By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Free agency 2018 included some murmurs involving the New Orleans Saints.

Would Drew Brees leave? Did Ndamukong Suh want to leave South Beach for the Big Easy?

In the end, neither happened — but the Saints aren’t hurting. Fresh off an 11-5 season, stocked with young talent and returning to the field with Brees under a new contract, they’re ready to roll. And yet, one Saint wishes his franchise would have landed the big fish out of Miami. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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We might be looking at the twilight of kickoffs in the NFL.

Packers president Mark Murphy, a member of the NFL Competition Committee, told reportersWednesday that despite recent rule changes aimed at enhancing safety, injury data reveals that kickoffs remain an area of concern. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Johnny Manziel’s return to pro football might still seem like a longshot, but he’s definitely working toward his goal, no matter how lofty.

The former first-round pick threw at a scouting showcase for the second time in as many weeks Tuesday, serving as Christian Kirk‘s quarterback at Texas A&M’s pro day. In the process, the 25-year-old Manziel grabbed headlines — and multiple encounters with representatives of NFL teams. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The league’s most controversial rule is getting a rework this offseason, and coaches are coming away from the week’s owners meeting in Orlando, Florida, with a variety of opinions on the matter.

Saints coach Sean Payton decided to take the instruction route, giving an ironclad “control it through the ground” demand and opening the door for more turnovers.

“Look, we’re in the teaching business so if I told you, ‘hey, man I catch it with two hands and I have control and I hit the ground,’ I still have to control it,” Payton told NFL Network’s Steve Wyche. “If I dive and I’m in the air and I catch it like we’ve seen, I’ve got to control it through the ground. Basically, a football act or a third step makes me a runner, and it’s that simple. So I think you’re going to have more catches and I think you’ll have more fumbles too.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Kevin Colbert isn’t concerning himself with Le’Veon Bell‘s much-discussed long-term contract aspirations, and for good reason: There’s no need to at this point in time.

The Steelers GM intimated as much during a one-on-one interview with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche on Sunday during the NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Florida. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jamal Adams is excited about the future of his New York Jets after just one professional season.

A rather large defensive tackle stands to make him even more excited. After reports emerged that the Jets had become a serious suitor of Ndamukong Suh and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported New York made the largest offer to the veteran, Adams added it to the goodwill that he sees piling up for the Jets.

“I keep saying we’ll be the talk of the league,” Adams said, per The Times-Picayune. “I’m very confident when I say that. That’s because I know what that team has to offer. We’re well-coached. We’re well-run. It’s a heck of an organization. We’re looking forward to the season.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Like my colleague Jeremy Bergman wrote Thursday, #ComebackSZN is in full swing.

If you haven’t bought your Money Manziel apparel, there’s still time. There’s also time for the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to make a return to pro football.

Johnny Manziel took his latest step toward achieving exactly that on Thursday when he threw at the University of San Diego’s pro day. At least 13 teams were in attendance, including a representative from Manziel’s former employer, the Cleveland Browns. And as our own Bucky Brooks said of Manziel, most first-round quarterbacks get two or three shots to make it work, even if evidence mounts to prove otherwise.

Manziel has also said he’s willing to take any opportunity presented, even if it’s a practice-squad shot, opening some additional doors to situations that might not seem as such on the surface.

That made us wonder: Should Manziel, who struggled with a multitude of off-field issues and flamed out of the league in two short years, follow through on his promises of a comeback, where might he land? Let’s explore below. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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It might be late March, but flip your calendars forward, Miami: Brocktober is coming.

Brock Osweiler signed with the Miami Dolphins on Friday, the team announced. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Tramon Williams is returning to Green Bay and a new Packers organization.

Three years after Williams left Green Bay to sign with the Cleveland Browns, the veteran cornerback has signed with the Packers, the team announced. Williams inked a two-year deal worth roughly $10 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

Williams’ time in Cleveland was underwhelming at best. Signed to a three-year deal as part of former GM Ray Farmer’s peculiar 2014 and 2015 offseasons — in which Farmer replaced younger talent at corner and safety (Buster Skrine, T.J. Ward) with older players (Donte Whitner, Williams) — Williams struggled to match his stellar performance in Green Bay. Playing primarily nickelback, the veteran recorded just two interceptions and 15 passes defensed in two seasons in Cleveland after averaging more than three interceptions per season with the Packers. Continue reading →