It is currently not a penalty for a defender to splinter a running backs knee while making a tackle.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The hit that ended Browns running back Nick Chubb’s is legal. Should it be?

It’s something Chris Simms and I addressed on PFT Live the morning after a submarine hit from Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick blew out Chubb’s knee. Whether it was or dirty is subjective; whether it was legal is objective.

It is perfectly legal. Ball carriers can be hit any which way the defender chooses, as long as the defender does not lower his helmet and make forcible contact with it.

Fitzpatrick did not do that. He made a legal tackle. But should that tackle be legal?

A decade ago, it wouldn’t have been a question. But as the NFL became obsessive about blows to the head of pass throwers and pass catchers, other players started to complain that the league doesn’t care about knees. The league, possibly motivated in part by the desire to justify the push for more regular-season games, began to limit the situations in which a player could go low when striking another player.

When it comes to getting a ball carrier onto the ground, it’s still legal to aim for the knees. It’s one of the reasons the running back position is so dangerous, so demanding. So unforgiving. Running backs are like giant magnets rolling through a warehouse full of anvils, and the anvils come flying at the magnet from every possible angle.

In Chubb’s case, Fitzpatrick came in low as Chubb was engaged high. The easy tweak to the rulebook would be to prevent all contact below the waist when the ball carrier is engaged above the waist by a would-be tackler. It would be the same concept behind the chop block, which prevents a player from cutting a defensive player who is engaged in an above-the-waist block.

Whether that happens remains to be seen. The formal, annual effort to look at the rules is months away. Will the NFL or the NFL Players Association prioritize a potential discussion on whether a change like this should be made?

While it won’t help Nick Chubb, it could prevent similar injuries in the future.

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

Bears DC Alan Williams has “resigned.”

Here’s the official story from Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com:

Alan Williams has resigned as the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator, the team announced Wednesday.

“I am taking a step back to take care of my health and family. I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Chicago Bears, a storied NFL franchise with a rich history,” Williams said in a statement.

“I value the NFL shield and all that it stands for and after taking some time to address my health, I plan to come back and coach again,” he added.

Williams, 53, has been away from the Bears since last week with what the team classified as a personal reason.

Both the Bears and Williams’ lawyer said a report in Chicago of police activity at the team facility was inaccurate.

“He has tremendous respect for the Bears organization and he just thought it was the time to handle this health issue and his personal matters,” Andrew M. Stroth, a sports attorney based in Chicago who is Williams’ personal attorney, told ESPN.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus took over defensive playcalling duties Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and said earlier Wednesday that he would continue to call the defense this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs if there was no resolution with Williams.

The Bears hired Williams in February 2022, shortly after Eberflus got the head-coaching job. Williams spent four seasons as the Indianapolis Colts’ safeties coach while Eberflus was the team’s defensive coordinator. It was his second stint with Indianapolis after coaching defensive backs there for 10 seasons from 2002 to 2011.

Williams was the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013. He has more than three decades of coaching experience.

This story from Ryan Glasspiegel in the New York Post trades in some of the other talk swirling around Williams and his departure:

Earlier Wednesday, Eberflus, who is expected to calls plays for the defense Sunday versus the Chiefs, declined to say whether Williams remained with the team.

“I don’t have any update right now,” Eberflus said at the time.

Shortly thereafter, Sports Talk Chicago reported law enforcement raided Williams’ home and the Bears’ headquarters at Halas Hall “in connection with an undisclosed incident.”

A Lake Forest police source was not aware of any activity involving local law enforcement at Halas Hall on Wednesday.

Per 670 the Score, a Bears spokesperson denied that Halas Hall had been raided by authorities, or that “police” had ever visited the facility in connection with Williams.

Brad Biggs, a longtime Bears reporter for the Chicago Tribune, expressed skepticism over Williams’ resignation statement.

“Lot of speculation about the status of #Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams. I can tell you for the last 3 days we’ve been operating under the belief that his absence has not been related to health or a family matter,” Biggs posted on X, formerly known as Twitter..

Does former Bears DB Peanut Tillman, now with the FBI, have a role in these murky tales?  Yes, he does.

These tweets sparked an Internet swirl, although Tillman’s role has been denied:

Jon Zaghloul

@JonZSports

BREAKING: According to sources familiar with the situation, both Halas Hall and Alan Williams’s home have been raided in connection with an undisclosed incident.

Alan Williams’s home was raided Sunday night, after the team’s Week 1 loss.

Halas Hall was raided THIS MORNING.

@JonZSports

MORE NEWS: Bears legend Charles Tillman broke the news about Alan Williams to Matt Eberflus, Ryan Poles, and Kevin Warren per sources.

Eberflus cried, and could not believe what had happened.

Ryan Poles and Kevin Warren DO NOT blame Eberflus for having Williams on his staff.

Is Zaghloul a fantasist who deserves condemnation or is the official account a coverup?

@JonZSports

I stand by my source, and my reporting regarding the Alan Williams and Bears matter.

I care about the truth of the situation. I’m not in it for clicks, shares, or likes. I never have been, and never will be.

We shall see.

In researching Williams, we were reminded of this that indicates he just may not be cut out for the coordinator level:

Alan was previously DC with the Vikings and had the 32nd ranked defense. As soon as they fired him they had the 11th defense next year

Than we saw this season how bad Alan Williams was

Why is he not on the hot seat?

And this happened:

@BradBiggs

If you’re looking for more #Bears news … the team terminated the contract of QB Nathan Peterman, who was the No. 2 to Justin Fields through the first two weeks.

MINNESOTA

Coach Kevin O’Connell, the former LAR OC, knows what he is getting into with RB CAM AKERS who got crossways with Sean McVay and the Rams.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

The Rams and Cam Akers are parting ways.

Los Angeles is sending Akers to Minnesota via trade, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday, per sources. The Vikings will send a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick to the Rams in exchange for Akers and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, the teams announced later.

Akers’ time in Los Angeles was tumultuous to say the least. The former second-round pick began his career by averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rookie in 2020, then played in just one regular-season game in 2021 due to an Achilles injury suffered during offseason activities. The fact he returned at all that season remains a remarkable achievement, but after winning a Super Bowl with Los Angeles, Akers became displeased with his role in the Rams offense in 2022, requesting a trade and stepping away from the team while awaiting a decision on his fate.

Los Angeles decided to keep Akers, welcoming him back to the team following the trade deadline. He went on to post some of the best games of his career down the stretch in 2022, but failed to sustain that momentum through 2023. Backup Kyren Williams outperformed Akers in Los Angeles’ season-opening win over Seattle, and with Akers sensing he’d lose snaps to Williams in the weeks ahead, a chasm developed between coach Sean McVay’s staff and the running back. McVay decided to play Week 2 without Akers, making him a healthy scratch for the Rams’ eventual loss to the 49ers, all but sealing his fate in Los Angeles.

Akers heads to Minnesota with the hopes of finding a more prominent role in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. The Vikings have gained just 69 yards on the ground in two games with a backfield led by Alexander Mattison, and could use the help of another hard-running back.

Akers will attempt to fill such a role with Minnesota after officially closing the book on his tenure in Los Angeles.

Akers value is deemed to be the difference between a 6^th and 7^th round pick, or in other words, not much.

More from Bryan deArdo of CBSSports.com:

The Los Angeles Rams have traded Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings for a swap of 2026 late-round picks, the Rams announced on Thursday. The trade comes three days after it was initially reported that Akers was on the trading block. Akers was inactive Sunday for the Rams’ 30-23 Week 2 loss against the 49ers.

On Monday, head coach Sean McVay essential confirmed Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer’s report by telling reporters that general manager Les Snead has spoken with a few teams about Akers, per The Athletic.

“Felt like that was best for our football team,” McVay said, via NFL.com. “Felt like Kyren [Williams] gave us the best opportunity and what Ronnie (Rivers) and Royce (Freeman) had done, so that was the decision that I made.”

A former second-round pick, Akers helped the Rams win the Super Bowl during his second season after recovering from an Achilles injury that was sustained during the summer. He rushed for a career-high 786 yards and seven touchdowns last year despite asking for a trade during the first half of the season. Akers had just 29 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries during the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the Seahawks.

“I have tremendous respect for Cam Akers, but I felt like for our football team today and in this game and as we moved forward, that was going to be the best decision for us,” McVay added.

In Minnesota, Akers will join a Vikings rushing attack that is last in the NFL through two weeks. Akers will reunite with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was the Rams offensive coordinator during Akers’ first two seasons.

How’s how each team graded out from the trade that sent Akers to Minnesota:

Vikings: B

Give credit to the Vikings for actively trying to improve their situation at running back. It was clear after two weeks that they needed something to kickstart their ground game, and in Akers the Vikings have a former second-round pick who is familiar with O’Connell. Minnesota got extra credit for acquiring Akers for minimal cost.

Akers hasn’t been elite, but when healthy he served as a more than capable starter for the Rams. That might just be good enough for the Vikings, who currently sit at 0-2 entering Sunday’s game against the also winless Chargers.

Rams: C

Sure, the Rams like Kyren Williams and given his Week 1 performance, it wasn’t like Akers was going to be a key part of the offense. But the fact that the Rams barely got anything in return for Akers isn’t great, especially given the fact that they reportedly spoke with multiple teams about him.

That being said, the Rams really had no leverage in this situation. They wanted to trade Akers, other teams knew this and likely weren’t willing to give up much. They didn’t get much in return, but the fact that the Rams got anything for a player who averaged 1.3 yards per carry in Week 1 is something.

AFC WEST

DENVER

Aric DiLalla of NFL.com with some Broncos notes, including Vic Fangio looming on the horizon:

As the Broncos look to rebound from an 0-2 start, both Head Coach Sean Payton and quarterback Russell Wilson have called upon their previous experience in responding to adversity.

In 2017, the Payton-led Saints responded from an 0-2 start to win 11 games and earn a postseason appearance. Wilson, meanwhile, has bounced back from each of his two career 0-2 starts to make the playoffs.

“Yeah, definitely do,” said Wilson on Wednesday when asked if he calls upon that experience. “Definitely been to the playoffs before [after having] been down 0-2. The good thing is you’ve got more pitches coming, more games to play. You don’t blink. I think the biggest thing is staying focused on the task and staying focused on progress and staying focused on the journey.”

Payton’s Saints started the 2017 season with a 10-point road loss to the eventual NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings and 16-point home loss against the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots. The Saints responded to those two losses by posting a 34-13 win over the playoff-bound Panthers to kick-start an eight-game winning streak. New Orleans would earn a playoff win that season before a last-second loss in Minneapolis ended the Saints’ season.

“We opened the season at Minnesota, and it also when the Super Bowl was going to be played at Minnesota,” Payton said Wednesday. “I remember collectively as a team we wanted to start the season at Minnesota and end it there. Now, I didn’t know how correct I’d be.”

Wilson and the Seahawks, meanwhile, responded to 0-2 starts in 2015 and 2018 with playoff runs of their own. In 2015, Seattle evened its record at 2-2 before falling again to 2-4. With eight wins in their last 10 games, the Seahawks posted a 10-6 mark and earned a wild-card win over the Vikings.

Three years later, Seattle matched that record after an 0-2 start that included a season-opening loss in Denver. Seattle faced a 4-5 record before winning six of its last seven games to again make the postseason.

As Payton and Wilson both emphasized, those turnarounds don’t happen without the necessary work — or by fully turning the page to the next game.

“Listen, you’ve got to get on to the next game,” Payton said. “You’ve got to make the corrections. You can’t just blindly say, ‘All right.’ You’ve got to make the corrections, and this will be a good test for us. [It’s] a good team we’re playing, obviously.”

In seven of the last 10 seasons, an 0-2 team has made the postseason. The Broncos will look to take their first step toward that turnaround on Sunday in Miami.

– – –

The Broncos will face former head coach Vic Fangio for the first time during Sunday’s game, and both Payton and Wilson had high praise for the defensive signal caller.

Wilson called Fangio “one of the all-time greats” as a defensive coach, and Payton acknowledged the difficulty of finding chunk plays against Fangio’s defense.

“You have to sustain drives, and it is hard to find big plays based on the structure of his defense,” Payton said. “It is easy to say they’re very sound. Most defenses are, but it’s the technique they play with, and they’re well-coached.”

Payton said as the Broncos approach the matchup, he’s picked the brains of several players and coaches who have played for or worked with Fangio — either directly or last year in a similar system.

“All these guys, we’re surrounded in last year’s scheme,” Paytons said. “We’ve had a number of discussions [while game-planning] last night where I walked down the hallway, [and said] ‘What do you think?’

“I was just talking to Kareem [Jackson] earlier. Right when I walked out to practice, I had a question regarding some red-zone stuff.”

Wilson holds a 5-3 record in his career against a Fangio-led defense, while Payton is 3-2 in his head-coaching career when facing Fangio as a defensive coordinator or head coach.

– – –

The offense that QB Drew Brees effortlessly processed, seems to be going over the head of QB RUSSELL WILSON.  So Sean Payton is trying to adapt.  Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

An early-season issue has emerged for the Broncos, regarding the calling of plays on a timely basis.

Coach Sean Payton has addressed it multiple times since Sunday’s loss to the Commanders. He was asked about it again, during his Wednesday press conference.

Payton said that the process of streamlining the play calls in advance of Sunday’s game at Miami began on Tuesday.

“We did it last night when we put the plan together,” Payton said. “So, if a play [is] X Curl, Z Post, Y Shake, let’s call it [something different] and come up with code names that help do that. That was last night.”

Quarterback Russell Wilson, who reportedly resisted using a wristband while in Seattle, is using one. But not all plays are on it. That’s part of the adjustments Payton is making.

“We always have a wrist band,” Payton said. “There are certain plays that are going to be longer. I’ll say, ‘Russ, let’s run No. 2,’ or, ‘Let’s flip No. 2,’ on the left hash or right hash. In hindsight last week, there are probably four or five plays that would have been easier had they been wrist banded, but we can still reduce the verbiage.”

Payton said it wasn’t a problem until Week 2.

“Preseason was smooth, and then Week 1 was smooth,” he said. “We probably had too much with some of these plays. Looking back on it, that’s something we can correct on our end and be quicker. There’s that happy balance of getting it in fast, but also getting it called to the line. I’m sure we were a little bit heavy relative to the length of some of the plays.”

Many interpreted Payton’s comments to reflect a not-so-subtle dig at Wilson’s ability to hear the play call and to communicate it quickly. During Payton’s time with the Saints and Drew brees, that was never an issue.

Others viewed the situation as partial vindication of one-and-done coach Nathaniel Hackett, given that getting the plays communicated from the sideline to the quarterback to the rest of the offense was an issue throughout the season.

Here’s the biggest difference. Last year, it lingered. This year, Payton is trying to nip it in the bud.

LAS VEGAS

The Raiders have classified their problems with EDGE CHANDLER JONES as a “non-football injury.”  Jason Owens of YahooSports.com:

The Las Vegas Raiders have placed Chandler Jones on the non-football illness list, the latest turn in a saga that’s seen the Pro Bowl defensive end miss the start of the season while making a string of bizarre social media posts.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news Wednesday, which the Raiders had not announced. Per the report, Jones was placed on the list to deal with a personal issue, and he’ll be welcomed back to the team if his situation improves.

Jones, who joined the Raiders last season following a 2021 Pro Bowl effort with the Arizona Cardinals, was inactive for the first two Raiders games of the season. He’s likewise been absent from practice for what head coach Josh McDaniels called Sept. 8 “a personal situation and a private matter.”

“We have dealt with it and I am not going to talk about it,” McDaniels continued while speaking with the media two days before Las Vegas’ season opener against the Denver Broncos.

Jones absence from the team coincided with a flurry of expletive-laden social media posts that he made starting Sept. 5, with one declaring that he doesn’t want to play for the Raiders any more.

“Don’t wanna play for the Raiders if that’s my HC, or GM,” Chandler wrote on an Instagram story that is no longer live. He also wrote that the Raiders wouldn’t let him in the building and that he had “to go to a local to gym to work out.”

In the following days, Jones continued to post on social media including a message that the Raiders had sent a crisis response team to his house. He included an image of a badge purported to be that of the crisis team’s manager.

He also shared a screen grab of a text conversation that he purportedly had with McDaniels while expressing dissatisfaction with not playing in addition to a video of himself sitting in the dark saying that the Raiders tried to “spook me.”

On Friday, Jones made unfounded and since-deleted accusations against Raiders owner Mark Davis on social media. He later posted that his account was hacked.

Now, five days later, the Raiders have placed Jones on the non-football illness list. Nothing else is publicly known regarding Jones’ health or state of mind.

Jones, 33, is an 11-year NFL veteran. A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, he was one of the NFL’s fiercest defenders and pass rushers at his peak. He started 15 games for the Raiders last season in the first year of a three-year, $51 million contract. He recorded 4.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, three fumble recoveries and three passes defended.

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

Will he play or won’t he?  Coach Zac Taylor teases with signs of encouragement.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Bengals coach Zac Taylor does not yet know whether quarterback Joe Burrow will be available Monday night against the Rams, but the early signs have been encouraging.

Taylor told Rich Eisen that the Bengals will take their time evaluating Burrow’s calf injury but that that so far things are looking positive.

“It’s been an encouraging early part of the week,” Taylor said. “I’ve learned enough in my five years here to not assume anything. We’ll just take it day to day with him. He’s been a little sore early in the week, but we’ll see how it goes. Fortunately we get an extra day here.”

Burrow suffered the calf injury during a training camp practice, and then aggravated it in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. Taylor indicated that the Bengals will be cautious with Burrow and not put him on the field if there’s any risk of making the injury worse.

“The No. 1 thing is Joe’s health, and making sure he’s healthy in the short term and the long term,” Taylor said.

Despite the Bengals’ 0-2 start and Burrow’s injury, Taylor said he feels good about where the team is heading. That feeling will be hard to sustain if the Bengals fall to 0-3 on Monday night.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

Bills S TAYLOR RAPP is now a marked man.  Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com:

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams said he did not want to talk much about the hit he took to the left side of his helmet from Bills safety Taylor Rapp late in the Raiders’ 38-10 loss at Buffalo on Sunday.

Until he did.

Adams, who was taken off the field and evaluated for a concussion after the blow and did not return to the game, took his own shot at Rapp on Wednesday.

“Was it unnecessary? Completely, obviously,” Adams said. “But certain players play a certain way too. Some people, out of control, they fly around, they don’t really have much true purpose out there. I mean, playing a half field on one side, you run over and hit somebody in the head on the other side of the field.

“That’s the kind of stuff that contributes to you not being on the field. That’s why you’re in when you’re blowing us out by 25 at the end of the game. Maybe if that man learns how to play the game the right way, he’ll see the field. Until then, he’ll have to go and live off of plays like that, I guess.”

Rapp, a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, started 48 of 57 games for the Rams. He is in his first season with the Bills, where he has yet to start.

Adams was a full participant in practice for the Raiders on Wednesday.

Rapp was not listed on the Bills’ injury report.

NEW YORK JETS

From the mind of Jay Cuda:

@JayCuda

The Jets are 1-13 in their last 14 games against bird teams

(in aviation as well birds are a problem for jets)

They are also not very good against patriotic teams.

THIS AND THAT

RANKING THE 2-0 TEAMS

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com ranks the 9 2-0 teams (three in the NFC South) from 9 (fraud) to 1 (legit):

Two weeks of the 2023 NFL season are over, and more than a quarter of the league remains unbeaten. That’s right: Nine different teams enter Week 3 with a 2-0 record. But just as some of the NFL’s winless clubs appear more competent than others, it’s fair to wonder which of the remaining “perfect” contenders is most likely to sustain success in the win column.

Knowing full well that things could change in a matter of another week or two, here’s how we’d rank the 2-0 teams according to the “legitimacy” of their spotless record in the standings:

9. Commanders

Sam Howell has shown lots of fight under center, and he’s now 3-0 as a starter in Washington. But their two wins have required some ugly scratching and clawing with the Cardinals and Broncos, two of the least-regarded teams to open 2023. This team has the makings of a scrappy spoiler, but their mettle will really be tested in upcoming games with the Bills and Eagles.

8. Falcons

It’s been so far, so good for Arthur Smith’s run-heavy script, which helped Atlanta cruise past the Panthers and then storm back against the Packers. Desmond Ridder’s grit was particularly apparent in Week 2’s upset of Green Bay. Like the Commanders, we just need a bigger sample size to fully buy in, and upcoming games (at Lions, vs. Jaguars) should help reveal the truth.

7. Buccaneers

This is what happens when you set the bar extremely low. With Baker Mayfield replacing the retired Tom Brady, the Buccaneers were tabbed a potential laughingstock. Instead, Todd Bowles’ defense has returned to form, clamping down on both the Vikings and Bears, while Mayfield has controlled the ball while feeding a motivated Mike Evans. At the very least, they are Grade-A feisty.

6. Saints

Derek Carr’s Big Easy debut has not been very pretty, but Dennis Allen’s defense has been so fast and physical it hasn’t really mattered. And odds are, as the year goes, Carr will only get more comfortable, especially as weapons like Alvin Kamara return to the fold. This might still be a wild-card team at best, but if the “D” is really this good, they’ll be a tough out all year.

5. Ravens

The early returns on Todd Monken’s offensive system are promising, with Lamar Jackson staying patient behind a sturdier front in a key win over the rival Bengals. Roquan Smith, Geno Stone and their defense remain opportunistic. The lingering questions, as per usual, mostly have to do with health. Odell Beckham Jr. is now banged up, and they’re already down other starters.

4. Eagles

The Super Bowl standard has lessened the shine on their record, as they’ve had to fend off comeback attempts from both the Patriots and Vikings. Star quarterback Jalen Hurts has been particularly mercurial — a bit jarring after his ultra-smooth 2022. And yet, the run game exploded to life in Week 2, the defensive line remains a force, and they’ve got the passing-game talent.

3. Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa has done everything so far to prove his early 2022 leaps were no fluke, airing it out with ease in back-to-back wins against the Chargers and Patriots. Coach Mike McDaniel just really knows how to utilize the speed at his disposal, and if Vic Fangio’s defense keeps making strides as it did against New England, you’re talking about a well-rounded title contender.

2. 49ers

Speaking of well-rounded title contenders, there’s probably no better-balanced team than in San Francisco. The Rams offered a scare in Week 2, but when everything is clicking, the 49ers aren’t lacking anything: Brock Purdy remains reliable under center, Christian McCaffrey remains in peak multipurpose form and the defense has made plays when it matters most.

1. Cowboys

America’s Team = Dream Team? OK, not so fast, but consider that Dallas has outscored opponents 70-10 through two weeks without really needing its Dak Prescott-led offense to explode. Prescott, by the way, did plenty against the Jets’ elite “D” in Week 2, all while Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense stole the show yet again. The premium playmakers they have are undeniable.

Week 5 – Sunday Night Football – Cowboys at 49ers – feels huge.

NEXT STOP NFL

Coach Prime has impressed NFL decision makers.  Jeff Howe of The Athletic:

Deion Sanders is shaping up to be a prime target for NFL teams in need of a head coach.

Sanders hasn’t just captivated the college football world with his early success as Colorado’s boss. He’s also quickly piqued the interest of NFL decision-makers who are curious whether his unique coaching style can translate to the professional level.

The Athletic polled 10 high-ranking team decision-makers to gauge the league’s opinion on Sanders, and seven of them predicted Sanders would receive interview requests for the offseason head-coaching hiring cycle. The other three didn’t rule it out but believed it was too early to make a prediction.

“I’d definitely want to bring him in to hear what he has to say,” an executive said. “He’s a smart guy and a good coach who has had a lot of early success. You’d want to pick his brain to see if it could translate. He knows how to motivate his players. He’s crushed the transfer portal, and maybe that would carry over into team building through free agency.”

The Pro Football Hall of Famer became a first-time head coach in 2020 for Jackson State and led the program to a 27-6 record over three seasons, but he really made waves when he flipped top-rated recruit Travis Hunter from Florida State, legitimizing Sanders’ standing as a premier draw despite a relative lack of program resources.

Colorado then hired Sanders in December, and he went into recruiting overdrive in the transfer portal. He brought over his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Hunter and numerous other highly regarded recruits to the Buffaloes.

They’re off to a 3-0 start and ranked No. 19 in the country — already an impressive feat considering Colorado was 1-11 last season while getting outscored, 534-185. It had been their sixth consecutive season without reaching four victories.

“He clearly has a plan to develop young men,” an executive said. “It’s worked to this point. He has no issue putting people in position to do what they do best, doesn’t seem to micromanage and knows his strengths.”

Sanders has an obvious ability to relate to his players, and there’s a belief that his success in the transfer portal would carry over into NFL free agency. He has also proved he can generate a spotlight his players appreciate, and Sanders has done an interesting job of manifesting motivation through different types of adversity, self-created or otherwise.

Several of the executives characterized Sanders as a CEO-type of head coach who can oversee the operation from a grander scale, which is an important characteristic for a head coach. He has also hired highly regarded assistants, offensive coordinator Sean Lewis and defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, and Sanders delegates responsibilities to his assistants to draw upon their expertise.

He wasn’t Prime Time all the time’: Why Deion Sanders was beloved by his MLB teammates

And though there have been some prolific college coaches who have failed spectacularly at the NFL level, the executives believed Sanders shouldn’t be lumped in with that group. That’s because Sanders has played in the NFL at the highest level and should understand how to get the most out of players because he’ll understand what they need to be at their best. Generally speaking, past college-to-NFL failures happened because those coaches believed they could work with professionals identically as they did with student-athletes, and that’s been a disastrous recipe.

The desire for NFL teams to interview Sanders would be to assess his plan to run a locker room, develop players, build a staff, work with the front office with roster construction and sustain that success year over year.

“I love the energy he creates, and his players respond to it,” a general manager said. “I would think you have to at least sit down and talk with him. He’s a leader, smart, a great marketer and has the (credibility) as a player and now adding to it as a coach.”

But there are two important questions. First and most importantly, would Sanders even want to jump to the NFL? With the new name, image and likeness rules and transfer portal, Sanders essentially has untapped resources to build out his roster rather than having to deal with the salary cap and a draft system designed to maintain parity. A few of the executives believed Sanders wouldn’t want to leave the college game, though that wouldn’t stop them from trying to bring him in for an interview.

And if Sanders maintains this success, it’s only a matter of time before higher-profile programs with even bigger budgets come calling. The Alabama job might be the most coveted in the nation when Nick Saban retires, and there’s a belief in league circles that time isn’t far away.

There is no shortage of big-time programs with deep pockets that would surely be enticed by Sanders’ success and marketability if their current coach stumbles.

“I think he gets (NFL head-coaching interview) offers this year,” an evaluator said. “But I believe he is better in college where he can tilt the scales and dominate the talent pool with his ability to recruit. I think he would be successful in NFL, too, but could really create a long-term powerhouse in college.”

A general manager agreed.

“I just think Deion can dominate for an extended time in college,” the GM said. He’ll have to deal with parity in the NFL. He might not have the same impact (in the NFL that) he has in college because he will be limited in how many guys he can bring in and attract because of the cap and draft.”

The second key question relates to the rest of the season. Though Colorado has knocked off national runner-up TCU, Nebraska and Colorado State, the schedule will get far more difficult over the next two months.

It visits No. 10 Oregon on Saturday, hosts No. 5 USC a week later and has four more currently ranked opponents over its final five games. How will Colorado respond if it loses a couple in a row or gets blown out on national television?

“They beat the teams that they should beat,” a general manager said. “I’m interested in seeing how he adjusts his offense when the elements in Colorado change.”

There are plenty of variables at play in the coming months, but the NFL has been captivated by Sanders’ showing at Colorado. There’s enough reason to believe his system would translate to the professional level, just like there’s cause for concern over Sanders’ relative shortage of head-coaching experience.

But if there’s any belief whatsoever that Sanders can coach — and obviously that’s the case — organizations owe it to themselves to invite him for an interview.

After all, the most important factor is often the most apparent.

“He has been successful at everything he’s done,” a general manager said, “on and off the field.”

YOUNG QBs

Mike Sando of The Athletic spots a trend:

Third-year Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, one of the most dynamic college players while at Ohio State, sat before reporters Wednesday and sounded lost. Fields, 24, suggested he didn’t recognize himself when replaying the Bears’ 27-17 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.

Playing quarterback in the NFL is difficult. Time is required to learn and master the intricacies of the position. Only the best endure for the long term, provided they receive sufficient support and training along the way.

Recent brain drain at the position has been without precedent, putting the game’s most important position into less-proven hands. Carson Palmer, Alex Smith, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan and Tom Brady all retired from the NFL in recent seasons. No one could fault them. Those eight quarterbacks averaged 240 starts and 412 touchdown passes during careers averaging 17 seasons in length.

There is no next wave of super-seasoned quarterbacks to replace them, for reasons we’ll get into.

The result was evident in Week 1, when the average age for starting quarterbacks was the youngest in an opening week since 1957 when there were 12 teams instead of the current 32. Young isn’t necessarily bad, but quarterbacks successful enough to start deep into their 30s are generally better than any pool of less-accomplished players, which invariably includes flameouts.

The table below separates recent Week 1 starting quarterbacks into four buckets based on experience: 1-4 years, 5-8 years, 6-9 years and 13-plus years. The shaded final column shows a sharp decline in the number of quarterbacks with the most seasoning.

NFL Week 1 Starting QB Experience

2017        10           8            5            9

2018          8          12           4           8

2019         12          8            5          7

2020        13           6           6           7

2021        13           8            5         6

2022        11          11          5          5

2023        15           9           6          2

In 2017, there were nine quarterbacks with 13-plus years of experience. This season, there were two, a figure that included 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers, whose season with the New York Jets likely ended with an injury suffered in Week 1. Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams is the other starter with more than a dozen years of experience. There have been 4.5 per year on average since the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002.

NFL Week 1 Starting QB Average Ages

2023                     27.8

2022                    29.1

2021                     29.1

2020                    29.5

2019                    29.8

2018                    30.1

2017                    30.3

2016                    29.1 

2015                    29.8

2014                    29.9 

2013                    28.4

2012                    27.9 

2011                   28.8 

2010                   28.7

2009                   29.4 

2008                  29.0 

2007                    29.2

2006                   30.0

2005                    28.9

2004                    29.6

2003                   30.0

2002                   29.2

The drop in average age for Week 1 starting quarterbacks from 2017 (30.3 years old) to 2023 (27.9) is the largest for any six-year span since 1950, according to Pro Football Reference data. It was during this six-year stretch that Palmer, Smith, Manning, Rivers, Brees, Roethlisberger, Ryan and Brady retired, along with journeyman starters such as Josh McCown and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

With Ryan and Brady retiring after last season, the drop in average age for Week 1 starters from 2022 (29.2) to this season was the third-largest year-over-year decline since at least 1950, the earliest season for such data at Pro Football Reference.

The league has gotten younger at quarterback more quickly than almost ever before. There were 15 starting quarterbacks with less than five years of experience in Week 1, a peak reached one other time (2012) since 2002. Quarterbacks with less experience generally can handle less of the playbook, which sometimes results in scaled-back schemes that defenses can solve more readily. This all comes at a time when teams are limited to fewer offseason practices than ever before, per the collective bargaining agreement, so there’s less time to get young players ready.

The NFL ideally would be primed to enjoy the best of young and old quarterbacks for years to come. Younger stars Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert all earned top-tier commendation from 50 coaches and executives in 2023 Quarterback Tiers, with Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence gaining ground. Former MVP Lamar Jackson, still just 26, is in the mix as well.

But the heralded 2012 class of drafted quarterbacks, which would be entering its 13th season in 2024, has unraveled. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III met early retirements. Russell Wilson and Ryan Tannehill are holding on but might not be starters beyond this season. Kirk Cousins is still going strong but isn’t the superstar Luck, Griffin and Wilson could have been if their careers had maintained their early trajectories.

Cam Newton (2011 draft) and Sam Bradford (2010) are among the highly drafted quarterbacks who might be thriving in that 13-plus bucket if their careers had gone as hoped.

Consider the 2023 Week 1 starting quarterbacks listed below in the 9-12 years experience bucket. How many of those players will even be starting, let alone thriving, a few years from now? It’s difficult to find any.

• 1-4 years experience: Anthony Richardson (1), C.J. Stroud (1), Bryce Young (1), Brock Purdy (2), Desmond Ridder (2), Sam Howell (2), Kenny Pickett (2), Lawrence (3), Fields (3), Mac Jones (3), Burrow (4), Jordan Love (4), Hurts (4), Tua Tagovailoa (4), Herbert (4).

• 5-8 years experience: Daniel Jones (5), Jackson (6), Allen (6), Baker Mayfield (6), Mahomes (7), Joshua Dobbs (7), Deshaun Watson (7), Dak Prescott (8), Jared Goff (8).

• 9-12 years experience: Derek Carr (10), Jimmy Garoppolo (10), Geno Smith (11), Kirk Cousins (12), Russell Wilson (12), Ryan Tannehill (12).

• 13+ years experience: Stafford (15), Rodgers (19).

There’s a cyclical nature to such things in the NFL, but in an era when training, nutrition and expanded safety rules are lengthening careers, especially for quarterbacks, a run of poor drafts at the position from 2006 through 2016 is leaving a void that could compromise the level of play.

The 2000 through 2005 drafts produced Brady, Brees, Palmer, Manning, Rivers and Roethlisberger.

Of the 29 quarterbacks drafted in the first round from 2006 through 2016, only Stafford, Tannehill and Goff remain as starters. The 29 are listed below, with current starters in bold type. The class of 2006 would be in its 18th season now, an unrealistic expectation until recently.

2006: Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Jay Cutler

2007: JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn

2008: Ryan, Joe Flacco

2009: Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman

2010: Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow

2011: Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder

2012: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Tannehill, Brandon Weeden

2013: E.J. Manuel

2014: Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater

2015: Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota

2016: Goff, Carson Wentz, Paxton Lynch

It’s premature to say the NFL is at a quarterback crossroads, let alone entering any sort of crisis. Offensive production has been down through two weeks this season, but that really isn’t long enough to establish real trends, so there’s no use in reading too much into what has happened so far this season.

We do know the average age for starters has not been lower in more than six decades, and that this marks a huge change from only six years ago. It’s something to keep in mind when watching how this season and the next several play out.