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NFL

Antonio Brown: 'I have some growing up to do'

PITTSBURGH — Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown acknowledges that he plans to make changes in light of the Facebook Live incident after Pittsburgh’s playoff win in Kansas City.

Brown, whose broadcast of the team’s postgame locker room scene drew sharp criticism from coach Mike Tomlin, told Bleacher Report that such an incident won’t happen again.

“The big thing I learned is that I have some growing up to do, and I’m going to do it,” Brown told the website while making the media rounds at the Super Bowl in Houston. “I learned a lot from it and will keep learning. I’m going to rebuild the trust with my teammates and coaches. I promise you that.”

Brown called the incident a “dumb mistake” during the interview. A few weeks earlier, Tomlin labeled Brown’s actions selfish and inconsiderate and said he hoped his star player wouldn’t run himself out of town because of judgment lapses.

Brown struck a contrite chord shortly before the AFC title game against New England, apologizing for the distraction and owning up to his mistake in a news conference. The video caught Tomlin telling his Steelers they “spotted these a–h—- [the Patriots] a day and a half” in game prep. The Steelers lost 36-17 to the eventual Super Bowl champions.

Antonio Brown says he will learn from his mistakes and promises to rebuild trust with his Steelers teammates and coaches. Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Critics have cited the Facebook incident as the latest distraction from Brown, who has drawn multiple penalties for touchdown celebrations and is known to plead for the ball when it doesn’t come his way. But Brown is well-respected in the locker room; team president Art Rooney II says Brown is a “good person” and that he considers his antics minor.

Rumors have swirled about Brown’s future in Pittsburgh, although a source tells ESPN there’s optimism that both sides can reach a contract extension well before training camp. Brown, 28, has one year left on a contract that’s due to pay $4.71 million in base salary.

Teammate Maurkice Pouncey publicly defended Brown on social media last week, saying he’s tired of “all the hate, bulls— stories!! AB is a team player loved by all his teammates especially ME!”

Brown told Bleacher Report that “no one will ever outwork me.”

“That’s how it will always be for me,” Brown said. “That will never change.”

NFL

Oft-injured CB Shields released by Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The concussion that ended Sam Shields’ 2016 season has ended his tenure with the Green Bay Packers. The veteran cornerback was released on Wednesday, he posted on his Instagram account.

A source confirmed that Shields was informed of his release.

Shields, 29, missed all but the opening game last season. He sustained the fourth known concussion of his NFL career on Sept. 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and never returned. That came nine months after a concussion kept him out for a month late in the 2015 season. Over the past two years, he has played in just two of a possible 23 games, including the playoffs. Shields had one season left on the four-year, $39 million contract he signed in 2014.

Last month, Shields said was still experiencing headaches from his latest concussion.

“Some days it’s tough headaches, some days it’s mild,” he said during an interview in Atlanta following the NFC Championship Game. “It varies. I never know. I’m so used to it that it’s just normal. Like I said, each day it’s getting better. I’ll be back.”

Sam Shields, who has been dealing with concussion issues, was cut by the Packers. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

Shields had been at home in Florida since he was arrested in Green Bay in October on drug charges, but he rejoined the team for the NFC title game.

At that time, he said he intended to play again but indicated that he understood it might not be with the Packers.

“I’m thinking it’s not over,” Shields said. “I’ve still got more in me. But like I said, I’m going through this, what I’ve got to go through. Just take it one day at a time.”

When asked why he wants to continue to play given the dangers of concussions, Shields said, “I understand why you ask that. I don’t know. I just love the game, man, and I feel that I can get back out there and play. If not, then not. But right now it’s just day by day.”

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said shortly after the season that Shields still had not been cleared.

“I think we can all focus on Sam getting healthy,” McCarthy said in his season wrap-up news conference on Jan. 26. “Having a chance to visit with Sam in Atlanta briefly, he needs to get healthy for himself and his family. That’s the primary focus.”

Shields’ released came a day after the Packers cut running back James Starks with the non-football injury designation.

The Packers picked up $12 million in salary-cap space in the last two days. By releasing Shields, the Packers saved $9 million on this season’s salary cap. They will have to count $3.125 million — his remaining prorated signing bonus — on this year’s cap.

Without Shields, cornerback will be one of the Packers’ priorities this offseason. They played most of this season with three second-year cornerbacks — Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter — and finished 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game.

NFL

Sources: Falcons strongly eye Manuel for DC

The Atlanta Falcons are strongly considering secondary coach Marquand Manuel as their next defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

The Falcons on Wednesday confirmed they would not retain defensive coordinator Richard Smith or defensive line coach Bryan Cox. The team said Smith could return in an advisory role, but he’s exploring other options.

The 37-year-old Manuel, who played eight seasons at strong safety, has been praised by Falcons coach Dan Quinn for his hands-on approach in developing the secondary. Although Manuel has never held the position of coordinator, he did interview to become the defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars last January.

Manuel also was the assistant secondary coach in Seattle when Quinn served as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator.

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The Falcons’ defensive shakeup comes on the heels of a 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. The Falcons blew a 28-3 third-quarter lead and surrendered 546 total yards, including 446 passing yards to Tom Brady.

It seems the changes are not just related to the Super Bowl loss but more about the body of work throughout the season, at least in Smith’s case, as the Falcons allowed 25.4 points per game, which ranked 27th in the NFL. Sources told ESPN that Quinn started taking more control of the defensive playcalling during the season, and the Falcons showed improvement late in the season and into the playoffs but still had some hiccups.

Manuel showed the ability to get the best out of Robert Alford and second-year cornerback Jalen Collins, who replaced Desmond Trufant after the Pro Bowl cornerback underwent season-ending pectoral surgery.

Although Manuel appears to be the strongest internal candidate, he’s not the only one. Defensive pass game coordinator Jerome Henderson, linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich and receivers coach Raheem Morris all could get looks.

Henderson is a candidate to possibly join former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers.

NFL

Seahawks can take valuable lessons away from Super Bowl LI
7:00 AM ET

  • Sheil KapadiaESPN Writer

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    • Covered the Philadelphia Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine and Philly.com from 2008 to 2015.
    • Covered the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL for BaltimoreSun.com from 2006 to 2008.

On Nov. 13, the Seattle Seahawks went into Gillette Stadium and beat the New England Patriots, 31-24.

New England went 14-1 with Tom Brady as the starter this season, with its only loss coming at the hands of Russell Wilson and company.

That obviously doesn’t do the Seahawks any good, but Pete Carroll is fond of finding lessons wherever they reveal themselves. During the season, he referenced the Chicago Cubs’ Game 7 win and the presidential election during team meetings.

So there’s no doubt that Carroll kept a close eye on Super Bowl LI, looking for angles that could help his own team.

Here are some thoughts on how the Patriots’ victory over the Atlanta Falcons might relate to Seattle.

Even the GOAT looks pedestrian when pressured.

Midway through the third quarter, Brady was 19-of-31 for 196 yards. He was averaging 6.32 YPA and had a passer rating of 68.9.

One big reason: The Falcons were able to pressure him effectively. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Brady was pressured on 45 percent of his dropbacks during the first three quarters. That number dropped to 20 percent in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Wilson gave Brady a shoutout on Instagram after Sunday’s game.

The offensive line will continue to be the dominant point of conversation surrounding the Seahawks this offseason. And the Super Bowl was another reminder that even the all-time greats get flustered when pressured consistently.

At some point, the Seahawks need to do a better job of making sure Wilson has a legitimate chance to succeed. It will be interesting to see if the moves in the months ahead reflect that mission.

The lesson applies to the other side of the ball as well.

In the divisional round and the NFC title game, the Falcons blitzed more often than they had in the regular season. But against the Patriots, they sent five or more rushers just 7.2 percent of the time.

Atlanta relied on its front four, and that formula worked until late in the game. The Falcons’ defense clearly fatigued down the stretch, having played 93 snaps.

Getting pressure with four players is crucial against the game’s top quarterbacks. The Seahawks’ pass-rush was a strength in 2016 with Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett and Frank Clark. But depth should still be a priority.

The area that the Seahawks have had the most success in free agency is the defensive line. It’d be no surprise to see them add a pass-rusher or two if they can find value.

Great running teams put games away.

The Falcons gashed the Patriots on the ground in the first half, but in the third and fourth quarters, Atlanta totaled just 18 yards on nine carries.

Much has been made about the fact the Falcons ran the ball just five times after they took a 28-3 lead, but that is a misleading number. They ran just 16 total plays, and four of those (all passes) were on the final drive when time was running out. Really, it was seven passes and five runs.

Having said that, it’s completely fair to question Atlanta’s play-calls late in the fourth quarter when a sack and holding penalty took the Falcons out of field-goal range.

If the Falcons had been able to run the ball effectively in the second half and strung together some first downs, the Patriots probably wouldn’t have had enough time to come back.

Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell have said often that they don’t care about the idea of establishing the run. Their preference is for balance, but they want to be able to pound the ball when they have leads late in games.

That didn’t happen in 2016. Seattle averaged 2.75 YPC in the fourth quarter (29th) and totaled 327 rushing yards in the final 15 minutes (23rd).

From 2012 to 2015, the Seahawks ran for 2,544 yards in the fourth quarter (tops in the NFL) and averaged 4.16 YPC (fifth).

Even if their offensive identity is changing, the Seahawks need to be able to wear teams down late with their run game. Look for that to be a focus in the spring when the team returns to practice.

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