Latest news with #Week18
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Cowboys QB Joe Milton training with girlfriend raises eyebrows ahead of training camp
Joe Milton's girlfriend helps him master Cowboys playbook (Image via: Getty Images) Joe Milton's quest to master the Dallas Cowboys' offense has taken a surprising turn and it involves poker chips, play calls, and his girlfriend. While some fans applaud his creativity, others are questioning whether this unconventional method is NFL-ready material, especially in a high-pressure franchise like Dallas. Joe Milton's DIY playbook strategy raises eyebrows in NFL Should Dak Prescott be concerned with Joe Milton joining the Cowboys? | NFL | THE FACILITY In a league where preparation is everything, second-year quarterback Joe Milton is taking a road less traveled and it's catching attention across the NFL. Acquired this offseason by the Cowboys in a quiet trade, Milton is aiming to secure the backup quarterback role behind Dak Prescott. But his method of getting up to speed is what has everyone talking. According to The Athletic's Jon Machota, Milton is running daily at-home drills with the help of his girlfriend. She reads plays from the Cowboys' script while Milton recreates offensive formations using poker chips. It's a hands-on, visual learning strategy, one that Milton reportedly plans to use every day between minicamp and training camp. While the approach has a romantic ring to it, a couple bonding over football, it also raises legitimate concerns. In a quarterback room already under scrutiny, is relying on a non-professional for mental reps the best route for development? Fans and analysts alike are torn between viewing it as charming innovation or a sign of a player still far from NFL readiness. Milton, known for his cannon of an arm and raw athleticism, impressed in his only NFL outing, a surprise Week 18 win that ironically hurt the Patriots' draft position. But now in Dallas, the stakes are higher. With Cooper Rush gone and Will Grier unproven, Milton is in real contention for the No. 2 spot behind Prescott. Yet, when the competition includes NFL veterans and former starters, any hint of unorthodoxy invites scrutiny. While Milton's commitment to learning is undeniable, some wonder whether this poker-chip method reveals just how steep the learning curve really is and whether the Cowboys can afford to take such risks at the quarterback position. Also Read: Christian McCaffrey injury update and Kyle Shanahan's outlook on missing star's impact for San Francisco 49ers' playoff hopes As training camp approaches, Milton's unique prep style will soon face the ultimate test: live reps, defensive pressure, and the expectations of a franchise that lives and breathes football. For now, he's betting on love, poker chips, and persistence to keep his NFL dream alive.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Noah Fant ranked as No. 25 tight end according to PFF
Noah Fant ranked as No. 25 tight end according to PFF When the Seattle Seahawks traded quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos prior to the 2022 season, one of the assets they received in the blockbuster deal was tight end Noah Fant. The athletic former Hawkeye has been in Seattle ever since, and unfortunately, he has not turned into the weapon many had hoped he would be. I for one have been frustrated at the lack of usage by the tight end position in general by both Shane Waldron and Ryan Grubb, and am hopeful Klint Kubiak will finally figure out a way to get players like Fant more involved. Still, part of the blame does fall on Fant as well. His best season with the Seahawks was his first one, where he hauled in 50 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns. In the two years since then, he's only scored one touchdown and his best yardage output was 500 yards in 2024. The lack of production is why Pro Football Focus ranked Fant rather low on their tight end rankings. Heading into the 2025 season, Fant is (fittingly) at No. 25 overall in the league. Here is what PFF had to say about the presumptive Seahawks starter: Fant has consistently generated yards throughout his six-year career, but his touchdown production has dropped off over the past two years. He earned a 70.2 PFF receiving grade in 2024 but could see a dip in his production if rookie Elijah Arroyo, Seattle's second-round pick, is able to hit the ground running. It's not just Elijah Arroyo that Fant may have to worry about, it's second year player AJ Barner as well. Last season, Barner had 18 less receptions but found the end zone four times as a rookie. Had Fant not scored in the Week 18 finale, Barner would have had as many touchdowns in one season as Fant had in nearly three with Seattle. Fant is entering the final year of his contract with the Seahawks, and carries a $13 million cap hit. Seattle has the room to carry it, but it's hard to imagine he will be a high priority to re-sign for 2026, and it's hard to envision the Seahawks could net a good return in a trade. It will likely be one more season in the Emerald City for Fant as Kubiak gets Arroyo and Barner up to speed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tyreek Hill's strong message to Dolphins teammates after trade drama
The post Tyreek Hill's strong message to Dolphins teammates after trade drama appeared first on ClutchPoints. Tyreek Hill sent the sports world into a frenzy earlier in the offseason when he demanded a trade immediately after the 21-14 Week 18 loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, in recent weeks, the Miami Dolphins have noticed a change in his approach with the team, and it doesn't appear he wants out of Miami anymore. On Wednesday, Hill sent a strong message to his teammates to prove to them he's locked in with them for the upcoming season. Advertisement During an open interview with media members, the 31-year-old wideout claimed that he wants to be someone his teammates can rely on, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. Tyreek Hill admitted that his divorce situation with his ex-wife has been rough, and said that going to church and therapy more is helping him work through it. Overall, it sounds like the Dolphins star is ready to focus more on football and remove the outside distractions. 'Every day you gotta prove who you are. It doesn't matter how much you learned or how much success you've had in this league. It's always a 'next day' mentality,' said Tyreek Hill. 'Every day, I'm trying to prove myself as one of those guys that this team can depend on in crucial moments… Emotions were high in the end. At the end of the day, man, I'm just looking to move forward from [the trade drama] and hope that I can prove to myself, prove to my teammates that I'm still one of them ones.' The seven-time Pro Bowler also claimed he still aims to surpass the 2,000 receiving yard mark in a single season, which is a feat that's never been accomplished. The current record is 1,964 receiving yards, which was set by Calvin Johnson with the Detroit Lions in the 2012 season. Tyreek Hill's career high is 1,799 yards, which he reached in the 2023 season with the Dolphins. Hill came just shy of 1,000 receiving yards in the 2024-25 campaign, which was the first time in five seasons that he failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Through 17 games played, Hill finished with 81 receptions, 959 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. His six scores tied for the lowest of his career.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seahawks' Sam Darnold places 25th in PFF QB rankings
The Seattle Seahawks signed Sam Darnold to a three-year contract worth more than $100 million in free agency to be their new starting quarterback. Darnold enjoyed a career-best year with the Minnesota Vikings last season, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. Despite that, there's still widespread doubt over his actual abilities. Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 projected starting quarterbacks in the league. Breaking them off into tiers, Darnold placed in Tier 5, "veterans capable of solid play, but could quickly be replaced." Darnold checks in at No. 25 overall, the top-ranked QB in his tier (as if that's some sort of consolation prize). "The big question for Darnold and the Seahawks is which version of the quarterback shows up in 2025," John Kosko asks. "Will it be the one we saw from 2018 to 2023, when his highest-graded season was just a 66.0 as he struggled with decision-making and offensive consistency? Or will it be the quarterback who earned an 85.8 grade over the first 17 weeks of the 2024 season and helped lead the Vikings to 14 wins? His late-season regression and playoff struggles were concerning, and he'll be working with a less talented supporting cast in Seattle." Advertisement As terrific as Darnold was throughout the majority of 2024, critics are asking if it was a one-off performance after he was previously written off as a first-round bust. Darnold's late-season regression was concerning. The Vikings were blown out 31-9 by the Detroit Lions in a division-deciding Week 18 finale, and they followed that up with a 27-9 embarrassment against the NFC West winning Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend. Darnold has to earn respect in Seattle before QB ranking pieces view him more favorably. This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: 2025 QB rankings: Seahawks' Sam Darnold ranked as a lower-tier QB
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks' Sam Darnold places 25th in PFF QB rankings
Seahawks' Sam Darnold places 25th in PFF QB rankings The Seattle Seahawks signed Sam Darnold to a three-year contract worth more than $100 million in free agency to be their new starting quarterback. Darnold enjoyed a career-best year with the Minnesota Vikings last season, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. Despite that, there's still widespread doubt over his actual abilities. Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 projected starting quarterbacks in the league. Breaking them off into tiers, Darnold placed in Tier 5, "veterans capable of solid play, but could quickly be replaced." Darnold checks in at No. 25 overall, the top-ranked QB in his tier (as if that's some sort of consolation prize). "The big question for Darnold and the Seahawks is which version of the quarterback shows up in 2025," John Kosko asks. "Will it be the one we saw from 2018 to 2023, when his highest-graded season was just a 66.0 as he struggled with decision-making and offensive consistency? Or will it be the quarterback who earned an 85.8 grade over the first 17 weeks of the 2024 season and helped lead the Vikings to 14 wins? His late-season regression and playoff struggles were concerning, and he'll be working with a less talented supporting cast in Seattle." As terrific as Darnold was throughout the majority of 2024, critics are asking if it was a one-off performance after he was previously written off as a first-round bust. Darnold's late-season regression was concerning. The Vikings were blown out 31-9 by the Detroit Lions in a division-deciding Week 18 finale, and they followed that up with a 27-9 embarrassment against the NFC West winning Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend. Darnold has to earn respect in Seattle before QB ranking pieces view him more favorably.
