Commanders, Cowboys need to follow Bills' lead and pay their stars
James Cook didn't get the $15 million a year he was apparently seeking, but he did settle on a reported four-year, $48 million extension with $30 million guaranteed that ranks sixth among running backs in average annual value. That was likely more than what the Bills wanted to shell out for a running back who doesn't pass block, but what choice did they have?
Buffalo's chance to strike is now, and that can't happen without Cook, whose 16 rushing touchdowns last season tied for the NFL lead. He's a perfect compliment to Josh Allen in a Bills offense short on proven playmakers outside the numbers. So, the Bills did what they had to do… even at a position that isn't considered much of a premium.
A few other teams can take notes.
The Washington Commanders, in particular, need to get Terry McLaurin back on the field. The sides have been at an impasse in negotiations, prompting the wide receiver to request a trade. But after enjoying their best season in 33 years, the Commanders would be foolish to let him go. Losing McLaurin would be disastrous for the development of second-year signal-caller Jayden Daniels, a dagger to the heart of a fanbase that loves McLaurin, and a death blow to an offense with no other proven playmakers capable of stretching the field.
If the Commanders want to build on last year's success, they need McLaurin, even if it means overpaying a bit for a 30-year-old receiver.
For the Dallas Cowboys, paying Micah Parsons should be a much easier decision. And yet, they pushed him into his own trade demand by being stingy with a player who's racked up double-digit sacks in each of his first four years. Any other team would hand over a blank check for a 26-year-old edge rusher in his prime.
Likewise, the Cincinnati Bengals have no leverage in their negotiations with Trey Hendrickson. They had one of the NFL's worst defenses even with the help of his 17.5 sacks. How much worse will they be without him? Are they actually willing to find out the answer to that question when Joe Burrow is on the other side of the ball doing all he can to win games?
Like Buffalo, the Cowboys, Commanders and Bengals believe themselves to be playing for a Super Bowl in 2025. But none have a shot at reaching that goal without these star players around to contribute. They need to follow Buffalo's lead and find some middle ground fast. Playing hardball isn't helping anybody.
No one (wo)man should have all that power
I'm sorry Miss Swift, I wasn't familiar with your game. At least not completely.
Don't get me wrong, I knew Taylor Swift was a big deal – I work for a website that has extensively covered her every move since she started dating Travis Kelce after all. I've seen the traffic numbers… for us, for the NFL, for everyone. She moves needles.
On Wednesday, though, she really flexed her muscles.
Swift's appearance on the New Heights podcast broke YouTube. Alongside her tight end boyfriend and his brother Jason -- who drew great praise for the interview -- Swift's episode went dark after about 1 hour, 45 minutes with 1.3 million concurrent viewers. Swifties showed up to get an early peek at her new album and a rare glimpse of her and Kelce in a more intimate setting. Travis and Jason's regulars were likely there too. It all came together to help the episode become New Heights' all-time most-viewed show on YouTube in just 12 hours. Today, it's at more than 10 million views and counting.
FINISH THE EPISODE: Swift's last 20 minutes on New Heights
That is a whole lot of pull for one person. A great responsibility. A power to be wielded with extreme caution. She does it well.
Quick Hits: Q&A with Azzi Fudd ... Pulisic sounds off ... and more
This was For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
Maye and McCarthy show progress in Patriots-Vikings joint practices
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The top quarterbacks in last year's NFL draft accounted for six of the top 12 picks, and they had a wide range of results in their rookie year, from award-winning to not applicable. Drake Maye, though picked as an injury replacement for the Pro Bowl, had a bumpy debut while the New England Patriots went 4-13. J.J. McCarthy didn't play at all for the Minnesota Vikings, after he was sidelined by a torn meniscus in his right knee. The bright side for both players was plenty of room for real progress, which became a bit easier to envision this week during joint practices between the Patriots and Vikings. McCarthy stole the show on Thursday, producing perhaps his finest performance of training camp in terms of accuracy, decisiveness and head-turning completions during full-team drills, particularly in 11-on-11 red zone situations. 'There's going to be some throws where you've got to squeeze it in a window, some throws where he threw it up and over some guys and found some open grass with the ability to throw the football in different ways,' Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said. 'All things we've been working on, all things he's talented and capable of doing, but to do it in this setting should give him some confidence moving forward.' O'Connell has been stressing to McCarthy the importance of 'layering' his throws, depending on where the defenders are and what route his receivers are running, so that every pass doesn't leave his hand with the same velocity. The Vikings have raved at every turn about McCarthy's eagerness to learn and improve since he was first injured a year ago, and that has shown up in practices with the way he's thrown the ball at different angles and speeds to the right places. The 10th overall pick last year was particularly proud of the touch he had on a pass to Jordan Addison on Thursday in the back of the end zone. 'I think I'm one of the most accurate guys out there,' McCarthy said. 'Just being able to take it day by day and really hone in on every single throw.' Maye made strong throw after strong throw down the field on Wednesday against a Vikings defense well-known for causing confusion for opponents, but the production by the first-team Patriots offense on Thursday left more to be desired, with the pass rush spearheaded by Jonathan Greenard frequently causing problems for an offensive line that has plenty to prove this season. 'We've got to give him time, period,' center Garrett Bradbury said. 'As much time as he needs.' Learning to lead New Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has been leaning on Maye, the third overall pick last year, to become more demonstrative in huddles and meetings. 'It's not that it's lacking. I always want more. I think I have to as a coach," Vrabel said. "We always want to try take a player and meet them where they're at and then be able to improve on that.' Maye said he has been embracing the challenge. 'I want somebody to push me to do more for the team, have more of an impact with the guys around me,' Maye said. 'I feel like if I have that and if I feel like I'm not showing it myself, then I need somebody to push me along.' McCarthy has turned plenty of heads with the Vikings for his beyond-his-years leadership potential. 'He doesn't feel like a young guy,' tight end T.J. Hockenson said. 'The way he controls the huddle, his energy in the huddle, how he talks about the game and the mentality is high-level thinking." Happy birthday, dear coach ... Vrabel celebrated his 50th birthday on the practice field, naturally, but he did have a favorite dessert in mind for later to mark the milestone. 'It's carrot cake. That's it. There's one answer. There's no hemming and hawing," Vrabel said. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty shows big-play ability in joint practice with the 49ers
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The 49ers bottled up Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty for the most part Thursday, similar to what Seattle did in a preseason game a week earlier in holding him to minus-1 yard on three carries. But Jeanty still provided a reminder in the joint practice of why he was drafted sixth overall this year by Las Vegas. He found an opening to the left side of the offensive line, hit the hole hard and was off and running for a 72-yard touchdown. 'He learns and he grows with every single experience,' Raiders quarterback Geno Smith said. 'That's something that's going to make him a great player because he's getting better (each) day. He definitely took another step today.' The teams practiced in front of more than 2,000 fans at the Raiders' facility, and they will meet in a preseason game Saturday at Allegiant Stadium. The domed stadium will provide a much different atmosphere than the outside fields in which the temperatures pushed 100 degrees. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said he is planning to play at least some starters on Saturday, including possibly quarterback Brock Purdy for the first time this preseason. But the banged-up 49ers are missing several potential starters to injuries that kept them out of the practice Thursday and also will for the upcoming game. Defensive end Nick Bosa (neck) was among those not practicing, a list that included safety Jason Pinnock (heel), cornerback Tre Brown (heel), guard Ben Bartch (elbow), cornerback Upton Stout (calf), wide receiver Jordan Watkins (ankle) and defensive end Robert Beal (abductor). Then on Thursday, defensive tackle C.J. West hyperextended his knee and is expected to miss at least one week. 'I think there are three healthy starters on defense right now, so I have to decide on those three guys,' Shanahan said about the game Saturday 'But it does put a lot more pressure on the threes. The twos become the ones, the threes become the twos, and we don't really have threes right now. I look at it all and how much time you're getting in the next few weeks, and I'd like to get a lot of work for as many guys as I can on Saturday.' The Raiders are much healthier, but rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton — who has been practicing with the starters — banged his head and left practice. Raiders coach Pete Carroll said he didn't think the injury was serious. Keeping it mostly calm The intensity between the former Bay Area rivals increased as the temperatures rose, but the four skirmishes were minor. 'We were out here missing 20 guys,' Shanahan said. 'We have some positions that don't really have enough to go. If you get punched and you throw a punch back, I told the guys, it shows how mentally weak you are because all you're going to do is leave five guys left to do the whole practice.' Carroll said it was important for the focus to be on the tasks at hand. 'We come here to play good football and get better, and I think both sides did a great job of showing that,' Carroll said. Pumping up a teammate Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker dropped a pass at one point in the practice, and Smith immediately went over and gave him a pep talk. Tucker responded by making two outstanding touchdown catches, one falling on his back in the end zone and the other over 49ers standout cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. 'We strive for perfection, but we're all human,' Smith said. 'The main thing whenever a guy makes a mistake or anything happens out there that we don't want to happen, it's about showing that we have each other's back. That's what we're here for, and they do it for me as well.' Seattle in Las Vegas The 49ers and Seahawks are NFC West rivals, so it should be a little surprise that the Raiders' defense looked a little familiar to San Francisco players. Carroll is in his first season in Las Vegas after 14 years in Seattle where he made the Legion of Boom defense among the NFL's fiercest. 'You could see them doing that now, which is pretty cool,' Purdy said. "I think they're going to continue to get better with it when you've got (Raiders defensive end) Maxx Crosby and those guys rushing the pocket. They had a couple good reps today of getting in there, so disruptive, but still pretty good scheme-wise overall. So it was good going up against them.' ___ Freelance writer W.G. Ramirez contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
6 takeaways from Day 2 of Patriots-Vikings joint practices
The New England Patriots concluded their second day of joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, having been given a real test this week. Both the Vikings' offense and defense provided challenges for the Patriots, and as expected, things went well, while the team struggled in other areas. So, here are the key takeaways from the second day of joint practice with the Vikings: *Information in this piece provided by the Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed, NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry, and MassLive's Mark Daniels 1. Mike Vrabel Jumps in the Middle of a Fight... Again During a scuffle between the Patriots and the Washington Commanders in last week's joint practice, head coach Mike Vrabel jumped in to try and break it up, but ended up on the bottom and even came up with a streak of blood on his face. And on Thursday, he jumped right in again between New England and the Vikings, and once again ended up on the bottom of the pile. Oh, and not to mention it was Vrabel's 50th birthday. With that, he told reporters there is only one kind of cake he wants. 'There's one answer, it's carrot cake,' Vrabel said. 'There's one answer. There's no hemming and hawing.' 2. Another Rough Day for Will Campbell Will Campbell certainly had his hands full during joint practices, and Thursday was no different. The rookie left tackle was battling Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and gave up two sacks during team drills. 3. Ben Brown Makes The Move to Left Guard After having some struggles during the first day, Jared Wilson didn't take part in the second day despite being present in pads. He was even photographed leaving the field early. In his absence, Ben Brown filled in at left guard, continuing to work with the top unit. 4. Drake Maye to Kayshon Boutte Hail Mary Drake Maye has been having some success in the two-minute periods to end practice on both days of joint practice. One day after hitting TreVeyon Henderson on a wheel route, with the rookie running back taking it for a 70-yard touchdown, Maye connected with Kayshon Boutte on a Hail Mary. This came after Maye was sacked twice, which forced a fourth-down situation. But, he sent the ball deep for Boutte, and the receiver didn't disappoint. 5. J.J. McCarthy vs. The Patriots Defense J.J. McCarthy took advantage of the Patriots' missing Christian Gonzalez, giving the cornerbacks a lot of trouble. Despite nice pressure from New England's defensive line, McCarthy was able to make plays and connect with his receivers, including nice plays to T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison. 6. Attendance Not participating: CB Christian Gonzalez, WR Ja'Lynn Polk, LB Marte Mapu, RB Terrell Jennings, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, LB Jahlani Tavai, WR Kendrick Bourne, TE Hunter Henry Returned: TE Hunter Henry, ED Elijah Ponder Limited: S Jabrill Peppers, CB D.J. James Left Early: OL Jared Wilson What's Next? The Patriots will face off against the Vikings in their second preseason game on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that J.J. McCarthy will not play, and Sam Howell will start instead. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 6 takeaways from Day 2 of Patriots-Vikings joint practices
