Jordan Love Says He’s Excited To Play Against New Steelers QB
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 12: Quarterback Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers prepares to take the field prior to a game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFC Wild Card Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

 

Five years ago, Green Bay Packers fans couldn’t believe their eyes.

When most people thought they would take a wide receiver in the first round, they took Jordan Love instead.

Love wasn’t a high-touted quarterback prospect, and with a perennial MVP candidate in Aaron Rodgers there, it only spelled trouble.

That eventually was the beginning of the end of the Rodgers era at Lambeau Field, as they could never mend their relationship after that.

Now, Love will enter his third season as the starter, and, for the first time in his career, he’ll square off with his mentor.

In a recent interview, the Utah State product opened up on what it’ll be like to play against Rodgers, who just signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers:

“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be awesome. I’m excited for it,” Love said of playing against Rodgers. “I can’t wait to be on different sides, meeting up, and I know we’ll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.”

Love got to sit down and learn from one of the greatest passers of all time for three years, and you can see glimpses of Rodgers’ influence and technique in his game.

Granted, he’s not nearly as good as Rodgers was at taking care of the football, and that’s a crucial aspect he’ll have to improve to get his game to the next level.

Then again, Love has proved the doubters wrong and helped make a smooth transition to the post-Rodgers era.

Rodgers, on the other hand, is likely walking the final steps of his NFL career.

And after everything that has transpired and how things have fared for him since he left Wisconsin, that first game against his former team might already be marked down in his calendar.

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Patriots Rookie Draws Comparison To Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp #10 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during warmups before the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)per kupp

 

The last time an unknown wide receiver out of Eastern Washington made it to the NFL, he won the wide receivers’ Triple Crown.

Of course, history doesn’t always repeat itself.

But, as shown by Los Talks Pats on X, Efton Chism III and Cooper Kupp have some things in common, such as being the only two players in program history with at least 300 career receptions:

“Former Eastern Washington WR Efton Chism III is one of two players in school history to surpass 300 career receptions. The other? Cooper Kupp. The only logical and coherent takeaway from this is that the #Patriots have the next Cooper Kupp on their roster,” Lopez posted on X.

The Patriots have a long history of finding great value in undrafted free agency, and Chism was one of the more than 15 guys they signed after the NFL Draft.

Chism spent five years with the Eagles, turning plenty of heads at a lesser level of collegiate football.

He even broke Cooper Kupp’s record with 120 receptions last season, adding 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns across 12 appearances.

All in all, the young speedster left college with 346 receptions for a whopping 3,852 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns in 53 games.

He also broke another one of Kupp’s records by recording at least one reception in 53 consecutive games, meaning he never went catchless in a single game in college.

Chism knows how to get open and make the most of his speed, as he showed with an impressive performance at the Shrine Bowl.

While he rarely squared off against high-end competition, his ability to get open in one-on-one situations should translate to the pros.

Of course, making the 53-man roster will be an uphill battle for any undrafted wide receiver, but Chism has the intangibles and experience to be the exception to that rule.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson Sends Strong Message To Critics
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: C.J. Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before playing against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

 

The Houston Texans acquired a proven, ball-hawk safety with a reputation for being a bit of a trash-talker.

However, more often than not, C.J. Gardner-Johnson has backed up the smack-talk on the field.

That’s why, even though his trade from the Philadelphia Eagles was deemed ‘a salary cap thing,’ he still felt disrespected.

With that in mind, he made sure to put the entire league on notice in his recent interview with Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com:

“People say, ‘He’s a hazard, he’s this, he’s that.’ I never been no hazard, bro. They got no real issues on me. That black ball ain’t going to work on me, because I got me a ring. I got me one. I got three more championships in me. I’m probably going to win the next three. I’m going to get me another Super Bowl this year. Just watch,” Gardner-Johnson said.

Johnson is one of the best safeties in the league.

The Texans acquired him for former first-round pick Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick, which was a necessary financial move after the Eagles signed Zack Baun to a lucrative deal.

The 27-year-old was instrumental in shutting down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and he will now strive to get back to the final game of the season, this time representing the AFC.

The Texans lost to that same Chiefs team at Arrowhead Stadium in January, and they have never reached the AFC Championship Game in their young franchise history.

Gardner-Johnson will try to change that, and with DeMeco Ryans calling the shots on defense, they should continue to be one of the toughest units in the league on that side of the field.

Gardner-Johnson will make $8.5 million this season and up to $11.5 million next year, with void years in his contract from 2027 to 2030, and he’ll have a huge chip on his shoulder to prove that he’s worth every single penny.

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Adam Schefter Reveals Big Update About Bills RB
Sports Writer Adam Schefter attends the Annual Charity Day Hosted By Cantor Fitzgerald And BGC at the Cantor Fitzgerald Office on September 11, 2013 in New York, United States.
(Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald)

 

With the 2025 NFL season just around the corner, the Buffalo Bills and one of their most important players aren’t on the same page.

James Cook is still pushing to get a contract extension, but it doesn’t seem like that will happen anytime soon.

As a result, the young running back has taken things to the next level.

According to a report by ESPN insider Adam Schefter (via SleeperBills), Cook has now gone from ‘unhappy’ to ‘disconnected’ with the team because of the ongoing contract dispute:

“He has basically disconnected himself from the organization and the city put his house up for sale,” per Schefter. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing him in Buffalo anytime soon.”

Moreover, he’s even put his home in Buffalo up for sale to prove that he’s for real.

Earlier in the offseason, he claimed that he wanted to get what he deserved, and he also said on Instagram that he’s looking to get $15 million a season.

Bills GM Brandon Beane has repeatedly talked about Cook’s importance for the offense, but that hasn’t led to any significant progress in contract extension talks.

Cook led the team in rushing yards last season, posting 1,009 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

He was tied with Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry for the most rushing touchdowns in the league last season, and he also added 32 receptions for 258 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Cook was Josh Allen’s biggest contributor during his MVP campaign, and for the first time in years, the Bills finally had some offensive balance instead of running their usual pass-heavy offense.

The start of the season looms large, and unless the Bills improve their current offer, we might not see Cook take the field in 2025.

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Details Emerge About Aaron Rodgers’ Salary With Steelers
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 26: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

 

Aaron Rodgers finally came to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week after spending months doing his best Brett Favre impression and watching every other team in the league either sign or draft their next franchise quarterback.

Rodgers will wear No. 8 and should immediately step in as the starter for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, and as for the financial side of things, details have also emerged about his salary with the Steelers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared more information about Rodgers’ salary on Friday morning, and he’ll make up to $19.5 million depending on how well he plays.

“ESPN sources: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers was in the team’s training facility today to sign his one-year, $13.65 million contract that includes $10 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $19.5 million. The deal includes $5.85 million worth of playtime and team performance incentives.”

Given what quarterbacks are making these days, this contract is nothing.

However, it should ensure that Pittsburgh still maintains plenty of flexibility in the coming months if they decide to get more reinforcements.

Rodgers put up solid numbers with the New York Jets last season, with 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 11 picks, but it didn’t tell the whole story.

He led the Jets to a disappointing 5-12 record after coming into the year with championship aspirations.

Pittsburgh has a longer history of success than the Jets and better infrastructure, so the hope is that Rodgers showed enough ability last season to still lead a team to contention in an ideal situation.

Money is likely not a motivating factor for Rodgers, but it’s nice that the Steelers got him on such a reasonable deal.

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Steelers Announce Aaron Rodgers’ Jersey Number For 2025 Season
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets warms up before taking on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 09, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

 

The inevitable finally happened earlier this week, as the Pittsburgh Steelers finally signed Aaron Rodgers to a one-year contract for $13.65 million to be their starting quarterback for the 2025 season.

It was the worst-kept secret of the offseason that became an obvious conclusion after the Steelers went through the offseason and the draft without bringing in anyone capable of starting Week 1, and now that Rodgers has landed in western Pennsylvania and signed his contract, he has now picked a jersey number as well.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared on X Friday afternoon that Rodgers will be donning No. 8 for the Steelers, and fans will be hoping he can do a better job filling out that number than Kenny Pickett did.

Rodgers was presumably entertaining a few different destinations this offseason, but one by one, each potential landing spot found its new franchise quarterback as the New York Giants brought in Russell Wilson, the Las Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith, the New York Jets moved on from him and signed Justin Fields, the Tennessee Titans drafted Cam Ward, and so on and so forth.

The Steelers became the only one without a date to the big dance, but even though this took forever, No. 8 is a solid fit on paper for a team that has championship aspirations after many years of playoff disappointments.

DK Metcalf has been brought in as the new No. 1 wide receiver, and it will be interesting to see how Rodgers does without bringing a bunch of his old coaches and on-field weapons with him.

Pittsburgh and Rodgers both needed to shake things up, and it’s exciting that this match has finally been made official.

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CeeDee Lamb’s New Tattoo Is Going Viral
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 09: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

 

CeeDee Lamb has done nothing but dominate from the second he came into the NFL in 2020, and that success carried through this past season, even after Dak Prescott got injured.

Lamb commemorated a fourth straight 1,000-yard season with a massive tattoo that went viral in recent days.

Lamb’s tattoo artist, which was a company called “Onder Ink,” shared a video on TikTok of Lamb working with his team to design a large, elaborate back piece, which had an overarching theme of his love for fallen NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and included a mural of Bryant, a Black Mamba, a tiger, and a spartan laid out across his entire back.

The tattoo was so aggressive that it required anesthesia, so if there were ever a time to get a tattoo like this for an NFL player, it’s right in the middle of the offseason when he’ll have plenty of time to let it heal.

Speaking of Lamb’s back, he shouldn’t have to carry as much of the offense on it this upcoming season now that Prescott is hopefully fully recovered from his severe hamstring injury that ended his season prematurely last season.

Dallas also made a huge splash this offseason by trading for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens to pair with Lamb, and the two have the potential to be one of the most lethal 1-2 punches at wide receiver in the entire league.

Hopefully, Lamb likes his tattoo, because if he has second thoughts, it would be one heck of a cover-up job.

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Steelers Reportedly Preferred 2 Other QBs Before Aaron Rodgers
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan is dressed as Santa Claus during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 05, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers finally ended the NFL’s longest-running soap opera this offseason when the two parties agreed to a one-year deal this week to make the four-time MVP the franchise’s next quarterback.

Rodgers signed for $13.65 million and has the potential to earn about $6 million more in incentives, but one interesting note came out after the deal was finalized as ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared that Rodgers wasn’t exactly the Steelers’ first choice.

Schefter shared recently that Rodgers was Pittsburgh’s third option this offseason behind re-signing Justin Fields or trading for Matthew Stafford.

It makes sense that Stafford would be the top option, as he is likely better than Rodgers at this point in their respective careers, but it’s surprising to hear that the Steelers wanted to keep Fields that badly.

Fields signed a two-year deal with the New York Jets rather quickly after the free-agency period started, while Rodgers hung around, floating the idea that he could retire.

As teams around the league landed their quarterbacks and took themselves out of the running to sign Rodgers one by one, it became clear after the draft that Rodgers was either going to be a Steeler or he was going to have to wait until training camp for someone to get hurt to clear a path for him to start somewhere.

This is probably Rodgers’ last shot at a Super Bowl.

If things crash and burn again like they did with the Jets last season, it could be for him in the NFL.

Being a third option is never fun, but there’s a roadmap where this grows into an extremely beneficial relationship for both parties.

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Lamar Jackson Reportedly Forfeits Huge Sum Of Money By Skipping OTAs
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens leaves the field after a win against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

 

The Baltimore Ravens turned in a great 2024 NFL season, but it wasn’t enough as they came up short again in the playoffs.

The Ravens have the talent on both sides of the ball to win the Super Bowl, but they can’t find a way to get over the hump.

Lamar Jackson continues to improve every year and was in line to win his third NFL MVP award.

The quarterback can turn any play into a touchdown, but he still faces his fair share of doubters because he has yet to bring Baltimore to the Super Bowl.

This season, Jackson has every reason to prove those critics wrong, though he has yet to show up to any offseason workouts.

Because Jackson missed most of OTAs, he’ll forfeit $750,000, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

“Last year, Jackson didn’t participate in the requisite sessions. This year, he hasn’t done it, either. The loss of the $750,0000 workout bonus drops Jackson’s 2025 compensation from $43.5 million to $42.75 million. Which makes it a small piece of his total wage pie. Still, $750,000 is $750,000,” Florio wrote. “There’s really nothing to stay. He has now given up $1.5 million by failing to participate in offseason workouts. If/when there’s a new deal, he should push the Ravens to dump the workout bonuses.”

It’s strange that Jackson would be willing to forego such a lump sum of money, but he’s done this in the past and understands what’s best for him in terms of preparation.

Missing OTAs doesn’t seem to affect Jackson’s performance on the field, though losing out on that kind of cash has to sting a little bit.

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Steelers Insider Reveals Major Update About Aaron Rodgers
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 15: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets warms up prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers created a massive question mark at quarterback when they let Russell Wilson and Justin Fields leave as free agents this offseason.

Wilson and Fields signed with the New York Giants and New York Jets, respectively, leaving Pittsburgh to search the market for a new starter.

It engaged in talks with just about every free agent quarterback, including Aaron Rodgers, who was released by the Jets earlier in the offseason.

Rodgers and the Steelers made for a perfect match on paper, given the former may have something left in the tank while the latter has the surrounding pieces to compete for a playoff spot.

It was recently reported that Rodgers and Pittsburgh had finally struck a deal, but there had been no sign of him at their facility.

However, those concerns should be quelled now as the 41-year-old was spotted in Pittsburgh.

“BREAKING: No more false sightings: Aaron Rodgers has arrived in town to sign his Steelers contract,” Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote on X.

There were previous reports that Rodgers had been in the city, but it now appears he’s definitely made an appearance to sign his contract.

It reportedly is a one-year deal, which means this could be the final season of his career.

Rodgers got off to a slow start in 2024 before finding his stride toward the end of the regular season, so Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin might be able to get the last bits of good football out of the four-time MVP quarterback.

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