Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says that non-vaccinated players who miss games with COVID should get hit in the wallet:

In 2020, players who missed one or more games due to placement on the COVID-19 reserve list received their game checks, regardless of whether they caught the virus at work or away from it. This year, there’s an important question that needs to be asked: Should unvaccinated players who land on the COVID-19 reserve list during the season be paid?

A persuasive argument could be made to withhold game checks if players who choose not to be vaccinated miss work due to a condition for which a vaccine exists. Yes, it’s the player’s right to decide whether he should be vaccinated. But why should his team have to pay an unvaccinated player who isn’t allowed to play because he tested positive?

It’s ultimately a matter for negotiation between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Although management and labor have decided that vaccines won’t be mandatory, real incentives to get vaccinated have been crafted by the two sides. With final rules and regulations for 2021 still to be determined, why not craft a simple provision that, if a player chooses not to get vaccinated and eventually can’t play because he has COVID-19 or because he’s had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, the player should not be entitled to receive his game check?

The approach seems fair. With team facilities generally safer than other places — especially if high percentages of players are vaccinated — there’s no reason to assume that anyone who gets it this year got it at work. If anything, it’s far more likely that whoever ends up getting it this year got it away from work. Why, then, should those players get paid?

With the salary cap roughly $25 million per team lower than it was expected to be this year, every dollar saved by not giving it to players who choose not to be vaccinated and then, because of that status, aren’t allowed to play becomes a dollar earned for next year’s cap. That’s definitely fair to the players who have chosen to get vaccinated, and who in turn will be available to play regardless of any COVID-19 developments.

This possibility creates a real conundrum for those who inexplicably have allowed matters relating to COVID-19 to become and remain political. Those inclined to shout down vaccination separately tend to adhere to the basic logic that people shouldn’t be paid money to which they aren’t entitled and that every dollar received must be earned through actual work. So why should a player who chooses not to be vaccinated and then who can’t play because he didn’t get vaccinated be entitled to be paid for work he can’t perform but, if vaccinated, could have?

However the question gets resolved, it’s a fair question to ask — and it’s a fair position to take that players who choose not to assume whatever remote risks there may be from getting the vaccination must instead assume the risk of not getting paid for games they can’t play, due to testing positive with COVID-19 or having close contact with someone who did.

NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY

Matt Schneidman of The Athletic is among those hyping the brilliance of QB JORDAN LOVE in a padless mini-camp:

By no means is anyone in Green Bay ready to crown Jordan Love the third straight Hall of Fame starting quarterback to don the green and gold after Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

But, if anything, Wednesday’s practice provided the first glimpse of justification in more than a year for why the Packers liked Love enough to trade up four spots when they selected him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Yes, the pick played an integral role in causing the saga the Packers currently find themselves embroiled in with the reigning MVP. But let’s divert the focus from that for a moment and focus on Love, who, as Rodgers has said, didn’t ask to be in the middle of any of this. As Love said on Wednesday in his first media availability since last training camp, he’s just an inexperienced quarterback trying to get better and preparing as if he’ll play, whether Rodgers is here or not.

Love fired dimes all over the field, his day highlighted by pinpoint throws on a deep ball to running back AJ Dillon down the right sideline, a drop right into the basket for wideout Allen Lazard through double coverage high and deep down the middle, a lofted ball deep down the right sideline for running back Aaron Jones in tight coverage, a seed on a semi-deep out to the left for wide receiver Juwann Winfree and a 7-for-10 performance leading a 70-yard touchdown drive during a two-minute drill.

“I definitely feel it was a good day for me and for everybody else as well, just bouncing back from yesterday’s practice,” Love said. “On offense, you know, it wasn’t our best practice, all around and for me as well. Being able for us to come out here and just bounce back today, it meant a lot for everybody … the goal for now is keep stacking good days and be better tomorrow.”

One day after Love was erratic throwing the ball, he was fist-pumping and stealing the show at practice, enough so to receive emphatic shoulder bumps and “fanning-offs” from coaches because he was on fire. Granted, it’s one day of practice, and Thursday’s final minicamp session could see him turn into a pumpkin again. But this, a building block, a sliver of optimism, must have been refreshing for fans after what has been a grueling, frustrating last couple of months.

“You have a little success early and your confidence starts to grow and then you’re able to go out there and execute at a higher level,” head coach Matt LaFleur said of Love’s day. “We’ll go back and take a look at the tape, but I also think, too, so many times that position in particular gets too much credit and too much blame. And so we really need the other 10 guys around him to play at a high level to allow him to go out and play at a high level. And I think just, by and large, without watching the tape, it just seemed that there was better execution from everybody out there on the offensive side of the ball.”

Love, the 26th overall pick two drafts ago out of Utah State, had his rookie preseason wiped out by COVID-19 and never dressed for a game last year. With Rodgers not attending, Love has received the bulk of quarterback reps during this week’s mandatory minicamp, which, more than anything, is simply a chance to experience the offense in a way he didn’t in 2020. In a low-pressure situation, even if Love’s every throw is carefully dissected, he can continue to improve on areas he mentioned — his reads, progressions, breaking down defenses and assuming a more significant vocal leadership role in the offense.

Love spoke with Rodgers a week before he arrived in Green Bay for the mid-May transition program, but the 22-year-old wouldn’t disclose the contents of their conversation. He said that he and Rodgers have a good relationship — Rodgers has always said the same — and that he was able to absorb plenty as a rookie sitting behind the NFL MVP. Now, with Rodgers absent, it’s Love’s opportunity to lead and show that, if Rodgers never returns, he can guide the Packers’ offense.

“I have to get myself ready to play and be able to go out there and take charge of the team and be able to perform at a high level and do my best so everybody else can do their jobs,” Love said.

MINNESOTA

QB KIRK COUSINS promises to do everything he can to help QB KELLEN MOND take his job.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Kirk Cousins remains the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback for the fourth straight season. But the club might have drafted his eventual replacement when it made Kellen Mond a third-round selection.

Cousins isn’t bothered by the Vikings using a Day 2 draft pick on a signal-caller who could one day take his job. The veteran is a willing mentor to the Texas A&M product.

“You’re an open book, you’re helpful, and you’re there and make yourself available,” Cousins said, via the team’s official website.

Cousins is due guaranteed salaries of $21 million and $35 million the next two years, respectively, so the QB can comfortably mentor the young, raw Mond without fear of losing his job — or money coming his way. It helps that the Vikings kept Cousins informed of their plans to draft a quarterback potentially.

“There was good communication through the process, and Kellen’s been great, working hard, picking up our offense quickly,” Cousins said.

Cousins noted that he was mentored by Rex Grossman early in his career in Washington, and he’s been that “open book” to previous Vikings backups Nate Stanley and Jake Browning — though neither were a threat to eventually take over Minnesota’s starting gig, while Mond could one day.

“(Grossman) was a big part of my early development as a football player,” Cousins said, via the Associated Press. “I really took every word he said to heart because I felt he’d been there, done that and he should know what it looked like. I hung on his every word. I’ve been there and want to certainly be that same resource whenever possible.”

NFC EAST

DALLAS

QB DAK PRESCOTT will join the NBA’s GOAT.  ESPN.com:

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is leaving the apparel company Adidas and signing a five-year agreement with the Jordan Brand, a source close to the situation told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Prescott will be the only Jordan Brand quarterback, the only Cowboys player and the highest-paid NFL player on the signature line’s roster, Schefter reports.

Prescott’s deal was negotiated by his marketing agent Peter Miller of JABEZ Marketing Group and the Jordan Brand team.

The Cowboys and Prescott agreed to a four-year, $160-million contract, including $126 million guaranteed, in March.

Prescott had been with Adidas since his Pro Bowl rookie season with the Cowboys in 2016. Mississippi State, where Prescott played in college, was an Adidas school when he was there.

Earlier this offseason, Prescott became a spokesman for Anheuser-Busch InBev. He also has had deals with Pepsi, Sleep Number, Dannon Yogurt, Campbell’s Soup, 7-Eleven, AT&T and Beats By Dre, among others, since becoming the Cowboys’ starter.

WASHINGTON

EDGE MONTEZ SWEAT has listened to an “expert” on COVID – and is unconvinced that there are sufficient medical reasons to be vaccinated.  John Keim of ESPN.com:

Washington Football Team defensive end Montez Sweat said Wednesday he wasn’t persuaded to take the COVID-19 vaccine after listening to an expert discuss the matter with him and his teammates, highlighting an issue that remains not only in the NFL but in society as well.

Washington coach Ron Rivera had an immunologist who is a leading coronavirus vaccine researcher speak to the team Tuesday. Kizzmekia Corbett answered questions and provided information about the vaccine via videoconference, hoping to lessen fears.

Rivera said his players are approaching a 50% vaccination rate, while his staff and the rest of the employees in the building have all been vaccinated. Rivera has also met privately with players, trying to present information or have a conversation about their concerns.

“I’m not a fan of it,” Sweat said Wednesday of the vaccine. “I probably won’t get vaccinated until I get more facts and that stuff. I’m not a fan of it at all.

“I haven’t caught COVID yet so I don’t see me treating COVID until I actually get COVID.”

The NFL has loosened restrictions for those who have been vaccinated, allowing them to go without masks and to not be tested daily for COVID-19.

Unvaccinated players are still subject to all this, as well as contact tracing quarantine policies. They also will be unable to interact with other players when traveling, or with family and friends on the road. They can’t eat in the cafeteria and must adhere to capacity limits in the weight room.

“Obviously they want everybody to be vaccinated to move freely around the facility and with traveling,” Sweat said. “But everybody has their own beliefs and they’re entitled to their own decision.”

Sweat said the players have a “constant conversation” about this topic. Rivera called it a choice for players, one that he’d like them to make in favor of the vaccine — but he doesn’t want to force it upon them.

The medical reasons that a healthy person of Sweat’s age should be vaccinated are minimal.  But that isn’t stopping insistent “experts.”

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com on the Falcons offense post-JULIO JONES:

Matt Ryan didn’t even want to think about it last month, back when the Atlanta Falcons trading Julio Jones was more of a possibility than reality.

The quarterback didn’t want to entertain what the Falcons would look like without one of the best receivers in franchise history. Ryan didn’t want to consider his career without the player whom he’d targeted for the most yards and touchdowns.

“He’s probably impacted my career more significantly than any other player,” Ryan said in May. “And I’m really fortunate to be around him for as long as I have.”

That impact will be noticed almost immediately after Jones was traded to Tennessee on Sunday for draft picks. It’s still going to be tough to imagine what Atlanta will look like with Jones playing three hours north.

That said, the Falcons did have a glimpse last season, although in a completely different offense under coordinator Dirk Koetter instead of now under first-year Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith.

In 2020, Ryan had more passing plays without Jones than with him. With Jones, Ryan had a QBR of 83, a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 4.3 and threw for 8.0 yards per attempt. Without him, Ryan’s QBR was 54, his touchdown-to-interception ratio was 1.6 and he threw for 6.8 yards per attempt.

Now will that correlate to 2021? Tough to truly say because of the new scheme and changes in personnel. Part of the reason the Falcons hired Smith was his ability to innovate and get the best out of players like Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown and Jonnu Smith in Tennessee. He was lauded for his ability to find mismatches.

Now he’ll have to do that without a future Hall of Famer on the roster, which would have been a benefit, but Atlanta still a multitude of options.

Calvin Ridley becomes the clear No. 1 receiver. He has developed into one of the top receivers in the league after having eight 100-yard games last season, including four of his final five, in a breakout 90-catch, 1,374-yard, nine-touchdown year. Five of those 100-yard games came when Jones did not play, so he’s shown he can handle the attention of being a top option.

Russell Gage showed potential when he filled in as a starter last season, catching 72 passes for 786 yards and four touchdowns — three in the final five games.

Tight ends should be more prevalent with a combination of rookie Kyle Pitts — a high-level talent who could make an immediate impact — and one-time first-round pick Hayden Hurst, who said last week he expects to be used more on longer passes in 2021. Hurst is in a contract year, which could provide an extra oomph, and he did catch 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns last season.

It is those four pass-catchers who will likely gain the most from Jones no longer being a Falcon, although other players will benefit, too. Olamide Zaccheaus and Tajae Sharpe — signed in May — have chances to make an impact. Sharpe had his best NFL season (25 catches, 329 yards, four touchdowns) playing for Smith in Tennessee. Zaccheaus has potential for big plays, as does rookie Frank Darby, who was a consistent downfield threat at Arizona State.

Are any of these players — or any of the receivers Atlanta has beyond Ridley — Julio Jones? No. It’s not likely they’ll be close, but they don’t need to be in part due to Ridley.

Plus, the Falcons will have the benefit of time. Atlanta will have a mandatory minicamp this week and an entire training camp to work in a post-Jones world instead of being forced to play without him on the fly.

That includes the past few months, when Ridley and Pitts have trained together, preparing for the 2021 season. This began before they knew they’d be teammates, back when Jones was still a Falcon, Ridley was waiting for the Falcons to pick up his fifth-year option and Pitts didn’t know what team would draft him.

Now it’ll be Ridley and Pitts as the two key pass-catching parts of the Atlanta offense on a Falcons team adjusting to being without Jones, a likely future Hall of Famer, for the first time in a decade.

TAMPA BAY

While some teams (Houston?) that would seem to be badly in need of practice are calling off their mini-camps, the Buccaneers have perfect attendance with a healthy QB TOM BRADY on the scene and fully engaged.  Jenna Laine of ESPN.com:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady on Wednesday said he knew as early as April 2020 that he’d need offseason surgery on his left knee.

“It was an injury I dealt with since last April-May,” said Brady, who had the procedure after leading the Bucs to a Super Bowl title in February. “I knew I would have to have something done at the end of the year. Happy I did it.

“It was probably something that was needed — it certainly needed to be done and there was a great outcome. I feel I’ll be able to do some different things this year that I wasn’t able to do last year.”

Brady declined to give specifics on the injury, saying he’s “a little bit old school” in that regard.

“You deal with [injuries] and make the most of them,” Brady said after his second minicamp practice. “The good part is I’ll be able to commit a lot of time to other parts. I’m sure I’ll be faced with different adversities this year, but I had to spend a lot of time tending to that particular injury, which happens when you have something that you need to ultimately have surgery on to get fixed.”

Brady, who was not on the injury report during the 2020 season, said he had the procedure 15 weeks ago Wednesday. He was cleared to resume throwing three weeks ago, with his only limitation being coach Bruce Arians holding him out of blitz periods in the event an outside linebacker turned the corner too quickly and bumped into him.

Brady has looked strong in minicamp practices. On Wednesday, during a red zone drill, he connected with tight end Cameron Brate on two leaping grabs in the end zone and on a back-shoulder fade, and then on a touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski, who made the catch with a defender draped on him. He also pump-faked a defender to hook up with wide receiver Cyril Grayson — his third read — on a touchdown, and found running back Leonard Fournette in the end zone on a short pass.

But the highlight of Brady’s day was the two-minute drill. After converting a fourth-down pass to Chris Godwin, Brady found receiver Scotty Miller on a 40-yard pass in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown that was reminiscent of last season’s NFC Championship Game.

“Yeah, that was a little déjà vu,” Arians said.

“I feel like I’m there,” Brady said. “From this point to the beginning of training camp, I feel like I can work hard on football improvement as opposed to getting back to a rehab place where you’re more baseline.”

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

The 49ers have brought a halt to their off-season program.  Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com:

Two days after losing a pair of contributors to season-ending injuries during organized team activities, the San Francisco 49ers are calling it an offseason.

Coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday that the Niners will not have any more OTAs and are canceling their full-team minicamp, which was set to run June 15-17.

Shanahan said the minicamp cancellation was planned before the injuries, though he did cancel a planned eighth OTA in part because of them.

“We’re totally done,” Shanahan said. “My plan was to get eight and then I was going to surprise them on Thursday and take everyone bowling, but after our seventh practice with those two injuries and just the aura it gave to it, I wasn’t going to come back and do one more just to do one more. So I surprised them on Day 8 instead of Day 9.”

Although the 49ers completed just seven of a possible 10 OTA sessions, Shanahan was pleased by the turnout. At one point, only defensive end Dee Ford wasn’t in the building, as he continues to rehab a back injury.

“Having 89 guys here and getting seven OTA practices in, I felt great about it,” Shanahan said.

On Monday, the 49ers lost offensive lineman Justin Skule and safety Tarvarius Moore to a torn ACL and torn Achilles, respectively. Shanahan said those injuries came in a three-play span.

Those injuries, along with running back Jeff Wilson Jr.’s torn meniscus suffered May 20 in the team locker room after a workout, come on the heels of the 49ers’ injury-ravaged 2020 season in which they lost 161.6 games to injury, the second most of any team in the past 20 years, according to Football Outsiders’ adjusted games lost metric (which also factored in players missing games for COVID-19 reasons).

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

Moving on from Detroit without a contract, RB TODD GURLEY goes to the Charm City.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Could Todd Gurley return to his birth home for the next stage of his NFL career?

The former Pro Bowl running back is visiting the Baltimore Ravens today, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source informed of the situation.

The 26-year-old, born in Baltimore, previously worked out with the Detroit Lions as he attempts to find a new home following one season in Atlanta.

In five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Gurley earned two first-team All-Pro honors and three Pro Bowls. But his knee injuries have caught up to him after years of heavy work. Last season, Gurley was clearly slowed in Atlanta. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on 195 totes — a career-low — for 679 yards and nine touchdowns. Gurley was slow to cut and had little of the burst that made him a star earlier in his career. A between-the-tackles runner not adept at gaining the edge quickly at this stage, he earned what the offensive line blocked for him and little more on most carries.

The Baltimore Ravens currently boast a backfield of J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Ty’Son Williams and undrafted rookie Nate McCrary. The Ravens might be looking to add another between-the-tackles veteran as insurance behind Edwards — i.e., Mark Ingram’s spot after releasing the veteran last season.

Gurley’s visits to Baltimore and Detroit — where D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams are slated to lead the way — are a clear indicator he is ready to embrace duty as a veteran complement rather than insisting on finding an every-down workhorse role at this stage of his career.

CLEVELAND

A DUI has led to the suspension, but not dismissal, of Chief of Staff Callie Brownson.  Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Browns have suspended Chief of Staff Callie Brownson for her drunken driving conviction, but she won’t lose her job, coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday.

“As you guys know, extremely disappointed,’’ Stefanski said Wednesday via Zoom after practice. “We take these things very seriously. We’re working with the league on appropriate discipline. Callie obviously is very remorseful. She is going to learn from this, and we will support her along the way.”

Stefanski said the incident won’t cost Brownson, 31, her job, but declined to say when she’ll be back. The Browns have their three-day mandatory minicamp next Tuesday through Thursday.

“I have spoken to her many of times,’’ Stefanski said. “Hopefully, we will all be in a better place after this. I’m disappointed, she’s disappointed and again, we’ll just work through all of the particulars.”

Stefanski declined to say if there will be other sanctions, but NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the Browns are assessing discipline in consultation with the NFL and “there would be no additional discipline from the league.’’

Brownson pleaded no contest Wednesday in Brunswick Municipal Court to operating a vehicle under the influence at 12:57 a.m May 27 during which her blood-alcohol content was .215 — more than twice the legal limit of .08.

Two other charges were dismissed — one for speeding and one for a blood-alcohol level above .17.

Brownson paid $780 in fines and court costs, and had her license suspended for a year, with limited driving privileges. She was also ordered to attend a three-day driver intervention program, according to the Brunswick Clerk of Courts.

Brownson, who serves as Stefanski’s right-hand person as well as assisting with running backs this season, was absent from organized team activities on Wednesday.

The Browns are sticking by Brownson through this incident because they believe it’s out of character and a one-time thing. Hired by Stefanski for the same role he had with former Vikings head coach Brad Childress from 2006-08, Brownson is viewed as a rising star in the coaching ranks and Stefanski is helping prepare her for a head coaching job.

She became the first female to coach a position in an NFL game when she subbed for Drew Petzing — whose wife was having their first child — last season against the Jaguars and coached the tight ends that day. She also coached the receivers in the season finale when Chad O’Shea was on the COVID-19 list, and worked with receivers last year in addition to her other duties.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

QB DESHAUN WATSON wants to escape Texas and find his way to Denver. ESPN.com:

Deshaun Watson, who had requested a trade from the Houston Texans before multiple lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior were filed against the quarterback, wants to join the Denver Broncos, former teammate Kareem Jackson said on a podcast.

“I’ve got a great relationship with Deshaun,” Jackson, who plays for the Broncos, told former NFL player Aqib Talib on his “Catchin’ Fades” podcast. “I’ve been talking to him the last couple of weeks, man, and like, all he’s been telling me is like, ‘Jack, just tell ’em, like, that’s where I want to be.’ … He’s like, ‘I want to be in Denver.'”

Watson hasn’t shown up for Houston’s voluntary organized team activities. The Texans on Wednesday canceled their June 15-17 mandatory minicamp, meaning Watson can’t be fined for missing any spring workouts because nothing was mandatory.

He would have been subject to a $95,877 fine if he had missed a mandatory three-day minicamp.

Jackson, who was a teammate of Watson’s in Houston during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, told Talib that Watson wanted him to let the Broncos’ front office know that he’s interested in playing for them.

“Listen, man, tell them I want to be in Denver,” Jackson said Watson told him.

Two months after asking for a trade because he reportedly wasn’t happy with the way Houston handled the search for its general manager, the first of 23 lawsuits was filed against him. There are currently 22 active lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior by Watson.

Lawyers are going through the discovery phase, and both sides have said there are no settlement discussions. According to the docket for the case, if these lawsuits continue to trial, depositions are set to begin in September. The plaintiffs would be deposed before Watson, who can’t be deposed before Feb. 22, 2022.

The NFL is conducting its own investigation into the lawsuits.

Watson is scheduled to make $10.5 million in 2021 on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. Because of the contract extension he signed in September 2020, Watson’s salary jumps to $35 million in 2022.

The Broncos currently have quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock on their roster, while Houston has Tyrod Taylor and Davis Mills.

THIS AND THAT

BROADCAST NEWS

Is TV in the future of now-retired QB ALEX SMITH?  Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports on some announcer auditions:

Would Alex Smith make a good NFL game analyst? How about former Jet Mark Sanchez?

These are among the questions CBS Sports executives are asking themselves as the network considers adding one of the former quarterbacks.

Recently, CBS held auditions with Smith, ESPNers Sanchez and Joey Galloway, and former Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee, according to sources.

Smith, who retired earlier this offseason after 16 seasons as a quarterback, also had an audition with Fox and meetings with the NFL Network and ESPN. One person who saw Smith’s audition thought he had “No. 2 or 3 game analyst” potential if he is into it. Sanchez is looked at as someone with a little more personality, who one executive thought could excel in the booth. Galloway has been very solid for ESPN. Lee recently retired from playing.

CBS created an opening when it did not bring back longtime analyst Rich Gannon after the 2020 season. However, the network does not feel as if it has to add someone. CBS already has seven game analysts with Tony Romo, Charles Davis, Trent Green, James Lofton, Adam Archuleta, Tiki Barber and Jay Feely. Gannon was fourth on CBS’ depth chart last year.

Fox, meanwhile, had its No. 5 slot open last year when Chris Spielman left to go run the Detroit Lions. Aqib Talib is likely to receive some more games from Fox, according to sources, but unlikely a full schedule this year. Fox has also tried out Jay Gruden as a game analyst.

Rodney Harrison has signed a new deal, believed to be for two years, to continue on NBC’s “Football Night in America,” but his role will change, according to sources. Harrison, a mainstay, will work from game sites beginning this season.

The move is being made with the addition of Drew Brees, who will will join Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, Chris Simms and Mike Florio in studio for the Sunday Night pregame.

HAPPY QBs

Judy Bautista of NFL.com on eight QBs whose team management looked out for them this offseason:

We’ve spent a lot of time this offseason contemplating the unhappiness of quarterbacks. From Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz (traded and traded) to Deshaun Watson (trade demanded and subsequent serious legal issues) and Aaron Rodgers (discontent and subsequent stalemate), their dismay at the direction of their teams has shaped the NFL conversation for nearly six months. And, given the complicated situations in Houston and Green Bay, it’s not even close to being over.

Except in this column.

It’s time to applaud teams that have made it Christmas in June for the most important guys in the building, that made the talent investments that should enhance their signal-callers’ chances of success in 2021. These teams followed through on the most important philosophy of roster construction: build around the quarterback. Even the Jaguars, in the throes of a down-to-the-studs rebuild with needs all over the roster, hinted at it when Urban Meyer drafted running back Travis Etienne, a Clemson teammate of Trevor Lawrence, late in the first round and then had him take a lot of practice reps at receiver. Nothing guarantees success, of course, but it’s a lot better than the teams that allow quarterbacks to languish.

The angst-ridden quarterbacks may look on longingly, but life is good under center on these teams.

1 Kansas City Chiefs

The entire world saw how poorly the Chiefs protected Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, but it’s hard to imagine another performance like that happening. They signed guard Joe Thuney to a massive contract, drew guard Kyle Long from retirement, made a blockbuster trade for Orlando Brown to protect Mahomes’ blindside, and then drafted two linemen, including Creed Humphrey in the second round. All are projected to start, along with Mike Remmers, who returns to play right tackle. It’s impossible to overstate Mahomes’ brilliance. And also how well the Chiefs are run.

2 Los Angeles Chargers

This was another offensive line in need of a makeover and Justin Herbert can now look forward to building off his record-setting rookie season. The biggest move was the first — the signing of center Corey Linsley. He allowed just four total pressures last season. And the Chargers secured their left tackle when Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater dropped into their laps in the draft’s first round. In the third round, they added more weapons — receiver Josh Palmer and tight end Tre’ McKitty. The Chargers know they have to keep pace with Mahomes. Herbert gives them a chance. And now the Chargers are giving Herbert a chance.

3 New York Giants

In Daniel Jones’ first two seasons, his weapons were, at best, mediocre and it showed — the Giants were 31st in scoring last season, ahead of only the Jets. Giants receivers ranked in the bottom 10 in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2020. That should not happen again. The Giants dove into free agency by signing receiver Kenny Golladay and tight end Kyle Rudolph and used their first-round draft pick on receiver Kadarius Toney, giving Jones — one of the most efficient deep ball passers in the game last season — the explosive weapons he has craved. The Giants believe their offensive line — a source of concern in recent years — is settled. If that’s true, we should see a much more productive offense.

4  Miami Dolphins

Setting aside Tua Tagovailoa’s admission that he didn’t have the best grasp on the playbook last year, the Dolphins tried to make things a lot easier from him by vastly upgrading his weapons to address what had been a subpar wide receiver group. They signed Will Fuller and then used the sixth overall pick to select the electrifying Jaylen Waddle. They also drafted an NFL-ready lineman in Liam Eichenberg, and provided the young passer a mentor in Jacoby Brissett. And finally, the Dolphins passed on drafting another quarterback, indicating they are totally committed to Tagovailoa.

5  Arizona Cardinals

All the attention was understandably paid to the signing of J.J. Watt, but the Cardinals did real work on their offense, too. Receiver A.J. Green will be a good counterbalance to DeAndre Hopkins and the presence of center Rodney Hudson, one of the league’s premier pass-blocking centers, should put Kyler Murray at ease.

6 Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan is one of the big winners of the offseason, which is a strange thing to say about a quarterback who just lost one of the greatest receivers in history. Why? The Falcons aren’t rebuilding, they have a new offensive-minded head coach, they didn’t trade Ryan against his will and they didn’t draft another quarterback. Instead, they selected the best player in the draft this side of Trevor Lawrence in tight end Kyle Pitts, who projects to be a dependable target as soon as he steps on the field. Losing Julio Jones takes a little shine off this offseason, but on the whole, Ryan’s life is much better than it looked like it would be early this offseason.

7 Tennessee Titans

A late add to this list but Ryan Tannehill was one of the league’s most efficient downfield passers last year, and that was before the team finally completed a trade for Julio Jones on Sunday. It gives the Titans a staggeringly physical offensive look, with A.J Brown and Josh Reynolds joining Jones as receivers and Derrick Henry likely to benefit from a little more running room. The Titans should be in the AFC’s upper echelon, and Tannehill could have the makings of a career season.

8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

How do you make things even better for Tom Brady? You win a Super Bowl and then you bring back everybody — EVERYBODY! — in a quest to run it back, and you ask him to evaluate receivers in the draft. This is something of an unprecedented experiment, but quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen told reporters last week that Brady was talking the morning after the Super Bowl about how he would be better next season because he was going to get his knee fixed, which suggests that Brady expects the offense to continue the upward trend it started late last season. What could delight him more, especially with New England on the schedule this season?