Around The NFL

Cowboys agree to terms on coordinator extensions

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Fresh off a 13-3 season upon which any franchise would love to build, the Cowboys took it one step further and locked up some important coaches.

Dallas reached agreements on extensions with coordinators Scott Linehan, Rod Marinelli and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources informed of their situations. The deals were struck weeks ago, but avoid lame duck status for the coaches, Rapoport added.

Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram first reported the news.

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Ben Roethlisberger ‘leaning towards’ return in 2017

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spoke on his future as the man under center for the Steelers on Friday.

To no one’s surprise, it looks like he’ll be coming back.

Roethlisberger said he’s “leaning towards it” — it being returning to play for Pittsburgh in 2017 — when speaking at Liberty University on Friday, per the Observer-Reporter (Washington, Pennsylvania). Continue reading →

Tony Jefferson expected to sign with Baltimore Ravens

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Tony Jefferson is saying no to the extra bags of cash and yes to immediately contending for an AFC North title.

The safety, ranked No. 14 in NFL.com’s Top 101 Free Agents, is expected to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source informed of the negotations. Rapoport added that Jefferson is walking away from a more lucrative offer from the Cleveland Browns to instead sign with the former Cleveland Browns, now known as the Ravens. Continue reading →

Colin Kaepernick not drawing much interest, but why?

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Free agency is off and running. Brandon Marshall is changing uniform colors but not home stadiums, Tyrod Taylor is sticking around in Buffalo and fullbacks are hot commodities, apparently.

New head coach Kyle Shanahan even got ready to welcome a new signal-caller to his new digs in Santa Clara, agreeing to terms with Brian Hoyer on a two-year contract. But one Niners quarterback who’s slated to become a free agent at the start of the new league year isn’t drawing much attention.

One wonders, why? Why isn’t Colin Kaepernick, the polarizing but at times productive passer garnering more interest from the other 31 teams in the NFL, or even his own club? Continue reading →

John Ross breaks record, but tight ends shine Saturday

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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It stood for many years, and it even garnered its own chain and custom pendant, but let the record show that on March 4, 2017, Chris Johnson‘s 40-yard dash record finally fell.

Washington receiver John Ross was the culprit who unseated CJ2K, running a blazing fast 4.22 40 that even “looked fast in slow motion,” as NFL Network’s Ike Taylor said Saturday. It sent shockwaves through Twitter, with thousands mentioning him by name and more than a few questions about why he didn’t try to run the 40 in adidas cleats and win himself his own private island.

“I really can’t swim that well,” Ross told NFL Network’s Michael Irvin. “And I don’t have a boat, so you know, I had to run in Nikes.”

It didn’t take long for the social team at Nike to post a photo of the famed 4.2 Nikes, or for the company to sign Ross to an endorsement deal. It’ll likely take a little longer for him to come off the board, though, because his speed was a known commodity entering the combine and won’t make much of a difference in his draft stock. Continue reading →

NFLPA suggests league ban leaping over line

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The rules of the professional game stipulate that a player cannot be used as leverage when trying to vault over opponents to block a field goal. But it didn’t take into account those freakish athletes who populate NFL rosters.

It was a novel idea at first, but it’s seeing more and more attempts in recent years. We’re talking about the field goal leap, of course, and now the NFL Players Association wants it eliminated. Continue reading →

Los Angeles Rams unveil new helmet with white horns

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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As the Rams welcome a new neighbor in the greater Los Angeles area less than a year after returning to SoCal themselves, their evolution as an organization continues.

Ground has been broken on their new Inglewood stadium, the team installed a new head coach in Sean McVay, and now a new lid with a familiar look will fill the team’s lockers.

The Rams announced the team will wear a new helmet in 2017, replacing the team’s metallic gold (creatively dubbed New Century Gold) horns with white horns.

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Doug Williams: Backup black QBs need more chances

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Doug Williams made history on Jan. 31, 1988, when he became the first African American starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. His Washington Redskins took down the Denver Broncos 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII, Williams cemented his place in football lore with a gutsy performance and kick-started the process of creating more opportunities for African Americans at the position.

NFL Network’s Steve Wyche wrote this week about the impact Williams’ Super Sunday had on the future of the position for black athletes. Nearly 30 years later, Williams’ impact on the game can be seen in the sport’s stars, with Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston coming to mind, among others.

The former Super Bowl XXII Most Valuable Player is pleased with the progress, but is still bothered about the lack of opportunity for the guys on the sideline. Continue reading →