NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • Michigan RB coach Mike Hart won’t return in 2024 as ex-Wolverines star departs staff after three seasons

    Michigan RB coach Mike Hart won’t return in 2024 as ex-Wolverines star departs staff after three seasons

    USATSI

    Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart will not return for the 2024 season, according to 247Sports. A former standout running back for the Wolverines, Hart spent the last three seasons as an assistant on former coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff where he coached three first-team All-Big Ten selections.

    Hart joined Harbaugh’s staff in 2021 after four seasons in the same position at Indiana. He was elevated to run-game coordinator in 2022, and in 2023 he served as co-interim head coach for Michigan’s win against UNLV while Harbaugh served a three-game suspension. 

    Under Hart, Michigan’s rushing attack paved the way to three straight Big Ten titles and a run to the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship. He helped Blake Corum become Michigan’s first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher since Denard Robinson as he also set the program rushing record with 58 scores on the ground in four years. Michigan led the Big Ten in rushing from 2021-22 and finished third in rushing yards per game in 2023. 

    As a player, Hart’s 5,040 career rushing yards still stand as a program record, and his 41 rushing touchdowns rank fourth among Michigan rushers. He was also a three-time All-Big Ten selection and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2006. 

    Hart’s departure is the latest shift in an offseason of change for Michigan football. Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers after guiding the Wolverines to a perfect season and a national title. Michigan turned to offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as his replacement, and he’s been charged with rebuilding the staff as assistants leave…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Kevin Byard signing sends clear message about Bears’ plans ahead of Caleb Williams decision

    Kevin Byard signing sends clear message about Bears’ plans ahead of Caleb Williams decision

    Kevin Byard signing sends clear message about Bears’ plans ahead of Caleb Williams decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

    Bears general manager Ryan Poles filled a key hole Sunday by signing veteran safety Kevin Byard to a two-year contract just one day before the NFL’s legal tampering window opens on Monday at 11 a.m. C.T.

    Byard is a 30-year-old, two-time All-Pro safety who will fill the hole vacated by Eddie Jackson’s release. Byard gives the Bears a free safety, whose skill set should mesh well with Jaquan Brisker. Byard is better in coverage than Jackson and a much surer tackler. Last season, Byard earned a coverage grade of 70.3, per Pro Football Focus, and only missed 4.7 percent of his tackles. Jackson earned a coverage grade of 60.0 and missed 15.6 percent of his tackles. Byard has also started 121 of 130 career games, which gives him a leg up on Jackson in the availability category.

    The signing of Byard checks an important box and sends a message about where Poles believes the Bears are at this point in the rebuild ahead of the expected decision to draft Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

    The Bears gave Byard a two-year, $15 million contract despite the market being flooded with veteran safeties from Justin Simmons to Xavier McKinney and Quandre Diggs.

    Poles could have let the safety market come to him and taken option B or C if Byard had signed elsewhere. Instead, Poles moved fast to lock down a proven veteran safety who should be a clear upgrade over Jackson in 2024 and 2025.

    If Poles didn’t believe the Bears were ready to start contending this fall, there is no reason to give a strong deal to a soon-to-be 31-year-old safety when it’s clear the NFL is devaluing safeties.

    Two years ago or even last year, Poles probably would have stayed patient and waited for a value signing at a preferred number. There’s no reason to jump the gun when realistic contention is far off.

    But the Bears clearly feel it’s no longer far…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Tennessee offers 2025 interior offensive lineman Keiton Jones

    Tennessee offers 2025 interior offensive lineman Keiton Jones

    Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2025 interior offensive lineman prospect Keiton Jones.

    “After an amazing phone conversation with Kevin Pendleton, I am blessed to have received another SEC offer from the University of Tennessee,” Jones said.

    The 6-foot-4, 315-pound interior offensive lineman prospect is from Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville, Kansas.

    Jones ranks as the No. 727 overall prospect in the class of 2025. He ranks as the No. 57 interior offensive lineman prospect and the No. 8 player in Kansas, according to 247Sports.

    Tennessee is the fifth Southeastern Conference school to offer Jones. Arkansas was the first to offer a scholarship on Jan. 27, 2024.

    Jones has scholarship offers from Tennessee, USC, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, Alabama, Purdue, Tulsa, Houston, Auburn, Arkansas, Penn State, Texas Tech, Cincinnati and Pittsburg State.

    Pittsburg State was the first school to offer a scholarship to Jones on June 13, 2023

    Story originally appeared on Vols Wire

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Chiefs’ Chris Jones reaches agreement on contract to become highest-paid DT in NFL history, per report

    Chiefs’ Chris Jones reaches agreement on contract to become highest-paid DT in NFL history, per report

    Chris Jones isn’t going anywhere. The Kansas City Chiefs’ standout defender has agreed to terms on a five-year deal that includes $95 million fully guaranteed, according to NFL Media. Jones’ agency wrote on X that the deal makes Jones the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history. 

    Jones said during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebratory parade that he was going to remain in Kansas City, his only NFL home since breaking into the league in 2016. His words now seem prophetic after he agreed to a deal that will keep him under contract through the 2028 season. 

    It’s hard to argue against Jones becoming the highest-paid defensive tackle in league history. He’s currently rivaling future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald as the top defensive lineman in the NFL. 

    A Pro Bowler each of the last five years, Jones has been tabbed as an All-Pro each of the past two seasons. He racked up a career-best 15.5 sacks in 2022 and had 10.5 sacks in 16 games in 2023. Jones has a career stat line of 75.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. 

    …..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • College Football Playoff negotiations move to more at-large teams amid outcry over Big Ten, SEC automatic byes

    College Football Playoff negotiations move to more at-large teams amid outcry over Big Ten, SEC automatic byes

    Negotiations over a 14-team College Football Playoff format, which would begin in the 2026 season, are trending to featuring more at-large teams amid backlash to bidding from the Big Ten and SEC that would have afforded the conferences a sizable portion of the field and automatic first-round byes each year, sources familiar with the negotiations told CBS Sports.

    When discussions began two weeks ago, sources told CBS Sports that the Big Ten and SEC would seek to receive as many as four automatic qualifiers each — eight total — in an expanded playoff. Coming out of the first College Football Playoff Management Committee meeting, it seemed as if a “3-3-2-2-1” model was gaining the most traction; that would have the Big Ten and SEC receiving three AQs, the ACC and Big 12 getting two each and the Group of Five being guaranteed a playoff bid with three at-large spots remaining.

    As part of that model, the Big Ten and SEC sought to be guaranteed the only two byes in the bracket on an annual basis with their respective conference champions immediately advancing to the second week of play.

    Discussions have pivoted since that proposed format led to a substantial outcry with fairness being immediately called into question.

    “What they’re basically saying is, ‘We don’t trust the selection committee. Therefore, we basically want to take away their power,’” a person familiar with the discussions told CBS Sports. 

    SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has long supported a CFP bracket that includes all at-large teams. The CFP negotiation process has been one of horse trading with conferences going back and forth with their demands. All parties are seeking a resolution within the next few weeks as the CFP seeks to firm up a deal with ESPN for future media…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Giants 2024 NFL free agency and trade buzz: CB Darious Williams to visit NY Sunday

    Giants 2024 NFL free agency and trade buzz: CB Darious Williams to visit NY Sunday

    Here’s the latest Giants free agency and trade buzz during the 2024 NFL offseason…

    March 9, 11:15 a.m.

    Free agent CB Darious Williams is expected to visit with the Giants on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

    Williams, who’ll turn 31 on March 15, was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 5 in a cap-saving move. He signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Jags during the 2022 offseason, and started 29 out of the 34 games he played over two seasons.

    The corner made four interceptions during the 2023 season, plus 19 passes defended, 53 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, and one touchdown.

    Prior to joining the Jaguars, Williams played 43 games with the Los Angeles Rams over four seasons from 2018-2021 and helped the team win Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals, recording eight tackles in the victory.

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Texas A&M football team begins spring ball in less than 2 weeks with brand new coaching staff

    Texas A&M football team begins spring ball in less than 2 weeks with brand new coaching staff

    The Texas A&M football team starts spring ball in less than two weeks on March 22 and it is quickly approaching.

    Mike Elko officially begins his first season in College Station as head coach and brings a brand new staff with him. One of the key personnel is offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach Collin Klein, who will be a huge factor in whether or not junior quarterback Conner Weigman lives up to the Heisman hype.

    Klein recently sat down for a Q&A with the Aggies’ social media team and Weigman had to love what his new OC had to say about what’s in store for Texas A&M this season at Kyle Field.

    “You’re going to have a chance to be the best player in the country on the best team in the country year in and year out,” Klein proclaimed. “That’s what we’re going to build from the ground up and look out!”

    Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

    Story originally appeared on Aggies Wire

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Ravens’ Justin Madubuike signs massive 4-year extension that reportedly makes him 1 of NFL’s highest-paid DTs

    Ravens’ Justin Madubuike signs massive 4-year extension that reportedly makes him 1 of NFL’s highest-paid DTs

    Getty Images

    Justin Madubuike is staying in Baltimore for the long haul. The Ravens have signed the veteran defensive tackle to a whopping four-year, $98 million deal that includes $75.5 million in total guarantees and $53.5 million at signing, according to ESPN. 

    Madubuike is now the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackle in terms of total contract value, according to Spotrac. His contract is $2 million more than Quinnen Williams and $3 million more than Aaron Donald. Donald is still the leader in the clubhouse, though, as his contract is only three years, and the $95 million is completely guaranteed. 

    “Justin is one of the best defensive tackles in the entire NFL and a cornerstone of our defense,” said Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta. “We are thrilled for Justin and his family and equally happy for our fanbase. This is a great way to start the new league year!”

    A Pro Bowler last season, Madubuike racked up a…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More