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目前显示的是 七月, 2016的博文

Jay Gruden wants focus on Kirk Cousins' play, not contract

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RICHMOND, Va. -- As the Washington Redskins report to training camp, there’s one topic coach Jay Gruden does not want to address with quarterback Kirk Cousins: his contract. There’s plenty of time for others to do so; plenty of time before any sort of deal could be reached, anyway. And there’s plenty of other topics to discuss. http://www.washingtonredskinsjerseyspop.com Cousins, of course, will play under the franchise tag this season. But that’s not Gruden’s concern. Wholesale Washington Redskins jerseys “The contract will take care of itself,” Gruden said. “We won’t have any conversations about the contract or future contracts or any of that stuff. All we’ll focus on is this year and him getting better and being the best quarterback he can be. I know that’s his intent also.” Cousins and the rest of his teammates participated in a conditioning test on Wednesday. They will practice for the first time Thursday. Cousins is coming off a season in which he threw 29 touchdowns a

that's unsettling as a player.

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That leaves Morgan as the lone active NFL player to speak out about cannabis research, though he said he's shared his extensive homework with other players and expects some will come forward to join him as cannabis is de-stigmatized. He said he got overall very positive response from a variety of people, from players to doctors to politicians. Skeptics may wonder if Morgan is a casual user of marijuana. He said has never failed a drug test for marijuana, has never used it and cannot now because of the NFL's rules against it. "I think anyone who says that is missing the point," he said. "We are obviously bound by the testing protocol. It's something that we are not able to use. You've got to understand where the motive is coming from. If that was the case, then there are a lot of people who are wanting to use recreationally. If that's the main motive, why would somebody speak up about it? Just to blow their cover?" "It's spreadi

Bucs' starting lineup projection features newcomers on defense

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A young Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense led by Jameis Winston continues to build on a promising 2015 season, while a number of new faces will make their marks in Mike Smith’s defense. Here’s a projection of who the starters will be: Offense Quarterback (Jameis Winston): Winston, who threw for 4,042 yards, 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions his rookie year, wasted no time this offseason. He came into training camp 20 pounds lighter, thanks to a tough training regimen and not eating after 7 p.m. Look for him to cut down on interceptions and show improved mobility and footwork. Wholesale Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys The Buccaneers are counting on quarterback Jameis Winston to build on a strong rookie season. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Running back (Doug Martin): After two injury-plagued, uninspiring seasons in 2013 and 2014, Martin rebounded in 2015-16 and showed the burst and explosiveness that brought about a stellar rookie season. He was subsequently rewarded with a new cont

WR Stedman Bailey returns to West Virginia as student assistant coach

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Stedman Bailey, most recently a member of the Los Angeles Rams, will join West Virginia's staff as a student assistant coach. WVU coach Dana Holgorsen announced Sunday that Bailey will join the coaching staff. He'll also enroll as a full-time student to complete his bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies. Bailey was shot twice in the head while sitting in a car with his family in November back home in Miami. Last month, the Rams placed him on the reserve non-football injury list so he can stay around the team while not counting against its 90-man roster. The 25-year-old receiver has not been cleared to return to playing football despite returning to workouts and getting multiple opinions. He was, however, present for Rams OTAs in June, helping out with the receivers and on special teams. http://www.losangelesramsjerseyspop.com    In a statement, Bailey said that while his playing career isn't over, the opportunity to return to WVU

When protected, no QB performed better than Russell Wilson last season

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Football Outsiders recently took a look at how all of the league's starting quarterbacks performed with and without pressure in 2015. And one takeaway from their findings is that Russell Wilson was virtually unstoppable last season when the Seattle Seahawks' protection held up. Cheap nfl jerseys   According to the numbers, Wilson was pressured on 31.7 percent of his dropbacks, the fourth-highest mark among quarterbacks. Only Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Colin Kaepernick were pressured more. While much of that is on the offensive line, the fact that Wilson often holds on to the ball and extends plays has to be taken into account as well. Wholesale nfl jerseys    But on the plays where Wilson was adequately protected, he posted the highest DVOA of any quarterback in the NFL. Andy Dalton was second and Carson Palmer was third. The Seahawks have committed just over $11.7 million to their entire offensive line in 2016, the lowest total in the league. The

Will Chip Kelly's no-huddle offense fit with the 49ers' talent?

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Today's question: Will coach Chip Kelly’s no-huddle offense fit with the 49ers' talent? Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals reporter: Talent? What talent? The scariest player on the 49ers, by name, is wide receiver Torrey Smith, followed by running back Carlos Hyde. Now that that has been addressed, Kelly’s offense can work to an extent with the current rendition of the Niners. It’s really up to the players buying in to the up-tempo offense. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick can flourish in Kelly’s system because of his athleticism. One player who could also benefit is wide receiver Bruce Ellington -- Andre’s cousin. Bruce is a speedster and can be a threat when defenses begin to wear down late in games. As we’ve seen over the years with Kelly and the Eagles, if the players can adapt to the mentality and have the conditioning, then the talent level won’t matter as much the first season. Cheap nfl jerseys   Nick Wagoner, Los Angeles Rams reporter: Looking at the Niners’ depth char

Can LT King Dunlap return to form for Chargers?

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SAN DIEGO – With the San Diego Chargers set to open training camp in less than two weeks, I will take a closer look at some of the question marks the team must answer leading up to the regular season. During the offseason, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco made some minor tweaks to an offensive line that underperformed last year, leaving the group mostly intact. San Diego drafted USC product Max Tuerk in the third round and signed veteran Matt Slauson, adding much-needed depth and talent to the center position. But when the Chargers begin the regular season, four of the five projected starters will be the same as in 2015. Left tackle King Dunlap and left guard Orlando Franklin played a combined six games together last year. Dunlap and Franklin could not stay on the field for any length of time in 2015, and that instability on the left side of the line significantly impacted the play of San Diego’s entire offense. However, the Chargers believe Dunlap can return to the typ

Today’s question: Who will be the AFC North MVP?

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Jeremy Fowler, Pittsburgh Steelers reporter: I’ve tried to think of which divisional player has the best chance to unseat a healthy Ben Roethlisberger over 16 games. Surprisingly, the best answer might be Andy Dalton, who was setting the best scoring pace among AFC North quarterbacks before missing the last month of the season due to injury. But with Roethlisberger, the numbers will always be there. He has averaged more than 300 passing yards per game the past two seasons. Dalton has had one impressive year, and Joe Flacco never has had more than 27 touchdowns in a regular season. Catching up to Big Ben will be difficult, unless a playmaker such as Antonio Brown or A.J. Green or Steve Smith Sr. or Le'Veon Bell is simply too explosive to ignore by season’s end. If Roethlisberger keeps the interceptions down -- he had 16 of them in 12 games last year -- then his accuracy and ability to stretch the field will prevail. Cheap nfl jerseys   Coley Harvey, Cincinnati Bengals reporter: The

Eagles WR Nelson Agholor not expected to face charges

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor is not expected to be charged following an investigation into a sexual assault accusation, a source confirmed to ESPN. The development was first reported by Philly.com on Thursday. An announcement by the district attorney's office is expected Friday, NJ.com had reported and an ESPN source close to the situation has confirmed. A dancer at Cheerleaders, a South Philadelphia strip club, accused Agholor of sexual assault in June. Agholor and teammates Fletcher Cox and Connor Barwin were in the club shortly after the final practice of the Eagles' offseason minicamp. Cox and Barwin released statements saying they were at Cheerleaders but left before the alleged incident occurred. Cheap nfl jerseys The Eagles have declined comment, citing the ongoing investigation. Police turned the investigation over to the district attorney's office three weeks ago. Wholesale nfl jerseys Agholor, 23, was the Eagles' first-round

Today's question: Who is the rising star in this division?

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Jeff Legwold, Denver Broncos reporter: Von Miller is set to enter his sixth year in the league and has spent most of the offseason locked in contract negotiations with the Broncos. Though he has been named to four Pro Bowls, it was clear he unlocked an entirely new level of play during the Broncos' postseason run, particularly in wins against the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers (Miller was MVP of Super Bowl 50). In that sense, Miller is still a rising star if he can recapture what he did this past postseason in the wake of the inevitable wrestling match that is contract negotiations. However, beyond Miller the youngest players poised to make leaps on the developmental curve are also edge rushers. The Raiders' Khalil Mack, with a 15-sack season in 2015 that included a five-sack day against the Broncos, has the look of being a dynamic, impactful player. Mack’s athleticism is rare, and his coaches have raved about his day-to-day approach, which should serve him well in

Unlike at this time last year

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the AFC East hasn't had much headline-grabbing activity, in terms of player acquisitions. Besides the Patriots, each team had a signature 2015 move that dominated the discussion: cornerback Darrelle Revis (Jets), defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (Dolphins) and running back LeSean McCoy (Bills). Meanwhile, New England still feels good about signing free-agent defensive end Jabaal Sheard, whose name recognition doesn't match the aforementioned trio but who played a significant role in helping the Patriots clinch a seventh straight division title. Cheap nfl jerseys   Those newcomers all made a mark, and there were some impressive rookies as well, so now the question is: Who will do the same this year? Mike Rodak, Buffalo Bills reporter: That's not an easy question. I'm hesitant to give this to any rookie, so I'll choose between the Jets' Matt Forte and Ryan Clady, as well as the Patriots' Martellus Bennett. Each veteran is coming off a down season short

Today's question: Would your team trade its starting quarterback straight up for Eli Manning?

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John Keim, Washington Redskins reporter: A year from now this question could be tougher to answer if you’re the Redskins. Right now the answer is: Do you want the guy with two Super Bowls on his resume who is still playing well? Or do you want the guy you like, but you're not quite ready to pay him elite money since he has just one good season behind him? I even asked a few people in the league. One said he’d go with Kirk Cousins but the other two said they'd go with Manning. I think the Redskins would fall in with the latter group and would indeed go for Manning. That’s not a knock on Cousins, but Manning is simply more proven, and if you put him with the Redskins’ talent in the passing game, he’d be really dangerous. The Redskins clearly want to see more from Cousins (before paying him like a Pro Bowl passer); Manning has already shown what the Redskins want to see from Cousins. Manning has his issues -- a penchant for interceptions in the past and some up-and-down seasons. B

Who is the Saints' best player not named Drew Brees?

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Today's question: The New Orleans Saints parted ways with two of their all-time greats this offseason -- Marques Colston and Jahri Evans. That leaves just four players remaining from the 2009 Super Bowl roster (Drew Brees, Zach Strief, Thomas Morstead and the recently re-signed Roman Harper). Cheap nfl jerseys  As the Saints transition into the next era, who is the best player in New Orleans outside of Brees? www.neworleanssaintsjerseyspop.com Jenna Laine, Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporter: I think Cameron Jordan is an exciting player. I liked Jairus Byrd in Buffalo, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy. I also think Mark Ingram has some special qualities. But Brandin Cooks is the best player in New Orleans aside from Brees. He's got 4.33 speed that will absolutely torch a defense. I think a lot of Bucs fans cringed when the Saints drafted him, and rightfully so. Brandin Cooks is a deep threat who garners plenty of attention around the NFC South. Sean Gardner/Getty

Today's question: Which unit in the division (offense or defense) will make the biggest improvement in 2016-17?

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Rich Cimini, New York Jets reporter: I'd say the Buffalo Bills' defense will make the biggest jump, mainly because last season was an aberration for the Rex Ryan-coached unit. The Bills finished 19th in yards allowed, which is downright un-Ryan-like. In his six seasons as Jets coach, Ryan's defenses finished first, third, fifth, 11th, sixth and fourth. Say what you want about Ryan's ability as a coach, but the man knows defense, and I suspect the Bills will rebound, now that some of the bad apples (see: Mario Williams) have been removed. Also keep an eye on the Jets' special teams, which performed miserably last season. It can't get any worse. Wholesale New England Patriots jerseys James Walker, Miami Dolphins reporter: It would be easy to pick a unit from the Dolphins because both sides of the football have the longest way to go after an abysmal 6-10 season. Miami was ranked 25th in total defense, 26th on offense and made plenty of changes in personnel a

Jeff Dickerson, Bears: The strike!

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Today’s question: Darius Slay is considered one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL and after a breakout 2015 season became a surefire No. 1 cornerback for the Detroit Lions. He went through a stretch of the season where opposing quarterbacks were actively throwing away from the former second-round pick who spent his first three seasons learning from the now-retired Rashean Mathis. The Lions are counting on Slay to be a shutdown cornerback entering his fourth season in the league -- a potential contract year. With Detroit trying to lock up Slay for the next chunk of his career, it leads to an interesting question in a division full of strong offenses: Is Darius Slay the best cornerback in the NFC North? We asked the other writers around the division for their thoughts about the always-excitable corner. Wholesale nfl jerseys Ben Goessling, Vikings: He very well could be. He was probably the best in the division in 2015, and he should continue to improve. The thing I like ab

Miami Dolphins hope cautious approach helps WR DeVante Parker

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It was hard to gauge the offseason progress of Miami Dolphins second-year receiver DeVante Parker this spring. The former first-round pick was in and out of organized team activities and minicamp due to the team’s approach to keeping Parker fresh for this upcoming season. Last year Parker pushed hard and had early trouble with his foot. Summer surgery caused Parker to have a slow start to the preseason and regular season, which is something Miami is trying to avoid. Wholesale Miami Dolphins jerseys “My mindset keeps being of, ‘I want him to be able to train for the next five weeks,’” Dolphins coach Adam Gase explained during minicamp. “The last thing I want to do is put him in a situation where he has one little setback and now he’s in the training room for two to three weeks or something, and we have a setback and now I’m going, ‘What did I do that for?’ Where he could’ve been training for five weeks, I guess I’m being overly cautious about this.” The Dolphins accomplished

Rank one through four the starting quarterbacks in the AFC West (assuming Mark Sanchez in Denver) with a sentence or two of explanation on each team.

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Jeff Legwold, Denver Broncos reporter: This is really a guy at the top and a three-way tie for second -- or as Ricky Bobby put it, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.’’ Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is at the top of the list, and rank the others at your leisure. Rivers is coming off a career-high 4,792 yards passing with 29 touchdown passes in 2015 despite his team’s obvious lack of consistent offensive line play or a running game. He’s a five-time Pro Bowl selection and has the look of a front-line starter even as parts of the depth chart around him have eroded. http://www.kansascitychiefsjerseyspop.com Raiders QB Derek Carr is the up-and-comer and in an informal poll of seven personnel executives about the quarterbacks in the division he was the No. 2 guy. Young and strong-armed, Carr also has a composure about him. The executives then put Mark Sanchez, the presumed Broncos starter next on the list -- just barely ahead of the Chiefs’ Alex Smith. The biggest reason? Most thin