By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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We’re almost three full months into the new league year, and yet, we’ve seen a spike in recruiting since the start of June.
Earlier this week, it was LeSean McCoy going straight to the ‘Gram to prove he was trying to sell Jeremy Maclin on joining the Buffalo Bills. On Saturday, it was Dez Bryant‘s turn to try to lure a vet to his team — only he decided to leap into a cornerback’s Twitter mentions.
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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If you ever, even for a moment, think NFL players aren’t always paying attention to their counterparts, I present you with a 10-man group of selections in the Top 100 Players of 2017 that will undoubtedly prove otherwise.
In this group, we see the meteoric ascension of three of the league’s bright young stars. Well, one is just a one-position hop, but that’s because his rookie season was so good, his peers immediately took note. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Dorial Green-Beckham‘s time in Philadelphia might be running out, but in the receiver’s opinion, he’s just getting started as an Eagle.
“I’m looking at the numbers,” Green-Beckham said Friday, via the Philadelphia Inquirer, “but I really haven’t had the chance to actually get the [opportunities] just getting there last year. I’m just getting the feel for playing with this team.”
Green-Beckham was dealt by the Titans to the receiver-needy Eagles in 2016 after the wideout wore out his welcome in Nashville. Eagles GM Howie Roseman said then that the organization knew the receiver needed to “get more consistent.” The result: 36 catches for 392 yards and two touchdowns, but the prevailing sentiment that Philadelphia desperately needed new blood at receiver remained. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Fans of star-on-star matchups, rejoice!
We’re primed for at least two Josh Norman/Odell Beckham hypefests, and another pair of Norman/Dez Bryant showdowns after new Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Manusky told reporters he’ll have his corners moving around the field to shadow specific receivers.
“It’s hard for them to travel at times, but will we do that? Yeah,” Manusky said, via ESPN. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Now that we’ve had time to digest Kansas City’s Friday evening release of Jeremy Maclin, it’s time to project where the veteran could be headed.
At 29 years old, one would think he’s got at least a couple more years of effective football left in him. As we detailed Friday, his stats did see a dropoff in 2016, but Maclin missed four games and was battling for targets with teammates Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Chris Conley. Kelce led the Chiefs with 116 targets, with Hill finishing second with 83, Maclin third with 76 and Conley fourth with 69, according to Next Gen Stats. It’s not outrageous to expect his numbers to rise in 2017, given he’s placed in the right situation.
Which teams offer the best fit? Let’s take a look below. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Tom Savage‘s dreamlike start to the offseason as Houston’s assumed QB1 was rattled on draft night, but he’s back on the upswing in early June.
That’s the prevailing sentiment coming from the former backup after he spent OTAs taking first-team reps against Houston’s first-team defense, which happens to be the best in the league. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Their last name might be Apple, but don’t get it twisted — Friday’s controversy was all about fried foods.
Second-year corner Eli Apple of the New York Giants told NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones that the key to his 10-pound healthy bulk was cutting down on the artery-clogging-yet-delicious culinary options served up by none other than his mother. Typically, we could accept this at face value. Mom cleans up cooking, son sees benefits, which translate to the field and inspire a lighthearted story behind the success. Move along.
But this isn’t just any NFL mother we’re talking about. This is Annie Apple, Twitter’s favorite football matriarch, and she’s not here for her son’s embellishment. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Count this as one less target for Alex Smith.
The Chiefs have released wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, the team announced.
“I’d like to thank Jeremy for his effort and dedication the past two seasons,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement released by the team. “I have great respect for all players, which makes decisions like these very difficult, but we felt it was in the best interest of our club moving forward to part ways at this time. We wish Jeremy the best as he continues his career.” Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Dennis Pitta‘s latest hip injury could be his last.
The tight end’s career is in jeopardy after suffering a dislocated hip during Ravens OTAs, the third he’s suffered in his career, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported, according to a source informed of the diagnosis. Doctors are working to put the hip back in the socket, whether through manual manipulation or surgery, Garafolo added.
Pitta’s injury was non-contact, according to the team. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
If there really is a growing rift inside Seattle’s locker room, there’s an equally significant standard of publicly brushing these things off as nonsense.
In the aftermath of an ESPN The Magazine piece that detailed a strained relationship between Seattle’s offensive and defensive players dating back before Super Bowl XLIX, we’ve heard the focus of the story, cornerback Richard Sherman, respond. We’ve heard a less direct and longer-winded answer from receiver Doug Baldwin. And on Friday, we received replies from coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson. Continue reading
Nick Shook 