Defending Super Bowl champion Rams open season as underdogs
Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams will raise their Super Bowl banner Thursday night before kicking off the NFL season at home where they became the second straight team to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy in their own stadium.
NFC North free agency roundup: Green Bay Packers keep QB Aaron Rodgers, trade star WR Davante Adams
Aaron Rodgers started the action by re-upping with the Green Bay Packers in arguably the most anticipated news of the offseason. Green Bay traded star receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for a collection of draft picks late Thursday. Adams then signed a massive five-year extension with his new team, with the sports world awaiting Rodgers’ reaction. The star receiver reportedly signed a five-year, $141.25 million extension with his new team. There were reports from the Star Tribune that Minnesota is shopping star pass rusher Danielle Hunter.
mlive.comBears unofficially rebuilding after trading Khalil Mack
New Bears GM Ryan Poles has started his offseason with a bang. Fans aren't sure if that's a good or a bad thing. Why it matters: The Bears are under new management after a terrible 2021/2022 season, meaning Poles is tasked with building a winner after the firing of predecessor Ryan Pace. The rookie GM's first big move was to trade superstar defensive end Khalil Mack for two draft picks and cap space. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for
news.yahoo.comAP source: Chargers acquiring Mack from Bears for 2 picks
Two people familiar with the negotiations confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the Los Angeles Chargers have found another pass rusher to pair with Joey Bosa: defensive end Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears in exchange for two draft picks.
Lions GM Brad Holmes not talking Trey Flowers’ future while calling him ‘the ultimate glue guy’
ALLEN PARK -- The future of Trey Flowers is one of the most pressing issues facing general manager Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions heading into the offseason. On top of that, Lions general manager Brad Holmes gave the veteran defender some props for being “the ultimate glue guy” despite shying away from discussing his future with the team. “Yeah, you know Trey, you’re talking about the ultimate glue guy, ultimate leader,” Holmes said Tuesday. Okwara notched two sacks in the season finale against the Packers while starting for the first time of his career. Related headlines:Live updates recap: Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes holds year-end press conference after first seasonDetroit Lions coaching staff selected for the 2022 Senior BowlRomeo Okwara moving more at this stage of Achilles recovery, motivated to get back for Detroit Lions2022 NFL draft: Top 18 picks set, Detroit Lions hold No.
mlive.comChicago Bears reassessing QB position and who calls plays
A historically bad effort by the Chicago offense has coach Matt Nagy rethinking his approach after only the third week of the season. It could all lead to a change in who calls the plays or even who the quarterback is as the Bears prepare to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field. “Again, just to keep it super simple, everything’s on the table,” Nagy said.
news.yahoo.comLower cap leads to more cuts than usual in NFL
(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)If it seemed as if NFL teams have been shedding contracts nearly as fast as signing them in recent weeks that’s because it’s almost true. “I think the unprecedented part being, for the first time in modern era, the cap decreases instead of increases,” Rams general manager Les Snead said. Adoree Jackson got a three-year deal worth a reported $39 million from the Giants after Tennessee refused to pay his $10.24 million fifth-year option. In one of the more curious cases, Miami cut Kyle Van Noy one year into his four-year, $51 million deal, leaving about $36 million unpaid. Van Noy then returned to New England on a two-year, $12 million deal and the Patriots will also get a fourth-round compensation pick in next month’s draft based on the deal Van Noy signed last March.
Brees, Saints pull away late for 21-9 playoff win over Bears
Brees completed 28 of 39 passes for 265 yards, connecting with Michael Thomas and Latavius Murray for touchdowns, and the New Orleans Saints defeated the Chicago Bears 21-9 in an NFC wild-card game Sunday. Brees' first touchdown pass in the opening quarter was 11-yards over the middle to Thomas, back from a three-game absence to help heal a nagging ankle injury. The 2019 Offensive Player of the Year missed nine games this season and had not caught a touchdown pass since December 2019. That marked the second time this season a Bears player was thrown out for action taken against Gardner-Johnson after the whistle. The Bears have reached the playoffs twice since Pace took over in 2015, both times under Nagy, who was hired in 2018.
Analysis: Wentz, Elliott provide little bang for buck
Wentz was paid more than $39 million in cash this season and had a cap hit of $18.6 million. The Eagles now have to decide what to do with Wentz, who has a cap hit of more than $34 million next season. RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT: The Cowboys gave Elliott a $90 million, six-year extension before reaching a deal with quarterback Dak Prescott. Elliott is coming off the least productive season of his career with 979 yards and six TDs while getting paid nearly $11 million for a team that finished 6-10. But Green had just 47 catches for 523 yards in 16 games, providing little value for his big salary.
No preseason, no problem: NFL rookies shine in strange year
Young and Jefferson made the Pro Bowl, and surely more rookies would have joined them as alternates at the league’s now-canceled all-star game. “It’s crazy unusual for a rookie, I think, to have the type of leadership that Chase has, genuine leadership,” Washington quarterback Alex Smith said. “I think a lot of young guys, especially high picks, I think you feel pressure to do it some way or somehow. “Talk about a rookie coming in, starting every game and just being focused,” Browns Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio said of Wills. “We’re growing and we’re starting to get a hang of the game,” said Dolphins right tackle Robert Hunt, a second-round pick and one of six Miami rookies starting on offense.
Cowboys' Elliott inactive; Stafford will start for Lions
(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott is inactive against San Francisco with a calf injury the two-time rushing championship has been battling for several weeks. Safety Deon Bush (foot) is also out after being listed questionable with Johnson. Cowboys: RB Ezekiel Elliott, QB Ben DiNucci, WR Malik Turner, CB Rashard Robinson, DE Bradlee Anae, LB Luke Gifford, DE Ron’Dell Carter. ___JACKSONVILLE AT BALTIMOREJaguars: CB Sidney Jones, CB Luq Barcoo, LB Quincy Williams, DT Daniel Ross, QB Jake Luton. Ravens: DE Calais Campbell, CB Jimmy Smith, CB Marcus Peters, RB Mark Ingram, LB Kristian Welch, DE Jihad Ward, C Trystan Colon-Castillo.
Raiders fire defensive coordinator Paul Guenther
The Las Vegas Raiders fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther after he failed to make any significant improvement for the unit in nearly three full seasons on the job. Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will take over on an interim basis for the rest of the season. Marinelli has previously served as a head coach in Detroit and defensive coordinator in Chicago and Dallas. He has long ties to Gruden, having served as his defensive line coach for the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 and then rejoining Gruden this season on the Raiders. We got a chance to win all three and see what happens at the end,” defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins said before the announcement.
The Latest: Steelers get AFC berth, Packers clinch NFC North
The Chargers and Falcons are tied at 17 midway through the fourth quarter. Kenny Moore also starred for the Colts with a spectacular one-handed, diving end-zone interception in the second quarter. Adams didn’t do much other than run the scrambling Darnold to the sideline midway through the second quarter. Seattle took its opening possession and got 19-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Freddie Swain. Mack also recovered a Duke Johnson fumble in the first quarter and deflected a Watson pass in the second quarter.
Snap counts: Ex-DE Matt Nelson steps in at right tackle, holds own against Bears’ Khalil Mack
Tyrell Crosby left during the first half with an ankle injury, forcing Matt Nelson in at right tackle. Obviously, Matt Nelson had to come in and block Khalil Mack all day. Nelson contained the blows and even made the tackle on Bears defensive tackle Bilal Nichols’ late interception. Matt Nelson had to step in there and play right tackle. Safety Duron Harmon and cornerback Amani Oruwariye stood as the lone defenders to log all 69 defensive snaps.
mlive.comLions vs. Bears: Matchups to watch, key questions heading into first game without Matt Patricia
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions welcome a new era this weekend against a familiar foe in the Chicago Bears. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the veteran gunslinger averaged 6.1 completed air yards and 8.3 intended air yards per attempt. He averaged a league-leading 8.3 completed air yards and 10.7 intended air yards in eight games last year, for comparison’s sake. Detroit’s offensive line vs. Khalil Mack and Akiem HicksKhalil Mack is questionable but expected to play this weekend, according to reports. This section will remain part of these previews until Mitchell Trubisky starts against the Lions and doesn’t toss three touchdowns.
mlive.comCousins, Vikings overcome Patterson return, beat Bears 19-13
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO – Kirk Cousins threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings overcame a 104-yard kickoff return by Chicago’s Cordarrelle Patterson to beat the Bears 19-13 on Monday night. Bears quarterback Nick Foles got taken from the field on a cart in the game’s final minute. It was the longest kickoff return in franchise history, surpassing Gale Sayers’ 103-yarder against Pittsburgh on Sept. 17, 1967. Still, the Bears lost their fourth in a row, matching their longest skid since coach Matt Nagy was hired in 2018.
Bears' offense seeks answers after poor showing against Rams
“I don’t ever remember having our own defense score more than our offense,” Nagy said. “That’s that’s that’s hard to do. But the offense has averaged 16 points per game in Foles’ four starts since, and he’s getting little help from the players around him. The offensive line struggled against the strong front of the Rams (5-2), producing just 2.9 yards per carry. Foles was sacked four times, twice at the hands of former Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd, and he threw two interceptions.
Seahawks keep top spot in AP Pro32; Steelers, Titans move up
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)NEW YORK – As the NFC's only 5-0 team, the Seattle Seahawks had a quiet week on a bye. However, the Seahawks didn't lose any ground and maintained the top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Seahawks received nine of 12 first-place votes for 377 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL. The Chiefs earned two first-place votes for 366 points, while the loss dropped the Bills one spot to No. 3 and the Tennessee Titans, the league's other 5-0 team, received the remaining first-place vote and gained two places to No.
Foles beat Brady again as Bears squeeze by Tampa Bay 20-19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO – Tom Brady fell to Nick Foles again and appeared to lose count of downs on his final play, and the Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-19 on Thursday night after Cairo Santos kicked a 38-year field goal with 1:17 remaining. The three-time MVP was seen screaming on the sideline late in the third quarter after an ugly drive for Tampa Bay. Ryan Succop kicked four field goals, including a 25-yarder to give Tampa Bay a 19-17 lead with 4:49 remaining. Kyle Fuller then put a big hit on Ke'Shawn Vaughn as he caught a short pass, and Robert Quinn recovered the fumble, giving the Bears possession on the Tampa Bay 27.
Browns sign Garrett to 5-year, $125 million extension
The Browns are closing in on a massive contract extension with Garrett, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. It didn't change how the Cleveland Browns feel about him. The team signed Garrett to a five-year, $125 million contract extension on Wednesday, making the talented edge rusher the NFL's highest-paid defensive player. Hell make $4.6 million in 2020 and $15.18 million next season before the extension kicks in. In 2017, the Cleveland Browns bet on me, he said.