The Daily Briefing Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Officially, NFL teams are not supposed to hold a player’s vaccination status against him when determining who makes the roster. Unofficially, it’s obvious that teams prefer to have vaccinated players. And Jaguars coach Urban Meyer admitted the obvious today.

In discussing the Jaguars’ decisions as they cut down to the 53-player roster limit, Meyer admitted he considered whether a player was vaccinated or unvaccinated.

”Everyone was considered; that was part of the production and also was he vaccinated or not,” Meyer said, via the Florida Times-Union. ”To say that was a decision-maker, it certainly was under consideration.”

One of the Jaguars’ surprise cuts was safety Jarrod Wilson, who is believed to be unvaccinated because he is always seen wearing a mask inside the team facility, which is a requirement only of vaccinated players. It wouldn’t be surprising if Wilson’s decision not to get vaccinated tipped the balance and cost him a job.

The NFLPA has “opened an investigation” but Jack Baer of YahooSports.com on how NFL rules practically compel vaccination status being taken into account:

It’s not a surprise to hear a coach would include a player’s vaccination or lack thereof in his deliberations. The NFL basically guaranteed that would be how the system works this year with its stringent protocols for unvaccinated players.

Unfortunately for Meyer, that might have been something better left unsaid.

NFLPA investigating Urban Meyer’s comments

One entity not happy with Meyer admitting vaccination status played a role in roster cuts is the NFL Players Association, whose spokesman said the following in a text to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio:

“These comments have led us to open an investigation.”

Per PFT, the rules currently prohibit considering vaccination status in making employment decisions. This came up when Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said he would cut an unvaccinated player, which led to a rebuke from NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and a talking-to from the NFL.

Still, Meyer probably wouldn’t be alone in considering vaccination status. He’s just the only one who said it out loud.

Why an NFL team would want a vaccinated player over an unvaccinated player

As things currently stand, players who choose to remain unvaccinated are opening themselves and their team to a good bit of trouble thanks to the NFL’s COVID-19 policies, considered the most strict in major American sports.

Unvaccinated players are forced to undergo daily testing, constantly wear masks and social distance, quarantine after exposure to COVID-19, face fines of nearly $15,000 for each break in protocol and are sidelined if they miss even one test. Teams are also able to relax protocols if they reach a certain threshold of vaccination, something that took the Jaguars a while to accomplish.

Meyer mentioned the trouble the Jaguars had with a player who wasn’t cut, Pro Bowl pass rusher Josh Allen, when asked about the NFL’s punitive policies. Allen just returned to the team from a stint on the COVID-19 list that caused him to miss two preseason games:

“Well Josh Allen’s never had it. He’s not played in two weeks. So he’s never had COVID. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that, but he’s never had COVID. So that’s pretty punitive.”

Most importantly, an unvaccinated player or group of unvaccinated players can trigger absolute chaos if they are at the center of a COVID-19 outbreak. Teams with unvaccinated outbreaks face forfeits if a game cannot be rescheduled as well as financial penalties for the organization and the players themselves.

With all that hanging over the head of unvaccinated players, which coach wouldn’t consider vaccination status when deciding between candidates for, say, a back-up guard or third-string cornerback? What team would want a player who could disappear for a week or cost it a game over a player with similar value otherwise?

This is what happens when you combine a “win at all costs” mentality with policies that cause unvaccinated players to be a risk to winning.

CAM NEWTON was another cut and unvaccinated player.  But Bill Belichick has this to say per Mike Girardi:

Bill Belichick: “Your implication that the vaccination solves every problem…has not been substantiated. The number of players and coaches and staff members who have been infected with COVID after being vaccinated is a pretty high number. I wouldn’t lose sight of that.”

– – –

David Purdham of ESPN.com on how Vegas sees the Rookie of the Year race with MAC JONES joining ZACH WILSON as a starting rookie QB:

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones emerged Tuesday as the No. 2 favorite to win Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors this season, as sportsbooks reacted to the news that New England has cut Cam Newton.

Jones will be the starter as the Patriots prepare for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins.

Prior to the report, Jones was 10-1 to win the award at Caesars Sportsbook. His odds improved to 5-1 after Newton’s release.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence remains the consensus favorite to win the award with odds around 7-2.

Jones was the fifth quarterback taken in the first round of April’s NFL draft, going No. 15 overall to the Patriots. WIth the Newton news, he leapfrogged three of the four rookie quarterbacks who were taken before him — the New York Jets’ Zach Wilson (7-1), San Francisco 49ers’ Trey Lance (7-1) and Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields (13-2).

DETROIT

CBSSports.com:

As of 4 p.m., the Lions did not have a kicker after waiving Randy Bullock and Zane Gonzalez. Detroit also waived cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman less than a month after acquiring the veteran defensive back.

GREEN BAY

T DAVID BAKTIARI is still on the mend.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Aaron Rodgers will be without his stalwart blind-side protector to open the 2021 campaign.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Green Bay Packers are keeping All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) on the PUP list into the season, per a source informed of the situation.

The decision knocks one of the best left tackles in the NFL out for at least the first six weeks of the season. Green Bay opens the season against New Orleans, Detroit, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Chicago.

Bakhtiari tore his ACL during practice on Dec. 31, knocking him out of the Packers’ postseason run. While there’d been optimism in the spring that the LT could be ready for the season, Tuesday’s sobering news confirms he still needs time before being fully recovered from the late-season injury.

It’s a massive blow to the reigning NFC North champs, but the Packers are playing it safe with the five-time All-Pro tackle as opposed to rushing him back.

The one glimmer of hope for the Packers is that Elgton Jenkins, who earned Pro Bowl honors as a guard last year, has looked good at left tackle in place of Bakhtiari this offseason. He’ll now be tasked with blocking Rodgers’ blind-side to open the season. Jenkins’ promising play at LT likely factored into Green Bay’s decision to keep Bakhtiari on the PUP list.

The hope is that the extra rehab time for Bakhtiari will allow the starting LT to fully heal and come back strong for a Packers’ postseason run.

MINNESOTA

With TE IRV SMITH, Jr. injured, the Vikings turn to TE CHRIS HERNDON as they swing a deal with the Jets.  Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com:

The New York Jets have traded veteran tight end Chris Herndon to the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota sent a 2022 fourth-round pick to New York in exchange for Herndon and a 2022 sixth-round pick. The trade is pending Herndon passing a physical.

Minnesota executed the trade one day after coach Mike Zimmer announced that Irv Smith Jr. will undergo surgery this week to repair a meniscus injury he sustained in the team’s preseason finale at Kansas City on Friday. Zimmer did not specify a timetable for Smith’s return, which could range from several weeks to several months, given the nature of the injury.

Smith was primed for a breakout season at the time of his injury, having risen to the top of the depth chart at tight end following the departure of Kyle Rudolph during free agency. During the final four games of the 2020 season, Smith hauled in three touchdowns on 20 targets and finished the year with 30 catches for 365 yards and five scores.

Herndon showed a lot of promise as a rookie in 2018, when he caught 39 passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns. Since then, the 2018 fourth-round pick has struggled to replicate that production. Herndon was suspended in 2019 following a DUI arrest and injured his hamstring while working his way back onto the field. In his first game back in November 2019 against the New York Giants, Herndon cracked a rib and was placed on injured reserve.

Last season, Herndon struggled with drops and fumbles and transitioned into more of a blocking tight end. He bounced back toward the end of 2020, recording 31 catches for 287 yards and three touchdowns.

This offseason, Herndon was on to his third offensive system in four years, and it appeared Jets coaches did not see him as a fit in a West Coast scheme. While he was still the team’s strongest blocking tight end, Herndon lost his job as the team’s top tight end.

Depending on how much time Smith will miss while recovering from his meniscus surgery, Herndon will help fill an important role among Vikings tight ends. Zimmer called the depth at the position “not very good” in light of Smith’s injury. Minnesota is expecting its No. 2 tight end, Tyler Conklin, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Aug. 16, to be ready to practice in full on Monday.

There are good meniscus injuries (see TOM BRADY) and bad meniscus injuries – and TE IRV SMITH, Jr. apparently had the latter.

The Minnesota Vikings will be without a key offensive starter for potentially the entire 2021 NFL season.

Tight end Irv Smith Jr. will be out for four to five months following surgery Wednesday to repair his meniscus, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. The timeline would likely rule him out for the regular season.

DALLAS

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com with this report on “Hard Knocks” Episode 4:

Who stood out in Tuesday’s penultimate episode? Who needs some work for the series finale? Here are the winners and losers:

Winner: Amari Cooper

Trevon Diggs was feeling a little feisty and insisted, right to Dak Prescott’s face, that Cooper wouldn’t catch a single pass against him at practice. Turns out Dallas’ No. 1 wideout still has some juice, because he had little trouble beating his teammate for a touchdown. Diggs was so undone by his poor bet that he scurried off the field without a word. Maybe we should be worried about this defense!

Loser: Ben DiNucci

Sorry, Ben, but we all know your fate already, and the show isn’t doing you any favors; every time you show up, it’s a cue for an on-field blunder, followed by you yelling at yourself. We’ll always have 2020, when you showcased your sidearm on prime time!

Winner: Ezekiel Elliott

For no other reason than he remains the most entertainingly childlike character of the show. In limited screen time (boo!), Elliott was a persistent cheerleader, popping up in Dak’s QB meeting room and supporting rookie JaQuan Hardy’s efforts to make the roster. Here’s to hoping we get one last, long look at he and Dak’s bromance in the season finale.

Loser: Our eyes

For having to look at all of Mike McCarthy’s dated PowerPoint presentations. Can one of the Cowboys’ 16 graphic design interns lend a hand here? Why, every time the coach of a billion-dollar franchise calls attention to the screen, are we gazing at oversized 1997 Microsoft Word headings, with clip art spread all over for good measure? Remember the “Austin Powers” stuff? That was nostalgic, but it masked a deeper-seated issue. Clean up the presentation, man! Let’s not even get into his thrift-store button-up …

Winner: Food

Sherese Parsons, mom of rookie linebacker Micah Parsons, showed off her soul-food cooking by feeding what appeared to be every notable Cowboys linebacker at her home. And then Jerry Jones had the guts to reveal this whopper during the end credits: He eats burgers at room temperature. Joking about his Whataburger fantasies, the Cowboys owner — famous for an Episode 1 role as Man Who Salts His Breakfast Sandwiches — said he doesn’t care if his burger has been sitting around “for an hour and a half.” If it’s lukewarm and verging on poisonous, he’s in!

Bonus winner: Moms

Both Azur Kamara and Isaac Alarcón have incredibly supportive madres who aren’t just representing their distant homes — Mexico and the Ivory Coast, respectively — but bringing passion to the seats of the Cowboys’ stadium. Alarcón’s mom, in particular, could easily earn a job leading Dallas pep rallies this fall.

FYI – Benjamin flipped the home countries of the mom’s – Kamara is from Ivory Coast, Alarcon from Monterrey, Mexico.

NEW YORK GIANTS

The Giants seem desperate to find OL help.  Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com:

For the second straight day, the Giants traded for an offensive lineman. One day after they traded for former Bengals offensive lineman Billy Price, the Giants have acquired interior lineman Ben Bredeson via a trade with the Ravens. The Giants will receive a 2022 fifth-round pick and a 2023 seventh-round pick after sending the Ravens a fourth-round pick. The move comes after New York released several offensive linemen on Tuesday that included center Jonotthan Harrison, guard Kenny Wiggins, tackle Jackson Barton and center Brett Heggie.

–  – –

The Giants are retiring the number 92.  Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com:

Michael Strahan owns the single-season sack record and played his entire 15-year career with the New York Giants. That, along with his other career accomplishments, will get his No. 92 retired by the team this season.

Strahan, currently a co-host on Good Morning America, will have his number retired on Nov. 28 when the Giants host the rival Philadelphia Eagles. It’s currently scheduled to be a 1 p.m. ET game.

Strahan was surprised Wednesday morning on GMA by former teammate Eli Manning, who jumped out of a box in a No. 92 Giants jersey to announce the jersey retirement. Former Giants defensive stars Justin Tuck and Jessie Armstead also came out in No. 92 jerseys.

WASHINGTON

TE SAMMIS REYES, who has a very unusual history, is a Kickoff Weekend NFL player.

John Keim of CBSSports.com:

Tight end Sammis Reyes made the Washington Football Team’s initial 53-man roster, making him the first Chilean-born NFL player.

Washington signed Reyes in April after he participated in Florida’s pro day. By signing, Reyes was removed from the International Pathway Program. Washington gave him a three-year deal with a $392,600 signing bonus.

Washington has Logan Thomas and rookie John Bates also at tight end. But the coaches consider Reyes arguably their best blocker. He’s still raw in the passing game, but Washington did not want to risk losing him and always viewed him as someone with long-term potential.

“He’s improved dramatically from when he first got here,” Washington general manager Martin Mayhew said. “He has every tool you want as an athlete; it’s just getting him to translate it into playing this game, and he did a lot of really promising things in the games he played that gave us an indication he’s on the right track. He’s a very valuable guy to develop for the future.”

“He fits us. He has the right mentality, the right attitude. He’s one of the hardest-working guys on the team. You see that kind of physical talent and ability and you see the work ethic along with that and you know that’s something you can build with.”

Reyes’ path was made difficult by the fact that he had played organized football for only one week before joining Washington. As a high school junior in Florida, he practiced with his football team for a week before deciding to stick only to basketball.

He came to the United States at age 14, without his parents, to play high school basketball in Florida. After changing schools twice, he said he received offers from 25 Division I schools for basketball. Reyes has said often that his ultimate dream was to play in the NBA. He played collegiately at Tulane for two years and Loyola of New Orleans for one.

In January 2020, Reyes decided he wanted to try football and began working out with trainers in northern Virginia.

ATLANTA

The Falcons are keeping QB JOSH ROSEN on their active roster after he came in and somewhat flashed on short notice in the final preseason game.  The other back-up behind QB MATT RYAN is former Gator FELIPE FRANKS.

NEW ORLEANS

It’s Jacksonville for the vagabond Saints and their Week 1 match-up with the Packers.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said on Wednesday that no location for the team’s Week One home game against the Packers has been finalized, but it appears that may be the case soon.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the Saints and Packers will play the game at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on Sunday, September 12 at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Jaguars will be playing in Houston earlier in the day.

The Saints decamped to Dallas ahead of Hurricane Ida’s landfall last weekend and do not know when relief and repair work will have advanced to the point that they will be able to get back home. The team will be practicing at Texas Christian University while in Texas and there were suggestions the team would play at AT&T Stadium with the Cowboys out of town, but that doesn’t appear to be happening because of a Los Bukis concert scheduled for the stadium later in the week.

Week Four is the next Saints home game after the opener, so there’s some time to go before there will have to be a call on the venue for that contest.

– – –

He may have been cut, but QB TREVOR SIEMIAN has found a home, at least for the short term, in New Orleans.  Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com:

Shortly after Sean Payton confirmed that Jameis Winston would be the Saints’ starting quarterback, the team released Trevor Siemian, who went 4 of 8 for 59 yards in his only preseason appearance. The team is not done with Siemian, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero has reported that the Saints are planning to re-sign him later this week. The plan is for Siemian to be the Saints’ No. 2 quarterback, with Taysom Hill expected to be used in a multitude of ways while also serving as one of Winston’s backups.

ARIZONA

And there it is – CB MALCOLM BUTLER is retired.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.comon the financial implications:

The unofficial MVP of Super Bowl XLIX surprisingly has retired from the NFL. In so doing, he’ll give up a fairly significant chunk of change.

Cornerback Malcolm Butler‘s one-year deal with the Cardinals included a $2.175 million signing bonus. He’ll owe that money to the team. He also will lose a guaranteed salary of $1.075 million, along with up to $2.75 million in incentives tied to playing time and whether the Cardinals make the playoffs.

The good news for the Cardinals is that they won’t have to pursue Butler for most of the signing bonus. Per a source with knowledge of the contract, $1.375 million of the signing bonus was deferred to March 31, 2022. He has received only $800,000.

The Cardinals placed Butler on the reserve/retired list. He can unretire at any time, through the late-season deadline that closes the door completely on a return.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

P JOHNNY HEKKER has survived a preseason challenge.  Kevin Modesti in the Los Angeles Daily News:

As the Rams’ bosses worked all the levers Tuesday morning, trying to make roster cutting day as painless as possible, there was one hard decision they couldn’t punt.

They would have to choose between punters Johnny Hekker, the four-time All-Pro and perennial special teams captain, and Corey Bojorquez, the Bellflower native who looked like a star in the preseason.

But the team managed to make the best of the dilemma. The Rams and Hekker, 31, agreed to restructure his contract, which had been the largest in the NFL for a punter, to make him more affordable. Then they traded Bojorquez, 24, to the Green Bay Packers in a deal that also sent a 2023 seventh-round draft pick to Green Bay and brought a 2023 sixth-rounder to L.A.

The Rams got something in exchange for Bojorquez and can look forward to Hekker entering his 10th season with something to prove after a down year in 2020 and a job scare this summer.

“I know he’s more motivated than ever to have a great season,” Rams coach Sean McVay said.

If punter is its most difficult position to settle, a team probably had a pretty good roster setting day, notwithstanding headaches along the way.

SEATTLE

S QUANDRE DIGGS says he has some business things to clear up before he returns to practice.  Brady Henderson of ESPN.com:

Pro Bowl free safety Quandre Diggs says he expects to play in the Seattle Seahawks regular-season opener and return to practice soon, once he finalizes an undisclosed personal financial matter.

The 28-year-old Diggs is in a contract year. It’s believed that he and the team aren’t in negotiations on an extension, meaning he’s set to play out the final year of his current deal.

Diggs did not specify what piece of business he’s tying up. The Seattle Times reported that he’s finalizing an insurance policy.

“I would just say I had a couple things that I had to get cleared up for myself business-wise just like the team, business-wise, they have stuff that they have to do,” Diggs told reporters Tuesday. “It was just something I had to do to protect myself just as the team protects themselves. I’ve got a family to feed also, so I had to make the best decision for me. Like I said, I wouldn’t say it was a statement. I’m grateful to be here and I tell you guys that all the time. I’m grateful to be here. I’m blessed to be a Seahawk. So for me, I just think it was — I wouldn’t say a reset but it was some things that I needed to patch up on my end to get figured out.”

Diggs was present at practice last week but did not take part despite being healthy. He reported to camp on time and had practiced for the first four weeks. Coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Diggs was “making a bit of a statement” by not practicing, the same phrasing he’s used while discussing left tackle Duane Brown’s decision to sit out as he seeks a new deal. But Diggs alluded Tuesday to how his situation is different.

“The little business thing that I’ve got to do, as soon as it’s done, signed, sealed and delivered, I’ll be back at practice,” he said. “I wouldn’t call it a hold-in. I would say I’m just getting some things cleared up and I’ll be back out with my teammates pretty soon.”

LAS VEGAS

Curious development with WR JOHN BROWN.  Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com:

Las Vegas granted receiver John Brown’s quest to be released. The Raiders had signed Brown to replace Nelson Agholor, who signed with the Patriots during the offseason. Las Vegas also released strong safety Karl Joseph, the team’s 2016 first-round pick who spent the 2020 season with the Browns.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The new kicker for the Chargers is someone called PK TRISTAN VIZCAINO.

The Chargers elected to go with a new kicker to start the 2021 season, cutting Michael Badgley in favor of Tristan Vizcaino.

Badgley had been Los Angeles’ kicker for the last three seasons. He missed 12 kicks last year, including five field-goal attempts from 40-49 yards.

Vizcaino went undrafted out of Washington in 2018 and is on his seventh squad with the Chargers. He made three field goals and two extra points in one game for San Francisco last year.

“Ultimately, what convinced me, [G.M.] Tom [Telesco], and our coaching staff about Tristan was that this guy has real talent,” head coach Brandon Staley said, via Chris Hayre of the team’s website. “This guy has real leg strength. We feel like he has a lot of ability. He’s at the beginning of his football journey. We felt that if there’s a product in there, that if we continue to tap into that development, that there’s a really talented player there. Then, the kickoff aspect of the job was really important. We feel like he has a really special kickoff leg.”

Vizcaino hit two of his three field-goal attempts in the 2021 preseason.

Vizcaino has been with five teams since 2018.

CLEVELAND

This from CBSSports.com on the Browns’ cuts:

Cleveland had several notable cuts, but the biggest one was the release of receiver KhaDarel Hodge. Hodge, whose prowess special teams was recently praised by Cleveland special teams coach Mike Priefer, caught two touchdown passes during the preseason that included a 22-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Baker Mayfield on Sunday night. The emergence of Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie Anthony Schwartz apparently made Hodge expendable.

PITTSBURGH

CB JOE HADEN expects that this is his last season with the Steelers, per agent Drew Rosenhaus.  Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com:

Cornerback Joe Haden is guaranteed to play the 2021 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that, though, the Pro Bowl corner will hit the free market, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday morning.

Haden, who approached the team about a contract extension last month, has decided to play out his contract and test the free-agent market in 2022, when the salary cap is expected to increase significantly, Rosenhaus told Schefter.

“Joe has never been a UFA before and is excited about that opportunity,” Rosenhaus said. “We expect him to have a very strong market.”

Haden, 32, signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Steelers as a free agent in 2017 a day after he was surprisingly released by the Browns.

In 2019, Haden signed a two-year, $22 million extension that takes him through the 2021 season. He previously expressed a desire to finish his career in Pittsburgh, through Rosenhaus and in conversations with the media.

“Obviously want to stay here,” Haden said briefly on Aug. 23. “Just the organization, the staff, coaches, Coach T [Mike Tomlin]. I don’t have too much more. But I want to be here.”

In four seasons with the Steelers, Haden has been a steadying force in the secondary with 10 interceptions, 48 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles in 56 starts. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2019 after racking up five interceptions.

Although Haden has been immeasurably valuable at corner, the Steelers have other big-ticket contracts on the horizon that likely made paying Haden a tough sell. Pro Bowl edge rusher T.J. Watt is set for a big payday any day, and the Steelers will also likely sign All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to a new deal in the near future after exercising his fifth-year option earlier this year.

INDIANAPOLIS

Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com on a Colts’ cut:

The Colts’ most notable roster cut was rookie safety Shawn Davis, a fifth-round pick who became the second-highest pick cut before his rookie season began in Chris Ballard’s time as general manager. The Colts instead decided to keep Andre Chachere, a more versatile defender who is coming off of an impressive camp.

JACKSONVILLE

The Jaguars try to cut a thin line on their roster decisions.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The inconsistent rules of the NFL and NFL Players Association when it comes to vaccinated and unvaccinated players along with coach Urban Meyer’s apparent desire to run his pro team the same way he ran his college teams have created a mess for the Jaguars.

They are now trying to clean it up.

 “Availability is one of the many factors taken into account when making roster decisions,” the team said in a general statement issued Wednesday morning, with no specific name attached to it. “We have vaccinated and unvaccinated players on our roster, and no player was released because of their vaccination status. Ultimately, decisions are based on a player’s ability to help the Jaguars win. We educate our players and respect personal decisions as it pertains to the vaccine. We want to keep our players, staff and families safe as we comply with protocols related to both health and safety and competition on game days.”

The agreed rules of the league and the union prevent teams from considering vaccination status. However, those same rules also create a very strong incentive to shed players whose availability will be impacted by vaccination status. That’s the needle the Jaguars are now trying to thread, given Meyer’s remarks.

Meyer surely knew the third-rail nature of any comments connecting roster spots and vaccination status. When you watch his comments (check out the attached video), it’s almost as if he considered not going there before deciding, “F–k it, it’s a stupid rule and I’ll say what I want.”

As the Jaguars are learning, the best approach on matters of this nature is to say nothing. Or, if all else fails, to do what Patriots coach Bill Belichick did earlier today and lie.

Football coaches lie. They lie all the time. They lie for important strategic reasons. For Meyer, it wasn’t a matter of honoring the Eighth Commandment. He opted for candor on an issue where, given the inconsistent rules, discretion will always be the better part of valor.

BUFFALO

For now, there won’t be a re-union of QB AARON RODGERS with WR JOSH KUMEROW.  Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com:

Veteran receiver (and Aaron Rodgers favorite) Jake Kumerow was part of Buffalo’s initial 53-man roster following an impressive camp. Not as fortunate was quarterback Jake Fromm, as the former Georgia standout was part of Buffalo’s roster cuts.

– – –

The Bills want someone to build most of a 60,000-seat stadium by 2027.

The Buffalo Bills’ proposed new $1.4 billion stadium would include about 60,000 seats and 60 suites, The Associated Press has learned.

The Bills’ proposal includes a timeline for construction with a completion date pegged for no later than 2027 based on how quickly a deal can be struck, a person with direct knowledge of the documents presented to state and county officials told the AP on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public.

The team’s current lease expires in July 2023 and would be extended until the new facility is opened, should the project be approved by the state of New York and Erie County.

The proposed capacity is about 12,000 seats less than the Bills’ current facility, now called Highmark Stadium, which was built in 1973. The new venue would not include a roof, but it would be designed so that a majority of the seats would be protected from the elements, the person said.

The team initially considered a larger stadium with a price-tag of $1.6 billion before making a decision to shrink the project, the person said.

Discussions between the the Bills’ parent company, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, and government officials opened in late May, with the parties holding an on-site tour at the Bills’ aging home last week.

At issue is how quickly a deal can be approved, and how the construction costs would be split between the team and taxpayers. The Bills have already said team owners Terry and Kim Pegula are committed to sharing part of the cost, but have not identified how much.

The expectation is the state and county will be asked to cover more than 50% of the project, raising concerns about the potential for taxpayer funding.

MIAMI

We could understand really wanting QB DESHAUN WATSON nine months ago, but subsequent events have cooled our ardor.  Apparently not so with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Dolphins haven’t said that they don’t want quarterback Deshaun Watson. There’s a good reason for that.

They do.

Per a league source, owner Stephen Ross “really wants” the Texans quarterback. For now, however, the Dolphins and Texans have been unable to reach a deal.

Last year, Ross wanted to trade up for Joe Burrow. The Bengals refused any and all offers Miami made for the first overall pick in the draft. The Dolphins settled for Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall selection. In so doing, they left quarterback Justin Herbert on the board.

With Watson, a short-list franchise quarterback Ross has long coveted, now available, Ross wants to get him. The Texans, however, continue to have unrealistic expectations. They reportedly want three first-round picks and a pair of second-round picks. While there may be some play in that widely-reported package, the Texans aren’t willing to soften their expectations to account for the uncertainty arising from Watson’s legal situation.

As explained during Tuesday’s PFT Live, the Texans possibly refuse to relent because they realize that Watson’s next team will be getting a 10-year answer at the position. Despite any possible short-term unavailability, he’ll most likely will eventually be cleared to play, whether in 2022, 2023, or 2024.

The owner’s desire to get Deshaun likely won’t wane — unless Tagovailoa becomes a franchise quarterback in 2021.

What if Miami offers three first-round picks and a third-round pick? Or three first-round picks and a player or two? Or a pair of first-round picks and Tua? There are significant offers that the Dolphins could make that would be less than three ones and two twos but that would be more than what the Texans otherwise will get before the 2021 trade deadline.

The overriding question continues to be whether the Texans will pay Watson to not play until he can be traded in 2022 (at the earliest) or whether they will take what they can get.

The report by Florio leads to a response by Ross, through an intermediary.  Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post:

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross believes in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and does not force football decisions, a team source indicated Tuesday afternoon.

The message was delivered after a Pro Football Talk report earlier in the day stated that Ross wants the Dolphins to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Texans.

Neither coach Brian Flores nor any other Dolphins official has publicly or privately closed the door on the possibility that Watson could at some point be acquired.

NEW ENGLAND

With the ascension of QB MAC JONES in New England, a startling factoid.

@AdamSchefter

Last time that every team in the same division started a QB 25 years old or younger in their season opener was the 1973 AFC Central, with Terry Bradshaw, Ken Anderson, Dan Pastorini and Mike Phipps, per @eliassports

Dan Wetzel of YahooSports.com on the Jones ascendancy:

Just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, Bill Belichick was asked to characterize the training camp and preseason play of quarterback Cam Newton.

“Definitely moving in the right direction,” Belichick said.

A little more than an hour later, Newton was cut from the New England Patriots, immediately elevating first-round draft pick Mac Jones into a Day 1 starter in Foxborough.

The right direction turned out to be off the team.

Belichick isn’t messing around. He never is, of course. There is never a hesitation when it comes to decisions that need to be made. No heart strings. No emotions. No tipping of his hand. “This is professional football,” he likes to say.

Everything, as he often repeats, comes down to doing “what’s best for the team.” In that case, it was going with Jones, who outplayed Newton from the first day of camp through the third preseason game. Not just in totality, but on almost every single day of practice.

That includes the five last week that Newton wasn’t available because he pointlessly put himself on the wrong side of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols by a) not being vaccinated and b) leaving town and taking the wrong kind of tests.

Newton was willing to take on that added hurdle of being unvaxxed — the NFL is more lenient with those who have received their shots. How much it mattered in the final decision is unknown, but sure couldn’t have helped.

If nothing else, Jones got nearly a full week, including a couple of joint practices against the New York Giants, to sear into Belichick’s mind what the team would look like not just with the Alabama rookie as QB1 … but Newton not even there.

Newton returned to start the third preseason game last week, but it was Jones who got the most reps. Newton played just two series and went 2-of-4 passing. Jones, meanwhile, was in for six drives and went 10-of-14 for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Newton attempted just 21 passes in three preseason games. Jones had 65, and 107 total snaps. Pro Football Focus graded Jones out with a 92.2 rating. Newton was just 79.6.

There was a belief that Belichick was using the preseason to get Jones more work so he’d be ready when his time came. (Plus Newton, as a veteran and former league MVP, didn’t need it.) That wasn’t the case. After all, Belichick never limited Tom Brady’s preseason workload, even as he pushed into his 40s.

The writing was on the wall. A more timid coach, a more conservative coach, might have decided to let Newton start the season, perhaps even play past a Week 4 return visit from Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that should prove to be emotional and intense.

Belichick isn’t that, though. His six Super Bowl rings suggest no one should be. If Jones is ready, then Jones is ready. It’s on him to deal with the pressure and expectations.

And Jones looked ready. Very ready.

The QB draft class of 2021 already looks promising. The top two picks, Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, are immediate starters in Jacksonville and with the New York Jets. No. 3 selection Trey Lance is making San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan contemplate a platoon system. And 11th pick Justin Fields will take over in Chicago soon — at least once the coaches there move on from Andy Dalton, who plays the role of Newton in their QB drama.

None of them have looked as good as Jones in this preseason. None walked into as good of a situation or enjoyed the supporting cast or coaching talent around them, of course. Still, Jones, who went 15th, has looked every bit as good, or better, than all of them.

Belichick certainly thinks this is his guy. Newton was signed a year ago on a low-budget contract to serve as the bridge between Brady and whatever the future held. He was a good teammate. He was a good player. It was clear Belichick really liked him, even signing Cam to a $12 million, one-year deal for 2021.

Newton was also aging, with his best days obviously behind him.

If Jones hadn’t distinguished himself, Newton would still be serving as that bridge. Jones won the job though, and Belichick clearly didn’t think Newton would serve best as a backup.

This way, it’s Jones or bust — journeyman Brian Hoyer will be there for only emergency purposes. There is no quarterback controversy.

That’s the plan for New England to try to win a Super Bowl, which is the only goal at a place with so many of them.

It’s Mac Jones or bust.

Sentimentality and caution are not allowed when trying to move in the right direction.

This from Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

The turning point that truly tilted things in Jones’ favor was when he took over for three practices last week as Newton was absent for a COVID-19 protocol “misunderstanding.”

Players responded to the 2020 Heisman Trophy finalist. The offense under Jones looked Patriot-like, with empty formations, tempo and alterations at the line of scrimmage that were commonplace when former quarterback Tom Brady was at the controls. And in a bit of irony, the transition to Jones was in some ways similar to what unfolded in 2001 when Brady seized the job from Drew Bledsoe.

Bledsoe was the Patriots’ starting quarterback, but Brady was coming on strong and played the position more to Belichick’s liking — with trademark accuracy and decision-making. Those close to the scene then believed it was more a matter of “when” than “if” Brady would take over, and an injury to Bledsoe opened that door sooner than anticipated.

The door swung open for Jones during a preseason joint practice with the New York Giants. On that day, it felt like a significant moment had taken place, and Jones — who got into a “game flow” and carved up the Giants — was ready to carry the QB torch.

The primary question by last Sunday’s preseason finale was if Belichick felt it was too early to throw the 22-year-old into the regular-season fire.

That would have been the main reason to stick with Newton — to protect Jones. And it would have been understandable if Belichick went in that direction, balancing Jones’ long-term development with the short-term goals of winning games that count.

But through a methodical, consistent approach, Jones proved to Belichick that risk didn’t outweigh the reward. He can handle it, and perhaps nothing showed it more than those three practices without Newton.

It isn’t that Jones hasn’t made mistakes. He has had plenty, like all rookies do. But it’s how he has responded to them that endeared him to teammates and coaches. By correcting them and usually not making them again, it allowed the Patriots to keep building and run an offense that gradually looked like the Brady-led one.

It seldom, if ever, looked like that with Newton, which isn’t a surprise because that isn’t his game. So playing with Newton would have required a different approach.

– – –

Yesterday, we expressed skepticism that QB CAM NEWTON would have many suitors for his services.  This list from Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com does not change that opinion.

Cam Newton’s tenure in New England has come to an end. On the day all 32 NFL teams must shrink their rosters down to 53 players, the Patriots have reportedly elected to release the veteran quarterback, signaling that first-round rookie Mac Jones is now in line to be the team’s starter to begin the 2021 regular season.

On the surface, the news comes as quite a surprise. After all, Newton had received the bulk of first-team reps throughout the summer and had started all three of the Patriots’ preseason contests. He also looked much more comfortable within New England’s offense than he did a year ago. Alas, the Patriots are beginning a new era with Jones now under center and Newton is once again looking for a new home somewhere in the NFL.

In the aftermath of his release, here are a trio landing spots that could make sense for the former league MVP.

Houston Texans

If Newton’s top priority is to be a starter — he said earlier this year that “there aren’t 32 guys better than me” — somewhere in the league, his best bet may be the Houston Texans. With Deshaun Watson’s status in flux, the path to QB1 is attainable. Currently, the Texans have Tyrod Taylor and rookie Davis Mills on the roster, which are two quarterbacks that Newton should be able to successfully beat out for the job. Of course, the Texans aren’t expected to be a competitive football team this season, so Newton’s chances of playing for a serious contender would be wildly diminished if he signed on with the Texans, but it’s arguably his best route to go down if he simply wants to start. Anywhere else and he’s likely banking on an injury to leap up the depth chart.

Washington Football Team

The connection here is pretty obvious. Washington head coach Ron Rivera was with Newton during their shared days with the Carolina Panthers and nearly won a Super Bowl together. While times have certainly changed, Newton could be a solid addition to Washington’s quarterback room that’s headlined by Ryan Fitzpatrick and Taylor Heinicke. Fitzpatrick is going to be the starter to begin the regular season, but Newton could be looked at as a quality backup in the event that Fitzpatrick either gets hurt or is not playing up to par at some point during the year.

Newton could also be used as a factor at the goal-line for Washington — or really any team throughout the league — paired alongside second-year back Antonio Gibson. With New England last season, Newton totaled 592 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Off those dozen touchdowns, 11 came inside the 10-yard line. If Rivera is looking to bolster his red zone offense with an old friend as they try to repeat as NFC East champions, this could be an intriguing fit.

Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott is the man in Dallas, so Newton would need to be alright with simply serving as the backup. Throughout the summer, Cowboys backup quarterbacks haven’t instilled a lot of confidence and the position looks quite thin at the moment. Jerry Jones did confirm on Tuesday that the team is set to enter the 2021 season with Cooper Rush as the primary backup to Prescott, but you can easily make the case that Newton is an upgrade at that position especially when you account for his rushing ability. According to CBS Sports Cowboys insider Patrik Walker, Dallas is not ruling out a Newton pursuit “at the moment” and will be evaluated/discussed “in the same breath” as other quarterbacks that are on their radar.

Again, Newton will likely search every avenue to become a starting quarterback first, but Dallas is a fascinating fallback option if a backup role is the only thing available to him at the moment.

But the WFT is quick to deny interest.  Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post with the tweet:

@NickiJhabvala

Ron Rivera’s full answer on Cam Newton: “It did pop up on our radar, but just so you know, Ryan Fitzpatrick is our starting quarterback. So that’s where we are. We have three guys we like that all came to camp, did a nice job for us and we’re going to go forward with those guys.”

@NickiJhabvala

Fitzpatrick was never NOT the starter. He was named the starter going into camp and discussed as the starter throughout camp. More importantly: He has 16 years and is due up to $12M. Heinicke continues to impress, but he has 2 career starts and is due an avg. of $2.4M a year.