Robert Kraft blasts process in Tom Brady’s suspension

July 15, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

Two hours after Tom Brady reluctantly decided to give up in the legal fight over his suspension Friday, owner Robert Kraft issued a sharp statement criticizing the entire process.

“While I was disappointed with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision not to rehear Tom Brady‘s case, I am most frustrated that Tom was denied his right to a fair and impartial process,” Kraft said in a statement released by the team. “The League’s investigation into a football pressure matter was flawed and biased from the start, and has been discredited nearly unanimously by accredited academics and scientists. Continue reading →

Eric Berry, Chiefs unlikely to reach deal barring change

July 13, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

Fresh off an unprecedented comeback season, Eric Berry finds himself among the select group of players battling the franchise tag.

As the deadline for players to sign their tags looms, it looks as though Berry will land in the group that will play under the tag in 2016. Unless there is a significant shift in the next two days, a source familiar with the negotiations tells NFL Media’s Rand Getlin the Chiefs and Berry are unlikely to come to terms on a long-term deal. Continue reading →

Chris Harris: Von Miller only plays if new deal gets done

July 12, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

As the stalemate drags on and sides trade contract offers and push agendas, the passage of time does not slow down.

That leads one Denver Bronco to believe that the saga surrounding Von Miller‘s contract will soon be over. Continue reading →

Lightning strikes home of Carolina Panthers

July 12, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice.

We can consider that to be reasonable. We can. They didn’t say anything about striking in 50-plus different places within the same two, 10-yard-deep painted rectangles inside Bank of America Stadium, though. Continue reading →

Saints not overlooking Cam, Panthers’ benchmark year

July 11, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

The Saints can look back on 2015 and think, if a few things had gone the other way, they might have had a few more wins.

Their biggest hurdle, though, stands in the form of the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers, and namely, Cam Newton.

New Orleans head coach Sean Payton wasn’t shy about this on NFL Network’s Total Access on Monday. Continue reading →

Sean Payton: No sign of Drew Brees slowing down

July 11, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

If Sean Payton’s Saints are to get back to the Super Bowl any time soon, it will likely include Drew Brees.

The window for success is wide open to Payton, who won’t put a time limit on that coach-quarterback union.

“At the stage he is in his career, it’s a question that gets asked a lot,” Payton said on NFL Network’s Total Access. “I have not seen — there’s not a rep, a play where I’ve noticed something different. Continue reading →

Thomas Rawls: I’ll ‘most definitely’ be ready for camp

July 10, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

With Marshawn Lynch enjoying the freedom of retirement, the Seattle Seahawks are facing an uncertain future at running back.

But fear not, because Thomas Rawls will be ready to fill his role, according to Thomas Rawls. Continue reading →

Randall Cunningham’s daughter Vashti qualifies for Rio

July 4, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

It’s been almost 15 years since Randall Cunningham last stepped on an NFL field, but the holiday weekend produced some proof of the strength of his family’s genetics.

Vashti Cunningham, Randall’s 18-year-old daughter, qualified for the Rio de Janiero Olympics on Sunday in Eugene, Ore., finishing second in the women’s high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 5 1/2 inches. Cunningham became the youngest U.S. track and field athlete to reach the Olympics since 1980. Continue reading →

Tom Brady joins Boston Celtics in Kevin Durant pitch

July 2, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

The Summer of Kevin Durant (and eye-popping free agent contracts elsewhere) is in full swing in the NBA, but Saturday reached a new level of unusual thanks to the inclusion of one notable professional athlete.

While teams such as the Houston Rockets were bringing in stars past and present to coerce free agents to sign on the dotted line, the Boston Celtics took it one step further.

They unleashed Tom Brady. Continue reading →

Cordarrelle Patterson: It’s my make or break year

June 28, 2016 / nshook61 / Leave a comment

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who would argue with the notion that Cordarrelle Patterson is on his last leg in Minnesota.

That includes Cordarrelle Patterson.

The Vikings receiver, who showed flashes of big-play ability in his rookie season of 2013, wasn’t shy about his precarious position.

“People say, ‘It’s your make or break year,’ ” Patterson said, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I’ve just got to go out and do what I’m supposed to. It’s a big year for me. … We all know what I can do, and I’ve just got to show the coaches I can be there when I need to be, and be on time, be in the right place, the right depth on routes catching the ball. If I do all those things, I feel like things will work out well.” Continue reading →