Around the NFL in 32 plays
By Ben Almquist
New York Jets: The Jets standoff with Ryan Fitzpatrick has hit a major speed bump as their top two wide receivers, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, are both holding out of voluntary workouts in support of Fitzpatrick. Center Nick Mangold also missed the start of voluntary workouts, but that is reportedly due to the recent birth of his child.
- Author’s Take: Yes, these are voluntary workouts so the players not being there isn’t a huge deal. What IS a huge deal though is that both players have openly stated that this is in support of Ryan Fitzpatrick. That puts the Jets in a tougher negotiating spot.
- Author’s Take: As an addendum…boy, how bad a look is this for Geno Smith right now? It’s pretty clear that he has virtually no support across the board from this organization.
Oakland Raiders: The potential move from Oakland to Las Vegas took some very big steps forward this week as Mark Davis met with financiers and city officials. He also picked up a big ally in Patriots owner Robert Kraft. And it is being reported that several league officials have been persuaded that the league’s concerns of gambling encroaching on a Vegas-based franchise are unwarranted. Davis even threw in a pretty good sales pitch about how moving to Vegas could help unite the LA and Oakland fan bases for the team.
Chiefs’ Take
: Don’t be surprised if Mark Davis picks up another big ally in Clark Hunt. The Chiefs can’t be the least bit happy about how the league handled the tampering case. With Goodell still a big opponent to a Vegas team, I wouldn’t put it past Clark to throw in with Davis and Kraft on this move as a belligerent owners triumvirate.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans have taken a huge blow as offensive lineman Byron Bell may be lost for the season to an ankle injury. At the very least, it is expected he will go on Injured Reserve with a designation to return.
Washington Redskins: The Washington Post has conducted a controversial poll that shows roughly 9 out of 10 Native Americans do not have an issue with the franchise’s moniker. 7 out of 10 stated that they didn’t feel the term was racist. The methodology of the poll has been called into question.
- Chiefs’ Take: Most experts agree that the Redskins are the front line of the Native American battle against racially/culturally insensitive, or racist, depictions in professional sports. The Chiefs are also on the list of sports teams that some Native American activists have targeted. However, as long as Washington continues on with their name, there is little danger that Kansas City would ever be forced to change theirs.
Well, that’s going to do it for me Addicts. Be sure to check back in next week for another roundup of all the NFL news and rumors from around the league.