| How about this? @DavisMattekCame across this in research this week Every Oklahoma starting QB from 2015-2023 is starting in the NFL this weekend Baker, Hurts, Kyler, Rattler, Caleb and Dillon Gabriel |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOMike Jones of The Athletic makes up a superlative to describe the play of QB CALEB WILLIAMS in the first four weeks: Best work-in-progress — QB Caleb Williams, Chicago BearsThings got off to a shaky start, and Caleb Williams sparked questions over whether he’d ever get it. But the second-year QB has indeed shown signs of growth under the tutelage of rookie coach Ben Johnson. He’s getting rid of the ball more quickly after taking way too many sacks because he was trying too hard to make something out of nothing. He’s starting to do a better job of playing within the framework of the offense, and that’s causing the Bears to trend in the right direction, having won two straight after an 0-2 start. The Bears are also showing improvement elsewhere. The defense has forced four takeaways in each of the last two games under the direction of Dennis Allen, and Richard Hightower’s special teams units are making meaningful contributions, including recording the game-winning blocked extra point against the Raiders last Sunday. |
| DETROITQB JARED GOFF has now played 138 games in his career – 69 with both the Lions and Rams. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Jared Goff played his 69th game with the Lions on Sunday, and he played 69 games with the Rams. He says there’s no doubt now which team he’ll be more associated with over the course of his career. Goff said he wasn’t aware that he had played the same number of games with both teams until he was asked about it in an interview after Sunday’s game, but once he learned of it he considered it an important milestone in his career. “I heard that when I did my radio thing earlier this week, I was like, Wow, that’s cool,” Goff said. “I’ve certainly become a Lion now in my career, when I look back on it, it’s going to be majority Lions. Hopefully a lot more majority as we go on. It’s been a fun journey here, it’s been fun to grow into, be a part of this city, and to flip that way is cool.” The 30-year-old Goff expects to play many more years with the Lions. “Hopefully a long time. I don’t know, it’s hard to answer, but I think a long time,” Goff said of how long he’ll last in Detroit. Goff is under contract with the Lions through 2028, and given the structure of his contract — which sees his cap hit skyrocket to $69.6 million next season — it wouldn’t be surprising if he and the team agree to restructure his contract next year to lower his cap hit for 2026 while extending the length of his deal. He’s likely to play a lot more than 69 more games with the Lions. In some regards, his two 69-game tenures are very similar. But in TD-INT ratio, he’s much better as a Lion which boosts his passer rating. GOFF W-L C-A YDS TD INT Rating YPG YPALions 42-26-1 1601-2347 (68.2%) 17,816 124 41 100.9 258.2 7.86Rams 42-27 1536-2421 (63.4%) 18,171 107 55 91.5 263.3 7.37 That 100.9 passer rating ranks 4th since 2021 when Goff became a Lion: Brock Purdy 103.7Lamar Jackson 103.2Joe Burrow 103.1JARED GOFF 100.9 If you were wondering, QB MATTHEW STAFFORD has a 96.0 which ranks 14th.- – -Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com give out a Protector of The Year Award (of more exactly the First Quarter of The Year): 1. Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit LionsUnlike the guys blocking for Nix and Allen, Sewell knows what to expect with Jared Goff, who scrambles only out of necessity. That makes Sewell’s life easier, but he’s also playing on a Lions O-line with two new starters at guard — which got overwhelmed in the middle against the Packers in the opener before massively improving over the subsequent three games. Sewell is the complete package. He’s a mauler with rare mobility in the run game; watch David Montgomery’s 72-yard run against the Ravens, and you’ll see the star tackle both engulf a fellow All-Pro in Roquan Smith and sustain his block for several yards, allowing Montgomery a huge lane to cut back and then beat the safety to go to the races. And while running one of the highest one-on-one block rates among right tackles in the league, Sewell is fourth in pressure rate allowed (5.4%), giving up no sacks and just one quick pressure through four games. |
| MINNESOTAQB J.J. McCARTHY has yet to return to practice. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said early this week that his hope was that quarterback J.J. McCarthy would be able to practice on Thursday or Friday, but he didn’t get there for Thursday’s practice. McCarthy was listed as a non-participant as the Vikings continued working to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Browns in London. Carson Wentz remains in line to start that game with a McCarthy return on Friday opening the door for the 2024 first-round pick to return from an ankle injury after the Vikings’ bye week. The only change from Wednesday’s injury report is that linebacker Dallas Turner did not participate due to an illness. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw (rest), guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), center Michael Jurgens (hamstring), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), right tackle Brian O’Neill (ankle), linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), and tight end Ben Yurosek (knee) remained out of practice. Linebacker Tyler Batty (knee), fullback C.J. Ham (knee), and running back Zavier Scott (knee) were all full participants.. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASThis from Mike Jones of The Athletic: Leading MVP candidate — QB Dak Prescott, Dallas CowboysReigning MVP Josh Allen made a huge statement in Week 1 and may have elevated his game to another level. Justin Herbert is playing with more aggression and confidence than ever. Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are always MVP candidates. But Prescott is carrying a Cowboys team short on healthy linemen, his top wide receiver and a consistent rushing attack while completing 72.9 percent of his passes and averaging 279.8 passing yards a game. |
| NEW YORK GIANTSWR JALIN HYATT is the next man up after the injury to WR MALIK NABERS. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt hasn’t had a single pass thrown his way this season, but that’s likely to change after the Giants lost their No. 1 receiver, Malik Nabers, to a season-ending knee injury. Hyatt said he spoke to Nabers, who gave him a pep talk and told him to use the additional playing time he’s expected to get to develop a rapport with new quarterback Jaxson Dart and show what he can do. “We had a long talk,” Hyatt said. “He’s one of my best friends on this team. He’s been in my corner, he’s kind of seen the adversity I’ve been through. He just told me it’s my chance, this is the time for me to do what I’ve got to do. So I’m going to be ready. I just can’t wait to go out, play Sunday, play with Jaxson, and get a win.” At Tennessee in 2022, Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award as the best wide receiver in college football, and the Giants selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft. But his NFL career has fallen well short of expectations, with just 31 catches, 435 yards and no touchdowns in 35 games played. Now the Giants will give Hyatt one more chance to show he can be a starting wide receiver. Nabers is in his corner.– – -QB JAXSON DART admits he thought he was going to the Saints at #9. Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com: Jaxson Dart says there is “always a chip on your shoulder” when a situation unfolds as it did in this year’s NFL draft, when he thought there was a possibility the New Orleans Saints would take him with the ninth pick. The Saints passed on Dart, however, and the New York Giants ultimately traded back into the first round to select the Ole Miss quarterback with the 25th pick. New Orleans selected Louisville’s Tyler Shough in the second round with the 40th pick. Dart and the Giants (1-3) play in New Orleans on Sunday after beating the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend in the rookie’s first career start. “There is always a chip on your shoulder any time something like that happens,” Dart said of how the draft unfolded with the Saints. “But yeah, I’m just going to go out there and play as hard as I can.” New Orleans was one of the teams interested in Dart, who had multiple visits with the Saints throughout the predraft process. Dart’s impression was that his time with the Saints went well, and he thought there was a realistic chance he could end up in New Orleans. “Yeah, I felt like my visit with them went good,” Dart said Wednesday. “You kind of have thoughts in your head about what options are realistic, and I felt that was a place that could’ve panned out. But things didn’t work out that way.” The Saints took starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the ninth pick in the draft, much like the Giants selected Abdul Carter with their top selection at No. 3 before addressing the quarterback position. But the Giants were the more aggressive team by jumping back into the back end of the first round. Dart told people immediately after the draft that New York was his first choice. Nothing that has happened since has made him flinch. “I love it here. There’s not a place that I’d rather be,” he said. “I love just how passionate people are outside the facility, in the facility. I like the attitude the East Coasters have. It’s a lot of fun. So I love it.” Dart’s first start was a success. He helped produce the Giants’ first win of the season, passing for 111 yards with a score and rushing for another 54 yards and a touchdown. The rookie was pleased with what he saw on tape but knows there are areas to improve. He also took 17 hits on runs and passes, second among quarterbacks last week behind only Minnesota’s Carson Wentz. Dart played through a hamstring injury and was checked at one point for a concussion. But he was a full participant in practice Wednesday and said he felt good even though he had the back of his left leg taped during the portion of the workout open to the media. By the end of the practice, he had a compression sleeve on the leg. The issue is not expected to keep him from playing Sunday against the Saints. “I ran the ball a lot in college. There were definitely times in college where my body felt it after games. It’s just football,” he said. “You’re not always going to feel 100 percent after the game. “But we have a really good training staff here. We have a lot of assets to use to make sure our bodies are ready for the next week. These last few days have been really crucial for me in making sure I’m on the right track and 100 percent for Sunday.” Dart said he didn’t regret any of the hits he took running the football. His self-critique was mostly about his footwork, being too slow in his progressions and holding the ball too long on a few sacks. He believes that led to the biggest hits. The swinging stiff-arm he tried to use on Chargers defensive back Cam Hart was the one play he’d like to have back. “Maybe that’s not the smartest with my throwing hand,” Dart said. He then joked: “I didn’t really like the way he was looking at me.” The Giants don’t seem overly concerned about the number of hits Dart took Sunday, his health or the Saints’ predraft interest in him. They’re more concerned about the challenge of playing in a difficult road environment. “Offensively, we’re going to have to do a good job of communicating,” coach Brian Daboll said, “from getting the play in, to Jaxson communicating, to whatever snap counts we choose to use relative to how the sounds are there, which is usually loud. You simulate it and try to do the best you can here at practice, but it’s definitely one of the keys in terms of being able to communicate and operate and stay on track and eliminate some of the pre-snap things that when you play in a dome stadium that’s loud like this. “So we’re going to work at it out here, blasting it as loud as we can, and just make sure we’re on point with our communication.” |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOMore injury woes for the 49ers. Nick Shook of NFL.com: The 49ers will play a Thursday night prime-time game without a handful of stars. Quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) and receivers Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) will not play in San Francisco’s game in Los Angeles against the Rams. Mac Jones will start in place for Purdy. Receiver Jordan Watkins (calf) and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (ankle) will also miss the game. Purdy missed Weeks 2-3 with the toe injury suffered in the 49ers’ comeback win over the Seahawks in Week 1 and was able to return for San Francisco’s close loss to Jacksonville in Week 4. After the game, Purdy reported discomfort in the toe, prompting the 49ers to take “every precaution to make sure Brock’s all right,” general manager John Lynch said during a Tuesday radio interview. With a short turnaround to the Thursday night game, those precautions weren’t enough to improve Purdy’s health. His absence will call Jones back into action to replace him in a game that will be increasingly difficult without Pearsall, Watkins and Jennings. Demarcus Robinson, Skyy Moore, Kendrick Bourne and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will likely fill out the 49ers’ remaining receiving corps, forming an experienced group but one lacking the proven production (with San Francisco) of the likes of Jennings and Pearsall. San Francisco has encountered an unrelenting injury bug in 2025 that has significantly affected the offensive and defensive units, headlined by a season-ending injury for Nick Bosa and the now nagging toe ailment affecting Purdy. The 49ers have managed to start 3-1 but will be tested by their NFC West rival in an increasingly steep challenge Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. Shook didn’t even mention TE GEORGE KITTLE being on IR, much less the continued ailment of WR BRANDON AIYUK. |
| SEATTLEMike Jones of The Athletic says the Seahawks move to QB SAM DARNOLD is paying off: Seahawks may have gotten it right againExceptional front offices have the ability to pinpoint when it’s time to move on from a player before it’s too late. Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider got it right when he moved on from quarterback Russell Wilson a year before the quarterback experienced a dramatic dropoff. Geno Smith helped steady the Seahawks and help them remain competitive despite retooling efforts elsewhere on the roster. This offseason, the Seahawks decided it was time to move on from the steady Smith and traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders rather than award him a long-term contract. Schneider, in turn, signed Sam Darnold after his revival season in Minnesota and the move appears to be paying off. Darnold has already delivered two game-winning drives in the 3-1 Seahawks’ first four games. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDWhat was QB SHEDEUR SANDERS up to when the media asked him about still being #3 on the Browns depth chart? Andy Backstrom of YahooSports.com: The Cleveland Browns are turning the keys over to a rookie quarterback who won his conference’s Offensive Player of the Year award and ranked top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting in 2024: Dillon Gabriel, not Shedeur Sanders, although both 2025 draftees fit that criteria. Joe Flacco was benched after Cleveland’s 1-3 start, but the 40-year-old former Super Bowl MVP will remain the team’s backup for Sunday’s game in London against the Minnesota Vikings. Sanders, meanwhile, is still the Browns’ third-string quarterback. When he was asked about it Wednesday in the locker room, Sanders mouthed his answers, taking an unorthodox approach to handling media. A clip of the former Colorado star silently expressing himself is making the rounds on social media. It begins with him being asked about his role as QB3 on the Browns’ roster. After Sanders mouthed a brief answer with his signature smile and then shrugged, the reporter followed up, asking if Sanders could express what he was feeling vocally. Sanders mouthed another answer. Another reporter asked, “What do you think you have to show to coaches just for them to have that belief in you that you can now be ready?” Before the reporter even finished that question, Sanders started mouthing his next answer, which he finished with a smile again. [More on Browns football: Cleveland team feed] Then a reporter asked, “What can you say?” That didn’t get Sanders to speak out loud, either. Even a question about Flacco and how the veteran has helped both Sanders and Gabriel develop to this point of their young careers didn’t seem to change Sanders’ tune. Sanders mouthed another answer. Sanders didn’t make the motivation behind his silent act Wednesday clear. But ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested on X Wednesday evening that Sanders was responding to ESPN analyst, and former NFL head coach, Rex Ryan criticizing him on “Get Up” earlier this week. “We’re all waiting to see Shedeur Sanders be the guy or Gabriel whatever,” Ryan said on Monday. “Something’s missing. Something’s missing with this kid. This kid talks, and he runs his mouth like he’s a … ‘I can be a starting quarterback’ with his arms crossed like this.” “Get your ass in the front row and study and do all that. If I know, the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way. You got the talent to be the quarterback. You should be. You should be embarrassed that you’re not the quarterback now.” – – – Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com has the Browns with the best defensive rookie of 2025 so far: 1. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland BrownsThe Browns are fifth in the league in EPA per play through four games. And although the defense has been able to lead them to only one victory, shutting down a Packers offense that averaged more than 31 points per game in its three other games might be the single most impressive defensive performance of the season so far. Myles Garrett is going to be featured elsewhere in this column, and there have been impressive performances from guys including Maliek Collins and Isaiah McGuire up front. But Schwesinger has been close to a revelation. The Browns lost Jordan Hicks to retirement and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to a career-threatening neck injury, so Schwesinger — a second-round pick — was a Week 1 starter and served as the “green dot” defender relaying calls from the coaching staff. All of that wouldn’t matter if Schwesinger couldn’t make an impact, but he has been excellent in his first month. He has made more than 12% of Cleveland’s tackles, an above-average rate, while whiffing on just 3.1% of his attempts, one of the best rates in the league for a linebacker who has been on the field for virtually every snap. Schwesinger tracked down Jordan Love for a big sack in the win over the Packers, has a couple of tackles for loss and has been a rangy defender against the run. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISCB XAVIEN HOWARD has abruptly “retired”. Stephen Holder of ESPN.com: Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard signed with the Indianapolis Colts in August hoping to revive his career after a year away from the NFL. After four games, the four-time Pro Bowl selection has decided to abruptly reverse course. Howard, 32, informed the Colts on Wednesday of his decision to retire on the heels of a much-criticized performance against the Los Angeles Rams and star receiver Puka Nacua on Sunday. Howard was not at practice Wednesday, but the team’s injury report indicated he was absent because of a personal matter. In a statement posted to social media, Howard wrote that “my dream has now changed” and he is “no longer willing” to put football before his family. “My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football,” he wrote. “I’ve had a hell of a career, and even though it’s ending in a unique way, I’m cool with that because for once I’m putting my family first and I’m proud and excited about that decision.” Coach Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo had fielded repeated questions since the game about their intentions moving forward with Howard, who had been starting as an outside cornerback for Indianapolis since Week 1. Neither coach indicated any plan to make a lineup change. Asked Wednesday whether he might discuss a personnel change, Steichen left the door open for Howard to remain in the lineup. There was no indication the Colts were considering releasing Howard prior to his retirement decision. “As the head coach, obviously, I have final decision on all those things and we have those conversations throughout the week,” Steichen said. “Looking back, too, with Xavien, those were two elite receivers [Nacua and Davante Adams] that we were going up against last week. So, again, we’ll go through the process this week and evaluate everything like we do every week.” Howard’s struggles Sunday were inexplicable. According to Next Gen Stats, he was the nearest defender on seven receptions that produced 112 yards and a touchdown. The Colts elected to use No. 1 cornerback Charvarius Ward mostly against Adams, but Adams also made a play during one of his rare snaps lined up against Howard. Nacua finished with 13 catches for 170 yards — both season highs. Asked after the Rams game whether he felt quarterback Matthew Stafford was targeting him, Howard said, “I don’t. It’s football at the end of the day.” Asked to evaluate his performance, he said, “Not to my ability.” The struggles in Los Angeles followed a tough outing in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, when Howard was flagged twice for pass interference and once for defensive holding. In spite of his ending, Howard walks away from the NFL with an impressive track record. He twice led the NFL in interceptions during his time with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him in the second round in 2016. In 2020, when he had a career year with league highs in interceptions (10) and passes defensed (20), he was a first-team All-Pro and a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. Howard has 29 career interceptions, third among active players behind Harrison Smith and Kevin Byard III. He started 103 career games. – – -Mike Jones of The Athletic has QB DANIEL JONES as his biggest surprise of the first four weeks: Biggest surprise — Indiana (Daniel) JonesThe Giants castoff signed with the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason and wound up beating out Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback job. Jones has since gotten off to a strong start while helping his team open the year 3-1. Jones looks comfortable in Indianapolis’ system and has executed with confidence both as a passer and ball-carrier. Jones did throw his first two interceptions in the Colts’ first loss of the season on Sunday. But overall, he looks good and is playing the exact role that the Colts need. |
| JACKSONVILLEWill the Jaguars have EDGE TRAVON WALKER on Monday night against the Chiefs – despite his recent wrist surgery? Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Jaguars edge rusher Travon Walker’s trip to a wrist specialist ended up leading to a trip to the operating room. Head coach Liam Coen said that Walker had a surgical procedure on the wrist that he injured in last Sunday’s win over the 49ers. Surgery often results in an absence from the lineup, but Coen said Walker has not been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the Chiefs. Coen termed Walker’s status as day-to-day and he said, via multiple reporters, that Walker is doing everything in his power to be ready to go for that game. Walker has 12 tackles and two sacks so far this season. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOMike Jones of The Athletic notes a subtle change in Buffalo’s offense: Change of approach for Buffalo?Speaking of the Bills, coach Sean McDermott seems intent on better supporting Josh Allen this year. His team has placed a stronger emphasis on ensuring balance and thus far leads the NFL in rushing attempts and yards, and not because Allen is doing it all. Sure, he’s still one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks out there. But the Bills have leaned heavily on running back James Cook and he has delivered, ranking second in the NFL in rushing attempts (75) and rushing yards (401). Cook also leads the NFL with five rushing touchdowns. The approach has translated into Buffalo ranking among the most potent and balanced offenses in the league while also leading the NFL in time of possession. |
| MIAMIIf you don’t want to be concussed – carbohydrates and water: @TheListFinsPodTua Tagovailoa on how his doctors’ are emphasizing carbs and water to with concussions: “Your brain kinda sits in fluids. If I’m not eating carbs, when you drink water it’ll kinda flush out of you, and you can’t stay hydrated” League ain’t ready for carbs/water/ju-jitsu Tua 👀– – -After scoring twice in his Dolphins debut, some comments from TE DARREN WALLER. Brian Miller of PhinPhanatic.com: To say that Darren Waller’s arrival wasn’t spectacular would be an understatement. After only one whole week of practice with the Miami Dolphins, Waller turned 16 snaps into two touchdowns and three receptions. His rapport with Tua Tagovailoa was crisp, and it’s easy to see it developing further as the weeks go by, but one thing many Dolphins fans have wanted to know is what took him so long to get on the field? Waller was recently on an episode of “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” when he revealed why it took so long to get on the field with Miami this season. “Getting into camp, first two weeks of training after signing with the Dolphins, I blew my quad out. I tore my quad from my hip. So it was like, ‘What is going on?’ [and] trying to piece together what this journey was supposed to be.” When the Dolphins traded for Waller, it was assumed that he would have some rust from his one-year retirement. It became a weekly and running joke most of the offseason—another fumbled attempt by Miami general manager Chris Grier to fix a problem with a peg that didn’t fit. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was coy when talking about Waller, often stating that he expected him to return in a couple of days. That turned into weeks, and then a month. As the preseason wound down, Waller suddenly appeared on the injury report with a hip problem. We now know what that was. Waller told Le Batard that he tore the part of the quad that attaches to his hip. This prevented him from practicing, limited his rehab ability on the sidelines, and kept him off the field much longer than anyone expected, including McDaniel. Despite missing practice time, Waller told the media after the game on Monday night that he may not have been on the field, but he was in every meeting, taking notes and getting the mental reps he needed. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| MORE BUNNY TALKThe NFL would justify its selection of Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as a global outreach to Spanish speakers who happen to be watching the Super Bowl. Armando Salguero of Outkick.com is one Hispanic who finds it revolting: In the days following the Charlie Kirk assassination, the NFL and some of its teams seemed to recognize that it was perfectly correct to invest maybe 20 seconds before a game to honor a man who died representing free and peaceful speech, conservatism, and love of God, family and country. For a brief few days, it seemed that significant parts of a league many accuse of being woke was actually just like the rest of country – doing its best to be a good citizen and straddling the center of society while powers on the political left and the right waged their perpetual battle. It’s not possible to feel that way now. Not in the wake of the league’s hiring of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, a wildly popular, eclectic Latin music performer known to his millions of fans as Bad Bunny. NFL: Bad Bunny Exciting Super Bowl ChoiceThat’s because, beyond being known for his obvious musical talents that appeal to a younger generation, Bad Bunny is also about as divisive as an individual can get when it comes to cultural norms, gender fluidity, politics, and the United States’ rule of law. And yet, curiously, that’s the performer NFL senior vice president of Global Event Production Jon Barker said has a unique ability to “bridge genres, languages, and audiences,” which “makes him an exciting and natural choice to take the Super Bowl halftime stage” for Super Bowl LX in February. And this choice is the NFL telling on itself. The NFL is amplifying an anti-American, anti-law enforcement, anti-God, cross dresser and putting him on its biggest stage. The NFL, in other words, is embracing a portion of the population that neither represents its traditional fan base, player base, ownership base or anything that made the league the sports behemoth it is. NFL Ignores Traditional Roles And ValuesThis NFL pick is not embracing the worship of God or Jesus Christ because that is offensive to some people in 2025, but instead is picking someone who worships himself and has been known to wear weird Illuminati cult symbolism on his painted fingernails. The NFL is not embracing traditional roles or values, but instead is latching on to a person who casually questions long-established mores. “…What defines a man, what defines being masculine, what defines being feminine?” Martinez Ocasio said in a June GQ Magazine profile. “I really can’t give clothes gender. To me, a dress is a dress. If I wear a dress, would it stop being a woman’s dress? Or vice versa? Like, no. It’s a dress, and that’s it. It’s not a man’s, it’s not a woman’s. It’s a dress.” Football, you should understand, is a game built around courage and toughness and, yes, masculinity. But football’s grandest league is going to put this person who questions the definition of a man and a woman on its Super Bowl stage. Who Is Bad Bunny?Allow me to give you some background on Martinez Ocasio. He was reared in a working-class home in Puerto Rico. He sang in the choir at his Catholic Church, and that’s where he found his gift for music. But after he was discovered around 2017-18, he started using that gift to promote an agenda that has nothing to do with making music. OutKick has outlined Martinez Ocasio’s anti-ICE rhetoric and why he doesn’t perform in America — until the NFL offers him millions of dollars worth of exposure, of course. OutKick shows have chronicled how conservatives are outraged by this pick. This site has even taken the stance that the NFL no longer caters to Americans, which, of course, is refutable if you’ve ever witnessed a B-2 Bomber flyover or the national anthem being sung by 70,000 people standing in front of a 57,000-square foot American flag. NFL Shows Its Reprobate MindBut what the NFL is indeed effectively doing is giving itself over to reprobate thinking in front of a worldwide audience. How else to put on a halftime that, barring stringent overview from a league that has failed to provide such overview in the past, threatens to resemble a drag show. Because some of Bad Bunny’s shows, appearances and videos have bordered on that in the past. Consider that he appeared in drag in his music video for ‘Yo Perreo Solo” which in street Spanish translates to “I twerk alone.” He wore a red leather mini-dress in that video. And a wig. And digitally enhanced breasts. In February of 2020, he appeared on the Tonight Show in a black skirt. And then there was the Harper’s Bazaar cover in which he wore another dress. “I don’t dress this way to become more famous or to call attention or to disrespect anyone,” Martinez Ocasio said. “People on the outside can think that I have a strategy, or I wear this to call for attention, but in reality, I just know who I am.” The irony of that statement. NFL Manipulating Children By ExtensionNone of this is meant to judge whether this person who often cross dresses, has dated female influencers such as Kendall Jenner, and has been known to make out with his male dancers during shows, really knows who he is. That’s his business. This questions the NFL’s world view in putting that person in front of hundreds of millions of its fans – including families and children – during its biggest and most-watched event. It should make all of us question the agenda of a sports league embracing this performer and his often unsuitable for children performances. So, I say this now: If Bad Bunny comes onto that Super Bowl stage in San Francisco wearing a dress or changes into one, causing little boys around the world to believe it is cool to cross dress, we will be witnessing the NFL manipulating your little boys by extension. And that manipulation wouldn’t be meant to get them to play football. Because of the decision by NFL executives to flout their traditional fans, the Hollywood Reporter chortles about Bad Bunny’s domination. We all will watch in awe as he unveils Boricua culture on the world’s biggest stage writes a giddy Cata Balzano With Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl LX Halftime Show announcement, once more, all eyes are on Puerto Rican culture, and that’s what Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio wants. Coming off a historic residency, and with his world tour set to kick off on Nov. 21, one question feels inevitable leading up to February’s performance: how many Puerto Rican nods — and by extension, how much Latino representation — will make it onto the biggest stage in the country? One thing is certain: there will be plenty of it. Based on his residency, there are boricua elements, almost like cheat codes, that will likely be snuck into the performance. When it comes to his productions, Bad Bunny’s team says he usually knows exactly what he wants. Their job is to bring the artist’s vision to life, turning what’s in his imagination into reality. “For everything, he has a plan, and we all tend to think he is crazy, and at the end of the day when it’s materialized, we all realize it makes complete sense,” says Sigfredo Bellaflores, who has been working with Bad Bunny as his audiovisual producer since 2019, working on music videos for hits such as “El apagón,” “Baile inolvidable” and “Weltita.” “For the residency, he already had everything in his mind of what he wanted. Every single detail.” Bad Bunny stage set Eric RojasBad Bunny’s lyrics are poetic about Puerto Rico, filled with references that often only Puerto Ricans can truly grasp. From the coqui frog, the cabezudos and vejigantes, the pava (a jíbaro hat), to rhythms beyond reggaetón like bomba, plena, salsa and perreo, his music paints a vivid picture of the island. He evokes its countryside, beaches, mountains, plantain trees, and even its myths, such as El Pozo de Jacinto. The ever-present Sapo Concho (the Puerto Rican crested toad) and the now world-renowned marquesina parties further root his songs in the island’s identity. His work also touches on nostalgia — an underlying concern that what Puerto Ricans are today could be lost tomorrow, as gentrification and an influx of outsiders threatens to erase parts of the culture. Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the title of his latest album, is a reminder to appreciate the present before it disappears. His residency echoed that same sentiment: the desire to never leave behind a time and place so deeply tied to the culture that defines them. While the story will be told differently, many of them could likely be a part of the messaging in the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The announcement that he would be headlining caught many by surprise and sparked criticism from others. El Conejo Malo had shared that he would not be adding any U.S. stops to his world tour, citing his concern for fans being targeted by ICE. “There was the issue of — like, fucking ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said in an interview with i-D Magazine in September. He has always been unapologetically proud when criticizing the government as well as President Trump. In the 2020 release of his song “Compositor del Año,” he makes mention of the gun violence and racism in the United States, while calling the president a “mamabicho” — which translates to d*ck sucker — who “does nothing about it.” It makes sense that, though he is choosing not to bring his tour to the United States, he is opting to use the biggest stage in the world with the largest audience. This will make it loud and clear where he stands socially and politically. There’s no Bad Bunny show without culture and politics While Bad Bunny has long been intentional about incorporating Puerto Rican culture into his performances — like his January 2025 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and his 2023 Grammys performance — it wasn’t until early 2025, with the release of his latest album and the announcement of his residency on the island, that he truly elevated the celebration of Boricua culture to a new level. With the January release of Debí Tirar Más Fotos, his message of pride has been louder than ever. That sets the expectation that his Super Bowl halftime show will follow the same path. Shortly after the release of Debí Tirar Más Fotos, his seventh studio album, Bunny announced the kick-off of No me quiero ir de Aquí (I don’t want to leave), a 30-date residency beginning in July, running every weekend through mid-September. Fans of the artist flocked to the island to experience what was promised to be a once-in-a-lifetime happening. They inevitably took a deep dive into Boricua culture and pride while uncovering the “code words” and phrases that Benito uses in his music, which only a Boricua would understand. El Coliseo de Puerto Rico was transformed into the perfect stage to tell the story of the Puerto Rican people, as depicted in the short film Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The production featured two distinct stages that took five months to build: a mountain-inspired main stage representing the countryside, with a ceiba tree — the official tree of Puerto Rico — on one end, plantain fields on the other and the iconic plastic chairs among the plantain trees, known as platanera; and a countryside house that became popularly known as “la casita.” The show was divided into three acts: Acts one and three took place on the “montaña,” while Act two unfolded in “la casita.” Is the residency a blueprint for the halftime show? The show was carefully crafted by Bad Bunny alongside his team of producers, set designers and promoters — all of whom are Puerto Rican. Alejandro Pabón, managing director and partner at Puerto Rican concert promoter Move Concerts, which promoted Bad Bunny’s residency, says the shows were always about feeling at home and putting the island, its culture and its many struggles over the years at the center of the story. “It was about obviously what his album meant to him and the message he put across, but also we thought about how he wanted to transmit that on a live show as an experience around Puerto Rico,” Pabón says. With No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí, tourism on the island soared. A total of 447,700 tickets were sold, and the influx of Bad Bunny fans brought an economic boost of over $200 million to Puerto Rico. With the Super Bowl just five months away and only 13 minutes to showcase his Puerto Rican pride on the world’s biggest stage, America and the world will experience a fragment of what Bad Bunny’s residency and tour have portrayed. While many details remain under wraps, one thing is clear: Latino pride and unapologetic political statements will have a prominent place in the show. Phil Rodriguez, Move Concerts CEO, says that in his 45 years of experience, he has never seen anything as impactful. “To me, it’s full respect, and they’re just pushing this for the next generation a little further,” Rodriguez says. “He always did things on his own terms in a different way, and I think all the greats have done that. I would say we stand on the shoulders of giants. Whoever came before us opened doors one way or another, whether it was Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, Miami Sound Machine, or Ricky Martin. But [Bad Bunny] is taking it to another level.” Boricua? AI tells me this: “Boricua” is a term used to refer to a person from Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent, derived from the Taíno name for the island, Borikén. It represents a deep sense of cultural pride, community, and connection to the island, encompassing a passionate and optimistic way of life. Meaning and OriginTaíno Roots: The word originates from “Borikén,” the indigenous Taíno name for the island of Puerto Rico, which means “the great land of the valiant and noble lord” or “land of the brave and noble lords”. Cultural Identity: Beyond just being a person from Puerto Rico, “Boricua” signifies a “feeling of pride and love for the Island” and a “deep-rooted sense of community, shared culture, and love”. Usage and ConnotationColloquial Term: “Boricua” is a colloquial term, often used in a casual context to refer to a Puerto Rican individual. So look for Puerto Rico to follow in the footsteps of Ceylon, Burma and other places on old map. Here comes Borikén. |
| 2026 DRAFTNick Baumgarner of The Athletic gives us an updated Mock Draft that features a sliding QB ARCH MANNING: Several quarterbacks highly rated by scouts and analysts over the summer have stumbled out of the blocks — Texas junior Arch Manning, Clemson senior Cade Klubnik and, to a degree, Penn State senior Drew Allar. We’ve also seen others emerge, though, including players like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Oklahoma’s John Mateer and Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Now that we have a month’s worth of data and film, let’s run through a first-round mock. We’re using win projection totals from The Athletic’s Austin Mock to determine the order. 1. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, MiamiClemson’s Peter Woods and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk have an argument for this slot, and no one should rule out Ohio State safety Caleb Downs (my top-ranked prospect). However, I’m going with Bain, Miami’s uber-powerful and explosive junior edge who has responded to a ho-hum 2024 with a blazing start to 2025. Bain had dominant stretches against the run while picking up four pressures in Miami’s opener versus Notre Dame and has a combined 14 pressures in the Hurricanes’ last two games (USF and Florida). A defender who can line up anywhere in the box, Bain has a 28.9 percent win rate, 19 pressures, three sacks and 15 run stops this season. 2. New Orleans Saints: Fernando Mendoza, QB, IndianaAs is often the case, the quarterback discussion has gotten more interesting since the start of the season. It’s still early, and plenty could change. For now, though, I’m down to Mendoza and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers as the top two quarterbacks in this class. I’ve loved how much Mendoza has already improved under Indiana coach Curt Cignetti — and he was already a smart player before he got to Indiana. Mendoza has handled pressure well and hit on nearly 60 percent of his third-and-long attempts. If his accuracy holds throughout the Big Ten slate, he’ll remain in the discussion for QB1. 3. New York Jets: Peter Woods, DT, ClemsonPlaying back inside full-time this season, Woods has continued to show his blend of power and explosion against the run — he can control multiple gaps at once. Woods’ pass rush has also heated up, as the Clemson junior now has four combined pressures in his last two games. The Jets could be in the first-round quarterback discussion come winter, but Aaron Glenn’s squad still needs plenty elsewhere, including more long-term help at DT. 4. New York Giants: Spencer Fano, OT, UtahA starter since his true freshman season, Fano (now a junior) already has starting experience at both right and left tackle. He is an explosive, athletic blocker who maintains power on the move and is very difficult to get the corner against. The Giants are still in search of another functioning starter opposite Andrew Thomas but should be able to check that box next spring. 5. Carolina Panthers: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio StateMy favorite player in the class, Downs is a positionless backend defender who impacts the run game more than any other defensive back in college football. That was the case last year, too, when Downs was a true sophomore — and he was already one of the country’s best players when he was an 18-year-old freshman at Alabama. This is an area of need for Carolina. Downs could fall due to his perceived positional value, but anyone willing to take a shot on him should be rewarded. 6. Cleveland Browns: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South CarolinaPhysically, Sellers remains — and will remain — the most physically impressive quarterback in the class. He still needs to show more consistency throughout South Carolina’s SEC schedule and might benefit from another year of school. If his elite, dual-threat flashes become more of the norm, though, he could be the No. 1 pick. 7. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeThe Tennessee All-American is reportedly close to getting back on the field after suffering an ACL tear in January. When that happens, we’ll need to see whether or not he can return to his 2024 form. If he does, he’ll be a top-10 prospect. He would fill an area of need for the Dolphins, too, no matter who’s coaching them next season. 8. Las Vegas Raiders: Kadyn Proctor, OT, AlabamaProctor had a sloppy start in Alabama’s season opener versus Florida State, but he was back to being a house on wheels during the Tide’s recent win over Georgia. He is as physically impressive an OT prospect as you’ll ever see. If he can stack days like that Georgia performance, he could flirt with the No. 1 spot. 9. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk, edge, AuburnThere isn’t a defensive player in this class with a more impressive combination of physical tools and athleticism than the 6-foot-6, 285-pound Faulk, who can line up anywhere from zero- to nine-tech while maintaining above-average coverage range. A young junior (he turned 20 on Sept. 7), Faulk isn’t the most polished pass rusher just yet. But he’s been productive since his true freshman season and is off to another strong start, including seven pressures versus Oklahoma. No one is Micah Parsons, but this would be a steal for Dallas. Faulk could be a top-three player in the class. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah World, OT, OregonThis might be a bit high for World, who is just four games into his Oregon career after transferring from Nevada. But the hyper-athletic 6-8, 320-pounder is off to a strong start — he’s yet to give up a sack and has yielded just four pressures in four games. A former basketball player who is still fine-tuning his technique, World shows violent hands in the run game and has great potential at either right or left tackle. 11. Houston Texans: Francis Mauigoa, G/T, MiamiA starter every day of his college career, Mauigoa is not blessed with elite length and might look like a guard to some scouts. He has a chance to be dominant as an NFL guard or tackle, though, because his athletic explosion and active, violent hands make up for an awful lot. He’s also a winner and has been a critical piece of Miami’s recent run of success. 12. Minnesota Vikings: Avieon Terrell, CB, ClemsonTerrell already has forced five incompletions this season after racking up 14 a year ago. A great lateral mover who plays with good eyes and is difficult to stack, Terrell has also shown more activity near the line of scrimmage this season, picking up two sacks and six run stops through four games. 13. Chicago Bears: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre DameBen Johnson’s Bears are far from a finished product, but the lack of a dynamic playmaker in the backfield might be the biggest hole on the roster. Love — a top-five player on my board currently — would be an absolutely perfect fit with Johnson, who was able to work magic with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit. 14. Arizona Cardinals: T.J. Parker, edge, ClemsonIt’s hardly been a slow start to the season for Parker, the dynamic Clemson edge, who — like Woods — has been a playmaker since his true freshman year. Scouts are still looking for more consistent stretches of dominance from Parker, though, and he’s absolutely capable of delivering them. 15. Washington Commanders: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, OregonDowns, Love and Sadiq are the three players in this class who should be above the positional-value conversation. Sadiq is one of the most unique athletes in the country. An outstanding inline and space blocker who runs routes like a receiver, he’s 245 pounds of dynamite in the body of a cage fighter. 16. Denver Broncos: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona StateTyson is on pace to surpass his 75-catch, 1,098-yard campaign of a year ago — he already has 39 catches (and three games of 100 yards or more) this season. The most-balanced wide receiver prospect in America, Tyson is a terrific blocker with QB-friendly tendencies and the size to play anywhere. Sean Payton would be in love. 17. New England Patriots: Matayo Uiagalelei, edge, OregonThe biggest question about Uiagalelei entering the season was whether or not the flashes we’ve seen the past two years would be consistent. So far, so good. Uiagalelei has 18 pressures and four sacks this season and has been a force all over the field, including an impressive performance (six pressures, five hurries, one sack) at Penn State last week. 18. Baltimore Ravens: David Bailey, edge, Texas TechBailey might be the closest college football has to a professional pass rusher right now — the former Stanford edge has been able to flash his entire move set this season. He’s already up to 20 pressures and four sacks and could be the defender with the country’s deepest repertoire. 19. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Dante Moore, QB, OregonIt’s still early, but Moore has passed every test to this point with flying colors. A former five-star passer who sat behind Dillon Gabriel last season, Moore has shown the Jayden Daniels poise gene over and over again this year, playing under control while flashing elite athleticism and arm talent. His performance at Penn State was a huge eye-opener. Moore certainly could benefit from another year in school, but we’ll be talking about him in the top 10 come spring if he continues to play like this. 20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSUThe start of the 2025 season has been more up and down than Nussmeier would’ve liked, as his downfield accuracy has wavered inside an inconsistent LSU offense. Nussmeier is dealing with a shaky offensive line, as well, but this is a fifth-year player who needs to rise above those concerns. He has the potential to be a top-10 player in this class — but not without showing better consistency. 21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio StateA true junior, the 6-4, 243-pound Reese combines ideal linebacker size with above-average burst and movement skills to form a bit of a unique weapon in today’s game. He moves like a player 20 pounds lighter and, because of that, can be a factor both in coverage and as a pass rusher. He can even move around the box. Stock firmly up here. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa StateFlorida star DT Caleb Banks has been sidelined with a foot injury, which could create some movement on the defensive tackle board. Georgia’s Christen Miller is also a candidate to start moving up, but Orange is the second DT selected here. He is a balanced, powerful and sturdy presence, at 6-1, 328. Add in his exceptional explosion and you have a very versatile interior defender. 23. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Xavier Chaplin, OT, AuburnThere is still a bit of rawness in Chaplin’s game, as the 6-7, 335-pounder is more a collection of elite tools than a finished product. He’s been up and down through Auburn’s first two SEC game, but he’ll climb draft boards if he can find consistency the rest of the way. 24. Kansas City Chiefs: LT Overton, edge, AlabamaScouts entered the season wanting to see more production from Overton, as the 6-5, 278-pounder had some prior issues converting pressures into sacks. He’s responded, picking up a sack against Wisconsin and Georgia in back-to-back weeks and at least one pressure in every game so far. 25. San Francisco 49ers: Makai Lemon, WR, USCThis might be too low for Lemon. We’ll see. The USC standout isn’t huge (5-11, 195), but he rivals Tyson as the draft class’ most QB-friendly receiver. He’s a great route runner with terrific body control, dependable hands and more ability in the air than his size says he should have. There are moments when he reminds me of former USC and current Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown. 26. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): Denzel Boston, WR, WashingtonA big-bodied outside weapon with a bunch of wiggle, Boston has made at least five catches in three of Washington’s four games. He’s a gigantic target with power and great ball skills. He’ll give off a few Puka Nacua vibes to those watching closely. 27. Seattle Seahawks: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSUOne of the top performing defensive transfers this season, Delane was a super-productive corner at Virginia Tech and has had no trouble adjusting to life in the SEC . The 6-0, 190-pounder already has four pass breakups this season (giving him 15 for his career) and has forced six incompletions (giving him 14 and counting over the past two years). 28. Indianapolis Colts: Arch Manning, QB, TexasHow’s this for a good time? Manning has not had the start scouts were looking for, so it begs the question: Is the player we’ve seen over the season’s first month a glimpse at what Manning will ultimately become? But he’s only been a starter for a month, under some of the brightest lights anyone can imagine. His arm talent is still elite, and though he probably needs another season at Texas, he’s going to be on every QB-needy team’s radar until he officially says he’s heading back to Austin for 2026. 29. Los Angeles Rams: Caleb Lomu, OT, UtahThe other half of Utah’s stellar OT duo, Lomu could have a rather wide range. Like Fano, Lomu has yet to allow a sack yet this season. He’s been more up and down as a run blocker than I would have liked, but his potential is clear. He feels like a first-round prospect — perhaps one who belongs higher than 29. 30. Detroit Lions: Connor Lew, C, AuburnFor all of us outside the Lions’ war room, this feels like an absolutely perfect fit … which means Brad Holmes will probably go somewhere else. We’ll see what Detroit does about its center position long-term, but Lew might be the most NFL-ready prospect at the position since Tyler Linderbaum landed with the Ravens in 2022. 31. Philadelphia Eagles: Colton Hood, CB, TennesseeJust a redshirt sophomore, Hood — who played with Travis Hunter and DJ McKinney last year at Colorado — is off to a great start during his first year in the SEC. He leads the Vols with five pass breakups and five forced incompletions. A very sturdy player, Hood (6-0, 195) could give Tennessee the best cornerback duo in college football, if/when McCoy gets back. 32. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen, LB, GeorgiaThe hyper-athletic Allen, Georgia’s starting inside linebacker the last two seasons, is a tad undersized at 6-1, 235. But he has all the requisite movement and IQ skills to be an every-down, green-dot-wearing mike LB in the NFL. Allen also has terrific coverage range and already has two pass breakups this season. |
