0xbt: August 2022

The Falcons during the 2022 NFL offseason, and that position

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:36:45 +0000

The Falcons during the 2022 NFL offseason, and that positioned them to have an open quarterback competition for the first time since 2007.It was expected that veteran Marcus Mariota and rookie Desmond Ridder would compete for the Willie McCovey Jersey starting job to begin the season.However, Ridder has a different view of things. While he wants to eventually be a starter for the Falcons, he is taking it slowly as he integrates himself into both the NFL and the Falcons locker room."I take it day by day," Ridder said, via . "Im not coming out here trying to win the starting job, right here, right now. My job is Bruce Bochy Jersey to come out here and to make myself better to them, make Marcus better to them and make the team better."So, thats just my job. My role right now is to kind of bring everyone else with me. Bring the rookies with me. Bring all the guys around me with me so that we can become better."MORE: Ridder was known as a leader during his time at Cincinnati, so it's hardly a surprise that he has taken on the same role in Atlanta, at least among the rookies on the team.Still, it's unusual to hear a player involved in an open quarterback battle say that winning the job isn't his primary focus. Why does Ridder feel San Francisco Giants Jersey that way? It all has to do with his healthy respect for Mariota, from whom he is learning a lot as a backup."Hes like a big brother to me," Ridder said of Mariota. "Hes taken me under his wing. Hes taught me some of the nuances of not Tyler Beede Jersey only becoming an NFL quarterback but just an NFL player in general. So, Im excited to keep learning from him and keep growing."Ridder could use some time to grow and develop at the NFL level after playing in a non-Power 5 conference. It's good that he recognizes this and is willing to take time to improve his game.MORE: It also makes sense that the Falcons would want to roll with Mariota as their starter. The team doesn't have a lot of proven offensive weapons, but Mariota has 61 NFL starts under his belt. And, when healthy, he has proven to be a solid, accurate quarterback.Mariota has experience in Smith's offense too, as he was Tenne see's offensive Shaun Anderson Jersey coordinator during Mariota's final year with the team. That familiarity will make it easier for him to integrate himself into the Falcons' offense and continue to take pre sure off Ridder, the No. 2 quarterback selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Yes, the NFL is still playing "Thursday Night Football" int

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:36:08 +0000

Yes, theNFL is still playing "Thursday Night Football" into December. There are three more weeks of action left for the league's Thursday night contests, so incredibly, the program is almost done for the 2021 NFL season.But we're not there yet, so there's still time to catch a few more Thursday games, including this week's battle between the Steelers and the Vikings.Speaking of the time, the game is set to kick off at the same time that every single "Thursday Night Football" game has begun this season. That would be 8:20 p.m. ET.Both the Vikings and the Steelers are desperate for wins to stay alive in the Wild Card race. The Vikings (5-7) just became the first team to lose to the Lions David Bote Jersey this season while the Steelers (6-5-1) pulled off a surprising upset against the Ravens. Pittsburgh is in the AFC North though, and all four teams in that division hold records of .500 or better. As such, winning is still of the utmost importance for the Steelers as they try to grind through a tough divisional race to make the playoffs.Below is everything to know about the TV schedule for the NFL Week 14opener between the Steelers and Vikings, plus a look at the rest of the NFL schedule for this week.MORE: What time is the NFL game tonight?Date: Thursday, Dec. 9Time: 8:20 p.m. ETThe Steelers vs. Vikings game will begin at 8:20 p.m. ET. All "Thursday Night Football" games will kick off Ryne Sandberg Jersey at that same time throughout the 2021 NFL season.Pregame coverage of the contest will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on both NFL Network and Fox. NFL Network will also air "TNF First Look" on game day starting at 3 p.m. ET.Streamers will be able to watch the game via Amazon Prime orby using fuboTV,.Meanwhile, viewers in Canada can watch the game on DAZN .What channel is 'Thursday Night Football' on tonight?TV channels: Fox | NFL NetworkLive stream: Amazon Prime| | "Thursday Night Football" has been simulcast on both Fox and NFL Network for most of the season. That won't change again in 2021. Each network will continue to show the broadcast featuring Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on the call for the rest of the season. Viewers will also be able to stream the game using Amazon Greg Maddux Jersey Prime.Most United States cable providers carry the NFL Network. It also is available via satellite providerDirecTV (channels 212 and 1212) and IPTV providers Verizon FiOS (channels 88 and 588) andGoogle Fiber (channel 2019).NFL live stream for Thursday night gameStreamers will be able to view "Thursday Night Football"for free with a cable subscriptionby using either the NFL App or the Yahoo! Sports App. You must enter cable/satellite subscription credentials to acce s it.Meanwhile, cord-cutters will have plenty of options to watch Steelers vs. Vikings. They are as follows.Streaming option Cable subscription needed? Free? Cost Free trial? NFL AppNoYes--Yahoo! Sports AppNoYes--DirecTV StreamNoNo$69.99/monthNoNoNo$60/monthYesHulu Plus Live TVNoNo$55/monthYesSling TVNoNo$30/monthYesYouTube TVNoNo$65/monthYesNFL schedule Week 14The Steelers vs. Vikings game will kickstart the NFL's Week 14 action. Both teams are in the thick of the AFC and NFC Wild Card races but desperately need victories to avoid falling behind in the logjam of potential playoff teams vying for the Nos. 5 through 7 seeds.The two other prime-time games in Week 14 will be divisional matchups. The "Monday Night Football" battle between the Rams and Cardinals looks like the better of the two, and it may, perhaps, be the game of the week. The Cardinals can take a commanding three-game lead Justin Steele Jersey in the NFC West with a win over Los Angeles, so both teams will come amped up as they look to lock up or stay in the division race."Sunday Night Football" will feature the historic Packers-Bears rivalry. Green Bay certainly has the advantage in that contest, as they're coming off a bye and have Aaron Rodgers at quaraterback.Below is the full schedule for Week 14 of the 2021 NFL season.Week 14Thursday, Dec. 9GameKickoff timeTV channelSteelers at Vikings8:20 p.m. ETFox/NFLN/AmazonSunday, Dec. 12GameKickoff timeTV channelCowboys at Washington Football Team1 p.m. ETFox49ers at Bengals1 p.m. ETCBSJaguars at Titans1 p.m. ETCBSSeahawks at Texans1 p.m. ETFoxRaiders at Chiefs1 p.m. ETCBSSaints at Jets1 p.m. ETFoxFalcons at Panthers1 p.m. ETFoxRavens at Browns1 p.m. ETCBSGiants at Chargers4:05 p.m. ETFoxLions at Broncos4:05 p.m. ETFoxBills at Buccaneers4:25 p.m. ETCBSBears at Packers8:20 p.m. ETNBCMonday, Dec. 13GameKickoff timeTV Joe Maddon Jersey channelRams at Cardinals8:15 p.m. ETESPN

The connection between Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill in Ka

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:35:32 +0000

The connection between Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill in Kansas City was special. NFL viewers were treated to the spectacle of a deep ball to Hill, or a scramble drill that ended in a connection.But fans have seen the last of the dynamic pairing. On Wednesday, , ending the Austin Gomber Jersey run between star quarterback and star receiver after four years.Mahomes and the Chiefs still have tight end Travis Kelce as a target in the pa sing game, but the drop-off from Hill to the rest of the wide receiver room is steep. Since Mahomes took over as the Chiefs' starting quarterback in 2018, only Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman and Byron Pringle have recorded more than 500 receiving yards in a season among players not named Hill or Kelce. Watkins last played for Kansas City in 2019 and Pringle is now a member of the Bears.MORE: Hardman figures to fill a crucial role with the team, as does recent signee JuJu Smith-Schuster. But just what will the rest of the receiver room look like in 2022? The Sporting News takes a look at the Chiefs' depth chart to find out who Mahomes will be throwing to next season.Chiefs WR depth chart1. JuJu Smith-SchusterSmith-Schuster will likely become the immediate new No. 1 wide receiver. He signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the team after spending the past four years with the Steelers. He was limited to five games in the 2021 campaign because of a shoulder injury, catching 15 pa ses for 129 yards. Smith-Schuster had been a reliable Drew Robinson Jersey target for Ben Roethlisberger in the past; he recorded a career-best 111 receptions and 1,426 receiving yards in 2018 and compiled 831 receiving yards in 2020. Smith-Schuster has never been regarded as particularly fast he clocked a 4.54 40 time in the 2017 NFL Combine and his average depth of target has never reached double digits. In the past two years, the average was below 7 yards. Still, if he can stay healthy, he could be an impact player for the Chiefs.MORE:2. Mecole HardmanHardman could eventually become KC's top wide receiver given his rapport with Mahomes, but he has yet to take the next step in his career and be a game-changing receiver. Hardman has recorded at least 500 receiving yards in each of his three seasons in Kansas City, but to this point he has only once recorded more than Nolan Arenado Jersey 100 receiving yards in a game. Hardman should see increased usage in 2022 given his deep-ball ability twice, he has been over 10 yards for average depth of target and his yards after catch per reception even exceeded Hill's each season they were teammates. And with a 4.33 40 time, he has the speed to improvise when Mahomes scrambles. This could be the season he steps up his production.3. Josh GordonThis is where things start get dicey for the Chiefs. Gordon is clearly next up on the wide receiver depth chart after he signed a one-year, $1.12 million contract to return to Kansas City after appearing Jason Motte Jersey in 12 games with the Chiefs in 2021. Gordon caught five pa ses for 32 yards and a touchdown last season after mi sing all of 2020 because of suspension. In 2013, Gordon was viewed as a future star after he caught 87 pa ses for 1,646 yards for the Browns, but since then he has been suspended multiple times for substance abuse violations. He appeared in just 33 games between 2014 and 2019, catching 110 pa ses for 1,801 yards during that span. Gordon, who's entering his Age 31 season, will almost certainly be a regular for the Chiefs if they don't make any additions.MORE:4. Justin WatsonWatson is the only other wide receiver on the Chiefs' current roster who has caught more than two pa ses in his career. Watson spent the past four years with the Buccaneers, though he mi sed most of the 2021 campaign with a knee injury. From 2019 through 2020, Watson caught 22 pa ses for 253 yards with two touchdowns both coming in '19.5. Daurice Fountain/Gehrig DieterFountain and Dieter round out the list almost by default. The other wide receivers on the Chiefs' roster are Mathew Sexton, Cornell Powell, Gary Jennings, Chris Finke and Omar Bayle s, who have combined for zero NFL receptions. Fountain caught two pa ses for the Colts in 2020 for 23 yards, while Dieter caught a pa s for 10 yards in 2020 and a pa s for 22 yards in 2018. Related Articles Tyreek Hill contract extension Kolten Wong Jersey details: Dolphins make former Chiefs star highest-paid WR in NFL Ru sell Wilson, Khalil Mack trades highlight AFC West that is sick of Chiefs domination

Nick Foles was carted off the field on Monday night, but sho

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:34:56 +0000

Nick Foles was carted off the field on Monday night, but should be good to go in coming weeks, per reports.With under a minute left to play in the Vikings' 19-13 win over the Bears on "Monday Night Football," Foles was thrown hard to the ground by Vikings defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo. Patrick Corbin Jersey This brought the cart out, while Tyler Bray finishedthe game.Nick Foles thrown down hard and hurt on this play Roto Street Journal (RSJ) (@RotoStJournal) Bears backup quarterback Mitchell Truisky since Week 8.Given the rough landing, some speculated that Foles might have injured his shoulder or collarbone, but he was placed on the medical Nick Ahmed Jersey cart and driven off following the injury. In a positive twist, NFL Network'sMike Garafolo reported Tuesday morning that initial tests showed that Foles had no fracture to his leg or hip as initially feared.From : Ketel Marte Jersey Despite the image of him leaving the field on a cart, QB Nick Foles did not suffer a major injury, sources say. Initial tests showed no fracture in his hip. He'll undergo further evaluation. Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) Garafolo would also say Foles should be good to go following the Bears' Week 11 bye.While Foles Abraham Almonte Jersey is expected to be ready to go for the Bears Week 12 matchup vs. the Packers in Green Bay, no official word has come from the Bears regarding any injury to Foles yet.The Bears are now 3-5 since making the change to Nick Foles at QB, following the benching of Trubisky Steven Souza Jersey after a 2-0 start to the year.In 2019, Foles suffered a broken left collarbone that sidelined him for eight games while still a member of the Jaguars. He suffered a hairline fracture of the same collarbone in 2014.

NFL pro days are taking on much greater importance ahead of

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:33:58 +0000

NFL pro days are taking on much greater importance ahead of the . The league has canceled its traditional central NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this year, meaning prospects' official measurements and on-field drills will be conducted at their respective college campusesfrom early March through early April.For teams wanting a closer look at the players whom they are considering drafting in late April, they would need to attend those specific pro days around the nation. TheNFL also has limited all teams to having no more than three combined representatives from their front-office, scouting and coaching staffs at each pro day.Without a Combine, talent evaluators need do their due pro daydiligence bygrinding film and virtually interviewing prospects. Starting withwhen the top college programs and some of the most notable players available will work out, here is everything you need to know to follow the pre-draft action.MORE NFL DRAFT: | NFL pro days schedule 2021Friday, March 5KansasTuesday, March 9Kansas StateNorthwestern (OT Rashawn Slater, LB Paddy Fisher, CB Greg Newsome)Wisconsin-WhitewaterWednesday, March 10Arkansas (QB Feleipe Franks)MarshallMarylandNorthern IllinoisWisconsinThursday, March 11Clemson (RB Travis Etienne, WR Amari Mike Scott Jersey Rodgers, OT Jackson Carman, WR Cornell Powell)*NevadaNew MexicoTexas (EDGE Joseph O sai, OT Samuel Cosmi, S Caden Stearns, QB Sam Ehlinger)*Clemson pro day coverage can be seen on ACC Network from 10-12:30 p.m. ET and at 5 p.m. ET on NFL Network and .Texas pro day coverage can be seen at 5 p.m. ET on NFL Network Andy Pettitte Jersey and .Friday, March 12Arkansas StateNorth Dakota State (QB Trey Lance, OT Dillon Radunz)Oklahoma (G/C Creed Humphrey, EDGE Ronnie Perkins, RB Rhamondre Stevenson)North Dakota State and Oklahoma pro daycoverage begins at noon ET on NFL Network and .Monday, March 15ArmyKent StateMiddle Tenne see StateVanderbiltTuesday, March 16Georgia TechTempleWednesday, March 17ArizonaGeorgia (EDGE Azeez Ojulari, CB Eric Stokes, CB Tyson Campbell, QB Jamie Newman, G Ben Cleveland)IllinoisPittsburgh (S Paris Ford, EDGE Patrick Jones II, DT Jalen Twyman)San Jose StateGeorgia pro day coverage can be seen at 9 p.m. ET on NFL Network and .Thursday, March 18Auburn (WR Seth Williams)Buffalo (RB Jaret Patterson)Central ArkansasLouisiana TechLouisiana-MonroeStanford (OT Walker Little, QB Davis Mills)TroyWest VirginiaAuburn and Stanford pro day coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on NFL Network and .Friday, March 19Memphis (RB Kenneth Gainwell)OhioTCU (S Trevon Moehrig, S Ar'Darius Washington)Monday, March 22Air ForceBowling GreenColoradoColorado StateFlorida State (CB Asante Samuel Jr.DT Marvin Wilson, S Hamsah Nasirildeen, WR Tamorrion Terry)Iowa (DT Daviyon Nixon)Mi souri (LB Nick Bolton)Northern IowaToledoTuesday, March 23Alabama (WR DeVonta Smith, CB Patrick Surtain II,WR Jaylen Waddle, QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris, DT Christian Barmore, OT Alex Leatherwood, G Landon Dickerson, LB Dylan Moses)Central MichiganIowa StateNebraskaPurdue (WR Rondale Moore)Alabama and Purdue pro day coverage can be seen at noon ET on NFL Network and .Wednesday, March 24Michigan StateMi si sippi State (RB Kylin Hill)South Carolina (CB Jaycee Horn)USC (G Alijah Dallas Keuchel Jersey Vera-Tucker, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DT Jay Tufele)VirginiaUSC pro day coverage starts at 11 a.m. ET on NFL Network and .Thursday, March 25Georgia SouthernLibertyMa sachusettsNorth TexasOle Mi s (WR Elijah Moore)Penn State (LB Micah Parsons, EDGE Jayson Oweh, TE Pat Freiermuth)San Diego StateSMU (QB Shane Buechele)Tenne see (G Trey Smith)Western MichiganFriday, March 26Boston College (TE Hunter Long)BYU (QB Zach Wilson)Michigan (EDGE Kwity Paye, OT Jalen Mayfield)South Dakota State (WR Cade Jones)Virginia Tech (CB Caleb Farley, OT Christian Darrisaw)BYU, Michigan and Virgnia Tech pro day coverage can be seen at 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network and .Monday, March 29Arizona StateDuke (EDGE Chris Rumph II)Louisiana-LafayetteMiami (EDGE Gregory Rou seau, EDGE Jalan Phillips, TE Brevin Jordan, EDGE Quincy Roche)Miami (Ohio)North Carolina (RB Javonte Williams, WR Dyami Brown, RB Michael Carter, LB Chazz Surratt Roy Oswalt Jersey )Tuesday, March 30Alabama (follow-up)East CarolinaFlorida AtlanticLouisvilleNorth Carolina StateOhio State (QB Justin Fields, G Wyatt Davis, DT Tommy Togai, LB Pete Werner, CB Shaun Wade, LB Baron Browning, G Josh Myers, RB Trey Sermon)Texas A&M (QB Kellen Mond)TulaneWashington (DT Levi Onwuzurike, S Elijah Molden)Alabama, Ohio State and Washington pro day coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET. on NFL Network on .Wednesday, March 31Boise StateFlorida (TE Kyle Pitts, WR Kadarius Toney, QB Kyle Trask)KentuckyLSU (WR Ja'Marr Chase, WR Terrace Marshall Jr.)Notre Dame (LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, OT Liam Eichenberg)Wake Forest (EDGE Carlos Basham Jr., WR Sage Surratt)Florida, LSU and Notre Dame pro day coverage can be seen at Craig Biggio Jersey 11 a.m. ET on NFL Network and .Thursday, April 1Applachian StateCharlotteMinnesota (WR Rashod Bateman)Oklahoma State (OT Teven Jenkins, RB Chuba Hubbard)Oregon StateSouth FloridaUCFWestern KentuckyFriday, April 2Oregon (OT Penei Sewell, S Jevon Holland)Tulsa (LB Javen Collins)Wednesday, April 7Texas TechFriday, April 9Ball StateHoustonRiceUABMORE:How to watch NFL pro days on TVThe NFL Network and ESPN will have live pre-draft coverage of the bigger college campus workouts, focusing on marquee programs with a plethora of top 2021 prospects, including Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Florida. There also will be a focus on first-round quarterbacks from outside of those schools, such as BYU's Zach Wilson and North Dakota State's Trey Lance.Television and streaming information will available closer to the date of each workout, so stay tuned for updates as they become available.MORE: Biggest storylines to watch1, Quarterbacks, quarterback, quarterbacks (minus Trevor Lawrence).

As we roar toward the finish line of this crazy year, the fi

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:33:23 +0000

As we roar toward the finish line of this crazy year, the final Monday Night Football game of the 2020 NFL season is upon us. The scorching-hot Bills (11-3) take their prime-time tour to Foxboro to face the stumbling Patriots (6-8) at Gillette Stadium. The Bills come in as -7 road favorites (-330 ML), and the over/under currently sits at 46 total points.This matchup seems fitting, as these odds would probably seem upside-down any other year. But 2020, as we all know, has been quite different Julio Teheran Jersey in many ways. And for coach Bill Belichicks Patriots, it has been an abject failure. Usually dominant in the second half of the season, the Pats have lost two games in a row, scoring 15 points combined in the proce s, and they saw themselves eliminated from postseason contention for the first time in 11 years. There seems to be plenty of humble pie to go around in New England right now.MORE MNF:Meanwhile, the Bills are riding high behind breakout star QB Josh Allen. They have won four games in a row and seven of their last eight, with the only lo s coming on a last-second Kyler Murray Hail Mary in Week 10. Buffalo has gone undefeated against its AFC foes, and only the Pats tonight and the Dolphins next week stand between the Bills and the No. 2 seed in the AFC.As always, we at BetQL are here to break down this Monday night matchup with a comprehensive betting preview. We will provide you with a full array of odds, trends, predictions, and top bets, so you can win big and help Santa pay off some credit card bills.We can tell you right now that our BetQL NFL Best Bet Model is leaning toward the Bills on the moneyline, but it lists a handful of other bets as better Ian Kinsler Jersey values in this one. Keep reading to reveal our full predictions, and visit BetQL.com 24/7 for all updated lines, odds, spreads, and expert picks for this and every NFL game of the 2020 season.MNF INJURY UPDATE: Bills-Patriots Betting PreviewBills Outlook One of the hottest teams in football right now hails from Buffalo, which happens to be of the coldest cities in the nation. And in a sick twist of fate, one of the most insane, die-hard fan bases in the NFL has been torturously forced to watch from homeas their Bills serve as a beacon of stability on the football field.Josh Allen, Buffalos trusty young quarterback, has put together a third season that should merit MVP consideration (yeah, I said it!). The Wyoming product has led Bills Mafia to their first AFC East title since 1995 when Allen was still in his mothers womb back in his home state of California.Mainstream audiences might have just clued into the football greatne s Buffalo has conceptualized behind Allen and fourth-year Bills coach Sean McDermott, who has been with the QB since GM Brandon Beane drafted him. But the NFL has been aware for some time now. The Bills are rounding out a run of four-consecutive nationally televisedcontests, and theyve steamrolled every opponent during the tour to the collective scoring tune of 108-58. Their path of fury last struck Denver, where they bewildered the Broncos 48-19. Allen completed 28-of-40 pa ses ( Anthony Rendon Jersey 70 percent) for 359 yards and two touchdownsand ran in another two scores.The 24-year-old QB has accounted for 10 TDs in Buffalos past three games, all the while smashing to pieces every personal statistical season record. He has thrown for 30 TDs and 4,000 pa sing yardswhile maintaining a 104.2 QB rating (all easily career highs). Hes also been sacked on a career-low 4.7 percent of pa sing plays, and his career-low 1.8 interception percentage has helped him stay at just nine picks, the same number of picks he had in 2019 when he threw 80 fewer pa ses.Allen enjoys a group of already-succe sful wide receivers, but he has arguably made each one of them better this season. Stefon Diggs, Buffalos prized offseason acquisition, leads the NFL with a career-best 111 catches. He also has a career-best 1,314 receiving yards and 75.5-percent catch rate. Surprisingly, he has a modest five touchdowns, but thats mostly due to the fact that Allen spreads the ball around so effortle sly in the red zone.Rookie and fellow receiver Gabriel Davis has found paydirt a whopping six times. Veteran slot-man Cole Beasley, also having a career year, has 79 catches (and a 77.5-percent catch rate) to go with his four TDs. Three other pa s-catchers have at least three scores. Veteran speedster John Brown, out since Week 10 with an ankle injury, has two TDs of his own and could return soon. Long story short, this pa sing offense is in full gear.If second-year back Devin Singletary and rookie Zack Mo s can find consistency in the running game for offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, this team will be looking at more than just a run at the conference. Leslie Fraziers defense has even impre sed as of late, allowing 19 or fewer points in three of its past four games, and forcing nine turnovers acro s its past five contests.The Bills are giving their fan base a regular season that New England fans have come to expect year in and year out. They clinched their first AFC East title in 25 years with their fourth straight win last week, their second such winning streak this season. And with the Steelers lo s last Monday, Buffalo now finds itself on the fast-track to the No. 2 seed. Things are good for Bills Mafia.Patriots Outlook When Patriots coach and GM Kole Calhoun Jersey Bill Belichick signed Cam Newton to a discount deal this summer, he probably never expected the one-time MVP could replicate the kind of succe s that six-time Super Bowl winner and three-time MVP Tom Brady experienced in New England. But Belichick also likely never anticipated things could go so poorly with Newton under center.A 10-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowler, Newton will a suredly finish with career lows in just about every category. He has just 216 completions, 2,381 pa sing yards, and five touchdowns in Yunel Escobar Jersey 13 starts with the Pats. He also has 10 interceptionsand has been sacked 26 times. His QB rating is just 79.6, the second lowest of his career. Newtons worst season-long rating was 75.8 in 2016, but he averaged 50 more pa sing yards per game that season. Similarly, the Panthers had just six wins that year, which may end up being how many New England finishes with this year.Belichick has to be pleased with the fight he has seen in his defense and special team units. But at this point, it seems beyond time for the veteran leader to ask his coaching and managerial team for help drafting offensive talent. None of the Pats recent wide receiver picks have looked special, and with the exception of second-year back Damien Harris, this looks like a practice squad most of the time.If second-year backup QB Jarrett Stidham was any good, it would be hard to fathom why he would not be playing ahead of Newton, who has been relegated to an archaic ground-and-pound style of quarterbacking.New Englanders k

ESPN in which they took writers for each team and had them s

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:32:44 +0000

ESPN in which they took writers for each team and had them select NFL players as if everyone was available. If you've ever played the Madden video game, then e sentially view it as the fantasy draft in Darryl Strawberry Jersey franchise mode.However, the writers were given a few guidelines, which helps explain some of the selections. They were only given four rounds and told to draft a quarterback, an offensive player (non-QB), a defensive player and a wild card (any player they wanted). They used the 2020 NFL Draft order, although they gave any traded picks back to their original teams. The selection then snaked in the rounds following.The most important part to know, though, is this from ESPN: "Each GM was asked to draft with intentions of winning a Super Bowl within five years."MORE Neil Walker Jersey : The results from the first round were as such:ESPN did a draft a suming every NFL player was available to be picked. Some interesting choices. Here's Round 1: Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) The first few picks made plenty of sense. Drafting Patrick Mahomes, Ru sell Wilson and Lamar Jackson with the first three picks seemlike easy decisions. They're all quarterbacks, two have won MVP awards and they're all relatively young.Then, as we advance, the picks get a little more confusing. Drew Brees at 8 and Tom Brady at 14 were surprising considering their age. You're only going to get maybe one or two more seasons out of these guys, so does it really make sense to go all in on that one year?But the name that drew (pun intended) the most attention on Twitter was Drew Lock going 15th overall. Lock wasn't even a first-round pick in his own NFL Draft, but now is suddenly viewed as a top 15 pick among all NFL players after just playing in five games.This list even made Lock's name trend on Twitter because people were so confused with the selection Jeurys Familia Jersey .Drew Locks mother wouldnt take him this high George Chahrouri (@PFF_George) Drew Lock's agent was apparently a participant in this draft Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) ESPN's Broncos reporterJeff Legwold made the selection and briefly explained why he went with Lock writing, "The quarterbacks came off the board quickly with 10 already gone, so I made my biggest gamble on potential with Lock."Of course, Lock Tom Seaver Jersey wasn't the only pick that received questionable responses.Anyone who thinks Ronnie Stanley (or really any non QB) is worth more than the 5th best QB in the NFL (whoever that is) should not be allowed to make any more football decisions. Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) Whatever about RBs in the first round of a regular draft, where the league already has nearly full rosters.Imagine taking a RB in the first round of a franchise draft!? Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) Quarterbacks Michael Conforto Jersey always get more special treatment BUT no TJ Watt. No Decastro? Comon Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) Well there are some curious picks here. Like Drew Lock ahead of Kyler Murray. Theres offensive lineman picked out of order Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) this is a fun exercise--amongst the QBs, I'd take Kyler and Matt Stafford higher.... Mina Kimes (@minakimes) The personal vendetta against Kirk Cousins is absolutely hilarious. Its a legit illne s. b. (@b_heintzz)

The NFL is in action on Christmas in 2020 with one game righ

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:32:08 +0000

The NFL is in action on Christmas in 2020 with one game right in the middle of the NBA's normal holiday dominance.The Saints (10-4) and Vikings (6-8) kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET to start Week 16. There's no Thursday night game on Christmas Eve, with the league opting instead to schedule a matchup of high-paid quarterbacks (Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins) and star running backs (Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook) as direct competition to high-quality basketball. The Saints are trying to hold on to the No. 2 seed in the NFC, while Minnesota lost in Week 15 to deflate its slim playoff hopes.MORE: The NFL doesn't always play on Greg Maddux Jersey Christmas this year's game will be the 22nd contest held on Dec. 25 in league history, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The most recent two were played in 2017. The Saints have never played on Christmas Day, while the Vikings played in the first-ever Christmas contest and have a 1-2 record on the holiday.Below is all you need to know about the teams playing on Christmas this year, plus the TV channels for the games and more.What teams are playing on Christmas 2020?GameKickoff timeTV channelVikings at Saints4:30 p.m. ETFox/NFLN/Amazon Prime, While the NFL could've scheduled a Christmas doubleheader like it did in 2017, it instead opted for just one game. The Vikings and Saints bring strong NFC fan bases to the forefront late Friday afternoon.Part of Danny Santana Jersey the league's choice to stick with just one Christmas game likely stems from the presence of Saturday games in December for the NFL. A day after Christmas, the NFL will feature a tripleheader of action, meaning more games on Christmas would cut down on the Sunday schedule even further.What channel isChristmasfootball on?Saints vs. VikingsTV channel(4:30 p.m. ET kickoff)National: Fox | NFL Network | Amazon Prime VideoNew Orleans:WVUEMinneapolis: KMSPStream: With no Thursday Night Football game in Week 16, Fox gets the rights to the Christmas Day game. It'll get the normal TNF simulcast between Fox and NFL Network, with the network's top broadcast team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman Chipper Jones Jersey on the call.As has been the case since Week 5, the game can also be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, which also has exclusive rights to the middle game of Saturday's tripleheader.NFL history playing on ChristmasAccording to the , there have been 21 games played on Christmas Day prior to 2020. The most recent two came in 2017, when the Steelers beat the Texans and the Eagles beat the Raiders.When Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, the NFL usually plays most of its games on the preceding Saturday while occasionally showcasing one game on Christmas.The Cowboys played in the first NFL game on Christmas, a win over the Vikings, and they've played in five games on the holiday. That's the most times any team has played in the NFL on Dec. 25.NFL schedule Week 16Friday, Dec. 25GameKickoff timeTV channelMinnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints4:30 p.m. ETFOX/NFLN Bobby Cox Jersey /AmazonSaturday, Dec. 26GameKickoff timeTV channelTampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions1 p.m. ETNFL NetworkSan Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals4:30 p.m. ETAmazon Prime VideoMiami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders8:15 p.m. ETNFL NetworkSunday, Dec. 27GameKickoff timeTV channelNew York Giants at Baltimore Ravens1 p.m. ETFoxCincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans1 p.m. ETCBSChicago Bears at Jacksonville Jaguars1 p.m. ETFoxAtlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs1 p.m. ETFoxIndianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers1 p.m. ETCBSCarolina Panthers at Washington Redskins1 p.m. ETCBSCleveland Browns at New York Jets1 p.m. ETCBSDenver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers4:05 p.m. ETCBSLos Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks4:25 p. Deion Sanders Jersey m. ETFoxPhiladelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys4:25 p.m. ETFoxTenne see Titans at Green Bay Packers8:20 p.m. ETNBCMonday, Dec. 28GameKickoff timeTV channelBuffalo Bills at New England Patriots8:15 p.m. ETESPN

The Cam Newton reunion tour came to a halt on Sunday.The Pan

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:31:32 +0000

The Cam Newton reunion tour came to a halt on Sunday.The Panthers QB had a really, really bad day vs. the Dolphins, throwing two interceptions and locking down a paltry 5.8 pa ser rating in his team's 33-10 lo s Dick Butkus Jersey .MORE: Newton, though, didn't have an opportunity to close out the game. Instead, backup QB P.J. Walker finished for the Panthers. He entered on Carolina's first drive of the fourth quarter as Newton watched from the sideline.Here's what happened to Newton:Why did the Panthers bench Cam Newton?After the game, Panthers coach Matt Rhule gave a somewhat bizarre explanation for Nick Kwiatkoski Jersey benching Newton when the team was down 30-10 in the fourth quarter.He said he wanted to protect Newton (fair reasoning), but he added that Newton wasn't too familiar yet with the two-minute offense.Rhule: it didnt make sense to keep Cam in there to keep getting hit. Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) Matt Rhule said he put P.J. Walker in, in the fourth quarter because he knew the two-minute offense.He doesn't anticipate making any changes at quarterback. Cam Newton will be starter in Week 14. Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) Rhule also said that Newton will be the team's starter for Week 14 following the team's bye in Week 13.While Rhule offered explanations for the Newton benching, there's another, predominant reason why he sat Mitchell Trubisky Jersey his starter:Newton had a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day on Sunday.MORE: In all, Newton was 5-of-21 pa sing for 92 yardswith two eyesore interceptions Allen Robinson Jersey . Newton finished the day with a 5.8pa ser rating.D.J. Moore accounted for 64of those 92 yards on one of Newton's few completions, a deep throw down the middle.Here's Cam Newton's first INT of the day, to Jevon Holland. Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) Newton's replacement, journeyman (and former XFL great) Walker, didn't fare much better: Walker was sacked and then threw an interception soon after entering.Walker finished the day 5-of-10 pa sing for 87 yards and an interception.MORE: The Panthers have been on something of a QB carousel during the Rhule era.They turned to Teddy Bridgewater after releasing Newton in March 2020, and then turned to Sam Darnold after a 2021 trade. Newton returned to the Panthers after Darnold injured his shoulder in early November.Newton was released by the Patriots during 2021 training camp as Cordarrelle Patterson Jersey New England turned the keys over to rookie Mac Jones.

Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback, so he knows a thi

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:30:57 +0000

Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback, so he knows a thing or two about game-changing signal-callers.But it seems the former Packers and Vikings great Nicklas Backstrom Jersey has undervalued the guy who should be the No. 1 overall player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft.Favre, in a Saturday , suggested the Jaguars forgo drafting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the top overall pick. Yes, that Trevor Lawrence the same Trevor Lawrence who has been a lock for the top player of his draft cla s at least since he was a freshman in 2018 (and perhaps dating back to his senior year of high school)."I have seen (Lawrence) play. And I think hes really good," Favre told TMZ. "I don't know if Jacksonville, in my opinion, I don't know if quarterback is their immediate need probably a lot of needs that they have."NFL MOCK DRAFT 2021: So who, then, does Favre suggest they take?"I would take (Alabama receiver) DeVonta Smith," he said. "The last two games Ive watched this guy play, I mean, Im blown away with how good Washington Capitals Jersey knowing that teams know that hes going to get the ball and he dominates. I think you go with a guy like that."That's certainly one way the Jags could approach the draft.It's true that Smith is one of the top players of this cla s: He earned the single-most decorated season ever for a receiver in 2020, catching 117 pa ses for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns, all in 13 games. But his size (he's listed at 6-1, 175 pounds) Andre Burakovsky Jersey has led many analysts to question exactly how high he should be selected. Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer , but mock drafts from other outlets have also considered LSU receiver Ja'Marr Chase the top player available at the position.MORE: Favre is also right inasmuch Jacksonville has more than one team need. But none of the guys on Jacksonville's roster Gardner Minshew, Jake Luton or Mike Glennon can measure up to Lawrence, who is grouped alongside Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck as the best quarterback prospects since John Elway. At 6-6, 220 pounds, Lawrence's is a scintillating blend of measurables, arm strength, athleticism and football acuity Matt Niskanen Jersey .Favre has an answer for that, too:"Nothing against Trevor Lawrence, but I think you can find a free agent guy, or a guy in the latter rounds or a mid-rounds in the draft," he said. "But you just dont find a guy like a (Smith) could be a Jerry Rice. He could be different but a Randy Mo s. A total game-changer. But Riley Sutter Jersey again, a different style of player. Just an incredible player."Again: What NFL executive would risk pa sing up Lawrence for a middle-of-the-road quarterback? And while it's true Smith may end up being the next Rice or Mo s, conventional wisdom says to go for the guy who could be the next Elway.

For numbers people, the NFL salary cap is a bit of a nightma

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:30:22 +0000

For numbers people, the NFL salary cap is a bit of a nightmare. What should be a fixed number has evolved into a nebulous me s of restructured contracts, voidable years, and a sumptions of an increased cap over time. It can be difficult to parse through, but with just over a week until free agency, it's become clear who the haves and have-nots are for 2022 free agency.The salary cap is, in a nutshell, the amount of money teams can put into contracts for the season they're set for. In 2022, that number is set at $208.2 million. That number is a $25.7 million increase from 2021, which marked the first time since the cap was instituted in 1994 that the salary Sheldon Richardson Jersey cap decreased ($182.5 million, down from $198.2 million in 2020). The reason for the drastic drop in 2021 was because of lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.MORE: How is the NFL salary Eric Murray Jersey cap calculated?The salary cap is calculated by dividing a percentage of revenues determined by the CBA by 32. Under the current CBA, players get 48 percent of revenue sharing profits, meaning that revenue sharing was at $433.755 million heading into the 2022 offseason. This figure generally goes up from year to year, with the exception of 2020 heading into 2021 and an uncapped year in 2010 that bridged a $3 million downswing from 2009 to 2011.NFL salary cap deadline 2022NFL teams can still place the franchise tag on players through the 4 p.m. ET deadline on March 8. After that, teams will have a week to get their books under the cap. That's a March 16 deadline, the first day of the new league year.MORE:NFL salary cap space by teamHere is a list of very NFL team's spending as of March 7. TeamCap SpaceCarolina Panthers$30,859,004Indianapolis Colts$22,042,564Houston Texans$22,003,364Cleveland Browns$21,356,303New Orleans Saints$21,249,689Detroit Lions$20,015,450Philadelphia Eagles$19,060,954Los Angeles Myles Garrett Jersey Chargers$18,893,797Kansas City Chiefs$18,460,785Cincinnati Bengals$18,313,321Chicago Bears$18,129,133Denver Broncos$17,779,581Seattle Seahawks$15,542,502Dallas Cowboys$15,494,411Minnesota Vikings$15,342,018New York Jets$15,203,413Green Bay Packers$15,121,361Pittsburgh Steelers$13,408,417Miami Dolphins$11,111,137Washington Morgan Burnett Jersey Commanders$10,450,784Los Angeles Rams$8,958,530Baltimore Ravens$7,102,316Tampa Bay Buccaneers$6,989,937Jacksonville Jaguars$6,909,533Las Vegas Raiders$6,420,899Arizona Cardinals$5,956,846New England Patriots$5,026,680Atlanta Falcons$4,557,165Tenne see Titans$2,272,456San Francisco$1,485,010Buffalo Bills$1,093,459New York$738,607What does cap number mean for free agency?Needle s to say, teams with more cap space are going to spend more in free agency. With that in mind, expect teams like the Dolphins, Colts, and Chargers to be very active in free agency. These are teams who were close to the playoffs and are thinking about their next steps. Other teams, like the Bengals and Jaguars, have quarterbacks on their roster they have to consider paying. Although Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are only entering their third and second years, respectively, if all goes well for them they'll both get paid. The Broncos have been ponying up cap space hoping to land a blue chip quarterback, so look for them to make a big push to front-load a contract to make it more enticing.Teams will also be making offers under the a sumption that the cap will increase again in 2023, as that trend remains fairly consistent. With that in mind, look for teams to make backloaded Antonio Callaway Jersey offers so that the meat of players' contracts will correspond to a higher cap. While that isn't a hard and fast rule, it's the trend NFL free agency has followed.

The Cardinals were once considered the team to beat in the N

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:29:47 +0000

The Cardinals were once considered the team to beat in the NFC. However, a late three-game losing streak sent them tumbling down the standings. They have clinched a playoff berth, but their potential seeding is volatile.The Packers have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, so the Cardinals are going to play on Wild Card weekend. The question is whether it will be at home or on the road as a Wild Card.Currently, the Cardinals are the No. 5 seed in the NFC. Most likely, they will remain in that spot, but they still have a chance to climb the ladder and win the NFC West.Below is a breakdown of each seeding option for the Cardinals and which Mecole Hardman Jersey teams they might end up playing in the postseason.WEEK 18 PICKS: | How the Cardinals can clinch the No. 2 seedThe Cardinals need many things to break in Juan Thornhill Jersey their direction to earn the No. 2 seed. They are as follows:Arizona must beat Seattle ANDSan Francisco must beat the Los Angeles Rams ANDCarolina must beat Tampa Bay.If those outcomes occur, the Cardinals would be in either a two- or three-way tie for second place in the NFC with the Buccaneers and/or Cowboys. Arizona has a better divisional record than the Bucs and would have a better conference record if the Bucs lose in Week 18 as well, so they would own the tiebreaker over them. The same can be said of the Cowboys.That said, the 49ers and Panthers opened the week asunderdogs, so this is the most unlikely scenario for the team.MORE: How the Cardinals can earn the No. 3 seedThe path to the No. 3 seed is a bit easier for the Cardinals, as it would only require one significant upset in a divisional rivalry game.Arizona must beat Seattle ANDSan Francisco must beat the Los Angeles Rams ANDTampa Bay must beat CarolinaThe one difference in this scenario is that the Buccaneers would have to win for the Cardinals to be the No. 3 seed. That would make the Bucs 13-4 compared to the 12-5 Cardinals, so the Cardinals wouldn't be able to leapfrog them via tiebreakers.Instead, Arizona would be the No. 3 seed, regardle s of the result in the Cowboys vs. Eagles game. The Cardinals beat Carlos Hyde Jersey the Cowboys head-to-head, so they own the tiebreaker over Dallas.Can the Cardinals be the No. 4 seed?The Cardinals can't be the No. 4 seed. If they win and the Rams lose, the Cardinals are guaranteed to have either the Nos. 2 or 3 seeds. Why? Because they would win the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cowboys and would come out on top in a three-way tie if the Buccaneers lose to the Panthers. That prevents them from dropping to the No. 4 seed.MORE: How the Cardinals can earn the No. 5 seedThe No. 5 seed remains the most likely outcome for the Cardinals. That's where they are penciled Tony Gonzalez Jersey in right now. They need only one of two outcomes to occur:Arizona loses or ties against Seattle ORLos Angeles loses or ties against San FranciscoIf any of these outcomes occur, the Rams will have a better record than the Cardinals and will win the NFC West. That said, the Cardinals, with 11 wins, cannot be caught in the Wild Card race, so if they don't win the NFC West, they will be the No. 5 seed.Potential playoff opponents for the CardinalsThe Cardinals could face five potential opponents in the NFC playoffs. They are as follows:If the Cardinals are the No. 2 seed, they will host the Eagles.If the Cardinals are the No. 3 seed, they will host the 49ers.If the Cardinals are the No. 5 seed, they will play on the road against either the Buccaneers, Rams or Cowboys.The Cowboys remain the most likely opponent for the Cardinals, as Bashaud Breeland Jersey Dallas has the most combinations of results that keeps itin the No. 4 seed. And the Cardinals have a 77 percent chance to be the No. 5 seed, per , so a Cardinals-Cowboys rematch seems to be the most likely outcome.

The Eagles won't be hurting for a quarterback in 2021.Jalen

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:29:11 +0000

The Eagles won't be hurting for a quarterback Marquise Brown Jersey in 2021.Jalen Hurts was thrust into action at the end of the 2020 season, following Doug Pederson'sunceremonious benching of now-Colts QB Carson Wentz, potentially signifying Hurts' standing as starter.According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has made Hurts' succe s the priority heading into 2021, though the organization is not entirely sold on the quarterback.I would not report the Eagles have internal unanimity on Hurts as QB1 but sources say the bo s, Jeffrey Lurie, has instructed his group to prioritize making Hurts succe sful in 2021 as opposed to creating a Alex Lewis Jersey true competition. Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) "I would not report the Eagles have internal unanimity on Hurts as QB1 but sources say the bo s, Jeffrey Lurie, has instructed his group to prioritize making Hurts Willie Snead IV Jersey succe sful in 2021 as opposed to creating a true competition," Mortensen's tweet reads.MORE: New Philly head coach Nick Sirianni "understands that what the owner wants, the owner gets," per Mortensen ().The Eagles wanting to steer away from true competition Jaleel Scott Jersey at the QB position is noteworthy, considering the reports that Wentz was in the second round of the 2020 draft, leading to a quarterback controversy that lasted the duration of the season.Hurts performed well in limited action for Philadelphia down the stretch, throwing six touchdowns to four interceptions and rushing Mark Ingram II Jersey for another three scores. There are doubts about his viability as a long-term starter, but with no competition at the quarterback position, it doesn't seem like Lurie and Co. want to repeat the same mistake.

It appears that several 49ers players had a message for coac

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:28:17 +0000

It appears that several 49ers players had a me sage for coach Kyle Shanahan on Sunday: We're still alive and kicking.Those players were teasing Shanahan for a clumsy statement he made last week. He told reportershe didn't know whether anyone would be alive Sunday, let alone whether any San Francisco player would still be on the team's Ben Jones Jersey roster. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the players got in touch with the bo s to confirm their status Ryan Succop Jersey .Take 2 sans typo:This is tremendous. Im told a group of players called Kyle Shanahan today to let him know they survived until Sunday. So good. Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) Shanahan detoured into the morbid during the team's predraft pre s conference last Monday. He was trying to dance around a question about quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's future with the team when he said: "I can't guarantee that anybody in the world will still be alive Sunday, so I can't guarantee who'll be on our roster on Sunday. So that goes for all of us."IYER: Tight end George Kittle that he would give Shanahan a heads-up that he was still around.Shanahan told reporters Thursday after the team selected North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance Corey Davis Jersey third overall that he "totally bombed" hisresponse."A person I have a relationship with who sometimes when he asks me what I think is a silly question, sometimes I me s with him back, and thats kind of what I was doing," Shanahan said, . "That was between me and that Jeffery Simmons Jersey guy, had nothing to do with Jimmy when I said, I didnt know if we'd be alive on Sunday. I was just trying not to get my typical answer of, 'Guys, anybody can be traded if you get a bunch of ones, (49ers general manager) John (Lynch) should trade me, and I shouldnt be here on Sunday.'"The 49ers have not traded Garoppoloor Shanahan, and the team is making it appear as if its No. 1 QB in 2020 will be a mentor to Lance Kenny Vaccaro Jersey in 2021.

Tom Brady didn't choose to sign a two-year deal with the Buc

vallieklein — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:27:42 +0000

Tom Brady didn't choose to sign a two-year deal with the Buccaneers on awhim. When leaving the Patriots as a free agent, he picked a team that was ripe for a big breakthrough all the way to playing the Chiefs in .Before Brady arrived to turn Tampa Bayinto a wild-card team turned NFC champion, it had mi sed the playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons, going back to the end of the Jon Gruden era. The Bucs went through three more head coaches until Bruce Arians was hired in 2019.But they've building to playing in a home Super Bowl for half that time. Since Jason Licht became the team's general manager in 2014, there has been a quiet stockpiling of talent, mainly through the draft and some through free agency. That's what set up the opportunity of"going all in" with the signing of Brady to make the overdue jump to an 11-5 record.With players such as Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette arriving Cassius Marsh Jersey along with Brady, it might seem to those away from Tampa Bay that the Bucs weremore mercenary and le s methodical in developing a championship-caliber roster. But Brady and those offensive reinforcements wouldn't have helped put the Bucs over the top without a solid, all-around foundation. Here's a breakdown of how they were constructed under Licht, proving they were smart to be patient with him as a the personnel decision-maker.SUPER BOWL PICKS: | The 2020 Buccaneers and the NFL Draft: From big splashes to pirated starsLicht's first draft in 2014 wasn't very good overall, but it did land a key Buccaneers star: wide receiver Mike Evans at No. 7 overall. A year later at No. 1 overall,Licht'shand was forced into taking Jameis Winston, at that time seen as a can't-mi s franchise quarterback. But that cla s of '15 now will be more remembered for two second-round cornerstones of the offensive line, left tackle Donovan Smith and left guard Ali Marpet.Licht also signed tight end Cameron Brate as an undrafted free agent.After a shaky 2016 cla s, the Bucs rebounded Bradley McDougald Jersey with tight end O.J. Howard (first round) and wide receiver Chris Godwin (third round). When looking back, six key offensive starters in four drafts, including Winston, looks pretty darn good. But the three most recent drafts is where Licht really lit it up.In 2018, defensive tackle Vita Vea (first round), running back Ronald Jones(second round), cornerback Carlton Davis (second round) and safety Jordan Whitehead (fourth round) were the big hits. in 2019, linebacker Devin White (first round), cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (second round), nickel back Jamel Dean (third round) and wide receiver Scotty Miller (sixth round) were added. In 2020, Licht filled in the remaining gaps with right tackle Tristan Wirfs (first round) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (second round).MORE: Overall, while Licht's been on the job, he's drafted 11 of the team's current 22 starters for Super Bowl 55 (five offensive, six defensive) and several other sub-package impact players.The offensive line and secondary took care of weak links this year, and the receiving corps was loaded before Brady, Gronkowski and Brown came to town.Licht recognized both the top-end talent his team needed early and plucked steals in later Nate Orchard Jersey rounds. They more than made up for some of his early draft whiffs. This team had untapped potential before the combination of Brady and Arians' coaching staff helped them achieve their goals.When most teams aren't pleased with limited draft results after five years, the Bucs saw a bright Licht. His presence as a former Patriots personnel man also was key to locking down Brady. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.The 2020 Buccaneers and NFL free agency: A story that started well before Tom BradyThe Buccaneers' offensive drafting before Brady was shrewd, to the point the additions of Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy were about adding key depth. That ended up being vital to overcome injuries acro s the board, led by Howard's season-ending Achilles' tear in October.But before Brady, Licht had only one big splurge on that side of the ball signing center Ryan Jensen away from the Ravens for four years at $42 million in 2018. Jensen gave them a third anchor to go with Smith and Marpet. Jensen has emerged into a key fiery leader, too, a snapper ideal for Brady.Defensively, endNdamukong Suh and outside linebackers Jason Piere-Paul and Shaquil Barrett are now key producersin their front seven. But when Licht and the Bucs acquired them all, they were reclamation projects, not disruptive forces for hire to the highest bidders.Suh was a big contributor to the Rams' Super Bowl 53 team, but he was left unsigned in 2019 free agency until May, as many teams thought he had little left well into his 30s. But still plugging away now at age 34, the No. Cody Barton Jersey 2 overall pick from 2010 is a big reason, along with Vea, why the Buccaneers have had the NFL's top run defense in consecutive seasons.Around when Licht signed Jensen in '18, he also made a sneaky trade for Pierre-Paul, giving up only a third-round pick to the Giants for the freakish but oft-injured pa s rusher. Pierre-Paul delivered 12.5 sacks that season. Despite a neck injury from a car accident curbing his availability and production in 2019, the Bucs re-signed him for two years, $27 million in 2020 to keep him for the Brady run. JPP made the Pro Bowl for the first time in eight years as an elite playmaker with a team 9.5 sacks this season.MORE: Barrett's addition in 2019 was the coup de grace. He was a good rotational edge rusher for the Broncos and helped them win a Super Bowl, but became an unheralded free agent. The Bucs Tedric Thompson Jersey thought he could thrive starting in Todd Bowles' 3-4 scheme with JPP and Licht signed Barrett for a bargain deal. Barrett led the league with 19.5 sacks before getting franchise-tagged in 2020 in conjunction with Brady's arrival, too.Licht's three-year run in the draft and free agency is an NFL general manager's dream. There's no way he would have sold Brady withoutthat consistent talent investment and no wasted resources. It's also no doubt what lured Arians to come out of short retirement well in his 60s a team on the cusp of winning big sooner rather than later.When the Buccaneers finished just out of the playoffs at 7-9 despite an interception-happy Winston, there was one last move to make get a quarterback who could still make the big plays with great receivers but also cut down the big mistakes that hurt both the offense'