Daily Briefing

AROUND THE NFL Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com with some good research on the dearth of action for the game’s top QBs in preseason so far.   NFL teams are increasingly seeing the risk of preseason injuries as outweighing the rewards of getting players ready for live action. And that’s particularly clear in the numbers…

AROUND THE NFL Peter King is not happy with preseason 2019 style:   I think we have reached the breaking point on the preseason thing now. Now it’s not only prime-time players sitting out most if not all of the preseason. Two 2018 playoff teams, the Bears and Rams, sat all 22 starters in Week…

AROUND THE NFL Someone named Veronica Patton thinks that running backs should have their own union, separate and apart from the NFLPA.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:   The NFL’s current compensation system does not fairly compensate running backs. An effort has been launched to change that.   Via Bloomberg.com, a petition has been filed with…

AROUND THE NFL NFC EAST   DALLAS The NFL was abuzz on Monday with the tale that QB DAK PRESCOTT had been offered $30 million per year and told the Cowboys they were $10 million short of what he wanted.  Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com is told his demands are not that extreme.   The Cowboys…

AROUND THE NFL The NFL is saddened again this weekend – this time by the passing of popular coach Darryl Drake.  Blake Schuster of YahooSports.com:   Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Darryl Drake died overnight, the team announced Sunday. He was 62.   “We are at a loss for words following Darryl Drake’s passing this…

AROUND THE NFL NFC NORTH   GREEN BAY Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com doesn’t like the little digs he detects emitting from Packers QB AARON RODGERS.   First, the “audible thing.” Then, the “joint practice thing.” It’s hard not to wonder what “thing” will come next between one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and…

AROUND THE NFL Only now is the NFL announcing plans for this season’s Pro Bowl.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:   The Pro Bowl is remaining in Orlando for at least one more year.   The NFL announced today that the 2020 Pro Bowl will take place the weekend before the Super Bowl in Orlando,…

AROUND THE NFL Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says there was a bargaining session on Monday.   With one month to go until the regular season begins, it’s highly unlikely that a new labor deal will be struck before the Packers and Bears kick off from Chicago on September 5. But that isn’t stopping the two…

AROUND THE NFL One constant in the NFL has been change in the playoff lineup from year to year, usually about half the field.  Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic ranks this year’s candidates to crack the postseason.   The 2018 postseason featured seven teams that missed out on the playoffs in 2017. While that’s slightly…

AROUND THE NFL The NFL is going to have an expanded class for its 2020 Hall of Fame contingent, with an emphasis on old timers.  Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:   The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees approved a special Centennial Class for 2020. That means the Class of 2020 could include 20…

AROUND THE NFL NFC EAST   DALLAS Hunker down for a long holdout between the Cowboys and RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT.  This tweet from Jane Slater of NFL.com:   @SlaterNFL  How close is this Zeke deal to getting done? A source informed told me, “close? Nope.” So, what are the sticking points? The guarantee? Length? “Everything”…

AROUND THE NFL NFC NORTH   CHICAGO John Breech of CBSSports.com checks in on the Bears kicking battle:   After getting off to an ugly start in the spring, the Bears kicking competition is suddenly starting to heat up.   Although kicking battles don’t usually make headlines during training camp, the competition in Chicago has…