#oh and Jalen Ramsey … yes

[litwhorees]

guys they made a song abt darius garland !

#honorable mentions: caris levert & ricky rubio (it’s a very biased list) #oh and Jalen Ramsey … yes #oouu and Justin fields if you’re into guys who look like rejected tmnt (said in the kindest way possible) #dg tha pg

[julesrulessports]

NFL Draft Round 1 Grades

The first night of the 2020 NFL Draft is in the books and I loved it! I had fun watching it, and hope all of you did too! I always enjoy watching the draft and really look forward to watching the next 223 picks over the next couple of days. However, with the first round pick done with, I graded all of them!

1: Bengals - Joe Burrow - QB

Bengals get an A+. Burrow is the best quarterback in the draft and is a great fit as he’s from Ohio. He knows what it takes to win and can turn the franchise around.

2: Redskins - Chase Young - DE

This is an A+ too. They got the best player in the draft with the second pick. 

3: Lions - Jeffrey Okudah - CB

I’m gonna give this a B+. I feel like Isaiah Simmons was the way to go because they need help all over the defense and Simmons can do it all. However, corner was their biggest need and Okudah can be a lockdown corner from year one.

4: Giants - Andrew Thomas -  OT

Wasn’t the best offensive tackle available but still a good pick so I’ll say it’s a B. Would’ve taken Jedrick Wills Jr or Tristan Wirfs instead. But Andrew Thomas is the best run blocker in the draft which is great for Saquon and has the highest floor of the offensive tackles. 

5: Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa - QB

A- here. It’s a risky pick but the Dolphins need to swing for the fences and Tua has the potential to be a star, he just needs to stay healthy. Dolphins would’ve really regretted it if they passed on him and he became a star somewhere else.

6: Chargers - Justin Herbert - QB

This is another B+ for me. Herbert won’t ever be a star, but he’s a very good quarterback going into a solid situation with the Chargers. Chargers have a good offense around him and Herbert can be very good from the get go, something I don’t see Burrow or Tua doing.

7: Panthers - Derrick Brown - DT

Another A-. I would’ve taken Isaiah Simmons with this pick, especially after losing Luke Kuechly. However, defensive tackle was a huge need and they got an amazing one that’ll contribute from year one.

8: Cardinals - Isaiah Simmons - CB

This is definitely an A+. They get a generational defensive talent, the third best player in the draft, at pick eight.

9: Jaguars - C.J. Henderson - CB

This is an A. They lost Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye since the start of last season so corner was really a giant hole on the roster. They got the best one available at nine and Henderson was someone that was rising on draft boards recently.

10: Browns - Jedrick Wills Jr - OT

A+ of course. Wills Jr is the best offensive tackle in a loaded tackle class and getting him at ten, being a team that really needs to improve their offensive line, is an amazing selection.

11: Jets - Mekhi Becton - OT

This is a B-. Mekhi Becton is a very good player, but he’s not a safe pick. Becton is a boom or bust prospect and I feel like the Jets needed the safer pick in Tristan Wirfs.

12: Raiders - Henry Ruggs III - WR

I’m gonna give this an A-. In my mind Ruggs  was the third best receiver in the draft class. On the other hand, he’s still amazing and those top three receivers are all very close. Ruggs has been compared to Tyreek Hill for his speed and route running. Plus, Ruggs is the best fit scheme wise for the Raiders.

13: Buccaneers - Tristan Wirfs - OT

This is an A, and it would’ve been an A+ if the Bucs stayed at fourteen and still got him. Getting him at 13 is still great. In my mind he’s the second best tackle from this class. The Bucs have a talented offense and upgrading the offensive line will let it get a lot better.

14: 49ers - Javon Kinlaw - DT

Ths is definitely an A+ The 49ers traded DeForest Buckner for the 13th pick, then traded one spot down and were able to replace Buckner with someone that may be just as good. Kinlaw, like Buckner, is a defensive tackle that can also get some good sack numbers.

15: Broncos - Jerry Jeudy - WR

This is a B+. Wide receiver was a need for the Broncos, but not a huge one and I wouldn’t have taken one in the first round with this being such a deep receiver class. But you could do much worse than Jeudy, who’s been compared to Odell Beckham Jr for good reason as he has good quickness, route running, and hands. Jeudy might be better than Sutton in his rookie year if that gives you an idea of how good he is.

16: Falcons - A.J. Terrell - CB

This is my worst graded pick yet as I’m giving it a C+. Terrell is good, but I just believed there were three or four better cornerbacks available.

17: Cowboys - CeeDee Lamb - WR

A+. Wow. Just wow. This may end up being the steal of the draft. Lamb is the best receiver in a great receiver class. He’s been compared to Hopkins and might be every bit as good. Cowboys offense is looking fantastic.

18: Dolphins - Austin Jackson - OT

This has to be a B+ for me. The Dolphins needed a tackle here to protect Tua which is why I really like this pick. The reason why I don’t like it more is because there were a couple tackles I would’ve taken over him.

19: Raiders - Damon Arnette - CB

Oh my, what a reach, and that’s why I’m giving it a C-. Daniel Jeremiah said he had Arnette as the eighth best corner, yet the Raiders made him the third one drafted. Should’ve gone late in round two.

20: Jaguars - K’Lavon Chaisson - EDGE

I feel like this pick is an A-. Chaisson is the second best pass rusher in the draft and with the additions of him and C.J. Henderson the Jaguars may have a good defense again. I have a feeling the Jaguars know they’ll be trading Ngakoue soon and Chaisson is replacing him.

21: Eagles - Jalen Reagor - WR

This pick is a B. The Eagles needed a wide receiver here so going with that position is smart. But I would’ve gone with Justin Jefferson or even Brandon Aiyuk instead.

22: Vikings - Justin Jefferson - WR

Great pick by the Vikings so I’ll grade this as an A. There were obviously issues between Stefon Diggs and the rest of the organization which lead to him being traded for this pick. Right here, though, I believe they’re getting someone that may be as good as Diggs and this guy doesn’t have problems with the team.

23: Chargers - Kenneth Murray - MLB

The Chargers pulled off a surprising trade with the Patriots and acquired Kenneth Murray. I love that trade for them and think they get an A+ for it. The Chargers saw their division rivals getting better on offense with two great receivers in Ruggs and Jeudy, so they decide to limit opposing teams’ offensive success with the best middle linebacker in the draft.                                                   Side note: When I say best middle linebacker in the class I’m not including Simmons, he’s really just a defensive player.

24: Saints - Cesar Ruiz - C

I’d give this a B. I would’ve gone with Jordan Love or a defensive player here. Nonetheless, Ruiz is the best center in this years draft class and Brees and the rest of the offense should love the pick.

25: 49ers - Brandon Aiyuk - WR

The 49ers are a team that wanted to trade down and get extra picks, so them trading up was a surprise to many. I’d give this an A-. Yes, this is a deep receiver class and they could’ve gotten a very good one at 31, but Aiyuk was the best fit scheme wise.

26: Packers - Jordan Love - QB

I’m gonna give this pick an A+ which might be a stunner to lots of you. Yes, the Packers could’ve gone with someone that’ll help them win now. And yes, Rodgers is going to be mad about this pick. But I think no matter who they drafted here they won’t win another Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers. And their job isn’t to make Aaron Rodgers happy. This is a move they’re making for the next fifteen years and I love it. Jordan Love is a boom or bust prospect, but learning from Rodgers for a couple years and having a great coach like Matt LeFleur will allow him to reach his full potential as a future MVP level player. Don’t want to put too much pressure on him but this reminds me of Mahomes going to the Chiefs.

27: Seahawks - Jordyn Brooks - MLB

This is a C. Not sure what they were thinking. They had three better options; trading back, drafting Yetur Gross-Matos, or drafting an offensive tackle. But instead they draft at a position that they’re already good at?! And not only that, but they pass on a much better player at that position in Patrick Queen?! Despite all the negativity from me about this pick, I feel like Pete Carroll knows what he’s doing and I don’t think Jordyn Brooks will be some kind of Rashaad Penny level bust. I see him being a solid player, just a reach and the Seahawks are an odd fit for him.

28: Ravens - Patrick Queen - MLB

This pick is definitely an A. Queen fell further than expected in the draft and he lands with a team that needed to bolster the middle of their defense. The linebacker position was the missing link to the Ravens defense and they really improved that by drafting Queen.

29: Titans - Isaiah Wilson - OT

I’m gonna grade this as a B-. The Titans were lacking a good tackle after losing Jack Conklin in free agency. However, like many other picks, this was a reach and I personally would’ve taken some tackles over him. The Titans could’ve traded back and gotten him in the second round while adding some more picks. Wilson is still a very good tackle and going with that position was necessary to keeping the great Derrick Henry run game alive. 

30: Dolphins - Noah Igbinoghene - CB

This is a C+ for me. Getting Igbinoghene here is good value. But the Dolphins already have two very good corners, Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, who are the two highest paid corners in the league. I would’ve gone with a pass rusher or running back here.

31: Vikings - Jeff Gladney - CB

This pick is a B+. Addressing corner was essential to the Vikings. Gladney is a solid corner that probably won’t be amazing, but can play at a high level for a long time. He’s definitely a huge upgrade from who they had at the position.

32: Chiefs - Clyde Edwards-Helaire - RB

Kind of an odd pick and I’m going to give it a C. There are two or three better running backs in this draft; D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, and possibly J.K. Dobbins. Edwards-Helaire isn’t bad, I just think he should’ve gone in late in round two or early in round three. On the bright side, I’m a big fan of him. I compare him to both Mark Ingram and Frank Gore. He’s short and undersized but at the same time he’s strong, fierce, and hard to bring down. He is also a good pass catcher. Obviously the Chiefs just won the Super Bowl so I have to assume they know what they’re doing.

[junker-town]

7 NFL trends to talk about at Thanksgiving to avoid awkward conversation

Lamar Jackson is setting the NFL on fire, one year after Patrick Mahomes did.

What’s in? What’s out? What’s so last year? Here’s what’s all the rage in the NFL this season.

Thanksgiving is America’s ode to awkward conversations around the dinner table. It’s the only time of the year when you’re confronted in person with nonsense you can usually block online. There’s your uncle spewing his increasingly conspiracy theorist political views, your family friend who you call an aunt who is not an aunt trying to pedal some “organic” face cream, and your wined-up Nana telling everyone who her favorite grandchild is (it’s you, of course).

Luckily, football is there to save us when we don’t want to answer questions about our dating life or hear your cousin’s thoughts about impeachment.

If you haven’t been paying much attention to the NFL this season, it’s OK. We’re not here to judge. Maybe you’ve been busy. Maybe you got really into the CFL this year instead. Maybe you’re a Bengals fan.

It’s not too late, though. There’s still time to get caught up on the latest trends in the NFL so you can avoid turning into the “Ight Imma Head Out” SpongeBob meme and steer any discussion back to what’s happening on the football field.

The best player in the NFL is ...

Out: Tom Brady is the GOAT So last year: Patrick Mahomes is the GOAT In: Lamar Jackson is the GOAT

Yes, technically Brady is still the GOAT, but he’s lost his fastball, even if the Patriots are still the Patriots. Jackson is officially the most exciting player in the league, supplanting Mahomes and leading the red-hot Ravens to a 9-2 start.

Jackson has been every bit the dynamic force he was while winning a Heisman Trophy at Louisville — except now he’s doing it against NFL defenses. He’s beaten both teams that played in Super Bowl 53 this season, racking up eight total touchdowns (six passing, two rushing) against them in the process.

So far this season, he’s got:

more passing touchdowns than anyone in the league but Russell Wilson (they’re tied at 24)

a higher completion rate than Dak Prescott (66.9 to 66.8)

the highest QBR (82.2) and a passer rating higher than Mahomes (111.4 to 110)

more yards per attempt than Deshaun Watson (8.1 to 8.0)

more rushing yards than Le’Veon Bell OR Todd Gurley (876)

more rushing touchdowns than Leonard Fournette (five to three)

That’s pushed him to the forefront of the MVP race. He’ll still have to fend off Wilson, but if he can play at even 90 percent of his abilities over the rest of the season, he’ll make it two straight seasons when a second-year QB is named the league’s most valuable player.

The top QB from the 2016 draft is ...

Out: Carson Wentz, savior of the City of Brotherly Love So last year: Jared Goff, God’s gift to the West Coast offense In: Dak Prescott, better than Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach combined

Goff and Wentz were the first two picks in the 2016 draft and had high expectations coming into the league. For a while, it looked like they had lived up to the hype. Wentz was a legit MVP candidate in 2017 until his ACL injury put Nick Foles into the lineup — and delivered the Eagles their first Super Bowl. Goff had his strongest season yet in 2018 and got the Rams to the Super Bowl, though they came up short of a championship. Both got big new contracts in the offseason.

Yet it’s Prescott — a fourth-round pick and the eighth quarterback off the board in 2016 — who not only hasn’t struggled this year, but he keeps getting better:

JARED GOFF v. CARSON WENTZ v. DAK PRESCOTT IN THEIR LAST 16 GAMES: pic.twitter.com/IUG3AfWObI

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 26, 2019

Prescott currently leads the league in total passing yards and is in the top five in touchdown passes, QBR, and yards per pass. Although he doesn’t have a Super Bowl trip under his belt, he has led the Cowboys to two playoff appearances and three straight winning seasons. It looks like he could accomplish both again this season, too.

Dallas is in the driver’s seat in the NFC East, and while the Cowboys have some glaring problems (mainly, coaching), Prescott isn’t one of them. He’ll be rewarded for that soon with his own (richer) contract extension.

The way to win the Super Bowl is ...

Out: Defense wins championships, even with a caretaker QB So last year: Offense is the king In: Defense is baaaaack ... but you need a passing game

Defense is paving the way for the NFL’s elite, just like in last season’s playoffs. The two best records in the NFL currently belong to the Patriots and the 49ers, who boast the top two defenses in about every metric — scoring, yards allowed, yards per play, and defensive DVOA.

Yes, New England still has that Brady fella you’ve probably heard of, but he’s putting up underwhelming numbers. The Patriots are winning because of their boogeymen defense. It’s the same story for San Francisco, another one-loss team that is doing just fine with Jimmy Garoppolo but also doesn’t need to rely on its offense to win games.

Last year, the unstoppable offenses of the Rams and Chiefs were all the rage. Both lost to the Patriots in the postseason and since, Los Angeles has slowed down significantly while the Kansas City defense is still too terrible to make the Chiefs all that scary.

The 2019 season has shown that a powerful defense can lead the way — as long as your quarterback isn’t someone as lousy as Mitchell Trubisky.

The NFL’s laughingstock is ...

Out: The Browns, after a nearly two-decade run So last year: The Cardinals, who literally paid Sam Bradford money in 2018 In: The Bears, because they chose Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson

In 2017, the Bears traded up to No. 2 to draft Trubisky, a quarterback who only had one year of starting experience at UNC. As anyone who had watched college football that year knew, two other quarterbacks selected several picks later were the real deal. Mahomes and Watson aren’t just good young quarterbacks, either. They’re bonafides stars who should have long, productive careers.

Then there’s Trubisky, who has fallen from “adequate game manager” to maybe the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. To make matters worse, he’s squandering what should be one of the league’s dominant defenses.

It’s not just that Trubisky is bad, either. It’s that he’s really bad. The Bears have zero identity on offense and zero spark. There is very little reason to expect Trubisky, with his 5.8 yards per pass average, to ever lead them on a scoring drive and when he does, it feels like a minor miracle.

He is prime dunking-on material, and should make for some good Thanksgiving laughs. Be sure to stress the Mahomes and Watson angle at the dinner table.

Our view on the youngest NFL coach ever is ...

Out: Sean McVay is the future of NFL coaching So last year: Get used to Sean McVay, the NFL’s most innovative coach In: Oh damn, they figured out how to stop Sean McVay already?

McVay revived the Rams after taking the reins as head coach in 2017, winning a division title in his first year at the helm and then guiding his team to the Super Bowl in 2018. Barring a drastic change, his 2019 follow-up will be sending his players off for an early vacation when the playoffs roll around.

The Rams have fallen to the middle of the NFC pack as issues have cropped up on both sides of the ball. A defense anchored by All-Pros Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey has given up 45+ points multiple times this season. Jared Goff, an MVP candidate through most of 2018, did this:

Jared Goff threw zero touchdowns in the month of November

— Adam Stites (@AdamStites_) November 26, 2019

Part of McVay’s issue is attributable to injuries that have fundamentally changed the way his offensive line blocks for Todd Gurley. Without center Brian Allen or guard Joe Noteboom — tackle Rob Havenstein has missed time with a knee injury as well — LA’s simplistic zone rushing plan has struggled to create space up front. That’s allowed teams to divert attention to the Rams’ passing game and, well, that’s how you wind up with zero passing touchdowns for an entire month.

McVay’s prospects in Los Angeles may not get better anytime soon. The Rams are pressed up against the salary cap thanks to massive deals for players like Donald, Goff, Gurley, and Brandin Cooks. They don’t have much draft capital to spend on young impact players because they shipped their next two first-round picks to Jacksonville for Ramsey. It’s possible LA peaked in 2018 — and that might extend to McVay as well.

Our reaction to the NFL’s biggest goof of a coach is ...

Out: laughing at Jon Gruden in the Monday Night Football booth So last year: laughing at Jon Gruden as the Raiders coach In: giving Jon Gruden some credit

Gruden’s 2018 was a disaster, but his teardown — which sent stars Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper packing — has begun to set up a foundation in Oakland. Newly installed general manager Mike Mayock has been a valuable governor to Gruden’s hotter takes, turning the team’s 2019 draft into a handful of young stars. Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs, Maxx Crosby, Foster Moreau, and Hunter Renfrow are set to be significant pieces of the team’s future.

As a result, the Raiders are a surprising piece of the AFC’s postseason puzzle, even if their 34-3 loss to the Jets (!) knocked them into a four-way tie for the conference’s final wild card spot. A strong finish could turn a team oddsmakers pegged to win six games this fall into an honest-to-goodness playoff team, and that’s validated the wild swings the coach-turned-announcer-turned-coach took in 2018.

Gruden needed to create a product fans could get excited about in time for the team’s 2020 move to Las Vegas. The Raiders aren’t a Super Bowl contender yet, but if you squint hard enough you can see how they’d get there — and that’ll be enough to move tickets in the middle of the Nevada desert.

The one NFL opinion we can all agree on is ...

Out: Jimmy Garoppolo, Patriots backup, is handsome So last year: Jimmy Garoppolo, injured 49ers QB, is handsome In: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB of the NFC-leading 49ers, is handsome

Nothing can unite a group of people together like a mutual acknowledgement that Garoppolo is handsome. We would say he’s movie star handsome, but he’s more handsome than that. Movie stars wish they could be as handsome as Garoppolo.

For anybody claiming that Garoppolo is inconsistent on the field, well, just look at his handsomeness. The guy was handsome for years behind the average-at-best-by-comparison Tom Brady. Then he came to San Francisco, won a few games handsomely, then sustained a pretty bad ACL tear which, while handsome, was very disappointing.

Now, he’s led the 49ers to a handsome 10-1 record, the best in the NFC. That lone loss came to the Seahawks, and if you were wondering if the loss was handsome:

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Obviously, it was.

So when all else fails, let Jimmy G’s handsomeness help keep the peace at Thanksgiving.

[yahoo-the-dagger-blog]

Nevada stages historic comeback from 25 down to stun New Mexico

As Nevada staged one of the most improbable comebacks in college basketball history at New Mexico late Saturday night, Eric Musselman’s sons were at home playing video games.

Michael and Matthew Musselman had turned the game off midway through the second half with their dad’s team hopelessly behind.

“Some of their friends started texting them after we tied it up,” Eric Musselman said by phone Sunday morning. “All of a sudden their phones went pop-pop-pop, and they turned it back on with three minutes left in overtime.”

What Musselman’s sons missed was a rally so unfathomable that many of the fans at WisePies Arena had already left their seats by the time it began. The Wolf Pack won 105-104 in overtime despite trailing by 25 with 11 minutes left in regulation, by 19 with four minutes to go and by 14 with just over a minute remaining.

Sophomore forward Jordan Caroline sank a go-ahead pull-up 3-pointer from the left wing with 2.9 seconds left in overtime to ensure Nevada’s furious comeback wouldn’t go to waste. Caroline’s game winner gave the Wolf Pack their first lead since the opening three minutes of the first half.

“I’ve coached in college, in the NBA, internationally, and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Musselman said. “The biggest benefit of it is now our guys know that we can come back from any deficit. I’m 52, and it’s a lesson for me that anything is possible in sports.”

Nevada’s comeback didn’t begin to build momentum until even Musselman had lost hope. He pulled leading scorer Marcus Marshall with a few minutes left in the game, hoping to get the senior guard some extra rest rather than risk injury in a game that already appeared to be decided.

Musselman’s outlook hadn’t changed as New Mexico’s Jalen Harris dribbled up court with a 14-point lead and 70 seconds to play. Only after Caroline poked the ball away from behind and fed walk-on Charlie Tooley for a transition 3-pointer did Musselman see enough glimmer of hope to summon Marshall from the bench and send him back into the game.

“He looked at two of the managers behind the bench and said, ‘Why’s he putting me back in?'” Musselman said with a chuckle.

Musselman’s rationale was simple. Not only is Marshall a 40.7 percent shooter from behind the arc this season, he’s also the team’s best late-game shooter. Marshall specializes in off-balance, wrong-footed shots like the last-second runner he beat Washington with earlier this season.

Validation for reinserting Marshall arrived quickly as Nevada hit five more threes during the final minute, each more difficult than the next. Four came from Marshall including a step-back 3-pointer from NBA range and a pair of heavily contested banked-in threes from even further back.

It was the second of Marshall’s bank shots that forced overtime. After New Mexico’s Sam Logwood clanked a pair of free throws with the Lobos up three and 16.6 seconds to play, Marshall took a dribble handoff well behind the arc on the left wing, pulled up and stunned what remained of the red-clad New Mexico crowd at the Pit.

“He’s as good a late-game shot maker as I’ve ever been around including NBA players,” Musselman said. “He takes the shots where you go, ‘Oh no … Yes!'”

Nevada trailed New Mexico 90-76 with just over a minute left last night. What happened next was one of the most insane comebacks you'll see. pic.twitter.com/PEqe0wmbqK

— March Madness 2017 (@Madness2017) January 8, 2017

The 11-point deficit Nevada erased in less than 60 seconds was the second biggest final-minute comeback in college basketball history. Texas A&M set the record during the second round of the NCAA tournament last March when it stormed back from 12 points down to stun Northern Iowa.

Whereas it was Northern Iowa turnovers that fueled Texas A&M’s rally, it was missed foul shots by New Mexico that paved the way for Nevada’s. The Lobos missed 9 of 14 free throws in the final three minutes, a problem exacerbated by the fact that several of their top foul shooters were sidelined by injury.

To win the game in overtime, Nevada actually had to stage another comeback. New Mexico scored seven of the first nine points in overtime and still led by two when Musselman called timeout to prepare for their final possession.

Even though Caroline had scored 42 points and Marshall had gotten hot late in regulation, freshman point guard Devearl Ramsey was the primary option in the play that Musselman drew up in the huddle. Musselman wanted Ramsey to dribble up court and either try to tie the game with a layup or kick to a shooter for an open look.

“When we called the last timeout and diagrammed the play, Jordan was furious he wasn’t the first option,” Musselman said. “He kept screaming, ‘I want the ball, I want the ball.'”

Fortunately for Nevada it worked out that way anyway. New Mexico double teamed Ramsey to prevent him from catching the inbound pass, the ball went to Caroline instead and the athletic combo forward did not waste his chance.

Caroline’s quickness makes him a difficult matchup for opposing power forwards, and it showed in the way that New Mexico’s Tim Williams backed off him to take away the drive, giving him space to get off a clean look. The Nevada sophomore finished with a career-high 45 points on 12 of 21 shooting from inside the arc and 5 of 8 shooting from behind it.

The heroics of Marshall and Caroline kept Nevada (14-3, 3-1) within a game of first-place Boise State in the Mountain West standings. This was an especially important road win too since New Mexico (9-7, 2-2) is also projected to contend for the league title.

But the league standings weren’t what mattered to either team when the final buzzer sounded.

For New Mexico, this was a harsh lesson not to let up too soon. For Nevada, it was proof that miracles are possible when you never give up. And for the Musselman family, it was a reminder never to turn the TV off too early.

“I called my sons after the game, and they were screaming and going crazy,” Musselman said with a laugh. “They were so mad they turned it off too soon.”

– – – – – – –

Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!

Follow @JeffEisenberg

#_author:Jeff Eisenberg #_lmsid:a077000000CFoGyAAL #_revsp:497660ab-6a82-4a53-b16c-6a93638f82dc #_category:yct:001001076 #_uuid:3ccfaac7-a733-3133-99ad-40378919b186

[junker-town]

The 1 thing each NFL team should have done differently this offseason

After six weeks of the 2017 season, it’s easy to see which offseason moves worked and which didn’t.

Hindsight is always 20/20. It’s easy to look back now and see exactly what your favorite NFL team could have done differently in the offseason. And that’s exactly what we’ve asked SB Nation’s NFL team sites to do this week.

For some teams, the answer was clear. The Cardinals let Calais Campbell walk in free agency, and he’s been a force for the Jaguars. Campbell has eight sacks on the season already. The Cardinals’ entire defense has just 12.

The answer for the Jaguars is also obvious. Blake Bortles is not going to be a viable franchise quarterback, and they should have gone after one in free agency or snagged someone in the draft. Bortles is averaging 178 passing yards per game and has eight touchdowns against five picks.

Jacksonville is ranked eighth in the league for scoring, but that’s not because of Bortles. The Jaguars have been helped along by six rushing touchdowns, which ties them for third in the NFL. A league-best four defensive touchdowns have also made a difference and don't have a thing to do with Bortles.

Our team sites weighed in and shared what they thought their favorite team would pick if they had do-over, whether it was a move the team made or one they didn’t. Here’s what they chose:

Arizona Cardinals: They never should have let Calais Campbell walk

While the signing of Chandler Jones was important, it seemed to be rather easy to get a contract sorted out. Instead of doing that first, then franchising Campbell to insure he was around for one more season, while also making sure that Robert Nkemdiche was ready for the spotlight.

Instead, the Cardinals gambled. They let Calais walk and he has been a part of the transformation of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense.

Campbell through six games has eight sacks (second most in the NFL), two more than Chandler Jones on the season, and is one away from tying his career high.

For more, check out the entire entry at Revenge of the Birds.

Atlanta Falcons: They should have drafted a defensive tackle

Had the Falcons known [stopping the run] would be an issue, they may have elected to pick up a defensive tackle in the draft, because this looks like a pretty solid class. That would have given them another young, fresh player on the interior this entire time, and I believe that could have made a legitimate different in the outcomes of the Buffalo and Miami games.

For more, check out the entire entry at the Falcoholic.

Baltimore Ravens: They shouldn’t have passed up JuJu Smith-Schuster

It was tough to narrow this one down. Kyle Barber, the managing editor of Baltimore Beatdown, writes:

It’s a really difficult thing to look back on and make a definitive response. I was confident in the offensive line, with Alex Lewis and Marshal Yanda as the interior players. I believe right tackle was the biggest loss, followed by skipping over JuJu Smith-Schuster. Austin Howard has performed well, so I’m not taking Ricky Wagner back. My final answer, not drafting Juju. Baltimore misses out on yet another wideout.

For more, check out the entire entry at Baltimore Beatdown.

Buffalo Bills: Not bringing in a better offensive coordinator

There were rumors Mike McCoy was on Sean McDermott’s short list of candidates. Instead, Buffalo ended up with Rick Dennison who has never called plays before and Buffalo’s run game has suffered immensely, the new blocking schemes aren’t working, and their passing game is worse, too.

For more, check out the entire entry at Buffalo Rumblings.

Carolina Panthers: They should have fired Dave Gettleman sooner

The common theory for Gettleman’s exit — and all we have are theories because Richardson has been notoriously silent on his reasoning for the decision — is that folks inside the organization grew tired of Gettleman’s poor ‘bedside manner’ when dealing with pending free agents during contract negotiations. Panthers fans saw the departures of Jordan Gross, DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith and Josh Norman under Gettleman’s watch, and were preparing for the potential exits of Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen in the near future. Apparently those last two players were the final straw for Richardson, and he decided to choose loyalty over winning by giving Gettleman the axe.

For more, check out the entire entry at Cat Scratch Reader.

Chicago Bears: Mike Glennon should have never started

So, what is my issue with the Glennon signing? My issue is that once it became evident that Glennon was a net-negative on the field, he no longer should have been playing. To me, Glennon’s career combined with his preseason performance was enough to jeopardize his starting job heading into week 1.

For more, check out the entire entry at Windy City Gridiron.

Cincinnati Bengals: Letting Andrew Whitworth go to the Rams in free agency

It was a hot button issue when the team let Whitworth leave for the Los Angeles Rams on a three-year, $33,750,000 deal. Last season the offensive line didn’t play well, but it wasn’t Whitworth’s fault. He had one of his best season’s at the age of 34. He turned 35 last December, so the Bengals had an issue giving him a long-term deal. This reportedly rubbed Whitworth the wrong way, and when the Rams offered him a massive three-year contract he took it. Now, with that said, the Rams could opt out of the deal in 2018 or 2019 with relative ease. Though, it's pretty obvious that won't be happening in 2018 based on how well Whitworth is continuing to play this year.

For more, check out the entire entry at Cincy Jungle.

Cleveland Browns: Not giving DeShone Kizer more receiving talent to work with

However, while the team repaired several spots on the team this offseason, most notable the offensive line, they failed when it came to the receiver position. They threw their money at Kenny Britt, and he’s had a Dwayne Bowe-like start to the season. With Corey Coleman sidelined, the team’s most intriguing receivers are Kasen Williams and Bryce Treggs, guys who would be practice squad players elsewhere. The free agent market wasn’t exactly oozing with talent, but still, there’s no arguing that something could have gone better at this position.

For more, check out the entire entry at Dawgs by Nature.

Dallas Cowboys: They should have looked for more help at linebacker

But as time went on and Sean Lee got hurt, Smith, and Durant to a lesser degree, were exposed by the Rams and the Packers. Not only in the running game but in pass coverage and containing the quarterback. Damien Wilson has also not taken the next step up. Without Lee, the linebackers have been a mess. If they could have found a player to help (yes, I know that’s not always easy to do, but they could have made a serious effort), then I believe they could be 3-2 or possibly 4-1 at this point.

For more, check out the entire entry at Blogging the Boys.

Denver Broncos: They should have kept Russell Okung

They would be in pretty good shape, actually. Okung has graded out at a respectable 72.7 from Pro Football Focus at left tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers, which means he could have found success at right tackle in Denver. He certainly would be better than the putrid 38.7 PFF grade that Watson has put out so far this season.

For more, check out the entire entry at Mile High Report.

Detroit Lions: The pass rush was neglected

So what should they have done? Free agency didn’t turn out to be as fruitful as the Lions had likely hoped. Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram, Jason Pierre-Paul and Charles Johnson all ended up re-signing with their teams before free agency opened.

But this looked to be a pretty decent draft to add an edge rusher. If Detroit didn’t want to take a chance on one of the top-tier edge rushers like Charles Harris or Taco Charlton, there were plenty of options later in the draft. They could have taken Carl Lawson (3.5 sacks in 2017) late in the third round or Deatrich Wise (3.0 sacks) instead of Michael Roberts in the fourth.

For more, check out the entire entry at Pride of Detroit.

Green Bay Packers: Their big mistake was letting Micah Hyde go

The former Packers slot corner-slash-safety would have provided a steadying presence for the young secondary. Hyde would have been the team’s starting slot corner from day one, and he would have provided some critical depth at safety as well. As for his 2017, he leads the league with a career-high four interceptions and his contract — which carries a $4 million salary cap hit this season — should not have put the Packers in jeopardy of exceeding the cap.

Oh, and let’s not forget that Hyde would also provide value by remaining the Packers’ punt returner, a job at which Trevor Davis has failed to impress as yet.

For more, check out the entire entry at Acme Packing Company.

Houston Texans: Letting A.J. Bouye sign with the Jaguars is the easy answer

I reckon many of you immediately shouted “RE-SIGN A.J. BOUYE!” in response to that query. Valid. Bouye was a revelation last year, and the Texans chose to neither sign him to a long-term deal nor utilize the franchise tag to keep him in Houston for at least one more year. Bouye decamped to Jacksonville, where he has joined forces with Jalen Ramsey to form a rather potent duo at cornerback, thus strengthening a very solid Jaguars defense.

For more, check out the entire entry at Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts: Not bringing in Chris Ballard’s choice at head coach

The only thing worse than having to watch Colts football without Andrew Luck on the sideline — due to an injury he suffered during his time playing with, for and under Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano — is to watch Pagano lead a new quarterback and new team to inconsistent performances, blowout losses and leave fans asking the same coaching questions they were making over the last five years.

For more, check out the entire entry at Stampede Blue.

Jacksonville Jaguars: It’s simple. Sign a quarterback

Blake Bortles ain’t it and yet we’ve seen free agents and backups provide sparks for their teams. And Old Man Tom Coughlin wouldn’t have even needed to compromise his principles of not signing players who know their Constitutional rights to upgrade the position.

Look at Josh McCown and his over 70 percent completion percentage. With an overachieving defense, he’s one bad call away from being 4-2 — and he was signed for only $6 million! Or Jacoby Brissett who has been inconsistent at times but has picked up the playbook quicker than most and has provided a spark where a lesser quarterback would be 0-6 with that offensive line.

Why didn’t we give up some Day 3 draft picks for Brett Hundley or Matt Moore? Oh, because we really, really needed Dawuane Smoot and Blair Brown.

For more, check out the entire entry at Big Cat Country.

Kansas City Chiefs: They made the right call not to push Alex Smith to the side

The best move for the Chiefs is the one they didn’t make. As Joel Thorman explains:

But think back to how different things were in the preseason with how we viewed the quarterback situation. It wasn’t that long ago. I joked before the season that it would be a very Kansas City thing for Alex to come out and play really well and make this a tough decision next year. Even the Chiefs can’t get drafting a franchise quarterback right! And here we are.

For more, check out the entire entry at Arrowhead Pride.

Los Angeles Chargers: It’s time to think about life after Philip Rivers

The Chargers should have taken a quarterback with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Philip Rivers is nearing the end of his career whether we are ready to say goodbye or not. Deshaun Watson already looks like a franchise-changing player for the Houston Texans and it’s hard to imagine a future as bright as the one the Chargers would have if he was backing up Rivers right now. It might not have helped this year, but maybe it would have.

For more, check out the entire entry at Bolts from the Blue.

Los Angeles Rams: The signing of RB Lance Dunbar

It’s not a huge criticism. Dunbar came over from the Dallas Cowboys on a pretty inexpensive one-year deal. But given that he hasn’t contributed, well, anything to this point, it’s the easy target here.

I considered perhaps the lack of an extension for DL Aaron Donald or the extension for ILB Alec Ogletree here, but there’s some argument to be had. I’m not sure there is an argument left in support of the Dunbar move.

For more, check out the entire entry at Turf Show Times.

Miami Dolphins: They let all-around tight end Dion Sims walk

Tight end Dion Sims left the Dolphins to sign with the Chicago Bears on a three-year, $18 million contract. Miami traded a seventh-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for tight end Julius Thomas, who signed a two-year, $12.2 million contract after the trade. Basically, for a $300,000 2017 cap hit increase, the Dolphins swapped Thomas as the starting tight end over Sims.

For more, check out the entire entry at the Phinsider.

Minnesota Vikings: Signing an injured Latavius Murray

Murray was signed in late March, and it was assumed that he was going to be the guy that the Vikings would use as their go-to back in the post-Adrian Peterson era. Of course, a couple of days after he signed, Murray had surgery on an ankle that he had injured the previous season, and the injury kept him out for most of Training Camp.

For more, check out the entire entry at the Daily Norseman.

New England Patriots: They didn’t keep Martellus Bennett

The most immediate and obvious change would be to not let Martellus Bennett go. The Patriots let Bennett walk to the Green Bay Packers and acquired Dwayne Allen from the Indianapolis Colts and James O’Shaughnessy from the Kansas City Chiefs. O’Shaughnessy didn’t make the final roster and Allen hasn’t recorded a single catch, even with Rob Gronkowski not playing last week. Allen’s been an okay blocker, but he’s been a huge drop from Bennett on the offense.

For more, check out the entire entry at Pats Pulpit.

New Orleans Saints: The Saints don’t have any offseason regrets

Given how everything has played out for the Saints, it might be safe to say that nothing would be changed if a do-over was in play. The best moves the team made in the offseason might have been the ones they didn’t make.

For more, check out the entire entry at Canal Street Chronicles.

New York Giants: Figure out a way to fix the offensive line

Here’s how Big Blue View’s Ed Valentine would have done that:

Forget about signing wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Anyone who reads this site regularly should know that is a move I would not have made — and I said so before the Giants even made it. I did my best to give Marshall the benefit of the doubt, but no one should be surprised that didn’t work. The two years and $11 million the Giants gave Marshall would not have been enough to sign a big-name free agent offensive lineman. Perhaps, though, Marshall’s money and what the Giants spent in smaller signings on John Jerry and D.J. Fluker, would have been enough to get them in the ballpark for a top-tier player.

For more, check out the entire entry at Big Blue View.

New York Jets: Center is still a liability

The move I really can’t wrap my head around is the Jets handing Wesley Johnson the starting center job. Johnson filled in a lot for Nick Mangold last year, and his play was spotty. I can understand giving him a chance to compete for the job, but the Jets handed him the starting role with little resistance. And they ended up paying him median starting center money. There isn’t even a discount.

For more, check out the entire entry at Gang Green Nation.

Oakland Raiders: Predictability on offense is a problem

To sum it up, this offense is a far cry from the dynamic offense of a year ago. Despite new weapons like Marshawn Lynch, Jared Cook, and Cordarrelle Patterson. The only change was the offensive coordinator.

That doesn’t mean it all falls on him. It may be that last season Musgrave wasn’t holding the offense back, but rather masking Carr’s deficiencies and maximizing his strengths. Or, if you’d like to remain optimistic, they could just be going through some growing pains. And at 2-4 with the Chiefs coming to town in two days, there’s sparse hope there’s time to recover.

For more, check out the entire entry at Silver and Black Pride.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles made the right choice to trade Jordan Matthews

Bleeding Green Nation took it in a different direction:

So in honor of staying positive, I’m going to flip today’s question around into: “Where would the Eagles be if they HADN'T made a certain move?”

The move that comes to mind is the Eagles’ decision to trade Jordan Matthews and a 2018 third-round pick for Ronald Darby. A number of people were NOT on board with trading JMatt at the time.

There was concern about removing Matthews’ production from the offense. There was concern about losing a valued member of the locker room. There was concern about how this trade would specifically impact Carson Wentz.

For more, check out the entire entry at Bleeding Green Nation.

Pittsburgh Steelers: What if they hadn’t signed Joe Haden?

If Haden had never been acquired, the Steelers would likely be looking at a couple options at the starting outside cornerback position opposite Artie Burns. If you recall, the team was having a “two dogs, one bone” competition between Ross Cockrell and Coty Sensabaugh at the end of the preseason, and the Steelers would likely have had to go with one of those players had Haden not been picked up as a free agent.

Would Cockrell or Sensabaugh be able to do what Haden has done with his experience, leadership and communication in the back end? Some might argue yes, but I will certainly sway towards the other side of the fence.

For more, check out the entire entry at Behind the Steel Curtain.

San Francisco 49ers: They should have drafted Deshaun Watson

The 49ers spent their No. 3 overall pick on Solomon Thomas, and he is off to a solid start. He has had some inconsistency, but he’s emerging as a solid presence on the line. It’s looking like a fairly solid selection, but if the 49ers could have landed a franchise quarterback there, it makes all the sense in the world. It’s too early to say Watson is going to keep this up, but it’s hard not to be impressed.

For more, check out the entire entry at Niners Nation.

Seattle Seahawks: They didn’t match the 49ers’ offer to Garry Gilliam

Even if the team didn’t view Gilliam as an NFL starter, having quality depth at the tackle position is still valuable. Gilliam hasn’t taken snaps as an NFL left tackle, but the likelihood that he is a better left tackle than Rees Odhiambo is very high. After letting Russell Okung leave after the 2015 season with no plan to replace him (no, Bradley Sowell doesn’t count), this makes two straight offseasons of very questionable decisions at the tackle position.

For more, check out the entire entry at Field Gulls.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They needed to sign more defensive talent

Number one on that list has to be pass-rusher. Noah Spence is slowly turning into an impressive player and Robert Ayers has his moments, but the Bucs still lack an impactful edge presence. And there’s a few players who would have fit the bill—Julius Peppers was available, and he has 6.5 sacks now. Calais Campbell was available, and he has a whopping eight sacks.

For more, check out the entire entry at Bucs Nation.

Tennessee Titans: They should have brought in A.J. Bouye

Jon Robinson has made a lot of great moves as the general manager of the Titans. The one move that he should have made this offseason was signing A.J. Bouye. The biggest weakness the Titans still have is the secondary. Think about how good this secondary would be with Bouye and Logan Ryan on the outside and Adoree Jackson in the slot.

Signing Bouye also would have weakened that Jaguars secondary that is one of the best in the league. The combination of Bouye and Jalen Ramsey in Jacksonville is going to cause headaches for the Titans for the next few years.

For more, check out the entire entry at Music City Miracles.

Washington: Do what it takes to lock up Kirk Cousins

To me, if I could go back in time to the offseason, the one change I would make is pretty simple: I would have stroked the check necessary to lock Kirk Cousins up for years to come. Let’s set aside—for a moment—what we know about how Kirk has played this season. (He hasn’t been Joe Montana, but he has produced, and quite frankly, he has proven he is a top-flight starter in this league.)

For more, check out the entire entry at Hogs Haven.