NFL free agency: Texans mostly sit out Day 1 as big names sign elsewhere

The Houston Texans passed on big names like Saquon Barkley for cheaper contracts to fill depth needed on the first day of free agency.

While many NFL teams made big splashes off the diving board on the first unofficial day of free agency with cannonball-type jumps into the proverbial swimming pool’s deep end, the Houston Texans stood in the shallow end and watched.

Day 1 of the “legal tampering period,” a rule implemented in 2012 that allowed teams to start negotiations with unrestricted free agents before the official start of the league year, began on Monday at 12 p.m. ET. And for Texans general manager Nick Caserio, it seemed like he may not have changed his clock over the weekend to reflect daylight savings time.

The Texans were supposed to be a team to watch during free agency, with more than $65 million in salary cap space to spend. Yet, they watched as big-name talents quickly evaporated as deal news after deal news broke on social media. None of the reported deals can be officially signed until March 13 at 4 p.m. ET.

Now, Houston didn’t need to negotiate with a player just because the fan base wanted him; these skilled players would have added value to a team that won the AFC South and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs. The Texans had the “run it back” mentality after their loss to the Baltimore Ravens to end their 2023 season, but to do that, they would need to add more pieces and retain some of their in-house talent.

With the cornerstones of the franchise in quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. still on rookie contracts, it made perfect sense to secure a deal with a player like running back Saquon Barkley, who fit offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s style perfectly along with wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell. But the Philadelphia Eagles outbid Caserio for Barkley’s services. And to add insult to injury, Barkley’s former team, the New York Giants, negotiated a deal for Texans’ 2023 leading rusher Devin Singletary, who finished the season with 898 rushing yards.

Houston also lost two huge locker room guys, linebacker Blake Cashman (104 tackles) and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (12.5), to the Minnesota Vikings before Caserio bolstered DeMeco Ryan’s defense with defensive end Denico Autry (11.5 sacks) and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (163 tackles).

Those two additions were much needed for Caserio to save face after his lackluster moves throughout the day, including bringing back former Texans defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. and re-signing wide receiver Noah Brown. This infuriated the fan base, who continued to watch what they considered better talent head to AFC rivals.

Day 2 may bring about some excitement. Running backs like Derrick Henry and Joe Mixon are still available, as other other impactful players like edge rusher Danielle Hunter and a few veteran safeties. But if Caserio is unable to get any of those players to agree to come to Houston, the Texans social media team is going to have a hard time scrubbing the negative comments from the timeline.

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua embarrassed Francis Ngannou AND Tyson Fury with one KO

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua embarrassed Francis Ngannou AND Tyson Fury on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER AND LOSER
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury must’ve have been embarrassed on Friday night.

Anthony Joshua did what his countryman should’ve done when Fury fought Francis Ngannou in October, which was to demonstrate that an MMA fighter without boxing experience has no business in the ring with a top heavyweight.

Fury survived a knockdown to eke out a pathetic split decision victory in Saudi Arabia. Joshua annihilated Ngannou in the same country, dropping the Cameroonian three times and stopping him in the second round to build on his momentum and restore some honor to the sport.

The difference between Fury and Joshua in their respective fights with Ngannou?

Not complicated: Fury wasn’t professional, Joshua was.

Fury wasn’t prepared – mentally or physically, it seemed — when he stepped into the ring to face Ngannou, who had some experience in the gym early in his combat sports career but was making his professional boxing debut.

The WBC titleholder obviously thought he could defeat Ngannou just by showing up, a notion shared by many. That’s not how it’s done, however. Not even against a rookie.

Fury rallied from a third-round knockdown to outpoint Ngannou, a decision that wasn’t controversial if you understand how scoring works. However, the competitive nature of the bout was mortifying for both Fury and boxing.

Joshua clearly prepared for his meeting with Ngannou as he would any big fight. When he stepped through the ropes, he was at his best. And the former two-time champion’s best was far too good for Ngannou.

Many of those who care about boxing probably had the same thought after they celebrated the slaughter: Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) should’ve done exactly the same thing against Ngannou.

The fact he didn’t, the fact he struggled merely to have his hand raised against a newbie is a blot on his resume. It also changed my perception of him. I had predicted that he would beat the crafty, but much smaller Oleksandr Usyk handily when they meet for the undisputed championship on May 18, also in Saudi Arabia

Now I’m not so sure. Now I see it as a 50-50 fight, which shouldn’t be the case given Fury’s ability and massive size advantage.

Of course, the blessing for Fury is that he has a golden opportunity to redeem himself immediately, as a victory over Usyk would do. We’ll see which Fury shows up: the wonderfully athletic, skillful behemoth of the past or the disappointment who fell flat against Ngannou.

Meanwhile, Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) is on a tear. He’s now 4-0 since his back-to-back setbacks against Usyk in 2021 and 2022 — including consecutive knockouts of Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and now Ngannou — and bursting with confidence.

I and many others thought Joshua was in the last throes of his elite career after the Usyk losses. Now I have had to rethink that notion, too. The way he has performed of late has me convinced that the 34-year-old once again has the tools to beat anyone in the game.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

I don’t mean to be too hard on Ngannou. He deserves credit for his performance against Fury. He, unlike Fury, trained to be at his best and that paid off in the form of a strong performance. However, Joshua proved that a fighter with limited boxing skills and experience can only accomplish so much. I hope Ngannou doesn’t go away, however. I’d like to see how he does against second-tier heavyweights – if he’s willing to fight them — and whether he has another surprise in him. … Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) is another fighter who proved me wrong. I thought the Kiwi was finished after he had two tough fights against Derek Chisora in 2021 and was knocked out by Joe Joyce in September 2022. The 32-year-old former beltholder has won five consecutive fights since the setback, including decisions over Deontay Wilder in December and Zhilei Zhang on the Joshua-Ngannou undercard in his last two fights to reestablish himself as a genuine title contender. He nearly shutout Wilder and deserved better than a majority decision over Zhang, who was coming off back-to-back knockouts of Joyce. The fact Parker had to overcome two knockouts to beat his Chinese counterpart only added to the significance of the victory. Fans love a fighter who overcomes adversity to have his or her hand raised. Make no mistake: Parker is back. …

Can Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) bounce back in his 40s? He established himself as a heavyweight to be reckoned with by stopping Joyce twice. However, his performance on Friday was a significant step backward. He didn’t show much against a good, experienced boxer aside from the two punches that put Parker down. I imagine he won’t walk away now, though. The knockouts against Joyce are still fresh in his mind. And he did lose a competitive decision to Parker. … I get why people were aghast over the announcement that Jake Paul will face 57-year-old Mike Tyson in what evidently will be an exhibition July 20 at AT&T Stadium near Dallas. It has freak show written all over it. At the same time, it makes perfect sense from a business standpoint. Paul and Tyson stand to make untold millions for dancing around the ring for a few rounds because many people worldwide will find value in the event. How many of us, if we had their abilities, wouldn’t do the same thing? Be honest.

[lawrence-related id=41046,41039,41033]

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua embarrassed Francis Ngannou AND Tyson Fury with one KO

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua embarrassed Francis Ngannou AND Tyson Fury on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER AND LOSER
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury must’ve have been embarrassed on Friday night.

Anthony Joshua did what his countryman should’ve done when Fury fought Francis Ngannou in October, which was to demonstrate that an MMA fighter without boxing experience has no business in the ring with a top heavyweight.

Fury survived a knockdown to eke out a pathetic split decision victory in Saudi Arabia. Joshua annihilated Ngannou in the same country, dropping the Cameroonian three times and stopping him in the second round to build on his momentum and restore some honor to the sport.

The difference between Fury and Joshua in their respective fights with Ngannou?

Not complicated: Fury wasn’t professional, Joshua was.

Fury wasn’t prepared – mentally or physically, it seemed — when he stepped into the ring to face Ngannou, who had some experience in the gym early in his combat sports career but was making his professional boxing debut.

The WBC titleholder obviously thought he could defeat Ngannou just by showing up, a notion shared by many. That’s not how it’s done, however. Not even against a rookie.

Fury rallied from a third-round knockdown to outpoint Ngannou, a decision that wasn’t controversial if you understand how scoring works. However, the competitive nature of the bout was mortifying for both Fury and boxing.

Joshua clearly prepared for his meeting with Ngannou as he would any big fight. When he stepped through the ropes, he was at his best. And the former two-time champion’s best was far too good for Ngannou.

Many of those who care about boxing probably had the same thought after they celebrated the slaughter: Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) should’ve done exactly the same thing against Ngannou.

The fact he didn’t, the fact he struggled merely to have his hand raised against a newbie is a blot on his resume. It also changed my perception of him. I had predicted that he would beat the crafty, but much smaller Oleksandr Usyk handily when they meet for the undisputed championship on May 18, also in Saudi Arabia

Now I’m not so sure. Now I see it as a 50-50 fight, which shouldn’t be the case given Fury’s ability and massive size advantage.

Of course, the blessing for Fury is that he has a golden opportunity to redeem himself immediately, as a victory over Usyk would do. We’ll see which Fury shows up: the wonderfully athletic, skillful behemoth of the past or the disappointment who fell flat against Ngannou.

Meanwhile, Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) is on a tear. He’s now 4-0 since his back-to-back setbacks against Usyk in 2021 and 2022 — including consecutive knockouts of Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and now Ngannou — and bursting with confidence.

I and many others thought Joshua was in the last throes of his elite career after the Usyk losses. Now I have had to rethink that notion, too. The way he has performed of late has me convinced that the 34-year-old once again has the tools to beat anyone in the game.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

I don’t mean to be too hard on Ngannou. He deserves credit for his performance against Fury. He, unlike Fury, trained to be at his best and that paid off in the form of a strong performance. However, Joshua proved that a fighter with limited boxing skills and experience can only accomplish so much. I hope Ngannou doesn’t go away, however. I’d like to see how he does against second-tier heavyweights – if he’s willing to fight them — and whether he has another surprise in him. … Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) is another fighter who proved me wrong. I thought the Kiwi was finished after he had two tough fights against Derek Chisora in 2021 and was knocked out by Joe Joyce in September 2022. The 32-year-old former beltholder has won five consecutive fights since the setback, including decisions over Deontay Wilder in December and Zhilei Zhang on the Joshua-Ngannou undercard in his last two fights to reestablish himself as a genuine title contender. He nearly shutout Wilder and deserved better than a majority decision over Zhang, who was coming off back-to-back knockouts of Joyce. The fact Parker had to overcome two knockouts to beat his Chinese counterpart only added to the significance of the victory. Fans love a fighter who overcomes adversity to have his or her hand raised. Make no mistake: Parker is back. …

Can Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) bounce back in his 40s? He established himself as a heavyweight to be reckoned with by stopping Joyce twice. However, his performance on Friday was a significant step backward. He didn’t show much against a good, experienced boxer aside from the two punches that put Parker down. I imagine he won’t walk away now, though. The knockouts against Joyce are still fresh in his mind. And he did lose a competitive decision to Parker. … I get why people were aghast over the announcement that Jake Paul will face 57-year-old Mike Tyson in what evidently will be an exhibition July 20 at AT&T Stadium near Dallas. It has freak show written all over it. At the same time, it makes perfect sense from a business standpoint. Paul and Tyson stand to make untold millions for dancing around the ring for a few rounds because many people worldwide will find value in the event. How many of us, if we had their abilities, wouldn’t do the same thing? Be honest.

[lawrence-related id=41046,41039,41033]

WWE WrestleMania 40: Predictions for the rest of the card in Philadelphia

You know the marquee matches for WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. Let’s try to figure out the rest of them.

Now that the hour-long annual time skip has occurred for this spring, we’re officially less than four weeks away from WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. The WWE is so hot right now that it could probably not reveal any of the matches ahead of time and still be assured that people will fill Lincoln Financial Field for two nights, and I’m only partially joking about that.

What Triple H and company have done is announce the biggest matches while leaving the rest of the card to be filled in over the last few weeks. It makes perfect sense to approach the show that way, as the world championship feuds have all been cemented and can help draw in lapsed fans while still leaving plenty to keep regular viewers engaged through the rest of March.

As I write this, only six matches are set. Night 1 will feature the recently confirmed tag team match pitting Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins against The Rock and Roman Reigns. That will have big ramifications for the Night 2 rematch between Rhodes and Reigns (as in whether The Bloodline will be allowed to interfere or not), while Rollins moves on to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre.

Though we don’t know which night they will happen, both women’s world titles will also be defended, with Rhea Ripley facing Becky Lynch and IYO SKY squaring off with Bayley. Gunther will defend his Intercontinental Championship as well, though the identity of his challenger won’t be determined until the March 11 episode of Raw.

History suggests that what’s been announced so far may only be about half the card. The two full-on post-pandemic two-night Manias had 16 (for WrestleMania 38) and 15 matches (last year at 39), respectively, though that’s counting impromptu stuff like Pat McAfee and Snoop Dogg getting quick wins in L.A.

So we’ve got to round out the WrestleMania 40 slate with at least 13 matches total, we’d say. Let’s try to do that now by making predictions from “this is almost absolutely happening” down to “we’re just grasping at straws here.”

Gunther vs. Chad Gable – WWE Intercontinental Championship match

We counted this as one of the matches we know is happening, but there’s still the matter of who will face the Ring General. The Gauntlet match for this Monday has a number of plausible candidates, and it’s important to remember that the only reason this is still a question is because WWE is keeping its distance from Brock Lesnar at the moment.

So the guess here is that Chad Gable will emerge as the contender to take on Gunther. He has the most interesting narrative, having pushed the big Austrian hard the first time they battled and talking about how much more another shot would mean to him than anyone else.

Also, lest we forget, Gable can really go in the ring, and while anyone WWE put in this spot would pull out all the stops at WrestleMania, Gable would arguably benefit the most from a reminder to everyone watching about how good he is. Maybe WWE would even consider having him win if Gunther is bound for bigger things in the post-WrestleMania landscape, but just getting this spot would be a statement in and of itself.

Update 3/11: It was close but not quite for Gable, who made it to the final two but couldn’t close things out. It’ll be Zayn vs. Gunther at WrestleMania.

Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso

It just feels like it’s time, no? Jimmy Uso has cost his brother multiple championship opportunities and isn’t going to stop until Jey Uso makes him stop. Out of character, the Usos have talked openly in the past about their desire to face each other in singles competition at WrestleMania, so it all just makes too much sense.

Considering how WWE likes to push multiple matches on each night as “co-main events,” as silly as that is, a brother vs. brother showdown would be perfect for that on Night 1. If The Bloodline is going to be finished with a Reigns loss to Rhodes (assuming that’s in the cards), you’d think Jey would win and Jimmy would eventually reunite with him, but perhaps WWE will want this program to go on past WrestleMania as well.

Update 3/11: This is almost certainly happening. Jey Uso made the challenge to Jimmy on the March 11 episode of Raw, so all we need now is a response.

Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton – WWE United States Championship match

I really had no idea what was in store for Logan Paul in Philadelphia until Elimination Chamber, when it became clear pretty quickly. When Paul hosed Randy Orton out of a win in Perth, it meant they were going to throw down sooner or later, and nothing has happened since then to change my mind.

Orton has looked superb since his return from a long injury layoff, and WWE has booked him in a way that makes him look nearly unbeatable save for extenuating circumstances. Of course Paul knows all about those, so he can simply keep cheating to go over, or he can give a heroic but losing effort. Either way, fans should be into this.

AJ Styles vs. LA Knight

Sometimes WWE needs to come up with something for people who simply can’t be kept off the WrestleMania card, and LA Knight falls into that category this year. Part of the Showcase of the Immortals is giving people what they want, and Knight continues to be hugely over with live crowds.

As with Orton and Paul, this was set up directly at Elimination Chamber, and AJ Styles has explained his actions on the March 8 episode of SmackDown as well. I’m not a huge fan of the all business heel version of Styles, but he’s certainly playing it well and looks the part since he’s as jacked as he’s ever been. These two should put on an excellent match together.

R-Truth and The Miz vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Balor) – Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match

This is quite the step back for the tag team titles after they were featured in the Night 1 main event at WrestleMania 39. Nevertheless, WWE has put a lot of effort into the R-Truth storyline with The Judgment Day, and it would be logical to pay it off in Philadelphia, especially since Truth is arguably as popular as he’s ever been.

It would be fun to see if Damian Priest might cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Night 2 out of anger if The Judgment Day loses this match, something he’s teased doing before. Also, just spitballing here, but if The Miz and Truth actually win, WWE could easily have #DIY turn heel on them after Mania, upset about the work they put in themselves going for naught.

Update 3/11: We weren’t thinking big enough here, apparently. The Judgment Day will defend the titles in Philly … but in a Six-Pack Challenge Ladder match. Teams will have a chance to win their way in over the next few weeks, and we wouldn’t be shocked if Miz and Truth and #DIY made the field.

Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. Kabuki Warriors – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match

Yes, these teams are slated to face off well ahead of WrestleMania, so maybe this isn’t a program with enough legs to even make it to Philly. Still, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark have been pushed as a very effective duo and deserve a shot to shine on the big stage.

Let’s play it out: the Kabuki Warriors give them a shot at the titles and retain, but only because Dakota Kai, now firmly recommitted to Damage CTRL, cheats to help them do it. Adam Pearce, who’s already warned the group he’s got an eye on them, arranges a rematch for Mania and Nick Aldis agrees. Simple.

Some kind of multi-person women’s contenders match

WWE has done so much good in building up the likes of Nia Jax (better than ever on this run, to my surprise) and Tiffany Stratton (a breakout star) that it would be a shame to keep them off this show. Plus there’s Liv Morgan and Naomi who are back, Raquel Rodriguez is healthy again, and Jade Cargill is waiting in the wings.

Oh, and Bianca Belair! We’re not going to do a WrestleMania without her, right?

It’s quite possible WWE will still spin something up for Bianca prior to Phialdelphia. But if not, she can be included here, whether it’s a Gauntlet match or battle royal or what have you. Regardless of the actual format, we can come out of this with a post-Mania challenger for either Bayley or whoever wins the Becky-Rhea match, and potentially spin off some additional programs as well.

Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits vs. The Final Testament

I confess this feud hasn’t been doing a ton for me, but the WrestleMania card needs some more multi-person matches and this is a made to order six-man tag to use as a palate cleanser.

The New Day vs. Imperium

This feud has been entertaining as it’s given The New Day a chance to play the “yes we act goofy for your enjoyment but we can get serious too” card. The only question is whether WWE can or wants to string this out for another four weeks.

But WrestleMania needs a couple of change of pace matches among the bigger stuff and this would be perfect, particularly with a stipulation of some sort. Could they do a TLC match between these two teams, for instance? I’d be on board for that.

Even more possibilities:

  • Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal – While it’s been relegated to the pre-show and even SmackDown in recent years and doesn’t seem to be much of a priority, it’s always an option to get more wrestlers involved in the show.
  • Legado Del Fantasma vs. LWO – Maybe I’m not giving this one enough thought now that Rey Mysterio is back. Certainly a possibility for a six-man tag, and ripe for a gimmick or stipulation if that’s the case.
  • Something with John Cena – He’s certainly teased that he might be part of WrestleMania, though no one seems to think it will be in a full-length match. WWE can work him in as a host or have him just show up and AA someone for a pop, though.

TeX’s and O’s: Christian Wilkins would bring disruptive force to Texans’ interior

In our first iteration of “TeXs and Os,” a look at what Christian Wilkins would look like on the Houston Texans defensive line.

The interest has been brewing.

Ever since the Miami Dolphins chose not to franchise their star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, his interest with the Houston Texans has been well noted. ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler was first to report that Houston was a team to watch and then local reporter Aaron Wilson of KPRC later repeated that same sentiment.

It makes sense. Head coach DeMeco Ryans’ attacking 4-3 front would be a perfect fit for Wilkins and he’s the type of presence the team currently lacks. NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winner Will Anderson Jr. looks like he could become a premier edge player, but outside of that, the defensive line is unclear. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is coming off a career season with 12.5 sacks and is an unrestricted free agent. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins is a solid, but unspectacular starter and his running mate Sheldon Rankins is also set to hit free agency.

Ryans preached that he wanted to improve the quality of the Front 7 after the team’s 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and Wilkins could play a huge part in doing just that if Houston was to splurge.

Since he was drafted in 2019, Wilkins has been one of the premier defensive tackles in the NFL. He has had at least 10 tackles for loss in each of the past three seasons and broke out in a huge way in the pass rushing department in 2023 with nine sacks.

He was one of Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded defensive tackles each of the past three years and has never had a rushing defense grade below 70 since 2019. His pass rush grade has also been over 70 since 2021 and peaked with a grade of 72.8 this past season.

It’s the perfect time for him to hit the market. The NFL more than ever values defensive lineman that can rush the passer and, in addition to his nine sacks, Wilkins generated 61 quarterback pressures per NextGen Stats in 2023. Not to mention his additional 26 quarterback hits.

What exactly does he bring to the Houston Texans that would encourage general manager Nick Caserio to engage in his first huge bidding war as general manager of the team?

The conversation likely begins with his availability. Wilkins played 80% of the Miami Dolphins’ defensive snaps in 2023 and represents a player that is capable of playing both the 1-technique and 3-technique defensive tackle spots in Ryans’ system. He would never need to come off the field and could be used interchangeably with multiple other players on the defensive line.

For a defense that preaches the importance of stopping the run, Wilkins more than satisfies that demand. He’s capable of occupying multiple blockers in the gap but also making explosive plays up-field to kill plays. His high motor also shows up on film chasing runs to the outside and making exceptional plays that are often not expected for players as large as Wilkins at defensive tackle.

This play against the New England Patriots stands out as representative. Wilkins not only starts out the play double-teamed — which frees up space for other defenders to attack the run — but he’s also able to come off the double team and chase the run to the outside. It’s the kind of athleticism and effort that every defensive coach covets.

That’s before you even discuss his ability to rush the quarterback.

Wilkins has improved every season rushing the passer as evidenced by both his statistics and PFF grades. It is also evident on film. He has good power to attack opposing guards and centers with ample athleticism to be used more creatively as well when called upon.

This stunt play is an excellent example of Wilkins using his athleticism to get to the quarterback. The opposing defensive tackle crashes the center and right guard leaving nobody to take Wilkins. He’s able to get to Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis before he has a chance to get rid of the ball. The Texans defense uses very similar concepts under Ryans and he would likely be tasked with assignments like this even more frequently.

Wilkins, in conjunction with a player like Anderson and any other pass rushers that Houston might add this offseason, would create headaches for offenses. It would be very difficult to allocate resources and call protections with two premier defensive linemen demanding attention. On the same side as Anderson, one of them would very likely see individual protection assignments. On stunts they both have the athleticism to torch offensive lineman and exploit protection rules.

In short, Wilkins effects every aspect of the defense. He is an every-down player that is impactful in both the rushing game and attacking the opposing quarterback. He would make life easier for linebackers to kill run plays and also open up pass rushing lanes for his teammates, all in addition to his own individual contributions.

This multi-level projected contribution for Wilkins makes paying him a little bit easier. The 28-year-old will likely demand the largest contract on the free agent market and will be paid even more after recent extensions for defensive tackles Justin Madubuike and Chris Jones from Baltimore and Kansas City respectively. As the league recognizes the impact of defensive tackle play, there will be very competitive bidding wars to secure that.

Still, when Houston spent the past two years clearing cap space after the blunders of the previous management under former general manager Bill O’Brien, this is the type of situation you dream of as a team-builder. Adding Wilkins represents a perfect fit from both a personnel and player perspective.

If the Texans want to take another step forward and their desire to swarm on defense, there should be no hesitation to take a swing on the defensive tackle.

Mercedes Moné addition invokes questions for AEW women’s division

The likely addition of Mercedes Moné to the AEW roster suggests potential challenges for an already underutilized women’s division. 

The likely addition of Mercedes Moné to the All Elite Wrestling roster could suggest large challenges for an already underutilized women’s division.

After early conversations for a return to WWE were said to be unfruitful, reports surfaced indicating that AEW was finally in business with The Boss.

On the Feb. 7 episode of AEW Dynamite, CEO Tony Khan announced AEW would return to Boston on March 13 with a special addition of its flagship show, titled AEW Dynamite: Big Business, all but confirming that the Boston native was scheduled to debut.

Following the “Big Business” announcement, Fightful Select and Andrew Zarian reported that Moné was already under contract with AEW, having been on payroll since January; her debut indeed imminent.

The likely addition of Moné creates a slew of questions for the AEW women’s division — questions derived from a clear imbalance between the treatment of the women’s division when compared to the men’s division.

Using statistics from 2023, AEW gave its women only 19% of matches on Dynamite and 26.2% of matches on Rampage. Women’s match time proved to be even worse in 2023, with 14.9% given on Dynamite and 22.2% on Rampage. Those are just television percentages; PPV figures are even worse. All told, they are numbers that don’t exactly generate confidence in AEW’s ability to utilize a new addition to its women’s roster.

Let’s be honest: Moné is not just another addition, either. The Boss will undoubtedly bring in her own bigger-than-life fanbase. A fanbase that, for the most part, likely isn’t in the business of watching AEW product. The former WWE Horsewoman has a tried-and-true following clamoring for more action. When she does step back into the ring, the devotees are sure to follow.

This is a fact AEW knows and plans on benefiting from. AEW surely knows the edge and position of power Moné would provide with her presence. Tony Khan and crew have undoubtedly have paid for that leverage dearly. As such, it’s reasonable to believe Moné will be a fixture on AEW television. Her spot at the top is a given.

So, with the benefit of having Moné on the payroll and such a small amount of time given to the women’s division, where does that lead the rest of the roster? The women’s roster is already comparatively small, with a good number of talent out of action or rarely utilized. How can AEW create an atmosphere where a large part of its women’s division is allowed to thrive, while also ensuring their star signee is placed at the forefront?

The question is a hard one to answer. When analyzing the men’s roster, one can even see how the majority of that roster is not being used. Now take into account that the women of AEW are often given less than a quarter of the same exposure in the ring. Sure, a good chunk of women are currently stationed at Ring of Honor tapings, but that doesn’t answer the big question: Will the women’s division suffer or benefit from The Boss?

The argument has been made that Moné will only increase the value and significance of the women’s roster. With so many new eyes on the product, how can AEW not respond with an increase in visibility? The counterargument is also valid: Mercedes is one individual. AEW doesn’t necessarily need to respond with an increase in matches. More women of AEW could simply be benched.

While appearing for the Grit & Glitter podcast discussing the news, Warren Hayes argued that divisions are often built around one person when looking back at wrestling’s history.

“Divisions and promotions are often built around one person. There’s more than enough precedent in wrestling; Flair, Hogan, even Asuka back in her NXT days. Building a top star not only to topple, but to help create great matches, creates inherent hype and drama in matches, up and down the card. You just need the right person in that position and Mercedes is that: talented worker, superstar presence, business mover.”

There’s evidence that AEW hasn’t changed its numbers in response to any new woman signee. There’s also a consensus in some circles that the world title has always been the focus of the division, receiving the vast majority of time and investment, and every other story has been an afterthought. How often do we see women’s AEW storylines dissipate after a short run? Often, women have made stars out of themselves, in spite of the story given. That, systematically, can be seen across promotions, for both men and women.

There’s precedent for star power creating serious, positive change for a card. There’s also history to the contrary. When you look at how often athletes like Asuka are pushed into a placement unfitting of their level of talent, it’s fair to say that wrestling is always evolving, and predicting the outcome of any addition is nearly impossible. There are just too many revolving parts, and the level of time and interest the promotion places into the division as a whole is just one of them.

It’s not common that woman signees, huge or not, change the direction of an entire division, and in return, create opportunities that weren’t already there. The signing of Ronda Rousey is one example of how the introduction of a star can often backfire. The “it” factor of the WWE women’s division surely saw an increase for a time, but the attention and special treatment Rousey received was not beneficial to the rest of the division.

The fact remains that Moné’s presence can’t possibly create a positive trickle down effect if there isn’t time to give to the hype and drama. If there’s consistently only one woman’s match on a PPV, one women’s match on the flagship program and one well-pushed title, is it even possible to give intrigue to other stories? There’s not a history of AEW changing their approach with the women.

Simply put, you can’t compare what has occurred in the past and present between men and women wrestlers because they are not treated equal. In fact, there’s a long history of the exact opposite; a strong and extreme history, in some cases.

“Let it play out” is not a favorite phrase for most women’s wrestling fans, but in this case, it’s as good as any. Moné is an unprecedented signing for AEW, and that could mean an unprecedented change for their women’s division.

It’s also true that history repeats itself, as it’s proven to do so in many companies, and the result of her presence is just business as usual. It’s unsettling that AEW hasn’t put this amount of faith and trust into its women’s division already. The promotion has upped the ante in what is an assumed response to Moné, but that’s even more concerning. Why not provide time to the women AEW touted so proudly? When asked, Khan doesn’t pause for a second to brag about the women of the company. Why, then, wait until a huge signing to provide a noticeable difference in utilization?

Most of these challenges won’t be addressed until the what ifs become facts. The excited and cautious alike are jumping the gun when assuming the best or worst outcome. While the reports of Moné’s addition create bold scenarios in the minds of every fan, producing deep discussions worth exploring, nothing is certain. We will indeed, have to let it play out.

AEW deserves credit for its masterful presentation of Sting

AEW absolute nailed it with the farewell match it put together for Sting.

Tony Khan, despite being a three-time Wrestling Observer Best Booker award winner, has had his share of misses during AEW’s five-year lifespan.

The story surrounding the reveal of the so-called “Devil,” while being hampered by Adam Cole’s injury, dragged out far too long for even the most diehard of AEW’s fans. The women’s division has received more prominence in recent weeks, but when the bar is in hell, it’s not exactly a difficult task to clear it.

When it comes to Sting, however, Khan and his team have done a masterful job, one that culminated in the legendary wrestler’s final match on Sunday at the Revolution pay-per-view.

Landing someone the stature of Sting is obviously a coup for any wrestling promotion, but the pressure to do right by this legendary figure also comes with that.

Khan never asked Sting to do more than what he was capable of and never had him steamroll through talent on his way to yet another world championship. Instead, Khan aligned Sting with Darby Allin in an effort to give the latter the proverbial rub from an icon. 

Together, the two went undefeated in AEW competition. That includes Sunday night, when Sting and Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team titles.

Sting winning his final match is not typical wrestling tradition, where it is almost the soon-to-be-retired wrestler’s duty to lose their final match in an effort to pass the torch to someone else. AEW rightfully broke from that tradition and had Sting and Allin win the match, which allowed the former to go out on top as a champion.

In doing so, Khan orchestrated possibly the greatest send-off in wrestling history. For as great as Ric Flair’s “retirement” was in 2008, it came after a loss to Shawn Michaels. There’s also the issue of Flair actually wrestling again, but that’s a different conversation.

Sunday night felt different. It didn’t feel like the end of a storied career as much as it felt like the celebration of one. There are very few wrestlers from Sting’s generation that can say they have experienced the same. Most of them were unceremoniously booted out of the business for one reason or another.

But the fact that Sting is still around and is in good enough health to even have a match at his age (he turns 65 later this month) — and not completely embarrass himself and AEW in the process — deserves to be celebrated.

More than 16,000 people packed into the Greensboro Coliseum Sunday to see their face painted hero have one last hurrah, and Sting was allowed to go out in a blaze of glory.

No, his final match wasn’t a 60-minute draw like Clash of the Champions or a world title match like Starrcade ‘97. Instead, it was Sting giving it his all alongside very talented performers who put their bodies through pain and destruction all in the name of delivering one final banger in Sting’s career.

Mission accomplished by Sting, Allin, the Young Bucks and AEW.

And Sting, thanks for everything.

One other note about Revolution

The long running streak of fans having issues with watching an AEW pay-per-view through Bleacher Report continued on Sunday night, with many viewers, myself included, expressing their frustration over the lack of functionality with the streaming platform.

I personally missed almost all of the first two matches on the show, as I was dealing with a number of technical issues, including not being unable to put in my credit card information to purchase the show.

Once I was eventually able to do that, I still endured a litany of streaming issues. So despite paying full price, I was able to see about 80% of the show. 

Simply put, that is unacceptable, and something seriously needs to be done about it.

For as much praise as I’m willing to give Khan and AEW for its presentation of Sting for the last three-plus years, I have an equal amount of ire for the company when it comes to the pay-per-views.

My complaints are not new or uncommon. It has become a bit of a running joke amongst wrestling fans on social media. Although everyone gets a good laugh out of it, it is a serious issue for AEW that could potentially cost the company paying customers.

Full disclosure, AEW was close to losing my money Sunday night until Bleacher Report finally got its act together during the tail end of the Continental Crown title match between Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson.

But I am only one person. Chances are there is someone out there who was more than willing to part ways with $49.99 (plus tax) to watch Revolution, but decided not to because of issues with Bleacher Report.

And because of that, Khan and company need to address this issue as soon as humanly possible. This is not a backburner issue. This is urgent, as one of the company’s top priorities is to make its content as accessible as possible. If people can’t even pay to watch it, what are we even doing here?

For all of the complaints people levy against Peacock, at least it actually works when you turn it on. With Bleacher Report, I may have to start logging in the day before to ensure I see the opening match.

[lawrence-related id=46341]

TeX’s and Os: Could free agent C.J. Gardner-Johnson solve Texans safety woes?

The Houston Texans might have a safety problem, but free agent C.J. Gardner-Johnson could be the answer in the secondary.

The Houston Texans need help in the secondary.

DeMeco Ryan’s defense ranked in the bottom 10 in passing yards allowed and passing yards per attempt in 2023. It was a disappointing effort after many thought that Houston’s safeties, led by safety duo Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward, could be the strength of the defense going into the year.

It isn’t a mess entirely. Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. broke out in a big way with five interceptions and the team has multiple options to play across from him in 2024. That includes re-signing Steven Nelson or bringing in a veteran free agent like Xavien Howard.

It’s the safety dilemma that stands out.

Ward played in only 10 games and was not a reliable option to be on the field. Pitre went through a severe sophomore slump and didn’t force a turnover in 2023. Ryans even benched Pitre during the team’s brutal Week 16 loss to the Cleveland Browns. It could not have gone much worse after the Baylor product’s incredible rookie year which featured 147 tackles and five interceptions in 2022.

Now, the Texans have to find a way forward. That could require finding at least one additional safety to play, whether that is in case Ward is injured again or to facilitate moving Pitre down towards the nickel cornerback position. Houston could even find two new safeties, which would allow the Texans to capitalize on nearly $5 million in cap savings if they cut Ward after just one year.

There ar multiple ways they could about tackling this. One such option on the free agency market that stands out as both a great talent and a strong value play for general manager Nick Caserio is Detroit Lions impending free agent safety C.J. Gardner Johnson.

The University of Florida product started just five games in the regular season for the Lions in 2023 due to a torn pectoral muscle. He did start in the playoffs, though, where he intercepted Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. But overall, it was a disappointing season for Gardner-Johnson after he was considered a key free agent signing.

In 2022, Gardner-Johnson had 67 total tackles and six interceptions while helping power the Philadelphia Eagles defense to the Super Bowl under defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. He had been a value add via a trade with the New Orleans Saints earlier that year and bet on himself afterwards with the short one-year deal with Detroit.

Gardner-Johnson was highly rated by Pro Football Focus in 2023, with a defensive grade of 72.7 and a coverage grade of 72.8. His run support was also solid, with a grade of 68.5. These were minor upticks from his performance in Philadelphia and they could be attributed to smaller sample size, however it’s impossible to ignore the talent of the 26 year old.

Now, he’s a free agent again and the tape shows a player that could fit well with the Texans.

Gardner-Johnson is largely considered a “strong safety” as someone who is capable of both patrolling the back end or playing close to the line of scrimmage. Considering that potential overlap of that skillset with Jalen Pitre, it’s important to start with Johnson’s ability in coverage. He graded out very well in this aspect and it shows up on tape.

In the Lions’ Cover 4 heavy defense, similar to the Houston Texans this past year, Johnson frequently played deep to allow rookie Brian Branch to be closer to the line of scrimmage. He performed well in this aspect and those skills additionally show up when reviewing his 2022 time with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s a ballhawking safety who can read the quarterback and explode to make plays.

Ryans preaches the importance of stopping the run and Gardner-Johnson is no stiff there. He has an ability to both come down to the box and support with blitzes as well as read out run plays from the high safety position and collapse. His vision and athleticism is apparent and he’s a rangy athlete who could be played all over the field.

In Houston, he would allow for very interchangeable coverage sets between himself and Ward. Both could be trusted with complex coverage assignments and the defensive staff would have the ability to rotate either safety with both being plus players and run support.

This idea of interchangeability could also be used with Pitre and changing where both those players are pre-snap, even switching between safety and nickel assignments to confuse opposing quarterbacks.

It’s unclear whether or not the Texans will actually be interested in Gardner-Johnson, but the fit makes sense. At 26 years old, he would be a young player for the Texans defense that could contribute in both phases of the game. He’s a reliable player in coverage that would free up the athletic Pitre to do what he does best closer to the line of scrimmage and have a strong third season. It would also create an additional chess piece for defensive coordinator Matt Burke to implement more disguised coverage schemes against the AFC’s best quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.

In a league where coverage is suddenly at a premium., this could be a very affordable fix.

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: 5 questions (and answers) going into the fight

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: 5 questions (and answers) going into the fight on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua has taken part in many big fights, including one against Wladimir Klitschko, a rematch with conqueror Andy Ruiz Jr. and two against Oleksandr Usyk.

The former two-time champion’s fight on March 8 is his most unusual.

Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) is scheduled to face MMA star-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou (0-1) on pay-per-view from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Ngannou put Tyson Fury down and nearly upset him in his boxing debut in October.

There are many questions going into Joshua-Ngannou. Here are five of them.

Is Ngannou for real?

Yes. I’m convinced that Fury’s surprisingly weak effort against him was more the result of his lack of preparation – physically and mentally – than the MMA star’s boxing ability. Fury thought he could beat Ngannou with his eyes closed and one hand tied behind his back. That attitude almost resulted in a shocking loss against an opponent with no professional boxing experience. However, the fact is Ngannou deserves credit for his performance. He has respectable skills, the result of natural ability and work on boxing fundamentals early in his combat sports career. And no one will second guess his punching power. He looked like he belonged in the ring with arguably the best heavyweight in the world even though he lost a split decision. That was no illusion. Ngannou certainly isn’t the boxer Fury or Oleksandr Usyk are but he knows his way around the boxing ring and isn’t fazed by significant challenges.

 

Can Joshua become a three-time champ?

Absolutely. The 34-year-old hasn’t been the same dominating force since he was knocked out by Ruiz in 2019, when he lost his titles by failing to make it out of the seventh round in one of the sport’s greatest upsets. He outpointed Ruiz to regain his titles in a rematch but looked timid. Then, after stopping Kubrat Pulev, he lost back-to-back fights against Usyk in 2021 and 2022. He might have already hit his ceiling as a fighter. At the same time, he gave a good effort in the second fight with Usyk, losing a split decision that could’ve gone either way. He demonstrated in that fight that he has more to give. And he’s coming off back-to-back knockouts of Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin that were reminiscent of the old Joshua. He looked particularly good against Wallin, evidence that he’s thriving under new coach Ben Davison. I think this version of Joshua could compete with any heavyweight in the world.

 

Who is going to win?

Joshua, of course. Ngannou will never again take a genuine boxer by surprise. Joshua knows what he’s up against and appears to have prepared accordingly, meaning he should be at his best. Ngannou will fight with the same spirit of his surprising effort against Fury but that won’t be enough in this fight, which is how the oddsmakers see it: Joshua is about a 4-1 favorite. The former two-time champion will keep Ngannou at the end of his jab, pick him apart with power shots from a safe distance, wear Ngannou down and win either by a late knockout or one-sided decision. Of course, at the risk of sounding wishy washy, I put nothing past Ngannou after his performance against Fury. I think he’s a natural boxer with supreme confidence who is capable of anything on the right night. I just don’t think this is that night.

 

What’s next for the winner?

That depends on what happens on March 8 and in the May 18 showdown between Fury and Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship. The Joshua-Ngannou winner almost certainly will pursue a fight with the winner of Fury-Usyk. The problem is that there’s a good chance Fury and Usyk will engage in more than one fight, which would leave all contenders in a waiting mode unless the sanctioning bodies strip one or both of titles. And, of course, if Joshua-Ngannou is close, they could do it again. Other viable options for the Joshua-Ngannou winner is the winner of the Zhilei Zhang-Joseph Parker fight on the March 8 card, as well as former champion Deontay Wilder and Filip Hrgovic. Bottom line: Whomever has his hand raised after the Joshua-Ngannou fight will be in position to get an even bigger opportunity in the near future.

 

What if Joshua loses?

That would be devastating for him, especially if Ngannou wins convincingly. Joshua has already had to battle back from two downturns, his shocking upset loss against Ruiz and the two losses against Usyk. He had a 2-3 record from 2019 to 2022, which sullied his reputation. Another setback – particularly against an opponent taking part in only his second professional bout – might cause irreparable damage. If he loses a close fight, he might get the chance to turn the tables in a rematch. That could keep his career as an elite fighter alive. If Ngannou wins handily, Joshua might not be able to recover. In fact, he might not want start the rebuilding process again if he loses. He’s already a two-time champion and evidently in good shape financially. Why go through the indignity of getting back in line? Indeed, Joshua might be fighting for his boxing life against Ngannou on March 8.

[lawrence-related id=40665,40495,40488,40436,40396,40391]

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: 5 questions (and answers) going into the fight

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: 5 questions (and answers) going into the fight on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua has taken part in many big fights, including one against Wladimir Klitschko, a rematch with conqueror Andy Ruiz Jr. and two against Oleksandr Usyk.

The former two-time champion’s fight on March 8 is his most unusual.

Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) is scheduled to face MMA star-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou (0-1) on pay-per-view from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Ngannou put Tyson Fury down and nearly upset him in his boxing debut in October.

There are many questions going into Joshua-Ngannou. Here are five of them.

Is Ngannou for real?

Yes. I’m convinced that Fury’s surprisingly weak effort against him was more the result of his lack of preparation – physically and mentally – than the MMA star’s boxing ability. Fury thought he could beat Ngannou with his eyes closed and one hand tied behind his back. That attitude almost resulted in a shocking loss against an opponent with no professional boxing experience. However, the fact is Ngannou deserves credit for his performance. He has respectable skills, the result of natural ability and work on boxing fundamentals early in his combat sports career. And no one will second guess his punching power. He looked like he belonged in the ring with arguably the best heavyweight in the world even though he lost a split decision. That was no illusion. Ngannou certainly isn’t the boxer Fury or Oleksandr Usyk are but he knows his way around the boxing ring and isn’t fazed by significant challenges.

 

Can Joshua become a three-time champ?

Absolutely. The 34-year-old hasn’t been the same dominating force since he was knocked out by Ruiz in 2019, when he lost his titles by failing to make it out of the seventh round in one of the sport’s greatest upsets. He outpointed Ruiz to regain his titles in a rematch but looked timid. Then, after stopping Kubrat Pulev, he lost back-to-back fights against Usyk in 2021 and 2022. He might have already hit his ceiling as a fighter. At the same time, he gave a good effort in the second fight with Usyk, losing a split decision that could’ve gone either way. He demonstrated in that fight that he has more to give. And he’s coming off back-to-back knockouts of Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin that were reminiscent of the old Joshua. He looked particularly good against Wallin, evidence that he’s thriving under new coach Ben Davison. I think this version of Joshua could compete with any heavyweight in the world.

 

Who is going to win?

Joshua, of course. Ngannou will never again take a genuine boxer by surprise. Joshua knows what he’s up against and appears to have prepared accordingly, meaning he should be at his best. Ngannou will fight with the same spirit of his surprising effort against Fury but that won’t be enough in this fight, which is how the oddsmakers see it: Joshua is about a 4-1 favorite. The former two-time champion will keep Ngannou at the end of his jab, pick him apart with power shots from a safe distance, wear Ngannou down and win either by a late knockout or one-sided decision. Of course, at the risk of sounding wishy washy, I put nothing past Ngannou after his performance against Fury. I think he’s a natural boxer with supreme confidence who is capable of anything on the right night. I just don’t think this is that night.

 

What’s next for the winner?

That depends on what happens on March 8 and in the May 18 showdown between Fury and Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship. The Joshua-Ngannou winner almost certainly will pursue a fight with the winner of Fury-Usyk. The problem is that there’s a good chance Fury and Usyk will engage in more than one fight, which would leave all contenders in a waiting mode unless the sanctioning bodies strip one or both of titles. And, of course, if Joshua-Ngannou is close, they could do it again. Other viable options for the Joshua-Ngannou winner is the winner of the Zhilei Zhang-Joseph Parker fight on the March 8 card, as well as former champion Deontay Wilder and Filip Hrgovic. Bottom line: Whomever has his hand raised after the Joshua-Ngannou fight will be in position to get an even bigger opportunity in the near future.

 

What if Joshua loses?

That would be devastating for him, especially if Ngannou wins convincingly. Joshua has already had to battle back from two downturns, his shocking upset loss against Ruiz and the two losses against Usyk. He had a 2-3 record from 2019 to 2022, which sullied his reputation. Another setback – particularly against an opponent taking part in only his second professional bout – might cause irreparable damage. If he loses a close fight, he might get the chance to turn the tables in a rematch. That could keep his career as an elite fighter alive. If Ngannou wins handily, Joshua might not be able to recover. In fact, he might not want start the rebuilding process again if he loses. He’s already a two-time champion and evidently in good shape financially. Why go through the indignity of getting back in line? Indeed, Joshua might be fighting for his boxing life against Ngannou on March 8.

[lawrence-related id=40665,40495,40488,40436,40396,40391]