Getty Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Former NFL All-Pro Odell Beckham Jr. has been cleared to return to the football field, per Pro Football Focus’ Ari Meirov, but he wants to take about two weeks to get into game shape.
Per Meirov, Beckham could sign with a team just after Thanksgiving.
Free agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. was fully cleared this past week, per @JayGlazer. Teams wanted to bring him in for a visit this week, but OBJ first wants to take about two weeks to get himself into football shape. He could sign with a team shortly after Thanksgiving.
Are the New England Patriots still interested, and is the feeling mutual? Beckham, even at less than 100%, would add more legitimacy to the Patriots’ passing attack, that currently ranks 24th in the NFL, averaging just 202 yards per contest.
Beckham and Patriots coach Bill Belichick is known to have mutual respect. Belichick inquired about signing Beckham last year, but ultimately the veteran receiver chose to play for the Los Angeles Rams.
While New England might still covet Beckham, it is difficult to understand why the latter would want to sign with the Patriots. New England’s quarterback situation isn’t exactly in a good place.
There are some serious doubts about whether Mac Jones can regain the promise he showed as a rookie. This year, he has thrown 4 TD passes to 7 interceptions while also being benched for rookie Bailey Zappe.
The rookie showed some flashes but seemed to come crashing back down to Earth on the same Monday night game that Jones was benched.
Veteran wide receivers aren’t usually falling all over themselves to sign with a team with an uncertain quarterback situation. Would Beckham turn down the chance to catch passes from Jones over the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott or even the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers to come and team with Jones or Zappe?
Probably not, but we’ll likely find out within the next two weeks.
Around the NFL: Justin Fields is Going Wild, But the Bears Keep Losing
The Chicago Bears have lost three games in a row since coming into Foxborough and handing the Patriots the aforementioned loss on Monday Night Football. While the losses are beginning to pile up for the Bears, we can’t blame any of the team’s futility on Justin Fields.
Fields isn’t just leading the Bears’ offense into some rare air overall, he is also rewriting the NFL record books regarding mobile quarterbacks. WC Gridiron’s Jacob Infante had a ton of superlatives to share about Fields’ running gifts and where he stands in the overall top rusher category in the NFL through 10 weeks.
UPDATE: Fields is actually 6th. Not sure what the issue was when I checked the stats earlier.
Lamar Jackson finished 6th in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,206 in 2019. With a current pace of 1,273 yards, Fields is on pace to break Lamar’s single-season QB rushing record. #Bears
If Fields continues to run the ball as effectively as he has been through the first ten games of the season, he has a chance to set the single-season rushing record.
Around the NFL: RGIII Gives His Take on the MVP Race
Former NFL quarterback and Baylor star Robert Griffin III has dropped his list of players who deserve MVP consideration at the midway point.
NFL MVP Race
The Philadelphia Eagles are still undefeated at 8-0 and when you consider Jalen Hurts is averaging 255.3 passing yards per game and has 12 TD passes to just two interceptions, it is easy to see how he got the top spot on RG3’s ranking.
There are no stats or records in the graphic, but it seems clear he favors quarterbacks on teams with a good winning record. The Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes is another player putting up prolific numbers for one of the best teams in the NFL. He may be the guy who takes the lead if Hurts and the Eagles hit a speed bump.
The only non-QB in Griffin’s list is dynamic wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Hill already has 76 receptions for 1,104 yards. Perhaps Hill will find a way to move higher on the list.
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Former All-Pro Likely to Make His Final Decision on the Patriots Soon