Footballguys #262 - 1/6 - Footballguys Playoff Challenge 2 - Divisional Round is LIVE Plus News And Notes

[Play the 2019 FBG Divisional Playoff Challenge]() The Footballguys Playoff Challenge was a massive success last week so we now bring you the [Footballguys Playoff Challenge 2 - Divisional Round](). This contest has a $10,000 grand prize and deep payouts. Plus all the excitement and perfect simplicity of the original playoff challenge format: no draft, no salary cap, no convoluted rules. [Just pick 8 players and let 'em ride to the Superbowl](). Still just a $35 entry fee! --------------------------------------------------------------- [Footballguys.com]( Footballguys #262 - 1/6 - Footballguys Playoff Challenge 2 - Divisional Round is LIVE Plus News And Notes Volume 21, #262 -- Monday Night, January 6th, 2020 You're subscribed as {EMAIL} - click [HERE]( to unsubscribe. [View in Web Browser]( Howdy {NAME}, You asked and we listened. You crushed the registrations for the [Footballguys Playoff Challenge.]( We sold out almost a full day early last week. We're back with a brand new contest for you that starts this weekend. The [Footballguys Playoff Challenge 2 - Divisional Round.]() is LIVE. Same awesome format and scoring with just a $35 entry fee. It's a fantastic way to play post-season fantasy football. BUT, get your team early as this one is almost 25% sold out and we just opened it. Now let's get to a few News and Notes. J [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [DAL - Mike McCarthy agrees with Dallas](#1) 2. [NFL - Tua Tagovailoa turning pro](#2) 3. [SEA - More work ahead for RB Marshawn Lynch?](#3) 4. [NE - QB Tom Brady could leave New England](#4) 5. [NO - QB Drew Brees mum on his future](#5) 6. [NE - QB Tom Brady played with injury](#6) 7. [NFL - Tua Tagovailoa has positive medical checkup](#7) 8. [LAR - Wade Phillips done with the LA Rams](#8) 9. [NFL - Quintez Cephus turning pro](#9) 10. [NFL - Lynn Bowden declares for draft](#10) 11. [PHI - No surgery for RB Miles Sanders](#11) 12. [PHI - Jason Peters will play in 2020](#12) 13. [CLE - Brian Daboll interviewing with Browns](#13) 14. [NE - Benjamin Watson calls it a career](#14) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [DAL - Mike McCarthy agrees with Dallas]() Source: FOX Sports - Jay Glazer Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy agreed to become the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys Monday, Jan. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Okay, forget that 'super early' stuff we were talking about on Sunday when the team officially relieved former head coach Jason Garrett of his duties. McCarthy did impress during his meeting with the team last week and they didn't take long making a decision. McCarthy was out of coaching in 2019 but the Browns, Giants and Panthers (in addition to the Cowboys) all showed interest. Things did not end well for McCarthy in Green Bay but now he'll get a fresh start as the head coach of a Cowboys team that has a ton of talent. We'll see if McCarthy can be the key to get them over the top and in the Super Bowl hunt. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [NFL - Tua Tagovailoa turning pro]() Source: FOXSports.com - Bruce Feldman University of Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa announce his intention to enter the 2020 NFL Draft on Monday, Jan. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for the Dolphins here. Tagovailoa is likely to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft even though his final season at Alabama ended with a serious hip injury. He may not be able to work out for teams before the draft as he recovers from hip and ankle surgery. Tagovailoa is reportedly high on the Dolphins wish list and they have three first-round picks to secure his services. They might go ahead and take Tagovailoa with the No.5 overall pick, but they do have No.18 overall (Steelers) and one more yet undetermined pick in the first round they acquired from the Texans in 2019. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [SEA - More work ahead for RB Marshawn Lynch?](=) Source: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson Seattle Seahawks RB [Marshawn Lynch]( logged only 18 snaps in the NFC Wild Card game, but head coach Pete Carroll told 710 ESPN on Monday, Jan. 6, that he believes Lynch is ready to handle more of a workload now that he has two games under his belt. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Lynch has to be back in a groove after a couple of games since his return. Seattle may need to lean on him as they continue their postseason run. He'll at least continue as their primary back when they get near pay dirt. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [NE - QB Tom Brady could leave New England](=) Source: ESPN - Jeff Darlington New England Patriots impending free-agent QB [Tom Brady]( returning to the Patriots is far from a guarantee, according to ESPN's Jeff Darlington. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Brady is set to be an unrestricted free agent later this year and he has no plans of retiring. He cannot be franchise-tagged by the Patriots so barring a new deal with New England, Brady will be on the open market. Many are having fun speculating on where Brady could end up with the Chargers or the Raiders perhaps being the most popular potential destinations for the future Hall of Fame quarterback. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [NO - QB Drew Brees mum on his future](=) Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Mike Florio New Orleans Saints QB [Drew Brees]( declined to make any comment on his future in the wake of the team's Wild Card loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Saints have some interesting decisions in front of them. With the team failing to make the most of their Super Bowl window, one has to wonder how much time they have left with Brees. The veteran superstar turns 41 later this month and is set to become an unrestricted free agent. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [NE - QB Tom Brady played with injury]() Source: NFL Network - Michael Giardi New England Patriots QB [Tom Brady]( (foot) played in the Wild Card playoff game despite suffering a foot injury at some point in December. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Brady didn't look like himself in the Wild Card game, and perhaps this foot issue has something to do with it. He's an unrestricted free agent in 2020 and his time with the Patriots may be coming to a close. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [NFL - Tua Tagovailoa has positive medical checkup](=) Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) recently had his surgically repaired hip examined and received a positive report on his recovery. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Tagovailoa may not be able to workout for teams before the draft. That being said, he's still likely to be a first-round pick so long as his medicals check out okay. He is scheduled to undergo more tests in three to four months. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [LAR - Wade Phillips done with the LA Rams]() Source: ESPN.com - Lindsey Thiry Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will reportedly not return to the team next season, according to sources. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Things tend to go this way with Phillips as a defensive coordinator. The Rams defense was solid as per usual with Phillips but the team just wants to go in a different direction. Phillips should have no problem latching on with a new team for 2020. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [NFL - Quintez Cephus turning pro]() Source: Twitter - Quintez Cephus University of Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus announced his intention to enter the 2020 NFL Draft on Monday, Jan. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Cephus was the Badgers leading receiver this year with 59 catches for 901 yards and seven touchdowns. He's a reliable receiver with a big frame to box out defenders who gets by on guile more so than incredible athleticism. Right now, Cephus is considered a Day 3 pick in the draft due to the deep and talented wide receiver class. He'll have some off-field questions to answer after being cleared of sexual assault charges before the 2019 season. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [NFL - Lynn Bowden declares for draft]( Source: Louisville Courier Journal - Jon Hale University of Kentucky QB/WR Lynn Bowden announced his intention to enter the 2020 NFL Draft via social media prior to the team's Belk Bowl game on Dec. 31. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Bowden began his final season at Kentucky as a wide receiver but when injuries decimated the position he ended up at quarterback. Playing seven games at quarterback for the Wildcats, Bowden showed his incredible athleticism and versatility. We'll see how he tests at the Scouting Combine later this year, but Bowden should put on a show. Bowden is considered a late second- or early third-round pick by some in the scouting community. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 11. [PHI - No surgery for RB Miles Sanders](=) Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane Philadelphia Eagles RB [Miles Sanders]( (knee) was spotted wearing a brace on his left knee and on crutches following the team's NFC Wild Card loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but he insisted he will not require offseason surgery. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for the young back here. The Eagles found a quality starter when they picked up Sanders as a second-round pick out of Penn State in the 2019 NFL draft. He began the year as a reserve player but moved up the depth chart and into the starting role. He finished his rookie year with 818 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 50 catches, 509 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Fantasy GMs can look at him as an RB2 with upside as the Eagles lead back for the 2020 season. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 12. [PHI - Jason Peters will play in 2020]( Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Les Bowen Philadelphia Eagles impending free-agent OT Jason Peters said he will play somewhere in 2020. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Peters missed three games in 2019 with a knee problem but he was still a strong starter in 13 games for the Eagles. Undrafted out of Arkansas back in 2004, Peters became one of the best left tackles in the game and has been named to the Pro Bowl nine times. The Eagles drafted his replacement in Andre Dillard in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft, so Peters may be playing elsewhere in 2020. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 13. [CLE - Brian Daboll interviewing with Browns](=) Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is interviewing with the Cleveland Browns Monday, Jan. 6, for their head coaching vacancy. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Daboll has gotten a lot of attention for how he put together the Bills offense in 2019. Working with quarterback Josh Allen, Daboll was able to craft an offense that best fit the young player's skill set. The Browns have interviewed four other candidates and Daboll makes five. They also are interested in Patriots OC Josh McDaniels. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 14. [NE - Benjamin Watson calls it a career]() Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter Updating a previous report, New England Patriots TE Benjamin Watson announced his retirement Saturday, Jan. 4. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Watson was a first-round pick for the Patriots coming out of Georgia back in 2004. During his 15-year career, Watson snared 547 passes for 6060 yards and 44 touchdowns. He was never really a star at the position but he was a solid player for years with three-down ability in stops with the Patriots, Saints, Browns and Ravens. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Make sure to grab your [Footballguys Playoff Challenge 2 - Divisional Round.]() team today. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of Footballguys. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! Get your 3 Free Downloads [here](=). You're subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: =