Browns' Hue Jackson sidesteps questions about Johnny Manziel INDIANAPOLIS — Hue Jackson could filibuster for only so long before the question arrived. Jackson kicked off his first scouting combine news conference as head coach of the Cleveland Browns with a Belichick-ian seven-minute spate of clichés, but even in that there were clues as to the kind of team Jackson wants to put together. … [Read more...]

It doesn't appear the Chicago Bears will let Alshon Jeffery go Alshon Jeffery, it appears, will stay with the Chicago Bears. Logically, there was no other way this could have played out. Despite some rumblings that the Bears might not use the franchise tag on Jeffery and he could hit free agency as a result, it appears that's where this is headed unless the Bears sign him to a long-term … [Read more...]

By the Numbers: RB Consistency Ratings One of the most misleading pieces of information used by essentially everyone, including myself, in the fantasy football community is a player’s end of season ranking. Carson Palmer was the “fifth-best” quarterback. Todd Gurley was the “seventh-best” running back. Doug Baldwin was the “ninth-best” wide receiver. We use these designations because they are … [Read more...]

Vontaze Burfict knows he must change, but still he feels targeted Now that his appeal has been upheld, it's official: Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will sit out the first three games of the 2016 NFL season for his repeated incidents of violent play. You could argue, in fact, that Burfict cost his team four games considering the way things fell apart for the Bengals in the … [Read more...]

Jameis Winston says it's time for him to get his body in shape Jameis Winston went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, which was a good thing. But what he saw there was eye-opening. One year ago, on the eve of the NFL scouting combine, the eventual No. 1 pick took a beating. Not only for the character questions that plagued Winston coming out of Florida State, namely a high-profile rape case. But … [Read more...]

Austen Lane shares crazy questions combine prospects get from scouts We've all stories about crazy, intimate, and just plain weird questions NFL prospects get from scouts and coaches during the run-up to the NFL draft, but maybe you've never gotten any specifics on what those questions are. Well Austen Lane, a former defensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions who now … [Read more...]

NFL withheld up to $120 million in shared revenue from NFLPA The NFLPA scored a big monetary victory over the NFL. According to the Wall Street Journal, arbitrator Stephen Burbank ruled last week that the NFL withheld about $120 million in revenue in ticket revenue from a shared pool, which the report said kept about $50 million in salary from players. The NFLPA crowed a bit about the … [Read more...]

The Gronk Party Ship was ... well, probably what you'd expect Someday, a child will ask his or her parents how they got engaged. And the mom and dad will sit that child down and say, "It started on Gronk's Party Ship ... " From all the accounts of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's party cruise titled "Gronk's Party Ship" this past weekend — and there have been many, considering … [Read more...]

Aurora massacre survivor Jordan Murphy chases longshot NFL dream Jordan Murphy might be one of the longest of longshots among this year's NFL Draft-eligible players: he plays fullback, a dying position in the league, and he did not record a single carry or catch in his college career. But Murphy has already survived long odds to get to this point, so he figures pursuing his football dream is … [Read more...]

Studs and duds: All-scouting combine workout team from past decade Several aspiring NFL players will go to Indianapolis for the scouting combine this week and make themselves money with how they perform. They’ll test well medically. They’ll interview well. Or they’ll jump, run and lift weights at incredibly high levels. They might even look good in position drills or make a friend or two in … [Read more...]