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2021 NFL draft: Top tight ends
Welcome to draft season! This is the fourth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 29-May 1). Here are my top 10 tight ends: ——— 1. Kyle Pitts (Jr., Florida, 6-foot-5, 245 pounds) Pitts beats man coverage consistently, even when isolated against cornerbacks. He has rare athleticism for a player his size and can turn bad throws into receptions. He's a competitive blocker, but that's not why he's on the field. Some describe him as a unicorn, but I prefer cheat code. Projected: Top 10 2. Pat Freiermuth (Jr., Penn St., 6-5, 251) Freiermuth didn't quite live up to the "Baby ...
The San Diego Union-Tribune
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Seahawks DE Aldon Smith turns himself in on battery charge and is released on bond
SEATTLE — Seahawks defensive end Aldon Smith turned himself in to police in the New Orleans area Tuesday night, was booked on a second-degree battery charge and then released, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday morning. According to the sheriff's office, Smith turned himself in shortly before 7 p.m. He was booked and released on $25,000 bond. The Criminal Investigations Bureau had issued a warrant for Smith's arrest Monday after he allegedly assaulted a man outside a business in the 8600 block of West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, La., on Saturday night, according to...
The Seattle Times
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George Floyd’s brother supports Raiders after everyone from LeBron to Clay Travis trashes their tweet
George Floyd’s brother came to the defense of the Raiders a day after the team faced fallout from a tweet intended to honor the man who was murdered by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. After Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death last year, at team owner Mark Davis’ behest the Raiders sent out what appeared to be a tone-deaf tweet with a play on Floyd’s dying words. “I CAN BREATHE 4-20-21” read the Raiders’ tweet shortly after the jury announced its verdict. Floyd died last May shortly after telling Minneapolis officers multiple times “I can’t...
The Mercury News
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2021 NFL draft: Top running backs
Welcome to draft season! This is the third of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 29-May 1). Here are my top 10 running backs: ——— 1. Travis Etienne (Sr., Clemson, 5-foot-10, 215 pounds) Etienne is a three-time All-American who is one of only six players in FBS history to have at least 70 career rushing touchdowns. If he beats you to the perimeter, you're not going to catch him. He has developed into a weapon out of the backfield, but he still needs to improve his blocking. Projected: 1st or 2nd round 2. Najee Harris (Sr., Alabama, 6-1, 232) Harris improved every season...
The San Diego Union-Tribune
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2021 NFL draft: Top wide receivers
Welcome to draft season! This is the second of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 29-May 1). Here are my top 10 wide receivers: ——— 1. Ja'Marr Chase (Jr., LSU, 6-foot-0, 201 pounds) Chase had a historic sophomore season (1,783 yards and 20 touchdowns) before opting out last season due to COVID-19. He dominates jump balls, breaks tackles and showcases elite toughness for a receiver. Projected: Top 10 2. Devonta Smith (Sr., Alabama, 6-0, 170) Smith glides across the field like Fred Astaire on wet pavement and took Wite-Out to Chase's single-season conference records duri...
The San Diego Union-Tribune
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Marshawn Lynch spends part of his 4/20 as budtender in San Jose
SAN JOSE, Calif. — “We selling legal dope!” former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch said Tuesday with a smile. Lynch spent part of his 4/20 working as a budtender at Airfield Supply. Co in San Jose where he was promoting his Dodi Blunt cannabis product. Airfield was one of a few Bay Area establishments to have the limited release blunts available. Several dozen fans waited patiently in line for a chance to meet Lynch and to purchase some of his product. The idea to have Lynch launch his product at Airfield came easy due to the parties’ shared focus on community. “Marshawn’s company and Airfield...
The Mercury News
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NFL, NFLPA approve first position-specific helmet for linemen
The NFL and players’ union have approved the first position-specific helmet for use, a model designed for offensive and defensive linemen. The VICIS ZERO2-R TRENCH ranked No. 2 among all helmets tested by league and NFLPA engineers, according to the jointly-issued 2021 helmet laboratory testing performance results. The helmet uses “a soft deformable shell specifically designed to better protect on impacts that occur play after play,” the Vicis website says. This includes bumpers on the front and upper sides to guard against concussion-causing contact, NFL consultant Dr. Ann Good told ESPN. The...
New York Daily News
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Happy to be back with Seahawks, Chris Carson says Seattle running game can be ‘something special’ in 2021
SEATTLE — When Chris Carson left Seattle last January following the Seahawks’ playoff loss to the Rams, he headed into the unknown. “It was definitely a possibility I was done with Seattle,’’ Carson said Thursday when he talked via Zoom to reporters. Indeed, Carson spent the 2020 season — the last on his initial four-year rookie contract — unsure what the future held. Carson was still unsigned when the free agency signing period began on March 17. And he was still unsigned two days later after the Seahawks and other teams around the league had made major moves. “Stressful,’’ Carson said candid...
The Seattle Times
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The striking difference in how Tagovailoa is viewed among ex-evaluators and ex-NFL QBs
In assessing Tua Tagovailoa and projecting what he eventually can become, we have seen a striking disparity in recent months depending on the background of the person doing the evaluating. On one hand, NFL alums who played the position generally have been effusive in their praise of the Dolphins quarterback, with Kurt Warner cushioning his compliments with advice about how Tagovailoa can improve. Conversely, the assessment of Tagovailoa from former general managers has been measured — ranging from skepticism to reserved praise. From this group of evaluators, there have been no predictions of g...
Miami Herald
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Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu says he wants to finish his NFL career in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyrann Mathieu wants to finish his career in a Chiefs uniform. "Absolutely, I'd would love to spend the rest of my time in Kansas City," Mathieu said Monday. "Everybody has embraced me here. It reminds me so much of a football town. For me, that's everything. Waking up, seeing my family, going to play football. It's a blessing to be here." Mathieu has one year left on the three-year, $42 million deal he signed before the 2019 season, and the team is working with Mathieu's agent on an extension. Last month, Chiefs general manger Brett Veach said extending Mathieu's contract w...
The Kansas City Star
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