Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The New York Giants went off the beaten path for their next head coach hire, reportedly going with a name not many have heard yet: Joe Judge.
The New York Giants went off the beaten path for their next head coach hire, reportedly going with a name not many have heard yet: Joe Judge.
The Carolina Panthers are making a huge commitment to their new head coach Matt Rhule.
Panthers are giving former Baylor HC Matt Rhule a seven-year – seven year – deal worth $60 million that with incentives could be worth up to $70 million, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2020
The Carolina Panthers are making a huge commitment to their new head coach Matt Rhule. According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, Rhule’s contract is for seven years and is worth $60 million. The deal includes incentives that could push the total to $70 million.
The timing of Rhule’s hiring came as a surprise, as the team was set to interview Josh McDaniels today as well as Kevin Stefanski later in the week.
Rhule had the least NFL experience of the candidates, but he does bring a well-rounded history, having coached several different position groups as well as offense, defense and special teams.
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ESPN’s ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ to broadcast live from Philly ahead of Eagles vs. Cowboys
Philadelphia will be the center of the NFL universe this weekend as two prominent ESPN shows will make their way to the city to join in on the Eagles-Cowboys hype.
Taking a cue from their Monday Night Football counterparts and for the first time this season, ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown is going on the road from its studio in Bristol, Conn., to Xfinity Live across the street from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia ahead of the Birds playoff-like match-up against the Dallas Cowboys per a press release.
“With the playoffs on the line this week in Philadelphia, there is nowhere we would rather be on Sunday morning,” said Matthew Garrett, ESPN coordinating producer. “We have taken Countdown on the road to some of the NFL’s biggest matchups in recent years and this Cowboys-Eagles rivalry game certainly fits that bill. The passion of Eagles fans is extraordinary and we can’t wait to put it on display this Sunday at Xfinity Live!”
ESPN reporters Sal Paolantonio and Ed Werder will report live from Lincoln Financial Field, while NFL insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will handle their roles from ESPN headquarters in Bristol.
Rivera elaborated more on what he’s looking for in his next gig on Adam Schefter’s podcast Tuesday.
If you thought Ron Rivera would take a year off from the NFL like Mike McCarthy, you don’t know Rivera. The former Panthers head coach told reporters last week he plans to continue coaching and he should have no shortage of job offers once this season is over.
Rivera elaborated more on what he’s looking for in his next gig on Adam Schefter’s podcast Tuesday. Here’s a snippet of Rivera talking about what he wants.
Former Panthers’ HC Ron Rivera discusses what he’s looking for in his next job:
🎧 https://t.co/PzoJNeBvL2 pic.twitter.com/tYIwhhMHjy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 11, 2019
You can listen to the full podcast here.
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The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The 46-year old will reportedly have surgery to repair his ailing knee that’s been causing discomfort throughout the season.
The injury had led to the worst kicking season in his career, with an NFL-leading 14 missed kicks this season. It’s not the way we want to remember the NFL’s all-time leading scorer (2,673 points) and perhaps the greatest placekicker in league history is over.
From Week 3 to Week 8, he made 11 of his 12 extra points and 10 of his next 12 field goals, including a 45-yard game-winner against the Denver Broncos.
Colts head coach Frank Reich said last week Vinatieri’s knee flared up during practice and pregame warmups Sunday leading into the Titans game, but he “gutted it out.”
However, the team medical personnel decided it was in his best interest to call it a season.
The Colts now turn to Chase McLaughin.
The team claimed the 23-year-old rookie from Cypress, Texas off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers last week and he booted 5-of-6 kicks through the upright during Sunday’s 38-35 loss in Tampa.
If this was his last season in the NFL, we’ll all remember the memorable kicks he made in his five Super Bowl appearances and 29 game-winning kicks.
The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
NFL free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor was hospitalized after getting stabbed in the chest on Saturday morning in Pittsburgh.
Free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, who spent time with the Seattle Seahawks back in 2014, was hospitalized and sent into emergency surgery on Saturday morning following a stabbing at his Pittsburgh apartment, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Former NFL WR Terrelle Pryor underwent surgery this morning and is in critical condition after being stabbed last night at his Pittsburgh apartment in the shoulder and chest, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 30, 2019
Follow-up reports indicated that Pryor’s surgery was successful and his condition was upgraded to stable, with family members confirming he is expected to make a full recovery.
The Pittsburgh Police department announced later in the afternoon that Pryor was arrested and charged with simple assault, and Shalaya Briston was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault and Criminal Attempted Homicide.
Police arrested Terrelle Pryor and charged him with Simple Assault.
Shalaya Briston was arrested and has been charged with Criminal Attempt Homicide and Aggravated Assault. https://t.co/yoQUIO8qzg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 30, 2019
Pryor starred at Ohio State as a quarterback and ended up getting selected in the first round of the supplemental draft by the Oakland Raiders in 2011.
His career as a quarterback fizzled out however, and the Seahawks traded a seventh round pick for him in 2014. He was waived before the season began, and eventually made the transition to wide receiver where he starred for the Browns and Redskins.
He remains unsigned after hauling in 16 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns in 2018, split between the Bills and the Jets.
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Per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is “maniacal” about returning to play this season.
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is “maniacal” about returning to the field this season and playing as soon as he can.
The opportunity to return soon is reasonable, as it was noted last week that Stafford’s fractured bones were a six-week back injury, with the possibility of returning earlier.
With the Lions playoff chances at less than one percent, and Jeff Driskel doing a formidable job as the Lions quarterback, it was also reported that the Lions front office has been discussing shutting Stafford down for the remainder of the season. It’s not a secret that the Lions franchise quarterback wants to play, and it was reiterated to reporters on Wednesday that he is doing everything he can to get back under center as quickly as possible.
Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn’s jobs are potentially both on thin ice, as the franchise has taken steps backwards since relieving Jim Caldwell of his coaching duties, and finishing the season strong could go a long way in job security — especially if it’s without their franchise quarterback.
Does Quinn ignore the toughness and tenacity of Stafford and shut him down to preserve him for next season? Or will Quinn succumb to the quarterback’s repeated requests to play again this season, regardless of the teams standings?
Only time will tell.
Many wondered if the Bears would do their due diligence on QB Colin Kaepernick, who held a private workout Saturday. They allegedly did not.
NFL teams looking to bolster their quarterback room finally got the chance to witness an in-person training session from polarizing free agent Colin Kaepernick, as he held a public workout just outside Atlanta in which multiple teams were in attendance.
The question in Chicago leading up to the heavily-discussed workout was whether or not the Bears would have someone in attendance to scout the former 49ers passer. The answer would have been yes, had the workout gone according to plan.
Approximately 30 minutes before the workout was set to take place at the Atlanta Falcons facilities, Kaepernick and his representatives decided to cancel the closed NFL-organized session and instead, hold a separate workout at a local high school that was open to the public. The change was due to a waiver Kaepernick needed to sign prior to the workout and his disagreement with the NFL for not allowing the media to attend. The new workout started an hour after the NFL-organized session was set to begin.
Following the decision, the NFL released a statement that 25 teams were set to view the workout planned at the Falcons’ facility. According to ESPN Falcons beat writer Vaughn McClure, one of those teams happened to be the Bears.
Looks like Bears and Jaguars here pic.twitter.com/yLfWR9yPgu
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) November 16, 2019
McClure tweeted the photo above just prior to the news of the location change. Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic also confirmed the Bears were present to see the NFL’s scheduled workout. The new location was a high school in Riverdale, GA, an Atlanta suburb nearly 60 miles away from the Falcons facility in Flowery Branch.
When Kaepernick’s workout began, only eight teams followed the quarterback to his new location to see him throw.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter confirms the Chiefs, Jets, Eagles, Titans, 49ers, Redskins, and Lions were present, with a mystery team still yet to be identified.
Bills said they did not attend Colin Kaepernick’s workout; so there was an eighth team there that still needs to be identified. https://t.co/ZficY1bTNE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 17, 2019
After about 40 minutes, the chaotic day concluded and Kaepernick spoke to reporters.
“We’re out here, we’re ready to play, we’re ready to go anywhere,” he said.
As far as the Bears’ interest in Kaepernick goes, it’s still unclear if they were present at the actual workout as there was one mystery team in attendance that has yet to be identified. But it appears they were initially interested in seeing the 32-year old, who burst onto the scene against the Bears, torching them in a 32-7 victory nearly seven years ago to the day when he made his first career start.
The chaos surrounding the workout, however, created more questions. Did the Bears back out once the NFL was no longer involved? Were they the mystery team that has yet to be identified? How much interest did the Bears actually have in Kaepernick?
Unless general manager Ryan Pace elects to sign him, we may never know the answers. But one thing is clear: the Bears planned to do their due diligence in seeing Kaepernick throw, looking at all options to potentially upgrade their quarterback room.
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