Latest news with #JeremyFowler
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
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Jets Rookie Gets Rave Review From Rival Coach
Jets Rookie Gets Rave Review From Rival Coach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Jets needed a boost at the tight end position, and that led the franchise to draft LSU stud Mason Taylor in the second round. Advertisement Coming to a tight end room with Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt, Taylor has every chance to be the Week 1 starter if he can prove he is up to the task. More known for his blocking than pass-catching ability, Taylor has all the tools that Aaron Glenn is looking for, and with the Jets wanting to be a run-first football team, there is a place on the field waiting for he's good enough. For ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, he spoke to an anonymous NFC offensive coach, who had a glowing endorsement for Taylor. "Jets selecting TE Mason Taylor at No. 42: 'He's (expletive) awesome," the offensive coach said. "He was my No. 2 tight end (behind Chicago's Colston Loveland). He's athletic, he's young (21), and he's got upside in the passing game." © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images So, hopes are high for what Taylor can do in his rookie season. Advertisement Mason has already been seen catching touchdown passes from Justin Fields at OTAs and minicamp, so it appears he is settling in quite well to Tanner Engstrand's offense. Yes, it's against the air, but Mason is showing the potential to not only be a good blocker for the offense but to be a genuine passing option for Fields. With only Garrett Wilson seen as a genuine threat, having Taylor working the underneath routes to help keep the chains moving could be the ace up Engstrand's sleeve. Once training camp begins, we will be able to truly evaluate Taylor as a member of this offense, but one NFC coach already seems sold. Advertisement Related: Jets' Aaron Glenn/Justin Fields Tandem Labeled 'Ideal Match' Related: Jets Sign UFL 'Thiccer Kicker' For Training Camp Competition This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
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Travis Kelce Has Reportedly Dropped 25 Pounds Ahead of NFL Season
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce will be entering his 12th NFL season at the age of 35 and is coming off a 2024 campaign where he finished with 823 yards receiving and three touchdowns, marking the lowest output of his career in both categories, among others. So, perhaps some kind of change was in order? Advertisement Given his age—Kelce will turn 36 the day before a Week 5 Sunday Night Football showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars—and the physical nature of playing tight end, some kind of change might have been in order anyway in the name of keeping up, regardless of the stats he put up last season. Travis Kelce attends the Amazon 2025 Upfront at Beacon Theatre on May 12, 2025 in New York that appears to be the case, as reports have circulated that Kelce, officially listed at 250 pounds, has dropped 25 pounds in the offseason. That's a pretty significant drop in weight, and one that may have been necessary considering NFL insiders have indicated Kelce was playing "a little heavier" last season. "He [Kelce] will debut a bit of a slimmer look," ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler said. "He's told people close to him that he's lost about 25 pounds this offseason. Played a little heavier in 2024, it was sort of a thing. He vowed to change it, and he has." Advertisement "This could be the last dance here for him," Fowler continued. "Mid 30s, still a productive player. They want to go to him on third down, but declining a little bit, so he's trying to be slimmer and has gone hardcore this offseason to make it work in what could be his final season." With Fowler mentioning that the 2025 season could very well be Kelce's final run with the Chiefs, it's completely understandable for the seven-time All-Pro to have placed a significant focus toward trimming down. Remember, when he explained on his popular New Heights podcast to brother Jason Kelce as to why he chose not to retire, one of the major factors contributing to him coming back for at least one more go was due to how unhappy Kelce was with the level he was playing at, and feeling like he let his teammates down. Related: Travis Kelce Admits Financial Pressure Challenged Retirement Decision "I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them," Kelce said back in March. "I got a bad taste in my mouth on how I ended the year and how well I was playing." Advertisement Considering star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs as a whole will likely be entering the 2025 season with a rather large chip on their shoulder following an ugly 40-22 Super Bowl blowout loss that was even worse than the final score indicates, a recharged and in-shape Kelce has got to be music to the ears of head coach Andy Reid and his staff. NFL fans will get an official look at the rejuvenated Kelce almost immediately, with Chiefs' mandatory minicamp beginning on Tuesday, June 17, and set to wrap up on Thursday, June 19. Related: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Attend Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final Travis Kelce Has Reportedly Dropped 25 Pounds Ahead of NFL Season first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 16, 2025
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
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Report: Aaron Rodgers played significant role in Steelers trading George Pickens
This article originally appeared on Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was a massive distraction on and off the field throughout his three years in Pittsburgh. While talented, the Steelers had enough of the antics. That's why they traded Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick earlier this offseason. Advertisement According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Steelers wanted to get Pickens out of town before Rodgers' arrival. The organization thought the two big personalities would not mesh at all. 'Staying with Pittsburgh-related matters, the Steelers moved on from Pickens for a few reasons. His maturity issues were well-known within Pittsburgh's locker room and front office. So, the Steelers made the evaluation that Pickens and Rodgers probably would not hit it off,' Fowler wrote. Click here to read more from our partners at the Sports Now Group Pittsburgh. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
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Jets' Aaron Glenn/Justin Fields Tandem Labeled 'Ideal Match'
Jets' Aaron Glenn/Justin Fields Tandem Labeled 'Ideal Match' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Jets' hiring of Aaron Glenn signaled the franchise wanted to get a little tougher, and bringing in a no-nonsense coach, who will instill a standard from Day 1, was the way to go. Advertisement But you have to pair that with a quarterback who feeds off of that, and then helps bring his vision to life, and that player was Justin Fields. Yes, there are concerns over what Fields can be over the span of an entire league season, given he's shown nothing more than glimpses in four years, but there is upside, and that is what excites some. And for ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the duo of Glenn and Fields might just be what the doctor ordered for the AFC East franchise. "Several head coaching hires were lauded in league circles -- most notably Ben Johnson to the Bears and Mike Vrabel to the Patriots -- but the selection of Glenn in New York resonates, too," Fowler writes. "And Fields is considered by some as an ideal match for Glenn's efforts to instill toughness in Florham Park." The Jets And Justin FieldsBy Tony Fisher It is no secret that the Jets under Glenn will be a tough, physical football team, and with Tanner Engstrand as the offensive coordinator, he will look to bring some elements of the Detroit Lions' offense to the Big Apple (Tanner was passing game coordinator from 2023-2024). Advertisement Fields with a stout run game, an improved offensive line, and a defense that, with Glenn's tutelage, should be better than what was put on tape last year, New York might be a little tougher to slay than some think. Now, we aren't suggesting a Washington Commanders-like turnaround, but maybe the Jets won't be the easy beats in 2025. With the "ideal match" of Glenn and Fields helping usher in a new physical era of Jets football. Related: Jets' Breece Hall Ready To Cash In On 'Potential' After Taking 'Blame' Related: Jets Have 'Clear-Cut Favorite' For No. 2 WR Role Behind Garrett Wilson This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
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Insider Says Rodgers Impacted Steelers' Pickens Trade
Insider Says Rodgers Impacted Steelers' Pickens Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers reshaped their passing offense in the offseason, rearranging deck chairs on a boat destined to go a game over .500. Trading for Seattle Seahawks dynamo DK Metcalf gave the offense two above-average receivers. Advertisement By the end of May, that was no longer the case. George Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 Day 3 pick swap. To an extent, that set them back to Square One, entering 2025 with a hole at Z receiver. However, Pittsburgh upgraded at receiver, effectively replacing Pickens with Metcalf. It also upgraded under center after signing Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal. Those moves may have been related. Insider Jeremy Fowler revealed how Rodgers impacted the Steelers' Pickens trade, despite not yet being in the building. 'The Steelers moved on from Pickens for a few reasons. His maturity issues were well-known within Pittsburgh's locker room and front office,' Fowler wrote. 'So, the Steelers made the evaluation that Pickens and Rodgers probably would not hit it off.' Advertisement Pickens' immaturity was well documented in Pittsburgh. Between his tardiness, lazy routes, and frequent penalties, he wore out his welcome. With the detail-oriented Rodgers potentially in the fold, trading Pickens became an act of foresight. Having one less quality receiver is going to hinder the offense. But with Smith tailoring his offense to Rodgers, his strengths should be optimized. 'While the skepticism is understandable, I've talked to several coaches who watched Rodgers closely last year, including members of the New York Jets staff. They believe Pittsburgh just got a steal. ''He's still throwing the [expletive] out of the ball, honestly,' a veteran NFL offensive coach said. 'He's the best quarterback they've had since [Ben Roethlisberger]. We will see how the body holds up, but I think he's going to help them immensely.'' Advertisement The Steelers are more formidable than they were a season ago. It's easy to see Rodgers and Metcalf developing a rapport, the offense line should be healthier, and the veteran is less volatile than his predecessor. This is the best quarterback of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era, and he offers Pittsburgh a slightly better chance at success come January. "Look, the mobility is an issue, there's no doubt," an AFC executive told Fowler. "But where he helps them is with the plus arm strength and the field vision from the pocket. They haven't had that. I'm not sure that will be enough, but the offense will be at least respectable." Related: One Position Defines Steelers Trading Pickens Related: Soul-Bound: Rodgers Looked Inward for Steelers Signing This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
