The Colts tried to get Jason Campbell to sign on as Matt Hasselbeck‘s temporary backup, but the veteran quarterback declined. In an interview with ESPN 980, Campbell explained that he’s busy pursuing other opportunities and spending time with his family.
“I’m trying to follow my university a little bit, trying to figure out what it is that I want to get into next as far as TV or radio,” Campbell said (via Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post). “And the most important thing for me is just spending some family time. You’re playing football for so many years — you’re always gone, you’re always on the road, doing different things, and you never get a chance to spend that time with your family. And you look up, and 10 years have went by. Your nephews aren’t three no more; they’re 13. Your parents have gotten older. So the older you get, you seem to realize how much time is valuable, especially spending that time with the ones that you love.”
Even though Campbell is only 33 (34 next month), it sounds like there’s a chance he’ll never make a return to the NFL. Here’s more out of the AFC and NFC South:
- Andre Johnson was expected to be the Colts‘ No. 2 receiver behind T.Y. Hilton when he inked a three-year, $21MM deal in the offseason. So far, he hasn’t done much on the stat sheet, but the veteran isn’t the least bit upset about it, as Mike Wells of ESPN.com writes. “I think now people are so caught up in fantasy football,” Johnson said. “We hear it all the time. [Fans] get upset with you when you don’t catch a pass. People can say whatever they want or feel however they want to feel. I sleep good at night. I’m not really caught up with people have to say. I’ve had a great career. I’ve got a lot of passes and gained a lot of yards. I don’t really get caught up in what the outside people have to say.”
- During an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio, longtime Indianapolis journalist Bob Kravitz expressed his belief that Nick Saban may be a top target for Colts owner Jim Irsay if the team decides to move on from Chuck Pagano in the coming months. Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk has the details, along with the quotes from Kravitz.
- The Panthers were panned by many for not taking a left tackle in the draft and instead signing Michael Oher in free agency. As David Newton of ESPN.com writes, even though Oher hasn’t been a world beater this season, he has done a solid job of doing what he was signed to do — protecting Cam Newton. Recently, coach Ron Rivera commented that Oher has brought stability to a position that has been in flux since Jordan Gross retired after the 2013 season. In Sunday’s win over Green Bay, Oher didn’t allow a pressure or a sack and got a positive grade of 2.0 for pass protection from Pro Football Focus.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Oher’s line mates have helped resuscitate a Panthers line that put Cam Newton in peril last season. Carolina finding quality guards in last year’s rookie class (Trai Turner/Andrew Norwell) to pair with Ryan Kalil has made a big difference in the team having already surpassed its ’14 win total. Excellent work getting those talents in the third round and on the UDFA list. And Oher not being a complete sieve in his return to the left side has finished off this rapid makeover that’s resulted in one of the league’s best lines.
Kail acting as the pivot has been key. He’s been so good this season that Carolina’s poor tackle situation has barely even been discussed. Sam Monson of PFF often theorizes that at left tackle, it’s not about being the best — it’s about not being the worst (ie. having someone who is at least serviceable). Oher has been that.