Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott, and Jadeveon Clowney aren’t at training camp in pursuit of contract extensions. When NFL training camps opened in July 2018, many of the league’s biggest names steered clear. Le’Veon Bell, Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack, and Earl Thomas all refused to show up due to qualms with their contracts. Bell never reported, opting instead to sit out an entire season after the Steelers franchised him in ... read more

Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Could either one of them be Drew Brees’ potential successor? The Saints are set at starting quarterback for 2019. Drew Brees was his typical all-world self for most of his previous year. While the now 40-year-old’s level of play declined late in the season, he still managed to record a league- and career-high 115.7 passer rating and led his team within ... read more

An expert and an idiot grade the new XFL logos. Welcome to a new era of football. An era of alternatives and options and BATTLEHAWKS! The XFL unveiled its teams and logos on Wednesday and I am already utterly obsessed with the St. Louis Battlehawks. BATTLEHAWKS! I use words for a living, so it came naturally for me to judge the team names — but when it comes to ... read more

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images Nicholson had a turbulent 2018, but Washington stuck with him. Now it’s up to the safety to make the most of his second chance. It is hard to imagine last season going worse for Washington safety Montae Nicholson than it actually did. Here is a guy who was a fourth-round draft pick in 2017, who ended up starting six of the eight games he ... read more

After each new episode this season, we’ll update the list with the latest Gruden gems. It’s the most wonderful time of the year: HBO’s Hard Knocks is officially back for 2019. This season, the show is following the Oakland Raiders’ training camp, and the hype surrounding the new episodes is very real. Hands down, one of the most exciting parts about this year’s series is getting to watch Jon ... read more

Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Fullbacks are a rare breed now, but Penny has found his place and should expect more carries — and passes — coming his way this year. I know that fullbacks tend to be something like unicorns in today’s NFL where teams are throwing the ball more than ever, but that doesn’t mean one can’t be a key contributor in some ... read more

BATTLEHAWKS The XFL is back, baby! I don’t know how you should feel about it. Truth be told, I don’t even really know what to think about it. It’s 2019 and the XFL is coming back and we’re getting a new Matrix movie. Down is up, time is a flat circle, and everything is weird. More football is good though, because we have a never-ending, unquenchable thirst for ... read more

This is the year. All week, retired NFL defensive end Stephen White is rolling out his fifth annual “breakout players” series. Hello again, fellow NFL fans! It’s almost time for the new season, which means it’s also time for my annual “breakout players” series. This is the fifth year I’ve picked a breakout player for each team, and I can’t thank you enough for reading them. I also ... read more

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports If healthy, the receiver is versatile enough to block, play special teams, and even be a tight end or fullback. The Cowboys are pretty stacked at wide receiver this year. Amari Cooper was outstanding after he arrived via a trade in the middle of last season. Michael Gallup has a ton of potential heading into his second season. He was open deep quite a ... read more

Paul George helped the teams that traded him, too. Three superstars have become intertwined in defining the new era of NBA player empowerment: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Paul George. LeBron is understandable on this list. He’s rebuilt NBA stardom in his image. His team basically invented the mini-max 14 years ago, then invented the 1+1 contract more recently. He’s been the best player in the world for more ... read more