Hilfestellungen » ause of the toughness of the sport. Monica

Week 10 of this NFL season is about to kick off, and its still a mystery. We have the Patriots on one end, the Browns on the other, and 30 teams in between who are all seemingly one hot or cold streak away from confirming or disabusing our beliefs about them. ESPNs Football Power Index gives just two teams -- the Patriots and Cowboys -- a 90 percent or better chance of making the playoffs, but 21 teams have a 20 percent shot at making it to January. Brock Osweiler hadnt even made his debut as the Broncos starter this time last year, which means the world champs were two quarterback changes away from their triumph in California.We dont know what the future holds. We do know who has the most riding on it.There are people around the league -- players and coaches alike -- who have a disproportionate amount of their professional future depending upon what happens over the next eight weeks. Everybody in the league has something on the line. They have more than most.Lets run through those people and identify both why they have everything to play for over the second half and the outcomes that will diverge from their success or failure. And lets begin with the coaches before moving onto the players.The coachesChuck Pagano, ColtsBrought back alongside general manager Ryan Grigson on a contract extension under the aegis that 2015 was an aberration, Pagano coaches a team that is failing to live up to expectations. Last year, Pagano could reasonably have made the case that he did his very best without Andrew Luck for most of the year, given that the Colts finished 13th in defensive DVOA. This year, theres no such excuse: Luck has been excellent and available as QBRs ninth-ranked passer. The defense, meanwhile, has fallen apart, down to 30th in DVOA. Thats just below the Saints. You dont want to be worse than the Saints on defense.Pagano was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore before being hired in Indy, and needs to coax some signs of life out of this group. (The 31-26 win over Green Bay last Sunday helped, but that was a victory fueled almost entirely by the offense and special teams.) It doesnt help matters that Pagano has virtually no defensive talent coming through the ranks, given that Indys 11 starters on defense against Green Bay included just two drafted and developed by the combination of Pagano and Grigson. If the Colts cant win a division over a Texans team that is without J.J. Watt and stuck with Osweiler at quarterback, theres little reason to think that the team will progress any further in the future with Pagano (and Grigson) at the helm.Gus Bradley, JaguarsEven if you consider Bradley all but fired now, the Jaguars are smart to retain him for the time being. Theres nobody of any note who is going to come in midseason and turn around Jacksonville over the long term. Any outsider would need a full offseason to teach the team concepts and scheme, and any promotion would be unwarranted. Its the same logic that led to quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hacketts promotion to the offensive coordinator role after Greg Olson was fired. The offense was a mess, but why would Hackett be able to fix it after watching Blake Bortles mechanics go completely haywire on his watch? Bradleys likely in-season replacement would be assistant head coach Doug Marrone, but interim coaches often fool you into making a bad hire.Bradley would need a scorching-hot second half to hold on to his job. He would need to go 6-2 to make it to .500, and with the Broncos and Vikings on the schedule at home, the Jags will have a razor-thin margin of error. You also could make a case for Bortles appearing on this list, but Jacksonville is committed to Bortles and his fully guaranteed contract for the time being. Even if they fire Bradley and replace him with a new head coach, its likely the Jaguars will ask that new chief to try to rebuild Bortles before moving on to a new option under center.The make-or-break year for Bortles is likely 2018. Bradley has to win now to have any hope of being around for it.Mike McCoy, ChargersSome of the early hysteria surrounding McCoy and the Chargers late-game collapses has faded now that San Diego is 3-1 over the past four games, so the former Broncos offensive coordinator has a better shot at holding on to his head-coaching gig. If the Chargers finish 7-9 or worse, McCoy can try to sacrifice defensive coordinator John Pagano to get another year in charge. That would rely upon bad data, though, as the Chargers are 26th in points allowed, but eighth in the league in defensive DVOA. San Diego has faced the leagues second-toughest slate of opposing quarterbacks and been up against the NFLs second-worst average starting field position on defense this season. Pagano has been fine.Tom Cable, SeahawksCable has carved out an enormous role for himself in Seattle, where he has as much say about personnel and roster construction as any other offensive line coach in the league. The Seahawks have provided Cable with a steady stream of late-round picks and athletes to convert into offensive linemen, and Cable has pieced together offensive lines that have been able to clear out holes in the running game, if not necessarily pass protect.But 2016 feels worse than most years; the Seahawks dearly miss longtime left tackle Russell Okung, and Russell Wilsons mobility issues have compromised his ability to run away from free or mostly unblocked rushers for most of the season. Cables lines have routinely gotten better as the year has gone along, and Wilson looked more mobile against the Bills on Monday night, but 2016 may be the year that Cables influence begins to wane.Jeff Fisher, RamsDoes he have a contract extension? Fishers long-term status with the Los Angeles organization remains unclear, but the on-field product is about where it has been in years past. Fishers Rams are 3-5, and FPI projects them to finish with 5.7 wins by the end of the year, which would make Fishers avowed goal to avoid 7-9 a success and a failure at the same time. The teams simultaneous confidence in trading multiple first-round picks for Jared Goff and reticence to move him into the starting lineup when Case Keenum is standing in his way speaks to either an inability to develop or a fatal scouting flaw.Los Angeles would need to find five wins on the back end of its schedule to even make it to .500, and its a slate that includes the Patriots, Seahawks, Falcons and Cardinals. If Fisher cant find that run and finishes under .500 for the fifth consecutive season, his time with the Rams must surely come to an end.Mike McCarthy, PackersThe Packers are 11th in offensive DVOA, but its hard to get a sense that theyre improving with their longtime head coach running things on that side of the football. They dip their toes in changes -- such as last week, when they had a series of pick plays designed to defeat the man coverage that has slowed their receivers -- but this looks and feels like a stale, overexposed offense being wrung for every ounce of usefulness by a superstar quarterback. McCarthy deserves credit for helping Aaron Rodgers, and has rightfully been given plenty of time to correct things, but the excuses for Green Bays problems surely have to fall on his shoulders eventually.There are times when even good coaches wear out their welcome and both sides benefit from a fresh start, as was the case with Andy Reid and his crew in moving from Philadelphia to Kansas City. McCarthys dismal in-game management has cost the Packers dearly in the playoffs in years past; now, the 4-4 Packers are underdogs to even make it to the postseason, given their 45.2 percent playoff odds per FPI. If Green Bay misses out on its seemingly annual trip to January, McCarthys future could be in jeopardy.The non-quarterbacksElandon Roberts, LB, PatriotsI would list Bill Belichick here, given that he was the one responsible for trading Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins away from a team with a 39-year-old superstar quarterback, but its not as if hes going anywhere. The Patriots and their league-worst adjusted sack rate clearly miss Jones, so its on Roberts to make sure they quickly forget Collins after the former starter was traded to the Browns in October.Its a big ask of a rookie sixth-round pick who only became a defensive regular four games ago. As much as the Patriots publicly suggested that Collins wanted Von Miller money to return to the team (a dubious claim) and had a habit of freelancing out of his role, Collins athleticism and range allowed them to do as much with the combo of Collins and Donta Hightower as any team in the league does with its interior linebackers. Roberts simply doesnt have the sort of coverage upside Collins had, but if hes in the right place at the right time and holds up against the run, hell help justify Belichicks decision.Michael Floyd, WR, CardinalsThe writing is on the wall in Arizona for Floyd, who has lost his starting job to J.J. Nelson and is battling another injury, this time to his hamstring. Floyds role with the team has decreased with the ascension of John Brown, and it appears unlikely that the Cardinals will sign Floyd to an extension before he hits unrestricted free agency for the first time this offseason. Even if Floyd isnt staying in Arizona, he can echo the sentiments of fellow Cardinals first-rounder Beanie Wells and play the rest of the way as an audition for the leagues 31 other teams. (Floyd, unlike Wells, might want to keep that sentiment to himself.)Nobody doubts Floyds talent, and he has had stretches of production, including a run last year with five 100-yard games in six weeks. In a free-agent market perpetually starved for impact talent at wide receiver, Floyd could make a lot of money over the next few years. If he struggles to get healthy and has to treat 2016 like a washout season, he might have to settle for a one-year deal and rebuild his market before hitting free agency again after the 2017 season. If he does make it back into the lineup and produces, though, teams like the Eagles and Bears could rightfully see him as a target for a long-term deal this offseason.Alshon Jeffery, WR, BearsSpeaking of the Bears, their franchise wide receiver remains unsigned for 2017. Jeffery just got onto the scoresheet for the first time during Chicagos last game, in Week 8 against the Vikings, and his prorated seasonal totals would be disappointing. Jeffery is on pace for 72 catches, 1,166 yards and two touchdowns. The good news is that the touchdown count is all-but-guaranteed to regress toward the mean, and that Jeffery has managed to stay in the lineup without missing time so far after missing nearly half of the 2015 season. The Bears have plenty of cap space and havent been able to come to terms with Jeffery on a long-term contract, so if its not going to happen, Jeffery is going to spend the rest of the year in an infomercial for other teams.Darrelle Revis, CB, JetsAfter winning a Super Bowl in New England and sparking the Jets to a defensive resurgence during the first year of his second act in New Jersey, Revis has unquestionably slipped. The 31-year-old just isnt playing like a shutdown corner anymore. In the past, Revis was susceptible to pure straight-line speed like that of Ted Ginn, if only because he lacked the same world-class wheels and was rarely with any sort of safety help. Now, though, not only is Revis capable of being burned by Ginns of the world, but he looks afraid of being beaten deep by most receivers. Peak Revis wasnt giving a huge cushion to Terrelle Pryor.Revis is still a useful cornerback, but the Jets arent paying him like a useful corner -- theyre paying him to be a star, and with their cap in rough shape heading into 2017, theyre about to run into a very tough decision. Of Revis $15.3 million cap hold for 2017, $6 million?is guaranteed, with no future guaranteed money coming his way. The Jets could try to renegotiate with Revis to lower his compensation, but given how frequently Revis wanted to rip up his deals in the past to create new money, it doesnt seem like Revis will want to head that way. Can the Jets spend the $9.3 million they would save by cutting Revis more effectively elsewhere?LeVeon Bell, RB, SteelersBells next eight games are less about performance and more about staying healthy. If he can make it through the regular season (and a possible playoff run) without suffering any injuries, teams inclined to go after him in free agency will be far less stressed about committing top-tier running back money. He could very well re-sign with the Steelers, who have the onerous $15.1 million hold of Lawrence Timmons coming off of their cap, but even if Bell is healthy the rest of the way Pittsburgh might not be first in line to offer him top dollar.The quarterbacksBrock Osweiler, TexansThe Texans are committed to Osweiler for 2017, given that his $19 million cap hit is fully guaranteed and there wont be much of a trade market for the former Broncos draftee. Hes not going to be released or traded. The question instead is whether Osweiler will be the starter in Week 1 of next year, or if the Texans will hit the free-agent market for a veteran to compete with Osweiler and/or draft another passer in April. He hasnt lived up to the expectations set after his arrival in town and is barely good enough to win right now. Which leads us to ...Trevor Siemian, BroncosOsweilers nominal replacement in Denver is on the ropes too. Siemian looked like a viable game manager during the Broncos 4-0 start, but those hopes have dissipated. First-rounder Paxton Lynch was sufficiently disappointing during his lone start as to make people miss Siemian, but the former Northwestern star is getting worse. His completion percentage has dropped each of the past four weeks, and he has posted a 77.2 passer rating over those games while averaging just 6.3 yards per attempt.The Broncos likely plan on going back to Lynch as the full-time starter at some point, either later this year or in 2017. If Siemian plays effectively, he can either delay that for as long as possible or perform well enough to earn a trade to a place where theyre more invested in giving him a shot as a starter. If not, he likely begins the itinerant chapter of his NFL career. This Sundays game in New Orleans against the Saints and their porous pass defense looms as particularly important.Derek Carr, RaidersCarrs future is secure, of course, given that hes an MVP candidate at the moment. Hes not going anywhere anytime soon. Its also fair to point out that Carr declined dramatically during the second half of 2015; he was 15th in opponent-adjusted Total QBR during the first nine weeks of the year, and dead last in 29th among qualifiers in the same category during the second half of the season. Those sorts of splits can be randomness, and injuries to Carrs supporting cast made things more difficult in the second half, but we should at least wait to see what Carr does before projecting his next contract. The difference could amount to millions or even an extra guaranteed year.Kirk Cousins, WashingtonI wrote about Cousins future last week. A whole bunch (of money) is on the line.Sam Bradford, VikingsBradford looked like a new man during Minnesotas 4-0 start to the season, but injuries to the offensive line and the collective realization from defenses that the Vikings simply cant run the football has squeezed Bradfords margin for error. He still has thrown only one interception this season, but Bradford also lost two fumbles during the loss to the Eagles and has been hyper-conservative with the football. Bradford was actually much better against the Lions last week and deserved better when Cordarrelle Patterson dropped what should have been a wide-open touchdown catch.At one year and $17 million due after this season, teams are going to be interested in Bradford. If he plays like the guy from the first four weeks of the season, though, not only will they be interested in taking a test drive of Bradford for a year, theyll be interested in buying for years to come. The best-case scenario for Bradford would likely be to remain in Minnesota, but if he regresses back to the guy who failed to impress in St. Louis and Philadelphia, the Vikings may prefer to go back to Teddy Bridgewater pending their former starters health.Colin Kaepernick, 49ersEvidence suggests that both sides of the Kaepernick-49ers relationship would like to move on after this season. The 49ers basically refused to play Kaepernick until they renegotiated his deal out of fear of being stuck with an injured Kaep, while the quarterback used the renegotiation to get a player option for 2017 that comes into play if he hits a playing time threshold. Its plausible to think that Chip Kelly will want to draft or pick his own quarterback from outside the organization this offseason.Kaepernick is then left in a difficult-to-predict situation. Perhaps unfairly, there are teams who will see his activism as a red flag and look elsewhere, especially if Kaepernick doesnt profile as much more than a backup quarterback. He looked like the Kaepernick of old last week against the Saints, going 24-of-39 for 398 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. If Kaep plays like that moving forward and wants to continue his football career, hell have opportunities.Tyrod Taylor, Bills?and?Ryan Tannehill, DolphinsWhy together? Because they have contract clauses waiting to be exercised based on how they perform in 2016. Both Taylor and Tannehill have deals that would pay them hefty sums of money if theyre still on the roster several days into the 2017 season.The Dolphins already have $3.5 million guaranteed to Tannehill for 2017, but if hes still on the roster five days into the next league year in March, they owe an additional $14.8 million in guaranteed money to Tannehill for next season.Taylors bet is even larger. If the Bills dont move on from Taylor by the third day of the 2017 league year, he receives a $15.5 million bonus, while Buffalo guarantees the next two years of Taylors contract for a combined $25 million. Thats $40.5 million in new guarantees.Of the two, Taylor seems more likely to trigger the bonus, given that he has become such a critical component of Buffalos offense over the past year. It wont help matters now that the Bills have lost star center Eric Wood for most of the second half; all it takes is a look over at Matt Ryan and Alex Mack in Atlanta to see how quickly a quarterback can turn around with above-average talent protecting him up the middle.Tannehills case for that guaranteed $14.8 million is more difficult. The Dolphins have turned things around on offense during their three-game winning streak, but most of that has been Tannehill turning around and handing the ball off to Jay Ajayi. There are quarterbacks who can do that for far less! The former Texas A&M star also has struggled on the whole this year, throwing nearly as many interceptions (seven) as touchdowns (eight). Tannehill is 30th in QBR, ahead of only Keenum and Ryan Fitzpatrick. He needs to improve if he wants to pick up that $14.8 million. Oren Burks Super Bowl Jersey . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Dave Robinson Super Bowl Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Marcedes-Lewis-Jersey/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Kenny Clark Super Bowl Jersey . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Aaron Jones Super Bowl Jersey . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Something about the city of Boston has always fascinated Erick Colin Mena, a 36-year-old born and raised in Mexico City, so he began following the Patriots. During the NFL Fan Fest over the weekend, he wore a sweatshirt that read: I might live in Mexico, but my team is in New England.Mario Hernandes, 26, was decked out in a full-on Raiders costume, mask and everything. His mom gifted him a Raiders-themed backpack at age 17, and ever since then hes been hooked. A similar thing happened to Jose Antonio Bohon, a 50-year-old who watched Fran Tarkenton as a kid, believed him to be ahead of his time and is now as big of a Vikings fan as you will ever meet. Then there is Josue Alvarez, 22, who first began following the Packers because he really, really likes cheese -- seriously. Alvarez, of course, was wearing a foam cheesehead hat.The Houston Texans and the Oakland Raiders are about to play the first Monday Night Football game outside of the United States at the distinctive Azteca Stadium, a highly anticipated matchup that will be contested in front of a sellout crowd and will prompt millions of others throughout Mexico to watch from home.In the days leading up to it, tens of thousands of fans came through the NFL Fan Fest at Chapultepec Park, displaying their adoration for American football in their outfits.The passion runs deep. -- Alden GonzalezRaul Parrales, 37, son Raul Jr., 8, and daughter Sofi, 5, Oakland Raiders fans from Estado de MexicoI am a lifetime fan, and when my son told me that he wanted to play football, we discovered that the closest team to our house was [called] the Raiders, [so] he became a Raiders fan since then. My wife is my makeup artist. I try to go with makeup to all of my sons games so I can cheer him [on].Karina Rodriguez, 23, a Green Bay Packers fan of five years, from Mexico CityI became a fan because one of my favorite uncles, the oldest in my mothers family, he is a Green Bay fan. Because of him I caught the football and Packers fever.Francisco Caballero Campos, 49, a Pittsburgh Steelers fan from Mexico CityMy team is the Steelers. Im a fan since the 70s, since Franco Harris time. The big Steel Curtain impressed me. In that time, I had to stay up late at night to watch the games. ... I watched them with my dad and my brothers.Fabiola García, 18, a Baltimore Ravens fan who plays football for the Aggies at Deportivo OceaníaI have been a fan for the last 13 years. I became a Ravens fan because of Michael Ohers movie The Blind Side. Oher is my favorite player. ... I like his strength, his ability and how he stops the rivals.Diego (top), 20, and Isaac, 39, Raiders fans from Mexico CityDiego: Mexico should keep hosting NFL games because here we have a lot of diversity. Mexico and the U.S. have a very tight relationship, and we are great hosts.Aramís González, 36, a Denver Broncos fan since 1992, from Estado de MexicoI became a fan in a very weird way. When I saw Denver lose [the AFC Championship Game] against the Buffalo Bills, I was moved by seeing them sad. My favorite player is John Elway, of course. I saw him as a very passionate player. He never gave up, and I liked that he was named the Comeback Kid.Daniela Ruiz, 26, a Raiders fan from Mexico CityMy dad has been a fan for 50 years, and he inspired me to become one. Now Im pregnant, and I hope to do the same with my baby. ... I remember beating the Broncos -- actually that day during the game -- I felt my baby move for the first time.Juan Carlos Victoria, 24, a Dallas Cowboys fan from Mexico CityI admire very much Emmitt Smith. His last run that made him a legend made me fall in love with the Cowboys, but Terrell Owens is my favorite player. His explosive game was amazing.Samuel Soriano, 35, Liliana Aguilar, 35, and son Samuel, 2, Philadelphia Eaagles fansSamuel: My dad is a Cowboys fan, and the rivalry between his team and the Eagles is a big tradition.dddddddddddd I wanted to be part of it, and thats why I decided the Eagles as my team.Itzel Carreto, 38, a Patriots fan from Mexico CityIm a Patriots fan since Ive known my boyfriend -- nine months ago.Gabriel Gonzáles Arellano, 39, and son Leveao, 2, Houston Texans fans from Mexico CityGabriel: My dad loved football; he introduced me to the sport. Soon Warren Moon got my attention and made me fall in love with the [Houston Oilers]. My love for the Houston Texans started when the Oilers disappeared.Daniel Acosta, 16, a Kansas City Chiefs fanIm a fan of Kansas City since I was 5 or 6 years old. My parents transmitted it to me. I watched the games, and I started to like it. I bought this poncho in Cancún. Not [a lot of people have] it; it is very special.América Gonzáles, 19, a Miami Dolphins fan from Cuautitlán IzcaliMy favorite player is [wide receiver Jarvis] Landry, because 14 is one of my favorite numbers. My dad is a Raiders fan, and my mom is a Seattle Seahawks supporter. I love the NFL because Im an athlete, and also because its the first time to see something like this in Mexico.German Robles, 39, a San Francisco 49ers fan from Mexico CityI am the president of Club 49ers Mexico. ... The NFL must expand in Mexico since there are so many fans -- the supporters and players keep on growing.Miguel Garcia, 73, a Raiders fan from VeracruzI am a fan because of my father. He used to play at Instituto Politécnico Nacional. In my house we used to talk about football, and my brother and I followed with the tradition. Some of my fathers family members moved to the U.S., and when we visited them, we decided which was our favorite team. And by this time my family said that I was naughty and some type of bad boy -- thats why I chose the Raiders. A long time ago I had the chance to watch the Raiders at Los Angeles. It was a dream for me. Finally I think that dream is coming back. I have my ticket, and Im not going to miss this game.The Díaz Noriega family, from left, Rodrigo, 15, Alan, 9, Mínica Noriega, 36, Andrea, 7, Jordan, 11, and Rodrigo Díaz, 36, of Mexico CityRodrigo: I started playing football when I was a kid. I liked it because of the toughness of the sport. Monica: Im a fan since junior high. I loved watching the games, even the college games, from Mexico.Giovani Ortega, 28, a Raiders fan from Mexico CityI designed the Aztec Raider to give a Mexican touch to the Black Hole from the U.S.. I wanted to do something different and to show the love I have for my country, something to create a link between Mexico and Raiders. I made all this by myself.Marco Antonio Morales, 39, a Dallas Cowboys fanI became a Dallas fan when I was in primary school. I used to watch the games with my dad, and I was attracted by the uniforms and helmets. My all-time favorite player is Troy Aikman, for the leadership he used to have, the way he handled games. He never gave up; he was very precise. I think the NFL is a big show, and we were missing it.Christian Ríos, 26, and daughter Alexa, 10 months, Steelers fansMy love for the Steelers arose to contradict my dad, who is a 49ers fan. We bet a beer or a meal when theres a match between our teams. My wife and I buy dresses of the Steelers for [Alexa]. Her aunt bought her a dress of the Patriots. She will choose her favorite team when she wants. I hope that it will be the same [as] mine and my wife.Joel Arévalo, 41, and son Gamaliel Enrique, 9, Raiders fans from Mexico CityGamaliel: I love their roughness. They never follow the rules. Sometimes I dont follow the rules. ' ' '