AMSTERDAM, June 29 (Reuters) - The Netherlands' defence minister said on Tuesday that Russian fighter jets armed with air-to-surface missiles had harassed a Dutch navy frigate in the Black Sea earlier this month, conducting mock attacks and jamming communication systems.
The Russian defence ministry said it had scrambled fighter jets and bombers to prevent the frigate from entering Russian waters, according to news agencies.
The Russian military said the warplanes flew at a safe distance from the vessel and in line with international regulations.
The Netherlands' defence ministry said the Russian actions took place over the span of five hours on June 24 and violated rights to free use of the sea.
The frigate, Evertsen, was sailing with Britain's Carrier Strike Group, which was carrying out a patrol in the area at the time. read more
Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten called the Russian action "irresponsible".
The "Evertsen has every right to sail there," she said in a statement. "There is no justification for this kind of aggressive act, which needlessly increases the chance of accidents."
She indicated the Netherlands would raise the matter with Russia at the diplomatic level.
Reporting by Toby Sterling; additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; Editing by Catherine Evans and Gareth Jones
President of Nauru Lionel Rouwen Aingimea addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Nauru says draft exploitation rules "nearly complete"
Lawyer says debate over royalties and rules ongoing
Nauru, The Metals Co say seabed mining more sustainable
Environmentalists seek ban, saying too little is known
June 29 (Reuters) - The tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru has notified a U.N. body of plans to start deep-sea mining, giving the International Seabed Authority (ISA) two years to complete long-running talks on rules governing the new and controversial industry.
Nauru President Lionel Aingimea notified ISA about the mining plans to be carried out by a subsidiary of The Metals Co in a letter dated June 25 and seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Reuters reported on Friday that Nauru planned to trigger the so-called "two-year rule", which allows for a mining plan to be approved after two years under whatever rules are in place at that time. read more
Nauru is a sponsoring state for Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Metals Co, formerly known as DeepGreen, which plans to list on the U.S. Nasdaq in the third quarter in a merger with blank-check company Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corp (SOAC) (SOAC.N).
Aingimea's letter asked the ISA "to complete the adoption of rules, regulations, and procedures required to facilitate the approval of plans of work for exploitation in the area within two years" from June 30.
The Metals Co, which aims to start mining in 2024, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Nauru's ambassador to the ISA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Deep-sea mining would extract cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese - key battery materials - from potato-sized rocks called "polymetallic nodules" on the sea floor at depths of 4-6 km (2.5-4 miles). They are abundant in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico.
The Metals Co has deals with Nauru, Tonga and Kiribati for CCZ exploration rights covering 224,533 square km, roughly the area of Romania.
Aingimea's letter said Nauru believed draft deep-sea mining regulations were nearly complete after seven years of talks.
But environmental groups, some of which have called for a ban on the activity arguing that too little is known about its impact, said the draft was far from ready.
"Forcing the regulations through prematurely and without due process or enough scientific knowledge about the deep sea is not in line with the precautionary approach and other principles of international environmental law," the World Wildlife Fund said.
ISA states still differ over issues including a royalty regime for deep-sea minerals, said Duncan Currie, a lawyer who has followed the ISA talks since 2012.
U.N. law defines resources on the international seabed as the common heritage of mankind, so benefits should be shared among all countries, not just nations sponsoring mining firms.
Alphabet's Google, carmaker BMW and battery producer Samsung SDI back WWF's call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. read more
Nauru, with 12,000 inhabitants, said 80% of its land was uninhabitable because of colonial-era phosphate mining and deep-sea mining was more sustainable. The Metals Co has said deep-sea mining would have less impact than mining for battery metals on land.
But SOAC said in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week it was not yet known whether mining the seabed would have less impact on biodiversity than mining for the same quantity of metals on land.
"We cannot predict ... whether the environment and biodiversity is impacted by our activities, and if so, how long the environment and biodiversity will take to recover," it said.
In a statement reacting to Nauru's move to trigger the two-year rule, Greenpeace said: "This is now a test of governments who claim to want to protect the oceans."
The ISA in a statement acknowledged Nauru's letter and said it aimed to resume this year work on mining regulations, which had earlier been delayed due pandemic travel restrictions.
Reporting by Helen Reid; additional reporting by Jeff Lewis; Editing by Edmund Blair and Louise Heavens
DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WKRG) – Increasing plastic pollution is harming sea turtles along the Gulf Coast.
Volunteers with Share the Beach, who monitor nests and hatchlings on the Alabama Gulf Coast, say they have seen an increase in plastic pollution along the beaches this nesting season.
Plastic pollution bitten by sea turtles found along Alabama beaches (Source: Share the Beach)
“Plastic, once it gets into the water, does something called biofouling and that’s where tiny microorganisms and things attach to them and produce a smell. That smells like food to sea turtles so anything that has that scent they are going to bite it and eat it and they can’t process it. Over time, that slowly impacts their overall health,” says Sara Johnson, the Director of Share the Beach.
Share the Beach patrols the beaches for nests and hatchlings from May through October every year.
They focus their efforts on the Florobama shoreline all the way to the west end of Dauphin Island.
So far this season, 26 nests have been laid on Alabama beaches by sea turtles.
Johnson says this is less than previous years, and it raises the question if plastic pollution is contributing to the decrease in nests and sea turtles.
Johnson says the best thing we can do to protect the turtles and cut down on plastic pollution, is reduce our plastic-use.
“There is always a big push for recycling but reducing our plastic use in general is going to be our biggest impact to all of this,” says Johnson.
Anyone visiting Alabama beaches is also encouraged to keep a safe distance away from sea turtles and never disturb a nest.
Click here for more information and tips from Share the Beach.
MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) - Russia tested the readiness of its air defence systems in Crimea, the peninsula it annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Ukraine and NATO countries held military drills in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday.
The Sea Breeze exercise, which began on Monday, follows a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. read more
Russia's Black Sea fleet was cited by Interfax as saying it had deployed around 20 warplanes and helicopters, including Su-24M bombers, as well as S-400 and Pantsir surface-to-air missile systems in the readiness tests.
Moscow considers Crimea part of Russia, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine which wants it back.
"The Black Sea Fleet is doing a number of things to monitor the actions of ships from NATO and other countries taking part in Sea Breeze 2021," Interfax quoted the National Defence Management Centre as saying in a separate statement.
Moscow called for the Sea Breeze military exercises to be cancelled before they began, and the Russian defence ministry has said it will react if necessary to protect national security. read more
Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. U.S. missile destroyer USS Ross and the U.S. Marine Corps will take part.
Russia last week warned Britain and the United States against "tempting fate" by sending warships to the Black Sea, and said it would defend its borders using all possible means including military force. read more
A former UK chief scientific adviser is planning experiments to drop sand naturally containing iron in oceans to tackle climate change and restore marine life, in a major geoengineering project that is likely to prove controversial.
Ships will be sent to three locations across the world’s oceans in the next four years to trial the technique – known as ocean iron fertilisation – David King at the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge (CCRC), UK, tells New Scientist.
* Nauru says draft exploitation rules “nearly complete”
* Debate over royalties, rules continues, lawyer says
* Nauru and The Metals Co say seabed mining more sustainable
* Environmentalists seek ban, saying too little is known
June 29 (Reuters) - The tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru has requested approval for deep-sea mining plans for a subsidiary of The Metals Co, giving the U.N. International Seabed Authority (ISA) two years to decide on rules for the new and controversial industry.
Nauru President Lionel Aingimea notified the president of the council of ISA in a letter dated June 25 and seen by Reuters on Tuesday. Reuters reported on Friday that Nauru planned to trigger the so-called “two-year rule” which allows for mining to proceed after two years under whatever rules are in place at that time.
Nauru is a sponsoring state for Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Metals Co, formerly known as DeepGreen, which plans to list on the Nasdaq in the third quarter in a merger with blank-check company Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corp.
“Nauru requests the council to complete the adoption of rules, regulations, and procedures required to facilitate the approval of plans of work for exploitation in the area within two years of the operative date of this request, which is Wednesday 30 June 2021,” Aingimea wrote.
Aingimea said the international community had been negotiating for more than seven years over a draft code, adding that “in light of the most recent progress, we are of the view that the draft Exploitation Code is nearly complete”.
But differences remain between ISA member states over the regulations and no agreement has been reached on a royalty regime for deep-sea minerals, said Duncan Currie, an international lawyer who has attended the ISA since 2012.
The Metals Co, which has previously said it aims to start mining in 2024, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Deep-sea mining would extract cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese - key battery materials - from potato-sized rocks called “polymetallic nodules” which pepper the sea floor at depths of 4-6 km (2.5-4 miles) and are particularly abundant in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the North Pacific Ocean, an area spanning millions of kilometres between Hawaii and Mexico.
Resources on the international seabed are defined as the common heritage of mankind under U.N. law, so benefits of deep-sea mining are meant to be shared among all countries - not just those sponsoring a mining company - but how those benefits should be shared is still being debated.
NORI holds exploration rights to four blocks covering 74,830 square km in the CCZ. The Metals Co also has agreements with Tonga and Kiribati which bring its total CCZ exploration rights to 224,533 square km, roughly the area of Romania.
Nauru, an island with about 12,000 inhabitants, said in its letter that more than 80% of its land had been made uninhabitable by colonial-era phosphate mining and said deep-sea mining was more sustainable.
The Metals Co has said deep-sea mining would be a cleaner way to source battery metals, saying it would produce less waste and fewer emissions than land mining.
Some environmentalists and scientists have called for a ban, saying too little is known about deep-sea ecosystems and mining could wipe out as-yet undiscovered species.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Police in Sarasota managed to capture an adorable image of what looks like two sea turtles kissing in the water during Powerboat Grand Prix festivities over the weekend.
The Sarasota Police Department’s marine unit was patrolling the water to protect sea life during the event and snapped a photo of the turtles, catching the smooch by chance.
The agency shared photos of the turtles and the Grand Prix on Facebook.
The Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival is a week-long event surrounding the Fourth of July. The event is part of Suncoast Summer Fest which helps raise funds for six local charities.
An actual space laser is cruising 300 miles above your head right now. Launched in 2018, NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite packs a lidar instrument, the same kind of technology that allows self-driving cars to see in three dimensions by spraying lasers around themselves as they roll down the street and analyzing the light that bounces back. But instead of mapping a road, ICESat-2 measures the elevation of Earth’s surface with extreme accuracy.
Although this space laser means you no harm, it does portend catastrophe. Today in the journal Nature Communications, scientists describe how they used ICESat-2’s new lidar data to map the planet’s land that’s less than 2 meters above sea level, which makes it vulnerable to the creep of sea level rise. Marrying this data with population figures, they calculated that 267 million people currently live in these at-risk areas. Assuming a sea level rise of 1 meter by the year 2100, they project that 410 million people will ultimately live in an affected zone. Asian countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia are particularly vulnerable, but the United States and Europe will also have no shortage of at-risk populations.
“We strongly believe that if the world is going to be able to deal with sea level rise and to conserve nature in coastal zones—that's an important aspect—elevation must be known,” says study lead author Aljosja Hooijer, a flood risk expert at the National University of Singapore and Deltares, a research institute in the Netherlands.
The paper’s estimates, Hooijer stresses, are conservative on many levels. For one thing, they did it without factoring in explosive population growth in the world’s cities, because of the uncertainties involved in calculating where people will ultimately move. Currently, 55 percent of the planet’s population lives in urban areas, which the United Nations projects will rise to 68 percent by 2050. But this won’t play out evenly—the populations of certain cities may rise faster than others, or even decline.
“The work fills a very big gap that we have at the moment,” says Arizona State University geophysicist Manoochehr Shirzaei, who studies sea level rise but wasn’t involved in this new research. Scientists have good models of sea level rise, Shirzaei adds, “but when you want to quantify the flood risk, you need to know the elevation as well. And that's a big unknown.”
Previously, researchers used satellite radar to map elevations. It works on the same principle as lidar, only it bounces radar off the ground instead of a laser. “The problem with radar is that it can't penetrate vegetation—only a bit,” says Hooijer. “It gets stuck somewhere between the canopy and the soil surface, and the elevation measure that you get is somewhere in between.” Lasers, on the other hand, readily penetrate vegetation, giving a more accurate measurement. (You may have heard about how scientists are using lidar to see through the trees of the Amazon jungle and map ancient ruins hidden below.)
Hooijer found that 72 percent of the population that will be at risk of inundation will live in the tropics. Tropical Asia alone will account for 59 percent of the at-risk area, because the region is particularly low-lying. “It's a huge problem for the developed countries—for Europe and for the States,” says Hooijer. “But if you look at the road map, who are the people who are going to suffer most, and probably the soonest? Those are poor people, mostly that live in underdeveloped zones. It's not given that much attention, that this is really the hot spot. And we were surprised by the numbers ourselves.”
The world is getting warmer, the weather is getting worse. Here's everything you need to know about what humans can do to stop wrecking the planet.
There’s another problem: In addition to dealing with seawater encroaching on their shores, some cities are also sinking. Land subsidence is a phenomenon in which the ground compacts, usually due to the over-extraction of groundwater. Coastal cities are particularly prone to subsidence because of their geology, as urban centers have historically popped up where rivers meet the sea. Over the millennia, a river would have deposited layer upon layer of clay, and the city would have grown on top of it. But as the metropolis taps into the underlying aquifer, this clay collapses like an empty water bottle, and the city can go along with it. The more an urban center grows, the more people it needs to hydrate, which increases the rate and severity of subsidence.
Hooijer’s modeling does take subsidence into account, but it uses a uniform rate of elevation loss—half a centimeter per year—across the world instead of calculating the rate for each coastline on its own. That wouldn’t be feasible. Still, researchers know that some areas are slumping much faster than that: In parts of Jakarta, for instance, the land is sinking by up to 10 inches a year. By 2050, 95 percent of north Jakarta could be underwater, because the land’s elevation is decreasing while sea levels are increasing. The problem is so bad that Indonesia is planning on moving its capital out of the city.
Rota-based Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) transits Bosphorus towards the Black Sea on June 26, 2021. Photo by YörĂŒk IĆık used with permission
The Navy and international partners on Monday began the annual Sea Breeze exercise in the Black Sea.
The drills, led by the U.S. and Ukraine, will continue through July 10, according to a Navy news release.
“This year’s iteration has the largest number of participating nations in the exercise’s history with 32 countries from six continents providing 5,000 troops, 32 ships, 40 aircraft, and 18 special operations and dive teams scheduled to participate,” the service said in the news release issued last week.
Among the ships partaking in the drills is Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71), which sailed into the Black Sea over the weekend, the Navy said in a separate news release.
The drills follow recent tensions in the Black Sea last week. First, the tracking data for a British destroyer and a Dutch frigate were falsified to make the ships look as if they were operating near Sevastopol, where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based. The ships were actually in port in Odessa, Ukraine.
Later last week, Russian fighter jets buzzed U.K. warship HMS Defender (D36) while it was sailing in the Black Sea. Russia claimed it chased the Type-45 Daring-class destroyer out of waters near Russian-seized Crimea by dropping explosives in Defender’s pathway and firing warning shots. The U.K. Ministry of Defense denied Russia’s claims.
The multilateral Sea Breeze drills will help the nations hone interoperability, the Navy said in the news release issued last week.
“SB21 provides the opportunity for personnel of participating nations to engage in realistic maritime training to build experience and teamwork and strengthen our interoperability as we work toward mutual goals,” the service said.
Just before midnight Saturday, Jonathan Hamilton began scaling a mountain of uneven concrete slabs where Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, once stood. A heavy-rigging specialist with Tampa Fire Rescue, he climbed over dozens of condos that had stretched 12 stories into the sky but were now compressed into 50 feet of tight layers. He navigated around fangs of steel and columns of smoke from a fire roaring somewhere deep in the pile while rain fell from above.
“In this world, we say these piles are alive. They’re constantly moving, constantly shifting, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle,” he said.
Once he reached the summit, Hamilton and other members of Florida Task Force 3 began their assault.
“We come in with jack hammers, rebar cutters, air chisels, sledge hammers, and bucket brigades to remove material,” said Nelson Garcia, a rescue specialist. “It’s taking big rocks and making small rocks, taking big slabs and making small slabs for a crane to carry.”
Sometimes the pile groans under the attack. “We detect sounds all the time, but that doesn’t mean they are humans,” said FEMA official Margarita Castro. Specialists use sonar and microphones to listen for faint sounds of life. “The pile makes sounds from debris or metal; it could be anything, but we inspect everything.”
The pile is packed so tightly that it’s difficult for rescue workers to enter an alcove where someone may still be alive, said Dr. Alison Thompson, founder of Third Wave Volunteers, who are working at the site. “It’s like standing at the gates of hell, but there’s no door,” she said.
Photo: Getty Images
Over the weekend, workers cut a trench into the pile measuring 125 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 40 feet deep. The effort yielded four bodies and “additional human remains,” said Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava during a Sunday press conference. The death toll as of Monday afternoon is ten. No one has been found alive since Friday, but the effort is still in the rescue phase.
The work has carried on nonstop since early Thursday morning when the building collapsed. Some 400 search-and-rescue personnel rotate on 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, with over 200 working on the pile at one time, according to Alan Cominsky, the Miami-Dade fire-rescue chief, who knows one of the more than 150 missing. Even so, the pace can’t go fast enough for some.
“I’ve had feelings of storming the debris and ripping at the cement and pilons until my hands bleed,” Thompson said via email. “But our reality is we can’t have 10,000 people on an unstable rubble in rain and lightning with wind and flying debris and small fires burning inside.”
Thompson, who has decades of aid and relief experience from Syria to Haiti, said this was the only disaster in the past 20 years that transported her back to working rescue and recovery after 9/11, with pieces of people’s lives — a shoe, a bank statement, a photo of a child — strewn throughout the wreckage. “Even though you can’t see the death,” she said by phone, “you can smell the death.”
Seaside condos such as Champlain Towers festoon the eastern coast of Florida, offering sweeping views and palm-tree lined pool decks. Just blocks south of the catastrophe, families were pushing strollers and wheeling coolers for an afternoon on the white South Florida sand.
“I knew it was there, but when you see it, it’s a huge paradox,” said Garcia of the nearby ocean. “You’re on the top of this pile, and right there is this beauty of the beach.”
Thompson is still holding out hope that teams could still find someone alive. “I’ve been in so many rescues, like in Haiti, when on the sixth or the tenth day you find someone or pull out people two weeks later.”
Tim Venables of Paraguay did not have such hope. Holding his head in one hand, he reached out to touch a photo of Sophia LĂłpez Moreira that was posted on a fence across the street from the disaster site that families have turned into a memorial for the missing and the dead. “My wife went to school with Sophia. They knew each other all their lives,” said Venables, who was in Miami on a previously scheduled trip. LĂłpez Moreira, the sister of Paraguay’s First Lady, is missing beneath the rubble along with her husband and their three young children. “I just hope they didn’t suffer,” he said.
Chef Rob Dumas, food science innovation coordinator for the University of Maine, is featured in a new video series, “Farm and Sea to School,” produced by the Maine Department of Education.
The series is part of a campaign to encourage Maine schools to use fresh, local products in school meal programs. Dumas was one of several experts brought in to demonstrate recipes featuring Maine ingredients. His videos include a bean burrito bowl and a lentil shepherd’s pie.
More information about the series is available online.
According to a new study, high-tide flooding events are projected to increase rapidly beginning in 2033.
That will affect Florida communities along the Gulf of Mexico, including low-lying St. Petersburg neighborhoods like Shore Acres.
The study, published in the June 21 issue of the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, forecasts approximately seven days of high-tide flooding in St. Petersburg in 2023, but predicts almost 70 such days in 2033.
“It's going to get to the point where in some months, we’ll have a flood event almost every day,” said Gary Mitchum, associate dean of the University of South Florida College of Marine Science.
Mitchum worked with colleagues from the University of Hawaii to forecast how rising sea levels interact with tidal cycles.
Twice a month, the highest and lowest tides reach much more extreme levels than usual. These are referred to as spring and neap tides.
“Most people who live near the water would know that, but the thing that they might not recognize is that twice a year, the spring tides are higher than they are at other times of the year,” Mitchum said.
“And it also varies on times of about nine years and another for about 20 years. So the tides themselves change.”
The highest tides occur when the sun, Earth, and moon line up perfectly. That happens on that 20 year timescale.
“The better aligned they are, then the higher the tides due to the gravity pulling on each other,” Mitchum said.
At the moment, tides are on the decline. Between 2023 and 2033, the highest tides will get smaller as part of this natural cycle.
“The sea level rise is going up, but the highest tide we have is going down,” Mitchum said. “So it's kind of been flat in terms of the number of times you get a flood event.”
In 2033, however, the highest tides will start increasing again.
That shift will be compounded by sea level rise, which researchers say will result in a rapid increase in flood events.
“From 2033 to 2043, we expect to see 67 events per year, so an increase of almost a factor of 10. That's a pretty phenomenal change,” Mitchum said. “And it's due to this tide effect on top of the increase in sea level.”
Under this forecast, researchers warn that in some months, perpetual flooding could happen almost every day.
“To put that in perspective, I live in Shore Acres in St. Petersburg. We're subject to these high-tide flooding events. It's not a lot of water, but it's enough that I have to change the route that I drive to work on,” Mitchum said.
“I have to worry about that four or five times a year. We're now talking about having to find a new route to work every day.”
High-tide flooding causes public inconveniences such as frequent road closures, overwhelmed storm drains, and compromised infrastructure.
“If people aren't able to drive…maybe they'll decide to stay home, instead of going out to dinner,” Mitchum said.
He added that policy makers should be working with researchers on high-tide plans that maximize people’s safety while minimizing disruption.
“Sea level rise is just one part of climate change. It’s a much bigger problem,” Mitchum said. “So when we talk about these things, we need to think about adaptation and mitigation.”
“By reducing emissions, and pulling down the level of greenhouse gases, we can slow the rate of warming. Mitigation is a tough subject to talk about, because there are certainly costs associated. But by reducing the amount of damage that will be done, it will save us a lot of money.”
27-Year Sea Level Rise.mp4
VIDEO: 27-year Sea Level Rise (Scientific Visualization Studio / NASA)
This visualization shows total sea level change between 1992 and 2019. Since 1992, seas around the world have risen an average of nearly 6 inches. Blue regions are where sea level has gone down, and orange/red regions are where sea level has gone up.
KYIV, June 28 (Reuters) - Ukraine and the United States will start a military exercise involving more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine on Monday, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills.
Sea Breeze 2021 follows a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. Britain rejected Russia's account of the incident. read more
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and says it is Russian territory, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.
Russia's embassy in Washington called last week for the drills to be cancelled, and the Russian defence ministry said it would react if necessary to protect its own national security. read more
Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. U.S. missile destroyer USS Ross and the U.S. Marine Corps will take part.
Ukraine says the main goal is to gain experience in joint actions during multinational peacekeeping and security operations.
Relations between Kyiv and Moscow plummeted after Russia seized Crimea and over Russia's support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
Tension rose again this year when Russia massed troops on the border with Ukraine, where some of them remain along with their equipment.
Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage
For some, such as the world champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it's how to maintain the standard. For others, such as those teams that missed the postseason, it's how to get better, particularly now that there are two extra playoff teams this season.
Mandatory minicamps are done. Some teams shortened theirs; others didn't even feel the need to take the field. For those that did, who showed up and who showed out? Which free-agent acquisitions will pay big dividends? Which rookies will live up to the hype, exceed it or go bust?
Almost anything seems possible before the 2021 season begins. Maybe Carson Wentz is the answer in Indianapolis. Maybe Dak Prescott is ready for an epic comeback. Can Justin Fields end years of quarterback frustrations in Chicago? Will the Aaron Rodgers situation in Green Bay get resolved amicably?
What did our NFL Nation reporters see this offseason? We asked them to assess how the teams they cover did in the offseason and pick the biggest unanswered questions for each squad. Here is what they told us:
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Dak is back. Prescott's health is paramount to the Cowboys' success. He displayed in the organized team activities and minicamp that his right ankle injury is not going to hold him back when things get real. His willingness to put in the work has served his teammates as well. If they see him work as hard as he did to get back, they have no choice but to work just as hard.
Offseason goals: Fix the defense. It's hard to know if it will be fixed, but it can't be worse than it was a year ago. There's a new coordinator in Dan Quinn. They added some low-cost free agents they believe will be better fits in their scheme, such as Brent Urban, Keanu Neal and Tarell Basham. Their first six draft picks were on the defensive side of the ball, highlighted by first rounder Micah Parsons.
Biggest question still to be answered: Can the offensive line return to form? Prescott said the most important players to him are Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La'el Collins. Smith played two games last year, Martin played 10 and Collins played none. They are on track to do everything when camp starts, but can they not only withstand a 17-game season but thrive? -- Todd Archer
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Getting Daniel help. The Giants were intent on getting Daniel Jones more weapons. Mission accomplished.
Offseason goals: This offseason was about trying to fix the 31st-ranked offense. So the Giants went hard in free agency (WRs Kenny Golladay and John Ross, TE Kyle Rudolph and RB Devontae Booker) and even went back to the well in the first round of the draft (Kadarius Toney). On paper, especially with Saquon Barkley returning from injury, they are light years better than what was on the field last season.
Biggest question still to be answered: Is the offensive line good enough? For all the additions the Giants made this offseason, they didn't address the offensive line. They got rid of veteran Kevin Zeitler and are instead banking on a group that includes three second-year players who are all slated to start. All come with question marks. -- Jordan Raanan
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Sudden change. The Eagles banked hard away from the course they'd been on, firing Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson before trading Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts following a disastrous 4-11-1 campaign. Now it's first-time head coach Nick Sirianni and second-year QB Jalen Hurts out in front. They're tasked with the difficult challenge of putting out a winning product during a period of transition.
Offseason goals: The Eagles wanted to add young talent and upgrade at the receiver and cornerback positions. They went 2-for-3. DeVonta Smith headlines a promising draft class featuring nine picks in all, including Alabama offensive lineman Landon Dickerson and Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell. Smith, taken 10th overall, has a chance to be the lead receiver from Day 1. While they did pick Texas Tech corner Zech McPhearson in the fourth round, there is still no clear answer for who will play CB2 opposite Darius Slay.
Biggest question still to be answered: Is Sirianni ready for prime time? Sirianni, 40, has never been a head coach at any level, and has assembled the youngest staff in the NFL. Now he is in charge of a major-market team coming off a dysfunction-riddled 2020 season. He'll have to navigate some of the tricky internal dynamics that appeared to burn Pederson out and find a way to get this franchise back on track, all while adjusting to a new role. Other than that, should be a walk in the park. -- Tim McManus
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Help wanted: offense. Washington's offense ranked 25th in points and 30th in yards last season compared to a defense that ranked fourth and second, respectively. Washington lacked enough talent to threaten teams and needed more consistent play at quarterback.
Offseason goals: Add speed, athleticism and depth. Washington accomplished that on offense by signing receiver Curtis Samuel and drafting receiver Dyami Brown. It increased the depth along the offensive line, drafting tackle Samuel Cosmi, signing tackle Charles Leno, Jr., and trading for guard Ereck Flowers. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't help the speed or the athleticism, but the position should be better. And Washington accomplished this on defense by signing corner William Jackson III and drafting linebacker Jamin Davis, among others. It added depth in the secondary with third-round corner Benjamin St-Juste and free-agent safety Bobby McCain.
Biggest question still to be answered: What will Ryan Fitzpatrick do? Fitzpatrick represents an upgrade over what Washington had last season, especially as a passer. And his leadership skills are close to Alex Smith's. However, Fitzpatrick is now with his ninth franchise and has never led a team to the postseason. In the last eight seasons he has started 12 or more games three times. Can he play well enough for 17 games? Will he avoid enough disasters to take advantage of increased talent at the skill positions? And, if not, can Taylor Heinicke take over and play at a sustained level for more than a couple games? Fitzpatrick was a good signing, and he's capable of good seasons. If he, indeed, has been playing better than ever as he and the team say, then Washington will be good. -- John Keim
NFC NORTH
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer:Justin Fields mania. The selection of Fields (11th overall) re-energized the city of Chicago. The Bears have searched in vain for a true franchise quarterback for over 70 years. The Bears believe that that Fields -- when ready -- can turn them into a perennial playoff contender -- for the first time since the Mike Ditka era in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Offseason goals: The Bears accomplished their main offseason goals which consisted of upgrading at quarterback and offensive tackle. Fields has garnered most of post-draft attention, but the Bears have high hopes for second round pick Teven Jenkins, who is lining up at left tackle. Barring an upset, Jenkins will be Chicago's starting left tackle in Week 1. The Bears were unable to reach a long-term deal with star wide receiver Allen Robinson II, but Robinson will play this season under the franchise tag and report to training camp on time in late July.
Biggest question still to be answered: When does Fields take over for veteran Andy Dalton? Bears coach Matt Nagy made it abundantly clear that Dalton will start Week 1 and Fields will open the year No. 2 on the depth chart. Of course, all of that is subject to change. Fields will play as a rookie, that seems obvious. The hope is that Dalton plays well enough and the Bears win enough games to keep Fields on the bench until perhaps the midway point of the year. The Bears do not want to play Fields before he is ready. But eventually, the switch will be made, and there will no turning back after that. -- Jeff Dickerson
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Roster reclamation project. Detroit's roster wasn't very good at the top or bottom prior to general manager Brad Holmes and the new regime taking over. The front office did everything in its power to build a respectable roster, starting in the trenches of the NFL draft and the trade of Matthew Stafford to generate future picks while also landing a solid starting quarterback in Jared Goff. How good will they be in 2021? That remains to be seen.
Offseason goals: Detroit had a lot of work to do this offseason, but it was able to maximize the resources they had available while moving without their foot hovering over the brake pedal. Detroit stayed about as aggressive as it could, while still being rational and smart in adding key pieces such as wide receivers Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman, running back Jamaal Williams, tight end Josh Hill, defensive end Michael Brockers, linebacker Alex Anzalone and cornerback Quinton Dunbar.
Biggest question still to be answered: Who is Detroit's No. 1 wide receiver? When you look at Detroit's roster this season, the wide receiver position is a legitimate concern with a relatively no-name corps. The team returns just one receiver who had a catch for the squad last season in Quintez Cephus, so that's going to be a big question, especially for a quarterback like Jared Goff who is looking to turnaround his career in the new setting. Who will Goff be throwing the ball to? During minicamp, Tyrell Williams and rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown were both solid, but Victor Bolden and Kalif Raymond have been pleasant surprises as well, according to a source. The competition at the position is wide open and training camp will likely determine who fulfills that role. -- Eric Woodyard
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: "It's about the people." OK, this is four words, but that's what Aaron Rodgers indicated his beef with the Packers is about. That beef turned the offseason upside down in Green Bay. It was all anyone wanted to talk about -- and still wants to talk about -- when it comes to the Packers.
Offseason goals: Get over the hump. After losing in the NFC Championship Game two straight years, the Packers made some changes. They replaced two of their three coordinators, hiring Joe Barry to run the defense and Maurice Drayton on special teams. They reworked several veteran contracts in order to bring back most of the roster to make another run at a Super Bowl.
Biggest question still to be answered: Will Rodgers play? He skipped the entire offseason program, including the mandatory minicamp, so now the question becomes: Will he end his holdout, report to training camp and let bygones be bygones? -- Rob Demovsky
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Defense, defense, defense. In order for the Vikings to bounce back from a 7-9 finish and make the postseason in 2021, the defense needs to return to form. This group should show dramatic improvement from the one Mike Zimmer called the "worst" he has ever had. Last year's inexperience is primed to become this season's adeptness along with several players who missed significant time due to injury returning this fall. The Vikings guaranteed nearly $50 million to defensive players via restructured deals (Anthony Barr, Danielle Hunter) and with the free agents they brought in since March (Dalvin Tomlinson, Patrick Peterson, Xavier Woods, Mackensie Alexander, Nick Vigil, Stephen Weatherly, Bashaud Breeland and Sheldon Richardson). They also spent five draft picks on defensive players.
Offseason goals: At the end of last season, Zimmer felt the Vikings' offense was the most explosive he has had in seven years at the helm. Maintaining that meant fixing the defense so the offense doesn't have to shoulder such a heavy load, while taking another step forward after finishing fourth in yards and 11th in points. The defensive additions, particularly in the secondary, provide depth and experience where it did not exist last season. Offensively, Minnesota also accomplished one of its biggest needs with interior pass protection.
Biggest question still to be answered: Speaking of offensive linemen, will the projected starting five of Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Wyatt Davis and Brian O'Neill be ready to go Week 1? We didn't see the Vikings' first-rounder Darrisaw take snaps as the first-team left tackle in OTAs or minicamp, partially due to the fact that Minnesota wanted to ease him into the mix and because he was limited while recovering from a groin strain this spring. Additionally, will the Vikings use the $13.5 million in cap space to bring in a No. 3 receiver to give the offense another layer in the passing game? And most importantly, who starts at defensive end opposite Danielle Hunter? The Vikings notched a franchise-low 23 sacks in 2020. -- Courtney Cronin
NFC SOUTH
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: OK, what's next? There wasn't a ton to be gleaned from Arthur Smith's first offseason with the Falcons. The big move came off the field -- trading Julio Jones -- and enough starters were missing from OTAs and minicamps that it's tough to get a feel for what the team on the field might look like.
Offseason goals: When general manager Terry Fontenot took over in January, he was faced with a messy salary cap situation he knew he needed to fix. It wasn't going to be a one-year overhaul, but he found ways to create room by restructuring contracts, asking players to take pay cuts, finding veterans to take one-year deals and -- in a move that will define his first year -- traded star receiver Julio Jones to Tennessee. The plan worked, as Atlanta created almost $15 million in cap space to sign its rookies, give itself an operating budget for 2021 and some cap room to work with entering 2022, where more difficult decisions may have to be made.
Biggest question still to be answered: What will the Falcons actually become this fall? It's a question nobody truly knows the answer to, and if that's wishy-washy, it's also the reality. The offense has a bunch of talent, but it hasn't been on the field at the same time in the spring, and Arthur Smith's scheme is new. Defensively, the Falcons have some high-end players, but depth is a major, major concern. Atlanta could be good enough to contend for a playoff berth or bad enough to be around the top five picks in next year's draft. -- Michael Rothstein
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: All about Sam. Coach Matt Rhule would be quick to remind here that it's a team game and not about one player. But in this case it really is about one. The Panthers in trading for Sam Darnold, said he was better than Teddy Bridgewater and the quarterbacks they could have had with the eighth pick. Free agency and the draft was all about building around Darnold and giving him the best chance to succeed. Because of the other weapons on offense, and a defense with a lot of upside, how much success Carolina has in 2021 really does come down to how effective the quarterback is.
Offseason goals: Upgrade at quarterback and give that guy better protection. Carolina traded a sixth-rounder in 2021, as well as a second- and fourth-rounder in 2022, to the Jets for Sam Darnold, the third pick of the 2018 draft. Whether this truly is an upgrade remains to be seen. Darnold was 13-25 as a starter with the Jets. Only one starter along the O-line, center Matt Paradis, was under contract entering the offseason. The rebuild began with placing the franchise tag on right tackle Taylor Moton. It continued with signing left tackle Cam Erving and left guard Pat Elflein in the first wave of free agency. Then came the re-signing of John Miller at right guard. From there it has been all about adding depth. On paper this looks like an upgrade from 2020.
Biggest question still to be answered: Is there a bona fide threat at tight end? Coach Matt Rhule repeatedly said last year that one reason Carolina struggled in the red zone was the absence of a serous threat at tight end. Ian Thomas had only 20 catches and one touchdown, and the top two players at that spot combined for just 26 catches and one touchdown. Adding Dan Arnold provides a reasonable threat. Former Notre Dame star Tommy Tremble is a solid blocker but still a project as a receiver. Thomas had what Rhule called an "outstanding offseason." While this appears to be an upgrade, how much of one remains to be seen. -- David Newton
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Retooling, not rebuilding. Those were the words of general manager Mickey Loomis, who insisted the Saints are still chasing a title despite losing Drew Brees to retirement and several others to a salary-cap purge. New Orleans still has plenty of talent after a 12-4 season, but much will hinge on whether Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill can thrive as the new quarterback.
Offseason goals: The Saints stripped down their OTAs and minicamp to conditioning, classroom work and position drills instead of traditional practice sessions. So we're still waiting to see what the product looks like on the field. Training camp will be more compelling than usual with starting-job battles at quarterback, defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback.
Biggest question still to be answered: Jameis or Taysom? The Saints will have a new starting QB for the first time in 16 years, and both candidates have a lot to prove if they want to earn the gig. Winston, 27, feels like the front-runner since he's younger with the ceiling of a former No. 1 overall pick. But he obviously has to clean up the turnover and accuracy issues that doomed him in Tampa. -- Mike Triplett
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Rest and recovery. While it was tempting to go with "New year," which is something coach Bruce Arians has reiterated countless times with his team, "Rest and recovery" is a more accurate description of the offseason's events. Veterans were told to stay home from OTAs because Arians said he learned that after the NFC championship with the Arizona Cardinals, he pushed his team too hard in the spring and it resulted in injuries in the fall. He didn't want to make the same mistake twice. The result? Veterans looked refreshed in mandatory minicamp, and there was surprisingly little rust.
Offseason goals: The Bucs re-signed every impact player from their Super Bowl LV win: Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Shaq Barrett, Lavonte David, Leonard Fournette, Ndamukong Suh, Ryan Succop and Antonio Brown. They improved their running game and short-passing game by signing Giovani Bernard in free agency. They bolstered depth at outside linebacker, quarterback, interior offensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, inside linebacker and special teams. And most importantly, they stayed healthy and rested.
Biggest question still to be answered: Can they repeat? Fourteen teams have returned to the Super Bowl the year after winning it, and those teams are 8-6. But the last three -- the 2020 Chiefs, 2017 Patriots and 2014 Seahawks -- have lost. But Super Bowl winners get poached of talent. Tampa Bay has taken care of business on that front. Practicing and playing an extra five weeks in the postseason, plus the return of preseason games this year, will undoubtedly tax players' bodies. This is where Arians' experience and reliance on sports science can help, knowing when to push and when to pull back. -- Jenna Laine
NFC WEST
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Short and sweet. The Cardinals ended their offseason program earlier than most teams, cutting out one OTA and moving up minicamp by a week. They were done by June 11. Whether it's the right decision is, obviously, yet to be seen, but there's no going back now.
Offseason goals: The Cardinals needed to get their offense back on track and find a way not to rely on quarterback Kyler Murray after finishing as the No. 16 offense despite being the second best through the first seven games, in which they went 5-2. Murray spent the offseason retooling his fundamentals, and the Cardinals tried to figure out ways to be successful without having to rely on Murray's running.
Biggest question still to be answered: Can the Cardinals put together a full season? They started 5-2 and finished 3-6 last season, missing the playoffs by a game. A lot of that had to do with the offense's reliance on Kyler Murray's running, which became an issue after he was initially hurt against the Miami Dolphins and also against the Seattle Seahawks. Only time will tell if Arizona can figure out ways to move the ball and score without having to be so dependent on Murray, which could propel them to becoming a playoff team. -- Josh Weinfuss
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Hollywood blockbuster. The Rams proved once again they're not afraid to make a daring, bold and highly scrutinized transaction in an attempt to upgrade their roster, as they traded 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Detroit Lions for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Offseason goals: The Rams entered the offseason needing a fix for their offense following two inconsistent seasons for the once-prolific group. Two weeks after a divisional playoff loss, the Rams parted with Goff and future draft help to acquire Stafford, a 12-year veteran who owns every all-time passing record for the Lions. Rams coach Sean McVay has raved about Stafford's leadership, football knowledge and physical traits and said that his new QB had an "outstanding" offseason program.
Biggest question still to be answered: Can the defense retain its position as the top-ranked unit in the NFL? Brandon Staley departed after one season as defensive coordinator to become the Chargers' head coach, clearing the path for the Rams to hire Raheem Morris to fill the position. Morris is expected to maintain Staley's scheme and inherits a roster that returns three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. However, the defense lost four starters, including nine-year veteran lineman Michael Brockers and safety John Johnson III, the defensive signal-caller. -- Lindsey Thiry
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Now and then. The Niners' offseason was all about trying to find a way to return to contender status in 2021 while also sustaining success for the long haul. That approach was evident in everything they did, most notably in the dramatic trade up to No. 3 for quarterback Trey Lance while also hanging on to incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo.
Offseason goals: The 49ers hoped to keep a handful of their own free agents while also addressing the elephant in the room at quarterback. Despite the dropping salary cap, they did all of that and then some. Not only were they able to retain key players such as tackle Trent Williams, cornerback Jason Verrett and fullback Kyle Juszczyk, but a few more of their own players also returned at bargain rates, and they were able to bring in notable outside free agents such as center Alex Mack and edge rusher Samson Ebukam. Those moves left the roster in a good enough spot for 2021 for them to move up for Lance as immediate Garoppolo insurance and the long-term answer at the position.
Biggest question still to be answered: Can the 49ers get and remain healthy? Yes, the quarterback situation is going to loom for a while, but that's not quite as pressing as having most of their best players available as often as possible. Garoppolo, tight end George Kittle, defensive ends Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, receiver Deebo Samuel, cornerback Richard Sherman and running back Raheem Mostert combined to play in just 37 of a possible 112 games (33%) in 2020. According to Football Outsiders' adjusted games lost metric (which also factored in players missing games for COVID-19 reasons), the Niners lost 161.6 games to injury, the second most of any team in the past 20 years. None of that offseason maneuvering will matter if the most important 49ers can't stay on the field consistently in 2021. -- Nick Wagoner
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer:Russell Wilson drama. Frustration that had been building for a few years with Wilson bubbled to the surface in February, prompting QB-needy teams to call Seattle about a potential trade. The Seahawks and Wilson are in a better place now. He likes their new offense (which will feature more tempo) and some of the personnel additions they made (such as guard Gabe Jackson and tight end Gerald Everett). But Wilson won't remain happy if all that fails to translate to fewer hits and more postseason success.
Offseason goals: The first order of business was to hire a new offensive coordinator to replace Brian Schottenheimer, who bore some of the blame for their second-half nosedive on offense. Pete Carroll picked Shane Waldron with a strong endorsement from Wilson. Then they had to navigate the Wilson drama and plug holes with limited resources. They resorted to adding void years in several contracts to work around their lack of cap space, but they only made three draft picks. Their pass rush, nonexistent early last season, now looks like the deepest part of their roster, at least on the edge.
Biggest question still to be answered:Jamal Adams' contract. It doesn't appear to be a question of whether the Seahawks and their Pro Bowl safety will agree to an extension but when they will and what it will look like. They wouldn't have made such a bold move to acquire Adams if they didn't plan on keeping him long term. Which raises another question: Does GM John Schneider have another big summer trade up his sleeve? If so, cornerback would be the most logical position since that's Seattle's biggest weakness. -- Brady Henderson
AFC EAST
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Run it back. The Bills' front office and coaching staff believe in the core of their AFC runner-up roster and made it a point to keep it intact -- the only major departure being wide receiver John Brown. Buffalo hopes that another year of development for its younger players and another year with the same coaching staff will be enough to push it past Kansas City in the AFC.
Offseason goals: The Bills had three major free agents: Matt Milano, Daryl Williams and Jon Feliciano. Through a series of restructures, they created enough space to re-sign all three. Buffalo also needed to improve its pass rush and spent its first two draft picks on defensive ends Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham, and it added depth to the offensive line by drafting Spencer Brown, Tommy Doyle and Jack Anderson.
Biggest question still to be answered: Is cornerback still a need? The Bills have said publicly they are comfortable with their options at cornerback, with incumbent starter Levi Wallace and 2020 seventh-round pick Dane Jackson. It's yet to be seen, however, how much quality depth Buffalo has at the position. There is talent on paper, but it is still relatively unproven behind Wallace and Tre'Davious White. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Tua or bust. Despite multiple opportunities to add a starting quarterback in the draft and trade market, the Dolphins bet on Tua Tagovailoa making a Year 2 jump. They named co-offensive coordinators to create an offense that would best utilize his skill set and added much-needed speed in Will Fuller V and Jaylen Waddle. This team looks like a contender in a lot of places, but Tagovailoa has to take the next step to get them there.
Offseason goals: The Dolphins' top priority was adding offensive playmakers. They slow-played the free-agency market before signing Fuller to a good-value one-year deal, and then after trading back from the No. 3 pick, they eventually landed at No. 6, where they selected Waddle. Two explosive playmakers for Tagovailoa was a win. They also swapped out two offensive line starters, sending out veteran guard Ereck Flowers and veteran center Ted Karras and bringing in rookie second-round tackle Liam Eichenberg and veteran center Matt Skura.
Biggest question still to be answered: How will the Dolphins resolve Xavien Howard's request for a new contract? Howard held out of mandatory minicamp, resulting in over $93,000 in fines, as a stance for wanting a new contract. Howard signed an extension in May 2019, but he's since outplayed the deal with a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber 2020 season and has just one fully guaranteed season left. Howard's reps have approached the team about a new deal -- at least one that can help him resume his place as the highest-paid cornerback on the team over Byron Jones -- but the Dolphins are hesitant to redo a deal just one year into the new portion of that extension. If something doesn't give, Howard could make things stickier by requesting a trade this summer. -- Cameron Wolfe
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Cam and Mac. While this offseason was truly about the rebuilding of the entire roster -- and how much the Patriots paid in free agency to help do so -- the most intriguing question comes at quarterback with incumbent starter Cam Newton and first-round pick Mac Jones. Bill Belichick set the stage initially when he said, "Cam's our quarterback. Whatever time Jarrett [Stidham] or Mac [Jones] are ready to challenge and compete, then we'll see how that goes." Jones received a lot of reps in the spring in a teaching-based environment, and now comes the competition in training camp.
Offseason goals: Free of the constraints of the salary cap, which handcuffed them in 2020, the Patriots aggressively set out to replenish the talent on the roster. No team spent more in free agency. Then came the draft and Jones slipping to them at No. 15, which could be the answer to the biggest question: Who is the next franchise QB after Tom Brady? The Patriots look like they accomplished their goals, but the true answer will come in the form of on-field results.
Biggest question still to be answered: Will Jones challenge Newton for the starting job? There was a temptation to highlight whether the defense -- with considerably more talent in 2021 -- could return to form. But that seems to be overthinking it. So much centers around quarterback play, and when Jones had it going in spring practices, the Patriots' offense looked the closest to what it had been over the majority of the past two decades from a timing, anticipation and accuracy standpoint. Newton also looked more comfortable. -- Mike Reiss
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Welcome back, Hope. After two years of gloom and doom under former coach Adam Gase, new coach Robert Saleh has energized the organization with his upbeat personality and proven systems on both sides of the ball. This is the first time in franchise history the Jets have been in a rebuilding situation with a first-year coach and a rookie starting quarterback (wild, right?), sparking optimism after 10 straight years out of the playoffs.
Offseason goals: Short answer: The offseason goal was to change pretty much everything, but let's focus on the biggest personnel move -- Zach Wilson for Sam Darnold at quarterback. The Jets gave up on Darnold too soon, but general manager Joe Douglas was determined to reboot with a rookie contract. Wilson, drafted No. 2 overall, needs to be a star to validate the decision. Another goal was to bolster the lines, which they did by signing defensive end Carl Lawson and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, drafting guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in the first round and adding veteran right tackle Morgan Moses last week.
Biggest question still to be answered: The Jets don't have a No. 1 cornerback. They might not have a No. 2 cornerback either. Their cornerbacks have a total of 35 career starts. Not only are they inexperienced, but none of them is a high-round draft pick. So yes, the Jets need a veteran (Richard Sherman, anyone?), but the current plan is to let the kids fight it out in the preseason. Bryce Hall and Blessuan Austin will go into camp as the starters, but that could change. Chances are, it will. -- Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Take next step. The Ravens, who are 1-3 in the postseason with Lamar Jackson, upgraded his supporting cast in the draft and free agency in an effort to make an extended Super Bowl run.
Offseason goals: Improve the NFL's 32nd-ranked passing attack. With limited cap room, the Ravens did their best to help Jackson develop into a more consistent passer. Jackson got a couple of new weapons at wide receiver when Baltimore drafted Rashod Bateman in the first round and signed Sammy Watkins in free agency. The Ravens also revamped their offensive line -- bringing in free agents Kevin Zeitler and Alejandro Villanueva as well as drafting Ben Cleveland in the third round -- after they allowed their quarterbacks to be pressured on 35% of their dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in the league in 2020.
Biggest question still to be answered: Which edge rusher is getting to the quarterback? The Ravens lost their two most accomplished pass-rushers in Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency. Baltimore's top returning outside linebackers -- Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee -- are known more for their run stopping and pass coverage. The Ravens drafted Odafe Oweh in the first round, but he didn't have a sack in his last season at Penn State. No one would be surprised if Baltimore signed Justin Houston or Melvin Ingram before the start of training camp. -- Jamison Hensley
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Build around Burrow. The Bengals made sure they continued to add key pieces around franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. Cincinnati added a couple of starters to the offensive line (tackle Riley Reiff, rookie Jackson Carman) and drafted wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick.
Offseason goals: The Bengals wanted upgrades on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Cincinnati made some player acquisitions to improve the offensive line, but the biggest move was bringing back assistant coach Frank Pollack. On defense, end Trey Hendrickson got a big contract after Carl Lawson left in free agency. Cincinnati is banking on Hendrickson's 2019 production not being a one-year fluke.
Biggest question still to be answered: Is the roster finally good enough to compete for a playoff berth? Right now, the Bengals will have to outperform what's on paper if they want to make the postseason for the first time since 2015. The team has been rebuilding the past couple of years and spent significant money in free agency to make improvements. But will that show up in the win column, where it matters? It's time for that to happen. -- Ben Baby
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Revamp the defense. The Browns boasted one of the top offenses in the league last year. Yet despite the star power of pass-rusher Myles Garrett, Cleveland didn't have the consistent defensive capability to match its offense. As a result, the Browns invested heavily in the draft and free agency to bolster the defense.
Offseason goals: The Browns were aggressive in free agency, signing arguably the top available safety in John Johnson III. They also added former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to complement Garrett in the pass rush. Other free-agent additions, notably defensive tackle Malik Jackson, nickelback Troy Hill and linebacker Anthony Walker, are expected to start as well. In the draft, Cleveland grabbed cornerback Greg Newsome II in the first round, then linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second. Both players have the talent and potential to enrich Cleveland's promising young core.
Biggest question still to be answered: How long will it take for this revamped defense to find its stride? Cleveland invested substantially in its offense before the 2020 season. But with so many moving parts, it took several weeks for the offense to find a rhythm. This new-look Browns defense could experience some initial growing pains. But if and when it finds its footing, the Browns could be a load come playoff time. -- Jake Trotter
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Rebuild the run. Every decision-maker on the Steelers' staff -- plus new offensive coordinator Matt Canada -- emphasized the importance of recommitting to the run game, and the offseason reflected that, beginning with the selection of running back Najee Harris in the first round. The Steelers need a more balanced offense in the twilight of the Ben Roethlisberger era, and revamping the run with Canada, Harris and a more physical offensive line under new coach Adrian Klemm is the way to get it done, even as the line returns only one starter.
Offseason goals: Recommitting to the run game was the top priority, but the other is to maximize Roethlisberger's effectiveness at 39 years old with a reconstructed elbow. To do that, the Steelers are focusing on a new offensive scheme designed by Canada. The instillation is still in its infancy, but Roethlisberger is asking all of the questions to get it nailed down by the season's start.
Biggest question still to be answered: Can the Steelers' offense do enough to become not so predictable in 2021? The biggest problem as the 2020 season slid to a finish was the team's predictability on offense. Canada's scheme is supposed to fix that problem -- but there has to be a buy-in from Roethlisberger. Whether he does that and can execute Canada's plans will dictate the success of the offseason and 2021 season. -- Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Lots of change. Not only do the Texans have a new coach and general manager, but they also have 49 new players on their roster. Houston could also have a new quarterback, whether it's because Deshaun Watson is suspended, on the commissioner's exempt list, sits out or is traded. J.J. Watt, the face of the franchise, asked to be released to try to win a Super Bowl elsewhere.
Offseason goals: Find a new quarterback. Between Watson facing 22 active lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior and him asking for a trade, it seemed unlikely he would return as the Texans' Week 1 starting quarterback. On March 16, hours before the first lawsuit was filed against Watson, the Texans signed Tyrod Taylor to a one-year, incentive-laden deal. Houston also drafted quarterback Davis Mills with their first pick, but he's expected to start the season as Taylor's backup.
Biggest question still to be answered: What will Watson's status be in 2021? The NFL's investigation into the lawsuits and any possible criminal charges is ongoing, so it could be a long time before we know the answer. If the investigation is still going when training camp or the regular season begins, Roger Goodell could put Watson on the commissioner's exempt list, which would mean Watson could not play while on the list but would be paid. -- Sarah Barshop
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Building necessary chemistry. Unlike 2020, when the pandemic caused a lack of on-field work, Carson Wentz had the offseason to develop chemistry with his new teammates. He is following Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett and Philip Rivers as Colts starting quarterbacks since 2018. The hope is that Wentz, who is only 28, will become a franchise quarterback.
Offseason goals: The quarterback position was taken care of with Wentz. The Colts hope they've replaced the combined 15.5 sacks lost with the departures of Justin Houston and Denico Autry, having used their first two draft picks on their edge rushers of the future in Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo. It's uncertain whether Odeyingbo will play during his rookie season after tearing his Achilles while working out in January.
Biggest question still to be answered: Who replaces the retired Anthony Castonzo to protect Wentz's blind side? The Colts signed left tackle Eric Fisher, who has been selected to two Pro Bowls, but the veteran is still recovering from a torn Achilles. It doesn't appear now that Fisher will be ready for the start of the regular season, which means the Colts will have to plug somebody in at the position -- probably Sam Tevi -- to help protect Wentz, who was sacked 50 times in just 12 games last season. -- Mike Wells
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Changing the culture. Owner Shad Khan brought in Urban Meyer to conduct a thorough evaluation of the franchise and make the changes that can take the Jaguars from one of the league's worst franchises to one of the best. It's going to take a while, but Khan is gambling that Meyer can duplicate what he did at Florida and Ohio State in the NFL. Meyer has already made significant changes, and players seem to have bought in heading into training camp.
Offseason goals: The Jaguars wanted to improve their personnel at key positions, and they did that at quarterback, receiver, running back and defensive back. Trevor Lawrence was the most important addition, obviously, but adding WR Marvin Jones Jr. was big too because it gives the offense a consistent, productive veteran who will take heat off DJ Chark Jr. Running back Travis Etienne will be used at receiver too, and he has the big-play ability the offense has lacked. Adding corner Shaquill Griffin, safeties Rayshawn Jenkins and Andre Cisco and defensive back Tyson Campbell to a unit that already includes second-year corner CJ Henderson turns what was a major weakness on defense into a strength. The Jaguars' roster is significantly better -- on paper, anyway -- than it was in February.
Biggest question still to be answered: Pass rush? The switch to a 3-4 under coordinator Joe Cullen meant the team had to rework the defensive front, but it also allows Josh Allen and K'Lavon Chaisson to move to their more natural OLB/DE positions. That should free up Allen, who had 10.5 sacks as a rookie in 2019, to be more disruptive. The hope is the move does the same for Chaisson, who struggled last season as a rookie and had just one sack. But the only other player on the roster with double-digit career sacks is DE Dawuane Smoot (11.5), so the Jaguars will need to be creative to pressure the quarterback. Expect a lot of blitzes and alignments to try to create some confusion, but even if that works, the team should still prioritize adding pass-rushers in 2022. -- Michael DiRocco
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: To be continued. Bud Dupree was the biggest free-agent addition during the offseason. Unfortunately, he is not yet able to take the field after suffering a torn ACL in December. First-round pick Caleb Farley hasn't been on the field either. So the Titans haven't seen the two players who created the most buzz during the offseason. However, both are working toward being ready to go for training camp.
Offseason goals:Julio Jones is easily the biggest splash Tennessee made during the offseason. But the Titans also wanted to bolster the defense after having a down 2020 season. They added Dupree and Denico Autry to improve the pass rush. Fourth-round pick Rashad Weaver figures into the improvement plan as well. The secondary needed to be revamped, so the Titans signed Janoris Jenkins and drafted Farley along with Elijah Molden. They will bring more aggressiveness to the DB group.
Biggest question still to be answered: Will there be enough footballs to keep everyone happy? The Titans suddenly have a wealth of weapons with Julio Jones joining A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry and the crew. But Henry needs his touches as well. Finding ways to make sure everyone is taken care of falls on new offensive coordinator Todd Downing's plate. Said Downing: "The addition of Julio and our weapons on the outside, in the backfield are all ways to help us stay balanced and attack in different ways. That's our biggest charge, not to make sure there are certain mouths that get fed." -- Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Choose a quarterback. Look, the Broncos have done plenty this offseason to repair most of their roster holes, but the continued hunt for a quarterback in the post-Manning era has consistently stunted their growth.
Offseason goals: The biggest roster needs when the offseason began, beyond anything the Broncos did at quarterback, were in the secondary and, after Ja'Wuan James' season-ending injury, at right tackle. The Broncos signed safety Justin Simmons to a long-term deal, signed cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency, re-signed safety Kareem Jackson and selected Pat Surtain II with their first-round pick. So, problem solved there. The Broncos then released James before signing Bobby Massie and Cameron Fleming in free agency, as they expect one of those two to start at right tackle, with Massie expected to get the early look with the starters in training camp.
Biggest question still to be answered: Who, exactly, is the quarterback? Until the Green Bay Packers formally announce Aaron Rodgers is, or isn't, going to be traded, the Rodgers-to-Denver narrative certainly will not get any quieter in the world of drive time, but in the here-and-now either Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater is still the likely Week 1 starter. The bottom line is if the Broncos can avoid another rash of injuries like they faced in 2020. They did enough in the offseason to be better, but they have to be right that either Lock or Bridgewater is good enough to turn progress into a return to the postseason. And if they're not right about that, a sixth consecutive playoff miss will be on the way, and the Broncos will be on the quarterback carousel once again in 2022. -- Jeff Legwold
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Building a wall. The Chiefs re-made their offensive line over the past few months, adding eight linemen to better protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Offseason goals: The offseason for the Chiefs was mostly about upgrading the offensive line. They added linemen in every possible way (trade, free agency, draft, return from opt out). And after adding among others guards Joe Thuney and Kyle Long, and tackle Orlando Brown, they have no excuses to protect Mahomes as poorly as they did in the Super Bowl LV loss to the Bucs.
Biggest question still to be answered: Will the Chiefs regret not adding a wide receiver? They lost veteran Sammy Watkins and have nobody proven as a No. 2 receiver. In Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson, the Chiefs have some candidates but nobody who has done it every week. -- Adam Teicher
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Work in progress. The Raiders had a top 8 offense last season and QB Derek Carr, who had career highs in passing yards (4,103), passer rating (101.4) and Total QBR (71.0), received added weapons in John Brown, Willie Snead IV and Kenyan Drake to go with Pro Bowlers Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs. But the offensive line was reimagined with three new starters, and the defense is being overhauled by new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Add in a tough start to the schedule and, well, it's all a work in progress.
Offseason goals: The Raiders wanted to get younger, less expensive and deeper. Mission accomplished. That does not mean Las Vegas necessarily got better, but the Raiders did add depth, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Time will tell if improved play is also in the mix. Games are won and lost in the trenches.
Biggest question still to be answered: Will the reimagined offensive line hold up to protect Carr? Look, the projected O-line of Kolton Miller, Richie Incognito, Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson and Trent Brown played a grand total of three snaps together last season. Three! The Raiders did not get much, if anything, in return from their expensive investment there. So it's on Miller and Incognito to help out center Andre James, guard Denzelle Good and first-round tackle Alex Leatherwood to keep Carr clean. Otherwise, another built-in excuse is there for the taking if things don't quite work out. -- Paul Gutierrez
Offseason summed up in three words or fewer: Protect the quarterback. Justin Herbert is the franchise, and the Chargers had one of the league's worst offensive lines last season. He was pressured 217 times, most by a rookie quarterback since ESPN began tracking pressures in 2009. The Chargers' offensive line depth chart looks completely different in 2021.
Offseason goals: This team had to get help around Herbert. They signed center Corey Linsley, and he looked fabulous in minicamp. They brought in guard Matt Feiler. They drafted Rashawn Slater in Round 1, and he's likely to start at left tackle as a rookie. The Chargers were serious about finding the best guys to protect their most important player; now they need to take the step to playoff contender in Year 1 with new coach Brandon Staley.
Biggest question still to be answered: Will the Chargers' kicking game doom them again? Michael Badgley's nine missed kicks last season were the most in the league and the most by a Chargers kicker since Wade Richey missed 11 in 2001. Herbert is the real deal, but Badgley has to be better if the team expects to challenge the Chiefs and become a playoff team. -- Shelley Smith
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