Tag: social media

Broncos pending free agent P.J. Locke excited for ‘the next move’

“Man, I can’t wait to see what GOD has in store for me with the next move!” Broncos safety P.J. Locke wrote on his Twitter/X page.

It’s that time of year again.

With NFL free agency now less than a month away, fans can’t help but read into the social media messages of players with uncertain futures.

Last month, Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton shared a message on Instagram that certainly sounded like a goodbye. “I trust my Gods plans over everything including whatever is next for me,” was part of Sutton’s caption. “Just know I gave everything to this team and organization every time I stepped on that field!”

Sutton is under contract for the 2024 season, but the team has listened to trade offers for the receiver over the last two years. Sutton isn’t the only player with an uncertain future in Denver.

Last week, safety P.J. Locke took to Twitter/X to share this message: “Man, I can’t wait to see what GOD has in store for me with the next move! More goals, more achievements, more life! 🙏 #Undeniable #Completion”

Again, it’s hard to not read into the message. The fact that Locke said his next “move” may or may not imply that he expects to move on to another team. Perhaps that’s reading too far into it. Maybe the safety merely meant he’s eager to see whatever happens next, including the possibility of re-signing with the Broncos.

Locke is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Denver’s safety depth chart would take a huge hit if he leaves the team.

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Wisconsin basketball social media angry after crushing overtime loss to Iowa

What’s your reaction to Wisconsin basketball’s crushing loss to Iowa?

Wisconsin basketball just dropped another gut-wrenching game, this one on the road at Iowa.

The loss drops the Badgers to 17-9 on the season and 9-6 in Big Ten play. Not only is the Big Ten title out of the equation, but the team’s NCAA Tournament seed is slipping by the day.

Related: Which Big Ten football team has the toughest conference schedule in 2024?

The loss is crushing for several reasons. First, it seemed as if the Badgers had turned a corner with the win over Ohio State. Second, it came on a last-second basket in overtime. Wisconsin had numerous chances to escape Iowa City with a win, and the team couldn’t get it done.

It’s safe to say Wisconsin basketball social media is unhappy after the team’s latest loss:

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Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

Saints should inquire about Brandon Aiyuk after social media posts

The price may be too high for Brandon Aiyuk. Maybe he’s not even on the table. Regardless, the Saints should inquire on his availability:

The marriage between Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers could be in a rough patch. Jauan Jennings has been viewed as a wide receiver who could follow now-Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak from San Francisco, but what about Aiyuk? Recent social media posts from people close to the fourth-year pro suggest he might have played his last game as a 49er. Aiyuk’s best friend and girlfriend both voiced complaints about his role in San Francisco’s offense and desire to join a new team.

To be abundantly clear, social media activity like this should be taken with a grain of salt. We’ve seen relatives and spouses vent frustrations and nothing come from it before. It’s often viewed by the public as them speaking out for the player, but that isn’t always the case. Loved ones get emotional about these games as well. Aiyuk didn’t help by being noncommittal to San Francisco after their Super Bowl loss.

Aiyuk is not a free agent and would require a trade. New Orleans doesn’t have a surplus of picks in the upcoming draft, but they should at least inquire on his availability. Aiyuk is coming off of a career season in which he was a second team All-Pro. He would provide a three level receiving threat who is a phenomenal downfield blocker. With Kubiak installing a new offense in New Orleans, adding a proven commodity with experience in the system like Aiyuk could pay big dividends.

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Derek Carr had the perfect response to Mardi Gras float call-out

Derek Carr had the perfect response to a satirical call-out from the Knights of Chaos Mardi Gras parade, joining the laughter and pointing to his much-needed improvement:

Shouts out to Derek Carr for taking it on the chin: the New Orleans Saints quarterback was the subject of satire at the Knights of Chaos Mardi Gras parade during Carnival season, which featured a float depicting a reanimated Carr as a “Red Zone Zombie” to big reactions from the crowd.

“Can’t lie,” Carr wrote in response on social media, “this depicts exactly what I felt like the first half of the season so I understand.”

That’s exactly how Carr needed to approach this situation — joining the laughter, sharing with some self-deprecation, and pointing to the work he put in to improve. His arrival to New Orleans last year was a tough sell. With a big contract restructure in the works keeping him in town for at least the next two years, it’s vital that he win over the fanbase and build those connections with the community.

And Carr is right to point out that his struggles in the red zone were an early-season problem. The Saints doubled their practice reps in that phase and he ended the year as one of the league’s best quarterbacks in scoring position. Through their first 11 games, Carr went 21-of-47 (44.7%) inside the 20-yard line and scored 8 touchdown passes with an interception, posting a quarterback rating of 84. The Saints offense ended just 15 of their 40 drives with touchdowns (37.5%).

In their final six games Carr went 14-of-21 (66.7%) and threw 9 touchdown passes without turning the ball over, posting a passer rating at 114.1. The Saints scored 15 touchdowns on just 20 drives inside the red zone (75.0%). How’s that for a “Red Zone Zombie?” After seeing that reversal of fortune, Carr’s teammate Demario Davis called him the hottest red zone quarterback in the league.

It’s critical that Carr and the Saints carry that success over into 2024. With a new play caller and new coaching staff on the way, they can’t afford to start slow and make big changes at midseason again in the fall. If Carr can do that and continue doing a better job connecting with fans and teammates, maybe the city will warm up to him after all.

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Matt Ryan got some long-awaited payback against Cameron Jordan

Matt Ryan got some long-awaited payback against Cameron Jordan. The ex-Falcons QB finally sacked his greatest rival:

Matt Ryan finally enjoyed some payback. The ex-Atlanta Falcons quarterback surprised his nemesis on the CBS Sports set ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, sneaking in from offstage to tackle Cameron Jordan. And the New Orleans Saints defensive end took it in stride, laughing and embracing one of his oldest rivals.

“Never have I been sacked in my life,” Jordan later wrote on social media in disbelief.

He’s normally the one sacking the quarterback. Jordan and Ryan set the record together for the most sacks of a single quarterback by a single defender (23), though it’s debatable whether Ryan is proud of his part in that accomplishment.

Either way, it’s clear that there’s a ton of respect between the two. Jordan got Ryan one last time during pregame warmups when he was on the call for a Saints game earlier this season. Ryan hasn’t made his retirement official, but he’s been working for CBS as a broadcaster in recent years, and it’s a role he’s grown comfortable in. There’s a good chance Jordan will join him on the other side of the microphone some day soon.

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Wisconsin social media irate after the Badgers’ narrow loss to No. 2 Purdue

Social media irate at the refs after the Badgers’ narrow loss to No. 2 Purdue….

No. 6 Wisconsin basketball suffered its second loss of the week, this time at the hands of No. 2 Purdue.

The game was close throughout before several late whistles on Wisconsin defenders and a late Purdue run gave the Boilermakers a 75-69 road win.

Tyler Wahl led the way for the Badgers with likely his best game of the season — 20 points on 10 of 16 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.

Related: Power ranking all 18 Big Ten football programs after the 2023 season

But Purdue’s guard-centric attack of Braden Smith and Lance Jones gave the Badgers fits as they worked tirelessly to stop the impact of National Player of the Year candidate Zach Edey.

Wisconsin Badgers social media was irate after the loss, mostly about questionable officiating down the stretch:

Derek Carr responds to Michael Thomas: ‘I probably didn’t throw the best ball’

Derek Carr says he understands why Michael Thomas became so frustrated last season, taking accountability for throwing a poor pass on the receiver’s season-ending injury:

Michael Thomas raised an uproar on social media this week when he publicly criticized the New Orleans Saints — taking aim at the play calling, coaching decisions, and quarterback Derek Carr, all of which he blamed for his poor production in 2023. It’s likely going to be his last year in black and gold.

To his credit, Carr didn’t disagree with Thomas’ assessment. He responded to the criticism during an appearance on the Two Gs in a Pod show with James Jones and Amber Theoharis. Carr took some accountability for the play that resulted in a season-ending injury to Thomas, which the receiver described as being “set up by a bad ball.”

“I probably didn’t throw the best ball. If that’s how he wants to view it and how he wants to see it, completely fine by me,” Carr said. Carr placed the ball too high and too far behind his target, requiring Thomas to awkwardly contort in midair to try and make a play. His legs tangled up with those of the defender covering him, which led to Thomas’ left leg initially catching in the turf before whipping around painfully, injuring his knee. A lower pass leading Thomas in stride could have lessened the risk of injury.

Thomas also pointed out that the Saints weren’t making an effort to get him the ball last season, which Carr validated. Their younger second-year wideout Chris Olave was the focal point of the offense, not Thomas.

Carr continued: “I also understand that when I came in the building we had Chris Olave, who they were trying to train to be the number-one guy. So all of a sudden, every rep and every read in practice is Chris first. And as a superstar that Mike is and as he has been, I can understand you’re dealing with all the injury noise, you’re dealing with Chris becoming the guy — and he loves Chris, that’s his guy at Ohio State and all that — but I can understand where the frustration starts to build. I understand where all those things begin to take place.”

No position is more dependent factors outside their control than wide receiver. They can’t draw up the plays to have the ball go their way, and they can’t throw it to themselves. If a receiver is stuck playing with a bad quarterback or play caller their numbers are going to suffer for it. It’s why the position generates so many big personalities. Like it or not, it’s an approach a lot of receivers take. As Brandin Cooks expressed back in 2016, “Closed mouths don’t get fed.”

Still, Carr adds, he wishes Thomas had reached out privately to hash out these frustrations rather than aired them online. If this it for them as teammates, Carr said he wishes Thomas all the best: “I hope Mike finds what he’s looking for. I hope he gets everything he wants, in life, because I do love Mike. But in that moment I didn’t really like it. Just call me bro.”

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Social media fans continue to harp after Razorbacks lay another egg

With the lack of interest growing, social media fans still posted their displeasure.

Just as quickly as the Arkansas basketball team finally gave its fans a little bit of hope on Wednesday night, the stumbling Razorbacks quickly taketh away. Those hopes were dashed by a 95-84 drubbing at the hands of LSU on Saturday.

Arkansas (11-11, 2-7 SEC) scored the first bucket of the game for a 2-0 lead, but LSU ran off 10 unanswered points to seize control, and never relinquished, The Tigers came out on fire, sinking six of their first seven shots from 3-point range, and led 45-30 at the half.

Even with a dwindling number of Razorback fans who still take the time to watch the games, the social media boards still get their fair share of angry posts. Much of the feedback on X differentiates between the two biggest camps of fans: A) The “homer” fans who stay faithful to the Hogs, win or lose, or B) the angry fans who want to fire everybody in the athletics department.

The Razorbacks have long had one of the nation’s most passionate and supportive fanbases. And those fans have a right to post their views on the team, or the program as a whole.

Here is a sample of the scuttlebutt on X, following Saturday’s loss to LSU:

Twitter reacts to Cowboys DC Dan Quinn as new Commanders head coach

Is everyone overreacting to the news that Dan Quinn is the Commanders new head coach?

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was in Northern Virginia on Tuesday for his second interview with the Washington Commanders for their vacant head coaching position.

Shortly afterward, Washington boarded a plane to Detroit to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. While the Commanders were in transit to Detroit, Johnson informed them he was withdrawing from consideration.

On Thursday, the Commanders hired Quinn, 53, who was one of eight interviewed for the position.

As expected, fans initially responded to Quinn’s hiring with skepticism, while everyone else in the NFL praised the hire.

We went to X, formerly Twitter, to see some of the best reactions from Washington fans and around the league.

Saints Twitter melts down after Jerrod Johnson backs out of OC search

Saints Twitter reactions to Jerrod Johnson returning to the Texans were mixed, but confidence in the offensive coordinator search is waning

There weren’t many names in this year’s hiring cycle drawing more buzz than Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson. The 35-year-old interviewed with the New Orleans Saints and five other teams looking for a new offensive coordinator — including playoff teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns as well as the rebuilding New England Patriots.

Instead, Johnson elected to stay another year in Houston, where he received a raise and an extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He’ll continue working with young star quarterback C.J. Stroud under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik which should give him a great opportunity to improve his stock ahead of the 2025 hiring cycle. If Slowik is hired away next year then Johnson is a natural successor on DeMeco Ryans’ staff.

But that didn’t leave Saints fans feeling happy. Reactions were mixed (some were turned off by Johnson’s lack of experience) but confidence in the offensive coordinator search is waning. Dennis Allen can’t afford to get this hire wrong. Here’s what fans are saying in the aftermath of Johnson returning to Houston: