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

Who are the NFL head coaches in waiting?

As we are in the thick of things for the 2022 season, here is a collection of aspiring first-time coaching candidates.

NFL Week 8 grades from around the league

Running backs led the way Sunday. The winners of the Christian McCaffrey sweepstakes let the silver medalists know about it, capping another 49ers regular-season win over the Rams, while Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara and Tony Pollard led their teams to one-sided wins.

NFL Week 7 grades from around the league

The Chiefs bounced back from their Bills' shortcomings, and the New York teams continued their surprise rises. But the NFC is seeing most of its expected contenders encounter turbulence ahead of the midseason point.

Which NFL teams were the biggest all-time letdowns?

Many teams have justified offseason hype, but summer buzz can lead to bitter disappointment. Other squads have failed to either live up to expectations or keep up with their previous pace, leading to missed opportunities and/or sweeping changes.

NFL Week 6 grades from around the league

Patrick Mahomes-Josh Allen V produced a slightly lower-octane duel than last January's high bar but upsets largely defined Week 6. The New York teams' renaissance continues, while a decimated Steelers defense limited Tom Brady in Pittsburgh.  Here are the Week 6 grades from around the NFL.

NFL Week 5 grades from around the league

The NFC East continues to restore its reputation, while the Bills appear fully back on track in the AFC East. Atop the AFC North, the Ravens defense measured up better to Joe Burrow this time around.

NFL Week 4 grades from around the league

The Bills escaped Baltimore with a hard-fought win, while the Packers survived against a third-string Patriots quarterback.

NFL Week 3 grades from around the league

Week 3 in the NFL showed the power desperation creates. Five winless teams picked up their first victories. Three unbeaten teams falling added to the intrigue the season's third Sunday brought.

NFL Week 2 grades from around the league

Comebacks ruled the NFL season's second week. Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, and Joe Flacco stunned three teams on the AFC's contender radar, while the quarterback situation in San Francisco could alter the NFC landscape.

NFL Week 1 grades from around the league

Here are the grades from the 2022 season's action-packed first week. 

The best games in 'Monday Night Football' history

"Monday Night Football" is beginning its 53rd season. From comebacks to record-setting sequences to quarterback showdowns, the NFL has seen numerous games become primetime classics.

Ranking the backup quarterbacks for the 2022 NFL season

After roster cuts, late-summer trades and this Garoppolo development, here is how the 32 QB2 situations stack up.

The most notable training camp trades in NFL history

The stretch just before the regular season has increasingly become a critical NFL trade window. While impact trades have increased recently, teams have used this period to make big moves for decades.

Ranking the NFL's secondaries

A few key secondary pieces are on new teams as training camps open. A few franchises strengthened already strong DB groups with draft or free agency additions. Here is how the NFL's secondaries stack up.

Ranking the NFL's pass-rushing units

In addition to Von Miller changing teams, multiple other players on the Hall of Fame radar relocated to reshuffle this year's pass-rushing contingents. As training camps get underway, here is how the league's pass rushes stack up.

The most memorable seasons by NFL backup quarterbacks

Quarterback injuries annually force teams to make adjustments. Teams' second options under center have made considerable impacts on several occasions throughout NFL history.

Notable NFL QBs who were acquired late in the offseason

It's uncommon, but not unheard of, for notable QBs to change teams -- via trade, free agency, or waiver claim -- at the 11th hour or during a season. Here are the top instances of QBs relocating late and making an impact that season. 

The top NFL players returning from major injuries in 2022

Several NFL stars or key starters saw early-season injuries affect their own trajectories and/or their teams' fortunes. Here are the players who missed big chunks of last season who stand to play big parts in 2022.

Who are the new play-callers for the 2022 NFL season?

Some teams opted to hire veteran headset operators, while others will entrust their offenses to first-timers. Arranged by NFL play-calling experience, here is this year's contingent of new hires.

The biggest positional downgrades across the NFL

Several teams sustained some losses this offseason -- some at high-profile positions -- and will be attempting to replace some standout performers with lesser-known talents.

The biggest holes on NFL rosters

The window between minicamp and training camp provides a roster-reassessment period for NFL teams. Several teams will exit minicamp with glaring deficiencies.

Every NFL QB picked in third round of the draft in the 21st century

Here are the paths for every third-round passer chosen this century.

The longest-tenured kicker-punter duos in NFL history

Here are the longest-tenured tandems, among pure kickers and punters, in special teams history. 

The NFL offseason's most improved position groups

An all-action NFL offseason has led to reshaped position groups across the league, through blockbuster trades, the usual free agency waves, and the draft.