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USC cornerback Jack Jones on Sam Darnold’s Heisman bid: ‘I’m coming for him’

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By Nick Shook
Pac-12 DieHards
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Beginning with his memorable performance in the Rose Bowl, 2017 has so far been the year of Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold. At least one of Darnold’s teammates isn’t letting that slow his own pursuit of college football’s top honor.

Cornerback Jack Jones was an occasional participant as a freshman in 2016, but he’s been drawing rave reviews during the offseason, starting with his spring ball play. He’s decided to crank up the hype a notch early in fall camp, according to Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register.

Darnold is the sweetheart pick of most everyone when it comes to college QBs and he can be found on most Heisman watch lists. Jones, though a favorite breakout candidate on campus, is putting himself in pretty good company. He did something similar prior to his freshman season, when he said he expected to win the award.

The last defensive back to win the Heisman was Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997. Do-everything Michigan Wolverines defender Jabrill Peppers finished fifth in voting in 2016.

Jones is stepping into the role vacated by Adoree’ Jackson, who was a two-way threat and departed for the NFL via first-round selection. Coach Clay Helton said during spring practice he intended to get Jones some looks on the other side of the ball, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jones appear in situations similar to Jackson in past seasons.

As for that Heisman bid, we’ll have to wait and see if Jones can make good on his word.

Continue reading →

David Baker runs the Pro Football Hall of Fame his way

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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David Baker is a man you cannot miss — and surely cannot forget.

Baker — once called the “New Tower of Power” by Sports Business Journal — lumbers down a hotel hallway in Houston on a Saturday in February with a message and camera crew in tow. The message doesn’t come on a scroll or written memo, but through a knock on a door.

Much has been made of Baker’s knock, delivered with a forcefulness that fits the man creating the sound — Jason Taylor has likened it to getting a knock from the FBI. But it does not herald bad news. Instead, it summons football immortality.

As his knock this afternoon is answered, the room, brimming with nearly 20 of those closest to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, erupts in cheers. The video shows tears flowing and the people inside embracing as Baker informs Jones of his impending enshrinement into football’s most hallowed club.

Baker is the president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 64-year-old’s frame — all 6-foot-9 and nearly 400 pounds of it — looms over almost anyone. His suit size is a 64. When Baker is approached for a handshake, the hand that isn’t his is guaranteed to disappear within his massive paw. Continue reading →

Ara Parseghian, legendary Notre Dame coach, dies at 94

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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College football has lost one of its coaching icons.

Former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian died early Wednesday, the university announced. He was 94.

Parseghian, a 1980 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, led the Fighting Irish to two national championships in 1966 and 1973. The titles culminated a massive turnaround for the program, which was floundering prior to Parseghian’s arrival in 1964. Continue reading →

Kenny Britt: DeShone Kizer will ‘be one of the great ones’

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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One of the first things many second- and third-year players will discuss during training camp is how much the game has slowed for them mentally. For Browns rookie DeShone Kizer, it’s only taken a summer.

The young quarterback made an impression on veteran newcomer Kenny Britt, who noticed Kizer’s improvement since organized team activities. Continue reading →

Cardinals agree to terms with DB Tramon Williams

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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A secondary chock-full of experienced playmakers is gaining another veteran.

Tramon Williams has agreed to terms with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced Sunday.

Williams spent the last two seasons in Cleveland, signed as a major addition at corner. The former Packers standout instead struggled in coverage, missed five games and intercepted just two passes in two seasons combined. Father Time’s effect on him became evident in 2016, especially in man-to-man situations where he’d clearly lost a step. Continue reading →

Rookie James Conner turning heads at Steelers camp

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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James Conner hit headlines when his jersey was declared the highest-selling among rookies this summer. With Steelers camp underway, the rookie’s star keeps rising.

Conner is getting plenty of carries with Le’Veon Bell absent from camp, and the runner with local ties and a battle with cancer under his belt is turning heads in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala reported everyone in the Steelers‘ organization has been really pleased with the new arrival, and that was before the pads had been put on.

Enter Sunday, the first day of hitting. Continue reading →

Broncos linebacker Shane Ray (wrist) out 6-8 weeks

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Shane Ray‘s attempt to replace the retired DeMarcus Ware full-time has been put on the shelf.

The linebacker suffered a torn ligament in his wrist on Thursday and will be out six to eight weeks after surgery, which is scheduled for Saturday, coach Vance Joseph announced on Friday. Ray practiced with a brace on his wrist on Friday, but it was determined afterward that surgery would be necessary, Joseph added. Continue reading →

Injuries: Jeremy Langford (ankle) misses practice

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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One of the brighter spots on the Bears‘ roster was not at practice Friday.

Running back Jeremy Langford missed practice due to an ankle injury suffered during a walkthrough Thursday, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

An ankle sprain is mildly concerning for a running back, not because Langford suffered it during a walkthrough, but because it can become a nagging injury if not properly cared for, based on the severity. It’s about as early in camp as we can get, though, so there’s little reason to get all worked up on July 28.

Fortunately for Chicago, Jordan Howard also happens to be in the stable. Continue reading →

Joe Flacco (back) preparing to miss 3-6 weeks

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Ravens camp will begin without the team’s quarterback.

Joe Flacco will miss the first week of Baltimore’s camp and is preparing to miss three to six weeks with a disc issue in his back, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation.

Flacco becomes the latest casualty in an offseason that has seen plenty of personnel losses — cornerback Tavon Young, tight end Dennis Pitta, who has since been released, and tight end Darren Waller, who was lost to a season-long suspension — with this being the second in as many days. Running back Kenneth Dixon‘s season ended before it began on Tuesday when he was placed on injured reserve. A day later, the man handing him the ball has been sidelined. Continue reading →