NFL Preseason Headlines
The NFL preseason is 3 weeks gone with the tune up game for most teams coming up this weekend. This preseason brought back old news from last year and some new news. The newest topic of discussion is the demonstration at the NFL headquarters in New York. According to ESPN, more than 1,000 people participated in the demonstration in support for former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has yet to be signed. The demonstrators believe that he is being blackballed because of his anthem protests and they also called for a boycott of the NFL until he is signed for a team.
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More athletes joined the anthem protest last week with about 12 Browns kneeling in a huddle together. According to NFL.com, 2 other Browns had their arms around their teammates who were kneeling. Also, joining the protests were Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack, Eagles defensive end Chris Long, and Seahawks center Justin Britt who put their arms around their teammates who were protesting the anthem.
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In other Raiders news, offensive tackle Donald Penn ended his 26-day holdout, according to ESPN and the Bleacher Report. On the other side of the United States, Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is having a terrible preseason. Also, he threw 5 picks in the first practice with pads and he is struggling against defenses without a pass rush. Blake Bortles might end up like RGIII where he sits for a season and then get traded especially with the Jaguars picking up his 5th year option in his rookie contract.
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There are many quarterback battles going on around the NFL. The battle in Denver is closed as Broncos head coach, Vance Joseph, announced that Trevor Siemian will be the starter for 2017 season. Rookie Deshawn Kizer has won the starting job in Cleveland. This is very surprising considering that Brock Osweiler was expected to be the starter earlier in the preseason. The Browns are looking for trade partners in order to deal Osweiler and his $72 million contract elseware. In New York, it seems like a two-horse race between Christian Hackenburg and Josh McCown. Bryce Petty looks like an afterthought at this point. Also, it looks like McCown will start and Hackenburg will get a look at if the season is a loss.
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Carson Wentz is having one the best preseasons in the NFL. He is clearly benefiting from having a proper receiving group this year. According to NJ.com, on Thursday, he only had to throw away the ball once in the game. He was constantly under pressure from the Dolphins defensive line, but still delivered when he needed to. He constantly has been taking advantage of defensive mistakes and looks to be one of the top young stars in the NFL this year.
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Also in the NFC East, Odell Beckham Jr. might miss the first couple of games of the season. According to NBC Sports and phoenixthera-lase.com, OBJ is getting Thera-Lase treatment for his ankle injury. This treatment may get him on the field earlier than expected.
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Katie Sowers is not only the second female coach in the NFL but, she is also the first openly gay coach. According to the Los Angeles Times, she has been turned down for a volunteer basketball coaching job, however, the Atlanta Falcons hired her as an intern last year. She was brought over to the San Francisco 49ers this year with Kyle Shanahan after he accepted the head coaching job. She is now a full-time assistant working with the wide receivers.
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The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is set to expire in 2020. According to CBS Sports, an executive director for the NFLPA believes that there will be a strike or work stoppage in the 2021 season without a CBA consensus.
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Also, NFLPA president Eric Winston doesn’t care if the NFL is still around in 20 years. This comes after the Sports Daily announced that Rodger Goodell is close to agreeing to a new extension in his contract to 2024.
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This NFL preseason has brought up social issues, bright, young stars and continued the rift between NFL owner and the NFLPA. The season kicks off on September 7 when the Kansas City Chiefs going against the New England Patriots in Foxboro.