Daily Briefing

AROUND THE NFL We’re back from the Super Bowl where life was too busy to Brief, but we look forward to the offseason moving forward.    It wasn’t the best Super Bowl game ever, but it certainly wasn’t the worst.  Not even the worst of the last five as Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com pointed…

AROUND THE NFL This is good news and it comes from Judy Bautista of NFL.com:   The number of diagnosed concussions NFL players suffered in 2018 dropped significantly, indicating that a heightened effort this season — which included two much-discussed rules changes — might have contributed to the difference.   The numbers, released by the…

AROUND THE NFL We either will have the oldest winning coach in Super Bowl history, or the youngest.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com totes up the numbers:   Happy birthday to Rams head coach Sean McVay, who turns 33 today.   McVay is 33 while the coach across the field from him in Super Bowl…

AROUND THE NFL The oddsmakers thought that Patriots-Rams was a pick ‘em game, but the betting public has pushed the line towards New England.  Jay Ginsbach of Forbes.com:   The 2019 Super Bowl LIII matchup is set after a pair of thrilling conference championship overtime games won by the Los Angeles Rams and the New…

AROUND THE NFL Funny tweet from Steve Palazzolo of ProFootballFocus:   @PFF_Steve  Brady vs. Mahomes will be the next great rivalry for the next 10 years – – – The DB agrees with Joel Klatt, a college guy who likes NFL OT better:   @joelklatt Don’t understand all the criticism of the NFL OT rules…it…

AROUND THE NFL This tweet from Kenny Albert:   Los Angeles/Boston in 2018 World Series and 2019 Super Bowl. Only other time same cities met in consecutive WS/SB: 1969 (Jets/Colts & Mets/Orioles) 🏈 ⚾️ credit: @Psuicer7   This tweet from Kevin Seifert of ESPN:   @SeifertESPN Per @ESPNStatsInfo: Since 2010, @NFL teams that win the…

AROUND THE NFL We split our four picks last week to get all the way to 2-6 on the postseason.  We feel like both home teams will win, their homefield advantages are among the best in the NFL.  Recent history is on our side, with home teams are 10-0 straight up and 8-2 ATS in…

AROUND THE NFL NFC NORTH   DETROIT Is Darrell Bevell a better OC than Jim Bob Cooter?  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:   The Lions have their new offensive coordinator.   Darrell Bevell, who spent seven seasons as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator from 2011 through 2017, was hired by the Lions today.   The 49-year-old…

AROUND THE NFL NFC SOUTH   ATLANTA DE TAKK McKINLEY is detained in Los Angeles amidst concerns about his mental health.  TMZ.com had the scoop:   Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley was detained by police in L.A. on Tuesday and is undergoing a mental evaluation following an incident at a hotel … TMZ Sports…

AROUND THE NFL ProFootballZebras.com had declared (with reason) that Ron Torbert was the likely referee of Super Bowl 53.  But it is John Parry instead.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:   The NFL has announced the referee for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.   John Parry got the nod from the league to referee the game.…

AROUND THE NFL Peter King sets things up for Championship Game Weekend:   Then there were four. Both conference title games will be rematches of compelling midseason shootouts. You remember back to midseason, when defense was going the way of the Giant Panda, verging on endangered. One piece of evidence: Patriots 43, Chiefs 40, in…

AROUND THE NFL This from Ian Rapoport:   @RapSheet After impressing the #Jets in head-coach interviews, former #Bucs OC Todd Monken will interview with the #Browns for their vacant OC job this weekend, source said. He also spoke with #Jaguars about their vacant OC job.   This from Albert Breer:   @AlbertBreer The 💰 APY…