There appears to be a rift between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady regarding the importance of playing in the preseason. After missing the Patriots' preseason opener to attend a funeral service, Brady was slated to start for New England against the Chicago Bears last week. But then he sli
(Image not shown due to low ratings)
http://hqdwebtv.com/nflfootball-live/
http://hqdwebtv.com/nflfootball-live/
Cleveland Browns vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Washington Redskins on Friday night will host the Buffalo Bills in their third preseason game. This will serve as the final action of the season for almost all of the starters, so it's the closest thing to the real thing that the Redskins coaches, talent evaluators and their fans will see until the Sept. 12 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
WATCH Cleveland Browns vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers LIVE ONLINE HERE
Game Date/Time: Friday, August 26, 7:30 PM
Location: FedEx Field, Landover, MD
TV: WKBW (ch. 7, Buffalo), WHAM (ch. 13, Rochester), WTVH (ch. 5, Syracuse)
Online: Available Here
Radio: WGR 550AM (Buffalo), Fan 590 (Toronto), WCMF 96.5 and WROC 950AM (Rochester), and WKTW 99.5/WKTV 105.5 (Syracuse)
Radio Play-by-Play: John Murphy, Mark Kelso
Matt Jones will not play the remainder of the preseason, and third-down back Chris Thompson won't suit up Friday either. So this represents a golden opportunity for their teammates. Rob Kelley, the undrafted rookie out of Tulane, is expected to get the start after promising performances as a backup. Fellow rookie Keith Marshall, the seventh-round pick out of Georgia, has struggled to stand out. But he'll get plenty of opportunities to prove himself as well. And don't count out Mack Brown, the 2015 practice squad member, who has also had some bright spots this preseason. The team will likely carry three running backs on the 53-man roster, so the brightest back Friday night very well could lock up his job security.
This is only the second game of the preseason for Kirk Cousins and his top pass-catchers, Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, and it's the first preseason game for both tight end Jordan Reed and left tackle Trent Williams. The offense has looked good in practice, but the players look forward to an opportunity to test themselves against an unfamiliar opponent at game speed. Cousins completed all five pass attempts in the preseason opener and looks to remain sharp against the Bills.
This picture remains murky. So far, Ziggy Hood has stood out more than fellow offseason addition Kendall Reyes, but the two continue to compete with holdover Ricky Jean Francois for the starting right end spot. The roles in the nickel packages remain up for grabs as well. Chris Baker will start at left end in the base packages and see a lot of action in the nickel. But Hood, Jean Francois, Reyes and possibly Stephen Paea will all be trying to distinguish themselves. Paea has been quiet, but recorded a sack last week and needs a strong showing to solidify his spot on the team. Keep an eye on young end Anthony Lanier - a 6-6, 282-pound undrafted player out of Alabama A&M, who has impressed coaches so far this preseason.
Mason Foster and Perry Riley Jr. continue to compete for a linebacker job inside, although it seems that Foster has a leg up. Su'a Cravens could get some first-team action and make things even more interesting. Meanwhile, Terence Garvin and Carlos Fields will try to turn some heads both on defense and special teams. If either of them can, then Washington brass might decide it doesn't need both Foster and Riley. Will Compton and Martrell Spaight seem like locks at the other ILB spot, and you know Cravens will make the team. So that leaves two spots: possibly the winner of the Foster/Riley competition and one of the special teams standouts - or both Foster and Riley, if neither of the others shows enough.
In addition to Garvin and Fields, players like Houston Bates, Willie Jefferson, Lynden Trail, Lloyd Carrington, T.J. Thorpe and Maurice Harris will all try again to impress coaches and officials enough to lock up roster spots. Bates, Jefferson and Trail all will also try to make an impact in the pass-rushing department as well, as they vie for that final spot behind Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. Meanwhile, veterans Will Blackmon, Greg Toler and Duke Ihenacho can strengthen their standings will quality play on special teams.