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NFC: Your NFL team is a dog, but which one?
With free agency, the NFL Draft, OTAs and minicamps in the rearview and training camps not starting until the end of July, we have officially entered the dog days of the NFL calendar.
But we're not doggin' it here at Yardbarker, where our NFL writers tapped into their inner hound to compare the Eagles, Cardinals, Lions and other NFC teams they cover to one of man's best friends.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Labrador Retriever |According to the American Kennel Club, no breed was more popular in the 1990s than Labrador Retrievers. After a 31-year run as “America’s Breed,” they’re now No. 2 behind French Bulldogs. It's a demotion these Cowboys can relate to.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Dalmatian | Like the Dalmatian, these Giants are known for "spottiness," especially in 2023, when they finished 6-11 because of spotty play, spotty coaching and a spotty draft. If quarterback Daniel Jones can’t regain his 2022 form, he’ll have a 1-in-101 chance of keeping a spot on the team’s 2025 roster.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Golden Retriever | According to the "Guiness Book of World Records," a Golden Retriever named Charlie produced the loudest bark of all time (113.1 decibels). If Charlie could spell E-A-G-L-E-S, he’d already have a seat at Lincoln Financial Field, where fans let the 2023 Eagles know what they thought of their lackluster play.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Afghan Hound | The American Kennel Club named Afghan Hounds as one of the hardest dog breeds to groom. This year, new head coach Dan Quinn hopes to clean up the 4-13 mess left by former coach Ron Rivera by getting rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels up to NFL speed quickly. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Basset Hound | Calm and mild-mannered, Basset Hounds don’t have beefs with anyone and are typically liked by everybody. Few in the NFL have harsh feelings toward the Cardinals, who have made the playoffs once in the past eight seasons.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Border Collie | Border Collies are among the smartest dogs and known as “the valedictorians of the dog world,” per Good Housekeeping. That seems fitting for a Rams team that has one of the NFL’s brightest head coaches in Sean McVay and a front office that always seems to make the right moves to stay competitive.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Greyhound | Greyhounds are known for being sleek, fast and graceful. That pretty much sums up a Kyle Shanahan offense — especially with the Niners, who have the NFL’s most talented playmakers.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Golden Retriever | Golden retrievers are dependable, much like a Seahawks team that always seems to finish with nine to 12 wins. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | Cane Corso | Larger than the average Pit bull, the Cane Corso isn't known for being aggressive but instead uses its intimidating appearance as a "first line of defense," per the American Kennel Club. For now, that perfectly describes the Bears, who might look dangerous on paper but have yet to prove it on the field.
DETROIT LIONS | Border Collie | Strong and agile, the well-rounded Border Collie is the "workaholic" of dog breeds. Led by head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions are the NFL's lunch-pail team and will enter the 2024 season as one of the NFC's deepest and most versatile squads.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Rhodesian Ridgeback | As far back as the 1800s, groups of Ridgebacks hunted lions. That's precisely what the Packers aim to do in 2024, and after a promising jump forward by Jordan Love and several offseason upgrades, they're better equipped to take on division rival Detroit and the rest of the NFC.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Dachshund | “Weiner dogs” draw plenty of eyes with their unique appearance, though intimidating or tough wouldn’t be a word used to describe the breed. Led by star WR Justin Jefferson and (perhaps) rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings have similar appeal, but much like the Dachshund, they aren't likely to win many dog fights despite being cool to look at. — Mike Santa Barbara
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Gordon Setter | Per the American Kennel Club, the Gordon Setter “is a substantial bird dog” that is “bold, confident and resolute in the field.” If that doesn’t sound like an apt description for Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson, nothing is.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Teacup Yorkie | Genial and minuscule, they threaten no one. Oh, and Teacup Yorkies are pretty harmless, too.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Saint Bernard | With mascot "Gumbo the Dog," the Saints have a clear connection to Saint Bernards, but it runs deeper than that. New Orleans’ defense shares descriptors such as “very powerful” and “imposing” with the breed, but overall, the Saint Bernard, like the Saints, has seen better days. Per the American Kennel Club, Saint Bernards don’t “rank very high” in its registrations.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Boxer | Boxers never go out of style, kind of like how the Bucs stayed resilient in remaining atop the NFC South in their first season since 2019 without quarterback Tom Brady. “They…meet threats fearlessly,” writes the American Kennel Club about Boxers, much like how the underdog Bucs went toe-to-toe with the Lions in the 2023 NFC divisional round before losing. — Eric Smithling
More must-reads:
- AFC: Your NFL team is a dog, but which one?
- Analyst explains why Cowboys, 49ers are among NFL's biggest offseason 'losers'
- The '2024-25 NFL passing-yard leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
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.
Warriors, Josh Giddey Report Surfaces After Jonathan Kuminga Update
The Golden State Warriors have only continued their stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga. While they haven't gone out of their way to re-sign the young wing, they also have made it clear they won't let him go. On July 30, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the last offer Golden State made to Kuminga was promptly turned down. "The Golden State Warriors made another push to retain Jonathan Kuminga over the past several days, but the restricted free agent is continuing to decline their two-year, $45 million contract offer," Charania wrote. While not a cheap offer, Golden State could put more money on the table, but they won't. Since then, there have been reports about potential sign-and-trades, but nothing has materialized, leaving Kuminga and the Warriors in a holding pattern. Among everything going down between Kumigna and the Warriors, NBA Insider Jake Fischer revealed on Bleacher Report's Live Stream that they have interest in Chicago Bulls wing Josh Giddey and could use the Kuminga situation to get them the former lottery pick. "I can report that there have been multiple teams that have reached out to Josh Giddey's representation about having interest in Josh Giddey," Fischer said. "Golden State is one of them. Golden State would be interested, depending on how the machinations could go in some type of Josh Giddey-Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, to my understanding." Kuminga Had Interest in Joining the Bulls On a live stream from July 16, Fischer revealed that Kuminga had interest in joining the Bulls via sign-and-trade, but it was to join forces with Giddey on theBulls. Fischer also revealed why it didn't come to fruition. “I do know that Kuminga’s representation was trying to figure out some sign and trade scenario that would’ve gotten both Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga paid in Chicago,” Fischer said. “I think that was something that would’ve been more likely if the Bulls waited and had Lonzo Ball sent back to Golden State instead of that deal that they already made with Cleveland. I think that would’ve been something that Golden State would’ve liked.” It sounds like Kuminga is interested in joining the Bulls, and the Warriors want Giddey. The only other factors at play are whether the Bulls want Kuminga and are willing to part ways with Giddey for him and whether Giddey has a mutual interest in joining Golden State. Giddey would give the Warriors another ball handler and playmaker, while Kuminga would give the Bulls a young scoring wing. Both sides would benefit, but given the restrictions of restricted free agency, everyone from all sides would have to play ball to make this work.
'A new coach for one': Brad Gilbert links Naomi Osaka's coaching change to her resurgent form at Canadian Open
Former Coco Gauff's coach Brad Gilbert believes that Naomi Osaka's separation from coach Patrick Mouratoglou was key to the four-time Grand Slam champion returning to a final. The Japanese star reached her first WTA 1000 final in more than three years, just a few days after her separation from the French coach was confirmed. Osaka announced her partnership with Mouratoglou back in October 2024. The Frenchman is one of the most renowned coaches today, having worked with Serena Williams on 10 of the American's Grand Slam titles, in addition to collaborations with players like Grigor Dimitrov, Simona Halep, and Holger Rune. However, the partnership ended abruptly. While Osaka seemed to have found some stability with Mouratoglou, the results did not materialize, with her falling in the third round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, in addition to a first-round exit at the French Open. The Japanese star returned to the top 50 but was not making an impact at the top of the rankings. New Coach, New Results In the midst of the Canadian Open, Osaka announced her split with Mouratoglou, expressing her best wishes to the French coach who accompanied her for the last 10 months. “Merci Patrick. It was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around,” she wrote in a statement on her social media. Shortly after, it was learned that Osaka had contacted the Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, agreeing to a week-long trial working together, precisely this last week in Montreal. The results came immediately, with Osaka reaching her first WTA 1000 final since the Miami Open in 2022, where she was defeated by Iga Swiatek. Brad Gilbert highlights new coach Osaka's improved level after the separation from Mouratoglou is no coincidence for Brad Gilbert, the legendary American coach who has worked with tennis players like Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Andy Murray. The American recently worked with Coco Gauff, so he has also been close to the WTA Tour recently. Gilbert took to social media to comment on Osaka's move to the Montreal final. According to the coach and former world No. 4, saving match points against Liudmila Samsonova in the second round gave the 27-year-old Japanese star a boost. "Seems like quite some time ago Double Osaka saved a few match points 2nd rd, been house money since and totally discovered her game and rolling last few opponents,” he posted on his X account. A user on social media responded to the post asking, “What do you think is working for her now?” The 63-year-old coach responded to the comment: "A new coach for one ☝️ and got her confidence back." Osaka back on top Osaka has been all joy after a remarkable week in Montreal. In addition to the win against Samsonova, she defeated rivals like Jelena Ostapenko (22nd), Elina Svitolina (10th), and Clara Tauson (16th) on her way. She secured a significant jump in the rankings of 25 positions to No. 24 in the live rankings, while she could reach No. 21 if she wins the title. The ranking this time is much more than a number, as it will mean she enters the US Open as a seeded player, something she has not achieved in a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open—when she was the 13th seed in the tournament she was defending. Since then, she has been absent from five Grand Slam main draws and has accessed five others as an unseeded player. This time, Osaka will be able to avoid rivals from the top 32 during at least the first two rounds, which will give her a couple of matches to get into a rhythm before facing the better-ranked players. It remains to be seen how much this boost in her ranking can benefit Osaka and if she can make an impact in a Grand Slam with a clearer path. The four-time major champion will surely be one of the players to watch at the US Open, considering that she already won the title there in 2018 and 2020 and that she will arrive in her best state of confidence in several years.
Raiders Open Preseason in Seattle With An Unlikely Ending
On Thursday night, the Pete Carroll era for the Las Vegas Raiders officially kicked off as Carroll's new team traveled to the place Carroll once had roaring in the 2010s, the Seattle Seahawks. Geno Smith took to the field with the starting offense as they attempted to put the learned concepts of Chip Kelly into practice. The results: not great. Smith and the offense were in the game for one series, and they looked sharp to start with Smith hitting Tre Tucker for a first down on the very first play from scrimmage. Then the Raiders went three and out, leading to the first two issues of the night. Preseason Flow The Raiders could not stop the run all night and struggled to deal with fullback Robbie Ouzts. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was slicing and dicing the Raiders' defense all night with near uninterupted success on the ground paired with moderate success in the air. At least the Raiders were able to intercept Drew Lock on the Seahawks' first drive with Isaiah Pola-Mao hauling in the pick. Kyu Blu Kelly almost added a second pick but dropped the ball. Aiden O'Connell would come into the game and was under pressure all night. The backup tackles are not on the same page as the offense, with Charles Grant struggling to hold up against the Seattle attack. O'Connell went on to throw two inexcusable interceptions in the first half. Seattle's George Holani took over in the first half, running for 61 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Alex Bachman was O'Connell's most reliable target, making two catches for 36 yards on four total targets. Collin Johnson kept getting targeted but they could not link up with Johnson catching two passes for 17 yards off five targets. The Raiders trailed 16-3 at halftime. That's when we started to see the Pete Carroll effect. Coming out of halftime, O'Connell looked confident while fittingly, it was New Hampshire's Dylan Laube that opened up Kelly's offense. After forcing a Seattle punt, the Raiders scored a touchdown when O'Connell hit Laube for a six-yard touchdown. On the drive, O'Connell went 5/5 passing. The Raiders defense started to lock in, forcing a three-and-out, with the offense scoring a field goal off a 15-play drive. 16-13 Seahawks. However, the Raiders defense started to break, allowing the Seahawks to run the football seven times on a nine play, 65 yard drive for a touchdown. At this point, we were in the fourth quarter and rookie QB Cam Miller got his shot and he came out hot. Making it clear he can make platform throws, he hit Shedrick Jackson for a 41-yard score, placing the ball perfectly in between the corner and safety. 23-20 Seahawks. A heroic effort from a tired defense on 4th and one on the Seattle 45, with the defense staying disciplined against Jalen Milroe, forced a turnover on downs, resulting in Miller leading the Raiders to a game-tying field goal with 1:12 left in the game. Milroe had his shot to lead the Seahawks downfield, but after throwing for first down on the first play of the drive, Milroe threw two incompletions before being sacked by Treven Ma'ae. Cam Miller would get his shot to lead the Raiders downfield for the win. Ball at the Las Vegas' 32-yard line. 25 seconds left. The world was on his shoulders and yet, Miller was firing the Raiders towards victory. A 20-yard pass to Jackson put the Raiders into Seattle's territory. Miller would hit Jackson again for four more yards to set up a 55-yard field goal attempt for Daniel Carlson with five seconds left. This was the Raiders' moment. Despite all the mistakes, all the errors, all the issues, somehow the Raiders were in position to win. This was Carroll's moment. To once again snatch win from the jaws of defeat, this time against the team that thought they didn't need him anymore. This was the Raiders' moment, and then the kick was blocked. The game ends in a tie. 23-23. There were ups, there were downs. Now the Raiders fly home with a feeling of what just happened? If there's three lessons the Raiders need to learn, it's these. They need to stop the run. The Seahawks had 170 rushing yards on the night. We all need to see more of Cam Miller. The Raiders have no idea who should fill out their wide receiver room but Bachman and Jackson made strong cases. Such an odd evening. Welcome to the Pete Carroll era. Let's see how the Raiders respond. Join us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr so you never miss another story on the Raiders in 2025! We invite you to interact with us when you check out our Facebook page, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE right this second!
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