The college quarterback shuffle is in full effect, as multiple quarterbacks reportedly have entered the portal over the past few days. Among them are: the University of Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke, Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall, Duke University’s Riley Leonard, and Kansas State University’s Will Howard.
For University of Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, any decisions on a new quarterback are at the mercy of budget in the new NIL free market.
“Make no mistake that a good quarterback in the portal costs a million to $1.5 million to $2 million right now,” Rhule told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. “Just so we’re on the same page. Let’s make sure we all understand what’s happening. There’s some teams that have $6 or $7 million players playing for them.”
Rhule went 5-7 in his first year with the Cornhuskers, and after a close loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes in Week 13, Nebraska is missing out on a bowl game. However, after utilizing three quarterbacks who made at least five appearances during the season, Rhule is looking at student-athletes in the transfer portal but staying steadfast in “old-school” recruiting.
“We just kind of believe in doing things the old-school way,” Rhule said. “The hard way. Building. But that doesn’t mean we won’t look at people in the portal. We did it last year.
“It just means they have to be clearly an impact player for us, if they’re like a one-year player. Or they have to be someone that has multiple years to get into our program and develop.”
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders did an about-face recently when discussing the transfer portal and price tag for good players. Coach Prime initially stated that the Colorado Buffaloes would not be treated like an “ATM” for college student-athletes, but his stance seemingly has changed since faltering to 4-8.
“We’re not an ATM. That’s not going to happen here,” Coach Prime said on Nov. 21 ahead of the season finale at Utah, a 23-17 Colorado loss. “If you come to Colorado to play football for me and the Colorado Buffaloes, it’s because you really want to play football and receive a wonderful education and all the business stuff will be handled on the back end, if that’s the case. But we are not an ATM. You’re not coming here to get rich unless you’re really coming here with a plan to go to the NFL and get your degree.”
Then, after the Nov. 25 loss to end the season, Prime changed his tune.
“We definitely need ‘giving.’ You know what I mean,” Prime said in postgame remarks at Utah, where the Buffaloes their sixth consecutive game of 2023. “It’s unfortunate to say this, but some kids cost. … We can sit here and talk about great coaching and great this and great that all we want. But it’s going to be a credit card swipe with all these guys going to these playoffs. I understand that.”
From Matt Rhule to Coach Prime, the NIL landscape is laid out plain and simple, and it is clear, to borrow lyrics from Sanders’ song he made in the ’90s, that it “must be the money.”
The Louisville men’s basketball team defeated Bellarmine 73-68 on Wednesday night, but that wasn’t the story from the game. Freshman Ty-Laur Johnson only played three minutes in the first half and head coach Kenny Payne revealed that the young man had doubts about playing because the team didn’t have the type of compression tights he wanted. This of course sparked an “old-school” versus “new school” debate. But what is this really all about?
“Listen at the end of the day, here’s the deal,” Payne said. “This is a new day and age, a new generation of young people. They are learning what it means to be a part of a team. They are learning what it means to be kids of character.”
First, let’s not pretend that in the history of sports this is the first time an athlete decided they weren’t going to suit up for some lame reason.
There is this belief, primarily among “old school” folks, that this generation of athletes are all about themselves and less about the team. Besides anecdotal evidence, I’m not sure how we would actually prove that.
I’m willing to bet that in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s there was more than one athlete that exhibited a “me first” attitude in their approach to sport. The difference is I don’t think we heard about it often. Coaches and teams, particularly at the collegiate level, might have preferred to deal with it internally and it never became an issue.
The fact that this is an issue is because Payne decided to go public with it. Right or wrong that was his choice. In today’s 24/7 news and social media cycle, a soundbite like that will go viral in a matter of minutes.
“They’re learning. They’re learning. All of them are learning. We want them to think — like in your mind, you’re looking like I can’t believe he just said that — that’s what it is coaching young people. That’s what it is,” Payne continued.
All young people are learning. Or at least should be. That’s what it means to be young. All young people need to be taught what it means to be a part of a team. What it means to depend on someone who also depends on you. How your role on the team impacts every other member.
Some young people learn that early, others learn it late. To say it’s a “generational” thing is tired and played out. Young people from every previous generation learned at different speeds. Some early others late.
Payne is right in that, that’s what coaching is. It has always been that. It is about connecting and reaching your athletes. It is about breathing spirit into their hearts and minds, as much as it is about the sport or the game. Any good coach knows this.
“There’s a generation of these young kids now that think, you know, I don’t feel good today. I can just shut it down. Well, that affects a whole lot of lives. Ty-laur Johnson is a great kid. He is learning for the first time in his life what it is to be held accountable, to be on time, to be a part of a team and have his responsibility to the team. I’m proud of him for fighting through. But I also know that I cannot ever take my foot off his neck. I know that.”
For every Ty-Laur Johnson there are coaches all across the country who can speak to kids his age that know what it is to be held accountable, to know their responsibility as a member of a team.
Payne seems like he wants what is best for Johnson and seems to want to help him grow and understand what it is to be a good teammate. That’s the job of any coach.
Another week, and another rookie has ascended to the top of our list.
Brandon Miller, Hornets, F/G
The No. 2 overall pick has had his moments, and now with star player LaMelo Ball out indefinitely with an ankle injury, Miller’s usage and shot attempts should see a jump.
Miller is averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and two assists per game. But when the former Alabama star sees the Knicks he immediately raises his game to 19.3 points on 56 percent shooting. In two matchups against the Knicks, Miller has hit 9 of 17 from three.
The Hornets will need him to step up in the absence of Ball, their franchise player.
Hornets head coach Steve Clifford will now have the chance to see eveything he can get from his prized rookie, whom he raved about earlier this season in an interview with HoopsHype:
“He can be a complete player,” Clifford said. “He has size. He can play different positions. He can guard different positions, but he’s more old-school to me when I watch him play. He has a super IQ. He’s a terrific passer.”
Chet Holmgren, Thunder, F/C
Thus far Holmgren has been the best rookie in the league. The lanky 7-footer had shown his worth on both ends of the floor for the 11-6 Thunder. Boasting averages of 22.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists, on 46 percent shooting from the field, nearly 37 percent from three and 73 percent from the free throw line this week, the former Gonzaga standout looked the part.
OKC has the looks of a team that could make a real playoff run this season, and that rides heavily on the coattails of Holmgren and his health.
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs, F/C
The No. 1 overall pick has played well considering the hype and scrutiny he’s constantly been under. The Frenchman has been solid on offense, but defense is where he’s really stood out. This past week Wemby played above his season averages of 19 points, nine rebounds, and just over two blocks per game, averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.
His play caught the attention of two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, in a matchup this week. Jokic told reporters this about the rookie:
“He’s 19 years old, he’s not getting tired or getting scared. He’s playing hard and he wants to be good. He’s going to change the game, 100 percent.”
Jordan Hawkins, Pelicans, G
The former UConn sharpshooter, who helped lead the Huskies to the NCAA title last season, has looked the part early on his NBA career. Hawkins was drafted to shoot, and that exactly what he’s done. He leads all rookies in threes attempted (135) and made (50), and that’s good enough for a 37 percent clip.
Hawkins’ range shooting has been a welcome sight for the Pelicans, who’ve been playing without point guard C.J. McCollum and sharpshooter Trey Murphy III.
Keyonte George, Jazz, G
The talented combo guard out of Baylor has worked his way into the starting lineup, and it’s safe to say he’s held his own for a very young and struggling Jazz team. Entering the week George averaged 9.9 points, three rebounds and five assists. George put together a great week, averaging 16.7 points, five rebounds and five assists.
George’s play didn’t lead to any wins, but the Jazz now know they may have their point guard of the future.
Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott is having a great season. The former Mississippi State standout has the Cowboys in the thick of NFC playoff picture at 9-3 after Thursday night’s 41-35 win over the Seattle Seahawks, and his numbers (2,935 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions) prove he’s having arguably the best season of his eight-year career.
In fact, he’s squarely in the thick of the MVP race. With football going very well, Prescott recently gave us a sneak peek into his personal life. The dynamic dual threat recently revealed his girlfriend to the world, and the couple also announced that she’s pregnant with the couple’s first child.
During his Monday press conference, the Cowboys signal-caller talked about how excited he is about being a soon-to-be daddy to his daughter who’s due in March.
“Super, super blessed to have that responsibility but at the same time have that opportunity to start a family and bring a child into the world,” Prescott said. “I know what my mom means to me and, in a sense, have that feeling in a different role is something I’m looking forward to.”
While Prescott can’t wait to be a first-time dad, for some strange reason radio talking head Craig Carton is focusing on his girlfriend being a possible gold digger, because Dak and she aren’t married.
Huh?
During a recent episode of his sports show on FS1, Carton, an ex-con father of four, seemingly took shots at Dak and his girlfriend.
He said Dak, who’s 30 years old becoming a dad is a “mistake,” and a “distraction.”,
Carton began to make odd and disrespectful comments about Dak’s pregnant partner. Upon finding out she was with child, Carton fired off with this.
“There goes the Cowboys season! I’m a big fan of fatherhood, I’m blessed with four beautiful, healthy children. You guys have kids as well. This is a distraction now for Dak Prescott. He’s not married, right? So now I’ve got to question if she’s a gold digger. She might not be. I gotta question it, right? And, number three, you’ve got everything going great, the last thing you need is the distraction.”
To hear Carton so focused on what’s going on in Prescott’s life is a bit odd and very confusing.
Not being married has nothing to do with distractions from being a parent. If we’re being truthful here, Carton’s statement is actually pretty ignorant coming from a guy who was convicted on fraud charges and spent a year in a state penitentiary.
In many ways fraud is like gold digging, so, in essence, Carton is the pot calling the kettle black, except there’s no proof that Dak’s partner has those intentions.
Despite Carton’s belief that it could become a distraction for Dak and ruin the Cowboys’ season, it won’t. The Cowboys have looked like the third-best team in the NFC this season behind the 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles and 8-3 San Francisco 49ers, who’ve given them two of their three losses.
Prescott wasn’t his best in the team’s 41-10 loss to the Niners, but he was great in a 28-23 loss to the Eagles and made the clutch plays in their comeback win over Seattle on Thursday night. He’s definitely in a nice zone.
So, that narrative that Carton is spewing is nothing more than banter, because if their season goes up in flames it’ll likely come against one of those two teams who are better teams overall.
Carton’s comments are way off base and we understand he is a shock jock who needs to fill the hours he’s on radio each day, but he probably also needs to be checked for those comments.
University of Memphis freshman hoops star Mikey Williams pleaded guilty in a California court on Thursday, Nov. 30, to a single felony charge of making criminal threats. Williams was facing multiple felony charges in the case, including five counts of assault with a firearm and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle in connection with an incident outside his home on March 27. This plea deal means Williams can avoid jail time if specific conditions are met. So what’s next for the baller?
“Cases are individually looked at,” said deputy district attorney George Modlin of the San Diego District Attorney’s office. “There is no rubber stamp for any type of case, but when we looked into the details of Mr. Williams’ age, lack of criminal record, everything that took place that night, both sides got together and worked really hard and came up with a resolution that we both believed creates justice for Mr. Williams and the community, keeps the community safe and creates the proper safeguards.”
Williams can get the charge reduced to a misdemeanor if he doesn’t break any laws, takes a gun safety course and finishes 80 hours of community service before his sentencing, currently scheduled for August 2024.
This is a huge win for Williams and keeps his basketball career on track, though Memphis has made no comment about his eligibility for the upcoming season.
“I feel good, brother,” Williams said Thursday outside the San Diego courtroom in a video posted by Overtime. “All glory to God. I’m just happy that I made it out of this situation. But I’m just excited to get back to the court.”
Williams became a social media celebrity via his high school basketball highlights, was a five-star prospect and because of NIL deals was raking in millions of dollars.
He is a teenager who purchased a 3,700-square-foot home in a San Diego suburb for $1.2 million in 2022 and was living in it with a teammate from San Ysidro High School.
According to On3, which tracks the value of NIL deals signed by high school and college athletes, Williams was earning a reported $3.3 million per year.
A lot of his sponsors dropped him as a result of this criminal case. It is unclear where they stand now as it relates to the plea deal.
Williams like many athletes before him is at a crossroads. If the fame and money return quickly and he hasn’t learned anything from this recent incident, who’s to say what will happen next.
Very few people are equipped to handle fame and fortune, especially at a young age. What he needs now is structure and mentorship. He also needs to be willing and humble enough to accept structure and mentorship.
Williams can say anything now, but the proof will be in his actions and behavior going forward, and time will tell if he’s on the right path.
Bijan Robinson is one of the best young players in the NFL, and the Atlanta Falcons have a future superstar in him.
In an era where the running back is underrated, Robinson has no weaknesses and has flashed dual ability that shows he can be the centerpiece of an offense. Robinson has the most rushing yards by a rookie this season, with 703 yards. He’s also 20th in rookie receiving yards.
While the lifespan of a running back’s career can be very short for a multitude of reasons, Bijan has no time to waste in a league where even the best backs become yesterday’s news very quickly.
Therefore, he’s being mentored by one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game, and with his newfound approach to football in the pros, he is more than likely to have a long-lasting career in the NFL.
Coming into the league out of the 2023 draft class, the Texas prodigy Robinson drew comparisons to plenty of great running backs.
One name that stood out was Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.
Tomlinson even agreed with the comparisons and had nothing but praise for the 21-year-old.
He told The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, “I think the comparisons are fair. All the things that I’ve heard about in terms of him being compared to me, I can see that. Being able to catch it, being able to run inside, outside, being able to block, being able to do all these different things where you’re not taken off the football field. The one thing about it is … you also have to have the stamina. You have to be able to handle the workload. That’s why I think it is fair because he’s proven all those things.”
But moving forward, the league will begin to see how identical these two actually are. Both players have a unique ability to break chunk runs and can also be utilized as dangerous weapons in the passing game. Matchup nightmares in cleats for any defender.
Robinson told reporters that he was put into contact with LT, and they’ve spoken often since.
What Did LT Tell Bijan Robinson?
Tomlinson suggested to Robinson that approaching the game and preparing like how a quarterback would could be instrumental in ensuring long-term success in his career.
Robinson, of course, is wise to take Tomlinson’s advice, and most football minds agree that Robinson has a Hall of Fame ceiling if the Falcons utilize him correctly.
Atlanta has been known for underutilizing players, especially on the offensive end, and not putting them in the best positions to succeed.
The roster is packed with potential game-breakers like Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Robinson, who just last month went a whole second half without toting the rock.
That’s just something you don’t do.
We don’t see Robinson complaining about it just yet, and he still has a long and bright future ahead of him with the Atlanta Falcons, but if they can’t put him and everyone else in position to succeed, there’s no telling how Robinson’s career will end up or how fast he will be looking to change location.
After some of the viral highlights that Robinson has created in his young career, football fans are praying Atlanta does not ruin his potential.
Having LT there to offer some guidance can’t hurt at all.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey is under investigation by the NBA and the Newport Beach Police Department for an alleged sexual relationship with a female minor.
An image of Giddey with and an alleged under-age girl made its way around social media triggered the investigation.
According to TMZ, the alleged girl’s family is not cooperating with the investigation. That’s a whole different kind of privilege.
“The Newport Beach Police Department is aware of information being circulated online involving an alleged relationship between professional basketball player Josh Giddey and a female minor,” the statement read, in part. “The Newport Beach Police Department is actively seeking additional information related to these allegations and pursuing all leads and evidence to obtain the facts of the case.
“The Newport Beach Police Department aims to ensure a fair and thorough investigative process while maintaining the privacy and dignity of everyone involved. At this time, NBPD Detectives are still conducting an active investigation.”
The alleged photo is from the summer of 2022, Giddey would have been 20 going on 21 then. That is a legal adult. The girl is alleged to have been a high school junior at the time. That age is either 16 or 17. You can see the problem.
Giddey has declined to comment about the allegations. Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault has referred to the allegations as a “personal matter” and declined further comment other than saying the organization made the decision for Giddey to continue playing based on the facts the Thunder have.
NBA teams and the league overall have security and investigative personnel that used to be former law enforcement. Former police officers, FBI agents, with the ability to access sensitive information. They can find out the information they need to about players. The fact that the Thunder are still allowing Giddey to continue to play says so much.
Young girls are often over-sexualized and taken advantage of in society and often people in positions of power allow that to happen.
If the girl and her family are not willing to cooperate or if they provide police with “satisfactory” answers to their questions, there is not much more that can be done.
There has been commentary online from NBA fans wondering why Giddey is still allowed to play and isn’t suspended. At this point all we have are allegations and an open investigation.
Although the Colorado Buffaloes’ season fell short in the win column and they recently lost two potential quarterbacks in recruiting wars, Deion Sanders is still taking personal wins.
Sports Illustrated just announced that the Colorado coach and NFL Hall of Famer is the 2023 Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year.
Deion Sanders Wins SI’s Greatest Honor
This is Sports Illustrated’s highest honor, and Deion is the first college coach in over a decade to receive the prestigious award.
While Colorado’s 4-8 record may not reflect the impact that Deion Sanders has had on their school, the massive increase in sales, attention, TV ratings and respect that came along with his presence did.
Deion Sanders Is A Walking Movement
According to Sports Illustrated, “First-year applications at Colorado are up 26.4% year over year; Black or African American applications are up 80.6%; nonresident applications are up 29.8%; and international applications are up 38.4% from 97 countries, including 16 that didn’t have any applications last year.”
Now, it was acknowledged that these numbers don’t directly correlate to Deion Sanders’ arrival and the introduction of his regime.
But SI did provide some numbers that directly indicate the level of popularity that Sanders brought to Colorado.
Every Home Game Sold Out For First Time In School History
“September sales at the school’s online team store were up 2,544% over the same month in 2022. Every home game in 50,183-seat Folsom Field was sold out for the first time in school history.” Sports Illustrated wrote.
Astonishingly, Sanders was never named a SI Sportsperson of the year during his illustrious NFL career where he made his mark as the greatest cornerback of all time.
It’s even more unfathomable when you realize the same swagger, determination and confidence that he boasts today, he had during his playing days.
But now because of his revitalization of Colorado, and their newfound hope, regardless of what happened during their season, Sports Illustrated views Sanders as the man of the year in the world of sports.
As great of an award as it is though, Sanders has a lot on his plate and he probably isn’t in a celebratory mood.
Colorado Lost Some High Profile Recruits
Not only did the Buffaloes finish their season at 4-8 after a hot 3-0 start, but they lost potential talent in the process.
It was widely reported that 2025 four-star quarterback Antwann Hill had de-committed from Colorado, presumably after their abysmal finish to what started out as a promising season.
Shortly afterward, 2024 three-star quarterback Danny O’Neil announced that he was de-committing from Sanders’ program as well.
In addition, 2025 three-star running back Jamarice Walker also de-committed from the Buffaloes.
So with a Colorado squad that is reeling, and apparently losing some momentum as this season ends, it’s looking like Deion Sanders is going to have to show why he was selected to be the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year all over again.
Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier is taking a very public “L.” The former NFL player’s wife took to social media to expose his cheating ways, and what is extra salty is that she stood by his side when it mattered most.
In a since-deleted Instagram post on Wednesday, Nov. 29, Michelle Shazier, wife of Ryan, unloaded on him for finding text messages showing his infidelity.
“A person that loves his family… this is what they do to their family …THE WIFE.. that has been there for him since Day 1!” Michelle wrote in the caption. “Infidelity at its finest! I can’t sit here and keep hiding anymore. You can have it. I deserve better. This is Ryan… he’s a liar and a cheater!”
The post contained different slides of screenshots from his text messaging with another woman and what can be described as flirting with a woman who lives in Columbus, Ohio. Shazier lets her know he was also in Columbus during that time, and what is displayed is a setup for a potential sneaky linkup.
Ryan stated to TMZ about the revelations, “Michelle and I have been living apart and are currently separated. As we work through what comes next for our family, I ask for privacy and prayers.”
Shazier had a career-ending injury while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a Monday Night Football game on Dec. 4, 2017. He made a hit against Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone that left him paralyzed. Shazier dived headfirst on a routine play to tackle the wide receiver running across the field. However, when he made contact and crumpled to the ground, his lower back had a sharp, burning sensation.
He couldn’t feel his legs and was paralyzed from the waist down and cared for at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Doctors told his parents he had a 20 percent chance of walking again. During that time, Shazier said his mind was only on his wife and family.
“I just took my mind off what was going on at the time and focused on my family, Shazier said on his podcast “Don’t Call It A Comeback” late last year. “Trying to make sure my wife was happy and trying to get a dog I just brought home.”
Shazier is just another man who got caught up, but the impact of his wife being there during one of the darkest times in his life doesn’t bode well in the court of public opinion.
There is drama surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks. The team released Corey Perry for “disturbing, unacceptable behavior.” At the same time of his release, a rumor began to circulate that Perry slept with teammate Connor Bedard’s mother. This caused many to speculate the tryst was the reason he was cut. The Blackhawks have denied that the rumor played any part in the decision to release Perry.
“This does not involve any players or their families and anything that suggests otherwise or anyone that suggests otherwise is wildly inaccurate and, frankly, it’s disgusting,” Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said.
“This has been a tough situation and I understand you wanted answers. It was important that we took all the necessary steps before sharing more. I hope you understand that I may not be able to answer everything today, but I am going to be as open and honest as I can be given the situation and out of respect for those involved.”
A screenshot of a supposed text conversation made the rounds online claiming a TSN reporter shared that Perry had relations with Melanie Bedard on a “mother’s trip,” which led to the player being cut by Chicago.
There has been no verification of this alleged text conversation, so right now this is only speculation.
Melanie Bedard has deactivated her Instagram account as a result of the rumors.
For now the Blackhawks have maintained that the incident that led to Perry’s release is an internal workplace situation.
A locker room is a strange ecosystem. It’s a workplace, but it has different rules and the way you feel about your teammates can directly impact wins and losses. You essentially live with these people for half the year. It’s a weird existence.
If a teammate slept with another teammate’s mother that would cause a lot of friction in the locker room. You would have to remove one of them from the team. The situation would be too volatile.
The Blackhawks signed Perry to a one-year contract worth $4 million in the offseason. Perry had spent the past two seasons playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 12 goals and 25 points in his final year with the team.
When the Houston Texans hired former player DeMeco Ryans to be their head coach, the growing sentiment was the former Defensive Rookie of the Year would eventually turn things around.
Fast-forward to 12 weeks into the 2023 season, and Ryans has the Texans at 6-5 and fighting for a playoff spot. Ryans is no stranger to winning coaching awards, in February’s NFL Honors, he was named AP Assistant Coach of the Year.
The Texans finished the 2022 season 3-13, which happened to be the second-worst record in the league. Projected to win six games in 2023 the Texans have already reached that mark and doubled their win total with six games left in the season. That’s a direct result of the culture change that Ryans brought with him to H-Town.
Ryans Is A Leader Of Men: Transformer Of Defenses
Ryans inherited a team that didn’t have much hope after back-to-back seasons of 3-14 and 3-13–1 and coaching changes after each season. From the jump having Ryans take the job was like a breath of fresh air.
The former Alabama standout hasn’t disappointed one bit in year one. He’s quickly turned around a defense that allowed the third-most yards (30th) in the league last year. This year they’ve climbed to 21st in that category.
In 2022 the Texans ranked 24th in points allowed at 24.1 per game, this season they’re 14th at 21.1 points per game. Once not able to stop the run or get to the quarterback, that’s changed this season under Ryans, who leads and treats his teams like men. Ryans is also quick to deflect any credit from himself when speaking of his guys.
Following a huge mid-November road win over the Cincinnati Bengals, where 2023 No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud out-dueled 2020 No. 1 overall pick and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, Ryans made it clear who and what it’s about.
In his postgame interview Ryans was his usual cool self when he said this:
“It’s about them, not me. It’s all about those guys in the locker room and the work they put in day after day that no one sees. They put in the work.”
That statement shows how Ryans runs and leads his team, and it’s never been about him, although he’s the main reason for the culture taking a 180-degree turn in 2023.
Ryans Has Similar Attributes To Mike Tomlin
You can’t look at what Ryans is doing in his first season and not think about the Mike Tomlin correlation. Tomlin, the legendary head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers who’s about to clinch his 17th consecutive season of a non-losing record to begin a coaching career, is easily the greatest Black coach the league has ever seen.
This season Tomlin is also a contender for NFL Coach of the Year, as he’s pulled all of the right strings in helping the offensively-challenged Steelers to an impressive 7-4 record.
No, we’re not saying Ryans is Tomlin in that regard, but being a young Black coach and having early success is something to talk about. Tomlin was 34 when the Steelers surprisingly hired him in 2007. Ryans is 39, and while his hiring by the Texans wasn’t exactly surprising, what he’s doing in his first season is.
DeMeco Ryans for NFL Coach of the Year has a nice ring to it.
This is the point in the NFL season where most newbies hit the proverbial rookie wall. But these five standout FROSH are still elevating.
Rashee Rice, Chiefs, WR
It’s no secret the Kansas City Chiefs have been searching for a No. 1 receiver since they traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins following the 2021 season. While they did win the Super Bowl without the world class speedster, this season has been more of a struggle. With the talented but injury prone Kadarius Toney expected to take more of a top receiver role coming into the season, K.C. thought he would fill in the gaps.
That hasn’t happened, and with teams doing their best to take away All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, someone needed to step up. Enter Rice, who has 44 receptions for 527 yards and a team-leading five aerial TDs.
The former SMU standout has shown flashes all season, but Sunday was his coming out party.
Rice finished with eight receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown in the team’s 31-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. We told you he was emerging back in Week 6.
Head coach Andy Reid told reporters this on Monday.
“He’s getting better every week. He’s getting a little more production, yes, but also a few more plays and opportunities to get in the game.”
Jalen Carter, Eagles, DL
Carter continues to impress weekly. One week he’s stopping the run at a high level, and the next week he’s winning continuously on the pass rush. That’s exactly what he did in Sunday’s overtime win over the Buffalo Bills. Carter was credited with a team-high eight pass-rush wins, not bad on a team that also boasts edge rusher Haasan Reddick and Josh Sweat.
Carter also blocked a field goal.
C.J. Stroud, Texans, QB
Once again Stroud was solid. Take away the two late sacks he took that knocked the Texans out of sure-shot field goal range and he would’ve been at the top of our list this week…again.
Despite the late loss, Stroud continued to strengthen his hold on the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The strong-armed gunslinger finished 26 of 36 for 306 yards and two touchdowns. It was his sixth game over 300 yards passing with a total of 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks, CB
The Hawks are reeling, having lost three of the past four, including two straight. One bright spot has been the play of Witherspoon. Spoon’s been one of the best defensive backs in the league, and he has stats to prove it.
The former Illinois standout ranks in the top 10 in forced incompletions, run stops and sacks (where he ranks first). For two straight seasons Pete Carroll and the Hawks staff have hit on talented corners (Tariq Woolen in 2022).
Tank Dell, Texans, WR
After the Texans drafted the aforementioned Stroud, the franchise signal-caller insisted that they draft Dell, and it looks like a brilliant move. The former Houston Cougars speedster wreaks havoc on opposing defenses.
While smallish in stature, Dell more than makes up for it with elite speed, quickness and a toughness not usually associated with receivers his size.
He has quickly become Stroud’s go-to receiver. In Sunday’s loss Dell tallied five grabs for 54 yards and another touchdown, upping his season totals to 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven trips to paydirt.
Ever since Aaron Rodgers’ injury in his first game as a New York Jet, he’s been aggressively aiming for a return this season.
The entire football world has been wondering if the future Hall of Fame quarterback could ride hard work and ayahuasca to a miraculous comeback this season.
Some analysts downplayed the talk as Rodgers keeping himself in the media and also taking some pressure off of his new team while keeping Jets fans invested in a mediocre season. Some even cautioned against it.
A small minority believed that his work ethic and optimism would allow him to beat the odds and return with enough time to help the Jets make a late playoff run.
Turns out he may actually be defying the odds. According to reports, the Jets just opened Aaron Rodgers’ 21-day practice window to possibly have him return and play in games, just 11 weeks after he was all but done for the season.
Rodgers tore his Achilles on opening day, opening drive, against the division rival Buffalo Bills.
Shortly after the injury Rodgers announced that he would attempt to come back this same season. Now, just 11 weeks later, the four-time MVP’s practice window has opened up. According to Rodgers he would like to evaluate the Jets season and their playoff chances before submerging himself back into game.
He said on the Nov. 28 “Pat McAfee Show” that he isn’t healthy enough to jump back in and play right now, and that there are plenty of factors that will play into his decision of whether or not he should return this season or come back next year fully healthy.
“It’s always been, first, am I healthy?” Rodgers told McAfee about his potential decision to return. “Then are we alive or in it and good enough to make a run? Can I step in and protect myself and play at the level that I’m capable of playing. But the first part is the health. Can I protect myself? Can I move around the way I want to move around? So there’s a natural progression to the rehab. That’s going to involve actually getting back onto the field to start to do some things that are more football-related.”
“But again, we’re still … we’re not where I can make a decision on playing, because health-wise I’m improving steadily, but I’m not at an ability to play at this point,” he added.
Zach Wilson Faltered As Jets Starter
Ever since Rodgers’ injury the Jets have relied on backup QB and former second overall pick Zach Wilson to step in and perform for them.
Despite a stout defense, Wilson has led the Jets to a 4-7 record on the season, third place in the AFC East. Wilson has played horrendously, throwing six touchdowns, against seven interceptions, with a 59.2 percent completion percentage.
Last week Jets coach Robert Saleh announced that Wilson would not only be benched in favor of Tim Boyle, but that he would slide to the third-string quarterback spot on the depth chart, with Trevor Siemian being the second-string signal-caller.
The Jets could use Rodgers as soon as possible, but with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, it would benefit both of them in the long run to let him sit out the full season.
A lot has taken place in Boulder, Colorado, since the Buffaloes finished their first season under Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. A few coaches have jettisoned away from scenic Rocky Mountains, some players have already hit the transfer portal and three prominent class of 2025 recruits, including quarterback Antwann Hill, the No.5-ranked signal-caller in the class, have reopened their recruitment.
With much more movement expected this offseason, there’s one thing that needs to happen but most likely won’t. We’ve heard Deion say neither of his sons (Shedeur or Shilo) will declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, but in the case of Shilo he should. Although he has one year of eligibility remaining because of the COVID-19 year, Shilo should forgo that and head to the NFL, and his Hall of Fame dad’s critique of his play this season is part of the reason why.
Coach Prime Raves About Shilo’s Play
There wasn’t much to talk about as it pertains to the Buffaloes defense in 2023 minus some highlight reel plays by two-way star Travis Hunter on the corner. Then there was the consistent play of Shilo which showed up weekly. Sanders acknowledged his middle son in his postgame interview following Saturday’s season-ending loss to Utah.
“Shilo played his butt off this year. He’s not the other brother, he’s Shilo. He’s a force to be reckoned with. he’s dominant at what he does. He comes to play hard and he brings his lunch pail. I’m really proud of him.”
That right there is exactly why the hard-hitting safety who tallied 67 solo tackles and an interception which he returned for a touchdown in 2023 should really consider heading to the NFL in April.
The physicality and toughness that Shilo plays with is a good and bad thing. For starters it’s his calling card, but it’s also part of the reason he’s had some nagging injuries throughout his playing career. This year he suffered a kidney injury that kept him out of a couple of games, but when he returned he was his same aggressive, fast-playing self. That style of play doesn’t have a long shelf life, and another season of that at Colorado with the wear and tear it will bring may not be the best move for him.
Shilo’s Draft Stock
Coming into the season Shilo’s draft stock was pretty non-existent. But after proving he could play at the Power Five and standing out on one of the worst defenses in college football, he’s shown that he’s more than capable of playing at the next level. As of now he’s being mentioned as a possible fourth-round selection, which is good when considering there wasn’t much buzz prior to coming to Boulder.
Another year at Colorado likely won’t improve his stock much better.
The Hue Jackson era is over at Grambling State University in Louisiana, and having left the football program in better shape than when he entered, it begs the question: what happened?
Without a massive windfall in cash flow from the football program, Jackson’s services are no longer needed, as Grambling currently ranks 13th in HBCU sports profits out of 21 teams and Top 5 in revenue losses. In 2018, the team was ranked 14th by revenue, which is similar.
However, although it is easy to judge a coach by the wins and losses, there are inherent problems within the systems of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities that other former NFL-caliber professionals like Deion Sanders decried.
Jackson felt he needed more time to turn the program around and was cut short, but the narrative is the same: lack of resources.
“I think we all know programs can’t be turned around in two years at institutions where funding is extremely inadequate; facilities, equipment, and training support are in significant despair,” Jackson said on the “Offscript” podcast. “Institutional support is limited, and opportunities are derailed at every turn; I think we know that. Again, the lack of transparency, coordination, and collaboration will continue, in my opinion, to plague the HBCUs. Those things got to be dealt with.”
He continued, “You have to give it three years when you come in the first year. I’m not just talking about Grambling but about any place. You need to make sure you understand the lay of the land.” He added that as for the firing, “he And “I would have felt as though it was warranted if this year looked like the first year.”
Still, Jackson needed time to adjust to the differences at an HBCU — which is primarily the culture. Jackson stated throughout his tenure that he needed time to embrace HBCU culture and traditions. Grambling went 0-2 in the Bayou Classic under Jackson and failed to reach the SWAC Championship in each season, which is akin to a death march.
Grambling State says it knows exactly what type of person they are looking for going forward.
“Somebody who can galvanize the base,” Grambling athletic director Trayvean Scott said during a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 28. “Somebody who really understands that this is a very special place. Somebody that understands the expectations,” Scott said.
“I was just having a conversion, and one of our student-athletes said, ‘I’m probably the only student-athlete in the history of our institution, on the football side, to leave here and not win a championship.’ That’s significant. And we’ve got to identify a coach who understands that and welcomes them because we’re not going to shy away from them, not just in football but in any sport.”
Grambling completed the 2023 season with a losing record of 5-6 overall, including a season-ending 27-22 loss to Baton Rouge’s Southern University on Saturday in the Bayou Classic. Ironically, Southern leads all HBCUs in NCAA Division I revenue.
In total, Jackson went 8-14, improving from just three wins in 2022 to five wins this past season. However, this improved from the season before he was named head coach in December 2021, which yielded a 0-4 record and last place in the SWAC West.
Jackson had replaced former head coach Broderick Fobbs, whom Grambling fired after eight seasons. Jackson agreed to a four-year $1.6 million contract that paid him an annual salary of $400,000.
The bright side for Jackson is that with only the first two years guaranteed, Grambling will still pay the remaining portion of Jackson’s second-year salary over the current fiscal year.
Having echoed similar frustrations to the ones Deion Sanders often expressed at Jackson State before leaving for Colorado and those also expressed by Hall of Famer Ed Reed, who was done dirty by Bethune-Cookman before he even got a chance to garner the school more funding and respect, Hue Jackson’s tenure at Grambling can be surmised as an attempt to enrich the HBCU football ranks organically.
Unfortunately, he got the hook quicker than most NFL coaches, which isn’t a great look for his legacy, but not all his fault. Patience is just not a virtue anymore in college sports on all levels.
Magic Johnson is a bona fide businessman, and he is raking in way more money now than he ever made playing in the NBA in the ’80s and ’90s.
He’s built a business portfolio that can rival any former athlete and is now taking another legacy step in his storied life by bringing his firstborn son back into the fold to help run his empire.
In a move that will most likely result in Andre Johnson eventually becoming the head of Magic Johnson’s company (Magic Johnson Enterprises), the Lakers legend’s 42-year-old offspring was brought on as the executive vice president for the investment company.
Magic Johnson announced earlier today via social media:
I’m so excited to announce the return of my son Andre Johnson to Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) as Executive Vice President! Andre is a great addition to the team and will help facilitate our expansion into new industries and work with our existing partners.
Over the past decades, Andre has diversified experiences working for Canyon Johnson, a global investment company and then transitioning to artificial intelligence and technology with roles at the Virtual Reality Company, Mythical Games and most recently, SimWin Sports.
The timing couldn’t be better as MJE continues to grow and elevate to new heights with ownership in 5 teams including the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC); SodexoMagic, a $26 billion life insurance company Equitrust, and our infrastructure fund Johnson Loop Capital (JLC).
Andre Has Experience Working In Various Corporate Jobs
As much as this move could be perceived as nepotism, Andre Johnson knows business, and has paid his dues. He’s worked as an Artist and Repertoire (A&R) at Elektra Records, he’s also held positions at Hydra Entertainment, Mythical Games, and SimWin Sports.
His dad has built quite a portfolio of businesses, and it seems Andre is finally ready to take the wheel and begin to lead the Johnson family legacy into the next decade.
Andre also knows that his father is a results-driven individual who has been a part of successful ventures within the sports world and outside of it, so he won’t be cutting his son any slack.
Magic Johnson Is A Winner
Via The Shadow League:
Magic’s done a great job of helping out with the teams that he has invested in, as the LA Sparks are generally a contending WNBA team. The Los Angeles Dodgers are consistently one of MLB’s best teams. LAFC is fresh off a Major League Soccer championship win. Not to mention the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that he once owned stake in, once hired him as president of basketball operations. Magic was influential in corralling LeBron James via the most uneventful free agency of Bron’s career in a move that led to a 2020 championship for the vaunted franchise.
This isn’t Andre’s first rodeo with his father’s company.
Andre held the position of vice president of business development at Magic Johnson Enterprises from 2004 to 2010.
Even though Andre has all the support in the world from his father as he navigates through the different corporate realms, his track record clearly exemplifies experience, which is why the move to return to his father’s company is the perfect move.
Surely Andre will make a lot of money with his dad and his company, but the experience and challenge is also invaluable. There will be no shortage of tasks or deals to close and ideas to implement.
Magic has tons of investments in different businesses such as movie theaters, fast food chains, and even real estate. He was a major stakeholder in Starbucks, as he once owned over 100 stores of the popular coffee shop brand.
Johnson’s latest venture in his quest to take over the world of sports business is his ownership in the group that bought the Washington Commanders football team.
With a portfolio like that, Magic Johnson, who become a billionaire this year, also has a billion dollars’ worth of a game he can share with Andre.
Magic has 10,141 assists in his iconic NBA career, but the assist he’s giving his first born will be the biggest dish he’s ever made.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook got into a back-and-forth with a fan in the closing seconds of Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Westbrook was so locked in on the fan interaction that referee Lauren Holtkamp had to redirect him onto the floor. This isn’t the first time Westbrook has gotten into it with fans. He’s had a dozen documented incidents. He has a right to stand up for himself if fans cross the line. But at some point this needs to end.
“Fans think they can say whatever they want,” Westbrook said following the game. “I’m not going to say it now, because it’s not appropriate, but I’m just protecting myself. That’s about it.”
If you’re familiar with my work you know that I’m as pro-player as they become. We allow fans too much leeway to talk slick because they buy tickets.
Buying a ticket gives you the right to see a basketball game. You can show your fandom in any way that is appropriate and doesn’t cross the line of something that you know is wrong. We all know what that line is. You can cheer, boo, and heckle. All of that is within bounds.
Calling out a player’s family, whether it be mother, wife, children, girlfriend etc. is off limits. Every fan should know that. Shouting expletives and other profanities at players or their families is also out of bounds.
We don’t know what was said to Westbrook and it clearly got him aggravated.
“If I’m responding, it’s a reason I’m responding, and I’ll protect that always,” Westbrook continued. “I mean, it’s a little different now. I tell people, man, when I was first starting in the league, maybe not so much, I used to get into it a little bit. But now having kids and understanding how important it is, not just myself, but my last name. Understanding what Westbrook means, understanding how important that is to my dad, my grandfather, my family. … Now my son is old enough to know what’s going on and understanding, asking me, ‘Hey Dad, what does that mean? What’s that?’ Now I got to stand on it, and regardless of where I’m at, what’s going on, I’m always standing on that.”
That may be the best insight into what was allegedly said by the fan. We know that Westbrook doesn’t like being referred to as “Westbrick,” a derisive play on his last name in reference to his poor shooting ability.
Westbrook is the third of his name. His grandfather is Russell Westbrook Sr., his father is Russell Westbrook Jr., and he is the third.
For families that continue names throughout generations, that means something. To what extent it has meaning, I guess it varies. Nonetheless, that’s the man’s name.
However, in the grand scheme of things that have been said to him throughout his career and the thousands of NBA players, that’s on the milder end.
Nobody should play with another person’s name. But at some point this just needs to end.
Westbrook’s former teammate Kevin Durant is often seen getting into exchanges with fans sitting court side. No doubt KD is hit with all manner of jeers, whether it be about having fake rings, always joining super teams, being washed or whatever.
Funny thing is KD’s interactions tend to go differently. He’ll retort back with something and then usually do something devastating offensively to said fan’s favorite team. Then he’ll shoot back at that fan’s direction. The chatter usually stops.
KD is still an elite player, and nothing shuts up a heckling fan more than beating their team.
Westbrook is no longer that level of player. He has flashes. But cannot consistently silence the crowd. Maybe that plays into his feelings a bit as well.
Not to mention if “Westbrick” was said by the fan, it hurts because it’s true. He’s never been a good shooter, even in his prime. This season he’s shooting 54 percent at the rim, 38 percent in the midrange, 27 percent from three and 64 percent from the free-throw line. All terrible percentages.
It’s a shame that it has evolved to this point. But certain fans know the “magic word” to get Westbrook to react, and that’s what they want. Sadly, if he wants it to end, he’s got to be the bigger person and let it go.
Shannon Sharpe needs someone to pull his coat, and the internet is there for him. What started as a fun, no-hold-barred late-night-style conversation podcast with him and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson called “Nightcap With Unc and Ocho.” The show has turned into a locker-room talk show that veers dangerously into boys talk.
Sharpe, who is very image and brand-conscious, is providing a more personal look into his conversations with his friend. Still, while Ochocinco is in pursuit of setting Sharpe up romantically when the dialogue steered towards rap star Megan Thee Stallion, Sharpe goes a little out of bounds and is cringy.
Fans called out Sharpe, saying he is “objectifying women like that for kids to see” or that he was being “disgusting af.”
When Ochocinco continued to play virtual matchmaker and brought up the artist’s “Stallion” nickname, Sharpe said, “I’d have her stretched out like quarter to three,” then added, “I do it three ways, Ocho: deep, hard and continuously; I’d have her opening up like saloon doors.”
Yikes.
There is a difference between discussing your latent desires for a celebrity with your friends and turning them into content, especially when you are a 55-year-old former NFL player turned broadcaster. The conversation continued in a series of shows where Ochocinco suggested another entertainer, comedian, and actress, Yvonne Orji, who is a devout Christian. Sharpe took the time to differentiate between his faith and his demon-time ambitions in turning Ochocinco down about Orji.
“I’m looking for a sinner; send me Miss Nasty B. I don’t wanna nobody walking the straight and narrow. Nah, I want a sinner; that’s what I’m looking for.”
“Give me Miss Nasty B; I’ll have the Bible right there by my bed. ‘Lord, forgive for what I’m about to do,'” he said about an adult entertainer who made overtures towards Sharpe online.
“Can she work her hips?” Sharpe said when Ochocinco reminded him that Orji is a successful entertainer and they could be on a jet together having Bible study. “I make enough money for the both of us,” Sharpe said, still unimpressed.
Sharpe had done risqué things when he was a co-host on “Undisputed” with Skip Bayless when he debuted his alter ego, Shay Sharpe, who likes Black & Mild cigars and cognac and drops the professionalism for a second. However, now with Ochocinco, he is keeping it very real in a format that is entertaining but likely to ruffle feathers with the honesty about his opinions and fantasies about other celebrities.
Meg hasn’t responded, but it may be too late. She recently announced she is “done with the streets.”
“I am turning over a new leaf,” Meg said on social media recently. “And I’m stingy with the cootie cat. I’m not a freak anymore. Oh my God. I’m done. I’m done with the streets. So toxic in the streets. I’m tired with the streets.”
The 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles have the best record in the NFL. Even when they haven’t been at their best, Nick Sirianni’s squad has found a way to steal wins.
That’s a credit to the resiliency and grit of the team, but it also helps to have talented players and coaches. That’s something the Eagles possess in abundance, beginning with their third-year head coach Nick Sirianni, whose coaching record is 35 -14, with a Super Bowl appearance and two playoff appearances.
Then there’s fourth-year quarterback Jalen Hurts, who’s coming off an incredible 2022 season where he finished second in MVP voting in both the regular season and Super Bowl. The Eagles finished second in total offense last season, and lost coordinator Shane Steichen to the Indianapolis Colts.
Steichen’s replacement, Brian Johnson, was the team’s quarterback coach and worked with Hurts closely daily, has hit the road running with the offense. That’s even caught the eye of ESPN’s Dominique Foxworth.
Foxworth Likens Eagles Staff To Prime Warriors Staff
Under Johnson this season, the offense has dropped from second to ninth in production but it’s the things that he’s doing to adjust to defenses at crucial moments that’s most impressive.
During Tuesday’s episode of “Get Up,” Foxworth made reference to the Eagles coaching staff as a whole, but it starts with Johnson on offense.
“Yeah, it feels like when like how I used to feel about the Warriors when they were hot,” Foxworth said. “It was like they had seen so many different things that when you attack them with a different type of defense, they had already seen two years ago. They’re going to adjust.”
“It feels the same way with Jalen Hurts,” Foxworth continued. “While it’s not pretty up until the end of the game, it does feel like with the talent that they have and the intelligence of that quarterback that they have the key to every lock that you put in front of them. They just have to find the time to use it.”
Likening the Eagles to the Steve Kerr, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant Warriors is a bit much, but we get what Foxworth is attempting to say.
Johnson Is The Biggest Difference In 2023
It’s all a credit to the coaching staff, but mainly Johnson, a rising star in the coaching ranks. He’s allowed Hurts more freedom to change plays and get the team into the right play and better down and distance. The offense seems to have a little more creativity as well.
That is huge, and Hurts has rewarded him with timely big plays, including Sunday’s game-winning walk-off quarterback draw where Hurts was given a choice based on how the defense was aligned.
Johnson also seems more inclined to allow the game to come to him as a play-caller, never forcing the issue or panicking, and not deviating much from the game plan. His play calling has also been money in pressure situations, and that was never more evident than in wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills.
In a season where defenses have had a bit of a rebirth around the NFL, these five units stood tall in Week 12.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Led by DPOY candidate T.J. Watt, the Steelers are 7-4 and currently a wild card team in the AFC playoff race.
This despite an offense that just had its first 400-yard game in 59 games. Even more impressive is the Steelers still managed to go 34-23-1 over that time frame. This season that defense has been stout and has carried Pittsburgh through its offensive struggles. In Sunday’s 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, they allowed 222 total yards, with nearly half of that coming on two tipped passes that went for big gains.
If Tomlin’s offensive coordinator change can continue to look the part as it did Sunday, this defense could get even better, because they’ll be fresher.
During his Tuesday media session, Tomlin raved about his star defender.
“Let’s be honest,” Tomlin told reporters. “T.J. Is the best defensive player on the planet right now. And he proves that week in and week out with the plays that he delivers us.”
Watt’s 13.5 sacks, which are tied for the league lead with the Vikings Danielle Hunter, only tell half of the story. He’s also tallied 25 QB hits, forced three fumbles, recovered three fumbles, and he’s got 12 tackles for loss.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens’ defense is downright stifling and has been that way all season. The aggressive, fast-flowing unit continues to overwhelm offenses weekly, and that’s what they did to the Chargers in Sunday’s 20-10 road win. They forced four turnovers and held a pretty good Chargers offense to under 280 total yards. The AFC North has some great defenses, and the Ravens are just the second of the three great defenses in the division.
Because of their second-ranked defense they currently hold the AFCs top seed at 9-3. Former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney has 7.5 sacks in spot duty.
Cleveland Browns
The No. 1-ranked defense in the league has been great all season, but with an offense that’s struggled without star quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Nick Chubb (both out for season), the team hasn’t been balanced enough to really make a dent in things. DPOY candidate Myles Garrett has led a ferocious defense.
Garrett has been a menace, tallying 13 sacks and four forced fumbles
In Sunday’s 29-12 loss to the red-hot Broncos, they only allowed 294 yards, but three fumbles by the offense put them in tough situations.
Kansas City Chiefs
Is it safe to say that the Kansas City Chiefs defense has been carrying Patrick Mahomes this season? In Sunday’s 31-17 road win over the Las Vegas Raiders, K.C. found itself down 14-0 quickly, and that’s when the defense tightened the screws.
From that point on they allowed only 170 yards and three points the final three-plus quarters.
Following Sunday’s win, Jones told reporters that in the past the defense became “spoiled” because Mahomes and the offense would put up big numbers, making their job easier. That isn’t the case anymore.
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners defense ranks fifth overall, and while they’ve been good all season, one area they struggled in was getting to the quarterback. That’s changed dramatically with the acquisitions of star edge rushers Chase Young and Randy Gregory.
Since those two arrived, the Niners have 15 sacks and a 3-0 record after a surprising three-game losing streak. The loss of All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga definitely stings, but if there’s one team capable of overcoming injuries it’s the Niners.
This week the Niners defense will be put to the ultimate test in a road game at the 10-1 Eagles.
