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The White Cordarrelle Patterson Jersey , Patriots win over the Colts It’s a little sad that the Patriots-Colts rivalry is no longer what it once was.Back in the mid-2000s, there wasn’t a better rivalry in football. Every time Tom Brady and Peyton Manning — arguably the two greatest quarterbacks ever — would face off in their primes, it was must-see TV. Every single time.But now it’s 2018, and Manning has been retired for a few years. It’s been even longer since he played for the Colts. Brady is still doing his thing at age 41, but there’s no longer a sense of rivalry between these clubs. Indianapolis hasn’t beaten New England since 2009. If it wasn’t for Andrew Luck, the Colts of today would be straddling the border of irrelevancy. Last night was more of the same. The final score of 38-24 indicates that the game was closer than it was, but truth be told, the Colts were never really in it. They never are whenever they are in Foxboro.Meanwhile, Brady threw his 500th touchdown pass, and Josh Gordon caught his first-ever touchdown in a Patriots uniform. There were plenty of milestones to go around for this Pats team in Week 5, and now they just need a Miami loss on Sunday to reclaim first place in the AFC East.Now that the Patriots have officially taken care of business this week, let’s plow through the rest of these picks for Week 5鈥?As always, home teams are in caps and lines are courtesy of OddsShark.com)STEELERS (-3) over FalconsHave there been any bigger disappointments through the first four weeks of the season than the Steelers and the Falcons? These are two teams that are supposed to be Super Bowl contenders, and yet neither team is at or above .500 and nobody feels safe betting on them.An interesting fact: Pittsburgh is 0-6 against the spread in its last six home games. And yet, even though they are at home this week and have looked super shaky in their first four games, they still feel like the safer pick in this game. This has been a weird season.BROWNS (+3) over RavensEven though the Browns turned the ball over four times against the Raiders last week, Baker Mayfield makes me feel a little bit less like a moron whenever I pick the Browns. After all, despite their 1-2-1 record Youth Julian Edelman Jersey , they are 3-1 against the spread this season. I’ll probably regret, but I’m going all in on Cleveland this week.There’s something I never thought I would say.JETS (-1) over BroncosI’m backing the Jets here only because they are at home and because the Broncos are playing on short rest following their Monday night game against Kansas City last week. That’s literally the only reason.Packers (-1.5) over LIONSGetting throttled by this Lions team in Week 3 will hopefully be the most embarrassing moment of the 2018 Pats season. God help us if something more embarrassing than that happens.Jaguars (+3) over CHIEFSThis is the most must-watch game of the week. It’s the NFL’s No. 1 offense against the NFL’s No. 1 defense.It will be tough for the Jags to beat this undefeated Chiefs team on the road without Leonard Fournette, but with that defense, they sure can make it a close game. Hopefully the Jacksonville defense can rough up Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill a little bit before they come to New England next Sunday.BENGALS (-6) over DolphinsAs mentioned earlier, a Bengals victory here puts the Patriots in first place. After putting up 37 points in Atlanta last week, they shouldn’t have much trouble getting it done at home against the Dolphins this week.PANTHERS (-6) over GiantsThe key to a Giants victory is to get Saquon Barkley going off to the races. While the rookie running back has an extremely bright future in the NFL, he still has plenty of work to do, and this Giants team has a long way to go. They have no momentum after getting smacked by the Saints 33-18 last week.Meanwhile, the Panthers are coming off a bye week. They are fully rested and they are at home. I’m taking Carolina to win and cover.Titans (-5) over BILLSStay away from this Bills team. Don’t bet on them and don’t bet against them. One week, they brutalize the Vikings as 17-point underdogs. The very next week, they can’t even crack the scoreboard against the Packers. I’m warning you, just stay away from this game. Just keep on walking. Don’t even look at it.As for making a pick against the spread鈥?well鈥?the Titans are obviously the better team, so we’ll just go with them.Raiders (+5) over CHARGERSCongrats to Jon Gruden on finally getting the first win of his second tenure in Oakland. Way to go, Jon, you beat the Browns!All jokes aside, the Raiders’ offense Youth Deatrich Wise Jr Jersey , with Marshawn Lynch and all, can be dangerous as long their defense doesn’t blow games for them. But if they can’t get a win this week, then Oakland fans can probably just pack it in for the season.Alright, you’re probably tired of my constant yapping. I’ll zip through these last few picks and then you can be on your way.Cardinals (+4) over 49ERSThe dreadful Cards can take advantage of an injury-plagued Niners team.Rams (-7) over SEAHAWKSRams all day, every day.EAGLES (-3) over VikingsCarson Wentz is due for a monster game.Cowboys (+3) over TEXANSIt’s the battle for Texas. This game could actually be pretty entertaining.Redskins (+6.5) over SAINTSThis is bold, but you have to live life on the edge sometimes.Last week’s record: 5-8-2This week’s record: 1-0Season record: 31-30-3Patriots bring in five players for free agency workouts Later today, the New England Patriots will play their much-anticipated week six game against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs. The team’s front office, however, has set its sights not just on the game: according to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, the team recently brought in five free agents for workouts. Let’s take a look at them.DE Will ClarkeSince entering the NFL as a third-round draft pick in 2014, Will Clarke appeared in a combined 55 games for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Playing primarily as a rotational pass rusher, the West Virginia product registered 7.0 sacks over the course of his career – with 4.0 of which coming during his best season, 2016. Clarke, who also has special teams experience, was let go by the Buccaneers twice this season so far and hit the open market again earlier this week.QB Connor CookA fourth-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2016, Connor Cook served as the team’s third-string quarterback for his two years with the club. Due to being buried on the depth chart, the 6’4, 220 lbs passer appeared in only two games so far in his career – with his first career start coming in the postseason. Overall Youth Tom Brady Jersey , the 25-year old completed 32 of 66 pass attempts for 311 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Cook was let go by Oakland during this year’s roster cutdowns and subsequently joined the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad.LB Kasim EdebaliFollowing a career at Boston College, Kasim Edebali went undrafted in 2014. Since then, the6’2, 250 lbs linebacker has played for six different teams – the last of which the Chicago Bears, who had him on their roster this offseason. Overall, Edebali appeared in 61 games over the course of his career as a depth edge defender and special teamer. He saw most of his action with the New Orleans Saints between 2014 and 2016, when he played 48 games and registered 8.0 sacks.WR Devin RossDespite a comparatively productive career at Colorado, Devin Ross went unselected in this year’s draft. Instead, the now-23-year old joined the Tennessee Titans as a free agent. The 5’9, 190 lbs receiver, who plays primarily from the slot, had a solid preseason – catching six passes for 80 yards – but injured his ankle in the final game before roster cuts. As a result, he was placed on injured reserve but later released with an injury settlement. His workout indicates that the settlement period is now over and Ross healthy enough to play again.TE Shane WimannAfter being named first-team all-MAC during his senior campaign, Northern Illinois’ Shane Wimann went undrafted. The Patriots picked him up as a free agent shortly afterwards but the 24-year old failed to make an impact and was let go again early during his first NFL training camp: Wimann was let go with an injury designation and reverted to the injured reserve list. The rookie and the Patriots agreed to an injury settlement two weeks later, allowing him to hit the open market again.

The Chargers Are Deep at Wide Receiver NFL receiving corps rankings: All 32 teams entering 2018 - Michael RennerLos Angeles would have been much higher prior to the injury of Hunter Henry Customized Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys , but their top-10 ranking still reflects the talent they’ve accrued at receiver. When healthy, Keenan Allen is one of the most unguardable receivers one-on-one. His 89.1 overall grade last year was the fifth best at the position. This unit will need Mike Williams to live up to his draft status in Year 2 though. Williams played all of 234 snaps last year due to injury.Chargers’ Preseason Week 1 player of the game: Geremy Davis - Travis WakemanIn addition to Davis, Artavis Scott also had a nice night, catching five passes for 44 yards. But it was Davis and his circus catch that helped earn him our player of the game honors.2018 Projected Three-Down Linebackers - Mike WoellertThe Chargers are another defense with a muddled LB group. As of now, I'd project Denzel Perryman and Jatavis Brown as the linebackers who'll get the majorty of the snaps. Initial charts showing Perryman manning the middle and Brown at weak-side.ReFocused, NFL Preseason Week 1: Los Angeles Chargers , Arizona Cardinals - PFF Analysis TeamIt was largely a stagnant performance from the Chargers offense, but wide receiver Geremy Davis was one standout, as he showed on his spectacular 47-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter. That type of athleticism and concentration to go up and make a play on the ball with a defensive back draped all over you is quite impressive.Chargers Notes: Gates, Jones, Smith, Nwosu - Andrew OrtenbergGates isn’t interested in playing for any other team www.authenticlosangeleschargers.com , and the two sides had talks right after Henry went down. Despite there still being no deal in place with the preseason already underway, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said “we’re still talking with him” after the Chargers’ game against the Cardinals, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN. Williams points out that the Chargers tight ends accounted for five drops in the preseason opener, and Lynn said “we need to make more plays at the tight end position.” It all sounds like eventually something will get done with Gates.Social Media Information:BFTB Facebook Page: Click here to like our pageBFTB Twitter: Follow @BFTB_ChargersThe Lightning Round Twitter: Follow @Lightning_RoundThe Lightning Round Facebook: Click here to like our pageBFTB Manager: Richard Wade: Follow @RichardWadeWhich Chargers defensive player are you most looking forward to watching against the 49ers? It’s week 4 of the preseason and the roster is all but set. Which defensive player will you have your eyes on tonight?Isaac Gutierrez: It is Kyzir White. Up to this point it seems he has outplayed Jatavis Brown for the starting spot they are currently battling for. One more impressive game could put an end to the debate and win him the week one starting job.Cole Thompson: Kyzir White. He’s still learning who to transition from strong safety to weakside linebacker but has shown improvement following the last two preseason outings. Similar to Jatavis Brown, both are solid against the run but have the ability to play in coverage against running backs and tight ends out of the backfield. A strong game from the rookie could send Brown down the depth chart.Jamie Hoyle: I must be a glutton for punishment because I think I’ll be most focused on Jatavis Brown on defense. He hasn’t responded well to the training camp battle and has typically looked like the worst and least reliable linebacker on the roster this preseason. I’d hoping we’ll see more confident reads, more precise angles and, god willing, dramatically better tackling. I think the writing is on the wall for Kyzir White to open the season as the starting WILL, so now I just want Jatavis to show some pride and put his best foot forward as a backup. I know this much: he’d be hard pressed to be any worse than he was last week.Michael Peterson: I will be watching Jatavis Brown and Hayes Pullard. Both are heading in opposite directions than most people expected. Pullard looks much improved while Brown seems unable to put it back together. At the end of the day, we gotta trust that the staff will make the right decisions on the last few position battles still being fought for.Matthew Stanley: I’ll be watching 3rd round pick Justin Jones. He hasn’t played yet and interior DL has been a massive concern so far this preseason. The Chargers need to know what they have in the rookie, even against backups. I don’t want him to do poorly overall, but I’m almost hoping its a rough showing for him to give the team a little urgency to sign Johnathan Hankins Los Angeles Chargers T-Shirt , who they have already met with.Richard Wade: I’ll be keeping a close eye on Jatavis Brown. He showed so much promise during his rookie season, but at this point, he’s actually in danger of being on the bubble for the first round of cuts. It will be very interesting to see how he responds to that pressure.Louis Gorini: I want to see Justin Jones. The Chargers have yet to solve the middle of their defense in my opinion and maybe Jones can be part of that solution. Depending on how raw he looks, could open up the door for a Johnathan Hankins signing, which I’m all for.Garrett Sisti: Anthony Lynn said the WILL spot is still up for grabs so Jatavis Brown is going to have to have a strong showing to make it a real competition. Justin Jones is another guy we haven’t seen this preseason so he’s a guy I’ll be watching closely too.Jamie Sewell: I’m looking at Jatavis Brown. I don’t think he’s necessarily on the roster bubble, but if he wants to be anything more than a Special Teams contributor this year, he needs to rebound in a big way from last week.Ruben J. Gonzalez: I will be looking to see if Justin Jones has the chops to hold his own and can contribute this year. Brandon Mebane is clearly not the Mebane from two years ago when he first came to the Chargers, so if Jones can be the person that can be trusted to start taking his snaps away, that will relieve a lot of worry. They say there is talk about Johnathan Hankins possibly signing with the Chargers. A great showing tonight could send that notion away to bed.Which defensive player will you be focused on tonight?

 Saints defense vs. Buccaneers offense The New Orleans Saints begin their 2018 season with a division showdown at home this Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints are coming off an NFC South winning 11-5 season Color Rush Benjamin Watson Jersey , and are considered to be a Super Bowl favorite. One reason why is because of a vastly improved defense that finished 10th in points allowed, and that looks to have gotten better this offseason. Opposing New Orleans will be the Buccaneers, who were expected to push for a playoff berth a year ago, but instead stumbled to a 5-11 finish. Tampa's weakness is expected to be on the defensive side of the ball, and they do have some dangerous weapons in the passing game. Unfortunately for Bucs fans, they will also be without starting quarterback Jameis Winston for this game, and the first three games of the season due to violation of the league's personal conduct policy. Today, let's have a peek at how the New Orleans defensive unit matches up against the Buccaneers offensive weapons. SAINTS RUN DEFENSE vs. BUCCANEERS RUSHING OFFENSE Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesThe Saints ranked 16th in the league at defending the run last year, and had their struggles against rushing attacks at times. They surrendered 4.4 yards per opposing run attempt, ranking just 28th, and often gave up big runs early in games. Despite great improvement up front and in the secondary, the New Orleans linebacking corps still had some struggles last year, and the unit dealt with some injury problems. Rookie 3rd round pick Alex Anzalone went down for the year in the season's third game, and A.J. Klein missed four games, along with being limited in others. Anzalone and Klein both return, rejoining versatile defender Craig Robertson and Manti Te'o, who was a solid run defender for the New Orleans defense last year. The Saints upgraded their linebacking corps by adding Demario Davis in the offseason. Davis has had at least 100 tackles in four of the last five seasons, including an NFL 3rd-best 135 stops a year ago. He is a fast and aggressive sideline to sideline every down defender capable of playing any linebacking spot, and should give the team a playmaker at the position that's they've lacked. The Saints cornerbacks are good tacklers and solid run defenders, but they are often employed in man coverage, and could at times be taken away from a run play. They're ability to lock down opposing wideouts one on one however, could allow a safety such as Vonn Bell to play closer to the line of scrimmage as an extra defender against the run. Cameron Jordan has been best known for his pass rushing ability, but the truth is that he is one of the best all-around defensive ends in football. Both Alex Okafor and Trey Hendrickson are very good run defenders at end opposite Jordan, but the Saints have to answer some questions inside. Tackle Tyeler Davison is an outstanding run defender, and both Sheldon Rankins and David Onyemata are solid inside as well, but were guilty at times of getting caught off balance, giving opposing blockers the advantage. Tampa Bay ranked 27th in rushing yardage (1,448) and yards per carry (3.7) a year ago, and ran for just 8 scores. Third year back Peyton Barber returns as the starter, and led the team in rushing last year with 423 yards and 3 scores. Jacquizz Rodgers comes back as well, but the Buccaneers hope that second round pick Ronald Jones will add a dynamic element to their running game after three straight seasons of over 980 yards rushing for the University of Southern California. Bucs running backs failed to rush for a single score in two meetings with the Saints last year, averaging less than four yards per carry and less than 100 yards on the ground. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports~Matchup to Watch: Saints LB's vs. Buccaneer RB's~ The Saints linebackers were still somewhat inconsistent this preseason, and will continue to be the defense's weak link until they prove otherwise. Athletically and talent-wise, they appear to be the best linebacking corps the team has had in quite some time, but they must be able to prevent opposing runners from breaking off big gains, or from being major contributors in the passing game. The Saints ability to shut down what looks to be a weak Tampa Bay running attack will make them one dimensional, which wouldn't bode well for a team that will be missing it's starting quarterback. SAINTS PASS DEFENSE vs. BUCCANEERS PASS OFFENSE Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesNew Orleans ranked 17th in pass defense in 2017, but more importantly than that ranking was the fact that they created pressure on their opponents. The Saints sacked opposing quarterbacks 42 times http://www.authenticsneworleanssaints.com/cheap-max-unger-jersey , and intercepted 20 passes, good for third in the NFL. Cam Jordan had the first All-Pro season of his stellar career, and was the focal point of the team's pressure up front. His 13 sacks were a career high, and he was often able to deflect or alter throws when he didn't bring down opposing signal callers. The Saints finally found an answer at defensive end opposite Jordan last season. Alex Okafor was having the best season of his career when he went down with an Achilles injury in the team's tenth game. His 4.5 sacks was still good for second on the defense, and he looks to be fully recovered. Trey Hendrickson got off to a slow start during his rookie year, but had a very strong preseason to make many believe that he is primed for a strong 2018 campaign. New Orleans also traded up in this spring's draft to select edge rusher Marcus Davenport with the 14th pick. Davenport was limited through the preseason with injury, but showed exciting potential over the last two exhibition games. Rankins and Onyemata only combined for 4 sacks last season, but showed the potential to be a disruptive tandem inside, and each had a fine preseason to promote those expectations. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen likes to employ an aggressive scheme that relies on man coverage and at times a high percentage of blitzing. That strategy is successful, of course, only with solid coverage in the secondary, and New Orleans has one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Marshon Lattimore. The 11th overall draft pick a year ago, Lattimore led the Saints with five interceptions and 18 pass breakups, along with shutting down some of the best wideouts in the league. Ken Crawley blossomed into a solid cover man to compliment Lattimore in his second season, and the team expects the same sort of improvement from Arthur Maulet and P.J. Williams this season. New Orleans also added Patrick Robinson this offseason as a free agent this offseason. Robinson, who played for the Saints from 2010-14, was one of the better slot corners in the league last season with Philadelphia. The team's cornerbacks benefit from solid play behind them at safety. Vonn Bell is an outstanding blitzer, finishing tied for second with Okafor in sacks last year, and can also provide effective slot coverage. Kurt Coleman was added in free agency from Carolina to give the Saints another veteran player on the back end, and second year free safety Marcus Williams is a ballhawking playmaker who looks to be on the verge of stardom. The Saints coverage will be tested by a Buccaneers receiving corps that is as dangerous as any in the game. Wide receiver Mike Evans is a big, physical target considered to be one of the top wideouts in the conference. DeSean Jackson is a veteran deep threat still capable of blowing the top off a defensive coverage, and Chris Godwin looks like a breakout candidate after a good rookie season. Adam Humphries is an underrated wideout from the slot, and the Bucs have two dangerous threats at tight end in Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard. Tampa Bay's passing game ranked 4th in the NFL last season, but they will be without starting quarterback Jameis Winston for the season's first three games. Replacing him is veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has shown the potential throughout his career to get hot and tear a defense apart. Tampa's offensive line must do a better job keeping their passers upright after giving up 40 sacks a year ago. The Saints recorded six sacks in their two games against the Buccaneers a year ago, including two on Fitzpatrick when he stepped in for an injured and ineffective Winston in the team's first meeting last year while holding them to just 135 net yards through the air. Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images~Matchup to Watch: Marshon Lattimore vs. Mike Evans This is a marquee showdown between two of the top players at their respective positions. Lattimore held the pro bowl receiver to just one catch for 13 yards in their first meeting last season, frustrating Evans to the point of a physical confrontation. Evans had some success in the season finale against New Orleans with 5 receptions, but was still contained to just 55 yards. The 25-yr. old Evans just signed a contract extension with the Bucs this offseason, setting the stage for an intense personal rivalry with the Saints star cornerback for years to come. WHAT TO LOOK FORPhoto by Brian Blanco/Getty ImagesThe Saints ability to shut down a pedestrian Buccaneers rushing attack early is key to their defensive success. Despite the receiving talent that the Buccaneers possess, the strength of the New Orleans defense looks like their pass defense, especially against a backup quarterback that has been prone to turnovers throughout his career. Lattimore has the ability to contain Evans again, leaving the rest of the Saints secondary to focus on the other Tampa threats. New Orleans will put heavy pressure on Fitzpatrick, increasing the likelihood of turnovers or big plays. The Saints defense was impressive throughout the preseason and training camp, particularly against the pass. The team has both the talent and athleticism to potentially be one of the top defensive units in the NFL, and will look to make a strong statement to open what they hope will be a championship run in 2018.New Orleans Saints mid-preseason 53 man roster prediction The New Orleans Saints have completed half of their preseason games, and have officially broken training camp. The team is 1-1 in the games that don't count, with games against the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams to close out the exhibition schedule before their September 9 season opener against division rival Tampa Bay. With most of the Saints starters likely to see much more playing time in the team's next preseason contest, the chances of many players fighting to make the roster are now extremely limited before the league's main cutdown date over Labor Day weekend. With the exhibition period over halfway concluded Color Rush Sheldon Rankins Jersey , here is my 53-man roster projection for the defending NFC South champs. QUARTERBACK (3)Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsDrew Brees, Tom Savage, Taysom Hill (Practice Squad = J.T. Barrett)Not much has changed here during training camp. Barrett looks like a project, perhaps with enough potential to keep on the practice squad. Hill and Savage have both moved the offense at times, but neither has played well enough to give Saints fans much confidence should Brees miss any length of time. The guess here is that Hill just hasn't been consistent enough for Sean Payton to have the confidence to promote him to the number two quarterback over Savage, a player who has NFL starting experience. It's possible that New Orleans could make a move for a player like Teddy Bridgewater, who is reportedly being shopped for a trade by the New York Jets. The more likely scenario is that Savage opens up the year as backup, while Hill serves as the holder on kicks, possibly used on some gadget plays and as a special teams gunner like a season ago. RUNNING BACK (5)Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsMark Ingram*, Alvin Kamara, Jonathan Williams, Boston Scott, Shane Vereen, Zach Line (fb)(Practice Squad = Trey Edmunds)Notable Cuts = Terrence West,*(Mark Ingram will not count as a roster spot while he serves a four game league suspension to start the season)Williams has seemingly grabbed the top running back spot behind Ingram and Kamara with his performance through the first two exhibition games. Scott has flashed some ability as a runner, and will be a factor in the team's return game. Vereen may have the slight edge over West because of his versatility and pass receiving skills, but could be expendable upon Ingram's return to the lineup. Edmunds has been used at fullback a bit, and is a rugged inside runner, but doesn't look like he's done enough to overtake Line or grab one of the top running back spots. WIDE RECEIVER (5)Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesMichael Thomas, Tre'quan Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Cameron Meredith, Brandon Tate(Practice Squad = Keith Kirkwood, Austin Carr)Notable Cuts = Tommylee Lewis, Josh Huff, Michael Floyd Meredith put to rest some recent rumblings that he would not be ready for the start of the season when he made his first game appearance against Arizona last week. Smith has the look of a potential 3rd round steal, Thomas is one of the best wideouts in the league, and Ginn continues to be a deep threat at 33-yrs. old. If the Saints keep six receivers, something they rarely do, then Kirkwood would almost certainly get the call, and he has been impressive at times. Otherwise, the veteran Tate gets the final receiver spot, primarily because of his kick return ability. TIGHT END (3)Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY SportsBenjamin Watson, Josh Hill, Dan Arnold (Practice Squad = Deon Yelder)Notable Cuts = Michael Hoomanawanui The return of Watson gives New Orleans a solid blocker that they have lacked in a starting tight end since his departure following the 2015 season. Arnold, a converted receiver, is a fundamentally solid blocker despite being undersized and can give Drew Brees another short range weapon in the passing game. Yelder, a raw project Youth Mark Ingram II Jersey , has done little through training camp, but has enough physical ability to possibly land on the practice squad. Hoomanawanui becomes expendable because of Watson's return, a likely increased role for Zach Line, and the ability of Rick Leonard or Josh Leribeus to be a sixth lineman in short yardage packages. OFFENSIVE LINE (8)Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesTerron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Max Unger, Larry Warford, Ryan Ramczyk, Josh LeRibeus, Rick Leonard, Will Clapp (Practice Squad = Cameron Tom)Notable Cuts = Jermon Bushrod, Michael Ola There aren't many fourth round draft picks that don't make the team in their rookie season, and while Leonard is certainly a project, he has shown good enough footwork that the Saints figure to keep him for development. Ola or Bushrod could be brought back for veteran insurance if Armstead or Ramczyk were to be injured. Leribeus played fairly well for New Orleans down the stretch of last season, and will likely be the first offensive lineman used off the bench, a role filled by Senio Kelemete over the past few seasons. It appears to be a toss-up between Clapp and Tom for the other interior line position, with the odd man out hopefully clearing waivers for a spot on the practice squad. Both are capable of playing either guard or center, and have received a large amount of reps throughout the preseason. DEFENSIVE LINE (8)Chuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsEnds: Cam Jordan, Alex Okafor, Marcus Davenport, Trey HendricksonTackles: Sheldon Rankins, David Onyemata, Devaroe Lawrence, Taylor Stallworth (Practice Squad = Al-Quadin Muhammad, Mitchell Loewen, Alex Jenkins)Notable Cuts = Tyeler Davison, George Johnson, Mitchell LoewenThis is perhaps the toughest overall unit to project. Davison and Johnson have given the team some good play, and Loewen has had a very good camp. Muhammad led the team in sacks last preseason, but has done little to stand out this year despite increased reps. Hendrickson has played some outstanding football this summer, and could be a breakout performer on the Saints defense. Lawrence and Stallworth have each had some fine moments in each of the Saints preseason games, and may have done enough to overtake Davison and Loewen. Johnson, a journeyman throughout his career, is a player who could be re-signed (if available) and contribute immediately if injuries hit the line as they did last year. LINEBACKER (7)Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsDemario Davis, Alex Anzalone, Craig Robertson, A.J. Klein, Manti Te'o Youth Alvin Kamara Jersey , Nate Stupar, Jayrone Elliott (Practice Squad = Colton Jumper)Notable Cuts = Hau'oli Kikaha Elliott burst into prominence with an impressive 2.5 sack performance against Jacksonville in the preseason opener, forcing two fumbles. He played little last week against the Cardinals, but has shown excellent explosiveness off the edge to the passer, giving him the edge over the injury-prone Kikaha. Stupar has starting experience at multiple linebacking spots, and solidifies the special teams. Despite some early summer rumors to the contrary, Robertson, Klein, and Te'o all appear to be safe. CORNERBACK (7)Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY SportsMarshon Lattimore, Ken Crawley, Patrick Robinson, Arthur Maulet, Natrell Jamerson, Linden Stephens, Justin Hardee (Practice Squad = Kamrin Moore)Notable Cuts = P.J. Williams Maulet has had an outstanding training camp, and will likely receive alot of regular season snaps in the defensive backfield. Jamerson's versatility and special teams abilities should give the rookie 5th round pick a spot, while Hardee is one of the team's best special teams players. I've been high on Stephens, an undrafted rookie, to make this team from the start, and I'm standing by that feeling. The call to keep him over the veteran Williams is perhaps the most controversial of this list, but Stephens has gotten increased defensive snaps over the first two weeks, and plays an aggressive coverage style that coordinator Dennis Allen prefers. Williams has been nicked up by injury, causing him to miss some time, and struggled with consistency a year ago. SAFETY (4)Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesMarcus Williams, Kurt Coleman, Vonn Bell, Chris Banjo With the exception of Williams, who has had an outstanding camp, the New Orleans safeties have been unspectacular this preseason. Still, Bell and Coleman have both been solid NFL starters, and Banjo is a good special teams player. The ability of Jamerson to play safety as well as cornerback allows the team some additional versatility in the secondary. SPECIALISTS (3)Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY SportsThomas Morstead, Wil Lutz, Zach Wood The Saints boast one of the better punter/kicker duos in the league with Morstead and Lutz, along with a steady and consistent long snapper in Woods. Tate and Scott have emerged from the pack as solid potential kick returners this preseason, solidifying their roster spots. With an extremely limited number of opportunities left to make an impression on coaches, the chances for some players to keep their NFL dreams alive could lie in a single offensive or defensive snap, or with a standout special teams performance in each of these final two games.

The Correct Pronunciation with Ben Baldwin *****Download Link Here*****(02:06) Fantasy Football winners have been notified (03:54) Signing George Iloka(12:51) Seahawks Preview(76:00) MailbagEpisode Notes:Follow @BenBBaldwin on twitterHere’s the Ringer’s piece on the Minnesota Vikings and technology — it’s what Ben was referencing when it came to “innovation” and stealingMike Zimmer “is not above stealing”We mentioned “the Hater 100” Womens Rashod Hill Jersey , one of our favorite episodes of the show that you can listen to if you want food recommendations in the Twin Cities — it’s near the end of the mailbag.Here’s the study on injury rates by turf type and individual stadiums (stadia?) — it appears that Washington actually has a much lower injury rate in their stadium than league average. The highest, after adjusting for how often the home team gets injured in general, is Baltimore (who have switched field types since the study)This is the NicholasJOlson Twitter thread I mentioned about George IlokaSubscribe to the Athletic at this link, where you can get 30% off until August 27thSpecial thanks to Rhymesayers Entertainment and Atmosphere for the new theme song!Arif - @ArifHasanNFLJames - @bigmonoTo listen to more, this is the link to that iTunes feed. If you can’t for whatever reason subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to via our RSS feed http://www.minnesotavikingsteamonline.com/harrison-smith-jersey , which should support the RSS reader or podcast organizer of your choice. You can still leave a review even if you can’t subscribe via iTunes because it’s easy to create an AppleID. We also have a YouTube channel. Our podcasts are automatically uploaded there.If you want to make sure you don’t miss an episode and find out ways to support the show, head to our website!But we also have a Patreon and that should make it even easier to support the best podcast for your Minnesota Vikings. We know that it’s a tough ask given all the problems involving their transaction fees, but if can manage it, check it out here. If you wanted to donate via Paypal instead of Patreon, head to this link.Once again, contact me at arifmhasan (at) gmail dot com or the podcast at NorseCodePodcast (at) gmail dot com. Follow us on twitter at @NorseCodeDN or just me at @ArifHasanNFL. You can follow producer and host James Pogatshnik at @bigmono.Vikings Roster Cuts: Minnesota Vikings release Brian Robison With all of the roster cuts that the Minnesota Vikings are making and were projected to make http://www.minnesotavikingsteamonline.com/sheldon-richardson-jersey , we’re now getting news of one that absolutely nobody saw coming.According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Minnesota Vikings are releasing defensive end Brian Robison.Robison, the longest-tenured member of the Vikings, was drafted by the team in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas. He served as a backup and a role player for a few seasons before assuming the starting left defensive end role in 2011. He has been with the team for the entirety of his NFL career, and has put up 60 career sacks and forced 13 fumbles.Robison took a significant pay cut to return to the team this season, which makes it that much more surprising that the team would take the step of releasing him. Still Authentic Ben Gedeon Jersey , it’s a sign that they obviously believe in all of the talent they’ve amassed at the defensive end spot, and that they feel the younger players are a better fit for what they want to do going forward than Robison is.Thank you to Brian Robison for everything that he’s given to the Minnesota Vikings over his eleven seasons in purple. It’s probably going to take a bit for this one to sink in.

 Kansas City is hurting badly The New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football with the eyes of the league upon the two best teams in the AFC. The Patriots crushed the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football White Jonathan Jones Jersey , while the Chiefs are coming off an easy victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Both teams are dealing with injuries, but the Chiefs injury report paints a more dire picture- but they’re still a formidable opponent.Here’s Wednesday’s injury report.Did Not ParticipateBerry is the team’s best safety and he’s missed time this year, while his back-up, Murray, is now missing practices. Their availability on Sunday is incredibly important because they’ve historically been tasked with defending the Patriots tight ends- and they’ve had plenty of success.Houston has also been battling injuries and his absence would put greater pressure on the rest of the defense- and would offer the Patriots offensive line a more favorable match-up. The current expectation is that Houston could miss a couple weeks.Limited ParticipationNew England had full attendance at practice, although there are a few new faces on the injury report. Brown and Simon suffered their injuries on Thursday against the Colts, while Hogan is a new listing with his thigh injury. Sony Michel is back on the report with his knee injury; hopefully the Patriots are just giving their workhorse running back some additional rest.DT Adam Butler, TE Jacob Hollister, and LB Elandon Roberts are no longer on the report.Full ParticipationThese three starters for the Chiefs should be good to go on Sunday. Ford is the team’s best pass rusher, while Watkins and Conley round out a strong offensive grouping with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt.Patriots vs.Lions: Fan Notes from the Game Hoo boy.Let’s just get this out of the way: the Patriots got embarrassed last night. They looked completely lost, they were sloppy, they got pushed around and out-muscled at absolutely every position, and had absolutely no business being on the field with the Lions last night.The Lions. Yikes.Was the Sunday Night Football intro always just one big ad for Pepsi Youth Malcom Brown Jersey , or is that a new thing? I legit don’t know, as I’ve actively tried to avoid the Faith Hill/Jewel/Pink/whoever preamble for a while now, but I was completely out of stuff to do by the time the game rolled around and made the mistake of tuning in.If your name is Jim-Bob Cooter, you have exactly two career options: football coach or rider mower salesman. Glad to see that he made it.Not glad to see him completely destroy the Patriots defense...but to be honest, I feel like I could have called a successful game plan last night.New England really needs to stop receiving these opening kickoffs. Maybe that’s why they suck so bad right now.The only thing worse than New England’s performance last night was that off-neon green whatever it is they decided to put on the field on third downs. It’s absurd and completely unnecessary. I would have loved to be in the production meeting when that green zone came into fruition. I feel like there was a guy who hadn’t contributed anything to the team since he was hired in the offseason and was on his last strike, so as a Hail Mary he just kind of threw out, “maybe we add another color to the screen?” I may as well break down the offense now and get it over with.....Um...Stretch run for no gain? Blown up screen? One decent drive per game?OK, that was easy. Moving on.The big issue with the offense right now is that it’s incredibly predictable. Part of that is the early season jitters and everyone finding their stride, and another part of that is the lack of depth at receiver position. It’s nothing but stretch runs and screens, and then when those don’t work they have no choice but to go for a middle crosser. I have absolutely no worries about what this offense will do when the games start to matter, but right now the NFL is a pool and the Patriots keep dipping a toe in to see if it’s too cold.Another real problem is how the receivers can’t get anything remotely close to resembling separation. There were plenty of plays last night where Tommy B had time to throw, but nobody was open.New England, three and out. Opponent, long, sustained drive that ends in points. Sound familiar? Being a Pats fan in September stinks. October through February? Juuuust fine. But man...these first few games are always rough.As for the defense...Never thought I’d see LeGarrette Blount torching the Pats as a receiver.I did http://www.authenticsnewenglandpatriots.com/cheap-shaq-mason-jersey , however, think I’d see receivers out in the flat go for big gains. Lateral movement is such an Achilles heel for these linebackers.The Lions didn’t even need a third down on their first TD of the day. I don’t know what’s worse: September 2017 when receivers were 10 to 15 yards open, or September 2018 when teams are just imposing their will.Kerryon Johnson averaged six yards per carry and have over 100 on the day. If that’s not bad enough, I can point to a handful of plays where all 200 pounds of him literally dragged Lawrence Guy, Danny Shelton, Malcom Brown, or sometimes all three for a few extra yards before he was brought down. I’m not sure how that’s even scientifically possible, but here we find ourselves.NFL football in 2018 has absolutely zero flow. The 1st quarter took 20 minutes, the 2nd took six days, the 3rd took 25 seconds, and the 4th took an hour. What happens in between is a series of questionable flags, unwatchable commercials, a bunch of weird colors, and watered down play. Last year it took me until mid-October to start questioning if I had better things to do with my Sundays.The red flag is officially up and waving furiously on Dont’a Hightower. He looks unbearably slow and constantly winded. The rust should be off by now and usually rust comes in the form of missed reads and muffed tackles. It doesn’t come in the form of getting smoked around the edge and getting shoved violently backwards on blitzes.Sony Michel didn’t do much as a short yardage back, did he. I don’t know why they keep running off-tackle on those plays...either do the sneak or go up the gut.Chris Collinsworth on Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford: “There’s just a difference when there’s a lady in the room Youth Devin McCourty Jersey , ins’t there?” Yikes, Chris. You can’t say things like that in 2018! I can think of a whole slew of college students that would be VIOLENTLY offended by that statement had they been watching the game last night instead of busy protesting Rice Krispies for discriminating against giants.Through three weeks now, I can think of exactly one instance where anybody not named Tom Brady showed any kind of emotion on or off the field, and that was last night when Deatrich Wise sacked Matt Stafford to fire everyone up. On the very next play, Jahwan Bentley picked off Stafford to set up New England’s only touchdown of the day. As of right now, this team has no teeth. No toughness. Nobody not named Tom Brady getting riled up on or off the field.Nobody upset when an opponent marches right down the field with ease and scores. The defense looked like it was just kind of killing time before the game ended, and you never want to see that. Somebody needs to step up.What may be most frustrating at the moment is that, every once in a while, the Patriots will look good. They play with urgency and passion and move the ball well. And then they remember to not give a crap anymore and go back to the stretch run and screen.Man... Golden Tate would have been something else as a Patriot. I love that guy.The great thing about a loss like this one is the smoking hot takes that are already coming from all angles. You have your typical Patriots fans who never grew up in the non-Brady era already calling for an end to the season. You have your media folks chasing clicks and pageviews with the end of days talk. I’m sure you have your Chiefs and Dolphins fans chirping away as they race towards their inevitable 9-7 finishes.Today’s Fan Notes were negative, because the Patriots deserve negativity this morning. That said, I’m still very staunchly in the “Patriots Will Be Fine” camp.That said... I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t occasionally looking across the lake at the ever-growing Camp Not Our Year and wondering what they’re serving for lunch tomorrow.We’re on to Miami.

 Should the Los Angeles Chargers re-sign Antonio Gates?Matthew Stanley: Yes Youth Brandon Mebane Jersey , the Chargers should re-sign Antonio Gates. However, it won’t completely solve things. It will help, but he most certainly will not replace what the team expected to get from Hunter Henry.Richard Wade: Reflexively, I want to say “yes,” but I’m not convinced that bringing back Gates is actually the right decision. He’s the greatest tight end in franchise history, but he is well past his prime and I don’t love the way that Philip Rivers still occasionally locked in on him last season.Jamie Hoyle: No, I don’t think the Chargers should re-sign Antonio Gates. It seems like an easy fix but I don’t think it actually fixes anything. They decided to move on because they had Henry, but also because they thought he didn’t add enough value to bring him back, and his inability to add value doesn’t really change just because Henry got hurt. Trust the evaluation and move on, he’d fade by mid-season if they asked him to replace Hunter Henry’s snaps on the offense. I’d rather take a flier on Julius Thomas than go back to the well with Gates again.Jamie Sewell: No, Gates isn’t the answer. He’s nothing more than a very limited role player at this point in his career, and bringing him back would be for nostalgia reasons over anything else.John Gennaro: Rivers is that weird guy that doesn’t like people he doesn’t already know. He’s already pissed that Gates is gone, and they spent two years getting him comfortable with Hunter first. If you bring in a fresh face, El Capitan is going to lose his shit and/or never throw to him.Garrett Sisti: No I’d take a look at a few free agent Tight Ends before bringing Gates back. There was a time where Gates would demand attention just by being on the field even when he wasn’t as effective as he’d been in the past; that time is gone now.Kyle Posey: I wouldn’t sign Gates. He’ll likely give you a solid stretch of plays but at this point, the team is better without him. If Whiz is creative, he’ll slide Keenan Allen inside & generate targets in Hunter Henry’s absence. I’d roll with 4 WRs & spread teams out. It would likely create bigger run lanes for Melvin Gordon.Jason Michaels: Yes, the Chargers should make every effort to re-sign Antonio Gates.As a PR move Womens Michael Schofield Jersey , this is a win.As a move of necessity, this is a no-brainer.Is it likely?I’d give it a 50/50 shot, but the proverbial ball is firmly in Gates’ hands.Keep in mind, I don’t think that this would ‘fix’ the situation, the question was Should the Chargers re-sign Antonio Gates.The answer is YES, they should definitely try.They will need another helper, but there are too many upsides to this move.Ruben J. Gonzalez: No, I don’t think they should re-sign Antonio Gates. It was evident last year that he has lost a step and is only really good for those 5-yard curls. If they wanted to bring somebody back, I would consider Jeff Cumberland. At one point in training camp a few years back I remember one of the coaches say that he was the fastest player on the field. Cumberland would eventually tear his Achilles and we never got to see what he could do. I’m still curious. Ask me about trading for Gronk, and I will give you an absolute yes! Even if he’s only with the Chargers for one or two years, that’s fine because Henry will be full strength by then.What do you think? Vote in the poll and let us know in the comments below.Chargers WR Mike Williams: debunking the curse of 7th overall pick The NFL Draft might be one of the weirdest events in all of sports history. A bunch of teams sit in a room and decide the fate of young athletes and where they will continue to play their football careers. How do they decide? Well of course the worst picks first. A team that has a lackluster offense, horrendous defense and terrible coaching is well deserving of getting all the help next season to improve their roster. Usually a quarterback, offensive tackle or pass rusher, the team that picks first always hopes that their selection becomes the face of the franchise and a cornerstone of turning the team around. We all know that more times than not, that’s usually not the case. While the first overall pick might be one of the trickiest selections to make due to the hype that will surround that athlete’s persona the rest of their career, in recent years, one pick has been a near death sentence overall when this team is on the clock. While it might be one of the more famous numbers in the sporting world and considered lucky by many believers in perfect numbers Authentic Keenan Allen Jersey , the seventh overall pick has been one of the worst selections to have come draft night. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams is looking to break that curse. Following the 2017 NFL Draft, Williams rookie season might have served as more evidence to why unlucky number 7 could be a trap for teams everywhere. Proof is everywhere for those who look, even for the 2018 selection, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. While there’s hope in Buffalo for the rookie gunslinger moving forward, 2018 could be a long season if the Chargers proved anything in Sunday’s 31-20 victory. The Wyoming product went 18 of 33 for 245 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times for 36 yards. Allen’s in for a beating his rookie year if his line doesn’t improve. Williams however is looking to break the curse of 7th overall pick. It would be hard to blame him if he couldn’t though, many have tried and only two have come close to being decent in the last 10 years. Since 2009, the seventh overall selection has been destined to fail from the start of their NFL career. And the degrading members of this selection can thank Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders. When the Raiders were on the clock back in 2009, they had plenty of options to help jumpstart the franchise. With names such as cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (still a corner at time), linebacker Brian Cushing and wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin all available to start their Pro-Bowl careers, the Raiders decided to go for speed. Just speed. They selected Maryland wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey, who put up an impressive 4.30 40 time at the combine that season. His collegiate statistics; 138 receptions for 1958 yards and 13 total touchdown in three seasons with the Terps.The Raiders would released Heyward-Bey in 2013 by the organization and has bounced around the NFL since as a speedy depth receiver who contributes on special teams. Since the infamous selection nearly 10 years ago, the seventh pick has seemed to be cursed in way or another, especially for wide receivers. While 2010 selection Joe Haden has been to the Pro-Bowl twice, his overall numbers have underwhelmed outside of his rookie and 2013 season. While still an excellent cover corner, his tackling skills have diminished while growth of receivers has made him a mismatch on the outside. Aldon Smith also had a Pro-Bowl caliber season in 2012 after the San Fransisco 49ers selected him in 2011. The former Missouri outside linebacker looked great on the field, but came with a laundry list of off the field issues that consistently put him on the suspension list. He was out of the NFL following his 2016 suspension and later release by the Raiders. It’s a shame since names like HoustonTexans defensive end J.J. Watt and Dallas Cowboys All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith were taken just several picks later. Mark Barron was supposed to become the next great strong safety out of Alabama in 2012 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him. He was traded to the then St.Louis Rams just two seasons later and has been a weakness as the team’s inside linebacker ever since. The Bucs struck out when the could have had a franchise leading tackler in the form or Carolina Panthers Luke Kuechley or a top caliber cover corner such Stephon Gilmore. The Arizona Cardinals took a huge flop in 2013 when they selected offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, who is now a free agent after being released by his fifth franchise. 2014 gave Tampa Bay Mike Evans Womens Virgil Green Jersey , who is one of the few lucky selections to find success after being drafted in this dread position. Although his team is still looking to find success, Evans has been a top caliber receiver for the Bucs offense since his arrival.While Evans might have started a trend upward at unlucky number seven, the Chicago Bears sent the pick back to the graveyard with their selection of wide receiver Kevin White. In four seasons, White has managed to collected 21 total receptions for 193 yards and is still looking for his first NFL touchdown. The 49ers might be able to help break the trend with their 2016 selection of defensive lineman DeForest Bucker but only time will tell on that. So far however, Bucker has shown growth up the middle and perhaps the most stable defensive piece the organization has. It’s easy to say that Evans’ success could change the narrative of the dreaded seventh selection but more often than not, being drafted here has been destined to fail since the Raiders cursed the pick all those years ago. Add a bunch of depth players and free agents and that is one club no one would ever want to join. Even Williams has seen his share of the curse just two years into his NFL career. Last season, the Chargers passed on Pro-Bowl caliber free safety Malik Hooker to selected the Clemson product. At six-foot-three-inches, Williams was projected to be the red-zone threat for Los Angeles offense, complimenting the speed and production of Keenan Allen. Instead, the rookie Tiger was plagued most of his rookie season with a herniated disc in his back. Williams would miss all of the 2017 preseason and placed on the team’s injured reserve for the first six week of the regular season. Williams would only suit up for 11 games during his rookie campaign, making one start and finishing the year with 11 receptions for 95 yards. Williams even admitted his frustration following a what he hoped would build off his National Championship season just four months prior to being drafted. “I’d be the first person to tell you that,” Williams said via the Los Angeles Times. “It’s totally different for me. I’m able to go out there and make those plays I couldn’t make last year, make the contested catches. The confidence just comes from being out there. I’m back out there having fun.”So far this season, the second-year pass catcher has looked to break the curse for all those drafted seventh overall and beyond. In Sunday’s outing against the Bills, Williams with just two receptions for a total 27 yards. Those two receptions however would lead to his first touchdown, showing promise at the wide receiver position for the first time in Los Angeles outside of Allen. https://twitter.com/Chargers/status/1041375719773810689On the touchdown pass, Williams does a great job getting off the ball at the snap http://www.sandiegochargersteamonline.com/kyzir-white-jersey , forcing the cornerback to open his hips early. Williams has cornerback Vontae Davis beat off the snap and makes a quick cut towards the post. With safety Jordan Poyer closing in, Rivers delivers a clean pass in the chest for Williams to catch as he holds on going down. A perfect execution on both sides as Chargers would take a 7-0 lead on their way to an impressive offensive performance. “Mike took advantage of opportunities that he had.” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said via Chargers.comThis isn’t the first time Williams has impressed this season against coverage. Back in the preseason, Williams made one of the more impressive catches around the league. https://twitter.com/Chargers/status/1031025279852929024Against the Seattle Seahawks in man coverage, Williams has a flawless release, allowing him to take advantage of the cornerback’s position inside. Williams breaks out on a fly pattern, having a slight step ahead of the Seahawks cornerback for backup quarterback Geno Smith to float one into the end zone. Williams times the jump perfectly to snag the football over the defenders head in a contested catch situation to come down with the score and give the Chargers a commanding 21-6 lead. “He’s just continuing to get better and better,” Rivers said via Chargers.com “Shoot, we know what Mike is capable of. It’s just a matter of being out here each and every day, as he has been. He continues to make plays every day, and with those plays comes more confidence. He will be a big part of our offense.”In two games this season, Williams has collected seven total receptions for 108 yards and broken the plains with his first NFL score. The real challenge will come ahead this Sunday as the Chargers fight for the heart of Los Angeles against town rival Los Angeles Rams. Williams will fight against two of the league’s top cornerbacks and hopefully continue to impress on his growing role with the Chargers offense. “We’ve seen that kind of progress through the spring and summer, especially in camp,” Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said via Chargers.com “I think that he made some plays going back to the Seattle preseason game where he jumped up caught that ball for a touchdown.”“The arrow is definitely pointing up on Mike. It was a lot of fun to see that.”So the seventh overall pick has been a curse since 2009. While Haden and Evans might have found success in their own ways, most players drafted there are destined to fail before their NFL careers begin. While Williams has a ton to prove this season, his arrow is certainly trending in the right direction. A direction all Chargers fans should be excited to see with this promising offensive unit.

 It wasn’t the best of results for the New Orleans Saints across the NFC South.As of now http://www.saintscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-demario-davis-jersey , there are two teams sitting pretty at 1-0, and two on the other send, at 0-2.James Lang-USA TODAY SportsComing into Week 1, the Atlanta Falcons opened the NFL season in Philadelphia on Thursday night to face the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. The Falcons lost in almost identical fashion to their matchup in the 2017 playoffs, to a final score of 12-18. New Orleans Saints offense played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at noon on Sunday. Just the offense. The Saints defense didn’t play that game. The Carolina Panthers hosted the Dallas Cowboys and won an ugly game to the tune of 8-16, meaning each of the four teams in the NFC South either won or lost their game by a single possession.That leaves the Panthers and Buccaneers atop the division at 1-0, and the Falcons and Saints looking up to both at 0-1.Ken Blaze-USA TODAY SportsIn Week 2, the Saints stay at home to face the Cleveland Browns. This time, it is the Buccaneers turn to play the Eagles http://www.saintscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-patrick-robinson-jersey , hosting Philly in Tampa Bay. The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons open their first of two matchups, this time in Atlanta. All three games are at noon CST.Let’s hope Week 2 turns out better than Week 1.Keys to success: Saints can “Buc” a five year trend by starting fast vs Tampa Bay in the Superdome The Saints haven’t won an opening game since 2013. Time passes like a Sean Payton offense and it’s no coincidence that’s the last time this team won an opening game was the last time they had a stable roster, with fewer questions than answers in the first game of the season.Week 1 for a number of teams sometimes equates to week 5 of the NFL preseason and the Bucs are one of those teams. Meanwhile New Orleans has a superior coaching staff that boast 3 former or current head coaches. (Payton, Mike Nolan, Allen), a future defensive coordinator (Aaron Glenn), and an offensive coordinator that declined an interview for a HC Job (Pete Carmichael). Combine that with superior talent that boast the reigning offensive ROY (Alvin Kamara), and defensive ROY (Marshon Lattimore), and some guy named Drew Brees Thomas Morstead Jersey , who isn’t even the best player on the team (Cameron Jordan) and the Saints have the potential to dominate Tampa Bay.It takes coaching to put talent into positions to succeed and that’s where the Saints have a significant advantage vs the Buccaneers. A wrinkle here or there that creates a mismatch could determines the difference in a play being made or the punt team coming on the field.Let’s partake in a brief history lesson shall we?Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith are former NFC South rehashes that were either fired or not retained because they couldn’t beat Sean Payton and Drew Brees!Dating back to 2008 Mike Smith playing in the dome as a coordinator or head coach has only beaten Sean Payton twice.The Saints since 2007 have only lost to the Buccaneers at home once. At home a Sean Payton offense has only scored less than 23 points vs Mike Smith once and in 5 of those games they scored 30+ points. No better way to start fast than by winning the coin toss and if history has any say so to the present, New Orleans could quickly go up 7-10 points, making things Bubba Sparxxx ugly for the Buccaneers.Match-ups to Watch vs BuccaneersSaints run offense vs Buccaneers run defense.Sean keeping 10 offensive lineman suggest we’ll attempt to be physical and wear down a Bucs front seven that is a little smallish at the LB position. A few jumbo packages and a hard nosed runner in Mike Gillislee should set a tone very early for New Orleans that helps keeps the offense on schedule and mitigate the Buccaneers refurbished pass-rush. Tampa also has three new starters on their defensive line and giving them multiple looks could that test their chemistry as a unit.Saints pass offense vs Buccaneers pass defenseSafety play is important when facing drew Brees and for as iffy as the Buccaneers CB situation looks, I’d say the safety position is slightly weaker. Mike Smith has to know that he doesn’t have the secondary to give heavy man looks, so playing zone and telling their improvedD-line to go eat is his only real option. Zone coverage plays right into the hands of the offense and I expect protection to hold up so Drew and the receivers can find the open holes to exploit.Lavonte David vs Alvin KamaraIf the Bucs defense is to have any success it will have to start with limiting Alvin Kamara.That is easier said than done. Vs Tampa Bay in 2 games last year Kamara had 19 car for 112 yds and 2 TD’s in the run game alone. He also had 12 rec for 168 yards and 1 TD in the passing game. His only blemish was a fumble that was forced by none other than David. That’s a lot of yards AND scoring, (hi Julio) generated by one player.Random Thought IWith Boston Scott on the practice squad developing as a returner, expect WR Tommylee Lewis to be on a De’vante Harris like leash to begin the season.Random Thought IIIt was suggested that Colin Kaepernick is seen as Malcolm X and Malcolm Jenkins as Martin Luther King by the NFL.I’d say those roles deserve to be reversed.If the Saints go up early on the Buccaneers it will take away the run game which is the key to their play-action oriented offense, and their best chance at keeping the dome quiet so they can compete in this game.New Orleans has the look of an NFC South bully and Tampa could soon find themselves stuffed in a locker.Saints win 31-7www.animationfactory.com

A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press the Thunder are sending the veteran NBA forward and a 2022 protected first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Hawks guard Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala. Anthony will be waived Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys Womens , clearing the way for him to sign as a free agent elsewhere. The person spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

ESPN, which first reported the trade, said the Thunder will send Muscala to the Philadelphia 76ers for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Philadelphia’s Justin Anderson will be sent to Atlanta.

Schroder averaged a career-high 19.4 points per game last season for the Hawks in 67 games, all starts. The speedy 6-foot-1 guard averaged 17.9 points the year before that.

Anthony’s lone season in Oklahoma City was largely a bust. He averaged 16.2 points per game last season and struggled at times in his new role alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George. The 10-time All-Star posted career lows in scoring average and field goal percentage Clark Harris Jersey , and the Thunder were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by Utah.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The NCAA plans to study how the expansion of legalized betting could affect college athletics and member schools.

The NCAA announced Thursday it will create a working group of ”subject matter experts” to assess areas such as officiating, NCAA rules, federal and state laws, and the use of integrity services. NCAA leadership has already called for federal regulation on sports betting. NCAA rules prohibit sports wagering by athletes and athletic department employees.

The Supreme Court opened the door for states to have legal wagering on sporting events when it struck down a federal ban in May. Schools in some states such as West Virginia Authentic Alexander Alexeyev Jersey , Mississippi and New Jersey are already exploring the possibility of collecting integrity fees in anticipation of legal sports books opening in their states.

FIGURE SKATING

MOSCOW (AP) – Olympic figure skating medalist Denis Ten was killed Thursday, and prosecutors in Kazakhstan said they were treating the case as murder.

Ten was stabbed after a dispute with people who allegedly tried to steal a mirror from his car in his home city of Almaty, Kazakh news agencies reported. Doctors in Almaty say the 25-year-old skater died in the hospital there.

Born in Kazakhstan to a family of Korean descent, Ten’s bronze at the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014 made him Kazakhstan’s first medalist in figure skating.

Canadian skater Patrick Chan Nevin Lawson Jersey , who won silver in the same competition, said on Twitter he was ”honored and grateful to have shared the ice” with Ten. ”One of the most beautiful skaters to have graced our sport. My thoughts are with his family during this unimaginable time.”

The International Skating Union said it was ”deeply saddened” by news of Ten’s death.

Police in Milton, Georgia have released reports about three visits to Bills running back LeSean McCoy‘s house in response to calls about domestic disputes prior to the home invasion that left his ex-girlfriend injured this week.

The first report, via Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic Youth Royce Freeman Jersey , comes from July 2017 when police found McCoy outside the house with a “large mound” of clothing and personal items. McCoy said that he and Delicia Cordon had broken up and that Cordon was refusing to return jewelry loaned to them by jewelers for events.

Officers reported no signs of violence and that McCoy said he was concerned Cordon would make “false accusations” while noting that he was being “very careful” around her in light of the “climate of domestic abuse in his profession.” Officers told McCoy he could not kick Cordon out without formal eviction proceedings and that he should have witnesses around for further interactions given his concerns.

The police report from this week’s home invasion called it a “targeted” attack and noted that “the suspect demanded specific items from the victim.” Cordon’s attorneys said those items were pieces of jewelry that were given as gifts to her client before McCoy asked for them back.

An April 2018 call involved an argument between McCoy and Cordon regarding McCoy’s attempts to remove furniture from the house. There was no report of physical violence and the furniture was returned.

On June 1, 2018, police again went to the house after Cordon called them from Virginia and said she saw people moving things out of the house via a surveillance camera app on her phone. They found McCoy’s mother at the house and informed her that she could not remove what was considered “communal property” from the residence unless directed by civil court ruling. The officer spoke to McCoy on the phone and said the running back told him he would start that process.

Case Keenum had never in his NFL career been a team’s established starter during the offseason Colton Sissons Jersey , but this year in Denver, he is. And the Broncos like his leadership.

Keenum has started 38 games in his NFL career, but he’s always been the starter either because someone else got hurt, as was the case last year in Minnesota, or knowing that someone else was being groomed to take the job, as was the case the year before in Los Angeles. The Broncos, who gave Keenum a two-year, $36 million contract this offseason Authentic B.J. Hill Jersey , are making no secret of the fact that Keenum is their man.

The Broncos are already singing Keenum’s praises as a leader, and even Paxton Lynch, the former first-round pick who is relegated to backup behind Keenum, is happy to have the veteran aboard.

鈥淚 was really excited, actually, when we got Case for the fact he鈥檚 a veteran guy who鈥檚 been through it a little bit and had his ups and downs,鈥?Lynch told the Denver Post. 鈥淭he way he carries himself and handles himself 鈥?he鈥檚 a pro and that only benefits me and the other guys in the locker room and the other guys in the quarterback room.鈥?/p>

Keenum wouldn’t be there if Lynch had become the kind of quarterback John Elway thought he was when the Broncos took him in the first round two years ago. But perhaps Lynch can learn something from Keenum about how to develop into a starter, even if it takes some time.

The NFL isn’t merely being criticized by pandering politicians or labor unions who weren’t consulted on their anthem policy “compromise Youth Lamar Jackson Jersey ,” they’re catching it from other sports as well.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr blasted the NFL for its decision to mandate that players stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room, calling it “typical” of the way football does business.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e basically trying to use the anthem as fake patriotism, nationalism, scaring people,鈥?Kerr said, via Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle. 鈥淚t鈥檚 idiotic, but that鈥檚 how the NFL has handled their business. I鈥檓 proud to be in a league that understands patriotism in America is about free speech, peacefully protesting.

鈥淚 think our leadership in the NBA understands that the NFL players were kneeling to protest police brutality Youth Dontae Johnson Jersey , to protest racial inequality. They weren鈥檛 disrespecting the flag or the military. Our President decided to make it about that and the NFL followed suit and pandered to their fan base.

鈥淭hat created this hysterical, . . . It鈥檚 kind of what鈥檚 wrong with our country right now. People in high places are trying to divide us, divide loyalties and make this about the flag, as if the flag is something other than what it really is.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a representation of what we鈥檙e about 鈥?diversity, peaceful protest, right to free speech. It鈥檚 really ironic, actually, what the NFL is doing.鈥?/p>

The NBA also requires players to stand for the anthem M.J. Stewart Color Rush Jersey , but professional basketball has also operated from a position of trust with its labor force, and a track record of social involvement and willingness to take stands. The NBA also consulted with players when formulating their anthem policy, which seemed to go a long way with labor.

Kerr and the Warriors are also used to sticking it to the man, as their invitation to the White House for winning last year’s NBA title was rescinded聽by Donald Trump after a number of players said they wouldn’t go. Kerr also referred to Trump as a “blowhard,” which gives him something in common with at least one NFL owner.

The Hart Trophy candidate might be the reason they get knocked out in the first round if he can’t become the force the Flyers need to have a chance against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Only six years ago Rasheem Green Color Rush Jersey , Giroux was dubbed ”best in the world” by former coach Peter Laviolette after he posted six goals and eight assists in six games and a rare playoff series win over the Penguins. Playing in a major market, Giroux was on his way toward NHL superstardom.

Six years later, the Penguins have won two Stanley Cups, the Flyers haven’t advanced out of the first round and Giroux’s standing as one of the NHL’s best has wildly fluctuated: The 30-year-old followed two mediocre seasons with a career year this season, reaching personal highs in goals (34), assists (68) and points (102). He added a hat trick on the final day.

His production has again vanished in the playoffs.

The Flyers captain has no goals and one assist in three games – the Penguins hold a 2-1 series lead headed into Game 4 (7 p.m. EDT Wednesday, NBCSN) – in a postseason slump that dates to 2014. He again had no goals and one assist in six games against Washington in 2016 and scored two goals in seven games in 2014 against the New York Rangers. Giroux’s last playoff goal came on April 29, 2014.

In the Game 3 loss to Pittsburgh Authentic Harrison Phillips Jersey , Giroux took four shots on goal and led the Flyers with 10 shot attempts – four on goal, one that was blocked and five that missed.

”There’s a lot of hockey left to play here,” Giroux said. ”I have no doubt that we’re going to come out strong in Game 4.”

Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds (who dropped from 31 goals in 2017 to 24 this season) are also scoreless for the Flyers.

”Our team’s got to elevate our play overall,” coach Dave Hakstol said. ”There’s nothing drastic that needs to be done.”

That didn’t stop Hakstol from mixing up his lines at practice Tuesday, when Sean Couturier was injured. There was no immediate word on his status.

The Flyers have hit these rough patches before, losing 10 straight games over November and December before bouncing back to land in the postseason.

”Our guys have been through similar situations,” Hakstol said. ”This one’s just a little bit more elevated.”

The Penguins will play Game 4 without Patric Hornqvist, who has a goal and two assists in the series and is out with an undisclosed injury. He was on the top line with Sidney Crosby in Game 3 and was third in the league in power-play goals this season. Hornqvist was checked from behind into the boards by Philadelphia’s Andrew MacDonald in Game 3.

CLOSE IT OUT

Only four NHL teams have taken a 3-0 series lead like San Jose has over Anaheim and lost a best-of-seven series. The Sharks just happen to be one of them Womens Travis Hamonic Jersey , having collapsed against the Los Angeles Kings four years ago in the first round. That’s one reason why the Sharks head into Game 4 at home against the Ducks (10:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Golf Channel) with a sense of urgency to close out this series.

”Enough has happened in this room where I think we understand the challenges that still lie ahead of us,” captain Joe Pavelski said. ”We want a good start, we want to come out and put it on the line. We’re going to have to earn this next game for sure.”

The Sharks have controlled the series, outscoring Anaheim 14-3 following an 8-1 victory in Game 3. Anaheim allowed four power-play goals as the Ducks lost their composure as well as the game.

”I mean, we got to win a game,” captain Ryan Getzlaf said. ”Our focus has got to be to win that Game 4 and that’s all we can do.”

SPIRITED PRACTICE

Nashville turned up the intensity in practice Tuesday, complete with some light hitting and vigorous battles for the puck in front of goaltender Pekka Rinne.

This is a reason for the stepped-up pace: Being outscored by a 5-0 margin by Colorado in the first period of the series.

”Today was a perfect practice for that. It wasn’t about easing into practice Keith Yandle Jersey ,” said Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis, whose team leads the Avalanche 2-1 heading into Game 4 (10 p.m. EDT Wednesday, NBCSN). ”It was about going full speed into practice right away. We need that to translate into the game.”

Colorado went through an optional practice and had defenseman Samuel Girard on the ice wearing a non-contact sweater. He has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.

TRUST THE … PROGRESS?

Tampa Bay holds a 2-1 series lead over New Jersey headed into Game 4 (7:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Golf Channel). But New Jersey’s 5-2 win over the Lightning on Monday was at least a sign that the Devils should trust the … progress?

The Devils are owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the same company that also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. Team owner Josh Harris attended the 76ers’ Game 2 loss in Philadelphia on Monday.

Under Harris’ watch, his teams can orchestrate a turnaround. The 76ers, accompanied by the now-familiar ”Trust The Process” slogan, went from 10 wins two seasons ago to 53 and the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference this year while the Devils made a stunning run from the worst team in the East to the postseason in a year.

All the Devils need is a catchphrase.

The long wait to see Colts quarterback Andrew Luck throw a football came to an end at Tuesday’s practice when Luck threw some balls to former Colt Reggie Wayne.

It wasn’t the first time Luck had thrown a football Authentic Rashaan Gaulden Jersey , however. Luck said after practice that he threw with head coach Frank Reich a few weeks ago and used an official NFL football for those throws as opposed to the slightly lighter one he used on Tuesday.

Luck also said that he has no doubt about being ready to throw an official football many times when the Colts face the Bengals to open the regular season on September 9.

“Absolutely,” Luck said, via Kevin Bowen of the team’s website. “No knock on wood. I believe it in my bones.”

That game would not be the first game action for Luck since the end of the 2016 season. In addition to structuring camp practices to mimic what Luck will do in the days before regular season games, Reich said that Luck will play in the preseason this summer as he tries to knock off the rust that’s accumulated due to his right shoulder woes.