2014 AFC East Offseason Football ERA Formula Podcast

AP Photo: Gary Wiepert

Russell Wilson’s glad racial questions are no longer forefront

Russell Wilson was well aware of his place in history, and heartened by the fact it didn’t come up.
Wilson wrote a thoughtful piece for TheMMQB.com on the role of race and sports, after becoming just the second African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
“The amazing thing was, I knew,” he wrote. “I knew, after the game, the history of it. It matters because our world is changing—for the better. America’s hearts are changing, and the NFL is changing too. The NFL is moving forward.”
Wilson has a unique perspective from which to view the changing attitudes, because he also works for a team which only employs African-American quarterbacks: Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson, Terrelle Pryor, B.J. Daniels and Keith Price.
It’s not that’s necessarily a job requirement (the same staff gave Matt Flynn a pile of money before they realized Wilson was better). But they seem to enjoy it, jokingly referring to themselves as “The Jackson 5.” Wilson says he’s like Michael (and hopefully he doesn’t start having plastic surgery in an effort to look like Pete Carroll).
But the fact an entire depth chart can be made of players who might not have been given the chance to play that position a generation ago speaks volumes.
And to Wilson, the fact it doesn’t come up all the time speaks loudest of all.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Darin Gantt
Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images

2014 NFC Offseason Round-up Part 2 Football ERA Formula Podcast

Photo: Michael DeMocker, Nola.com The Times-Picayune

Manziel tones it down . . . by hanging out with Justin Bieber

At a time when Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has been firing plenty of employees, there’s one guy who can defy him without consequence.
And he apparently is.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN recently reported that Haslam wants Manziel to tone it down.  Not that Mort needs us or anyone else to confirm his report, but it’s accurate; regardless of comments suggesting that the Browns have no issue with Manziel’s “work hard, play harder” motto, the Browns don’t like it.
Manziel presumably knows it.  And after a couple of fairly quiet weekends, Manziel made a big splash on Monday night by hanging out with . . . Justin Bieber.
Yes, Bieber.  The BFF of Keyshawn Johnson.  The child-man-child who periodically seems to be in the process of imploding.
Via The Big Lead, Manziel partied last night in Hollywood with Bieber, Floyd Mayweather, and Tyrese.  Bieber posted photos of the get-together on social media.  Per TMZ, police were twice called to Bieber’s house due to noise (possibly by Keyshawn).
From the Browns’ perspective, it’s the latest example of Manziel keeping anything but a low profile as he enjoys his time away from work.  And it’s evidence that he indeed won’t change, even if his employer asks him to.  From the NFL’s perspective, the powers-that-be can’t be thrilled about Manziel’s open association with Mayweather, a notorious, high-stakes gambler.
The only possible good news for the Browns is that Manziel seems to have an “oh crap I probably shouldn’t be doing this” look on his face.
On one hand, Manziel has yet to get in trouble.  On the other hand, he’s flying fairly close to the sun on wings of pastrami.  It may be only a matter of time before Manziel lands on the wrong side of the line on which he’s currently popping and locking.


Source: PFT.com
Author: Mike Florio
Photo via BarStoolSports.com