STATE OF PROTEST

Jaguars TE TYLER EIFERT would like to offer a counter-point to the NFL’s preferred/mandated mantra that our nation is awash in racism, systemic and otherwise, that has led to an epidemic of bad policing.

This popped up Tuesday night on Twitter:

“Got some very good news from former @Bengals player/current @Jaguars player @tylereifert that he will honor fallen police officer David Dorn on his helmet,” tweeted Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou, on Monday. “Always been a fan of Tyler’s and God bless him!”

Triantafilou did not elaborate on which games Eifert will be honoring Dorn this season, or what the tribute will entail.

What Eifert seems to want to do is put “DORN” on the plate at the back of his helmet where other NFL players will be affixing “TAYLOR” and “FLOYD” and other individuals who have died at the hands of the police.

Dorn, a Black retired St. Louis police officer, was shot to death in cold blood, his murder streamed on Facebook, by a “protestor” who was robbing a business.   But that is not part of the NFL narrative and we see that names and slogans on the helmets must be approved by NFL Social Justice.  Although Dorn is clearly another victim in this summer of unrest, we are skeptical that the NFL will give Eifert approval to run counter to their narrative.

STATE OF FANS

The Saints are close to being able to having fans at their second home game in Week 3 and beyond.  Only the City of New Orleans can stop it – and the Mayor wants to be paid for her approval.  NoLa.com:

Louisiana state officials have given the New Orleans Saints the all-clear for fans to attend home games beginning with the Week 3 (Sept. 27) game against the Green Bay Packers, according to an email sent to Saints season ticket holders Tuesday afternoon.

Fan attendance will require approval at both the state and local level, though, and city officials have not yet signed off on the plan.

“While conditions are trending in the right direction we, along with our state and city leaders, encourage everyone to continue to do your part in reducing risks by following all government health and safety guidelines,” the email said. “Local public health officials are urging us to proceed with caution, as any move forward will need to be informed by additional data once students return to in-person learning.”

Mayor LaToya Cantrell said her administration was still reviewing the Saints’ plan and that they would make a decision “at the proper time.”

“The plan looks great as far as when we’re ready for that but we’re not there now,” Cantrell said.

Further details of that proposal — including an estimated number of fans for Week 3 — have not been publicly released. However, the email to season ticket holders said there will be a “partial attendance policy” in place for games where fans will be allowed.

But, Cantrell suggested approval of the plan would likely hinge on whether the state was willing to give New Orleans more of the federal money set aside for local governments dealing with the COVID pandemic. Cantrell and other city officials have been beating the drum recently about the fact that of $98 million in requests for pandemic-related reimbursements from governments in Orleans Parish, only about $53 million has been covered.

“For the city of New Orleans to even host something like that on Sept. 27, it kind of goes back to the city of New Orleans needing her fair share of state resources,” Cantrell said, adding that Saints games require the city to spend on police, fire and EMS personnel.

NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY

Rookie LB KAMAL MARTIN, who had flashed in camp, has an injury.  Rob Demovsky ofESPN.com:

Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Kamal Martin, a possible starter, had surgery for a torn meniscus on Tuesday and will not be available for at least six weeks, a source told ESPN.

Martin, a fifth-round pick from Minnesota, suffered the injury to his left knee. He saw his final college season cut short because of a right knee injury.

He took part in the Packers’ scrimmage Sunday at Lambeau Field, and he was not seen needing medical assistance.

While most of the hype around the Packers’ rookie class has focused on quarterback Jordan Love, a first-round pick, and powerful running back AJ Dillon (second round), Martin has opened the most eyes and was in line for perhaps the biggest role.

“The first thing that jumps out is he’s a long, athletic guy,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said late in camp. “He’s very intelligent, he works hard at it. It’s going to come down to getting those reps and feeling comfortable in there and knowing what to do so he can go showcase that athleticism on Sundays.”

MINNESOTA

QB KIRK COUSINS reveals himself to be a Covid-19 skeptic, albeit a compliant one, and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is quick to be among the first to pounce:

Kirk Cousins could have some further explaining to do.

The Vikings quarterback, who taped a podcast appearance several weeks ago with Kyle Brandt, made controversial comments regarding Cousins’ attitude regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (And, yes, in this age it’s often controversial to call something “controversial,” even when it’s obviously controversial.)

At one point, Cousins was asked this question, via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “On a spectrum of one — masks are stupid and you’re all a bunch of lemmings — and 10 is I’m not leaving my master bathroom for 10 years, where do you land?”

Said Cousins: “I’m not going to call anybody stupid for the trouble it could get me in, but I’m about a 0.0001.”

Cousins then was asked to elaborate.

“I want to respect other people’s concerns, but for me personally, if you’re talking no one else can get the virus, what is your concern you could get it? I’d say I’m going to go about my daily life. If I get it, I’m going to ride it out. I’m going to let nature do its course. Survival of the fittest kind of approach and just say if it knocks me out, it knocks me out. I’m going to be OK. Even if I die, I die. I kind of have peace about that. That’s really where I fall on it, so my opinion on wearing a mask is really about being respectful to other people. It really has nothing to do with my personal thoughts.”

Cousins has plenty of company when it comes to professional athletes and/or folks from the younger demographics, who believe that they are impervious to any negative outcome to the virus. But Cousins was clumsy in his choice of words. He shouldn’t have said, “If I die, I die.” The truth is, as he and others of his mindset see it, “I won’t die.”

The problem with Cousins’ comments is that, to the extent he has any influence (and he does), his comments will give those who believe that “masks are stupid and you’re all a bunch of lemmings” license to continue not using them, to continue claiming that they don’t work, and to continue in too many cases claiming the whole thing is a hoax. Even though Cousins added language making clear his position that wearing a mask is respectful to others, that part of it will be inconveniently overlooked by those who are looking for something/anything to justify their existing position regarding masks and the virus.

So the next time Cousins meets with reporters (hopefully today) and is asked about this issue (hopefully right out of the gates), he’ll say something like this: “Wear a mask. Take it seriously. It can kill your family members, it can kill your friends, it can kill anyone you come into contact with. And it can kill you.”

NFC SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS

The contract situation involving RB ALVIN KAMARA went for a ride on Tuesday afternoon, with the Saints putting out word they would be willing to trade him rather than meet his contract demands.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com assesses the situation:

The past couple of days have spawned a rash of conflicting and curious reports and rumors regarding the Saints and running back Alvin Kamara. Ultimately, it’s all just part of the sausage-making process that currently is expected to lead to a new deal by, per a source with knowledge of the situation, Monday.

That’s not a guarantee a deal will be done by then. Currently, that’s the goal. Indeed, it’s always been the goal. But things have gotten sideways a bit during the negotiations, resulting in disputed reports of unexcused absences and rumor and reports of six-figure fines along with suggestions in some circles of a recent squabble that broke out between Kamara and coach Sean Payton.

As one source explained it to PFT, the Saints actually were calling other teams to gauge possible trade interest in the fourth-year tailback. It seems that this was part of an effort not to actually trade Kamara but to demonstrate that there’s no other team that currently would give the Saints what they’d want for Kamara (presumably a lot) and also pay him what he wants (presumably a lot more than what the Saints are offering).

The Saints have long believed that Kamara is every bit as good as Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, if not better. That created, as one source put it to PFT, a very real sense of anxiety and apoplexy for the Saints, once McCaffrey signed his long-term deal worth $16 million per year and the Saints realized that Kamara would want the same deal or something close to it, even if the Saints don’t use Kamara as extensively as the Panthers use McCaffrey.

It currently seems that everything that has happened in recent days was simply part of the posturing aimed at getting a deal done, with a current belief that a deal will indeed get done. The fact that things got tenuous over the past few days means that they could get tenuous again between now and Monday, as the two sides work toward getting a deal done.

– – –

Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com played the silly game of what team might trade for Kamara.

Bottom line: Kamara deserves to be paid amongst the best running backs in the game. If the Saints fail to accomplish the task, another NFL team will certainly take on the responsibilities of having Kamara long term. Which of those teams would actually want to give up a reported first-round pick (New Orleans’ asking price) for Kamara, not to mention having the salary cap space to sign Kamara to a long-term deal? Let’s dive in.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have given the Saints a first-round pick for an offensive playmaker before (see Brandin Cooks) and he was also in the last year of his rookie contract. Sound familiar? Perhaps Bill Belichick gives up another first-round pick to add a talented running back like Kamara, especially given the Patriots running back situation.

If Cam Newton is truly going to succeed in New England, why not give him a reliable pass-catching option that can open up his scrambling ability and give opposing defenses nightmares? Sony Michel isn’t reliable and who knows how dependable James White is now that Brady is in Tampa. Cam and Kamara would be a lot of fun and would also open up the playbook for Josh McDaniels.

Kamara will certainly get his fair share of touches in New England and open up the passing game. Adding him may be the move that gives New England another AFC East title.

Miami Dolphins

Miami shelled out $8.26 million to form a running back combination of Jordan Howard and Matt Breida for 2020 — their attempt to improve the league’s worst rushing attack form a year ago. While Breida and Howard have potential, they don’t match up to the talent of Kamara. The Dolphins are committed to spending money and have plenty of future cap space to work out a long-term deal with Fournette (projected $42 million in 2021 cap space, per Over the Cap).

The Dolphins also have a first-round pick to give up, as they possess two of them thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade prior to the start of the season last year. Miami can easily part ways with a first-round pick to get a back as good as Kamara and give him a new contract.

Adding Kamara could catapult Miami from a five-win team to a dark horse playoff contender. Tua Tagovailoa would also have another reliable pass-catching option in his rookie season. A win-win.

New York Jets

How about a Kamara for Le’Veon Bell swap? The Saints and Jets could entertain the possibility as a way to rid each other of their running back problems. Bell and Jets head coach Adam Gase have had their disagreements and the Jets would certainly like to rid themselves of Bell’s massive contract. The Saints, should they choose not to sign Kamara to an extension, could ship him off to New York and get a playmaker in Bell, whose receiving ability would fit nicely as a check down option for Brees.

Despite Bell’s subpar 2019 season, he still has a few good years left in him. Put Bell behind a good offensive line and he’ll revert back to his days with the Steelers. The Saints will reap the rewards of Bell and still be Super Bowl contenders while the Jets will get a younger back in Kamara that’s a stronger fit in a Gase offense. Kamara will also receive plenty of target volume given the Jets’ depth at receiver.

The Saints may actually get a draft pick back for taking on Bell’s contract. Just a thought.

Buffalo Bills

Notice the pattern here? Every AFC East team could use Kamara in a division that’s as wide open as it’s ever been in the past 20 years. The Bills have the defense capable of winning the division and opened up the passing game with the acquisition of Stefon Diggs this offseason. Their running game is still a question mark as it’s unclear if Devin Singletary can be a featured back and Zack Moss could take that job away at some point this season.

Buffalo’s running game is fine as it’s currently constructed, but the Bills have a first-round pick and the cap space to add Kamara to their already impressive young core. Adding Kamara could also help speed up quarterback Josh Allen’s development.

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay may not be as good as its 13-3 record from a season ago and this team did nothing to improve the pass-catching options for Aaron Rodgers in 2020. Devin Funchess opted out due to COVID-19 and the Packers didn’t draft a single wide receiver. This offense needs more weapons around Rodgers.

Who could blame Rodgers if he was unhappy? Perhaps giving up that first-round pick for Kamara and igniting Green Bay to the top of the NFC North may lighten his mood. Green Bay does have the league’s reigning touchdown leader in Aaron Jones — who is also in the final year of his rookie deal — even though he’s not an ideal receiver out of the backfield. Perhaps the Packers can create a strong combination of Kamara and Jones, utilizing Kamara in the slot as one of the top receiver options for Rodgers and take the pressure off Jones and rookie A.J. Dillon in short-yardage situations.

Kamara would have reduced touches, but he also would be an important weapon for the offense throughout the year and in the postseason. Rodgers doesn’t have many opportunities left to win a Super Bowl and Green Bay needs to give him more help than what he has now. Adding Kamara would be a gamble that could pay huge dividends.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams could use a stud running back like Kamara because when their offense was at its best — a lead back (Todd Gurley) — led the way. Kamara may actually be a better fit in McVay’s system and the clear cut No. 1 back Los Angeles could use to power their offense. Having a receiving back like Kamara would open up the passing game for Goff — who had his own struggles while Gurley was dealing with his knee troubles last season — and Kamara could help him regain his form.

While Kamara could help boost the offense, a trade could be a long shot. Los Angeles appears committed to the committee of Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, and Malcolm Brown, but would like one of those three to emerge as the No. 1 back. The Rams also don’t have the draft capital to acquire Kamara as they don’t have a first-round pick until 2023. How many future firsts can Los Angeles give up? Sitting at $14 million over the cap doesn’t help either.

Kamara would be a great fit in Los Angeles, but there are too many hurdles to clear.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If there’s a good running back available, Tampa Bay is a logical landing spot. The Buccaneers still have question marks at running back with Ronald Jones and LeSean McCoy atop the depth chart. McCoy was the opening day starter for the Kansas City Chiefs last season before falling down the depth chart and playing just one snap in the postseason, so it’s fair to wonder if the Buccaneers can rely on him long term — assuming Jones doesn’t grab hold of the lead job.

Tom Brady loves to have that check down back, so why shouldn’t Tampa Bay acquire one of the best receiving running backs in the game? If the Buccaneers are serious about a Super Bowl run, they can give up that (projected) late first-round pick to the Saints and take their chances on Kamara for one season. Signing Kamara to a long term deal will be difficult, but perhaps a one-year pay raise is in order first.

The Buccaneers are still unlikely to land Kamara unless the Saints receive a king’s ransom. New Orleans is a Super Bowl favorite and its highly doubtful they would trade a Pro Bowl running back to a division rival and NFC contender. Tampa Bay would ned to give up much more than a first-round pick to land Kamara.

Washington Football Team

Washington has been looking for a long term replacement for Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice is no longer an option. Head coach Ron Rivera knows how to use Kamara’s skill set as he (along with offensive coordinator Scott Turner who came over with him to Washington) was the mastermind to draft Christian McCaffrey and mold him into one of the best all-around backs in football.

Washington could use a playmaker on offense not named Terry McLaurin, but would the franchise be willing to part ways with a potential top-five draft pick for a running back? This sounds like a Daniel Snyder move, but he’s turned over the keys to the franchise to Rivera and new team president Jason Wright. Maybe a second-round pick intrigues the Saints, especially given Washington doesn’t have much at running back.

Bryce Love, Peyton Barber and J.D. McKissic just aren’t long-term options for a franchise that is trying to give its fans hope. Kamara is a player Washington can market for the next several seasons.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

The Super Bowl ring wasn’t the only ring in the pocket of QB PATRICK MAHOMES on Tuesday. TMZ.com:

Patrick Mahomes wasn’t the only one in his household to get a massive ring on Tuesday … the superstar QB just proposed to his longtime GF, Brittany Matthews, with a diamond that’s bigger than her knuckle!!!

Mahomes surprised his lady with a floral arrangement and bright signs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City after getting his Super Bowl ring … and Brittany’s ring might be even more impressive.

Since 24-year-old Mahomes just signed the fattest contract in NFL history — he signed a $503 MILLION extension — it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he splurged on the jewelry.

Unclear on how much he paid for it, but by the looks of it … it wasn’t cheap.

Of course, the couple has been together since their high school days … and have been pretty much inseparable ever since.

25-year-old Matthews — a pro fitness trainer — has been one of Mahomes’ biggest supporters since day one and definitely made sure fans heard her cheers all throughout the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run this past season.

Speaking of … Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs teammates finally got their championship rings for the 2019 season just before the proposal … and they’re pretty spectacular.

The champs held a special social-distanced celebration on the Arrowhead Stadium field on Tuesday … receiving their rings for their Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The rings — made by Jostens — feature the Chiefs logo (made of 60 diamonds) and 2 Lombardi trophies (made with marquise-cut diamonds) on the top … and includes 16 rubies to signify 10 AFC West Division titles and 6 playoff appearances under head coach Andy Reid.

There are also 50 diamonds surrounding the design, which represent the 50 years since the team’s first Super Bowl title.

The sides feature the SBLIV logo and player names and numbers — and even “142.2” to honor Arrowhead’s record-setting decibel rating.

The inside of the rings are just as special — they feature the logos and scores of all KC’s games throughout the playoffs … and each recipient’s autograph.

The team captured the moment Mahomes put his ring on for the first time … and you could see the dude’s smile pouring out from behind his mask!!

Look out, NFL — these guys look like they’re ready for another.

– – –

Brittany is sharing some more behind-the-scenes looks from the couple’s special day, saying, “On a day that was meant to celebrate you, you turned it into celebrating us.”

“You made this day perfect, you took my entire breath away and I could not have imagined anything better.

“Cheers to spending our lifetime together and an inseparable bond.”

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

A nice extension for RB JOE MIXON who entered the NFL amidst controversy.  Ben Baby of ESPN.com:

Joe Mixon and the Bengals have agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension that will keep the running back under contract with Cincinnati for five more seasons, according to ESPN sources and multiple reports.

The language of the deal was still being finalized Tuesday afternoon, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. NFL Network first reported the financial terms of the extension.

Mixon tweeted a picture of himself with members of the Bengals’ front office Tuesday before he joined the rest of the team for practice.

Mixon, 24, had been absent from practice recently as he suffered from migraines, according to Bengals coach Zac Taylor. Mixon declined to speak to the media during training camp, which ended Sunday.

Mixon, a second-round pick in the 2017 draft, was set to make $1.2 million this season in the final year of his rookie deal. The former Oklahoma star told ESPN at the end of last season that he wants to be a “Bengal for life,” amid early speculation about his contract situation.

Mixon rushed for 1,136 yards and five touchdowns last season, his second straight season with more than 1,000 rushing yards. He is one of four running backs in the NFL with at least 1,400 yards from scrimmage in each of the past two seasons, along with Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey, the Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott.

Mixon is fifth in the NFL in yards after contact since his rookie season in 2017, and has the league’s seventh-most rushing yards since the start of the 2018 season.

Last week, Taylor said Mixon’s absence was not related to his contract situation and that he was day-to-day with his migraines. Mixon and Taylor shared an embrace before Sunday’s scrimmage, where Mixon did rehab work on the sideline after being absent from practice earlier in the week.

During Tuesday’s practice, reporters spotted Mixon and team president Mike Brown engaged in a conversation. Brown has not held a news conference since before the 2019 season.

Mixon joins wide receiver Tyler Boyd, defensive tackle D.J. Reader and the rest of the 2020 draft class — including rookie quarterback Joe Burrow — as Bengals who are currently under contract through the 2023 season.

Most Rushing Yards, Since 2017

Only three running backs have more rushing yards since Joe Mixon entered the league in 2017. His 2,931 rushing yards are the second-most by a Bengal in his first three seasons, behind Corey Dillon who had 3,459 from 1997-99.

PLAYER         RUSHING YARDS

Ezekiel Elliott   3,774

Todd Gurley    3,413

Derrick Henry 3,343

Joe Mixon       2,931

— ESPN Stats & Information

AFC SOUTH

JACKSONVILLE

Having cleared waivers, RB LEONARD FOURNETTE says the Jaguars owe him $4 mil plus as a parting gift.  ESPN.com:

Leonard Fournette officially has filed a grievance against the Jacksonville Jaguars to try to recoup the $4.167 million in base salary that the team voided, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

The Jaguars waived Fournette on Monday. They didn’t pick up his fifth-year option during the offseason and actively pursued a trade without receiving any serious offers.

Fournette went unclaimed in the waiver process.

After Jaguars cut Leonard Fournette, all signs point toward top of 2021 draft

The team had voided the remaining guarantees in his rookie contract following his one-game suspension for fighting with Buffalo Bills linebacker Shaq Lawson in 2018. Fournette left the bench area, ran across the field and punched Lawson, saying he was defending teammate Carlos Hyde.

Fournette said he would file a grievance to get the guaranteed money back, but it wasn’t something that could be done until the Jaguars cut him. As long as he was under contract he would be getting the money.

He may need the money, because there does not appear to be much of a market.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The New England Patriots have been a popular pick to land new free-agent running back Leonard Fournette. That marriage apparently won’t take place.

NFL Network’s Mike Giardi reported that a source within the organization does not believe the team will be in the running for the back.

Fournette cleared waivers Tuesday with no team willing to take on the $4 million on his contract. It wasn’t a surprise no team plucked him off waivers given that none were willing to trade even a conditional late-round pick to Jacksonville.

The Patriots had jumped out as a potential landing spot for Fournette based on analysts viewing it as a potential position of need in New England’s offensive transition.

Sony Michel has been dealing with injury, which has opened up the door for second-year back Damien Harris to take over the bulk of the workload. The former third-round pick appears in line to lead the Pats’ backfield.

It’s likely New England is comfortable with its diverse backfield rather than bringing in a two-down player like Fournette, who hasn’t proven dynamic in the passing game. Alongside Harris and Michel, the Pats employ James White, Rex Burkhead, UDFA J.J. Taylor and Lamar Miller, who recently came off the PUP list.

The Pats aren’t the only team letting it be known they’re not interested in signing Fournette.

Rams coach Sean McVay noted Tuesday that L.A. didn’t have interest in acquiring the RB.

“He’s a good player but we feel good about the guys we have in house. We’re not looking at anyone externally,” McVay said, via the L.A. Times.

The Rams want to see what they have in rookie Cam Akers. McVay has insisted all offseason they’re comfortable running a committee of Akers, Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. While Fournette’s relationship with corner Jalen Ramsey might have led to dot-connecting, it appears L.A. isn’t interested.

– – –

Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com details the Rise and Fall of the House of Kahn.  Edited version below, full story here:

– What a long, hard, unusual fall it has been.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were roughly 10 minutes away from their first Super Bowl appearance, leading the New England Patriots by 10 points in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium. Then Tom Brady engineered two touchdown drives — converting a third-and-18 on one of them — to give the Patriots a 24-20 victory.

Nothing has been the same since for the Jaguars organization.

The Jaguars are 11-22 in the past two seasons, are on their third starting quarterback since then, and only two starters remain from what was one of the best defenses in football. Last Sunday they agreed to trade their best defensive player and on Monday they cut their best offensive player, who also was the fourth overall draft pick in 2017.

So, how did the Jaguars get here since that playoff loss? Glad you asked:

Feb. 24, 2018: The Jaguars could have let QB Blake Bortles play on the fifth-year option, but instead signed him to a three-year contract extension through the 2020 season.

March 6, 2018: The Jaguars tell WR Allen Robinson they will not use the franchise tag on him. Robinson later signs a three-year deal with Chicago for $42 million with $18 million guaranteed.

March 13, 2018: Andrew Norwell signs a five-year, $66.5 million contract with $30 million guaranteed with the Jaguars. His play has been solid but not at the high level expected of his salary.

March 13, 2018: WR Marqise Lee signs a four-year deal worth $34 million with $16.5 million guaranteed. Lee tore the MCL, ACL and PCL in his left knee and missed the 2018 season. He caught three passes for 18 yards in six games in 2019 and was released this offseason.

March 13, 2018: LB Paul Posluszny retires after 11 seasons in the NFL. He was the heart and soul of the Jaguars’ defense.

March 15, 2018: Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins signs a two-year deal with the Jaguars worth $10 million. Seferian-Jenkins plays in only five games.

March 20, 2018: The Jaguars cut TE Marcedes Lewis one week after picking up the option on his 2018 contract that would have paid him $3.5 million. Lewis signed with Green Bay and is still with the Packers.

Aug. 12, 2018: DEs Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue get into a post-practice altercation. CB Jalen Ramsey goes on a profane rant against members of the media that were filming. The team suspended Fowler and Ramsey for a week for “violating team rules and conduct unbecoming of a Jaguars football player.”

Aug. 15, 2018: GQ Magazine publishes a piece on Ramsey in which he criticizes numerous NFL quarterbacks.

Oct. 7, 2018: After starting the season 3-1 (including a 31-20 victory over New England in Jacksonville), the Jaguars lose the first of seven consecutive games.

Nov. 18, 2018: On the day the Jaguars are to play the Pittsburgh Steelers at TIAA Bank Field, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Jaguars are likely to consider trading Ramsey in the offseason

Nov. 25, 2018: Fournette leaves the bench, runs across the field and gets into a fight with Buffalo Bills DL Shaq Lawson during the Jaguars’ 24-21 loss.

Nov. 26, 2018: Head coach Doug Marrone fires offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett one day after the Jaguars’ seventh consecutive loss. Quarterbacks coach Scott Marinovich takes over as interim offensive coordinator.

Dec. 6, 2018: Fournette is caught on video yelling at a fan in the stands during the team’s 30-9 loss to Tennessee.

Dec. 30, 2018: Executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin publicly criticizes Fournette (who was inactive because of a foot injury) and Yeldon for sitting alone on the bench and acting disinterested during the season finale against Houston.

Dec. 30, 2018: Owner Shad Khan announces that he will retain Coughlin, GM Dave Caldwell and Marrone after the team finishes the season 5-11.

Jan. 16, 2019: The Jaguars hire John DeFilippo to be the team’s offensive coordinator. DeFilippo, not coincidentally, happened to be Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. The MVP of that game was QB Nick Foles.

March 8, 2019: The team releases DT Malik Jackson, one of seven defensive players named to the Pro Bowl on the 2017 team.

March 11, 2019: The Jaguars sign Foles to a four-year deal worth $88 million (up to $102 million with incentives) that includes a franchise-record $50.125 million guaranteed.

March 13, 2019: The Jaguars waive Bortles, cutting ties with the player they took third overall in 2014 and signed to an extension a year earlier. The move costs the Jaguars $16.5 million in dead money on the salary cap.

April 18, 2019: Coughlin calls out Ramsey and Telvin Smith during a four-minute speech at the team’s annual state-of-the-franchise presentation for not attending voluntary workouts.

May 9, 2019: Smith announces on social media that he will not play football in 2019, posting a statement on his Instagram account saying that he needs to take time off for his family and his health. Smith did not notify the Jaguars about his intentions before his announcement.

June 11, 2019: Ramsey says in a news conference after the second day of the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp that his agent told him the Jaguars will not be giving him a contract extension in 2019.

July 2019: The team begins contract extension talks with DE Yannick Ngakoue and reportedly offers him a deal worth up to $19 million annually. Ngakoue declines and Coughlin abruptly breaks off negotiations. The sides would not have any further discussions until after the 2019 season.

July 24, 2019: Ramsey reports to training camp in an armored bank truck.

Aug. 4, 2019: Ngakoue, who skipped the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp in June, ends an 11-day training camp holdout.

Sept. 8, 2019: Foles suffers a broken clavicle.

Sept. 15, 2019: Ramsey gets into a sideline altercation with Marrone.

Sept. 16, 2019: Ramsey’s agent, David Mulugheta, tells the Jaguars that Ramsey wants to be traded.

Sept. 17, 2019: Ramsey holds a 16-minute news conference in which he explains his camp did not leak his trade request, says he doesn’t want to be a distraction, and that he wants to play in the Sept. 19 game against Tennessee “if I’m still here.” He would not answer questions about why he was unhappy with the franchise.

Sept. 22, 2019: Ramsey notifies the Jaguars that he is ill and will not be able to practice.

Sept. 25, 2019: The Jaguars announce Ramsey is not expected to practice because of a back injury.  Shortly after 7 p.m., the team releases another statement that Ramsey has left the team to return to Nashville for the birth of his second child and there is no timetable for his return.

Oct. 15, 2019: The Jaguars trade Ramsey — who sat out the previous three games with a back injury — to the Los Angeles Rams for first-round picks in 2020 and 2021 and a fourth-round pick in 2021. He plays for the Rams the following Sunday.

Dec. 1, 2019: The Jaguars bench Foles after a horrendous first half against Tampa Bay.

Dec. 18, 2019: Khan fires Coughlin two days after the NFL Players Association warned players of potentially signing with the franchise because of excessive fines and player grievances.

Dec. 30, 2019: Khan announces after the season finale (the Jaguars beat Indianapolis 38-20) that Caldwell and Marrone would return in 2020.

Jan. 13, 2020: Marrone fires DeFilippo after just one season.

Jan. 22, 2020: Marrone hires former Washington head coach Jay Gruden as offensive coordinator and former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo as quarterbacks coach.

Feb. 25, 2020: The Jaguars decline the option on nose tackle Marcell Dareus, who was another key piece of the 2017 defense.

March 2, 2020: Ngakoue announces on Twitter that he’s told the Jaguars he no longer wants to sign a long-term deal with the franchise.

March 13, 2020: The Jaguars place the non-exclusive franchise tag on Ngakoue, which means he will be paid $17.8 million in 2020 unless he and the team can work out a long-term extension.

March 15, 2020: The team trades DE Calais Campbell to Baltimore for a fifth-round pick in 2020.

March 18, 2020: The Jaguars agree to trade Foles to Chicago, just one year after giving him the most guaranteed money in franchise history.  The move means the Jaguars will have to absorb $18.75 million in dead money in 2020. After cutting Bortles last March, the Jaguars were paying $35.25 million in dead money to two quarterbacks to not play for them over the past two offseasons.

March 18, 2020: The team trades CB A.J. Bouye to Denver for a fourth-round pick in 2020. Bouye, Campbell, Smith, Ngakoue, Jackson and Ramsey were Pro Bowl selections in 2017.

April 20, 2020: Ngakoue’s frustration over the fact that the Jaguars have yet to trade him bubbles over and he goes on a social-media rant in which he called the team owner’s son a clown and urged the team to get “this s— done.”

April 29, 2020: Smith is arrested and charged with suspicion of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

July 15, 2020: The deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign a long-term deal passes without Ngakoue signing his franchise tender, which means Ngakoue must play the 2020 season on a one-year deal.

Late July and August, 2020: Within the span of several weeks, NT Al Woods, LB/DE Lerentee McCray, and CB Rashaan Melvin decide to opt out because of COVID-19. All three were expected to play key roles in 2020. In addition, DL Rodney Gunter retires after doctors discovered a heart condition. He, like Woods, was signed in free agency to help bolster a run defense that allowed 139 yards per game in 2019.

Aug. 12, 2020: The Jaguars begin training camp. Ngakoue, who still hasn’t signed the franchise tag tender, does not report.

Aug. 30, 2020: The Jaguars agree to trade Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings for a second-round pick in 2021 and a conditional fifth-round pick (that could be has high as a third-round pick) in 2022. Ngakoue, who had to sign the franchise tag tender before the deal can be completed, agrees to a $5.8 million pay cut to play for the Vikings in 2020. He would have made $17.8 million if he signed the tender and remained with the Jaguars.

Aug. 31, 2020: The Jaguars waive Fournette in a surprise move. Despite numerous off-field issues and whispers about Fournette not being good in the locker room, Marrone says the move strictly has to do with what’s happened on the field. Fournette was working with the first-team offense throughout training camp, including the scrimmage two days before his release.

AFC EAST

NEW YORK JETS

RB FRANK GORE has endured to where he can see the career rushing record of Walter Payton – although at his recent sluggish pace, he has to get carries from someone for into a third season.  This from Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Jets running back Frank Gore is 1,379 yards behind Walter Payton on the NFL’s all-time rushing yardage list, and if Gore should top Payton’s mark, Payton’s son will be happy for him.

Jarrett Payton, who played with Gore at the University of Miami, said he’d welcome seeing Gore top his dad’s rushing total.

“I’d be proud. I really would,” Jarrett Payton told Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports. “You play football to win games and try to break records and all of that. But along the way, you make great friends and meet incredible people. Relationships that last a lifetime. So just to know that a guy I played with — a guy who I saw had a sprinkle of my dad in him — has a chance to pass my dad’s rushing record? I’d be super proud. It would be different this time around.”

When Walter Payton died in 1999, he was the NFL’s all-time rushing leader. Jarrett admits it was painful for him to see Emmitt Smith break the record in 2002.

“I’m at a different point now in my life now,” Jarrett Payton said. “When Emmitt broke my dad’s record, I was in college. I was upset. I didn’t want him to break it. I was like, ‘I want my dad to be on top for all of time!’ But now I am totally different.”

For Gore or any player, being mentioned alongside Walter Payton is an honor.

THIS AND THAT

COPING WITH CORONA – THE BIG TEN

On Tuesday, Donald Trump and Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren had what appears to be a cordial conversation on what is said to be their mutual desire to get the Big Ten back on the football field.  Dan Patrick reported that there is a move afoot to get the conference back and playing by mid-October.

A tremendous amount of money is at stake that could prevent huge cuts to all sports in the league, as well as a huge reduction in donations that fund other socially desirable programs as angry boosters withhold their riches.  With a mid-October start, the league’s TV contracts could be largely fulfilled and a representative (probably Ohio State) could qualify for the big money of the College Football Playoff.

Warren, feeling the wrath of his base at his leading the charge/acquiescing to politicians and presidents, in shutting down the league on August 11, is now said to be amenable to yielding to the pressure from the athletic directors and coaches to be pro-active for a reversal and speedy return.

The Trump call was brokered by radio host Clay Travis through a Big Ten PR representative – and produced a pledge from the President for federal funding of any and all testing needed to certify the players’ safety from the dreaded virus.

The lack of assured testing was one of the obstacles thrown up by those opposed to football in pressuring the vote to shut down.

But as Pete Thamel of YahooSports.com, a confidant of those opposed to football in the Big Ten before the election is resolved/a vaccine is found, writes – formidable opposition to Big Ten football still exists and it may reveal itself more clearly in the days to come.

To say multiple sources denied the notion of the Big Ten playing immediately would not be strong enough. The sources heartily laughed at it. The notion of playing around Thanksgiving is in embryonic discussion, and there’s a desire among coaches to start as early as possible. But “immediately” is in another universe, especially with multiple Big Ten teams not even having players on campus right now.

Trump’s transparent setting up of Warren as a political punching bag this fall to court votes in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan is so obvious that the only surprise is that he didn’t do it sooner.

That he set up Warren for future abuse with a set of “alternative facts” is straight from Trump’s dog-eared playbook.

The notion of President Trump getting on the phone with Warren arose in a call with the Big Ten coaches on Monday night. (The Big Ten confirmed the conversation and called it “productive,” but added that it will return “at the appropriate time.”) The conversation between the president and Warren was arranged, in part, to see if the Big Ten could have access to rapid testing. The Trump administration announced last week that it will deploy 150 million rapid tests in 2020.

That access to testing, at least in theory, could answer some of the medical reservations that the Big Ten’s medical doctors had before the season. But that’s just a theory. Remember, this is a league that didn’t feel comfortable going to full-contact football practices earlier this summer.

Read into the Big Ten’s defiantly bland statement and you’ll see the Return to Competition Task Force, and the phrases “safest” and “healthiest,” all of which serve as yellow lights to thinking the league can speed back to playing a mainstream schedule this fall.

There are medical minds that need to be changed and presidents attempting to keep their campuses upright amid a pandemic that would have to change their minds too. And the Big Ten presidential 11-3 vote that emerged in court documents on Monday serves as a reminder about just how steep the decision-making reversal will be for the Big Ten moving forward. (Think Northwestern is keen on reversing its presidential vote after announcing on Friday it will be all remote classes for freshmen and sophomores?)

Despite the presidential bluster, here’s what really matters for the Big Ten decisions: They’re not going to be made by the coaches at Nebraska, Ohio State and Michigan, who’ve made it clear they want to play immediately. It’s also not going to be Warren, who through these clumsy last few weeks hasn’t magically mustered the power to make wholesale decisions for the conference.

So the matchup to watch for football to start in late November – at the earliest – becomes president on presidents, the White House versus the college leaders. To label all of the Big Ten presidents as liberal wouldn’t be accurate. Purdue president Mitch Daniels is a former Republican governor of Indiana, but he voted not to play three weeks ago and shows why this issue transcends politics.

Here’s the key fundamental tension to the Big Ten playing at some point this fall: Could the Big Ten doctors see the availability of rapid testing as a big enough medical advancement that they can convince the presidents to reverse their decision? Those are questions that transcend fan desire, and Trump’s presence in this debate has made them exponentially more thorny.

Thanks to Trump’s tweet, any decision will now be viewed through a political microscope. And that could well backfire on Trump, if he actually cared about football being played. He’s likely more interested in an easy target.

The notion of a college president getting pushed around by the actual president wouldn’t go over well with the faculty on many campuses in the Big Ten. And it’s safe to say that for all the noise we’ve heard from coaches and athletic directors that want to play now, there’s been an equal amount of deafening silence from many of the have-nots of the league.

Here’s the safest prediction: taking this meeting projects a rocky few weeks for Warren, who has already endured a rocky few weeks. Trump has already set him up to become a political piñata, as you can already see Trump blaming Warren – not the presidents – for failing to push the ball home from the fictitious “one yard line.”

Trump’s base has been rallied. The Big Ten is the new Wall, Crooked Hillary, Fake News, Amazon, Kaepernick or the Post Office – an entity or person that will be fed to voters as red meat. (It’s easy to predict the Failing Kevin Warren tweets we’ll be seeing in the upcoming weeks.)

The most realistic timeframe for the Big Ten to play remains early January. There’s some reality to the notion of late November, but that’s again going to be up to the presidents. And the presidents are more likely to push back against the president than acquiesce to his naked political tactics.

There’s only one failsafe prediction here – the Big Ten tweets will keep coming from the White House.

Having met the 60% threshold to shut down (according to a pair of “sworn statements”) with two votes to spare, the pro-football forces must now flip six votes to reverse the decree.  The Indiana schools, Indiana and Purdue, have a Republican governor, as does Maryland.  Penn State might flip in a state with mixed governance and at a school with much at stake.

But the remaining two flippers would have to come from Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Rutgers and Illinois or private Northwestern.

Maybe John Harbaugh can help flip Maryland.  Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com:

John Harbaugh obviously has some inside information, and a vested interest.

And the Ravens coach was willing to put himself out there, to advocate for his brother.

Via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, Harbaugh encouraged the Big Ten (where his brother Jim coaches the University of Michigan) to return to playing football in the fall.

“I’ll throw a little controversy out there, this is my position, I say free the Big Ten. Free the Big Ten,” Harbaugh said. “Let’s go play some football. Let’s get Michigan and Ohio State and all those great teams playing some football. . . . Michigan had zero positive tests in August. They’re doing a great job with their protocols and those guys want to play. For anybody who wants to opt out, they can. They can.

“Their families should have that choice, just like the SEC gave the players and the families that choice. Most of them decided to play as a family. I think the Big Ten players should have that choice. I’m on record, you got it, free the Big Ten.”

While he’s clearly doing his brother a favor here, he’s not the only one who feels that way.

Ohio State’s president said she was “very hopeful” the Buckeyes would return to play later this fall (which may or may not be a good thing for John’s brother), and they have the White House on their side as well.