NFL 2020

[The Buscher]

But then how else will they justify passing on him and hiring the latest white offensive genius?

[VerbalPuke]

I guess we interviewed Bieniemy yesterday, and Marvin Lewis last week (kind of an interesting choice but...I dont know). Would teams even be allowed to offer Bienemy a HC gig with him still being active in the playoffs? I thought there was a rule you couldn't even interview candidates if they're team isn't trash like the Lions and actually still playing for something. 

One of Bienemy's "character concerns" is that he got into a fight at a bar after he was called a racial slur. I mean...seems like that shows good character...

I've been seeing that his prior interviews were no good as well, but it all feels like a lot of bullshit being dug up from the past. So he had a DUI twenty years ago, big fucking deal. 

[Lineker]

Quote

Four players in their first year of eligibility are among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021.

Quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive back Charles Woodson, wide receiver Calvin Johnson and defensive end Jared Allen lead the list of finalists.

As many as five of the finalists will be chosen later this month for enshrinement.

The finalists were announced Tuesday. It is the second time in the past four years that four players in their first year of eligibility have been finalists in the same year.

The enshrinement ceremony for the Class of 2021 is currently scheduled for the week of Aug. 5-9. The Class of 2020 is scheduled to be enshrined at a separate ceremony that week, as well, because August's event was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Those four players, with a combined 33 Pro Bowl appearances in their careers, join cornerback Ronde Barber, tackle Tony Boselli, safety LeRoy Butler, guard Alan Faneca, wide receiver Torry Holt, safety John Lynch, linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., linebacker Sam Mills, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, linebacker Zach Thomas and wide receiver Reggie Wayne as finalists.

It could be the eighth consecutive year a player in his first year of eligibility is selected, and if three of the players in the first year of eligibility are selected among the five enshrinees, it would be the third time in the past four years that three players in their first year of eligibility were selected for enshrinement in the same class.

Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez and Ed Reed were enshrined in 2019, and Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian Urlacher were in the Class of 2018.

This year marks the eighth time Lynch has been a finalist, the sixth time for Faneca and the fifth time for Boselli.

The list of 15 will now be trimmed to as many as five enshrinees later this month by the Hall of Fame's board of selectors.

Tom Flores is already a finalist from the Hall coach's committee, Bill Nunn is a finalist as a contributor and Drew Pearson is a finalist from the seniors committee. If all three are chosen for enshrinement, the Hall's Class of 2021 could have eight new Hall of Famers.

Manning -- with five league MVP awards, 14 Pro Bowl selections, seven first-team All-Pro selections, a Comeback Player of the Year award and a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award -- is one of the most decorated players in league history. He was behind center for the Denver Broncos when they won Super Bowl 50 to finish his final season (2015) in the league.

After 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning signed with the Broncos in 2012 -- making him one of the most accomplished players to change teams in the free-agency era. The Colts had 11 10-win seasons with Manning at quarterback and won Super Bowl XLI, with Manning chosen as the game's MVP.

He retired with numerous single-season and career records, including his 5,477 yards passing and 55 touchdowns in 2013.

Woodson was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and finished his 18-year career tied for fifth in interceptions -- with Ken Riley -- with 65. He led the league in interceptions with nine for the Green Bay Packers in 2009, and he earned a Super Bowl ring with the Pack the following season.

The cornerback-turned-safety also forced 33 fumbles in his career, tallied 20 sacks and had three 90-tackle seasons, including 113 tackles with the Oakland Raiders at age 38.

Johnson played nine seasons for the Detroit Lions before abruptly retiring after the 2015 season, when he had 88 catches for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns. He had five 1,200-yard receiving seasons, and he stands 31st in career receiving yards.

Because of the Lions' struggles, something he later said contributed to his retirement, he played in just two postseasons, finishing with 211 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first postseason appearance, a 45-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC wild-card round that followed the 2011 season.

And Allen, who is 12th on the league's all-time sack list with 136, played for four teams in his 13-year career and led the league in sacks in 2007 (with 15.5) and 2011 (with 22).

 

[DYSI]

Giants re-sign DC Patrick Graham to an extension, with him not pursuing any HC jobs this offseason. 

 

 

[The Buscher]

The Jets had him on their candidate list but their list was in the double digits.  He had the worst defense in football in 2019, albeit the Dolphins front office gutted their team. Don’t think one good year as a coordinator for a 6-10 team would’ve made him a likely hire this cycle but either way I’m glad he’s staying aboard.  He was able to scheme a decent pass rush even without a true edge guy.

[The Buscher]

 

[Maxx]

It never works.  When are teams going to learn?

[gunnar hendershow]

He'll go great with the former Pats team chaplain they have in that front office.

[Lineker]

It was inevitable. We tried hiring him 72 times previously. 

[Lineker]

I'm going to be so sad when he leaves.

 

And it looks like the next man up as de-facto GM in New England could be on the move too: 

 

[Lineker]

When it rains in Cleveland, it pours:

Quote

Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and wide receiver Rashard Higgins were both cited for drag racing Tuesday morning.

"We are aware of the incident, will gather more information and handle this matter appropriately," a team spokesman said.

The citation occurred in Westlake, Ohio, about 10 miles from the Browns' practice facility.

According to the service report released by Westlake police, the two were pulled over just before 9:30 a.m. ET and were each written $124 tickets. Police also conducted a probable cause search in one of the vehicles for a suspected marijuana joint, according to the report. Police didn't specify which vehicle had the suspected joint, and neither Higgins nor Willis was cited for it.

Police did not specify how fast either was driving.

Cleveland's players were off Tuesday.

Wills, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, has started all but one game at left tackle for the Browns this season.

Higgins has emerged as a key target for quarterback Baker Mayfield late in the season.

On Tuesday evening, Higgins posted on Twitter that his "foot slipped," in regard to the drag racing citation, before deleting the tweet. He also posted he "was tryna get away from Covid," before deleting that tweet, as well.

Wills wrote on Twitter that people were "Blowing it way out of proportion."

The Browns were slammed with more COVID-19 trouble on Tuesday, as coach Kevin Stefanski, wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio all tested positive for the virus, knocking them out of Sunday's playoff game at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

[The Buscher]

Really don’t understand the fascination with hiring Patriots front office guys.  Beyond the fact that they haven’t drafted worth a a shit in the last decade...Belichick is his own GM and gets the final say in personnel decisions.  What role did Caserio and Ziegler really have in building those Super Bowl teams?

As usual, teams falling over themselves thinking anybody attached to Belichick is gold.

[gunnar hendershow]

They always fall under the assumption that if they saw how Belichick worked then they just have gained knowledge from him via osmosis.

But when has that actually materialized in practice? His assistants generally are terrible HCs. Don't see how front office guys will be any different.

[Meacon Keaton]

It’s a good ol boys network where it’s who you know, not what you know.

[Mick]

It won't happen, but I really hope Barber and Lynch get into the Hall this year, if anything because the announcement would be at Raymond James Stadium. 

 

Bonus points if the Bucs somehow make the Super Bowl. 

Triple Bonus points if Tom Brady puts up insane numbers in said Super Bowl with Peyton watching  . 

[Lineker]

 

[gunnar hendershow]

That fake Schefter account scooped the real Schefter by 2 days.

[The Buscher]

Trevor Lawrence officially declares for the draft.

Wonder if he’ll be the first guy in a while to sign his rookie deal as the #1 pick before draft day even arrives.

[gunnar hendershow]

There's a significant chance they have all his merch ready to go by draft day so it can fly off the shelves that weekend.

[Lineker]