nfl-draft

MILLER LITE

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The old advertising campaign for the beer Miller Lite asked if it ‘tasted great or was less filling.’ Once upon a time ago, Von Miller did not taste great to opposing quarterbacks. Von was a one man wrecking machine on the football field causing havoc on the opposing team’s offensive game plan. Miller in his career has won two Superbowls and you’d think he was the one that invented the strip sack in the NFL. At the age of 36, Von is maybe less filling on offensive linemen in the NFL as injuries have mounted up. This off-season the Buffalo Bills released him as he is a big chunk of the salary cap and not worth the money they would pay him. Miller time will try to resurrect his NFL career with the Washington Commanders. Does he have any suds left in the can to help the Commanders defense?

Von Miller has 13 seasons under his belt in the NFL. In 2011 he was drafted 2nd overall by the Denver Broncos where he played parts of ten seasons there. In Superbowl 50 he was the MVP, as he exposed the soft play of quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers.

Miller was like a fly on a piece of shit in that Superbowl game. Years later the Broncos as a team went through rough times not winning and they traded their legend to the LA Rams in 2021. Miller’s presence with Aaron Donald, the stud of that Rams defense, made that unit even better and they won the Superbowl. Miller became a free agent and the Bills came knocking on his door with a pile of cash in a hefty contract. The last few seasons for Miller have not been Miller-like in Buffalo. In 2022 he racked up 8 sacks as he would miss 5 games tearing his ACL in his knee. In 2023, he did come back from that injury and registered zero sacks for the season. Last season he missed 4 games as he was suspended by the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy. Last year in 13 regular season games for the Bills, he had 6 sacks and 17 tackles. Miller is the active leader in sacks with 129.5 of them he has had during regular season. His football resume in his career is impressive as he made 8 Pro-Bowl games and is a 3x All-Pro. In 2011, his rookie season, he won defensive rookie of the year honors. He is a staple on the all HOF 2010’s decade team.

The Washington Commanders are an up and coming team as they made it all the way to the NFC Championship game last season. It was the play of their rookie quarterback that infused life in this dormant franchise called the Commanders. The name Commanders seemed dreadful at first as it replaced the original name Redskins. Now Jayden Daniels behind center is making that offense a well-oiled machine and stacking up victories it seems the Commanders name just rolls off your tongue. Were the Commanders just lucky last year playing a easier schedule? The Commanders won 9 one score games. Six of those games, the Commanders had the final possession of the game. The Commanders have now 22 players on their roster who are 30 or older. Daniels is on a rookie contract, so you can stockpile your roster with veterans. The Commanders need to get younger but for now they are chasing the ring. You can blame the front office for bad drafts for many years as this may be the best path to take for the Commanders. It worked well last year with the Commanders adding linebacker Bobby Wagner to the mix. He became an instant leader for that Commanders defense.

What do the Commanders expect from Von Miller? This is an interesting move by signing Miller. When Dan Quinn was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons the year they went to the Superbowl and blew that halftime lead to the Patriots, they made a signing that year like Miller. The Falcons added defensive lineman, Dwight Freeney, a former Colt and he was like Miller at that time in his late 30’s on his last leg. The Commanders last season were ranked number 11 in sacks in the NFL. On crucial 3rd downs, they always have problems generating pressure and could not get off the field. The Commanders have a few guys that tallied up 6-8 sacks last season. Frankie Luvu had 99 tackles and 8 sacks. Bobby Wagner was the heart and soul of the Commanders defense because he had 156 tackles and two sacks. Wagner goes back to the legion of Doom defense back in the Seattle days with head coach Quinn. Can Miller become the Commanders closer? He has torn 2 ACLs in the same knee. He has missed the entire 2020 season as he dislocated a tendon in his foot. The Commanders could keep Miller fresh most of the game and unleash him in the 4th quarter. Miller will bring some more leadership to their defense. He will also bring some extra attention from opposing offenses and that could free other defenders. He would help your offensive linemen, especially younger guys dealing with Miller in practices. All his savvy moves being on display every week. It’s only a one year deal which includes some incentives that can motivate a player. He will be playing with a chip on his shoulder, out to prove he is a better player than his few seasons in Buffalo. Not sure he will taste great to opposing teams. As he may just be less filling at his age and not be the Miller from his Broncos days being a one man Army.

CAN SHOW ME THE MONEY, BACKFIRE ON A NFL HOLD OUT?

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As always, the NFL has a few players at this time holding out from their current contract wanting to get PAID. The three big names are Trey Hendrickson, Terry McLaurin, and TJ Watt. Hendrickson, a defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals had led the entire league in sacks the last two seasons. Scary Terry McLaurin helped his rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels become the offensive rookie of the year for the Washington Commanders as they went all the way to the NFC championship game versus the Eagles. Then Watt is the heart and soul of the Steelers defense. Can the Commanders, Bengals, and Steelers win the Superbowl without these guys? Back in 1985, the Chicago Bears had two studs on their defense hold out due to their contract dispute. The Bears ended up winning their only Superbowl while these two guys stayed at home twiddling their thumbs and watched all of this unfold from their couch at home.

The 1985 Chicago Bears some would say had the best defense ever in the history of the game. They were one of the scariest defenses of all-time without two of their key players. Todd Bell was a pro-bowl safety in 1984 as he felt after that year was a great time to talk about his contract. Bell was drafted by Chicago in the 4th round of the NFL draft in 1981 from Ohio State University. The other Bear that skipped out on the Superbowl shuffle was linebacker defensive lineman Al Harris who was a first round pick of Chicago in the 1979 NFL draft from Arizona State. Bell would play 8 NFL seasons for 103 games with the Bears and Eagles. He had 7 interceptions in his career along with 10 sacks. In 1984 he had 4 of those 7 interceptions and one of them was a pick six. He forced two fumbles as well and racked up 4.5 sacks. Al Harris in 1984 played in all 16 games and racked up 2 sacks with an interception. Harris would play 11 seasons in the NFL 9 with the Bears and two with the Eagles as he racked up 149 games. He retired with 23.5 career sacks. Both Bell and Harris would return to Bears in the 1986 season. You would have thought with the talent the Bears had on that defense and Walter Payton the best running back of all-time, they would have had a dynasty like the New England Patriots. In 1987, the Washington Redskins knocked out the Bears in the Divisional round. That group would never get back to the Superbowl.

All three current hold outs are important to their team’s success this upcoming season. Right now even without TJ Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the weakest link of the three teams. Watt played in all 17 games last year for the Steelers and racked up 11.5 sacks. The Steelers are trying to go beyond one and out in the post-season with an aging Aaron Rodgers at QB. Rodgers was a cancer in the Jets locker room last season and is not the same guy that played for the Green Bay Packers a few years ago. Last year Pittsburgh’s defense was not the Steel Curtain of old times. Without Watt and the cancer at the QB position, I don’t see the Steelers going all the way. Last year the Bengals defense was horrific. If Trey Hendrickson was not playing for the striped cats, it could have gone worse for them. The Bengals have Joe Burrow. They have one of the best wide receivers in the league in Ja’Marr Chase. Then on the other side of the field we can not forget about Tee Higgins. The Bengals dug themselves a hole as always in the beginning of the season. They lost games in shoot outs. Then they turned things around and were red hot in the second half of the season. In the last game of the season, the Chiefs rested their top star players as Denver rolled in that game and made the playoff that kept the Bengals out. When the Bengals get red hot on offense, they could be a team that could win it all. They could do without their top defender in Hendrickson. The Commanders were amazing last season, and Jayden Daniels looks legit as a star quarterback. Can this Commanders team win without Scary Terry McLaurin? He caught 82 balls last season for over 1,000 receiving yards. Most importantly he caught 13 touchdown passes. McLaurin is not a one year wonder – he has had great success with bums as his quarterbacks. The Commanders acquired another top receiver in the league, Deebo Samuel, from the 49ers. Deebo by himself without McLaurin is not going to get the numbers that Scary Terry got. It just sounds better to have Deebo and Scary Terry as your wide outs for a 2nd year quarterback. Out of these three hold outs, I think McLaurin is the most important guy. With Watt or without Watt, the Steelers may not even get to the post-season. The Bengals could do the Bears imitation with their offense and leave their sack artist at home. Only thing in the NFL is great offenses can become ordinary coming up against a solid defense in big playoff games.

I’m sure guys like Al Harris and Todd Bell would say they have no regrets sitting out the entire 1985 season. The Bears had their own hit song called the Superbowl Shuffle out before they even got to New Orleans for the big game. The Bears would lose only one regular season game that year, to the Miami Dolphins. They destroyed the Patriots in the Superbowl. All the names & all those personalities on the roster & the coaching staff meshed perfectly in that season as they had one magical year. No regrets. I’m not buying what those two are selling. Did they not read the room of their teammates when coming up with the idea of holding out? The Bears line backing crew had Mike Singletary, a Hall of Famer. Then Wilbur Marshall who blew up opponents from his devastating hits.Then Otis Wilson was a solid player. In the secondary, the Bears had Gary Fencik and Dave Duerson as their starting safeties. I can see why the Bears did not give into the demands of Harris and Bell. Harris and Bell were solid defenders but expendable at the same time. Still to this day in Chicago, those ’85 Bears players get free drinks when they come to town. When they won it all Bearmania was crazy in Chicago. Everyone was swept up into it during that entire season. I think Bearsmania went all around the world. Remember this was before Michael Jordan won six NBA titles. Those two guys came back the following season to watch all their teammates get a ring. I get that NFL players put their bodies on the line to play every Sunday and they should get paid. It’s not like they get chump change for what they do. That would be hard to swallow sitting out and seeing your team win it all without you. I’d rather they show me the ring than show me the money.

HENRY RUGGS III WANTS TO RIDE AGAIN IN THE NFL

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In 2020, Henry Ruggs III was drafted 12th overall in the first round of the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was the first ever pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in their first season in Sin Town after leaving Oakland. He was a talented wide receiver coming out of a big college football program at the University of Alabama. He would now be making millions and more millions of dollars living out his dream playing the game he loved his entire life. Being in Las Vegas could be naturally a distraction with loose women, fast cars, drugs and alcohol along with gambling which could be the whammy of hexes. No young man should ride that line as the ending is always no good. Young people are stupid and we have all been there ourselves. In his second year in the NFL, it was the fast car with the girl in the passenger seat going at an unbelievable high speed which ended killing a woman named Tina Tintor and her dog. Ruggs and his girlfriend at the time would survive that horrific night on November 2nd, 2021. Ruggs would end up going to jail as he was sentenced to 3-10 years charged with a felony DUI and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. In 2026, he will have his first parole meeting and he says he wants to still play football in the NFL and once again for the Raiders.

As a rookie, Henry Ruggs III’s first year in the NFL was decent. He played in 13 games, he was targeted 43 times, and caught 26 balls. He had racked up 452 receiving yards with two touchdowns. In his second year in the NFL, Ruggs played in 7 games before he got his Corvette up to a speed close to 160 MPH on a Las Vegas highway. In 7 games he was targeted in year two, 36 times. He caught 24 balls. In year two he already had the same amount of catches, yards, and touchdowns he did his rookie season. He racked up 452 receiving yards with another two touchdown catches. In 20 NFL games, Ruggs III had 50 catches for 921 receiving yards and hauled in 4 touchdown catches. By his numbers alone, he was starting to adapt and understand the NFL game while playing at a higher level. The NFL now plays 17 games per season so Ruggs III was on his way in year two to murder his rookie season numbers. If he played 9 more games, the standard 16 at the time, he should have had over 1,000 receiving yards and close to 100 catches and lets say 6 to 7 touchdowns. Now he’s starting to sound like a number 1 guy on a NFL team. If Ruggs III made the right decisions and not have drove his car while intoxicated with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. Who he had a kid with. He would have certainly made millions more dollars after playing out his rookie contract. Obviously if he stayed healthy on the field.

Henry Ruggs III spoke publicly for the first time about the tragic accident he caused to kill Tina Tintor and her dog on that night speeding to get to another party. It was at the Hope for Prisoners group held in Las Vegas where he spoke and wished he could go back to make things right. He would need a time machine to go back in time to save the girl he killed, who was 23 years of age. He is saying all the right things and apologized to the Tintor family. Not just for killing their daughter but bringing up the memories of the horrific accident when his face appears in the papers or his story goes on social media. He never addressed the family of the girl he killed face to face. He says he would like to apologize to them face to face to show them the real Henry Ruggs III. He admitted he was trying to escape the pressure of being a first round pick on a NFL team with stunts like living in the fast lane. He would like to play football again and even stay in Vegas where he is being incarcerated and play for the Raiders. He has had time to reflect about the situation and improve his mind set spiritually talking about it while praying and finding the Lord is my guess.

How do you get so intoxicated at a Top Golf place earlier in the evening, where Henry Ruggs III and his girlfriend were at before racing over to their next place? His alcohol limit was off the charts after he plowed into Tintor’s car. His girlfriend, Je’nai Kilgo Washington, needed arm surgery after the crash. Ruggs III was sentenced in May of 2023 as he took a plea agreement over the reckless driving charge. He also had a loaded hand gun and being intoxicated while possessing a gun is another law he broke. He has transferred to a transitional housing unit as his life seems to being closer to getting back to normal. His parole date is August 6th of 2026 and if he gets out, he will only be 27 years old. If he makes it back into professional football, his name would be in the headlines for the Tintor family to read about. Do you trust guys like Henry Ruggs III to have a second chance in life for being so stupid? This story will not stop future young men in their 20’s from driving like assholes. The more money they’ve got, the faster the car. We see it every day if you take a drive on a highway. People driving whatever car beyond it’s speed with no turn signals and cutting people off. No wonder we have road rage in life. Guys will say whatever they think the other person wants to hear to get what they want. Will the Tintor family be there to try to close the door on Ruggs III for longer time served? I know after Top Golf, he was not driving that fast wanting to kill somebody that night. Accidents can happen & that’s why they are accidents. I hope the Tintor family does have a say in the matter because losing somebody at 23 years of age in something like that is heartbreak for the rest of their life. If Ruggs III gets out and makes it back to the NFL, how is he going to escape the pressure the next time with the ghost of Tina and her dog on his shoulder when he’s on the field? Being only 27 years old does not mean you have all the answers. Serving time could improve a man’s mindset but for how long? What team will take a chance on a guy with this heavy load on his shoulders bringing this to your team’s locker room? I know lots of things have to happen before we do see Ruggs III back on the NFL gridiron. With that type of money, these guys in professional sports could afford the best car services to take these guys out to paint the town red. Not sure why they don’t use them because this guy may have been a number one receiver right now for somebody getting the bigger money. It’s the Tintor family we have to back, regarding their decision on anything to do with Ruggs III getting out early.

THE SAINTS WILL MARCH ON AS CARR DRIVES OFF INTO THE SUNSET

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The Derek Carr era is over in New Orleans after only two seasons in the Big Easy. Carr has decided he will hang up the spikes for good at the age of 34 while playing 11 seasons in the NFL with the Raiders and Saints. Carr suffered a labral tear in his right shoulder which is his throwing arm, last season. Medical scans have shown he has degenerative changes in his rotator cuff which will need surgery to repair. Everything can heal on its own which will have a longer timetable. If Carr did have surgery, he would definitely miss the entire 2025 season. Instead he will forfeit 30 million in earnings in the contract and walk away from the game for good.

Derek Carr was drafted by the Oakland Raiders back in the 2014 NFL draft from Fresno State University in the second round. He played for the Raiders in Oakland and when they moved to Las Vegas for 9 seasons. In 2023 the Raiders head coach was Josh McDaniel,s the former Patriots disciple who should have never landed a second gig as a leader of a football franchise. McDaniels benched Carr. Things escalated as Carr would then not waive his no trade clause and eventually be released. Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints who were looking for their next QB to lead this franchise. Since Drew Brees retired, they have fallen on hard times. Carr made 4 Pro-Bowls. In his first ten years in the league, he played 15 or more games per season. He had some years he hovered around the top 10 quarterbacks in the league. Overall he may have been a middle of the pack QB his entire career. He only played in one post-season game in his career and was on the losing end of the wild card game in 2022 with the Raiders. Carr played for six different head coaches throughout his career of which two of them were interim. He had 5 offensive coordinators when he wore silver and black. With the gold and black uniforms in two seasons, he had 2 different offensive coordinators and two different head coaches. If Carr came back this season, he would have had three different head coaches in New Orleans as the Saints hired Kellen Moore during the off-season.

Last year the Saints were 0-7 without Derek Carr as the starter. Carr had an even 5-5 record in 10 games before his season ended. He completed 67.7% of his passes and tallied up 2,145 passing yards with 15 touchdown passes along with 5 interceptions. In New Orleans he leaves the Big Easy with a winning record in 27 games he did start, he went 14-13. I thought when Carr did sign with New Orleans, they had the best shot at winning the crappy NFC South division the last two seasons. His first season in New Orleans he had the Saints close, but at the end they could not march across the finish line. In 11 years Carr would have a losing record playing in 169 NFL games. He had a record of 77-92 as a starter. His completion rating was 65.1% as he tallied up 41,245 passing yards. Threw 257 touchdown passes with 112 interceptions. His two best seasons were in 2015 & ’16. In 2015 he had his career high with 32 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. In 2016 his record as the starter was 12-3 and the Raiders looked like they were going to go deep into the post-season. Carr had 28 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions in 15 games. The Raiders would make post-season and Carr would not play because he suffered a season ending injury close to the end of regular season. The Raiders would be one and done that year in post season.

Derek Carr’s brother was drafted in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Houston Texans from Fresno State University. David played 10 seasons in the NFL with Texans, Giants, Panthers, and 49ers. His career started in 2002 and ended in 2012 as he played in 94 games. David was a first round bust. His rookie season he set the record for most sacks in one season by a QB in his first year. He went 23-56 as a starter and tallied up 14,452 passing yards. He threw for 65 touchdown passes compared to 71 interceptions. Derek most definitely had a better career than his brother David. I remember David put in a ton of time helping his younger brother be the better NFL quarterback.

The New Orleans Saints did draft a quarterback this season a few weeks back. In the second round at number 40, they selected Tyler Shough from Louisville. In 2024 the Saints drafted Spencer Rattler. In 2023 the Saints drafted Jack Haener. Shough was most likely hand-picked by the team’s new head coach Kellen Moore. Look for Shough to be the guy unless they land some veteran quarterback in a trade or pick one up as a free agent. Drew Brees was not drafted by the Saints. The Saints’ best QB they have drafted, you have to go back to 1971 when they drafted Archie Manning. Archie never got the Saints to post-season. Bobby Hebert was the first ever Saints quarterback to guide the Saints to the playoffs back in 1987.

Hebert played in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders before going to the NFL where he signed with the Saints in 1985. The Saints’ best teams in history never developed a franchise QB. Now it’s time they do that. They have a new head coach. They have a slew of young QB’s to mold. Derek Carr unfortunately was not going to bring this Saints team all the way to the Superbowl. Playoffs at best. It did not happen. This current Saints team should gut this team that is in salary cap hell the last few years. Getting Carr off the books is a start. It would not take the Saints long to catch up to all the other teams in the division if they cleaned house and let the young guys get the experience while growing as a team. Who knows? Maybe one of the guys they have at QB will be the answer. If not, next year’s crop of QBs is much better. I did like Carr as a QB for both the Raiders and Saints. He was not going to be the next Mathew Stafford by going to another team and winning the Superbowl type of veteran. He had a nice career and was stuck in the middle of the pack his entire career which is not a bad thing as many guys can’t even start one game in the NFL.

THE SANDERS SLIDE

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Do you remember Deion Sanders’ touchdown celebrations during his NFL days?

Did he call it the prime time shuffle after his nickname? To me it looked like some version of the electric slide. Neon Deion Sanders’ son right now has his own slide that is making the prime time news in the NFL draft coverage. Shedeur Sanders was supposed to be drafted in the top 5 of the 2025 NFL draft. Some experts had Shedeur being the 2nd best QB in the draft. His father Deion, who is the head coach of the University of Colorado, was his son’s college coach. He had a list of teams he did not want his son playing for. During the NFL scouting combine, Shedeur did not throw any passes or do any of the athletic training. He was present as he did several interviews with multiple teams. Some of those interviews were solid & some went very poorly. The Tennessee Titans with the very first pick took Cam Ward out of the University of Miami. The Giants, which was where many thought Shedeur would land, went with a top notch edge rusher in Abdul Carter with the number three pick from Penn State. Many thought when the Giants made the trade with the Texans to get the 25th pick of the first round pick, Sanders’ son would be scooped up. The Giants picked a QB but it was not Shedeur. New York went with Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. Sanders would slide out of the first round without being picked. Yesterday in rounds 2-3 of the NFL draft, other quarterbacks were picked instead of Shedeur. The former Buffaloe now is on the Chutes and Ladders slide. He’s free falling as three rounds have gone and he is still available. Why?

Shedeur Sanders can throw a nice deep ball. In 4 seasons, 2 at Jackson State and 2 at Colorado. Shedeur has tallied up 14,353 passing yards combined. He has completed 1,267 passes in 1,808 attempts which is good for a 70.1% completion rate which is impressive. He has thrown 134 touchdown passes compared to only 27 interceptions which is remarkable. His arm strength is good, but not great. His short passes are not very good as the balls come out wobbly. He is not a duel threat. He’s a pocket passer that gets sacked a lot. He sounds like a Justin Fields. Fields will run the ball more. In the NFL, teams that were in the need of a QB were the Giants, Saints, Browns, and Steelers. You have some teams that will draft a QB to develop a guy for the future. The Giants went with Jaxson Dart as their guy because their head coach, Brian Daboll, and general manager, Joe Schoen, come from the Buffalo Bills organization. They like Dart because he reminds them of Josh Allen in the way he plays the game. The Saints may be without their starting QB, because Derek Carr’s injury from last year may linger into this season. Some experts said Shedeur would do well playing in New Orleans in a dome. The Saints did pick a QB on Friday and took Tyler Shough at number 40 from Louisville. Let’s remember the Saints drafted Spencer Rattler last year as he got some playing time in his rookie season. They like some of the flashes he has shown. The Browns have Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett who they traded for in this off-season. The Browns want to forget about Deshaun Watson. They drafted a QB yesterday at number 94, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon University. Cleveland does not want to risk another Johnny Manziel and they failed miserably on the Watson trade. The Steelers is a possible landing spot for Sanders. The Steelers re-signed Mason Rudolf and think they are in with Aaron Rodgers. Shedeur could still get picked up by the Steelers in later rounds. Any team could still pick up Shedeur. Five QB’s have been picked up including Seattle who took Jalen Milroe from University of Alabama, number 92. The Seahawks signed veteran Sam Darnold so they will slowly develop Milroe.

You know Deion Sanders had high hopes for his son and still does. You know Prime Time pictured Shedeur getting drafted in the top 5 of the draft and starting for some team right away. Perhaps his performance being like Jayden Daniels with what he did last year for the Commanders getting them into the post-season. Deion would be scarred coming into the draft if people even said Shedeur is suited to being a back up QB in the NFL to start his career off. Being a back up QB most of the times you are the most popular guy if the first string guy is doing bad. I see this entire drama unfolding because if your team does draft Shedeur Sanders, you’re bringing his father Deion along for the ride. Deion reminds me of those fathers when the kids are playing, telling the coach to put his son in. Deion would talk badly about any coach not playing his son through the media. Why would any team want to bring this drama into your locker room? I’m not saying all teams in the NFL should avoid Shedeur. He could be the real deal. If I’m a franchise and I choose to go down this path with the Sanders slide, I would want his son for cheap if I have to deal with the drama they bring to the table. In later rounds, Shedeur might be a guy someone takes a chance on. I would not make him a starter day one. He would have to earn it. I don’t care what Deion would say. If Sanders’ kid was taken in the first round, a team would be paying him, dealing with criticism all the time from his father on coaching him, and he could turn out to be a flop. You are fired. I think he would fit perfectly with the Steelers. First knowing Aaron Rodgers is the guy. We don’t know if he will be the guy for the Steelers. That may hurt Rodgers’ feelings having another QB on the roster. I think Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin could get the best out of Sanders’ son and contain the father. Deion’s next son should participate in the NFL combine and let the cards fall where they lie instead of sabotaging him with certain franchises because you don’t like the city or coaching. Fathers always knows best is not in the Deion handbook.

WOULD SHEDEUR SANDERS BE PRIME TIME IN NEW YORK CITY FOR THE GIANTS?

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The New York Giants still have not found their quarterback solution after Eli Manning hung up the spikes for good a few seasons ago. The Giants have the number three pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft which is not as loaded at the quarterback position like it was at the 2024 draft. The current Head Coach for the G-Men, Brain Daboll, and the General Manager’s jobs are hanging by a thread. As they are on the hot seat right now. After not being able to develop Daniel Jones a quarterback they inherited when they arrived in the big apple, would this regime get the extra time they need to develop a rookie QB? The Giants loaded up on veteran quarterback free agents this off-season in hopes one of them will pay out. It would seem the Giants would pass on picking up a QB in the first round as the quarterback room is filled right now. You never know until the draft what they will do as the Giants and Shedeur Sanders have shown mutual interest in each other. Sanders has one final work out scheduled for the G-Men. Could Deon Sanders’ son be the answer for this New York franchise that is desperate right now seeing every team in their division having a guy that is the face of their franchise?

The New York Giants reside in the NFC East which had two teams that made it to the post-season. The Philadelphia Eagles won the Superbowl with the last laugh on the Giants for signing Saquon Barkley, who was a free agent running back who ran to greener pastures. The Commanders resurrected from the dead as a football franchise by drafting Jayden Daniels number two in last year’s draft. They went deep into the post-season. The Cowboys have Dak Prescott who is a pretend franchise quarterback.The Giants are so desperate at the QB position they signed 36 year old veteran Russell Wilson who had a rebound year playing for the Steelers last year. He went 6-5 as the starter for the Steelers and started off great. He completed 63.7% of his passes and had 16 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Only problem is the Steelers backed into the post-season on a losing streak and quickly dispatched again in the first round by their arch rival, the Ravens. Wilson was a clubhouse cancer in Denver. He’s typically your primadonna and is not the same guy from his days in Seattle where he was in the top ten of the league behind center.

Then the Giants signed the crab man, Jameis Winston, to a two year deal worth 8 million. Last year he played in Cleveland and was 2-5 in 7 games filling in for the sexual predator Deshaun Watson whose season ended with an injury. Winston had 13 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. He is the King of the pick six. After making it official with the Giants, Winston thanked the fans in the Dawg Pound for having him be their QB for one season. The memories of beating the Steelers in the snow to him was epic. Yes the crab man did beat Russell Wilson. Then the Giants still have 26 year old Tommy DeVito who went 0-2 last year in two starts for the Giants. He had no touchdown passes or interceptions but completed 70.5% of his passes. He is 3-5 as a starter in the NFL with 8 touchdown passes to 3 interceptions and has a 65.3% completion percentage. DeVito signed with the Giants as an Undrafted Free Agent in 2023 and could easily be the odd man out in this Giants’ QB saga by the time the season starts. He may not be the answer as QB 1. He is a guy that has a higher ceiling to develop I think.

The Tennessee Titans have the number one pick in the 2025 NFL draft and they are expected to take the best QB in the draft, Cam Ward, from the University of Miami. The Browns have the second pick in this upcoming draft and they should go Quarterback as Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the entire season. The Browns have traded for Kenny Pickett and have brought back Joe Flacco for his second stint with the team from free agency. Can the Browns move on from Watson with that handcuffed contract he has? The Browns are expected to sign Shadeur Sanders’ University of Colorado teammate, Travis Hunter, who is a two way player as he dabbles as a receiver on offense and defense. He also plays corner back. The Browns could also get another top edge rusher in Abdul Carter from Penn State University. The guy the Browns do not take can easily be the 3rd pick in the draft. They say Sanders is the 2nd best QB in the draft, but his stock has dropped off with the draft approaching.

Shadeur Sanders did not participate at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He was there, but he did not throw the football or take part in any athletic testing. He focused on meetings with NFL teams. Last season Sanders had 4,134 passing yards with 37 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions. The University of Colorado made it to the Alamo Bowl. In two seasons as a Buffalo, Sanders was 13-13 as a starter. His first two seasons Sanders played at Jackson State, a smaller school where he went 23-3 as a starter in hus first two years. In College Football overall, he has a 36-15 record behind center as a starter. In the Alamo Bowl he had some cleats designed with the Giants logo and colors. The Giants have had more than one time when they had their staff scouting Sanders. It sounds like a perfect marriage between the Giants and Sanders. The Giants must have Sanders’ pops approval as being one of the teams his son can play for. Neon Deon has a list of team he will not want his son to play for. You know that Prime Time wants his son to be picked in the top 5 or at least the top 10 for the best money. Brian Daboll had Daniel Jones playing better when he arrived taking the Giants job as his first head coaching gig. Jones went back to his old habits very quickly in his second year with Daboll. When Daboll was offensive coordinator in Buffalo, he did great things with the talented Josh Allen as QB. Not sure Sanders will be that guy. That quarterback. The Giants have some talented receivers for a young guy like Sanders. Does Prime Time get involved in his son’s career choices? That could spoil this pick. Plus Daboll and his staff and the GM are right now dead men walking. If they do draft Sanders, then he may have another Head Coach and different offensive scheme in year two. Not sure I like my young QB being around a loser like Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. New York is no Colorado Mountain High either. The Big Apple can eat players alive as the worm turns. Just reading about what some of the football experts are saying, there may be other QB’s that are worth a try than paying Sanders kid the big money. If I was the Giants, I would take the Edge Rusher from Penn State or the two way star from Colorado. Roll the dice that your franchise will be here again with a top pick in 2026 and hope it’s a better crop of QB’s for the taking.

THE NEW YORK JETS WILL BE FLYING IN AND OUT OF JUSTIN FIELD’S IN 2025

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The New York Jets can close the book on their darkness retreat chapters starring Aaron Rodgers. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood soured the Big Apple in New York as he single handedly burned down his own team taking the Jets franchise to nothing but a heap of smoldering ash. The Jets thought at the time they just needed a quarterback to get over the hump and signed Rogers after he left Green Bay kicking and screaming. It’s been two years of pure hell for J-E-T-S as now they can finally move on and try to put some distance between them and the Mr. Darkness retreat. The Jets in day one of free agency have found Rogers’ replacement by signing former number one pick from the Chicago Bears, Justin Fields. Fields gets a two year deal worth 40 million which 30 of that is guaranteed as he will be an expensive rebound for this fan base. This move also gives this Jets franchise a breath of air and a new start which they need right now.

Justin Fields is now 26 years of age and has 4 NFL seasons under his belt. Originally Fields was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1st round of the 2021 NFL draft number 11 overall from Ohio State University. He has played three seasons in Chicago where he had his ups and downs. Last year in his lone season in Pittsburgh as a Steeler, he achieved his first winning record in a season as a starting NFL QB. He was traded to Pittsburgh and only started 6 games for the Steelers where he had a winning record of 4-2. He played in a total of 10 games for the Steelers where he completed 65.8% of his passes which is a career high for Fields. He tallied up 1,106 passing yards with 5 touchdown passes and only 1 interception. He started the season as the starter for the Steelers because the other QB Pittsburgh signed at the time was Russell Wilson who had an injury to start the year off then replaced him week 7.

It took three full seasons as a starter for Justin Fields to win 10 games as a starter for the Chicago Bears. Last year he almost won half of those starts that he won in less than half a season. Fields is a duel threat quarterback that can beat you with his legs more than his arm. He has a nice deep pass but always had problems throwing over the middle of the field. I always say once athletes leave the Chicago sports landscape, they do better. Fields has always turned over the ball with an interception or he’s very good at coughing up the football. His career numbers in 4 seasons he is 14-30 as a starting QB. He has a completion percentage of 61.2% and he has tallied 7,780 yards in the air and thrown 45 touchdown passes. However he has thrown 31 interceptions. He threw only one as a Steeler. With the legs he has rushed the ball 418 times for 2,509 rushing yards with 19 rushing touchdowns. With the Bears he went through coaches and offensive coordinators like changing your underwear on a daily basis. In Chicago he had the turn style offensive line. With the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin, he changed his game and made less mistakes. He definitely had better protection. His turnover rate as a Steeler averaged out to 0.8% in 2024. From 2021-23 with the Bears, Fields averaged an NFL turnover rate of 2.8%. He has been careful with the ball in Pittsburgh. With the Bears he was the worst QB taking the sack. From 2021-23 he was sacked with a 12.4% sack rate. With the Steelers he cut that sack rate down to 9%. During those six games he started, the Steelers offense were averaging 20.7 points per game. The Jets would have loved to have 20.7 points per game as they did not get that with Aaron Rodgers last year.

The New York Jets pick at number 7 in this April’s draft may not get them one of the top two QB’s on the board. The Jets are in need of a future franchise quarterback. They have failed before at developing former number one picks they have selected such as Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. Darnold finally had his best year in a Vikings uniform last season. Darnold may be a late bloomer while Wilson looks like the next Ryan Leaf. If the Jets are going to select a quarterback in this upcoming draft, they need to develop him. The best plan may be to have the guy stand on the sidelines with a clipboard and learn. Justin Fields may be a bridge gap QB for the Jets. Fields could also showcase his own talents and improve his game on the field to ultimately get a bigger deal elsewhere. However if luck is not on the side of the Jets in developing a draft pick, then if Fields performance is solid they may have found a solution behind center. If Fields does good he could be a trade chip for another team if the QB he grooms turns into something.

The Jets have had a solid defense the last few seasons during which I thought they took a step backwards last year. The stench of Aaron Rodgers rotted everything it touched in that Jets locker room last year. The Jets have hired a defensive-minded head coach in Aaron Glenn, former Lions D-Coordinator. Glenn can probably get that defense to its old self. If Justin Fields is careful with the football, then the Jets may have found a new formula to win games. Defense and duel threat QB who does not turn over the football. I think Fields will also flourish because he will have his former teammate catching his passes. From Ohio State, former Buckeye Garrett Wilson is the best receiver the Jets had had the last three seasons. With all the bad quarterback play the Jets had over the last few seasons, he still has found ways to tally over 1,000 receiving yards. The Jets were 5-12 last year and finished 3rd in the AFC East. They should benefit with an easier schedule next season. My knock of Fields in something he may not be able to improve, is the killer instinct with the ball in his hands in the last minute of the game. Taking the lead or tying the game to send it to overtime. Most importantly, the comeback to win the game. He was a disappointment in close games in the last few minutes in a Bears uniform. Right now Fields has a chance to showcase his talents with a new team and being the starter. How will he handle objects in his side mirror that are closer than he thinks? I like this move by the Jets because it turns the page on Rodgers. Fields is most likely only a rebound after a bad break up for the Jets. He gives this franchise a chance to heal. He gives this franchise a chance to rebuild. He gives the Jets a fighting chance every Sunday and makes each week exciting even if the record is not a winning one. The Jets should be better than 5-12 as the darkness retreat clouds have lifted over the New Jersey stadium on home games.

THE BEARS SEEK THE HELP OF A MAN THAT HAS HELPED TWO HATED DYNASTIES WIN MULTIPLE SUPERBOWLS

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The Chicago Bears are Trumping up their offensive walls to keep out the opposing defenses’ migrants. Maybe General Manager of the Bears Ryan Poles got a good fence guy recommendation from Donald Trump. The Bears pulled off a monster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to give Chicago a true pillar on an offensive line that gave up more screws than a whorehouse last season. The Bears acquire left guard Joe Thuney from the Chiefs for a 2026 4th round draft pick. Thuney has been the protector of Tom Brady back in the New England dynasty and has given protection to Patrick Mahomes for several seasons and this current Chiefs dynasty. Thuney has won 4 Superbowls in his 9 year NFL career, which 2 of them came from the Patriots and the other two the Chiefs.

Joe Thuney is 32 years of age. He was drafted by the Patriots in the 2016 NFL draft in the 3rd round 78th overall from the University of Carolina. His first 5 seasons was with the Evil Empire Patriots. His last 4 seasons he was down in Kansas City joining another hated franchise. Don’t let the age fool you as Thuney has only missed two games in his entire career. He played in all 17 games last year for the Chiefs. He has 146 games under his belt in the NFL. He is a 4x All-Pro and was selected to 3 Pro-Bowls in 9 total seasons. Last year he played 895 snaps at the left guard position. Then he was asked to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side at left tackle due to an injury. He played 217 snaps at left tackle. In the last two seasons he has had the highest pass block win rate of 97.8% in the entire league.

So why did the Kansas City Chiefs suddenly make Joe Thuney expendable? The Chiefs’ best offensive lineman Trey Smith recently got the franchise tag and is a guy younger than Thuney. Trading Thuney to the Bears will free up 16 million dollars off the Chiefs salary cap. Smith is only 23 years old and with a franchise tag would be paid in the neighborhood of 23.5 million which is the going rate out of your top protectors in the NFL. The Chiefs coming off their Superbowl loss will look to retool their roster but also get younger in the grand scheme of things.

For the Bears it’s simple, they have to protect their investment number one pick from last April’s draft in Caleb Williams. Williams was sacked 68 times in his rookie season which almost broke David Carr’s single rookie season he had in his first year with the Houston Texans. In 2002 Carr was sacked 76 times. This is the second move by the Chicago Bears in a matter of days. Both moves to improve their offensive line have come through trades. The first trade was with the LA Rams which landed them a 315 pound moose in Jonah Jackson, an X Detroit Lion who has ties to newly hired head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears have three free agents from last year who were fixtures on that terrible O-line they had who they will most likely let walk away instead of re-signing them.

Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator for the last several years had success because of the guys in the trenches. The Detroit Lions had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL the last few seasons. They ran a well-balanced offense with a two-headed monster at running back that opened up the play action pass for Jared Goff. Johnson turned Goff into a serviceable quarterback that can help your team go deep into the post-season. The experts think Caleb Williams has all the star-studded tools of being a top NFL quarterback in this league. Williams now will have protection in the middle of the line in these first two moves of the off-season by the Bears landing a pair of guards. Obviously Johnson still has to work on Williams’ mechanics and help him get rid of the ball quicker to avoid those types of sacks in which Caleb found himself doing his rookie season. Now it will appear he will get that time after these two trades.

As many expected, the Ben Johnson era will be a carbon copy of what the Lions needed to do to resurrect that franchise from the dead. The Bears are now investing heavily into the offensive line as Joe Thuney will get 16 million next year as he finishes a 5 year extension he got in 2021 by the Chiefs that was worth 80 million. Rumors are swirling that Thuney may get an extension even before putting on the shoulder pads. The Bears will be paying Jonah Jackson 17.5 million who’s in his second year of a three year contract he signed with the Rams. I don’t expect either deal to be a one year try out. If the Bears don’t give Thuney the extension, they can let him ride out the end of his deal and call it a day. For Jackson the Bears could cut ties with him before next season in his final year which would not cause problems for the salary cap. I think Johnson and Ryan Poles think these two guards will be here longer than one season. For Jackson who only played 4 games last year for the Rams, it is a move right now I will question. I give Johnson the benefit of the doubt as they have connections. I do like the Thuney trade. He is older but looks like a guy that still has thread on the tires and we know he plays that way. He’s been a part of elite winning programs like the Chiefs and Patriots. I like he comes from colder climates such as Kansas City and New England, so he should feel right at home in Chicago. I like Thuney able to play either tackle or guard. The Bears may need one more guy for that O-line to get the full makeover. Now they can address that in the draft or through free agency. All of the moves the Bears have made on offense the last two seasons are for Caleb Williams. Williams will be the final piece of the puzzle if this franchise will contend for years to come. Winning the off-season does not win Superbowl titles.

ANOTHER BEARS BLUNDER NOT RE-SIGNING SANBORN

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The Chicago Bears organization’s best comparison is a teenager who constantly makes bad decisions. It does not matter who’s in charge at the top. Does not matter who is the head coach. Somehow the Bears will make a blunder which will leave you scratching your head in disbelief. The latest is non-tendering strong side linebacker Jack Sanborn who’s a local kid and a player that has thrived the last three seasons since being signed as an un-drafted free agent from the University of Wisconsin. Sanborn was a restricted free agent and the money to keep him on this team is chump change which tallies to 3.263 million. Now Sanborn is a free agent and can sign anywhere he wants to. Some say the madness of this Bears move was to re-sign Sanborn for his services at a cheaper price. I have to believe some team will come in and scoop up a talent and want Sanborn’s services in the upcoming season.

Jack Sanborn is only 24 years of age and signed with the Bears as an un-drafted free agent in the 2022 season. That year he cracked the starting line up and made six starts for the Bears. In three seasons with the Bears he has played in 48 games and has made 19 starts at linebacker. Last year he played in all 17 games and tallied up 17 tackles while registering 1.5 sacks on the QB. Sanborn is a tackling machine as he has been involved in 164 tackles in three NFL seasons which 110 of those were solo. He has racked up 14 tackles for a loss of yards while defending 5 passes. He has one interception while racking up 4.5 sacks. He grew up a Bears fan and is from Lake Zurich, Illinois. Former Bears coaches say Sanborn is a versatile player, intelligent, a hard worker, and a guy that can play in nickel situations on third downs. You have to like his motor as he keeps going until the whistle blows. He can back up all the team’s linebacker positions. If not a starter, Sanborn would give any team depth on the roster.

The Bears have a new head coach in Ben Johnson who is here to fix the team’s offense and develop the quarterback. Johnson hired former Saints/Raiders head coach Dennis Allen who will be bringing in a different style of defense than what Matt Eberflus had the last few years. The Bears have invested heavily in linebackers through free agency by signing former Eagle T.J Edwards and former Bill Tremaine Edmunds before the 2023 season. Both Edmunds and Edwards might not be the linebackers in Allen’s defensive scheme. The Bears will be looking for guys that can pressure the quarterback is my guess and that made a guy like Jack Sanborn expendable for this new regime.

One team that may scoop up a guy like Jack Sanborn is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have a new D-Coordinator and it is Matt Eberflus who definitely knows what his defense needs and will know what he would be getting if they ink Sanborn to a free agent contract. Sanborn should have multiple suitors for his services. I know he was not drafted, but he played defense in the Big Ten at the University of Wisconsin. Big Ten manufactures linebackers and solid defensive options like a factory. It’s a conference that plays defense still. Many of these un-drafted free agents play with more heart than most of these guys that were drafted. Sanborn seems like that guy that a coach would say, “If I only had 11 Jack’s out there, what this defense could do.” That defense would play hard. That defense would not shoot themselves in the foot and play smart. Whoever signs Sanborn will get a better version of Jack because he will be even more motivated to be better if that is even possible. I’m not going to lie. I hate seeing the Bears give up on a local kid that was doing well. He is only 24 years of age and has not even hit his prime of his football career. I wish him the best of luck. I really do think the Bears have made another blunder which is the norm for this franchise and for all the teams in the Chicago Sports landscape.

IS J.J. GOING TO BE DYNAMITE FOR THE BEARS OFFENSIVE LINE NEXT SEASON?

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The Ben Johnson era in Chicago starts off with a move that several past General Managers for the Bears used the band aid method on over the last two decades. You could even throw the current GM Ryan Poles under a bus for not knowing what an offensive lineman looks like. The Bears pull off a trade with the LA Rams to land a veteran guard and one of Johnson’s old disciples from back in the Detroit days. The Bears acquire 28 year old left guard Jonah Jackson from the Rams for a 6th round 2025 draft pick. Before you make your Superbowl plans for the Bears, it comes with a cost of 17.5 million on the salary cap. The Bears will take on the entire length of Jackson’s contract – a guy that only played in four games last year. This sounds more of a Bears-like move.

Jonah Jackson was originally drafted by the Lions in the 2020 NFL draft, as he was selected in the 3rd round 75th overall from Ohio State University. Jackson has 5 seasons under his belt as he has started 61 NFL games. In 2021 Jackson was named to his only Pro-Bowl, by far his best season in the NFL. Last year the Lions chose to let Jackson walk out the door in free agency as he signed with the Rams on a 3 year deal worth 51 million. His lone season in LA was not worth remembering as he missed most of training with camp due to a injury. He did return to line up for opening week then in week two a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve. He would return late in the season and play in another two regular season games. In Jackson’s first two seasons in the NFL, he played in 16 games in back to back years. In 2022 he played in only 13 games. In 2023 he played in only 12 games. Last year he played in 4 games. The Bears hope he can stay healthy this upcoming season and have a bounce back year.

Last season the Bears GM Ryan Poles improved the offense by adding all the fancy play makers and new offensive coordinator. Like past Bears General Managers he did not address that offensive line and it was like putting make up on a pig. Poles’ number one pick, Caleb Williams, paid the price in almost breaking David Carr’s rookie record of being sacked the most in NFL history. Williams made mistakes as a rookie that did not help the guys the Bears had protecting him. He would hold on to the ball way too long. Most of the games, the Bears offensive line caved in like a house of cards as defenders would blow up the middle of that line each week. The Bears coaching staff had no answers and no adjustments as Williams is lucky he is still in one piece by the end of another miserable season on the gridiron for Chicago. Williams’ first season was like Mitch Trubisky’s & Justin Fields’ first season with the Bears. Quarterbacks selected in the first round come in with a shaky line and a coaching staff that is doomed from the start. Then after that year, all three quarterbacks have to start over with another head coach and offensive coordinator. This go around the Bears kept Poles as he convinced ownership they need to spend the big money to hand the reigns over to Ben Johnson. He’s that hot shot offensive coordinator who did wonders in Detroit the last few years. Can Johnson avoid what happened to Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus who ruined Trubisky and Fields? It looked like the Commanders who picked second overall in last April’s draft and selected Jayden Daniels, which made the better choice for now after one season. Will it continue?

The Bears will need more than one move to solidify their offensive line this off season. The Bears will not resign Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton or Matt Pryor who all played on the offensive line last season. They are set to become free agents and other teams’ problems. The Bears could address their line issues with free agency, the draft, or by trade, like they did with their first significant move of the off-season. This first move is indeed interesting. Jonah Jackson and many others in the NFL worked very hard to get that first pay day and after they get it, their performances drop off the map. Jackson got the big deal and after year one has not lived up to it. Injuries happen in football. Ben Johnson knows Jackson very well working with him for years so I suspect they think he will bounce back and the shoulder problems should not linger for years to come. You have to give head coach Johnson the benefit of the doubt because he knows what an offensive line man looks like over the yahoos who have failed at finding the right big guys to protect your asset which is the quarterback. Hopefully Coach Johnson can develop the quarterback as well. Which the Bears brass have not figured that out for quite some time. Keeping the QB upright is the first step which is basic Football 101. Jackson is a 315 pound beast the Bears are adding at left guard. He can play some right guard as well. He should help prevent the opposing defenses from caving in the middle of that line. He’s getting the big bucks so he better be worth it. The Bears have some space in their salary cap which will not be an issue making other signings. In the third year of the contract which will be the 2026 regular season, if Jackson is not worth keeping he would not cost much against the cap to cut ties with next off-season. His track record raises red flags for me as his career goes on, the less he plays. The Bears did not give up a lot for him. You are not getting a starting offensive lineman in the 6th round of this April’s draft. The pressure will be on Ben Johnson as he is getting paid well and this is his guy. Right now this move will be a wait and see. It could be dynamite in either way. Bears fans hope it does not explode against them like most of their front office moves they have seen for years.