Don Muhlbach

A good long snapper can have a lengthy career in the NFL. Don Muhlbach of the Lions was undrafted in 2004 out of Texas A&M where he played that same position.

He was signed by the Ravens, but was cut in training camp. He joined the Lions where he has played since. His 244 career games is 56th on the NFL all-time list.

He was just re-signed by the Lions and will entering 17th season with them.

It has been a tough ride for him at times. He endured the winless season of 2008 and has only experienced four winning ones. His playoff times have passed quickly with three quick exits in the Wild Card game.

No matter what, he has persevered and lasted this long.

XFL 2020

Will the XFL be back next year after playing only five games? The Coronavirus pandemic forced this action. All employees have been laid off.

The league had decent television ratings. Attendance wasn't the greatest, but it was surviving.

Nobody knows what the future holds, but a business can only lose so much money.

Rex On The Loose

For some reason, former Jets head coach Rex Ryan has been picking fights with players.

He started with his criticism of WR Amari Cooper before he shifted his focus to his former QB Geno Smith.

He claims that Coach Belichick could never had won six Super Bowls with Smith.

As expected, this caused a social media battle between Ryan and Smith.

If Rex is trying to draw attention to himself, he is doing a very good job.

A First For Saban

The Coronavirus pandemic has forced all sorts of changes for professional sports.

It has caused Alabama head coach Nick Saban to do something he never expected.

He now has his own email account. It's a first for him and something totally new in his life. In the past, his wife was in charge of his emails.

Maybe a Twitter account is on the horizon.

A Stern Talk

Tom Brady got his two hours of time on Howard Stern today. It was quite an interview from what I've heard so far.

It lasted almost two hours, including all of the technical issues from doing this remotely.

I only heard the parts they released to the public. It sounds like he revealed a few things.

In the end, he knew that he would not be part of the team in 2020.

It's a great chance for him to re-invent himself by making a team relevant. They will be the national telecast game on many occasions.

He can build his brand in a new area of the country and help the franchise increase its financial value.

Gamble On Tua

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa had a great chance of being the over #1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft, but a devastating hip injury derailed his season. It was similar to the one that ended the career of Bo Jackson.

There is no doubt he is an outstanding quarterback, but what about his injury history? It seems like a big risk for any team to take.

The league is starving for quarterbacks. There is a team out there that is willing to roll the dice and go after him.

Tom Dempsey

The NFL lost a legend with the passing of kicker Tom Dempsey from complications caused by the Coronavirus. Reports indicated that he originally beat the virus, but died at a nursing home in Louisiana where he had been dealing with dementia for the last seven years.

Dempsey had an improbable career after being born without toes on his right foot and missing four fingers on his right hand. He was able to last 11 seasons in the NFL by using a specially designed flat-front shoe and kicking the ball straight on.

After setting an NFL record with a 63 yard field goal, his accomplishment drew criticism from a few because they felt his shoe gave him an unfair advantage.

The league implemented "The Dempsey Rule" in 1977 which stated that a player's kicking leg must have a kicking surface that conforms to a normal shoe. His record stood for 43 years until it was broken in 2013.

His iconic moment came while playing for the Saints in the final moment in a game against the Lions on Nov 8, 1970 when he nailed his game wining kick.

The 2019 Ironmen

It's a big challenge for any player to make it through the sixteen game NFL season. Injuries seem to hit everyone.

The league had 23 of them who never missed a snap during the regular season. Of that amount, 22 were offensive linemen and the other was Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.

On the defensive side, only five did it. Four of them were safeties and one linebacker.

OL Joe Thuney lead the Pats by missing only ten plays, followed by Tom Brady and Shaq Mason. The defense was lead by Stephon Gilmore, Devin McCourty, Karl Van Noy and Jamie Collins.

It's quite an accomplishment for them, considering one play could end their season or career.

Bad Start To The Season

The chief medical officer of the NFL has come out and questioned whether the season will start on time or how long it will be.

OTA's will be delayed which will impact the start of training camp. The league wants to put a quality product on the field and guard the safety of the players.

There is another issue of whether body contact will be a health issue.

No TB and AB

Tom Brady's signing with Tampa Bay has generated a lot of excitement for fans and players. Free agents have found it to be a better destination.

WR Antonio Brown has expressed his desire to be reunited with Brady, but don't count on it happening.

Coach Bruce Arians has thrown cold water on that already by saying he would not be a good fit in the locker room.

Every team knows that if they sign Brown, he will end up getting put on the Commissioner's Reserve list for eight games at least.

QB 2020

The Pats released QB Cody Kesslar in a move to get some more salary cap space. Will they reach for another one in the draft?

There will be many changes to this team. It reminds me of the old days when the team had quarterback competition. Fans have been spoiled for so long.

Free Up Space

The Pats will need to renegotiate some contracts, trade or release players to get more salary cap room.

Joe Thuney and Stephon Gilmore have huge cap hits that must be dealt with. Donta Hightower could also be on the short list.

Something has to give one way or other. They don't have money to sign their draft picks.