The Daily Briefing Wednesday, June 1, 2022

AROUND THE NFL

GREEN BAY

QB AARON RODGERS has not been around to see it, but WR CHRISTIAN WATSON is turning other heads at Packers OTAs.  Jack Browne of The Score:

The Green Bay Packers likely aren’t expecting Christian Watson to immediately replace departed star receiver Davante Adams, but the rookie is already making a strong impression on his new team.

“His combination of size and speed is great,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. “He’s a big guy. He can move. He’s going to be a problem once he figures things out.”

Randall Cobb, the veteran wideout left in Green Bay following Adams’ blockbuster trade to the Las Vegas Raiders and Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s exit to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, also hyped up the second-round pick following the start of offseason workouts.

“He has the total package,” said Cobb. “Just being around him for the past week and seeing some of the things he can do, he has all the tools. He’s very gifted.”

The 6-foot-4, 208-pound Watson starred in his final season at North Dakota State in 2021, racking up 43 catches for 801 yards with seven touchdowns to establish himself as one of the 2022 draft’s most explosive playmakers.

While Watson is viewed as a relatively raw prospect, he could take on a significant role from Day 1 to help fill the void left by Adams, who led Green Bay in targets, catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in each of the last five seasons.

Allen Lazard and free-agent addition Sammy Watkins round out the Packers’ projected top four receivers, with 2021 third-rounder Amari Rodgers – who had just four catches as a rookie – and 2022 fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs set to compete for playing time.

– – –

The Packers are hopeful of having T DAVID BAKHTIARI by camp.

T David Bakhtiari’s ongoing battle with his knee is going to keep him out of offseason activities.

No worries, coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Tuesday. This is all part of a timetable that has Bakhtiari on track for training camp.

“Our plan all along was to hold him from this and get strong and hopefully be ready to go for training camp,” LaFleur said, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

Bakhtiari played just 27 snaps in 2021, dealing with further complications stemming from a torn ACL suffered on Dec. 31, 2020. The injury kept him out of every game but Green Bay’s season finale, a 37-30 upset loss to the Detroit Lions. The ACL issue required additional surgery during the 2021 season, putting Bakhtiari on a rest-focused offseason schedule he’s following through offseason activities.

DALLAS

The Cowboys and TE DALTON SCHULTZ are still apart on a contract extension.  Calvin Watkins in the Dallas Morning News:

Dak Prescott and DeMarcus Lawrence are Cowboys players who played under the franchise tag before eventually getting long-term deals from the franchise.

Is Dalton Schultz next?

The Cowboys tight end was placed under the tag, allowing him a guaranteed salary of $10.9 million for the 2022 season. The deadline to reach a deal is July 15 and while there was an urgency to get Lawrence and Prescott secured long-term it doesn’t seem the case with Schultz.

“I let my agent handle all that business and right now I’m just focused on OTAs,” Schultz said last week.

As the Cowboys get closer to the deadline, it’s assumed talks will intensify. Schultz wasn’t the only NFL tight end to get franchised. Cleveland’s David Njoku was also placed under the tag. Last week, Njoku signed a four-year $56.7 million deal with $28 million in guarantees. Njoku will average $14.1 million per season, the fourth-highest at his position.

He’s coming off a season where he caught 36 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns. Njoku’s numbers have decreased since 2018 where he set career-highs in catches (56) and yards (639) while producing four touchdowns.

Schultz is coming off his best season as a professional. He caught 78 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. Among NFL tight ends, Schultz finished sixth in the league in yards and third in catches.

Despite his success in the passing game, his work as a blocker was often questioned.

“I mean my blocking has been like one of my strong suits,” Schultz said. “Everybody disagrees with that (and) everybody has their own opinion on that. But that’s always something I’ve been able to hang my hat on. Now blocking (the) Chandler Joneses of the world every play, its hard and like any tight end you’re not going to win every rep. That’s just the NFL.”

Schultz did admit he worked on getting bigger in the offseason to combat defensive ends and outside linebackers who fly off the edges in the pass game. When it comes to running the ball, Schultz will have to maintain blocks longer along the line of scrimmage and reach linebackers on the second level faster.

“Just a little bit of everything,” Schultz said of what he worked on weight-wise. “As a tight end in this league, you’re not going to win based on pure size and strength, you’re just not. D-ends are big, fast (and) strong. That’s why they get paid $20 million plus a year, they’re freaks, they’re freak athletes. You got to beat them with technique. You got to beat them with speed and you got to beat them with great footwork. If you’re able to do all those things it can put you in a good position to win.”

Schultz’s future beyond 2022 is unsettled given the lack of a long-term contract.

This offseason has seen the tight end position go in different directions. Veteran tight end Blake Jarwin was given a waive/injured designation after undergoing hip surgery that raised questions about his long-term future.

The Cowboys made a point this spring of drafting a tight end in getting Wisconsin’s Jake Ferguson in the fourth round. Dallas also signed Indiana tight end Peyton Hendershot as an undrafted free agent. The Cowboys also have Sean McKeon, Jeremy Sprinkle and Ian Bunting on the roster.

The position is weak behind Schultz, and with the Cowboys desire to utilize 12 personnel more often finding another tight end to pair with Schultz is imperative.

Of course, Schultz’s own uncertain future creates worry not only for himself but finding replacements long-term.

“I don’t pay attention (to) that off the field (stuff),” Schultz said. “I let my agent handle all that (expletive) and I do my own thing. It’s been nice. I’ve been able to focus on my process and honestly we have a lot of young guys and obviously we got a couple of new faces in the room. Just having a couple of guys that I can kinda try and help come along, knowing that I was in their shoes four years ago, yeah its definitely positive.”

WASHINGTON

Perhaps it is the state of the market, because $100 million seems like quite a bit just for land – but the Commanders are planning on moving a long way for a much smaller stadium.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

From 2004 to 2010, Washington had the largest seating capacity in the NFL, with more than 91,000 seats at FedEx Field. But as the team has struggled on the field and alienated fans with off-field controversy, FedEx Field renovations have consistently reduced the number of seats, as the team couldn’t fill the stadium. And now the team is planning a new stadium that would be smaller still.

The Commanders are currently proposing a new stadium in Virginia that would have just 55,000 seats, making it the smallest in the NFL, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Although nothing is finalized with the team’s new stadium, Commanders President Jason Wright acknowledged that the Commanders are likely to end up playing in the smallest stadium in the league.

“We are much more likely to build the smallest venue in the NFL than the largest,” he told the Virginia Mercury.

A 55,000-seat stadium would be too small to host a Super Bowl and some of the other major events that NFL stadiums attract, but Washington sounds set on going in the opposite direction after once leading the league in attendance.

Even though those with a cursory knowledge of the DC area see the site as in the middle of nowhere, a main concern for the area already is traffic.  The team is appealing to the Virginia state legislature for help.  But three Democrat legislators just said they won’t do business with Dan Snyder.  Michael Phillips of Richmond.com:

The team has previously described state support as a prerequisite for launching the project, but when legislators convene on Wednesday, they won’t take up a potential $350 million subsidy for the estimated $3 billion project — following three high-profile defections over the weekend, that vote is now on hold until at least later in the special session.

“We are grateful for the bipartisan support the stadium authority legislation has already received, and any additional time will certainly provide us with more opportunities to share how this project can create new jobs, generate significant tax revenue, and spur economic development,” team president Jason Wright said in a statement.

One of the top concerns from lawmakers about a proposed site in Woodbridge would be adding to an already-untenable traffic situation on I-95 near Woodbridge.

In a discussion last week, a team official involved in the project said the proposed complex has the potential to transform traffic woes in the area by providing tax revenues that would assist in new road and transit projects.

The study estimates $3.04 billion in tax revenue generated over the projected 30-year life of the stadium and surrounding development.

Economic impact studies have routinely been criticized by opponents for presenting lofty ideals of proposed projects, and failing to account that not all spending inside new development will be new spending, that some of it would have been spent anyway at other nearby businesses.

JLL also helped with The Battery project in the Atlanta area, a mixed-use development that has inspired the Commanders’ plans.

A recent study found the Braves’ project was falling short of projections by nearly $15 million a year, though the team noted that attendance was negatively impacted by the pandemic and the COO of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce said in 2020 that the revenue created “is exceeding the early projections.”

In Virginia, an early version of the stadium bill easily cleared the Senate this year, but since then three lawmakers, all Democrats, have withdrawn their support, citing concerns about doing business with Washington owner Dan Snyder while he remains under Congressional investigation.

Now, like the Cowboys in DFW or the Falcons in Atlanta, the Commaders already have a tremendous commute from their training base in Ashburn, Virginia to FedEx Field – a full 54 miles one way.

Barry Svurluga of the Washington Post chortles that the Commanders options run from bad to worse, partly because of Snyder:

The Washington Commanders badly need a new stadium, and they should have their pick of the three jurisdictions from which they draw the bulk of their fans. More than that: They should have those three jurisdictions elbowing one another out of the way.

Their reality is this: The club is looking at far-flung sites in Virginia, which has a state legislature that is preparing to sour its offer, not sweeten it. Maryland officials are so indifferent to the Commanders’ presence in Prince George’s County that they’re pledging to pump $400 million into developing the area around FedEx Field even if the team doesn’t stay, a municipal shrug of the shoulders.

And the only site that would be almost universally embraced — at RFK Stadium in D.C. — isn’t controlled by the people who govern D.C. Without fundamental change, it’s not just a romantic notion. It’s a non-starter.

So where are they?

“You don’t just build a stadium and find a site and start breaking ground,” Commanders owner Daniel Snyder told longtime Washington sports anchor Chick Hernandez. “It does take time.”

Well, at least they’re being realistic, right?

Wait, let me check my notes. … Snyder said that to Hernandez in 2014.

The issue is now urgent. The Commanders are required to play at FedEx Field, a dump of a stadium that is universally loathed, through the 2027 season. Here’s a prediction: They’ll be playing there in 2028, too. That’s how many political and financial hurdles they face.

There was a time when The Washington Post began editorials thusly: “Suddenly the local story of the summer is how one man with a lot of money, a beloved football team and almost hourly changes of heart is driving a metropolitan region wild.” That was 30 years ago, back when Jack Kent Cooke was looking to replace RFK and was being wooed by Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder and D.C. Council Chair John A. Wilson.

What would Snyder give to drive this region wild, even for a day?

Clearly, the Commanders are pushing the stadium issue to be at the forefront of discussion around the team. That’s not just because it’s important. It’s an attempt to obscure everything else swirling around the organization: the investigations by Congress and the NFL into the misogynistic workplace Snyder oversaw, sexual harassment allegations against the owner himself and allegations of financial impropriety.

Given those conversation options, why not have Ron Rivera, the head coach, tweet out a sketch from design firm Bjarke Ingels Group?

“Saw the designs of our new Command Post — our new team headquarters complete with meeting spaces, practice fields and training facility,” Rivera tweeted Thursday. “Looks amazing! Proud of what we are building.”

Here’s the problem with such distraction tactics: The politicians who need to sign off on the hundreds of millions of dollars the Commanders want to help fund a stadium and develop the area around it — they aren’t falling for it. Snyder’s problems are tied into whether he can find a proper site anywhere, much less lure competing jurisdictions into a bidding war. What he’s offering isn’t what Cooke could offer: a proud, championship-winning franchise that was a unifying force in the region. Rather, he’s offering an on-field product that has produced five winning seasons this century that carries with it more off-field baggage than moves through Dulles International Airport in a year. It’s a wounded asset at best.

Consider what Virginia Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax City), a lifelong Washington football fan, told my colleague Laura Vozzella about the differences between the franchise for which Cooke was trying to peddle and the one Snyder is pitching now.

“That team defined our community for multiple generations,” Petersen said. “The Washington Commanders are not that team. They have no history, no tradition and no fan base. I do not consider them an appropriate economic partner for the Commonwealth of Virginia, because I don’t think they have the community support to survive.”

Or, as Petersen said Thursday during an appearance with JP Finlay and former Washington standout Brian Mitchell on 106.7 the Fan: “The irony is: Would this be easier to do with an expansion team? The answer might be yes.”

It’s not difficult to translate that to: Who wants to do business with this guy?

Commanders acquire right to buy 200 acres in Va. for potential new stadium

So what are the options? The team has pursued land along Interstate 95 in the Woodbridge area, more than 40 miles south on the Beltway and down I-95 from FedEx Field — news that broke Monday and was met, appropriately, with eye rolls. Depending on traffic, that could take residents of Prince George’s County — the core of the fan base — anywhere from 45 minutes to, say, eight hours to get to a game.

“What time should we leave for the Thursday night Commanders game against the Cowboys?”

“You mean, ‘What time Wednesday?’”

There’s a quarry near Dulles that’s a potential site. There’s another possibility in Dumfries near Potomac Shores Golf Club. The problem with all these Virginia options, other than that sheer geography risks alienating what remains of the existing fan base: Virginia legislators are working on lowering the amount of state funds that could go toward such a project to below $300 million — this from a legislature that early this year seemed poised to forfeit $1 billion in tax revenue if the stadium came to the Commonwealth.

D.C. just sits there because Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) can’t introduce a bill that calls for the federal government to sell the land around the RFK site back to the city while Snyder is caught up in a congressional investigation.

So is the best place — gulp — the land Snyder already owns surrounding FedEx Field? How do they market that? Hey, Washington, we have offered you the nation’s worst fan experience for a generation. Now, we offer: FedEx 2, Electric Boogaloo!

It’s not impossible for a stadium to be built between now and the time the team’s commitment to its current home is over. The Las Vegas Raiders broke ground for Allegiant Stadium in November 2017 and opened it in July 2020 — less than three years.

But the Commanders have no site. They have no momentum. They have jurisdictions that not only aren’t trying to actively lure them, they’re all but working to drive them away. That’s not because the politics and economics around using taxpayer dollars to help rich owners build stadiums always have been suspect. That’s because of this team at this time — and the man who owns it.

TAMPA BAY

Obscure WR TRAVIS JONSEN gets some unwanted notoriety. Liz Roscher of YahooSports.com:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Travis Jonsen was arrested in Tampa Bay early Monday morning and charged with driving under the influence.

According to Rick Stroud and Sue Carlton of the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay police officers spotted Jonsen “straddling lane markers, speeding and weaving,” and driving in a manner that was “indicative of impairment.” Officers stopped him at 1505 N Dale Mabry Highway. In their report, they said that Jonsen appeared to be impaired, and he was arrested at 3:18 am.

Following his arrest, Jonsen refused to take a blood-alcohol test. He was booked at 4:56 am. He was released on $500 cash bond at 11:47 am.

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht released a statement about Jonsen’s arrest on Monday, shortly after Jonsen was released.

“We expect all members of our organization to uphold the high standards that have been established,” Licht said via Greg Auman. “We are aware of the situation regarding Travis Jonsen from earlier this morning and will refrain from further comment at this time while the legal process continues.”

Jonsen, 25, has been a practice squad player for the Bucs for the last two years. Even though he’s never appeared in an NFL game, he will be subject to punishment under the NFL’s substance abuse policy as long as he stays employed.

– – –

The Buccaneers have signed a veteran DT who is not NDAMUKONG SUH.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

For the Bucs, “Hello, Hicks” likely means, “See ya, Suh.”

The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The contract is worth “up to” $10 million.

The development likely means that Ndamukong Suh won’t be back for a fourth season with the Bucs. The second overall pick in the 2010 draft, Suh has played for the Lions, Dolphins, Rams, and Bucs.

He appeared in Super Bowl LIII with the Rams, and he won Super Bowl LV with the Bucs.

Hicks joined the Bears in 2016. He was a third-round pick of the Saints in 2012. He spent part of the 2015 season with the Patriots, following a trade from New Orleans.

DENVER

WR JERRY JEUDY has dodged domestic violence charges.  We will see what NFL Justice has to say.  Liz Roscher of YahooSports.com:

Arapahoe County District Attorney John Kellner has filed a motion dismiss all charges against Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, according to ESPN.

Jeudy’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, spoke to ESPN’s Adam Schefter about the motion to dismiss the charges.

@AdamSchefter

The DA in Arapahoe County has moved to dismiss all charges against Jerry Jeudy in advance of his scheduled hearing today. “After reviewing the evidence, I always believed that no crime had been committed and all charges would be dismissed,” said his attorney Harvey Steinberg.

On May 12, Jeudy was arrested on a charge of second-degree criminal tampering with a domestic violence enhancer following an alleged incident with his girlfriend, who is also mother of his infant child. She had called 911 when Jeudy allegedly locked vital baby-related items in a car and would not allow her access to them, because she had taken one of his three phones and would not give it back.

While speaking to the media following Jeudy’s arrest, Arapahoe County sheriff Tyler Brown said that Jeudy had admitted to locking the woman’s wallet, items for the baby and baby formula in the car because she had taken one of his phones. However, the alleged incident only had to do with property and no physical violence was involved.

Jeudy spent a night in jail due to Colorado law, which requires an appearance in front of a judge for all domestic violence cases. During that appearance, Jeudy’s girlfriend asked that the charges against him be dropped. According to the Associated Press, she only called the police to “monitor the situation” and did not feel threatened by him.

Judge Chantel Contiguglia said that the charges could not be dropped because they had already been filed, but released Jeudy on bond and allowed him to travel and have contact with the alleged victim.

– – –

Will TE ALBERT OKWUEGBUNAM be a Fantasy-worthy TE for Denver with TE NOAH FANT in Seattle:

Imagine busting your butt every day to work toward your childhood dream of becoming a professional football player like Denver Broncos tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.

Then, also imagine being roadblocked at your position group by a fellow teammate that was drafted just the year before you. But instead of being a fourth-round pick like yourself, he, Noah Fant, was the team’s first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

To cap it off, you, Okwuegbunam, suffer a torn ACL in your fourth professional game. The injury hinders you to playing just 17 of a possible 33 games your first two seasons in the league. But through the valleys, a peak emerges: the Broncos trade incumbent starting TE Fant to the Seattle Seahawks as part of the Russell Wilson trade.

Despite one more valley in the form of the Broncos drafting a TE in the third round of this year’s draft, it looks like the runway is set for Okwuegbunam’s plane to take off. Preseason will be our judge.

Okwuegbunam, though, is ready to make good on the potential then-GM John Elway saw in him to draft him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.

“I saw with Noah being traded — I think that it’s good for him. He gets a good opportunity, a fresh start in Seattle,” Okwuegbunam said last week. “I love Noah. Obviously, that opens up a big opportunity for me. I’ve just been focusing on that and approaching every day with that opportunity and having that competitiveness. Overall, just trying to be the best tight end that I can be and compete for that No. 1 role.”

Okwuegbunam started stating his case to be Wilson’s No. 1 TE on Monday when the third phase of OTAs began.

LAS VEGAS

T KOLTON MILLER is one of the few Gruden-Mayock draft picks to thrive with the Raiders.  Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com:

Kolton Miller was more animated than usual, speaking with his hands in an exaggerated manner while describing the Las Vegas Raiders’ fresh start with a new coaching staff and his status as a four-year NFL veteran.

The youngsters on the offensive line, the Raiders left tackle said as he rotated his hands toward himself, are trying to absorb as much information as they can in the early stages of organized team activities.

“Our job as old guys,” Miller said with a Cheshire cat grin and pointing to his barrel chest, “we’re trying to show them the ropes.”

Wait, “old” guys?

Miller is 26 years old. But he has already been around long enough to see three general managers — Reggie McKenzie, Mike Mayock and Dave Ziegler — three coaches — Jon Gruden, Rich Bisaccia and Josh McDaniels — and two cities for the Raiders — Oakland and Las Vegas.

“Man, four years has gone by like that,” Miller said as he snapped the fingers on his right hand.

“It goes by quick. But I’m still trying to compete and learn and pick up something each day. There’s always something to work on. And I think that’s spread out across the room. We’re still young, and we’re trying to improve in as many areas as we can. It’s all new — new coach, new system. Trying to get the basics and execute as well as we can.”

The No. 15 overall selection of the 2018 NFL draft out of UCLA, Miller was Gruden’s first pick during his second go-round as Raiders coach and he often referred to Miller as a foundation piece for the franchise.

But after struggling mightily as a rookie — injuries played a role — Miller has found a groove.

Last season, his 85.0 Pro Football Focus overall grade was the highest by a Raiders tackle since 2016, and his 85.1 pass-blocking grade was the highest by a Raiders tackle since 2015.

Oh, and Miller, who played every offensive snap last season, was also named all-AFC by the Pro Football Writers of America. As such, his presence has been a welcome salve for McDaniels as he builds a team.

“Yeah, he’s one of our best workers, there’s no doubt about it,” McDaniels said. “And you can see why he has improved each year that he’s been in the National Football League. He puts a lot of time and effort into it in the facility. He works really hard in the weight room. He’s in great condition. He studies hard.

“In order to be really good in this league, there’s a lot of things you’ve got to do well. And Kolton gives a great effort every day at everything that he’s responsible for.”

The 6-foot-8, 325-pound Miller is the only sure thing on an offensive line that was full of question marks in 2021. Quarterback Derek Carr was sacked 40 times last season, the second most of his eight-year career. Las Vegas responded by drafting a pair of offensive linemen in Dylan Parham, who has been working at guard, in the third round, and Thayer Munford, in the seventh round.

This after using a first-round pick last year on Alex Leatherwood, who started the season at right tackle but was moved to right guard in Week 5.

Leatherwood was getting reps at right tackle during last week’s open-to-the-media OTA practice.

“He looks like he’s leaned out and he looks good in the weight room,” Miller said of Leatherwood. “Get on the field and his feet look real nice. I’m excited. I’m excited for him.”

In fact, Miller took the glass-half-full approach to Leatherwood being moved inside last season.

“It’s a tough job to try to learn tackle and then go to guard,” Miller said. “It speaks on how dynamic he can be.”

And on this year’s top pick Parham? Miller said he is “young, smart and absorbing.”

Sounds familiar. Though Miller is, well, an old guy, right? Well …

“He’s got things we’ve identified already that he can improve on and he’s working hard to try to do that, and we’ll continue to work that way as we go into training camp,” McDaniels said of Miller. “But he’s just got a great attitude, a great approach every day.

“Kolton’s a great leader for us. Brings a lot of others along with him, which is great, and affects his teammates in a positive way.”

Miller, less animated now and using O-line speak, smiled when asked how his job description changed in going from Tom Cable to Carmen Bricillo as position coach.

“You’re still blocking the end,” Miller said with a smile, “most of the time.

“I still feel good. I still feel good. Fresh.”

Even for an, ahem, old guy.

CINCINNATI

Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com on the goal-setting of WR Ja’MARR CHASE:

Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase wrote his rookie goals on his mirror, so they would stare him in the face every day. He won offensive rookie of the year honors with 81 receptions, an NFL-rookie record 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He already has two goals written on his mirror for this season.

“I’m not going to say what they are, but I don’t think they’re hard,” Chase said, via Jay Morrison of TheAthletic.com. “They’re a little more than last year, like catches and yards. I’ve still got to find my touchdown minimum.

“I’ll give y’all the list maybe before training camp.”

Few standout rookie receivers have improved their numbers their second season, but Chase’s former college teammate, Justin Jefferson, did. The Vikings receiver had 20 more catches, 216 more yards and three more touchdowns last season than he did in his rookie season of 2020.

Chase expects to do the same.

“Last year I was just out there running routes, having fun again,” Chase said. “Now I’ve got all the small details down, like learning how to set people up before the next route. And I feel more comfortable with the offense. Maybe I can move around a little more when we see different things on film. I feel like all of that’s going to make me a lot better this year.”

CLEVELAND

Make it 23 accusers with civil suits against QB DESHAUN WATSON.  Sarah Barshop ofESPN.com:

@sarahbarshop

Another lawsuit has been filed against Deshaun Watson. There are now 23 active civil lawsuits filed against the QB. According to the petition, the plaintiff “changed her mind about filing a lawsuit after watching the HBO Real Sports piece” that aired last Tuesday.

This from Watson’s lawyer.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

On Tuesday, a 23rd woman filed a lawsuit against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. On Tuesday night, lawyer Rusty Hardin issued a statement that aggressively challenges the validity of the new claim.

“Deshaun Watson vehemently denies the allegations, just as he has since she first discussed them with members of our firm in March of last year,” Hardin said. “She repeated the allegations on social media in August and he denied them then. The only thing new about her contentions is the embellishment making them more extreme than prior versions. Deshaun’s denial remains the same.”

The 23rd plaintiff apparently contends that two of Hardin’s colleagues tried to talk her out of making claims against Watson. (We have not yet seen the new complaint.)

“The two highly respected lawyers from our firm, Letitia Quinones and Rachel Lewis, also vehemently deny there was any coercion or intimidation involved in the very cordial meeting at Vic and Anthony’s,” Hardin said. “They met her to see if she was one of Mr. Buzbee’s then still anonymous plaintiffs. At that time Mr. Buzbee refused to identify his clients. The suggestion that either of these two accomplished lawyers would have said ‘us black women must stick together’ is absurd. The interview was so congenial, she joined the lawyers for dinner afterwards.”

The new plaintiff, like the other 22, is represented by Tony Buzbee. Hardin’s team has tried to make Buzbee the focal point of their attack, accusing him of pushing these cases to enhance his social-media following and to score interviews on shows like Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

“We are aware that more than a year ago she had other lawyers representing her and they ultimately terminated the representation,” Hardin said. “This plaintiff has long had a vendetta against Deshaun since she jealously and angrily published Deshaun’s personal data on social media in November 2020. In filing her lawsuit now she was obviously not influenced by recent developments. We are not surprised Mr. Buzbee was willing to say just about anything to get more publicity. He knows the NFL continues to investigate these cases, and this is a transparent attempt to further punish the man he sees as a potential payday.”

Watson consistently has denied the accusations made by those who are suing him. Regardless, there are now 23 different women suing him. Barring settlement or dismissal, there will be 23 trials, eventually. The fact that the 23rd suit has been filed now virtually guarantees that this legal odyssey will last through 2023 and likely into 2024.

But we hear there is now a 24^th plaintiff on the way.

PITTSBURGH

Mark Kaboly of The Athletic is impressed with what Brian Flores is bringing to the Steelers:

When the Steelers hired Brian Flores as a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach, the talk was about his lawsuit against the league more than anything else. We tend to forget that Flores is an accomplished head coach and probably should still be a head coach. If you think the Steelers giving Flores a job was about good PR, think again.

Flores coached pretty much every position on defense this past week in some capacity and had great energy in doing so. Watching him, you would think that the defense as a unit will be better just because of him.

HOUSTON

Coach Lovie Smith has no problem with the departure of QB DESHAUN WATSON.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Texans traded away one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL this offseason, something teams rarely do. But in the unique circumstances facing Houston and Deshaun Watson, new Texans coach Lovie Smith says it was unquestionably the right move.

Smith told Cris Collinsworth that it was past time for the Texans to move on from Watson, who chose not to play for the team last year and remains under investigation after 22 different massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct.

“Sometimes divorce is good, and that’s my statement that I’ve made a lot of times when you know a split’s going to happen, and both parties are going to win once it does,” Smith said.

Smith said investigating Watson’s alleged off-field misconduct is not his job, but strictly from a football perspective the Texans need to move forward.

“I don’t know exactly what happened. The accusations are there, and if they have merit that will all come out in time. But for our football team, we needed to move on,” Smith said.

The Texans appear unlikely to field a strong roster this year, and the 64-year-old Smith may not have a long future in Houston. But there was never any question when Smith took the job that moving on from Watson was going to be the Texans’ move. Smith is glad to have it over with.

JACKSONVILLE

QB TREVOR LAWRENCE is liking his time with new Coach Doug Pederson.  Grey Papke of Larry Brown Sports:

Trevor Lawrence is clearly a big fan of his new head coach and how they communicate with each other.

Lawrence raved about new coach Doug Pederson during OTAs. The Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback feels that Pederson’s background as a former NFL quarterback is a huge help, and that his communication style fits perfectly.

“I think you can always tell the way a coach communicates with a quarterback because he’s been in my shoes,” Lawrence said, via Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports. “Quarterback’s an interesting position. It’s not a big rah-rah, chew somebody out. I mean you have some coaches that are like that but for me, that’s just not what I need.

“I can have a conversation and Coach Pederson’s great about that. At every play, he gives you a piece of feedback that another coach might not give you just because he knows what it’s like and it’s something little that he might see that someone else doesn’t see.”

Lawrence clearly feels the Jaguars have made the ideal hire for him. That’s particularly in contrast to Urban Meyer, who definitely seemed to follow the more critical style Lawrence says he dislikes.

Pederson spent parts of ten seasons in the NFL, primarily as a backup quarterback. Clearly, his knowledge is just what Lawrence thinks he needs in his developmental process.

BUFFALO

With 100 days to the start of the season, Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com has 100 things to know about the NFL.  Here are four related to the Bills:

3. The Bills are arguably the hottest preseason pick to take over the throne. Caesars Sportsbook has Buffalo as the early favorite to win Super Bowl LVII, just ahead of the Buccaneers and Chiefs, the most recent champs before the Rams.

4. Most of the Bills hype revolves around quarterback Josh Allen, who happens to be Caesars’ preseason MVP favorite. The 26-year-old All-Pro went toe to toe with former MVP Patrick Mahomes in Buffalo’s overtime playoff loss to the Chiefs in 2021.

5. The Bills have won at least 10 games in three straight seasons under Allen. They’re looking to claim a third straight AFC East title in 2022, after the division belonged to the Patriots for 11 straight years.

6. Buffalo’s defense, which includes stud starters like Tre’Davious White and Tremaine Edmunds, will now be headlined by Von Miller, the longtime Broncos and recent Rams linebacker who signed a lucrative deal to lead the Bills’ pass rush this offseason.

THIS AND THAT

DAN ORLOVSKY’S QB TIERS

Dan Orlovsky of ESPN.com has this way of tiering QBs:

@danorlovsky7

QB’s you win games because of in the NFL right now

Josh Allen

Joe Burrow

Lamar Jackson

Patrick Mahomes

Derek Carr

Justin Herbert

Deshaun Watson

Russell Wilson

Aaron Rodgers

Tom Brady

Matthew Stafford

@danorlovsky7

QBs you win games “with” in the NFL

Mac Jones

Tua

Baker Mayfield

Ryan Tannehill

Matt Ryan

Dak Prescott

Kirk Cousins

Jameis Winston

Kyler Murray

Jimmy G

Everyone else is win in spite of/unknown because of age

So 12 teams don’t have anyone in these two categories (Cleveland alone has two).  QBs on those teams who don’t make the list include Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Davis Mills and Zach Wilson from the Class of 2021.

No one from Seattle, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Detroit, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia and NY Giants.  Should Jared Goff be on the second list?  What about Jalen Hurts?

Jackson, Carr and Watson would seem to be the three that some would put in the second level.  Prescott, Cousins and Murray would seem to be the three that some would put in the top level.

BEST BETS FOR TOTAL WINS

Jordan Dajani offers 5 total win bets for your consideration (4 overs, 1 under):

Win totals are an interesting futures bet. Some people don’t like having their money tied up for months, but I know others in media who love win totals more than your week-to-week ATS plays. I’ve noticed that virtually everyone likes to bet Overs when it comes to win totals as opposed to Unders, and I’m the same way.

We had a pretty incredible run last year. I went 6-1 on the win totals I published for CBS Sports, and also told you to bet the Los Angeles Rams at +1300 to win the Super Bowl on Feb. 8!

Let’s jump into the picks.

All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook

New Orleans Saints Over 8 (-130)

The Saints won nine games last year despite not having Jameis Winston for more than half the season, and they again swept the season series with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winston looked much better in 2021 compared to his last season as a starter in 2019. He won five of seven starts and threw 14 touchdowns opposed to just three interceptions. I understand if people don’t see Winston as a top-tier signal-caller, but you have to keep in mind that he finally has a wide receiving corps to work with thanks to the additions of Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave and the return of Michael Thomas.

In the NFC South, the Saints could sweep the season series against the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. Maintaining health is obviously going to be important for this team, but I have Dennis Allen’s squad winning at least nine games in 2022.

Baltimore Ravens Over 9.5 (-130)

This team won eight games last year in what was a forgettable campaign headlined by injuries across the board. Lamar Jackson is 37-12 as the starter in Baltimore, and the Ravens have won at least 11 games in both of his two seasons as the full-time starter before 2021. There’s no doubt that the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns are going to be solid in 2022, but the Ravens are returning J.K. Dobbins, improved the offensive line and made several impressive additions on the defensive side of the ball in the draft. I don’t think Baltimore flies over this win total, but I do have the Ravens winning 10 games.

Miami Dolphins Over 8.5 (-135)

The Dolphins won nine games last year with one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and with Tua Tagovailoa missing five starts. You’re telling me Vegas really doesn’t think they can win at least nine games in 2022 with all of the great additions they made? Head coach Mike McDaniel is one of the more intriguing up-and-coming figures in this league, the Dolphins added Tyreek Hill and Ced Wilson at receiver and Connor Williams and Terron Armstead on the offensive line. I’m aware that there are some questions about Tagovailoa, but maybe that’s the reason why Miami signed so many legitimate running backs in free agency. If Tagovailoa struggles, the Dolphins should still be able to rely on this new ground game. That’s how McDaniel had to operate last year with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Dolphins have won at least nine games in each of the last two seasons, and they could be the second-best team in the AFC East in 2022.

Seattle Seahawks Under 6 (-120)

I predicted the Seahawks would take a step backward in 2021, and even said they had the worst roster in the division entering last season. That was a pretty hot take for a team that hadn’t finished lower than second in the NFC West since 2011. I could talk about Seattle’s QB situation entering this season or how this defense isn’t one of the best in the league, but there are two factors driving my decision to take the Under: Seattle resides in arguably the toughest division in the NFL, and it has to face the other toughest division in the NFL in the AFC West. That’s 10 games where Seattle likely won’t be favored. Throw in the fact that the Seahawks play the Buccaneers in Tampa, and that only helps my cause. Maybe the Seahawks adding Baker Mayfield could hurt my gamble, but it’s just hard to see Seattle winning seven games in 2022.

Philadelphia Eagles Over 9 (-145)

Yeah, it’s a bit juicy, but this line opened at 8.5 in some places and could climb to 9.5. The Eagles went 9-8 last season with first-year head coach Nick Sirianni, and all this team did this offseason was get better. Philly swung a trade for star wide receiver A.J. Brown, but I’m more excited about the defensive side of the ball. Kyzir White, Haason Reddick and James Bradberry were all great free agent pickups, and then the Eagles added Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean in the draft. I don’t love playing -145 juice, but some sportsbooks will let you parlay that with another win total or just another bet. Take it before it moves.

For what it’s worth, the DB likes the Eagles at OVER 9 of the five suggested above.

Here is the whole current list (from Vegas Insider, so slightly different from some of numbers mentioned by Dejani).  They range from 11.5 for the Bills and Buccaneers to 4.5 for Atlanta and Houston.  For the heck of it, we put OVERS we like in green, UNDERS in red.

Arizona Cardinals 9.5 (Last Season: 11)

Atlanta Falcons 4.5 (Last Season: 4)

Baltimore Ravens 9.5 (Last Season: 8)

Buffalo Bills 11.5 (Last Season: 11)

Carolina Panthers 5.5 (Last Season: 5)

Chicago Bears 6.5 (Last Season: 6)

Cincinnati Bengals 9.5 (Last Season: 10)

Dallas Cowboys 10.5 (Last Season: 12)

Denver Broncos 10.5 (Last Season: 7)

Detroit Lions 6.5 (Last Season: 3)

Green Bay Packers 11.5 (Last Season: 13)

Houston Texans 4.5 (Last Season: 4)

Indianapolis Colts 9.5 (Last Season: 9)

Jacksonville Jaguars 6.5 (Last Season: 3)

Kansas City Chiefs 10.5 (Last Season: 12)

Los Angeles Chargers 10.5 (Last Season: 9)

Los Angeles Rams 10.5 (Last Season: 12)

Las Vegas Raiders 8.5 (Last Season: 10)

Miami Dolphins 8.5 (Last Season: 9)

Minnesota Vikings 8.5 (Last Season: 8)

New England Patriots 8.5 (Last Season: 10)

New Orleans Saints 7.5 (Last Season: 9)

New York Giants 7.5 (Last Season: 4)

New York Jets 5.5 (Last Season: 4)

Philadelphia Eagles 8.5 (Last Season: 9)

Pittsburgh Steelers 7.5 (Last Season: 9)

San Francisco 49ers 9.5 (Last Season: 10)

Seattle Seahawks 5.5 (Last Season: 7)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11.5 (Last Season: 13)

Tennessee Titans 9.5 (Last Season: 12)

Washington Commanders 7.5 (Last Season: 7)

BEST “TRIPLETS”

This from Jared Dubin of CBSSports.com:

Just as we did last year and the year before that and the year before that and the year before that and the year before that, the crew here at CBSSports.com recently set out to rank each NFL team’s “triplets.” Why not, right? It’s the middle of the offseason and, it’s an offseason tradition around these parts.

So in the space below, we’re once again counting down the NFL’s best QB-RB-WR/TE trios, grading the expected starters at quarterback and running back and their presumed top pass-catcher for the 2022 NFL season. For some teams, it was obvious who would fill each role. For others, less so. Where we had to make judgment calls on which player would start at quarterback or who would be the top target, we did.

In the space below, you’ll see our rankings of these triplets. The first number in parentheses is the team’s average ranking based on the votes of several of our staff writers and editors at CBSSports.com, while the second number reflects the high and low end of where our staffers ranked that individual team. For example, our No. 16 team, the Philadelphia Eagles, had an average ranking of 15.8, with a high ranking of 12 and a low of 21. We have denoted tier breaks in any place where the difference between the average ranking of one team and another exceeded 1.5. For example, the Indianapolis Colts had an average ranking of 15.5 and the Arizona Cardinals had an average of ranking of 12.4, so the Cardinals begin a new tier.

The rankings reflect the collective wisdom of this crowd, while the corresponding analysis is mine. We began this exercise on Thursday, working through the bottom half of the league. Today, we’ll continue with the top half. Without further ado …

Tier 3: Pretty Good!

16. Philadelphia Eagles (Avg: 15.8, High: 12, Low: 21)

QB: Jalen Hurts RB: Miles Sanders WR: A.J. Brown

I suspect this ranking would be higher if we had seen more from Hurts as a passer last season. The Eagles began 2021 with a pass-heavy lean, and it did not look pretty. Only after pivoting toward an extremely run-heavy offense did they begin to play well offensively. Obviously, Hurts is a major contributor to that success; but the Eagles likely won’t be explosive enough to become a top offense unless he makes strides as a thrower. Still, his talent, along with the acquisition of Brown and the potential that Sanders puts it all together this year, got Philly (just barely) into the top half of the league in these rankings.

15. Indianapolis Colts (Avg: 15.5, High: 14, Low: 18)

QB: Matt Ryan RB: Jonathan Taylor WR: Michael Pittman

It appears our crowd thinks Ryan’s down season was a result of the infrastructure around him in Atlanta, and not a steep decline in his own ability. At least, that’s what I’m reading into this. The Colts had a very narrow range of rankings, with basically everyone considering them an approximately league-average trio. With perhaps the best running back in the league and a wide receiver who showed great strides in Year 2, there is potential for more if Ryan rediscovers his prior form.

Tier 2: Good, Maybe Not Great

14. Arizona Cardinals (Avg: 12.4, High: 10, Low: 14)

QB: Kyler Murray RB: James Conner WR: DeAndre Hopkins

The Cardinals, like the Colts, had a very narrow range of rankings, only they were universally considered slightly above-average rather than smack-dab average. Murray has shown an extremely high ceiling during his three years in the league, but also the propensity to fall off over the second half of the season as his body wears down. Conner had a remarkable scoring season a year ago, but touchdown variance is not likely to be as kind in the future. Hopkins is suspended for the first six games of the season, and did not look like himself for much of last year. Still, the heights this group can reach kept it safely in Tier 2.

13. Green Bay Packers (Avg: 12.3, High: 8, Low: 17)

QB: Aaron Rodgers RB: Aaron Jones WR: Allen Lazard

This shows you the importance of Davante Adams. Over the last three years, the Packers had ranked seventh, sixth, and first when we did this exercise, with the same three players comprising their triplets each time: Rodgers, Jones, and Adams. Simply by replacing Adams with Lazard, they dropped out of the top 10, and received rankings as low at 17th! With Rodgers coming off back-to-back MVP campaigns and Jones continuing to play at an extremely high level, that is quite a significant fall.

12. Minnesota Vikings (Avg: 11.5, High: 8, Low: 15)

QB: Kirk Cousins RB: Dalvin Cook WR: Justin Jefferson

It’s pretty wild that the Vikings could not crack the top 10 here despite top-five options at both running back and wide receiver, and it speaks to our crew’s collective lack of confidence in Cousins. They did receive rankings as high as eighth in the NFL, but their average fell outside the top 10. The Vikes should be utilizing a somewhat similar offensive system this coming season as they’ve used in the recent past, but the hope is that Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips can get more out of Cousins than the Kubiaks did in 2020 and 2021.

11. Cleveland Browns (Avg: 11.2, High: 8, Low: 16)

QB: Deshaun Watson/Jacoby Brissett RB: Nick Chubb WR: Amari Cooper

The Browns were tough to rank. We don’t yet know if (or how many games) Watson will play this season, nor what he will look like after a year of not playing at all. We also don’t know how Cleveland’s offense will change with him under center, or what it will look like with Brissett out there, if Watson is indeed suspended in the wake of his being accused by 20-plus women of sexual misconduct. We do know the Browns have one of the best running backs in the league in Chubb, and that they stole Cooper from the Cowboys, but this ranking seems like the group collectively throwing up its hands. Until the league office makes a decision on Watson’s status, what we should think of the Browns is almost impossible to accurately gauge.

10. Denver Broncos (Avg: 10.9, High: 7, Low: 16)

QB: Russell Wilson RB: Javonte Williams WR: Courtland Sutton

What Wilson will look like in an offense that is not Seattle’s antiquated system is obviously the subject of limitless fascination, but our crew has enough confidence in him, along with Williams and Sutton, to get Denver into the top 10. (At least, in the overall rankings sense. The Broncos’ average ranking did check in higher than 10.) Wilson struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness for basically the first time in his career last year, but the supporting cast around him should bring out whatever the best he has left is. Williams looked like a stud in his first action, and while he’ll likely continue to split work with Melvin Gordon, he should gradually take over a larger and larger role as time goes on. Sutton has simply been more productive in his career to date than has Jerry Jeudy, so we went with him for this exercise.

9. Las Vegas Raiders (Avg: 9.7, High: 7, Low: 13)

QB: Derek Carr RB: Josh Jacobs WR: Davante Adams

The Raiders checked in 16th last year, with Carr, Jacobs, and Darren Waller. Swapping one of the league’s best tight ends for one of its best wide receivers (and Jon Gruden for Josh McDaniels calling the plays) got the Raiders into the top 10 … but still third in their own division. That might be a theme throughout this season.

8. Baltimore Ravens (Avg: 8.6, High: 5, Low: 13)

QB: Lamar Jackson RB: J.K. Dobbins TE: Mark Andrews

The Ravens are the lowest-ranked of our eight teams that received at least one top-five vote. This ranking reflects a confidence that Jackson’s inconsistency last season was likely the result of injuries to both himself and the offensive line, and that Andrews’ monster season was just the beginning of him solidifying himself as one of the NFL’s best tight ends. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are each coming off torn ACLs, but Dobbins was expected to be the lead ball-carrier last season, so we expect that to be the case in 2022.

7. Dallas Cowboys (Avg: 7.5, High: 4, Low: 13)

QB: Dak Prescott RB: Ezekiel Elliott WR: CeeDee Lamb

I suspect that if we swapped out Elliott for Tony Pollard, who has been more efficient and more explosive than Elliott in each of his three NFL seasons, the Cowboys might rank higher than this. But the Cowboys themselves refuse to cut Elliott’s snap share and give Pollard more work, so we can’t do that, either. Zeke’s backslide, Prescott’s injuries, and the open question of how Lamb will do as the unquestioned No. 1 option in this offense knocked Dallas out of the top five (and Tier 1) for the first time in the last few seasons, but the Cowboys did receive votes as high as fourth in the league and did not receive any that would have ranked them lower than Tier 2.

Tier 1: Best of the Best

6. Los Angeles Rams (Avg: 6.0, High: 2, Low: 10)

QB: Matthew Stafford RB: Cam Akers WR: Cooper Kupp

Had Akers looked better in his return from a torn Achilles tendon, the Rams likely would have cracked the top five. (It’s impressive that he came back as quickly as he did, but Akers averaged 2.6 yards per carry during his playoff run.) As it is, the Stafford-Kupp combination and the potential that Akers can eventually get back to the player he looked like down the stretch of his rookie season got the Rams into Tier 1.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Avg: 4.9, High: 3, Low: 7)

QB: Tom Brady RB: Leonard Fournette WR: Mike Evans

If Brady did not decide to unretire, the Bucs likely would have been in one of the bottom two tiers. But when the GOAT is back under center, the Bucs have a top-five triplets group. Fournette was fantastic throughout last season, especially in his passing-game contributions. Evans continues to put together one of the best starts to a career of any receiver in NFL history, and with Chris Godwin not guaranteed to be healthy to begin the season, Evans will likely be even more central to Tampa’s passing attack.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (Avg: 4.5, High: 2, Low: 10)

QB: Patrick Mahomes RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire TE: Travis Kelce

This is the first time Kansas City is outside the top 2 since 2018, Mahomes’ first season as the starter — and it’s likely not due to anything the Chiefs are lacking. There are just a few trios that have become so electric, so quickly, that having a running back whose efficiency has been questionable and a tight end who is on the wrong side of 30 (while still being one of the best in the NFL) was enough to knock them a few spots backward, and to prevent them from getting any first-place votes for the first time.

3. Buffalo Bills (Avg: 3.3, High: 2, Low: 6)

QB: Josh Allen RB: Devin Singletary WR: Stefon Diggs

Allen still has some head-scratching games every once in a while, but man, when he puts it all together it is absolutely exhilarating. His performance down the stretch of the season and especially in the playoffs was remarkable, and he has firmly solidified himself as one of the few quarterbacks who can seemingly sustain a top-flight offense all on his own. Even while his connection with Diggs was a little bit off line last year, they still formed one of the league’s most productive duos. And Singletary’s emergence as the lead back over the second half of the season gives Buffalo a bit more clarity at the position, even while rookie James Cook may take some of the passing-down work due to his facility in that area.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (Avg: 1.9, High: 1, Low: 4)

QB: Joe Burrow RB: Joe Mixon WR: Ja’Marr Chase

1. Los Angeles Chargers (Avg: 1.8, High: 1, Low: 4)

QB: Justin Herbert RB: Austin Ekeler WR: Keenan Allen

The Burrow-Chase connection figures to be one of the NFL’s best for a long time, and was nearly enough to nab Cincy the top spot in our rankings. As you can see from the average rankings and the fact that both teams only received votes between first and fourth, our panel considered these two teams the clear cream of the crop, a step above Buffalo. Herbert’s remarkable first two seasons, Ekeler’s breakout as maybe the league’s best pass-catching running back, and Allen’s year-to-year consistency are likely what earned Los Angeles just a single more first-place vote than Cincinnati, and made the Chargers the No. 1 team in this year’s Triplets Rankings.