Falcons parted ways with three of their top four cornerbacks from 2018, including longtime starter Robert Alford, making this a

Whether it’s a quartet of players getting arrested for failing to pay a tab at a British nightclub or a locker-room spat or a four-game losing streak Josh Oliver Jersey , things couldn’t get much worse for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the moment — on the field or off it.A club that reached the AFC championship game last season and seemed to cement its status as a contender by beating the New England Patriots in Week 2 last month is now in total disarray.“It’s a good week for a bye,” was the way coach Doug Marrone put it Sunday after the Jaguars dropped to 3-5 and tied for last in the AFC South with a 24-18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Wembley Stadium.Yes, a break now gives him a chance to try to save the season.But there’s little reason to think that’s even possible at this point.Quarterback Blake Bortles‘ playoff competence sure now seems as if it were the mirage many suspected, and while he got off to start again after being yanked midgame a week ago, he led Jacksonville’s offense to only one touchdown and four field goals against Philadelphia.The defense is dealing with injuries and inconsistencies and a sudden inability to tackle.A week ago, after a 20-7 loss to the Houston Texans, Calais Campbell was seen holding back fellow defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in the locker room, fallout from some postgame shouting and finger-pointing.The Jaguars are averaging just 11.5 points per game during the current slide.Their opponents? More than twice that, 28.5.“We’ve got a lot to do,” Marrone acknowledged, “in a lot of different areas.”That includes out-on-the-town discipline and internal team harmony.Out into the wee hours of Saturday morning in London, safety Barry Church and three teammates were detained, although not charged, by the Metropolitan Police over their bar bill.Church called the whole thing “a misunderstanding.”Bortles said it had no effect on the team’s showing Sunday.Marrone, though, conceded: “A lot of things that you do during the week have an impact.”In case you missed it, here are other top topics after the NFL season’s eighth Sunday:TRADE DEADLINEIf the recent moves are any indication, Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline could more closely resemble what happens in baseball than the usual football humdrum. Some of the very worst clubs, such as the Arizona Cardinals (2-6 after edging San Francisco 18-15) Deandre Baker Jersey , should consider the example set by the New York Giants (1-7 after losing to Washington 20-13). The Giants sent away two defenders last week and could do something else, even if Eli Manning declared Sunday he wants to stay. What could Patrick Peterson bring in return for the Cards? Maybe Tampa Bay (3-4 after a 37-34 loss to Cincinnati) should think about getting something for Jameis Winston or Ryan Fitzpatrick or DeSean Jackson. We already know Jon Gruden’s Oakland Raiders (1-7 after being beaten 42-28 by the Colts) are willing to deal, so perhaps benched safety Karl Joseph will follow the same path already taken by Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper.HALFWAY TO 16-0Todd Gurley and the Los Angeles Rams are halfway to 16-0 after a comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers. Gurley accounted for 195 yards — 114 on 25 carries, and another 81 on six catches — and a TD, but he also was smart enough to know when not to tack on another score. On his way to the end zone, Gurley let himself get tackled, so the Rams could run out the clock as they improved to 8-0 by beating Aaron Rodgers and Co. 29-27 after trailing 10-0. But what about all those folks out there who could have used the fantasy points? “Man, forget fantasy. Forget Vegas,” Gurley said. “We got the win, so that’s all that matters.”SAINT PATRICKPatrick Mahomes just keeps putting up numbers, and his Kansas City Chiefs just keep on winning. Mahomes is only the third QB in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards in seven consecutive games during a season, and only the fourth with four TD tosses in each of three games in a row. The other trio? Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Not too shabby. After leading KC past Denver 30-23, Mahomes is already up to 26 TD passes this season for the Chiefs, who are 7-1. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons spent the past couple of drafts filling in the pieces on a team with championship aspirations.This time around, they’re coming off a hugely disappointing season that turned up the heat on coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.The Falcons have the 14th overall pick in next week’s draft — their earliest selection since 2015, when they took Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley at No. 8.Despite a 7-9 record in 2018, which led to the ouster of all three coordinators http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/oshane-ximines-jersey , Dimitroff said there is no greater sense of urgency than other drafts. Just two seasons removed from a trip to the Super Bowl, he still feels the Falcons have the nucleus to reclaim their place as one of the league’s better teams, especially after addressing some of the most pressing needs in free agency.“We’re going into the draft in a really good place,” Dimitroff said. “We don’t feel the same amount of pressure going into the draft having to get all these depth areas taken care of. That’s a good feeling.”This is the fifth draft together for Dimitroff, the Falcons’ GM since 2008, and Quinn, who came aboard as head coach in 2015. The two take a collective approach to making their choices, which seems to work well for both.“We all have our hands in it,” Dimitroff said. “This is not an organization where you have one guy pounding their fist on the table.”The Falcons’ success on the first night of the draft may be determined by how many quarterbacks are selected in the first 13 picks. Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Missouri’s Drew Lock have all been mentioned as potential top 10 picks.Atlanta, of course, is set at quarterback with 2016 MVP Matt Ryan and veteran backup Matt Schaub. Quinn jokingly lobbied for other teams to gobble up as many quarterbacks as possible before the Falcons get their turn.“This is one of the best quarterback classes I’ve seen since 1983,” Quinn said, with tongue planted firmly in cheek. “It’s really, really something to behold.”Here are some things to watch for when it’s the Falcons’ time to pick:BULKING UPAfter a devastating rash of injuries gutted both sides of the line, the Falcons learned the hard way there’s no such thing as too much depth. Even though they signed guards James Carpenter and Jamon Brown in free agency, and also brought back defensive end Adrian Clayborn, the Falcons will be looking for more big bodies in the draft.If Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins or Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams falls their way, it would be hard to pass up — especially on the offensive side Julian Love Jersey , where the Falcons must do a better job of protecting Ryan.“It’s a big year for offensive linemen,” said Dimitroff, who thinks as many as 10 could go in the opening round. “It’s not only a big year for number of tackles, but this is a year when several guards could fall in the first round as well.”THIN CORNERThe Falcons parted ways with three of their top four cornerbacks from 2018, including longtime starter Robert Alford, making this a top draft priority. Atlanta always seems to select a player from LSU, so Greedy Williams could be on the radar. Georgia’s Deandre Baker is another player to keep an eye on.“It’s not necessarily a fast group,” Dimitroff pointed out. “That said, there are some really good corners. Just because their (40-yard) times are in the 4.5s doesn’t mean they won’t be effective in this league.”EYES ON THE BACKFIELDRunning back Devonta Freeman has endured two straight injury-plagued seasons, and the Falcons no longer have insurance policy Tevin Coleman, who left in free agency to sign with the 49ers. Atlanta will likely be looking for another running back on the second or third day of the draft.PLAYING IT SAFEWith starting safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen both coming off major injuries, Quinn acknowledged that the team might be looking to add to its depth in that area.“That’s an important position, and it’s evolved more,” said the coach, who is taking on the added duties of defensive coordinator. “People are using a third safety more than they have in the past.”TRADING THOMASDimitroff loves to wheel and deal on draft day, and he’s got extra picks to work with in the fourth and fifth rounds, a total of nine selections in all. While a major deal seems unlikely, look for the Falcons to do some maneuvering to get the players they want.