God Bless America Again Bill Mcvay
It was 6:45 p.1000. in Los Angeles and 9:45 p.yard. in Detroit when the Rams and Lions jumped on a six-way FaceTime call and, true to 2022 course (even if it is 2021), there were technical difficulties. Fifty.A. inner-circlers Kevin Demoff, Les Snead and Tony Pastoors were apart and in their own carve up boxes on the screen, while the Detroit brass of Rod Wood, Brad Holmes and Mike Disner were gathered together in a coming together room on their phones.
As you might imagine, the grouping setting on one stop of Saturday night's megadeal was causing consternation—via an annoying echo created by Lions voices showing up on each other's phones—on the other cease of the call.
"Mute your mic!" said one of the guys in California.
Advisable, given the teams were about create the first mic-dropping moment of an offseason that's coming with the promise of quarterbacking chaos.
Minutes later, the deal was done. Matthew Stafford got what he wanted. Sean McVay got what he wanted. And the Lions, in an admittedly rebuilding posture, walked away with a massive haul. First-round picks in 2022 and '23. A third-round pick in 2021. Likely starting quarterback for adjacent autumn, Jared Goff. A new, fresh outset for Holmes and Campbell.
Meanwhile, once the deal was agreed to, some 1,100 miles s of L.A., McVay and Stafford were sitting down for dinner to celebrate a fresh first of their own, near the Chileno Bay Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, with Stafford's married woman Kelly and McVay'due south fiancé Veronika. The coach and his new quarterback happened to be amidst a number of NFL people in Cabo final week—Saints coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees, Rams LT Andrew Whitworth and others were nearby, too, over the terminal few days.
A wild coincidence, to be sure, in a really wild few days that landed Stafford in his preferred new destination and McVay his preferred new quarterback. For both, there are things that they're letting go of. Stafford'due south saying farewell to the only professional person home he'due south known in his 12 years in the NFL. McVay's bidding good day to a 26-year-old quarterback, in Goff, he built around during his first four years as a head coach, and grew a dandy appreciation for.
All the same, nether the moon in Mexico, this was a time for everyone to embrace what's alee. Equally you might imagine, for those at the table, at that place was a lot to await frontwards to.
Kirthmon F. Dozier/U.s. TODAY Network (Stafford); Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports (Rivers); Troy Taormina/U.s. TODAY Sports (Watson)
***
If it seems similar the early stages of Super Bowl week simply got hijacked, well, that'south because that's exactly what happened. Which is why this isn't the way I'd usually atomic number 82 the MMQB cavalcade the Sunday heading into Super Basin calendar week. Simply hither we are, and here's what you'll find within the first February MMQB …
• The summit storylines for Super Basin week (and what would've been my lede here if not for Saturday's trade).
• The completion of Ron Rivera'southward journeying back from cancer.
• Arthur Smith'due south acclimation into Atlanta.
• Highlights from Senior Bowl calendar week.
And a lot more on—what else?—the QB carousel that's starting to spin. Which, of course, is where we're going to brainstorm.
Roll to Proceed
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***
The Matthew Stafford sweepstakes lasted, in essence, seven days. And while the Lions certainly had the idea that they wanted information technology to happen quickly in the back of their minds—to get ahead of quarterbacks potentially flooding the market and bending the supply/demand curve, or Deshaun Watson turning Stafford into a consolation prize—there was no telling how quickly things would materialize.
They got their respond rapidly, with involvement rising fast in a quarterback that the NFL was resoundingly, if implicitly, endorsing as a star with the style the market for his services exploded.
Detroit, really, had been set up for this for a while. Stafford made his desires known to owner Sheila Ford Hamp and president Rod Forest the day after the season ended, and it was on the heed of the Lions brass equally the grouping went through interviewing GM and coaching candidates. In fact, it was 1 area in which Holmes, who worked under Snead and helped evaluate Goff in 2016, distinguished himself.
In Holmes'southward first interview with Detroit, he explained the procedure of picking Goff, and how the Rams had decided to take him over Carson Wentz five years ago. Back for a second interview, subsequently being apprised of the situation with Stafford, rather that recoil, his excitement reverberated—not to movement the squad off Stafford, just for how he'd handle such a large-ticket situation, from getting value for the quarterback to finding his replacement.
Little did he know how shortly all of it would come into play.
News of Stafford's availability emerged two Saturdays agone, which is part of why the Lions figured dispatching Disner and Holmes to Mobile for the Senior Basin—where they could meet with other teams—would be smart. The two came dorsum late in the week with multiple teams willing to throw a beginning-circular pick in the ring.
Word was that Stafford's preferred destinations were, in order, the Rams, Niners and Colts. And while the Lions were always going to do what was best for the Lions (and Stafford didn't have a no-trade clause to commandeer the process), they were also cognizant of what their former No. 1 pick wanted.
By the time things started to come to a boiling signal, the Lions had an initial offering from the Rams (their 2022 first-rounder, Goff, and an additional choice) that wasn't going to cutting it. But it was that involvement from the Rams—and that it became public on Fri night, via a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler—that prompted a frenzy to land Stafford. By Saturday, the market had crystallized.
• Both Washington and Carolina had offered their first-circular picks so some. The Panthers' get-go-rounder is eighth (that wound upward existence the highest pick offered) and their proposal came with a later pick. Washington packaged a third-round option with the 19th option.
• The Colts discussed packages of picks and players, but never actually wound upwards offering their commencement-rounder, the 21st option.
• The Niners talked to the Lions in Mobile, but at the time were a fiddling lukewarm and never fabricated an official offer. They'd planned to circle dorsum with Detroit subsequently the weekend, but when things escalated Saturday and the Lions chosen back, the price had gone beyond what they were willing to offering (in office because they're fine going forward with Jimmy Garoppolo). My sense is the 12th pick was never going to be offered.
• The Broncos discussed a pick bandy with the Lions that would have equated to a late offset-round pick, merely information technology wound up becoming articulate to Denver that they weren't playing in the neighborhood where this was going.
• The Patriots and Bears both checked in. New England was willing to bundle a second-rounder with a player to get Stafford, which, when added to the Patriots' absenteeism on a list of preferred destinations (something my buddy Tom Curran reported on Sunday) quickly eliminated Beak Belichick & Co. from the chase.
• And finally, late Fri, the Jets checked in. The Lions circled back with New York on Saturday, just talks didn't get very far.
That gave the Lions more a quarter of the NFL in on the Stafford Derby—over again, indicating only what the NFL thinks of No. nine. It as well gave Hamp, Wood and Disner the knowledge that they'd accomplish a goal of theirs by giving Holmes the ammo to do what'south at the heart of what got him into that GM chair, and that'southward evaluating college players, maximizing draft picks and, ultimately, building a potent, younger roster as a event.
Anyway, by midday on Saturday, Washington and Carolina had emerged every bit the favorites to land Stafford, and the Lions came to the realization that a deal could be in the offing. But if they'd guessed at that betoken where Stafford was going, they'd have probably been incorrect.
Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports
***
It'due south been two weeks since the Rams were eliminated from the NFC playoffs in the divisional circular, and the way the season ended left plenty for interpretation. Goff was injured in Calendar week 16, missed the team'south Week 17 game, then came off the bench later John Wolford started in his place in the wild-card round. Snead and McVay declining to commit to Goff as their 2022 starter turned heads, for sure, and provided a inkling.
While the Rams were fine going frontward with Goff and Wolford every bit their quarterbacks, merely two years after signing Goff to a 4-year, $134 million extension, the squad was also very open to taking advantage of the expected unprecedented quarterback movement to come up.
This, really, is who the Rams have become since returning to L.A. five years ago. For improve or worse, at that place'south been absolutely no fear to flip draft capital for established stars, a tendency that actually started correct after the team flipped a group of picks to move up in the typhoon and land Goff himself. And with uncertainty over whether Watson or others would be available after in the winter, the Rams homed in on Stafford.
But talking about information technology was always going to be a lot easier than pulling it off. The Rams' deal with Goff was, for the most part, ironclad for the next two years—$43 1000000 of the $54.3 meg he's due is fully guaranteed with no offset linguistic communication (meaning his signing with another team offered no relief)—making what was necessary in getting Stafford (shedding Goff) complicated. In essence, absent-minded finding a taker for the deal, cutting Goff before paying him the $54.3 meg over the next ii years would have meant paying out the $43 million.
That forced the Rams to be flexible with the Lions, who had the aforementioned strong offers, simply really did similar the thought of getting a legitimate starting quarterback for Dan Campbell out of the bargain. Making it even tougher was the fact the Rams didn't have a showtime-round choice, their 2022 slot gone equally the terminal slice of the Jalen Ramsey trade, which only gave the Lions impetus to enquire for more.
Two things worked to buoy the Rams' involvement, and the first was McVay'south personal drive to get the deal done.
Along those lines, McVay was the one who called Rams possessor Stan Kroenke on Saturday to sign off on the team going the actress mile to get information technology done, spurred past some extra tape work he and Snead did. That piece of work but cemented what McVay loved nigh Stafford already—how quickly he processes, his pocket movement, his play urgency, his ability to throw off platform or in rhythm and his tough, fearless way—which pushed Snead into the mode where he was going into the afternoon with the intention of getting a deal washed.
The second matter was that everyone the Rams asked loved and believed in Stafford. And that wound up including McVay himself, who happened to have a coincidental friendship with him. McVay is buddies with Bills receivers omnibus Republic of chad Hall, from the days when the two were star high schoolhouse quarterbacks in the Atlanta area (McVay at Marist, Hall at Wesleyan), and Hall's sister happens to exist … Kelly Hall Stafford.
Before this week, the Stafford-McVay relationship wasn't a whole lot more than saying hello and maybe hanging out a lilliputian before games and at events. Only it was enough for the Rams to match what they were hearing on Stafford with McVay'south own experience.
So, really, equally afternoon turned to night on Saturday in Detroit, the Lions' brass stayed in the function, and kept Hamp fully beside of the situation—a deal most certainly could happen.
***
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On paper, the return looks a little wild. Merely the Rams' perspective on the deal was a little different than most.
First, as they saw it, if the outset-round picks current of air upward being in the 20s (or afterwards), then they'd have given up about what, on a points ground, Carolina was offering with the eighth overall pick. The old Jimmy Johnson typhoon value chart puts the eighth pick at 1,400 points, making it equal to two 26th overall picks (700 each). And getting a clean pause on Goff, and offloading his deal, rather than having to smoke out suitors under duress was a big benefit.
The 3rd-rounder they're giving up this year, interestingly plenty, they'll essentially get back as a comp pick for the Lions' hire of Holmes.
And Snead's department has plant a way to dig out guys similar Cam Akers, Van Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, John Johnson, Taylor Rapp, Samson Ebukam, Gerald Everett, Jordan Fuller, Darious Williams, and Sebastian Joseph-Twenty-four hours outside the showtime circular over the last few years. Of form, with a acme-heavy salary construction, and no first-rounders the adjacent 3 years, it's going to be more essential to do it now than ever. But the Rams have shown they can.
With all this in listen, the Rams' front office moved forrard, knowing that, at the very to the lowest degree, it had to beat a current-year summit-10 pick to get Stafford. Every bit the group worked on it, a couple things came up. One was that Brees and Aaron Rodgers had only been to i Super Bowl apiece, Russell Wilson hadn't been back to the NFC title game in v years and Ben Roethlisberger had only gone that far once since his last Super Bowl, 10 years ago. Another was a stat that a fellow member of the brass saw on social media.
Lions QB Matthew Stafford, in 166 starts, has only had a 100-yard rusher 11 times.
Both things reinforced, to everyone in the room, how hard it is to win in the NFL, and how important it is, when you have a team you lot call back is capable of making to the top, to give it every chance—even if that means walking away from a quarterback who's second in wins to Tom Brady over the last four years (Goff is, with 42).
And in the weird circumstances of 2020, information technology meant Snead, Demoff, and Pastoors getting the deal done over FaceTime, out of the role and in different spots outside of L.A., with McVay hunting downwardly his new quarterback to gloat in United mexican states in the aftermath.
Then Stafford'southward a Ram, nether contract for the next 2 years at a relative bargain cost of $43 1000000, and set to turn 33 on Super Bowl Sunday, and the message this sends to all of his presentlyhoped-for-teammates couldn't exist clearer: The brain trust believes the squad is gear up to win very big and win very big right now.
Maybe information technology'll work, and Stafford will be holding a trophy a yr from now. Mayhap it won't, and the roster will be in ruins a couple years down the line, cap-strapped and insufficient of young talent.
Either way, this mic-dropping moment for the Rams will echo for years to come.
SUPER BOWL STORY LINES
For obvious reasons, we blew upward the lead item for this week's MMQB. It'due south not every day the league'south fourth-longest tenured quarterback gets traded (only Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan had been with their teams longer)—just information technology was one I was excited to write. And I'll even so get to. Our plan is to roll that story gets traded atop Midweek'southward mailbag, and it really poses a unproblematic question.
Are Tom Brady and Neb Belichick keeping score?
I'm asking because, really, information technology'southward been a constant question this autumn. And to answer information technology, I want to a bunch of guys who know both well, and were cornerstones of the first iteration of the Patriots' dynasty. Some said yep. Others said no.
"My answer to that is I think that the whole question, people questioning who was more than responsible, or people choosing to say one or another, it's being incredibly disrespectful to anybody involved," said ex-Patriots exec Scott Pioli. "Because they did it together, and it's not about one or the other. To me, this whole thing, the whole topic, is everything that'southward incorrect with our country. People think they demand to divide to feel better about themselves.
"And why in life does this have to be reduced down to the disrespectful place of one or the other? Everything about that group was about team, unity, the collective greatness. Just like when I was there, people on the outside wanted to pull it apart. And they're still doing that, just in a different fashion."
"Yep, absolutely," countered ex-Patriots center Dan Koppen. "And I'm not saying that information technology'due south malicious. They're just both highly, highly competitive people. Regardless of who it'south confronting, they probably want to win more than than anyone else. … And at the end of the day, they're human. It doesn't affair if you're No. 1 or 53 on the roster, anytime you go out for whatever reason—and he wasn't cutting, but in a sense he was, considering they could've brought him back at that price—there's going to be that feeling at that place.
"Anytime there'southward a separation or a divorce, they're homo, they're gonna have man feelings about that. Yes, that gives you motivation. When you're talking about Tommy, those special types of players, they're self-motivated, so this is merely throwing extra s--- on something burning hotter than anything else. He's even so pissed he was drafted 199. And at present he's got something extra."
Anyhow, it was a really fun story to written report out, and that's merely a piffling taste. Over again, that'southward coming Wednesday—and it's one story line nosotros'll be tracking in Tampa. Here, then, are five more to keep an eye on.
Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
1) The end of the Yr of COVID-19 . The NFL fabricated it. The league'south gotten 268 games played, and there'due south one left, and that'southward a pretty amazing matter, given all that stood in the fashion. But in that location's no question the effects volition be felt in Tampa. The Chiefs aren't arriving in Florida until Saturday. All the media stuff volition be virtual. Events will be toned downwards. The crowd of 22,000 in the seating bowl (in that location'll be another ii,700 in the suites) will include 7,500 fully-vaccinated local healthcare workers (s/o to my old fraternity buddy Brad McKay, who'll be one of them). Besides, the seat covers over the front rows will be replaced by LED boards, and the empty seats filled with cardboard cutouts sold to do good K.C. and Tampa charities. It should be pretty cool for a Super Bowl that'll rival XXV (during the Gulf War) and XXXVI (postal service-9/11) in cultural significance in our country.
2) Mahomes vs. Brady . The Greatest Ever against probably the greatest current threat to that throne (admittedly, he has a long, long way to go, merely he also has a lot of time to catch up), this'll be the fifth time the ii take locked horns, with the scoreboard even at 2–2 merely Mahomes riding a ii-game winning streak.
three) The staffs. Last year was about the head coaches, with Andy Reid finally winning it all against a omnibus, in Kyle Shanahan, clearly representative of where the NFL is going. This year, information technology'south about the staffs. Reid has one coordinator who'southward been held up as the preeminent instance of flaws in the NFL'southward head-bus hiring practices (Eric Bieniemy) and another with a great history of beingness Brady's Kryptonite (Steve Spagnuolo). And Bruce Arians brings as various a staff every bit we've ever seen in the NFL, with three Black coordinators and 2 women coaching.
4) The dwelling team. The Buccaneers playing this game at Raymond James Stadium is virtually to get this twelvemonth'due south version of Did you know Jerome Bettis is from Detroit? So buckle up for that. And know that at that place is significance with regard to the game hither. With both teams working from their home facilities all week, due to COVID-19 precautions, and the Chiefs coming in and planning to leave similar they would for a regular game, this Super Basin lead-up volition take on a different, and more familiar feel for all the coaches and players involved.
v) The risks both teams took. Both Tyreek Loma and Antonio Brownish are in this game, and how that'south covered—especially given that coverage will be and then much unlike in general this year—will be interesting.
Every bit e'er, we'll have all these stories and more covered at The MMQB.
RON RIVERA'Due south BIG BENCHMARK
The best story of the NFL week, without question, hit Twitter on Thursday at 4:43 p.m. ET, and came from the business relationship of Courtney Rivera (@NFL2UCLA). Courtney's dad is Washington passenger vehicle Ron Rivera, and the news she was coming with was v months and one week, precisely, in the making.
Information technology wasn't long before the elder Rivera confirmed it on his own account, beaming in a flick attached to the mail service, and holding a sign that says, simply, We kicked cancer's ass.
"I was honestly relieved," Rivera said over the phone, a twenty-four hours later, of the news. "I choked upwardly a little bit. My married woman was with me. It was only i of those things. We couldn't wait to get out and call Courtney. She was part of this, she went through this whole thing with us. So she was waiting and she was really excited every bit well. Then, we got to share the news, patently, with the rest of the family and near importantly, for me personally, with my mother."
Ron's diagnosis of squamous prison cell cancer back in Baronial came as a "large shock" to his mom. The months to follow, considering Rivera's brother Mickey died of pancreatic cancer in 2015, really had been reliving a nightmare for Dolores Rivera.
And as you might imagine, her reaction to Ron being cancer gratuitous was succinct.
Thank God.
Remarkably, her son has accomplished a lot in the interim, equally he fought cancer. Off the field, in his kickoff yr in Washington, he was positioned every bit the front homo in an endeavour to clean upwards the paradigm of a franchise embroiled in turmoil and beset by controversy. On information technology, he worked through an unstable situation and with a roster in transition. And he and the freshly-renamed Football Team constitute a manner to win the NFC East (albeit with a vii–9 record).
Only juggling his cancer treatment and recovery with that was never going to be easy. He had Four treatments at halftime of games. He battled fatigue. He had to larn to heed to his body and pull back at times in a business that constantly demands pushing frontwards.
Rivera, in essence, had to figure out how to practice his chore a unlike way, and however requite everything he could to the players and coaches effectually him. Which is why, when I asked what communication Rivera would have for someone else in this situation, it was mainly to make sure there are people around you lot "that are in that location to assistance you."
"Y'all, quite honestly at times, have to exist selfish," Rivera said. "Yous actually do. You have to put your phone abroad. You accept to close your door. You take to take a nap. Remainder is really important. That'south really when the body truly starts to heal itself."
Over time, fifty-fifty if it never could possibly go routine, Rivera learned to manage the issues associated to his cancer. He congenital that one-half-60 minutes nap into his days. He prioritized taking his medicine on time. He leaned on defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio—who'd been through a somewhat like circumstance with John Fox in Denver—when his instinct may have been to backburner pain and fight through.
Perchance more important was that Del Rio was ready to bound in and atomic number 82 the room on the mornings when Rivera had appointments, and if an appointment would run long, something might go wrong or Rivera would just get stuck in traffic coming dorsum to the facility.
"Jack was set at a moment'southward notice," Rivera said, "which really helped out a lot."
Just as big were the advocates around Rivera. Squad doctor Tony Casolaro and head athletic trainer Ryan Vermilion were caregivers and also fundamental figures in keeping Rivera COVID-gratuitous at a fourth dimension when he merely couldn't afford any take chances. Owner Dan Snyder and his wife, as cancer survivors, had insight into the battle their coach was fighting, and Snyder actually chosen the squad'due south insurance company to ensure Rivera had everything he needed, and then got in affect with the Mayo Clinic to run the treatment programme by the experts there.
"They actually said, 'Hey, that's the perfect treatment,'" Rivera said.
And all those people were there for Rivera on the tough days, and he had a quite a few. One in detail that stands out came after 1 of his treatments, when he was nether doctor'southward orders to get straight to the grooming room for an 4 upon return to the facility.
'It was the hardest week," he said. "And I came in, my wife had to get all the mode to the back side of the facility and help go me out of the car. Her and our team trainer, literally arm-in-arm, shoulder-to-shoulder, carried me into the training room. And the await on [the players'] faces was like, Oh, s---, Coach is having trouble here. I hateful, you can run into they're concerned. There'south genuine business concern."
Of course, that sucked while it happened, but after, Rivera said, "That was actually kind of a cool thing, in terms of just knowing that these guys were really aware."
Over time, that feeling was further cemented with unprompted well-wishes before chemo treatments and text messages after them, and players consistently checking in to brand sure their boss was O.Yard. "It was cool how unselfish they were," he said. And that showed up on the field, with the players taking on the traits of their autobus in what they all hope was a foundation-setting season.
Now, Rivera isn't out of the wood completely. His radiologist told him it'll accept six to 18 months for him to feel completely normal again. The GM search he ran the terminal couple weeks took a piddling out of him (and cost him a few naps). His voice is notwithstanding a lilliputian hoarse, because his vocal cords are still swollen. He has fluid draining abroad from throughout his neck and nasal passages. And he's been told he has to let the healing happen naturally.
"I'g still recovering," he said. "But the best part is we got the good news."
And bang-up news information technology was.
George Walker IV/The Tennessean/The states Today Network
GETTING TO KNOW ARTHUR SMITH
I was similar a lot of people who've been around new Falcons coach Arthur Smith—I heard about the rising young autobus well earlier I knew who his dad was. Just for obvious reasons, as he inched closer to reaching the meridian of his chosen profession, information technology increasingly became known that he was the son of FedEx founder Fred Smith (I did eventually effigy it out).
Now? Well, now, as function of his place in the coaching carousel, information technology's actually become a piece of how he'south introduced. And that's fine with him. He's proud to be his dad'due south son.
But in turning over rocks the last couple weeks, I got an interesting have on all this from a team executive who interviewed him, as function of caption on how his name got so hot. While Smith, to exist sure, showed the sort of intelligence an entrepreneurial visionary'due south offspring might, he as well had a reputation for carrying a work ethic and passion for the game that yous might not expect from a guy who, if we're being honest, would be probably be O.K. in life without sitting in dark rooms at an ungodly hours watching football players on tape.
And then when Smith and I talked the other day, that's where we started.
"Information technology was probably at the stop of my loftier schoolhouse career," said Smith, who went to Georgetown Prep in D.C. and went on to play at North Carolina. "I certainly take other interests and I'm very curious about other industries, other things that I could have seen myself doing. Just I knew I wanted to play as long every bit I could, and it was going to end at some point. We all desire and we all hope to have a Bruce Matthews career.
"Only it'south realistically not going to happen for most. And I ever knew I wanted to be involved in football in some way. I think in a lot of ways information technology gave me an identity that kind of gave me a take a chance to prove myself, because I think there'south a lot of narratives nearly that, kind of what you're maxim. I recall that people simply presume that because of your background that you live a certain style or you have certain values.
"And it couldn't be …" Smith then paused and continued, "it'south only false, and that's why I always give everybody the benefit of the doubt to prove who they are, instead of merely looking at your groundwork maxim, Alright, well, y'all live in Boston, yous must be an a------.'"
We were both laughing at that point. I told him it might exist a fair assumption. He kept going, telling the story of how one of his teammates in college was surprised that Smith came off as just one of the guys.
"I was like, What did this dumb--- think? That y'all were going to go driven in a Bentley to practice?" Smith joked. "It'south a credit to my parents, to my dad. Similar I said, he'south a Marine at heart. he served in Vietnam, did two tours. And he went to Yale, but he said the best lessons he e'er learned were from the USM, more than he probably did anywhere else in his schooling. And then that probably helped."
Safe to say, just as his dad established an identity for himself on different fronts, Arthur Smith, one of 10 kids, has washed the same. A few more than nuggets from our conversation …
Smith picked Atlanta, but as Atlanta picked him. The ex-Titans OC had options. Every squad with an opening, all vii of them, put in for him. So as much as he did have to win the interview, Smith was also weighing one chore against the next, in case he did have to pick betwixt them. And so he made a ton of calls to his connections across the coaching business to identify what would be of import to him and discover a team that had information technology.
"Rarely do you get options," Smith said. "So evidently, information technology was dainty to have options in terms of talking to multiple teams, to kind of see the landscape. I simply wanted to know that it was a stable structure. I didn't care if the team had been at that place already or not. Then that was a big deal, [equally was] how collaborative it was going to be with the GM in place or if they were going to hire somebody."
His background work (and he worked with Atlanta exec Ruston Webster in Tennessee, so there were things he already knew) showed the Falcons to take the sort of sustainable setup he wanted, and the clincher at that place, actually, was the rapport he felt with owner Arthur Blank and president Rich McKay on his second interview.
Chore No. 1 will be, so, building a similar rapport with his GM. Smith and new GM Terry Fontenot, coming over from the Saints, didn't know each other before this month. That, of course, ways they accept a lot to do, and it's starting with the coaches teaching Fontenot and the scouts what they're looking for schematically, and from each position. Together, Smith and Fontenot will pause down their own beliefs and build up one program.
"Information technology's huge," Smith said. "The stuff that he values, his grading systems and coming from New Orleans. And stuff that nosotros value as coaches, the blazon of players we want to fit the schemes nosotros're going to run. It's got to exist collaborative, it's got to be open up and there's got to be compromise, which I'k very confident Terry and I will do. I beloved this experience that he's bringing. Nosotros take to sit downwardly with his staff and have some long, long meetings and make sure everybody is on the same page and everybody's opinion is heard.
One thing that'll be not-negotiable links to why he was such a hot candidate. And that's building in the flexibility to become the most out of every single actor. It happened, notably, with Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry in Tennessee—the careers of both took off on Smith'due south picket the final 2 years.
"In praise of [Titans GM] Jon [Robinson], he kind of set the stage—here'southward the kind of team we want to be," Smith said. "And so that kind of fabricated it easy and information technology was intentional, to make sure we had to put the players in the right spot to execute that. We were going to be going to heavy and concrete considering that pointed to their strength. And information technology really is as practical as that. Derrick is a book behave guy. And he is very constructive at information technology.
"So that part was pretty easy, information technology was just the discipline to make sure that we got him going in games. … And Ryan's got a keen skill set. I mean, that's what got him drafted in the beginning round. And he's been through a few different regimes. And information technology was kind of the perfect timing to be working with Ryan.
Operative word there: Practical.
The question, then, is whether it's applied to proceed Julio Jones and Matt Ryan around. Both are franchise icons, just they'll carry a combined cap charge of nigh $64 1000000 for 2021, with Ryan at 36 years sometime and Jones 32 at the start of next season. The Falcons also have the fourth choice in the draft, which presumably could be used on a quarterback, and a 26-year-old receiver, Calvin Ridley, who'southward set to be a No. one and eligible for an extension.
Smith wouldn't say if he and Ryan, or he and Jones had spoken yet, only that he'd reached out to a number of players in the days after he got the job.
"Information technology's hard, until nosotros become all the facts, and Terry and I go through the roster and map out, Hither'due south what we desire to do in the short-term, long-term," Smith said. "Obviously we've got to deal with the salary cap that'southward here. And there's some good pieces, only in that location are gonna be some decisions we've got to make going forward that may not touch on 2021, merely could affect the future, 2022, 2023 and on. That's going to exist a long process before we even go to free agents, figuring out what we want to do with this current roster."
***
But Smith is excited about that, too. Famous as his family may be, the NFL is where he's been able to make to his ain marker. "When you lot're working your way through and you're saying, Oh, if I get a take chances, I'd like to do it this way," Smith said. "And at present hither it is."
And getting hither? That'southward truly his.
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TALES FROM THE SENIOR Bowl
I ever love being in Mobile for the Senior Bowl. But this twelvemonth was different. Veet's and the barroom at the Battle House were hollowed-out shells of what have been in Januarys past. The smashing restaurants downtown, places like Noja and Dumbwaiter, were walk-upward-and-go-a-tabular array empty during what normally is a decorated week. Which, of course, is due to the situation we're all in as Americans.
Simply from a scouting perspective, and for the reasons nosotros laid out in this week'south GamePlan, the week was every bit important as Senior Basin calendar week has ever been. In that location'll be no combine in 2021. Pro days volition be managed and limited. Teams won't be able to fly players in. All of which fabricated this week the but adventure coaches and scouts are guaranteed to have to scout the players move around in person and talk to them face-to-face up.
So what was learned? Hither are a few things …
• This is another bumper crop of receivers. Even with LSU's Ja'Marr Chase, Alabama'due south Jaylen Waddle, Minnesota'due south Rashod Bateman and Purdue's Rondale Moore absent-minded (and Bama Heisman winner DeVonta Smith in that location but only for interviews), the receivers were clearly the most talked almost position group. A number of them helped themselves.
D'Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan: I had one exec tell me Eskridge won every one-on-i he saw him in this week. He's a little modest, but he'south got lightning short-area quickness, sticky hands, and ever seems to be open. Literally everyone I talked to loved him.
Amari Rodgers, Clemson: He showed burst, savvy and play force that, combined with his collegiate product, evoked some Sterling Shepard comparisons.
Kadarius Toney, Florida: He had accountability and maturity flags, simply word is Toney really turned the off-field stuff around in 2020, and he'south a stick of dynamite as a player. He had a couple drops and a fumble in practices, but his movement skills are undeniable, and he got comps to fellow ex-Gator Percy Harvin from multiple scouts I talked to.
Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State: He's built like a running dorsum, and is a really practiced route-runner, which had him winning in drills consistently.
Due south Carolina'southward Shi Smith and South Dakota State's Cade Johnson elicited mention too, and yous get the picture.
• The quarterback group didn't generate very much excitement, and that includes Alabama star Mac Jones. That's not to say Jones didn't practise well. He did. Information technology just wasn't enough to alter many people's minds on him, good or bad. One watch I talked to said, "I think he's but a guy," while another called him "O.One thousand." I'm not positive Jones volition get in the starting time round. We'll come across. He might. I just don't have conviction on it subsequently this week. Texas A&M'southward Kellen Mond showed plenty that i evaluator called him, "an intriguing developmental guy."
• While pinnacle guys similar Alabama'south Patrick Surtain and Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley weren't in Mobile, and that's part of the reason hither, play at corner had NFL types believing that it'll be a downward year at the position. UCF CB Aaron Robinson and S Richie Grant were two guys who did stand out in the secondary. Robinson showed ball skills and an power to play man-to-homo, and both he and Grant showed polished technique and smarts for their positions. Washington's Keith Taylor is another who had a skillful week—and played well in the game.
• A couple of defensive linemen helped themselves, and UCLA's Osa Odighizuwa's name was one that came upward consistently, as a confusing, long-armed, upfield/inside blazon of pass rusher. Notre Dame's Daelin Hayes was another who showed expert versatility. And Washington's Levi Onwuzurike, more of a pure defensive tackle, was among the all-time players on the field—one 2022 opt-out who didn't prove much rust.
• The running back grouping had a couple stars in it too. Due north Carolina'due south Michael Carter showed quickness, outburst and vision all week. Virginia Tech'south Khalil Herbert likewise impressed with his quickness. And Demetric Felton, primarily a tailback at UCLA, played a bunch in the slot and looked really proficient.
• Wisconsin-Whitewater interior OL Quinn Meinerz came in every bit a dice-whorl choice by the Senior Basin staff, and he really changed some people's minds on him. Showing practiced strength and an power to handle a ability rush answers what's e'er going to be a question for a Div. 3 lineman trying to make information technology to the NFL. Western Michigan's Jaylon Moore was another lineman who stood out, with his ability to play four positions. Conversely, Bama's Alex Leatherwood wanted to show this calendar week he could play left tackle in the pros and showed the athleticism to pull it off.
• A couple safeties who elicited mention and were interesting to me: Virginia Tech'due south Divine Deablo and Florida Land's Hamsah Nasirildeen. Why? They're both gigantic. And so fire up your Kam Chancellor comps.
And and then begins draft season. Big shout out to Senior Basin executive director Jim Nagy and his staff. What they pulled off this week, under these weather condition, was pretty mind-bravado.
Quinn Harris/USA TODAY Sports
10 TAKEAWAYS
The Texans accept a mess on their hands. Outset things first: This isn't new GM Nick Caserio'due south fault, and it'due south not new coach David Culley's fault. But Deshaun Watson'southward not returning the Texans' calls, and his issues with the squad, I've been told pretty consistently, are over the heads of both those guys, and with owner Cal McNair and EVP Jack Easterby. And I recall everyone needs to settle in, considering it's going to take a while for this situation to resolve itself, one way or the other. With that in mind, hither are a few things you need to know …
• Watson'due south result isn't that he didn't go to option the GM or head motorbus. He never asked to. But he was told that he'd exist consulted during the search, and he was at get-go. Then, he had the rug pulled from underneath him with Easterby, who he believed would exist more in the background on this, steering the process toward Caserio. That led to a heck of a capper—with Watson finding out almost all this on social media. No matter where you stand on this, I remember nosotros tin all concur that was bad business by the Texans.
• It's not the offset time Watson was put in this sort of spot. He institute out nearly the DeAndre Hopkins trade last March the same fashion. He took that, and everything else that went downwards this yr, in stride, and put together a loftier-finish season individually despite information technology all. He was excited most the fresh starting time the franchise was about to become—and told me as much after a win on Thanksgiving over Detroit. So that the Texans are here at present represents a dispensary in mismanaging a star player. Or, really, any person you piece of work with.
• The Texans blocked OC Tim Kelly from interviewing for OC jobs with the Titans and Lions, with the conventionalities being that they wanted to hang on to him as an olive branch to Watson. The quarterback did, indeed, really similar playing for Kelly downward the stretch last year. I'one thousand told he believes in Kelly equally a play-caller. Simply Watson'southward issues here, at least for now, are bigger than who's holding the play sheet on Sunday.
• The hires of Culley every bit head bus and Pep Hamilton as QB coach, and the expectation that Josh McCown will come up aboard at some indicate (I'm told nothing's imminent on that front right now, and what his part would exist is a work in progress) and perhaps fifty-fifty be positioned to succeed Culley gives Houston potent infrastructure for whoever the quarterback volition be. And it seems to be a Watson-friendly setup. But, once more, at that place are bigger bug to tackle first.
• This is going to have to exist solved at the ownership level, and I don't know how McNair can reopen the lines of communication at this point. Owners ordinarily aren't big on apologizing. Merely I'd have to think that would be the starting signal here, and I don't know if that'd even work. As well interesting will be whether McNair gets pressure from other owners to hold firm on keeping Watson, so every bit not to fix a sort of NBA-style precedent for the rest of the league.
• The Texans, to my knowledge, have shut down all overtures for a Watson trade, since he requested 1 ii weeks agone. But until this affair is settled, calls are gonna keep coming. At what signal does Caserio accept to showtime listening? And if he were to trade Watson, how much force per unit area would that put on everyone in the building? On the flip side, if Watson doesn't evidence up in the spring or summertime, how hard volition it be for a get-go-yr coaching staff to plant its program?
• I don't think Watson has a single favored destination. My belief is his merely priority will exist to get to a place where he can win at a high level. So yeah, the no-merchandise clause gives him a measure of control. Merely I don't think he'd utilise it to veto anybody until he goes to a unmarried mitt-picked identify. More so, I remember he'd use it to avoid a bad situation. And, once again, good and bad will exist measured, as I see information technology, in football game terms, and won't be related to business opportunities, marketing or anything like that (he's doing just fine in those areas).
Then if you lot ask me where this is going, I'd say I don't know. I've heard some people from rival teams say the Texans can't trade him, and others say at that place'southward no way they'll be able to avoid that ending to this story. Nosotros'll see what happens.
With that reality, I don't know which domino will fall next. And that's function of what drove the market for Stafford—information technology gave the Rams certainty, and it immune the Lions to move to become the most for him, with other teams uncertain of which other quarterbacks could leap free in the coming weeks. Obviously, if Watson'southward available, in that location'll be a frenzy to poach him from Houston. But after that? Other teams are monitoring what the Jets do with Sam Darnold. Whether or not the Raiders move forrad with Derek Carr always seems to exist a yr-to-year thing. The Eagles have been not-committal on Carson Wentz. Dak Prescott'due south likely getting hitting with the franchise tag for a second consecutive year. Cam Newton, Mitch Trubisky, Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Fitzpatrick are amidst those with starting experience who'll exist out there in gratuitous agency. For all the fun discussion we've had the terminal few weeks, the options out there, every bit of now, are just O.K. If Watson and Darnold become bachelor, evidently, that'd alter a few things.
Every footling scrap of data is going to count in this twelvemonth's draft . And I really believe that positions the Panthers and Jaguars as teams that'll be playing from ahead in Apr. Both have coaches coming from college football game (Matt Rhule and Urban Meyer, respectively), and assistants who came from carve up programs at that level (Joe Brady in Carolina, and Charlie Strong and Chris Ash in Jacksonville), which means there'll exist dozens of players that those teams have groundwork on going back to when the kids were teenagers. And that's something I asked Rhule's defensive coordinator, Phil Snow, about the other day. He said on the Senior Basin squad the Carolina staff was coaching alone, "There'southward probably ten to 12 players like that, aye, that we've known for a while. … It does [assist]. But it'southward also of import for seeing how far they've come. Do they like football? Have they really improved since high school? And those types of things. So it's however of import to be around them, even if you knew them in high school." Ii examples Snowfall raised to me, beyond the obvious Temple and Baylor connections he and Rhule had: Miami DE Quincy Roche was recruited to and played for Rhule at Temple for a year; and Georgia S Mark Webb, a Philly native, was a histrion Rhule recruited difficult to Temple over a flow of a few years. And there is track record of this working in the past, if you look. Both Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll drafted uncommonly well their first few years coming from the college game, and Scrap Kelly hit dwelling house runs on Lane Johnson and Zach Ertz in his first typhoon afterwards going from Oregon to Philly. And then advantage Carolina. And advantage Jacksonville.
For reasons forth these lines, it was interesting to see how teams deployed their personnel for the week in Mobile. The limits on staff attending—10 per team—made information technology so the Dolphins and Panthers (coaching in the game) had about six times more people there than most of their counterparts did. And a result of the restrictions made it so but 2 teams, the Bengals and Giants, brought whatsoever coaches at all. Both those clubs used multiple of their 10 slots on coaches, with their head coaches, Zac Taylor and Joe Judge, in attendance. Which is interesting, given that in that location'due south no combine this year, only regimented, scaled downwards pro days; the probability that private workouts are going to exist conducted virtually; and zero guarantee that any squad official will be able to get face-to-face with any prospect again before the draft in tardily April. So Taylor and Judge, and Rhule and Brian Flores, are playing from ahead in that regard. Conversely, the Rams were ane team that decided to eschew going to the event at all. Part of that was connected to how they've downsized their footprint at these events over the concluding year to brainstorm with (they had fewer people at the non-COVID-afflicted Senior Basin and combine in 2020), in an endeavour to work more efficiently. Another office is continued to the travel restrictions and current weather in Fifty.A. Canton.
I'm fascinated to come across where the Packers go side by side. Omnibus Matt LaFleur's already replaced special teams bus Shawn Mennenga with his assistant, Maurice Drayton, and Drayton's actually as much LaFleur's guy equally anyone is in Green Bay, since Drayton but predated the dominate past a year there. Just I'yard more interested to see what LaFleur does with the defensive coordinator chore, having let the inherited Mike Pettine go. If you read the tea leaves, at that place's evidence he might think outside the box—like his buddies McVay and Kyle Shanahan did for their DC hires. Both rolled the die with young guys, McVay with Bradon Staley and Shanahan with Robert Saleh, who they believed would bring difficult-to-deal defensive systems to the programme. Both hires were wildly successful to the betoken where Staley and Saleh are now caput coaches. To be clear, I'm really not sure where LaFleur volition find his version of that guy. Maybe it'due south somewhere on one of those staffs. Possibly it'due south elsewhere. But information technology sure seems similar there'due south a decent chance information technology's not a huge name—and a decent adventure that'due south a practiced thing. (I fun proper noun would exist Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who interviewed with McVay for the job Staley got in 2020.)
The Packers shouldn't begin to entertain the idea of trading Aaron Rodgers. I saw the LA Times'due south Sam Farmer's report that the Rams asked about him (doesn't hurt to ask), which is prompting me to regurgitate a fact that I dug upwards and tweeted on Saturday. Twenty-2 quarterbacks were drafted in the first round between 2009 and 2016. I—that's right, one—remains with the squad that drafted him. And that's Wentz, who isn't exactly on solid basis in Philly right now. As we said before, he'south the NFL'due south fourth-longest-tenured quarterback. Know what that tells you? It's really, actually hard to find 1, and fifty-fifty when you retrieve you lot have your 15-year respond, you might not (meet: Robert Griffin, Wentz, Goff, etc.) Then every twelvemonth y'all have a player similar Rodgers is gold. And you don't just casually discard a precious metallic similar that.
I loved what Jamal Adams said most Pete Carroll this week. In case you missed it, this was to the Seahawks' squad web site: "I'll never forget, he brought me over there when I first got there and he said, 'What do you desire to evidence? What practise y'all want to get out of this trade? What are you setting yourself upwards for?' I but remember telling him, 'I just desire to be the greatest to practise. I just desire to get all this, go all that, and win a Super Bowl.' Simply he stopped me and he was like, 'Hey, you don't have to do anything special but merely be you lot. You lot don't have to alter anything. I want you to come here and be Jamal Adams, be the best version of Jamal Adams. Any you want to do, on and off the field, for your future, whatever—exercise it to the best of your ability and only be a true pro at it.' When he sat me downward and told me that, information technology simply really opened my eyes and took a burden off my dorsum considering I always was similar, 'I'm going to put information technology on my shoulders, I'm going to put information technology on my shoulders, I'm strong, I'thou strong.' Nah, it'south not about that. When he told me that, I knew from that connection, that day, it was going to be special. To this day, that's my guy, human being. I'll run through a brick wall for him." It'south also a really good example of how Carroll reaches guys—pledging that he'll get the most out of them if they're simply themselves. It also speaks well to the synergy between coaching and scouting in Seattle, where, really, Carroll can trust the guys who come in volition fit to the point where they tin but exist themselves and everyone can look information technology'll work.
The Eagles' press briefing wasn't a great look for Nick Sirianni. But indications I've gotten is that he'due south been willing to poke fun at himself for information technology, which is a good sign for the 39-yr-old. One moment came with NBC Philly'southward John Clark. "I gotta look at the record," Sirianni joked to Clark. 'I'll become back, just like I always do. And simply like a game, there'due south gonna be calls that you desire back, and there'll be calls where you say, homo, that was a good call, I put my players in good position. So what do we exercise? We go back, nosotros look at the tape, and the most of import thing is you endeavour and become improve each solar day, over and over and over over again, so you're meliorate the next time out." The truth is, that was a tough spot for the new Philly coach to be in. He was standing alone at a podium, staring into a photographic camera and reading off prepared remarks—which I think is always a fault. He seemed nervous, and that was probably a event of the rough get-go. We'll see if it actually relates to who he becomes as a head passenger vehicle. But based on his reputation as a high-free energy, detailed and diligent coach, my approximate is it won't carry over to the day-to-day of his job, which is a tough one to be sure, starting with the decision he and the front office have coming on how to handle Wentz (who, as of right now, isn't exactly pleased to be in that location).
Steelers owner Fine art Rooney said "there's still work to be done" in regards to the Rooney Rule, and I agree with him. Hither's more from Rooney: "Nosotros didn't make as much progress on the head-coaching side equally we would take liked. But I would say we did make some progress on the general manager side, which is encouraging. And then we'll accept to look on the coordinator side to see how much progress we brand on that front. There are a lot of pieces to it that we're going to take to sit downward when it's all said and done and really analyze what happened, and are there things we can do to strengthen the opportunities for minority coaches. I retrieve concluding year we did take a number of steps that I think over time are going to pay dividends, but that's non to say we can't do more, and we'll have another strong expect at it this offseason." The No. 1 frustration I've heard from guys on both the coaching and personnel sides is uncomplicated: Likewise often owners cite condolement level in going away from a Black candidate. One raised this quote, from Panthers possessor David Tepper on Matt Rhule, to me: "He dresses like [expletive] and sweats all over himself. He dresses similar me, so I have to love the guy. I was a brusque-social club cook, he was a brusk-order cook. Nobody gave him anything, nobody gave me annihilation. He had to piece of work hard for everything he got." In that location is, of course, goose egg wrong with Tepper saying that, but it illustrates reality that shared experiences and similar backgrounds bring about a feeling familiarity and, ultimately, condolement. How do y'all set this? The easy answer would be more than Black owners and team presidents. But that, evidently, tin't happen overnight. One thing I retrieve would assist would be creating more one-on-ane and small grouping time betwixt prime candidates and owners, whether they're in social gatherings or, in COVID times, over Zoom. That, of course, won't solve everything. But I do remember the idea that an owner'due south first time with a candidate wouldn't come in a task interview would be a productive one.
I miss the Pro Bowl. But kidding.
SIX FROM THE SIDELINES
With the college season wrapped up, nosotros're moving this section back out to general non-NFL stuff (which will include some college football stuff too, for sure.)
1) I stepped in information technology on the Baseball game Hall of Fame contend the other day, but hither's my larger point: Information technology's cool that sportswriters are arbitrarily deciding who did steroids and who didn't during an era in which they were everywhere in the sport. It'south baseball'south ain fault, and actually the marriage'due south fault as well, for keeping testing out of the game for so long, allowing the public trust to fracture. So my proposition is that you tell voters to vote on the players' merits alone, and so denote the steroid era on their plaques. There are, no doubt, guys in now who were juicing during the same era Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were. And a big reason why we can't tell who's who is because a lot of people were looking the other way. And so their penance, in my mind, should be getting lumped together in an asterisked era.
ii) What LeBron James is doing at 36 years old is listen-blowing. He's changed the math on the age of basketball players, the same way Tom Brady has for quarterbacks.
3) I'm old enough to remember when Tennessee was an absolute powerhouse, and not a schoolhouse where the reaction to a coach rent is: "Is that the same Josh Heupel from the Oklahoma championship team?"
4) Nighttime Stalker on Netflix is os-chilling TV.
5) RIP John Chaney. The ex-Temple basketball jitney was an American original. His Temple teams were e'er tough, and his press-conference confrontation with John Calipari is honestly probably one of the about memorable non-game sports-related moments of my childhood. They don't brand them like Chaney anymore.
6) So I guess Messi really didn't desire his contract details getting out at that place?
BEST OF THE NFL Net
That could be true.
Jay's the best.
And here we take a message sent.
Whatsoever Ric Flair NFL illustration is gonna brand information technology here.
I mean, permit's be honest, Rodgers knew exactly what he was doing from the spring.
Hilarious series from Pete on tackling the TB12 diet.
Not gonna lie—that was kind of emotional.
The incredible truth of the Texans' state of affairs.
For fun, hither are the players who went in the 4 slots to this point: Titans WR Corey Davis, Patriots LT Isaiah Wynn, Falcons RT Kaeb McGary and Jaguars DE 1000'Lavon Chaisson.
I don't know why Gronk tweeting the pirate sound from The Simpsons character is so hilarious to me. But it is.
Some other big week for our guy Mitch Goldich. Hopefully you know the story by now.
It's definitely e'er a weird Sunday.
WHAT Yous NEED TO KNOW
Again, information technology'll be a unlike Super Bowl calendar week. I become to Tampa on Wednesday (ordinarily, I'd exist on site finishing this cavalcade up), and I really take no thought what to expect the scene to be similar on the ground.
But I'll say this: I'g happy we made it to this indicate. I don't think I'm lonely in saying that having football helped in a really messed up year
Source: https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/02/01/mmqb-super-bowl-week-matthew-stafford-trade-negotiations-los-angeles-rams
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