J.J. WATT has a funny way of letting us know that he is the kind of guy who ponders and ponders over every decision.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Sometimes more options make choices more difficult.

The place between weighing options and making a decision is apparently where J.J. Watt sits as he searches for a new squad for the first time in his career.

Rumors have connected the three-time Defensive Player of the Year to Pittsburgh to play with his brothers or Green Bay to return home. Cleveland and Buffalo reportedly have an interest in the veteran defensive lineman. The Tennessee Titans have publicly stated that they’ve reached out. Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins is campaigning for his former teammate to join him in Arizona.

Beyond that, Watt is subject to constant barrages on social media, with fans asking him to take up with their favorite team. A Cardinals fan (presumably) with the Twitter handle KylerDhop wrote to Watt on Sunday, “You wanna sign somewhere or nah?”

J.J. responded:

“I scroll through door dash for like an hour before I pick a restaurant man…You’re gonna have to give me a second to choose a new team and city.”

– – –

Although Dr. Anthony Fauci was on TV Sunday once again pushing the date of normalcy back to 2022 and beyond, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is unusually optimistic about the NFL:

 As the nation begins to make real progress when it comes to beating back the pandemic, the National Football League has a growing sense of optimism that stadiums will be full during the 2021 season.

From the availability of vaccines to signs of potential herd immunity, some believe that, by Memorial Day, the tide will have turned dramatically. Then, by Labor Day, the question becomes whether pro football will be able to pack its venues.

As noted on Sunday, salary-cap calculations are proceeding under the assumption that the league will have 75-percent attendance in 2021.

Many factors will influence the ultimate reality. First, people need to welcome the opportunity to be vaccinated against the virus. As more and more and more people are getting it, tales of serious reactions or other complications are becoming extremely rare. Second, political winds need to change in states where extreme caution has been the prevailing view since last March.

There’s nothing wrong with extreme caution. At some point, however, extreme caution becomes counterproductive — especially as evidence mounts that we’re collectively getting the situation under control. For the NFL, a lingering political reluctance to return to normal (even if the circumstances justify it) could result in, for example, full stadiums in states like Florida and Texas but far fewer fans in California, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Again, much could change between now and Memorial Day and much will then change between Memorial Day and Labor Day. As the one-year anniversary of our upside-down reality approaches, it’s entirely possible that, within six months, many things could be rightside-up.

It’s far from automatic, however. People need to keep wearing masks. People need to welcome the opportunity to be vaccinated. If that happens — and if the FDA will get the Johnson & Johnson single-stick vaccine finally approved — things could possibly get on the right track.

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

The new regime in Detroit is likely to put a franchise tag on talented, but injured for much of 2020, WR KENNY GOLLADAY.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The NFL’s franchise tag window opens Tuesday with several high-profile players candidates to be tagged if sides can’t reach a long-term agreement before the deadline in two weeks.

Along with Dak Prescott and Chris Godwin, Detroit Lions receiver Kenny Golladay is a prime candidate to get franchise tagged in the coming weeks.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL NOW on Monday that Golladay is a strong candidate to get the tag.

“Another strong franchise tag candidate,” Rapoport said of Golladay. “I know they had talks last year about a long-term extension. Did not happen. Going to try again this year. But expect him to be tagged if they don’t get a deal.”

Golladay played in just five games in 2020 due to injury, generating 338 yards and two TDs on 20 catches. The injury-plagued season came off back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard seasons, including an NFL-high 11 touchdown receptions in 2019, his lone Pro Bowl year.

The receiver’s future is the second big decision new Lions general manager Brad Holmes will make after agreeing to trade Matthew Stafford.

Golladay is a playmaker on the outside who can win on mid-range routes and deep. The 6-foot-4 wideout has the size and hands scouts seek in young receivers. Golladay has averaged 16.8 yards per reception in his four-year career in Detroit, the second-highest in the NFL since he entered the league in 2017, per Next Gen Stats. His 9.7 yards per target places him tied for sixth among receivers over that span (tied with Julio Jones).

The 27-year-old is in line for a big payday should the Lions not utilize the franchise tag. It’s also possible Detroit could look at a tag-and-trade scenario with the wideout as it looks to cobble together assets for a rebuild.

Nearly the entire Lions receiver corps is slated to be free agents. Along with Golladay, Marvin Jones,Danny Amendola, Mohamed Sanu and Jamal Agnew are also heading toward the open market.

GREEN BAY

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com on the end game for QB AARON RODGERS:

The Packers already created $8.304 million of salary-cap space last week when they converted left tackle David Bakhtiari’s $11.072 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, which allowed them to prorate it over four years for cap purposes.

They almost certainly will do the same with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his $21.5 million in base salary ($14.7 million) and roster bonus ($6.8 million due in March). A more comprehensive restructuring of Rodgers’ deal — which could satisfy his desire to have more than just year-to-year security — could also be in play. Receiver Davante Adams, whose deal is up after this season, also could give the Packers some cap savings if he signed an extension.

He also could be in the end game of his bachelorhood if actress Shailene Woodley can be believed:

Aaron Rodgers‘ future in Green Bay has been much discussed this offseason, but on Monday night one aspect of his personal future was revealed: He’ll be getting married to actress Shailene Woodley.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Woodley told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that the two are engaged. Woodley added that football is not what she loves about Rodgers.

“I still have never been to a football game,” Woodley said. “Before I met him I’d never seen one football game before. When we met I knew he was a football guy but I didn’t know what kind of football guy he was. I don’t know him as a football guy. I know him as the nerd who wants to host Jeopardy!. That’s the dude I know. He just happens to also be very good at sports.”

Woodley said friends have filled her in on how good Rodgers is.

“I never thought I’d be engaged to somebody who threw balls for a living,” Woodley said. “Like I never thought as a little girl, I was like, ‘Yeah, when I grow up, I’m going to marry someone who throws balls, yeah!’ But he’s really just so good at it. He can throw fast balls, he can throw slow balls, high balls, low balls.”

Who is this Shailene Woodley?

This is what Rotten Tomatoes says about the 29-year-old from Simi Valley, California:

A veteran of the small screen from the age of eight, actress Shailene Woodley demonstrated early and often that she had the makings of a Hollywood star. Before she was even old enough to drive, Woodley charmed audiences in recurring roles on the teen angst drama, “The O.C.” (Fox, 2003-07), and as a young adolescent enduring the Revolutionary War in “Felicity: An American Girl Adventure” (The WB, 2005). Woodley soon secured a loyal fan base among young girls with her breakout role as a pregnant high schooler on “The Secret Life of an American Teenager” (ABC Family, 2008-2013). The youth-targeted melodrama proved a hit for the network, with the series debut ranking as its highest ever at the time. Woodley continued to grow as an actress during her tenure on the program, and within a few short years, wowed critics and audiences alike with her lauded performance of a bitter teenage daughter opposite George Clooney in the acclaimed comedy-drama “The Descendants” (2011). Only at the start of her career, Woodley had set the stage for future success on both television and film. She fulfilled that early promise with a series of roles in critically acclaimed box office successes.

Woodley is described as an environmental activist which may explain, in part, why this happened.

Dozens of celebrities have written a letter that urges President Biden to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“We urge you to remedy this historic injustice and direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to immediately shut down the illegal Dakota Access Pipeline while the Environmental Impact Statement process is conducted, consistent with the D.C. District Court’s decision and order” the letter says.

“With your leadership, we have a momentous opportunity to protect our water and respect our environmental laws and the rights of Indigenous people. This is our moment.”

More than 200 celebrities, climate activists, indigenous leaders and others signed the letter addressed to Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Aaron Rodgers, Jane Fonda, Cher and Mark Ruffalo were among those who signed the letter.

The Dakota Access Pipeline covers nearly 1,200 miles.  It carries oil from North Dakota to Illinois.  In 2016 and 2017, thousands of people participated in protests against the pipeline, which sometimes became violent.

Biden signed an executive order on his first day in office to stop the construction on the Keystone XL pipeline. Supporters of the pipeline say Biden’s order effectively eliminated thousands of jobs.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

The WFT is likely to shell out some big Benjamins to keep G BRANDON SCHERFF.  Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post:

In the locker room after the Washington Football Team’s playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran tackle Morgan Moses told his linemate and good friend Brandon Scherff that he hoped the game wasn’t their last together.

“I said, ‘I hope it’s not either,’ ” Scherff told reporters the next day. “Being here for six years, playing with Morgan … just seeing how far we’ve grown and seeing how close we’ve become, I absolutely love him.”

It’s possible Scherff will be around for at least a seventh year.

According to people familiar with the situation, Washington could use a franchise tag on Scherff again, but the organization appears more interested in signing him to a long-term deal, with talks expected to start in the coming days.

Keeping Scherff on a long-term deal will be costly. Keeping him on a second franchise tag will be even costlier in 2021.

After playing last season on a $15.03 million tag, it’s widely believed that Scherff could reset the market for his position and fetch at least $15 million a year. Philadelphia’s Brandon Brooks leads all (non-franchise-tagged) guards with a $14.1 million average annual value.

“People are going to look at him as a high-end talent, and he’s probably going to be paid as the top guard that’s available,” said Jason Fitzgerald, the founder of salary cap website Over the Cap. “He’s one of those players where you put a bunch of per-game bonuses and stuff in there and try to protect yourself a little bit.”

The window to designate franchise players opens Tuesday and closes March 9, and even if Washington tags Scherff, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will play on the tag. The sides have until July 15 to hash out a long-term deal, and with a new contract, Washington can lower Scherff’s cap number with a prorated bonus and incentives.

If he’s tagged a second time, Scherff’s salary for 2021 will be $18.04 million, or 120 percent of his previous salary, which would put him in the pay range of the game’s top tackles and make him the fourth-highest-paid offensive lineman.

“It doesn’t make sense, but they have the cap space to do it,” CBS Sports salary cap analyst and former agent Joel Corry said. “It ensures he doesn’t leave. But it also ensures that you better get [a deal] done now because you’re not going to tag him a third time.”

According to Over the Cap, Washington is expected to have around $38 million in salary cap space, the fifth-highest number in the NFL, based on a projected cap of $180.5 million. (The league informed teams last week that the cap minimum for 2021 will be $180 million. The final number has not been determined.)

Though the pay on a tag is significant, it offers no future guarantees in a sport riddled with serious injuries. Scherff missed three games last year because of a medial collateral ligament sprain he suffered in Week 2. He has landed on injured reserve in each of the past three years and hasn’t played a full season since 2016, his second year in the league.

But when healthy, he’s one of Washington’s most valuable offensive players. Last season, according to Stats LLC, he allowed only one sack and committed only one penalty (a false start). He was the first Washington player since punter Matt Turk in 1996 to be named a first-team all-pro, and he was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl. Scherff was also voted by his teammates as Washington’s Ed Block Courage Award winner.

At season’s end, he said he “absolutely” wants to stay with Washington and praised Coach Ron Rivera and offensive line coach John Matsko.

“I’ve always said I want to stay where I got drafted,” he said. “And I’ve been here for six years, and I absolutely love it here. … We are building something here to absolutely make a run for it in the future.”

Keeping Scherff also would keep the right side of Washington’s offensive line intact until at least 2023. Center Chase Roullier re-signed on a four-year deal in January, and Moses has two seasons remaining on his contract.

“Those are the leaders up front for us,” offensive coordinator Scott Turner said last season. “They’ve done a great job, Brandon in particular. He brings it every day. He’s the same guy, the toughness, the blue-collar mentality. It helps, energizes and drives our team.”

NFC SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS

Is QB DREW BREES having second thoughts about his reported decision to retire?  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

On a February 3 appearance on PFT Live, Saints head coach Sean Payton said that he expected quarterback Drew Brees to make an announcement about his plans for the 2021 season in “the next week, week-and-a-half.”

We’re closing in on three weeks since that appearance and there’s been no word from Brees about his plans. If running back Alvin Kamara has any inside info on which way that’s going, he’s keeping it to himself.

Kamara was on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to promote his sponsorship of driver Ryan Vargas’ car and the topic of Brees came up during the conversation.

“As far as his career goes and retiring or playing still, a lot of people ask me that and I just say, ‘Drew’s going to take his time and make the best decision for him.’ He’s a legend,” Kamara said, via John Hendrix of SI.com. “He’s definitely going to go down as one of the greatest.”

Brees’ agreed to cut his 2021 salary by nearly $24 million in a move that helped the Saints’ cap situation and sent a clear signal that he won’t be continuing his playing career. The final announcement still needs to come from Brees and, once it does, he’ll move into the broadcast booth while Kamara gets used to life with a different quarterback.

TAMPA BAY

If this report from Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut is to be believed, the Buccaneers will not let WR CHRIS GODWIN get away in 2021.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin was one of the reasons Tom Brady picked this team. A year later, the Buccaneers are Super Bowl Champions and Godwin will be cashing in this offseason as one of the top pending free agents.

A third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the former Penn State Nittany Lions star has worked his way up to become a Pro Bowl wide receiver. With the Buccaneers hoping to run it back next season and the cap room to pull it off, Tampa Bay could be in the perfect position to reward Godwin with a well-earned contract.

The Athletic’s Greg Auman, who covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, expects Godwin to be tagged this offseason. While some consideration might be given to Shaquil Barrett, the free-agent market for him reportedly won’t be as strong as Tampa Bay will likely want to prioritize the younger player among its top pending free agents.

Godwin, who turns 25 on Feb. 27, would be one of the most coveted players on the open market this offseason. After a relatively quiet rookie season in 2017, Tampa Bay’s 6-foot-1 receiver quickly got comfortable. He broke through for 842 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2018 before making a gigantic leap in 2019.

With Jameis Winston under center, Godwin hauled in 86 receptions for 1,333 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The phenomenal campaign earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl and he was voted second-team All-Pro, despite missing two games.

– – –

Ultimately, the franchise tag could work out well for Godwin and the Buccaneers. The team guarantees its star wide receiver returns next season, making Brady and Bruce Arians happy. Meanwhile, Godwin gets $16-plus million and can test free agency in 2022 with the salary cap expected to rise.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

G MIKE IUPATI is calling it quits.  Brady Henderson of ESPN.com:

Four-time Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati, who spent the past two years with the Seattle Seahawks, is retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL.

Iupati announced his decision in an interview with The Spokesman-Review, saying, “My body was telling me it was time to close the door.”

The 33-year-old Iupati was a First Team All-Pro in 2012 with the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him 17th overall out of Idaho in 2010. He made three Pro Bowls in five seasons with the 49ers and one in four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He then played on consecutive one-year deals with the Seahawks, starting 25 games.

Iupati missed six games in 2020 while dealing with injuries to his knee, back and neck. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll referred to Iupati’s late-season neck injury as a stinger and said it was something he had dealt with earlier in his career. According to The Spokesman-Review, “a chronic neck condition convinced him he needed to give the game up.”

“I know I’m going to miss it,” Iupati told the newspaper about playing football. “But I’m kind of excited. I’ve got four boys and I’m taking care of them every day.”

For those unfamiliar, and we count ourselves among them, the Spokesman Reviewnewspaper serves the “Inland Northwest.”  It is published in Spokane, Washington.

– – –

Would you give up three first round picks for a 32-year-old QB?  Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:

When Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson went public with his desire to have a voice in personnel decisions and his frustration with getting hit too much earlier this month, word was that the Seahawks were unhappy about it and that led some to wonder if it was the first step toward a departure from the team.

Wilson said the question of whether he’s available in a trade is for the Seahawks to answer and teams have reportedly been asking. Michael Silver of NFL Media reports that one-third of the league has called the team about the possibility of a Wilson trade.

Silver adds that those teams have come away with the belief that the starting point for any serious conversations would be three first-round picks. That’s a bit different than word earlier this month that there was no chance that the team would trade Wilson, although it’s unclear if anyone has conveyed a willingness to move that number of assets to Seattle in a trade.

Trading Wilson would require the Seahawks to take $39 million of dead money onto their cap, although waiting to process a trade until after June 1 would allow them to push $26 million of it into the 2022 season. Silver also reported that the Seahawks got Wilson’s message and that there is an opportunity to alleviate his concerns before any trade would be on the table.

AFC NORTH

PITTSBURGH

Coach Mike Tomlin is COVID stricken and banished from the Steelers facility.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, an NFL team has been affected in the offseason.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was diagnosed with COVID-19 and is away from the team facility, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday, per sources informed of the situation. A Steelers spokesman would not confirm the specific case, but did say members of the coaching and personnel staffs were sent home last week after a couple of tests for the novel coronavirus ended up being positive.

The NFL completed its 2020 season with the conclusion of Super Bowl LV in early February amid the ongoing pandemic. The Steelers had at least three players — running back James Conner, tight end Vance McDonaldand cornerback Joe Haden — and a staff member test positive for COVID-19 during the season.

Tomlin’s diagnosis is the first notable positive test from a team since the offseason began following Super Bowl LV.

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

Can QB CARSON WENTZ be fixed?  Ted Nguyen of The Athletic:

In 2016, Carson Wentz blew away the Eagles in the pre-draft process with his football acumen and intelligence — so much so that they traded a king’s ransom to the Browns to move up from No. 8 to No. 2 for the opportunity to draft him. After an up-and-down rookie season, he looked like the franchise quarterback they envisioned. In 2017, he made dazzling plays in and out of structure, throwing for 33 touchdowns in 13 games before tearing his ACL. In 2019, he wasn’t as impressive statistically, but he led an injury-riddled Eagles team to a playoff berth. Then everything fell apart. You could make an argument that his 2020 season was one of the worst seasons from a starting quarterback that we’ve seen in a long time.

There were many factors in play that led to his dropoff, but the results were the results. Wentz was benched for second-round pick Jalen Hurts and his relationship with the team couldn’t be reconciled. After weeks of speculation, Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick and second-round pick that could turn into a first-round pick if Wentz either plays 75 percent of the snaps or the Colts make the playoffs and he plays 70 percent of the snaps. Really, Indianapolis — where he will be reunited with Colts head coach Frank Reich — was the only destination that made sense for Wentz.

What happened in Philadelphia?

What made Wentz special was his intelligence. He had an uncommon understanding of the game and even in college, he had complete autonomy to audible into any play he wanted.

“He processes information faster than anyone that I’ve been around in my years in the league,” a former staffer with the Eagles said. “When it comes to processing the game, Carson is without a doubt at the highest level that you can ask for.”

The Eagles hoped that Wentz would take ownership of the offense as Peyton Manning did for the Colts and then the Broncos. The staff listened to his input and installed plays that he liked, that made him comfortable. The collaboration wasn’t always smooth. There were times when the staff wanted him to just execute the play call or run the play as it was designed. When Reich was his offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016-17, the collaboration worked.

“Frank put his foot down. Frank would tell Carson: ‘This is what we are going to do and you have to trust us,’” the staff member said. “Carson needs someone in the room that he trusts.”

However, things began to deteriorate after Reich left to become the head coach of the Colts. Wentz had too much power within the organization, and he became hard to coach. People were afraid to tell him what to do because he had owner Jeffrey Lurie’s ear.

In 2020, things snowballed for Wentz. He looked like he didn’t trust the staff, his teammates and his defense. He audibled and changed plays at the line of scrimmage too often. He had to deal with a rash of injuries to his offensive line and receiving corps. At times, he held the ball too long trying to make plays in impossible situations. He double-clutched a lot and did not trust his receivers to be where they needed to be. All of these factors led Wentz to play too much hero ball.

A bigger problem was that these types of plays were hard to address because Wentz believed he had all the answers.

“Carson’s Achilles heel has been his intelligence and stubbornness,” the source said.

What can Frank Reich do?

A reunion with Reich is Wentz’s best chance to revitalize his career and if it happens, the Colts would have acquired a franchise quarterback for cheap. However, Wentz’s second chance won’t work if he doesn’t humble himself, take a step back, and trust the people around him. Unlike his first stint with Reich, Wentz is no longer a blank slate for NFL coaching. He’s developed bad habits and must be willing to allow himself to be coached and be intent on reinventing himself.

A noticeable example of his regression is his throwing mechanics. He struggled with accuracy during his rookie season in 2016 but worked hard to refine his mechanics, and his improvement played a large factor in his Year 2 ascension in 2017. In 2020, he reverted and displayed some of the mechanical problems that plagued him as a rookie.

By not properly sequencing his rotation, he didn’t create tension in his hips so that he could whip the throw. Instead, his arm has to try to compensate for the lack of power from the lower body, causing the arm to slash, which affects accuracy. This was most notable in his deep throws, where Wentz regressed the most in accuracy. On throws of more than 20 yards, Wentz completed 57.6 percent of them in 2019. Last season, that percentage dropped to 40 percent. His mechanics look to be the culprit on many of his missed deep throws, especially ones that require touch.

Reich and the Colts staff will have their work cut out for them with fixing Wentz, but I believe a lot of Wentz’s issues are correctable. Philip Rivers was written off after a disastrous 2019 season in which he threw 20 interceptions, but was much more efficient playing for Reich, cutting down his interception total to 11. Rivers wasn’t dazzling but he was effective enough at 39 years old to lead the Colts to a playoff berth.

The Colts hope that Reich can work his magic on Wentz, 28, who is much younger than Rivers. Aside from coaching, Wentz will also have a better supporting cast. The Colts have a hole at left tackle with Anthony Castonzo retiring, but they’ve drafted and developed well at offensive line, and their recent track record suggests that they’ll find a suitable replacement. Last season, the Colts defense finished seventh in defensive DVOA, Football Outsiders’ efficiency metric. If they can return to form and play near a top-10 level, Wentz won’t have to play as much hero ball.

Wentz has uncommon football acumen and though some of his physical ability has been diminished by injuries, he’s still very capable of making dazzling escapes and throwing strikes downfield. I don’t believe he’ll return to his MVP-level play in 2017 right away, but I think he’ll be more efficient, cut down on negative plays and steadily improve under Reich’s tutelage. The talent is still there, but for Wentz to get back to playing high-level ball, it’ll take an attitude adjustment. If that happens, this trade will look lopsided in the Colts’ favor.

JACKSONVILLE

Amy Palcic, who was told she did not fit the culture in Houston, is the new PR hire of Urban Meyer.  John Reid of the Florida Times-Union:

Jaguars coach Urban Meyer announced Monday night through his Twitter page the franchise has hired Amy Palcic to lead their communications team.

Palcic had been with the Houston Texans since 2013 and served as their vice president of communication before his dismissal this past November when the franchise was going through sweeping changes.

”I’m thrilled to be able to announce a very important addition to the Jaguars,” Meyer posted in a tweet. ”We’ve hired Amy Palcic to lead our communications team. Welcome to Jacksonville –  Amy.”

She was the first and only woman to head a public relations department for an NFL team, In 2017, Palcic’s staff won the 2017 Pete Rozelle award, presented annually by the Pro Football Writers of America to the best PR staff.

Cole Pepper of NewsJax4 with more:

It’s not immediately clear what the move means for others in the department. Tad Dickman left the team after the season ended to join the PGA Tour’s PR team. Dan Edwards, one of the longest-tenured employees of the Jaguars, was still listed on the team’s website as the senior vice president of communications. Edwards has been with the team since shortly after the franchise was granted to the city.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

QB CAM NEWTON reminds us he was a victim of COVID.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Cam Newton was the first big-name NFL player to test positive for COVID-19 during the 2020 season, which forced the New England Patriots quarterback to miss a game. The former NFL MVP said the virus short-circuited his season.

Speaking on the “I Am Athlete” podcast with Brandon Marshall, Newton said when he returned after the positive test, he struggled to pick up where he’d left off.

“I was one of the first football players to catch it, and it happened so fast,” said Newton of COVID-19, via the Boston Globe. “When I came back, that’s where the lack of an offseason and the lack of time in the system really showed itself. I was behind and I was thinking too much.

“The offense kept going, and I was stagnant for two weeks. It was all new terminology. I wasn’t just trying to learn a system for what it was, I was learning a 20-year system in two months.”

Newton started off the season averaging 238 passing yards per game, with two touchdowns passes, two interceptions and four rushing scores as the Pats went 2-1 in the first three games of the season before the QB’s positive COVID-19 test. The opening string included 397 yards passing in a loss at Seattle.

From there, Newton averaged just 161.9 passing yards in his final 12 starts of the season with six TDs and eight INTs as the Pats finished 7-9 and out of the postseason.

“They threw everything at me, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” Newton said. “At the end of the day, you have to go through things in that type of manner, to show yourself that you can’t skip processes. I’d be the first person to tell you that I needed time.”

While Newton had his moments, his passing was an issue for the bulk of the season. The 31-year-old missed far too many throws, struggling with accuracy and timing. True, he didn’t exactly have a great wideout corps around him — including Julian Edelman, who was injured much of the year — but too often, Newton didn’t raise the level of play of those around him.

We’re not quite sure what to make of this.  He’s not saying he was physically weakened by his bout with COVID.  We’re not sure why one week would throw one so mentally adrfit.  And it doesn’t sound like good coaching to race on mentally ahead of your starting QB.

NEW YORK JETS

Possibly because there is no demand elsewhere for his services, the Jets are “in no rush” to make a decision on QB SAM DARNOLD.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

The Jets are approaching a critical destination this offseason, and their path of descent could vary drastically.

In one plan, the Jets stick with Sam Darnold in 2021, and if the returns are positive, perhaps beyond. In the other, they move on and replace him with another option, likely selected with the No. 2 pick in April’s draft.

At this point, they’re still at their cruising altitude. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Jets are planning to complete evaluations of the top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft — including Pro Days and interviews — before making any decisions on Darnold, per sources informed of the situation.

The Jets have received real interest in Darnold, per Rapoport, but want to take their time to get a better view of the quarterback landscape as a whole entering 2021.

This, of course, is the wise way to approach things. Just because three significant quarterback names have been traded (in principle) in the last month, that does not mean the Jets have to rush to make Darnold the fourth.

New York spent the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft on Darnold and have done the least to help him become an effective NFL quarterback, cycling out receiving corps and offensive lines before firing his woeful head coach at the end of the 2020 season. Spending a pick one spot higher on another rookie who may or may not be less talented than Darnold might not end up being the best business decision.

On the other hand, the Jets have a ton of holes on their roster. Moving Darnold for picks while also keeping that No. 2 selection could put the Jets in a spot to reset at quarterback (perhaps with a lower ceiling that we might never see anyway) while also addressing multiple needs elsewhere. They’d also kick the “big quarterback contract” can down the road another half-decade.

All options are on the table, including who the Jets might take at No. 2. During the season, most thought it was Ohio State’s Justin Fields, but BYU’s Zach Wilson has gained a ton of steam in his rise up the board. Are either worthy replacements?

That’s for the Jets to determine — and they’re rightfully in no rush to do so with two months left before the draft.

Dan Orlovsky of ESPN has some tweets on the subject, saying rising draft prospect QB ZACH WILSON is no better than Darnold, but cheaper.

@danorlovsky7

To @nyjets fans. Anything you hear about Zach Wilson talent-trait wise….you hear about Sam Darnold.

The only reason to draft Wilson and move on from Sam is to completely re-set the financial timetable at QB.

Darnold is a more talented player skill wise

THIS AND THAT

TAG, WHO IS IT?

The NFL is getting ready for its annual game of franchise tag.  Gregg Rosenthal looks at who might be playing:

The lowered salary cap will lead to more veteran cuts across the NFL, as I wrote about last week. It could also lead to fewer players on the franchise tag.

Fourteen players were retained using the franchise tag last year, while Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake received the transition tag. Look for that total to decrease this year, in part because there is less money to go around. If you need a primer on what the franchise tag and transition tag actually are, check out the handy glossary at the bottom of this article.

Teams can first designate franchise or transition tag players on February 23 — and must do so by March 9.

One last note: All cap figures and projected tag salaries cited below come from Over The Cap, unless otherwise noted.

No-brainers

1 – Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys · QB

My No. 1 free agent and No. 1 no-brainer franchise tag choice remains the same from last offseason, despite an ugly ankle injury. If anything, the injury makes it trickier for the Cowboys to come up with a long-term deal Prescott will agree to before the March 9 tag deadline.

It is expected to cost Dallas $37.7 million to tag Prescott again, a 20 percent raise off his figure a year ago. The Cowboys aren’t dumb enough to let Prescott walk, but they haven’t been smart enough yet to commit to the 27-year-old quarterback, which would give them greater roster flexibility.

2 – Allen Robinson

Chicago Bears · WR

Keep an eye on a potential tag-and-trade with Robinson. Either way, Chicago can’t let its best offensive player leave for nothing, no matter how much he and Bears fans share frustration regarding the team’s quarterback situation. Chicago GM Ryan Pace has many difficult decisions to make on his veterans this year, but this shouldn’t be one of them.

3 – Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers · WR

I’m convinced — from watching the games to looking at Godwin’s playoff target totals — that this is Tom Brady’s favorite receiver to throw to. The Bucs are one of the few organizations with plenty of cap space and they are the ultimate win-now team, so this decision should be easy. Tagging Godwin, by the way, would mean Shaquil Barrett and Lavonte David hit the market.

4 – Taylor Moton

Carolina Panthers · OT

Moton has evolved into one of the better right tackles in football. A one-year deal for $13.6 million sounds like a bargain if the team can’t complete a long-term pact.

5 – Kenny Golladay

Detroit Lions · WR

Like Allen Robinson, this is a potential tag-and-trade scenario. It doesn’t make a ton of sense for the rebuilding Lions to pay Golladay nearly $16 million for 2021, only to lose him next season. But it makes even less sense to see one of their few homegrown stars leave for nothing more than a potential compensatory draft pick. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed Golladay is expected to be tagged if Detroit can’t sign him to a long-term deal, which makes sense because he’s a young player worth building around.

Say yes!

6 – Justin Simmons

Denver Broncos · S

Tagged last year for $11.44 million, Simmons would see his salary jump to $13.73 million in 2021. He has been excellent in both seasons under Broncos coach Vic Fangio, earning second-team All-PFF honors in 2020. Like with Fangio, the Broncos may prefer to go year-to-year with Simmons, even if his play has warranted a bigger commitment.

7 – Carl Lawson

Cincinnati Bengals · DE

Lawson’s name being included here is not a surprise to anyone who watched him play in 2020. Ranking fourth among edge rushers in pressures last season — above stars like Khalil Mack and Cameron Jordan by PFF’s count — Lawson is too good to let go of when the Bengals have plenty of cap space.

8 – Marcus Maye

New York Jets · S

The Jets may want to see Maye in Robert Saleh’s scheme before handing him big, long-term money, but one of the benefits of building an incredible war chest of cap space is keeping a quality homegrown player like this ascending safety without much trouble.

9 – John Johnson

Los Angeles Rams · S

This projection will surprise some Rams fans who believe the team needs to slash and burn to get under the cap. But Johnson is a core piece to L.A.’s defense, and the Rams showed in the past with Trumaine Johnson and Lamarcus Joyner that they are happy to go year-to-year with defensive backs somewhere just below Pro Bowl quality.

10 – Leonard Williams

New York Giants · DE

If nothing else, fans of the G-Men have to admit that general manager Dave Gettleman was right about Williams. Using the franchise tag on him a year ago, a much-criticized move, led to 11.5 sacks in a breakout season. Using the tag again — with a raise that would put his one-year earnings near $20 million — could still be tough to swallow. Don’t be shocked if Williams gets a massive long-term contract before the tag happens.

11 – Aaron Jones

Green Bay Packers · RB

I had Jones listed a category below before a little birdie noted how low the tag number is for running backs (about $8 million) and that Jones could be a candidate for the transition tag, like Kenyan Drake was a year ago.

Leaning no

1 – Shaquill Griffin

Seattle Seahawks · CB

I would use the tag on Griffin if I were Seattle general manager John Schneider. The Seahawks’ defense needs good players in the secondary to survive and Griffin is the best cornerback they’ve drafted since the “Legion of Boom.” Based on the Seahawks’ cap situation and track record, however, my guess is they let Griffin walk. This call is as close to 50-50 as any on this list.

2 – Matt Milano

Buffalo Bills · LB

The Associated Press reports that Milano will test free agency, and who am I to argue with such a monolith? I had Milano in this category before that report because the cap number for linebackers is so high ($14.6 million) and Milano is not a pass rusher. Even the top of the off-ball linebacker market, which Milano figures to hit, will be lower. The Bills still may value him more than the market, and could re-sign him in mid-March.

3 – Joe Thuney

New England Patriots · OG

4 – David Andrews

New England Patriots · C

Bill Belichick surprisingly paid Thuney nearly $15 million on the tag last season. Even though the left guard played well again, it’d be a bigger surprise, although not impossible, that Belichick would pay $17.7 million to do it a second time. The Patriots have the cap space to avoid losing two of their core linemen, but a long-term deal is more likely than the tag here.

5 – Curtis Samuel

Carolina Panthers · WR

Samuel should thank Panthers coach Matt Rhule for boosting his value and showing all he could do in a 1,000-yard season from scrimmage before hitting the free-agent market.

6 – Jonnu Smith

Tennessee Titans · TE

A bigger part of the Titans’ offense than he was given credit for, Smith still is unlikely to be tagged after failing to top 500 receiving yards in any of his four seasons.

7 – Bud Dupree

Pittsburgh Steelers · OLB

If the Steelers had more cap room and Dupree wasn’t coming off a torn ACL, he’d be far more likely to be tagged a second time in a row. Despite those major obstacles, I still wouldn’t completely rule it out. (JuJu Smith-Schuster being tagged, however, I would completely rule out.)

8 – Trey Hendrickson

New Orleans Saints · DE

9 – Marcus Williams

New Orleans Saints · S

Both players will be near the top of the free-agent pile at their respective positions, but the Saints’ cap issues make using the tag unlikely. Williams would be the likelier choice because he’d be cheaper.

10 – Haason Reddick

Arizona Cardinals · OLB

Reddick racked up six forced fumbles and 12.5 sacks in a breakout 2020 season. But the team chose not to pick up his fifth-year option last year, and I can’t imagine the organization is ready to admit it was that wrong in its evaluation of Reddick.

11 – Hunter Henry

Los Angeles Chargers · TE

Henry was the third-highest-paid tight end in football on the franchise tag last season. He’d be No. 2 behind Travis Kelce if the Chargers tagged him again, so a long-term deal appears more likely.

Unlikely to be tagged

12 – Matt Judon

Baltimore Ravens · OLB

13 – Yannick Ngakoue

Baltimore Ravens · DE

Judon is a quality player, but not a “get tagged in back-to-back years” quality player. Ngakoue underwhelmed in Minnesota and Baltimore last year, hurting his free agency value.

14 – Larry Ogunjobi

Cleveland Browns · DT

A splashy player who made a lot of noise in 2018, Ogunjobi hasn’t been consistent enough to be tagged.

15 – Anthony Harris

Minnesota Vikings · S

The Vikings can’t keep Harris and Harrison Smith long term, so Harris is likely to be set free this offseason.

Difference between franchise and transition tags?

Franchise tag: A one-year, guaranteed contract offer that prevents a player from hitting unrestricted free agency. The salary is based on the five-year average cap percentage for the tag at each position, stemming from the top five salaries at each position.

Transition tag: Also a one-year, guaranteed contract based on the five-year average cap percentage for the tag at each position, but the transition tag stems from the top 10 — not top five — salaries at each position, so it’s a bit cheaper. Most importantly, this tag allows players to sign offer sheets with other teams, but the original club has five days to match.

17-GAME SCHEDULE LIKELY FOR 2021

The NFL could have a 17-and-3 schedule in 2021.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Last year, the NFL secured the ability to expand the regular season to 17 games. The league is moving closer to officially implementing a 17-game schedule for 2021.

Via Mark Maske of the Washington Post, expansion of the regular season is “not yet certain,” but it’s currently believed that the league will adjust the annual 20-game slate from 16 regular-season games and four preseason games to 17 and three.

Owners previously had been debating whether to move the preseason to three or to two games. Last year, the NFL had no preseason games, due to the pandemic. This year, the pandemic once again could limit or eliminate the slate of exhibition games.

As one source with knowledge of the dynamics recently explained it to PFT, the push to complete new TV deals has more to do with officially expanding the regular season to 17 games and less to do with potentially borrowing against future revenues to increase the 2021 salary cap.

The NFL has staged a total of 20-game preseason/regular season for decades. Before the regular season moved to 16 games in 1978, the NFL played 14 regular-season games and six preseason games. Keeping the preseason at three games keeps the total slate at 20.

Perhaps more importantly, a 17-and-three approach also ensures that teams will host 10 total games per year. The 17-game regular season will result in half of the teams having nine home games and the other half having eight. In turn, the half that has nine regular-season home games will have one preseason home game. The half that has eight regular-season homes games will have two preseason home games.

It’s also impossible to completely rule out what would be a sudden and largely unexpected push for 18 regular-season games and two preseason games. The league could, in theory, make that request to the NFL Players Association as part of the negotiations that will culminate in the setting of the 2021 salary cap. Likewise, the union could suggest a move to 18 in order to capture enhanced revenues, in 2021 and beyond.

We are curious if that means the regular season would start earlier on Labor Day weekend or the conclusion would be pushed back into mid-January.