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Colts
Colts RB Zack Moss, who is an impending free agent, feels a sense of nervousness and excitement going into the offseason given he’s unsure of where he’ll end up.
“It’s all of those feelings: excitement, nervousness, just because you don’t know where you’re going to be and you have to wait and figure it out,” Moss said, via Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star. “If I do come back here, it would be great.”
Moss was grateful to get substantial playing time in 2023 and feels like he was having fun with the game again.
“You remember how fun it is,” Moss said. “Sometimes in this league, you understand that a lot of it is business. But when you get an opportunity like I got an opportunity to play a lot and be starting and that type of stuff, it takes you back to having fun and cutting it loose and not worrying about the business side and you just play ball.”
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor thinks Moss proved he’s a “top back” in the league.
“I think he’s shown that he’s a top back,” Taylor said. “In the Baltimore game, he played (almost) every snap. I don’t know how many running backs are playing every single snap. So I think he showed his toughness and he showed his playmaking ability.”
- Joel A. Erickson reports the Colts did not renew the contracts of DL coach Nate Ollie and assistant DB coach Mike Mitchell.
Jaguars
- Aaron Wilson reports the Jaguars interviewed former Saints secondary coach Kris Richard for a position on their coaching staff.
- Former Dolphins assistant Kolby Smith interviewed for the Jaguars RB coach job. (Cameron Wolfe)
- The Jaguars are hiring Matt House as the team’s linebackers coach. (Tom Pelissero)
Titans
Former Broncos QB Peyton Manning said he really enjoyed his time with Titans HC Brian Callahan when they overlapped in Denver. Manning said Callahan was “extremely helpful” and said he was a “great hire” for Tennessee.
“I’m very happy for Brian,” Manning said, via Titans Wire. “Brian was extremely helpful to me during my four years playing for the Broncos when he and I were together. Extremely hard-working, extremely intelligent and just overall a great person. Not only did I benefit from his coaching and all the help that he gave me as a quarterback for the Broncos, but also just thoroughly enjoyed being around him and coming to work every day. The quarterback room is a small room, and you’ve got three quarterbacks and usually two coaches in there. So, Brian and I spent a lot of time in those quarterback meetings. So just enjoyed being around him. So very happy for him getting this opportunity. I think it’s a great hire for the Tennessee Titans. I know he’ll give the Titans everything he has.”
Manning also believes Callahan is a great fit for Titans QB Will Levis.
“Brian and I have stayed in touch since I stopped playing for the Broncos and all the places he’s been, Detroit, Oakland and Cincinnati,” Manning added. “I’ve talked to Joe Burrow about him a number of times. I know Joe’s a big fan of Brian and Brian’s helped Joe out a lot as well. I know he’s going to do great things for Will Levis. But really obviously he’s the head coach of the team and will do great things for the team as well.”
Manning also spoke in the past about Callahan’s work ethic and his knowledge and said he brings a great mix of leader and teacher.
“Cally — everybody (in Denver) called him Cally — was there all night, early in the morning, breaking film down nonstop,” Manning said. “It’s a grind. I like coaches that are willing to do that. Some coaches just want to skip right to being a full-time position coach, coordinator, head coach, but Cally going through the grind made him learn a lot as a coach. (Callahan’s) got fire in him, and at the same time, Cally is in control,” Manning added. “It’s the perfect mix. He’s got a great demeanor for a quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator or head coach in my opinion.”
More must-reads:
- Shedeur Sanders gets new chance after Browns QB injury
- Two-time Pro Bowler's record-breaking extension should make Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh happy
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Stephanie White Puts Indiana Fever Players on Notice Despite Win Against Aces
The Indiana Fever’s starters turned in a strong all-around effort in Thursday’s 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces. The starting unit scored at least 13 points each, save for Aari McDonald, who registered nine points in 22 minutes of action. Indiana’s starters combined for 76 out of the team’s 80 points on the evening, which only means that the four other players who came off the bench accounted for just four points in the game. All that came from Sydney Colson, who went 2-of-5 in 18 minutes of playing time. Lexie Hull, Makayla Timpson and Damiris Dantas all failed to score in the win. Stephanie White Calls Out Fever's Bench Be that as it may, offense wasn’t even the biggest concern for head coach Stephanie White. In her postgame press conference, the veteran shot-caller called out Indiana’s bench for their lack of intensity on the defensive end, particularly in the first half. “Our bench has to be ready,” she said. “I felt like our bench in the second half was really good defensively. In the first half, I didn't feel that way. You got to be ready to come in and you got to be ready to guard your matchup and execute the game plan. "We have depth for a reason. We've got quality depth and we've got to be able to use it. So if fatigue is a factor in execution, then they just need to ask for a sub and I'll get them out and get them back in." It has been a bit of a busy stretch for the Fever at the midway point of the season. Thursday’s matchup against the Aces was their second game in three nights, and they will be back in action again on Sunday in a rivalry showdown against the Chicago Sky. White, however, isn’t accepting fatigue as an excuse. This is regardless of the fact that Caitlin Clark remains out with a re-aggravated groin injury. White is adamant that this roster has been built for adversity, and she didn’t hesitate to put her bench on notice after Thursday’s showing.
Ex-Teammate Excludes Luka Doncic From Mavs All-Time Starting 5
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall was recently asked to create an all-time starting five featuring Mavs players. In the process of listing the players to his team, Marshall excluded his former teammate, Luka Doncic. He responded to the question with: "JKidd, Kyrie, Michael Finley, Dirk, Tyson Chandler." The mention of players like Jason Kidd, Kyrie Irving, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tyson Chandler are justified. Given that Kidd, Nowitzki, and Chandler helped bring the team its first title, the three cemented their place as franchise legends. In this regard, Irving joins the list simply because of how great of a player he is. Although his time in Dallas has been brief, the nine-time All-Star has been spectacular. Selecting Michael Finley over Luka Doncic raises eyebrows, especially considering Doncic's impact on the franchise. When factoring in what Doncic meant to the organization before being traded to the Lakers, it was clear that he was expected to be one of their all-time greats. The Doncic-Davis trade was viewed as one of the most shocking deals in league history. Many viewed the deal unfavorably, especially since Doncic had no role in orchestrating it, making Marshall’s omission all the more puzzling. With Doncic expected to sign his contract extension with the Lakers, it is evident that his NBA journey will take him in a different direction. Meanwhile, Marshall remains with the Mavs, as they aim to be a more competitive team next season. Naji Marshall Opened Up On Missing Luka Doncic Marshall's latest display may hint at some amount of pettiness, but the forward has been quite expressive in detailing his friendship with Doncic. On an episode of "The Young Man And The Three" podcast, the forward opened up on missing his teammate and said: "I mean, I understood that, like, business is business as far as the NBA, but I was hurt, man. Luka’s my dawg, for real. And I love AD. That’s my guy right there. Like, he’s been great with us. You know, he welcomed us with open arms… But as far as just personally, like, I just was hurt to lose Luka, man.” “Luka is just the chillest guy ever, bro. You just feel like his best friend from day one,” he added. “He’s just a great dude. Never mad, just always happy. And just a Hall of Fame flamethrower when it comes to basketball.” Marshall, who spent the 2024-25 season with the New Orleans Pelicans before being traded, played just 17 games with the Mavericks before the Doncic-Davis deal occurred. In that short span of time, the forward seemingly became close friends with the superstar, even admitting that the consequences of the trade did hurt him. Regardless, the 27-year-old will look forward to the upcoming season with Dallas. The outlook for the Mavericks even after the trade hasn't been the worst. With a superstar pairing of Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, alongside a gifted rookie in Cooper Flagg, Dallas is poised to be intriguing. Although injuries could be a setback, players like Marshall will be crucial in keeping Dallas afloat as impactful two-way contributors.
Former NBA MVP could be nearing the end of his career
For the past two seasons, Joel Embiid has been dealing with a knee issue. The former MVP underwent surgery in April to try to repair his meniscus, the second time he's received such surgery in the past 12 months. Embiid recently sat down for a tell-all interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, where he detailed the struggles his body is currently going through. "We're not going to push anything," Embiid said. "For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach ... We don't have a timeline. Hopefully, sooner rather than later ... It's all about the results ... If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games." Embiid's struggles have left the Sixers in a precarious situation. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has built the entire roster around the star center's unique skill set. Philadelphia has constructed a team to go as far as Embiid can take it. It makes sense, then, that Embiid is just as frustrated with his injury-induced absences as the rest of the Sixers fanbase. In a July 27 appearance on Sirius XM Radio, Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer shared a unique take on the big man's recent interview and the messaging he's been putting out recently. "I think Joel may know that the end is near, and this is just me saying, and it's kind of like explaining to people what he's been going through," Pompey said. "Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain (they're in) and how much they're going through. The thing I took from it was no matter who is there, the culture is the same. And I feel like Joel Embiid knows that it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he feels as though he can't play to the level he used to. I could be wrong. He could come out and have another MVP season. But that was my takeaway." Embiid is probably one more lost season away from making such a difficult decision. He's only suited up for 58 games over the past two seasons, 39 in 2023-24 and 19 in 2024-25. Embiid doesn't project as the sort of player who would accept a decline while still cashing enormous checks that limit his team's ability to compete. The problem for Embiid is that injuries are only half the battle. Even when healthy, conditioning has been his Achilles heel. So, not only would he need to stay injury-free, both with his knee and his back, but he would also need to get into the best shape of his life. Anything less, and the Sixers could be doomed to repeat their failures of the past. Embiid is still working his way through a long road of recovery. However, he may also be coming to terms that the NBA chapter of his life is on the final few pages, and that must be a daunting reality to face.
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