By Chris Lee, @TripleThreatLee
- On Saturday the Dallas Cowboys announced that QB Tony Romo suffered a compression fracture of his L1 vertebrae,an injury that could sideline him 6-10 weeks. Head coach Jason Garrett said should return this season. Best case scenario is that Romo returns by week 4 against the Houston Texans. Worse case he returns Oct. 30 vs. Eagles. Once cleared he may need a epidural. Remember in 2014, Romo played with a broken bone in his back.
- The Oakland Raiders have not officially made the move to Las Vegas, but a few trademark filings may serve as a sign for what is to come. On August 20, 2016, the Raiders filed trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the mark “Las Vegas Raiders.” All of the filings, which span a variety of goods and service classifications, were filed with an intent to use the mark in commerce in the future. The Raiders also have made little to no progress securing a new stadium in the Oakland area and have committed to lining up $500 million toward building a new one in Las Vegas.
Any team relocation needs the blessing of three-quarters of NFL owners, so developers are rushing to prepare their pitch by January, when the owners next meet. Along with releasing renderings of a new stadium in Vegas, proponents also promised it would house UNLV's football team, which has long sought a stadium closer to campus, and hinted that an unnamed Major League Soccer franchise was also interested in using the space. The price tag of the new stadium is estimated to be about $1.9B
- "I'll continue to sit. ... I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change, and when there's significant change — and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way it's supposed to — I'll stand."
Those were the words from San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick 2 days after the media noticed he didn't stand during the National Anthem. But the #MajorKey here is he hasn't stood during the anthem the entire pre-season. The only reason why anyone even noticed was because he was making his first start of the pre-season. Kaepernick continued by saying " There are a lot things that are going on that are unjust," he said. "People aren’t being held accountable for. And that’s something that needs to change. That’s something that this country stands for freedom, liberty and justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now." At the end of the day, if something happens, that’s only proving my point. Love it or hate it, I personally think Kaepernick has a point.
- Over the next few days the "cut-man" will be lurking the Browns Locker room and team hotel. Does the team finally cut ties with cornerback Justin Gilbert? But K'Waun Williams maybe on the bubble, he was suspended for 2 weeks and fined 1 game check for conducted detrimental to the team. At the same time Williams is recovering from ankle surgery after having bone chips removed. Will the emergence of Jamar Taylor impact the status of K'Waun? Here go the NFL key dates:
Sept. 3: Prior to 4 p.m. ET, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.
Sept. 3: Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.
Sept. 4: Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at noon ET.
Sept. 4: Upon receipt of the Personnel Notice at approximately 1 p.m. ET, clubs may establish a Practice Squad of 10 players. No club, including the player's prior club, will be permitted to sign a player to a Practice Player Contract until all clubs have received simultaneous notification via the above Personnel Notice that such player's prior NFL player contract has been terminated via the waiver system.
Sept. 5-9: In accordance with the 2016 Personnel (Injury) Report Policy, each club is required to file a Practice Report with its conference communications contact by 4 p.m. ET, (or as soon as possible after the completion of practice) every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a regular season Saturday or Sunday game; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for a Thursday game; or Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for a Monday game.
Sept. 5-9: Each club must also file a weekly regular season Game Status Report with its conference communications contact by 4 p.m. ET (or as soon as possible after the completion of practice) on Wednesday for a Thursday game, Friday for a Saturday or Sunday game, and Saturday for a Monday game. An update must be reported if there is any change in a player's condition after the initial Game Status Report is filed.
- Ohio State names 7 captains for the 2016 season. Which will include all six of Ohio State's returning starters on offense and defense from a year ago. J.T. Barrett, Raekwon McMillan, Pat Elflein, Billy Price, Tyquan Lewis, Gareon Conley and Joe Buger.
