Tag Archive for: NFL

Former Eagles Players who Added to Franchise History Books

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This season has been pretty phenomenal for Philadelphia Eagles fans, and it’s understandable that the fans would be getting a little bit excited about the prospect of lifting the Lombardi this season. Apart from a Super Bowl in 2017, the Eagles have kind of been dry since the 1960s at this point, but they destroyed the 49ers this past weekend 31-7 to book their place in the Super Bowl, where they’ll face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 12th. The Chiefs had a little bit of a harder time claiming their place as they edged out a 23-20 win over the Bengals.

 

The 2023 Super Bowl will be played at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale Arizona between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs

Source: SN

 

Today, we’re going to take a brief detour on the path to the future and take a look behind us. The history books are full of big names when it comes to people who have represented the Philadelphia Eagles, so we’re going to look at some of the biggest names to pull on that jersey and take a little bit of time to go into what made them such important figures for the Eagles, etching their names in the history of this franchise forever.

 

  1. Reggie White – Defensive End
  2. Chuck Bednarik – Linebacker
  3. Steve Van Buren – Running Back
  4. Brian Dawkins – Safety
  5. Pete Pihos – Tight End

 

Pete Pihos

 

When it comes to players from deep in the history books, between 1953 and 1955, Pihos led the league in receiving, was outstanding for a tight end, and was a very physical player once he received the ball, to the point where defenders would genuinely consider whether tackling him was a good idea. He would go on to make the Pro Bowl six times in a row, which is an incredibly impressive feat. 

 

Brian Dawkins

 

There are few names loved more by Eagles fans than Brian Dawkins; he was picked up in the second round of the 1996 draft. He’s a member of the fairly exclusive “20/20” club, being one of very few players to ever post both 20 sacks and 20 interceptions, which is impressive. But when it comes to Dawkins, it wasn’t just his stats that made him so good; he put his body on the line like a human wrecking ball, making huge plays, taking games by the scruff of the neck, and changing the momentum with his own hands.

 

Steve Van Buren

 

Steve Van Buren led the league in rushing yards in four of his eight years playing professionally, and while he may not be one of the “greatest” running backs of all time in terms of stats, for the Eagles he was fantastic. He built up a reputation as a terrifying returner, adding five touchdowns to his career stats from returning kicks and punts. Even though he represented the Eagles way back in the 40s and 50s, it’s fair to say he is still one of the greatest Eagles of all time.

 

Chuck Bednarik

 

Chuck Bednarik is a player who will go down in history as one of the most brutal men to make tackles. He would shut down the most bold and stupid players who dared challenge him. He came to the Eagles in 1949 as the first pick in the draft and stayed with the Eagles for a pretty staggering 14 years. Bednarik is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and fully deserves that status. 

 

Reggie White isn’t just one of the greatest Eagles of all time; he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game. 

Source: Sportscasting

Reggie White

 

Reggie White is arguably everyone’s number one pick here; he was picked up by the Eagles in the 1985 supplemental draft, recording 11 sacks in his rookie season and not posting numbers below that in his time in Philadelphia. But, as one of the greatest players in history, it’s insane to put him anywhere other than first on this list. Unfortunately, some poor decisions by the top brass had him slip away to the Packers in 1993, but he was absolutely incredible for the Eagles and everywhere else he played, really, earning him a spot in the pro football hall of fame. 

 

With that being said, it’s time to look forward. The Eagles are scheduled to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57 on February 12th at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. We’ve examined how experts believe this one will play out, who the favorite is, what the over/under is, and brought you the best odds on the big game. For fans located in sports betting regulated states like Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ohio, there are also plenty of betting promotions that are currently available for the Super Bowl. Sadly, Massachusetts punters won’t be able to take advantage of the betting specials offered by MA online sportsbooks this time around because the state won’t be allowing online gambling until after the Super Bowl this year. However, bettors can visit retail bookies instead, as they became legal on January 31st of this year. 

 

So, without further ado, here are the odds you’re looking at! Firstly, the favorite for this game is the Philadelphia Eagles; you’ll be looking at odds in the region of -125, which will see a return of $9 from a $5 stake. For the “underdogs,” you’ll be getting around +105, which will net you $10.25 from the same stake, so it’s a tight one to call. Of course, these are two teams that have put everything on the line all season to get here, and it all boils down to this. 

 

When it comes to individual lines, here are some of the big ones: if you’re looking to bet on the spread, you’re looking at -110 for either +1.5 or -1.5, which is a return of $9.54 from a $5 stake. If you’re looking at the over/under, they’re also putting up odds of -110 on an over/under of 50.5 points. We found a pretty good parlay that comes in at +500 and returns $30 from $5; the lines are the following: Chiefs to win, Travis Kelce to score a TD in the match, and Patrick Mahomes to get 300 or more passing yards in the match! Not too bad, really.

 

That’s just about it for this one. What do you think about the players we’ve mentioned here? Are there any big names you think we’ve missed? I think when you properly look over the history books when it comes to players that have represented the Eagles, there are countless names you could put here, but with a limited amount of time here, we could only talk about so many, and we personally think we’ve picked the best of the best.

 

So, Eagles fans, how are we feeling ahead of the Super Bowl? I imagine the nerves have fully kicked in now, and you’re all chewing your fingers to the bone. But in my opinion, you have nothing to worry about. Your team has had a phenomenal season and has looked absolutely brilliant throughout, even on the few occasions where they haven’t gotten the result they were after. It’s time to push on and cap off the season with a bit of gold, right? 

Green Bay Packers: Who Are the Packers Legends?

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The Green Bay Packers are synonymous with success in the National Football League. 

Led by some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, the Packers have won countless Super Bowls, divisional championships, and other honors.

When you look at the NFL Playoffs Worst Odds for a given year, you will likely not find the Packers on that list. Even when the team doesn’t have a great start, such as in 2022, pundits assume they will eventually get their act together and make the playoffs.

In order to maintain such high standards, the Packers must ensure any players that come into the franchise are of the highest caliber.

Below is an analysis of the careers of several Green Bay Packers legends.

 

5. Donald Driver

While he may not be the most famous name to have an association with the Packers, most die-hard fans of the team would put Driver in their top five players list.

Driver was an outstanding wide receiver for the Packers, and is still the team’s leader in receptions and receiving yards. He was a five-time Pro Bowler who was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame back in 2017.

The greatest season in Driver’s career came in 2010, when he was a part of the Green Bay Packers team that won the Super Bowl. He was one of the best players in the league that year, shining with Aaron Rodgers as his QB.

4. LeRoy Butler

A safety who is also a recent Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Butler is recognized as one of the best players who ever lined up in his position. He was an extraordinarily challenging defender to handle when he was in his prime in the 1980s.

When Butler was lining up for the Packers, he played under coach Mike Holmgren, with Brett Favre as his QB, with defensive end Reggie White on the team as well at one point. Given the talent of the players on the roster, the fact that Butler is so fondly remembered shows just how great a player he was. Fun fact: Butler also invented the famed Lambeau Leap celebration!

 

3. Brett Favre

In many ways, Favre was the quintessential American footballer. Even though he has had his controversies off the field, the quarterback was a consummate pro on the field for the Green Bay Packers.

After announcing his retirement in 2011, Favre left the league as the leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. While both of those marks have been overtaken in recent years, he’s still fondly remembered as one of the all-time great quarterbacks.

A winner of three straight MVP titles and a Super Bowl MVP, Favre will always have a place in Packers folklore.

2. Bart Starr

The Green Bay Packers are renowned for having outstanding quarterbacks in their franchise. Bart Starr is another one of those legendary players who wore the great green uniform.

The no.15 was one of the top players that legendary coach Vince Lombardi had the pleasure of mentoring. He was an MVP in both Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II.

Even though modern NFL fans might not remember Starr, he is forever enshrined in the history of the Green Bay Packers franchise. He was a leader in the NFL in both completion percentage and passer rating four times in his career, along with winning the 1966 MVP.

While he was a part of a top-notch organization, most Packers fans recognize that without Starr as their leading QB they would not have been such a dominant team in the 1960s.

1. Aaron Rodgers

A list of Green Bay Packers legends would not be complete without the man who is still creating his legacy to this day. Despite having lit up the NFL for 18 years, even with his injury setbacks, Rodgers is not showing any sign of slowing down his game anytime soon.

Even though the Packers are far from the best NFL team in 2022, Rodgers is still up there as one of the best QBs. When he receives the appropriate protection from his teammates, he can still throw as well as any other player in the league.

A winner of two straight MVP titles earlier in his career, along with a Super Bowl, Rodgers has one of the lowest passer interception percentages in league history.

 

Fantasy Football: Injuries Plaguing Your Season?

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Notable injuries in the NFL this week that may affect your fantasy football team:

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 

Detroit Lions Wide Receiver St. Brown left Sunday’s game early with a concussion. He may be out next week, but should be expected to be back at full speed within a week or two. We have seen his potential flash many times from last season into this season, and he was noted as “This seasons Cooper Kupp” at the start of the NFL season. Due to him being injured for a majority of this season, his owner may be lower on him. Mark this as a buy low opportunity and a possible league winner if healthy.

 

Mike Williams: 

Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver Williams left Sunday’s game early with a high ankle sprain. He is reportedly expected to miss 3-4 weeks. While this injury hurts Quarterback, Justin Herbert’s value, this skyrockets Wide Receiver, Keenan Allen’s value. While Allen was out, we saw Williams rack up 485 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Expect Allen to see a near similar jump in production with Williams out.

 

DK Metcalf: 

Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Metcalf left Sunday’s game with an injury to his patellar tendon. The good news? He won’t need surgery. The bad news? There is no know timetable for his recovery. My advice for now is to stash him on your injury reserve. He is a tough guy, and will most likely be back this season, but don’t bank on it. Expect Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett to skyrocket in value similarly to Keen Allen.

 

Breece Hall:

We had to get to this one at some point… The injury everyone is dreading the most has to be New York Jets running back Breece Hall. Hall tour his ACL, ruling him out for the season after starting off as the RB6 in his rookie season. This one hurts many owners, including myself. Running Back Michael Carter, on the other hand, is now the lead back in this Jets offense. He may not be Breece Hall, but he can easily start as a flex option on almost any team.

Other notable buy low candidates not mentioned in the injury reports include:

Deebo Samuel

Christian McCaffrey

Michael Pittman Jr.

Leonard Fournette

Mark Andrews

D’Andre Swift

Ceedee Lamb

Brian Robinson

The NFL dream start, and the disaster

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The 2022 National Football League season is already well underway, and we have enjoyed a rollercoaster opening five rounds. The various divisions are beginning to take shape as the strongest sides force their way to the head of the pack, leaving others to play catch up. There has also been one or two nightmare starts to the season, and we bring you the best of those in our early-season round-up.

 

Football fans are delighted to see the play return to our TV screens, with games coming thick and fast. Between now and the festive period, the fixture list will continue to go through the gears as we race towards the end of the regular season and towards the playoffs. Five rounds of results may already be in the bag, but it’s not too late to get involved and have your say, thanks to the leading NFL betting sites. Make your predictions today.

 

The top bookmakers offer odds and accept bets on this season’s outcome with various markets and specials available. Pick the team you expect to win the Super Bowl, back a side to make it to the playoffs or go against a rival and have your stake on them not making the final list. Who will be the most valuable player or the best of the rising stars? Football fans passionate about betting and targeting a profit certainly aren’t light on options.

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Eagles soaring high

The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have started any better in the NFC East, with five wins from as many starts. They now sit proudly atop the division and hold the record as the only team still holding onto their 100% record. They know bigger challenges are in the pipeline, but it’s also obvious that there’s more to come from this Eagles side that looks like they mean business. Is this the season they go all the way to Super Bowl glory? It’s certainly looking possible at this stage of proceedings.

 

The Eagles have played five and won five to take control of the group. They have won their first two home games and taken victory from their three road trips, scoring 135 points and conceding just 88. Now, there are teams with more impressive strike rates and better defences, that’s for sure, but there’s no other team with an unbeaten record, and that’s what matters most at this stage. 

 

Indeed, fans couldn’t ask for any more from the coaches and players. But will they keep pushing hard, or is this little more than a good start to the season? Only time will tell, and all will be revealed before the end of the year.

Pittsburgh lack steel

The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team with a 100% record, but it wasn’t as easy to find the side that has made the worst possible start because there are a few contenders to the crowd. It’s still very early in the campaign, and we’ve seen plenty of teams struggle in the opening exchanges, only to turn things around during winter as the schedule gathers pace.

The side we picked as the one with the worst start of the season is the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFC North. They are already stuck at the foot of the group, having managed just one win in their first five outings. The Steelers are yet to win at home with an 0-2-0 record on their patch, while things haven’t been much better on the road, with their stats stuck at 1-2-0. Will that elusive home win every fall? Fans certainly hope so.

 

Pittsburgh has scored 77 goals and conceded 128, which isn’t the worst defensive record you will see at the moment. Steelers have conceded fewer points than a few of the other early strugglers, but their offence is the problem. The 77 points managed is the lowest of the NFL regular season at this stage, and that’s something the coaching staff know must improve. They must begin putting points on the board if they are to fight their way out of the situation they find themselves in, and that must start this weekend. It’ll soon be too late.

Quick react: Tua, defense help Dolphins slip past Bills, lead AFC East

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The Miami Dolphins are a force to be reckoned with after week 3 in the NFL. Last week, the Dolphins arguably played their best game ever, beating the Baltimore Ravens 42-38 after a 21 point fourth quarter comeback. This week, the Dolphins put up a score of 21-19, beating the best team in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills.

This unbelievable performance was the most balanced game the Miami Dolphins have played this season. While the offense didn’t have 500+ yards this week like they did against the Ravens, Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and company looked amazing again.

Tagovailoa threw a bullet to wide receiver River Cracraft for a touchdown early in the game. In the second quarter, Tagovailoa seemed to get injured, standing up and stumbling, a very scary sight for Dolphins fans. However, when the third quarter started, the quarterback was back in the game and unfazed.

Tagovailoa set the Dolphins up for a pivotal touchdown on a 45 yard pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. This may be the most beautiful ball we have seen from Tagovailoa, not to mention this throw allowed the Dolphins to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

The Miami defense also played the best game any team has played against the Buffalo Bills so far this season, holding them to 19 points. With a strip sack from safety Jevon Holland and many defended passes from cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Nik Needham, the Bills offense looked lost.

All Dolphins fans can agree this is the best start to a season we have seen in many, many years.

QB Controversy in Pittsburgh?

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Since Ben Roethlisberger retired last year, there has been a big question mark at the quarterback position for the Steelers. Time is running out for Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff to make a decision as the regular season begins in less than a week. It still feels unlikely that one QB is going to start every game this year, and it’s creating uncertainty with the best offshore sportsbooks because it makes it so much harder to predict what the Steelers are going to be like this year.

Mitch Trubisky has been the front-runner through camp and improved his case during the pre-season. In the final game, Trubisky went 15-19 with 160 yards. His accuracy and precision was put on display and turned some heads in the process. After a disappointing stint with the Chicago Bears, Trubisky hopes to make a new name for himself in Pittsburgh. However, you simply cannot count out Kenny Pickett. In Week 3 of preseason play, Pickett lead a game-winning drive against the 1st string Jaguars defense.

On that drive, Pickett went 6-7 with 76 yards and 1 TD. The University of Pittsburgh graduate is fresh of an ACC Championship and seems to have carried his game over perfectly to the professional level. These two may still be fighting for the spot deep into the season. I do believe it is just a matter of time before Kenny Pickett is given his opportunity. Last but not least, we have Mason Rudolph. 

Mason has had some extremely bright spots in his time with Pittsburgh and most of it can be credited to being behind Ben Roethlisberger. Ben was Rudolph’s mentor and took him under his wing. Rudolph started against the Jaguars in Week 3 of the preseason and had a great game. He went 17-21 with 127 yards and a touchdown. He made some great reads and proved himself as a quality QB.

Now that the pre-season is over, Mike Tomlin has to make a decision. It may be the toughest decision he has had to make in his career. However, he must continuously remind himself that this is a good problem. If one of these QB’s doesn’t take advantage of their opportunity, there are two more highly-talented guys waiting to be put in. The Steelers are going to be just alright.

5 Takeaways from Dolphins’ 20-7 Win over Patriots

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Dolphins’ Dominant Defense Picking Up Where They Left Off Last Year! 

Transitioning into 2022, the Josh Boyer lead Miami Dolphins defense did not miss a beat. Even with the absence of stalwart Byron Jones in the secondary, the New England offense could never get into a rhythm. Both Miami safeties, Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones, made game-changing plays for the defense. But it was undrafted cornerback Kader Kahou, who? Kahou shined at critical game moments. He may not be on your regular Miami Dolphin program but he will be moving forward. Kahou had himself a “Cinderella type day.”  He made several game-changing plays today including dropping Rhamondre Stevenson for a 4-yard loss and forcing a fumble by Patriot’s Nelson Agholor.  The Miami defense is back with a renewed swagger highlighted by a shining rookie -Kahou. Who? 

 

Mike Gesicki Absent in Dolphins Offense

Calling Mike Gesicki? Mike? The tight end out of Penn State was nowhere to be found on the newly minted McDaniel offense. Gesicki was targeted just once today for one yard.  The absence of Gesicki today was disconcerting, to say the least, and the utilization of the tight end position never really catalyzed. Durham Smythe recorded only one reception as well, going for 14 yards. It’s not rocket science, the Mike McDaniel scheme relies on production from the tight end position.

 

Mike McDaniel’s Head Coaching Debut

There aren’t many rookie head coaches who can say they have a winning record against Bill Belichick, yet McDaniel accomplished this feat today.  Although the Dolphin’s offense sputtered and was inconsistent at times, there was a noticeable and refreshing difference in play calling and schematic formations highlighted by using players in space with bold and aggressive play calling. For example, towards the end of the second half, McDaniel had a 4th and 7 from the Patriots 42-yard line. McDaniel with 24 seconds left elected to go for it. How did that turn out?  How about an “in-your-face” 42-yard touchdown from Tagovailoa to Waddle. The transition to McDaniel calling the plays from a strange dual system in 2021 led to a noticeable decrease in head-scratching plays of the past.  

 

Miami’s New Offensive Focus

It was no secret that Miami’s first-half game plan was to let the Cheetah (Tyreek Hill) loose in Miami Gardens. The Cheetah ran every which way in a variety of creative play calls dialed up by the first-year coach.  Hill made his presence known early and often.  The Patriots and their legendary coach, at the end of the day, did not have an answer for Hill who they were forced to account for on each play.  Hill finished the day with 8 receptions for 94 yards. Tagovailoa did look solid at times but flashed some of his trademark inconsistent play, especially in the fourth quarter. He continues to hold onto the ball too long in the pocket and must learn to throw the ball away.  Perhaps McDaniel has some more coaching magic up his sleeve; if he does, these new-look Dolphins may be playoff bound.   

 

Why The Dolphins Were Able to Pull Out the Commanding Win

While New England was able to win the field position and running game battle, the Dolphin’s defense with their relentless pressure and tight secondary coverage was able to come up with game-changing turnovers which ultimately won them the contest. New England’s offense showed little promise despite coming out strong on the initial drive. It was that suddenly reliable combination of Jevon Holland and Xavien Howard who stripped all hope away for the suddenly anemic Patriots. Holland grabbed the deflected Howard ball from ex-Dolphin Devante Parker and sent them packing back to the cold Northeast.  It was Kahou (who?), McDaniel, Xavien, Tyreek, and that rugged and reliable defense that said “get back on that plane; not today, not this year!”   

 

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Dolphins preseason Bucs

Skylar Thompson forcing Dolphins to make hard choices

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Very few people knew the name Skylar Thompson when the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In fact, many were wondering why Miami would use a draft pick on a QB who many believed would be available as an undrafted free agent. Surely, there were other developmental players available the Dolphins could invest in during a win-now year.

However, from the moment he put on the uniform, Skylar Thompson was turning heads.

The 25-year old rookie out of Kansas State is showing extreme poise under pressure. Granted, he’s playing against backups the majority of the time, but his preseason performances are undeniably impressive. In just over five quarters of preseason play, Thompson has gone 29-of-38, with 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Even the team’s starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, can’t help but be impressed by Thompson’s play so far.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with Skylar.” Tagovailoa said after Saturday’s game. “Skylar handled the Tampa game extremely well, and then now he comes in a little later into the third quarter, gets his group going, has — I don’t even know how many plays he had. He probably had a 10-play drive leading up to the score that we had our first score that we had here at Hard Rock for this 2022 season. But I think he has handled it extremely well. He gave us an opportunity to kick a field goal to win the game. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, but I think he has done an extremely great job for us.”

To some draft pundits, Thompson’s success comes as no surprise. Matt Waldman – creator of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio since 2006, stated during his evaluation that Thompson has at least one trait that stands out above every other QB prospect in this draft.

“Thompson has the best pocket management of this class. He maneuvers from all types of pressure better than at least half of the NFL starters I’ve watched this year.  He also takes hellacious hits and maintains the equanimity to deliver an accurate ball.”

Perhaps what held Thompson back during the draft were the injuries he suffered at Kansas State. During his senior year in 2020, Thompson suffered an upper-body injury which limited him to only three starts. But in those games, he went 40-of-64, 62.5 completion percentage, 626 yards and four touchdowns.

He didn’t have much better luck in 2021, as he suffered a knee injury that allowed him only ten starts. However, he still put up decent numbers (162-of-233, 69.5%, 2,113 yards, 12 TDs, four INTs) and finished his career by winning Texas Bowl MVP honors in the team’s win over a depleted LSU roster, in which he went 21-of-28, 259 yards and 3 TDs.

Had he been healthy throughout his collegiate career, it’s safe to assume Thompson would not have fallen all the way to the 7th round. His lack of production at Kansas State was partly due to those injuries. It was also partly due to the demands of the scheme he was in. Nonetheless, coach Mike McDaniel saw something in Thompson that caused the Dolphins to deem it fit to use a draft pick on him.

So far, McDaniel appears justified in that assessment.

“He just gets better every day.” McDaniel said after the preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. “This game the operation was better. There was one time that he kind of lost the play clock a little bit, and we had to burn a timeout, but more than anything, he really had command over everything. And he is starting to make plays that when one or two aren’t there, feeling the concept. And like that touchdown they threw to ‘Z. White’ on the left-hand side, that’s something that Skylar doesn’t make at the beginning of preseason. So, I’ve seen continued improvement, but he is very diligent about the process. He has got the makeup of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. So I think all of his teammates can feel that too.”

Now given the opportunity to produce in a QB friendly offensive scheme, it’s clear Skylar Thompson’s production was not due to lack of skill. PrizePicks.com had Thompson’s O/U on passing yardage at 165.5 yards, assuming that he would play the entirety of the second half if not more.

In spite of entering the game with less than a minute left in the 3rd quarter, Thompson was nearly able to reach that prop. As he led the Dolphins down the field and nearly led what could have been the game-winning drive, Thompson went 9-of-10 for 129 yards and a touchdown, all in the span of barely over one quarter’s time.

Skylar Thompson wasn’t supposed to make things difficult. But he is. Now, the Miami Dolphins have a difficult choice to make. Do they run the risk of letting him test the waiver wire? There are surely QB-needy teams who would love to claim him as their own. Or, alternatively, do they roster three quarterbacks? That idea is unprecedented in today’s modern NFL, but the Dolphins may not have a choice.

Veteran backup QB Teddy Bridgewater has a contract worth up to $10 million. $6.5 million of it is guaranteed. The way it’s structured, as of this moment, releasing Bridgewater saves Miami a grand total of zero dollars in cap space. And it puts them in a deep hole financially as they would be forced to pay him that amount no matter what.

However, if the Dolphins can trade Bridgewater, that changes. Trading him saves Miami $4.5 million in cap space with only $2 million in dead cap. The hard part is finding a trade partner.

These are the questions Skylar Thompson is forcing the Dolphins to answer. His performance in preseason and in practice make it extremely difficult to justify waiving him. By the same token, keeping him instead of Bridgewater hurts the team financially. In 2023, Miami is going to need every penny they can save.

And if they simply keep all three QBs? Then another position that may need the extra depth will lose an important piece. The Dolphins are low on cornerbacks and good offensive line depth. Can they afford the extra roster spot? It’s up to Mike McDaniel to weigh the pros and cons and make that choice.

As for Skylar Thompson himself, he’s determined not to let the situation get to him as the preseason rapidly approaches its end.

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“That decision is out of my control.” He said. “All I can do is focus on being the best teammate that I can possibly be every day, continue to grow and try to learn and get better. That’s really all I’m focused on right now, and everything else I know will take care of itself whichever way that may fold. This is out of my hands. I’m just here to be a good teammate – help the team the most whichever way I can.”

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for eight years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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5 Takeaways from Miami Dolphins Training Camp Day 9

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1: Stars of the Day

 

Jaylen Waddle seemed to be everywhere on the field today. Waddle caught multiple mid-range throws but the highlight was when Tagovailoa was able to feed waddle a 25-yard strike in stride as waddle immediately bursted down field finished the play in the end-zone. Fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma caught a beautiful touchdown as quarterback Skyler Thompson rolled out and delivered a bomb. Ezukanma’s consistent performance in camp has been impressive and is making a case for the 53-man roster. 

 

2: Training Camp Vibes at an All-Time High

 

Defensive End Ben Stille was the player hyping the fans up to start practice by doing the “Worm” dance.

 

 

Stille is an undrafted free agent from Nebraska who is also having a relatively impressive camp. Defensive tackle Christain Wilkins later, jokingly told us that Stille “stole” and “plagiarized” the move from him. 

 

About midway through camp, the quarterbacks lined up near the 50-yard line and started launching balls aiming for a net sitting near the back of the endzone. Each time a QB “scored,” the crowd would subsequently erupt in cheers, especially when Tua did so (twice).

 

 

3: The Front 4

 

The defensive line has no doubt been a force to be reckoned with all throughout camp, and that didn’t stop today. Our own “Three Yards Per Carrry” cited Emmanuel Ogbah as practice player of the day but it was also Christian Wilkins, Jaelan Phillips and Zach Sieler who continue to burden the offensive line. 

 

4: Trill Williams

 

Defensive back Trill Wiliams has been showing his diverse set of skills throughout the week. You usually see WR Tyreek Hill burn every corner in the book, but Williams was able to keep up with him today. Williams had a great coverage on a deep ball from Bridgewater to Hill and was able to close the window and force the incompletion. Then shortly after, Williams shut down a quick hitter to Hill. 

 

5: Did Noah Igbinoghene get an INT?

 

During one of the plays on 11-11, Igbinoghene was able to jump a route on a telegraphed throw from Tagovailoa. There was an immense debate during some of the conversations had today abot whether Igbo indeed came down with the football. Nevertheless, a good sign from Igbinoghene as he had one of his better days at camp. 

 

2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Watchlist

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Summer scouting season is underway and it kicks off with the 2023 quarterback class. Here is my 2023 NFL Draft quarterback watchlist.

Top 5 2023 quarterback watchlist

Bryce Young

Alabama’s Bryce Young is coming off a heisman season and is looking to build off that as he’s regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation at making throws out of the pocket and out of structure. 

Although, his draft stock may be hurt by his slight frame. Young looks more like a slot receiver compared to what a franchise quarterback is billed at.

Young led the Crimson Tide to a win in the SEC Championship game, becoming the only quarterback to beat the vaunted Georgia defense last season. In that game he was 26 of 44 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns. 

While the Crimson Tide ended up losing in the title game in the rematch against Georgia, Young showed throughout the season that he could play the position at a high level.

In the play above you see Young’s quick feet moving him to allow him a clean pocket. He throws a rope in-between two defenders outside the hash marks. 

His anticipation and touch at this level makes him one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and number one in this 2023 quarterback watchlist.

C.J. Stroud

Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud is one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in this class. He completed 72% of his passes in 2022. Stroud will look to build off what he did in the rose bowl game against Utah.

Stroud is accurate, aggressive, willing to attack the middle of the field, and reads the field extremely well as a passer.

Pre-snap, Utah show single-high coverage in the defensive backfield. However, the post-snap reality does not match the pre-snap expectations. The Utes defense converts into a two-deep shell.

Stroud, after opening to the left side of the field, reads the rotation and throws to the post route from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

He’s a smart signal-caller who is a natural leader with great instincts and the ability to quickly cycle through his reads. Which makes him the second quarterback on my 2023 quarterback watchlist.

Tyler Van Dyke

There is excitement in the area around the Miami Hurricanes this season, mainly in part to new head coach Mario Cristobal. Tyler Van Dyke’s play last season is another big reason for that excitement.

In 2021 as a sophomore he played in 10 games as he passed for 2918 yards on 326 attempts with a completion percentage of 62 for an average of 9.0 yards per pass, with 25 TDs, while also taking 23 sacks, and putting up a QB rating of 108.9. After the first year as starting quarterback, he earned ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

This touchdown early in that contest is a good example of how well Van Dyke sees the field and throws with anticipation. He hits the post route for a touchdown on a switch concept, letting the ball fly as the receiver gets into his break.

Van Dyke is my third ranked prospect in this 2023 quarterback watchlist because of his processing skills. Also, he uses good technique, squaring his shoulders to the target and stepping into his throws

Will Levis

Kentucky’s Will Levis came from nowhere last year and is now looked at as a legitimate first-round talent. He has great physical gifts as well as good accuracy and powerful quick release as well a natural feel for the game

Levis offers a nice blend of size, arm strength and toughness. In the pocket, he has a good feel to climb and avoid pressure — and also possesses enough athleticism to extend plays with his legs.

If he can work on ball placement issues, and lower-body inconsistencies with his mechanics, he’ll live up to the hype.

The Wildcat product has an elite quick-release coupled with fast processing skills which makes him an ideal for a condensed formation offense, similar to the likes of the Rams.

Tanner McKee

In his first year starting at Stanford, Tanner McKee showcased a handful of NFL Traits. He has elite size for the position – stands 6-6 and weighs 230lbs and has the arm strength to match.

The Cardinals product accuracy is decent but his ball placement is one of his best traits overall. McKee shows excellent accuracy on short timing routes to backs and receivers. Slightly, he places the ball in front of receiver to lead them to potential yardage after the catch.

This completion against Oregon highlights two of his strengths: Aggression and ball placement. McKee is not afraid of challenging small throwing windows, and has no fear throwing over the middle. Couple that with accuracy, and McKee can have a solid foundation for the NFL.

He’s an intriguing pro prospect due to his obvious tangibles. McKee looks the part possessing prototypical drop-back passer qualities, is a quick decision-maker, and decent accuracy. He can easily transition into a pro-style offense which makes him the fifth prospect on the 2023 quarterback watchlist.

Honorable Mentions:

Phil Jurkovec-Boston College, Spencer Rattler- South Carolina, Hendon Hooker-Tennessee, Anthony Richardson-Florida, Jake Haener-Fresno State.

 

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Hussam Patel***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

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