New York Giants first-round pick Malik Nabers will be asked to be the focal point of an aerial offense with few established stars, and a quarterback who might be playing for his future, but, that pressure isn’t anything the former LSU standout can’t handle. During the Giants’ rookie minicamp, Nabers opened up about how football saved his life and how much of himself he pours into the sport. “I’m a funny person to be around. Good person to be around,” Nabers told reporters. “I’m just as a person that plays football, kind of thing that saved any life. I take…
Author: Matt Lombardo
Matt Lombardo
Matt Lombardo is a seasoned NFL reporter, with over 12 years of experience covering the league. In addition to his work at Gridiron Heroics, Lombardo covers the NFL for Heavy.com, is an on air sports contributor for FOX29 Philadelphia, and writes an NFL Substack "Between The Hashmarks." Lombardo is the former Senior NFL Insider of FanBuzz, and prior to taking that role was a national NFL reporter at FanSided where he hosted a weekly podcast "The Matt Lombardo Show." A former beat reporter for NJ Advance Media (Parent company of NJ.com and the Newark Star Ledger), Lombardo covered the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 through the 2017 season before moving to cover the New York Giants for the Star Ledger for two seasons from 2018 through 2020. During his career to date, Lombardo has covered five Super Bowls, four NFL Drafts, multiple NFL Combines, and has had his work frequently featured in publications such as Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, and more. In addition to his journalism work, Lombardo is a strong on air presence and is a former sports talk radio host on 97.5 FM The Fanatic, Philadelphia's first FM Sports Station and the radio home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers.
The Chicago Bears have been among the more aggressive franchises this offseason in free agency, and emerged from the NFL Draft with generational quarterback prospect Caleb Williams and an electrifying receiver to round out their trio at the position. Meanwhile, in free agency, the Bears added help at running back and at all three levels on defense. However, not everyone is bullish on each of the Bears’ moves this offseason. NFL Analyst Bearish on Chicago Bears’ Kevin Byard Signing Kevin Byard was traded by the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles last season, and never quite made an impact as…
The New York Giants lost one of the premier safeties in the NFL this offseason, as Xavier McKinney signed with the Green Bay Packers in free agency, but may have just dropped the best safety in this year’s draft into the secondary to replace him. After selecting electrifying former LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers No. 6 overall, and dropping him into quarterback Daniel Jones’ supporting cast, Giants general manager Joe Schoen came back in Round 2 and selected former Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin to retool the secondary. Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkemma suggests Nubin was the premier safety in this…
The Kansas City Chiefs boast one of the most explosive rosters, especially on offense, across the NFL and only became more dynamic during the NFL Draft. After adding Xavier Worthy to a receiving corps that already includes Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes’ supporting cast has the chance to be more prolific than ever. At least, more reliable than it was a year ago when Chiefs receivers dropped a league-high 41 passes. However, after expending meaningful resources offensively during the NFL Draft and free agency, the Chiefs may need to turn some attention to the…
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has done a masterful job assembling one of the most exciting young rosters in the NFL over the past several offseasons, and, quarterback Jared Goff has proven instrumental in guiding the Lions to the NFC Championship Game last season and into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. However, Goff is entering the final year of his contract, with second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker finally fully healthy. Might the Lions be looking to turn the page to the future? Don’t bet on it, Holmes says. Brad Holmes Addresses Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions Future The Lions have already…
The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, especially a defense that’s loaded with playmakers. However, as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs showed in the Super Bowl, the secondary is vulnerable to big plays in big spots. After going through the NFL Draft without investing meaningful resources in the secondary, the safety position could be the one area San Francisco could look to upgrade in coming weeks. Jamal Adams could be a name to watch for the 49ers as training camp and eventually the regular season loom. “Sources said the San Francisco 49ers…
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks has emerged as a top candidate to be traded, especially after the franchise added Tyler Boyd to quarterback Will Levis’ supporting cast. The Pittsburgh Steelers could be a top landing spot for Burks, following Allen Robinson’s departure and given a significant need at receiver. Burks, Tennessee’s first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has tumbled down the depth chart following the additions of DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd over the past two offseason amid his own struggles and battling through myriad injuries. However, as the Titans begin OTAs, head coach Brian Callahan…
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been the subject of persistent trade rumors throughout the offseason, and as it turns out, the reigning NFC champions are asking for a haul similar to that garnered by another elite wide receiver in return. Both Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel have been mentioned in trade rumors in recent months, but given what San Francisco is asking in return, it isn’t a surprise that both stars remain in the Bay Area. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the 49ers are asking for a bounty in return for Aiyuk. What is the San Francisco 49ers’…
The Los Angeles Rams made a surprise cut, moving on from wide receiver and team captain Benny Skowronek, according to a report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Skowronek, 26, developed a reputation as a special teams ace since being chosen by Los Angeles in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft and emerging as the Rams’ captain of that unit last season. Having won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams, Skowronek could offer a strong veteran leadership presence for a rising young contender. Through his first three seasons with the Rams, Skowronek has pulled down 58 catches…
Future Hall of Fame pass-rusher J.J. Watt made waves in recent days suggesting that he could return as early as this season to play for the Houston Texans. “I’ve had 12 great years in this league and I’m very thankful to have walked away healthy and playing great,” Watt said. “I told DeMeco last year, I said, ‘Don’t call unless you absolutely need it, but if you ever do call, I’ll be there.’ And he knows not to call unless he absolutely needs it. This is the last year I’ll tell him that, because I’m not going to keep training the…
