Thank you indy....Good to see you.
Ronnie Hillman signs contract with Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys are adding depth to their backfield.
The team announced Thursday the signing of running back Ronnie Hillman.
Hillman bounced around the NFL last season, playing in eight games with the Vikings and Chargers after being cut by the Broncos at the end of training camp. The 25-year-old spent his first four seasons in Denver primarily as a backup before starting 10 games in 2015. For his career, Hillman has 1,976 yards on 494 carries and 74 receptions for 524 yards. He earned a high-water mark of 863 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2015.
NFL Network's Jane Slater reported that the Hillman signing has nothing to do with any potential NFL discipline for Cowboys star tailback Ezekiel Elliott. Dallas is bringing in Hillman as a depth signing with veterans getting periodic days off and playing sparingly in the preseason. Rookie Jahad Thomas is also two weeks away from playing because of a hamstring injury, per Slater.
Hillman's best shot at swiping a roster spot behind Elliott, Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris is to show out as a potential receiving weapon out of the backfield after Dallas lost shifty back Lance Dunbar in free agency.
The Dallas Cowboys are adding depth to their backfield.
The team announced Thursday the signing of running back Ronnie Hillman.
Hillman bounced around the NFL last season, playing in eight games with the Vikings and Chargers after being cut by the Broncos at the end of training camp. The 25-year-old spent his first four seasons in Denver primarily as a backup before starting 10 games in 2015. For his career, Hillman has 1,976 yards on 494 carries and 74 receptions for 524 yards. He earned a high-water mark of 863 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2015.
NFL Network's Jane Slater reported that the Hillman signing has nothing to do with any potential NFL discipline for Cowboys star tailback Ezekiel Elliott. Dallas is bringing in Hillman as a depth signing with veterans getting periodic days off and playing sparingly in the preseason. Rookie Jahad Thomas is also two weeks away from playing because of a hamstring injury, per Slater.
Hillman's best shot at swiping a roster spot behind Elliott, Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris is to show out as a potential receiving weapon out of the backfield after Dallas lost shifty back Lance Dunbar in free agency.
Ravens discussing Colin Kaepernick after Flacco injury.
The Baltimore Ravens have a glaring need at the quarterback position, and Colin Kaepernick is on their radar.
Head coach John Harbaugh admitted as much Thursday, speaking after a training camp practice where he had just two healthy quarterbacks. As NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero first reported Wednesday, entrenched starter Joe Flacco could miss between three and six weeks with a back issue. Ryan Mallett is the team's No. 2 quarterback.
Kaepernick played for John's brother, Jim, in San Francisco and competed against John in Super Bowl XLVII.
"I've known Colin through my brother for many years. And we talked and then got to know him very well when he scrimmaged here. He and I have been talking throughout the summer a number of times," Harbaugh said. "We had some great conversations on the phone and it's really been a pleasure to talk to him and get to know him. I like history and politics too, and we've had some debates, and it's been fun. And he's a great guy. He's a guy right now that's being talked about. We'll just see what happens with that. Only speculation right now. He's a really good football player and like I said, I do believe he'll be playing in the National Football League this year."
The move makes plenty of sense for the Ravens, who don't want to be caught flat-footed if Flacco's injury is serious. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun, the Ravens needed to employ assistant coaches to stand in as quarterbacks during running drills Thursday. Aside from Mallett, Dustin Vaughan is the only other quarterback on the roster currently. While Harbaugh said Flacco could be back in a week, the push to add another quarterback might indicate otherwise -- especially if they intend on being cautious.
"We found out yesterday that [Flacco] has been dealing with -- I guess it's something that's been bothering him for a week or two. He didn't say anything about it. It wasn't really that bad," Harbaugh said. "It flared up a little bit. [He] went to a back specialist. They're recommending about a week of rest. They're saying that should take care of it. I guess with a back, you can always say 'we'll see.' All indications from the back specialist are that he should be fine in about a week, and that's what we're hoping for and praying for."
Should the Ravens sign Kaepernick, it would end a lengthy impasse which began in early March when Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers. Since that moment, each quarterback signed ahead of Kaepernick has kick started a version of the same conversation: Has Kaepernick remained a free agent because of his decision to kneel during the national anthem during games in 2016 to raise awareness for social injustices?
Harbaugh was one of the few active NFL coaches who have even mentioned the quarterback's politics in an open setting, which makes Thursday's "speculation" -- Harbaugh's word -- worth following up on. Plus, if Kaepernick joined the Ravens it would reunite him with Greg Roman, the offensive coordinator he first played under in San Francisco.
Kaepernick, 29, went 1-10 as a starter in San Francisco last year with 2,241 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran for 468 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Outside of a capable backup, Kaepernick also could be a tremendous practice asset coveted by many defensive-minded head coaches for his ability to provide different looks to the starting defense throughout the week.
The Baltimore Ravens have a glaring need at the quarterback position, and Colin Kaepernick is on their radar.
Head coach John Harbaugh admitted as much Thursday, speaking after a training camp practice where he had just two healthy quarterbacks. As NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero first reported Wednesday, entrenched starter Joe Flacco could miss between three and six weeks with a back issue. Ryan Mallett is the team's No. 2 quarterback.
Kaepernick played for John's brother, Jim, in San Francisco and competed against John in Super Bowl XLVII.
"I've known Colin through my brother for many years. And we talked and then got to know him very well when he scrimmaged here. He and I have been talking throughout the summer a number of times," Harbaugh said. "We had some great conversations on the phone and it's really been a pleasure to talk to him and get to know him. I like history and politics too, and we've had some debates, and it's been fun. And he's a great guy. He's a guy right now that's being talked about. We'll just see what happens with that. Only speculation right now. He's a really good football player and like I said, I do believe he'll be playing in the National Football League this year."
The move makes plenty of sense for the Ravens, who don't want to be caught flat-footed if Flacco's injury is serious. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun, the Ravens needed to employ assistant coaches to stand in as quarterbacks during running drills Thursday. Aside from Mallett, Dustin Vaughan is the only other quarterback on the roster currently. While Harbaugh said Flacco could be back in a week, the push to add another quarterback might indicate otherwise -- especially if they intend on being cautious.
"We found out yesterday that [Flacco] has been dealing with -- I guess it's something that's been bothering him for a week or two. He didn't say anything about it. It wasn't really that bad," Harbaugh said. "It flared up a little bit. [He] went to a back specialist. They're recommending about a week of rest. They're saying that should take care of it. I guess with a back, you can always say 'we'll see.' All indications from the back specialist are that he should be fine in about a week, and that's what we're hoping for and praying for."
Should the Ravens sign Kaepernick, it would end a lengthy impasse which began in early March when Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers. Since that moment, each quarterback signed ahead of Kaepernick has kick started a version of the same conversation: Has Kaepernick remained a free agent because of his decision to kneel during the national anthem during games in 2016 to raise awareness for social injustices?
Harbaugh was one of the few active NFL coaches who have even mentioned the quarterback's politics in an open setting, which makes Thursday's "speculation" -- Harbaugh's word -- worth following up on. Plus, if Kaepernick joined the Ravens it would reunite him with Greg Roman, the offensive coordinator he first played under in San Francisco.
Kaepernick, 29, went 1-10 as a starter in San Francisco last year with 2,241 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran for 468 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Outside of a capable backup, Kaepernick also could be a tremendous practice asset coveted by many defensive-minded head coaches for his ability to provide different looks to the starting defense throughout the week.
Raider Nation at work.
Shake 'n bake.
Great to be back out there with the boys! We're building something special!
Browns camp.....Even No. 1 picks have to earn their stripes.
Superman...lol
Jordy is back.
Getting ready for another day..lol
[h=1]Austin Howard released by Oakland Raiders.[/h]
Rookie QBs with the best chance to start in Week 1.
Quarterback competitions are the premium television of training camp: a drama that often lingers for weeks, with potential plot twists dotted all throughout. The new crop of quarterbacks selected in the 2017 NFL Draft didn't quite have the ready-to-contribute punch of previous classes, although history tells us some of the rookie signal callers will be on the field sooner than teams would lead us to believe. That's why we're breaking down the races early ahead of training camp. Here's what the field looks like heading into the rookies' debut:
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
Drafted in: Round 1, No. 12 overall.
Competition for the job: Presumptive starter Tom Savage, veteran Brandon Weeden.
Path to the starting lineup: This is one of the more interesting training camp quarterback battles, in that it feels like a true battle. Those who know Savage insist he's going to surprise people this summer -- something he wasn't able to do in a brief stint as starter last year, with concussions cutting his opportunity short. The Texans were clear in their comfort level with Savage, but they continue to leave the door open for Watson. Like the Bears, the Texans would not have drafted a quarterback in the first round if they were more than just comfortable with their current option. Watson's best bet is to surprise in the classroom first, seeing as head coach Bill O'Brien's playbook is notoriously complex. From there, pedigree could take over.
Chance to start Week 1: 25 percent. Watson has so many elements to his game and could end up the player favorite by the end of training camp (we already know who fellow Clemson Tiger DeAndre Hopkins is rooting for). O'Brien is not going to settle for being average offensively again this year and will go for the player who gives him the most dynamic option.
Quarterback competitions are the premium television of training camp: a drama that often lingers for weeks, with potential plot twists dotted all throughout. The new crop of quarterbacks selected in the 2017 NFL Draft didn't quite have the ready-to-contribute punch of previous classes, although history tells us some of the rookie signal callers will be on the field sooner than teams would lead us to believe. That's why we're breaking down the races early ahead of training camp. Here's what the field looks like heading into the rookies' debut:
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
Drafted in: Round 1, No. 12 overall.
Competition for the job: Presumptive starter Tom Savage, veteran Brandon Weeden.
Path to the starting lineup: This is one of the more interesting training camp quarterback battles, in that it feels like a true battle. Those who know Savage insist he's going to surprise people this summer -- something he wasn't able to do in a brief stint as starter last year, with concussions cutting his opportunity short. The Texans were clear in their comfort level with Savage, but they continue to leave the door open for Watson. Like the Bears, the Texans would not have drafted a quarterback in the first round if they were more than just comfortable with their current option. Watson's best bet is to surprise in the classroom first, seeing as head coach Bill O'Brien's playbook is notoriously complex. From there, pedigree could take over.
Chance to start Week 1: 25 percent. Watson has so many elements to his game and could end up the player favorite by the end of training camp (we already know who fellow Clemson Tiger DeAndre Hopkins is rooting for). O'Brien is not going to settle for being average offensively again this year and will go for the player who gives him the most dynamic option.
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears
Drafted in: Round 1, No. 2 overall.
Competition for the job: Presumptive starter Mike Glennon, veteran Mark Sanchez, veteran Connor Shaw.
Path to the starting lineup: As the Chicago Tribune noted (and as the Bears reiterated Wednesday), the hope is for a clean transition scenario -- in which Trubisky might not see the field at all in 2017 -- to unfold. This sort of plan has worked according to design exactly once in the last decade, with seemingly every other NFL club that has tried it failing to replicate the Aaron Rodgers-Brett Favre succession in Green Bay. That said, Trubisky has some tough sledding ahead of him. Not only does he have to master the playbook, but he has to edge out Sanchez, who, while not the traditional definition of a "threat," is a savvy, experienced backup quarterback and can learn an NFL offense quickly. This is a Bears team that needs to show tangible improvement on the field. It would be hard to imagine the current regime handing its hopes to a rookie who is not ready, simply for a look at a future said regime might not be around for.
Chance to start Week 1: 15 percent. The preseason could surprise us, but the only way to imagine a Trubisky Week 1 start is a stellar fill-in performance during the preseason opener and an even better outing against a similar competition level faced by Glennon during the second week. Carson Wentz surprised in a similar way last year, though the Eagles' trade of Sam Bradford to Minnesota helped cleared the way on Philadelphia's depth chart.
Drafted in: Round 1, No. 2 overall.
Competition for the job: Presumptive starter Mike Glennon, veteran Mark Sanchez, veteran Connor Shaw.
Path to the starting lineup: As the Chicago Tribune noted (and as the Bears reiterated Wednesday), the hope is for a clean transition scenario -- in which Trubisky might not see the field at all in 2017 -- to unfold. This sort of plan has worked according to design exactly once in the last decade, with seemingly every other NFL club that has tried it failing to replicate the Aaron Rodgers-Brett Favre succession in Green Bay. That said, Trubisky has some tough sledding ahead of him. Not only does he have to master the playbook, but he has to edge out Sanchez, who, while not the traditional definition of a "threat," is a savvy, experienced backup quarterback and can learn an NFL offense quickly. This is a Bears team that needs to show tangible improvement on the field. It would be hard to imagine the current regime handing its hopes to a rookie who is not ready, simply for a look at a future said regime might not be around for.
Chance to start Week 1: 15 percent. The preseason could surprise us, but the only way to imagine a Trubisky Week 1 start is a stellar fill-in performance during the preseason opener and an even better outing against a similar competition level faced by Glennon during the second week. Carson Wentz surprised in a similar way last year, though the Eagles' trade of Sam Bradford to Minnesota helped cleared the way on Philadelphia's depth chart.
