German coach Joachim Low is upset that Arsenals Mesut Ozil did not inform him personally about his decision to retire from international football.Ozil struggled for form during the 2018 World Cup as Germany were eliminated from the group stage following lo ses against Mexico and South Korea.Following the tournament, the 29-year-old decided to end his international career, citing racism.Ozil attracted criticism prior to the tournament after posing with controversial Turkish President Erdogan.This was not a good way for Ozil to end his international career. During his nine-year international career, he made 92 appearances for Germany and scored 23 goals. He was part of the 2014 World Cup winning squad and is also a 5-time German footballer of the year.Low said as quoted by There was never any form of racism in the Germany team,His agent called me and informed about his retirement.Mesut did not call me, not to this very day. I tried to Sean Taylor Jersey reach him several times in the past two weeks, via text me sage, via phone. Mesut has decided to take this path. I must accept it.Ozil has been my player for nine years. Weve experienced a lot together. A few lows, but more highs. Weve won the World Cup. This will still stay forever.I am still of the opinion that he was one of the best players we had in Germany in the last 20, 30 years. One day, well have a conversation. I would have wished for him to inform me personally, and I was disappointed at first.Ozil has also not managed to start of the 2018-19 season with Arsenal well. He was not on good form during the Gunners two opening League defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea and was not included in the match-day squad during the win over West Ham last week due to a mysterious illne s.Some reports have suggested that he went AWOL after being informed by Unai Emery that he would start the game against the Hammers from the bench.Ozil is 29-years-old and he may never be able to replicate the performances that he used to churn out 3-4 years ago. However, despite that he was rewarded with a new contract by Arsenal in January and Emery and the fans will certainly be hoping that they can get at least another 3-4 years from the player. Charles Mann Jersey
Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory has certainly been productive over the last season and a half for the Cornhuskers, Parris Campbell Jersey but that doesn't mean the junior can't still get much better.In fact, one NFC scout doesn't think Gregory is even close to reaching his potential as a pa s rusher."He hasn't scratched the surface of what he's capable of. Still raw and still making plays," the .Gregory leads the Cornhuskers in sacks (4.5) and quarterback hurries (seven) despite mi sing all of one game and most of another earlier this year with a minor knee injury. Breer notes that Gregory's game Saturday will be a test against the Michigan State offensive line, in particular left tackle Jack Conklin, who hasn't allowed a sack this year.Gregory gave some thought to entering the draft after last season as a third-year sophomore, but chose to return to NU for his junior season. He to help improve his game and entered the season at about 248 pounds. He played last year at 240 while making a Big Ten-high 10.5 sacks. Either weight is light for an NFL defensive end, but at 6-foot-6, Gregory has the frame to easily add even more weight.*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter *. George Odum Jersey
This past Saturday night, earned , while took home . Then, on Sunday night, was named following a supernatural performance.What do all three of these guys have in common? They all entered the NFL in .It's a draft cla s that also includes 2015 first-team All-Pros and , as well as , , , , , , , , and , among others.So, take a look into your crystal ball: When all is said and done, which 2011 draftee will have enjoyed the best NFL career? When we look back at the 2011 draft cla s, will have enjoyed the best career. Five years into the league, he's already been a league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. This is just the beginning of him coming into his own as a franchise quarterback. As Carolina surrounds him with more talent and the defense continues to play at a high level, Cam will win multiple s with the . Ultimately, that's what people judge careers on. I don't care what anybody says: will have the best career. and might have more natural talent, but character trumps talent every single day of the week. I've watched Watt play in practice and in games, and nobody loves the game more than he does. He's already a three-time Defensive Player of the Year within his Ty Long Jersey first five years in the league, and he's the only player in NFL history to have two seasons with 20-plus sacks. I don't know if Cam or Miller will get to Canton, but will -- without question -- end up there. : MVP, OPOY, OROY, All-Pro, Killer Smile. **:** win, 3x All-Pro, Good Guy Award. **:** win, SB MVP, DROY, 2x All-Pro, Excellent Eyewear. **:** Technically has a ring. **:** 3x DPOY, 4x All-Pro. <>* * They've all been to at least one -- if that still counts. Analyze those accomplishments. OK, good. Now let's break down the rest. A championship adds credibility and cache to a player's legacy, but this is a quarterback-obse sed league. And when a QB plays on a succe sful team with a bright future, there's more opportunity to make a meaningful impact and more eyes watching. On top of the talent, throw in a huge personality -- somewhat polarizing -- and it's who will be remembered for enjoying the best career. * ** I think that there are seven players from the 2011 who, after five seasons, look like they are on track to have a chance to be inducted into the : , , , , , and . But for this exercise, I'm going with Watt. The dynamo has the chance to play the longest and make the biggest mark on the game because he is such a good pa s rusher. In addition, he can catch pa ses on the goal line for touchdowns, and has the innate ability to be in the right spot at the right time. Right now, Watt is just reaching the prime of his career. He is double-teamed constantly, has stayed injury-free, has great size and speed, and strength and competitivene s. He doesn't lack in any of the categories that it takes to be a great player. Miller will have the best career if he can stay healthy. He's recorded 60 sacks in five seasons, and the only season where he didn't have 10-plus sacks was in 2013, when he served a six-game suspension before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. He can also drop back and cover receivers. Don't get me wrong, Cam and Watt are great players, but Miller's versatility sets him apart. Barring injury, it will be . He compares to any defensive lineman I have seen since 1977, when I entered the NFL. His motor might be the best of -- or at least equal to -- any great defensive lineman during this time span. He can play anywhere acro s the defensive line. He has played TE and some LB, too. He plays the run and can rush the pa ser on a dominant level. is already setting records with the way he's playing at the quarterback position. He's the first QB in NFL history to have five straight seasons of 3,000 pa sing yards and 500 rushing yards. In just five years, Cam already has rushed for 3,207 yards, so he will claim the NFL record for rushing yardage by a quarterback (Michael Vick, 6,109 yards) by the end of his career. Watt and Miller have been impre sive so far in their careers. Watt has 74.5 career sacks, but Reggie White had 81 in his first five years. It's going to be very difficult for Watt to get to 200 career sacks (Bruce Smith's NFL record). I think he'll continue to produce great numbers for the next four years or so, but not when he slows down a step. In this quarterback-driven league, Cam will continue to do what he's doing for the next seven years, po sibly, and some of his numbers won't be challenged for a long time. Watt has a chance to become the best defensive player in NFL history, which would put him with Jim Brown, Jerry Rice and on the NFL's Mount Rushmore. NFL Los Angeles Chargers Jersey
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) In the first moments after Kirk Cousins in Green Bay during a seemingly routine sack, Minnesota's figured he just had a sprained ankle.As Vikings center Garrett Bradbury helped him up, Cousins tried to stand and felt an eerie sensation of the ground sinking underneath him.OK, he thought, so there was no feeling in his right foot. Perhaps he had some nerve damage. He still ought to be able to play through that, right? Cousins' naivete, or denial, quickly gave way to reality once he hopped off the field and the medical staff tended to him on the bench. His , an automatic end to his season with the Vikings already midway Marco Wilson Jersey through their schedule.ADVERTISEMENT I was Googling the five stages of grief, maybe even that night, trying to understand that better, Cousins said. I dont think its stages. I think all five just swirl all at once.Cousins is nearly three weeks removed from that fateful plant of his right foot at Lambeau Field on Oct. 29, when Minnesota's predictably unpredictable season took one of several dramatic turns. He recently had his post-surgical cast removed, and he's carefully walking around in a bulky gray boot.His future with the Vikings was already unclear with his contract set to expire next spring, and now the question of whether he'll return is even more complicated.Those conversations will happen, but its just not time yet. Weve got so much to focus on with this season. The guys are playing so well, and thats really where the attention needs to be, Cousins said Friday in his first meeting with reporters since the injury. You can want a lot of things. It doesnt mean its going to happen. I keep an open mind, but I certainly would love for that to be the case.Joshua Dobbs has after rookie Jaren Hall suffered a concu sion early in his first start. The seven-year veteran, who was acquired from Arizona in an emergency trade two days after Cousins was hurt, has become one of the best feel-good stories in the league by keeping the Vikings' offense rolling despite minimal time learning the scheme. Minnesota has won five straight games, three with Cousins and two without.Im still mad. Im still disappointed. But then you go right back to all the things you know. I cant change it. Youve got to move forward. Thats what we sign up for when we step between the white lines, Cousins said. Im fortunate to have come this far and not had a surgery in football, so youre also grateful too. I just believe theres more to the story up ahead.Cousins has been a constant presence in quarterback meetings and provided input on the game plan as requested by coach Kevin O'Connell. He goes home to continue his rehab work once practice begins. Eventually, he'll join the Vikings on the sideline during games.For now? Cousins is in full one day at a time mode.I think Im going to be saying it for a while, he said.The day before his surgery, Cousins solicited advice on the phone from Aaron Rodgers, whose first season with the New York Jets got off to a when he tore his left Achilles tendon four snaps into his debut. Rodgers has vowed to return to the field later this year, providing Cousins some additional encouragement. Since there's no chance of playing again this season, he can also benefit from not being tempted to rush.There's plenty of time for reflection, too, including back to that day when he was riding away on the cart confronting the harsh reality of a major injury.You have a lot of thoughts going through your head, and one of them was, Is this last time I play football? And now a couple weeks removed, I say, No, its not going to be, but when those thoughts are going through your head you realize the potential routes that this could go, Cousins said. So Im excited to write this next chapter and see what God wants to do with it.___AP NFL: DeAndre Hopkins Jersey
The have dominated the AFC in the 2020s. The have been the most succe sful franchise in the NFC during this decade, too.It's only fitting they get to meet on the NFL's biggest stage.That will happen in in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11, after the Chiefs beat the in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday and the 49ers overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat the in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers will be looking for their first championship since the 1995 season. The Chiefs will be trying to win their third in the last five years.And oh, by the way, the game is a rematch of the one played four years ago Super Bowl LIV in Miami, when the Chiefs beat the 49ers 31-20 to win the first championship for quarterback and coach Andy Reid.ADVERTISEMENT How will this one go on the field at Allegiant Stadium? Here's a first look from FOX Sports AFC South reporter Ben Arthur (covering the Chiefs) and NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano (covering the 49ers):THE BIG STORYChiefs: The Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years, including back-to-back seasons, further cementing their dynasty. Despite an inconsistent offense throughout the 2023 season, one lacking the explosivene s and pizazz we'd grown accustomed to from the last several years, Kansas City has shown its championship pedigree this postseason.Before this year, the Chiefs hadn't played in a true road playoff game in the Patrick Mahomes era. They've now won back-to-back to reach Super Bowl 58. Arthur49ers: It might be 29 years since the 49ers' last championship, but they've been knocking on the door in recent years. They lost in the NFC title game each of the past two seasons, but this will be their second trip to the Super Bowl in the last five years. And while the Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes duo will get all the headlines, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the NFL's best offensive minds and he's somehow built the NFL's No. 2-ranked offense around a quarterback, , who was Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft. Vacchiano49ers postgame trophy ceremony after defeating Lions in NFC Championship Game HISTORY LESSONChiefs: The Chiefs hope to become the first team in 19 years to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Just eight Super Bowl champions have succe sfully defended their title: the 2003-04 , 1997-98 Broncos, 1992-93 Cowboys, 1988-89 49ers, 1978-79 Steelers, 1974-75 Steelers, 1972-73 Dolphins and the 1966-67 .Since Mahomes became the Chiefs' starting quarterback in 2018, Kansas City has won two Super Bowls. Arthur49ers: The 49ers still rank second in all-time Super Bowl wins with five (in seven trips), but their dynasty years were a long time ago. Four of their wins were in the 1980s and their last championship was in 1994, when Kyle Shanahan was just 15 years old. They've been close over the last decade, though. They went to three straight NFC Championship Games from 2011-13, another in 2019, and then three in the past three years. This is just their third Super Bowl trip in that span, though, and they're still looking for their first win. VacchianoQUARTERBACKSChiefs: Mahomes is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the NFL and already considered to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he had one of the worst statistical seasons of his career in 2023.Since becoming a starter in 2018, he posted career lows in touchdown rate (4.5 percent), interceptions (14), yards per attempt (7.0) and pa ser rating (92.6) this regular season. He's also registered the second-worst marks of his career in touchdown pa ses (27) and interception rate (2.3 percent).Mahomes' greatne s, of course, cannot be discounted in the playoffs. He's at his best on the biggest stage. This postseason, he's completed 67.9 percent of his pa ses for 718 yards and four touchdowns against zero interceptions. Arthur49ers: Yes, Brock Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft. But he was also an MVP candidate for most of this past season. Though he still draws way too much criticism as a supposed "game manager," he completed 69.4 percent of his pa ses this past season for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.He's probably not going to win the MVP, but he'll get some votes. And in the playoffs, he's been rock solid. In two games, he's been picked off just once. He gets a lot of help from a talented 49ers team, but he's shown he's capable of carrying them, too. VacchianoPatrick Mahomes, Chiefs shut down Lamar Jackson, Ravens COACHESChiefs: One of the most respected offensive minds in NFL history, Andy Reid is making his fifth Super Bowl appearance as a head coach, including his fourth with the Chiefs. His first came in 2004 with the . He has a 2-2 record in the Super Bowl. Arthur49ers: Kyle Shanahan has long been considered one of the best young offensive minds in the NFL, right up there with his California neighbor, Sean McVay. He's proven that by taking teams with and Brock Purdy at quarterback to four NFC Championship Games and, now, two Super Bowls in the last five years. All that's mi sing is the one thing McVay has that he doesn't a championship. Shanahan surely knows that his father, Mike, also won two. VacchianoOFFENSIVE WEAPONSChiefsTE Travis Kelce: Like most of the Chiefs offense, Kelce had a slow start to the year. He finished the regular season with 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns, his first time finishing below Rico Gafford Jersey 1,000 receiving yards since 2015. But he's reminded the NFL world why he's Mahomes' favorite target and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer this postseason, with 23 receptions for 262 yards and three touchdowns in three playoff games.WR Rashee Rice: Amid a brutal year for the Chiefs' wide receivers they led the NFL with 22 dropped pa ses, according to Next Gen Stats the rookie second-round pick out of has been a bright spot and emerged as WR1 of the future. Rice had 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season.RB Isiah Pacheco: Since taking over as Chiefs' RB1 midway through his rookie year last season, Pacheco has been a much-needed sledgehammer in the trenches for Kansas City. The former seventh-round pick carried the ball 205 times for 935 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. Arthur'We knew we had doubters' Isiah Pacheco on Chiefs clinching second straight Super Bowl appearance 49ersRB Christian McCaffrey: He is the counterargument to everyone who says that running backs aren't worth big money in today's NFL. He not only led the league in rushing yards with 1,459 and was second among running backs with 14 rushing touchdowns, he was also second on the 49ers with 67 catches for 564 yards and seven touchdowns. And he had a streak of 17 straight games with at least one touchdown snapped in mid-November.WR Brandon Aiyuk: He ranked seventh in receiving yards (1,342) despite having just 75 catches. That's an impre sive 17.9 yards per catch, which ranked second in the NFL. So much of that is yards after the catch, too. He's turned himself into one of the best big-play threats in the league.WR Deebo Samuel: He has the ability to be more dangerous as a receiver than Aiyuk as his 8 catches for 89 yards in the NFC Championship Game showed and he's used like a Swi s Army knife in the 49ers offense. He not only caught 60 pa ses for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, but he also ran 37 times for 225 yards and five touchdowns. The defense needs to know where he is on every single play. Vacchiano'A ladybug landed on my shoe' Brandon Aiyuk on incredible catch, 49ers clinching Super Bowl appearance DEFENSEChiefs: The Chiefs have what's indisputably their best defense of the Mahomes era. It ranked second in the league in points (17.3) and yards allowed (289.7), plus seventh in DVOA, in the regular season.Kansas City has All-Pros up front and in the back end in defensive tackle Chris Jones and slot cornerback , respectively. L'Jarius Sneed is also a Pro Bowl talent on the outside for the Chiefs and one of the most underrated defenders in the league. Look no further than his terrific forced fumble at the goal line in the team's AFC Championship Game victory over Baltimore on Sunday.49ers: This isn't quite the No. 1 ranked defense the 49ers had one year ago, when was the Defensive Player of the Year with 18.5 sacks. But they're still pretty good. Led by Bosa, who had 10.5 sacks, they ranked eighth. And with the addition of big DT in the middle, they gave up just 89.7 rushing yards per game (though the Lions did get 182 against them on Sunday). Cornerback and linebacker were Pro Bowlers too, joining Bosa and Hargrave, from the 49ers stout defense. VacchianoTHE X-FACTORChiefs Rashee RiceIncluding the postseason, Kansas City is 5-1 when Rice has at least 70 receiving yards. When he gets going, it takes pre sure off Kelce in the receiving game by giving the Chiefs more offensive balance and making them more difficult to cover. Arthur49ers: He's been pretty quiet in the playoffs so far (9-137-1 in two games) and receiving stats didn't rank him among the 10 best tight ends in the NFL this year (65-1,020-6). But he is still very capable of big games and big plays. He topped 100 receiving yards three times season, and his 15.7 yards per catch was 12th in the NFL and tops among tight ends. He's a huge mismatch for any defense and could draw attention away from all the other 49ers weapons just like Travis Kelce, who'll get all the attention on the other side. VacchianoBrock Purdy, 49ers survive vs. Jared Goff, Lions WHY THEY CAN WINChiefs: For the Chiefs, priority No. 1 should be stopping Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers' run game. Kansas City was 6-0 in the regular season when it held opponents under 110 rushing yards.Mahomes and Kelce will need to be great as they've typically been on this stage, but defense is where the Chiefs have been most consistent this season. The unit will likely need to come up huge one final time, particularly against an all-time great running back in McCaffrey, to secure the franchise's fourth Super Bowl victory. Arthur49ers: Teams have proven they can run on this Chiefs defense, so the 49ers need to play to their strength in Super Bowl LVIII. Let McCaffrey lead them both in the run game and the pa sing game and sprinkle in as many creative sweeps and end runs as Kyle Shanahan can come up with over the next two weeks. They have always been a run-first offense and they shouldn't stray from that now. If they do that and keep Brock Purdy protected so he's not forced into big mistakes they'll have a shot.They certainly have the defense to stop what is not a typically great Chiefs offense. But their ticket to this title is running the ball and eating up the clock. The longer Patrick Mahomes is off the field, the better the 49ers chances are. VacchianoRalph Vacchiano is the NFC East reporter for FOX Sports, covering the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him Twitter at@RalphVacchiano.Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tenne sean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered theSeattle Seahawksfor SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tenne see. You can follow Ben on Twitter at@benyarthur. Brian Dawkins Jersey
Week 6 of college football is underway and social media is buzzing with the action. Here are the best tweets, vines, videos and more from acro s the country.Katy Perry made an appearance on "GameDay" this morning, and apparently she has a thing for Oklahoma QB Trevor Knight.Oklahoma was more than happy to accept Perry's attention.Welcome, , to the fan club. Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) After , Perry trolled 'Bama coach Nick Saban on Twitter and boasted for the game's winner. KATY PERRY (@katyperry) After Ole Mi s fans tore down the goal posts, they went on a tour of Oxford.Aaaaand there goes the goal post down the street. Normal right? Allie LaForce (@ALaForce) Devin Hester Jersey Goal post made it home Buckner Corso (@BucknerCorso) Florida coach Will Muschamp and his team narrowly escaped Neyland Stadium with a win. The coach was more than happy to send Vols fans home unhappy.Texas A&M freshman quarterback Kyle Allen wasn't totally idle on the sideline. We wonder if he walked away from this conversation with a phone number.Mi si sippi State with a near-perfect tweet after linebacker Richie Brown picked off Texas A&M's Kenny Hill.Uly ses S. Grant with the interception! Mi si sippi State Football (@HailStateFB) Apparel company adidas released a new set of Texas A&M uniforms for the team's matchup against Mi si sippi State and they are... something. Given the involvement of "ice" in the look, they do get a thumbs up from , however.Draped in ICE, all the way down to the cleats! ! AggieFBLife (@aggiefblife) from Texas to the Mi si sippi.! AggieFBLife (@aggiefblife) The Aggies' in-state rival, Texas, is going in a different direction by donning a little pink for breast cancer awarene s when it hosts Baylor.Breast Cancer Awarene s Game for today. Players to wear socks/gloves accented w/pink & coaches, shoes John Bianco (@UT_Bianco) Fantastic look for Tenne see today at Neyland Stadium against Florida with an orange and white checkerboard look. 11 minutes until kick @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) The Vols also got a nice shoutout from rapper Lil Jon.NFL Media analyst Gil Brandt isn't wrong, this is one of the funnier things you'll see today from SEC referees. You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at . Nsimba Webster Jersey
The first and biggest wave of 2020 NFL free agency has come and gone, and with the draft now right around the corner, the headlines of big-name veteran additions have slowed. But that doesn't mean teams have stopped looking for ways to improve their rosters and, in some cases, fill remaining needs. Running back, specifically, is a position a handful of organizations figure to addre s in the coming weeks and months.Here's a look at some of the teams most in need of RB help, as well as potential solutions:The Falcons made a relatively big splash at RB by bringing back to Georgia, and if the former Offensive Player of the Year is healthy, they'll be in for a treat. "If" is the key word there, though, and even if Gurley is in top shape, there's no reason Atlanta should overwork him. With cut loose, they're still in need of No. 2 competition. , the presumptive backup, has yet to play more than 12 games in a season; and , another reserve candidate, has mi sed 11 games in two years.Best solutions:Draft a Mike Mitchell Jersey running back in the second or third roundSign ()There aren't many veteran additions the Falcons could make that offer significantly more upside than just riding with Hill and Smith behind Gurley, so pinpointing a long-term starter and running mate for Gurley would be smarter. Landing Jonathan Taylor or local star D'Andre Swift would be the best-case scenario. If, however, the Falcons somehow settle for a low-risk veteran gamble, Clement is both young and versatile enough to potentially become a favorite outlet, so long as he stays healthy.The Bills have their guy in second-year play-maker , but backup T.J. Yeldon's been all but a total non-factor, and with the agele s hitting the road, could use another backfield weapon. Buffalo didn't reportedly pursue for nothing. Gore, remember, got 166 carries in 2019 as a quasi-starter, leaving a sizable role wide open for 2020.Po sible solutions:Sign ()Draft a running back in the fifth or sixth roundAdding Hyde would be the most immediate way Buffalo could shore up its depth, e sentially upgrading Gore's spot. The 29-year-old reportedly almost prompted a trade up by the Bills back in the 2014 draft, he wouldn't eat into Singletary's touches as a pa s catcher, and he's got experience working in a committee. Alternatively, someone like Ole Mi s's Scottie Phillips, a shifty but powerful prospect, could make sense as a Day 3 flier and a more up-the-gut complement to Singletary.We love as much as the next man, and believe it or not, the third-year back is still just 22. He's also mi sed 14 games in two seasons due to knee problems. is a nice bruiser to have on the roster, but if he's getting close to 10 carries a game, that's a problem. Put simply, Detroit needs bodies here, and not just that, but a back who can step up on a full-time basis in the likely event Johnson can't make it through a full season.Po sible solutions:Sign Devonta Freeman (Falcons)Draft a running back in the fourth or fifth roundFreeman isn't exactly a bastion of good health, and his playing style often ensures that'll stay true. It's not like he's old, though (just turned 28), and he'd be the perfect physical complement to Johnson. There's a reason the Lions reportedly discu sed a trade for him in 2019. As a low-cost, one-year rental, you could do a lot worse. Otherwise, Detroit has plenty of other bigger i sues to worry about in the draft, but if someone like A.J. Dillon or La'mical Perine falls, they'd be intriguing long-term investments.As much as Andy Reid (rightfully) dials up ' arm and leans on the pa s, and as good as was in the Super Bowl, this team is still in search of a guy it can consistently trust. The Chiefs have long favored a rotation, yes, but that's in part because no one RB has commanded a No. 1 job. There's a reason they tried the experiment in 2019. In an ideal world, Williams and maybe and/or would be the change-of-pace crew.Best solutions:Draft a running back in the second, third, fourth or fifth roundSign ()Thompson is the only current Chiefs back under contract beyond 2020, so a long-term piece would be ideal. Any of the top prospects would suffice, but Maryland speedster Anthony McFarland Jr. feels like their kind of guy as a potential mid-rounder. Just as enticing would be a move for Breida, who's a restricted free agent but is apparently no lock to even make San Francisco's 2020 roster. A suming the 25-year-old becomes available, he'd be a perfect big-play addition to K.C.'s committee.The Rams can talk all they want about entering 2020 with confidence that and will seamle sly replace Todd Gurley, but last we checked, those guys combined for 402 yards on the ground in 2019. That's not to say they can't be better with more touches, but Sean McVay can't afford to gamble on leaving without sturdier ground support.Best solutions:Sign (Texans) or Frank Gore (Bills)The Rams don't have the luxury of owning a ton of picks because of the way they've built their roster, so drafting someone to compete with Brown and Henderson seems unlikely, if not a waste of resources. The irony is they need serious RB help now that Gurley is gone and Goff/McVay are increasingly under pre sure to make the offense right. That's why Miller and Gore make sense, even though the former is coming off a torn ACL and the latter is darn near real-life retirement age. Both vets could sign in July and open Week 1 as the tentative bell cow.The Dolphins addre sed their glaring RB hole by landing ex-Bears and Eagles starter this offseason, but his best role is as the thunder to someone else's lightning. , while physically impre sive, proved in 2019, when he couldn't out-rush , that he's not the answer. Miami is still squarely in need of a change-of-pace, if not long-term, ball-carrier.Best solutions:Draft a running back in the second, third or fourth roundTrade for () or ()One way or another, Miami should be looking to get younger while pairing Howard with help. The best and most realistic route is trying to nab one of the top RBs of the 2020 cla s, whether it be Jonathan Taylor, D'Andre Swift, Florida State product Cam Akers or someone of similar caliber. A bolder alternative: Packaging one of their many 2020 picks for Jones or Penny, who either have been or could be replaced as No. 1s in their current homes, but would be young enough to grow with the new-look Dolphins.How times have changed. In two years, the Steelers have gone from owning one of the top one-two punches in the game to washing their hands of and now likely looking to add succe sor. The latter is good when healthy, but that's almost never these days. Backup is a worthwhile gadget player, but if it's just he and carrying the load behind Conner, Pittsburgh had better hope surgically repaired elbow is stronger than ever.Best solutions:Draft a running back in the third or fourth roundSign (Washington)It's kind of unfortunate that Pittsburgh's best route to solving RB is drafting one for the third straight year, but neither Snell nor Samuels has the makings of an every-down or even part-time starter, so here we are. This year's crop of rookies bodes a little better. Whether or not Pittsburgh strikes gold in April, Smallwood is the kind of unspectacular veteran who could easily le sen Conner's burden as a traditional back. He does everything adequately -- the job description for short-term depth.Tampa Bay BuccaneersFormer second-rounder Ronald Jones will barely be 23 when the season kicks off, and he probably deserves one more go-round atop the depth chart, especially with veteran out of the picture. But he almost desperately needs a new companion now that is in town. No. 12 loves to dump pa ses to RBs, yet only undrafted projects fill out the depth chart behind Jones.Best solutions:Draft a running back in the second or third roundTrade for () or ()Sign (Washington)The Bucs have the draft capital to invest early, meaning a potential two- or three-down guy could be a conceivable target -- none more suited for a Brady offense than LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a tough pa s-catching specialist. Otherwise, who's to say New England wouldn't part with White, 28, considering they're always ready to rotate the position and still have ? Bernard could surely be had for a low cost with Cincy in rebuild mode. Thompson would be a rock-solid fallback as a veteran with supremely underrated pa s-catching experience. Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey
Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan is injured; that much is known. The severity of the injury or even the specifics of the body part that hurts -- well, Cardinal coach David Shaw won't say. Shaw did say Hogan seemed likely to play Friday when Stanford hosts to Washington State. Hogan (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), a junior, suffered some sort of injury on his leg in last week's lo s to Notre Dame. Whether it was to his knee, ankle, foot, whatever -- Stanford isn't saying. "All things point toward him hopefully being ready (for Friday)," Shaw told reporters Walt Weiss Jersey Tuesday. "We were aware of it. There was no fear of further injury. He still had full range of motion. He still had full strength. After you play the game, it gets really sore, and that's where he is. But we feel good about him being ready." Hogan did not practice Monday and was limited in practice Tuesday. Junior Evan Crower would start if Hogan can't play. "Honestly, as I've said the last two years, Evan Crower has been ready to play," Shaw told reporters. "Evan Crower could start for a lot of teams. He knows where he is, he knows his role. ... If it came to it, we have confidence that Evan can go out there and play." Crower (6-5, 216) has played in two games this season, routs of FCS foe UC Davis and of Army, and six in his career. He was 8-of-13 for 95 yards and a TD through the air against Davis but did not throw a pa s against Army. Stanford has struggled on offense, mainly because it cannot get its rushing attack on track. Hogan actually leads the team with 41 carries, though Remound Wright is the leading rusher. And Hogan hasn't been that productive in the pa sing game. He has thrown eight touchdown pa ses, but seven of those came in the wins over UC Davis and Army. In three games against Power Five opponents, he has one TD and three interceptions; he also has just one outing this season in which he threw for more than 216 yards (285 against USC). He has thrown for fewer than 200 in each of the past two games, a win over Washington and the lo s to Notre Dame. Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter . Tony Phillips Jersey