NFL Pre-Season Central...Previews,Injuries,Results,Signings,Pictures,Etc,Etc.

[Greenbacks]

New York Giants

Eli Manning:
Pass yds: 4,429
Pass TDs: 32
INTs: 14
Rush yds: 41
Rush TDs: 0
Fumbles lost: 3
Fantasy points: 275.3

Head coach Ben McAdoo has brought some new life to the Giants pass attack. In two seasons as the offensive coordinator before his promotion, his system produced a pair of 4,400-plus passing yard and 30 or more touchdown campaigns from Eli Manning. During those two years, the Ole Miss product finished 10th in fantasy points twice. Manning set and then broke his previous career highs in pass attempts and completions while also recording some of his best passer ratings. Furthermore, he dropped his interception average from 21 in the previous four seasons to just 14. ... With Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard in the mix, Manning could be quite the bargain.

 

[Greenbacks]

New York Jets

Geno Smith:
Pass yds: 3,247
Pass TDs: 19
INTs: 15
Rush yds: 225
Rush TDs: 2
Fumbles lost: 4
Fantasy points: 202.4

Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey invigorated the Jets pass attack last season, as the team finished with a top-12 fantasy quarterback in Fitzpatick and two top-10 fantasy wide receivers in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. ... In his last seven seasons as a head coach or coordinator, Gailey has had four quarterbacks finish in the top 12 in fantasy points at the position (Jay Fiedler - 2001, Tyler Thigpen - 2008, Fitzpatrick - 2011, 2015). ... In four seasons under Gailey's watch between Buffalo and New York, the Amish rifle has averaged 3,534 passing yards and a respectable 25.5 touchdown passes. ... Geno Smith is the current starter, however, at least until/if Fitzpatrick re-signs.

 

[Greenbacks]

Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr:
Pass yds: 4,195
Pass TDs: 31
INTs: 15
Rush yds: 101
Rush TDs: 0
Fumbles lost: 3
Fantasy points: 265.9

The Raiders threw the football 63.3 percent of the time in their first season under offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, and Derek Carr finished 14th in fantasy points among quarterbacks. That was the first time he's coached a quarterback who finished in the top 15 in fantasy points in his last six seasons at the pro level. His next best signal-caller was Byron Leftwich, who finished in the top 20 in 2004. ... During a six-game stretch of 2015, Carr threw for 300-plus yards and scored 23-plus fantasy points four times to go along with 16 touchdown passes. He will now be a popular late sleeper in fantasy leagues, even more so with two full seasons of starter's experience under his belt.

 

[Greenbacks]

Philadelphia Eagles

Sam Bradford:
Pass yds: 3,677
Pass TDs: 21
INTs: 13
Rush yds: 38
Rush TDs: 0
Fumbles lost: 3
Fantasy points: 202.9

The Eagles will have a new offensive look this season, as Chip Kelly was fired and the team hired Pederson to take over as the new main man. He served as the offensive coordinator in Kansas City from 2013-2015, but Reid did most of the play calling in that time. Still, it's notable that Alex Smith never finished better than 12th in fantasy points among quarterbacks. ... Frank Reich, who was in San Diego the last two seasons, will now serve as the coordinator under Pederson. During his time with the Chargers, Philip Rivers threw the football a ridiculous 1,231 times and averaged 4,539 passing yards. Don't expect the same sort of production out of Sam Bradford or rookie Carson Wentz.

 

[Greenbacks]

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger:
Pass yds: 4,572
Pass TDs: 31
INTs: 14
Rush yds: 56
Rush TDs: 0
Fumbles lost: 4
Fantasy points: 276.5

Ben Roethlisberger missed four games last season due to injuries, but he still averaged 19 fantasy points per game. Projected over a full campaign, he would have scored 304.2 fantasy points and finished sixth among fantasy quarterbacks. ... The loss of Martavis Bryant to a suspension hurts, but the Steelers added an athletic tight end in Ladarius Green. The team will also have superstar runner Le'Veon Bell in the mix, so Big Ben will have no shortage of playmakers. ... Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has produced a total of five top-12 fantasy quarterbacks in his last 10 seasons as a coordinator or coach, including Roethlisberger (2010, 2013, 2014) and Kurt Warner (2007, 2008).

 

[Greenbacks]

San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers:
Pass yds: 4,621
Pass TDs: 28
INTs: 14
Rush yds: 63
Rush TDs: 0
Fumbles lost: 2
Fantasy points: 271.1

The Chargers threw the football 64.3 percent of the time under Reich last season. However, new offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt isn't expected to throw it that much in 2016. In fact, Rivers chucked the ball 117 fewer times when Whiz was the OC back in 2013. He also ranked fifth in fantasy points among quarterbacks that season, which is his best finish since 2010. ... Unfortunately, that's one of a mere two top-10 fantasy quarterbacks Whisenhunt has produced in his last 12 seasons as a coach or coordinator. The second was Warner (5th, 2008), who also ranked 12th (2007) and 13th (2009). Roethlisberger ranked no better than 13th (2006) when the Whiz was in Pittsburgh.

 

[Greenbacks]

San Francisco 49ers

Blaine Gabbert:
Pass yds: 3,199
Pass TDs: 17
INTs: 13
Rush yds: 71
Rush TDs: 0
Fumbles lost: 3
Fantasy points: 171.1

New coach Chip Kelly is considered an offensive specialist, but his top quarterback in Philadelphia finished 23rd and 27th in each of the last two seasons. Nick Foles was a more respectable 12th in 2013, but he went on to flounder during the following campaign. ... Kelly hired Curtis Modkins to be his new offensive coordinator, but he's not likely to be the primary playcaller. In his lone stint as an NFL coordinator, Modkins' quarterback (Fitzpatrick) ranked no better than 12th in fantasy points at the position. ... Blaine Gabbert, who scored 16.2 fantasy points per game in eight 2015 starts, is the leading candidate to start ahead of Colin Kaepernick. Neither is worth a draft choice.

 

[Greenbacks]

Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson:
Pass yds: 3,979
Pass TDs: 28
INTs: 9
Rush yds: 598
Rush TDs: 3
Fumbles lost: 2
Fantasy points: 327.0

In four seasons under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, Russell Wilson has averaged 608 rushing yards and finished no worse than 10th in fantasy points at his position. ... He exploded as a passer last season, posting career highs in pass attempts (483), completions (329), passing yards (4,024) and aerial touchdowns (34). ... In his first nine games, Wilson averaged 30 pass attempts and threw for 10 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Over his final seven contests, however, he threw 24 touchdowns with one interception. What's even more impressive about those stats is that he recorded them despite averaging just one more pass attempt (31) than he had in the first seven games.

 

[Greenbacks]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jameis Winston:
Pass yds: 4,183
Pass TDs: 24
INTs: 15
Rush yds: 167
Rush TDs: 3
Fumbles lost: 3
Fantasy points: 262.0

Dirk Koetter, who was promoted from Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator to head coach during the offseason, has had some success with the quarterback position during his time in the pros. In his last eight seasons as a coordinator between the Jaguars, Falcons and Buccaneers, he hasn't had a single signal-caller finish worse than 15th in fantasy points (David Garrard, 2009). Koetter has also had two quarterbacks (Garrard - 2008, Ryan - 2012, 2014) in three seasons finish in the top 10 in points at the position. ... During his rookie campaign, Jameis Winston threw for 4,042 yards and scored a combined 28 touchdowns. That was good enough to finish 13th among quarterbacks.

 

[Greenbacks]

Tennessee Titans

Marcus Mariota:
Pass yds: 3,871
Pass TDs: 23
INTs: 14
Rush yds: 323
Rush TDs: 2
Fumbles lost: 6
Fantasy points: 251.1

The Titans hired Terry Robiskie to be their new offensive coordinator under coach Mike Mularkey. He's been in the NFL for 34 years, but just eight of those have come as a coordinator. During his five seasons in that role for the Los Angeles Raiders, Robiskie's quarterbacks averaged 3,194 yards, 19 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions. As a passing game coordinator in Washington (1999-2000), his field generals averaged 4,002 yards, 22 scores and 17 picks. ... Despite Robiskie's average statistical track record with quarterbacks, Marcus Mariota has all the looks of a fantasy sleeper. In 12 starts as a rookie, he averaged 17.5 fantasy points, which projects to 280 over a full season.

 

[Greenbacks]

Washington Redskins

Kirk Cousins:
Pass yds: 4,377
Pass TDs: 28
INTs: 14
Rush yds: 38
Rush TDs: 2
Fumbles lost: 3
Fantasy points: 268.9

Head coach Jay Gruden worked his magic with Kirk Cousins last season, as the Michigan State product recorded 34 total touchdowns and scored 293.44 fantasy points. That was good to finish eighth among quarterbacks. It was the fourth time in Gruden's five seasons as either a coordinator or head man that his quarterback finished 15th or better based on fantasy points. In two of those seasons, his signal-caller was fifth (Dalton, 2013) and eighth (Cousins, 2015). ... Over his final seven starts of the 2015 fantasy season, Cousins had 21.3 or more fantasy points five times. That includes two games with 32 or more points. Despite that success, Cousins is rated as a No. 2 option in 2016.

 

[Greenbacks]

Training camp report dates: Rookies July 28, veterans July 29.

Training camp location: St. John Fisher College, Pittsford, New York.

Offseason in a nutshell: For the first time, Rex Ryan enters a season in Buffalo with a presumptive -- and productive -- starting quarterback boasting NFL experience. He's had a year to shave his system of the nonbelievers (former defensive end Mario Williams is now with the Dolphins) and financially reward the ones who are willing to take a bigger role, or at least not complain about it as loudly (Marcell Dareus signed an extension last September that carries him through the 2021 season and could be worth more than $100 million). So here we are with Ryan, perennially wedged between a rock and a hard place. The prevailing offseason rumor was that the Bills wanted to cut bait after one season despite the fact that Ryan is really the only coach to have legitimately challenged Bill Belichick in the AFC East over the last seven years. Ryan, after resisting the possibility for years, added his twin brother, Rob, to his staff in what seems like a last-ditch effort to reclaim his status as the best defensive mind in the NFL. (I, for one, still think he is, even if his persona gets in the way at times.) The Bills are loaded with excellent coaches, including soon-to-be head men Anthony Lynn and Greg Roman. They also have several star-caliber players and a new first-round pick on defense who -- if healthy -- could ramp up Buffalo's lackluster pass rush.

Player to watch: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The Bills' offense will be interesting to watch this summer for two reasons. One, they presumably want to keep the motion-oriented, next-gen run game aspect -- but reduce Taylor's open-field carries. Taylor is not Cam Newton; he cannot absorb the type of hits to make him an every-down dual-threat quarterback. Two, they want to recapture the magic that Taylor and wide receiver Sammy Watkins discovered late in the season. Taylor was good enough to feed his only downfield weapon consistently, and after Watkins publicly demanded Odell Beckham-style target numbers. Taylor has a unique way of keeping his teammates happy and is doing so at a bargain-basement price.

THREE BURNING QUESTIONS:

1. Will Sammy Watkins be there?
The smart money is on no. Watkins (broken foot) has been walking back a proclamation that he'll be ready for the start of training camp, but really, this shouldn't matter. The Bills are in Year 2 of this offense, and Watkins is good enough to negate the lack of time spent with Taylor while he recovers. Their main concern needs to be developing dependable weapons around him. Percy Harvin isn't coming back. Chris Hogan, who signed with the Patriots, is gone, which will be a bigger blow than many people realize. In true Rex Ryan fashion, he used his first three picks in this year's draft on defense and then took a project quarterback who is still at least a year from being game-ready in the fourth round, so reinforcements are slim. Ryan is hoping that a reliable set of hands emerges from the platoon of speedster Marquise Goodwin, Greg Salas and sixth-round pick Kolby Listenbee.

2. Can the Ryan brothers team up and build a winner?
This is a meaningful season for Rex for a lot of reasons. His legendary father, Buddy, passed away at 85 last month, and I don't think it is out of line to suggest that Rex will dedicate this season, and any season after (along with all previous seasons, too, for that matter), to his idol. Ryan is easily motivated, but this is something that can change a man in significant ways. In smaller aspects, Ryan has made other ancillary changes to lighten his load and surround himself with friendly faces. He added Ravens legend Ed Reed to the coaching staff in addition to his twin brother, Rob. He retained loyal lieutenants like defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman, receivers coach Sanjay Lal and quarterbacks coach David Lee. If Ryan is truly up against it, he is going to go out coaching his way with his philosophy -- an understandable route to take after the Jets tried to re-brand and silence him on the way out in 2014.

3. Will EJ Manuel kick-start his career elsewhere?
The opportunities provided to Manuel as a backup this offseason will probably allow him to fly the coop in March and compete for a starting job (or backup job) elsewhere. A former first-round pick, Manuel was the victim of impatient coaching from one regime and the need to post a winning record from the next. Believe it or not, he'll be a major storyline this offseason -- as camp wanes, backups take center stage once every sexy storyline has expired. Manuel could potentially get two quarters worth of work in every preseason game.

Way-too-early season prediction: I've seen two very good Rex Ryan seasons first-hand, and a few not so good. I've learned to never count him out, especially when his back is against the wall. I count 10 winnable games on Buffalo's schedule this season, and I expect the Bills to take sole position of second place in the AFC East with a nine-win season.

 

[Greenbacks]

Falcons release Devin Hester, who is recovering from toe surgery. Hester: NFL record for most career return TD (20).

 

[Greenbacks]

Training camp report dates: Rookies and veterans, July 27.

Training camp location: Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, New Jersey.

Offseason in a nutshell: Former Jets general manager John Idzik was famously chided for his penchant for slow-playing situations. His pragmatism amid tons of salary-cap space drove the fan base crazy and eventually led to an early departure. What would they have said about him if, on July 6, his starting quarterback was still unsigned (and not in minicamp) and his star defensive player was miserable having to play on the franchise tag? The NFL is full of tough decisions, and perhaps Mike Maccagnan will score a coup with his slow playing this offseason. No one is blaming him for resisting Ryan Fitzpatrick's contract demands, but Muhammad Wilkerson should have been under contract a year ago. So much of the equity Maccagnan built up over the last year is on the line, and he knows it.

Player to watch: Wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Watching Marshall play last year was a joy, and there were games when he single-handedly willed the Jets to victory. In 11 games, he was targeted double-digit times and got better as the season progressed. Over the final six games, Marshall caught 47 balls for 702 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite initial questions about how he would fit into Chan Gailey's quick-cut offense, Marshall has been the consummate receiver for this system and rolls into his age-32 season in the best shape of his life. Players can defy father time for various reasons and we hope that Marshall can stave off a drop in production for another year. Training camp is a tough time to gauge these things, but perhaps the Jets' usage of other budding receivers like Devin Smith will be telling.

THREE BURNING QUESTIONS:

1. Can the Jets adequately replace Damon Harrison?
Harrison hinted to Around The NFL around this time last year that he was about to get paid, and after another stellar season at nose tackle, the Giants jumped on the opportunity to make him an every-down player. The Jets opted for 280-pound Steve McLendon to replace Harrison despite the fact that they are different players. Harrison was a classic two-gap controller who could also bump down and rush the passer. McLendon is much more of a technician, which is fine, but doesn't the Jets' defensive line work better when Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams have more one-on-one opportunities? Richardson can also bump down in odd fronts, which might end up being the most productive scenario.

2. Can this be the summer of Dee Milliner?
Boy, do the Jets hope so. It's not Milliner's fault that we're in this position right now. The Jets selected a player with five previous surgeries and expected him to glide through an NFL career without any setbacks. That just doesn't happen. But Milliner is on a yoga kick and is finally healthy now, which is the mother of all tropes. Let's give him a chance to prove it, though. Good cover skills don't vanish and maybe the overwhelming confidence needed to be a defender out on an island develops a bit during camp. It is a big if, but with Darrelle Revis on the mend and getting older, the Jets could be in the similar pickle they were in back in 2014.

3. Will Muhammad Wilkerson show up?
If I were Wilkerson, I wouldn't. The former first-round pick has been promised a new contract by three different general managers and two head coaches over the course of his career. He's thrived under three different coordinators, two different systems and three different positions and there is no reason why he shouldn't be locked into a deal right now. Von Miller could pave the way for more players to lose a year in their prime in order to cash in during free agency (if he doesn't accept franchise tender) and Wilkerson would be wise to follow him. He's just as good, if not better, than Fletcher Cox, and the Jets understand exactly how much it will take to sign him.

Way-too-early season prediction: Even with Fitzpatrick, it's hard to view this as a playoff-bound club. At the moment, we have them projected for six or seven wins depending on how a much more difficult schedule shakes out.

 

[Greenbacks]

AFC South Predictions.

Houston Texans: J.J. Watt finishes no higher than third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Contrary to the belief of Texans fans on Twitter -- where real football is discussed -- I have no bias against Houston. (My brother went to Rice, for crying out loud! I almost went to La Porte on vacation!) Bill O'Brien has done an absolutely fantastic job in two seasons in South Texas. Of course, the major piece of the pie is Watt. It's gotten to the point where he practically has been anointed the Defensive Player of the Year before the season even kicks off. But I'm going with Honey Badger in 2016. And I have a feeling Darrelle Revis will prove many of us wrong about his supposed decline. That said, another disruptive, Watt-style campaign makes him a Hall of Famer in my book. No lineman has dominated from the 3-4 like this, ever.

Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck becomes the sixth player to pass for 5,000 yards in a season -- but Indy still finishes third.
Andrew Luck has heard the criticism about the turnovers. Andrew Luck has been told to be smarter about protecting his body, to not run like a linebacker. Andrew Luck can't be a one-man band. But the real issue for Indy is that the Jaguars and Titans are much improved, while the already-viable Texans made potential upgrades all over their offense. With a defense that allowed 25.5 points per game last year, Luck will find himself footing the bill if the Colts are to stay in games. Five thousand yards, folks.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Gus Bradley's squad wins the AFC South.
Seeing much similarity between this team and the 1996 Jags. That '96 team went on a run, besting the favored Bills and the Broncos in the postseason behind a quarterback with outstanding pocket mobility and a pair of wide receivers who scorched defensive backs from Houston to Buffalo to Denver. Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns have worked out so well that the first-round selection of Justin Blackmon in 2012 feels like it happened in 1962. Blake Bortles is ascending in terms of pocket presence -- he's always owned the mobility. Meanwhile, general manager David Caldwell retooled the defense while adding punter Brad Nortman to win the field-position game. Chris Ivory should be this team's version of the '96 team's Natrone Means. I really really like this squad.

Tennessee Titans: This offense leads the league in rushing.
Tennessee will attempt to limit Marcus Mariota's pass attempts, similar to what the Steelers and Falcons did with Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Ryan, respectively, early in their careers. In fact, the last time the Titans enjoyed success, they were securing home-field in the playoffs behind rookie Chris Johnson and LenDale White (before White's career succumbed to cookies). DeMarco Murray and second-round pick Derrick Henry should receive at least 25 carries per game between them. Despite their "Thunder and Thunder" moniker, they are different players. Both are downhill runners, but Henry is 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds. The dude outweighs Murray by 30 pounds. Henry is a runaway truck when he gets going. Can't wait to see him take off behind Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin.

 

[Greenbacks]

The cold tubs are ready if needed but it's relatively comfortable for the first day of Packers training camp.

 

[Greenbacks]

The Packers are still using the tackling donuts that were unveiled in OTA this spring.

 

[Greenbacks]

The bike kids are lined up outside Lambeau Field getting ready to Packers players to practice.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Julian Edelman & Danny Amendola land on PUP list: