Even the greatest NFL players eventually peak and begin that tumble back down the mountain. For some, the peak is long and luxurious; for others, that peak is short, and the fall comes after a couple years of prosperity. This list features players nearing the end of the road or those having held on a bit too long. Some call it long in the tooth; others call it over the hill. We’re calling this the All-Washed team for 2022. Indianapolis Colts QB Matt Ryan source: Getty Images This was a close race between Matt Ryan, Ryan Tannehill, and Baker Mayfield. We’re giving Mayfield one more chance to prove everyone wrong. Tannehill has rookie Malik Willis breathing down his neck, but at his best never reached the heights of former league MVP Ryan. As the Atlanta Falcons faded back into obscurity after the debacle of Super Bowl LI, so has Matty Ice. Cold would be the best description for Ryan at this point, passing for just 20 touchdowns last year and falling short of 4,000 passing yards for the first time since 2010. Ryan hasn’t sniffed the Pro Bowl since his MVP year in 2016. It wouldn’t be shocking to hear Ryan call it a career at the end of the ‘22 campaign. Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliot source: Getty Images Zeke’s demise is a couple years in the making, but he hasn’t been the same back over the last couple of years. Elliot went from the top feature running back in the NFL to being the overrated half of a dual threat running game in Dallas. Were it not for Jerry Jones’ loyalty to certain players, Elliot might have been cut already. His average rushing yards per game has declined each season following his rookie year. In 2021 this number fell all the way to 58.9 ypg. If Elliot can’t step up this season, his career in big D could end next offseason. Tennessee Titans WR Josh Gordon ( practice squad) source: Getty Images It feels like Josh Gordon is hanging on by a thread. Gordon recently signed to the Titans’ practice squad, and if he can’t make this roster, that might be all she wrote. There was so much promise early on for Gordon after Cleveland selected him in the 2012 supplemental draft. Gordon led the NFL in receiving yards in 2013 and, for his efforts, was named All-Pro and a Pro bowler. Gordon’s substance abuse issues seemed to take control of his life as he missed the ‘15 and ‘16 seasons, serving a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. We’ve seen more Josh Gordon comeback attempts than George Foreman. At 31 years old, Gordon needs to find a team to stick with this year and produce. Otherwise, he’ll go down as one of the biggest’ what if’ talents the NFL has ever seen. TE Jared Cook (free agent) source: Getty Images Cook is a two-time Pro Bowl tight end. He will forever be remembered for his clutch reception from Aaron Rodgers to eliminate the Cowboys in the divisional round playoff game in 2017. It won the ESPY that year for Best Play. After peaking in catches and receiving yards in ‘18, Cook hasn’t come close to that production. He caught 48 passes for 564 yards last season for the Chargers but is a free agent entering the ‘22 season. Jared had four TD receptions last year, his lowest since ‘17 with the Raiders. At age 35, it might be well into the season before Cook gets a call this year. Dallas Cowboys LT Tyron Smith source: Getty Images Tyron Smith has been beastly on that Dallas offensive line for over a decade. He’s an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time All-Pro, and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. But over the last couple of years, injuries have caught up with Smith, who will miss most of the ‘22 campaign with an avulsion fracture in his knee and the hamstring tendon pulled off the knee. Smith turns 32 years old during the regular season, and it just feels like time is winding down for the All-world tackle. If he does return this year, you have to wonder how effective he can be after such a brutal leg injury. Philadelphia Eagles DL Fletcher Cox source: Getty Images Fletcher Cox has been one of the better defensive linemen of his era as a six-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro. Cox had his most productive season in ‘18, the year after leading the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning defense. Fletcher made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro that season, recording 10.5 sacks, 34 QB hits, and 12 tackles for loss, all career highs. Last year Cox produced career lows in tackles for loss (7) and solo tackles (25) while making only 3.5 sacks in 16 games. Cox has primarily been healthy during his career, suiting up for at least 14 games in each of his 10 seasons as a pro. In professional sports, age catches everyone, and it may be Fletcher’s time. Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Lavonte David source: Getty Images Lavonte David has only been a Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro once in his career, but he’s been more than solid for the Bucs at the linebacker position for a decade. Many of those years went largely unnoticed because the team was so bad. David missed five games last season, which contributed to the lowest solo tackle total (63) of his career. Lavonte will be 33 before the end of the season, and this is usually around the time we see linebackers slowdown. Minnesota Vikings DB Patrick Peterson source: Getty Images Peterson was once expected the be the next big time shutdown cornerback in the NFL when he was drafted fifth overall by Arizona out of LSU. Patrick was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first eight years of his career. He’s a three-time All-Pro and was even named to the HOF All-2010s team. There’s been a noticeable drop-off in production over the past couple of years, even going back to Arizona. Now in Minnesota, a change in the defensive scheme could help the veteran cornerback immensely this season as they’re switching to more zone coverages. Cornerback isn’t a position that always ages gracefully in the NFL. Some even transition to safety as they age, and that could be the next move for Peterson if he wishes to play well into his 30s.
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Spurs have been revitalised since Conte s arrival as the former Inter head coach became the first manager in the club s history to remain unbeaten through his first seven league games in charge.
That unbeaten streak leaves Spurs in seventh, just five points behind fourth-placed north London rivals Arsenal, though Conte s side boast two games in hand over the Gunners.
However, Conte attempted to quash the expectations on his team as he warned that Spurs recent form, or possible transfer activity in January, does not guarantee Champions League qualification.
Honestly, and I have been in football for many years, y…
Leicester boss Dean Smith has challenged his players to carry the psychological burden of their relegation battle.
The Foxes host Liverpool on Monday desperate for victory as they sit two points from safety with three games left.
Leeds’ 2-2 draw with Newcastle added extra pressure on the 2016 champions and dropped them to second bottom in the Premier League.
Smith, who replaced Brendan Rodgers until the end of the season last month, knows the importance of the Foxes keeping their heads.
“My approach has always been to challenge the players in terms of their performances because that’s the only thing they can control,” he said.
“When they go into the game their decision-making has to be good and they’ve made good decisions because other…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has proven to be a godsend for Milan, says Stefano Pio
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The Milan boss added the Rossoneri squad have already been helped on and off the pitch by the forward s arrival.
Ibrahimovic signed for Milan as a free agent after leaving Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy, returning to the club where he spent two seasons between 2010 and 2012 before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain.
It did not take long for the 38-year-old to make an impact, with Ibrahimovic scoring on his first start in a 2-0 win over Cagliari last time out in Serie A.
Milan, now unbeaten in three matches in all competitions following their 3-0 win over SPAL in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, sit 10th in Serie A, and Pioli has hailed Ibrahimovic s immediate impact…
Much has changed in European football in the past five years – and few clubs illustrate that greater than fallen giants Barcelona.
On this day in 2017, Barca were thrashing Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 in the most remarkable Champions League turnaround ever, becoming the only side in the competition s history to overturn a four-goal first-leg deficit.
Now, Neymar and Lionel Messi – the two stars of that Blaugrana side – are preparing to play Real Madrid as PSG players.
Meanwhile, Barca are not even in the Champions League knockout stages, instead facing Galatasaray in the Europa League last 16 while battling to return to UEFA s flagship competition next season.
Indeed, Barca s recent European past has found them on the wrong end of epic Champions League …
Manchester City great Francis Lee said a move for Harry Kane would be very difficult as he questioned whether the England captain would be a long-term option.
Kane has given his strongest indication yet that he wants to leave Tottenham at the end of the season, stating his desire to play for a trophy-winning side.
Premier League champions City would fit that bill, while Kane has also been linked with the likes of Chelsea and neighbours Manchester United.
Kane, who will turn 28 in July, is level with Mohamed Salah at the top of the Premier League scoring charts heading into the final weekend of the season.
That suggests he remains in the very top bracket of Europe s top strikers, but Lee needs convincing that Kane would be capable of being a force for Cit…
Philippe Coutinho thanked Lionel Messi for allowing him to take a confidence-boosting penalty as Barcelona hammered Sevilla to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Coutinho has endured a difficult season with Ousmane Dembele seemingly preferred by Ernesto Valverde, but the France winger s hamstring injury has opened a spot in Barca s attack.
And Coutinho grabbed his chance with both hands in Wednesday s second leg, scoring twice as Barca heaped more Copa del Rey misery on Sevilla, who they battered 5-0 in last year s final.
Barca s 6-1 victory overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg, when Messi was rested by Valverde, but the captain was in inspirational form at Camp Nou.
Not bad going, eh?
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Leyton Orient have paid tribute to supporter Derek Reynolds, who died after being taken unwell towards the end of the League One match against Lincoln on Tuesday night.
After fans had gone on to the pitch to alert the referee to the medical emergency in the East Stand, the match was halted in the 82nd minute and eventually abandoned.
The London Ambulance Service confirmed on Wednesday morning that despite extensive treatment and the combined efforts at the scene – which included an incident response officer, two medics in fast-response cars and an ambulance crew – the 74-year-old man had later been pronounced dead.
Leyton Orient Football Club is devastated to confirm that the supporter who was taken ill at Tuesday s game against Lincoln City has sadly passed …
Pep Guardiola is convinced the floodgates are about to open for his Manchester City team and Saturday s opponents Burnley may already be fearing the worst.
On their last three visits to the Etihad Stadium, Burnley have lost 5-0 on each occasion, with a pair of Premier League thrashings coming either side of an FA Cup trouncing.
Speaking this week, Guardiola said he would need to find a solution to his City team s scoring problem, which has seen them net a modest 10 goals in their opening eight Premier League fixtures this season.
He mentioned the importance of fixing little details , adding: In one or two games, this kind of thing will get better. The season is still so young and I m fully optimistic we re going to do a good season.
Given he recently sig…
Marseille head coach Andre Villas-Boas urged FIFA to withdraw the number 10 for all competitions to honour Diego Maradona.
Maradona, widely regarded as one of the best players of all-time, died at the age of 60 on Wednesday after a suspected heart attack.
He starred in the number 10 for Napoli and Argentina during his playing career, and the shirt was retired by the Serie A club in his honour in 2000.
Villas-Boas wants to see FIFA go one step further and withdraw the number 10 completely.
For Maradona, it s a hard blow. I would like FIFA to withdraw the number 10 for all competitions, all teams, he told a news conference after Marseille s 2-0 Champions League loss to Porto on Wednesday.
I think it s the best tribute that can be given to the grea…
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National associations, including the English FA, will be asked to amend a raft of UEFA statutes at Thursday’s Congress in Paris.
Within that bundle of rule changes is a move to amend Article 69 which would mean the first partial term Ceferin served from September 2016 would not be counted within the three-term limit, and would therefore allow him to serve a further full term from 2027 to 2031.
The proposal has already led to the resignation of UEFA’s technical director Zvonimir Boban, who had previously been a strong ally of Ceferin.
The FA is understood to have pushed for t…