Latest news with #Moton
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU basketball coach has lunch with Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
North Carolina Central men's basketball coach LeVelle Moton had an unforgettable encounter during a recent visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp. Thanks to his long-standing friendship with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Moton has made attending camp an annual ritual for his own professional development as an HBCU coach. But this year's trip included an unexpected highlight: a sit-down conversation with one of football's all-time greats, quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "Man, it was amazing," Moton said via text to HBCU Gameday. "Obviously, Coach Tomlin and I are close so I attend training camp every year for Professional Development. This year, I took Nico Harrison (Dallas Mavericks) and Jeff McInnis…. Aaron saw me at lunch, introduced himself and told me that Mike T had nothing but great things to say about me." What started as a quick greeting turned into an extended, in-depth exchange. "Five minutes later, he came up and sat at our table and we talked like we've known each other for years," Moton recalled. "I think he's the greatest QB talent to ever play, so I asked him questions about preparation, film study, style of leadership, how he reads defenses… Man, it was a Ted Talk and Masterclass all in one. Great dude!" For Moton, who thrives on cross-sport learning and leadership insights in his role for the Durham, NC HBCU, the conversation was more than just a fan moment-it was a rare chance to peek into the mind of one of the NFL's most cerebral players. From the sounds of it, the NCCU coach left Latrobe with more than a few X's and O's-he walked away with lessons on leadership, preparation, and mindset from a four-time NFL MVP. The post HBCU basketball coach has lunch with Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Veteran Minnesota Vikings CB facing a pivotal preseason ahead of 2025 campaign
The Minnesota Vikings are heading into the 2025 season with a very different team than the one that took the field in 2024 and almost came home with the NFC North crown. Gone is surprise star quarterback Sam Darnold. Gone are several key pieces on defense. In their place are a couple of second-year players whom a ton of eyes will be on this season. The obvious one, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, will get his first crack at running the Kevin O'Connell offense, and has been set up for success with the likes of wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison (once he returns from a three-game suspension), tight end T.J. Hockenson, and running backs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason beside him. The other is perhaps a less obvious choice, but one that at least one prominent NFL writer is going to have his eyes on in 2025. Recently, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report identified seven players around the league who have the most at stake in the coming season, and one of his seven is none other than Vikings second-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon. Blackmon is technically entering his third season, but his 2024 season -- much like McCarthy's -- was lost to a knee injury. That knee injury and a reportedly heated camp battle are what have Blackmon under the microscope in Moton's eyes. According to Moton, were it not for that knee injury, Blackmon "would be in a prime position to start after a promising first year in Minnesota". Instead, he's embroiled in a position battle with new Vikings Isaiah Rodgers and Jeffery Okudah to start alongside rising star Byron Murphy, Jr. According to The Athletic's Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis: "General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, O'Connell and Flores said they believed Rodgers could play an every-down role, and that they had a vision for Okudah. It's no surprise, then, that those two have played alongside Byron Murphy Jr. with the first-team defense." That doesn't sound too promising for Blackmon's prospects going forward. Still, he's likely built up some good will with the team after his rookie season, where he played in 15 of the 17 games, starting three, and was a solid contributor -- especially for a rookie. Blackmon only notched one interception in his rookie campaign. Still, he did have eight passes defended and one fumble recovery, and proved helpful at all levels of the defense, even adding three tackles for loss. How much opportunity Blackmon gets to build on his successful rookie season remains to be seen, but 2025 could prove to be a pivotal year one way or the other for the young cornerback. Blackmon heads into the third year of a four-year deal with the team, and the Vikings will likely be looking to decide on his future with the team based mainly on how this season shakes out for him.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions predicted to pair Aidan Hutchinson with 4-time Pro Bowler who has 77 career sacks
The Detroit Lions need to add another edge rusher, plain and simple. After cutting Za'Darius Smith earlier this offseason, the Lions are relying on injury-prone veteran Marcus Davenport and a sixth-round rookie in Ahmed Hassanein to pick up the slack opposite Aidan Hutchinson. That's simply not good enough for a Lions team with a legitimate shot to win its first Super Bowl in 2025. The dream acquisition all Lions fans want to see is a trade for Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who remains in a contract standoff with Cincinnati that doesn't appear to have an end in sight. That means a trade is possible, and if that happens Bleacher Report's Moe Moton predicts that Hendrickson will land in Motown. Here's Moton's proposal and some of his write-up: Lions get: Trey Hendrickson Bengals get: 2026 second-round pick, 2026 fifth-round pick "Aidan Hutchinson is cleared to participate in football activities, but Detroit needs a reliable pass-rusher opposite him on the defensive line," Moton wrote. "As Super Bowl contenders, the Lions should be aggressive in filling a glaring roster need." We couldn't agree more with Moton. Detroit's Super Bowl window will not be open forever and general manager Brad Holmes needs to throw financial caution to the wind and make the big splash this team needs, no matter the draft capital and monetary cost. Adding Hendrickson would give the Lions the best one-two punch at edge rusher in the NFL. Hendrickson has tallied 17.5 sacks in each of the past two years and no EDGE in the NFL has more since 2023, and he led the league in 2024. On top of the draft capital, the Lions would have to give Hendrickson a new deal that pays him around $35 million or so annually. Is all of that risky for a player who is set to turn 31 in December? Sure, but if Hendrickson can finally help the Lions get over the hump to their first Super Bowl, nobody is going to be worried about the future implications of his contract. MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS Lions predicted to lose NFC North crown to hated rival in 2025 Lions predicted to cut ties with free-agent signing before he plays a single regular season snap Huge Sam LaPorta season confirmed after Lions TE changes appearance
Fox Sports
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Longtime offensive tackle Taylor Moton emotional about potential final season with Panthers
Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Taylor Moton has been a mainstay at offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers since coming into the league as a second-round draft pick in 2017. So it's understandable that Moton got emotional following Wednesday's training camp practice talking about the possibility of this being his last season in Carolina. The 30-year-old Moton is entering his final year of his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. As of yet, Moton has not received an extension. 'I try not to think about it,' Moton said. "I have had some of my best years of my life in Carolina. The city, and being a Panther means a lot to me. I obviously want the years to continue. But if it's my last year here, I want it to be my best year, the offensive unit's best year and the team's best year. I will do whatever I can for it to be the best yet. I'm a little emotional about that.' Moton has started 113 games for the Panthers (13th most in franchise history). He's played in 129. Although he's never been selected to the Pro Bowl, Moton has been remarkably consistent, durable and productive. His streak of 104 straight starts came to an end last season in Week 5 when he missed three games with an elbow injury. He recovered to finish the season, and enters year nine 'feeling like a rookie' when it comes to his health. Panthers executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis and general manager Dan Morgan have some tough decisions to make at offensive tackle. Along with Moton's impending free agency, the Panthers need to decide whether to work out a contract extension with the team's other offensive tackle Ickey Ekwonu, a 2022 first-round draft pick and fan favorite as a Charlotte native. The Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on Ekwonu, but a new contract could mean limiting a potential $17.5 million salary cap hit in 2026. For now, Moton seems to be the more pressing issue. 'I did see Taylor get a little emotional up here,' Tilis said as he stood behind a podium after practice Wednesday. 'That's the hard part of our business that somebody pours their whole life into this like Taylor has and he's faced with potentially going to a new place next year. But at the same time we are going to make the best decision for the organization. If that means keeping Taylor here, then that's great. If those two things align, we are open to' re-signing him. At this point, Tilis isn't feeling any pressure to extend anyone. He prefers to keep contract talks to the offseason, but the Panthers aren't against to negotiating a deal during the season. The Panthers rewarded running back Chuba Hubbard with a four-year, $33.2 million deal last November. 'Whatever makes the best sense for the Panthers, we'll do,' Tilis said. The Panthers still have plenty of time to make a long-term decision on quarterback Bryce Young, who overcame an early season benching in 2024 by showing promise down the stretch with 10 combined touchdowns throwing and rushing and no interceptions in his final three games. He's under contract through 2026, and the Panthers hold a team option for 2027. Tilis, who previously worked as the lead contract negotiator in Kansas City, was responsible for getting a 10-year, $450 million extension for Patrick Mahomes in 2020 just months after the QB led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win in just his second season as a full-time starter. Young, who was 4-8 as a starter last year, still has plenty to prove. 'We had something good going" in Kansas City, Tilis said. "With Bryce, it's just like the (Ekwonu) conversation. Bryce is an ascending player, so I don't want to sit here and make any kind of promises, any kind of statements about what we're thinking about for Bryce's contract or anything like that.' Tilis said for now it's best that Young focuses on football. 'He needs to focus on being the best version of himself, and the contract itself will get figured out,' Tilis said. ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
Winnipeg Free Press
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Longtime offensive tackle Taylor Moton emotional about potential final season with Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Taylor Moton has been a mainstay at offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers since coming into the league as a second-round draft pick in 2017. So it's understandable that Moton got emotional following Wednesday's training camp practice talking about the possibility of this being his last season in Carolina. The 30-year-old Moton is entering his final year of his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. As of yet, Moton has not received an extension. 'I try not to think about it,' Moton said. 'I have had some of my best years of my life in Carolina. The city, and being a Panther means a lot to me. I obviously want the years to continue. But if it's my last year here, I want it to be my best year, the offensive unit's best year and the team's best year. I will do whatever I can for it to be the best yet. I'm a little emotional about that.' Moton has started 113 games for the Panthers (13th most in franchise history). He's played in 129. Although he's never been selected to the Pro Bowl, Moton has been remarkably consistent, durable and productive. His streak of 104 straight starts came to an end last season in Week 5 when he missed three games with an elbow injury. He recovered to finish the season, and enters year nine 'feeling like a rookie' when it comes to his health. Panthers executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis and general manager Dan Morgan have some tough decisions to make at offensive tackle. Along with Moton's impending free agency, the Panthers need to decide whether to work out a contract extension with the team's other offensive tackle Ickey Ekwonu, a 2022 first-round draft pick and fan favorite as a Charlotte native. The Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on Ekwonu, but a new contract could mean limiting a potential $17.5 million salary cap hit in 2026. For now, Moton seems to be the more pressing issue. 'I did see Taylor get a little emotional up here,' Tilis said as he stood behind a podium after practice Wednesday. 'That's the hard part of our business that somebody pours their whole life into this like Taylor has and he's faced with potentially going to a new place next year. But at the same time we are going to make the best decision for the organization. If that means keeping Taylor here, then that's great. If those two things align, we are open to' re-signing him. At this point, Tilis isn't feeling any pressure to extend anyone. He prefers to keep contract talks to the offseason, but the Panthers aren't against to negotiating a deal during the season. The Panthers rewarded running back Chuba Hubbard with a four-year, $33.2 million deal last November. 'Whatever makes the best sense for the Panthers, we'll do,' Tilis said. The Panthers still have plenty of time to make a long-term decision on quarterback Bryce Young, who overcame an early season benching in 2024 by showing promise down the stretch with 10 combined touchdowns throwing and rushing and no interceptions in his final three games. He's under contract through 2026, and the Panthers hold a team option for 2027. Tilis, who previously worked as the lead contract negotiator in Kansas City, was responsible for getting a 10-year, $450 million extension for Patrick Mahomes in 2020 just months after the QB led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win in just his second season as a full-time starter. Young, who was 4-8 as a starter last year, still has plenty to prove. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'We had something good going' in Kansas City, Tilis said. 'With Bryce, it's just like the (Ekwonu) conversation. Bryce is an ascending player, so I don't want to sit here and make any kind of promises, any kind of statements about what we're thinking about for Bryce's contract or anything like that.' Tilis said for now it's best that Young focuses on football. 'He needs to focus on being the best version of himself, and the contract itself will get figured out,' Tilis said. ___ AP NFL:
