By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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A year after watching two of their linemen walk in free agency, the Packers are retaining an important one for the near future.

Green Bay signed center Corey Linsley to a contract extension, the team announced Saturday. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported it’s a three-year extension worth $25.5 million. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Get out the swim trunks, water wings and sunscreen — Hue Jackson is going swimming.

A year ago, another 1-15 finish seemed outlandish for a Browns team that had just posted such a record. Surely, the only way this team could go was up. Jackson was so confident in this belief, he vowed to jump into Lake Erie if the team finished anywhere near 1-15 again.

The Browns are 0-15. Someone, grab Hue a towel. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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James Harrison‘s exit was surprising to everyone but his teammates, who spent much of Wednesday’s media availability slinging blunt takes about the departed linebacker, with some coming off more personal than others.

Turns out, it was long overdue.

That’s the sentiment after Harrison’s explanation Wednesday in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story, in which the linebacker said he asked for his release from the Steelers on three separate occasions during the 2017 season. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Rob Gronkowski is an excellent football player, and he had another stellar outing on Sunday.

We can talk about his spectacular, one-handed catch over Micah Hyde for a touchdown. We can talk about the dynamic element he brings to New England’s offense. We can even talk about how opponents refuse to learn from past mistakes and continue to press him in single coverage inside the red zone.

But perhaps the most interesting point to come out of Sunday’s romp over the Buffalo Bills is that Gronkowski takes games against them personally. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jason Garrett has served as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for seven seasons. After his team was eliminated Sunday, he’s made the playoffs just twice in that span.

For a franchise accustomed to competing, that might not be enough. Owner Jerry Jones isn’t letting the moment of defeat cloud his judgment, though.

“Just so we’re clear about it, I do understand frustration right after you lose a game that has as much meaningfulness as this ballgame, but I get to look at a lot of different things and have been around a lot of head coaches and coordinators,” Jones said, via ESPN. “I feel good about our head coach.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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There have been plenty of memorable, on-the-ground catches in the NFL.

Antonio Freeman’s Monday Night Football catch against the Vikings that prompted Al Michaels to exclaim “he did what!?” comes to mind, as does Jermaine Kearse‘s leg bobble in Super Bowl XLIX. Even Gary Barnidge’s thigh catch in 2015 could qualify.

But there are also the lowlights of the game, such as Mark Sanchez‘s infamous butt fumble.

So what happens when you combine the two? You get…the butt interception. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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After a long wait, the Los Angeles Rams (11-4) are finally heading back to the playoffs. The Rams clinched the NFC West title Sunday with a 27-23 victory over the Tennessee Titans (8-7). Here’s what we learned:

1. The Rams‘ long playoff drought, which stretches back to St. Louis, Marc Bulger and Mike Martz, is finally over. Los Angeles clinched the NFC West in wunderkind coach Sean McVay’s first season with a win over Tennessee in a game that required all 60 minutes. A Titans team even more desperate for a win didn’t go down easy, scratching and clawing to multiple slim leads before a touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp gave the Rams a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. For the Rams, it’s a sweet T-shirt-and-hat week, Victory Monday on Christmas and the cap to an incredible one-year turnaround. For the Titans, it’s another frustrating loss in a season that’s suddenly slipping away. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Minnesota Vikings (12-3) shut down the Green Bay Packers 16-0 in a one-sided rivalry meeting on Saturday at frigid Lambeau Field. Here’s what we learned:

1. If the Packers (7-8) had won last week and kept Aaron Rodgers active, perhaps this would have been exciting. Instead, Minnesota did what it does best: play lockdown defense, harass the passer and score enough to win. Case Keenum‘s best pass of the night came on one he threw while fading back and to his left under pressure to a crossing Stefon Diggs, who toe-tapped beautifully and ended up in the tunnel at Lambeau Field for six. That was the unifying moment of this night: While a tunnel jaunt brought joy to Green Bay in Week 14, it was the beginning of frustration for the same group in Week 16.

Offensively speaking, this wasn’t a thrilling night for either side. It was cold, passes were dropped, others were errant, and the field itself was rather slippery. Keenum wasn’t as sharp as usual, but it didn’t matter much, thanks to Minnesota’s dominance of Green Bay’s punchless offense. The lone lowlight for Minnesota tonight: Guard Nick Easton left with a fractured ankle that coach Mike Zimmer said will require surgery. Fortunately, these Vikings have shown they can weather injuries along the offensive line. They’ll have to do it again. Continue reading →