NFL – Page 4 – North Platte Post Archive

Watt gets 2 Turnovers, Dances in Friendly Pro Bowl

Posted on January 26, 2015

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Some of the best played football on Sunday, a gentler, friendlier version of the game.

The Pro Bowl never has intensity. That will come a week from now, boiling over when Seattle meets New England on the same field.

Few moved very fast, no one flattened a quarterback and there were no bone-jarring hits in Team Irvin’s 32-28 victory over Team Carter.

But everyone seemed to have a good time, and there were a few plays to remember.

J.J. Watt intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and danced for the crowd. Jimmy Graham dunked over the crossbar twice after TD catches — this time with no penalty.

Odell Beckham Jr.’s diving grab at midfield might have been the day’s most impressive play.

Pro Bowl Officials to use Tablets for Video Reviews

Posted on January 24, 2015

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The NFL will test having game officials use tablets for video reviews in Sunday’s Pro Bowl

Coaches and players for the first time have been using the Microsoft Surface tablets on the sidelines all season to look at photos of previous plays.

Having the referee look at replays to determine if calls were correct could lead to eliminating the official going “under the hood” for reviews.

An NFL staffer will wear a backpack containing wireless radios, and will hold a Surface Pro 3 tablet and headphones during the game.

When a video review is needed, that staffer will hold the tablet and the referee will don the headphones. It is hoped this will speed up the entire process.

The league also will debut use of in-game video on the tablets for coaches and players to review during the Pro Bowl.

Players Union Files Grievance Against NFL on Conduct Policy

Posted on January 23, 2015January 24, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL players union has filed a grievance against the league over changes to its personal conduct policy.

League officials said Friday they want players and others in the NFL to be held to stricter standards. The NFL said in a statement: “Clearly, the union does not share that belief.”

Officials for the NFL Players Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The union and the league have been at odds over the personal conduct policy since both groups began navigating the Ray Rice domestic violence case.

Union officials have said they want to open up the personal conduct policy to collective bargaining to negotiate changes, while NFL executives have said the current contract gives them the leeway to make necessary changes.

The NFL said in its statement Friday that it consulted with the union, plus current and former players and other experts before making changes.

All 3 NFL Games in London Next Season to Have Early Kickoffs

Posted on January 22, 2015

LONDON (AP) — All three NFL games in London next season will have early afternoon kickoffs in the U.K., meaning fans back in the U.S. will have to get up early to watch.

The NFL announced Thursday that the Nov. 1 game between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs at Wembley Stadium will start at 2:30 p.m. local time — 9:30 a.m. on the U.S. East Coast.

Early kickoffs had already been announced for the Oct. 4 game between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins (2:30 p.m. local; 9:30 a.m. EDT) and the Oct. 25 game between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars (1:30 p.m. local; 9:30 a.m. EDT).

The first NFL game at Wembley played with an early afternoon kickoff was this season’s game between the Lions and Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 26. All other London games had kicked off in the early evening, translating to a 1 p.m. start in the U.S.

NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood says “our fan research has shown overwhelming support for early kickoffs.”

The timing also allows the teams to fly home later the same day to begin their bye weeks.

Pro Bowl to have Narrower Goal Posts, Longer Kicks on PATs

Posted on January 20, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — The NFL will have narrower uprights and longer kicks for extra-point tries at the Pro Bowl.

The NFL has discussed changes in extra points to make the kicks more difficult and experimented with longer tries during the preseason.

For Sunday’s Pro Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium, the uprights will be narrowed from 18.6 to 14 feet on extra-point tries. The kick also will be moved back from the 2 to the 15, making it essentially a 33 1/2-yard field goal.

NFL kickers made 99.6 percent of their PAT tries in 2013 and 99.3 this season.

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent made the announcement during a Pro Bowl news conference on Tuesday.

Number of Underclassmen in 2015 NFL Draft drops to 74

Posted on January 19, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of college players granted special eligibility for the NFL draft has dropped from a record 98 last season to 74 this year.

An additional 10 players, including Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota of Oregon, became eligible for the draft after notifying the league that they have graduated.

The record number of underclassmen who declared early for last year’s draft also led to a record 36 early-entry players going undrafted.

Among the early entries this year are Florida State quarterback and 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper and Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson.

The NFL Draft is April 30 through May 2 in Chicago.

NFL, CBS Extend Thursday Night Football

Posted on January 18, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and CBS have extended their Thursday night football package for the 2015 season.

The agreement carries an additional year at the NFL’s option. It was announced Sunday by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS; and Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports.

CBS will broadcast the first eight Thursday night games, which also will be simulcast on NFL Network. NFL Network also will exclusively show the final eight games. The games will include 14 on Thursday nights and two late-season games on Saturdays.

Goodell says the games in last season’s package “made Thursday night a night for NFL football.” Moonves lauds the benefits of the Thursday night package, saying the NFL “continues to be the best premium content in the business.”

NFL to Hold Combine for Veteran Players

Posted on January 15, 2015

The NFL is adding a combine for veteran players to go with the massive event it holds for potential draftees.

The veterans’ combine will take place March 22 at the Arizona Cardinals’ training facility in Phoenix. That is about one month after the regular combine in Indianapolis for rookies.

Matt Birk, director of football development, told the 32 teams about the new combine Thursday. It will be open to veteran free agents who will participate in position-specific drills, timing and testing.

In the past, some veteran free agents have been included in the NFL’s regional combines held for draft-eligible players. But the new format will serve to isolate and consolidate veteran free agents for a more-focused evaluation.

The league expects to invite about 100 free agents to the Arizona combine.

Seth Meyers to Host NFL Awards Show

Posted on January 10, 2015January 11, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — NBC’s Seth Meyers will host “NFL Honors,” the Super Bowl eve telecast in which the league introduces the new Pro Football Hall of Fame class and hands out awards for the 2014 season, including The Associated Press MVP.

The former “Saturday Night Live” player and current late-night TV host takes over for Alec Baldwin, who hosted the first four shows.

“NFL Honors” will be held at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix on Jan. 31, a night before the Super Bowl kicks off in nearby Glendale.

The AP will hand out awards for coach of the year, offensive and defensive players and rookies, comeback player, and assistant coach. The awards are voted on by a nationwide panel of 50 people who cover the league.

Watt, Gronkowski Unanimous AP All-Pros; Dallas leads with 4

Posted on January 2, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — J.J. Watt and Rob Gronkowski are unanimous selections for the 2014 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team announced Friday.

Houston’s Watt did it in an unusual manner. He was listed on all 50 ballots by a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league, with 45 of the votes for defensive end and the other five for defensive tackle. So he actually was a first-team end and a second-team tackle in gaining his third straight selection.

No such confusion for New England’s Gronkowski, who grabbed all the votes for tight end.

Dallas led all teams with four All-Pros, including guard Zach Martin, the only rookie on the squad. League rushing leader DeMarco Murray, tackle Tyron Smith and wide receiver Dez Bryant made it.

Seattle and Pittsburgh each had three All-Pros. There were 16 AFC players and 11 from the NFC.