Category: NFL

When N’Keal Harry was traded to Chicago last month, it was seen as a new beginning for the wide receiver. But he’s now hit a snag. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Harry left the Bears’ practice early on Saturday due to an injury, which Rapoport confirmed is a high ankle sprain. With the regular season only a few weeks away, a severe injury like this is a huge setback for a player trying to establish himself in a new offense. Harry was traded out of New England in July for a seventh-round pick in 2024, nearly a year after formally requesting a trade from the Patriots. The 2019 first-round pick did not see as much action as many expected in his three years with the team and was never able to find his place within the offense, finishing with just 57 catches for 598 yards. Harry joined the Bears for the 2022 season in the hopes of finding a spot in a wide receiver room with plenty of competition for snaps at the position. Harry stated after his first practice with his new team last week that the move was a “much-needed reset,” but with the news of the ankle sprain, it appears that his fresh start will have to wait for the time being. High ankle sprains typically take six weeks to heal, which means Harry would be out for at least the first two weeks of the season if that timeline holds. Not to mention he’ll miss out on valuable preseason reps that would have given him more chances to show the coaching staff that he can play as an every-day starter. Rapoport reported that Harry will see a specialist to get a final diagnosis of his injury, so he’ll have to wait to see how bad it is and how long he’ll have to wait before he can join his new team. NFL+ allows you to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games, the best NFL programming on-demand, and much more on your phone or tablet! This is how you football, wherever you are! Find out more about NFL+.

Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals – Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports Despite the criticism, the Cincinnati Bengals made the right decision in signing Trey Hendrickson in free agency last year. In 2021, he was a beast, and he’s a good bet to lead the league in sacks this year. Last year at this time, one of the biggest talking points for the Cincinnati Bengals was what kind of production the team could expect from free agent Trey Hendrickson. The stripes allowed Carl Lawson, who led the team in sacks in 2020, to leave free agency and be replaced by Hendrickson. Hendrickson was a huge unknown for the team a year ago because he had just finished an explosive season with the Saints in 2020, and many wondered if he’d be a one-year wonder. He demonstrated that this was not the case. Trey Hendrickson should be a safe bet for Bengals fans. Hendrickson has excellent value heading into the preseason, with +1800 odds on the 2022 regular-season sacks leader, according to WynnBET. These odds place him eighth in the league for sack leader when the regular season ends. T.J. Watt (+600), Myles Garrett (+700), Nick Bosa (+1200), Chandler Jones/Joey Bosa/Khalil Mack (+1400), and Aaron Donald (+1500) are all ahead of him. Given how dominant they’ve been in recent years, it’s not surprising to see some of these names ahead of Hendrickson, but the Bengals defensive end still has a lot of value in this category. Last season, he had a career-high 14.0 sacks, ranking fifth in the league. Watt finished with 22.5 sacks, Robert Quinn with 18.0 sacks, Garrett with 16.0 sacks, and Nick Bosa with 15.5. There’s no reason to believe Hendrickson won’t lead the NFL in sacks this season, especially with the Bengals’ defensive line improving even more this offseason, which should take some of the pressure off of him. Watt is obviously a pass-rush monster, and the other guys listed above Hendrickson are clearly there for a reason, but the Cincinnati d-line has improved, and we’ve seen that Hendrickson is more than a one-year wonder. You can count on him to make this competition interesting.

Gabby Windey, star of “The Bachelorette,” admitted to dating several doctors while working as a nurse.

This Bachelorette isn’t afraid to mix business and pleasure.

Gabby Windey was an ICU nurse and Denver Broncos cheerleader before looking for love on national television — and she only preferred one workplace when it came to meeting eligible bachelors.

“Naturally, I dated my fair share of doctors, definitely every specialty,” said the 31-year-old star of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” Season 19.

“I mean, I feel like surgeons make the most money,” she said when asked which specialty she preferred.

The Illinois native, who cheered in the NFL from 2016 to 2021, cited age and intelligence as the reasons she does not have any football players on her romance roster.

“I didn’t date any football players because I was older,” she explained. “You know, a lot of football players are fresh out of college.” “I’ve always preferred brains over brawns, sorry.”

Windey was nominated for “The Bachelor” by a friend in 2018, but she was unable to pursue it because taping conflicts with football season.

“The Bachelorette” stars Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey.

Getty Images/Craig Sjodin/ABC

Her friend re-nominated her after she retired from cheerleading in April 2021, and the rest is reality dating show history.

In January, the leading lady made her on-screen debut on “The Bachelor,” finishing as a runner-up alongside Rachel Recchia, a pilot from Florida.

The pair was then cast together in “The Bachelorette,” which premiered in July, making them the first women in the show’s history to play the role together for an entire season.

Gabby Windey is seen wearing a head cover while working in the ICU.

Windey, who was awarded the 2020 Pop Warner Humanitarian Award for her athletic and philanthropic efforts, said she has no plans to return to intensive care when her contract with the franchise expires.

“I was an ICU nurse for eight years,” she explained, “so it was a long time spent in a pretty critical environment.” “I think if I went back, I’d shift my focus away from the bedside.”

She admits that now that she is a TV star, becoming a sports broadcaster would be a “natural transition.” Her high school newspaper, “The Prowler,” had her as sports editor.

Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia have a thing for Logan, a California native.

Getty Images/Craig Sjodin/ABC

Gabby Windey says she would like to work as a sports broadcaster in the future.

The Denver Broncos

She insisted, however, that she is not interested in the position because she prefers the written word.

That would be difficult for “Bachelorette” viewers to believe because she is known on the show for being outspoken and telling it like it is. On the first episode, she revealed to a potential suitor that some of her hair was fake and only extensions.

“I’m always trying to be genuine,” she explained. “I’m like, ‘You have no idea how much work and effort goes into this, and when I wake up, don’t say I didn’t warn you if I look like Jack Nicholson.'”

Canton, OH, USA; August 6, 2022; Enshrinee LeRoy Butler poses with his bust at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 enshrinement ceremony. Kirby Lee-USA is required credit. NOW Sports Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler has earned a spot among the league’s elite. Former Packer cornerback and 2021 Hall-of-Famer Charles Woodson knocked on the door to inform the four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Butler was overcome with emotion once it hit him — and for good reason. “I’ve waited my entire life,” Butler explained. “I remember telling my mother that I want to play in the NFL. It’s almost like having a lottery ticket that you get as a baby and can cash as a man.” It eventually came for Butler, albeit 20 years too late. LeRoy Butler was a key piece of the Packers’ defense in the 1990s, culminating in a world championship against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 31. Most Green Bay fans remember Reggie White, Gilbert Brown, and Santana Dotson, but few remember LeRoy and the enormous and immediate impact he had on the team. Butler had 38 interceptions, 15 pass deflections, 13 forced fumbles (10 fumble recoveries), 889 combined tackles, 20.5 sacks, and 10 TFLs in 181 games (181 starts). He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time All-Pro selection, and a member of the 1990s All-Decade team. He is one of only six players in NFL history to have 20+ sacks and 30+ interceptions. Butler was also inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2007. Not to mention he invented the best NFL celebration, the “Lambeau Leap,” in December 1993 against the Raiders. Today, however, LeRoy Butler is rightfully regarded as one of the NFL’s elite. Butler has demonstrated to both critics and contemporaries that anything is possible with hard work, perseverance, and patience. Butler can now call himself an NFL Hall-of-Famer, having experienced both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows throughout his career, thanks to the three previously mentioned qualities. Fans of both the Packers and the NFL are overjoyed to see Butler receive the highest level of recognition from the NFL. It took a long time, but Butler’s dream has finally come true, and he deserves it.

Green Bay, Wisconsin (AP) — Darnell Savage, the Green Bay Packers’ starting safety, suffered a hamstring injury during Friday’s “Family Night” practice at Lambeau Field. Early in practice, during one-on-one matchups between receivers and defensive backs, Savage pulled up while attempting to cover Amari Rodgers. Savage, a first-round pick in 2019, sat out the rest of practice with ice wrapped around his right leg. “I don’t think it’s a major issue,” Savage said. “It’s a quick-people injury.” Some of those things are unavoidable. I’ll just handle it correctly and listen to those guys back there, and I’ll be fine.” Green Bay’s defense has largely dominated the offense, which is led by four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers but is adjusting to life without All-Pro receiver Davante Adams. The defense’s strong play continued with Vernon Scott replacing Savage in the lineup. The starting offense ran seven plays inside the 10-yard line during a red-zone period but only scored once. On the second play, Rodgers zipped a touchdown pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis against tight coverage from rookie linebacker Quay Walker. Following that, safety Adrian Amos intercepted a pass intended for Randall Cobb, and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell stopped Aaron Jones on a jet sweep-style flip from Rodgers. Shawn Davis nearly intercepted a pass intended for Allen Lazard, and defensive tackle Dean Lowry sacked Jones on a 2-yard run. “I think there are some things we’re doing well and a lot of areas for improvement,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “One thing we’ve challenged our defense on is consistency in stopping the run, and then I think they’ve done a pretty nice job defending the pass, especially deep balls, and not giving up a ton of big plays down the field.” Rodgers predicted at the start of training camp that the offense would “get our buttocks kicked most days” by a defense that could be the team’s best since winning the Super Bowl in 2010. The Packers re-signed Campbell and cornerback Rasul Douglas, signed free agent defensive tackle Jarran Reed, and drafted Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt in the first round. Meanwhile, Green Bay’s offense has struggled without Adams, who was traded to the Raiders in February, as well as offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, who are both recovering from ACL tears. “It’s a two-edged sword,” LaFleur explained. “I’m hoping our defense is strong and they’ll be difficult to deal with.” I believe the one thing we need to work on is consistency up front. To be sure, I believe we have a strong defensive line. Our front seven can be a little sour, so I’m hoping they’re helping our offense. But, in the end, it doesn’t really matter who’s out there. They must complete the task, and we must see progress over the next week and into the preseason games.” On Friday night, the Packers will kick off their preseason against the San Francisco 49ers. NOTES: The official attendance figure was 50,112 people. LaFleur canceled the final period because his team was sore after a fifth day of practice. Jordan Love’s long touchdown pass to Samori Toure was one of the offensive highlights. Love tossed the ball while Wyatt was in his face. The No. 1 offense scored on a 2-yard run by AJ Dillon, which was set up by completions of 26 and 11 yards to Sammy Watkins. Yosh Nijman handled all of the starting left tackle reps, while Royce Newman and rookie Zach Tom alternated at right tackle. ___More Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP NFL and https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

D’Vonte Price of the Indianapolis Colts runs a drill during training camp on Tuesday. During training camp, NFL players are wearing Guardian Caps on their helmets as part of an ongoing safety experiment that the league hopes will result in fewer head injuries.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The expanded use of the padded helmet caps seen on NFL players during training camps this summer is part of the league’s safety experiments to reduce head injuries.

All offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, and tight ends must wear the Guardian Caps during practices and games until the second preseason game. This period of the season has the highest concentration of helmet impacts, according to NFL research. The caps were tested by several NFL teams last year, and the league’s competition committee mandated that all teams use them this summer. The NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, told The Associated Press that the league will analyze data from training camp practices and review feedback from all 32 teams to determine the impact of the shells on reducing head trauma and to inform future health and safety efforts. Here’s an overview of the Guardian Caps and their application in the NFL: HEADGEAR THAT IS UNIQUE The model seen on college and high school football fields is not the same as the model seen at NFL training camps. It’s made to withstand the larger impacts of faster, stronger players in the pros. The Guardian Caps have a 12-ounce padded shell that attaches to the top of the player’s helmet. According to the NFL, studies show that when one player wears protective gear, the severity of the impact is reduced by at least 10%. If both players in a collision are wearing them, the percentage rises to at least 20%. EFFECTIVENESS? During the preseason, the league will review feedback “from players, coaches, and equipment managers about what they felt, what their perception was with the caps,” according to Sills, and will study concussion data. Sills believes that using the equipment during training camps could help reduce head injuries during the season when the Guardian Caps are no longer required. “Not absorbing as many blows during training camp should be beneficial in terms of reducing concussion vulnerability later in the season,” the league’s chief medical officer said. ARE THERE OTHER SAFETY TESTS? The San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Philadelphia Eagles are among four teams taking part in a program that uses high-tech mouth guard sensors to collect kinematic data such as impact speed, direction, force, location, and severity of hits. Sills explained that this research complements the Guardian Caps. “We have a subset of players from four teams who are wearing mouth guards with sensors. And we can actually measure how much force is transmitted inside the helmet. So we’ll have information on that group of players “Sills stated. The mouth guard program, according to the doctor, will continue after the Guardian Caps trial, allowing for a comparison of helmet impacts with and without the caps. ARE THERE ANY SKEPTISM? There is one. Some NFL players and coaches, including New York Jets Coach Robert Saleh, have expressed doubts about the caps’ effectiveness. Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, is also skeptical that the Guardian Caps will help prevent brain trauma. “The reality is that a 10% reduction (in impacts) as a best-case scenario will be offset by having more hits to your helmet,” Nowinski said. “So the influence on long-term CTE is, in the best case, probably microscopic.” PLAYERS THOUGHTS? More than 100 NCAA programs have used the Guardian Caps in the past couple of years, so some NFL players were already accustomed to them. Their opinions vary on the effectiveness and future use of the caps, but players generally embrace any safety effort to reduce head injuries. PART OF NFL GEAR? Sills said it’s too early to predict whether some form of the Guardian Caps will become as common as shoulder pads or other equipment, but noted that the NFL is “open-minded to where the data takes us.” Possible next steps include requiring the Guardian Caps during the 14 full-padded practices teams are allowed during the regular season and some iteration of the product might one day be used in games, too. Manufacturers might also incorporate some of the technology into the helmets themselves. Sills said the Guardian Caps have already produced an unexpected perk. Teams that tested them out last year found their quarterbacks didn’t have to worry about breaking a finger on an offensive lineman’s helmet. “That wasn’t something we thought of,” Sills said, “but it’s something we’ve heard about and maybe … a side benefit.” Denver Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell takes part in drills during the NFL football team’s training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, at the team’s headquarters in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles stretches during the NFL football team’s training camp Friday, July 29, 2022,in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Chad Johnson left a sizable tip on his $24 bill at a restaurant in North Carolina. Getty Images/Roy Rochlin

Former NFL star Chad Johnson surprised a server in North Carolina with a large tip while spreading love and sharing a fun fact about himself.

The ex-Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, known for his on-field speed, off-field antics, and numerous name changes, posted a photo on Twitter Wednesday of himself adding a $1,000 gratuity to a $24.39 check at Stephanie’s Restaurant in Greensboro.

Johnson captioned the post “Proverbs 11:25,” a bible verse that says, “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

The 44-year-old retired wideout wrote to the left of the tip, “I once scored 6 touchdowns in Madden using myself,” referring to the NFL video game named after the late coach and broadcaster John Madden.

Johnson scribbled “I love you” beneath his signature.

Johnson wrote on the tip, “I once scored 6 touchdowns in Madden using myself.”

Twitter: @ochocinco

Johnson, who began wearing “Ochocinco,” his jersey number in Spanish, in 2006 and changed his last name to Ochocinco two years later before returning to his original surname in 2012, was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2001 to 2010, before stints with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

Keep up with the most important news of the day.

Evening Update will keep you up to date on the latest news.

The six-time Pro Bowler, who last appeared in an NFL regular season game in 2011, recently praised Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, comparing him to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Zach is exceptional. “He has the ‘it’ factor — very Patrick Mahomes-ish,” Johnson raved in a Sports Illustrated interview published Wednesday. “I’m not saying he’s Patrick Mahomes, but his mechanics, throwing motion, and movement are very Patrick Mahomes-like.” As a result, I became a fan.”

Johnson is now engaged to “Selling Tampa” actress Sharelle Rosado, who told Page Six last year that she chose to date him despite his troubled past because “people make mistakes.”

“It wasn’t an issue,” she said of her fiancé’s domestic violence case with his ex-wife, Evelyn Lozada.

“You never know what goes on between things – I don’t want to comment because I wasn’t there, but Chad is a wonderful person.”

The Washington Post Fans of Bruce Springsteen are facing $5,000 tickets and a “crisis of faith.” Susan Avery, a longtime Bruce Springsteen fan, raised her daughter to believe the Boss was the one rock star who could do no wrong. “He doesn’t tear up hotel rooms,” says Avery, a Springsteen fan since the 1970s who has seen every tour for decades. “He doesn’t go on drug binges. He’s just a really solid, wonderful person.” Tickets for Springsteen’s first run of US shows with the E Street Band in six years went on sale in late July. Avery, like tens of thousands of others, went online. The Associated Press (AP) The Michigan Republican Party cancels an election watch party after receiving a threat. The Michigan Republican Party said it canceled a Tuesday evening primary watch party in Lansing after a man threatened to shoot up and burn down the party’s headquarters. Lansing police said officers went to the building Tuesday morning in response to a complaint about a threat, but the alleged threat maker was not present. Officers will pay special attention to that area, according to Jordan Gulkis, a police spokeswoman. The Associated Press (AP) Two top House Democrats have refused to say whether Biden should run in 2024. Two powerful New York House Democrats declined to say Tuesday whether President Joe Biden should run for re-election in 2024. When asked in a televised debate whether Biden should seek a second term, Reps. Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, two of the party’s establishment liberals who chair powerful committees and are running for a Manhattan-area House seat, shied away from supporting the president. NextSharkA Filipino American MMA fighter defeats a man accused of six separate unprovoked attacks in New York City. After witnessing an unprovoked attack on another man in New York City, a Filipino American mixed martial artist reportedly stopped the attacker. According to reports, Ro Malabanan, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, was on his way to work on July 27 when he witnessed a homeless man, later identified as 28-year-old Samuel Frazier, sucker-punch a construction worker in SoHo. Witnesses told Malabanan that Frazier had previously attacked other men before the construction worker, prompting the mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter to pursue him. Reuters The Kremlin says tensions over Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan “should not be underestimated.” In response to a question about whether the world was getting closer to war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he was opposed to using the word “war,” but emphasized that the visit was a “provocation.” In light of the visit, he added, no additional contacts between President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping were planned. Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan on Tuesday elicited an angry response from Beijing, at a time when international tensions were already high due to the conflict in Ukraine. Reuters Pro-Trump activists deluge election officials with voluminous records requests. Pro-Trump operatives are flooding local officials with public-records requests to seek evidence for the former president’s false stolen-election claims and to gather intelligence on voting machines and voters, adding to the chaos rocking the U.S. election system. The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office in Arizona, a key election state, has received 498 public records requests this year, 130 more than the previous year. Officials in Washoe County, Nevada, have fielded 88 public records requests, two-thirds more than in all of 2021. The Associated Press (AP) Ahmaud Arbery pursuer seeks leniency in hate crimes sentence The white man who initiated the neighborhood chase that resulted in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery is asking a federal judge to show leniency when he’s sentenced next week for a federal hate crime conviction. While Greg McMichael deserves “a substantial period of incarceration,” his defense attorney said in a legal filing, he should be spared a life sentence — though he has already been sentenced to life without parole on a separate murder conviction. McMichael also wants the judge to transfer him to a federal prison so that he avoids serving time for Arbery’s murder in Georgia’s state prison system, which can’t ensure his safety from attacks by other inmates, the lawyer said.

Go directly to the main content. Miami Beach, Florida Coconut Grove-Coral Gables, FL Pinecrest, Florida F. Palmetto Bay-Cutler LAventura, Florida Boca Raton, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida Fort Myers, Florida Sarasota, Florida Bradenton, Florida Florida Top National Stories Browse All Communities MIAMI, FLORIDA — The NFL fined and suspended Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, as well as docked the team two draft picks, following a six-month investigation into allegations in a lawsuit filed by former coach Brian Flores, the league announced Tuesday. The NFL determined that the team violated league tampering rules by speaking with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton between 2019 and 2022. The Dolphins will forfeit a first-round pick in 2023 and a third-round pick in 2024, and Ross will be suspended until Oct. 17 and fined $1.5 million. Patch provides free, real-time updates on what’s going on in Miami. Ross’ suspension will last until Week 6, and he will be able to attend the Dolphins’ Oct. 23 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be barred from team facilities and all league events until the suspension is lifted, and he will be barred from attending any league meetings until the 2023 Annual Meeting. He has also been removed indefinitely from all league committees. In a racial discrimination lawsuit filed against the Dolphins and the NFL in February, Flores accused the team and the league of pressuring him to violate NFL tampering rules and intentionally lose games. Patch provides free, real-time updates on what’s going on in Miami. The Dolphins had improper contact with Brady during and after the 2019 season, when he was under contract with the New England Patriots, through vice chairman and limited partner Bruce Beal. According to the league, Beal kept Ross and other team executives up to date on these efforts. Beginning in December 2021, near the end of his second season in Tampa Bay, both Beal and Ross were involved in illegal communications with Brady. According to the league, the talks centered on Brady becoming a limited partner and team executive, but the possibility of Brady playing for the Dolphins was discussed at some point. The league also discovered that the Saints engaged in improper communications with Payton while he was still under contract with the team in January 2022. The Dolphins did not contact the Saints to request permission to contact Payton until he announced his retirement, which New Orleans refused. Beal was fined $500,000 and barred from league meetings until the end of the 2022 season. The league did not find sufficient evidence to sanction Flores for tanking. The Dolphins did not lose games on purpose, and no one on the team instructed Flores to do so, according to the league. Flores claimed Ross offered him $100,000 for each loss, but the NFL disagreed. The Dolphins’ 2020 draft position, according to Ross, should take precedence over their 2019 win-loss record. According to the league, Flores interpreted that as a suggestion to lose games and wrote senior leadership about his concerns. According to the league, club executives assured the coach that Ross and others in the front office supported his efforts to create a winning culture. Regarding the alleged monetary offer to lose games, the NFL said there were “differing recollections on the wording, timing and context” of the comments and that any offer was not serious or pursued by Ross. Flores’ accusations, according to Ross, are “false, malicious, and defamatory.” “I strongly disagree with the conclusions and punishment for tampering,” Ross said. “However, I will accept the outcome because the most important thing is that there be no distractions for our team as we begin an exciting and winning season. I’m not going to let anything get in the way of that.” Flores said he was thankful his accusations were found true by the NFL’s investigation, he added he was disappointed “the investigator minimized Mr. Ross’s offers and pressure to tank games.” “Mr. Ross will avoid any meaningful consequence,” Flores said. “There is nothing more important when it comes to the game of football itself than the integrity of the game.” Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The rules of replying: Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated. Be transparent. Use your real name, and back up your claims. Keep it local and relevant. Make sure your replies stay on topic. Review the Patch Community Guidelines.

Few centers, if any, in NFL history can come close to matching the accomplishments and overall impact that Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Webster had from 1974 to 1990 in a career spanning 17 seasons in the trenches.
Webster, a fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin in 1974, went on to start in 217 career games with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, playing in 245 total from 1974-90. Webster was a key figure in four Super Bowl victories for the Steelers during that 17-year span, earning six First Team All-Pro honors, two Second Team All-Pro honors, and nine trips to the Pro Bowl.
Webster’s accomplishments on the field were matched by those off the field, as he was named to the NFL’s All-Decade teams in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also named to the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary teams, as well as the Steelers’ All-Time team, and was inducted into the Steelers’ Ring of Honor in 2017. Webster was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997, five years before his death at the age of 50 from a heart attack in 2002.

Mike Webster was the offensive line anchor for the #Steelers for 15 seasons, winning four Super Bowls. pic.twitter.com/kaY2JDr1mK #NFL100
December 14, 2019 — Steelers Depot 7 (@Steelersdepot)

An ESPN panel named Webster the NFL’s “GOAT” at center on Tuesday in a piece highlighting the league’s best-ever at each offensive position, owing to his impressive play on the field and his long, illustrious list of accolades. ESPN polled 50 experts, reporters, and analysts to name the greatest NFL player of all time at each position, with one player at each offensive position making the cut. Unsurprisingly, Webster was voted the best center in ESPN’s “GOAT” poll.
According to the survey results, Webster received 15 of the 50 votes cast for the position, for a total of 30%. Webster was chosen as ESPN’s “GOAT” center over Jim Otto (13 votes) and Chuck Bednarik (11 votes). Along with Webster, former Steelers great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dermontti Dawson received 5 votes in the survey at the position.
Webster was a team captain during the Steelers’ 1970s dynasty, splitting time at center with Ray Mansfield in his first two seasons, but he started the final game of the 1975 season and didn’t miss a start after that until 1986, when he suffered an elbow injury, becoming a true ironman at the position.

#Steelers Mike Webster pic.twitter.com/nXRNzmsFuL — Old Time Football (@Ol TimeFootball) March 19, 2022

His ability to stay on the field while also playing at an extremely high level earned him the title of “GOAT” at center in ESPN’s poll.
“I gave Webster the edge because of a perfect blend of championship titles, individual achievement, and longevity,” ESPN Stats & Info writer Doug Clawson writes about his choice of Webster. “He is the only offensive lineman in NFL history to have won four Super Bowls and been named to at least four first-team All-Pro teams.” Iron Mike made 150 consecutive starts and held the Steelers record for most games played (220) until Ben Roethlisberger passed him.”
“It’s difficult to find a more complete resume than Webster’s, who became synonymous with Pittsburgh’s excellence during the Steel Curtain era,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said of Webster’s selection. “His consistency was outstanding, and Webster was the complete package.”

“The Steelers created a football anomaly: a deceptive power running game.”
Chuck Noll, Rocky Bleier, and Mike Webster debate the effectiveness of the Steelers’ 1970s trap plays. pic.twitter.com/hrH0U83yHJ
January 22, 2022 — Steel City Star (@steelcitystar)

Webster was truly the complete offensive lineman. He was slightly undersized coming out of Wisconsin, but his quickness and play strength really set him apart at the time. That size issue led to him falling to the fifth round, and the Steelers were fortunate he did, snapping him up as part of the greatest draft class in NFL history, which also featured the likes of Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Donnie Shell as an undrafted free agent. Five Hall of Famers in one class…it’s still unbelievable to think about.
Webster was arguably the best amongst them all. He was tough as nails, exceptionally smart, and was a tremendous leader overall, holding down the offensive captaincy role for nine seasons in the black and gold on an offense loaded with stars. He was also the strongest player on the Steelers despite his size limitations, earning him the “Iron Mike” moniker.
Safe to say, ESPN’s panel got this one right with the selection of Webster as the NFL’s “GOAT” at center.