Category: NFL News

Super Bowl champion Michael Strahan hung up his cleats following the 2007 season at the age of 36 after 15 seasons with the New York Giants. Now 52, Strahan is considering retirement again, this time from television.

Strahan has become a familiar face on television, as a host of multiple shows and serving as an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday. The Good Morning America host is also a dad of four, and his family is one main reason he is considering leaving the small screen.

While on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Strahan discussed his career and his family and how the two impact each other.

His daughter Isabella was diagnosed with brain cancer in October. Strahan has taken some time off to spend more time with his daughter, supporting her through chemotherapy. During an interview on GMA he reflected on the difficulty of the diagnosis. 

“You’d think I’m the athlete, the tough guy, the father in the family. It is not about any of that. It has really made me change my perspective on so many things,” he said.

The diagnosis has emphasized the importance of time with family and it is something he mentions when discussing reasons he would eventually retire. 

“I love my life and I enjoy my life, but at some point, my kids are in college, I want to be able to go to college and say, ‘Yeah let’s take a trip,’ ” he said, rather than have to work around his schedule and the NFL schedule.

While he sees it happening eventually, he would not say how soon it will be. Strahan said he has a bet going with his friend over how many years he will work before retiring, but kept the number private.

“I want a life where there’s some freedom at some point. Is it in two years, three years, five years, fifteen, twenty?” the Giants Ring of Honor member said.

He loves what he is doing now and says it is not about the money, but for the appreciation of the work and wants to make sure it stays that way.

…..

[ad_2]

Read More

ESPN analytics low on big Bears improvements, playoff chances. Inside the numbers originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

On paper, the Bears are one of the most improved teams in the NFL this year. ESPN analytics doesn’t see those improvements leading to significantly more wins in 2024, however.

On NFL Live, ESPN shared that their analytics believes the Bears will win 8.5 games next year– that’s just one or two wins better than last year’s 7-10 record. Further, their analytics gives the Bears just a 42% chance to make the playoffs.

Former NFL safety and front office exec Louis Riddick believes the Bears will outplay the analytics projections, however.

“This is a team that can make drastic, drastic improvements,” Riddick said on NFL Live. “Could this be a team that rises up and surprises people? Yeah, it could, because person for person, when you’re looking at it on a piece of paper or on a computer screen, they have weapons that can match up with anybody, specifically offensively, and they have an offensive line that is very underrated.”

The key for the Bears to outperform ESPN analytics’ projection in Riddick’s estimation is the relation between rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

“Can Shane allow Caleb to control things on the football field to the degree where Caleb is able to consistently make good decisions, not turn the football over, not put the football in harm’s way and not turn every play into the ad-lib play, which he knows he’s spectacular at and he knows that he can’t get away with in the NFL?”

One of the major reasons that ESPN analytics is low on the Bears’ playoff chances is that the NFC North has seemingly become one of the most competitive in the NFL. The Lions were a few plays away from reaching the playoffs last year; the Packers won a playoff game with Jordan Love taking over as the team’s starting quarterback; the Vikings have one of the best receiving duos in the…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

It’s been over 50 years, but time hasn’t diminished the shine of the Dallas Cowboys’ greatest moment. Like several other teams, the Cowboys’ first Super Bowl win remains the greatest victory in franchise history, even though Dallas has enjoyed many other memorable wins in the decades since. 

The Cowboys’ victory on an unseasonably cold New Orleans afternoon in January 1972 is just one of the games included in our following list detailing each NFL’s team’s greatest win. We’ve also included each team’s runner-up greatest victory. 

Greatest win: 1947 NFL Championship: Cardinals 28, Eagles 21 

Runner-up: 2008 NFC Championship: Cardinals 32, Eagles 25 

Ironically, the Cardinals’ two greatest victories came against the same opponent. In the ’47 title game, the Cardinals’ Elmer Angsman, who was born the year the Cardinals won their first title (in 1925), ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to their second title. 

While their offense ran the ball at will, the Cardinals’ defense held Eagles Hall of Fame halfback Steve Van Buren to just 26 yards rushing on 18 carries. Van Buren would then lead Philadelphia to back-to-back championships, while the Cardinals continue to wait for their next NFL title. 

Greatest win: 1998 NFC Championship: Falcons 30, Vikings 27 (OT) 

Runner-up: 2016 NFC Championship: Falcons 44, Packers 21

In one of the most surprising upsets in NFL postseason history, Atlanta’s “Dirty Birds” overcame a 13-point deficit to stun the Vikings, who went 15-1 during the regular season. 

Trailing 27-20, the Falcons caught a break when Vikings kicker Gary Anderson, who did not miss a field goal during the regular season, missed a 38-yard attempt with 2:07 left. Atlanta capitalized on Anderson’s miss, as Chris Chandler hit Terance Mathis for the game-tying touchdown with 57 seconds left in regulation. The teams exchanged punts in overtime before two Chandler…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Aiyuk admits he’s taking 49ers contract negotiations ‘personal’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Football is a business, and Brandon Aiyuk is learning that quickly as he negotiates a contract extension with the 49ers.

As the star wide receiver seeks a lucrative payday, Aiyuk revealed during a recent interview on “The Pivot” podcast how he’s handling the back-and-forth with the only NFL team he has known.

“I’m taking it personal,” Aiyuk said. “I have a vision for what I see myself as, and [the 49ers] don’t see me as that. Or you do, but you don’t — you can’t financially do it. Whatever, whatever, whatever. I’m not sure. I just feel like it’s no hard feelings, though. If you don’t want to do it or you can’t do it, I’m sorry. There’s somebody that will.”

Aiyuk met with the 49ers on Monday, after his episode of “The Pivot” podcast was recorded. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that things went well between the parties, and San Francisco plans to move forward with Aiyuk on the roster this coming season.

It remains to be seen if and when Aiyuk and the 49ers will reach an agreement, but in past contracts, the team typically extended its star players during training camp. Aiyuk reportedly is targeting a new contract in the ballpark of Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s $28 million-per-year deal, but San Francisco’s most recent offer was in the $26 million range, per the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mike Silver.

At the end of the day, Aiyuk told “The Pivot” podcast that he’s just looking out for himself when it comes to his potential extension, and he certainly has a strong opinion about what he’s worth.

“[My priority is to] take care of my family and put myself in position to be the best football player that Brandon Aiyuk can be,” Aiyuk said.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

..

[ad_2]

Read More

During his rookie season, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson showcased his dynamic skill set. Despite only playing in parts of four games, Richardson accounted for 713 total yards and seven touchdowns, regularly creating big plays with his arm and his legs.

Alas, his season was cut short by injuries. Richardson first suffered a concussion and had to sit out part of Week 2 and all of Week 3, then sustained a shoulder injury that necessitated season-ending surgery in Week 5.

Throughout the offseason, there have been sporadic reports regarding Richardson’s progress in his rehabilitation, as well as multiple instances of reported soreness in his shoulder. On Friday, however, Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson of Legacy Sports Advisors, posted a series of videos of Richardson seemingly intended to quell concerns about any sort of lingering injury.

The videos showed Richardson a) executing a reverse windmill dunk; b) ripping a crossing route over the middle; and c) firing a deep ball down the field. Jackson captioned the post, “5 looks good to me,” referring to Richardson’s jersey number.

Richardson is set to be the starter under center again for a Colts offense that performed better than could have reasonably been expected with Gardner Minshew at the helm for most of the season. Head coach Shane Steichen has shown that he can get the most out of a player with a similar skill set to Richardson (Jalen Hurts), and if he can remain healthy, he should be able to make strong progress in Year 2.

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Sports Illustrated predicts Bears make playoffs in 2024. Read their explanation why originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

On Thursday, Sports Illustrated published a list of teams they believe will make the playoffs this season, after missing the postseason last year, and the Bears made the cut. Unsurprisingly, reason No. 1 is new quarterback Caleb Williams.

“His early dealings with the organization have been overwhelmingly positive, the Bears upgraded the offense and Shane Waldron is a really skilled designer of offenses,” wrote Connor Orr.

Beyond Williams, the Bears have added several more playmakers, including wide receiver Keenan Allen, running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett. Of course the Bears will return nearly every starter from their defense, which developed into one of the best units in the league over the course of the 2023 season.

The Bears also have the benefit of playing a last-place schedule, meaning they’ll play against the other last-place finishers in the conference. Several of those teams have not made the same level of personnel improvements as the Bears.

“Peppered throughout Chicago’s schedule are plenty of winnable games and what I’d like to consider “breaks,” though I know the mere mention of any NFL game as easy would cause a coach’s blood to boil,” Orr wrote. “While the end of Williams’s first season will be brutal—with dates against Detroit (twice!), San Francisco and Green Bay—it will be the end of Williams’s first season. In theory, he’ll be better than in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.”

Of course if the Bears make the playoffs this year, it necessarily means that one of the NFC teams who qualified for the postseason last year will be left out this winter. Orr believes the Lions and Packers will still make it into the tournament, meaning the Bears would be the third NFC North team in the playoffs. He’s got the Cowboys as the odd team out.

“Dallas isn’t markedly better than…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Getty Images

For the fourth year in a row, no one will be selected in the NFL supplemental draft. The NFL has informed teams that the supplemental draft will not take place in 2024, according to Sports Illustrated. 

The two players eligible last year were not drafted and this event was not held in 2020, 2021 or 2022. 

This draft serves players in a unique position, who in most cases have experienced a change in eligibility. If a player is ruled ineligible for the college season after the NFL Draft takes place, they have the chance to be part of the supplemental draft and find a team, rather than wait until the next NFL Draft. 

Players need to be at least three years removed from high school to be eligible and can apply through the league office. 

When the supplemental draft has been held, it goes for seven rounds. Teams are put into three groups based on their results the season prior. 

Group one includes teams that had six or fewer wins and did not make the playoffs, the second group are teams that missed the playoffs with six or more wins. The last group is made up of the playoff teams. 

Teams submit bids for players and the team highest in the draft order who submits for a player in the earliest round gets to select that player. If a team selects someone in the supplemental draft, it forfeits the pick in the same round of the follow year’s regular draft. 

The last team to make a selection in the supplemental draft was the Arizona Cardinals, when they picked safety Jalen Thompson in the fifth round in 2019. 

The supplemental draft began in 1977 and initially was for former college students. Since 1993, players who did not attend college were included. 

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Report: Aiyuk, 49ers had ‘good meeting,’ not entertaining trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There has been a positive development in the Brandon Aiyuk contract saga.

The star wide receiver reportedly requested a meeting with the 49ers on Monday as the two sides continue negotiating a lucrative contract extension that is expected to pay Aiyuk near the top of the market at the position.

Monday’s discussion appears to have been productive. Aiyuk and the 49ers had a “good meeting” and San Francisco plans to move forward with Aiyuk on the roster this season, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday on NFL Network’s “The Insiders.”

“Here’s what I can tell you. Aiyuk and 49ers brass met on Monday at Aiyuk’s request,” Pelissero said. “This was a good meeting. From what I was told, both sides said things that needed to be said and they’re going to keep working. It’s important to note here, there’s never been a trade request from Brandon Aiyuk. That hasn’t changed. The 49ers’ stance hasn’t changed either despite getting trade calls on Aiyuk going back to draft week.

“They’re moving forward and they want Aiyuk to be a part of the team in 2024. So what I would anticipate here is all parties involved will go ahead and enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, regroup sometime after that — they’ve still got several weeks here to see if they can hammer out a deal that locks in Brandon Aiyuk with San Francisco for the long haul.”

Aiyuk previously appeared frustrated with the state of negotiations, claiming in a video posted to his TikTok account that the 49ers “don’t want me back” before continuing to address trade rumors on social media on Tuesday.

While an agreement doesn’t appear imminent, there does seem to be positive momentum building, and Monday’s meeting seems to have played an important role.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

..

[ad_2]

Read More