Latest news with #All-Pro
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Trey Hendrickson predicted to lose contract standoff with Bengals
Trey Hendrickson predicted to lose contract standoff with Bengals As written here consistently, barring a shocker, it has long felt like the Cincinnati Bengals will eventually emerge the "winners" of the contract standoff with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Those Bengals just happen to hold the vast majority of the leverage during this latest contract impasse with Hendrickson, despite the All-Pro's recent 20-plus minute airing of grievances at a team practice. Despite this, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated slots Hendrickson losing the standoff as one of his bold predictions for the season: "The alternative is to become Haason Reddick, which, for a player entering his age-31 season, cannot be appetizing. By taking the Bengals' reported current offer, Hendrickson can upgrade his salary by nearly $12 million and, while still being underpaid, improve upon his prospects for next offseason more by staying in Cincinnati than he could as a year-to-year mercenary for less on another roster." RELATED: Bengals UDFA is already turning heads at OTAs By now, Bengals fans know that isn't all that bold, though. This is merely the latest offseason dustup with Hendrickson over a contract. Past years have featured short one-year extensions and even reported threats of retirement. This offseason featured the Bengals actually granting him permission to seek a trade that never happened due to his age, production level, contract demands and trade asking price, to name a few factors. Right now, Hendrickson is simply using every last bit of leverage he has left to make noise before the fines start to kick in during mandatory minicamp this month and training camp after that. He's extremely unlikely to actually miss games at his age with millions of dollars lost in fines while hurting his value with other teams. Hendrickson will likely wind up "losing' this affair in the form of a massive pay raise over the short-term, but just not for the exact number or years he and his reps seek. RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals players missing OTAs list ahead of training camp
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Christian McCaffrey 'as healthy as can be,' says 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan from OTAs
Perhaps the best news out of San Francisco 49ers' OTAs is head coach Kyle Shanahan saying that running back Christian McCaffrey is "as healthy as can be." McCaffrey, soon to turn 29, was limited to only four games last season due to Achilles tendinitis in both ankles and a right knee injury that prevented him from making any explosive movement or cuts. He rushed for 202 yards with no touchdowns, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. Advertisement Videos from the 49ers' workouts in Santa Clara showed McCaffrey making sharp cuts and showing burst out of them, which had everyone excited that the eight-year veteran is fully recovered and healthy going into the 2025-26 season. McCaffrey is two seasons removed from a career-high and NFL-leading 1,459 yards rushing and 14 TDs, adding another 564 yards and seven scores on 67 catches. That earned him NFL offensive player of the year honors, along with being named first-team All-Pro and to his third Pro Bowl. He signed a two-year, $38 million extension last June, keeping him under contract through 2027. As could be expected, the 49ers' rushing attack was impacted significantly by McCaffrey's absence. The team ranked 12th in the NFL last season with 2,163 yards and 17 TDs, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Compare that to 2023, when San Francisco ranked third with 2,389 yards and 27 scores. bolstered by McCaffrey's league-leading total. Advertisement Jordan Mason was the 49ers leading rusher last season with 789 yards, limited by ankle and shoulder injuries. But he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. That leaves Isaac Guerendo as San Francisco's top returning rusher with 420 yards. Yet he also struggled with knee and ankle issues. McCaffrey looking recovered and healthy should be especially encouraging for the 49ers, as the running back could miss some of training camp while on paternity leave. But that gives Guerendo, fifth-round pick Jordan James and undrafted free agent Corey Kiner opportunities to get some snaps and prepare to make contributions.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Von Miller wants to pass DeMarcus Ware on all-time NFL sacks list
Von Miller wants to pass DeMarcus Ware on all-time NFL sacks list Show Caption Hide Caption Five NFL games we can't wait to watch in the 2025 season The NFL schedule for the 2025-2026 season has been released. Here are a few games on our must-watch list. Von Miller is looking to move up the NFL's all-time sacks list in 2025. There's only one problem – he still doesn't have a team. Miller has been on the free agent market since the Buffalo Bills released him on March 9, but is still eyeing an opportunity on the field next season rather than head for retirement. In an interview with 9NEWS in Denver, Miller spoke about his playing career's future and why there is still one more thing to accomplish. The MVP of Super Bowl 50 ranks 25th on the all-time sack leaders list with 129.5. His former teammate, DeMarcus Ware, checks in at 13th with 138.5. When asked if he has plans to retire, Miller made it clear that passing Ware is a goal that he has to reach. "No, because I need (9.5) more sacks to pass DeMarcus," Miller said, via 9NEWS' Mike Klis. Despite racking up plenty of accolades over the years, having that edge over Ware is enough to keep the 36-year-old going, among other things. "That's one of them," Miller said. "If I had 140 sacks? I could retire. But me and DeMarcus, we spent a lot of time together in the offseason. He plays a lot of golf. Whenever I'm done playing football, I'll probably be right there with him playing golf. I just can't let him have that … I've already played three more years than he's played so I at least have to get him on total sacks. That's one of the personal goals that I have." Klis noted that Miller also wants his two sons, Valor, 4, and Victory, 2, to be able to appreciate seeing their father play. A two-time Super Bowl champion, Miller has been named to the Pro Bowl eight times, an All-Pro three times and the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year. He's likely to be a first ballot Hall of Fame entrant when the cleats are officially hung up. That seems like it'll have to wait for another day though. Miller believes still has more to give. Now he just has to find a team willing to let him give it.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
5 takeaways from Packers OTAs: Updates on Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and more
5 takeaways from Packers OTAs: Updates on Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and more Organized team activities have begun in Green Bay, with the first practice featuring both rookies and veterans taking place on Wednesday. Here are some takeaways from the first OTA practice open to the media: Two expected and two unexpected absentees Four Packers were not in attendance Wednesday: Jaire Alexander, Tyron Herring, Elgton Jenkins and John Williams. The reasons for Herring and Williams' absences are unknown at this point, but Alexander and Jenkins not attending is unsurprising as they handle their respective contract issues. There were more indications this week that Alexander and the Packers could be close to reconciliation, as The Athletic's Matt Schneidman reported the team has offered the All-Pro corner a restructured deal, and that Alexander wants to return to Green Bay this year. Xavier McKinney, who has become a good friend of Alexander's, said 'we would all like him back' when speaking to the media Wednesday, Injury updates The list of those not practicing due to injury was: Warren Brinson, John FitzPatrick, Jadon Janke, MarShawn Lloyd, Jeremiah Martin, Collin Oliver, Nesta Jade Silvera, Quay Walker and Christian Watson. Savion Williams practiced in a red "non-contact" jersey. Head coach Matt LaFleur issued a positive update on Watson, claiming the receiver is 'ahead of schedule' in his ACL tear recovery. He said of the other injured players: 'I don't anticipate anything too long term." Jayden Reed provided some background on the injury he suffered in the Wild Card loss to Philadelphia, and it sounds like the issue was quite serious. Reed told the media the shoulder injury was a dislocation and a partially torn labrum, and while he did not have surgery, based on the recovery timetable of four to five months he laid out, with the injury happening in January, it would seem he has only recently fully recovered. Search for 'best five' offensive linemen is underway As has become the standard in Green Bay, there was plenty of rotation along the offensive line on Wednesday, as young players in particular continue to cross-train at various positions. With Elgton Jenkins not practicing, Sean Rhyan rotated at both his usual right guard spot and center, with Jacob Monk, the presumed backup center, doing the same. From what LaFleur said post-practice, it sounded like Rhyan filled in at center so the team could split the field in half and essentially run two practices at once. Given LaFleur brought this up unprompted, it would seem this was more a logistical situation than a case of Rhyan truly "competing" at center. Jordan Morgan practiced at left tackle with the second-team offense behind Rasheed Walker, as had been expected, with the team being fairly open about moving him out to his natural left tackle position. But he also took some snaps at right guard with the ones, which was again likely due to Jenkins' absence on the interior. Meanwhile, rookie second-round pick Anthony Belton split time between left tackle with twos, and right tackle with the twos and threes. Defensive backfield rotations While it has been tempting to spend the offseason wondering how each player fits into a specific role in Green Bay's defensive backfield, the truth is that it will likely be a fluid situation with plenty of rotation week to week, or even drive to drive. The tone was set in that regard at the first OTA practice, with the Packers staying true to their word that new signing Nate Hobbs would line up both inside and outside. Evan Williams and Javon Bullard rotated with the ones at safety opposite McKinney. In a surprising development, newly added Gregory Junior, a former sixth-round pick who has played just one snap of defense since week 14 of 2023, got some time with the first-team defense in the nickel. Matthew Golden makes an impression Rookie first-round pick Golden was smooth in running his routes Wednesday, and looked the part of a first-rounder. He took some snaps with the ones, which has become less unusual for rookies in Green Bay in recent years, but was nonetheless an encouraging sign for the Packers' premium draft investment.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper still explosive despite adding weight
Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper still explosive despite adding weight As first noted by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley earlier this month, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has gained considerable weight -- good weight -- ahead of his second NFL season. In fact, LaFleur said Cooper -- who was listed at 229 pounds and played at around 220 pounds at times during his rookie season -- is now up near 240 pounds, and the easy-moving linebacker is still as explosive as ever. "He's so much more confident. Certainly, his body looks different. He's like 240 pounds now," LaFleur said after Wednesday's OTA session. "The added weight, and he still looks like he's moving as good as he did a year ago. I'm really excited about him. Just his understanding of the detail of what he's supposed to do and those around him, that's going to allow him to play that much faster, which is pretty exciting." Cooper, a second-round pick in 2024, produced 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries while playing only 491 snaps as a rookie. He earned two NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, was named to the 2024 All-Rookie Team and even received a few All-Pro votes. Will the added weight slow him down? LaFleur and the Packers don't think so. "He looks as explosive as I've seen him. We're really fired up about that," LaFleur said. LaFleur said the team does regular body composition scans, and Cooper is in better shape as a second-year player. "He's in a lot better place than what he was," LaFleur said. The added weight should help Cooper better handle the rigors of a full, 17-game schedule. As a rookie, Cooper played in 14 regular season games with four starts but played fewer than 500 total snaps defensively. He is expected to be a three-down, full-time starter for Hafley's defense in 2025.
