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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Liam Coen denies Travis Etienne trade rumors: 'Absolutely inaccurate'
Liam Coen denies Travis Etienne trade rumors: 'Absolutely inaccurate' Show Caption Hide Caption Jaguars select Travis Hunter No. 2 overall, here's what they'll get Travis Hunter captivated the college football world with his two-way abilities and now the Jaguars are ready to see what he can do in the NFL Sports Pulse Pump the brakes on any Travis Etienne trade rumors. The Jacksonville Jaguars running back has been a target of trade speculation over the last month. Part of the reasoning? His team's new regime – led by rookie general manager James Gladstone and rookie head coach Liam Coen – decided to draft two running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft: Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh. But Jaguars head coach Liam Coen's comments to reporters on Monday suggest that Etienne's job is safe. "Every day, everything we've asked him to do, he's done at a good click for us," Coen said. "He's done a great job. I don't really understand some of the stuff I've seen out there. That's absolutely inaccurate." JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Win-loss record predictions after schedule release The Jaguars have at least five running backs on their offseason roster after adding two in the draft: Etienne, Tank Bigsby and Keilan Robinson are returning, and Tuten and Allen are the incoming rookies. Last year was Etienne's first full season without at least 1,000 rushing yards in his career as the Jaguars struggled offensively. The team finished the 2024 season averaging 101.7 rushing yards per game, the seventh-lowest average of any team last year. After Etienne missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury, the Clemson product put together back-to-back 1,000-yard efforts in 2022 and 2023. That was an impressive feat in the latter season as he was beginning to split carries with Bigsby, the then-rookie that Jacksonville had drafted before the 2023 season. In 2024, Etienne missed two games with a hamstring injury. He finished the year with 558 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 150 carries – good for an average of 3.7 yards per carry. He also tallied 254 receiving yards on 39 catches for a total of 812 yards from scrimmage on 180 touches. Notably, Bigsby finished ahead of Etienne in carries and rushing yards in 2024, though Etienne's injury meant that Bigsby did play in one more game than his more veteran counterpart. Etienne is playing on his fifth-year option in 2025 and is set to become a free agent after the season.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Matthew Stafford has hilarious reaction to Olympics question
Matthew Stafford has hilarious reaction to Olympics question Show Caption Hide Caption NFL players can now partake in Olympic flag football Olympic flag football, which will make it's debut at the 2028 summer games, just got bumped up a level after the NFL agreed to let its players partake. Sports Pulse NFL owners may have voted to allow their players to play flag football in the Olympics, but the next iteration of the Summer Games is still a ways away. That's why 37-year-old Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had the jokes when a reporter asked him if he'd consider suiting up to play in 2028. "You talking about coaching, or what?" Stafford joked. The reporter doubled down on his question, asking if the 16-year NFL veteran would have any interest in participating as a player. "Sure!" Stafford said with a smile. "I mean, nobody's gonna want me to, but yeah, sure, it'd be fun... to coach." OLYMPIC FLAG FOOTBALL: Justin Jefferson discusses playing in 2028 Summer Games: 'It's a dream' The first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft will be 40 years old by the time the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games roll around. Whether Stafford will even still be in the NFL by then – his Rams contract is up after the 2026 season – remains to be seen. Stafford isn't the only current NFL quarterback considering what his age will be by then. Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, who turns 30 in September, told reporters earlier on Thursday that he'll "probably leave that (the Olympics) to the younger guys. I'll be a little older by that time." MORE: Patrick Mahomes on playing flag football in Olympics Rams head coach Sean McVay had a similar attitude about how things will stand three years down the road. "I think that is so far away from me. Coaching years are dog years, you know that," he said. Overall though, McVay's tone was generally favorable about allowing players to participate while also recognizing the players on the already successful United States national flag football team, which currently doesn't feature any NFL players. "If that's something that players say they want to be able to do, then I think it's a really cool experience for them to be able to be a part of while also acknowledging that man, there are some other guys that have been doing it," he said. "I'm not going to pretend to understand the nuances tactically and what that game entails, but I think it's good. I think it's great." In 2023, the U.S. men's and women's national flag football teams both won gold medals at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Americas Continental Flag Football Championship.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens' John Harbaugh explains 'complex' decision to release Justin Tucker
Ravens' John Harbaugh explains 'complex' decision to release Justin Tucker Show Caption Hide Caption Ravens release kicker Justin Tucker after massage therapist allgations Ravens release kicker Justin Tucker, who was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 different employees of eight Baltimore area spas and wellness centers. Sports Pulse Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time since the team released longtime kicker Justin Tucker on May 5. Tucker's release came as the NFL investigated accusations of sexual misconduct against the 35-year-old kicker. He denied the allegations, calling them "simply not true." Harbaugh acknowledged releasing Tucker came at the end of "a complex decision-making process" but continued to insist it was a football decision. "I mean, you're talking about arguably the best kicker in the history of the game," Harbaugh told reporters after Baltimore's second OTA session of the offseason. "And like we said, it's multi-layered, it's complicated. But in the end, it all comes back to what you have to do to get ready for your team to play the first game." "I think if you step back and you take a look at all the issues and all the ramifications, you can understand that we've got to get our football team ready and we've got to have a kicker ready to go," Harbaugh added. "And that was the move that we decided to make. So in that sense, it's a football decision." Tucker spent 13 total seasons as the Ravens' top kicker after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He was named an All-Pro first teamer five times during his career and wrapped up his time in Baltimore having made an NFL-record 89.103% of his field goal attempts. The Ravens are having two rookies – Tyler Loop and John Hoyland – compete to replace Tucker. Loop holds the distinction of being the first kicker ever drafted by the Ravens after they spent a sixth-round pick on the Arizona product. Meanwhile, Hoyland signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming. Harbaugh – who spent nine seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1998 to 2006 before becoming Baltimore's coach in 2008 – noted the Ravens are planning "to spend all of our focus and our time to get these kickers ready." "We've got a competition going on and [we've got to] get these guys ready to make kicks," Harbaugh said. "So that's all I'm thinking about. From my perspective, it's like, 'We have to have a kicker out there making kicks,' and what's the best way to get that done?"
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Joe Flacco praises Shedeur Sanders, but says being mentor 'not the main focus'
Joe Flacco praises Shedeur Sanders, but says being mentor 'not the main focus' Show Caption Hide Caption Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure from his doubters After sliding in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders explains why he's not bothered by his many doubters as Browns career begins. Sports Pulse Joe Flacco made it clear Wednesday he wants to be known as more than a potential mentor to the Cleveland Browns' young quarterback room. Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season, said he doesn't have any fundamental issues aiding 26-year-old Kenny Pickett, 24-year-old Dillon Gabriel and 23-year-old Shedeur Sanders as the young trio gets acclimated in Cleveland. The 40-year-old simply wants to focus on playing at as high a level as possible after signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Browns. "It's not really about that. It's just not the main focus," Flacco said at the second day of Cleveland's OTAs Wednesday when asked about being a mentor. "I see myself as a guy that can play in this league. So, if your main focus was just like, 'hey, but I'm going to get you ready,' you're just not taking care of business." How does Flacco envision his potential role as a mentor? He sees himself as more of a lead-by-example type who will benefit from being on the field. "The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is to show people how you go to work and like I said, hope that they pick up on that stuff, but not necessarily force them to pick up on the things that you do," Flacco said. 'ANOTHER LIE': Shedeur Sanders disputes custom Rolls-Royce rumor Flacco has been given an early opportunity to test that theory. He appears to have the early edge in the Browns' starting quarterback battle after beginning OTAs as Cleveland's first-team quarterback. Whether that lasts may depend on how Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders progress as the season draws near. Flacco – the Super Bowl 47 MVP and 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year – is welcoming the competition. He also said he is enjoying the vibe in the team's quarterback room and working with younger quarterbacks like Sanders. "Shedeur has been great. I mean, he's a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms," Flacco said, per ESPN. "I think so far, there's been at least once in the meeting room that he's made me crack a smile, and that's what it's all about. You know, he's a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things. And like I said, he's been a lot of fun. I probably wasn't too far away from playing against his dad, and now I'm playing with him."
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ja'Marr Chase won't commit to playing flag football at 2028 Olympics
Ja'Marr Chase won't commit to playing flag football at 2028 Olympics Show Caption Hide Caption NFL players can now partake in Olympic flag football Olympic flag football, which will make it's debut at the 2028 summer games, just got bumped up a level after the NFL agreed to let its players partake. Sports Pulse Ja'Marr Chase isn't ready to plant the flag on playing in the Olympics just yet. The Cincinnati Bengals star receiver is getting ready for his fifth season in the NFL and is fresh off signing a massive contract extension this offseason. But what about representing the United States in a different sport? At the recent NFL owners meetings, the league gave its approval for players to be eligible to participate in the flag football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. For now, it doesn't appear Chase will be campaigning for a roster spot. 'I don't know how I feel about it, if I'm being completely honest,' Chase said, via WPCO's Marshall Kramsky. 'I want to know the timing for us, offseason, in-season. I want to know if we're getting paid. I want to know where we traveling every other week or every day, like all that plays a part, because we have an offseason, we have a life. Also, how long would that be? I don't know. There's a lot of questions to it." Chase went on to point out that he's not 100% on board yet, saying the idea is cool, but there are still a lot of unknowns. When asked if the Pro Bowl gave him any insight into the flag football game, Chase said they're not the same. "First off, NFL Pro Bowl is against pros," Chase said. "Listen, Pro Bowl. All pros. You playing in the Olympics, not saying they not pros, but they not the same people we seeing every day." While the receiver continues to ponder his potential role, he also took a moment to point out the clashing of the two games if NFL players take flag football team roster spots every four years in the Olympics. "We taking they love of the game, and bashing it with our love of the game," Chase said. "Now we taking away their love of the game and we killing them. It's a lot, bro. I think it's cool, but I just don't know if I'm 100% in on it." Whether Chase eventually comes around to the idea remains to be seen, but former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson was singing a different tune. "Just to think about the chances of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal, it's a dream," Jefferson told reporters last week following announcement. "Just reverting back to being a kid and watching the track and field meets, watching basketball win the gold medal – that's something that as a kid, I always wanted to be a part of," Jefferson said. "But football wasn't (global). So now that we're expanding the game and we're going more globally, it's pretty cool." The Minnesota Vikings' star is seemingly all-in on flag football at the Olympics. Despite early roster spot debates, Jefferson has plenty of time to get Chase on board.
