Category: Rumors

Browns: White facemasks set for full-time return in 2024?

White facemasks seem to be making a return in 2024 full-time

The Cleveland Browns got rid of the white facemasks in 2006, but evidence is stacking that they could be returning full-time in 2024.

The Browns moved to a grey facemask from 2006 to 2014, and have had a brown facemask since 2015. Using white facemasks as an alternate has been on the agenda for the Browns over the past two seasons, but now they may be trending toward returning to their pre-2006 look.

The first hint? The 2024 NFL draft hats came out and while they are all grey, the tint of the facemask is quite light.

The second hint?

According to Uni Watch, helmet manufacturer Riddell has been notifying retailers of a change to the Browns’ primary helmet in 2024. The company later clarified that they meant the current stock of helmets would be outdated and a new design has not been cataloged yet. However, that is not necessarily a denial. A new helmet is coming in some form or fashion.

The third hint?

In the announcement of their newly earned marketing rights in Nigeria, the Browns displayed a white face in their social media blast.

In order to change facemasks, the Browns would first have to change their primary logo since it features a brown facemask. That process can take two years, so the timeline would add up as well.

Will we get new helmets on a full-time basis this season in Cleveland? It sure seems like it.

Cowboys, Tyron Smith far apart on OT’s value, appear ready to part ways in free agency

Ian Rapoprt reports Tyron Smith is likely to leave the Cowboys in free agency marking an end of an era and bringing a new top need to Dallas. From @ReidDHanson

Tyron Smith, set to hit free agency for the first time in his illustrious career, is not expected to be back in Dallas in 2024, according to Ian Rapoport who called it the “end of an era.” The ninth-overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft had been mainstay at OT for the Cowboys from Day 1, but apparently the two sides have too much room between what each side sees as a reasonable deal for Smith to return.

From Tony Romo to Dak Prescott, Smith was charged with protecting the quarterback’s blindside. It was a job he didn’t take lightly, and a role not easily replaced.

In a free agent class that can accurately be described as paltry, at best, for the position, Smith will be a hot commodity to the many teams seeking upgrades at LT.

Smith’s reliability had become a concern in Dallas. Over the past four seasons the former All Pro had only averaged 7.5 regular season games per year. When he played, he was his usual dominant self. It just didn’t happen frequently enough.

In 2023 the Cowboys restructured Smith’s contract to reduce his base salary and free up cap space. His future with the Cowboys was in question up to that point and it allowed the veteran to stay aboard for another season. Smith rewarded them with a spectacular year, playing in 13 regular season games and ranking as one of the best LTs in the game, once again.

If Smith leaves the Cowboys as Rapoport suggests, Dallas will likely turn to internal options or the NFL draft to find a replacement. Internal OT prospects like Asim Richards, Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball are possible but moving Tyler Smith back to LT seems the most feasible.

Tyler Smith played LT at Tulsa and manned the post for the Cowboys during his rookie season in 2022. While he looked better as a LG in 2023, he was still one of the top performing rookie LTs in recent years and was on an impressive trajectory before he ultimately moved inside.

Speaking to reporters as the combine earlier in the week, Stephen Jones discussed Tyler Smith’s versatility between the two positions and instead of naming his ideal location for Smith, he left the matter somewhat open for discussion.

If the Cowboys decide to keep Tyler Smith at guard, they would likely turn to the draft to address LT. The 2024 NFL draft is rich in OT talent and an option or two is likely to slip to Dallas at Pick 24, or possibly even 56 if the Cowboys are willing to wait.

As mentioned earlier, free agency doesn’t offer many great options so the Cowboys will have to focus on internal options or the draft for real solutions. Luckily for them both avenues offer solutions.

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Rumor: OKC Thunder could acquire draft picks as contenders reach out

Rumor: OKC Thunder could acquire future draft picks as contenders reach out.

As the 2024 NBA trade deadline nears, expect contenders to make moves to help them win now along with possibly refortifiying their draft pick stock.

According to Yahoo Sports NBA reporter Jake Fischer, several teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, have contacted the Oklahoma City Thunder about acquiring first-round picks this year in exchange for future picks.

“The Bucks, along with the Sixers, are among several teams that have contacted the likes of New Orleans and Oklahoma City, sources said, attempting to trade future first-round pick swaps or packages of second-round picks to acquire extra first-round selections. Phoenix, you may recall, dealt two future first-round swaps (2024 and 2030) to Memphis for three seconds before this season began. Now it seems like several teams are trying to deal those same assets for an even more meaningful return.”

The Thunder own four 2024 first-round picks; the lowest is being sent to the Toronto Raptors. OKC owns its own pick, the LA Clippers’ pick, the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick.

Considering how rich the Thunder are with young talent, they likely will not add three rookies to their roster this offseason, which means they have 2024 draft picks to shed.

The Thunder can either use those picks to acquire win-now players before the deadline or to kick the draft can down the road once again by acquiring a contender’s first-round draft pick deep in the future.

In return, contenders such as the Sixers and Bucks would have a chance to add immediate cost-control young talent to their expensive rosters. They could also package 2024 draft picks to acquire win-now players.

If that happens, OKC enriches the quality of its draft pick capital without sacrificing the quantity. It might not move the needle for the fan base, but this would be smart asset management that can pay dividends down the road.

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2024 NBA trade deadline: Feb. 7 OKC Thunder rumor updates

2024 NBA trade deadline: Feb. 7 OKC Thunder rumor updates.

The NBA trade deadline is a little over a day away, which means the Oklahoma City Thunder could soon welcome new additions to their roster.

The Thunder (35-16) are tied for the first seed as the All-Star break approaches. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played like an MVP candidate; Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams help carve out an impressive trio.

The Thunder likely won’t make any drastic moves by Feb. 8. If OKC makes a deal, it’ll likely be to strengthen its depth and help fix some of its rebounding woes.

Entering the deadline, the Thunder are wealthy in trade capital — they have several young prospects they could trade and a rich supply of draft picks.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 7 — with the trade deadline a little over 24 hours away — let’s round up recent rumors related to the Thunder.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe: OKC Thunder trade deadline intel ‘all over the place’

ESPN’s Zach Lowe: OKC Thunder trade deadline intel ‘all over the place’

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2024 NBA trade deadline as buyers for the first time, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll go all out for an addition.

The Thunder (35-15) are in first place in the Western Conference standings and have blossomed into contenders thanks to their MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the ascensions of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

OKC’s biggest weakness is on the boards. It ranks near the bottom in most rebounding statistics: They’re bottom five in both rebounding rate and rebound averages. This means the Thunder likely need to target a backup big to help fix that problem.

But according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe on a recent “The Lowe Post” podcast episode, that might not be the case. He has heard different predictions around the league on what the Thunder could do:

“The intel — much as they would probably like it to be — is just all over the place on Oklahoma City. I’ve had people tell me, ‘Based on our conversations, we think they’re gonna be aggressive.’

And I’ve had other people tell me, ‘Based on our conversations, they’re probably going to stand pat and do the thing where they stand pat and just let it ride in the playoffs.’

They do want to see what this team looks like in the playoffs. It’s a young team. They do want to see how Josh Giddey reacts to playoff defense. … See how Shai’s foul drawing translates to the playoffs. … Just see how they react.”

With less than a couple of days until the trade deadline, one of the most plugged-in NBA media personalities is still unknown what the Thunder could do, which historically lines up with how quiet the organization is.

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Report: Josh Giddey trade could be a realistic prospect for Thunder

Report: Josh Giddey trade could be ‘a realistic prospect’ for Thunder.

As the NBA trade deadline nears, expect the rumors and reports surrounding the Oklahoma City Thunder to ramp up.

The Thunder (34-15) have been one of the best teams in the league this season and are within striking distance of the first seed in the playoffs. This means OKC will enter the Feb. 8 deadline as buyers for the first time in several years.

While the Thunder likely will not make any massive changes, Australian media personality Andrew Gaze thinks a change of scenery for Josh Giddey could do him some good.

The Australian basketball legend cites Giddey as the odd man out when it comes to the impending extensions of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

“I think it’s a realistic prospect, not just for the playing reasons, but also the economics of the situation,” Gaze told CODE Sports. “Chet is going to be a max player, you’ve got Shai and Jalen Williams who can shoot.

“The Thunder is trying to surround this core with shooters, and while Josh is getting better at that, it becomes harder when he isn’t getting the ball as much. He is playing more off the ball – and with his skill set – it probably isn’t the best situation for him right now.”

The 21-year-old has struggled mightily in his third season. He is averaging career lows across the board. The ascension of Williams has put Giddey in an awkward spot regarding fit and role with the Thunder.

Off the court, Giddey is being investigated by the NBA for online allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. He was recently cleared of charges from California police following their investigation of the allegations.

If Giddey isn’t dealt by the trade deadline, the Thunder will have the upcoming offseason to make a move. On the other hand, they could  theoretically sign the third-year guard to a rookie extension.

In 48 games, Giddey is averaging 11.4 points on 44.9% shooting, 6.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He is shooting 32.6% from 3 on 2.8 attempts.

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Shams Charania: OKC Thunder could add veteran backup big at trade deadline

Shams Charania: OKC Thunder could add a veteran backup big at trade deadline.

The NBA trade deadline is less than a week away, which means the Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the anticipated day as buyers for the first time in several.

The Thunder (34-15) are in striking distance for the playoffs’ first seed and will almost certainly participate in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. While OKC likely will not make a massive change, it can upgrade its depth.

The biggest area of weakness for the Thunder is their rebounding. OKC is one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, ranking 28th in rebounding rate and 26th in rebounds per game.

Not having a traditional backup center on the roster likely plays a role in this, which means a backup big could be the type of player the Thunder target.

The Athletic’s NBA insider, Shams Charania, lends credence to this theory in a recent podcast appearance.

“I think everyone thinks the Thunder are in the market to use all their draft picks to go get a high-name, high-end player. I don’t think the Thunder’s trade deadline priority is getting a top-tier player,” Charania told Kenny Beecham on The Kenny Beecham Podcast. “I think they want to see this core. … They are deep, now the one thing they could use is size. I have heard that they are a team that will at least look into veteran big-man play. Now, who that is? We will see.”

This shouldn’t be a massive shocker. Under Thunder general manager Sam Presti, OKC has historically added help to contending rosters. This season fits under that. A backup big could provide the experience and size the Thunder desperately need.

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Reports: Cowboys may be looking at Ron Rivera to replace Dan Quinn

If the Cowboys replace Dan Quinn with Ron Rivera as DC, Rivera would likely love the situation he would be walking into in Dallas. | From @ReidDHanson

Dan Quinn’s days might be done in Dallas. The Cowboys’ defensive coordinator has been interviewing for head coaching gigs across the league and remains on the short list in both Seattle and Washington.

The chances of Quinn leaving the Cowboys appears to be growing by the day and the front office would be remiss if they didn’t get their ducks in a row should their DC move on. One of those ducks could be none other than former Commanders head honcho, Ron Rivera.

According to reports by Ian Rapport, Rivera is on the Cowboys’ radar as a potential replacement for Quinn. Rivera, a former Chicago Bears linebacker and two-time Coach of the Year, is one of the more respected defensive minds in the game. He’s just the proven commodity the Cowboys like at the helm of their defense and would seamlessly replace one former head coach with another former head coach in Dallas.

The Cowboys remain an extremely attractive place for would-be defensive coordinators around the NFL. The instability on the coaching staff may actually work to Dallas’ advantage in a situation such as this.

Mike McCarthy is coaching on the last year of his deal and will likely begin the 2024 season on one of the hottest seats in the league. If a former head coach like Rivera could prove successful in his DC role, he could find himself on the top of the list to replace McCarthy if 2024 indeed proves to be his last in Dallas.

There’s also the matter of the roster Rivera would be taking over. The Cowboys defense may be a little undisciplined and emotional, but they’re also extremely talented.

Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence make up one of the NFL’s best EDGE tandems, while Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland represent arguably the best ball-hawking tandem at cornerback. It’s a unit that might be only a couple pieces away from being dominant.

Between his playing career and coaching career, Rivera has been in the NFL for the better part of four decades. During that time, he’s been affiliated with some of the league’s best defenses, winning a Super Bowl as a player and coaching a Super Bowl as a head coach.

At 62, Rivera still appears to have gas in the tank. And having recently interviewed in Philadelphia for their just-filled DC job, Rivera still clearly has the desire.

While Quinn is still technically the DC in Dallas, it’s safe to assume the Cowboys are doing their due diligence in the background so they can hit the ground running when and if Quinn goes elsewhere in 2024.

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Report: Browns have competition for RBs coach Duce Staley

In addition to the Browns, the Jets are also showing interest in RBs coach Duce Staley

The Browns are looking to rebuild their offensive coaching staff in order to diversify their scheme. They’re attempting to build an offense that plays to the strengths of Deshaun Watson and running backs coach is one of the available positions.

Earlier in the week, the Browns held their first interview for the position when they brought in former NFL running back Duce Staley. After retiring from the NFL, Staley started his coaching career in 2011. According to a report from Browns Insider Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland has competition for Staley’s services as the New York Jets are also looking to hire him.

The team seems to be taking its time identifying targets to join Kevin Stefanski’s staff as it hasn’t had many reported interviews this week. It’ll be exciting to see who is brought in to try and help build up this offense for the 2024 season as Cleveland will look to continue its success from 2023.

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Rumor: NBA executives prepare for possibility of OKC Thunder being buyers

Rumor: NBA executives prepared for possibility of OKC Thunder being buyers

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the better teams in the league through 25 games this season. OKC is 17-8 and in sole possession of second place in the Western Conference.

If the Thunder continue to win at their current pace, they’ll be buyers at the upcoming trade deadline. According to one NBA insider, several league executives already view the Thunder that way.

Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer recently said several executives believe the Thunder will be buyers when it’s all said and done and pivot from their patience route.

“I’ve heard several people say that’s the exact opposite of what they’re going to do (remain patient.) They’re saying that publicly; they’re working behind the scenes.

Who’s gonna know for sure until the trade calls actually start to happen, this is all kind of the early preliminary stages. It’s hard to determine exactly right now how the Thunder are going to operate.

I’ll tell you, every rival executive I’ve spoken to, they are 100% prepared for the possibility for Oklahoma City to do that. Because they are second in the Western Conference right now. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a legitimate MVP candidate. Chet Holmgren, to me, is easily the Rookie of the Year. There’s too many people expecting the Thunder are going to sniff around — with all of their draft picks, there’s just such a great opportunity for them to add someone to this right now.”

The Thunder have already been linked to several players in anticipation of February’s deadline. The type of move OKC could make varies from a franchise-altering trade (Lauri Markkanen) to a borderline starter (Isaiah Stewart) to a more traditional backup rental big (Andre Drummond).

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