Neil’s MVP Race: Week 1

Each week through the 2017 season I will give you my leading candidates for the NFL Most Valuable Player prize. After one round of games, my top five gives a nod to the value of the quarterback position and the fact that a passer always seems to pick up this annual award! 1. Alex Smith, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs Smith …

Gridiron London Games Afterparty

The NFL campaign is finally under way – which means the clock is ticking down towards our own mini-season in London.  To celebrate that fact, Gridiron is delighted to reveal that we’ll be hosting our London Games Afterparty for the second successive year! Taking place once again at our home away from home, Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes on Euston Square, this year’s …

THE REYNOLDS AWARDS: WEEK 1

With an apology to those four teams still yet to play in Week 1, here are my award winners from the action that has taken place so far. Offensive Player of the Week Alex Smith, Quarterback – Kansas City Chiefs You’ll have to cast your mind back to Thursday night for my offensive player of Week 1 and it could …

REYNOLDS’ PICKS: WEEK 1

Neil, like the majority of our Picks Challenge players, is already 0-1 for picks after New England’s unexpected opening-night defeat to Kansas City. Can he turn it around? You decide…

PUB FACTS: WEEK 1

Want to impress your mates with your NFL knowledge down the pub this weekend? Help is at hand with one fact or statistic relating to every Week 1 game. Enjoy the opening week of the new season! Kansas City @ New England Since 2014, Tom Brady has a QB rating of 106.9 when Julian Edelman is on the field. In nine …

GAME OF WEEK: FSU v ALABAMA

The college football campaign kicks off in style this weekend as two genuine powerhouses go head-to-head in a fixture that already has College Football Playoff implications… It’s rare the No. 1 team in the country meets No. 3 at any point in the season, never mind on opening weekend. Potentially the biggest game of the campaign outside of the National …

No retirement plans – Palmer

By Neil Reynolds Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has no planned timetable to step away from the game. The 37-year-old is entering his 15th season in the NFL, having opted to play on amid swirling rumours of retirement. But Palmer insisted to the The Reynolds Report that he has no idea when he’ll hang up his cleats. He said: “I don’t know. …

Jackson sees competitive Browns

By Neil Reynolds Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson is expecting his 2017 team to be much better than the squad that won just a single game a year ago. The Browns have continued their patient rebuild over the offseason, culminating in some rare optimism that there could soon be a rare ray of light in the Dawg Pound. Jackson …

Suh: We don’t fear Patriots

By Neil Reynolds Even though the New England Patriots have long controlled the AFC East, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh insists he and his teammates have no fear when it comes to the current owners of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Suh told The Reynolds Report: “The Patriots are the team we have to get past because they won our …

We must start winning – Marrone

By Neil Reynolds  Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone has put the Jaguars on notice that they must start winning more games in 2017. For the past couple of years, the Jags have been adding significant talent to their roster, but positive results have not been forthcoming. Last season, Jacksonville went a miserable 3-13 and saw head coach Gus Bradley get …

I’ll be ready soon – Flacco

By Neil Reynolds Quarterback Joe Flacco is eyeing a quicker-than-expected return from his preseason back injury, giving the Baltimore Ravens hope that he will be available on the opening weekend of the 2017 campaign, if not even sooner. Flacco suffered a disc injury in his back and the original media speculation suggested he could miss up to six weeks, putting …

Spielman eyeing tough QB choice

By Neil Reynolds Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman would like to be in a position where a difficult decision needs to be made at quarterback by the end of the 2017 season. Spielman would like to have options with regards to current starter Sam Bradford and former number one Teddy Bridgewater, who is battling back from a career-threatening knee …

Duo will play in ’18 – Arians

By Neil Reynolds Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians does not expect two of his star offensive performers to call time on their careers at the end of the 2017 campaign. There has been talk of increased urgency in Phoenix this offseason due to the advanced years of quarterback Carson Palmer, entering his 15th season, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, …

Primer: 8 camps in 8 days

By Neil Reynolds I’m off to the United States this week and will be attempting to visit the eight London-bound teams in eight straight days, weather and travel schedules permitting! My visit on behalf of Sky Sports and NFL UK will see me rack up an approximate 16,780 air miles on 11 flights. Just hook me up with a coffee-filled …

Stills: Fins offense “special”

By Neil Reynolds The Miami Dolphins are full of confidence heading into the 2017 season and wide receiver Kenny Stills believes the offense will be “pretty special” in a second campaign under the leadership of head coach Adam Gase. Buoyed by their playoff campaign of a year ago, the Dolphins boast an impressive array of offensive difference-makers in British running …

Diggs relishing Peterson reunion

By Neil Reynolds NFL players tend to adopt a ‘one game at a time’ mantra when it comes to their business, but Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs admits one contest in particular is setting his pulse racing as the 2017 season approaches. And that showdown will see the Vikings take on their former teammate and locker-room leader in running back …

Bitonio: QB battle will be ‘hot’

By Neil Reynolds Offensive lineman Joel Bitonio is anticipating a fierce camp quarterback battle in Cleveland as the Browns aim to finally find a long-term answer under centre. The franchise has been through an NFL-high 26 starting quarterbacks since they returned to the league in 1999 and played six signal-callers in a testing 1-15 campaign in 2016. The fight for the starting job will …