March 2012 - Football Wiretap

RG3 Prefers To Be Compared To Super Bowl Winners Than Newton

Jul 8, 2014 2:08 PM

Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins will face Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Griffin has sometimes been compared to Newton, who is a mobile quarterback in his second NFL season.

"I’d rather be compared to an Aaron Rodgers or a guy like that," said Griffin when asked about the Newton comparisons. "Someone who has won Super Bowls."

Rich Campbell/Washington Times

Tags: Washington Football Team, Carolina Panthers

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Weeden Ranks 2nd Amongst Rookies In Yards, TDs

Aug 4, 2014 5:30 AM

Brandon Weeden ranks second amongst rookie quarterbacks in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions of 20 or more yards.

Weeden is 2-6, however, as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, IQ

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J.J. Watt On Cover Of Sports Illustrated

Nov 23, 2014 12:05 PM

J.J. Watt is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated.

Watt was the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September and leads the NFL in sacks.

Justin Boyd/Houston Chronicle

Tags: Houston Texans

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Mario Williams Had No Choice But Leave Texans

Sep 26, 2014 10:53 PM

Mario Williams signed with the Buffalo Bills in the offseason, but his departure from the Houston Texans wasn't his choice.

"Everybody looks at as you just up and leave," Williams said. "But you don't know the fact of basically being told 'We're not giving you anything as far as an offer or anything like that.' So your hands are tied in that aspect. Everybody else looks at it like you just went in free agency and left. Obviously, there was plenty of time for things done that wasn't done.

"That's fine with me. I just wish everybody else who runs their mouth and says this or that knew the whole story about it before making a decision about me just abandoning fans and the team and everything else like that because that's not my role. I'm not that type of guy.

"I'm here, and I'm ecstatic about it. We made the best of it. But there was never an offer from the general manager [Rick Smith]. It was a one-way door that was opened."

Tim Graham/Buffalo News

Tags: Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Misc Rumor

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Jets Uninterested In Trading Tebow

Sep 26, 2014 10:54 PM

The New York Jets have not discussed trading Tim Tebow with interested teams.

Tebow remains the backup quarterback for the Jets behind Mark Sanchez.

Tebow has played sparingly for the Jets this season.

Reports indicate that the Jacksonville Jaguars could pursue a trade for Tebow.

Rich Cimini/ESPN

Tags: New York Jets, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Vick Will Start Against Saints, Still On Hot Seat

Sep 3, 2014 1:37 PM

The Philadelphia Eagles have confirmed that Michael Vick will remain as the starting quarterback heading into Monday night's game against the Saints.

Vick's status has been in question since Andy Reid said about a month ago that he was the Eagles' quarterback "for now."

New Orleans has one of the worst defenses in the NFL and if Vick isn't able to produce in Week 9, the Eagles are likely to replace him with rookie Nick Foles.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Philadelphia Eagles, Fantasy, IQ

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Cruz, Giants Agree On 'Structure' Of New Deal

Sep 26, 2014 10:54 PM

Victor Cruz revealed that his agent and the team have agreed on the "structure" of a new contract. 

"From what I hear, they’ve just agreed on the structure right now,” Cruz said on WFAN. “And that’s all I’m at liberty to say.

“Hopefully this leads to the right track and we’ll get it done sooner than later… I’m happy so far, so I can just relax and play some football."

Cruz is scheduled to be a restricted free agent at the end of the current season.

Ralph Vacchiano/New York Daily News

Tags: New York Giants, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Panthers Receiving Trade Calls On Steve Smith

Sep 26, 2014 10:53 PM

The Carolina Panthers have received trade calls about the availability of Steve Smith.

The Panthers have a 1-6 record.

Smith has caught 35 balls for 589 yards this season.

At this point, the Panthers are rejecting trade offers for Smith.

Jay Glazer/Fox Sports (via Twitter)

Tags: Carolina Panthers, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Turner Unlikely To Be Fired By Chargers During Season

Sep 26, 2014 10:54 PM

The San Diego Chargers have lost three straight games to fall to 3-4, but Norv Turner's job is not yet in jeopardy.

"You're coaching on a week-to-week basis," Turner said Monday when asked if he's coaching for his job. "I'm coaching to do the best job I can to get our team ready to play Kansas City. All those other conversations, they're going to take place. You know they're going to take place."

Turner said he hasn't spoken about his job status with either general manager A.J. Smith or team president Dean Spanos.

The Chargers are unlikely to fire Turner during the season. 

Turner is the de facto offensive coordinator since he calls the teams plays and Spanos has a history of not making knee-jerk reactions.

AP

Tags: San Diego Chargers, Misc Rumor

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NFL Team Rankings, Week 8

Oct 1, 2014 1:50 PM

Our NFL Team Rankings are based solely on the The Trench Counter, which is an objective formula measuring average yards per pass and run on both offense and defense, along with first downs registered and given up, turnovers for and against, and total penalty yards.

Over time, without fail, Trench Counter rankings begin to closely resemble the standings but goes even further to determine which teams are truly the best when on the line of scrimmage.

Each team’s Trench Counter ranking from Week 7 is listed next to the per game average.

We are also including the Bill Parcells/Michael Lombardi stat that we modified called Total Rushes/Completions, which is listed as the second set of rankings below.

* The schedule and weekly results from each team are available by clicking below.

Trench Counter (TC) Rankings

1.

Houston Texans

10.3

1

2.

San Francisco 49ers

10.0

2

3.

New England Patriots

9.8

3

4.

Atlanta Falcons

5.2

6

5.

Chicago Bears

5.1

4

6.

Denver Broncos

5.0

11

7.

New York Giants

4.9

5

8.

Green Bay Packers

3.9

8

9.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2.9

10

10.

Seattle Seahawks

2.2

13

11.

Washington Redskins

2.1

7

12.

Pittsburgh Steelers

1.6

17

13.

San Diego Chargers

1.2

12

14.

Minnesota Vikings

1.1

9

15.

Oakland Raiders

1.1

18

16.

Miami Dolphins

1.0

14

17.

Detroit Lions

-0.5

16

18.

Philadelphia Eagles

-0.8

15

19.

Baltimore Ravens

-1.2

20

20.

Carolina Panthers

-1.4

24

21.

Indianapolis Colts

-2.0

23

22.

Arizona Cardinals

-2.2

21

23.

Dallas Cowboys

-2.5

22

24.

St. Louis Rams

-3.4

19

25.

Cleveland Browns

-3.9

26

26.

Cincinnati Bengals

-4.0

25

27.

New York Jets

-4.5

27

28.

Tennessee Titans

-8.1

28

29.

Jacksonville Jaguars

-8.5

32

30.

Buffalo Bills

-8.6

30

31.

Kansas City Chiefs

-9.2

31

32.

New Orleans Saints

-10.4

29

Total Rushes/Completions (TRC) Rankings

1.

Houston Texans

15.7

1

2.

Pittsburgh Steelers

10.9

3

3.

Kansas City Chiefs

9.9

2

4.

Dallas Cowboys

9.0

4

5.

Detroit Lions

6.0

8

6.

San Francisco 49ers

5.1

7

7.

New England Patriots

4.3

10

8.

Philadelphia Eagles

4.1

5

9.

San Diego Chargers

3.9

12

10.

Atlanta Falcons

3.4

17

11.

New York Giants

3.0

9

12.

Green Bay Packers

2.6

14

13.

Denver Broncos

2.6

19

14.

Chicago Bears

2.0

6

15.

Indianapolis Colts

2.0

18

16.

Miami Dolphins

1.9

15

17.

Seattle Seahawks

1.3

13

18.

Arizona Cardinals

1.3

16

19.

Washington Redskins

1.1

11

20.

Cincinnati Bengals

-2.6

21

21.

New York Jets

-3.4

24

22.

Buffalo Bills

-3.4

22

23.

Minnesota Vikings

-3.9

20

24.

Oakland Raiders

-4.3

25

25.

St. Louis Rams

-4.5

23

26.

Cleveland Browns

-6.9

26

27.

Carolina Panthers

-7.0

29

28.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

-9.6

27

29.

New Orleans Saints

-10.7

28

30.

Tennessee Titans

-13.5

30

31.

Jacksonville Jaguars

-13.9

32

32.

Baltimore Ravens

-14.3

31

Christopher Reina/RealGM

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Tannehill MRI Shows No Structural Damage
The Dolphins will start Matt Moore until Ryan Tannehill returns.

ESPN

49ers Have 2nd Highest YAC Total Over Past Five Seasons
Alex Smith completed 18 of his 19 pass attempts in the 49ers' win at the Cardinals.

Mike Sando/ESPN

Cowboys More Optimistic On Return Of Murray
The Cowboys may give DeMarco Murray one extra week of rest.

Calvin Watkins/ESPN

Crabtree, 49ers Dominate Cardinals 24-3 (+16.7 TC, +6 TRC)
The 49ers had a +16.7 advantage in The Trench Counter, averaging 10.7 yards per pass while limiting the Cardinals to just seven rushing yards on nine attempts.

RealGM Staff Report

Vick To Remain As Eagles' Starting QB
If Andy Reid moves away from Michael Vick, the Eagles would start rookie Nick Foles.

ESPN

Manning, Broncos Beat Saints 34-14 (+21.4 TC, +24 TRC)
The Broncos had a +21.4 advantage in The Trench Counter, recording twice as many first downs and outgaining the Saints by a 3.3 margin on a yards per play basis.

RealGM Staff Report

Giants Beat Cowboys 29-24 (+3.0 TC, -10 TRC)
The Giants had a +3.0 edge in The Trench Counter, fully capitalizing on the six turnovers committed by the Cowboys to compensate for their relative inability to sustain drives (3-for-15 on third down)

RealGM Staff Report

Raiders Defeat Chiefs 26-16 (+10.7 TC, +4 TRC)
The Raiders had a +10.7 advantage in The Trench Counter, with a +3 differential in the takeaway column.

RealGM Staff Report

Dwyer, Steelers Beat Redskins 27-12 (+13.1 TC, +14 TRC)
The Steelers had a +13.1 advantage in The Trench Counter, averaging 1.7 more yards per pass and 1.1 more yards per rush, along with eight additional first downs.

RealGM Staff Report

Ryan, Falcons Beat Eagles 30-17 (+8.7 TC, +14 TRC)
The Falcons had a +8.7 advantage in The Trench Counter, outgaining the Eagles 5.8 to 4.4 on a yard per play basis.

RealGM Staff Report

Moore, Dolphins Beat Jets 30-9 (-2.3 TC, -3 TRC)
The Dolphins had a -2.3 deficit in The Trench Counter, recording eight fewer first downs and gaining fewer yards per play.

RealGM Staff Report

Patriots Blowout Rams 45-7 In London (+21.6 TC, +6 TRC)
The Patriots had a +21.6 advantage in The Trench Counter, averaging 8.4 yards per pass, 5.4 yards per rush while recording 12 additional first downs and posting a +2 in the takeaway battle.

RealGM Staff Report

Luck, Colts Beat Titans 19-13 In OT (+4.9 TC, +13 TRC)
The Colts had a +4.9 advantage in The Trench Counter, recording 10 more first downs in a game where both teams were about even on a yards per play basis.

RealGM Staff Report

Packers Beat Jaguars 24-15 (+2.4 TC, +1 TRC)
The Packers had a +2.4 advantage in The Trench Counter, but they were outgained 4.8 to 3.7 on a per play basis.

RealGM Staff Report

Risdon's $.10 For Week 8
Jeff Risdon breaks down the most important storylines from Week 8 in the NFL.

Jeff Risdon/RealGM

Stafford, Young, Lions Beat Seahawks 28-24 (-6.3 TC, +12 TRC)
The Lions had a -6.3 deficit in The Trench Counter, gaining 1.1 fewer yards per play while having 51 more yards in penalties.

RealGM Staff Report

Richardson, Browns Beat Chargers 7-6 (+1.5 TC, -8 TRC)
The Browns had a +1.5 advantage in The Trench Counter, slightly outgaining the Chargers on a yards per play and winning the turnover battle 1-0.

RealGM Staff Report

Bears Beat Panthers 23-22 (-9.9 TC, -18 TRC)
The Bears had a -9.9 deficit in The Trench Counter, averaging 1.4 fewer yards per play and logging one additional turnover.

RealGM Staff Report

Steelers Rediscovering Running Attack With Jonathan Dwyer
Jonathan Dwyer has an excellent combination of power and quickness.

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

DeAngelo Hall Ejected For Berating Official
DeAngelo Hall was ejected from the Redskins' loss to the Steelers for berating an official with an obscenity-laced tirade.

Mike Jones/Washington Post