List/Grid Monthly Archives: July 2017

Packers’ Mike Daniels brings energy to D _ and love of anime
GREEN BAY, Wis. Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels traded in his green-and-gold uniform in July for a white robe, a championship belt and a blonde wig that had…

HOF Series: Hall gets Easley after reconciling with Seahawks
SEATTLE (AP) — For more than a decade, the Pro Football Hall of Fame wasn’t a consideration for Kenny Easley. He was interested in anything regarding football. “I didn’t watch…

Martavis Bryant finally on the field with Steelers, sort of
It will be nice when the Pittsburgh Steelers can get their whole team on the field at the same time. Right now the roster is a patchwork of guys while…

Giants’ Aldrick Rosas looks to measure up with kickers around NFL
There is only one kicker in Giants camp this summer, a 22-year-old whose only NFL experience consists of three preseason games last year with the Titans, when he converted his…

No major updates for Conner and Golson injuries
Two of the injured members of the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t in Latrobe on Monday for the team’s practice. Running back James Conner and cornerback Senquez Golson were in Pittsburgh getting…

Jets CB Morris Claiborne on CTE, concussion concerns: ‘I would die out there on that football field’
Morris Claiborne is willing to risk his life despite the mounting research linking the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to football. The veteran Jets cornerback has suffered three…

Things starting to click for Josh Dobbs at Steelers’ practice
One of the reasons quarterback Josh Dobbs ended up a fourth-round pick as opposed to coming off the board sooner was inconsistency. The Pittsburgh Steelers believe they got a steal…

Pump it up: Roethlisberger leads the league in fakes
There are stats that are significant and some stats that are just cool. Count this one in the latter category. Pro Football Focus pulls together tons of stats and one of…

Utah Football Fall Camp Day 3 Recap
Utah football took the practice field for the third practice of fall camp (the second open to the media). In the 20 minutes the media could observe, there were some…

WATCH: Will Mike Maccagnan’s Jets rebuilding plan work?
FLORHAM PARK — Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan met with reporters Monday, on the third day of training camp, and he said pretty much what you’d imagine. Maccagnan likes the “good progress”…

The 5 O’Clock Club: A look at five Offensive UDFAs at Redskins Training Camp (plus one special ‘bonus’ player)
The 5 o’clock club aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics…

Giants Training Camp Live Updates, August 1
The New York Giants get one step closer to real football on Tuesday when they will practice with pads on for the first time. The Giants won’t be in full…

Benjamin Watson will be the not-so subtle sleeper for the Baltimore Ravens
A once crowded tight end group has gone from six to three, and now back to four in a matter of a couple of months for the Baltimore Ravens. It…

News: Why young Cowboys secondary may ‘shock’ NFL
Grading the CBs: This group is going to shock people – Danny Phantom, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys have remodeled their cornerback position and the new players could help them…

Should the Jets Retire Number 24?
Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne made an interesting comment after Monday’s practice. Teams sometimes do not reissue the number right after an iconic player leaves. It doesn’t always lead to that…

Stampede Blue’s Colts Links: 7/31/17
Colts camp observations: Donte Moncrief looks great early Donte Moncrief is catching everything, Jack Mewhort fine with move to right guard and who is Lee Hightower? Colts ‘confident’ O-line will…

Brian Dawkins is the most deserving Hall of Fame candidate
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Who should be in the Hall of Fame? Picking the Class of 2018 – NFL.com Brian Dawkins, safety – Putting Dawkins first…

The four main questions entering week two of Patriots training camp
After having their first off-day of this year’s training camp on Monday, the New England Patriots will return to the practice fields later today (9:15 a.m. ET). Naturally, there are…

Kaepernick has more than a prayer of NFL return
The Ravens owner is asking for divine guidance on whether to sign Colin Kaepernick. Either way, the controversial QB should keep the faith. Powered by WPeMatico

Asked About CTE, NFL Rookie Calls Football Field The ‘Perfect Place To Die’
No. 6 overall pick Jamal Adams was sitting next to commissioner Roger Goodell when he made the comments Monday. Powered by WPeMatico

The Baltimore Ravens Are Considering Signing Colin Kaepernick
The team has had “direct discussions” with the controversial quarterback. Powered by WPeMatico

Hall of Fame moments: Morten Andersen
Atlanta hasn’t had a ton of success in its 50 years as a franchise, but Morten Andersen provided the Falcons with their greatest moment on Jan. 17, 1999. Powered by…

Can the Cowboys get by early if Ezekiel Elliott is suspended?
Each week, The Washington Post’s Mark Maske provides in-depth NFL analysis with “First and 10,” a dissection of the league’s most important developments. First and 10: July 31 FIRST ……

Barnwell: Five NFL teams most likely to decline in 2017
Bill Barnwell ESPN Staff Writer Bill Barnwell is a staff writer for ESPN.com. Follow on Twitter To figure out what’s likely to happen in 2017, we have to take a…

Colts Relying Heavily On Darius Butler In 2017
Kevin Bowen Colts.com Writer INDIANAPOLIS – Now, imaging Darius Butler as anything other than a safety in 2017 is a bit laughable. With Clayton Geathers sidelined until at least mid-October,…

In 24 hours, E.J. Bibbs went from tryout hopeful to the Redskins’ sixth tight end
RICHMOND — Of the handful of tight ends who tried out for the Washington Redskins, E.J. Bibbs won. Washington’s first training camp signee made an impression strong enough to earn…

NFL Power Rankings 2017: Examining League Hierarchy as Training Camps Begin
Over the weekend, some teams dusted off the pads for training camp. In the coming days, more clubs will put the equipment on to gauge their developing talents on the…

Jonathan Stewart: Christian McCaffrey “unstoppable” coming out of backfield
Due to the NFL rule barring rookies from joining teams until their schools are out of session, Panthers first-round pick Christian McCaffrey wasn’t part of the team’s offseason program this…

Should Ravens sign Griffin or Kaepernick?
The Baltimore Ravens apparently are thinking about adding a former starting quarterback to bolster a depth chart that consists of an injured starter, a backup who plays that way, a…

Lynch and Shanahan allow 49ers fans a closer look at practice
The 49ers haven’t played their first game under new General Manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan, but they’re already winning over the hearts of some fans. According to Matt…

It makes no sense for Jets to rush Christian Hackenberg if he’s not ready
Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Close Longtime Jets beat writer for New York Daily News Syracuse University graduate Follow on Twitter FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — When it comes to the…

Biggest Questions Facing Oakland Raiders with Training Camp Underway
On Friday, Donald Penn chose not to report to camp with the veterans because of a contract dispute. According to NFL Network’s Michael Silver, speaking to colleague Ian Rapoport, the…

Biggest Questions Facing Dallas Cowboys with Training Camp Underway
Last week, the NFL announced that defensive end Damontre Moore will be suspended for the first two games of the season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The suspension…

Los Angeles Chargers kick off training camp in Costa Mesa
Fans turned out to welcome the Los Angeles Chargers as the team held its first day of training camp in Costa Mesa Sunday afternoon. Powered by WPeMatico

Sheldon Richardson wants to change the Jets’ narrative
Sheldon Richardson knows what you think of him and he insists that he doesn’t care. But he does. Richardson has an ambitious two-fold goal for the 2017 season, and it…

Monday Morning Mailbag: Early Camp Storylines
Do you have a comment or question? Send it to the vikings.com Mailbag! Every Monday we’ll post several comments and/or questions as part of the vikings.com Monday Morning Mailbag. Although…

Former Raiders DB Dave Grayson dies at age 78
Former Oakland Raiders defensive back Dave Grayson has died. He was 78. Oakland owner Mark Davis said Sunday that the Raiders family is saddened by Grayson’s death. The team did…

Giants’ defensive captain says rest of league should be afraid
There are few greater honors than wearing the “C” on a New York Football Giants defense. Especially a defense like this one, which has brought honor and pride back to…

Anthony Lynn on Mike Williams’ return: ‘When he’s healthy, he’s healthy’
Eric D. Williams ESPN Staff Writer Close Covered Seahawks for Tacoma News Tribune for six seasons. Played college football at University of Puget Sound Follow on Twitter COSTA MESA, Calif….

Will Dalvin Tomlinson start? Examining Giants’ defensive tackle battle so far
Linebacker feels more likely than cornerback at this point though. Corner depth is undoubtedly a concern for the Giants, but if they were inclined to go after a veteran, it…

WATCH: Giants’ Davis Webb plan clear early in training camp
EAST RUTHERFORD — The Giants have had three training camp practices so far this summer, and rookie quarterback Davis Webb has taken a grand total of four snaps in team drills, all…

After tough first practice, Kenny Golladay looked to Matthew Stafford for help
ALLEN PARK — Kenny Golladay’s first NFL training camp didn’t go the way he’d plotted it out in his mind. The sun was shining, the breeze was fluid and the…

T.J. Lang feeling ‘best I’ve felt in 5 years’ as Lions open training camp
T.J. Lang waited for this day for four months. Longer, actually, if you count all the time he spent dreaming of playing for the Detroit Lions as a kid. The…

Jets’ rookie safety duo got jump on pro competition in “mini-NFL”
Jets coach Todd Bowles is not one to gush over rookies. But gush he did Sunday. Bowles heaped some praise on his rookie safety duo of Jamal Adams and Marcus…

Glover Quin gets what he wants with Lions extension: A place he feels wanted
Safety happy to stay with team after signing a two-year extension When Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin was a teenager growing up in the tiny town of Summit, Miss., he…

Nelson Agholor catches on with Eagles fans
Nelson Agholor reached back and plucked the ball with his hands as if he were opening a can of Coke. It was natural. It was effortless. And it came against…

Ensconced in L.A., Los Angeles Chargers now focus on football
COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Chargers say hello to Los Angeles in Costa Mesa, but in some ways all that off-the-field chatter is mute. It’s back to the football field…

Kenny Britt says DeShone Kizer “going to be one of great ones”
Receiver Kenny Britt played with 10 starting quarterbacks in his first eight NFL seasons, and Britt already sees greatness in his new teammate, DeShone Kizer. “He’s growing each day, each…

Rams backup quarterback Sean Mannion is off to a strong start in camp
It comes with the position. Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and all levels of football, are accustomed to garnering support from fans unhappy with the starter. When the endorsement comes…

Perry: ‘Significant void’ in Patriots pass rush with Rob Ninkovich retiring
Phil Perry and Ben Volin talk on Sports Sunday about how the New England Patriots will replace Rob Ninkovich’s production now that he has announced his retirement. Powered by WPeMatico

Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck to fans: ‘Don’t freak out’
INDIANAPOLIS — Quarterback Andrew Luck has a message for any Indianapolis Colts fans who may be stressing out over his absence from the start of the team’s training camp practices….

Training camp a bit more open to fans under new regime
Kyle Shanahan sets sights on pocket passers Powered by WPeMatico

Breaking down which Cowboys defensive rookies have made good impressions, plus a surprise player
OXNARD, Calif. — Individual fortunes can change as quickly in training camp as they do on the stock market or an episode of Game of Thrones. Is Ramsay Bolton still…

Second-year Giants safety has one goal and a lot of competition
At this time a year ago, Andrew Adams was considered a long shot to stick on the Giants roster, an undrafted safety from UConn with many bodies ahead of him…

Broncos Training Camp Day 4 Takeaways: Defense steps up
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Saturday, the offense pushed down the field. Sunday, the Broncos’ defense, teeming with talent and pulsating with pride, pushed back. When throwing windows existed, they were narrow….

Cardinals signing veteran CB Tramon Williams
The Cardinals announced they have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with cornerback Tramon Williams. Williams, 34, spent the last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns after eight seasons…

Cowboys LG Chaz Green injures shoulder
The Cowboys were counting on Chaz Green to compete for the starting left guard position. They also were familiar with his injury history. Green was injured yet again, according to…

The Giants believe their first-round pick can be better than Jordan Reed
In Jordan Reed, the Redskins clearly have the NFC East’s best tight end. “It was the night of the draft when I was kind of talking to people about him,…

Steelers’ first practice with full pads takes toll
As the Steelers prepared to run their first practice play Sunday afternoon in the heat at St. Vincent, coach Mike Tomlin couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. “Yeahhh, tackle football!” Tomlin shouted…

Giants’ Janoris Jenkins finds a new way to fight a teammate in training camp
Credit to Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins for finding new ways to spice up training camp scuffles. Instead of the garden-variety intrasquad-scrimmage slap fight we’ve become accustomed to, Jenkins ratcheted things…

Why Jets veteran is spending training camp with the rookies
The Jets rookie class has one more member than you realize. A 24-year-old, 6-foot-5, 259-pound tight end has added himself to the group. “I’m treating this like my rookie year,”…

Here are aspects Bears sophomores honed in their first pro offseason
BOURBONNAIS — Players typically make the biggest leap between Years 1 and 2, the thinking goes, because they know what to expect and what’s expected of them. Embracing the latter,…

Detroit Lions Sunday training camp
The 2017 Detroit Lions training camp began Sunday in Allen Park with the first preseason game August 13 against the Colts and the first regular season game August 31 against…

Matt Ryan says he wasn’t taking a shot at Kyle Shanahan with playcalling remarks
Earlier this month, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan explained to CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco exactly how his team blew a late third-quarter 28-3 Super Bowl lead to the Patriots. Atlanta would go…

In Ben McAdoo’s World, A Purpose To Every Practice Period
“Periodization” is probably best defined as the systematic and strategic ordering of training phases to challenge the body and build towards a specific competition. Athletes should be very familiar with…

Cowboys OL Chaz Green could miss up to two weeks with shoulder injury in latest setback
OXNARD, Calif. — Cowboys offensive lineman Chaz Green could miss up to two weeks with a shoulder injury, a source said. Green, who didn’t practice Sunday, won’t require surgery but…

Rich Rodriguez discusses Chuck Cecil hire
The Arizona Wildcats announced the hire of UA legend Chuck Cecil on Friday, and on Sunday it became clearer what the Hall of Famer’s role will be with the program….

Three Cowboys briefly removed from practice after tempers flare; Dak compares his dogs to ‘Rob & Big’
Cowboys insiders David Moore, Brandon George, Jon Machota and Kate Hairopoulos share their daily practice observations through Twitter. Here are some highlights from Sunday’s activities. To stay up to date…

Holding down LT not new for Newhouse but not ideal for Raiders
Two days into camp now with a major piece of the Raiders offensive line missing. There’s no telling when Donald Penn’s holdout will end. Or even HOW it will end….

Philip Rivers thankful for warm welcome as Chargers open training camp
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Philip Rivers always gets a bit nervous for the first training camp practice. This time, the veteran quarterback had another layer of anxiety as the relocated…

Cruz sees himself as good fit in offense
Victor Cruz has yet to break out his signature Salsa dance. But less than a week into training camp, the veteran receiver already feels at home with the Bears. “It’s…

Winston needs to prove he’s the franchise
Winston has shown signs of being a the quarterback Tampa Bay hopes he was was they drafted him. Now he needs to prove it in his third year. Powered by…

Jerry Jones: “Everything’s in place” for NFL on Ezekiel Elliott
A couple of days after saying that a decision in the Ezekiel Elliott case is imminent, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered further details supporting his belief. “They have had their…

Trumaine Johnson wanted a long-term deal with the Rams “big time”
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald held out to get a long-term deal with the team. Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson didn’t. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t want one. “I wanted…

Wake-Up Call: Get Over To The Open Practice
The first chance to see the Eagles in action at the Linc in the 2017 season is today at 10 a.m. It’s also Military Appreciation Day. Admission is free. Seating…

O’HARA: Quin seeing ‘180’ culture shift with Lions
Playing deep in the secondary gives safety Glover Quin a vantage point on everything that happens in front of him in the Detroit Lions’ defense. The position has given Quin…

Sources: Longtime Pats DE Ninkovich to retire
Mike Reiss ESPN Staff Writer Close Covered Patriots since 1997 Joined ESPN in 2009 Follow on Twitter FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich, who has been…

Ninkovich retirement could be coming
During a recent visit to PFT Live, 33-year-old Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich said he has no specific plan for playing to a certain age and would take it one year…

Donte Moncrief in position for a breakout season with Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — After firing the general manager, undertaking a youth movement on defense and seeing the franchise quarterback undergo shoulder surgery during the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts are finally set…

49ers’ Joe Staley, Brian Hoyer, Kyle Juszczyk reflect on latest CTE study
Lorenzo Jerome’s strong training camp spikes 49ers’ safety depth competition Powered by WPeMatico

Rugby league: Broncos lose McCullough to season-ending knee surgery
Andrew McCullough could miss the start of the 2018 season after sustaining knee ligament damage in the Broncos’ loss to the Eels on Friday. Powered by WPeMatico

NFL Players Sued Over Insanely Expensive Bill at Hollywood Club
How’s this for embarrassing — 2 NFL players racked up a $10,000 bill at a Hollywood nightclub … only to have their credit cards DECLINED, this according to a new…

Broncos Training Camp Day 3 Takeaways: C.J. Anderson ready for role in passing game
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When C.J. Anderson exploded in the second half of the 2014 season, he wasn’t simply an effective runner. He was a potent receiving target. In fact, the…

Discovering Kurt Warner: Story reads more like a movie script
This coming Saturday in Canton, Ohio, Kurt Warner takes the ultimate step for someone in his profession — induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In terms of individual…

Steelers stock report after Day 2 of training camp
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is off to a fast start and the energy and enthusiasm from the players are great. There appears to be no AFC Championship hangover and Le’Veon…

11 players who deserve to make more money than Giants’ Odell Beckham
A lot of Giants fans probably won’t like this pick. One of the main pro-Beckham talking points in recent days has been he showed up to Giants camp while Donald,…

Giants WR-CB battles highlight 2nd training camp practice
Odell Beckham got most of the attention on Saturday and deservedly so. The wide receiver had a monster practice, including a deep touchdown catch on the first play of the first…

The 5 O’Clock Club: So OBJ wants to be the highest paid player in the league?
The 5 o’clock club aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics…

Cowboys News: “Explosive” Jaylon Smith wows at Cowboys training camp
Jaylon Smith turns heads in his second padded practice: ‘I will continue to improve’ – Jon Machota, SportsDay Jaylon Smith’s second practice in pads was even better than his first,…

Reports: Ninkovich set to retire Sunday
Multiple reports now indicate Rob Ninkovich will announce his retirement from the Patriots Sunday afternoon in Foxborough. The 33-year-old Ninkovich, who signed with New England as a free agent in…

Jets’ Todd Bowles not worried despite alarming concussion study
FLORHAM PARK — The numbers are downright frightening. Yet another chink in the shield of America’s favorite sport. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, otherwise known as CTE, was found in 99 percent of deceased NFL…

Saints training camp observations: Corey Fuller continues to impress
The New Orleans Saints took to the field on Saturday for their third day of training camp with plenty of cheer from the fans. Many lined up early to get…

Training Camp: July 29 Practice Recap
A year ago, here’s how things started for the Los Angeles Rams in their first training camp practice since relocating to LA: Suffice to say, we know how things went….

Giants’ Brandon Marshall sees this Eagles legend in Landon Collins
EAST RUTHERFORD — Brandon Marshall suddenly realized his NFL longevity during a quick exchange with a teammate earlier this offseason. “Walking in the showers, and there was this guy and he…

Detroit Lions crazy to talk about winning Super Bowl this season
The Detroit Lions are talking about winning the Super Bowl. Yes, the Super Bowl. This season. The Lions. The Detroit Lions. Before half the fans call for Jim Caldwell’s firing…

USC Practice Report (7-29)
The Trojans returned to Brian Kennedy-Howard Jones Field on Saturday with a full squad and lots of hope for the 2017 season. That full squad element was the first thing…

Rams second-year quarterback Jared Goff embraces his role as a leader
He was one of the first players on the field, a solitary figure in a red No. 16 jersey stretching and loosening up as Rams teammates made their way out…

Jeffery and Smith are sharpening the Eagles’ corners
It has not been a fun week to be an Eagles cornerback, and Saturday’s training camp practice, the first in pads, looked downright painful. Carson Wentz was lasering passes –…

Aaron Donald doesn’t show up, and remains the topic of conversation at Rams camp
The first day of training camp is generally about hope and optimism, so let’s start with a positive note. The Rams’ workout Saturday outdrew the Chargers’. Of course, the Chargers…

Jerry Jones: ‘Everything’s in place’ for NFL in Elliott case
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says “everything’s in place” for an NFL decision over a possible suspension of Ezekiel Elliott and that his star running back met recently with league…