Month: January 2017

Jordy Nelson battles rib injury to play well in loss to Falcons

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Last week, we were thanking our lucky stars for a guy named Aaron Rodgers. This week, not even he could keep the Packers in serious contention. It was that kind of Championship Sunday.

The home teams dominated, and left little room for the stars of the road squads to flourish. The bar has been lowered on this week of two games with two hosts now heading to the Super Bowl. Worry not — we’ve found a few fellas worth highlighting.

Here are your greatest on the road from Championship Sunday. Continue reading →

Steelers’ James Harrison on future: ‘I’m not done yet’

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The ageless wonder and terrorizing linebacker with the dark-tinted visor isn’t riding off into the sunset just yet.

More than two years after Harrison retired as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and then was convinced to come out of retirement to rejoin the franchise, the 38-year-old linebacker didn’t leave anyone hanging concerning his future in the moments after falling to New England 36-17 in the AFC title game. Continue reading →

Vikings exec George Paton a favorite for 49ers’ GM job

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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And then there were two.

Packers executive Brian Gutekunst elimnated himself from the race for the 49ers‘ general manager job by signing a new deal to stay in Green Bay, leaving just Vikings executive George Paton and Cardinals executive Terry McDonough in the running for the position, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday.

Paton is expected to meet with the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan — San Francisco’s expected new head coach — next week, Rapoport reported on NFL Total Access. If the two sides find themselves to be a good fit, it’s expected the Niners will offer Paton the job, Rapoport said. Continue reading →

Jadeveon Clowney, Sean Davis fined for hits in divisional round

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jadeveon Clowney had quite a postseason coming out party, but it ultimately proved costly.

The Texans star was fined $18,231 for his hit on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady early in the fourth quarter of their divisional playoff game, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday via a league spokesman. Clowney’s hit drew a roughing the passer penalty as the Patriots went on to win 34-16.

Other fine news from the divisional round:

1. Steelers defensive back Sean Davis was fined $24,309 for his hit on Chiefs receiver Chris Conley at the goal line with 4:53 left in Pittsburgh’s 18-16 win over Kansas City. Davis’ hit drew an unnecessary roughness penalty, giving the Chiefs a fresh set of downs on the Steelers‘ 12.

2. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was fined $12,500 for his verbal attack on an official after Kansas City’s loss to the Steelers.

Injuries: Chris Hogan (thigh) set to play vs. Steelers

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Patriots will have one of their unheralded but reliable wideouts back for the AFC Championship Game.

Chris Hogan (thigh) is good to go in the conference title contest, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, per a source informed. He was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Hogan left late in New England’s win over Houston with the thigh injury, but could have returned if he was needed, Rapoport said. With the Patriots owning a multiple-score lead, the receiver instead spent the rest of the game on the sideline.

Hogan made his name in the NFL as a third or fourth receiving option in Buffalo, catching 36-plus passes and tallying at least 426 yards in each of his final two seasons with the Bills before joining New England, where he’s found his best fit. Anyone who watched Hogan’s final two seasons in Buffalo and knows how otherwise marginal receivers thrive in the Patriots‘ system could have seen Hogan’s career year — 38 catches, 680 yards, four touchdowns — coming down the pike.

Hogan’s status is welcome for a Patriots offense that has been forced to look elsewhere after losing Rob Gronkowski but is comfortable with spreading the ball around. Five targets caught 30 or more passes in the regular season. Hogan is another cog in a Patriots machine that is looking to make yet another Super Bowl appearance. Continue reading →

Aaron Rodgers continues to treat football fans to greatness

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Thank the heavens for Aaron Rodgers.

That’s what football fans everywhere outside of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area were saying Sunday, when the Packers quarterback led Green Bay to a thrilling upset victory over the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys. A week after all four home teams came away with resounding wins, Rodgers and his green-and-gold-clad friends gave us fans of road teams reason to cheer. Thankfully, we have warriors away from home to celebrate.

It was great for football, and even better for this weekly column. But those weren’t the only stars listed under the visitors category. Here are the greatest on the road from the Divisional Round. Continue reading →

How much is a left tackle worth? Raiders offer peek

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Oakland rode high through much of the 2016 season — but in the wild-card game against Houston, it all came crashing down.

An offense that was powered by gunslinger Derek Carr and leaned on a stellar offensive line looked like a shell of itself in the playoffs. Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn missed the first game of his career, and Carr was busy recovering from surgery to repair a broken fibula. The latter was an obvious loss, but the former’s true value only became apparent in the postseason defeat.

It can be hard to quantify how effective an offensive lineman is. Outside of pancake blocks and recorded sacks, there aren’t many metrics to statistically describe how a lineman is performing, so we often rely on reputation. Cleveland’s Joe Thomas has long been the model left tackle in the league, serving as a moving wall for the Browns‘ myriad of quarterbacks. His collection of All Pro and Pro Bowl honors serve as the example of what it means to be a franchise left tackle.

But when keying on the Raiders‘ offensive line, Penn stands out, especially against the toughest competition. Against Denver in Week 17, Penn spent much of his afternoon matched up against All World linebacker Von Miller. He didn’t wilt. Continue reading →

Landon Collins plays admirably despite playoff loss

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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There were those weeks during the regular season when the road teams performed admirably, but came up on the losing end of the scoreboard in a good amount of games.

And then there was Wild Card Weekend.

All four home teams emerged victorious in the opening round of the playoffs, making that bus ride back to the hotel and airport that much more painful for the road squads. As a result, it’s difficult to pick out stars in defeat. We’re taking on that task anyway, because we don’t fear challenges. We embrace them.

Here are your greatest away from home — and best losers — of Wild Card Weekend. Continue reading →

Matt Moore to start this week, barring drastic change

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Ryan Tannehill has a chance to play on his injured knee, but he has to practice first.

That’s been coach Adam Gase’s stance on the matter. On Wednesday, though, Tannehill did not practice. Hours later, Gase told reporters that “unless something changes drastically,” veteran backup Matt Moore will start in the Dolphins‘ Wild Card game against the Steelers on Sunday. Continue reading →