AROUND THE NFL
Daily Briefing
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The NFL is moving their officiating crews around to make some history. Kevin Seifert ofESPN.com:
The NFL has assembled an all-Black officiating crew for the first time to work Monday night’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, citing the opportunity to recognize the league’s history and recent practices in diversifying its officiating department.
“This historic Week 11 crew is a testament to the countless and immeasurable contributions of Black officials to the game, their exemplary performance, and to the power of inclusion that is the hallmark of this great game,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said.
The crew will be led by referee Jerome Boger and includes four members of his 2020 crew. Monday night’s group will include umpire Barry Anderson, down judge Julian Mapp, line judge Carl Johnson, side judge Dale Shaw, field judge Anthony Jeffries and back judge Greg Steed.
“I am proud of my heritage and excited about my participation in this historic game,” Boger said. “The opportunity to work with a great group of Black officials and exhibit our proficiency in executing our assignment is something I am really looking forward to.”
The NFL typically assembles its 17 officiating crews prior to the season and works to keep them together for each game to promote cohesion and communication. It organized the crews by home geography this season because of the coronavirus pandemic, giving officials the option to drive rather than fly to games if desired.
Johnson, who lives in Louisiana, and Steed, who lives near Washington, D.C., were pulled from other crews.
Four of the NFL’s 17 referee/crew chiefs are Black — Boger, Ron Torbert, Adrian Hill and Shawn Smith — a higher percentage than for NFL coaches or general managers. Two members of its three-man leadership team, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron and senior vice president of officiating administration Perry Fewell, are minorities. The NFL hired Burl Toler, the first Black official in any major sports league, in 1965.
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NFC NORTH
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CHICAGO
Coach Matt Nagy thinks that QB NICK FOLES will be available to continue as the team’s starting QB, but he won’t commit to him going forward. ESPN.com:
The injury news on Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is better than expected, according to coach Matt Nagy.
“It wasn’t as bad as we once thought,” Nagy said of the injury he described as being a combination of a strain and a bruise to the quarterback’s hip/glute area.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the initial diagnosis was a hip pointer and that Foles was scheduled for more tests on Tuesday.
Nagy said he doesn’t think Foles will need to go on injured reserve, but he did leave the door open to a possible change at quarterback when the Bears come off their bye week.
“When you lose four games in a row, it’s all on the table. Everything’s out there,” Nagy said. “The No. 1 thing with Nick and with Mitch [Trubisky] that we are concerned with right now is to make sure their health is the No. 1 priority. “
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GREEN BAY
The Packers stood pat at receiver at the trade deadline because they knew help was on the way in WR ALLEN LAZARD. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com:
The Green Bay Packers offense could be back at full strength to start the stretch run of the season with the return of wide receiver Allen Lazard.
The Packers’ No. 2 threat in the passing game was added to the 53-man roster Tuesday, nearly three weeks after he returned to practice following core muscle surgery.
Combined with the return of All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari for last Sunday’s victory over the Jaguars and the return of running back Aaron Jones for the previous week’s win against the 49ers, the Packers (7-2) should have their full complement to surround Aaron Rodgers in time for one of their toughest remaining games — at the Colts on Sunday — as long as Davante Adams’ ankle holds up.
Adams missed part of the second half Sunday but finished the game.
Lazard last played in Week 3, when he caught six passes for 146 yards and a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints — the first of two games Adams missed because of a hamstring injury. Just days after the Saints game, Lazard underwent core muscle surgery and was placed on injured reserve.
Bakhtiari missed three games because of broken ribs, and Jones was held out for two games with a calf injury. Backup running back Jamaal Williams missed one game because he was a close contact of third-string running back AJ Dillon, who tested positive for COVID-19.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that Dillon was close to returning. The only other lingering injury issue on offense is gadget back/receiver Tyler Ervin, who left Sunday’s game with a rib injury.
Despite all the moving parts, the Packers rank second in the NFL in offensive points scored and sixth in total yards.
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NFC EAST
Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com puts together an NFC East All-Star Team to go out and do battle against one of the really good teams:
The only way the NFC East wins this season is when it plays against each other. The cumulative record of the four teams is 10-26-1. It’s not crazy to think we could see a Week 17 battle between the 5-9-1 Philadelphia Eagles and 5-10 Washington Football Team … with the winner taking a division title.
We have to get creative when it comes to finding a positive with the 2020 NFC East. How about taking an all-star lineup from the four teams? Could an NFC East all-star team win 10 games? Would it win a conference title?
Let’s find out.
Offense
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, Terry McLaurin, CeeDee Lamb
TE: Dallas Goedert
OT: Lane Johnson, Morgan Moses
G: Zack Martin, Brandon Scherff
C: Jason Kelce
It’s apparent right away we’re leaning on name value, almost by default.
Wentz has a 12-12 TD-to-INT ratio, a completion percentage under 60 when the entire league seems to be completing two-thirds of its passes, but who else would the quarterback be? Ezekiel Elliott is averaging 3.8 yards per carry, hasn’t had a 100-yard rushing game and Tony Pollard has often looked like the better back, but it’s not like another back in the NFC East has been much better.
Goedert has 14 catches for 153 yards this season, and is just back from injury, but the NFC East is very short on reliable tight ends, especially with Zach Ertz fading fast. Most of the offensive line has been banged up, too.
Maybe these players would do well with better teammates. Wentz might not be an interception machine with better receivers. Elliott could look like more than a plodder with an offensive line that can open holes.
This is the best an NFC East offense can do, and it’s still shaky.
Defense
DL: Jonathan Allen, Fletcher Cox, Leonard Williams
LB/Edge: Brandon Graham, Demarcus Lawrence, Blake Martinez, Leighton Vander Esch
CB: James Bradberry, Kendall Fuller
S: Rodney McLeod, Jabrill Peppers
We both came up with virtually the same defensive 11 to start with, save for the veteran Graham getting the slight nod over rookie Chase Young, who has been great despite missing one game. It’s virtually splitting hairs here.
Overall, this is a good pass-rush unit. Cox is still a great interior penetrator, Williams is quietly having a nice season and the Graham-Lawrence duo would do work to heat up the edges.
Relying on Martinez (who is having a career season) and the sometimes-injured Vander Esch at linebacker gives us some pause, but not as much as the secondary.
It’s by no means a bad group. But Fuller is primarily a slot receiver, and the safeties are both respectable players but perhaps not major difference makers.
Even so, in an NFL season where there might not be a dominant defense, this unit would fare respectably overall. This would be a top-10 group, perhaps even top five, and one that relies on creating pressure, could be susceptible to big pass plays and might not be prolific in terms of forcing turnovers.
How would the NFC East all-star team do?
This is a good team, of course. The receivers are impressive, and the pass rush is great. Players who are struggling to play up to their normal standards might get on track with other stars around them.
It speaks to the overall strength of the NFC East that we wouldn’t necessarily write this team into a Super Bowl. We’d still be at the mercy of Wentz having a bad game, a hurting offensive line not opening up holes or the back seven of the defense not clamping down.
This has the look of a team that would go about 11-5. The NFC East teams are all bad individually, but between the four there would be one good team. While it’s possible it could all click for a long playoff run, it seems more likely this team would win one and then fade once it faced a club led by Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers.
At least a combined NFC East team would give us something we haven’t seen yet this season: quality football from the division.
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DALLAS
Bob Sturm of The Athletic sees RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT in decline:
Whether you recognize it or not, nobody is more aligned and merged with the Cowboys in the public spectrum than Ezekiel Elliott. He is their pride and joy, the man they defended with great determination when he was in trouble with the NFL back in 2017. He is their main marketing piece, and he represents what they wanted to be about from the moment they drafted him fourth overall in 2016. The dream was that he and Tony Romo would rule the world for several years. Instead, they never played a meaningful down together. So Dallas just passed the “face of the franchise” torch to him, and it has been his for several years.
You might dispute that top paragraph and suggest Dak Prescott is the true face of the franchise, but that certainly does not hold water with the team visibly and nationally. The only alliance they have with a healthy Prescott is on game days; otherwise, all week, it is Prescott versus the Cowboys in a 20-months-and-counting square-off about whether or not they will pay him the going rate for a quarterback of his caliber. Almost two full years of “prove that you are worthy of our finest deal.”
How long did they make Ezekiel Elliott wait for his truckload of money? Long enough to go to Cabo for a few weeks after three years of service. The same three years they both served, when Elliott wasn’t suspended, of course.
One was paid the top contract at his position. The other could not come to a deal, as the team had one foot in the boat and on the shore with QB1.
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The Cowboys awarded him the biggest running back contract in league history in terms of total dollars ($90 million), average annual value ($15 million) and practical guarantee (over $50 million), and they gave it to him at least one year early. They broke the market and then even wrote the deal in a way that it would be difficult to change their minds if he immediately started playing like the 25th-best RB in the league. His agent is a genius, and the Cowboys continue to uncover the worst-case scenarios moving forward.
For instance:
The entirety of 2019 and 2020 were locked in with the signing bonus the day he signed. This is standard. Now come the add-ons.
The 2021 portion of his deal at just under $14 million is already guaranteed due to a deadline in March 2020.
The 2022 year at $16.5 million becomes fully guaranteed in March — meaning, the Cowboys are not allowed to observe his next season before guaranteeing the one after that. This ensures that he was basically locked in his spot through the end of the 2022 season regardless of how he performed in 2020 unless the Cowboys wanted to pay him to play for someone else in 2021.
After 2022, when he will have played seven seasons — the same seven that we thought they had on draft day with a five-year contract and two franchise tags — he will be heading toward his 28th birthday. Dallas can then decide if they want him to be here for his last four years on his deal on an annual basis. Of course, this assumes he and his agent do not have the leverage to again force the issue from Cabo, and that assumption cost the Cowboys dearly last time around. Not only did they not comply to the original blueprint to play for seven years under the Cowboys’ premise, they basically only allowed the Cowboys three years of grabbing the steering wheel. The franchise was eager to appease its runner.
That was when they made a clear declaration of the face of their franchise: They chose Zeke.
Here is where it gets rather problematic. If they chose a player who was and is and will be elite, we have no problems. Athletes make tons of money, franchises make tons of money and, provided, it all is sorted fairly, we often just want to see the best players get rewarded for as long as they are the best players.
Elliott still has the biggest contract and one of the biggest reputations. He is just 25 years old, and even with a new coaching staff, he is still being given the ball a lot and the marketing materials still suggest that you are tuning in to see Elliott do his thing. But as I write this today, it is very difficult to find a way to suggest Elliott is the best running back in football. It is very difficult to suggest he is a top-five running back in football. And the more you dig, the more you wonder where he ranks.
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Then Elliott’s 2019 deal seemed to inspire five subsequent extra-large RB contracts given others in 2020 that all went for at least four years at a minimum of $12 million annually. None were technically as big as Zeke’s, but the top two were close enough:
Alvin Kamara, Saints — five years, $75 million ($33.8 million guaranteed)
Christian McCaffrey, Panthers — four years, $64 million ($38.1 million guaranteed)
Dalvin Cook, Vikings — five, $63 million ($28.1 million guaranteed)
Derrick Henry, Titans – four years, $50 million ($25.5 million guaranteed)
Joe Mixon, Bengals — four years, $48 million ($20 million)
With all due respect to others like Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones and a healthy Barkley, I thought we could roll through a few of the other concerns with Zeke as we try to put the proper picture in the frame of “where we are” with this group of six.
Top RBs – Scrimmage Yds/Gm ’19-20
Christian McCaffrey 149.5
Dalvin Cook 127.1
Derrick Henry 115.8
Alvin Kamara 107.1
Ezekiel Elliott 103.5
Joe Mixon 90.5
As you can see, while he is certainly is not last, this is not the elite Zeke of 2016-18 in many categories. Is he well behind the field? I think that would be difficult to say. Context matters. When the offense is a shell of itself, it would be great to “load up on Zeke” and have his sheer greatness compensate for not having a QB, LT, RT, RG and C for much of this season. Ultimately, nobody should be holding Elliott responsible for this year.
But we also cannot ignore things given Joe Mixon and McCaffrey have played in plenty of “lost seasons” without a QB. Elliott is also getting up there in terms of service time and total touches and, trust me, there are very few Emmitt Smiths and Adrian Petersons at this position in this sport. Almost nobody at RB can defeat Father Time, and sometimes that isn’t about age as much as it is one’s body clock.
Regardless, playing RB is so much more than simple raw production, and there are two questions that constantly come up with Zeke.
DOES EZEKIEL ELLIOTT FIND LONG RUNS AND BIG PLAYS ANYMORE?
The answer here is certainly not great. Big plays were his bread and butter for his first several seasons. In his first 42 games, he found a “big play” — defined by Sportradar as 10+ yards runs or 20+ yard receptions — 121 different times. He was hitting on one every 8.3 touches, which was quite elite given that he also had the most touches in the sport by a mile. If the same player can be the biggest workhorse and find the biggest plays, you have to admit that even if you were against drafting him with the fourth overall pick, chances are that he had hit his ceiling.
He also had an absurd 30 rushes of 20-yards or more, which was not only the most in the NFL but the most by a mile.
Since his deal was signed to start 2019, he has dropped to fourth in the “big play” category (see above), which is still very impressive. But he now is hitting on one every 10 touches, which won’t sound like the biggest drop-off but ranks 28th in the NFL. That ties him with Leonard Fournette, who was cut by the team that drafted him because Jacksonville just didn’t see a future with him.
And those big rushes when Elliott used to lead the NFL? Well, now he is tied for 25th in the league with just five 20-yard runs in 25 games. Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry both have 18 during that stretch. That is what elite now looks like. Looking at our prior group of six, Elliott ranks well behind Henry, Cook and Kamara, very similarly to McCaffrey and above just Mixon.
When Tony Pollard has roughly the same number of explosive plays with less than 30 percent of the workload, we have to say that, definitively, the answer to question one is “no.”
DOES EZEKIEL ELLIOTT BREAK TACKLES ANYMORE?
I hear this one a lot, and I assumed that because the question is so prevalent, it must be true. But is it?
Elliott used to break tackles once every 21.8 touches before his contract was signed and had 46 in those first 42 games. This ranked 25th in the NFL in touches/broken tackle and eighth in total broken tackles.
Since 2019 started, though, he actually is breaking more — 43 official broken tackles in 25 games, which is a significant upgrade. But he still ranks eighth in total broken tackles, which is curious or a sign that tracking this stat is a developing art form.
As for his rate? 34th in touches/broken tackle, which slots him between Kerryon Johnson and James Conner. Among our “big six contracts”, he is well below Kamara, Cook and Henry but above Mixon and McCaffrey.
This one is not as conclusive, but we are leaning to another “no.”
I recognize and admit that I did not endorse Ezekiel Elliott’s drafting, certainly did not endorse his extension and currently believe teams that invest heavily in running backs are playing a different and inferior type of sport than the “smart teams.”
This doesn’t mean that running isn’t important, but it does mean the running back is pretty much not. It is scheme, and it is offensive line; the nature of the runner is almost entirely interchangeable. Last year’s Super Bowl teams both had incredibly low-level RBs by group, which reminded us of so many New England teams of the last decade. Pittsburgh knew Le’Veon Bell was not the reason for their success, and it appears Green Bay knows that Aaron Jones might not be a mandatory keeper, either.
It is difficult to say that the Cowboys are in this competitive mess because of Elliott. He is still a fine player, and we must not go overboard in suggesting otherwise. If they cut ties today, he would receive many calls very quickly. That is not the question.
The Cowboys are already pot-committed to Elliott’s money being fully guaranteed in 2021. In five months, they also must decide whether to commit to all of 2022 as well, at another million dollars per game. So here’s the real question: If he is no longer breaking big plays — and there are very few cases of players actually getting more explosive with age and high mileage — should the Cowboys seriously consider turning down his March 2021 activator and playing with $24 million in dead money (split into two seasons) to get out of another doubling-down of his contract in 2022?
I believe the Cowboys’ realization that they have already made one mistake, and possibly two, should not turn into three by pretending this situation doesn’t exist. The sooner they address this situation, the sooner they can build their roster in the proper, modern way. They may have to do something they seldom do around here: Own a mistake and move on.
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NFC SOUTH
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TAMPA BAY
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wants WR ANTONIO BROWN prosecuted for failing to report his non-crime to the NFL:
Antonio Brown‘s latest problem may arise from the failure to disclose his latest problem to the NFL.
The NFL didn’t previously know about Brown’s October 15 incident, according to the NFL’s in-house media conglomerate. If that’s true, and surely it is since it’s coming from the NFL directly, the NFL has separate grounds for disciplining Brown.
Even though Brown was not arrested or charged, the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy imposes a broad, mandatory reporting obligation on any player involved in any incident that could be a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.
“Failure to report an incident will be grounds for disciplinary action,” the league’s Personal Conduct Policy explains. “This obligation to report is broader than simply reporting an arrest; it requires reporting to the league any incident that comes to the club’s or player’s attention which, if the allegations were true, would constitute a violation of the Policy.”
In other words, the fact that Brown was involved in an incident that created sufficient probable cause to arrest him for misdemeanor criminal mischief imposed on Brown an obligation to let the league know about it, even if charges ultimately weren’t pressed. It’s also safe to assume that, given Brown’s extended history of off-field issues, someone from the NFL made sure at some point to make sure Brown knew to immediately contact the league office in the event that Brown had any other incidents, whether or not he was arrested.
Even without that extra layer of admonition, Brown had a duty to let the league know about the October 15 incident. He apparently did not. That could be enough to result in the league taking swift and immediate action against Brown, if the league is inclined to do so.
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NFC WEST
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SAN FRANCISCO
Kyle Shanahan anticipates more QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO next year, although maybe with a bit of wiggle room. Grant Gordon of NFL.com:
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is optimistic quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo can return this season and the coach is likewise dedicated to Garoppolo being the franchise QB beyond this year.
“I expect Jimmy to be our starter next year,” Shanahan said Tuesday, via The Athletic’s David Lombardi. “I mean, I expect him to come and play with us this year. We have six games left. We are not out of the playoffs yet.”
Despite having led the 49ers to a Super Bowl berth last season, Garoppolo’s stay as San Francisco’s franchise quarterback has come under a firestorm of scrutiny. Currently, Garoppolo is one of myriad 49ers starters sidelined by injury as he’s on injured reserve with an ankle injury — his second ankle ailment of the year as he’s missed four games this year.
Pundits have pointed out a perceived lack of confidence from Shanahan in Garoppolo making big throws in big situations, the prime examples coming in last year’s postseason. Garoppolo threw just a combined 27 passes in NFC Divisional and NFC Championship Game victories before a two-interception showing in the Super Bowl loomed large in a loss.
Nonetheless, Garoppolo is 22-8 as a 49ers starter (2-1 in the playoffs, 3-3 this season). In his six games this season, Jimmy G’s completed 94-of-140 passes (67%) for 1,096 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
Overall, Tuesday was one in which Shanahan cast of very sanguine outlook for this season.
“I’ve been on a team that was 3-6 going into a bye week that ended up winning their division. I think we have guys on this team capable of finishing this the right way,” Shanahan said. “We’ve gotta do it one game at a time and I hope Jimmy can come back and be part of that, but to think that we’ve made any decisions on anybody going into the future isn’t the case. Jimmy has won a lot of games for us this year. It’s a lot harder to win games when he’s not here. Just hoping we can get him back.
It doesn’t sound like Erik Edholm of YahooSports.com is buying the Garoppolo endorsement. Could the Niners do better?
Garoppolo’s six-game passing totals (1,096 yards passing, seven TDs and five INTs) in 2020 for the banged-up Niners have been underwhelming. He’s currently on the injured list with a sprained ankle that is expected to keep him out for the next few weeks at the least. And there’s the slim possibility that he has taken his final snap with the 49ers.
Lynch recently told KNBR that the 49ers are “a better football team when [Garoppolo is] out there” and that the team has “a lot of belief in Jimmy.” Lynch couched that by adding: “Jimmy probably hasn’t played up to his standard.”
It was, at best, a tepid endorsement.
Our bottom-line belief: If the 49ers feel they can upgrade over Garoppolo, they will not hesitate to do so.
Financially speaking, the team could move on quite easily. His 2021 dead-money hit of $2.8 million would be a pittance in today’s league, even with next year’s reduced salary cap a concern for many teams. Cutting or trading Garoppolo next year could save the team $24 million or more in cap space.
It’s possible that Shanahan would want a veteran to take over for a roster that still appears built to compete for a Super Bowl title. There would be a few candidates, including Matt Ryan (whom Shanahan coached in his MVP season of 2016), Kirk Cousins (whom Shanahan coached in Washington), Sam Darnold and others.
The team absolutely is doing its due diligence on the 2021 NFL draft class as well. It would be foolish to overlook the 49ers’ consideration of a quarterback in Round 1 or elsewhere. They’re currently slated to pick 12th overall.
Lynch recently acknowledged that Adam Peters, the 49ers’ vice president of player personnel, has been on the road looking at some of the top college QB candidates. And while it’s not unusual for high-level scouts to do that type of reconnaissance work, it gives a clear picture of the 49ers’ situation: If the right QB veteran isn’t out there to consider, the draft might be the route the Niners take.
Early-round prospect
Mac Jones, Alabama
We start by trying to determine what exactly a “Kyle Shanahan quarterback” entails. Although Shanahan has worked with several different types of passers over the years, some of the common traits include clean mechanics, a quick release and a razor-sharp mind to handle the volume of what he throws at his passers in the 49ers’ system.
There might not be one prototype, but those are non-starters if a QB doesn’t have some of those elements. I once asked Shanahan what was critical for him in terms of mechanics. A shortened version of his answer:
“If a guy throws a certain way and you think, ‘We’re going to teach him at 23 [years old] to throw it differently,’ he might do it in practice and might do it in drills, but you throw him into an NFL game in the heat of a battle and he’s going to resort to who he is and what he’s always done.
“If they’re not one of the 32 best throwers on the planet, they’d better be extremely fast, they better be able to run, they better be extremely … something, because [throwing] is something you really can’t teach.”
There are three, maybe four options for the 49ers in Rounds 1 or 2. Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields are out of the picture now, barring a total collapse of the 49ers’ season. BYU’s Zach Wilson also could join the untouchables list, depending how the rest of his and the 49ers’ seasons go.
Assuming Wilson — who would be a good fit for the 49ers — is out of the picture, we’re likely down to North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, Florida’s Kyle Trask and Jones.
It would be fascinating to see what Lance could do in Shanahan’s hands. But I come back to what Shanahan said at his first NFL scouting combine on analyzing players: “The less tape, the harder it is. You have to go off what you have.” Lance has 17 starts at the FCS level; it feels like he’d be too big a risk where the Niners are likely to pick.
Trask has experience issue too, even if he has played in the SEC. He has 16 college starts after not starting a single game in high school as D’Eriq King’s backup. Trask checks off some boxes that Shanahan might seek.
Jones feels like a bit more of Shanahan QB. His deep-ball touch is impeccable. His short and intermediate precision is also impressive. Jones is a very natural thrower — and he just feels like the perfect mix of what Shanahan had with Cousins and Ryan when they had their career seasons under him.
Like Lance, Jones’ lack of experience (10 starts and counting) will be a concern. That number could be north of 15 by the time the season ends, and the high-level of competition he has faced — plus four years of experience with great coaching at Bama — can offset that worry.
Can they get Jones in Round 2? Maybe. But the always-aggressive Lynch will be ready to move around to land the right QB, either down from their Round 1 pick or up from Round 2, at the right spot.
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LOS ANGELES RAMS
Covid-19 alert. Despite government lockdowns, the Rams have been stricken with a case of Covid-19. All precautions are now in effect. Curtis Crabtree of ESPN.com
The Los Angeles Rams will enter the NFL’s intensive COVID-19 protocol after an unidentified player had a positive test result returned on Tuesday night.
“This evening, we learned a Rams player tested positive for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “The player immediately entered self-quarantine and out of an abundance of caution, we are entering intensive protocol. Other than select players with assigned rehab, all football activities will take place remotely on Wednesday. Players and coaches will conduct their normal meeting schedule from home. This decision was made in consultation with the NFL and medical officials as the health and safety of the team is our highest priority.”
The NFL instituted guidelines for the intensive protocol last month as a response to the outbreak inside the Tennessee Titans. It calls for rapid point of care tests in addition to the daily PCR testing, virtual meetings, the use of masks by everyone on the practice field at all times, the use of gloves by all players on the practice field, and a ban on player gatherings away from the facility.
The Rams played the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, who have not had a single positive test since the start of training camp. They are scheduled to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
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AFC WEST
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DENVER
A tough injury week for QB’s named Drew. This from Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.comon Broncos QB DREW LOCK:
Tuesday brought some more information about Broncos quarterback Drew Lock‘s injury.
Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said that Lock was questionable to practice this week and play against the Dolphins this Sunday because of sore ribs. Lock played through the injury in last Sunday’s loss to the Raiders.
According to multiple reports, Lock is dealing with a muscle strain and bruising near his ribs. The Broncos haven’t made any decisions about his status for Sunday, but the nature of the injury has added to the uncertainty of his ability to make the start.
Jeff Driskel and Brett Rypien both started games when Lock was injured earlier in the season. The Broncos beat the Jets in Rypien’s start and has been serving as the backup in recent weeks.
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KANSAS CITY
CB DEANDRE BAKER, who skated on armed robbery charges amidst some murky dealings with witnesses, is joining the Chiefs practice squad. Adam Teicher ofESPN.com:
The Kansas City Chiefs plan to sign cornerback DeAndre Baker to their practice squad, a source confirmed to ESPN. Baker had been facing four counts of robbery with a firearm in Florida in connection with an alleged incident in May, but the charges were dropped Monday.
Though he’s beginning with the Chiefs on their practice squad, Baker could eventually find playing time in Kansas City. The Chiefs — between injuries and a suspension — haven’t had their top three cornerbacks available for any of their nine games.
One starter, Bashaud Breeland, began the season serving a four-game NFL suspension. By the time he returned, rookie L’Jarius Sneed, who had been starting in his place, was on the injured reserve list because of a broken collarbone. Sneed could return for Sunday night’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Charvarius Ward also missed one game because of a broken hand.
Baker, 23, was released this summer by the New York Giants, who had drafted him out of Georgia in the first round in 2019.
According to the original arrest warrant in Florida, Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar were accused of stealing money and watches while armed with semiautomatic firearms. The warrant stated that Baker intentionally threatened victims with a firearm. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Dunbar because of insufficient evidence, but decided to proceed on Baker on Aug. 5.
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AFC NORTH
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BALTIMORE
Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com looks at the fall of the Ravens offense where QB LAMAR JACKSON won’t be successfully defending his 2019 MVP Award:
When Baltimore plays host to Tennessee on Sunday, it’s a rematch of one of the Ravens’ most painful postseason losses.
It’s also the moment when Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense went from being unstoppable to unraveling.
Heading into the playoffs last season, Baltimore was shredding defenses, averaging the most offensive points (30.4) and the second-most yards (407.6) per game. After getting shut down by the Titans in a 28-12 playoff defeat, the Ravens haven’t been the same electric offense, ranking No. 16 in offensive points scored (24.0) and No. 22 in yards (348.1) a little over halfway through this season.
Baltimore (6-3) remains in position for a third straight trip to the playoffs, but its inconsistencies on offense place a question mark over this one-time popular Super Bowl pick. In last Sunday’s loss in New England, the Ravens were held to 17 points, their fewest in Jackson’s 31 regular-season starts.
Injuries, lack of execution and discipline as well as personnel decisions have all led to a sudden and unexpected decline, which has now become part of a national discussion in the football world.
“They don’t do anything well,” former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said on the Mike Greenberg podcast. “They don’t even run the ball that well anymore. Their pass game has absolutely zero rhyme or reason to it. The wild thing is last year, I remember going, ‘Every defensive coordinator and defense goes into that game scared to death to play the Ravens because they have no idea what to do.’ This year, no defensive coordinator is scared to play them because they’re simple.”
Some of the problems have been out of Baltimore’s control. Since the end of last season, the Ravens lost their best offensive lineman (guard Marshal Yanda retired), their best pass protector (All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley suffered a season-ending ankle injury earlier this month) and a top run blocker (tight end Nick Boyle sustained a season-ending knee injury Sunday). The offensive line, which had two different starting lineups all of last season, is set to start its fifth combination of the season Sunday.
Other struggles have been over the most fundamental aspects of the game. Snapping the ball and lining up correctly can’t be taken for granted. Baltimore has been flagged for illegal formation six times because of not having enough players at the line of scrimmage. Overall the Ravens have committed 22 offensive penalties since Week 4 (six games), the second-most in the NFL.
Much of the offensive troubles have fallen on offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Last week, Jackson made headlines when he told the “Rich Eisen Show” that defenders were calling out the Ravens’ plays at the line of scrimmage.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh defended Roman when asked how much of the blame falls on the offensive playcaller.
“Greg Roman is a proven coach, as all of our coaches are, and they’re working hard,” Harbaugh said. “They’re working hard, just like the players are, to get it right and put as many points up as they can. So, [we’ll] continue to keep doing that. The outside, the criticism, whatever, it’s just part of it; we understand that, and you just have to put your head down, and do your job, and try to improve. It’s a long season in this league. So, opinions come and go; everybody has them, and that’s really how you have to categorize it, and just leave it at that.”
The Ravens’ difficulties on offense go beyond coaching and the players. The front office focused most of its biggest moves on the defense, trading for defensive end Calais Campbell and pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue and using its first-round pick on middle linebacker Patrick Queen. Meanwhile, other young quarterbacks landed No. 1 wide receivers this offseason. The Arizona Cardinals acquired DeAndre Hopkins for Kyler Murray and the Buffalo Bills got Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen.
For the Baltimore offense to evolve, ESPN analyst Steve Young believes the Ravens have to allow Jackson to take the next step as a passer.
“A fundamental change has to happen in this offense,” ESPN analyst Steve Young said. “Look at the Cardinals. Look at what they’re doing offensively. Just copy that. The explosiveness of the passing game and rushing. They’ve won a lot of games. They’ve won MVPs. But they will not win Super Bowls with this offense. And Lamar is not going to progress. He’s so much more talented than even he’s showing today. But they’re not asking him to do it. To me, they got to switch.”
The Ravens’ toughest remaining games of the season occur in a five-day span. Baltimore plays host to the Titans (6-3) on Sunday and travel to play the Steelers (9-0) on Thanksgiving night.
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CINCINNATI
TAKK is back on the street. Nick Shook of NFL.com:
Takkarist McKinley’s next chapter is on hold.
The defensive end failed his physical with the Cincinnati Bengals and has reverted to waivers.
Cincinnati claimed McKinley last week after the Atlanta Falcons waived the former first-round pick. McKinley has not played since Week 7 due to a groin injury that has kept him out of action for all but four games this season.
McKinley went public with his displeasure regarding the Falcons’ alleged refusal to trade him, tweeting through his emotions with a message that included clown emojis. Interim head coach Raheem Morris promised McKinley would be held accountable for such an outburst, and before long, Atlanta waived him.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the Raiders, Browns and 49ers all put in waiver claims for McKinley last week when he was awarded to the Bengals.
McKinley hasn’t lived up to his first-round status, recording 17.5 sacks in three-plus seasons. It appeared he would fill a needed role in Cincinnati, but he will instead return to waiting to learn where he might next play.
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PITTSBURGH
Who needs to run a lick? Scott Kacsmar at his Captain Comeback blog.
The Steelers are 9-0 this season, but their 3-0 start to November has been historic for a reason that may only excite the anti-running game crowd.
The Steelers are the first team in NFL history* to win three straight games without rushing for 50 yards in any of them.
*Since 1940, but given the way offenses ran the ball prior to that, it’s safe to assume this is a record for all time.
They rushed for 48 yards in Baltimore, 46 yards in Dallas, and 44 yards at home against the Bengals, a lousy run defense, on Sunday. At this rate, the Steelers will attempt to go 19-0 by rushing for 24 yards in the Super Bowl.
This is so unusual that the Steelers already tied the single-season record for most wins without rushing for 50 yards (3). It has been done by five other teams with the 2008 Colts the last to do it.
But this is three games in a row, which has never been done. The 2020 Chiefs actually are on the doorstep of doing this too. They rushed for 50 yards against the Jets and 36 yards against the Panthers in their last two wins. So if we adjust it to “50 or fewer yards” and the Chiefs do it again on Sunday night against the Raiders, then they would join the Steelers.
It’s not something Coach Mike Tomlin is proud of. Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Mike Tomlin no longer is downplaying the problems with the Pittsburgh Steelers run game.
Two days after insinuating his undefeated team could continue to thrive despite a stagnant rush offense, Tomlin reversed course Tuesday at his weekly news conference, calling the running game “ineffective.”
“We spent a lot of time talking and thinking about that in an effort to move forward,” Tomlin said.
When the 9-0 Steelers face the 1-8 Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at TIAA Bank Field, they will try to improve on the past three weeks, when they totaled 139 yards on 54 carries, an average of 2.55 yards per attempt.
Before that, the Steelers had five consecutive 100-yard performances to open the season and gained 94 yards in the sixth game.
After the Steelers managed just 44 rushing yards on 20 attempts in a 36-10 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tomlin brushed aside concerns, saying, “We can give it to you however you want it.”
For the Steelers, that has meant a heavy dose of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is having perhaps the best season of his 17-year career with 22 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. After rallying the Steelers from 10-point second-half deficits against Baltimore and Dallas, Roethlisberger had season highs with four touchdown passes and 333 yards as the Steelers never trailed against Cincinnati.
Roethlisberger has averaged 40 pass attempts in the past three games compared to the Steelers averaging 18 runs. The Steelers have dropped to No. 24 in rushing yards per game and No. 27 in yards per carry.
“You always go through lulls in a season where components of your play are lacking, and it requires a re-center of energy and attention and focus,” Tomlin said. “I believe that’s where we are with the run game right now.”
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AFC SOUTH
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JACKSONVILLE
He may be going a big overboard, but Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin noticed how tough the Jaguars played against Green Bay last week. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com:
On the heels of another win against an AFC North opponent, the undefeated Steelers will head to Jacksonville to take on a one-win Jaguars team this weekend.
Coming just four days before a Thanksgiving rematch with the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday’s meeting has all the makings of a trap game, but coach Mike Tomlin isn’t buying in to that narrative.
“We are not a Big Ten team playing a MAC opponent this week,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “Every time we step into a stadium, we’re playing professionals, players and coaches. We’ve got a ridiculous level of respect for that. Write your story, follow your storylines about trap games and things of that nature. We understand what we’re going into in Jacksonville, that that’s a group that’s trying to kick our butt. A professional group, capable group, and we’re preparing with that understanding.”
– – –
While the Steelers were taking care of business against the Bengals last week, the Jaguars were on the verge of upsetting the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, thanks in large part to the defense forcing two turnovers and another fumble.
“A significant component of their last matchup in Green Bay was their ability to get the ball,” Tomlin said. “We all know Green Bay’s ability to possess the ball. Green Bay, I think, is No. 1 in the NFL in safeguarding the football. They had some significant turnovers in that game, and that turnover element of play is something we need to be cognizant of as we head down to Jacksonville.
“We’ve always had rough and tumble games with those guys down there. They always play really tough defense.”
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AFC EAST
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NEW ENGLAND
Josh McDaniels on QB CAM NEWTON. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels says Cam Newton has provided exactly the kind of leadership a team wants from its veteran quarterback.
“I think Cam’s a tremendous example of what a leader is supposed to be,” McDaniels said, via the Boston Herald. “Leadership isn’t easy. Being up front, playing quarterback in the National Football League is certainly a challenge. There’s a lot of highs and lows that you’re going to experience. Cam, he’s never wavered from his work ethic, from his attitude, from the way he approaches practice, the effort he gives on a daily basis.”
This season hasn’t been as successful as the Patriots are accustomed to, but McDaniels said Newton does everything right.
“I think his accountability, his ability to take responsibility for the good and the bad I think has been a great example for all of our guys on our team to see,” said McDaniels. “He’s really a joy to coach. I look forward to continuing the process.”
The 4-5 Patriots face an uphill battle for Newton to lead them to the playoffs.
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THIS AND THAT
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AIKMAN RATINGS thru Week 10
The NFL’s lone undefeated team, the Steelers, now sit atop the Aikman Combined Ratings for the first time this year after their convincing win over Cincinnati last week.
With a big win over Carolina, the Buccaneers bounce back into 2nd while last week’s leader the Cardinals slipped back to 3rd just ahead of their division rivals the Rams.
Still, just 1.2 points separate the top four teams and the Chiefs are just another 1.3 points back in 5th.
Winners of three straight, the Vikings have risen above their record to 8th, while the Bears have dropped to 22nd despite having the #5 Aikman Defense.
The NFC East does not have a team outside the bottom 10 while all four NFC West teams remain in the top 16.
There was a time that a team with a “90” offense would rank at or near the top, but at the moment 11 teams have performed above the 90 level in Aikman Offense.
2020 Aikman Rankings NFL
Off Def Comb Off Def Comb
1 9-0 Steelers 90.8 74.1 164.9 24 6 30
2 7-3 Buccaneers 92.4 71.8 164.2 14 3 17
3 6-3 Cardinals 97.6 66.4 164.0 1 18 19
4 6-3 Rams 89.1 74.6 163.7 7 2 9
5 8-1 Chiefs 97.8 64.6 162.4 2 14 16
6 7-2 Saints 93.7 65.0 158.7 12 4 16
7 7-2 Packers 98.1 60.0 158.1 6 9 15
8 4-5 Vikings 92.9 64.8 157.7 9 24 33
9 6-3 Colts 84.5 72.8 157.3 15 1 16
10 6-3 Ravens 86.1 68.3 154.4 22 8 30
11 6-3 Titans 96.7 56.9 153.6 11 25 36
12 6-3 Seahawks 95.7 57.2 152.9 3 32 35
13 6-3 Browns 89.7 62.8 152.5 23 15 38
14 6-3 Dolphins 85.9 65.9 151.8 29 19 48
15 6-3 Raiders 93.3 58.5 151.8 13 21 34
16 4-6 49ers 85.7 65.7 151.4 16 5 21
17 2-7 Chargers 88.8 62.4 151.2 4 12 16
18 7-3 Bills 90.6 59.9 150.5 10 20 30
19 4-5 Patriots 83.4 64.1 147.5 19 13 32
20 3-6 Falcons 89.1 56.9 146.0 5 30 35
21 3-7 Panthers 89.0 56.2 145.2 21 22 43
22 5-5 Bears 73.3 71.1 144.4 31 10 41
23 3-5-1 Eagles 81.8 62.5 144.3 27 11 38
24 2-7 Washington 77.7 65.8 143.5 28 7 35
25 3-7 Giants 77.1 66.3 143.4 30 16 46
26 4-5 Lions 87.1 53.4 140.5 17 27 44
27 1-8 Jaguars 84.1 56.2 140.3 25 31 56
28 2-7 Texans 85.8 54.4 140.2 20 29 49
29 3-6 Broncos 74.3 65.3 139.6 26 17 43
30 2-6-1 Bengals 83.0 53.8 136.8 18 26 44
31 2-7 Cowboys 78.7 53.9 132.6 8 23 31
32 0-9 Jets 65.9 61.4 127.3 32 28 60
NFL Average 86.9 62.9 NFL Rankings Based On Net Yardage
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VIRTUAL PRO BOWL
The Pro Bowl will happen on-line per this from ESPN.com:
The Pro Bowl will play out on the EA Sports Madden NFL 21 video game after the real-life version of football’s all-star game was canceled.
The NFL opened monthlong fan voting Tuesday for the first virtual Pro Bowl, which could feature players whose team makes the Super Bowl because they won’t have to attend and play in real life.
NFL executive vice president of club business and events Peter O’Reilly said league partners “are uniquely positioned to help the NFL make the transformation of this high-profile event from live to virtual possible.
“Even amidst unparalleled change across the sports industry, we are excited to transition many of the signature components of the Pro Bowl — which will go virtual in Madden NFL 21 — into a new innovative experience for our players and fans,” O’Reilly said.
Pro Bowl week will feature Madden matchups between current players, former players, celebrities and Madden streamers using the two Pro Bowl teams. Pro Bowl players will play in a Madden Pro Bowl game as well.
The Madden 21 game itself will also have a virtual Pro Bowl experience. EA Sports brought the Pro Bowl back to the video game series as a playable option in recent years.
The Pro Bowl game itself, scheduled for Jan. 31 in Las Vegas, was called off last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the first time the Pro Bowl has been canceled since 1949, and owners voted to hold the 2022 version in Las Vegas if it happens.
Players and coaches will cast their votes Dec. 18 for the 2021 video game pro bowl. A total of 88 players will be selected, 44 each from the AFC and NFC.
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ROOKIE RECEIVERS
James Fragoza of ProFootballFocus.com looks at the Class of 2020 rookie receivers. Have they lived up to the hype?
The 2020 receiver class was touted as one of the best in recent memory — and for good reason. A record 13 receivers were selected in the first two rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, with six hearing their names called on Day 1. Although draft pundits and general managers predicted an early run on WRs, the outcome is no less impressive.
With the end of the season drawing close and roster positions nearly locked in, let’s examine just how great the 2020 receiver draft has been compared to prior years.
Leading the 2020 class, Justin Jefferson owns a 90.2 PFF grade, making him the highest-graded rookie receiver through the first 10 games of a season since we began collecting data in 2006. In terms of receiving grade, Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins find themselves among the 15 highest-graded rookie receivers during that time, most among any class. In fact, the only other year with more than one player was 2016, which saw both Tyreek Hill (83.0) and Michael Thomas (81.3) earn 80-plus grades.
Led by Jefferson, Aiyuk, Higgins, Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Chase Claypool and Laviska Shenault Jr., the 2020 class has recorded 7,020 receiving yards with 2,598 coming after contact. Combined, 2020 has forced 74 missed tackles (first), caught 176 receptions of 15 or more yards (first) and dropped just 6.5% of their targets (second) — all top-three marks by any rookie class. They have hauled in 36 touchdowns, which are fourth-most, but they have also rattled off 296 first downs — 22 more than any other class.
Some may point to the fact that these rookies are benefitting from the new-age, pass-happy NFL, and to an extent they are right. These rookies have seen a total of 4,726 receiving snaps, almost 1,000 more than the next-closest year. However, they are still second in targets with 865. The only class ahead of them is the legendary 2014, which included Odell Beckham Jr., Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Davante Adams, Brandin Cooks, Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry. As a matter of fact, the 2014 receiver class is the only one with a cumulative grade (79.6) higher than 2020 (76.1).
When looking at the individual performances from the top rookies this season, it is easy to see why the class as a whole has been stellar. Jefferson has stunned analysts and fans alike, netting an NFL best 3.12 yards per route run this season. Stepping into the shoes of Stefon Diggs is a tall task for any receiver, but Jefferson has filled in admirably during his rookie campaign. Though he was primarily used in the slot in his last year at LSU, Jefferson boasts 85-plus grades from both inside and outside, showcasing his flexible skillset.
Jeudy possesses excellent deep threat ability that, when paired with his elite route-running prowess, makes him one of the deadliest receivers of the group. He has overcome poor quarterback play in Denver, torching defenses for 19 receptions of 15-plus yards, tied for the fourth-most this year.
Much like his collegiate career, Shenault has been one of the most versatile receivers in the NFL, lining up in the backfield, slot, out wide, inline and even at QB. His 11 missed tackles forced after the catch and seven contested catches are the most by a rookie this season.
Similarly as athletic, Aiyuk has spent some time on the bench due to injury, but when healthy he has been electric. The former Arizona State Sun Devil holds the third-highest receiving grade over the past four weeks as he continues to improve as a pass-catcher.
Claypool was utilized as a small tight end/big receiver in his time at Notre Dame, and the Steelers have taken advantage of his unique size and speed combination. He has a 134.3 passer rating when targeted, which is the highest of any receiver with 40 or more targets. He also enjoys two rushing touchdowns on jet sweeps this year, tied for the most by a receiver in 2020.
Despite predominantly lining up outside at Oklahoma, Lamb has been exceptional from the slot this season, even with quarterback Dak Prescott going down with an injury early in the year. He has hauled in 42 of his 62 targets for 557 yards (second-most) and three touchdowns (fifth).
Higgins has built a rapport with 2020 No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, reeling in 32 first downs plus touchdowns this season, tied for the second-most by a rookie receiver through 10 games. After posting a 69.8 PFF grade over the first five weeks of the season, Higgins has earned an 80.5 grade since Week 6 as he and his rookie counterpart continue to progress in their young careers.
This year’s receiver crop is second only to 2014’s, highlighting just how dominant this collection of rookies has been in their first seasons. Although we have seen dominant performances from quite a few, there have been a plethora of other rookies who have flashed potential, such as Darnell Mooney, Gabriel Davis and K.J. Hamler. That is not to mention Jalen Reagor, Denzel Mims and Henry Ruggs III who have only recently returned from injury — based on their collegiate tape, we should expect all three to showcase their ability as the season wanes.
Time will tell if the 2020 class can build on its success in future seasons, but as a group it has already proven to be one of the best rookie receiver groups the NFL has ever seen.
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