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Pro Football Rumors’ 2018 NFL Predictions

September 6th, 2018 at 5:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 2018 NFL season gets underway tonight, and the writers at Pro Football Rumors have weighed in with projections for the upcoming year. We’ve predicted which teams will earn playoff berths, which clubs will win their respective conferences, the Super Bowl champion, and the winners of the league’s major awards.

Click on the table below for predictions from Zach Links, Ben Levine, Andrew Ortenberg, Rory Parks, Dallas Robinson, and Sam Robinson. And please head to the comments section to chime in with your own prognostications for the 2018 NFL season!

John Simon Visits Jets

September 6th, 2018 at 4:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets’ search for additional outside linebacker help will now include John Simon. The edge defender made the Jets his first free agent visit since being released by the Colts, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Simon spent one season with the Colts, but in their new 4-3 defense, he was not viewed as an ideal fit. He spent the prior five seasons of his career with 3-4 teams — the Ravens and Texans — and has worked in a starting role for the past three years.

Gang Green’s outside-rush situation has been mentioned as one of the most glaring weak spots any team’s facing. The Jets do not return a player who registered more than three sacks last season. Projected outside linebacker starters Josh Martin and Jordan Jenkins combined for 4.5 sacks in 2017.

The second-place finishers in the Khalil Mack sweepstakes, the Jets did sign Jeremiah Attaochu after the 49ers cut him. A Simon route to New York would be a similar addition. The 27-year-old defender started all nine Colts games he played. His single-season sack high is five, set with the 2015 Texans — for whom he worked as a part-time starter.

 

Patriots To Place CB Duke Dawson On IR

September 6th, 2018 at 4:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two of the Patriots’ top three picks are now set to be on IR. Second-round pick Duke Dawson will join Isaiah Wynn on the injured list, according to ESPN.com’ Field Yates (on Twitter).

The Patriots will promote wide receiver Riley McCarron from their practice squad, per Yates. A hamstring injury will send Dawson to IR.

Dawson was set to be one of New England’s reserve cornerbacks and was seeing time in the slot during the preseason. New England still has five cornerbacks on its active roster, six if cornerback/safety Jason McCourty is counted.

Five of the nine Patriots 2018 draftees — Wynn, Dawson, linebacker Christian Sam, wideout Braxton Berrios and tight end Ryan Izzo — are on IR. Only Dawson can return, since he was moved there after being carried through to New England’s 53-man roster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/18

September 6th, 2018 at 4:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves.

Atlanta Falcons

  • Promoted to active roster: LS Jeff Overbaugh
  • Waived: LB Richard Jarvis

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived from injured reserve: DT Chris Okoye, DB Josh Shaw

Jacksonville Jaguars

Philadelphia Eagles

Mychal Kendricks Pleads Guilty To Insider Trading

September 6th, 2018 at 3:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former Eagles and Browns linebacker Mychal Kendricks pleaded guilty to insider trading in front of a federal judge on Thursday in Philadelphia, Tommy Rowan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Kendricks could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December. The 27-year-old defender admitted guilt in scheme perpetrated years ago a statement last week, shortly before the Browns released him.

“Because I know I was wrong,” Kendricks replied when U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter asked why he pleaded guilty. “I know that I made the decision to accept information, secret information, and it wasn’t the right thing to do. I’m making the decision because it’s the right thing to do.”

The former Goldman Sachs analyst-turned-sitcom writer who participated in this scheme with Kendricks, 27-year-old Damilare Sonoiki, is also expected to plead guilty. Kendricks said he did not use any of the $1.2MM profits and intends to pay back all illegally obtained funds.

Browns Claim Anthony Zettel Off Waivers

September 6th, 2018 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Anthony Zettel did not make it far on the waiver wire. The team with the top priority submitted a successful claim and will bring him aboard.

The Browns claimed Zettel off waivers after the Lions cut him, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). One of Cleveland’s Sunday waiver claims, offensive lineman Aaron Neary, will be cut because of the Zettel add.

This will continue shuffling for a Browns defensive end corps. Cleveland cut former second-round pick Nate Orchard, as seen on Hard Knocks, and then dropped 2016 third-rounder Carl Nassib following a successful Sunday waiver claim. The Browns will now have two waiver claims — Ifeadi Odenigbo and Zettel — stationed as backup defensive ends heading into Week 1.

Zettel started 16 games for the Lions last season, registering 6.5 sacks. Only Myles Garrett, with seven, recorded more than that for the 2017 Browns. Cleveland now has six defensive ends on its roster, with fellow newcomers Chris Smith (a UFA addition) and Chad Thomas (a third-round pick) stationed behind Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah.

Jason Myers To Open Season As Jets’ Kicker

September 6th, 2018 at 3:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The procession of kickers to come through the Jets facility this week did not make Jason Myers‘ status as the team’s kicker too solid. But it appears he’s held off the free agents who stopped by this week.

Todd Bowles said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post, on Twitter) Thursday the recent waiver claim will be his kicker when the Jets face the Lions on Monday night.

The Jets brought in Dan Bailey and Roberto Aguayo to work out and had an audition scheduled for Cardinals camp leg Matt McCrane. Either Myers has impressed Jets brass enough, or the team did not see what it hoped it would from the visitors.

Myers spent the offseason with the Seahawks, but when they signed Sebastian Janikowski, the younger player became the underdog to open the season as Seattle’s kicker. But the former Jaguars kicker will receive a second regular-season opportunity with a team come Monday. The fourth-year kicker held Jags job for 2 1/2 seasons. He’s missed almost as many extra points in that time (12, on 88 tries) as he has field goals (15, on 64 attempts).

Giants ST Coordinator Thomas McGaughey Undergoing Cancer Treatment

September 6th, 2018 at 2:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey revealed Thursday he’s undergoing chemotherapy treatments to address a form of cancer with which he was recently diagnosed.

While undergoing a procedure for a cancerous growth in his bowel duct during the offseason, the 45-year-old McGaughey said doctors discovered cancer in his lymph nodes. He received a periampullary diagnosis, a form of cancer affecting the liver and pancreas.

He’s been undergoing chemotherapy treatments for the past two months and has more scheduled. However, McGaughey remains a member of the Giants’ staff and continues to perform his duties as ST coordinator after his morning chemo sessions.

“I’m not going to let chemotherapy or cancer get in the way of what I do,” McGaughey said, via Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com. “I’m a father and I’m a football coach. That’s what I do. It’s get up, go to work and earn your paycheck. … (Missing the start of the season) was never a thought in mind. I’m sure it was in my doctors’ mind and my families mind. My wife, I’m sure. In my mind, I never even thought of it that way.”

An assistant special teams coordinator with the Giants from 2007-10, McGaughey is in his first season back with the franchise. He worked with the Panthers under Dave Gettleman previously, while spending seasons in between Giants tenures with other teams as well. Gettleman underwent chemo treatments over the summer for a cancer that is now in remission.

The Giants rehired Tom Quinn, their ST coordinator from 2007-10, to serve as one of two assistants to McGaughey, per Dunleavy, who adds Anthony Blevins is now aboard as the other aid.

Panthers Sign Connor Cook To P-Squad

September 6th, 2018 at 1:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers’ quarterback situation behind Cam Newton is rather thin. They’ve added a notable player to that mix.

Connor Cook will join the Panthers’ practice squad, Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer tweets. To make room for the 2016 fourth-round pick on the 10-man unit, Carolina released defensive tackle Kendrick Norton, a rookie seventh-round pick.

The Raiders waived Cook last weekend, and the former Michigan State prospect passed through waivers unclaimed. He worked out for the Jets and Panthers this week and will now venture to Charlotte and attempt to revive his career there.

Taylor Heinicke is the only quarterback behind Newton on the Panthers’ active roster. A former UDFA, Heinicke’s played in one game and attempted one pass. The Panthers now have two quarterbacks on their practice squad, with Cook joining Kyle Allen.

Cook failed to sufficiently impress new Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who’s jettisoned many players from recent Reggie McKenzie drafts. The third-year player’s only start came in a 2016 wild card game, after the Raiders lost both Derek Carr and Matt McGloin to previous injuries. He struggled badly in Oakland’s loss to Houston that day and could not solidify his spot with the new Raiders regime.

South Rumors: Luck, Bucs, Saints, Texans

September 6th, 2018 at 12:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts have their franchise centerpiece ready to resume his career after a hiatus so long it had many concerned his NFL days were over. But not everyone’s buying into Andrew Luck being able to pick up where he left off.

“Have you watched the guy play? Go back and watch him pre-injury…like 2015. Now watch him today. His throwing motion is completely changed, and he has no deep velocity,” an AFC offensive assistant coach said, via Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller. “His entire game has changed. I bet he’ll be Checkdown Charlie. Like Alex Smith but afraid to get hit.”

An AFC South assistant, per Miller, doubted the Colts’ offensive line can protect Luck. That was an issue for the team when its 28-year-old quarterback was last healthy. Colts scouts and execs are obviously more bullish on Luck being ready to resume his trajectory.

“The last time y’all saw Andrew, he threw for 4,200 yards with a (messed) up shoulder and a bad offensive line,” a “high-level” Colts executive told Miller. “Just wait.”

Continuing with some additional Colts news, here’s the latest from the South divisions:

  • Both Anthony Castonzo and Marlon Mack returned to Colts practice this week, per ESPN.com’s Mike Wells and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter links). Castonzo injured his hamstring before training camp and re-aggravated it in the first week of August. He missed nearly a month of work but is optimistic he can still play in Week 1, the Indianapolis Star’s Zak Keefer tweets. Mack missed almost a month of work as well because of a hamstring issue. He’s Indianapolis’ projected running back starter, but his status for the opener is also up in the air.
  • Both the Buccaneers and Saints paid premiums to sign certain practice squad players. Tampa Bay went well above the minimum $7.6K-per-week wages to add linebacker Azeem Victor, agreeing to pay him $28K per week, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Saints are paying wide receiver Keith Kirkwood that amount as well, per Pelissero. Kirkwood is a rookie UDFA out of Temple who went to Saints camp, while Victor was sixth-round Raiders pick in April.
  • While Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson are expected to handle three-down work for the Panthers, David Mayo will start in place of the suspended Thomas Davis, DC Eric Washington said (via Joe Person of The Athletic, on Twitter). Mayo’s a 2015 sixth-round pick who’s started one game in his three previous Panther seasons.
  • The Texans worked out both Charles Sims and Akeem Hunt on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle notes (on Twitter). While Sims is a former regular on Buccaneers passing downs, Hunt’s workout went well, Wilson tweets, adding no deal is imminent. The Texans will be without D’Onta Foreman for the first third of the season. Alfred Blue, third-year back Tyler Ervin and recent waiver claim Gregory Howell are on Houston’s roster behind starter Lamar Miller.
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