Pundits rightfully have pointed out the Vikings will go as far as Sam Darnold’s right arm will carry them | Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports One of the Vikings’ defensive GOATs remains entertaining in retirement We made it. We’re finally to the week before Week 1! We can call it….Week 1 eve!? I don’t think that’ll catch on. But in order to get into the spirit, why don’t we try to get inside the head of one of the most vocal leaders in franchise history — none other than John Randle: On this Purple Friday, please consider my keys to the NFL season! @Vikings @NFLLegacy @ProFootballHOF @CruxCigars pic.twitter.com/pMPUKjHH2S — john randle (@johnnyrandle93) August 30, 2024 Basically, it’s just a light-hearted post as we, as fans, get amped up for a season that has a wide variety of different possible outcomes. ESPN released its team-by-team breakdown over the weekend — and it. is. massive. Like most publications, the Worldwide Leader is down on the Vikings, ranking them 26th while raining pessimism on the Vikings for reasons such as quarterback and strength of schedule. NFL team previews 2024: Predictions, rankings, depth charts In other words — nothing you haven’t heard already. But with that said, all of this seems to point to the idea that the Vikings’ chances will ride or die with Sam Darnold’s right arm. And that pessimism seems…..fair. Minnesota Vikings News and Links Speaking of Darnold — wouldn’t a “HEY DARNOLD!” meme be fun, like move it football-head! — Matthew Coller has a great story over at Purple Insider about how it’s more or less now or never for Darnold. It’s Sam Darnold’s time to fulfill his potential The concept of a former No. 3 pick needing to get their act together in Year 7 is hardly a unique concept — unless you mean that they’re even getting that chance again that far into their career. But Coller has a fascinating deep dive on what’ll go into making Darnold’s season a success — and here’s a hint: a lot of it has to do with how he grows under his head coach in 2024. You knew we had to have a reaction to Mike Zimmer going bonkers on the Star Tribune, right? Zulgad’s reaction to Mike Zimmer’s candid interview with the Star Tribune Aforementioned interview Zimmer left virtually no stones unturned in his long-form conversation with Mark Craig, ranging from how he felt about his firing, having Eric Kendricks in the middle of yet another one of his defenses to how relationships with him and his players have deteriorated over the years. I’d like to tell you it’s a feel-good read based on how it starts — but I don’t think I can. Over at Zone Coverage, site founder Tom Schreier wonders if Kevin O’Connell is up to a tall task — leading a team that lost its starting quarterback, a draft pick in a car accident, and perhaps its entire identity as KOC. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s remake of the roster appears to be about halfway through. Can Kevin O’Connell Inspire Hope After A Trying Offseason? Still, KOC remains positive — and that alone is a big first step, especially when considering the team is the consensus pick to finish fourth in a four-team division. Over at the main site, Craig Peters has his weekly mailbag — this time in advance of Week 1. Monday Morning Mailbag: Vikings Enter Week 1; Quarterback Shuffle One thing Peters addresses is the Jaren Hall situation, as the quarterback was waived in favor of Brett Rypien. While Peters suggests the Hall situation wasn’t fully played out — more on that in a minute — he also notes his trust in the team’s leadership to find players who fit their system. And it’s one Rypien has played in with the Rams — where KOC came from before being hired. In the news Jaren Hall landed with the Seahawks on Monday, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Hall will join the team’s practice squad, and be behind Geno Smith and Sam Howell on the team’s quarterback pecking order. Given the way the team’s depth chart looks, Hall could be elevated to third quarterback on game days — and perhaps it isn’t the worst landing spot as neither are locks to be NFL-caliber quarterbacks in the medium-ish term. MarShawn Lloyd practiced for the Packers on Sunday, and looks like he may be ready to go Friday for the opener after having spotty availability all summer. We’ll be watching closely to see how the Packers replace Aaron Jones this season with a combination of Josh Jacobs and friends. The Giants signed cornerback Adoree’ Jackson over the weekend, and it seems like this is the cascade effect of the Vikings signing Stephon Gilmore a little while back. A lot of times, veteran player gluts at a position just need one player to sign to get the trickle opening back up again. Jackson was not particularly good last season for the Giants, ranking 71st out of 72 cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps with a PFF grade of 45.9. For some context, Akayleb Evans was the Vikings’ worst-graded corner with at least 400 snaps (52.6). Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new: No discussion of politics or religion No feeding of the trolls Leave the gender hatred at the door Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must) Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm Also: if you’re looking/lurking, come join the fun. Create an account and leave comments to join the discussion! It’s always fun with more!
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: John Randle Provides Comedic Relief in his “Keys” to the 2024 Season
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73559942/1968464418.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Chiefs open season with rematch of AFC Championship against Ravens")
Chiefs open season with rematch of AFC Championship against Ravens
Chiefs open season with rematch of AFC Championship against Ravens Contributors: Arrowhead Pride Staff The 2024 NFL season begins on Thursday night with the world champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The two teams last met in 2023’s AFC championship at Baltimore’s M&T Bank stadium last January, when the Ravens — the conference’s top seed — were 4-point favorites over the Chiefs, who had entered the postseason as the third seed. Kansas City shocked Baltimore by holding it to 10 points for the third time that season. Like both previous games, it ended as a 17-10 Ravens loss. The Chiefs moved on to Super Bowl LVIII, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime to become the first team with back-to-back NFL championships in nearly two decades. On Thursday night, the Chiefs are beginning a campaign that they hope will end with a first-ever Super Bowl three-peat — and the Ravens will be well-motivated to spoil the party.
Browns announce throwback uniform dates
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Cleveland will sport their alternate uniform combo against the Raiders, Broncos and Chiefs this season. One of the pleasures of game days for the Cleveland Browns at the old Municipal Stadium was the first glimpse of the orange helmets emerging from the baseball dugout. It did not matter which decade or which uniform combo the team was wearing – the brown jersey and orange pants of Brian Sipe’s teams in the 1970s, or the all-white that was favored by the club in the late 1980s with Bernie Kosar leading the way – those helmets signaled that it was about to go down and the opposing team better be ready. Much of that mystique is lost nowadays with the over-produced intros, but one constant is that the Browns are still sporting one of the league’s iconic uniforms. That extends to their throwback uniform set, which debuted in 2021 as part of their 75th Anniversary season. A white helmet was added in 2023 to create a look that hits all the right notes, rather than being the type of garish display that other teams are fond of rolling out. MARK YOUR CALENDARS the all-white unis are back in action three times this season @DUDEwipes x #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/Pt3PC7spec — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 2, 2024 On Monday, the Browns announced they will wear the throwback kit and helmet three times this fall as part of their “White Out Series.” (Sorry for the unavoidable marketing jargon.) The first game will be in Week 4 when the Browns take on the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in the first of a three-game road trip. The throwbacks will return to the closet until December when the Browns will once again wear them on the road in Week 13 for a Monday night meeting with the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Not wanting to leave the hometown fans out of the fun, the Browns will bring the throwbacks out for the third and final time in the regular season when they host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. The dates for the throwback uniforms are the latest uniform-related news from the Browns as they previously announced a return to white facemasks on their standard orange helmets.
Should it be concerning for Rams to make late position switch on offensive line?
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images At the last minute, the Rams switched Steve Avila back to left guard. Should we be concerned? One of the biggest storylines of the 2024 offseason for the Los Angeles Rams was that Steve Avila was moving from left guard to center. The Rams signed Jonah Jackson in free agency to play left guard, giving Avila that freedom to move back to his more natural position that he played at TCU. Of course, there was going to be an adjustment period and a learning curve. That comes with every position in the NFL. However, that’s even more so the case at center in the Rams offense. While the quarterback is still in charge of some of the protection calls, much of that falls on the center due to the quarterback also needing to dictate motion pre-snap. In an ideal world in the McVay offense, the quarterback is able to handle all of the motion calls while the center handles protection. Just as the clock was about to strike midnight before Week 1, the Rams made the surprising decision to move Avila back to guard and announced that it would be Jackson playing center. The odd part about this move isn’t just that the Rams are doing this less than two weeks before the start of the season, that they are moving Avila back to left guard, or that they are moving Jackson to center after signing him to play guard. It’s a combination of all three that make the entire situation strange. The big question is of course, why now? Part of the issue here is that the Rams have been playing musical chairs along the offensive line for a majority of the offseason. Jonah Jackson has hardly practiced all summer, Alaric Jackson missed time due to injury as well as Rob Havenstein on the right side. Even if the Rams had wanted to experiment with Jackson at center, they wouldn’t have been able to until last week when Jackson returned to practice. Still, it does seem strange after paying Jackson as one of the highest paid guards in the NFL. At an average of $17M per year, Jackson would be the second-highest paid center behind only Creed Humphrey. In fact, there is a $3.5M gap between Jackson and Frank Ragnow in third. Meanwhile, Jackson was signed as the third-highest paid left guard. That makes Jackson the second-highest paid center despite not playing more than 100 snaps at the position since 2017 when he was at Rutgers. This isn’t to say that Jackson can’t play center, only that the timing of it is weird. Jackson’s PFF Grade in 2017 at Rutgers was a 67.8 which would have put him at 50th among centers. Coming out of the draft, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller noted Jackson as, “a versatile prospect who could play any of the interior positions as needed.” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had Jackson as a guard/center prospect. While the Rams seemed open to the idea of moving Avila back to left guard, earlier in August it sounded as if they wanted to do what they could to keep him at center. Said McVay, “However long Jonah (Jackson) is out, if we deem that whoever can plug in that center gives us a better opportunity for him to play at guard, then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll find the best five. It’s really important…I think we want to be able to pick and choose, but we want to keep (Steve Avila) at center. If we have to move him to guard, that’s not something we’re afraid to do either.” The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue added, “It’s clear the Rams will NOT move Steve Avila from center unless there’s an emergency.” If that’s the case, what constitutes as an emergency? Things can of course change as the NFL landscape is always changing. Again, it is worth nothing that the Rams have had to navigate injuries along the offensive line all offseason. That doesn’t mention Alaric Jackson’s suspension that will put him out for the first two weeks. It’s possible that the Rams feel more comfortable with Avila playing next to Noteboom than Jackson. This could also be a case of the Rams only having to change one player on the offensive line as opposed to two if Jackson does go down in the first two weeks. With Noteboom at left tackle, the Rams are thin at guard depth whereas Beaux Limmer could step in at center. Still, it seems odd to put a player in a position that they haven’t played regularly since 2017. Where this does become interesting is if the switch is permanent. There is a legitimate reason to put Jackson at center now. With the lack of guard depth in combination with the emergence of Limmer, it makes sense to put Jackson at center so that only one change needs to be made on the offensive line if he suffers an injury. For example, if Jackson were to go down, the Rams would slot Limmer in at center rather than having to move Avila to left guard in addition to Limmer at center. However, when Alaric Jackson returns, Noteboom would be able to provide depth at left guard. If the concern is still that Jackson could get injured due to his history, that seems like something that should have been known prior to signing him to a top-3 contract in free agency. The Rams have made this type of l ate move before. Back in 2021, the Rams trained Austin Corbett at center all offseason only for Brian Allen to be named the starting center right before the season. Allen ended up playing at a high level and the late move paid off. However, even that move was made in early August. The decision to move Jackson to center comes with a little over a week before Week 1. With the move coming this late in the process, it is also worth wondering how
Trenton Simpson says it’s ‘awesome’ to be teammates with Nate Wiggins again
Trenton Simpson says it’s ‘awesome’ to be teammates with Nate Wiggins again Kevin Oestreicher The Baltimore Ravens drafted Nate Wiggins in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. He is expected to play a big role as a young member of Baltimore’s defense, but he isn’t the only former Clemson star to have that role with the Ravens this year. Wiggins’ college teammate Trenton Simpson was selected in the third round of 2023, which means the two are re-united in Baltimore. Simpson was asked about playing with Wiggins again, to which he said it’s been “awesome” to have Wiggins on his team once more. “It’s been awesome. Just us being at Clemson and growing together, winning some games together, [and] being on the ACC championship team with [Nate Wiggins] was awesome. But [I’m] just seeing him come in every day, competing. I mean, he’s young, just like I was last year, so him asking ‘Marlo’ [Marlon Humphrey] questions, ‘B. Steve’ [Brandon Stephens] questions, it’s awesome, because the vets we have in this organization are taking all the guys under, and I feel like that’s good to help improve a lot of guys’ careers.” Simpson had plenty of good things to say about Wiggins, a player that the Ravens will need to play well in order to continue being a top defense in the NFL this season. Both Clemson alumni hopefully have big things ahead, and have the tools to have long and successful careers.
The Two NFL Running Backs With ‘Hardest’ Fantasy Schedules In 2024
As we get closer and closer to the start of NFL training camp, we’re also approaching the start of many fantasy football drafts. For one of the key positions, running back, there are two players that could be in for a rough time. On Wednesday, Pro Football Focus (PFF) released a ranking of the two … SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 22: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to an NFL divisional round playoff football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) Michael Owens/Getty Images As we get closer and closer to the start of NFL training camp, we’re also approaching the start of many fantasy football drafts. For one of the key positions, running back, there are two players that could be in for a rough time. On Wednesday, Pro Football Focus (PFF) released a ranking of the two players at every position who have the toughest schedules according to their metrics. In the case of the running back position the two starters who look primed for a rough season are Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys and Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons. For Elliott, PFF rated his matchups 0.0/10 due to the brutal slew of run defenses that the Cowboys face this season. “The Dallas Cowboys didn’t make much of an investment in the run game this offseason, missing out on Texas prospect Jonathon Brooks in the draft and eventually re-signing veteran Ezekiel Elliott with not much else in the way of competition outside of Rico Dowdle,” PFF wrote. “Elliott heads into his age-29 season coming off a campaign where he posted career lows with 3.5 yards per attempt, 69.2 rushing grade, 2.54 yards after contact per attempt and a 2.6 breakaway yard percentage. Pair his waning performance with shakeups on the offensive line and the absolutely brutal schedule ahead, and Elliott suddenly looks like one of the biggest red flags on the draft board, even if he could be in line for significant volume on one of the league’s most productive offenses.” As for Bijan, who received a matchup rating of 0.6/10, the Falcons’ schedule and changes to the passing game are believed to be a big reason that he may not do as well as he did as a rookie. Does this information make you any less likely to take the two in fantasy football? Related: Dak Prescott Doesn’t Hold Back On Cowboys Signing Ezekiel Elliott
2024 Bengals captains announced
Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images Joe Burrow is 5/5 on being a Bengals captain. The Cincinnati Bengals have announced their 2024 captains. On offense, quarterback Joe Burrow, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., and center Ted Karras received the nod. On defense, safety Vonn Bell, linebacker Germaine Pratt, and defensive end Sam Hubbard got the nod. And on special teams, kicker Evan McPherson and backup linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither are getting the captain patch. Burrow is a captain for a fifth straight year, while Hubbard got the honor for a fourth time. This is Bell’s fourth time as a captain with the Bengals, the last three coming during his first stint in Cincinnati (2020-22). Karras is also a three-time captain for the Bengals. Brown, Davis-Gaither, Pratt, and McPherson are first-time captains. The Generals : https://t.co/UAjTUaOL27 pic.twitter.com/wDmjOuWtqM — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 2, 2024 Follow our Twitter page and go like our Facebook page for more Cincinnati Bengals news, views, and more fun stuff. Check out our podcasts here on CJ, the Bleav in Cincy podcast feed, Spotify, Amazon, our YouTube channel, and iTunes! And Who DEY!
Colts HC Shane Steichen on injured WR Josh Downs: He’s ‘progressing well,’ but no further update
Filed under: Colts HC Shane Steichen on injured WR Josh Downs: He’s ‘progressing well,’ but no further update The Colts are still hoping to get Josh Downs back for the regular season opener this week, but they’ll be cutting it close—with no clear date yet for his expected return. By Luke Schultheis Sep 2, 2024, 5:36pm EDT
Raiders open as 3-point underdogs in Week 1 vs. the Los Angeles Chargers
Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images Raiders open up as 3-point underdogs in their first game of the 2024 season The Las Vegas Raiders and their fanbase are ready for Week 1. The preseason is over and it is time for the real games that count. Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce made his case for the job in 2024. His leadership and personality are connected with the players, and he had the defense playing at a high level. It helped the Raiders win games and have a chance at the playoffs late in the season. Now he has a chance to put his imprint on Raiders history with the full-time job. His first test is the Los Angeles Chargers with new head coach Jim Harbaugh on the road. Fan Duel Sportsbook posted odds for all the Week 1 action, with the Raiders opening as 3-point underdogs on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday with an O/U of 40.5 With every team playing in Week 1. According to FanDuel, the biggest favorites for the upcoming games are the Cincinnati Bengals, who are 9.5-point favorites over the New England Patriots. Check out the opening odds below: Raiders vs. Chargers Moneyline: Raiders+146 , Colts -174 Opening point spread: -3 Opening point total: 40
Khalil Shakir names his top-three receivers in the NFL
Who are your top three? Khalil Shakir names his top-three receivers in the NFL Nick Wojton Khalil Shakir was tasked with answering who he believe are the best wide receivers currently in the NFL. Appearing on the “Centered in Buffalo” podcast with Eric Wood earlier this offseason, Shakir was not allowed to select any of his teammates. That’s how the likes of Keenan Allen, Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb came into the fold. How did he rank those three? Shakir’s breakdown can be found in the clip below: Read all the best Bills coverage at the Democrat and Chronicle and Bills Wire.
