Cam Newton: Return of The Machine

 The New England Patriots have embodied the energy that Cam Newton has brought to the team since signing with the team. Through the first three weeks, the Patriots have have a record of 2-1 behind Cam and have been one of the biggest talking points of the league so far. 

Newton has over 700 yards passing, 2 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions and is currently leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 4. 

People wrote Cam Newton off after being released from the Carolina Panthers. Injuries plagued Newton over the past few years and some wondered if he'd be the same after suffering a serious shoulder injury and having some back and leg problems as well. However, Newton stayed consistent this offseason with his training. There was actual doubt that any team would sign him after the draft. The Patriots and Chargers were front-runners to sign him [Newton]. However, after Chargers drafted Justin Herbert it became clear that they had an idea of what they were going to do at quarterback. The Patriots were the last hope and it was unclear if they would be the team to do so based on their history. Newton is flashy, charismatic and not very Patriot-like when it comes to his approach to the game. 

Late June, it happened, the Patriots announced that they were signing Newton to a one-year deal. It was questioned if he would be the starting quarterback before the season. However, we knew it was never really a question. Newton a former NFL MVP and

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has shown that he trusts Newton and has embraced everything that comes with him. He allows him to play his style of football, doesn't require for him to water down his personality on-or off-the-field.

Through three weeks, Newton has just 2 passing touchdowns and a league-best 4 rushing touchdowns while completing 68 percent of his passes. The numbers aren't astronomical, by any means. But, in my opinion, Newton has already proved that he still has plenty left in the tank still and a lot of value remaining in his football life. 
 

Top 10 Takeaways From the NFL: Week 1

   

Tom Brady

The NFL is back. Week 1 of the season was entertaining to say the least. There was a lot of old faces in new places, a few highly anticipated debuts and plenty of empty stadiums. I will give the top 10 things that stood out to me more than anything. 

1. The Colts overpaid for Philip Rivers - Philip Rivers was paid over $20 million for the 2020 season. He is coming off of his worst season and people thought 2020 he would redeem himself and help the Colts compete for one of the top spots in the AFC. Well, after the performance against Jacksonville, I can officially tell you that it will be another season of BAD Philip Rivers. 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions and only producing 3 points in the second half against a team that everyone believed to be "tanking". 

2. Russell Wilson is still as good as advertised - Russell Wilson might get him a well-deserved MVP trophy this season if he puts on this type of show every week. 31 of 35 passes completed 322 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. Not only did they beat Atlanta in the dome, they made it look fairly easy and most of it was the Russell Wilson show. 

3. DeAndre Hopkins wasn't the problem he is just a problem - The Houston Texans traded away their star wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, over the summer to the Arizona Cardinals. In his Cardinals debut, Hopkins only caught 14 passes for 151 yards. Kyler Murray is my MVP front-runner for the 2020 season and Hopkins is the reason why. With five 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his first six seasons, I am still trying to rationalize why the Texans traded Hopkins, he was clearly the best receiver the franchise had seen since Andre Johnson. New team, new quarterback, same great receiver. 

4. The Washington Football Team showing coaching can makeup for talent - In their debut with the new team name, new coach in Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio,  Washington came from a 17-point deficit and scored 27 unanswered points to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-17. Many people have been saying that Eagles quarterback, Carson Wentz lost this game for the Eagles. I saw a Washington defense win the game. 8 sacks, pressure on nearly every passing play and they held the Eagles to under 60 rushing yards in the game. I was very impressed with what I saw from what I saw from a Washington defense that doesn't have much star power on it. Jack Del Rio is one of the greatest defensive coordinators I have seen. 2020 could be a season that Washington becomes a team that begins to trend up. 

5. Cleveland is a work in progress - The Cleveland Browns got embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens. While people can say that Cleveland is still Cleveland, I'm the optimism that the Browns need for 2020. I believe that Baker Mayfield will get things corrected, head coach Kevin Stefanski will continue to find out what works for the offense and they still have running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Even though the Ravens won 38-6, the Browns had both Hunt and Chubb average over 5 yards per carry. Cleveland can still have a good season, there's a lot of football left to play. Also, they don't have to play the Ravens every week, so there's a bright spot. 

6. The Lions aren't making the playoffs with that performance - A lot of analysts have been on this "Lions are going to be a surprise playoff team in 2020" and based on the 23-6 lead they gave up to the Bears, I can't buy-in. I like Matt Stafford and believe he's wasting his best years trying to help the Lions become a competitor in the NFC. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016 and have had a worse record every year since. This could be the final year for head coach Matt Patricia, if he doesn't show improvement with this ball team. They won't have to make the playoffs but they have to win at least 6-or-7 games coming off a 3-win season in 2019. 

7. Tom Brady is getting older and is no longer playing for the Patriots - Tampa Bay was probably the most hyped-up team entering the 2020 season. In his Buccaneers debut, Brady looked like he was playing for a new team. The Saints are a very good team, the defense is serious this season, and they showed Brady who is the superior team in the NFC South. Tom Brady completed 23 of his 36 passes with 2 touchdowns through the air (also, had one rushing). However, the 2 interceptions, one for a defensive touchdown, is what hurt Tom terrific in his debut. Brady at times looked like he was on opposite pages with the receivers and didn't look like he trusted some of his teammates. Maybe they get things turned around as the season progresses. But, honestly, I believe this is an average team with a 9-win season being the ceiling. Maybe I'm wrong. 

8. Kickers need crowds - I saw a handful of games with kickers missing what are seen as "chip-shots" or fairly easy field goals. The Cincinnati Bengals were a field goal away from taking the Los Angeles Chargers to overtime and then kicker Randy Bullock went to attempt a 31-yard field goal, missing it wide to the right. The Cleveland Browns waived kicker Austin Seibert on Monday after he missed a field goal before halftime. There were kicks missed all around the NFL in the opening week. I don't know if they need the crowd or if it was due to the lack of the offseason. I guess it's safe to say "kicking ain't easy". 

9. The Baltimore Ravens are ready - Already in mid-season form, the Baltimore Ravens are playing like they have something to prove. The rich obviously got richer this offseason. When you already had to worry about this team running the ball on offense, finishing first in that category in 2019, they went out and drafted former Ohio State Buckeyes stand-out running back J.K. Dobbins in the second round. Putting up 38 points in their opening game against Cleveland leads me to believe that they still have a sour taste in their mouth from the loss to the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 playoffs. I expect Lamar Jackson to run less in 2019 and have more passing touchdowns. 

10. Aaron Rodgers is like wine - The Green Bay Packers traded up in the 2020 NFL draft and with their first-round pick took quarterback Jordan Love, from Utah State, to potentially be the successor to Aaron Rodgers. In week 1 of the season, against the Minnesota Vikings, Rodgers proved that he still has a lot left in the tank. 36-year-old Rodgers threw 4 touchdowns, 364-yards passing and made it look easy. Rodgers had 24 touchdowns through the air and only 2 interceptions in 2019... 2020 can he repeat that type of performance or even better? 

The opening week of the NFL season was entertaining... I can't wait to see what week 2 has for us. 

One Question for All 32 NFL Teams Before the Season Starts

  Just before the start of the 2020 NFL season begins, I would like to ask question to every single team. Every team has at least one thing that I am curious about going into the season and I believe every question could be relevant to how the season will play out for the team. In a season where every team has more to worry about than just player injuries on the field, they have to worry about the Covid-19 pandemic that has plagued all other sports leagues and the entire world in some capacity. As of right now, the season looks as if it will resume as normal. However, some things will not be the same, attendance in stadiums will take a huge decline in some stadiums. Some teams have already announced that they will not have fan attendance at all for the opening games. But these questions have nothing to do with Covid-19, they are more about the players, coaches and organizational direction. 

1. Arizona Cardinals - Are you built to win now? With the addition of Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins on the offensive side of the ball and drafting Isaiah Simmons, who a lot of scouts saw as the best defensive prospect in this years draft, are you ready to compete for the top of the NFC West? San Francisco coming off of the Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl hangover), Seattle Seahawks still seem to be lacking a defensive identity after the legion of boom broke up and the Rams lost a lot since appearing in the Super Bowl in 2019. With the door pretty much open in your division can you capitalize? 
2. Atlanta Falcons - Can Todd Gurley help turn things around and can you help turn him around?  In an offense that is loaded at the Wide Receiver position and a former-MVP quarterback in Matt Ryan, can this team get back to the big game with the addition of a play-making running back like Todd Gurley? He [Gurley] is entering in a very crucial season himself, after being released from the Los Angeles Rams, analysts saying that his career is coming close to being over, him not being the same player due to a knee injury and being diagnosed with arthritis. 2020 can be the re-birth of Todd Gurley and The Atlanta Falcons. The question is will it? or will they disappoint like they have since the second half of the 2017 Super Bowl (Including overtime, they were outscored 31-7 and blew a 25-point lead to the New England Patriots).
3. Carolina Panthers - Who takes the blame if it's a bad season? New coach in Matt Rule, new quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater; this team will look completely different than it did just a year ago. Teddy Bridgewater gets his first starting gig since injuring his knee in Minnesota after proving his health and stability in New Orleans. However, we haven't seen him start for a full season. While I am a believer in Bridgewater, I have more questions about the head coach. Matt Rule, former Baylor head coach, has big shoes to fill and has to make the organization look smart after taking a chance on a college head coach who was known for his offensive brilliance. 
4. Chicago Bears - Is defense enough? The Bears just named Mitch Trubisky the starting quarterback, at least for week 1, after trading for Nick Foles (from Jacksonville) this offseason. Injured for most of last season, Foles didn't show much in Jacksonville and with the Bears having issues with their offense last season, declining Trubisky's option of the final year on his contract, it was assumed that it would be Foles' job for 2020. I am convinced that the Bears' offense in 2020 will be the same as it was in 2019. The Bears are known historically for having teams with a good defense. If the Bears are going to win in 2020, it looks like it will have to be with defense.
5. Baltimore Ravens - Can Lamar give us an encore? Reigning MVP of the league and  Ravens' quarterback, Lamar Jackson, absolutely amazed last season as he carried this team to the league-best 14-2 record. After coming up short in the playoffs, the Ravens have to find a way to keep the offense flowing because the Tennessee Titans left the offense and Jackson with a bad taste in their mouth. The question is has Jackson been figured out or was it just a bad night? 
6. Buffalo Bills - Can you take control of your division? With the Patriots now without Tom Brady and them [the Bills] as one of the best stories in 2019, can they step up and win the division as many have them projected to do? Or is this team going back to the top of the draft and bottom of the league?
7. Cincinnati Bengals - How many wins is good enough to save Zac Taylor's job? Taylor in his first as the head coach in Cincinnati had a 2-14 record. While injuries and a bad offensive line did plague the team, many people believe that the teams talent should've got them more than just 2 wins. With Andy Dalton gone and phenom rookie quarterback Joe Burrow now with the keys to the car, can Zac Taylor lead this team to more wins in 2020 ... How many? ... because I don't know if another season below 5 wins will fair well for his coaching career. I think that he has to win at least 5 and competitive in most games. 
8. Cleveland Browns - Is the Third time the charm? The Browns are on their third head coach since drafting quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2018. Will Kevin Stefanski get this team into the playoffs and Baker to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league? The talent is there, at least on paper, but they have to put it together on the field. If the Browns can 
9. Dallas Cowboys - Are you Super Bowl bound? The Dallas Cowboys probably had the most impressive offseason, in my opinion. They finally seemed to have figured things out; they hired the right coach in Mike McCarthy, had a very good draft, got Dak Prescott to sign the franchise tag, added depth to the defensive line. Now, the only thing to do, they have to win the games they are supposed to. After not making the playoffs in the 2019 season, the Cowboys have to dominate in 2020 and show they aren't just a team that is good on paper. 
10. Denver Broncos - Is the reign over? They were once seen as one of the premier defensive teams in the NFL. Now, I'm not so sure. Von Miller still has the ability to be the top pass-rusher in the NFL but the rest of the defense has to help. They did acquire cornerback A.J. Bouye (from Jacksonville) to help in a depleted secondary and  defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (from Tennessee) to help add depth to the defensive line. This is a team that is very young on offense and will depend a lot on the defense to provide them with opportunities to win games.
11. Detroit Lions - Will this be the year that things change? The Lions have been at the bottom of the division and out of the playoff picture for some time now, every year it is believed that they will turn it around. With head coach Matt Patricia entering his third season with the team, it's crucial that they make a splash on to the scene in the NFC North.  
12. Green Bay Packers - The coach or quarterback? Clearly looks like the Packers are thinking about life after Aaron Rodgers after trading up in the first-round of the 2020 draft for quarterback Jordan Love. In a season that could be the last year for future hall-of-fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in Green Bay, it will be interesting to see how the veterans on the team responds to head coach Matt LaFleur if the team starts to struggle through the season. 
13. Houston Texans - What are you building? DeAndre Hopkins is now gone and you've signed Watson to an extension ... What are you giving him to build on? ... it's showing that Watson is franchise but can they trust the receivers that he has now? Fuller, Stills and Cooks are all big-play receivers but have a history of injuries. the question: Can they stay healthy in 2020 and help get the Texans back in the playoffs?
14. Indianapolis Colts - Can you overtake the AFC South? The Colts were on the fence of being a very good team in 2019. They signed former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to a monster one-year deal and trade for  defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (from San Francisco). With these two huge additions to the team, can that be enough to win the division? 
15. Jacksonville Jaguars - Are you tanking or does it just look like you are? After trading away Nick Foles and releasing running back Leonard Fournette and basically your entire defense that helped you get to the AFC Championship just a few years ago, it's clear that you're not invested in the 2020 season. I would predict this team is more likely to be a lock for a top-3 draft pick in 2021. 
16. Kansas City Chiefs - What's Next? It's clear that you have the tools to be a dynasty, now you have made quarterback Patrick Mahomes the highest paid player in the league and practically bringing back the entire team. But after the Super Bowl run in 2019-20, can you repeat? 
17. Las Vegas Raiders - What will being in a new city bring? Will a change from Oakland, California to Las Vegas, Nevada bid well for the Raiders who haven't seen much success in the past decade? Will John Gruden prove that he is worth that $100 Million contract? With the young pieces in place, I think it'll be interesting to see what this team can become, however, I don't know if I see double-digit wins for this Raiders team in 2020. I hope they prove me wrong. 
18. Los Angeles Chargers - Do you trust the change you created? You're a much different team than you were over the past 16 seasons, mainly because you'll have a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2003. No Philip Rivers brings a lot of excitement and questions for an organization that wants to be a top organization but also is getting younger. The Chargers are paying the right people (just paid Joey Bosa and Keenan Allen) but they still have to win games. In a division that'll be tough to win, can they compete and sneak into the playoffs?
19. Los Angeles Rams - Can Goff carry the load? This team isn't the same team it was just nearly 3 years ago. With Todd Gurely, now in Atlanta, after the Rams released him this offseason, it's time to see who the next man up is; Darrell Henderson Jr. led the country in rushing at Memphis and has the potential to be star running back in the league. And Cam Akers looks like he was drafted to be the man. I guess early odds are it will be a "by committee" decision. But the question for them is can Goff carry the load until they establish the premier back?
20. Miami Dolphins - Are you thinking about 2020 or 2021? It may be in your best interest to bench Tua, let him recover a full season, learn the game and attack 2021 like you own it. Ryan Fitzpatrick is seasoned enough to get you wins. However, the question is will benching Tua for a season result in Brian Flores losing his job? 
21. Minnesota Vikings - Is this the year you get to a championship or is the window closing? You paid Kirk Cousins to get you to the next level (a Super Bowl) but you seem to be regressing as a team. Now, you lose a few key starters on defense in Everson Griffen and Xavier Rhodes to name some and you lose your offensive coordinator. Will this be the same team in 2020 as it was in 2019? Also, can rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson fill the shoes of Stefon Diggs? You paid Mike Zimmer, he's a great coach, but is the talent enough to get you to a Super Bowl.
22. New England Patriots - End or an era or beginning of a new one? Bill Belichick is probably going to go down as the greatest coach in NFL history. People often give Tom Brady a lot of the success for New England, I give it to Bill. I believe that Cam Newton will have one of his best seasons, his first season in New England, and this team makes the playoffs.  The biggest question for them is how with this defense look with the starters that opted-out due to Covid-19. 
23. New Orleans Saints - Super Bowl or Bust? Drew Brees is getting a little long in the tooth ... This team has invested, from the looks of it, into getting Brees and the Saints back to a Super Bowl in 2020-21. You brought in Emmanuel Sanders to line-up opposite star receiver Michael Thomas and it looks to be a top-10 defense this season. 
24. New York Giants   - Is Joe Judge more than a special teams coach? The Patriots' coaching tree seems to be hit-or-miss and the Giants are hoping it's a hit. With the talent they have, they should be able to win more games than last year. But, I believe depth is more important for this team than the talent they have listed as starters... Because injuries could separate this team between 8 wins and 3 wins. 
25. New York Jets - Is this the year Adam Gase has to prove himself? Gase came in and seemed to have had a plan ... I still can't tell what that is ... However, Sam Darnold still is a mystery to me, Le'veon Bell is the best player on the team but seems to not be on the same page as the coaches and I still couldn't tell you who the no.1 receiver is on the team. I think Gase has to show a flip this season if he wants to be the head coach in 2021. 
26. Philadelphia Eagles - Will this season be about the team or individuals? It's no secret that the Eagles may be eyeing the future of the organization after drafting Jalen Hurts in the second round of this years draft. However, Carson Wentz is the starter and has played great WHEN healthy. Hence, I said WHEN. But, the Eagles were a team that squeaked it's way into the playoffs last season and hope to be Super Bowl contender again in 2021. Adding Darius Slay was a major upgrade for the secondary, but little-to-no depth at linebacker could hurt this team. I think 2021 could be another year of tight games and chance for the Eagles. 
27. Pittsburgh Steelers - Are you back to claim the AFC North? This Steelers team, in my opinion, could be one of the more complete teams in 2020. The defense looks very good on paper and the offense, with Ben Rothelisberger back, should be a top-10 offense. The biggest question will be health. And the next question will be, can you beat the Ravens? Baltimore had the best record in the league in 2019 and they said that they have something to prove in 2020. The Steelers have to match that energy when they play both times this season. 
28. San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl hangover? The age-old tale is that the losing team of the Super Bowl often has a worse season after. It could be due to the emotion of knowing you lost the biggest game of your career, could come from trying to recapture the season you had the year before or it could come from a change in team/players. Look, I think that this Niners team takes a step back in 2020. It's not because they aren't talented, but because other teams got better; the NFC West will be a gauntlet and I don't see the Niners walking out on top. 
29. Seattle Seahawks - Will you be the same team without the 12th Man or is ONE man enough? Russell Wilson has been one of the best football players since entering the NFL and being named a starter. He's had little protection and not much experience to surround him, at the receiver position, since Doug Baldwin. However, last season drafting D.K. Metkalf and finally getting the no.1 receiver, it'll be interesting to see what Wilson can accomplish in 2021. The Seahawks won't have the crowd that they are use to and they play a big part in them winning games. But can Wilson shoulder the load and be the only difference maker   that they need to win?
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Can you do it in one take? This isn't your dad's Buccaneers' team. No sir! Tom Brady at quarterback, Rob Gronkowski is out of retirement and the cameras are flashing down in Florida for this star-studded team. Are the names enough to get them to a championship in year one? Tom Brady is only getting older and that means the window may not be open long for them to hold the Super Bowl trophy up. It'll be interesting to see how far this team can go with little-to-no chemistry. 
31. Tennessee Titans - Are you built to win again? Last season in the playoffs you surprised a lot of people and upset the hottest team in the National Football League (Baltimore Ravens) and now you have to do it again. You lose cornerback, Logan Ryan. However, you sign pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney. You have your offense returning, for the most part, and possibly an improved defense. I believe Tennessee can win the AFC South this season. ... But do they know it? 
32. The Washington Football Team - What do you build on in 2020? This season obviously isn't about making the playoffs, but making a statement. Head coach Ron Rivera is one of the most successful coaches of the past decade and had a great run in Carolina. Washington has little to count on in 2020, but maybe 2021 is the turning point for this organization. Coach Rivera was recently diagnosed with cancer and I wish he and his family the best and a full recovery as they get ready to tackle it head-on. Washington got the best player, in my opinion, with Chase Young in this years draft. This was a strategic move by the coaching staff. Football teams are like homes. You start building from the foundation, at ground level. 

The NFL season officially kicks-off Thursday, September 10, with the a rematch from the playoffs when the Kansas City Chiefs play face-off against the Houston Texans. The game starts at 8:20 pm on NBC. 

Joe Knows ... Equality

   The 2020 no.1 overall pick, of the NFL draft, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow took to Twitter, early August 27, the day after the NBA decided to boycott playoff games due to continued acts of social injustice in America. Four words were so powerful out of what Burrow tweeted and that was "I stand with you" (speaking to the African American race).

Burrow's tweet:

https://twitter.com/JoeyB/status/1298963580948221952?s=20

Burrow is getting a lot of good reviews and press coming out the Bengals camp, early on. There is a word that is used frequently to describe Burrow by his coaches and teammates, that word is LEADERSHIP. Burrow has high expectations on the field from beings fans and the Cincinnati media. But, for a rookie to come out and be able to give a message like this it's very telling of what type of character he has. However, this isn't uncommon from Burrow. He also tweeted out after the death of George Floyd speaking of standing with the African American community  . Also, Burrow is partnering with the Athens Food Bank to fight hunger and poverty in southeast Ohio. 

Will Burrow bring a championship to Cincinnati? I'm not sure. But, as a rookie, he's already making a huge impact off-the-field. The Bengals play their season opener on September 13 at Paul Brown Stadium vs the Los Angeles Charges (No fans will be allow in the stadium for this game)

Is The Pressure On For Baker Mayfield?

 
  The 2020-21 NFL season has already tainted by the Coronavirus, as they have officially announced that there will not be any preseason games this season. This season could apply more pressure to some teams and players, no player may be under more pressure than the Cleveland Browns' quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield, 24, the 2018 no.1 overall draft selection showed a lot of promise and potential his rookie season after finishing second to New York Giants running back, Saquon Barkley. In his rookie campaign, Mayfield passed for over 3,700 yards(led rookies) with 27(led rookies) touchdown passes and completed over 63 percent of his passes, all while going through a change in the head coach-- The Browns fired Hue Jackson and promoted defensive coordinator Gregg Williams half way through the season. The 2019 season would lead to high expectations for Mayfield and the Browns after finishing the 2018 season with a record of 5-2 in the final 7 games. He got more weapons too. With the addition of Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry returning and the Browns naming former offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens as the new head coach. These all lead to an even bigger Sophomore season, right? It was the exact opposite. The Browns didn't live up to the preseason expectations of most analysts and writers. They struggled to really find their rhythm in the passing game -- Mayfield passed for more than 3,800 yards, 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions and completed 59 percent of his passes. There seemed to be turmoil through the season between players and the coaching the staff, and after  a disappointing season they Browns would let go of Kitchens after just one season as the head coach with a record of 6-10.

Entering into his third season, Mayfield and the Browns have a lot to prove. Under new head coach, Kevin Stefanski, who was the former offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, this has to be the year that Mayfield helps lead the Browns to the post season or at least a record of .500 or better. With a second year of Landry and Beckham, the addition of tight end Austin Hooper, running back Nick Chubb coming off a season eclipsing 1,400 rushing yards (2nd in NFL). The third season is often the most important for players on their rookie deals, it could make a difference between a player signing an extension and a player becoming an unrestricted free agent the following season.

The Cleveland Browns have a tough road ahead, battling in a very heavy AFC North division; The Ravens are strong favorites to win the division again, the Steelers are always a tough team to beat and in the playoff conversation, the Bengals look to be much improved. However, the Browns just signed Myles Garrett to an extension, they drafted one of the top offensive lineman to help protect Mayfield and they hope Stefanski can help with the progress of their star quarterback like he did with Kirk Cousins in Minnesota. But third season brings an intense amount of pressure for their Browns and their quarterback in the 2020-21 season ... The question is, can they live up to the expectations?

New Podcast: Baseball is Back... And This is What the 2020 Season Should Mean For The MLB

I talk about the return of baseball and what it should mean for the MLB in 2020.

Please make sure you go to Apple Podcasts and subscribe to my solo podcast - Talkin' My Sportz

The Bengals Should Take A Chance on Another Ross In the Near Future

  The Cincinnati Bengals have announced that they will be not being picking up the fifth-year option on the former first-round pick, speedy wide receiver, John Ross. Maybe that means they have opportunity to take a chance on another Ross in the 2021 NFL draft... Clemson's Justyn Ross

  Justyn Ross was the no.1 wide receiver out of Alabama coming out of high school in 2017, ironically he chose to attend Clemson. Since arriving to Clemson, Ross has lived up to the hype. In his first season, as a true Freshman, he [Ross] caught 46 passes for 1,000 yards (led team) and 9 receiving touchdowns (2nd on team). Also, in the National Championship he had 6 receptions for a career-high 153 yards receiving and a touchdown as the Tigers defeated Alabama. In just two seasons at Clemson, Ross has racked up over 1,800 yards receiving on 100 receptions with 17 touchdowns.

It was just announced in late May 2020, Ross will miss the 2020-21 season after undergoing an off-season neck surgery. Ross' career could be in jeopardy depending on his recovery and rehab goes but there's a chance that he returns to football.

In the past, neck injuries, usually means the end of football careers. However, with determination and a great trainer and maybe an entire year removed from football, maybe there's a chance that Ross makes a full recovery and his football career resumes. If this happens and Ross is cleared to return by doctors, I believe that the Bengals should show interest (considering he enters the draft). They will be moving on from wide receiver John Ross, more than likely. Also, it's possible, they could be moving on from veteran A.J. Green as well. They just drafted his former Clemson teammate Tee Higgins in the second round of the 2020 draft. With the depth that they have in the wide receiver room, the Bengals will have opportunity to take chance drafting. If Ross can get back to at least 80% of the player he was and he falls to the later rounds of the draft, the Bengals could be a perfect landing spot for him. As of right now, obviously, I can only speak hypothetically because there is still so much that is unknown. But, it would be interesting for both the Bengals and Ross.

Justyn Ross took to Twitter on June 5, 2020 to announce that his surgery went well. He just recently posted a video, rehabbing in the pool with his neck brace on. NBC Sports posted an article about Ross and his recovery, check it out.

The most important thing for Ross is his healthy first. But, think about how fun a team with Burrow, Higgins, Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd and Justyn Ross would be in the year 2021 or 22?

There Is One Thing The National Football League Still Hasn't Done

  The National Football League and Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on May 30, 2020 in regards to the protests that have been taking place across the country due to George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis, MN., being murdered by the police on May 25, 2020.

NFL Statement via Twitter

By their tweet, Goodell and the NFL would lead you to believe that they stand behind the black community as they look to gain civil justice and equality, following the murder of another unarmed African American. However, their actions have proven otherwise over recent years. The tweet that they are still missing is a public apology to former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

In 2016, the 49ers' quarterback led the way, as players exercised their American right to a peaceful protest, by taking a knee during the National Anthem before games. This blew up across the media and it gained a lot of steam through the league and a more and more players began to participate. This form of protest got a lot of criticism and was taken out of context by many. They accused Kaepernick and others who took a knee of being unpatriotic and going against the military and protesting the US flag. In reality, this was never about the military nor the flag. Kaepernick clearly explained many times that this was about police brutality against unarmed/innocent black people and civil injustice.



The NFL made created a rule stating that players are not allowed to take a knee during the National Anthem. Players who violated this rule would be disciplined. A lot of teams started to implement this rule themselves, also, because they didn't want to be fined by the league due to player breaking this rule.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season Kaepernick would become a free agent, no team would look to sign him either. There was a lot of talk that teams didn't want the "media circus" that came with signing him or the famous excuse of "he's a distraction" but in reality were those ever really valid reasons to not sign a quarterback who was in his prime and just three years removed from taking his team to the Super Bowl? It seemed like the NFL had pretty much black-balled the outspoken quarterback for his take on the governments lack of civil justice for the black community and equality that still plagues America today.

The last game Colin Kaepernick played in was on January 1, 2017. The 49ers would come up short again the Seattle Seahawks 25-23; Kaepernick was 17-22 for 215 yards and 1 passing touchdown.

The National Football League and Roger Goodell can't expect for people actually buy this support as sincere and pure, when just a few years ago they penalized players for standing against these civil matters. If they want to anyone to buy their condolences and apologies to the family of George Floyd, others who had come before him like Michael Brown or Sandra Blatt... They need to start with an apology to Colin Kaepernick.

I Still Believe in Josh Rosen

 

The 2018 quarterback class was full of potential and big names. However, at this point, none may be more interesting than former UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen.

Rosen, 23, was the no.10 overall draft selection in 2018 to the Arizona Cardinals and some analysts felt like he was top-5 talent. In his rookie season Rosen didn't have the greatest showing and his record showed as the Cardinals finished with the worst record in the league which landed them the no.1 overall pick for 2019. He [Rosen] appeared in 14 games completing less than 58 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for his rookie campaign. At the end of the 2018 season things would take an unsuspected turn in Arizona. Head coach Steve Wilks was fired after just one season after the team finished with a 3-13 record.

 The team would hire former Texas Tech head coach, Kliff Kingsburry to replace him. The young, Offensive-minded coach had plans for the team that wouldn't include Rosen, as he [Rosen] would be traded to the Miami Dolphins after the team drafted the Heisman-winning quarterback Kyler Murray.

When he [Rosen] went to the Dolphins it seemed to be a second chance, fresh start, breath of fresh air that was needed for the young quarterback as he still tried to position himself in the league after a disappointing rookie campaign. However, things didn't turn out great for him in Miami either, he would lose the battle for the starting position to veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick after an abysmal start to the season. Behind Rosen, the Dolphins started the season with an 0-6 record. Ryan Fitzpatrick would become the full-time starter and the Dolphins would finish the season with a record of 5-11 and the no.5 overall draft selection for 2020. And just like Arizona the year prior, Miami would draft the best quarterback prospect available selecting Tua Tagovailoa out of Alabama.

Now, heading into the 2020 season, I start to wonder where does Rosen fit into the league... Is considered a bust? is he a good talent that has just been dealt a bad hand? Will he ever get the chance to show he was worth taking with the no.10 overall selection in 2018?

There are several teams/situations that I believe Rosen could resurrect his career with, they don't all include immediate playing time either. Well, honestly, most of them don't. I think it's more important that Rosen in a system that fits his strengths and build his confidence back up.

These are several situations I feel would be best for the resurrection of Rosen:

• Atlanta Falcons -- Matt Ryan is nearing the end of his prime and they need a successor to the under-appreciated quarterback. Rosen has a similar build, arm strength and could learn a lot from the former NFL MVP; with the young talent that they have in Atlanta on offense, they wouldn't have to worry about a rebuild for a while and wouldn't have to worry about missing a beat on offense. 
• Pittsburgh Steelers -- People talk about Pittsburgh needing another Ben Roethlisberger, which I believe is one of the many false narratives around the NFL. The Steelers need another good quarterback, they would get that in Rosen. Mike Tomlin hasn't had to worry about the future of his quarterback room until the past two or three years. With Big Ben returning in 2020, after hurting his should in 2019, the Steelers don't need Rosen to start... They just need him in the quarterback room to learn. This would put him [Rosen] in the division with Baker Mayfield and the 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson who were both apart of that famous 2018 quarterback class.
• New England Patriots -- While I do believe that the Patriots are eyeing the 2020 draft for a quarterback. I do believe that this is a great offense for a young quarterback like Rosen to play and learn in. The system helped to build the legacy and legend that is Tom Brady. It could do the same for Josh Rosen, who was a better prospect coming out of high school and college than Tom. I would even argue to say he has better arm talent. This is the only of the three situations that I see Rosen starting and needing to start. 

The future of Josh Rosen is unknown at this point; he is currently the third-string quarterback on the depth chart for the Miami Dolphins, behind Tua and Fitzpatrick. However, I believe that his story is far from over in the National Football League. I still believe Josh Rosen can be a starter in the league. I still believe he can be successful, also. 

New Podcast

Make sure you check out my podcast that I do every week with Eric Walker. We relaunched Tunnel Vision Podcast... it’s back and better than ever. https://anchor.fm/mario-deramus/episodes/Episode-2-ee2utk

Should Russell Wilson Be Upset with the Seattle Seahawks?

It was rumored that, in 2018, the Seattle Seahawks were looking to trade quarterback Russell Wilson for the no.1 overall pick. I explain why he shouldn't be upset, but honored, if these rumors are true.

Andrew Hawkins Interview

I had a podcast on ESPN1530.com with co-host Tarren Bland. We had NFL Network's analyst and former Cincinnati Bengals' and Cleveland Browns' wide receiver Andrew Hawkins on to discuss who the Bengals should draft with the no.1 overall pick and more.

Jalen Hurts Reminds Me Of One Quarterback From the 2012 NFL Draft

 Jalen Hurts, the 2019-20 Heisman trophy runner-up from Oklahoma, prepares for the next level and next phase of his career as the NFL draft is now less than 10 days away. I don't expect for Hurts to be a top-10 pick, maybe not even a first-rounder, but I believe his value could be that high.

As of right now, there are four quarterbacks in the draft that are being mentioned as first-round picks: Joe Burrow (LSU), Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), Justin Herbert (Oregon) and Jordan Love (Utah State). Hurts had a better or just as good of a season, statistically,  than all expect Burrow (Heisman winner).

In 2019 Hurts passed for 3,851 yards, 32 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions which got him a rating of 191.2 at the position. He also included 1,298 rushing yards on 233 carries and 20 touchdowns.

Hurts' draft stock seems to be slipping and I don't see the reasoning, he is believed to be drafted somewhere between the second and the fourth round. But I am a huge believer in him and believe that he has first-round talent. There was once a time that I didn't believe he would be an NFL starter. However, after what I have seen out him in the 2019-20 season, I am sold on his talent. The biggest difference that I was able to see is a quicker release in his passes, his ability and willingness to stand in the pocket and make throws over just pulling the ball down and running at every chance. Also, the biggest change, he was able to leave Alabama and an offense that I believe held him back. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma Sooner head coach, produced no.1 draft selections for the past two years with Baker Mayfield (2018) and Kyler Murray (2019). Both are starters and have shown that they could be starters for years to come.  Hurts had comparable years to both in the years that they came out. They both won the Heisman trophy. Burrow had a historical season, at the quarterback position, and that was the only thing between Hurts in and that trophy.

Hurts reminds he a lot of one quarterback from the 2012 NFL draft.  A guy who wasn't really talked about as being a first-round pick. That quarterback being Russell Wilson. He [Wilson] played at a high level, made spectacular plays with his feet and his arm. Also, the one quality that I believe they have most in common, their leadership ability is something that I believe that makes them successful at every level Even after he [Hurts] was basically put in a situation to transfer from Alabama for his senior season, a lot of people didn't think he would have a good season. What did he do? just the opposite, he had the best season of his collegiate career. While I don't think he is as good as Wilson, naturally. I do see a lot of similar traits in their games and their character in the locker room.

Like in sport, I do believe that systems and surroundings can determine the outcome of a players success. I do believe that Hurts has the talent to be successful at the next level, I don't believe that he will be successful in any system.

Best Fit: Los Angeles Chargers - He would be in the spread majority of the time (like at Oklahoma), they have a lot of young weapons already there with receivers Mike Williams, Keenan Allen and Tight End Hunter Henry. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers signed free agent Cam Newton to a short-term deal, even if they did draft Hurts.

Ideal team: Seattle Seahawks - He wouldn't be a starter (unless an injury happens to Wilson). But this would be a great way to groom your next quarterback after Russell Wilson's contract is up. Reminds me of the Green Bay Packers drafting Aaron Rodgers when they had Brett Favre.

Worst Fit: Any team playing power offense football. I believe Hurts is better when the offense is spread out, playing fast and when the ball is in his hands.

Jalen Hurts is getting ready to take the next leap of his career. As of right now, he is not projected to go first-round. However, that could all change, his talent shows he has first-round value. I believe that Hurts could be the next Russell Wilson of the league. A third-round pick who develops into a franchise quarterback. Will he drop that low? We will see during the draft weekend. The NFL draft is April 23-25. This will be the first ever virtual draft, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Is The Value of Andy Dalton For The Cincinnati Bengals?

 

  The NFL draft is just a few weeks away. The Cincinnati Bengals, more than likely, will use the no.1 pick on Quarterback Joe Burrow from Louisiana State University (LSU) and the franchise will be in new hands. However, as of this moment, Andy Dalton is still a Bengal and the clock is ticking on a decision to made about his future.

Andy Dalton has done nothing but make an impact in the community with his charity and his very sincere and kind gestures off-the-field. On the field, Dalton has helped the Bengals reach the postseason nearly fifty percent of his time with the Bengals. After Carson Palmer had demanded a trade and left the organization, during a time it seemed not many wanted to be a part of the Bengals organization, Dalton embraced the challenge and wanted to help change the culture. He helped to do just that during the earlier half of this past decade. 133 games played, 31,594 yards pass, 204 passing touchdowns and 118 interceptions; stats don't tell the whole story of Dalton's time in Cincinnati. There were some roller coaster plays, games, seasons but he never gave up on the team or the city. But we all know in professional sports, it's about winning. Though he [Dalton] did lead the Bengals to the playoffs five times, he also failed to lead them to a playoff win during his time. And like former head coach Marvin Lewis, it seemed that his time too is running out.

The Bengals have a decision to make the weekend of April 23-25 (NFL draft). The Bengals have to decide if they want to trade Dalton, even if it's to a place where he doesn't want to go, to acquire more possible picks. Or do they release Dalton before June 1, saving that $17.7 million in salary cap space. However, there's always the option to keep him for the final year of his contract, while not something fans would probably hope for, which honestly wouldn't be the worst thing for this team or Burrow. Look at history: Palmer sat for a year, behind John Kitna, and when he finally started he looked amazing and like he understood the game more.

If the decision is to trade Dalton come draft weekend, who are the realistic teams of interest? What are teams willing to give up for a former pro bowl quarterback? A few teams come to mind: The Jacksonville Jaguars, the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Chargers. Outside of that, I don't see the market being too big for Dalton. I believe the best case scenario for the Bengals would be to take a third-or-fourth-round pick on the Aging quarterback. I don't see the ceiling being any higher than it is for him. The Patriots, in my opinion, could have him looking like the 2014 version of himself (early MVP candidate) before the injury. But, are they willing to make an offer that would satisfy the Bengals?

In the next month or so, we will see what value the Bengals hold for a quarterback that embraced the organization, team and city when so many others doubted and didn't believe. He helped to re-energize a football organization that looked like it was trending down before he arrived in 2011. The NFL draft is April 23-25. More than likely, reigning Heisman-winner, Joe Burrow will be a Bengal after that weekend. But, will Andy Dalton?

Two Teams Jameis Winston Should Consider For Long-Term Success

  Jameis Winston, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, is on the free agent market still at the moment. There are two teams, I believe, would help Winston as far as gaining long-term success in the NFL and neither team is the Pittsburgh Steelers (who people believe are the team most interested).Winston, 26, has a huge decision to make during free agency. This decision could impact the rest of his career.

 After spending the first 5 seasons of his career in Tampa Bay, Winston is now an unrestricted free agent. And with the Bucs signing of Tom Brady, it was clear that the organization was looking to move in a different direction. It has been said that he[Winston] and his agent are looking for a long-term contract as Jameis is now looking into his second career contract, which is very understandable. But I believe Jameis shouldn't look for top dollar, and not even a necessarily a starting job in the league.

 The first team that I believe Winston should look at are the New Orleans Saints. I know, I sound crazy, why would he go backup Drew Brees? Right? Well. I'll tell you why. Winston is coming off a roll coaster of a season, it was both good and bad (As he was the first quarterback to pass for 30+ and 30 interceptions with having a career-high in passing yards of 5,109). With that being said, why not go to an organization that is consistent in winning, has championship pedigree, has a great starting quarterback that you can learn from and a system in place that seems to be very quarterback friendly. Just last season we saw Teddy Bridgewater take a backseat to Brees. He[Bridgewater] was able to start 5 games, due to a Brees injury. Now, he has found himself as the Carolina Panthers starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, signing a 3-year contract after many believed his career as a starting quarterback was over. If he takes the same mentality that Bridgewater had, it would benefit him tremendously. Learning behind the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, having Sean Payton as a head coach, having the reigning NFL reception leader of 2019-20 in Michael Thomas and former offensive rookie of the year in running back Alvin Kamara are just a few of things that he[Winston] would benefit from if he were to join the Saints.

The second team that Winston would benefit from joining is the New England Patriots (no surprise here). Clearly, he has always had the reputation of being a high-risk, high-reward player. If you limit the risks, it's just high-reward. What better system for him to do just that? Bill Belichick should get a lot of credit for the success that Tom Brady has seen. Brady, coming into the league didn't have as much potential or even natural talent than Winston. If it was anyone that could get consistent play out a quarterback and limit turnovers, it's Belichick! The Patriots offense uses multiple running backs, has very quick passing routes and plays, which limits hits and sacks on their quarterback. Also, in the past, Belichick has been known to develop quarterbacks to get starting jobs elsewhere - Matt Cassel, Brian Hoyer (who recently re-signed with the Patriots), Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett are just a few of the quarterbacks. I don't know if the Patriots will look to give a long-term deal or big money to the 26-year-old quarterback, but I believe it would be a great opportunity for the young quarterback to go and play under arguably the greatest coach of all-time, play for a winning organization and learn how to limit his mistake.

  Winston's decision for 2020 may be the biggest decision of professional career and could impact him long-term. In his first 5 season with the Buccaneers Winston passed for 19,737 yards, 121 touchdowns with 88 interceptions and 31 fumbles. Where he ends up, I'm not sure. But I believe if he ends up in either New Orleans or New England, he will see more success and possibly a long NFL career and earn a substantial amount of money. I don't believe his his career is close to being finished, i'm just interested in seeing the next chapter of his career.

The Bengals Should be Open To This Idea

Joe Burrow, LSU Quarterback

  The Cincinnati Bengals finished the NFL season 2-14, the worst in the NFL, earning them the first overall pick of the draft in April.

It is almost a sure thing that the Bengals will draft the Heisman-winning, national champion, Ohio native Joe Burrow who just had a historic college football season and really closing on the chapter of the Marvin Lewis-era in Cincinnati,  moving on from former Pro Bowl quarterback Andy Dalton. The Bengals obviously have plenty of needs on a team that just went 2-14, while quarterback isn't the biggest on the team, it's always a bonus to get the best one in the draft because it helps to rejuvenate the fan base and help create/change culture in the organization. However, if the Bengals draft Joe Burrow and choose to move on from Dalton, they have to think about depth.

In 2019, the Bengals drafted Ryan Finley, from North Carolina State, in the Fourth round and he won the backup job in his rookie season. Going into this season it wasn't sure what Finley was going to be on the team. There were a few possibilities: A career backup quarterback, an understudy of Andy Dalton for a few years, a mid-season starter. We found out when things got really bad for the team exactly what he would be -- A quarterback to see what we would need in the next draft -- Finley started a total of three games for the Bengals completing 41 of 87 passes for 474 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, resulting in 3 losses. The Ryan Finley experiment was cut short before going back to Andy Dalton as he would lead the team to it's first win against the New York Jets.

As I think about the possibility for Finley's growth with the organization. Also, I think about depth. In 2012 the Washington Redskins had drafted former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III with the second overall selection. While Griffin was the talk of College Football that year, Washington also thought about the draft from a different angle -- depth and drafting the best player available -- one the Bengals should be open to. In April, if the Bengals go in the direction of Joe Burrow, they [Bengals] should be willing to draft another quarterback in one of the later rounds (with plans of trading Dalton). I am not saying that I don't believe Burrow is going to fail. I am saying that you don't know what will happen so you should think about depth! It worked out for the Redskins because Robert Griffin III sustained career-changing injuries and Washington luckily drafted former Michigan State quarterback, Kirk Cousins in the fourth round. Cousins played himself into a contract in 2018 which guaranteed him $84 Million over 3 years.

While I don't know what the future would hold for Burrow in Cincinnati, neither does anyone else.

They always say "the most important position on an NFL team is the quarterback". However, I believe that we have grown to learn that it is the actually the quarterback available to play! The Bengals should be open to drafting the best players available in April, even if it means selecting more than one quarterback.

Current quarterbacks on the Bengals roster: Andy Dalton, Ryan Finley, Jake Dolegala.

John Brannen Has The Opportunity at Something Mick Cronin Never Really Did in Cincinnati

 

John Brannen is in his first season as the head coach at the University of Cincinnati, after former coach Mick Cronin made the decision to depart for the head coaching spot at the University of California Las Angeles (UCLA) in April 2019. Brannen was announced as the new head coach soon after Cronin had announced that he would be taking the UCLA job.

Cronin was the head coach of the Bearcats for 13 seasons -- 2006-2019 -- where he would finish with a record of 270-147, which included 2 regular season conference championships (2013-14, 20178-18) and two conference tournament championships (2017-18, 2018-19). Also, probably most notable, Cronin led the Bearcats to the NCAA tournament 9 consecutive seasons. *Side Note: In his first 7 seasons with the Bearcats they were in the Big East Conference, in 2013 they joined the American Athletic Conference).

John Brannen is the former coach of Northern Kentucky University Norse, where he accumulated a record of 114-51. While it's a bit of difference from coaching in the Horizon League (NKU) to the American Athletic Conference (UC) it's probably most impressive that he took a club that won 9 games in his first season to a 24-win team in his second season and made the NCAA tournament in 2 of his final 3 seasons at NKU.

Brannen replacing Cronin made sense. He was an up-and-coming coach, they didn't have to search far and wide, he was likely going to cost them less money than a big-time established head coach and he is a local guy (from Kentucky). And as it was announced that he would be the next head coach for the Bearcats a lot of people wondered about his recruiting ability and if he would be able to get the current players to "buy-in" to his system which is offensive driven, opposite of Mick Cronin's coaching style which was very defensive minded. However, it seems Brannen has the ability to do something that Cronin wasn't ever going to do. And that thing is: live outside the shadows of former University of Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins. In Cincinnati Bob Huggins for the University of Cincinnati was, to a lot of people, the heart of the team. Huggins was a fan favorite for the most part and had his way with the media. After 16 seasons with the Bearcats it didn't seem like Huggins was ever going to leave after the legacy he had built with the institution. Huggins had brought the University the most excitement and success the institution had since the 1960's and their most final 4 appearance in 1992. Huggins was forced to resigned from the University of Cincinnati late in the summer of 2005. Huggins at the University of Cincinnati finished with a record of 398-128.

Cronin had replaced interim head coach Andy Kennedy after he coached for one season at UC.

When Cronin was named the head coach at the University it still seemed that people still were looking to have the same type of basketball and level of success as they had under Huggins, they wanted the same type of recruits and mostly they wanted Huggins; when Brannen was hired, I didn't get that from the fans nor the media. It seems that fans are just wanting to see him [Brannen] develop as a coach and continue to build the program and hopefully, eventually, make it to the second weekend (sweet 16/ Elite 8) of the NCAA tournament. Brannen has less expectations to have the program where Huggins once had it than Cronin did in my opinion, based upon what I've heard from fans. The main thing that I believe has led to this is ... Time

Brannen is further removed in time of Huggins' departure from Cincinnati than Cronin was and it made it harder for fans to have less expectations and it makes sense. But my questions is: What does he [Brannen] do with the ability to start a clean slate of expectations at the University of Cincinnati?

The Bearcats currently have a record of  8-6.