The Beat

The Beat: Justin Rogers On The Lions

March 2nd, 2017 at 8:12am CST by Zachary Links

Now that the offseason is in full swing, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Recently, we caught up with Justin Rogers of The Detroit News to discuss the Lions. You can follow Justin on Twitter @Justin_Rogers and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: The Lions have not selected a linebacker in the first round of the draft since Ernie Sims in 2006. After disappointing production from the LB group last year, will Detroit snap that streak and take one in the first round? If not, how do you see them potentially addressing the issue in free agency?

Justin Rogers: There are too many factors in play to speculate exactly who the Lions will draft at No. 21, but it would be foolish to suggest linebacker isn’t in play. The team wants to believe DeAndre Levy will return to form, but they can no longer bank on his durability or performance and must plan accordingly. In the middle, Tahir Whitehead racked up big tackle numbers, but struggled in coverage and didn’t make many impact plays. The team is also developing an intriguing young talent in Antwione Williams on the strong side, and bringing back free agent Josh Bynes would be smart. Still, a talent injection is needed.

In the early rounds, the athletic Haason Reddick, and playmakers Zach Cunningham and Jarrad Davis would all be fits, depending how the board shakes out in front of the Lions.

Zach Links: The Lions could also use some help on the defensive line. Recently, you ran down some of this year’s available options in free agency and you mentioned Nick Fairley‘s name. Do you think the Lions would be open to a reunion after his strong 2016?
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Justin Rogers: I won’t rule it out. Fairley is a player who has significantly matured since his last run here, which I think can be partially attributed to Jim Caldwell benching the athletic interior lineman for weight issues his last season with Detroit. This is a new front office, and one that values athleticism. I’ve always believed Fairley has the makings of a top-10 player at his position when healthy and motivated. At the right price, why not make that call? Fairley was well liked by teammates, even when his work ethic wasn’t up to par.

Zach Links: Outside of the front seven, what do you see as this team’s biggest needs this offseason?

Justin Rogers: Well, they’ve got to figure out what to do about the right side of the offensive line. Riley Reiff and Larry Warford are both hitting free agency and their price tags are looking like they might be more than the Lions are willing to pay. The team has in-house options at both positions, but it would be wise to upgrade at least one of the spots. If it was me, I’d look to add a veteran to the group. It’s a young unit and could use that veteran presence. General manager Bob Quinn acknowledged as much at the combine.

Zach Links: Many of our readers scoffed at the idea of George Godsey going from offensive coordinator in Houston to a defensive assistant in Detroit. Such a move is not totally unprecedented, but Godsey has never coached on the defensive side of the ball. Why do the Lions feel that he is a good addition to the defensive staff?

Justin Rogers: As a defensive assistant, his responsibilities are going to be largely limited to scouting for opponent tendencies, while handling other research-related special projects for the defensive staff. Godsey isn’t likely to be directly working with Lions players on fundamentals and technique.

As a former quarterback and offensive coordinator, Godsey should have an excellent understanding of defensive schemes and player utilization, despite Houston’s struggles when he was at the helm.

Zach Links: Once again, Teryl Austin interviewed for multiple jobs but did not come away with a head coaching gig. Do you sense that he is getting frustrated with the process?

Justin Rogers: Austin is a level-headed guy, who in many ways mirrors mentor Jim Caldwell‘s personality. The Lions defensive coordinator isn’t going to get too high or too low through this process. I sensed more frustration from him the past two years, when he appeared more likely to get a job. At this point, he’s accepted the fact that it might not happen for him.

For what it’s worth, I think he has the ideal demeanor to be a head coach in either the NFL or in college football.

Zach Links: Could you see the Lions getting in on any of this year’s big name free agents? If so, which guys could realistically be in play for Detroit?

Justin Rogers: Quinn said they’ll take some swings at the top names, but ultimately, the market is going to decide whether the Lions land any of them. You can be sure the organization won’t wildly overpay for anyone.

A couple former Patriots make sense for the Lions in linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Logan Ryan. They fill needs, Quinn is intimately familiar with their strengths and weaknesses from his time in New England, and both have championship experience.

Some of the offensive linemen also make sense, assuming the Lions don’t re-sign Reiff or Warford. Ricky Wagner, Kevin Zeitler or T.J. Lang can be viewed as upgrades.

Finally, I’d love to see the team make a run at cornerback A.J. Bouye. It would be a lethal pairing with Darius Slay and shore up the team’s biggest weakness in the secondary.

The Beat: ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez On The Rams

February 8th, 2017 at 12:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Now that the regular season is over, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

This week, we caught up with Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com to discuss the Rams. You can follow Alden on Twitter @alden_gonzalez and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: After a wide-ranging search, the Rams hired the youngest coach in NFL history. Do you think the 31-year-old Sean McVay will prove to be a smart hire?

Alden Gonzalez: I think he’s going to make their offense better – it can’t be any worse – and I think the players are going to like him. I think they’re going to feed off his energy. The question is how quickly McVay can adapt to all the responsibility that comes with being an NFL head coach, from managing a game to handling a locker room to orchestrating practices. On top of all that, McVay will call the plays on offense. But he could not have made a better hire than the 69-year-old Wade Phillips as his defensive coordinator. McVay basically only has to worry about one side of the ball.

Young coaches have been very hit and miss throughout NFL history. John Madden, Don Shula, Mike Tomlin and Jon Gruden succeeded. Lane Kiffin, Raheem Morris, David Shula and Josh McDaniels did not. It’s a pretty remarkable leap of faith for what is perhaps the most important coaching hire in Rams history. But I give them credit for trying to hit a home run, and I’m trying not to get caught up on the date of McVay’s birth certificate. If he were five years older and had the exact same resume, I don’t think anybody would be making a big deal about it. He sure doesn’t act 31.

Zach Links: Before the start of the 2016 season, you told us that Jared Goff “needs to be more decisive, he needs to take care of the football and he needs to do a better job of picking up blitzes.” What have you seen from him in those areas? How do you feel about him heading into 2017?

Alden Gonzalez: Clearly he didn’t do any of that. Goff put up a 22.2 Total QBR that was by far the worst among those who made at least seven starts last season. He made poor decisions, missed easy throws and didn’t display very good presence in the pocket. But he also faced a ton of pressure, threw to an underwhelming group of receivers and ran an offensive scheme that was, for all intents and purposes, systematically broken.

So, I don’t think it’s totally fair to judge Goff just yet. I do like his arm. He’s more mobile than I expected, and many have raved about how mentally tough he is. Occasionally he also made impressive throws downfield. But he has a lot to prove and has a longer road ahead of him at this point than the Rams might have hoped. McVay’s offense is very quarterback friendly, so now is when we’ll start to see how good Goff can be.

Zach Links: Despite the coaching changes, the Rams opted to retain GM Les Snead. Would you say that he is on the hot seat? What needs to happen in 2017 for him to remain in that position?

Alden Gonzalez: I think he is. To stay, he needs to take advantage of the $40 million or so in salary cap space at his disposal and the Rams need to start seeing more out of their draft picks. The Rams drafted seven offensive linemen from 2014 to ’15, and none of them have really panned out. And now there are varying degrees of questions surrounding their top pick from each of the last five years – Goff, running back Todd Gurley, left tackle Greg Robinson and receiver Tavon Austin. Jeff Fisher wore the brunt of the blame for the Rams’ shortcomings, but Snead’s job wasn’t secured until McVay was announced as head coach. And even then, it’s not as if he received a ringing endorsement.

Zach Links: Rams COO Kevin Demoff has said the Rams are not in a rebuilding phase this offseason. Do you agree with that assessment? Does this roster require heavy lifting or just some tweaking?

Alden Gonzalez: I agree in this sense: The defense is solid, though only if they can re-sign Trumaine Johnson and replenish some depth in the secondary, and the special teams is a real asset. It all comes down to how quickly McVay can turn that offense around. But it’s been so terrible that it’s enough to make the Rams seem like they’re worlds away from contention. It’s one thing to make it work on a Redskins team with Kirk Cousins at quarterback and a collection of dynamic pass-catchers; it’s a whole other thing to make it work here. I don’t think the Rams will do much heavy lifting with their roster; I think they’ll try to supplement their young core. But a lot has to be figured out.

Zach Links: Do you expect Johnson to be back with the Rams next season? How about Kenny Britt?

Alden Gonzalez: Johnson is by far their most important free agent and I have to think the Rams will do whatever it takes to keep him. They lost their top cornerback, Janoris Jenkins, and a talented free safety, Rodney McLeod, last year, and cannot absorb similar losses this year; not with an injury plagued E.J. Gaines and a handful of undrafted free agents as the alternative options at cornerback. As for Britt – I think the Rams will move on. There will be other free-agent priorities at receiver.

The Beat: Chris Tomasson On The Vikings

January 6th, 2017 at 1:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Now that the regular season is over, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

This week, we caught up with Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press to discuss the Vikings. You can follow Chris on Twitter @christomasson and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: The Vikings have already anointed Sam Bradford as their 2017 starter. Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater‘s timetable for return is uncertain and the Vikings must decide on his 2018 option by May 2nd. How do you think they’ll handle the $12.5MM decision?

Chris Tomasson: It’s a very difficult question to answer since the Vikings know far more about the severity of his injury than they have let on. There would be some surprise from my end if the Vikings don’t pick up the option since it is guaranteed only in the event of injury, and it would have to be a new injury that would guarantee it. Even if Teddy Bridgewater can’t play in 2017, when he has a cap number of $2.18MM, picking up the option could buy time for them to assess his recovery. If the Vikings pick up the option, the big issue could come in March 2018 when the Vikings might have to make a final determination on their quarterback of the future. They can’t pay two quarterbacks a combined total of $30MM or more. At that point, Bridgewater could be released or asked to sign a deal for a lesser figure as a backup.

Zach Links: Recently, Adrian Peterson hinted that he might be open to a pay cut. Do you think he’s ready to take the kind of haircut the Vikings probably have in mind? Wherever he winds up, do you think he can resume playing at a high level?

Chris Tomasson: I think it will depend on what other teams might be willing to offer and how those teams stack up against the Vikings regarding a chance to win a Super Bowl. The Vikings stood by Peterson during his child-abuse situation and coach Mike Zimmer wants him back, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they look to bring him back. I don’t think Peterson is a 1,500-yard-type back anymore, but I think he could gain 1,000 yards for someone. I think he might have to accept a reduction in carries, wherever he might play.

Zach Links: Do you think pending free agent Cordarrelle Patterson will be back with the team next year? Do you see him moving forward as a kick return specialist or do you think he can fulfill his potential as an all-around wide receiver?

Chris Tomasson: I think Patterson got enough work at wide receiver this season that he will seriously consider a Vikings offer to return. I would be surprised if another team offered him a big deal to be a starting-caliber wide receiver. While much of it was a product of Minnesota’s short passing game, he averaged just 8.7 yards on his 52 catches. He has said he wants to return to Minnesota, and all I can do is take him at his word.

Zach Links: He’s stayed mum on the subject, but do you expect to see 38-year-old Terence Newman return to the Vikings in 2017?

Chris Tomasson: Terence Newman still can play, there’s no doubt about it. He told me that to return, there has to be certain conditions met, some that are in his control and some that are out of it. He wouldn’t tell me what they are. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, to see Newman back considering he has remained healthy and no serious slippage was evident in 2016. However, I’m sure if he were to return, his snaps would be cut back considering the continued maturation of Trae Waynes.

The Beat: ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez On The Rams

August 26th, 2016 at 12:40pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Rams with the team’s newest beat writer, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. You can follow Alden on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: For those of us who aren’t in the Los Angeles area – what’s the excitement level like in L.A. for the Rams’ return?

Alden Gonzalez: It’s been about what you would expect for a team returning to a huge media market, and by that I mean it’s been high. They sold 171,000 tickets to their first two preseason games. That is absurd. Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, who played at Los Angeles Coliseum in Week 2, raved about how loud it was through even the fourth quarter, when all the subs were in. And each open-to-the-public practice I’ve attended has filled up at least one section of bleachers. The novelty will eventually rub off, of course. They’ll have to win pretty quickly in order to maintain attention spans out here.

Zach Links: The Rams are expected to extend coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead before the start of the season. Do you think it’s wise to extend them given that Fisher’s teams have gone 27-36-1 in the last four years?

Alden Gonzalez: Yeah, I do. I know it isn’t the popular opinion, but extending a GM or a coach does not mean that individual cannot eventually get fired. Especially not for a multi-billionaire like Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who would barely flinch at having to eat whatever remains of contracts for Snead or Fisher if such a scenario took place. Snead and Fisher are at the end of their current deals, and it’s hard to operate like that. The Rams have enough newness going on – new quarterback, new city, one of the youngest rosters in the NFL – and it looks like they at least want some stability up top. Snead and Fisher both know the pressure is on to start winning, whether their contracts are extended or not.

Zach Links: How high is the ceiling for Jared Goff? Do you think we’ll see him take over as the starter at some point in 2016?

Alden Gonzalez: I expect him to be the starter at some point in 2016; the only question is when. Barring an uplifting performance in Week 3 of the preseason, though, I do not see him starting the Monday Night Football opener on Sept. 12. He just hasn’t shown enough yet. He needs to be more decisive, he needs to take care of the football and he needs to do a better job of picking up blitzes. All that, in addition to learning to call plays from the huddle and learning to take snaps from under center – two things he really never did at Cal. As far as upside – I think he can be an elite-level passer if he irons those things out. The raw tools are there.

Zach Links: A second franchise tag for Trumaine Johnson would cost the Rams $16MM+ next year. To date, they have been unwilling to pay him like a top NFL cornerback. Do you expect to see Johnson wind up somewhere else in 2017?

Alden Gonzalez: I think they’ll try to keep him. The Rams lost two key pieces in their secondary this offseason, in cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod, and can’t afford to lose Johnson, too. The Rams reportedly offered Jenkins a five-year, $45 million extension before he chose to sign with the Giants. If Johnson has a solid year as the primary corner, I expect the Rams to try to retain him. He’s shown enough.

Zach Links: The Rams picked up their fifth-year option for Tavon Austin, meaning that he’ll earn $12.2MM+ in 2017. Do you have as much confidence in Austin as the Rams’ front office apparently does?

Alden Gonzalez: Last year was something of a breakout season for Austin, who caught for 473 yards and rushed for another 434. Perhaps he hasn’t produced to the level of his forthcoming salary, but the Rams are so desperate for playmakers at wide receiver that they badly needed to retain Austin. His time could be running out, though. Fourth-round pick Pharoh Cooper has very similar attributes and is already locked in as the Rams’ No. 3 receiver.

Zach Links: How do you think the Rams’ first season in Los Angeles will go? What record do you see them finishing with?

Alden Gonzalez: If I had to guess, it’d be 7-9, again. Let’s just go through it real quick. Their defensive line is elite, but, as stated earlier, they lost some key pieces in their secondary and have to fill the void of James Laurinaitis at middle linebacker. That’s a lot of new personnel in the second and third levels. Offensively, Todd Gurley is a stud. But the Rams’ biggest issue last year was their passing game, by far the worst in the league, and they didn’t do much to drastically alter that. Basically the only way that improves is if three rookies – Cooper, quarterback Jared Goff and tight end Tyler Higbee – really step up. And then on top of all that is the fact they play in the same division as the Seahawks and Cardinals, two teams that may have the two deepest rosters in the NFL. The Rams are still young, though. They may be a year away.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and PFR on Instagram.

The Beat: Ryan O’Halloran On The Jaguars

August 25th, 2016 at 10:08am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Jaguars with Ryan O’Halloran of the The Florida Times-Union. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanohalloran and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: Right now, the Jaguars don’t sound intent on signing Greg Hardy, even though they auditioned him earlier this summer. Do you sense that a change of heart is possible? Or have the Jaguars concluded that Hardy is not worth all of the baggage that comes with signing him?

Ryan O’Halloran: The only way a change of heart is possible is if the Jaguars are equal parts beset by injuries or ineffectiveness at the defensive end spot early in the year. If they were afraid of his baggage, they wouldn’t have brought Hardy in for a visit. This way, they’ve met him, heard his side of things and worked him out so if they need to call him on a Tuesday to sign him and get to town for practice on a Wednesday, they don’t have to do all of the research.

Zach Links: The Jaguars shelled out lots of money for Malik Jackson, a player who has only one season as a full-time starter on his resume. Will the Jaguars come to regret the six-year, $85.5MM deal ($31.5MM guaranteed) or will he prove to be a difference-maker for years to come?

Ryan O’Halloran: More often than not, these gigantic deals become regrettable down the line. That said, the guess here is Jackson will be a difference-maker early in the contract. Against the Jets in the preseason opener, he showed good power by pushing a guard back and impacting Ryan Fitzpatrick’s throwing motion. The Jaguars needed a three-down interior defensive lineman like Jackson and also needed to overpay to get him.

Zach Links: Tashaun Gipson also got a nice payday courtesy of Jacksonville with his five-year, $36MM deal ($12MM guaranteed). Will he help solve the Jags’ woes at safety after their group was among the league’s worst in 2015?

Ryan O’Halloran: Gipson is the key to the Jaguars’ free agent class. The free safety spot has been unsettled since Dave Caldwell/Gus Bradley were hired in January 2013. Dwight Lowery (2013), Josh Evans (2013-15), Winston Guy (2014) and Sergio Brown (2015) have all started there and been unimpressive. Enter Gipson. If he can be the sideline-to-sideline free safety, it will allow the Jaguars’ cornerbacks to play tighter man coverage and allow strong safety Johnathan Cyprien to play closer to the line of scrimmage and better take advantage of his skills (run support, not coverage).

Zach Links: How good can Jalen Ramsey be in the long run? Who does he remind you of?

Ryan O’Halloran: I haven’t seen enough of him to come up with a comparison. It’s tough to say what Ramsey’s ceiling is because he played three positions in three years for Florida State – free safety, slot corner and outside corner. The Jaguars are asking him to play inside and outside corner.

Zach Links: As the 53-man roster deadline approaches, what roster battles should Jaguars fans be keeping an eye on?

Ryan O’Halloran: For a team that went 5-11, it’s surprising that there aren’t more battles going on, but that speaks to the Jaguars’ activity in free agency and the draft. Here are a couple: Left tackle (Kelvin Beachum or Luke Joeckel). Left guard (Joeckel or Tyler Shatley or Mackenzy Bernadeau or Chris Reed). No. 5 receiver (Bryan Walters or Arrelious Benn).

Zach Links: How do you expect 2016 to go for the Jaguars? What record do you think they’ll finish with?

Ryan O’Halloran: This is the most talented team of the Caldwell-Bradley Era, but that won’t mean a playoff berth. I’ve got them with a 7-9 record.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Jeff Schudel On The Browns

August 24th, 2016 at 9:40am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Browns with Jeff Schudel of the The News-Herald and Morning-Journal. You can follow Jeff on Twitter @jsproinsider and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: As expected, the Browns named RGIII as their starting quarterback this week. What are your expectations for him? Can he recapture some of the magic he showed early on in Washington?

Jeff Schudel; I do have high expectations for RG3, but that might be a relative term. He will become the Browns 25th starting quarterback in 18 years when he takes the first snap against the Eagles on Sept. 11, so if he manages to throw more touchdown passes than interceptions and win five or six games he’ll be a success. Griffin has surprised me with his running. I don’t expect him to run as much as he did in 2012 when he was a rookie with the Redskins, but Hue Jackson will design runs for him.

Zach Links: Speaking of the quarterback position, what do you think the Browns should do with Josh McCown? Should they continue to hold out for a third- or fourth-round pick from the Cowboys in a potential trade?

Jeff Schudel; In my opinion the Browns should not take less than a third for McCown. That is probably too steep for a quarterback that was 2-17 over the last two seasons, but he is worth more to the Browns as a backup than a fourth-round pick would be. The odds of RG3 making it through 16 games behind this offensive line are slim. Rookie Cody Kessler isn’t ready to play.

Zach Links: Are you optimistic about Josh Gordon‘s long-term prospects? Do you think he’ll get his off-the-field affairs in order and focus his full attention on football going forward?

Jeff Schudel; I do have faith in Josh Gordon. He has a strong support group within the Browns and he seems to be hanging around the right people. He is a smart young man who has done dumb things in the past. I think this is critical for Gordon’s success: He is suspended for the first four games of the regular season, but he can be around the team in meetings, the weight room and all activities except practice and games. It seems to me players with substance abuse problems have a much better chance of success if they can be around their support group.

Gordon knows this is his last chance. He will never be reinstated if he is suspended again. I am not speaking for the Browns, but one more strike and I could not imagine them giving him another chance. Goodell would, I presume, likely make their opinion irrelevant.

Zach Links: How will Desmond Bryant‘s absence affect Cleveland’s pass-rush?

Jeff Schudel; The Browns are thin behind Desmond Bryant. John Hughes is likely to end up with his job, but Hughes was absent from training camp from Aug. 2-16 for personal reasons involving a family member. He says he is back for good. Bryant had only six sacks, but that led the team in 2015. The Browns will have to get more from outside linebacker Paul Kruger (2.5 sacks last year) to minimize Bryant’s loss.

Zach Links: Out of the Browns’ 14 rookies, which ones are you especially excited about?

Jeff Schudel; Corey Coleman is going to be a productive player, but as the 15th overall pick and the first receiver off the board he should be. He is fast, tracks the ball well and can run after the catch.

Two later picks could also make an impact. Carl Nassib, the defensive end from Penn State picked in the third round, 65th overall, led the nation with 17.5 sacks past year. He has shown in preseason he can get to the quarterback in the NFL. He is playing against NFL backups for now and will have to prove he can succeed against front-line offensive tackles to get more playing time.

Rashard Higgins, a fifth-round receiver taken with the 172nd pick from Colorado State, could be a move-the-chains receiver. He runs precise routes, fights through traffic, and can catch the ball in a crowd.

Zach Links: What differences have you already noticed in Cleveland with Jackson at the helm?

Jeff Schudel; It is impossible not to notice a difference with Jackson running the show. He is more than an administrator. He actually coaches players if they aren’t doing something correctly. Players have bought into his coaching style.

I think it is significant that Jackson hired Ray Horton as defensive coordinator. Horton has credentials and experience to be a head coach. To me that means Jackson has enough confidence in himself that he isn’t afraid an assistant will take his job.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Will Leitch On The Cardinals

August 23rd, 2016 at 11:40am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with writers and columnists from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Cardinals with Will Leitch. Will is a senior writer for Sports on Earth, a contributing editor for New York Magazine, and hosts the daily podcast “The Will Leitch Experience.” You can follow Will on Twitter @WilliamFLeitch.

Zach Links: Like many Cardinals fans, you were puzzled by Carson Palmer‘s collapse in last season’s playoffs. This offseason, the Cardinals tied themselves to the veteran through 2018 with an extension. How do you feel about Palmer as the Cards’ QB heading into this season?

Will Leitch: Yeah, he was a nightmare in the playoffs, like he’d forgotten everything that had made him and the team great throughout the season. You’d actually seen that in the Packers game, some dunderheaded mistakes that weren’t indicative of how he played in the regular season, but I thought it was attributable to him still not having that playoff-victory monkey off his back. And then he was ten times worse against Carolina. So, yeah, it’s worrisome, but not NEARLY as worrisome as it would have been if Palmer hadn’t have come back, or if he gets hurt. Palmer is the perfect fit for this offense — the only thing that isn’t perfect is that he isn’t 27 — but more to the point, he’s the only available fit for this offense. As bad as the playoffs were, the team would be completely lost without him. I’m terrified that he goes down in Week Two and the whole team implodes. The Cardinals have had some truly awful quarterbacking over the last decade; I’m twitching just thinking about it. No offense to Drew Stanton, but yes: Palmer is the whole sandwich here.

Continue reading our Q&A with Will Leitch..

Zach Links: Before the extensions for Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, there was speculation that 2016 could be the final season for both players. Despite the deals, do you think we might see one or both of them call it quits after this year?

Will Leitch: It would require a career-ending injury for Palmer. Fitzgerald was surprisingly great last year, but he’s obviously not the player he was, overtime against the Packers aside. He’s a slot guy, and while he serves that role well now, you can see him fading a little more each year. He’s awesome, but he’s still a 33-year-old WR.I think the bigger issue with him is if the Cardinals can win a title. It’s clear the Super Bowl loss to the Steelers still kills him — I know how he feels — and he desperately wants a title to go into the Hall with. If he gets one, I can see him retiring on the spot.

Zach Links: The Cardinals shocked everyone in March when they acquired Chandler Jones via trade from the Patriots. What kind of impact do you expect Jones to have this year?

Will Leitch: Oh, we’re very excited. The one thing the Cardinals weren’t terrific at last year was rushing the passer, so Jones is ideal. Now, I get a little nervous when Bill Belichick gives up on a player, but he’s exactly what we were clamoring for. If he’s three-quarters of what he was last year, we might be monsters.

Zach Links: The Cardinals left St. Louis when you were 12 years old, but you remained a fan when they relocated to Phoenix. You’ve made the case that it’s easy for Rams fans to do the same in 2016 thanks to the internet and NFL Sunday Ticket. Do you expect that the Rams will have a lasting contingent of fans in St. Louis? Or will most Missourians wind up being football widows?

Will Leitch: Well, Stan Kroenke was such a monumental asshole on his way out the door that I don’t think any St. Louis fan wants anything to do with the team, and I don’t blame them. Good riddance. If they want to remain Rams fans, they can, but if they’re playing the nostalgia game, we’d love to have them back. At least the Bidwills didn’t excrete in the Mississippi River on their way out of town.

Zach Links: How do you see this year playing out for the Cardinals? Will they win the NFC West? Do you see them in the Super Bowl mix?

Will Leitch: I think they’re a complete team, but the two things that scare me the most remain issues: 1. Palmer’s injury history (again, we’re toast without him), and 2. the Seattle Seahawks. I’d argue the three best teams in football are all in the NFC: The Cardinals, the Seahawks, and the Panthers. The Seahawks caught some bad breaks last year, but they’re machines. I might pick them to win the division. Then we get the Cardinals-Seahawks NFC Championship game we’re all desperate for. (It would be so amazing.) Unless Palmer gets hurt. If that happens, well, I hope we stay ahead of the 49ers.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and PFR on Instagram.

The Beat: Troy Renck On The Broncos

August 21st, 2016 at 9:30pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Broncos with Troy Renck of Denver7. You can follow Troy on Twitter @TroyRenck (Note: The conversation took place on Friday, prior to the Broncos’ Saturday’s preseason game against the 49ers).

Zach Links: Is Ronnie Hillman in danger of not making the team? Are you surprised by him being on the roster bubble?

Troy Renck: Yes, Hillman is in real danger of not making the cut. He is competing against Kapri Bibbs who has kick return ability and it is hard to see both players making it. Bibbs is a more versatile special teams guy than Hillman is and they are really intrigued by Devontae Booker’s potential.

Zach Links: At what point did you realize that Hillman could be a roster casualty?

Troy Renck: As soon as they drafted Booker. Hillman went out into free agency and, unfortunately for him, he played his worst football in the playoffs. That was everyone’s last view of him and when he found a tepid market, he came back to Denver on a cheap deal. In my opinion, they re-signed Hillman to protect themselves in the draft so that they didn’t have to reach for a running back. Luckily for them, they got Booker.

Zach Links: What does Vance Walker’s absence mean for the Broncos? How might they look to fill the void?

Troy Renck: It hurts. He was already the guy filling in for Malik [Jackson] and he’s a really good run stuffer and a versatile guy. They signed Jared Crick and they’re hopeful that he can be an every down guy. It also puts the onus on Darius Kilgo. They need him to step up and provide real depth. Overall, it’s an area of concern for sure.

Zach Links: Who do you think should start at quarterback for the Broncos in Week 1?

Troy Renck: I don’t know the answer to that yet. It’s just such a huge game for Trevor Siemian on Saturday for me. He is likely to get a quarter and half with the starters and, if he nails it, he has the edge. It’s no longer like Sanchez controls his own destiny. If Siemian nails his performance, he’s the leader. The easy bet would have been Sanchez because of the experience, but obviously there hasn’t been enough distance between the two since April to make that a lock.

Zach Links: Which Broncos rookies do you think could contribute right away?

Troy Renck: Andy Janovich. He’s going to be their starting fullback right off the bat. He’s been impressing on special teams. Booker’s ability in pass protection has surprised me, he’s much more advanced in that area than I expected.

I’m also encouraged by Paxton Lynch’s progress. He’s really taken to the team’s coaching and so far so good with him. I think Lynch is their best athlete at the position and when he has to color outside of the lines, he is the best. He’s not ready yet to run the offense, but he has been impressive.

Zach Links: How do you see this season playing out? Can the Broncos repeat as champs?

Troy Renck: I don’t see a Super Bowl title for Denver but I see a team that can go 11-5 and get back to the playoffs. I don’t know that they can get home field advantage and that hurts. A lot of things fell into place for the Broncos last year. They set a record for games won by seven points or less, which demonstrates that they had some good breaks. They created some of those breaks for themselves, of course, but they won on really close games.

I think their defense is going to be outstanding, but I don’t know if they have enough to get home field advantage to get them though the playoffs. It could be a hard road through the playoffs, but I see a playoff team and a team that can win the division for the sixth-straight year.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Terry McCormick On The Titans

August 17th, 2016 at 2:20pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Titans with Terry McCormick of the TitanInsider.com. You can follow Terry on Twitter @terrymc13.

Zach Links: After a strange year with the Eagles, do you think DeMarco Murray is poised to be an elite running back once again?

Terry McCormick: I don’t think he’ll get to the 1,800 yards that he got with the Cowboys two years ago because you have Derrick Henry in the mix, but I do think he’ll be an effective running back for the Titans, much more so than he was with the Eagles. He’ll be in a run based offense and will get plenty of opportunities to carry the football and that was evident from outset in the preseason game. The Titans want to run the football and want to run it often and he’ll be the lead back in that. He won’t put up numbers like he did in Dallas, but his numbers will rebound nicely. I’d look for him to finish the year with something between 1,100 and 1,400 yards.

Zach Links: The Titans signed Andre Johnson late last month. What can he bring to the table at this point in his career?

Terry McCormick: It’s obvious he’s not the Andre Johnson that he was five or six years ago with the Texans, but the trade of Dorial Green-Beckham opens up a spot for him on the roster. He brings not only veteran leadership to the table, but also brings what coach Mike Mularkey wants from his receivers: guys that will run the correct route and get there on time and catch the football. Part of the problem with [Green-Beckham] was that he was too inconsistent. Despite his vast physical skills, you couldn’t always rely on him to do those things. Johnson is a veteran presence and I could see him being the fourth receiver on the team. He definitely looks like he’ll make the roster.

Zach Links: What did you make of the Green-Beckham trade? Did you think the Titans should have tried to get more for him?

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Terry McCormick: I think maybe they should have hung on to him and given him more time to figure things out. Guys with his skill set don’t come down the pike too often. But, in the minds of GM Jon Robinson and the coaches, they weren’t willing to wait on him to try and figure things out. They gave him a year and a half and, while he showed flashes of greatness, they didn’t happen often enough or consistently enough. He also tended to compound things with bad plays and what they got was a guy who had really high highs and really low lows. They weren’t willing to go forward with that.

I think they should have given him more time, but I understand why they gave up on him. It does seem like they gave him away for only a backup offensive lineman type (Dennis Kelly), but other teams saw the flaws that the Titans saw and that hurt his stock.

Zach Links: The Titans wound up at No. 8 overall in this year’s draft and selected Jack Conklin instead of fellow tackle Laremy Tunsil. Do you think Conklin will prove to be a wise pick?

Terry McCormick: I think Conklin was very good pick and they are very happy with what he’s done so far. He’s a rookie and he’ll have growing pains when he goes against J.J. Watt or Von Miller types, but when you look at everything with Tunsil form the bong video to the problems he’s had getting accelerated with the Dolphins, I don’t think they’ll regret one bit passing on Tunsil.

Zach Links: Will the Titans improve significantly in 2016? What record do you see them finishing with?

Terry McCormick: I think they’ll be much improved and more competitive. Anything can happen in the AFC South, which was one of the weakest divisions in the NFL last year. With that said, I see them finishing 6-10 or 7-9 while being competitive in most games. I’m not ready to say they’re ready to go to the playfofs, but I think if they can take a big leap forward, they’ll be in the playoff picture next year.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and PFR on Instagram.

The Beat: Bob Condotta On The Seahawks

August 10th, 2016 at 11:02am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Seahawks with Bob Condotta of the The Seattle Times. You can follow Bob on Twitter @bcondotta and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: Marshawn Lynch dominated headlines this offseason after he announced his retirement in February and reportedly may have waffled a bit on the decision in May. Was Marshawn giving real thought to playing in 2016? If so, did he want to play somewhere other than Seattle?

Bob Condotta: My understanding is no, that he was never thinking of playing this season in Seattle or anywhere else.

Zach Links: Recently, the Seahawks extended coach Pete Carroll through 2019 and GM John Schneider through 2021. Did the Seahawks attempt to get Carroll to sign through 2021 to match up with Schneider?

Bob Condotta: I haven’t been able to determine that. But years on contracts has not seemed to matter much to Carroll since his initial deal. He also signed a three-year extension following the Super Bowl win in 2013, so the one he just got matches that one. Despite whatever chatter is out there, there’s no real thought that Carroll would ever leave Seattle for another job. But with Schneider being 20 years younger than Carroll, there was a thought it was important to sew him up for as long as possible. So I think that accounts for the difference in contracts.

Zach Links: In 2014, Michael Bennett signed a team-friendly deal to stay in Seattle. In 2015, he began complaining about his under-market contract and he continues to be unhappy with the pact. Do you think the Seahawks will cave and give him a significant pay bump this summer?

Bob Condotta: Hard to tell. I do know Bennett would like them to. His agent and the team have continued to have negotiations. But the Seahawks have worries about setting a precedent of giving new deals to players with more than a year remaining on their contracts. That’s the only reason they have hesitation about giving Bennett a new contract.

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Zach Links: Doug Baldwin‘s new four-year, $46MM extension ($24.25MM in guarantees) makes him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. Were you at all surprised by the size of the deal?

Bob Condotta: No. Baldwin is one of those players whose value to the Seahawks may be hard for people outside of Seattle to really ascertain. Baldwin in a lot of ways embodies everything that the Seahawks preach — an undrafted free agent who initially forged his way on to the roster via special teams and has embraced every role the team has given him on the way to becoming one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. Given the way the Seahawks play, merely judging him by his stats is to miss the point of all that Baldwin does for the Seahawks. But the Seahawks understand that, and also know that the other Seahawks understand what Baldwin’s value is to the team. Seattle has been aggressive about rewarding its own core players, those who grew up in the organization. Baldwin was simply the latest to get his reward.

Zach Links: The Seahawks signed former Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans late last week. What, in your opinion, does he have left in the tank at this point?

Bob Condotta: Really hard to tell at this point, with Evans just one practice in to being a Seahawk. Ask me in a week or so and I can give a better answer. It may be especially hard to tell in the first week since the Seahawks are initially working Evans at left guard while he played right guard during his New Orleans career. Seattle is doing that cause it wants to see if Evans can be a swing guard — it’s unlikely he would beat out Germain Ifedi to be the right guard at this point. But if he can play left guard or show some versatility, that’s what the Seahawks want to see.

Zach Links: Do you think the Seahawks will wrestle the NFC West crown away from the Cardinals this year?

Bob Condotta: I certainly think they can. Seattle had a lot of issues last season that they don’t have entering this season — a hold out, injuries to every key player in the secondary, to name two — and also have a quarterback and receiving group entering the prime of its career. Seattle and Arizona may be the two best teams in the NFC by the time the season is done. But while the Seahawks certainly respect Arizona they don’t fear the Cardinals. The Seahawks feel if they are healthy and playing right they can beat anybody.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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