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On Sunday, reports started circulating that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant was unhappy in Pittsburgh and requested the team trade him. Could this have anything to do with the love Antonio Brown and Le’veon Bell received in Week 6’s play calls, and we are likely to see more of the same in Week 7.
For Steelers fans, the news was surprising to say the least as the team and fans have stood behind him through his numerous suspensions, including the suspension that took him out of the 2016 season.
On Monday, ESPN reported that the trade request was made weeks ago, but as of today, the Steelers don’t have any intention of trading him.
According to sources close to the situation, Bryant is frustrated about how he is being used on offense, which prompted him to ask for a trade.
Since returning from his suspension, Bryant has 17 catches on 34 targets for 231 yards and 1 touchdown.
Interestingly, his 34 targets is second on the team behind Antonio Brown, who has 74 targets. This shows that the team has been trying to keep Bryant involved in the offense more than any receiver other than Brown, but he hasn’t made the best of the opportunities he has had.
After not playing football for over a year, it is obvious to anyone that watches the sport that Bryant didn’t come into camp in the best shape, and still has some rust. As the season goes on, he will eventually work himself back into the receiver he was before the last suspension, if he doesn’t get suspended again before the season is over.
Another reason why Bryant’s number dropped this year is the fact that rookie receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, has been getting a lot of looks this season, and has been making the most of his opportunity. Smith-Schuster has 15 catches on 24 targets for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Bryant, who is signed through the 2018 season doesn’t have a lot of options at the moment. If he doesn’t get traded this season, he could sit out most of next year hoping for a new contract, but with JuJu Smith-Schuster showing he is capable of being the team’s second receiver, the Steelers can afford to have Bryant sit out as many games as he wants.
When he becomes a free agent after the 2018 season, he won’t be able to get the type of contract he wants because he will be seen as a head case that could be suspended at any time. If Bryant knows what’s best for him, he will just keep a low profile and do what he can to help the team win.
On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers’ playoff chances took a big hit when quarterback Aaron Rodgers took a hit that forced him out of the game.
The hit occurred as Rodgers was rolling out to his right early in the first quarter, looking for an open receiver. After Rodgers let the ball go, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Aaron Barr hit him in the midsection, driving him to the ground where he landed on his throwing shoulder.
Rodgers was visibly in pain as he writhed on the ground, but he was able to walk off the field, where he was looked at in the injury tent by the team physicians. Of course, this injury sparked rumors of the Green Bay Packers hiring Colin Kaepernick soon afterwards!
Rodgers was then taken to the locker room and soon after, the team announced he had broken the collarbone in his throwing arm and will be out indefinitely.
With Rodgers out of the game, the Packers turned to third-year quarterback Brett Hundley, who hadn’t seen a lot of action in three seasons. Hundley’s first pass was an interception that set up a Vikings touchdown. He finished the game with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions, and the Packers lost to the Vikings, dropping them to 4-2 for the year.
The good news for the Packers and their fans is that Rodgers suffered a similar injury in 2013, missing seven games with a broken left collarbone. He was ab le to return for the final game of the season and helped the Packers clinch the NFC North title and make the playoffs.
If the Packers don’t want to miss the playoffs this year, they’re going to have to find a quarterback that is capable of helping them win games. One of the names that hit the rumor mill on Sunday was former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, but it might be difficult to get Romo to leave the broadcasting booth and come back to play.
However, if the Miami Dolphins were able to convince Jay Cutler to come out of retirement, anything is possible.
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife went to watch the Indianapolis Colts take on the San Francisco 49ers to support future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who was being honored by the Colts with a jersey retirement ceremony.
However, Pence didn’t stay long at Lucas Oil Field. The Vice President and his wife left the game after the national anthem because over 20 players on the 49ers team took a knee during the anthem.
All the Colts players stood for the anthem and locked arms while wearing black T-shirts with the words “We Will” on the front and “Stand for equality, justice, unity, respect, dialogue, opportunity” on the back for the second consecutive week.
After leaving the stadium, Pence issued a statement on Twitter explaining his actions.
“I left today’s Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem. At a time when so many Americans are inspiring our nation with their courage, resolve, and resilience, now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us.”
On Sunday afternoon, President Trump also took to Twitter to say he asked Pence to leave the game if players knelt during the anthem.
“I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen,” Trump wrote.
According to ESPN, the pool reporter that was assigned to the vice president was told to stay outside because Pence might leave the game early.
After the game, 49ers safety Eric Reid called Pence’s walkout a publicity stunt.
“First of all, does anyone know the last time he’s been to a football game?” Reid said after the game. “OK, with that being said, he tweeted out a 3-year-old photo of him at a Colts game. So with the information that I have, the last time he’s been to a football game is three years ago. So this looks like a PR stunt to me.
On Sunday, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fractured his ankle during the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Beckham injured his ankle when he went up for a catch and landed awkwardly on the ground. As soon as he fell the Chargers players around him knew it was serious and immediately called for medical help.
Beckham was unable to walk and had to be carted off the field with four minutes left in the game.
According to a Giants source that spoke with ESPN, it was the same ankle Beckham injured during the preseason.
Beckham, who was in a lot of pain when he was carted off the field, had a towel over his head and looked to be in tears.
“Obviously, you never want to see any receiver go down, and it looked like he was in some pain,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “So I just told him I’d be thinking about him. And obviously, we don’t know the severity of it, but hopefully he’ll be OK.”
Before being carted off the field, Beckham had five receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. He had scored a 48 yard touchdown that gave the Giants the lead before he left the game, but the team couldn’t hold on to the lead after he left.
Manning fumbled the ball in the Giants’ territory on the very next play after Beckham was taken off, leading to a Chargers’ score that gave them the lead for good.
“That’s rough. He’s our best player,” cornerback Eli Apple said. “He’s a brother to everybody and somebody we really care about. That is kind of tough.”
Beckham was the fourth Giants receiver to leave the game, but he will be missed the most because he is their best offensive player.
Brandon Marshall also suffered an ankle injury that required him to be taken off the field in a cart. Sterling Shepard also left the game with an ankle injury. Both receivers did not return to the game.
Early in the third quarter, Dwayne Harris was carted off the field with a foot injury, and the Giants ended up finishing the game with one healthy receiver.
Two weeks ago, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys players and coaches took a knee before the national anthem as a show of solidarity and unity after President Trump made some disparaging remarks about NFL players.
After the team’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, Jones said all the Dallas players will stand for the national anthem, and those that don’t will be benched.
“If there’s anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play,” Jones said. “Understand? We will not … if we are disrespecting the flag, then we will not play. Period.”
According to CBS Sports, defensive ends Damontre Moore and David Irving raised their fists at the end of the national anthem before the game against the Packers. Jones said after the game that he was unaware of their actions.
“We as a team are very much on the page together,” Jones said. “We made our expression. I’m very supportive of the team, but under no circumstances will the Dallas Cowboys — I don’t care what happens — under no circumstances will we as an organization, coaches, players, not support and stand and recognize and honor the flag. Period.”
On Monday, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith issued a statement addressing the situation.
Smith said he met with team owners last week and commissioner Goodell and Giants owner John Mara, who is the chairman of the NFL management council, gave him assurances the owners would “respect the Constitutional rights of our members without retribution.” Smith also said that “no player is disrespecting our country or our flag” by protesting during the national anthem.
Even though the players that have taken a knee have said on numerous occasions that they aren’t disrespecting the flag, but trying to call attention to police brutality and racism, Jones said it is all about the perception.
“If it comes between the impression or the perception that we’re not standing together, supporting each other or the perception that we’re disrespecting the flag, the perception that we’re not together will be secondary to not respecting the flag,” Jones said. “Respecting the flag is first.”
Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson led the Clemson Tigers to a national championship victory over Nick Saban’s Alabama team a year after losing to the Crimson Tide in the national championship game.
After the game, Watson decided to forgo his final year in college and declared for the NFL Draft. Leading up to the draft, Watson saw his stock drop for a variety of reasons, and by the time the 2017 NFL Draft came around, Watson ended up being the third quarterback taken in the draft after the Houston Texans traded up to pick him at number 12.
The fact that Watson, who was arguably the best quarterback in college last season went third was surprising, especially since there were quarterback needy teams like the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets with high picks that decided to pass Watson up.
It was also surprising to see the Chicago Bears draft Mitchell Trubisky, who started only one season in college, take over an established player like Watson.
Before the draft, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney compared passing on Watson to passing on Michael Jordan. Watson himself said any team that picked another quarterback over him would have to live with the consequences.
Five games into the NFL season, Watson is already the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award, while Trubisky lost his first ever career start in the Monday Night game against the Vikings. Going into NFL Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns Watson is sure to pick up another win for the Texans.
Watson came off the bench in the Texans week 1 loss to the Jaguars and hasn’t looked back since. He has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,072 yards, 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for a 100.7 passer rating. He also has the best quarterback rating in the league.
In four and a half games, Watson has already broken or tied several rookie records, and if he can stay healthy, will likely rewrite the rookie record book by the time the season is over.
With the 49ers still looking for their first win and the Bears currently 1-3. Their general managers have to be kicking themselves for passing on Watson during the draft.
The Minnesota Vikings hope of making the playoffs was dealt a blow on Sunday when rookie running back Dalvin Cook tore his ACL during their game against the Detroit Lions.
The injury occurred during the third quarter when Cook made a cut to avoid being tackled by Detroit’s Tavon Wilson. Cook immediately grabbed his knee and fumbled the ball as he fell to the ground in pain.
The team had been hoping it wasn’t a serious injury, but there worst fears were realized when test results confirmed it was an ACL tear.
Cook, who was drafted to replace Adrian Peterson, who was released by the team in the offseason, was on pace to have over 400 rushing yards in four games, and provided the offense with balance as defenses started to game plan for him.
The team will turn to former Oakland Raider Latavius Murray, who was signed in the offseason, to take on the primary runner role. Murray, who has seen limited action this season because of Cook, is more than capable of handling the workload, and rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2015. Last season, he rushed for 788 yards in 14 games.
Murray, who is also recovering from offseason ankle surgery, had 21 yards on 7 carries on Thursday. Despite his ankle not being at 100 percent, Murray said he is ready to carry the workload.
“To be honest, I think I’m still getting to that point,” Murray said of his ankle getting back to 100 percent. “I think it’s not going to quite feel the same for a while. I knew that dealing with my previous ankle procedure.”
Cook is expected to undergo surgery to repair the torn ACL, but head coach Mike Zimmer said Cook will have to wait until the swelling in the knee goes down before he can undergo the surgery.
Zimmerman also didn’t rule out the possibility of the team signing another running back to give them more depth at the position.
Week 5 of the NFL season kicks off with a Thursday night game between the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and is scheduled to begin at 8:25 PM. ET.
Patriots Analysis
The Patriots came into the season as the favorites to win the Super Bowl, but after four games, they find themselves behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. New England’s offense is the second best in the league, scoring 32.3 points per game. However, their defense has been one of the worst in the league, allowing opponents to average 32 points per game, which is the second most so far this season.
If the Patriots are to repeat as champions this year, they will need to start playing better on the defensive end, if not, they might not make it to the playoffs this year.
Buccaneers Analysis
The Bucs also came into the season with playoff aspirations, but they haven’t been consistent this season. They struggled with a winless New York Giants team this week after being blown out by the Vikings a week ago. Their game against New England will be their toughest test so far, and will help the team guage just how good they are this season.
Tampa Bay’s passing game has been very good so far with Jameis Winston picking up where he left off last season. Tampa Bay is averaging 277 passing yards per game, which is the third most in the league, but their running game needs improvement as they average 84.7 points per game, which is 26th in the league.
The Bucs should be able to move the ball against New England’s defense, but they cannot afford to settle for field goals against the Patriots when they get into the red zone.
Pick and Prediction
The Patriots are 5.5 point favorites going into the game, but they haven’t shown that they are capable of stopping opposing offense this year so I’m picking Tampa Bay to cover the spread.
This Week in NFL news, more controversy. On Saturday, while speaking at a rally, President Donald Trump said if a player decided to take a knee during the national anthem, he would love to see an NFL owner say, “Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out. He’s fired. He’s fired!”
After he made the comments, athlete from the NFL, NBA, and MLB were quick to denounce the president’s comments and before their games on Sunday, decided to show signs of solidarity.
Some teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers decided to stay in the locker room during the singing of the anthem on Sunday. According to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, it was to prevent the team from being dragged into a political fight.
Other teams decided to take a different approach with players either locking hands or kneeling. Team owners, who issued statements condemning the president’s remarks, also participated in the protest and locked hands with their players during the anthem.
Also, if you can believe it. Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys (America’s Team) also took a knee last Sunday in the NFL wide protest.
Others, like the Oakland Raiders, decided to seat while the anthem was being played.
Despite the overwhelming show of solidarity by the players and owners, there were a lot of people unhappy with the way the teams handled the situation.
Fans in attendance could be heard booing the players that didn’t stand for the anthem, and some fans were urging the players to stand up while the anthem was being played.
Pittsburgh offensive lineman, Alejandro Villanueva, a former Army Ranger who spent three tours in Afghanistan, was seen standing just outside the tunnel with his hand over his heart while the anthem was being played before their game in Chicago.
According to James Harrison, who said he was surprised Villanueva didn’t stay in the locker room with his teammates, there were no bad feeling in the locker room because Villanueva was a military man. However, Mike Tomlin said he was disappointed in Villanueva’s action because he wanted the whole team to be unified in their response.
Villanueva’s actions apparently went well with the fans because on Monday afternoon, his gear was the best selling at the NFL store.
There are a lot of big games in NFL Week 4, and one of the biggest is the NFC North matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears in the Thursday Night Football game. The game will be played at Lambeau Field on Thursday and starts at 8:25 PM. ET.
The Packers needed overtime to defeat the winless Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but the win puts them at 2-1, and a three-way tie with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, who play each other this week.
Last season, the Packers had to overcome a slow start to the season and win their final six games to make the playoffs, which is a situation they will try to avoid putting themselves in this year.
Despite a 1-2 start to the season, the Bears have shown that they are a team capable of defeating the best teams in the league, after making the Atlanta Falcons work for their week one win, and defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The win over the Steelers will give the team a lot of confidence going into this game, which should make this a very interesting game.
The Packers struggled with the Seattle Seahawks in their season opener, but were able to get the win. The next week, they were dismantled by the same Atlanta Falcons that had trouble putting the Bears away on the road.
To add insult to the loss to the Falcons, the Packers also lost some of their best players to injuries, which was evident when they needed overtime to defeat the Bengals on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers has historically owned the Bears, but without his top weapons, the Bears should be able to keep this close and might even walk away with a win if they can keep pressure on Rodgers all game long.
Look for Chicago to try and run the ball against the Packers who still have problems with good running backs. If they can get their ground game going, they will be able to control the clock and keep Rodgers on the sideline, giving them a better chance to win the game.
Pick and Prediction
The Packers are favored to win by seven points. Green Bay hasn’t looked very impressive this season, but the team has more talent than the Bears and a quarterback that has feasted on Chicago’s secondary in the past so take the Packers at -7 in this one.
The Cincinnati Bengals offense has finally gotten back on track, but will it be enough heading into NFL Week 4 where they are -3.5 point favorites against the Cleveland Browns?
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the season with high hopes, but things haven’t worked out for the team so far. The Bengals are now 0-3 and find themselves in a hole that might be too deep to climb out of.
The reason the Bengals remain winless this season is their offense has been one of the worst in the NFL. After going without an offensive touchdown in their first two games of the season, the Bengals decided to part ways with their offensive coordinator.
At the time of the move, most people outside the organization thought the team was panicking and made a knee jerk reaction. However, after Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, it appears the Bengals made the right move.
On Sunday, Cincinnati was able to score its first offensive touchdown of the season on their very first possession of the game. Granted the touchdown came against a Packers team dealing with a lot of injuries on both sides of the ball, the Bengals will take them anyway they come.
The Bengals ended up scoring 24 points in the game, and led the Packers for most of the game. In the end, it was their defense, which had kept them in their previous two games that let them down.
Cincinnati’s defense allowed Aaron Rodgers to rally his team and make a comeback. Green Bay managed to tie the game in regulation before sending it to overtime where they won by three points.
While the Bengals are disappointed in their 0-3 start to the season, they have to be happy that their offense finally got going and with the Steelers and Ravens struggling, they still have a chance to win the division. Our NFL Week 4 predictions for the Bengals would be to take them to cover the -3.5 point spread against the Bears on Sunday, October 1st, 2017.
With their next game coming against the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals have a great chance to win their first game of the season on Sunday.
The first 2 weeks of the NFL season have been surprising to say the least! Anything can happen in the NFL and it already has so far this season. Today we will preview NFL Week 3 and share our winning picks with you for the Saints and Panthers game, as well as the Vikings and Buccaneers game.
Before we begin we will start with with a recap of what has happened thus far this season.
The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings played their first Monday Night Football game of the season at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 11. The game was scheduled to begin at 7:10 PM. ET. The Vikings were victorious and defeated the Saints by a score of 29-19.
Saints Analysis
The Saints finished last season 7-9, but are hoping to get back into the playoffs this season, and upgraded their team with players like Adrian Peterson, who was released by the Vikings during the offseason.
Even though Peterson will share carries with Mark Ingram, expect the Vikings’ all-time leading rusher to get a lot of playing time against his former team as he tries to show them they made a mistake letting him go.
Drew Brees is expected to continue his assault on the record books this season, but he might have a tough time doing so against a Vikings defense that was good against the pass last year.
Prediction
The Saints will be defeated by the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24-19.
Vikings Analysis
The Vikings will start the season again without quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered last preseason.
Without Bridgewater, the Vikings will once again turn to Sam Bradford, who started hot but faltered late in the season.
Dalvin Cook, the Vikings replacement for Peterson will also make his regular season debut in this game and will be out to prove the team made the right choice drafting him to replace Peterson.
The Vikings defense, which was one of the best in the league in the first half of last season, is expected to be improved, but they will be facing a tough test going up against veteran Drew Brees, who can carve them up if his offensive line gives him enough time.
Prediction
The Vikings defense will keep them in the game, but the Buccaneers offense will eventually be too much for them and Tampa Bay will get the win.
J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans suffered a loss in NFL Week 1, but it was bittersweet because news of J.J. Watt’s hurricane relief fund passed $30 million in charity.
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt started a fundraiser this week to help victims of Hurricane Harvey. The initial goal of the fundraiser was $200,000. By Thursday, over $10 million had been raised.
On Twitter, Watt thanked those that donated for their generosity, and said he would leave the fund open to see how high it can go.
On Wednesday night, Watt said he has already been using the money that was raised to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.
“We’re filling the semi-trucks as we speak. Many people have donated their trucks, their time, donated food, water, clothing, generators, things like that,” Watt said. “We’re going to get those trucks down here by this weekend. … The tentative plan is Sunday we’re going to have a bunch of my teammates help me out in a few different locations around town to be determined, and we’re going to hand out those supplies.
“We’re basically trying to find (a) the safest areas we can get to — obviously we don’t want to put anybody in danger — but then (b) the areas that need it the absolute most. So, we’re going to try and set up — literally, it’s going to be open up the back of a semi-truck and start handing out water, start handing out clothes.”
Watt kicked things off by donating $100,000 to the relief fund, others like the Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, each donated $1 million to the fund.
According to ESPN, others like the owners of the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and the Detroit Lions have also donated to other hurricane relief funds like the Red Cross and United Way.
After spending most of the week in Dallas, the Texans returned home their families on Wednesday after finding a safe route to take.
Bruce Arians Believes Blaine Gabbert Can Be A Starter Again
Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians recently told reporters that he believes backup quarterback Blane Gabbert can once again become a starter in the NFL.
Gabbert, who was the first round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011, struggled in Jacksonville after being named starter two weeks into the 2011 season, and was never the player the team had hoped he would be.
In 2014, the Jaguars drafted Blake Bortles, which made Gabbert expendable and he was promptly traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth round pick.
Gabbert, who had a 5-22 record as a starter in Jacksonville, quickly got another opportunity to start for the 49ers after incumbent starter Colin Kaepernick struggled.
Kaepernick regained the starting job in San Francisco last season, and the team let Gabbert go after the season was over.
The Cardinals signed Gabbert during the offseason. In the preseason, Gabbert showed he was still capable of leading a team, and finished preseason completing 36 of 57 passes for 496 yards 1 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Despite his preseason performance, the Cardinals announced that Drew Stanton will be their backup quarterback this season.
After the announcement was made, Arians was asked about Gabbert’s play.
“I’ve been very pleased,” coach Bruce Arians recently said of Gabbert, per the team’s official website. “Short-term, I’d be very comfortable if he had to play for us. Long-term, if he continues at this rate, he could be a starter.”
Starting quarterback Carson Palmer also had a lot of praise for Gabbert.
“I had worked out with him a handful of times a couple of years ago in the offseason,” Palmer said. “Very aware of his skill-set. He’s as talented as it gets throwing the football and moving around in the pocket and on the run. I haven’t been surprised.”
If Gabbert continues playing well, the Cardinals don’t see any reason he can’t help a quarterback needy team.
The AFC has been dominated by the New England Patriots over the past decade, and with Tom Brady planning to play well into his 40s, they might dominate for another decade. Despite being the best team in the conference, the Patriots don’t play in the toughest division, which is why we are using this opportunity to determine the best division in the AFC.
AFC East
As previously mentioned, the Patriots own the division, but last season, the Miami Dolphins emerged as a playoff contender. This year, with Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill injured, the Patriots might once again be the only playoff team in the division. Current divisional betting odds posted at the Bovada sportsbook have the Patriots as 11-4 favorites to win the Super Bowl.
Last season, the AFC East finished 26-22 against the rest of the conference, but 11 of those wins came for the Patriots, who were clearly the best team in the league last year.
AFC North
This used to be the toughest division in the NFL, but the Ravens and Bengals were terrible last year, leaving the Steelers as the only team standing. This year, the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals are expected to be in the playoff hunt so expect the division to return to being one of the toughest in the NFL.
Last season, the AFC North finished 22-26 against the AFC, thanks in large part to the Browns, who went 1-11 against the rest of the conference.
AFC South
This might not be the best division in the conference, but it is a very competitive one. The Texans will once again be the favorites, but the Titans and Colts are also expected to be in the mix once again.
Last season, the AFC South finished 20-28 against the rest of the AFC.
AFC West
This was without a doubt the best division in the AFC last year. Both the Raiders and Chiefs finished with 12 wins, and the Broncos also had nine, barely missing the playoffs. This year, some drop off is expected, but these teams will still be very good and tough to beat.
Last season, the AFC West went 28-20 against the rest of the AFC.
The AFC West was clearly the best division last year, and I expect them to be the best division in the conference once again this season.
The New England Patriots are going into the season as the favorites to win the Super Bowl, but their chances of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the second consecutive season suffered a huge blow over the weekend when they lost wide receiver Julian Edelman.
Edelman fell to the ground during the Patriots preseason game against the Detroit Lions, and after the game, team officials said he suffered an ACL injury and will be forced to miss the entire season.
Edelman’s injury is a big blow to the Patriots offense because the receiver always seems to come up with big plays when the team needs them.
Last season, Edelman finished with 98 catches for 1,106 yards and 3 touchdowns. Even though the touchdowns don’t stand out, the receptions and the yards were crucial in helping the team win its fifth Super Bowl.
Since joining the team in 2009, Edelman has been quarterback Tom Brady’s favorite receiver because of the trust the two men have on the field. In a radio interview, Brady said the biggest thing he will miss about Edelman is the trust they shared because they have been playing together for so long, he can anticipate where Edelman will be on the field during games.
To further illustrate the point, since 2013, Edelman has 436 receptions, which is 187 more receptions than any other Patriots receiver, including Rob Gronkowski, who is a big part of their offense.
Without Edelman, Brady will be forced to rely on new addition Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan, who showed some promise last year.
As long as Tom Brady is still throwing the ball, the Patriots will okay, but their path to the Super Bowl just got tougher without Edelman to help Brady move the chains whenever he gets into trouble.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced the cancellation of the final preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans that was scheduled to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The game, which was supposed to be played on Thursday, was cancelled because the Texans can return home sooner than expected after staying in Dallas while Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on Houston.
The Texans issued a statement on Wednesday saying they will drive home after finding a safe route to travel.
“At this time, the priority of our organization is getting our players, coaches and staff back home to be reunited with their families, many of whom have been evacuated from their homes and are currently sheltered. The team feels it is imperative to get back home to help the Houston community recover from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey,” the team said.
There were also discussions about whether to cancel the Thursday night game between the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints as remnants of the storm heads towards Louisiana. However, the Saints have announced that the game will go on as scheduled.
Tickets for the game between the Cowboys and Texans went on sale on Tuesday with the proceeds going to the hurricane relief fund. Fans can request a refund and if they don’t, the money will still go to the relief fund.
The game had initially been moved from NRG Stadium in Houston because of the flooding in Houston, but with players and team staff not having seen their families throughout the storm, playing an exhibition game didn’t seem to make much sense.
“I think there’s more important things than football right now,” Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee said. “Houston being able to get home and see their families is a big deal.”
“I know that they’re probably anxious to get home and see their families and just assess the situation,” said Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. “I said it a couple days ago, but this is bigger than football.”
We are getting a lot of fans asking us a simple question these past few days, When does the NFL season start? so we figured we would answer them before throwing NFL picks and predictions at them.
NFL Week 1 kicks off with the Thursday night game on Thursday, September 7th, 2017 between the Kansas City Chiefs and defending Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots. Also, the first NFL Sunday of this season is Sunday, September 10th, 2017.
Now without further ado, our breakdown of the NFC West going into the NFL 2017-18 regular season.
The NFC West was a one team show last season as the Seattle Seahawks dominated the division and took back the division crown from the Arizona Cardinals, who had a disappointing season. This year, the Cardinals are expected to bounce back and try to reclaim the title from Seattle.
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams on the other hand aren’t expected to be any good this year, but stranger things have happened in the NFL.
Which team will win the NFC West in 2017?
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals made the NFC Championship game in 2015, but regressed last year and won only seven games. With plenty of talent on both offense and defense, the Cardinals can make a Super Bowl run, but they have to figure out how to win the division first.
The Cardinals are projected to win eight games, but are too talented and should win at least 10 games.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams teased their fans early in the season last year, and at one point were on top of the NFC West standings. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t maintain the level or performance for the whole season and lost their final seven games of the season.
The Rams are projected to win 5.5 games, but I think that’s too generous considering the teams they have to play. Los Angeles will probably finish with four or five wins this year.
San Francisco 49ers
The New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and 49ers will be competing for the worst record in the NFL this season, but I think the 49ers will finish with the worst record.
The 49ers don’t have a quarterback, their running back has a history of injuries, and their defense is a shell of what it used to be. The good news for the 49ers and their fans is they will be able to find a franchise quarterback with the top pick in next year’s draft.
San Francisco is projected to win 4.5 games this season but I don’t see them winning more than three.
Seattle Seahawks
After an offseason filled with spats and rumors of infighting, the Seahawks will finally get back to doing what they do best, win football games. Seattle is projected to win 10.5 games this year and with gimmes against the 49ers and Rams, I don’t see why they can’t.
Like the Panthers, the Seahawks have a questionable offensive line. The team tried to address it during the offseason but we won’t know how much it has improved until the season starts. I expect the Seahawks to win the division again this year.
The NFC North has belonged to the Green Bay Packers for the better part of a decade, but the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are waiting in the corner trying to dethrone Aaron Rodgers and his teammates.
Last year, the Vikings and Lions looked like they were going to be the top two teams in the division, but the Packers rallied late in the season, winning their last six games and taking the division title for the seventh time in 10 years.
How will the 2018 Packers fare this season? Find out in our NFC North NFL predictions and preview.
Chicago Bears
The Bears didn’t have a good offseason and are likely going to finish at the bottom of the division. Chicago is projected to win 5.5 games this season, but that might be generous considering the team lost its starting quarterback and best wide receiver.
Rookie Mitch Trubisky will take over as the team’s starting quarterback, but Chicago fans should expect some growing pains before the team is ready to compete for the division.
Detroit Lions
The Lions came close to winning the division last year, which was surprising since quarterback Matthew Stafford’s best offensive weapon, Calvin Johnson retired during the previous offseason. The Lions are a good offensive team, but their defense will need to play better if they are to be considered a legitimate contender.
Detroit is projected to win eight games, but I expect them to win more than that.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers know their window to win another Super Bowl is closing, so the team made sure to surround Aaron Rodgers with enough weapons to help him win games. The Packers also spent the offseason trying to fix their defense so it will be interesting to see how good they are this year.
The Packers are projected to win 10 games, and with the firepower they have, I don’t see why they shouldn’t win more.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings might be the most difficult team to predict in the division. They had one of the best defenses in the NFL last year, but their offense wasn’t very good or consistent.
Rookie running back Dalvin Cook could be this year’s Ezekiel Elliot, but with Teddy Bridgewater still recovering from last year’s season ending injury, Sam Bradford will once again be thrust into the starting lineup, which didn’t work out very well for the team last year.
The Vikings are projected to win 8.5 games, but I don’t see them winning more than eight games.
Even though they will face some competition from the Lions, the Packers are still going to be the kings of the NFC North.
Today we will be previewing the AFC North and taking a look at current betting odds on which team is likely to come out of the AFC North and make the NFL playoffs.
The AFC North, which has historically been one of the toughest in the NFL, had a down year last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers being the only team in the division that finished with a winning record. This year, the division is expected to be more competitive as the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals improved their rosters. Even the Cleveland Browns, who won only one game last season, are expected to be improved this year.
With that being said, here is a quick preview of the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens started well last season, but faltered down the stretch finishing with an 8-8 record. The team lost veteran receiver Steve Smith, who retired in the offseason, but added Jeremy Maclin, who is expected to be their top receiver.
The biggest question mark going into the season is at the running back position. Last season, Terrance West led the team with 774 yards and 5 touchdowns, and the team is hoping he can emerge as their feature back this season.
The Ravens are projected to win nine games, and I believe they will win more than that this season as they return to the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals
Like the Ravens, the Bengals were a surprising disappointment last season, especially since they won the division the year before. The Bengals added Joe Mixon, a top rated running back that fell into their lap in the second round and are hoping having a well balanced offense will help get them back into the playoffs.
The Bengals are projected to win 8.5 games this year, and I believe they will win more than that and compete with the Ravens and Steelers for the division title.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns were the worst team in the league last season, but the good news for their fans is they really can’t be any worse than they were last year.
During the offseason, Cleveland added quarterback Brock Osweiller and drafted young defensive talent like Miles Garrett, so I expect to see a slight improvement from last season.
The Browns are projected to win 4.5 games this season, but I don’t see it happening in what will be a tough division this year.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have the talent to make it to the Super Bowl, but there are too many questions surrounding the team. Will Ben Roethlisberger be able to play the whole season? Will LeVeon Bell report to training camp on time or will he hold out for most of the season? And will Martavis Bryant stay sober this year or get suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy?
The Steelers are projected to win 10.5 games, and I can see them winning more if they have all their pieces for the whole season. If not, they likely won’t win 10 games this year.
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season ending injury during the preseason last year when he tore ligaments and dislocated his left knee. Almost a year after the injury, Bridgewater doesn’t know when he will be able to return to the field.
Speaking to reporters at the start of training camp, Bridgewater said while he doesn’t know when he will be cleared for practice or return to the field, he knows it will eventually happen.
Bridge water sounded hopeful during the press conference, and said his doctors did not call his injury a career ending one. He also credited his mother’s battle with breast cancer for giving him the strength to take on the difficult rehabilitation.
“That’s the good thing about all this — I get to continue to live out my dream,” Bridgewater said. “We don’t know when it’s going to happen, but for me, I know that it’s going to happen.”
Since he isn’t going to be ready for the season opener, the Vikings placed Bridgewater on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Head coach Mike Zimmer said there is no timetable for Bridgewater’s return, and admitted that the initial prognosis for the quarterback’s knee was bleak. Zimmer added that Bridgewater did a remarkable job to get to the point he is right now in his rehab.
During mini-camp in June, Bridgewater was able to drop back and throw the ball. He also posted a picture of himself working out without a knee brace on his Instagram account.
When the injury occurred, Bridgewater said there was no contact, but he knew something was wrong. The team’s training staff quickly put his knee in an air cast and rushed him to the hospital because the dislocated knee put him at risk of losing his left leg.
Even though the team declined his fifth year option, Bridgewater said he understood the logic behind the decision.
Bridgewater intends to continue rehabbing his knee and hopes he will eventually be cleared to return to the field.
On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys released wide receiver Lucky Whitehead a few hours after learning the receiver was arrested in Virginia and charged with larceny. Whitehead reportedly didn’t show up for a court hearing earlier in the month, which led to another charge.
The Prince William County Police Department said they arrested Whitehead around 1:30 AM. On June 22 after a convenience store employee noticed he left the store without paying for some items.
Whitehead was charged with shoplifting under $200, a misdemeanor, but failed to show up for his arraignment on July 6.
When news of the arrest broke, Whitehead said it was a case of mistaken identity because he wasn’t in Virginia at the time the crime occurred.
His agent, David Rich, told ESPN that he informed the Cowboys that Whitehead was in Dallas on June 22 and had a flight ticket to prove it.
Despite Whitehead and his agent’s claims that he wasn’t in Virginia at the time of the incident, the Cowboys released the receiver. After Whitehead was released by the team, executive vice president Stephen Jones decided to release Whitehead based on a culmination of incidents involving the receiver over the past 12 months.
On Tuesday, the Prince William County Police Department confirmed Whitehead’s story and issued a statement saying the man they arrested on June 22 was not Whitehead.
The department said the man they arrested didn’t have identification on him, but he verbally provided them with Whitehead’s name, date of birth, and social security number.
The department apologized for the impact the publicity had on Whitehead and his family.
Despite having his name cleared of any wrong doing, the Cowboys said they won’t be bringing Whitehead back and have moved on.
Rich said he will speak with Whitehead and his family to figure out how to proceed, either legally or through the NFL Players’ Association.
“We got made an example of,” Rich said. “They needed to make an example of somebody to get those boys’ heads on straight. It is calculated. But I get it. It’s business … Jason Garrett said it. They needed to do what’s in the best interest of the Cowboys. I think they’re wrong, but I get it.”
The Atlanta Falcons and running back Devonta Freeman have been trying to come to a contract agreement since the end of last season, but still haven’t been able to reach an agreement.
On Monday, the former Pro Bowler told ESPN that Freeman reached out to him for some advice on his contract situation.
When asked what he told Freeman, James said, “At the end of the day, usually that stuff takes care of itself. He’s got good people, a good team around him. He’s got his agent. And you don’t let it distract you from being a football player. If he does his part as a football player, everything else will take care of itself.”
After rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons, the 2014 fourth round pick from Florida State is expected to receive a long-term contract from the Falcons.
In the past two seasons, Freeman has a total of 3,175 yards from scrimmage and 27 combined touchdowns. He is scheduled to make $1.8 million this season if both sides can’t come to an agreement.
Despite both sides being at an impasse, Freeman said he isn’t going to holdout and will be there when training camp begins on Wednesday. He told reporters that he will remain patient with the process and let his agent handle the contract negotiations.
James, who was picked fourth in 1999 by the Indianapolis Colts, was a 21-day holdout as a rookie before signing a seven year contract worth $49 million.
Even though he did it as a rookie, James said he wouldn’t recommend Freeman take the same path especially since both sides seem to want to get a long-term deal done.
“It’s not even a risk for the team; it’s one of those safe bets,” James said. “Hopefully they lock him in and take good care of him there in Atlanta.”
Colin Kaepernick has been on the hot seat since protesting the national anthem early last season. Kaepernick played for the dreadful 2-14 San Francisco 49ers and managed to put up decent numbers. He started the year recovering from a shoulder injury, but once he took the field he threw for 2,241 yards 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for a solid 90.7 quarterback rating. At the culmination of the season Kaepernick opted out of his contract, which finished off a complete overall of the organization. Kaepernick had some free agent visits with several teams but hasn’t signed a contract. Is he worse than all the quarterbacks in the league, or did teams blacklist the young quarterback for his outspoken views regarding social issues?
All signs point to Kaepernick being one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but he does have some injury concerns. Colin sat the bench behind Alex Smith his rookie season and was looking to do the same in his second year, but when Smith went down with a concussion Kaepernick stepped up and stole the job. He led the team to the Super Bowl, and then the following year he took them to the NFC championship game. In 2014, the 49ers had a huge drop in production due to locker room concerns surrounding everyone in the locker room, but Kaep had career numbers. In 2015, he chose to have season ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. The team was in the middle of a serious overhaul and people began to speculate that he would not return the following season. He then put up the great numbers mentioned above in 2016.
Since it’s obvious Kaepernick is a good quarterback who has proven he can lead a team to the NFL’s biggest stage, why doesn’t he have a job? The biggest concern for Kaepernick is that the No Fun League doesn’t want players who speak their minds. Nothing scares owners more than pissed off fans, and Kaepernick was very outspoken during a divisive time in our country. Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by the owners for his outspoken activism, and he will not make a roster to start the season. Kaepernick won’t make a roster because his price tag is too high for him to be a distraction and possible piss off the hometown fans. However, players get injured every week in the NFL, and some quarterback will go down with an injury. Colin Kaepernick should wait by his phone because some team is going to call once the season gets underway.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott might have just dodged a bullet as the Dallas Police Department suspended their investigation into an incident involving Elliot over the weekend.
According to the NFL, a source close to the investigation said the department was suspending the case due to their inability to contact the victim and a lack of witnesses.
The Dallas Police Department issued a statement on Wednesday in which they said, “the department made several attempts to contact the victim through various ways but at this time have not been able to make contact.”
The incident the DPD was investigating occurred on Sunday night and a 30-year-old man was hospitalized with a nose injury. No arrests have been made and the police did not name any suspects.
According to an NFL official, the league is aware of the situation and is looking into it to make sure they have the right facts.
Elliott, who was the runner up to teammate Dak Prescott in the Offensive Rookie of the Year award voting, was already under investigation by the NFL for a domestic violence incident in 2016.
At the time of Sunday’s incident, there were reports that Elliott was bracing himself for a short suspension for the domestic violence incident, but the NFL has not made an announcement regarding its investigation.
Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones told reporters he has spoken to Elliott since the Sunday incident but is still waiting to hear more about it. Head coach Jason Garrett said he hasn’t spoken to Elliott but plans to do so on Friday.
Garrett also told reporters that he did not want to get into specifics about the case but that Elliott is someone the Cowboys believe very strongly in as a football player and a person.
“We’re going to continue to believe in him and try to put a structure around him, and all of our players, to help them make great decisions and grow on and off the field,” coach Garrett said.
Last season, the Oakland Raiders had the sixth best offense and they only got better in the offseason. The Raiders had two major free agent signings with receiving tight end Jared Cook, and All-Pro power back Marshawn Lynch. These signings push the prolific offense over the edge and they will be the best offense in the NFL. Oakland will be unstoppable in the 2017 campaign because they have 5 players (Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jared Cook, and Marshawn Lynch) who can score at will.
The Raider just made Derek Carr the highest paid player in the league with a $125 million contract extension. Carr is coming off a broken ankle that ended his 2016 season, and he will win the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Carr’s favorite targets are Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree who both surpassed 1,000 yards last season. I expect each of these players to repeat their success and for Cooper to have a breakout year with 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns. I also predict that Carr will have a career year with 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Signing Marshawn Lynch and Jared Cook pushed this offense from good to great. Marshawn Lynch was an All-Pro and five-time Pro-Bowl selection who wanted to come play for his hometown team before they relocate to Las Vegas in two seasons. Marshawn is in top form and I would expect big things from him this year. Marshawn took all last season off, and only played in 7 games during the 2015 season. His body is well rested and he will be the workhorse back this team desperately needs. The signing of Jared Cook gives Derek Carr yet another target who can put up big numbers. Cook is an 8-year veteran who will have an immediate impact.
These weapons in the Raiders’ offense will keep the defense honest, and the Raiders will methodically pick apart every team they face.
There are a few ways a player becomes a bust. He can be selected with a high draft pick and not play well, the team can trade the farm for the player and have it not work out, or he could have injuries that prevent him from reaching his fullest potential. Mitch Trubisky has 2 strikes against him, and we sincerely wish the third strike doesn’t befall the young quarterback. Mitch Trubisky does have the good fortune of playing behind an offensive line that gave up the 7th fewest sacks last season. The Bears signed Mike Glennon to a 3-year $45 million deal before the draft, so Mitch Trubisky will likely learn from the sidelines his rookie season. The team also lost last season’s leading receiver, Alshon Jeffery to free agency, so neither quarterback will have a confident number one receiver, but they do have 6 veteran wideouts fighting for their careers, which can be just as good if played correctly.
These reasons point to a rough start for the drafts #2 overall pick, but that’s not even the biggest factor in Trubisky becoming a bust. The Bears traded the 49ers their #3 overall pick, a third rounder (#67 pick), a fourth rounder (#111 pick), and a 2018 third rounder to move up one spot. The real kicker is that the 49ers weren’t even considering taking Trubisky with the pick. Trading away these picks cost the team 2 third round picks that would likely turn into starters and the fourth-round pick that would at least be a role player on the team. They lost 3 players to pick a quarterback that would have fallen to them anyways. This will be the greatest pressure on the young quarterback. The organization essentially placed their next 5 years in Trubisky’s hands.
The good news is that when everything is against you there is only room for improvement. The Bears front office will play the most important role in Mitch Trubisky’s future. The organization must surround Trubisky with talented young players that he can grow and develop alongside. Kendall Wright and Cameron Meredith will have to play like their careers depend on it. A pocket passing quarterback needs to have a consistent deep threat receiver, and the Bears will have to make a splash in free agency, or use another high draft pick to sign a top college prospect.
The only time we will see Mitch Trubisky this season is if he plays incredibly well during the preseason and earns a starting spot, or Mike Glennon goes down with and injury. If he earns the starting role then the trade will have been worth it, and if Glennon goes down then Trubisky is getting valuable experience that will help him when the team makes improvements next offseason. If Trubisky doesn’t prove himself in his second season then we can have the bust discussion, but until then we shouldn’t have high expectations for a rookie success story.
Each year there is a rookie that takes the NFL by storm. Last year when Tony Romo went down in a preseason game, a fourth-round rookie quarterback took the helm and led the Cowboys to the best record in the NFC. Here is our list of rookies that will have the biggest impact this season along with their player profiles.
Corey Davis – WR – Tennessee Titans
Corey David makes this list because of his unique combination of speed, strength, leaping ability, and physicality when going up for a catch. The 6’3’’ 209-pound deep threat was a four-year starter at Western Michigan where he amassed 5,285 career receiving yards, and a jaw-dropping 97 catches for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns as a Senior. Don’t let the Mid-American Conference undermine his athletic abilities, Davis would have been a 1,200-yard receiver at any power 5 conference. The Titans selected him with the fifth pick in the draft and will be Marcus Mariota’s number one receiver. In a depleted receiving corps Davis will surely see multiple double teams, but I project he will have 75 catches for 950 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Deshaun Watson – QB – Houston Texans
The Houston Texans swapped first round picks with the Cleveland Browns along with their 2018 first round pick, so they could take Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson with the 12th overall selection. Watson was the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, two-time Heisman finalist, two-time Davey O’Brien Award winner, two-time Manning Award winner, and National Champion. You couldn’t imagine a better resume from your incoming rookie quarterback. He will be throwing to a stable of speedy young receivers that can take any pass to the end zone. He would be our pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but many NFL teams have a new philosophy that it’s better to sit a rookie quarterback their first year to gain experience and develop their confidence. If there’s one exception to this rule it is Deshaun Watson. I believe he will take over the starting role by week 5, and finish the season with 3,000 yards, 24 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, with an additional 350 rushing yards for 4 touchdowns.
Leonard Fournette – RB – Jacksonville Jaguars
Leonard Fournette is the kind of athlete that only comes around once a generation. He has the breakaway speed to burn any defender, the physicality to break a defender’s sternum while he runs through them, and the athleticism to stop on a dime and spin around opposing players or use his patience to let blocking develop and accelerate through the gaps. When I first saw him run I compared him to Adrian Peterson, but the more apt comparison would be the legendary Bo Jackson. Fournette had the misfortune of being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and their substandard offensive line. There is some injury concern with Fournette, but I attribute this to typical injuries a running back would play through, but he was smart to realize he would be a millionaire in the NFL, so he didn’t push himself because he was playing for free in college. Jacksonville is a passing team, but with a playmaker like this is the backfield they will get the ball in his hands. I expect him to get 250 carries for 1,250 yards and 14 touchdowns.
John Ross is one of the best young receivers in this draft class. The speedy Washington receiver shocked the sports world with his 4.22 40-yard dash, and the Bengals snagged him with their 9th overall pick. He is paired with All-Pro A.J. Green who will be the perfect veteran to mentor the talented 21-year old receiver. With two speedy receivers, defensive coordinators will have to game plan how to contain this two-headed beast, because a cover one can’t contain both, and they will burn past any defender playing man-to-man.
Many people don’t know that John Ross played both sides of the ball in his early years at Washington. He was such an athlete that the Washington coaches weren’t sure how to utilize his talents. In 2014, Marcus Peters was kicked off the team and he played corner until he tore his ACL to end his season. He says that was the best thing to happen to him because he locked himself in the film room and studied the game. He began working out with DeSean Jackson, and he attributes his 2016 success to the advice he received from Jackson. In his redshirt Junior season, Ross caught 81 passes for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Ross will head to Cincinnati with fellow speedy rookie Josh Malone from Tennessee. Ross will be an immediate starter along with A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell. He will play with Andy Dalton, who is going to have the best season of his career throwing to this stable of receivers. I expect John Ross will be one of the top 3 rookie receivers in the league. He will be Dalton’s favorite target aside from Green, and he will take the NFL by storm. John Ross will receive 115 targets for 85 catches, 1,100 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He will be a top finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Americans may not know that they can bet on football (NFL, College Football) games online or live in the USA. As a matter of fact, almost anyone can begin betting on the NFL with a few taps or swipes on their mobile device. With betting sites such as Bovada and BetOnline available to patrons in the USA, live betting on the NFL and College Football (NCAAF) has never been simpler or easier.
To begin betting on football in the USA, you simply need to register for an account at Bovada or BetOnline. Once you are registered, you’ll need to have a credit or debit card that allows international transactions to take place. To activate this feature, you may need to call your bank and tell them that you will be buying items from an international vendor.
Do not tell them that this is for a sports betting transaction. Say that it is a digital good or a collectable from overseas. Most companies won’t ask, but if you are asked, it is not advised that you say this is for an overseas online gambling related transaction. Once your card is approved by your sportsbook, you are all set to begin betting on football games online.
Another alternative is to link your bank account to an online Bitcoin trading service such as Coinbase. When you have deposited money into Coinbase, you’ll want to transfer this BTC to another BTC wallet that you control and then use that account to begin sending money to your preferred online betting website of choice. This is how you can bet on the NFL online in the United States.
The trade deadline in the NFL regular season usually comes and goes with little to no surprise, however most seasons will have at least one major in-season trade that nobody sees coming. Last season we saw the Jamie Collins trade from the Patriots to the Browns. These trades happen when good players are reaching the end of their contract and their team doesn’t want to pay. The organization will trade the player before the year ends so they can get something in return for a lost investment. These are the 3 players in contract years that could be traded.
The Buffalo Bills have announced that they will not exercise Sammy Watkins fifth year extension. This means that the former #4 overall pick in the draft will likely test the free agent market. Watkins had a phenomenal rookie season with 65 catches for 982 yards and 6 touchdowns. He followed it up with 60 catches for 1,047 yards and 9 touchdowns. At the end of the 2015 season, he sprained his ankle and needed to have surgery in the offseason. The injury has plagued him and he missed the first 8 weeks of the 2016 season and had a 2nd surgery on the ankle this offseason. If he has a strong recovery he could still get a deal from the Bills, but the organization is in the middle of a rebuild and they will spend the money elsewhere.
The New England Patriots are always considering trading their star players instead of paying them. This is because they evaluate young talent so well that they consistently replenish their roster in the draft. The Pats All-Pro cornerback Malcolm Butler is due for a big payday, and the Pats have already tried to trade the talented young corner. Butler has made important plays when it matters and he will demand to be one of the highest paid corners in the league. Bill Belichick will not pay him, and he will be sent packing before the season ends.
The Jets are cleaning house and have already cut several big-name players including K Nick Folk, T Breno Giacomini, C Nick Mangold, CB Darrelle Revis, WR Brandon Marshall, RB Khiry Robinson, LB David Harris, and WR Eric Decker. The only good player on the team that hasn’t been cut is Sheldon Richardson who they are actively trying to trade. Richardson is a great defensive tackle, and there are several teams that would benefit from his big frame in the middle. The Jets are tanking their 2017 season, and I would expect them to trade Sheldon Richardson for a late draft pick before the season is over.
We understand it is only July, however it’s never too early too examine where to find the best futures betting odds for the NCAA Football Championship for the 2017-18 season.
College football is one of the best sports to bet on because the action is so unpredictable. Is this the year that a mid major football team will rise to supremecy or will a traditional powerhouse such as Alabama once again become the BCS champions?
When you are looking for the best betting odds for the NCAA Football Championship 2016-2017 season, websites such as TopBet, BetOnline and NitrogenSports have you covered. Did you know that Americans bet discreetly on the 2016-2017 NCAA football season using Bitcoin as a deposit method?
When you use Bitcoin as a deposit method, you can also withdraw your funds using Bitcoin in a matter of minutes. This liquidity is key for sports bettors, as they may need to move their money around rapidly into different ventures. College football has been one of the best ways for sports bettors build a bankroll, because odds on college football games are usually quite lucrative.
Betting on the NCAA football season is a surefire way to build your bankroll and give yourself the freedom to execute sports bets as a profitable venture. With teams such as Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and others contending the BCS championship, this year’s NCAA football season will surely be one of the best seasons to date.
Many sports betting websites are available for you bet on the upcoming NFL season. As a result, we’ve chronicled the top sports betting websites that will give you the best betting odds on NFL football for the 2016-2017 season.
The BetOnline NFL Betting Site
Regardless if you prefer to bet on point spreads, moneylines or parlays, BetOnline is a sports book available to those in the USA that has decades of NFL betting experience. If you do not have a BetOnline account, you can earn a 50% deposit bonus with your first deposit. BetOnline works great on mobile devices and the website even provides live betting, so that you can bet on specific plays during each game.
The Bovada NFL Online Betting Site
Are you ready to lock in favorable point spreads during the 2016-2017 NFL season? Did you know that Bovada provides the best point spreads to NFL bettors and Bovada releases point spreads on games several days in advance. This gives you an opportunity to lock in a favorable line when one becomes available. When you sign up for Bovada, make sure to login to the site on Tuesday to see if betting lines for the upcoming week have been published. Locking in your bets early could provide an edge on some of the games.
The best part of the UFC is the non stop action inside of the Octagon. Our picks for the best online betting sites for UFC are Bovada, BetOnline and TopBet. As you closely examine these websites, you’ll find out why each betting website has become a premier destination for those who wish to bet on their favorite UFC competitors.
Bovada provides the best prop bets for the UFC. With Bovada, you can literally bet on any aspect of the fight. This includes prop bets that deal with the number of rounds, the type of decision and whether or not a fighter will obtain a win by submission. Bovada gives you complete control over your UFC betting experience.
Ready to get the best betting odds on UFC? TopBet could be the best sportsbook for your next UFC bets. With TopBet, you can receive large bonuses for betting on UFC fights, while simultaneously receiving the some of the best odds on the fights themselves. TopBet is a sure bet for those looking to bet on UFC fights.
BetOnline also provides a robust platform for wagering on UFC fights. One of the biggest criticisms of BetOnline has been its outdated interface. Rumor has it that BetOnline is upgrading their platform, which will make UFC betting that much more exciting.
As the end of baseball season approaches, you may be wanting to know where to bet on the World Series. Many online sportsbooks take action on Major League Baseball’s championship event, but which one will give you the best odds?
The BetOnline sportsbook publishes some of the best baseball lines throughout the regular season and BetOnline will likely have juicy odds awaiting sports bettors looking for a place to bet on the World Series. BetOnline provides a safe and secure sports betting environment that allows you to bet on any upcoming MLB game.
Looking for baseball specific bonuses? What about bonuses for just betting on the World Series? If you’re looking for the most incentives to join a new sportsbook, the TopBet sportsbook could be your best bet in terms of finding a place to bet on the World Series. TopBet has been in business for decades and it is known as one of the most reliable sportsbooks in the online gambling industry today.
Bovada has earned a rock solid reputation as a premier sportsbook for beginners and seasoned veterans. The Bovada sports betting site has several deposit bonuses that make it worth the while to deposit and try your shot at winning bets on the MLB’s World Series. Bovada has a great interface that will also allow you to bet from any mobile device, making Bovada a win-win proposition.
