Daily Briefing

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing ESPN.com’s correspondents provide a “surprise” about each team and speculate whether the early trend is sustainable.  We will pop these in for some the teams below. NFC NORTH DETROIT An ESPN.com surprise: The biggest surprise: The Lions are a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone this season. The verdict: Mirage.…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing NFC NORTH   GREEN BAY The Packers offensive stars were stars on Monday night against Detroit after being held in check in Week 1 by New Orleans.  Curtis Crabtree of ProFootballTalk.com: Aaron Jones caught three touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers and added a fourth score on the ground as the…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing NFC NORTH CHICAGO Injury put QB JUSTIN FIELDS in the huddle on Sunday and Coach Matt Nagy won’t confirm that QB ANDY DALTON will return if healthy.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Bears head coach Matt Nagy confirmed at a Monday morning press conference that quarterback Andy Dalton did not tear…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing The preseason version of “Hard Knocks” has grown “stale” opines Mike Florio – but NFL Films has something new in store: Hard Knocks will now include a team that has undergone many of them since Andrew Luck retired.   The NFL has announced that the long-running series that focuses only…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing NFC NORTH DETROIT RB De’ANDRE SWIFT has been seeing more reps even as rumors about a police involvement swirl on-line.  John Maakaron of SI.com: Detroit Lions second-year running back D’Andre Swift spoke to the media for the first time, following an internet rumor that surfaced online earlier this week.  …

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing The Week One ratings are in – and they are high.  ESPN.com: The NFL’s kickoff weekend ended up having the second-highest TV ratings for Week 1 over the past five seasons.   The 16 games averaged 17.4 million viewers on television and digital properties. That is a 7% increase over…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing NFC SOUTH   NEW ORLEANS This from Adam Schefter: @AdamSchefter Saints have had a “handful of offensive coaches” test positive for COVID, calling into question their status for Sunday’s game vs. Carolina, per source. But as one Saints’ source said, “We’ll be just fine.” The DB is old enough to…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing NFC EAST   DALLAS QB DAK PRESCOTT shone in his return to action Thursday night.  Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:   There was nothing but confidence from the Cowboys when it came to how quarterback Dak Prescott would do in his return from last season’s fractured ankle and this summer’s shoulder trouble,…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing NFC NORTH   GREEN BAY With the opener three days away, QB AARON RODGERS seems to be in a good place as what is likely to be his final season with the Packers dawns.  Bill Huber of SI.com: It wasn’t a guarantee about six weeks ago, but Aaron Rodgers on…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing Union president J.C. TRETTER disputes the contention that the NFLPA advocated for the “emphasis” on taunting that is to come.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Rich McKay, the chair of the NFL’s Competition Committee, recently explained that the league made the taunting rule a point of emphasis at the request of…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing NFC EAST PHILADELPHIA An update on TE DALLAS GOEDERT and his contract.  Nick Shook of NFL.com: Zach Ertz is happy again in Philadelphia. The Eagles might need to overachieve to keep his running mate content.   Dallas Goedert is entering a contract year in 2021, his fourth and final season…

AROUND THE NFL Daily Briefing Bill Belichick said the Patriots have had vaccinated players get COVID.  His comments drew the ire of the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer.  Matt Votour of MassLive.com: After Bill Belichick told the media the reason he cut Cam Newton wasn’t related to the quarterback’s decision not to be vaccinated, the New…