NCAA - Football Wiretap

NFL Can't Find Liability Insurance For Head Trauma

Jan 17, 2019 12:40 PM

The NFL no longer has general liability insurance covering head trauma.

There is now also just one carrier willing to provide workers' compensation to NFL teams.

Before concussion litigation roiled the NFL beginning in 2011, at least a dozen carriers occupied the insurance market for pro football, according to industry experts.

While some people have said football will never go away, it is difficult to see how the youth levels can survive without insurance.

Dr. Julian Bailes, Pop Warner's medical director and a member of the NFL's Head, Neck and Spine Committee, told Outside the Lines "insurance coverage is arguably the biggest threat to the sport."

Some insurance industry executives compare the issue to asbestos, an occupational hazard that has cost insurers at least $100 billion. 

Steve Fainaru, Mark Fainaru-Wada/ESPN

Tags: Legal, NCAA

Discuss
Jalen Hurts Announces Transfer To Oklahoma

Jan 16, 2019 2:07 PM

Jalen Hurts will transfer to Oklahoma for his senior season.

As a graduate transfer, Hurts is eligible to play immediately.

Oklahoma quarterbacks have won each of the past two Heisman Trophies in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Both quarterbacks were also transfers.

Hurts appeared in all but two games in 2018 as a backup after losing his job to Tua Tagovailoa. During his two seasons as the starter, Hurts won an SEC Offensive Player of the Year award and threw for a combined 4,861 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, to go along with 1,809 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing.

ESPN

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Kyler Murray Ranks No. 24 On Todd McShay's Top-32

Jan 15, 2019 9:48 PM

Kyler Murray ranks No. 24 on Todd McShay's Top-32 for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Murray hadn't been on any of McShay's prior editions due to the expectation he would go to the MLB.

Todd McShay/ESPN

Tags: Draft, Draft Misc, NCAA

Discuss
Kyler Murray Declares For 2019 NFL Draft

Jan 14, 2019 6:02 PM

Kyler Murray has declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Murray can choose between the NFL and MLB depending on his draft stock.

Murray has a contract with the Oakland Athletics that includes a $4.66 million signing bonus.

The A's selected Murray with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. The A's supported Murray's decision to enter the draft, but they could be under increased pressure to improve his contract.

In just his first season as a starter, Murray threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns and ran for another 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns in leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff semifinals this year.

ESPN

Tags: Draft, Draft Declaration, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, NCAA

Discuss
Steve Sarkisian Turns Down Cardinals' Job To Rejoin Alabama

Jan 13, 2019 12:36 PM

Steve Sarkisian turned down an offer to become the offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals and will instead have the same job for the University of Alabama.

Former co-offensive coordinator Josh Gattis left the Tide recently for Michigan, and former quarterbacks coach and associate head coach Dan Enos, who reportedly was in line to be Alabama's offensive coordinator and playcaller next season, left Friday to become the University of Miami's offensive coordinator.

Sarkisian was an offensive analyst for the Crimson Tide before joining the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. The Falcons fired Sarkisian this offseason.

ESPN

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Misc Rumor, NCAA

Discuss
Dolphins Already Eyeing Quarterbacks From 2020 NFL Draft

Jan 13, 2019 12:33 PM

The Miami Dolphins are beginning to look to the 2020 NFL draft class for their quarterback of the future.

Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon's Justin Herbert are considered the top quarterbacks of that prospective draft class.

Miami is expected to hire Brian Flores as head coach as the Dolphins rebuild.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Miami Dolphins, Draft, Draft Misc, NCAA

Discuss
Kyler Murray To Declare For NFL Draft, Leanings Towards Football

Jan 10, 2019 5:17 PM

Kyler Murray is expected to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Murray was drafted ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft and has a $4.66 million bonus with the Oakland A's.

“Contractually, it is not a big deal,” one source with knowledge of the situation said. “No harm in doing so.”

Murray could still opt to be in the A’s camp, but the NFL scouting combine begins Feb. 26.

One source said Murray is leaning towards football.

The A’s would retain Murray’s professional baseball rights should he join an NFL team, retaining the possibility he could play for them at a future date if football did not pan out as expected.

"He'll be a first round pick," said one GM in a text to Mike Florio.

Susan Slusser/San Francisco Chronicle

Tags: Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, NCAA

Discuss
Cardinals Hire Kliff Kingsbury As Head Coach

Jan 9, 2019 12:04 PM

The Arizona Cardinals have hired Kliff Kingsbury as head coach.

Kingsbury will receive a four-year deal with the Cardinals owning a fifth season.

Kingsbury will replace Steve Wilks, who was fired on Dec. 31 after one season (3-13) in Arizona.

Texas Tech fired Kingsbury in November after six seasons as head coach. USC had subsequently hired Kingsbury as offensive coordinator.

Kingsbury coached Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech.

Josh Weinfuss/ESPN

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Misc Rumor, NCAA

Discuss
Dwayne Haskins Leaves Ohio State For NFL Draft

Jan 8, 2019 9:53 AM

Dwayne Haskins has declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Haskins is a projected first round pick at quarterback.

Haskins finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.

Haskins' NFL decision was telegraphed by Justin Fields, the Georgia quarterback who announced Friday he was transferring to Ohio State.

ESPN

Tags: Draft, Draft Declaration, Draft Misc, NCAA

Discuss
Clemson Claims Second National Title Over Alabama

Jan 8, 2019 9:53 AM

The Clemson Tigers won their second national college football title in three seasons with a 44-16 win over Alabama on Monday night.

True freshman Trevor Lawrence led the Tigers to 30 unanswered points in the second and third quarter to pull away.

Clemson finished 15-0, while Alabama fell to 14-1 on the season.

Jeremy Bergman/NFL

Tags: Misc Rumor, NCAA

Discuss
Kliff Kingsbury To Interview With Cardinals, Jets
USC was initially blocking Kliff Kingsbury from interviewing.

ESPN

Lincoln Riley Signs Contract Extension With Oklahoma
Lincoln Riley was the 16th highest paid coach in college football this season and will receive a significant raise.

Jake Trotter/ESPN