Football Page 734 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Cam Newton’s odds of being signed are looking up now that he’s vaccinated
Former MVP Cam Newton hasn’t stepped foot on an NFL field since he was released by the New England Patriots just days before the regular season. Now that Newton is vaccinated, it seems his chances of catching on with a team this season may have increased....

Like a comet streaking across the sky, a rare look into the personable side of Nick Saban
For the second time this season, we’ve been privileged to get a glimpse into the part of Alabama coach Nick Saban that’s not a myopic, grumpy, brooding football coach. In September, Alabama safety Jordan Battle told the media that Saban loves a good “deez nuts” joke, much to the chagrin of what soun...

<i>Thursday Night Football: </i>Broncos need to show they can be better than mediocre
The Browns and the Broncos play tonight in Ohio in what might be one of the most mediocre Thursday night matchups that we’ll see all season....

Dolphins must give Tua a real chance before staining franchise with Deshaun Watson trade
The Dolphins are 1-5 and very much not the team pundits and oddsmakers thought they would be (they need to go 9-2 the rest of the way to hit that 9.5 O/U win total). A large part of that is that second-year QB and alleged franchise savior Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t lived up to expectations....

In a world of esoteric NFL stats, injuries notably absent
On Sunday night, Seahawks’ lineman Darrell Taylor went in for a tackle and ended up motionless on the field. It was a frightening moment in a sport filled with injuries. The very real threat of a concussion is ever-present in the NFL, along with less-likely injuries like paralysis or even death....

I thought J.J. Watt wasn’t trying to win
J.J. Watt could’ve gone to just about any team he wanted in free agency last year. At age 32 and in his 11th year in the league, it’s more probable than not that he’s entered the twilight of his career, but with three DPOY awards under his belt, anyone would’ve taken him....

The injury bug is coming for the Cleveland Browns’ season
In private moments everyone on the team has to have looked up at the sky at least once and asked, why?...

The Vikings are, in fact, <em>NOT</em> 'chokers'
What is choking? Choking is the belief that a certain team or player cannot hold a lead. They cannot win close games, and almost anytime a win is being handed to them on a silver platter, they cannot finish their opponents off. ...

Nick Rolovich would like everyone to know he feels very persecuted
Much to Washington State’s chagrin, their Nick Rolovich troubles aren’t over yet (and that doesn’t even count his 5-6 record with the Cougars). After Rolovich received several warnings from the Washington State University administration and athletic department that he would be removed as head coach ...

Turns out Jamal Adams wasn’t saying HE was the best in the nation
The most recent Sunday Night Football matchup featured the Russell Wilson-less Seahawks taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The game itself was nothing special as the Steelers managed to squeak by the injury-riddled Seahawks 23-20 in overtime. Aside from the weird fumble play that happ...

Turnover (fill-in-the-blanks) have officially jumped the shark, which is so perfectly Vegas
I’ll admit — when Miami’s turnover chain was introduced in 2017, it was cool. Undoubtedly, definitely, undeniably cool. The Hurricanes were a solid team that year at 10-3, and as a freshman at Notre Dame, it was just incredibly demoralizing to watch them pull out the chain: not once… not twice… but ...

The Chiefs desperately need Josh Gordon to work out
In the first two games of the Josh Gordon era in Kansas City, there haven’t been many opportunities for him to shine on the field. In limited time, Gordon has one catch in two games for 11 yards. I guess it’s safe to say Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is bringing him along slowly. ...

Do your worst, Jeremy Pruitt, because no one cares about violations or the NCAA anymore
Complaining about college athletics being crooked is as pointless as bitching about New York streets being dirty. So when yet another “bombshell” is rumored — say former University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt threatening to expose the athletic program in a lawsuit that “could ensnare the p...

The Bills went for the win on Monday night, and don’t you dare judge them because it didn’t work out
The old saying, “playing not to lose, instead of playing to win,” was used in some of the most hypocritical ways in the past. It was used in football to shame teams that jump in the prevent defense too early, or run the ball three consecutive plays when leading at the end of a game to try and run ou...

Bret Bielema offers us a crash course in 'How to Lose your Locker Room' 101
Most people will tell you that one of the keys to any good relationship is honesty. Honesty builds trust. Trust builds connection. Connection builds loyalty. When it comes to being a football coach though, maybe honesty isn’t the route you should always take. ...

Rookie QB rankings: Trevor Lawrence officially arrives
The 2021 draft class will be a focal point of the NFL for years to come. It yielded some quarterbacks who have a chance to make a significant impact on their franchises this season and beyond....

It's the Same Old Lions
It’s a Trash Talking Tuesday on Deadspin, and today I’m trashing the Detroit Lions....

Who will succeed Bill Belichick/Logan Roy?
“Succession” is back, and everyone is amped to glorify rich assholes again. The fervor for its highly anticipated return is usually reserved for things like the McRib, mask-free vacations (still waiting on this one), the “Spider-Man: No Way Home” trailer or, as this post would have it, the NFL seaso...

Odell Beckham Jr. to the Packers?!
An intriguing trade was proposed recently on First Take by Stephen A. Smith, where he lobbied for the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns to make a deal that teams Odell Beckham Jr. with Aaron Rodgers. Ultimately, I know this comes down to Smith wishing for anything that might knock the Dallas Co...

The SEC has no idea what fines are for
In the aftermath of the garbage storm at Neyland Stadium that sent players and cheerleaders alike running from the sidelines — and saw Lane Kiffin embrace his inner Odell Beckham, Jr. — the SEC announced on Monday that the University of Tennessee would be fined $250,000 for their fans’ behavior duri...