McDaniel, Garoppolo, Hamlin, Canceled, Goff, Saints

The viral Mike McDaniel rumor + Jimmy G wants to play again this season  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Jan 06, 2023 [Sign up]( [Legit Football]( Together With: Stathead [Stathead](  McDaniel [Mike McDaniel] Armando Salguero: Mike McDaniel could get fired if the Dolphins lose to the Jets Details: Salguero, a longtime Dolphins reporter, [writes]( that “everybody’s job is at risk” if the Dolphins lose their sixth straight game this weekend. - Owner Stephen Ross is not happy that his team has gone from 8-3 to 8-8 in the last month. Playoff Chances: According to Salguero, a postseason berth might get Ross to “look the other way.” To make the playoffs, the Dolphins need to beat the Jets and see the Patriots lose to the Bills. Unfair? McDaniel has transformed the Dolphins’ offense and gotten the most out of Tua Tagovailoa. An argument can be made that the collapse is more the result of unfortunate injuries (Tagovailoa, offensive line) than poor coaching. - Miami ranks sixth in yards (368.4 per game) and tenth in points (24.1 per game). Try Again? Ross tried to land Sean Payton and Tom Brady last offseason and ended up losing a first-round pick for tampering. But if he cuts loose McDaniel, he’ll likely take another swing at the two icons. Image: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire Garoppolo [Jimmy Garoppolo] Matt Barrows: Jimmy Garoppolo badly wants to play again this season Details: Barrows (The Athletic) believes Garoppolo is [intent]( on returning for the postseason, which could create a dilemma for Kyle Shanahan, as Brock Purdy has been exceptional since taking the QB reins. Purdy: In five appearances since Garoppolo’s injury, Purdy is averaging a 67.4% completion rate, 226 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions per game. He has won all five of those appearances. Garoppolo: Before getting injured early in Week 13, Garoppolo was averaging a 67.4% completion rate, 238 yards, 1.6 touchdowns, and 0.4 interceptions per game across ten appearances. He went 7-3. Return Timeline: The initial recovery time for Garoppolo’s foot injury was [7-8]( weeks — which means a return for the NFC Divisional Round (Jan. 22-23) is theoretically possible. Hot Hand: Barrows expects Shanahan to play the hot hand — so if Purdy continues to thrive, he should continue to start. Image: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire Hamlin [Damar Hamlin] Damar Hamlin has shown “remarkable improvement” Details: According to [doctors]( at the UC Medical Center, Hamlin is awake, has movement in his hands/feet, and appears to be intact neurologically. - Hamlin is unable to speak at the moment but has been communicating in writing. - He asked doctors if the Bills won Monday’s game against the Bengals. Recovery in Progress: To be upgraded from critical to stable condition, Hamlin will need to be taken off a breathing tube and exhibit improved neurological and breathing function. Hero: Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington is being [celebrated]( as a hero for his quick on-field CPR response — which saved Hamlin’s life. - Kellington was by Hamlin’s side within a minute of the collapse and immediately recognized that the 24-year-old did not have a pulse. Image: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire Canceled [Bills-Bengals] NFL cancels Bills-Bengals game; AFC Title game may be played on neutral site Details: The NFL has [canceled]( the Bills-Bengals game that was stopped on Monday night due to the Damar Hamlin situation. Which has created a tricky situation relative to playoff seeding in the AFC. - The race for the No. 1 seed going into the game was between the Bills (12-3), Chiefs (13-3), and Bengals (11-4). Seeding Solution: Playoff seeding in the AFC will be now determined by winning percentage rather than raw wins and losses. As a result, the Chiefs can clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with a win over the Raiders on Sunday. - Some consider this unfair, as the Chiefs lost head-to-head matchups to the Bills and Bengals this season. - Buffalo can only get the No. 1 seed with a win over the Patriots on Sunday and a Chiefs’ loss to the Raiders. - The Bengals no longer have a path to the top seed — but have been awarded the AFC North title (based on having a higher winning percentage than the Ravens). Neutral: In an attempt to compensate the Bengals and Bills for the cancellation, all 32 owners will vote today on a proposal that will require the AFC Championship game to be played at a neutral site if it features Bills vs. Chiefs or Bengals vs. Chiefs and meets certain conditions (click [here]( for the scenarios). Indy: According to Albert Breer, Indianapolis has been [floated]( as a neutral site for the AFC Title game. Imperfect: Roger Goodell acknowledged that there is “no perfect solution” to the issue. Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire Goff [Jared Goff] Jared Goff has the highest passer rating in the NFL since Week 10 Details: Goff has the highest passer rating (108.4) and the best touchdown to interception ratio (15-0) in the NFL since Week 10. - Detroit has gone 6-2 over that span. Big Test: Goff and the Lions will visit the Packers on Sunday night, in a game with major playoff implications. - The Packers can clinch the final NFC wild-card spot with a win. - The Lions can clinch the spot with a win and a Seahawks’ loss to the Rams earlier in the day. - If the Seahawks beat the Rams, the Lions will be eliminated before kickoff — but can play the role of spoiler. Week 9: The Lions beat the Packers 15-9 in Week 9 — but that was before WR Christian Watson (7 touchdowns in his last seven games) and electrifying kick returner Keisean Nixon (5 kickoff returns of +50 yards) emerged as playmakers for Green Bay. Odds: The Packers are a 4.5-point favorite. Image: Steven King/Icon Sportswire Saints [Chris Olave] Strong rookie class leads to optimism in New Orleans Details: The Saints — winners of three straight — are [optimistic]( about the future due to promising rookies like WR Chris Olave (first-round), CB Alontae Taylor (second-round), LB Kaden Elliss (seventh-round), and WR Rashid Shaheed (undrafted). Olave: Olave has caught 67-of-107 targets (62.6% catch-rate) for 982 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’d likely be in the running for OROY of the year had he not missed multiple games with injuries. Taylor: Opposing quarterbacks have only completed 32-of-66 passes (48.5%) for 318 yards and no touchdowns when targeting Taylor in coverage. The former Tennessee Volunteer leads the Saints in pass breakups (11). Ellis: Ellis has started 10 games and is second on the team in sacks (7). He’s also tallied 7 tackles for loss and 10 QB hits. Shaheed: Shaheed has totaled 504 scrimmage yards and 3 touchdowns. He is averaging an explosive 18.2 yards per catch. Penning: The Saints’ other first-round pick — OT Trevor Penning — missed a chunk of his rookie year with a toe injury, but is still considered the team’s left tackle of the future. Image: Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire More News - [Seahawks]( RB Ken Walker (ankle, illness) and WR Tyler Lockett (shin) have not practiced this week - [49ers]( WR Deebo Samuel (ankle, knee) practiced in full - [49ers]( RB Christian McCaffrey (ankle) has not practiced this week - [Eagles]( QB Jalen Hurts (shoulder) was limited in practice; remains on track for Week 18 - [Chiefs]( K Harrison Butker could miss Week 18 with back spasms - [Ravens]( QB Lamar Jackson (knee) has not practiced this week; backup Taylor Huntley could miss Week 18 with wrist issue - [Titans]( WR Treylon Burks (groin) did not practice - [Giants]( expected to rest key starters vs. the Eagles Together with Stathead Question of the Day Who leads the NFL in sacks? - Nick Bosa - Myles Garrett - Haasson Reddick - Matt Judon Sign up for a monthly subscription and get your first month free, or use “[LEGIT20](” to save $20 off one year of Stathead Football. [See Answer]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. 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