Cowboys
- Cowboys DE Aldon Smith explained what led to him making changes to his life after being out of the league: “I got to a point where I was fed up with how I was living my life, and I knew I needed to change.” Smith added that his grandma, who had passed away last year told him “do better” and get what he deserved in life. (Michael Gehlken)
- Smith said football is one of his purposes in life and an NFL just “made sense” for him: “I lost my way along the way. I wasn’t sure what my purpose was. I know football is one of my many purposes that God has put me here (for). … With God giving me this gift, this talent… it was something I didn’t finish.” (Michael Gehlken)
- According to Smith, he “feels great” and can still move well: “I still feel great. I still feel young. I can still move well. …I know how to be a leader. I know how to win. And also, with everything that I’ve just gone through in life, people can talk to me about whatever they need.” (Michael Gehlken)
- Smith mentioned that he currently weighs “around 285 pounds” today: “I feel fast. I feel good. It’s a very fit 285. Let me say it like that.” (Michael Gehlken)
- Smith also stressed that he’s a much better person than he was before: “I’m not trying to become a better person. I am becoming a better person. … The journey of being a better person isn’t just so I can get back to play football.” (Michael Gehlken)
Giants
- The Athletic’s Dan Duggan examines the choice the Giants have on which side to play first-round OT Andrew Thomas. New York currently has veteran OT Nate Solder on the left side and it would be harder for him to move to the right side given the muscle memory he has on the left.
- However, Solder might not be in the team’s plans beyond this year and Thomas played primarily on the left in college at Georgia, so his comfort and development might take priority.
- Jordan Raanan mentions that his understanding of CB Deandre Baker missing voluntary meetings is that he was at most of them prior to the incident that occurred in Florida, but not all of them.
Redskins
Former Redskins LT Trent Williams‘ long saga in Washington finally ended when the team traded him to the 49ers during the draft. Williams held out the entire 2019 season and likely indicated he was considering a similar tactic in 2020. But the veteran claims that he was just about to return to the field halfway through last season when he reported back to the team, and that his helmet not fitting wasn’t just an excuse to land him on the NFI list.
“The competitive juices started to flow, so I was really prepared to make my return last year,” Williams said via NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. “I know all of the things that had went on and just being in that facility, being around teammates, being around the guys you fought with and bled with for some many years. It was almost impossible for me to fight the urge not to just want to get back on the field. I was literally waiting on my new helmet to come in. I was getting ready to kind of gear up and it was going to be somewhat of a surprise to some, but I think for the people who know me best they know how competitive I am.”
“I was under the impression my new helmet was coming in that Tuesday, and then I was put on the NFI that Saturday, I believe, or Friday, I don’t remember,” Williams continued. “I was put on NFI right before I could even get the helmet to get back out there. It was a bummer but figured it was just how it was supposed to work out.”
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