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Who has the Strongest Arm in the NFL?

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Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrating after throwing a touchdown

There’s little doubt that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has one of the strongest, if not the strongest arm in the NFL. Count Peter Schrager, though, among the group that thinks Mahomes is unmatched atop the throwing-power throne.

Strongest Arm in the NFL

Schrager gave his rankings of the top quarterbacks by arm strength during a recent segment on the NFL Network show Good Morning Football (click here to watch). He listed Mahomes ahead of Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions, and Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals.

Related: Josh Allen Focusing on Deep Ball

Josh Allen, quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, throwing a football at the 2018 NFL Combine

“The best is yet to come with him,” Schrager said of Mahomes. “His arm is just a thing of beauty and it’s also a thing of sheer brute force.”

Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen?

Mahomes, himself has said before that he believes his right arm is the game’s strongest, though he has good competition from Allen. He said as much during an early 2018 interview on the Stick to Football Podcast featuring Matt Miller and Connor Rogers of Bleacher Report.

“I’ve seen these things with Josh but I’m going to have to say I believe I have the stronger arm,” Mahomes said. “I’ve never seen anyone throw harder than me with the football, so until I see it in person, I believe I have the stronger arm.”

The surprise on Schrager’s list might be Murray, who is entering his first year in the league. While known to have a good arm, Murray hasn’t really been viewed in that tier. He’ll have the chance to prove doubters wrong, though, soon enough. Either way, these guys will get paid BIG TIME when their rookie contracts are up.

This article was first published by Clutch Points.

Most Passing Yards in an NFL Game

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Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans throwing the football

The most passing yards in an NFL game was 554 by Norm Van Brocklin back in 1951. Van Brocklin played for the Los Angeles Rams at the time and defeated the New York Yanks that day 54-14. The New York Yanks were a team – that’s how long ago this was. The Yanks only won one game that year in 1951 and were sold back to the league after the season.

Related: Longest Field Goal in NFL History

The game

Norm Van Brocklin lead his Rams to a victory that day by completing 27 passes (out of 41) for 554 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. That is good enough for a quarterback rating of 128.3.

Norm Van Brocklin of the Los Angeles Rams throwing for the most passing yards ever in a game

Los Angeles jumped out to a 34-0 lead before halftime and never looked back. They totaled 735 yards to the Yanks 166! Can you believe that? A football team actually put up over 700 yards of offense in a single game and allowed fewer than 200. I don’t care what era that is from, that’s an impressive performance.

The Rams went on to win the championship that year against the Cleveland Browns 24-17.

Most Passing Yards in the Superbowl Era

The title of most passing yards thrown in an NFL game in the Superbowl Era (1966-present) goes to Matt Schaub. He accomplished this on November 18, 2012 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, while playing for the Houston Texans.

Schaub threw for 527 yards on 43/55 passing. Add in five touchdowns and two interceptions, just like Van Brocklin back in 1951. Unlike the blowout game Van Brocklin hit his high number in, Schaub tossed his 527 in a competitive game that the Texans pulled out at the end 43-37.

Active Quarterbacks who have hit the 500 yards mark

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots throwing the ball next to Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints celebrating a touchdown pass

Let’s get a little more current. Here are the instances where NFL quarterbacks who are still active today have hit 500 yards in a game.

PlayerTeamDateYards
Matt SchaubHouston TexansNovember 18, 2012527
Ben RoethlisbergerPittsburgh SteelersOctober 26, 2014522
Matt StaffordDetroit LionsJanuary 1, 2012520
Tom BradyNew England PatriotsSeptember 12, 2011517
Jared GoffLos Angeles RamsSeptember 29, 2019517
Derek CarrOakland RaidersOctober 30, 2016513
Drew BreesNew Orleans SaintsNovember 19, 2006510
Ben RoethlisbergerPittsburgh SteelersDecember 10, 2017506
Drew BreesNew Orleans SaintsNovember 1, 2015505
Tom BradyNew England PatriotsFebruary 4, 2018505
Matt RyanAtlanta FalconsOctover 2, 2016503
Phillip RiversSan Diego ChargersOctober 18, 2015503
Ben RoethlisbergerPittsburgh SteelersDecember 20, 2009503

As you can see, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Drew Brees have all hit 500 yards on multiple occasions. Roethlisberger leading the way, throwing for the big 5-0-0 three times in his career!

Tom Brady getting stripped of the football in Superbowl LII by the Eagles

Tom Brady is the only person to throw for 500 yards in a playoff game, and he did so in the Superbowl. Brady went 28/48 and threw for three touchdowns in Superbowl LII but was outdueled by Nick Foles of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Related: Tom Brady Nutrition and Workout

The Patriots lost the game 41-33, giving the Eagles their first Superbowl in franchise history.

Aaron Donald Workout

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Aaron Donald flexing after making a tackle for the Los Angeles Rams
Dec 2, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Donald has been one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the NFL since he arrived in 2014. How does he stay so dominant? Simple – he hits the gym HARD. Let’s take a look at the Aaron Donald workout.

Related: DK Metcalf Workout

Who is Aaron Donald?

Donald was a star at the University of Pittsburgh, where he played his college ball from 2010-2013. He recorded 29.5 sacks and 66 tackles for loss over the four years while attracting the attention of NFL teams.

Because of his impressive stats in college and at the NFL combine, Donald was drafted 13th overall in the 2014 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.

Aaron Donald flexing and showing off his abs after a workout

NFL Career

Aaron Donald had a very solid start to his NFL career, recording at least 8 sacks in his first three seasons. This set the stage for the 2017 NFL season where Aaron racked up 11 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. Then he followed up in 2018 with his breakout year posting 20.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles.

Donald won the NFL defensive player of the year both of these years.

Aaron Donald Workout

So, maybe Saquon Barkley can bench over 400 pounds, but Aaron Donald can put up 500 pounds! You read that correctly. A five followed by two zeros. He also did 35 reps on the bench press at the NFL combine before he entered the NFL.

Related: Tom Brady Nutrition and Workout

He mainly focuses on power movements and strength to help improve his lineman abilities.

Power movements will include low volume, high intensity box jumps, cxasxasadf. These exercises are to help with his acceleration. Adding these into a workout improve speed and quickness off the line of scrimmage for lineman.

Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams squatting during his workout

Strength exercises include squats, deadlifts, and bench press in the realm of 3-6 reps at 85-90% of his 1-rep max. This is the same technique that Christian McCaffery uses.

On game days, Donald adds in high volume, lower weight arm workouts to prepare him for the three-hour shoving match he has ahead of him. He’ll also add in some ab work with medicine ball tosses

Training with Knives

Aaron Donald training with knives

Knives? Yes, knives. Aaron Donald has someone trying to stab him with knives to help improve his reaction time and hand fighting skills. Albeit they are not real knives (obviously) it still puts the sense of fear in you if one is coming at you.

So yeah, Aaron Donald is playing with knives in the offseason to help improve his pass rushing skills.

Ab Workout

Again, quick, speedy movements is the name of the game even for Donald’s ab workout. He will look into incorporating variation of ab exercises such as medicine ball toss crunches. Right before Donald throws the medicine ball to the trainer, the trainer places another medicine ball on his feet.

He’ll then grab the medicine ball before heading back down for the downward portion of the crunch. This way he can double the work he does with medicine ball work.

DK Metcalf Workout

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DK Metcalf showing off his abs after a workout

DK Metcalf was an absolute beast last year for the Seattle Seahawks. He put up big numbers and man can that guy put up numbers in the gym. When it comes to working out there’s nothing like a DK Metcalf workout.

Related: Christian McCaffery Workout

Who is DK Metcalf?

DK Metcalf starred at the 2019 NFL Combine. Here are the key stats from his workout:

  • 27 reps in the Bench Press
  • 33 in the 40-yard dash
  • Vertical jump of 40.5 inches
  • 134-inch broad jump

DK Metcalf at the 2019 NFL Combine

Metcalf played his college football at Ole Miss from 2016-2018, including a red shirt year in 2016. He caught 26 receptions for 569 yards and 5 touchdowns before declaring for the NFL draft.

He was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Metcalf was picked by the team to be a consistent deep threat for their beast of a quarterback Russell Wilson.

NFL Rookie Year

As someone who was always criticized for only being able to run vertical routes, Metcalf shined in his rookie season. He caught 58 passes for 900 yards and 7 touchdowns. But his skills were shown on the big stage when he had a lights-out game in his first career playoff game.

           

On January 5, 2020, Metcalf put up 160 yards and a touchdown catch on 7 receptions against the Philadelphia Eagles. Wow, talk about stepping up to the plate when it matters most. Largely due to DK, the Seahawks would win that game 17-9 but end up losing to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round. He makes them a championship contender going into next season.

DK Metcalf catches ball over an Eagles defender during the NFL Wild Card round

DK Metcalf Workout

DK focuses on very specific movements and exercise that fit his position as a wide receiver. This includes the following:

  • Power movements for acceleration
  • Strength exercises to increase the rate of force development and speed of athletic movements
  • Core workouts for stability and balance

Related: Saquon Barkley Workout
           

Power movements

Box Jumps – 10 x 1

Single Leg Broad Jumps – 4 x 4 (for each side)

Broad Jumps – 10 x 1

DK Metcalf benching at the NFL Combine

DK Metcalf Strength Workout

Deadlifts – 5 x 4

Squats – 5 x 4

Single Leg Romanian Deadlifts – 4 x 6

Step Up Lunges – 4 x 6

Core Workout

Related: Aaron Donald Workout

Russian Twists (w/weight) 3 x 15

Single Leg Sit-Ups 3 x 10 (for each side)

Longest Field Goal in NFL History

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Matt Prater, kicker of the Detroit Lions, kicking off

The longest field goal ever made in an NFL game (and in football history for that matter) is 64 yards. What a kick. This incredible feat was accomplished by Matt Prater in 2013 which is when he was playing for the Denver Broncos.

Although the record-breaking kick didn’t really have any impact on the result of the game, it’s still very impressive. The Broncos went on to beat the Tennessee Titans 51-28 in the game, which took place on December 8, 2013.

Who is Matt Prater?

Prater went to high school in Estero, Florida, where he converted 56/58 extra points and hit a 49-yard field goal. He then went on to kick for UCF from 2002-2005 where he tied the school record by making 50 field goals.

Over his four-year career at UCF, Matt Prater hit 108/117 extra points and 50/74 field goals. This got him signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in May of 2006. In his 14 year NFL career, Prater has made 300 field goals at a clip of 84% success rate.

Next Longest Field Goal in NFL History

There are six different NFL kickers that have made a field goal of 63 yards. Four of the six kicks were made in the past decade, showing how impressive kickers have become in the league. Below is the list of players who have accomplished this feat.

KickerTeamDistanceDate
Tom DempseyNew Orleans Saints63 ydsNovember 8, 1970
Jason ElamDenver Broncos63 ydsOctober 25, 1998
Sebastian JanikowskiOakland Raiders63 ydsSeptember 12, 2011
David AkersSan Francisco 49ers63 ydsSeptember 9, 2012
Graham GanoCarolina Panthers63 ydsOctober 7, 2018
Brett MaherDallas Cowboys63 ydsOctober 20, 2019

Both Tom Dempsey’s and Graham Gano’s 63-yard field goal were game-winning field goals as time expired. Talk about having the clutch gene, even if it wasn’t the longest field goal of all time (kudos to Prater).

Overhead view of Mile High Stadium, home of the Denver Broncos

Along with Matt Prater’s 64-yarder, Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski both hit their long kicks in Denver. With the air in Denver being thinner at 5,200 feet, kickers have a bit of an advantage. Sound like kicking for the Broncos is quite an advantage.

Tom Brady Nutrition and Workout

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Tom Brady workout with a pliability shirt on

Tom Brady is one of the most decorated athletes in history and has been on top for 20 years. Brady has racked up six Superbowl titles, four Superbowl MVPs, and 3 NFL MVPs throughout career, which spans two decades. He will attribute a lot of his success and longevity to his nutrition and workout regime, penned the TB12 Method.

Related: Aaron Donald Workout

Tom Brady’s nutrition and workout plan seek to boost energy, reduce inflammation, reduce injury risk, and improve sports performance and recovery.

Tom Brady’s Career

Drafted from Michigan by the New England Patriots in the 6th round (pick 199), Tom Brady began his NFL career. He was initially a backup to Drew Bledsoe but when Bledsoe was injured in 2001, Tom took over as starter. It was a job he would never give back.

Tom Brady celebrating as the quarterback of the New England Patriots

Brady went on to lead his team to a Superbowl in three of the first four seasons as a starter. An absolute fire beginning to a career for the future hall of famer. He then went on to win three more championships in the last six seasons in New England.

Now, as the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady instantly makes them a Superbowl contender.

Tom Brady Nutrition

Brady’s diet consists of the following:

  • Organically grown fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts
  • Grass-fed lean meats, and wild-caught fish.

80% of the diet is fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while the other 20% is meat and fish.

Whole grains and vegetables

He avoids sugars, artificial sweeteners, trans fat, caffeine, gluten, and most oils. Brady also does not drink alcohol when abiding by this diet. Instead, he strives to drink half his bodyweight in pounds in terms of ounces of water per day.

Another part of the Tom Brady nutrition plan is the combination and timing of meals. He doesn’t eat any other foods with fruit, and he won’t eat high-protein foods combined with carb-rich foods. With the increased monotony of food types, this diet can be a good way to monitor or even lose weight.

Tom Brady Workout

Per Brady’s fitness guru, Alex Guerrero, Tom doesn’t follow the usual protocol for his workouts during the NFL season. Brady does a full body workout using resistance bands to work at the “speed of sport” instead of lifting weights.

Tom Brady workout with resistance bands

Related: Saquon Barkley Workout

Here is the Tom Brady workout used during the season:

*All exercises are just 1 set to failure

  1. Standing Row
  2. Banded Pushup
  3. Core Rotations
  4. Banded Deadlift
  5. Banded Bicep Curl
  6. Triceps Extension
  7. Deceleration Lunges
  8. Banded Shoulder Press
  9. X-Band Squat

Benefits of the TB12 method

This diet can also help protect against Type 2 Diabetes and many illnesses and diseases. With the restriction of processed meats, sugars, and alcohol, inflammation is reduced within the body.

Tom Brady drinking electrolytes, which is part of the TB12 method for his nutrition regime

This is thought to lower the chance of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and some types of cancer. Because there are so many vitamins, plant compounds, and minerals, following the Tom Brady regime is important for optimal performance and recovery.

Related: Christian McCaffery Workout

Brady has recently decided to move on from the team he’s been with his entire career, the New England Patriots, and sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cam Newton Released by Panthers

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The Carolina Panthers already said goodbye to Cam Newton. The team now made the release official.

The Panthers are releasing the former NFL MVP as soon as Tuesday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported.

Panthers announce they have released Cam Newton

Carolina announced last Tuesday that it had allowed Newton to seek a trade. With few potential landing spots, no leverage, and major questions about his health, none materialized. The team moved on a week later.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft instantly became the face of the Panthers franchise, leading Carolina to three straight NFC South titles from 2013-2015, a Super Bowl and four total postseason appearances.

Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers celebrating a touchdown

Newton earned the 2015 NFL MVP award and was named to three Pro Bowls during his run in Carolina. He was the threat that the Panthers had been looking to have for quite a while.

Injuries concerns for Newton

It all deteriorated quickly for the hulking quarterback, however, as injuries took their toll over the past three seasons.

Newton underwent multiple shoulder surgeries and missed all but two games in 2019 due to a foot injury that ultimately required a procedure.

The lingering health questions left no team willing to part ways with draft assets to acquire a quarterback on the last year of his contract and one who would likely have wanted an extension.

Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers running with a towel on top of his head

The end to Newton’s run in Carolina came swiftly. After trade winds swirled at the close of the season, the Panthers’ new coach Matt Rhule insisted during the NFL Scouting Combine he “absolutely” wanted Newton back.

Cam Newton claims he was pushed into release

Weeks later, the Panthers reversed gears, announcing last week that Newton could seek a trade — phrasing the quarterback rejected, saying the team “forced me into this,” in what can only be described as a bitter divorce spat. The same day, Carolina already had a replacement, signing Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year, $63 million contract, with $33 million fully guaranteed at signing.

With Bridgewater in the building and no trade options, the Panthers officially cut ties with Newton, who is now the top free agent available, ahead of pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, according to NFL.com.

Teddy Bridgewater playing quarterback for the New Orleans Saints is now the quarterback for the Carolina Panthers

NFL QB Free Agency

Turning 31 in May, Newton enters a quarterback market flush with options and few starting chairs left. The Chicago Bears already traded for Nick Foles to compete with Mitchell Trubisky. The Los Angeles Chargers insist they’re rolling with Tyrod Taylor (and potentially a draft pick). New England recently signed veteran Brian Hoyer, potentially to compete with Jarrett Stidham for a starting job.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Panthers had trade talks with the Bears and Chargers before deciding to release Newton, but found no takers.

With the NFL’s current policy restricting player physicals, it could be difficult for Newton to find a home quickly.

When he’s able to land on a squad, questions will linger about what type of quarterback that team is getting. Is it the bulldozing force who whipped darts off his backfoot? How about a menace on the ground and the biggest red-zone threat in football? Or is it the injury-plagued player who struggled to make throws more than five yards out?

His journey in Carolina is over. Where Cam Newton goes next after being released is a question that could linger.

This article was first published by NFL.com.

Tom Brady demand for Bucs

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Tom Brady signing his new contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There was no shortage of rumors swirling about Tom Brady’s crown as he entered NFL free agency for the first time in 20 years last week. The “will he, won’t he” headlines were at absolute fever pitch from the moment the New England Patriots felt the sting of playoff upset at the hands of the Tennessee Titans, and several teams then emerged as likely landing spots for the six-time Super Bowl winner.

Related: Tom Brady Nutrition and Workout

Tom Brady joins the Bucs

In the end, it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who wooed him away, but did Brady really have two non-negotiable demands — control over the roster and being part of play-calling decisions — for any club attempting to sign him?

It’s now been revealed Tom Brady never did demand the Buccaneers give him control in any way over the roster, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, mostly because it’s a given coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht would work with him to build the team that best fits his style of play.

Tom Brady throwing the football while playing for the New England Patriots

So what exactly did Brady ask for?

Tom Brady demand

Brady seemingly had more power than virtually anyone in the history of NFL free agency. With teams willing to bend and allow him to have his way, Brady wanted only one thing. He only wanted phone numbers of every player on the roster. That’s it. Nothing more. Well, that and a seventh Super Bowl win, but the Bucs are working on making that one happen as well.

Not only did Brady forgo the heavy-handed approach of demanding roster control, but he reportedly didn’t even make a fuss about wearing No. 12, the only number he’s ever worn in his professional career — one also tied to his “TB12” brand. That number currently belongs to Chris Godwin — himself having worn the number since his days at Penn State — and he hasn’t spoken to Brady just yet about what will happen.

Who will wear jersey number 12?

“My phone is blowing up over the last 24 hours on Twitter, Instagram, like phone calls, text messages,” Godwin said, via SI.com. “People just asking me the same question. I think it will be very interesting whatever happens. We haven’t talked about it.

Chris Godwin and Tom Brady both wear the number 12

“We talked briefly, but hadn’t mentioned that at all. Obviously, if he doesn’t want it or isn’t making a big deal about it, I’m definitely going to keep it. But we’ll see how that goes. I think just out of respect for what he’s done, what he’s accomplished. Just kind of the career he’s built for himself.

“You’ve got to kind of lean into that respect, you know?. We’ll see. We’ll see how it goes.”

This article was first published by CBS Sports.

Saquon Barkley Workout

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Saquon Barkley performing a barbell squat

Introducing one of the best NFL Combine performances of all time. Saquon Barkley’s workout proved to be stronger than Joe Thomas, faster than Devin Hester, and had a better vertical jump that Julio Jones. Barkley can lift heavy, run fast, and jump high. Pretty good physical traits to have in the NFL.

Who is Saquon Barkley?

Barkley was born in the Bronx, NY and moved to Bethlehem, PA when he was younger. While attending Whitehall High School for four years he racked up over 3,500 yards and 63 touchdowns, earning a four-star recruit rating in the process. Barkley was then recruited to play at Penn State starting in 2015.

Saquon’s Career at Penn State

From 2015-2017, opposing teams were run over by Barkley and Penn State. He ran for over 1,000 rushing yards each of his three seasons at the school, topping out at 1,496 yards his sophomore year. That year Penn state made it to the Rose Bowl after winning the Big Ten with a record of 11-3.

Saquon Barkley playing as a running back at Penn State

After a 35-28 victory over Washington at the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, Barkley declared for the NFL draft.

NFL Career

Saquon was drafted 2nd overall at the NFL draft by the New York Giants. He accumulated over 1,300 rushing yards and 15 total TDs in his rookie campaign. Barkley’s performance earned him the Offensive Rookie of the year honors.

Although the Giants have only won 9 times through Barkley’s first 2 seasons, he definitely is not the problem. Let’s take a look at the famous Saquon Barkley workout.

Related: DK Metcalf Workout

Squat and Bench Press

Barkley lifted 29 reps at 225 lbs as a running back. That is 5th most among all running backs who are 235 lbs or smaller. During a Penn State charity event, Barkley beat that number when he put up 30 reps.

This guy really has superhuman strength for someone his size and for someone who has his speed. His one rep maximum is 405 lbs! Maybe not Aaron Donald numbers on the bench press but not too shabby.

The only reason Saquon didn’t go higher was because his strength coach at Penn State wanted to limit his training to prevent injury. One thing is for certain – Barkley can lift.

Saquon Barkley working out on the bench press at a Penn State Charity Event

A big reason Barkley is such a workhorse running back is due to his lower body strength. This guy spends a lot of time strengthening his legs and can squat 650 lbs! Barkley can lift 5 reps at 525 lbs which is an incredible feat as well. These are big numbers and put him right on par with Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffery’s fitness regime.

Saquon Barkley Workout

Like most running backs, Saquon really focuses on his lower body strength during his workouts. He once said that the hex-bar deadlift was his favorite lift because it’s great for power and protects the back more than a traditional deadlift.

Barkley also stated that squatting and deadlifting is best for younger players looking to improve explosiveness. Moving large amounts of weight quickly helps speed up the rate-of-force development in the muscles involved. This is important because it allows the athlete to recruit the more powerful type of muscle fibers (type II) faster.

Related: Tom Brady Nutrition and Workout

NFL Draft event Canceled in Vegas

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The logo for the 2020 NFL Draft with Las Vegas in the background

The National Football League canceled its 2020 draft event in Las Vegas due to the coronavirus outbreak. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced this on Monday.

2020 NFL Draft event canceled

In a statement announcing the move, the NFL said clubs will still make selection of players. This is scheduled for April 23 through April 25, but the NFL added it is “exploring innovative options for how the process will be conducted and will provide that information as it becomes available. The selection process will be televised,” the statement said.

“This decision reflects our foremost priority – the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” said Goodell. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”

Crowds of people gathered on Broadway in downtown Nashville, TN for the 2019 NFL Draft

Coronavirus shuts down football

The NFL’s announcement comes one day after the Centers for Disease Control made their statement regarding COVID-19. The CDC recommended canceling events with 50 people or more across the U.S. for the next eight weeks. This is all in an effort to contain the fast-moving coronavirus pandemic.

Before closing the draft to the public, the NFL also canceled its annual league meetings that were scheduled to take place in Palm Beach, Florida. It’s good that the league is taking these precautionary measures to ensure the safety of U.S. Citizens.

Last week, the NFL joined other major sports leagues in suspending events, but has not yet adjusted it regular-season games, which don’t start until September. The NFL is currently operating under its normal off-season schedule. This includes the free agency period and the start of a new league year which began last week.

The NFL also secured a labor agreement with its players union, which approved terms of a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement that features pay increases, a 17th regular-season game, and two additional postseason games.

This article was first published by CNBC.