Boy, it’s tough to be a compiler of NFL news these days – and an occasional commentator.  We wish this could be just about football but NFL news today is dominated by statements and actions concerning America’s race-related crisis.

At the beginning of the week, we vowed to be “less political” in a time where most others (see Mike Florio) are becoming more political.  We just want to be an aggregator with an occasional question or comment about football matters.

But today, we could only find “football” news about a few teams.

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

A donation from QB MATT RYAN.  Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com:

In wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who was suffocated on video by a white police officer, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is donating $500,000 toward a GoFundme fundraiser he’s established aimed at advancing lives in the black community of Atlanta.

Ryan, who wears the jersey No. 2, has set a goal of raising $2 million.

Racial injustice has risen to the forefront of the conversation and has sparked protests nationally. Floyd’s death was the tipping point in a number of fatal encounters involving blacks, following the killing of Breonna Taylor at the hands of Louisville police officers and Ahmaud Arbery, whose shooting death led to murder charges against three white males in Georgia.

Ryan explained why he decided to take such action.

“Last week I made a commitment to listening and learning, and one of the messages that hit home for me was the difference between reacting to a situation and responding to a situation,” Ryan said in a statement. “For far too long, I have reacted to social injustice with empathy and silent support but failed to follow through with active support. I feel the time has come to RESPOND. For ALL of us to respond.

“I see my city hurting, which is why I’m starting a fundraiser to help improve conditions for people of color in the city of Atlanta. … Over the next few weeks, months I’m going to listen to the needs of the black community and get guidance on how I can be most impactful. I’m going to get input from local grassroots organizations as well as community leaders who are committed to making change.”

Ryan already made an impression on his teammates when he spoke out on Instagram after Floyd was suffocated by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged with second-degree murder.

“My heart goes out to all of those who loved George Floyd, and all those who have been impacted by similar tragedies. I know that I cannot fully understand the depth and complexity of these issues because of the color of my skin, which is a sad testament to all of the work we have left to do. I know I am only one man, but I also know I am committed to doing what I can. That commitment includes listening and learning with all humility and compassion. It is the least I can do. IT is the least WE all can do.”

Fellow Falcons’ captain Ricardo Allen applauded Ryan’s post.

“For Ice to show the support and that he’s got love, it’s really just an acknowledgement that he understands,” Allen said of Ryan “For Ice to come from probably a totally different background and place in life then I come from – and I can’t expect him to fully feel what it feels like to grow up in the hood or what it truly feels like to be a black man in America – but for him to actually take that stance and say that and let us know that he feels us, I appreciate that.”

NEW ORLEANS

RB ALVIN KAMARA, who we can’t ever recall seeing quoted before, put together an eloquent stream on Twitter that caught the DB’s attention.

@A_kamara6

I can kneel confidently because i know that with just that small gesture, a much bigger message is being conveyed. And also within that gesture the voices of those who no longer have a voice can be heard.

Im a 24 year old black man from Atlanta. Mother from africa and an illegal alien for almost 30sum years until 15 months ago. I’ve seen racism and experienced social injustice personally. maybe even on a deeper level because my mother had a foreign accent.

My license has been valid for as long as i can remember, but for some reason i still peep the rear view a couple times when a cop get behind me… why? Because that’s what i was taught to do.

I’ve literally been in a bank and had the cops called on me. Not because i was robbing it.. but because i looked like i could have been robbing it. Oh… the teller was the one that called. I only needed like 200 dollars but i pulled out 10k just to play her ass Face with tears of joy

I’ve been in nice restaurants and been asked to leave because i can’t wear a hat, or because i was dressed “inappropriately” for the dining room. But, y’all know that mean i was just too black to eat in there that day lol

I’m saying all of this to say… until you are black in America, you won’t truly understand what it is to be black in america and that’s fine. But don’t act like this doesn’t exist or isn’t real.

Black boys go from “cute little kids” to “threatening” within the same breath even if all they were doing was walking home. And A man walking in the wrong neighborhood becomes a casualty simply because he looks like he doesn’t belong.

I’ve been in enough situations where the color of my skin was seen as a big enough threat to cost me my life. And i know there are countless others that that fit my description that could say the same.

This is the reality we live in. This isn’t about pinning black against white, but more so about the narrative that is created when a black person speaks and when a white person speaks. Pay attention. This is why we protest! This is why we take a knee! To be HEARD. Nothing more.

I’ve had a day to digest the comments that Drew made. I was disappointed and hurt. We talked and i explained to him where he dropped the ball and he understood. But now it’s time for us to be part of the solution, not the problem. We have to educate to progress.

Well done, Alvin.

– – –

Another apology from DREW BREES.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Brees posted a video on Instagram looking into the camera, saying again that he’s sorry, and promising to work for change.

“I know there’s not much I can say that would make things better right now, but I just want you to see in my eyes how sorry I am for the comments I made yesterday,” Brees said. “I am sorry, and I will do better, and I will be part of the solution, and I am your ally.”

Brees said he will champion causes that work for equality for black people. But he did not say whether he has changed his view of kneeling during the national anthem, which was the central issue that saw him take so much criticism from players around the league, including on the Saints.

Teammates indicated that they accepted Brees’s apology, but this issue likely won’t go away, and the national anthem before the Saints’ first game will be watched closely, for what Brees does and what his teammates do.

More on the virtual meeting between Brees and his teammates surfaces from Shaquille O’Neal.  Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Saints aren’t saying much about what went on in their team meeting this morning, wanting to keep things in-house. A handful of players, including Alvin Kamara, Terron Armstead, Michael Thomas and Demario Davis, indicated they accepted their quarterback’s apology.

Little else has been said about the meeting.

But at least one non-Saints player was on the call, and he is saying more than anyone inside the organization has said about the meeting.

Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal, who now works as an NBA analyst, said on TNT on Thursday night that he spoke to the Saints during the call.

“About two weeks ago, I was contacted to speak to the Saints players today,” O’Neal said. “Then, this happened. I’m not going to get into because coach (Sean) Payton doesn’t really want us to get into it, but I was on the call today when Drew apologized to his teammates, and most of his teammates accepted his apology. They said, ‘Drew, we know your character. We know you stepped into some stuff that you can’t get out of, but guess what? We want you to do more, more positive things and less talking.’ And they all said, ‘We accept your apology.’ . . . He made a mistake.”

Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins has not spoken publicly since issuing a strong rebuke of Brees on Wednesday. But O’Neal said Jenkins was the first to accept Brees’ apology.

Thoughts from Charles Barkley as relayed by Michael David Smith ofProFootballTalk.com:

Charles Barkley has spoken out in defense of Brees, saying that while he disagreed with Brees’s statement, he also disagreed with the extent to which Brees was criticized afterward.

“Drew’s original statement, I thought, was insensitive. It was very insensitive, especially during this time. But I thought the negative reaction from every talking head on television and some of his teammates was overkill. I never heard a bad word about Drew Brees in my life. He made a mistake. But we’ve gotten to the point in society where everybody on social media thinks they are God, judge and jury. Drew Brees made a mistake,” Barkley said on TNT.

“Drew Brees was wrong in his initial statement. But the level of vitriol, anger and things like that, I thought, was overkill. Drew Brees, whatever he said, he talked about the flag means different things to different people. But I thought the way he was portrayed on television and radio today was not fair at all. Drew Brees has done some amazing things in New Orleans, in his life. I’m not even talking about football. He made a mistake in a statement. For this level of, ‘We’ve got to kill everybody who says something we disagree with,’ I’m never going to go with the mob. I want to make it clear I did not like what he said right away, but the vitriol and animosity and hatred he got for the last 24 hours I thought was overkill.”

Barkley’s colleague Kenny Smith, however, said Brees deserves to be criticized.

“I was very offended by what he said,” Smith said. “I look at it as the definition of what we call white privilege. . . . It made it worse that it was Drew Brees, someone who we cheer for, who has teammates like us, that didn’t get us. Someone who is in the locker room every day. He doesn’t have the same excuse that some other people may have had.”

Brees has apologized twice, although he has not said whether he still holds the view that it’s disrespectful to the country to kneel during the anthem.

TAMPA BAY

RB DEVONTA FREEMAN wants to hear from the Buccaneers.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use some running back help. Devonta Freeman is a free agent. The pairing makes a lot of sense on paper. It’s dinero, however, that could be getting in the way.

Speaking Thursday, Bucs coach Bruce Arians said that his team would be interested in adding Freeman, but his price tag was too high, and Tampa doesn’t have the kind of cash the running back is looking for.

The Bucs sit with about $4.87 million in salary-cap space, per Over The Cap, second-fewest in the NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks showed interest in Freeman earlier this offseason but elected to sign Carlos Hyde, who came cheaper.

Freeman insists he wants to continue his pro career but might have to lower his asking price to find a landing spot at this point in 2020.

The 28-year-old running back took to social media to suggest the Bucs reach out directly to see if something could get done.

@devontafreeman

I read in the media that Tampa Bay Buccaneers are interested.  A number of teams are interested, but we can’t negotiate through the media, the Buccaneers can reach out to me directly ..

How serious those “number of teams” are in meeting Freeman’s salary requests remains to be seen.

The Bucs could use running back help alongside Ronald Jones, and Freeman might fit in nicely if he lowers his asking price to play alongside the likes of Tom Brady.

When Tampa signed TB12 away from New England, the Bucs immediately became a possible destination for veterans seeking a run at a ring. Freeman could be a test case to see if some players are truly willing to take less money on a short deal to play with Brady.

Apparently, he won’t be going to the Eagles.  Zach Rosenblatt of NJAdvanceMedia.com:

The Eagles had their sights on former Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, but a marriage between team and player is getting increasingly unlikely.

Introducing Eagles Extra: Sign up for a free trial now. Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters

The Eagles, according to various reports, would like to sign a veteran running back to backup Miles Sanders. They were interested in Carlos Hyde until he signed with the Seahawks.

At this point, Freeman might be out of reach. For now, at least.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians was asked about interest in Freeman in a conference call with reporters on Thursday and, per Pewter Report’s Jon Ledyard, Arians said something that makes it seem less likely that the Eagles would be interested in signing Freeman. Arians implied that Freeman’s price tag was unreasonable and that he’s “asking for a lot of money.”

The Eagles, by all accounts, are intent on not doling out much money for a backup running back.

Freeman certainly would upgrade the Eagles’ running back room. Jordan Howard signed with the Dolphins as a free agent and Darren Sproles retired, leaving Boston Scott and Corey Clement as the only experienced running backs behind Sanders on the depth chart.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

Kyle Shanahan reveals himself to be a supporter of Colin Kaepernick, even though he opted not to offer him a new contract in 2017.   Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com:

Kyle Shanahan was not yet the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers when quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in protest of systemic racism and oppression in 2016.

From afar, Shanahan said, he watched and understood the message Kaepernick was trying to convey. But now, nearly four years later, Shanahan expressed frustration that it’s taken others so long to get the point.

“I think the biggest thing that is so hard with the Colin thing is people misunderstanding what he was doing,” Shanahan said. “And I think that’s why the reactions have been hard the last couple of days over things that people are still confused [about]. Regardless of whether you agree with how he did it or not, that doesn’t matter. What Colin was protesting was something that should be respected by all humans. That did take a lot of courage. That is something that is 1,000 percent wrong and what he was trying to fix and bring light to. And gosh it was hard to bring light to the whole country because people didn’t want to totally hear it and it got diluted with so much different stuff.”

George Floyd’s death and the ensuing protests have been a primary topic for the 49ers during their virtual meetings this week, Shanahan said. On Thursday, Shanahan spoke to the media via a Zoom call and spent most of the 30-minute session discussing racism and race relations in the country.

When asked about Kaepernick, Shanahan spoke at length about how he believes the former 49ers quarterback’s message was lost and how Shanahan gained a deeper appreciation for what Kaepernick did after he became the Niners’ head coach in 2017.

Soon after their hiring, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch informed Kaepernick that they intended to release him, which led to Kaepernick opting out of his contract and departing San Francisco. But other players, such as safety Eric Reid, who knelt alongside Kaepernick in 2016, remained on the team.

“Those were the guys who started it and it was very clear when they would articulate it why they were doing it,” Shanahan said. “So, the debate on all the other stuff, the flag, everything, like people don’t want to hear that. What he was doing was a big deal and whether you disagree with how he did it or not doesn’t matter.

“It’s three years later and there’s still some people not understanding what his message was and regardless, that’s too many people not understanding the message that everyone has been giving for a long time. And Colin did it the strongest out of anyone. And people should respect him a ton for that and admire that.”

Kaepernick has remained unsigned since leaving the 49ers, but other players, including Reid, continued their protest after Shanahan took over.

Shanahan offered public support for those protests at the time, including a 2017 game in Indianapolis in which more than 20 players knelt during the national anthem with their hands over their hearts and teammates at their side.

Vice President Mike Pence attended that game and departed after the national anthem, pointing to the Niners’ demonstration as the reason for his exit.

Asked Thursday how he would handle player protests if they occur again this year, Shanahan reiterated his support for his players, noting it would come “probably with more passion.”

“I’m all for protests,” Shanahan said. “I’m all for change. I hope the protests cause change. Whatever we’ve got to do to get the change, I’m for it. And I know our organization is, I know [CEO] Jed [York] is, I know our players are. We always have been. What’s different now from then? It’s embarrassing to say, probably, but I think white people are more passionate about it now than then. That’s our ignorance and that’s what upsets black people. And they have every right to be upset because they haven’t just been telling us this the last few weeks. They’ve been telling us this since our grandparents. … It’s all the time and it’s too long. So, whatever has got to get changed, let’s do it.”

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

A huge statue of Al Davis has been revealed as a focal point of the Raiders new home.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

For now, Raiders owner Mark Davis is sweating the looming deadlines for the opening of his team’s new stadium. Eventually, the beads of perspiration on his forehead may be due to the heat from the giant torch that will serve as a permanent tribute to his late father, Al.

The lanai doors to Allegiant Stadium opened for the first time this week, exposing the 85-foot structure that the team will light before every game.

Via the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the torch is made from carbon fiber and aluminum, and it is the largest structure in the world created by a 3D printer.

Actually, the flame from the torch won’t be an actual fire-based flame, and it won’t be projection or a hologram.

“You haven’t seen anything like it anyplace else,” Allegiant Stadium COO Don Webb said.

We haven’t seen anything like the Raiders’ new stadium, which looks like it should have this tune playing in the background.

AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND

Somewhere, on a remote socially-distanced swath of grass, QB BAKER MAYFIELD is improving his footwork.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

When Alex Van Pelt was hired as the Browns offensive coordinator earlier this year, he said he wanted to work with quarterback Baker Mayfield on adapting his footwork to the new offense being installed this offseason.

Van Pelt made those comments before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic led the NFL to move to remote offseason programs and that move has complicated the installation of the offense. It hasn’t gotten in the way of Mayfield’s footwork efforts, however.

Video technology makes it possible for Van Pelt to break down Mayfield’s footwork in detail even though they aren’t working together.

“The technology I got was from a golf lesson I had 10 years ago where they use this app that I still use to this day,” Van Pelt said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “You can really slow-mo and break it down, and you can draw on the app, as well. It gives me the ability to share my screen with Baker, watch his feet and really you can zoom all the way into just the feet and you can talk about each step, the position of each step and the length of each step. It’s actually a pretty cool tool. It is the first time I had really used it extensively to teach footwork, but it’s been useful.”

The circumstances of the offseason have forced all teams to be adaptable to new modes of operation. The footwork exercises seem to be on the smoother side of the scale, which should help the Browns move on to other things once players can get on the field.

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

Count Colts GM Chris Ballard as a convert to the movement against systemic racial injustice spurred by the death of George Floyd.  He vows that having a role in that battle will be a mark of the Colts organization going forward. Mike Wells of ESPN.com:

Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Thursday held an unscripted, impromptu and passionate virtual call in which he emphasized that there has to be an end to social injustice and racial inequality.

“This is not a black problem,” Ballard said during the nearly 20-minute call. “This is a white problem. This is an issue that we have to talk about, and we can’t sugarcoat it. We can’t sugarcoat our way out of this. We can’t go back into our bubble, because that’s what we’ve always done. We’ve always gone right back into our bubble, and we’ve never really listened. I haven’t listened.”

Ballard said a couple times during the call that he was not there to talk about football and that his sole purpose for the unscheduled meeting with the media was to talk about what’s going on in the country after the death of George Floyd.

“I can’t sit here and remain silent because that’s exactly what we’ve done every time our black community screams and yells for help,” Ballard said Thursday. “We have to end social injustice and racial inequalities. We have to end the police violence against our black communities.

“Black lives matter. I don’t know why that’s so freaking hard for the white community to say. Black lives matter. I’ve been ignorant. I’ve been ignorant to the real problem. And I’m ashamed of that. I came to the realization of that over the last 10 days.”

The Colts have held a virtual open forum with their players since Floyd’s death.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, according to Ballard, told the team, “You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.”

“It is easy to be silent and do nothing when it doesn’t directly impact you,” Colts coach Frank Reich said earlier this week. “This attitude simply doesn’t evoke any conviction about doing what is right and standing up for the inherent dignity and rights of all people no matter the color of their skin.

“… Racism is vile, deplorable, detestable. There is no form of it that is acceptable and in no way can it be justified. Our black community has bore the brunt of this injustice far too long. I believe that I, we, all have a personal responsibility to speak up and to act in ways that build each other up, not tear each other down.”

Ballard acknowledged that he didn’t fully listen in 2017 — a year after quarterback Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice. Ballard failed to take in the message from former Colts defensive back Darius Butler when the two tried to address the issue.

“We didn’t listen,” Ballard said. “I didn’t listen in ’17. I love Darius Butler. He tried to explain it. I thought I heard it. I didn’t hear it. We didn’t listen.”

Ballard was asked if he would look at things differently if his players decide to kneel during the anthem next season.

“Whatever we decide to do, we’re going to do it as a team,” Ballard said. “That’s the beauty of that locker room. I understand why people took a knee. I didn’t completely understand the first time, but damn right I do now.”

JACKSONVILLE

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is glad that the Jaguars are not wasting the moment:

In cities throughout America, peaceful protests continue regarding the chronic mistreatment of African-American citizens who are, under this nation’s founding documents, are supposed to possess the same fundamental, inalienable rights as everyone else. In Jacksonville, members of the Jaguars have organized a march for racial justice.

“This is just the first step forward,” the Jaguars declare at their Twitter account.

Earlier this week, Jaguars owner Shad Khan — the league’s only minority owner — posted a passionate and moving column regarding the evils of racism.

“Racism, in all its forms, will kill,” Khan wrote. “It kills people, it kills communities, it kills dreams, it kills hope. For many Americans, now is the moment. Never has that been clearer. I don’t want to waste this moment.”

The Jaguars aren’t wasting this moment. The rest of us shouldn’t waste it, either.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

On Wednesday, the career of one of the greatest players in NFL history began to hang in the balance as he placed the concept of the American flag and the freedoms (assembly, the free press, free speech) that it guarantees, ahead of the current demands made by a group utilizing those freedoms to the utmost.

On Thursday, Buffalo QB JAKE FROMM’s career hangs in the balance before it starts because an old text message to a friend about guns contains a phrase deemed “racist.”

Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com:

Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Jake Fromm apologized Thursday after screenshots emerged of a text conversation in which he said only “elite white people” should be able to purchase guns.

The conversation, which took place in 2019 and was posted to Twitter early Thursday morning, involved Fromm and a friend discussing guns. Fromm wrote, “But no guns are good. They need to let me get suppressors,” before adding, “Just make them very expensive so only elite white people can get them haha.”

Fromm went on to say he was not an “elite white person” later in the conversation.

“I am extremely sorry that I chose to use the words ‘elite white person’ in a text message conversation,” Fromm said in a statement posted to Twitter on Thursday afternoon. “Although I never meant to imply that I am an ‘elite white person,’ as later stated in the conversation, there’s no excuse for that word choice and sentiment.

“I stand against racism 100%. I promise to commit myself to being part of the solution in this country.”

“Earlier today, we became aware of comments made in a text message conversation involving Jake Fromm in 2019,” the Bills said in a statement. “He was wrong and he admitted it to us. We don’t condone what he said. Jake was honest and forthcoming to us about the text exchange. He asked for an opportunity to address and apologize to his teammates and coaches today in a team meeting, which he did. We will continue to work with Jake on the responsibilities of being a Buffalo Bill on and off the field.”

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said he expected team leaders to reach out to Fromm and work with him.

“Jake seemed very sincere in his apology,” Frazier said. “We have a very strong culture on our team. Those guys are going to be able to sift through what is real and what isn’t real.”

Some NFL players reacted to Fromm’s statement and those made Wednesday by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees with skepticism. They included New York Jets safety Jamal Adams and Fromm’s former Georgia teammate, Terry Godwin, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who said he has “lost all respect” for Fromm.

@TerryGodwin_4

This is showing everybody’s TRUE side. Even from a guy like Drew Brees and Georgia very own Jake Fromm 🤦🏾‍♂️. I’ve lost all respect for both of these people #blm✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

Adams tweeted, “You and Drew aren’t really sorry. Save the bulls— ass apologies. The truth just came out, and you two aren’t the only ones!”

So are the text messages of all NFL players now fair game for media inspection and interpretation?  Or only those of some?

The messages come from an anonymous female childhood friend who is now a fervent BLM supporter.  She did it to hold Fromm “accountable.”  Brandon Sudge of the MaconTelegraph tracked her down:

A series of text messages from former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm circulated on Twitter on Thursday afternoon. In a conversation with a longtime friend, who sent the messages under the @ashleymp20 social media handle, Fromm used the term “elite white people.”

– – –

Fromm’s exchange of text messages involved a discussion around guns, and the Warner Robins native stated his support for Second Amendment rights. He then expressed a desire for suppressors but wanted them to be “very expensive so only elite white people can get them.”

Fromm hadn’t posted on social media through the racial unrest that has swept across the nation with the officer-involved death of George Floyd. The person who chose to release these tweets had been friends with Fromm since the eighth grade, she told The Telegraph, and they remained close for a period of time while students at Georgia.

“I’m seeing and feeling the black lives matter movement,” said the woman releasing the messages, who requested “as much anonymity as possible. I know that part of my job is to hold racists accountable, despite who they are.”

@Ashleymp’s Twitter description is:

God is Love Gal 6:2

She also tweets:

God wants us to share each other’s burdens #BLM ✊

This further Twitter conversation:

@puneetsingh

You sat on this convo for over a year.

@ashleymp

I did! I should’ve posted it then, and I’m sorry. I was afraid of the backlash. I didn’t have the courage. I’ve thought about posting it every now and then for the past year and I prayed on it!

Apparently the Twitter account belongs to the best friend of Fromm’s girlfriend.

The screenshots don’t really provide any further context to what might have been said, other than that she sent a heart emoji back to him immediately after the “elite white people” text and he sent four crying my eyes out laughing emojis with “I’m not (presumably an elite white person) just saying.”

It then concludes with “Ashley” asking “Hmmm. What does the word elite mean to you?”

We do not have Fromm’s reply.

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com is quick to describe the text message as “racist”:

A day after Bills rookie quarterback Jake Fromm admitted to sending a racist text message last year, his offensive coordinator is giving him a qualified show of support.

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll told reporters today that Fromm can earn the trust of the Bills’ locker room, but that it’s going to be incumbent on him to do the work necessary for it.

“He knows he has a lot of work to do to earn the trust of his teammates back,” Daboll said, via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. “I know he’ll work hard to do that.”

Fromm undoubtedly has work to do, not just to win the trust of his teammates, but also to make the team. As a fifth-round draft pick on a team that already has Josh Allen as the established starter and Matt Barkley as the veteran backup, Fromm might not make the team even if he had no problems earning the trust of his teammates. He might not be around in three months to be an issue in the Bills’ locker room.

NEW ENGLAND

QB JARRETT STIDHAM is taking the lead in the virtual world of the Patriots, in a socially-distanced way.  Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

It might not receive the same fanfare as the throwing sessions that Tom Brady organized with his new Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates, but Brady’s potential successor with the New England Patriots, Jarrett Stidham, has quietly done something similar in recent weeks.

On a recent day in Massachusetts, Stidham and a group of six teammates gathered at a private football field for their work, which focused intently on following social distancing guidelines.

Stidham has been a catalyst for the throwing sessions, sources said, which reflects a show of leadership as the Patriots transition from 19 seasons with Brady as the starting quarterback. Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round draft pick from Auburn, also has been visible in the New England community, as he and wife Kennedy donated 1,000 meals to children and families at a local YMCA in May.

@HockomockYMCA

The sun & warmth were not the only surprises today. A big thank you to Patriots Quarterback @Jarrett_Stidham and his wife @kennedystidham_ for reaching out to us to help & providing over 1,000 @attleborocfa1 lunches today for children & families in our #community #BeCauseY

Veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer has been present at the throwing sessions, along with wide receivers Julian Edelman and Gunner Olszewski, among a few others who have been in town during the coronavirus pandemic.

Stidham referenced his specific work with Edelman on his Instagram account this week.

With non-rehabbing players not yet allowed at NFL facilities, players across the league have had to get creative with their workouts, with many organizing their own while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

We remember this from Doug Kyed of NESN.com back in May:

What we do know is that (Jarrett) Stidham would be a better choice next season than overdrafting a player like Jordan Love or Jacob Eason when no one knows if they’ll even be better than Stidham long term.”

 I stand by that. Here’s another nugget: I was told after the draft that the Patriots like Stidham more than they liked Jimmy Garoppolo.

And I know what you’re thinking: “typical Patriots spin.”

That ain’t it. This isn’t coming from someone who stands to gain anything by pumping up the Patriots.

We’ll find out if the team is right to believe that or not. But it’s not insane.

Stidham was a very highly-touted quarterback prospect after his first two starting seasons in college. His junior year was a bit of a disaster because Auburn’s offense was a mess. He still managed to show some potential. But if that junior season had gone more favorably, then Stidham would have wound up being a first- or second-round pick rather than a fourth.

Stidham played well in the preseason, and he continued to improve in practice throughout the regular season. The Patriots have only grown to like Stidham more since drafting him.

So, why are the Patriots going to give up on a player they think might be better than Garoppolo for a veteran QB like Cam Newton or Andy Dalton? Newton is a great player. Is he definitely better than Garoppolo right this second after missing most of the 2019 season? Dalton has more upside as a backup than Brian Hoyer. But in an ideal world, is he beating out Stidham? Not a chance.

I never thought drafting Jordan Love was realistic in the first round. And the Patriots weren’t going to take Jalen Hurts over their second-round pick Kyle Dugger. So, for now, they’re rolling with Stidham. After years of spending top salary capital on a quarterback, the Patriots are using up less than $1.9 million worth of cap space on Stidham and Hoyer. That makes a world of sense while the Patriots are up against the cap.

The Patriots have now not re-signed Tom Brady, passed on trading for Nick Foles, didn’t sign Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum, Phillip Rivers, Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, have shown no interest in Newton and didn’t draft Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Jacob Eason, James Morgan or Jake Fromm. What further proof do you need that the Patriots really, really like Stidham?

Chris Trapasso of CBSSports.com spends a lot of time coming to the conclusion that Stidham will be one and done as Patriots starting QB:

Jarrett Stidham is in a fascinating, epic conundrum.

He’s in line to be the starting quarterback for the six-time champion New England Patriots with Bill Belichick as his head coach. Unreal situation for a former fourth-round pick, right?

But, yeah, he’s following arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the game of football in Tom Brady. Unenviable situation. Giddy up.

Now, with the fate of the Patriots firmly in his hands, let’s explore everything about his environment in New England and what Stidham needs to do to take the next step as a quarterback.

Previous installments in this young QB outlook project: Daniel Jones, Dwayne Haskins, Kyler Murray, Drew Lock

How I viewed Stidham as a prospect

Stidham had serious first-round buzz entering his final season at Auburn in 2018, a campaign that ultimately fizzled fast. I had the reins of QB Stock Watch during that college football season, and I typically ranked the top five or six quarterback prospects in the country each week. Stidham’s last appearance in that article was September 17, after a brutal performance against LSU.

I compared Stidham to Blake Bortles in my notes, writing this:

Stidham and Bortles have similar, somewhat three-quarter deliveries and can really drive the ball after they see a receiver come open. Under pressure Stidham can be extremely panicky, like Bortles. Bad decisions and off-target throws are relatively common in those situations. However, Stidham’s a good athlete and can create outside the pocket very well.

– – –

But for as much as the deterioration of his offensive line and receiver group was the culprit in his efficiency dip, the issues Stidham displayed in 2017 — poise in the pocket at the sign of pressure and wayward tosses on easy throws — were unimpressive in each of his seasons in the SEC.

In my pre-draft breakdown of the entire quarterback group in the 2019 draft class, I wrote this about Stidham, my QB11, in the “Developmental/Third-Stringer” category:

Once the recipient of first-round buzz, Stidham fell off across the board in 2018. He’s not very poised inside the pocket, and for every dime he drops down the field, there are two or three bad misfires on what should be easy completions. Stidham does have an NFL arm, and he can make good throws from many arm platforms. He needs to get faster through his reads.

Supporting cast

Over the past few years, the Patriots have made it work through the air with Julian Edelman, a wide array of lesser-known wideouts, and a fun collection of stellar pass-catching backs in Tom Brady’s offense.

Edelman and James White remain in New England after Brady’s departure — they’ll be key security blankets for Stidham. Beyond those two, it’s not pretty skill-position talent-wise. Last year’s first-round pick N’Keal Harry flashed down the stretch but altogether had a disappointing rookie campaign. Mohamed Sanu averaged three catches and 26 yards per game after getting traded to the Patriots at the deadline. He turns 31 in August. After him, there’s a plethora of uncertainty.

Beyond White in the backfield — who I almost deem a receiver at this point — there are plenty of horses including Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, 2019 third-rounder Damien Harris and one undrafted scatback to watch, J.J. Taylor from Arizona.

Up front, the Patriots return one of the better blocking units in football, which should bode well for Stidham and his tendency to crumble under pressure. At the end of the 2019 season, Pro Football Focus ranked New England’s line as the 10th-best in football, and former first-round pick Isaiah Wynn, who starred in his eight contests last season, is set to start Week 1.

In the draft, Belichick picked back-to-back tight ends in Round 3, UCLA’s Devin Asiasi and Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene. Asiasi flashed serious YAC ability for the tight-end position, although he tested as an average athlete at the combine. Keene, too, is slippery with the ball in his hands and is a high-end athlete.

Scheme

Stidham will be in Josh McDaniels’ Erhardt-Perkins that typically utilizes shorter terminology to call plays that can be run from a variety of formations. Option routes are a staple of McDaniels’ offense, making it vital for his quarterback and receivers to be on the same page essentially at all times.

McDaniels uses concepts from a variety of offenses and has proven to be able to mold his offensive identity to the strength of his team during a given time period or the weaknesses of an opponent in each week.

Improving his weaknesses

According to Sports Info Solutions, Stidham’s pressure rate was just below 30% in both of his final two years at Auburn, so while it may have seemed like he was running for his life more frequently in 2018 than he did the previous season, that wasn’t truly the case.

And his play under duress is likely going to make or break him in 2020 with the Patriots. In his better year with the Tigers — 2017 — Stidham was on target on 49.5% of his under-pressure throws at 6.4 yards per attempt with three touchdowns, four interceptions, and nine sacks on 110 drop backs. His numbers against pressure were eerily similar in 2018.

Defenses are going to blitz him, in exotic ways, in hopes of confusing him. And for the past 20 years, blitzing the Patriots has typically led to a Brady-led dissection of a secondary.

Stidham simply needs to handle blitz packages thrown his way and work less frantically and more efficiently than he did in college.

Strengthening his strengths

Stidham has a strong arm and is a good, natural albeit unspectacular athlete, meaning he’s unlikely to evade high-caliber rushers outside the pocket but can effortlessly throw downfield from a variety of platforms and arm angles if necessary on the run.

And his arm talent led to terrific work down the field at Auburn. Per PFF, Stidham had the fifth-highest passer rating (123.3) in last year’s draft class on throws 20-plus yards down the field in 2018.

The season before that, he was on target on 50% of his long ball attempts with seven touchdowns to just two interceptions, according to SIS.

Brady has always been a methodical, quick release, surgically accurate passer underneath and at the intermediate level. That’s where the Patriots lived for the vast majority of his Hall of Fame stay in New England. But with the Stidham, McDaniels will likely dial up more shot plays in 2020, and building on the young passer’s accuracy downfield would provide the Patriots a new offensive dynamic.

Season outlook

It’s rare to see a quarterback drastically improve his pocket presence, processing speed, and accuracy under pressure, which represents the main justification for my concern with Stidham as New England’s starter. The soon-to-be 24-year-old passer has two important assets on his side though — McDaniels, a bright offensive coordinator who should play to his strengths and a sturdy offensive line.

Even with perennial turnstile Marshall Newhouse on the line for half the season in 2019, Brady was pressured on just 29.3% of his snap, per SIS. Anything under 30% is darn good in the NFL.

Edelman and White will likely be leaned on often and are likely to continue as dangerous underneath, YAC options in McDaniels’ system. It’ll be interesting too to see if Harry can be utilized more under Stidham than he was with Brady. Don’t be surprised if the former gives Harry more opportunities in contested-catch situations, where the former Arizona State star shines.

And fortunately for Stidham, it looks like the Patriots are going to be a run-heavy, defense-oriented team. After more than 15 years with the quarterback as the unequivocal focal point of the team, New England probably won’t lean on that position to take over, a philosophy that bodes well for any young passer as he’s learning his way.

I think there’ll be plenty of hiccups for Stidham in Year 2, some flashes, but plenty of room for improvement as he enters Year 3, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Patriots decide to go in a different direction at quarterback in 2021.

NEW YORK JETS

S JAMAL ADAMS doesn’t believe the apologies of QB DREW BREES and QB JAKE FROMM.  Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com:

Some players aren’t really buying the apology, and New York Jets star safety Jamal Adams had the most blunt reaction to them.

Jamal Adams doesn’t want to hear apologies

Adams summarily dismissed the apologies from Fromm and Brees in a to-the-point tweet about them.

(WARNING: Adams’ message contains explicit language)

Jamal Adams

@Prez

You and Drew aren’t really sorry.

Save the bullshit ass apologies. The truth just came out, and you two aren’t the only ones!https://twitter.com/bleacherreport/status/1268612918943404033 …

Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and others got to their message in different ways, but most of them were similar, especially for Brees: Players know what Brees originally said is what he feels.

It will be hard for either player to convince their teammates and others that they are truly sorry. When Colin Kaepernick and others kneeled during the national anthem to bring awareness to social injustice, there weren’t as many of these battles between NFL players over the issue. But in 2020, after the death of George Floyd led to protests over police brutality, there have been swift and widespread reactions to ignorant opposition around the league. Even for Brees, one of the best players ever.

Coaches better be aware of the situation. There will be some tense, and hopefully educational, moments in locker rooms around the league in the fall.

THIS AND THAT

THE NFL AND THE EVENTS OF THE DAY

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com sees “monumental societal changes” and challenges the NFL to quickly get on the right side of history:

As monumental societal changes descends on our nation, words are becoming action. And a group of NFL players has put together a powerful 70-second video that sends a powerful message to America — and specifically to the National Football League.

“It’s been 10 days since George Floyd was brutally murdered,” Saints receiver Michael Thomas says at the outset of the video.

“How many times do we need to ask you to listen to your players?” asks Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu.

“What will it take?” says Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

“For one of us to be murdered by police brutality?” asks Browns receiver Jarvis Landry.

“What if I was George Floyd?” says Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.

“If I was George Floyd,” echoes Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

“What if I was George Floyd?” asks Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

And then the players, a who’s who list that also includes men like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, and Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot, make these declarations, one at a time: “I am George Floyd. . . . I am Breonna Taylor. . . . I am Ahmaud Arbery. . . . I am Eric Garner. . . . I am Laquan McDonald. . . . I am Tamir Rice. . . . I am Trayvon Martin. . . . I am Walter Scott. . . . I am Michael Brown Jr. . . . I am Samuel DuBose. . . . I am Frank Smart. . . . I am Phillip White. . . . I am Jordan Baker.”

Then comes the clear and unmistakable message to the NFL.

“We will not be silenced. We assert our right to peacefully protest. It shouldn’t take this long to admit.

“So on behalf of the National Football League, this is what we the players would like to hear you state: We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systemic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit wrong in silencing our players from peacefully protesting. We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter.”

And so the ball is now in the NFL’s court. Will a clear statement be issued condemning racism, declaring that black lives matter, and most importantly affirming the right of peaceful protest — even if it happens during the national anthem?

The clock is ticking.

The NFL has a corporate response, noted here by Curtis Crabtree ofProFootballTalk.com:

The NFL has released a new statement via its instagram account on Thursday night pledging a commitment to its players in their efforts to address systemic racism and change.

“This is a time of self-reflection for all – the NFL is no exception,” the NFL said in a posting to their instagram account. “We stand with the black community because Black Lives Matter. Through Inspire Change, the NFL, Players and our partners have supported programs and initiatives throughout the country to address systemic racism. We will continue using our platform to challenge the injustice around us. To date we have donated $44 million to support hundreds of worthy organizations. This year, we are committing an additional $20 million to these causes and we will accelerate efforts to highlight their critical work. We know that we can and need to do more.”

A collection of the NFL’s star black players released a pointed message on Thursday night imploring the NFL to follow through on those statements of support.

The group, which included Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Tyrann Mathieu, Odell Beckham Jr., Saquon Barkley and many more, asked the league for their support in the fight against racism and systemic oppression, the silencing of protest stances that had come previously and a statement that supported Black Lives Matter.

With NFL teams releasing varying statements condemning the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and pledging to listen, learn and do more in the wake of social injustice, the players now appear intent on making sure the league and its teams now walk the walk as well so the statements aren’t reduced to empty gestures. The NFL isn’t going to overturn the four years of leaving Colin Kaepernick unsigned or forcing protest-minded players to remain in the locker room for the national anthem overnight. But they did acknowledge the systemic racial issues the black community is faced with and pledged that Black Lives Matter.