Tag: Ian Rapoport

Aaron Rodgers: Top NFL reporters don’t have sources within inner circle

Aaron Rodgers on Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter: “When it comes to me, they don’t know (expletive). They really don’t.”

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds no personal animosity toward Ian Rapoport of NFL Network or Adam Schefter of ESPN, but the four-time NFL MVP is certain neither league insider has sources inside his own inner circle.

The topic was broached on Tuesday as Rodgers discussed his upcoming “darkness retreat,” which was incorrectly reported by Rapoport to have started on Monday.

“I have no problem with Ian Rapoport, (Adam) Schefter, I think they are really good at their jobs,” Rodgers told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “When it comes to me, they don’t know (expletive). They really don’t. They don’t have inner sources. They don’t have people in my inner circle who are sources, I promise you that. And anyone who would talk to them are not in my inner circle. It’s that simple.”

Rodgers said Rapoport “doesn’t have anybody who knows legitimately what’s going on in my life” and confirmed Rapoport doesn’t have his phone number.

“You do a great job, but not when it comes to my life, so stop talking about it,” Rodgers said.

To set the record straight: Rodgers is beginning the retreat at some point at the end of this week, but he wouldn’t provide a specific day. The Packers quarterback is expected to have a better sense of his future in football by the end of the four-day exercise.

Here’s the clip from Tuesday (warning: expletives):

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Ian Rapoport says the Saints are the front-runner for Derek Carr

Ian Rapoport said the Saints are the front-runner for Raiders QB Derek Carr, though no trade has been agreed to just yet:

Derek Carr is busy meeting with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, and we’ve got some insight on the situation from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Rapoport broke things down during an appearance on the Pac McAfee Show, in which he said the Saints are the front-runner to acquire the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback. That doesn’t mean things are signed, sealed, and delivered, but it does mean things are trending that way.

One point Rapoport clarified is that the Saints and Raiders have not necessarily agreed on trade compensation so much as reached an understanding on the framework of a deal: “What my understanding of the situation is, he was only going to be allowed to visit if a team was willing to give the compensation that it would take to do a trade. … They’re in the ballpark. They’re in the conversation. It’s not like, I know the pick, here’s what it is. It’s like, yeah, this is kind of the range a pick might be.”

And Rapoport added other scenarios to the discussion: what if Carr is willing to redo his contract to facilitate a trade, which would add incentive to the Raiders in taking on some of his salary, thus increasing the asking-price? What if Carr doesn’t want to weaken the Saints by forcing them to send a draft pick when he could wait and sign with them as a free agent? What if the Saints aren’t willing to pay him what he’s seeking on a contract extension?

These are all topics that will be discussed during his visit, and any scenario will change the specific draft-pick compensation going back to Las Vegas. At the end of the day, everyone needs to be on the same page. Carr and the Saints need to agree on the money. The Saints and the Raiders need to agree on the trade compensation. If either of those two conversations go sideways, a trade won’t happen.

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Dolphins fans await official Vic Fangio confirmation

When we will officially know what’s going on with the reportedly hired DC?

Sunday was a day of elation for Miami Dolphin fans, as news broke that coveted defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was all but locked up and hired by the franchise. However, following rumors across social media over the last few days, it seems that there’s some speculation as to whether or not Fangio made it official.

With Fangio being one of the top defensive minds in the league and experienced in running top-tier units, it would be a match made in heaven with the supply of talent at his disposal in Miami.

Yet, as we sit on Tuesday morning, there’s still some conjecture as to if Fangio is signed, sealed and to be delivered. From a timeline standpoint, the usual suspects in NFL reporting broke the news, creating a tidal wave of excitement across the fan base just two days ago.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted the news on Sunday just prior to when the Philadelphia Eagles and San Fransisco 49ers kicked off their NFC Championship game. Ironically, it’s the Eagles with which Fangio has been a consultant this season, following a three-year stint as the Denver Broncos head coach.

Fellow insider Ian Rapoport confirmed with a tweet of his own, and the floodgates then opened with media members and fans alike rejoicing.  With confirmations flying from trusted Miami beat reporters as well as broadcasters and talking heads from across football, 48 hours later, many are wondering if the deal is in fact done.

The fire was set Monday when another The Volume’s Michael Silver tweeted his own grouping of characters which read like a Stephen King novella to the Miami fan base.

This tweet may as well have been the equivalent of lighting a match to a firestorm of worry and wonder. Fans have resorted to asking reporters to re-confirm something that we may not truly know… has already been confirmed.

The worry now is the lingering and eliminated 49ers, whom Fangio had a role with from 2011-14 as their defensive coordinator. He helped take that team to a Super Bowl during the 2012 season. Their current defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, looks to become a head coach, creating an opening in San Fransisco for his role.

Following the Silver tweet, yet another prominent NFL insider, Peter King, chimed in.

With this being the week of Groundhog Day, which falls this Thursday, February 2, Dolphins fans may just be experiencing the same day for a few days, if not a week or so. The only thing that will put all the rumors to rest, will be a Dolphins press conference introducing Fangio.

We will all stay tuned to when that will be announced…hopefully.

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Is Joe Burrow going to reset the quarterback market when he signs an extension?

Ian Rapoport thinks Burrow will get the next market-resetting quarterback deal.

The NFL is a constant game of one-upmanship.

When one elite player signs a new mega-contract, every other elite player at that position will search for a deal that either matches or, in some cases, exceeds the current largest contract.

With no position is this more pronounced than quarterback, to whom the largest deals are given. Patrick Mahomes is currently the quarterback king after signing a 10-year, $450 million extension (which has the highest total value among quarterback contracts though not the highest yearly salary).

However, there are a number of talented young quarterbacks still playing on rookie deals, and one of them is former LSU quarterback [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag].

Burrow is in the midst of a fantastic third year with the Cincinnati Bengals, who he has guided to the AFC Championship for the second straight year and will look to return to the Super Bowl. Burrow has one more season on his rookie contract (plus the fifth-year team option), and he could be in the market for an extension.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said of all the pending quarterback deals, he thinks Burrow will be the one to reset the market.

“If anyone could do it, Burrow could do it,” Rapoport said.

It’s hard to argue with Rapoport’s logic here, considering everything Burrow has accomplished to begin his NFL career. Winning a Super Bowl this season would be the icing on the cake, but regardless, locking Burrow down for the long term should be the Bengals’ top priority entering the 2023 season.

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Geno Smith ‘will be back’ with Seahawks in 2023

This meshes with what head coach Pete Carroll has said publicly.

According to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, quarterback Geno Smith will be back with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2023 season. This meshes with what head coach Pete Carroll has said publicly, telling reporters earlier this week that Geno had “better be back.”

Obviously, no official deal has been struck. In any case, whether the team re-signs Smith or in the unlikely event of using the franchise tag on him, bringing Geno back for another season does not and should not preclude them from drafting a quarterback.

Armed with the No. 5 overall pick in the draft, head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider are in position to pick one of the top QB prospects in this class if they want one.

The new league year begins on March 15. If the Seahawks haven’t signed Smith by then, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

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Bears QB Justin Fields reportedly didn’t dislocate his shoulder after all

Justin Fields’ injury status seems to change by the hour but new reports indicate he may have avoided a dislocated shoulder.

The diagnosis of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields’ non-throwing shoulder is under further review. The second-year quarterback injured his non-throwing shoulder during Sunday’s 27-24 loss against the Atlanta Falcons and his status seems to change by the hour.

On Monday afternoon, head coach Matt Eberflus first stated he was day-to-day, though he wouldn’t rule anything out as they were going to wait until Wednesday’s injury report to provide clarification. In the evening, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Fields had suffered a dislocated shoulder, but a few hours later, that report was refuted by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Florio is reporting the injury is not a shoulder dislocation, though there is still an injury that has yet to be publicly diagnosed. Schefter followed the report up on ESPN’s Monday Night Football halftime show by confirming it was not a dislocation.

It’s clear Fields is hurting after the tough loss, but to what extent is still unknown. Fields completed 14-of-21 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also carried the ball 18 times for 85 yards and a touchdown, all while taking a beating from the Falcons defense that resulted in his injury.

A dislocated shoulder would have likely sidelined Fields for multiple weeks and perhaps his injury isn’t as severe. Eberflus wouldn’t offer any hints and is instead waiting until Wednesday to shed some light on the situation. For now, Fields’ shoulder injury is under further review but he may have avoided missing extended time if it isn’t dislocated after all.

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Bears QB Justin Fields suffered a dislocated left shoulder

According to Ian Rapoport, Justin Fields suffered a dislocated shoulder in the Bears’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields’ shoulder injury has been revealed. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the signal caller suffered a dislocated shoulder during Sunday’s 27-24 loss against the Atlanta Falcons.

Fields played the entire game on Sunday, but left the locker room on a cart to get his shoulder examined when the game ended. On Monday, head coach Matt Eberflus indicated Fields was day-to-day, though he wouldn’t speculate on the quarterback’s availability for their Week 12 matchup against the New York Jets.

Other quarterbacks who have suffered a dislocated shoulder on their non-throwing arm have missed time in recent years, notably Baker Mayfield with the Cleveland Browns in 2021 and Mitchell Trubisky with the Bears in 2019. Both players missed at least one week while recovering from their injuries.

Fields’ status will be updated later in the week when injury reports are released.

Ian Rapoport calls the Saints a playoff team after seeing ‘excellent’ Michael Thomas practice

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport calls the Saints a playoff team after seeing ‘excellent’ Michael Thomas practice:

New Orleans Saints training camp is in full swing, and the national analysts are beginning to take notice. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport visited for their Friday practice session while making his tour of camps around the league, and he was just as impressed with Michael Thomas as the rest of us.

“I saw Michael Thomas run a bunch of routes today. He looked, I thought, excellent. He looked awesome,” Rapoport emphasized during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, “Secondary’s really, really deep. If Jameis (Winston) is just fine, I think the Saints are gonna be looking at a playoff team.”

Rapoport also made note of the rapid progress that Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave have made since landing in New Orleans, giving Winston a three-deep set of weapons that can compete with anyone in the NFL. Obviously there’s more work to do be done, and he conceded that it’s not wise to draw too much away from a single August afternoon, but clearly the Saints made a strong impression on him.

So did Thomas, who the team has taken care to ramp up as camp has continued. Thomas made his debut in 1-on-1 passing drills and immediately swept Paulson Adebo in two matchups, snaring a reception in both of his routes against the most impressive corner in town. Now he’s progressed to work in 7-on-7’s, and it’s only a matter of time before the Saints give him the green light to participate in full-squad sessions. If he’s healthy and playing as well as Rapoport and everyone else believes, New Orleans should be on the fast track to the postseason.

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Why Seahawks RB Chris Carson won’t make formal retirement statement

Seahawks running back Chris Carson is expected to retire from the NFL due to a neck injury, but here’s why he won’t issue a formal statement.

Just minutes ago, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson would be retiring from the NFL due to a neck injury he sustained last season. However, Rapoport also revealed why Carson won’t be making an official statement just yet.

“Chris Carson won’t make a retirement statement, just in case his neck dramatically improves,” Rapoport explained. “But this is where it stands . . .  And the Seahawks, as they did with Cliff Avril, Kam Chancellor and others, make sure he gets his money. Thus, the official designation.”

Carson originally joined the Seahawks when he was selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Oklahoma State and spent his entire career in Seattle. Carson appeared in just four games last year before his season-ending neck injury.

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Joe Burrow reportedly undergoes surgery to remove appendix, will miss some practice time

It’s unclear exactly how long Burrow will be out.

Expectations are high for [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag] heading into Year 3 after his breakout sophomore campaign, but it seems the 2021 NFL Comeback Player of the Year will be away from the team for some time this offseason.

According to NFL Network league insider Ian Rapoport, Burrow will undergo surgery to remove his appendix and will miss some practice time, though it’s implied he’ll be ready for the Bengals’ season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 11.

It’s currently unclear when exactly Burrow will have the surgery or how long he’s expected to miss. However, it could mean that he will not see the field in the preseason — which begins on Aug. 12 — for Cincinnati.

Burrow missed a large portion of his rookie season in 2020 after suffering a torn ACL, but despite concerns about his health, he took a massive leap forward in 2021. He finished with 4,611 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and his 108.3 quarterback rating was second in the league behind only Aaron Rodgers.

He’s considered one of the best young quarterbacks in football and, thanks to a young core that also includes former Tigers receiver [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag], the Bengals are considered one of the AFC’s top teams in 2022. They’ll hope Burrow getting this procedure out of the way ensures his health for the long haul.

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