Yo... Moe

Haven't spoken with my brother for a few weeks. He doesn't watch college football, so he's pretty much clueless about draft prospects. But since he moved here and we're only 100 miles away, I wouldn't be surprised if he and the missus didn't drive over for an experience. At least, on the first day of the draft.

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't that when Arch Manning goes into the draft?

Yes. But he'll only have one season as starter at Texas because Quinn Ewers is going to get the most snaps next season. He's very good and a likely top 10 selection next year.

Well Ms M & Jerry,
The season has started.......training camp. ;)

I thought of you when I read this on cbssports.com:

Steelers training camp: Justin Fields takes QB1 reps as Russell Wilson misses opening day, passes first test

Fields made the most of his first-team reps

By Bryan DeArdo
LATROBE -- Justin Fields was hit with a curve ball at around 6 a.m. ET Thursday morning. Fields, the Steelers' backup quarterback entering training camp, received a text message around that time informing him that Russell Wilson would miss the first practice, thus giving the former Bears starter some coveted reps with the first-team offense.


It wasn't perfect, but it's fair to say that Fields passed his first test in a Steelers uniform. With Wilson [[who is being labeled as day-to-day with a calf injury) looking on, Fields displayed his highly-touted athleticism as well as his ability to hit the deep ball that included a dime to Van Jefferson, who was wide open after defensive back Donte Jackson fell down.


"I was trying to take advantage of each and every rep that I got today," Fields told the media afterward. "I got some good reps in today, for sure. ... Looking forward to getting better tomorrow."


Fields let it rip right off the bat. He quickly launched a deep pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth that was broken up after a good play by safety DeShon Elliott, who moments later caved in on Fields after coming in untouched on an outside blitz. Fields, however, eluded Elliott and several other defenders before stopping, turning to his left and hitting running back Jaylen Warren on a screen that turned into a sizable gain.


Along with his deep completion to Jefferson, Fields threw a dart down the middle of the field to George Pickens, who took off down the field for a score. That completion came after Fields and Pickens were unable to connect on consecutive passes that were knocked down by Jackson, who had a solid practice sans the deep completion to Jefferson.


"It's good to face some adversity and stuff that's not expected," Fields said about getting first-team reps on short notice. "We're gonna face things in games that aren't expected. It's about how we react to those situations and how we adjust."


Thursday's practice was a microcosm of Fields' NFL career to this point. There were many occasions in Chicago when Fields played like a first-round pick. But there were also underwhelming/inconsistent moments that led to unmet expectations, expectations that No. 1 Caleb Williams is now undertaking in the Windy City.


With the Bears deciding to start over at quarterback, the Steelers quickly pounced on the chance to acquire Fields, who had one of his best games as a Bear against Pittsburgh during his rookie season. Now, instead of facing the pressures associated with being a franchise quarterback on a franchise that's never had one, Fields now gets to focus on his game and how he can maximize his potential.


Fields is hoping to help the Steelers' offense maximize their potential, too, after failing to do the previous several years.


"We're a team that can do a lot of things," Fields said. "We have a lot of good players on offense. I think we can mix it up."

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/s...es-first-test/

I watched some of this today. I was surprised it was Fields & not Wilson. Hmm...
But I hope GP has a banner year.

Pickett is in the same situation that Atlanta's Kyle Pitts is in. Clearly an alpha-level talent but having to play with a sub-par quarterback and not being able to play to potential. Pitts had a thousand yard season with Matt Ryan and I'm sure he's looking forward to what Cousins is bringing to the offense.

Meanwhile, a few hundred miles to the south, Tua is at camp but not participating in practice as the Dolphins continue to show him how much - or little - they think of him after leading the league in passing yards and a bunch of other stats [and being one of the few QBs to play 17 games] in 2023. That needs to be resolved soon.

Well, it's the first real week of exhibition season. Lots of QB drama in the league right now. Atlanta's playing Michael Penix for the first time and folks are seeking clarity on the Russell Wilson vs Justin Fields competition/non-competition. What people need to consider is that the team picks the QB. If Fields is playing better behind closed doors, Tomlin will lose the locker room to put Wilson on the field, especially if he doesn't play lights out.

Stay tuned, folks...

Got that right, Jerry!!! I was telling my husband last night about a "scene" I saw at
camp [[in Latrobe) when the public first attended. Someone from the Steeler organization had a golf cart & was driving around the perimeter with Ciara, who decided to attend that day. It looked like a parade & here she is. Hmmm...

Fields did nothing for me yesterday. Herbig was rightfully benched [[at center] & Zach Frazier came in. Pickens caught his passes. The backup QB [[Allen] wasn't too bad. I just feel like that robot from Lost In Space yelling "Warning, Warning!"

But, it's only the first game. And Presley Harvin III, the ex- Steelers punter suddenly finds himself on the 49ers. What happened to their punter that put him on IR?

Nothing to worry about. It's the first step of a great journey. Personally, I think Russ will do fine and I'm a fan of Fields. The marriage between Russ and the Broncos was just a bad pairing. He's in a much better situation and as long as Arthur Smith calls plays that work to his strength, he's going to play well.

Meanwhile, Michael Penix played okay in his debut. No starters played with him and he looked like a rookie, but he didn't do anything to make Falcons fans worried. I'm encouraged by what I saw from both Miami and Atlanta.

I will watch other games when I get a chance. The Olympics have kept me pretty occupied.

And it's only the first game........

The exhibition season is only about evaluation and execution. Wins don't matter nearly as much as figuring out who should comprise the bottom third of your roster. The first game is always especially sloppy for every team. I read a game report that said that Fields actually played very well but had two fumbled snaps. If he can go 5-6 in the next game and erase the miscues, you might be able to discuss whether there's a brewing controversy in Pittsburgh. The next game will be must-see for a lot of folks and I'm planning on watching it.

I see where Troy Fautanu has a knee sprain & may miss a game. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

The Olympics are now history. But the track & field was outstanding, especially the women!!! The last race was the women's 4X400 relay. And the men & women both won gold. The women especially blew that race out of the park. It was fun to watch.

The USA track team went crazy this year. I've never seen so many come-from-behind-and-win-at-the-tape races in my life. The Quincy Hall 400 meter win was incredible. Noah Lyle's 100 meter win [by .005 seconds] was the closest race I've seen in my life. And the Masai Russell photo finish was just as breath-taking. The games saved the best for last.

They sure did. But the men's 4X100 relay team needs to improve their technique in passing the baton, as well as possibly not running into each other.

But to have Covid & STILL win a bronze medal? Imagine what Lyle could've done if he didn't have Covid.

Yeah, after collapsing at the end, he paid the price for participation. Some wonder if he put others at risk of exposure, but he said he reported it and took precautions to prevent spreading it. I know of two families that contracted it in the last month, so I hope people continue to take mitigation seriously. Although it's nowhere near the nightmare levels of the recent past, cases are increasing in Ohio, with more than 6,000 reported cases, nearly 200 hospitalizations, and 11 reported deaths last week.

My treadmill stopped working & needs a part. The technician was supposed to come this past Thursday to fix it. He calls me Wednesday & says he had just tested positive for Covid. Instead of coming last Thursday he wanted to come today [that would've been 6 days]. I told him to call me back in a week with results of his Covid tests. When I had Covid in March I tested positive for 10 days straight. I just don't want to take any chances at all. I see where the zone of Arizona/California/Nevada is a questionable spot now.

So now I read that Tyreek Hill states he could beat Noah Lyle in a race. Really? Do you remember when D K Metcalf said the same thing, raced 5 or 6 others & came in last? Is Hill's ego getting the best of him?

Yeah, but his ego is probably what makes him so good. Last week, there were reports from camp that Jaylen Waddle outraced him in a long-rumored but still unconfirmed epic showdown between them from a year ago. He's not stupid, though. He knows that football speed doesn't translate to the racetrack.

Guess I would just like to see that!!!!!!!!

I am absolutely sick & tired of all the Brandon Aiyuk/Steelers stuff.

The Steelers draft and develop wide receivers as well as anyone. Why they'd feel the need to trade several high draft picks for the right to pay one ~$25 million per year escapes me. They're literally the last team that would make that transaction, in my opinion. Especially since George Pickens is going to need a new deal soon. I guess Aiyuk mentioned them as a team he'd prefer - even if he got a smaller deal than what the Niners have offered - so some sports writers are trying to create drama.

I'm not holding my breath for that one.

Uhhhh...

I guess I stand corrected. Apparently there's some buzz to the rumors.

Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors: Steelers have potential deal in place for 49ers receiver, per report

The 49ers have also sent Aiyuk a long-term contract offer to stay
By Bryan DeArdo
Brandon Aiyuk's crazy contract saga might be coming to an end. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a deal on a potential trade for the 49ers receiver, according to NFL Network. Pittsburgh is also in a good place when it comes to a possible long-term deal for Aiyuk if the 49ers sign off on the trade, per the report.


The report also stated that the 49ers have sent Aiyuk a long-term contract offer, but he has not accepted it at this time. The two sides simply have not been able to find common ground on an extension despite months of trying.


If the trade goes down, it would signal the end of one of the NFL's biggest offseason storylines.


Aiyuk, 26, has made it clear that he did not want to play the 2024 season under the franchise tag. He requested a trade once it became clear to him that that could be a possibility. Aiyuk pushed the issue of a possible trade by not practicing and publicly stating that he wants to play for either the Commanders or Steelers.


The 49ers have reportedly listened to outside offers for Aiyuk in a potential trade, including one from the Patriots that would have made Aiyuk one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers. But Aiyuk apparently did not want to go to New England. The Browns also reportedly made the 49ers an offer that went nowhere.


Pittsburgh has constantly been linked to reports regarding Aiyuk, dating to the NFL Draft when the Steelers were reportedly trying to acquire either Aiyuk or fellow 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel. Nothing came to fruition then, however, as it was reported that Pittsburgh was unable to meet the 49ers' requests in a possible trade.


Like back then, the Steelers reportedly weren't able to meet the 49ers' trade requests in recent days, but that could change if the 49ers accept what is currently on the table.


If he comes to Pittsburgh, Aiyuk would join a rebuilt offense that includes quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and No. 1 wideout George Pickens. The Steelers have been trying to find a complement to Pickens since trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson earlier this offseason.


Pittsburgh likes what it has seen out of Van Jefferson, another free agent acquisition who helped the Rams win a Super Bowl three years ago. But despite Jefferson's promising start, the Steelers are still apparently pursuing Aiyuk, a talented receiver who would significantly increase their odds of making a deep playoff run if they are able to acquire him.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...er-per-report/

I'll bet it doesn't happen, & Aiyuk will stay with the 49ers.

We will find out. It would be the most un-Steeler thing that I can imagine. Not only because you guys don't typically make trades to bring in star players or that you tend to churn out your own wide receivers, but because you'll need to carve out a lot of salary cap space and cough up assets to do it. Forget the fact that Arthur Smith's offense to date has been run-heavy and not very vertical. Or the fact that there are questions surrounding both of your QBs.

I didn't have it on my bingo card, but we'll probably soon learn.

Oh, wow... Speaking of trades, Atlanta traded for Matt Judon last night and they're negotiating with Justin Simmons today. If we land both of them, we have a heckuva defense on paper. They're both older dudes, but they're also a couple of dogs. Things are trending up.

I saw the news about Judon. I was shocked that NE would give him up. Good for the Falcons!

And Aiyuk is still out there......

Looks like the Steelers had a Pirate score. No TD's, OLine sucked [[B Jones...what?)
I'm surprised there were no choruses of "Fire Canada" in the stadium [[for Smith).
Gotta a long way to go.

Don't worry. Preseason games are about experimenting with new plays and choosing the players who'll make up the bottom third of the roster. I rarely watch a whole preseason game. I'm already looking forward to playing your guys in Atlanta in three weeks.

I wish I could be more optimistic.

I'll have to get a hold of Ms M & get her back here.

I'm hearing a lot of folks saying that Russ is struggling in the games and that Fields needs to start. I wouldn't worry so much about it because he's in a different offense. But to be honest, I really would prefer to play Russ in the first game than Fields because Fields can make defenders look stupid when he goes off script.

The QB controversy is reaching its peak. The game on Saturday is now must-see TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5wcTHBLEk

I have Detroit and Pittsburgh on. Hit it by accident while surfing. Someone clue me. Exhibition game?

Yep. Preseason tryout for players who will fill out the bottom quarter of both teams' rosters. The real bullets start flying in 15 days.

I like that young Detroit quarterback. He knows how to run. Early in the game when Detroit was down by a couple of TDs I thought they looked a little off but finally caught fire and I could see the Lions waking up. Sorry about your team Moe.

Hooker is from my neck of the woods...........Tennessee. And he was the SEC player of the year in 2022. Always liked him.

I don't care, Ralph........it's only preseason. I WILL care when the Steelers play the Falcons in the opener. Jerry, I'm saying it'll be Fields.

Hendon Hooker is a stud. He might have won the Heisman Trophy had it not been for his injury. Getting him when they got him in the draft was a steal because Goff has a few years ahead of him and he's going to be able to develop on the bench like Mahomes, Rodgers, and Jordan Love did. Detroit's set at QB for the next 5+ years.

I had dinner with my brother, Moe. He thinks Wilson's going to be cut or traded during the season. He's got all the confidence in the world that this is a championship team, regardless of the QB situation or the injured center. In other words: Hope reigns eternal in the wasteland between his ears. He did invite me to watch the Steelers and Falcons over at his place in a couple of weeks and I might take him up on it.

You tell your brother that I need some of his confidence to rub off on me! But, I DO agree with him......I think Wilson will be cut. Why did they get rid of Rudolph? It's a whole new ballgame with Omar at the helm. Gotta read some more.

CeeDee Lamb's new contract makes Aiyuk the "exceedingly difficult" to keep?
With all those that the 49ers have to keep/pay it looks as if he's the odd man out.
Your thoughts. Jerry?

Get over here, MsM!!

It's hard to keep everybody that deserves a good contract. It's the peril of building a really good roster. The problem with San Francisco and Aiyuk is that he's a good receiver but the fourth option in their offense behind McCaffrey, Samuels, and Wittle. Do you want to give your WR2 a max contract? Miami did with Waddle's new deal. The Eagles did with DaVonta Smith. But putting a quarter of your salary cap into two players at the same position really hurts your depth.

I understand why the Niners don't want to pay him and I also understand why he's frustrated. Is Jamar Chase reporting to Cincinnati? If not, they're going to finish fourth in the AFC North. The market for wide receivers is crazy right now.

Aiyuk doesn't have many choices so he's a bit of an odd man out.

And I contacted Ms M, who said in her first words [when I made a comment about Cee Dee Lamb] "He deserves it." She'll be here soon.