Matt Judon’s contract stalemate with New England is over, and he’s on the move to Atlanta.

The Patriots are trading Judon to the Falcons in exchange for a 2025 NFL Draft third-round pick, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Atlanta announced the transaction Thursday morning.

Judon and the Falcons have not worked out a new contract, at least not yet, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero added.

New England and Judon, who is set to make a $6.5 million base salary in the final year of his current deal, had been engaging in contract talks to no avail throughout the offseason. The disenchantment went up a level when a seemingly frustrated Judon and Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo were seen on video in an animated exchange on July 29.

Since then, Judon expressed his desire to remain with the Pats, but instead is flying south to play for the Falcons, whose pass rush will immediately be infused by the acquisition.

Judon is 31 years old and coming off a 2023 season in which he played just four games due to a bicep tear, but still had four sacks. He’s posted 66.5 sacks across his eight-season career with the Baltimore Ravens and Patriots.

From 2021-2022 with the Pats, Judon averaged 14 sacks per season, but things soured in Boston as the franchise handed out extensions aplenty but left the linebacker unattended.

Per Over the Cap, New England has nearly $45 million available in salary cap space. The Patriots have signed safety Kyle Dugger, safety Jabrill Peppers, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, defensive lineman Christian Barmore and offensive tackle Mike Onwenu, among others, to extensions this offseason.

They won’t be handing out one to Judon, whose role will be arduous to fill. The Patriots will likely look to Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, Raekwon McMillan and others to step up.

As for Atlanta, the franchise is most certainly in win-now mode.

The trade for Judon comes after years of the franchise searching for a bona fide edge rusher and just a few days after rookie edge Bralen Trice was placed on injured reserve.

Having made a splash with the offseason signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins to lead an offense overflowing with talent, the Falcons are now bolstering their defense. With defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Jessie Bates and cornerback A.J. Terrell, Judon gives Atlanta a defensive pillar at each level.

Mayo said on Aug. 1 that he, Judon and the team were “moving forward.” Now, they are moving on.

The Falcons could find themselves in the same position as the Jets with EDGE HAASAN RIDDICK.  New York has not been able to satisfy Riddick after acquiring him from the Eagles.

DETROIT

Concussed QB HERNDON HOOKER will still be able to show his wares this week.  Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News with that and other Lions injury news:

After a string of bad news on the injury front, the Detroit Lions are feeling optimistic about the status of Hendon Hooker.

While talking on the Costa & Jansen with Heather show on 97.1 The Ticket, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said there’s a “good chance” injured quarterback Hendon Hooker (concussion) will play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I can’t say absolutely yes, but I think it’s trending the right way,” Campbell said.

While talking on the Costa & Jansen with Heather show on 97.1 The Ticket, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said there’s a “good chance” injured quarterback Hendon Hooker (concussion) will play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Campbell didn’t get into specifics on the status of running back Jahmyr Gibbs and rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., all of whom left practice Monday with injuries. Gibbs left with a hamstring injury while Arnold had a pectoral issue and Rakestraw an ankle.

“I immediately, two days ago, my phone’s blowing up, I got all these people hitting me up about, ‘Man, what happened to Gibbs? Oh, my God, (Arnold), it’s done — all these reports are out,'” Campbell said.

“I’m like, ‘OK.’ Anyway, I think we’re going to be fine here. Alright? I think we’ll be good.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday the Lions do not expect Arnold to miss Week 1.

Hooker played two drives in last Thursday’s preseason opener against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium and took several hard hits on his second series before being pulled from the game by a concussion spotter. The injury derailed a long-awaited debut for Hooker, a 2023 draft pick who spent nearly his entire rookie season rehabbing from a torn ACL that ended his college career.

“It’s frustrating because I want to play so bad after a year of sitting out. Really, not being able to go was the worst part about it. Other than that, I feel good,” he said. “(Now I’m) just trying to get my feet back from being out for a couple of days. I’m a creature of habit, as we all are, so just getting back into a groove and a rhythm is what I was trying to do today.”

Hooker’s physical second drive started when a Giants defender hit him high after he let go of a pass, leading to a roughing-the-passer penalty. He took another hard hit — or rather, delivered one — when he took off from the pocket for a run of 16 yards that ended with him running over Giants safety Gervarrius Owens. He took another blow inside the 5-yard line while trying to scramble for a touchdown.

He said Lions coaches have started telling him what his mother, Wendy, has told him for years: Slide.

“My mom is a huge fan of sliding. I always get it from her, but now the coaches are on me as well,” Hooker said. “I wasn’t even trying to run the guy over. I was just (bracing) for impact and he kind of bounced off of me. But yeah, coming back in, you’re just playing, not really thinking about, ‘Oh, I need to slide.'”

Hooker delivered an assessment of his brief outing, which saw him go 5-for-9 passing for 36 yards and a passer rating of 65.0, in addition to four runs totaling 34 yards.

“I thought I did a good job with decision making, just controlling the offense, getting into a tempo, up to the line, operating at a high level. My kills were right. My eyes were in the right place. Just continuing to play fast with my feet and my mental process,” Hooker said.

“Like I said, I was just trying to bring some energy whenever I can. Whether that be a quick screen for someone or pull my blockers, getting physical on the line of scrimmage, however I can come in and motivate my guys and play at a high level, that’s what I want to do. “

MINNESOTA

QB J.J. McCARTHY has had season-ending knee surgery.  Three ESPN reporters tell us what McCarthy’s injury means:

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has an injury that will cost him his rookie season, a deflating turn of events for everyone who had been enthused by his preseason debut Saturday in the team’s 24-23 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

McCarthy underwent surgery Wednesday.

The news solidifies Sam Darnold’s role as the starter, rather than a bridge QB until McCarthy is ready.

ESPN Vikings reporter Kevin Seifert, draft analyst Jordan Reid and national reporter Jeremy Fowler take a look at the impact of McCarthy’s injury.

What does the injury mean for McCarthy’s development as a passer?

Missing extended time will be a significant blow to his on-field development. One of the biggest questions about McCarthy as a prospect coming into the draft had to do with his inexperience as a passer. He wasn’t asked to shoulder the load at Michigan very often, as he had only 25 or more passing attempts in 12 of his 28 career starts for the Wolverines, so he needs all the live throws and snaps he can get.

McCarthy — who was drafted No. 10 overall due to his accuracy and upside — will be able to gain mental reps by sitting and watching behind Darnold, but the on-field reps will be impossible to replicate as he attempts to learn and execute O’Connell’s scheme. — Reid

Will the Vikings add another QB to their room?

There isn’t a pressing need to add a quarterback in Minnesota. Darnold (63 career TD passes, 56 interceptions with a 21-35 career record) is entrenched as the starter, and the team is confident in Nick Mullens’ ability to produce in spot duty. The 29-year-old Mullens has 20 career starts over a six-year career with the 49ers, Browns and Vikings. And Minnesota hasn’t totally given up on Jaren Hall, last year’s fifth-round pick who started twice in 2023.

Except for Ryan Tannehill, the options are scarce on the free agent market. It wouldn’t surprise to see the Vikings at least evaluate the outside options, but they have enough talent to sustain without McCarthy. — Fowler

What does this mean for WR Justin Jefferson and the rest of the offense?

Very little. Darnold has been on track all summer to be the Vikings’ No. 1 quarterback, at least to open the season, as McCarthy was being brought along on a methodical timetable.

Darnold and Jefferson have begun establishing a clear rapport in training camp practices, with Jefferson noting Darnold’s ability to “put touch on the ball here and there” and understanding “what speed he needs to throw the ball and how he needs to throw the ball.”

O’Connell has been saying all summer that he wants to emphasize the running game no matter who is his starting quarterback. Even without McCarthy, Aaron Jones remains on track to pair up with Ty Chandler for 20-plus touches per game between the two of them. — Seifert

What does this mean for the Vikings’ 2024 competitiveness?

The injury moves Darnold from a place-holder for McCarthy to a longer-term starter. As good as Darnold has looked during spring and summer practices — and for all the chemistry he has developed with Jefferson and still being only 27 years old — there remains a fair degree of uncertainty about how that will all translate in regular-season games.

Darnold has a 21-35 record as an NFL starter in admittedly unideal situations with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and he spent the 2023 season as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers. If Darnold has a tough go early in the season, or if he gets injured, the Vikings won’t have McCarthy to relieve him. Instead, the remaining quarterbacks on their roster are Mullens and Hall, who were 1-4 as starters for Minnesota in 2023. — Seifert

What does this mean for the 2025 offseason?

The Vikings are headed for a series of really important decisions this offseason. McCarthy’s injury, at the very least, will make those decisions more difficult and could further push out the timing of their quarterback transition.

The first decision is obvious. Darnold is on a one-year contract. Will the Vikings be ready to anoint him their 2025 starter? Or would they need Darnold — or another veteran — to serve as a foil?

Secondly, both O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are in the third year of four-year contracts. They were hired in 2022 partially to manage the transition from Kirk Cousins to the next starting quarterback. If McCarthy isn’t able to establish himself in 2024, how will owners Zygi and Mark Wilf evaluate O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah? Will they offer market-level extensions or have them work in 2025 on the final year of their deals? — Seifert

is McCarthy the only first round QB who did not make it to the season opener per Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has earned a dubious distinction.

McCarthy, who was lost for the season with a preseason knee injury, is the first rookie quarterback since the common draft began in 1967 to be selected in the first round and miss his entire rookie season because of an injury.

Other first-round quarterbacks have sat out all year, but never because of an injury suffered before the season even started:

Jordan Love in 2020 spent the whole season on the sideline behind Aaron Rodgers.

Jason Campbell in 2005 spent the whole season on the sideline behind Mark Brunell and Patrick Ramsey.

Carson Palmer in 2003 spent the whole season on the sideline behind Jon Kitna.

Kelly Stouffer in 1987 sat out the entire season in a contract dispute.

Jim Kelly in 1983 chose to play in the USFL instead of the NFL.

Ken O’Brien in 1983 spent the whole season on the sideline behind Richard Todd.

Steve Pisarkiewicz in 1977 spent the whole season on the sideline behind Jim Hart.

That history doesn’t tell us anything about what kind of quarterback McCarthy will become. Campbell, Stouffer and Pisarkiewicz never amounted to much, but Kelly is in the Hall of Fame, O’Brien and Palmer were Pro Bowlers and Love’s career is on the upswing. So McCarthy may have a bright NFL career ahead of him. But that career won’t get off the ground until 2025.

WASHINGTON

Here is an update on the Washington receiving corps from Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com.  Not many big names after WR TERRY McLAURIN

The Commanders know that their top wide receiver is Terry McLaurin, but other roles are open as the team moves toward its second preseason game.

That was the word from head coach Dan Quinn at a press conference on Thursday. Jahan Dotson was a first-round pick in 2022, but reports from camp have not featured him as the clear No. 2 alongside McLaurin and Quinn confirmed that he’s just one of several names in the mix for the NFC East club.

Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown, and third-round pick Luke McCaffrey are also in what Quinn described as a spirited fight for the job.

“We are right in the middle of it,” Quinn said. “You’ll see a lot of guys in today. You’ll see two, three, four, five. There are a lot of guys that are really battling. I’ve been really impressed with Olamide, I thought he’s had a really strong camp. Looking forward to getting Luke some extra work into here. Jahan, Dyami, so that’s where we’re at.”

Neither Quinn nor General Manager Adam Peters were with the Commanders when Dotson was drafted and the open approach to determining playing time at receiver makes it clear that he’ll have to show he’s the right choice on merit rather than draft pedigree.

SAN FRANCISCO

QB BROCK PURDY has been thinking about the missed opportunity of the Super Bowl.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Brock Purdy says his 49ers have to channel their frustrations at falling just short in last season’s Super Bowl toward winning it all this year.

Purdy told KPIX that getting married shortly after the Super Bowl gave him a brief reprieve from the frustrations of losing in overtime, but that once he started watching film of the loss to the Chiefs with head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, the frustration grew — as did the desire to get back to the Super Bowl.

“Once we got back for OTAs and stuff, rewatching the Super Bowl with Shanahan and Griese and all the guys, it’s like, Dang, it really was there,” Purdy said. “We were a couple plays away from winning it. You’ve got to learn from it, you’ve got to pick you head back up, go to work and try to go get it again. It was tough. Still look back on it and think, We wish we coulda, woulda, but that’s life, so now we’ve got to respond.”

The betting odds have the 49ers as the favorites to win the NFC Championship and return to the Super Bowl — but the odds again have the Chiefs as the favorites to win it all.

– – –

No news, but the body language of a practice visit indicates WR BRANDON AIYUK circling back towards the Niners. David Lombardi of The Athletic:

— For the first time in two weeks, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was out on the practice field while the team trained, watching part of Wednesday’s session on the sideline. At one point, general manager John Lynch greeted him with a handshake and a quick pat on the back.

Aiyuk had been spotted just once watching practice from the weight room since July 31, but he hadn’t been out in the open on the field since his much publicized handshake with Lynch and hug with coach Kyle Shanahan on that day.

A river of rumors has flowed since then. Shanahan has acknowledged that trading Aiyuk has been on the table. He’s also simultaneously expressed hope the 49ers and Aiyuk would finally reach agreement on a new contract as the wide receiver’s hold-in has continued.

While it’s been hard to keep track of the flurry, and while the relevance of various details will undoubtedly be debated until the situation is resolved, this much can be verified: Aiyuk remains a 49er and he was wearing red for the first time this camp at practice following several days away from the public eye.

Aiyuk has been in 49ers’ position group meetings throughout training camp, so his fellow receivers have seen him regularly. But because tight end George Kittle is in a different meeting room, his interactions have been less frequent. Kittle said he recently ran into Aiyuk in the valet line of a restaurant and that he enjoyed seeing the receiver again on the sideline.

“The chance to see him is always fantastic,” Kittle said. “I love the smile on his face.”

It certainly seemed the 49ers offense could’ve used Aiyuk and star left tackle Trent Williams — whose holdout continues — during the first portion of Wednesday’s practice, a sloppy ordeal that featured multiple low snaps, two fumbles and a number of inaccurate throws from the team’s quarterbacks.

One thing to remember about Aiyuk – he was born into the 49ers Faithful.  This from 2020:

The 49ers moved up in the NFL Draft on Thursday to select Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk – and from childhood photos, it felt like destiny for the Northern California native.

Aiyuk, 22, was born in Rocklin but went to high school in Reno. His breakout senior year at Arizona State University got the attention of NFL scouts, who predicted he would be a high-round draft pick.

On Thursday, after the 49ers drafted him with the 25th pick in the first round, Aiyuk tweeted a photo of himself when he was four-years-old and already clad in San Francisco gear.

“It was already written …4 years old!!” Aiyuk wrote.

Aiyuk said in an interview (the transcript of which was provided by the 49ers) after the draft that his mom has been a lifelong Niner fan.

“My mom’s been a huge 49ers fan her whole life, so that kind of bled on me a little bit when I was younger,” Aiyuk said.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Jim Harbaugh has an opportunity for Colin Kaepernick – if Kaepernick is content to provide his wisdom to JUSTIN HERBERT and the other quarterbacks.  Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY:

Colin Kaepernick has a door open to return to the NFL in what would be a grand reunion with his former coach, Jim Harbaugh.

But here’s the twist: While Kaepernick, 36, recently told Sky Sports that he still wants to play in the NFL, the new Los Angeles Chargers coach contends that he wants his former quarterback back in the NFL as a member of his coaching staff – and not so much as a player.

“If that was ever the path he was to take, I think that would be tremendous,” Harbaugh told USA TODAY Sports. “He’d be a tremendous coach, if that’s the path he chose.”

During an interview following a training camp practice last week, Harbaugh said shortly after he returned to the NFL in January, he talked to Kaepernick about joining the Chargers in a non-playing capacity. Yet in the months since, there’s been no movement on the possibility.

“Yeah, we talked a little bit about it,” Harbaugh said. “He’s considering it. He was out of the country. He said he was going to get back to me. We haven’t reconnected since then. That was early, early in the year.”

Perhaps Kaepernick’s reason for not following up with Harbaugh was made crystal clear with his comments to the London-based television network. He wants to resume his playing career, despite a gap of seven years since he last played in the NFL – apparently blackballed by the league after igniting protests during the national anthem in 2016 by kneeling on the sideline.

Kaepernick, who protested police brutality and the killing of unarmed Black men, sued the NFL for collusion and reached an undisclosed settlement. Yet he has never wavered from the position that he wanted to resume his playing career.

“We’re still training, still pushing,” Kaepernick told Sky Sports. “So, hopefully. We’ve just got to get one of these team owners to open up.”

Harbaugh has been one of Kaepernick’s biggest supporters over the years, even to the point of once arranging for an open workout during a spring game at the University of Michigan while Kaepernick was seemingly exiled from the NFL.

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Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on as Colin Kaepernick passes during halftime at the Michigan Spring game at Michigan Stadium.

After all, theirs was a bond built on a foundation of success. Shortly after Harbaugh began his stint as San Francisco 49ers coach in 2011, Kaepernick started his six-year NFL career with the team as a second-round pick from Nevada. During the 2012 season, they combined on a march to Super Bowl 47, where the 49ers narrowly lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the historic matchup that pitted Jim against his brother John in the first Super Bowl coaching clash involving brothers. The following season, the 49ers advanced to the NFC title game.

“He’s one of my favorite players that I’ve ever coached,” Harbaugh said. “Love Colin.”

While Harbaugh has no reservations about bringing Kaepernick aboard as an assistant coach (or perhaps a consultant) on a Chargers staff that already includes three former 49ers players who played under Harbaugh in San Francisco (NaVorro Bowman, Jonathan Goodwin and Will Tukuafu), he hasn’t spoken of the prospect of allowing his former quarterback a chance to revive his playing career. Harbaugh, through a team spokesman, declined to comment when asked by USA TODAY Sports this week about Kaepernick’s desire to suit up again.

Of course, that’s the offer that Kaepernick wants to hear.

“I mean, it’s something I’ve trained my whole life for,” Kaepernick told Sky Sports when asked what it would mean to play again. “So, to be able to step back on the field would be a major moment, a major accomplishment for me. I think it’s something that I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship.”

If Kaepernick demonstrated that his skills remain intact, the Chargers could surely use him – as an option behind franchise quarterback Justin Herbert.

At the moment, Herbert is rehabbing from a plantar fascia injury to his right foot and is projected to be ready for the Sept. 8 opener against the Raiders. Given that the three other quarterbacks in camp vying for backup roles – Easton Stick, Max Duggan and Luis Perez – are unproven or unimpressive, the timing to consider Kaepernick seemingly lines up.

That is, if Harbaugh wanted to really think outside the box and assess whether his former quarterback still has the skill to contribute in a league that has no shortage of mediocre backup quarterbacks.

No, Harbaugh’s noble idea to lure Kaepernick back to the NFL as a coach might not be enough.

Harbaugh indicated that Kaepernick’s inglorious exit from the NFL – for which the league should be ashamed of – wouldn’t be an issue for him if the quarterback opted to return in a coaching capacity. The Chargers coach is keenly aware of Kaepernick’s stature as a civil rights activist and the respect earned with a large swath of society.

THIS AND THAT

CHILLY FUTURE FOR JIMMY GRAHAM

Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com with a look at what’s next for TE JIMMY GRAHAM who is on the edge of retirement and planning to go to the edge of the Arctic Circle:

JIMMY GRAHAM DOESN’T know yet if he’ll ever participate in another NFL practice.

But Graham, currently a free agent who hasn’t officially retired from football, knows his plans are set for 2025.

While players across the league are sweating during the heat of summer training camps next July, Graham will be shivering somewhere in the middle of the Arctic Ocean as part of a four-person team embarking on the Arctic Challenge — a rowing expedition expected to take anywhere from 10 to 21 days. Sleep deprivation, blisters and outside temperatures that will hover around 37 to 45 degrees will be among the hurdles they may face in an attempt to break the current speed record of 15 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes.

Graham, 37, is used to the unusual after an NFL career that has spanned 13 seasons and four teams. He sat out the 2022 season before returning to the place where it all started with the New Orleans Saints. Graham caught 89 touchdowns from 2010 to 2023, a number that ranks fourth all time among tight ends. He plans to retire as a Saint one day, but he said recently that he’ll leave that timetable up to the team.

As his football career winds down, he and his friend Andrew Tropp, a retired Navy SEAL, will join New Orleans rowers Hannah Huppi and her husband, John, on the expedition spanning approximately 621 miles. The group will row nonstop from Tromsø, Norway, to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, an archipelago about halfway between their starting point and the North Pole.

“We’re chasing world records and we’re chasing them with a purpose,” Graham said. “So there’s a lot that is on the line. When you’re doing something like this, you’ve just got to embrace it and just fight through it.”

They hope to raise money for two charities in New Orleans: Covenant House, which provides shelter and service to homeless youth, and Laureus Sport For Good USA, which provides grants to create sports opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

But how did Graham go from catching passes to sculling the ocean?

It all started with a few beers.

GRAHAM AND TROPP were celebrating some milestones in May 2023 when Tropp pitched an idea.

What if they rowed across the ocean together?

“We’re sitting in a pub in Cambridge, getting a little banged up,” Graham said. “He kind of just broke it all down and said, ‘Listen brother, you’re the only human being I could do this with in the world, the only one I could be on a boat alone with that long. It’s a life goal of mine, to row across the ocean.'”

Tropp had just gotten his executive MBA at the University of Cambridge in England after retiring after two decades in the Navy. Graham was considering his future after a year away from the NFL.

The timing felt right for an adventure they had talked about since they met in 2010.

“I felt like the stars were aligning,” Tropp said. “I retired in October 2023 after 22½ years in the Navy. [He] didn’t know what his future held for the immediate.”

Graham and Tropp had wanted to do something spectacular for years. Make the Olympics as a two-man bobsled team? Enter the Race Across America — a bike race that spanned almost 3,000 miles coast to coast?

The idea of rowing across an ocean came up often. Tropp, a former college rower, was keen to do it but Graham wasn’t enthused.

“I was like, ‘Dude, I’m not doing that. I’ve never rowed, and I’m not going in a little boat across the ocean,'” he said.

But neither man knew just how long their careers would keep those ideas on the back burner.

“He’d been asking me to do this rowing thing or some type of extreme sport whenever we retired,” Graham said. “What’s funny is a decade ago, we didn’t know we’d be in our jobs for so long.”

Graham certainly didn’t anticipate the breadth of his NFL career when the Saints took him in the third round of the 2010 draft after just one year of college football experience.

He quickly proved that didn’t matter. When he was 25, he briefly set the tight end record for most receiving yards in a season until Rob Gronkowski broke it again just minutes later. When he was 27, his 16 receiving touchdowns led the league.

His signature celebration was a dunk, a nod to his basketball days. He’d launch his 6-foot-6 frame into the air and slam the ball over the crossbars while the crowds howled in appreciation. The NFL permanently banned the move in 2013 after Graham accidentally tilted the crossbars and caused a 20-minute delay in the game.

Jimmy Graham’s NFL career has spanned 13 seasons and four teams. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

But by 2023, Graham was 36 and had been out of the game for more than a year, his longest stint away since he ruptured his right patellar tendon with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015.

At that point, rowing sounded intriguing, so Graham agreed to the idea of an ocean row in the distant future.

“I thought it was gonna be when we were 40, or at least when I was 40,” Graham said. ” … Just two meatheads trying to figure out some epic adventure to do together to celebrate retirement.”

Then the Saints called.

GRAHAM COMMITTED TO one more year of football when he re-signed a one-year deal with the Saints in July 2023, putting the trip on the back burner for several months.

But on the afternoon before a game against the New York Giants on Dec. 17, Graham opened Instagram to a message from Hannah.

Graham recalled that it said: “Hey, I heard you were sailing across the world, have you ever thought about rowing across the ocean?”

John Huppi, a Saints fan, had read a profile about Graham’s new love of cycling in the New Orleans Times-Picayune the day before. The story mentioned Graham’s interest in circumnavigating the globe with his sailboat and his bike one day.

“He had a quote at the end of it that was almost like a joke. It said he was really excited about the sailing adventure but was concerned about how he was going to fit his bike on the sailboat to stay in shape,” John recalled.

Thinking they had a chance to make him a member of their team, John looked at Hannah and said Graham might be the missing piece to a team Hannah had been trying to put together for years.

Hannah had planned to compete in “The World’s Toughest Row,” a 2,800-mile rowing race from California to Hawaii in June. When the two-month row didn’t pan out, Hannah continued to pursue possibilities, including sending a Hail Mary message to Graham.

Little did they know, Graham and Tropp had already talked about rowing across an ocean. Naturally, he sent the message to his friend to ask his thoughts.

“I just said we’re a package deal,” Tropp said. “You better tell her to take it or leave it.”

To Hannah’s surprise, Graham committed to the idea almost immediately. Then he suited up and caught a touchdown pass in a win against the Giants a few hours later.

“He’s probably not even going to message me back. Why would he even read this?” Hannah said. “But then he was like, ‘Actually, yeah, I am interested. I’ve got a game in an hour. Call me on Monday.'”

Within a week, the group had a plan and John became the fourth and final member of the team.

Graham, who got a pilot’s license in 2012, would become their navigator because of his experience with handling weather patterns. Tropp’s Navy career translated well to the captain role. Hannah, the team’s project manager, has the most ocean rowing experience. John’s own rowing experience made him a good fit to be the team’s bosun in charge of equipment.

“It’s crazy how well it worked out, just like how the timing was so perfect,” Hannah said.

The team zeroed in on the Arctic Ocean as the location thanks to Tropp’s cold weather experience from his time spent stationed in Norway. Next came the boat — a $160,000 custom carbon fiber ocean rowing vessel.

Next year will be largely dedicated to the unique challenges of the row.

There will be sponsorships to obtain to pay for the equipment and funds to raise for the two charities the team is supporting. They’ll hold training camps and maximize their time spent on the boat.

Then there are the challenges of rowing a mostly unnavigated ocean. The act of staying dry will be a constant battle against the spray of salt water and the frigid temperatures.

In order to qualify for a world record, the team won’t have a support ship trailing the boat. That means space is at a premium with all of the supplies, navigation equipment and food.

Three people will row in two-hour shifts, while the remaining person will dry off, prep and eat dehydrated meals and try to get 90 minutes of sleep in one of the two sleeping cabins.

“It’s about the length of Jimmy,” Tropp said of the sleep cabin sizes.

“Which is generous,” Hannah said in response to that description.

LOVED ONES MET Graham, Tropp, Hannah and John with some resistance and skepticism upon hearing the idea.

“Holy s—. That was my first reaction,” said Saints coach Dennis Allen, who was the defensive backs coach when Graham was drafted in 2010.

But the team’s reasoning behind the journey outweighed the danger. The chance to break world records was just a small part of the appeal.

“The challenge, the mental challenge,” Hannah said. “The physical challenge. I want to see what it feels like. … I want to see how I am in the rawest form when I’m at my worst. Who am I?”

Hannah and John said they hope to inspire their 4-year-old daughter, and the New Orleans rowing community, to dream big.

“If you do decide to do something, and you want to do something, even if it’s crazy, if you put in the work, then you can achieve it,” Hannah said. “That lesson is what we’re trying to push beyond rowing or even rowing the ocean.”

Graham felt inspired by the thought of raising money for Covenant House, a place that resonated with him. He found a kinship with some of the children at Covenant House, having experienced a difficult childhood.

He spent part of his youth without a stable support system after being dropped off by his mother at a group home when he was 11. He was eventually taken in by a youth counselor from a local church and earned a basketball scholarship at the University of Miami.

Graham said that upbringing has given him a true appreciation for the things he’s able to do now.

“I’ve spent the last … basically 20 years, chasing every dream I’ve ever had,” Graham said. “I’m going to continue to do that until the last breath that I take because our time on this Earth is very finite and I just want to maximize every day that I have here.”

He said he would like kids with backgrounds like his to know that their circumstances don’t define them. Rowing across the ocean might seem preposterous, but it’s just one example of what can be achieved with the right mindset, he said.

“I think I can be a sounding board for the next generation on what is possible,” Graham said.” … You can be a gutter kid like me, a kid that grew up, that nobody wanted, that everybody threw away at every opportunity, but man, you get the opportunity, like I got at 18, to change your life. And you can. It’s not going to be easy. No one’s going to give you anything for free. You’ve got to go get everything you get. But when you do, it’s so much more satisfying.”

PICKING 2024 WIN TOTALS

Will Brinson of CBSSports.com takes a stab at predicting the win totals for the 32 teams.

The Brinson Model™ returns! After a reasonably triumphant year for my full-season win-loss projections, we’re back for another season of trying to nail every single NFL team’s record correctly.

Looking back on last season is a harsh reminder of how hard it is to actually predict exact NFL team records. After all, this is a game played with an inflated, oblong piece of big butt that loves to bounce around randomly and create total chaos over a relatively short sample size.

I hit just three teams (49ers, Seahawks, Titans) exactly, but had another 10 within one game of their exact win total, another five within two games and another eight within three games. My average differential was 2.25 while the mean differential for all of my picks was an even two games.

The biggest mistake I made was essentially flipping Carolina and the Bucs. Whoops! The Browns and Bengals QB situations and end results created an eight-game swing for me as well. I was much, much higher on the Texans than the market and still didn’t give them enough credit. Same for the Rams. I was much lower than the market on the Chargers but somehow not low enough! On the other hand, my Patriots projection was humiliating in hindsight.

He has explanations for each team that you can read here.  We included about half of them below.

Although he doesn’t break it down, here are his predicted standings (teams in green are in playoffs, teams in red in a tie for last playoff berth or berths)

NFC

East

Dallas                11-6

Philadelphia        9-8

Washington        7-10

NY Giants           6-11

North

Detroit                 11-6

Green Bay           10-7

Chicago                8-9

Minnesota            7-10

South

Atlanta                 10-7

Tampa Bay            9-8

Carolina                 6-11

New Orleans          6-11

West

LA Rams             12-5

San Francisco     11-6

Seattle                   9-8

Arizona                 7-10

AFC

East

Buffalo                 10-7

Miami                    9-8

NY Jets                 9-8

New England        5-12

North

Baltimore             12-5

Cincinnati             11-6

Cleveland              7-10

Pittsburgh              6-11

South

Houston               10-7

Jacksonville           9-8

Indianapolis           8-9

Tennessee            6-11

West

Kansas City          12-5

LA Chargers          9-8

Denver                   7-10

Las Vegas             6-11

Not to be a quibbler, but the NFL will play 272 games this year, and presumably have 272 wins (or fewer with ties).  Brinson’s 32 win totals add up to 275.

Atlanta Falcons

DraftKings win total: 9.5 (over -135)

Brinson projected record: 10-7

It’s hard not to be excited about the Falcons this year. Last year’s team was a lot of frustration, with the top-10 offensive weapons on the roster largely underused. Now Zac Robinson comes to town along with pricey free agent Kirk Cousins, and you can hear the excitement when guys like Drake London and Bijan Robinson talk about this offense. Kyle Pitts should be in line for the season everyone’s been waiting on as well. The only way this offense fails is a Cousins injury, and Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall, giving it some insurance on that front. There’s nothing wrong with questioning the defensive chops here, especially after passing on a first-round pass rusher for Penix, but I trust Raheem Morris to get the most out of this unit. He’s been an excellent coordinator in his career, and there are some similarities to the Rams on this defensive roster.

Baltimore Ravens

DraftKings win total: 10.5 (over -135)

Brinson projected record: 12-5

There are lots of people projecting a lot of regression for the Ravens this year, in large part due to free agency attrition, as well as the departure of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. There’s major, and viable, concern with the offensive line in front of Lamar Jackson as well. But I think Baltimore ends up being a fairly steady team that will “surprise” some people. Zach Orr takes over as defensive coordinator. He’s highly thought of and should be able to minimize the drop-off from Macdonald. More concerning is the departure of guys like Patrick Queen and Geno Stone, particularly since those two left for division rivals in free agency. Offensively this team could take a leap forward off of Jackson’s second MVP season. It’s his second year in Todd Monken’s system and it feels like his weapons could be improved. Zay Flowers is in his second year, the team is really high on Rashod Bateman, and the duel combo of Mark Andrews/Isaiah Likely is pretty strong. The offensive linemen were all drafted in house, and the Ravens are excellent at drafting and developing, so I think it may be less of a problem than people think.

Chicago Bears

DraftKings win total: 8.5 (over -165)

Brinson projected record: 8-9

The annual hype surrounding the Bears is building to its normal outrageous levels, but — insert Tobias Fünke meme here — maybe this is actually the year when we should be buying in. Caleb Williams has massive upside as a rookie, and he landed in one of the better landing spots for a young quarterback, with the Bears adding Keenan Allen (trade) and Rome Odunze (draft) to D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet. D’Andre Swift was a sneaky free agency addition who gives Williams another outlet option. The offensive line is probably the best Chicago’s had in a few years. Can Matt Eberflus carry over the late-season defensive production into 2024? Once the Bears acquired Montez Sweat in a midseason trade, things really seemed to take off. If that’s the case, I might be underselling them here. They definitely qualify as a sleeper playoff team in the NFC.

Cincinnati Bengals

DraftKings win total: 10.5 (over -140)

Brinson projected record: 11-6

The bull case for the Bengals is pretty obvious: positive regression in terms of quarterback health. Joe Burrow’s borderline “injury prone” at this point, but maybe that blonde wig he showed up to training camp with will ward off the evil injury spirits. Ja’Marr Chase isn’t practicing because of a contract situation, but I expect him to be full go. Tee Higgins isn’t happy about his tag, but he’s going to play. Zack Moss and Chase Brown may be a sneaky massive upgrade for Cincy at running back. The loss of OC Brian Callahan is certainly a concern, but I think Zac Taylor — who was calling plays anyway — and Burrow at QB will be able to patch that problem fairly handily. Defensively the Bengals were dead last in yards per play allowed last season. I anticipate an improvement there, even with D.J. Reader out the door. Sheldon Rankins will help fill that void, and bringing back Geno Stone from a division rival should help the back end of this defense in a big way. 

Cleveland Browns

DraftKings win total: 8.5 (over -135)

Brinson projected record: 7-10

I had the Browns on my list of seven teams who could miss the postseason in 2024 and, quite naturally, Browns fans are thrilled. Defensively, I’m a little concerned about Cleveland repeating its performance last year. Jim Schwartz is one of my fave defensive coordinators (can we please get him and Harbaugh 2.0?), but the Browns were very up and down in terms of their performance depending on home/road splits. That’s a red flag. On the other side of the ball, their biggest loss may be OL coach Bill Callahan, who joined his son Brian in Tennessee. Mix in an unknown timeline for Nick Chubb, and I think you can make the case this top-tier rushing offense could fall off a cliff. D’Onta Foreman, their short-yardage back, suffered a scary injury in training camp, too. Things are getting thin at running back already. How can anyone possibly suggest Deshaun Watson will be good again? We haven’t seen it in more than three years. Maybe a new Kevin Stefanski throw-heavy system, plus the addition of Jerry Jeudy, will help Watson get his performance level back up, but I think Stefanski would prefer having Baker Mayfield still on the team given his system. There’s just a lot of unknown here and it revolves around Watson.

Dallas Cowboys

DraftKings win total: 10.5 (under -180)

Brinson projected record: 11-6

The range of outcomes for the Cowboys this year is pretty wide, as you can tell by me having them on my “might miss the playoffs” list and simultaneously putting them down for 11 wins in The Brinson Model™️. I actually have them starting pretty slow out of the gate, going just .500 over their first six weeks before catching fire thanks to a fairly friendly schedule featuring lots of home games in the second half. If the offensive line doesn’t fall apart, I trust Mike McCarthy to get the most out of Dak Prescott. The playoffs might be a problem, but he’s won 12 games in three straight years. CeeDee Lamb is gonna play even if it’s on a lame-duck deal. Brandin Cooks is a decent No. 2 option, Jake Ferguson is a semi-sneaky potential breakout candidate this year, and the running back room with Rico Dowdle may be better than anyone expects. My biggest concern is the defense with Dan Quinn gone, but Mike Zimmer has enough options on that side of the ball for a reclamation project.

Kansas City Chiefs

DraftKings win total: 11.5 (over -115)

Brinson projected record: 12-5

The unfathomable finally happened in 2023: The Chiefs went under their win total for the first time since Andy Reid took over in Kansas City way back in 2013. And they promptly won the division and then won the Super Bowl. Naturally. Now KC is trying for a three-peat, and in order to bolster the offense, Reid and GM Brett Veach added Hollywood Brown in free agency and Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft. Patrick Mahomes now has some actual vertical threats who will pair perfectly with Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice eating up underneath. Losing L’Jarius Sneed on defense hurts for sure, but this unit has quietly been awesome the last few years and shouldn’t drop off much. Steve Spagnuolo deserves a ton of credit for helping develop some excellent young picks, and Veach as well for finding it and retaining most of it. I could see the Chiefs not putting their foot on the gas all season to save up for the playoffs. Or maybe they just bash everyone on offense to let people know.

Los Angeles Rams

DraftKings win total: 8.5 (over -155)

Brinson projected record: 12-5

Would you say I’m bullish on the Rams this year??? I think Matthew Stafford is set to have an incredible year, maybe more efficient than volume-based, thanks to the offseason upgrades Los Angeles made on offense. L.A. beefed up the run game on the interior by adding Jonah Jackson and Kevin Dotson. Colby Parkinson is one of the sneakiest additions in free agency and gives the team some fun athleticism at tight end with Tyler Higbee coming back from injury. Puka Nacua’s preseason injury is a concern, but Cooper Kupp should be completely healthy to start the year and DeMarcus Robinson sets up as a really underrated third receiver in 11 personnel. Blake Corum is a perfect compliment to Kyren Williams. I have massive expectations for this offense –especially when it’ll need to score more points to make up for a slightly worse defense after losing Aaron Donald and Raheem Morris. I do love adding Jared Verse and Braden Fiske as a combo to replace the former.

Los Angeles Chargers

DraftKings win total: 8.5 (over -150)

Brinson projected record: 9-8

The Justin Herbert plantar injury could throw this whole division, and certainly this team, into complete flux. If Herbert’s healthy, I like the Chargers as a sneaky playoff team. Jim Harbaugh just wins, and he set this team up in his image early. Greg Roman’s run game behind this offensive line — chockfull of early draft picks — should produce enough to let Herbert and Josh Palmer/Ladd McConkey move the chains when they need to. And the defense didn’t lose anyone in the salary cap purge this offseason, meaning Harbs should be able to get the most out of what he inherited. The Harbaugh Bros don’t miss much when it comes to bringing in coordinators, and we’ve already seen Jesse Minter succeed under Jim in Ann Arbor. Herbert’s injury just needs to be watched as we get closer to the season because of how long it can linger.

Miami Dolphins

DraftKings win total: 9.5 (over -135)

Brinson projected record: 9-8

The Dolphins made it rain this offseason, paying both Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill to kick off training camp and Jaylen Waddle earlier in the offseason. They’ve locked in their core on offense for the next few years and this is absolutely a Super Bowl contender … if a few things break right. The offensive line needs to come together quickly ahead of Tua, with this run game setting up the lethal pass game. The perpetually underrated Raheem Mostert, second-year explosive back De’Von Achane and rookie Jaylen Wright have them primed for big things if the line is cooking. Jonnu Smith was a sneaky YAC addition. The defense has big problems because of injury: Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are both going to be late coming back most likely and Christian Wilkins walked in free agency. The offense will need to carry things early in the season (as it did last year, not unfeasible!), but the Dolphins also need to figure out how to beat good teams and win when it is cold.

New England Patriots

DraftKings win total: 4.5 (over -150)

Brinson projected record: 5-12

For the first time in more than two decades, there’s no Bill Belichick in New England. And while change might have been necessary for the Pats, it sure does throw this season into complete question. Drake Maye is a uber-talented but streaky rookie behind a questionable offensive line with nominal weapons … and he might not even start to begin the season. Former NC State legend Jacoby Brissett is set to beat out another yet another UNC quarterback for a starting job, and his floor is better than that of Maye to start the season, but he’s still dealing with the same issues. DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne (who’s on PUP) were joined by Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the draft, but the wideout group is still lacking. If Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson can actually spark the run game, there’s maybe a little more upside here offensively, but it’s hard to see the Pats being a top-half-of-the-league unit. Defensively there’s a much better chance of success, but even with Jerod Mayo capably running things, we’re still talking about a team that lost the best defensive coach in NFL history.

New York Jets

DraftKings win total: 9.5 (over -150)

Brinson projected record: 9-8

I included the Jets as a team that could possibly make the leap into the playoffs after missing last year, and the entire logic behind this can be summed up in two words: Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately, the four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer isn’t just a potentially great quarterback in 2024, but also a 40-year-old coming off an Achilles injury that cost him the entire 2023 season. Tyrod Taylor should keep the floor raised if Rodgers misses any time, because otherwise this is a pretty darn solid roster. The front office attacked the offensive line problem this offseason, adding Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses in free agency and Olu Fashanu in the draft. Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson are both viable OPOY candidates. The defense should be really good yet again, but it’s worth noting the Jets finished just 12th in points allowed last year and really only have a single season of great defensive play. There’s just a lot of variance here with Rodgers’ health.

Philadelphia Eagles

DraftKings win total: 10.5 (over -130)

Brinson projected record: 9-8

My projection is going against the Vegas implied success of the Eagles, and it’s in large part because of what I expect to be a slow-ish start for Philly. I still see it as a likely playoff team, but it draws the Packers and three quarters of the NFC South to start before a Week 5 bye. They have a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore, and even if he’s an upgrade, there’s some concerns after seeing the Chargers last year, plus the natural acclimation time. The loss of Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox — the literal backbone of both the offense and defense, respectively — is kind of being glossed over this offseason. Howie Roseman did an outstanding job replacing the two ahead of time by drafting Cam Jurgens and Jordan Davis, but there’s a chance this team starts a little slow as they adjust to all the changes.

Pittsburgh Steelers 

DraftKings win total: 8.5 (under -160)

Brinson projected record: 6-11

The quarterback concerns are pretty big in Pittsburgh. The Steelers upgraded to Russell Wilson/Justin Fields, but Wilson hasn’t even been on the field during much of training camp. That throws things into severe flux at the position. Fields could be a fantasy darling, but I don’t know if his athletic style of quarterbacking will necessarily translate to a bunch of wins. The departure of Diontae Johnson means the Steelers are lacking on the wide receiver depth chart. George Pickens has unlimited upside with his skillset. After him, there was buzz about Van Jefferson as their WR2, although Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson have made some interesting noise in training camp. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are physical runners, and I tend to think an Arthur Smith offense is going to feature them heavily. I don’t expect this to be an explosive unit. Defensively, if the Steelers are the top-five unit they can be, this might end up looking like a foolish projection. Fifteen-plus games of T.J. Watt is an absolute must because of how this defense drops off when he’s out of the lineup.

San Francisco 49ers

DraftKings win total: 11.5 (under -125)

Brinson projected record: 11-6

The Niners have one of the most complete rosters in all of football. They’re coming off three straight years advancing to the NFC title game including a brutal overtime Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs last year. They are rightfully one of the top Super Bowl favorites. But there’s some cause for concern with the recent offseason developments. Christian McCaffrey suffered a calf injury that shouldn’t be a big deal but definitely has my antenna up. Brandon Aiyuk still might get traded or he might not! Trent Williams remains unhappy with his contract. There’s just a lot swirling around the Niners, and this is a massive number for any team. Note the Vegas juice here, with the expectation the 49ers end up coming in under 12 wins. The schedule isn’t particularly brutal, but there are enough pitfalls where I think 11-6 is firmly on the table, especially if the NFC West ends up being as good as we think it could be.