As crazy as it sounds, we are only a few months away from the NFL preseason beginning as week one of the preseason is set for the middle of August. While the league and teams are hopeful that they will be able to actually hit the field at that time, it is still anyone’s guess.
Despite the uncertainty, the league is still operating business as usual, and as such, there has still been plenty of news from around the league this past week. Let’s check out some of those top news stories.
Possible Changes To The Rooney Rule?
Interesting news came out of the league on Friday as Jim Trotter of NFL.com reported that the league is considering making changes to the Rooney Rule. To clarify, the Rooney Rule is in place to help ensure that minority candidates are given opportunities for head coaching or upper management jobs within the NFL.
While there are several aspects of the proposed changes to consider, the biggest would be the influence that it might have on a team’s draft positioning. According to Trotter, teams would get an improved draft position if they were to hire a minority head coach or other upper management position.
Currently, teams can only be penalized if they do not adhere to the rule, but this would certainly give teams an incentive.
There are other parts of the proposal that include draft compensation for teams that lose minority assistants or coaches that take head coaching or general manager roles elsewhere. Additionally, there would be more avenues for coaches to change teams even if it is not going to a higher position (for example, a coordinator going to another team for another coordinator position, something that teams can currently block).
All in all, if it passes, it would certainly change the way teams would analyze the Rooney Rule.
Reports Indicate Wilson Was Almost A Brown
It is commonplace for fans, players, and general managers to wonder the what-ifs for trades that were discussed but never executed. Apparently, one of the best quarterbacks in the game was involved in one of those “what-if” type deals.
According to Chris Sims, back in 2018, there was a discussion between the Cleveland Browns and the Seattle Seahawks to exchange the No. 1 overall pick for quarterback Russell Wilson. While it is uncertain if other pieces were involved (which there likely were), the news that Seattle would contemplate trading Wilson is remarkable.
During the 2017 season, Wilson had gone 339 for 553 (61.3 completion percentage) for 3,983 yards, 34 touchdowns, and had also rushed 95 times for 586 yards and another three scores. While the money it would take to extend Wilson (which was ultimately a four-year, $140 million contract in 2019), they are probably still happy they passed.
With the trade falling through, the Browns instead took quarterback Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick. Last season, Mayfield went 317 for 534 for 3,827 yards, 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. The interceptions are concerning, but the Browns are hoping that it was just a sophomore slump and that Mayfield can bounce back this season.
Did Two NFL Players Commit Robbery?
There have been two arrest warrants issued for two NFL cornerbacks, the Seattle Seahawks’ Quinton Dunbar and the New York Giants’ DeAndre Baker. Apparently, the incident took place in Florida, and one of the two held party-goers at gunpoint while the other robbed them.
While the investigation is still ongoing, it is certainly saddening to hear that the 27-year-old Dunbar and 22-year-old Baker would resort to this. Last season, Dunbar had 37 tackles and four interceptions for the Redskins while Baker had 48 tackles in his rookie season.
If the allegations are true, it is the victims that people should feel the worst for, but one would hope that these allegations end up being false. If not, the future of their careers is certainly in jeopardy.
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