By MATTHEW WOODS
Staff Writer
1. Bills/Eagles Blockbuster Trade
The new calendar NFL season officially kicks off today. However, that has not stopped teams from making moves prior. The Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles have agreed on a trade that will send Eagles star running back LeSean McCoy to the Bills in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonzo.
How the trade occurred is an interesting story. The Bills approached their own free agent-to-be, C.J. Spiller, with a contract offer which would have paid the running back $4.5 million annually. Spiller turned down the offer and decided to test the free agent market instead. The Bills then moved to plan B and contacted Eagles coach Chip Kelly about a trade. There were approximately 20 minutes between Spiller turning down the Bills offer and the trade that sent McCoy to Buffalo.
McCoy, who played both high school and college football in the state of Pennsylvania, was not happy about the trade. Reports say that Chip Kelly was not a fan of the large contract that was given to McCoy a few years back and that he had wanted McCoy out. Alonzo, on the other hand, reportedly wanted out of Buffalo, and his wish was granted.
Since the 2010 season, McCoy has rushed for the most yards in the NFL with 6,155. Alonzo missed the entire 2014 season with an ACL tear, the second one of his football career.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly now has nine of his former players from Oregon on his Philadelphia squad, turning the Eagles into the “Philadelphia Ducks.”
If there is an immediate winner of this trade, one would think it is the Bills, but only time will tell.
2. Rousey Beatdown
UFC 184 was centered around the headlining fight between Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano. It did not last long.
Rousey quickly dominated Zingano in a UFC-record 14 seconds by arm bar submission to retain her title.
Rousey’s takedown was swift as she dodged Zingano’s incoming knee and took her to the ground, where only a few seconds later Rousey had Zingano in an arm bar, forcing Zingano to tap out. The crowd inside the Staples center was stunned. The camera panned to a large number of celebrities who were in attendance, and the reaction was nearly identical, jaws dropped.
Rousey’s display left many with the question of who could beat her. UFC president Dana White referenced a change in divisions for women’s star.
“Maybe she should fight with the men,” White said.
There is no doubt that Rousey may be the most dominant UFC fighter on the planet. Rumors are swirling about her next opponent possibly being Cris Cyborg if she can make the required weight of 135 pounds.
3. Tag! You’re It!
The NFL’s version of tag is not quite the version we are all used to. Last Tuesday was the date by which NFL teams can place the franchise tag on players about to hit free agency on their respective teams. Each team is allowed one franchise tag to place on one of their players.
This year only six players were franchised: Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Chiefs defensive end Justin Houston, and Dolphins tight end Charles Clay.
The tag forces the teams that use them to pay the player given it either the average salary of the top five highest-paid players at that position, or pay the player 120 percent more than their previous year’s salary.
The great part about the tag is that it reduces player movement. The tag system was put in place to reduce the chance of players leaving small market teams in order to join big market teams.
Plenty of players did not receive the franchise tag, including Lions pass rusher Ndamukong Suh and Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb.
Now that the players have been tagged, the clock starts for the team and player to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension.
4. Jones-Drew Calls It A Career
Former Jacksonville Jaguar and Oakland Raider Maurice Jones-Drew ended his stint in the NFL, bringing his nine-year career to a close. The running back retires as the second all-time leading rusher, and scored the most career rushing touchdowns in Jaguars history.
Jones-Drew had his best season in 2011, where he carried the ball a career-high 343 times en route to rushing for 1,606 yards. After his career year, Jones-Drew’s production plummeted. Injury-plagued seasons in 2012 and 2013 led to the running back bolting for the Oakland Raiders, where his time was very short. In his only season with the Raiders, and his final season in the NFL, Jones-Drew rushed for just 96 yards on 43 carries.
He will forever be remembered for his short, five-foot seven-inch stature that made him elusive to defenders on the field. Jones-Drew ends his career rushing for 8,167 yards and 68 touchdowns.
5. Peterson Staying Put?
Newly reinstated Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson met with head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman for four hours last Wednesday to discuss the current and future state of the NFL star.
The Vikings have stated that they would welcome Peterson back to the team with open arms. However, Peterson has voiced his displeasure with the organization and said that he would like to leave the team. Reports say Peterson has listed the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, and Cardinals as destinations he would like to play, but the Vikings may not be willing to part ways with the running back just yet.
At the NFL combine, Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, confronted the Vikings VP of football operations, Rob Brzezinski, nearly coming to blows. If there is anything to take away from Peterson’s actions, as well as his agent’s, it’s that he’s trying to make himself the victim in his case. As you may remember, Peterson was suspended indefinitely by the NFL after he was arrested for child abuse.
If Peterson is moved, it would be via trade. One would figure that if the Vikings feel that they are going to lose Peterson, they would like to get something in return.
