Tag: 2021 draft picks

Mike Tomlin: NFL notified Steelers about locker room TikTok dance

The NFL has taken notice of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ maskless, viral TikTok dance, meaning they could join the Saints in losing a draft pick

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The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the AFC North in dramatic fashion, overcoming a 24-7 second half deficit to upset the Indianapolis Colts in their 28-24 victory. Such a big win prompted players to celebrate in the locker room, and videos of their dancing and merrymaking spread quickly across social media.

It recalls a similar incident earlier this year when the New Orleans Saints were smacked with $500,000 in fines and the loss of their seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft. Videos of Saints players and coach Sean Payton’s jubilant, maskless gathering circulated widely online, though they’ve taken great precautions since to abide by the NFL’s new rules amid a pandemic.

And the league office took notice of the COVID-19 violations in Pittsburgh, which Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed on Tuesday.

“It is a continual education process in terms of making sure that our guys understand how important it is that we adhere to the protocols of the pandemic,” Tomlin told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “That being said, sometimes the education is punitive in nature and that’s just the reality of it.”

Like the Saints, the Steelers would be interpreted as repeat offenders against the NFL’s COVID-19 policies. New Orleans and Payton were each fined heavily early this season for failing to toe the line, as were Tomlin and the Steelers organization, who lost a combined $350,000 in November. So it’s possible that Pittsburgh could also forfeit a 2021 draft pick in addition to the cash fines.

These are dramatic losses for teams to suffer, but at least the NFL appears to be taking an even-handed approach (even if details on what specific penalties the Steelers may be facing are not yet available). The league has come too far to afford a slip-up in protocol this late in the season.

With the playoffs just weeks away, a possible outbreak couldn’t appear at a worse time, risking the entire tournament’s structure. So expect the league and its teams to step up their already-intense measures as the stakes continue to heighten.

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Report: Saints appealing loss of 2021 draft pick after COVID-19 protocol breach

The Athletic reports that the New Orleans Saints are appealing the loss of a seventh round draft pick in 2021 following COVID-19 discipline.

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The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan reports that the New Orleans Saints are appealing league disciplinary measures following another failure to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, in which players celebrated in the locker room without masks after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back on Nov. 1.

Penalties issued to New Orleans included the loss of $500,000 in cash and the forfeiture of a 2021 seventh-round draft pick, justified by the league as evidence of the Saints being repeat offenders. Head coach Sean Payton did not keep his face covered during a few early-season games, leading to previous fines from the NFL.

That was enough for the league to go after the entire organization after the Saints joined many other teams in sharing video of their postgame celebration, which is a stretch. None of those other teams have been hit with penalties this severe, and while the Saints have ceded the financial loss (which goes to funds supporting former players anyway), Duncan reports that they are working “through back channels” to overturn the loss of a draft pick in 2021.

It’s understandable that the NFL has to take a hardline stance on this. But some veneer of fairness in how teams are punished for violations should be required. It’s not like the Saints created dozens of positive cases within their organization and forced a series of games to be rescheduled. Maybe cooler heads can still prevail.

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4 NFL landing spots if the Saints trade Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford

The New Orleans Saints might be shopping Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford after the 2020 NFL Draft. Teams like the Ravens should be interested.

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Could the New Orleans Saints trade three-time Pro Bowl right guard Larry Warford? It’s certainly possible, especially after the Saints reinforced their interior line by picking Cesar Ruiz in the 2020 NFL Draft. The idea has been floated by both ESPN’s Bill Barnwell and The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia, but which teams might be interested in Warford’s services? Here are a few suggestions.

Miami Dolphins

Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami signed Ereck Flowers in free agency to start at left guard, prompting last year’s starter Michael Deiter to slide over to the right side. He’ll be competing with in-house options like Jesse Davis, Danny Isidora, and the Ragin’ Cajuns own Robert Hunt, but none of them have the proven track record Warford boasts.

The Dolphins also have a wealth of draft capital to offer, with multiple picks in the first and second rounds (via Houston Texans), as well as rounds six (from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks) and seven (after a trade with the Atlanta Falcons).

However, there isn’t exactly a hot trader’s market for guards right now. The Saints would probably hope to acquire one of the late-round selections rather than a more valuable pick early in next year’s draft.

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Who will be picked No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft and the betting odds for who will be the first overall pick.

We’re just finishing up the 2020 NFL Draft, but we’ll take a look ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft and a few potential candidates for the first overall pick next April.

2021 NFL Draft: Who will go first overall?

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The Cincinnati Bengals nabbed LSU QB Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He is the third straight Heisman Trophy winner and third consecutive quarterback taken with the top overall selection. A signal-caller has been taken first overall in 15 of the past 20 drafts, too. Each of the past three No. 1 overall picks have also been transfer quarterbacks.

While that last tidbit is a bit interesting, that streak is likely to come to an end in 2021. It’s widely believed Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (-250) will be the first player to hear his name called next April.

2021 NFL Draft bets: Trevor Lawrence (-250)

Lawrence, who already has a national championship under his belt from 2018, is also considered to be the favorite for the 2020 Heisman Trophy in college football. In just two seasons in the upstate, he has thrown for 6,945 yards with 66 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions while also running for 740 yards and 10 scores.

Lawrence will no longer have WR Tee Higgins to target downfield, as he will be playing on Sundays with Burrow and the Bengals. WR Justyn Ross (+10000) is expected to be the new No. 1 wideout for Lawrence and the Tigers, and he might also be a Top 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Looking to place a bet on the 2021 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

2021 NFL Draft bets: Justin Fields (+350)

While Lawrence might be the favorite at this juncture, Ohio State QB Justin Fields (+350) is also a candidate for the top spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. And hey, he was a transfer from Georgia to Ohio State before last season, so he fits the trend we discussed above. Fields had a season to remember in 2019, throwing for 3,273 yards while completing 67.2% of his passes. He also tossed 41 touchdowns while being picked off just three times and he ran for 484 yards and 10 more scores.

Fields will be the trigger man in Ryan Day’s wide-open offense, and he has outstanding WR Chris Olave to reel in those big downfield passes.

2021 NFL Draft bets: Penei Sewell (+500)

If you want to think outside of the box, and believe the quarterback run at No. 1 overall will come to an end, Oregon OT Penei Sewell (+500) might be a potential candidate. Sewell protected QB Justin Herbert, now of the Los Angeles Chargers, and he even received one second-place vote for the Heisman in 2019.

2021 NFL Draft bets: Best of the rest

The Bengals, Chargers and Dolphins all picked quarterbacks early in 2020. If they end up back with the No. 1 pick in 2021, they will certainly not be taking a signal-caller again. That’s why Sewell and Ross could be top picks, and at great value.

In addition, watch LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase (+5000), Clemson RB Travis Etienne (+4000), Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood (+4000), Wake Forest QB Jamie Newman (+4000), Penn State LB Micah Parsons (+2000), and Miami QB D’Eriq King (+1400) and DE Gregory Rousseau (+4000) as potential candidates for the top overall selection.

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