Steelers T.J. Watt

NFL News – Friday, September 10, 2021

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In this Friday’s NFL news: TJ Watt signs extension with Pittsburgh, Ravens lose Marcus Peters and Gus Edwards for 2021, but sign Devonta Freeman and Latavius ​​Murray; and more. Don’t miss the NFL news.

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TJ Watt signs extension with Steelers

With just two days before the start of the regular season for the Steelers, one of their biggest concerns during the offseason was finally resolved. This Thursday, via Adam Schefter from ESPN, star linebacker TJ Watt was confirmed to have signed a contract extension with Pittsburgh for 4 years and $ 112 million, with 80 guaranteed.

Following this move, Watt, one of the candidates to win the Defensive Player of the Year the previous season, will be a member of the Steelers until the 2025 NFL Season. In addition, he became the highest paid defensive player in the league. The details of the contract are as follows:

  • 1. Signing bonus: $ 35 million
  • 2. Base salary 2021: 1.0 MDD, fully guaranteed
  • 3. Base salary 2022: 24 million dollars, fully guaranteed
  • 4. Base salary 2023: 20 million dollars, fully guaranteed
  • 5. Base salary 2024: 21.05 million
  • 6. Base salary 2025: 21.05 million

The signing is great news for those led by Mike Tomlin since as the offseason went by, it became increasingly difficult for Watt to reach a contract extension with the team. But finally, on the eve of the start of the 2021 NFL Season, came the brand new contract that ensures Watt’s long-term stay in Pittsburgh.

The Wisconsin graduate came to the Steelers as a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and this season he will play under the final year of his rookie contract. Since joining the team, Watt has recorded 230 tackles, 49.5 sacks, 4 INTs and 17 forced fumbles in 62 games as a starter. In addition, he has been a 3-time All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and led the NFL in sacks the previous season with 15 total. What do you think of the move made by Pittsburgh?

Gus Edwards misses the season; Baltimore signs Devonta Freeman

Against all odds, the Ravens’ backfield continues to deteriorate. Following injuries that kept JK Dobbins and Justice Hill out for the year, running back Gus Edwards joined the disabled list. Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, it was confirmed that Edwards suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in practice this Thursday, so he will miss the entire 2021 NFL Season.

This loss is devastating for Baltimore. Edwards entered the training camps this offseason as RB2 of the team, however, after Dobbins’ injury, he was scheduled to become a starter and be the greatest ground weapon of those led by John Harbaugh, but that will not be possible.

However, to cover the loss, the Ravens made two corresponding moves. They initially signed RB Devonta Freeman to their practice squad, but he is expected to be elevated to the roster of 53 sooner rather than later. Also, this Friday, Adam Schefter from ESPN, reported that they also reached a 1-year, $ 2 million deal with RB Latavius ​​Murray, who was recently cut by the Saints due to cap space issues.

Thus, after a few very busy days, unexpectedly the Baltimore backfield for 2021 will be made up of Ty’Son Williams, Le’Veon Bell, Freeman and Murray. Can this team overcome the injuries suffered in their running game?

Marcus Peters misses 2021 NFL Season

Last season it was the 49ers, and this year everything indicates that the team most affected by injuries is the Ravens. It is not only the loss of players from his backfield, now, the secondary was also affected. Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, cornerback Marcus Peters suffered a torn ACL, for which he will miss the entire 2021 NFL Season.

This is another big loss for the Ravens, who were counting on Peters to be one of their starting cornerbacks this season. In addition, the graduate of the University of Washington has 10 million dollars against the salary cap of the team, being one of the most expensive players on the roster. As if that were not enough, with the start of the regular season over there, there are already few good options available in the market to bring in an experienced cornerback.

Peters, 28, came to the league as a first-round pick for the Chiefs in the 2015 NFL Draft, where he played for three seasons. He later played a season and a half with the Rams, and has been a member of the Ravens since the middle of 2019. In six seasons as a professional he has registered 31 INTs, 86 passes defended, 9 forced fumbles, 8 recovered, and 299 tackles. Can Baltimore overcome this tough loss?

Cam Newton talks about his unexpected departure from the Patriots

A few days ago, former New England quarterback Cam Newton said he had to “get several things off his chest,” and that he would release a video this Friday expressing his feelings about his unexpected departure from the Patriots. Newton kept his word, bringing his thoughts to light this morning by sitting down with his father to chat on YouTube about his final days with the team, including the practice days he missed by not following COVID-19 protocols. .

Newton commented that he thinks he would have been cut even if he had been to all team practice: β€œDo I think this would have happened without me being absent for five days? Honestly, yes, ”Newton said. “Was going to happen. Did it help facilitate the decision? Yes.”

This led to the question of why he was cut when the Patriots made their final roster cuts on Aug. 31. Newton noted that he was getting fewer and fewer reps than Mac Jones in practice, which pointed to the eventual decision. In addition, he also said that he would have “absolutely” agreed to be Jones’ backup, and that was what he told the team, for which he was confused when he learned that he would be cut off in a meeting with Bill Belichick and Matt. Patricia.

He also added that he thinks he was cut because it would have been very uncomfortable for Jones to start his professional career with Newton on his shoulder: “The reason they cut me is because, indirectly, I was going to be a distraction without being the starter,” he said. Newton. β€œJust my aura… That is my gift and my curse. When you bring a Cam Newton to your facility, when you bring a Cam Newton to your franchise, people are interested. “

However, whatever Newton thinks, the decision is already made. The Auburn alumnus is currently a free agent, and it will be rookie Mac Jones who will take over the reins of the team from Week 1, when the Patriots host the Dolphins at the start of the 2021 NFL Regular Season. Did New England do well in let go Newton?

Nelson Agholor, Jalen Mills, in doubt for Week 1

In more NFL news, the Patriots trained Thursday without a pair of players listed as headlines on the team’s depth chart. They are WR Nelson Agholor and CB Jalen Mills, who were inactive in yesterday’s training session after appearing as “limited” in Wednesday’s report due to ankle injuries. Therefore, his participation in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL Season next Sunday against the Dolphins is in doubt.

If confirmed, they would be two players New England will miss too much. Agholor signed a two-year contract with the team last March and alongside Jakobi Meyers is listed as the starting wide receiver. Additionally, with N’Keal Harry on injured reserve, the arsenal for rookie QB Mac Jones in his first regular-season game would be limited to Gunner Olszewski, Kendrick Bourne and Malcolm Perry.

For his part, Mills, who was Agholor’s teammate in Philadelphia from 2016 to 2019, signed a four-year deal with the Patriots during this offseason. JC Jackson is listed as the other starting cornerback, and if Mills is not ready in Week 1, it will be Jonathan Jones, Joejuan Williams or Shaun Wade who will fill his position for the start of the season.

How much would these two possible absences affect New England for the start of the 2021 NFL Season?

The NFL continues to rely on its current protocols against COVID-19

In recent weeks it has been said that the NFLPA wants the league to test all players against COVID-19 daily, vaccinated or not. However, the NFL has not yet decided to increase the number of tests, and it seems that it is difficult for them to do so.

This Thursday, with information from Washington Post, it was reported that the league continues to rely on its current protocols against COVID-19, which involve daily tests for unvaccinated players and weekly tests for fully vaccinated: β€œI am very optimistic about the season ahead due to the fact that we are a widely vaccinated group of players and staff, ”said NFL Medical Director Allen Sills. “I think that will position us to resist the challenges of the pandemic.”

In addition, Sills insisted that vaccination reduces the risk of infection: “It certainly reduces the risk of infection or serious outcomes and also appears to have a positive benefit in transmission.” Still, with today’s technology enabling fast and reliable testing, why not require every player to test negative before entering the facility?

Although the risk of infection for vaccinated players may be lower, the probability of an infected vaccinated player entering their team facilities and spreading the virus would be zero if they were tested every day.

Finally, it should be noted that it is not an easy decision to make either. Although the NFLPA wants daily tests, in the end it is the NFL that ends up paying for them, and in the first season in history where 272 total games will be played, plus 13 postseason, the cost to perform daily tests would undoubtedly be very high, and if there is no obvious need, it is difficult for the NFL to decide to conduct daily tests. How much impact will COVID-19 have this NFL 2021 Season?

This is today’s NFL news.

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