Santa Clara, CA: In a game that featured the two most injury-ridden teams in the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles came in playing underdog to a 49ers team that was missing it’s starting quarterback, running back, pass rushers, and outside corners. And while San Francisco was riding the hot hand coming into Sunday night, winning two straight against the New York Jets & New York Giants, respectively, quarterback Carson Wentz led the Eagles an ugly, gritty, 25-20 win over the defending NFC Champion 49ers. 

A win’s a win, even when it’s ugly 

            Even before the season started, the Eagles lost some solid players, particularly on the offensive line. Losing right guard Brandon Brooks (torn Achilles) and left tackle Andre Dillard (torn biceps) during the off-season was just the start of Philadelphia’s injury woes. Since then, the Eagles have lost four of their top receivers (Alshon Jeffery, J.J Arcega-Whiteside, DeSean Jackson, and Jalen Reagor), two starting-caliber defensive backs (Avonte Maddox & Trevor Williams), their starting right tackle (Lane Johnson), and their replacement left tackle (Jason Peters). And we’re just scratching the surface here. As if it wasn’t bad enough, quarterback Carson Wentz has been playing terribly, throwing for just 737 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions in his last three games.  

            And yet, in a game where the national audience and the NBC broadcasting panel picked the 49ers to win across the board, the Eagles made everyone and their mother look foolish. The stats say that Wentz played at a pedestrian level; 18/28 (64% completion) for 193 yards, seven carries for 37 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, and an interception. But on the eye test, Wentz played his heart out. His best play of the night was the one that changed the tide; on second and 19, Wentz lobs the ball deep to second-year wideout Travis Fulgham (2-57-1), who wrestled with a defensive back as he tip-toed his way into the endzone for a 42-yard score. Aside from that play, the rest of the Eagles offense was silent. Primary half-back Miles Sanders only got 13 carries for 46 yards, as coach Peterson elected to go with a running back-by-committee approach near the end of the game, which resulted in 93 total rushing yards by six different ball carriers. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz only registered four catches on five targets for nine yards, his lowest of the season. “Big Team win,” Wentz said in his post-game presser. "[The] defense played their tails off, turnovers were huge for us. Guys just rallied around each other and played their tails off.” 

Speaking of the defense, the unit was Philly’s saving grace, forcing San Francisco to punt for times and turn the ball over three times. The unit registered 15 total quarterback hits, five sacks, a forced fumble, and two interceptions, with the second pick by linebacker Alex Singleton going to the house for a 30-yard pick-six. 

Defending Champs On the Ropes 

            In the last two games, head coach Kyle Shanahan orchestrated two blow out games against both of New York City’s “football teams”; beating the Jets 31-13 and the Giants 36-9 with B & C-team players. Over the course of those two games, though, San Fran lost almost every playmaker on both sides of the ball. They lost three of their top pass rushers (Dee Ford, Nick Bosa, and Solomon Thomas), their starting corners (Emmanuel Mosely, Kyle Williams, and Richard Sherman), their starting two running backs (Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert), and their starting quarterback (Jimmy Garoppolo), along with a laundry list of other significant injuries.  

            After the Giants game, coach Shanahan was asked whether backup quarterback Nick Mullens, who threw for over 300 yards against New York, could compete for the starting job once Garoppolo came back from injury. Shanahan answered with a resounding no, and against the Eagles, we can now see why. Mullens was good against the Giants, but not that good. Against a desperate Eagles defense, Mullens was abused and confused; throwing for 200 yards even, a touchdown, a lost fumble, two momentum-killing interceptions. It got so bad, he was benched for C.J. Beathard (14/19 – 138), whose fourth-quarter comeback bid came up short with seven seconds left on the clock. 

            On the Brightside, star tight end George Kittle’s return to the gridiron was as big and loud as he is. Despite missing the last two weeks with a knee injury, Kittle caught 15 balls on 15 targets for 183 yards and a touchdown, along with one carry for eight yards. 

            On defense, the injury-riddled front seven registered 10 quarterback hits and three sacks against Wentz, even picking him off on a pass-deflection at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter. They kept Philly to just 267 total offensive yards (174 passing, 93 rushing) on the night, but just couldn’t keep them out of the endzone.  

What’s next? 

            The Eagles are coming back to the East coast with a win, but they’re set to face in-state rival Pittsburgh, who’s coming off an extra week of rest after their week four-game against the Tennessee Titans was postponed due to a COVID outbreak in Tennessee. 

            As for San Francisco, they’re getting a chance at a bounce-back game, as they’re set to host a 1-3 Miami Dolphins team. However, don’t let the record fool you; this Fitzmagic-led squad went blow-for-blow in a close 31-23 loss to NFC West rival (and division leader) Seattle Seahawks.  

Writer

-By: Juan Guarin-Camargo

The San Francisco 49ers franchise began in the All-America Football Conference in 1946, where they were always chasing Cleveland, whom they lost to in the championship in 1949. San Francisco, Cleveland and the Baltimore Colts all transferred to the NFL in 1950, but it took the 49ers 20 years to reach their first NFC Championship Game, a lost to the Cowboys. They won five Super Bowls in a 14-year stretch from 1981-94, and played in four other NFC title games during that span. Many of the top stars from this era are featured on San Francisco’s best picks list, but three others played in more recent seasons, which included trips to Super Bowls XLVII and LIV. The franchise’s best picks include three of the most talented players at their respective positions in NFL history. 

BEST

10. (tie) Billy Wilson, WR (Round 22, Pick 283 in 1950) and Joe Staley, T (Round 1, Pick 28 in 2007) - Wilson was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of his football career in northern California, first at San Jose State, then with the 49ers for 10 years. He was selected to six straight Pro Bowls from 1954-59, led the NFL in receptions three times and was an All-Pro in 1957. Overall, he ranks fifth in 49ers history with 5,902 yards, tied for fifth with 49 touchdowns and seventh with 407 catches. Despite having the most receptions in the NFL during the 1950s (403), Wilson has not been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After his playing career ended in 1960, he spent 30 years as a 49ers coach and scout. Wilson died from bone cancer in 2009. 

Like Wilson, Staley was a six-time Pro Bowler who came from a non-“Power Five” conference, moving from tight end to offensive tackle while at Central Michigan. Staley has played in 181 games in 13 seasons with San Francisco, but he suffered broken fibulas in 2010 and ’19, and also missed time in 2009 with a sprained knee. He started in two Super Bowls and four NFC Championship Games, including three in a row from 2011-13.

9. (tie) Dave Wilcox, LB (Round 3, Pick 29 in 1964) and Patrick Willis, LB (Round 1, Pick 11 in 2007) - Wilcox was an All-American at Boise Junior College (now Boise State) before transferring to Oregon. He chose the 49ers over the Houston Oilers, who chose him in the sixth round of the 1964 AFL Draft, and he spent his entire 11-year career in San Francisco. Wilcox converted from the guard and defensive end two-way combination he played with the Ducks to outside linebacker with the 49ers, and was such a ferocious player he was given the nickname “The Intimidator.” He had 14 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries while missing just one game in his career. Wilcox was selected to seven Pro Bowls, including six straight from 1968-73, and was a two-time All-Pro. He also played in back-to-back NFC Championship Games in 1970 and ’71, but the 49ers lost to the Cowboys both years. Wilcox retired after the 1974 season and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. 

Willis was another linebacker who could track down both rushers and receivers. He was a two-time All-American at Mississippi, and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year and the Butkus Award as best linebacker in 2006. Willis was a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro and the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the league with 174 tackles in 2007. Overall, he was a five-time All-Pro and earned Pro Bowl selections in each of his first seven seasons. Willis is San Francisco’s all-time leader with 950 tackles, and posted 100 or more stops six times. Like Staley, he started in three NFC title games, and he had 10 tackles in a Super Bowl XLVII loss to the Ravens. Willis missed 10 games with a toe injury in 2014 and retired the following year. 

8. Jimmy Johnson, CB (Round 1, Pick 6 in 1961) - Johnson was a receiver and defensive back at UCLA, was also a track All-American with the Bruins. He spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the 49ers, and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors each season from 1969-72. After spending 1962 as a receiver, Johnson became a full-time cornerback the following year. He ranks second in team history with 47 interceptions, including five seasons with four or more. Johnson retired after the 1976 season, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994. 

7. (tie) Hugh McElhenney, RB (Round 1, Pick 9 in 1952), Roger Craig, RB (Round 2, Pick 49 in 1983) and Frank Gore, RB (Round 3, Pick 65 in 2005) - McElhenny starred for the University of Washington, running for a school-record 296 yards in a 1950 game against Washington State and earning All-American honors the following year. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro his first two seasons with the 49ers, and was selected to five Pro Bowls overall with San Francisco. Nicknamed “The King,” McElhenny was a part of the 49ers’ “Million Dollar Backfield” in the early 1950s that included fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers in quarterback Y. A. Tittle, halfback John Henry Johnson and fullback Joe Perry. He ranks seventh in team history with 4,288 yards and 35 touchdowns, but the 49ers left him available in the 1961 Expansion Draft and he was selected by Minnesota. McElhenney spent two years with the Vikings and one each with the Giants and Lions before retiring in 1964. After his playing career, he was a radio analyst for the 49ers, and led a failed ownership group that tried to bring the NFL to Seattle in the early 1970s. McElhenny suffered from the nerve disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome, which led to him using a walker. 

Craig played four years at Nebraska, and split carries with future Heisman Trophy winner and Houston Oilers star Mike Rozier. With San Francisco, he earned four Pro Bowl selections and was also an All-Pro and the Offensive Player of the Year in 1988 when he ran for a career-high 1,502 yards. Craig was a dual-threat star, ranking third in team history with 7,064 rushing yards, 50 touchdowns and 508 receptions, while also amassing 4,442 receiving yards. The 49ers made the playoffs every year with Craig on the roster, and he combined for 198 yards and two scores in three 49ers Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. Craig signed with the Raiders in 1991, and spent the next two years with the Vikings before retiring in 1993. He now keeps busy as a distance runner. 

Gore was a part of the University of Miami’s 2001 National Championship team as a freshman, but missed the following season after suffering a torn ACL. He struggled in his redshirt sophomore season, but ran for 945 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2004. In 10 seasons with San Francisco, Gore ran for at least 1,000 yards, with a high of 1,695 in 2006, and was selected to five Pro Bowls. He joined Willis and Staley in three NFC Championship Games, even running for 110 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII. Gore is the all-time 49ers leader with 11,073 yards, and ranks second with 64 scoring runs. He signed with the Colts in 2015 and spent three years with Indianapolis, then spent one year each with Miami and Buffalo. Late in the 2019 season with the Bills, Gore passed Barry Sanders for third place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list (15,347 yards to 15.269 for Sanders). 

6. Charles Haley, LB/DE (Round 4, Pick 96 in 1986) - Haley was a Division I-AA All-American at James Madison, and made the All-Rookie Team with San Francisco after posting 12 sacks in 1986. He ranks second in team history with 66½ sacks, including a career-high 16 in his 1990 All-Pro season. Haley went to three Pro Bowls with the 49ers and had two sacks and four tackles in a Super Bowl XXIII win over the Bengals. He was traded to the Cowboys in 1992 and the Cowboys moved him from outside linebacker to defensive end. Haley was a part of two championship teams, was selected to a pair of Pro Bowls and was a 1994 All-Pro in five years with Dallas. He retired in 1997 due to recurring back problems and to be with his daughter, who was diagnosed with Leukemia. But Haley came back to San Francisco in time for the 1998 playoffs, and spent one more year with the 49ers before retiring for good in 1999. Since his playing career ended, Haley has worked with several charitable organizations including Tackle Tomorrow, which he co-founded to help give children the tools to succeed as they get older. 

5. Terrell Owens, WR (Round 3, Pick 89 in 1996) - Owens’ football career was a mix of fantastic play and controversy. He played football and ran track at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and had five 1,000-yard seasons with San Francisco. The four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro had six catches for 100 yards in the 1997 NFC Championship Game, which the 49ers lost to the Packers. But it wasn’t all good. While he set an NFL record with 20 receptions in a game against the Bears in 2000 (since surpassed by Brandon Marshall in 2009), Owens also took plays off, earned the ire of Cowboys fans for celebrating touchdowns on the big star on the 50-yard-line in Dallas and implied that 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia was gay. He ranks second behind Jerry Rice in team history with 592 receptions, 8,572 yards and 81 touchdowns. 

Owens was traded to Philadelphia in 2004, and was named a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro that season, but suffered a sprained ankle and a fractured fibula, leading to a surgery that included inserting a screw into his leg. He played for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX against doctors orders and posted nine catches for 122 yards in a loss to the Patriots. Owens signed with the Cowboys in 2006, and was named a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro the following year. After three years in Dallas, he spent a year each in Buffalo and Cincinnati. Owens did not play in 2011, and signed with the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football league during their 2012 season in the spring. He tried out with the Seahawks in the fall, but Seattle released him before the season began. “T. O.” officially retired in 2015. He created more controversy when he refused to go to Canton, Ohio, for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, instead giving his speech at his alma mater. He was controversially left off the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019. 

4. Leo Nomellini, DT/OT (Round 1, Pick 11 in 1950) - Nomellini learned how to play football in the Marine Corps, and he became a two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota. The 49ers joined the NFL after the All-America Football Conference folded in 1949, and Nomellini was their first-ever draft choice. He never missed a game in his 14-year career, playing in 174 games and earning 10 Pro Bowl and six All-Pro selections. During the offseason, Nomellini participated in the National Wrestling Alliance, even defeating all-time great Lou Thesz. Nomellini retired in 1963, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969, and died after suffering a stroke in 2000. 

3. Ronnie Lott, S (Round 1, Pick 8 in 1981) - One of the hardest hitters in NFL history, Lott was part of USC’s National Championship team as a sophomore in 1978 and earned All-American status two years later. In 10 seasons with the 49ers, he ranks first in team history with 51 interceptions and second with 721 tackles. Lott began his career as a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1981. That season, he had seven interceptions,  returned three for touchdowns and finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. In San Francisco, Lott was a nine-time Pro Bowler, a five time All-Pro and a four-time champion. He signed with the Raiders in 1991 and spent two years with Los Angeles and two more with the New York Jets before retiring in 1995. Lott has been a studio analyst, first on Fox and then on the Pac-12 Network. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, and was selected to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019. 

2. Jerry Rice, WR (Round 1, Pick 16 in 1985) - Simply put, Rice is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, but he drops to the second spot because of Joe Montana’s value as a late third-round pick. A two-time I-AA All-American from Mississippi Valley State, Rice earned his nickname “World” in college due to his ability to catch anything thrown near him. He is the NFL’s all-time leader by a wide margin, with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns. In 16 years with San Francisco, Rice led the league in yards and scores six times, and in catches twice. The 12-time Pro Bowler and 10-time All-Pro held NFL marks with 1,848 yards in 1995 (broken by Calvin Johnson in 2012) and 22 touchdowns in 1987 (passed by Randy Moss in 2007). Rice was Offensive Player of the Year in 1987 and ’93, and he was a part of three championship teams in San Francisco, earning MVP honors in Super Bowl XXIII after posting 11 catches, a game-record 215 yards and a touchdown. He signed with the Raiders in 2001, and was selected to the Pro Bowl the following year. Rice was traded to the Seahawks in 2004, and retired at the end of the season. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and was a Pro Bowl legends captain twice. 

1. Joe Montana, QB (Round 3, Pick 82 in 1979) - Montana was a legend even before he graduated college. He led Notre Dame to the National Championship in 1977 and turned in one of the gutsiest performances in college football history in the Cotton Bowl the following year. Montana had hypothermia during the game, and stayed in the locker room after halftime while the medical staff gave him intravenous fluids and chicken soup. Montana came back late in the third quarter with Houston winning 34-12 and posted three late scores, including his touchdown pass as time expired, to give the Fighting Irish a 35-34 win. 

After spending a year and a half behind Steve DeBerg on San Francisco’s depth chart, Montana took over as 49ers starter in 1980. He was a back-to-back league MVP in 1989 and ’90, a seven-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. Montana also led the league in completion percentage five times and touchdowns twice, but “Joe Cool” was at his best in the postseason. He went 14-5, including 4-0 in the Super Bowl, and was the game’s MVP three times. Although Rice was the MVP of Super Bowl XXIII, Montana set a game record with 357 yards, and he also set another record with five touchdowns the following year. He set team marks with 35,124 yards and 244 scoring passes in 13 seasons with San Francisco, but an elbow injury cost him all of the 1991 season and all but one game the next year. He was traded to Kansas City and spent two seasons with the Chiefs before retiring in 1995. Since his career ended, Montana was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019 and has raised horses and produced wine in California. 

WORST

10. (tie) Lance Alworth, WR (Round 1, Pick 8 in 1962), Gio Carmazzi, QB (Round 3, Pick 65 in 2000) and Terrence Flagler, RB (Round 1, Pick 25 in 1987) - Alworth was a three-time Academic All-American at Arkansas while competing in football and track. He was drafted by San Francisco, and Oakland took him ninth overall in the AFL Draft, but he never played for either team. The Raiders traded his rights to the Chargers, where he earned seven Pro Bowl and six All-Pro selections. Alworth finished his career with 10,266 yards and 85 touchdowns, and he also won titles with the Chargers in the 1963 AFL Championship Game and the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. He retired in 1972, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, and now runs a self-storage company.  

A three-time Division I-AA All-American, Carmazzi was one of six quarterbacks taken before Tom Brady in the 2000 Draft. He holds Hofstra records with 9,371 yards and 71 touchdown passes, marks that should stand for a long time, since Hofstra dropped its football program in 2009. Carmazzi never played in the NFL, spending two seasons on San Francisco’s practice squad while seventh-round pick Tim Rattay backed up Jeff Garcia with the 49ers. Carmazzi played with the NFL Europe’s Rhein Fire in 2001 and spent one year each with the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League before retiring in 2005. He runs a goat farm in California. 

Flagler was an All-American in 1986 at Clemson, and was also a member of two Super Bowl-winning 49ers teams. In three seasons with San Francisco, he had 970 all-purpose yards (674 on kickoff returns, 151 receiving and 145 rushing) with one score on the ground. He was traded to Dallas in 1990, but was cut after the Cowboys drafted Emmitt Smith. Flagler signed with the Cardinals, where he spent two seasons before being traded back to the 49ers in 1991, but was cut after just two weeks in training camp. He then signed back with Phoenix and was released after two months. Flagler was cut by the Raiders a month into training camp in 1992 and was out of football for eight years. He signed with the Jacksonville Tomcats of the Arena Football League 2 in 2000, and played wide receiver until the team folded in 2003. Flagler now works with running backs as part of San Francisco’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

9. (tie) Dana Hall, S (Round 1, Pick 18 in 1992) and Mike Rumph, CB (Round 1, Pick 27 in 2002) - A product of the University of Washington, Hall played three seasons in San Francisco, making the All-Rookie Team after posting two interceptions, a sack and 48 tackles in 1992. He was also a reserve in the Super Bowl XXIX win over San Diego. Hall signed with the Browns in 1995, and spent the final two years with the Jaguars before retiring in 1997. He has spent his post-playing career as a coach in California at San Gorgonio High School and Chaffey College.  

Rumph was a two-time All-Big East selection, and was a member of the University of Miami’s National Championship team in 2001. He had three interceptions and two sacks in four seasons with San Francisco before he was traded to Washington in 2006. The Redskins waived him after seven games, and he was released by the Rams the following year as well before retiring in 2008. Rumph spent two years coaching in the high school ranks and has coached the Hurricanes’ cornerbacks since 2016. 

8. Kwame Harris, T (Round 1, Pick 26 in 2003) - Harris was a high school All-American in 1999 and an All-Pac-10 selection with Stanford in 2002. With San Francisco, he played in 72 games over five seasons, but had trouble in pass blocking. Harris signed with Oakland to play left tackle in 2008, but committed a career-high 15 penalties. He signed with the United Football League’s Florida Tuskers in 2010, but he was cut before playing a game and retired soon after. In 2013, Harris became one of the first former NFL players to come out as gay. He was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence stemming from an incident in 2012.

7. Ken MacAfee, TE (Round 1, Pick 7 in 1978) - MacAfee was a three-time collegiate All-American, and he earned the Walter Camp Award as player of the year during Notre Dame’s National Championship season in 1977. He had five touchdowns in two seasons as a tight end before San Francisco asked him to play guard in 1980. MacAfee instead chose to go to dental school, and though the 49ers traded him to the Vikings in 1981, he never returned to the NFL. He now has his own oral surgery practice in Waltham, Mass.

6. Reuben Foster, LB (Round 1, Pick 31 in 2017) - Foster was a high school All-American in 2012, a member of Alabama’s 2015 National Championship team and a college All-American and Butkus Award winner as best linebacker in 2016. He made the All-Rookie Team after posting 72 tackles in 2017. His career unraveled the following year, however, when the 49ers released him after three arrests for drug possession, domestic violence and assault weapons charges. Foster signed with the Redskins late in 2018, but suffered a torn ACL and LCL during his first practice with the team in May 2019 and has yet to play in Washington. 

5. Solomon Thomas, DE (Round 1, Pick 3 in 2017) - Thomas was a high school All-American in 2013 and an All-Pac-12 selection at Stanford in 2016. The 49ers took Thomas after dropping back one spot in a trade with the Bears (which allowed Chicago to select quarterback Mitch Trubisky). He has totaled 93 tackles and six sacks in 46 games so far with the 49ers, hardly the impact one would expect from the third pick in the draft, and definitely not from a player whose four-year rookie contract included an $18.6 million signing bonus. Other defensive ends that were more productive despite having later draft spots include Derek Barnett (14th to Philadelphia), Jonathan Allen (17th to Washington) and Takkarist McKinley (26th to Atlanta). 

4. Aldon Smith, DE (Round 1, Pick 7 in 2011) - Smith was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year with Missouri in 2009 and made the All-Rookie team with San Francisco in 2001 after posting 14 sacks in a reserve role. The following season, he made his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro team after posting 19½ sacks, which set a 49ers team record and finished second in the NFL behind J. J. Watt’s 20½. He also had two tackles in San Francisco’s loss to Baltimore in Super Bowl XLVII. Despite two fantastic seasons, Smith let drugs and alcohol take over his life. He went into rehab during the 2013 season after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and drug possession. Two more DUI arrests and a nine-game substance abuse suspension led to the 49ers releasing him in 2015. He signed with the Raiders, but was suspended for all of the 2016 season and also missed the following year due to a hit-and-run incident. When Smith was arrested for a domestic violence incident against his fiancée, he was released by Oakland in March 2018 and suspended indefinitely by the NFL. He applied for reinstatement in 2020, and signed with the Cowboys while he waited for the league’s ruling.

3. A. J. Jenkins, WR (Round 1, Pick 30 in 2012) - Jenkins set an Illinois record with a 268-yard performance against Northwestern in 2011. He did not have a single catch in 2012, but was on the active roster when the 49ers played in Super Bowl XLVII. San Francisco traded Jenkins to Kansas City for fellow draft bust wide receiver Jon Baldwin in 2013, and Jenkins caught just 17 passes in two seasons before the Chiefs released him. He signed with the Cowboys in May 2015, but was released before the season began and has not played in the NFL since. His biggest claim to fame was when his draft selection was referenced on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. 

2. Rashaun Woods, WR (Round 1, Pick 31 in 2004) - Woods was a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State who set the NCAA record with seven receiving touchdowns in a game against Southern Methodist in 2003. He had seven receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown as a rookie in San Francisco, but missed the 2005 season with torn ligaments in his thumb. Woods spent time with the Chargers and Broncos during training camp the following year, but did not earn a roster spot with either club. He signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 2007, but was released after two weeks and was also cut by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before retiring in 2008. After his playing career, Woods has been a high school coach throughout Oklahoma, and is now the head coach at Enid High School.  

1. Jim Druckenmiller, QB (Round 1, Pick 26 in 1997) - Druckenmiller was a starter on two Virginia Tech conference championship teams, and earned All-Big East honors in 1996. He was drafted to be the eventual replacement for Steve Young in San Francisco, but played in just six games and had a paltry 40.4 percent completion rate. After questioning his talent, the 49ers traded Druckenmiller to the Dolphins in 1999, but he didn’t play in Miami and was released the following season. In 2001, he was a backup in the Arena Football League’s Los Angeles Avengers, and started for the original XFL’s Memphis Maniax. He retired after a failed tryout with the Colts in 2003. Druckenmiller has worked in various business and information positions in recent years, and now works for a beverage distributor. 

All NFL statistics and awards courtesy of https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ and college football statistics and awards courtesy of https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/

Next: Kansas City Chiefs

-By: Kevin Rakas

Writer

The List: Chiefs, 49ers win conference titles, Centennial Slate named

Two hard-fought games were played on Sunday, with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers punching their tickets to Super Bowl LIV. Also this week, former Saints player Steve Gleason won the Congressional Gold Medal, the Pro Football Hall of Fame named its “Centennial Slate,” the Pro Bowl injury and Super Bowl replacements were announced and two notable players retired. 

WINNERS

Chiefs get back to first Super Bowl in 50 years - Patrick Mahomes completed 23 of 35 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for 53 yards and a score as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game, 35-24, on Sunday afternoon to earn the right to play in their first Super Bowl since defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Kansas City avenged a 35-32 loss to Tennessee in Week 10. 

Tennessee started the contest fast, with Ryan Tannehill completing a 37-yard pass to rookie A. J. Brown and a 12-yarder to Corey Davis. The Chiefs defense held, though, and the Titans had to settle for a 30-yard Greg Joseph field goal. After Kansas City went three-and-out, Tannehill led another scoring drive. He completed a key fourth-down pass to Adam Humphries and followed that with a 22-yard strike to tight end Jonnu Smith. Derrick Henry ran for 23 yards on the drive and finished the possession with a four-yard touchdown run and a 10-0 Titans advantage. 

Mahomes took his team on a 10-play drive highlighted by a 26-yard pass to Tyreek Hill that got the Chiefs into Titans territory. Hill took a flip pass from Mahomes and went the final eight yards for the score with 46 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Titans responded with a 15-play drive that took 9:13 off the clock. Tannehill found Davis with an 18-yard pass at the start of the possession, and Henry churned out yards in just big enough bunches to move the chains. Tannehill found tackle-eligible Dennis Kelly with a one-yard pass for a 17-7 Tennessee advantage. At 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds, Kelly is the largest player to catch a postseason touchdown in NFL history. 

Mahomes took a little more than two minutes to close the gap. He completed passes to Demarcus Robinson (24 yards) and Sammy Watkins (13) before hitting Hill again with a 20-yard touchdown to move within 17-14. After a Tennessee punt, Kansas City took over just after the two-minute warning. Mahomes hit running back Damien Williams with two quick passes and also found Watkins and tight end Travis Kelce before scoring himself on a 27-yard run with 11 seconds left as the Chiefs took a 21-17 halftime lead. 

The third quarter had zeros for both teams as Tennessee’s Dean Pees and Kansas City’s Steve Spagnuolo played dueling defensive coordinators. The Chiefs extended their lead with a run by Damien Williams and a beautiful 60-yard bomb from Mahomes to Watkins. The Titans cut the deficit to 35-24 on the ensuing drive. A fake punt pass from Brett Kern to Amani Hooker got the ball to midfield and Tannehill completed a 22-yard pass to Davis to set up another to tight end Anthony Firkser with 4:18 left. 

After forcing Kansas City to punt, Tennessee had one last gasp, but Tannehill was sacked on fourth down by Frank Clark and Kansas City finally broke its Super Bowl drought. Legendary Chiefs linebacker Bobby Bell presented the Lamar Hunt Trophy for the AFC championship to Lamar’s widow, Norma, and son, Clark Jr. Lamar Hunt was the team’s original owner, and he moved the franchise to Kansas City from Dallas in 1963.

Williams ran for 45 yards and a touchdown and also had 44 yards receiving for Kansas City, which was led by Hill with 67 yards and two scores and Watkins, who caught seven passes for 114 yards and his long touchdown. For Tennessee, Tannehill went 21 of 31 for 209 yards and two scores, Henry ran for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Davis (65 yards) and Brown (51) were the top receivers. 

49ers run through Packers to reach Super Bowl for the seventh time - Raheem Mostert set a franchise playoff record with 220 yards as the San Francisco 49ers rumbled past the Green Bay Packers, 37-20, in the NFC Championship Game to reach their seventh Super Bowl.  

Each team failed to convert on third-and-short situations before punting. San Francisco capitalized on its second drive. Jimmy Garoppolo completed passes of 16 and 30 yards to rookie wide receiver Deebo Samuel to move into Green Bay territory. On 3rd-and-8, Raheem Mostert took the handoff, narrowly evaded Preston Smith behind the line of scrimmage and scampered 36 yards to give the home team an early advantage. 

After a Packers punt and a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty, the 49ers were getting into scoring position again before Kyler Fackrell sacked Garoppolo on third down. San Francisco let the first-quarter clock run out to give Robbie Gould a favorable wind to kick a 54-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. 

Another three-and-out by the Packers, followed by a 21-yard punt by JK Scott, gave the 49ers the ball at the Green Bay 37. San Francisco ran the ball six straight plays, reaching the end zone on Mostert’s nine-yard run for a 17-0 lead. However, Tevin Coleman sustained a shoulder injury when he tried to stop his fall on the carry before the score. He was carted off the field and later diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder, leaving him questionable for Super Bowl LIV. 

The next two Packers drives ended with Aaron Rodgers losing a fumble and throwing an interception, leading to 10 more points, with Mostert’s third touchdown of the game on an 18-yard run, giving the 49ers a 27-0 lead at halftime. 

Green Bay used an 11-play drive to score its first points. Rodgers’ ninth completion of the drive was to running back Aaron Jones for a nine-yard touchdown. On the next San Francisco drive, Samuel had runs of 11 and 32 yards and Mostert finished the possession with his fourth score, this time from 22 yards out, giving the 49ers a 34-7 advantage after three quarters. 

The Packers’ next drive was highlighted by a long pass from Rodgers to tight end Jimmy Graham that was thought to be a 43-yard touchdown but was ruled to be short by replay. Jones scored on the next play, but the two-point pass went off the hands of Davante Adams. Green Bay forced a three-and-out and Rodgers capitalized. A 65-yard pass to Adams set up an eight-yard score to tight end Jace Sternberger with 8:13 left to cut the deficit to 34-20. The touchdown pass was the 40th by Rodgers in the playoffs, passing Brett Favre for the most in franchise history. 

San Francisco used several Mostert runs and a 19-yard pass from Garoppolo to tight end George Kittle to drain nearly five minutes off the clock and set up Gould’s 42-yard field goal. Rodgers completed a 16-yard pass to Adams on fourth down just before the two-minute warning, but his next deep pass to his favorite target ended up in the hands of a diving Richard Sherman, allowing the 49ers to run out the clock. 

After the game, Hall of Fame and Super Bowl winning head coach Mike Shanahan presented the George Halas Trophy to San Francisco CEO Jed York, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, who his father hired as offensive coordinator when he was coaching the Redskins in 2010. 

Thanks to the dominating run game, Garoppolo only needed to throw eight passes, completing six for 77 yards. Samuel led the way with 46 yards receiving to go with 43 yards rushing. Rodgers went 31-for-39 for 326 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Jones had 56 yards rushing, 27 receiving and two scores. Adams led all players with nine catches and 138 yards. Graham (59 yards) and Allen Lazard (36) were Green Bay’s other top receivers. 

Former Saints player given national honor – Steve Gleason was a safety and special teams player who amassed 71 tackles with the Saints from 2000-06. His blocked punt against the Falcons on September 25, 2006 allowed New Orleans to win its first home game after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, and the moment is immortalized with a statue outside the Superdome. However, his greatest influence by far occurred off the field. 

In 2011, Gleason was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease after the famous baseball player who lived with the condition for the final years of his life before his death in 1941. ALS is an incurable disease that causes the death of neurons which control muscles, leading to weakness, atrophy and spasms throughout the body, and eventually loss of the ability to walk, speak, move your hands and even breathe.

Gleason has not only survived with ALS for eight years, but his Team Gleason foundation has raised more than $10 million to help cover technology, equipment, and care for people living with the condition. On Wednesday, he received the Congressional Gold Medal which, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is the highest honor a civilian can receive in the U. S. He is the first NFL player and the 160th person overall to receive the Gold Medal. 

In addition to politicians from around the country, the event was attended by Saints owner Gayle Benson, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and former teammate Drew Brees, who spoke during the ceremony. 

Confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak, Gleason delivered this inspirational message using a special tablet that allows him to type with his eyes: “The truth is that we all experience pain in our lives, but I believe that the problems we face are our opportunity to define our human purpose. I believe adversity is our opportunity to keep exploring because we will all face pain and tragedy, but it’s clear to me that beyond the human capacity of imagination, our greatest strength as a species has been our ability to bravely share our weaknesses and vulnerabilities with each other.”

“Centennial Slate” names 13 to join Cowher and Johnson – In honor of the National Football League’s 100th season, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is expanding its induction class from the usual seven additions to 20, with 15 coming from the “Centennial Slate,” which consists of players who last appeared in an NFL game more than 25 years ago, plus contributors and coaches. Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson found out they were chosen over the weekend in emotional on-air announcements while they were working as television studio analysts. On Wednesday, the remaining 13 names were revealed. 

Harold Carmichael – Four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and 1980 NFL Man of the Year is Philadelphia’s all-time leader in receptions (589), yards (8,978) and touchdowns (85). He led the league with 67 catches and 1,116 yards in 1973. 

Jim Covert – Two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro left tackle who started 110 games in eight seasons and was a leader on the Bears team that dominated defensively and won Super Bowl XX.

Bobby Dillon – He was selected to four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams in eight seasons. Dillon amassed 52 interceptions and returned five for touchdowns on some bad Packers teams. He retired after the 1959 season, right before Green Bay started a run of six titles in eight years. 

Cliff Harris – A two-time champion with the Cowboys during the 1970s, Harris was selected to six Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams as a safety. He totaled 29 interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries in 10 seasons. 

Winston Hill – Played 15 seasons, starting at both tackle spots with the Jets. The eight-time Pro Bowler was a stalwart on a New York squad that won the AFL title and upset the Colts in Super Bowl III. 

Alex Karras – Despite his one-year gambling suspension, the defensive tackle was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro, amassing 16 fumble recoveries and four interceptions. Karras also was a track star in college and worked as a professional wrestler while playing in the NFL, before transitioning to acting and later, writing. 

Steve Sabol – He founded the NFL Films production company in 1962 along with his father, Ed (a 2011 Hall of Famer), and served as president until his death from brain cancer in 2012. Sabol helped NFL Films show parts of the game that were previously unavailable to fans, such as different camera angles and sideline chatter from coaches and players. Sabol worked as a cameraman, editor and writer, and he won more than 40 Emmy Awards as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. 

Donnie Shell – He was a five-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and a member of four championship teams as part of Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” defense in the 1970s. Shell totaled 51 career interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries. 

Frederick “Duke” Slater – He was arguably the best African-American player in the NFL before the league adopted segregation from 1934-46. Slater played 90 games over 10 seasons with Milwaukee, Rock Island, and the Chicago Cardinals and was selected as an All-Pro by the Chicago Tribune (before the Associated Press took over the process in 1940). He helped Cardinals back Ernie Nevers score all of the points in the team’s 40-6 win over the Bears, which is the oldest individual record currently in the NFL record books.  

Mac Speedie – The three-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl receiver was a part of five championships in his seven seasons (four in the All-America Football Conference and one in the NFL), and the Browns reached the title game the other two years. He led the league in receptions four times and yards twice. Speedie ranks third in Cleveland franchise history with 349 catches and 5,602 yards, and sits sixth with 33 touchdowns. 

Ed Sprinkle – Some players and coaches from the 1950s called Collier a dirty player, but his legendary coach, George Halas, said he was one the greatest pass rushers he had ever seen. Sprinkle was a four-time Pro Bowler and a champion with Chicago in 1946. He got the nickname “The Claw” for his use of forearm clothesline tackles. 

Paul Tagliabue – After serving as a lawyer for the NFL, he was selected to replace Pete Rozelle as commissioner, a position he held from 1988-2006. Tagliabue oversaw league expansion from 28 to 32 teams, four franchises shifting cities, plus he led the league in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and persuaded Tom Benson to keep the Saints in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. 

George Young – Spent 19 seasons as general manager of the New York Giants. The team amassed a 155-139-2 record, four NFC East titles and two Super Bowl championships. He was named Executive of the Year five times and was the chairman of the NFL’s Competition Committee.

Pro Bowl coaches and injury replacements announced – The Pro Bowl creates a unique opportunity to see the best players in the NFL on the same field at the same time. Unfortunately, several players bow out of the game each year due to injury or some other reason, and others cannot participate due to their Super Bowl preparations. Here are the coaches and the list of players who have declared themselves out for the Pro Bowl, as well as their replacements.

Coaches – John Harbaugh was named coach of Baltimore in 2008, and he has amassed a 118-74 record over those 12 seasons. He led the Ravens to a 34-31 win over the 49ers (coached by his brother, Jim) in Super Bowl XLVII. Seattle’s Pete Carroll will coach the NFC. He has a 100-59-1 record in 10 seasons in the Pacific Northwest, including an 11-5 mark in 2019. Carroll led the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls, including a win over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII. 

*Note*: As of Monday night, Chiefs kick returner Mecole Hardman and 49ers rookie defensive end Nick Bosa did not have replacements named. 

AFC offense – Ryan Tannehill, QB-Tennessee (2,742 yards and 22 touchdowns) replaces Patrick Mahomes, QB-Kansas City (2018 MVP and All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler, 4,031 yards and 26 touchdowns); Courtland Sutton, WR-Denver (1,112 yards, six touchdowns) replaces DeAndre Hopkins, WR-Houston (four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, 104 receptions, 1,165 yards, and seven scores); D. J. Chark, WR-Jacksonville (1,008 yards and eight touchdowns) replaces Tyreek Hill, WR-Kansas City (four-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, 860 yards, and seven touchdowns); Jack Doyle, TE-Indianapolis (2017 Pro Bowler, 448 yards and four touchdowns) replaces Travis Kelce, TE-Kansas City (five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, 1,229 yards, and five scores); Orlando Brown, T-Baltimore (16 starts, played every offensive snap) replaces Trent Brown, T-Oakland (11 starts, was part of Super Bowl LIII winning team with New England in 2018); Joel Bitonio, G-Cleveland (second Pro Bowl, 16 starts, played every offensive snap) replaces David DeCastro, G-Pittsburgh (five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, 16 starts, played every offensive snap); Ryan Kelly, C-Indianapolis (16 starts, played every offensive snap) replaces Maurkice Pouncey, C-Pittsburgh (eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, 13 starts in 2019).

AFC defense – Melvin Ingram, DE-LA Chargers (third Pro Bowl, 13 starts, 7 sacks) replaces Joey Bosa, DE-LA Chargers (two-time Pro Bowler, 2016 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 16 starts, 11½ sacks); Josh Allen, DE-Jacksonville (16 games, 10½ sacks) replaces Frank Clark, DE-Kansas City (14 games, eight sacks); Jurrell Casey, DT-Tennessee (fifth Pro Bowl, 14 games, five sacks) replaces Chris Jones, DT-Kansas City (13 games, nine sacks); Tremaine Edmunds, ILB-Buffalo (16 starts, 115 tackles, 1½ sacks) replaces Dont’a Hightower, ILB-New England (two-time Pro Bowler, three-time champion, 71 tackles, 5 ½ sacks); Joe Haden, CB-Pittsburgh (third Pro Bowl, first with Steelers, 16 starts, five interceptions) replaces Marcus Peters, CB-Baltimore (three-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, 15 starts with Rams and Ravens, 5 interceptions with three returned for scores). 

NFC offense – Alvin Kamara, RB-New Orleans (third Pro Bowl, 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 797 rushing yards and five touchdowns, 81 receptions and 533 yards) replaces Christian McCaffrey, RB-Carolina (All-Pro in 2019, 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns running, position record 116 catches, along with 1,005 yards and four scores receiving); C.J. Ham, FB-Minnesota (16 games, six touchdowns) replaces Kyle Juszczyk, FB-San Francisco (four-time Pro Bowler, 12 starts in 2019); Amari Cooper, WR-Dallas (third Pro Bowl, 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns) replaces Mike Evans, WR-Tampa Bay (three-time Pro Bowler, 1,157 yards and eight scores); Jared Cook, TE-New Orleans (2018 Pro Bowl with Oakland, 705 yards and nine touchdowns) replaces Zach Ertz, TE-Philadelphia (three-time Pro Bowler, champion in Super Bowl LII, 916 yards and six scores); Austin Hooper, TE-Atlanta (2018 Pro Bowler, 787 yards, six touchdowns) replaces George Kittle, TE-San Francisco (two-time Pro Bowler, 2019 All-Pro, 1,053 yards and five scores); Trai Turner, G-Carolina (fifth Pro Bowl, 13 starts) replaces Brandon Brooks, G-Philadelphia (three-time Pro Bowler, champion in Super Bowl LII, 16 starts, played in 90 percent of Eagles’ offensive snaps); Andrus Peat, G-New Orleans (2018 Pro Bowler, 10 starts) replaces Brandon Scherff, G-Washington (three-time Pro Bowler, 11 starts); Larry Warford, G-New Orleans (third Pro Bowl, 15 starts, played in 91 percent of offensive snaps) replaces Zack Martin, G-Dallas (six-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, 16 starts, played in 99 percent of offensive snaps).

NFC defense – Jaylon Smith, ILB-Dallas (16 starts, 142 sacks, 2½ sacks) replaces Luke Kuechly (retired), ILB-Carolina (seven-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, 2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, played in Super Bowl 50, 16 starts, 144 tackles, two interceptions); Kyle Fuller, CB-Chicago (2018 Pro Bowler and All-Pro, 16 starts, 82 tackles, three interceptions) replaces Jalen Ramsey, CB-LA Rams (three Pro Bowls, 2017 All-Pro, 11 starts, one interception and 50 tackles combined with Jaguars and Rams); Shaquill Griffin, CB-Seattle (14 games, 65 tackles) replaces Richard Sherman, CB-San Francisco (five Pro Bowls, three-time All-Pro, 15 games, three interceptions, 61 tackles). 

Cardinals star returns for one more year – Larry Fitzgerald couldn’t bring himself to leave Arizona in free agency, instead, signing a one-year, $11 million contract to return in 2020. He is the team’s all-time leader with 1,378 catches, 17,083 yards and 120 touchdowns in 16 seasons. Fitzgerald was a big part of a Cardinals club that faced the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII, and he caught seven touchdown passes during the 2009 playoffs. He is an 11-time Pro Bowler, a 2008 All-Pro, and he shared the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award with Eli Manning. 

Coaching carousel continues to spin – After helping potential top draft pick Joe Burrow set passing records and win a National Championship with LSU, Joe Brady will take his talents back to the NFL. The Tigers’ passing game coordinator will switch his cat allegiance and work as the offensive coordinator under new head coach Matt Rhule with the Panthers. The 30-year-old created an offensive scheme that allowed LSU to rack up 8,526 yards and amass a 15-0 record in 2019. Brady worked as an offensive assistant with the Saints in 2017-18, and the hope in Carolina is that Brady can duplicate the success he has had with Brees and Burrow with whoever the Panthers quarterback will be this season. 

Former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett will stay in the NFC East after agreeing to become the offensive coordinator under new head coach Joe Judge with the New York Giants. Garrett held the same post with Dallas from 2007-10 before his promotion to head coach. He will be charged with improving a Giants offense that ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in points per game, total yards per game, rushing yards per game, giveaways and third-down conversions since 2016. The Cowboys ranked in the top ten in all those categories over that same span. 

The Bears are hoping someone who was not coaching in the NFL in 2019 will help them revive an offense that finished 29th in points and yards per game last season. Bill Lazor, a former Bengals quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator who spent last year as a volunteer consultant at Penn State, will take over as Chicago’s offensive coordinator, replacing the fired Mark Helfrich. Lazor also held the top offensive post in Miami (2014-15), and has been a quarterbacks coach with Washington, Seattle and Philadelphia since 2006. 

Meanwhile, Chicago’s NFC North rivals the Lions will be turning to Cory Undlin as their new defensive coordinator. Undlin has more than 20 years of coaching experience, including 15 at the NFL level, but this is his first time holding the top defensive post. He spent the past five years as the defensive backs coach in Philadelphia and also held the same position with Cleveland (2008), Jacksonville (2010-11) and Denver (2013-14), helping the Broncos reach Super Bowl XLVIII. Undlin will attempt to fix a Detroit defense that finished 26th in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed last season. 

Teams are making changes in the front office as well. The Eagles hired former player Connor Barwin as a special assistant to general manager Howie Roseman on Friday. The linebacker and defensive end had 56½ sacks over 10 seasons, including a career-high 14½ with Philadelphia in 2014, when he was selected to the only Pro Bowl of his career. 

Redskins linebacker regains feeling in foot - Reuben Foster, a former 49ers first-round pick, suffered a torn ACL, LCL and MCL in practice with Washington in May. His agent, Malki Kawa, also stated that the 2017 first-round pick suffered nerve damage that left him unable to feel his toes for months until this week. Foster had been in Colombia undergoing treatments including a hyperbaric chamber and a BioXcellerator, which regenerates body parts using stem cells and other cellular therapies. He was released by the 49ers after two domestic violence arrests in 2018. 

LOSERS

Two stars announce their retirement from the NFL – Antonio Gates’ retirement was expected after 16 years in the league, while the same announcement by Luke Kuechly was definitely a surprise. Gates was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro who twice went over the 1,000-yard mark. He has 116 touchdown catches, which rank first among tight ends and seventh overall in NFL history. Gates also ranks third at the position with 955 receptions and 11,841 yards (behind Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten in both categories). He helped the Chargers win four AFC West championships and teamed up with Philip Rivers for 89 scoring plays, the most for any QB-TE combination in league history. 

Kuechly is leaving at a time when many players are in their prime, but he wants to retire on his own terms. “There's only one way to play this game since I was a little kid, it's to play fast, play physical and play strong,” he said. “And at this point, I don't know if I am able to do that anymore and that's the part that's the most difficult.”

He played for eight seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl in all except his rookie year of 2012. He had 1,092 career tackles, hit the 100-tackle mark in every season and led the league twice (164 when he won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and 153 in 2014). Kuechly also was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50 against the Broncos after the 2015 season. In addition to his stellar tackle totals, he finished with 18 interceptions, 12½ sacks, nine fumble recoveries, and seven forced fumbles. 

NFL and XFL make hypocritical decisions - Over the years, fans wanting to be entertained by players have labeled the NFL the “No Fun League” for its stifling of creativity. This was evident once again Saturday when the league fined Chiefs offensive lineman Eric Fisher $14,037. While the amount is no big deal to most NFL players, the reasoning is the problem here. Kansas City tight end Blake Bell had just scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to put his team up 48-31 over Houston during last week’s Division Round game. Bell jumped into the stands and celebrated with the fans and Fisher came over and took two beers, slammed them together and dumped them on his head ala “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. The NFL set up the punishment for “unsportsmanlike conduct” and Budweiser matched the fine for a charity of Fisher’s choice (isn’t that sad when a BEER COMPANY comes away looking better than a football entity?).

The fine upsets me because it shows the NFL’s hypocrisy. Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault…TWICE, Ray Rice is still eligible to play after punching out his fiancée in an elevator, Vontaze Burfict faces little to no consequence for his near-constant shenanigans, Adam “Pacman” Jones can’t avoid issues at strip clubs, Antonio Brown has been a star player for the better part of a decade, and he is so screwed up that even DREW ROSENHAUS doesn’t want anything to do with him, and Ray Lewis may or may not have been involved in the death of two people, and he is practically revered in some circles, but yeah, this is where you draw the line, right Goodell? If you want to make the claim that you don’t want children to see this kind of behavior, fine, but don’t go overboard with stupid decisions like this when you are letting people get away with much more offensive conduct. 

In other (more legitimate) punishment news, the NFL fined 49ers rookie defensive end Nick Bosa $28,075 for his blindside block that gave Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill a concussion during last week’s Division Round game. Bosa was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, which occurred during a Kirk Cousins interception in the third quarter. Also, Chiefs running back Damien Williams was fined $10,527 (who comes up with these random dollar amounts, anyway?) for unsportsmanlike conduct when he dropped the ball in front of Texans nose tackle Brandon Dunn after a scoring a touchdown last Sunday. 

The NFL is not the only league going against its principles. Antonio Callaway, a former Browns receiver who has faced discipline for drugs three times, has signed with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers. Callaway and Florida teammate Treon Harris were suspended in 2016 for a sexual assault incident (Callaway was cleared, thanks to Jake Schickel, a former Florida track athlete turned lawyer who donates quite a bit of money to the school’s football and basketball programs). Callaway failed a drug test at the scouting combine, was suspended the first four games of the 2019 season for substance abuse, then lasted just four games before getting hit with a second ban, this time for 10 games.  

The signing comes after these comments from Vince McMahon, the founder of XFL parent company, Alpha Entertainment, as well as the CEO and Chairman of WWE, to ESPN’s Darren Rovell: “We are evaluating a player based on many things, including the quality of human being they are. If you have any sort of criminal record or commit a crime you aren’t playing in this league.” Apparently that’s not entirely true, Vince. 

More issues for Browns receiver - Even when he is away from his NFL duties, Odell Beckham Jr. seems to find trouble (although this incident seems a bit weak). Beckham was in the Superdome locker room celebrating with his alma mater LSU after the Tigers topped Clemson, 42-25, to win the National Championship on Monday night. During the celebration, a Superdome security officer was also talking to LSU players when Beckham came over and slapped him on the backside. New Orleans police issued an arrest warrant against Beckham for simple battery on Thursday. 

Injury bug: Cowboys starter needs neck surgery – Dallas linebacker Leighton Vander Esch has had neck problems dating back to his time at Boise State, but now the 2018 Pro Bowler will have surgery to fix nerve issues. Vander Esch had 140 stops and two interceptions as a rookie, but missed seven games this past season and saw his tackle total cut nearly in half (72). He is now halfway through a four-year rookie contract that will pay him $11.84 million overall. 

Vinovich named referee for Super Bowl – When everyone knows your name as an NFL on-field official, that is probably not a good thing. Despite Bill Vinovich being known for one of the most infamous missed calls in recent NFL history, he was named the referee for Super Bowl LIV on Wednesday. Vinovich was the lead official on duty last January when Nickell Robey-Coleman blasted Saints receiver TommyLee Lewis as he was about to catch a pass the would have given the Saints a first down and a chance to run out the clock before attempting a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. Instead, New Orleans made the kick, but the Rams had nearly two minutes to drive and tie the game, which they did and then won in overtime. 

Although Vinovich was not responsible for throwing a flag, he was in charge of the crew, and his claim of “I personally have not seen the play,” was proven to be false based on replays that showed him looking at the interaction between Lewis and Robey-Coleman. Vinovich, a 15-year veteran, has been the referee in several major games recently, including Super Bowl XLIX (Patriots vs. Seahawks), plus NFC Championship Games in 2015 (Panthers vs. Cardinals) and 2016 (Falcons vs. Packers) and this year’s Division Round game between the Titans and Ravens. 

Tennessee coordinator retires after loss – One day after his Titans gave the Chiefs a run for their money in the AFC Championship Game, defensive coordinator Dean Pees announced his retirement. Pees patrolled college sidelines for nearly 25 years, starting with the University of Findlay in Division II in 1979 and going through five other stops before returning to Ohio as head coach at Kent State from 1998-2003. From there, Pees was a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator with the Patriots and Ravens, winning a Super Bowl with both teams. He joined the Titans in 2018.

Longtime defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will not return to his post with the Texans in 2020. The 72-year-old coach who was part of five Super Bowl-winning squads will either return as Houston’s senior assistant or retire. He will be replaced by 39-year-old Anthony Weaver, who played in Houston from 2006-08 and spent the past four years as the team’s defensive line coach. 

The Browns are expected to name Bill Callahan as offensive line coach under new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Callahan previously held the same position with Philadelphia, the Jets, Dallas and Washington. He took over for Jon Gruden as head coach in Oakland from 2002-03 and filled in after Jay Gruden was fired by the Redskins this season. 

Jon Gruden and the Raiders have decided to go in a different direction with their defensive line coach, firing Brentson Buckner after one season, despite the team going from a league-worst 13 sacks in 2018 to 32 last year. Buckner totaled 31 sacks in 12 seasons with the Steelers, Bengals, 49ers, and Panthers. 

In his stead, the Raiders will hire Rod Marinelli, a long-time coach who spent seven seasons in Dallas, the past six as defensive coordinator. Before that, he was the defensive coordinator with the Bears and head coach in Detroit, where he led the Lions to a 10-38 record from 2006-08. Marinelli started his NFL coaching career in Tampa Bay as a defensive line coach from 1996-2005. He was also an assistant head coach under Gruden when the Buccaneers defeated the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII after the 2002 season. 

Rivers move his family to Florida - You don’t just pick up and move your wife and nine kids across the country if you plan on staying with your current team. That is the message quarterback Philip Rivers is sending the Los Angeles Chargers. Rivers, who will be a free agent in less than two months, called the move “permanent” and said his football future is “to be determined.”

Rivers has spent his entire 16-year career with the Chargers and holds franchise records with 59,271 yards and 397 touchdowns. He is an eight-time Pro Bowler, won the 2013 Comeback Player of the Year Award and led the NFL with 4,710 passing yards in 2010. Rivers joins several other top quarterbacks on the free-agent list, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Teddy Bridgewater.

-By: Kevin Rakas

Writer