VITO'S VIEWS

The NFL “Hard Knocks” show is a lot more popular with the fans than the teams.

Many teams don’t like the idea of cameras being in their inner sanctums in camp. They sometimes act as if they were working on The Manhattan Project instead of putting together a football team.

And since NFL Films produces it, there is little chance a team will be embarrassed.

Still the NFL had to put together guidelines for teams that can’t turn down an invitation so they all can’t refuse.

If a team has a new coach, has been on the show in the last 10 years or has been in the playoffs the last two years, they can’t refuse to do the show.

Continue reading “‘Hard Knocks’ producers will have their work cut out making the Browns interesting”

It might seem logical for the NFL’s highest-paid player to be the league’s best player, too.

But that obviously wasn’t the case when Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons became the NFL’s first $30 million man, even though he isn’t the best quarterback or the best player in the league,

Ryan, though, was able to take advantage of good timing.

He’s only 32, young enough to get a big deal, while Tom Brady has a history of taking below-market deals and Aaron Rodgers’ current deal isn’t up yet.

Is Ryan worth the money? Well, any player is worth what a team will pay him.

Continue reading “Timing, not talent, helped Matt Ryan become the NFL’s highest-paid player”

There is an old saying that when a politician speaks the truth it is called a gaffe.

I was reminded of that line when Ben Roethlisberger publicly complained about the Pittsburgh Steelers drafting quarterback Mason Rudolph on the third round.

Roethisberger got a lot of flak for the comment when he wondered how Rudolph helps the team now.

From his standpoint, Roethlisberger spoke the truth. Rudolph doesn’t help the team win now, and Big Ben wants to win now.

And if Rudolph turns out to be a good quarterback, he could be pushing Big Ben for a job in a year or two.

Continue reading “Roethlisberger needs to pipe down and start winning big games again”

Actions speak louder than words.

That was the message from the Jacksonville Jaguars when owner Shad Khan confirmed reports last week that he has made an offer to buy historic Wembley Stadium in London.

The announcement brought up old fears that the purchase may be the first step in moving the Jaguars to London.

The London Evening Standard, which broke the story, even wrote, “Khan’s long term ambition is to move the Jaguars into Wembley Stadium on a permanent basis, but that remains some way off.’’

A USA Today columnist also speculated the Jaguars could wind up in London.

Continue reading “Skeptics can snicker, but the Jaguars are staying in Jacksonville”

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who only have two quarterbacks on their current roster, figure to have a third by the end of this weekend.

How they acquire that third quarterback will be an interesting subplot to their draft.

If they don’t draft one (or draft one in a late round on the third day) or sign one as an undrafted free agent after the draft ends, he figures to be just a camp arm.

That would be a sign they figure Cody Kessler, obtained from Cleveland for a conditional seventh-round pick, will remain the backup.

If they take one in the second or third rounds (they bypassed Lamar Jackson in the first round), he would likely beat out Kessler for the backup job behind Blake Bortles. Kessler was a third-round pick two years ago.

Continue reading “Jaguars had better hope Lamar Jackson doesn’t become a star”