The National Football League is considering a number of contingency plans to allow for football to be played in the 2020 season.
Things could be looking very different for the NFL over the next year due to the coronavirus pandemic that is keeping most Americans at home. The league was able to safely adjust protocol to allow for free agency to happen as planned in March and the NFL virtual draft was a huge success in April.
But things will get a little tricky from here on out with strict social distancing guidelines keeping players off the field and fans out of seats in stadiums across the country.
The NFL is now rumored to be releasing the upcoming 2020 schedule the first week of May and some big changes may be coming to make up for lost time.
According to a post in the Sports Business Journal, the league is considering such ideas as moving the Super Bowl out to Feb. 28, starting the regular season as late as Thursday, Oct. 15, and getting rid of bye weeks and the Pro Bowl.
League executives are working on a number of contingency plans to allow for a season to happen – when and if – it is safe to do so. So keep your eyes peeled as the changes are slowly rolled out.
“One thing I’ve learned about what we are going through as a country is you can’t tell a week from now much less three months from now,”
commissioner Roger Goodell said on ABC’s Good Morning America. “So, our job is to be ready. We will obviously be ready to make alternatives.”
New Orleans Saints free agent pickup Emmanuel Sanders announced his new jersey number in a post shared from his official Instagram account.
[jwplayer qgVfVTcN-ThvAeFxT]
Well, that question’s answered. When Pro Bowl wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders first signed with the New Orleans Saints as an urnestricted free agent, everything about the move made sense and was easy to explain. The veteran runs some of the best routes in the NFL and has made a living catching passes from some very bad quarterbacks, so his addition to the Saints as an accomplished number-two threat opposite Michael Thomas checked all the boxes.
The only puzzle left to solve was which number Sanders would wear on his jersey. Every number he had previously worn in the NFL or in college was already claimed by his new teammates, and while he could have easily asked to swap with one of them he also had a precedent of choosing a new designation after changing teams.
But that won’t be the case after all. Sanders announced Wednesday that he will wear No. 17 for the Saints, which was previously used by rookie free agent Emmanuel Butler (the training camp darling out of Northern Arizona who spent the 2019 season on the practice squad). Sanders included a glossy photo edited to show him celebrating a big catch in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, featuring a very crisp No. 17 on his jersey. It’s a great look:
Former Baltimore Colts linebacker Mike Curtis, who was a member of Seattle’s first NFL team in 1976, passed away on Monday at age 77.
Longtime NFL linebacker Mike Curtis, who played for the Seattle Seahawks in 1976, passed away on Monday morning. He was 77 years old.
Curtis spent the vast majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts, getting selected 14th overall in the 1965 NFL draft out of Duke University.
He went on to play 11 seasons with the Colts, serving as their middle linebacker and making four Pro Bowls while being named an All-Pro twice.
Perhaps his most famous moment was in 1971 when he laid out a fan on the field during a Dolphins game. He also recorded an interception in the closing minutes of Super Bowl V, which set Baltimore up to kick the game-winning field goal.
Curtis joined Seattle’s team in expansion in 1976, starting 14 games for them and recording a pair of interceptions. He then spent two more years in Washington before hanging up his cleats at age 35.
Curtis never made the Hall of Fame, although he could still find his way into Canton posthumously after a stellar NFL career.
Broncos returner Diontae Spencer didn’t have an easy road to the NFL.
Diontae Spencer didn’t have an easy road to the Denver Broncos.
He was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school before going on to play four years at McNeese State. After graduating, Spencer was not invited to the NFL combine and he went undrafted.
He then went to rookie minicamp with the Chicago Bears but did not receive a contract offer. Spencer then landed with the St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams but he didn’t even make it to training camp with them.
Spencer then landed in the Canadian Football League, playing two years with the Toronto Argonauts and two seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks. After four years in the CFL, Spencer signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers but failed to make their 53-man roster.
After being cut by the Steelers, Spencer landed in Denver. On Sunday, Spencer shared an inspiring tweet showing his path to the Broncos:
In Denver last season, Spencer averaged 29.1 yards per kickoff return and eight yards per punt return. After his first year as a full-time returner in the NFL, Spencer was named an alternate for the 2020 Pro Bowl.
From zero-star recruit to Pro Bowl alternate. Not bad, not bad at all!
Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning made 14 Pro Bowls during his football career — with all but one of those games taking place at Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium.
And while most of the Pro Bowlers players expected that to mean a laid-back tropical vacation to Hawaii, Manning apparently used the social aspect of the Pro Bowl to improve his football game.
At least that’s what Hall of Fame defensive back Ty Law remembers about his Pro Bowl experiences with Manning.
In a radio interview with Dale & Keefe on WEEI, the former Patriots star remembered Manning prying game secrets from the other Pro Bowlers with the help of a bunch of Mai Tais … all on Manning’s tab.
We asked Ty Law about when he picked off Tom Brady…but FIRST he told a different story…
"Peyton would try to get you…once you get over to the Pro Bowl, you're on the same team Peyton try to get you drunk and then try to dig into your brain…he feed you these mai tais…" pic.twitter.com/ytboUR3urN
“Peyton would try to get you — one you get over to the Pro Bowl, you’re on the same team. Peyton tried to get you drunk and then try to dig in to your brain. ‘What did you see? Why did you do this?’ … ‘It’s on me!’ He tried to feed you all these damn Mai Tais. He kept feeding you all those, and then he wanted to come at you and butter you up and ask you what you see and this and that. I was like, ‘Peyton, I ain’t falling for that (expletive).’ I tell him right there.”
That’s quite the scheme.
Manning basically treated the Pro Bowl as a reconnaissance trip while fooling competitors with Mai Tais, which are delicious.
In an exclusive Steelers Wire interview, Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver talks about being drafted and what’s to come in 2020.
It was April 26, 2019. Diontae Johnson was surrounded by family and friends at an NFL draft party. His nerves were through the roof. He watched as receivers were flying off the board – Marquise Brown, N’Keal Harry, Deebo Samuel…
Johnson was growing more anxious. He was concerned about falling in the draft.
Then his phone rang. On the other end was Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin. “You ready to be a Steeler?” Tomlin asked.
Mock drafts – and there were plenty – projected that Johnson would be a late day three selection. But he said he didn’t let that get to his head. “Coming from a small school, people expected me to go late,” said Johnson. “I wasn’t really worried about that because when I got on the field, I was just going to let my game do the talking because the film speaks for itself. I can play with anybody, or against anybody that steps in front of me.”
Johnson’s film spoke loud and clear to the Steelers organization. He was selected 66th overall – the 10th wide receiver in the draft – the pick Pittsburgh received from the Los Angeles Raiders for Antonio Brown.
“I just started crying,” said Johnson. “Hearing coach [Darryl] Drake’s voice on the phone and coach Tomlin. And then Big Ben talking to me, congratulating me, welcoming me to the family was just crazy.”
It worked out nicely for both parties. Johnson finished the 2019 season as the leader in receptions (59) and touchdowns (5). He was second to James Washington with 680 yards receiving.
Next Man Up
The Steelers lost three main components to their offense – Ben Roethlisberger, James Conner, and JuJu Smith-Schuster – which forced the rookie into a more prominent role earlier than expected.
But Johnson didn’t mind one bit. It’s something he’s wanted all of his life.
“One guy goes down, and it’s next man up mentality for me,” said Johnson. “I felt like I had to just step up and make plays; show the coaches that I’m reliable, and they can count on me to catch the ball in those got-to-have-it-down situations.”
Johnson knows the depth chart isn’t static and, when the season starts, he has his eye on the prize. “Although JuJu’s receiver number one, I’m trying to work my way up there to be receiver number one as well, so… that’s just the competitiveness that’s in me.”
MAC the Knife
The Steelers punted 29 times last season, and Johnson was on the receiving end of 20. Harkening back to his Toledo days when he was twice named first-team All-MAC as a punt returner and 2018 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, Johnson racked up 285 return yards for the black and gold.
In Week 14, Johnson returned a punt for an 85-yard touchdown and earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He was later named All-Pro Second Team as a punt return specialist.
Dec 8, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) returns a punt 85 yards for a touchdown during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY
Those Who Came Before Him
Johnson had a few guys he watched a lot of during his years before going pro. As a kid growing up, it was Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver/return specialist, Dante Hall. Once he got to the University of Toledo, he looked up to Stefon Diggs and Jarvis Landry, who are now guys he calls friends.
“[Diggs and Landry are] both my favorite receivers,” Johnson said. “And I know them now. It’s crazy. So, I keep in contact with both of them, try to pick their brains and see what I can add to my game.”
Another brain he’s been picking is Antonio Brown. Johnson has spent time this offseason training with Brown and honing his craft.
The two met through Johnson’s former Toledo teammate and Steelers linebacker, Ola Adeniyi. “A.B. and me are real good friends,” Johnson said. “I work out with him when I’m down [in Florida]. We did some balance drills, core stuff, a lot of ball drills. We make sure we stay in shape. Just trying to focus on the core a lot because you need the core to play receiver. We did a lot of releases with DBs, too.”
Johnson has also been connecting with his quarterback. Though this offseason is unprecedented as it relates to team-building activities, Johnson and Roethlisberger have been doing what they can. “We’ve been talking more,” he said. “He’s been hitting me up, checking on me, seeing how I’ve been doing.”
‘We Got a Big Year’
Johnson is looking forward to having the crew back together this season. Even though he’s only in his second year, Johnson is aware of just how magical the Steelers can be when they’re clicking on all cylinders.
Johnson and Roethlisberger had very little time together on-field in 2019. He was targeted just six times in the six quarters Roethlisberger played. So, Johnson knows just how critical it is to get chemistry working.
“I’m going to go out there and keep taking those big steps, and, hopefully, I’ll be a reliable target for Ben,” said Johnson.
“Big Ben is just different,” he continued. “He knows how to throw the ball, turn it ways that other people can’t. He’s been helping take my game to another level. And I’m going to help him take his game to another level as well.”
Johnson knows with everyone healthy, the sky is the limit. “We got a big year,” said Johnson. “Our whole receiving corps, anybody can make plays. That’s just how good our receiving group is. I feel like we got the best receiving group in the league.”
It’s nearly impossible to forecast which two teams will make it to the end this early in the offseason. A native of Ruskin, Fla., 30 minutes south of the home of the 2020 Super Bowl, Johnson has the Super Bowl in his sights. “I want us to win a Super Bowl back home in Tampa.”
Among his other lofty but attainable goals for the season are to be a Pro Bowl receiver and have at least 100 catches for 1,000 yards.
Johnson had big shoes to fill when he came into Pittsburgh. Judging from his rookie season, it looks like he grew out of them.
Alvin Kamara has only played in the NFL for three years, but the New Orleans Saints all-star has been voted into the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. That’s a point the official Saints Twitter account helpfully drove home when shared a highlight reel of Kamara’s biggest plays from the 2019 season, in which the running back ran through, over, and around many of the best defenders in the game today.
Even though Kamara did struggle with a couple of lower-leg injuries in 2019, he didn’t take as far of a step back as it may have felt like. He still averaged 95 yards from scrimmage per game and ranked among the best runners in the league on his workload. And this quick highlight tape shows that the ability to make a play is always there with A.K. Now that he’s feeling more like himself, he and his fans should expect a bounce back in what may be a contract year in 2020.
The New Orleans Saints rose to the top spot in the NFC during the updated mid-free agency NFL power rankings from Touchdown Wire.
[jwplayer CcMnGV6Q-ThvAeFxT]
The first few waves of free agency have come and gone, sending shockwaves throughout the NFL. It’s rocked the hierarchy of Super Bowl contenders in both the AFC and NFC, which was reflected in the updated power rankings from Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield.
For the Saints, the additions of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive back Malcolm Jenkins (both regular faces at the Pro Bowl) combined with losses around the conference to put them ahead of their competition. The Saints now rank third-best in the NFL and should be seen as favorites to represent the conference in Super Bowl LV. Here’s what Schofield wrote to justify their high placement, above rivals like the San Francisco 49ers (fourth), Green Bay Packers (fifth), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (eighth):
The Saints badly needed to get Michael Thomas a running mate, and they did just that, adding Emmanuel Sanders to bolster their wide receiver group. Both Thomas and Sanders are versatile targets, with both being used last season in the slot and on the boundary. With Sanders in the fold, New Orleans can use their first-round selection to help the defense, perhaps with Zach Baun from Wisconsin, or they could trade down as they currently last a second-round pick.
Speaking of the defense, adding Jenkins into the secondary gives them a proven veteran safety with the ability to play both as a single high free safety or down in the box if needed. He can also serve as a strong mentor for Marcus Williams at the opposite safety spot and be a leader in the locker room.
But the main reason for their modest jump is the Sanders acquisition. This is going to be a very hard passing game to slow down.
The addition of Tom Brady elevated the Buccaneers from a below-average squad to a Super Bowl dark horse, but the rest of the NFC South trails them and the Saints a big further behind. Teddy Bridgewater’s landing with the Carolina Panthers raised them from second-worst to just No. 28, while the Atlanta Falcons slid back to the No. 22 spot after starting the offseason at No. 19. When you lose key contributors like Austin Hooper and De’Vondre Campbell and replace them with first-round draft busts like Laquon Treadwell and Hayden Hurst, you’re going to have a bad time. For now, it’s looking like a two-horse race (at best) in the NFC South.
Each of the jersey numbers that wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has worn in college and the NFL have been claimed by his Saints teammates.
[jwplayer 9K7ydtNC-ThvAeFxT]
Forget everything else that will factor in to whether Emmanuel Sanders will succeed as a member of the New Orleans Saints. It doesn’t really matter that he’s upgrading from the likes of Joe Flacco and Case Keenum at quarterback to Drew Brees, the most-accurate passer of all time. It’s not like having Michael Thomas, Jared Cook, and Alvin Kamara on the field at the same time will create favorable looks in coverage. The fact of the matter is that Sanders must choose a great jersey number if he’s going to thrive with his new team. Everyone knows this.
Jokes aside: the two-time Pro Bowler figures to be a big part of the offense this year, and his charismatic persona should endear him to fans right away. We should see more than a few Sanders jerseys inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and around Champions Square this season. With the Saints front office quieting down a bit on the free agency front since agreeing to terms with Sanders on a two-year contract, we can take a few minutes to ponder which number he’ll be wearing in the fall.
Sanders has worn three numbers in the NFL: No. 10, No. 17 (which he also chose in college at SMU), and No. 88. Each of those numbers are currently designated for a player under contract for 2020, with wide receivers Tre’Quan Smith in No. 10 and Emmanuel Butler in No. 17; defensive lineman Mitchell Loewen converted to tight end last season and chose No. 88 (ironically because No. 89, his college number, belonged to tight end Josh Hill), though Loewen is still listed as No. 70 on the Saints website.
NFL rules stipulate that wide receivers may wear numbers between Nos. 10 and 19 as well as Nos. 80 through 89. Veteran players often work out deals with new teammates who own the number they wish to wear, but those agreements don’t always come to fruition. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Chris Godwin are figuring this out now, as luck would have it. But let’s assume none of those three Saints players agree to let Sanders have their number. What are his options?
Per the official Saints roster, Sanders is eligible for Nos. 12, 18, 19, 82, and 83. Of that bunch, No. 18 would make the most sense because it’s an amalgamation of two that he’s worn in the past (Nos. 10 and 88), and is close to his usual preference (No. 17). But he can certainly try to convince one of his new teammates to swap out.
As for other Saints free agent pickups:
Safety Malcolm Jenkins has not chosen a number yet, but he wore No. 27 in his first five years in New Orleans and it’s available after being last worn by running back Dwayne Washington (currently an unrestricted free agent).
Fullback Michael Burton wore No. 46 last summer with the Saints and immediately chose it again, which is a power move that you love to see.
Wide receiver Tommylee Lewis quietly returned to the Saints on a reserve/future contract earlier this offseason and will wear No. 15, with his previous choices of Nos. 11 and 87 taken by returns specialist Deonte Harris and tight end Jared Cook, respectively.
That about wraps it up. One storyline to keep an eye out for is whether free safety Marcus Williams will switch back to No. 20, which he wore in college. It was unavailable when the Saints drafted him (thanks to cornerback Ken Crawley) and is currently worn by cornerback Janoris Jenkins, but maybe “Jackrabbit” would be willing to cut a deal with his rising-star teammate. Both players are entering the final years of their contracts, for what it’s worth, and maybe use the extra boost to their mojo that comes with a switch.
Here’s a big development for the New Orleans Saints in free agency: two-time Pro Bowl left guard Andrus Peat agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension with the team on Friday, valued at $57.5 million with a whopping $33 million tied up in guarantees. It’s a big pay day for the former first-round draft pick, the only member of the Saints’ 2015 draft class still with the team.
However, it may have not been the right move. While Peat’s on-field level of play has swung wildly from top-tier highlights to best-forgotten low moments, his extensive injury history alone should give fans pause. He’s only played 60 of 70 possible games, missing time with injuries including a broken arm (2019); a sprained ankle, concussion, and broken hand (2018); a broken leg and high ankle sprain (2017); and other ailments including a vague leg injury (2016 and 2015).
Offensive lines often suffer a high level of attrition in the NFL, owing to the physicality of the position sometimes likened to a weekly car crash. But Peat has missed more time than most starters at his pay grade, and when he has suited up, he hasn’t played at a consistent level. It’s concerning that the Saints invested so heavily in a player who is still unproven this late in his career.
On the other hand: they didn’t have any better options. All of the other top free agent guards had already signed with new teams, and barring a blockbuster trade for New England Patriots franchise player Joe Thuney (which would surely require at least a first-round draft pick), Peat was the best shot New Orleans had at shoring up the position.
Maybe the Saints could have let backups Nick Easton, Will Clapp, and Cameron Tom (also a free agent in need of re-signing) battle it out, but it’s more likely they would have had to reach too high on a prospect or trade up for one in next month’s draft.
So, it’s too soon to say that this move was a bad one. There are certainly positives to take away from it, like Peat’s familiarity with the offense and Drew Brees’ comfort level in working with him. But Peat’s sometimes-poor performance and lack of availability definitely make it look worst out of the roster moves the Saints have made this offseason. Here’s hoping Peat proves the doubters wrong.
