Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Longhorns are now targeting the highest-rated prospect from the state of Pennsylvania in the 2022 recruiting class.
Texas is now targeting the highest-rated prospect in the state of Pennsylvania. Continue reading “Texas offers four-star prospect, top defensive end in Pennsyvlania”
The New Orleans Saints made a big contract offer to free agent Vonn Bell, who declined. That prompted the signing of Malcolm Jenkins.
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The New Orleans Saints signed Philadelphia Eagles free agent Malcolm Jenkins to a four-year, $32 million contract this week, but some Saints fans were left wondering, “Why?”
Jenkins was one of the top safeties available, but he’ll be replacing Vonn Bell, an up-and-comer who grew in popularity as the 2019 season ran on. Bell ended the year with the NFL’s most fumble recoveries, and his first career interception. More than one fan has asked why the money given to Jenkins couldn’t have been spent on Bell.
According to NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Bell didn’t want it. Underhill reports that the Saints made Bell a comparable offer, “around the neighborhood of $7.5 million per season,” but the 25-year-old safety turned it down, thinking he could find a bigger payday in free agency.
Whether he’ll actually land that sort of deal is to be determined, but there aren’t many safeties like Bell who command double-digit salaries. Only the versatile free safeties who can make plays in coverage and defend from multiple alignments earn that — the hard-nosed safeties who make a living in the tackle box and at the line of scrimmage, like Bell, rarely draw more than $8 million annually.
But Bell won’t lack for suitors. Teams like the Cincinnati Bengals make sense as they look to load up on playmakers ahead of next month’s NFL draft, with potential face of the franchise-worthy quarterbacks like LSU’s Joe Burrow will be available. It’s also worth noting that the Carolina Panthers were reportedly in on Bell’s sweepstakes, and they recently released veteran safety Eric Reid, possibly making room for someone like Bell.
There’s still plenty of cash to be spent in free agency, and as one of the best safeties still available, Bell figures to get the contract he’s wanting.
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The Detroit Lions have tendered exclusive right free agent Mike Ford and elected not to offer restricted free agent contracts to J.D. McKissic and Jamie Meder making them unrestricted free agents.
The Detroit Lions have tendered exclusive right free agent corner Mike Ford and elected not to offer restricted free agent contracts to running back J.D. McKissic and defensive lineman Jamie Meder, making them unrestricted free agents.
In addition to Ford, it was already announced that the Lions were also picking up the tender on corner/gunner Dee Virgin, who was also an exclusive rights free agent.
Both Ford and Virgin played key roles on special teams, rotating with undrafted rookie safety C.J. Moore as the primary gunners on special teams. Ford also held down a key reserve role at cornerback and stepped up when his number was called against the Chiefs.
As a tendered exclusive right free agents, Ford and Virgin can only accept a new contract from the Lions, unless the team chooses to release them. And because the Lions hold all the leverage in this negotiation, they will likely only offer them a league minimum contract with no guaranteed money.
The Lions claimed McKissic off of waivers on cut day last September and he played an important role on offense as a change-of-pace/gadget back. The Lions are interested in bringing him back but not at the restricted free agent tender level, which was roughly $2.1 million.
Meder was a late-season addition to an injury-depleted roster and he isn’t expected back at this time.
The Carolina Panthers are working to complete a contract agreement with New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
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New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is close to completing a contract with the Carolina Panthers, which he cannot sign until the beginning of the new NFL fiscal year — at 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 18. Once finalized, that deal is projected to put Bridgewater in a starting role under center, with Cam Newton expected to be traded away.
It’s great to see Bridgewater get this opportunity, even if it’s happening with a division rival in the NFC South. But some of Bridgewater’s former Saints teammates also shared their reactions to the news on Twitter, with responses ranging from celebratory congratulations to disappointment at the loss of a popular member of the locker room.
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 17, 2020
Two GLOVESSSSS!!!!! 🙌🏾 soooo happy for my dawg! https://t.co/9nmqUUSr8g
— Terron Armstead (@T_Armstead72) March 17, 2020
🙌🏾🙌🏾My guy!!! @teddyb_h2o count ya blessings dog, much deserved + sum https://t.co/QSlML701ES
— Demario Davis #56 (@demario__davis) March 17, 2020
YAAAAAAAAASSSSS!! https://t.co/Q0YOtfltmH
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) March 17, 2020
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The Carolina Panthers are finalizing a three-year, $60 million contract with New Orleans Saints free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
The Panthers and Teddy Bridgewater are negotiating a 3-year contract in the $60 million range, per source. The deal is not done as they work out details but it is expected to be complete when new league year opens Wednesday.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 17, 2020
The Carolina Panthers are finalizing a three-year, $60 million contract with New Orleans Saints free agent Teddy Bridgewater, as first reported by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Bridgewater thrived as the backup quarterback in New Orleans but will get the opportunity to start for the Panthers.
He’ll also be reunited with former Saints assistant Joe Brady, who rose to prominence during the LSU Tigers 2019 title run and now works as the Panthers offensive coordinator. While many free agent pickups around the league will need time to absorb a new playbook, Bridgewater gets a head start due to that familiarity.
And familiarity is something the Saints will lean on in the years ahead. They and the Panthers will play twice a year as NFC South rivals, meaning Drew Brees’ one-time protege will now be directly competing against him. It’s great to see Bridgewater earn this kind of windfall, and he should do well in a system he’s used to running. But couldn’t he have gone somewhere else?
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UT has offered 2021 five-star linebacker Raesjon Davis. Playing at Mater Dei High School, Davis is the highest-ranked OLB in the country.
Texas has offered 2021 five star linebacker Raesjon Davis from Santa Ana, CA. Playing his high school football at Mater Dei High School, Davis is the highest-ranked outside linebacker in the country. The 19th ranked player in the country, Davis is 6 feet 1 inch and 215 pounds.
Currently committed to LSU, Davis announced his commitment to the Tigers on New Year’s Day. With the LSU’s defensive coordinator Dave Aranda off to be the head coach of Baylor, teams have started to start talking to Davis again.
Honored to receive a(n) offer from the University of Texas #HookEm pic.twitter.com/BStjU7frNT
— Raesjon Davis (@RaesjonDavis1) January 28, 2020
Aranda and the Bears have also offered him since taking over as the head coach and the two schools are the fourth and fifth Big 12 schools to offer Davis. Kansas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State have are the others.
In the past, Mater Dei High School has been a pipeline for future USC players. According to 247Sports Crystal Ball, Davis is 50% on LSU and 50% on USC right now. While Texas may not be the favorite right now, Chris Ash and the defensive staff are trying to get their hands on one of the best defensive prospects in the 2021 class.
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After securing Bijan Robinson, Texas will have some depth at RB. However, they are still trying to sign in the late February signing window.
After securing five-star Bijan Robinson in the 2020 class, Texas is finally going to have some depth at the running back position. That does not mean they will stop recruiting at the position though, as they are still looking for players to sign in the February signing window. Losing all-purpose back Ty Jordan to Utah, the Longhorns need another running back commit.
Texas has started to find a replacement and has started by offering four-star Jahmyr Gibbs out of Dalton, GA. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches, the running back is the ninth-ranked prospect at his position in the country. Currently committed to Georgia Tech, Gibbs has yet to sign his letter of intent for the early signing period.
Blessed to receive an offer from The University of Texas🤟🏾 #hornsup @ChadSimmons_ @Mansell247 @therealkwat pic.twitter.com/0CV0LuzWpe
— J1 (@Jahmyr_Gibbs1) December 19, 2019
Iowa State is the only other Big 12 school to offer Gibbs, but the Longhorns face competition from SEC schools like Alabama, LSU, and Florida. If Gibbs were to sign with Texas, the running back room would be full of four and five star talent, waiting to burst on to the scene in the Big 12.
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