2018 NFL off-season thread: Mr. Alex Smith goes to Washington

The orange on the helmet does look better, but the Browns are stuck with these hideous new uniforms until 2020, I believe. NFL makes you keep whatever you picked for five years. There should be a countdown clock installed in the stadium counting down to the second they can drop the monstrosities.

 

Browns tweak colors, unveil new 'Dawg' logo

According to this, they changed the color in 2015.

 

I definitely remember that Cowboys-Lions game.

 

Yep, my introduction to Duane Thomas.

 

Just looked up the stats. Eleven completed passes for 102 yards -- by both teams combined.

 

Deadspin's annual "Why Your Team Sucks" installments are rolling out.
Still one of the best things they write all year.
My runaway favorite so far is the Chiefs.
Dallas was good too.

 

Vikings player hit with huge fine for controversial preseason hit on Jaguars QB

Remember that sack by Vikings linebacker Antwione Wiliams that inexplicably drew a roughing the passer call? Now the league has doubled down by fining him for the hit.

 

This is why they're the Lions:

Lions prepped for FG return scenario by watching 'Kick Six'

 

Is anyone else noticing there are no announcers for the Saints-Chargers preseason game right now? You can hear the crowd and the game sounds, but no broadcast team. It’s terrible.

 

The coach wants to see this thread. And it should bring its playbook.

Since they removed the first cut, I can only imagine how crazy next weekend is going to be for teams and coaches, cutting half their roster as soon as the whistle blows on their game. I get it - teams don't want to lose someone who is going to make the roster a week before the games count - and I figure the doomed players enjoy the extra week or so of pay - I just don't know how it happens. Players line up outside their position coaches door? Imagine how much it would suck to get the word from the QC guy.

 

The episode of Hard Knocks should be interesting. I would think that will give us some insight into how things work with the new rules.

This will certainly lend to some chaos. The last cut will obviously be much larger, but shortly after that you will see a few more changes with teams in need signing newly-cut players and teams having to quickly fill up their practice squads.

 

Jalen Ramsey blames NFL's new helmet rule for Marqise Lee's knee injury

Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is claiming that the league's new rules regarding hits with the helmet caused the teammate Marqise Lee's knee injury. It's not a new argument, that rules against hits to the head cause defenders to go low, increasing the risk of knee and ankle injuries. Damontae Kazee did dive at Lee's legs to make the tackle and perhaps the new rules were on his mind. I just don't know what the league can do about it. I do have an issue with some of the tackling rules, including the bit about not being able to land on the opposing player, but they aren't going to go backward on rules regarding blows to the head or tacklers leading with the head.

Ryan Shazier's injury inspired the latest change, but that was not a high hit. Shazier launched himself at the midsection of Bengals' tight end Josh Malone. The problem was that he did it with his head down, not that he was avoiding hitting Malone up high. This was the kind of poor form Shazier had been using his entire career, not a reaction to rules against hitting offensive players high.