The Daily Briefing Wednesday, October 19, 2022

AROUND THE NFL

W-L     Div     Conf Rec

Buffalo             East                 5-1       1          4-1

Kansas City     West                4-2       1          2-2

Tennessee      South               3-2       1          2-1

Baltimore         North               3-3       1          3-2

LA Chargers    WC1                4-2       2          4-2

NY Jets           WC2                4-2       2          3-2

Indianapolis     WC3                3-2-1    2          3-2-1

Cincinnati                               3-3       2          2-2

Miami                                      3-3       3          3-2

New England                          3-3       4          2-2

We must admit being surprised to realize that the Colts, written off for dead in the first couple of weeks, are in the playoffs.  Still a long way to go.

The season started with a sense that the AFC, with its young QBs, had moved ahead of the NFC – and that still may come to pass.  But at the moment the NFC leads the AFC, 11-10, in inter-conference play.  The big winners are the NFC East teams, who are 5-1 against the AFC (primarily, but no longer exclusively, against the AFC South).

With 80 games now in the inter-conference series over the first 17 weeks, there should be 4.6 inter-conference games per week.  That means we should have had 27 or 28 games by now, but there have only been 21.  So look out for a slew in the weeks to come (there are 7 AFC-NFC games in Week 8).

– – –

It’s official – there will be a Prime Video game in 2023 on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  The AP:

The NFL will expand to Black Friday beginning next season.

The league announced Tuesday that Amazon Prime Video will stream a game on the day after Thanksgiving. The first Black Friday game will kick off at 3 p.m. EST on Nov. 23, 2023. The teams will be announced in May when the regular-season schedule is expected to be released.

Prime Video is in its first season as the exclusive carrier of “Thursday Night Football” and will expand to 16 games next season.

The package, which goes through the 2033 season, averages $1.2 billion per season, but Amazon will pay between $50 million and $70 million per year for the additional game.

NFL owners passed a resolution during the league meetings in March that gave the league permission to schedule another short turnaround game the week of Thanksgiving.

Marie Donoghue, Amazon’s vice president of global sports video, said discussion about a Black Friday game began while the original contract was being negotiated last year, but that it picked up more steam this year.

Donoghue said Amazon will treat the game like one of the biggest of the season.

“Given what that day already means to millions of Americans, and how many of them interact with Amazon and what a strong presence Amazon has. And also, the fact that there were no NFL games on that day, we thought we could treat it like a Super Bowl,” she said.

The NFL has regularly played three games on Thanksgiving Day since 2006. The prime-time game was originally carried by NFL Network before NBC took it over in 2012. CBS and Fox alternate carrying the early game from Detroit and the late afternoon matchup from Dallas.

There were rumors this summer that the Black Friday game would be fast-tracked to this year, but the day is already packed with the World Cup and high-profile college football matchups.

The United States will face England in a World Cup group stage match on Fox at 2 p.m. ET. College football has long used Black Friday as a day to showcase rivalry games, and this year is no exception with Texas vs. Baylor, North Carolina vs. NC State, Missouri vs. Arkansas, Iowa vs. Nebraska and Florida State vs. Florida among the matchups.

“This year, we were focused on the 15 Thursdays they already had. But now as we get here almost to the halfway point and see the great success out of the gate with Amazon, it felt like the right time to take the next step forward and add to the partnership and expand onto Black Friday,” said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media.

According to Nielsen, Prime Video is averaging 10.8 million viewers through the first five games. The past two games have not been must-see TV as Indianapolis defeated Denver 12-9 and Washington held on for a 12-7 victory over Chicago.

The game this Thursday will be a matchup of 2-4 teams when New Orleans visits Arizona. The Oct. 27 matchup features Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens and Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The league has eight weeks set aside to cycle through byes, but all 32 teams are in action for Week 12 this season, which is the week of Thanksgiving.

The additional game also means there will be eight windows to fill with intriguing matchups while satisfying five broadcast partners. Schroeder said the league had the same case this year with Christmas week and that it will use that as a template for how to build the week of Thanksgiving.

Longtime NFL scribe Mike Freeman is upset, but we think he is incorrect on the high school landscape:

@mikefreemanNFL

The NFL has said for DECADES it wouldn’t play on Fridays. Out of respect for high school football.

@mikefreemanNFL

There are still high school football games being played on Black Friday, correct? Or is that wrong?

By Thanksgiving, most states are well into their playoffs and these are played with a limited number of schools all over the weekend.

Looking at his comments, those chiming in agree that it is well into the playoffs.  In some eastern states there are a lot of season-ending games that weekend, but they are usually played on Thanksgiving Day itself.

We agree with commentator Omar Garcia:

Omar Garcia

@Kdol22

Replying to @mikefreemanNFL

I think one NFL game on a holiday weekend when all regular HS football seasons have ended and most HS teams are deep into their playoffs (which means limited teams left) is not going to kill HS football,  let’s not be dramatic

– – –

Troy Vincent vows there will be more calls that lead everyone to say “that’s not roughing the passer.”  Mike Jones of The Athletic:

If you hoped the NFL might reconsider how it enforces roughing the passer penalties, feedback out of Tuesday’s owners’ meetings will be disappointing.

Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, said Tuesday the owners “had some healthy conversation around” enforcement of roughing the passer calls, adding: “I would say it was spirited, to some degree.”

But Vincent and Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, said the league is “not going to back off of protecting the quarterback,” as Vincent put it.

“Everyone knows if your quarterback is not healthy, you don’t have a chance to win,” said Vincent, a former defensive back. “We’re not changing the philosophy around that call.”

The topic has inspired much discussion in the first six weeks of the season, especially in light of controversial calls that benefited the Buccaneers’ Tom Brady and the Raiders’ Derek Carr.

Vincent said he understands why players and fans reacted to and disagreed with those calls. In one, the Falcons’ Grady Jarrett took Brady to the ground. In the other, the Chiefs’ Chris Jones stripped Carr of the ball and landed on top of him. In both instances, some fans and players thought the roughing the passer penalties were over the top.

But Vincent reiterated Tuesday that “it’s a judgment call,” and that officials’ crackdowns on violent sacks in recent years are producing the improved level of safety NFL executives want.

When the NFL began penalizing defenders for falling on quarterbacks with their full body weight in 2018, roughing the passer calls spiked. But the vigilant approach is causing numbers to decrease. In 2019, 59 roughing the passer penalties had been handed out through Week 6, McKay said. That number decreased to 43 in the first six weeks of 2020, then went back up to 52 in the same time frame in 2021. But this year, only 38 roughing the passer flags have been thrown, McKay said.

“Listen, we’re never going to bat a thousand on all officiating,” he said. “But with that call, the one thing we should look for is numbers are down, pretty significantly, which is a credit to players and (how) they’ve modified their play”

In recent weeks, the debate about the call has included the question of whether roughing the passer should be a reviewable play. Vincent and McKay both said the NFL is unlikely to make such a change.

Discussions on the enforcement of the penalty could resume after the season during additional competition committee meetings. Vincent and McKay both reiterated, though, the belief that the NFL is achieving its goal of protecting the most important player on the field from injuries that could derail a team’s season. That stance results in what NFL officials deem a superior product.

“This is a different game today,” Vincent said. “The game is not softer. It’s a different game, and it’s a safer game. … We’re trying to keep it competitive and with a sense of urgency, and the intensity. But we know … 91 of the 100 most-watched TV shows were football games last year. Why? Because of the quality and play at the QB position from top to bottom.”

WASHINGTON

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Colts owner Jim Irsay identified himself as one of a throng of owners who are appalled at Daniel Snyder’s behavior, as reported in the Washington Post and elsewhere.  Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com:

Jim Irsay has delivered the first official shot toward Commanders owner Daniel Snyder. The Colts owner and CEO told reporters at the NFL owners’ meeting in New York on Tuesday that there’s “merit to removing him as owner.” This comes after multiple teams reportedly want Snyder out as Washington’s owner for both his alleged workplace misconduct and failure to secure a new stadium for his franchise.

“I assume we’re going to get into more and more discussion on that,” said Irsay when asked if Snyder has been a topic of conversation at these meeting. “You know, it’s a difficult situation. I believe that there’s merit to remove him as owner of the (Commanders). I think it’s something that we have to review, we have to look at all the evidence and be thorough in going forward, but I think it’s something that has to be given serious consideration.”

He added: “As we determine the evidence and move forward, we’ll have to determine what the situation is. … I think once owners talk among each other, they’ll arrive to the right decision. Unfortunately, I believe that’s the road we probably need to go down and we just need to finish the investigation. It’s gravely concerning to me the things that have occurred over there in the last 20 years.”

When asked if there are the required 24 votes to remove him as owner, Irsay said: “I think potentially there will be.”

Twenty-four of the league’s 32 owners are required to approve a vote for removal, which never has been done in the history of the NFL.

Irsay added that a vote is unlikely to occur on Tuesday, but believes it could happen after Mary Jo White submits her investigation.White is currently investigating Snyder, which includes allegations that Snyder sexually harassed two women. Once she files her report to the league, commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly intends on meeting with Snyder.

This also comes as the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee continues its year-long investigation of the workplace culture under Snyder. The AG’s office for the District of Columbia (D.C.) is planning to take its own actions against Snyder amid allegations of financial impropriety, which include an alleged act of underreporting ticket sales to reap tax benefits

“Some of the things I’ve heard doesn’t represent us at all,” Irsay said. “I want the American public to know what we’re about as owners. … You can’t shy away from the fact that, I believe it’s in the best interest of the National Football League that we look at this squarely in the eyes and deal with it.”

Mike Florio approves:

As the photo suggests, Jim Irsay is a badass.

The Colts owner dropped a bombshell on Tuesday, saying at the league meeting in New York that he believes there’s merit to forcing out Commanders owner Daniel Snyder.

Irsay told a throng of reporters that there potentially are 24 total votes to force Snyder out. Irsay said that a vote is unlikely today, but that it could happen after Mary Jo White submits her report regarding her investigation of allegations against Snyder.

It’s a gutsy move by Irsay to go public with his beliefs. It’s also possibly a trial balloon, something Irsay may have agreed to float in order both to legitimize the subject and to gauge the reaction.

Irsay, who previously was suspended by the league for driving while impaired, also has no fear of reprisal from Snyder.

“He can investigate me till the cows come home, it’s not going to back me off,” Irsay said, via Lindsay Jones of TheRinger.com.

The reaction from the public undoubtedly will be positive. Most fans of the Commanders want change. In fact, some may now be hoping that Irsay can manage a franchise trade like the one Irsay’s father did, swapping the Rams for the Colts with Carroll Rosenbloom.

That surely won’t happen. But what quite possibly will happen is a formal push to shove Snyder overboard.

It will be messy. It will be expensive. But Irsay is right. The time has come for it to happen.

As the DB recalls, Irsay has a bit more in his background than a DUI.

Not that we believe all these salacious accusations either – but here is a summary we found at SBNation of a 2014 ESPN expose of Irsay during his dark times:

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay’s battle with substance abuse has been going on for roughly two decades, but became a national story following his arrest in March with a bag full of pills and $29,000 in cash. A report in the latest issue of ESPN the Magazine, with additional reporting from Outside the Lines, details his ongoing struggles and shines a new light on the lives impacted by Irsay’s addiction, including his former longtime girlfriend who died from an overdose earlier this year.

1. The roots of Irsay’s addiction

Irsay’s addiction to pain killers started in in his 30s as a result of weightlifting with Colts players. He started taking prescription medication to deal with chronic pain resulting from surgery on his back, elbow and wrist. In 1995, Indianapolis police found his name among the records of a doctor suspected of “running a pill mill.”

2. Jim Irsay did A LOT of drugs

Doctors gave him 400 tablets of Oxycontin during one 24-day period and 120 prescriptions during a single year.

3. The woman at the center of Irsay’s romantic life

The Colts owner had a romantic, but sometimes strained relationship with an Indianapolis woman named Kim Wundrum for nearly 10 years, while Irsay was still married but legally separated from his wife. Irsay avoided spending time with Wundrum publicly. He also bought her a number of gifts, including a 4,500-square-foot house to share. The two split in 2013. Wundrum died of an overdose in the spring of 2014. Irsay was arrested weeks after her death.

4. Irsay used Twitter to hook up with a married woman.

Jami Martin, a mother of three from Martinsville, Ind., responded to one of Irsay’s trivia contests on Twitter. The Colts owner followed up with a direct message to arrange a meeting. Martin’s husband found out and blasted Irsay on Twitter, “Don’t feed your line of bulls—. Home Wrecker! Go ruin another family!”

5. He met a lot of Colts fans through rehab programs.

A doctor who used to run the Sober Life Alternatives treatment facility estimated that 90 percent of area residents have attended treatment programs with Irsay.

We will leave it at that – and let others compare and contrast what we know about the behavior of the two owners and their personal likeability.  While the media did some exposes of Irsay, were they ever convinced that the only proper punishment would be to strip him of his team?

Snyder fired back at Irsay on Tuesday, but for now didn’t bring up Irsay’s own issues (now eight years past as far as we know):

Well, this is getting good.

Barely an hour after Colts owner Jim Irsay told reporters that the time possibly has come to remove Daniel Snyder as owner of the Commanders, the Commanders have responded.

“It is highly inappropriate, but not surprising, that Mr. Irsay opted to make statements publicly based on falsehoods in the media,” a Commanders spokesperson said, via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Irsay decided to go public with his statement today, while an investigation is in process, and the team has had no opportunity to formally respond to allegations. The Commanders have made remarkable progress over the past two years. We are confident that, when he has an opportunity to see the actual evidence in this case, Mr. Irsay will conclude that there is no reason for the Snyders to consider selling the franchise. And they won’t.”

The last three words are the most important: “And they won’t.”

It’s not quite as strong as “all caps never,” which Snyder once said regarding the prospect of changing the team’s former name. But it underscores the reality that a fight is likely, if not definite.

The statement also glosses over the fact that the NFL imposed significant punishment on the Commanders in July 2021, based on facts from Beth Wilkinson’s investigation that the league swept and kept under the rug. As 106.7 The Fan in D.C. reported and as PFT confirmed, Wilkinson would have recommended in writing (if asked for a written recommendation) that Snyder should be required to sell the team.

That’s where this could be headed. A formal vote to force him out and then, possibly, a legal fight over implementing it.

Finally, why do the Commanders continue to think that two years of not violating the rights of employees or otherwise behaving badly should excuse everything that happened over the decade or so before it? They cling to this clumsy P.R. strategy that consists of attacking anyone who would dare to mention past misconduct without also praising the changes the team has made at a time when anything else would have guaranteed a forced sale of the team.

But when the meeting actually convened, NFL legal head Jeff Pash put a kibosh on the Snyder ownership issue per Florio:

Publicly, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that he wants the league’s owners to reserve judgment on Commanders owner Daniel Snyder until the pending Mary Jo White investigation is done. Privately, that message was sent to the owners by NFL general counsel Jeff Pash.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Pash slammed the door on any Snyder discussion during the owners-only session at Tuesday’s league meeting. It was, in the assessment of the source, the direct result of Colts owner Jim Irsay’s public comments regarding Snyder from this afternoon.

Pash urged the owners to exercise patience and restraint, explaining that they’d want the same treatment if they were facing a similar situation.

It’s a smart approach. With Snyder surely considering all legal options, anything said in that session would become discoverable evidence in court — even if they asked Tanya Snyder to exit the session so that the matter could be discussed without her there to hear whatever was said. If/when litigation happens, the owners would be grilled about who said what, to whom.

The source also predicted that, if Irsay hadn’t said what he said to reporters, he definitely would have made those comments in the room, sparking a Snyder-related conversation. The source believes that Irsay’s comments directly led to Pash’s effort to short-circuit any discussion of Snyder among the owners.

Last year, Pash became directly implicated in the aftermath of Beth Wilkinson’s investigation regarding Snyder, after someone leaked emails exchanged by Pash and former Commanders president Bruce Allen.

– – –

Back to football.

As expected QB TAYLOR HEINICKE gets the call ahead of rookie QB SAM HOWELL as the interim Washington starter.  John Keim of ESPN.com:

The Washington Commanders will start quarterback Taylor Heinicke in place of the injured Carson Wentz, coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday.

Wentz underwent surgery on his right ring finger Monday night in Los Angeles and won’t play vs. the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Rivera said they would know more about Wentz’s timetable — and whether or not they’ll place him on injured reserve — by the end of the week, after completing several days of rehab in Los Angeles. Wentz fractured his finger in Thursday’s 12-7 win over the Chicago Bears.

A source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Wentz was informed by doctors on Monday that he’s looking at a four-week recovery.

On Tuesday, Wentz posted on Instagram: “Surgery went great yesterday and I’ll attack rehab with everything I have because that’s all I know how to do! Appreciate all the prayers — be back stronger soon!”

It’s not a surprise that Washington will turn to Heinicke instead of rookie Sam Howell, a fifth-round pick. Heinicke has been the No. 2 quarterback all season and, while the team likes how Howell has progressed they still see more work that needs to be done. He’ll be the No. 2 quarterback; Washington also signed quarterback Jake Fromm to the practice squad.

ATLANTA

A ProFootballFocus note:

@EvanBirchfield

Out of a possible 116 corners who have played a minimum of 80 snaps this season, PFF has #Falcons Darren Hall graded (87.9) as the 2nd best corner in the NFL.

Hall is in his 2^nd year, a 4^th round pick from San Diego State in 2021.

CAROLINA

More thoughts, at The Athletic, on whether or not the Panthers should trade RB CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY:

Unloading Robbie Anderson to Arizona — even for a couple of late-round picks — was an easy decision for Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks and general manager Scott Fitterer, after the disgruntled receiver went off on an assistant coach and was kicked out of the Rams’ game by Wilks.

Moving Christian McCaffrey is a much tougher call. The 26-year-old running back has been the face of the franchise for the past three seasons, even though he spent most of two of those seasons in the training room.

McCaffrey has stayed healthy through six games this year, and is one of only two players (Nick Chubb is the other) with five games of at least 100 yards from scrimmage. He’s a matchup problem in the passing game and the only Panthers’ player whom defensive coordinators have to gameplan for.

But McCaffrey is also the best player on the NFL’s worst-ranked offense, so what exactly are the Panthers gaining by hanging on to him? In the short term, keeping McCaffrey seems like a luxury for a team quickly spiraling toward a top-three NFL draft pick in 2023. But if the Panthers’ new regime uses that top-three pick on a quarterback, having McCaffrey as a checkdown option would make life a lot easier for Bryce Young, Will Levis or whoever that rookie quarterback might be.

With the 2022 trade deadline approaching Nov. 1, Let’s look at some potential teams and offers for the player who last season became the NFL’s fastest to reach 3,000 rushing yards and 3,000 receiving yards in a career.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers offer one of their 2023 third-round compensatory selections (they have two) and a fourth-round pick for McCaffrey. Consider that San Francisco traded a third- and a fourth-round selection for receiver Emmanuel Sanders and a fifth-rounder in 2019. A 26-year old McCaffrey would command a higher price. But McCaffrey played in only 10 games the past two seasons, so the injury-plagued 49ers cannot justify offering more draft capital for him than that — especially because they may only be interested in one season from him (more on that below).

A healthy McCaffrey would fit in very well with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Because of attrition, the 49ers seem to constantly be in need of running backs to hit zone-blocked creases, and McCaffrey’s multi-positional flexibility could enhance Shanahan’s ability to pick on opposing linebackers and even safeties in the pass game.

But as always, a cost-benefit analysis underlies the offer process. And the 49ers, who don’t have a 2023 first-round pick (they traded that one to Miami in 2021 to grab the pick that eventually acquired QB Trey Lance), need to hold onto their second-rounder so that they can continue replenishing their roster. It’s worth kicking the tires on McCaffrey, but he’d be a luxury item for them.

The potential salary-cap implications here are manageable, even for a team that’s very low on 2022 space like the 49ers. Because McCaffrey restructured his current contract, his base salary this season is worth only $1.035 million — the veteran minimum. Acquiring McCaffrey would cost only the prorated portion of his salary on the 2022 cap, because Carolina must continue to foot the bill for his signing bonus.

If a trade were to be consummated this week, it would cost the 49ers only about $646,000 of 2022 cap space. Future years, in which McCaffrey’s cap hit shoots up to about $12 million, would be trickier to fit. But that money isn’t guaranteed, and that’s why any potential 49ers’ trade offer would be scaled to reflect the possibility that McCaffrey would merely be a one-season rental.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills can offer the Panthers a choose-your-own-adventure trade package that will replenish the Panthers with two of the picks they’re missing over the next two drafts and a young, cost-controlled running back still with untapped potential.

We’ll start with a Day 2 selection in the 2023 draft. The Panthers can choose either the Bills’ second-round pick in 2023 or their third-round pick in 2023, depending on the other piece they select. That brings us to the running backs, with one of Zack Moss or rookie James Cook being another piece of the deal. Both players were Day 2 selections in their respective draft classes. Moss has another year on his rookie deal, and Panthers assistant general manager Dan Morgan had a hand in drafting Moss in 2020. Cook, the rookie second-round pick, has three years remaining on his deal after 2022 and can be an explosive runner and pass catcher to build around.

If the Panthers choose Moss, the Bills will attach their second-round pick, but if Cook is the choice, the Bills will attach their third-round pick. Regardless of choice, the Bills will also include their 2024 fourth-round pick to either package. And unlike the Rams and 49ers, the Bills can offer the Panthers a guaranteed chance to trade the face of their franchise without playing against him through the 2024 season.

With a low base salary in 2022, there isn’t much maneuvering needed this year. The more complicated piece for the Bills would be future seasons. Still, with no guaranteed money, the Bills can easily restructure McCaffrey’s 2023 $11.8 million base salary into the remaining three years, which would lessen his 2023 cap hit to roughly $4.85 million — a $7.15 million savings. They would have to make some other roster choices, but there is a clear path to a two-year window at least. Bills general manager Brandon Beane played a hand in drafting McCaffrey to Carolina. That familiarity for the Bills, knowing what they’re getting as both a person and player, will go a long way in Beane feeling comfortable sending out the necessary assets. — Joe Buscaglia

Los Angeles Rams

General manager Les Snead — after explaining to Panthers GM Scott Fitterer that, yes, the Rams do have quite a few draft picks — puts a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick on the table for McCaffrey. He can do this comfortably because he believes the Rams will get at least one third-round compensatory pick in the next two years, if they continue to work that equation into their roster build as they have.

The Rams in this scenario will keep their 2024 first-round pick (unless Fitterer wants to add Brian Burns to the deal). Those picks in particular will be valuable to whichever coach is running the Panthers at that time, as they build out their depth and young core. McCaffrey’s ties to Los Angeles and his friendship with quarterback Matthew Stafford add a little juice to what may not be the biggest offer on the table, as Carolina tries to do right by their longtime franchise running back. In the Rams’ minds, because of the way they work the compensatory formula, they’re getting McCaffrey for a second-rounder.

Financially, McCaffrey’s 2022 money is easy for the Rams to manage. They haven’t been shy about restructures or manipulations of inherited contracts, either, where the longer-term money is concerned. They also have several players expected to depart this offseason without extensions (again, factoring in the compensatory pick formula) and don’t have any running back on their roster playing past a rookie deal.

The Rams’ window to remain in contention is open as long as Aaron Donald is on the roster. While he is, the team will stay aggressive for players who can add value to their roster. And with several offensive linemen expected to return from injury in the coming weeks, a Sean McVay-led team will be tempted to add at an offensive skill position. — Jourdan Rodrigue

The decision

With apologies to my colleagues, I wasn’t exactly blown away by these offers, which I suspect would be Fitterer’s reaction, as well. Though no one in league circles believes the Panthers will get multiple first-round picks for McCaffrey (which FOX’s Peter Schrager reported was the asking price), they’d like to at least get one. Failing that, the Panthers would potentially consider a passel of Day 2 and Day 3 picks to restock the ones they’ve traded away.

But getting a first-round selection is important if the Panthers and their next coach plan to go big game-hunting for a quarterback in next year’s draft. At their current pace, the Panthers will end up with a top-three (or even the first overall) pick without needing to trade up. But team owner David Tepper and everyone else involved would feel better about trading away their best player if it at least netted them a first, even one falling late in the round.

Deadlines spur action. So if we conducted this exercise a little closer to the Nov. 1 trade deadline, maybe the offers would be more robust. The Bills and Panthers have had a history of making deals since Beane went to Buffalo in 2017, and Morgan’s background in Buffalo could be key in getting a deal done. Having the Rams and 49ers both interested in McCaffrey also would be beneficial, as whichever NFC West team missed out on him would have to face McCaffrey twice a year through 2025. Bottom line: The Panthers aren’t going to give McCaffrey away, so I’ll politely pass on the above offers. — Joseph Person

NEW ORLEANS

Dan Orlovsky looks at the Saints defense:

@danorlovsky7

The @Saints defense looks like a shell of itself man

-they totally miss @CGJXXIII (the corner now known as CJ Gardner-Johnson)

-they look slower than years of the past

-their front isn’t nearly as dominant as it’s been

– – –

WR CHRIS OLAVE says you can put him back in your Fantasy lineup.  Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com:

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Chris Olave said he’s good to go for Thursday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals after missing one game with a concussion.

“I’m 100 percent,” he said. “I’ll be ready on Thursday.”

He is not listed on the Saints’ injury report for the game.

Olave suffered a concussion against the Seahawks in Week 5 after hitting his head on the turf following a touchdown catch. He was taken to the injury tent where they performed tests and was declared out after he went to the locker room.

Olave was able to practice in a limited capacity last week, but found out Thursday that he likely was not going to be able to pass protocol in time to return for the Bengals game.

Olave said that he didn’t feel scared after hitting his head, but admitted he was “kind of out of it for a minute” when asked if he lost consciousness on the play. He pointed out that it was a contact sport and the defensive back made a good play.

TAMPA BAY

An analogy from QB TOM BRADY about the life he chose – after it chose him. TMZ.com:

Tom Brady says he’s finding it nearly impossible to focus on his personal life half of the year … explaining he feels like NFL seasons are similar to “going away on deployment for the military.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star shed light on his struggle with work-life balance while talking with Kevin Durant on this week’s episode of the quarterback’s “Let’s Go” podcast.

The 45-year-old admitted even though he tries to place an emphasis on certain aspects of his off-field life during the football season … he always finds himself buried in his job instead.

“I almost look at like a football season like you’re going away on deployment for the military,” Brady said. “And it’s like, ‘Man, here I go again.'”

“The reality is,” he continued, “is you can really only be authentic to yourself. Right? Whatever you may say — ‘Ah, man, I want to, you know, make sure I spend a little more time doing this during the season,’ the reality is, is when it comes down to it, your competitiveness takes over and as much as you want to have this playful balance with the work balance — you’re going to end up doing exactly what you’ve always done, which is why you are who you are.”

The words appear to shed further light on the marital issues Brady is having with Gisele Bünchden. She’s wanted him to step away from football for years and be more of a hands-on family man. But he’s making it clear, he’s having a very hard time doing that.

In fact, he said he straight up gets to the point where all he cares about in the fall and winter months is wins and losses.

“You’re going to go, ‘How the f*** do I get it done?'” he said. “‘What do I got to do for my teammates to get it done?'”

Retired QB Ben Roethlisberger studied Brady’s body language Sunday and came to a conclusion.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t think Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is enjoying football right now.

Roethlisberger said after watching the Steelers’ upset win over the Buccaneers on Sunday that he thought Brady appeared to be checked out of the game mentally.

 “Tom is the greatest. The Super Bowl rings show it,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast. “It didn’t look like he wanted to be out there. Maybe it was the pressure and he was getting hit and whatever was going on.”

Roethlisberger said he could see from watching Brady that he’s not having an enjoyable season.

“There’s no way he’s enjoying this. No way,” Roethlisberger said. “I was enjoying being up there watching the game. It just didn’t look fun, to him.”

There’s other evidence that Brady isn’t as committed this season as he has been in the past, including his decision to miss time with the Buccaneers to attend Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s wedding.

“He just went up to his former owner’s wedding two days before,” Roethlisberger said. “He flew up there, missed a walk-through, went up there.”

Roethlisberger said the Brady who faced the Steelers on Sunday was not the same player that Roethlisberger himself faced many times in his NFL career: “It just looked like a different Tom.”

– – –

The signing of S LOGAN RYAN has not worked out so well.  Jenna Laine of ESPN.com:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday placed starting safety Logan Ryan on injured reserve.

Ryan has been dealing with a Jones fracture in a foot that he suffered in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and he’ll undergo surgery Wednesday, a source told ESPN.

The plan is for him to be out for six weeks and to return in time for December and a postseason run, the source said. The Bucs didn’t initially place Ryan on injured reserve because they wanted to see how much the injury could heal naturally.

The Bucs have been short-handed in their secondary as of late, with starting safety Mike Edwards missing Sunday’s 20-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a hyperextended elbow and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting sidelined by a quadriceps injury.

A 10-year veteran who signed a one-year deal worth $1.12 million with the Bucs in the offseason, Ryan — who is also collecting $5.5 million from the New York Giants — is the most experienced member of the Bucs’ secondary. In his absence, the Bucs have relied on Keanu Neal and cornerback Dee Delaney.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com has a list of 10 teams that should want RB CAM AKERS (even as we really don’t know why he has fallen so far out of favor with the Rams and shouldn’t that mean red flags):

Two years after drafting him in the second round, and just eight months after starting him in the Super Bowl, the Rams are prepared to part ways with Cam Akers. The running back was a healthy scratch for Los Angeles’ Week 6 game against the Panthers on Sunday, and the team is actively fielding trade offers for the former Florida State standout, per NFL Media, amid his “philosophical and football-related differences” with coach Sean McVay.

Akers’ young Rams career has been one of mixed results. After topping 600 rushing yards in a secondary role as a rookie, he tore his Achilles prior to 2021, only to return by Week 18 and serve a prominent role in the postseason. Despite expectations of a larger workload in 2022, he averaged just 3 yards per carry in an inconsistent role during L.A.’s first five games, then was inactive in Week 6 as the Rams improved to 3-3. Still just 23, however, due only $1.9 million on a contract that runs through 2023, he should have a decent market whether cut or dealt.

Here are 10 teams that make sense as suitors ranked from least likely to most likely:

If released

3. Cardinals

Arizona is perpetually in need of more balance offensively, but James Conner is almost perpetually banged up as their RB1, and with Darrel Williams also sidelined, they’re down to third- and fourth-string options behind Kyler Murray. Akers would instantly give them three-down potential and permit Conner to preserve himself better.

2. 49ers

Kyle Shanahan doesn’t necessarily need big names to power his busy ground game, but fresh off a dud from fill-in starter Jeff Wilson Jr., they could stand to add talent with Elijah Mitchell sidelined indefinitely. Akers is a plug-and-play starter who could fill just about any role Shanahan requires, and likely retain the job into 2023.

1. Seahawks

No one likes a good run game like Pete Carroll, but with Rashaad Penny out for the year, they could use another insurance/complementary option alongside rookie Kenneth Walker III, who’s already proving explosive as a situational ball-carrier. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was the Rams’ pass game coordinator during Akers’ rookie year.

If traded

7. Colts

Somehow, some way, they can keep the playoffs in mind after improving to 3-2-1. They could also badly use backfield depth with Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines both banged up, though Akers would almost certainly be limited to a handful of touches if/when Taylor is at full strength. Matt Ryan cannot be throwing it as often as he is; maybe this would help.

6. Vikings

Dalvin Cook isn’t gonna be surrendering carries anytime soon, but he’s got an injury history, and backup Alexander Mattison will be a free agent after the year. The Vikings think of themselves as contenders, and Akers has internal connections: coach Kevin O’Connell was his offensive coordinator in 2020, and Minnesota OC Wes Phillips is also a former Rams assistant.

5. Eagles

Akers wouldn’t be satisfying his itch for a heavy workload in Philly, if such an itch exists, but a good consolation prize would be joining a run-heavy team that looks poised for a real run. Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders are an elite rushing duo behind their sturdy offensive line, but the one thing Nick Sirianni’s club lacks right now is more of a power back.

4. Lions

For all D’Andre Swift’s talent, he’s yet to stay healthy headlining Detroit’s backfield, and Dan Campbell’s team is built to establish the run, thanks to both its personnel and coaching staff. Lions general manager Brad Holmes was the Rams’ director of college scouting when Los Angeles drafted Akers, and assistant GM Ray Agnew was also in the Rams’ front office at the time.

3. Chargers

Justin Herbert would be just fine leaning on Austin Ekeler in their backfield, but the latter is best deployed as a pass catcher anyway. Plus, they haven’t gotten much from late addition Sony Michel as a secondary ball-carrier. Coach Brandon Staley was the Rams’ defensive coordinator when Akers began his career. How about a player-for-player swap to send Michel back?

2. Falcons

Arthur Smith’s squad is sneakily competitive, starting RB Cordarrelle Patterson is hurt, and the depth behind him is mostly unproven. With how much Smith leans on the ground game, why wouldn’t they be willing to take a gamble on Akers as a prototypical back that Marcus Mariota can feed? The move could help them long-term, too.

1. Broncos

Few teams are as desperate for an offensive spark. Few teams are in a more dire state at RB, where they lost tackle-breaking standout Javonte Williams to injury and don’t trust Melvin Gordon to protect the rock. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was a Rams assistant during Akers’ first two NFL seasons, and he’s got reason to put good word in for his new team in the AFC West.

DENVER

Grayson Weir of Outkick.com notes some chatter from former teammates about QB RUSSELL WILSON:

There is a large contingency of NFL fans who do not like Russell Wilson. The Broncos quarterback, who spent 10 years with the Seahawks to begin his career, is one of the cringiest player in the league.

Just this year alone, not even counting his on-field struggles, Wilson has commanded attention for his off-field antics. He showed up to the first game of the year looking like a dinner mint, yelled at his teammates like a peewee coach, released a brutally uncomfortable Subway ad, arrived at training camp in an unnecessarily large vehicle, and continues to show very little self-awareness. That doesn’t even include the whole “let’s ride” saga.

Needless to say, there are countless examples of Wilson being corny, awkward, or odd.

A large part of his easily dislikable persona stems from a significant lack of relatability. It’s virtually impossible to connect with Wilson on any level.

And it’s not just the fans that feel that way. Marshawn Lynch recently joined Richard Sherman’s podcast and revealed a bizarre tidbit about their former quarterback – Russell Wilson requires people to go through his manager if they want to get in touch with him.

Despite the fact that Lynch and Sherman played a large chunk of their careers with Wilson, they do not have his phone number. They have to go through his manager to get in touch with him because he doesn’t give out his digits.

Lynch summed it up perfectly “if I can’t call you direct, then I ain’t calling you. Especially if I went to war with you.”

This is truly outlandish. Wilson requires people that he was around almost every single day for most of a decade to coordinate with his manager if they want to talk.

Lynch and Sherman won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks but they can’t contact their former quarterback with a simple text or a call. They have to use Wilson’s manager as a middle man. That’s absurd!

Here is an update on Wilson’s health – as he adds a bum hamstring to his shoulder issues.  Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com:

Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett has a sore quarterback in Russell Wilson, making the veteran signal-caller questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets amid growing frustration in the locker room after Monday night’s 19-16 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Wilson, who suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter Monday, underwent an MRI exam Tuesday morning. Hackett said Wilson will be evaluated through the week to gauge his participation level in practices as well as his availability for Sunday’s game against the Jets at Empower Field at Mile High.

“He’ll be day-to-day. We’ll go ahead and take a look at that and monitor [each day],” Hackett said. “… We’ll get a feel for him [Tuesday] and into [Wednesday].”

Hackett said the hamstring injury influenced “a little bit there” how he called plays for Wilson for the remainder of the fourth quarter and into overtime Monday. The Broncos finished with minus-9 net passing yards in the second half and overtime combined in the loss.

“I kind of scrambled to move around on one — I had to throw it away — it kind of got me pretty good in the fourth quarter,” Wilson said after the game. “Just tried to play through it … just trying to find a way to win the game.”

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The limping hero of Monday night’s win now heads to the sidelines for multiple weeks.  Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com:

 Los Angeles Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins will be sidelined two to four weeks after suffering a hamstring strain in Monday night’s 19-16 overtime victory against the Denver Broncos, coach Brandon Staley said Tuesday.

Hopkins suffered the strain in the second quarter, when he said he felt a “pop” in his right leg, followed by pain, as he attempted an extra point.

Hopkins went on to kick four field goals, including the 39-yard game winner in overtime.

Running back Joshua Kelley also will be sidelined for two to four weeks because of an MCL sprain, and tight end Donald Parham Jr. has been placed in the concussion protocol.

“Always a concern, always a concern, we were on top of it last night and we’ll make sure that we take our time,” Staley said of Parham, who last season suffered a concussion in Week 15 that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

In Hopkins’ absence, Staley said the team would turn to kicker Taylor Bertolet, who was signed to the practice squad going into Week 5.

After starting the season 1-2, the Chargers have won three straight and are now tied atop the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs at 4-2.

The Chargers will host the Seattle Seahawks (3-3) at SoFi Stadium on Sunday before a bye week.

CLEVELAND

With five games remaining in DESHAUN WATSON’s suspension, The Commish says he has stuck to the proscribed path and is on due course for re-instatement.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has missed six games. After five more, he’ll be able to return to action.

But it’s not simply a matter of missing the games. He also has to comply with the other terms imposed upon him by the league.

On Tuesday, Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that Watson has complied to date with all requirements. They primarily relate to evaluation and treatment.

Last week, another lawsuit was commenced against Watson. More could still be filed. Although the league has said it will monitor the case, Watson’s camp will argue that he can’t be punished for any similar conduct happening before the date on which the settlement was reached.

Currently, Watson is due to return on Week 13, when the Browns visit the Texans.

JACKSONVILLE

Matthew Berry of NBCSports.com sees RB TRAVIS ETIENNE in his Fantasy ascendency:

Buy – Travis Etienne Jr.

If you roster James Robinson, look away because Etienne is starting to take over. In Week 6, Etienne took the majority of snaps at RB and produced 108 total rushing and receiving yards compared to Robinson’s 55.

The Jaguars are scoring a ton this season, and Etienne is due for his share in the endzone. This isn’t a classic ‘buy low’ scenario since Etienne is producing, but I think this is his low for the season as we start to see Etienne gaining more traction in Jacksonville’s offense.

THIS AND THAT

PAYING THE COMMISH

One one side – the side of ever more massive compensation for Roger Goodell – is newlywed Robert Kraft of New England.

On the other side – that Goodell makes more than enough already – is Jerry Jones of Dallas.

And the secret sources of Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta of ESPN.com were all ears:

NFL owners voted 31-1 on Tuesday to permit their compensation committee to open negotiations on a new contract with commissioner Roger Goodell, but not before two of the league’s most powerful owners, the Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones and New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft, engaged in a heated exchange, multiple league and ownership sources told ESPN.

The sources said Kraft joined the overwhelming majority in strong support for the measure, with Jones the lone dissenter in the owners-only session, eventually telling Kraft, “Don’t f— with me.”

Kraft replied, “Excuse me?”

“Don’t mess with me,” Jones said.

The measure then passed, sources said. The NFL and a Cowboys spokesman declined comment. A Patriots spokesman didn’t immediately provide a comment from the team.

This isn’t the first time Jones has been outspoken and opposed to a new contract for Goodell, 63, and sources said his issue remains the same: the structure of Goodell’s compensation. In 2017, Goodell signed a new five-year deal that was different from his previous ones. Jones led a charge that restructured Goodell’s deal from mostly salaried to mostly bonuses based on performance. Several committees composed of owners determine whether they feel Goodell has met goals and targets.

Jones is concerned that the triggers for Goodell’s proposed bonus pool in a new contract will be too vague and not connected to a strict set of financial goals and metrics without a more rigorous review, sources said. “He believes in corporate good governance and wants accountability on the financial goals tied to Roger’s bonus,” said a league source familiar with Jones’ thinking. “He is sensitive to awarding a big bonus to Roger before he performs and earns it.” The source added that, in the past, Jones has thought Goodell’s financial targets were too “vague.”

The source denied Jones’ outburst was connected to any lingering animosity between Kraft and Jones.

The 31-1 vote signals that most owners want Goodell, who has been in the job since 2006, to continue as commissioner for the foreseeable future — and that he wants to continue in that role. One owner told ESPN that the committee might consider a two- or three-year deal.

In the years since he received his latest contract, Goodell has helped usher in a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement with the union that added a 17th game, helped ensure that the NFL didn’t miss any games during the COVID-19 pandemic, and landed long-term broadcast deals with new and existing partners worth more than $100 billion. The NFL’s popularity is unquestioned, despite myriad concerns about the long-term health of players, a lawsuit from St. Louis over the Rams’ move to Los Angeles that ended up in a $790 million settlement, and repeated scandals and investigations into the Washington Commanders and owner Dan Snyder.

The New York Times reported last year that Goodell’s total compensation over a two-year period from 2020 to 2021 was nearly $128 million.

Goodell has said in the past that he doesn’t want to be considered someone who stays in the job too long. ESPN reported in 2017 that Goodell told some owners that he would walk away after his next contract, CBA and rights negotiations. “I’m here for you through that,” Goodell told some owners. “After that, you guys should start having a conversation.”

2023 DRAFT

Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com on how NFL teams are trying to figure out if Alabama QB BRYCE YOUNG is big enough.

October is a little early to really be talking about the NFL draft, but let’s face it: Some of these teams (specifically looking at you, Carolina Panthers) don’t really have much left to play for. In the coming weeks, more and more fan bases will start looking toward the offseason as their teams rack up the losses and sink into irrelevancy.

A handful of teams will be looking for a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft class. Alabama might have that guy under center right now. Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Jalen Hurts all repped the crimson and white in recent seasons, and now Bryce Young is poised to be the next highly drafted Alabama signal-caller.

Young just might be the best of them all. He’s a magician in the pocket and easily one of the most talented throwers in the country. He’s been able to execute whatever throw Alabama’s offense requires of him, and it’s a unit coordinated by former NFL head coach Bill O’Brien. Young won the Heisman Trophy last season in just his first year as a starter, with 4,872 passing yards and 47 passing touchdowns to go along with three more scores on the ground. From a skills perspective, Young appears to have all the goods to be a long-term starting quarterback in the NFL.

However, Young’s draft projection isn’t fully agreed upon by analysts. His size (listed at 6-foot, 194 pounds on Alabama’s roster) is going to draw some concern among people who prefer taller, sturdier passers in the pocket. Still, Young appears to offer enough high-level passing traits that translate to the current aesthetic of the NFL game. Young’s legs are a weapon, but his arm is the driving force of what makes him arguably the best quarterback prospect in the 2023 NFL draft.

People who cover college football know just how good Young is — and he even showed that throughout Alabama’s 52-49 loss against Tennessee this past weekend. The Crimson Tide dropped that game even though Young managed 455 yards and two touchdown passes on 8.8 yards an attempt. Without Young putting the offense on his back for drives at a time, Alabama would’ve been walked off the field by Tennessee. Seth Galina, a college football analyst for Pro Football Focus, is bullish on Young and his ability to be the face of an NFL franchise.

“Young is one of the most intelligent quarterback prospects we’ve seen in a long time,” Galina said in an interview with Yahoo Sports. “He processes information at a high level. Besides being supremely accurate, one of his best traits is figuring out what coverages and plays the defense is going to be running before the snap so he can play as fast as possible after the snap. He’s not waiting for the defense to declare itself after the snap, he’s one step ahead.”

Young’s prowess as a passer, before and after the snap, has scouts and analysts enamored, but even Galina can’t totally overlook Young’s size. There haven’t been too many players at Young’s size who have had sustained success over the years — Russell Wilson and Drew Brees are probably the strongest examples of smaller quarterbacks having long, successful careers. Still, the totality of his game makes him an enticing prospect despite his size.

“Evaluating him as an NFL prospect is trickier,” Galina said. “At his height and weight, there aren’t many quarterbacks who are selected in the draft, never mind the first round. We can always compare him to some of the shorter quarterback outliers over the last couple decades who have been elite NFL starters, but they are outliers for a reason. If Young is two inches taller, he might be the best quarterback prospect in a long time. That’s how smart he is.”

Young’s draft prospects are certified even with the concerns about his size. NFL teams have been willing to overlook players that don’t have prototypical size in exchange for otherworldly skills. Beyond that, Young holds a special place in the history of Alabama’s football program.

He appears to have a little extra juice than the three NFL quarterbacks that played before him and has something in his closet that none of them have — a Heisman Trophy. Young will enter the NFL as a more accomplished player individually than the other three, and Tagovailoa, Jones and Hurts have all shown signs that they can be quarterbacks worthy of a second starting contract in the NFL.

This puts Young in an interesting position as far as his Crimson Tide legacy goes, which Sports Illustrated and SEC Network’s Richard Johnson explained to Yahoo Sports.

“It cannot be understated how much Bryce Young means to Alabama,” Johnson said. “Sure, you may think it’s Alabama and they’ve got all the talent in the world, but they don’t beat Texas earlier this season without him. They don’t come as close to beating Tennessee as they did without him either. As Bama has pivoted away from the defensive and run-game oriented offense of the early Saban era, this team is almost the exact opposite. It’s basically all Young.”

Young’s presence represented a bit of a philosophical shift in the way Saban operated his program. In his early days, the Crimson Tide were filled with behemoth players like Andre Smith and Chance Warmack and Terrence Cody, but as college football (and football in general) has become schematically sleeker, players like Young have really been able to shine. The truth of the current iteration of Alabama football is that it needs players like Young to be able to take control of games for stretches at a time.

“He has a preternatural ability to operate outside of the pocket and keep plays alive when they’ve broken down, and it has saved the Bama offense multiple times, especially this year’s version,” Johnson said. “Last year, he was one of the most pressured quarterbacks in college football and yet he still produced the way he did. That could be attributed to the WRs he had, but his offensive line situation is similarly struggling and without a real standout receiver, his best pass-catcher is probably running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

“The thing is, we’ve already seen what Bama’s offense is without him against a good defense when Jalen Milroe spelled him against Texas A&M. Yes, Milroe is young, but previous Bama backups have come in games and, you know, won the national championship. Without Young, I don’t think the Tide will be doing that this year.”

Young’s NFL prospects will be debated over the next seven months, but his current impact on college football can’t be overstated — from a skill or legacy perspective. Young is one of the most productive players in this era of football and projects be one of the highest draft picks in 2023.

Right now, Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud are the top dogs in the quarterback class. For Young, just turn on the tape and you’ll see why he’s going to be the face of a franchise even with concerns about the long-term viability of his game. He’s a special talent, and the reason why Alabama still has a chance to win the national championship in the wake of their loss to Tennessee.