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NFL

Wyoming QB Allen says he'll enter NFL draft

Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen announced on Friday his intention to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL draft.

Allen, a junior considered one of this year’s top quarterback prospects, made the announcement shortly after the Cowboys’ 37-14 win over Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise.

With Denver Broncos president of football operations John Elway in attendance, Allen finished 11-of-19 for 154 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.

Allen is rated the No. 3 draft-eligible quarterback by ESPN draft insiders Mel Kiper and Todd McShay; Kiper ranks him the No. 11 overall prospect, and McShay ranks him No. 15. McShay has Allen going to the Broncos at No. 5 in his latest mock draft.

UCLA’s Josh Rosen and USC’s Sam Darnold are currently ranked ahead of Allen by ESPN’s Kiper and McShay.

Allen’s decision to play Friday went against the current trend of top prospects skipping bowl games to begin preparing for the draft. He said he felt like he “owed” it to head coach Craig Bohl and quarterbacks coach Brent Vigen to play.

“Coming all the way from one scholarship offer, you know, Coach Bohl and Coach Vigen, they believed in me when I came out of junior college,” Allen said. “I felt like I owed them at least one more game here. Football’s a part of me. If I’m not playing, then I’m not me. So I’ve gotta be on the field at all the times, because I love this team, I love this game and I love the Cowboys.”

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Bohl was also quick to praise Allen for playing in the bowl game.

“In today’s world where players are making all kinds of decisions about bowl games, Josh chose to play, and I applaud him for that,” Bohl said. “If there’s any NFL team looking for a player out there, you’re never going to find a bigger competitor and a better leader than him.”

After throwing for 3,203 yards with 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions as a sophomore, Allen endured a very up-and-down junior campaign. He finished the year with just 1,812 yards and threw 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. A year removed from averaging 228.8 yards per game and 8.6 yards per attempt, Allen dipped to just 164.7 yards per game and 6.7 yards per attempt. He was also held under 100 yards passing in three games this season.

Allen’s production also dipped because he missed the final two games of the regular season after suffering a shoulder injury at Air Force on Nov. 11.

However, Allen returned to the field Friday to display one of his most impressive performances of the season. He got off to a hot start, passing for 104 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter. Allen entered the day with just one total first-quarter touchdown on the season.

With Wyoming’s defense keeping Central Michigan out of arm’s reach in the second half, Allen wasn’t asked to throw the ball much in the final two quarters. Friday marked the ninth time Allen has thrown for at least three touchdowns in a game during his Wyoming career.

NFL

Vikes' Barr expecting worst from Packers fans

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — For the past 10 weeks, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr has been reminded of his hit that resulted in a broken collarbone for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Twitter posts are filled with statements of him being a dirty player, with some taking it as far as to wish him bodily harm. The linebacker shared one such sentiment on Snapchat, posting a photo of a letter sent to him in the mail from someone hoping “you get your neck snapped.”

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Rodgers suffered a fractured clavicle in his throwing shoulder on the Packers’ second series against the Vikings on Oct. 15 at U.S. Bank Stadium. As Rodgers rolled to his right, he was brought to the ground by Barr — a legal tackle — as his pass went incomplete.

Ten weeks after the incident, the hateful messages haven’t stopped.

“It is what it is,” Barr said. “What are you doing to do? I can’t control that. I have to go about my business the same way I’ve been doing for the last — what’s it, Week 16? Same old story.”

On Saturday night, Barr knows the type of reception he’ll receive at Lambeau Field when the Vikings face the Packers on their home turf.

“I’m sure they’ll all be fired up,” Barr said. “So will we.”

Anthony Barr’s hit on Aaron Rodgers on Oct. 15 resulted in a broken collarbone for the Packers’ star quarterback. Rodgers returned from the injury last week as Green Bay was eliminated from playoff contention. Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

He expects to be a target from a Packers fan base that blames him for dismantling the team’s season. Tuning out that noise, he says, won’t be an issue.

“I don’t think it’ll be too much of a factor,” Barr said, “I’m pretty good at tuning that stuff out.”

Asked about what they might face from the Green Bay crowd Saturday, some of Barr’s teammates expect the retribution to be between fans and not spill onto the field.

“From the years that I’ve been here, there hasn’t been this much hate [in the rivalry], should I say, but it shouldn’t become anything as far as physical,” receiver Stefon Diggs said. “I hope not. I hope there’s still some class there. It’s really unfortunate what happened. Nobody wants that for anybody, but it was, like, how many weeks ago?

“Hopefully they’ve moved past it. [Rodgers] came back. Their season didn’t go probably the way they wanted it to because they didn’t have him. But at the end of the day, we all still play football, we’re all grown men. Hopefully it doesn’t become any type of thing where somebody has to worry about their safety because this is grown men you’re talking about. I hope they don’t try to hurt anybody.”

Rodgers returned for last week’s game against Carolina but, with the Packers having been eliminated from playoff contention, was put on injured reserve Tuesday.

Given that his hit was deemed legal by referees and Barr did not incur a subsequent fine, the level of vitriol that has been spewed at Barr is surprising to everyone but the linebacker.

“No, not really,” Barr said. “It’s Aaron Rodgers. It’s one of the faces of the NFL. It’s going to happen.”

Barr said he hasn’t heard from any Green Bay players who wanted to make amends and move past the incident. While he expects a physical game against their NFC North rival, it’s no different than what he says he’d anticipate any other week.

The Vikings are two wins from a first-round bye in the playoffs. Getting out of Green Bay with a victory helps the Vikings’ chances of achieving that goal, the only thing with which Barr says he’s concerned.

“I think you’re supposed to play to the whistle regardless of who you’re playing,” Barr said. “I don’t know. I’m going to play my game.

“We’re playing for seeding. We have big things to play for right now. Division games are always important. Road games are always important. My focus, our focus, is winning the game. Doesn’t matter who the opponent is. We’re going to go in there and try and play to win.”

NFL

Giants talk GM job with Gettleman; Riddick next

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Former Carolina Panthers executive Dave Gettleman was the second candidate to interview for the vacant New York Giants general manager job.

Gettleman has ties to the Giants, where he spent 15 years in their personnel department before joining the Panthers as general manager.

He becomes the second candidate to officially interview for the position, which was left vacant when the Giants fired Jerry Reese and coach Ben McAdoo two weeks ago.

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Current Giants vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross also interviewed for the job earlier this week.

The Giants (2-12) will interview ESPN analyst Louis Riddick for the job Thursday, according to ESPN and multiple reports. Interim general manager Kevin Abrams also is expected to talk with the team about the position in the coming days.

Gettleman, 66, met Wednesday with co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch and former general manager Ernie Accorsi, who is serving as a consultant in the search. Gettleman worked under Accorsi and the two are known to have a close relationship.

Accorsi also was a consultant in the Panthers’ general manager search in 2013.

Gettleman is considered a favorite to land the GM job, according to a source within the Giants organization.

The longtime NFL executive does have a track record of success. With Gettleman serving as general manager, the Panthers went 40-23-1 from 2013 to 2016 — winning three consecutive NFC South titles and reaching the Super Bowl in 2015 after finishing with an NFL-best 15-1 record.

Gettleman was surprisingly fired earlier this year by the Panthers, partly for his hard-line approach in contract negotiations.

The Giants have tough decisions on the horizon after a woeful season that saw just about everything go wrong. Quarterback Eli Manning was benched during the season and his future has been a topic of conversation. Star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is also in search of a new contract and coming off a broken ankle.

There likely wasn’t a need for any introductions when Gettleman met with the Giants’ brass Wednesday.

Gettleman originally joined the Giants in 1998, when Accorsi was in his first year as general manager. He worked in pro personnel and was promoted to pro personnel director the following year. He stayed in that position for 12 seasons before serving as senior pro personnel analyst in his final season with the team in 2012.

Gettleman began his career in 1986 with the Buffalo Bills. He has also worked for the Broncos and Giants, and he has been a part of seven Super Bowl teams, including three winners.

NFL

All 88 Pro Bowl selections, plus snubs and surprises for each NFL team

The usual suspects — Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Antonio Brown and Von Miller, to name a few — are in. But there were a few surprises on the 2018 Pro Bowl rosters — 88 of the NFL’s best players from the 2017 season — that were released Tuesday night. NFL Nation reporters have compiled Pro Bowl summaries for all 32 teams.

The Pro Bowl will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 28. It will be televised live at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN, and it will be simulcast on ABC.

Click the links after each team below (listed in alphabetical order) to view the full posts:

Patrick Peterson, one of four Cardinals players picked this season, has made the Pro Bowl in each of his seven seasons in the NFL. Another notable selection: Rookie Budda Baker made the team as a special-teamer. Read more.

Julio Jones and Alex Mack made the roster, but second-year linebacker Deion Jones did not. The reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week is sixth in the league with 118 total tackles Read more.

The Ravens had three players named to the roster, all of whom are leaders for a defense that has produced three shutouts. It marks the Ravens’ 12th straight season with at least three Pro Bowl selections. Read more.

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A strong candidate to earn NFL defensive rookie of the year honors, Tre’Davious White did not make the Pro Bowl. His four interceptions are tied for fourth in the NFL among cornerbacks. Read more.

The Panthers had one player named to the Pro Bowl — Luke Kuechly. He’s still a tackling machine. For the fifth time in six seasons he leads the team in tackles with 107. Read more.

No Bears made the Pro Bowl, including Jordan Howard, who ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing with 1,069 yards. Read more.

Geno Atkins and A.J. Green are in. Though this hasn’t been Green’s best season, he is sitting at 980 yards and eight touchdowns and has a chance for the sixth 1,000-yard season of his career. Read more.

With Joe Thomas injured, the winless Browns had no players selected to the Pro Bowl, but they do have two alternates — and one will certainly play in the game. Read more.

The Cowboys had four players selected to the Pro Bowl, including three offensive linemen, but their punter was snubbed. Read more.

Three-time Pro Bowl pick Chris Harris Jr. should have added a fourth to his resume, as he is still one of the league’s most unique players because of his ability to line up either in the slot or on the outside. Read more.

By making the Pro Bowl combined with having more than five interceptions, Darius Slay picked up another $550,000 in base salary for 2018. Read more.

The Packers didn’t have a single player named to the Pro Bowl. It was the first time since 2005, when the Packers were 4-12, that they didn’t have anyone picked. Read more.

DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney were both picked to be Pro Bowlers for the second time in their careers. Clowney might be due for a big pay day in the offseason. Read more.

You have to go back 20 years to find the last time that the Colts did not have a player selected for the Pro Bowl. That will be the case if one of their players isn’t chosen as an alternate. Read more.

The Jaguars’ four Pro Bowlers are the team’s most since 1999. And Yannick Ngakoue, who has forced six fumbles this season, could make it too. Read more.

Alex Smith, the NFL’s top-rated passer, is having his best season, but he did not make the Pro Bowl roster. The Chiefs did have three players selected, however. Read more.

The Chargers had four players named to the Pro Bowl, but Melvin Ingram, who has 10 sacks this season, was only selected as a first alternate. Read more.

The Rams had five players named to the Pro Bowl, their highest total since 2003. Todd Gurley, who struggled mightily in 2016, made his second team, while Aaron Donald, who held out all summer, made his fourth. Read more.

Ndamukong Suh is having his best season in Miami, but he did not make the Pro Bowl. Despite constant double teams, Suh leads the Dolphins in tackles for loss, forced fumbles and is second in sacks. Read more.

Adam Thielen, who has 83 catches for 1,191 yards, made his first Pro Bowl, while three more Vikings made the roster. Read more.

The Patriots had four players make the Pro Bowl. You know about Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, but how about Matthew Slater and James Develin? Read more.

The Saints had a whopping six players named to the Pro Bowl, including the history-making running back duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, who became the first running backs to make the Pro Bowl from the same team in at least 42 years. Read more.

The Giants had one player named to the Pro Bowl — safety Landon Collins. He isn’t having the same season he did in 2016 (in part because of ankle injuries) but is still the Giants’ leading tackler. Read more.

The Jets had no players selected to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year. (Leonard Williams made it as an injury replacement last season.) But Demario Davis felt he deserved a spot. Read more.

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack was named to his third Pro Bowl, and the Raiders had three more players picked. Read more.

The Eagles had six players named to the Pro Bowl, including the injured Carson Wentz. Jason Kelce, however, did not make the team. Read more.

The Steelers had an NFL-high eight players named to the Pro Bowl, including first-timers Alejandro Villanueva and Chris Boswell. Read more.

As one of the 49ers’ prized free-agent acquisitions, Kyle Juszczyk arrived with big expectations for his role in the offense, and he was named to his second Pro Bowl on Tuesday night. Read more.

Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagoner and Jimmy Graham all made the Pro Bowl for at least the fourth time. Read more.

Gerald McCoy, who made his sixth Pro Bowl team, has five sacks in 13 games for the season, sixth-most among defensive tackles in the league and fourth in the NFC. Read more.

Kevin Byard exploded onto the scene in his first season as a full-team starter, grabbing six interceptions, tied for second-most in the NFL, but he did not make the Pro Bowl. Read more.

Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Williams were named as starters in the NFC, while Brandon Scherff is a reserve. Josh Norman once again did not make the team. Read more.

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