WR GOLDEN TATE II is trying to find a gig.  Mike Rosenstein of NJ.com”

NFL training camps open in a month and Golden Tate remains a free man.

But the former New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver knows where he would like to land for the 2021 season.

In an appearance Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Tate said, “I would love to go back home to Tennessee. Indy, over with Carson Wentz. Obviously, the LA Rams would be fantastic with Stafford. I really like the entire NFC West to be honest.”

The 32-year-old Tate was a salary cap victim in March when he was released by the Giants. But truth be told, Tate underwhelmed during his time with New York.

In 2018, the Giants signed Tate to a four year, $37.5 million deal. According to NJ Advance Media’s Zack Rosenblatt, “In two years, Tate only accumulated 1,064 receiving yards, which ranks 65th among all wide receivers from 2019-20. He also missed nine games total due to multiple suspensions and injuries.”

As for what’s next for Tate, don’t look for the Titans to be interested after trading for Julio Jones. The Colts and Lions offer Tate some familiarity. He played with Indianapolis quarterback Carson Wentz in 2018 with the Eagles. Tate played with Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford from 2014 to 2018 when both were on the Detroit Lions.

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Frank Schwab’s 32 preseason previews, which he releases from #32 Houston to #1? are always a good read.  Here is #31 Detroit:

Sometimes, in this social media-dominated era, one misstep at a news conference can stick with a coach for a long time.

It happened to Jon Gruden. The whole tone surrounding his return to the Raiders changed with his “I’m trying to throw the game back to 1998” statement a few years ago. Adam Gase was laughed at from the moment his wandering eyes became a meme at his New York Jets introductory news conference, and he never produced the results to change that.

Dan Campbell has kneecap biting to live down.

When Campbell was introduced, he had a quote that was meant to fire up his players and Detroit as a whole. It was memorable, to say the least.

“So, this team is going to be built on, we’re going to kick you in the teeth,” Campbell said. “And when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you. And when you knock us down, we’re going to get up. And on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off. And we’re going to stand up and then it’s going to take two more shots to knock us down. And on the way up, we’re going to take your other kneecap. And we’re going to get up and then it’s going to take three shots to get us down. And when we do, we’re gonna take another hunk out of you. Before long, we’re going to be the last one standing. That’s going to be the mentality.”

And so, the first impression of Campbell is that’s he’s a ranting lunatic. He didn’t help that image when he said he wanted to have a pet lion at practice. Or when he wore a car racing helmet during a news conference.

If Campbell wins, his wild and harmless quotes will be seen as a positive, a reason for the Lions’ turnaround. But it’s hard to see much winning this season.

The Lions should have moved on from Matt Patricia before he even coached a game. Nothing about his tenure in Detroit, from beginning to end, was promising. He did the typical ex-Bill Belichick assistant thing and acquired as many former Patriots as he could in the name of recreating the “Patriot Way.” He alienated players and media. He went 13-29-1 and like all other former Lions coaches, it’s doubtful he’ll get another shot to be a head coach. It was bad, but at least it’s over.

Campbell and new general manager Brad Holmes came in to clean up the mess left behind. The Lions announced they were officially in a rebuild by trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff and, more importantly, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick. The Lions passed on giving the franchise tag to receiver Kenny Golladay and watched him leave in free agency. Others like receiver Marvin Jones, linebacker Jarrad Davis and kicker Matt Prater left. The Lions re-signed defensive end Romeo Okwara and added some low-cost free agents, but it seemed the emphasis was on clearing salary cap space, adding compensatory draft picks and changing over the roster.

It’s not like the Lions won much with Stafford, or before him either. Campbell was a longtime NFL tight end who did a good job as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015 and stayed on the head-coaching candidate radar after that. He will try to revitalize the franchise through his motivational tactics.

Long-suffering Lions fans are probably ready to see if some kneecap biting finally turns things around. It’s not like anything else has worked.

OFFSEASON GRADE

The Lions’ offseason can’t be viewed simply by what they added or lost. New GM Brad Holmes wanted to get a rebuild started, and the moves he made were about the future. The Lions traded quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams for quarterback Jared Goff, first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023 and a third-round selection this year. It was a downgrade at quarterback, but Goff is a reasonable starter and Detroit got a lot of draft ammunition for the future. It was a smart move for a rebuilding team. Letting receiver Kenny Golladay walk without a sign-and-trade with the franchise tag was curious, but the Lions will get a good compensatory draft pick. They added vets like running back Jamaal Williams, and receivers Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman on low-cost deals. Detroit had a solid draft, with offensive tackle Penei Sewell in the first round, a couple defensive tackles and then a pair of intriguing prospects in defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the middle rounds. It wasn’t a banner offseason, but a necessary one to start over.

GRADE: B-

QUARTERBACK REPORT

Jared Goff fell out of favor with the Rams, and fast. He went from a Pro Bowl quarterback helping the Rams get to a Super Bowl at age 24 to perhaps being benched for John Wolford last postseason. (It’s unclear if Sean McVay would have gone with Goff or Wolford if both were healthy, and we may never know for sure.) Goff was exposed as a quarterback who could play well in ideal conditions but struggles if the supporting cast isn’t great, if he’s pressured or if a defensive coach can confuse him with coverages. The Lions aren’t expected to be good, which isn’t ideal for Goff. But the Lions felt they needed a veteran quarterback coming back to them in a Matthew Stafford trade. Goff, a former No. 1 overall pick who is just 26, might not have long to prove he can be the long-term answer before the Lions look for another quarterback in the draft.

ODDS BREAKDOWN

The Lions’ win total is 5 at BetMGM. It’s the second-lowest total on the board, with the Texans at 4. Detroit has the fourth-hardest schedule in the NFL, according to analyst Warren Sharp. Still, with a total this low it’s hard to take the under. The Lions have a long rebuilding road ahead, but perhaps a coaching change helps. Either take the over or pass.

YAHOO’S FANTASY TAKE

From Yahoo’s Scott Pianowski: “We’ve been spoiled by rookies in recent seasons, with several wideouts turning into instant stars, some quarterbacks smashing from the word, “Go,” and plenty of running backs producing right away. Tight end remains the position in which rookies need to be handled carefully; generally, they’re not dynamic fantasy options on their first lap. This is my roundabout way of saying I want you to target T.J. Hockenson as he enters Year 3.

“Hockenson showed notable improvement in his second season, though it was partially screened by the collapse of the Lions. With the team’s wideout group significantly weakened, Hockenson is likely to lead this team in targets, especially inside the 20, where the touchdowns are. Jared Goff is likely a step back from Matthew Stafford, but he can still be a league-average quarterback. Hockenson is an interesting upside stock to monitor, with a current Yahoo ADP around 50.”

STAT TO REMEMBER

Matt Patricia was hired for his defensive prowess. In Patricia’s three seasons — with him and GM Dan Quinn acquiring players to supposedly fit Patricia’s scheme — the Lions went from 10th to 31st to 32nd in yards allowed per game. Detroit fell from 16th to 26th to 32nd in points allowed per game. The problems start with pass defense. The Lions allowed the most yards per pass in the NFL and the highest passer rating (112.4) in the league. Detroit couldn’t rush the passer and couldn’t cover anyone. Their former coach was in over his head, but there was a talent deficiency as well. That won’t get fixed in one offseason.

BURNING QUESTION

Can Jeff Okudah turn it around?

The rudderless Lions passed on quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert last year with the third overall pick to take cornerback Jeff Okudah. He seemed like a fine choice (though not the right one if the Lions were going to trade Matthew Stafford a year later), but he was one of the most disappointing first-round rookies in the class. Okudah struggled all season, allowing an NFL-high 579 yards in coverage on 251 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. There were injuries for Okudah, and Matt Patricia’s poor coaching didn’t help. Okudah was considered an elite prospect coming out of Ohio State, so he can presumably make a big leap in his second season, but there’s a lot more doubt after a poor first season.

BEST CASE SCENARIO

It’s possible Jared Goff plays well enough that the Lions won’t miss Matthew Stafford too much. Then they’ll have a viable young quarterback and plenty of future draft picks to build around him. While Dan Campbell is a wild card, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be worse than Matt Patricia. The Lions are unlikely to be a playoff contender, but if Goff plays well, Campbell has a good first season, and young players like Jeff Okudah and T.J. Hockenson have big seasons, there will be some hope for the future.

NIGHTMARE SCENARIO

Maybe the Lions’ rebuild is going to take multiple seasons. If Jared Goff struggles with a bad cast around him, Detroit has to start over at quarterback. If Dan Campbell’s methods are clearly not a good fit for the Lions, that becomes a problem, too. The Lions could finish as the NFL’s worst team, which would give them a shot at a quarterback of the future, but it would be a tough blow for a fan base that just wants some success.

CRYSTAL BALL SAYS –

The history has been discussed often: The Lions have won one playoff game since 1957. They have not won a division title since 1993, when it was the NFC Central. And now Detroit is starting over, trying to get it right this time. The Lions could be a little better than expected this season. There’s a reason Matt Patricia has been mentioned often in this preview. He was ruinous for this franchise. Taking him out of the equation can only help.

The Lions still aren’t going to be good enough to make 2021 a successful season. Detroit needs to figure out the long-term quarterback situation (it probably isn’t Jared Goff) and which young players can be the foundation of a rebuild. Actual wins will be tough to come by. Wish there was better news, Lions fans.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

The Virginia prosecuting attorneys went easy on former WFT RB DARRIUS GUICE after he strangled a woman and paid her off.

Former Washington running back Derrius Guice is no longer facing criminal domestic violence charges.

Guice was arrested last August and charged with one felony count of strangulation and four misdemeanors after a series of incidents involving the same woman. He was waived by Washington shortly after news of the arrest came to light.

The felony charge was dropped earlier this year and Justin Jouvenal of the Washington Post reports that a judge in Virginia dismissed the other charges on Wednesday because Guice reached a settlement with his accuser.

“They have both worked hard toward a resolution of their relationship and appreciate the input and consideration of the Commonwealth,” a statement from the woman and Guice’s attorney said.

Guice has also been accused of raping two women while attending LSU and has been out of the league since being cut in Washington.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

The Super Bowl champ wants to add Navy’s CB CAMERON KINLEY.  But so far, Navy bureaucrats don’t want to let him out of his obligation.  Senator Marco Rubio (R Florida) is on his side.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Cameron Kinley said Tuesday he’s essentially stuck in limbo as he waits to see whether he will be allowed to put his Navy career on hold while he pursues an NFL dream.

The cornerback signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent but the U.S. Navy denied his request to delay his service despite other NFL players getting approved. Kinley appeared on “Fox & Friends” and told co-host Brian Kilmeade he feels like he’s living a “double life.”

“It’s definitely tough,” he said when asked where the process stands. “Kinda living a double life where I’m preparing to be an NFL player still just in case things get reversed and I’m also preparing for my career as an officer in the Navy. I’m kinda living this double life, staying hopeful, staying strong in my faith that things can get turned around.”

Kinley said he was disappointed to hear the news that he would not be able to play in the NFL.

“It was definitely tough when I heard the news. I thought about all of the hard work I put in to this point and all the adversity I had to overcome just to get this opportunity and given that people have had this opportunity in the past and it was not afforded to me is definitely something tough I’ve been dealing with,” he said.

While Divine Sports and Entertainment said Kinley is not permitted to appeal the decision, Kinley is finding some support on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., asked President Biden in a letter on Sunday to grant Kinley a waiver. He cited past examples of the Defense Department allowing waivers for service members to pursue their pro sports goals.

“Mr. Kinley is not seeking to terminate his commitment to the Navy. Far from it. He wishes to promote service to our great nation from one of the country’s largest stages. I implore you to right this wrong,” Rubio wrote. “Grant Mr. Kinley’s waiver to play in the NFL, and send a message to future academy graduates that the United States is a country where Americans can follow their dreams and be true to their commitment.”

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Harker told Congress last week that Kinley’s case was reviewed and later denied again. He pointed out that Roger Staubach and David Robinson, both legends in football and basketball, respectively, served in the Navy before turning to pro sports.

“I have a lot of respect for Roger Staubach and David Robinson, of course. They’re notable graduates for the Naval Academy. It shows that it’s not impossible. People have done it before. I just feel like things have changed, times have changed, the game is changing. My position is different. Yes, I could go serve two years and come back and play, but my window of opportunity is a lot smaller than theirs. I would like the opportunity to play now and continue to serve afterward,” Kinley said.

“I definitely made the commitment. I made the commitment when I decided to go to the Naval Academy. I made the commitment when I signed my contract before my junior year and I’m still willing to honor that commitment,” Kinley added. “I just want to be able to delay my commission to play in the NFL first and be that ambassador for the Navy and help recruit. And after my time in the NFL, go serve as an officer in the Navy. I’m definitely looking forward to that career.”

Secretary Harker is inconsistent in remembering Staubach and Robinson and forgetting the many military athletes who have received waivers.

Basically, in recent years, the Obama administration allowed waivers.  Trump’s Secretary of Defense James Mathis put a stop to them. Trump, personally, stepped in and overruled Mathis to allow the waivers.  The Biden administration stepped in and saw this as a Trump policy they could reverse.  This from 2019:

(Secretary of Defense) Esper signed a memo last Friday laying out the new guidelines, which say the athletes must get approval from the defense secretary and require them to eventually fulfill their military obligation or repay the costs of their education.

The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, came at the insistence of President Donald Trump, who directed the Pentagon in June to come up with a way to allow athletes to play professional sports immediately upon graduation. Trump gave the Pentagon four months to develop the new policy.

Allowing athletes to delay service has been a hotly debated issue. The Obama administration put a policy in place allowing some athletes to go to the pros and defer their military service.

That policy allowed Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds to be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2016 draft after completing a four-year run with the Midshipmen. But the year after he went pro, the Defense Department rescinded the policy.

Then-Defense Secretary James Mattis, in an April 2017 memo, said the service academies “exist to develop future officers” and that graduates would serve as “full-fledged military officers carrying out the normal work and career expectations” of someone who received an education at the taxpayers’ expense.

Earlier this year, however, Trump said he was considering allowing athletes to get a waiver so they could play pro sports. He made the announcement during a Rose Garden ceremony in May when he presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the football team of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Army Black Knights completed an 11-2 season and earned the trophy for the second consecutive year.

He issued the order in June, saying that athletes graduating from the academies and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps should be able to defer their military service obligations due to the “short window of time” they have to “take advantage of their athletic talents during which playing professional sports is realistically possible.”

In the new memo, Esper says military service secretaries can nominate an athlete for a waiver after determining there “is a strong expectation that a Military Service Academy cadet or midshipman’s future professional sports employment will provide the DoD with significant favorable media exposure likely to enhance national level recruiting or public affairs missions.”

This from Jenna Laine of ESPN.com:

It was supposed to be one of the best days of Cameron Kinley’s life.

The former Navy football captain and cornerback was graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, becoming the first in his family to graduate as an officer. As president of his 1,084-member class, he would deliver a commencement speech. A political science major, Kinley would also meet Vice President Kamala Harris, the keynote speaker for the ceremony.

Instead, May 28, 2021 felt like the day Kinley’s NFL dream died.

Unbeknownst to classmates and teachers who congratulated him, Kinley had been informed three days earlier the Navy denied his request to delay his service. Having the graduation ceremony at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, where Kinley helped lead the Midshipmen to an 11-2 record in 2019, made it even harder.

It meant he couldn’t go to training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who had signed him as a free agent, despite a strong showing at rookie camp.

“I thought he showed promising signs when he was here,” Bucs coach Bruce Arians said of Kinley.

Instead, Kinley would be required to report to the Navy on June 28 before going off to intelligence school Oct. 2 for six months, followed by his duty station assignment.

“He kept his composure … but I know it’s tearing him apart,” his grandfather, Lynn Reed, who spent 23 years in the Navy and retired as a chief, told ESPN. “It’s heartbreaking for me also.”

“I had a lot of classmates coming up to me … asking me about my experiences in Tampa, asking me if I’m excited to get back down there,” said Kinley, who made one of the top plays of rookie camp last month by picking off quarterback Kyle Trask. “It was hard trying to keep a smile on my face knowing I wouldn’t be able to go back down to Tampa. And having to get up on stage and still deliver that speech — it was tough. It took a lot of strength.

“It’s been rough — mentally and emotionally.”

Kinley wants to make it clear he does not wish to sidestep his five-year Naval commitment; he just wants the chance to live out both of his dreams. An opportunity in the NFL likely won’t be afforded to him down the road at a position predicated on speed, reflexes and instinct that must be fine-tuned constantly. He will have to wait two more years before being able to apply again to play.

“It’s hard not to look at all the comments on social media, but I always see the, ‘Go serve your two years. You know David Robinson did it. Roger Staubach did it. Serve your two years and come back,'” Kinley said. “And I’m like, ‘That’s cool.’ But at the same time, I’m not just gonna be chilling these two years. I’m a commissioned officer in the Navy in the information warfare community. I have a commitment. It’s not impossible, but to think that I’ll be the same player that I am right now two years from now — that’s no easy task.”

Kinley needs a last-minute reversal from the Navy or his NFL dream will be put on hold. He wrote a letter to Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn to see if she could request the decision be overturned. He even appealed to Vice President Harris the day of his graduation, pulling her aside and telling her, “I might need your help with something in the future.” He didn’t tell Harris about his request being denied but he hopes she may have gotten wind of it.

“I didn’t have time to lay everything out completely,” Kinley said. “I think she could see it in my eyes when I was like, ‘I need your help with this.'”

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

Lockdown Seattle will allow the Seahawks to fill their stadium, which we note is now called Lumen Field.  Adam Jude of the Seattle Times:

Welcome back, 12s.

After playing the 2020 season in an eerily quiet Lumen Field, the Seahawks announced Tuesday they will be able to welcome fans back into the stadium at full capacity to open the 2021 season.

The Seahawks have received approval from local health officials and the NFL to reopen the 68,000-seat Lumen Field, which has historically ranked as one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.

“Can’t wait to see those 12s — can’t wait to see the 12s,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said last week. “I know they’re coming. I know somebody is going to be in those stands. Can’t wait to get you out there.”

Under the state’s reopening protocols, fans will not be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend Seahawks games, but the team announced that fans who are not vaccinated will be required to wear masks.

The state’s reopening guidelines for outdoor sporting events do not require vaccination status be verified to attend a game.

“Oh man, I’m excited to have them,” Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett told reporters last week. “You never know what it’s like to not have something until you don’t have it. And when we didn’t have the fans, you could tell it was different.

“… It taught me how not to take fans for granted, but how to be able to enjoy and be appreciative that people are actually there. So I’m excited for the fans to come back. I’m really excited just to be able to go out there. I always call it a concert because that’s what it feels like ever since I first stepped on that football field. And so when the fans come back, it’s time to get it going.”

Even without their usual home-field advantage, the Seahawks went 7-1 at Lumen Field last season and won the NFC West title. They did, however, lose at home to the rival Rams in their wild-card playoff game.

The Seahawks are scheduled to open the 2021 season with a road game at Indianapolis on Sept. 12. Their first home game — the return of the 12s — is set for Sept. 19 against the Tennessee Titans.

The team has not yet announced plans for opening training camp to fans. That announcement is expected in mid-July.

The state is on track to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on June 30, and other local teams have already announced plans to reopen facilities at full capacity.

The Seattle Mariners and Storm will reopen at full capacity starting with their games on July 2.

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

DE CARL NASSIB’s announcement has been good for the jersey business.  ESPN.com:

In the 24 hours since Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as gay, the Las Vegas Raiders defensive end’s jersey has been the top-selling item across the league, according to Fanatics.

Nassib, 28, made the announcement Monday in a video posted to Instagram from his house in West Chester, Pennsylvania. In the video, Nassib says, “I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest. I really have the best life, I’ve got the best family, friends and job a guy could ask for. I’m a pretty private person so I hope you guys know that I’m really not doing this for attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important.”

Fanatics, the NFL’s official e-commerce partner, said Nassib has had the top-selling NFL jersey Monday and Tuesday across the company’s network of online stores.

AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND

An update on the contract of QB BAKER MAYFIELD.  Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said earlier this month that he isn’t in a rush to sign a contract extension, but one of his agents does not think he’s going to have to wait too long.

Jack Mills told Tony Grossi of WKNR that he doesn’t feel the need to wait for Bills quarterback Josh Allen or Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to sign new deals “there’s been enough contracts done for quarterbacks lately that give us a pretty good idea of what the market is” for Mayfield.

While Mills said talks with the Browns and his son Tom, who also reps Mayfield, have not moved to specifics about when it will be done, he has a feeling that it will be sooner rather than later.

“But I think something will be done this summer,” Mills said. “As far as trying to get a deal done, I don’t know if it’ll get done. It’s something that would be pretty much in the team’s control.”

The Browns picked up Mayfield’s fifth-year option this offseason, so he’s signed to a guaranteed contract through the 2022 season. That makes an extension less urgent this summer, but it seems there’s still a feeling that things are going to move forward in the coming weeks.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

Media tirades against his anti-vax stance may not have swayed WR COLE BEASLEY, but they have made him go silent.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com claims victory:

Bills receiver Cole Beasley said plenty last week about the rules regarding vaccinated and unvaccinated players. He now has something more to say: He’s done saying anything about it.

“I said all I needed to say,” Beasley told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m just living a normal life from here on out. I’m not trying to sway anybody in either direction. That’s what I am doing and that’s the end of it.”

Beasley has no regrets for what he has said, but he has a very good reason for saying nothing more.

“I don’t want [to] be any more of a distraction to my team so that’s where I’m leaving it,” Beasley said.

The key word is distraction. The vaccination issue already has been a distraction for the Bills. If players with different viewpoints keep talking about such a polarizing issue, a full-blown schism could emerge.

Also, Beasley has $5.2 million riding the team deciding to keep him in 2021. If the Bills decide they’re not comfortable keeping Beasley around (ostensibly, the decision would be driven by football reasons), he could be traded to another team. But if, in a climate that has seen the salary-cap fall dramatically due to the pandemic, no one wants to take on his $4.7 million salary and $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses, Beasley could be cut — and then he would be forced to scramble to replace his expected earnings.

Beasley suggested last week that he’ll ignore the rules and pay the fines. In his comments to the Star-Telegram, he doesn’t say whether he will or won’t obey the rules negotiated jointly by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

If Beasley won’t, the Bills eventually could decide, officially for football reasons, to move on from Beasley and to clear $5.2 million in cash and cap space.

THIS AND THAT

FIRST-TIME CHAMPS

Adam Schein names the nine teams he thinks are most likely to soon win their first Super Bowl.  There are 12 that haven’t won one, so we presume it is all but Detroit, Houston and one other:

I love history. And I love history makers. New blood winning titles? I’m here for it!

The NBA’s conference finals are chock-full of new blood, with the Hawks and Bucks facing off in the East and the Suns and Clippers doing battle in the West. None of these team have won a championship since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976. While the Hawks (1958) and Bucks (1971) each earned one crown before the merger, the Clippers and Suns have never claimed a title.

Naturally, this got me thinking about the 12 NFL franchises that have yet to win a Super Bowl:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

Tennessee Titans

Looking at those organizations, who’s most likely to capture their first Lombardi Trophy in the 2021 NFL season? Good question. Here are my rankings, Schein Nine style. (Apologies to the Lions, Texans and Jaguars, who were left on the cutting room floor. Unfortunately, my name rhymes with nine, not twelve.)

1 – Buffalo Bills

2020 record: 13-3

The Bills fell one win short of Super Bowl Sunday last season, and there are legit reasons to believe they’ll be better in the coming campaign.

First of all, it was a major win for Sean McDermott’s team to keep both coordinators, Brian Daboll and Leslie Frazier. These two interviewed for head-coaching jobs earlier this offseason, but they’re back for another year with the Bills. Huge for continuity’s sake. Daboll has a tremendous rapport with Buffalo’s most important player, Josh Allen. The 25-year-old quarterback has improved each year in the NFL, throwing himself squarely into last season’s MVP/Offensive Player of the Year discussions, with a 37:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio and eight more rushing scores. The guy’s become a star, combining a rocket arm with top-tier athleticism. Brandon Beane’s done a spectacular job surrounding him with receiving talent, too. Stefon Diggs, of course, leads the pack, having just led the NFL in catches (127) and receiving yards (1,535) in his first year with the Bills. Wait until the guy gets to feed off Bills Mafia, who are champing at the bit to cheer on their reigning AFC East champions with Highmark Stadium returning to full capacity. Folding tables, beware!

Defensively, Buffalo took a step back in 2020. But the unit’s quite experienced, with a number of established studs in the back seven, including linebackers Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds, safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, and cornerback Tre’Davious White. Up front, Beane added a pair of intriguing defensive linemen — Miami’s Gregory Rousseau and Wake Forest’s Carlos Basham Jr. — in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

All in all, the Bills have the necessary ingredients — fantastic coaching staff, astute GM, star quarterback, pass-catching weapons, experienced defense — to take the next step and hit the Super Bowl.

2 – Cleveland Browns

2020 record: 11-5

I LOVE this roster, starting with the superb 1-2 punch at running back, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. With those two guys by his side, Baker Mayfield really had the light go on down the stretch of his third NFL campaign. Over his final 12 games of last season, including two playoff bouts, Mayfield threw 20 touchdown passes against just three interceptions. His play was inspiring. And he heads into the 2021 season with talent and depth at both wide receiver and tight end.

On defense, it all starts with the 6-foot-4, 272-pound force of nature in the No. 95 jersey. Myles Garrett is a bona fide game wrecker. I won’t be the least bit surprised if he breaks the single-season sack record in 2021. And now Cleveland has another former No. 1 overall pick manning the opposite edge. Jadeveon Clowney said earlier this week that it took him eight years to find a teammate like Garrett. It’s true. These two are nightmare fuel for opposing quarterbacks.

The Browns — yes, the Browns — have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL today. I won’t bat an eye if Cleveland finishes top five in offense and defense. Reigning NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski has to be thinking Championship Sunday, at least.

3 – Tennessee Titans

2020 record: 11-5

Julio Jones changes everything. Jones and A.J. Brown are now the best receiving tandem in the NFL. Ryan Tannehill, who has been an absolute stud since taking the reins in Tennessee, could go up another level. And this will open up boxes for the pulse of this team, running back Derrick Henry. Back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons? It’s more than possible, given how much opponents will have to respect Tennessee’s dynamic duo out wide. The defense added three starters in free agency (DE Denico Autry, LB Bud Dupree and CB Janoris Jenkins) and drafted athletic freak Caleb Farley, a high-upside cornerback who would’ve been long gone by the Titans’ No. 22 pick if not for some injury concerns.

Mike Vrabel is a fantastic head coach who has yet to log a non-winning season. He’ll continue that trend this year. In fact, while I rank Buffalo and Cleveland ahead on this list, there isn’t much separating these three teams. They’re definitely the cream of this crop.

4 – Arizona Cardinals

2020 record: 8-8

The defense is ready to rock, with J.J. Watt joining a healthy Chandler Jones to rush the passer. (Now the Cardinals just need to get back on the same page with the latter.) And I loved the first-round selection of Zaven Collins, who gives Vance Joseph another versatile disruptor on defense.

But of course, Arizona’s calling card remains the high-flying offense. With Kyler Murray heading into Year 3 in Kliff Kinsgbury’s offense, it’s time to rock and roll. It’s time to enter the MVP discussion. The receiving corps is deep and talented, starting with DeAndre Hopkins. The offseason additions of veteran A.J. Green and rookie Rondale Moore were perfect. This Air Raid is about to explode! And Steve Keim told me on SiriusXM Radio that he is a big believer in Chase Edmonds running the ball. A lot of fantasy types have been begging for Edmonds to get the rock more consistently. While free-agent addition James Conner brings a physical dimension to the backfield, Edmonds is a playmaker who could enjoy a career year.

I expect the Cardinals to make the playoffs — and once there, they have a real chance to make a run.

5 – Los Angeles Chargers

2020 record: 7-9

As I revealed back in March, this is my Cinderella team in 2021. After a pair of losing seasons, the Bolts are about to make some noise.

Of course, not everything was suboptimal in 2020. Justin Herbert arguably had the greatest rookie season ever at quarterback. And now, with a full and normal offseason at Herbert’s disposal, it wouldn’t shock me to see him carry the Chargers to the playoffs and challenge for MVP. He’s that impressive. Not to mention, his offensive line was brilliantly repaired by Tom Telesco in the draft and free agency. Speaking of brilliantly repaired … Derwin James is healthy! He changes everything for L.A.’s defense. I’ve penned many times how much I love the Brandon Staley hire at head coach. I can’t wait to see what he does with James, Joey Bosa and the rest of the Chargers’ D.

Everyone’s talking about the Rams potentially playing this coming season’s Super Bowl at home in SoFi Stadium, but don’t overlook the Herbert-led Bolts. Los Angeles is suddenly an NFL hotbed.

6 – Minnesota Vikings

2020 record: 7-9

This might be the most fascinating team in the NFL this year. If Aaron Rodgers never plays another snap for the Packers — and I don’t see any sign that he will — Minnesota is my pick to win the North. Danielle Hunter is back on defense, and that puts the Vikings back in the mix. The pass rush was nonexistent without him. I loved the Patrick Peterson signing, a perfect match with defensive guru Mike Zimmer. Justin Jefferson enjoyed a magical rookie season and it was no fluke: The guy is a dominator outside. If Adam Thielen can stay healthy, Minnesota could have the best 1-2 WR punch this side of Julio Jones-A.J. Brown. Of course, Dalvin Cook is a gamebreaking star in the backfield. Which leads us to the lightning rod …

Look, say what you will about Kirk Cousins, but he’s a very good player. Is he elite? No. He ranks somewhere in the 8-16 range of quarterbacks. Is he good enough to win in the playoffs? Yes. Remember when Cousins and Co. shocked the Saints in New Orleans two postseasons ago? Don’t let the haters forget it.

7 – Cincinnati Bengals

2020 record: 4-11-1

For this subject matter, it’d probably be best if my name actually rhymed with six. Because the final three teams on this list aren’t winning Super Bowl LVI.

Well, OK, strange things happen in this parity-driven league. And hey, I already predicted the Bengals would win more games than the Steelers in 2021. Plus, I’ve got a comfy seat on the Burrow bandwagon. So let’s go!

While the playoffs feel like a stretch, I refuse to rule them out. Joe Burrow won’t accept losing, so neither will I. And look at the weaponry surrounding Cincy’s second-year signal-caller. No. 5 overall pick Ja’Marr Chase reunites with his LSU quarterback, joining a receiving corps that already features Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. That’s one hell of a pass-catching trio. And Joe Mixon’s an all-around stud in the backfield, poised for a bounceback season after an injury-riddled 2020. The defense carries a number of questions — a common trait for the remaining teams in this rundown — but Burrow’s in line for the type of breakthrough season that covers up a lot of warts.

8 – Atlanta Falcons

2020 record: 4-12

In hiring Arthur Smith, the Falcons brought in a new head coach, a new play caller and a much-needed attitude changer. It’s not that hard to imagine Smith turning this thing around in a hurry. Despite last year’s 4-12 record, Atlanta isn’t devoid of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Even without Julio Jones, I see the Falcons scoring a bunch of points in 2021. Matt Ryan is still plenty capable at age 36, and he hasn’t worked with an offensive mind this sharp since Kyle Shanahan back in 2016 — when the quarterback won MVP and nearly a Super Bowl. Calvin Ridley showcased his WR1 ability by excelling during Julio’s injury absence last season. No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts is a dynamic threat who’ll stress opposing defenses week in and week out.

Smith and the Falcons lured Dean Pees out of retirement to direct the defense — and the 71-year-old has his work cut out for him. Over the last three seasons, Atlanta has ranked 28th, 20th and 29th in total D. Outside of DT Grady Jarrett, the defense lacks juice up front. Meanwhile, the secondary is young and unproven. Pro Football Focus actually ranks it as the worst defensive backfield in the NFL heading into the 2021 campaign.

Basically, every Falcons game could be a fantasy goldmine, for players on both teams.

9 – Carolina Panthers

2020 record: 5-11

Christian McCaffrey is healthy. Sam Darnold is an upgrade. And Terrace Marshall Jr. feels like the kind of Day 2 draft steal who makes an early impact, especially with opposing defenses focused on Carolina’s two 1,000-yard receivers, D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson. Long story short, this offense is going to rock under Joe Brady. I’m less certain about the other side of the ball.

The defense definitely has some intriguing young talent. Jeremy Chinn was a hybrid revelation in Year 1, while fellow rookie Derrick Brown improved significantly over the course of last season. And then there’s 23-year-old edge rusher Brian Burns, who could be on the verge of a breakout Pro Bowl campaign. No. 8 overall pick Jaycee Horn enters the fray with high expectations — and the kind of man-cover chops that could alter Phil Snow’s approach as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator. The unit is full of athletic playmakers; it’s up to Snow and Co. to foster everyone’s growth.

2022 DRAFT

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com breaks down Oregon EDGE KAYVON THIBODEAUX (who we note has the rare Vowel Slam in his last name):

I remember watching Kayvon Thibodeaux play during his high school days at Oaks Christian in Southern California. He was the top-ranked recruit in the country and, as you would expect, entered Oregon with a tremendous amount of hype in 2019. He’s more than lived up to the expectations, though. He’s been a dominant force since he stepped foot on campus, posting 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in 21 career games.

There is already a ton of buzz about him in NFL circles, and watching three of his game tapes in recent weeks gave me greater perspective on why he has a chance to be such a special player at the next level. Here’s my scouting report:

Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 250 pounds (school measurements).

2020 statistics: 38 tackles (23 solo), 9.5 for loss (three sacks), three passes defensed in seven games.

Game tape watched: Stanford (Nov. 7, 2020), Washington State (Nov. 14, 2020), USC (Dec. 18, 2020).

What I liked: Thibodeaux is an explosive edge rusher, winning with a combination of speed, length and power. He has a dynamic get-off and can generate knock-back against offensive tackles without needing much runway or space. He also flashes a nifty up/under move to counter opponents when they jump out aggressively to take away his speed advantage. He’s firm at the point of attack against the run and uses his speed/effort to make plays on the back side.

Where he needs to improve: Thibodeaux is already an incredible player and he hasn’t yet developed an arsenal of hand moves. He’s winning on pure athleticism and feel. Once he incorporates swipe moves, a consistent long-arm move or a spin move, he’s going to be unblockable. He plays with excellent strength and power, but there is more room for growth on his frame. He’s only going to get better, which must be a scary thought for teams that play against him.

Biggest takeaway: Thibodeaux is exactly the type of player who didn’t exist in the 2021 draft class. The first edge rusher (Jaelan Phillips) didn’t come off the board until the 18th selection. All of the players at the position in this most recent class had at least one issue or concern, be it on the field or off. Thibodeaux already has a two-year track record of dominance and he hasn’t even scratched the surface of how good he can become.

He reminds me of: DeMarcus Ware. There isn’t a perfect comparison for Thibodeaux, but I see a lot of similarities to Ware when I evaluated him coming out of Troy in 2005. They have the same long, wiry build and they both have an explosive first step. I would give Ware the edge as a pure bender at the top of his rush, while I see a little more power from Thibodeaux at the same point in their development. Ware had a Hall of Fame-caliber NFL career and Thibodeaux has the potential to become a similar player. Ware became a pass-rush student and constantly added to his game, improving along the way. That will be the challenge for Thibodeaux. If he puts in the work, the sky is the limit.

I can’t wait to watch him play: at Ohio State on Sept. 11 and versus Washington State on Nov. 13. OK, I know I’m only supposed to pick one game, but I couldn’t help myself. It’ll be awesome to see how Thibodeaux performs on the big stage against the Buckeyes. They lost some good players along the interior of their offensive line, but they have talent and experience returning at tackle. Washington State has one of the top tackles in college football, Abraham Lucas. Last year, Thibodeaux and Lucas didn’t line up against each other on every snap, but the Cougs OT more than held his own against the Ducks star. He was given help on a couple reps, but he limited Thibodeaux’s impact as a rusher (no sacks, two QB hits). It’ll be fun to watch them go at it again this fall!