Latest news with #UpandAdams
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Trey Smith not sweating franchise tag deadline, contract extension with Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs made significant changes to their offensive line during the 2025 NFL offseason, but they wanted to make sure star guard Trey Smith remained with the team. Kansas City slapped Smith with the franchise tag to avoid letting the two-time Super Bowl champion hit the open market as a free agent. As a result, Smith is set to play the 2025 season on a one-year, $23.4 million contract, making him the highest-paid guard in NFL history. But will the Chiefs sign the 2024 Pro Bowler to a long-term extension? The two parties must agree to one before July 15 – the NFL's annual deadline by which to agree to an extension with a franchise-tagged player. Otherwise, they may end up doing the same song and dance during the 2026 NFL offseason. Despite this, Smith doesn't seem overly worried about his future, as he expressed in an interview on FanDuel TV's "Up and Adams" Thursday. "I leave it to the hands of my agents," Smith said of any potential contract negotiations. "Obviously, the front office staff of the Chiefs are elite, and you know, at the end of the day, I just let them take care of it. I just have to focus on being the best version of myself, being the best football player and being prepared for training camp because St. Joe's is around the corner." NFL UNIFORM RANKINGS: Where do Commanders, Saints land after revealing new alternates? It isn't clear whether Smith and the Chiefs will agree to an extension before the deadline. However, the 26-year-old has earned an endorsement from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who called Smith "one of the best protectors in the business," according to Kay Adams. "For him to say that means a lot to me," Smith said. "Like I said, I lose sleep thinking about protecting Patrick. I know the things that I need to get better in my game to be the best protector that I can and just be an asset for my team and help my team out." Kansas City has just under $10.9 million in cap space remaining for the 2025 NFL season. Extending Smith could create more, as the team could try to lower his $23.4 million cap hit for the upcoming campaign. An extension would also replenish the long-term guard stability the Chiefs lost by trading perennial All-Pro Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears during the offseason. JOE THUNEY TRADE GRADES: Bears score high marks as they continue building O-line However, the Chiefs are projected to be $37.2 million over the cap in 2026, per That could complicate potential extension discussions, or at least force Kansas City to consider restructuring some contracts to give itself better maneuverability in 2026 and beyond.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patrick Mahomes discusses relationship with Tom Brady: 'Such a good dude'
Tom Brady served as one of Patrick Mahomes' biggest on-field rivals during the early stages of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback's career. Now retired, the seven-time Super Bowl champion is serving as a mentor and sounding board for the two-time MVP, as Mahomes explained to Kay Adams on her "Up and Adams" show. "I've actually talked to Tom a good amount this offseason," Mahomes said. "It's cool that he wants to give me advice. He doesn't have to be like that. He's such a good dude. And I have so much respect for him, and I'll take any advice he gives me." Mahomes joked he wasn't able to give specifics about the discussions between himself and Brady. "I've got to keep the secrets, you know?" Mahomes said, playfully. That said, Mahomes did detail one of the most important lessons he has learned from Brady, who currently serves as a game analyst for Fox's NFL coverage and recently bought an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. "He always talks about being yourself," Mahomes said. "He thinks that – which I truly believe, too – is that guys can spot when you're not authentic, and you're not putting in the work. That's something that he did every single day. That's why guys respected him so much." "That's all I'm going to do for the rest of my career, and I feel like I've done so far, is I'm always myself," he added. "No matter if you like me or don't like me, you know I'm giving everything I can to win football games." TOM BRADY: How legendary QB is handling Patrick Mahomes chasing his historic Super Bowl legacy Like Brady, Mahomes has found success doing that. The 29-year-old has already won three Super Bowls and earned MVP honors in each of his three victories. He has posted an 89-23 regular-season record in Kansas City and a 17-4 record in the postseason, giving him a combined winning percentage of .797. Mahomes' success has earned him high praise from Brady. The long-time New England Patriots starter has expressed his belief that if any quarterback could eventually surpass him in the debate about the NFL's greatest quarterback, it would be Mahomes. That praise has meant a lot to the Texas Tech product and has lit a fire under him as he looks to bounce back after a Super Bowl 59 defeat in his ninth NFL season. "I think [legacy is] always in the back of your mind, even from the beginning of my career,' Mahomes told Adams. "But at the end of the day, it's about taking it a day at a time ... That's something that I've been conscious of – of knowing how blessed I am to be in Kansas City, to have all these great players around me. 'And having Tom – a guy like that – say that, it just motivates me even more."
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rod Woodson gets real on if Aaron Rodgers can save the Steelers
The post Rod Woodson gets real on if Aaron Rodgers can save the Steelers appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Pittsburgh Steelers waited months for Aaron Rodgers to decide if he would continue his career with the team. Ultimately, Rodgers decided to come back for his 21st NFL season and signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract with the Steelers. Advertisement While opinions around the league vary on what exactly the Rodgers signing does for Pittsburgh, Hall of Fame defensive back and former Steelers great Rod Woodson offered his take on the new pairing. 'Is he going to make the position better for the Steelers? Absolutely. Is he gonna be the best quarterback they've had since Ben? Absolutely,' Woodson said on an episode of Up and Adams. 'My question is the dedication. Because he's naturally gifted. He's going to wake out of bed when he's 60 and he's going to be able to throw the ball 50 yards down the field to whoever he wants to. I mean he's just naturally gifted like that. So… if Aaron buys all in he's going to make the Steelers a better football team.' The Steelers hope Aaron Rodgers is the answer at quarterback Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images Motivation and dedication are key elements to any successful season by a professional athlete. But with Rodgers turning 42 this year and given his lengthy delay in accepting the Steelers' offer, it's fair to wonder if the four-time league MVP is truly all in. Advertisement While Woodson's take is pretty positive, not everybody loves the signing. Mike Florio believes the move reeks of desperation – an obvious attempt to snap the Steelers' playoff winless streak, which dates back to 2016. Former GM Mike Tannenbaum thinks Rodgers and the Steelers will be irrelevant by Thanksgiving. In his opinion, the veteran QB won't be able to move the needle much for Pittsburgh at this stage of his career. Nonetheless, head coach Mike Tomlin pushed for Rodgers to join the team. He clearly believes the Steelers are a productive quarterback away from being legitimate contenders in 2025. Perhaps Rodgers can help the team make a deep playoff run. He'll be two years removed from the Achilles injury that wiped out his 2023 debut with the New York Jets. And he showed flashes of his All-Pro form last year, flirting with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. Related: George Pickens reveals biggest difference from Steelers to Cowboys Related: Steelers rumors: Insider slaps Pittsburgh with harsh Aaron Rodgers reality
Newsweek
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
8-Time NFL Pro Bowler Sets Sights on NY Giants QB
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Derek Carr's departure from the NFL left the New Orleans Saints down a veteran quarterback. The Saints lack experience at the position and could eventually be in the market for somebody to add some help. This week, the eight-time Pro Bowler Cam Jordan made it clear that he would eventually work on luring in a veteran quarterback to join the team. He didn't have an immediate name to reveal on FanDuel TV's 'Up and Adams'. "I'm going to recruit a veteran quarterback properly when the time is right, and that's going to probably take all of the cap space we have," Jordan said. Could that quarterback be Kirk Cousins? Nope. Adams tossed out a potential return to the game for Matt Ryan for Jordan to think about, but the rival connection doesn't sit right for the homegrown Saints player. It didn't take long before Jordan tossed out New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston. "Jameis? If I'm being non-biased... Jameis? There's Russell over there. They got Jaxson Dart. My guy, Jameis, yeah. Come on down! It makes a lot of sense. .... I'm going all in. Jameis as a veteran quarterback, come on over," Jordan said. "Im goin' all in, Jameis as a veteran QB .. come on over." 15 year NFL vet @camjordan94 on trading for @Jaboowins. — Kay Adams (@heykayadams) June 9, 2025 The former No. 1 overall pick out of Florida State has plenty of experience under his belt. Since landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, Winston has played in 105 games, picking up 87 starts. After five seasons with the Bucs, Winston joined the Saints in 2020 to serve as a backup to Drew Brees. Although he initially signed a one-year deal with New Orleans, Winston returned on another short-term contract for the following season. He ended up starting in seven games. Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Caesars Superdome on December 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Caesars Superdome on December 1, 2024 in New Orleans, run with the Saints would conclude after the 2023 NFL season. Last year, he signed a one-year deal to play backup for the Cleveland Browns. He played in 12 games, completing 181 passes for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns. Winston finished with a completion percentage of 61 percent. He threw 12 interceptions. With the Giants, Winston is expected to play second-string to Russell Wilson. The rookie first-rounder Jaxson Dart is right behind him. Since the Giants are operating as if they are contending in 2025, Winston remains an important piece as insurance to Wilson. However, if Dart shows major strides in training camp, there is a chance he could jump his way into the backup quarterback spot. If the Giants trend in the wrong direction, it could lead them to cut the Wilson experiment early and take a chance on Winston. While Jordan's desire to bring Winston back to New Orleans is far-fetched at the moment, the idea that the Saints could use some help at the position is legitimate. New Orleans currently employs the 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener, the 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler, and the second-round rookie, Tyler Shough.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Warriors' Brandin Podziemski doesn't want a Giannis Antetokoumpo trade
The post Why Warriors' Brandin Podziemski doesn't want a Giannis Antetokoumpo trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. In today's NBA, stars change teams at every trade deadline and free-agency period. As of June 3rd, the longest-tenured All-Stars in the league are Stephen Curry and Draymond Green with the Golden State Warriors. Giannis Antetokounmpo is close behind, having spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. Advertisement However, Milwaukee could trade their star soon. According to Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, he does not want to see the MVP finalist to demand a trade this summer. After an ACL injury to Damian Lillard and another first-round playoff exit, experts expect Antetokounmpo to request a trade this summer. Teams around the league will line up to offer packages for the nine-time All-NBA selection. However, Podziemski offered his thoughts on the situation. According to him, he much prefers players to stay with their original team for their entire career. Podziemski grew up in Wisconsin and was a big Bucks fan as a kid. He spoke to Kay Adams on Tuesday's episode of Up and Adams about the rumors swirling around the superstar. To him, Antetokounmpo playing in another city just doesn't feel right. 'It's like Steph[en Curry] not playing for the Warriors,' Podziemski said about the Greek Freak changing teams. 'All guys who've cemented their legacy and what they're about in this league on one team, you never expect it to change. Advertisement 'It's the same as Luka [Doncic] in Dallas. The whole world is shocked because of the player that he is, and you could see that they were building around him. It's like any star in the league that stays with one team. You expect them to be in one jersey, and anywhere else just doesn't seem right at all.' Even though he is with the Warriors, Podziemski still has an affinity for his hometown. For him, his goal is to win a championship in Milwaukee for Golden State against the Bucks. 'It'd be pretty cool to win a championship in Milwaukee against them; that would be something cool,' Podziemski said. 'But I love Golden State. I love everything that they've invested in me despite having Hall of Famers all the time around me. It's pretty cool to be wanted as a young player.' Podziemski and Antetokounmpo are at different points in their careers. However, if the young Warriors guard has his way, they will stay where they are and finish their careers with one team. Still, Milwaukee's superstar fits what the Warriors are looking for. Therefore, there is a world in which they are in the same deal.
