NFL's cutdown day turns into trading frenzy
Congratulations on enduring the final Sunday without NFL football until February!
While we await the kickoff of the NFL's 100th season on Thursday, the league's cutdown day provided plenty of drama as an appetizer.
In the middle of the mayhem were the Houston Texans, who dealt holdout edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks. The Texans weren't done. Houston acquired left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Kenny Stills from the Miami Dolphins, who are not hiding the fact that the team is in full rebuild mode. The Dolphins' fire sale wasn't over, as the team also traded linebacker Kiko Alonso to the New Orleans Saints.
In a stunning move, the Buffalo Bills released LeSean McCoy, who wasn't on the waiver wire long. The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, meanwhile, will entrust the backup quarterback spot to a rookie. Tom Brady's former backup, Brian Hoyer, has now signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
- PHOTOS: Best of the preseason | Cheerleaders
NFL news and notes
- Opinion: Labor Day should be reminder to NFL players, fans of possible work stoppage: For now, the regular-season kickoff is the focus of the NFL world. But a work stoppage could be ahead if key issues aren't ironed out.
- Why NFL top pick will need to keep a thick skin: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray sounds like a man who is not going to be fazed when it comes to the scrutiny department.
- Tanking for Tua? It’s no wonder edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney — shipped by the Texans to Seattle after meeting with Miami — wanted no part of the Dolphins.
- How Clowney trade can change NFL: By forcing his way out of Houston and into Seattle, defensive force Jadeveon Clowney became the latest high-profile player to flex his muscle.
- Key Chargers lineman will miss at least six weeks: Chargers offensive lineman Russell Okung revealed last month he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.
- Former star WR wants NFL to be 'flag football': Joe Horn said that for players who have children playing football now, "you really don't want them coming up and playing like we played."
Week 1 schedule
Click on team name to get updated news on your team from our NFL wire sites.
(All times Eastern)
Thursday
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday
Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday
Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints, 7:10 p.m. (ESPN)
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders, 10:20 p.m. (ESPN)
Fantasy football season is here!
Here's some valuable insight as you prep for fantasy football domination.
- How to dominate your fantasy draft: It's fantasy football season, and we want to help you dominate your draft. Here's how to handle holdouts, find best QB and TE values and get sleepers.
- Top 200 overall players for 2019: Your fantasy football draft will be here before you know it. This list would be a good one to bookmark and/or print out for fantasy draft day.
- Position-by-position rankings: Here's more vital information for your fantasy draft prep. Take a look at the top players at each position.
- QBs ranked by tier: Not only is this a ranking of NFL passers, but also a guide as to when to select each quarterback in your fantasy draft.
- Value picks, breakouts, risks: Most leagues aren't won or lost at the top of the draft, but by the players you select in the middle and late rounds.
- 8 late-round sleepers: Everyone who plays fantasy football is searching for that diamond in the rough. Here are some players to add to your draft queue.
- Fantasy busts: Nothing is worse than spending a high draft pick on a player who will bring a fraction of the value. Be smart, people.
- 10 potential breakout rookies: Remember Saquon Barkley last season? Yeah, bet you wish you drafted him, right? And, if you did, congratulations! Here are some rookies who could be instant-impact players — both for their reality and fantasy teams.
- Big-name players to avoid: As you prepare your fantasy draft board, here are five players you might want to reconsider where you select them.
- 6 players whose value skyrocketed: Here's a look at players who should benefit greatly from the moves that took place this offseason.
- Follow these tips to win your league: Listen closely to this valuable (and free) fantasy football advice.
- 8 annoying things you should absolutely never do: These tips won't help you win your fantasy league, but can help you be a better person.
- Position-by-position sleepers, busts and strategy: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends
If you still want more fantasy football help, go check out our friends at The Huddle, where you can get a discount on the data and recommendations to help you dominate on the way to a title.
#NFL100
As the NFL celebrates its 100th season, we are unveiling our all-time 100 lists:
- 100 greatest teams in league history: 1972 Miami Dolphins. 1985 Chicago Bears. 2007 New England Patriots. 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers. 1996 Green Bay Packers. 1989 San Francisco 49ers. 1920 Akron Pros. Which is the greatest ever?
- Greatest players ever by jersey number: From No. 00 Jim Otto to No. 99 J.J. Watt, these are the best players at 100 different uniform numbers.
- Greatest players from HBCU programs: The HBCU schools have a storied history and have produced many Pro Football Hall of Famers. These are the 100 greatest NFL players from HBCU programs.
- NFL's best uniforms ever: Throughout the NFL's history, there have been some fantastic uniforms, many of which have endured to this day.
Join our NFL Facebook group!
Head on over to our NFL Facebook group, The Ruling Off the Field, and join other football fans and our NFL insiders in friendly debate and conversation.
Want to keep this football conversation going? Head to Facebook, and/or give a Twitter follow to your friendly neighborhood Paste BN Sports football guy who put together this newsletter, @jimreineking.