Scoop City is The Athletic’s daily NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive the newsletter directly in your inbox.
It was fun to read all the positivity from Lions fans after we compared their offseason to that of the Cowboys. The sentiment isn’t as positive in Dallas, a team Jeffrey B. calls “cheap frugal nonspending frauds.” Tell us how you really feel, Jeff.
First up today, some morning news from Dianna: “The Buccaneers and star left tackle Tristan Wirfs have agreed to a five-year extension worth $140 million, with more than $88 million guaranteed. He’s now the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman.”
NFL’s Hall of Fame Game: What to watch
At 8 p.m. ET tonight on ESPN and ABC, the league’s preseason opener kicks off in Canton, Ohio, with the Texans and Bears facing off in the 2024 Hall of Fame Game. Yes, NFL football is back. Sort of.
We won’t see the debut of Caleb Williams, as Bears HC Matt Eberflus said all starters are sitting tonight. Texan’s HC DeMeco Ryans confirmed the same: no C.J. Stroud, no starters. Still, football. Here’s what to watch:
The new kickoffs. Yes, a live version of the most significant offseason rule change in years. The league spent two years studying the 97 percent return rate of XFL kickoffs, implementing a tweaked version intended to be more exciting than last year’s 22 percent return rate. In the words of one NFL special teams coach, “It’s going to be a s— show.” Sold!
Bears backup QB Tyson Bagent. Chicago’s temporary starter is looking to build upon a promising 2023, when he went 2-2 as an undrafted rookie. The son of a world arm wrestling champion spent the offseason grinding his face off, as he put it. He is one reason why The Athletic’s Hannah Vanbiber has the Bears pulling the slight upset.
Texans WR John Metchie. A second-round pick in 2022, he missed his entire rookie year while battling leukemia. Now cancer-free, the 24-year-old is turning heads in training camp. As one of the fastest players in Houston’s loaded offense, the Alabama product could see the field in four-WR sets in the regular season. Tonight, I hope we see him shine.
Texans RB Jawhar Jordan. A 2024 sixth-round pick and one of my favorite fantasy football sleepers, he thrived in a zone-based run scheme at Louisville (6.23 yards per carry) and landed in the perfect spot in Houston, as OC Bobby Slowik runs a similar scheme. If Jordan shows out, expect his fantasy stock to rise.
Those notes demonstrate how I watch preseason games: identify potential members of my fantasy team and keep a close eye on them. Kevin Fishbain’s list of more Bears players to watch came in handy. As for the game itself, you can follow our live coverage here.
What is the Hall of Fame Game, anyway?
The NFL established this annual preseason exhibition game as a fundraiser for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as the league broke ground on the date of the first Hall of Fame Game in 1962. It’s played beside the HOF in a stadium named after late Saints owner Tom Benson, who invested in stadium renovations.
Since 2011, the teams selected to play are associated with at least one notable player in that year’s Hall of Fame class. This year, three former Bears — Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers — and former Texan Andre Johnson (more on all four players below) will be enshrined.
The Hall of Fame Game is normally the weekend prior to the NFL preseason schedule, requiring both teams to play an additional exhibition game (this year, four instead of the typical three). This is why starters are usually rested.
The Hall of Fame Game is normally the weekend prior to the NFL preseason schedule, requiring both teams to play an additional exhibition game (this year, four instead of the typical three). This is why starters are usually rested.
What Dianna’s Hearing: Patriot star wants his payday
This isn’t a Bill Belichick training camp anymore! It’s a new coach at the helm for the Patriots in Jerod Mayo, and a new problem has popped up this summer. On Monday, disgruntled edge rusher Matthew Judon, looking for an adjusted contract, was spotted having animated conversations with Mayo and Eliot Wolf, the team’s EVP of player personnel.
The 31-year-old, a four-time Pro Bowler, left before Monday’s practice ended. On Tuesday, he didn’t show up at all. Players were off yesterday, and now we are waiting to see if Judon will show up today as his contract dispute escalates.
So far this offseason, the Patriots have re-signed or extended 12 other players, most recently defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. I’m told the Patriots made several offers to re-work Judon’s contract before the start of camp, but the two sides couldn’t agree.
Judon joined the Patriots on a four-year, $54.5 million free-agent contract in 2021. The deal was adjusted twice over the term, but no new years were added, so he’s a free agent after this season. Despite all the drama, both sides still feel optimistic they can work it out.
Back to you, Jacob.
Hall of Fame Class of 2024, with stats
This year’s Hall of Fame Class includes one first-ballot inductee (Can you guess who? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter) and six other legends.
One defining stat for each member, with each listed on the team for which they were best known:
Panthers DE Julius Peppers: The only player in league history with more than 100 sacks and 10 interceptions. I love that stat because it speaks to the versatility of Peppers, who could bull-rush a 300-plus pound lineman before returning an interception 50 yards in his mid-30s (see below). The bigger, faster and stronger Peppers did it all without a signature move, because he could beat you in any way he chose.
49ers LB Patrick Willis: Eight seasons, seven Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams. If you remove an injury-plagued 2014, Willis made the Pro Bowl every year of his brief but dominant career, which began by leading the NFL in tackles his rookie season. Read Daniel Brown’s article on Willis, the first Harbaugh-coached player to reach the Hall of Fame.
Bears KR Devin Hester: 19 career regular-season touchdown returns, most in NFL history, all while many opponents refused to kick to him. As Bears rookie Rome Odunze said in Kevin Fishbain’s piece on Hester, “he never got caught.” Fittingly, Hester is the only player in history to return the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl for a touchdown.
Texans WR Andre Johnson: 21 games with 10-plus catches and 100-plus yards, most in NFL history. Johnson, a quiet player at a position filled with huge personalities, was often described as a silent assassin. He let his play do the talking, ending his career 11th on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards (14,185) and receptions (1,062) lists despite lacking star QBs.
Broncos LB Randy Gradishar: 2,049 tackles, still a Broncos franchise record. A member of Denver’s infamous Orange Crush defense, Gradishar and the suffocating unit he led brought a change to the NFL with their then-novel 3-4 scheme.
Bears DT Steve McMichael: Helped the 1984 Bears set the record for fewest yards allowed (3,863) and most sacks (72). What might be most impressive? In 2005, Bears coach Mike Ditka said that McMichael was the toughest player he had ever coached. It’s an especially welcome moment for a player currently battling ALS.
Colts DE Dwight Freeney: 47 forced fumbles, tied for third-most in the Super Bowl era. Zak Keefer details the story of a player initially considered too short (6-1) and whose career began on the soccer field before spinning into Canton.
Jacob’s Picks
📕 What’s happening in Atlanta. Josh Kendall explores how the Falcons are fusing elements of their old run game with the Sean McVay system brought in by the former Rams coaches. A Bruce Lee quote is included. (The Athletic)
📺 Devin Hester’s greatest returns. Because why not. (Facebook)
🎙 Predicting the NFL’s top 10 offenses in 2024. In the first 10 minutes, they explain why the Eagles and Cowboys are outside the top 10, which I found surprising. 👀 (The Athletic Football Show)
Pop quiz answer: Julius Peppers was the only first-ballot Hall of Famer in this year’s class. Next year, Eli Manning, Luke Kuechly and Marshawn Lynch will look to join him.
Sign up for our other newsletters:
The Bounce 🏀 | The Windup ⚾ | Full Time ⚽ | Prime Tire 🏁 | Until Saturday 🏈
(Photo:
Frank Jansky / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)
