NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • Jackson Bailey, former Prairie View A&M football player, dies at 22

    Jackson Bailey, former Prairie View A&M football player, dies at 22

    Imagn Images

    Former Prairie View A&M football player Jackson Bailey has died at age 22, the program announced Tuesday. A cause of death was not listed. Bailey joined the program for the 2023 season but did not play in any games.

    “The Prairie View A&M University Department of Athletics extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, teammates and fraternity brothers of Jackson ‘Jacks’ Bailey, a cherished member of the Panther football program and the PVAMU community,” the statement read. 

    Bailey started his college football career at Arizona, enrolling as a three-star linebacker recruit from Red Oak (Texas). He redshirted during the 2021 season before transferring to Louisiana-Monroe. Bailey played in nine games during the 2022 season, recording 14 total tackles and one quarterback hurry.

    Nebraska’s Matt Rhule: QB Dylan Raiola rejected ‘easy way out’ in transfer portal, chose to stay with Huskers

    Cody Nagel

    “He chose Prairie View A&M to be closer to home, and in doing so, became an unforgettable part of our campus family,” the statement read. “Though his time at PVAMU was brief, the impact he made will resonate for years to come. We honor and remember Jackson “Jacks” Bailey not only for his potential and promise but for the way he lived—with purpose, humor, humility and heart.”

    Bailey was a standout linebacker at Red Oak (Texas). He led the Hawks with 60 total tackles as a junior in…

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  • Haason Reddick dismisses idea he is trying to “regain his reputation”

    Haason Reddick dismisses idea he is trying to “regain his reputation”

    Haason Reddick heard the criticism and knew a question about his absence at the Buccaneers’ organized team activities was coming. So, the edge rusher made a preemptive statement following a mandatory minicamp practice.

    “I’ll address it before y’all do: I know everybody was concerned about me not showing up at [OTAs], but for me, I definitely made sure to stay in shape,“ Reddick, 30, said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. ”I think I showed that to everybody out here.

    “I don’t think it should’ve been a question, but [I] just had some things to button up on as I get ready to make this transition down here so that way, once I get here, I don’t have to worry about [anything] back there at home.”

    In 2024, Reddick didn’t show up for six months after the Eagles traded him to the Jets. He missed seven regular-season games before agreeing to an adjusted contract.

    After signing a one-year, $14 million deal with the Bucs in March, Reddick went to work with his personal trainer, Kenny Williams, in Philadelphia. He is trying to get back to being a Pro Bowl pass rusher.

    Reddick had only one sack and three quarterback hits in 10 games last season, ending his streak of four consecutive double-digit sack seasons. But he doesn’t buy into needing to “regain his reputation” as a top edge rusher.

    “Regain my reputation as a premier pass rusher?” Reddick said. “Regain my rep, huh? Let’s just say, I am motivated but not for that type of stuff, right? Like, I don’t care what people think about me, to be honest. People can say whatever they want. That’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. . . . What you talk about, things like that, as long as I’m in a great place and a safe space and my mental is strong? That’s the only thing that I’m worried about.”

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  • Why did CBS Sports rank ‘Johnny Football’ ahead of Vince Young?

    Why did CBS Sports rank ‘Johnny Football’ ahead of Vince Young?

    CBS Sports has released a 25 most dynamic players of the past 25 years. Inexplicably, the network ranked four players ahead of Longhorns legend Vince Young, including Texas A&M quarterback Johnny ‘Football’ Manziel.

    CBS writer Brad Crawford admits even his own colleagues differ on the definition of “dynamic.” Crawford ranks USC running back Reggie Bush No. 1. I think any Texas fan that was in the Rose Bowl on January 4, 2006 knew Vince Young had a much greater ability to take over a game than Bush. Bush had flashy runs, but ultimately, he couldn’t beat VY.

    Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005 over Young. But if you really look at that season, Bush had an incredible performance against Fresno State and became the Heisman front runner the rest of the season. Many votes assumed USC was going to beat Texas and so they “logically” voted for Bush. In hindsight, the best college football player in 2005 was the Texas QB.

    Cam Newton is ranked No. 2. I think VY was better, but their careers, body type and style are very similar. Crawford reveals he grew up in the South watching the SEC. So there’s definitely some SEC bias in his rankings. Of course, going forward, the Longhorns will benefit from the SEC bias that has dominated college football for 20 years.

    Johnny Football is ranked No. 3. There’s no doubt that Manziel’s freshman year was epic. The Aggies looked like a very average team until Manziel became QB and they had a very solid 12-2 season. Manziel was by far the best player on that team and they fed him the ball. His size certainly made him look more dynamic. More on that in a bit.

    “Few players have garnered “SEC legend” status over the last few decades and change, but Johnny Football earned the decorative title. Beating top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa was his signature moment, yet Manziel was just as potent in a…

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  • AFC rookies picked after Round 1 of NFL Draft who could earn key roles in 2025: RJ Harvey among 16 sleepers

    AFC rookies picked after Round 1 of NFL Draft who could earn key roles in 2025: RJ Harvey among 16 sleepers

    Last year, Ladd McConkey, Ray Davis and Tarheeb Still were a few of the AFC rookies picked after Day 1 who were key players on their respective teams right away.

    In 2023, it was Tank Dell of the Texans, Keeanu Benton of the Steelers, and Colts receiver Josh Downs. 

    In 2022, Breece Hall and Dameon Pierce were AFC Day 2 picks who played like first-rounders in Year 1 in the NFL. The season before that, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith went from somewhat obscure non-Day 1 picks to integral pieces of the Chiefs offensive line as rookies.

    In 2020, Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, Steelers receiver Chase Claypool and Patriots guard Michael Onwenu were AFC rookies who weren’t selected on Day 1 of the draft but sure as heck played like Day 1 selections during their debut season. 

    And you, NFL fan starved for football, know all about your favorite team’s first-round pick in the 2025 draft. Now it’s time to really get acclimated with the non-Round 1 selection who has the talent — and situation — to flourish as a rookie. 

    Earlier this week I ran through who these players can be this season for each NFC team. Below is the AFC edition.

    AFC East

    Buffalo Bills

    Sanders is exactly the interior rusher that’s been missing next to Ed Oliver during the majority of the Sean McDermott era. In this day and age, teams need two disruptive forces on the interior. The Bills had utilized journeymen next to Oliver for years. Now they have an athletic, advanced defensive tackle the opposition will have to involve in the game plan right away. 

    At South Carolina, Sanders was routinely in the backfield — for years — thanks to first-step quicks, leverage, and aggressive hand work. He wins on first, second, and third down. I expect Sanders to be an integral part of Buffalo’s defensive line rotation in 2025 and beyond. 

    Miami Dolphins

    Savaiinaea embodies…

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  • What’s next for Michigan sign stealing case as NCAA president sets timeline for potential punishment decision

    What’s next for Michigan sign stealing case as NCAA president sets timeline for potential punishment decision

    After a two-day committee on infractions hearing concluded this week, NCAA president Charlie Baker expects a ruling on the Michigan sign-stealing scandal to come within the next 30 to 90 days, he told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday.

    The hearing was attended by a contingent from the University of Michigan, former staffer Connor Stalions and members of the NCAA’s enforcement staff. Baker wasn’t present himself, but he was briefed on the matter. 

    “It was a thorough hearing of the issues, and everybody that wanted to speak their piece, for the most part, got it,” he told Yahoo Sports. 

    The COI panel will next make a recommendation for punishment, which the school has an option to appeal. In the past the committee has imposed everything from minor fines and scholarship reductions to forcing a school to vacate wins and/or forfeit postseason eligibility. 

    Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel recently said he has not had any conversations with the NCAA about a potential postseason ban.

    “What I can point to is that Charlie Baker, when we won the championship, said they won it fair and square,” Manuel told 247Sports. “That’s something I can say that gives me some sense that they understand that this was a team who won that championship fair and square. I look at that, and as we move forward, we’ll see how it goes.” 

    In its January response to the NCAA’s notice of allegations, Michigan accused the NCAA of “grossly overreaching” and “wildly overcharging” the university despite a lack of evidence, according to documents obtained by Yahoo Sports. The school contends that out of 52 games involving Michigan opponents that Stalions allegedly scouted, only one was attended by Stalions himself. 

    Eight others were attended by then-Michigan…

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  • Tar Heels players embrace new world as part of coach Bill Belichick’s first college team

    Tar Heels players embrace new world as part of coach Bill Belichick’s first college team

    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Jordan Shipp remembers the conversation with his roommates after learning Bill Belichick was North Carolina’s new coach.

    “It was just like, ‘That’s the greatest coach of all time,’” the receiver recalled, “‘and he’s about to be coaching us.’”

    Belichick’s arrival has triggered plenty of change for the Tar Heels, who are making a big bet on the man who won six Super Bowls as an NFL head coach to spark their football program. No one knows that better than the players — both the holdovers and the transfer-portal arrivals — after months of Belichick overhauling the roster and building the foundation on his first college team.

    North Carolina players hadn’t spoken to reporters since last year’s team ended its season with a Fenway Bowl loss to UConn three days after Christmas, all of which came after Belichick had been hired as coach for the 2025 season.

    So Tuesday marked the first time UNC had made players available to reporters since then to discuss Belichick’s arrival. That has meant being coached by someone with a long track record of success at the sport’s highest level, along with getting a peek behind the terse and grumpy persona he was known for with the New England Patriots.

    Defensive back Will Hardy said the players are used to curiosity that comes with being coached by the NFL lifer now giving college a try.

    “There’s a lot of that, you get a lot of ‘How is Coach Belichick? What’s new? What’s different?’” Hardy said. “So I’ve rehearsed these questions a lot with family and friends.”

    Formative stages

    The school hired Belichick in December to elevate the program at a time when football’s role as the revenue driver in college sports has never been bigger.

    He and general manager Michael Lombardi have described their goal as building a pro-style model at the college level. It’s been a key pitch as the 73-year-old Belichick made his first…

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  • Top NFL minicamp takeaways: Second-year star ‘fine’ after injury scare; Breece Hall brushes off trade rumors

    Top NFL minicamp takeaways: Second-year star ‘fine’ after injury scare; Breece Hall brushes off trade rumors

    The offseason program is ramping up across the NFL, with teams either in the thick of minicamp or wrapping up OTAs before they enter the mandatory sessions leading up to the summer break. 

    While these workouts won’t give us any definitive answers about what’s to come during the 2025 season, they do lay the groundwork for training camp and position battles that may unfold. Believe it or not, this time of the year is centered more around players who are not on the field and holding out for contractual reasons. The Commanders, Bengals and Steelers are all missing key start as they seek contract extensions. 

    There’s been no shortage of storylines, and Wednesday was no exception. There was an injury scare to one of the league’s brightest young wide receivers and a health update from a former All-Pro running back as he begins his tenure with a new team. 

    To get you caught up on all the latest in the NFL during minicamp, check out our takeaways below. 

    Brian Thomas Jr. took the NFL by storm during…

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  • Arch Manning hype questioned by LSU’s Brian Kelly

    Arch Manning hype questioned by LSU’s Brian Kelly

    The question is, will Arch Manning live up to the hype? Brian Kelly weighs in.

    As the Texas Longhorns prepare for their inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference, the spotlight on quarterback Arch Manning continues to intensify. However, LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly is urging caution before crowning Manning among the SEC’s elite, instead highlighting the proven experience of his own quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier.

    During a recent appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast, Kelly acknowledged Manning’s record and talent but emphasized the challenges that come with playing quarterback in the SEC.

    “Look, we hear it every day because [Manning is] from Louisiana. … And listen, there’s another guy that hears it all the time and that’s Garrett Nussmeier,” Kelly said. “He’s committed, and more than anything else, he’s experienced. And in this league, you need to see the bullets flying.”

    Kelly praised Manning’s potential but stressed the importance of on-field production and resilience.

    “Now, Manning is extremely talented. But he’s got to go do it. And there’s going to be a couple of days where it doesn’t come out the way it’s supposed to,” Kelly continued. “How do you bounce back, how do you come back from that? How does it work the next week in your gameplan? So there’s a lot out there. I can see the assessment of Manning, he’s an outstanding player. But I’ll take the guy that’s been in the SEC and seen what it looks like.”

    Both Manning and Nussmeier are expected to be among the top quarterbacks in the SEC this season, alongside South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Florida’s DJ Lagway. Manning, who started two games in 2024, finished the year with 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, and added 108 rushing yards with four scores on the ground….

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