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jueves, 7 de septiembre de 2017

Tacleando la NFL: Notas recientes de la NFL


WHAT TO LOOK FOR – KICKOFF WEEKEND
SUPER STARTERSHistory indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive toward a Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.
The 51 Super Bowl winners have a 41-9-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons. The Super Bowl LI champion NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, who host Kansas City in the season opener on Thursday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC), have won their past eight home openers played on Kickoff Weekend and 12 of their past 13 overall in Week 1.
Since 1978 when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are
victorious in their season openers are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game:
  • Of the 570 teams which won openers…297 went to the playoffs (179 won division titles).
  • Of the 571 teams which lost openers…137 went to the playoffs (79 won division titles).

    Note: There are a different number of winning and losing teams in season opening games due to the fact the NFL had 31 teams in each season from 1999 to 2001, which creates an odd number for the total number of results.

    In 2016, nine of the 12 playoff teams – Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Kansas City, New England, the New York Giants, Oakland, Pittsburgh and Seattle – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.

    -- NFL --

    STRONG OUT OF THE GATEOver the past 10 years, six teams – New England (.758), Denver (.706), Dallas (.676), Green Bay (.676), Baltimore (.647) and Arizona (.618) – have a winning percentage of at least .600 through the season’s first month. Those six clubs have combined for 37 playoff berths and nine Super Bowl appearances – including five Super Bowl championships – during the span. 

    On Thursday night, the Patriots, who have an NFL-best 25-8 record in the month of September since 2007, host the Kansas City Chiefs (8:30 PM ET, NBC). The Broncos (24-10, .706), who own the second-highest opening-month winning percentage in the NFL over the past 10 seasons, host the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West showdown in the second game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader (10:20 PM ET, ESPN).

    The teams with the best opening month records over the past 10 seasons (2007-16):
TEAM
W
L
PCT.
PLAYOFF BERTHS
SUPER BOWL BERTHS
SUPER BOWL WINS
New England
25
8
.758
9
4
2
Denver
24
10
.706
5
2
1
Dallas
23
11
.676
4
0
0
Green Bay
23
11
.676
9
1
1
Baltimore
22
12
.647
6
1
1
Arizona
21
13
.618
4
1
0

-- NFL --
OUT OF THE BLOCKS: The DALLAS COWBOYS host the NEW YORK GIANTS on Sunday Night Football (8:30 PM ET, NBC), as the two NFC East rivals meet on Kickoff Weekend for the fourth time in the past five seasons. The contest will feature two of the NFL’s most successful teams in season openers. The Cowboys’ .661 winning percentage (37-19-1) is tied with Denver for the highest of any team in NFL history, while the Giants have the third-most wins on Kickoff Weekend (50). 
The teams with the best winning percentage on Kickoff Weekend:

TEAM
KICKOFF WEEKEND RECORDS
WIN PCT.
Dallas Cowboys
37-19-1 
.661
Denver Broncos
37-19-1
.661
Houston Texans
9-6-0
.600
Chicago Bears
54-38-5
.587
Green Bay Packers
54-39-3
.581
New York Giants
50-37-5
.575
Note: Ties prior to 1972 did not count in winning percentage.

The teams with the most wins on Kickoff Weekend:

TEAM
KICKOFF WEEKEND WINS
Chicago Bears
54
Green Bay Packers
54
New York Giants
50
Detroit Lions
47
Pittsburgh Steelers
42

-- NFL --
STARTING STREAKSSome clubs have excelled in openers. Below is a sampling of notable active NFL Kickoff milestones and streaks:
  • The CHICAGO BEARS, who host Atlanta to open their 2017 campaign, have the most wins (65) all-time in home openers
  • The DALLAS COWBOYS, who welcome the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, have 32 wins in home openers since 1970, the most in the NFC 
  • The DENVER BRONCOS, who host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, have posted a 43-13-1 (.768) record in home openers, the top mark in the NFL. Denver has won 23 of its past 26 home openers. 
  • The GREEN BAY PACKERS, who welcome Seattle on Kickoff Weekend, have won their past four home openers. The Packers are tied with the Bears for the most wins (54) on Kickoff Weekend
  • The HOUSTON TEXANS, who host Jacksonville on Kickoff Weekend, have won six of their past seven home openers
  • The SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, who host Carolina on Kickoff Weekend, have the NFL’s longest active winning streak (six) on Kickoff Weekend.

-- NFL --

START ME UPSome players have excelled in openers. Below is a sampling of notable individual performances on NFL Kickoff Weekend:
  • New England quarterback TOM BRADY has 3,808 passing yards in 14 career Week 1 games and needs 192 yards to join PEYTON MANNING (4,736) and DREW BREES (4,306) as the third QB with at least 4,000 career passing yards in season-opening games. Brees (33 touchdown passes) and Brady (31) can surpass Manning (34) for the most career touchdown passes in season openers.
  • New Orleans running back ADRIAN PETERSON has 885 rushing yards in 10 career season-opening games and needs 115 yards to become the fifth player with at least 1,000 rushing yards in season-opening games. The four players to accomplish the feat are EMMITT SMITH (1,247), WALTER PAYTON (1,067), EDGERRIN JAMES (1,062) and JIM BROWN (1,043). Smith, Payton and Brown are all enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 
  • Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD has 918 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions in 13 career season-opening games and needs 82 yards to become the fifth player with at least 1,000 career receiving yards and eight touchdown catches in season-opening games, joining JERRY RICE (1,385 yards, nine TDs), ANDRE REED (1,225, 10), RANDY MOSS (1,194, 10) and DON MAYNARD (1,025, nine). Rice, Reed and Maynard are all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

-- NFL --

MR. 300Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS has 297 touchdown passes with 72 interceptions in 12 career seasons. With three touchdown passes against Seattle on Sunday, Rodgers would become the 11th quarterback in NFL history with 300 career touchdowns passes and the first quarterback in league history to reach 300 career passing touchdowns with fewer than 100 interceptions
The quarterbacks who reached 300 career touchdown passes with the fewest interceptions:

QUARTERBACK
TEAM(S)
INTERCEPTIONS AT TIME OF 300TH TOUCHDOWN PASS
Tom Brady
New England Patriots
115
Philip Rivers
San Diego Chargers
142
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts
152
Drew Brees
San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints
153
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers
160



Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers
72*
*Has 297 career touchdowns passes entering Week 1

 -- NFL --

START ’EM EARLY: Cleveland rookie quarterback DE SHONE KIZER, a second-round pick (No. 52 overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft, is expected to make his first career start against Pittsburgh on Sunday. With a start by Kizer on Sunday, at least one rookie quarterback will have started in Week 1 in 10 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in the NFL since at least 1950.
The rookie quarterbacks to start in Week 1 since 2008:

SEASON
QUARTERBACK
TEAM
STARTING RECORD AS ROOKIE
2008
Joe Flacco
Baltimore Ravens
11-5
2008
Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons
11-5
2009
Mark Sanchez
New York Jets
8-7
2009
Matthew Stafford*
Detroit Lions
2-8
2010
Sam Bradford*
St. Louis Rams
7-9
2011
Andy Dalton
Cincinnati Bengals
9-7
2011
Cam Newton*
Carolina Panthers
6-10
2012
Robert Griffin III
Washington Redskins
9-6
2012
Andrew Luck* 
Indianapolis Colts
11-5
2012
Ryan Tannehill
Miami Dolphins
7-9
2012
Brandon Weeden
Cleveland Browns
5-10
2012
Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks
11-5
2013
EJ Manuel
Buffalo Bills
4-6
2013
Geno Smith
New York Jets
8-8
2014
Derek Carr
Oakland Raiders
3-13
2015
Marcus Mariota
Tennessee Titans
3-13
2015
Jameis Winston*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6-10
2016
Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys
13-3
2016
Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles
7-9
2017
DeShone Kizer^
Cleveland Browns
0-0
^Expected to start in Week 1
*No. 1 Overall Pick

NFL HIRES 21 FULL-TIME GAME OFFICIALS
The NFL has hired 21 full-time game officials from among the current 124-person roster of officials, the NFL and NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) jointly announced today.

The 21 full-time officials come from all seven on-field officiating positions and represent a collaborative initiative intended to promote the common goal of improving every aspect of NFL officiating.

In an effort to improve consistency, efficiency and accuracy, the full-time game officials will work throughout the calendar year on game preparation and game administration, analyzing current game trends, communicating with the officiating roster, and assisting to ensure that there is a qualified pipeline of future officials through scouting efforts.

“We believe that we will learn a great deal over the course of this initial year working with the full-time game officials,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating ALBERTO RIVERON.  “Our collective goal is to make a positive impact on NFL officiating overall.”  

“We are supportive of providing our members the opportunity to voluntarily commit additional time to NFL officiating, especially in the offseason,” said NFLRA Executive Director SCOTT GREEN. “This initiative is the result of extensive discussion and planning, and the NFLRA looks forward to working with the NFL to test and evaluate this new approach over the next year.”

The NFL and NFLRA agreed to experiment with full-time officials as part of the last Collective Bargaining Agreement before last month announcing the intention to hire full-time game officials for the 2017 season.​

A look at the 21 full-time officials by position:

No.
Name
Pos.
College
NFL Experience 
(including 2017)
122
Brad Allen
Referee
Pembroke State
4
66
Walt Anderson
Referee
Texas
22
23
Jerome Boger
Referee
Morehouse
14
135
Pete Morelli
Referee
St. Mary's
21
20
Barry Anderson
Umpire
North Carolina State
11
64
Dan Ferrell
Umpire
Cal State-Fullerton
15
129
Bill Schuster
Umpire
Alfred
18
74
Derick Bowers
Down Judge
East Central
15
134
Ed Camp
Down Judge
William Paterson
18
59
Rusty Baynes
Line Judge
Auburn-Montgomery
8
10
Julian Mapp
Line Judge
Grambling State
9
9
Mark Perlman
Line Judge
Salem
17
84
Mark Steinkerchner
Line Judge
Akron
24
97
Tom Hill
Field Judge
Carson Newman
19
33
Steve Zimmer
Field Judge
Hofstra
21
41
Boris Cheek
Side Judge
Morgan State
22
120
Jonah Monroe
Side Judge
Arkansas
3
133
Steve Freeman
Back Judge
Mississippi State
17
93
Scott Helverson
Back Judge
Iowa
15
111
Terrence Miles
Back Judge
Arizona State
10
12
Greg Steed
Back Judge
Howard
15​


New England Patriots and NFL Commit $150,000 to Bridge Over Troubled Waters for Community Service Project
​​Today, volunteers from the New England Patriots, NFL, Bridge Over Troubled Waters (BOTW) and the United Way teamed to build a playground, refurbish an outdoor space, and help set up a new house for homeless youth and their families. The project was part of a $150,000 grant to BOTW from the New England Patriots and the NFL.​
Bridge Over Troubled Waters is a Boston-area organization dedicated to transforming the lives of runaway, homeless, and high-risk youth through safe, supportive, and encouraging relationships and effective and innovative services that guide them toward self-sufficiency. 
New England Patriots Charitable Foundation President JOSH KRAFT, NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL, New England Patriots Alumni RICK CASH, STEVE KING, STEVE NELSON, ED TONER and BRENT WILLIAMS, Bridge Executive Director ELISABETH JACKSON and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley President MIKE DURKIN were among the participants at today's community event.
Funding from the Patriots and the NFL supported the renovation and expansion of Bridge's Transitional Living Residence, a safe and secure residential community for homeless youth and families. The joint donation provided for critical construction needs as well as household items, including kitchen appliances, living room and bedroom furniture, and resources for residents to build healthy lifestyles.
This is one of several ways the New England Patriots, the NFL and partner organizations have joined together to positively impact the community in celebration of the return of football in the Super Bowl Champion community of the New England Patriots.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS-MIAMI DOLPHINS GAME TO BE PLAYED IN WEEK ​11 ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Irma on South Florida, the Miami Dolphins home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, will instead be played there in Week 11 on Sunday, November 19, the NFL announced today.
Week 11 was previously an open date for both clubs. 
The NFL announced yesterday that in the interest of public safety in light of the continuing state of emergency, the league, in consultation with state and local officials as well as both clubs, would not play an NFL game in South Florida this week. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the impacted area.

UPDATE RE: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS-MIAMI DOLPHINS GAME
Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Irma on South Florida, the Miami Dolphins home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, will not be played in Miami on Sunday, the NFL announced today. 
In the interest of public safety in light of the current state of emergency, the NFL, in consultation with state and local officials as well as both clubs, has decided that playing an NFL game in South Florida this week is not appropriate. 
The league will continue to examine other options, including playing the game this Sunday at a neutral site or in Miami later this season, and will provide an update on that decision as soon as possible.

Week 1 NFL Preview
BACK TO FOOTBALL
The NFL returns this week and it’s time to get back to football. That means the next five months will be packed with the sizzle and suspense that comes only with the National Football League and will culminate with Super Bowl LII, which will be played on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota.  
America’s favorite sport roars back into action Thursday night (NBC, 8:30 PM ET) in the first game of NFL Kickoff 2017 Weekend. The opener features the Super Bowl champion NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS hosting the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS.
Everybody is ready for the unique unpredictability of the NFL. And every team enters the new season with hope.
Last year, 146 games (57.0 percent) were decided by one score (eight points or fewer), the most of any season in NFL history. And there were six new playoff teams in 2016: Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, the New York Giants and Oakland. Since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before. 
The 2017 season promises more of the same. As the season begins, it comes packed with changes, quests and questions:
  • CAN THE SUPER BOWL CHAMPION PATRIOTS REPEAT?: It’s tough, having happened only eight times since the first Super Bowl in 1967. The last team to accomplish the feat was New England in 2004 (Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX).
  • MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON: New Orleans QB DREW BREES (66,111) needs 3,889 passing yards to become the third QB in NFL history with 70,000. Brees (465) needs 35 touchdown passes to become the third player ever to reach 500…New England QB TOM BRADY (183) needs four wins for the most victories by a starting QB…New York Giants QB ELI MANNING (48,214), Pittsburgh QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER (46,814) and Los Angeles Chargers QB PHILIP RIVERS (45,833) can each reach 50,000 career passing yards…New Orleans RB ADRIAN PETERSON can become the second player in NFL history to rush for 10+ TDs in nine seasons…Indianapolis RB FRANK GORE can become the fifth player all-time to rush for 1,000+ yards in 10 seasons…Arizona WR LARRY FITZGERALD (1,125) can become the third player in NFL history to record 1,200 receptions…Carolina DE JULIUS PEPPERS (143.5) needs 6.5 sacks to become the fifth player with 150…and Indianapolis K ADAM VINATIERI (530) needs 36 field goals for the most in NFL history.
  • NEW COACHES/PLAYERS IN NEW PLACES: There are six new head coaches hired to lead their teams in 2017 – VANCE JOSEPH in Denver, ANTHONY LYNN with the Los Angeles Chargers, DOUG MARRONE in Jacksonville, SEAN MC DERMOTT in Buffalo, SEAN MC VAY with the Los Angeles Rams and KYLE SHANAHAN in San Francisco. 
And there are a lot of well-known players with new teams, including RBs LE GARRETTE BLOUNT (Philadelphia), JAMAAL CHARLES (Denver), EDDIE LACY (Seattle), MARSHAWN LYNCH (Oakland) and ADRIAN PETERSON (New Orleans); WRs BRANDIN COOKS (New England), DE SEAN JACKSON (Tampa Bay), ALSHON JEFFERY(Philadelphia), BRANDON MARSHALL (New York Giants) and SAMMY WATKINS (Los Angeles Rams); TE MARTELLUS BENNETT (Green Bay); and defenders CB A.J. BOUYE(Jacksonville), DE CALAIS CAMPBELL (Jacksonville), CB STEPHON GILMORE (New England), CB JOE HADEN (Pittsburgh), S TONY JEFFERSON (Baltimore), DE JULIUS PEPPERS (Carolina), DL SHELDON RICHARDSON (Seattle) and S T.J. WARD (Tampa Bay). 
  • ON-THE-FIELD TRENDS IN 2016: Close games and comeback victories…new teams making the playoffs…consistent teams excelling again…records falling…young players making their mark…and QBs performing at record levels.
In 2016, 135 games (52.7 percent) were decided by seven points or fewer, the most in NFL history…There were 184 games (71.9 percent) within one score in the fourth quarter, the most ever…There were 72 comeback victories by a team trailing in the fourth quarter, the most in NFL history…The margin of victory was 10.23 points per game, the lowest figure since 1935 (10.08)…A total of 11,661 points and 1,306 touchdowns were scored, both the third-most ever in a season…Games averaged 700.8 total net yards, the second-best mark in NFL history…The league-wide completion percentage (63.0) tied the previous record (2015) and the league-wide passer rating (89.3) ranked second in league annals (90.2 in 2015). The league-wide interception percentage of 2.3 percent was the lowest in NFL history.
  • NEW RULES: With player health and safety remaining a priority, here are some of the key rules changes for 2017:
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Makes permanent the rule that automatically disqualifies a player that is penalized twice in the same game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. These types of fouls include:
  • Throwing a punch or kick without making contact
  • Use of abusive or threatening language 
  • Any act that constitutes taunting
Also, it is now an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to commit multiple fouls during the same down designed to manipulate the game clock. 
Replay Reviews: All sideline replay monitors will be replaced with a hand-held device and designated members of the NFL Officiating department will be authorized to make the final decision on replay reviews from the NFL league office.
Leaping: Prohibits a player who is off the line of scrimmage from running and jumping over offensive lineman on the line of scrimmage in an attempt to block a FG or PAT attempt.
Touchbacks: For the 2017 season, after a touchback resulting from a kickoff or safety kick, the ball will be placed at the receiving team’s 25-yard line. The rule, which was also used in 2016, was approved on a one-year basis for 2017.
Crackback Blocks: Prohibits crackback blocks by a backfield player in motion, even if he is not more than two yards outside the tackle when the ball is snapped.       
Defenseless Receiver Protection: Gives a receiver running a pass route defenseless player protection when the defender approaches him from behind or the side.
Overtime: The length of preseason and regular season overtime periods is reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes.
Clock Stoppages: All illegal acts to conserve time are not permitted after the two-minute warning of either half. The previous rule applied inside of one minute of either half.
Additionally, after conversations with more than 80 current and former players, Commissioner Goodell announced in May that the league will relax its rules on touchdown celebrations to allow players more room to express themselves. 
  • INTERNATIONAL NFL: The NFL will play four regular-season games in the United Kingdom for the first time and also host a regular-season game in Mexico City for the second consecutive season. 
In the first of four 2017 London games, the Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Baltimore Ravens on September 24 at Wembley Stadium. The next week, on October 1, the Miami Dolphins will host the New Orleans Saints at Wembley. The action will move to Twickenham Stadium for the final two 2017 London games. On October 22, the Arizona Cardinals will face the Los Angeles Rams and the following week, on October 29, the Cleveland Browns will host the Minnesota Vikings. 
The NFL will return to Mexico City when the Oakland Raiders host the New England Patriots at Estadio Azteca on November 19. 
  • NFL ON TV: Among the television highlights in 2017 include the continuation of expanded flexible scheduling and “cross-flexing.”
Flexible scheduling: “Flexible scheduling” will be used in Weeks 10-15 and 17. Additionally, in Weeks 5-9, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-15, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to December 31. The schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into prime time.
Cross-flexing: A select number of games will be “cross-flexed,” moving between CBS and FOX to bring potentially under-distributed games to wider audiences. Some of those contests have already been announced while others will be decided during the season. 
  • TRI-CAST: The NFL will once again use a “Tri-Cast” distribution model of broadcast (CBS/NBC), cable (NFL Network) and digital (Amazon Prime) for 10 Thursday Night Footballgames and a Christmas Day contest. CBS and NBC will each broadcast five Thursday Night Football games which will be simulcast on NFL Network and streamed to Amazon Prime members worldwide. NBC will also broadcast the Christmas Day game. CBS will start in Week 4 (Thursday, September 28) with the Green Bay Packers hosting the Chicago Bears and NBC’s package begins in Week 10 (Thursday, November 9) with the Seattle Seahawks visiting the Arizona Cardinals.
NFL KICKOFF 2017 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 10-11
(All times local)
Thursday, September 7
Sunday, September 10 (cont’d)
Kansas City at New England, 8:30 PM (NBC) 
Oakland at Tennessee, 12:00 PM

Philadelphia at Washington, 1:00 PM 
Sunday, September 10
Indianapolis at Los Angeles Rams, 1:05 PM
New York Jets at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Seattle at Green Bay, 3:25 PM
Atlanta at Chicago, 12:00 PM
Carolina at San Francisco,1:25 PM
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
New York Giants at Dallas, 7:30 PM (NBC)
Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1:00 PM 

Arizona at Detroit, 1:00 PM 
Monday, September 11
Jacksonville at Houston, 12:00 PM 
New Orleans at Minnesota, 6:10 PM (ESPN)
Tampa Bay at Miami, 1:00 PM



JAMES TRAPP NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NFL LEGENDS COMMUNITY

Eleven-year NFL veteran JAMES TRAPP has been named Executive Director of the NFL Legends Community, the league announced today. 
The NFL Legends Community was launched in July 2013, with the objective of celebrating, embracing and connecting all former players with each other, their former teams and the NFL. Serving as a central resource for former players, the NFL Legends Community provides unique opportunities for Legends to engage year-round through team engagement, educational programming and professional development, total wellness, networking opportunities and social media channels. To date, more than 5,900 Legends are registered in the NFL Legends Community. 
Under Executive Vice President of NFL Football Operations TROY VINCENT, Trapp will lead the NFL’s continuous efforts to assist players in a successful transition into their post-playing experience and report to Senior Vice President of Football Communications and Marketing TRACY PERLMAN.    
“Our ongoing goal is to develop and maintain strong relationships with our former players who have partnered with the league and clubs to make our game what it is today,” Vincent said.  “James is a players’ player and brings with him the relationship management skills and organizational abilities to serve and care for the brotherhood of our Legends community.”
A third-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1993, Trapp spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Raiders, Ravens and Jaguars, helping Baltimore to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV to conclude the 2000 season.  Trapp joins the league office after having served as the Assistant Director of Player Engagement for the Buffalo Bills in 2015, playing a key role in bettering the lives of players off the field.
"I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of The NFL Legends Community,” Trapp said. “Our goals include vigorous efforts towards emphasizing clarity and consistency in the messaging, celebrating our former players and helping to engage them to utilize all of the benefits and programs available to them by making the programs more visible, accessible and relevant in ways to best serve all former NFL players. Our focus has always been and always will be the well-being of those who have played this game."
Trapp will oversee the implementation of a strategy to continue to reach and engage Legends nationwide, working with a network of NFL Legends directors and coordinators arranged by geographic region.


Northeast
Southeast
Central North
Central South
Pacific West
Directors
Ed Reynolds
Donovin Darius
Chad Pennington
Leonard Wheeler
Mack Strong
Coordinators
Tony Richardson
Mark Brunell
John Randle
Rocket Ismail
Donnie Edwards

Garry Cobb
Warrick Dunn
Orlando Pace
Chester Pitts
Kwamie Lassiter

JB Brown
Mike Rucker
Marty Moore
Will Shields


Darryl Talley

Carl Eller



Los Angeles Chargers at Denver, 8:20 PM (ESPN)





"2017 NFL KICKOFF DRIVEN BY HYUNDAI" TO CELEBRATE START OF SEASON AND NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP
A special celebration with legends from New England Patriots championship teams, including RODNEY HARRISON and WILLIE MCGINEST, and the VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY will be held at Christopher Columbus Park in Boston on Thursday, September 7 at 12:00 PM ET. The free event, a part of 2017 NFL Kickoff driven by Hyundai, will feature a live musical performance by a Grammy Award-winning artist MIGUEL. Attendees will also have the chance to win tickets to the Kickoff game later that night at Gillette Stadium by registering at NFL.com/FanMobilePass and checking in at the park.
This marks the culmination of RANDOM ACTS OF KICKOFF, a series of fan experiences created by all 32 clubs – from events honoring members of the military, to surprise player and celebrity appearances, to merchandise and game ticket giveaways – to share in the excitement and anticipation of the new seasonFans may view team activations at NFL.com/Kickoff or by following #KICKOFF2017 and #RANDOMACTSOFKICKOFF on social media. 
 Gates open at 10:30 AM ET and access to the general public is on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans may enter the concert site at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Richmond Street. No tickets are required. Attendees are encouraged to use public transportation and arrive early to enjoy activities and avoid any traffic or parking delays.
A livestream of the festivities and concert will be available on NFL.com, NFL Mobile, and NFL YouTube. At 11:00 AM ET, prior to start time, a viewing of "America's Game: 2016 New England Patriots," which chronicles the New England Patriots championship season, will be shown to guests at Christopher Columbus Park.
The event precedes the Thursday night season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium (NBC, NBC Sports Live Extra on desktop and tablet, NFL Mobile from Verizon on smartphones, Westwood One Radio Sports, SiriusXM's NFL Radio, and TuneIn at 8:30 PM ET).

THURSDAY NIGHT NOTES:KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTSSeptember 7, 2017 
The 2017 season kicks off on Thursday, September 7 (8:30 PM ET, NBC) when the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium in a battle of 2016 AFC playoff teams. The Chiefs and Patriots meet for the 35th time in series history – including a 2015 AFC Divisional contest (New England, 27-20) – with Kansas City holding a 17-14-3 advantage. The Patriots have won their past eight home openers played on Kickoff Weekend and 12 of their past 13 overall in Week 1. New England QB TOM BRADY passed for 28 touchdowns with two interceptions last year and led the NFL with a 14.0 touchdown/interception ratio, the highest single-season ratio in league history. Kansas City opened the 2016 season by overcoming a 21-point second-half deficit to defeat the Chargers 33-27 in overtime on Kickoff Weekend. Chiefs TE TRAVIS KELCE led all NFL tight ends with 1,125 receiving yards and ranked second with 85 catches in 2016. 

2017 NFL PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL & TEAM STATISTICAL LEADERS
Listed below are the final individual and team preseason leaders in the AFC and NFC. 
Running back COREY GRANT of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the NFL preseason rushing leader with 191 rushing yards. Rookie wide receiver DEDE WESTBROOK of the Jaguars led the league in receiving yards with 288. The leading passer was Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback COOPER RUSH with a 135.9 passer rating.
The Seattle Seahawks finished the 2017 preseason with the top-ranked offense, averaging 408.8 yards per game. The Baltimore Ravens led the league in defense with a 206.3 yards-per-game average.
2017 NFL PRESEASON LEADERS

Individual
Team

Touchdowns
Henry, Ten., AFC
3

Total Offense
Seattle, NFC
408.8

2 tied, NFC
3


New England, AFC
394.8







Rushing Yards
Grant, Jax., AFC
191

Points
New England, AFC
115

Artis-Payne, Car., NFC
180


Seattle, NFC
111







Rushing TDs
Artis-Payne, Car., NFC
3

Rushing Yds.
Carolina, NFC
139.0

5 tied, AFC
2

Per Game
Jacksonville, AFC
138.8







Longest Run 
Grant, Jax., AFC
79t

Rushing TDs
Denver, AFC
5
from Scrimmage
Beathard, SF, NFC (R)
62t


Carolina, NFC
5







Passer Rating
Rush, Dal., NFC (R)
135.9

Pass Attempts
Philadelphia, NFC
175

Sloter, Den., AFC (R)
125.4


Buffalo, AFC
164







Passing Yards
Simms, Atl., NFC
   613

Completions
Philadelphia, NFC
115

Allen, Jax., AFC
516


New England, AFC
103







Passing TDs
Rush, Dal., NFC (R)
6

Passing Yards
New England, AFC
282.3

Fales, Mia., AFC
5

Per Game
Seattle, NFC
274.3







Receptions
Carr, NE, AFC (R)
14

Passing TDs
New England, AFC
10

Lewis, NO, NFC
14


2 tied, NFC
9







Receiving Yards
Westbrook, Jax., AFC (R)
288

Fewest Sacks
Dallas, NFC
4

K. Williams, Sea., NFC
208

Allowed
Miami, AFC
5







Receiving TDs
Byrd, Car., NFC
3

Most 2-Point
3 tied, AFC
1

9 tied, AFC
2

Conversions
6 tied, NFC
1







Longest Rec.
Stringfellow, Mia., AFC (R)
99t

Total Defense
Baltimore, AFC
206.3

Mostert, SF, NFC
87t


New Orleans, NFC
235.5

Punt Return 

Davis, GB, NFC

24.4


Pts. Allowed/Game

Cleveland, AFC

7.3
Average
Reynolds, Bal., AFC
15.0


New Orleans, NFC
10.3







Kickoff Return 
Bolden, Jr., SF, NFC (R)
34.4

Rushing Yds.
Baltimore, AFC
66.8
Average
D. Thomas, KC, AFC
32.8

Allowed/Game
New Orleans, NFC
74.3







Punting Average
Kaser, LAC, AFC
51.6

Rushing TDs
3 tied, AFC
0

Wing, NYG, NFC
47.8

Allowed
Seattle, NFC
0







Points
McManus, Den., AFC
41

Passing Yards
Baltimore, AFC
139.5

Walsh, Sea., NFC
39

Allowed/Game
Washington, NFC
158.0







Field Goals
McManus, Den., AFC
10

Passing TDs
3 tied, AFC
1

Walsh, Sea., NFC
9

Allowed
2 tied, NFC
2







Interceptions
Kendricks, Phi., NFC
3

Interceptions
Pittsburgh, AFC
7

3 tied, AFC
2


2 tied, NFC
7







Sacks
Willis, Cin., AFC (R)
4

Sacks
New York Jets, AFC
17

Muhammad, NO, NFC (R)
4


New Orleans, NFC
17







*(R) - Rookie


FINAL 2017 NFL PRESEASON STANDINGS

American Football Conference
East Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
New York Jets
2
2
0
.500
60
61
2-0
0-2
1-0
0-0
1W
Miami Dolphins
2
2
0
.500
91
98
1-1
1-1
0-1
0-0
1W
Buffalo Bills
1
3
0
.250
62
67
1-1
0-2
0-1
0-0
1W
New England Patriots
1
3
0
.250
115
126
0-2
1-1
0-2
0-0
1L
  











North Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Baltimore Ravens
4
0
0
1.000
81
32
2-0
2-0
2-0
0-0
4W
Cleveland Browns
4
0
0
1.000
68
29
2-0
2-0
0-0
0-0
4W
Pittsburgh Steelers
3
1
0
.750
69
58
1-1
2-0
0-1
0-0
1W
Cincinnati Bengals
1
3
0
.250
58
72
1-1
0-2
0-2
0-0
3L












South Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Indianapolis Colts
2
2
0
.500
55
69
1-1
1-1
2-0
0-0
2W
Jacksonville Jaguars
2
2
0
.500
75
67
0-2
2-0
1-0
0-0
1W
Houston Texans
1
2
0
.333
44
63
1-0
0-2
1-0
0-0
1L
Tennessee Titans
1
3
0
.250
50
83
1-1
0-2
0-2
0-0
2L












West Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Denver Broncos
4
0
0
1.000
107
50
2-0
2-0
0-0
0-0
4W
Kansas City Chiefs
2
2
0
.500
90
71
1-1
1-1
2-0
0-0
1W
Los Angeles Chargers
1
3
0
.250
58
103
0-2
1-1
0-0
0-0
1L
Oakland Raiders
0
4
0
.000
64
85
0-2
0-2
0-0
0-0
4L












National Football Conference
East Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Dallas Cowboys
3
1
0
.750
78
70
3-0
0-1
1-1
0-0
2W
New York Giants
2
2
0
.500
90
99
1-1
1-1
0-0
0-0
2W
Washington Redskins
2
2
0
.500
56
71
1-1
1-1
1-1
0-0
2W
Philadelphia Eagles
2
2
0
.500
77
87
2-0
0-2
0-1
0-0
1L












North Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Green Bay Packers
3
1
0
.750
86
56
2-0
1-1
3-0
0-0
1W
Minnesota Vikings
2
2
0
.500
71
91
1-1
1-1
1-1
0-0
1L
Chicago Bears
2
2
0
.500
60
79
0-2
2-0
1-0
0-0
1L
Detroit Lions
2
2
0
.500
85
73
1-1
1-1
0-0
0-0
2L












South Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Carolina Panthers
2
2
0
.500
92
91
1-1
1-1
0-0
0-0
1L
New Orleans Saints
2
2
0
.500
53
41
1-1
1-1
0-0
0-0
1L
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1
3
0
.250
43
57
0-2
1-1
0-1
0-0
2L
Atlanta Falcons
0
4
0
.000
54
77
0-2
0-2
0-1
0-0
4L
  











West Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Seattle Seahawks
4
0
0
1.000
111
56
2-0
2-0
1-0
0-0
4W
San Francisco 49ers
2
2
0
.500
95
95
1-1
1-1
0-1
0-0
1W
Los Angeles Rams
2
2
0
.500
66
76
1-1
1-1
1-1
0-0
2L
Arizona Cardinals
2
3
0
.400
87
98
1-1
1-2
1-2
0-0
1L
  
Vontaze Burfict Suspended Three Regular-Season Games for Repeated Violations of Player Safety Rules

VONTAZE BURFICT SUSPENDED THREE REGULAR-SEASON GAMES
FOR REPEATED VIOLATIONS OF PLAYER SAFETY RULES
VONTAZE BURFICT of the Cincinnati Bengals has been suspended without pay for the first three games of the 2017 regular season for repeated violations of safety-related playing rules.
The suspension, originally for five games, was imposed by NFL Vice President of Football Operations JON RUNYAN on Wednesday, August 23.  Burfict appealed the discipline under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and JAMES THRASH, an NFL-NFLPA jointly appointed appeals officer, heard the appeal on Tuesday, August 29.  Thrash today reduced the suspension to three games.
Burfict's most recent safety-related rules violation came with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter of the August 19 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he made prohibited contact to the head and neck area of a defenseless player as well as forcible contact with his opponent away from the flow of the play.
Burfict's actions violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 7 (a) (2) which states that it is a foul if "a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture. (a) Players in a defenseless posture are: (2) A receiver running a pass route when the defender approaches from the side or behind. If the receiver becomes a blocker or assumes a blocking posture, he is no longer a defenseless player."
His actions also violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 6, (g), which prohibits "unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who (1) is out of the play or (2) should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent, before or after the ball is dead;"
In the letter notifying Burfict of his suspension, Runyan wrote: 
"This is not your first offense with respect to illegal hits to defenseless players; to the contrary, this incident is consistent with your pattern of egregious safety-related violations including your hit on a defenseless player during the 2015 Wild Card game and your hit against a Baltimore tight end away from the play on January 3, 2016…When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player…you must be held accountable for this continuing unacceptable conduct."
Burfict will be eligible to return to the Bengals' active roster on Monday, September 25 following the team's September 24 game against the Green Bay Packers.

NEW NFL MEDIA SHOW #NFLBLITZ TO STREAM ON TWITTER
'#NFLBlitz' Premieres Tuesday, August 29 at 7:00 PM ET
Hosted by Marc Istook & Erin Coscarelli
Streams Live on Twitter Monday-Thursday at 7:00 PM ET
NFL Media will launch a new 30-minute live show on Twitter beginning Tuesday, August 29. #NFLBlitz will be produced by NFL Network from its studios in Los Angeles and be available at NFL.twitter.com and via @NFL.
Hosted by NFL Network's Marc Istook (@MarcIstook) and Erin Coscarelli(@erincoscarelli), #NFLBlitz will cover breaking news, game highlights, key storylines, fantasy projections, team power rankings and pre-game updates, all while incorporating fun, entertaining and engaging Twitter content as the NFL conversation unfolds live on the platform each day. Throughout the show, Istook and Coscarelli highlight top NFL trends based on social metrics, data and buzz, as well as incorporate fan reaction and opinion through Twitter. Various NFL Network talent and current NFL stars will appear on the show, which will run through Super Bowl week in Minnesota leading up to Super Bowl LII.
Following its debut on August 29 at 7pm ET, #NFLBlitz will live stream on Wednesday and Thursday, August 30-31, and Monday-Thursday, September 4-7. Starting on September 10, #NFLBlitz will air Monday through Thursday at 7pm ET throughout the 2017 NFL season.
The launch of #NFLBlitz is part of a new multiyear deal the NFL and Twitter announced in May to deliver uniquely packaged official NFL video and other types of content to fans around the world daily, year-round.
As part of the collaboration, the NFL will utilize Periscope and Twitter to bring fans unique live pre-game access from each of its primetime game windows, as well as other key match-ups during the season. The NFL will also continue to program a full slate of highlights, breaking news and analysis, and fan favorites like "Throwback Thursday" (#TBT) to keep its fans in-the-know on everything NFL. From gameday to historical content, Twitter is the place for NFL fans.