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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The Seattle Seahawks are listening to trade offers for defensive end Frank Clark but it’s going to take a lot to replace Pete Carroll’s top pass rusher. Clark was outstanding in 2018 recording 13 sacks and that’s so much production to lose. Obviously if some team wants to acquire Clark they’ll have to give up a significant amount in return to pull this deal off.


General Manager John Schneider and Carroll are no fools though and they know not to accept a low ball offer for such a key piece to their defense. It almost feels like something will happen quickly especially if the Seahawks want to get some picks that can be used in 2019 NFL Draft. Otherwise the deal doesn’t make sense because adding picks for the 2020 draft would take Seattle out of the hunt this upcoming season. Of course there is the possibility that Seattle could acquire a couple of players for Clark. However it’ll have to be some guys who fit their system and who can be molded as Carroll sees fit. To make matters even more interesting Russell Wilson might be moving on from the squad as well. Clearly that will complicate things quite a bit but you can never count out the Seahawks. Outside of the New England Patriots not many teams find a way to stay relevant like Seattle always does. This front office can easily turn Clark and Wilson into three first round picks and then retool for their next run. Which could turn into Dwayne Haskins, Clelin Ferrell, and Noah Fant. Would this franchise be better off with those young players? It’s hard to say but it would help them turn the page on the old era and give them a brand new nucleus to build around.

Charity of the day: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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Frank Clark is on the trade block and he could be on the move soon.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Having a great coach and a culture that is conducive for success is hard to come by. Pete Carroll has provided an environment that has allowed Russell Wilson to flourish and that’s why it would be foolish for Wilson to leave the Seahawks. There’s been a lot of rumors that Wilson’s wife Ciara wants to be in New York which is better for her career but Wilson is the bread winner in the  family right now so his job has to be the top priority.

Whether it’s Wilson’s own desire to leave or his wife or agent whispering in his ear that he can do better in New York. It doesn’t matter those ambitions should be put on hold because nothing is going to beat what Russell Wilson has in Seattle. This is a franchise that always reloads and finds a way to be competitive. While the New York Giants are a dumpster fire and they’ve only won 8 games over the past two seasons. If Wilson doesn’t play well on the field first and foremost then the glamor and glitz won’t follow. The whole reason he has this brand is because of Carroll and lets not forget even with his great coach Wilson still threw an interception on the goal line in the Super Bowl. Proving just how hard it is to win in the NFL even when you have all of this help around you. That help won’t be anywhere to be found in the Big Apple and there’s also so many distractions to overcome. Is this really what Wilson wants or is he being tempted by Ciara and her wants and needs? All we know is it’s a bold move to turn his back on the team that drafted him and made him who he is today. The grass is always greener on the other side but it rarely ends up being as good as it seems.

Charity of the day: Breast Cancer Prevention Partners

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Russell Wilson will report to off-season workouts but there’s a lot of speculation that he’s ready to leave Seattle.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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5. Baltimore Ravens- Baltimore lost the entire core of their defense when C.J Mosley, Za’Darius Smith, Terrell Suggs, and Eric Weddle all chose to leave in free agency (Weddle was cut). Offenses have a lot less to fear with those players gone and that means Lamar Jackson will have to take on even more responsibility to keep this team in the hunt. The additions of Mark Ingram and Earl Thomas should help but will it be enough?

4. Los Angeles Rams- Ndamukong Suh isn’t coming back and that will cause a lot of problems for Wade Phillips’ defense. Los Angeles also lost Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan on the offensive line so Jared Goff won’t have as much time to let plays develop downfield. The Rams did sign Clay Matthews and Eric Weddle to come in and give this team a boost but neither guy had a good season in 2018. Matthews and Weddle will be a year older too..

3. Kansas City Chief- The Chiefs will have to overcome a tough off-season if they hope to go on another deep playoff run. They lost Justin Houston and Dee Ford which was their two top pass rushers this past season. When you also factor in that Tyreek Hill could have a suspension looming it proves Kansas City is declining. Andy Reid is hoping that the addition of Tyrann Mathieu can minimize some of those problems.

2. Houston Texans- The worst thing about the Houston Texans was how inactive they were. They retained Jadeveon Clowney but there were no additions that really stood out. Houston lost Tyrann Mathieu, and Kareem Jackson which will set them back quite a bit. They did add Bradley Roby and Matt Kalil but they’re losing ground in the AFC South.

1. Miami Dolphins- Miami had the worst off-season out of any team and it’s almost like they’re okay with tanking. Ryan Tannehill, Danny Amendola, Josh Sitton, Frank Gore, and Ja’Wuan James are no longer with team. That’s a lot for the new coaching staff to overcome and the Dolphins already had the 31st ranked offense in 2018.

Charity of the day: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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Here’s a list off all the teams that are heading in the wrong direction after a bad off-season.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Some teams have already started off-season workouts but Ndamukong Suh is still unsigned. Maybe Suh is going the Michael Strahan route and trying to skip training camp. Sometimes veterans do that later on in their careers to avoid burning out down the stretch of the season.


Even the great Tom Brady has become less optimistic about OTAs and you can’t blame these guys because they don’t get very much time away from football. Eventually Suh will have to make a decision about retiring or joining a team and one fit could be the Los Angeles Chargers. After spending 2018 with the Rams it makes sense because the former 1st round pick has established a life in Southern California. The Chargers also could use another defensive tackle to help take the pressure off of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Brandon Mebane and Justin Jones combined for only 1.5 sacks in 2018 and this defense is lacking a good interior rush that will help spill the play into Ingram and Bosa’s laps. There’s no doubt Ndamukong Suh can be that guy and it will help Los Angeles get a step closer to winning a Super Bowl. Then once the draft rolls around the Chargers can look for a middle linebacker who can control both of the “A gaps” and toughen this group up against the run. Someone like Alabama’s Mack Wilson would fit perfectly in that role and together with Suh those two could help this ball club get past a regressing New England team. The edges are already taken care of but it’ll take Suh and Mack to counter Sony Michel and the Patriots running game. Michel had 129 yards when the Chargers lost to the future Super Bowl champions in the AFC Divisional round. That’s not going to cut it and something has to change.

Charity of the day: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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Adding Ndamukong Suh would make a lot of sense for the Los Angeles Chargers. They need to bolster the defensive tackle position.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Mike Zimmer is a defensive guy but he knows that he has to oversee a lot more than just the defense as a head football coach. Which is exactly why the Minnesota Vikings are paying Adam Thielen $64M dollars over the next four years to keep putting points on the board against those tough NFC North defenses.


Thielen has already done a great job of that after bursting onto the scene as an undrafted free agent. Since then (2014) Thielen has recorded 3,897 yards and 19 touchdowns proving he’s a tough match-up for any defensive back. He’s actually coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons as well so this is someone who knows how to catch the football. On film Thielen does great work as a red zone target for Kirk Cousins. Minnesota loves to target him on post routes once they’re near the goal line. Adam Thielen is only 6’1” but he definitely plays bigger than his height and there’s no replacing the veteran wide out. It almost feels like he’s more important than Kirk Cousins or Stefon Diggs. You could find another quarterback to replace Cousins or someone to fill the number 2 receiver position. Finding an alpha who can consistently beat teams down the field is much tougher and he just fits for this team and part of that is because he’s from Detroit Lakes Minnesota, born and raised in the state. Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman knew Thilen was a diamond in the rough and that’s why they made him the 6th highest paid receiver in the league. At $16M annually the 28 year old (Thielen) will make just as much money as Sammy Watkins. Of course Adam Thielen has been much better recently and it’s well deserved.

Charity of the day: Grameen Foundation USA

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Adam Thielen is the Minnesota Vikings most important offensive players and he’ll be around for the next four years.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Carolina’s front office is very interested in West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and that tells you Cam Newton’s time is winding down. Which opens the door for some other player to be the face of the franchise. Without a doubt Christian McCaffrey is that guy and it’s his team moving forward.


There were some questions about McCaffrey’s size but he put all of the those concerns to rest by combining for over 3,000 yards in his first two seasons. That’s the thing about the 22 year old running back he’s a dual-threat weapon. Some of McCaffrey’s best plays come on screens or swing passes where he can use his speed in the open field. We’ve even seen him hurdle defenders and it’s gotten to the point where he’s carrying this offense. It makes sense that general manager Marty Hurney is getting ready to turn the page on Newton because McCaffrey is the focal point right now. The Panthers won 7 games last season but if you take away their star running back’s production then this team wouldn’t come anywhere near that number. When you look at the best playmakers in the league and guys like Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, and Todd Gurley jump out. There’s no doubt Christian McCaffrey deserves to be in that upper echelon of athletes. Carolina should think about trading Newton on draft night because they need a quarterback who can keep defenses on their heels and make them respect the passing game. That’s more important than say drafting an offensive lineman because most of McCaffrey’s best runs are on the outside (tosses / pitches). Going that route will give this ball club more points throughout the season. We know McCaffrey will handles his business on the ground and a more traditional QB will allow D.J Moore and Curtis Samuel to excel through the air.

Charity of the day: Grameen Foundation USA

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Christian McCaffrey is one of the top playmakers in the NFL.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette was arrested for driving without a license and it’s bad timing for the former 1st round pick. Fournette already had some of his guaranteed money revoked after missing most of 2018 with a hamstring injury, being suspended for a fight, and for poor conduct during the final stretch of the season.


It’s clear this guy is struggling at this point of his career which is surprising considering how good he was as a rookie. Somewhere between then and now Fournette started to spiral out of control and it could be the end of his time with the Jaguars. All of this started when the LSU alum (Fournette) failed to pay some parking tickets but when you add that on top his bad attitude it’s going to really frustrate Tom Coughlin. Truth be told Jacksonville’s locker room is a toxic environment too and that’s not helping their young players out at all. Leonard Fournette got consumed by that and it’s possible Coughlin decides they’re better off without him. The problem is it would be such a waste of talent but right now the team is running out of options. If this is the direction things are heading then Fournette won’t be around for much longer. After rushing for 1,479 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons it’s a shame that things have come to this. Maybe the front office will stick with him but if that happens there’s going to be zero tolerance for any other mistakes. Fournette can’t let things get away from him again and truthfully it might already be too late. This situation has been very bizarre and you hate to see it end like this. Every time you draft a player it’s a risk though and Jacksonville is probably upset that they overlooked any red flags they may have noticed.

Charity of the day: Grameen Foundation USA

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Leonard Fournette’s legal troubles could be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The New York Giants just re-signed wide receiver Sterling Shepard to a four year $41M dollar contract and that was a questionable decision by Dave Gettleman. Shepard has never recorded 1,000 receiving yards in a season and he only has 6 touchdowns the past two years.


Paying Shepard $10M dollars annually is risky because that’s cap space that could’ve been saved for a rainy day. Shepard isn’t a bad receiver but there was better options available for the price the Giants paid. This was one of the first mishaps by the team’s front office but the other decision’s they’ve made haven’t been as bad as the public made them out to be. Trading Jason Pierre-Paul was smart because Gettleman had to get Pierre-Paul’s contract off the books and it was better to do it right away. The Odell Beckham Jr. deal wasn’t awful either because it turned into additional 1st and 3rd round picks. If the fans in NYC want to get upset now is the time to do so because extending Shepard’s agreement allows their team less flexibility to improve in the future. And if the Giants choose to draft a wide receiver in the 1st round then they’ll be paying $10M dollars for a number three receiver. Adding D.K Metcalf, A.J Brown, or N’Keal Harry with their 17th overall selection and then signing a free agent for $5M would’ve been a better plan for this offense. That extra $5M saved could’ve went towards improving the defense. It’s those savvy decisions which can be the difference between getting the most for your money or overpaying for a player. The best general managers squeeze every penny to ensure they assemble the deepest roster they possibly can. Gettleman dropped the ball and now he has to hold his breath and hope Sterling Shepard doesn’t do the same.

Charity of the day: Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

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Truth be told the New York Giants haven’t made that many bad decision since Dave Gettleman took over. Re-signing Sterling Shepard was foolish though.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Former National Rugby League winger Valentine Holmes has signed with the New York Jets and hopes to make it in the NFL. Holmes will follow in the footsteps of former Rugby star Jarryd Hayne who played for the San Francisco 49ers back in 2015. Hayne probably could’ve done better if he stuck with it longer but Holmes has one advantage and that’s being younger.


Valentine Holmes is only 23 years old and some of the rookies in the NFL draft will have a few years on him. Hayne was 28 when he played and those mid 20s are a crucial time in a professional football player’s career. So from a development standpoint Holmes has a much bigger window to learn the game and find out how to play at a high level. Of course the Jets will have to keep Holmes on their roster first and foremost but this is a trend we’re starting to see more often. Some of these rugby players have incredible athleticism and Holmes is listed as a wide receiver / running back / kick returner. Right away that tells you he’s a guy who can react very quickly on the football field. A lot of those instincts are developed by evading defenders in rugby and believe it or not it tends to translate over to our sport. On special teams those skills can very be beneficial but it’s much tougher to have success against players in pads. One reason is because it slows everybody down including the ball carrier. The other reason is because the collisions are massive and players are more reckless knowing they have all of that protection. Making it clear Valentine Holmes will face some tough odds but at least he’s taking a shot at his dreams. It’s not easy to go from Australia to the United States and risk it all and for that we should already respect Holmes.

Charity of the day: Salk Institute for Biological Studies

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Valentine Holmes is on the Jets roster and now he’ll have to adjust to the fast pace of the NFL.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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There’s been a lot of speculation about what comes next for Todd Gurley? The Los Angeles Rams running back had a bad ending to the 2018 season after he started to slowdown in the playoffs. It was clear that Gurley wasn’t healthy and TMZ reported that he’s limping still to this day. While the Rams have to be concerned about that lets not forget Gurley already battled back from a knee injury (ACL) he had at the University of Georgia.


You also have to remember Gurley has been an MVP candidate the past two seasons. This is a player who’s racked up almost 4,000 yards (rushing / receiving) and 40 touchdowns over the last 24 months. How can you bet against someone who’s been the backbone of Los Angeles success? We all know Gurley has some hurdles to clear to get back to the player he once was but we can’t get caught up in C.J Anderson outperforming him in the Super Bowl and NFC Championship. Even beyond the injury you can’t forget these players are human beings and sometimes guys go through a slump. It would be shocking if Todd Gurley’s best days are already in the rear-view mirror and if that’s the case then the Rams are going to take a huge step backwards. Sean McVay’s offense all starts with the running game and then he works his playaction passes off of that. LA also paid Gurley a 4 year $60M contract so they need him to be a part of their long term plan. This is a situation which is certainly concerning for LA’s front office but Gurley will bounce back and you can expect him to be lighting it up in no time. Will it be in 2019? Who knows but sooner or later he’ll get back on track and continue to be one of the most dynamic ball carriers in all of football.

Charity of the day: Salk Institute for Biological Studies

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Todd Gurley has been an MVP candidate the past two seasons and it’s hard to believe his best days are already behind him.