Morning briefing: 28-Dec-24: Pat Shurmur says Giants should be all-in on Shedeur Sanders

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Eagles Rule Out Jalen Hurts, But The Bigger Surprise Is On Defense

The surprise wasn’t that Kenny Pickett will get his first start as an Eagle, but that linebacker Nakobe Dean is listed as doubtful for Sunday. Perhaps Dean’s health was overlooked a bit in the swirl of attention around Hurts, but the linebacker who was having a Pro Bowl-worthy season is looking like a no-go with an abdomen injury.

Also ruled out for the Eagles were receiver/punt returner Britain Covey (neck) and rookie running back Will Shipley (concussion). Defensive end Bryce Huff is listed as questionable after having his 21-day window to return from injured reserve to active duty opened nearly two weeks ago.

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Big Blue View

Pat Shurmur: ‘You’re taking the second-best guy’ if you don’t draft Shedeur Sanders

Ex-Giants head coach offers some advice to his quarterback-needy former employer

“I’ve told all the pro scouts if you need a quarterback take Shedeur and if you don’t take him you’re taking the second-best guy,” Shurmur said on Thursday during a press conference in advance of Colorado’s appearance in Saturday’s Valero Alamo Bowl.

Shurmur, a two-time NFL head coach, has a reputation for doing quality work with quarterbacks throughout his time as an NFL coach. He believes Sanders has all the requisite tools to succeed.

“Most players that make it in the NFL obviously have great skill and ability, which Shedeur has, have performed at a high level, which he does, has a true love for the game, which he has, and then is going to be an outstanding teammate. Really those are the four cornerstones of what makes a great pro,” Shurmur said.

“You gotta have talent, you gotta perform, you gotta love the game. That’s where a lot of times guys fall short — they don’t love the game. It’s the greatest team sport in the world, so you have to have an appreciation for being a good teammate.

“I don’t think we [at Colorado] realize how good Shedeur is, and we won’t until he’s gone.”

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Bleeding Green Nation

Eagles-Cowboys Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the Week 17 enemy

1) The Cowboys are 4-1 over their last five games. What’s gone into the turnaround?

One of the biggest things is they have gotten healthier in some key spots. That has helped the defense in a big way as the return of Micah Parsons has really energized the pass rush, putting much more pressure on opposing offenses. Besides just better play overall on defense, it has led to turnovers which are fueling this offense that is hampered by a suspect offensive line and a backup quarterback. Besides Parsons, the defense got DaRon Bland back. There is also a long-held belief about Mike Zimmer defenses that says they will look lousy while learning his scheme, but once they get used to it they will be very effective. That seems to have held true here.

Cooper Rush has also taken a few games to get going but has looked more comfortable lately. He’s working behind a patchwork line, but one that has looked better than they should based on continuity and past performance of some of the players. They have helped create a viable run game with Rico Dowdle that has been able to sustain drives and help cover for Rush’s shortfalls. So put all those things together and you have a team that is much more capable than the one they rolled out earlier in the year. Plus, the schedule got easier.

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NFL.com

Browns adjust Deshaun Watson’s contract to allow for flexibility with plans to keep him in 2025

The Browns have agreed to terms on a restructured contract for quarterback Deshaun Watson with an adjustment aimed at easing future salary cap burden and signaling Watson is expected to be on Cleveland’s roster next season, sources say.

The new deal doesn’t affect Watson’s 2025 contract, but it does solidify Cleveland’s plans for the QB.

Watson, who is recovering from a torn Achilles and will have missed 21 games due to injury over the last two seasons, is still due $92 million fully guaranteed over the next two seasons, and that has not changed, nor did Watson take any less money or give up any of his guaranteed salary. The new parameters of the deal would make his contract easier to manage following the 2026 season, when his deal expires.

While Watson has been out, it has continued to be a struggle. Cleveland has won just twice over its last eight games, while Winston has thrown for plenty of yards (497 against the Broncos, for instance), he also had nine interceptions in his last four games as a starter before he was benched.

Second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who had shown promise in the preseason and in limited regular-season starts, started in Week 15 and will start against the Dolphins on Sunday.

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