Breaking: Cowboys All-Pro CB DaRon Bland to miss significant time with foot fracture

From @ToddBrock24f7: Last year’s INT leader experienced discomfort last week; tests showed a stress fracture. Bland will undergo surgery to repair the damage.

The injury bug has taken a nasty bite out of the Cowboys’ starting roster just as the preseason comes to an end.

Starting cornerback DaRon Bland will miss six to eight weeks with a stress fracture in his foot, according to a report from Nick Eatman of dallascowboys.com.

The third-year defensive back, who just last year broke the NFL’s all-time single-season record for interception touchdown returns, apparently began experiencing discomfort on Wednesday.

NFL insider Tom Pelissero went on indicate that Bland will undergo surgery to repair the break, which was confirmed after imaging tests.

A fifth-round draft pick out of Fresno State in 2022, Bland notched five interceptions as a rookie. He was then thrust into a starting role last season following Trevon Diggs’s ACL tear and finished with a league-leading nine picks. Five of them were returned for touchdowns. Bland was named a first-team All-Pro for his efforts.

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The injury will further delay getting Diggs and Bland on the field together again, but the Cowboys believe they’ll be in decent shape. Jourdan Lewis remains with the team in his eighth pro campaign, and rookie Caelen Carson turned in a very strong camp. Eric Scott Jr. and newly-acquired veteran Andrew Booth Jr. are also in the mix to make the team’s 53-man roster, along with Kemon Hall, Josh Butler, and Josh DeBerry.

“We’re in great shape at corner because of our young guys coming in,” team owner Jerry Jones said on Dallas radio, per The Athletic‘s Jon Machota. “That’s one of the strengths of our whole team. Our secondary is outstanding.”

The Cowboys’ first eight opponents include several dangerous teams with potent passing attacks: the Browns, Saints, Ravens, Giants, Steelers, Lions, 49ers, and Falcons.

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Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt to interview for Patriots GM role

The Eagles could be set to lose another key member of the front office personnel, as Adam Schefter reports that Brandon Hunt will interview for the Patriots lead personnel job (GM).

The Eagles could be set to lose another key front office personnel member, as Adam Schefter reports that Brandon Hunt will interview for the Patriots’ lead personnel job (GM).

Hunt was a homegrown talent for the Steelers and a Pittsburgh native who attended IUP and had been learning on the job under Kevin Colbert for almost 15 years.

Hunt officially joined Pittsburgh’s scouting department in 2010 and was named the pro scouting coordinator for Houston after Doug Whaley was hired as the general manager of the Buffalo Bills.

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The move to Philadelphia was essentially a trade of front-office personnel, with Andy Weidl joining the Steelers as Omar Khan’s assistant GM.

For New England, the interview process is a chance to balance the front office with proper titles after former head coach Bill Belichick did not have a traditionally titled general manager in his 24 seasons.

Krafts (ownership) hasn’t employed one since owning the team, and current senior personnel Eliot Wolf is the favorite to land the job.

Bombshell: Nick Saban retiring from coaching

Holy smokes!

Perhaps the greatest coach in the history of college football is retiring.

Nick Saban, who led Alabama to national championships in six different seasons and LSU to another is stepping down.

He does so after leading Alabama to another College Football Playoff appearance this season, something the Crimson Tide did in eight of the 10 years of the playoff’s existence under Saban.

Saban is a football legend who saw as much success as anyone who has ever coached the game.

Who ends up being the next Alabama head coach is anyone’s guess but the rumors will be plentiful.

Just to throw my two sense out there – my money would be on Lane Kiffin to jump from Ole Miss.

Be sure to check into Roll Tide Wire for all the happenings as Alabama now looks to replace a true legend.

A Wisconsin legend is working to supplant Adam Schefter

A Wisconsin legend is working to supplant Adam Schefter

Former Wisconsin defensive end and NFL legend J.J. Watt has a new angle in retirement. First, he’s part of the CBS NFL gameday crew as an analyst. Second, he is a cheerleader for his brother T.J. and tweets whenever he makes a big play. Third, he might now be entering the breaking news business.

Yesterday, the Wisconsin legend broke the news that Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz requested, and was granted, his release from the Arizona Cardinals. The long-time star tight end is now looking for a contender to join for the rest of the 2023 season.

There were follow-up reports that the Ravens and Eagles both make sense as destinations. But move over Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, there might be some company in your world.

Jason Kelce to host 3rd annual celebrity bartending event for Eagles Autism Foundation

To raise funds for the Eagles Autism Foundation, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce will host his 4rd annual celebrity bartending event on Wednesday, June 28

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Jason Kelce loves a good beer, and fans from around Philadelphia and New Jersey metro area will have another chance to see the All-Pro serving drinks.

The Eagles just announced that Kelce will host his 3rd annual celebrity bartending event at the Ocean Drive (OD) on Wednesday, June 28 from 4-8 pm to raise funds for the Eagles Autism Foundation and Team 62.

The OD is located at 3915 Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243. Fans and supporters can donate to Jason’s Eagles Autism Challenge fundraising page by visiting http://haku.ly/team62.

There will be a $10 cover charge at the door for all guests. Proceeds from the evening – which include cover charge, bartending tips, raffles, autographed items, and an exclusive Team 62 pinnie – will benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation. In addition to the celebrity bartending experience at the OD, Paddy’s Green will feature a family-friendly atmosphere from 4-6 pm with giveaways and activations.

The inaugural event held in June 2021 raised $100,000 for the Eagles Autism Challenge, which included $50,000 in proceeds and a matching donation of $50,000 from Jason and his wife, Kylie.

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Raiders select Arizona State DT Nesta Jade Silvera at No. 231

Raiders select Arizona State DT Nesta Jade Silvera

With their final scheduled pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Arizona State DT Nesta Jade Silvera at pick No. 231.

Silvera is a 6’2, 304-pound defensive tackle who played at Miami (FL) and then Arizona State. He has appeared in 53 games but has only totaled 3.5 career sacks. His best work comes as a nose tackle, but he can also play as a one-technique in a 4-3 defense.

The Raiders have a ton of depth at defensive tackle, but not a lot of proven names. Silvera should have a chance to compete for a roster spot as a rookie.

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Raiders select Maryland CB Jakorian Bennett at No. 104

Raiders select Maryland CB Jakorian Bennett at No. 104

The Raiders have made their fifth pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting Maryland CB Jakorian Bennett with the No. 104 pick.

Bennett is a press-man coverage who ran in the 4.3s at the NFL Combine. Bennett is a highly aggressive cornerback who loves to tackle and was a playmaker.

Here is what Dane Brugler of The Athletic had to say about Bennett:

A three-year starter at Maryland, Bennett was primarily an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Brian Williams’ balanced scheme. After only one season of high school varsity football, he went the juco route and then blossomed with the Terrapins, logging more passes defended (31) than games played (28) in his Maryland career. Bennett has NFL play speed and controls his throttle well to maintain competitive spacing in man coverage (zero touchdowns allowed in 2022).

With his ball skills, he displays an innate ability to judge and disrupt the catch point, although teams must be comfortable with the tradeoff, which is his aggressive propensity to draw flags.

Overall, Bennett’s lack of discipline mid-route and at the catch point created rough patches on tape, but his cover speed and knack for getting his hands on the football are traits that will follow him to the NFL. He will compete for gunner reps and defensive snaps as a rookie.

He is the first secondary player that the Raiders have selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Bennett should be able to compete for snaps right away as a rookie.

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Raiders select Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker at pick No. 100

Raiders select Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker at pick No. 100

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The Las Vegas Raiders have made their fourth pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and that was Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker at pick No. 100. Tucker ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at 182 pounds at his team’s Pro Day, which is one of the reasons they took him at the end of Round 3.

Tucker had 112 catches in college for 1,433 yards and eight touchdowns during his college career. He played in over 50 games during his four-year career at Cincinnati.  He can also impact the return game, returning kicks and punts for the Bearcats.

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Raiders trade up to No. 35, select Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer

Raiders trade up to No. 35, select Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer

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The Las Vegas Raiders have made their second pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, trading up to No. 35 with the Indianapolis Colts. With that selection, the Raiders have selected Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer.

The cost for the Raiders to move up three spots was pick No. 141, a very small cost to secure an offensive playmaker.

Mayer was widely viewed as the top tight end in the class but slipped a bit due to a lack of speed. However, he is the best overall tight end in the class and will excel in Josh McDaniels’ offense.

Mayer is the all-time leading receiver at tight end from Notre Dame, totaling over 2,000 receiving yards. He had back-to-back 800-yard seasons for the Fighting Irish and his only 21 years old. His best football is still ahead of him and should be a Day 1 starter for Las Vegas.

The Raiders selected Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson at pick No. 7. Their next pick will be at No. 70.

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