Why windows appear to be closing for NFC North teams
Plans by the Bears, Lions and Vikings have veered off course or run the risk of doing so soon, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson, and the Packers could join them.No division houses more members of this middling contingent than the NFC North. Entering 2020, this storied division has three teams firmly in the middle class. Bovada’s Super Bowl LV odds slot each between 14th and 25th.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to sign reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes to a record-breaking contract on Monday changes the entire dynamic for the organization.
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has no designs on retiring anytime soon. Mahomes is now under contract for what could potentially be the remainder of his career. His new deal could also have an impact on another high-profile figure within the organization.
At 62 years old, that would mean at least eight more seasons as an NFL head coach for Mr. Reid. Realistically, it seems to make a ton of sense.
It was back in 2017 that Reid signed a five-year extension with the Chiefs. That will bring him through the 2022 season. It remains to be seen if another extension will be in the cards here soon after he led Kansas City to the Super Bowl title back in February.
It stands to reason that Mahomes and Reid will be tied at the hip over the next several seasons.
Reid has posted a 77-35 record since taking over as the Chiefs' head coach back in 2013. That has included playoff appearances in each of the past five seasons.
Prior to that, Reid led the Philadelphia Eagles to nine playoff appearances in 14 seasons.
For nearly 160 years, St. George has been known as Utah's 'Dixie.' The name is all over the city. Is it time to change?
The word "Dixie" is everywhere in St. George, Utah. The controversy over its Confederate ties is back in the public eye — but it's not a new debate."Dixie" is plastered on hills, shops, businesses, signs, the local university, billboards and more across the city. The word has been subject to much controversy in St. George over the years — and now the debate is back.
Reid’s statement comes with Mahomes now locked into a contract with the Chiefs through the 2031 season. That’s simply astonishing.
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More must-reads:
- Details of Patrick Mahomes’ new contract with Chiefs revealed
- Mahomes is king of the hill, but Chiefs now have tougher mountain to climb
- The 'Multiple touchdowns in a Super Bowl' quiz
Related slideshow: Biggest winners, losers in NFL offseason (Provided by Yardbarker)
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The biggest winners and losers of the NFL offseason
Not every offseason move is a plus for all sides. Here's a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from this year's NFL offseason.
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Winner: Josh Allen, QB, Bills
The Bills added John Brown and Cole Beasley last offseason but were still missing a No. 1 receiver for young Josh Allen. The front office answered the call this offseason by acquiring former Vikings star Stefon Diggs, giving Allen everything he needs to take the Bills to the next level.
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Loser: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have undergone a full rebuild this offseason, with changes at head coach and quarterback and at most defensive spots. While new head coach Matt Rhule might be the right man for the job and Teddy Bridgewater is a proven winner, it's still likely to be a long season for Carolina in a tough NFC South.
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Winner: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens had a disappointing finish to the 2020 season after going 14-2 in the regular season, losing to Tennessee in the divisional round. They were able to bring their core talent back from last year while making significant additions on defense, adding Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe and rookie linebacker Patrick Queen. They also helped Lamar Jackson on offense with second-round running back J.K. Dobbins and third-round wideout Devin Duvernay. There's reason to expect the Ravens to be playoff contenders again this year.
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Loser: Sam Darnold, QB, Jets
Darnold made some progress late in his second season, but the Jets haven't done much to help him this offseason. They did revamp their offensive line, but No. 1 wideout Robby Anderson was lost in free agency and replaced by the enigmatic Breshad Perriman and rookie Denzel Mims. It could be a lot to ask for more improvement from Darnold with worse weapons and an abbreviated offseason.
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Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
It remains to be seen if Cincinnati will be able to compete this year, but the Bengals had a perfectly executed offseason. The team addressed its obvious secondary woes by adding cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, along with safety Vonn Bell. The Bengals also got talented linebackers Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither in the draft after taking quarterback Joe Burrow and wideout Tee Higgins. Additionally, Cincinnati was able to bring back former star wideout A.J. Green for one more season. Despite last year's struggles, there's reason for Bengals fans to be excited.
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Loser: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, free agent
Clowney's big bet on a lucrative contract this offseason hasn't been lost yet, but it's not looking great. The former No. 1 overall draft choice didn't post big numbers in Seattle last year, with only three sacks in 13 games, and he's still dangling in free agency as arguably the top free agent remaining.
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Winner: Drew Lock, QB, Broncos
Lock played well near the end of his rookie season and has many more weapons to work with as he enters Year 2. Denver signed running back Melvin Gordon and prioritized offensive weapons early in the draft with wideouts Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, along with Lock's former Mizzou teammate tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. Denver's weapons don't stack up with Kansas City yet, but it's clear the team is hoping the influx of talent can help it compete with K.C. in the future.
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Loser: Kerryon Johnson, RB, Lions
Johnson has been inconsistent in his first two seasons and now faces a major challenge after the Lions drafted D'Andre Swift in the second round. Over two seasons, Johnson has played a total of 18 games and averaged only 3.6 yards per carry last year. Without significant progress, he will likely lose the starting job at running back.
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Winner: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
Fresh off his first Super Bowl victory, Mahomes not only has all of his receivers back from 2019 but also gets gifted receiving running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire added to the fray. In a shortened offseason, returning the same players as last season could be key, and Mahomes has all of his old friends back for 2020.
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Loser: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Redskins
Haskins is the unquestioned starter in Washington going into his second season, but the team hasn't done much to help him. He's already on his second coaching staff, and the Redskins were quiet in free agency. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin looks like a budding star, but improvement in 2020 will be squarely on Haskins' shoulders.
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Winner: Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns
Mayfield regressed in his second season, but Cleveland has done a lot to help him. The first move was the hiring of former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski. The team then gave former Falcons tight end Austin Hooper big money in the offseason and fixed the offensive line with right tackle Jack Conklin and first-round left tackle Jedrick Wills. The additions should leave Mayfield with no excuses in his third season.
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Loser: Los Angeles Rams
The check came due on all of the Rams big contracts this offseason. The result was losing Dante Fowler and Cory Littleton on defense while also cutting Todd Gurley and trading Brandin Cooks. The result is a team that clearly has less talent than 2019 in one of the best divisions in the NFL.
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Winner: Gardner Minshew, QB, Jaguars
Minshew's emergence was a surprise after being drafted in the sixth round last year, and the Jaguars seem to be all in on the young quarterback in 2020. Jacksonville traded Nick Foles and failed to draft a quarterback in the first round despite the opportunity with multiple picks. The team could sink or swim with Minshew this year.
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Loser: Marlon Mack, RB, Colts
Mack surpassed 1,000 yards rushing last year, and he was "rewarded" by the Colts drafting running back Jonathan Taylor in the second round. The Colts say they will have co-starters at running back, but Taylor's elite athleticism and college production indicate his potential to run away with the starting job.
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Winner: Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals
Murray got the benefit of the creative Kliff Kingsbury offense in his first season, and now he has arguably the best wide receiver in the game with the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins from Houston. Of course, the Cardinals didn't stop there, re-signing running back Kenyan Drake and drafting tackle Josh Jones in the third round. The offensive talent is loaded for Murray in his sophomore year.
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Loser: Cam Newton, QB, Free Agent
The Panthers moved on from Newton in the offseason, and his window for finding a starting job in 2020 looks like it's closed. He's yet to find a taker in free agency and will likely have to settle as a backup after playing only two games last year due to a foot injury.
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Winner: Jarrett Stidham, QB, Patriots
New England's surprising inaction has worked to Stidham's benefit this year. The second-year quarterback is set to be the Patriots starting quarterback after the team moved on from Tom Brady and failed to add a clear replacement. New England's weapons do leave much to be desired and were part of the reason for Brady's demise last year, but it's clear the Patriots liked what they saw during Stidham's rookie season.
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Loser: Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jaguars
Ngakoue has demanded a trade with clear unhappiness in Jacksonville. However, the Jaguars went through the draft without trading the star pass rusher, so the two sides could be at a stalemate entering training camp. It doesn't look like a great situation for either side.
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Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No team has done more to improve this offseason than the Bucs, replacing the turnover-prone Jameis Winston with Tom Brady and also bringing Rob Gronkowski out of retirement. It's true that Brady did struggle in New England last year, but the personnel around him was also worse than usual. He has an elite receiving corps in Tampa Bay with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Gronk, along with the help of rookie right tackle Tristan Wirfs. The Bucs were also able to retain all of their elite pass rushers last season, led by Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul. The organization has legitimate reason to be considered a contender.
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Loser: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Rodgers didn't put up huge numbers last year due in part to his lack of weapons beyond Davante Adams. Unfortunately, the Packers were mostly quiet in free agency and the draft, using their first-round pick on Rodgers' likely long-term replacement, Jordan Love. Rodgers can't do everything himself, but the Packers apparently think otherwise.
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Winner: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans
Tannehill led the Titans to a 7-3 regular season record after replacing Marcus Mariota last season, and he game-managed them to the AFC championship. There were rumors in the offseason that Tennessee would bring in Tom Brady, but instead Tannehill got a four-year, $118 million contract with $62 million guaranteed. Tannehill couldn't have hoped for a better outcome after signing a one-year, below market deal last offseason.
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Loser: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bears
It's been a rough offseason for Trubisky, with the Bears acquiring Nick Foles from Jacksonville and declining Trubisky's fifth-year option. He could be a lame duck with Chicago in 2020 and also could hold the clipboard for the entire season while Foles leads the team.
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Winner: Trent Williams, LT, 49ers
Williams sat out all of last season after a disagreement with the Redskins organization and finally got the trade he demanded this offseason, being sent to San Francisco to replace the retiring Joe Staley at left tackle. Instantly, Williams went from the worst team in the NFC to the best and should get a huge contract soon if he proves that he hasn't lost a step.
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Loser: Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
Wentz has a big contract from Philadelphia, and his starting job is secure in the immediate future. However, the Eagles shocked the football world when they selected quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round, giving the team a viable backup for the oft-injured Wentz and possibly a long-term replacement if the injuries continue. The good news for Wentz is that he did get some help at wideout, with Philadelphia drafting Jalen Reagor in the first round.
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Gallery: 2020 vision: 20 players to watch in the NFC South (SMG)
Here's what it's like to be one of the first NFL teams opening training camp amid COVID-19 .
With 2020 poised to be the most unusual NFL season in years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no shortage of uncertainties for teams to navigate. The Chiefs and the Houston Texans were the first NFL teams to have rookies scheduled to report on Monday. They were also among the first teams to have their IDER — which stands for Infectious Disease Emergency Response — plan approved by the NFLPA over the weekend. As of Monday afternoon, seven teams total have had their IDER plans approved by the NFLPA, a source tells Yahoo Sports, though that’s a fluid number that figures to grow as the union analyzes other teams’ plans.
Plans by the Bears, Lions and Vikings have veered off course or run the risk of doing so soon, writes Yardbarker's Sam Robinson, and the Packers could join them.No division houses more members of this middling contingent than the NFC North. Entering 2020, this storied division has three teams firmly in the middle class. Bovada’s Super Bowl LV odds slot each between 14th and 25th. 
Chris Jones has established himself as one of the key pieces on the Chiefs defense, and now the Pro Bowl DT wants a sizable long-term contract.Ahead of the July 15 deadline for players to agree to multi-year contracts, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle stated he won't settle for playing on the franchise tag this season, saying Tuesday he "won't play" if not given a long-term deal of his liking. 
The word "Dixie" is everywhere in St. George, Utah. The controversy over its Confederate ties is back in the public eye — but it's not a new debate."Dixie" is plastered on hills, shops, businesses, signs, the local university, billboards and more across the city. The word has been subject to much controversy in St. George over the years — and now the debate is back. 
Why windows appear to be closing for NFC North teams 
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For nearly 160 years, St. George has been known as Utah's 'Dixie.' The name is 
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