Tag: Pro Bowl

Chiefs to sign former Pro Bowl QB Carson Wentz

The Kansas City #Chiefs are expected to sign Carson Wentz to serve as Patrick Mahomes’ backup in 2024.

The Kansas City Chiefs are adding extra Pro Bowl experience to their quarterback room this offseason.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Wentz is signing with the Chiefs. The contract is reportedly a one-year deal, and complete details haven’t been released yet.

Wentz was the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2017. The Eagles won Super Bowl LII that season after Wentz went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 14.

Wentz spent last season as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams, appearing in two games after being signed on Nov. 8. He won his lone start and was 17 of 24 with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score.

After five seasons in Philadelphia, he had one-season stops with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders.

The Chiefs had Blaine Gabbert as the backup quarterback last season behind Patrick Mahomes, and the veteran victoriously started the regular-season finale. Wentz has significant game experience and should do a sufficient job, assuming Brett Veach doesn’t bring in anyone else before training camp.

WATCH: Jeremy Reaves reveals Tress Way’s reaction on his return to the Commanders

It’s safe to say that Tress Way is fired up that Jeremy Reaves is back for the Commanders.

It’s no secret that Washington punter Tress Way and safety Jeremy Reaves are close. When Reaves learned he made the Pro Bowl in 2022, Way’s reaction—he also made the Pro Bowl—was terrific.

Over the years, we’ve learned that Reaves is also a favorite of Way’s kids, including his young son, Beau.

However, with a new regime, there was a chance that Reaves and Way wouldn’t be teammates anymore. Reaves was a free agent, and general manager Adam Peters hadn’t progressed with any of Washington’s free agents before free agency opened last week.

Not to worry, Reaves was re-signed late last week, becoming the first Commanders’ player to earn an extension under the new regime. Technically, it wasn’t an extension as Reaves’ contract had expired, but there was no doubt that head coach Dan Quinn and Peters wanted Reaves back.

Fans were happy with the news, too. Reaves is beloved.

Reaves met with the media after the news of his re-signing, expressing his excitement about returning to Washington. Before his time with the media was up, he was asked about Way’s reaction.

This is tremendous.

In addition to being beloved in the locker room and by fans, Reaves is also a heckuva player who has earned everything he’s received. Quinn understands what players like that mean for the culture and the locker room.

 

Saints kick off their annual restructures with Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy

The Saints kicked off their annual salary cap strategy by restructuring their contract with Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy:

The New Orleans Saints kicked off their annual salary cap strategy with Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy, agreeing to a contract restructure that guarantees McCoy his money while helping the team’s accountants.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Saints are saving $7.18 million by restructuring McCoy’s contract — which they’ve done by converting most of his base salary and a $500,000 roster bonus due in March into a new signing bonus, adding a void year to spread out the signing bonus proration. The end result: McCoy’s salary cap hit drops from $13.7 million to about $6.5 million for 2024. He’s under contract through 2027.

McCoy earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl Games in 2023 as an injury replacement, and he was the Saints’ steadiest offensive lineman during their recent tumultuous season. They’ll be counting on him to anchor the middle of the line from the pivot spot for the foreseeable future. With Derek Carr returning at quarterback and Klint Kubiak installing his offense, having McCoy at the point is going to be good for all involved.

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WATCH: Dolphins share behind-the-scenes clips for Pro Bowl Games

Dolphins share mic’d up moments from the Pro Bowl Games.

Six members of the Miami Dolphins roster got to spend last week parading around Florida, as they participated in the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.

Tua Tagovailoa, Raheem Mostert, Alec Ingold, Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead and Jalen Ramsey all had the chance to represent the aqua and orange in a number of events, including the flag football game last Sunday.

Miami’s content team recently released some behind-the-scenes footage from the activities, which featured Mostert wearing the mic.

The Dolphins may not have been the best performers throughout the Pro Bowl Games, but they did appear to have a great. They’re hoping that they’ll be busy preparing for the Super Bowl next year.

Ray Lewis’ comically bad janitor disguise at the Pro Bowl had NFL players in disbelief

“The smallest man in Orlando!”

Ray Lewis went undercover at the Pro Bowl to hand out compliments (and sneaky insults) to several NFL players, and the results are hysterical.

The Pro Bowl allows fans to take in some of the NFL’s best talent. The best part of the event is that players are asked to do things they don’t normally do, like play dodgeball, field punts with footballs already in their arms or turn into a rapper like Eli Manning did.

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But what about dressing up as a janitor to hand out compliments and disses about other players? That’s what NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis did, and the results are as hilarious as you think they are.

Mic’d up: Puka Nacua chops it up with Jalen Ramsey, other NFL stars at Pro Bowl Games

Puka Nacua was mic’d up at the Pro Bowl Games and he chatted it up with Jalen Ramsey, Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis and several other stars

Puka Nacua is impossible not to like. He’s only a rookie, but he’s quickly become one of the most popular Rams players among fans. Players around the NFL love him, too, as evidenced by their reactions to meeting him at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando last week.

DK Metcalf went out of his way to tell Nacua, “you’re funny as (expletive), man.”

Nacua was mic’d up at the Pro Bowl Games and he had an absolute blast. He was on the winning NFC squad but he also chatted it up with the AFC team – including former Rams star Jalen Ramsey. He and Nacua talked about playing ball in Los Angeles sometime, with Ramsey telling Nacua he’ll get his number and set something up.

Nacua earned a lot of respect from Ja’Marr Chase this season, too.

“You make that (expletive) look easy as hell, bro,” Chase told Nacua.

Even Hall of Famer Ray Lewis had some great things to say to Nacua after his remarkable rookie season.

“Congratulations, young man. I love your game. I see how you find yourself open. You’re real smart. Gotta get that lean on,” Lewis said.

After the game was over, Peyton Manning introduced himself to Nacua, as if Puka wouldn’t know who he is already.

“I’m Peyton Manning. Good to meet ya. Great year, man. Keep it up, man. Congratulations. Good luck to you,” Manning told Puka.

The entire video is awesome from start to finish and if you aren’t already a fan of Nacua’s, you will be after watching it.

Baker Mayfield and Demario Davis named Co-MVP of the Pro Bowl

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and linebacker Demario Davis were awarded MVP of the Pro Bowl

Two former Cleveland Browns captains, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and linebacker Demario Davis, were named the co-MVP of the Pro Bowl. The pair helped lead the Eli Manning-coached NFC over Peyton Manning and the AFC. 

Mayfield was named the offensive MVP after he led the NFC to victory. Mayfield replaced Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. 

Mayfield’s football season isn’t over quite yet. Mayfield is a nominee for the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award. The award will be presented at the NFL Honors Award Show on February 8. His competition includes Damar Hamlin, and Joe Flacco after the work he did with the Cleveland Browns.

Davis played with the Cleveland Browns for one season in 2016 before Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams shipped him away. Davis found a home in New Orleans, blossoming into a leader. He has achieved five All-Pro teams with the Saints. 

The Browns were well-represented in the Pro Bowl. Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, David Njoku, Joel Bitonio, and Amari Cooper were selected for the team in January. Bitonio and Cooper didn’t participate in the Pro Bowl, focusing on recovering from the injuries that haunted them at the end of the season. 

Wyatt Teller was invited after Bitonio opted out, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah replaced T.J. Watt after he declined. 

While their AFC team fell short, the players left an impact over the weekend. Njoku had a small war of words with Micah Parsons over the weekend. Ward finished the weekend strong with a spectacular interception during the game. The Browns stars will take the field next in August for the 2024 preseason. 

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WATCH: Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah mic’d up at Pro Bowl

The first time Pro Bowler enjoyed himself last week

The Pro Bowl games took place this past weekend down in Orlando Florida and Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was there for his first selection.

What a year Owusu-Koramoah had with the Browns as he had a true breakout season showing all the upside and potential coming together for the third-year player.

He is so athletic and instinctual that when you see him diagnose the play in front of him you see him react in an insanely small amount of time. JOK was asked to put on weight and take his game to the next level and he more than stepped up to the challenge and was impossible to take off the field by the end of the year.

As a result, he found himself down in Orlando and mic’d up for the first practice of the week. You can see from the video that he is truly enjoying himself and the accomplishments he made on the field this year.

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Browns RG Wyatt Teller shows off strength in Pro Bowl gauntlet

Cleveland Browns RG Wyatt Teller displayed his strength during the tire flip portion of the NFL Pro Bowl Gridiron Gauntlet

The Cleveland Browns continued to impress at the Pro Bowl this past weekend. On Sunday night, Wyatt Teller showed off his strength as he propelled the AFC team to victory in the tire flip part of the gridiron gauntlet obstacle course.

Teller flipped the tire 20 yards down the field with ease. It’s unclear how much the tire weighed, but it looks like a lot. 

Teller was facing off against his NFC counterpart, Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons. Watching the two shove the tire was a reminder of how easy they make pancakes look. Talk about some extra gym motivation this week. 

Teller was a late addition to the Pro Bowl after Joel Bitonio dropped out to focus on healing from a brutal season. Bitonio made the last six Pro Bowls during his career. This Pro Bowl was Teller’s third selection of his career, and you can see how much fun the veteran lineman had all weekend. 

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Marshall Manning said Pro Bowl was ‘scripted’ after Eli beat Peyton

“You know the refs won the game,” Marshall Manning said after his dad, Peyton, lost to Eli at the Pro Bowl. “It’s scripted. It’s scripted.”

After Eli Manning coached the NFC to a 64-59 victory over Peyton Manning and the AFC on Sunday afternoon, his nephew suggested the game was rigged.

“You know the refs won the game,” Marshall Manning told Eli at midfield. “It’s scripted. It’s scripted.”

Conspiracy theorists will point to Marshall’s comments as evidence that the NFL is rigged, but a more likely explanation is that Marshall has adopted his father’s signature sense of humor and entertainment.

When Peyton broke the NFL’s touchdown record in 2014, Denver Broncos wide receivers played keep away with the football when the QB went to collect it. We later found out that Peyton had the WRs rehearse that moment at practice before the game.

The record was real. The pass was real. But the funny-in-the-moment reaction was staged by Peyton himself. It’s possible that Marshall’s Pro Bowl comments were also planted. At the very least, Marshall could have picked up on the faux beef between Peyton and Eli and he took advantage of an opportune time to add fuel to the narrative fire.

Now I sound like a conspiracy theorist.

Regardless of whether or not Marshall was being serious, it was a funny — and entertaining — moment at the Pro Bowl. Like father, like son.