2 months ago
In a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, former All-Pro and current Thursday Night Football **** yst Andrew Whitworth said the Denver Broncos are on an upward trajectory heading into 2026
Whitworth acknowledged what could have been in the 2025 Super Bowl, while looking forward to Denver's 2026 season, especially against the Seattle Seahawks, a game which Whitworth will attend as part of the TNF crew.
"That's another one," Whitworth said of the Broncos-Seahawks matchup in Week 6. "I still think that's a game that could have been last year's Super Bowl, but it also could be this year's. Both those teams have the potential to be there again."
The big game against Seattle will be a pivotal one for the Broncos; it is the final game of a brutal six-game opening stretch; however, it will be potentially the best-looking game of the season, as both squads will wear their beautiful throwback uniforms.
Whitworth complimented the Broncos for their moves in the 2026 offseason, showing they can be contenders once again.
#bowl
Whitworth acknowledged what could have been in the 2025 Super Bowl, while looking forward to Denver's 2026 season, especially against the Seattle Seahawks, a game which Whitworth will attend as part of the TNF crew.
"That's another one," Whitworth said of the Broncos-Seahawks matchup in Week 6. "I still think that's a game that could have been last year's Super Bowl, but it also could be this year's. Both those teams have the potential to be there again."
The big game against Seattle will be a pivotal one for the Broncos; it is the final game of a brutal six-game opening stretch; however, it will be potentially the best-looking game of the season, as both squads will wear their beautiful throwback uniforms.
Whitworth complimented the Broncos for their moves in the 2026 offseason, showing they can be contenders once again.
#bowl
2 months ago
Above a Methodist church at the end of a row of terraced housing, north of Rochdale town centre, Craig Kirby's phone is buzzing as he opens the door to his gym. The 50-year-old's latest TikTok video has just crept over 85,000 views.
It shows a personal highlights reel from one of his amateur football matches, filmed from the touchline by wife Lindsay, with a caption explaining how Kirby finds **** e and time on the bobbly park pitch. "Fitness and movement off the ball are 90% of the game," the text adds.
Kirby smiles at the video going viral. It has racked up more than 340,000 views by the time of writing, but it is nothing new.
The one pinned to the top of his profile has been seen 2.9 million times. It's a compilation of him playing for Whitworth Valley against Old Rivingtonians on a drizzly January afternoon, a backdrop of rolling Lancashire hills and a kids' playground, a simple **** le of: "Well beaten today. Not bad for 50 though."
That is one of his earliest videos from the beginning of last season - since then he has continued to post regularly across TikTok and Instagram, where the midfielder's 'Football at 50' profile has about 30,000 followers on each.
#rochdale
It shows a personal highlights reel from one of his amateur football matches, filmed from the touchline by wife Lindsay, with a caption explaining how Kirby finds **** e and time on the bobbly park pitch. "Fitness and movement off the ball are 90% of the game," the text adds.
Kirby smiles at the video going viral. It has racked up more than 340,000 views by the time of writing, but it is nothing new.
The one pinned to the top of his profile has been seen 2.9 million times. It's a compilation of him playing for Whitworth Valley against Old Rivingtonians on a drizzly January afternoon, a backdrop of rolling Lancashire hills and a kids' playground, a simple **** le of: "Well beaten today. Not bad for 50 though."
That is one of his earliest videos from the beginning of last season - since then he has continued to post regularly across TikTok and Instagram, where the midfielder's 'Football at 50' profile has about 30,000 followers on each.
#rochdale
3 months ago
Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is among the high-profile players set to become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time in 2027. While Brown's off-field controversies may influence voter opinions regarding his candidacy, former All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy believes he deserves first-ballot entry.
He went as far as ranking Brown over three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice, sparking immediate backlash across the NFL community.
The list of first-time eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027 includes Brown, Rob Gronkowski, Ben Roethlisberger, Adrian Peterson, Richard Sherman, Cam Newton, Le'Veon Bell, Andrew Whitworth, Alex Mack, Gerald McCoy, and Eric Weddle.
On paper, Brown's accolades make for a strong case: Super Bowl LV champion, two-time NFL receiving yards leader, four-time First-Team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
However, McCoy took the discussion in a completely different direction during the latest episode of the"Speakeasy" podcast, where he made a bold comparison between Brown and Rice.
#brown #fame #rice
He went as far as ranking Brown over three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice, sparking immediate backlash across the NFL community.
The list of first-time eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027 includes Brown, Rob Gronkowski, Ben Roethlisberger, Adrian Peterson, Richard Sherman, Cam Newton, Le'Veon Bell, Andrew Whitworth, Alex Mack, Gerald McCoy, and Eric Weddle.
On paper, Brown's accolades make for a strong case: Super Bowl LV champion, two-time NFL receiving yards leader, four-time First-Team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
However, McCoy took the discussion in a completely different direction during the latest episode of the"Speakeasy" podcast, where he made a bold comparison between Brown and Rice.
#brown #fame #rice
3 months ago
Aug. 10—Eugene starting pitcher Hunter Dryden had a lot of folks out to the game last week at Avista Stadium for his Spokane homecoming. They cheered so loudly when he struck out one of the hometown Indians batters that it drew looks from others in the crowd.
"I didn't get an official tally," the Deer Park High School and Whitworth University alum said. "But I think it ended up being just over 60 people, which is incredible that everybody came in and did that. That was , like , insane for them to all do that, and I'm very appreciative."
After the game, in which Dryden tossed six innings of one-run ball in an eventual 13-1 win for the Emeralds, all his visitors came down onto the field to share the moment with the 24-year-old right-hander.
"I got to give them all hugs and talked to them for a while," he said. "My little cousins wanted autographs. And then there's a few people who had left before the game ended, so I got some texts from them and talked to them and, you know, thanked them for coming."
Dryden is in the midst of his second season of professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization. The Giants drafted him in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB draft after his four-year career at Whitworth.
#year
"I didn't get an official tally," the Deer Park High School and Whitworth University alum said. "But I think it ended up being just over 60 people, which is incredible that everybody came in and did that. That was , like , insane for them to all do that, and I'm very appreciative."
After the game, in which Dryden tossed six innings of one-run ball in an eventual 13-1 win for the Emeralds, all his visitors came down onto the field to share the moment with the 24-year-old right-hander.
"I got to give them all hugs and talked to them for a while," he said. "My little cousins wanted autographs. And then there's a few people who had left before the game ended, so I got some texts from them and talked to them and, you know, thanked them for coming."
Dryden is in the midst of his second season of professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization. The Giants drafted him in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB draft after his four-year career at Whitworth.
#year
3 months ago
The possibility of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to join the Los Angeles Rams is perhaps the biggest storyline around the NFL. Andrew Whitworth added fuel to the fire as he seems to expect Donald will be rejoining the Rams at some point.
Whether it's Sean McVay, Whitworth, Donald himself, no one is saying it's not going to happen. At this point, people are mostly and moreso saying that Donald is more likely to come back than not. That can change, and Donald may not come back, but it's being set up that he's expected to return. For now.
If that is truly announced, that will be major news. Until then, it's speculation, and it's still news as is.
Thank you for checking out Turf Show Times and have a great Tuesday! NFL season is getting closer.
"A lot of people think about the games and stuff, but it's really putting your body through the impacts and the down in and down out of running into other big, strong humans all the time," he said. "Your tissue doesn't just walk around ready for that. You've got to prepare, and so I think some of this was him, 'Hey, is the passion still there? Do I still have that ability to be sore as ******* and every day wanting to go chase it. And I think for him, that kind of meant for the last month, month and a half, really training like a football player and doing some of the drills, some of the things he used to do day in and day out and seeing where he's at physically. And that's some of the stuff we talked about. I asked him where he's at. Is he still training? Does he still think he wants to do it? I think there's still a definite curiosity to do it. I think he's super fired up about trying to see if it's there, but I think it takes time to find out, is the drive still there?"
#think #donald #whitworth #saying
Whether it's Sean McVay, Whitworth, Donald himself, no one is saying it's not going to happen. At this point, people are mostly and moreso saying that Donald is more likely to come back than not. That can change, and Donald may not come back, but it's being set up that he's expected to return. For now.
If that is truly announced, that will be major news. Until then, it's speculation, and it's still news as is.
Thank you for checking out Turf Show Times and have a great Tuesday! NFL season is getting closer.
"A lot of people think about the games and stuff, but it's really putting your body through the impacts and the down in and down out of running into other big, strong humans all the time," he said. "Your tissue doesn't just walk around ready for that. You've got to prepare, and so I think some of this was him, 'Hey, is the passion still there? Do I still have that ability to be sore as ******* and every day wanting to go chase it. And I think for him, that kind of meant for the last month, month and a half, really training like a football player and doing some of the drills, some of the things he used to do day in and day out and seeing where he's at physically. And that's some of the stuff we talked about. I asked him where he's at. Is he still training? Does he still think he wants to do it? I think there's still a definite curiosity to do it. I think he's super fired up about trying to see if it's there, but I think it takes time to find out, is the drive still there?"
#think #donald #whitworth #saying
4 months ago
Jerry Rice talks 49ers: Mike Evans addition, De'Zhaun Stribling, 2026 expectations
"Just throw it up," Rice said. "Throw it up because he's got that big frame. He's going to be able to go up and attack the football. So, once you're in the end zone, just throw that thing up, like 'Alley-Oop' (R.C. Owens) back in the day. Just throw it up and let him go get it, and he's capable of doing that."
Andrew Whitworth questions 49ers' confidence in drafting an offensive tackle
"I think, to me, it does scream that maybe they just don't have a lot of confidence in their ability to select the right one," Whitworth told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area this week at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe.
When you're going to allocate a first-round pick or a second-round pick on an offensive lineman, a lot of people love that theory, but you better be ***** good at picking it," Whitworth said. "Because when you hit on an offensive lineman, it could be unbelievable for your franchise early in the draft, because a great offensive line, a great D-line is the story to successful football teams….You draft an unproductive lineman, you are cooked because now you're getting a second-, third-, fourth-tier lineman who's going to have to play because the money you allocated for this guy is worthless," Whitworth said. "And now, your team is going to struggle because you're not going to get quality reps out of a guy. So, you can both shoot your team forward and really set yourself back when you miss on offensive linemen."
Alex Highsmith to the 49ers? Steelers reporter suggests trade proposal
"Highsmith's absence from mandatory minicamp coupled with Nick Herbig's massive extension have led many, including myself, to believe the Steelers could look for a trade partner sooner than later," Vasquez explained. "The 49ers could desperately use another edge rusher to pair with Nick Bosa, and the Steelers may be one of the few teams with talent at the position to spare."
Why 'There's no logical reason to expect the 49ers' injury plague to extend into a third year'
"The 49ers added bigger bodies at receiver in Mike Evans and De'Zhaun Stribling. The same is true for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who comes in with as clean a health bill as it gets for a pro."
"Just throw it up," Rice said. "Throw it up because he's got that big frame. He's going to be able to go up and attack the football. So, once you're in the end zone, just throw that thing up, like 'Alley-Oop' (R.C. Owens) back in the day. Just throw it up and let him go get it, and he's capable of doing that."
Andrew Whitworth questions 49ers' confidence in drafting an offensive tackle
"I think, to me, it does scream that maybe they just don't have a lot of confidence in their ability to select the right one," Whitworth told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area this week at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe.
When you're going to allocate a first-round pick or a second-round pick on an offensive lineman, a lot of people love that theory, but you better be ***** good at picking it," Whitworth said. "Because when you hit on an offensive lineman, it could be unbelievable for your franchise early in the draft, because a great offensive line, a great D-line is the story to successful football teams….You draft an unproductive lineman, you are cooked because now you're getting a second-, third-, fourth-tier lineman who's going to have to play because the money you allocated for this guy is worthless," Whitworth said. "And now, your team is going to struggle because you're not going to get quality reps out of a guy. So, you can both shoot your team forward and really set yourself back when you miss on offensive linemen."
Alex Highsmith to the 49ers? Steelers reporter suggests trade proposal
"Highsmith's absence from mandatory minicamp coupled with Nick Herbig's massive extension have led many, including myself, to believe the Steelers could look for a trade partner sooner than later," Vasquez explained. "The 49ers could desperately use another edge rusher to pair with Nick Bosa, and the Steelers may be one of the few teams with talent at the position to spare."
Why 'There's no logical reason to expect the 49ers' injury plague to extend into a third year'
"The 49ers added bigger bodies at receiver in Mike Evans and De'Zhaun Stribling. The same is true for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who comes in with as clean a health bill as it gets for a pro."
4 months ago
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have done a considerable job turning the franchise into a perennial contender during their time together. However, former NFL offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth revealed one area the duo lacks that could hurt their club's long-term future: Investing premium draft capital in the offensive line.
The Lynch-Shanahan braintrust hasn't used a first- or second-round pick on a lineman since Aaron Banks went No. 48 overall in 2021. The only other lineman taken in the first round since 2017 was Mike McGlinchey in 2018, who also departed in free agency after seven season.
While this hasn't hurt the 49ers' offensive line as a whole (the team still fields a top-eight unit by consensus rankings), Whitworth believes NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco that the 49ers' reluctance to use high-end draft capital underscores a lack of faith in their ability to identify top-tier talent. And, the former three-time Pro Bowl tackle and Super Bowl champion believes that decision will ultimately become a problem for the franchise when their star tackle Trent Williams is no longer protecting the blindside.
“When you’re going to allocate a first-round pick or second-round pick to an offensive lineman, a lot of people love that theory, but you better be ****** good at picking it," Whitworth said. "Because when you hit on an offensive lineman, it can be unbelievable for your franchise early in the draft because a great offensive line, a great D-line is the story to successful football teams. But when you miss on a high pick like that … you draft an unproductive lineman, you are cooked because now you’re getting a second, third, fourth-tier lineman who’s going to have to play."
The 49ers have deployed a different approach in their offensive line construction. Their anchor player is Williams, who was a seven-time Pro Bowler before San Francisco traded for him in 2020. The rest of the unit was added with Day 2 or Day 3 picks, while centerJake Brendel was a free agent who went undrafted in 2016 before joining the team in 2021.
The Lynch-Shanahan braintrust hasn't used a first- or second-round pick on a lineman since Aaron Banks went No. 48 overall in 2021. The only other lineman taken in the first round since 2017 was Mike McGlinchey in 2018, who also departed in free agency after seven season.
While this hasn't hurt the 49ers' offensive line as a whole (the team still fields a top-eight unit by consensus rankings), Whitworth believes NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco that the 49ers' reluctance to use high-end draft capital underscores a lack of faith in their ability to identify top-tier talent. And, the former three-time Pro Bowl tackle and Super Bowl champion believes that decision will ultimately become a problem for the franchise when their star tackle Trent Williams is no longer protecting the blindside.
“When you’re going to allocate a first-round pick or second-round pick to an offensive lineman, a lot of people love that theory, but you better be ****** good at picking it," Whitworth said. "Because when you hit on an offensive lineman, it can be unbelievable for your franchise early in the draft because a great offensive line, a great D-line is the story to successful football teams. But when you miss on a high pick like that … you draft an unproductive lineman, you are cooked because now you’re getting a second, third, fourth-tier lineman who’s going to have to play."
The 49ers have deployed a different approach in their offensive line construction. Their anchor player is Williams, who was a seven-time Pro Bowler before San Francisco traded for him in 2020. The rest of the unit was added with Day 2 or Day 3 picks, while centerJake Brendel was a free agent who went undrafted in 2016 before joining the team in 2021.
