Tight end Vance McDonald announced his retirement from professional football on Friday.

The 30-year-old McDonald played eight years in the NFL, suiting up with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

McDonald released a statement via Steelers’ official website, writing that he and his family “are so grateful for everything NFL football has provided us.”

“It’s always been our dream and mission to leverage the platform given us through the NFL to help serve and uplift others along the way, and we will continue to find ways to serve others as we begin this next chapter of our lives. I am proud to retire a Steeler,” he added.

Vance McDonald was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by San Francisco. He spent four years with the 49ers organization, making 30 starts before being traded to Pittsburgh.

Steelers initially brought in McDonald as a backup tight end, but the University of Rice product quickly emerged as an important player for the team. While he wasn’t too productive in the passing game, he earned respect for his blocking abilities.

McDonald’s best season as a pro came in 2018 when he had 50 catches for 610 yards and four touchdowns. This included a monster 75-yard score in Week 3 against Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With McDonald being out, the Steelers are now short on the position and only have Eric Ebron and Zach Gentry as their TEs ahead of 2021. They will most likely address the issue through draft and free agency.

The post Steelers’ TE Vance McDonald Retires After 8 Seasons in the NFL appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Chances are the Green Bay Packers will lose their Pro Bowl Aaron Jones to free agency in March. The two sides didn’t manage to agree to terms about a new deal so far and are probably heading towards a breakup.

While Packers’ fans will be rightfully furious to lose such an important player, the front office did try to keep the 26-year-old running back at Lambeau Field.

According to Rob Demovsky’s recent piece for ESPN, Jones rejected an offer that would make him one of the top five highest-paid RBs in the league earlier this season.

Reportedly, Jones didn’t have an issue with the average salary but thought that the offer wasn’t good in terms of guaranteed money. Green Bay, on the other hand, decided to stick with their original proposal, and talks fell through.

As Demovsky points out, the Packers are in a tight spot salary cap-wise and have several other free agents they need to take care of. This is why making an improved offer for Jones seems highly unlikely.

Aaron Jones had a breakthrough season with Green Bay in 2019, having league-leading 16 touchdowns. He also contributed with 1,084 rushing yards and career-high 49 catches for 474 receiving yards and three scores.

This season, Jones stepped up his game even more. He had a weaker workload but managed to get the best of it and rush for 1,104 yards in 201 attempts.

The post Aaron Jones Turned Down a Big Offer from Green Bay Earlier in the Season appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

After a tough playoff loss to divisional rivals Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers already started making changes for the next season. And this came at the expense of running back Trey Edmunds, who was waived by the team on Tuesday.

The Steelers announced the move in a brief message posted on their social media.

The move isn’t a surprising one, considering Edmunds barely got to play in 2020 despite the Steelers struggling with the running game. The 26-year-old Edmunds had only seven snaps on the offense during the season while receiving 20 snaps on special teams.

Edmunds spent the previous three seasons in Pittsburgh, playing in 19 games and rushing for 92 yards. He also had six receptions for 48 yards.

This might not be the end of Edmunds’ career with the Steelers. Reportedly, the team made a move in order to allow him to find more playing time elsewhere. If this doesn’t happen, the organization will give him a look ahead of training camp for the 2021 NFL season.

Edmunds, whose brother Terrell Edmunds plays as a safety for Steelers, previously also suited up for New Orleans Saints. He was an undrafted free agent out of Maryland in 2017.

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Indianapolis Colts’ left tackle Anthony Castonzo announced retirement on Tuesday. Castonzo played 10 seasons in the NFL, spending all of them with the Colts.

Castonzo didn’t give details about his retirement, but it is possible that the injuries he suffered in 2020 had something to do with it. The 32-year-old Castonzo was limited to 12 games this season, dealing with knee and ankle issues. He also missed the Colts’ playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills last week.

“I have given much to the game of football, but it has given me so much more,” said Castonzo in a statement released by the team. “I close the book on the football chapter of my life gifted with memories and moments I wouldn’t trade for anything. So thank you, last but far from least, to football.”

Anthony Castonzo entered the 2011 NFL Draft after four years of college football with Boston College, where he set a record for most consecutive career starts with 54. He was selected by the Colts with the No.22 selections.

Castonzo established himself as Indianapolis’ first choice at left tackle in his rookie year and went on to make 144 starts throughout his career. He was selected in the Pro Football Focus Second-team All-Pro in 2019.

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The Tennessee Titans’ running back Derrick Henry capped off the 2020 NFL regular season with another dominant performance by rushing for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the 41-38 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. This not only helped the Titans clinch their first AFC South title since 2008 but also made Henry a part of an elite club.

With 250 yards from the Texans’ game, Henry got to 2,027 rushing yards for the season and became just the eighth player in NFL history to surpass the 2,000 yards mark. The list includes NFL’s greats like Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Chris Johnson, and Adrian Peterson.

Henry also became the only player besides Davis to have at least 1,900 yards and 15 TDs in a season.

Despite the monumental achievement, Henry was more focused on the fact that the Titans made the playoffs while speaking with reporters after the game. 

“I’m glad we were able to finish with a W at the end,” said Henry. “We won as a team, and we all do it together. I’m just glad that we were able to accomplish this and win the division and get to the playoffs.”

The Titans will now play the Baltimore Ravens to begin the postseason and hope to repeat the feat from the 2019 playoffs. Tenessee got an upset 28-12 win against Ravens in the divisional round last year, with Henry carrying the offense by rushing for 195 yards.

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Detroit Lions made a surprising move on Monday, deciding to part ways with starting safety Jayron Kearse with one game remaining on their schedule.

Kearse made seven starts and played 11 games with Detroit since signing with the team in the offseason. He performed well, recording 59 tackles, two pass deflections, and one forced fumble in 2020.

The Lions most likely made the decision because they want to give more playing time to their younger players. This includes 2018’s third-round pick Tracy Walker and last year’s third-round selection Will Harris. Both players were heavily featured in last week’s game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers and are expected to play most of the snaps in Week 17 against Minnesota Vikings.

Kearse, on the other hand, will most likely get an opportunity to play meaningful football for the remainder of the season elsewhere. Playoff-bound teams are expected to give him a look, and he could easily be on a roster once the postseason kicks off.

Before joining the Lions, Jayron Kearse spent the first four years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He played 62 games in Vikings’ jersey, totaling 79 tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception, and 0.5 sacks.

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It appears that even the tough weather conditions can’t slow down Green Bay Packers’ superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers this year. Despite playing on snow-covered and windy Lambeau Field on Sunday night, Rodgers still managed to throw four touchdowns and lead his team to a blowout 40-14 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Rodgers sliced through Titans’ defense in the first half, leading the Packers to three scores in their first three possessions and connecting with his favorite wideout Davante Adams twice.

It was more of the same in the second half, as Rodgers once again found Adams to get his sixth game with four touchdowns in 2020.

Rodgers then took a back seat and gave the spotlight to Packers’ defense and rookie running back AJ Dillon.

After scoring in their first possession of the third quarter, the Titans failed to put a single point on the board for the rest of the half. Green Bay was great in coverage, with Christian Kirksey intercepting QB Ryan Tannehill while also stopping Tennessee from advancing the ball on the ground.

Dillon, on the other hand, had a great game that saw him run for 124 yards and two TDs, both in the second half. He had just 115 yards and no scores for the season before this game.

Aaron Rodgers, who is now considered the top favorite for this year’s NFL MVP award, finished the game completing 21 out of 25 pass attempts and throwing for 253 yards and four touchdowns. He now has 4,059 passing yards to go with 44 TDs and only five interceptions for the season.

Davante Adams had 11 catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns, which game him 17 scores for the season. He is now just one shy from tying for Packers’ record.    

The post Aaron Rodgers Throws 4 TDs in a 40-14 Blowout win Against Titans appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Veteran safety Logan Ryan will be calling New York his home in the next three years as well. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Ryan agreed to a new deal with NY Giants that will keep him with the franchise through the 2023 NFL season.

Ryan’s new deal is reportedly worth $31 million and comes with $20 million in guarantees.

The 29-year-old Ryan joined the Giants late in the offseason and became a crucial part of the team’s defense while also establishing himself as a leader in the locker room and on the field.

Logan Ryan had a career year with Tennessee Titans in 2019, posting career-high 113 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 18 pass deflections. The Titans, however, opted not to keep him around after his contract expired, making him a free agent.

Ryan took his time in the free agency, waiting for the right offer. However, once that offer didn’t come, he decided to gamble on himself by taking a one-year deal with the Giants.

It paid off big time, as he managed to get 83 tackles, nine pass deflections, three forced fumbles, one sack, and one interception in 14 games in 2020.

The Giants benefited as well, having a productive player on a reasonable $7.5 million deal this season and setting themselves for a reliable secondary for years to come.

The post Logan Ryan Stays with the Giants, Will Earn $31 Million in 3 Years appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster told reporters on Wednesday that he won’t be doing his pre-game dancing act on opponents’ logos anymore. According to Smith-Schuster, he doesn’t want to be a “distraction” for his teammates anymore.

Whenever Pittsburgh played an away game, Smith-Schuster had a habit of going to the middle of the field before the contest and doing a dance on the logo. He would later post on social media TikTok, where he has a huge following.

The 24-year-old wideout drew some harsh criticism in recent weeks because of this, with many believing he was disrespectful to the opponents. This coincided with Steelers’ three-game losing streak and the fact that the players of the opposing team said Smith-Schuster’s act made them more motivated to play against him. Resulting in the play below.

It is unclear whether the criticism or the hit made Smith-Schuster change his routine, but he decided to stop with the dance for now.

“For the betterment of myself and my teammates, I’m going to stop dancing on the logos,” Smith-Schuster told reporters. “For me, honestly, I was dancing when we were undefeated. I was dancing when we lost our three games. I’m not going to change the person who I am.”

Smith-Schuster is in the midst of a struggling 2020 campaign in which he is averaging a career-low 8.2 yards per catch and failed to have a 100 yards game. He has 82 receptions for 670 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.

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Houston Texans addressed their cornerback issues late on Tuesday by signing veteran corner Brandon Williams. The 28-year-old player will be initially added to the Texans’ practice squad, according to reports, but is expected to have a role in the remaining two games of the regular season.

Williams spent most of 2020 with New York Giants, where he played six games. He was mostly used on special teams and managed to record only one tackle.

The Texans’ secondary was hit with several injuries, with starting corner Phillip Gaines dealing with knee issues and 2020’s fourth-round pick John Reid having a neck injury. The team recently also lost starting safety Justin Reid for the season.

Brandon Williams entered the NFL as Arizona Cardinals’ third-round pick in 2016. Although the Cardinals had big expectations for the Texas A&M product, Williams struggled to get comfortable in pros.

During his first three years in Arizona, Williams played 45 games but only managed to total 38 tackles and five pass deflections. He missed the entire 2019 on the sidelines following an offseason back surgery and became a free agent in 2020.

The post Texans Add Corner Brandon Williams to Their Practice Squad appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Tight end Vance McDonald announced his retirement from professional football on Friday.

The 30-year-old McDonald played eight years in the NFL, suiting up with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

McDonald released a statement via Steelers’ official website, writing that he and his family “are so grateful for everything NFL football has provided us.”

“It’s always been our dream and mission to leverage the platform given us through the NFL to help serve and uplift others along the way, and we will continue to find ways to serve others as we begin this next chapter of our lives. I am proud to retire a Steeler,” he added.

Vance McDonald was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by San Francisco. He spent four years with the 49ers organization, making 30 starts before being traded to Pittsburgh.

Steelers initially brought in McDonald as a backup tight end, but the University of Rice product quickly emerged as an important player for the team. While he wasn’t too productive in the passing game, he earned respect for his blocking abilities.

McDonald’s best season as a pro came in 2018 when he had 50 catches for 610 yards and four touchdowns. This included a monster 75-yard score in Week 3 against Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With McDonald being out, the Steelers are now short on the position and only have Eric Ebron and Zach Gentry as their TEs ahead of 2021. They will most likely address the issue through draft and free agency.

The post Steelers’ TE Vance McDonald Retires After 8 Seasons in the NFL appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Chances are the Green Bay Packers will lose their Pro Bowl Aaron Jones to free agency in March. The two sides didn’t manage to agree to terms about a new deal so far and are probably heading towards a breakup.

While Packers’ fans will be rightfully furious to lose such an important player, the front office did try to keep the 26-year-old running back at Lambeau Field.

According to Rob Demovsky’s recent piece for ESPN, Jones rejected an offer that would make him one of the top five highest-paid RBs in the league earlier this season.

Reportedly, Jones didn’t have an issue with the average salary but thought that the offer wasn’t good in terms of guaranteed money. Green Bay, on the other hand, decided to stick with their original proposal, and talks fell through.

As Demovsky points out, the Packers are in a tight spot salary cap-wise and have several other free agents they need to take care of. This is why making an improved offer for Jones seems highly unlikely.

Aaron Jones had a breakthrough season with Green Bay in 2019, having league-leading 16 touchdowns. He also contributed with 1,084 rushing yards and career-high 49 catches for 474 receiving yards and three scores.

This season, Jones stepped up his game even more. He had a weaker workload but managed to get the best of it and rush for 1,104 yards in 201 attempts.

The post Aaron Jones Turned Down a Big Offer from Green Bay Earlier in the Season appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

After a tough playoff loss to divisional rivals Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers already started making changes for the next season. And this came at the expense of running back Trey Edmunds, who was waived by the team on Tuesday.

The Steelers announced the move in a brief message posted on their social media.

The move isn’t a surprising one, considering Edmunds barely got to play in 2020 despite the Steelers struggling with the running game. The 26-year-old Edmunds had only seven snaps on the offense during the season while receiving 20 snaps on special teams.

Edmunds spent the previous three seasons in Pittsburgh, playing in 19 games and rushing for 92 yards. He also had six receptions for 48 yards.

This might not be the end of Edmunds’ career with the Steelers. Reportedly, the team made a move in order to allow him to find more playing time elsewhere. If this doesn’t happen, the organization will give him a look ahead of training camp for the 2021 NFL season.

Edmunds, whose brother Terrell Edmunds plays as a safety for Steelers, previously also suited up for New Orleans Saints. He was an undrafted free agent out of Maryland in 2017.

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Indianapolis Colts’ left tackle Anthony Castonzo announced retirement on Tuesday. Castonzo played 10 seasons in the NFL, spending all of them with the Colts.

Castonzo didn’t give details about his retirement, but it is possible that the injuries he suffered in 2020 had something to do with it. The 32-year-old Castonzo was limited to 12 games this season, dealing with knee and ankle issues. He also missed the Colts’ playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills last week.

“I have given much to the game of football, but it has given me so much more,” said Castonzo in a statement released by the team. “I close the book on the football chapter of my life gifted with memories and moments I wouldn’t trade for anything. So thank you, last but far from least, to football.”

Anthony Castonzo entered the 2011 NFL Draft after four years of college football with Boston College, where he set a record for most consecutive career starts with 54. He was selected by the Colts with the No.22 selections.

Castonzo established himself as Indianapolis’ first choice at left tackle in his rookie year and went on to make 144 starts throughout his career. He was selected in the Pro Football Focus Second-team All-Pro in 2019.

The post Colts’ Anthony Castonzo Announces Retirement at the Age of 32 appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

The Tennessee Titans’ running back Derrick Henry capped off the 2020 NFL regular season with another dominant performance by rushing for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the 41-38 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. This not only helped the Titans clinch their first AFC South title since 2008 but also made Henry a part of an elite club.

With 250 yards from the Texans’ game, Henry got to 2,027 rushing yards for the season and became just the eighth player in NFL history to surpass the 2,000 yards mark. The list includes NFL’s greats like Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Chris Johnson, and Adrian Peterson.

Henry also became the only player besides Davis to have at least 1,900 yards and 15 TDs in a season.

Despite the monumental achievement, Henry was more focused on the fact that the Titans made the playoffs while speaking with reporters after the game. 

“I’m glad we were able to finish with a W at the end,” said Henry. “We won as a team, and we all do it together. I’m just glad that we were able to accomplish this and win the division and get to the playoffs.”

The Titans will now play the Baltimore Ravens to begin the postseason and hope to repeat the feat from the 2019 playoffs. Tenessee got an upset 28-12 win against Ravens in the divisional round last year, with Henry carrying the offense by rushing for 195 yards.

The post Derrick Henry Surpasses the 2,000 Rushing Yards Mark to End the Regular Season appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Detroit Lions made a surprising move on Monday, deciding to part ways with starting safety Jayron Kearse with one game remaining on their schedule.

Kearse made seven starts and played 11 games with Detroit since signing with the team in the offseason. He performed well, recording 59 tackles, two pass deflections, and one forced fumble in 2020.

The Lions most likely made the decision because they want to give more playing time to their younger players. This includes 2018’s third-round pick Tracy Walker and last year’s third-round selection Will Harris. Both players were heavily featured in last week’s game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers and are expected to play most of the snaps in Week 17 against Minnesota Vikings.

Kearse, on the other hand, will most likely get an opportunity to play meaningful football for the remainder of the season elsewhere. Playoff-bound teams are expected to give him a look, and he could easily be on a roster once the postseason kicks off.

Before joining the Lions, Jayron Kearse spent the first four years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He played 62 games in Vikings’ jersey, totaling 79 tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception, and 0.5 sacks.

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It appears that even the tough weather conditions can’t slow down Green Bay Packers’ superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers this year. Despite playing on snow-covered and windy Lambeau Field on Sunday night, Rodgers still managed to throw four touchdowns and lead his team to a blowout 40-14 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Rodgers sliced through Titans’ defense in the first half, leading the Packers to three scores in their first three possessions and connecting with his favorite wideout Davante Adams twice.

It was more of the same in the second half, as Rodgers once again found Adams to get his sixth game with four touchdowns in 2020.

Rodgers then took a back seat and gave the spotlight to Packers’ defense and rookie running back AJ Dillon.

After scoring in their first possession of the third quarter, the Titans failed to put a single point on the board for the rest of the half. Green Bay was great in coverage, with Christian Kirksey intercepting QB Ryan Tannehill while also stopping Tennessee from advancing the ball on the ground.

Dillon, on the other hand, had a great game that saw him run for 124 yards and two TDs, both in the second half. He had just 115 yards and no scores for the season before this game.

Aaron Rodgers, who is now considered the top favorite for this year’s NFL MVP award, finished the game completing 21 out of 25 pass attempts and throwing for 253 yards and four touchdowns. He now has 4,059 passing yards to go with 44 TDs and only five interceptions for the season.

Davante Adams had 11 catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns, which game him 17 scores for the season. He is now just one shy from tying for Packers’ record.    

The post Aaron Rodgers Throws 4 TDs in a 40-14 Blowout win Against Titans appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Veteran safety Logan Ryan will be calling New York his home in the next three years as well. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Ryan agreed to a new deal with NY Giants that will keep him with the franchise through the 2023 NFL season.

Ryan’s new deal is reportedly worth $31 million and comes with $20 million in guarantees.

The 29-year-old Ryan joined the Giants late in the offseason and became a crucial part of the team’s defense while also establishing himself as a leader in the locker room and on the field.

Logan Ryan had a career year with Tennessee Titans in 2019, posting career-high 113 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 18 pass deflections. The Titans, however, opted not to keep him around after his contract expired, making him a free agent.

Ryan took his time in the free agency, waiting for the right offer. However, once that offer didn’t come, he decided to gamble on himself by taking a one-year deal with the Giants.

It paid off big time, as he managed to get 83 tackles, nine pass deflections, three forced fumbles, one sack, and one interception in 14 games in 2020.

The Giants benefited as well, having a productive player on a reasonable $7.5 million deal this season and setting themselves for a reliable secondary for years to come.

The post Logan Ryan Stays with the Giants, Will Earn $31 Million in 3 Years appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster told reporters on Wednesday that he won’t be doing his pre-game dancing act on opponents’ logos anymore. According to Smith-Schuster, he doesn’t want to be a “distraction” for his teammates anymore.

Whenever Pittsburgh played an away game, Smith-Schuster had a habit of going to the middle of the field before the contest and doing a dance on the logo. He would later post on social media TikTok, where he has a huge following.

The 24-year-old wideout drew some harsh criticism in recent weeks because of this, with many believing he was disrespectful to the opponents. This coincided with Steelers’ three-game losing streak and the fact that the players of the opposing team said Smith-Schuster’s act made them more motivated to play against him. Resulting in the play below.

It is unclear whether the criticism or the hit made Smith-Schuster change his routine, but he decided to stop with the dance for now.

“For the betterment of myself and my teammates, I’m going to stop dancing on the logos,” Smith-Schuster told reporters. “For me, honestly, I was dancing when we were undefeated. I was dancing when we lost our three games. I’m not going to change the person who I am.”

Smith-Schuster is in the midst of a struggling 2020 campaign in which he is averaging a career-low 8.2 yards per catch and failed to have a 100 yards game. He has 82 receptions for 670 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.

The post Steelers Wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster Will Stop Dancing on Opponents’ Logos appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

Houston Texans addressed their cornerback issues late on Tuesday by signing veteran corner Brandon Williams. The 28-year-old player will be initially added to the Texans’ practice squad, according to reports, but is expected to have a role in the remaining two games of the regular season.

Williams spent most of 2020 with New York Giants, where he played six games. He was mostly used on special teams and managed to record only one tackle.

The Texans’ secondary was hit with several injuries, with starting corner Phillip Gaines dealing with knee issues and 2020’s fourth-round pick John Reid having a neck injury. The team recently also lost starting safety Justin Reid for the season.

Brandon Williams entered the NFL as Arizona Cardinals’ third-round pick in 2016. Although the Cardinals had big expectations for the Texas A&M product, Williams struggled to get comfortable in pros.

During his first three years in Arizona, Williams played 45 games but only managed to total 38 tackles and five pass deflections. He missed the entire 2019 on the sidelines following an offseason back surgery and became a free agent in 2020.

The post Texans Add Corner Brandon Williams to Their Practice Squad appeared first on toppoptoday.com.