Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter (88) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jalen Carter is regarded as a top prospect ahead of the NFL Draft, but he apparently did not help his draft stock on Wednesday.
Carter participated in Georgia’s Pro Day held at the school’s football complex in Athens. He weighed 323 pounds, which was nine pounds more than he weighed at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis two weeks ago.
Carter only participated in position drills and eschewed the 40-yard dash, cone drills and other physical drills. Reporters said Carter was unable to finish his position drills due to cramping and noted he had heavy breathing.
There reportedly were three NFL head coaches in attendance for the event: Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Tennessee Arthur Smith and Chicago’s Matt Eberflus.
Carter left the NFL Combine two weeks ago after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Carter allegedly was speeding and racing Georgia recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy on the morning of January 15, which is when LeCroy’s car crashed, killing her and Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock.
In 13 games last season, Carter had 32 tackles including three sacks.
Oct 28, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Green Bay Packers have been working on a trade that would send Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, but the return they are seeking for the star quarterback may be a bit unrealistic.
Rodgers revealed on Wednesday that he intends to play for the Jets. The four-time MVP said the “compensation that the Packers are trying to get” has been holding up the deal.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on “Get Up!” Wednesday that people within the Packers organization feel return for Rodgers should be similar to what the Detroit Lions got when they traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams two years ago. That would be two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick.
“My understanding is that within the Packers organization, they felt that (Rodgers) was worth a package that was similar to what the Rams once got for Matthew Stafford, which is multiple (first-round draft picks),” Schefter said Wednesday. “Now, if you’re the New York Jets, you don’t want to have to trade multiple (first-round picks) for a 39-year-old quarterback who is on a year-to-year basis and you don’t know how long you’ll have his services. So, the Jets have to figure out what they’re willing to pay.”
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Packers are not aiming quite that high. Pelissero was told Green Bay has not asked for multiple first-round picks.
The Packers have very little leverage. Rodgers can, and likely will, threaten to retire if Green Bay is unable to reach an agreement with New York. There is one other team that Rodgers admitted he had interest in playing for, but that team signed a new starting quarterback in free agency.
Everyone still expects the Jets and Packers to come to an agreement, but Green Bay’s position is not getting any stronger.
May 6, 2022; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera (R) talks with Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) during Washington Commanders rookie minicamp at Inova Performance Center In Ashburn, VA. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Commanders are adding some veteran insurance to their quarterback room to go with Sam Howell.
The Commanders have agreed to terms with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN added that the deal is for one year and $10 million, with $8 million of that guaranteed.
The Commanders have made it clear they are committed to giving rookie Sam Howell every chance to win the starting quarterback job. However, Howell will be a second-year pro with virtually no experience, so it makes sense for them to want Brissett around as an insurance policy.
Brissett made 11 starts for the Browns last season, throwing for 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. If Howell does not appear up to the starting job, he will get the opportunity to show what he can do.
Apr 23, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lincoln Riley during the spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
College football fans have a premium matchup to look forward to at the opening of the 2024 season, and now we have further details on the contest.
In 2021, we learned that USC and LSU would be meeting in the 2024 Vegas Kickoff Classic.
On Wednesday, ESPN announced further details about the game.
The big game will be played on September 1, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET and air on ABC.
The game is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, which is the home of the Raiders.
There was a 2021 version of the game between Arizona and BYU. The matchup between LSU and USC is a really prime one. If the Vegas Kickoff Classic is able to keep building top matchups like that in the future, this will become a heavily anticipated game each year.
Oct 24, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) celebrates after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Knicks’ record has improved this season, but Mitchell Robinson’s attitude apparently has not.
The Knicks center Robinson made some curious posts to Snapchat this week. He expressed thinly-veiled frustrations with his role on the team.
“Tired asf of just being out there for cardio fam,” Robinson wrote. “like I want to play basketball to really just wasting my time and energy … Disappearing for a while.”
The 25-year-old Robinson is averaging 7.5 points on only 4.8 shot attempts per game this season (slightly below his career averages). While it is rather concerning that Robinson’s offensive production continues to crater in his fifth NBA season, he also has not developed any sort of low-post bag that would justify him getting more touches.
For the Knicks, who are an impressive 41-30 this season, they are at their best when Robinson serves as a vertical-threat roll man on offense while providing his usual stellar defense on the interior. But that does not appear to be good enough for Robinson himself, who has voiced similar frustrations with the team dating back multiple seasons.
Jan 5, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) prior to the NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shane Roper-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys are moving on from running back Ezekiel Elliott, but one report indicated Wednesday that he may not have to leave the NFC to find a new home.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are likely to have some interest in Elliott, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Buccaneers have an opening to bring in a veteran running back with the upcoming release of Leonard Fournette.
The Buccaneers also have another noteworthy tie to Elliott. New Tampa Bay running backs coach Skip Peete has been Elliott’s position coach with the Cowboys for the last three seasons.
Numerous reports Wednesday suggested that Elliott’s time with the Cowboys has finished, and he will be cut with a post-June 1 designation. The Buccaneers are a sensible landing spot, as their depth chart will consist of untested young backs once Fournette is released. Elliott can still have a productive role, even though injuries have been a problem for him in recent years.
Elliott played in 15 games for Dallas in 2022, carrying the ball 231 times for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Jul 27, 2021; Florham Park, NJ, United States; New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh talks with the media on training camp report day at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets are celebrating the Aaron Rodgers news by cooking up one of their finest meme posts.
The four-time NFL MVP quarterback Rodgers made a big announcement in an appearance Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Rodgers said that he intends to play for the Jets during the 2023 NFL season (while also trashing the Green Bay Packers in his comments).
The news led to a funny reaction from the Jets on Twitter. They posted the popular meme of Leonardo DiCaprio pointing from “Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood.” In their tweet, DiCaprio had a Jets hat Photoshopped onto his head.
Rodgers, who turns 40 later this year, is still not an official member of the Jets. He remains under contract with the Packers, meaning that the two sides have to agree to compensation. But with Rodgers himself having decided to join their team, the Jets can do a mini-victory lap here.
The Rodgers move to East Rutherford has seemingly been in the works for a couple of weeks now. In fact, the Jets already agreed to sign one of Rodgers’ well-known ex-Packers teammates.
Feb 12, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA has concluded its investigation into the recent video Ja Morant shared on social media, and the Memphis Grizzlies guard will serve a suspension.
Morant has been suspended for eight games for conduct detrimental to the NBA. The games that he already missed will count toward the eight, so Morant will be eligible to return on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks after he sits out three more games.
The NBA said in a press release that the suspension stems from Morant live streaming a video on March 4 in which he was “holding a firearm in an intoxicated state while visiting a Denver area nightclub.” League investigators did not conclude that the gun was owned by Morant or brought into the nightclub by him. The release also said there was no evidence that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the Grizzlies or while inside any NBA facility.
You can read the full announcement below:
NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Morant’s conduct “irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous.” Silver said Morant made it clear that he learned from the incident.
The Grizzlies are second in the West at 41-26 and have won three in a row despite Morant’s absence.
The gun video was the latest matter in a string of negative incidents involving Morant over the last year.
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
JuJu Smith-Schuster is on the move after one season with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith-Schuster has agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots. The wide receiver confirmed it himself on social media, where he thanked the Patriots for giving him an opportunity.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Patriots were giving Smith-Schuster a three-year deal worth $33 million.
Smith-Schuster took a one-year deal with the Chiefs last year to rebuild his value, and it seems to have worked out for him. He caught 78 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns, with his role growing throughout the year. He leaves with a Super Bowl title to his name, and he caught seven passes for 53 yards in that game.
The Patriots were in need of a wide receiver to replace Jakobi Meyers, and were believed to be looking at a number of targets. They quickly moved on Smith-Schuster, who should have a big role in that offense.
Aug 26, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Baker Mayfield’s old comments about Daniel Jones are receiving renewed attention given their respective circumstances.
Mayfield on Wednesday agreed to a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His contract will pay him $4 million in guaranteed money and up to $8.5 million total.
Compare that with Jones’ contract.
After a successful season, the New York Giants gave Jones a four-year deal worth $160 million.
Jones received a contract extension from the team that drafted him. The Cleveland Browns declined to do the same with Mayfield, who is now on his fourth NFL team.
Their circumstances led Barstool Sports to recycle Mayfield’s old quote on Wednesday.
“I cannot believe the Giants took Daniel Jones,” Mayfield told GQ back in 2019. “It blows my mind. Some people overthink it. That’s where people go wrong. They forget you’ve gotta win.”
After that comment was released, Mayfield said it was used out of context. He said he questioned how quarterbacks are evaluated and said he was surprised that he himself was drafted No. 1 overall.
Regardless of the context, it’s a quote Mayfield won’t live down. Their career stats now are actually fairly similar, though they seem to be heading in different directions in their respective careers.
