Sports
Alabama Could Be Much Closer to Missing the Playoffs Than Winning a Title
It’s been a bit of a rocky start to the post-NIL era at Alabama… Well, at least by Alabama’s otherworldly standards.
The walls didn’t crumble all at once for the Tide. In the very first season NIL payments were allowed, Alabama would go on to reach the national championship game. Since then, it’s been a slow trend towards becoming a great program rather than the best in college football.
Here in year three of the Kalen DeBoer era, the pressure has been cranked up to an 11/10. Most schools would be ecstatic with a conference championship and a playoff win in their head coach’s second year. But in the words of Mike Tomlin, “the standard is the standard”, and at Bama, that means national titles.
Look away if you’re a Crimson Tide faithful, but I think this Bama team is much closer to comfortably missing the playoffs than they are to winning a title.
Let’s start with the positives first. As much vitriol as DeBoer has seen during his Bama tenure, he has been great at getting the most out of a quarterback. With uncertainty at the position, I still expect great play from Keelon Russell or Austin Mack, whoever wins the starting job.
It should be fairly easy to get great quarterback play when you can throw the ball to Ryan Coleman-Williams, but second and third options at the position are more of a question mark. Noah Rogers would likely be the number two at receiver, but he will start the season hurt. Who will be able to replace him outside until he makes it back on the field?
On the other side of the ball, the defense should be good, but not elite. The secondary should once again be one of the better units in the country, but I’m not sold on their pass rush. They lost some guys to the portal in a unit that didn’t really impress me much last year. They struggled against more talented offenses and did very little to slow down any team with a great playcaller.
The biggest concern for Bama is the offensive line. Their 2025 offensive line might have been the worst we’ve seen this century. It’s not often that Alabama gets bullied off the ball. They gave up 32 sacks last season, and that number could have been far worse if Ty Simpson was constantly playing hero ball to bail them out.
Worse than their inability to pass block, the Tide had one of the worst rushing attacks in the country, averaging just 92.6 yards per game, good for 129th in the country. I don’t think enough has been done to fix these issues. Whether from a lack of talent or poor coaching, I think the line is going to be trouble once again for Bama.
However, even if the offensive line is bad, they have to be a threat to run the ball. I expect Keelon Russell to be the starter this year, but it’s going to be incredibly difficult to expect much out of a 19-year-old when the offense around him can’t get anything on the ground.
Alabama’s win total is currently set at 8.5, and I’m not sure I’d take the over. They’ve got Georgia, at Tennessee, Texas A&M, and at LSU on the schedule. Outside of the Tennessee game, I don’t think they’ll be favored in any of those matchups on game day. I don’t think they go 0-4 in that stretch, but 1-3 won’t surprise.
That then leaves Vanderbilt, Florida State, and Auburn, who could all cause issues for the Tide as well. I don’t think it’s crazy to think Alabama might just be an 8-win team in 2026.
Sports
Falcons, G Matthew Bergeron agree to 4-year extension
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron (65) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Atlanta Falcons and left guard Matthew Bergeron have agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 season.
The team announced the deal on Saturday but didn’t provide any financial terms. ESPN and NFL Network said the contract is worth $96 million, with $60 million fully guaranteed.
“Matthew is the type of player you build around,” Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said. “He’s establishing himself as one of the top young guards in the NFL, and his toughness, consistency and leadership have made him a cornerstone of our offensive line and the culture we’re building in Atlanta.
“Extending players like Matthew reflects our commitment to investing in the trenches and building a strong foundation for the future.”
Bergeron, 26, is a native of Montreal who played in college at Syracuse. The Falcons selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Bergeron has played in 49 of 51 possible games — all starts.
With Bergeron teaming with left tackle Jake Matthews, the Falcons led the league in 2025 with 61 first downs from that side of the line. Matthews enters his 13th season as a starting offensive lineman for the team.
Bergeron told AtlantaFalcons.com that staying in Atlanta with the new contract “means the world” to him.
“I’m from Canada, and the second I got to Atlanta everybody welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “Atlanta is a special place for me and my family. And now, I have the resources to give back to a community that has given me so much and changed my life.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) to miss season
Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) stiff arms Tennessee Titans cornerback Marcus Harris (26) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall requires right knee surgery and will miss the 2026 season.
General manager John Lynch confirmed on Saturday that Pearsall needs a procedure to repair a torn PCL.
Pearsall, a 2024 first-round pick, experienced pain and swelling in his knee earlier this week at training camp. He initially sustained the injury in Week 4 last season and wound up appearing in only nine games.
Through his first two seasons, Pearsall has recorded 67 catches for 928 yards and three scores in 20 contests.
The 49ers placed Pearsall, 25, on injured reserve Saturday and also confirmed the signing of wideout Deebo Samuel. Terms were not disclosed but reports earlier in the week said Samuel returns on a one-year deal for $7 million. Samuel will replace Pearsall of the 49ers’ roster.
Samuel, 30, caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five TDs in 16 games last season with the Washington Commanders.
Samuel played for San Francisco from 2019-24, posting 334 receptions for 4,792 yards and 22 TDs in 81 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Steelers signing veteran S Rayshawn Jenkins
Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins, multiple outlets reported on Saturday.
Jenkins, 32, recorded 45 tackles and one interception in 17 games (three starts) last season with Cleveland.
He has 562 tackles, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles in 139 games (92 starts) with the Los Angeles Chargers (2017-20), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021-23), Seattle Seahawks (2024) and Browns.
Jenkins, a fourth-round draft pick by the Chargers in 2017, has scored two defensive touchdowns: a pick-six in 2022 and a 102-yard fumble return in 2024.
Jenkins provides depth in the secondary behind starting safeties DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker, along with fellow veteran newcomer Darnell Savage.
–Field Level Media
Falcons, G Matthew Bergeron agree to 4-year extension
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) to miss season
