Tag: Packers

Pro Football Talk publishes wild, over-the-top tweet about Caleb Williams, unleashing NFL draft uproar

Pro Football Talk thinks Caleb Williams is basically a Football Jesus who will resurrect the Bears and become an NFL legend.

Oh, my goodness. We know that people and publications try to create publicity and buzz all the time, saying things that will push others’ buttons and generate a reaction. Pro Football Talk certainly did that on Friday, and not in a vile or inappropriate way. This wasn’t a shameful or embarrassing tweet, but it certainly rates as a bold take and an act of sticking out one’s neck in terms of making a big prediction about an NFL draft prospect. PFT is fully sold on Caleb Williams as the savior of the Chicago Bears and a transcendent NFL player who will transform the Bears in the NFC North.

Just how fully is Pro Football Talk convinced that Caleb is the truth in these weeks before the NFL draft? Read the tweet and then look at all the emotional responses to it:

ESPN highlights a free agent pass rusher fit for the Saints

ESPN highlighted the best team fits for its top 50 free agent, linking the New Orleans Saints to pass rusher Za’Darius Smith:

We’re moving closer to free agency, and there’s a good chance the New Orleans Saints are going to make some moves to improve their team. ESPN has already shared their list of the top 50 free agents — now, ESPN staff writer Matt Bowen has linked each of those players with the best teams they could join in March.

And one name was highlighted for the Saints: Za’Darius Smith. Here’s why Bowen sees New Orleans as a good fit for him:

Given the Saints’ cap issues, this would probably be a one-year deal for Smith to play in Dennis Allen’s multiple defense. I like the fit here, though, given Smith’s pass rush versatility. Allen could deploy him off the edge or inside as a stand-up defensive tackle/nose. He’s a power rusher who has 60 sacks in his career (5½ with the Browns in 2023), and New Orleans finished tied for 28th in sacks last season with 34.

Smith has the size that the Saints covet off the edge, and he brings productivity that few players in their lineup can match — Pro Football Focus charting credited him with 61 and 80 quarterback pressures in his last two seasons on the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings. Before that, he was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Green Bay Packers and a big piece in the Baltimore Ravens’ rotation to start his career.

If the money checks out, he’d be a good get. But he shouldn’t be seen as the long-term fix at defensive end. Smith is an older player (he’ll be 32 when the season starts) and he would be joining an aging defense. Four of their top 11 defenders in snaps played are 30 or older, including Cameron Jordan, the second-oldest player on the team. Having two defensive ends on the wrong side of 30 and few young draft picks developing into known commodities behind them is worrisome.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Report: Wisconsin may play a road game at Lambeau Field in 2024

Report: Wisconsin may play a road game at Lambeau Field in 2024

The 2024 Wisconsin Badgers may play a road game at Lambeau Field in 2024, according to a report from Wildcat Report’s Louie Vaccher.

Vaccher wrote on ‘X’ Monday night that Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg ‘told Northwestern alumni in New York City last week that Northwestern will play a home game at Lambeau Field this year. He didn’t mention the opponent, but it would likely be Wisconsin on October 19.’

Related: Which Big Ten football team has the toughest conference schedule in 2024?

This report is not close to being confirmed by either school. But as BadgerExtra’s Jake Kocorowski put out, it is noteworthy that Packers president Mark Murphy was once Northwestern’s athletic director from 2003-2007.

Wisconsin’s 2024 football schedule is one of the toughest in the conference. The thought of playing Northwestern at Lambeau Field — a venue that is certainly friendly to Wisconsin — is certainly more attractive than that of playing the Wildcats at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois.

The Packers’ 2024 schedule is not yet released, but October 19 assumes to be a weekend when the team plays on the road.

Given both Wisconsin and Northwestern’s proximity to Green Bay, Wisconsin, this game shouldn’t be a challenge to pull off. This sounds like a terrific way to add juice to a game that usually lacks it.

[lawrence-related id=71293,70751,70937]

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

Chargers named potential landing spot for 3 free agent offensive linemen

With Jim Harbaugh as the Chargers’ head coach, he is going to prioritize fixing the running game, which means bolstering the offensive line.

With Jim Harbaugh as the Chargers’ head coach, he is going to prioritize fixing the running game, which means bolstering the offensive line.

Los Angeles’ search begins in free agency. Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger believes they could be an ideal destination for three pending free-agent offensive linemen, two being centers and the other a guard.

The two centers are Raiders’ Andre James and Cowboys’ Tyler Biadasz.

James is coming off a career year, earning the highest PFF grades as a run blocker and in pass protection. He would fit well in offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s power/gap scheme.

Biadasz, a former fourth-round pick, has played at a high level since being drafted in 2020. He started nearly every game from 2021 to 2023 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022.

The Chargers will most likely need to find a starting center, with Corey Linsley’s future in doubt due to a medical issue.

The guard that was listed was Packers’ Jon Runyan.

There is some familiarity as Runyan played for Harbaugh at Michigan from 2015 to 2019. He has experience at both guard spots, and with a new system being implemented, there is no guarantee that Zion Johnson or Jamaree Salyer will be starters next season.

Seahawks hiring Packers assistant as linebackers coach

Olivadotti had served as Green Bay’s inside linebackers coach for the last five years

New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is beginning to build up his staff. So far we have received reports that the team has hired Leslie Frazier as assistant head coach and Jay Harbaugh as special teams coordinator. Yesterday we got word of another new assistant coming in.

According to a report by Aaron Wilson, the team is hiring Packers assistant Kirk Olivadotti as their new linebackers coach. Olivadotti had served as Green Bay’s inside linebackers coach for the last five years and he knows Macdonald from their time coaching together at Georgia.

Olivadotti deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done with the Packers linebackers, especially De’Vondre Campbell. During his time with the Falcons he’d been an average linebacker at best and now he’s one of the best off-ball linebackers in the league. He improved particularly well in coverage, which is something that should have an obvious appeal for Seattle.

Speaking of which, it’s hard to say exactly what Olivadotti will get to work with for the Seahawks. On paper Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks and Devin Bush are a solid 1-2-3 for this group (certainly better than Green Bay’s), but all three are about to become free agents. In the draft we like NC State’s Payton Wilson, but it’s too early in the offseason to say just how much help they’re going to need at linebacker.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks land Georgia TE Brock Bowers in this mock draft

Ranking all 32 NFL teams by strength of schedule for 2024

Geno Smith takes heat on Twitter for his 3 Pro Bowl picks

Ranking all 32 NFL teams (including the Eagles) by 2024 strength of schedule

We’re ranking all 32 NFL teams by their 2024 strength of schedule ahead of the offseason and NFL draft

We’re about 100 days from the 2024 NFL schedule reveal, but the world and Eagles fans already know who their opponents will be.

The league uses multiple factors in determining the year schedule of games.

There’s a cycle of inter-conference faceoffs; each NFC division rotates through each AFC division every four seasons and the other NFC divisions every three seasons.

In addition, where a team finishes within their division dictates a same-finish matchup with one team from the opposite conference and whichever divisions aren’t in the rotation for that season.

Philadelphia previously had one of the more difficult schedules over the past two years, but 2024 will see the Eagles among the top ten easiest schedules based on win-loss percentages from last year.

Offering an early glimpse into where the Eagles could finish this season, here’s how Philadelphia’s 17-game slate for 2024 stacks up to the rest of the league, in February.

Ranking Eagles’ potential opponents for 2024 NFL season opener in Brazil

We’re ranking the Philadelphia Eagles potential opponents for the Friday night NFL season opener in Brazil

The 2024 NFL schedule will be released sometime on a Thursday night in mid-May, but we know that the Eagles will open the season in a home contest, played on a Friday night in Brazil.

The Eagles have been chosen to play in the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil in Week 1 on Friday, September 6, to kick off their 2024 regular season, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Monday in his annual Super Bowl presser with the media in Las Vegas.

“Está pronto para ver os Eagles no Brasil?” (In Portuguese, “Are you ready to watch the Eagles in Brazil?”)

“The Eagles organization is honored to have been selected to play in the first-ever National Football League game in South America,” said Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO. “With the global growth of our sport being a top priority to our league, we embrace the opportunity to grow our fanbase around the world and bring Eagles football to the 38 million sports fans in Brazil. One of the world’s most culturally diverse nations, Brazil is an international melting pot, and we look forward to experiencing its warm, vibrant, and welcoming environment later this year.”

As part of the NFL International Series, this will be the first Friday night game on opening weekend in over 50 years. Philadelphia’s opponent and kickoff time will be announced later, closer to when the 2024 NFL schedule is revealed in May.

The contest will be played at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, with a seating capacity of 47,252.

This will be the second International Series Game in the regular season for the Eagles, who played in London during the 2018 campaign and defeated Jacksonville, 24-18 at Wembley Stadium. The Eagles played preseason games in Mexico City in 1978, London in 1989 and ’91, and Tokyo in 1993.

Home to the Brazilian soccer team SC Corinthians, the stadium was an official venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

Philadelphia is one of the biggest draws in the NFL, and With nine possible opponents to choose from ( Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Browns, Falcons, Jaguars, Steelers, Packers, and Panthers), the league is tasked with picking the most intriguing matchup.

Let’s rank the best potential matchups for that opening game:

National reaction to Eagles opening 2024 NFL seaon on a Friday night in Brazil

The Eagles have been chosen to play in the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil in Week 1 on Friday, September 6 to kick off their 2024 regular season, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Monday in his annual conversation with the media prior to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

The National Football League will play a regular season game in Brazil in 2024 — the first ever in South America — as the league emphasizes global growth as a significant strategic priority.

That historic first game in Brazil will take place in the city of São Paulo at the Corinthians Arena, home to the Brazilian soccer team, the Sport Club Corinthians.

The stadium was the official venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. With the game in South America, the NFL will have played a game (preseason or regular season) in five of the seven continents worldwide.

The Eagles confirmed they will play host against a team to be named.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the initial announcement at the 2023 December League Meeting in Dallas.

“The Eagles organization is honored to have been selected to play in the first-ever National Football League game in South America,” said Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO. “With the global growth of our sport being a top priority to our league, we embrace the opportunity to grow our fanbase around the world and bring Eagles football to the 38 million sports fans in Brazil. One of the world’s most culturally diverse nations, Brazil is an international melting pot, and we look forward to experiencing its warm, vibrant, and welcoming environment later this year.”

As part of the NFL International Series, this will be the first Friday night game on opening weekend in over 50 years. The opponent and kickoff time will be announced later, closer to when the 2024 NFL schedule is revealed this spring.

The potential opponents for that opener include the Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Browns, Falcons, Jaguars, Steelers, Packers, and Panthers.

With the news now official, here’s the national reaction to the the Eagles taking over Brazil.

Saints to host ex-Bears OC Luke Getsy for second interview

Ex-Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s first interview with the Saints flew under the radar. They’re meeting with him for a second time on Wednesday:

This is big news: the New Orleans Saints will be interviewing former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy for a second time after his first meeting was not reported, having flown under the radar. The MMQB’s Albert Breer reports that Getsy will speak with Saints brass in New Orleans on Wednesday.

That’s a benefit to speaking with candidates virtually at first; fewer people are involved, leading to fewer leaks. The Saints have probably interviewed other candidates whose names have not been made public.

But back to Getsy. He’ll turn 40 in February having worked in the NFL since 2014, with a college coaching career dating back to 2007. Before arriving in Chicago in 2022 he coached quarterbacks for the division-rival Green Bay Packers from 2019 to 2021. He also worked with wide receivers in Green Bay prior to that.

He has play calling experience, but the Bears weren’t exactly a model of success during Getsy’s two-year run. Chicago ranked 18th in points and 20th in yards per game in 2023, which was a gradual improvement over their ranks in 2022 (23rd and 28th, respectively). But between Justin Fields’ slow progress and the opportunity to reboot with the first overall draft pick and their choice of rookie quarterbacks, the Bears chose to go in a new direction this offseason.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Former Chargers HC Brandon Staley to interview with Packers and Dolphins

Brandon Staley is reportedly a hot defensive coordinator on the market.

Former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has entered the pool of defensive coordinator candidates for teams with vacancies this offseason.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Staley will interview with Green Bay on Friday and then Miami on Saturday. The Rams are also reported to have interest in their former 2020 defensive coordinator following the departure of now Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.

Staley rose to prominence initially following his work with the Rams in 2020. Leading the No. 1 ranked defense in the league with his unique light box defensive style eventually earned him the gig with the Chargers. It would make some institutional sense for Staley to replace Morris with a decent comfort level in the franchise and opportunity to reunite with Sean McVay.

With Miami and Green Bay, Staley does have perhaps a unique perspective to spin on similar schemes. Former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry worked under Staley’s defense in Los Angeles as linebackers coach. Ultimately, it seems like the Packers want a new play caller approach to the same Vic Fangio style scheme that Barry ran.

The same could be said for Staley’s Miami interview. He could bring a Fangio-inspired defensive approach to replacing his former mentor. Reportedly, Fangio and the Dolphins’ split was mutual as he pursued an opportunity to work closer to home with Philadelphia. If the Dolphins wanted to keep the same system in place with Jalen Ramsey, Staley would fit right in. The two obviously worked magic together with the 2020 Rams.

Staley is reportedly a hot defensive coordinator on the market, per Ian Rapoport. Lining up two interviews with another team interested does give credence to that. However, I’d be curious to see how Staley answers for  never having a single-season defense that ranked higher than 19th in EPA/play in his time with the Chargers. Or, the league-wide trend that the two high shell schemes that have not been run by Fangio himself have been taking a beating recently.