Category: NFL

San Francisco 49ers Draft Grades Report

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latimes.com photo: San Francisco 49ers first round second overall draft choice from Ohio State dawning the Buckeye liner inside his sportscoat — defensive end Nick Bosa.

By Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA — The 2019 NFL Draft has come and gone for the San Francisco 49ers and it can’t be more crucial for the Niners to hit a grand slam on most of their picks if they hope to turn it around. Finishing with the second-worst record in the league has given them the opportunity to strike gold.

Round 1, 2nd Overall Nick Bosa (EDGE, Ohio State)

Grade: B

With Kyler Murray selected first overall by the Cardinals, the Niners had their choice of the top defensive prospect in the draft. Unsurprisingly, they take Nick Bosa, who’s considered the top player in the draft.

Bosa only played three games this year for Ohio State before sitting the rest of the season with a core muscle injury. However, he was incredible his Junior season as a Buckeye, getting eight sacks in 14 games despite just starting in four.

This has the chance of being a home-run pick for the Niners, but there are a few red flags with Bosa. Aside from his troubling tweets, he comes from a football family that tends to look at it more as a business. His biggest comparable his is older brother Joey, who has been elite while on the field but has also had a lengthy injury history.

The injury trouble could just be the beginning and while it was a business decision to sit out his last year of school, what’s going to change now that he’s pro?

Round 2, 36th Overall Deebo Samuel (WR, South Carolina)

Grade: C

With their second selection, the Niners brought help to Jimmy Garoppolo with Samuel. Samuel comes from a very bad SEC team and was the only offense the Gamecocks really had. He scored a combined 12 TDs his senior season playing both as a wideout and returner. He was All-SEC as a returner and second-team as a receiver.

The slot receiver’s biggest knock is that he might need scheme to open him up but no one can do that better than Kyle Shanahan. He also has an injury past, dealing with hamstrings.

While the Niners needed a slot receiver, I would’ve preferred they take sure-hand receiver Hunter Renfroe (5th round to Oakland) in a later round. I think the need to shore up the offensive line or take a defensive back would have been more valuable at this position.

There were two offensive linemen that had first-round value available at this spot in Cody Ford (Guard, Oklahoma) and Greg Little (Tackle, Ole Miss) that I would have much higher on my draft board.

Greedy Williams was also available here, who is an electric DB from LSU. He can go up and catch any ball but he had issues with tackling. I think the tackling knock on him would’ve gone away with some mentorship from Richard Sherman.

Round 3, 67th Overall Jalen Hurd (WR, Baylor)

Grade: C

Tennessee five-star recruit running back out of high school was incredible for the Vols until he suffered a concussion. The concussion made him want to move position to receiver. Tennessee said no, so he transferred to Baylor.

At Baylor, he was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year catching 69 balls for 946 yards and four touchdowns.

This dude is athletic and fun to watch but he’s coming off a knee procedure and lacks experience at the position. He’s a boom or bust style player that will be a project for Shanahan.

Round 4, 110 Overall Mitch Wishnowsky (Punter, Utah)

Grade: D

Drafting purely for need after the departure of Pinion, taking a punter in the fourth round while still having great secondary pieces on the board makes zero sense. Wishnowsky, a converted Aussie Rules player, should be good though. The Niners took the best punter available, who won the Ray Guy Award in 2016 and was nominated in 2017 and 2018.

Oh yeah? Should I mention they traded up for this pick?

Round 5, 148th Overall Dre Greenlaw (Linebacker, Arkansas)

Grade D+

Dre Greenlaw is a small linebacker that started all four years for the Razorbacks. He was fairly good against the pass with two interceptions in nine games his senior season. He lost games due to injury battling an injured foot and high ankle sprain.

According to NFL.com he looks small and plays small and is valued as a low seventh-rounder to free agent pick-up. One NFC scout said, “Good athlete. Former safety. He runs well, but I don’t think he’s tough enough to trust him in a game. He better be really good on special teams unless he finds more dog inside him”.

Hunter Renfroe was selected with the next pick.

Round 6, 176th Overall Kaden Smith (Tight End, Stanford)

Grade: B

The Niners add Kaden Smith to George Kittle at Tight End. The Stanford connection and John Lynch strike again with this pick, but you can’t argue against Tight Ends out of Stanford.

This guy has great hands and can catch balls over the top, especially with inaccurate. He’s a one-hit wonder, but he does that one thing pretty well. Don’t expect great blocking out of him or even route running. He’s a vertical threat at the intermediate level.

Round 6, 183rd Overall Justin Skule (Tackle, Vanderbilt)

Grade: C+

Niners finally pick up the need they have at the O-Line. This guy is a bit of a gamble due to lack of athleticism and failing to play low enough. But the guy is a grinder that was always looking for extra work as a left tackle for 40 games in the SEC. If he can handle that conference well, he’s worth the risk at this part of the draft.

I don’t see him stacking up well at tackle, but he may be able to become a steady interior guy.

Round 6, 198th Overall Tim Harris (Cornerback, Virginia)

Grade: C-

The Niners traded up to take a stretch on an athletic corner from Virginia. Tim Harris is a double red-shirt due to injury-ridden seasons but still dominated his pro day; running, a 4.45 40, jumping a 39-vertical, and 11-7 broad jump.

According to NFL.com, there are concerns on his tape that he will most likely struggle in the show, not having enough football IQ to keep up. But the kid is athletic as hell and Shanahan and Lynch must see enough to think they can teach it. Another gamble pick.

Overall, the Niners did just okay. The main connection and problem between all of these players is they have an injury past. As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out this being the theme of the off-season. If all these players stay healthy, this could be a very good draft for the Niners, but that’s a risk they’re willing to take.

Raiders’ 2019 NFL Draft: Newest members of the Silver and Black

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Jeremy Kahn

In what could be the final NFL Draft as the Oakland Raiders, they added nine new players to the Silver and Black in the annual NFL Draft.

Mike Mayocks first pick as the General Manager, was a shock to some; however, as Mayock drafted Clelin Ferrell, a defensive end from the 2018 National Champion Clemson Tigers.

While at Clemson, Ferrell won the Ted Hendricks Award that is awarded to the nations top defensive end. Ferrell also sacked the quarterback 27 times while at Clemson.

Twenty picks later, Mayock drafted running back Josh Jacobs, who played at Alabama and faced Ferrell and the Tigers in the National Championship Game held at Levis Stadium on January 7.

During the 2018 season, Jacobs totaled 1,315 yards in total offense for the Crimson Tide, as they made it to three straight National Championship and winning the 2018 NCG over the Georgia Buldogs at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Mayock then returned to defense with his number 27, as he drafted Safety Johnathan Abram out of Mississippi State.

With his only pick in the second and third rounds, Mayock drafted Ferrells college teammate Trayvon Mullen, who played cornerback for Dabo Swinneys Tigers, who became the first team to go 15-0 since the 1897 Penn Quakers.

Once again, Mayock went defense with his pick in the fourth round, as defensive end Maxx Crosby out of Eastern Michigan became a Raider at pick number 106.

While playing for the Eagles in the Mid-Amercian Conference, Crosby complied 20 sacks and 41 tackles for loss.

Mayock continued pick defensive players, as 23 picks after Crosby joined the team, Isaiah Johnson, a cornerback from the University of Houston joined the Silver and Black.

Eight picks later, Mayock went with LSU tight end Foster Moreau, who started in 26 games and caught 52 passes in his career for the Tigers for 629 yards and six touchdowns.

Hunter Renfrow, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass from DeShaun Watson in the 2017 National Championship Game against Alabama, was drafted with pick number 149 of the fifth round.

Renfrow is the third member of the 2018 National Champion Tigers team to be drafted by the team.

With their final pick of the draft, the Raiders went with the nephew of a former Raiders running back, as they went with Prairie View defensive end Quinton Bell, whose Uncle Nick, played for the Raiders from 1991-1993 and carried the ball 226 times for 853 yards and seven touchdowns.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Lechler to go into Hall as Raiders punter for 13 seasons; Raiders sign Grant at wide receiver; plus more

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Photo credit: @TDenFamilia

On the Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Former Oakland Raider Shane Lechler can look forward to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame after the five year wait . He played in 206 games for the Raiders and missed only two games in 13 seasons. In those 13 seasons, Lechler called Oakland his home. A seven-time Pro Bowler, he was one of the best punters in NFL history.

#2 Wide receiver Ryan Grant has signed with the Oakland Raiders. Grant formerly with the Indianapolis Colts signed with Oakland on Wednesday Grant’s deal is worth one year, $2.5 million.

#3 You can’t win them all the A’s, who won the first two games against the visiting Boston Red Sox on great pitching, and delivered two shutouts, but they dropped game three of the four-game series to the Red Sox. However, the A’s have been delivering excitement each night.

#4 The Giants had some troubles on this road trip, but still, they have gone 2-5 thus far. They have concluded their road series with the Dodgers with a 5-3 loss. They have their home opener on Friday, can they get back on track with some home cooking?

#5 The Sacramento Kings might be making changes again and knowing how much Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and general manager Vlade Divak like Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton. Do you see Walton getting fired by the Lakers as rumored and going to the Kings, which means Kings head coach Dave Joerger will get the boot at season’s end?

Headline Sports with Tony R is heard each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

AAF folds up league, couldn’t get NFL to get on board with business model

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Photo credit: espn.com

By Jeremy Harness

Thomas Dundon, the majority stake holder of the Alliance of American Football, and his partners could not reach a happy medium to continue to keep the league going and has decided to suspend all operations as announced on Tuesday. The AAF issued the following statement with the reasons why the league was folding. One was the AAF partners wanted the NFL to be part of their business model in creating an AAF network, marketing, revenue sharing, partnering in supporters the AFF’s teams, and creating a marketing plan that would get the AAF to a level of profit to make the league viable. These plans never came to fruition and the league’s owners and partners couldn’t agree on a direction.

The league statement reads:

“Over the last year, we have been able to realize some amazing accomplishments. We launched a football league, a ground breaking sports technology and APP, and established production and broadcast arrangements to air our content on major networks. Together we created some incredible moments for football and our fans. We are very proud of what we accomplished and appreciate the contributions each of you made during that process.”

Sadly, eight AAF teams will also fold with the league Atlanta Legends, Birmingham Iron, Memphis Express, Orlando Apollo, Arizona Hotshots, Salt Lake Stallions, San Antonio Commanders, and the San Diego Fleet. Co-founder Bill Polian expressed his disappointment in the suspension of the league after some eight months and one season, stating in a press conference today.

“I am extremely disappointed to learn Tom Dundon has decided to suspend all football operations of the Alliance of American Football,” said Polian to the media on hand.

“When Mr. Dundon took over, it was the belief of my co-founder, Charlie Ebersol, and myself that we would finish the season, pay our creditors, and make the necessary adjustments to move forward in a manner that made economic sense for all.”

Mr. Polian also expressed that not only is this a hit to the league and it officers and front office staffs, he expressed sadness for it’s players and many of the people who work on the day-to-day operations, the stadium employees, tickets sales staff, concessions, ticket takers, marketing staff, TV and radio production staffs and media who covered the league are all now out of work.

“The momentum generated by our players, coaches and football staff had us well positioned for future success. Regrettably, we will not have that opportunity.”

It was also reported that players on this week’s current road trips must pay for their own airfare to get back home and clean out their locker. The players were caught off guard by today’s announcement. Trainers, coaches, ball boys, media relations staffs, game day staffs, and everyone else, including cheerleaders traveling with the team, must pay for their own airfare to get back home because the league will seek bankruptcy.

AAF quarterback Johnny Manziel tweeted to his teammates and fellow players: “If you’re an AAF player and the league does dissolve. The last check you got will be the last one that you get. No lawsuit or anything else will get you your bread. Save your money and keep your head up. It’s the only choice at this point unless something drastic happens.”

Jeremy Harness has covered the XFL, the UFL, and is currently covering the NFL for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria: Raiders getting Brown for draft picks–a steal; Despite dysfunction, Warriors still a winner; plus more

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photo from nbcsports.com:  Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown (center) receives his new jersey standing at podium during Wednesday’s presser with head coach Jon Gruden (left) and general manager Mike Mayock (right)

On Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

#1 Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown said he can lift the rest of the team offense for the rest of the season

#2 Brown is a seven time Pro Bowler as the Raiders sent a third and fifth draft pick to Pittsburgh for Brown.

#3 Brown will get $54.125 million for the next three seasons with Oakland

#4 On the Warriors their well published dysfunction didn’t stop them from picking up a win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night 106-104

#5 San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey trying to come off his off season surgery caught in Monday’s game but manager Bruce Bochy decided to rest Posey on Tuesday. Bochy expects Posey to go full strength once the regular season begins

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary with Barbara Mason: Canseco takes A-Rod up on boxing match over cheating accusations; plus more

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Photo credit: @TheLedgeSports

Barbara Mason is filling in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez:

#1 Former New York Yankee Jose Canseco said in a tweet that former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez was cheating on his girlfriend , actress Jennifer Lopez. A-Rod then challenged Canseco to a boxing match via tweet and Canseco then challenged A-Rod to boxing match via Twitter. Canseco also said he would take a polygraph test and pass.

#2 US Olympic cyclist Kelly Catlin had it all–a gold medal, member of the US bicycle team, winner of three straight bicycle championships at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Catlin died by suicide at age 23. This was a shock to her family and the Olympic community.

#3 The Stanford Cardinal Women (28-4) look prepared for March Madness. They’re coming off a 64-57 win over the Oregon Ducks Sunday. The Cardinal celebrated in the Pac-12 Tournament Title Game.

#4 Antonio Brown joins the Oakland Raiders over the weekend. The past six seasons for Brown, he has averaged 114 catches, 1524 receiving, and has had 15 touchdown catches in 2018 which is a career-high.

#5 Jesus Luzardo looks like he could get a shot in the rotation for the Oakland A’s. In just Sunday’s game, he gave up four hits, a walk, and one run against the San Francisco Giants in Mesa’s Hohokam Stadium against the Giants. He will not be going to Japan for the opening series against the Seattle Mariners.

Barbara Mason is doing That’s Amaury’s podcasts for Amaury Pi Gonzalez at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sources: Raiders set to acquire WR Antonio Brown from Steelers

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photo from bleacherreport.com file: Antonio Brown joins the Oakland Raiders in a three year deal, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout is looking forward to catching passes from Raider quarterback Derek Carr

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to trade star wide receiver Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders, a source close to the situation told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Brown announced the move via his Instagram account late Saturday night wearing his No. 84 in the Silver and Black of the Raiders.

The trade cannot be made official until the new league year, which begins this Wednesday.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Brown will receive a new three-year contract at $50.125 million, with a maximum value of $54.125 million. Brown will earn $30.125 million in guarantees. He was due no guaranteed money in his previous contract.

Armed with three first-round picks (No. 4, No. 23, and No. 27 respectively), the Raiders didn’t have to part ways with any of those precious picks for Brown.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Raiders will send 2019 third- and fifth-round picks to the Steelers as compensation. Pittsburgh originally thought that they were going to send Brown to the Buffalo Bills, but discussions broke down between the two clubs late Thursday night into early Friday morning.

After taking a beating last season for trading away stars in defensive end/linebacker Khalil Mack (to Chicago) and wide receiver Amari Cooper (to Dallas), the Raiders needed to land an impact player this offseason.

By all accounts, the All-Pro wide receiver is an impact player that makes the Raiders better today than they were yesterday with this trade. Brown should become Raiders quarterback Derek Carr’s best friend, with his penchant for getting open and making acrobatic catches in traffic.

In 130 career games, the 30-year-old Central Michigan product has 11,207 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns. He is the only receiver in NFL history to have six consecutive seasons with at least 100 receptions, 1,200 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

In 2018, the 30-year-old Brown hauled in 104 catches for 1,297 yards for an NFL-best 15 touchdown for the Steelers.

Headline Sports with London Marq: More trouble as Giants outfielder arrested for DUI, Will Baer’s situation be a distraction for Giants?; Kings lose two close ones against NBA’s best; plus more

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mug shot photo by Scottsdale Police and sfgate.com: In this Friday, March 1, 2019, photo provided by the Scottsdale Police Department, San Francisco Giants outfielder Cameron Maybin is shown in a booking photo in Scottsdale, Ariz. Police said Tuesday that the 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 If things couldn’t get worse for the San Francisco Giants, Giants outfielder Cameron Maybin was arrested at 2:30 am on Friday morning for DUI. He was driving in Scottsdale when he was pulled over by an officer who said he smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. Maybin was arrested and released two hours later. The team said they are monitoring the situation and had no comment.

#2 With San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer being in the headlines this week, could this be a distraction for the team in spring training?

#3 How despite losing, the Sacramento Kings played some very close games with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks this past week?

#4 Chaquita Evans became the first woman to be drafted by an NBA team in the NBA 2K league. Does this signal that more women could be playing in the NBA?

#5 The Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Coliseum Authority authorized a two-year deal on Tuesday for the Raiders to stay at the Coliseum for 2019. The team will pay $7.5 million and 2020 is an option year at the cost of $9.5 million. The Raiders are still being sued by the City of Oakland as they’re moving to Las Vegas and will leave the city in a financial lurch as the lawsuit claims.

London Marq does Headline Sports each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Raiders should call the Steelers for Antonio Brown

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Photo credit: musiccitymiracles.com

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

There have been multiple reports in recent days that the Raiders would be interested in trading for Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, which Oakland should do in a heartbeat. Armed with three first-round picks in this April’s NFL draft and flushed with nearly $73 million in salary cap space per Overthecap.com, the Raiders can send one of those picks to Pittsburgh and pay the going rate for the dynamic Brown.

Imagine quarterback Derek Carr throwing touchdowns to a wide receiver like Brown?

Carr threw for 4,049 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season, much of that with insufficient talent at wide receiver. After the team traded away Amari Cooper to Dallas near midseason, free-agent addition Jordy Nelson was slowed by injuries for much of the season.

In fact, Carr’s most trusted receiver in 2018 was tight end Jared Cook, who had a career-year across the board. Cook had career-highs in catches (68), yards (896) and touchdowns (six) is an unrestricted free-agent and chances of him returning to the Silver and Black are a possibility.

But Antonio Brown would give Carr a legit weapon that other teams would have to fear. Brown has the ability to score from anywhere on the football field and the way that Raiders head coach Jon Gruden can design plays, getting Brown the ball shouldn’t be a problem.

Brown finished with 104 catches for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns, which led the NFL in 2018. Last season was the sixth-straight season that Brown recorded at least 100 catches, an NFL record per the Elias Sports Bureau.

With the Steelers reportedly seeking a first-round pick, the Raiders could ship either their own No. 4, or the No. 24 (from Chicago) or the No. 27 (from Dallas) respectively to Pittsburgh for Brown.

Just a thought, but the Raiders should make the move.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason: What has happened to Golden State?; No stupid move on Phils part getting Harper; As Bumgarner goes so does Giants pitching staff: plus more

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Photo credit: @warriors

Barbara Mason is filling in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez:

#1 The Golden State Warriors, who had lost four of their last six games, got a stunning win in Philadelphia against the 76ers 120-117. The Warriors needed the win to stay on top in the Western Conference. They now lead the Denver Nuggets by 1 1/2 games who the Warriors play on Friday. They also struggled against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night and play the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

#2 Was it stupid or did it make sense for the Philadelphia Phillies to sign Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million deal?

#3 How much of a measuring stick will San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner be and how effective will he be for the Giants?

#4 Down to 45 players on the spring roster, the Oakland A’s need to cut 20 more players before the regular season starts. How much confidence do you have Bob Melvin’s selections when the regular season nears?

#5 The A’s haven’t given up on Kyler Murray. They feel he will come back to baseball and it’s their hope he will play ball for them. What are the chances?

Barbara Mason is filling in for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com