Panthers expect less plays, more touches for McCaffrey in 2019
The Panthers hope less means more for Christian McCaffrey in 2019.
Offensive coordinator Norv Turner wants to increase McCaffrey’s touches this season while reducing the number of plays he’s on the field after the running back racked up a franchise-record 1,965 yards from scrimmage.
“He told me he was going to give me the ball more and that’s music my ears. I got excited,” McCaffrey said.
The 23-year-old McCaffrey had 1,098 yards rushing on 219 carries and 867 yards receiving on 107 receptions in 2018 — the most ever in a single season by an NFL running back — and earned second-team AllPro honors.
It came during a season where McCaffrey rarely left the field when the Panthers had the ball.
He played a ridiculous 91.3 percent of Carolina’s offensive snaps in 2018 despite playing only 10 snaps in a meaningless Week 17 game against the Saints.
That’s by far the most of any running back in the league. McCaffrey’s 965 offensive snaps outpaced the Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott (890), the Giants’ Saquon Barkley (853) and the Rams’ Todd Gurley (825).
All other NFL running backs played fewer than 750 snaps.
But too often the Panthers felt McCaffrey was needlessly used as a decoy when he could have benefited from taking a few plays off and been fresher and even more explosive when he touched the football.
“We want the ball in Christian’s hands,” Rivera said. “When he’s on the field, there’s no reason for him to be a decoy or be a swing guy . ... What we want to do is take away the excess plays that he doesn’t have to be out there.”
Sanders, Sutton scuffle at Broncos practice
Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton, the Denver Broncos’ top two receivers and SMU alumni, got into a heated exchange and scuffle during practice Monday.
Guard Ronald Leary eventually led Sutton , a second-year pro, away from Sanders , a 10-year veteran who’s making his way back from a torn Achilles tendon.
“Obviously it’s not good. It can’t happen, shouldn’t happen,” coach Vic Fangio said. “But you’ve got to be able to react to these things and handle them the right way.”
That started with Fangio halting practice and gathering his team to admonish everyone to pick up the tempo after a slow start and to address the tussle between Sanders and Sutton.
Safety Kareem Jackson said Fangio “just made them kiss and make up. So, it was all right after that. I’m sure they’re fine.”
Sanders and Sutton declined to comment as they walked off the field at different times and entered team headquarters through different doors.
“At the end of the day, that’s your brother, that’s your teammate,” linebacker Bradley Chubb said. “You’re going to win games with him, you’re going to lose games with him. So, we don’t pay much attention to who fought who. It’s how are we going to get over that?”
Browns’ Hunt promises to ‘lay low’ after bar argument
Suspended Browns running back Kareem Hunt has promised to “lay low” following a recent argument outside a bar that led to police questioning and raised team concerns.
Hunt is barred by the NFL from Cleveland’s first eight games for two physical altercations while he played for the Kansas City Chiefs. In one case, he shoved and kicked a woman. The Browns signed him in March.
Last month, Hunt argued with a friend outside a downtown bar, prompting police to question him. Hunt called it a “misunderstanding” but said after Monday’s practice he’s going to be smarter and “not make the same mistake again.”
Hunt has been slowed by a groin injury during training camp. He’s allowed to play in preseason games, but it’s not clear if he’ll be on the field Thursday when the Browns host Washington.
Hunt is still waiting to learn if the league will allow him to be around the team during his suspension.
Jets acquire OL Lewis from Ravens for pick
The New York Jets have acquired offensive lineman Alex Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional seventh-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.
Lewis started 10 games at guard last season for the Ravens and can also play tackle.
The 27-year-old was a fourthround pick of Baltimore in 2016 out of Nebraska. He has dealt with several injuries during his short NFL career, including missing two games last season with a neck ailment. Lewis was sidelined the entire 2017 season with an injured shoulder and missed six weeks as a rookie with a sprained ankle.