Top News of The Week – Pats Trade Three-Time Captain Mankins

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1. Patriots trade three-time captain Mankins to Bucs

The New England Patriots traded guard Logan Mankins, three-time captain and six-time Pro Bowl player for the Patriots, for second-year TE Tim Wright and a 2015 fourth-round draft pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Mankins originally joined the Patriots as a first-round draft pick (32nd overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft, starting in 130 regular season games since then and all 17 postseason games since joining the Patriots.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick sang praises of Mankins’ football skills and leadership ability, but had this to say: “Unfortunately, this is the time of year when difficult decisions have to be made – and this is one of the most difficult we will ever make – but like every other decision it was made for what we feel is in the best interests of the team.”

2. Meriweather Suspended Two Games

Washington Redskins’ safety Brandon Meriweather has been suspended for two games after he delivered another helmet-to-helmet hit.

Meriweather has a history of getting into trouble with his tackles, and has been fined by the NFL five times for illegal hits over his career. He was suspended for two games initially last season, but won an appeal that reduced the penalty to one.

The most recent suspension came after Meriweather was flagged for a personal foul for his hit on Baltimore Ravens receiver Torrey Smith in the second quarter of last Saturday’s 23-17 preseason loss. Meriweather has three days to appeal the decision, if not the ruling stands that he will not be allowed at the team’s facility or have any contact with team personnel from Sept. 1 until Sept. 15.

3. Josh Gordon suspended for season

Josh Gordon’s one-year suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy will be upheld after Gordan failed a test for marijuana.

The Pro Bowler had appealed the ruling, but will be forced to miss the entire 2014 season.  Gordon’s suspension will be effective immediately, and he will not be allowed to practice with the Browns, attend team meetings or other club functions.

Gordon’s “eligibility for reinstatement will be determined following the 2014 season” where he will remain in the NFL treatment program (which includes counseling and rehab) and be subject to random testing.

Despite serving a two-game suspension for a drug violation last season, Gordon still led the league in yards receiving and this lost for the Browns will be a costly one.

4. Ram’s Sam Bradford out for season with torn ACL

Sam Bradford missed the last nine games of last season with a torn ACL.

He recovered and has been training with the team since then, playing in the Rams’ preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.

The team beat the Browns but were the losers for the day as sources confirmed Bradford will miss another full season after tearing the same ACL he tore last season.

The starting quarterback job now falls on the shoulders of Shaun Hill, who hasn’t made a start since 2010 when he stepped in for an injured Matthew Stafford to lead the Detroit Lions to a 3-7 record over his 10 appearances, and has thrown only 16 passes since.

5. Broncos’ Matt Prater will be suspended four games

The Denver Broncos will open their 2014 season without their Pro Bowl kicker. Matt Prater will be suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The violation was alcohol related.

In his eighth season in the NFL, Prater has been a member of the NFL’s alcohol program since he was charged with DUI in August 2011.

As one of the best kickers in the NFL, Prater made 25 of his 26 attempts last season and set a new NFL record with a 64-yard field goal, en route to topping the league with a 96.2 field-goal percentage. Until he returns in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, the Broncos will be in a tight spot with undrafted rookie kicker Mitch Ewald (barring veteran help).

6. Wes Welker suffers third concussion in 10 months

Wes Welker suffers his third concussion in 10 months, but all indications are that he plans to keep playing, attempting to return in time for Denver’s opener Sept. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Welker suffered two concussions last season, missing three games after the second one, but when asked at last year’s Super Bowl if he’d play with a concussion, he replied: “What do you think? I mean, you want to be out there. The Super Bowl, this is what you dream about. You’re going to be there, I don’t care what it takes.”

7. Redskins’ offense struggling

After a disastrous 2013-2014 season for the Washington Redskins where the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year – Robert Griffin III – failed to live up to his previous season form, this season was supposed to spell redemption with a new head coach and a new outlook for the team.

Yet Griffin has yet to lead a touchdown drive this preseason. He completed five of eight passes for just 20 yards (2.5 YPA), to add to his three sacks and one interception, as the Redskins loss 23-17 to the Ravens last Saturday night.

8. 49ers put NaVorro Bowman on PUP list

San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman will be out until midseason on the physically unable to perform list, while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL – injuries sustained during the 2014 NFC Championship Game.

With Bowman out of the lineup, Michael Wilhoite and rookie Chris Borland are competing for the starting job next to Willis, in a defense that is already short-handed before the season begins.

Bowman was Around The NFL’s choice for NFL Defensive Player of the Year prior to his injury as one of the league’s surest tacklers and fastest linebackers, and has the potential to have a big impact on the 49ers upon his return late in the season.

9. Chiefs’ Joe Mays to miss at least six weeks

Kansas City Chief’s starting linebacker Joe Mays will likely miss the first four weeks of the regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his wrist.

The injury is another blow in the Chiefs’ bid to return to the playoffs for a second consecutive season with Nico Johnson starting the third preseason game in place of Mays.

10. Jets suspend CB Dimitri Patterson for preseason

The New York Jets suspended veteran cornerback New York Jets’ veteran cornerback Dimitri Patterson was suspended by the team for all of the preseason after going missing for two days.

Patterson, who was expected to be a starter this season, was reportedly suspended for missing the team’s preseason game against the New York Giants last Friday, an “unexcused” absence according to team officials.

 

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