Damn. Awful. I was always a fan of how he played the game.
V-Jax was a very very good WR. He never quite elevated to that 90+ reception a season level that positions a player for the level of the truly elite, but he was in that next tier.
I loved him as a player. Sad to see someone like that go. It’ll be interesting to see the details come out.
I hung out a few times with VJ before he was in the NFL. An exceptionally kind and humble person. This is heartbreaking.
I can echo this. I went to college with him and hung out with him many times. He was a terrific person with little ego who was nice to everyone. He also wasn't into drinking or using drugs, which I only point out because of the unusual circumstances here (though this could have changed, of course).
This news is shocking. Not just his death at this age, but the details, or lack of details. He was living in a hotel some 30 miles from his home? Why? Also, apparently his family filed a missing person's report, and the police found him and spoke to him, and deemed him to be sound. The whole situation is puzzling.
RIP VJ.
I congratulated him at Bears a week after he was drafted. Sad news. Never knew him, but heard only good things about him.
He got two DUIs when he was in the pros, so things clearly changed for him. His family filed a missing persons case against him, and the cops visited him at the hotel a few days before he died.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/2021/02/15/hcso-former-tampa-bay-bucs-player-vincent-jackson-found-deceased-brandon-hotel/
he had a good year last year, 16/16 inside 40, 20/23 on 40+, made all 36 XPA (only perfect qualifying kicker in the league) KO stats look solid if unspectacular.
Yeah, he made real gains in his 40+ accuracy last year. He was like 8-17 in 2019 and 20-23 in 2020. If that sticks, he is a real asset. Barely 25 too.
He also caught a touchdown against the Eagles, which is one of those dirt-dog "holy crap this kicker isn't just a nerd with a leg!" moments that teams rally behind. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-DL7kEDeM4
I count on the NFL to talk about this situation openly........ I wish.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30918388/ex-wr-vincent-jackson-had-alcoholism-police-say
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30918388/ex-wr-vincent-jackson-had-alcoholism-police-say
Via a mutual friend, Jackson committed suicide. I hope this is false, but it certainly explains the circumstances.
His life was clearly spiraling. His wife was leaving him, which explains his month long stay in a hotel close to his house.
Sad all around.
His life was clearly spiraling. His wife was leaving him, which explains his month long stay in a hotel close to his house.
Sad all around.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30923265/nfl-increases-2021-salary-cap-minimum-180-million
Cap will now be no less than 180M. Article claims that without this floor it would have been around 160M and the 20M gap will be dealt with by reducing the cap in future years. Number not finalized yet since they are still negotiating how that will work.
Cap will now be no less than 180M. Article claims that without this floor it would have been around 160M and the 20M gap will be dealt with by reducing the cap in future years. Number not finalized yet since they are still negotiating how that will work.
Packers are probably the most direct path to a Super Bowl...and would be a homecoming...but would also likely pay the least.
I don't think the Bills can pay him all that much either.
They're relatively close to the cap. They already lost Matt Milano to free agency, who leaves a big gap in the defense. There are some potential cuts they can make along the interior d-line to save some money. My understanding is that they could clear a bunch of cap room by cutting Jerry Hughes, but they kind of need to retain him if the idea is to upgrade the pass rush. John Brown will get cut for substantial savings, but I think they will need to spread that money to fill other holes.
As much as the Bills need to get pressure on the passer, I don't know that their problems are solved by Watt unless he is taking a discount in order to win a championship. If he is doing that, the Packers make more sense to me.
Soon they need to extend Allen as well. That may be less of a problem if the cap rebounds in 2022.
They're relatively close to the cap. They already lost Matt Milano to free agency, who leaves a big gap in the defense. There are some potential cuts they can make along the interior d-line to save some money. My understanding is that they could clear a bunch of cap room by cutting Jerry Hughes, but they kind of need to retain him if the idea is to upgrade the pass rush. John Brown will get cut for substantial savings, but I think they will need to spread that money to fill other holes.
As much as the Bills need to get pressure on the passer, I don't know that their problems are solved by Watt unless he is taking a discount in order to win a championship. If he is doing that, the Packers make more sense to me.
Soon they need to extend Allen as well. That may be less of a problem if the cap rebounds in 2022.
We very rarely see a true hometown story in sports, but he did grow up in Pewaukee, WI and go to school at UW.
He is an interesting case. He is young and very talented, but probably wants a new deal in addition to moving to LT. He has been a beast as a RT, and almost every team would want him. Can't recall someone wanting out before solely because they wanted to play on a particular side. Is there really that big of a difference? Does he want a year spent at LT so he can get LT money, which I presume is bigger than RT money?
It's about the salary.
The highest paid RT in the league makes $18m a season. The top 5 LT salaries average about $20m a season (average top 5 RT is about $14m.)
Theres 18 LTs making 8 figures a season. Theres 6 RTs making 8 figures.
Theres more money to be had from the top down at LT. It's as simple as that. And it's the right move for him. Guys an animal and will be a top 10 LT immediately. Its smart business.
Adam Humphries cut by the Titans. I'd set even odds that he ends up in a Patriot uniform this Fall
View: https://twitter.com/Tennessean/status/1365055867461206026
View: https://twitter.com/Tennessean/status/1365055867461206026
He’d be a nice Edelman replacement (I’m assuming Pats do Edelman a solid and trade/release him).
Only got 82 targets in 2 years. I think he can still play but Tennessee really didn't use him. I wouldn't go nuts signing him or anything but I don't see why he can't get back to his Tampa form (assuming Pats have a functioning QB).
Couldn't stay healthy and didn't look like the same guy. Also, you miss 10 games with concussions in a year and I'm not much interested, that's not usually a recipe for success even if he didn't have the other injury issues.
Superficially, but Humphries has been pretty efficient on a per-target (73% catch rate, 7.3 yards per target) and a per-snap (602 receiving yards on, amazingly, exactly 602 snaps). He just a) has missed a lot of time with injury, b) has been buried behind two really good receivers in A.J. Brown and Corey Davis, c) played in an offense that ranked 31st and 30th in pass attempts the last two seasons.
There are valid questions about how he fits into an offense that already has a bunch of guys who do better in the middle of the field than on the outside.
EDIT: for reference, N'Keal is averaging ... 5.1 yards per target, 56% catch rate, and totalled 414 yards on 804 snaps. So he's a lot less efficient than Humphries (he is probably the least efficient receiver in the entire league over this span).
I wonder how the QB figures in here. If the QB is left-handed (Mia), doesn’t the RT position become the key spot as the blind side is there? Of course there are very few LH QBs outside of Tua.
Theoretically, yes, but if a team is going to draft/sign tackles based on their starting QBs handedness, I'd think theyd also have to assess other things like playcalling, play style, etc.
So, as an example: Steve Young was a lefty and the 49ers never had a stud RT to protect him. Those 49ers teams leveraged Youngs legs to run alot of bootlegs. As a lefty, the majority of bootlegs would have Young scrambling towards the left sideline. That actually made the left side of the line significantly more important than the right side of the line despite Young being a lefty.
The Browns, Chiefs, and Packers were 2nd, 3rd, and 6th in bootlegs this season. Mayfield, Mahomes, and Rodgers are all right handed. It's not a coincidence that they have the 2nd, 5th, and 6th highest paid RTs in the league.
In other words, theres more to it then just lefty/righty. But, because of the amount of righties in the league, and because of the amount of traditional dropbacks, LT remains the king of the castle for salary.
This is a fantastic post.
Offensive Line and running back are my favorite position groups to scout.
You need a good RT and LT these days. I asked Brandon Thorn in particular about Onwenu and his situation. Should he be a guard or tackle? Here’s the skinny. Thorn says he is fine/good/sturdy at RT. He reminds Thorn of Cannon when Cannon was good. The biggest issue with Onwenu is a false step and being vulnerable to counters inside or out (usually inside). That’s fixable and one of the more common issues with OTs coming out. Wirfs had that issue himself and Wirfs is an athletic freak and not just a pure power OT. Onwenu’s full potential though is unlocked at guard but having a 6th round pick be your starting RT is 1) phenomenal and 2) saves a lot of money.
One of the arguments Super Nomario has made wrt to if they should re-sign Thuney is that if they have Wynn and Onwenu bookending that line they can afford to spend more on the IOL. I was 50/50 with that proposition. I actually am leaning more in favor of it lately unless Thuney wants an 18m+ deal. What can I say... your relentless logic has persuaded me. I guess I am 55/45 in favor of re-signing the big guy. I believe if they want to go with a rookie QB they need to give that guy a strong OL. Thuney is one of the best all-around guards in the league. If they re-signed Andrew’s you’d have once again one of the best OLs next year and still be able to afford a WR and a TE upgrade.
I also like keeping your best home grown talent and rewarding a team player and model citizen like Thuney and JCJ with fair/good deals for them. That’s good for the culture.
I think the distinction between blindside and not blindside was more significant 15-20 years ago. Operating primarily out of shotgun, particularly on passing downs, QB have a broader field of vision and there's no real "blind" side. And so many of the top rushers work against the RT nowadays. I think the difference is much smaller than it used to be. You really can't afford to be weak at either tackle spot, or anywhere on the OL for that matter.
Rosenthal, nfl.com, lists his Top 100 free agents
https://www.nfl.com/news/top-101-nfl-free-agents-of-2021-who-are-the-best-players-available
https://www.nfl.com/news/top-101-nfl-free-agents-of-2021-who-are-the-best-players-available
Watt to the Cardinals.
View: https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1366445644185964549?s=21
“Cardinals are giving J.J. Watt a two-year, $31 million deal that includes $23 million guaranteed, per source.”
View: https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1366445644185964549?s=21
“Cardinals are giving J.J. Watt a two-year, $31 million deal that includes $23 million guaranteed, per source.”
Not that I am surprised that NFL reporting was wrong, but that is out of left field, no?
Well, Hopkins is there and I think they got along well in Houston. I would bet he played a big role here.