Latest news with #OffensivePlayeroftheYear
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles 2025 most important list: Jalen Hurts
Eagles 2025 most important list: Jalen Hurts originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Over the next few weeks leading up to training camp, we'll be counting down the top 25 most important Eagles for the 2025 season. 1. Jalen Hurts Sometimes the discourse around Jalen Hurts gets a little tiring. Ranking him among his peers, docking him points because he plays with stars, nitpicking despite how much he wins. Sure, maybe that makes for a good way to kill some time during the offseason but none of it changes the fact that Hurts is the right quarterback for this team. He showed that last year and left New Orleans as the Super Bowl LIX MVP. But what makes Hurts so special is what still drives him even after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. He still thinks about his Super Bowl loss after the 2022 season. 'This whole year has been more magnifying to me in terms of my desire to win because I kind of learned how I processed everything after the game and where my heart was,' Hurts said during locker cleanout day a few days after the Super Bowl. 'It's like the joy of winning it still had no comparison to the pain of losing it. Those things are still going to continue to motivate me and drive me internally.' Could we have put Saquon Barkley at No. 1 on this list? Sure. And after his Offensive Player of the Year season, he would have certainly been deserving. But let's not discount the role that Hurts played in that great season. It always seems like some are quick to point out how Hurts' surrounding cast helps him but not how he helps them. That doesn't mean that Hurts is a perfect player. He still has his flaws. But as he enters Year 5 as the Eagles' full-time starting quarterback, Hurts knows who he is and he knows how he wants the Eagles' offense to look. Even with another offensive coordinator change going into 2025, Hurts is still one of the driving forces of the Eagles' offense, and that makes him pretty darn important. Kevin Patullo will be the fourth different offensive coordinator under Nick Sirianni in five years and he'll also be Hurts' sixth different play caller. The good news for the Eagles is that Patullo has been around the last four years in a different role and it seems like he and Hurts already have a good relationship. Hurts, 26, is going to continue to be assertive within the offense. 'I think the most important thing when you move forward, it's about trying to build that chemistry,' Hurts said after the 2024 season. 'I think for us as an offense, the more assertive I became throughout the year, the more in sync, the more complementary, the more rhythm we had.' Hurts last season started 15 games in the regular season, completing a career-high 68.7% of his passes for 2,903 yards with 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He also had 630 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Hurts and the rest of the passing attack took a backseat for most of the season as Barkley rushed for 2,000 yards behind the best offensive line in football. Hurts threw four interceptions in the first three games of 2024 but threw just one the rest of the regular season; he really cleaned up that issue. There were some serious questions about the passing game into December that Hurts answered in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. In those two games, Hurts completed 74% of his passes for 467 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception — a passer rating of 114.3. There were some good candidates for Super Bowl MVP, but Hurts deserved the honor. And when asked his favorite part about winning that MVP, his answer shouldn't surprise anyone 'It's the work. That's all I think about,' Hurts said. 'I think about what it took and what it takes and I know I'm behind in what's to come in the future. You play this long into the year, you have other people, other teams, other quarterbacks kind of have a head start of the next year. Just want to plan out my routine and plan out my offseason so I can put the appropriate work in with my teammates.'
USA Today
20 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Browns roster review: A dive into Cleveland's 2025 running back room
With the official departure of Nick Chubb, the Browns are looking to revitalize their rushing attack this season on their roster. The team is entering a rebuilding year, with many young players — including two rookie running backs — aiming to make an impact in 2025. Despite the rebuilding nature of the season, the Browns drafted with a clear message: it's time to re-establish the run game. In April, Cleveland selected two highly regarded college running backs, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, with very high hopes. The former national champion and SEC Player of the Year will both look to make a lasting impact on the offense, alongside returning veteran backs Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. The group has limited NFL experience, with only 415 combined carries among the four players, but that won't stop them from utilizing their talents this upcoming season. With nowhere to go but up, all four backs will have plenty of opportunities to prove why they deserve to be Cleveland's starting running back. Now, let's take a deeper dive into each of these players and the impact they're expected to have in the 2025 regular season: Quinshon Judkins It's no secret that fans are waiting on pins and needles to see how the Quinshon Judkins criminal investigation and contract situation will play out. Due to his recent legal troubles, Judkins remains unsigned and will likely remain that way for the time being. He is currently one of just five 2025 NFL Draft picks who have not yet signed their rookie contracts. If and when Judkins is cleared to play for the Browns, he could become one of the team's most explosive offensive weapons. In his lone season as an Ohio State Buckeye, Judkins tallied 1,060 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging an impressive 5.5 yards per carry. His efforts in all 16 games helped Ohio State capture a national championship. He's expected to share a significant portion of the workload with fellow rookie Dylan Sampson. Dylan Sampson You could argue that the Browns' most valuable 2025 draft selection was Tennessee Volunteer Dylan Sampson. The 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year was the heart of the Volunteers' offense, rushing for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also averaged 5.8 yards per carry and helped lead his team to a College Football Playoff berth. Sampson is expected to play a key role in the Browns' offense, regardless of what happens with Judkins. The Browns' rushing attack was at its best when they had a strong one-two punch in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. If Judkins' situation is resolved, the team could aim to recreate that successful backfield dynamic. Jerome Ford The Browns' veteran running back is returning for his fourth NFL season in Cleveland. After some negotiations, the team reduced Ford's 2025 salary from $3.86 million to $1.75 million — a move that likely secured his spot on the roster and retained his veteran presence. Despite his experience, he faces young competition for carries. In the Browns' 2024 running back carousel, Ford started six games and appeared in eight others. He totaled 790 yards and averaged a career-best 5.4 yards per carry on 104 attempts. Still, the Browns' rushing attack had a disappointing reputation last season. We'll see if Ford's familiarity with the offense gives him an edge over the rookie backs. Pierre Strong Jr. The running back in this group who will need to fight hardest for a 53-man roster spot is 26-year-old Pierre Strong Jr. Since acquiring him from the Patriots, the Browns have appreciated Strong's versatility on offense and special teams. The question is whether that will be enough to earn a roster spot. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff have not yet revealed how they'll structure the 53-man roster. Unfortunately for Strong, the team carried only three running backs on the Week 1 depth chart in 2024. His chances could improve if the Browns don't sign second-round pick Judkins, but he'll need to stand out during training camp either way.
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
10 Stars With Hall-of-Fame Talent Whose Careers Were Stunted by Injuries
Most of the best players to compete in a particular sport end up in their respective league's Hall of Fame — but not all of them. Some haven't been given a bust due to lack of playoff success, while others haven't been given a bust due to injuries limiting their games played. Every sport has a grouping of great players who fall into the latter category: Here are 10 players whose career and talent had them in a HOF discussion, but injuries derailed that dream. Note: Players are mentioned in alphabetical order, by sport. NFL QB Andrew Luck Where were you on August 25, 2019, when Luck called it a career at just 29 years old? The first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Luck helped the Indianapolis Colts transition away from Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who Indy cut after a 2011 season that Manning missed due to a neck injury. On the field, it was difficult for the Colts to ask for anything more than what they got from Luck. A four-time Pro Bowler, Luck could make every throw, threw with conviction, totaled an NFL-high 40 passing touchdowns in 2014 and led the Colts to the playoffs four times. Among the playoff highlights were Luck leading the Colts to the 2014 AFC Championship Game and helping them mount a 28-point second-half comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 AFC wild card round. Shoulder injuries limited Luck to seven games in 2015 and kept him off the field for all of 2017. Luck was named the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He then dealt with an offseason calf injury and ultimately stunned the NFL world by announcing that he was retiring just two weeks before the 2019 season, making the unplayed part of his career one of the biggest what-ifs in league history. RB Clinton Portis On a cool fall Sunday in the early 2000s, the Portis was nothing to joke about. In his 2002 rookie season with the Denver Broncos, Portis rushed for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors. Then, after just his second season, Denver sent Portis to Washington for future Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey and a 2004 second-round draft pick (RB Tatum Bell). Portis picked up where he left off in Denver, rushing for 1,200-plus yards in four of his first five seasons in Washington. The 5-foot-11 Portis was a quick and powerful force. He was among the best running backs of his generation and a respectable pass-catching back. However, injuries stymied Portis, as he was limited to eight games in 2006 due to a shoulder injury and played in a combined 13 games from 2009-10 due to head and groin injuries. Portis, who rushed for 1,200-plus yards in six seasons and double-digit touchdowns in four seasons, was seemingly on the path to Canton, but three injury-riddled seasons in a nine-year career keep him out of the Hall of Fame. QB Tony Romo There are arguably two ways to contextualize Romo's NFL career: he was a ring-less Eli Manning, or he was an injury-prone Philip Rivers. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Romo joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2006 and, barring injury, was their starting quarterback for the next decade. Romo was precise, efficient and had Dallas in position to make the playoffs more often than not. Dallas was a combined 78-49 with Romo as its starter and made the playoffs four times. Of course, the Cowboys went 2-4 in those postseason games. Injuries became a persistent issue for Romo in 2010, with him playing in just six games due to a broken collarbone and then just four games in 2015 due to a collarbone fracture. He then suffered an injury to his vertebrae in the 2016 preseason and lost his starting job to Dak Prescott. Romo last appeared in an NFL game in Week 17 of the 2016 regular season. A four-time Pro Bowler, Romo is first in Cowboys history in passing yards (34,183) and passing touchdowns (248) in 156 games and posted a career 97.1 passer rating. This is a franchise that has won five Super Bowls. With better health and perhaps more wins in January, Romo, who was a finalist for the 2014 NFL MVP, would be bandied about for the Hall of Fame. DE Osi Umenyiora Umenyiora was one of the most lethal pass-rushers of his generation. Two seasons after recording 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2005 — and one year after missing five games due to a torn hip flexor — Umenyiora logged 13.0 sacks and five forced fumbles in a 2007 season that saw the New York Giants win Super Bowl XLII. Coming off that championship campaign, Umenyiora missed the 2008 season due to a torn meniscus. Following a respectable 2009, he posted 11.5 sacks and an NFL-high 10 forced fumbles in 2010, a season that was followed by the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI. Granted, Umenyiora was limited to nine regular-season games due to injury. He played with the Giants through 2012 and spent the final two years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons (2013-14). Already a star, Umenyiora was on the cusp of being arguably the game's best pass-rusher before the aforementioned knee injury got in the way. At that moment, he was playing in the shadow of Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. Then, when Umenyiora returned, he was still in the same position group as two-time Pro Bowler Justin Tuck and later Jason Pierre-Paul, who posted 16.5 sacks in 2011; his star power became a secondary talking point. Umenyiora's NFL career had its highs and lows, but he's one of the best pass rushers in the history of a franchise known for getting to the quarterback. If not for 2008, would Umenyiora have a bust next to Strahan in Canton? MLB 1B Ryan Howard In the late 2000s, there was no National League player more intimidating in the batter's box than Howard. Holding down first base, Howard had overwhelming power from the left side of the plate for the Philadelphia Phillies. He led MLB with 58 home runs in both 2006, a season which saw him win NL MVP, and 2008, and he led the NL in RBIs three times (2006, 2008 and 2009). Howard, a three-time All-Star, was an integral part of Philadelphia's 2008 World Series championship team. Then, the 2011 playoffs happened. In Game 5 of Philadelphia's wild-card round matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, Howard tore his Achilles tendon on what was the final play of the season for the Phillies. He returned in July of the ensuing year, but played in just 80 games in 2013. While Howard, who's second in Phillies history with 382 home runs over 13 seasons, remained Philadelphia's first baseman through 2016 and was a fine enough hitter, the elite version of the former star never returned. OF Andruw Jones If you were to make a starting lineup of the best players not in Cooperstown, Jones should be starting in center field. Jones, a five-time All-Star, earned 10 consecutive Gold Gloves playing center from 1998-2007 with the Atlanta Braves. He was an electric hitter from the right side, hitting for both power and contact, swiping bags early in his career and consistently serving as a star player for Atlanta. In 2005, Jones led the league with 51 home runs and the NL with 128 RBIs. Jones, who's first in Braves history with a 26.6 defensive WAR, was one of the elite outfielders in baseball for a decade. Then, he left the Braves for the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2007 season and was limited to 75 games in 2008 due to a persistent knee injury. Changing teams three more times in the following years, Jones kept suffering injury mishaps, became a rotation outfielder and never recovered his Atlanta form. Jones was a Hall of Fame talent, and if he had even two more seasons of elite play, he would likely be in the Hall of Fame in recognition of that. LHP Cliff Lee "Marty, I'm scared" is what teams would murmur among themselves when it was announced that Lee would be the starting pitcher of the opposing team — and with good reason. After a rocky first four years as an MLB starter – including a 6.29 ERA in 2007 – Lee became as unhittable as any pitcher in the sport. In 2008, Lee won the American League Cy Young Award in Cleveland, posting a 2.54 ERA and winning 22 games. Lee was traded in back-to-back seasons, going from Cleveland to Philadelphia in 2009 and from the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers in 2010 before signing back with the Phillies for the 2011 season. Through that entire stretch, Lee made hitters look silly with his off-speed arsenal, inducing weak contact and pitching deep into games. Across 11 career postseason starts, Lee posted a 2.52 ERA, an 0.93 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched, which included three complete games. After two more high-quality seasons with the Phillies, the four-time All-Star suffered an elbow injury in 2014 that ultimately ended his career. Another case of apparent Hall of Fame talent, but the innings pitched just weren't there. RHP Stephen Strasburg Selected by Washington with the first overall pick in 2009, Strasburg overcame injuries and lived up to the hype. Strasburg set an MLB record with 14 strikeouts across seven innings in his first MLB start and continued to dazzle before needing Tommy John surgery later in his 2010 debut season. The right-hander returned to the hill in September 2011 and went on to be one of the best starting pitchers of the decade. Posting strikeouts at a high rate, pitching deep into games and finding success with his four-seamer and curveball, Strasburg posted a combined 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP from 2012-19. In the final year of that span, Strasburg helped Washington win the 2019 World Series, earning World Series MVP honors. Over his career, Strasburg was sensational in the postseason, recording a 1.46 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched over nine career postseason appearances/eight starts. Unfortunately for him, his body broke down after signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with Washington following the 2019 World Series. Strasburg suffered hand and shoulder injuries in the following years, making just eight starts from 2020-22 before officially retiring in 2024. Furthermore, the three-time All-Star made 30 starts in just three seasons, making for one of the most bizarre careers for an elite player in MLB history. NBA G Brandon Roy After a solid four-year college career at Washington, Roy was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth-overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, and he hit the ground running, earning 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Roy became a balanced, high-level scorer, averaging a combined 22.1 points per game from the 2008-09 season to the 2009-10 season. Moreover, Roy was an All-Star in each of the three seasons following his rookie campaign. He was one of the best guards in the NBA and a burgeoning star, if not one already. In the 2009 postseason, Roy averaged 26.7 points per game, while shooting 45.9/47.1/87.0. Then, Roy suffered a torn meniscus late in the 2009-10 season but returned and played with the injury in the playoffs. The following season (2010-11), Roy was limited to 47 games due to more knee issues. It became so critical that Roy retired after the season. He attempted an NBA return in the 2012-13 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Roy only played in five games due to his knee. F/C Amar'e Stoudemire Stoudemire was Blake Griffin before Blake Griffin was Blake Griffin. Selected straight out of high school by the Phoenix Suns with the ninth-overall pick in 2002, Stoudemire won NBA Rookie of the Year honors and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. The 6-foot-10 Stoudemire flew up and down the floor, finished at the rim over any and everybody and developed a reliable mid-range jumper. In just his third season, Stoudemire averaged 26.0 points per game. He got sidetracked the following season with a knee injury that kept the big man off the floor for all but three games. Stoudemire returned to form, though, in the 2006-07 season, reverting to the formidable scorer he was pre-injury. Outside a 2009 eye injury that cut his season short after 53 games, Stoudemire stayed healthy through the end of his time with the Suns (2009-10) and helped the New York Knicks make the playoffs in the 2010-11 season. However, Stoudemire suffered a back injury in the 2010-11 postseason and missed time with another the ensuing season. What's more, he appeared in just 29 games in the 2012-13 season due to a knee injury and was moved to the bench. He was able to play the bulk of the next three seasons, but mostly as a reserve. Stoudemire was a five-time All-NBA honoree and one of the best big men of his generation. If only he had a few more All-Star seasons. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
LeBron James on if NBA should give an Offensive Player of the Year award
In the NFL, a number of individual awards are given out each season that the NBA doesn't have. That includes the Offensive Player of the Year award, which is distinct from the MVP award. Historically, at least in the modern era, the NFL MVP has usually been awarded to quarterbacks. But the Offensive Player of the Year award often goes to a wide receiver or running back, and it makes a nice addition to one's resume. Some have wondered if the NBA should add an Offensive Player of the Year award to its list of annual individual honors. During a recent episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast, LeBron James wondered out loud about what the criteria for an Offensive Player of the Year award would be in the NBA. 'I did think about how the NFL does Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. I thought that could possibly be something in our league, where you give an Offensive Player of the Year and an MVP… It changes. It's like, OK, so is it the best player? Is it the player who had the best season with their team? Maybe that's Offensive Player of the Year. Or is it just simply the best player in the league, statistically this was the best player in the league. Obviously you're not going to have someone in there whose team didn't come close to making the playoffs … it's not the most valuable, then.' This past season, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the regular season MVP award, and he also earned NBA Finals MVP honors when his team won the world championship. But although he led the league in scoring, an Offensive Player of the Year award would've likely gone to Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets, who became just the third player in league history to average a triple-double. If the NBA had an Offensive Player of the Year award, as the NFL has had for decades, there is no doubt James would've won at least a couple of them.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams' 25 most important players for 2025 – No. 2: WR Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua's ascent to stardom was rapid – as fast as any player in recent memory for someone drafted as late as he was. He went from being a fifth-round rookie who was hardly a lock to make the 53-man roster when camp began to nearly winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and becoming one of the most popular players in football. He's well past just being popular now after a terrific second season. He's undeniably a top-tier player regardless of position, a legitimate candidate to compete for Offensive Player of the Year. His value to the Los Angeles Rams is huge, both as a receiver and a blocker in the run game. With Cooper Kupp gone, Nacua's importance to the team is even higher. He ranks No. 2 on our list of the team's 25 most important players entering the 2025 season. How he got here Nacua was a relatively unknown player to most in 2023 when the Rams selected him with the 177th overall pick in the fifth round. The BYU product was injured often in college and didn't test particularly well before the draft, causing his stock to slip. 2024 stats 11 games (11 starts): 106 targets, 79 catches, 990 yards, 3 touchdowns, 11 carries, 46 yards, 1 touchdown Projected role Kupp is out of the picture, which naturally elevates Nacua's opportunities a little bit. However, the signing of Davante Adams prevents Nacua from being the overwhelming favorite to be the go-to receiver. Both Nacua and Adams will both see a ton of targets from Matthew Stafford, especially considering they're different types of receivers. Nacua will play in the slot often and also line up wide to the right, while Adams' best spot might be as an X-receiver to the left side of the field where he'll be isolated against a cornerback. Why he's important Nacua missed five of the first six games last season and in those games, the Rams were 2-3. They also lost the opener against the Lions in a game where Nacua left in the second quarter with a knee injury. It's no coincidence that the Rams went 8-2 in the other 10 games, showing just how valuable he is to the team. If not for his five-game injury absence, he might've led the NFL in receiving yards; he was third in yards per game, averaging 90.0 in his second season, trailing only Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. The Rams don't have a receiver who can do the things that he can, from catching drag routes and turning them into big gains to blocking on the edge to running fades down the sideline. He improved in a big way last season despite his numbers declining, displaying more reliable hands, better route running and footwork, too. Los Angeles' offense is just different when he's on the field. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
