MA History student at Swansea University. Write all things NBA and NFL for https://franchisesports.co.uk/ and cover the 49ers for https://www.overtimeheroics.net/
George Kittle versus Travis Kelce: Who’s the best tight end in the NFL?
Niners tight end George Kittle put pen to paper on a 5 year, $75 million contract on Thursday. The deal sees Kittle earn around $15 million per year and suit up as a Niner for the foreseeable future. Shortly thereafter, Kittle’s peer, adversary and rival – Travis Kelce – followed suit and signed a 4-year $57.25 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the past two years, Kittle and Kelce have constantly been compared to each other, and with good reason. Both are offensive juggernauts...
Jalen Hurts debut analysis: Rookie proves he’s ready to replace Wentz
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson is 11-2 with quarterbacks starting not named Carson Wentz. While this may be one of those factoids spewed out by talking heads and reactionaries to garner clicks and views, this year, Wentz has undoubtedly hindered the Eagles more than he has helped them.
After the former second overall pick was benched against the Green Bay Packers in Week Thirteen, Jalen Hurts was named the starter for the game against New Orleans. While Pederson may have put off benching the...
Baker Mayfield doesn’t need to change anything about his game
As the first quarter of the Browns’ Week Seven matchup against the Cinncinati Bengals drew to a close, the world was collapsing around Baker Mayfield. The Browns quarterback began the game 0/5 with 1 interception. To make matters worse, star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. tore his ACL chasing down the interception.
Despite being a low-stakes afternoon bout against the Bengals, this seemed like a pivotal moment in the quarterback’s career. The odds that we could see Case Keenum, who enjoyed his bes...
Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen are the best duo in the NFL
Bills pair Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen are best receiver-quarterback tandem in the NFL right now and have been all season.
Big picture: Diggs’ addition to the Bills receiver corps has been the catalyst for Allen’s MVP form. By trading for Diggs, Josh Brown was able to move into the Z roll on offence as Cole Beasley was able to return to the slot where he excels. In short, Diggs’ landing in Buffalo has allowed the entire passing offence to slot into place and make life that much easier on Josh...
Three issues the Chiefs must fix this offseason
Chiefs face major offseason decisions after Super Bowl LV loss
Key offseason needs for the Chiefs to address in draft and free agency
How can the Chiefs avoid another disappointment next season?
And just like that, it was over. The 2020 season has come to a disappointing end for the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes and co, falling 31-9 in the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Despite missing some important players along the offensive line, the defeat comes as a shoc...
Josh Allen is ready to take The Leap
Josh Allen is ready to take the leap. The Bills shoot-out victory over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday saw Allen throw for 417 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions with a yards per attempt (Y/A) of 11.91 and a completion percentage (cmp%) of 68.57. Furthermore, Allen has become the first Bills quarterback to throw for 300+ yards in back to back games since Drew Bledsoe in 2002.
The victory over Miami on Sunday could be considered Allen’s best since the Thanksgiving romp over the Cowboys in ...
Top Five Lesser Known Niners To Look Out For In 2020
The 2020 season marks the 49ers’ quest to return to the Super Bowl on their ‘Revenge Tour.’ Only this time – the aim is to come away with the Lombardi trophy. And due to the surreal circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re going to need the help of these lesser-known Niners.
For the 49ers, strength in depth has always been a priority. When starting tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey missed time last season, backups Justin Skule and Daniel Brunskill stepped up in a big way.
Furtherm...
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Baker Mayfield in 2019
The 2019 Cleveland Browns offence was, for latter of a better term, a complete and utter disaster. Per Pro-Football-Reference, the Browns offence ranked 22nd in points scored (335), 22nd in total yards accumulated (5455) and 28th in the average number of plays per drive (5.47). With an offence stacked at every skill position, first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens wasted a golden opportunity to challenge for the AFC North title and maybe even the Super Bowl.
Cleveland’s offensive troubles in ...
How to choose an NFL team to support
It is one of the pillars of British sport that the teams we support, whether it be rugby, football etc., are based upon where we live or family. However, this way of thinking is thrown out the window when it comes to getting into the sport of American football.
As a viewer from across the pond, it can be difficult to form or find a real connection with one of the 32 NFL franchises. We at Franchise Sports share what drew us to our teams, or just the sport in general, in hopes that it may guide...
Film Study: Kyler Murray is the Cardinals future
Ever since the 2015 NFC Championship game, things have gone downhill for the Arizona Cardinals. Their franchise QB retired along with their star head coach, Bruce Arians. Following Arians’ departure, the Cardinals turned to former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to take over. A year later though, Wilks was on his way out of the door, along with former first round pick Josh Rosen (who the Cardinals traded up for.)
In the midst of that, Cardinals general manager, Steve Keim, was arrested on d...
Nuggets wing Will Barton praises Mike Malone’s role in his development
The Denver Nuggets have continued to be one of the most consistent and efficient teams in a stacked Western Conference currently resting in third place, only behind the two juggernaut LA-based teams, the Lakers and the Clippers.
Despite the Nuggets continued success from last season, finishing the 18/19 season 2nd in the Western Conference with a record of 54-28, they continue to fly somewhat under-the-radar compared to other NBA franchises.
Maybe it’s due to the Nuggets being in a ‘small-tow...
Ten greatest individual Super Bowl performances of all-time
The Super Bowl represents the culmination of sacrifice, hard work and dedication for each and every player lucky enough to brace the hallowed turf and compete for the Lombardi trophy.
With that in mind, and with Super Bowl LIV around the corner. Let’s take a look at who, on the biggest stage of them all, performed the best. Here are the top ten Super Bowl performances of all time.
10. Joe Namath / Jets vs. Colts / Super Bowl III
There will be players on this list that boast a far more impress...
Film Study: Fred Warner is the next great linebacker
Since John Lynch assumed his role as 49ers GM in the Spring of 2017, the San Francisco 49ers have made two big moves in trying to find the Patrick Willis replacement the defence so badly needed after Willis’ surprise retirement in 2015.
The first move was to draft Reuben Foster out of Alabama in 2017. Foster, who was highly touted coming out of college, showed flashes of brilliance for the 49ers before being cut in the winter of 2018 due to a litany of off-the-field character issues.
The seco...
Film Study: Tom Brady is not finished yet
Introduction
‘I don’t give a s— if you’re a first-round pick, I was 199. But listen, if you get a chance to be on the field, don’t mess it up, because you may never get a second one.’ That quote from Tom Brady encapsulates the type of mentality that has led the former third-string Michigan QB to the top of the sports world, winning six Super Bowls, four Super Bowl MVPs and three regular-season MVP awards in the process.
However, the standards Brady has set for himself, and everyone around him...
Dynamism and efficiency: What Cam Newton will bring to the Patriots
After a grizzly end to his time in North Carolina, Cam Newton has finally found a home with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. It was revealed on the 28th of June that Newton would be signing a 1-year contract with the Pats for the veteran minimum.
This move won’t come as a surprise to many as it is just the type of astute roster management that Bill Belichick specialises in. While Newton’s tenure with the Panthers did end on a sour note – Newton missed virtually all of 2019 with a ...