Top Superbowl Contenders for 2020

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April 9, 2020

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs celebrating their victory in Superbowl 54 in Miami Gardens, Florida

The NFL is finally seeing some new teams at the top over the last few years. It’s nice to see more parity within in the league and different Superbowl contenders as the years go by. Hopefully, it sticks around a while longer

The Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons all made it to the Superbowl over the last few years.

We saw the Philadelphia Eagles knock off the defending champion New England Patriots in 2018. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs won last year but now it’s time to take a look at which teams are the top Superbowl contenders for the 2020 season.

In the Running

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you’ve been living under a rock and you haven’t heard that Tom Brady is heading to the Bucs then this is me telling you. Although the team went 7-9 last year, adding the best quarterback in the history the game to you team improves your odds. With top tier wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (who gave Brady the number 12 jersey), this offense could light up.

The defense seems to be the real concern for Tampa Bay. Last year they were 29^th in points allowed but only 15^th in total yards per game given up. What that says to me is they were middle of the pack in holding opposing offense from driving the football.

Jameis Winston accounted for 35 turnovers, which is probably why the scoring average was so high against the defense. They’d be higher up on the countdown but there’s just too many variables and unknown chemistry between Brady and crew.

Tennessee Titans

What a year for the Titans right? In early November they were 4-5 and looked dead in the water. But second year coach Mike Vrabel made sure to turn the ship around before the season was lost. Tennessee finished the season on a 5-2 clip and rode that high all the way to the AFC Championship game.

“Why not us?” is something that was being said out of the Titans’ camp during the playoffs and I think that carries over. They just signed Ryan Tannehill to a huge deal, Derrick Henry’s back, and they have a stud defense. Henry and Tannehill could barely be stopped last year, and I think that continues and then some in 2020. Expect them to edge out the Texans and Colts for the AFC South crown.

Philadelphia Eagles

Two years removed from the Superbowl victory against the Patriots, the Eagles still have their core intact. They’ve made the playoffs the last 2 seasons, going 9-7 in both years which proves this is still a great team. It’s not easy to make the postseason three straight years in this league.

Carson Wentz is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL and being paired with head coach Doug Pederson makes him even better. His unique play calling and aggressive game plans has won the Eagles many games since he arrived, including Superbowl 52.

Unless the Dallas Cowboys somehow get their footing, the Eagles should be the first back-to-back champion in the NFC East since they did it back in 2004.

Buffalo Bills

Surprised to see the Buffalo Bills this high on the list? You shouldn’t be. The Bills had a breakout season in 2019 and Bills Mafia has every right to be excited about what’s to come. I mean how about that Thanksgiving upset in Dallas!!

Although struggling with the deep ball last year, quarterback Josh Allen threw for 20 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. The previous year? 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His completion percentage jumped from 52% to 59% and he also ran for over 500 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019.

Expect another big jump this upcoming season, especially with the acquisition of bona fide number receiver Stefon Diggs. Adding Diggs to the mix with Cole Beasley and John Brown, who both had career years last year, could spell great things for this offense.

Buffalo’s championship window was slightly cracked after this season but as Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN said, “Beane threw it wide open”, referencing the Diggs trade. It might make them one of the actual Superbowl contenders for the first time in 20 years.

Now, Josh Allen is an important piece to their 2020 success, but the real strength is their elite defense. This Buffalo defense finished 3^rd in yards against and 2^nd in points against, only giving up 16.2 points per game. Shutdown corner Tre’Davious White and safety duo Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer make this defense difficult to throw against in this pass-heavy league.

Green Bay Packers

Someone told me recently that Green Bay was the worst two-seed in the NFL Playoff in history. Maybe that’s a stretch, but 13-3 might’ve been a little high for the team’s overall quality. They were run over by the San Francisco 49ers twice in one season, the second time in the conference championship.

The reason they remain fairly high on this list is the obvious fact that they have Aaron Rodgers under center. One of the most, if not the most skilled quarterbacks of all time is all you need. Their defense started off hot and was sturdy throughout the season, except didn’t do well with stopping the run when they needed to most.

Top Superbowl Contenders

New Orleans Saints

Fresh off a new two-year $50 Million deal for Drew Brees, the Saints are ready to roll again. After a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round, this team should be poised to bounce back. New Orleans has won 11 or more games in three straight seasons, including 13 the last two.

They were robbed in 2019 when the referees missed a blatant pass interference call deep into opposing territory which would have essentially given them a trip to Superbowl 53. Stefon Diggs pulled off a miracle touchdown to strip them of a shot at the Eagles in the NFC Championship in 2017, where they would’ve been favored.

The Saints are still very, very good but the division is much tougher than before. The Carolina Panthers just signed New Orleans’ backup QB Teddy Bridgewater to start for them. The Buccaneers just signed the greatest quarterback ever (see above). Plus, don’t knock me for saying this but the Atlanta Falcons are no slouch with Matt Ryan.

The statistics prove how important bye weeks are for a deep playoff run in the NFL. With the improving teams in their division, wins won’t come as easily for the Saints. So yes, the Saints are still one of the most likely Superbowl Contenders. But no, I don’t think it will be a 12- or 13-win year for New Orleans.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks were so close to stealing the division from the San Francisco 49ers last season. How close? Literally inches away on the last play of the last game of the year. Yeah, that close.

Their season fell flat when they came up short in the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in Green Bay. This is after they survived a first-round matchup with the Eagles 17-9, where workout fiend DK Metcalf put on a show for the world. Metcalf has the strength and speed to be a problem for defenses for years to come.

Russell Wilson finally looks to have a legitimate deep threat since Doug Baldwin parted ways with the team in 2018. If it weren’t for Lamar Jackson’s insane season, Wilson’s 4000+ yard, 31 touchdown, 5 interception season might’ve landed him the MVP.

Wilson has shown his competitive spirit on and off the field by putting serious extra time into his fitness and nutrition and has become the face of the franchise since the Legion of Boom broke up.

The only downfall for Seattle, like New Orleans, is their challenging division, which includes the reigning NFC Champion.

San Francisco 49ers

Let’s keep it right in the high contested NFC West for the next true Superbowl contender for next season. The 49ers had a breakout year which many actually did see coming even after a 4-12 record in 2018. This is probably due to Jimmy Garoppolo missing most of the 2018 year due to a torn ACL.

Their offense wasn’t anything spectacular last year but there will be improvement with third-year starter Jimmy G at quarterback. Combining the expected improvement with Kyle Shanahan’s killer play calling, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a noticeable jump on this side of the ball.

Drafting Nick Bosa number 2 overall in the 2019 NFL draft was a huge move alongside other key acquisitions in the offseason for their defense. They have perhaps the best pass rush in the entire NFL. They have a stout secondary led by All-Pro corner Richard Sherman. Two important aspects of a lights-out defense, which is what they were last year as the NFC’s top-ranked defense.

Baltimore Ravens

A lot of people think that the Baltimore Ravens will fall back to earth a little next year. Not to say they’ll have a bad year but just not a juggernaut 14-2 year like in 2019. The NFL has some great defensive minds and you know they are watching film and trying to figure out Lamar Jackson and that offense.

I think they will to a point, but Jackson is so talented the team won’t have much of a setback. Jackson threw for over 3000 yards and rushed for another 1200. He accounted for 43 touchdowns and 8 turnovers en route to the MVP. Good luck completely shutting that down.

Now on to the defense. Baltimore’s unit was 4^th in the NFL in yards allowed and 3^rd in points allowed. This is the backbone of this team that was somewhat forgotten due to Jackson’s big year. A great pass rush that only needs four on the line to create pressure. Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters combine to be maybe the starting cornerback duo in the league. The Ravens probably have top to bottom the best overall roster in the NFL.

Most Likely to win the Superbowl

Kansas City Chiefs

We have finally made it through all of the Superbowl contenders and only one remains. The Kansas City Chiefs have the best shot to win Superbowl 55. There’s no reason why this team can’t repeat as Superbowl Champions in 2020.

They just resigned Sammy Watkins and Chris Jones for big money. They have key players on cheap rookie deals. Travis Kelce is still the best tight end in the league and a target who defenses struggle to defend. Tyreek Hill is an absolute burner. Andy Reid is still of course the veteran play-caller next season.

Related: Highest Paid NFL Players

But the biggest reason of all is the obvious one – Patrick Mahomes. You can’t say enough about this guy. He’s a gamer through and through. Without his injury he might’ve challenged for the MVP. The difference with Mahomes is that the season he had is just par for the course (26 TD, 5 INT). Mahomes threw for 50 touchdowns in 2018, which he could easily do again in the 2020 season. Although he’s only three seasons into his career, he’s proven that he can be consistent.

The offense is solid now let’s move on to the defense – the Chief’s Achilles heel the last few years. After a slow start, they finished 7^th in points against and provided their electric offense more opportunities to win games. That was the big difference in last year’s team that won it all and the 2018 team that fell short.

NFL Players At-Home Coronavirus Workouts

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April 8, 2020

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Most gyms, and NFL facilities, are closed during the coronavirus pandemic, which means football players are getting creative with their at-home workouts.

New England Patriots Pro Bowl special teamer Matthew Slater bought exercise equipment online, but the Patriots’ captain then realized he already had workout accessories staring right at him.

NFL Players getting creative with exercise

Slater turned his three children into what he called “human weights.”

“Sometimes willingly and sometimes unwillingly, I hoist them up and put them to work,” Slater said on the online show Huddle Up! “You got to get creative as possible.”

This is the time when teams usually begin their offseason conditioning programs. With stay-at-home orders in some states and sports teams following gathering guidelines set out by health officials, no one knows when players will be allowed to return to team facilities, causing many players like Slater to turn their training sessions into a family affair.

Related: Saquon Barkley Workout

New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins did a step workout, with a personal twist. He put his two daughters on his shoulders while moving up and down his brick walkway.

#StayHome workout with @MalcolmJenkins and fam ? pic.twitter.com/8ct6xm2qIZ

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 26, 2020

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk incorporated his wife while performing a workout that would make Sylvester Stallone proud. Tying a rope around his waist, Juszczyk pulled Kristin, who stood on a boogie board, through inches of snow.

Juszczyk posted on Instagram: “Watched a lot of Rocky IV growing up.”

Coronavirus Workouts from NFL Players

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel is making sure he doesn’t have any drops even though he doesn’t have a quarterback in his neighborhood. Putting on his helmet and lining up in his cul-de-sac, Samuels is catching footballs from his Jugs machine, which is being run by his mother.

Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld is staying with his parents and brothers, which allows him to air it out to a couple of experienced pass-catchers. Both of his older brothers played football: Zach spent a couple of seasons with the Patriots and New York Jets and Matthew lined up at wide receiver for Brown University.

“I’ve got two nice targets that are under my quarantine, which is perfect,” Sudfeld said.

New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez built an extensive home gym last year with his father. It features a 30-yard turf field, a full-length basketball court, a sauna, two squat and bench racks, a treadmill, a punching bag, and of course, an enclosed area for his daughter that includes a play kitchen and a tricycle.

Related: DK Metcalf Workout

Working out with family is always an option

Baltimore Ravens defensive end Derek Wolfe considers himself lucky because he’s married to a training coach. His wife Abbie is a fitness model who has won numerous competitions.

A normal routine involves doing Pilates, hitting the weight bench, going into a 10 mph sprint, hitting the bike and then finishing with core exercises.

“My wife trains like an animal,” Wolfe said. “I can’t keep up with her sometimes.”

Another Ravens player has been working out in a simpler fashion. Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews said his challenge has been finding the space to condition.

“You have to go back to the basics,” Andrews said. “I’ve got basically a prison workout in my backyard with a bench and weights.”

To connect with their players, some teams are going to schedule meetings and workouts on Zoom. There has been no official word if training camps are going to start on schedule in late July, get reduced or canceled.

Related: Aaron Donald Workout

In the meantime, players are going to do their best to prepare their bodies for the season. Even if that mean working out with their spouses, siblings, parents and children.

“It’s been a time to get creative,” Slater said. “It’s been a time to bring things back into perspective that maybe have shifted out of focus. So all in all, as challenging as it has been from an athletic standpoint. I think there’s still a lot to be thankful for when you consider the time at home.”

This article was first published by ESPN.

Cowboys sign Amari Cooper before Redskins

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April 8, 2020

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Amari Cooper, who just signed with the Dallas Cowboys, running in for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins-Dallas Cowboys rivalry almost got some extra spice in free agency this offseason.

It had been reported that the Redskins were interested in free-agent wide receiver Amari Cooper before the Cowboys re-signed him. But sometimes that can be overblown. For example, the Redskins were reportedly interested in free-agent tight end Austin Hooper before he signed with the Cleveland Browns, but Washington coach Ron Rivera said the team was not all that interested in Hooper once they heard the price tag.

But Cooper? The Redskins were serious. Very serious. And it almost changed the landscape of the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys sign Amari Cooper

The Cowboys traded a first-round pick to the Oakland Raiders during the 2018 season for Cooper. That made it imperative the Cowboys lock up Cooper to a long-term deal beyond 2019. Dallas didn’t trade a first-round pick for a season-and-a-half of Cooper.

But Rivera said Washington almost ruined those plans. He revealed that the Redskins fought hard to land Cooper.

“Amari is someone we chased, and we chased very hard all the way up to the very end when he decided to return to Dallas,” Rivera said on a conference call with reporters, according to NBC Sports Washington. “We were in it. We were talking about a substantial amount of money.”

If you read between the lines, you have to wonder if “substantial amount of money” means Washington offered more than the five-year, $100 million Cooper ended up getting from Dallas.

Related: Highest Paid NFL Players

The Redskins aren’t ready to contend yet, but adding a four-time Pro Bowler who is only 25 years old would have helped. They tried.

“That’s a tough one,” Rivera said. “We would’ve loved to have him, have him as a part of what we’re trying to do. We believe he’d have been a great veteran presence in the room, especially for those young guys, the young guys who played last year and had success for this football team. So, you’d have felt good about having a veteran guy like that who’s had success in this league as part of what you’re trying to do.”

Redskins tried to sign Cooper

If the Redskins did offer more money, or even a package that could have bested Dallas’ offer in other ways (perhaps in guaranteed money), then the Cowboys got lucky.

Had Cooper left, Dallas could have shifted their focus and tried to make a run at cornerback Byron Jones, depending on the timing of the decisions by Cooper and Jones. Dallas could have used the money they gave Cooper in other ways. But there wasn’t another receiver available in free agency on Cooper’s level. It would have been a big blow for the Cowboys to lose him, especially to a division rival. But that’s not the case as the Cowboys sign Amari Cooper long-term.

The Cowboys have had a pretty tough offseason. The Redskins tried to make it even worse.

This article was first published by Yahoo Sports.

Which Sports League makes the most profit?

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April 8, 2020

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Roger Goodell is the commissioner of the NFL, one of the most profitable sports leagues in the world

Sports are a huge part of our culture here in the United States and really, all over the globe. It comes to no surprise that professional sports leagues make a ridiculous amount of money since players make so much. But which sports league is the most profitable?

Most profitable Sports League in the world

Here is the official list for 2020:

Sports League	Revenue
National Football League (NFL)	$13 Billion
Major League Baseball (MLB)	$10 Billion
National Basketball Association (NBA)	$7.4 Billion
Indian Premier League (Cricket)	$6.3 Billion
English Premier League (Soccer)	$5.3 Billion
National Hockey League (NHL)	$4.4 Billion
Australian Rules Football	$2.5 Billion
La Liga (Spanish Soccer League)	$2.2 Billion
Serie A (Italian Soccer League)	$1.9 Billion
Ligue 1 (France/Monaco Football League)	$1.5 Billion

NFL still king

The NFL racks in a whopping $13 billion in revenue which puts them firmly at the top of the list. Surprised? Well, this site is called NFL Legends after all. The crazy amount of action in an NFL game draws audience not only in America, but all around the world. The Superbowl this past year between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers averaged over 100 million viewers. Let that sink in.

Don’t think that this was just a unique situation because it was a highly anticipated matchup – one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL facing one of the league’s best defense. Looking back at the past ten years, the Superbowls have been the top 8, and 10 of the top 11 most watched shows in TV history. Just remember that is over every other TV show, sporting event, news conference, etc. that has ever been aired.

The TV contracts is how the NFL generates the majority of their revenue which makes sense. Most fans tune in via cable or internet streaming of some kind. Also, having Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN to highlight your games is a big reason why everyone watches the games. They’re always on and most people in the country have cable. No wonders they claim the crown.

Baseball gets the silver medal

I was very surprised to see Major League Baseball as number two on the list. The MLB surprisingly beat out the NBA, NHL, and all major soccer leagues around the world. Who says baseball is a dying sport? Apparently not the fans.

Best Quarterbacks in the NFL 2020

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April 6, 2020

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Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes are among the best quarterbacks in the NFL

The quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, and arguably in all of sports. It seems NFL franchises think similarly based on what they pay players in the position. But of all the current quarterbacks in the NFL, who are the best?

Only quarterbacks who played in the 2019 season were considered for the list. The player must also be playing the 2020 NFL season.

Best Quarterbacks in the NFL

5. Drew Brees

2019 Stats: 2,979 passing yards, 27 TD, 4 INT

It’s pretty crazy that Brees is still in the top 5 best quarterbacks in the NFL at the age of 41. Fresh off a new two-year, $50 million deal, Brees is poised to have another crack at a Superbowl with the Saints. He’s the all-time leader in passing yards with 77,416 after surpassing Peyton Manning in week 5 of this season. He missed five games in 2019, which is why his passing yards aren’t up to the usual Brees standard.

The reason Brees is still ranked this high is not only because of his remaining skill but because of his experience. He has the most NFL quarterback experience on this list by a mile and is beaten only by Tom Brady. Combine the skill, knowledge, and experience of Brees and you’ll see great results.

4. Lamar Jackson

2019 Stats: 3,127 passing yards, 36 TD, 6 INT, 1,206 rushing yards, 7 rush TD

Jackson won the NFL MVP unanimously last season which was fully warranted with the magic he showed. He finished 6^th in rushing yards and he’s a quarterback! Paired with Mark Ingram, Jackson would wreak havoc on teams throughout the entire season. He’s a huge reason the Baltimore Ravens are a top contender to win the Superbowl in 2020.

The only reason he isn’t higher on this list is because that was only one, albeit record-breaking, season. The guys above the list have done it more than once, and some have done it way more than once. If Jackson has another year similar to 2019, expect a huge jump on this list.

3. Aaron Rodgers

2019 Stats: 4,002 passing yards, 26 TD, 4 INT

With the young newcomers like Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, Aarond Rodgers still proves he belongs. In terms of the eye-test, Rodgers might be the best quarterback to ever play this game. The ridiculous throws he makes, the scrambling ability, the poise in the pocket – to name a few.

If you wanted to make a quarterback in a lab, you’d probably create Rodgers. He gets the knock for only having one Superbowl title which was ten years ago but keep an eye on him. There are still a few more shots left for him.

2. Russell Wilson

2019 Stats: 4,110 passing yards, 31 TD, 5 INT4031,

Wilson started his career on a Seattle Seahawks team that had an elite defense in the Legion of Boom. He won a Superbowl early in his tenure in Seattle but since then the defense has been ripped apart. Now, Wilson has carried the team on his back for the past few years.

The Seahawks went from control-the-game offense with a lights-out defense to a team that is carried by their offense. That is all thanks to Russell Wilson. He has become of the most accurate passers in the league and really bloomed into the franchise quarterback no other team thought he could be.

The best of the quarterbacks in the NFL

1. Patrick Mahomes

2019 Stats: 4,031 passing yards, 26 TD, 5 INT

Welcome to the top of the list Patrick Mahomes. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Mahomes leads the young wave of quarterbacks in the NFL and is just getting started. Like Lamar Jackson did in 2019, Mahomes took the league by storm in 2018 by tossing 50 touchdown passes, the most ever by a first-year starter in the history of the league.

Looking at his stats last year might seem like he had a down year. He really didn’t. Mahomes was playing hurt for a few games and missed a couple as well. But a 26 to 5 TD-INT ratio is nothing to scoff at. Oh, he also won the Superbowl if you hadn’t heard. It’s looking like Mahomes will be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL for years to come, if not the best.

Highest Paid NFL Players

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April 2, 2020

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The NFL has grown to be the juggernaut of the sports world over the last couple of decades. The league brought in $13 billion last year which is the most by any sports league across the globe. Of course, the owners benefit from a stat like this but so do the players within the NFL.

Even though American football doesn’t have the highest average salary, $2 million per year is nothing to scoff at. That number is watered down in the NFL due to the high number of players on each team’s roster.

NFL teams have 53 players on a roster which dilutes the average salary per player. The big guns at the top still get paid handsomely.

Highest Paid Players in the NFL

When measuring this statistic, we are going to base the salary numbers off the 2020 cap hits. Below are the top salaries in the NFL for the upcoming 2020 season.

Player	Team	Position	2020 Cap Hit
Jared Goff	Los Angeles Rams	QB	$36 Million
Russell Wilson	Seattle Seahawks	QB	$31 Million
Dak Prescott	Dallas Cowboys	QB	$28.7 Million
Jimmy Garoppolo	San Francisco 49ers	QB	$26.6 Million
Khalil Mack	Chicago Bears	OLB	$26.6 Million
Von Miller	Denver Broncos	OLB	$25.6 Million
Aaron Donald	Los Angeles Rams	DT	$25 Million
Phillip Rivers	Indianapolis Colts	QB	$25 Million
Tom Brady	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	QB	$25 Million
Fletcher Cox	Philadelphia Eagles	DT	$23.8 Million

Quarterbacks

The top two positions that stand out are quarterbacks and pass rushers. Between the two, they make up all ten of the top ten. It really shows you what teams value the most in the league.

Why don’t we extend the list a little further? The quarterbacks now make up 15 out of the top 23 overall. That’s over 65%, which is crazy if you think about it. Jared Goff leads the way for all quarterbacks, and for every player for that matter.

Pass Rushers

Let’s do the same thing for the pass rushers. 6 of the top 15 highest paid players in the NFL are players who try and tackle the quarterback for a living. That’s good for 40%.

Again, a huge number for a single position. Khalil Mack, Von Miller, and Aaron Donald have the three highest cap hits for 2020. I’m sure you’re familiar with those line wreckers.

Related: Aaron Donald Workout

All in all, leading an offense and throwing a tight spiral or tackling the guy who does that is the way to get paid in the NFL. To prove that, you have to go down to 18^th to find a position other than pass rusher or quarterback (Trenton Brown, OT for the Las Vegas Raiders). The next closest is Sammy Watkins, wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, at 24^th.

Josh Allen Focusing on Deep Ball

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April 2, 2020

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Josh Allen warming up for the Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen has had to get creative with his offseason work.

The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback is currently in California, one of the states hard hit by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has paralyzed the country and disrupted life as we know it.

Allen’s creative workouts during quarantine

Allen is still working out with his personal quarterback coach, Jordan Palmer, but those workouts look far different as they adhere to social-distancing guidelines.

“We’re throwing on a beach with selected receivers, only two to three of them who we know and quarantined as well and keeping our distance,” Palmer said this week during an appearance on The MMQB NFL Podcast hosted by Albert Breer. “It’s just weird times and we’re trying to get some work in.”

With the increasing likelihood that there will be no spring practices for NFL teams, Palmer has dialed back the amount of on-field work he’s trying to get done.

“Usually we’re throwing twice a week and building to four days a week as guys build to OTAs,” he said. “I said, ‘Let’s go back down to two because if we’re doing this indefinitely, I don’t want anyone to start peaking and getting their arm in great shape. Let’s just throw enough to work on specific things, but arm conditioning is not one of them. Arm care is.’

Josh Allen working on deep ball

Doing a lot of stuff before and after we throw, working on the foundational things that make up their throwing motion. Then they go with the trainers and are working on the rest of the body and movement. I’m always picking one thing to work on and once that becomes muscle memory, we move to the next thing as opposed to thinking about 15 things at once.”

With Josh Allen, the deep ball has been the offseason theme he has been working on, Palmer said. This will be key after the Bills acquired Stefon Diggs in a recent trade.

“Just focusing on keeping his shoulder level. If you look at him at any point right now, his shoulder level is going to be far more parallel to the ground, then horizontal then leaning back where the front shoulder tips up,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time and he’s talked to some other folks, too. We’ve put a plan together. We’re a month or two into it and I think it’s going to be a big improvement this year.”

Staying connected with others is key

The other thing Palmer has tried to get his clients to do is build better relationships with teammates. This is a group that also includes Jets quarterback Sam Darnold

“If you can really talk and communicate more with the defensive leaders more than you normally would this time of year, you can build deeper relationships,” he said. “It’s kind of all you can do to help your team because you can’t really organize collectively as a group. You can’t throw and get timing. The only chance you have to get better is communicate more and stay closer through this. That’s what I’ve been pushing guys to do. Improve the things you can control.

“(Allen and Darnold) are making multiple calls a day connecting with guys. It doesn’t cost you anything. You’ve got plenty of free time and you know everyone else has free time. I just told them if you’re going to compete this time of year, you’re limited on what you can do with yourself and limited on what you can do with teammates physically, you can communicate better than every other team in the league. This whole league is about creating advantages for your team.”

This article was first published by The Buffalo News.

Top Quarterbacks in 2020 NFL Draft

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April 2, 2020

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Joe Burrow of LSU is one of the top quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft class was strengthened Monday when Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa officially announced he’s turning pro. This comes after three seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Tagovailoa helped lead Alabama to a College Football Playoff national championship in 2017 and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2018. He’s not only an excellent passer but he also has the ability to pick up huge chunks of yards with his legs. His impressive dual-threat skill set should make him a good fit for today’s pro offenses.

Tua is officially one of the top quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Interest in Tua Togavailoa

There should be no shortage of teams interested in drafting Tagovailoa, and he’s projected as a top 10 pick in just about every mock draft. LSU star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is expected to be selected No. 1 overall, but Tagovailoa could land as high as No. 5 to the Miami Dolphins or No. 6 to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Patriots are an intriguing destination for Tagovailoa, and we know New England coach Bill Belichick has a strong relationship with Alabama coach Nick Saban. It’s unlikely the Patriots, who own the No. 23 pick in the first round, will have the chance to take Tagovailoa, but drafting a quarterback in 2020 is still possible for the AFC East franchise.

Sure, the Patriots drafted Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round last year, but let’s not forget they also selected Jacoby Brissett as a third-rounder in 2016. Plus, that was with quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo already on the roster. It doesn’t hurt to have plenty of options at the sport’s most important position, especially with Brady’s contract set to expire soon and his future with the Patriots uncertain.

Top Quarterbacks available in NFL Draft

Here are the top quarterbacks projected to be part of the 2020 draft class.

1. Joe Burrow, LSU
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
3. Justin Herbert, Oregon
4. Jordan Love, Utah State
5. Jake Fromm, Georgia
6. Jacob Eason, Washington
7. Bryce Perkins, Virginia
8. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
9. Nate Stanley, Iowa
10. Anthony Gordon, Washington State

This article was first published by NBC Sports.

Tom Brady gets Jersey Number Back

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April 2, 2020

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Chris Godwin gives Tom Brady his jersey number 12 back after joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It seemed like a potential predicament: Tom Brady wore No. 12 with the New England Patriots, but a player on his new team already had that number: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin.

Godwin didn’t just fall into No. 12, either. He’s worn the number since high school, per ESPN, and both he and his fianceé have the number in their Twitter and Instagram profiles, respectively.

Tom Brady given Jersey Number 12

But Godwin agreed to switch to No. 14 so Brady could keep No. 12 with the Bucs, and made the move for free: The wide receiver told the team website he gave up No. 12 out of respect for the six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and that there was no transaction involved.

In fact, Godwin celebrated the change Tuesday with some photo editing magic on Instagram.

So, it was the least Brady could do to show his new wideout love in the comment section.

“Much Appreciated – Very Grateful – Humbled / And ready to get to work!!!” Brady wrote on Godwin’s post, adding a pair of “100” emojis.

Fellow Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans also chimed in by commenting, “Already Gs.”

Godwin and Brady getting along

Even if Godwin wanted to keep No. 12, it’s a smart move by the 24-year-old to get the jersey number back to Tom Brady to stay in his good graces.

Brady also can “repay” Godwin by feeding him frequently in 2020: The Pro Bowl wideout finished third in the NFL in receiving yards in 2019 and along with Evans should form a lethal duo for his new quarterback.

This article was first published by NBC Sports.

Most Rushing Yards in an NFL Game

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April 1, 2020

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Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings who has the record for most rushing yards in an NFL game

The most rushing yards in a single NFL game happened on November 4, 2007, so fairly recently actually. On this day, Adrian Peterson ran for 296 yards off 30 carries! Absolutely incredible. That’s a good number for an NFL quarterback to put up in a single NFL game.

Most rushing yards in a single game

Peterson almost hit the 300 mark, while averaging 9.87 yards per carry that day while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. If you’re averaging almost 10 yards per carry, you might as well just continue to run the ball right at the opposing team.

But don’t worry, that’s exactly was the Vikings did that day. Peterson lead the team to a victory over the San Diego Chargers by a score of 35-17 while tacking on three rushing touchdowns.

2007 Minnesota Vikings

The 2007 Vikings ended their season 8-8 which was a game back from the wild card spot. Minnesota was 8-6 going into their final two game and controlled their own destiny. What hurts even more is that their week 16 matchup against the Washington Redskins basically gifted the Redskins the 6^th seed in the playoffs.

The week 16 game saw the Redskins go out to a 22-0 lead at halftime and coast to a 32-21 victory. That put the Vikings in a spot that they needed help going into week 17, which is never where you want to be. They would lose their final game of the season in OT to the Denver Broncos, which officially ended their playoff hopes.

Next best rushing games

Although not the most rushing yards in an NFL game, here are some more instances running backs that were right there:

Player	Team	Date	Yards
Jamal Lewis	Baltimore Ravens	September 14, 2003	295
Jerome Harrison	Cleveland Browns	December 20, 2009	286
Corey Dillon	Cincinnati Bengals	October 22, 2000	278
Walter Payton	Chicago Bears	November 20, 1977	275
O.J. Simpson	Buffalo Bills	November 25, 1976	273
Shaun Alexander	Seattle Seahawks	November 11, 2001	266
Jamaal Charles	Kansas City Chiefs	January 3, 2010	259
DeMarco Murray	Dallas Cowboys	October 23, 2011	253
Mike Anderson	Denver Broncos	December 3, 2000	251
Doug Martin	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	November 4, 2012	251

NFL is a passing league

One common thread in all these examples is that they all happened at least 9+ years ago. Although not on the above chart, Derek Henry ran for 238 yards in 2018. That is the most recent game that cracks the top 50 single rushing games of all time in the NFL.

It’s obvious that if you watch the NFL today that the league has shifted in favor of passing. This is why

In the Running

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Tom Brady given Jersey Number 12

Godwin and Brady getting along

Most rushing yards in a single game

2007 Minnesota Vikings

Next best rushing games

NFL is a passing league

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