NFL: Tampa Bay Makes Roster Moves

 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers  announced that the team has promoted linebacker J.J. Russell from the practice squad to the active roster, and signed linebacker Vi Jones, cornerback Quandre Mosely and wide receiver Raleigh Webb to the practice squad.

 

Russell (6-1, 225) has appeared in nine career games for the Buccaneers, including being elevated for Weeks 2-4 of this season. In his career, he has logged four tackles and three special teams tackles. The Grenada, Mississippi, native played collegiately at Memphis (2017-21), starting 50-of-61 games and compiling 306 tackles (24 for loss), eight passes defensed, 5.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick. He was first-team All-AAC (American Athletic Conference) in 2021 after leading the AAC in solo tackles per game (6.5) and total tackles per game (10.2). Russell originally entered the league as a college free agent with the Buccaneers in May 2022. He wears No. 51 for Tampa Bay.

 

Jones (6-2, 225) entered the league as a college free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. He spent the 2022 season on the Seahawks practice squad, appearing in three games and making his NFL debut in the team’s Week 10 matchup against the Buccaneers in Munich, Germany. Jones played collegiately for two seasons at the University of Southern California (2017-18) and two seasons at North Carolina State University (2019-21), finishing with a combined 108 tackles, 9.0 sacks, four passes defensed and one forced fumble. He is the son of former NFL linebacker Robert Jones, and is the brother of former wide receiver Cayleb Jones and current Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones. He will wear No. 53 for Tampa Bay.

 

Mosely (6-2, 195) entered the league as a college free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. During the 2022 season, Mosely spent time on the practice squads of the Cowboys, Seahawks, Buccaneers and New England Patriots. The Brunswick, Georgia, played collegiately for two seasons at Eastern Arizona Community College (2017-18), before transferring to the University of Kentucky (2019-21), where he appeared in 36 games, tallying 69 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three interceptions and one sack. He will wear No. 34 for Tampa Bay.

 

Webb (6-2, 212) entered the league as a college free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. He spent the 2022 season between the Ravens practice squad and the New England Patriots active roster, appearing in 12 games and recording two special teams tackles. Prior to signing with Tampa Bay, Webb spent the first 10 weeks of this season on the Miami Dolphins practice squad. The Acworth, Georgia, native played collegiately at The Citadel (2017-21), appearing in 55 games and bringing in 102 receptions for 2,151 yards and 22 receiving touchdowns. He also added 37 carries for 433 yards and four touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Southern Conference in 2019. He will wear No. 17 for Tampa Bay.

 

In addition, the Buccaneers have waived tight end David Wells from the active roster, and released cornerback Don Gardner and safety Jaquan Johnson from the practice squad.

 

NFL Players Nominated for 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

 

NEW YORK — The 32 player nominees for the ninth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award have been finalized, the NFL announced today. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. Created in 2014, the award honors the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community — Warrick Dunn, 2014 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient Larry Fitzgerald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler —  will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote in December. “Sportsmanship is the core of the game, the vanguard of public confidence, the keeper of game integrity,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees exemplify the spirit of fair play and the values of respect, integrity, commitment to team and resiliency at the highest level of competition.” The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents and integrity in competition.​ 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Nominees   Team Player   Team Player Arizona Cardinals Budda Baker   Las Vegas Raiders Maxx Crosby Atlanta Falcons Jake Matthews   Los Angeles Chargers Khalil Mack Baltimore Ravens Kevin Zeitler   Los Angeles Rams Jordan Fuller Buffalo Bills Mitch Morse   Miami Dolphins Durham Smythe Carolina Panthers Adam Thielen   Minnesota Vikings Danielle Hunter Chicago Bears T.J. Edwards   New England Patriots David Andrews Cincinnati Bengals Tyler Boyd   New Orleans Saints Erik McCoy Cleveland Browns Joel Bitonio   New York Giants Bobby Okereke Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott   New York Jets C.J. Mosley Denver Broncos Lloyd Cushenberry III   Philadelphia Eagles Fletcher Cox Detroit Lions Taylor Decker   Pittsburgh Steelers Larry Ogunjobi Green Bay Packers Aaron Jones   San Francisco 49ers Kyle Juszczyk Houston Texans Robert Woods   Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner Indianapolis Colts DeForest Buckner   Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chris Godwin Jacksonville Jaguars Foyesade Oluokun   Tennessee Titans Morgan Cox Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie   Washington Commanders Logan Thomas​ The winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. From the eight finalists, each team’s players will submit a consensus vote of their choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player. The winner will be announced as part of NFL Honors. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. ​Previous Recipients of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award   Year Player Team 2022 DT Calais Campbell Baltimore Ravens 2021 WR Matthew Slater New England Patriots 2020 QB Teddy Bridgewater Carolina Panthers 2019 RB Adrian Peterson Washington Football Team 2018 QB Drew Brees New Orleans Saints 2017 LB Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers 2016 RB Frank Gore Indianapolis Colts 2015 CB Charles Woodson Oakland Raiders 2014 WR Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals

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FSU No. 5 in Latest CFP Rankings

 TALLAHASSEE – Florida State was No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night. The Noles are No. 4 in the Coaches Poll and No. 5 in the Associated Press poll.

“We’ve got great players in all three phases, and I think we’ve shown that throughout the course of this season,” head coach Mike Norvell said on ESPN following the ranking release. “Ultimately, we’ve got to control the things we can control, go out and improve and continue to get better.”

 

FSU’s 17-game winning streak is the third-longest active streak in the country, tied for the second-longest in program history and tied for the third-longest in ACC history. The Noles are one of just five teams to not allow 30 points in a game this season and have the third-longest streak without allowing 30 points, at 11 games.

 

Florida State improved to 11-0 with a 58-13 win over North Alabama Saturday in the home finale at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Lions completed 15 passes for just 83 yards and the Seminoles have held six consecutive opponents to 50 percent or less completion percentage, the longest streak in the country since 2019 and FSU’s longest streak since 1997.

 

FSU is allowing just 47.2 percent of opponent passes to be complete, the only team in the country below 50 percent. FSU also has the most pass breakups with 65, are No. 2 with 73 passes defended, No. 3 in third-down defense (26.9) and No. 5 in fewest passing touchdowns allowed (8) and opponent passing efficiency (100.87).

 

Florida State leads the ACC in both scoring offense (40.1, No. 7 nationally) and scoring defense (16.9, No. 12). FSU and No. 1 Georgia are the only teams ranked in the top-20 in both passing offense and passing defense, while FSU and No. 6 Oregon are the only teams leading their conference in pass efficiency and pass efficiency defense.

 

Florida State has now been included in nine consecutive CFP rankings dating to last season. Florida State wraps the regular season at Florida Saturday at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SELECTION COMMITTEE RANKINGS Games Played through Saturday, November 18

Rank

Team

Overall Record

1

Georgia

11-0

2

Ohio State

11-0

3

Michigan

11-0

4

Washington

10-0

5

Florida State

11-0

6

Oregon

10-1

7

Texas

10-1

8

Alabama

10-1

9

Missouri

9-2

10

Louisville

10-1

11

Penn State

9-2

12

Mississippi

9-2

13

Oklahoma

9-2

14

LSU

8-3

15

Arizona

8-3

16

Oregon State

8-3

17

Iowa

9-2

18

Notre Dame

8-3

19

Kansas State

7-3

20

Oklahoma State

8-3

21

Tennessee

7-4

22

NC State

8-3

23

Tulane

10-1

24

Clemson

7-4

25

Liberty

11-0