Patriots lastly identify beginning QB, plus NFL throws wrench into Tom Brady's plan to purchase slice of Raiders

Welcome to the Thursday version of the Decide Six publication! 

We’ll begin issues off in the present day with some completely unbelievable information: The NFL common season will likely be kicking off precisely ONE WEEK from tonight. That is proper, that is your final Thursday night time with out NFL soccer till January. Please plan accordingly. 

As if that information is not large enough, there’s some even greater information in the present day: The Patriots lastly named a beginning quarterback! Truthfully, I did not assume it was going to occur. I believed they’d forgotten to present somebody the job they usually had been simply going to into the season and not using a beginning quarterback.

We’ll be protecting the Patriots’ QB choice in in the present day’s publication, plus we’ll be having a look on the Steelers choice to start out Russell Wilson.  

As at all times, here is your every day reminder to inform all your mates to enroll in the publication or you’ll be able to inform folks you run into on the financial institution. That additionally works. To get them signed up, all it’s a must to do is click here. Let’s get to the rundown. 

1. Patriots lastly identify a beginning quarterback

With simply 10 days to go till their season opener, the New England Patriots lastly have a beginning quarterback. Coach Jerod Mayo introduced on Thursday that Jacoby Brissett would be the starter for the Patriots’ Week 1 recreation in Cincinnati. 

Here is what you want to know: 

• Mayo really thought Maye outplayed Brissett throughout the preseason. Earlier this week, the Patriots coach admitted that the rookie QB had ‘outplayed’ Brissett throughout the preseason, so this choice primarily got here all the way down to the truth that Mayo did not need to throw his rookie “to the wolves,” that are the precise phrases he used throughout an interview on Monday. 
• Mayo is not going to be second-guessing himself. Mayo made it clear that though Maye outplayed Brissett, letting the veteran begin is the transfer that made sense for the Patriots. “As a company, we’re 100% behind Jacoby,” Mayo mentioned on Thursday. “We really feel like Jacoby offers us the most effective likelihood to win proper now.” The Patriots open the season with video games in opposition to the Bengals, Seahawks, Jets and 49ers, so letting Brissett begin by that gauntlet is not the worst thought. 
• No timetable on when Drake Maye may play. Maye will definitely play in some unspecified time in the future, however Mayo did not provide any hints about when that is likely to be. “I do not need to get into hypotheticals,” Mayo mentioned of when Maye might start. “We won’t go into the season saying ‘Nicely, he will go ‘X’ quantity of weeks.’ Look, so long as Jacoby goes on the market performing the way in which that all of us trust in him doing, he’ll be our quarterback this season.” 

Did the Patriots make the suitable choice by beginning Brissett over Maye? Our NFL reporter in Boston, Tyler Sullivan, has his answer here. When you click on over, you may see why he agrees with beginning Brissett. 

It’s also possible to check out our full story on the Patriots’ QB decision here. 

2. Steelers flip to Russell Wilson: QB might break two unlucky information this yr

The Steelers additionally named their Week 1 beginning quarterback and to the shock of nobody, the job goes to Russell Wilson. The 35-year-old was put within the “pole place” to win the job over Justin Fields at first of coaching camp, which is one cause why this wasn’t stunning. 

Here is what you need to know: 

• Mike Tomlin mentioned this was a tough choice. After Wilson injured his calf on the beginning coaching camp, that opened the door for Fields to get extra first-team reps and he did sufficient to make this a troublesome choice on Tomlin. “It was a tough choice, however not tough in a damaging approach, to be fairly trustworthy with you. It was tough in a optimistic approach,” Tomlin mentioned, via ESPN. “The choice was tough due to what they’re able to doing. Choice was tough due to how they’ve performed themselves versus the issues that they fall quick in by way of capabilities or damaging conduct.”
• Steelers are hoping Wilson can flip issues round. After beginning his profession with 9 straight successful seasons, Wilson has adopted that up by ending with a shedding document in every of his previous three seasons, together with two with the Broncos, who Wilson will likely be going through in Week 2. Because the begin of the 2021 season, Wilson has gone 17-27. 
• Steelers will likely be lacking a key lineman to start out the season. The Steelers offensive line will not be at full energy in Week 1. Beginning left guard Isaac Seumalo suffered a pec damage at follow on Monday that is anticipated to maintain him out for at the very least a month. If that restoration timeline holds, the means Seumalo will miss at the very least three video games (Falcons, Broncos, Chargers). 

Now that Wilson has received the job, he might find yourself breaking two unlucky information this yr: 

• Wilson might grow to be essentially the most sacked QB in NFL historical past. Wilson goes into his thirteenth season and thru his first 12 years, he is been sacked a median of 43.9 instances per season. If Wilson hits that common in 2024, that will put him at 570.9 sacks, which prime the document of 565, which is held by Tom Brady. 
• Wilson might grow to be the primary QB to lose to 31 completely different groups. Wilson has misplaced to 29 completely different groups in his profession, however that quantity might attain 31 throughout the upcoming season. No QB in NFL historical past has ever misplaced to 31 completely different groups (Ten quarterbacks have misplaced to 30 completely different groups, however nobody has ever hit 31). Wilson has by no means misplaced to the Browns or Eagles, and Pittsburgh will likely be going through each of these groups this yr.

You possibly can learn extra about these unfortunate records here.  

3. Bengals and 49ers nonetheless coping with extensive receiver drama

With the beginning of the common season lower than two weeks away, the Bengals and 49ers are in comparable conditions: They each have a star receiver who desires a brand new contract. 

Here is what you want to know: 

• Aiyuk has been medically cleared. The receiver had been coping with “again” soreness throughout coaching camp, which is why he was allowed to not follow. It is not clear if he really had a again situation, however the excuse was ok to maintain him off form. That being mentioned, Aiyuk was medically cleared on Tuesday after the 49ers minimize their roster all the way down to 53, so the staff anticipated him to be at follow Wednesday which brings us to our subsequent matter. 
• Aiyuk not at Wednesday follow. Normal supervisor John Lynch apparently was anticipating Aiyuk to point out up, however the receiver did not follow. “Sooner or later, you have to play,” Lynch mentioned. The 49ers clearly appear to be getting perturbed with this entire state of affairs. Since Aiyuk has been cleared, the staff can now wonderful him for lacking practices, so it is going to be fascinating to see in the event that they go that route. 

Aiyuk is at present set to play the 2024 season on his fifth-year possibility, which pays him $14.124 million. If the 49ers wished to be petty, they might merely inform him to play out his contract or do not play. 

In Cincinnati, the Bengals appear to be on barely higher phrases with Chase than the 49ers are with Aiyuk. Chase was AT follow, however he simply did not take part. 

• Chase really practiced this week. After skipping each follow of coaching camp, Chase lastly participated in a follow earlier this week. With Chase again within the fold, issues had been wanting so good that coach Zac Taylor proclaimed on Monday that the receiver would definitely be enjoying in Week 1 in opposition to the Patriots. 
• Chase sits out follow on Wednesday. Though issues began out effectively for the Bengals this week, issues took a twist on Wednesday when Chase determined NOT to follow. After the session, Taylor did not appear so certain whether or not Chase can be enjoying within the opener. “I most likely put my foot in my mouth talking too shortly,” Taylor mentioned of his feedback from Monday. 
• Chase desires to prime Jefferson’s deal. In accordance to NFL.com, Chase desires to be the highest-paid receiver within the NFL. The Bengals receiver apparently desires a contract that will pay him ‘one cent’ more than Justin Jefferson, which implies the Bengals must give him a four-year extension price $140,000,000.01. 

Chase’s state of affairs is barely completely different than Aiyuk’s as a result of the Bengals star nonetheless has two years left on his deal in comparison with only one for Aiyuk. Chase is about to make simply $1.055 million in base wage this yr adopted by a fifth-year possibility in 2025 that will pay him $21.82 million. If the Bengals matched Jefferson’s deal, they’d have Chase underneath contract for the following six years for $162.88 million or $27.15 million per yr, which really does not appear so unhealthy.  

4. NFL throws wrench in Tom Brady’s plan to be a broadcaster and a staff proprietor

The NFL despatched a transparent message to Tom Brady this week and that message is: We do not need you to be a broadcaster AND a staff proprietor. 

The league has put some restrictions in place that may make it tough for Brady to do his broadcasting job if he will get accredited to be a minority proprietor of the Raiders. 

Brady, who’s beginning his broadcasting profession at Fox this season, would lose the next privileges if he turns into a staff proprietor (via ESPN.com): 

• He would not be allowed in one other staff’s facility.
• He would not be allowed to witness follow.
• He would not be allowed to attend broadcast manufacturing conferences.
• Brady additionally would not be allowed to brazenly criticize officers, which is a coverage that each one homeowners should comply with. Principally, the NFL has created a algorithm that may drive Brady to resolve.

If he isn’t allowed to do any of these items, that may make his job as a broadcaster way more tough. Principally, the NFL has created a algorithm that may drive Brady to resolve whether or not he’d moderately be a broadcaster or an proprietor, as a result of he virtually actually will not be capable to do each now. 

Brady has been attempting to buy a small portion of the Raiders for over a yr, however the deal nonetheless hasn’t been accredited by the opposite homeowners. Brady wants at the very least 24 NFL homeowners to present their approval earlier than he can be a part of the possession ranks. With the brand new guidelines in place, Brady may simply resolve to drop his bid for the Raiders in order that he can absolutely deal with his job with Fox Sports activities, which pays him an estimated $37.5 million per yr.

And simply to be clear, the brand new rule does not prohibit Brady from being an proprietor and a broadcaster, it’ll simply make it robust to do his job. 

It is an fascinating state of affairs, and also you can read more about it here. 

5. Rating the NFC coaches underneath essentially the most stress

Earlier this week, we ranked the 5 AFC coaches who’re underneath essentially the most stress this yr, and when you’re questioning whether or not we will do the identical factor for the NFC, the reply is sure (And here’s our AFC ranking if you missed that).

Let’s check out Jeff Kerr’s record of the three NFC coaches going through essentially the most stress: 

1. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. “The playoff document is futile, because the Cowboys are simply 1-3 within the postseason underneath McCarthy. Someway McCarthy saved his job after the Cowboys grew to become the primary No. 2 seed to lose to a No. 7 seed within the expanded playoff period, getting blown out by the Inexperienced Bay Packers at house. … This yr, McCarthy will likely be judged in January. Dropping the primary playoff recreation — or making the divisional spherical — will not minimize it this time.”

2. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni. “The Eagles cannot afford a sluggish begin to 2024, or the town will likely be questioning Sirianni’s future. Attending to the playoffs will not be ok both, as Sirianni has to win at the very least a playoff recreation to really feel protected about teaching the Eagles in 2025. There’s immense stress for Sirainni to win — and to win massive.”

3. Saints coach Dennis Allen. “Allen is a superb coordinator, however his head-coaching profession is not one to brag about. He has by no means made the postseason and has only one successful document in his 5 years. … This can be Allen’s final likelihood in New Orleans. If the Saints do not attain the playoffs, he is probably not getting a fourth season.”

Kerr ranked a complete of 5 coaches, and if you wish to see his full record, you can do that here.

6. Additional factors: Browns probably caught with Deshaun Watson for at the very least two extra seasons after 2024

It has been a busy week within the NFL, and because it’s practically not possible to maintain monitor of all the pieces that occurred, I went forward and put collectively a roundup for you.

• Browns restructure Deshaun Watson’s contract. Watson goes to be paid $46 million in 2024, however as a substitute of getting that as a base wage, the Browns restructured his deal on Thursday to release some wage cap area. Watson had $44.79 million of his wage transformed right into a signing bonus, which created $35.83 million in cap area for the Browns. Financially, this transfer is smart, however now, the Browns are primarily caught with Watson for 3 extra seasons (2024-26). In accordance to Spotrac, Watson now has a lifeless cap hit of $172 million in 2025 and $99 million in 2026. If Watson struggles in 2024, the Browns at the moment are caught in a spot the place it is going to be extremely tough to maneuver on, even when they wished to. Because of his absolutely assured contract, it might have been robust to maneuver on earlier than this restructuring, however now, it turns into virtually not possible (However we can’t say fully not possible, as a result of the Broncos determined to take an $85 million lifeless cap hit with Russell Wilson). The transfer additionally signifies that Watson can have a cap hit of roughly $72 million in each 2025 and 2026. 
• Browns launch former Professional Bowl quarterback. The Browns additionally made another QB move on Thursday with the release of Tyler Huntley. The Browns had 4 quarterbacks on their roster after minimize day, however that quantity is now down to a few. Huntley famously made the Professional Bowl with the Ravens in 2023. 
• Dalvin Cook dinner indicators with Cowboys. Earlier this week, the previous Professional Bowl working again visited with the Cowboys, and issues went so effectively that the staff has now signed him. The 29-year-old will likely be becoming a member of a crowded backfield that features Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. You can read more about Cook’s signing here. 
• Dak Prescott unlikely to get extension earlier than season begins. Jerry Jones mentioned on Wednesday that negotiations with Prescott “stay as they have been,” which makes it appear to be Dak will likely be going into the season and not using a new deal. Prescott is headed into the ultimate yr of his contract, so if the 2 sides do not get a deal executed quickly, that makes it an increasing number of probably that Prescott will likely be hitting free company in March. 
• Chargers make commerce for brand spanking new backup QB. After watching Justin Herbert battle a foot damage in coaching camp, the Chargers determined to beef up their backup QB spot on Wednesday be making a commerce for Atlanta’s Taylor Heinicke. The Falcons will get a conditional draft decide as a part of the deal. You can read more about the trade here.