Tag: all pro

Chiefs DT Chris Jones’ motivation at training camp: ‘I play football because I love the game’

Kansas City #Chiefs DT Chris Jones’ motivation at training camp: ‘I play football because I love the game’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ veterans have hit the field for their first practice at this year’s training camp.

Chiefs All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones was the lead topic of last year’s camp and is focused on keeping things about his play on the field and helping the team. He explained his motivation to reporters on Sunday after practice.

“I think my mind frame is always to be the best I can be. I strive for DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) every year. It’s a commitment to myself that I make, and I challenge myself to make my teammates better,” said Jones. “I think no matter how much money I’m making, how much money I get, my motives never change. I play football because I love the game, not for anything else.”

Jones has starred on the Chiefs’ defensive line during their three recent Super Bowl victories. He is excited about the chance to make history and become the first NFL team to three-peat.

“I think chasing history is all part of it. When a lot of players retire, they always say they want to lead a game better than when they started,” said Jones. “If we can get this three-peat and continue to add to the legacy of the Kansas City Chiefs, I think it’ll be a huge accomplishment, not only for us but for the NFL.”

Jones is embracing the return to a full training camp after holding out last year during his contract negotiations.

Ryan Ramczyk designated to reserve/physically unable to perform list

Ryan Ramczyk was designated to the reserve/PUP list on Thursday. He’s technically sidelined for the first four games, but his season is effectively over:

It had been looking like for a while now that New Orleans Saints All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s future with the team was in doubt.

Thursday’s announcement confirmed just this.

The Saints shared that Ramczyk was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he’s battling what’s been reported to be a degenerative knee issue. This will officially sideline him for the first four games of the season. If there were any chance Ramczyk could return sooner he wouldn’t be going on PUP.

With Ramczyk being placed on the list, he’s technically eligible to be activated to the roster the Monday after Week 4’s game against the Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 30). But according to NOF’s Nick Underhill, this is unlikely. He writes that “the expectation is that (Ramczyk) is not particularly close and his absence will extend well beyond the first four games. He’s unlikely to play this season.”

From the talk many of us heard this offseason from the Saints front office and coaching staff, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Head coach Dennis Allen made this statement earlier this offseason which gave us our first indication that Ramzyck’s future was uncertain: “We’ve got a plan for him. Certainly we don’t have to make any decisions now, but I haven’t seen the progress that I was hoping to see.”

If it is the end of the road for Ramczyk, he’s enjoyed a heck of a career. The former first-round pick started in all 101 games that he’s appeared in over seven years while also earning three All-Pro selections. That he went on to become one of the NFL’s most dominant right tackles in his prime after playing just a single season of Division I football at Wisconsin, at left tackle, is incredibly impressive.

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WATCH: Washington legend Darrell Green looks like he can still play at 64

Darrell Green has still got it.

Darrell Green is one of the NFL’s greatest cornerbacks. How hard is it to play in the NFL for 20 years, much less at cornerback, where you are on an island on every play?

Green played all 20 seasons in Washington, won two Super Bowls, was a four-time first-team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler and a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team. Green was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 — his first year of eligibility.

Throughout his NFL career, Green was also a four-time winner of the “NFL’s Fastest Man” award.

Since his retirement in 2002, Green has often run the 40-yard dash to show everyone he still had the speed he was famous for. In recent months, Green has returned to the Washington organization under new owner Josh Harris and will have his jersey retired this upcoming season.

These days, Green still trains as if he still plays.

On Sunday, Green took to his Instagram to show he’s still got it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9IKSesxiZJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Keep in mind that Green is 64 years old.

The Commanders could use some help at cornerback in 2024.

Demario Davis building a Hall of Fame resume in a class of his own

Demario Davis is building a Hall of Fame resume in a class of his own. There haven’t been any linebackers as consistent as the Saints’ All-Pro the last six years:

Will Demario Davis have a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? The two-time Pro Bowler has been a late bloomer since signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2018, but there haven’t been many linebackers playing at a higher level since he first put on a gold helmet. He’s been a regular on the Associated Press All-Pro teams, having earned first-team recognition in 2019 and second-team honors every year since.

Now 35, he’s the oldest linebacker in the NFL, but he’s hardly slowed down with age. Since tackles for loss were tracked in 1999, a total of 131 defenders have recorded at least 100 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks in a single season. Davis is the only player in that group to do so seven times. Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker has repeated the feat five times, while 2018 Hall of Fame inductees Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis each did it four times.

Davis is in a class of his own. Still, it might be too little, too late for the Hall of Fame. Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame monitor tracks eligibility for enshrinement for all active players compared to those who have gotten in throughout the HOF’s history. An average inductee’s score falls at 103, and Davis is far beneath that threshold at 51.75. But they’re just guessing, not casting ballots themselves, and Davis’ career isn’t over. Even if they were we’ve seen Hall of Famers get in despite posting scores beneath the threshold like Dave Wilcox (49.88), Robert Brazile (60.75), Andre Tippett (64.88) and Chris Hanburger (68.30). So it might be more accurate to characterize Davis as a long-shot rather than an impossibility.

Hopefully the Hall of Fame voters will consider his case for what it is whenever he becomes eligible. Davis has been the most consistent performer at his position in the league for most of a decade, and he deserves more respect for it. How well he can maintain that standard so deep into his 13-year career remains to be seen, but he’s been winning his battle with Father Time so far.

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PFF picks Rashid Shaheed as Saints’ breakout candidate for 2024

Rashid Shaheed has his hands full in 2024. Expectations are high for him after so much turnover at wide receiver, and he could be a big Saints breakout candidate:

Good NFL teams draft well, but great ones find diamonds in the rough as undrafted free agents. And that’s how the New Orleans Saints found Rashid Shaheed. The former Weber State wideout was not drafted while recovering from a knee injury, so the Saints gave him a shot — and he’s done nothing but beat expectations while climbing the depth chart year over year.

He certainly has fans at Pro Football Focus. PFF’s Bradley Locker identified breakout candidates for all 16 teams in the NFC, and Shaheed was the clearest choice for the Saints. Here’s why expectations are high for him in 2024:

Shaheed made the 2023 All-Pro team as a returner, but don’t sleep on his receiving skills. Last year, he earned a 69.4 receiving grade and dropped just four of his 71 targets. He’s also a dynamic threat down the field, with his 99.9 deep receiving grade pacing the position. Having cut ties with longtime star Michael Thomas, the Saints will need new faces to step up next to Chris Olave, and Shaheed has a fast track to do so under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. If Kubiak uses Shaheed more over the middle of the field as well as in motion, he could become a legitimate weapon.

You could argue that Shaheed already broke out last season; he finished 10th in all-purpose yards (1,479) and was the only player in the league with 700-plus yards from scrimmage and returns. As Locker said, he’s a dynamic deep threat with reliable hands. With more opportunities opening up after the team moved on from Thomas, Shaheed could stand to benefit.

But much of that is on him. The Saints took him off the field at times last year to get backups like Lynn Bowden and Keith Kirkwood into games for running downs, given their greater blocking ability. Shaheed only has about 180 pounds to throw around but becoming more of an all-around asset might convince his coaches to give him more reps. And if he’s out there more often then he’ll be getting open and earning more targets. It’s all connected.

There’s no doubting his receiving skills but running clean routes, catching the ball and making a play isn’t all that’s asked of the Saints’ receivers. Let’s see if he levels up in 2024.

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Former Saints All-Pro Deonte Harty signs with Ravens

Deonte Harty has found a new team. The former Saints All-Pro return man is signing with his hometown Ravens:

Deonte Harty has found a new team. The former New Orleans Saints All-Pro return specialist has signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, returning to his hometown.

Harty spent his first four seasons in the league with the Saints, primarily working as a returner for them. In 2019, Harty led the entire league with 338 punt return yards to go along with a return touchdown. These numbers ultimately led to Harty receiving All-Pro recognition in his very first season.

In 2021, Harty earned an increased role as a receiver in the New Orleans offense, specifically as a deep threat option for Jameis Winston. Harty hit career-high numbers that season with 36 catches for 570 yards and three touchdowns.

However, an injury-plagued season in 2022 led to a parting of ways, but Harty was able to rebound when signing with the Buffalo Bills. Harty was active in 16 games for the Bills last year, providing a spark to their special teams unit, but he was let go as a salary cap casualty this offseason. With the Ravens’ departure of receiver/returner Devin Duvernay, Harty should be able to find himself literally right at home in Baltimore.

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Bills cut former Saints All-Pro Deonte Harty, but don’t expect a reunion

The Bills released Deonte Harty, a former All-Pro returner with the Saints. But a reunion is ‘not currently in the works’ per NOF’s Nick Underhill:

Could the New Orleans Saints bring back Deonte Harty? Their former All-Pro returns specialist was a salary cap casualty with the Buffalo Bills earlier this week, and on Friday he shared on social media that he was visiting New Orleans, saying “Back like I never left.” Harty is an unrestricted free agent who will not count into the compensatory draft picks formula for 2025.

The Saints need to start adding wideouts at some point. With Chris Olave, A.T. Perry, and Rashid Shaheed under contract for 2024 while Michael Thomas heads out into free agency, they’ve filled just three of the 13 training camp roster spots they used last year on receivers. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is going to want his own players and that many vacancies gives him an opportunity to rebuild the depth chart.

But a reunion with Harty is “not currently in the works,” per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. So maybe he was just in town visiting old friends. Shaheed has done everything Harty offered at a higher level both on offense and in the return game.

While there’s a chance the situation could change, don’t bet on it. The Saints have a plan for restocking the receiving corps and Harty might be an option if they can’t get other players they’re prioritizing more highly. If he’s still available this summer when they’re filling out the depth chart for training camp, maybe it makes sense to have him compete for a roster spot. At this time the Saints are looking for help elsewhere.

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Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert says it’s ‘mind-boggling’ he wasn’t an All-Pro

Mostert doesn’t understand how he wasn’t an All-Pro.

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert had the best season of his career in 2023.

The 31-year-old rushed for 1,012 yards and a franchise single-season record 18 touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry. He also added another 175 yards and three scores on 25 receptions. Mostert’s 18 trips to the end zone on the ground this season led the league, and his 21 total touchdowns was tied for the most with San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.

Despite the incredible output, Mostert wasn’t named an All-Pro. McCaffrey was the First-team running back and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams was Second-team.

Mostert took to his podcast, “Relentlessly Motivated with Raheem Mostert,” to share his thoughts on the decision.

McCaffrey finished the season with over 2,000 total yards of offense, so it’s not surprising to see him take home the First-team honors, but Mostert probably should’ve been given Second-team over Williams.

The Rams running back finished with 1,350 total yards and 15 total scores. It’s impressive that he did it all in 12 games, but yards per game was the only statistic that he led the league in this year.

If Mostert feels slighted for not seeing his name on either list, he has a case.

Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace recognized for sensational rookie seasons

Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace were recognized for their outstanding rookie seasons by the PFWA Writers.

As we get farther into the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings continue to see accolades for the 2023 NFL season.

The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling reports that wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace have been selected to the PFWA Writer’s All-Rookie teams.

Addison made the team alongside the Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Pace alongside the Detroit Lions’ Jack Campbell and Rams’ Byron Young.

Addison’s 10 receiving touchdowns rank tied for the 10th-most all-time by a rookie receiver and are the most since Ja’Marr Chase in 2021. When Jefferson went down in week five, Addison was called upon to be the go-to receiver in the offense. Between weeks six and twelve, when Jefferson was out, Addison’s four touchdowns tied for eighth-most by any receiver in the NFL.

Ivan Pace’s 102 combined tackles and 63 solo tackles led all rookie linebackers. It also ranks as the fourth-most tackles in NFL history by an undrafted rookie in their first season, the most since the Atlanta Falcons’ Paul Worrilow in 2013.

Congratulations to both Addison and Pace on their remarkable seasons!

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Rashid Shaheed receives more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills

Rashid Shaheed received more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills, being named to the PFWA All-NFL Team:

Good for Rashid Shaheed: the New Orleans Saints wide receiver received more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills, being named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL and All-NFC Teams. Shaheed was previously selected for the Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro attention for his efforts in the return game.

Shaheed returned 25 punts during the 2023 season (tied for 10th-most) but finished with 339 return yards at an average of 13.6 yards per attempt (third-most in each category). He also scored a touchdown on a 76-yard return against the Green Bay Packers.

Shaheed has developed into a very impressive playmaker for the Saints. His 1,479 all-purpose yards ranked around the NFL, and he was the only player in the league with 700-plus yards from scrimmage as well as 300-plus return yards on both punts and kickoffs. Let’s see how much higher his star can rise.

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