BREAKING NEWS: Los Angeles Rams Trade Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans

BREAKING NEWS: Los Angeles Rams Trade Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans

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by | Apr 10, 2020 | Featured, NFL

Bill O’Brien is not done wheeling and dealing during the offseason just yet. With the 2020 NFL Draft two weeks away, the Houston Texans made a deal with the Los Angeles Rams that will send them the 57th overall pick in the upcoming event.

The trade also will see veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round pick shipped to Houston. Cooks will look to fill the void left behind from DeAndre Hopkins who was traded to the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first to report the exchange:

The Houston Chronicle’s John McClain was the first to report the full details of the swap:

Cooks has been traded two previous times and in each instance—from New Orleans to New England and from New England to Los Angeles—and in both of those moves a first-round pick was also involved. This time, the seventh-year wide receiver was moved for a second rounder.

With all of the changes, the Texans still have a pretty solid group of weapons for Deshaun Watson to use:

However, whether or not you consider the moves upgrades, the Texans will be paying more money for their new set than the previous one:

For the Rams, this is another move to try and ease a financial burden that was ballooning since they agreed to a massive contract extension with quarterback, Jared Goff. Yet, they are still footing a big bill this year even after moving on from Cooks and Todd Gurley:

 

Apr 10, 2020 No Comments
Carolina Panthers Release Cam Newton

Carolina Panthers Release Cam Newton

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by | Mar 24, 2020 | Featured, NFL

One week ago, the Carolina Panthers announced that they had given permission to quarterback Cam Newton to speak with other teams in order to help facilitate a trade. Newton quickly responded that there was nothing mutual about the Panthers decision o move on from the former number one overall pick:

After being unable to find a partner to deal Newton, Carolina opted to take another route in distancing themselves from Newton. The team announced that they are releasing him today:

Newton spent nine seasons in Carolina. He made the Pro Bowl three times and was named the MVP of the league in 2015 when he helped the Panthers amass a 15-1 record during the regular season and led them all the way to the Super Bowl. He leaves Carolina as the leader in several statistical categories:

This offseason, Carolina has brought in Teddy Bridgewater and former XFL quarterback P.J. Walker to fill out their QB room for 2020 and beyond.

For Newton, he might end up being the odd man out of a radical quarterback carousel. The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers haven’t replaced Tom Brady or Philip Rivers yet but both franchises are putting the word out that they are satisfied with the players that they have on their rosters currently.

With Newton being on the open market, rather than having to give up draft compensation, it will be interesting to see if either team changes their mind or if another team that was previously deemed quarterback-needy (looking at you Chicago) decides to bring him in on a one-year prove-it type of contract.

Mar 24, 2020 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: The Los Angeles Rams Released Todd Gurley

BREAKING NEWS: The Los Angeles Rams Released Todd Gurley

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by | Mar 19, 2020 | Featured, NFL

The 2020 NFL league year officially started yesterday at 4 PM EST, but today the Los Angeles Rams had a 4 PM EST deadline of their own to worry about.

If star running back, Todd Gurley has been a member of the team’s roster at 4 PM EST he would have had $10.5 million in bonuses guaranteed.

Well the Rams made the difficult choice to move on from the Pro Bowl running back:

After rushing for over 1,000 yards in three of his first four seasons, the Rams gave Gurley an extension worth $60 million two years ago.

This past season the team purposely reduced his workload and it resulted in Gurley rushing for a career-worst 857 yards. An injury late in the 2018 season and chronic knee issues took some of the shine off of Gurley’s status in the league of late.

However, now that he is open to sign with any team he will definitely have his fair share of suitors.

Meanwhile, the Rams might have been able to duck paying Gurley $10.5 million they still owe him $7.55 million and he’ll account for $20.15 million in dead cap space over the next two seasons according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:

The team released this thank you video on their social media channels after the news broke:

Given what he’s accomplished over the first five seasons of his career, it won’t take long for another team to give Gurley an opportunity.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins should be considered the early favorites for the 25-year-old’s services:

 

Mar 19, 2020 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: Tom Brady Agrees in Principle to Join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

BREAKING NEWS: Tom Brady Agrees in Principle to Join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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by | Mar 17, 2020 | Featured, NFL

This morning, sports fans across the world woke up to the news that Tom Brady was going to leave the New England Patriots after spending 20 years with the franchise.

In his reveal, Brady only said that he wouldn’t be returning to New England but not where he would be playing next.

After a few hours of rumors and speculation, word has finally gotten out that Tom Brady will likely sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as early as Wednesday.

A perceived lack of weapons, consistent pay cuts and the “Patriot Way” coaching style of Bill Belichick has been rumored to be grievances that Brady has had with his former team over the years.

In Tampa Bay he gets two 1,000-yard receivers in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans as well as two steady tight ends in Cameron Brate and OJ Howard. Bruce Arians is the polar opposite of Belichick and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has mentioned a potential salary of $30 million a year for Brady:

Brady has collected many accolades and records over 20 seasons but the move to the Buccaneers can provide the 42-year-old with an opportunity to catch Drew Brees (who’s now a division rival) for most career passing touchdowns (likely) and passing yards (unlikely) thanks to Arians risk-heavy, downfield passing approach to offense.

Growing up in the Bay Area, Brady’s favorite player was Joe Montana. Now, like the man he looked up to, he will don a new uniform as his season creeps closer to its end.

Mar 17, 2020 No Comments
Tom Brady Will Not Return to the New England Patriots

Tom Brady Will Not Return to the New England Patriots

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by | Mar 17, 2020 | Featured, NFL

For 20 seasons, Tom Brady has suited up in a New England Patriots uniform on Sundays. Over that time, he’s put up the stats and accolades that few others have been able to match.

However, Brady’s time with the franchise will come to an end. A free agent for the first time in his career, the 42-year-old has made the decision that he will continue to play football elsewhere:

While both goodbyes are clearly emotional and heartfelt, the line that sticks out like a sore thumb is, “I don’t know what my football future holds but it is time for me to open a new stage for my life and career.”

Brady will be 43 when the next season starts and he has made it well known he intends to play until he’s at least 45, which would mean three more seasons remain for the GOAT.

The word around the league is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers are the front runners for his services. Both teams offer upgrades in weapons (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and OJ Howard in Tampa and Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Hunter Henry in Los Angeles) which has been Brady’s main complaint about the last few teams in New England.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is also reporting that financially, both teams are willing to give Brady big money to join their teams:

Though we don’t know what’s next for Brady yet we do know his time with the Patriots is over. Owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick both released statements thanking and honoring Brady for what he was able to do for two decades in New England:

In the end, it seems like a split was inevitable. Kraft has told anyone who would listen that had Brady told the team he wanted to return that they would have made things work:

Meanwhile, word from Brady’s camp was that the lack of true negotiations from the Patriots was a turn off and that the quarterback was looking for the team to make more of an effort than they did:

 

Mar 17, 2020 No Comments