Author: Bobby Finger on Jezebel, shared by Tom Ley to Deadspin

Was Andy Dalton brought to Dallas to compete with Dak Prescott, or to back him up? Looking at both through statistical forecasts gives a clear picture why he’s there.

Sam Darnold was mostly pleased with how he finished last year with the New York Jets. The young quarterback enters his third NFL season knowing he needs to be even better. ”There’s definitely room to grow,” Darnold acknowledged Tuesday in a Zoom call with reporters.

Joe Judge is all about video game competition.

Cam Newton is still on the shelf, and while the lockdown is part of the reason why, it’s not the only reason.

When you think of great sports rivalries, a few certain examples come to mind: the Red Sox and the Yankees; the Lakers and the Celtics; Duke and North Carolina. With NFL teams, there is no clear-cut answer. On today’s Boxed In, Liz Loza is joined by senior NFL reporters Charles Robinson and Frank Schwab to debate the NFL’s marquee rivalry. While Frank argues it’s the classic midwestern matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, Charles takes a more current approach and argues that it’s the New England Patriots versus the world. Watch or listen to Boxed In every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Yahoo Sports, YouTube or on your podcast provider of choice. Subscribe: https://apple.co/39UC09o https://spoti.fi/3aVpV56

Viewing Andy Dalton and Dak Prescott through statistical forecasts gives a clear picture why Dalton is in Dallas.

* Quarterback left New England for Tampa Bay in March * Covid-19 means practices with teammates are missingEli Manning, the man who beat Tom Brady in two Super Bowls, thinks his old rival may find it tough adapting to life with his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Brady left the New England Patriots in March after two decades and six Super Bowl titles with the team. The Buccaneers are blessed with weapons, such as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Brady’s old teammate Rob Gronkowski , on offense but the Covid-19 lockdown is an added obstacle for the quarterback as he adjusts to a new playbook.“I think it’s gonna be tough for him, just the fact he can’t be doing everything he wants to be doing with the team and getting ready,’’ Manning told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday. “Obviously they have some playmakers at receiver there, when you got talented receivers it makes it a little bit easier to get on the same page with ’em.“It will be interesting how it all plays out and how quickly he can just adjust to a new organization and new players and new offense, all those new things, especially with the limited timing he’s gonna have being with them.’’Manning was the quarterback for the New York Giants when they beat Brady’s Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI. The 39-year-old announced his retirement in January and predicted his replacement, Daniel Jones, will thrive this season.“I think it will be easier this year for him to kinda step up as that leader,’’ Manning said. “Last year was probably awkward for him, me being there, me being in meeting rooms and just kinda the whole dynamic. Me being gone and hey, he is the quarterback, he is the guy, for him to have that control and the authority over receivers and offensive line.”He also gave his thoughts on the situation in Green Bay, where the Packers selected quarterback Jordan Love in the first-round of April’s draft. Some saw the selection as not only a sign the Packers are thinking of long-time starter Aaron Rodgers’ replacement but also as a snub to Rodgers, who is in need of a top-class receiver. “I’m sure Aaron wasn’t real fond of it happening, especially after going 13-3 and playing good football,’’ Manning said. “There’s certain parts of this game, as you get older in age, you just have to accept some of the realities that teams are gonna start looking for the future, they have to start planning.’’

Only to follow it up by getting advice from Jimmy Garoppolo, the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback in last season’s Super Bowl. Eastern Illinois coaches and players have enjoyed those opportunities recently, while also getting the chance to connect with a plethora of other famous alumni from its football program. Similar experiences are occurring across FCS college football.