Author: nfltalk

  • Ex-Giants OL Roman Oben named SEC Associate Commissioner for Football

    Ex-Giants OL Roman Oben named SEC Associate Commissioner for Football

    Former New York Giants offensive lineman Roman Oben may have stopped playing football professionally in 2007, but he never truly left the game. He worked in broadcast media as a football analyst and held executive positions in sales and business development before joining the NFL league office in 2015.

    Oben served in various capacities within the league office for 10 years. Now, he is joining the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference (SEC) as its Associate Commissioner for Football.

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    “Roman Oben brings a rare combination of elite football experience and high-level sports-business leadership, with more than 15 years serving in senior executive and board roles across professional football, collegiate athletics, and global sport development,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

    “Roman is well-positioned to grow SEC football through campus engagement and innovative operational strategies, and he will play a central role in advancing the SEC’s national influence and long-term success in college football.”

    In his new role, Oben will be the primary contact for head football coaches, administrators, and national governing bodies, and he will report directly to the Commissioner.

    “Joining the SEC is an incredible honor,” Roman said. “The tradition, competition and passion of SEC football are unmatched, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve its coaches, administrators, and student-athletes. I look forward to working with Commissioner Sankey, Charlie Hussey and the outstanding leadership within this conference to strengthen alignment, support institutional priorities, and advance the game with integrity, clarity and purpose.”

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    Oben will maintain regular engagement with SEC institutions and will represent the SEC in national working groups and policy discussions, supporting initiatives that prioritize…

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  • Joey Porter says Steelers protected Ben Roethlisberger, but QB wasn’t a ‘good person’

    Joey Porter says Steelers protected Ben Roethlisberger, but QB wasn’t a ‘good person’

    While he never played for the coach, former Steelers outside linebacker Joey Porter is going to bat for Mike Tomlin while taking aim at two former teammates who have been outspoken about Tomlin since he decided to step down as Pittsburgh’s leader. 

    Fellow former Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison has been extremely vocal in his criticism of Tomlin, going as far as to say he isn’t a Hall of Fame-caliber coach. Former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t been as extreme, but he did make headlines when he suggested late in the 2025 season that Tomlin should become Penn State’s new coach. Roethlisberger has since said on his podcast that it was probably time for a change regarding the Steelers’ coaching post. 

    Porter, who also served on Pittsburgh’s coaching staff from 2015-18, was largely diplomatic in terms of his comments regarding Harrison, but things got personal when he discussed Roethlisberger, his teammate from 2004-06. 

    “Seven definitely broke the brotherhood,” Porter said on Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward’s podcast. “The shit that Seven did that we don’t talk about is crazy. Out of anybody, he should never grab a microphone and really talk Steelers business, because if we’re talking Steelers business, his ass is foul of all foul, like the shit that he did is foul of all foul. 

    “He’s not a good teammate. Won a Super Bowl with him, but the person, he’s just not a good teammate. Like he knows that, anybody in the Steeler building knows that, but we protected him, because I’ve only won one Super Bowl, and that was my quarterback. So do I love my quarterback? Yeah, but is he a good person? No.” 

    When asked why he felt Roethlisberger was a bad teammate, Porter mentioned that Roethlisberger did not sign autographs for teammates’ family members during his rookie season. Porter, a team captain at the time, decided to have a meeting with Roethlisberger after he…

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  • Parker Kingston arrested: Top BYU receiver facing first-degree felony rape charge

    Parker Kingston arrested: Top BYU receiver facing first-degree felony rape charge

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    BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston was arrested and charged Tuesday with first-degree felony rape in Washington County, Utah. The Washington County attorney’s office said in a news release Wednesday that the charges stem from an alleged Feb. 23, 2025 incident in St. George, Utah.

    Washington County Attorney Jerry Jaeger said the investigation began after the alleged victim, a then-20-year-old woman, went to the hospital and reported that she was sexually assaulted by Kingston. 

    “Detectives with the St. George Police Department then gathered digital and forensic evidence. They also conducted interviews with the parties involved and other witnesses. The information was then turned over to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for review,” the Washington County attorney’s office said in a news release.

    Kingston, 21, is currently being held in jail without bail and is scheduled to appear in Utah’s 5th Judicial District Court on Friday.

    “BYU became aware today of the arrest of Parker Kingston,” BYU athletics said in a statement. “The university takes any allegation very seriously, and will cooperate with law enforcement. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.”

    Kingston finished the 2025 season as BYU’s top pass catcher with 66 catches for 924 yards and five touchdowns. He announced Jan. 2 that he intended to return to BYU for his final college season. 

    Kingston’s arrest comes less than a year after quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of sex assault in a civil…

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  • Bengals projected to reunite with D.J. Reader

    Bengals projected to reunite with D.J. Reader

    The NFL offseason is in full swing, and the Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly ready to spend to help fix one of the league’s worst defenses to support a star-studded offense. With the legal tampering period just under a month away, the focus has turned to what free agents they can attract.

    FOX Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman has predicted that the Bengals will attack the interior of their defensive line with a familiar face. Auman sees the Bengals signing defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a one-year contract this offseason.

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    Reader has finished the two-year deal he signed with the Detroit Lions after leaving Cincinnati ahead of the 2024 season.

    “Reader, 31, just finished a two-year, $22 million contract with Detroit, starting every game as nose tackle. There’s talk he could return to Cincinnati, where he played from 2020-23, and the Bengals could use his presence up front after finishing dead last against the run and bottom three in points and yards allowed in 2025. In his prime with the Bengals, he was graded as a top-10 defensive lineman, and he’s not that anymore, but could still be a match in the $6 million range,” Auman wrote.

    Reader is coming off of his first season without a sack since 2022, but the Bengals should be more interested in his ability to stop the run. Reader would likely be in more of a rotational role than his first stint in Cincinnati, but on a young defense that needs leadership, Reader would be just what the doctor ordered.

    Auman puts Reader’s projected contract in the $6 million range, but Pro Football Focus projected Reader to get a one-year contract worth $4.5 million. Anywhere in the $4-$6 million range should be something the Bengals are comfortable with. They have also shown to value familiarity, something they certainly have with Reader.

    Keep your eyes out for a potential reunion in March.

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  • 3-star 2027 quarterback Derrick Baker commits to Tennessee

    3-star 2027 quarterback Derrick Baker commits to Tennessee

    Tennessee has added a quarterback to its early class of 2027, grabbing a commitment from 3-star passer Derrick Baker. The 6-2, 220 pound prospect is out of Alpharetta, Georgia, playing at Milton High School.

    The 3-star recruit ranks as the 539th overall prospect in the class of 2027, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He’s the 37th ranked quarterback in the cycle as things currently stand. Baker picked up his Tennessee offer over the summer following a camp appearance in June.

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    Baker chose Tennessee over offers from Florida State, Indiana, Ohio State, Auburn and several other power-four schools. He’s highly regarded for his overall power, both as a runner and a passer, which makes him a nice fit on paper for Josh Heupel’s offense.

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    Tennessee has made a habit of chasing elite quarterback talent in recent years, but they go for a more under-the-radar guy here in the class of 2027. That makes plenty of sense too, with 5-star, No. 2 overall player from the previous class Faizon Brandon already on the roster and the obvious answer for the future.

    Baker is the fifth commitment of Tennessee’s class of 2027, joining 4-star tackle Princeton Uwaifo, 3-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, 3-star defensive back Kamauri Wakefield and 3-star linebacker JP Peace. Tennessee ranks 17th overall in the way-too-early class rankings, per 247Sports.

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  • Enemy Reaction, Super Bowl 2026: New England Patriots (with bonus 49ers meltdown!)

    Enemy Reaction, Super Bowl 2026: New England Patriots (with bonus 49ers meltdown!)

    The Seattle Seahawks started their regular season by losing to the San Francisco 49ers, ended their regular season by winning the NFC West and top seed over the 49ers in Santa Clara, started their postseason by vanquishing the 49ers at Lumen Field, and ending it with a Super Bowl triumph over the New England Patriots… in Santa Clara. A storybook end to a milestone season for the Seahawks, who now boast two Lombardi Trophies.

    It’s the final Enemy Reaction of the 2025 season. Traditionally, I do Enemy Reaction for the Super Bowl regardless of who is playing. The fact that the Seahawks were in it and won it makes this the sweetest one of all. While Pats Pulpit will be the focus for their game thread live reactions, you know that I’ll be pulling from Niners Nation and other SB Nation NFL sites to sprinkle in some knowledge on which fanbases were rooting for which team.

    Cooper Kupp sets up opening drive field goal (3-0 SEA)

    Bonus reaction from 49ers, Vikings, Bills, and Broncos fans!

    Bonus reactions from 49ers, Vikings, Jets, and Raiders fans

    Bonus reaction from Jets, Giants, 49ers, and Rams fans!

    Bonus reaction from 49ers, Jets, Bills, Dolphins, and Broncos fans!

    Bonus 49ers meltdown!

    Post-Game: Patriots defense deserved better fate (Matt Vautour, Mass Live)

    The Patriots gave up 29 points on Sunday. Seven of those came on an interception return for a touchdown. Seven more were off of a short field set up by a strip sack. Everything else was a field goal.

    The New England defense played a huge role in the Patriots getting to this game and they played well enough to give them a chance to win it.

    They played championship defense. They deserved better.

    They made terrific tackles, athletic pass breakups and kept the pressure on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. But they’ll go home empty-handed.

    Late in the third quarter, the Patriots were lucky to be down just 12-0 with the ball. Thanks to the defense’s outstanding effort, they had a chance to make it a game with one good…

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  • North Dakota State to petition for immediate CFP, postseason access

    North Dakota State to petition for immediate CFP, postseason access

    North Dakota State is preparing to petition the NCAA for immediate access to the College Football Playoff and all competition as a new member of the Football Bowl Subdivision, the school’s athletics director told CBS Sports.

    The FCS powerhouse finalized an agreement Sunday to move to the FBS on July 1, joining the Mountain West as a football-only member beginning next season. Under current NCAA rules, programs transitioning to the FBS must complete a two-year probationary period that bars them from postseason play, including conference championship games and the CFP.

    The Mountain West is aware of NDSU’s plans and will support the school’s petition to the NCAA, a conference spokesperson told CBS Sports.

    North Dakota State intends to argue that the bylaw is outdated, crafted before the transfer portal allowed programs to rapidly upgrade rosters and accelerate competitive timelines. The school intends to ask the NCAA for a waiver next season and also push the organization to permanently revise the rule to allow future transitioning programs immediate postseason eligibility.

    “It’s a very antiquated rule,” NDSU athletics director Matt Larsen told CBS Sports. “A lot of things have changed in our industry, and you could argue that’s an overly punitive rule now.”

    NDSU enters the FBS as the most dominant program in modern FCS history, having won 10 national championships over the past 15 years. The Bison are 9-5 all-time against FBS opponents, including five wins over power conference teams. Their arrival comes during a period of upheaval for the Mountain West, which is rebuilding its membership ahead of the departure of five schools to the Pac-12. The league’s reset coincides with NDSU’s arrival as a potential immediate contender in the…

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