Daily Briefing

AROUND THE NFL The big stories of Week 2 were the injuries to aging QBs BEN ROETHLISBERGER (season-ending elbow) and DREW BREES (6 weeks, thumb).   And, as happens several weeks each year – the perfect storm of bad officiating featuring two referees (one veteran in Walt Anderson, one rookie in Adrian Hill) and the…

AROUND THE NFL Mike Florio on the standard the NFL seems to be settling on for pass interference reversals:   Last year, the NFL adjusted rules regarding lowering-the-helmet rule and the roughing-the-passer after an outcry emerged from the early-season application of the provisions. This year, the new procedure for replay review of pass interference hasn’t…

AROUND THE NFL As we go to press comes this word that there ain’t going to be no BAKER MAYFIELD-SAM DARNOLD re-match on Monday night.  Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com:   Sam Darnold was out of practice yesterday with what was designated “illness.”   Now that they know which one it is, he may be out…

AROUND THE NFL The first game on Monday night had an awfully good finish.   Houston took over, down seven, with 50 seconds left.  And scored with too much time on the clock.  Danny Heifetz of The Ringer:   Saints fans showed up to the Superdome dressed as referees. Blind referees, to be specific. The…

AROUND THE NFL We’ll let Peter King catch us up on the weekend’s WR ANTONIO BROWN developments (and King “goes there” in a boldfaced paragraph).   I would not describe Tom Brady as giddy, or overly bubbly, about the prospect of playing football with the great but troubled wide receiver he’ll meet today, Antonio Brown.…

AROUND THE NFL The leisurely preseason turned into a dud of a regular season opener.  Andy Nesbitt of USA TODAY:   Well, that was brutal.   I’m talking, of course, about that opening-night stinker between the Packers and Bears.   The Packers might have won the scoreboard, 10-3, but everyone involved in this one –…

AROUND THE NFL Bill Barnwell makes the case for all 32 teams to win the Super Bowl here, The more improbable cases are below with the respective teams, as well as a few others of interest.   – – – The Panthers sold for $2.3 billion last year.  Could another mid-range (and maybe that’s generous)…

AROUND THE NFL NFC NORTH   GREEN BAY QB AARON RODGERS has won the right to call plays, for good or bad, at the line of scrimmage.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:   Rock, paper, scissors, Rodgers.   In a development that should surprise no one, Packers coach Matt LaFleur says that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers…

AROUND THE NFL Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com breaks down the huge trade between the Texans and Dolphins:   The trade that sent Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Houston was an enormous one.   The Texans are sending two first-round picks and a second-round pick to Miami to acquire Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny…

AROUND THE NFL Well-connected Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports on what will take the place of the shortened preseason:   Amid mounting criticism of an uncompelling exhibition-season product with sparsely attended stadiums and star players being withheld from games to avoid injury, there is increasing conviction within the NFL to shorten the preseason.…

AROUND THE NFL NFC EAST   NEW YORK GIANTS Cleveland QB BAKER MAYFIELD has reached out to Giants rookie QB DANIEL JONES.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:   On Wednesday, Mayfield clarified his comments from the GQ article and said he texted Jones.   “That interview was done back in April, I think right after the…

AROUND THE NFL Bill Barnwell of ESPN with thoughts on the diminished preseason – does it matter or not matter?   The march of the league has been toward risking starters less frequently during the preseason for years now, but that trend is accelerating. The key mover here is likely Sean McVay, who kept most…