Tag: reaction

Two Browns rookies have been invited to the 2023 rookie premiere

Two Browns will participate in the event in two weeks.

The 2023 NFL draft is over and that means that offseason workouts will start to ramp up in preparation for training camps to start this summer. The 2023 NFL Players Rookie premiere will take place May 18-21 in Los Angeles and the Browns will have two of their new players attend. Both third-round pick Cedric Tillman and fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson have been invited to the event.

Cedric Tillman has some impressive tape especially during his breakout season in 2021 before 2022 was lost mostly due to injury. Many fans were surprised when the team decided to use a draft pick on a quarterback as the team is looking for a long-term answer to back up Deshaun Watson.

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3 thoughts and things to know: Warriors even series at 1-1 behind blowout win vs. Lakers in Game 2

Klay Thompson buried eight triples while Steph Curry dished out 12 assists on the way to a blowout win for the Warriors over the Lakers in Game 2.

After dropping the opening game of the second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors needed to respond in Game 2 to avoid an 0-2 slide before the series pivots to Hollywood.

With the pressure mounting at home, the Warriors answered the bell in a big way.

After the Lakers took an early lead in the first quarter, the Warriors stepped on the gas in the second quarter with a 41-point frame before halftime.

Coming out of the locker room with a double-digit lead, the Warriors stayed hot, notching 43 points in the third quarter to put an exclamation point on the game. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Warriors clung to a 30-point advantage on the way to a blowout win.

With a lopsided 127-100 win in favor of the Warriors, the series is now tied at 1-1 before heading to Los Angeles on Saturday night for Game 3.

Below are three thoughts and things to know from Game 3:

Falcons CB Clark Phillips III named team’s biggest draft steal

Touchdown Wire named #Falcons DB Clark Phillips III as the team’s biggest steal of the 2023 NFL draft

One year ago, the Atlanta Falcons landed one of the biggest steals in the 2022 draft when they selected running back Tyler Allgeier out of BYU in the fifth round. Allgeier rushed for over 1,000 yards during his rookie season, and he should be a big part of Atlanta’s offense for years to come.

Joining Allgeier in the backfield this season is first-round pick Bijan Robinson. While fans have debated whether or not it was the right call to take a running back in the top 10, it’s hard not to get excited thinking about what the combination of Robinson and Allgeier could do in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense.

But which member of the 2023 draft class will give the Falcons the most bang for their buck? Touchdown Wire released a feature naming one steal from each draft class, and fourth-round pick Clark Phillips III was their pick for Atlanta’s biggest draft steal:

Phillips is the first of two steals at cornerback in this draft whose size was the only real debit. He may not fit everyone’s prototype at 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds, but he proved more than able to shut down some of the NCAA’s best receivers both outside and in the slot. Last season, Phillips allowed 41 catches on 66 targets for 511 yards, 286 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, six interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 68.4. You need look no further than the work he did against USC’s Jordan Addison (who was taken by the Vikings with the 24th overall pick) to understand Phillips’ NFL potential. — Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire

It’s easy to see why Phillips is the pick here. Not only is he someone who was undervalued due to his size, he was considered a lock for Day 2 in most pre-draft projections.

The Falcons secondary has undergone a bit of a makeover this offseason. Casey Hayward has been swapped out for Jeff Okudah, and Isaiah Oliver has been replaced by Mike Hughes. However, the team’s biggest offseason addition was that of safety Jessie Bates III.

Atlanta’s pass defense needs all the help it can get. In 2022, the team allowed 231.9 yards per game through the air.

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Eagles invited 19 players to tryout during rookie minicamp

Philadelphia Eagles invited 19 players to tryout during the rookie minicamp

The Eagles started their rookie minicamp on Friday, as the seven-man draft class and nine undrafted free agent signees participated in their first NFL practice.

With Philadelphia wanting a full roster of attendees, GM Howie Roseman invited 19 players in for a tryout.

Current Eagles’ players on the minicamp roster include Mario Goodrich, Kennedy Brooks, Tristin McCollum, Noah Elliss, and Tyrese Robinson.

BYU WR Kody Epps makes transfer decision

Auburn was one of the first offers Epps received once he entered the transfer portal.

Auburn has been searching to fill several needs within the transfer portal, one being a wide receiver.

The Tigers had added [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] from Cincinnati but were hoping to snag a few more before summer workouts began. One of those options, BYU wide receiver [autotag]Kody Epps[/autotag], has elected to go in another direction.

After spending just a few days in the transfer portal, Epps has decided to take his name out of the transfer portal consideration and stay with the Cougars.

Epps declared for the portal on April 30, the final day to enter during the spring window. Almost immediately after entering, Epps began fielding offers from many Power Five programs, including Auburn.

According to Jeff Hansen of Cougar Sports Insider, Epps’ return is a sigh of relief for BYU players, as he is seen as a universally loved figure. It also brings up the challenge to head coach Kilani Sitake, as the policy states that if a player returns to the roster after testing the transfer portal waters, they are usually not allowed to return as a scholarship player.

Epps will be an essential piece to BYU’s inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference this upcoming season.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks on Prescott: ‘I’ve been around some great ones… He’s special’

From @ToddBrock24f7: Brandin Cooks has been there for some of the best years of the careers of some top NFL QBs. Dak Prescott could be in for a very big 2023.

Off the field, the mutual admiration is obvious. Once Brandin Cooks and Dak Prescott get on the field for real, though, their connection could be something extraordinary.

And if past history is an indicator, Prescott in particular could be in for a monster 2023.

The veteran wide receiver has been in quite a few offensive huddles with some of the best quarterbacks of the last generation. He appeared in 42 games with the Saints, helping Drew Brees to the NFL passing title in all three of their seasons together and two Pro Bowl nods for the quarterback. He was in New England in 2017 for an MVP year by Tom Brady to go with a passing title, Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, and a Super Bowl appearance. Next it was the Rams, where he helped Jared Goff to a Pro Bowl year and Super Bowl berth over two seasons. Then three more seasons in Houston, the first of which resulted in a Pro Bowl campaign from Deshaun Watson.

But just two weeks after his first throwing session with his new Cowboys quarterback, Cooks says that Dak Prescott already stands out from the who’s who of NFL passers he’s played with in the past.

“I’ve been around some great ones,” the six-time 1,000-yard-receiver said of Prescott this week. “We’ve been throwing, and let me tell you, that guy can sling that ball. I’m just excited to be able to get going, no doubt. That’s all I can say. He’s special. That ball comes out of his hands, he’s special with it [and] his natural-born leadership. There’s a couple guys I’ve been around that can lead a team, and the way that he’s doing it, to be this young, is unbelievable, for sure.”

Cooks remarked on Prescott’s youth, but the wide receiver is actually two months younger; they’ll both turn 30 this year. While that may be prime time for an NFL signal-caller, the well-traveled Cooks has faced questions about whether his stints with four different teams might have caused him to lose a step.

Cooks seemed offended when asked if he’s still as fast as the 4.33 speed he flouted as a rookie, nine years ago.

“Oh, no question. No question. No question,” he emphasized. “I take care of my body. That’s what I invest in, my body.”

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As for the Cowboys’ return on their investment in him, Cooks says he’ll give the offense a new wrinkle that perhaps they lacked in 2022.

“Being dynamic,” he said about what he can add. “Being able to make plays no matter which way: deep, short, immediate. It really doesn’t matter, just coming in [and] being dynamic.”

That’s music to Prescott’s ears. The quarterback also believes Cooks will bring something that’s been missing to a Dallas passing game that was merely mediocre last year.

“Definitely,” Prescott confirmed. “The moment that guy showed up, just watching him in the workouts, the way he just carries himself from drill to drill, what he does pre-workout [and] post-workout to take care of his body to make sure he has that speed and keeps the productivity that he’s had over his career is impressive. But then when you’re just throwing to him, it stands out. His speed is different than many others. The way he approaches the game, his knowledge: he’s already helping CeeDee [Lamb], helping these young guys, playing cornerback, teaching them little nuances of the route running. He’s going to be huge for me, and he’s going to be huge for the room.”

It’s no coincidence that Cooks was there for some of the best years in the careers of every passer he’s been with before. Sounds like Prescott just got a glimpse of what the very near future may hold for him and the Cowboys.

Special, indeed.

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Twitter reacts to Payton Thorne’s commitment to Auburn

Auburn Twitter is excited about the new addition to the QB room.

Auburn fans have patiently awaited the news for months regarding the addition of a quarterback from the transfer portal.

On Friday, they got their wish as former Michigan State quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] announced that he would be furthering his collegiate career at Auburn, where he will compete with [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] for the starting quarterback job in 2023.

Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] welcomed several options for visits between the winter and spring windows of the portal but mentioned that he was being selective when it came to finding the right fit.

“Truthfully, I haven’t seen one yet that’s just, ‘Bam, that’s the no-brainer, and he’s ahead of the ones we have,’” Freeze said during a recent speaking engagement. “Every time a quarterback goes in the portal, (I say) ‘There he is! There he is!’ Then I watch the film, and I’m like, ‘No, that’s really not the one I’m looking for.’”

That all changed last weekend when Nebraska QB [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag] entered the transfer portal and paid a visit. However, the smoke concerning Thorne began to grow before he ultimately committed to the Tigers.

Following Thorne’s commitment, several Auburn fans took to Twitter to share their excitement for the newest member of the 2023 roster. Even Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State fans chimed in as well.

Here are the best social media reactions to Thorne’s commitment to Auburn.

GM Andrew Berry hints at the possibility of more moves in the coming weeks

The Browns look to keep the party of a busy offseason going as general manager Andrew Berry hints at more moves to come.

The Cleveland Browns have had a busy offseason. From signing four new faces along their putrid defensive front a year ago to selecting seven new faces in the 2023 NFL draft, general manager Andrew Berry has not gotten much sleep since the season ended.

And he may not be done yet.

Berry was a guest on ESPN Cleveland’s radio show yesterday and stated the Browns still have some moves in the works:

“There may be some other things that we’re looking to do, either on the veteran market or trade market over the next several weeks.”

They have already signed multiple players, including veteran safety Rodney McLeod, since the conclusion of the draft, but keep your eyes peeled for more potential moves before training camp arrives.

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Every player participating in Bears 2023 rookie minicamp

From draft picks to undrafted free agent signings to tryouts, here’s every player participating in Bears rookie minicamp this weekend.

The 2023 NFL draft is in the books, and the Chicago Bears are wasting no time kicking off rookie minicamp this weekend at Halas Hall.

Chicago welcomed 10 draft picks — including offensive tackle Darnell Wright, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson — and 14 undrafted rookie free agents to the roster.

But they’re not done yet. Forty-two undrafted free agents will also participate in Bears rookie minicamp, including some who will be vying for a coveted roster spot.

From draft picks to undrafted free agent signings to tryout players, here’s a look at every player participating in Bears rookie minicamp this weekend:

*Updated to reflect official rookie minicamp roster

Cowboys News: 2024 compensatory pick projections, matchup with 49ers among most anticipated

From @ToddBrock24f7: Predicting what Dalton Schultz and Connor McGovern will send back in the ’24 draft, Lamar Jackson passes Dak, best matchups of ’23 schedule.

Despite losing Dalton Schultz and Connor McGovern in free agency, there’s still good that will come out of it, even it takes a year to come to fruition. In this edition of News and Notes, we forecast what kinds of compensatory draft picks the Cowboys will get for them in 2024. In news about this year’s draft, Cowboys fans are still talking about the eight-player haul… and they’re at both ends of the spectrum when it comes to what they think. One Hall of Fame running back, though, has lofty expectations for the team’s sentimental sixth-round running back… but another Canton resident is worried that Dallas is leaving themselves too thin at the position.

Meanwhile, we’ve got more on the decision to move Micah Parsons within the Cowboys defense, and who veteran linebacker Leighton Vander Esch believes is about to be the biggest beneficiary. All that, plus Lamar Jackson surpasses Dak Prescott in an off-the-field money matter, and looking ahead to the 2023 regular-season schedule and another showdown in San Francisco.