By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Atlanta’s season ended in disappointing fashion, topped off by a peculiar play call on fourth and goal.

Immediately (and understandably), thousands of index fingers extended in the direction of offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. On Thursday, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn deflected blame from Sarkisian while also confirming the coordinator will return for a second season in 2018.

“Placing blame on one person would be wrong in this instance,” Quinn said, per the team. “If this was about one person, that decision would’ve already been made.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Much hulabaloo has been made of Tom Brady’s hand injury.

Is he OK? (Yes.) Who was the teammate who ran into his throwing hand? (It hasn’t been revealed.) Will he play on Sunday? (He’s expected to.) Did I write that lede just to use hulabaloo? (Yes, I did.)

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone doesn’t care if Brady’s hand is healthy or mangled. It’s not going to change how he approaches preparation for the AFC Championship Game.

“I’m sure he could probably throw left-handed if he has a problem with his right hand and throw just as well,” Marrone told reporters on Thursday morning, per the Florida Times-Union. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Joe Thomas still isn’t ready to decide on his future.

The perennial All-Pro and future Hall of Fame left tackle said Wednesday he remains on the fence about whether he’ll return to the Cleveland Browns in 2018.

Thomas suffered a torn triceps in Cleveland’s loss to Tennessee in late October, ending his unofficial consecutive snaps streak at 10,363. He’s since become the team’s de facto veteran assistant coach, sideline weatherman and multi-podcast star. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The sunny optimism of a Gulf Coast training camp didn’t last long for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dirk Koetter’s second season fizzled with a 5-11 finish, bringing with it trash bags and vacation plans for his Buccaneers. A top-10 offense in yards gained per game (18th in points per game) couldn’t withstand the damage done by the league’s worst defense in yards allowed per game.

One of the members of that offense, free-agent signing DeSean Jackson, lamented the group’s underachievement in 2017 on Wednesday, starting with quarterback Jameis Winston. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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These Jaguars haven’t been here before, and they aren’t exactly keeping quiet.

Clearly feeling himself and his teammates, cornerback Jalen Ramsey grabbed the mic at EverBank Field late Sunday and told fans welcoming the Jaguars home that the team was going to the Super Bowl and was going to win it.

That’s great. Reach for the stars, Jalen. There’s just one detail that needs to be mentioned: They haven’t yet won the AFC. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Ken Norton Jr. is reuniting with Pete Carroll.

With Kris Richard on his way out of Seattle, Norton is returning to the Seahawks as the team’s defensive coordinator, the team announced Tuesday. Norton served as the team’s linebackers coach from 2010-2014 before leaving to become Oakland’s defensive coordinator in 2015.

In addition to Norton, the team named former Colts quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer as its new offensive coordinator and Mike Solari as its offensive line coach. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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It’s pretty safe to say, at 32 years old, Darrelle Revis isn’t going to rediscover his better, Revis Island version of himself.

But for a cornerback who joined a team in the final quarter of the regular season, he feels as though he did well enough to get another shot at playing in 2018.

“The material I put on [videotape] from the little time I had, not going through training camp and being here for the installs, I was OK,” Revis said, via ESPN. “I wasn’t great or my best ever. No way. But at the same time, for what I came in here and was asked to do, for the most part I’m happy with it. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Calais Campbell has served as Jacksonville’s defensive catalyst this season, his first with the franchise.

But who knew he could see the future?

Campbell chatted with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero about the tilt between the Jaguars and Steelers last week after Jacksonville’s 10-3 win over the Buffalo Bills. What you’re about to read might blow your mind. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Pittsburgh is going home earlier than most expected, and plenty of Steelers fans will likely spend much of the offseason second guessing the team’s coach.

Trailing 42-35 with 2:18 to play and two timeouts remaining, Mike Tomlin elected to onside kick instead of kicking deep. Pittsburgh never had a chance on the onside attempt, which failed to go the necessary 10 yards before it was recovered by Jacksonville. The Jaguars eventually moved a whole nine yards before kicking a field goal to extend their lead to 10 and essentially ice the Divisional Round victory.

Tomlin explained his decision after the 45-42 loss. Continue reading →