Category: League News

Cowboys WR Michael Gallup won’t play in season opener vs. Bucs

The Dallas Cowboys won’t have wide receiver Michael Gallup back from his knee injury for Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When the Dallas Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to kick off the 2022 NFL regular season, they’ll do so without one of their top offensive weapons.

Wide receiver Michael Gallup, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, told the media Thursday that playing in Week 1 is “not a reasonable possibility,” per USA TODAY Sports’ Jori Epstein.

Gallup is expected to have an expanded role in the Cowboys’ offense following the departure of Amari Cooper, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be ready to face the Bucs to open up the season.

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LOOK: Best photos from Ryan Fitzpatrick’s tenure with the Bucs

Now that Ryan Fitzpatrick is hanging up his cleats, check out some of the best photos from his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a 17-year career with nine different NFL teams, veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is hanging up his cleats.

Though he only spent two of those seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his tenure was among the most memorable of his career, with plenty of iconic moments that will be etched in the memory of Bucs fans forever.

Here are some of the best images from Fitzpatrick’s time in Tampa Bay:

Jordan Whitehead vents frustration with his role in Bucs defense

After signing with the New York Jets in free agency, Jordan Whitehead shares why he had grown frustrated with his role in Tampa Bay

One of the biggest names the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost this offseason was starting safety Jordan Whitehead, who signed with the New York Jets in free agency.

The Bucs reportedly didn’t even make an offer to Whitehead, and it appears his departure was mutual, as the former fourth-round pick out of Pitt recently vented his frustrations with his role in Tampa Bay’s defense.

“I’m a team player, but I was frustrated,” Whitehead told Mike Kaye of Pro Football Network. “I would come out on third down, sometimes. I just felt like I was making enough plays, and I was being a leader on the team. It just felt like I should have been in the game. … I’m a team player, and it’s a team-first mentality, but I definitely was frustrated. I think anybody would be.”

Whitehead was part of a young safety rotation that included Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards, both of whom have excelled at making big plays in coverage over the past few seasons.

Despite his frustrations in Tampa Bay, Whitehead credits Tampa Bay defensive coordinator-turned head coach Todd Bowles for helping him develop a commitment to good communication in the secondary.

“Each year in the league, I feel like [I’ve] been more comfortable communicating,” Whitehead told Kaye. “[Bowles] was big on his safeties, and he would be hard on us, and he would make sure we were talking. If we weren’t talking, he was going to say something. So, that was my biggest thing last year, being a vocal guy, communicating, getting the defense set up, and that’s what I stick to now. That’s part of my game. I want to make sure everyone is on the same page. If there’s a bust [in coverage], I put that on myself.”

Along with Winfield and Edwards, the Bucs added a pair of experienced veterans at safety this offseason in Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal, hoping to offset Whitehead’s departure.

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Don’t expect Antonio Brown to play for an NFL team in 2022

After his 2021 season ended with a dramatic, mid-game departure, Antonio Brown doesn’t expect to play for an NFL team this year

Once one of the NFL’s most productive pass-catchers, former All-Pro wide receiver won’t be hitting the field again anytime soon.

After his 2021 season came to a dramatic halt in the middle of a game, Brown said in an interview during a Fan Controlled Football League game that nobody should expect him to play in 2022.

Brown ended his brief tenure in Tampa Bay with a dramatic, mid-game exit, taking off most of his uniform and equipment and jogging across the field in the middle of a play as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers mounted an epic comeback win over the New York Jets.

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Tom Brady’s return forced NFL schedule-makers to ‘start all over’

When the GOAT ended his brief “retirement,” it forced the NFL’s schedule-making process to go back to square one

When Tom Brady decided to end his “retirement” after just 41 days, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans were understandably thrilled.

That sentiment likely wasn’t shared across the rest of the league, including by those who are tasked with the massive challenge of creating the league’s reguar-seasons schedule.

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times recently spoke with NFL broadcasting chief Howard Katz, who admitted that while Brady’s return helped bring some weight back to the NFC’s 2022 slate, it did force a restart on the whole project (via Joe Bucs Fan):

“When Tom Brady retired, we were concerned about the strength of the NFC package because there were so many terrific Tampa Bay games we were looking at,” Katz said. “Then a month later he un-retires and we sort of started all over again.”

Even without Brady, the Bucs would have had a strong roster on both sides of the ball this season, but they were likely headed for plenty more 1 p.m. games on Sunday afternoons with anyone else at quarterback. Once Brady made his about-face, it looks like the league had to make one of their own.

When the NFL unveils the schedule Thursday night, don’t be surprised if Brady and the Bucs are heavily featured, with plenty of nationally televised slots and prime-time matchups.

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Richard Sherman leaving the football field for the TV booth?

All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman might be handing in his cleats for a headset this season

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Richard Sherman might be turning in his cleats for a headset this season.

The All-Pro defender is in “deep talks” with Amazon for a significant role in their NFL programming for the upcoming 2022 season, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Sherman will continue to stay in shape in case the opportunity to return to the field presents itself, Rapoport added.

After signing with the Bucs in Week 4 of last season, Sherman struggled to stay healthy throughout the year, but still provided valuable insight for Tampa Bay’s young secondary unit.

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Former Bucs WR Antonio Brown calls Colin Kaepernick ‘trash’

See what former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown had to say about Colin Kaepernick

Antonio Brown’s departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was memorable, but now he’s making headlines with his comments about another former player who doesn’t seem to have much interested from NFL teams.

Appearing on “Cigar Talk,” the former Bucs wide receiver was asked about Colin Kaepernick, who hasn’t played in the NFL since his peaceful protests against racism and police brutality, and AB didn’t hold back (via TMZ Sports).

Brown called Kaepernick “trash” in regards to his on-field play, criticizing his decision to take a financial settlement from the NFL back in 2019, among other things.

Here’s some of what Brown had to say, via TMZ Sports:

“All that is cap,” Brown said. “We ain’t respecting that, bro. You took the money, the commercials. We don’t see you outside. We don’t see him in the hood. He don’t do nothing. Like, we cool. But, nah, we ain’t even stan Kaepernick.”

Brown continued, “He not even from the hood. He haven’t even been in the trenches. We like Kaepernick and all, but we ain’t really on that.”

AB went on to wonder out loud how much Kaepernick has really done for those in need.

“He built a foundation,” Brown said. “What it do, though? I’m being real. What superhero he enforce? Who he put on? Who he help?”

After signing with the Bucs halfway through the 2020 season and winning Super Bowl LV, Brown’s tenure in Tampa Bay came to a dramatic end when he left in the middle of a game last season following a sideline outburst.

Brown subsequently claimed mistreatment by the Bucs in regards to an ankle injury he was dealing with at the time of his departure, while head coach Bruce Arians claims the situation arose because Brown was frustrated with a lack of passes coming his way.

Since being released by the San Francisco 49ers following the 2016 season, Kaepernick has maintained that he still wants to play in the NFL, most recently holding workouts at Michigan’s spring game, and with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

Kaepernick and Brown both remain unsigned by NFL teams.

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Commanders’ dysfunction continues to be a distraction

Another day of drama for the Washington Commanders.

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Mike Florio and Chris Simms responded Tuesday on Pro Football Talk to the Washington Commanders’ statement:

“There has been absolutely no withholding of ticket revenue at any time. Those revenues are subject to independent audits by multiple parties. Anyone who offered testimony suggesting a withholding of revenue has committed perjury, plain and simple.”

Jason Friedman recently made the allegation and also recently testified before the Committee of Oversight and Reform. Friedman’s attorney, Lisa Banks then responded to the Commanders’ statement:

Florio: “Let this guy tell his story, Washington Commanders. If he is wrong and tells his story publicly, sue him for defamation…If he wants to speak publicly, let him do it, at his own legal peril, if he is telling a lie about the Commanders…Let’s go, let’s find out, let’s see the evidence, let’s hear the testimony. Let’s see whether or not there is something to this.”

Simms: “It’s unbelievable where Washington is; it seems they have enemies in every corner. You get the feeling they have mistreated and not been great to people for so long it seems the pied piper has finally come home. Karma is here; it is like the payback. It is dysfunctional to say the least down there (DC). If this is found to be true, Holy Cow, see you later Dan Snyder.”

Florio: “How can the league not be looking into this? If you are the NFL and this lands on your radar screen unexpectedly…maybe the league doesn’t want to look into this because they were supposed to catch it.”

Simms: “Maybe the NFL doesn’t even want to be associated with Washington right now. Let them deal with this crap, the releasing of the statement, let it all pile on them right now.”

Florio: “Yes, good point. Right now it is crumbling, and we are just going to let it keep crumbling. We are not going to help, we are not going to throw a life line. We are not going to make it worse, we are not going to make it better. Right now, we are just going to let it happen.”

The ongoing chaos is good for us (media) but it is not good for the league. Every day it is something with the Commanders… At a certain point, this is not good for anybody.”

Simms: “I know all this is allegedly, but there is a point where this is not helping the NFL in any way, shape or form. It’s not. It looks horrible right now. With Washington it’s gotten to the point where (I was with the Rodgers and Brady stories) would you just go away? I am so sick and tired of talking about them every day…Holy Cow, Washington is a disaster.”

Florio: “The only person who probably likes this is Jerry Jones since no one is paying the kind of attention to the things that have been going on with the Cowboys that they normally would be. It is a nice distraction.”

 

Did the Commanders overpay in their trade for Carson Wentz?

The cost of acquiring a quarterback is high, but did the Commanders overpay for Carson Wentz?

The quarterback market is heating up, with teams giving up draft picks for passers in the last two days. After the Broncos landed Russell Wilson from Seattle, the Washington Commanders – despite multiple red flags – struck a deal for Indianapolis Colts QB Carson Wentz.

ESPN’ Adam Schefter is reporting the terms of the trade and clearly, the Colts wanted to get rid of their quarterback. Yet, Washington was willing to part with third-round picks in 2022 and 2023, and will move down five spots in the second round, too.

It was certainly public knowledge that former Eagles offensive coordinator and current Colts head coach Frank Reich loved Wentz, resulting in Wentz being traded from Philadelphia to Indianapolis last offseason.

Red flag alert!

After only one season with Wentz in Indy, there was Reich – just one week ago – refusing to say he was committed to Wentz for any future seasons. Reich was indirectly informing his fellow NFL competitors that he was making Wentz available.

Another red flag.

Now, only one day after losing out on Wilson, why have Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew reacted so quickly to take on the contract of Wentz, while giving up multiple valuable draft choices?

Have they overreacted here in trading so soon for a quarterback that has been anything but impressive his last two seasons?

After losing Wilson yesterday, it seems they were on the rebound to make a move now and thus overpaid.

Entering the third season of his contract, Rivera might be feeling the pressure to win now at the cost of future roster-building through the draft. And based on what we saw from Wentz the last two seasons, his value has noticeably declined.

How did Rivera and Mayhew draw the conclusion that Wentz is such an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke, that they made this type of deal?

I can’t believe I just wrote about this two days ago in how important it is to not present yourself as desperate in negotiations. Yes, Rivera has the right to make the trade, but with all the obvious red flags, what happens if he is wrong on this trade?

Washington great Charley Taylor dies

Washington great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Taylor dies at age 80.

Pro Hall of Famer and Washington Redskins great Charley Taylor has died at the age of 80 (1941-2022).

Taylor spent his entire 14-year career with Washington (1964-1977), drafted in the first round (3rd overall) of the 1964 NFL draft from Arizona State.

Taylor finished his career as the all-time NFL leader in receptions (649), was first-team All-Pro in 1967, an eight-time Pro Bowler, voted to the All-1960’s team, and enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 1984 class.

He concluded his career amassing 9,110 receiving yards and 79 touchdowns with Washington. Though Taylor never played in a 16-game regular season, he still remains second in franchise history in receptions (649) and receiving yards (9,110) and has the most receiving touchdowns (79) in Washington history. Taylor also rushed 442 times for 1,488 yards and 11 touchdowns overall.

Wearing No. 42 his entire Redskins career, Taylor was drafted as a running back and excelled out of the backfield as a receiver his first few years in Washington. During his rookie 1964 season, Taylor accumulated 1,569 yards from scrimmage (755 rushing, 814 receiving) becoming the first player in NFL history to gain 700 yards both rushing and receiving and was voted the Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year.

The former Arizona State Sun Devil led the NFL in receptions in the 1966 and 1967 seasons. He was moved full-time to wide receiver beginning in the 1967 season.

Taylor would conclude his NFL career, serving on Joe Gibbs’ Washington Redskins coaching staff as wide receivers coach (1981-1993).