RS2I - Forum

Good morning sports fans, it's Wajih AlBaroudi here with everything you need to know this hump day. We'll get into the and securing comfortable victories, plus more.First, let's start with Philadelphia's old-school, ground- David Freese Jersey and-pound win. Good morning to everyone but especially to... THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLESA slow start to Tuesday's game drew plenty of boos at Lincoln Financial Field, but the . The win brought the Eagles to 7-7, keeping them firmly in the NFC playoff race.The Eagles adopted a run-first identity over their recent hot stretch -- four wins in their last five games -- and beat Washington with it as well. Here's what happened in Tuesday's game:RB , who rushed for a career high 131 yards, became the first Eagles rusher to clear 100 yards in consecutive games since in 2014The Eagles ran for 238 yards, their fourth 200-yard rushing performance in their last five gamesPhiladelphia posted its fifth 200-yard rushing game of the season, its most since former head coach Chip Kelly's first year in 2013Philly now has the same record as the and -- fellow NFC Wild Card hopefuls. The currently own the sixth seed at 8-6. While the box score indicated a wire-to-wire Eagles victory, the reality was far different. Let our NFL expert Cody Benjamin explain:  Benjamin:A win is a win Ross Stripling Jersey , though, and it brought Philadelphia a step closer to the playoffs. It should be noted that Washington started  -- who signed off the ' practice squad on Friday -- at quarterback after its top-two signal callers,  and , remained in COVID protocols.The Eagles close the season against all its NFC East rivals: home to the , at Washington and home to the .Honorable mentions:Manu Ginobili and Chauncey Billupsare among the nominees for the Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson and  are among the many NBA veterans who've earned  thanks to the league's new replacement-player rule. And not such a good morning for...THE The Ru sell Wilson-Pete Carroll era seems to be coming to a me sy end. Seattle posted a season-low 214 yards in  --its lowest total since 2017.  Wilson had arguably his worst game of the season, going 17-31 for 156 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His running game didn't provide much help either, as ' 41 yards was a team-high.The lo s a sured Seattle of what's become an extreme rarity: a losing season. Since Carroll took over, the Seahawks:Haven't had losing seasons since his first two years at the helm in 2010 and '11.Have lost seven or more games only once (2017) since Wilson became the starter in 2012.Seattle (7-9) will next play home games against the and before traveling to the for its season finale.  Trade talk surrounding Wilson, 33, will likely grow deafeningly loud this offseason after whispers last year. The Seahawks don't own their 2021 first-round draft pick because of the trade,  Mike Piazza Jersey so it wouldn't be shocking to see them trade Wilson for valuable draft capital to give the roster a reset.Not so honorable mentions:As COVID-19 has swept the NBA, the league has reportedly begun A New Jersey man to acquire and sell "family and friends" Super Bowl rings Grading first-year college football coaches The 2021 college football season is approaching its end, so it's . Our college football scribe Barrett Sallee broke it all down, from Josh Heupel making Tenne see relevant  Albert Pujols Jersey again to Jedd Fisch joining a sinking ship at Arizona.South Carolina's Frank Beamer ranked highest on Sallee's list with an A after leading the Gamecocks to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. Here's why Sallee is enthusiastic about the son of Virginia Tech coaching legend Frank Beamer:  Sallee: It was a different story in Austin, whereSteve Sarkisian led Texas to its worst season since 2016. Under the former Alabama offensive coordinator, the Longhorns failed to earn bowl eligibility and fell to a Kansas team with no other FBS victories over the last two seasons.Sallee did not mince words about how dire the Longhorns' situation has become.Sallee: To check out the rest of Sallee's list, .MLB teams with the most post-lockout work to do MLB news has been virtually nonexistent since the owners' lockout started earlier this month. But while the league's first work stoppage since 1994-1995 is preventing any real transactions, we can still deal in hypotheticals.Our MLB scribe Mike Axisa did exactly that, listing his . The first team on Axisa's list is not a shocker. It's the New York Yankees. Fresh off a lo s to the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card game, the Bronx Bombers need reinforcements fast.  Axisa is suggesting a two-time All-Star and World Series champion shortstop should be priority No. 1.: Don Drysdale Jersey Axisa: On the opposite coast, the Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a six-game NLCS defeat to the eventual World Series-winning Atlanta Braves. Axisa lists rotation depth as the 2020 World Series champions' biggest need, naming Carlos Rodn as a top option. Why rotation depth? Because Clayton Kershaw is coming off his worst ERA since his rookie season (3.55) and worst win-lo s percentage since his sophomore season (0.556).What we're watching Wednesday , 7 p.m. ESPN2: Mi souri vs. Army (-6.5), 8 p.m. on ESPN

The just enjoyed a 2021 season that found them playing in Super Bowl LVI and contending for a Lombardi Trophy. While and were some of the stars on Ervin Santana Jersey  the offensive side of the ball that got them to Los Angeles, was among those on defense who has helped them turn into a true AFC contender. Now, Bates is slated to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason, setting the safety up for a ma sive payday that quite po sibly could put his future in Cincinnati in doubt.One way that the Bengals could ensure that Bates is in the fold for the 2022 season is by placing the franchise tag on him. The window to place the tag on pending free agents opened up this week and will stay open until March 8 before free agency officially opens up on March 16. If the Bengals were to do that, Bates would look at a projected tag of $13.5 million, but he's looking to avoid that scenario altogether."That's a conversation I think that we'll have with my agency and my team," said Bates during an appearance onon Wednesday, via . "I put a lot of trust in them  Jose Berrios Jersey with this whole proce s. I'm just trying to stay focused, control what I can. We'll see. Hopefully, I'm not under a franchise tag. That's something that needs to be discu sed as NFLPA a little bit. Some of the Blank Jersey  top guys got hurt under a franchise tag. It's tough; you only get one shot at this. You just got to play your cards right, I gue s you could say."Bates' apprehension of playing under the tag due to fear of injury is justified. This past season, safety (Achilles) and receiver (ACL) are two examples of players who suffered season-ending injuries during the year they played under the tag and now face an uncertain market. While the fully guaranteed money that comes with the tag is lucrative, the long-term security of a multi-year deal has proven to be a much more sought-after avenue for free agents of Bates' caliber.  The 24-year-old was a second-round pick by the Bengals in 2018 and is just finishing up his rookie contract. Now, projects that Bates could see a contract that fetches him an average annual salary of $14.4 million, which would place him inside the top-five at his position."I'm not too worried about the ego part of being the highest-paid safety, but Phil Hughes Jersey  I do know value over cost," Bates said. "That is something that not just myself but my agency, my team, that we're going to continue to evaluate over the next couple weeks."  Bates also noted that he looks forward to being a Cincinnati Bengal, but also threw in the caveat that "we'll see what happens." The Bengals are currently projected to have the  Marwin Gonzalez Jersey fourth-most cap space in the NFL this offseason at just under $49 million in available space. That should be enough to ink Bates to a long-term deal or at the very least makes the franchise tag a realistic option for the franchise.

The fun of training camps is to attempt to perceive which players are winning the battles to earn a place in the starting lineup. There aren't many positions where it's easier to ascertain how said competitions are going quite like the running back position. Although running  Detroit Tigers Jersey backs have fallen on hard times when it comes to the , they can still provide value offensively if they're performing well in all facets of the game from rushing to receiving and even blocking. Just listen to Pro Bowl running back ."It's crazy to me because running backs bring so much value,"told CBS Sports on July 17 when asked about the running back market after , and didn't receive long-term deals. "You got to be able to protect, and have to pa s protect just like an offensive lineman. You have to know all the offensive line calls up front, who they're working to. You have to run the ball as well with 11 guys trying to hit you. You make it hard to take you off the field, so you're involved in the pa sing game. You're doing just as much as anyone else except for the quarterback and maybe the center on offense . I really don't understand how the position got devalued, but I hope our value comes back because if you look at it, running backs make a big difference in the game. Whether it's protecting the quarterback -- being that sixth-man in protection -- running the ball, or taking pre sure off of the quarterback in the pa sing game ." Given their value acro s all components of an NFL offense, here's a look at some of the top training camp battles revolving around running backs throughout the league and as well as educated predictions for how said battles could evolve.The selected University of Texas running back eighth overall in the 2023. That makes him the highest-drafted player at his position since thetook, now a two-time Pro Bowler, second overall in the 2018 . There's a good reason why: Robinson is special. He became the first player in the Pro Football Focus era (since 2006) with more than 100 mi sed tackles forced in a single college season (104 in 2022).  That would make it seem like Robinson is guaranteed the lion's share of the carries right away. However, to quote the great Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend!" , the Falcons' 2022 fifth round pick out of BYU who racked up 1,035 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 210 carries, was one of the NFL's most valuable running backs last season. Atlanta averaged 159.9 rushing yards per game last season, the third-most in the NFL, and Allgeier's 12.1 offensive rushing expected points added (12.1) led all running backs with 100 or more carries in 2022. That means his value to the Falcons offense last season in terms of its chances to score when he ran with the football were the best among any running back with at least 100 carries in 2022.In fact, Allgeier was noticeably ahead of five Pro Bowl rushers in this metric last season, including the NFL's rushing yards champion.Highest offensive rushing EPA in 2022 season*PLAYEROFFENSIVE RUSHING EXPECTED POINTS ADDED (EPA)Tyler Allgeier (ATL)12.1(PHI)10.3(SF)9.3(CLE)7.8(GB)6.8Josh Jacobs (LV)6.8Allgeier wasn't much of a receiving threat out of the backfield, but he made the most of his chances in that area in 2022, hauling in 16 receptions for 139 receiving yards and a touchdown on 17 targets. That may be a function of Atlanta's lack of consistency in the pa sing game between quarterbacksandlast season, but that could be an area where Robinson could come in right away and shine. He'll face some stiff competition from Allgeier when it comes to being the team's leading ball-carrier. Although, it appears this is a race Robinson is going to win without too much stre s."Bijan, pretty damn pleased with Bijan so far," Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Monday after the team's first padded practice of training camp, via . Robinson himself is pleased with his workload early on in training camp. Expect him to earn at least 60% of the carries."I was learning a lot," Robinson Monday when asked about his rookie offseason. "A lot was coming at me. I learned how to adjust ... that's why I liked what Coach Smith did with me. You learn a lot at OTAs when you are a rookie. You start understanding a lot of different things, then when it comes to camp, then it will start slowing down. He knew exactly how to handle that. He handled it really well with me. He saw his vision for what he wanted in camp." running back , their second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, led all rookies in carries (228), rushing yards (1,050), and rushing touchdowns (nine) last season. However, head Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider still decided to draft another second-round running back in the 2023 NFL Draft: . He had a productive final season at UCLA in 2022, ranking fourth in the FBS in rushing yards per game (135.9) and yards/carry (7.0).The difference between Walker III and Charbonnet could be pa s-catching ability. Walker III wasn't much of a factor in Seattle's aerial attack last season, catching 27 pa ses for 165 yards on 35 targets. Meanwhile, Charbonnet hauled in 37 pa ses for 321 receiving yards (tied for the seventh-most among FBS running backs last season) on 44 targets in college. Carroll went out of his way to praise Charbonnet's receiving proce s post-draft back in May."He's Charbonnet so versatile," Carrollin May. "He just will fit in and be a great addition, and really, we're gonna find out how far he can take it in terms of the receiving part of it. We know he's really good at it. But so is Kenneth, so those guys will be battling."Seattle also drafted a second running back in their 2023 cla s with their seventh-round selection and final pick, Georgia's Kenny McIntosh, and the door has swung open for him to receive first-team reps in camp following injuries to both Walker and Dixon Machado Jersey  Charbonnet."We would love to have those guys practicing ," Carroll Sunday after practice. "We'd love to have them back out there, but they're not ready to go."Walker has been dealing with a lingering groin strain, per Carroll, so the plan is to allow him to rest and heal his ailment."He's Walker got a little groin thing that kind of bothered him getting into camp here so we're just keeping him quiet for a bit," Carroll said. "Because it's a groin we've got to make sure. He doesn't feel bad. It's not a terrible injury or anything like that. We just don't want to aggravate it now and make it something that lingers throughout camp." Charbonnet's situation is a little more murky at the moment as he had pain in his shoulder pop up, so the team is running tests on him to figure out what the i sue is."Just kind of creeped up on him Charbonnet really," Carroll said. "He didn't get hit or anything like that. It's just all of a sudden he started to feel something so it's just checking it out and being really cautious right now."   McIntosh's stock fell in the  Jordy Mercer Jersey pre-draft proce s after he ran a 4.62 40-yard dash while measuring 6 feet tall and weighing 204 pounds. However, Carroll revealed that he's lost 10 pounds in the time between OTAS and minicamp and training camp, leaving him looking a lot more agile."He's McIntosh probably been one of the highlights,'' Carroll said. ... "He's in great shape and he's just razor sharp. He's been explosive and innovative with his running and his cuts. He's caught the ball really well. He looks really quick out here. The coaches have commented that we're surprised at how quick he has looked. He's 4.52 or .53 or something like that. There's a lot of really, really good running backs that run that time. So that's not the i sue, but he has looked quicker than he did in the springtime."Should Walker and/or Charbonnet mi s time into the preseason, perhaps McIntosh could climb up to being the RB2 in the Pacific Northwest. However, one would think Walker and Charbonnet would be given every opportunity to earn the top two running back spots when healthy with Walker having the inside track for the starting running back gig. The injuries, plus Carroll's love of the ground game and using multiple backs make the Seahawks running backs competition a hard one to read.  In head coach Mike McDaniel's first season as the head coach after five years with the, he made sure to bring both and Jr. with him.Mostert racked up a career-high 1,093 scrimmage yards along with five touchdowns in 2022 after returning from a knee injury that caused him to mi s all but one game in 2021. Wilson, who the Dolphins added around the trade deadline, is more of the thunder to Mostert's lightning in their backfield tandem. The 27-year-old also totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, a career-high 1,045, and six scrimmage touchdowns while splitting the season between the and the Dolphins.Both will get their touches, but De'Von Achane, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, will likely factor into the mix heavily. His blazing speed is evident between his 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and his two kickoff return touchdowns in college. Achane can also contribute as a pa s-catcher, accumulating 457 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns on 60 receptions acro s his final two seasons at Texas A&M. The Dolphins only had four picks in the 2023 draft, but they chose to make Achane their second pick of the four-man cla s and their first offensive player selected. McDaniel may have big plans for the rookie in 2023 despite the presence of Mostert and Wilson Jr. Mostert likely serves as the primary back with Wilson Jr. getting 45% of the carries on early downs and around the goal line. Achane probably sees his involvement climb as he gets acclimated to life in the NFL.  The last time McDaniel went on the record about his running back group was when he was asked about the potential for the team to sign on July 28. At this stage, he's "extremely happy" with his three top running backs."First and foremost, I'm extremely happy with our running back group," McDaniel . "Extremely happy. I have great relationships with some very talented players. However, Dalvin Cook is a great player. I look at it like if it works on both sides, it makes sense for somebody. You're adding a player to a team and an organization, and all the things they both need need to be met for it to work. He's a free agent and he's visiting the . And that's what I have to say." Ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles' first padded practice of training camp on Tuesday, the running back reps in training camp have been near even among the three contenders to be the defending NFC champions' RB1 following offseason departure to the , according to CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr.  Those contenders are D'Andre Swift, a 2020 second-round pick out of Georgia whom the Eagles acquired this offseason; Rashaad Penny, an injury-plagued, explosive (5.7 career yards per carry) 2018 first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks who signed one-year, $1.4 million deal this offseason; and Kenneth Gainwell, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.Kerr has reported that, while in just  James McCann Jersey shorts and helmets, Swift has "stood out in the pa sing game." That checks out with his resume considering Swift is only one of five players in the entire league with more than 1,500 rushing yards (1,680) and 150 receptions (156) combined over the past three seasons. Swift has elite company in that club as he's joined by NFL two-time defending scrimmage touchdowns leader andrunning back,Pro Bowl running back,Pro Bowl running back, and LV champion . Swift's 5.5 yards per touch over the course of his three-year career is tied for the fifth-most in the league with Ekeler.Expect Swift to eventually pull away from the pack, but the goal line work could be split between the three and of course 2022 Second-Team All-Pro quarterback . Penny's role is likely that of a change-of-pace back while Gainwell likely wins the RB2 job given his leg up on mastery of the Eagles playbook.  The Pittsburgh Steelers patched up their largest roster hole of the last few years -- their offensive line -- in a major way. First, Pittsburgh signed former Philadelphia Eagles offensive guardto a three-year, $24 million deal. That's significant because Seumalo allowed only one sack and earned a 75.2 overall grade from, a higher rating than any of the Steelers' starting offensive linemen in 2022. Then, they to sed the a fourth-round pick to move up three spots in the 2023 NFL Draft, jumping from 17th overall to 14th overall in order to select Georgia's All-SEC offensive tackle. The two-time national champion didn't allow a sack in 449 pa s-blocking snaps last season.Those two additions will allow the Steelers to find out if running back, their first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, can average at least 4 yards a carry. Harris has totaled over 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons (1,200 on 307 carries in 2021 and 1,034 on 272 carries in 2022), but both his carries and targets (467 receiving yards on 74 catches with 94 targets in 2021 and 229 receiving yards on 41 receptions with 53 targets) declined in Year 2.Why? Undrafted rookie Jaylen Warren. The Oklahoma State alum totaled 379 rushing yards on 77 carries (4.9 yards per carry) and 214 receiving yards on 28 receptions with 33 targets. Warren has Michael Fulmer Jersey  received more run in the Steelers training camp, according to CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo. However, he believes that's because head coach Mike Tomlin and his staff are saving Harris for the real action in the regular season.  DeArdo projects Harris to have a 60-40 or 65-35 carry share over Warren in 2023, which feels likely to happen.The Detroit Lions doubled down on their running back room this offseason. They signed 26-year-old David Montgomery, the former starter, to a three-year, $18 million deal in free agency while also drafting Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, the second-best running back prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, with the 12th overall pick. The selection of Gibbs was a big deal for the Lions because that makes him Detroit's highest-selected running back since Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders went third overall in the 1989 NFL Draft.He's versatile and explosive at 5-foot-9 while weighing 200 pounds. Gibbs ran a 4.36 40-yard dash and registered a 33.5-inch vertical jump. He also led all SEC running backs in scrimmage yards per touch (7.0) in 2022. Gibbs will likely be the Lions' primary pa s-catching and third-down back as general manager Brad Holmes compared him to in July. Montgomery will likely be the early-down and goal line running back given his 5-foot-11, 224-pound frame. The Lions referred to Gibbs and Montgomery as "" in the team's backfield after practice on Sunday as both have received first-team reps.  With David Montgomery's exit, the starting running back gig in the Windy City is up for grabs. Khalil Herbert, the 24-year-old, third-year back, led all running backs in yards per carry in 2022, averaging 5.7 yards per rush attempt. Chicago signed 27-year-old rusher D'Onta Foreman to a one-year, $2 million deal after he ran for a career-high 914 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 203 carries with the Carolina Panthers.Fourth-round rookie rusher Roschon Johnson may also factor into the equation as the third-down back given the skill set the 6-foot, 225-pound back utilized to earn play time behind Bijan Robinson at Texas: pa s-catching and pa s-blocking. He totaled 420 career receiving yards on 56 career catches, averaging 7.5 yards per catch, in college. Herbert is likely to earn a slight edge in this trio, but it would be fair to expect all three to see some time in the backfield alongside quarterback , whose 1,143 rushing yards in 2022 were the second-most by a quarterback in a single season.

The and face off in an important AFC North battle on Sunday Night Football. The division is the only one in the league where every team entered Week 12 with a winning record, so the Ravens (7-3) and Browns (6-5) both need a victory. Baltimore started the season 5-1 but has alternated wins and lo ses the past four weeks. Meanwhile, Cleveland started out 3-1 but has lost four of its last seven games.Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore is a three-point favorite in Caesars Sportsbook's latest Browns vs. Ravens odds, and the over-under for total points is set at 47. Before you lock in your Ravens vs. Browns picks or any other NFL predictions, be sure to .A national sportswriter whose work appears in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has covered the NFL for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. Tierney does not consider himself James Harrison Jersey  a pet lover. But he likes 'dogs, preferring to evaluate each game from the underdog's point of view.Tierney has used that philosophy to crush the NFL, going 187-147 against the spread the past three full seasons. In addition, Tierney has been locked in on his picks involving both of these teams. He is an eye-popping 12-4-2 on his last 18 spread picks involving the Browns and 21-11 on his last 32 picks on the side in Ravens matchups. Anyone who has followed him is way up.  Now, Tierney has broken down from every angle Jerome Bettis Jersey  and made his Sunday Night Football prediction. . Here are the NFL odds and betting lines for Ravens vs. Browns: Browns vs. Ravens spread: Baltimore -3Browns vs. Ravens over-under: 47 pointsBrowns vs. Ravens money line: Cleveland +140, Baltimore -160CLE: Browns are 8-7 against the spread on the road over the past two seasonsBAL: Ravens are 7-6 against the spread at home since the start of last season    Featured Game | Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns         Moneyline Spread Total  BAL   CLE     Why the Ravens can coverBaltimore is 5-2 against the spread  Mike Wagner Jersey in division games since the start of last season, and still has the ability to take over a game. He has 2,447 pa sing yards and 14 TDs to go with his team-high 639 rushing yards and two scores. The Browns defense gave up 168 rushing yards to the last week, so the NFL's No. 3 rushing attack should find succe s. Veterans (272 yards) and (244) have filled in after the team lost three starters to injury as they combined for 81 of the team's 123 rushing yards vs. the last week.The Ravens are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 12, and Jackson can count on . The tight end had eight catches for 73 yards last week and has a team-high 56 receptions on the year. Receiver (719 yards) has a thigh injury but is active for Sunday Night Football, and averages almost 16 yards per catch. The defense ranks second against the run after giving up 92 yards last week, so the Ravens will try to bottle up and force to beat them. The quarterback threw for 176 yards with two interceptions last week.  Why the Browns can coverCleveland is rushing for almost 157 yards per game, tops in the NFL, and Chubb put up 130 on 22 carries in last week's win. He has rushed for 851 yards and six TDs in eight games, averaging six yards per carry. also averages more than five yards while rushing for 320, and Chubb and Johnson have combined for 21 catches. Mayfield will try to exploit Baltimore's 31st-ranked pa s defense (281.2 yards per game), and he has 2,166 pa David DeCastro Jersey  sing yards and 10 TDs this season. The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings, while the Browns are 6-4 ATS in their past 10 as a road underdog.Receiver (245 yards in seven games) is hobbled by a knee injury, but if he can't go, will step up. The fifth-year tight end is the team's leading receiver with 372 yards. The Browns defense is in the top eight in the NFL against the run and the pa s, ranking fourth in total yards (316.7 per game). plays a huge role, leading the NFL with 13 sacks. Jackson has been taken down 28 times and has eight interceptions, so Garrett will try to hara s him into mistakes.How to make NFL or Browns vs. Ravens picksFor Sunday Dermontti Dawson Jersey  night's game, Tierney is leaning Under on the point total, but he also says a critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. .  So who wins Ravens vs. Browns on Sunday Night Football? And what critical X-factor makes one side a must-back? , and find out.

PHILADELPHIA -- has been the biggest catalyst toward the ascending into one of the best teams in the NFL. The youngest quarterback in franchise history to start a conference championship game, Hurts, 24, is accomplishing feats for the organization no quarterback in the 90-year history of the Eagles has done.The overall record speaks for itself as Hurts guided the Eagles to 14 regular-season wins, the most in a season in franchise history. Hurts has been the leader in a locker room full of leaders, only caring about the result as he strives to get to the top of the mountain.             PHI  QB  #1  CMP%66.5YDs3701TD22INT6YD/Att8.05 Wearing a Kobe Bryant shirt with the swagger and confidence of a Michael Jordan, it shouldn't have been a surprise Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni compared Hurts to arguably the greatest athlete -- and greatest winner -- of all time."To have him out there is like -- I know this is high praise, but to have him out there is like having -- I shouldn't even go there -- it's like having Michael Jordan out there," Sirianni said after the NFC divisional round win. "He's your leader. He's your guy.  "Hopefully that's the biggest respect I can pay to him comparing his ability to being on the field Logan Couture Jersey  to a Michael Jordan type. This guy leads. He brings this calmne s to the entire team. He plays great football. He's as tough as they come."I mean, to me, nobody has played any better football than him this year."What po se ses Hurts to have these Michael Jordan qualities? How has he shown that ability on and off the football field? Hurts has shown he truly is the Eagles' version of Michael Jordan. The proof is in the pudding.The Eagles are 15-1 in games Hurts is their starting quarterback this season -- and 18-2 in their last 20 games. Not only is the team winning, but Hurts has played at an MVP level in elevating his play into a top-five quarterback.  Hurts has been spectacular in his 16 starts this season (including playoffs), completing 66.5% of his pa ses for 3,855 yards with 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions for a 102.1 pa ser rating. Add in the 794 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns and Hurts has 4,649 total yards and 38 total touchdowns to just six turnovers -- and it's no wonder why Philadelphia is 15-1 when he  Joel Ward Jersey plays.In that 18-2 stretch (including postseason), Hurts has completed 65.6% of his pa ses for 4,822 yards with 28 touchdowns to nine interceptions (99.0 pa ser rating). Add in the 922 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns and Hurts has 5,744 yards and 44 touchdowns in his last 20 starts (287.2 total yards per game).The Eagles have one of the biggest difference-makers at quarterback in Hurts, who is as good throwing the football as he is running it. He's a cheat code in the red zone and on short-yardage situations as well.  Winning 90% of the last 20 games Hurts has started is pretty impre sive. Hurts is 23-11 in his NFL career as a starter (67.6%). For comparison, Michael Jordan won 65.9% of his regular-season games and 66.5% in the playoffs.Hurts has taken command of the locker room since he became the starting quarterback of the Eagles, impre sing his teammates with his ability to lead a group of talented veterans despite being only 24. He's been a team captain the last two years and has always been honest with his teammates about his goals for the organization."I think just trying to do things the right way for the team and putting the team first and doing everything I can with all my ability to play at a high level for the team, lead in the right direction and set the right example for everybody," Hurts said back in September. "You have to be able to a se s the team, a se s your group and you have to be open to trying new things for different individuals because ultimately we  Paul Martin Jersey all have the same goal. I think that's what makes it unique."  Hurts has experience leading football teams at Channelview High School in Texas as well as at Alabama and Oklahoma. He's always had the spotlight on him, yet continues to put the team first and foremost.Like Jordan, Hurts cares about wins and lo ses -- not individual accolades.Hurts is known for being a hard worker, never satisfied with being great. The Eagles quarterback is always striving to get better, fitting the blue-collar mentality of the city he plays for. Hurts puts his blood, sweat and tears into the Eagles organization -- working the extra hours in the weight room, on the practice field and in the film room to get the edge on his opponent.Hurts is motivated to be the best player he can be, taking the ability to work the extra hours from his father Martin Jones Jersey  and the culture at Alabama -- an ideal fit for a player with his work ethic. He enters the NovaCare Complex early and doesn't leave until late, making sure he lives by his expre sion of "not leaving money on the table"  Hurts takes the time to have his a sistant coaches work extra hours with him on his game and preparing the game plan for the next opponent. Unlike other quarterbacks, Hurts takes those extra hours and takes them into the weight room to improve his peak physical condition. The MVP candidate leaves no stone unturned.Even after a playoff victory, Hurts isn't even close to what he strives to accomplish."Every team comes into the year trying to accomplish the same thing. When you climb that mountain it gets harder and more treacherous," Hurts said after Saturday's playoff win. "We take it day by day and just take it one step at a time. Trust the proce s of getting better every day and let that take care of itself.  "I love the fact that that's the mentality of this team. We're not just hungry for it, we're starving for growth, getting better and learning from our mistakes. I think that's a beautiful thing and that was a little motivation as a team. We wanted to come out and play our best ball."Sounds like Michael Jordan doesn't it? The hunger to be great will always be there, along with the quest to hoist the trophy.Hurts is rewriting several franchise marks in just his third season with the Eagles, part of building that legendary status with the organization. He's just the fourth quarterback since the start of the 2000 season to lead his team to 14 wins, score 35-plus touchdowns and have eight-or-fewer giveaways (, and are the others).  Hurts is the second-youngest quarterback to win 14-plus games, trailing only Dan Marino (won 14 games with the 1984 at the age of 23). He is tied for most regular- Joe Pavelski Jersey season wins (14) by a quarterback within his first three NFL seasons (since with Philip Rivers (2006) and Dan Marino (1984). Including playoffs, Hurts is tied with for the most rushing touchdowns in a season in NFL history (14). He's the first quarterback to have 10-plus rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons and joins Newton as the only quarterbacks with multiple seasons of 10-plus rushing touchdowns.The youngest quarterback in franchise history to start a conference championship game in Eagles history (24), Hurts can become the fifth quarterback to enter the Super Bowl with 16-plus wins and one or fewer lo ses -- joining Joe Montana (1984), Tom Brady (2007), Cam Newton (2015) and Patrick Mahomes (2020).What Hurts has accomplished this early in his career is a sign of things to come, making his own legacy in the game. Hurts is already mentioned in the same category as the great quarterbacks as be continues to build his resume -- just like Michael Jordan before he won his first championship.  If Hurts can win Super Bowl LVII, he'll finish with one of the all-time great seasons. Hurts won't be satisfied with just one title if he gets it, wanting to stay on top of the mountain as long as he can.That's the ultimate Michael Jordan comparison.

There are already multiple teams eliminated from the NFL playoff picture in both conferences, but there is still plenty of value in the latest NFL spreads. Jacksonville travels to Manny Machado Jersey  New York in a battle of rookie quarterbacks on Sunday. The game is a pick'em in the latest Week 16 NFL odds at Caesars Sportsbook. Jacksonville currently holds the spot for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, while the Jets are No. 4.It is important to factor motivation into your thought proce s when handicapping the Week 16 NFL Vegas lines. All of the Week 16 NFL lines are listed below and .The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago. The model enters Week 16 of the 2021 season on an incredible 133-96 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past five years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.  Now, it has turned its attention to the latest and locked in picks for every NFL matchup. .Top Week 16 NFL predictionsOne of the model's strongest Week 16 NFL picks is that the (PK) cover the spread against the . Both teams are 7-7 entering Week 16 and on the periphery of a crowded AFC playoff picture. However, Las Vegas will have the advantage of playing at home, while Denver might be without starting quarterback (concu sion). The Raiders will also have a 34-24 victory on the road against the Broncos in Week 6 to draw from in which threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns.Denver was a five-point favorite in that game and is 1-3 against the spread in its last four road games. The model is predicting that Carr throws for nearly 300 yards and multiple scores again. That helps Las Vegas cover in nearly 60 percent of simulations, while the over also hits nearly 60 percent of the time.  Another one of the model's Week 16 NFL predictions: The (+10.5) cover at home against the .  Chris Paddack Jersey The Texans might be eliminated from playoff contention, but they did not let that play a role in their performance last week. They took a 14-3 lead and never looked back in a 30-16 win over Jacksonville. Rookie quarterback has shown improvement, pa sing for 550 combined yards and three touchdowns over his last two games.Mills' confidence paid off last week, when he was able to notch his first career win in the NFL. Los Angeles comes into Sunday's game dealing with plenty of pre sure following an overtime lo s to Kansas City last week. The Chargers are now clinging to a playoff spot in the AFC with games against two divisional opponents on tap in the next two weeks.SportsLine's model expects that pre sure to result in an interception from Los Angeles quarterback , which greatly decreases his chances of covering as a large  Dave Winfield Jersey favorite. The Texans cover the spread in over 50 percent simulations.  How to make Week 16 NFL picksThe model has also made the call on who wins and covers in every other game on the Week 16 NFL schedule, and it's calling for a Super Bowl contender to go down hard..So which NFL picks can you make with confidence, and which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Check out the latest NFL odds below, then , and find out.Week 16 NFL odds, spreads, linesSunday, Dec. 26 at (+10, 42.5)    Featured Game | Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers         Moneyline Spread Total  CAR   TB      at (-10, 40.5)    Featured Game | Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants    Austin Allen Jersey       Moneyline Spread Total  PHI   NYG     Chargers at Texans (+10.5, 46)    Featured Game | Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers         Moneyline Spread Total  HOU   LAC      at (-5.5, 43)    Featured Game | Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions         Moneyline Spread Total  ATL   DET      at (-3, 45)    Featured Game | Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens         Moneyline Spread Total  CIN   BAL      at (+3.5, 49)    Featured Game | Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams         Moneyline Spread Total  MIN   LAR      at (PK, Craig Stammen Jersey  41.5)    Featured Game | New York Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars         Moneyline Spread Total  NYJ   JAC      at (-2, 43.5)    Featured Game | New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills         Moneyline Spread Total  NE   BUF      at (-6.5, 42.5)    Featured Game | Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears         Moneyline Spread Total  SEA   CHI      at (-8.5, 45)      Featured Game | Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers         Moneyline Spread Total  KC   PIT     Broncos at Raiders (PK, 41)    Featured Game | Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos         Moneyline Spread Total  LV   DEN      at (-10.5, 47)    Featured Game | Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders         Moneyline Spread Total  DAL   WAS     Monday, Dec. 27   at (+1.5, 37.5)    Featured Game | New Orleans Saints vs. Miami Dolphins         Moneyline Spread Total  NO   MIA

A crucial step in resolving Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's playing status for the 2022 season is taking place. A disciplinary hearing to determine whether Watson  conduct started on Tuesday.Watson had been facing 24 civil lawsuits alleging inappropriate sexual conduct by him during ma sage se sions that took place while he was with the Houston Texans. Twenty of the 24 cases  last week. Two grand juries in Texas declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson, who has denied any wrongdoing, earlier this year.Retired U.S. District Court judge Sue L. Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, is conducting the hearing. The proceeding is expected to last several days.Procedurally, the NFL was required to inform Robinson, Watson and the NFLPA of its recommended discipline at least 10 days prior to the hearing, according to the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. There are multiple reports of the NFL seeking an . Talks between the NFL and the NFLPA/Watson prior to the hearing failed to produce a settlement.  There isn't a set timetable for Robinson to i sue a ruling. Ideally, a ruling will occur before the Browns open training camp on July 27. A finding of no policy violation, which doesn't seem likely, would be the final resolution of the case.Both sides  Martin Perez Jersey have three busine s days to file an appeal if discipline is imposed. Commi sioner Roger Goodell or someone he appoints as his designee would preside over the appeal, with the latitude to increase, decrease or affirm Robinson's punishment.Whether Watson receives a yearlong suspension or is allowed to play football this season, the $44.965 million signing bonus in the fully guaranteed five-year contract worth $230 million he signed in March as a  J.D. Martinez Jersey part of his trade from the Texans isn't in jeopardy because of the way the contract is structured. Watson's salary guarantees won't void in either case as well.  It's because of specific language in Watson's contract. The relevant language about the signing bonus is as follows."... a suspension by the NFL solely in connection with matters disclosed to Club in writing pursuant to Paragraph 42 which results in Player's unavailability to Club solely for games during the 2022 or 2023 NFL League Years shall not subject Player to forfeiture of Signing Bonus."Without this language, the Browns would have the right to ask Watson for the $8.993 million of the signing bonus attributed to the 2022 salary cap with a one-year suspension. It would have been one-eighteenth of the $8.993 million signing bonus attributed to the 2022 salary cap for each week of the 18-week regular season Watson mi sed with a shorter suspension. For example, an eight-game suspension would have given the Browns to ability to recapture $3,996,889 (or eight-eighteenths of $8.993 million) from Watson.  Technically, Watson hasn't received any of his signing bonus. Fifteen million is payable on July 31. Another $15 million is due next Jan. 31 and the final $14.965 million will be paid next March 31. The salary deferrals don't impact the exemption.Suspensions are without pay, but that pertains to base salary. Since Watson's 2022 base salary is $1.035 million, he will lose $57,500 (or one-eighteenth of the $1.035 million) for each week he mi ses due to a suspension.The pertinent language keeping Watson's guarantees from voiding is below."...it shall not constitute a failure or refusal to practice or play with the Club and Player shall not be in default if: ... (iii) Player is suspended solely in connection with matters disclosed to Club in writing pursuant to Paragraph 42 which results in Player's unavailability to Club solely for games during the 2022 or 2023 NFL League Years."  The language is significant because it prevents the Browns from potentially getting out of the contract without ma sive cap consequences because of misbehavior that was known prior to the trade. Presumably, any additional allegations in connection to ma sage se sions while Watson was with the Texans wouldn't qualify as new misconduct.In other words, the Browns can't exit the deal because of accusations stemming from the ma sages. Practically speaking, the Browns wouldn't do so even if it were po sible after giving up 2022, 2023 and 2024 first-round picks, a 2022 fourth-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to get Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick.These limitations pertain to the first two years of the contract. Should any discipline from these matters occur after 2023, the Browns will have the right to ask for signing bonus money back from Watson and/or void  Rusney Castillo Jersey the remaining guarantees in the contract.           Pick Six Newsletter   Crafted By The Best NFL Experts   Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings.     I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies.  By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's .                 Please check the Roger Clemens Jersey  opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.       Thanks for signing up!   Keep an eye on your inbox.     Sorry!   There was an error proce sing your subscription.     The biggest ramification of a yearlong suspension is Watson's contract currently running through 2026 will toll. E sentially, Watson's contract would be frozen and resume in 2023 with tolling. This means his 2022 contract year would become his 2023 contract year and additional years in the contract would also get pushed back one year. Instead of Watson's contract expiring after the 2026 season, it would end after the 2027 season.Although the contract would get pushed back a year, the signing bonus proration of $8.993 million annually from 2022 through 2026 would remain intact. Watson's 2022 salary cap number is $10.028 million consisting of the $8.993 million of salary bonus proration and his $1.035 million base salary. This base salary would come off Cleveland's books for $1.035 million of 2022 cap relief.Watson 2023's cap number would become $10.028 million with his 2022 base salary shifting to 2023 and his $46 million 2023 base salary shifting to 2024. The 2024 through 2026 cap numbers would each be $54.993 million composed of a $46 million base salary and $8.993 million in signing bonus proration. The 2027 cap number would be the $46 million base salary that was  Blank Jersey originally for 2026.  Another important ramification of a yearlong suspension would be Watson's banishment from training camp. That wouldn't be case with a suspension allowing him to play football in 2022. Watson would be allowed to fully participate in training camp and play in Browns preseason games. The suspension wouldn't go into effect until Sept. 5, which is the day after the preseason training camps end as defined by the CBA.Watson's contract doesn't toll with a suspension where he can play football in 2022. His contract years will run as intended, meaning his deal would end after the 2026 season. Watson would forfeit any base salary that wasn't earned because the suspension. For instance, an eight-game suspension would cost Watson $460,000 (or eight-eighteenths of the $1.035 million) since he earns $57,500 each of the 18 weeks in the regular season.Watson would be allowed back in team facilities and permitted to participate in limited activities during the second half of a suspension. The permi sible activities would be practically the same as players who are suspended under the NFL's substance abuse and performance enhancing substance abuse policies.  Most importantly, Watson would be able to attend team meetings, individually work out with the Browns' strength and conditioning coach, meet individually with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing, and get treatment/rehab from the Browns' medical staff and trainers after the fourth game of an eight-game suspension. Prohibited activities during the entire suspension include attending, observing or participating in practice, going to home or away games, and attending or participating in group workouts.

Brandon Staley's fourth-down decisions ended up costing his team a shot at the AFC West lead, Guillermo Heredia Jersey  going just 2 of 5 on those attempts in Thursday's overtime lo s to the . The took the Chiefs to overtime, yet Staley pa sed on three field goal attempts deep in opponent territory for touchdowns.The Chargers left a potential nine points on the board in a game that went to overtime. Los Angeles never got the ball in overtime as led the Chiefs on a game-winning touchdown drive to snatch the victory -- and a two-game lead in the division with three to play. If Staley kicks one of those field goal attempts and hits it, perhaps he isn't defending his fourth-down decisions so vehemently."It's life in the NFL, in decision making like that," Staley said. "From where my mindset is, I know that the quickest way to win a game like that is to score touchdowns, not field goals, especially considering who's on the other side. To me, when you feel like you're in an advantage situation, when you don't feel like it's a gamble, and you feel like this is an advantage for you, then that's going to be our mindset.  "I don't think that any decision that I made tonight was a gamble. We felt like it  Mike Zunino Jersey was an advantage situation for us. That's why we did it. If we didn't feel like that was the case, then we would have kicked a field goal or we would have punted. That's the way that we're going to do things around here. I know that our team embraces that mindset. We're going to continue to do it every game we play moving forward."Staley has no regrets going for it on fourth down and leaving the game in hands. Herbert has the most pa sing and rushing touchdowns combined in his first two seasons and the most pa sing yards in the same stretch, so it's hard to fault Staley for that logic."The goal is always to score. Anthony Banda Jersey  We needed to put up points," Herbert said. "We got into the end zone and that was our mi sion. We would've loved to have been able to move the clock down and not have any time left, but this is the NFL and you have to get in the end zone."  Herbert views the Chargers going for it on fourth down a bit different than the end result. He'd  Carlos Gomez Jersey rather not have the Chargers be in that situation -- converting the first down prior to forcing Staley's hand and going for it on fourth down."I think we need to be better on third downs so that we're not in those situations, but we believe in each other," Herbert said. "We believe in the guys in that locker room and that huddle, and we believe in the defense. I think that's a statement of trusting everyone on the field and off the field, as well. We love to be put in those situations."Unfortunately, we didn't convert as many as we would've liked to have today, but we're going to ride with each other and we're going to be right back."  The Chargers are still in good shape to make the playoffs, but playing conversative could have snatched Los Angeles the AFC West lead. Perhaps the Chargers are too over aggre sive."That's going to be the mindset no matter who we play. I felt really comfortable with all of those decisions," Staley said. "That's the way that we're going to play around here. That's the way we're going to play."When we have a quarterback like ours, and we have Corey Dickerson Jersey  an offense like ours, that's the way we're going to play because that's how you need to play against Kansas City, for sure. That's how we're going to become the team that we're ultimately capable of being, by playing that way."

The 2021 NFL regular season is over, which means it's time for our last weekly check-in on the MVP race. We have been using this space throughout the second half of the season to take the temperature of our rotating  J. T. Realmuto Jersey panel of experts, trying to get a feel for who is in the lead, who is in contention, who is hanging on the fringes, and how those groups are changing from week to week.As always, each of our experts was asked to submit their top-five MVP rankings. Five points were awarded for a first-place vote, four for a second-place vote, three for a third-place vote, two for a fourth-place vote, and one for a fifth-place vote.With the season at a close, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is our favorite to win for the second consecutive season. He would join , Brett Favre, Joe Montana, and Jim Brown as the only players to win the award in consecutive years. However, the voting ended up closer than one might have expected  Trevor Richards Jersey -- and a surprise player actually took a first-place vote.         Pick Six Newsletter   Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Miguel Rojas Jersey    Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings.     I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies.  By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's .                 Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.       Thanks for signing up!   Keep an eye on your inbox.     Sorry!   There was an error proce sing your subscription.     Without further Christian Yelich Jersey  ado, let's get to the voting...The full MVP leaderboard1.QB(45)2. QB (40)3.WR(20)4.QB(16)5.QB(13)6.QB(5)T-7.RB(4)T-7. WR (4)*9.DE(2)10. QB (1)**New on the list this weekDropped out:NoneMost first-place votes:Aaron Rodgers (7 out of 10)Tom Brady (2)Cooper Kupp (1)Most second-place votes:Tom Brady (6)Aaron Rodgers (2)Josh Allen, Deebo Samuel (1)Most total ballots:Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady (10 out of 10)Cooper Kupp (8)Joe Burrow (7)Josh Allen (5)Positional representation:  QB (6)WR (2)RB (1)DE (1)So who will actually win?It would be pretty surprising if anyone other than  Cameron Maybin Jersey Rodgers won. There's no way for anyone to overtake him with the regular season now finished, and he has been an overwhelming favorite for several weeks now. In all likelihood, he is going to repeat.

The NFL offseason is young, but it's already Felipe Vazquez Jersey  been a weird one for the . Star quarterback scrubbed his social media and "unfollowed" the team last month, and then reported that Murray had been described as "self-centered," "immature" and someone who points fingers. This saga appeared to reach a climax Monday, when Murray's agent, Erik Burkhardt, released an about a new contract.Burkhardt posted the letter he wrote to the Cardinals, which stated that Murray wants to be Arizona's long-term quarterback, and that he "desperately" wants to win the Super Bowl. That wasn't the point of the lengthy note, however, as the statement said Murray is looking for a new deal. Burkhardt also claimed that his camp sent a "detailed contract proposal" to the Cardinals that apparently provides financial protection, reflects the current quarterback market and lowers Murray's salary cap number.Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and the front office don't want to remain in the headlines when it comes to this situation, but it sounds like Murray's camp is fine residing there until it gets what it wants. Keim spoke to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, and he said that while the two sides haven't spoken in a couple of days, there has been dialogue. As far as the statement goes, Keim didn't want to make it more Jacob Stallings Jersey  than it already is. "I think it's an agent doing his job," said Keim. "I have a lot of respect for Erik Burkhardt and obviously Kyler Murray. From my standpoint, it's always been moving forward any kind of speculation, any negotiations, any conversations and dialogue will be certainly held confidential between the three of us."Keim was then asked what he thought when he saw the statement. He again reiterated that he Blank Jersey  thought it was an agent doing his job.  "I think everybody has different styles, and as long as I've been doing this it's one of those things that you have to understand people have different ways of approaching things, and I respect that," said Keim. "You can't get caught up in taking things personal -- it is a busine s -- and you have to be able to separate the busine s and the personal side of it, which I think is important. You know, I've done contracts with players individually as recent as and that's one of the things we had to talk about, to make sure that when we sat in there together face-to-face that we were going to be able to talk this out like grown men, and it wasn't going to become personal, and there weren't going to be any emotional problems from it, and to his credit, he did a great job."Keim then was asked if he was worried there could be negative repercu sions if the extension didn't get completed this offseason. He responded with a simple "No."         Pick Six Newsletter   Crafted By The Best NFL Experts   Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings.     I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter Corey Dickerson Jersey " and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies.  By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's .                 Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.       Thanks for signing up!   Keep an eye on your inbox.     Sorry!   There was an error proce sing your subscription.     Publishing a statement like this at the end of February is certainly an aggre sive negotiation tactic, as quarterbacks who are just three years into their careers usually don't sign extensions this early. As CBS Sports' John Breech , the earliest a deal has ever been done. Murray is entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal in 2022, and Arizona can push that through 2023 by exercising his fifth-year option.  This will be an interesting situation to watch this offseason since the Cardinals  JB Shuck Jersey do not have to extend Murray immediately, yet that's exactly what he and his camp want. Included in the statement, in bold, was "Actions speak much louder than words in this volatile busine s."

The pay $20 million per year to be the best cornerback in football. They just gave him a 20-carat diamond ring for helping them win Super Bowl LVI. And they watch, each fall, as pundits league-wide feast on his Adam Ottavino Jersey  every comment, building headlines around a confidence that's earned him titles like "" and "" on-field instigator.At 27, Ramsey is an almost-impenetrable brand in and of himself. In a pa sing era, with wide receivers now approaching quarterback money, it's easier to dominate stat sheets and fantasy lineups than cover the guys who do. He does it anyway. And when the slip-ups do occur, his reputation remains: aggre sive, physical, talkative. shutdown NFL cornerback.None of it properly defines him. Not the labels. Not the contracts. Not the awards. Ramsey is one half of the Rams' historic defensive duo, the other being future Hall of Famer . But he's frankly more concerned with his other, more important partner. If you haven't picked up on who that might be, he reasons, then you probably just haven't been listening."Personally I've never cared what people think (about me)," Ramsey told CBS Sports in a recent phone call. "Because most of the time, their perception is wrong. And also, like, I just don't play for humans. I play for all glory to God."               MIA  CB  #5  Ramsey's social media following -- 1.4 million on Instagram, 430,000 on Twitter -- gets a daily sprinkling of his faith. If he's not reposting devotionals or prayers, he's for their favorite Bible verses. Grandma would be proud; she's a retired pastor who helped oversee his church upbringing, which extended to high school, where he studied different religions at private Brentwood Academy in Tenne see.Still, for many, the first thing that comes to mind with Jalen Ramsey is not "child of God." Maybe that's because his athletic prowe s is an easier conversation. Maybe, more likely, it's because he's not the stereotypical Christian athlete, more notorious  David Dahl Jersey for picking fights with wideouts than spouting inspirational cliches. This is a guy who e sentially forced his way off the lowly three years after they drafted him No. 5 overall, who once openly "trash," and kept approaching , egging on the greatest player of all time, in an AFC Championship Game.In one sense, Ramsey is simply playing a part; the minute he steps onto the field, unmatched bravado is basically a prerequisite for eliminating the best pa s catchers in the world -- for doing his job, earning his paycheck, satisfying the thousands who wear his No. 5 jersey. There's also, he suggests, a fundamental misconception among outsiders about what it means to be humble. The world sees him play with visible confidence and says: He elects to view his abilities, including confidence, as gifts.  "It's not like an arrogance thing, like, me, me, me, me, me," Ramsey says. "I that this is all God. Like, there's nowhere in the Word, in the Bible, that says humility is thinking le s of yourself. But if you look up 'humility' in the Webster dictionary -- I don't know where the disconnect was -- it says thinking le s of yourself. And that's not -- personally, I don't want that type of humility, I don't think anybody should think le s of themselves. I don't agree with that, I don't live my life like that. I will think le s of myself, because thinking le s of myself is also going to be doing a discredit to God."Like, why would I think le s of myself when God's ble sed me with so much?" Ramsey continues. "Like, nah, I'm gonna praise God. ... I'm gonna shout all my ble sings, I'm gonna let the world know, because at the end of the day I know ... all these (gifts) came from Him and I'm doing the best of my ability to put (them) on showcase. ... So when people try to put that on me, like, 'Oh, he's arrogant,' or, 'He's not humble,' they don't even know me, they don't know who I'm doing it for."Ramsey knows the perception: every time he pounds his chest, points to his nameplate or jaws with an opponent, he is further entrenching "Jalen Ramsey" as a superstar. He insists, however, that those who know him personally, not from TV or even the social media he inhabits, know he doesn't claim to be self-made: "It's never me," he says. "It's all God. It's Antonio Senzatela Jersey  God putting me in the best situations, around the best people, ble sing me with the work ethic. Like it's literally all God."  Ramsey has some theological backing in his approach to biblical humility: (TGC), a network of evangelical churches, argues that humility is often wrongly a sociated with insecurity, indecisivene s and inactivity. The five-time Pro Bowler is defiantly none of those things. But TGC also argues that Christian humility includes "unconcern for power, prestige and position." Where and when, exactly, is Ramsey putting others before himself, his $100M career and all that comes with it?You might start back home, where Ramsey's father, Lamont, has been serving as an emergency medical technician with the Nashville Fire Department since Jalen was 5. Fifteen minutes from Ramsey's hometown, a K-4 charter school is still reaping the benefits of . On past Thanksgivings, he's spent tens of thousands surprising area high schoolers with gift cards to local grocery stores. In 2021, his foundation helped donate to Los Angeles-area food banks."You gotta put action with your beliefs," Ramsey says.And that doesn't account for what happens in his own home. The All-Pro takes tithing very seriously, but he's equally serious about parenting. Of his countle s tattoos, only two aren't direct symbols for his faith. They are the names of his daughters -- Breelyn, 4; and Brooklyn, 2 -- and they're inked among flowers along his ribs, always within reach of his heart. He sends his girls, along with their young nephew, to a pre-K program at a private Christian school, where Todd Helton Jersey  they learn the basics of not only reading and writing but what Scripture says about God's love for them.  "I'm trying to raise my kids the right way," Ramsey says. "They know that without Jesus Christ we're nothing, but with Jesus Christ, we're everything. They pray every single night with me. Things like that, people don't know, but I don't really broadcast or care to broadcast, because that's not really why I do it, that's not who I do it for."Faith, if you haven't noticed by now, is the one thing Ramsey does care to share. People used to ask him about it more -- he's been posting verses and partaking in Bible studies since his Jaguars days, encouraged by his grandma, team chaplain and close teammates -- but it's often "overshadowed by so much of the football, football, football stuff." From the outside, sports are synonymous with his life. From his eyes, sports cannot sustain life. Only his creator can. Ramsey's go-to reminder: John 1:12, which promises that anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord is welcomed into God's family.The paradox of Ramsey prioritizing spiritual status over his earthly one is that this stuff comes full circle: one of the things that makes him so lethal -- the NFL's most zealous cover man -- is his beliefs. So at peace with an identity that lies beyond the game, he lines up with transcendent mettle. So thankful for the physical abilities he did not earn, he doubles as an in-house mentor for his peers. Coach Sean McVay calls him a "," and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris that it's "terrible" trying to compete with Ramsey's teaching, since he already has "all the answers."  "You can ask my teammates," Ramsey says. "I take on a lot of different roles during the games, I play a lot of different positions, I usually take the toughest downs away from my teammates. I work extremely hard to make sure I'm prepared for them."The hope, inside the Rams, is that his presence on the field and in the locker room will allow L.A. to repeat as world champions. Ramsey's resume suggests his impact could still expand, with a career-high 77 tackles, four interceptions and nine tackles for lo s powering the club's title-winning secondary in 2021. But what happens after all that? What happens once the unmistakable football career comes to a close, and another chapter awaits? Might we, someday, witne s the dreadlocked superstar further ascend into the spiritual realm? Perhaps even following in family footsteps, and becoming Pastor Ramsey?"Uh," he laughs, "nah, I don't think I'll go down that path. In e sence, though, I think anybody can encourage others. Anybody can kinda be a pastor, right? I've always wanted to do it in a little bit of a different way."  No one would deny that.Truth be told, Ramsey has his sights set on the youth: once his playing days are over, he wants to coach a high school team "the right way,  Chris Rusin Jersey encouraging the kids with not only my knowledge about the game of football but about life and about Jesus Christ."Until then, he's got his own receivers to blanket, his own games to win, and maybe, if it's that kind of a day, a little trash talk to dish out. Just rest a sured, when it's all said and done, that Jalen Ramsey -- the magnificently unbothered celebrity that he is -- will be bowing down, eyes closed and fingers intertwined.

The first wave of free agency certainly saw some major moves in the NFC, as the contenders are trying to make a run at the Philadelphia Eagles for conference supremacy. The Dallas Cowboys made splash moves with the trade acquisitions of and while the San Francisco 49ers signed one of the biggest free agents in .As for the Eagles? They kept plenty of their own talent from the Super Bowl team as they gear up to be the first repeat champion in the NFC East since they accomplished the feat from 2001 through 2004. The Detroit Lions and New York Giants have made enough noise in free agency to emerge as contenders for the top of the conference, while gives the New Orleans Saints an opportunity to make a deep playoff run of their own.How does the NFC stack up after the first wave of free agency? Here's an early look at the contenders in the conference:Players lost: Javon Hargrave (DT), (RB), (LB), (G), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S), (S), (LB), (T), (QB), (WR)Players added/retained:  (CB), (C), (DE), (DT), (RB), (LB), (S), (QB), (RB), (CB)The Eagles lost a lot of players in free agency, but that was expected given all the talent general manager Howie Roseman a sembled on the 2022 roster. They were able to keep the top cornerback tandem in the league in and James Bradberry intact while Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox decided to come back (with Cox and Graham taking hometown discounts).  Losing Hargrave, T.J. Edwards and C.J. Gardner-Johnson will hurt, but the Eagles have young replacements in , and . The same can be said for replacing Isaac Seumalo. Philadelphia kept older players who are still productive while having promising talent from the 2022 rookie cla s in place.Don't forget the Eagles still have at quarterback -- throwing to , and . They only lost Hargrave from the pa s-rush unit that finished with 70 sacks last season.The Eagles still have to improve at linebacker, safety and defensive tackle, but this is still the best team in the NFC. The Eagles arguably have the best quarterback in the conference.  Players lost: (G), (TE), (LB), (LS), (WR)Players added/retained: Brandin Cooks (WR), Stephon Gilmore (CB), (S), (LB), (QB), (CB), (T), (RB), (DE), (RB)The Cowboys certainly improved an already talented roster, highlighted with the additions of Cooks and Gilmore. Cooks will be paired with and Michael Gallup, giving a very good trio of wideouts. Dallas also decided to finally give the No. 1 running back spot, cutting ties with to do it.Dan Quinn's defense got even better with the acquisition of Gilmore, pairing him opposite of to give the Cowboys a strong cornerback duo Mark Fayne Jersey  of their own. Retaining Wilson was also key for the secondary. Don't forget is still on that defense.Can Prescott erase the turnovers that plagued him in 2022? Will the Cowboys finally eliminate their divisional round hex? This season is their best opportunity to reach a conference championship game, no matter if Mike McCarthy is calling plays or not.  Players lost:  (RT), (QB), Samson Ebukam (DE), (DE), (S), (CB), (T), (LB), (DT), Tarvarius Moore (S), (DE)Players signed/retained: Javon Hargrave (DT), (C), Tashaun Gipson (S), (C/G), (TE), (QB), Clelin Ferrell (DE), (LB), (DT), (CB), (CB)The 49ers needed to add a pa s rusher at defensive tackle to help out , netting a major upgrade with Hargrave. San Francisco was too reliant on Bosa to carry the pa s rush throughout the 2022 season, making the 49ers vulnerable when Bosa was contained.Moseley and Ward are lo ses in the secondary, yet San Francisco was able to retain Gipson. The 49ers still have , , and at the skill positions on offense -- even if they took a hit on the offensive line with the lo s of McGlinchey.San Francisco still has uncertainty at the quarterback position. Is this the year figures it out and stays healthy or will Brock Purdy recover from elbow surgery and take the reins? Until the 49ers have constant stability at quarterback, they're a notch below the Eagles and Cowboys.  Players lost: (RB), (LB), (G), (S), (CB)Players added/retained:  (CB), (LB), (RB), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S), (DE), Emmanuel Moseley (CB), (G), Jake McQuaide (LS), Michael Badgley (K), (T)One of the rising teams in the NFC last season, the Lions made major upgrades in the secondary with the free agent additions of Sutton, Moseley, Gardner-Johnson. Detroit turned its biggest weakne s into a potential strength, especially on a defense that has and James Houston heading into Year 2.The Lions' offense is talented with , Jameson Williams, and -- and have Montgomery to bolster the running game (even with the surprising departure of Jamaal Williams). is also well-protected by one of the best offensive lines in football.Detroit is the best team in the NFC North with departing Green Bay. How will the Lions handle increased expectations? They're good enough to make a run at the contenders in the conference.  Players lost:  (S), (C)Players added/retained: (TE), (RB), (QB), (LB), (WR), (DT), (WR), (RB), (LS), (P), (LB), (WR), (WR), (G), (WR), (G), (WR)The Giants deserve plenty of credit for keeping their core players Jones and Barkley this offseason, while giving Jones one of the game's top pa s-catching tight ends in Waller (when healthy). Jones also has Campbell, Slayton, Hodgins, Shepard and at wide receiver -- an improvement over 2022.While the Giants are better at the skill positions, can the offensive line protect Jones enough to compete with the other high-powered offenses in the conference? Signing Okereke is a huge addition for a defense with a good pa s rush, but that comes with the lo s of Love in an already questionable secondary.Did the Giants get better -- or are they hoping Jones takes the next step in Year 2 with Daboll? New York isn't among the best teams in the NFC, but the Giants are good enough to compete with those teams that rank at the top.  Players lost: (DT), (WR), (DE) Adam Larsson Jersey , (QB), (DE), (LB)Players added/retained: Derek Carr (QB), (WR), (TE), (QB), (G), (K), Jamaal Williams (RB), (DE), (S), (DT), (LB), (DT), (WR), (P), (G), (T)The Saints wasted no time in getting their quarterback, signing Carr before free agency started. New Orleans has mi sed the playoffs the last two seasons due to inconsistent quarterback play and injuries at the position, something Carr will seek to eliminate. With Carr's presence, the Saints are the best team in the NFC South.New Orleans has talent at the skill positions with the addition of Williams to pair with at running back. If Thomas can return to pre-injury form, the pa sing game can be dangerous with young playmakers in , and Johnson. The offensive line will benefit with Carr's quick decision-making.Losing Davenport is a blow to the pa s rush, but the Saints are well-equipped to withstand his lo s with a strong linebacker group of and Pete Werner. Keeping the secondary intact will be huge for 2023.  The Saints are a dark horse to make a deep playoff run. Of course, this depends on Carr having a career resurgence in New Orleans.Players lost: (WR), (DT), (LB), (CB), (CB)Players added/retained: (LB), (DT), (CB), Marcus Davenport (EDGE), (C), (K), (G), (QB), (DT), (TE), (DT), (LS), Austin Schlottmann (G), (RB), (DT), (TE), (T), (DE), Oli Udoh (T)A surprising 13-win season ultimately did lead to some changes for the Vikings, as Brian Flores is still looking to put a stamp on his defense. Davenport is a big addition to the pa s rush, but the Vikings parting ways with Peterson and Kendricks raises some question marks on that side of the ball. Murphy should help fill the void, but Minnesota has plenty of question marks in the secondary.  Losing Thielen will also hurt on offense, even if the Vikings have a rising wideout in . is also back at tight end -- and the Vikings still have .  With an offensive line that did improve last season (but still has its faults) and at quarterback, the Vikings appear to have taken a step back. They did win 11 one-score games in 2022 and the roster is still a work in progre s.        Players lost: Rashaad Penny (RB), (RB), (LB)Players added/retained: (LB), Julian Love (S), (QB), (K), (DT), (G), (LB), Evan Brown (C), (QB), (DT), (S), Michael Jackson (CB), (LB), (DT)The Seahawks were able to retain Smith at quarterback, giving him another season as the starter with D.K. Metcalf and . is also returning as the lead back with a promising young offensive line. The 2022 draft cla s of Walker, , , and Coby Bryant gives Seattle reason for optimism with its 2023 draft picks in tow.What is Seattle's ceiling with Smith? He was the most improved player in the league last season, but was average in the second half of the year. Can Smith improve in 2023 -- enough that Seattle doesn't consider drafting its future franchise quarterback?  The run defense also appears to have improved with the additions of Reed and Love, yet there appears to be a ceiling with this Seattle team. The 2023 draft -- along with the improvements of the 2022 draft cla s -- will play a major role if the Seahawks can make a return trip to the playoffs and compete with the top teams in the conference.Players lost: (C), (WR), (QB), (LB)Players added/retained: (QB), (DT), Nick Gates (C), (T), (DE), (C), Cameron Dantzler (CB Jonas Gustavsson Jersey ), (LB), (RB), (CB), (LB), (S), Cody Barton (LB), (DT), (LB), Milo Eifler (LB), (CB), (TE)The Commanders always appear a quarterback away from making significant noise in the NFC East -- and this offseason is no different. Washington upgraded at quarterback with Bri sett to compete with for the job, but are the Commanders really going into the season with those two battling for the starting job?Washington has talent at the skill positions, especially at wide receiver with , and . The offensive line is good enough, even with the lo s of Schweitzer. The defense improved at cornerback with Dantzler and Barton will overcome the lo s of Holcomb at linebacker.The defense still comes down to the front four, so retaining Payne was ma sive. If Washington does decide to pursue , the Commanders may be Super Bowl contenders.Players lost: (QB), (G), Rakeem Nunez-Roches (DT), (CB), (S)Players added/retained: (QB), (WR), (RB), (LG), (CB), (CB), (DE), J.J. Ru sell (LB), (G), (DT)Tampa Bay was banking on losing Brady this offseason, getting Mayfield to compete with for the starting quarterback job. The Buccaneers have questions at running back, yet are still stacked at wide receiver with , and Gage. The offensive line needs improvement, especially with not back at left tackle yet.The defensive line still has , but could use more help getting to the quarterback. Bringing David back at linebacker will help, especially since the Buccaneers Ryan Smyth Jersey  were also able to keep Dean around with .There are plenty of question marks on the Buccaneers, yet they still can compete in the NFC South.Players lost: Dean Lowry (DT), Allen Lazard (WR), (TE), Jarran Reed (DT)Players added/retained:  (S), Yosuah Nijman (LT), (CB), Corey Ballentine (CB), Matt Orzech (LS), (S), (TE), (C)The Packers are going to lose Rodgers to the at some point, moving forward toward the next chapter with . Green Bay wasn't major players in free agency, losing Lazard and Tonyan -- undergoing a youth movement at wide receiver and tight end.This season is about developing Love with young standout -- and an offensive line that can protect him when healthy. The defense should be able to keep the Packers in games, but they're expected to take a step back once Rodgers departs.Players lost: (CB), Baker Mayfield (QB), (P), (CB), Matt Orzech (LS), (S), (K)Players added/retained: (TE), (G), Michael Hoecht (DT), (LB), Shaun Jolly (CB)Another tough season appears to be in store for the Rams, even if the franchise is set to get back a healthy and . The Rams do have talent at several positions, yet had to unload talent (Ramsey, ) because of salary cap constraints and lack of draft picks to get younger.A healthy significantly helps this defense, but there are questions marks at linebacker and cornerback with Wagner and Ramsey gone. This team could compete in the NFC West if its core players stay healthy, yet depth is a significant concern.Players lost: Nicholas Morrow (LB), (LB), David Montgomery (RB), (T)Players added/retained: (WR), Robert Tonyan (TE), (LB), T.J. Edwards (LB), (RB), (LS), (DT), (DT), (FB), (G), (DT), (QB), (G), (CB), Travis Homer (RB)The Bears were one of the most of the active teams this offseason, trading down from the No. 1 overall pick and committing to at quarterback. Chicago added Moore to pair with at wide receiver and Foreman to team up with at running back. There's still significant work to do on the offensive line.Edmunds and Edwards should shine at linebacker, while Billings helps the interior of the defensive line. Chicago still needs to upgrade the pa s rush and at cornerback, but the Bears are trending in the right direction. Their win total should double in 2023.Players lost: D.J. Moore (WR), Sam Darnold (QB), (LB), D'Onta Foreman (RB), P.J. Walker (QB), Myles Hartsfield (CB)Players added/retained: Adam Thielen (WR), Miles Sanders (RB), Shaq Thompson (LB), (S), (TE), (TE), Andy Dalton (QB), Bradley Boseman (C), Shy Tuttle (DT), Justin McGray (G), (LS), (DT), (FB), San Franklin (S), (TE)The Panthers' offseason is far from complete, as they traded a boatload of picks (and Moore) to move up from No. 9 to No. 1 overall -- setting themselves up to select a franchise quarterback in the draft. Carolina's offense will have a different look with Sanders at running back and Thielen at wide receiver, yet the Panthers need more pa s catchers.The defense made plenty of additions with Thompson, Williams and Bell. How Ejiro Evero gets his scheme to impact the defense will be vital toward Carolina competing in the NFC South in 2023.Another franchise  Laurent Brossoit Jersey that's heading in the right direction and can compete for the division this year. There's still a lot of work to do in Carolina.Players lost: Byron Murphy (CB), (G), (DT), (DT),Players added/retained: (K), Kyzir White (LB), (DE), (T), (LB), Zach Pascal (WR), (G), (CB), (RB), (QB), (DT), (G), (WR), (DT), (CB)The Cardinals are in a state of flux, set to unload in an offense that appeared set at wide receiver with and to help out. and are returning at running back and tight end, so should be okay with the skill positions once Hopkins departs -- if the offensive line can protect him.What the Cardinals are going to do for Jonathan Gannon's defense remains a mystery, especially at cornerback. Where plays is also a mystery. This Cardinals team has plenty of questions -- and not many answers.Players lost: Isaiah Oliver (CB), Chuma Edoga (T), Abdullah Anderson (DT), (CB)Players added/retained: Je sie Bates (S), (TE), David Onyemata (DT), Kaden Elli s (LB), (G), (DE), (T), Taylor Heinicke (QB), Mike Hughes (CB), (WR), (P), (FB), (LB), (CB), Parker He se (TE), (LS), (T), (DT)The Falcons are going to look significantly different in 2023, but will Atlanta be competitive? Atlanta's rushing attack with and keeps the Falcons in games, but can the Falcons win with Heinicke or ?Keeping the offensive line intact was important for the Falcons, who appear set to dominate the ground game again in 2023. The defense got a significant makeover with four new starters -- including a difference-maker in Bates.If the Falcons get the quarterback situation ever figured out, they could compete for the NFC South title. Remember Lamar Jackson is still available.