Douglas Fritz Articles - Page 28

The Los Angeles Rams have a lot invested in Cooper Kupp. And teammate Puka Nacua says Kupp will be as good as ever in 2024. So Kupp’s good health status is huge for Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford. Kupp said in an interview on GMFB Overtime that he feels good and has worked hard this offseason, […]

Training camp is a time for roster and position battles, and the Washington Commanders have their share. It’s part of the big challenge facing new head coach Dan Quinn. But there’s good news from D.C. in the form of three surprising developments from the Commanders 2024 NFL training camp. At the top of the list […]

John Elway will always be remembered by Denver Broncos’ fans as an all-time great. That stands even after he handed the Lombardi trophy to the Chiefs earlier this year. But Broncos fans won’t be comforted by his recent acknowledgment of passing up a franchise quarterback in 2018. On a recent Barstool Sports “Pardon My Take” […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers are working on their quarterback situation. And new teammates have to adjust. But it’s still the NFL and that means tough decisions have to be made. One of those calls came to pass Monday as the Steelers cut ties with four-year veteran Josiah Scott. Despite being listed atop the depth chart as […]

There’s no doubt the Miami Dolphins are loaded at wide receiver with Tyreek Hill leading the way. And they certainly ponied up the cash for their quarterback. But there’s another strong point, and it’s part of the two biggest training camp battles to watch ahead of the 2024 NFL season. The Dolphins have a running […]

Entering the 2024 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens still have Lamar Jackson and have added Derrick Henry. So hopes are high. But things still have to play out in training camp and there are two big battles to watch ahead of the 2024 NFL season. At the forefront is the offensive line. If the Ravens […]

Injuries are part of the NFL game, and the San Francisco 49ers are already experiencing their share. Fortunately, the 49ers got rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall back in the mix Monday. But unfortunately, the 49ers were dealt a pair of new injury blows at training camp, according to ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter. At […]

After missing the playoffs for six straight seasons, the Carolina Panthers could use some good news in the form of a breakout star. They would also like quarterback Bryce Young to develop into a capable NFL starter. But before those things happen, it’s time to focus on the two biggest Panthers’ training camp battles to […]

Brian Callahan had a priority when he took over the Tennessee Titans: fix the offensive line. So he hired his dad to improve a unit that must protect young quarterback Will Levis. But the truth remains that the Titans still have one of the worst lines in the NFL, and it’s no surprise one of […]

Crossing one major hurdle recently, the Atlanta Falcons learned quarterback Kirk Cousins would be medically cleared for training camp. And they have a plan to get running back Bijan Robinson more involved. Now they are getting down to the business of watching training camp battles ahead of the 2024 NFL season. And two of the […]

Patrick Queen made a big decision in the offseason, leaving the Ravens and joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. And his role could lift an already good defense to a new level. But Queen made an awkward T.J. Watt admission to Dan Graziano of espn.com. Queen, who signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the Steelers, said […]

For football fans tired of hearing about Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, guess what? They’re back. Joy. Kelce brought it back full steam when he admitted their relationship could have an impact on the upcoming season. Part of the reason for Kelce’s concerns is his advancing age. He will turn […]

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers have a quarterback battle to settle, and running back Najee Harris wants a new contract, a bigger issue may be needing to improve the wide receiver room. The Steelers are expected to make a trade. But there’s a catch, according to espn.com. Dan Graziano agrees the Steelers want to make a […]

Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love have gotten a chance to go back and forth with each other even though they aren’t Green Bay Packers teammates anymore. First, Rodgers told Love not to spend his $220 million contract all in one place. Love came back with a good response to Rodgers. Rodgers’ comment came with the […]

When you have a guy like Micah Parsons, the defensive line should be a strength for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. That’s true even with a new defensive coordinator. But the Cowboys may have taken a depth hit when 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams exited the practice field on a cart. Jon Machota of The […]

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett holds an unenviable position as the starting quarterback for a team whose future is looking elsewhere. That future is No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. But the young Maye reacted positively to Brissett’s successful pre-training camp plan. Maye told bostonglobe.com that Brissett did a nice job helping the quarterbacks […]

Things didn’t get off to a great start for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Mixed reviews came along with the 49ers picking him at No. 31 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. And he suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss training camp days. But things may be turning around. According […]

A lot of fans of the Green Bay Packers are probably pointing to quarterback Jordan Love as the player who could make or break the 2024 NFL season. Or maybe they look at running back Josh Jacobs. But the surprising player who could take this role in receiver Jayden Reed. Yes, it’s a lot of […]

Saquon Barkley left the New York Giants with a little unfriendly fire. But he hasn’t had any problems getting rave reviews from his new Philadelphia Eagles’ teammates, including quarterback Jalen Hurts. Talking to the NFL Network, Hurts said Barkley brings multiple important things to the Eagles. “Just how explosive he is,” Hurts said. “He’s a […]

The things people say. Brandon Aiyuk has been in the news recently for not practicing and for requesting a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. But he found himself in a different spotlight when former Super Bowl champion Aqib Talib gave Aiyuk a top-three wide receiver label. Speaking on the Up & Adams Show with […]

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin hasn’t had the best of worlds at the quarterback position in recent years. But once again they were in the playoff mix last season. Heading into 2024, Tomlin made a statement about the quarterback competition with two guys fighting for reps. When asked by ESPN NFL reporter Brooke Pryor […]

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has his work cut out for him in his first season in the nation’s capital. His chores include determining when to start his prized rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. But Daniels will surely love Quinn’s review of new tight end Zach Ertz. ESPN Commanders’ reporter John Keim posted a quote […]

Things didn’t go the way the Las Vegas Raiders wanted last season. However, head coach Antonio Pierce took over in the middle of the year and impressed owner Mark Davis. Even though the honeymoon is over and Pierce will have to produce results in 2024, he said he’s comfortable with the task ahead. “I honestly […]

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has something Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins would like to have: a Super Bowl title. But Cousins has something Jones would like to have: an impressive business acumen after signing a second big NFL free-agent contract. In a video posted on X by the NFL, Jones described why […]

Draft strategy for the Philadelphia Eagles centered on strengthening a secondary that had problems in 2023, contributing to a disappointing season. The Eagles first two picks came from the cornerback position. Unfortunately, one of those new weapons has been declared out for multiple weeks amid training camp. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the injury of Cooper […]

The Carolina Panthers struggled to move the football in 2023, and the outlook for this year isn’t a whole lot more rosy. But their defense is considered a strong point. And on that side of the ball is a cornerback who could surprisingly make or break the 2024 season. Entering his fourth season, Jaycee Horn […]

Tennessee committed money to improving its receiving group in the offseason. The Titans added Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd with DeAndre Hopkins still in the house. But the surprising player who could make or break the Titans 2024 NFL season is a third-year tight end. Chigoziem Okonkwo came to the Titans in the fourth round […]

When the defense is abysmal but the first pick in the draft is a quarterback, the team plans to ride the offensive wave and hope the defense gets a surfboard. That’s where the Washington Commanders landed, and why one surprising player who could make or break the Commanders’ 2024 NFL season comes from the offensive […]

Aaron Rogers made his NFL name during 18 years with the Packers before a drawn-out trade process brought him to the New York Jets. Then his first season in 2023 ended because of injury, but recently said positive things about his recovery. During an appearance on Pardon My Take, Rodgers said it would take a […]

Every top-end NFL wide receiver faces the chance to become elite, or somewhat fade into the crowd of “pretty good.” Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase reached elite status quickly. CeeDee Lamb of the Cowboys and Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins did it in year No. 3. For wideout Chris Olave, he’s under the most pressure […]

Last season, the Detroit Lions got so close to the Super Bowl they could taste it. But they remained on the unwanted list of teams that have never made it. So can defensive end Aidan Hutchinson be blamed for treading lightly when discussing the Lions’ hopes for the 2024 NFL season? Appearing on the Rich […]

Baker Mayfield surprised NFL observers last year, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is headed for another good season, according to his offensive coordinator. Mayfield said he’s hyped over one of his weapons reverting to an old role. Mayfield told bucswire.com he thinks Chris Godwin’s return to the slot will increase the effectiveness of the […]

After three years in the NFL, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf appeared to be on the fast track to superstar land despite his share of critics when he entered the league in 2019. And his big contract extension pointed to great things ahead. However, Metcalf enters the 2024 season as the Seahawks’ player under […]

When the Tennessee Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract, they took a larger gamble than NFL teams often take in these deals. Yes, keyword: gamble. The deal not only put pressure on the front office, but also landed it directly on the shoulders of the star wideout as the Titans’ player […]

With Joe Mixon set to lead the Houston Texans’ backfield, it appeared Dameon Pierce would be the top backup. However, the Texans announced Sunday the signing of former Vikings running back Cam Akers, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston. A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Akers enjoyed modest success with […]

Things are looking good for the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 season. They have Super Bowl hopes, and a quarterback who seems to be elevating to an elite level. But, as usual for teams in the NFL, the Packers hit a sticking point in the contract of Jordan Love. It’s simple stuff for the […]

Some NFL folks might view Jonathan Taylor as the Indianapolis Colts player under the most pressure for the 2024 season. Michael Pittman Jr. possibly resides in that conversation as well. However, the correct answer to this question is quarterback Anthony Richardson. Wait. Slow your roll. Let’s fact-check this assessment. Richardson enters only his second season […]

One thing that helped push former head coach Ron Rivera out the door with the Washington Commanders came in the form of drafting Emmanuel Forbes in last year’s first round. Rivera tried to hang on to the idea of Forbes becoming a standout, even late in the 2023 season. But Forbes turned into a bust, […]

The Miami Dolphins enter the 2024 NFL season with high hopes but need the defense to keep pace with a high-profile offense. However, a pair of outside linebackers won’t be ready from the starting blocks as they landed on the physically-unable-to-perform list, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Both Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are […]