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Author: Jon Kuzma

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We’re almost to the start of the regular season but the Washington Redskins felt it was the perfect time to sign Adrian Peterson. Washington lost Derrius Guice and Samaje Perine to injuries and suddenly they’re depleted of ball carriers. Enter Peterson who is coming off a 448 yards and 2 touchdown performance for the 2017 season. Eventually Peterson injured his neck and was sidelined for the year but it was the most promising season the veteran had in the past three years. That obviously compelled the Redskins to bring him in for an individual tryout. Peterson was adamant that he’s been keeping himself in shape so he checked off all the boxes during that work out with Washington. Now a deal has materialized and it almost seemed like Peterson was going to hang up his cleats. For him to get another opportunity to prove himself is big because now the 7x Pro Bowler has a chance to extend his career. Once you get labeled an “over the hill football player” teams are going to avoid you at all costs. That was the way Peterson seemed to be viewed by a majority of the league but Jay Gruden and the Redskins front office thought differently. Adrian Peterson actually beat out Jamaal Charles and Orleans Darkwa as candidates for that final running back position with Washington. Which means Gruden was confident with his decision and they’re hoping to get a spark plug in Peterson. He won’t be asked to carry the ball 20 times a game but when they do call Peterson’s number he’ll be expected to contribute. You never know either if there’s a few more injuries Adrian Peterson’s role could expand and the Redskins might ask him to do a lot more. For now though it’s a victory for the 33 year old (Peterson) and there will be a learning curve when it comes to absorbing all the terminology of Jay Gruden’s playbook. Peterson just seems happy to have a new home and expect to see him taking hand offs shortly.

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Adrian Peterson is expected to provide depth to the Redskins after joining the team

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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It didn’t take long for the Baltimore Ravens to get it going against the Indianapolis Colts in their third preseason game. Baltimore came out firing on all cylinders and a lot of that was due to the fact that Joe Flacco was dialed in. Behind Flacco’s 72 yards and 1 touchdown the Ravens offense was methodical from the get go. Ultimately that led John Harbaugh’s team to a 20-19 victory and now the Ravens have built up some decent confidence. Even when Joe Flacco came out of the game Lamar Jackson was there to keep Baltimore’s hopes alive. Jackson threw for 49 yards and 1 touchdown especially showing off his potential when he’s on the run. If opposing defenses want to stop Jackson they’re going to have prevent him from rolling out to the right side of the field. By widening out the left side defensive end and using blitzes from the left side of the defense teams can force Jackson to roll to his left. Now the rookie will have to make those tough across the body throws and that would definitely make Jackson’s life tougher. Indianapolis didn’t get the same amount of production from their quarterbacks as the Ravens did. Andrew Luck threw for 50 yards and 1 interception. Obviously Luck is getting back in the swing of things after missing most of last season. However it’s evident that the former number 1 overall pick is out of sync right now and the only way for him to get it back is by completing more reps in practice. The good news is Jacoby Brissett was a little bit better when he came into the game. Brissett threw for 172 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. There was over 3x more passing yards for the Colts offense when Jacoby Brissett was in the game and that’s why this organizations really likes their back up quarterback. When things were all said and done John Brown and Chris Moore scored touchdowns for the Ravens and Chester Rogers plus Zach Pascal scored to for the Colts. It was a good game but Baltimore was just too much for Indianapolis once the final whistle blew.

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The Baltimore Ravens improve to 3-0 after a big night from Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Numerous reports have surfaced that the Seattle Seahawks were willing to trade a 2nd round pick in exchange for Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Evidently Indianapolis ended up passing on that offer and you almost have to wonder why? Even though there’s still some uncertainty regarding Andrew Luck’s health getting a second rounder for Brissett was a pretty good deal. Adding draft capital always has a beneficial impact down the road and if Luck panned out those acquisitions would be a nice boost for this ball club. Now obviously the Colts want to keep Brissett around as an insurance policy for Andrew Luck. However you have to be willing to take a chance and when you consider Brissett was selected in the 3rd round back in 2016. It just makes sense that they would cash in on Brissett’s appreciation and continue to stockpile picks which they’ve done a good job of this past off-season. Instead Jacoby Brissett will probably sit on the bench and watch his value plummet. Indianapolis probably could’ve drove the price up on Seattle and still made a deal happen too. Imagine getting a 2nd and a 7th for Brissett and the Seahawks probably would’ve done it. With players like Chad Kelly coming out later on in the draft adding an additional pick to the agreement might’ve had a huge impact later on. So the Colts had an opportunity to use the Seahawks interest as leverage and turn this into a real positive situation for themselves. At the end of the day Jim Irsay was adamant that he will hang on to Brissett because he feels he’s one of the best back ups in football. You really can’t deny Irsay’s beliefs but he has to turn this team around and that means taking some calculated risk. Based off everything the Colts were getting in return this was their moment to strike and gain another victory for their organization.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Second year Quarterback Deshaun Watson is coming off an ACL tear which ended his 2017 campaign prematurely but don’t doubt the former Clemson standout. Watson threw for 73 yards and a touchdown in Houston’s 16-13 win over San Francisco. When the prolific passer is on the field it’s instant offense for Bill O’Brien’s team. We saw that on just eight passing attempts against the 49ers and it feels like Watson is going to pick up right where he left off. Obviously that’s good news for this ball club and a few things jump out at you when you watch the 22 year old play. Maybe the most apparent is Deshaun Watson’s ability to read the defense so well. On one play San Francisco blitzed a linebacker hoping to rattle Watson but he found Bruce Ellington on a slant for a big gain. It was the same quick reaction time you see in Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning. Now there’s a lot of people who can react quickly but to be able to absorb and process the events occurring around you and to be able to throw a perfect strike is what we should all marvel at. It’s the combination of the mental grasp of the quarterback position and the arm talent to deliver these precision passes which make Watson one of the brightest young QBs in the game today. That ultimately puts the Texans in a position to make it back to the postseason. If Houston is going to beat any of the AFC teams from a year ago for that spot it’ll probably be Tennessee. Watson is so much better than Marcus Mariota and it’s very possible that he will be the difference maker down the stretch. All Watson has to do is stay healthy because everyone knows he can make magic happen on game day.

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Deshaun Watson is the reason the Houston Texans playoff hopes are alive and well:

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Carolina Running Back Christian McCaffrey came to play in the Panthers 27-20 victory of the Miami Dolphins. McCaffrey broke off a 71 yard touchdown up the right sideline and showed he’s still a dynamic ball carrier for Ron Rivera’s team. When the night was over McCaffrey tallied up 92 yards and 1 touchdown. The second year halfback also caught two receptions for 28 yards out of the backfield so it’s evident that he had it going on in just about every phase of the game. Then Cam Newton tried to build off McCaffrey’s momentum by putting up 89 yards and 1 touchdown of his own. Those plays along with a Cameron Artis-Payne rushing TD really helped get this franchise out in front. Elijah Hood also punched in a Panthers score and the running game as a whole was the reason Carolina was able to edge out Miami. Ryan Tannehill did start for the Dolphins and threw for 100 yards, 0 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Tannehill was accurate completing 14 out of 17 passes but he needs to covert those opportunities into points for Miami’s offense. Instead it was Bryce Petty one of Adam Gase’s back up quarterbacks who rushed for the the Dolphins lone touchdown. The other scoring came from five successful field goal attempts that were kicked Jason Sanders and Greg Joseph. Obviously that’s not enough offensive output for Gase who is often referred to as an x and os mastermind. Carolina has to feel good about themselves though because they have a ton of weapons that can pose a threat. Christian McCaffrey, C.J Anderson, Devin Funchess, Curtis Samuel, and D.J Moore are the perfect combination of talent around Cam Newton. McCaffrey individually will be a huge spark plug just because he’s explosive and so versatile. Which is a match up nightmare and Newton will take advantage of that frequently. Overall it’s so easy to see that things are definitely looking up for the Panthers. They have a lot of talent on their roster right now.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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It might have only been a preseason game but it was enough for Patrick Mahomes to showcase exactly what he brings to the Chiefs. That’s a ton of arm strength which allows the second year quarterback to unload 60 and 70 yard passes. In fact Mahomes connected with Hill on a 68 yard strike against the Atlanta Falcons. On that play Hill outran three defenders and finished his route in the end zone for 6 points. Very few quarterbacks in the league can make those kind of throws and that is definitely exciting the Chiefs fan base. Initially there was some skepticism whether Mahomes could fill Alex Smith’s shoes but this preseason preview really gave us a glimpse of what makes the former Texas Tech gunslinger so unique. When it was all said and done Mahomes threw for 138 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Hill ended his day with 87 yards and 1 TD. Gehrig Dieter also caught a Chiefs touchdown and contributed 36 yards. Andy Reid has to be upbeat about this offensive performance and he knows it’s going to take time for Mahomes to grow into his full potential. This contest was a step in the right direction though and people have to remember it’s a process. Then you have the Falcons who were led by Matt Ryan. Ryan threw for 90 yards and 1 touchdown in his brief appearance. The other big performer was former Alabama standout Calvin Ridley who hauled in 49 yards and a touchdown grab. Ridley has been a human highlight reel at Falcons training camp so he definitely has a lot of upside. Walking away from this game though it was all about the Kansas City Chiefs and measuring how far they can go? Mahomes will make some bad decisions but if he can limit his turnovers Kansas City will have a shot in the AFC West. Nobody’s development is more important to this franchise.

Charity of the day: National Forest Foundation

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Patrick Mahomes showed off some amazing arm strength in the Chiefs 28-14 preseason win.

Photo credit: Icon Sportswire Author: Jon Kuzma

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We all knew James Washington was pretty good coming out Oklahoma State but it’s clear the rookie wide receiver is better than everyone thought. Washington was dominant in the Steelers 51-34 loss to the Green Bay Packers. While the team as a whole struggled Washington put it all together with 114 yards and 2 touchdown receptions. It’s almost guaranteed that Washington will slide into that third wide receiver role behind Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Those three pass catchers are going to be the best group in the entire NFL and now Ben Roethlisberger has so much talent around him. That’s should result in better offensive production and Pittsburgh will be one of the top dogs in the AFC once again. Lets be honest trying to stop Brown is tough enough but then there’s Smith-Schuster and Washington who can open things up as well. Unless opposing pass rushers get to Roethlisberger there’s not going to be any chance to match up with the Steelers. There’s just too much firepower there and most secondaries will lack good enough cover guys to keep Pittsburgh in check. Washington in particular should have a legitimate shot at 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. When you consider how much the football will be distributed that’s pretty good. Brown will be targeted the most but JuJu Smith-Schuster has came a long way himself. Beyond those two players Washington will have to operate from the slot and do his best to take advantage of weaker nickel backs. There’s a real opportunity there for James Washington to step up and solidify himself. Due to all of these talented receivers Pittsburgh’s opponents will be very limited in their play calling. How do you blitz the Steelers and expect to cover everyone? That’s very unlikely to happen and someone will eventually wiggle free. Therefore it’s easy to see James Washington has a great chance to flourish in this type of environment.

Charity of the day: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

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James Washington dominates in Steelers preseason game against the Packers.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The New England Patriots took on the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch but this time the stakes weren’t quite as high. It was the second preseason game for both teams but New England looked really special. Tom Brady was his usual self throwing for 172 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions in the first half alone. Everyone knows quarterback play is often the difference maker in the NFL and the Patriots are lucky to have the best QB the league has ever seen. If Brady plays like he did against the Eagles then New England will have a shot to be right back in the hunt. Brady could honestly keep going for five more years if he continues to air out the football this well. Another big part of that success is the future Hall of Famer’s ability to process what the defense throws at him so quickly. Blitzing Tom Brady is almost impossible because he gets the ball out of hands instantly. We saw Brady hook up with Chris Hogan and James White for a pair of touchdowns against Philadelphia and it’s apparent the 41 year old is ready to compete. Defensively the Patriots recorded 8 sacks so they definitely got it done on that side of the ball too. Adrian Clayborn in particular seems like a key addition and his arrival couldn’t have come at a better time because Clayborn might be able to get this team over the hump. With Brady’s excellence under center and Adrian Clayborn leading a revamped defense the Patriots are a force to be reckoned with once again. As far as the Eagles go third string quarterback Nate Sudfeld had a heck of night throwing for 312 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Shelton Gibson, Rashard Davis, Richard Rodgers were the recipients of those passes and all played well. However surrendering 37 points on the defensive of the ball ended up being too much for the Eagles to overcome. The bottom line though is the Patriots have reloaded and they’re going to be very tough to beat.

Charity of the day: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

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Tom Brady torches the Eagles in the Patriots second preseason game. New England won 37-20.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Khalil Mack has been a holdout at Raiders training camp and now it appears Mack is on the trading block. Most NFL insiders believe the Packers are the front-runner to land Mack and that would take their defense to new heights. Mack is the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year and he’s recorded an impressive 40 and a half sacks over the course of his four year career. Imagine inserting him into an already improving Green Bay defense and there’s a chance for some serious firepower. The Packers are looking really good upfront with Kenny Clark, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Mike Daniels. Adding Mack at the next level would be a quarterback’s worst nightmare and that might be enough to get this organization back in the playoff hunt. Things will ultimately come down to what the Packers are willing to give up to get Khalil Mack? Some analysts have speculated that Clay Matthews could be in that trade but if this organization truly wants to win the NFC North and get back on track they need Matthews. A better option would be to trade a 1st, 2nd, and 5th round pick. It’s a steep price to pay but it’s better than giving up Matthews or both of the 1st round picks the Packers have in the 2019 draft. By going with the package mentioned above the Packers will still have a 1st rounder next spring and they’ll have the best edge rushers around with Mack and Matthews. That’s the trade which will put this franchise back in striking range because right now it’s looking like the Minnesota Vikings are going to come out on top in this division. Mack would come in and clamp down on Kirk Cousins. It might not be enough to dethrone the Vikings but it will sure give the Packers a better chance and that’s all you can do as a front office.

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The rumors and whispers have Khalil Mack going to the Packers.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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There’s not many players with the confidence Jalen Ramsey has. The former Florida State alum recently did an article for GQ magazine and called out just about every single quarterback in the NFL. The article was so in-depth and Ramsey called players like Josh Allen “trash.” Ramsey also said “Joe Flacco sucks” and “Eli Manning isn’t good.” So the third year cornerback didn’t hold back and if you believe in locker room material this took the cake as one of the most braggadocios rants the league has ever seen. A lot of guys are cocky but very few of them take the time to mention other players by name and then speak negatively about them. There’s a reason too because it opens you up to attacks from all sides. When so many people are gunning for you it makes life so much more difficult. It feels like Jalen Ramsey is trying to take the Josh Norman route and boast his way into a big payday. However Norman had two defensive touchdowns the year he sold himself as the best in the business and Ramsey hasn’t been that dominate from a stats standpoint. If Ramsey gets to talk like this off 6 career interceptions what does Marcus Peters say with 19 interceptions in three years? Look everyone likes Jalen Ramsey but he just got suspended for a week of practice for cussing out the Jacksonville media. Then right after that this article drops and the timing couldn’t be any worse. Everyone thought the Jaguars were going to be Super Bowl contenders but now we’ve been hearing that there’s teammates fighting each other in practice and Ramsey got suspended. The culture in Northeast Florida is starting to become toxic and that’s a bad sign heading into the season. Jalen Ramsey has so much pressure on him and everyone wants to make him look like a fool now.

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Jalen Ramsey’s bold approach might not be the best course of action for the emerging corner.