The Atlanta Falcons surprised many by choosing Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr with the eighth pick in the NFL Draft, despite signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal previously. Cousins, recovering from an Achilles injury, was reportedly unaware of the Falcons' plans. ESPN mentioned that the only heads up the Falcons gave Cousins about selecting Penix was a call while the team was on the clock.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has signed with the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL's legal tampering period for a lucrative deal, potentially leading the team to their first Super Bowl title. Other notable moves include Saquon Barkley joining the Eagles and Brian Burns heading to the Giants.
Kirk Cousins arrived at the Atlanta Falcons facility to sign a four-year, $180 million contract, reuniting with his wife and kids at the headquarters. The Falcons staff, including coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot, welcomed him warmly, marking the end of his six-year tenure with the Vikings.
Michael Tarrence Penix Jr. (PENN-iks ; born May 8, 2000) is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers and Washington Huskies, winning the 2023 Maxwell Award and leading the latter to an appearance in the 2024 national championship. Penix was selected by the Falcons eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins is leaving the Minnesota Vikings for the Atlanta Falcons, signing a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed. The contract includes a $50 million signing bonus and fully guaranteed salaries for 2024 and 2025. The move was influenced by Cousins' wife's ties to Atlanta. The Falcons had a pressing need at quarterback, and Cousins' departure from Minnesota was amicable. The Vikings' general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, acknowledged Cousins' contributions and leadership to the team over the past six seasons.
Former NFL quarterback and local radio show host Brock Huard and analysts have been discussing Michael Penix Jr's arm talent and injury history, with projections ranging from a top-10 selection to Day 2. Penix is the most highly wagered-on prospect this year, with his draft position set at 32.5. Despite the debate, most bets are on him being drafted under 32.5 due to his potential to go in the first round. Quarterbacks like Bo Nix and J.J. McCarthy are also hotly debated prospects, with McCarthy having the most Over bets at BetMGM with a draft position set at 5.5.
The NFL is still investigating potential tampering by the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles involving signings of Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley, respectively. The league confirmed the probe will not conclude before the 2024 NFL Draft, ensuring no draft picks will be affected. Both teams face scrutiny for alleged violations during free agency, with ongoing investigations and no definitive timeline for resolution. The Falcons' $180 million deal with Cousins and the Eagles' $37.75 million contract with Barkley are at the center of the review. Transparency and potential punishments remain uncertain as the league continues its inquiry.
The NFL is reviewing potential tampering by the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons regarding high-profile free agent deals, including Kirk Cousins signing a $180 million deal with the Falcons and Saquon Barkley joining the Eagles. Public comments related to these agreements drew additional attention. The Eagles denied claims that they violated tampering policies, with Barkley clarifying that communication was through his agent. The Falcons refrained from commenting due to the NFL review. Other NFL news includes the Minnesota Vikings' actions amidst the investigations and various player signings by different teams.
Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, 31, agreed to a pay cut with the Atlanta Falcons, reducing his base salary for the 2024 season from $5 million to $1.21 million, and reclassifying his roster bonus as a signing bonus. The Falcons made these adjustments after signing Kirk Cousins and trading away Desmond Ridder to strengthen their quarterback depth. Heinicke, with a record of 13-15-1 in 38 games, remains a valuable backup option for the team, which is planning to add another quarterback before the upcoming season.
During the first day of the NFL's legal tampering period on March 11, 2024, Kirk Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings to join the Atlanta Falcons, Saquon Barkley moved to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Brian Burns was acquired by the New York Giants. Cousins signed a four-year deal with the Falcons, Barkley and Bryce Huff agreed to contracts with the Eagles, and Burns secured a five-year contract with the Giants worth up to $150 million.
Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft as a backup to fellow rookie Robert Griffin III. Cousins occasionally appeared in games during his first three seasons before replacing Griffin following an injury in 2015, where he remained the team's starter until 2017. With the Redskins, Cousins set numerous franchise records and was named to the 2017 Pro Bowl.After two years of signing franchise tags and being unable to agree with the team on a long-term deal, Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year US$84 million contract with the Vikings as a free agent in 2018. He ranks fifth all-time in completion percentage with at least 1,500 pass attempts, and is eighth in the NFL's all-time regular season career passer rating.
The 2022 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), their sixth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and their second under head coach Arthur Smith.The Falcons matched their 7–10 record from the previous season, but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Despite the setbacks, the Falcons defeated quarterback Tom Brady for the first time ever in his career during the last game of the regular season, avenging their Super Bowl LI loss. Also notable for the first time since 2007, long-time quarterback Matt Ryan was not on the roster as the Falcons traded him to Indianapolis on March 21. The team signed former Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota as their new quarterback on the same day. Mariota was reunited with Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who served as the tight ends coach and offensive coordinator during Mariota's tenure with Tennessee (2015–2019).
The Washington Commanders, with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, hosted four top quarterback prospects on the same day, including Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, and Michael Penix Jr. This unconventional approach displeased Daniels and his agent, leading to criticism on social media. Despite maintaining no decision has been made, the Commanders' actions hint at considering various options. The move to evaluate multiple prospects together raised eyebrows and drew discontent, potentially affecting their choice for the franchise-changing draft pick.
Draft Analyst The offseason quarterback carousel has been in constant motion with Kirk Cousins moving from Minnesota to Atlanta, Justin Fields traded from Chicago to Pittsburgh for a pittance and Drew Lock and Sam Howell making cross-country treks from west to east (Seattle to New York in free agency ) and east to west (Washington D.C. to the state of Washington via trade ), respectively. And I haven't even mentioned the relocations for Russell Wilson , Jacoby Brissett , Gardner Minshew , Sam Darnold , Mac Jones , Jimmy Garoppolo and Kenny Pickett , among many others. This four-round mock draft keeps the carousel spinning with signal-callers coming off the board in each of the first four picks -- which would be a first in the 89-year history of the Annual Player Selection Meeting -- and five of the top dozen.
Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Kirk Cousins displayed his new set of golden grills on social media, receiving praise from teammates like Justin Jefferson and running backs Cam Akers and Alexander Mattison. Cousins, known for his "Kirko Chainz" alter ego, is considering a contract extension with the Vikings, showcasing his business mindset on and off the field. His strong connection with receivers like Jefferson and Jordan Addison may influence the team's decision. Cousins' flashy persona and potential deal negotiations make him a focal point for the Vikings this offseason.
Draft Analyst NOTE: The San Francisco 49ers will forfeit their 2025 fifth-round pick and have their original 2024 fourth-round pick moved four spots lower (from No. 131 to No. 135) due to an administrative payroll accounting error, per NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero . PROJECTED TRADE WITH SEATTLE SEAHAWKS PROJECTED TRADE WITH LAS VEGAS RAIDERS PROJECTED TRADE WITH SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | COMPENSATORY SELECTION COMPENSATORY SELECTION COMPENSATORY SELECTION In his third mock of the 2024 NFL Draft -- a five-rounder! -- Chad Reuter projects the Broncos will trade up for a QB while the Vikings stand pat and select one later in the first round. In his third mock of the 2024 NFL Draft -- a five-rounder! -- Chad Reuter projects the Raiders to lead off Round 2 by picking QB Michael Penix Jr.
The Minnesota Vikings have traded with the Houston Texans to acquire the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, along with a seventh-round pick. The Texans receive the No. 42 overall pick, a sixth-round pick, and a second-round pick in 2025. This trade provides the Vikings with more draft capital to potentially maneuver in the draft for a quarterback after the departure of Kirk Cousins. The move resembles the Eagles' 2016 trade to select Carson Wentz. The Vikings now have two first-round picks in 2024, allowing them flexibility in their draft strategy.
The 2024 NFL Draft saw an unprecedented trend with no defensive players being selected in the top 14 picks, breaking the previous record set in 2021. UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player chosen at the 15th pick by the Indianapolis Colts. The draft was dominated by offensive players, particularly quarterbacks, and wide receivers, reflecting a shift in focus towards offense. Historically, defense has been crucial in football, but this draft highlighted a notable preference for offensive talent. The trend raises questions about the evolving dynamics in football player selections.
Two NFL quarterbacks, Desmond Ridder and Sam Howell, were traded on Thursday. Ridder was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Arizona Cardinals for Rondale Moore, following the Falcons' agreement with Kirk Cousins. Howell was traded from the Washington Commanders to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for draft picks, with Washington likely to select a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick. Both quarterbacks were starters in the 2023 season.
The Denver Broncos made NFL Draft history by selecting Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12 overall pick, marking the fewest number of picks by which six quarterbacks were selected in the first round. Michael Penix Jr. was a surprise selection by the Atlanta Falcons. Bo Nix joins a crowded quarterback room at Denver that includes Jarrett Stidham, Ben DiNucci, and Zach Wilson. Nix, who started his collegiate career at Auburn, will now have the opportunity to prove himself as the future quarterback for the Broncos.
In the first round of the NFL Draft 2024, Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams was chosen by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was selected by the Washington Commanders as the second overall pick, and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye was drafted by the New England Patriots with the third overall pick. Additionally, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was picked by the Denver Broncos as the 12th selection.
The 2020 NFL draft was the 85th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2020 NFL season. The first round was held on April 23, followed by the second and third rounds on April 24. The draft concluded with rounds 4–7 on April 25. The NFL originally planned to hold the event live in Paradise, Nevada, before all public events related to it were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, all team selections took place via videoconferencing with league commissioner Roger Goodell broadcasting picks from his home.The Washington Redskins later changed their team name to the Washington Football Team just two months after this draft, making it the final draft where players were selected under the Redskins moniker.This draft is noteworthy for producing one of the stronger quarterback classes in NFL history, with 5 playoff starters, spearheaded by No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, followed by Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts, along with the undrafted Tyler Huntley.
The 2023 NFL draft was the 88th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2023 season. The draft was held outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, from April 27–29, 2023.The Chicago Bears originally owned the first pick for the first time since 1947 before trading it to the Carolina Panthers, prior to the draft, for multiple draft picks and wide receiver D. J. Moore. The Panthers selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the first pick and the Los Angeles Rams selected Desjuan Johnson with the final pick. Also, for the second year in a row, the Miami Dolphins held the fewest picks in the draft with four.
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, once not considered a first-rounder, rose up draft boards but ended up being the fifth quarterback selected in the NFL Draft, going 10th overall to the Minnesota Vikings after they traded up one spot, while initially predicted to be the first QB off the board.
The 2014 NFL draft was the 79th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players to the league. The draft, officially the "Player Selection Meeting", was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on May 8 through May 10, 2014. The draft started on May 8, 2014, at 8 pm EDT. The draft was moved from its traditional time frame in late April due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall.There was early discussion and rumors leading up to the draft on the future of staying at the current location in New York City, where it had been held since 1965. Given the increased interest the draft had garnered over the past decade, there was belief that the event may have outgrown Radio City Music Hall, which had been the venue for the past eight drafts. The possibility of extending the draft to four days was also being discussed throughout the months leading up to the draft. The NFL decided in that summer that the 2015 NFL draft will take place at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.The Houston Texans opened the draft by selecting defensive end Jadeveon Clowney from the University of South Carolina. The last time a defensive player was taken with the first overall selection was in 2006, when the Texans selected Mario Williams. The Texans also closed the draft with the selection of safety Lonnie Ballentine of the University of Memphis as Mr. Irrelevant, which is the title given to the final player selected.The 2014 draft made history when the St. Louis Rams selected Michael Sam in the seventh round. Sam, who became the first openly gay player to ever be drafted in the NFL, was selected 249th out of 256 picks in the draft. After this, Sam's jersey was the second best selling rookie jersey on the NFL's website. Sam came out publicly in the months leading up to the draft, but he never actually made the final roster of an NFL team and was out of the league the same year.
The Chicago Bears are expected to pick USC's Caleb Williams, the Washington Commanders may select LSU's Jayden Daniels, and the New England Patriots are likely to choose North Carolina's Drake Maye in the upcoming NFL draft. The Arizona Cardinals are keeping their 4th pick open, possibly aiming for Ohio State's WR Marvin Harrison Jr. The Minnesota Vikings are strategically positioned with options for quarterback selections like J J McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr, potentially challenging the need to move up. Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has shown significant praise for McCarthy's talents.
The Washington Commanders drafted Jayden Daniels as the second pick in the NFL draft. Daniels, a talented quarterback with impressive stats, aims to bring stability to the team and help them win under the new ownership and management.
Ron Rivera, with unique NFL Draft perspective, reflects on the upcoming 2024 draft where the Bears are expected to pick Caleb Williams first overall. Rivera shares insights on the drafting process based on his experience with the Panthers selecting Cam Newton in 2011, emphasizing the importance of thorough evaluation. He believes Williams is a good fit for the Bears and predicts they can aim for a playoff spot next season. Rivera also discusses Washington Commanders' potential draft choice and advises on selecting a quarterback that fits the team's offensive scheme.
The 2022 NFL draft was the 87th edition of the National Football League's annual draft and was held from April 28–30, 2022, at the Caesars Forum on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The first round was held on Thursday, April 28, and was followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 29. The draft concluded with rounds 4–7 on Saturday, April 30. It was the first draft to be held in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and the state of Nevada.The first five selections were defensive players, the second-most taken at the start of a draft after the six in 1991. Along with the 1972 and 2000 drafts, it marked the third time defensive players were the first two picks after the first three picks in the previous year's draft were quarterbacks. Five Georgia defensive players were also taken during the first round, the most from an individual school in a draft.In addition to the high number of defensive selections, nine offensive linemen were taken in the first round, the most since 2013. Conversely, only one quarterback was selected in the first round at 20th overall, the lowest for a draft's first quarterback since 1997, and no running backs were taken in the first round for the first time since 2014.The draft also saw a record nine draft-day trades with first-round picks, which resulted in less than half of the first round selections being made by the teams that initially owned them. Analysts attributed the high number of trades to eight teams entering the draft without a first-round selection and a general absence of highly touted prospects.
Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson, and Joe Flacco are names to watch in the upcoming NFL free agency period, where the quarterback carousel is set to spin; however, there are also top players at other positions available like Chris Jones, Christian Wilkins, Danielle Hunter, Chase Young, Justin Simmons, and more. The Chiefs have tagged cornerback LJarius Sneed instead of Chris Jones, whose price tag after winning the Super Bowl may surpass $95 million. Eight players received the non-exclusive franchise tag, including Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Josh Allen, and Antoine Winfield.
Oddsmakers project Caleb Williams as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, with Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye following in the top three. Speculation surrounds potential trades and team selections, with a focus on the Washington Commanders. Key quarterbacks and wide receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. are highlighted as top prospects. The draft begins in Detroit with quarterbacks and offensive linemen expected to dominate the first round, posing challenges for teams assessing college talent.
Defensive lineman Eddie Goldman, a former second-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, has signed with the Atlanta Falcons after previously announcing retirement and failing to play for the team in 2022 and 2023. Goldman brings potential depth to the defensive line as Grady Jarrett returns from injury. The Falcons reinstated Goldman from the reserve/retired list in March 2023, after he had missed three of the past four NFL seasons. Goldman has 175 tackles, 13 sacks, and two fumble recoveries in 81 games. The Atlanta Falcons have started their offseason team activities with new coach Raheem Morris.
The New York Yankees acquired right-hander Jake Cousins from the Chicago White Sox in a trade for cash. Cousins, a 29-year-old reliever, had a 3.08 ERA in three major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He signed a minor league deal with the White Sox in December and had a 1.29 ERA in seven spring training appearances for Chicago.
Charles McDonald is joined by the great Nate Tice to determine the biggest need in the 2024 NFL Draft for every single NFC team. But first Rashee Rice was reportedly involved in a racing-related crash over the weekend, prompting a discussion on players getting involved in things they shouldn't and why nearly everyone around Patrick Mahomes seems to be trying to make his life harder. In other news, NFL win totals for the 2024 season dropped last week, and Charles and Nate pick out a few that surprised them, including the Los Angeles Chargers , Atlanta Falcons , New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys . Later, Charles and Nate dive into draft needs for every NFC team, as they go back and forth and give some favorite prospect and position fits for teams like the New York Giants (should they take a quarterback?), Green Bay Packers , Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and more. 2:30 - Rashee Rice 9:55 - 2024 NFL win totals 23:20 - Draft needs: NFC East 37:20 - Draft needs: NFC South 47:30 - Draft needs: NFC North 53:35 - Draft needs: NFC West Watch This Full Episode On YouTube Zero Blitz would be nothing without the impact of our beloved Terez Paylor, who was a pillar of Yahoo Sports' NFL editorial and podcast coverage.
Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, there are discussions about potential trades and draft picks, with the Denver Broncos considering a move to draft a quarterback or a pass rusher. Analysts like Peter Schrager and Lance Zierlein have made mock drafts predicting trades and player selections, including the New York Giants trading up for a quarterback. Additionally, there is anticipation for NFL prospects with familiar last names to be drafted, with potential surprises in the top picks.
Top NFL draft prospects like Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Terrion Arnold, and Drake Maye showcased their unique and stylish outfits at the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams wore a navy blue custom suit, Marvin Harrison Jr. had a special medallion honoring his father, Malik Nabers revealed a fiery jacket tribute to LSU, Terrion Arnold donned a pale pink suit with personal touches, and Drake Maye opted for a classic light gray suit. Cam Newton also made a fashion statement with a magnificent hat while covering the event for ESPN.
The Indianapolis Colts made a strategic move in the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu as the first defensive player chosen at No. 15 overall. Latu, known for his pass-rushing skills, had impressive seasons at UCLA in 2022 and 2023 but faced concerns due to a past neck injury that led to a medical retirement while at Washington. Despite undergoing neck fusion surgery, he was cleared by league doctors, although there are worries about his future longevity in the sport.
The 2021 NFL draft was the 86th National Football League draft, the annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland from April 29 to May 1, 2021.Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round — Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones — the second highest number of first-round quarterback selections (along with the 1999 and 2018 drafts) after the six selected in 1983. The draft also marked the third time the first three picks (Lawrence, Wilson, and Lance) were quarterbacks, following the 1971 and 1999 drafts. A total of eight quarterbacks were selected in the first three rounds, the most in NFL draft history. Conversely, only two quarterbacks were taken in the remaining rounds.In addition to the high number of quarterbacks, six Alabama players were taken in the first round, which is tied with the six Miami players in 2004 for the most from an individual school. Conversely, no Big 12 Conference players were drafted in the first round for the first time since the conference began play in 1996 and no Michigan State players were selected for the first time since 1941.Scouts considered the later rounds of the draft lacking desirable prospects due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortening the 2020 college football season. The NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility and an opt-out option for athletes because of the shortened season, resulting in many prospects returning to school instead of declaring for the draft.
The Washington Commanders have 9 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including a first-round pick at number 2. Their team needs include quarterback, offensive tackle, edge, cornerback, and wide receiver. The Commanders' notable opponents for the 2024 season include the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Titans, Bears, Saints, Buccaneers, Ravens, Bengals, and Cardinals.
The 2018 NFL draft was the 83rd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2018 NFL season. The draft was held on April 26–28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; it was the first draft to take place in an NFL stadium and the first to be held in Texas. In order to be eligible to enter the draft, players must be at least three years removed from high school. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was January 15, 2018.Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round — Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson — the second highest number of first-round quarterback selections (along with the 1999 and 2021 drafts) after the six selected in 1983. As of 2023, only Allen and Jackson have remained with their original teams. The draft was also the first to have siblings — safety Terrell Edmunds and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds — selected in its first round.The 2018 NFL draft was the first of two professional sports drafts to be held in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex during the calendar year, as the Dallas Stars hosted the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in June.
Florida State's defensive lineman Jared Verse is considered a possible first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft after showcasing his skills during college games and the NFL scouting combine.
The 2019 NFL draft was the 84th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2019 NFL season. The draft was held on April 25–27 in Nashville, Tennessee. The first round was held on April 25, followed by the second and third rounds on April 26, and concluded with rounds 4–7 on April 27. The draft featured a record-high 40 trades, surpassing the 37 that were made in 2017.
Joe Schoen, the general manager of the New York Giants, faces a sleepless night before the NFL Draft, anticipating the challenges of making selections. In his third year leading the Giants' draft, Schoen's past drafts have had mixed success with standout players like Kayvon Thibobeaux but also missed opportunities with players like Evan Neal and WanDale Robinson facing challenges.
The 2024 NFL draft spans three days with Round 1 starting at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, followed by Rounds 2-3 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and Rounds 4-7 at noon ET on Saturday. The draft can be watched on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. The Chicago Bears are expected to select quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick. The final pick at No. 257, known as Mr. Irrelevant, will be announced by a seal at a zoo in Piscataway, not Commissioner Roger Goodell. The draft order includes teams like Chicago, Washington, New England, Arizona, and more.
Rome Oduzne, despite an impressive performance in the Washington Huskies' offense, is overshadowed by other wide receiver prospects like Marvin Harrison Jr and Malik Nabers in the upcoming NFL draft. With his exceptional catch rate and success against press coverage, he stands out as a valuable player. Oduzne's rare combination of size, speed, and route-running ability makes him a coveted prospect. Although he may not excel in yards after the catch like Nabers, he remains a strong contender for early draft picks, with a prop bet of over/under 8.5 selections.
Benjamin Luke Cousins (born 30 June 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for West Coast and Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL).Cousins is listed by journalist Mike Sheahan as one of the fifty greatest players of all time. During his 12-year, 238-game career with West Coast, he won several of the league's highest individual awards, including a Brownlow Medal, Most Valuable Player and a premiership medallion. He was also selected six times in the All-Australian Team and represented Australia in the International Rules Series. He was West Coast's club champion for four seasons and captain for five seasons.Cousins' football career was marred by highly publicised off-field incidents involving illegal recreational drug use, traffic convictions and association with criminal elements. On several occasions he was fined or sanctioned by West Coast, culminating in the termination of his contract in October 2007. The following month, he was banned from AFL for one year by the AFL Commission for "bringing the game into disrepute". Amid predictions that he would remain undrafted, Richmond claimed Cousins with the last pick of the 2008 draft. He played 32 games across two seasons at the club, retiring from the AFL at the end of the 2010 season.Cousins co-produced a documentary film titled Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins, saying he hoped it would serve as a cautionary tale against drug use. Released days after his retirement, it was "one of the most-watched documentaries in Australian history." Post-football, Cousins continued to struggle with his drug addiction and have run-ins with the law, and in 2017 he received a 12-month prison sentence for a variety of offences.In 2023, after beating his addictions, Cousins joined the Seven News team in Perth where he reads the morning news sports bulletin and is emerging as one of the city’s leading sports reporters.[1]
Jim Penix is an American retired basketball player, known for his college career at Bowling Green State University, where in 1970 he was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.Penix came from Rossford, Ohio, where he attended 17 different schools as his father's job as a construction foreman required the family to move frequently. He starred at Rossford High School, leading the team to the 1966 Ohio class A state final. He averaged 23.9 points per game that season and was named first-team All-State. Following his high school career, he followed his high school coach, Cot Marquette to junior college Penta Tech (now Owens Community College), where in his two-year career he averaged 28.5 points per game. He then transferred to Bowling Green to complete his four-year career for new coach Bob Conibear. Known as an outstanding outside shooter, Penix entered the Falcons' rotation immediately as a junior, averaging 9.5 points and 4 rebounds per game for the Falcons. In his senior season, he started slowly, breaking into the starting lineup eight games into the season. Once there, his scoring touch ranked him as one of the top players in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). He averaged 19.5 points per game overall, but 22.9 in conference games to lead the MAC. He was named first-team All-MAC and the MAC Player of the Year at the close of the season.Following his college career, Penix was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1970 NBA draft and the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He signed with the Rockets but was one of their last cuts prior to the 1970–71 season. He did not play professional basketball but continued to play in local amateur leagues. He was selected into the Owens Community College inaugural athletics hall of fame class in 2016.
An ESPN investigative report reveals the coach search exploits of Bill Belichick and the Atlanta Falcons during the recent head coach hiring cycle. Despite Belichick's success, particularly with the Patriots, he failed to secure a coaching position with the Falcons. The report portrays Belichick as arrogant and entitled, with Patriots owner Robert Kraft depicted as vindictive towards Belichick despite their public amicable split. It highlights a behind-the-scenes narrative of betrayals and strained relationships in the NFL coaching world.
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons were founded on June 30, 1965, and joined the NFL in 1966 as an expansion team, after the NFL offered then-owner Rankin Smith a franchise to keep him from joining the rival American Football League (AFL).In their 57 years of existence, the Falcons have compiled a record of 390–503–6 (380–489–6 in the regular season and 10–14 in the playoffs), winning division championships in 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, and 2016. The Falcons have appeared in two Super Bowls, the first during the 1998 season in Super Bowl XXXIII, where they lost to the Denver Broncos 34–19, and the second 18 years later, a 34–28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. They are the oldest major professional sports team in America with no championships.The Falcons' current home field is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened for the 2017 season; the team's headquarters and practice facilities are located at a 50-acre (20 ha) site in Flowery Branch, northeast of Atlanta in Hall County.
NFL players committed a surprising number of gambling infractions last offseason, resulting in several suspensions, some of them indefinite. The general rule is that NFL employees, both staff and players, are prohibited from any form of sports gambling. READ: NFL Suspends Four More Players For Gambling Violations As List Continues To Grow Almost a year later, the NFL officially reinstated five players who were disciplined for violating the league's gambling policy. Wide receiver Stanley Berryhill of the Atlanta Falcons at the conclusion of an NFL preseason football game (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the NFL reinstated Commanders cornerback Shaka Toney, former Colts linebacker Rashod Berry, ex-wideout Quintez Cephus, and former Lions players C.J.
The 2024 NFL free agency period is approaching, with top players like Chris Jones and Kirk Cousins expected to attract big contracts. Teams can start negotiating with free agents on March 11, with free agency officially opening on March 13. Notable players like Russell Wilson, Tyron Smith, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Austin Ekeler are also set to hit the market. The 2024 salary cap is expected to be $255.4 million, and teams are gearing up to make strategic moves to improve their rosters for the upcoming season.
The 2011 NFL draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players. Like the 2010 draft, the 2011 draft was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, over three days: this year, the first round took place on Thursday, April 28, 2011; the second and third rounds took place on Friday, April 29; with the final four rounds on Saturday, April 30, 2011. The Carolina Panthers, who had the worst record for the 2010 NFL season at 2–14, had the right to the first selection in the draft, where they selected Auburn University quarterback Cam Newton, who was the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. The 2011 draft is regarded as one of the most talented draft classes in NFL history, as 12 of the first 16 players have been selected to at least one Pro Bowl.A second Heisman Trophy winner, running back Mark Ingram II from Alabama was selected by New Orleans late in the first round. This was the eleventh draft which included multiple Heisman winners, and the first time ever that it has occurred in consecutive drafts (Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow in 2010). Five of the first six picks played college football in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For the second consecutive year—and the third time in NFL history—the top two selections of the draft won Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, respectively. The top two picks in the draft, Cam Newton and Denver linebacker Von Miller, played against each other in Super Bowl 50 on the teams that drafted them. This marked the first time that the top two picks in a single draft faced each other in the Super Bowl. The Broncos won, with Miller winning Super Bowl MVP.Teams were allowed ten minutes to make each selection in the first round, seven minutes per selection in the second round and five minutes in each of the subsequent rounds. The time allotment ran out for the Baltimore Ravens on their first round pick, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to move up to the 26th pick and dropping the Ravens to the 27th pick. Numerous draft prospects displayed Hall of Fame level talent throughout their careers, including three-time Defensive Player of the Year J. J. Watt, 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton, Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, 2015 and 2018 receiving yards leader Julio Jones, and perennial All-Pro players such as Richard Sherman, A. J. Green, Tyron Smith, Jason Kelce, Cameron Jordan, Cameron Heyward and Patrick Peterson.The following is the breakdown of the 254 players selected by position:
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