DeMeco Ryans: 49ers will have more aggressive, attacking defense

The 49ers were strong enough on defense over the last few years that defensive coordinator Robert Saleh became a hot head coaching candidate and then the head coach of the Jets. Staying the course would seem to be a good goal for his successor, but DeMeco Ryans is setting his sights a bit differently. Ryans, [more]

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Brian Burns feels Panthers are “kind of complete” on defense

The Panthers went into the 2020 season with a lot of young players on defense after using all seven of their draft picks to stock that side of the ball. That unit wound up finishing 18th in the league in both points and yards allowed while integrating all of those new pieces. Carolina used its [more]

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DeVante Parker: Tua Tagovailoa’s mechanics are different

The growth of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is something the Dolphins are looking for this season and it is something his teammates and coaches are regularly asked about when they sit down with reporters this offseason. Head coach Brian Flores has discussed a greater comfort level in the offense for the 2020 first-round pick and players [more]

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Lamar Jackson will spend time under center in 2021

In three NFL seasons, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has operated almost exclusively (if not entirely exclusively) out of the pistol formation. That will change in 2021. Via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, Baltimore’s offense will include plays with Jackson starting under center. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman told reporters on Wednesday that, indeed, the change is coming [more]

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Bills players refusing to answer media questions about whether they’ve been vaccinated

It’s critical for everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but it’s particularly important to NFL teams, as the league will likely relax some of the restrictions on teams once they have 85 percent of their rosters vaccinated. So it’s easy to understand why players are getting asked if they’re doing their part. On the Bills, [more]

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How can the NFL balance media access with mental health?

Reporters who cover the NFL have in recent years become more and more sensitive to the mental health of the men who play professional football. As long, that is, as the sensitivity to mental health doesn’t threaten media access to players after every game, no matter how agonizing the outcome. That’s the balance that needs [more]

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Bengals sign first-round pick Ja’Marr Chase

The Bengals have wrapped up some important business, singing their remaining two 2021 draftees. Cincinnati announced Wednesday morning that first-round pick Ja'Marr Chase and third-round pick Joseph Ossai put pen to paper on their standard four-year deals. Chase’s contract comes with a fifth-year option, which Cincinnati will have to decide on in the spring of [more]

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