Jack Winter Articles - Page 94

Tony Jefferson is offering a simple but pointed reminder about the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL world is on notice after the Cleveland Browns followed a wildly encouraging 2018 season by making a big splash in the opening days of the player-movement period. Just one season removed from enduring one of only two 0-16 campaigns in […]

Tony Jefferson is fully confident his Baltimore Ravens are ready to live up to the challenge of topping the rebuilt Cleveland Browns for AFC North supremacy. However, after watching so many longtime pillars leave the Baltimore Ravens in free agency, the standout safety admits he’s “hurt” by Baltimore’s widespread roster turnover. “It was tough to […]

The draft stock of Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat may not be affected by his heart condition after all. Gil Brandt of NFL. com reported on Tuesday that has he spoken to multiple NFL decision-makers who would give the 22-year-old a passing physical. Brandt also noted that Sweat also won’t be called back to […]

Even after the departures of Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger still can’t escape criticism for what many former teammates say is the team’s preferential treatment of its franchise quarterback. Ryan Clark is the latest former Steelers players to question the leadership style of Roethlisberger, shedding light on the […]

Mike Tomlin has come under more scrutiny than ever before of late after superstar playmakers Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell both departed the Pittsburgh Steelers under less than amicable circumstances. Don’t confuse either player’s real or perceived displeasure with Tomlin, though, as evidence of his diminished standing throughout the league. During his introductory press conference […]

The Miami Dolphins continue working the phones to find a trade partner for Robert Quinn. As the veteran pass-rusher visits the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier is engaged in trade discussions with multiple teams, including the New Orleans Saints, according to Adam H. Beasley and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. […]

The Minnesota Vikings will retain their incumbent kicker. Don’t fret too much, though, Skol Nation – if recent history serves as precedent, your team could still yet bring in some competition for Dan Bailey. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Vikings have re-signed Bailey to a one-year, $1 million deal, that could reach […]

Ryan Fitzpatrick is under no delusion he’s guaranteed a starting spot with the Miami Dolphins. After the journeyman quarterback signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the team on Sunday, though, he couldn’t help but express appreciation for getting yet another chance to compete to be a team’s starting quarterback. “I have been in pretty […]

The Cincinnati Bengals are embarking on a new era, and for the first time since 2012, Vontaze Burfict won’t be manning the middle for the team’s defense. The notoriously hot-headed linebacker was released by the Bengals on Monday, ending a seven-year tenure in Cincinnati more recently marked as much by bone-crushing, potentially dirty hits and […]

Ameer Abdullah isn’t going anywhere. The free agent running back and return man signed a one-year deal to remain with the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced on Monday. The four-year veteran began the 2018 season with the Detroit Lions, who took him with 54th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He began the season […]

The Dallas Cowboys are in need of help rushing the passer. Even if franchised defensive end Demarcus Lawrence ultimately opts against making good on his promise of sitting out until he’s signed a long-term contract, the suspension of defensive end Randy Gregory means the Cowboys are down a pass-rusher in an era when a team […]

Blake Bortles will never live up to the expectations expected from a top-five pick. Five years removed from the Jacksonville Jaguars choosing him third overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, that much has never been clearer. Starting his career anew as a backup with the Los Angeles Rams, though, Bortles seems confident he picked the […]

The early favorites for the 2019 Heisman Trophy are no surprise whatsoever. Superstar quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama lead the pack of contenders, coming in with odds of +350 and +500, respectively, according to BetOnline.ag. Also a leading preseason candidate? Jalen Hurts, who was beaten out by Tagovailoa last season […]

The Houston Texans have signed free agent tight end Darren Fells to a one-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. #Texans are signing TE Darren Fells, source says. He gets a one-year deal. Red zone target and good blocker for Houston. — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 18, 2019 The five-year veteran took one […]

Jimmy Smith is probably getting his wish. According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the Baltimore Ravens have every intention of bringing the veteran cornerback back to the team that drafted him in free agency. In January, the eight-year veteran expressed his desire to continue his career with the Ravens. “I got a lot of ball […]

The Miami Dolphins, unsurprisingly, are ready to move on from Robert Quinn. The lengths they will go to move on from the expensive, underachieving pass-rusher, though, should make him more enticing to potential trade suitors than he would have been otherwise. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Miami is willing to pay a […]

Earl Thomas’ recruiting efforts may not coax free agent pass-rusher Justin Houston into signing with his new team after all. According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the former Kansas City Chiefs star’s asking price is likely to prove too expensive for the Baltimore Ravens. “Former Kansas City Chief Justin Houston is currently the top prize […]

Kentrell Brice has a new home. The third-year safety has signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced on Monday. We've signed S Kentrell Brice to a one-year deal. 📰 » https://t.co/hBJ8XoB2nd pic.twitter.com/cEYbU2pvo3 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 18, 2019 The Green Bay Packers, with whom Brice had spent the […]

Max Unger shocked the football world over the weekend when the veteran center of the New Orleans Saints announced his retirement. After he explained the justification behind hanging up his cleats with such little prior notice, though, it’s easy to see why Unger believes stepping away from the game is ultimately the best decision for […]

Kyler Murray came under new scrutiny after the NFL combine, during which several teams reportedly questioned his NFL readiness after meeting with him in Indianapolis. Talent evaluators apparently had new questions about the reigning Heisman Trophy winner’s mental acuity and leadership style, leading to further concern about his chances of developing into a franchise signal-caller […]

Cameron Wake wasn’t ready to move on. The longtime Miami Dolphins pass-rusher said before NFL free agency began that he would “like” to return to the Miami Dolphins, but acknowledged his future with the team was “out of my hands.” After signing with the Tennessee Titans last week, though, it’s safe to say the 37-year-old […]

Joe Flacco isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. At 33, the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII is firmly on the downside of his career, and hasn’t played at a level that befits the distinction of franchise signal-caller in several years. For a team in a sudden state of transition after going […]

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting some much-needed help on the outside. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, free agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland is signing a one-year contract with the Chiefs. The deal is loaded with incentives that could allow the five-year veteran to earn up to as much as $5 million next season, per NFL […]

Jim Boylen’s tough love seems to be paying off after all. In the aftermath of the Chicago Bulls coach being ejected for arguing with Doc Rivers during his team’s loss to the LA Clippers on Friday, guard Zach LaVine offered to pay Boylen’s fine. Per Malika Andrews of ESPN: Hours after Chicago Bulls coach Jim Boylen was […]

The 2018-19 season hasn’t exactly gone as planned for Kyrie Irving. Despite the superstar routinely rubbing Boston Celtics fans the wrong way of late, though, it will be hard for the Green and Gold faithful to be too frustrated with Irving. Irving scored 30 points, grabbed nine rebounds and doled out 11 assists in his […]

Coming into the 2018-19 season, skepticism regarding the San Antonio Spurs was mostly about the offseason losses of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green — generally considered the best pair of wing defenders in basketball. Could San Antonio, replacing two perennial All-Defensive team candidates with DeMar DeRozan and a host of unknowns, really be proficient enough […]

The Milwaukee Bucks may need to hold off the Toronto Raptors for the top seed in the Eastern Conference over the regular season’s remainder absent one of their most important players, Malcolm Brogdon. The team announced on Saturday that Brogdon suffered a minor tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot. The injury was […]

Dante Exum just can’t catch a break. In the aftermath of the fifth-year guard suffering a knee injury earlier this week, Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder offered support as he undergoes yet another arduous rehabilitation process. “You just feel awful, for him first and foremost,” he said on Saturday before the Jazz take on the […]

After a season full of commotion at the bottom of the Western Conference playoff race, the postseason field has all but been officially set. The Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and LA Clippers will all be making the playoffs; the only thing […]

Los Angeles Rams director of strength training and performance Ted Rath was arrested on Friday and charged with three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press. The Rams subsequently placed Rath on leave of absence. Rath, who rose to national fame over the last two years for his additional […]

Isaiah Thomas is out of the Denver Nuggets rotations and will likely not feature when they take on his former team, the Boston Celtics. Despite that, however, IT will remain the center of attention at TD Garden. Adoring Celtics fans aren’t the only ones highly anticipating his return to Boston. Former teammate Marcus Smart is […]

The Golden State Warriors are at Chesapeake Energy Arena for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. Despite Saturday’s nationally-televised matchup serving as a measuring stick of sorts for two Western Conference powers as the playoffs quickly approach, Golden State is holding out Kevin Durant as a precautionary measure while Oklahoma City’s […]

Former Golden State Warriors forward David West believes that the real threat to the Dubs’ NBA dominance is in the East, in the form of the Milwaukee Bucks. Most league followers would peg the Houston Rockets as the biggest threat to the Warriors’ ironclad grip on the Larry O’Brien Trophy. James Harden and company, after […]

The Utah Jazz will be more shorthanded against the Brooklyn Nets than anticipated. The team announced on Saturday that reserve forward Thabo Sefolosha will miss tonight’s game in Salt Lake City while managing tightness in his hamstring. Thabo Sefolosha (left hamstring tightness) is OUT tonight. — Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 16, 2019 Sefolosha initially tweaked […]

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t quite ready to give up on Tyler Eifert. The injury-plagued tight has agreed to return to the Bengals on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Source: TE Tyler Eifert is signing back with the #Bengals on a 1-year deal. They keep one of their own. — Ian Rapoport […]

The Boston Celtics are taking no chances with their most understated yet arguably most impactful player as the playoffs quickly approach. After his team held on to beat the pesky Atlanta Hawks 129-120 on Saturday at T.D. Garden, Celtics coach Brad Stevens noted that Al Horford will miss several more games throughout the remainder of […]

Some NFL players agonize over choosing their new homes in free agency. Former Chicago Bears defensive back Bryce Callahan, though, certainly wasn’t one of them. Once the Denver Broncos came calling, the four-year pro’s familiarity with the coaching staff and multiple players on the roster made his decision something close to easy. “The Broncos were […]

The Golden State Warriors will be without a marquee name for Saturday’s star-studded matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Warriors superstar Kevin Durant is unavailable against his old team as he continues recovering from an ankle contusion. Update from Warriors shootaround: Kevin Durant will not play tonight in […]

The Chicago Bears had a built-in advantage over other teams courting free agent safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix The five-year pro credited incumbent Bears safety and former Alabama teammate Eddie Jackson as being a driving force behind his decision to spurn the Washington Redskins and sign with the Bears earlier this week. “Eddie played a big […]