Yardbarker

Sam Robinson

Writer

Sam Robinson is a sportswriter from Kansas City, Missouri. He primarily covers the NFL for Yardbarker. Moving from wildly injury-prone sprinter in the aughts to reporter in the 2010s, Sam set up camp in three time zones covering everything from high school water polo to Division II national championship games. He has since settled in as the husband of a track and field coach, concentrating on the NFL. Boasting an unhealthy interest in the league’s history and fashion trends, Sam is the lead writer for Pro Football Rumors and has written about the sport for Yardbarker since 2018. In addition to working as a writer/editor for a few newspapers – the Cleveland Plain Dealer and St. Joseph (Missouri) News-Press, to name two – in a former life that included some awkward awards-show hosting gigs thankfully inaccessible online, Sam has written about the Olympics for The Athletic.

EXPERTISE:

NFL, track and field, boxing

Antonio Brown to Packers? Assessing fits for best remaining free agents

Once the NFL and NFLPA hammer out an agreement that will green-light active players to return to team facilities, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes, free agents figure to come off the board.

Newton will elevate the Patriots' game, but not enough to scare Chiefs, Ravens

Current circumstances point to Newton elevating the Patriots to an upper-middle-class team -- at best -- rather than making them a serious threat to the Chiefs or Ravens in the conference.

COVID-19-altered NFL fumbling attendance policy

The NFL has communicated to teams it will be up to states, counties and teams to determine how many fans will be allowed to attend games. Yardbarker's Sam Robinson explains why the league needs a uniform policy.

John Elway: Career retrospective

The Hall of Fame quarterback and Super Bowl-winning general manager has spent nearly 30 years in the NFL. From his unusual entrance into the league to Von Miller's big night, here are the key moments from John Elway's storied career.

A lock for stardom? Denver QB, five other players who could boom or bust

With an offense beefed up in the draft and free agency, the Broncos are eager to see if second-year QB Drew Lock is the real deal. Yardbarker's Sam Robinson, Chris Mueller and Michael Nania weigh in on players who could either be stellar ... or stinkers in 2020.

Why 2020 offers Colts' Rivers unique chance to cement Hall credentials

Despite imminent introduction as the sixth member of the 400-touchdown pass and 60,000-passing-yard clubs, the new Colts QB lacks signature achievements compared to his top peers, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

As clock ticks to NFL training camps, key COVID-19 issues remain unresolved

It is becoming increasingly apparent the league will have its hands full going through a season amid the challenges the coronavirus will bring, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

The best NFL QB comeback seasons

The NFL (and AFL) features a rich tradition of re-emerging quarterbacks, whether they returned from injury, a demotion or a hiatus. Here are the best quarterback rebound stories.

Fabulous (Bucs) to failure (Texans): Offseason grades for all NFL teams

The draft and free agency are in the rear-view mirror. It's time to grade the offseasons of all 32 teams. Yardbarker's Sam Robinson, Chris Mueller and Michael Nania weigh in.

COVID-19 fallout among factors working against Vikings' Dalvin Cook, talented RB group in negotiations

It looked like the running back market could be on the upswing after the Panthers inked Christian McCaffrey to a record deal. That no longer appears to be the case amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other financial concerns, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

Ranking the pass-rushing corps for every NFL team

Some late-summer transactions (and a key injury) have changed up teams' pass-rushing situations. Some teams significantly improved their quarterback-pressuring capabilities in recent weeks, while another lost a future Hall of Famer.

NFL players, coaches most affected by COVID-19 shutdown

Quarterbacks Tom Brady, Baker Mayfield and Cam Newton are especially affected by the NFL's new coronavirus reality, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

Why these NFL powers could sink in 2020

The Patriots, Packers and Rams could be in big trouble. Yardbarker's Chris Mueller, Sam Robinson and Michael Nania explain why.

How 2015 draft failure weirdly benefited Bucs, Titans

The 2013 and ’14 Heisman winners will try to reboot elsewhere after five uneven seasons, but their former teams are, at worst, fringe Super Bowl contenders, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

Key issues facing all NFL teams entering summer

As the virtual offseason winds down, here is the key issue each franchise is facing heading into the summer, according to Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

2015 NFL Draft rewind: Grades, evaluations for all 32 teams

Although instant draft analyses surface each year, they are largely meaningless, as it takes a few years to evaluate a team's decisions in a draft. With that in mind, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes, it seems like a good time to take a look at how teams did in 2015.

Repairing broken NFL coaching pipeline must start on offense

The NFL made significant changes to the Rooney Rule. But the diversity-geared implementations will take a while to transform an imbalance, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

Ideal landing spots for intriguing NFL free agents

Edge rusher Vinny Curry is a great fit for the Raiders, who need all the pass-rushing aid they can get, writes Yardbarker's Michael Nania. Sam Robinson and Chris Mueller also weigh in on free agents still available.

Chief rivals: Who are AFC's best after Kansas City?

Beyond the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, the AFC features several teams whose offseasons vaulted them closer to contender, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

Watson contract could cause NFL financial earthquake

If the Texans' QB gets a deal in the $40 million-$42 million yearly range, he could dramatically affect how the Cowboys, among other teams, build a roster, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

The best running back duos in NFL history

The Broncos signed Melvin Gordon to team with two-time 1,000-yard back Phillip Lindsay, giving them a high-profile backfield. The newly created tandem will attempt to measure itself against some of the best to come before it. On that subject, here are the best running back duos in NFL history.