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Author: Jon Kuzma

There’s no bigger draw at the wide receiver position than Antonio Brown. He’s by far the most popular pass catcher in the league and it’s not even close. Brown has dominated media headlines all off-season and part of that is because he enjoys the attention.


However there’s no denying that Brown has always backed it up on the field. With 6 straight 1,000 yard seasons it’s amazing how much the former 6th round pick has defied expectations. Yea he pushed his way out of Pittsburgh but he landed in Oakland and we all know how much history the Raiders have. When the silver and black are winning football games it’s always a feel good story. Al Davis, John Madden, Jerry Rice, and Tim Brown are people who helped make this league what it is today. Now Antonio Brown is pairing up with Jon Gruden and those guys are helping this franchise return to greatness before they make their move to Las Vegas. We know they definitely have some momentum on their side because it’s been a great three months for their roster. Tyrell Williams, Trent Brown, Clelin Ferrell, and Josh Jacobs will also be joining Brown with the Raiders. So it’s clear this a team that’s overhauling everything and they’re in the process of building it back up. Still though Brown is their ace in the hole and he’s coming off a 15 touchdown season in 2018. Gruden knows his new receiver can’t lose much production if this offense wants to make significant strides. It won’t be easy for Brown because he’s getting used to a new system and a new environment. Those are challenges he hasn’t had to deal with since being draft back in 2010. The one thing this guy has going for him is he’s a workaholic and so dedicated to his craft that he usually blows his competition away. Oakland got a good one and they know it.

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Antonio Brown is a global brand and a future Hall of Famer but can he turn the Oakland Raiders around?

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Author: Jon Kuzma

Very rarely does an elite quarterback slide to number 15 in the NFL Draft. For whatever reason Dwayne Haskins was passed over by the Arizona Cardinals / New York Giants and because of that the Washington Redskins hit the jackpot.


All those other teams had to do is look at Haskins 50 touchdowns at Ohio State and those should’ve been good enough stats to jump out at them. Fast forward to now and Haskins is back in the DC area after attending high school just 12 miles away in Potomac, Maryland. The former Buckeye is looking comfortable too because he’s already been the best QB at Washington Redskins OTAs. Haskins is competing with Case Keenum but the biggest difference between those two is the zip on their throws. While Keenum can accurately connect with his receivers he just doesn’t have the velocity that Haskins does when he distributes the football to his weapons. Jay Gruden has already been given a ton leniency as this team’s head coach and he can’t afford another losing season. Which almost guarantees that he’ll roll with his top draft pick in week one when Washington takes on the Philadelphia Eagles. That will be a great test for the rookie (Haskins) and how huge would it be to pull off an upset in his first game by upstaging Carson Wentz? If what we’ve been hearing so far is true then it’s definitely possible. Make no mistake about it though Haskins will have to take over in order for that happen. It feels like it’ll take three or four touchdown passes to give a less talented Redskins team the chance to beat their division rivals. You also have to like what the future holds for Haskins because he can definitely surpass Dak Prescott and Daniel Jones. Get ready because the is only the beginning for the 22 year old signal caller and it’s going to get better from here.

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Dwayne Haskins has something special and that’s helping him win the Washington Redskins starting quarterback job.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

The Jacksonville Jaguars underachieved in 2018 and that led to Blake Bortles being released. Which means Shahid Khan is starting to hold the leaders of the team accountable and Doug Marrone / Tom Coughlin could be next. To make matters even worse this roster doesn’t have a ton of talent. Jacksonville probably has the worst wide receivers in the NFL and they won’t help out Nick Foles at all.


Not to mention Coughlin seems to be hurting morale more than he’s helping it lately. As a result of that players like Leonard Forunette and Jalen Ramsey are becoming disgruntled (while Tevlin Smith quit football altogether). We saw how low the players’ spirits sank when the Jaguars only won 5 games last season. There’s zero room for those poor attitudes this time around and that means this ball club has to avoid struggling early on. Momentum is so crucial in this sport and it’s hard to battle back when you fall to 1-3 or 1-4 out of the gate. Plus the AFC South is tough right now with the Colts, Texans, and Titans all in a better situation than the Jaguars. It’s going to take a miracle for this franchise to have a winning record and that means Marrone and Coughlin’s days will probably be numbered. Out of those two it feels like Marrone will be let go first but Coughlin is just as much to blame because he made a really bad decision by re-signing Bortles only to release him the following off-season. That was a $54M dollar mistake and it’s hard to keep your job when you just throw away huge amounts of money. The good news is this team needs to hit the reset button and start over with new leadership. For whatever reason things haven’t been going well and it starts at the top. Meaning change could be the best thing that happens in Duval County.

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Jacksonville can’t afford another bad year or everyone will probably get fired.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The Kansas City Chiefs had an unusual off-season. Justin Houston was cut and Dee Ford was traded away which definitely put this team in a bind for a little bit. Those moves were made because Kansas City was transitioning to a 4-3 scheme but it was still a lot of talent to lose.


However Andy Reid got back on track by signing Tyrann Mathieu and then landing two key trades for Frank Clark and Darron Lee. The most important of those new pieces is Clark. The former Seahawk recorded 13 sacks last year and he can make Lee and Mathieu’s job much easier by getting to opposing quarterbacks. Clark is a player who loves to trust his instincts and he can diagnose plays very quickly. It’s also the reason he’s the highest paid of this bunch at 5-years $105M dollars. Then there’s Tyrann Mathieu and we all know what he brings in the secondary. This guy is a ball hawk who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. It’s so crucial to have a safety who can force takeaways and that’s always been one of Mathieu’s strong points. Perhaps the biggest steal out of this trio was Darron Lee. The Chiefs got Lee for a 6th round pick and he’s a very fast linebacker. His 3 interceptions in 2018 really standout and Steve Spagnuolo should be able to create some additional opportunities for the offense by forcing more turnovers. We know Patrick Mahomes will turn those possessions into points and suddenly things aren’t looking so bad for Reid and company. If Clark, Mathieu, and Lee all pan out this team will be on the cusp of going to the Super Bowl. Therefore things have become much more exciting for Kansas City the past couple of months and expectations are high heading into the 2019 season.

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Kansas City got three elite athletes in Frank Clark, Tyrann Mathieu, and Darron Lee.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Everything was going so good for the New York Jets. They landed Le’Veon Bell, C.J Mosley, and Jamison Crowder in free agency and that was splash for this organization. Then the team followed that up by selecting Quinnen Williams and Jachai Polite on draft night which essentially made New York a contender. However shortly after that is when everything started to unravel.


GM Mike Maccagnan was fired this past week and obviously that’s never a good sign. Apparently new head coach Adam Gase and Maccagnan’s relationship had become dysfunctional and CEO Chris Johnson decided to stick with the more recent hire. The problem is Gase hasn’t done much to justify acquiring so much power other than hold a clipboard while Peyton Manning made magic happen in Denver. The other problem with Gase is he isn’t a fan of Le’Veon Bell at all. There’s been leaks to the media that he wasn’t onboard with signing the free agent running back and thinks the price was too high. So it’s possible that Gase could trade Bell before he even suits up for the Jets. That would be such a terrible decision because despite the cost of all of the moves they’ve made this franchise is in better shape than they’ve been in a while. If the front office ships out Bell and then the team fails to win games there will be so much pushback from the fans. For a ball club that hasn’t had a ton of success it seems like one of the most foolish decisions they could make. The bottom line is Adam Gase is not the guy anyone wants calling the shots. He’s got an itchy trigger finger which has already resulted in Darron Lee getting traded to the Chiefs for a measly 6th round pick. If Bell gets dealt next it wouldn’t be surprising and everybody will say the same thing “same old Jets.”

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Le’Veon Bell is already on the trade block and the New York Jets are foolish if they ship him out.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Veteran defensive end Chris Long is hanging up his cleats after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (8), New England Patriots (1), and Philadelphia Eagles (2). This is tough for the Eagles because they’ll lose a player who’s usually good for five or six sacks a year.


Keep in mind Michael Bennett is no longer in the picture either so it’s not the best time for this team to lose Long. However it’s was an overwhelmingly successful career for the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long and he definitely lived up to expectations. With 70 career sacks, 2 Lombardi Trophies, and a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award most people dream of putting together such an epic run. Chris Long was a first class human being off the field and once game day arrived he was a terror. You have to remember this guy was drafted with the number 2 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was one of the top edge rushers in the country while at the University of Virginia and then for 11 seasons he pinned his ears back and hammered opposing quarterbacks. On film you immediately notice that Long was always lined up at left end and bulldozing through offensive tackles. Based off what we saw a year ago he’s still got some gas in the tank but Long wanted to get out of the sport sooner rather than later. The timing of everything makes sense because training camp is right around the corner. After playing football at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels it’s very possible Long was burned out and ready to move on in life. We’ve haven’t heard what his plans are but there’s no doubt that playing in the NFL has opened some doors for Chris Long.

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The Eagles defense will take a hit after Chris Long announces his retirement.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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T.J Hockenson was the number one tight end selected in the 2019 NFL Draft but his teammate Noah Fant could end up being better. Fant had flashier numbers at Iowa and is much more polished when it comes to catching the football.


So far those skills have been on display at Denver Broncos OTAs and this offense could’ve found their secret weapon. Joe Flacco loves to stretch the field with his throw power and Fant is someone who can run under those Flacco lofts. That will present a mismatch for a lot of defenders because Fant must be covered by someone who has top notch speed. The other thing the rookie does really well is run crossing routes and linebackers will be outgunned trying to stride with him. It’s also a good sign that Flacco and Fant are already forming a tight bond. Those two are starting to trust each other and that will help them execute on the fly. With Emmanuel Sanders still recovering from an achilles tear it’s imperative someone else steps up and generates some plays. From what we’re hearing out of the Mile High City Noah Fant appears to be someone who can be dangerous right away. He’s up there with those very athletic tight ends such as Vernon Davis and Evan Engram. Both of those guys have had some very productive years in this league and Fant is cut from the same cloth. Therefore you can see why the coaching staff is upbeat about their top draft pick. One other thing should be mentioned which is Fant has also looked very good as a blocker. A lot of scouts acted like that was his weakness coming out of college but so far it hasn’t been an issue for the Broncos. Through the first couple of practices it’s obvious the 21 year old has impressed.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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he Arizona Cardinals and Patrick Peterson have been growing apart for a long time. Just last year Peterson demanded a trade out of Arizona but no deal ended up materializing. Since then Peterson apologized to the Cardinals fan base for wanting to leave but the front office hasn’t forgotten. That’s why Peterson’s latest issue could be the breaking point for both sides.


The 8x Pro Bowler (Peterson) was recently suspended the first six games of the season for performance enhancing drugs. Obviously that puts a little bit of an asterisk next to Patrick Peterson’s accomplishments but the main thing it does is damage his relationship with the team that drafted him. At this point the 28 year old cornerback might not care that much because he already wanted to play for someone else. Although it’s probably not the way Peterson wanted things to unfold and he’ll be sidelined for almost half of the games in 2019. It’s very possible when he does return to action Arizona could ship him out right before the trade deadline. Imagine if someone like the New England Patriots acquired this guy and paired him up with Stephon Gilmore. The Cardinals might not get that much trade value for Peterson because he’s getting a little bit older and because his reputation took a hit after juicing. It seems like a real New England kind of move to send over a third or fourth round pick for an elite performer. Bill Belichick covets the cornerback position because you need players who can cover in such a pass orientated league. Clearly that’s a ways away but it’s something that could happen later on down the line. You have to believe there would be a handful of other suitors who would also like to add a star defender to their defense. Therefore it’s very possible that this is the last season we see Peterson in an Arizona jersey.

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Patrick Peterson got suspended for performance enhancing drugs and that could be the final straw for the Cardinals.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was one of the most electrifying players in all of football but that was before he was released for an off the field issue. Browns GM John Dorsey had a relationship with Hunt because they both spent time together with the Chiefs and that was a big reason the 23 year old running back decided to sign with Cleveland.


Even though Hunt will have to serve an eight week suspension before he gets to suit up it’s already clear what he can bring to this offense. At OTAs Hunt stood out and looked like one of the best athletes participating in those practices. Whether it was flying through drill work, catching the football, or blowing by defenders with his burst it’s obvious Hunt hasn’t lost a step. Nick Chubb will have to carry the load out of the gate but eventually the Browns could have the best running back tandem in the league. It’s even possible Chubb ends up losing his job to Kareem Hunt because it’s going to be hard to keep this guy on the sidelines. At the end of the day the NFL is about competition and the best players have to be in the starting lineup. With all that’s at stake for Cleveland Hunt’s skill set may be needed during a late season playoff push. We know this team will be very close to making the postseason with all of the playmakers they have. By establishing a proper rushing attack those goals will be much more achievable and it’s going to help this group take control of games. So many other things will fall into place from there and Hunt is a punishing ball carrier that can wear teams down. We’re talking about highlight reel football and that’s going to make this franchise a big draw once week one arrives.

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Kareem Hunt was his old self at Browns OTAs.

 

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Organized team activities are underway and we already have an early winner in Miami. That’s veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick who’s been throwing the ball extremely well for the Dolphins. Of course Josh Rosen is also on the roster so there’s no telling who Brian Flores will go with on game day?


Flores has made it clear that it’s an open competition but Fitzpatrick looked like a completely different player a year ago. In fact the man known as FitzMagic threw for 17 touchdowns in only 7 starts for Tampa Bay and probably would’ve had over 30TDs had he played in all 16 games. It’s not easy to produce those kind of numbers and that means Rosen will have his hands full trying to win this job. The one good thing Rosen does have going for him is his age. While Fitzpatrick is 36 years old and only has a handful of seasons left in the tank. Rosen is 22 and can easily play for over a decade. Obviously that could sway the coaching staff a little bit but ultimately they want to win games. With Tom Brady playing at 41 years old it’s possible that Fitzpatrick could have longer than we expect especially if he keeps performing at the level he’s been at recently. There’s also a subtle charisma about Fitzpatrick that makes his teammates want to follow him. You have to remember he went to Harvard and also scored a 48 on the Wonderlic test. When you also add in the life experience Fitzpatrick has he’s like genius who is also very wise. Processing coverages and blitz packages just comes easy for the savvy gunslinger. To be honest the Buccaneers made a foolish decision by not sticking with Fitzpatrick because he was clearly the hot hand. The Dolphins won’t make that same mistake if this guy is lighting it up and everyone wants to see if FitzMagic can pick up right where he left off?

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Ryan Fitzpatrick has stood out at Miami Dolphins OTAs.