Tag: Pro Football Talk

PFT says Commanders treated QB prospects like ‘lab rats’ during interviews

More nonsense from from Washington’s favorite critic.

Pro Football Talk blasted the Commanders on Friday.

The Commanders had entertained multiple players, including four quarterbacks, earlier in the week. It was a job interview, and apparently, Josh Harris and the Commanders were really out of line, according to Mike Florio and Myles Simmons.

“I think it is imperative to bring in these guys (quarterbacks) one at a time, know everything you can about them, get them all in with you. And that is where this has kind of gone off the rails for the Commanders. Because I’m hearing belief that maybe Jayden Daniels is not all that interested now in going to the Commanders,” Florio said during Friday’s installment of “PFT Live.”

Simmons replied: “You can pick up another asset (not picking Daniels and trading down), but is that going to be worth it if you are playing games and you don’t get the exact quarterback that you sensibly have fallen in love with throughout this draft process? To me, that would not make much sense. But, there are a lot of things about the way the Commanders have gone about, let’s call it, the last week that have not made much sense to me.”

Added Florio: “Here is the other thing I’ve picked up from somebody that I trust immensely, who is very plugged into the ownership scene. Josh Harris? A lot more involved than they thought he would be. … They brought them all in on the same day because that’s the day Mr. Harris was available to see them. That’s the only plausible explanation for having them there.

“Here is the danger, the David Tepper danger. This is when the owner is involved in any way. … At the end of the day, if you get it wrong, you better get it wrong with the guy the boss wanted. Your worst-case scenario is, the boss wanted this guy, and you went with that (other) guy, and that guy stinks. … Your long-term job prospects are best suited by giving the boss what you think the boss wants, and it all comes down to how vocal the boss is.

“You are the No. 2  guy. The people who know what they are doing, have Jayden Daniels as the clear No. 2 guy. So, when you have your visit to this team, that wants you supposedly, and the day is diluted by the three other quarterbacks being there. At some level you are going to be pissed. … There’s red flags there, and it all flows back to how the Commanders have handled it. It’s not anything about Jayden Daniels. It’s how the Commanders have handled Jayden Daniels.”

Wow, has it not yet occurred to Florio that comparing Harris to Tepper is extremely unfair to Harris? If Harris proves himself to be a Tepper, then yes. But for now, doesn’t that seem like attacking Harris prematurely?

Second, do Florio and Simmons fail to comprehend the Commanders have not presented any signs whatsoever that Daniels is obviously their guy?

Third, they are flat-out wrong because several analysts also think Drake Maye should be the second selection. The situation is not as simple as Florio and Simmons erroneously believe it to be.

Fourth, are any of the other quarterbacks who visited complaining about the process? So how can Florio and Simmons logically conclude it has to be the Commanders at fault in how they handled Daniels this week?

Simmons then proceeded to say twice the Commanders’ process was “disrespectful” to the prospective quarterbacks, expressing, “I am confused by this approach.”

Though Adam Peters and Lance Newmark stated there were both individual meetings and group time, this simply does not satisfy Florio and Simmons. Florio then called it “the strategy the Commanders concocted; I know people and am a student of the human condition. It’s disrespectful, it’s disrespectful to all of them.”

Florio then said the Commanders were treating the quarterbacks “like lab rats in a weird sort of way. … Let’s just put them in a room together and see how they act. Maybe one will kill the other three, and that will clearly be the right choice for us. … There is an element of evil scientist that comes through this, that is just offputting to me as an outsider.”

Florio then called it “this weird power-trip [expletive].”

Here is the video of their entire discussion:

 

 

Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons is building steam

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote that there are “very credible indications: that Kirk Cousins could be headed to the Atlanta Falcons

For weeks now, the race for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been a two-horse race: the Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons. With the NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror and the start of free agency looming, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio mentioned in his latest piece that there are “very credible indications” that Cousins to Atlanta is more than just a rumor.

We can’t get into the specifics, for now. But we’re getting very credible indications that Cousins is seriously considering moving his family to Atlanta. Which would mean, obviously, that he’d be signing with the Falcons.

The Falcons have always been the top alternative to the Vikings for Cousins, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next Wednesday. And for good reason. His wife, Julie, grew up in nearby Alpharetta, Georgia. Her parents still live there.

The Vikings have, by all appearances, decided they want to keep Cousins, but only at their price. They seem to think he won’t get a better offer elsewhere. If he does, they seem to be content to let him go.

While there isn’t much new information to add to the situation, the talks about Minnesota moving on from the 35-year-old quarterback are getting louder. Vikings fans may have to start getting used to the idea that a new quarterback may be under center in 2024.

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Report indicates the NFL blames the Lions for Brad Allen’s mistaken call

A report from Pro Football Talk indicates the NFL blames the Lions for Brad Allen’s mistaken call

The Brad Allen saga continues into the new year, and it’s not headed in a direction that many Detroit Lions fans will like. Allen, the referee who mistakenly announced Dan Skipper as an eligible receiver instead of Taylor Decker on the critical 2-pt. conversion late in Detroit’s loss in Dallas in Week 17, has the protection of the NFL shield.

In a report propagated by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL is effectively covering up for Allen and pointing the finger at the Lions for the referee’s mistake:

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the NFL does not plan to change the procedure for players reporting as eligible. The league views the situation as an effort by the Lions to engage in deception and gamesmanship that backfired.

While there might be some inherent deception built into the play, that doesn’t excuse Allen for his lazy, irresponsible error. He failed to do his job properly, period. If he’s that vulnerable to legally permitted deception, deliberate or not, he shouldn’t ever be allowed to blow a whistle again.

Technically, the report shows the NFL is correct on one front. The league does not need to change the procedure for players reporting as eligible. The Lions did that part to the letter of the law. Allen simply screwed it up on his own.

The fact the league defends him is a frustrating acknowledgment that the NFL doesn’t really want to fix its officiating issue. Failing to hold officials accountable for their own egregious mistakes is a slippery slope that keeps getting slicker and steeper for the NFL. The downhill momentum furthered willingly in the Allen case just might snowball into something much worse for the league.

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Chris Simms believes Nick Mullens should start after bye

One former quarterback believed that Mullens should be the starter coming out of the bye week

The Josh Dobbs story has been one of the more unlikely ones in the NFL this season. But that story may be coming to an end when the Minnesota Vikings return from their bye week. Dobbs and the Vikings have lost two straight after a five-game win streak, and Dobbs has struggled mightily in each. At least one analyst believes Nick Mullens should be at the helm when the Vikings next take the field.

During a segment on Pro Football Talk with Mike Florio, analyst and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms expressed that he believes Nick Mullens should be the guy — if healthy — for the Vikings moving forward.

Simms points out that, while the Dobbs story has been a great one, now that teams have some film on him and have seen what he’s capable of, the flaws are starting to show themselves. He goes on to say there’s a reason Dobbs is a backup and has been with multiple teams in his career.

Mullens has been designated to return to the team after spending time on IR with a concussion. The team could also turn to rookie Jaren Hall, who was initially planned to take over for Kirk Cousins after his Achilles injury, but left his first game early with a concussion of his own.

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Will Commanders trade for Bill Belichick?

But a source close to Josh Harris said this is “simply not true.”

“I caught wind over the weekend of some chatter in league circles with this notion that when the season ends, the Commanders will trade with the Patriots to get Bill Belichick.”

That’s how Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio introduced the rumor that the Commanders will pursue New England head coach Bill Belichick.

Florio continued, saying he was told, “Everyone is out. Jason Wright, team president; Martin Mayhew, general manager; Ron Rivera, head coach; all out.”

The PFT host conveyed that Monday’s trades of Montez Sweat and Chase Young also point to new owner Josh Harris cleaning house and getting his own people in there.

It’s important to remember that Belichick still has multiple years remaining on his contract. Indeed, if Washington were to pursue Belichick, it would cost them, and perhaps cost them dearly.

WJLA-TV sports anchor Scott Abraham said he too reached out and was told the rumor is simply not true.

But back to Florio: He said that once the season is over, Patriots owner Robert Kraft will simply sit back, not firing Belichick but waiting for Harris to make the first move.

Once Kraft and Harris would work out the compensation, then Harris would be free to contact Belichick and discuss the concept with Belichick and work out a deal.

Florio went even further, suggesting someone other than Harris would contact Belichick’s agent, and the two would be informally discussing the possibility if the other party were interested.

As to the origin of the story, Florio thought it was from the Belichick camp, getting the story out there so the league teams know that Belichick is going to be available for the right price after this season.

Would Harris pursue Belichick?

Or would Harris prefer someone younger, likely one of the more respected coordinators who desires to be head coach?

Could Commanders owner Snyder, have one final trick up his sleeve?

The vote for Washington’s ownership transfer is expected this week.

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One NFL insider is not yet ready to say Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder won’t make one final attempt to mess up everything.

Though Daniel Snyder had his office at the Ashburn facility cleaned out prior to the 2022 season finale home game against Dallas, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is still not putting it past Snyder to attempt something.

“Daniel Snyder is leaving; he wants to leave it all behind him,” said Florio Thursday. He doesn’t want to be responsible for any liabilities that may arise in the future.”

However, there is one item Florio believes could cause problems in this sale to the Josh Harris group this upcoming Friday.

“I overlooked a very important issue of how the NFL and Daniel Snyder will handle the potential for liability arising from the actions of one or the other. Snyder presumably wants indemnification for anything that could stick to him in this Gruden email case.  The league may want indemnification for Dan Snyder for anything that could stick to them, caused by him.”

Florio feels “it is possible that both sides have civil liability to Jon Gruden by the time this is all said and done.”

Gruden may have some leverage in trying to get more of a financial settlement from the NFL. Thus, could this hold up the sale being approved this coming Friday?

Who leaked the Jon Gruden emails? Snyder testified under oath that he did not leak the emails. Bruce Allen testified under oath the NFL told him they did not leak the emails but that the leak came from the team.

How much money will be enough for Gruden to settle? Will the settlement be with the NFL or Snyder?

Florio doesn’t see Snyder wanting to move on so easily. “If he wants to be a jerk, yeah, he can hold their feet to the fire. ‘I want this, I want that. Hey, you want to get rid of me; you give me those things. Otherwise, I’m not going.’ Wouldn’t that be something?”

Meanwhile, Commanders fans, media following the team, franchise employees and the team itself want this to simply be concluded and for Snyder to determine he will quietly ride off into the sunset.

Having made a huge profit, after all.

Tyreek Hill says Jaylen Waddle is an All-Pro who hasn’t gotten the recognition yet

Dolphins Tyreek Hill believes that fellow WR Jaylen Waddle is an All-Pro level player

Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best receivers of all time at only age 29. Hill’s resume is remarkable with a Super Bowl Championship, seven Pro Bowl appearances, and four First-Team All-Pros, including last season. Hill, alongside former Alabama stand-out [autotag]Jaylen Waddle[/autotag], makes up what is arguably the best-receiving core in the NFL, but what is not arguable is that they are the fastest.

While speaking with Click2Houston.com this week Pro Football Talk reports that Hill expressed frustration that Waddle wasn’t getting the attention he deserves as an All-Pro caliber player and went on to say, “Man to me, Jaylen is an All-Pro, Pro Bowler, but I feel he doesn’t get the validation that he needs. Obviously, because you can’t have two fast guys on a team doing the same thing. Jaylen is a dope player. He’s an even doper person. The way I connect with Jaylen is off the field. I look at him like a younger brother ‚a guy who obviously wants to compete every day. He reminds me of myself. He’s very competitive. He’s very feisty. He doesn’t back down from no challenges.”

Despite all of the attention Hill gets for being a big-time playmaker, it was actually Jaylen Waddle who led the Dolphins with eight receiving touchdowns and an average of 18.1 yards per catch last season. Having two guys like Hill and Waddle at your disposal just makes playing the quarterback position so much more fun and then when you add in the ingenuity of Mike McDaniel’s play designs, Tua Tagovailoa has to be really excited about this upcoming season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Jaylen Waddle’s ascension into becoming an All-Pro player.

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Pro Football Talk: ‘Commanders is the right move for Bieniemy’

PFT explains why the Commanders were the right move for Bieniemy.

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“He’s very hard on us and he sets a high standard as you guys can probably tell,” said new Commanders quarterback Sam Howell about his new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy.

“That’s what we want, we want to be coached hard and we want to play for someone who has a high standard. It’s been really good. Obviously, its a really good system and I think it will be a good way for us to use the weapons that we have. I am excited,” said Howell.

Thursday, Pro Football Talk hosts Mike Florio and Chris Simms both expressed their belief in the hire of Bieniemy for the Commanders and as a future head coach in the NFL.

Florio said for Bieniemy it was a case of, “My ship is never going to come in, in Kansas City. It’s just not going to happen. I’ve got to go somewhere else where people will at least perceive I have more responsibility in the offense. He’s changing the construct enough to maybe get people to notice ‘I could be a pretty good coach.’ So maybe it will happen for him after a year or two in Washington.”

Simms affirmed Florio’s view, “You heard what Howell said; it’s cut-throat; the guy is in your face. He handled some personalities in Kansas City and did a great job. ”

“I am kind of excited about what the Commanders can be on offense. I am excited to see what Sam Howell can be. He’s got a natural feel for the game. He’s a good down-the-field thrower, Mike. That is definitely one of the positives about him coming out of North Carolina.”

“This might save some jobs (Ron Rivera and his staff). Maybe get Eric Bieniemy a new job, right?”

NFL Analyst ranked Commanders safety best in 2023 class

More praise for Jartavius Martin.

Prior to the 2023 NFL draft, Pro Football Talk’s Chris Simms was breaking down the rookie class’s top safeties.

Commanders fans will be glad to know that days prior to the Commanders making their selections, Simms ranked Jartavius “Quan” Martin as his top safety in this year’s rookie class.

Here are some of the comments provided by Simms from his video breakdown of Martin last season playing for Illinois.

“He has very good coverage skills, I mean amazing coverage skills. The only thing he is missing to be in the top of my corner conversation is top-end speed.”

“He doesn’t have that sixth gear that fast corners do. But he is super short-area fast and explosive. His 10 yards is 1.47, so that tells you how he can come out of a break.”

“So, for a safety, he has elite cover skills. Also, I’m not sure he’s not an awesome, awesome nickel slot.”

“Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is who I kind of compared him to. Yes, he can as a safety get down here and cover slot receivers and d _ _ _ if they run a toss sweep or edge run, he will go in and throw his body around like psycho, and that is what he does. So that is where I loved him.”

The Commanders chose Martin in the second round with the 47th overall selection. One only defensive back who could play safety in the NFL was taken ahead of Martin. The Lions chose nickel back/safety Brian Branch out of Alabama two selections ahead of Martin when Detroit was picking at 45th overall.

What are the Commanders biggest needs entering the 2023 NFL draft?

There’s no doubt, offensive line still tops the list.

Pro Football Talk Tuesday had a segment asking, “What are the biggest needs for the Washington Commanders entering the 2023 NFL Draft?

Chris Simms: “O-Line is pretty glaring. It’s not the worst, but it certainly needs some help. There’s nobody on their O-Line you can look at and go, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a pretty big-time marquee offensive lineman.’ ”

Simms continued, “I gotta think that has got to be in the running at what, their 16th pick, right?  Corner, you look at that position, and you know, you want more on their roster and tight end.”

“That would be the three that really jump out to me more than any, right? And that’s the decision that could be interesting for them, Mike when I just throw it out there or think about the draft. I’m starting to have to think about my mock draft and all that.”

“Washington could be that team where pick 16. Do they take one of the good tackles on the board? Or does that tight end from Utah, Dalton Kincaid, who I think is very special, if he is there on the board, what would they do?”

“Could be interesting, but I think O-Line for sure has to be addressed somewhere in that top half of the draft.”

Mike Florio, who usually leads the conversation, sat silently for the most part, permitting Simms to almost entirely handle the Commanders’ question of their biggest need in the draft.

When speaking very briefly at the end of the segment, Florio offered, “Absolutely, O-Line. If they are all-in with the Sam Howell experiment, get the most out of the young quarterback and put other help around him.”

“Make the offensive line better any way you can, so Howell can reach his ceiling, whatever it may be.”

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