For Chiefs star DeAndre Hopkins, coming to Kansas City before the trade deadline after languishing with the Titans for the past year-and-a-half has proven a blessing. And for a wide receiver corps that was devastated by injuries throughout the year, Hopkins has been a key factor in keeping the offense afloat.
Coach Andy Reid has long been complimentary of Hopkins.
“(Hopkins has) always been a great player, and this offense gives him opportunities — his style of player and the quarterback trusts him,” Reid said in Novemberconference. “And then, what he is, is what you saw on Sunday with the one catch on the crossing route — where [he’s] dirty tough, lands on the football, was able to get up, shows no sign of weakness on that, and wants to get back in and go. And that’s been him. Tough catch, contested ball, lands on it hard, and gets back in and plays and wants more.”
Now, it's a good bet that Reid will look to reward Hopkins, who has slowed a bit after a fast start and had just two catches for seven yards in the Chiefs' Week 17 win on Christmas Day.
Hopkins has three contract incentives on the line in Week 18, with the potential to pay him $250,000 each.
As the contract website Spotrac pointed out: "WR DeAndre Hopkins needs 9 catches for a $250,000 bonus. He also needs 140 receiving yards for another $250,000 bonus. With 5 touchdowns, he’s already secured a $250,000 incentive, but can add another $250,000 if he finds the end zone one more time."
That would be a pretty impressive stat line, especially with Carson Wentz at quarterback and a tough Broncos defense on the other side. But if Hopkins can come away with nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, he will be $750,000 richer.
One touchdown, for $250,000, seems reasonable, at least.
The Chiefs have secured the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. The game in Denver will kick off at 4:25 p.m. EST.
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New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields found out he has a long way to go following his performance at Tuesday's joint practice with the New York Giants. Per Connor Hughes of SNY TV, Fields started hot at the practice before struggling during the move-the-ball period. "Very interesting practice for #Jets QB Justin Fields," Hughes posted on X. "He finished 7 of 12 with a TD. 5 of 5 to start practice. Then 0 for 4. Finished 2 of 3 with the really impressive TD to Jeremy Ruckert in red zone (starter 18 yard line). "The offensive performance was a bit alarming in move-the-ball period of practice. Fields Co. had three attempts to get down field. They didn’t gain a first down. Only gained yards twice (two short Breece Hall runs). Three sacks. That needs to be fixed. #Giants defense toyed with NYJ during that period." Some Jets fans online thought Hughes was using hyperbole to characterize the practice, but he doubled down on his judgment of the offense. Fields looked strong on his first and only drive in the Jets' 30-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. He went 3-of-4 passing for 42 yards and rushed two times for 14 yards and a touchdown. However, the Giants defense at the joint practice is a much better unit than the short-handed one the Packers trotted out for the first preseason game. Fields' issues seen with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, with holding the ball too long and not being able to pass consistently downfield, were a factor against the Giants. Following Saturday's game, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Fields was getting better but had a lot to improve on. Tuesday's practice was a humbling reminder that Fields needs to become a consistent passer if the Jets are going to move the ball on good defenses in the regular season.
Lady Gaga is reportedly "heartbroken" about the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, a big name in music who she said was one of her first big influences. The 76-year-old musician fought Parkinson's disease and other health problems for a long time. According to Radar Online, Gaga marked the loss by sending Sharon Osbourne, 72, a luxury bouquet of flowers worth several hundred dollars, the insider said. Gaga also honored the Prince of Darkness during her Mayhem Ball tour stop in San Francisco with a performance of "Crazy Train." Before leaving the stage, she told the crowd, "I'll miss you, Ozzy." The tribute carried extra weight for Gaga, who had shared her admiration for him years before her own rise to stardom. "She used to strip to Black Sabbath at her early shows," the source said, adding that she once told Ozzy the story and he "found it hilarious." A Public Tribute Hours After His Death Gaga's onstage tribute came July 22, hours after Ozzy's family confirmed his death in the UK. Fans at the Chase Center watched her and her dancers headbang offstage to "Crazy Train" while wearing shirts bearing his name. "I got goosebumps," one fan commented on a TikTok video from the show. Another wrote on Instagram, "Everyone is celebrating Ozzy's death the way he would have wanted... eventually turning up the volume and rocking out to Ozzy." Her grief follows years of mutual respect between her and the Osbourne family, despite a public clash with Sharon in 2013. The feud began after Sharon's daughter Kelly criticized Gaga's weight on E!'s "Fashion Police," prompting Gaga to write an open letter calling for more compassion. Sharon accused Gaga of hypocrisy for not telling her fans to stop sending threats to Kelly. From Feud to Reconciliation Tensions got calmer when Gaga later went on "The X Factor UK," where she hugged Sharon and gave Kelly a cake for her birthday. This public reconciliation made way for a nicer time between them in years to come. Gaga knew Ozzy in a personal and professional way. She met him and Sharon on a red carpet in 2014, at the MusiCares Person of the Year eventk. There, they hugged, took photos, and chatted. Ozzy reportedly left a big mark on Gaga's work. The "Poker Face" hitmaker would say the heavy metal icon was a big push behind her style, mixing her pop look with a love for hard rock and metal. His death hit her hard, the source shared. "She's been a huge fan of Ozzy and the Osbournes for years," the insider said. "This was personal for her."
Jerry Jones is very unique in the way he does business. The longtime Dallas Cowboys owner dragged out contract negotiations for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb for no particular reason. This offseason, he’s doing the same with Micah Parsons. Until Jones gets things settled, Persons — a two-time All-Pro — likely won’t be taking the field. David Mulugheta, Parsons’ agent, loves that his client is fighting for every cent he can obtain from Jones. He’ll have Parsons’ back to the bitter end. It’s what makes him one of the sports industry’s most effective agents. According to Forbes, Mulugheta has $58 million in maximum commissions. That’s the seventh-highest figure among North American agents, and the most for any football agent. Only Joel Segal (No. 14: $51 million) and Drew Rosenhaus (No. 17: $45 million) joined him on Forbes’ top 20 list. Mulugheta’s commissions obviously don’t include what he’ll eventually add from Parsons’ deal. Assuming Parsons’ pact is the next one Mulugheta completes, it will push him past $2 billion in player contracts. At this moment, he has an estimated $1.93 billion in player contracts to his name, courtesy of Jordan Love and Jalen Ramsey, among others. Meanwhile, Parsons did now show up to Dallas’ final practice before their Week 1 preseason game last Thursday. His presence today excited fans, but it came merely in a supportive capacity. He remained on the sidelines with his jersey draped on his shoulders all day. Mulugheta and Parsons seem to be doing everything they can to hammer out a deal. Jones apparently doesn’t want to play ball because he believed he and Parsons agreed to a contract at a dinner earlier this offseason. Mulugheta wasn’t present for the meal, though, so Parsons (rightfully) assumed it wasn’t an official negotiation. This led him to request a trade on the first day of August. As mentioned, Jones has a habit of making things more complicated than they need to be. The end result of this whole shenanigan will probably be Parsons signing a massive extension that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB the week of the Cowboys’ Week 1 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. If that’s the case, Jones will have once again dominated TV conversation without real consequence. However, if this tactic is ever going to bite Jones in the butt, it will be with Parsons. The 26-year-old edge rusher, like Jones, doesn’t operate conventionally. Whether he and Mulugheta elect to continue their relationship with Jones will be one of season’s biggest stories if he doesn’t end up signing before games begin.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris still has yet to return to action after a July 4 fireworks accident, and it sounds like he does not necessarily have a job guaranteed to him when he does. Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman admitted Tuesday that the team is planning a steady rotation at running back whether or not Harris is available to play in Week 1. First-round draft pick Omarion Hampton, however, is the player who has part of the rotation locked down, not Harris. The Chargers likely intended to use Harris as a part-time back no matter what. However, he certainly cannot have helped himself with his eye injury. The issue was described as superficial after it happened and Harris was expected to be ready for the season, but he is still on the non-football injury list and has yet to participate in a full practice. Harris, 27, is entering his first season with the Chargers after signing with them in March. He can earn up to $9.25 million on his one-year deal, but that will require him to remain part of the rotation with Hampton.
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