SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #23 Saquon Barkley

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #23 Saquon Barkley

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by | Aug 12, 2019 | Featured, NFL

23. Saquon Barkley

Team: New York Giants

Position: RB

Experience: 1 Year

At number 23 on the SneakerReporter Top 30 countdown is Saquon Barkley. Barkley was a four star recruit coming out of high school, attending Whitehall High School in Township Pennsylvania. He committed to play at Penn State and in his three years as a Nittany Lion, Barkley continued to flourish. He played over 11 games in all three of his collegiate years, totalling over 1200 yards and 8 TDs in every season. As more and more of his highlights hit the mainstream media, it was easy to tell that Barkley was different. 

Barkley’s mold is something we have never seen. He has Barry Sanders level agility and elusiveness, combined with Marshawn Lynch-type power. Now add onto this his next-level breakaway speed and terrific hands in the passing game and you may have the best running back in the game today. Barkley is essentially a real life create-a-player, with all of the attributes maxed out. Legitimately the only concern surrounding Barkley heading into 2019 is something that he cannot even control, the play of his Quarterback.

Assuming Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys reach a deal, the top 4 consensus Fantasy picks are Barkley, Elliott, Kamara, and McCaffrey. If Barkley was on any of those other offenses, he would be drafted 1st in every single league. He is the most talented RB in the league, but the Eli Manning saga is still very alive for the G-Men. Daniel Jones looked awfully impressive in his first preseason game, but when will he become the starter? With the loss of Odell Beckham Jr., Saquon will now be asked to carry the whole offense on his shoulders. There is no doubt he will end up as their leading rusher and receiver in 2019, especially since Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate will be sidelined to start the season.

Even with a sub-par offense in 2018, Barkley still found a way to put up big numbers. In his rookie season, Barkley elapsed 2000 yards from scrimmage, joining only Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James as the only players in NFL history to do so. Barkley rushed for over 1300 yards on only 261 carries, finding the end zone 11 times. Barkley had the most rush yards/attempt by anyone with over 200 carries last year. Barkley also dazzled the fans with his receiving ability, as he caught 91 passes for a total of 721 yards and 4 TDs. 

So what is next for Barkley? Even if Daniel Jones is the answer for the Giants, they still need to solidify the offensive line and add another perimeter threat to lighten the box for him. Even without these changes, Barkley will still be a nightmare for all Defensive Coordinators trying to stop him. Barkley’s health has yet to be a concern throughout his collegiate and professional career, large in part to his excessive training and ridiculous workout regiment. The sky’s the limit for Barkley,  but us fans just have to hope the Giants don’t screw it up. Barkley is a once in a lifetime talent that will be one of the best RBs for the next generation of football, regardless of circumstance. 

Aug 12, 2019 No Comments
NFL Community Mourns the Passing of Pittsburgh Steelers Assistant Coach Daryl Drake

NFL Community Mourns the Passing of Pittsburgh Steelers Assistant Coach Daryl Drake

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by | Aug 12, 2019 | Featured, NFL

Early Sunday morning the NFL lost one of its most respected figures. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach, Darryl Drake passed away at the age of 62. Drake has been coaching football in college and the NFL for more than three decades spending time with the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, and Steelers during his time in the league.

Steelers president Art Rooney released a statement in which he said Darryl “was a passionate coach and had a tremendous spirit toward life, his family, his faith, and the game of football.” Head coach, Mike Tomlin also released a statement about Drake saying, “Darryl was a close friend and had a tremendous impact on my coaching career. He was an amazing husband, father and grandfather, and it is difficult to put into words the grief our entire team is going through right now. Darryl loves the game of football and every player he ever coached.”

Other members of the Pittsburgh community posted on their social media channel, paying respect to a man who was more than just a coach them:

The condolences didn’t stop there, many other players (current and former) and coaches also shared stories of the man they knew.

Fellow AFC North coaches Freddie Kitchens (Cleveland Browns head coach) and Wink Martindale (Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinators) also said their condolences to the Drake family and the Steelers organization.

The Steelers announced that they would be canceling practice at Saint Vincent College for Sunday and Monday in response to Drake’s passing.

Drake is survived by his wife, Sheila, daughters Shanice, Felisha, and Marian as well as two grandchildren.

Aug 12, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #24 DeMarcus Lawrence

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #24 DeMarcus Lawrence

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by | Aug 11, 2019 | Featured, NFL

24. DeMarcus Lawrence

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Position: DE

Experience: 5 Years

Over the last decade, the Dallas Cowboys have seen their team turnaround their performance on the field. A lot of the credit for the franchise’s swing goes to their three-headed offensive attack of Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Amari Cooper. While having that much talent and one of the best offensive lines in the league is great, Dallas has also seen a big jump in the production of their defense. One player who exemplifies that is their defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence. A former second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, it took him a few seasons before he found his footing.

In the past two seasons, Lawrence has made back-to-back Pro Bowls. He’s accrued 25 sacks, 49 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one interception. To put it plainly, Lawrence has been a beast for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys as of late. The team noticed and paid him handsomely this summer to the tune of $105 million ($65 million guaranteed) over five years.  The team initially placed the franchise tag on him to ensure they wouldn’t lose him but the sides were able to come to an agreement in early April. At just 27 years old Dallas believes that they have locked in one of their best players for the prime of his career.

When you have the star in your helmet there’s a certain standard that is expected to be met. Formerly known as “America’s Team”, that isn’t the case anymore as their dominance in the league has been dormant since the team last won the Super Bowl in 1996. Lawrence and the rest of the young defensive studs on the team this season (Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Byron Jones) are hoping that they can help the Cowboys reclaim their glory of the past.

For Lawrence, that means continuing his stream of double-digit sacks for a third straight season. Nicknamed “Tank”, the 6-foot-3, 265 pounds lineman is not an easy matchup for anyone he lines up in front of. More often than not, he receives some type of extra attention from the offense—double teamed by a second lineman or tight end, chipped by a tight end or running back. However, after five seasons of experience, Lawrence has developed a few moves to help him get to the quarterback. He can use speed occasionally and also has rip and swim move combinations to get the better of an offensive lineman.

In the end, success for Lawrence won’t come in sack totals, or a Pro Bowl selection, or being named an All-Pro but it will be in leading his team deep into the playoffs. Since winning the Super Bowl in 1996, Dallas has yet to make it back to the NFC Championship game. As their newly minted 100-plus million dollar man, the franchise and the fans will be expecting Lawrence to deliver in ways outside of box score stats. With the NFC more open than it’s been in recent memory, Dallas needs to pounce on this opportunity in front of them. Lawrence has done this personally over the last two seasons but the mark of a superstar is being able to impact the game in ways that lead to team success along with personal success. The Cowboys are paying him like a superstar and now is his time to prove it.

Aug 11, 2019 No Comments
Report: Michael Beasley agrees to 1-Year Deal with the Pistons

Report: Michael Beasley agrees to 1-Year Deal with the Pistons

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by | Aug 11, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Michael Beasley has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of The Atheltic. Many had speculated that the former lottery pick would be headed back to China especially after reports came out that he would be placed on a 5-game suspension due to a failed drug test from last fall. Beasley turned down offers from several CBA teams, one deal was reported to be around $5 million for one season. The former second overall pick in the 2008 draft will be playing alongside former league MVP Derrick Rose who was the first pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

Beasley averaged 7.0 points on 49.0 percent shooting in 10.7 minutes per game for the Los Angeles Lakers last season. The 30-year old PF has played 11 seasons in the NBA totaling a career average of 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per season. The back-court of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond is showing great promise for this upcoming season. The Pistons were able to make a playoff birth last season & with the addition of the Rookie Doumbouya, Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris, and now Michael Beasley the Pistons seem to have made a great effort toward adding depth to their roster for this upcoming season.

The Pistons’ future seems bright in an Eastern Conference that is up for the taking and for the first time in 5 years the championship actually seems to be up for grabs. No doubt, the Little Caesars Arena’s sits will be filled with anxious Pistons fans ready to cheer on their new squad in hopes of making a deep playoff run for the first time in years.

 

Aug 11, 2019 No Comments
Everything You Need to Know About the Antonio Brown Helmet Saga

Everything You Need to Know About the Antonio Brown Helmet Saga

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by | Aug 10, 2019 | Featured, NFL

Ever since he was benched for the Pittsburgh Steelers final game of the 2018 NFL season it seems like wide receiver Antonio Brown has been in the news each week. First was his quest to get out of Pittsburgh, that was followed by his introduction to the Oakland Raiders, finally, his extended absence from the field during training camp was consistently discussed. In the end, it turns out that the biggest story involving Brown is the one that just recently came out. It has been reported that the All-Pro receiver has threatened to retire from the NFL if he is forced to wear a new helmet. There are many questions that this news inspires and below we will breakdown everything you need to know about Brown, the Raiders, and the NFL’s helmet policy.

Helmet Policy

(Photo courtesy of Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

First, this is not a new rule. The NFL policy on helmets has always been that all products worn on the field must be certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). Usually, NOCSAE stops certifying helmets after they are 10 years old or more. As part of the policy, the NFL alerts players of this standard and with new technology and equipment being made and updated consistently the hope is to have all players wearing the most up-to-date products. Brown has used a model called the Schutt Air Advantage for the entirety of his career. The model was discontinued by its manufacturer some years ago so naturally, it would not be approved by the NOCSAE anymore. Brown isn’t the only star player who will have to wear a different helmet model in order to play this season. Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers preferred headgear is also no longer certified by the NOCSAE but both have said they will switch to newer models for the upcoming year—Rodgers has gone so far as to invest in a Seattle-based helmet manufacturer, VICIS. The NFL’s policy doesn’t state that a player will be disciplined if they fail to comply but that the player’s organization will face a penalty if any of their players take the field in a prohibited helmet.

Brown’s Beef

(Photo courtesy of the Oakland Raiders)

Despite Brown’s refusal to change helmets just now hitting the airwaves, the dissatisfaction dates back to earlier in the offseason. NFL Media’s, Michael Silver detailed the situation in full on a thread on his Twitter page. According to Silver, Brown’s discontent was clear from the moment the team acquired him. In May, the team alerted Brown that he would need to wear a different helmet as his previous model had been prohibited by the league and that the league was removing the one-year grace period to switch. Brown felt he was being given different treatment than Rodgers and Brady who’s helmets were grandfathered in last year—Brady switched to a new design during the season but ultimately reverted back to his old model for the postseason. He remained vocal about his displeasure during organized team activities (OTAs) and when training camp opened in Napa, CA. When the Raiders were using helmets for the first time in OTAs, Brown requested his old helmet but was told he couldn’t wear it by the equipment staff, Brown complained but a staffer later would send him footage of Rodgers wearing a newer model during OTAs which seemed to quell the receiver. Shortly after, Brown tried to sneak his former helmet onto the field (even going so far as to have it painted in the Raiders’ silver-and-black colorway) but was once again told that he would not be allowed to wear that model. During training camp, he would try to use the old helmet again and was told once more by the equipment staff that he needed to remove it and wear an approved model.

Raiders’ Feelings

(Photo courtesy of Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

When the team acquired Brown from the Steelers, head coach Jon Gruden raved about the type of player they added to their team and mentioned specifically that the wideout’s work ethic was spectacular, Gruden said, “He keeps going, and going, and going, and going. He just won’t stop. Antonio’s energy is contagious.” In the second year of a mega 10-year, $100 million deal Gruden was ready to right the ship for his beloved friend Mark Davis and the Raiders franchise. The team brought in former NFL Media analyst, Mike Mayock as general manager and bringing in Brown was an immediate feather in the cap of the first-time executive. Yet, with their star acquisition now threatening retirement, the feelings have changed since they first welcomed Brown to the team. In Silver’s thread, he also mentions the unease that the players and coaches have felt about Brown given the litany of issues that have developed in a short time. Most players felt like the helmet issues were settled once the video of Rodgers in a new helmet was shown but as it continues to persist there’s a negative aura surrounding Brown among his teammates. Upper management is losing patience as well. Silver mentions that it is not uncommon for Brown to be distracted—checking his bank account and liking pictures on Instagram—during meetings. Brown’s eccentric personality is not coming off well in his new surroundings. However, if the star receiver gets on the field and makes plays it seems like all will be forgiven.

Aug 10, 2019 No Comments