The Pouncey Twins are leaving the NFL together.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

They entered the world together. They’re leaving the football world together, too.

Long-time NFL centers Maurkice and Mike Pouncey, twin brothers born on July 24, 1989, are retiring from the NFL.

Maurkice was a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2010. He’s a three-time first-team All-Pro and a nine-time Pro Bowler. The Dolphins made Mike Pouncey a first-round pick in 2011. He spent seven years in Miami and three with the Chargers, making it to the Pro Bowl four times.

Maurkice’s departure leaves a huge hole in the middle of the offensive line for the Steelers. It also could be a factor in whether quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has indicated a desire to play for the Steelers again in 2021, actually does.

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

RB TODD GURLEY will be one-and-done with the Falcons according to Tori McElhaney of The Athletic:

Todd Gurley, running back

Returning: No.

Analysis: It’s really difficult to justify Gurley staying. Gurley did just fine for the Falcons when he was healthy. He was even one of the top running backs in the league around the halfway mark of the season. But after missing a game with a tweaked knee, he never really got back into the rhythm of the running game.

It doesn’t bode well for Gurley that it was Ito Smith who the previous coaching staff chose to run out there more during the final quarter of the season instead of Gurley. It’s never a good look when the player making $750,000 is getting the lead status over someone making millions. But that’s exactly what happened by the end of the year. It may make more sense for the Falcons to look to the draft for a replacement if there is a running back on the table for them in the second or third round. We all know the reality of the lifespan of running backs in the league, and the Falcons are facing that reality now.

Here are McElhaney’s “yes or no” conclusions about the return of some other Falcons:

Alex Mack, center

Returning: No.

Analysis: It seemed obvious to everyone when the Falcons took Matt Hennessy in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft that they were planning for a future when they no longer had Mack and securing that future by drafting Mack’s successor.

Charles Harris, defensive end

Returning: No.

Analysis: This season for Harris was arguably the best of his career after spending two years with Miami because Harris actually had a chance to play. While all of this is good for Harris from a personal standpoint, it isn’t likely enough for the Falcons to keep him around. If they feel as though they need to keep some bodies for depth, that may save Harris. But they have to make room for either a young edge rusher through the draft or make some moves in free agency. Regardless of the direction, the Falcons decide to go, Harris’ future in Atlanta is questionable.

Keanu Neal, safety

Returning: Yes.

Analysis: Let’s say “Yes” as an experiment of sorts. While it is more likely that Neal is a “No” come the week of final decisions, let’s say the Falcons throw a surprise in there and keep Neal on the roster. Would it be so bad?

Brian Hill, running back

Returning: No.

Analysis: Hill is one of the trickiest names on this list. While Gurley seems to be a more confident “No,” the same can’t be said for Hill because he was a reliable backup.

Matt Schaub, quarterback

Returning: No (retired).

Blidi Wreh-Wilson, defensive back

Returning: No.

The Falcons may want to go in a different direction and put some new faces in the secondary. That means Wreh-Wilson may be a casualty of the changing times.

Justin McCray, offensive lineman

Returning: Yes.

Analysis: Every team needs a jack-of-all-trades lineman, someone who can be plugged in wherever whenever and doesn’t miss a beat. That’s how the Falcons used McCray in 2020. That’s experience the Falcons will still need in a backup offensive lineman.

Luke Stocker, tight end

Returning: Yes.

Analysis: The Falcons have their tight end in Hayden Hurst, and even though Stocker was never going to surpass him, Stocker may have a couple of years left in him to continue playing a backup role. He’ll be 33 by the time the 2021 season rolls around, but what’s interesting about Stocker is his history with Arthur Smith.

LaRoy Reynolds, linebacker

Returning: Yes.

Analysis: While the linebackers group looks good, the Falcons need to keep someone like Reynolds waiting in the wings.

Darqueze Dennard, defensive back

Returning: No.

Analysis: The Falcons may have to put some older players on the chopping block because of salary cap constraints, and Dennard may be one of those players.

Sharrod Neasman, safety

Returning: No.

Steven Means, defensive end

Returning: Yes.

Analysis: The case could be made to keep Means on to help a new edge rusher along while getting a few chances here and there for himself.

John Wetzel, offensive lineman

Returning: No.

Edmond Robinson, linebacker

Returning: No.

Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver

Returning: No.

Younghoe Koo, kicker

Returning: Yes.

Analysis: This is a resounding “Yes.” This feels like a for sure “Yes.” And there really isn’t much to it: Koo was one of the best kickers in the league in 2020. The Falcons won’t let him walk.

Damontae Kazee, safety

Returning: No.

TAMPA BAY

Is QB TOM BRADY recruiting WR ODELL BECKHAM Jr.?  Chris Franklin of NJ Advance Media:

Former Giants and current Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has always wanted to play with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. In the eyes of one ESPN reporter, Beckham’s dream could come to true.

Appearing Thursday on the ESPN show Get Up, reporter Jeff Darlington says that people should keep an eye on Beckham to join the Buccaneers next season. Darlington also said Brady had not gone to general manager Jason Licht about the idea.

“I’m going to say Odell Beckham Jr., and I’m going to say that because of the relationship between Tom Brady and Odell, fully understanding that this would take a lot to actually make this happen,” Darlington said. “Keep in mind that Tom Brady did not, before the start of this season, pitch Jason Licht on the idea of Odell coming down to Miami despite the fact that those guys would like to play together at some point.”

Darlington said that he believes Beckham is more expendable to the Browns than he was last season and that Licht would make the call. However, Darlington added the Buccaneers are happy with the wide receivers currently on the roster.

“I’m also told that they really do like where they stand with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and with Antonio Brown if they can bring him back,” Darlington said. “If something changes, that would be the one that I’d be watching.”

The Undefeated’s Domonique Foxworth also was on the show. Foxworth believes that if the Buccaneers can land Beckham, the team could repeat as Super Bowl champions.

“Odell is still one of the most talented players in the league and his position,” Foxworth said. “In that situation and in that system, I think he is an upgrade. I know they have some great receivers down there, but a healthy, top-tier Odell is an upgrade at the receiver position and makes this team even scarier than they are right now.”

We should say that Darlington is well-connected in the Brady camp.  So if Godwin is lured elsewhere by a big free agent contract…

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

The Seahawks send out a message to QB RUSSELL WILSON that they can’t believe he and his camp have gone public with his complaints.  SI.com:

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks appear to be on different pages going into the offseason.

The star quarterback went on the Dan Patrick Show earlier this week and admitted that he’s frustrated with the number of hits he’s taking. His comments came on the heels of Jason La Canfora’s report about Wilson being “frustrated” with the Seahawks’ offensive line.

The organization is upset about his willingness to voice his frustrations publicly.

“A source told me that the Seahawks’ management is not happy with Russell Wilson and his camp for taking this to the media,” Patrick said during his show on Wednesday. “You wonder if they’re going to be able to co-exist. The current situation is not sustainable. That’s what I was told.”

Wilson has been sacked 394 times in nine seasons. The Seahawks finished 12-4 before losing to the Rams in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Wilson was sacked five times in the 30-20 loss.

This doesn’t appear to be a Deshaun Watson situation, but the friction between the Seahawks organization and their 32-year-old quarterback is real.

While the Seahawks are irked by Wilson’s comments, they have not shown much interest in moving him when teams have called them recently according to Tom Pelissaro of NFL.com.

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

WR TYRELL WILSON did not play a down for the Raiders in 2020 – and now he won’t play a down for the Raiders in 2021.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

Tyrell Williams’ stint with the Raiders appears to be over after just two years.

Las Vegas plans to release Williams at the start of the new league year in March, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.

Williams didn’t play in 2020 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, and he’ll move on from the Raiders having just one campaign under his belt in Silver and Black. That 2019 year was a good one for him, as he caught 42 passes for 651 yards and six scores in a Raiders offense that sorely needed another receiver to go alongside him.

He appeared to get that help with the 2020 draft and Las Vegas’ first-round pick of Henry Ruggs III, but the pairing never materialized due to Williams’ injury.

With the salary cap expected to land in the range of $175-$185 million for 2021 — well below the number anticipated before the COVID-19 pandemic, back when the Raiders first signed Williams — teams should be expected to release a healthy amount of veterans with contracts similar to Williams’. He currently accounts for the fifth-highest cap number on the Raiders’ roster in 2021 at $11.6 million, and Las Vegas can save all but $1 million of that number by releasing him.

Still only 28 — he turns 29 on Friday — and coming off a year’s worth of rest, Williams should have something to offer to a team looking for a No. 2 receiver. With the lower cap considered, it’s unlikely he’ll fetch a deal close to what he landed with the Raiders, but it’s fair to expect Williams will land on his feet elsewhere this offseason.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

When CB JIMMY SMITH arrived at LAX last week, he was met with a pointed gun.  The AP:

Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith was unharmed after he and his family were robbed at gunpoint in California earlier this week.

The robbery occurred Tuesday night at a hotel after Smith had arrived at Los Angeles International Airport.

In a statement, the Ravens said: “We are aware of the situation involving Jimmy Smith. We have spoken with Jimmy and he and his family are safe.”

It was unclear if Smith was specifically targeted by the assailant.

The 32-year-old Smith has played for the Ravens since being drafted in the first round out of Colorado in 2011. He was given a one-year extension in late December.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

The purge continues.  JJ WATT is granted his release.  Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com:

The Houston Texans have released star defensive end J.J. Watt, granting his request.

Watt was drafted by the Texans in 2011 with the No. 11 pick and became the face of the franchise, winning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2012 to ’15. Watt is one of three players to win that award three times.

“I have sat down with the McNair family and I have asked them for my release and we have mutually agreed to part ways at this time,” Watt said in a video posted to Twitter. “I came here 10 years ago as a kid from Wisconsin who’d never really been to Texas before. And now I can’t imagine my life without Texas in it. The way that you guys have treated me, besides draft night. I mean, you guys booed me on draft night. But every day after that, you treated me like family. And I truly feel like you’re my family.

“… I’m excited and looking forward to a new opportunity, and I’ve been working extremely hard. But at the same time, it is always tough to move on. And I just want you guys to know that I love you. I appreciate you. I appreciate the McNair family for drafting me and giving me my first opportunity in the NFL.”

Watt is coming off just his second 16-game season since 2015, as he has dealt with several season-ending injuries since then.

“Change is never easy, especially when it involves the ones you love. J.J.’s impact on not only our organization, but the entire Houston community, is unlike any player in our franchise’s history,” Texans chair and CEO Cal McNair said in a prepared statement. “I told J.J. earlier this week that we will forever consider him a Texan. We take solace in knowing that this is not a goodbye but a ‘see you soon.’ For now, we will build upon the foundation that J.J. created here and forge ahead with our unwavering mission to bring a championship to our city, create memorable experiences for our fans and do great things for Houston.”

In 2020, Watt ranked 15th out of 119 qualified pass-rushers in pass rush win rate, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He finished the season with five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception he returned for a touchdown.

Watt is by far the most productive pass-rusher in Texans history, with 101 career sacks. There have been only two players in team history with more than 30 career sacks (Whitney Mercilus with 54 and Mario Williams with 53) since the franchise’s first season in 2002.

“He’s one of the best defensive players in history,” McNair told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “It’s hard to put in a sentence or two because he has meant so much to the team and city. His legacy will be with us for years. It’s bye for now, but not bye for good. My kids grew up with him. He’s played with them on the sidelines. One of my kids shares a birthday with him. Mom is a big fan of his. He’s just meant so much to all of us. This is doing right by him, and this gives him time to pick his next stop.”

During the season, Watt made it clear he was not interested in playing for a team going through a “rebuild.”

“I don’t think it’s any secret that I don’t have 10 years left in this league,” Watt said in November. “I personally believe that I do have a few more great ones left in me. But you also can’t … I’m not looking to rebuild. I’m looking to go after a championship, and that’s what I want to do.”

When asked at the end of the season whether he felt the 2021 Texans would be in rebuilding mode, Watt said there are “so many unknown factors to that situation right now that you can’t definitively say that.”

Watt had one year remaining on the contract he signed in 2014. He was owed $17.5 million in 2021, but his salary was not guaranteed. He is now free to sign with another team.

Some overview from Jeremy Layton of the New York Post:

The Texans succumbed to JJ Watt’s request for a release. Where does that leave their other disgruntled star?

With Watt officially set to move on to greener pastures, that leaves Deshaun Watson as the lone difference-maker left on an increasingly barren roster. Watson has made it glaringly clear that he wants out – but the Texans organization has made it just as clear that they have no interest in trading him.

Reports last week stated that while teams have been calling about the star quarterback, Houston hasn’t budged on their stance that they will not move him. If they stay true to that position and he plays for the Texans in 2021, he will have next-to-no support.

Other than Watson, the only Pro Bowl players left under contract in 2021 are Laremy Tunsil, Benardrick McKinney and David Johnson. They don’t have a first-round pick in 2021 after they traded for Tunsil, and are without a second as well. Will Fuller, Watson’s top receiver in 2020, is a free agent, and was suspended for the second half of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Their new coach, David Culley, has never held a coordinator position in the NFL, though he has spent nearly three decades in the league. Their new general manager, Nick Caserio, is also entering his first full season in that position.

Team owner Cal McNair is facing increased criticism as the Texans’ body count piles up. Still, he remains committed to Watson as the situation deteriorates around him.

 “There is a lot of misinformation out there, I’ll leave it at that. Today we want on focus on J.J. Deshaun is our quarterback, he is a Texan, and we expect him to remain a Texan, and we’ll leave that,” McNair said, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Watson, to his credit, has remained calm in the face of the chaos, wishing Watt well on Twitter after his release.

“Salute to one of the Greatest of All Time @JJWatt I appreciate you for all the work you put in and more importantly the person you are,” Watson wrote. “Any team in the league will be better the day you out on their jersey! 1OVE my brother! MORE Glory.”

There are a number of tweets like this one from ProFootballTalk.com:

@ProFootballTalk

Deshaun Watson asks to be traded: Crickets.

J.J. Watt asks to be released, with the team getting nothing in return for him: Immediate compliance.

Some of the other tweets are more explicit in pointing out the racial difference between the players, but other tweets push back on the idea:

@PriscoCBS

J.J. Watt is an aging player with a big cap hit.  Deshaun Watson is a franchise quarterback who just signed a new long-term deal. Their situations are not the same. Stop it.

And former NFL player Ryan Clark:

@Realrclark25

Yo!! For everyone comparing Watt to Watson y’all need to stop. You know I call it black and white when I need to, but this ain’t it. These are two totally different situations.

This tweet on the drain of sports capital from Houston in the last 12 months:

@MySportsUpdate

JJ Watt, Deandre Hopkins, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, George Springer, Gerrit Cole, and possibly Deshaun Watson…. all in one year.

How does that even happen?

He forgot Chris Paul.

– – –

Where might J.J. Watt end up?  Pittsburgh, which already has brother T.J. is the “initial” thought (pun intended).

He won’t play for the Texans. So where will J.J. Watt play in 2021?

The folks at PointsBet already have compiled odds. The strong favorite, at +140, is Pittsburgh.

The Packers and Buccaneers come in next at +400 each, with the Ravens at +600, and the Bears at +700.

Four teams land at +1100: Bills, Cowboys, Patriots, and Rams. Two are at +1400; they’re the Browns and Dolphins. The Titans have +1800 odds.

While the Steelers make a ton of sense, given the presence of his brothers, T.J. and Derek, Pittsburgh has a serious cap problem in 2021. Also, given the various changes coming for the Steelers (center Maurkice Pouncey retired earlier today), Watt’s likely objective to get a Super Bowl ring will be harder to achieve in Pittsburgh than in places like Green Bay (in his home state of Wisconsin) or Tampa Bay.

The Bills make plenty of sense along those lines as well, as do the Chiefs. And if Watt would like to stay in the division, how about the Colts?

Wherever Watt goes, he’ll bring not just ability but leadership and buzz. Although he’s far closer to the end than the beginning of his career, Watt can sell tickets and jerseys and create a bond with a city, as he did in Houston.

JACKSONVILLE

Chris Doyle was run out of the University of Iowa, cancelled as a racist.  Urban Meyer has hired him.  Greg Joyce of the New York Post:

Urban Meyer is in the middle of another controversial hire, this time in the NFL.

The new Jaguars coach announced his staff on Thursday and it included Chris Doyle as the director of sport performance. Doyle last served as the head strength and conditioning coach at Iowa until 2020, when he reached a separation agreement with the school following allegations of racist comments and bullying.

“I’ve known Chris for close to 20 years,” Meyer said in a press conference Thursday. “Our relationship goes back to when I was at Utah and he was the No. 1 strength coach. Really, he was doing sports performance before sports performance became a high priority in college sports. So I’ve known him, I’ve studied him, we’ve had a relationship. I vetted him thoroughly, along with our general manager [Trent Baalke] and owner [Shahid Khan].

“I feel great about the hire, about his expertise at that position. So we vetted him thoroughly.”

Some former black players at Iowa accused Doyle of telling them he was going to “send them back to the ghetto” if they did not meet his standards, according to USA Today, among other alleged remarks. Iowa hired a law firm to conduct an external review of the program, which concluded that “a small group of coaches” demeaned players and “the program’s rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity.”

Doyle defended himself last June in a statement, which included, “I do not make racists (sic) comments and I don’t tolerate people that do.”

Iowa buys out strength coach Chris Doyle for $1.1 million after racism accusations

Meyer insisted Thursday that the Jaguars “did a very good job vetting that one.”

The 56-year-old Meyer also said he was “very confident” there would not be issues with Doyle, 52, and did not think his presence would impact the Jaguars’ ability to attract free agents.

“If I was, I wouldn’t have hired him,” Meyer said. “I’ll explain that, if that becomes a question. The one thing I’m very confident [in] is that I would imagine within a year or two, we’ll have the best sports performance team in the National Football League.”

In his final year at Ohio State, Meyer was suspended for three games after an investigation found that he mishandled domestic assault allegations that were made against his former assistant coach, Zach Smith. Meyer had originally said he was unaware of any domestic issues involving Smith and his ex-wife while he was at Ohio State, but later claimed he misspoke and that he had in fact gone through the proper protocol to report a 2015 incident when he learned of the accusations.

Will the media decide this is a tone deaf hire of an unredeemable ogre?  Or a worthy second chance to a man who has been wronged?  We will bet on the former.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Fritz Pollard Alliance executive director Rod Graves had no complaints about the search that resulted in the hiring of coach Urban Meyer and G.M. Trent Baalke. Graves definitely has a complaint about Meyer’s decision to hire Chris Doyle as the team’s director of sports performance.

“At a time when the NFL has failed to solve its problem with racial hiring practices, it is simply unacceptable to welcome Chris Doyle into the ranks of NFL coaches,” Graves said in a statement released on Friday afternoon. “Doyle’s departure from the University of Iowa reflected a tenure riddled with poor judgment and mistreatment of Black players. His conduct should be as disqualifying for the NFL as it was for the University of Iowa. Urban Meyer’s statement, ‘I’ve known Chris for close to 20 years,’ reflects the good ol’ boy network that is precisely the reason there is such a disparity in employment opportunities for Black coaches.”

Meyer, who has had players and assistant coaches involved in off-field problems at multiple college football programs, recently defended the decision to hire Doyle, who left Iowa with a severance agreement. Meyer is about to learn that there’s a lot more scrutiny at the professional level.

THIS AND THAT

A SEASON COMPLETED DESPITE OBSTACLES

Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com:

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had his barber tested for COVID-19 to ensure a safe trim. Then he turned to a game of Uno for late-night entertainment.

Former Lions QB Matthew Stafford spent a week isolated in a hotel, traveled by private plane to Minneapolis and started a game without taking a single practice snap.

Michael Dunn, a Browns offensive lineman, prepared for a playoff start by working through drills in the parking lot of an apartment building. His girlfriend assisted by calling out faux signals.

On it went. The Broncos converted a practice-squad receiver on a day’s notice to serve as a starting quarterback. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold put his extended family through NFL protocols so he could visit with them for Christmas. Coaching staffs around the league game-planned virtually for months, even when they were sitting in offices next door to each other at team facilities. And two head coaches even watched a game from home while interim coaches manned the sideline.

NFL players and staff upended their lives to make it through the 2020 season, which came to an end on Feb. 7 with Super Bowl LV. They reprogrammed their long-held football habits, suspended their sense of competitive equity and embraced a well-funded and turbocharged version of the COVID-19 mitigation efforts that the entire country has been advised to follow.

The results were better than anyone could have imagined. When veterans reported to training camp on July 28, positive coronavirus cases in the United States had already reached 4.3 million in the four-plus months since the epidemic changed the country’s way of life, and more than 140,000 people had died from the virus. (Nationwide cases have now surpassed 27 million.) Many questioned the viability of completing a full season, and those concerns only grew when an outbreak hit the Titans in Week 4. But in the end, the NFL postponed just five of its 256 regular-season games to allow outbreaks to run their course, and moved 10 others to accommodate them, but not a single game was canceled. How’d the league do it?

Backed by an investment that sources said exceeded $100 million, the NFL and NFL Players Association built an infection control system so robust that they submitted multiple scientific papers to recommend applications outside of football — including one that was published last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The overall league positivity rate of 0.076% since Aug. 1 — 726 infections among 959,860 tests on an average of about 7,500 employees per week — was far lower than the national average of 6.8% over a similar period, via data compiled by The Atlantic’s COVID-19 tracking project. Even as the United States suffered through its worst public health crisis in a century, there were public reports of three hospitalizations for NFL personnel: one coach, one player and one referee. “Our NFL facilities and team environments were some of the safest possible locations in those respective communities over the course of the season,” said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, in an interview with ESPN.

The effort was exhausting but might have to be repeated in at least a modified way next season, depending on the country’s vaccine rollout and virus count in the coming months. Regardless, the pandemic pushed a typically slow-moving league into an era of innovation that will impact it for years to come.

“It took a concerted effort by everybody involved to be OK with doing things differently,” said NFLPA president and Browns center JC Tretter. “Getting over the fact that you’re going to have to do things differently and then doing those things the right way. And as we know with COVID, if there is even an opening for someone not to live by that, it could cost us.”

The NFL’s history made its initial decision to play amid the pandemic “suspicious” to some in the public health community, said Eric S. Rubenstein, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health. “But in the end,” he said, “the lack of real serious morbidity and sickness is evidence that what they did worked for the people they cared about.”

It is a long piece you can read in full here.

The big finish where it occurs to some that there are those who will want these extraordinary precautions to continue through 2021 and beyond:

Could we see a repeat in 2021?

The severity of the pandemic has made long-term projections difficult and often heartbreaking. At the moment, all we can say about the NFL is that a return to normal operations seems far off. Soon, it will become a matter of not only health and safety but also labor relations.

“What does a post-COVID — if there is such a thing as a post-COVID — world look like?” the NFLPA’s Smith said. “We can all imagine at some point, but the question is just when do we get there?”

The answer to that question lies largely with the pace of national vaccinations. Based on the current rate and priorities, it’s hard to know whether NFL players will be inoculated by the time training camps open this summer, or whether the NFLPA would agree to make the shots mandatory. (As of this week, the CDC has reported that approximately 34 million of the nation’s 328 million people have received at least one dose of vaccine.) Regardless, current national guidelines suggest a continuation of mask wearing and distancing, as well as avoiding large indoor gatherings, even after receiving a vaccination.

That means the NFL and NFLPA must decide whether they should reapply 2020 protocols and conduct traditional offseason workouts and mini-camps at team facilities or should accept a second consecutive virtual offseason. Citing the success of the 2020 season, the union already is campaigning for a permanent overhaul to on-site offseason work.

In 2020, players spent their offseasons working out in home gyms, riding Peloton bikes and using exercise bands that the NFL allowed teams to provide them.

“There is always a balance between preparation and rest,” Tretter said, “and what we’re seeing [in] more and more of the science is how important the rest is as you get your body right. Because again, we go through so much trauma for so long, to force guys into ramping back up so quickly after the season when we know it’s not good for them just isn’t right.

“I think you can prepare the way we did [in 2020]. I understand coaches, asking coaches whether you should take away practice is like asking the Cookie Monster if there should be less cookies. The answer is always going to be no, they want more. That is just kind of how it is, so that’s not surprising. In the end, it’s about building a better program — building one that works for everybody involved and makes this game safer and our players healthier.”

Tretter also cited the necessary shift of team meetings from in-person to virtual for much of the season as evidence that offseason work doesn’t necessarily have to be on site. Naturally, coaches were split on the effectiveness of those virtual meetings. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said that his biggest takeaway from the 2020 protocols was “the limited value of the virtual meetings and the maximum value of in-person meetings and walkthroughs.” Stefanski of the Browns, meanwhile, said: “We figured out a way to cover ground. … It does not replace the physical work, but I think it is the next best thing.”

In early January, Stefanski said it had been “months” since the Browns last had an in-person team meeting.

Living in hotels during training camp might be outdated as well, Tretter said. “Another change that probably the public doesn’t see but affects players is we weren’t in the hotels this year,” he said. “We were back with our families. We were able to go home and be with them when otherwise we would be in the hotel. I think that’s something that we’ve done constantly just because it’s always been done that way. There’s really no reason to do it.”

In the meantime, the NFL has largely scrapped its first major offseason event, the early-March scouting combine. In its place, the league has instructed teams to conduct physical tests during campus pro days. Interviews will be virtual, and medical checks will be administered at local facilities when possible.

Smith said he expected that many of the league’s 2020 innovations “are things that we’re going to take a hard look at and looking at trying to make them systemic and perpetual going forward.” For now, however, it seems clear that there won’t be much of a choice. Those innovations, and their next iterations, will be necessary to get through the spring, summer and perhaps early fall as well.

“We all hope optimistically that these sets of protocols can go the way of the Smithsonian at some point relatively soon,” the NFL’s Miller said. “If not, we’ll be prepared with a set of rules, and rules that evolve. We’ll be prepared, and we’ll do what’s necessary.”

2021 DRAFT

Today’s trade-filled Mock Draft comes from Dane Brugler of The Athletic:

At this point in the draft season, a mock draft is all about examining various scenarios, and it can be tough to do a realistic projection of the first round without including a few trades. In last year’s first-round, 11 picks were made by teams that didn’t originally own that selection.

Trades are difficult to predict, but here are six plausible moves that could shake up Round 1. (Note: The Rams, Seahawks and Texans are not picking in the first round.)

1. Jacksonville Jaguars — Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

No need to project a trade here — the Jaguars aren’t expected to shop this pick. Lawrence will undergo surgery in a few weeks to repair his non-throwing shoulder, but that won’t have any effect on his draft projection.

2. New York Jets — Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

This is where the draft starts and there will be plenty of speculation on a possible trade at No. 2 if the Jets decide to stick with Sam Darnold. However, there is a greater chance New York sees an opportunity to reset the franchise with a new quarterback, but which one? If Wilson does well during the interview process, many around the league expect him to be the favorite here. | Beat writer analysis: Connor Hughes reacts to the pick

3. ***TRADE***

Carolina Panthers receive:

2021 first-round pick (No. 3 overall)

Miami Dolphins receive:

2021 first-round pick (No. 8 overall)

2021 third-round pick

2021 fifth-round pick

2022 first-round pick

Carolina Panthers (via MIA) — Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

The Panthers’ ownership and front office have made it known that they plan to be aggressive this offseason in upgrading the quarterback position. They missed out on Matthew Stafford, and Deshaun Watson remains a long shot, making the draft their best opportunity. Instead of sitting at No. 8 and hoping a quarterback falls to them, they out-bid other teams and go and get their guy in this mock. Fields needs time, but all the talent is there for him to develop into Carolina’s answer at the position. | Beat writer analysis: Joe Person’s reaction to the trade and pick

4. Atlanta Falcons — Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

The Falcons are certainly a wild card with this pick. With a new head coach and general manager, they have a chance to draft a young quarterback to groom behind Matt Ryan. Or they can go the “best available” route and upgrade the current roster while still competing. The Falcons heavily scouted the offensive tackles in last year’s class and will likely do the same this year. Whether they plan to move Jake Matthews inside to guard or have Sewell start inside, Atlanta’s offensive line would be immediately better with this addition. | Beat writer analysis: Tori McElhaney reacts to the pick

5. Cincinnati Bengals — Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

The Bengals need to upgrade the offensive line — that is indisputable. But it might not happen with this pick, especially if Sewell is off the board. Will they grade Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater this high? Maybe, but some teams don’t. The Bengals are expected to be a team willing to trade back, but if stuck here, Pitts would give Joe Burrow and Cincinnati a unique mismatch weapon. | Beat writer analysis: Paul Dehner reacts to the pick

6. Philadelphia Eagles — Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

With the uncertainty of the organization’s quarterback situation, the Eagles are another team that might be in the mix for a top-10 quarterback prospect. But in this scenario, Howie Roseman and the front office decide to build up the roster, adding a three-level threat like Chase, who can be a legitimate No. 1 receiver in any offense. | Beat writer analysis: Bo Wulf on trade options here for the Eagles

7. ***TRADE***

Washington Football Team receives:

2021 first-round pick (No. 7 overall)

Detroit Lions receive:

2021 first-round pick (No. 19 overall)

2021 third-round pick (No. 82 overall)

2022 first-round pick

Washington Football Team (via DET) — Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

With Alex Smith, Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke, Washington has several short-term options at quarterback. But Lance would give the organization a young, high-upside player with the physical talent and football character that translates well to the pro level. With the competition for quarterbacks in this draft, it will likely take multiple draft picks, including a future first, to make this deal happen for Washington. | Beat writer analysis: Ben Standig answers the question, Should WFT go get him?

8. Miami Dolphins (via CAR) — DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

A player the Dolphins will likely consider if they stay at No. 3 overall, Smith is a dynamic playmaker due to his instincts, quickness and ball skills. Reuniting him with Tua Tagovailoa will help the second-year quarterback take another step forward in his development. | Beat writer analysis: Josh Tolentino reacts to the pick

9. Denver Broncos — Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

With his blend of size, speed and reaction skills, Farley would be a great fit for what the Broncos are looking for on defense. There might be some rough patches early as he continues to develop, but the natural instincts and tools are why he has Pro Bowl potential. | Beat writer analysis: Nick Kosmider reacts to the pick

10. Dallas Cowboys — Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama

The Cowboys could go Rashawn Slater here or possibly a front-seven defender, but cornerback is currently a weak spot on the roster and Surtain would be a natural fit in Dan Quinn’s scheme. With a Pro Bowl father, he was groomed to play the position at a high level would be an immediate starter in Dallas playing alongside his former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs.| Beat writer analysis: Jon Machota reacts to the pick

11. New York Giants — Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

With the Giants committed to Daniel Jones, the organization needs to continue and surround him with weapons. With his natural speed and burst, Waddle is dangerous before and after the catch, showing the separation skills to stress the defense in different ways (four receptions of 75-plus yards in his career). | Beat writer analysis: Dan Duggan reacts to the pick

12. ***TRADE***

New York Jets receive:

2021 first-round pick (No. 12 overall)

2022 second-round pick

San Francisco 49ers receive:

2021 first-round pick (No. 23 overall)

QB Sam Darnold

New York Jets (via SF) — Rashawn Slater, OT/G, Northwestern

This is a fun trade. Even with a new quarterback with the No. 2 pick, the Jets don’t have to trade Darnold. But they can maximize his value if the right deal presents itself, like this proposed trade from the 49ers. With their pick from the Jamal Adams’ trade, the Jets are able to jump up 11 spots in the first round and land Slater, who has Pro Bowl potential as a plug-and-play guard who can also kick out to right tackle if needed. For San Francisco, this deal is the equivalent of two second-round picks for a talented 23-year old quarterback with untapped skills. | Beat writer analysis: Connor Hughes reacts to the trade and pick + Matt Barrows reacts to the 49ers’ trade for Darnold

13. Los Angeles Chargers — Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/G, USC

A priority this offseason is for the Chargers is to make upgrades on the offensive line to help protect Justin Herbert. After earning early-round grades at guard after the 2019 season, Vera-Tucker replaced Austin Jackson at left tackle this past season and more than held his own, proving his position versatility. | Beat writer analysis: Daniel Popper reacts to the pick

14. Minnesota Vikings — Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami (Fla.)

With his long, athletic frame, Rousseau is just scratching the surface of his potential. After opting out of the 2020 season, his pre-draft workouts will be paramount to convincing NFL teams that he is worthy of a spot in the top-20 picks. | Beat writer analysis: Chad Graff reacts to the pick

15. New England Patriots — Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

The Patriots are another team that will be running through various quarterback scenarios this offseason, including a possible trade up into the top-10 picks. But if that doesn’t materialize, Parsons would be a logical choice if he is still on the board. As long as the Patriots are comfortable with his character, he would give Bill Belichick a versatile athlete with All-Pro potential. | Beat writer analysis: Jeff Howe’s reaction to the pick

16. Arizona Cardinals — Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia

Chandler Jones is one of the best pass rushers in the league, but he is coming off an injury and entering a contract year. Unless they use the franchise tag, Haason Reddick is expected to test the free-agent waters and likely won’t be back. Ojulari led the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss in 2020 and offers the high-end traits to be disruptive off the edge.

17. Las Vegas Raiders — Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

The Raiders have to get better on the defensive line, inside and on the edges. Barmore is still very young, and there are some inconsistent areas to his game, mostly in the run game. But he doesn’t stay blocked for very long due to his power, explosiveness and energy — three traits that don’t jump out when watching the Raiders’ defensive line last season. | Beat writer analysis: Tashan Reed reacts to the pick

18. ***TRADE***

Pittsburgh receives:

2021 first-round pick (No. 18 overall)

Miami receives:

2021 first-round pick (No. 24 overall)

2021 third-round pick (No. 87 overall)

2021 sixth-round pick

Pittsburgh Steelers (via MIA) — Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

With longtime left tackle Alejandro Villanueva an upcoming free agent, the Steelers will need to find an answer at the position. They can sit at No. 24 and hope a tackle falls to them, but with tackle-needy teams like the Bears and Colts in front of them, trading a third-rounder and sixth-rounder to secure the position is a small price to pay. | Beat writer analysis: Sean Gentille reacts to the trade and pick

19. Detroit Lions (via WFT) — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

In this scenario, the Lions are able to move back a dozen spots, pick up a future first-rounder and add a versatile playmaker on defense. Owusu-Koramoah has the speed to mirror the run and create pressure as a blitzer while also giving Detroit a rangy cover man, which has been an obvious hole on defense. | Beat writer analysis: Chris Burke reacts to the pick

20. Chicago Bears — Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Regardless of what the Bears do at quarterback, the results will be similar to the past few seasons unless they make upgrades on the offensive line. Although his lack of length leads to consistency issues, Jenkins is highly competitive and uniquely powerful with light feet to shut down rushers. | Beat writer analysis: Kevin Fishbain reacts to the pick

21. ***TRADE***

Buffalo receives:

2021 first-round pick (No. 21 overall

Indianapolis receives:

2021 first-round pick (No. 30 overall)

2021 third-round pick (No. 93 overall)

2021 fifth-round pick

Buffalo Bills (via IND) — Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Since Brandon Beane was hired as general manager in 2017 the Bills have been one of the most aggressive teams in the first two rounds of the draft, targeting certain players and trading up to get them. Buffalo could upgrade the No. 2 cornerback spot on the depth chart, and Horn is a great fit for what the Bills covet at the position. | Beat writer analysis: Matthew Fairburn reacts to the trade and pick

22. Tennessee Titans — Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami (Fla.)

The Titans struggled to be disruptive in the backfield last season, ranking 30th in the league in sacks and quarterback pressures. There are medical and off-field concerns that could get in the way, but on the field, Phillips is a first-round talent with his athleticism and weaponized hands, projecting similar to Ryan Kerrigan.

23. San Francisco 49ers (via NYJ) — Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan

San Francisco was able to address the quarterback position without completely dropping out of the first round. And with Paye still on the board, the 49ers add a player they might have considered if they stayed at No. 12. Although he is still a work-in-progress, Paye has the athletic traits and energy to be equally productive vs. the pass and the run.

24. Miami Dolphins (via PIT) — Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

In terms of scheme fit, Collins in Brian Flores’ defense is one of the most logical projections in this mock. And the Dolphins are able to trade back (for the second time in this scenario) and still land him here at No. 24 while adding picks later in the draft.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars — Trevon Moehrig, DS, TCU

The Jaguars are void of playmakers on the safety depth chart, something that Moehrig could fix immediately. The TCU safety has the range and ball skills to cover a lot of ground and make plays.

26. Cleveland Browns — Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State

Oweh doesn’t have an impressive stat sheet with zero sacks in 2020, but he was routinely in the backfield and disrupting the opponent’s backfield rhythm. A high school basketball player, Oweh is still connecting the dots and has the traits to develop into one of the best pass rushers from this class. | Beat writer analysis: Zac Jackson reacts to the pick

27. Baltimore Ravens — Jalen Mayfield, OG, Michigan

A college right tackle, Mayfield has the body type, movements and power that translate very well at guard, giving Baltimore an upgrade on the interior of the offensive line while also providing tackle insurance. | Beat writer analysis: Jeff Zrebiec reacts to the pick

Mac Jones (Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)

28. New Orleans Saints — Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

When asking around the league for guesses on where Jones will land, the responses were varied and ranged from top-15 to mid-second round. He is a tough player to project in a mock draft, but his fit in New Orleans would be ideal for both sides. The Saints have a win-now roster, and Jones has NFL-ready accuracy and anticipation. | Beat writer analysis: Katherine Terrell reacts to the pick

29. Green Bay Packers — Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

Although he is still discovering his potential at the position, Stokes is an intriguing prospect because he has length, ball awareness and he is one of the fastest players in this draft class. He checks a lot of boxes at a position of need for the Packers. | Beat writer analysis: Matt Schneidman reacts to the pick

30. Indianapolis Colts (from BUF) — Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

Several of the Colts’ options at left tackle were scooped up before their pick at No. 21, but in this scenario they able to move back, pick up extra draft picks and land a solid tackle option. Eichenberg has only average athletic traits, but his veteran awareness and strong hands help him win the point-of-attack. | Beat writer analysis: Zak Keefer reacts to the pick

31. Kansas City Chiefs — Landon Dickerson, OG/C, Alabama

With his injury history, including a torn ACL in December, Dickerson is a tough player to project. But he is an easy first-round player based on talent and character and still has a chance to land in round one if the doctors are optimistic about his medicals.

32. ***TRADE***

Miami receives:

2021 first-round pick (No. 32 overall)

Tampa Bay receives:

2021 second-round pick (No. 36 overall)

2021 fourth-round pick

2021 sixth-round pick

Miami Dolphins (via TB) — Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

The Dolphins think highly of Etienne, and in this scenario they trade back into the first round to get him. With the Jaguars, Jets and Falcons (all possible landing spots for Etienne) set to draft with the first three picks in the second round, Miami jumps those three for a reasonable price and locks up another explosive weapon on offense.