Sports

In three years, Los Angeles will temporarily shift from being a tackle football town to a flag football town. One of the local NFL coaches is fully on board with the idea of active players suiting up in red, white, and blue.

"I think it's great," Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters on Wednesday. "I think that is so far away from me. Coaching years are dog years, you know that. You hear Justin Jefferson come out and talk about, man, that would be really cool. That's awesome. Like I think you give guys the opportunity to say, ‘Alright, well what's your preference on it?’ And I think whatever our guys are . . . there's going to be the availability for maybe one guy on each team to be able to do that. And if that's something that players say they want to be able to do, then I think it's a really cool experience for them to be able to be a part of while also acknowledging that man, there are some other guys that have been doing it. I'm not going to pretend to understand the nuances tactically and what that game entails, but I think it's good. I think it's great.”

McVay's first point is the most important. It's three years away. There are three entire football seasons to play before the time comes to put NFL players on the flag football field. Most of the current NFL head coaches may not even be in their jobs by then.

And many of the current NFL players won't be playing in the NFL. Including Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was separately asked on Wednesday whether he'd be interested in representing the country.

"Sure," Stafford said. "I mean, nobody's going to want me to, but yeah, sure. It'd be fun. I'll coach."

The coaching issue continues to be one of the most fascinating questions about flag football featuring active NFL players. Will pro players respond to flag football coaches of whom they've never before heard? Or will it require an experienced and respected pro football coach who gets the flag football rule book, comes up with the best strategy for winning, and puts together a plan for the United States to deliver the goal that many already presume we'll win, easily.

Edge rusher Bryce Huff was out of the Eagles' lineup by the end of the 2024 season and he's been out of the picture entirely during their offseason program.

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Huff has not attended any of the team's workouts this spring. While the workouts are voluntary, McLane suggests that his absence may be part of an agreement with the team.

Huff is guaranteed $16.75 million this season and trading him after June 1 would provide some cap relief, so keeping him off the field and able to pass a physical could be part of the team's thinking.

Huff signed a three-year deal with the Eagles last year with thoughts that he'd have a role in their pass rush, but he posted 2.5 sacks before missing time with injury and wound up inactive for the team's Super Bowl win over the Chiefs.

The Colts are set for joint practices with a couple of teams this summer.

Head coach Shane Steichen said on Wednesday that the team will be hosting the Packers ahead of their August 16 preseason game against the NFC North team. The full details of the work will be announced at a later date.

They are also set to head to Baltimore for some work with the Ravens before their August 7 game against their fellow AFC club. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said the logistics are still being worked out, but that they are likely to have one day of practice work.

The Colts close the preseason with a trip to Cincinnati and Steichen left the door open for more joint work ahead of that contest.