AROUND THE NFL

Daily Briefing

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

The Bears apparently have no need for WR ANTHONY MILLER.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller may be on the way out of Chicago.

The Bears have had trade talks with multiple teams about moving Miller, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The possibility of Miller being traded has been discussed all offseason, and so far the Bears haven’t found a taker.

Miller has only a $1.7 million cap hit for the 2021 season, which is the last year on his rookie contract. So the salary cap would not be the reason to get rid of him.

But the Bears may have simply decided that they’re not going to use him a lot in their offense this season, and so they’d prefer to get what they can for him in a trade.

Last year Miller played in all 16 games, with six starts, and was fifth on the team with 49 catches.

GREEN BAY

QB AARON RODGERS really, really wants to be the permanent host of Jeopardy!  He has crunched all the numbers, as he told Claire McNear of The Ringer:

A lot of people joke that Alex Trebek had the ultimate dream job on Jeopardy!—he was paid pretty well to work just 40-something days a year. So I’ve got to ask—would you ever consider giving up football to host Jeopardy!?

I don’t think I’d need to give up football to do it. They film 46 days a year. I worked 187 this year in Green Bay. That gives me, eh—[pauses]—178 days to do Jeopardy! So I feel like I could fit 46 into that 178 and make it work. It would be a dream job for sure, and I’m not shy at all about saying I want the job. That’s how I went into it. I want an opportunity to be in the mix.

I feel like I bring something different to the stage—I’m the youngest of any of the guest hosts, I’d be the youngest host of just about any major game show, I bring an audience from the NFL, and I feel like I appeal to nerdy people, too, because I was a nerd in high school and got caught in that weird phase of wanting to be a jock and an athlete and also really caring about getting good grades. And at the same time, there’s not many bigger fans of the show than me. I’ve been watching it for years and years and years. I respect the show and appreciate the history of it, and also there’s my background of stepping in for a legend and their footsteps. I feel like all that combined makes me a pretty good candidate.

Before we get into you hosting Jeopardy!, I wanted to ask about your own history with the show. Was it something you grew up watching?

I definitely did. We would go to my grandma and grandpa’s house, and their favorite thing was watching Jeopardy! I was 7 or 8 and I never had any idea what was going on really—I mean, I was not able to answer any questions. It was more just the experience of sitting around a TV after dinner and watching a trivia show. Our family’s always been into trivia—I’ve always enjoyed board games and Trivial Pursuit.

I got drafted by the Packers at 21, and for years and years, I’d figure out when Jeopardy! was on. For the last 16 years, 6 p.m. on Fox 11 has been Jeopardy! time.

How did you end up guest hosting? Did Jeopardy! approach you?

Yes. And we definitely put some feelers out as well.

I was excited about it—I was in quarantine for the early part of the [NFL] offseason and I spent that time watching episodes and writing notes and practicing and learning the beat points of the show. That was the most important thing: to understand the show inside and out from the host’s perspective. It’s way different than being a fan just casually watching it and answering questions on your couch. Being able to actually control the game and understand every point of the game, and what can happen to usher the game through each of the beat points of the show—that was really important for me to totally grasp before I went on.

How specifically did you prepare for hosting? Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards told me you came in with a bunch of questions about rare scenarios.

I wanted to be really ready. In my preparation there were a few things that came up that I just wanted to make sure I had down. It’s taped, so there’s opportunity for pickups and redoing things, but I’m a perfectionist and I didn’t want to have a lot of those. I wanted to be really, really locked in. I made sure [to ask] any questions I had about specific scenarios that came up in certain games because I wanted to be as ready as I possibly could be.

What were the specific situations you were curious about?

Anything from the event of a tie at the end of a game, which, watching Jeopardy! for so many years, it’s maybe happened one time. But I wanted to get refreshed on that. And there were things I remembered from my own Celebrity Jeopardy! game [in 2015], where we actually stopped midgame to either reshoot something or change out a clue. There can be technological malfunctions. I just wanted to know—if this happens or that happens, how should I respond?

Mike was amazing to work with. I’ve had a coach in my ear for 16 years now telling me things, so it wasn’t that different to have Mike’s voice and Clay’s [Jacobsen, the director of Jeopardy!] voice in my ear for the majority of the show. I felt like we had a really good rapport on set.

I know a lot of players practice standing at a lectern or ringing in with a buzzer. Beyond just watching a lot of episodes, I’m curious if you practiced any of the physical aspects of hosting before you went to the studio.

I would watch the show on mute. That was a good way to practice. So you watch the show on mute and you practice reading the clues and then calling on the contestants. That was a fun way of doing it, because it’s different from when you’re sitting on the couch playing to when you’re controlling everything. You’ve got to learn the form. It’s looking down to read the clue and then looking up to call on a contestant, and also understanding what the answer is in case none of the contestants get it right, and then realizing at that point that you’ve got to work on your posture and where you’re looking and know who you’re talking to when you give that response. There were so many little things that were important for Alex being so smooth that I just wanted to be sure I had down.

That was one of the questions I asked Mike: How did Alex remember whose turn it was when nobody got the question right? I learned a little secret of Jeopardy!: There’s a little white light at the bottom of the [contestant’s] podium that tells you who’s up. And you learn that during Final Jeopardy!, you’re able to look at the podium and see what people are writing down.

This season’s guest hosts have had an extra day of rehearsal before they actually film their episodes, with the show’s writers and researchers standing in as players. What was that like?

That was a blast. These guys were hilarious. They tried to bring scenarios that might trip you up, like adding an “s” at the end of a word to pluralize something that made the answer not correct, or not answering in the form of a question during the Double Jeopardy! round. It was really helpful to me to have gone through these scenarios before it was actually live, so I could start to think about how I was going to respond in those situations. They were amazing and also really, really funny. It was great to be able to practice not just calling on contestants, but really listening to the answers they gave—to remember how to check with the judges, and the interview style and going through that whole thing.

Was there a trickiest part of it for you?

I think it’s more the enormity—once you get into the gameplay—of realizing how “on” you have to be. There’s no time to relax. You are literally dead-on focused. Every single time you read a response, it’s like there’s a flow chart of things that could happen. You have to understand every single scenario about how to respond and what to say: If this, then this. If they get the question right, what type of affirmative response do I want to give? If they get it wrong? What if nobody gets it right? If multiple people get it wrong and one person gets it right, how do I want to answer that person getting it right? There are a lot of different gameplay scenarios in each individual question and response. And there’s finding how to throw it to the first break, and what to say and where to look and how long to hold your gaze. [Laughs.]

Did it feel like your day job prepared you for that? It sounds kind of like what you might have to figure out on a football field.

For sure. What it takes to be successful on the field is incredible focus, but also an understanding of all things. As a quarterback, I don’t just have to know my job, I have to know every single person’s job on the field. So you have to get to the point where what you’re supposed to be doing comes so naturally that you can really tune into everything going on around you and just be able to react. That’s what Alex did for so long—his reactions were so incredible because he was ready for every scenario and didn’t have to think about what he was doing at the podium anymore. That’s what I was trying to get to in my headspace—to be so locked in on what I was doing that I could just react in the moment to any possible scenario that would come up. I think there was a lot of that poise that it takes to be a quarterback that I tried to take with me as the host.

Moving back in time a little—did you do any prep ahead of your Celebrity Jeopardy! game against Kevin O’Leary and Mark Kelly?

I did. There’s a website called J! Archive that I went on. They archive games. I went back and looked at the celebrity games to get a feel for it. I wasn’t necessarily thinking they would repeat questions, but I wanted to see what the level of difficulty seemed to be compared to a normal Jeopardy! game. It’s interactive where you can read a clue and click on it to get the answer. So I went back and played online a number of these celebrity games to try and just acquaint myself with new knowledge and understand the difficulty level that I should be expecting. So by the time I got to the game, I was prepared on what I thought the difficulty level would be.

But also what gave me a slight advantage, or maybe large advantage, was Mr. Wonderful didn’t really know Jeopardy! And Mark Kelly—people probably don’t know this because he’s a good man and wouldn’t say this, but two days before our taping, he had been in Kazakhstan seeing his brother off in space for a year. His brother’s also an astronaut. He flew back and was probably super jet-lagged. And I don’t know how big of a fan of Jeopardy! he was. Definitely they weren’t as big of fans as I was—I knew all the little things, the intricacies of the show, so I thought I was already well ahead as far as gameplay. It just came down to knowledge—and I felt like I was going to be in the mix, minimum, even though these guys were much older than me. I felt like I watched the show, I have a base level of intelligence that seems to be fairly high, and I felt good about my chances.

Based on your research, did you find that the difficulty of the celebrity edition is different than regular Jeopardy! games?

It was not as difficult, that’s for sure. I was teasing with Billy [Wisse], one of the head writers, about literature. They always try to keep some sort of literature category, whether it’s world literature or English literature or just literature, in every single game. Whether it’s in the Jeopardy! round or the Double Jeopardy! round or the Final Jeopardy! category, they’re going to get some literature in there.

There’s no literature in Celebrity Jeopardy! [Laughs.] Unless it’s super, super contemporary. There’s not going to be a lot of operatic categories either. There’s a certain niche of people who love the opera and, I mean, we all kind of appreciate the opera. But anybody who knows composers and conductors of certain operas, especially when you’re going back centuries ago? There weren’t any of those categories.

It felt more like a teen championship. Maybe just below a college championship.

Pivoting back to your time as a host, what was it like interacting with the contestants?

I had a blast with them. The thing I did with them that they told me was kind of like what Alex would do—before the game, they give you these cards for the three people with fun facts: their last name, where they’re from, what they do for a living. It’s based on a questionnaire they fill out. The set producer will highlight questions that they’ve prompted them on. But a lot of times when I read the fun facts I thought there was something way more interesting [than the highlighted part]. And maybe it’s just more interesting to me, but that’s where I would go. I’d say, “Hey [redacted], I’m going to talk about you and Burt Reynolds,” just to give them a little heads up before we come out of break.

But I’d try to get them talking about stuff that maybe wasn’t as nerdy. For any of the contestants who were doing athletic endeavors, I like to highlight those. One guy was training for a marathon—and like, I respect that because I don’t want to run 26.2 miles, so I got him talking about that. Another guy was a black belt in judo, and I was like, hey, tell me about this. I’ve spent so many years watching those interviews and some of those things seem super, super nerdy—like, wow, why would you admit that, almost. So I would try to choose facts that maybe highlighted some of their personality that wasn’t as nerdy.

So you didn’t get any furious Bears fans.

No. No, none of those.

Was the experience of being a contestant on your mind as you were hosting?

It definitely helps because you understand what the players are going through, and the nerves. Before the shows, I got to go out and meet them. I had read their cards at that point, so to disarm some of their nerves—and for me as well—I like to go out there and introduce myself, and say, “Hey, great to be with you.” Maybe say something funny about something I saw on their card or some sort of connection about where they’re from, just to get them to laugh and relax. Because I remember when I first went out onstage—like, I was so nervous, and then when Alex came out, I was barely able to get saliva to the front of my mouth to say a word.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

If diversity is inarguably good, the WFT is the best in the NFL and getting better.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The Washington Football Team continues to diversify its staff under coach Ron Rivera.

The team announced Wednesday morning it hired Natalia Dorantes as the team’s coordinator of football operations. Working with the coaching staff and football operations, Dorantes will report directly to Rivera in a chief-of-staff role.

The 26-year-old Dorantes previously worked as a recruiting communications coordinator for the Texas A&M football team. She also worked in social media with the NFL and interned with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015 and 2016.

Dorantes connected with Rivera virtually during the fifth annual NFL Women’s Careers in Football Forum in February — underscoring the importance of the annual event — which led to the new job.

“I’m a very proud Latina, and that’s like the first thing I said,” Dorantes recalled of the meeting, via the team’s official website. “I was like, ‘As another Hispanic, I think it’s great that you’re in football because there’s not many of us, so thank you for that and thank you for being on the forum. It shows a lot that you’re just here supporting us.'”

Rivera realized last season while managing the club and battling cancer that he needed a right-hand person to help take some of the duties off his plate. Dorantes becomes that trusted voice.

“This is kind of new ground for us because I’ve never had a ‘chief of staff,'” Rivera said. “So I needed a person that’s gonna be able to interact with coaches, with coordinators and may have to say, quite honestly, ‘No, I don’t think Coach wants that,’ or ‘No, Coach doesn’t want that,’ you know what I mean? Because the one thing I want her to understand is that she’s going to have my voice, and I trust her.”

Dorantes becomes the latest female to land a high-profile NFL job and the first Latina working in a chief-of-staff type role in the NFL. She joins Jennifer King on Washington’s staff, who became the NFL’s first Black female assistant postilion coach earlier this offseason. Both King and Dorantes jumpstarted their careers with the NFL’s Women’s Careers in Football Forum.

“What this [forum] does is it puts more than qualified people, sometimes overqualified people, in front of us,” Rivera said. “As you look at these women and you look at their accomplishments and you look what they’ve done and you look at the willingness to work for nothing to get themselves in front of people because they want the opportunity, I think that’s important, and that’s why I do it, and it’s important to me because I want to make sure I do it right.”

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA

Was there anyone else interested in QB SAM DARNOLD?  Charean Williams ofProFootballTalk.com:

The Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers and perhaps got more out of the deal than they otherwise might have considering the apparent lack of another serious bidder. But two other teams were at least intrigued by the quarterback.

Before free agency began, the 49ers and the Washington Football Team both took “a hard look” at Darnold, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports.

Washington had conversations about it, Rapoport reports, though he doesn’t specify whether those conversations were internal or with the Jets. The 49ers inquired about what it would take to happen, but the Jets weren’t ready to make the deal.

Washington signed Ryan Fitzpatrick in free agency, and the 49ers moved up to third in the draft presumably to take a quarterback.

The Jets will select a quarterback with the second overall choice, and BYU’s Zach Wilson is expected to be the choice.

TAMPA BAY

Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times on the final key piece (somewhat key) of putting the gang back together, WR ANTONIO BROWN.

Three weeks into the NFL’s free agency phase, nearly all of Tom Brady’s check downs are in place for 2021.

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the flanks? Check. Rob Gronkowski on a drag? Check. Lombardi Lenny springing to the flat as a safety valve? Check.

Meantime, Antonio Brown stands isolated in a figurative seam, his arms flailing, anxious to have something tossed his way.

This is what limbo looks like.

As of Tuesday morning, nothing new had transpired regarding the Bucs and Brown, the team’s only prominent free agent who remains unsigned. Late last week, coach Bruce Arians told WDAE 620-AM the chances of Brown returning in 2021 are “okay,” and history shows that talks can turn on a dime in the NFL’s bizarre alternate universe. But for now, there are no signs of an imminent deal.

The latest information from the NFL Players Association indicates the Bucs possess $5.076 million in cap room with 59 players under contract. Consider that roughly half that cap room will be needed to sign draftees, and the leftovers don’t exactly represent a bonanza for Brown, who had 20 of his 45 regular-season catches — and all four of his touchdowns — in the last three weeks of the 2020 season.

That late surge represented a career resuscitation for Brown, who led all NFL receivers in baggage (including an eight-game NFL suspension for violating its personal-conduct policy) when he signed an incentive-stacked, one-year, $1 million deal with Tampa Bay last November.

Now it is believed he’s seeking something closer to market value. By all indications, Brown has remained a model citizen and teammate during his five months in the bay area, but he still faces a civil lawsuit in south Florida over allegations of sexual assault. Moreover, he turns 33 in July.

His other options seem sketchy. Reports recently surfaced indicating Russell Wilson would be interested in bringing Brown aboard as another weapon in the Seahawks offense. Additionally, if teams itching for a receiver don’t get what they’re seeking in the upcoming draft, a market could be created for Brown.

Meantime, any play for Brown in the bay area is taking a long time to develop.

Perhaps too long.

– – –

Whatever happened during the process is history – QB TOM BRADY is all in with Coach Bruce Arians.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

In Tom Brady‘s 21-year NFL career, he has played 20 seasons for Bill Belichick and one for Bruce Arians. Reflecting on that one, Brady said Arians has been great to play for.

“He’s a great motivator — he’s got a great feel for the team — a great pulse for what’s going on in a locker room, great intuition, great evaluation of talent,” Brady said on Good Morning America. “When you’re in one place for 20 years, you think that’s the only way, and I think when you go to a different place you realize, ‘wow — there’s another way that people do things.’”

Late in Brady’s tenure in New England, reports began to surface that he had grown tired of Belichick’s approach. Arians and Brady seemed to see eye to eye last year.

The 43-year-old Brady and the 68-year-old Arians won’t be together for anything close to the 20 seasons Brady and Belichick had together. But they’re heading into Year 2 both feeling good about where the Buccaneers are and where they’re going.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

The presumption is that the 49ers traded a king’s ransom to get one of three QBs at #2 – JUSTIN FIELDS of The Ohio State, MAC JONES of Alabama or TREY LANCE of North Dakota State.

If they know which one they want, they are playing it close to the vest on revealing the name with various “experts” proclaiming to know which one is the perfect Kyle Shanahan quarterback.

Some said to be close to Shanahan’s orbit, like his former college teammate Chris Simms, have been talking up Jones.  But then there is this from Dalton Johnson ofNBCSportsBayArea.com:

Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch had a tough decision to make on March 30. The 49ers coach and general manager had to decide whether to attend Mac Jones’ pro day in person at Alabama or watch Justin Fields put on a show at Ohio State.K

They chose Jones.

However, Alabama coach Nick Saban says Shanahan and Lynch didn’t speak to him at all about Jones during the pro day.

“[Shanahan] didn’t ask me a thing,” Saban said Tuesday morning on the “Dan Patrick Show.” “Didn’t ask me a thing. I said hi to him, John Lynch too. They did not ask me a thing about him. They didn’t ask me a thing.”

Saban did make it clear the reasoning might have been because of NFL rules.

“Maybe they thought they weren’t allowed to, because out there on the pro day floor, which is where I saw them, I don’t know all their rules but I think the rule is they’re not really allowed to talk to me,” Saban said.

Jones has been connected to the 49ers as a prototypical Shanahan QB ever since they traded up to acquire the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Many see Jones in the same mold as Kirk Cousins or Matt Ryan. Look at a handful of mock drafts and Jones is the 49ers’ guy with their top pick.

Jones is extremely accurate, completing 77.4 percent of his passes as a junior for 4,500 yards and 41 TDs. He was intercepted just four times. It did certainly help having a plethora of future first-round picks on Alabama’s offense.

“I think a lot of people got interested by the way he played last year. He did a phenomenal job,” Saban said. “We had really good players around him, no doubt. A couple of really good receivers, a couple of really good running backs, a really good offensive line. But Mac’s really intelligent, really smart, really accurate with the ball, makes good decisions where he throws the ball. That’s a really good starting point for a guy being a good quarterback.

“You can go on all these measurables and arm strength and all that, but that doesn’t really make you a good quarterback.”

Jones doesn’t have the same measurables as Fields or Trey Lance. His athleticism is nowhere near those two. The physical traits just aren’t there when compared to the top QBs in the draft.

Perhaps that doesn’t matter to Shanahan, though. As Saban said, you can’t measure intangibles.

It was in fall camp that Saban was really impressed by Jones. He wasn’t even awarded the starting position coming into the fall as he competed with five-star freshman recruit Bryce Young. But Jones just kept getting better and better.

“He didn’t disappoint, at all,” Saban said. “He prepared for the games well. He sort of changed his mindset. Early in his career he was sort of an anxious guy, really had a tough time overcoming mistakes in his own mind, playing the next play. He kind of got over that, matured through that.

“He really prepared well for games and he was able to execute exactly what we wanted him to do. I think the world of him.”

SEATTLE

Warren Moon may or may not have his ear to the ground about the Seahawks.  What he is hearing isn’t good for the future of the team’s relationship with QB RUSSELL WILSON.  Jelani Scott of NFL.com:

At one point, a seismic Russell Wilson trade felt almost imminent. In Warren Moon’s opinion, the recent rumblings were only a precursor of what’s inevitably to come.

Like Richard Sherman and Marshawn Lynch before him, Wilson has publicly expressed his discontent with certain aspects of Seattle’s game plan. In the prior situations, Sherman and Lynch were eventually jettisoned from the franchise. Moon predicts the same will eventually happen with Wilson.

The Hall of Fame QB discussed the future Hall of Famer’s situation with NFL Network’s Jim Trotter and Steve Wyche on the latest episode of the Huddle & Flow podcast.

“I think it’s kind of headed, unfortunately, in the same direction [as Lynch and Sherman],” Moon said. “I think right now it’s almost like a marriage that’s started to just have squabbles and they’re squabbling about certain little issues, whether it’s pass protection, whether it’s talent. There’s all these little squabbles going on right now. And I think because of Russell’s contract situation, there’s not a whole lot the Seahawks can do as far as moving him somewhere else, even if they wanted to.

“So, I think he’s definitely there this year unless they just want to take a hit and not become a really good football team for a year or so. But I think that the marriage is not going to end very well going down the road. I think this squabble is going to turn into more of a separation and then a divorce at some point. And that usually happens with most players anyway. You just don’t like it to happen because of the two sides not getting along.”

Things have been quiet on the Wilson trade front since the Bears failed to strike a deal last month. Of course, that doesn’t mean all of the other 10-plus teams with interest in the 32-year-old have stopped keeping a watchful eye.

With Wilson’s uncertain future still looming over Lumen Field, the next few months will be key for Seattle if its goal is to keep Moon’s prediction from coming to fruition.

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

It’s not often that a running back spends eight years with one team while not ever really being “the guy”, but that’s what RB GIOVANNI BERNARD did with Cincinnati.  But now his time is at an end.  Ben Baby of ESPN.com:

The Cincinnati Bengals have released veteran running back Giovani Bernard, the team announced on Wednesday.

Bernard, 29, has played all of his eight NFL seasons with the franchise that drafted him in the second round in 2013. He has appeared in 115 games and rushed for 3,697 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also had 342 receptions for 2,867 yards and 11 touchdowns.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

Names and faces began to emerge on Tuesday from the 22 women who had used the services of attorney Tony Buzbee to seek justice/money from QB DESHAUN WATSON.  Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com:

Two of the 22 women who have filed lawsuits against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior came forward publicly during a news conference Tuesday.

Ashley Solis, who lawyer Tony Buzbee said was the first massage therapist to file a lawsuit against Watson on March 16, spoke in the news conference. Lauren Baxley wrote a letter to Watson that was read by lawyer Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey, who works at Buzbee’s law firm.

“I got into massage therapy to heal people,” Solis said. “To heal their minds and bodies. To bring peace to their souls. Deshaun Watson has robbed me of that. He took that away from me, he tainted a profession in which I take enormous pride. … I suffer from panic attacks, anxiety and depression. I’m in counseling as a result of Deshaun Watson’s actions. I hope he knows how much pain he’s inflicted on me emotionally and physically. And I hope he knows how much pain he’s inflicted on these other survivors.”

“People say that I’m doing this just for money,” Solis said. “That is false. I come forward now so that Deshaun Watson does not assault another woman.”

In response to Tuesday’s news conference, Rusty Hardin’s law firm, which is representing Watson, said in a statement that Buzbee’s firm “sought $100,000 in hush money on behalf of Ms. Solis to quietly settle the allegations the month before he filed the first lawsuit.”

The statement also included an email exchange between the Buzbee Law Firm and a representative for Watson, lawyer Scott Gaffield. The communications were dated between Feb. 3 and Feb. 19, 2021.

“My email exchanges with Mr. Buzbee and Ms. Brandfield-Harvey were very clear,” Gaffield said in a written statement. “We did not think that the facts showed that Deshaun did anything wrong with their client. We believed then — and fully believe now — that Deshaun learned a lesson about putting himself in this type of situation by interacting with people he does not know.

“As the emails show, we were willing to continue discussions on Deshaun’s behalf to explore ways to prevent a lawsuit and a public spectacle. But Mr. Buzbee informed us that he was unwilling to do so. We expect that this matter will be resolved in court.”

In a statement Tuesday, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy called the allegations against Watson “deeply disturbing,” noting, “we take these issues very seriously.”

McCarthy said that the league launched an investigation under its personal conduct policy last month after the first allegations and that the NFL is “continuing to closely monitor all developments in the matter.”

A source told ESPN’s Ed Werder that the NFL has been in direct contact with Buzbee.

In her letter addressing Watson, Baxley wrote, “Every boundary from professional and therapeutic to sexual and degrading you crossed or attempted to cross.”

Baxley said she wrote the letter to Watson at the recommendation of her trauma therapist to “forgive myself for not speaking up sooner” and also “so that you can know without excuse or justification that you have deeply and irreversibly brought terror to me and others.”

“I initially came forward to offer solidarity to other women, but I have since realized that I’m deserving of justice as well,” Baxley wrote. “I hope the court of law brings that justice, and that you’re stripped of both your power and ability to hurt more women.”

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com thinks the NFL should force the Texans to pay QB DESHAUN WATSON his huge salary for doing nothing while he tries to wriggle out of his legal and fiscal jeopardy:

The NFL first devised the concept of paid leave as a device for getting controversial players off the field at a time when games are being played. In the offseason, the league generally if not exclusively has avoided using the Commissioner Exempt list, since there are no football activities from which to bar a player. (In 2019, Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill voluntarily stayed away from offseason program while an investigation occurred regarding an injury suffered by his son. Hill was cleared, and he returned for training camp.)

Fewer than seven years after the NFL first adopted paid leave as a device for handling players who face allegations that have not yet resulted in a criminal conviction, a civil verdict, or some other disposition, the league faces a situation that cannot be ignored until football activities commence later in the year. The 22 civil cases and at least two criminal complaints against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, coupled with the possibility of more allegations and a potential federal sex trafficking investigation, require the NFL to do something other than issue a perfunctory statement that says, basically, “We take it very seriously but we’re going to wait and see what happens.”

Tuesday’s press conference gave inherent credibility to the claims against Watson. Although he still has all privileges, presumptions, and protections in court, the league created paid leave as a way to handle players who are both presumed innocent and embroiled in a situation that, by its mere existence, reflects poorly on the NFL. These allegations, by their mere existence, reflect poorly on the NFL.

The Personal Conduct Policy itself emerged from the league’s broader P.R. interests, and every decision made when it comes to applying the policy takes the anticipated P.R. reaction into account. As a general matter, the league believes that there’s no reason to put a player on paid leave during the offseason because the mere act of doing so creates a major headline that will ricochet throughout the Internet and social media.

At some point, the rule must yield to an exception. In this case, an exception should be made. There are too many claims that have been filed, too many fronts on which the legal fights will be waged, too many blunders from Watson’s camp in the court of public opinion, where the battle in many respects already has been lost.

At this point, the league’s failure to act fairly can be interpreted as an unwillingness to take the matter seriously. At this point, a statement isn’t enough. At this point, the latest statement from the league — which uses the words “deeply disturbing” when describing the allegations — means nothing unless the league flips the switch that the league has specifically created for situations like this.

Placement on paid leave won’t simply protect The Shield against attack from those who would say the league isn’t doing enough in response to this landslide of legal issues targeting Watson. It also could be the wakeup call Watson needs to realize that, regardless of whether he believes he did nothing wrong, a reckoning is necessary. A resolution is necessary. A sense that justice has been done for all 22 of the alleged victims is necessary.

Digging in and fighting only works if you’re 100-percent certain that you’re right, and that you can prove it. Absent that level of clarity and justifiable confidence, the best move is to stop fighting, to accept responsibility, to endure the consequences, and to seek true redemption. At this point, placement on the Commissioner Exempt list may be the only thing that gets Watson to realize that it’s time to stop challenging the credibility of the victims and to start making things right, for his 22 accusers and ultimately for himself.

The first case the DB can recall involving paid leave involved Panthers LB Greg Hardy in 2014 (although others, including Michael Vick when he got out of prison and signed with the Eagles, were on it previously).

The Panthers paid Hardy for 15 games he did not play in 2014, games at full and high salary due to his franchise tag status.  All of this happened, although Hardy eventually avoided a conviction through a suspicious settlement that resulted in his accuser failing to show in court.

THIS AND THAT

2021 DRAFT

This is the first Mock Draft we have ever seen from former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum.  It appears at ESPN.com:

I love when the NFL draft rolls around each year, and wow, this 2021 class is loaded with talent. Teams have the chance to add true impact players right out of the gate in Round 1, whether it’s a franchise quarterback, a dynamic wide receiver or a defensive game-changer.

Every NFL organization has its own draft board and prospect preferences, but today, I’m not concerned with any of their evaluations or rankings. I’ll leave figuring out how Round 1 will actually play out to my guys Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. Instead, I’m sliding back into the GM chair to map out how I’d make the picks if I was representing each of the 29 teams with at least one Day 1 selection. (Sorry Texans, Seahawks and Rams.)

It wasn’t too long ago that I was playing a big role in the picks for the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, and I know I would have been excited to write some of these prospects’ names on the draft card. This is how I would roll through the first 32 picks if I was making the selections on April 29, starting with a no-brainer for new Jaguars GM Trent Baalke at No. 1 overall. And be sure to check out the Mock Draft SportsCenter Special on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

What is there even to discuss here? Lawrence is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the draft class, and the Jaguars are very much in the quarterback market. I’m getting new coach Urban Meyer his guy to build around, and the draft really starts with the second pick.

One thing to know: A loss as an NFL starter will be Lawrence’s first in a regular-season game since prior to high school. His only two losses at Clemson came in the College Football Playoff.

2. New York Jets

Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Any doubt that the Jets were going this route has now been put to bed, as the Jets traded Sam Darnold to Carolina. The near certainty of the first pick is perhaps now matched by the near certainty of the second. Wilson has great arm strength and an ability to make things happen outside the pocket, even though his pre-2020 production, injury history and weaker strength of competition at BYU are all things to consider. In the end, Darnold just wasn’t consistent enough for the Jets to pass up Wilson.

One thing to know: Wilson’s 73.5% completion rate in 2020 ranks seventh in college football history.

3. San Francisco 49ers (via MIA/HOU)

Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

I see Jones as very similar to Matt Ryan, whom Kyle Shanahan had a lot of success with in his Atlanta days. He is an accurate thrower and processes quickly, and I think he’s a better mover than most give him credit. And I love his closing statement on the 2020 season, throwing 14 touchdowns over his last three games en route to a national title. North Dakota State’s Trey Lance was also in the mix, but it’s too risky for my blood to trade all those picks to move up this high to invest in a quarterback who played just one game since 2019 and zero in his career against FBS competition.

One thing to know: In 2020, Jones led the FBS with 4,500 passing yards and set the NCAA all-time mark for completion percentage (77.4%).

4. Atlanta Falcons

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

If I’m Atlanta, I’m building for the future and taking a quarterback who can learn behind the soon-to-be 36-year-old Matt Ryan before eventually taking over. There’s no guarantee that the Falcons are picking this high again, so take advantage of the opportunity. I’d also spend some time thinking about Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, and if there were a defensive player worth this pick, I’d consider that after Deion Jones led the team in sacks last season with 4.5. But ultimately, it’s Lance as a critical part of Atlanta’s future.

One thing to know: Lance threw just one interception in his collegiate career, covering 317 passing attempts across 17 games.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Sewell is still available? I’m sprinting to the podium to lock in that pick. No discussion necessary, even with pass-catchers such as Ja’Marr Chase, Kyle Pitts, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle on the board. Sewell is the top lineman in the class, and the Bengals’ blocking unit was super inconsistent in 2020. Simply put, you have to protect quarterback Joe Burrow.

One thing to know: In 2019, Sewell was the first Polynesian player, first sophomore offensive lineman and first Oregon player to win the Outland Trophy.

6. Miami Dolphins (via PHI)

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Look, the Dolphins aren’t — and shouldn’t be — moving on from QB Tua Tagovailoa. He was a top-five pick last year, and they still need to surround him with talent. Let’s do just that. Chase is a special player who would provide a spark on offense. I also thought about offensive line, as a stronger unit would allow Tagovailoa to climb the pocket and make better throws.

One thing to know: Chase was an unanimous first-team All-American in 2019, becoming just the 12th LSU player to receive that honor.

7. Detroit Lions

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Detroit has made some puzzling moves this offseason, but what position to target here shouldn’t be a stumper. The wide receiver unit went from Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. to Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman in March. Waddle is explosive and tough, and I actually prefer him to Bama teammate DeVonta Smith. He is a game-changing home-run hitter, and I’d rather have that than an elite route runner such as Smith. Plus, I have concerns about whether Smith’s frame can stand up to the rigors of an NFL season.

One thing to know: Waddle owns three of the five longest scoring receptions in Alabama team history.

8. Carolina Panthers

Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

The Panthers dealt three picks to the Jets for Sam Darnold on Monday, but I still think QB is the play in Round 1. Seriously. Darnold is owed roughly $24 million over the next two years, and Fields would be on a rookie contract. The worst case here: Carolina has two good, young, cost-effective QBs and can make a decision to move one of them down the road. (And the Panthers could still get something for Teddy Bridgewater.) For what it’s worth, Panthers GM Scott Fitterer agrees.

If you remove the tape from a few of his games this season (Indiana, Northwestern and Alabama), Fields would be in the No. 2 overall pick discussion. His accuracy is excellent most of the time, though there are some lapses. If not QB, cornerback is an option for Carolina, and Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) would fit.

One thing to know: Fields is the only player in Big Ten history with at least 40 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same season (2019).

9. Denver Broncos

Micah Parsons, ILB, Penn State

Denver could do a lot of things here. The signings of Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller push cornerback down the list, but taking Kyle Pitts to pair with Noah Fant at tight end or upgrading the offensive line could be in play. Parsons, though, can play inside or outside and impact a lot of different areas. I picture him helping to cover some of those high-end AFC West tight ends. For coach Vic Fangio, it’d be a flashback to his Chicago defenses when he had versatile game-breaking linebackers.

One thing to know: Parsons’ final college game — 2019 Cotton Bowl — was his best, as he tied his career high in tackles (14) and posted career highs in tackles for loss (three), sacks (two), forced fumbles (two) and pass breakups (two).

10. Dallas Cowboys

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

Last year, Dallas needed defense but took advantage of receiver CeeDee Lamb sliding to No. 17. Now, would it really let Kyle Pitts go if it came to this, despite a glaring need on the other side of the ball again? Man, I’m tempted, and I know Jerry Jones would be too. But the Cowboys can get back to winning ways if they tighten up on defense, and that starts with a shutdown corner like Surtain.

One thing to know: Patrick Surtain Sr. — his father and also a cornerback — was a second-round pick in the 1998 NFL draft and went on to make three Pro Bowls.

11. New York Giants

Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

The Giants attacked cornerback and wide receiver in free agency, so pass-rusher is their No. 1 need. And coach Joe Judge seeks versatile guys off the edge, which is why I’m going with Ojulari here. He’s tough and can get home on the QB, but he’s also an outside linebacker who can drop into coverage. Kwity Paye (Michigan), for example, doesn’t do that.

One thing to know: Ojulari was defensive MVP of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl — his final game with Georgia — with three sacks.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA/SF)

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Eagles fans would be doing backflips in celebration if Pitts fell to No. 12. Pitts and Dallas Goedert are a dream pairing at tight end, but offensive coordinator Shane Steichen would be able to move Pitts around the offense too. And as for quarterback, if Jalen Hurts doesn’t work out, the Eagles have at least two and likely three first-rounders in 2022. (The potential third is based on how much Carson Wentz plays for the Colts this season.)

One thing to know: Pitts lined up outside of the inline TE position on more than one-third of his snaps in 2020.

13. Los Angeles Chargers

Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

The Chargers signed Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi on the interior of the offensive line, but they still need to solidify the unit and better protect Justin Herbert. I went to Darrisaw here simply because he’s a better pass protector than Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater and a better fit at left tackle, where there remains a hole opposite Bryan Bulaga.

One thing to know: Virginia Tech rushed outside the left tackle 12.4 times per game, the most in the FBS in 2020, while also averaging 7.4 yards per rush.

14. Minnesota Vikings

Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

I think linemen Rashawn Slater or Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC) could be matches here, but I’d opt for an impact pass-rusher. Paye is a similar player to Everson Griffen, who thrived with the Vikings.

One thing to know: Paye had a 21% pressure percentage in 2020, second best in the FBS.

15. New England Patriots

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Finally, it’s time for Smith. Sometimes it becomes essentially a coin flip for one guy versus another, and one obviously has to lose out. Smith just kept losing the coin flip for me, but he has a ton of value here. Julian Edelman is turning 35, and there’s still room for playmakers in the wide receivers room after the Patriots signed Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. If Smith is gone, cornerback could be in play too.

One thing to know: Smith’s 1,856 receiving yards in 2020 are a single-season SEC record and the most by a Power 5 player since Michael Crabtree in 2007 (1,962).

16. Arizona Cardinals

Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

This one is pretty simple. The Cardinals need a cornerback badly, especially now that Patrick Peterson is off to Minnesota. And Horn is a tough press corner who would step right into a big role. Also keep an eye on linemen on the board, as guys such as Rashawn Slater and Alijah Vera-Tucker would help that Arizona interior.

One thing to know: Horn allowed a completion percentage of 31% as the targeted defender in coverage in 2020, second best in the SEC and tied for eighth among Power 5 defenders.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

Rashawn Slater, OT/G, Northwestern

The Raiders moved on from a majority of their starting offensive linemen over the past few weeks, and Slater is versatile enough to slide into any role Las Vegas would need him to fill. That should be the target here, but I did consider adding a guy like Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech) to the cornerback group.

One thing to know: Slater could be the first offensive player from Northwestern taken in the first round since fellow tackle Chris Hinton went fourth overall in 1983.

18. Miami Dolphins

Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC

Maybe Zaven Collins (Tulsa) to replace Kyle Van Noy? Maybe Najee Harris (Alabama) to give the Dolphins an elite run game? Both are options, but I just don’t see Ereck Flowers as a long-term solution on the interior of the line, and Tua Tagovailoa needs better protection to find some Year 2 success. And remember, Miami took a first-round lineman out of USC just one year ago, in this very same No. 18 slot (Austin Jackson).

One thing to know: Vera-Tucker allowed only one pass pressure in 561 pass blocks at guard in 2019, and he allowed a 1% pressure rate as a left tackle in 2020.

19. Washington Football Team

Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

Yes, Washington needs a left tackle, and yes, Mayfield played on the right side at Michigan. But he could certainly transition, or perhaps Morgan Moses slides over to the left side where he has 400-plus career snaps. Either way, Mayfield is a stout run-blocker who would help shore up the unit.

One thing to know: Michigan averaged 9.2 rushes per game outside the right tackle in 2019 — behind Mayfield — as opposed to 6.6 outside the left tackle.

20. Chicago Bears

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Man, I’d like to address wide receiver — Allen Robinson II is on the franchise tag and could be out of town after 2021 — or offensive tackle, but cornerback is the better move in this spot. For one, Farley carries great value at No. 20, even though there is some risk with him coming off back surgery. And even after bringing in Desmond Trufant, the CB group could use reinforcements.

One thing to know: The first top draft prospect to opt out of the 2020 season, Farley was originally slated to play wide receiver before missing his freshman season with a knee injury and converting to corner.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

In my mind, Cosmi is a top-five tackle in this class, and with Anthony Castonzo retiring, the Colts would love to have someone like him — big and physical — come in and replace Castonzo at left tackle. But keep an eye on a guy like Zaven Collins, who would fit well in the 3-4 defensive scheme off the edge.

One thing to know: Cosmi was flagged 11 times from 2018 to ’19, which tied for the fourth most among Big 12 linemen. But in eight games during the 2020 season, he was flagged just once.

22. Tennessee Titans

Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

Out go Malcolm Butler and Adoree’ Jackson, in come Janoris Jenkins and Stokes. The Titans will love Stokes’ elite speed, versatility and ball skills. Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph was an option for me, too, and an edge rusher or tackle would have been justifiable. But ultimately, I want a shutdown corner in Tennessee’s contention window.

One thing to know: Stokes allowed the second-lowest completion percentage (18.2%) and Total QBR (1.3) in press coverage in the FBS last season (min. 75 press coverage snaps).

23. New York Jets (via SEA)

Zaven Collins, OLB, Tulsa

This pick came down to three players for me: Collins, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame) and Travis Etienne (Clemson). If the Jets went running back, Etienne fits that new offensive scheme the best, but it’s just too early for me to do that — especially for a team that won two games last year and has a lot of needs. And while I like Owusu-Koramoah’s game, Collins’ size, length and better pass-rushing traits — Owusu-Koramoah is more of an off-the-ball linebacker type — ultimately tipped it in his favor. New York doesn’t have a versatile front-seven player like Collins who can generate pressure.

One thing to know: Collins was the only FBS player with at least four sacks and four interceptions last season. And he was one of six FBS players with multiple defensive TDs.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Creed Humphrey, C/G, Oklahoma

It’s still too early for a running back, and there isn’t a first-round quarterback left on the board. So my initial leaning becomes even stronger: Get Pittsburgh a lineman. Finding a center you can form an offensive line around is Team Building 101. A former high school wrestler, Humphrey is tough, physical and smart.

One thing to know: According to Pro Football Focus, Humphrey did not allow a single sack on 401 pass plays in 2020 or 799 plays in 2019.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR)

Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

Jacksonville has tightened up cornerback with a first-rounder last year (CJ Henderson) and a big signing in free agency this year (Shaquill Griffin), but safety is still a concern. Moehrig is the best in the class. But I also thought about Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in a Jeremy Chinn-esque strong safety role, which should be something to discuss. And after spending in free agency on the defensive line (Haason Reddick), someone like Gregory Rousseau (Miami) would make sense off the edge. He would be able to sit and develop for a while, but I’m just not sure what his role is in the NFL. Is he an inside or outside player?

One thing to know: Moehrig had seven interceptions and 28 passes defended in his three-year career at TCU.

26. Cleveland Browns

Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami

Someone needs to take the pass-rush load off Myles Garrett, and Phillips could be that guy. He’s the best available player, and he posted tremendous numbers (15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks) in his final college season after retiring at UCLA and then returning and transferring. And did you see his pro day workout? He had a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash, a 36-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-5 broad jump — at 260 pounds. Impressive.

One thing to know: During the 2020 season, Phillips was usually lined up outside the tight end, with 56% of his pass-rushes coming from there. He was also used both as a defensive end and an outside linebacker, primarily on the left side.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Deonte Brown, G, Alabama

Yeah, I know the Ravens have to add a wide receiver, but I do like the Sammy Watkins signing, and there will be plenty of receivers still on the board in Round 2. Someone explosive like Kadarius Toney (Florida) might be tempting, but he’s too similar to a) the Ravens’ 2019 top pick Marquise Brown and b) many of the slot/elusive receivers who would be available on Day 2. Instead, I went interior offensive line, even after the Kevin Zeitler deal. Brown is a powerful blocker who would provide a firm pocket for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. His Alabama teammate Landon Dickerson was under consideration, but his ACL tear makes him just too risky on Day 1 for me.

One thing to know: Over 857 pass-blocking plays from 2018 to ’20, Brown had only one sack attributed to him.

28. New Orleans Saints

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ILB, Notre Dame

I see Owusu-Koramoah as a hybrid defender in the NFL, and he’s not the type of player you’ll often see on the open market. The Saints could use him in a lot of different ways, including at weakside linebacker or in the “overhang” position. Among the other players I thought about for a variety of areas: Wake Forest edge rusher Carlos Basham Jr., Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore, Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai and a handful of receivers.

One thing to know: According to Pro Football Focus, Owusu-Koramoah took 195 snaps along the defensive line, 433 in the box and 680 in the slot over the past two seasons.

29. Green Bay Packers

Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

OK, I hear your “Aaron Rodgers needs a wide receiver” calls, but let’s remember that the offensive line responsible for protecting Rodgers just lost Corey Linsley and Rick Wagner. Jenkins has played on both sides of the line and just fits so well in Matt LaFleur’s outside zone scheme.

One thing to know: Jenkins could become the first Oklahoma State offensive lineman to be drafted since Russell Okung went sixth overall in 2010 (Seahawks).

30. Buffalo Bills

Joseph Ossai, OLB, Texas

Bringing in Matt Breida — when the Bills already have Devin Singletary and Zack Moss — doesn’t necessarily keep them from drafting a running back, but it certainly should in the first round. So the pivot is from speed on offense to speed on defense. Penn State’s Jayson Oweh fits the mold, but Ossai could be a big-time impact player for Buffalo. He is disruptive off the edge and flies around the field in run defense. Jerry Hughes is turning 33 before the 2021 season, so the pass-rush would benefit from depth.

One thing to know: Ossai — who led Texas in tackles for loss (20), sacks (5) and forced fumbles (3) in 2020 — first saw a football game when he was 10 years old after arriving to the United States from Nigeria.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

Trey Smith, OT/G, Tennessee

Yes, I watched the Super Bowl too. Patrick Mahomes was under pressure all night, and while Joe Thuney and Kyle Long will be great additions, they play inside. And after releasing Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher, tackle is important for the Chiefs. I know Smith has mainly played guard, but he can also suit up at tackle. He overwhelms defenders. But I haven’t forgotten about Smith’s injury history, and that makes this pick a little tougher.

One thing to know: Smith reduced his blown blocks on designed runs from 12 in 2019 (3.3% of run snaps) to two in 2020 (0.7% of run snaps).

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

A first-round running back is usually what I call a “luxury pick,” in that teams going that route normally don’t have many weaknesses and have the luxury of adding a player like that. The Chiefs did it last year at No. 32 with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and I have the Bucs doing it at No. 32 this year with Etienne. Why Etienne over Najee Harris? The Clemson RB is more explosive and can score from anywhere, which is what Tampa Bay lacks for the most part in Ronald Jones II and Leonard Fournette (both playing on expiring contracts). And Etienne’s pass-catching skill would help Tom Brady out. Another player I nearly took here: Christian Barmore, as a Barmore-Vita Vea pairing on the defensive line could be tough to beat.

One thing to know: Etienne is seeking to become the first ACC running back drafted in the first round since David Wilson (Giants) in 2012.