Tag: Kenny Vaccaro

Eagles CB Darius Slay joins the G1 esports organization

Philadelphia Eagles star cornerback and gamer Darius Slay has joined the esports organization “Gamers First” (G1), created by Kenny Vaccaro alongside Hunter Swensson and Cody Hendrix,

Former Texas longhorns star and NFL safety Kenny Vaccaro walked away from the NFL in 2021 to launch his esports organization, “Gamers First.”

Vaccaro, alongside Hunter Swensson and Cody Hendrix, launched the G1 esports organization, and on Friday, they added one of the Eagles’ top playmakers to the family.

Cornerback Darius Slay is an accomplished gamer, and he’s now a part of the ‘G1’ family per an announcement from Garners First official Twitter page.

Slay now joins Eagles running back Boston Scott, who signed a professional contract with Dignitas’ Rocket League roster to become their substitute and content creator.
G1 is based in Austin, Texas.

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Kenny Vaccaro praises on Ryan Tannehill, says Titans don’t get enough respect

“I think he has proven to the NFL what he can do,” Vaccaro said of Tannehill.

Before deciding to retire back in December in order to focus on his Esports organization, “Gamers First” (G1), former NFL safety Kenny Vaccaro was a teammate of Ryan Tannehill for two of his three years with the Tennessee Titans.

In that time, Tannehill made a very positive impression on Vaccaro, who recently went into detail about what the Titans signal-caller brings to the table during an interview with Rob Maadi on the “AP Pro Football Podcast“.

“His leadership skills, day in and day out. I remember when he first got there, I think he was initially the backup to Marcus Mariota,” Vaccaro explained. “And he never got mad or sad about it. He earned his spot, he came in everyday, first one in, last one out, and he kind of took control of that locker room slowly, and I think it’s gotten to the point where everybody in that organization believes in what he can do. I think he has proven to the NFL what he can do.”

Vaccaro also touched on his old team as a whole, saying the Titans don’t get the same amount of respect as other teams, which he believes has put a chip on the team’s shoulder and helped them get the No. 1seed.

“I think the Tennessee Titans just don’t get the same amount of respect as other teams do, but they’re here to earn it and I don’t think they care,” Vaccaro said. “I think that chip on their shoulder is one of the main reasons why they have the No. 1 seed.”

After enjoying a bye week thanks to their earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Titans will return to action next weekend in the Divisional Round. Their opponent is yet to be determined.

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Former Texas players are attempting to recruit Quinn Ewers via Twitter

Brandon Jones, Kenny Vaccaro, and DeShon Elliott are stepping up in the Quinn Ewers sweepstakes.

Former five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers took the college football world by storm when he chose to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 3. Continue reading “Former Texas players are attempting to recruit Quinn Ewers via Twitter”

Watch: 2013 Saints first rounder Kenny Vaccaro disses Falcons, launches new career move

Watch: 2013 Saints first rounder Kenny Vaccaro disses Falcons, launches new career move with Esports organization

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This is tremendous content. Kenny Vaccaro was drafted in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints and finished his playing career with the Tennessee Titans, but now he’s transitioning into a new career venture — and taking a parting shot at his old Atlanta Falcons on the way. Vaccaro announced his decision to launch a competitive Esports organization named Gamers First, or G1, in a video from his official Twitter account.

In the skit (embedded above, and which you can find here) Vaccaro receives a text message from the Falcons asking if he would come play for them; to which he responded by setting his phone aside and leaving them with a “Message Read” notification, before taking his seat at his computer desk. It’s a great move in pettiness and goes to show that Vaccaro is still a Saint at heart. Good stuff.

As for his next move: Vaccaro is partnering with a few other professional gamers to build a team and pursue a Halo World Championship. Games will be streamed online with millions of dollars up for grabs in the prize pool. The season kicks off in just a few weeks and will come to a head in October 2023, so it’s safe to say Vaccaro will have his hands full. Good for him.

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Titans’ Kevin Byard, other NFL players react to Kenny Vaccaro’s retirement

Titans S Kevin Byard and other NFL players reacted to the news of Kenny Vaccaro’s retirement.

On Wednesday, former Tennessee Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro simultaneously announced the official launch of the esports organization he founded, “Gamers First” (G1), and his retirement from the NFL.

In the statement, Vaccaro, who had not signed with a team this season but said he had received offers to play, revealed he wants to turn his attention from the NFL to his new venture.

Shortly after the announcement, Titans safety Kevin Byard, who played alongside Vaccaro for three seasons, shared his reaction on Twitter.

“To my dawg, I’m blessed to have been apart of your journey,” Byard tweeted. “Congrats on a great 8 year career. Only a few know the discipline it takes to make it this far! Love you bro and keep killing it off the field.”

Now, a look at how other NFL players and Twitter as a whole reacted to the news that the 30-year-old was hanging up his cleats for good.

Texas ex Kenny Vaccaro retires from the NFL after eight seasons

Former Texas safety Kenney Vaccaro retires from the NFL, announces the launch of a new gaming company.

After spending eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans, former Longhorns safety Kenny Vaccaro announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday.

Vaccaro was drafted by New Orleans in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. The safety spent five years with the Saints before signing a free-agent deal with Tennessee, where he played the last three seasons. Vaccaro totaled 110 starts, 10 interceptions and over 600 tackles in his professional career.

Upon his retirement, Vaccaro is also launching a new Esports organization called “Gamers First.”

Vaccaro explained why gaming has always been important to him in this statement.

“I’ve been a gamer for even longer than I’ve played football, and I’ve always thought of myself as a gamer first. So this is the realization of a long-term dream for me. And while football has been how many have defined me, G1 is evidence for other athletes as well that life doesn’t end just because you put down the helmet. You can reinvent yourself.”

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Former Titans S Kenny Vaccaro announces his retirement

Vaccaro says he had offers to play this season but decided to shift his focus to his esports organization instead.

In a statement announcing the official launch of his esports organization, “Gamers First” (G1), former Tennessee Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro announced his retirement from the NFL.

In the release, it’s noted that Vaccaro did have offers from teams to play this season, but he wants to focus on his organization, of which he is one of the co-founders.

Part of the statement reads:

Former All-American strong safety Kenny Vaccaro, along with fellow entrepreneurs and professional gamers Hunter Swensson and Cody Hendrix, are excited to announce the launch of their new esports organization, G1 (also known as Gamers First). This next chapter of Vaccaro’s career also coincides with his retirement from professional football, where he spent eight seasons, most notably for the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints while competing in the National Football League (NFL).

Vaccaro says the decision to hang up his cleats and pursue esports is not a “reflex decision” but rather something he has “thought about for a long time.”

“This isn’t a reflex decision for me, it’s something I’ve thought about for a long time,” Vaccaro wrote. “I’ve been a gamer for even longer than I’ve played football, and I’ve always thought of myself as a gamer first. So this is the realization of a long-term dream for me. And while football has been how many have defined me, G1 is evidence for other athletes as well that life doesn’t end just because you put down the helmet. You can reinvent yourself.”

Vaccaro, 30, was signed by the Titans in 2018 and spent three seasons with the team before being cut in 2021. He served as a key member of the defense that helped the Titans make it all the way to the AFC Championship Game during the 2019 season.

We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavor.

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Ex-Titans S Kenny Vaccaro says he ‘passed’ on offers to play in 2021

It looks like former Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro won’t be playing for any team in 2021.

For those wondering if the Tennessee Titans — or any team, for that matter — would try to bring safety Kenny Vaccaro in at some point, it doesn’t look like that will happen, but not because he isn’t wanted.

A conversation about Vaccaro potentially returning to the NFL came up on Twitter with the Titans dealing with an injury to safety Amani Hooker that has him on Injured Reserve.

When Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky stated that it didn’t look like there was any interest in the veteran safety, Vaccaro said that it was he who passed on playing for teams in 2021, and not the other way around.

It isn’t clear is if the Titans reached out to him with their injury at safety, though.

Vaccaro is busy with another venture at the moment, getting involved in the wildly-popular Esports and video-game streaming world as the CEO of “Gamers First” or “G1.”

“Gamers First is an organization whose mission is to prove that talent is only a small portion of what we offer,” G1’s site explains. “We aim to prove that character, drive, passion and energy far outweigh the importance of talent alone.”

We’ve seen Vaccaro play some “Destiny” on the streaming app Twitch and have to say the man is a baller on the sticks.

Vaccaro, who was released by the Titans earlier this offseason, spent three years with Tennessee and was a key part of their defense. Whether he is indeed finished with the NFL for good or not, we wish him the best.

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Two free agents for the Lions to consider as training camp nears

The Lions have two roster openings at the start of camp and our Max Gerber has ideas on how to fill those vacancies

As the team prepares for training camp this week, the Detroit Lions have two open spots on their 90-man roster.

Detroit already had one roster spot available since the conclusion of the NFL Draft and the recent retirement of defensive lineman Brian Price cleared up space for one more player to be brought in.

The question is, which players or positions should Brad Holmes and the rest of the Lions’ front office bring in to fill those two open slots on the roster?

Arguably, the most glaring need for Detroit is at the safety position. 2018 draft pick Tracy Walker is a clear starter in the secondary, but the team is lacking a starting-caliber strong safety to compliment Walker in their defense.

There are a number of capable safeties that are still available to sign at this moment including Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro, and Detroit-area native Jeff Heath.

All three players have at least five seasons of starting experience at the safety position and would be instant upgrades over Will Harris, Dean Marlowe, and the other young and inexperienced safeties currently rostered by the Lions.

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Vaccaro is likely the best option of the three and has two seasons of experience with Detroit’s defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was his secondary coach in New Orleans.

He most recently was with the Tennessee Titans, where he recorded 83 tackles over the span of 13 games.

If the Lions were to sign Vaccaro, that would leave one more open spot on their roster. While they could opt to double-down on the safety position, there is another place on defense that they should look to bolster.

Another available free agent with ties to New Orleans is former Pro Bowler Kwon Alexander.

The former Buccaneers, 49ers, and Saints linebacker could offer some versatility for that position group and would likely be an instant starter as an inside linebacker in Glenn’s defense.

Over 12 games in 2020, Alexander forced two fumbles and is credited with one quarterback sack. His ability to rush the passer from the MIKE role would be a valuable asset for the Lions’ defense. At just 26-years-old, he could easily be a long-term option for Detroit.

 

 

Lack of safety depth is a concern for Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers could afford to add a veteran at the position.

Two months into the offseason and the Chargers have done a fine job of reconstructing a roster under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.

For the most part, each position group has quality starters followed by depth, but Los Angeles’ situation at safety still remains a bit shaky.

Prior to the draft, there were only three players at the position – Derwin James, Nasir Adderley and Alohi Gilman. The team added two more; Mark Webb, a seventh-round pick and Ben DeLuca, an undrafted free agent.

James will be returning from his second lengthy injury that he’s suffered with the Chargers since being drafted in 2018.

Even though can Staley unlock Adderley’s potential in 2021, he’s still coming off a rough sophomore season.

Gilman doesn’t offer much position flexibility.

Webb, the wide receiver convert, didn’t start playing on the defensive side of the ball until 2017.

It’s easy to think that L.A. will have a dynamic defense with James on the field, but considering he’s only played five games in total the past two seasons, the team can’t consider it a complete guarantee.

In addition, under Staley, this will be a defense that relies heavily on their defensive backs.

Bradley McDougald, Bobby McCain, Malik Hooker, Adrian Colbert, Andrew Sendejo, Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro and D.J. Swearinger are just to name a few free agent safeties that could be brought in on one-year deals.

The Chargers banking on what they have at the position isn’t surprising, knowing that Staley is capable of getting the most out of his defensive players.

However, for a team that has been hit with the injury bug for years now, they should know that having more might actually be better.