The NFL reminds us every week why it’s the most watched and wagered upon sports league in the United States. This was no different with the Redskins finding a QB-WR combo in rookie mini-camp, the Jets again showing us why they’re the most dysfunctional franchise in the league, and big name free agents still sitting by their phones and waiting for a call. Check out our NFL update for May 17!
NFL Updates of the Week – May 17th Edition
NFL Regular Season Win Totals are out
Every year, NFL regular season win total odds provide at least a couple of surprises. This year is no different. The most obvious surprise might be the Green Bay Packers at 9 ½. Every season, the Packers are one of the favorites to win the NFC and every season they disappoint. In their first 5 games, the Packers are at Chicago, versus Minnesota, versus Denver, versus Philadelphia, and at Dallas. We’ll know right away if Green Bay is overvalued this season or not.</p.
Another team with a surprise game total are the Kansas City Chiefs at 10. Seems like a lot of games, but 10 is only a half a game higher than the L.A. Chargers at 9 ½. Right now, oddsmakers expect the Chiefs and Chargers to battle for the AFC West title.
The Patriots at 11 games lead the AFC while the Saints and Rams, both at 10 ½, lead the NFC. New England should be a lock for 12 wins this season.; The Saints should be a lock for 11, but the Rams could go under 10 ½. They’ve got a brutal first half of the schedule with road games versus Carolina, Cleveland, Seattle and Atlanta, and home games against New Orleans, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and Cincinnati.
Washington might lean on Haskins-McLaurin college duo
The Redskins signed Case Keenum this offseason to start at quarterback. Rookie Dwayne Haskins has already shown he could start in Week 1. Haskins has looked fantastic so far in rookie mini-camp.
One of the reasons might because Washington sneakily grabbed one of Haskins’ most important targets, Terry McLaurin. McLaurin caught 11 touchdown passes in only 35 catches from Haskins. The duo is tight. Who knows? Maybe, Washington pulled a bigger coup during the NFL Draft than any of us knew.
They might have the next great QB-WR combo with Haskins and McLaurin.
Jets get rid of their GM…after free agency and the NFL Draft
So, this is odd. The New York Jets decided to fire general manager Mike Maccagnan. What’s crazy is that they fired Maccagnan after the NFL Draft and the free agency period. What’s even crazier than that is the Jets fired Maccagnan and promoted the man Maccagnan hired to be NYJ’s coach, Adam Gase, as the interim GM.
Gase and Maccagnan didn’t get along. Sounds fair enough. Egos always get in the way of business relationships. But, in this case, Jets CEO Christopher Johnson decided to go with a coach that under performed with the rival Miami Dolphins instead of the GM that got him quarterback Sam Darnold, drafted nose tackle Quinnen Williams this year, and enticed running back Le’Veon Bell to head to New Jersey.
Sounds a bit strange. Not only strange, maybe, even rash? All the pressure is now on Gase to turn around a franchise with less pieces than what he had when he became the Dolphins’ head coach. Can Gase do it?
These are the New York Jets. So, if Gase does turn them into a Super Bowl contender, he will have accomplished something Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, and Bill Parcells couldn’t.
Suh, Berry, still waiting for the call
Of all the NFL free agents still available, a couple names stand out: Ndamukong Suh and Eric Berry.
Berry, Kansas City’s former safety, has had some health issues in recent seasons. When he’s one-hundred percent, he’s one of the best safeties in the league. Berry might be holding out for the most money he can get. Plenty of teams could be clamoring for his services once they realize what they’ve got at the safety positions in training camp. Eric will find a job soon.
So will Suh. Suh decided to sign with the L.A. Rams on a one-year contract before last season. He performed admirably during the playoffs. In fact, Ndamukong might have been the reason the Rams made it to the Super Bowl. Like Berry, a team will give Suh a contract. Plenty of teams will realize they’re lacking real depth along the defensive line and they’ll grab Suh.
Other free agents who should be off the market soon include WR Michael Crabtree, WR Jermaine Kearse, and LB Connor Barwin. Crabtree and Kearse are sure-handed wide receivers that will help pretty much any team. Barwin started for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If he’s got any football left, he can most definitely help a team looking for linebacker depth.
Have a great week!
