Month: March 2023

All of the league’s franchises received letter grades from players in eight different categories.

The NFL Players Association released “report card” grades for all 32 NFL teams on Wednesday.

According to NFLPA president JC Tretter, around 1,300 players participated in grading their own teams with a 60-question survey that covered eight different categories: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, training staff, locker rooms and travel. The 32 teams did not receive an official overall grade, just the individual grades from the categories.

There was only one team that received A minuses or better for every category: the Vikings. The Dolphins were close to achieving straight A’s, but were given a C plus for treatment of families.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Cardinals earned the most F’s among the league’s teams. Arizona ended with three F minuses which came in the nutrition, weight room and training room categories. The other two F’s were for treatment of families and locker rooms.

While they might not have received as many individual F votes, the Commanders still earned four, with three being F minuses for training room, locker room and travel. The franchise received a straight F for treatment of families, but did receive an A plus rating for its strength staff.

Here’s the full list of the report cards.

The All-American running back out of Texas is expected to get picked in the first round but there’s a handful of other rushers looking to boost their draft stock at the combine.

The NFL scouting combine (February 28-March 6) is the league’s first major event of the offseason. 27 running back prospects have been invited to the event held in Indianapolis where they’ll look to impress coaches and scouts during the process of being picked in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Here’s a look at the top five running backs we’ll look to draft in our fantasy leagues. For a deeper look, be sure to check out the Top 100 Big Board 1.0.

2023 Rookie Running Back Rankings: NFL Combine

1. Bijan Robinson, Texans: Robinson is the best running back prospect in this class, and many scouts believe it’s not close. A tackle-breaking machine at Texas, he compiled 1,894 scrimmage yards (1,580 on the ground) and scored 20 times in his final collegiate season. He’d be a fantastic fit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of the first round.

2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama: Gibbs isn’t the biggest back at 5’11” and 200 pounds, but he’s versatile (44 catches in 2022) and an explosive runner. In fact, NFL Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson has compared him to Chris Johnson. While he might not become a three-down NFL back, Gibbs could emerge as a PPR machine if he lands with the right team. He’d be a nice fit with the Eagles or Miami Dolphins.

3. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA: Charbonnet is a versatile running back with good size who averaged seven yards per rush in his final season with the Bruins. His 2022 totals were career highs, in fact, as he ranked 15th in rushing yards despite missing three games. He was also No. 4 in rushing yards per game and No. 7 in total scrimmage yards. He’d be a nice fantasy fit with the Dolphins or Eagles, too.

4. Devon Achane, Texas A&M: Achane is a smaller running back at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, but he’s an explosive playmaker who caught a combined 60 passes in his final 22 collegiate games. He doesn’t project to be a three-down back in the NFL, but rather a pass-catching, explosive complement to an early-down grinder. Also useful as a kick returner, Achane is likely to be a second or third round selection.

5. Roschon Johnson, Texas: Johnson was overshadowed by Robinson during his time at Texas, which of course limited his statistical success. In his final season, he rushed for 554 yards and averaged six yards per attempt. A decent pass catcher as well, Johnson has the size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) and tools to be an NFL pounder.

With the star point guard out with a torn ACL, No. 12 Tennessee will face a lot of resistance as Selection Sunday nears.

Tennessee’s hopes of a deep run in March may have ended midway through its game on the last night of February.

The Volunteers’ worst fears were confirmed Wednesday when men’s star point guard Zakai Zeigler was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee after suffering a noncontact injury Tuesday in the first half against Arkansas. Now, a program and coach with a checkered history in March Madness will have to move forward without arguably their most important player.

In Zeigler’s first two years in Knoxville, he has emerged from an afterthought late signee into, as coach Rick Barnes put it earlier this season, “the DNA of our program.” Offensively, he’s the team’s only true point guard and often the only player capable of consistently beating his man off the bounce and getting into the teeth of the defense. And on the other end of the floor, Zeigler is regarded as one of the best defensive players in the country, named recently as a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and leading the nation’s top-ranked defense in steals.

Simply put, when Tennessee has been at its best this season, it has usually been because Zeigler has been at his best. Optimism for a deep NCAA tournament run by the Vols is rooted in Tennessee’s big wins—victories over Kansas, Texas and Alabama. Zeigler scored 14 points and had four steals against the Jayhawks to lead Tennessee to a Battle 4 Atlantis title, had a dazzling 22 points and 10 assists when the Vols handled the Longhorns, and was the best player on the floor against Alabama when he had 15 points, eight assists and no turnovers.

Those wins by the Vols are why some of the team’s losses are so baffling. A team with wins against three of the top nine teams in KenPom’s rankings has had its share of head-scratching losses, from an early-season defeat to Colorado to surprising midseason losses to middling Florida and Vanderbilt. Too often, the common denominator in those losses has been an inability to consistently score, mustering just 54 points against Florida, 65 against Vanderbilt and under 60 points in both meetings against Kentucky. Tennessee’s offense ranks outside the top 50 in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency metric, holding back the No. 1 defense from a potential No. 1 seed.

It’s hard to imagine those offensive struggles getting much better without Zeigler’s ability to probe the defense and distribute. Increased ballhandling responsibilities will likely be heaped on veteran Santiago Vescovi, who doubles as the team’s best off-ball shooter. That could be problematic, considering Tennessee is shooting just 32% from three as a team and nearly 85% of Vescovi’s threes this year have been assisted on. And while Zeigler is shooting just 31% from deep this season, he is second on the team in made threes.

Barnes also said sophomore Jahmai Mashack, who had five assists against Arkansas and has seen his role increase of late, could also take on some point guard responsibilities, as could veteran Tyreke Key. Plus, Zeigler’s leadership and energy will be missed on the floor for Tennessee in high-stress March moments.

The Zeigler injury is the latest blow to a program that, under Barnes, has been snakebit in the NCAA tournament. In 2018, the bracket opened up nicely for a potential Final Four run after No. 1 Virginia was knocked out by UMBC, only for the Vols to lose in the second round to Loyola Chicago on a last-second shot that bounced off the rim multiple times before dropping through. In 2019, Tennnessee led twice in the final minute of regulation against Purdue in the Sweet 16 before losing in overtime. And last season, Tennessee came into the NCAA tournament red-hot after winning the SEC tournament, just to shoot 2-of-18 from three and lose in the second round to Michigan. Tennessee has never made the Final Four in program history, and that streak—unfortunately—may continue this year.

Before heading to the NFL Draft in April, these quarterbacks will look to impress coaches and teams at the NFL combine.

The 2023 NFL Draft class is loaded with some quality quarterback talent and NFL coaches, general managers, and team personnel will get an up close and personal look at the incoming prospects at the NFL Combine.  15 quarterbacks have been invited to the event in Indianapolis and will take center stage for their on-field drills on Saturday, March 4th. Though Bryce Young has elected not to throw, some of the other big-name passers like CJ Stroud and Will Levis are scheduled to participate.

Here’s a look at the top five quarterbacks we all get to know before our fantasy football drafts. For a deeper look, be sure to check out Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 Big Board 1.0.

2023 Rookie Quarterback Rankings: Pre-Draft

1. Bryce Young, Alabama: Young is slight of frame at a “generous” six feet tall and 194 pounds, but he’s the best playmaking quarterback in the class. He threw for 3,328 yards and 32 touchdowns with just five interceptions in his final year at Alabama, adding another 185 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He’ll likely be picked by the Houston Texans or Indianapolis Colts within the top four choices.

2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State: Stroud improved his NFL draft stock with a sensational performance against Georgia in the College Football Playoff. He finished the 2022 campaign with nearly 3,700 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes and six picks. He isn’t much of a runner (136 combined yards in 26 collegiate games), but Stroud is an accurate passer who could be a top-four overall pick behind Young in the draft.

3. Will Levis, Kentucky: Levis saw some statistical regression last season when we compare it to 2021, but there’s still plenty to like about him. He’s got good size at 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, and he can run with the ball when needed. In 2021, he rushed for 376 yards and nine touchdowns. Teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans could have some interest in the top 12.

4. Anthony Richardson, Florida: Richardson might have benefitted from another year in college, but he has a boatload of potential at the next level and in fantasy football. While he needs work as a passer, Richardson is uber athletic and can make plenty of plays with his feet. In fact, he rushed for 654 yards and nine TDs in his 12 games for the Gators last season. The Panthers and Titans would be good fits.

5. Tanner McKee, Stanford: McKee is a big prospect at 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, making him more of the prototypical NFL passer. He’s not going to do anything on the ground from a fantasy perspective and will need some “seasoning” at the next level, but McKee is a prospect to watch if he lands with the right NFL franchise.

She faces one charge of unlawful weapon possession for carrying a handgun without a permit.

WWE wrestler Sonya Deville was reportedly arrested in New Jersey last month for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

The arrest happened in Atlantic City on Feb. 19, as first reported by TMZ, after a valet discovered a firearm in the glove box of Deville’s car and called the police. Though the gun is registered in Florida, Deville reportedly doesn’t have a permit in New Jersey.

The 29-year-old Deville, whose real name is Daria Berenato, is facing one charge of unlawful weapon possession for carrying a handgun without a permit. A court hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Fightful reports that Deville is in the process of getting the case thrown out.

Deville reportedly purchased the gun for protection after a frightening incident in 2020 where an obsessed fan broke into her Florida home and attempted to kidnap her, according to Fightful. A security alarm alerted Deville to the man breaking in and she was able to escape without being harmed. The man was charged with aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping, and criminal mischief but was found incompetent to stand trial following medical evaluations.

WWE sources told Fightful that there’s “no heat” on Deville over her arrest because they understand why she would want to protect herself after the home invasion. Deville has been with WWE since appearing as a contestant on the company’s reality show Tough Enough in 2015.

Deville, who got engaged to her girlfriend Toni Cassano in New Jersey on Feb. 15, has wrestled at multiple WWE live events since her arrest.

More From Wrestling Observer: 

• AEW’s Fuego del Sol Fractures Foot at Indie Show
• Report: WWE to Pre-tape Final Episode of ‘NXT’ Before ‘Stand & Deliver’
• TV Ratings Down for WWE on A&E

These four teams should be ashamed of themselves.

The NFLPA released its first-ever team report cards on Wednesday, and boy, did we get to find out a lot about all 32 teams and how bad some of them are at, among other things, treating players’ families. 

You should take some time and go through all the results from these report cards because they are pretty juicy. 

The NFLPA explained these report cards and what they hope to accomplish with these anonymous scores given by players: 

 1,300 of our players provided information to share with one another about their current club, to not only help them make important career decisions, but also help raise standards across the league.

Our goals were to highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement, and highlight best practices and standards. To learn more about the background of this initiative, read a note from President JC Tretter here.

While there were eight different categories—including locker rooms, travel, and nutrition—we’re going to take a look at the four teams that got F’s for how they treat families. 

1. Arizona Cardinals, F

The Cardinals tied for last in this category, mostly because of these two findings in the reports:

– They are one of 14 teams that do not offer a family room for use on game days.

– They are one of 11 teams that do not offer daycare.

2. Cincinnati Bengals, F

The Bengals also don’t offer a family room or daycare.

This blurb from the report card on the Bengals is pretty wild: 

“The players who responded to the survey also complained that there is nowhere warm and safe for mothers and kids to go during the game because the Bengals do not provide a family room, unlike the majority of teams. Players reported that wives have sat on the public restroom floor to nurse their babies.”

3. Jacksonville Jaguars, F

The Jaguars had similar bad reports: 

“The second issue was the players’ feeling that the team can take better care of the players’ families. For example, because they do not offer a family room like most NFL teams do in their stadium, we heard of instances where players’ wives nursed their babies on the floor of a public restroom.”

What was the first issue? 

Rats.

“When asked what the number one thing they want changed at their facility, the answer was unanimous—get rid of the rats! Players reported that for 3-4 weeks this season, there was a rat infestation in the locker room and laundry hampers.”

Gross. 

4. Washington Commanders, F

The Commanders, to the surprise of absolutely no one, finished last overall in the report. How Dan Snyder’s franchise treats families was one of four F’s (three of which were F-’s) they got. 

Not great!

Skip and Shannon had differing views on Kyrie Irving taking the final shot on Tuesday — but both agreed, the Mavericks are in trouble.