Latest news with #TomBlair
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2 Indianapolis Colts players make 'best NFL team money can buy'
Tom Blair set out to build the best NFL roster while staying under the 2025 salary cap, and included were two members of the Indianapolis Colts. "I embarked on a perfect July exercise," wrote Blair, "building The Best Team Money Can Buy, assembling the most imposing 53-man roster I could under the 2025 NFL salary cap." Tanor Bortolini provided center depth--and an option at guard as well--while Zaire Franklin was a part of Blair's linebacker unit. Neither Bortolini nor Franklin was a starter on this team. As noted by Blair in the article, Bortolini comes with a cap hit of $3.66 million this season, and Franklin $4.38 million. Bortolini is still relatively inexperienced with eight NFL appearances and six starts, but he performed well when called upon during his rookie season. He would rank 15th in PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric and was 22nd out of 40 centers in run-blocking grade. "I saw a young player that got better each time he went out there," offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. said. "The game wasn't too big for him. Athletically, he has a ton to offer in terms of what he's able to do on the move, in terms of how he's able to mirror people in pass protection." Franklin, meanwhile, made his first Pro Bowl in 2024 and was named a second-team All-Pro after leading the NFL in tackles. He also set a career high with 15 quarterback pressures, four sacks, and two interceptions. Also of note when discussing Franklin's spot on Blair's roster is that he has ample special teams experience, which is an important aspect of playing linebacker in the NFL, particularly for those who are backups. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' Tanor Bortolini, Zaire Franklin make best team 'money can buy'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers' New Pass Rusher Labeled 'Player to Root For'
Buccaneers' New Pass Rusher Labeled 'Player to Root For' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht had some things to work on this offseason with regard to the team's defense from a season ago. Advertisement The Bucs' defense struggled with pressure on the quarterback, in pass coverage and taking the ball away in 2024. Licht addressed the pass rush part of that by signing free agent Haason Reddick early in the offseason. Tom Blair named Reddick as the Bucs player that we should root for. "Reddick was quite the pass-rushing mercenary between 2020 and 2023, stacking up 50.5 sacks over four seasons with three different teams," Blair wrote. "That run came to a spectacular halt last season, with an ultimately fruitless pursuit of a better contract swallowing up most of his brief stay with the Jets. Now he's with the Bucs, a team on the upswing that also happens to roster a good number of likable players on feel-good career tracks. One thing they've missed since the Golden Age of Baker Mayfield commenced in 2023, however, is a consistent pass-rush presence on the edge; Shaq Barrett was the last Tampa player to tally more than 7.5 sacks in a season, back when he posted 10 in 2021. Advertisement "Reddick can restore his reputation as one of the NFL's preeminent QB-chasers-for-hire while keeping Mayfield, Mike Evans, Todd Bowles and Co. relevant in our lives as football fans, and that would be a win-win as far as I'm concerned." Licht got Reddick on the cheap this year and it's with a good reason, as CBS Sports' Garrett Podell described. "A contract dispute with the Philadelphia Eagles that turned into a trade to theNew York Jets last season derailed Reddick's production," Podell wrote. "His holdout led to him not making his Jets debut in 2024 until Week 8, and he only registered one sack in New York's final 10 games of the season. That chipped away at the 30-year-old's ability to command a multiyear deal in free agency this offseason, which is why he settled for a one-year, $14 million deal with $12 million fully guaranteed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "There's certainly a chance Reddick could return to stardom with a regular offseason in Tampa Bay this year. " Advertisement Related: Buccaneers' Haason Reddick's Odds to Lead NFL in Sacks Revealed Related: Buccaneers Rookie Corner Labeled Possible Surprise This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New York Giants' Malik Nabers Earns Unusual Ranking From NFL.com
New York Giants' Malik Nabers Earns Unusual Ranking From originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Giants didn't have much to celebrate during the disaster that was the 2024 season. Big Blue struggled against the pass, couldn't protect the quarterback, and went through multiple signal-callers during their 3-14 campaign. Advertisement But as bad as the 2024 campaign was, one star did emerge as he found a way to create a relatively positive vibe about his talent ... and maybe about this team's future. Malik Nabers, the sixth-overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, set rookie franchise records in both receptions and reception yards as he exploded onto the scene. In too many cases last season, a cynic might say Nabers was just about New York's only player worth watching. That is why Nabers is writer Tom Blair's choice on Big Blue's roster to root for in his latest series before training camp. "What I definitely do not want is for Nabers to become yet another talented receiver whose ultimate ceiling is shrouded by a forgettable quarterback and surrounding cast," Blair said. Advertisement "It's great that he made the Pro Bowl and garnered some Offensive Rookie of the Year votes while catching passes from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle last year. Next, let's get him into some meaningful late-season or playoff games." Do we think the "root for'' series at is a bit odd? Let's call the rankings "unusual.'' But ... New York knows they need Nabers as dominant (and happy) as possible if they want a chance to try and be competitive in 2025. The young superstar was the best rookie NFL receiver from last season, and has a better quarterback throwing him the ball this year than last. So ... Advertisement Can QB Russell Wilson form a top partnership with the Giants' No. 1 receiver? That'll be the difference between New York fielding a competent roster and being one of the worst teams in the league. And the former over the latter is really what Giants fans are "rooting for.'' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Clutha claim comfortable win as intensity gets job done
There was a mixed bag of results to delve into as the Southern Region round robin phase was completed at the weekend. Games were played in far better conditions than last weekend as teams battled for positioning in the top and bottom halves of the table. Clutha did what they had to do against Toko. It was hardly the cleanest of performances by the round robin winners but the 38-21 scoreline was comfortable. Toko looked strong in the opening stages and really had Clutha on the back foot. The teams traded tries and were locked in a tight battle until Clutha snatched a late try to go into the sheds 19-7 ahead. Toko started the second half in strong fashion, but Clutha finally woke up and got into their stride. Clutha's forwards, led by flanker Kael Merrett in his 50th game, began to make metres up the middle and their backline thrived on the front-foot ball they were finally receiving. Toko pushed Clutha the whole way but could not keep up with the intensity of the game and were second best on the day. The two teams will meet again next weekend in one of the top four semifinals. West Taieri will face Crescent in the other top four semifinal after their clinical 36-12 win over Clutha Valley at Clydevale. The first half was an old-fashioned slugfest with both sides embracing the swamp-like conditions. The teams traded tries but neither could dominate after that, and handling errors and poor decision-making ensured there were plenty of scrums for the fatties to enjoy. West Taieri led 12-7 at halftime, before they brought on some fresh legs and began to play with the structure required to break Valley down. West Taieri scored four second-half tries and claimed a comfortable win. Heriot produced the upset of the round with a 26-25 win over Crescent at Kaitangata in one of the tightest games of the season. The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Crescent were perhaps slightly more clinical, and they went into halftime ahead 15-13. The second half was equally as close with the sides trading blows as the match neared fulltime. Crescent held a slim lead with the final whistle almost upon them. Heriot mounted one last attack and, like in the first round, scored a try on fulltime through winger Tom Blair. Ryan Neill calmly slotted the conversion, giving Heriot a confidence-boosting win. Owaka claimed their second consecutive win with a 27-17 win over Lawrence at Simpson Park. Owaka were dominant in the first half with some strong carries that allowed their explosive backline to make metres, and they led 20-7 at the break. Lawrence fought their way back into the match and put the pressure on the visitors. Backed by a hugely dominant scrum, Owaka managed to score a try to extend their lead, and they held on for the win. By Francis Parker
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens Urged To Sign Lamar Jackson To Mega-Extension
Ravens Urged To Sign Lamar Jackson To Mega-Extension originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens are one of the few teams in football that would not trade their quarterback for anything. Lamar Jackson doesn't just make the Ravens perennial contenders. He's the engine of the offense and the biggest factor in forging Baltimore's identity. Advertisement He's also eligible for an extension, and after several quarterbacks have separated Jackson from the top of the market. Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract that temporarily made him the sport's highest-paid player. By average annual value, he now ranks 10th. Subsequently, a new deal could be signed before the season, rightfully putting him amongst the best-compensated passers in the NFL. NFL Media recently urged the Ravens to sign Jackson to a massive extension, ranking him as the player most deserving of a raise. 'Jackson and Patrick Mahomes could probably hold a spot on top of this list forever -- or at least for as long as they are playing football, no matter what their game checks look like,' Tom Blair wrote. 'How much is too much to pay a walking, talking ticket to Super Bowl contention?' Advertisement Jackson almost won his third MVP in 2024 (he took home first-team All-Pro recognition), and it may have been his best season. In terms of passing production, it was easily his most impressive campaign. Jackson logged his first 4,000-yard season in 2024. He led the NFL in touchdown percentage, yards per attempt, passer rating, and quarterback rating. His athleticism under center is unparalleled, making Baltimore's ground game as dangerous as its aerial attack. No passer has more gravity, giving him a skill set only constrained by market tradition and the salary cap. 'Every team is chasing exactly this kind of superpowered generational QB, but most will never get close to rostering one. That feverish pursuit has helped inflate the quarterback market to the point that, somewhat ludicrously, nine signal-callers are paid more per year than the two-time MVP. Advertisement 'The game of Highest-Paid-Player Hot Potato often, of course, seems to be driven more by timing than merit, but this discrepancy is begging to be corrected with a new deal for one of the top talents in football. Hopefully, Baltimore's willingness to publicly discuss the topic is a sign that balance will be restored soon -- and with fewer bumps on the road to resolution than we saw last time.' If there were any doubts about Jackson's worthiness the last time around, he obliterated them with back-to-back MVP-caliber campaigns. Jackson has shown no signs of slowing down, and as he grows into one of the game's best passers, Baltimore can feel even more confident in ensuring he is around for as long as possible. It's only a matter of time before the Ravens make Jackson the highest-paid player in the sport for the second time. Related: Lamar Jackson Is Too Good To Lead NFL in Passing Related: Ravens Won't Play Games With Potential Lamar Jackson Extension This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
