The biggest news in the NFL this week is the revelation that Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson requested a trade several weeks ago, and he has not rescinded that request despite the fact that Houston has brought in Baltimore assistant David Culley, the first black candidate to get a head coaching job in this year’s hiring cycle, to replace the departed Bill O’Brien. Watson put up career-best numbers in 2020, but the team only won four games. He had been promised input in the search for the next head coach and general manager, but ownership did not bring him in as part of the search for new GM Nick Caserio, who came from New England, as aide Jack Easterby seems to have corralled owner Cal McNair. Culley, at the age of 65, will be the oldest coach in NFL history to make his head coaching debut. He comes to the Texans after 27 years as an assistant; in Baltimore, he had served as the passing game coordinator, the wide receivers coach and assistant head coach.
As you consider your online NFL betting on futures, take a look at some more news from the NFL.
NFL News: The Rumor Mill
Another quarterback who may be on the move is Jared Goff, who may be on the trading block. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported that, if Goff returns, he would face an open competition from John Wolford for the starting job. Goff has been the starter for the last four seasons and took the team to a Super Bowl after the 2018 campaign. Wolford started in place of Goff in Week 17, as Goff was recovering from thumb surgery. Wolford started the wild card playoff game but had to leave with a neck injury, before Goff led the team to a rousing win over Seattle. Goff started the divisional playoff game in Green Bay but had a disappointing day as the Rams’ season came to an end.
The intrigue at quarterback continues with Aaron Rodgers. The Packers drafted Jordan Love in the first round last year, leading to speculation as to whether Green Bay was putting in place a plan for succession instead of adding blue-chip talent at wide receiver, an area the Packers needed help in. The emergence of Allen Lazard this year filled the gap, but after the Packers lost to Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship, Rodgers at first indicated his future in Green Bay was uncertain. On the Pat McAfee Show, though, he said, “I don’t feel like I said anything that I hadn’t said before. It was just more of a realization I think that ultimately my future is not necessarily in my control…I don’t think there’s any reason I wouldn’t be back.” So it sounds like Rodgers might be back to try and pilot the Pack to another deep playoff run…unless he isn’t.
Jason Witten, an 11-time Pro Bowler, a two-time First-Team All-Pro and a two-time Second-Team All-Pro, has retired for a second time after 17 seasons. He will sign a one-day contract with Dallas and retire after his contract with the Las Vegas Raiders elapses. He played 271 games, the most every by a tight end, and it is the second-most for any wide receiver, tight end or running back, behind Jerry Rice. He had 1,228 catches, 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns. In 2012, he was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He had retired after the 2017 season and headed to the Monday Night Football broadcast booth, but after a year he came back to the field, playing another year in Dallas and then finishing out the string with Las Vegas. The next steps for him appear to be an entry into the coaching ranks, either as a college or NFL assistant.
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