NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • Metallica finally visits Lane Stadium on tour 25 years after ‘Enter Sandman’ became Virginia Tech tradition

    Metallica finally visits Lane Stadium on tour 25 years after ‘Enter Sandman’ became Virginia Tech tradition

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    There are many great entrances in college football, but few are as electric or as loud as Virginia Tech running out to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” for a big game (especially at night). 

    What started as a fan’s choice between three songs — “Enter Sandman,” “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sirius” — when Virginia Tech debuted its new video board in 2000 became an iconic tradition at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. Eventually, fans started jumping up and down in unison as the thunderous intro kicks in, with 60,000-plus (most of whom weren’t born when this song came out) belting out the lyrics as the Hokies run onto the field. The stadium’s bounce has registered on local seismographs on multiple occasions. 

    Despite calls for Metallica to play a live intro or make its way to Blacksburg, the closest they’ve ever gotten to having the legendary band on site was a pre-recorded video before a 2011 game against Miami. That is until Wednesday night, when Metallica finally makes its first appearance at Lane Stadium for a stop on their M72 World Tour. 

    It is going to be an incredible atmosphere for Metallica live in Blacksburg, particularly when that opening rift for “Enter Sandman” kicks in and the stadium gets to jumping. We don’t often see stadium tours hit college towns outside major metropolitan areas — places like Blacksburg aren’t exactly the easiest trip to make — but Metallica’s visit to Lane Stadium sold out quickly. For a long time, resale tickets were extremely pricey for what figures to be the most unique stop on their tour. 

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  • Derek Carr believes he injured shoulder vs. Giants, surgery reportedly still on the table

    Derek Carr believes he injured shoulder vs. Giants, surgery reportedly still on the table

    Last month, a strange and random report surfaced concerning New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr. NFL Media reported that Carr was dealing with a shoulder injury that could threaten his availability for the 2025 season. No other details were given, and it was unclear when he suffered the injury.

    This of course led to speculation about Carr’s relationship with the Saints. Carr attempted to shut down these rumors during a recent appearance at a Las Vegas-area church, saying “there’s nothing wrong” between him and the Saints, and on Tuesday, NFL Media revealed more about the situation.

    NFL Media reports that Carr has been to New Orleans twice in recent weeks to meet with the Saints team doctor. Furthermore, the veteran quarterback believes he injured his throwing shoulder in the Week 14, 14-11 win over the New York Giants — which was the same game where he broke his hand and suffered a concussion. That ended up being Carr’s final appearance of the year.

    As for why we are just finding out about this shoulder injury, the report states that Carr did not start meaningfully throwing until the spring, and that’s when he noticed the issue. While surgery is on the table, Carr reportedly would like to avoid going under the knife since he’s had surgery on his right arm before. As of now, the Saints are trying to figure out what’s best for the team, and Carr is trying to figure out what’s best for his shoulder. A decision is reportedly expected sooner rather than later. 

    In Carr’s 10 starts last season, he went 5-5 while throwing for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. The five games Carr won were the only victories the Saints had all season, as Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener went a combined 0-7. If Carr were to miss the start of the 2025 season or the year entirely, No. 40 overall pick Tyler Shough is a name to watch.

    The 25-year-old rookie was a signal-caller…

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  • Cutting Justin Tucker allows the Ravens and NFL to use ‘football decision’ as a shield

    Cutting Justin Tucker allows the Ravens and NFL to use ‘football decision’ as a shield

    (This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

    Justin Tucker’s release by the Baltimore Ravens offers a glimpse into the team’s culture and how the NFL tends to handle uncomfortable or controversial situations — especially when legal or personal conduct issues are involved.

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    From the “Inside Coverage” podcast, Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz, Frank Schwab and Jori Epstein discussed the complexity of the decision and what it really says about the Ravens and, by extension, the league.

    The trio agreed: this situation will be quietly swept under the rug, and once Tucker is out of sight on the field, he’ll quickly be out of mind for the league and most fans. It’s a process we’ve seen before, and, barring any criminal developments, the Ravens and the NFL will likely move on with little more said.

    The Ravens were very deliberate in labeling Tucker’s release a “football decision,” repeating that language in their official statement. As Epstein pointed out: “When people actually make football decisions, they don’t usually say this is a football decision.” This suggests the organization was using that phrase to avoid directly addressing the serious off-field allegations against Tucker (multiple accusations of improper conduct from massage therapists, which is being investigated by the league).

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    Epstein also highlighted that the Ravens have a history of employing players with sexual assault or domestic violence allegations. This paints a picture of a team that often chooses to manage and sidestep these issues rather than taking a clear moral stance.

    Schwab noted the “coldness” and legal calculation behind the Ravens’ language, emphasizing they want to avoid liability or being caught in denial if it turns out they knew something.

    Justin Tucker is no longer with the Ravens. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

    (G Fiume…..

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  • Scott Frost reportedly receives 5-year, $22.1 million deal to return to UCF

    Scott Frost reportedly receives 5-year, $22.1 million deal to return to UCF

    Scott Frost isn’t taking much of a pay cut moving back to UCF after all.

    Frost, who was hired to return to lead the Knights in December, received a five-year, $22.1 million deal with the school, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday. Frost will start out making $3.9 million a year, just shy of the $4 million he was making in his last season at Nebraska. He will slowly increase his salary before it hits $5 million in the final year.

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    There are several standard bonuses in the deal, including a $75,000 bonus if the Knights reach the Big 12 championship game. If the Knights reach a bowl game this season, his contract will automatically be extended by one year.

    By comparison, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is the highest-paid college football coach in the country. He makes just more than $13 million per season. Only eight other coaches in the country, including Colorado’s Deion Sanders and new North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, make at least $10 million.

    Frost got his start at the college level at UCF, where he led the team to a 13-0 season in 2017 and a win at the Peach Bowl. That led him to take the Nebraska job the following fall, though he struggled with the Cornhuskers. He went just 16-31 there and failed to reach a bowl game before he was fired after just three games in the 2022 campaign.

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    Frost spent last season working as an offensive analyst with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay. He previously worked as an offensive coordinator and assistant at Oregon, too.

    Frost is returning to take over for Gus Malzahn in Orlando. Malzahn left UCF in November to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State after just four seasons. The Knights went 4-8 last year and went just 2-7 in Big 12 play. They failed to reach a bowl game for the first time since 2015.

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  • Unsigned All-Pro safety Justin Simmons wants to join Eagles for 2025 NFL season, per report

    Unsigned All-Pro safety Justin Simmons wants to join Eagles for 2025 NFL season, per report

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    Justin Simmons said at the start of 2025 NFL free agency that the Philadelphia Eagles were high on his wish list of prospective teams. Months later, the All-Pro safety remains unsigned, but he’s apparently even more convicted about wanting to join the reigning Super Bowl champions for his 10th season.

    “He wants to come to Philadelphia,” NFL Media’s Brian Baldinger said of Simmons this week. “He wants to be there. … Just find him a house in South Jersey. He’s gonna be here.”

    Baldinger is a former Eagles offensive lineman who still regularly contributes to team broadcasts and media. Yet he’s not the only one to connect the dots between Simmons and Philadelphia, where the Eagles employ the safety’s former Denver Broncos head coach in Vic Fangio. Remember, Simmons himself identified the Eagles as a top potential landing spot upon his…

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  • Georgia football recruiting: Jared Curtis, No. 1 QB for 2026, recommits to Bulldogs to end battle with Oregon

    Georgia football recruiting: Jared Curtis, No. 1 QB for 2026, recommits to Bulldogs to end battle with Oregon

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    Jared Curtis, the No. 1 quarterback recruit for the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, recommitted to Georgia on 247Sports’ YouTube channel and ending a tight recruiting battle with Oregon. Curtis originally committed to Georgia in March 2024 but backed off this past October; however, he reaffirmed his pledge to give the Bulldogs a blue-chip quarterback for the upcoming cycle. 

    Curtis would be the highest-ranked quarterback to sign with Georgia out of high school since Justin Fields in 2018 — the No. 2 ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class.

    Georgia’s success with quarterbacks on the recruiting trail goes back a few years now. The Bulldogs secured a commitment from a pair of four stars (Ryan Montgomery, 2025; Ryan Puglisi, 2024) who will occupy the depth chart this fall. 

    Here’s more on Curtis from 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins: 

    Refined and polished passer that matches a higher floor with a higher ceiling. Possess not only the desired build for the position, but also elite pocket-passing qualities to go along with some slick athleticism. Has both the arm and the eyes to constantly tax defenses. Smooth mechanics result in pin-point accuracy on the basic throws while a powerful base helps serve up lasers to both the second and third levels. Adept at altering the velocity and trajectory when needed. Side steps pressure with subtle movements to stay pass-ready and will drop the elbow to sling it around incoming bodies. 

    Curtis’ commitment helped Georgia’s class jump nine spots to No. 17. He joins a recruiting class that already…

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  • Matthew Stafford, Rams will have another early offseason of uncertainty

    Matthew Stafford, Rams will have another early offseason of uncertainty

    In the NFL, no deal is ever done until it’s done. Now that quarterback Matthew Stafford’s new deal with the Rams is officially done, the two-year deal will once again tee up the question, after the next season, of whether the Rams and Stafford are done.

    He ends up with $44 million this year, with no guarantees beyond 2025 — for injury or otherwise. The Rams will have until the fifth day of the next league year in March, when his 2026 salary of $40 million becomes fully guaranteed, to cut him. The Rams also will have the ability to trade Stafford, since they’ll hold his contractual rights through 2026.

    We don’t, and won’t, know whether the Rams have informally agreed to grant Stafford his outright release, if he decides he wants to finish his career elsewhere. If a new team can sign him without giving the Rams a draft pick or two, that’s more money they’ll be willing to pay Stafford next year.

    He could have gotten a firm $90 million (or more) on a two-year deal with the Raiders or Giants. But Stafford seems to be content to go one year at a time with the Rams, confident that another team (if not the Rams) will pay him fairly in 2026.

    It’s a good deal for the Rams. At $42 million per year on his new contract, Stafford currently ranks 15th in the NFL. And he’s still better than the 15th best quarterback.

    And Stafford, unlike plenty of starting quarterbacks, is willing to play in the current year with no financial security beyond it.

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  • Auburn football makes top four of three-star OL Dalton Toothman

    Auburn football makes top four of three-star OL Dalton Toothman

    Mississippi’s No. 22 recruit from the 2026 cycle is heavily considering Auburn after trimming his list.

    Auburn remains in the running to land a three-star offensive lineman from Mississippi after he revealed his final four.

    Dalton Toothman, a three-star offensive lineman from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, announced his final four over the weekend, which includes Auburn. Hugh Freeze and the Tigers’ coaching staff will need to battle in-state programs Ole Miss and Mississippi State, as well as ACC power Clemson, to land his signature.

    “#AGTG I would like to thank God for putting me in this position and I’m truly grateful for all the coaches throughout this journey that have blessed me with an incredible opportunity. With that being said, this is my Final 4,” Toothman shared via X (Twitter) on Sunday. ‘

    Ahead of his commitment date, which has not been set at the time of publishing, Toothman will take an official visit to every school in his top four. As has been the case with several of Auburn’s top targets, Toothman will kick off his official visit tour on May 16 in Auburn. He will then visit Clemson on May 30, Ole Miss on June 6, and Mississippi State on June 13.

    Toothman is listed as a three-star offensive lineman by 247Sports and On3 and ranks as high as the No. 16 recruit from Mississippi for the 2026 cycle. 247Sports has not logged a crystal ball prediction for Toothman, but On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine favors Auburn with an 86.4% forecast.

    Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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