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Raiders GM addresses 2024 NFL Draft 'coin toss' controversy
Las Vegas Raiders assistant general manager Champ Kelly recently attempted to brush off a claim made by cornerback Terrion Arnold that the club used a "coin toss" to finalize its decision to make tight end Brock Bowers and not Arnold the 13th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Raiders general manager Tom Telesco offered more information during a Thursday appearance on the NFL Network "NFL Total Access" program.
"Typically, I use a magic 8-ball and not a coin," Telesco quipped, as shared by Bobby Kownack of the NFL's website. "...When you're picking 13, there aren't that many scenarios to go through. So obviously we had gone through the scenario of players being gone and Brock Bowers is there, and we discussed in a small group -- if that happened like, hey, we're gonna take Brock. So we had gone through the process."
Leading up to the draft, some wondered if the Raiders could spend choice No. 13 on either Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon Ducks signal-caller Bo Nix.
However, six quarterbacks were drafted within the first 12 picks, and the Raiders reportedly "weren't going to reach or overpay" for a signal-caller they didn't truly want.
"On draft day, certainly in the first round and a little bit in the second round, there's not a whole lot of discussion when you're on the clock because you've already gone through the scenario of what could play out and what you're going to do," Telesco continued. "So that's what happened with Brock."
As for Arnold, the Detroit Lions took him via the draft's 24th selection.
For a piece published earlier this week, Liz Loza of ESPN referred to the Raiders taking Bowers at No. 13 as "the biggest head-scratching pick of the draft" because Las Vegas grabbed tight end Michael Mayer in the second round of last year's player-selection process "and entered [this year's draft] with holes all along the offensive line."
Telesco indicated he has no regrets about what occurred on the night of April 25.
"We were really lucky to get Brock," Telesco told NFL Network's Mike Yam. "We're looking to add to our offense. We just didn't score enough points last year. So whether it was an offensive lineman or a skill player, they kind of help us move the football and score more, we think Brock can help us there."
As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Bowers as a betting underdog at +3500 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for the upcoming season. Perhaps both he and Telesco will enjoy a bit of a laugh regarding such forecasts come February 2025.
More must-reads:
- First-round pick says Raiders passed on him after 'coin toss'
- Raiders assistant GM dismisses 'coin toss' decision in 2024 NFL Draft
- The '1,000 or more receiving yards in 2021' quiz
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Steelers Now Have A Surefire Solution To End Cam Heyward's Hold-In
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
'Clearly separated himself': Why one QB is winning Browns' competition
Recent reports have indicated that veteran Joe Flacco holds a significant lead in the Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition over Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. For an article published on Wednesday, Lance Reisland of the Cleveland Plain Dealer explained why Flacco "has clearly separated himself from the quarterback competition" heading into the Browns' preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Friday. "His performance is rooted in elite mechanical consistency in his footwork, balance and ability to transfer weight efficiently through his throws," Reisland said about Flacco. "These traits have allowed him to remain composed under pressure, stay on time through full field progression reads, and consistently deliver accurate passes at all three levels of the field." During the 2023 season, Flacco won four of five starts while playing under head coach Kevin Stefanski to guide the Browns to a playoff berth. None of Cleveland's other active quarterbacks has ever taken a meaningful in-game snap in Stefanski's offense. Gabriel seemingly won't be ready for regular-season action anytime soon, and Pickett missed a handful of practice days while dealing with a hamstring injury. Sanders reportedly will start against Carolina, but he's Cleveland's fourth option at the position. Even if he looks like a revelation on Friday night, all signs point to Stefanski going with Flacco for Cleveland's Week 1 game against the division rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. As of Wednesday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook had Flacco as a -265 betting favorite to get the nod for the Cincinnati matchup. "Flacco’s blend of polish, poise and veteran field-command paired with his ability to operate from under center or in shotgun, against pressure or in structure, makes him the clear best option to start Week 1," Reisland continued. "He’s executing with rhythm and timing, manipulating coverages and elevating the offense every time he’s under center. He looks fully prepared to lead this team on day one." While that doesn't necessarily mean Flacco will start when Cleveland faces the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 on Sept. 14, it appears the Browns' QB1 gig is his to lose.
Steelers' Much-Maligned Offensive Tackle Broderick Jones Has His Stock Rising Up
The Pittsburgh Steelers have very high expectations for their offensive line in 2025. The interior players had an excellent 2024 season, and the hope is that they continue to grow and mesh well together. The offensive tackle position is the real question mark. Second-year player Troy Fautanu only had one start in his rookie year before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Third-year player Broderick Jones has had significant issues playing on the right side, and the hope is that he can develop properly while moving to the blind side (his natural position). Jones has not been having a great training camp so far. While the Steelers do have elite edge rushers across the board, the former first-round pick has not been able to do anything to slow them down on a consistent basis. There have been many clips of him getting beat with ease. Pittsburgh even went out and signed a veteran tackle in case he continues to struggle. However, Jones may have finally woken up. During Thursday's practice, reporter Christopher Carter noticed that he may have turned himself around after a great day in training camp. Like with Roman Wilson previously in training camp, the idea of losing his job and maybe even a roster spot could have lit a fire under Jones. He's fighting for more than just the respect of the fans and his peers. Now, he has to go out and stop some of the best pass rushers in the NFL to make sure he's not benched or, even worse, cut completely. Also like with Wilson, one great day at camp is not enough for Jones to stick around. Now that he showed some of his upside, that is the expectation for him going forward. He has to put it all together and stack these practices up until gameday, where the team will expect him to have his way with plenty of other great edge rushers. The days of him playing at a junior-varsity level should now be officially over. Steelers' Offensive Attack Is Almost Entirely On Jones' Shoulders Jones will now be protecting Aaron Rodgers every single day for the rest of the year. During his time with the New York Jets, the 41-year-old was statistically one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL when being blitzed/rushed. At his age, he is more reliant on the men in front of him than ever before in his career, which includes Jones. This is absolutely not the year for him to slack off. If Jones continues to struggle into the regular season, Rodgers is likely going to have another rough, painful season like when he was with the Jets. If he plays like he did in Thursday's practice, the Steelers could see flashes of Rodgers' old form from when he was winning multiple MVP Awards. As long as the established players of the interior line continue to do their job, the outside of the line will be under a microscope all season long. Being under that microscope could cause Jones to be benched quickly if things go awry. Andrus Peat is a veteran tackle that has seen and done plenty in the NFL. The three-time Pro Bowler can step in and take over if needed. As long as Jones keeps competing like he did on Thursday, he won't have to worry about losing his job.
Palworld Studio Adds Another 'Exciting Game' to Its Growing List of Hits
Palworld Studio’s publishing division seems to have a knack for grabbing attention lately, and they’re not slowing down. The studio behind the highly anticipated monster-collecting survival game Palworld just announced they’ve signed yet another “very exciting game” to their lineup. And yes, we’re all ears—though we’re still trying to figure out how they balance releasing one banger after another without breaking a sweat. Their latest announcement follows hot on the heels of their impressive work backing a new horror game featuring talent tied to Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy. It seems their publishing arm is becoming the go-to for delivering games that make players pause their beloved playthroughs and say, “Alright, fine, take my money.” What’s next, world domination? At this rate, we wouldn’t be surprised. Palworld’s Publishing Momentum is Unstoppable It’s no secret that Palworld itself has been a major talking point in the gaming sphere. This isn’t just your average monster-collecting game; it’s a delightfully chaotic mashup of Pokémon-like creature taming mixed with dystopian survival elements. And yes, you can wield guns while standing alongside your adorable (and potentially exploitable) pals. If that doesn’t scream absurd fun, what does? But what’s intriguing about Palworld Studio is how their publishing arm continues to expand with titles that don’t just ride on the coattails of Palworld’s buzz. Instead, they’re curating a diverse collection of innovative games that somehow scream “this is worth your time” even before you hit the download button. It’s becoming apparent that they’ve tapped into something most publishers can only dream of. From Horror to Hopeful Anticipation The recent horror game they helped bring to life is evidence of Palworld’s ability to pick winners. Featuring developers with experience on mammoth titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy, this game blurred the line between spine-tingling chills and jaw-dropping visuals. The kind of game that makes you want to leave the lights on, but also keeps you glued to the screen. This success wasn’t just a one-off. It proved that their publishing arm isn’t about quantity for the sake of it, but about finding games with real potential to connect with audiences. And now, with the news of their next “exciting game” signing, the studio is making it clear they’re not just a one-hit (Palworld) wonder. What Makes Palworld Studio Unique? What’s refreshing about the Studio is that they’re building a reputation not only for their own creations but also for their keen eye as a publisher. They’re choosing projects that feel distinct, well-crafted, and most importantly, fun. This combination of bold decision-making and a knack for gaming trends is likely why they’ve been so successful in catching the attention of hardcore gamers and casual players alike. While some publishers flood the market with games that feel like clones of one another, Palworld seems laser-focused on quality and originality. Whether it’s through survival horror or creature-collecting madness, they’re ensuring that each game they touch carves its own identity in the vast gaming landscape. What’s the Mystery Game? Of course, the identity of their latest “very exciting game” is still under wraps, and we’re left to speculate (read “obsessively refresh the news feed”) about what it could be. Is it another survival title? A new RPG with mind-blowing mechanics? Or perhaps something totally out of left field? The one thing we do know is that Palworld Studio has already proven its ability to deliver. Their track record alone is enough to keep gamers invested, and whatever this new project is, expectations are sky-high. No pressure, right? What Does the Future Hold for Palworld Studio? With Palworld still riding a tidal wave of hype and their publishing portfolio growing stronger with every announcement, it’s safe to say Palworld Studio has carved a spot for themselves as a major player in the industry. And if their next project lands as well as their previous efforts, they might just redefine everyone’s expectations for what a modern game studio and publisher can achieve. While we wait (impatiently) for their sensational mystery game to be revealed, all eyes are on Palworld. Will their unique blend of chaos and charm live up to the hype when it eventually drops? Judging by their track record, we’re willing to bet on it. Why Palworld Should Be On Your Radar If you haven’t been following the studio’s meteoric rise, you’re missing out. Whether it’s their quirky and ambitious Palworld or their growing list of well-crafted published games, everything this studio touches seems to turn into a hit. And with their latest announcement promising yet another gem on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to keep Palworld Studio on your radar (and your wishlist). Stay tuned, because if one thing’s clear about Palworld Studio, it’s that they’re just getting started.
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