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  • Texans’ Laremy Tunsil says there’s a ‘whole new vibe’ with new head coach DeMeco Ryans, QB C.J. Stroud

    Texans’ Laremy Tunsil says there’s a ‘whole new vibe’ with new head coach DeMeco Ryans, QB C.J. Stroud

    The Houston Texans have struggled in recent years, but some offseason changes have the team optimistic for the 2023 season. Star offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil said the feeling of the team is different than in years past.

    Houston has a new head coach in DeMeco Ryans and a new quarterback in C.J. Stroud. Adding Stroud was part of an aggressive draft approach, selecting Stroud at No. 2 and then trading up for Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3.

    “It’s a whole new vibe, man,” Tunsil said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “[Coach] DeMeco [Ryans] came in with that energy he brought from San Fran and just changed the whole vibe around the building, and that’s something that we needed, especially since these last past three years we’ve been in a rut. So DeMeco comes in the building, he brought some new coaches, we’ve got some new players. Man, it’s just a whole new vibe that’s in that building. It feels great to be there.”

    Tunsil likes what he sees so far in Stroud, and the team and the fans are hoping they found their quarterback for the future. The Texans have had eight quarterbacks start at least one game since…

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  • 4 Browns who could be first-time Pro Bowlers in 2023

    4 Browns who could be first-time Pro Bowlers in 2023

    The Browns have not had a shortage of Pro Bowlers on their roster despite a subpar record a season ago. All of Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Amari Cooper, Za’Darius Smith, Deshaun Watson, and Jack Conklin have made Pro Bowls at some point in their careers. However, could the likes of wide receiver Elijah Moore join those ranks as he looks for a fresh start?

    Moore may not be the only one who could be looking at their first Pro Bowl appearance this season for the Browns. Here are three other players including Moore who could be in-line for their first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2023.

    WR Elijah Moore

    (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

    While his production in New York was subpar, leading to a tumultuous ending between the two sides, the film does not lie: wide receiver Elijah Moore was always open. And now as he enters an offensive system where he may just be the second option in the passing game behind Amari Cooper, Moore has a large sum of targets on the horizon.

    There is no shortage of ways to get the ball into Moore’s hands, and the Browns have been active in seeking those out through minicamp. Look for Moore to take complete advantage of his fresh start in Cleveland as he continues to develop a rapport with Deshaun Watson.

    CB Greg Newsome II

    Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

    Greg Newsome II had a dynamite rookie season for the Browns. And then he was asked to play in the nickel full-time and he did not have kind things to say about his experience. However, now he will be back on the outside on a healthy chunk of snaps as the Browns will do more matching inside instead of Newsome being the full-time nickel.

    And as he transitions back outside, we should start to see the player that took the field in 2021. The Browns have a talented secondary who should be able to put seatbelts on opposing wide receivers. And Newsome may just be the biggest beneficiary of the change at defensive coordinator.

    Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY…

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  • Georgia football recruiting: Four-star DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye commits as Dawgs stockpile blue-chip prospects

    Georgia football recruiting: Four-star DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye commits as Dawgs stockpile blue-chip prospects

    247Sports

    Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, a four-star defensive lineman in the Class of 2024, announced his commitment to Georgia, giving Kirby Smart’s program yet another blue-chip talent to extend its recruiting lead. Jonah-Ajonye, a 6-foot-4, 275-pounder from Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, Texas, chose the Bulldogs over Georgia Tech, Oregon and Oklahoma. 

    “I really love the coaching staff, the fans are amazing people, and just the city of Athens in general,” Jonah-Ajonye told 247Sports.

    Jonah-Ajonye is ranked No. 65 overall and is the No. 11-ranked defensive lineman in the recruiting cycle. Gabe Brooks, national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, provided this scouting report on the newest member of the Georgia recruiting class: 

    Big-framed, scheme-versatile defensive lineman with jumbo edge dimensions and true interior frame capacity over the next few years. Pushing 6-foot-4 with a 6-10+ wingspan. Powerful at the point of attack with long levers that can separate from blockers. Displays engagement strength to knock opponents on their heels.

    Functional athlete who can redirect better than expected relative to size / role. That broadens an already wide pursuit range thanks to closing speed and motor. Works his way back into plays that initially aren’t there for him. Appears to be extremely personnel versatile. Already owns experience outside and inside in odd and even fronts.

    His commitment to Georgia extends its lead in the race for the 2024 national recruiting title. Smart has commitments from 24 prospects,…

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  • DeAndre Hopkins rumors: Chiefs still in contact with free agent wide receiver, per report

    DeAndre Hopkins rumors: Chiefs still in contact with free agent wide receiver, per report

    DeAndre Hopkins may be 31, but the former Pro Bowler has no plans to call it a career anytime soon, hinting Thursday that he’s got at least another half-decade of football in the tank. Despite buzz about the wide receiver potentially landing with the Patriots or Titans, the Chiefs remain another possibility, according to ESPN, as they remain in talks with the free agent.

    “The Chiefs have kept in contact,” Jeremy Fowler reported recently, “and they have, certainly, some interest.”

    The issue is money, as has been the case since Hopkins initially became available via trade early this offseason. Kansas City has just over $400,000 in current salary cap space — the least in the NFL — and Hopkins is reportedly seeking a deal in the range of the $15 million one-year pact that Odell Beckham Jr. landed with the Ravens. The Chiefs could free up money to pursue Hopkins “more aggressively” by extending star defensive tackle Chris Jones, per Fowler, but that might not happen until late in the summer.

    In the meantime, the Patriots and Titans are the perceived front-runners to land the former Texans and Cardinals standout, though Houston reportedly also hosted the former All-Pro on an unofficial visit after his release from Arizona.

    The Chiefs acquired former Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney via trade during their 2022 Super Bowl season, and they also spent a second-rounder on rookie Rashee Rice. But they lost starting wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency and could arguably use another veteran to plug in opposite former Packers speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

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  • Muskogee’s Prentice Joseph talks keys of recruiting for football seniors

    Muskogee’s Prentice Joseph talks keys of recruiting for football seniors

    Jul. 6—Going from high school to college football for student-athletes takes a lot of work and patience.

    Muskogee football’s senior class is garnering a lot of attention from college recruiters. Prentice Joseph, Muskogee defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, said the 2024 class has 11 players with at least one scholarship offer from a Division II college or higher.

    Those scholarship offers didn’t appear from luck, it came from Joseph putting in the work and making sure the kids put in the work necessary, too.

    The skill level on the field for student-athletes is a major aspect of their recruitment. Joseph said he believes the classroom is the key part.

    “The classroom is the biggest aspect in recruiting in my opinion,” Joseph said. “First, you got to be able to get into to the school. Once you’re able to get in, you’re more recruitable because a lot of schools like to save money. How do schools save money? Well, if this kid can get a lot of academic money, then they save on football money. That makes you more marketable. It’s always good to take care of your business in the classroom and luckily my kids understand that.”

    It may be hard for high schools to market its student-athletes to the college ranks considering there are more than a million high school football seniors per year and only 7.3% of the seniors play in college, according to the NCAA.

    Joseph said it’s about having connections with college coaches and pinpointing schools would most benefit his student-athletes.

    “So a lot of that is a lot of research,” Joseph said. “I look at schools and schemes and what they run and if we have a kid that can fit, then I reach out to that school and say I have a kid that reminds me of the same things as this guy on your team that does kind of the same things. It might be a coach I know. If it’s a coach I know, I…

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  • Ranking all 32 NFL helmets from worst to first

    Ranking all 32 NFL helmets from worst to first

    Who has the best-looking helmet in the NFL? Who has the worst?

    The players may frequently change in the NFL, but the helmets stay the same.

    Well, most of them. Today’s NFL helmets are a varied crop of designs, both old and new. Here’s how we think they shake down from No. 32 to No. 1.

    (Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports)

    Dan Snyder did the right thing by moving on from the team’s old nickname. Now he has to do the right thing and move on from being NFL Alabama.

    Poor Houston fans. The Oilers had a top-five helmet, but it was replaced by the Texans and a bull’s head on an acid trip.

    The raven should look a lot scarier. This one looks like it’s waiting for you to drop your sandwich.

    Switching from white to blue was an improvement, but not enough to vault it out of the bottom five. Still the worst logo in the league.

    (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)

    There’s something here, but the teal tongue screams ’90s.

    The Rams tried to modernize an old-school look with their latest design and it just didn’t work. Can’t have your cake and eat it, too.

    (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

    It’s been decades, but we still miss the red helmets.

    The Panthers’ overall presentation is supremely underrated — maybe one of the best looks of any expansion-era team — but the helmets on their own are just average.

    (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

    Bring back Pat Patriot, you cowards!

    (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

    Every other helmet ranking probably has the Cowboys in the top five, but we’re brave enough to ask what the big deal is.

    If the Patriots logo were a horse.

    (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

    Imagine having a helmet featuring a dolphin wearing a helmet … and thinking it needed to be changed.

    We should like these helmets more than we do.

    (Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)

    The Niners kick off a little run here of teams with letters on their helmets. Let’s be honest. It’s hard to make those look all that cool.

    (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

    The Packers can’t do it.

    Neither can the…

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  • 2023 Preseason All-Big 12 football team: Texas leads the way, Kansas’ Jalon Daniels earns top offensive honor

    2023 Preseason All-Big 12 football team: Texas leads the way, Kansas’ Jalon Daniels earns top offensive honor

    USASI

    The Big 12 released its annual Preseason All-Big 12 squad on Wednesday ahead of the conference’s media days scheduled for next week. Texas, the betting favorite to win the conference, led the way with five total players. That list is headlined by the preseason Defensive Player of the Year Jaylan Ford and the conference’s only unanimous pick in wide receiver Xavier Worthy. 

    Kansas, Kansas State and TCU all had four selections. Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels was tabbed the conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Kansas State running back Treshaun Ward was named Newcomer of the Year. Oklahoma State was next on the list three. 

    Defensive lineman Ethan Downs is the only Oklahoma player on the list as the Sooners are looking for playmakers to step up after last year’s disappointing 6-7 campaign. Baylor, Iowa State and West Virginia all had one player honored. 

    Cincinnati was first among the conference’s newcomers with two selections. BYU had one in offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia. No UCF and Houston players were picked. 

    Here is a look at the Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team ahead of the 2023 season. 

    Star denotes unanimous selection.

    All-Big 12 Offense

    QB

    Jalon Daniels

    Kansas

    RB

    Richard Reese

    Baylor

    RB

    Devin Neal

    Kansas

    FB…

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  • Agent’s Take: NFL franchise tag deadline looms for Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley and others; what to expect

    Agent’s Take: NFL franchise tag deadline looms for Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley and others; what to expect

    Time is running out for NFL teams to sign long-term players who were given franchise designations. The deadline for franchise players to sign multi-year contracts is Monday, July 17 at 4 p.m. ET. After this deadline passes, players with franchise tags are prohibited from signing long-term deals until the end of the regular season on Jan. 7, 2023.

    Six players received franchise player designations this year. Two have signed long term.

    The Commanders didn’t waste any time in locking up defensive tackle Daron Payne, who had been given an $18.937 million franchise tag. Payne signed a four-year, $90 million contract to become the NFL’s second-highest paid interior defensive lineman at $22.5 million per year on March 14, a day before the 2023 league year started. The deal has $60.02 million in guarantees, of which $46.01 million was fully guaranteed at signing.

    The Ravens took a calculated risk by giving a non-exclusive franchise designation to quarterback Lamar Jackson for $32.416 million, which allowed him to solicit offers from other NFL teams. Surprisingly, some quarterback-needy teams where Jackson would have been a significant upgrade were quick to publicly state there wouldn’t be any interest in him.

    The 2019 NFL MVP received a contract, which was agreed to shortly before the start of the NFL Draft on April 27, making him the league’s highest-paid player. The NFL world had been closely monitoring Jackson’s contract situation because he represented himself.

    Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million deal, averaging $52 million per year. There are $185 million of overall guarantees in the contract where $135 million is fully guaranteed. The $135 million fully guaranteed at signing includes an NFL record $72.5 million signing bonus.

    Jackson has a no-trade clause. There’s also a provision preventing the Ravens from designating Jackson as a franchise or transition player when the deal…

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