By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
Read full post on NFL.com

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:

Chicago Bears

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
Read full post on NFL.com

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
Around The NFL writer
Read full post on NFL.com

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
Read full post on NFL.com

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:

Arizona Cardinals

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
Around The NFL writer
Read full post on NFL.com

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
Read full post on NFL.com

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
Read full post on NFL.com

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
Read full post on NFL.com

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 →

By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
Read full post on NFL.com

One third of the Atlanta Falcons‘ new, tantalizing trio of receivers just put his pen to paper.

First-round selection Calvin Ridley signed his rookie contract Thursday, the team announced. The agency representing Ridley, SportsTrust Advisors first tweeted Ridley agreed to his deal Wednesday. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
Around The NFL writer
Read full post on NFL.com

For the first time in, well, quite some time, the Jacksonville Jaguars are entering a season with significant expectations.

Much of the responsibility of handling and attempting to live up to those expectations falls on the shoulders of quarterback Blake Bortles, and by relation, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. If you recall Jacksonville’s postseason run in early 2018, Hackett drew plenty of praise for his artful schemes that maximized Bortles’ production (relatively speaking) while also minimizing his potential mistakes. The result was beautiful — that is, until Jacksonville needed Bortles to rally it back late against New England. Continue reading →