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Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NFL Insider describes the Kansas City Chiefs' motivations to return to the Super Bowl
In a recent article for Insider Jeffri Chadiha named teams he believes could dethrone the Eagles in 2025. He called the Kansas City Chiefs a return candidate for the Super Bowl and broke down their motivations this season. "Humiliation tends to be a useful motivator for most franchises, especially proud ones like Kansas City," wrote Chadiha. "Future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce, for one, made it clear that he spurned retirement because he didn't want to go out like that. The Chiefs also know (Patrick) Mahomes is most dangerous when he has a chip on his shoulder. Furthermore, most of the usual cast of characters remain on this roster, as Kansas City was able to keep both middle linebacker Nick Bolton and Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith from escaping in free agency." Advertisement Chadiha named the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills as the other two teams in contention. The AFC continues to lead the way regarding team and elite quarterback play. The Chiefs are built to be a contender again in 2025 and will feature the most nationally televised games. Their popularity has grown alongside their winning in recent years, as the team hopes to pull together again for a Super Bowl run and reclaim the Lombardi trophy. This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: NFL Insider describes the Chiefs' motivations for Super Bowl return
NBC Sports
28-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Shane Steichen: We're going to win for Jim Irsay this season
Colts owner Jim Irsay will be honored in a private memorial on June 2 in Indianapolis, the team announced. The Colts plan for a public tribute at a future date. Irsay died May 21 at the age of 65. At Wednesday's organized team activity, some Colts staffers and players wore T-shirts featuring a photo of Irsay powerlifting in his younger days. Shane Steichen, the seventh full-time head coach Irsay hired since taking the reins in 1997, was among those honoring their late owner. Steichen said the Colts want to do something special for Irsay this season. 'I'd like to start off with condolences to the entire Irsay family — prayers and thoughts with them during this time,' an emotional Steichen said, via 'A lot of you guys knew Mr. Irsay really well and covered this team for a long time. I was with him for two years. Phenomenal human being. You guys know how generous he was. I told the team last week, every time I talked to him in the building, on the phone, every time, he would always tell me at the end, 'Coach, whatever you need for this team and this organization. We've got you.' That was the man he was. 'We're going to honor this season for Jim, and we're going to win for Jim this year.' The Colts advanced to the playoffs 16 times after Irsay became principal owner and won two AFC Championships and one Super Bowl. The team announced Tuesday it will wear a jersey patch for the 2025 season to honor Irsay. Reaching the postseason would honor him even more. The Colts have not made the playoffs since 2020, and they have not won a playoff games since 2018.
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Which offseason player departure could have the greatest impact on the Eagles in 2025?
Which offseason player departure could have the greatest impact on the Eagles in 2025? Nick Shook of named C.J. Gardner-Johnson's trade to Houston as the biggest departure that'll impact the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025 In March, the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the NFL by trading safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans for offensive guard Kenyon Green and a fifth-round pick. Many questioned why the Eagles would trade away a core part of their defense after winning the Super Bowl. GM Howie Roseman highlighted the situation at the NFL annual meetings. "I think if you're just taking the C.J. move in a vacuum, it's kind of not giving the whole perspective of where we're at. And I think Chauncey did a great job for us, and both the years that he was with us — obviously, making the Super Bowl twice in two years with him as our starting safety. It was a huge move that'll certainly impact Philadelphia and Houston. agreed, as Nick Shook named the dynamic safety's departure the one loss that'll impact the Eagles the most. Gardner-Johnson has not played for the same team in consecutive years since 2020-2021, when he was on his rookie deal with the Saints, but he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl last season in his second stint with the team. Fresh off a championship, Philadelphia traded him to the Texans with budgetary concerns in mind. Moves like that one can help the Eagles remain competitive, but such deals only work if the replacements produce. Enter Texas product Andrew Mukuba -- a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft -- who might be asked to step in and fill the void right away. It will be no easy task, even on a talented defense. Meanwhile, Gardner-Johnson will aim to follow up a career-best season with a stellar campaign as a member of the Texans, where he's joining one of the best secondaries in the NFL. The Eagles let several good players walk this offseason due to financial constraints, including key contributors Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, and Isaiah Rodgers. Retaining Zack Baun was their top priority this offseason, and they signed him to a three-year, $51 million extension. They also extended Saquon Barkley and Lane Johnson. Roseman likely wanted to avoid a potential contract dispute with Gardner-Johnson in preparation for paying his younger players. Cam Jurgens, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean are all on rookie contracts. Carter is projected to reset the defensive tackle market next year.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Falcons linebacker named most underrated player on 2025 roster
The Atlanta Falcons kicked off the 2024 season with a 6-3 record but finished 8-9 due to a combination of poor quarterback play and an underachieving defense over the second half of the season. The team took an aggressive approach to upgrading the defense, drafting two edge rushers in the first round. With Grady Jarrett in Chicago, the team will have to rely on other veteran players to fill the leadership void in 2025. One player who rarely gets the respect he deserves is linebacker Kaden Elliss. The former Saint has really taken off since signing with the Falcons in 2023. Advertisement Elliss, 29, turned in arguably his best season yet in 2024, recording 85 solo tackles, five sacks, 16 QB hits, three passes defended, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. released a new feature listing each team's most underrated player going into the 2025 NFL season. Elliss was selected as Atlanta's most underrated player, with Gennaro Filice calling the linebacker a "one-man army" at times last year. Tied for first with Lavonte David among off-ball 'backers in pressures (34, per NGS), Elliss paced Atlanta with 16 quarterback hits and fell just one sack shy of the team lead with versatile defender was a one-man army in many games, including the Week 9 win over Dallas, when Elliss piled up 13 tackles (including two for loss), five pressures, three QB hits and a sack. It will be interesting to see how the linebacker's role evolves under new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, especially considering the Falcons' aggressive efforts to upgrade the edge-rushing group this offseason. -- Gennaro Filice, The Falcons hope rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. can get the pass rush back to a respectable level this season. Elliss will be counted on more than ever as the team transitions to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. His versatility will help Atlanta run a multitude of defensive looks. Last season, the team ranked 23rd in the NFL in points allowed per game (24.9) and finished 31st in defensive sacks recorded with 31 total. Ulbrich has plenty of work to do, but Elliss should help the transition. Around Falcons Wire This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons LB Kaden Elliss named team's most underrated player
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
‘A size corner with movement skills.' Why there's a decent chance that Jason Marshall Jr. starts
The Miami Dolphins will face some elite receivers in 2025. Ja'Marr Chase, Mike Evans, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Ladd McConkey — the list goes on and on. Such talent at wideout will require equal skill from whoever starts at cornerback, something that's a bit of an unknown now that Jalen Ramsey and the Miami Dolphins 'mutually agreed' to seek a trade. And although it's way too early to make any projections for starters, there's a legitimate chance that Dolphins rookie Jason Marshall Jr. could find himself atop the depth chart come . 'Definitely a great opportunity,' Marshall said May 9 of the wide open cornerback room. 'Like I said earlier, just come in, put my head down and work, and when the opportunity presents itself, take action on it.' Although drafted in the fifth round, Marshall could join an elite class of cornerbacks who made an impact in the league as a rookie. Ramsey did it. More recently, so did Pat Surtain, Sauce Gardner and Quinyon Mitchell. draft analyst Chad Reuter, for one, certainly believes Marshall has the skillset to take over the position group from day one. 'If Miami successfully moves seven-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey, Marshall should become a key contributor,' Reuter wrote May 5. 'Before the 2024 season, I had a Day 2 grade on the Florida Gator, who ended up being available in Round 5 after missing time with a shoulder injury and showing average long speed. I expect him to play well as a rookie thanks to his aggression and ability to find the ball in coverage.' The Dolphins, for one, aren't scared to let their rookies loose, either. 'Not at all, that's got to be trial by fire,' defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver replied when asked if he had any fear about playing young guys. 'I was in a very similar situation when I was in Houston back in 2016. Around Game 4, Game 3, something like that, we had to play with D.J. Reader who was a fifth-round draft pick, I think, and Joel Health, a defensive end who was an undrafted free agent, and we finished that year No. 1 in total defense. The standard doesn't change; there's going to be a lot asked of those guys, but they've got the shoulders to handle that.' As Reuter mentioned, Marshall's physical traits are extremely intriguing. At 6-foot, 201-pounds, Marshall has the size to play dominate at corner. 'He's a big corner,' Dolphins cornerbacks coach Mathieu Araujo said Wednesday. 'He moves really well, and he's a super efficient and productive mover. So as a big corner being able to get your hands on and still keep your feet under you that allows you to cover a big variety of receivers.' Still, Marshall isn't without weaknesses. Many evaluators wrote that the South Miami-Dade native could stand to get stronger, improve his man coverage and become a better tackler, especially in run support. Araujo, however, commended Marshall's for his work ethic. 'What he's doing a great job of in this offseason is the things that we pinpointed throughout his college career that we want to improve on, and we can make adjustments to get them to be super productive,' Araujo said. 'That's what we're working on right now.' For Marshall to add his name to the aforementioned elite group of rookie corners, he'll have to improve on his somewhat middling collegiate stats. In his four seasons at the University of Florida, Marshall accumulated only two interceptions, none of which came during his injury-plagued 2024 season, 98 tackles and 25 pass breakups. The ability to be 'around the ball' — Marshall led the Gators in pass breakups as a sophomore (eight) and junior (10) – was what ultimately landed him in the aqua and orange, according to Dolphins general manager Chris Grier. Now, it's just up to the Dolphins to get him ready for September. 'He's competitive,' Grier said in late April. 'He had the injury this year which set him back. He had a couple games where he dropped a couple picks, too, but we had him here at our Miami local day workout, watched him move around. He has ball skills, he has hands. So for us, he's a size corner with movement skills. It's up to us and him with our coaching and him working to make those improvements, but we're very optimistic with his skill set that he has that he will do that.'
