Tag: safety

Broncos safety Justin Simmons named to PFF’s All-Pro Team

Broncos safety Justin Simmons made the All-Pro Team put together by Pro Football Focus.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons might have been snubbed by Pro Bowl voters but he hasn’t been snubbed by Pro Football Focus. PFF, a website that tracks advanced NFL stats and grades players on a 0-100 scale, announced their All-Pro Team earlier this week and Simmons made the cut.

“The best-graded safety in the NFL this season, Denver’s Justin Simmons has been a stellar performer in all areas,” PFF’s Sam Monson wrote. “Simmons wasn’t in primary coverage for any touchdowns given up in coverage but had four interceptions and 11 pass breakups.”

Earning accolades from PFF isn’t much of a consolation for Simmons after missing out on the NFL’s All-Star game but earning a big contract extension would be. Simmons is expected to receive an extension from the Broncos this offseason. A one-year franchise tag remains a possibility but Denver hopes to give the safety a multi-year extension.

Simmons, 26, had a breakout year this season, totaling 93 tackles and a career-high four interceptions. He owns 11 career interceptions.

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Former Broncos safeties Steve Atwater, John Lynch named Hall of Fame finalists

Former Broncos safeties John Lynch and Steve Atwater have been named modern-era finalists for the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Former Denver Broncos safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch have been named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the league announced Thursday. This marks the third time Atwater has been a finalist and the seventh time Lynch has been a finalist.

Atwater and Lynch are among 15 modern-era finalists.

The Broncos also have two Centennial Slate finalists this year — former linebacker Randy Gradishar (senior candidate) and former coach Dan Reeves (coaching candidate). The Hall of Fame will have an expanded class of 20 members this year to celebrate 100 years of the NFL.

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee will meet on the eve of Super Bowl LIV to select five modern-era players for the 2020 class. The 15 Centennial Slate enshrinees will be selected in early January.

The 2020 class will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio in August (modern-era coaches, players and contributors) and September (seniors).

Last year, former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and late owner Pat Bowlen were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Report: Texans place S Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve with back injury

The Houston Texans placed safety Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve after he aggravated his tranverse process fracture in his back in Week 17.

The Houston Texans’ task to dispatch the Buffalo Bills became a little more difficult.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans placed safety Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve Tuesday after he aggravated a transverse process fracture in his back against the Tennessee Titans in the 35-14 loss at NRG Stadium in Week 17.

The Texans will have safeties Justin Reid, Jahleel Addae, and A.J. Moore to fill the void as they will lack Gipson for their entire playoff run, as short or as long as it may be.

Addae is not exactly the picture of health either as he was limited in Tuesday’s practice with an Achilles injury.

Gipson signed a three-year, $22.55 million contract in free agency to join the Texans. Through 14 games, all of which Gipson started, the former Pro Bowler collected 51 tackles, three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, eight pass deflections, and two tackles for loss.

Broncos would like to give Justin Simmons a contract extension

Broncos general manager John Elway hopes to sign safety Justin Simmons to a long-term contract extension this offseason.

After earning $4,710,139 over the first four years of his career, Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Denver could place a one-year franchise tag on the defensive back but general manager John Elway would prefer to give him a long-term extension.

“We want him back,” Elway said during his end-of-season press conference Monday. “You know the option’s there. Before we came down, I talked to Justin and said, ‘You know what, we want you back.’ He’s a great football player, but he’s a better man.

“What he does outside of this building and what’s done in Denver has been tremendous. Just the type of guys he is. These are the type of guys that we want on this football team. Obviously, we have the franchise option there, but we’d like to get something done with Justin for the long term.”

Simmons, 26, had a brilliant year this season, totaling 93 tackles and a career-high four interceptions. He also broke up 15 passes.

“I love the defense,” Simmons said Monday. “It works for me; I think I make it work just as well. I think it’s a good relationship. With that being said, it just has to work out. There’s no hiding that I want it to work out. I just hope it does.

“It’ll be exciting regardless. Whatever happens, I know it’s all on the Lord’s will. If it does happen, I’ll just further his kingdom, so it’ll be good.”

Broncos coach Vic Fangio believes that Simmons could show even more improvement in 2020 if he stays in Denver.

“I think he’ll still at the stage of his career where he can still improve more, especially within the inner workings of our defense and mastering some of the things we do even better, which will only come through reps — it won’t come through meetings,” Fangio said.

“Really good football player, a really good person and a really good teammate. He’s everything we want in a player.”

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WATCH: Bears LB Nick Kwiatkoski drops Vikings RB Mike Boone for a safety

Even though they’re facing mostly backups, the Bears defense came to play against the Vikings for their final game of the 2019 season.

Even though they’re facing mostly backups, the Chicago Bears defense came to play against the Minnesota Vikings for their final game of the 2019 season. After causing two turnovers in the first quarter, the Bear defense continued their strong play in the second quarter by scoring a safety.

After punter Pat O’Donnell and safety Deon Bush downed the Vikings at their own 1-yard line, linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski stopped Vikings running back Mike Boone in his tracks while still in the endzone, dropping him for the safety.

It’s been a rough day for Boone, who was responsible for each of the two turnovers prior to the safety when he fumbled on the Vikings opening possession and had a ball bounce off his hands for an interception on the next series.

For the Bears, it’s their first safety of the season. Nearing the end of the first half, they lead Minnesota 11-3.

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Safety

Continuing the tradition of DBU at Texas, we look at the best players at Safety to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade.

Continuing the tradition of DBU at Texas, we look at the best players at Safety to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade. Having a great tradition of producing stars at this position, it takes a lot to be considered a great Longhorn play at Safety. Complimenting the great cornerbacks throughout the decade, both of these players were outstanding at Texas.

Dylan Haines and DeShon Elliot both played for former Head Coach Charlie Strong. Elliot played for one season with Herman, but Strong recruited him to the program. While they have two different paths, the two played together for two years in 2015 and 2016.

Not seeing the field until 2014, Haines came into the program in 2012 as a walkon. Redshirting his freshman year, he was on the scout team in 2013 and was awarded the ‘scout team player of the week’ before the Red River Shootout. Getting a scholarship in 2014, Haines quickly became an impact player. Securing 13 career interceptions, that ranks tied for the fifth-most in program history.

Elliot is one of the top players at the position in the history of Texas. Really becoming a key player in his junior season, he ended the year with 63 total tackles, six interceptions, and nine passes defended. Add in three forced fumbles and all he did was create turnovers. Drafted in the sixth round by the Ravens, Elliot is the best safety Texas has seen this decade.

Here are your Longhorn Safties of the Decade:

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Safety Justin Reid is one of the Texans’ most important players

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien calls second-year safety Justin Reid one of his team’s best players.

Safety Justin Reid is exactly who the Houston Texans thought he was when they took him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

A rangy Stanford product with a penchant of making big hits, Reid found himself suddenly slipping to the third round of the draft despite earning hype pre-draft as a first-round caliber player.

Now, “Justin’s one of our best players,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien explained on Monday.

Despite dealing with shoulder injuries throughout the season and a concussion (he missed a game for), the 22-year-old Reid is a leader and building block in the Texans’ secondary. On the season, he has 76 combined tackles, five pass deflections and a pair of interceptions.

“Justin is a leader, very smart player and he’s got good ball skills,” O’Brien said. “He’s a good tackler, he’s tough. I mean, he is tough. He is a tough guy that wants to be out there every snap for his teammates. He is a very important part of our team.”

The Texans named Reid their Ed Block Courage Award winner before their Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game that he got an interception and fumble recovery in. The award is given to the player that best epitomizes toughness and bravery both on-and-off the field.

Reid’s ability to play through injuries and stand out while doing so earned him the award.

“Everybody play a little bit banged up,” Reid said on Dec. 17. “Shoot, if your team is healthy all the way though you’re having one hell of a lucky year. So, it’s just all about being tough and dependable. Sometimes you’ve got to play through stuff and that’s just what I’ve been doing.”

If Reid’s first two years in the NFL indicate anything, it’s that he is a leader in play and mindset in a young defense.

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WATCH: Texans safety Jahleel Addae gets fourth interception of Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston

Houston Texans safety Jahleel Addae produced the fourth interception of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston in a 23-20 win Saturday.

The Houston Texans had a field day with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, intercepting him four times on the afternoon.

Safety Jahleel Addae abruptly ended the Bucs’ penultimate drive of the game with an interception with 1:31 to go on a third-and-1 from the Tampa Bay 38-yard line.

The interception was the fourth career pick for Addae, who also added an interception in Week 9 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. For the 29-year-old, who signed with the Texans in free agency, the takeaway was another example of how impactful he has been in a safety group headlined by Justin Reid and Tashaun Gipson.