Super Bowl could be 'won or lost' early in week
Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison discuss the preparation in the week leading up to Super Bowl LIX and how the game could be won or lost early from their personal experiences.
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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
NFL mandatory minicamps: Chiefs, Rams, Ravens among teams still to gather
The majority of NFL mandatory minicamps wrapped up Thursday, the last time teams will gather before training camp. But a few contenders will gather this coming week instead. Yahoo Sports is your guide for all the top storylines across the league. Click on the storyline to jump to that section. Advertisement Chiefs, Ravens, Rams still have mandatory minicamps ahead Chiefs have every ingredient to contend yet again Is this the year for Lamar Jackson, Ravens? Matthew Stafford, Rams back together for one more shot Seahawks enter their Sam Darnold era Giants get best look yet at first-round picks Shedeur Sanders' next Browns reps will come at training camp Things got worse this week between Bengals, Shemar Stewart Married Aaron Rodgers practices with Steelers as T.J. Watt holds out Micah Parsons diplomatic amid quest for Cowboys extension J.J. McCarthy's trial by fire at Vikings minicamp Will Dolphins trade Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith? Advertisement Anthony Richardson dealing with injury, uncertain Colts future Saints' quarterback competition Updates Teams still to hold mandatory minicamp Baltimore Ravens: June 17-19 Kansas City Chiefs: June 17-19 New York Giants: June 17-18 Los Angeles Rams: June 16-18 Seattle Seahawks: June 17-19 The Chiefs are still really good, guys The last time we saw the Chiefs on the field, it wasn't pretty. Philadelphia's dominant victory in Super Bowl LIX ended rather quickly any hope Kansas City had of winning a third straight title. But say that last part again: The Chiefs were going for a third straight Super Bowl title. They still have Patrick Mahomes, and Andy Reid, and Steve Spagnuolo, and Chris Jones, and Travis Kelce. Trent McDuffie is back to help lead what should be another good defense. They invested in the trenches with their first three draft picks. The offensive line will be retooled. Rashee Rice's return will boost the WR corps. Will it help them reach an eighth straight AFC championship game? No reason to bet against it at this point. Can Lamar Jackson, Ravens finally break through and win it all? There's a compelling argument Lamar Jackson should have won a third MVP award last season. Derrick Henry is back, the defense should be even better, and now might be the time for Baltimore to get over the hump and win a third Lombardi Trophy. The Ravens have been knocked out of the playoffs by the Chiefs and Bills the last two seasons. There's no shame in that, given how good those teams are, but if the Ravens want to win it all, they're going to have to find a way through. Mandatory mincamp represents the first step. Matthew Stafford, Rams back together for perhaps final shot at Super Bowl There was a chance, however small, the Rams might have moved on from Stafford this offseason. Sean McVay admitted signing Aaron Rodgers was a consideration, as Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported in February. Instead, the 37-year-old Stafford and the Rams are back together, now with what should be an improved defense starring Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, plus Davante Adams in the fold on offense. Los Angeles gave the Eagles all they could handle in the divisional round. Will the Rams build on it? Sam Darnold era begins in Seattle The Seahawks have been good the last few seasons, including last year, their first under head coach Mike Macdonald. They decided good wasn't good enough, so they made a bunch of big moves this offseason. Chief among them: signing Sam Darnold in free agency and trading away starting quarterback Geno Smith. Is Darnold's resurgence just a mirage thanks to the Vikings' weapons and coaching, or did he really unlock something? Will it matter if Seattle's offensive line doesn't improve? The Seahawks will be a fascinating watch this month. Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter take field for Giants The Giants had two first-round picks they hope will alter their franchise. Abdul Carter joins what should be a ferocious pass rush with Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the real needle-mover might be quarterback Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick out of Ole Miss and second quarterback taken this draft. How will Dart look during his first mandatory mini? Can he become the starter sooner than later with Russell Wilson looking like the early QB1? The answer is our first clue toward what the Giants have with him. Shedeur Sanders, Browns QB battle continues "Everybody's got to earn their keep," Browns general manager Andrew Berry told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein this week in Berea. That includes all four quarterbacks competing for the starting job, from current favorite Joe Flacco to much-discussed fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders, from veteran presumptive backup Kenny Pickett to third-round pick Dillon Gabriel. The next look we'll get here is at training camp, and while Sanders' chances of starting Week 1 still seem very slim, the path does exist. Bengals' standoff with Shemar Stewart escalates Cincinnati's first-round pick left training camp amid the Bengals asking for "certain clauses," per Adam Schefter, and it's unclear how this situation will resolve itself. Stewart has said he's asking for nothing more than what past first-round picks have received from the team. It's past time for the Bengals to end this ridiculousness and get Stewart signed, because he's a talented but raw prospect who needs refinement under first-year defensive coordinator Al Golden. But this week only made things worse. Aaron Rodgers debuts with Steelers as T.J. Watt doesn't report Aaron Rodgers has officially practiced with the Steelers, and even revealed he's a married man. And while T.J. Watt is missing mandatory minicamp in search of a new contract, the Steelers that Yahoo Sports' Jay Busbee talked to this week in Pittsburgh didn't sound too concerned. All's well and good in Western PA. In mid-June, at least. Cowboys, Micah Parsons still have no contract extension in place Micah Parsons is taking part in Cowboys minicamp despite seeking a mammoth contract extension. He also said Tuesday he'd do the same at training camp later this summer even without a new contract extension in place. For what it's worth, the Cowboys are famous for slow-playing their deals to retain talent, and this has all been amicable so far. Will that last? Advertisement Vikings threw everything at J.J. McCarthy The 10th overall pick of the 2024 draft missed last season with a knee injury, and now that he's the presumptive starter, head coach Kevin O'Connell and company didn't taking it easy on him. McCarthy's practice reps won't generate headlines — positive ones, anyway, but that's all part of the plan. Minnesota showed him all sorts of looks and giving him a crash course in NFL defenses. Will Dolphins trade Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith? The star cornerback wasn't at Dolphins mandatory minicamp as he seeks a trade, and the team is OK with it. The only thing left here is to find a trade partner, but the market seems a little cool thus far. Tight end Jonnu Smith, meanwhile, is coming off a career year and wants a trade. He didn't attend mandatory minicamp either. How bad is Anthony Richardson's shoulder injury? Richardson still has no clear timetable to return from a sore AC joint in his throwing shoulder. And this week news broke that he visited renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles about it. ElAttrache operated on that same shoulder in 2023, which sidelined Richardson for most of his rookie season. Richardson needs to beat out Daniel Jones for the starting job and show progress this season, or his time with the Colts could come to an early end. Saints locked in QB battle between Shough, Rattler After Derek Carr's retirement, the Saints' starting QB job is up for grabs. Second-round rookie Tyler Shough makes the most sense, considering the draft capital and the fact he's already 26 years old, but will Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener (who suffered an oblique injury in May) make headway? First-year head coach Kellen Moore is got more information this week.
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Newsweek
Zack Baun Ends Fan Panic With Perfect 12-Word Message
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. We've all watched the Philadelphia Eagles for a while now. We may not have watched the game as long as someone who remembers the AFL/NFL merger, but we've certainly seen enough to make educated guesses. We've seen trends, a ton of football, and so many offseasons. We've seen divisional realignment and the NFL going from six divisions to eight. Raise your hand if you remember when the Arizona Cardinals were in the NFC East. Some memories are tougher, such as Reggie White leaving the Eagles in free agency. As sad as that was, however, everyone learned something from it. Losing the Minister of Defense still hurts, but life went on. That being said, an offseason like the most recent, one where so many familiar faces were lost, can be overcome. If you need a shot of confidence, look no further than Zack Baun's direction. Zack Baun #53 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana Zack Baun #53 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, LouisianaEagles All-Pro Zack Baun Eases Fan and Media Panic With 12 words Coooer DeJean and Reed Blankenship have hit a home run with their Exciting Mics brand. Their podcast is new, but it's loads of fun. Recently, they have interviewed Saquon Barkley. On an even more recent episode, Zack Baun sat down for a conversation. Baun signed an extension after the Super Bowl. He also saw the mass exodus by so many Eagles defenders that we all witnessed during free agency. Fans and the media panicked, but the fan favorite hasn't lost any of his confidence. "I feel like we're miles ahead of where we were last year"... Zack Baun on the Eagles defense heading into the season: 'I feel like we're miles ahead of where we were last year' — Exciting Mics (@excitingmics) June 12, 2025 Those were Baun's words during his interview with Reed and Coop. It sounds simple enough to say, but this is Philly. People need action more than words. Howie Roseman and his staff attacked free agency and the draft, stacking the defense with hungry players looking to make an impact. Philadelphia lost Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, and Darius Slay. They lost Isaiah Rodgers, Oren Burks, and Avonte Maddox. This offseason, they traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson away. Eventually, they moved on from Bryce Huff, but they've stacked the cupboard with low-risk signings and several exciting draftees. Philly is good at this. Adoree Jackson and Azeez Ojulari find their way to Philly from a rival. Josh Uche is another of the free-agent signings. So is Patrick Johnson. During the NFL Draft, they added Jihaad Campbell, Smael Mondon, Ty Robinson, and Andrew Mukuba. Philly didn't sit idly with their losses. They held serve at several positions and, dare we say, they upgraded at some others. They're also infused with youth. Guys like Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Kelee Ringo await their opportunities. Their time is now, and the consensus is they are ready. Vic Fangio has tons of talent to work with. All of that has been said to say this. Take Baun's words for it. Philly will be just fine on defense in 2025. Believe it or not, they may be better than they were last season.
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Another Chiefs O-line overhaul? Kansas City vows to be better after Super Bowl trampling
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When we last saw the Kansas City Chiefs — well, they were tough to watch. Things got so ghastly on Super Sunday that legions of viewers simply tuned out. The two-time defending champions absorbed a torturous trampling in the trenches that cost them a shot at history, with line play that was downright offensive. Advertisement The Philadelphia Eagles' defensive front engulfed Patrick Mahomes' would-be protectors like a massive wave closing out on a surfer at Pipeline in the heart of winter, draining the suspense from Super Bowl LIX. Instead of becoming the first team to capture three consecutive Lombardi Trophies, Kansas City received a reality check, suffering a 40-22 defeat in New Orleans in February that underscored its glaring weakness. Looking back, first-team All-Pro center Creed Humphrey called it 'a bad day at the office.' And it was, in the same way that the Season 2 finale of 'Severance' depicted a bad day at Lumon Industries. There was no way to expunge the experience from anyone's memory, or to ignore the obvious: In lieu of a do-over, the line clearly needed a makeover. To Chiefs coach Andy Reid, a former BYU tackle, the unit's failure was especially jarring. As Reid told me Thursday after an OTA session, 'It caught up to us. (Rushing the passer) was their strength; (stopping it) was not our strength. They took advantage. But look, I take full responsibility. It's on me to fix it, to get it where it should be. I think we're getting there.' For Mahomes' sake, they'd better be. As he approaches his 30th birthday in September, the transcendent quarterback has already established himself as one of the sport's all-time greats. However, the three-time Super Bowl champion has also been haunted by what might have been. Twice — against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, when (according to Next Gen Stats) the besieged quarterback ran 497 yards before his passes and sacks, and again in February — Mahomes has had his shot at a championship snuffed largely because opposing defenders were constantly in his grill. That's no way for a franchise quarterback to spend his Sunday, Super or otherwise. While Mahomes has remained highly supportive, his linemen are acutely aware they can't expose him to that type of punishment. Advertisement 'It's definitely a big responsibility,' said second-year lineman Kingsley Suamataia, who began his career last September by struggling at left tackle and is now competing for a starting job at left guard. 'It's taking that pride and telling yourself, 'Yeah, I'm gonna block for this guy. He's got my back and man, you give him time and he'll slice up that defense.' 'It just gives us that bigger chip on our shoulders — so we're gonna come right back and punch back even harder this year.' Not surprisingly, some of those shoulders have changed. Gone is first-team All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, traded to the Chicago Bears in March for a fourth-round draft pick in 2026 as a salary-shedding move. The Chiefs then signed one potential starter at left tackle, former San Francisco 49ers backup Jaylon Moore, to a two-year, $30-million free agency deal and selected another, Josh Simmons, in the first round of April's draft. There could be three full-fledged position battles on the Kansas City line this summer, with only Humphrey and Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith (who skipped OTAs while seeking a contract extension) considered locks to retain their starting jobs. Two returning Super Bowl starters, left guard Mike Caliendo and right tackle Jawaan Taylor, could be backups when the Chiefs open their season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, Sept. 5 in São Paolo, Brazil. As they prepare for a long, hot, competitive summer, the Chiefs' returning linemen have tried hard to put that poor performance behind them — an endeavor that began months ago with a group film session that broke down their Super Bowl struggles. 'There's stuff that we need to correct, whether it's on the mental side or physical side,' Humphrey said. 'It's just making sure you're ready to go the full effort, full speed, on game day. It's on us to correct it. Everybody came in (this spring) with a great attitude, ready to roll.' Humphrey has been part of the solution before. During their rookie seasons — and in the wake of the Super Bowl LV debacle — he and Smith were part of a complete overhaul that featured five new starters on the offensive line in 2021. Judging from the enthusiasm Reid expressed Thursday about Simmons, selected with the 32nd and final pick of the first round (after Kansas City moved down one spot via a trade with the Eagles), there's a strong chance the former Ohio State standout will be asked to follow a similar path. Advertisement Simmons, considered a potential top-10 pick, slid after suffering a season-ending torn patellar tendon in October. There was some concern that Simmons might not be fully healed before the start of the NFL season, but on Thursday, Reid said the rookie 'looks strong' in OTAs and that 'it looks like he's in good shape.' If so, he'd be the frontrunner for the left tackle job, with Moore also in the mix to start at right tackle. If the Chiefs can stabilize the all-important role of Mahomes' blindside protector, it would be a major relief to the quarterback — and his head coach. The Chiefs tried four players at that spot last season: Suamataia, who was benched in Week 2; Wanya Morris, benched during an ugly late-November victory over the Las Vegas Raiders; D.J. Humphries, a November signee who suffered a hamstring injury late in his first start (a Dec. 8 victory over the Chargers); and, out of necessity, Thuney. In addition to weakening the Chiefs at one position (left guard), the shifting of Thuney ultimately proved to be unsatisfactory. Mindful of his vulnerability at the point of attack, the Eagles loaded up their front to challenge Thuney and bull-rushed with abandon. As a result, Philly defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was able to accomplish his goal of pressuring Mahomes without calling a single blitz, and the Eagles finished with six sacks and 11 QB hits. It was every offensive line's nightmare — but there was plenty of blame to go around. When I asked Reid Thursday how much of the Super Bowl defeat he ascribed to line's struggles, he shook his head and said, 'It didn't start out that way. We were off a tick, Pat and (tight end Travis) Kelce, and really everyone. We had a hard time executing on that first series, and it got rougher. Eventually, yes, the line didn't hold up.' Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy agreed: 'It was a struggle from the second play of the game on. We never got into a rhythm. I feel like there were a lot of plays where we were one person off, whether it was a missed assignment, below-par fundamentals and technique, or poor play design. Their defensive line set the tone early on and made it tough for us in both the run and pass game. 'Our offensive line fought the entire game. The beauty of our team is nobody blames. We all stick together and start with ourselves and what I could have done better. We will use this as motivation to take two steps forward.' It may take a while for the Chiefs' new-look line to repair the unit's reputation, but there won't be a very long grace period. In Week 2, the Chiefs return home to Arrowhead Stadium to host the Eagles, and all that that implies. In the meantime, said Suamataia, 'You've got to put your best foot forward every day.' Soon enough, there will be a slew of fired-up opponents trying to push the Chiefs' linemen backward — and trigger some bad Super Sunday flashbacks. (Top photo of Josh Simmons: Colin E. Braley / Associated Press)
