Zach Wilson: Aaron Rodgers is my guy but Brady is the GOAT
Jets fans will be praying Zach Wilson shares more than a birthday with the GOAT once his NFL career gets underway.
Jets fans will be praying Zach Wilson shares more than a birthday with the GOAT once his NFL career gets underway.
Both Wilson and Brady blow out the candles tomorrow (August 3), turning 22 and 44 respectively. The BYU product admitted it’s a “pretty dang cool” coincidence before going on to reveal his admiration for the seven-time Super Bowl winner.
“I’d say one of the craziest parts is I think I was one in his first year in the NFL,” Wilson told New York media, via Al Iannazzone of Newsday. “It’s crazy to think about it.”
“Brady, in my opinion, is the greatest of all time,” Wilson said. “I don’t think you can argue that. Wherever he’s at, he’s winning.”
Despite rating the frenzied work-ethic and accomplishments of TB12, Wilson has long admired an NFC quarterback, a man who nearly left Titletown this offseason, none other than Aaron Rodgers.
“I’ve always been a Rodgers guy because of the flashiness, but the thing that’s important in the game is winning,” Wilson said.
“This is a team sport, it’s all about winning. It’s not about how cool a throw looks or anything like that. He’s definitely been a favorite to watch growing up. That’s just because of the way he does it, the way he’s found a system, a process that works for him as far as his offseason conditioning.”
The Jets will be hoping Wilson’s study of Rodgers and Brady translates into his game during his rookie year, as he looks to breathe life into a rejuvenated Jets lineup alongside first-time head coach Robert Saleh.
NFL announces Preseason TV schedule
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel…this includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The NFL announced this week there will be a record number of preseason games will be shown on NFL Network.
Let’s hope we’ll see more of this!
Importantly, all preseason games will be shown on NFL GamePass, which is fantastic news for international and American fans alike.
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel will show eight games through Weeks 1-2 before a final seven during the third and final week of preseason.
This includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The Football Team kick off NFL Network’s coverage on August 12 at New England, where we should get our first official look at Mac Jones in a Patriots uniform.
Trevor Lawrence is likely to hit your screens on August 14 as Urban Meyer and the Jags host AFC rivals, Cleveland.
Media and fans alike will be hoping to get a glimpse of Jordan Love too, which may come as early as Week 2 (August 21) at home to Zac Wilson and Gang Green.
Below is a full list of the games to air on NFL Network across the preseason:
Week 1
Thursday, August 12
7:30 PM ET – Washington Football Team vs. New England Patriots
Friday, August 13
7:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, August 14
1:00 PM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears
4:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings
7:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 15
1:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 2
Thursday, August 19
7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 20
8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team
Saturday, August 21
1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
4:25 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
10:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 22
1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3
Friday, August 27
8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, August 28
1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills
7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, August 29
1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
For American fans — NFL Network will blackout live games shown concurrently in local markets.
NY Jets sign rookie OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
AVT, as he is affectionately known, was the second-highest rated offensive lineman in the 2021 Draft Class, according to Pro Football Focus.
The New York Jets have announced the signing of rookie offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker.
AVT, as he is affectionately known, was the second-highest rated offensive lineman in the 2021 Draft Class, according to Pro Football Focus. Vera-Tucker allowed only 5 sacks, 8 quarterback hurries and 3 quarterback hits across 975 total snaps at USC.
The former USC standout was the Jets second pick in the draft (no.14 overall) behind quarterback Zac Wilson who, along with second-round receiver Elijah Moore, remains unsigned.
Jets GM Joe Douglas spoke glowingly about their new quarterback-protector, revealing Vera-Tucker was a lot higher on their draft board than where he was selected.
"We felt we had a unique opportunity to get a top-10 player in our minds as our board was stacked,” Douglas said.
"To go up and get a guy like Alijah Vera-Tucker, a player that has started at tackle, has started at guard and has been highly productive at both. That versatility and that production is something we really value."
NFL announces joint practices - Who your team is playing and why
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
Joint practices aren’t a new phenomenon in the NFL. They essentially act as an opportunity for teams and players to go through scrimmages against different personnel.
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
New Orleans and Jacksonville were set to meet in Louisiana on August 20, but since the release of the schedule both teams have confirmed otherwise.
Teams NOT involved in joint practices this offseason:
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Football Team
Some teams will engage in two bouts of joint practices; the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and both the New York clubs (Jets and Giants).
Arguably, the most famous joint practice moment of recent memory involved then-Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and Washington’s DeAngelo Hall getting into it. Things got interesting, real quick…
Thankfully for DB’s everywhere their ankles won’t be tested by D-Hop until preseason at the earliest.
Full list of this year’s joint practices:
Courtesy of NFL Communications
Who will play under the franchise tag in 2021?
The NFL list of franchise tagged players is relatively short this season. Only six players will go through the 2021-22 NFL season under the conditions of the tag.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams and Broncos safety Justin Simmons were all tagged and looked likely to remain that way until they agreed new deals with their respective teams.
Carolina right tackle Taylor Moton was similarly fortunate after agreeing a four-year, $72 million deal with the Panthers just before today’s deadline.
The unlucky six on this season’s franchise tag are:
Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR)
Allen Robinson (Chicago Bears WR)
Marcus Maye (New York Jets S)
Marcus Williams (New Orleans Saints S)
Cam Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars T)
Brandon Scherff (Washington Football Team G)