We're approaching a new NFL season, but some of the same talking points will always surface.
Tom Brady and his unprecedented longevity at the helm of the Patriots offense is reaching another level, one that a legend from a rival team can't ignore.
And as for America's team, the Dallas Cowboys, one-third of their latest three-headed monster has pledged his allegiance (kind of) to the cause in Big D.
Here are your Monday headlines from around the NFL:
Amari Cooper wants to be a Cowboy ‘for a long time’
Good news, Cowboys fans. Amari Cooper wants to be in Dallas just as much as you want him to be in Dallas.
Speaking to the Dallas Morning News on Monday, the star wide receiver said he hopes to be a Cowboys “for a long time.”
Amari Cooper when asked about his contract: “I really want to play well. I think everything starts with that. If you play good football, you’re going to be around a long time. And I do want to be a Dallas Cowboy for a long time.” pic.twitter.com/OzMOJaGZD9
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 24, 2019
“I really want to play well. I think everything starts with that,” he said. “If you play good football, you’re going to be around a long time. And I do want to be a Dallas Cowboy for a long time.”
Cooper led Dallas with 725 yards on 53 catches and had six touchdowns in nine games last season after being acquired from the Raiders in October. He is set to make $13 million in 2019 and will be a free agent after the season if he does not sign an extension.
Titans want QB Marcus Mariota to be more mindful of hits
Marcus Mariota is an elite athlete who just hasn’t found the right formula for success in the NFL. But he can’t get it right if he’s not on the field, so Titans GM Jon Robinson said the team is pressing the quarterback to take fewer hits throughout the season.
“The thing I’ve stressed to him, and I know our coaches have stressed to him is, Let’s live to play another play,” Robinson told Sports Illustrated. “Don’t take that hit. If you feel the pocket coming down on you and you take off running, and the ‘backer is coming off of coverage and he’s coming screaming at you, throw the ball away. It’s OK to punt, we’ll get another crack at it. That’s the main thing, it’s stressing to him — to try as best as possible, like all quarterbacks do, to avoid getting hit.”
Mariota played in 14 games last season but threw only 11 touchdowns.
Former Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill was brought in this offseason to back up Mariota.
Tom Brady is the best QB ever, according to ‘Broadway’ Joe Namath
The argument will never end for football fans, but according to Joe Namath, the crown for best quarterback of all time has been decided.
When asked if Tom Brady is the best quarterback to ever strap on a helmet, the Hall of Fame Jets signal caller left no doubt as to where he stands.
“I would have to say the he’s the best at answering the challenge there ever was, yes,” Namath told Howard Stern on Monday. “I’ve not seen anybody have that many big games and answer the challenge as well as he has.”
Is @TomBrady the best-ever @NFL quarterback? @RealJoeNamath thinks so. “I've not seen anybody have that many big games and answer the challenge as well as he has,” he tells @HowardStern. pic.twitter.com/SmoIzrqp4p
— Stern Show (@sternshow) June 24, 2019
Namath pointed to Brady’s repeated success in big moments. The 42-year-old Brady has played in eight Super Bowls and won six of them.
“Here’s a quarterback, when I watch pro football games, college games, you can literally see — and I actually lost games for our team by throwing poorly, throwing interceptions, I have not seen Tom Brady lose a game for his team,” Namath said.
Cam Jordan tells Saints to pay wideout Mike Thomas
Mike Thomas has been a menace on the field for the Saints since being drafted in 2016.
He’s broken the record for receptions in his first three seasons with 321 for 3,787 yards with 23 TDs. Now it’s time he gets new contract, according to teammate Cam Jordan.
"Pay the man," Jordan told NFL Network. "Nobody's done what he's done in his first three years. Highest paid."
Should @Cantguardmike become the league's highest paid receiver?
— GMFB (@gmfb) June 24, 2019
.@Saints DE @camjordan94 didn't have to think long about this... pic.twitter.com/qLikvmSgEi
Thomas is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is slated to make just over $1.1 million in base salary. According to recent reports, Thomas is seeking a deal worth north of $20 million per season, which would make him the highest-paid wideout in the NFL.
Jalen Ramsey turns a new leaf, won’t diss QBs
Jaguars defensive back Jalen Ramsey went wild last offseason throwing shade at several quarterbacks. But it’s a different story in 2019.
"You want to do this again, huh?" Ramsey responded to ESPN’s Adam Schefter when asked for a breakdown of QBs he’ll face this season. "I'm not going to do this again but, we do play some good quarterbacks this year, of course, but probably the quarterback I'm most excited for is Nick Foles. I don't have to play against him, of course. He is my teammate. He is a great teammate, the few interactions we've had has been great. Great man, great player as well. He has nothing to prove to anybody. He's a Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP. So, I hope he comes out here and he plays free and knows he has the support of everybody."
Ramsey not taking the bait, though disappointing in a way, was also refreshing for the young star.
"I'm growing man, it's Year 4 for me," Ramsey said. "It's a different me. A lot of people think they know me, they don't really know me. But hey, that's OK.”