Carolina Panthers cheerleader Justine Lindsay made NFL history.
Justine Lindsay has made NFL history this week.
According to BuzzFeed, Lindsay is the NFL’s first openly transgender cheerleader. The 29-year-old made the cheerleading squad for the Carolina Panthers (the team is called the Topcats).
“Cats Out the Bag you are looking at the newest member of the Carolina Panthers TopCats Cheerleader’s @topcats as the first Transgender female,” read the caption on the post announcing she’d been accepted on the team.
“I would not have gotten to this moment in my life if it wasn’t for the support,” she also wrote. “Also to my beautiful coach @chandalaelanouette you are a special being that I truly cherish thank you taking that leap of faith on me to be apart of your legacy and so many others. This is a moment I will never forget and I cannot wait to show you all what this girl has to bring. Thank you @topcats a dream come true.”
Lindsay also spoke with BuzzFeed about the historic moment and how nervous she was for the announcement.
“I was so scared. There’s just some things you can’t post,” Lindsay told BuzzFeed. “This is big. I think more people need to see this. It’s not because I want recognition. It’s just to shed light on what’s going on in the world.”
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Mac’s edge: Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in March that quarterback Mac Jones was “respectful of coming in as a rookie” last season and that he believed Jones “has a little more edge that we’ve seen.”
It’s showing now.
The Patriots have two weeks remaining in their offseason program — with a three-day mandatory minicamp scheduled for Tuesday-Thursday this week — and Jones’ increased leadership has caught his teammates’ attention.
“It’s just at another level now,” receiver Kendrick Bourne told ESPN. “He’s more comfortable, more confident. He knows what’s going on, and the muscle memory is there [from having gone through it] — OTAs, then camp, and the season. He’s just more locked in, more secure in his position.”
As a result, Jones is positioned to become a team captain in just his second NFL season. If that’s the way it unfolds when players vote near the end of training camp, it would put him in rare company, joining Jerod Mayo and Devin McCourty as the only other Patriots to earn a second-year captaincy in Bill Belichick’s 23-year tenure as head coach.
“He connects with all the players really well. I’m proud of that dude, because it’s not easy,” said Bourne, who was among the visitors at Jones’ house for a hibachi party during the first night of the NFL draft. “Going into his second year after having a year like that, it’s going to be a challenge, but he’s a guy that likes challenges, like all of us in that Patriot building.”
Jones’ increased comfort level has manifested itself at practice when demonstrating to his pass-catchers what he’s looking for in their routes. At one point on Tuesday, he split out wide and ran a route as wide receivers watched intently.
Highlighting a top observation from Patriots practice: Mac Jones’ growing comfort level with WRs to express what he is looking for route-wise.
This video from Tuesday, after DeVante Parker takes a rep, shows one example.
“He’s a young guy but he’s developed as a leader. That’s what this team needs,” said receiver DeVante Parker, now in his eighth NFL season and first in New England after being acquired in a trade from Miami. “I’ve only been here a few weeks, but I still see it.”
Added veteran cornerback Malcolm Butler: “He has great energy on and off the field. His confidence, his swagger — I love that about him.”
2. Balancing act: Starting safety Adrian Phillips arrived in town last week to take part in the final couple of weeks of the team’s offseason program. He said he felt it was the right thing to do, even though it wasn’t easy leaving his wife, Camille, and their 8-month-old son, Dylan, back in Texas. Camille, a doctor, has a demanding job.
“I was at home being a dad and house husband,” Phillips said. “I’m sad that I’m away from him for an extended period of time, because this time is so pivotal. But I FaceTime with him every day and make sure he doesn’t forget my face.”
3. Post-McDaniels era: How has the transition been without Josh McDaniels at offensive coordinator? Spending time with Bourne last week at the 47th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts Golf Classic, he shared one player’s perspective.
“It’s been dope so far. Joe Judge, our newest member [of the staff], he’s doing a great job,” Bourne said. “Really just new terminology, new words. Football is football, so it’s just about learning the new words, and getting the old words out. And it’s applying my abilities to the new system.”
How much the Patriots’ system actually changes — versus how much the staff is focusing on experimentation — is one of the greatest areas of intrigue surrounding the team.
“I think [Judge is] putting us in position to be successful. I’m excited so far,” said Bourne, adding that his abilities as a rusher (12 carries, 125 yards, 10.4 average in 2021) have been among the personal highlights. “Hopefully we’ll have a great year. We’ll see how it goes.”
4. CB questions: If there’s one position that stands out when asking the question “Do the Patriots have enough?” it’s outside cornerback. Veterans Butler and Terrance Mitchell have been paired there, along with top returnee Jonathan Jones in the slot. Jalen Mills and Joejuan Williams have been the others working on the outside, with Shaun Wade getting his initial work inside. Fourth-round draft pick Jack Jones of Arizona State, who has shown some stickiness in coverage, could also be a factor as he catches up to the more experienced players. “It’s a good group. A lot of competition,” Butler said.
5. Thornton’s arms: If Patriots second-round pick Tyquan Thornton has a successful rookie season as a receiver, how he uses his arms to become a more fluid route runner could be the key. That’s one area he’s focusing on this spring as he works to get “1% better each day.”
“Your arms, that’s your bread and butter, to get in and out of your breaks,” said Thornton, who is wearing a temporary No. 51 in practice, per Belichick’s annual spring tradition of assigning rookies unconventional numbers as a reminder to them of what should be most important.
6. Asiasi’s plan: When the second annual “TE University” takes place June 22-24 in Nashville, Tennessee, third-year Patriots tight end Devin Asiasi plans to be there. The primary goal for the 2020 third-round pick from UCLA — who has appeared in 10 NFL games while totaling two receptions for 39 yards and one touchdown — is to gain more knowledge from others around the league.
7. Keene’s state: This is a make-or-break year for tight end Dalton Keene, the Patriots’ other 2020 third-round pick whose best hope to stick might be as an H-back type, and it doesn’t help that he has been limited the past two weeks after suffering an undisclosed injury at the first OTA practice May 23. The setback, albeit seemingly minor, is a reflection of how the Virginia Tech alum has had a series of unfortunate breaks, which includes missing all of last season on IR.
8. Mandatory camp: This week’s mandatory minicamp figures to be an extension of the work the Patriots have been doing in the voluntary offseason program, and so notable storylines will include some of the players returning to town who haven’t been around — left tackle Isaiah Wynn, outside linebacker Matthew Judon and receiver N’Keal Harry among them. Harry, the 2019 first-round pick, is now a long shot to make the roster at his traditional position barring injuries ahead of him on the depth chart. Harry’s best chance might be to ask about a possible switch to tight end to compete with Asiasi and Keene as TE3 behind Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
9. Ernie in spotlight: In all his years as Patriots football research director, Ernie Adams kept a low profile before his retirement following the 2020 season. So it was a rare extended interview from Adams on the “Pats From The Past” podcast on Patriots.com, with co-hosts Matt Smith and Paul Perillo. What links Russ Francis and Rob Gronkowski, or the 1970s Patriots teams to the modern-day Baltimore Ravens? Few can answer those questions with the authority of Adams, who does so in an enjoyable chat full of rich football history.
10. Did you know? Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is set to retire after 17 seasons, appeared in 166 games, with 147 starts. The team he started against more than any other? The Patriots (13), followed by the Jets (12), Dolphins (10) and Colts (10).
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos warm up before a game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 28, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
These 10 Hall of Fame-caliber NFL players are synonymous with one uniform, even though they finished their playing days in the wrong colors.
There’s many ways we could have gone here. After all, the NFL has enjoyed 102 seasons and thousands of notable players have adorned the field.
We didn’t make room for Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or Thurman Thomas with the Miami Dolphins. Each easily could have been on the list. The same can be said for Deion Sanders with the Baltimore Ravens or Andre Johnson with the Tennessee Titans.
However, with all the choices we had, these are the 10 we went with:
10 NFL greats who finished their careers in the wrong uniform
10. Peyton Manning – Denver Broncos
Manning spent four fantastic years with the Broncos, winning a Super Bowl and reaching two. However, even though he’s now a Denver staple, he’ll always be rightfully remembered with the horseshoe as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
9. Bruce Smith, Washington Redskins
Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading sack artist, and spent the first 15 years of his career with the Buffalo Bills. Yet the final four were with Washington, where he was still excellent, racking up 29 sacks.
8. O.J. Simpson – San Francisco 49ers
Another Bills’ legend who left the team late in his career was Simpson, who became the league’s first 2,000-yard rusher in a single season with Buffalo in 1973. However, battered from nine years of punishment, Simpson was traded to the 49ers in ’78 before retiring after the 1979 season. He ran for 1,053 yards and four touchdowns with San Francisco.
7. Brett Favre – Minnesota Vikings
Favre looked very out of place with both the Jets and Minnesota Vikings. Hell, you could argue the same for the Atlanta Falcons. However, the Vikings were the most bizarre considering their rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, whom Favre starred for from 1992-07. In two seasons with the Vikings, Favre reached the NFC title game and earned a Pro Bowl berth.
6. Joe Montana – Kansas City Chiefs
Montana was a popular choice as the game’s all-time quarterback before Brady came along, and rightfully so. He won four Super Bowls with the Niners and was the face of a dynasty before being dealt to the Chiefs in 1993. In Kansas City, Montana played two years and reached the postseason twice, including a berth in the AFC Championship Game.
After trading four premium draft picks and three players to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos still need to pay a fortune.
Keeping Russell Wilson in the Mile High City may prove more costly than acquiring him.
Wilson, whose contract runs through 2023, is reportedly going to seek $250 million across five years on a new deal. If he were to receive that contract, he’d be the second-highest paid player in football behind only Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Currently, Wilson has two years left on a four-year, $140 million pact with has remaining cap hits of $24 and $27 million, with only $5 million of guaranteed money left.
According to @mikeklis Russell Wilson will ask for a 5-year, $250 M contract from the Broncos.
At 34 years old, paying Wilson such a freight is full of danger, but Denver might not have much choice. Although Wilson isn’t coming off consecutive MVP campaigns like Rodgers is, he’s still considered an elite player and one who is much younger than the Green Bay star.
Furthermore, the average annual value and years are fine to note, but what will the guaranteed money be? That’s the main number which matters. Yet after seeing Deshaun Watson get $230 million guaranteed from the Cleveland Browns despite ongoing, off-field issues, Wilson could ask for the entire $250 million to be guaranteed and be within reason, despite being almost a full decade older.
After sending away two first- and second-round picks to the Seahawks, Denver really has no choice but to give Wilson most if not all of what he wants. And if he’s still a top-10 quarterback, the money is likely worth it.
Jan 8, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) reacts after a play during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys had yet another disappointing ending to their season last year, but fans should be hopeful as these players are poised for big years in 2022.
Cowboys fans are understandably frustrated after another bad playoff loss last season, but the talent on their team is undeniable on both sides of the ball. If the team can put it together, they have the talent to go farther than a loss in the Wild Card round.
The Cowboys have a few players who have the potential to win awards in 2022, and this will go a long way in ensuring the team has a more successful season than last year.
3 best award candidates for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022
3. CeeDee Lamb, WR — Offensive Player of the Year
CeeDee Lamb’s first two seasons in the NFL have been explosive. His first year, catching 74 passes for 935 yards and five touchdowns, caught the eyes of Cowboys fans and NFL fans alike, as he lived up to what everyone expected him to be after he fell to the team in the first round.
Even with Amari Cooper on his team for the last two seasons, he’s managed to become Dak Prescott’s go-to target. Last season saw him have an even better statistical year, catching 79 balls for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns. His yardage ranked 16th among all receivers, but that number is only expected to grow in 2022 with Cooper’s departure to Cleveland and fellow wideout Michael Gallup battling an injury.
Lamb is poised for a career year, and if he can put it together, combined with another massive passing season for Prescott, he should fight for the top of the wide receiver rankings in ’22, making him a sneaky candidate for Offensive Player of the Year.
There have been a lot of changes this offseason for the Kansas City Chiefs. And the team’s defensive coordinator will have his work cut out for him.
The Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 3-4 start in 2021, finished 12-5 and won the AFC West for the sixth consecutive year. Andy Reid’s team had its problems hanging onto the football at times. But the good news was that after a sluggish seven weeks, the Chiefs regained their opportunistic touch.
After forcing seven turnovers in their first seven outings, Reid’s squad came up with 22 takeaways in their final 10 regular-season outings. Including playoffs, Kansas City was 11-2 in their final 13 contests – both losses to the Super Bowl-bound Bengals.
This offseason, there were quite a few notable defensive departures. The list includes safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorensen, both who signed with the Saints. Linebacker Anthony Hitchens was released by the franchise. Cornerback Charvarius Ward inked a deal with the 49ers and defensive tackle Jarran Reed joined the Packers.
That’s quite a few changes for Spagnuolo’s unit. And when asked this week about those proverbial “growing pains” that come with a revamped unit, the coordinator was pretty blunt (via Ed Easton Jr. of ChiefsWire.com)
“There’s no question about that. Yeah, there’s gonna be a lot of new faces, there’s youth, the system’s new to a lot of the guys even if they’re not young. I’m going through an eyeball, ‘What should we do shouldn’t we do all the time.’ I’m throwing a lot at them right now and they’re probably talking that way — the volume is huge right now for a reason. You know, find out who can handle it, who can’t.
“We’ll never go into a game with all of this. So there’ll be mistakes out there that normally I don’t think we would make. There’s going to have to be some growth, you know, within the game, so to speak. There’s going to be — we’re going to have to live with some growing pains…”
That being said, Spagnuolo appears optimistic when it comes to overcoming those “growing pains.” I believe that, hopefully, we can overcome them. But I think that’s the only way we’re gonna get it to where we need it to go. Because you’re right. You just look at some guys are going to have to step up there and play.”
Quite the surprise. One of the legendary voices in sports history, Brent Musburger, is no longer associated with the Silver and Black.
The 2022 regular-season kicks off on Thursday night, September 3, when the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams host the talented Buffalo Bills.
But the first NFL contest this upcoming year takes place in Canton, Ohio. It’s the annual Hall of Fame Game and it pits the Las Vegas Raiders vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Each franchise has a legendary player being enshrined this year: Raiders’ wide receiver Cliff Branch and Jaguars’ tackle Tony Boselli.
But there’s one legend that won’t be a part of Las Vegas’ radio broadcast team for that game or the upcoming season.
The iconic broadcaster, who gained fame back in the mid-1970s as the host of CBS’ The NFL Today, joined the Raiders’ radio broadcasting team in 2018. His fabled “you are looking live” opening to a show or a game he was calling is as recognizable as Michael Buffer’s “let’s get ready to rumble.”
So what is next for the 83-year-old legend? Musburger responded with this via Twitter:
“Many thanks to the Raiders organization for fond memories. I’ll miss broadcast partner Lincoln Kennedy and the radio production crew. What’s next? I hear Mike Trout might step down as commissioner of his fantasy league. You never know!”
So who will take over in the radio booth for Musburger? The news is obvious recent and the speculation will now begin. Will Kennedy return as an analyst? Or will there be a total overhaul?
Musburger made every broadcast, be in a pre-game show or a game, a memorable event. He possesses one of the most recognizable voices in the profession. He’s been in the spotlight for nearly 50 years. It will be fascinating to see where he lands next.
Drew Brees stepped down as an announcer for NBC after one season. The network is reportedly looking at former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett to replace him.
After announcing his retirement from the NFL, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees became an analyst for NBC. He worked on “Football Night in America” and called Notre Dame Fighting Irish football games alongside Mike Tirico. But after one year, Brees and NBC parted ways, leaving the network with a vacancy.
According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, NBC is looking to former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett to replace Brees for Notre Dame games and potentially the “Football Night in America” show.
NBC reportedly looking at Jason Garrett to replace Drew Brees
Garrett is already working for the network as a commentator for the USFL.
A former NFL quarterback, Garrett made the jump to coaching in 2005. After becoming the interim head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2010, Garrett was promoted to full-time head coach in 2011. Following the 2019 season, the Cowboys parted ways with Garrett.
In his 10 years as head coach, Garrett accumulated a 85-67 record in the regular season, and a 2-3 record in three playoff stints. He was named Coach of the Year in 2016.
After his Dallas tenure, Garrett joined the New York Giants as their offensive coordinator in 2020. The offense was stagnant during Garrett’s time with the team, and he was fired midway last season.
When it comes to who will replace Brees, Garrett is a name to keep an eye on, according to Marchand.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are having a quarterback battle ahead of the 2022 season, and the team should bring left tackle Eric Fisher in to protect him.
At the conclusion of their 2021 season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement from the NFL. That meant the team that started him for the majority of his 18-year career had to find his replacement. They added a free agent in the form of Mitchell Trubisky and used their first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft on Kenny Pickett.
Now, the duo and Mason Rudolph are expected to have a competition in training camp to see who will be the Week 1 starter for Pittsburgh’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. One way the Steelers could help out whoever the starter is is to bring in a solid blindside tackle. Luckily for them, Eric Fisher is still a free agent.
Steelers should sign offensive tackle Eric Fisher
Fisher is the former first-overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent the majority of his career with the team, where he made it to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2020 and was part of the team’s Super Bowl 54-winning team.
His tenure with the Chiefs reached its end after the 2020 season. In the AFC Championship Game that year, Fisher suffered a torn Achilles against the Buffalo Bills. That forced him to miss Super Bowl 55, where Kansas City’s offensive line was pressured at will by the defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fisher was released from his contract after the season.
This past season, Fisher signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Fisher played in 15 games throughout the campaign, where he allowed seven sacks and was penalized eight times, per Pro Football Focus.
Whoever the starting quarterback is for Pittsburgh this season, it would be a smart decision by the team to bring in a consistently good blindside tackle in Fisher.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed that he thinks about retirement “all the time.”
Ahead of the 2022 season, fresh off a newly signed contract with the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers participated in The Match VI. Rodgers nailed the winning putt to give himself and teammate Tom Brady the win over fellow quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. While what he did on the golf course was noteworthy, it was what he said after the event that caught everyone’s attention.
When speaking with TNT Sports’ Ernie Johnson, Rodgers revealed that retirement is on his mind constantly.
“I think about it all the time,” said Rodgers, h/t Nick Kosko of 247Sports. “And I resonate with what Tom [Brady] said about the mindset of 55-45. You know, when you commit, you’re 100%. But the older you get, the interests change and the grind, I think wears on you a little bit more and the football part, that’s the easy part. That’s the joy. It’s the other stuff that wears on you and makes you think about life after football. Tommy obviously set the bar so high with playing so many years, but I can definitely see the end coming.”
Aaron Rodgers says he thinks about retirement ‘all the time’
Rodgers and retirement is not necessarily a new topic. Prior to the end of last season, the quarterback said that bringing an end to his NFL career was an option for him.
This past season, Rodgers won his fourth NFL MVP award and his second in consecutive years after throwing for 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns and seven interceptions all while completing 68.9-percent of his passes. The Packers had the best record in the NFL, but they were eliminated in the Divisional Round by the San Francisco 49ers.
After wondering what was next for Rodgers this offseason, it was answered rather quickly after he and the Packers agreed to a three-year, $150.8 million contract.
Rodgers is set to enter his age-39 season, and Packers fans have to know that it is only a matter of time before he decides to retire. When that happens remains to be seen. The Green Bay faithful certainly hope that this is the year that the team returns to the Super Bowl and brings home their fifth Lombardi Trophy and that Rodgers gets the second ring of his career.
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