Category : Red Zone Rumors

In the final analysis, the contract quarterback Geno Smith signed with the Raiders isn’t much better than the contract his replacement in Seattle, quarterback Sam Darnold, signed with the Seahawks. Smith presumably could have gotten that same deal, or something close to it, if he’d stayed in Seattle. However, there

The cost of new stadiums keeps going up. The value of NFL franchises keeps going up. The end result is more borrowing by NFL teams that are building new stadiums. Via Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, the NFL’s owners approved a pair of debt moves this week. First, the

The NFL’s long-time scheduling guru has scheduled his retirement. Via Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, NFL senior V.P. of broadcasting and media operations Howard Katz will retire after the 2025 schedule is set in May. Katz, 75, is a former TV executive who has spent more than 20 years

Nearly seven years since the Supreme Court opened the floodgates for state-by-state legalized sports wagering, it’s still the Wild West. And with the federal government doing little if anything to regulate the sports-betting industry, it’s up to litigation to apply guardrails to our current BET! BET! BET! reality. The latest

Quarterback Geno Smith has gotten his extension. He didn’t get it from the team everyone thought he’d get it from. Four weeks ago today, the Seahawks abruptly struck a deal to trade Smith to the Raiders. On Thursday, news emerged of two new years being added to the one year

Former Bills G.M. Doug Whaley has joined the emerging trend of college football programs hiring General Managers. Sort of. Via Stephen Thompson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said Thursday that Whaley has essentially been operating in the role of G.M. “for a couple of years.” The program

All eyes in Cincinnati are suddenly on the ticking clock toward an expiration of the Bengals’ lease at Paycor Stadium. Earlier this week, Bengals executive V.P. Katie Blackburn acknowledged the reality that, without an extension, the Bengals are technically free to play anywhere in 2026. To the extent that time

The last two seasons have been disappointing ones in Jacksonville and the hope is that a change in head coaches will move the franchise in a better direction in 2025. For Liam Coen’s arrival to have that kind of impact, the Jags will need quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s play to rebound

The best tight end in the 2025 NFL draft is likely to end up with the Jets or Colts, if the betting odds are to be believed. The Jets and Colts are co-favorites to select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, with +180 odds at DraftKings. The next-shortest odds belong

There are a few weeks to go before the 2025 NFL Draft will be in full swing, but the Falcons are giving a hint about what direction they are going to take in Green Bay later this month. That hint came from owner Arthur Blank when he spoke to reporters

When Josh McDaniels was fired as the Broncos head coach in December 2010, it took him a little more than a month to land a new job as the Rams’ offensive coordinator. McDaniels’ second head coaching stint also ended with an in-season dismissal, but he didn’t jump right into a

Lions coach Dan Campbell says the Eagles’ tush push needs to be stopped by opposing defenses, not a change to the NFL rulebook. Campbell was asked at the league meeting if the tush push should remain legal, and he made clear that he doesn’t think it’s fair to pass a

The Buccaneers signed pass rusher Haason Reddick last month expecting him to get back to Pro Bowl form, according to coach Todd Bowles. Reddick had a strange season in 2024, getting traded from the Eagles to the Jets and then asking for the Jets to trade him before ever playing

The Dolphins signed former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson to a one-year deal last month to be Tua Tagovailoa’s backup in 2025. At the annual league meeting in Palm Beach this week, head coach Mike McDaniel called Wilson “a direct, calculated target.” “To be quite frank, it’s an inexact

The Bengals have managed to sign three of the four players specifically named by quarterback Joe Burrow during his campaign to get the team to break the piggy bank for key members of the roster. The last man standing is defensive end Trey Hendrickson. And the Bengals continue to bungle

When the Bears interviewed Eddie George for their head-coaching vacancy, only to quickly give Ben Johnson the job, questions were raised about whether the interview with George was a sham, making a mockery of the Rooney Rule. To the contrary, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren says the interview with

The Patriots will start their offseason program next week and that will give quarterback Drake Maye his first chance to work with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. McDaniels returned to New England after Mike Vrabel was hired as the head coach and he said in a Thursday press conference that he

The Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since 2002, which was their last Super Bowl appearance. The only two seasons they have had a winning record since then — in 2016 and in 2021 — were the only two seasons they have made the postseason the past 22 seasons. It’s

The Cardinals have officially added an offensive lineman. Arizona announced on Thursday that the club has signed Jake Curhan to a one-year deal. Curhan, 27, spent last season with the Bears, appearing in 10 games with two starts. He was on the field for 40 percent of the offensive snaps

The financial terms of the two-year extension that quarterback Geno Smith agreed to with the Raiders were not immediately available on Thursday, but they have now been revealed. According to multiple reports, Smith stands to make $75 million over the two additional years on the contract. Smith is due $31

Jameis Winston played only one season in Cleveland, but it apparently made a lasting impression on him. After the quarterback officially signed his deal with the Giants, Winston wrote a good-bye. He said he was sending his “deepest gratitude” to the city, the team and its fans. “I’m so happy

Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown suffered a severe knee injury for the second time in as many years in Week 14 and the timing of the injury cast some doubt about whether he’ll be a contributor for Dallas in 2025. Overshown said in January that he aims to be back on

Free agent quarterback Case Keenum has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million with the Bears, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Keenum will help mentor Caleb Williams in Chicago as he did for C.J. Stroud in Houston. Tyson Bagent and Austin Reed are the other quarterbacks on

Remember when the Seahawks pivoted from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold because Smith wanted too much and Darnold was signed for significantly cheaper? Less than a month later, that swap has a much different feel. Although the initial reports of the value of a new contract are almost always flawed

Lions head coach Dan Campbell lost both of his coordinators this offseason, with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson becoming head coach of the Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn becoming head coach of the Jets. But Campbell is not concerned. Campbell acknowledged at the league meeting that “continuity is always good”

The Bears signed wide receiver Miles Boykin and defensive back Shaun Wade on Thursday, according to the NFL’s transactions report. Boykin, 28, was on the Seahawks’ practice squad last season. He has not appeared in a game since 2023 when he was with the Steelers, playing 316 special teams plays

As previously explained, the Stefon Diggs contract isn’t what it seemed to be. Given the current customs of #scooptown, that’s not unusual. Here’s something from his contract that is. Per a source with knowledge of the terms of the Diggs deal, the Patriots have secured broad protection against a setback

The Cardinals have locked up one of their key young offensive players for years to come. Arizona announced on Thursday that the club has agreed to a four-year extension with Trey McBride. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McBride will become the highest-paid tight end in league history, earning $76 million

Two key members of the Lions offense are changing their numbers for the 2025 season. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is trading in No. 26 in order to wear No. 0 for the defending NFC North champions. Wide receiver Jameson Williams will be No. 1 after wearing No. 9 for his

The Packers announced changes to their coaching staff for 2025. They hired DeMarcus Covington as defensive line/run game coordinator, Luke Getsy as senior assistant, Cory Harkey as special teams quality control coach, Jeremiah Kolone as offensive assistant (minority fellowship), Jeff Koonz as defensive assistant and Jamael Lett as a defensive

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said this week that the team was working on signing quarterback Geno Smith to a contract extension and it turns out that the two sides were close to the finish line. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Smith has agreed to a two-year extension

The new expansion of tariffs is expected to cost automakers like Ford billions of dollars. It won’t impact the football team owned by the Ford family. Via the Detroit Free Press, Lions president Rod Wood said this week that any losses suffered by the Ford Motor Company will not impact

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be sporting a new look in his first full season with the Commanders. The Commanders announced on Thursday that Lattimore will be wearing No. 2 during the 2025 season. Lattimore wore the number while at Ohio State, but has worn No. 23 since entering the NFL

The Chiefs are bringing back a familiar face for their defense. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, safety Mike Edwards is signing with Kansas City on a one-year deal. Edwards, 28, has spent most of his career with the Buccaneers, and appeared in five games with two starts for the

Offseason programs will be starting for teams with new coaches next week and the NFL has announced the key dates for all 32 teams. All teams will open their programs with two weeks of meetings and conditioning work before they can advance to on-field work. That work will include up

While the biggest moves of Seattle’s offseason revolved around quarterbacks, they also made a splash on defense by signing lineman DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawrence, 32, signed with the club in March after 11 years with the Cowboys. At the annual league meeting in Palm Beach this week, head coach Mike Macdonald

Joe Milton is headed to Dallas. According to multiple reports, the Cowboys have traded for Milton to backup quarterback Dak Prescott. The Patriots will receive a fifth-round pick in exchange for Milton and a seventh-round pick. It was reported on Wednesday that New England had received multiple trade inquiries on

The Titans have decided on some key dates for their offseason program. The team announced this week that they will begin their offseason work on April 22 and they also shared the dates for their organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. They’ll hold their OTAs on May 27,28, and May

Even if concerns about injury and aesthetics have become embarrassing pretexts for dumping the tush push, the effort to nudge the play out of the rule book has likely started the clock on the official expiration of the technique. By flagging the play as a catastrophic injury waiting to happen,

The Bengals have contract issues, on the field and off. Their lease at Paycor Stadium will expire on June 30, 2026 — unless they exercise an option to extend it by two years on or before June 30, 2025. Team executive V.P. Katie Blackburn was asked about the status of

Ravens coach John Harbaugh recently said an extension for running back Derrick Henry is “definitely in the conversation.” At some point, it needs to be more than a conversation. Henry, who has earned a $1 million roster bonus, is due to make another $6 million in salary in 2025. That’s

Christmas football is here to stay. And the Chiefs hope to stay playing on Christmas. The Chiefs reportedly hope to become a permanent fixture on Christmas, like the Lions and Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Our two cents? Don’t do it, NFL. The Chiefs won’t permanently be competitive and relevant. They won’t

The Commanders have gone outside the usual football development system for the latest addition to their roster. The team announced the signing of T.J. Maguranyanga on Thursday. Maguranyanga, who is listed as a defensive end, is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program for the the 2025 season. Maguranyanga

Quarterback has been the position of focus for the Colts this offseason as their decision to sign Daniel Jones and set up a competition with Anthony Richardson has been the biggest move they’ve made since the end of the 2024 season. It’s not the only place they need to improve

The Ravens have been a perennial playoff team since drafting quarterback Lamar Jackson and they have had some success in the postseason, but not enough of it to end their Super Bowl drought. Jackson and the Ravens have not advanced past the AFC Championship Game and last year’s season came

Bills cornerback Christian Benford’s new contract will change his life. But not his approach. Benford said in announcing the deal that the money, about $70 million over the life of the contract, will make an enormous difference to his family. “Let’s be for real – like, it’s a life-changing moment,”

Russell Wilson will keep his old number on his new team. The Giants have announced that Wilson will wear No. 3 this season. That’s the number he’s worn throughout his NFL career, for 10 years in Seattle, two years in Denver and last year in Pittsburgh. Deonte Banks, who previously

For the 18-game season, it’s a question of “when” and not “if.” And the “when” could be coming soon. Per a source with knowledge of the dynamics, talks between the NFL and the NFL Players Association could begin as soon as June or July. The addition of another regular-season game

Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998. The Buccaneers currently plan not to replace it but to renovate it. Via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Bucs co-owner Joel Glazer told reporters on Tuesday that the team plans a “massive renovation” of its longtime home. “It’s something you’re always looking

The Chargers signed tight end Jordan Petaia on Wednesday, the team announced. He joins the team as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway training program. Petaia trained in the IPP program over 10 weeks at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, culminated by showcasing his skills at a Pro Day