Takeaways from East-West Shrine Bowl

Walder’s full list is as follows, from 1-10: Rams WR Cooper Kupp, Rams DT Aaron Donald, Steelers LB T.J. Watt, 49ers WR Deebo Samuel, Cowboys LB Micah Parsons, Jefferson, Packers WR Davante Adams, Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, Colts RB Jonathan Taylor and Bills S Jordan Poyer.

It is a little bit of a leap of faith to have Poyer here instead of bigger names like Myles Garrett or Nick Bosa, particularly given we don’t have as advanced safety metrics as we do for pass-rushers. But in what metrics we do have for safeties, Poyer was elite. In order for the Buffalo defense to produce like it did, it needed exceptional play from some of its players.

Robert Smith ranked 7th on list of NFL’s ‘best final seasons’

In the wake of Tom Brady retiring after an incredible 22-season NFL career, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin posed the question: Where does Brady’s final campaign rank among the “best final seasons” in NFL history?

Benjamin ranked 22 of the league’s “best individual send-off seasons,” and Brady came in fifth on his list. Vikings fans will recognize the seventh name in Benjamin’s rankings: running back Robert Smith.

Smith played eight seasons (1993-2000) for the Vikings before stepping away from the game.

In his final season in purple, he racked up 1,521 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Benjamin wrote:

The former first-rounder exploded on his way out, totaling more rushing yards than NFL MVP Marshall Faulk en route to All-Pro honors and Offensive Player of the Year consideration before retiring at 28.

Smith was the only Vikings player on the list. Interestingly, however, No. 1 on Benjamin’s list was former Eagles QB Norm Van Brocklin, who went on to be the first head coach in Vikings franchise history.

Van Brocklin played the 1960 season and in 1961 took the helm in Minnesota. He recorded 2,471 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to 17 interceptions with an 86.5 passer rating.

If you wanna go out, you wanna go out like Norm. Second in yards and TDs behind only Johnny Unitas, Van Brocklin set career highs in TDs and QB rating to win NFL MVP, lead the Eagles to a 10-2 finish – their best in 11 years – and captured the NFL Championship with a fourth-quarter comeback over Vince Lombardi’s Packers. Before instantly transitioning to the sidelines as the Vikings head coach, “The Dutchman” was given full control of the Eagles offense and let it fly, retiring at 34 having just teased his peak as a gunslinger ahead of his time.