Category: NFL Updates

Fan Forum: Lottery? Just family? How fans could return to stadiums with social distancing

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

Last week I introduced the OTFB Fan Forum. A group of 6 fans from across the NFL who are willing to be a voice for football fans. The first question posed to them was about how they felt about fans not being allowed in stadiums for NFL games. This week, we look at fans being allowed, but with social distancing in place.

When and if the NFL decides they can allow fans into the stadiums to watch games, more than likely they will have to cut down the number of fans that can do that by as much as 2/3, with the required 6 ft of distancing and most likely masks required.

That then gives the teams, and the league, a major problem to solve. How do you choose which fans are allowed? How do you allocate those tickets? What would the consequences be if fans don’t follow the rules? Our Fan Forum weighs in with their thoughts.

Continue reading “Fan Forum: Lottery? Just family? How fans could return to stadiums with social distancing” →

And the CHAMPION of the Football Movies Tournament is….

Kate Arhar
Senior Sports Editor NFC West / NFC South

By Kate Arhar // @ClvlndK8

We hope you are all staying healthy and finding your way through this strange time we are living in.

The lack of sports has really opened my eyes to exactly how much of my time was devoted to following these entertaining athletic events. But it’s also given me a greater sense of humor when trying to find things to occupy all this free time.

Hence “The Sweet Sixteen of Football Movies” that we hosted last week.  Thank you to everyone who voted. If you didn’t vote then you don’t get to complain about the results! Yeah, that’s how I roll!

Anyway, without further ado, congratulations to…

Continue reading “And the CHAMPION of the Football Movies Tournament is….” →

Sweet Sixteen: Football Movies!

Kate Arhar
Senior Sports Editor NFC West / NFC South

By Kate Arhar // @ClvlndK8 

By now I’m sure we are all dying for some sports action.

The NBA season is “on hold,” the MLB should have had opening games this week but they are also “on hold.”

And the most devastating vacancy for most of us in our sports life: No NCAA Basketball Tournament! Where is my MARCH MADNESS?!?!?

Well, in an effort to give you a bit of “Tourny Action,” I’ve created my Sweet Sixteen of Football Movies!

Continue reading “Sweet Sixteen: Football Movies!” →

NFL Trades and Free Agency… Let the games begin

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
AFC North/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

It’s time. It’s the time when every team has a perfect record. It’s time for teams to trade for “that guy” who will be exactly what they need for their team. It’s time for free agents to get their money and run with it. Happy NFL New Year!

With the craziness that the world is going through right now while we deal with COVID -19 and all that comes with it, it is so nice to get a break and have my Twitter timeline full of football news.

As a sports reporter, I am SO DAMN HAPPY to have something to write about. I feel for my peers who cover MLS, MLB, NHL, XFL, golf, NCAA, etc, as I know it is a news desert out there right now. But for us covering the NFL, it is one of the best times of the year. Let the games begin!

Continue reading “NFL Trades and Free Agency… Let the games begin” →

Trades, cuts, and kickers to the curb

Wanda Wiedman,
NFL Reporter

By Wanda Wiedman //@WandaW63

On Saturday all 32 teams finalized their 53-man roster, releasing and waiving players in a surprising frenzy. The big news, of course, was the blockbuster trade of Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Texans were willing to pay roughly half of Clowney’s $15.9 million salary for 2019 despite the franchised tag they placed on him. I would call that a win for Clowney and he gets to be a part of a newly built Seahawks front defense that now consists of Clowney, linebacker K.J. Wright, DE Ziggy Ansah, defensive lineman L.J. Collier, and LB Bobby Wagner.

But the Texans didn’t stop there.  They went on to trade two first-round picks and a second-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills. The Dolphins came away with special teams Johnson Bademosi and tackle Julie’n Davenport.

Continue reading “Trades, cuts, and kickers to the curb” →

The challenge of pass interference

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

The discussion behind pass interference and the “The Call That Wasn’t” this offseason was pretty intense. It didn’t take much time after the end of the season for the subject of making pass interference a challengable call was brought up. The NFL Competition Committee added a few caveats to the new rule, taking the challenge out of the coaches hands.

They’ve added some stipulations to the challenge after the 2-minute warning of each half. Challenges can only be initiated by Replay Official, and only “under stricter guidelines”. They are hoping this will lower the number of challenges in that time frame, and in turn not have too much added time to a game.

Continue reading “The challenge of pass interference” →

No Football-No Problem

Lisa Johnson, Senior NFL Reporter; Media Director

By Lisa Johnson //@LJ1303

For the next 3 months, we’ll all be watching reruns of NFL games on NFL Network.   We’ll all be scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook looking for any NFL news or any NFL related stories of any kind.

 

Everyone waiting for football…… 

via GIPHY

But don’t worry, I have us all covered, thanks to CBS sports writer John Breech.    Below is a list of all teams activities, that will surely keep some kind of football news and reports in your life.

Continue reading “No Football-No Problem” →

Hate to see you go: 2019 NFL retirements

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

The NFL offseason often brings a lot of changes and excitement to teams and their fans. Additions to teams, beloved players or coaches leaving, hold outs, the draft, drama is always present in the offseason. However, when a player retires, the drama seems to subside, and nostalgia takes over.

We all know its coming. No one can play football forever. But when a player has made an impact on the league, it’s hard to imagine them not being on the field anymore. It feels like a loss for fans, but a loss that they understand and respect.

The start of the 2019 NFL year has had a number of notable retirements, and its only March. Here are a handful of newly retired players that will be missed by fans.

Julius Peppers. Defensive God. His name alone put fear in the hearts of offensive coordinators around the league. In his amazing 17 year career which included time playing for the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears, Peppers was a 6 time All Pro, with 9 Pro Bowl nods. It’s straight to Canton for Julius.

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NFL Draft by position: Offensive Line

Lisa Johnson
Senior Sports Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

The 2019 NFL Draft seems to be very defense heavy. As we dive deeper into the draft, the next most important question for the team is: Who is gonna be on the line to block all these pass rushers and linebackers?

According to many, Alabama’s left tackle Jonah Williams should be the first linemen to come off the board. Where the 6’5 301 pounder lands is anyone’s guess, but he is considered to be the best blocker in the draft.

Early in his college career, 2016 Williams played as a true freshman at right tackle earning two all American freshmen teams, as well as all American SEC team. He moved to left tackle his sophomore year and declared for the NFL draft this year following his junior year.

Continue reading “NFL Draft by position: Offensive Line” →

Could a defensive player be the first pick in the Draft?

Lisa Johnson
Senior Sports Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

If you’re a person that believes defenses win championships, then this 2019 NFL draft is right up your alley.

This is one of the most top-heavy defensive drafts I’ve seen in quite a while. With the exception of Kyler Murray, who declared 2 weeks ago for the draft, several NFL mocks had eight of the top ten picks being defensive players. Now, how this all really turns out is anyone’s guess, but… it’s interesting.

A lot can happen before we hear the commissioner declare that the Arizona Cardinal’s are on the clock, and you’ll be hearing a lot of names before then, so let’s just start with the two popular names being heard around the league.

Continue reading “Could a defensive player be the first pick in the Draft?” →