Tag: NFL Hall of Fame

Is Texans UDFA LB Max Tooley a lock to make final 53-man roster?

Max Tooley, who graded out by Pro Football Focus as the Houston Texans’ highest-rated player on Thursday night, might have a case of making the final 53-man roster.

The Houston Texans have 90 players fighting for 53 spots on the active roster. Each position differs in the amount of talent needed to be successful.

At linebacker, the Texans often carry five or depending on how they factor in on special teams. Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris and Henry To’oTo’o seem like locks to make the roster. Special teams tackling guru Neville Hewitt probably has an inside track given his previous experience.

As for the last spot or two, BYU standout Max Tooley has gained ground over the past two weeks during the early stages of training camp. During Thursday’s 21-17 loss in the Hall of Fame game, the undrafted free agent recorded two tackles and one pressure against Bears quarterback Brett Rypien.

Usually, one undrafted free agent makes the roster since they shine in the preseason. According to Bleacher Report, Tooley has the best chance among those in Houston entering August.

“Being a bottom-of-the-depth-chart linebacker in the league usually entails playing just about everywhere on special teams,” BR’s Alex Ballentine writes. “At 6’2″ and 225 pounds with a reasonable 4.58-second 40-yard dash, Tooley should be able to contribute in that department. Tooley also had solid ball production for a linebacker at BYU with seven career interceptions and eight pass breakups. He’s already earned a shoutout from veteran safety Jimmie Ward for the skills he’s shown in camp. It doesn’t hurt that his primary competition for a roster spot might come from fellow rookie Jamal Hill, who was only a sixth-round pick.”

Should Tooley only improve throughout the rest of training camp, he could build a solid case to be included on the final 53-man squad. He’ll have competition with Jacob Phillips and Hill, plus fellow UDFA Tarique Barnes.

Ryans praised Phillips on Friday for his attentiveness in practice after coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries. The former third-round pick by Cleveland was expected to be a star before a pectoral injury sidelined him for all of the 2023 season.

“Jacob has continued to improve, continued to show and compete,” Ryans said. “It’s a competition, right, so we have a lot of guys in that linebacker room. Jacob has continued to show the improvement, continued to show playing our style of play, playing fast, playing physical, playing relentless so just want to continue to see those improvements from him.”

Texans vs. Bears: Brett Rypien throws 3 TDs in 21-17 storm-shortened HOF Game victory

Brett Rypien and weather delays were the kryptonite of the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears Thursday night.

There will be no late-night heroics Thursday evening in Canton, Ohio for the Houston Texans.

The NFL’s Hall of Fame exhibition opener between the Texans and Chicago Bears was suspended with 3:31 left in the third quarter due to lightning and heavy rain. After nearly 45 minutes of deliberation, both sides elected to call it instead of waiting for the weather to clear.

By default, the Bears secured a 21-17 win behind three touchdown passes from Brett Rypien. Houston struggled to duplicate its first-half success following the start of the third quarter.

Davis Mills and Case Keenum each impressed during their time on the field in the third 30 minutes of action. Mills, the Texans’ third-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft, connected with tight end Teagan Quitoriano for a 9-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive to give Houston a 7-0 lead.

Keenum, who started two games last season in place of the injured C.J. Stroud, found Cam Akers for a 4-yard score with less than four minutes remaining in the second half.

Akers, a 2020 second-round pick, was a highlight on offense thanks to his suave moves in the open field. After tearing his Achilles last season with the Vikings in Week 9, Akers juked past a pair of defenders for a first-down gain in the second quarter.

His quick-cut spin move caught took Stroud by surprise on the sidelines. Everyone from Houston’s bench seemed ecstatic to see the former Florida State still have some juice left in the tank.

Rypien connected twice with Collin Johnson for scores and once with tight end Tommy Sweeny. He finished 11-of-15 passing for 166 yards. Johnson, who starred at the University of Texas finished with three catches for 56 yards.
It’s safe to say there’s work ahead of Houston before its matchup next Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The good news? All sights now turn to Andre Johnson’s Hall of Fame enshrinement on Saturday.

Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter will not play in Hall of Fame Game

Fans of the Houston Texans will have to wait at least one more week to see rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter in action.

Kamari Lassiter has been one of the top standouts since the start of offseason workouts. He’s been so consistent that he’ll have time to rest before returning to practice next week. 

According to KPRC 2 Sports, Lassiter will not play Thursday night in the Hall of Fame against the Chicago Bears. The second-round pick will rest with a majority of starters heading into next week’s preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

While Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said that rookies would see extensive playing time against the Bears, he also told SportsRadio 610 that starters would not be active since the team still would have three more preseason games. 

“When I look at the decision-making process of who’s playing, first thing’s first is we have an extra [preseason] game,” Ryans told Texans’ play-by-play announcer Mark Vandermeer. “So, [we] don’t want any of our starters out there playing.” 

Going off Ryans’ comments, it would appear that Lassiter has all but earned the starting No. 2 cornerback spot opposite Derek Stingley Jr. The former Georgia product was expected to compete for starting reps at the nickel position, but blossomed in the early stages of OTAs. 

So far during training camp, Lassiter has worked exclusively on the boundary with the first-team defense and thrived in man coverage. He’s garnered praise from Ryans and veteran receivers for his attention to detail and physical demeanor.

“[He’s] definitely the best young DB I’ve seen coming out of college that I’ve had the chance to go against,” receiver Noah Brown said following Monday’s practice. “He’s very sticky in coverage, very confident in his ability and I think if he keeps on the pace that he’s at, he could have an elite rookie season and an elite career.”

Lassiter, the No. 42 overall pick, shined as a starter during his three seasons at Georgia. During his final year in Athens, he held opposing quarterbacks to a  38.5 percent completion rate, the lowest among SEC defenders and fourth-lowest among FBS cornerbacks.

“He’s not scared to stand up there at the line with you,” Brown said. “He’s not backpedaling out early. He’s trying to get hands on. He’s confident in his ability and you can tell through his play.”

Kickoff from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Former Texans coach Gary Kubiak to introduce Andre Johnson at Hall of Fame Ceremony

Former Houston Texans Gary Kubiak and Andre Johnson will reunite once more in Canton, Ohio for Johnson’s Hall of Fame induction.

When Andre Johnson takes the stage in Canton, Ohio, in two months to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the first hand he’ll shake will be a familiar one.

Former Houston Texans coach and Super Bowl winner Garby Kubiak will present Johnson for enshrinement during the Aug. 3 induction ceremony, the Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Kubiak will also remain on the stage to help Johnson unveil his bronze bust, thus signaling his immortality in the NFL.

Kubiak will record a video prior to the event that will be played as part of the presentation. After the unveiling, Johnson will take the podium to give his commemorative speech.

“I can’t wait for August to get here,” Johnson said in a video posted to the Texans’ social media page. “I can’t wait to see you guys in Canton.”

Johnson and Kubiak blossomed into one of the top duos of the mid-2000s in the AFC. Hired in 2006, Kubiak stayed with the Texans through 2014, leading the franchise to its first-ever playoff appearance and win in 2011.

Under Kuibak, Johnson enjoyed a budding career, leading the league in receptions twice (2006, 2008) while also taking the top spot in receiving yards twice (2008, 2009).  He also earned a first-team All-Pro selection in both of those years.

Kubiak was fired after the 2013 season, which led to the hiring of Bill O’Brien from Penn State. Kubiak went on to lead Denver to a Super Bowl title in 2016 under Peyton Manning, marking the first Lombardi Trophy for the Broncos since 1998.

He’d retire the following offseason after going 9-7, citing health issues as a vital factor.

Johnson, the Texans’ all-time leader in every receiving category, spent 12 seasons in Houston before ending his career with one-year stints at Indianapolis and Tennessee. His 14,185 receiving yards rank 11th all-time among receivers, as do his 1,062 receptions.

Johnson is one of seven inductees for the 2024 class. Here are the other inductees who will join Johnson on stage, along with their presenters:

• Dwight Freeney, defensive end: Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay.

• Randy Gradishar, linebacker: His former Broncos teammate Tom Jackson.

• Devin Hester, kick returner/wide receiver: His mother Juanita Brown.

• Steve McMichael, defensive tackle: Longtime friend Jarrett Payton, the son of former Bears teammate Walter Payton.

• Julius Peppers, defensive end: Longtime friend and agent Carl Carey.

• Patrick Willis, linebacker: His sister Ernicka Willis.

Willie Anderson issues statement after latest Hall of Fame snub

Willie Anderson with a message for Bengals fans.

Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson seems closer to the Hall of Fame than ever, even after falling short of the 2024 class.

Anderson, addressing the near-miss on social media, asked fans not to go on a massive campaign as a reaction to the latest class: “Bengals fans and my supporters. I ask you a favor. Please let’s not start this Twitter campaign about me being Snubbed. Only 5 men can go . Every last man who got in into tonight deserves it. Please let’s not harass anyone and endless tweeting I was snubbed.”

A finalist for the third straight year, Anderson said in an interview after the unveiling of the class that he doesn’t get too up or down about the process now.

“I kind of told myself after the first year, when I saw that 330 phone call, I don’t want to get too up or too down,” Anderson said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “They called me this year and told me I didn’t make it and I kind of had the same feeling. You can say you get used to it, but you’re always wondering how it’s going to be. It dwindles down to 25 to 15 and we sit and wait.

Barring a stunner, the Bengals Ring of Honor member, first-team All-Pro three times with four Pro Bowls will be in the mix again this time next year.

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Bengals great Willie Anderson misses on Hall of Fame again

Willie Anderson will have to wait another year.

Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson will have to wait another year to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Anderson, a finalist once more, misses out on the 2024 class:

— Dwight Freeney
— Devin Hester
— Andre Johnson
— Julius Peppers
— Patrick Willis
— Randy Gradishar (senior)
— Steve McMichael (senior)

Anderson, the 10th overall pick from 1996 was a first-team All-Pro three times with four Pro Bowls, allowing 16 sacks over 195 games and blocking for some historic Corey Dillon rushing outputs. He is a member of the team’s Ring of Honor and was in his 11th year of eligibility and a finalist for the third consecutive year.

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One player from each NFL team who should be in the Hall of Fame by now

The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its 25 semifinalists for the Class of 2024. Which got us thinking: Who should already be in?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently revealed its list of 25 modern-era semifinalists who will be considered for the Class of 2024, which will be revealed before Super Bowl LVIII in February.

Among them are two first-year eligible candidates that made the semifinalist cut in tight end Antonio Gates and pass rusher Julius Peppers. There are a slew of other notable names who have been finalists in the past, including return specialist Devin Hester, wide receivers Steve Smith Sr. and Torry Holt and linebacker Patrick Willis.

There are also three senior finalists up for induction: Linebacker Randy Gradishar, defensive tackle Steve McMichael and wide receiver Art Powell.

That made us wonder: Who is one player, coach or owner from each NFL team who should be in the Hall of Fame by now? Because, let’s face it, there are multiple deserving parties who continue to wait their turn.

From multi-year semifinalists to those who have been waiting decades to those considered among the greatest ever at their position, our NFL Wire editors revealed their pick for one player, coach or owner who should be in the Hall of Fame by now.

3 former 49ers among 25 semifinalists for 2024 Hall of Fame class

Three former #49ers landed among the 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists for the class of 2024.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame moved into the next phase of the selection process for the class of 2024 and named 25 modern-era finalists. Among the 25 semifinalists are three former 49ers.

That trio is made up of linebacker Patrick Willis, wide receiver Anquan Boldin and running back Ricky Watters.

Willis is a semifinalist for the fifth time in five years. He’s reached this stage every year he’s been eligible after spending all eight of his NFL seasons with the 49ers. Willis’ resume speaks for itself with seven Pro Bowl trips, five First-Team All-Pro nods, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a placement on the Hall of Fame All-Decade team for the 2010s.

Boldin was with San Francisco for three years from 2013-15. Despite being in his mid-30s he was a very productive receiver for the 49ers with 237 catches, 3,030 yards and 16 touchdowns in 46 games. Boldin finished his 14-year career with 1,076 receptions for 13,779 yards and 82 touchdowns. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and a three-time Pro Bowler. This is his third time making the list of semifinalists in three years.

Watters has been a semifinalist four times now including once in 2020 and then every year from 2022-24. He was with the 49ers for his first four seasons and helped them win a Super Bowl in the 1994 campaign. Watters posted 2,840 rushing yards and 1,450 receiving yards across three years on the field for San Francisco. He also put up 33 total touchdowns while going to the Pro Bowl every year he was in red and gold. He finished his career with five total Pro Bowls, 10,463 rushing yards, 78 rushing touchdowns, 4,248 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.

The next step in the selection process includes a cutdown to 15 finalists, and then the Hall of Fame class will be announced Feb. 8 during the NFL Honors ceremony.

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14 former Dolphins left off list of 2024 Hall of Fame class semifinalists

The Pro Football Hall of Fame trimmed down their list of 173 nominees to 25 semifinalists.

Back in September, the Pro Football Hall of Fame released their list of 173 Modern-Era nominees for the 2024 class, which included 14 players who spent time with the Miami Dolphins.

On that list were Ricky Williams, Antonio Freeman, Irving Fryar, Chad Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Wes Welker, Josh Sitton, Richmond Webb, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Karlos Dansby, Larry Izzo, Joey Porter, Troy Vincent and Matt Turk.

On Tuesday, the Hall of Fame trimmed the nominees down to 25 semifinalists, and unfortunately, none were former Dolphins.

The list of nominees includes Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Tiki Barber, Anquan Boldin, Jahri Evans, London Fletcher, Dwight Freeney, Antonio Gates, Eddie Geroge, James Harrison, Rodney Harrison, Devin Hester, Torry Holt, Andre Johnson, Robert Mathis, Julius Peppers, Smith Sr., Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Ricky Watters, Reggie Wayne, Vince Wilfork, Patrick Willis and Darren Woodson.

15 finalists will be announced at a later date.

Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert shares Hall of Fame aspirations

The RB wants a gold jacket.

The Miami Dolphins’ 2023 campaign is off to a great start, as they’ve put together a 6-3 record through the first 10 weeks of the season.

A large chunk of the responsibility for the impressive beginning is due to the success of Miami’s running game with Raheem Mostert leading the pack.

The former Purdue Boilermaker leads the league in rushing touchdowns (11) while rushing for 605 yards on an NFL-best 5.6 yards per attempt. He’s also added another 151 yards and two scores on 19 receptions as an outlet for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

With this being Mostert’s best season to date, he recently shared on his podcast, “Relentlessly Motivated with Raheem Mostert,” that he has much loftier aspirations than just a strong season.

“I’ve got an opportunity to want to have a gold jacket,” Mostert said. “That’s my goal. Everybody has their accolades. They want the fame. They want the money. All of that’s fine and dandy. But, at the end of the day, what is your true purpose? And, for me, my true purpose is getting my name called on the stage, for the gold jacket, giving out my speech, and thanking everybody that helped me along the way. Because that’s what you want, at least for an NFL player, that’s what you should aspire to be.”

Mostert has a long way to go before getting his name called in Canton is a realistic expectation, but he’s put together a decent resume so far.

His efficiency is what’s eye-popping. His 5.2 yards per carry since joining the Dolphins has actually lowered his career number from 5.7 to 5.41. However, 5.41 yards per carry still has him as the most efficient back in the Super Bowl era with at least 500 attempts, just ahead of Bo Jackson and Jamaal Charles.

If he can stay healthy and continue producing for years to come, he might be able to make a case for himself.