The final game of Week 11 of the 2018 NFL season sure was one to remember; but unless you're a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs or Los Angeles Rams, you may have deleted it from your memory banks by now. That was the Monday night the Chiefs, in the middle of Patrick Mahomes' sensational first season as their starting quarterback, put a season high 51 points on the board at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, only to lose the game because the Rams scored 54. But here in the House of Dread the game is remembered more for something other than the one in which the Chiefs became the first team in league history to score 50 or more points and not win. And that something other is something that still bothers me today almost 3 years later. You see, that game was the last one (ever?) in a Chiefs uniform for RB Kareem Hunt (photo on right).
Ah yes, the Chiefs stuck gold twice in the 2017 Draft. Mahomes, picked in the 1st round (10th overall), seems headed for the Hall of Fame. And then midway through the 3rd round they picked Hunt, who did nothing but be a star for them from Day 1. Hunt led the league in rushing in his rookie season and scored 25 touchdowns in his first 27 career games. But everything came to a screeching halt before Game #28.
A couple of days before the Chiefs played their Week 13 game vs. the Oakland Raiders (they had a bye in Week 12) a video came to light of an incident involving Hunt that had occurred during the previous offseason - an incident in which he kicked a woman. Yes, it was a half-hearted, way less than full force kick, but still it was a kick. When first asked about the incident, Kareem assured the Chiefs there was nothing to it; but when the video surfaced months later, it was evident that there most definitely was something to it and that he had lied to them about it hoping to keep it covered up. At that point the Chiefs really had no choice but to let him go, right in the middle of what was becoming a special season.
I had a bunch of different feelings when I found out he had been released - disgust, disappointment, frustration, and helplessness to name a few. I mean, you just don't ever want to let a player as talented as he is to walk out your door like that. Mostly though I was just pissed - because I knew that all that was going to happen was that some other team was going to sign him, and he was going to be great for that other team instead of for the Chiefs. And I feared that one day he was going to come back and haunt them. It almost happened last season.
Not even 3 months had passed following his release before Hunt signed with the Cleveland Browns; and after serving an 8-game suspension during the first half of the 2019 season, he returned to action pretty much without missing a beat. He hasn't been as prolific for the Browns as he was with the Chiefs mainly because he's sharing playing time with their other excellent RB, Nick Chubb.
The two combined for more than 1,900 yards rushing in 2020, helping lead the Browns to their first winning season (11-5) in 13 years; and when the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 for their first playoff victory since 1994, it meant that in the next round Hunt would be playing his first career game against the Chiefs. And when Kareem scored a 3-yard TD run (photo on left above) to bring the Browns to within 22-17 early in the 4th quarter at Arrowhead Stadium, I was like, uh-oh, here it comes, the Browns are going to get the ball back, and he's going to score the TD that knocks the Chiefs out of the playoffs.
Sure enough the Browns were still down 5 when they got the ball back with 8 minutes to play; but Hunt touched the ball just once on a 7-play drive that ended with a punt, and the Chiefs ended up hanging on. I'm probably not the only Chiefs fan who was breathing a huge sigh of relief after that game. The Chiefs dodged the bullet that time. But now a new season is here, and here comes that bullet again. This time, if my crystal ball is correct, the Chiefs won't be as lucky.
Yes folks, it's the time of the year again that my crystal ball - or just CB2, for short - comes out with its forecast of the NFL season - which usually has me doing double takes, or slapping my hand up against my forehead, or shaking my head, or rolling my eyes, or all of the above. And it's no different this year. 6 days ago - on Labor Day to be precise - I got the forecast for the 2021 season, and CB2's pick to win the Super Bowl is ..... of course, a team that has never even played in a Super Bowl, let alone won one; the team that last won the NFL championship 57 years ago; and the team that - as I mentioned earlier - until last season last won a playoff game 27 years ago. That's right, according to CB2, all of the
long suffering done by fans of the Cleveland Browns over the past half century (and then some) - as well as all of the tears shed by TE
David Njoku (photo on right) after the Browns' season-ending loss to the Chiefs 9 months ago - will all be forgotten next February, after the Browns raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy following their victory in Super Bowl 56 at SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.
After an incredible stretch of futility in which they won a total of only 4 games in 3 years (2015-17), the Browns were at least respectable the next two seasons before finally breaking through with a winning record last year. And the best is yet to come. Led by their strong RB duo and the competent - if not stellar - play of their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, there will be Brownie points galore this season; and with defense being much improved, the Browns are poised to have their best season in decades. Playing in the rugged AFC North, the Browns won't finish with a good enough record to enjoy the comforts of home come playoff time. But after their performance on the road in last season's playoffs, they certainly now know what it takes to get the job done and won't at all be afraid or intimidated when they hit the road twice in January.
After upsetting the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in the 2nd round and defeating the Chiefs in the 4th consecutive AFC Championship Game to be played in Kansas City, the Browns will then beat the Green Bay Packers in SB 56. CB2 thinks what likely will be QB Aaron Rodgers' final season in a Packers uniform will be his finest hour, as he leads them to a sweet-revenge road victory over the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game. But despite his heroics, the Browns will prevail in the Super Bowl.
At first I thought CB2 was out of its mind picking the Browns; but then later last week I found out that at least a couple of so-called experts are picking them too. So, go ahead and laugh at CB2, or put your money on the Chiefs and Buccaneers to repeat as conference champions. But do so at your own risk, because CB2 actually has a chance to get this right.
There will be 5 teams in the playoffs this year that weren't in 2020, headed by a return to greatness by the San Francisco 49ers. Also playing postseason football will be the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings (who make the playoffs every other year), Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. Undaunted by last season's disastrous forecast of the Seattle Seahawks to finish in last place in the NFC West (they were 1st), CB2 once again is picking the Seahawks to miss the playoffs. Joining the Seahawks on the outside looking in come playoff time will be these four teams who made the playoffs last year: the Chicago Bears, Washington FT (who are ineligible for the playoffs because Ryan Fitzpatrick is on their roster), Indianapolis Colts, and ...... after a bunch of bizarre finishes to games in Week 18 all conspiring against them, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
CB2 is not convinced rookie QB Mac Jones will live up to the hype and consequently is predicting the New England Patriots to finish with a losing record for the 2nd straight season. Ditto for rookie QB Zach Wilson with the New York Jets. CB2 expects the Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Detroit Lions to battle it out for the worst record in the league.
With the league expanding to a 17-game schedule this season, CB2 now has 272 games to predict instead of the usual 256. In its 2020 forecast CB2, with all games picked before the start of the season, correctly picked the winner in 144 of the games, a win percentage of .562. That was exactly one more win than the 143 it got right in 2019.
And now that I have finally gotten a new computer - and printer - I finally can join the 21st century. In the images below you'll be able to view a scan of all 272 of CB2's regular season picks.
After tallying all of those W's and L's, here is how CB2 sees things playing out this season - along with its predictions for the playoffs and its usual not-likely-to-happen madness of Week 18, with CB2's exact words in
italics (as usual).
AFC EAST
- BUF 13-4
- MIA 10-7
- NE 7-10
- NYJ 2-15
CB2:
With playoff hopes seemingly dead after Patriots kick FG to take 32-30 lead with 5 seconds left in Week 18 thriller, Dolphins defeat Patriots on miraculous, last-play-of-the-game, multi-lateral TD for second time in last 4 years, 36-32, with rookie Jaylen Waddle covering last 17 yards of the 75-yard play, to clinch first playoff berth in 5 years.
CB2 thinks that
Zack Moss (left photo) will become the Bills' first player with dreads to ever hit double figures in TD scored in a single season (
Sammy Watkins in 2015 and
Marshawn Lynch in 2008 both had 9), leading all AFC East players with dreads with 10 TD. And since Myles Garrett of the Browns can't be trusted to keep his hair in dreads all season, CB2 likes
Jerome Baker of the Dolphins (right photo), who has made to switch from braids to dreads, to tie for the lead for the most sacks by any player with dreads with 13.
.
AFC NORTH
- CLEV 11-6
- BAL 10-7
- PIT 10-7
- CIN 2-15
TIEBREAKER: Ravens clinch 2nd place due to better record than Steelers in games against division opponents (BAL 4-2, PIT 3-3)
CB2:
Kareem Hunt rushes for career high 175 yards and 2 TD as Browns rout Bengals 40-7 in Week 18 to clinch division title ..... And in Week 18 heartstopper at Baltimore Najee Harris scores on 22-yard catch and run on final play of 4th quarter then runs in 2-point conversion to pull Steelers into 28-28 tie with Ravens. But with Steelers leading 31-28, Marquise Brown scores 5-yard TD reception, after pass deflects off hands off Terrell Edmunds, with :00 remaining in overtime to lift Ravens to 34-31 victory and into playoffs. CB2 predicts that the 2 TD that
Kareem Hunt (photo above) scores in Week 18 will give him a career high-tying 14 TD for the season and that Hunt will add 7 more TD in the playoffs in the Browns' run to the championship; and CB2 predicts that sometime during the season
Jadeveon Clowney (first photo below), in his first season on the team, will score his 5th career TD ..... CB2 also suggests that you put your money on
Najee Harris (second photo below), instead of on a QB, to win offensive rookie of the year. CB2 sees Harris scoring 13 TD to help the Steelers repeat as the AFC team with the most TD scored by players with dreads with 26 (they had 23 last season).
.
AFC SOUTH
- TENN 14-3
- IND 7-10
- JAC 7-10
- HOU 2-15
TIEBREAKER: Colts clinch 2nd place due to better record than Jaguars in games against division opponents (IND 4-2, JAC 3-3)
CB2: With QB Ryan Tannehill injured during 1st half, Titans struggle in Week 18 at Houston; but after Derrick Henry scores his 2nd TD of game with 1:22 remaining to break 26-26 tie, Jackrabbit Jenkins adds 20-yard pick six on next play from scrimmage as Titans fend off Texans' upset bid with 40-26 victory that clinches #1 seed for Titans in AFC playoffs.
CB2 is certain that
Derrick Henry (photo above, shaking hands with former college teammate
O.J. Howard after Aug. 21 game vs. Buccaneers in preseason Week 2) will lead the league in rushing for the 3rd year in a row, although he will rush for "only" 1,776 yards in 2021 after his career high 2,027 last season. CB2 also is predicting
Jackrabbit (don't call me Janoris anymore)
Jenkins (photo on right), who will turn 33 years old during the season, will enjoy a fine first season with the Titans, finishing the year with 4 interceptions, two of which he will return to the house, the 9th and 10th pick sixes of his career.
.
AFC WEST
- KC 14-3
- DEN 11-6
- LAC 6-11
- LV 3-14
Yo, CB2, aren't you selling the Chargers a little short?
CB2: It's tough to play 17 road games.
Huh?
CB2: Chargers fans outnumbered by opposing team's fans in every game at SoFi.
Oh.
CB2: Week 18 victories by Dolphins and Ravens put Broncos' playoff hopes in jeopardy. But moments after Ravens' overtime victory over Steelers, Jerry Jeudy catches 50-yard TD pass on Hail Mary from Teddy Bridgewater on 4th and 5 with 10 seconds remaining in overtime to give Broncos 37-34 upset of Chiefs, lifting Broncos into playoffs, knocking Steelers out of playoff contention, and costing Chiefs #1 seed for AFC playoffs.
According to CB2, the miracle TD by Jerry Jeudy (photo on left) that clinches the Broncos' first playoff berth in 6 years will be his 10th TD catch of the season, the most by any AFC player with dreads. And also according to CB2, there will be an upset in the race for defensive rookie of the year, with Chiefs' 2nd round pick Nick Bolton (photo above) winning the award.
.
AFC TIEBREAKERS
Titans clinch #1 seed over Chiefs due to head-to-head victory (Week 7)
Dolphins clinch #6 seed over Ravens due to head-to-head victory (Week 10)
.
NFC EAST
- NYG 11-6
- DAL 10-7
- WASH 7-10
- PHIL 5-12
CB2:
After Chase Young scores on 90-yard INT return for his 2nd TD of game to stun crowd and give WFT 26-20 lead with 1:55 to play in Week 18 at MetLife, missed extra point keeps score at 26-20. Then on 4th and goal on ensuing drive, rookie Gary Brightwell scores his 1st career TD on 1-yard plunge with :17 on clock, and made extra point gives Giants division-clinching 27-26 win. Cowboys then fritter away wild card berth in snowstorm at Philly, as CeeDee Lamb, bidding for his 3rd TD of game, is stripped of ball by Avonte Maddox at 1-yard line while attempting to reach it over goal line and Eagles recover in end zone with :29 on clock to wrap up 23-19 upset.
CB2 thinks
CeeDee Lamb (right photo above) will get no consolation from repeating as the leader in TD scored by any NFC East player with dreads. CB2 expects Lamb, who had 5 TD catches and 7 total TD during his 2020 rookie season, will finish with 8 TD receptions this season, but it will be his costly fumble that will cost the Cowboys a spot in the playoffs. CB2 also likes
Xavier McKinney (left photo above) as the player with dreads with the most interceptions in the league, picking off 6 passes to help lead the Giants into the playoffs for the first time in 5 years.
.
NFC NORTH
- GB 15-2
- MINN 11-6
- CHI 6-11
- DET 3-14
CB2:
With Vikings playoff hopes in jeopardy at home as Bears try for Week 18 upset, Dalvin Cook comes to the rescue, scoring 3 TD in 4th quarter, including game-winner with :33 to play as Vikings rally for 33-28 victory that clinches wild card berth.
CB is positive
Dalvin Cook (left photo above) will lead the NFL in TD scored this season, with the 3 he scores during the final quarter in Week 18 giving him a total of 22. CB2 also is sure that
Davante Adams (right photo above) will have the most TD catches by any player with dreads for the 2nd year in a row, with his 15 (down from 18 last year) helping the Packers get to the Super Bowl for the first time in 11 years. CB2 has Cook's final TD of the season as the Vikings' 30th by a player with dreads, giving them the team crown for the most TD by players with dreads and denying the Packers, who will finish with 29, a 3rd straight crown.
.
NFC SOUTH
- TB 16-1
- NO 10-7
- ATL 5-12
- CAR 5-12
TIEBREAKER: Falcons clinch 3rd place due to better record than Panthers in games against conference opponents (ATL 4-8, CAR 3-9)
CB2: Alvin Kamara scores winning TD on 15-yard screen pass with :41 on clock in Week 8 as Saints end Buccaneers' bid for perfect record with 27-23 home win. Then in Week 18 at Atlanta, after Saints blow 27-7 lead in final 4 minutes of game, Marquez Callaway makes 27-yard reception on 4th and 14 and gets out of bounds at ATL 40-yard line with :01 on clock. Saints kick 58-yard FG on next play for nail-biting 30-28 win. Loss by Cowboys later in day clinches final NFC playoff spot for Saints.
CB2 is predicting that a player with dreads will lead the Saints in TD for the 2nd straight year but that that player will not be
Alvin Kamara. Instead
Marquez Callaway (photo above) will finish with 11 TD, leading the Saints as well as all NFC South players with dreads, one more than Kamara's 10.
CB2 also is confident that Jason Pierre-Paul (photo below), who will turn 33 near the end of the season, will finish tied for the most sacks by any player with dreads in the league with 13, his most since the 16.5 he had in 2011.
.
NFC WEST
- SF 13-4
- LAR 12-5
- SEA 9-8
- ARIZ 5-12
CB2:
In winner-take-all showdown for division crown in Week 18 at SoFi, 49ers rally from 31-17 deficit against Rams in 4th quarter, as Brandon Aiyuk scores 11-yard TD reception with 5:22 to play and Jason Verrett takes INT return 44 yards to the house on next play from scrimmage to tie game. Then after 49ers kick FG to take lead in OT, Darrell Henderson's would-be game-winning 27-yard TD run is nullified by holding penalty; and two plays later Rams miss FG attempt, giving 49ers 34-31 victory that clinches division title.CB2 has the 49ers returning to the top in the NFC West after last year's disappointing 6-10 record, predicting that
Jason Verrett (left photo above), back in the #2 jersey he wore in college, will tie his career high with 5 INT, including the 2nd pick 6 of his career, and that
Brandon Aiyuk (right photo above) will improve on his impressive rookie season, finishing with over 1,000 yards receiving and scoring 10 total TD. But CB2 thinks
Darrell Henderson's 13 TD for the Rams will be the most by any NFC West player with dreads.
.
NFC TIEBRTEAKER
Saints clinch #7 seed over Cowboys due to head-to-head victory (Week 13)
.
PLAYOFFS
ROUND 1
- KC over BAL
- BUF over MIA
- CLEV over DEN
- GB over NO
- SF over MINN
- LAR over NYG
ROUND 2
- CLEV over TENN
- KC over BUF
- TB over LAR
- GB over SF
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Browns 38 Packers 27 (MVP: Kareem Hunt)
.
CHANGES FOR 2021
As always there are dozens of changes from the previous season involving the NFL's population of players with dreads; and - as has been the case in recent seasons - the majority of those changes have to do with players just getting their dreads started, leaving me to determine, or should I say, guess, which players have real dreads, which players are starting their dreads with braids, and which players just have plain braids. The numbers of players with dreads has swelled in the last couple of years, and so has the number of players with braids. This being the House of Dread, we only welcome those with dreads. But with many players now beginning their dreads with braided locks, for some of them it's not an easy decision to know to welcome them as a new member or not. My default position usually is to welcome anyone who doesn't obviously have braids; but this season there are at least two dozen players I'm not sure about - some of them I just haven't gotten a close enough look yet and others keep switching back and forth between having dreads and normal hair - and I'm keeping them on a wait-and-see list before I welcome them. But before we get to the players starting their dreads, we'll start with those I had to kick out of the house .....
The following lists reflect the status of players at the start of the 2021 season.
EX-DREAD
I'm splitting the list in two this year. The first group includes players who had dreads at the start of the 2020 season but cut them off during the season. The second group are those who had dreads when last season ended then cut them off during the offseason.
- Jayon Brown (TENN)
- Lil'Jordan Humphrey (NO)
- Germain Ifedi (CHI)
- Jordan Miller (NO) (played for ATL last year)
- Demarcus Robinson (KC) (photos below)
- Laquon Treadwell (JAC) (played for ATL last year)
- Charvarius Ward (KC)
Demarcus Robinson, being guarded by Stephon Gilmore (left photo) during Week 4 of 2020, and Demarcus Robinson (right photo) celebrating after the Chiefs' playoff victory over the Browns in Week 19.
- Leonard Floyd (LAR) (right photo above)
- Richie Grant (ATL) (rookie)
- C.J. Henderson (JAC)
- Jalen Hurd (SF) (IR)
- Adrian Killins (DEN) (IR)
- Chris Moore (HOU) (photo below, played for BAL last year)
- Jordan Phillips (ARIZ)
- Jason Pinnock (NYJ) (rookie)
- Jarran Reed (KC) (played for SEA last year)
- Malcolm Roach (NO)
- Dawuane Smoot (JAC) (photo on left below)
- Shaun Wade (NE) (rookie)
- Mike Williams (LAC) (right photo above)
Isaiah Wright (WASH last year) and Xavier Williams (CIN last year) also cut off their dreads. They are not on any team's roster at the start of the 2021 season.
Not included on the ex-dread list is Broncos RB
Melvin Gordon, and that is because, as you can see, he does still have dreads. Sadly they are now way, way shorter than they were last year, but they are still dreads.
.
NEW DREADS
Again there are two groups - the first the list of players who had dreads at the beginning of the 2020 season that I somehow missed while doing last year's preview; and then after that a much longer list of players who started their dreads either during last season or during the offseason.
- Ken Crawley (NO) (IR) (left photo below)
- Woodrow Hamilton (TENN) (PS)
- O.J. Howard (TB) (right photo below)
- Dontae Johnson (SF)
- Tyron Johnson (JAC)
- Nicholas Morrow (LV)
- Qadree Ollison (ATL) (PS)
- MyCole Pruitt (TENN)
Saints CB
Ken Crawley (beginning the season on IR), Buccaneers TE
O.J. Howard, and the other 6 players listed above are playing their 2nd season with dreads. I should have had them in last year's preview. Sorry I missed you, fellas.
Now here are the players who didn't have dreads when last season began but do now.
- Salvon Ahmed (MIA)
- Blessuan Austin (SEA)
- Jerome Baker (MIA)
- Eno Benjamin (ARIZ)
- Henry Black (GB)
- Teddy Bridgewater (DEN) (photo below)
A handful of quarterbacks have braids, but
Teddy Bridgewater, in his first season with the Broncos, is the only QB with dreads in the league at the start of the season. Surely (?)
Cam Newton will join him at some point during the season.
- Baron Browning (DEN) (rookie)
- Antonio Brown (TB) (right photo below)
- Marquise Brown (BAL) (left photo below)
- Deon Bush (CHI) (left photo below)
- Jeremy Chinn (CAR)
- Keion Crossen (NYG)
- Tae Crowder (NYG)
- Michael Davis (LAC)
- Mario Edwards (CHI)
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) (right photo below)
- Demetric Felton (CLEV)
- Dante Fowler (ATL)
- William Fuller (MIA)
- Michael Gallup (DAL)
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson (NO)
- Kemon Hall (LAC)
- Mike Hilton (CIN)
- Bryce Huff (NYJ)
- Jerry Hughes (BUF)
- Myles Jack (JAC) (photo above)
- John Johnson (CLEV) (left photo below)
- Julio Jones (TENN) (right photo below)
John Johnson had braids while playing his first three NFL seasons with the Rams but has switched to dreads in his first season with the Browns. And I see
Julio Jones, former Falcons WR now in his first season with the Titans, has dreads again. We'll see if he's actually going to keep them for a whole season.
- Jacob Martin (HOU) (photo below)
- Jakobi Meyers (NE) (left photo below)
- Jalen Mills (NE) (right photo below)
The green hair is nothing new for former Eagles CB
Jalen Mills, but the dreads are. In his first season with the Patriots Mills has his hair in dreads for the first time since his freshman year in college at LSU way back in 2012.
- Ty Montgomery (NO)
- Jaylon Moore (BAL) (PS)
- Rondale Moore (ARIZ) (rookie)
- Latavius Murray (BAL)
- Jojo Natson (CLEV) (PS)
- Michael Ojemudia (DEN) (IR)
- Qadree Ollison (ATL) (PS)
Jalen Ramsey (LAR) (left photo above)J.R. Reed (LAR)Calvin Ridley (ATL) (right photo above)I tried to welcome
Calvin Ridley to the house last year; but he decided he wasn't ready yet to commit to keeping his hair in dreads. Looks like he is now ..... And then there's
Jalen Ramsey. He has changed his hair so many times over the years that I really hesitate to welcome him. But he has kept his hair like this for several months in a row now, so I guess I'll welcome him in - for now.
Chauncey Rivers (GB)Elandon Roberts (MIA)James Robinson (JAC) (photo below)
James Robinson had dreads for most but not all of the games during his 2020 rookie season for the Jaguars. Hopefully he'll keep them full time this year.
- Janarius Robinson (MINN) (rookie) (IR)
- Darnell Savage (GB)
- Andre Smith (BAL) (PS)
- Trey Smith (rookie) (photo below)
Rookie
Trey Smith (#65) on the sideline on Aug. 17 during the Chiefs' preseason game vs. the Vikings next to #67,
Lucas Niang, a rookie last year who didn't play in 2020 after deciding to opt out.
- Patrick Taylor (GB) (PS)
- Carlos Watkins (DAL)
- Quez Watkins (PHIL)
- Deatrich Wise (NE)
.
SAME DREADS, NEW THREADS
There were 52 players with dreads who changed teams last year (43 at the beginning of the season and 9 more who signed after the season was already underway) and there are even more this year.
The first team next to a player's name is the one he played for in 2020, and then his current team is next to that and underlined.
- Montravius Adams (GB, NO)
- Ola Adeniyi (PIT, TENN) (photo below)
- Denico Autry (IND, TENN)
- Chidobe Awuzie (DAL, CIN)
- Kalen Ballage (LAC, PIT)
- Bashaud Breeland (KC, MINN) (left photo below)
- Malcom Brown (NO, JAC)
- Adam Butler (NE, MIA)
- De'Vondre Campbell (ARIZ, GB)
- Maurice Canady (NYJ, DAL)
- Corey Clement (PHIL, DAL)
- Jadeveon Clowney (TENN, CLEV) (right photo below)
- Adrian Colbert (NYG, NYJ)
- Chris Conley (JAC, HOU)
- Rashaad Coward (CHI, PIT)
- Bud Dupree (PIT, TENN)
- Daurice Fountain (IND, KC) (left photo above)
- Shaquill Griffin (SEA, JAC) (right photo above)
- Anthony Harris (MINN, PHIL) (photo below)
- Davontae Harris (BAL, SF IR)
- Malik Hooker (IND, DAL)
- Melvin Ingram (LAC, PIT) (left photo below)
- Jackrabbit Jenkins (NO, TENN)
- John Jenkins (CHI, MIA)
- Rayshawn Jenkins (LAC, JAC)
- Darryl Johnson (BUF, CAR)
- Marcus Johnson (IND, TENN IR)
- Sidney Jones (JAC, SEA)
- Matt Judon (BAL, NE) (right photo below)
- Desmond King (TENN, HOU)
- Christian Kirksey (GB, HOU)
- Tanoh Kpassagnon (KC, NO) (left photo below)
- Kendall Lamm (CLEV, TENN) (right photo below)
- Harvey Langi (NYJ, NE)
- Trey Marshall (DEN, LAC)
- Bobby McCain (MIA, WASH)
- Gerald McCoy (DALL IR, LV IR)
- Bradley McDougald (NYJ, TENN)
- Takk McKinley (ATL, CLEV)
- Terrance Mitchell (CLEV, HOU)
- Josh Norman (BUF, SF)
- Ty Nsekhe (BUF, DAL)
- Cordarrelle Patterson (CHI, ATL) (photo below)
- Brian Poole (NYJ, NO IR)
- Sheldrick Redwine (CLEV, NYJ)
- Sheldon Richardson (CLEV, MINN)
- Andre Roberts (BUF, HOU)
- Darryl Roberts (DET, WASH)
- Bradley Roby (HOU, NO)
- Tremon Smith (IND, HOU)
- Vincent Taylor (CLEV, HOU)
- Tavierre Thomas (CLEV, HOU) (photo above)
- Desmond Trufant (DET, NO)
- Nsimba Webster (LAR, CHI)
- Jamaal Williams (GB, DET) (left photo above)
- Quincy Williams (JAC, NYJ) (right photo above)
- Isaac Yiadom (NYG, GB) (photo below)
In addition to the 57 players listed above, here are three more that signed with new teams after the season had already begun.
- Dre Kirkpatrick (ARIZ, SF)
- Richard Sherman (SF, TB)
- Buster Skrine (CHI, SF)
.
The 2021 class of rookies with dreads includes 40 players that were picked in the NFL Draft. 25 of the 32 teams picked at least one player with dreads, and there were 4 teams that picked three (Giants, Lions, Packers, Bills). Here are all 40 listed by the round in which they were selected. Unless otherwise noted, the player made his team's opening day roster.
ROUND 1
6. WR Jaylen Waddle (MIA) (left photo below)
8. CB Jaycee Horn (CAR)
20. WR Kadarius Toney (NYG)
24. RB Najee Harris (PIT)
29. CB Eric Stokes (GB) (right photo below)
ROUND 243. S Trevon Moehrig (LV) (left photo below)
47. CB Asante Samuel Jr. (LAC) (right photo below)
49. WR Rondale Moore (ARIZ)
58. LB Nick Bolton (KC)
61. DE Boogie Basham (BUF)
ROUND 371. CB Aaron Robinson (NYG) (on PUP list, will miss at least first 6 games of season)
72. DT Alim McNeill (DET) (left photo below)
75. DT Osa Odighizuwa (DAL)
76. CB Paulson Adebo (NO)
88. RB Trey Sermon (SF) (right photo below)
90. DE Patrick Jones (MINN)
101. CB Ifeatu Melifonwu (DET)
105. LB Baron Browning (DEN)
ROUND 4
110. OT James Hudson (CLEV) (left photo below)
120. RB Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)
121. DE Jordan Smith (JAC) (right photo below)
134. DE Janarius Robinson (MINN) (on IR list)
137. CB Tre Brown (SEA) (on IR list)
140. LB Buddy Johnson (PIT)
ROUND 5
146. S Jamien Sherwood (NYJ)
148. DT Ta'Quon Graham (ATL) (left photo below)
164. S Jamar Johnson (DEN)
165. S Shawn Davis (IND) (right photo below) (signed to PS after being cut at end of preseason)
173. DT T.J. Slaton (GB)
177. LB Cameron McGrone (NE) (on NFI list - out for at least first 6 weeks of season)
ROUND 6
186. S Hamsah Nasirildeen (NYJ)
196. RB Gary Brightwell (NYG) (left photo below)
211. RB Demetric Felton (CLEV)
212. S Damar Hamlin (BUF)
213. CB Rachad Wildgoose (BUF) (right photo below, #32, hanging out w/veteran DTs Ed Oliver and
Vernon Butler at practice on Aug. 10) (signed to PS after being cut at end of preseason)
ROUND 7
229. WR Mike Strachan (IND)
252. LB Chris Garrett (LAR) (left photo below)
256. RB Kylin Hill (GB) (right photo below)
257. RB Jermar Jefferson (DET)
.
UNDRAFTED
Most undrafted rookies go to their first NFL training camp expecting to make the team but realizing that, more likely than not, at best they're going to begin the season on the practice squad. But each year a handful perform so well during the preseason that they actually do make the opening day 53-man roster. This year nearly 20 undrafted rookies with dreads begin the season on various teams' practice squads, and there are 5 more that are on opening day rosters. Here are the five ......
DE
Darius Hodge (CIN) (photo above)
CB Mac McCain (PHIL)
LB Andre Mintz (DEN) (photo on right, wearing
jersey #91 in training camp on July 28 but
has since changed to #48)
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (LAC)
CB A.J. Parker (DET)
.
INJURIES/RETIREMENTS
Once again this season the NFL has relaxed its rules regarding the injured reserve list, meaning players can be activated from the list after spending as little as 3 weeks on it. It used to be that if you were put on IR, you were out for the entire season. As far as I can tell, only four players with dreads have suffered season-ending injuries before the season began. They are DT Gerald McCoy (on LV IR), RB Sewo Olonilua (on DALL IR), RB Gus Edwards (on BAL IR), and CB DeMarkus Acy (cut by PIT after suffering torn ACL).
And lastly .....
As we all know, sports retirements are often a temporary thing, so let's say that the following players with dreads have announced their retirements ... for now (the team listed is the team played for last year).
Malcolm Butler (TENN)
Todd Davis (MINN)
Patrick Robinson (NO)
Tramon Williams (BAL/GB)
No comments:
Post a Comment