4 most overrated NFL groups, plus Rams unveil new uniforms and sack report unofficially adjustments arms


I am unsure who within the Rams group is answerable for deciding when the crew makes its uniform bulletins, however whoever that individual is, please give them a increase. A big increase. Like, large enough increase that they’re going to be capable to afford to reside subsequent to Oprah. 

The rationale for it’s because the Rams unveiled new uniforms on Tuesday and let me simply say, I like July uniform bulletins. For the previous few years, groups have introduced new uniforms in April and though I perceive why — they wish to get the brand new uniforms out earlier than the draft so all of their draft picks can mannequin the brand new look — the announcement finally ends up getting buried below all the opposite information occurring in April. Nonetheless, if you announce a brand new uniform in July, you get headlines in all places, INCLUDING IN THIS NEWSLETTER. 

With that in thoughts, I suggest that every one bulletins relating to new uniforms are made in July to any extent further. Additionally, in case you have not figured it out, we’ll be speaking concerning the Rams’ new uniform as we speak. Alright, let’s get to the rundown. 

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1. At this time’s present: Predicting the MVP for 3 completely different AFC groups in 2021 

The NFL solely arms out one MVP award yearly, however that does not imply we will not hand out a number of extra MVPs, in order that’s precisely what we did for Tuesday’s episode of the Decide Six Podcast. This present featured Will Brinson, Ryan Wilson AND ME and the premise was easy: We every picked out one participant who we predict would be the MVP for his or her crew this 12 months. There was just one rule: We needed to choose a participant from an AFC crew (We’ll be overlaying the NFC tomorrow). 

Here is what we got here up with and if you don’t agree with Brinson’s, please let him know on Twitter

  • Wilson: Baker Mayfield (Browns). Mayfield proved final 12 months that he could be a good quarterback and if he could make the bounce to nice this 12 months, the Browns may very well be a Tremendous Bowl contender. To present you an concept of how a lot Mayfield means to the crew, simply think about this: The Browns went 2-5 final season when he accomplished below 60% of his passes, however 9-0 when he accomplished 60% or extra. 
  • Breech: Julio Jones (Titans). I do not assume Julio will essentially be the most effective offensive participant on this crew, however I believe he may very well be essentially the most precious participant. The Titans offense handled extra eight-in-the-box appears final season than another crew within the NFL, which suggests opposing defenses have been solely serious about one factor: Stopping the run. With Jones now in Tennessee, he’ll doubtless be going through man-to-man protection if groups proceed to try this, which suggests Julio may have an enormous 12 months. Then again, if groups drop extra defenders into protection to cease Jones, that ought to open up some monstrous working lanes for Derrick Henry. That is a win-win scenario. 
  • Brinson: Austin Ekeler (Chargers). Brinson is on the Chargers bandwagon and an enormous motive he is on it’s due to Ekeler. Does it make sense? Type of. If Justin Herbert goes to keep away from a sophomore hunch, Brinson believes that the Chargers quarterback goes to have to ensure to make the most of Ekeler as typically as doable. If Herbert has an enormous 12 months, the Chargers must be a playoff crew and the thought course of right here is that Herbert WILL have an enormous 12 months so long as Ekeler is within the backfield. 

To take heed to as we speak’s total dialog — and to comply with the podcast — make sure you click on right here. Though we solely named an MVP for 3 completely different AFC groups, you may see our checklist of one MVP for all 16 groups by clicking right here

Additionally, in information that you just won’t imagine, we have been nominated in The Folks’s Alternative Podcast Awards for the ‘Greatest Sports activities Podcast’ and YOU CAN HELP US WIN THE AWARD by clicking right here and voting for us (It’s important to open a podcast awards account to vote, nevertheless it’s free and straightforward). I am not going to beg for votes. OK, I will beg for votes: Please vote for us!

2. NFL single-season sack report simply unofficially modified arms

Essentially the most controversial single-season report within the NFL might be the sack report, which is held by Michael Strahan (22.5). For one, many individuals really feel that Brett Favre took a dive again in 2001 to assist Strahan set the report by simply 0.5 sacks over former record-holder Mark Gastineau. Additionally, the NFL has solely been recording sacks as an official statistic since 1982, so gamers earlier than that 12 months have not been thought-about for the sack report. 

The fellows over at Professional Soccer Reference determined to repair that second downside and by doing so, in addition they mounted the primary downside. For the previous few years, PFR has been meticulously going via previous sport footage and newspaper accounts to get an correct rely of the variety of sacks that gamers had earlier than 1982. 

What they discovered is somewhat wonderful

  • Al Baker is your new unofficial single-season sack champion. In accordance with PFR’s numbers, the previous Lions defensive finish set an NFL report with 23 sacks throughout his ROOKIE season in 1978. 
  • Deacon Jones now has three of the highest 9 single-season sack performances of all-time. Jones racked up 21.5 or extra sacks a complete of thrice in his profession, making him the one participant in NFL historical past who has accomplished that a number of occasions (nobody has even accomplished it twice). The loopy half is that every one three of Jones’ huge sacks seasons got here when the NFL was enjoying simply 14 video games. In accordance with the brand new numbers, Jones registered 173.5 sacks in his profession, which might be the third most of all-time if the NFL acknowledged it. Jones performed for the Rams, Chargers and Washington throughout a 14-year profession. 
  • Two Corridor of Famers crack the highest 10 checklist for many profession sacks. Due to the brand new numbers, former Rams star Jack Youngblood has now been credited with 151.5 sacks whereas Alan Web page — who performed on the famed Purple Folks Eater’s protection in Minnesota — has been credited with 148.5 sacks. In accordance with the PFR numbers, Youngblood has the sixth-most sacks of all-time whereas Web page has the eighth-most. 

To learn the way PFR pulled this off and which gamers benefitted essentially the most, you are going to wish to click on right here

3. Most overrated groups within the NFL

 

Final week, we coated among the most underrated groups within the NFL heading into the 2021 season, so this week, it solely is sensible that we cowl among the most overrated groups. 

In case you’re questioning what makes a crew overrated, that is a implausible query and I will let our Tyler Sullivan reply that since he put this checklist collectively. Mainly, Sullivan seemed on the over/below totals for the season together with every crew’s Tremendous Bowl odds to seek out out which groups are being overrated. 

After crunching all of the numbers, Sullivan got here up with 4 groups: 

  • Broncos: “They’re tied for the sixth-best odds to win the title this 12 months and that is solely dependent upon whether or not they can purchase reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers as he continues to squabble with the Packers. Whereas it does seem that Rodgers is agency in his want to be traded out of Inexperienced Bay and Denver has continued to be checked out as the favourite to land him, that is a fairly large if and never one thing I would be keen to throw some money at when taking a look at a future wager to win the Tremendous Bowl.”
  • Patriots: “New England made a ton of headlines this offseason thanks largely partially on account of its free agent spending spree. That has some projecting that the Patriots will be capable to bounce again fairly properly from their under-.500 marketing campaign in 2020. Whereas all of these gamers are proficient and much-needed additions for a Patriots squad that was missing top-tier expertise a season in the past, when is the final time the crew that broke the financial institution in free company circled and really gained the Tremendous Bowl and even got here shut?”
  • 49ers: If all the things goes proper for the 49ers in 2021, they might simply win the Tremendous Bowl. That stated, when does every bit completely falling into place occur for any NFL crew? The Niners are at the moment tied for the fourth-best odds to win Tremendous Bowl LVI and are tied for the second-best odds to win the NFC. Whereas there may be loads of expertise to love on this roster, there are some somewhat massive questions, you understand, like who’s going to play quarterback.”
  • Rams: “The Rams are one of many horny picks to win the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months and for good motive. They upgraded at quarterback after making the blockbuster commerce for Matthew Stafford that despatched Jared Goff again to Detroit. This modification creates a a lot larger ceiling for Los Angeles, albeit presumably shortening its championship window. Whereas I do love that commerce and general like what the crew did this offseason, I do have some pause about how extremely they’re being talked about. I believe Tom Brady’s speedy success in his first 12 months with the Buccaneers has clouded followers’ minds about how troublesome it may be to change groups and immediately contend.”

Sullivan is clearly mocking me by together with the Rams on this checklist, as a result of proper now, I am 73% certain that I will choose them to win the Tremendous Bowl. 

Anyway, if you need a extra detailed rationalization for why every of crew ended up on the overrated checklist, then you are going to wish to click on right here so you may learn Sullivan’s total story

4. Rams unveil new throwback uniform

Though the Rams made our overrated checklist, these uniforms undoubtedly aren’t overrated. The crew launched a white “fashionable throwback” uniform that they’re going to be sporting for 3 video games this 12 months (The Rams have been the one crew within the NFL that did not have a white uniform final 12 months and that is as a result of they wore a “bone” coloured uniform as an alternative. You possibly can see the distinction between the 2 jerseys by clicking right here). 

As for the brand new whites, this is the outline of the uniform from the Rams’ web site: The brand new uniforms are “Impressed by one of many traditional Rams uniforms beloved by generations of followers, the brand new look pays homage to the jersey worn by Corridor of Famers Jack Youngblood and Jackie Slater after they led the Rams to a Tremendous Bowl look on the Rose Bowl in 1980, by Corridor of Fame RB Eric Dickerson throughout his historic 1984 season, and by the record-setting offense generally known as the “Biggest Present on Turf” in 1999 when the Rams gained Tremendous Bowl XXXIV.”

Mainly, the Rams have all the time been profitable in these uniforms so I believe I am not 76% certain I am selecting them to win the Tremendous Bowl as an alternative of 73%. 

The Rams will put on these uniforms in three completely different primetime video games: 

Week 1: vs. Bears (Sunday evening)
Week 9: vs. Titans (Sunday evening)
Week 10: at 49ers (Monday evening)

To take a look at a full image of the brand new uniforms, make sure you click on right here. When the Rams unveiled their new uniforms final 12 months, in addition they introduced that they might be releasing a brand new uniform in each 2021 and 2022, so it appears like they’re going to be releasing at the least another new jersey sooner or later subsequent 12 months.

5. Prime defensive gamers below the age of 25

When you hit age 25 within the NFL, you are mainly over the hill, which is why we determined to rank the highest gamers within the league below the age of 25. OK, so that you’re most likely not over the hill fairly but, however it’s fascinating to see all of the up-and-coming stars within the NFL who have not hit 25 but. 

This rating, which was put collectively by Tyler Sullivan, solely has two guidelines: Rookies aren’t on the checklist and to qualify, a participant cannot flip 25 earlier than the beginning of the 2021 season (Any participant who’s 24 or youthful on Sept. 9 qualifies). 

Prime defensive gamers below the age of 25

EDGE: Chase Younger, Washington
EDGE: Nick Bosa, 49ers
IDL: Quinnen Williams, Jets
IDL: Jeffrey Simmons, Titans
LB: Fred Warner, 49ers
LB: Devin White, Buccaneers
LB: Roquan Smith, Bears
CB: Jaire Alexander, Packers
CB: Denzel Ward, Browns
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers
S: Jessie Bates, Bengals

The 49ers have been the one crew that had a number of gamers on the checklist. Sullivan additionally made a second crew which featured two gamers from the Buccaneers. You possibly can try your complete checklist by clicking right here.  

6. Speedy-fire roundup

It has been a busy 24 hours within the NFL and because it’s almost unattainable to maintain monitor of all the things that occurred, I went forward and put collectively a roundup for you. 

  • NFL suffers setback in courtroom. The NFL is at the moment being sued by town of St. Louis over the Rams’ resolution to maneuver to Los Angeles and issues aren’t going so nicely for the NFL proper now. Throughout a courtroom session on Monday, the choose ordered a discovery of funds for Roger Goodell and 4 NFL homeowners (Stan Kroenke, Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones, Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, Giants proprietor John Mara). This mainly means St. Louis will presumably have full entry to every of their monetary information, which is sort of loopy, as a result of NFL homeowners are notoriously secretive about their financials. One of the best ways to stop this from occurring can be a settlement, which is one thing the NFL might be critically contemplating at this level. 
  • Peyton Manning offers his tackle the Aaron Rodgers scenario. Manning continues to be dialed into the entrance workplace in Denver and after watching how issues have performed out with Aaron Rodgers over the previous couple of months, the previous Broncos QB would not assume Rodgers is going to finish up within the Mile Excessive Metropolis: “My intestine is he isn’t coming to Denver. My intestine is Denver’s gonna have Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater be their quarterback. At this level, you gotta kinda know what your plan is. You possibly can’t be having a brand new quarterback three weeks earlier than the season.”
  • Lengthy-time NFL assistant coach Alex Gibbs passes away. The 80-year-old Gibbs handed away on Monday on account of issues from a stroke. Gibbs spent 27 years as an NFL assistant together with his greatest work coming in Denver (1995 through 2003), the place he gained two Tremendous Bowls for the Broncos as their offensive line coach. He additionally coached for the Raiders, Chargers, Colts, Chiefs, Falcons, Texans and Seahawks throughout his almost three many years within the league. 
  • Anthony Barr thinks Vikings can win a Tremendous Bowl. No one is extra optimistic this 12 months concerning the Vikings than Anthony Barr. The veteran linebacker thinks this may very well be the 12 months that the Vikings win their first Tremendous Bowl ever. “I actually do imagine that we now have a Tremendous Bowl-winning crew this 12 months,” Barr stated on KMSP. “Clearly there’s lots of steps to get to that time, and I have been via good seasons and dangerous seasons with this crew. However each time we have had a troublesome 12 months, we have all the time bounced again. I actually really feel like this 12 months goes to be particular.” The one individual moreover Barr who thinks the Vikings may win the Tremendous Bowl is our NFL editor right here, Joel Magaraci. I believe the Vikings may very well be good this 12 months, however not “win the Tremendous Bowl” good.





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