Author: Field Level Media

FLM has a North American focus while tying into regional and hyper-local resources – providing the ability to distribute compelling content through the writing of professional journalists. As the U.S. sports content provider to dozens of digital and print media publishers through strategic partnerships with the likes of Reuters and Nielsen Sports, FLM covers the nuts and bolts with a breaking news desk and game event coverage.
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Calais Campbell (93) takes Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) to the turf with under two minutes to play in the game. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Baltimore Ravens at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, November 27, 2022. The Jaguars got momentum late in the game to win 28 to 27 over the Ravens. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union] Jki 112722 Bs Jaguars Vs R 18

Falcons announce 1-year deal with DE Calais Campbell

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The Atlanta Falcons announced a one-year deal with free agent defensive end Calais Campbell on Friday.

Terms were not disclosed, but NFL Network reported the contract includes a fully guaranteed $7 million base salary and up to $2 million more in incentives.

Campbell, 36, was released by the Baltimore Ravens on March 13 in a cost-cutting move. The Ravens, who cleared $6.5 million in cap space, had been hoping to re-sign Campbell on a lesser deal.

Instead, Campbell will take his six Pro Bowls and 99 career sacks to a team that has vastly improved its defense in free agency. The Falcons also added safety Jessie Bates III, defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss. Further, the Falcons own the No. 8 pick in the upcoming draft.

The Falcons ended 2022 ranked 23rd in the NFL in scoring defense (22.7) and 27th in total yards per game (362.1).

Campbell had 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 14 starts for the Ravens last season.

A 2017 All-Pro, Campbell was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s team.

Campbell was a second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. He played for the team through the 2016 season then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent.

The Jaguars traded him to the Ravens in March 2020 for a fifth-round draft pick.

In 227 career games (208 starts), Campbell has 809 tackles (165 for loss), 237 quarterback hits, three interceptions, 57 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.

–Field Level Media

November 27, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Kentavius Street (91) tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles land DT Kentavius Street on 1-year deal

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The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defensive tackle Kentavius Street.

The financial terms of Thursday’s deal with the 26-year-old free agent were not disclosed.

Street set a career high with 3.5 sacks and played in all 17 games with the New Orleans Saints in 2022.

A fourth-round pick by San Francisco in 2018, he has 6.5 sacks and 71 tackles in 52 games (four starts) with the 49ers (2019-21) and Saints.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; General overall view of the NFL shield logo at midfield at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Raiders 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

MetLife Stadium replaces playing surface, sticks with FieldTurf

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MetLife Stadium, the home of the New York Giants and Jets, installed a new playing surface ahead of the 2023 season — choosing a new version of FieldTurf rather than a complete switch over to grass.

The stadium, which hosts twice as many regular-season games as most stadiums around the league due to the dual tenants, drew criticism in recent years for the increasing number of noncontact injuries.

Five San Francisco 49ers players came away with lower-body injuries in one game against the Jets during the 2020 season. Baltimore Ravens cornerback Kyle Fuller was lost for the season after a Week 1 ACL tear in a game against the Jets, leading Ravens coach John Harbaugh to join the chorus of those saying it wasn’t a safe surface.

Former Giants captain Julian Love, a safety who signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency this offseason, said last season that “the stats have shown we are on one of the worst fields in the league.”

Giants owner John Mara told reporters that the new turf — FieldTurf Core, a multilayer, dual-polymer monofilament fiber — was installed at both the stadium and the Giants’ practice facility. FieldTurf Core also was installed at the Detroit Lions’ Ford Field earlier this year.

“Installation of the new FieldTurf CORE system reinforces the commitment we have to providing the best playing surface for our teams,” president and CEO of MetLife Stadium Ron VanDeVeen said Thursday in a statement. “The research that FieldTurf has put into the heavyweight infill design for this new field system will equip MetLife Stadium with one of the premier surfaces in the league.”

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., also is home to two NFL teams, the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. That venue uses Matrix Turf, which is also an artificial surface.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs with the ball as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton (27) defends during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals add free-agent CB Rashad Fenton

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The Arizona Cardinals signed free-agent cornerback Rashad Fenton to a one-year contract on Thursday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Cardinals had an opening to fill at the position with the departure of top cornerback Byron Murphy in free agency. Murphy signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

A sixth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 draft, Fenton has played in 49 NFL games (17 starts) over four seasons. All but two have been with the Chiefs, who traded him to the Atlanta Falcons last November for a 2023 seventh-round draft pick.

Fenton, 26, has 127 tackles, two interceptions, 20 passes defensed and two forced fumbles in his career.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Scotty Miller (10) works out prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons sign WR Scotty Miller to one-year deal

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The Atlanta Falcons signed free agent wide receiver Scotty Miller to a one-year contract on Thursday.

Miller, 25, remains in the NFC South after playing his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made him a sixth-round draft pick in 2019 out of Bowling Green.

“He’s quick, he’s athletic and he can run,” Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said earlier this week. “He has shown the ability to make plays. That came together pretty quick and we’re excited to add him to the mix.”

Miller caught 23 passes for 185 yards in 15 games (one start) last season, bringing his totals to 74 receptions for 924 yards and four touchdowns in 50 games (eight starts).

Financial terms were not disclosed.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts place kicker Chase McLaughlin (7) walks on the field Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Buccaneers sign free agent K Chase McLaughlin

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free agent kicker Chase McLaughlin on Thursday.

Terms were not disclosed for McLaughlin, who made 30 of 36 field goals and all 21 of his extra points in 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts last season.

He has been successful on 17 of 21 attempts from 50-plus yards in his four-year career, with a long of 57 yards.

McLaughlin, 26, replaces 36-year-old Ryan Succop, who was released last week.

McLaughlin also has played for the Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.

–Field Level Media

Jul 21, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Tennessee helmet shown on the stage during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2024 QB Jake Merklinger commits to Tennessee

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Jake Merklinger, a four-star quarterback in the Class of 2024, committed to Tennessee on Thursday.

The 247Sports composite lists Merklinger as the No. 6 quarterback and No. 55 overall prospect in the class.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Merklinger, flanked by his parents, made the announcement at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Ga., choosing
the Volunteers over his other finalists — Georgia, Michigan State and North Carolina.

Over the past three seasons, Merklinger has recorded 6,607 passing yards and thrown for 75 touchdowns, adding 690 rushing yards and 20 more TDs, per 247Sports.

With Merklinger’s commitment, Tennessee’s 2024 class rose to No. 6 in the nation in 247Sports’ very early rankings.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) reacts against the Los Angeles Chargers during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lions bring back WR Marvin Jones on 1-year deal

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Free agent wideout Marvin Jones took to social media Wednesday to announce he’s returning to the Detroit Lions, a team he played with for five seasons.

ESPN reported Jones landed a one-year deal worth $3 million, with incentives that could take it to $5 million.

Jones, 33, played the last two seasons in Jacksonville.

He caught 289 passes for 4,296 yards and 36 touchdowns in 69 games (67 starts) for the Lions from 2016-20.

Jones has 542 catches for 7,386 yards and 58 TDs in 145 games (114 starts) for the Cincinnati Bengals (2012-13, 2015), Lions and Jaguars.

He was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 draft by the Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) stands on the sideline during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Patriots not in on Lamar Jackson

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The New England Patriots are not expected to be players in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes, despite the quarterback’s reported interest in joining the team, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft set the rumor mill into overdrive earlier this week when he said he got a text from rapper Meek Mill about Jackson’s interest in the Patriots. Kraft said it was up to head coach Bill Belichick.

Not happening, per The Athletic.

Jackson’s current contract demands and the draft capital a team would have to give up are a bridge too far for the fiscally conservative Patriots, per the report.

Also, the Atlanta Falcons have removed themselves from pursuing Jackson. Falcons owner Arthur Blank told two different media outlets that despite their interest in Deshaun Watson last year, the timing now is different.

The Falcons named Desmond Ridder their starting QB for 2023.

“Every year is different,” Blank told USA Today. “Deshaun was a different situation. It was a different time and space. I think Lamar is a great player … but we look at our roster and our ability to continue to build our roster now and have salary cap freedom, which we’ve never had.”

Jackson has asked to be traded, but the market for him is shrinking.

On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions all said they’re not interested in pursuing Jackson. The Washington Commanders, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers already had stated similarly.

The Jets are actively seeking to trade for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed Geno Smith earlier this month, with coach Pete Carroll adding the team “couldn’t afford” Jackson.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Monday confirmed his interest in Jackson. Colts owner Jim Irsay later in the day said Jackson’s contract demands weren’t an issue, but that a team has to guard against compromising “your future to do it.”

“It really has nothing to do with actual dollars,” Irsay said. “I mean, paying a contract like that is not a problem. I mean, it’s not a problem for me. The issue is what’s the right thing to do for the franchise in terms of what helps us win in the long run.”

Jackson took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend himself against claims that durability is an issue with him.

“I don’t remember me sitting out on my guys week 1 vs jets To week 12 vs Broncos,” he tweeted. “How come all of a sudden I sit out because of money in which I could’ve got hurt at anytime within that time frame. When we know the Super Bowl been on my mind since April 2018.”

“Let’s get real. I rather have a 100% PCL than go out there and play horrible forcing myself to put my guys in a bad situation now that’s selfish to me,” he said in a second tweet.

Jackson missed four games in 2021 and five games in 2022 with injuries. Jackson, 26, is 45-16 as the Ravens’ starter and won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Calais Campbell (93) takes Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) to the turf with under two minutes to play in the game. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Baltimore Ravens at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, November 27, 2022. The Jaguars got momentum late in the game to win 28 to 27 over the Ravens. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union] Jki 112722 Bs Jaguars Vs R 18

Reports: DE Calais Campbell to sign with Falcons

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The Atlanta Falcons are closing in on a one-year deal with free agent defensive end Calais Campbell, the latest in a series of moves to bolster a moribund defense, ESPN and NFL Network reported Wednesday.

Campbell, 36, was released by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month in a cost-cutting move. The Ravens, who cleared $6.5 million in cap space, were hoping to re-sign Campbell on a lesser deal.

Instead, Campbell will take his six Pro Bowls and 99 career sacks to a team that has vastly improved its defense in free agency. The Falcons also added safety Jessie Bates III, defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss. Further, the Falcons own the No. 8 pick in the upcoming draft.

The Falcons ended 2022 ranked 23rd in the NFL in scoring defense (22.7) and 27th in total yards per game (362.1).

Campbell had 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 14 starts for the Ravens last season.

A 2017 All-Pro, Campbell was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s team.

Campbell was a second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. He played for the team through the 2016 season then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent.

The Jaguars traded him to the Ravens in March 2020 for a fifth-round draft pick.

In 227 career games (208 starts), Campbell has 809 tackles (165 for loss), 237 quarterback hits, 99 sacks, three interceptions, 57 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.

–Field Level Media