Tag: derrick mason

Bucs WR Mike Evans moves up all-time receiving yards ladder

As Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans continues his trek towards enshrinement at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

As Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans continues his trek towards enshrinement at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the 11-year veteran moved up the all-time receiving yards ladder in Thursday’s matchup.

Entering the divisional matchup, Evans sat in the 31st position with 11,894 yards, slightly behind Dallas Cowboys great -and Hall of Famer- Michael Irvin, who amassed 11,904 yards in his 12 years of service with the Cowboys. Baker Mayfield’s first pass attempt of the game was a completion to Evans for 15 yards, moving him into the Top 30 all-time.

Assuming Evans keeps his 1,000-yard streak intact this season, the Bucs WR will have at least 12,680 receiving yards in his career, surpassing DeAndre Hopkins for the 23rd most.

23. DeAndre Hopkins – 12,476

24. Brandon Marshall – 12,351

25. Antonio Brown – 12,291

26. Jimmy Smith – 12,287

27. Charlie Joiner – 12,146

28. Hines Ward – 12,083

29. Derrick Mason – 12,061

Oh, and Evans Is also closing in on being in exclusive company in receiving touchdowns. With two more of those, he will become just the 11th player in NFL history to record 100 or more.

Eight former Titans nominated for 2025 HOF class

The nominees for the 2025 Hall of Fame class have been released and there are eight former Tennessee Titans who received a nomination.

The nominations for the NFL’s 2025 Hall of Fame class have been announced and there are eight former Tennessee Titans who could be among those inducted next year.

Delanie Walker, former Titans’ tight end, is one of 16 players on the list who are in their first year of eligibility. The other Titans include quarterback Steve McNair, running back Eddie George, running back Chris Johnson, fullback Lorenzo Neal, wide receiver Derrick Mason, cornerback Samari Rolle and kicker Gary Anderson.

There are 167 modern-era players nominated for the 2025 Hall of Fame class, including 94 offensive players, 56 defensive players, and 17 special teams players.

Around mid-October, the Screening Committee will announce a reduced 50-player list, and the full 50-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee will reduce the list to 25 players. A second vote will trim the number to 15 before a list of 20 nominees are presented to the full Selection Committee.

Those 20 nominees will consist of 15 modern-era players, three Senior Finalists, a Coach’s Finalist, and a Contributor Finalist. There is no set number of people to enshrine each year, but the selection process bylaws state that four to eight players will be inducted.

The committee will meet next year before the Super Bowl to make a final vote on who will be inducted. To be inducted, finalists must receive 80% of the vote.

Ex-Titans WR Derrick Mason set to compete in cornhole competition

Former Titans WR Derrick Mason will be competing in a cornhole competition on Friday night, which will be broadcast on ESPN2.

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Former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Derrick Mason is a bit of a polarizing figure within the fanbase.

There’s no denying that the Michigan State product is statistically the greatest wide receiver to ever wear the Two-tone blue.

However, as great as Mason was, his departure was one of the toughest things to stomach as a fan considering he joined what was undoubtedly the Titans’ biggest rival at that time, the Baltimore Ravens.

To add more salt to the wound, Mason then turned around and caught the sole touchdown in the 2008 playoff matchup, which ultimately played a large role in ending what could have been a dream season for the Titans.

As with everything else, time helps to heal all wounds, therefore, many have chosen to put the pettiness aside and appreciate what Mason accomplished throughout his eight seasons in Tennessee.

For those fans, they’ll now have the opportunity to cheer for Mason in something completely different than what they’re used to.

The former All-Pro wideout is set to compete in a cornhole competition on Friday night at the Hall of Fame village in Canton, Ohio, with fellow NFL legends such as Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, and Andre Reed also taking part. It will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET.

I’m not much of a cornhole player myself, so I can’t provide any analysis here, but let’s just hope Mason is as good at cornhole as he was at breaking young Shaun’s heart.

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Derrick Mason disagrees with A.J. Brown, says he wasn’t Titans’ best WR: ‘This isn’t a debate’

Derrick Mason disagrees with A.J. Brown, who called himself the best WR in franchise history.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown sparked quite the debate on social media recently when he stated that he was the best wide receiver in Tennessee Titans history.

The comment came in a Twitter spat with a Titans fan, where Brown claimed the title of the franchise’s best receiver.

“For the love of God, I was the best receiver to play for your franchise. Shut up and move on. You mad at the wrong person,” Brown said.

Upon learning of Brown’s claim, which has often been made by Titans fans themselves, debate raged on social media about who really is the best wide receiver in franchise history.

Some Oilers greats were rightly brought up, but the name most commonly mentioned was Titans great Derrick Mason, who gave his two cents on the debate, according to Buck Reising of AtoZ Sports Nashville:

“I had four 1000-plus yards seasons and missed only six games,” Mason told Reising. “But, people deal in revisionist history. This isn’t a debate.”

Over eight seasons with the Titans, Mason broke the 1,000-yard mark four times, including a pair of 1,100-yard campaigns and one 1,300-yard season. He was also voted to a pair of Pro Bowls and was a First-Team All-Pro once.

When you talk about the best receiver of the Titans era, it’s Mason. If you’re talking throughout franchise history that includes the Oilers, that’s another debate, but Brown still doesn’t top the list there.

Brown simply didn’t spend enough years in Nashville to have the numbers to back up his claim. However, had he stayed, this might’ve been a different conversation years down the line.

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Oklahoma Sooners’ 2022 opponents ranked

The Oklahoma Sooners 2022 schedule offers several tough matchups, but how do their opponents rank when stacked up against one another?

The Oklahoma Sooners get the benefit of home-field advantage against the top teams of the Big 12 in 2022. After going on the road to face Baylor and Oklahoma State last season, they’ll get the 2021 Big 12 championship representatives in the friendly confines of Owen Field.

An early-season clash in Lincoln against the Nebraska Cornhuskers will provide a huge test to the new-look Sooners. Late season road trips to Iowa State, West Virginia, and Texas Tech loom large as well.

Every year in the Big 12 provides a tough slate of games, but the Sooners coaching staff is no stranger to preparing for and playing in tough environments and big-time matchups.

In an early look at the 2022 schedule, let’s see how the Oklahoma Sooners stack up as we rank their matchups from worst to first.

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Ravens TE Mark Andrews breaks franchise single-season receptions record

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews broke the team’s receptions record in Week 18 against the Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens have been blessed with great talent at tight end over the course of their 25-year history. One of those players is Mark Andrews, who has become known as not only one of the best players at his position, but arguable the best in team history. The Pro Bowler’s latest performance has put himself in the record books once again.

In Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Andrews notched the all-time franchise record for receptions with 104, passing former Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason, who had 103 during the 2007 season.

Andrews notched the record on a 10-yard catch from quarterback Tyler Huntley late in the second quarter.

Andrews has become the team’s favorite target no matter who is taking snaps at quarterback. Andrews currently has five games of over 100 receiving yards this season. With talented wide receivers like Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman and Sammy Watkins on the team, it makes the record that much more impressive.

Andrews has arguably established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league. He will most certainly go down as one of the best tight ends in team history and may one day find himself a gold jacket in Canton, Ohio.

Ravens have best odds to land Julio Jones according to SportsLine

The Baltimore Ravens have been linked to Julio Jones for years. Could they be interested in Jones if the Atlanta Falcons make him available?

The Baltimore Ravens have been looking to acquire a true No. 1 wide receiver for a long time. While Baltimore has had some great receivers suit up in purple and black that include Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, and Steve Smith Sr., the team has explored plenty of avenues to find their next star pass catcher, whether through the draft, a trade, or free agency.

It was reported on Monday that teams were calling the Atlanta Falcons in regards to the availability of wide receiver Julio Jones, who has had his name come up in trade rumors for years.

Jones, 32, has been one of the best receivers in the NFL over the course of his career, accumulating 848 receptions, 12,896 receiving yards, and 60 receiving touchdowns. His health is a question mark and his touchdown production can sometimes be spotty, but there’s no doubt that Jones would make the Ravens’ offense better.

SportsLine.com released odds for Jones’ next team in the event that he’s traded, and Baltimore leads the way as the favorites.

In the article explaining the odds, Matt Severance explains that he’s shocked that Baltimore hasn’t gone out and acquired a true No. 1 receiver yet.

It’s almost shocking the Ravens haven’t addressed the position yet this offseason (Antonio Brown is still a possibility) and they could take a wideout with their first-round pick Thursday.”

If the Ravens wanted to make a move for Jones, he wouldn’t be cheap, as not only would the team have to give up draft compensation to acquire him, but his contract is somewhat expensive over the next three years.

Jones has been linked to Baltimore for a while, and with reports saying that Atlanta could possibly move Jones due to salary cap purposes, it’s fair to speculate whether the Ravens would be interested. It would certainly take a lot to acquire a player like Jones, but if he can stay healthy he’d be well worth it.

Ravens vs. Titans: 7 fun facts about this Week 11 matchup

There are a lot of similarities between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans heading into their Week 11 tilt.

The Baltimore Ravens take on the Tennessee Titans in a battle of ailing teams sitting at 6-3. Both teams lost last week and are looking to not only get back to their winning ways but pick up a critical win that will propel them in the AFC playoff picture.

It’s an old-school rivalry that harkens back to the early days of both the Ravens and Titans franchises coming into the league. With revenge on Baltimore’s mind after getting booted from the playoffs by Tennessee last year, there’s a little something extra this week.

Before the teams kick off this weekend, here are seven interesting little facts about this rivalry that you can entertain your friends and family with.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson among 10 ex-Jets eligible for 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that 130 modern-era nominees, including 10 former Jets, would be eligible for the Class of 2021.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that 130 Modern-Era nominees are eligible for the Class of 202l. A total of 10 ex-Jets are eligible, headlined by former OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

Retiring following the 2015 season, Ferguson is one of 14 first-year eligible nominees. That list also includes Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, Steven Jackson, Charles Tillman and Charles Woodson.

Occupying the left side of the offensive line for over a decade, Ferguson was a model of consistency. Across 10 seasons, Ferguson played in 160 straight games, never missing one. In fact, he played 10,707 out of 10,708 possible snaps, missing just one his entire career.

Another ex-Jet who is eligible is John Abraham, who is one of the best pass-rushers in franchise history. Nearly 15 years after trading him, the Jets haven’t come close to replicating his production off the edge, which included 53.5 sacks in green and white.

James Hasty played in 111 games for Gang Green from 1988-94 at the cornerback position. His career didn’t take off until he moved on to Kansas City, where he earned two Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors.

The remaining seven were footnotes in Jets’ history, but some played a pivotal role in the organization’s success. Alan Faneca, who is known more for his time in Pittsburgh, spent two seasons with Gang Green but helped the team reach the 2009 AFC Championship Game with his play in the trenches.

Nick Lowery finished out his career with Gang Green from 1994-96 after serving as the Chiefs’ primary kicker for 13 seasons. Lorenzo Neal played one season for Gang Green in 1997, starting all 16 games at fullback. Matt Turk punted in the NFL across 16 seasons and was New York’s legman for the 2002 season.

Derrick Mason, one of the better receivers of his generation, was one of the worst free agent signings in Jets history. He complained about the offense and was later demoted to the scout team; his tenure in New York lasted just two months. Josh Cribbs played just one season for the Jets in 2013; he was known more for his return abilities in Cleveland.

Finally, Tim McDonald never suited up for the Jets, but he was on Rex Ryan’s coaching staff as the team’s defensive backs coach from 2013-14.

After a large cutdown process, the Class of 2021 will be announced the day before Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Florida.

Derrick Mason feels disrespected by snub on Ravens’ all-time team list

Despite owning most of the Baltimore Ravens’ receiving records, wide receiver Derrick Mason was left off the all-time team list by fans.

To celebrate their 25 years as a franchise in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens asked fans to help create the all-time best starting lineup. While all the selections had merit and it’s a solid team, there were always going to be snubbed players. However, the most egregious had to be wide receiver Derrick Mason, with fans voting Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith Sr. as the team’s starters over him.

Mason was with Baltimore for six seasons after spending his first eight years with the Tennessee Titans (Oilers). He holds the top receiving records in Ravens history, topping the charts in targets (768), receptions (471) and receiving yards (5,777) while finishing third in receiving touchdowns (29). Though Mason missed out on both of Baltimore’s Super Bowl victories, he was a major help in getting franchise-leading quarterback Joe Flacco up to speed quickly.

With how important he was to the franchise and where he stands in the team’s record books, Mason was rightfully upset at the snub. He took to Twitter to voice his displeasure, giving fans a little of the “no respect” line comedian Rodney Dangerfield was famous for.

While both Boldin and Smith have clear places in Baltimore’s legacy, neither come close to topping the franchise’s record books in any major stat. Though both players were with the Ravens for just three years compared to Mason’s six, only Smith managed to put up more yards and receptions per game. At the same time, neither Boldin nor Smith had Kyle Boller, Anthony Wright, or Troy Smith throwing them balls like Mason had before Flacco was selected in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Ravens fans had a tough job of selecting from a bunch of really great players at nearly every position. But it’s tough to see recency bias kick such a monumental player from his earned spot on the all-time list.

Take a look at the selections for Baltimore’s all-time team below.

Ravens All-Time Team: Offense

QB Lamar Jackson
RB Jamal Lewis
FB Vonta Leach
WR Anquan Boldin
WR Steve Smith Sr.
TE Todd Heap
T Jonathan Ogden
G Marshal Yanda
C Matt Birk
G Kelechi Osemele
T Ronnie Stanley

Ravens All-Time Team: Defense

DE Michael McCrary
DT Haloti Ngata
DT Tony Siragusa
OLB Terrell Suggs
OLB Peter Boulware
ILB Ray Lewis
ILB C.J. Mosley
CB Chris McAlister
CB Marlon Humphrey
S Ed Reed
S Rod Woodson

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