A look back at some of the NFL’s biggest stories from the past week:
Rams trade Brandin Cooks to Texans: Cooks will don his fourth NFL jersey. Or, to put it another way, that’s uni for every 1,000-yard season he’s had as a pro. Cooks, who won’t turn 27 until September, will do his best to fill the shoes of DeAndre Hopkins in Houston. In a deal that has been widely panned, the Texans gave up a second-round pick to acquire Cooks and a future fourth-round choice, despite Cooks’ troubling history of concussions. Meanwhile, the second round figures to have tons of young WR talent – all for a fraction of Cooks’ cost.
The NFL Draft goes fully virtual: In accordance with travel restrictions and social distancing measures, this year’s NFL Draft will be unlike any other draft we’ve ever seen. Early on, the league planned to have executives submit picks from their respective war rooms. Now, every official will be asked to conduct the draft from their respective homes. Some league figures say they’re concerned about security and potential glitches. Meanwhile, because of the muddle draft process, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert has proposed an additional three rounds for this year’s draft. With days to go before Day 1, Colbert’s idea is unlikely to be instituted, but other aspects of the draft may still be tweaked.
Dolphins favoring Herbert over Tua?: The chatter surrounding the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa has only gotten louder and louder in recent weeks. Still, there are conflicting reports on the Dolphins intentions. Recently, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report heard that Oregon’s Justin Herbert could be Miami’s real target at No. 5. Of course, this is still smokescreen season, so everything should be taken with a grain of driveway salt.
The end of the XFL?: This time, the XFL could be finished for good. After already calling off its (re)inaugural season midway through, the XFL laid off its entire staff and shut down operations entirely. Officially, Vince McMahon‘s league has not ruled out the chance of a return, but there has been zero discussion about a reboot in 2021.
Antonio Brown hires new representation: Brown hasn’t given up hope of an NFL return. This week, the controversial wide receiver hired a new agent to help make his case to teams. At this time, Brown remains barred from playing and there has been no real momentum towards reinstatement. There’s no telling when the league office will rule on his case, but it’s safe to assume that he will not be cleared to take the field by September.
This would be the perfect time for the NFL to step in and talk to Vince McMahon about buying a 51% share or something in the XFL.
Use it as a semi development league, semi alternative league to football.
It gets football more attention and builds towards the end of the NBA and leads into the NFL. Which is good for the NFL ratings and viewing.
Fans get twice as much football.
Players get second chances to make the NFL, they also get paid decently in the XFL to play the sport they love, so its good for the players.
Teams could do as the NBA does and put development player into the XFL to give them game times and to trail players. NFL teams would also be able to cherry pick the best players.
NFL could use the XFL similarly to the NBA uses the G league but the XFL because the seasons are different gets more viewing than the G league cause fans don’t have an alternate. The XFL also can have all those different rules to keep it exciting and entertaining.
The Fans win cause there’s more football.
The players win cause theres that second chance and there’s more paid professional sport.
The NFL wins cause it makes money from the XFL, it also gets the best football players in the world in its competition. Plus the XFL builds upto the NFL season hopefully bringing in more views.
The XFL and Vince wins cause he keeps his league alive, he continues to make money, the league gets better players because NFL teams out development players into it and trail players not in the game.
Lol no
Lol you
I agree that the XFL has something to offer fans but I also think Vince is smart enough to avoid dealings with Goodell who is a two faced lier who can never be trusted.
You could swap goodell and Vince in that statement and it would still be true
I think 2 players that were in the XFL are now on NFL rosters. The return on developmental football leagues is well below par.
steelers have signed 5.. other teams have signed some too. will they make the team maybe.. James Harrison was cut 2 or 3 times and played in nfl Europe.. they need some kid of development league.
They need a development league and the bonus of this it’s that it runs before the NFL season so fans can enjoy both league and the NFL team gets to cherry pick the XFL for its best players for its season
Is nobody talking about Tjack passing away?
It just got posted. RIP TJack