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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Titans' player under most pressure entering 2025 NFL season
The post Titans' player under most pressure entering 2025 NFL season appeared first on ClutchPoints. Maybe there's a Tennessee Titans battle for the quarterback position, or maybe it's just talk. Because Cam Ward is the guy this year. And that's why Ward is the Titans' player under the most pressure entering the 2025 season. Wait, you might say. He's just a rookie. But remember, this is the NFL. Careers often don't last all that long, even for quarterbacks. And if a quarterback has a bad season right out of the gates, recovery can be difficult. Just ask Ward's backup, Will Levis. He was a second-round pick in 2023. And after two middling seasons, he's already pretty much an afterthought in the Titans' plans. There are several reasons why Ward is under pressure. Titans QB Cam Ward must produce quickly First, Titans fans are getting a little antsy. The team won back-to-back double-digit games in 2020 and 2021. But they won seven in 2022, six in 2023, and only three in 2024. That's the wrong direction. And Ward comes in as the No. 1 overall pick. He won't get a chance to develop slowly. Need proof? Just look at last season. Bears QB Caleb Williams threw for 3,541 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. But the Bears posted a record of 5-12, and some people are already writing off Williams. That could happen to Ward, too. However, one good thing is Ward has his teammates standing up for him already, according to Good Morning Football via 'First off, I think that our team — the Tennessee Titans — never get the respect and attention we need,' defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said. 'I've never seen the No. 1 pick overall never get the respect. And, quite frankly, the attention that he deserves.' The Titans are hopeful Ward can bring security to the position and give the team a hope for a strong future. 'I think that's a chip on his shoulder,' Simmons said. 'You could tell by the way he goes about his business — his swagger, his demeanor — this gonna be one of the ones that I'm excited to see. I'm excited to get back to camp next week to be more around him and learn a little more about him.' Practice results good for QB Cam Ward Ward showed something in practice, according to 'It was after a play, we stopped him, and I think I ended up getting a sack,' Simmons recalled. 'All of the sudden, we're talking smack and Cally (head coach Brian Callahan) is giving him the dang play and I'm still talking smack to him, I'm jawing because that's my game. I want to talk smack, I want to get in your head. 'It didn't faze him. He's still talking smack while Cally's getting the play to him. He's giving the play to the offense, still talking smack to me. The next play after the smack talk, he threw an 80-yard bomb to Calvin Ridley. So, that right there showed me we got us one. He's legit.' Ward is already gaining the confidence of his offensive lineman, too, according to 'I think he's a great player and a great pick for the team,' tackle J.C. Latham said. 'He has an immense amount of talent, shows up every day ready to work with the right attitude to hold himself accountable, and holds himself to a standard that a lot of people can learn from.' And left tackle Dan Moore Jr. said he feels the swagger of Ward. 'Whenever he's talking, he has a sense of confidence that guys can feel,' Moore said. 'And I sense that we'll be able to feed off of energy from him. One of the hardest things for a quarterback is just getting a grasp of the huddle. And fluidly say the play and remember the play to get command of the huddle as well. I feel like [Ward] has that.' Brian Callahan says Cam Ward is putting in effort Head coach Brian Callahan said Ward is working hard to make an impact this season. 'I think he's done a good job so far,' Callahan said. 'Cam understands how to interact with them. He's played enough quarterback to understand how important those guys are and what those relationships mean.' As for Ward's viewpoint, he said he's learning as he goes. He said he's leaning on the things he knows how to do already. 'I would say just the biggest thing I do is just talk to them,' Ward said. 'Whether it's in the locker room or when we get a chance to meet up outside the facility. Not everything got to be about football. But when we walk into the building, we know it's all business.' Ward will get his first chance to show what he's got when the Titans open their season on the road against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 7.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Trey Hendrickson's former Saints teammate shares inside scoop on contract frustration
Cincinnati's offers 'are atrociously, atrociously low' Cincinnati Bengals players reported for training camp on Tuesday, but they were missing one of their best playmakers -- Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals' front office has been embroiled in a contract dispute with the four-time Pro Bowler for months, and true to his word, Hendrickson was a no-show for the first day of camp without a new deal on the table. And one of his old New Orleans Saints teammates has the inside scoop on the holdup that led to this holdout. "They are atrociously, atrociously low," relayed former Saints linebacker Manti Te'o, who says Hendrickson remains disappointed in the offers Cincinnati has put in front of him. Specifically, the guarantees the Bengals are proposing don't line up with what other players at his position are receiving. Te'o and Hendrickson played together for three years in New Orleans; when the Saints drafted Hendrickson out of Florida Atlantic, Te'o was added as a veteran free agent, so he helped show the young guy the ropes. Now Te'o is co-hosting NFL Network's Good Morning Football program and Hendrickson is waiting on a new deal. It makes sense that he'd exchange text messages with an old friend to pass the time. We've considered before whether the Saints should step in here and try to bring Hendrickson home. They have the salary cap resources to pay Hendrickson what he wants, and with Cameron Jordan likely playing his last season in 2025, stacking up Hendrickson, Chase Young, and Carl Granderson would make for a nice transition. At the same time, Hendrickson isn't getting the Saints to the playoffs by himself. And if the Bengals are determined to keep him, they would probably ask for too much in a trade than New Orleans would be willing to spend.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Trey Hendrickson calls Bengals' contract offer 'atrociously low'
The Cincinnati Bengals require veterans to report Tuesday for the start of training camp. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson – the team's star defensive player – will not be there. Hendrickson and the Bengals have been stuck in a contract extension negotiation standoff all offseason. On Tuesday's episode of "Good Morning Football," Manti Te'o shared details of a recent conversation he had with Hendrickson, in which the disgruntled reigning NFL sack leader said Cincinnati's latest offer and money guarantees were "atrociously, atrociously low." Manti's take 👀@Sara_Walsh Te'o's report came during a segment on the NFL Network program during which the show's analysts had to rate their confidence that a deal would get done on a scale from 1 to 91 (Hendrickson's jersey number). However, Te'o said based on his recent conversation with Hendrickson that "it's a 0 from me." "Trey even told me, him and his representatives would even take less years to reduce the length of the contract. And the Bengals organization said 'no,'" Te'o said. Te'o and Hendrickson were teammates on the Saints between 2017 and 2019. CINCINNATI BENGALS: The AFC North contenders could have a historic offense. But what about the defense? Barring a breakthrough in negotiations, Hendrickson is set to enter the 2025 season on the last year of the contract extension he signed ahead of the 2023 season. He'd make $16 million this year on the current deal, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The defensive end also posted a picture to his Instagram story of a highway with a Florida geotag, seemingly showing that Hendrickson is not even in the state of Ohio for the start of Bengals training camp. Long-term extension talks between the #Bengals and star Trey Hendrickson broke down over guaranteed money before camp… and Hendrickson has now indicated he left the just posted this on Instagram. BENGALS CONTRACT UPDATES: Bengals exec, owner give latest on Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart deals Since Hendrickson signed with the Bengals in 2021, he has been their best defensive player. After starting his career with only 20 sacks in his first four seasons with the Saints, Hendrickson has excelled with the Bengals, totaling 57 sacks in the last four years. He has made the Pro Bowl each season with Cincinnati. In 2024, he topped the league with 17.5 sacks, earned his first, first-team All-Pro honor and was the runner-up to Patrick Surtain II in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The 2024 season marked the second consecutive year that Hendrickson recorded 17.5 sacks. Hendrickson is not the only disgruntled edge rusher the Bengals have not been able to satisfy in contract talks. Their 2025 first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, remains unsigned and continues to hold out. If Stewart doesn't sign by Week 10, he would become ineligible to play this season and could re-enter the 2026 NFL Draft.
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Trey Hendrickson sends Bengals a message as ‘atrociously low' contract talks fall apart
The Bengals' training camp began Tuesday, and star Trey Hendrickson is nowhere near Cincinnati. While contract talks with Hendrickson seemed to be trending in the right direction Monday, training camp has now begun, and the negotiations may have crumbled as the All-Pro is not reporting to camp. Hendrickson posted a photo to his Instagram story Tuesday with a location tag of Florida, a few states and hundreds of miles south of where he is supposed to be practicing with his team if he were happy with his contract. 4 Trey Hendrickson's Instagram Story from Tuesday morning. Instagram/trey_hendrickson91 Bengals owner Mike Brown spoke Monday on his optimism surrounding a deal with Hendrickson. 'We will get it done at some point, I think,' Brown told reporters. 'I think we are in a good spot. I hope this thing comes together soon.' But Hendrickson's holdout suggests that an agreement may be a bit further away. On NFL Network's 'Good Morning Football,' former linebacker Manti Te'o reported that Hendrickson spoke with him, and he confirmed the Bengals' offer for Hendrickson was 'atrociously low.' 4 Trey Hendrickson is still waiting for a contract extension in Cincinnati. Getty Images According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the dispute is centered around guaranteed money. Cincinnati has reportedly only been willing to offer one year of guaranteed money — a far cry from the three years of guaranteed money that fellow top pass rushers TJ Watt, Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett have received in recent months. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5, was named First Team All-Pro and was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. 4 Trey Hendrickson has reached four straight Pro Bowls. Getty Images The 30-year-old is entering the final year of his current contract and is set to make $15.8 million for the season. Hendrickson has adamantly stated he would not play under his current deal and has sought long-term deals similar to those of the league's other premier edge rushers. Just last week, Watt signed a record-breaking three-year, $123 million extension with the Steelers. Garrett previously signed a four-year, $160 million deal with the Browns and Crosby agreed to a three-year, $106.5 million deal with the Raiders. All three signed for more than $90 million in guaranteed money. 4 Trey Hendrickson has 35 sacks across the last two seasons. Getty Images Hendrickson has been in the same pass-rushing tier as all three players and is even second in the league in sacks over the past three years, only trailing Garrett. But until the Bengals offer him close to what he feels he deserves, it may be some time before he's seen in Cincinnati.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Manti Te'o predicts big things for Tennessee Titans' Cam Ward
There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about how Cam Ward has been one of the least talked-about first overall draft picks in NFL history. Even on draft night, his selection felt like an afterthought and was overshadowed by talk of another quarterback who wasn't drafted until Day 3 of the draft. That has all begun to change, as analysts from major outlets begin to backtrack and play revisionist history with the offseason. Increasingly, networks are investing in Ward and his ability to lead a franchise. And they are applauding the Tennessee Titans for staying put in the draft and taking the young signal caller. The latest to join Good Morning Football and shower Ward with praise is former NFL linebacker Manti Te'o, who joined the show and made a bold prediction on the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. 'We're buying. [I am] buying that [Ward] is gonna win Offensive Rookie of the Year,' Te'o said. 'I really think that Cam Ward, going into this year, you need to have guys that you're going to throw the ball to, and he has really good guys. Guys that are underappreciated, in my opinion, with Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Treylon Burks, Chig Okonkwo, these are guys that can produce for you.' While there was still talk on the show about the perceived front-runner Ashton Jeanty, Te'o pointed out the success head coach Brian Callahan has had in his career, and how quarterbacks can succeed in his system. While that was not the case in 2024, one could argue that many of the struggles were tied to subpar play by the offensive line. Now with a rebuilt offensive line and some underrated playmakers around Ward, the offense should be better in 2025. If it is, then Ward could make Te'o's prediction a reality.
