NFL News – Thursday, October 14, 2021

In this Thursday’s NFL news: Christian McCaffrey, 50/50 for this week; Laremy Tunsil, 4 weeks away; the WFT will retire the number of Sean Taylor; and more. Don’t miss the NFL news.

Christian McCaffrey, “50/50 for this week”

The future of one of the best players on the Panthers roster remains uncertain. RB Christian McCaffrey, who was ruled out for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, started this week under limited status in Carolina’s training sessions, and HC Matt Rhule noted that there is not much clarity yet on which direction he will take. McCaffrey:

“Honestly 50/50 with Christian,” Rhule commented via the team’s official website. “It will all depend on how you feel. So we will wait to see how he responds and we will go from there ”. In addition, Rhule added that the decision on McCaffrey will likely be made until Sunday, moments before the start of the Week 6 meeting against Minnesota.

McCaffrey is looking to avoid missing his third game in a row and be able to join a Panthers who have lost both games in which he has been absent. Nonetheless, the rushing attack led by rookie RB Chubba Hubbard has looked solid: Last week he racked up 101 yards rushing on 24 carries. However, it is undeniable that Carolina’s offense offers much more dynamism with McCaffrey on the field. Will he be able to get back in time?

Washington to officially retire Sean Taylor’s number

This Thursday morning, the Washington Football Team announced that the number 21 of former safety Sean Taylor, who was sadly assassinated in November 2007 at the age of 24, will be retired. No one has used his number since that tragic event and it is now official that no one else will. The WFT will host a pregame ceremony next Sunday against the Chiefs at FedEx Field with members of Taylor’s family.

“I came to the NFL the same year as Sean Taylor and immediately his athleticism, stamina, guts and relentless work ethic set him apart. I and many others consider him a role model, ”said team president Jason Wright in a statement.

“The fact that he was tragically taken away so early hurt our community of players, but also our fans, coaches and staff. We will continue to remember him and present him as an example of professionalism and excellence, and we will all strive to reflect his excellence in our own way. “

Taylor was killed 14 years ago in a failed robbery attempt in November 2007 when he was at his home in Miami. Five men broke into his home to steal money, and one of the suspects revealed that he was shot in the upper leg. Taylor suffered severe blood loss through a severed femoral artery, for which he was rushed to a nearby hospital, however, he passed away 24 hours later.

Thus, Taylor, who was the fifth overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft, will join Sammy Baugh and Bobby Mitchell as the only Washington players to have their numbers officially withdrawn by the organization. In three seasons played with the WFT he had 262 total tackles, 12 INTs, 8 forced fumbles, and was nominated All-Pro in 2007. What do you think of the decision made by Washington?

Laremy Tunsil, out about 4 weeks

Just the Monday before Ian Rapoport from NFL Media said Houston left tackle Laremy Tunsil planned to play the remainder of the 2021 NFL Season carrying a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament in one of his thumbs, however, there was a change in plans.

This Wednesday HC David Culley announced that Tunsil will undergo surgery to try to repair his thumb instead of trying to delay surgery until the season is over. In addition, he added that the Texans hope to have him back on the roster in about a month.

Houston acquired Tunsil from Miami in the 2019 offseason in a trade that included two first-round picks, and subsequently signed a 3-season contract extension in April 2020. At 27 years old, he is one of the best. Offensive tackles in the NFL and one of the best players on a limited Houston roster so having him out will be extremely catastrophic for a Texans who are barely marching 1-4.

Finally, the Sunday before it was OT Geron Christian who replaced Tunsil after he was injured against the Patriots, and he is expected to do so in Week 6 against the Colts. How much will Tunsil’s absence weigh over the next four weeks?

NFL and ESPN Sign MNF Wild Card Broadcast Agreement

In late September, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, it was made official that the 2021 NFL Season, in addition to being the first in history to have 17 regular season games per team, would also be the first to feature a Wild Card Round game on Monday night, however, until yesterday it was unknown where it would be transmitted.

This Wednesday, the president of ESPN, Jimmy Pitaro, announced at a press conference for Sports Business Journal that ESPN and the NFL reached a 5-year rights agreement for said network to broadcast the Wild Card game on Monday night, beginning this season and extending through 2025.

Although previously there was already an agreement with the NFL that tied Monday Night Football on ESPN until the 2033 season, the Wild Card games on Monday night are separate from the regular season contract, and all television networks had the opportunity to bid for host this Playoffs match.

Thus, this postseason game, which will take place on January 17 at 7:15 p.m. Central Mexico, will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and also with the comments of the Manning brothers (Peyton and Eli) through ESPN 2. Is it a good decision to broadcast the first Monday night postseason game in history on ESPN?

Sam Mills to be inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor

In more NFL news, this Wednesday it became official that the Saints plan to expand the members of their Ring of Honor. Former LB Sam Mills will join six current members of the New Orleans Ring of Honor on Thursday, December 2, when the team faces the Cowboys in Thursday Night Football.

Mills, a free agent not drafted in the 1981 NFL Draft, received his first opportunity in the NFL until five years later with the Saints, where he played from 1986 to 1994. In those 9 seasons he was 4 times Pro Bowler, 2 times All-Pro and In 133 games played with the franchise he accumulated 11 INTs, 22 forced fumbles, 23 recovered and 934 total tackles.

Following this decision, Mills will be the seventh member of the New Orleans Ring of Honor, joining Tom Benson, Morten Andersen, Rickey Jackson, Archie Manning, William Roaf and Will Smith. However, this is not the only Ring of Honor to which Mills belongs; Previously, the Panthers, where he played from 1995 to 1997 and served as a defensive assistant from 1998 to 2004, placed him in the Carolina Ring of Honor. Sadly, Mills died of cancer in 2005.

Carl Nassib asked for day off after Jon Gruden scandal

The homophobic comments of former Las Vegas head coach Jon Gruden undoubtedly had an impact within the team, however, there is a specific player who perhaps resented the statements more. Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib, the only openly gay player in the NFL, took the day off yesterday following Gruden’s resignation, and general manager Mike Mayock commented that the team fully supports Nassib:

“He requested a personal day today,” Mayock said of Nassib on Wednesday. “He just said that he has a lot to process, that a lot has happened in the last few days and, of course, we support that request.”

In messages to former Washington team president Bruce Allen, Gruden referred to league commissioner Roger Goodell as a “queer” and a “antifootball cunt with no idea of ​​anything ” that he shouldn’t have pressured Jeff Fisher, then head coach of the Rams, to draft “fagots” in reference to Michael Sam, a gay player chosen by the Rams in 2014.

When Nassib came out openly gay last June, Jon Gruden showed all his support on the issue so, without a doubt, knowing the statements that were issued through emails must have been a very disconcerting situation for Nassib.

This is today’s NFL news.

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