THE DAILY BRIEFING

Before we get to the NFL, we actually think we discovered something of some significance that others have missed, from looking at the Scottie Scheffler videos.

UNRAVELING SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

The DB has done a little detective work with the case of Scottie Scheffler.  It doesn’t solve what happened, but we can now form a better timeline thanks to a previously unreported discovery from the two videos released by Louisville Metro PD.

On X/Twitter, golf writer Shane Ryan put them synched up here.

One video is from across Shelbyville Road looking at the gate to Valhalla.  One is from a police car.  In both, a bus blocks the view of Scheffler’s initial appearance BUT IF YOU LOOK UNDER THE BUS on the police car video, you can see the lights from Scheffler’s car!  Here is the timeline:

                             SHELBYVILLE ROAD                        POLICE CAR

:11                                                                                  Scheffler lights appear under bus

:14                                                                                  Lights stop behind bus

:24                                                                                  Lights begin moving

:28                                                                                  Vehicle emerges from bus

:31                       Gillis appears chasing vehicle

:34                      Gillis tries to smash window, vehicle stops

So Scheffler stopped for 10 seconds, then was rolling for 10 seconds before Gillis caught him and began the criminal apprehension.  Those are the key 20 seconds, all else is irrelevant – except perhaps for the route Scheffler drove to reach Gillis that perhaps caused the officer’s extreme ire.

– – –

This from Adam Schefter as reported by Warren Sharp:

@SharpFootball

Schefter on the NFL’s future:

 

In addition to more streaming and an 18 game season…

 

“I think we’re going to eventually have one international game for EVERY TEAM, PER YEAR”

 

per the Adam Schefter podcast

Brett Kolman was thinking:

@BrettKollmann

16 NFL international games might look something like this:

 

3 London

2 Munich/Frankfurt

2 Mexico City

2 Rio/Sao Paulo

2 Paris

2 Madrid/Barcelona

1 Dublin

1 Sydney

1 Rome

If we had a 17-game season, we would take some off the international market and send them to non-NFL US cities like Salt Lake City, Lincoln, Norman, Tuscaloosa, St. Louis, Orlando.

Jokes Benjamin Solak:

@BenjaminSolak

Live from Reykjavik it’s Gardner Minshew and Bo Nix squaring off in this Week 13 divisional clash!

 

Tune in on Tubi, fubo, or NFLExtra+ at 8 AM EST on Boxing Day

A whole lot going on in that tweet, including Week 13 on December 26.

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

Gambling wise guys aren’t buying the Bears hype reports Frank Schwab ofYahooSports.com:

 

The Chicago Bears seemed like they were set up to be an offseason darling.

 

The Bears were pretty good late last season, then had a splashy offseason. They built up their receiver room. They drafted quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. There is a lot of excitement in Chicago for this Bears season.

 

That excitement does not extend to the betting world.

 

BetMGM offers odds for each of the NFL teams to make or miss the playoffs. And the most bets in that market are on the Bears to miss the playoffs.

 

So much for that offseason buzz.

 

Bettors think Bears will fall short

Whether you measure it by number of bets or amount of money, the most-bet playoff prop at BetMGM is for the Bears to miss the postseason. The odds for the Bears to miss the playoffs are +105 (bet $100 to win $105).

 

There’s a consensus right behind the Bears, too. The Jets, at +120 odds to miss the playoffs, are the second most popular bet in the postseason betting market.

 

The skepticism on the Bears isn’t unwarranted. It’s always hard to bank on a rookie quarterback. There are a lot of new pieces for the Bears to incorporate. And the Bears play in the NFC North, which could end up being the toughest division in the NFL.

 

There’s a lot working against the Bears, and that’s why bettors are wary.

 

Can Bears make the postseason?

The excitement for the Bears, at least among Chicago fans, started in the second half of last season. The Bears started 2-7. That turned around with a 5-3 finish, and the three losses were competitive ones against the Lions, Browns and Packers. Had the Bears won a Week 18 game at the Packers to keep them out of the playoffs, as the Lions did a year earlier, there would have been a more notable buzz about their offseason. Them losing the finale muted that a bit.

 

But there are still reasons to like the Bears for this season. Williams is a fantastic prospect. Between D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, Chicago has a really good receiver room. The defense might still need some work, but it did get better as last season went on.

 

There’s a lot to like about this Bears team, though they could be good and still fall short of the playoffs due to a tough division. That’s part of bettors believing they’ll miss the postseason.

 

The Bears seem like a team that was more likely to go the other way and be a favorite of bettors. They had a lot of big moves and are a popular franchise with a huge fan base. There’s been excitement about them since last season ended. Usually all of that leads to some positive bets. But bettors aren’t ready to buy in just yet.

DETROIT

Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com on how Coach Dan Campbell is focused only on success:

Padded practices haven’t even started yet, but with OTAs beginning this week and mandatory minicamp set for June 4, Lions head coach Dan Campbell has his sights set on bringing a Super Bowl to Detroit.

 

“I don’t see bust. I see Super Bowl,” Campbell said Thursday. “I don’t know what bust is.”

 

Detroit currently has the fourth-best odds (+1100) to win a championship, according to ESPN BET, after enjoying a storybook run in 2023 that ended in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.

 

This offseason, the team has revamped its defense by signing former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader along with drafting rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold (first round) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (second round) in addition to a plethora of other moves.

 

“You’ve got to set yourself up no different than last year, certain things you gotta do to really make that valid and to make that a reality,” Campbell said about the team’s championship ambitions. “Ultimately, that’s what we want to do. Now to do that you better win the division.

 

“You’ve got to give yourself the best odds you can. You need to win the division; you need best seeding you can possibly do,” he said. “OK, well how do you do that? You’ve got to start with where we’re at now. You’ve got to go back to work. You’ve got to do all the little things, which to this point, our guys have done.”

 

The Lions have also secured their foundational pieces by agreeing to offseason extensions for Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, as well as massive four-year deals with veteran quarterback Jared Goff, All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell that’ll align them together for the future.

 

Despite interviewing for numerous head-coaching vacancies, the Lions were also able to keep offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn together for another season, which could be an underrated aspect to their success.

 

Detroit is coming off a season where they clinched their first division crown since 1993.

 

“I think it’s really beneficial for the players because you hear that same voice, and consistency has always been best in this league in my opinion, which you don’t see a lot,” Glenn said. “That could be other coaches leaving for other jobs, or it could just be sometimes people are there for a year or two and they fire everybody and they’re on to the next, but I think it really benefits the players.”

Let’s think about that – Detroit currently has the fourth-best odds to win the Super Bowl.  Before Campbell got there, were they ever in the top 10?

– – –

A big key could be getting the best version of WR JAMESON WILLIAMS in 2024.  Campbell sees that happening.  More Woodyard:

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has been focused since the 2023 season ended. And the team has taken notice.

 

So much, coach Dan Campbell, speaking at OTAs on Thursday, said Williams has shown the most improvement of any Lions player so far.

 

“He is a man on a mission,” Campbell said. “And I’m just gonna leave it at that.”

 

Williams, drafted 12th overall in 2022, is entering his third season. But 2024 is shaping up to be his first without any limitations.

 

He missed his first 11 games as a rookie while recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in college. Last season, he missed the first four games while serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.

 

Now, fully healthy and able to participate in all offseason team activities, his mindset is to help the team in any way possible.

 

“It does a lot because this is my third year, but it’s really my first year going out there and getting real reps with the ones (starters) and moving around with the ones and getting reps with JG (quarterback Jared Goff) and things like that,” Williams said. “Just moving around, getting the right splits and everything, just feeling comfortable. So, this is my first year doing all that and it just feels good going into it.”

 

Campbell says Williams has improved “everywhere,” which is good news for a Lions team that needs him to assume a bigger role after losing receiver Josh Reynolds in free agency.

 

Williams scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown in the Lions’ NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers to end last season — a game in which his speed and ability to be a deep threat were on display. He knows consistency will be the key to unlock his full potential.

 

“I don’t feel pressure. I really play football,” said Williams, who played his college ball at Ohio State and Alabama. “I’ve been playing football a long time and been playing in some of the biggest games on TV and things like that. I never really felt no pressure because it’s what I do. It’s what I was born to do, what I was made to do, what I was taught to do. So, I don’t really feel pressure at all.”

NFC EAST

 

NEW YORK GIANTS

Imagine how QB KIRK COUSINS feels.

QB DANIEL BROWN was peeved that the Giants even thought about drafting his successor.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Daniel Jones expects to be in the saddle Week 1.

 

Coming off a torn ACL suffered in November, the New York Giants quarterback participated in 7-on-7 drills this week during OTAs. Asked Thursday if there are any doubts that he’ll be ready to face Minnesota to open the 2024 campaign, Jones responded: “I don’t have any doubt about it.”

 

Head coach Brian Daboll said the Giants are still taking it slow with the QB coming off injury, keeping him out of full team drills.

 

“He looks good. We’re not putting him in some team stuff, but he’s making progress so that’s why we got him in 7-on-7. … We’ll take it day by day and when he can do more, we’ll put him in more,” Daboll told reporters on Thursday.

 

Jones struggled out of the gate in 2023, under siege behind a porous offensive line and making brutal mental errors. The Giants started the season 1-4, with Jones throwing for fewer than 150 yards in three contests. The QB injured his neck in Week 5, knocking him out for three weeks. His return lasted fewer than 10 passes before he blew out his ACL in Week 9.

 

“Feels good. Felt good out there today,” he said on Thursday. “Just getting back in the swing of things and playing football against the defense. … Thought it was good today. Continue to kind of progress. … Rehab process has been smooth up to this point, and feels good doing all that kind of stuff.”

 

Jones’ injury history and on-field struggles for much of his five-year career led the Giants, who picked No. 6 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, to take deep dives into the rookie quarterbacks coming out.

 

“I mean, I wasn’t fired up about it,” Jones responded when asked about the club looking into potential replacements.

 

In the end, Big Blue eschewed drafting a quarterback at No. 6 or any point during the daft, instead selecting playmaking receiver Malik Nabers, who could help elevate the offense and make life easier on the quarterback.

 

The reality for Jones is that he’s entering a make-or-break season despite just signing a four-year, $160 million extension last offseason. The first step is getting healthy. The next is staying healthy.

 

Jones must also fend off any drive from veteran Drew Lock for the starting gig. Despite the Giants’ brass insisting Jones will be the starter entering the season, rumblings continue that Lock will at least get a shot to push Jones for the gig.

PHILADELPHIA

S DARIUS SLAY is fine with DC Vic Fangio, even as some of his former players with the Dolphins are critical.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

Earlier this week, Dolphins safety Jevon Holland was particularly critical of former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio when praising the man who took over the position, Anthony Weaver.

 

Holland noted that Weaver has been a “complete 180” from Fangio, adding, “it’s the fact that he’s a good person [that] makes a difference.”

 

While it’s only May, that has not been the Fangio experience for one of Philadelphia’s key defensive backs.

 

“I don’t know what happened over there [in Miami], but my point of view over here, he’s a great dude and I’ve heard nothing but great things about [him],” Slay said, via Ed Kracz of SI.com. “I used to watch Aqib Talib and those guys, corners who played under his system and they’ve always talked highly on him.”

 

Fangio, 65, is known for being more of an “old school” kind of coach. Slay has no problem with that.

 

“He’s come in here with great energy,” Slay said. “He’s a guy who has been in a room with a lot of great vets. Not one time since I’ve been here as an Eagle somebody had something bad or negative to say about a DC because we know we have to go hard for him because we want to win.”

 

The Eagles need some clear improvement defensively in 2024 after going through two defensive play-callers in 2023. Philadelphia finished No. 26 in yards allowed and No. 30 in points allowed last season.

AFC WEST

 

DENVER

At least in terms of OTA reps, the Broncos do not have a starting QB.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Broncos drafted Bo Nix with the thought that he’s their future franchise quarterback. But right now, he’s being treated as just one member of a three-man group.

 

Broncos coach Sean Payton said that during Organized Team Activities, Nix is getting equal reps with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson as all three quarterbacks get the opportunity to show what they can do.

 

“We try to split up all the reps,’’ Payton said, via ESPN. “There’s going to be a time when you read into the reps, I don’t think it’s early in OTAs. It’s kind of the orphan group, they’re all orphan dogs. They’ve come from somewhere, but they’re doing good. It’s a good room.’’

 

Payton may still be three months away from naming a starter, and he says he wants to see as much of all three candidates as he can before making that decision.

 

“We go by what we see. We try to get them as many reps as possible. We rotate. We’re rotating all of them right now. They’re all in a race to learn this system. Man, they’re doing well.’’

LAS VEGAS

The Raiders have given DE MAXX CROSBY a straight raise, with no extension.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Pass rusher Maxx Crosby is a great player and key leader for the Raiders. They know that, and they’re taking care of him.

 

Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the Raiders have given Crosby a revised contract that increases his compensation for 2024 by $6 million.

 

Another $1.2 million was moved into 2025.

 

Now new years were added to the contract. Crosby is signed through 2026.

 

Crosby’s contract previously contained $19.382 million in pay for 2024, $21.92 million in 2025, and $21.92 million in 2026.

 

Crosby’s current deal has a new-money average of $23.5 million. That’s well below the top of the market paid by the 49ers to Nick Bosa — $34 million per year in new money.

 

So the $6 million raise is the least the Raiders can do. After this season, the right move might be to tear up the final two years and pay Crosby something closer to players like Bosa.

AFC NORTH

 

PITTSBURGH

Jerome Bettis weighs in on how he thinks the Steelers QB battle will play out.  Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com:

While he likes Justin Fields’ potential, Jerome Bettis does not see him beating out Russell Wilson as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new starting quarterback.

 

Fields created a buzz during Day 1 of the Steelers’ OTAs when he said that he is “definitely” competing with Wilson, whom Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has given the “pole position” to. Bettis, a Hall of Fame running back who won a Super Bowl during his time with the Steelers, doesn’t see Pittsburgh’s quarterback pecking order changing anytime soon.

 

“It would surprise me,” Bettis said of Fields supplanting Wilson as Pittsburgh’s starter during an interview with Zach Gelb. “I think he’s definitely the polished guy. You saw what he was doing last year in Denver. He didn’t leave Denver because of this play. I can promise you that. So I believe he’ll be the starter Week One.

 

“Now the question is Justin Fields,” Bettis continued. “He’s that Joker, because you don’t know what you’re gonna get. You love his skill set, what he’s capable of. Can he put it all together? And will he develop to the next step? And if he does that, he can be a 10-year solution at quarterback as well.”

 

Bettis is right on both counts. When it comes to Wilson, the Steelers brought him in to provide a much-needed veteran presence to what is an otherwise young offensive group. Wilson’s experience as a 13-year NFL veteran also gives him an advantage over Fields when it comes to mastering offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offensive game plan.

 

Barring an injury or Fields grossly out-playing him, Wilson will most likely be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback when the Steelers face the Falcons in Week 1. But as Bettis also alluded to, Fields could be the Steelers’ longterm solution at quarterback if he continues to make strides in Pittsburgh. In the interim, expect the Steelers to find ways to gets Fields on the field in 2024.

 

Another interesting nugget from Bettis’ comments is him saying that Wilson wasn’t jettisoned from Denver because of his play. Bettis’ opinion has actually become the general consensus given Wilson’s success last season before he was surprisingly benched by Sean Payton with two games left in the Broncos’ season.

 

Wilson’s success last year ultimately earned him the opportunity he currently has in Pittsburgh, one that likely won’t be immediately threatened by Fields.

AFC SOUTH

 

JACKSONVILLE

This from Warren Sharp:

@SharpFootball

total fumbles lost, last 3 years

 

21 – Trevor Lawrence

20

19

18

17

16

15

14 – Jared Goff

13

12 – Josh Allen

11 – Justin Fields

11 – Lamar Jackson

10 – Austin Ekeler

AFC EAST

 

BUFFALO

QB JOSH ALLEN thinks rookie WR KEON COLEMAN is particularly well-suited for Buffalo’s offense.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

After the Bills drafted wide receiver Keon Coleman with the first pick of the second round last month, Coleman told reporters that Bills quarterback Josh Allen texted him to say that “you’re the guy I want” to be part of the team’s offense.

 

Similar feelings were shared by Allen during an appearance on NFL Network this week. Allen said that Coleman’s style of play is “what we needed in our offense” because of what Coleman’s size and physicality bring to the table.

 

“I think you pair him with some of the guys we have in our room right now, I think Mack Hollins has been such a great addition so far to that room with his mentality, his mindset is infectious to others,” Allen said. “Curtis Samuel, he’s been showing up every single day ready to work. . . . You start pairing those guys up with Dawson [Knox] and Coleman in this mix now, we’re gonna have a pretty solid group that works together.”

 

Allen will be spending the next few months familiarizing himself with a number of new receivers. Most of them have an NFL track record, but Coleman is the wild card and a splashy debut for him would serve the Bills well this fall.

 

THIS AND THAT

 

ROUND 3 IMPACT PLAYERS

Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic with a list of Day 3 draftees who could impact as rookies:

What about the Day 3 guys, though? Here’s a look at a bunch of under-the-radar prospects who either have paths to playing time or seem to be perfect fits with their new clubs:

 

Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos

Round 4, Pick 102

While it’s fair to question whether or not Bo Nix’s talent was worth the No. 12 pick, I do like Nix and have for a while (more than Michael Penix Jr., actually). If the Broncos can surround Nix with dependable talent and keep him protected up front, he can win games. That strategy appears to be underway already, as the Broncos snagged a familiar target for their new QB last month.

 

There were stretches last season when some talent evaluators wondered if Franklin (6-foot-1, 183 pounds) might flirt with the first round, as he is all gas off the line of scrimmage and deep into the third level. Franklin ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the combine and had a nearly 40-inch vertical leap. He’s skinny, but he’s also just 21 years old.

 

At a minimum, he’ll be a legit deep threat on Day 1. In time, he could be much more.

 

Devontez Walker, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Round 4, Pick 113

The conversation surrounding Walker during the pre-draft period wasn’t much different than with Franklin. On traits alone, Walker was a first-round prospect, even with all of the studs at wide receiver in the 2024 class. He’s 6-1 with 33-inch arms, 4.36 speed and a 40 1/2-inch vertical. He is a big-play receiver who can adjust in the air and get to off-target throws that others can’t.

 

Baltimore’s offense has to graduate beyond relying so heavily on Lamar Jackson’s legs and its tight ends. Adding Zay Flowers in 2023 was a good start, and though I’m not saying Walker will have a similar impact, he’ll have every opportunity to try.

 

Tanor Bortolini, C, Indianapolis Colts

Round 4, Pick 117

This one’s really interesting. A two-year starter at Wisconsin (but just a one-year starter at center), Bortolini was one of the most athletic offensive linemen in the 2024 class, regardless of position.

 

Jason Kelce set a combine record in 2011 with a 4.14 short shuttle, to go along with a terrific 7.22 three-cone time. The Eagles drafted Kelce in the sixth round that year, and he turned into the greatest pro center of the modern spread era. Bortolini didn’t match Kelce’s short shuttle (4.28), but he topped him in the three-cone (7.16) and had better jump numbers.

 

Colts coach Shane Steichen wasn’t in Philly when the Eagles drafted Kelce, but he was there long enough to see what an agile, explosive center can do for that offense. Bortolini will have growing pains, but the Colts have plans for him.

 

Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins

Round 4, Pick 120

Every year, there are multiple “how did that happen?” selections. As in, how did the league allow a certain team, with a certain style, to get a player who fits so well on Day 3? That was the case this year with Wright and the Dolphins.

 

The best home-run hitter in this draft, Wright averaged better than seven yards per carry last season (1,013 yards) at Tennessee and added 22 catches. Moreover, he finished at an average of 4.35 yards after contact.

 

There were workload questions about all the backs this year, Wright included, but the Dolphins don’t need to overload him. Wright and Devon Achane in Mike McDaniel’s offense are basically perfect fits.

 

T.J. Tampa, CB, Baltimore Ravens

Round 4, Pick 130

Another potential snag by the Ravens here, at a position of need. Tampa has the size (6-0, 194 with 32-inch arms) and foot speed to be a physical, dependable outside corner in the NFL who can come downhill and help in the run game. There are questions about his speed and consistency, which explains why he was available in Round 4.

 

However, on talent alone, Tampa probably was closer to a second-round prospect in this year’s corner group. Whether or not he earns a starting job immediately will depend on how consistent he is with his run support — but his talent should be enough to get him on the field.

 

Jaden Hicks, S, Kansas City Chiefs

Round 4, Pick 133

We’ll see which position he winds up playing, and maybe that uncertainty is why Hicks fell into the fourth round. He’ll be on the field somewhere for the Chiefs next season, though, even if it’s as a special-teams ace. The 6-2, 215-pound Hicks is a fast, explosive and physical tweener who can play either safety spot. He was a good man-coverage player in college (and is a former high school CB), and he made 155 combined tackles over the last two years as a see-ball, hit-ball rover.

 

Hicks is still young (21) and needs to get better at the little things defensively. But this is an impressive athlete who should help the defending Super Bowl champs next season (and beyond).

 

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, C, Buffalo Bills

Round 5, Pick 141

I was probably higher on this center class than some, but even those who weren’t feeling the group as a whole could agree Van Pran-Granger was a great value in Round 5. A three-year starter, two-time national champion and two-time captain, Van Pran-Granger was the backbone of Georgia’s powerful and nasty rush attack after earning the starting job in 2021. He’s probably only a center in the NFL, which is likely why he fell as far as he did.

 

However, the Bills needed center help and Van Pran-Granger is powerful enough to earn reps as an NFL starting offensive lineman right now. If he’s healthy, watch for him to turn heads early in fall camp once the pads come on.

 

Another center pick I liked on Day 3: NC State’s Dylan McMahon to Philadelphia in the sixth round. Don’t be surprised if he outperforms his draft slot.

 

D.J. James, CB, Seattle Seahawks

Round 6, Pick 192

This was a bit of a “meh” draft for cornerbacks. Frankly, after the first two (Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold), it was basically a team-preference situation with regard to how the stack unfolded. So, it’s sort of easy to see why a slightly undersized and older prospect like James slid.

 

However, James (5-11, 175) was a really good college defensive back in two Power 5 leagues (Pac-12, SEC) as a press player. He’s a nickel, which is fine for a team like Seattle. He’s exactly the type of versatile, smart and competitive defensive back who will fit well in new coach Mike Macdonald’s scheme.

 

Tanner McLachlan, TE, Cincinnati

Round 6, Pick 194

A few more tight ends could’ve been on this list — Theo Johnson (Giants), AJ Barner (Seahawks), Cade Stover (Texans), Jared Wiley (Chiefs) and Jaheim Bell (Patriots) are all good enough to make something happen next year. But McLachlan might be my favorite.

 

The Bengals double dipped at TE on Day 3, also grabbing Iowa’s Erick All, an athletic and versatile player, in the fourth before getting McLachlan in the sixth. I actually liked McLachlan better but can see a situation where both guys make something happen. A former basketball player with reliable hands, McLachlan is really good off the ball and in the middle of the field after the catch.

 

Christian Mahogany, G, Detroit Lions

Round 6, Pick 210

It was an offseason of extension decisions for GM Brad Holmes and the Lions, who re-upped core players Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell. One guy Detroit parted with, though, was starting guard Jonah Jackson, a four-year starter for the Lions. Jackson received a three-year, $51 million contract from the Rams, and the Lions answered by drafting a guy who plays a lot like … Jonah Jackson.

 

Mahogany had a chance to go on Day 2, were it not for injury concerns. As was the case with Jackson coming out of college, he has the type of power (and nasty demeanor) that should immediately translate to the NFL game. Mahogany will compete with veteran Kevin Zeitler early, but he’ll be an easy plug-and-play backup if he starts the year as the sixth lineman. He’s a future starter in Detroit and a perfect culture fit.

 

Brenden Rice, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Round 7, Pick 225

Jerry Rice’s son will play for Jim Harbaugh — part of this sounds like a checklist item from Harbaugh’s personal fantasy camp. And though there may be truth to that, this pick also represented great value at an area of need for the Chargers.

 

The 6-2, 208-pound Rice is a powerful outside receiver with great foot speed, strong hands and sound football IQ. He’s the son of the greatest WR to ever play the sport, and he works like he’s got something to prove. Rice might not turn into a superstar like his dad, but he has the tools to be a very steady NFL X receiver who might compare to someone like Josh Reynolds. He could be a great find this late.

 

Malik Washington and Tahj Washington, WRs, Miami Dolphins

Round 6, Pick 184 (Malik)

Round 7, Pick 241 (Tahj)

Two picks from the same team — the Dolphins are at it again — to close us out. Virginia’s Malik Washington (5-8, 191) was one of the best contested-catch players in college football last season and has a master’s degree in how to get himself open underneath.

 

Tahj Washington, meantime, was a hyper-productive receiver for Caleb Williams (combined 159 catches, 1,847 yards, 14 TDs last two years) who also ran down punts as a gunner and played generally fearless football at USC, despite his 5-9, 174-pound frame.

 

The Dolphins ranked No. 31 in draft capital entering the 2024 draft, but it’s hard to say too many teams had a better Day 3. That’s making the most of a tough spot.

 

Other notables: Mason McCormick, OL, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 4, No. 119); Audric Estime, RB, Denver Broncos (Round 5, No. 147); Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 5, No. 148), Jamari Thrash, WR, Cleveland Browns (Round 5, No. 156); Mekhi Wingo, DT, Detroit Lions (Round 6, No. 189); Khristian Boyd, DT, New Orleans Saints (Round 6, No. 199); Cornelius Johnson, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 7, No. 253).

 

THE SAD CASE OF ANTONIO BROWN

Tess DeMeyer, on the pages of the New York Times, lays out the bankruptcy filing of erstwhile NFL receiver Anthony Brown who has apparently spent $79,950,000, and still owes $3 million more:

Retired NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday, court records show. Brown, 35, owes nearly $3 million to eight creditors, according to the records, which were filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Florida on Monday.

 

Brown, who made more than $80 million in a 12-year NFL career, according to Spotrac, listed his estimated assets as $50,000 or less.

 

The largest claim is a $1.2 million court judgment owed to Anton Tumanov, a moving truck driver who sued Brown, alleging assault and battery related to a January 2020 incident. Brown failed to attend any of the hearings in that case. Other debts in the filing include money owed through three other court judgments. The eight claims amount to $2,931,158.51.

 

CTESPN Network, Brown’s media company, addressed the bankruptcy filing in a post on X on Monday.

 

“NFL legend Antonio Brown has filed bankruptcy today(.) He will be a first ballot hall of famer in 2027. He will be releasing new music this summer,” the social media post said.

 

Brown played 12 seasons in the NFL after being selected in the sixth round of the 2010 draft. A four-time All-Pro, he spent the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, played one game with the New England Patriots in 2019 and had a two-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in 2020.

 

The bankruptcy filing continues a tumultuous late- and post-NFL career stretch for Brown. In 2020, the NFL suspended him for eight games for multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy, following the moving truck dispute and accusations he sent threatening texts to a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct. In 2021, Brown settled a lawsuit with a former trainer who accused him of sexual assault. Brown also served a three-game suspension in 2021 for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to the Buccaneers. Brown’s tenure with Tampa Bay ended in January 2022 after a mid-game outburst that included Brown pulling off his uniform and shoulder pads on the field before suddenly exiting the game.

 

After leaving the NFL, Brown became the majority owner of the Albany Empire, a National Arena League team, in April 2023. Two months later, the NAL terminated the team’s league membership because of a “failure to pay their league mandated and overdue assessments,” per an NAL statement. The NAL said Brown “was also fined $1,000 for Conduct Detrimental to the League,” but he refused to pay the fee. Before Brown took over, the Albany Empire won back-to-back NAL championships in 2021 and 2022.

 

An email to an attorney for Brown listed in the bankruptcy filing was not immediately returned.

 

BIG GAMES

Scott Kacsmar gives us this list of “The Game That Will Decide The NFL Season”:

This should be another historic season with many storylines and records we are excited to follow:

 

Kansas City is pursuing an unprecedented third-straight Super Bowl win after ending the longest drought in NFL history without a repeat champion.

 

If the Bills will regret trading Stefon Diggs to Houston, and if that move shifts the AFC standings this year with the contenders.

 

The Steelers can tie the 1965-85 Cowboys with a 21st consecutive non-losing season, but they will have to figure out if Russell Wilson is still any good, or if Justin Fields can do the job at quarterback.

 

After a record-setting 2024 draft saw 14 straight offensive players go off the board, we also had a record six quarterbacks in the first 12 picks, and we could easily see five of them start this season.

 

With that in mind, let’s go through the 2024 NFL schedule and pick out the games that should tell the story of this highly anticipated season.

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 1

Ravens at Chiefs (Thursday on NBC)

Packers vs. Eagles (Friday in Brazil on Peacock)

Cowboys at Browns (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX)

Jets at 49ers (MNF on ESPN)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 2

Bengals at Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on CBS)

Bears at Texans (SNF on NBC)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 3

Chiefs at Falcons (SNF on NBC)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 4

Cowboys at Giants (TNF on Prime Video)

Chiefs at Chargers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on CBS)

Bills at Ravens (SNF on NBC)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 5

Bills at Texans (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. on CBS)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 6

Lions at Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX)

Bills at Jets (MNF on ESPN)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 7

Texans at Packers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. on CBS)

Chiefs at 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 8

Cowboys at 49ers (SNF on NBC)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 9

Texans at Jets (TNF on Prime Video)

Dolphins at Bills (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. on CBS)

Lions at Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 10

Bengals at Ravens (TNF on Prime Video)

Giants vs. Panthers (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. in Munch on NFL Network)

Eagles at Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 11

Chiefs at Bills (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on CBS)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 12

49ers at Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 13

Raiders at Chiefs (Black Friday Game on Prime Video)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 14

Bengals at Cowboys (MNF on ESPN)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 15

Dolphins at Texans (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. on CBS)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 16

Texans at Chiefs (Saturday, 1:00 p.m. on NBC)

Steelers at Ravens (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. on FOX)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 17

Chiefs at Steelers (Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. on Netflix)

Ravens at Texans (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. on Netflix)

Cowboys at Eagles (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX)

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 18

Panthers at Falcons

Dolphins at Jets

He has explanations for each game here.

Most are somewhat self-explanatory, but here are some we wondered about.

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 13

Raiders at Chiefs (Black Friday Game on Prime Video)

The NFL is having a Black Friday game for the second year in a row. We’ll see if the Raiders can repeat their improbable win on Christmas last year in Arrowhead when they beat the Chiefs by returning two touchdowns on defense in 7 seconds, and quarterback Aidan O’Connell did not complete a pass after the first quarter.

 

Something tells me that won’t work this time, but we’ll see if rookie tight end Brock Bowers can have an impact in what could be his most high-profile appearance of the season.

 

2024 NFL Schedule: Week 18

Finally, Week 18 is all division games, so we are looking for anything that could be a clinching scenario for a division title. No dates or times are announced yet for the Week 18 slate.

 

Panthers at Falcons

The Falcons actually will have most of their division games out of the way very early this year. But if they still need Week 18 to clinch the lowly NFC South, then they probably get the best draw possible with a home game against the Panthers.

 

Dolphins at Jets

In the 2023 season, the final game of the regular season was Buffalo at Miami to decide the AFC East, which was won by the Bills for a fourth year in a row. Could this game be for the division title on Sunday Night Football, or could it at least be for the final wild card spot in the AFC? It has potential to be a big one for the final week of the season.