Latest news with #GrantThomas
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Michael Voss makes ‘unusual' coaches box move, ‘horrible' Carlton leaves him on the brink
Michael Voss appeared to vacate his coaching duties in unusual scenes during Carlton's dismal 56-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night. Collingwood were several classes above the Blues as the Pies claimed a 17.13 (115) to 8.11 (59) victory, their eighth win in a row. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. With Carlton's final hopes over, the question is now whether Voss can keep his job or if he will be sacked before he can even see out the season. Early in the first quarter when Collingwood had kicked the first two goals of the game, Voss was spotted sitting on the stairs in Carlton's coaching box, away from the head coach's usual position at the row of desks. 'Michael Voss sitting in the aisle is an unusual choice,' Fox Footy commentator Gerard Whateley said. Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan wrote on X: 'Voss surely can't see the whole ground sitting back row on the stairs against the wall. That is one strange spot for the head coach to be sitting.' Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said: 'Why is Vossy hiding in the back corner of the coaches box sitting on steps?' ABC Radio commentator Ben Cameron said the scenes in the coaches box made Voss look 'impotent'. Voss resumed his position in the coach's chair in the first half, but he could do little to stem the bleeding as Collingwood ran riot over Carlton. From an optics point of view, coaching from the stairs suggested Voss might have already checked out Carlton's horror season. Buddy Franklin claimed Voss wouldn't see out the season and he may well be proven right, depending on the decision of Carlton boss Graham Wright. Voss is contracted until the end of 2026 but after taking Carlton to a preliminary final in 2023, his side has stuttered and struggled to have a game plan. 'There was a sense of resignation, I thought, about this,' former Demons captain Garry Lyon said post-game on Fox Footy before vision was shown of incoming chief executive Wright in discussion with Blues powerbrokers in the rooms. 'They're in a situation where for the past three, four weeks they were the front-and-back-page story, and there was a stage there when Collingwood kicked eight goals in that third quarter and it looked like it was arguably going to be a 100-point (loss) and they were going to be (the story) again,' added Lyon. 'But in the end, I think it's kind of the result we expected coming in.' It was Carlton's 10th loss from 16 games this year as the Blues sit 11th on the ladder and 16 points behind eighth spot. Carlton's skill level was particularly poor — nine Blues players had kicking efficiency of less than 50 per cent. 'They are what they are, and they are a horrible kicking football side. Horrible. And that goes from the top down,' Lyon said. 'Adam Cerra was butchering the footy today … if you want to be an A-grade footballer, or you want to survive long enough to have a career in footy, you can't kick in the manner that they kick. 'And that becomes a list analysis decision that they're going to have to make.' Jordan Lewis added: 'It's a flow-on effect — how do you predict further afield if the kicks aren't hitting the target? You can't then make the next decision, so the flow-on effect is huge,' he said. 'I think the damning thing — the thing that we've shown time after time — is their midfield mix. They were just wiped off the park in terms of post-clearance stuff. 'They just can't spread, they can't link up, they can't kick, so there's so many parts of their game, at the moment, that aren't where they need to be to be a (good) AFL side.' Voss was circumspect post-game, saying: 'It's pretty clear we need to have come pretty important conversations. 'We let our club down tonight. We want our supporters to be proud of us and we didn't do that tonight … we can't tolerate that. That was a really poor performance.' For Collingwood, Nick Daicos had 36 disposals and a goal, and likely another three Brownlow votes, performance, as Collingwood boasted nine individual goalkickers. for the game. The Magpies are 14 points clear on top of the AFL ladder midway through round 17.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL 2025 offseason power rankings countdown guide: Pittsburgh Steelers check in at 20 after flurry of moves
The 2025 NFL season will be here before you know it. It starts with training camps in July and the Hall of Fame Game on July 31. As anticipation builds, catch up on everything you need to know with Frank Schwab's team previews countdown. A new preview will drop every weekday (except July 4) as we get closer to the Detroit Lions facing the Los Angeles Chargers in Canton, Ohio. Who will be No. 1 going into the season? Where will your team rank? Here's your guide for all the answers. Click on below to jump to that team, then click on the team name to read the full preview. No. 32 Titans No. 31 Saints No. 30 Browns No. 29 Panthers No. 28 Jets No. 27 Giants No. 26 Raiders No. 25 Patriots No. 24 Colts No. 23 Dolphins No. 22 Jaguars No. 21 Falcons No. 20 Steelers (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) A 3-14 season was a wake-up call. The Tennessee Titans not only fell to the bottom of the NFL, they slid deep into obscurity. Tennessee was truly awful but other than regular Will Levis memes and first-year head coach Brian Callahan's outward hostility toward Levis, nobody cared. They had no identity, no marketable star, a decayed roster and only one hope for the future. That hope was the first pick of the draft. The Titans could have traded that pick or taken Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, but they knew the best path back to relevance was hitting on a pick at quarterback. That's why Cam Ward, who set an NCAA record with 158 touchdown passes at Incarnate Word, Washington State and then Miami, is a Titan. There's a long way to go and Ward won't fix all of that. There were a few bright spots on the roster — Jeffery Simmons is a star on the defensive line, 2024 rookies DT T'Vondre Sweat and CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. had promising debuts, Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley had 1,000-yard seasons in a bad situation — but rebuilding will take a while. If Ward hits, at least that's a start. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The plan for the Saints always seemed to be that when Drew Brees retired, there would be a total teardown. That really didn't happen. It still hasn't happened four years after Brees' last game. The Saints weren't recklessly aggressive as usual this offseason, but didn't blow things up and didn't make moves that would indicate they have the self awareness to know they should be in a rebuild. They still have a terrible 2026 cap situation and one of the oldest rosters in the NFL. Even a brutal 15-game stretch to end the season didn't force them into facing reality. Maybe it needs to get even worse for the Saints to realize they're at rock bottom. And it might. Kellen Moore is a rookie head coach and he does not step into a good situation. Derek Carr retired and while he wasn't great for New Orleans, the remaining quarterback solution is probably second-round pick Tyler Shough, a curious pick for a fading team considering he'll turn 26 years old in September. The surrounding cast has some recognizable names who have had good careers but is short on stars who are still in their prime. The Saints' only blue-chip player under 28 years old might be receiver Chris Olave, but he hasn't played a full season in the NFL due to four confirmed concussions. New Orleans has reached a point in which a horrific season is the best outcome. It would be a wake-up call and perhaps lead to a franchise-changing quarterback. Like the first two games last season, the Saints' idea that they can turn things around doing things the same old way seems to be nothing but a mirage. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The Cleveland Browns were the last to know that Deshaun Watson was one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks. It had to be cathartic for Browns fans to hear owner Jimmy Haslam say the team "took a big swing and miss with Deshaun." Everyone else knew that long ago. The Browns were in deep denial. A key decision at the top of the draft was the unofficial start of reshaping the roster. The Browns passed on the chance to draft Travis Hunter second overall to get a huge haul from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade. It included the fifth overall pick and the Jags' first-round pick next year. It had to be hard to give up Hunter, but it was probably the right move. The big part of the rebuild will be figuring out quarterback, and the Browns are taking a shotgun approach to it this year. They have four relatively low-cost quarterbacks and are praying one is the answer. Joe Flacco is the 40-year-old stopgap, Kenny Pickett is the reclamation project, Dillon Gabriel was the rookie the Browns drafted proactively in the third round, and Shedeur Sanders is the fifth-round pick everyone wants to talk about. If Sanders climbs up from fourth on the depth chart and starts any games this season, the Browns suddenly will become one of the most watched teams in the league. The process starts over. Hopefully for Cleveland it's not as long and difficult as the last one, and with some positive results this time. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) After being benched earlier in the season, Bryce Young got another shot to start in Week 8 and looked like a new player. He might not have played to the level you'd dream of for a first overall pick, but he was much better. By the time he put up 251 yards and three touchdowns (one of which he finished with a confident look-away celebration with the ball in the air) in a season-ending win at the Atlanta Falcons, it seemed like a new world from the depressing low of benching a first overall pick two weeks into the season. "I think we've got our QB here," Panthers owner David Tepper told NFL Media's Cameron Wolfe after that win. The Panthers still have a long way to go. The defense gave up more points than any other team in NFL history and, while there were some offseason fixes, it'll take at least another offseason to get it to a respectable level. Young made strides but he'll need to show more improvement to live up to what the Panthers invested in him. Drafting receiver Tetairoa McMillan eighth overall should help Young. Nobody should be confusing the Panthers with a contender just because they played better late in the season with an emerging quarterback. But there's hope. It has been a while since that was the case. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) Aaron Glenn seems to be a good hire to lead the rebuild. The new Jets head coach has already done well handling a tough market and also an uncomfortable Aaron Rodgers situation. Rodgers felt put out when he flew across the country to meet with the Jets, just to be greeted with a no-nonsense 15-minute meeting. Glenn and new Jets general manager Darren Mougey told Rodgers they were moving on and didn't ask for Rodgers' input on the direction of the franchise, which Rodgers thought he'd provide. Glenn and Mougey didn't want to hear it. The meeting was short, sweet and to the point. Plenty of fans probably appreciated the new Jets brass after that story, especially after dealing with plenty of Rodgers drama and the franchise bending over backward for him. Justin Fields is the next quarterback, a fairly low-cost gamble that the Jets can easily move on from if it doesn't work out. The Jets have plenty of talented players, which was the reason they had hopes for a big season last year if Rodgers was simply an average quarterback. The Jets have a miserable ownership situation with Woody Johnson, and that will be a constant obstacle, but there are some seeds of optimism. There were major organizational failures that led to the Jets somehow going from 7-10 with Zach Wilson at quarterback to 5-12 with Rodgers playing much better than Wilson ever did. Mougey and Glenn are in charge of changing that, though they're far from the first group to try in this miserable era of Jets football. Rodgers was supposed to break the Jets' streak of not making the playoffs, but it's alive at 14 seasons. And the worst part of coming up woefully short after that big move is the Jets might shift back near square one. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The tone for this season all about whether head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen can survive again. Jaxson Dart is the best path to showing progress. Dart is an interesting first-round pick out of Ole Miss. He will take some time to learn an NFL offense, but he has enticing skills. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston were signed before Dart was picked, and presumably Wilson will begin the season as the starter. If the Giants aren't much better than last season, the biggest question will be when to give Dart a shot. The reality is that decision will be made by a coach and general manager who are in self-preservation mode. Whatever is best for their survival will play a role in that decision. The Giants have a really good defensive line, a secondary that has gotten an influx of talent, a future star in receiver Malik Nabers and not much else. There's still a long way to go before the Giants are contenders again. Daboll and Schoen need some results this season to stick around for those better days. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The Raiders are one of the NFL franchises on a never-ending road to nowhere. Over the past 22 seasons, the Raiders have had 13 head coaches and two playoff appearances. Pete Carroll becomes the Raiders' 14th head coach since their last playoff win, which came Jan. 19, 2003. It is odd for the rebuilding Raiders to hire a coach who will turn 74 years old in September — when the season starts Carroll will break the record as the oldest head coach in NFL history — but given team owner Mark Davis' ineptitude at picking the right coach, at least he got someone with a winning history. At least the Raiders have potential stars to build around. Crosby is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Brock Bowers is coming off the best season for a rookie tight end in NFL history. Ashton Jeanty is one of the best running back prospects in many years, and the rebuilding Raiders thought he was worth the sixth pick of the draft. Geno Smith isn't a star, but when the Raiders traded for him from the Seattle Seahawks they upgraded from what might have been the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. Rebuilds usually take a while, and presumably the Raiders believe a coach who will turn 74 this season and a quarterback who will turn 35 will help establish a culture that can be carried on down the road. That wouldn't be the worst outcome. Anything to get the Raiders moving in a positive direction would be a nice change. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The Patriots have a proven head coach in Mike Vrabel, an exciting quarterback in Drake Maye, and just had the best offseason in the NFL. Their win total at BetMGM is 8.5, which means oddsmakers believe the Patriots could be a .500 team. They've won eight games the last two seasons combined. Part of that optimistic win total is a schedule that is projected to be one of the easiest in the NFL this season. A bigger part is spending a ton of money on free-agent upgrades and potentially nailing the draft. It's not like the Patriots will be a Super Bowl contender this season. The offensive line is a big question, even if their rookie left tackle plays well. The Patriots' longstanding ineptitude at drafting receivers means Maye's supporting cast probably won't be great. The defensive additions were plentiful, but they all need to fit together. New England had one of the worst defenses in the NFL a season ago, so there's a long way to go. But it seems like the miserable fall from grace after the NFL's greatest dynasty had ended is a lot further in the rear-view mirror than it actually is. It didn't take long for the Patriots to reinvent themselves. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) Quarterback play, whether it's Anthony Richardson's progress or Daniel Jones' ability to turn his career around, is the key issue hovering over the Colts going into this season. The Colts won eight games even with a team passer rating of 75.8, which was 31st in the NFL. There's plenty of talent on offense, like running back Jonathan Taylor, receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and new rookie tight end Tyler Warren. The defense was good enough to keep the Colts in games. Head coach Shane Steichen might be a good coach, just one that hasn't been able to fix Richardson's problems. But it's hard to get excited for the Colts if the quarterback play is near the bottom again. Plenty is riding on Richardson or Jones playing well this season. GM Chris Ballard and Steichen can't feel comfortable, especially after the death of longtime owner Jim Irsay. Irsay was patient with Ballard and Steichen, and especially Ballard, even as many fans wanted change. Irsay believed in them, but now his daughters are in charge. It's also hard to believe the Colts would try again with Richardson in 2026 if he doesn't show improvement this season, and we can't even know if he'll get the chance to start. If the Colts have a losing season, there could be a total roster teardown, especially if there's a new general manager and coach. The Colts drafted Richardson knowing there was risk involved. It's just two years into the experiment, but it's looking grim on that gamble working out. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) It's hard to look at the 2025 Dolphins and be overly optimistic. Tua Tagovailoa continues to be underappreciated but his concussion issues became a big story again in 2024. Tyreek Hill's numbers took a stunning drop, and the team and Hill's camp had to smooth things over after his proclamation that he was done in Miami. Jaylen Waddle's production fell off a cliff, too. The explosive plays on offense disappeared. The offensive line was bad. The defense got a lot worse. There has been plenty of offseason trade speculation with cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith, two of the Dolphins' few bright spots last season. Head coach Mike McDaniel has gone from a likable whiz kid to being on the hot seat, especially after it was revealed that some players were repeatedly late for meetings despite being fined. That makes it seem like he's losing the locker room. Maybe the real warning sign came when players revolted against and practically ran off 2023 defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, one of the great coordinators of this era. Last season, Fangio turned the Philadelphia Eagles' defense into the best in the NFL and finally got himself a Super Bowl ring. The Dolphins could have used a coach like that. Maybe the Dolphins can turn things back around. Perhaps McDaniel can recapture his magic, Tagovailoa stays healthy and productive, De'Von Achane rediscovers the explosiveness he had as a rookie, Hill again becomes the receiver he was in 2022-23, Waddle also bounces back and the defense holds it together. That's just a lot of what-ifs. And to think, the Dolphins are just a season removed from being an 11-win playoff team. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) Jacksonville traded several picks to the Cleveland Browns to move up and draft Travis Hunter as a unique, game-changing prospect at No. 2 overall. So they got him, no matter the cost. Maybe that's a good thing. The Jaguars might benefit from not following the same draft charts as everyone else. Jacksonville has zero Super Bowl appearances, only two playoff berths since the 2007 season and many years of being practically anonymous in the NFL. It hasn't gotten very far by following the book. The Jaguars shocked the NFL with the trade. New GM James Gladstone, just 34 years old and from the aggressive Los Angeles Rams front office, boldly told Jaguars fans about the move: "Don't be scared. This is something I'm uniquely positioned to navigate." The move might turn out to be less about Hunter himself and more about a changing mentality in a sad-sack franchise. Maybe Gladstone's approach will work, or perhaps he'll flame out fast. But after years of failure, at least the Jaguars are trying something different. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The Falcons are hopeful that Michael Penix Jr. is fantastic right away and helps elevate the rest of the roster. Penix, Bijan Robinson and Drake London could form the foundation of an exciting offense. The defense is a work in progress, but doubling up on pass rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round of the NFL Draft might fix Atlanta's massive and longstanding weakness on the edge. Hiring Jeff Ulbrich, formerly of the New York Jets, to be their new defensive coordinator could help too. The Falcons were 8-9 last season despite uneven quarterback play and a poor defense. Improvements in each area could put them in line to take the NFC South. We'll need to figure out what Atlanta has in Penix first. At this moment the Falcons are pretty happy to have their second-year quarterback. Nobody saw that coming when he was drafted. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) Maybe the Aaron Rodgers signing works out like Brett Favre joining the Vikings after a season with the Jets, when he had maybe the best season of his career and nearly took Minnesota to a Super Bowl. The Steelers seem unlikely to completely collapse; we all know the history of Tomlin not having a losing season. The defense is still quite good, and the Steelers clearly thought cornerback Jalen Ramsey was an upgrade over safety Minkah Fitzpatrick when they swapped the two in an interesting midsummer trade. The offense might be better with the additions of star receiver DK Metcalf and tight end Jonnu Smith, drafting Kaleb Johnson could give a spark to the running game and perhaps a young offensive line will improve. Pittsburgh made the playoffs with Russell Wilson starting most of last season, and Rodgers is probably an upgrade even as he is about to turn 42. The Steelers are stuck in a rut. They're cycling through unappealing options at quarterback, and that seems likely to continue next offseason. They have a coach with a Hall of Fame level résumé but many Steelers fans want him out because he hasn't won a playoff game over the past eight seasons. The Steelers have not been bad enough to bottom out and draft a permanent answer at quarterback, and they haven't been good enough to make a postseason run either. Rodgers doesn't seem like he'll make the Steelers that much worse or that much better. It's just another season of the same, probably just creating a fuzzy memory for years down the road of "Oh right, Rodgers had that one season with the Steelers at the end."
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Ranking the best forwards, featuring consensus No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg
Let's run down the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft by position. Here are the best forwards in the class. You can also find the entire Big Board, plus a full two-round mock draft and scouting reports for every single prospect, in the 2025 NBA Draft Guide. Height: 6-8 • Weight: 221 • Class: Freshman • Age: 18.5 Advertisement Flagg is a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer, and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. He's both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class, making him the safest No. 1 pick in ages. It's his growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports Illustration) Height: 6-8 • Weight: 203 • Class: Freshman • Age: 18.8 Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor and with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. But his raw edges as a shot creator and defender need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. Height: 6-7 • Weight: 239 • Class: Sophomore • Age: 20 Advertisement Murray-Boyles operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball, and inhales rebounds. He's a special defensive presence, and offensively he's a bulldozer finisher with a playmaking feel. Improving his jumper would move him out of tweener territory and into All-Star status. Height: 6-9 • Weight: 198 • Age: 18.5 Essengue is a toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package, and highly versatile defense. But his long-term upside hinges on the jumper clicking. And if it doesn't, his defense must reach a level that prevents coaches from keeping him off the floor. Height: 6-7 • Weight: 215 • Class: Freshman • Age: 19.5 Advertisement Bryant is a rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. And though he's raw as a ball-handler, he's a skilled spot-up shooter and a hyper-aware cutter. At a minimum, he has the baseline skills to be a great role player with the upside to someday be much more. You can find the entire Big Board, plus a full two-round mock draft and scouting reports for every single prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft Guide.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Ranking the top wing prospects, including Duke's Kon Knueppel
Let's run down the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft by position. Here are the best wings in the class. You can also find the entire Big Board, plus a full two-round mock draft and scouting reports for every single prospect, in the 2025 NBA Draft Guide. Height: 6-5 • Weight: 219 • Class: Freshman • Age: 19.9 Advertisement Knueppel brings more than just a sharpshooter's stroke thanks to his brainy pick-and-roll playmaking and crafty scoring feel. He's got a slick midrange bag and strength scoring inside, but to become a player that takes over games he'll need to overcome his average athleticism. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports Illustration) Height: 6-4 • Weight: 193 • Class: Freshman • Age: 19.9 Edgecombe is an explosive, high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. He pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown spot-up jumper and fearless slashing, though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator. Height: 6-6 • Weight: 213 • Class: Senior • Age: 21.8 Advertisement Coward has gone from a Division III player to a potential first-round pick in just a few years behind his rapid development into a prospect with a valued 3-and-D skill-set. But he brings even higher upside thanks to his passing vision. Height: 6-7 • Weight: 215 • Class: Freshman • Age: 19.7 McNeeley is a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving without the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn't project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him the skill to fit into any type of offense. Height: 6-6 • Weight: 200 • Class: Freshman • Age: 19.8 Advertisement Powell has a chiseled frame that he uses to barrel into defenders at the rim and to contain opponents when he's on defense. He's a switch-everything defender who plays with a high motor, and if his spot-up jumper translates he checks all the boxes to be a 3-and-D role player at a minimum. You can find the entire Big Board, plus a full two-round mock draft and scouting reports for every single prospect, in the 2025 NBA Draft Guide.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL 2025 team previews countdown: From No. 32 Tennessee Titans to No. 1 ... ?
The 2025 NFL season will be here before you know it. It starts with training camps in July and the Hall of Fame Game on July 31. As anticipation builds, catch up on everything you need to know with Frank Schwab's team previews countdown. A new preview will drop every weekday (except July 4) as we get closer to the Detroit Lions facing the Los Angeles Chargers in Canton, Ohio. Who will be No. 1 going into the season? Where will your team rank? Here's your guide for all the answers. Click on below to jump to that team, then click on the team name to read the full preview. No. 32 Titans No. 31 Saints No. 30 Browns (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) A 3-14 season was a wake-up call. The Tennessee Titans not only fell to the bottom of the NFL, they slid deep into obscurity. Tennessee was truly awful but other than regular Will Levis memes and first-year head coach Brian Callahan's outward hostility toward Levis, nobody cared. They had no identity, no marketable star, a decayed roster and only one hope for the future. That hope was the first pick of the draft. The Titans could have traded that pick or taken Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, but they knew the best path back to relevance was hitting on a pick at quarterback. That's why Cam Ward, who set an NCAA record with 158 touchdown passes at Incarnate Word, Washington State and then Miami, is a Titan. There's a long way to go and Ward won't fix all of that. There were a few bright spots on the roster — Jeffery Simmons is a star on the defensive line, 2024 rookies DT T'Vondre Sweat and CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. had promising debuts, Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley had 1,000-yard seasons in a bad situation — but rebuilding will take a while. If Ward hits, at least that's a start. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The plan for the Saints always seemed to be that when Drew Brees retired, there would be a total teardown. That really didn't happen. It still hasn't happened four years after Brees' last game. The Saints weren't recklessly aggressive as usual this offseason, but didn't blow things up and didn't make moves that would indicate they have the self awareness to know they should be in a rebuild. They still have a terrible 2026 cap situation and one of the oldest rosters in the NFL. Even a brutal 15-game stretch to end the season didn't force them into facing reality. Maybe it needs to get even worse for the Saints to realize they're at rock bottom. And it might. Kellen Moore is a rookie head coach and he does not step into a good situation. Derek Carr retired and while he wasn't great for New Orleans, the remaining quarterback solution is probably second-round pick Tyler Shough, a curious pick for a fading team considering he'll turn 26 years old in September. The surrounding cast has some recognizable names who have had good careers but is short on stars who are still in their prime. The Saints' only blue-chip player under 28 years old might be receiver Chris Olave, but he hasn't played a full season in the NFL due to four confirmed concussions. New Orleans has reached a point in which a horrific season is the best outcome. It would be a wake-up call and perhaps lead to a franchise-changing quarterback. Like the first two games last season, the Saints' idea that they can turn things around doing things the same old way seems to be nothing but a mirage. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) The Cleveland Browns were the last to know that Deshaun Watson was one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks. It had to be cathartic for Browns fans to hear owner Jimmy Haslam say the team "took a big swing and miss with Deshaun." Everyone else knew that long ago. The Browns were in deep denial. A key decision at the top of the draft was the unofficial start of reshaping the roster. The Browns passed on the chance to draft Travis Hunter second overall to get a huge haul from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade. It included the fifth overall pick and the Jags' first-round pick next year. It had to be hard to give up Hunter, but it was probably the right move. The big part of the rebuild will be figuring out quarterback, and the Browns are taking a shotgun approach to it this year. They have four relatively low-cost quarterbacks and are praying one is the answer. Joe Flacco is the 40-year-old stopgap, Kenny Pickett is the reclamation project, Dillon Gabriel was the rookie the Browns drafted proactively in the third round, and Shedeur Sanders is the fifth-round pick everyone wants to talk about. If Sanders climbs up from fourth on the depth chart and starts any games this season, the Browns suddenly will become one of the most watched teams in the league. The process starts over. Hopefully for Cleveland it's not as long and difficult as the last one, and with some positive results this time. No. 29: To be revealed Thursday
