JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (AP) — AS IF TWO-WAY PLAYER TRAVIS HUNTER DOESN’T ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH ON HIS PLATE.
The week before the Jacksonville Jaguars opened training camp, Hunter was photographed wearing a police vest posing with Sheriff T.K. Waters and members of the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department. It had the look of a ride-along, though Hunter wasn’t saying.
“I was just out there just having fun with Sheriff T.K.,” Hunter said Friday.
Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Colorado whom the Jaguars made the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, has enough to keep him occupied in training camp. Hunter is returning from injury, his rookie year ending two months into the season when he tore knee ligaments during noncontact drills.
In seven games, he played 324 snaps at receiver and 162 snaps at cornerback. The plan to use him on both sides of the ball has not changed, especially after the Jaguars shored up the core of their secondary by re-signing Montaric “Buster” Brown in March.
Hunter has been wearing a teal jersey for offense in three days of camp, with a white bib and his No. 12 he can slip on when he plays in the secondary.
“How do we balance his reps here, knowing that we’re trying to ease him in, but he also at some point needs to get double the amount that a normal player gets,” coach Liam Coen said. “And so what does that ramp-up look like? We have it all kind of mapped out … on every single practice schedule, his reps are highlighted in here — where he’s in, what plays he’s in, where he’s at on the field. We’ve been extremely intentional about it.”
Hunter, who had surgery Nov. 11 to repair the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, was limited during offseason workouts. But he used that time to build up some 10 pounds of muscle in his upper body and managed to get even faster.
He was clocked running at 22.6 mph at the team’s facility last week.
“I was a small guy coming in. Everybody was like, ’Gain weight, gain weight,’” Hunter said. “I was scared at first. I’m like: ‘Dang, I’ve never played at this weight. I’m going to feel heavy, not going to be able to do what I do.’ Training and being able to put those months in — not just on the grass but in the weight room — just putting in extra work, it made me feel lighter on my feet when I finally touched the grass.”
He looked like he was flying on grass when he ran the 22.6 mph — no pads, no one around him, not in a game — but it was another indication all was well.
“I’m trying to hit 23 now,” Hunter said. “That’s the next goal.”
The Jaguars could use the production considering how much they gave up in a trade to get the second pick in 2025 — their No. 5 pick last year and No. 1 pick this year. They won nine of their last 10 games last year after Hunter was injured to win the AFC South.
For his part, Hunter feels like last year never happened in terms of his health.
“I put nine months in, so it doesn’t feel like I’m coming off an injury,” he said. “Just get the rust off right now. I’ve been gone for nine months, not able to be out here with my teammates for nine months, so finally being able to hit the grass, knock the rust off and just continue to click with the quarterbacks and click with the defense.”
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Hunter is getting back into the flow, and the added muscle in his upper body is noticeable.
“You never want to see anybody get injured, but I think he really put his best foot forward in the weight room as he was recovering from a lower-body injury,” Campanile said. “He just looks really physical in the team work and in the individual period. So he’s done a good job.”
And now it’s all football, though the Engine 36 B-Shift crew said in its Facebook post for Hunter to let them know when he was ready for a ride-along.
“We promise, it’s just as hot as training camp,” the post said.
#####
GIANTS RUNNING BACK CAM SKATTEBO IS READY TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND TAKE A BREAK FROM BACKFLIPS
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Cam Skattebo is all systems go at practice. His signature celebration is on hiatus.
Skattebo declared himself nearly fully healthy at New York Giants training camp, nine months removed from his gruesome right ankle and leg injury. But after getting into some hot water with the organization for doing a backflip and landing awkwardly on that surgically repaired ankle earlier this month, he’s planning to stay grounded for a while.
“Obviously, I do some dumb things here and there, but I learn from it,” Skattebo said Friday. “We’ll see when game time comes around. But right now, we’re focused on training camp, and we’ll keep the backflips off the field for now.”
Skattebo alarmed, among others, coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen when they saw video of the backflip at Fanatics Fest in New York on July 18. He turned out to be fine, but a text message and some difficult conversations followed.
“He’s a young man that’s still getting used to the spotlight and in New York City, and you’ve got to be conscious of your actions, not only from a health standpoint but a perception standpoint,” Schoen said. “He knows I’d rather him not do that, especially this close to camp.”
It is not the first time Skattebo has been second-guessed for something off the field since reaching the NFL and getting hurt. He took part in a WWE show in November, weeks after surgery, took criticism from radio hosts but was not worse for the wear.
The botched backflip was a much riskier endeavor the Giants would rather he not repeat.
“The big picture message is you want to take care of yourself,” Harbaugh said. “You want to take care of your team: do everything you can do to be healthy, be back, be right, be good.”
The 24-year-old running back declared in May he’d be ready for the season opener Sept. 13 against Dallas. Skattebo also told the coaching staff he’d be good for the start of camp and hit that deadline.
As a result, he has no limitations and is doing just about as well as he can.
“I’ve felt 99%,” Skattebo said. “I think the 100% is when I put shoulder pads on and I’m able to hit someone. That’s when I tell you I’m 100%, but for now I’m 99.9% OK.”
Skattebo will get that chance when the pads go on beginning Monday.
A 2025 fourth-round pick out of Arizona State, Skattebo rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries before having his rookie year cut short Oct. 26 at Philadelphia. This past spring, he set a goal of playing 17-plus games and rushing for over 2,000 yards on 300 carries.
Skattebo didn’t shy away from those lofty aspirations — which would give him a top-10 season in league history — but his main focus is on moving past the injury and rehab process and getting back to what he does best.
“It was a long, hard road,” Skattebo said. “It’s time to play football.”
Malik Nabers did not practice Friday
After being the talk of the start of camp for getting on the field for individual drills after his own lengthy rehab from a torn ACL, Malik Nabers did not take part in practice Friday. Harbaugh called it “part of the process.”
“We’ll work through it, and every single day will be what it is that given day,” Harbaugh said. “He’s worked real hard, made a lot of progress and that’s what we decided to do today for practice.”
Neither Nabers nor the Giants have set a timetable for his return to game action.
######
JETS COACH AARON GLENN TURNS TO ANALYTICS, SCIENCE AND REST TO RESHAPE TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets took an unusual but well-researched approach to Day 3 of training camp practice.
They rested.
Glenn mapped out the team’s practice schedule this summer by incorporating analytics and sports science, trying to maximize the production on the field while also giving his players ample time to properly recover physically off it.
“What my job is as a coach is, I understand the acclimation from the NFL as far as you go from the offseason, then now you’re in no pads to try to get into pads, and I truly understand that,” Glenn said Thursday after the Jets’ second practice of camp. “But my job is to acclimate our players to get ready for the regular season.”
The Jets reported for camp on Tuesday, then had two practices and were off the field Friday, although the team was still doing classroom work and meetings. They’ll be back on the field Saturday, then the players will have a full day off Sunday before returning for two more practices.
It’s a far cry from the rigorous two-a-day camp practices the 54-year-old Glenn endured during a 15-year NFL playing career.
To kick off Glenn’s first training camp as a head coach last summer, the Jets practiced the first four days after reporting, had one day off, practiced two days, had another day off and then were back on the field for three straight days.
But it’s becoming more common around the league for teams to lean on analytics, artificial intelligence and sports science to try to improve, prepare and avoid injuries.
“I showed (the players) a graph to where the first week, the highest amount of reps we get is 24 reps and then we’re going to recover, then we’ll bring it down,” Glenn said. “So, we had two practices on (the field) and then we bring it down for recovery, and then it jumps back up. So, the next week, the highest amount of reps we’ll have is 32, all right, and then we’ll recover again. Then the next week, the highest amount of reps will be 40.
“So what I’m trying to do is get our guys to be ready to play 65 to 75 plays a game and that’s my job as a coach to be able to do that.”
The Jets, looking to bounce back from a 3-14 season, hired Iwao Fusillo as their chief data and analytics officer in January to help, along with director of analytics and strategy Sean Clement, unify football analytics, business intelligence and application development throughout the organization.
General manager Darren Mougey is already seeing the benefits of using analytics and artificial intelligence to help evaluate the Jets’ roster, along with those of the other teams around the league and college players.
“It’s a different lens,” Mougey said. “It’s been very helpful, it’s important. On the AI front to this point is what it’s helped with the most is the automation of things. We’re saving a lot of man hours being able to automate information and systems and spit it out quickly. So, it’s been huge and I look forward to the continued growth as an organization with the AI and analytics.”
Meanwhile, Alexander Carnall, the team’s sports science coordinator since 2024, collaborates with Erik Korem, the Jets’ director of player performance, and head strength and conditioning coach Corey Smith and their staffs and the trainers to maximize the on-field work.
The Jets are scheduled to have at least 15 full practices in training camp, including hosting two joint sessions with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before their preseason opener on Aug. 14. New York will be at Pittsburgh on Aug. 21, then host the Giants on Aug. 28. The Jets open the regular season on the road against former coach Robert Saleh and the Titans in Tennessee on Sept. 13.
“So each week, you’ll start to see those reps go up, you start to see that yardage that they have to have, and that’s the analytics part of it, yardage will go up also,” Glenn said. “And that’s what I try to create. So when you see the day off and the days on, you’ll see it go like this here (points up).
“And that’s the reason why, man, I’m trying to get max reps, then I’m trying to recover. Max reps, then recover.”
#####
HASLAM: I’LL TAKE THE OVER ON THE BROWNS’ 5 1/2-WIN PROJECTION
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns made the postseason the last time they had a first-year head coach on the sidelines.
If Jimmy Haslam has the same thing in mind for Todd Monken, he’s not saying it publicly.
The Browns owner said after Friday’s practice he has “improved expectations” for the upcoming season. The franchise went 5-12 last season and 3-14 in 2024 after making the playoffs in 2023.
“I would say this, and we never do this, but I think the odds are for us to win 5 1/2 games. I’ll take the over,” Haslam said.
“I think we have made giant strides in our talent level the last two years. And it takes these young guys a lot of time. I think we could have a chance to start double-digit first- and second-year players. We’re really excited about the roster we’ve assembled.”
Any sign of playoff contention or improvement would be welcome. The Haslams assumed ownership in October 2012, but didn’t change the head coach or general manager until the end of the season. Cleveland has a 73-139-1 regular-season mark since 2013, the second-worst in the NFL.
In those 14 seasons, the Browns have had only two winning seasons and finished with double-digit losses eight times, including going 0-16 in 2017.
The best year Cleveland has had under the Haslam regime was 2020, when Kevin Stefanski was hired as coach. The Browns were 11-5 and won their first playoff game since the 1993 season at Pittsburgh before losing at Kansas City.
It helped that Cleveland had an established quarterback that year in Baker Mayfield. This year, the team goes into camp with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders vying for the starting job.
The relationship between Haslam and Watson has improved since Haslam said at the 2025 owners’ meetings that the team “took a big swing and miss” when they sent three first-round picks to Houston for Watson in 2022 and signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal many consider one of the worst trades and contracts in NFL history.
Watson has played in only 19 games with the Browns. Sanders remains the popular choice nationally and among fans after playing in eight games and starting seven as a rookie last year.
Monken hasn’t specified how quickly he wants a starter before the Sept. 13 opener at Jacksonville.
“We all know that the quarterback position is one that we need to figure out at some point in time,” managing partner JW Johnson said. “A lot of guys have franchise quarterbacks, but we’re excited about how hard the guys are working. We’re excited about Todd and staff working with them to put them in a position to be ready to go this season.”
Stefanski was a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, but was fired in January after six seasons. During his tenure, Stefanski started 13 different quarterbacks, including seven over the past two seasons.
Monken was hired in January for his first NFL head coaching job despite turning 60 on Feb. 5.
Haslam said he wants the Browns to be a contending playoff team in 2027, but later said that doesn’t mean they are punting on this year.
Haslam has a rebuilding job not only in Cleveland but also with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, where he is a co-owner. Both teams traded franchise icons in June: Two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett went to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was dealt to the Miami Heat on June 22.
“My dad’s 95 1/2. He called me and said, ‘Do you know that in the last month you traded Myles Garrett and Giannis?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir, I know that.’ Listen, it’s all about what you get. Giannis, a generational player, won a championship, but we felt the need to get younger. He was the best asset we had,” Haslam said. “We had mortgaged our future going forward, and I think we got four really good players and two draft picks, No. 1 picks, a couple of swaps, and a second. So time will tell.
“We’ve got to use those picks wisely just like we have to do with the Myles trade. But cautious optimism, although you’ve got to be realistic. I think it’s actually harder to rebuild in the NBA than I do in the NFL, but we’ll see.”
#####
MIKE MCDANIEL’S NEW CHARGERS ROLE COMES WITH A FAMILIAR SIDELINE STAPLE: THE SWEATSHIRT
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Mike McDaniel has a new title on a new team. He’s still wearing a sweatshirt at practice.
The offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers was on the field Friday under sunny skies in 80-degree temperatures with 66% humidity. Nothing like summer in Miami, but still unusually muggy for the Los Angeles area, which has been under a heat advisory for days.
“Everyone is really, really complaining about a level of heat that South Florida laughs at,” said McDaniel, who was fired in January after four seasons as the Dolphins’ head coach
He brought his sweatshirt with him, a way to feel the heat even though he’s not running around and to avoid overworking the players.
“I can put a sweatshirt on and feel good about calling them out on being soft because they think it’s too hot,” he said. “It’s my way of kind of connecting.”
McDaniel is implementing new words and language on the Chargers’ offense and asking players to get out of their comfort zones.
“He just thinks different,” wide receiver Quentin Johnston said. “Sometimes it seems like it doesn’t make sense at first, but then it clicks.”
McDaniel is bringing his speed-based schemes and high-flying attacks to an offense that ranked 12th in the NFL last season.
“If you hang around Mike and listen to him talk you will gain some confidence just the way that he’s confident in himself and his ability,” wide receiver Ladd McConkey said. “He instills that in us.”
McDaniel is dialed in on quarterback Justin Herbert, who took the most hits and sacks of his six-year career last season. He’s emphasizing quick throws by Herbert to minimize the amount of wear and tear on the 28-year-old Herbert’s body.
“You want to protect the ball and confirm something before you throw it,” McDaniel said. “I’m challenging him to expedite that process and not confirm and let his feet talk to him and rip the ball.”
Herbert expressed some nervousness throwing the ball so early.
“But that’s where you grow,” McDaniel said. “I thought he had probably four or five firsts in action of things that we’ve been emphasizing since we got here. You’re counting on every player to take those incremental steps. Ultimately, if you’re trying to play it safe, no one will grow.”
Through three days of training camp practice, wide receiver Brenen Thompson has impressed McConkey, who cited the rookie’s 4.26-second time for the 40-yard dash.
“He’s flying across the field. The way he moves you can tell is just natural, got strong hands,” McConkey said. ”He’s going to be able to help us a lot this year.”
Johnston added, “He came in with one thing on his mind: speed.”
One thing McConkey isn’t discussing with McDaniel is his clutch 42-yard catch-and-run from Herbert with 34 seconds left that set up the Chargers’ winning field goal in a 29-27 victory over the Dolphins last season.
“I want some passes, some plays drawn up so I won’t bring it up,” he said, smiling.
#####
BENGALS HAVE ONE OF THEIR DEEPEST DEFENSIVE TACKLE GROUPS DESPITE HILL’S INJURY
CINCINNATI (AP) — While BJ Hill is opening training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury, the Cincinnati Bengals have the benefit of entering the season with the deepest group of defensive tackles that the team has had in years.
The 31-year-old Hill was banged up for much of last season. Coach Zac Taylor said on Monday that he doesn’t expect Hill to miss all of training camp and the D-lineman is doing “as well as we had hoped.”
In March, the Bengals signed a projected starting defensive tackle in Jonathan Allen, who has been one of the more consistent pass rushing defensive tackles in the NFL over the last few seasons.
Then in April, an unexpected opportunity to trade for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence came up for the Bengals. After making that trade with the New York Giants, every defensive tackle was bumped down one spot on the pecking order.
The Bengals view that as a positive.
“We believe you have to have different waves of guys who can come in, stay fresh and keep you out of those really long drives where guys wear down,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. “You have to have that competent second wave of guys. The teams that have played the best defense have that. Seattle had that last year. They have multiple waves of guys who came in.”
Veteran nose tackle TJ Slaton, the Bengals’ biggest acquisition on defense leading up to last season, now projects Lawrence’s backup. Slaton has a track record of being one of the better run-stuffing nose tackles in the NFL. This week, defensive coordinator Al Golden praised Slaton for “coming along really well” for the Bengals last year.
Golden also spoke optimistically about 2024 second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr., who he says showed flashes last year before suffering a season-ending injury in December. In 15 games, including four starts, Jenkins had 36 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks.
“This is a huge year for me,” Jenkins said. “Year 3 is make or break for a lot of guys. It’s a big opportunity for a guy like me to establish myself. I’ve got to prove that. I’ve seen the improvement. This is the best I’ve felt about myself mentally, spiritually and physically. There’s competition across the board.”
Behind Lawrence, Hill, Allen, Slaton and Jenkins, the Bengals have 2024 third-round pick McKinnley Jackson and 2026 seventh-round pick Landon Robinson.
Tobin expects to see each of them get an opportunity to show what they’re capable of, and there’s room for any of them to be contributors.
“If he’s up to helping us win, they’re going to get their playing time,” Tobin said. “Hopefully, we’re three and out and we don’t have to be waving them in. We wanted to have enough guys to get through the season if there are injuries or a long drive.”
The improved depth at defensive tackle should really help the Bengals’ edge rushers, who are expected to get more one-on-one pass rush opportunities and more chances to pressure the quarterback. The spotlight is on free agent defensive end Boye Mafe, a major acquisition for the Bengals.
Last season, Mafe was a part of a Seahawks’ defensive line that won a Super Bowl.
“He did it all for Seattle,” Golden said.
With a blend of returning young faces and impact veterans who bring playoff experience to Cincinnati, Taylor sees intriguing qualities in the Bengals’ defense.
“Last year, we were bringing on a lot of younger guys who were going to play key roles for us,” Taylor said. “Now, you’re adding a lot of guys who have played in this league for a long time. They know exactly when you say something what you mean by it, even if it’s just a different word that we’re using. That experience lets them get up to speed significantly quicker.”
#####
CHIEFS: TALKS UNDERWAY TO HOST SUPER BOWL, FINAL FOUR IN NEW $3B DOMED REPLACEMENT FOR ARROWHEAD
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are lining up to host the Super Bowl and Final Four in their $3 billion domed replacement for aging Arrowhead Stadium, which has yet to break ground but is expected to be ready in time for the 2031 football season.
Chiefs president Mark Donovan said conversations with the NFL have been ongoing about hosting the Super Bowl in 2033, 2034 or 2035, while the organization is “aggressively pursuing” college basketball’s national championship game.
“If you know anything or follow anything about the NCAA,” Donovan said, “you know they’re going out with a bid here, and the thing about it is if you’re the NCAA, you’re trying to sort of put stability in your future planning. So they’re trying to lock in all these dates. We don’t have a building yet, but we don’t want to be knocked out of those because they’re locked in so far out.”
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, will host the Super Bowl for the coming season, while Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host the big game in 2028. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas has been awarded the 2029 game while the Titans’ new stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, will host the Super Bowl in February 2030.
Ford Field in Detroit will host the semifinals and championship game after the coming season, and Allegiant Stadium will host the Final Four in 2028. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will host the following year, AT&T Stadium in Dallas will host the 2030 edition and Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host the games in 2031.
“We were actually in discussions with the NCAA last week about: ‘Could we bid on these dates? Our stadium will be done by then, but it is not done right now.’ So they were appreciative of that,” Donovan said. “We are probably going to be early bidders on most things, acknowledging that doesn’t really enhance our chances of winning the bid.”
Last week, the Chiefs unveiled the first renderings of their fully enclosed stadium, which is being built across the state line in Kansas City, Kansas. The team chose a fully translucent permanent roof, rather than a retractable design, and seating for about 70,000 people — more than most modern stadiums being built across the NFL.
The design itself takes obvious cues from Arrowhead Stadium, the longtime home of the Chiefs.
“The conceptual design phase is always fascinating, and we looked at lots of different design concepts,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said this week. “I can’t really say that I had something in the back of my mind going into it. But we’re delighted with where we’ve ended up. We think it does a great job of recognizing the franchise’s past and Arrowhead while combining it with a stadium that is modern, innovative, bold and something that will last for decades.”
The Chiefs announced in late December that they were moving away from Arrowhead Stadium, a decision that has been somewhat divisive among fans. One of the reasons is that Kansas lawmakers voted to allow the state to issue more than $2.4 billion in bonds to cover about 60% of the cost of the stadium, a new training facility and retail and entertainment space.
The stadium will be built near Kansas Speedway and a retail district known as The Legends. The area is also home to Sporting Park, the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City, and a minor league baseball stadium home to the Kansas City Monarchs.
The Chiefs’ practice facility also will move across the state line to the Kansas City suburb of Olathe, Kansas.
The Chiefs anticipate a modern campus that goes beyond practice fields, and could include a stadium-like setup for use by flag football and high schools teams. The Chiefs also want the flexibility to welcome thousands of fans that regularly attend training camp, should they decide to stay home rather than train an hour away at Missouri Western State University.
“We have a multiyear agreement, and we expect to be here for a long time,” Donovan said of the Division II college. “I will say this, just because it’s the obvious follow-up question: With the training facility being built in Olathe, we as an organization have to look at everything we do with options. So, that training facility is going to be designed with the ability to host training camp. We have to have that option. Who knows where we are in five years?”
I’ve been on the other side of that, and you really want stability, you want predictability, you want certainty. So, it would be a challenge because when we did this deal, we made the commitment that we’re going to be really aggressive, and we think that this facility is going to have the ability to host all kinds of events. And frankly, you think about the events that we are talking about bidding for right now, 95% of them, we wouldn’t be able to bid on now, because we don’t have an indoor stadium.”
#####
LIONS’ GIBBS, FALCONS’ ROBINSON REMAIN SIDELINED AT TRAINING CAMP AS CONTRACT TALKS CONTINUE
Two of the NFL’s most productive running backs haven’t gotten off to the races quite yet at training camp.
The Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs and Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson have been just mere spectators as they play their hands in an apparent contract “hold-in ” as their teams get to work.
Lions coach Dan Campbell and Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski insist the focus remains on the active participants.
“My job is to coach who’s out there right now,” Campbell said Thursday. “I love the kid, but man, I’ve got a team to coach right now.”
As for Stefanski’s outlook: “Just coach the football team. Understand there’s a business side to what we do.”
The first-year Falcons coach said he has had conversations with Robinson, but those will remain private.
“I don’t think it’s fair to share those types of things, and I think we all trust in the process, what’s going on,” he said.
Both players have the resume for a hefty paycheck.
Robinson led the league with 2,298 yards from scrimmage last season. He rushed for 1,478 yards with seven touchdowns and set career highs with 79 receptions for 820 yards and four touchdowns, earning an AP All-Pro selection and his second Pro Bowl appearance.
Gibbs, too, ranked in the top 10 with 1,228 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. After three years in the league, he’s one of just four in league history to surpass 4,500 yards from scrimmage and score 45-plus touchdowns, and he’s three-for-three in Pro Bowl selections.
A once underappreciated running back market has been reset as the Eagles awarded Saquon Barkley’s Super Bowl run and Offensive Player of the Year campaign with a record-breaking two-year, $41 million extension ahead of last season.
Both Gibbs and Robinson are expected to seek similar figures, meaning there could be power — and a discount — in being the first team to cross the finish line.
Campbell figured the Lions would’ve done so already.
“I thought we’d have been done by now, but also, I know how this goes, man. I’ve been in this league a long time, player and a coach,” he said. “So I’m not even sweating it.”
A hold-in has proven a successful negotiation tactic before. James Cook, who held in at the start of last season, earned a four-year, $46 million extension with the Buffalo Bills.
“Go for it,” Cook encouraged Gibbs and Robinson from Buffalo. “Get your money.”
#####
PACHECO PROVIDES ‘POP’ IN THE LIONS’ BACKFIELD WHILE AWAITING GIBBS’ RETURN
DETROIT (AP) — “Knuckles” already punched his ticket out of town. “Sonic” has temporarily come to a halt.
Enter “Pop.”
For now, Isiah Pacheco is providing the power and speed to the Detroit Lions’ backfield. The former Kansas City Chiefs running back, nicknamed “Pop,” signed a one-year, $1.81 million contract as a free agent in the offseason to replace David Montgomery, who went to Houston on a two-year, $16.5 million deal to become the Texans’ lead back.
During the last three seasons, Jahmyr Gibbs and Montgomery earned the nickname “Sonic and Knuckles” as one of the NFL’s premier running back duos. Gibbs, who finished second behind Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor last season in total touchdowns with 18, sat out the first week of training camp while seeking a new contract.
Pacheco rushed for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns over four seasons with the Chiefs, helping them win two Super Bowls. A steady stream of injuries have sidelined him for 17 games during the past three seasons, though. He missed four games last season with a sprained right knee.
Those ailments also cut into his offseason training regimen. After signing with Detroit, Pachero was able to participate in OTAs and has stood out during the start of camp.
“The first few days have been phenomenal, just getting to fly around the field with the guys again,” he said.
Pacheco, who has slimmed down to 210 pounds from 216 last season, showed a combination of burst and power while catching a screen pass from Jared Goff and racing around defenders during Friday’s session. Pacheco feels energized joining an offense that finished tied for fourth in the league in scoring last season (28.3) despite missing the playoffs.
“It makes you want to play harder and faster with your teammates to the left and right of you,” he said. “Everybody’s pushing and working hard for each other. You’ve got guys finishing down the field and that’s what it takes from every unit. When you’ve got guys doing that, it makes you lean on one another and want to fight for each other harder.”
Eventually, the Lions’ backfield could turn into “Sonic and Pop,” though Pacheco anticipates that they’ll earn a different moniker. He has already seen many suggestions.
“On social media, I see a lot,” he said. “Keep giving us those nicknames and we’re going to surprise you all when we get to play.”
Beyond Gibbs and Pacheco, there are plenty of question marks. Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki combined for three carries last season. The other two backs on the camp roster, Kye Robichaux and Jabari Small, have never had an NFL carry.
They’re all getting extra reps until Gibbs returns to practice.
“It’s a great opportunity, and look, it’s one of the reasons we got Pacheco, man. This is extra reps for ‘Pop’ with us just in our system, so that’s awesome,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “Vaki gets these reps, Saylors, Small, Robichaux. So yeah, it’s good. There’s always a silver lining.”
#####
PATRIOTS WR KAYSHON BOUTTE ADDRESSES TRADE RUMORS: ‘MY FEET ARE HERE TODAY’
Seemingly from the moment the A.J. Brown news bubbled in early spring, New England Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte has been the subject of trade rumors. Viewed as the odd man out following the additions of Brown and Romeo Doubs, Boutte hasn’t ignored the noise.
“We all hear a lot of the stuff that’s going on,” Boutte said Thursday, via Boston.com. “I think my main focus is just that I’m here today. My feet are here today. If I’m somewhere else next week, the week after, that’s kind of what it is. That’s the business. But I’m taking every day, day by day, not thinking about what’s next.”
Boutte is coming off his best season, snagging 33 catches for 551 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in 14 games. Entering a contract year, he’s viewed as a piece the Pats could move for a future draft pick given that he’s likely not sticking around long-term.
“Truth be told, I think if you were in a contract year at your reporting job, you would want that to be your best year,” Boutte said of playing for a new deal next season. “Whatever that looks like for me, we’ll look at all our options and see.”
The receiver room in Foxborough is crowded with Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas and Efton Chism III all worthy of snaps. While retaining seven WRs is possible, especially if the Pats keep just two tight ends on their initial 53-man receiver, it’s not the norm.
Coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that New England could be willing to trade a receiver, especially if the alternative is cutting a quality player.
“I love having depth, but I would say that we’re always going to try to look to improve, whether that’s by adding draft capital, obtaining a player or keeping the guys we have,” Vrabel said. “We want to try to provide competition throughout the roster at each position. I think that’s something that’s critical. I think that’s what good teams do every year, year in and year out, that they’re making the roster as competitive as possible.”
If a trade goes down, it could happen during final cuts, on Aug. 30, as teams evaluate the final roster spots.
Thus far, Boutte has received rave reviews as a playmaker from the beat writers early in camp. The 24-year-old skipped voluntary workouts during the spring, with his contract and roster position in question. When he’s on the field, the wideout has flashed. The trade discussions haven’t hindered his determination to make the most of his contract season.
“It’s a lot of chatter, whether it’s online or in person,” Boutte said. “I think when we step in the building, we try not to let the noise distract you. On the field, I don’t think about it. The whole time I’m at work, I don’t think about it. I’m just where my feet are.”
If Boutte continues to impress, he could become a more enticing trade piece for a WR-needy club or could force the Pats to get him on the field come September. Either way, the fourth-year pro having a standout camp is good news for New England.
#####
TYLER ALLGEIER ON CARDINALS DRAFTING FELLOW RB JEREMIYAH LOVE: ‘NO POINT IN BEING A JERK ABOUT IT’
Tyler Allgeier splashed onto the scene in Atlanta in 2022 as a fifth-round pick who galloped for 1,035 yards with a 4.9 yards-per-carry average on 210 totes. The following spring, the Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson No. 8 overall. Allgeier would slowly lose carries to one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL.
In the spring, the 26-year-old signed a free-agent deal in Arizona with an eye on being the top back alongside veteran James Conner, who was coming off a season-ending injury. A month later, the Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love No. 3 overall. Allgeier is back to being a complementary back to a young, explosive weapon.
For his part, Allgeier harbors no ill will about the situation, understanding why the Cards would select Love, who was the top playmaker on the board.
“It’s not like there’s any bad blood. We’re just building that relationship and we’re pretty close right now,” Allgeier said, via the team’s official website. “There’s no point in being a jerk about it. That’s not going to get you anywhere in life, in this business, in this sport.”
Allgeier, who fit into a big-back, short-yardage role in Atlanta and earned the trust of the coaching staff to close out games, said coach Mike LaFleur has been open about the plan with the entire backfield.
“There was really good communication (with LaFleur), which I can respect, because head coaches or anyone doesn’t have to do that,” Allgeier said. “I knew what I was getting into, and we’re here now deep into camp. We’re splitting (time) and it is great competition right now.”
While Love, a dual-threat game-breaker, is expected to take on the largest role, Allgeier and Conner won’t be forgotten. The experience with Robinson will help Allgeier manage the committee mentality.
“It’s probably the best thing you can do and obviously, it saves the body,” Allgeier said. “That’s a privilege. Being able to have two or even three great guys in the room and being able to compete and being able to be a running back community. Just having that rotation, because it’s pretty taxing.”
About The Author
