QB Cam Newton could bring intrigue back to the Texans

Cam Newton is on the open market. What could the former Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots QB bring to the Houston Texans?

The Houston Texans’ 53-man roster is officially set for the 2021 campaign. Houston will embark on their new season next Sunday, Sept. 12, against the Jacksonville Jaguars as almost entirely new-look squad compared to last year.

Tyrod Taylor has been brought in to replace Deshaun Watson amidst a myriad of trade demands and pending litigation. Free agent acquisitions Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay are both listed ahead of the incumbent David Johnson at the running back position. Brandin Cooks projects to line up next to Nico Collins and Anthony Miller with the respective departures of Will Fuller and Keke Coutee.

A new general manager, new coaching staff ,and new faces litter the offense. Never before has all the new felt so old and uninspiring.

The Texans project to be one of the least dynamic offenses in the NFL. David Culley has preached that they’re committed to running the ball whenever possible and Taylor is notorious for running an efficient, conservative passing offense when he takes the helm.

For a talent deficient roster, this strategy may ultimately pass for Houston in the form of four to five wins this season. However, it is one that may leave many fans opting to watch other team’s dynamic talents and schematic prowess across the league.

This morning, in a bit of a shocking move, the New England Patriots released quarterback Cam Newton. The former 2015 NFL MVP, who was the Patriot’s unquestioned starter in 2020, was expected to be the veteran presence in New England and quarterback the team until their rookie quarterback, Mac Jones, was ready to take over.

The move signaled to the NFL and their own locker room an unwavering confidence in Jones, the 15th overall selection, to lead the team through the season while casting a large shadow over Newton’s ability to start at age 32. His advancing age, questionable ball placement, and vaccine hesitancy may have no place in the NFL in 2021.

Newton is largely considered to have declined since his 2015 season with the Carolina Panthers’ after a multitude of injuries. Last season he threw only 8 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while adding an additional 12 touchdowns on the ground for the Patriots.

Despite any concerns about his age, this represents a unique opportunity for the 2021 Houston Texans. The opportunity to be interesting again.

Newton represents a low risk, high upside signing for the Texans. A talent that could add another layer to a team committed to running the ball while providing only a moderate drop off in passing efficiency from Taylor.

In 2020, he completed 66% of his passes, Taylor in his last full season in Buffalo completed 63%. Newton’s legs would create confusion for opposing defenses and generate additional running lanes for Phillip Lindsay, Mark Ingram, or whoever is lining up in the backfield.

This may be unlikely to happen considering how late into the off-season Newton’s release has occurred and with Culley again and again preaching his comfort with Taylor running the offense. However, there’s no debate, the Texans’ have an opportunity to be interesting again on offense beyond the simple development of their third-round wideout in Nico Collins.

If you’re going to land a top-5 pick, you may as well have fun doing it. Houston has a chance to fill seats, draw better viewership, all while maintaining their commitment to mediocrity for 2021.

Time will tell if Nick Caserio takes the bait.

Building a 16-player practice squad for Packers after final cuts

How might the Packers build their 16-player practice squad after final cuts?

The Green Bay Packers cut their roster down to 53 players – actually, all the way to 52, but new punter Corey Bojorquez is on the way – on Tuesday afternoon.

While 27 players were cut, a good chunk of them will return to the Packers on the practice squad. All players waived Tuesday cut must first pass through waivers on Wednesday before agreeing to sign back on the practice squad.

Here’s an attempt to build out the ideal 16-player practice squad. Note, assumptions must be made about clearing waivers and also the players actually wanting to return on the practice squad. A player might also want to pursue a better opportunity on a different practice squad.

Offense

QB Kurt Benkert: Ideal third quarterback to stash on the practice squad.
RB Patrick Taylor: Strong all-around skillset. Worth developing.
WR Juwann Winfree: Offseason workout program star just needs to get healthy.
WR Reggie Begelton: Former CFL all-star earned another year in Green Bay with a strong summer.
TE Bronson Kaufusi: Still learning to play tight end, but a strong run blocker.
OL Ben Braden: Might get claimed. Has valuable guard-tackle versatility.
OL Cole Van Lanen: Needs to find a position (right tackle?) but has good, quick feet.
OL Coy Cronk: Experienced collegiate left tackle with traits to develop.

Defense

DL Anderson Abdullah: Experienced interior lineman with size and pass-rushing potential.
OLB Tipa Galeai: Explosive mover but needs to get bigger and stronger.
ILB Ray Wilborn: Flew around the field all summer. Coverage potential.
CB Kabion Ento: Just needs to become a better tackler.
CB Stephen Denmark: Team probably wants a longer look after strong debut in Buffalo.
S Christian Uphoff: Big, and athletic. Just needs time to develop.
S Innis Gaines: Can run and hit, but needs to learn to play under control.

Special teams

K JJ Molson: Good idea to stash a kicker in case anything happens to the soon-to-be 37-year-old Mason Crosby.

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Tuesday Tiger Talk: Prime Time Showdown

Game week is underway and so are the interviews with the Clemson coaches and players as they prepare for the showdown with Georgia. In this week’s edition of Tuesday Tiger Talk Robert, Davis and Sam discuss the highlights from Monday and Tuesday’s …

Game week is underway and so are the interviews with the Clemson coaches and players as they prepare for the showdown with Georgia.

In this week’s edition of Tuesday Tiger Talk Robert, Davis and Sam discuss the highlights from Monday and Tuesday’s press conferences:

Other 49ers roster moves on day of final cuts

It wasn’t all cuts for the #49ers on Tuesday. Here are a handful of other roster moves they announced:

The San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday announced their moves to trim their 80-man preseason roster down to the required 53 players.

They released or waived 23 players, and opened the remaining roster spots via other means.

We kept track of all the cuts here. The initial 53-man roster can be found here. These are the other movies they announced Tuesday and what they mean moving forward:

5 most surprising players cut by Washington

While there were no major shockers on Tuesday, here are five moves that could be considered the most surprising.

The Washington Football Team released 27 players over the last two days to meet the league-mandated 53-man roster by Tuesday afternoon.

For the most part, there were no surprises. On Monday, Washington released 10 players, none of which were a surprise. However, on Tuesday, the Football Team released five players who were a bit of a surprise.

The bigger surprises may be Washington keeping just four linebackers on the initial 53-man roster than the actual players released.

Here are five players whose releases could be considered the most surprising on Tuesday.

 

Charania: Cleveland Cavs to sign Celtics big man Tacko Fall to 1-year deal

The beloved center will take his talents to Ohio.

The Tacko Fall era for the Boston Celtics has officially ended with word from The Athletic’s Shams Charania that the Cleveland Cavaliers will sign the University of Central Florida product to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal.

The 7-foot-5 big man is a fan favorite in Boston but looked likely to move on with the team not electing to bring the Senegalese center back after two seasons with the team on two way deals. Fall signed with the Celtics as an undrafted player in 2019 and has averaged 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and nearly a block per game with the team over his tenure with the Celtics.

The 7-foot-5 fan favorite will be missed in Boston by fans and his teammates alike, with his gregarious nature winning over the hearts of many Boston fans almost from the day of his initial signing with the team

With so many big men on the Cavs roster, Fall will have to fight to see floor time barring moves from Cleveland to clear up their frontcourt, but it’s nice to see the Dakar native continue to have a shot at sticking in the league.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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The Ravens have waived former Penn State QB Trace McSorley

Former Penn State QB Trace McSorley failed to make the final cut with the Baltimore Ravens

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One of the top quarterbacks in Penn State history is now on the free-agent market in the NFL. Trace McSorley was among the many players around the National Football League to learn they will not be included on their team’s 53-man active roster at the start of the 2021 NFL season. The Baltimore Ravens officially waived McSorley on Tuesday as the deadline for final roster cuts approached.

It should not take long for McSorley to be on an NFL payroll somewhere though, and there is still a chance the Ravens will manage to keep the former Nittany Lion in the mix.

McSorley did battle some back injury concerns during Ravens preseason, but he had seemed like a solid backup option to Lamar Jackson. But the Ravens obviously feel comfortable with using Tyler Huntley as a primary backup to their MVP-caliber franchise quarterback.

McSorley was one of a handful of Nittany Lions officially being cut as teams trimmed down to 53 players on Tuesday. Grant Haley was waived by the New Orleans Saints. Cornerback John Reid, a week after being obtained in a trade from the Houston Texans, was also waived by the Seattle Seahawks.

We will wait to see where these players and others end up as the season approaches.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and Like our page on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage.

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Clemson picks up new 2023 commitment

Clemson added a new verbal commitment Tuesday from a prospect in the 2023 class. Princeton High School (Cincinnati, Ohio) infielder/righthanded pitcher Andrew Edrington has committed to the Tigers, his high school announced. Proud to announce that …

Clemson added a new verbal commitment Tuesday from a prospect in the 2023 class.

Princeton High School (Cincinnati, Ohio) infielder/righthanded pitcher Andrew Edrington has committed to the Tigers, his high school announced.

Below is a few clips of Edrington:

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Josh Giddey posts old video at Ben Simmons camp

A young Josh Giddey attended a camp led by Sixers star Ben Simmons. He posted a short clip from the 2017 event:

Josh Giddey, part of the NBA’s newest class of athletes, unearthed an old video of himself at the basketball camp of Ben Simmons.

Giddey is one of the unique few players who attended these camps to have reached the NBA. Simmons, who was born in Melbourne, Australia just like Giddey, hosts the camps in their birth town and in Sydney.

The camp has been active since 2017 and hosts 1,400 kids total, according to the website.

Giddey said the video of him on the court was from four years ago, which possibly means that he attended Simmons’ very first basketball camp in Australia.

In fact, the website also shows a picture of players at a camp. It’s unclear what year it was, but there’s a chance a young Giddey is in it.

(Photo: https://www.bensimmons.co/camp)

Giddey is one of three active Australian NBA players who are younger than Simmons, according to Real GM. The other two are Dallas Mavericks wing Josh Green and Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle, a teammate of Simmons.

The two might not be teammates for much longer. The Sixers have reportedly discussing trades that would ship out the Australian star, but nothing has come to avail due to an unwillingness from other teams to meet the high asking price. However, Simmons told the team he will not report to camp, will likely force the Sixers to lower the return value they are seeking and expedite a deal, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Keith Pompey reported Tuesday.

While one Australian is on joining a brand new team, another may be on the move from his old.

Urban Meyer continues to prove he’s in over his head with vaccination comments

Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer made another critical mistake on Tuesday. It wasn’t his first, and it probably won’t be his last.

As we discovered when the Patriots released Cam Newton on Tuesday morning, a player’s vaccination status is more likely than not a consideration when deciding whether to keep that player on the roster if that player is anywhere near the roster bubble. Of course, Bill Belichick didn’t come right out and say that about Newton, because he’s well aware that there’s an agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA which stipulates that a player’s vaccination status can’t be a part of that decision. Whether it is or not, you don’t say it is. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, and all that.

Most NFL coaches understand this, which is why when pressed, they all say some variant of the same thing — vaccination is a player’s decision, it’s a personal decision, and it’s not up to the coach to interfere. Whether the coach believes it or not, and if you think any coach is happy about a COVID wave messing up his roster and his coaching staff, you are obviously mistaken.

Still, NFL coaches understand the game, and they play along. Unless that coach’s name is Urban Meyer.

On Tuesday afternoon, during a press conference in which he was going over the Jaguars’ decisions to get their roster down to the league-mandated 53, Jacksonville’s head coach came right out and said the quiet part out loud.

“Everyone was considered,” Meyer said, when asked if vaccinated players had more of a positive consideration. “That was part of the production, let’s start talking about this, and then also is he vaccinated or not. Can I say that that was a decision maker? It was certainly in consideration.”

Later in the press conference, when asked about the NFL’s disciplinary measures for unvaccinated players, Meyer doubled down in the case of edge-rusher Josh Allen.

“Josh Allen’s never had it and he’s not played in two weeks. 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.”

If you don’t know whether you’re allowed to say it, coach… don’t say it.

As to whether Meyer and his staff thought about vaccination status as a tiebreaker? Well, of course they did. Every team does. But again, you don’t say it, because you then run afoul of the NFLPA. Which Meyer has now done.

So, Bills general manager Brandon Beane has already been called on the carpet about this, which makes Meyer’s mishandling of this situation even weirder.

Meyer, who is in his first year in the NFL after an estimable career in college that started in 1986 when he was a graduate assistant at Ohio State, doesn’t seem to understand that in the NFL, coaches are held accountable for their words and actions in ways that NCAA coaches simply aren’t.

This is the same Urban Meyer who tried to hire former Iowa strength coach Chris Doyle back in February, despite Doyle’s long and well-documented history of racist behavior.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz suspends coach after ex-players speak about racial inequity

“Yeah, I’ve known Chris for close to 20 years,” Meyer said by way of explanation. “Our relationship goes back to when I was at Utah and he was the No. 1 strength coach, and really he was doing sports performance before sports performance became a high priority in college sports, and so I’ve known him, I’ve studied him, we’ve had a relationship.

“I vetted him thoroughly, along with our general manager and owner. I feel great about the hire, about his expertise at that position.”

When Meyer was asked if he made that call with any hesitation or additional research? Well…

“I vet everyone on our staff, and the relationship goes back close to 20 years, and a lot of hard questions asked, a lot of vetting involved with all our staff, but we did a very good job vetting that one.”

Vet, vet, vet. Well, the vetting didn’t work out, as Doyle resigned soon after.

“Chris Doyle came to us this evening to submit his resignation and we have accepted,” coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke said in a joint statement, which was amended to include Baalke’s name after the team said it had been inadvertently left off. “Chris did not want to be a distraction to what we are building in Jacksonville. We are responsible for all aspects of our program and, in retrospect, should have given greater consideration to how his appointment may have affected all involved. We wish him the best as he moves forward in his career.”

Frankly, we’re surprised the statement wasn’t issued in Comic Sans.

Meyer was a highly successful head coach in college, but he also left behind a litany of scandals he was able to push through for the most part because he was highly successful, and because most of the media covering him couldn’t get past deifying him for whatever reason.

The NFL is different, as many college coaches have discovered. Players aren’t unionized at that level, and media knows exactly where the power lies, which is why coaches and athletic directors are given free passes all the time for their behavior.

So, this is the latest mistake in less than a year for Urban Meyer at the NFL level, and one for which he may be held accountable. That will be a new sensation for him, and he should do his best to pay attention to the feeling if he wants to have a hope of succeeding at the NFL level.