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

NFL Week 8 grades from around the league

Backup quarterbacks came through nearly en masse in Week 8, with the Cowboys, Jets, Saints, and Seahawks receiving vital contributions from reserves. The Titans also claimed a key victory but joined the Saints in doing so at a major cost.

NFL Week 7 grades from around the league

During a week of high-point spreads and blowouts, the Bengals and Titans adjusted the AFC picture. The Colts also came through in a key spot, dropping the 49ers well off the scorching NFC West pace.

The biggest in-season trade for every NFL team

NFL teams always try to make moves to improve their rosters at the trade deadline. This practice has transpired for decades, with several future Hall of Famers being moved during the season.

NFL Week 6 grades from around the league

The Cardinals and Ravens offered statement victories, while the Raiders prevailed in their first post-Jon Gruden game. Aaron Rodgers reveled in his Chicago dominance to extend the Packers' win streak as well.

NFL Week 5 grades from around the league

The Bills' counterpunch in Kansas City changed the AFC race, and the Cardinals' first 5-0 start in 47 years has kept their surprise story atop the NFC. Justin Herbert finishing another high-scoring duel on top continues the Chargers' resurgence.

NFL Week 4 grades from around the league

Here is a look at Week 4's top storylines, along with grades from around the league.

The best 'little guys' in NFL history

Here are the top players, among those who play contact positions (non-kickers and punters), who broke through despite their height limitations to make an impact.

NFL Week 3 grades from around the league

NFC showdowns topped the NFL's third weekend. One of them lived up to its pregame billing, while the Rams made a statement in the other. The AFC West standings also look a bit different from recent years, and Justin Tucker added to his Hall of Fame resume in Detroit.

NFL Week 2 grades from around the league

Derrick Henry cost the NFC West an 8-0 start, while Kyler Murray gave Gus Johnson strong material in his Sunday return. And, of course, Patrick Mahomes-Lamar Jackson IV provided a high peak.

NFL Week 1 grades from around the league

The NFL's opening week brought a host of contender hopefuls together, with some of the games producing wildly unexpected results. Quarterback debuts generated considerable intrigue Sunday.

Which defenders will wear the green dot for the 2021 NFL season?

In an effort to level the communication playing field, the NFL allowed for one defender to be outfitted with an in-helmet transmitter. This player, who wears a green dot to signify the communication device, is responsible for transmitting coaches' signals to teammates.

Predicting the division and award winners for the 2021 NFL season

The 2021 season brings two heavy favorites and an uneven contender distribution, with the AFC presenting one of the deepest contender arrays in years and the NFC landscape not as complex.

Ranking the backup QBs for the 2021 NFL season

More than half the NFL teams will enter the 2021 season with a new backup quarterback. The draft also thrust some high-ceiling players into the league's QB2 mix.

NFL QBs who have started for five or more teams

Here are the QBs to have started for at least five teams in NFL history.

Who had the most sacks in a season during the NFL's pre-modern era?

Thanks to pro-football-reference.com's addition of unofficial sack totals to players' resumes, more clarity on previous eras' best pass-rushing years has emerged.

Who had the most sacks during the pre-modern era of the NFL?

Pro-football-reference.com's sack-compiling efforts for some past eras shed some light on previous generations' pass rushers who have, for the most part, not getting their due. Here are the players from that era who retired with the most sacks.

How did the NFL record book change when the schedule last expanded?

Here are the players who held the major single-season records at the end of the 14-game era and the ones who first broke them after the regular-season expansion.

Ranking the pass-rushing units for every NFL team

Big names changed teams, and most contenders bolstered their defensive line and outside linebacking corps this offseason. Here is how the NFL's pass-rushing groups looking going into the 2021 season.

The top NFL players returning from injury in 2021

Several Pro Bowl-caliber players or quality starters missed all or most of the 2020 season due to injury. Here are the top players who did not factor prominently into last season but are expected to make a significant impact in 2021. 

The best No. 2 wide receivers in NFL history

Excluding wideouts who spent too much time as a team's No. 1 option and those in true 1-1A situations (such as Isaac Bruce & Torry Holt), here are the best aerial sidekicks -- the players who did the most with No. 2 receiving roles -- in NFL history.

The top track and field athletes heading into the Tokyo Olympics

While a few would-be gold-medal threats are not headed to Japan, numerous reigning Olympic and world champions are set to represent their countries. A few world records will be in jeopardy.

NFL team skill-position rankings

The Titans' Julio Jones move brings a future Hall of Famer to Tennessee, potentially changing the AFC South outlook. Other teams made moves to augment their pass-catching and ball-carrying situations this year. Here is how the NFL's skill-position groups stack up going into training camps.

The best NFL Draft classes of all time

The 2021 NFL Draft class will attempt to make it a historic haul over the next several years. Here are the groups the newest rookies will be measured against. Judged on Hall of Famers or Canton-bound players, All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, and overall impact, here are the greatest NFL draft classes.

The best rebuilds in NFL history

Nearly a quarter of the NFL hired new general managers this offseason, and some franchises are making no secret about starting over. This new crop of GMs will attempt to join a select fraternity by turning out-of-contention teams into Super Bowl threats. Here are the best examples of NFL rebuilding efforts panning out.

The most notable NFL comebacks

Tim Tebow making the Jaguars' roster would complete one of the most unique re-emergences in league history. But several other players have managed to return to the league after a meaningful hiatus. Here are the NFL's most notable comeback efforts.