly excited about this team’s prospects until at least after the draft, but this schedule’s not going to fill me with dread. Having a bye right before a road game against the Saints is a good thing, given that those are almost always miserable slogs, but I relish the opportunity for the Falcons to play the NFC’s Super Bowl representative last year in a home game to see how far they’ve come. If the Falcons are healthy and their roster moves prove savvy, they’ll likely have a good season Calvin Ridley Jersey Discount , with only that brutal late-in-the-year NFC South stretch and road games against the Eagles and Vikings really giving me pause. Evan BirchfieldGame I Can’t Wait For: at. Vikings, Week 1Game I Dread: vs. Saints, Week 13Irresponsibly Early Prediction: 11-5The NFL Schedule Release is another example of how powerful football is in this country. Fans around the country, including myself, stay glued to leaks/rumors leading up to the ultimate reveal. I’m very excited for the Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings solely because my dad who introduced me to the sport when I was 6 years old, is a lifelong Vikings fan. I love Thanksgiving, specifically for the food.. and now we all have to watch the Saints and Falcons for the second year in a row. I feel good that it’s in Atlanta, but surrounded by food and family, it’s not exactly a calming environment. David WalkerGame I Can’t Wait For: vs. Eagles, Week 2Game I Dread: vs. Saints Calvin Ridley Jersey Super Bowl , Week 13Irresponsibly Early Prediction: 10-6The Falcons have a perfectly placed bye week this year and an odd stretch of 5 straight division games right after it. This is the weirdness of the NFL schedule. I’m looking forward to that game against the Eagles because it’s about damn time we got to play a Pennsylvania team in Atlanta. Maybe we can actually win this one. I don’t “dread” facing the Saints on Thanksgiving per se, I just dread that a perfectly good holiday has the potential to turn into a stress-fest. The combination of tryptophan and nail-biters against the Saints could make for a very uneasy evening. That said, the overall schedule has the potential to play out nicely for this team. There could be some surprising losses (49ers as an example), but I don’t see a team that I consider an impossible win either.Kevin KnightGame I Can’t Wait For: vs. Saints, Week 13Game I Dread: @Saints, Week 10Irresponsibly Early Prediction: 10-6This is a very interesting schedule for the Falcons. On the one hand, the opening slate is pretty brutal. The Vikings and Eagles both feature outstanding defenses that will give Atlanta’s new-look OL a phenomenal test. The Colts and Texans both showcase electric offenses that should tell us a lot about the Falcons’ defense in 2019. A home match-up with the Rams in Week 7 could either be a triumphant moment for an ascending team, or a look at how far we still have to go. Then after the bye its five straight division games, which I actually like. Having those games later in the season will hopefully lend itself to a Falcons’ offense that is firing on all cylinders after some adjustment time. Overall, a tough schedule that should still allow Atlanta to sneak into the playoffs at 10-6.Cory Woodroof Game I Can’t Wait For: Falcons vs. Eagles Calvin Ridley Jersey For Sale , Week 2 Game I Dread: Of course it’s the trip to New Orleans in Week 10Irresponsible Early Prediction: 10-6 I’ve outlined my general thoughts on the schedule, so I’ll keep this brief. The Falcons have a gauntlet ahead, but it’s not unlike that 2016 schedule they managed just fine. It’s not about the fight; it’s about what you bring to it. The Falcons need not worry about how tough the road may be ahead. If they bring their A-game every week, they’ll always be competitive. I’m expecting anywhere from 9-7 to 11-5, so I’ll settle in 10-6. It’ll be a fascinating fall, full of possibility and pratfall in equal measure...so a typical season for the Atlanta Falcons. Eric Robinson Game I Can’t Wait For: vs. Rams, Week 7 Game I Dread: at Texans, Week 5 Irresponsible Early Prediction: 11-5 The start to the season for the Falcons will definitely be a tough one. The first five games include three playoffs teams and two teams in the Titans and Vikings who are gritty and are the type of teams that have punched the Falcons in the mouth before in the past. We truly are going to see how good and how much of a threat the Falcons are before their bye week in week nine. A home Thanksgiving contest against the (S)aints sounds like revenge on the mind for Dan Quinn and his group. A five-week stretch against division opponents after the bye week is interesting. If the Falcons are able to navigate to a 5-3 or 6-2 start to the season, this is a playoff team that will scare folks.

Panthers defense and talk more offseason stuff."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomKeep Sounding PodcastKeep Sounding: Reviewing the Panthers 2018 defense We’re joined by Billy again to go over the Panthers defense and talk more offseason stuff. ESTShareTweetShareShareKeep Sounding: Reviewing the Panthers 2018 defense I’m gonna be honest with you DJ Moore Men Jersey , I’m writing this two days after we recorded and I forgot what all we talked about. I know we talked about the Panthers alleged implementation of more 3-4 looks, our thoughts on it, and if the personnel fits those looks. We talked about the defense’s performance as a whole, in line with this week’s theme. We talk some draft and free agency stuff. We talk about mock drafts. Brad as a couple of trademark Brad rants. Our recording app bugged out about halfway through and we had the most seamless transition into the second half of a show that you’ve ever seen. There’s probably more stuff in there too. If you want to know what it is Color Rush DJ Moore Jersey , you’ll have to listen. As always, check us out on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever else you consume podcasts. We’ll be there. And you can subscribe on those places. Your quarterback needing shoulder surgery is never good news.But for the Panthers DJ Moore Jersey Boys , Cam Newton‘s procedure yesterday seems to be the best of an array of less-desirable alternatives.The team release offered no timetable, only that their team doctor “successfully performed” an arthroscopic procedure.According to Joe Person of , two sources close to the situation described it as “relatively minor.”The Panthers tweeted out a photo of Newton after the procedure, and he was up and dressed Cheap DJ Moore Jersey , which suggests they didn’t do too much when they were inside his throwing arm.Coupled with the timeline, that’s as good a sign as possible. When he had his first surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff, he waited until March 2017. That cost him the entire offseason program and most of training camp. The Panthers shut him down for the final two games last season, after his arm strength got progressively worse and the deep passing element of their offense was gone.Now Custom DJ Moore Jersey , the hope that a minimally invasive procedure will have him back to form sooner rather than later. They still need to find a better grade of backup than Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen, a reality that has been acknowledged as far up the food chain as owner David Tepper.

perienced receivers and the New Orleans Saints won their 10th straight game Thursday night with a 31-17 victory over Atlanta that eliminated the Falcons from contention in the NFC South.Tommylee Lewis and Austin Carr each caught their second career touchdown pass Limited Takkarist McKinley Jersey , and rookie tight end Dan Arnold grabbed his first, as did rookie receiver Keith Kirkwood. All four entered the NFL as undrafted free agents within the past three years and had combined for zero touchdowns this season before Carr caught the first of his career last Sunday.“It says a lot about them. It says a lot about taking advantage of the opportunity, and stepping up when we need it,” Brees said of his latest touchdown targets. “It’s fun to watch them grow and gain confidence. We’re building chemistry, which typically takes time, right? But they’ve been thrust into this role.”Meanwhile, the Falcons (4-7) lost three fumbles inside the Saints 20 — something no team facing streaking New Orleans (10-1) can afford this season.“The defense played tremendous today against a really explosive offense,” Brees said. “They got four turnovers. That’s a huge stat in the game.”Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was stripped by safety Marcus Williams on a third-and-2 from the Saints 3 and Williams recovered to end Atlanta’s opening drive. Julio Jones was stripped by linebacker Alex Anzalone after a catch on the New Orleans 17, and safety Vonn Bell recovered in the final minute of the second quarter to preserve a 17-3 lead going into halftime.“Any time you have a turnover when they’re in a threatening position — just do the numbers, do the math,” Saints coach Sean Payton said.New Orleans’ defense, which had a season-high six sacks, continued to come up with big plays in the second half. Anzalone broke up a fourth-down pass in the third quarter and linebacker A.J. Klein intercepted a pass tipped by defensive tackle Tyeler Davison in the fourth.The interception gave the Saints possession on the Atlanta 22 Takkarist McKinley Falcons Jersey , setting up Kirkwood’s diving 4-yard TD catch.Just for good measure, Marshon Lattimore stripped Calvin Ridley on the Saints 1 after a 29-yard completion that looked as though it would end with a touchdown with about four minutes to go. Defensive back Eli Apple recovered that one.“When you have one turnover (in the red zone), it feels like a lot,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “We had three down there and that was the real story of the game.”Ryan was under pressure all night from a Saints defense that was bolstered by the return of first-round draft choice Marcus Davenport from a toe injury that sidelined him for three games. Cameron Jordan had two sacks, while Williams, P.J. Williams, Sheldon Rankins and Demario Davis each had one.Ryan finished 35 of 47 for 377 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. But very little came easy. His first TD pass, to Calvin Ridley, came on a fourth-and-goal from the 2 at the end of the third quarter.Atlanta rushed for just 26 yards, while New Orleans finished with 150, led by Alvin Kamara‘s 89 and Mark Ingram‘s 52.Statistically, Brees did not have one of his more impressive games Elite Takkarist McKinley Jersey , completing 15 of 22 passes for 171 yards with his second interception of the season. The pick was snagged by Damontae Kazee, his NFL-leading sixth this year.But Brees’ ability to play to the strengths of unheralded receivers allowed the Saints to cash in on scoring opportunities.Lewis, a third-year pro, was in his first game back after spending nine weeks on injured reserve and had not caught a pass all season before getting wide open for his 28-yard grab that made it 7-0 on the first series of the game. Carr is a second-year pro who played in only one game without a catch as a rookie. He, too, was wide open after Falcons defenders bit on a fake handoff to Ingram. Kirkwood made his NFL debut three games ago, when Arnold had his first career reception.“Obviously, Drew is someone who is very confident in the preparation, confident in players around him. There’s a lot that goes into that,” Payton said. “I’m excited for those guys that got opportunities.”INJURIESFalcons linebacker Kemal Ishmael was helped off the field in the third quarter after a punt.UP NEXTFalcons host Baltimore Dec. 2.Saints visit Dallas on Thursday night. The Falcons got four draft picks under contract and...largely had a quiet weekend otherwise."It’s doldrums time, folks. The news spigot has been turned down to a trickle and all we can do is lap up the occasional signing or roster change that drips out to us and I no longer love this metaphor. Let’s get to the news.Falcons ink four draft picksThe big news of the last few days, if you can call it that, was that the Falcons had managed to get four of their draft selections under contract. Their first three picks remain unsigned for the moment Game Takkarist McKinley Jersey , but DE/DT John Cominsky, RB Qadree Ollison, CB Jordan Miller, and WR/KR/PR/RB Marcus Green are now all signed.That’s housekeeping for the Falcons, but I’m legitimately excited to see all four in action. Cominsky is a project defensive lineman with the athletic ability to make an impact down the line, Ollison is a potential plus blocker and powerful runner who figures to take over the #3 duties, Miller is an unusually polished late round cornerback some fans are already falling in love with, and Green is interesting both as a returner and as a weapon on offense. Hopefully the whole class will be signed and hanging out at the rookie minicamp from May 10-12.Who’s going to start at left guard? Kind of a huge question! Kevin Knight took a look at the competition for the left guard spot and broke down why we should take rookie first rounder Chris Lindstrom’s prospects at the position quite seriously, as well as the case for James Carpenter and the potential fallout should Lindstrom take the job. We’re rooting for the rookie to lock down that spot, not just this year but for say the next decade. Cominsky’s potential and Green’s future Over the weekend, David Walker a.k.a. DW took a closer look at Cominsky to see just how good he could be. The verdict? While Dan Quinn’s spotty record of developing pass rushers in Atlanta is a cause for concern, Cominsky’s outsized talent, Quinn’s stated intent to move him inside Takkarist McKinley Womens Jersey , and Quinn’s pass and present success with the defensive tackle on his roster suggest Cominsky could be a steal of a fourth rounder. Just, you know, not right away. While we’re talking futures for draft picks, how about Marcus Green? I broke down why I think he’s an intriguing slot receiver for the future, but as many suggested in the comments, Green’s most exciting trait might be his versatility and physical resemblance to extremely useful players like Tarik Cohen. Falcons on the bubble As much as I hate to say it, there are a handful of players who look like they’re already firmly on the roster bubble. There were other good suggestions in the comments, too, so read up and see which Falcons may be fighting for their roster lives starting in just a week or two.

roster via free agency."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomNFL Free AgencyCarolina Panthers free agency 2019Carolina Panthers sign center Matt Paradis to three-year DJ Moore Men Jersey , $27 million contractNew,277commentsThe Panthers have filled one major hole on their roster via free agency.EDTShareTweetShareShareCarolina Panthers sign center Matt Paradis to three-year, $27 million contractUpdate: The details of the contract are out, and the first year carries a cap hit of $3.8 million for the Panthers. Year 2 carries a cap hit of $8.3 million and Year 3 carries a cap hit of $9.8 million. There are two voidable years (2022 and 2023) at the end of the contract that void if Paradis is on the roster after Super Bowl LVI (Feb. 2022).Here’s a brief explanation of how those void years work from Nick Korte at Over the Cap:The Panthers can split this $3.6 million cap hit into two chunks if they give Paradis a contract extension.There’s no denying that Hurney used some creative accounting to get this deal done. I’m not the biggest fan of adding $3.6 million in dead money to the salary cap four years from now Color Rush DJ Moore Jersey , but if the Panthers can come to terms on a contract extension within the next three years it will work out alright for both parties. And for what it’s worth, Korte thinks the Panthers got a good deal for Paradis.The Carolina Panthers have signed free agent center Matt Paradis to a three-year, $27 million contract according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.Paradis has spent his career with the Denver Broncos after being selected in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent his college career at Boise State.The Panthers needed to add a center to the roster after Ryan Kalil announced his retirement last year. Paradis brings the Panthers some much-needed veteran stability at arguably the most important position on the offensive line, and his relative youth (he’s only 29) allows them to potentially give him a second contract if the first three years work out in their favor.Paradis will be required to pass a physical before the contract becomes official. He was placed on injured reserve by the Broncos in November after suffering a broken leg DJ Moore Jersey Boys , but has claimed that he is healthy and ready to go in 2019.Assuming there are no snags with the physical, this signing allows the Panthers to focus on other positions of need with their first picks in the upcoming draft. Former N.C. State standout center Garrett Bradbury was among those rumored to be on Carolina’s radar in the first round, but now that the Panthers have locked up Paradis for the next three years they can shift their focus to a pass rusher or offensive tackle with the No. 16 overall pick.What do you think of this move, Panthers fans? Share your thoughts with us! Marty Hurney has made his first trade of the 2019 NFL Draft."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCarolina Panthers have selected Greg Little after trading for the No. 37 pick in the 2019 NFL DraftNew Cheap DJ Moore Jersey ,187commentsMarty Hurney has made his first trade of the 2019 NFL Draft.EDTShareTweetShareShareCarolina Panthers have selected Greg Little after trading for the No. 37 pick in the 2019 NFL DraftTrevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY SportsThe Carolina Panthers have made a trade to move to the No. 37 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. They have selected Greg Little, an offensive tackle from the University of Mississippi.The Panthers paid a high price, their first pick in the third round, but they traded up to get a left tackle which was a position of true need after releasing Matt Kalil this off season.Little played in 36 career college games over three years for Ole Miss Custom DJ Moore Jersey , including 29 starts at left tackle. His career to date has been littered with All-American and All-SEC accolades. He also has the ideal size to play tackle in the NFL at 6'5" and 310 pounds. Only time will tell of he turns out to be the ideal athlete to protect Cam Newton's blindside and keep the Panthers' quarterback out of the operating room again next year. If he is then the price paid to trade up for him will have been more than worth it.