Volume 22, #282 -- Sunday Night, January 24th, 2021
News And Notes From Around The League
| You're subscribed as {{ subscriber.email_address }} - click HERE to unsubscribe. | View in Web Browser |
Thanks To Our Sponsor, Footballguys
Howdy Folks,
We're heading to the Super Bowl. As I write this, Tampa is in and Buffalo and Kansas City are battling.
Plus some News and Notes so let's get to it.
J
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. GB - RB Aaron Jones suffers injury
2. GB - Green Bay falls in NFC title game
3. TB - Tampa Bay headed for Super Bowl LV
4. NYJ - S Keanu Neal may be FA target
5. LAR - S John Johnson may be too expensive
6. NE - NE may inquire about QB Matthew Stafford
7. HOU - New HC not a factor for QB Deshaun Watson
1. GB - RB Aaron Jones suffers injury
Source: Packers.com
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (chest) suffered a chest injury during the NFC Championship game and is considered questionable to return.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
AJ Dillon looked good in his stead and the Packers may be reluctant to pay Jones market value.
2. GB - Green Bay falls in NFC title game
Source: ESPN
Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers completed 33-of-48 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. RB Aaron Jones, who left the game early due to injury, left the team with 27 yards on six rushes. RB Jamaal Williams ran seven times for 23 yards and added four receptions for 22 yards. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the way with a game-high 115 yards on four receptions and a score, while WR Davante Adams had nine grabs for 67 yards and a score on 15 targets. WR Allen Lazard checked in with three receptions for 62 yards, while TE Marcedes Lewis had three grabs for 28 yards. TE Robert Tonyan also checked in with four grabs, 22 yards and a score. CB Jaire Alexander led the way with two interceptions, while totaling three total tackles and three passes defensed.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Rodgers had a lot of chances to take control of this game in the second half after his team fell behind 18 points, but the Packers offense wasn't good enough in the red zone and Matt LaFleur chose to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth and goal at the 8, down 8 with about two minutes left. Jones has probably played his last down as a Packer, and Williams is also a free agent. Valdes-Scantling had a big game after playing only one snap the NFC title game last year. Adams impact on the game was not as big as expected and if anything Rodgers overreliance on him in the red zone hurt the team. The Packers will go back to the drawing board after getting one game from the Super Bowl two years in a row.
3. TB - Tampa Bay headed for Super Bowl LV
Source: ESPN
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady completed 20-of-36 passes for 280 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 24. It will be his 10th Super Bowl appearance, and the Bucs are the first team to play the game in their home stadium. RB Leonard Fournette ran 12 times for 55 yards and a touchdown while adding five receptions for 19 yards, RB Ronald Jones rushed 10 times for 16 yards, WR Chris Godwin racked up five receptions for a team-best 110 yards on nine targets and WR Mike Evans added three receptions for 51 yards and a score on eight targets. WR Scott Miller also cashed in his three targets for two catches, 36 yards and a touchdown, while TE Rob Gronkowski was limited to one catch for 29 yards on his lone target. TE Cameron Brate picked up three grabs for 19 yards and a score, while WR Tyler Johnson rounded things out with one catch for 16 yards. LB Devin White led the way defensively with a staggering game-high 15 total tackles, including nine of the solo variety.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Brady wasn't the reason the Bucs won, but he did have two good long passes to offset his three interceptions, which his defense did a great job of minimizing in the story of the outcome of the game. Leonard Fournette goes to the Super Bowl with Tom Brady after his 2017 Jaguars team was ousted by Brady. Godwin had great hands deep on his key play early, while Evans hands were more suspect, although the interception off of his hands in the red zone was more on Brady than him. Tampa Bay will be the first team to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.
4. NYJ - S Keanu Neal may be FA target
Source: ESPN.com - Rich Cimini
Atlanta Falcons impending free-agent FS Keanu Neal may be a target for the New York Jets during free agency, in the opinion of ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Falcons probably can't afford Neal, so he should draw a huge payday even though he missed most of two of the first five seasons of his career.
5. LAR - S John Johnson may be too expensive
Source: RamsWire - Cameron DaSilva
Los Angeles Rams impending free-agent S John Johnson may be too expensive for the Rams to re-sign this offseason because they have limited salary cap space. The team could consider placing the franchise tag on Johnson.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Standout corner Darious Williams will also be a restricted free agent and could draw a big offer sheet unless the Rams tender him at a first round level.
6. NE - NE may inquire about QB Matthew Stafford
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford is expected to be traded this offseason, and the New England Patriots likely will least inquire about Stafford's availability, in the opinion of ESPN.com's Mike Reiss.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Patriots are at a crossroads as a franchise and their quarterback decision will tell a lot about where Bill Belichick thinks they are.
7. HOU - New HC not a factor for QB Deshaun Watson
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson is still expected to seek a trade no matter who the Texans hire has their next head coach, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Dolphins and Jets are the most likely teams to land Watson as the biggest story of the offseason continues to unfold.
8. PHI - Jonathan Gannon named defensive coordinator
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero
Updating a previous report, the Philadelphia Eagles hired Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon to be their new defensive coordinator Sunday, Jan. 24.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Gannon was pivotal in the development of Kenny Moore and instant hit 2020 third-round pick Julian Blackmon, and got some good football out of Xavier Rhodes. He'll follow Nick Sirianni from the Colts to the Eagles and hopefully help a secondary that has been beleaguered at times in recent years.
9. PHI - RB Duce Staley wants to be released from contract
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley has asked to be released from his contract so that he can pursue other coaching opportunities. Several NFL teams have expressed interest in him, including the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Staley is expected to speak with owner Jeffrey Lurie soon about the matter.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Staley smartly sees that his future with the Eagles isn't going to lead to a promotion if it didn't after the team let Doug Pederson go.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of the Footballguys Family. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update.
Peace,
J
