The 2014 NFL Draft wouldn’t happen for months, but according to Steve Gera, at least one Cleveland Browns executive had his mind made up on one of its most polarizing prospects. A special assistant to head coach Rob Chudzinski, Gera had been in the NFL for more than five years.
Tag: N.F.L
Every N.F.L. Draft Prospect Is a Puzzle. Here’s the Ultimate Guide.
Finally! It’s here. I’m thrilled to share this year’s draft guide with everyone. I don’t remember who first referred to it as “The Beast,” but I use that moniker as motivation to make sure this annual primer lives up to the nickname — and I don’t think I’ve let you
There’s No Other N.F.L. Draft Prospect Like Adisa Isaac. It Starts With His Heart.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — When Adisa Isaac was in third grade, he asked a lot of questions, as third graders do. There was one that needed thoughtful explanation: “Why are my brothers and my sister different?” His mother, Lisa Wiltshire-Isaac, expected this day would come. Of her four children, Adisa
N.F.L. Executives Explain Which Teams Will Improve, and Which Will Be Worse
NFL free agency continues, but with the major signings and trades complete, it’s time to check in with executives around the league for thoughts on all 32 teams’ moves to this point. There is so much to discuss, from Kirk Cousins’ Minnesota exit to the New York Jets’ desperation, the
The New Play That Swept Through the N.F.L.: ‘Everybody Is Copying It’
It didn’t take longer than a week or two for the idea to proliferate across the league. Early in the second quarter of their Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel called a short out motion to set up a 28-yard catch for
The Secret Salary Survey That Provides N.F.L. Coaches With Leverage
INDIANAPOLIS — Large men wearing hats and jackets representing different NFL clubs sit around tables eating lunch and drinking beer in groups of two or three or four. One man stands in front of the group and gestures emphatically, spreading his arms wide and counting on his fingers. Another walks
A ‘High Butt Factor’ Might Be an N.F.L. Draft Prospect’s Most Prized Feature
“So you want me to comment about how important a guy’s ass is in the evaluation?” Mike Mayock asked, laughing. “You’re really doing this, huh?” For years, the humble human haunches have been key indicators for football scouts as they evaluated players. Mayock, the former Las Vegas Raiders general manager,
The Best and Most Puzzling Moves From N.F.L. Free Agency
We’ve completed four days of NFL free agency, and nearly 100 of my top 150 players have come off the board, in addition to dozens of other signings and a handful of trades. Here are my biggest takeaways from the first week of the new league year. Live updates: Free-agent
The Biggest Underdog in the N.F.L. Draft Didn’t Even Play College Football
Qwan’tez Stiggers sat alone in a dark hotel room, a thousand miles from anything familiar. He drew the curtains tight to block out the world so he could focus on the avalanche in his head. It was spring 2023, and two weeks earlier, he’d left his fiancee and family in
Grading Every Major N.F.L. Free Agency Move
This year’s NFL free agency began with a bang late Sunday night, when quarterback Russell Wilson announced on social media he would join the Pittsburgh Steelers. League sources said it’s a one-year deal. Wilson was allowed to negotiate early with teams after the Denver Broncos told Wilson last week they