By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Buffalo’s starting center is calling it a career.

Eric Wood, 31, is retiring from football because of a neck injury that was diagnosed during his end-of-season physical, the team announced Friday. Wood’s retirement news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET Monday. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Pittsburgh’s drama-filled season ended earlier than most expected — so early that one Steeler considered skipping the Pro Bowl because he was still too upset about the loss.

“After the [Jacksonville] game, I didn’t know if I even wanted to come for a while,” Heyward said Thursday, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “But you have to make the most of a situation. It’s an awesome experience. Every player should get to experience this. Now I have to tell my guys to get back here, too. Hopefully, we’re busy [playing in a Super Bowl], but I want to see more defensive guys here.”

Heyward is one of eight Steelers at the Pro Bowl, but the lone Pittsburgh defender in Orlando. In a departure from the Steelers of last decade and the 1970s, Pittsburgh is an offense-first team and its postseason honors reflect that. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Though the winner of the game ultimately didn’t make it to Minneapolis, New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis still feels as though his team left another trip to the Super Bowl on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Loomis said as much while spending his week not at the Super Bowl, but the Senior Bowl, in Mobile, Alabama.

“Look, for the rest of my life, I’m going to feel like, ‘We were this close to being in three Super Bowls,'” Loomis said, via The Times-Picayune. “And hopefully it’s more than that.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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New York officially has its new leader of Big Blue.

The Giants have hired Pat Shurmur as head coach, the team announced on Monday.

“We are pleased to welcome Pat to our organization and look forward to the leadership he will provide for our team,” team president John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch said in a release from the team. “He has an outstanding track record in developing young players, and it is clear his players respond to his guidance and direction. We interviewed six talented and qualified candidates, and we feel like Pat, with his vision and experience, is the right person to lead our team.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Case Keenum‘s wild and unexpected ride came to a sudden end with Sunday night’s loss in the NFC Championship Game.

That’s often how the playoffs are: unforgiving, abrupt and for scores of players, fleeting.

The quarterback hasn’t even had 24 hours to process what exactly went wrong (though he’s tried) before being asked about his future. It’s a murky one, with free agency immediately ahead, but a possibility of returning to the Vikings remains. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Adam Thielen‘s near-touchdown summed up the night — and the season’s end — in one play.

Almost, but not quite.

Fresh off a miraculous finish, the Vikings hit Philadelphia looking for more magic and an NFC crown. They left with the hat, but no rabbit. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Tennessee has found its new leader.

The Titans have hired Mike Vrabel as the franchise’s new head coach, the team announced on Saturday. Vrabel previously coached with the Houston Texans from 2014-16 as linebackers coach, and spent 2017 as the Texans‘ defensive coordinator.

“I am excited to have Mike Vrabel joining our organization as our new head coach,” Titans Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement released by the team. “In the interaction between Mike and Jon during the interview, you could see their connection right away from the history they have with one another — seeing the game in a similar way and talking the same language. Mike has a commanding presence and a deep understanding for how he will attack this head coaching opportunity. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Atlanta’s season ended in disappointing fashion, topped off by a peculiar play call on fourth and goal.

Immediately (and understandably), thousands of index fingers extended in the direction of offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. On Thursday, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn deflected blame from Sarkisian while also confirming the coordinator will return for a second season in 2018.

“Placing blame on one person would be wrong in this instance,” Quinn said, per the team. “If this was about one person, that decision would’ve already been made.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Much hulabaloo has been made of Tom Brady’s hand injury.

Is he OK? (Yes.) Who was the teammate who ran into his throwing hand? (It hasn’t been revealed.) Will he play on Sunday? (He’s expected to.) Did I write that lede just to use hulabaloo? (Yes, I did.)

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone doesn’t care if Brady’s hand is healthy or mangled. It’s not going to change how he approaches preparation for the AFC Championship Game.

“I’m sure he could probably throw left-handed if he has a problem with his right hand and throw just as well,” Marrone told reporters on Thursday morning, per the Florida Times-Union. Continue reading →