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

32 roster issues to monitor after the 2020 NFL Draft

The 85th NFL Draft is in the books, and teams will pin their hopes on a new set of rookies. Franchises reveal plenty about their view of not only rookies but their returning players during drafts.

Where's the love? Packers return to familiar pattern of impeding Rodgers

The Packers' first-round selection of Utah State QB Jordan Love over a position player who could contribute immediately will worsen their odds of prevailing in a loaded NFC, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

Boom or bust? Why first-round picks will/won't succeed

The 2020 first round is in the books, from No. 1 Joe Burrow (Bengals) to No. 32 Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Chiefs). It may be years before we get a true indication of each player's NFL value. But here's a super-early assessment of why each may excel ... or each could flop.

How Gronk trade to Bucs affects NFC balance of power

The Buccaneers’ 2020 makeover will produce not only one of the biggest publicity jolts in modern sports history but also thrust another contender into a conference that has been deep for years, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

Three teams that must excel in NFL Draft

New Bucs QB Tom Brady has outstanding skill-position receivers, but Tampa Bay must improve its offensive line. Yardbarker's Michael Nania, Sam Robinson and Chris Mueller weigh in on teams that must excel in this week's NFL Draft.

Every NFL team's biggest draft-day trade

Less than two weeks remain until the NFL's virtual draft. While the sheer presentation and intra-team communication will draw more attention this year, franchises are plotting trades.

A grim outlook: 10 major issues NFL faces as it aims for 2020 season

It seems unreasonable – given the COVID-19 pandemic events of the past five weeks – to expect the NFL’s season to be uninterrupted, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

Deep WR draft class creates high stakes for NFC contenders

For various reasons, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson, four 2019 NFC playoff teams – the Eagles, Packers, Vikings and 49ers – have the same primary void on offense.

Why Raiders, Cardinals, Colts are in prime position to rise

With major upgrades on defense, the Raiders appear ready to make a leap in Las Vegas. Yardbarker's Chris Mueller, Sam Robinson and Michael Nania spotlight the teams that have had outstanding offseasons.

Is Tua worth top-five pick? A guide to QBs in 2020 draft

Several franchises enter the draft on April 23 with either immediate or near-future QB issues, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

Dynamic to disastrous: How other NFL teams replaced a legendary QB

Other franchises’ plans for replacing legendary quarterbacks involved several types of transactions, producing wildly disparate results. Yardbarker's Sam Robinson highlights those efforts.

Why offseasons for Bears, Giants, Texans are NFL's most baffling

The Bears' acquistion of quarterback Nick Foles could be more trouble than it's worth. Yardbarker's Chris Mueller, Sam Robinson and Michael Nania examine three nonsensical offseasons.

Why top seeds, coaches on hot seat will love expanded NFL playoffs

The new 14-team arrangement shifts too much power to No. 1 seeds, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson. 

Pricey extensions for offensive stars could handcuff Cowboys

For the Cowboys to make a $35M-plus-per-year contract for a quarterback with a debatable ceiling work, they need to be perhaps unrealistically strong nearly everywhere else, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

Which current NFL owners have the highest win percentage?

Which franchises have done the best under their current ownership? After the NFL's 100th season, here is how the field stacks up.

And the winner of NFL offseason so far is ...

The Browns, Dolphins and Broncos made significant offseason additions. Yardbarker's Chris Mueller, Michael Nania and Sam Robinson highlight the best move and an under-the-radar move for each team.

Texans paying heavy price for foolish front-office strategy

An offensive-minded coach who has yet to produce a top-10 Texans offense, Houston head coach Bill O'Brien has somehow commandeered more power than he’s earned, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

Next man up: The greatest backup QBs in NFL history

Here are the greatest backup quarterbacks in NFL history. In an effort to not include overqualified QBs, only passers who started less than a third of their teams' games are eligible. 

10 offseason ripple effects of COVID-19 for NFL

The NFL will undoubtedly be altered by the cororanvirus pandemic. Yardbarker's Sam Robinson takes a deeper look. 

Three superb value signings in NFL free agency

Cornerbacks Chris Harris (Chargers) and Bryan Poole (Jets) and linebacker Cory Littleton (Raiders) are free-agency bargains. Yardbarker's Sam Robinson, Michael Nania and Chris Mueller explain why.

How unusual decisions made Buccaneers' risky Brady move possible

Tom Brady moving to Tampa presents unprecedented possibilities for an organization accustomed to its central figures sitting through production meetings with Fox’s fourth- or fifth-string broadcast crews, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson.

Shabby treatment by Panthers puts Cam Newton in terrible position

If no team trades for Cam Newton, the player who was the consensus front-runner to become the face of the NFL not too long ago may be stuck in free agency for the foreseeable future, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson writes.

The best one-and-done NFL seasons

Although the sports world is experiencing unprecedented chaos, the NFL's free agency window remains scheduled to open next week. This could mean standouts like Jadeveon Clowney could be heading elsewhere after previously relocating in 2019...

Ideal landing spot for free agents Bridgewater, Rivers, Winston

Tom Brady is the biggest name in free agency, but quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater, Philip Rivers and Jameis Wisnton also could jump-start a new team. Yardbarker's Chris Mueller, Sam Robinson and Michael Nania offer possible landing spots.

Buyer beware: 15 NFL free agents who may not be worth huge payday

With the NFL free-agency marketplace set to open next week, Yardbarker's Sam Robinson examines the bigger names who could cash in.