| The NFL voted – and 71% of the Eagles potential opponents wanted to take the Tush Push away from them. But this isn’t a straight democracy, and Philadelphia will continue to use it. Kevin Patra of NFL.com: The tush can still be pushed. The Green Bay Packers’ proposal to ban the so-called tush push play, popularized in recent years by the Philadelphia Eagles, did not pass after a vote Wednesday at the Spring League Meeting, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Judy Battista reported. Green Bay’s resolution fell two votes shy of the necessary 24-vote threshold for ratification with 10 teams voting against the ban at the Spring League Meeting, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The proposal was revised from one submitted for the league’s Annual League Meeting earlier this spring and would have eliminated pushing or pulling a runner “in any direction at any time,” while lifting the player to his feet also would have been banned. The Eagles celebrated the off-field victory following news of the vote with a social media post captioned, “Push On.” Philly then published a video on its official YouTube channel, titled “26 Minutes of the Tush Push.” Competition committee chairperson Rich McKay, when discussing the tush push on Wednesday, pointed to the high bar necessary to enact new rules. “Took all the necessary vote counts and realized that was not a rule that was ready to be passed,” McKay said. “I’d say it’s not disappointing for me, for our committee, for the committees that did the work because it takes 24 votes to pass anything. We don’t set a low bar. This is not a majority vote, which we’d pass most anything. This one this was unanimously proposed by the competition committee, this was unanimously proposed by the player health and safety committee and by the owner health and safety committee. So there was a lot of support for it. A lot of discussion about it. … Still takes 24 votes. In this case the votes were not there so the rule will stay as it is.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he did not take a stance on the Packers’ proposal. “I usually take a neutral position on wanting to make sure that the process goes well,” Goodell told reporters, “but also that there’s a full discussion.” The QB-push play came under fire this offseason after the Eagles flew to the Super Bowl title. Detractors of the scrum considered it a non-football play, and the NFL voiced concerns regarding player health and safety, even without concurring data due to the limited sample size. Others, like Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, were against a ban, noting that the onus should be on teams to stop the play, not legislate it out of the game. The debate has raged all offseason. The original proposal was tabled during the Annual League Meeting on April 1, and the Packers revised the proposal and presented it to owners for discussion and vote on Wednesday. The updated language featured a broader stance similar to the rule that was on the books from the start of the league until 2005. “In our mind, as I say in those various committees, we just felt like this was a rule that was on the books forever,” McKay said. “We took it out because of officiating downfield. Other things have shown up, let’s put the rule back to the way it was. We didn’t get the 24 votes.” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and former Philly star center Jason Kelce were among those who spoke at Wednesday’s owner’s meeting in support of keeping the play. In the end, enough clubs sided with the Eagles to keep the play around. Now it’s on opponents to figure out how to stop Philly’s nearly unstoppable advantage. Game on. The list of how teams voted has been compiled and Chris Cwik of YahooSports.comanalyzes it: So, which teams voted for and against the policy? We know the answer to that thanks to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and it’s a fascinating list. The following 10 teams reportedly saved the tush push by voting against the proposal: Philadelphia EaglesBaltimore RavensCleveland BrownsDetroit LionsJacksonville JaguarsMiami DolphinsNew England PatriotsNew Orleans SaintsNew York JetsTennessee Titans Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tried to play it coy when asked how he voted, but it appears he was out to stick it to his division rival. Jones isn’t the only member of the NFC East to make the decision. Both the New York Giants and Washington Commanders reportedly voted to ban the play. All three of those clubs have to play the Eagles twice in the regular season, and have likely seen their fair share of tush pushes over the years. On a similar front, all but one team that plays against the Eagles in 2025 voted to ban the tush push. That would be the Lions, who are perfectly fine with the tush push sticking around. Detroit and Philadelphia square off in Week 11. Assuming Schefter’s list is accurate, the following 22 teams voted in favor of a tush push ban. Arizona CardinalsAtlanta FalconsBuffalo BillsCarolina PanthersChicago BearsCincinnati BengalsDallas CowboysDenver BroncosGreen Bay PackersHouston TexansIndianapolis ColtsKansas City ChiefsLas Vegas RaidersLos Angeles ChargersLos Angeles RamsMinnesota VikingsNew York GiantsPittsburgh SteelersSan Francisco 49ersSeattle SeahawksTampa Bay BuccaneersWashington Commanders The Packers are the least surprising team on that list, as they were the franchise that proposed the ban in the first place. The other two teams that stand out among that group are the Cardinals and Colts. Both clubs employ former Eagles coordinators as their current head coaches. Shane Steichen joined the Colts in 2023 after serving as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. Jonathan Gannon joined the Cardinals in the same year after serving as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. Prior to Wednesday’s vote, Steichen confirmed Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reached out to try and sway how the Colts would vote. Steichen said he was in favor of keeping the play, but the Colts voted against it. The Eagles won the vote because all three teams in the AFC East opted to support them. Dianna Russini of The Athletic has some inside dish: After passing changes to the onside kick rules, it was time for the day’s main event, and time for Lurie to take center stage. Lurie and Philadelphia’s front-office personnel had been calling around the league in the days leading up to this week’s league meeting. It was an attempt to garner enough support to keep Green Bay’s proposal, which would effectively ban the Eagles’ version of the QB sneak, from getting the 24 votes it needed to pass. Wednesday morning’s “Competition and Health & Safety” session was Lurie’s chance to make a final impression — and he spent the better part of an hour making it. Lurie began by emphasizing the need to clean up the process around the play rather than the play itself, pointing to the fact that no data supports the idea that it’s inherently more dangerous than any other play on the field. “It’s the safest play in the history of the game,” he told the room. “Whoever votes to ban this play is taking liability for putting risk on our quarterbacks.” Lurie pointed out the need for owners to consider the fact that they are stewards of the game itself instead of voting based on what helps or hurts their specific teams: “We are owners, not members.” One high-ranking league source who was in the room said, “Lurie was like a guy trying to convince his girlfriend why she shouldn’t leave him.” Throughout his pitch, Lurie was emotional, passionate and — at one point — crude. He said the fact that his team came up with a play so unstoppable that the rest of the league had no other choice but to try to ban it was “like a wet dream for a teenage boy.” Toward the end of his address, he told the assembled owners that, regardless of the day’s result, he and his franchise would walk out winners, with Super Bowl rings to show for it. Kelce was up next. He spent his entire playing career with the Eagles, retiring after the 2023 season, and ran the tush push countless times over his final two seasons. On Wednesday, he wasn’t loud and animated, instead offering his expertise as an All-Pro center and arguing for why the play should remain in the game. He told the room: “If I could run 60 tush pushes a game, I’d come back.” After discussion, the general session ended without a vote. Things moved to a more privileged setting for more debate and — quickly, it turns out — a vote. Green Bay’s proposal needed 24 votes to pass, but 10 teams (including the Ravens, Lions, Patriots and Jets) did not support it. That’s when Philly could rejoice. The Eagles’ social media team pounced within minutes. Tabling the tush push discussion at the previous league meeting signaled to some around the league that the play’s days were numbered. But some of the sources I spoke to in the immediate aftermath of the news were not surprised by Wednesday’s result. “It was a vote about process more than what was right,” one league source told me. “People don’t like the NFL telling people how to vote. ‘Health and safety’ was cited, but (NFL Chief Medical Officer) Alan Sills wasn’t here today.” While the Packers were the authors of the proposal, it’s important to note that they were not the only ones in favor of banning the play — the majority of the league voted in favor of Green Bay’s proposal. Commissioner Roger Goodell, according to a league source, finds the play ugly. High-ranking front-office sources from four NFL teams said they felt the Packers were used by the league because of their lack of a principal owner. With Green Bay’s name on the “tush push proposal,” other teams — and their owners — could throw their support behind it without a single owner being targeted by those who opposed it. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASFor now, WR GEORGE PICKENS is thrilled to be in Dallas. Garrett Podell of CBSSports.com on the overall excitement of the Cowboys and Pickens: How excited were the Dallas Cowboys to acquire explosive wide receiver George Pickens in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in May? Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones called Dak Prescott many times to inform him about the newest playmaker in his arsenal. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback being away from his phone for “a couple hours” also factored into the volume of calls plus a voicemail Prescott was happy to recreate through a verbal impression after Dallas’ second organized team activities (OTAs) practice Tuesday. “I was actually away from my phone for a couple hours,” Prescott said. “I came back to like six missed calls from Jerry’s assistant. I had literally no idea what it could have been about.” “Actually got a voicemail from Jerry: ‘Hey! I’ve got some good news I want to share with you!'” Prescott then exclaimed while mimicking Jones’ southern drawl. Prescott did call Jones back later that night, and they shared their excitement to pair Pickens with All-Pro Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in Dallas’ offense “So I called him back and he was excited,” Prescott said. “Yeah, just a lot of excitement from the both of us. … “I mean, looking at the guy’s tape, you see what he does, the kind of receiver he is. He’s going to win one-on-ones. He can win two versus one if he has to. Very, very talented guy. When you can add him alongside a CeeDee and the rest of the weapons we have, I’m super excited.” Prescott and Pickens, who was wearing No. 13 (a jersey number that hasn’t been finalized yet), connected for a pair of completions on a quick screen and a comeback route down the left sideline at Dallas’ second practice of OTAs, the first open to media viewing. Lamb also shared similar anticipation for Pickens’ arrival since he was one of the first Cowboys players to call Pickens once the news broke. “He [Lamb] was actually one of the first people that reached out to me besides Jerry and the actual people. As far as players, he was one of the first players,” Pickens said Tuesday. “Just good vibes, he was super happy, some of the guys on defense as well, the whole team [was] super happy.” What excites Lamb about the addition of the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Pickens lining up alongside him in the Cowboys formation? Everything. Pickens averaging an NFL-best 16.7 yards per reception across the last two seasons, a figure that leads the entire NFL among 61 players with at least 110 catches since 2023, is certainly a factor. “Everything,” Lamb said. “His demeanor, everything he brings to the table. His ability to block and the energy he just brings to the game. … Man, we complement each other very well. Obviously, he’s a tall figure. His ability to go up and get the ball at the highest point is amazing. I don’t think anybody in the league can really; he’s up there with the guys in the league as far as 50/50 balls, deep threat. Anything as far as running routes, it’s pretty good. It’s good to see.” The two have picked up right where they left off when they first met back in 2022. Lamb was two years into his NFL career and fresh off his first 1,000-yard season at the time that they met, and Pickens was training for the draft when the two first worked out together in Atlanta. “We started off when I want to say it was his combine prep and everything. We were out in Atlanta, just getting right. Grinding,” Lamb said. “We are all students of the game, still are, but it’s giving him the little things that I learned as far as my first year in the league and just passed him what I could while I could. It’s crazy how things come full circle, having him on the team now, catching up on everything that we left off.” Pickens’ reception heat map, courtesy of TruMedia, indicates a bright, glowing yellow along the sidelines where he was a big-play deep threat as his gaudy 16.7 yards per catch average indicates. Pickens, a former second-round pick who is entering the final season of his rookie deal in 2025, has made a point of taking notes from Lamb about his technique running routes over the middle, something the latter does better than arguably the rest of the league. Lamb leads the NFL in catches (114) and receiving yards (1,377) out of the slot since 2023. That’s why his reception heat map in 2024 from TruMedia below is glowing highlighter yellow over the middle of the field. “Just intermediate [route] stuff,” Pickens said when asked what he’s learning from Lamb. “He’s got great feet, stepping in certain places. He steps in place a lot, which means he can get where he’s going fast and in a short space. And he’s tall [6-2]. A lot of people don’t know he’s kind of tall.” Lamb, who is entering his sixth NFL season in 2025, agreed he and Pickens’ relationship has some similarities to how much of a sponge he was when he was learning from five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper in his first two seasons from 2020 to 2021. “No, not at all because when I was a rookie I was still a student of the game, and I was excited to learn, anxious to learn and stay in my books and asking questions, which is what he [Pickens] is doing,” Lamb said when asked if this is different from he and Cooper’s time together. “I feel like again, seeing how fast forward three, four, five — how many years, five, wow oh my goodness — fast forward five years later now the roles are reversed. Still grateful again, I can’t appreciate Coop enough for the knowledge that he’s given me. Man, he’s impacted my career for the long haul.” Copious note-taking and making the most of his resources indicate the maturity of a veteran, which what Pickens has done since his Dallas arrival. That’s a contrast from the narrative coming out of Pittsburgh that he needed to grow up. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin publicly challenged him to do just that last season. Tomlin’s critique occurred after Pickens was called for two personal foul penalties in Pittsburgh’s 44-38 road win at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 last season. “I already knew what it was. I knew who he was as a player,” Lamb said when asked about that narrative of Pickens’ being immature and temperamental. “Obviously just watching him with the Steelers and how passionate he is about the game, I think they kind of get it confused when you’re so passionate about something, you’re willing to do anything for it. As far as winning goes, just being happy in an organization. Not saying that he wasn’t, not saying that he was, you never know. He hasn’t stopped smiling since he got here so I’ll start with that.” “I’m actually like a chill guy,” Pickens said with a smile when asked about the previous narrative that surrounded him with the Steelers. “It’s like a big phase of a tornado that’s not even true. I’m a chill guy who likes to work.” A steady veteran who has come in ready to work has certainly been new Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s experience with Pickens, so perhaps things will be different in Dallas for the playmaker formerly viewed similarly to that of a roaring tornado. “My time with him has been just incredible,” Schottenheimer said Tuesday. “I think we were all on board [with the trade]. We’re always trying to find the right pieces and good pieces, and I think we’re really excited about what he brings as a football player. But I see a guy that’s maturing. I see a guy that we’re excited to put out there and watch him grow and get better. He’s obviously a tremendous athlete, but I love watching him in meetings, because in meetings, he’s been so dialed in, taking great notes. He knows he’s a little bit behind, not a lot, but a little bit behind in terms of what the veterans are doing. But intentionality in the meeting room has been really cool for me to see.” |
| NFC SOUTH |
| NEW ORLEANSInjuries are on the way to deciding the Saints QB position. Down goes QB JAKE HAENER per Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: There has been a development in New Orleans’ quarterback competition. Jake Haener is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the offseason program by an oblique strain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Part of the three-way competition that also includes Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough, Haener suffered the injury after Wednesday’s OTA practice while throwing extra passes. An MRI revealed that Haener had a strain but did not suffer a tear, which means he does not need surgery. He is expected to miss a couple of weeks, but should be ready for the start of training camp. A fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft, Haener appeared in eight games with one start last season. He completed 18-of-39 passes for 226 yards with a touchdown and an interception. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERBill Barnwell of ESPN.com on the role for newcomer TE EVAN ENGRAM: Denver BroncosThe superlative: Most likely to have “Joker” puns in headlines written about themThere is a lot of optimism in the comparisons surrounding the new additions to Denver’s offense. Sean Payton says rookie third-round wide receiver Pat Bryant reminds him of Michael Thomas. Second-round running back RJ Harvey is studying film with Payton and wants to be better than Alvin Kamara and Darren Sproles as a rookie. If the Broncos end up recreating anything close to those former Saints stars, second-year quarterback Bo Nix will be spoiled with receiving options. One player Nix lacked last season was what Payton refers to as the “Joker,” a receiver who represents a mismatch against linebacker and safeties in coverage. In New Orleans, that role was filled by a variety of players, including running backs such as Sproles and Kamara and tight ends such as Jimmy Graham and Jeremy Shockey. Those are very different players physically and schematically, but they were all able to catch and make plays with the ball in their hands. If Payton’s instincts are correct, Evan Engram, who signed a two-year, $23 million deal after being released by the Jaguars this spring, will be their Joker. The Broncos ranked 31st in percentage of receptions and receiving yards to their tight ends last season, so there was a clear need for a pass-catching threat at the position. Nix also ranked 26th in Total QBR on throws between the numbers, where Engram would be expected to operate. Is Engram a natural fit for that role? Athletically, he has always seemed like a player who could threaten teams downfield on seam and post routes, but he mostly served as a dump-off option and safety valve for Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville. His average air yards per target over the past three seasons was 5.4, which ranked 104th among all receivers over that span. Catching short passes is fine if a player is explosive after the catch, but while Engram racked up plenty of yards after the catch, those were equally a product of being far away from defenders than making them miss. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Engram’s 1,211 yards after the catch were 88 more than an average receiver would have generated on the same catches, or 0.4 YAC over expected per reception. That figure ranks 53rd out of 77 receivers with 200 or more targets over the past three seasons. The comparisons to Graham and Shockey also seem to be missing a critical component. Shockey was a physical force as a blocker, something Engram lacks. Graham was a nightmare to cover in the red zone; during his five seasons with the Saints, the former basketball player caught 40 touchdowns in the red zone, the second most of any player over that span. Engram has only 20 red zone touchdowns in eight seasons. Graham had 95 targets over those five years in New Orleans to Engram’s 65 in his career, but commanding red zone targets is also a skill, too. On the other hand, Engram hasn’t worked with an offensive architect of Payton’s caliber before, either. His quarterbacks haven’t been clearly better than Nix was in 2024, with Lawrence and late-career Eli Manning his most frequent partners. In a Denver market where one Joker already dominates the headlines, the Broncos are hoping their version also posts gaudy numbers in 2025. |
| LAS VEGASBill Barnwell reinforces the DB’s opinion that the Raiders are ascendent: Las Vegas RaidersThe superlative: Most likely to improveThe quickest and most fruitful way for NFL teams to win more games is to upgrade at quarterback and head coach. The biggest surprises of the 2023 and 2024 seasons rode those paths to success; the 2023 Texans added quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans, while the 2024 Commanders went with QB Jayden Daniels and coach Dan Quinn. Like those teams, the 2024 Raiders were fielding replacement-level options in key roles. And just like the organizations they’re hoping to emulate, the 2025 Raiders hope a new coach and quarterback will propel them forward. Vegas has swapped out fired coach Antonio Pierce for Pete Carroll and the QB duo of Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew for Geno Smith, reuniting the key figures from a 2022 Seahawks team that also made an unexpected trip to the postseason. Beyond the personnel improvements, though, there were already reasons to believe in a Raiders improvement. They were tied for the league’s second-worst turnover margin at minus-16, a figure that usually regresses back toward the mean (and improves a team’s record as a result). They recovered only 24.2% of the fumbles that hit the ground last season (eight of 33), the worst recovery rate for any team since 2011. Vegas also had only four players start all 17 games, with key contributors such as defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, edge rusher Maxx Crosby and cornerback Nate Hobbs missing meaningful time because of injuries. Is there enough to make a playoff push? That might be a bridge too far. Vegas lost multiple defensive starters in free agency, including Hobbs, safety Tre’von Moehrig and linebacker Robert Spillane. I’ve written about how the draft mistakes of the Jon Gruden and Josh McDaniels eras have left the Raiders without the core talent base other teams have to build around. New general manager John Spytek approached free agency in a generally thoughtful manner, as the Raiders didn’t make many significant investments and looked to shore up the roster as opposed to taking the big swings they’ve made in the past. Then again, there weren’t many people suggesting the 2023 Texans or 2024 Commanders were playoff teams, either, and they both won postseason games. The 2024 Raiders were one of the most unlucky teams in recent memory, and they’re much better at two of football’s most important spots heading into the season. To whatever extent there’s a formula to identify teams we would count on improving in a given year, the Raiders fit. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDBill Barnwell of ESPN.com: Cleveland BrownsThe superlative: Most likely to pepper the wall and hope something sticksBrowns fans were saying, “Anybody but Deshaun Watson.” The Browns responded with, “Everyone but Deshaun Watson.” With the quarterback out indefinitely after tearing his Achilles in October and again in January, Cleveland entered this offseason knowing it needed to find a meaningful replacement for Watson in 2025 and beyond. I’m not sure about the beyond part, but the Browns certainly have options this season. General manager Andrew Berry added a pair of veterans by trading Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles for Kenny Pickett and bringing back 2023 franchise hero Joe Flacco. With rumors linking them to Shedeur Sanders on draft night, the Browns eventually landed their man … in Round 5, two rounds after they had selected another signal-caller in Dillon Gabriel. Who needs one replacement when you can have four? What makes this even more complicated is that the quarterbacks aren’t stylistically similar. Flacco thrived two years ago as an under-center, play-action threat in coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense, providing it with a high-risk, high-reward downfield passer. Pickett has worked out of shotgun and has won games by mostly avoiding big mistakes. Gabriel worked out of a spread offense at Oregon and was more of a distributor who threw accurate underneath passes without scaring teams as a downfield thrower. Sanders was in an RPO-heavy offense and played hero ball far too often when asked to drop back behind a dismal offensive line. It’s difficult to find a throughline among these options and project what the Browns’ offense will look like schematically. Stefanski somewhat abandoned the Shanahan-style offense he ran with the Vikings and during his time with Baker Mayfield in Cleveland to lean into the shotgun spread, empty attacks Watson ran in Houston, but that switch didn’t work. The offense perked up in 2023 when Flacco took over and Stefanski leaned back into his play-action roots. If Flacco is the starter, it would make sense for the Browns to dip back into that well. Instead, the question might be how long any of these guys keeps the job. Nothing about the cash spent or the draft capital used suggests the Browns are committed to any of these quarterbacks in 2026. They cycled through five starters because of injuries and poor play in 2023 and managed to make the playoffs, but that’s not a sustainable way to be competitive. They might have a situation in which their backups are tantalizing enough to get on the field without being good enough to stay there. The other way to think about things might be more reasonable for this version of the Browns: build a team in which the quarterback means as little as possible. The best versions of Stefanski’s Cleveland offenses had a great running game with Nick Chubb and a strong offensive line. But with Chubb sidelined and limited the past two seasons by a serious knee injury, and the line battling injuries and inconsistent play, the designed run game ranked 19th in EPA per play over that span. Adding Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in April’s draft should give the Browns the most athletic runners they’ve had since pre-injury Chubb. The Browns might want to build their offense by emphasizing the best possible version of their run game, then starting the quarterback who works best off that architecture. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONBill Barnwell of ESPN.com: Houston TexansThe superlative: Most likely to apologize with a flurry of giftsThe Texans might have gotten C.J. Stroud a card, I suppose, but after getting their star quarterback battered throughout the season before eventually getting him injured in last season’s divisional round loss to the Chiefs, an apology wasn’t going to be enough. They simply couldn’t protect Stroud. Though quarterbacks have a meaningful influence on their own pressure and sack rates, Stroud was pressured within 2.5 seconds on more than 18% of his dropbacks in 2024. The only starters who were pressured within 2.5 seconds more often were Drake Maye, Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith. Something had to change. General manager Nick Caserio leaned closer toward everything needing to change. The Texans cut veteran guard Shaq Mason, then traded franchise tackle Laremy Tunsil — who led the league in penalties — to the Commanders for draft picks. Kenyon Green, the team’s 2022 first-round pick, was sent to the Eagles in a deal for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. They also seemed to signal that Tytus Howard’s shift from right tackle to left guard — which was made out of necessity in 2023 and 2024 — would be permanent. In return, the Texans added distressed options in bulk. They traded for benched Vikings guard Ed Ingram and signed Laken Tomlinson, who started at guard for Seattle last season. They also added oft-injured former Patriots tackle Trent Brown as depth and followed that up with their biggest move, spending $12 million to replace Tunsil with Cam Robinson, who spent 2024 with the Jaguars and Vikings. Robinson was benched by the Jags before being traded to Minnesota, where he struggled with speed off the edge. Ultimately, it will be the young players who make and break the Texans. They’ve selected an offensive lineman in the second round of three consecutive drafts, with Juice Scruggs (2023) expected to start on the interior, Blake Fisher (2024) taking over at right tackle and Aireontae Ersery being drafted in April to eventually replace Robinson at left tackle. Jarrett Patterson, a sixth-round pick who started during the first half of 2023 and the second half of 2024, will have a chance to lock down the starting job at the pivot. That’s nine plausible starters for five spots. The Texans fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and offensive line coach Chris Strausser after the disappointing season, replacing Slowik with former Rams passing game coordinator Nick Caley and promoting assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich to take over for his former boss. Popovich might be one of the most important personnel coaches in the league this season; Houston needs him to identify the right five starters up front and quickly develop their chemistry. The Texans can’t afford to have Stroud go through another 2024 in what probably will be his final season on a rookie deal before he receives a massive extension in 2026. |
| INDIANAPOLISThe owner of the Colts, Jim Irsay, has passed away at age 65. Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com: Colts owner Jim Irsay has died. He was 65. An announcement from the team explains that Irsay “passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon.” Irsay assumed day-to-day management of the team in 1995, when his father, Robert, suffered a stroke. When the elder Irsay died in 1997, Jim became the owner of the team. ‘Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed,” Colts COO Pete Ward said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them. “Some of Jim’s fondest memories came from his youth working training camps in Baltimore and growing relationships with players, coaches, and staff whom he considered his extended family. He worked in every department before he was named the youngest general manager in team history in 1984 when the Colts arrived in Indianapolis. After he took sole ownership in 1997, he led the Colts to a long series of division titles and brought the city its first Super Bowl Championship. Jim’s love and appreciation for the NFL in addition to its history, tradition, and principles influenced him to become a steward of the game throughout his 50-plus years in the League. “Jim’s generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country. He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives. Music was one of Jim’s passions and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit.” With the drafting of quarterback Peyton Manning in 1998, the Colts became an elite team for more than a decade. They won Super Bowl XLI. Irsay is survived by his three daughters and 10 grandchildren. More from Joel Erickson of the Indy Star, with a final paragraph that talks about the succession to his three daughters and their roles: Colts owner Jim Irsay has died. He was 65. An announcement from the team explains that Irsay “passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon.” Irsay assumed day-to-day management of the team in 1995, when his father, Robert, suffered a stroke. When the elder Irsay died in 1997, Jim became the owner of the team. ‘Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed,” Colts COO Pete Ward said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them. “Some of Jim’s fondest memories came from his youth working training camps in Baltimore and growing relationships with players, coaches, and staff whom he considered his extended family. He worked in every department before he was named the youngest general manager in team history in 1984 when the Colts arrived in Indianapolis. After he took sole ownership in 1997, he led the Colts to a long series of division titles and brought the city its first Super Bowl Championship. Jim’s love and appreciation for the NFL in addition to its history, tradition, and principles influenced him to become a steward of the game throughout his 50-plus years in the League. “Jim’s generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country. He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives. Music was one of Jim’s passions and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit.” With the drafting of quarterback Peyton Manning in 1998, the Colts became an elite team for more than a decade. They won Super Bowl XLI. Irsay is survived by his three daughters and 10 grandchildren. Erickson with more on Carlie Irsay-Gordon, now the youngest primary owner in the NFL: Carlie Irsay-Gordon is expected to assume control of the Colts’ football operations in the wake of the death of her father, Jim Irsay, Wednesday at the age of 65, stepping fully into a role she’s spent a long time preparing to handle. Irsay-Gordon, 44, is expected to share ownership of the team with her sisters, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, who have long held their own roles within the organization and were formally given the titles of vice chair/owners in 2012. But it is Irsay-Gordon who will primarily take charge of the football side of the franchise after years spent preparing to take over for her father whenever the time came. The time first came temporarily in 2014. Irsay-Gordon took over for her father twice following his arrest for driving while intoxicated, first during his treatment in rehabilitation centers, then during her father’s six-game suspension. She has been closely involved with the franchise’s football side for two decades. Irsay-Gordon began her career in the team’s football and marketing departments, then started attending the NFL’s owner’s meetings with her father in the early 2000s. Irsay-Gordon has long worked closely with general managers Ryan Grigson and Chris Ballard, along with other members of the front office — in a video with former Indianapolis backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, Irsay-Gordon credited former Colts pro scouting coordinator Andrew Berry with helping her learn the game — and she’s worked closely with the coaching staff as well, carefully taking notes at practices and wearing a headset on the sidelines on game days to hear the coaching staff’s play calls. Ballard has praised his working relationship with Irsay-Gordon in the past, most notably expressing his appreciation for her input at the NFL Scouting Combine’s “Women in Football Forum” in 2019. “She will ask 500 questions about why, and a lot of times, it’ll halfway piss me off, but I’ll go and I’ll think, and I’m thinking, ‘Freak, she’s right,’” Ballard said. “She asks the question from a different perspective and makes you think about why you do what you’re doing.” From a football standpoint, Irsay-Gordon was reportedly involved heavily in the in-depth coaching search that led to the team hiring Shane Steichen in 2023, and she has also worked with the team’s communication departments and ticket offices. By taking control of the team, Irsay-Gordon and her sisters become part of a growing number of women in charge of NFL franchises. Detroit’s Sheila Ford-Hamp, Tennessee’s Amy Adams-Strunk, Seattle’s Jody Allen and New Orleans’ Gayle Benson are all the lead voices in their organizations. Chicago’s Virginia Halas McCaskey was primary owner of the Bears until she died Feb. 5 at age 102. Houston’s Janice McNair is also the primary owners of the Texans, respectively, although she is 88, and both women have sons who are heavily involved in the team’s day-to-day activities. A handful of other women — Buffalo’s Kim Pegula, Cleveland’s Dee Haslam and Las Vegas’s Carol Davis — are listed as owners along with their husbands. Irsay-Gordon and her sisters will also become the youngest owners in the NFL by more than a decade. Outside of the 55-year-old Pegula, who shares the team with her 74-year-old husband, Terry, the youngest primary owners in the league is Kansas City’s Clark Hunt, who is 60. Tony Dungy is typical of those employed by Irsay and the Colts: @TonyDungyWhen I got the news last night that Jim Irsay had passed away in his sleep it was devastating to me. The Bible says in many places that tomorrow is not promised to us but I wasn’t ready for this. Jim was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known. He was awesome to me and my family. He was a blessing to his players and staff. But more than that he had a heart for people and for the city of Indianapolis. He loved people and did so many things for others—more things than you could imagine. I miss him already. He was a special man and I couldn’t have worked for a better owner. 🙏🏽🙏🏽 Michael Silver of The Athletic is touched by the memory of Irsay: Irsay, who died Wednesday morning at the age of 65, was older and obviously wealthier but treated me like a contemporary. I appreciated that, a lot, and I also understood where it came from. In a world of amplified noise, instant takes and a whole lot of groupthink, the man had grown accustomed to having his essence misunderstood. To many, Irsay was a caricature, defined by his audacious social media posts, raspy voice and documented struggles with addiction. To those who knew him well, he was not only a sweet, generous soul but also a steely steward of the sport. He understood football’s essence and rhythms far better than commonly believed, and his standard of organizational success was exacting and ambitious. There was no one like him in pro football, and his absence will leave an abyss that makes the pit they dug up to build Lucas Oil Stadium look like a pothole. I started covering the NFL in 1989 during Pete Rozelle’s waning months as the NFL commissioner, five years after Irsay, at 24, had become the Colts’ general manager. By the mid-1990s, I was one of Sports Illustrated’s lead football writers, regularly interacting with icons. I walked to Three Rivers Stadium with Dan Rooney, got banned from the Raiders’ locker room by Al Davis and did a profile on Don Shula as people called for the living legend’s firing by the Miami Dolphins. “Guys like you and me grew up together,” Irsay told me a few years ago. “There aren’t that many of us left who remember how it was. I’ve been going to (owners’ meetings) for half a century, and as you know, there’s almost no one left in the room anymore. You and I, we know what came before and how we got here, and we take it very seriously.” To be totally raw and honest — two qualities that defined Irsay — I’m taking this hard, and I’m having trouble typing these words. He was a real one, and his spirit enhanced my reality, intangibly and tangibly. Thanks to Irsay, I’ve partied with rock icons, gently strummed Jerry Garcia’s iconic guitar (“Tiger,” part of the world’s coolest memorabilia collection) and gained incredible insight into the challenges of presiding over an NFL franchise. Top 50 potential MLB free agents for 2025-26 offseason: Will Tucker, Bregman hit it big?His poignant description of the way the stars aligned to bring Peyton Manning to Indianapolis remains indelible in my memory. Similarly, I’ll always cherish the purity of the conversation we had at the 1933 Lounge in downtown Indy in February 2012, when Irsay — on the verge of cutting Manning and drafting Andrew Luck — told me, “I’m taking back my team” and explained the circumstances that provoked such a proclamation. He didn’t ask much from me, other than the expectation that there’d be a lack of pretense or phoniness. That’s how he rolled, without exception. In his words: “One thing with me is I kind of feel like I don’t have sides, so to speak. I am authentically who I am, all the time. There aren’t a lot of sides to me. I try to be very passionate, the way I live, and intuitive.” Irsay may have inherited a football team, but he didn’t have it easy. He overcame a lot in life, beginning with the fact that his father, Bob, was an alcoholic known for a nasty disposition. The elder Irsay ripped the Colts out of Baltimore in the middle of the night, a crushing blow to a loyal fan base. Long before that, his son worked hard to be a servant leader, combatting a silver-spoon stigma by working as a ballboy, among other unglamorous jobs. “I’ll bet you there’s no owner that knows more about football than Jim,” said Irsay’s close friend Mike Wanchic, John Mellencamp’s longtime guitarist and collaborator. “Who has more experience than Jim Irsay? Who washed jockstraps and polished footballs and was the s—kicker on that team as a boy? He came up in the family business.” As he took on those responsibilities, Irsay watched his father run the franchise like a salty tyrant and learned some valuable lessons. In the words of Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward, who began working for the franchise in 1981: “I’ve always said that Jim did a lot of observing when he was younger, and he learned how to run a team by not doing what his dad did. So, Jim had that advantage. And he was smart enough to drink it all in and assimilate it because his style is 180 degrees different from how his father did things, and it shows.” Irsay acknowledged as much, telling me: “No question — we teach by doing it the right way or not doing it the right way. My dad was so brilliant in his younger days, one of the greatest, youngest, most brilliant businessmen. But when the madness started to come and the liquor came upon him and we went through that era … it was something where, well, he didn’t get to grow up in the business like I did.” Robert Irsay had a debilitating stroke in 1995 and died 14 months later, leaving Jim in charge of the business. He hired strong leaders and let them lead, but he was also assertive at pivotal times. It was Irsay who ultimately implored future Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian to pick Manning over the other highly regarded quarterback at the top of the 1998 NFL Draft, Ryan Leaf — a slightly significant decision. And it was Irsay who made the call to hire Tony Dungy after Jim Mora’s dismissal in January 2002, setting the stage for a prolonged run of excellence that included a Super Bowl triumph five years later. Irsay cared about much more than football. His affinity for rock icons like John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Kurt Cobain wasn’t merely about the music; their lyrical brilliance, personal struggles and impact on society resonated deeply, too. Irsay was exceptionally proud of the “Kicking the Stigma” campaign he launched in 2020, an effort to bring mental-health struggles out into the open and combat the growing crisis in Indiana and beyond. Around that time — in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Lennon’s murder — my daughter and I did a podcast interview with Irsay that reflected on the magnitude of the tragedy and its impact on him. Later, Irsay shared a text message from his ex-wife, Meg Coyle, with whom he was still friendly. In it, she recalled the moment he learned of Lennon’s death, via Howard Cosell on “Monday Night Football”: “You were downstairs watching the game. I was on the phone with my mom, I think, and I heard you cry out like a wounded animal. I felt such a panic, as I had never heard a sound like that in my life. The depth of the grief in that wail/howl is hard to describe unless you have heard that kind of thing before. You were dropped to the floor, howling and writhing.” We all grieve differently, and my phone is full of text messages from people devastated by Irsay’s death: rock stars, Hall of Famers and just plain, regular folks like me. In those texts, there have been many remembrances of his generosity of spirit, and not just of the monetary variety. He was a sensitive man who, for all the demons he battled, possessed an intuitive and guileless gift for caretaking — often when it was needed most. When I think back to that trip to Austin in December 2021, I remember the pretext. After eight years at NFL Network, where Irsay was technically one of my bosses, I’d been let go abruptly, told my contract would not be renewed. As I tried to piece things together and figure out my next moves, Irsay reached out to see if I wanted to write something about the event, one of many around the country designed to showcase his memorabilia collection. It would also mean I got to see him sing tunes like Bob Seger’s “Fire Down Below” with a killer band behind him, share drinks with R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills and basically hang out with unfettered access. Irsay ended up loving the story I penned, but looking back, I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the reason he summoned me to the Lone Star State. For all the trouble he had walking as he disembarked the luxury bus in front of the Four Seasons, Irsay, in fact, was helping me get back on my feet. In a subsequent text exchange, Irsay sent me a poem he’d written called “Birth.” I wish I could say it was an uplifting glimpse into a blissful existence, but — as he would want it — I’m going to keep it real. His words were beautiful and dark and captured life’s frailty and fleeting nature, and the poem ended with a bang. And yet, the poem’s haunting finale carried a shred of hope. “I see myself in my casket,” Irsay wrote. “The bugler blowing his horn. I thought I saw salvation, so I started to mourn. Now the blur of my things are forgotten. I’m just being born.” |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOBill Barnwell of ESPN.com with thoughts on how the Bills have returned to their normal way of doing things this offseason: Buffalo BillsThe superlative: Most likely to stay the courseThree years ago, general manager Brandon Beane responded to a crushing playoff loss to the Chiefs by doing something out of character: going all-in. After years of using free agency to target solid veterans around his young core, he handed Von Miller a six-year, $120 million deal with three seasons almost entirely guaranteed. The hope was that signing the former All-Pro edge rusher would be enough to get the Bills over the hump, but Miller was limited by injuries and a four-game suspension and had only 14 sacks over three seasons. The move did not work out. With the Bills cutting Miller this offseason after another heartbreaking defeat to Kansas City, all eyes were on what Beane would do next. Would he make another all-in move to land the difference-maker who could swing a close game against the Chiefs? No. While the Bills spent plenty of money this offseason, it was used to lock up the best players from their 2021 and 2022 draft classes. Cornerback Christian Benford, linebacker Terrel Bernard, edge rusher Greg Rousseau and wide receiver Khalil Shakir all signed extensions, with their four contracts adding up to more than $61 million per year on average. Linebacker Matt Milano took a pay cut to return for another season after two injury-hit campaigns. To top it off, Josh Allen signed a new deal for six years and $330 million, with Beane convincing his star quarterback to leave millions of dollars per year on the table as a trade for the security of $250 million in practical guarantees. Instead, Buffalo has stuck with its strategy of targeting midroster players in free agency. It signed edge rusher Michael Hoecht from the Rams and imported AFC North veteran defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi for about $7 million each. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer joined from the Chargers on a three-year, $29 million pact. The Bills’ biggest swing was on another former Charger in oft-injured edge rusher Joey Bosa; unlike with the Miller signing, though, they are on the hook for only one year and $12.6 million. Should the Bills have taken a bigger swing? Beane probably played this correctly. It’s tempting to look at the Eagles and their impressive 2024 free agent class as proof that he should have been more aggressive, but keep in mind that Howie Roseman’s most successful signings last year were in the middle of the market. Running back Saquon Barkley’s deal ranked 20th in average value, while linebacker Zack Baun’s one-year deal was for just $3.5 million. The biggest move Roseman made was a three-year, $51.1 million contract for edge rusher Bryce Huff, a rare Philadelphia move that didn’t work out. After their Miller miss, the Bills look as though they’re going to stay in their roster construction lane moving forward. |
| NEW YORK JETSFun fact from Bill Barnwell: Wide receiver Garrett Wilson has already caught passes from eight different quarterbacks during his first three seasons, a list that includes journeymen Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle and Chris Streveler. He has made them collectively look better than they are, making impossible catches on poorly thrown passes, most memorably when he tipped a Zach Wilson pass to himself for a touchdown against the Bills in 2023. The inconsistent quarterback play has left him in the 1,100-yard range over his first three seasons. Though there were teams looking into a potential trade for him last fall, one of Mougey’s top priorities should be inking Wilson to a new deal, which probably will cost more than $30 million per season. Rich Cimini with more on Wilson’s state of mind: This time, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson made his intentions clear. It was a departure from his public frustration in December that fueled speculation he was considering a trade request. “I’m hopeful I’m a Jet for life and that we get this thing rolling and that all of our best days are ahead of us,” Wilson said Wednesday after the Jets’ first open OTA practice. Wilson’s comments were significant because he is eligible for a contract extension. Nothing is imminent, but Jets officials have said they’d like to lock up their top young players. Wilson, who is signed through 2026 (his fifth-year option was recently exercised), said there have been “a few discussions, here and there” between his agent and the team. “When the time does come and those conversations are being had,” he added, “I’m going to try and do my part to make sure that it’s undeniable.” Wilson posted career highs last season in receptions (101), receiving yards (1,104) and touchdowns (seven), but his in-game body language, combined with cryptic comments about his future, created the perception he was disgruntled. “I understand that it’s perceived a certain way,” he said. “The reality of it is — no, I wasn’t happy losing, but I wasn’t unhappy.” Two things contributed to Wilson’s attitude change: The arrival of coach Aaron Glenn, who has infused the organization with hope, and the Justin Fields-for-Aaron Rodgers swap at quarterback. Glenn has made it clear to Wilson that he will be a foundational player. On Wednesday, Glenn said the objective is to “get him the ball as much as possible.” As for the quarterback change, it was clear last season that Wilson and Rodgers didn’t see eye to eye, leading to tension in their relationship. Now, Wilson will be catching passes from his former Ohio State teammate. He gushed about Fields. “He trusts me. I trust him. We’ve got a good communication. We speak to each other well. We know exactly what we’re thinking, and that’s so key,” Wilson said. “We’re just trying to get the best out of each other. That goes back five, six years now. “So, for me, I know exactly what he can do, and I still think the world’s got to see it. And that’s a beautiful thing about this. We’ve all got something to prove on this team. We haven’t done nothing yet. And I know we all got that chip on our shoulder.” Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract as a free agent, has impressed the Jets with what many describe as a quiet confidence. Glenn said Fields is “authentic”: “He’s not going to change for nobody, and I’d rather have that than somebody that’s fake.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| RANDY CROWDERHe may have spent time in prison, but the DB can tell you that Randy Crowder was a good guy. We could tell at a video greeting last fall that he wasn’t doing well physically and we are so sad to hear of his passing. Former NFL defensive lineman Randy Crowder has died at the age of 72. Crowder was a first-team All-American at Penn State in 1973 and was drafted by the Dolphins in 1974. He spent three years in Miami before his NFL career was derailed when he and fellow Dolphins defensive lineman Don Reese were convicted of selling cocaine. In 1978, Crowder was released from prison and returned to the NFL, playing three more seasons with the Buccaneers. After retiring from the Buccaneers, Crowder became the defensive line coach at Penn State. Crowder is survived by family members including his son, former NFL player Channing Crowder. Randy and Channing are the only father-son duo both to be drafted by the Dolphins. We used to tell Randy that his full name Randolph Channing Crowder was perfect for the role of a university president with the three names interchangeable. He laughed that deep unmistakeable laugh of his. Such a good guy. |
