Tag: Panthers

Report: Panthers declining 2020 option on WR Jarius Wright

Jarius Wright will now become a free agent and the Panthers will save $3 million.

The Carolina Panthers continued to churn their roster Tuesday, opting to decline the 2020 option on wide receiver Jarius Wright, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Panthers had a deadline of March 17 to exercise the option. Wright was also set to receive a roster bonus of $500,000 on March 20. As Rapoport notes, the move will save $3 million in salary cap space for the Panthers. Wright will now become an unrestricted free agent.

Over the Cap projects the Panthers to have around $34 million in cap space after adjusting for the decision to move on from Wright.

Wright had 28 catches for 296 yards and no touchdowns in 2019. In 2018, Wright caught 43 passes for 447 yards and one touchdown.

Wright’s option was one of two the Panthers have to decide on for 2020, with the other being Dontari Poe. Carolina has until March 15 to exercise Poe’s option, otherwise he also becomes an unrestricted free agent.

NFL Combine schedule for Georgia football’s 10 invitees

Here’s the 2020 NFL Combine schedule for the Georgia football players invited.

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Georgia had 10 players invited to participate in the 2020 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The combine will take place from February 23rd to March 2nd, with on-field workouts beginning on the 27th.

The 10 Georgia players that received an invite are as follows:

• K Rodrigo Blankenship

• WR Lawrence Cager

• QB Jake Fromm

• RB Brian Herrien

•  OL Solomon Kindley

• S J.R. Reed

• RB D’Andre Swift

• OL Andrew Thomas

• OL Isaiah Wilson

• TE Charlie Woerner

For the players that did not receive an invite, and for those who did but want to better their scores, Georgia will host its annual pro-day, where coaches from all 32 NFL teams should be present.

As for the 10 players who will be in Indianapolis next week, they’ll be busy with everything from orientation, to interviews, medical exams, psychological testing, media sessions and an NFLPA meeting.

And then finally they’ll hit the field for their workouts.

They’ll be broken up into groups. Here’s a list of those groups and the Georgia players who will be in them.

Group 1: TE, QB, WR (Fromm, Cager, Woerner)

Group 2: PK, ST, OL, RB (Blankenship, Thomas, Kindley, Wilson, Swift, Herrien)

Group 3: DL, LB (No UGA players)

Group 4: DB (JR Reed)

Here’s the schedule for the 10 Dawgs who will be there, provided by NFLCombine.net.

Group 1: (Fromm, Cager, Woerner)

Sunday, Feb. 23: Arrive in Indy, Registration, Orientation, Interviews

Monday, Feb. 24: Measurements, Pre-exam at hospital, Interviews

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Media session, Medical exams, Position coach interviews, Psychological testing

Wednesday, Feb. 26: NFLPA Meeting, Interviews, Bench Press, Psychological Testing

Thursday, Feb. 27: Limited testing, On-field Workout

Friday, Feb. 28: Departure from Indianapolis

Group 2: (Blankenship, Thomas, Kindley, Wilson, Swift, Herrien)

Monday, Feb. 24: Arrive in Indy, Registration, Orientation, Interviews

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Measurements, Pre-exam at hospital, Interviews

Wednesday, Feb. 26: Media session, Medical exams, Position coach interviews, Psychological testing

Thursday, Feb. 27: NFLPA Meeting, Interviews, Bench Press, Psychological Testing

Friday, Feb. 28: Limited testing, On-field Workout

Saturday, Feb. 29: Departure from Indianapolis

Group 4: DB (JR Reed)

Wednesday, Feb. 26: Arrive, Registration, Orientation, Interviews

Thursday, Feb. 27: Measurements, Pre-exam at hospital, Interviews

Friday, Feb. 28: Media session, Medical exams, Position coach interviews, Psychological testing

Saturday, Feb. 29: NFLPA Meeting, Interviews, Bench Press, Psychological Testing

Sunday, March 1: Limited testing, On-field Workout

Monday, March 2: Departure from Indianapolis

Multiple former Georgia players go to Falcons rivals in latest NFL mock draft

Three former Georgia football players, including Jake Fromm and Jacob Eason, go to Atlanta Falcons’ rivals.

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The NFL Draft is coming up in just a few months and multiple former Bulldogs are expecting to hear their names called in Las Vegas.

In the latest four-round 2020 NFL mock draft done by USA TODAY’s DraftWire, multiple former Georgia players go in round one and three guys head to the NFC South.

However, none are projected to go the Falcons, a franchise that has routinely passed up on drafting players from the in-state university over the years.

Round 1:

Nov 30, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Solomon Kindley (66) and offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) celebrate with fans after a victory against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The first two picks of the draft see Joe Burrow headed to Cincinnati and Chase Young to Washington.

Andrew Thomas goes early…

Pick No. 4: Andrew Thomas to the Giants

At No. 4 the first Dawg, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, gets taken by the New York Giants.

On Thomas, DraftWire wrote:

If the Giants want Daniel Jones to become a true franchise quarterback, they’re going to have to protect him. General manager Dave Gettleman is as old-school as they come, so don’t be surprised when he spends this pick in the trenches. Moving back would be ideal given this year’s depth at both tackle and along the interior, but if they’re stuck here, Thomas is a strong pick.

At No. 5, the Miami Dolphins take Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Kindley to Tennessee…

Pick No. 29: Solomon Kindley to the Titans

In the first round, at pick No. 29, Georgia has its second player selected in the draft. Offensive guard Solomon Kindley, one of the most consistent blockers at Georgia over the past couple of seasons, is projected to the Tennessee Titans, where he would team up with former UGA center Ben Jones.

On Kindley, Draft Wire wrote:

If Derrick Henry leaves in free agency, running back obviously becomes a strong possibility here. But if he returns, the Titans should focus on fortifying an already strong offensive line with young reinforcements. Kindley is the best of a deep class of interior blockers, and his experience against top competition in the SEC have him ready to make an impact from Day 1.

Former Bulldog goes to the NFC South in the second round…

Related — JR Reed ranks low in USA TODAY NFL Draft position rankings

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Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Florida Panthers (28-17-5) and Toronto Maple Leafs (28-17-7) do battle at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. ET Monday. We analyze the Panthers-Maple Leafs sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Panthers at Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Frederik Andersen

Bobrovsky was given a wheelbarrow full of money in free agency this past offseason, but he hasn’t exactly been to Vezina form, which is what Florida expected. Still, the Panthers’ high-octane offense has masked some of his struggles to date. He is 19-13-4 with a 3.26 goals against average (GAA) and .897 save percentage in his 37 starts and 38 appearances. He hasn’t faced the Leafs this season, but was 1-2-0 with a 3.04 GAA and .898 SV% in three meetings with Toronto last season.

Andersen mans the crease in this ultra-important Atlantic Division battle. He enters with wins in Nashville and in Dallas in his two games out of the All-Star break. The last time he faced the Panthers, he was tuned up for four goals on just 12 shots before getting pulled early in the second period at home Jan. 12.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Panthers at Maple Leafs: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 3:45 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 3

Moneyline (ML)

The Maple Leafs (-167) are a risky play at this price level, which is about the maximum juice I prefer to play in NHL games. The Panthers (+140) roughed up the Leafs 8-4 in the most recent meeting, so that’s fresh in my mind. The Leafs have won seven in a row at Scotiabank Arena vs. the Panthers, however.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Maple Leafs to win returns a profit of $5.99, while a $10 wager on the Panthers results in a profit of $14.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-1.5, +150) are worth a very small-unit play, as taking them on the puck line is a much better investment. Toronto has the offense to excel, and Bobrovsky has been very giving. Again, I can’t help but remember the 8-4 loss in Florida in their most recent meeting with the Panthers (+1.5, -182), but that should motivate a Toronto team which has been red-hot out of the break. Remember, the Panthers have dropped seven in a row in Toronto, too.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 6.5 (-110) has connected in six of the past eight for Florida, and the Over is 16-7-1 in its past 24 battles inside the Atlantic Division. The Over is 7-2 in Toronto’s past nine overall, and 5-2 in the past seven against winning teams. The Over has also cashed in five of the past six battles in this series.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly announces retirement

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly just announced that he’s walking away from football in a video shared by the team Kuechly has been one of the best and most consistent defenders in the league Kuechly was a first-round pick by Carolina in the 2012 draft

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly just announced that he’s walking away from football in a video shared by the team Kuechly has been one of the best and most consistent defenders in the league Kuechly was a first-round pick by Carolina in the 2012 draft

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly announces retirement

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly just announced that he’s walking away from football in a video shared by the team Kuechly has been one of the best and most consistent defenders in the league Kuechly was a first-round pick by Carolina in the 2012 draft

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly just announced that he’s walking away from football in a video shared by the team Kuechly has been one of the best and most consistent defenders in the league Kuechly was a first-round pick by Carolina in the 2012 draft

Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (24-15-6) and Florida Panthers (23-16-5) lock horns at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. at 7 p.m. ET Sunday. We analyze the Maple Leafs-Panthers sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Maple Leafs at Panthers: Projected starting goalies

Frederik Andersen vs. Chris Driedger

The all-star Andersen heads into this one with a 21-8-5 record, 2.74 goals against average and .914 save percentage with a shutout this season. He hasn’t faced the Panthers in 2019-20, but he was 2-0-1 with a 3.29 GAA and .895 save percentage in three appearances vs. Florida last season.

Driedger has started to carve into Sergei Bobrovsky‘s playing time lately, as the huge free-agent has had some issues with consistency that the team hopes will be ironed out by a little more rest. Driedger is 4-2-0 with a 2.16 GAA and .935 save percentage with a shutout, as he has came out of nowhere to eat into the highly-paid Bobrovsky’s workload while sending top prospect Sam Montembeault back to the minors.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Maple Leafs at Panthers: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11:40 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 3

Moneyline (ML)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-121) are a strong play with the Andersen in the crease against Driedger. Yes, the latter has been playing well, but he isn’t on the same level as Freddie. The only concern is the Panthers have won five straight home games against the Leafs, so go lightly, although the favorite is 5-2 in the past seven meetings.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on the Maple Leafs ML will profit $8.26 if they win in regulation, overtime or a shootout.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-1.5, +220) are a tempting play at this price level, only because you can double your money if they win by 2 or more goals. I’d go really, really lightly here.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 7.5 (+165) is an interesting play. Both teams have been rather challenged defensively, and you can get some decent plus-money playing this line. The Over is 4-1 in the past five head-to-head meetings while going 6-2 in Toronto’s past eight overall and 25-10-2 in Florida’s past 37 on home ice. The ‘regular’ total is OVER 6.5 (-110), if you want to play it a little safer.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Report: Panthers hiring Matt Rhule as their new head coach

The Carolina Panthers are hiring Matt Rhule to be their next head coach, according to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network. 

The Panthers are hiring Matt Rhule to be their next head coach, according to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network. Pete Thamel at Yahoo Sports had the scoop first.

The team was set to interview three other candidates later this week, including interim coach Perry Fewell, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.

Apparently, team owner David Tepper spent Monday in Waco with Rhule and his family and was sold, per Rapoport.

Rhule has done a tremendous job turning around Baylor’s program in a few years. They went from being a 1-11 team in 2017 and finished 11-3 this season.

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Tom Brady isn’t the only veteran quarterback knocked out of the playoffs who could leave his team

Tom Brady is the most high profile veteran quarterback who lost his first-round game in the playoffs and will now be a free agent, but he’s not the only one. There’s another quarterback who is headed home early that no one seems to be talking about, …

Tom Brady is the most high profile veteran quarterback who lost his first-round game in the playoffs and will now be a free agent, but he’s not the only one. There’s another quarterback who is headed home early that no one seems to be talking about, and he has just as prolific passing numbers as Brady. Drew Brees is set to be a gree agent in 2020 once his contract voids.

For some reason, no one is talking about Brees leaving New Orleans like they are talking about Brady leaving New England. There are a few reasons for that. First, the narrative doesn’t sell as well. Brady is the biggest name in the NFL. He is the greatest quarterback of all time, playing for on the best dynasties of all time, and his team has been constantly covered — for good or bad — for years now. Brees simply won’t garner as many eyeballs, clicks, paper sales, or whatever metric we want to use in today’s media.

There are other reasons as well. No one expects Brees to leave New Orleans and there’s apparently a shot that Brady could leave New England. If Sean Payton immediately stepped down as head coach of the Saints and suddenly took a job with the Dallas Cowboys, maybe Brees might have thought about leaving. That’s not happening now that Dallas looks to be signing Mike McCarthy as their new head coach. There’s not a new coach coming in to push Brees out and apparently, Payton isn’t as ruthless — or isn’t expected to be as ruthless — as Bill Belichick might be negotiating with Brady.

Maybe people are giving Brees more of the benefit of the doubt as well. He’s never discussed playing anywhere else. He’s never made it known that he wants to be in control of his destiny as a player where Brady has a few times. Brees doesn’t have a fledgling health and wellness company to pitch. No one even asked Brees if he was going to retire — and they did that with Philip Rivers — and no one is questioning how the Saints will sign Brees next year. It’s all kind of odd but makes sense at the same time.

There could be some teams in the market for Brees’ services. Tampa could make a run at Brees. They have more weapons than the Saints right now — sorry, but Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are better than Mike Thomas and whoever the Saints try to fill in across from the former Buckeye. If they think they can make a run at Brees they should. The Bears or Panthers could be interested — especially if the Panthers are in win-now mode. Brees played his college football in the midwest so make a run at him Chicago. Of course, none of those teams mentioned played in domes and Brees has gotten kind of used to playing inside at this point in his career.

Still, it’s odd that Brees isn’t getting the Brady treatment. No one is even questioning that he’ll be back in New Orleans next year. Maybe we should.

Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts sports betting odds and lines, with Week 16 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.

The Carolina Panthers (5-9) and Indianapolis Colts (6-8) tangle at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (on CBS). We analyze the Panthers-Colts sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 16 matchup.

Panthers at Colts: Week 16 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Panthers turn to rookie QB Will Grier for his first NFL start.
  • The Colts enter on a four-game losing skid, while going 0-2-1 ATS across the past three games, and 2-5-1 ATS over the previous eight.
  • Indianapolis is 2-2 straight up and 1-3 ATS across the past four games at Lucas Oil Stadium.
  • Colts QB Jacoby Brissett and the offense was limited to a season-low seven points – scored late in the fourth quarter – in Monday’s ugly 34-7 loss at the New Orleans Saints.
  • The Colts defense is allowing 34.3 points per game across the past three outings as the Over has hit in two of those contests.
  • Indianapolis ranks ninth in the NFL against the run, allowing just 100.9 yards per game. That will be a key matchup, as they try and slow down Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey.

Panthers at Colts: Key injuries

Panthers: WR Curtis Samuel (knee) is questionable, while LB Sha’Quille Thompson (ankle) and DT Vernon Butler (illness) are out.

Colts: DT Denico Autry (concussion), CB Kenny Moore II (ankle), CB Quincy Wilson (shoulder) S Malik Hooker (hand) are out.

Panthers at Colts: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Colts 23, Panthers 20

Moneyline (?)

The Colts (-286) are heavily favored at home, but if you can trust their offense after what you saw last week, you have a lot more betting chutzpah than I do. The Panthers are +225.

New to sports betting? Every $2.86 wagered on the Colts ML will profit $1 if they win.

Against the Spread (?)

The PANTHERS (+7.5, -143) haven’t been playing well, but they’ll have the best player on the field in McCaffrey. He will be a difference maker and will help take a huge amount of pressure off of Grier in the QB’s first NFL start.

Every $1.43 wagered on the Panthers here will profit $1 if they don’t lose by 8 or more points or win outright.

Over/Under (?)

PASS. The total of 45.5 (-125 Over, +105 Under) is too close to call in this one. There are a lot of unknowns with Grier running the show, along with the Colts offense looking pretty shabby last week. If there is a lean, it’s to the Under – but ever so slightly.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. Looking for more sports betting picks and tips? Visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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