Jason Bell NFL Blog: We Want More Mahomes v Burrow!

Former NFL star Jason Bell provides his thoughts on the latest events in the National Football League as Super Bowl LVII edges closer...

49ers’ bad luck continues

I can’t remember a team that has had such bad luck at the quarterback position like the San Francisco 49ers have had.

They’d already gone through two, so to lose Brock Purdy to a bad injury early on and then for fourth choice Josh Johnson to be ruled with concussion is crazy.

Purdy had been superb in all of his starts before that, so it was just such a shame the game was basically done when he got hurt.

You want to see every team at full strength, especially at this stage of the season, but credit to the Philadelphia Eagles for seizing the opportunity.

Every year officials get flack

There was plenty made of the standard of officiating in the two NFL Championship games and in all honesty it’s just one of those things that happens every year.

The officiating is always questioned, it’s nothing new, so I’m not surprised people have spoken up.

There were some calls that could be questioned, no doubt, but these things swing in roundabouts, and I think a lot of it is just frustration that it’s gone against someone’s team.

If there are any significant issues then it always gets fixed ahead of the new season, and I’m sure this year will be no different.

Mahomes proved he’s got guts as well as class

If you look at the quarterbacks of both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Eagles, these are two guys that are true leaders. It’s not because of them being the loudest person in the room, it’s because of the respect they demand.

You see the way Patrick Mahomes played against the Cincinnati Bengals, even with that injury, the team rallied around him as much as possible to help, but he still took over and did what we know he can do.

Everybody was watching him, doubting him and his mobility, but he got through it. In the second half, he was grimacing from the pain in his ankle, but he stayed out there and made plays.

That’s what a leader in the NFL is – somebody who plays through anything and does anything to help their team. He’s not only the best player in that position, but he’s the best leader too and he should be applauded for that.

Mahomes v Burrow a rivalry to savour

Josh Allen will definitely have something to say about it because he’s that good, but personally I really want to keep seeing Patrick Mahomes versus Joe Burrow.

These two teams don’t like each other, but you can’t have a rivalry between two good teams without two legitimate stars at the quarterback position because that’s what makes it.

Both are amazing players and I’m sure we’ll see them battling it out for many years to come. I can’t wait!

Chiefs still have my vote, just!

As you get closer to the Super Bowl, it’s always hard to pick a winner because the two best teams are the only ones still standing.

You always lean to the team you picked at the start of the season, but this Eagles team is really good. Jalen Hurts has been playing brilliantly and is rightfully a serious MVP candidate, but I think at the moment I’m still just with Kansas City.

I just think the Mahomes factor is so hard to go against. He’s still playing lights-out football despite being injured and if the defense can hold up and give him enough opportunities to take his offence down the field, I think they’ll just have enough.

Jackson will be a Raven next season

I can’t see Lamar Jackson moving on from the Ravens as he has the franchise tag and I think they’ll use it. That’s unless they franchise him and then trade him, but I don’t see that happening.

Will he get what he wants? I’m not sure, but I think he’ll be there next season.

He can certainly take the Ravens to a Super Bowl. He’s got the skillset and when you watch him on the field, he can legitimately do anything. It’s about putting the right talent around him and I don’t think they’ve done that as well as they could have. 

When he’s on, he’s probably one of the best 10 offensive players in the league.

 

February 2, 2023
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Former NFL star Jason Bell has a wealth of American football experience, playing in 82 regular season games during his time in the league.

Now making regular television appearances at NFL events in the UK, Bell is one of the best pundits on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The former Houston Texans cornerback will provide his expert insight into the latest news and upcoming games throughout the 2023 NFL season.

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Fabrizio Romano: Shockwaves Across Europe As Joao Cancelo Moves From Manchester City To Bayern Munich

Joao Cancelo to Bayern Munich was perhaps the most surprising deal of the entire January transfer window.

An unexpected move by all the parties involved: the Portuguese right back, FC Bayern and above all Manchester City who have decided to approve a loan deal unthinkable until a few days before.

Fabrizio Romano articles

But what happened? Why does Joao Cancelo leave Man City with this formula 48 hours before the end of the January transfer window?

Behind this decision is Cancelo's intolerance who can't stand when the situation becomes complicated in terms of rotations.

After returning from the World Cup, Joao played very little as a starter because Aké used from left back and the rise of the young Rico Lewis have gained positions in Pep Guardiola's priorities.

And so Cancelo began to suffer from the situation, to the point of expressing his disappointment directly to the Catalan manager who didn't think twice when he understood that Joao's thoughts could create an internal problem.

Yes, because if a top player like Cancelo is in a state of unhappiness he becomes a problem.

During conversations with the club, the Manchester City board and Pep Guardiola agreed that no player is bigger than the club and so a solution could be moved forward in the fastest possible way to allow Joao to leave Manchester, a shocking decision considering that only a year ago Cancelo signed a new contract with Manchester City valid until 30 June 2027.

But football is made of changes and Guardiola didn't think twice: keep a top fullback like Cancelo in the team with negative thoughts in mind it could only create a problem for the entire group at a crucial stage of the season.

Guardiola demands maximum concentration for the situation in the Premier League, the Champions League where you can no longer go wrong; no possibility of being conditioned by a player internally, maximum attention and green light for the departure of Joao Cancelo.

Here the incredible ability of the Bayern board takes over, primarily Hasan Salihamidzic who kept the contacts for Cancelo secret until the signings; the director of the German club knew that a leak too fast would create problems and allow other clubs to enter, so Bayern maintained top secret contacts with Cancelo's agent until they reached a loan deal with a €70m buy option with the Manchester City.

A negotiation that lasted two days, very fast but perfect in management because Cancelo immediately said yes to Bayern and Manchester City approved the €70m buy option clause which will not be mandatory, so Bayern can decide at the end of the season what to do with Joao.

The player's green light was a key factor in proceeding with speed, Cancelo couldn't wait to change his situation... and although there was a Spanish club asking for information until the end of the deal with Bayern, the German club won the race and signed Cancelo in an incredible deal.

A huge one, a surprising one.

February 1, 2023
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Fabrizio Romano is an Italian sports journalist. He was born in 1993, he lives in Milan and has over 30 million followers in total on the major social networks.

 

He collaborates with 888sport, CBS Sports, Sky Sport, The Guardian and has been a transfer market expert since 2011. He will take care of a column dedicated to some "Behind the Scenes" of transfers.

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