NFL Thread

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

Vikes add Matthews, Mays to defense

The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday that they had agreed to terms with linebacker Casey Matthews and safety Taylor Mays.

Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

"It's great to be here," Matthews told the team's website. "I'm looking forward to a new opportunity and a new chapter in my life."

The Vikings are in the market for a new starting middle linebacker after Jasper Brinkley signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month. Matthews has more NFL starting experience at an inside linebacker position than anyone else on the Vikings' current roster, and figures to be in the hunt for playing time in the middle.

Matthews, 26, started 10 games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014, more than he had in his previous three seasons combined. The former fourth-round pick had been a backup middle linebacker and special teams player during his first couple seasons in the league.

Matthews moved to one of the inside linebacker spots when the Eagles switched to a 3-4 scheme in 2013. He didn't start any games that season, as DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks played in all 16 regular-season games.

But Kendricks missed time early in 2014, and Ryans tore his Achilles tendon in Week 9. Matthews started three games in place of Kendricks and then seven games in Ryans' spot. He was credited with 59 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Mays, 27, played three seasons for Vikings coach Mike Zimmer while he was the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator.

The Vikings were in the market for an upgrade at safety, and while Mays wasn't a starter for Zimmer in Cincinnati, he bring some depth to the team's defensive backfield and is a player who already knows Zimmer's defense. He saw his largest amount of playing time for the Bengals in 2012, when he played all 16 games and started three.

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

Reports: Mason Foster agrees to deal with Bears

The Chicago Bears may have found their replacement for Lance Briggs.

According to Jen Lada of CSNChicago.com, the Bears have agreed to terms with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Mason Foster.

Foster has been a starter for each of his four seasons with the Buccaneers after being selected in the third round out of the University of Washington in 2011.

Foster had his least productive season for Tampa Bay last year. He appeared in just 10 games as he battled injuries throughout the year. He recorded just 40 tackles.

For his career, Foster has racked up 343 tackles, six sacks, five interceptions and two forced fumbles in 57 games.

The San Francisco 49ers were also interested in Foster before he elected to sign with Chicago.

 

[savage]

The NFL is launching a year-long celebration of the Super Bowl to commemorate Super Bowl 50, which will be played on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area. The plans were announced today at the NFL Annual Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.

The 2015 season will feature a gold thematic signifying the 50th “golden” Super Bowl that will be visible on the field and throughout the season. The 50-yard line numerals and NFL shield logo at every stadium will be gold. Team logos on sideline apparel will have accents of gold and logos for NFL events, including Draft, Kickoff and the Playoffs, will turn to gold.

The NFL unveiled last year the Super Bowl 50 logos that feature “50,” breaking for one year its unique tradition of using Roman numerals to identify that season’s championship game. To commemorate this, the NFL commissioned Tiffany & Co to handcraft the 50. Each number is cast in bronze, plated in 18kt gold and weighs nearly 33 lbs. The gold 50 will appear alongside the Vince Lombardi Trophy all year and will be presented to the Super Bowl champions at the MVP and head coach press conference the morning following the game.

 

[savage]

The NFL is launching a year-long celebration of the Super Bowl to commemorate Super Bowl 50, which will be played on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area. The plans were announced today at the NFL Annual Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.

The 2015 season will feature a gold thematic signifying the 50th “golden” Super Bowl that will be visible on the field and throughout the season. The 50-yard line numerals and NFL shield logo at every stadium will be gold. Team logos on sideline apparel will have accents of gold and logos for NFL events, including Draft, Kickoff and the Playoffs, will turn to gold.

The NFL unveiled last year the Super Bowl 50 logos that feature “50,” breaking for one year its unique tradition of using Roman numerals to identify that season’s championship game. To commemorate this, the NFL commissioned Tiffany & Co to handcraft the 50. Each number is cast in bronze, plated in 18kt gold and weighs nearly 33 lbs. The gold 50 will appear alongside the Vince Lombardi Trophy all year and will be presented to the Super Bowl champions at the MVP and head coach press conference the morning following the game.

http://nflcommunications.com/2015/03/24/super-bowl-is-on-the-fifty/

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

NFL passes “Brian Bosworth rule,” linebackers can now wear jerseys numbered 40-49

Brian Bosworth once filed a restraining order against the NFL in an attempt to wear the No. 44 as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks in 1987. Bosworth eventually lost the fight and had to switch numbers to No. 55 for the remainder of his NFL career.

If Bosworth was playing in the NFL in 2015, he would have been allowed to keep his coveted No. 44.

The NFL Competition Committee passed a rule at the league meetings allowing linebackers to wear jersey numbers in the 40s for the first time. The reason given for the change was the shortage of available numbers for linebackers.

Previously, linebackers were only allowed to wear 50-59 and 90-99. With centers also eligible to wear numbers in the 50s and defensive linemen eligible to wear numbers in the 50s and 90s, the available numbers were running short. Also with the expansion of offseason rosters to 90 players, there just aren’t enough numbers to go around.

Bosworth wasn’t the only linebacker to attempt to wear a number in the 40s in the past. Another Seahawk, Julian Peterson, tried to wear No. 44 with Seattle after joining the team in 2006. He wore the number throughout the preseason before changing to No. 59 for the regular season and the remainder of his tenure in Seattle. However, Peterson didn’t attempt the legal fight Bosworth did.

There have only been a few changes to the numbering protocol since the system was introduced in 1973. The most recent changes were when defensive linemen were allowed to wear 50-59 beginning in 2010 and when receivers were allowed to wear 10-19 beginning in 2004.

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

Reports: Vikings reach deal with Terence Newman, who’s likely to sign Friday

The Vikings will reportedly soon finalize a contract with a cornerback whom head coach Mike Zimmer knows well.

According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP-TV in St. Paul, Minnesota is likely to sign Bengals corner Terence Newman on Friday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports Newman has agreed to a deal worth $2.5 million ($750,000 guaranteed).

Newman, 36, played in Zimmer-led defenses in Dallas (2002-2006) and Cincinnati (2012-2013). He notched 72 tackles, 14 passes defensed and one interception in 2014 for the Bengals. The Cowboys’ No. 1 pick in 2003, Newman has started at least 10 games in all 12 of his NFL seasons.

Xavier Rhodes, Captain Munnerlyn and Josh Robinson are the primary holdover options at cornerback in Minnesota, and Newman’s experience in Zimmer’s scheme would figure to give him a solid shot at a contributing role.

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

Panthers sign Charles Tillman

We’ve watched cornerback Charles Tillman play in a Bears uniform for his entire 12-year NFL career, but it looks like he’ll be wearing different colors in 2015.

Adam Caplan of ESPN reports that the Panthers are expected to sign Tillman after visiting with him this week. The move will reunite Tillman with Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who ran the defense in Chicago from 2004-2006 when Tillman’s career was just getting started.

Tillman was a fixture in the starting lineup by the time Rivera left the Windy City and he remained one straight through the 2013 season. A torn right triceps cost Tillman eight games and he missed all but two games of last season after suffering the same injury.

If Tillman is able to remain healthy and hasn’t lost too much while on the sideline the last two seasons, he would stand a good chance at earning playing time in Carolina. Josh Norman and Bene’ Benwikere are ticketed for roles in the secondary, but there’s not much else in the cupboard after the Panthers were unable to land Alan Ball.

UPDATE 3:54 p.m. ET: The Panthers announced that Tillman has signed a one-year deal with the team.

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

Report: Steelers great Troy Polamalu retiring after 12 seasons

Troy Polamalu, whose iconic long hair roamed the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive backfield for 12 seasons, is retiring, according to a report on Scout.com.

The report says Polamalu has informed the Steelers of his decision. He was an eight-time Pro-Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro. He announced his decision in a phone interview with Scout.

"It's all about family," Polamalu said. "I live here in Pittsburgh now, and since the end of the season I've had a chance to enjoy my family on a level I never had before. It was awesome."

Polamalu played nine games last season before a knee injury forced him to miss four of the last seven games. He returned and recorded eight tackles in the Steelers' playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

The 33-year-old told Scout he didn't consider playing for any other team.


@gimmefreemusic

 

[gimmefreemusic]

Glad he retired a Steeler but how cheap they've been with their vets past few years has been annoying. Im pretty sure Ward, Farrior and Polamalu have been forced to retire for loyalty reasons (rather than going to another team) despite wanting to play a next season. I know it is relative to cap space but seems shitty regardless.

 

[Fucky McFuckerson]

Glad he retired a Steeler but how cheap they've been with their vets past few years has been annoying. Im pretty sure Ward, Farrior and Polamalu have been forced to retire for loyalty reasons (rather than going to another team) despite wanting to play a next season. I know it is relative to cap space but seems shitty regardless.

You cant "force to retire" a player. If he wanted to keep playing, he could have left. Contracts are about as iron clad as tissue.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Panthers sign Charles Tillman

We’ve watched cornerback Charles Tillman play in a Bears uniform for his entire 12-year NFL career, but it looks like he’ll be wearing different colors in 2015.

Adam Caplan of ESPN reports that the Panthers are expected to sign Tillman after visiting with him this week. The move will reunite Tillman with Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who ran the defense in Chicago from 2004-2006 when Tillman’s career was just getting started.

Tillman was a fixture in the starting lineup by the time Rivera left the Windy City and he remained one straight through the 2013 season. A torn right triceps cost Tillman eight games and he missed all but two games of last season after suffering the same injury.

If Tillman is able to remain healthy and hasn’t lost too much while on the sideline the last two seasons, he would stand a good chance at earning playing time in Carolina. Josh Norman and Bene’ Benwikere are ticketed for roles in the secondary, but there’s not much else in the cupboard after the Panthers were unable to land Alan Ball.

UPDATE 3:54 p.m. ET: The Panthers announced that Tillman has signed a one-year deal with the team.

One of my all time favorite players, ever. Glad he found a home but was really hoping SEA would sign him to a one year deal just for depth, experience, leadership. Dude is great person.

 

[gimmefreemusic]

You cant "force to retire" a player. If he wanted to keep playing, he could have left. Contracts are about as iron clad as tissue.

Coerced then not forced, you know what i mean. Those 3 didnt want to play anywhere else.

 

[Fucky McFuckerson]

Coerced then not forced, you know what i mean. Those 3 didnt want to play anywhere else.

Maybe, but Farrior was 36 when he retired, and Ward 35. Those ages arent out of the ordinary in terms of retiring. In fact youre going to be hard pressed finding players over 40 that arent kickers or QB's...far too much wear and tear on the body.

 

[drunkaholic707]

and that dope head bell is suspended for 3 games steelhoes are going 1-15 if lucky 0-16 sounds bout right

 

[Arson]

The all-time NFL power rankings -- of the Super Bowl era - CBSSports.com

nfl all time power rankings, damn respect to the cowboys, steelers, and raiders.

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

Steelers announce cornerback Ike Taylor’s retirement

While this one won’t draw the attention of the last one, the Steelers are dealing with the retirement of another longtime member of their secondary.

The team announced that veteran cornerback Ike Taylor was retiring.

Of course, unlike safety Troy Polamalu, Taylor was a free agent and had a chance to go elsewhere, but didn’t.

Longtime safety Ryan Clark also announced his retirement in March, starting the parade to the door.

Taylor was drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft, and stayed there his entire career, helping them win a pair of Super Bowl titles.

Taylor was initially open to the idea of changing teams (and positions), but seemed to realize there wasn’t a market for his services recently.

While his 2014 season wasn’t one to remember (he was eventually benched after coming back from a broken arm), Taylor’s long and productive career with the Steelers is still worth remembering fondly.

@gimmefreemusic

 

[ALL BOUT CHICKEN]

One of my all time favorite players, ever. Glad he found a home but was really hoping SEA would sign him to a one year deal just for depth, experience, leadership. Dude is great person.

Yeah he's set the standard for a cover 2 scheme CB when in his prime in Chicago...if he's healthy, he could be a great fit for Carolina.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Yeah he's set the standard for a cover 2 scheme CB when in his prime in Chicago...if he's healthy, he could be a great fit for Carolina.

Plus all his forced fumbles. You just don't see that from CBs. Linebackers, lineman maybe, but definitely not CBs. I've never seen anyone in all my years watching football so good at it, literally attempts to punch the ball out every time he makes a textbook tackle. He had four forced fumbles in one game, an NFL record. His 42 forced fumbles since 2003 are the most in the NFL.

 

[drunkaholic707]

Free aaron hernandez!!!