Interview by Nick Shook
July 16, 2018
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Nick Shook talks with Philadelphia Eagles tight end and reigning Super Bowl champion Zach Ertz about the married life, his team’s quest to defend its crown, his dedication to his craft, the future of offensive linemen and the league’s top quarterbacks. Read the full interview on NFL.com by clicking here.
By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
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The tag deadline arrived and passed without so much as a whimper.
The four players who received the franchise tag this offseason and hadn’t yet negotiated a long-term deal didn’t accomplish such a task by Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. Those players: Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner and most notably, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, will play the 2018 season under their respective tags. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
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Training camp is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to preview the most exciting part of the summer. With camps opening later this month, Jeremy Bergman, Herbie Teope, Nick Shook and Marc Sessler are examining the key issues for each team in this division-by-division series. Here’s the NFC North camp primer:
Training camp report dates: rookies (July 16) and veterans (July 19).
Location: Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Most important position battle: Anthony Miller vs. Taylor Gabriel. Gabriel was cut by Cleveland in 2016 and became the diminutive darling of Atlanta’s passing attack alongside Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, contributing at a clip of 16.5 yards per catch and snagging six touchdowns. His production dropped a bit in 2017 (11.5 yards per catch, one touchdown), eventually leading to his departure for Chicago, where he joins an uncertain receiving corps with a chance to make an impact. Miller, a second-round pick who is drawing praise from new head coach Matt Nagy for his intuitive route-running ability, looms. Should Miller have an impressive camp, he might find himself in the opening-day starting lineup outside or in the slot. The same goes for Gabriel, who will have to battle for a starting job from the jump, the kind of challenge with which he isn’t unfamiliar, having been an undrafted free agent back in 2014. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
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We’re about 15 months into Tony Romo’s retirement, and after a stellar first season in the broadcast booth, he’s cruising at an enviable altitude.
But does that give him the right to see into the future?
It’s a joke, of course — everyone has a right to predictions, no matter how outlandish. Romo has displayed fortune-telling abilities during games, predicting plays right before they’re executed (“Jim, I’ve got $5 this is a run to the left”) on various occasions during the 2017 season. He combined the two on Wednesday during an appearance on NFL Total Access. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
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Terrell Owens doesn’t want any part of ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, but he wants in north of the border.
The 44-year-old former All-Pro, who is less than a month from being enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, wants to add an extra chapter to his playing career in a league that plays with an extra man. Owens has activated a clause that will force the Edmonton Eskimos, the Canadian Football League team that owns his rights, to either offer him a contract or release him from their control within 10 days, according to TSN. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
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Training camp is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to preview the most exciting part of the summer. With camps opening later this month, Jeremy Bergman, Herbie Teope, Nick Shook and Marc Sessler are examining the key issues for each team in this division-by-division series. Here’s the NFC West camp primer:
Training camp report dates: rookies (July 22) and veterans (July 27).
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Most important position battle: Quarterback. Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks had said Sam Bradford is his starter, but he’s also left the door open to competition, and Arizona got what I consider to be a steal in Josh Rosen with the 10th overall pick of this year’s draft. Deemed the most pro-ready quarterback in the 2018 class, Rosen is expected to acclimate quicker than most at the position, and he could come in handy if Bradford can’t stay healthy. Bradford doesn’t have the best track record in that department, and while few are expecting Rosen to win the job out of camp, the team will be able to gauge his readinessfor starting duty based on how he transitions to the pro game in camp. If it’s a closer race than expected, that would bode well for the Cardinals, in case they need to turn to Rosen earlier than they anticipated. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
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Godspeed might be captained by someone who made his name in a sport other than football, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson‘s squad proved as much Sunday, romping to a 38-12 win over former NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Nate Robinson’s Holdat team. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
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Mike DeMarteleire had a man open down the sideline.
Had he driven the ball down the field when he threw it, he’d likely have a long completion, if not a touchdown. Instead, it was intercepted.
The Code Red quarterback learned that lesson again, but this time, it came with a dose of finality. DeMarteleire’s final interception, made by The Money Team’s Anthony Webb with less than two minutes remaining sealed his team’s fate, as Code Red fell to The Money Team, 14-13, in American Flag Football League semifinal action Sunday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
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Michael Vick’s headlining run with the American Flag Football League is over after one tournament game.
The quarterback’s Roadrunners squad fell to Ocho, 26-13, in the second half of Saturday night’s doubleheader action at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
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If you came to Kennesaw, Georgia, or NFL Network looking for thrills, you got them on Saturday.
Fighting Cancer defeated Primetime, 35-14, in Saturday night’s first half of an AFFL semifinals doubleheader at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.
A stunning touchdown as time expired in the first half tied the contest and permanently swung the momentum in favor of Fighting Cancer. Quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette engineered a frantic drive in the final minute, putting Fighting Cancer 20 yards from paydirt with just enough time for one more play. Doucette received the snap, dropped and heaved a prayer of a pass to receiver Charles Carmouche, who made an incredible grab, dragging both feet just inside the boundary of the end zone to tie the game up at 14-14 heading into the break. Continue reading
Nick Shook 