The NFL Played The Apprentice This Week: Cuts, Firings, and Fantasy Football Draft Season
The NFL must have watched The Apprentice on loop this week because heads are rolling everywhere. Cordarrelle Patterson got fired on his day off like Craig from Friday. ESPN fired Shannon Sharpe the same week his brother Sterling got inducted into the Hall of Fame. The chain gang got replaced by robots. Furthermore nobody’s job is safe — not players, not broadcasters, not the guy holding the first down marker. Fantasy football draft season is here and the NFL is serving chaos on a silver platter.
The NFL Played The Apprentice — You’re Fired!
The Steelers did Cordarrelle Patterson dirty. They released him on his day off like Craig from Friday. Patterson went straight to X and posted: “Pittsburgh Steelers release old washed-up Cordarrelle Patterson on his day off!!!” Savage. Because Patterson handled it with humor and self-awareness, the internet immediately fell in love with his response.
Fantasy football implications: Cordarrelle Patterson’s release is a reminder that no running back is safe in today’s NFL. Because veteran backs get cut without warning the moment a team finds a cheaper younger option, fantasy managers should always prioritize younger running backs with guaranteed roles over aging veterans on short-term contracts.
ESPN Gets Weird — Disney Takes Over NFL Network
Meanwhile over at ESPN things are getting very strange. The NFL bought a stake in Disney and now Disney is taking over NFL Network and RedZone. That means Scott Hanson might be out. The Witching Hour hits different when your badge stops working.
Furthermore Shannon Sharpe got fired by ESPN after settling a sexual misconduct lawsuit — the same week his brother Sterling was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The timing could not have been worse. Or better, depending on who you ask.
Fun fact: Back in the early 2000s Commish Kit made fantasy football draft boards for ESPN. One of those boards even made it into a commercial during the ESPYs. Yes, really. Because Commish Kit has been part of the fantasy football industry since the beginning, we have seen everything — including the early days when ESPN was just figuring out what fantasy football even was.
Nobody Is Safe — The Week’s Biggest Cuts
Because the NFL apparently decided to clean house all at once, here is everyone who got the axe this week:
Equanimeous St. Brown — Amon-Ra’s brother got cut by the Niners after one week. Furthermore the brother of one of the best wide receivers in the NFL could not stick on a 53-man roster. That tells you everything about how hard it is to make an NFL team.
Christian Wilkins — The Raiders released Wilkins after he allegedly kissed a teammate on the forehead. HR got involved. It is a thing. Look it up.
Treylon Burks — The Titans cut Burks after he fractured his collarbone in practice. He is the player they traded A.J. Brown for. Yikes. Furthermore that trade looks worse every single day.
Trey Hendrickson — The Bengals’ defensive end ended his holdout because losing $50,000 a day hurts more than missing training camp. As a result he is back and motivated — which is great news for Bengals fans and IDP fantasy managers alike.
Tyrann Mathieu — The Honey Badger officially called it a career after 12 seasons. Because Mathieu was one of the most exciting defensive players of his generation, his retirement marks the end of a truly unique NFL era.
Fantasy football implications: The Treylon Burks cut opens up significant targets in Tennessee. Because the Titans now need a new number one receiver, fantasy managers should monitor their wide receiver room closely heading into the draft. Furthermore Trey Hendrickson returning from his holdout makes him a must-start IDP option — motivated players coming off contract disputes historically perform at their highest levels.
Chain Gang Replaced by Robots — Nobody Is Safe
And just when you thought only players were getting the axe — the NFL’s old school chain gang is being replaced too. In the Hall of Fame Game the league rolled out a new virtual first-down system using Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology. Six 8K cameras now track the ball faster than you can say “bring out the chains.” Traditional measurements took 75 seconds. This one takes 30.
The chain crew is not totally out yet — they are the backup for now. But yeah — cue The Pretenders. Looks like the chain gang is going digital. Furthermore if robot umpires can replace baseball umps, robot chain gangs can replace the guys with the sticks. Nobody’s job is safe in 2025.
What Time Is It? Fantasy Football Season!
You know it is fantasy football season when your buddy texts you during the Hall of Fame Game — “Omarion Hampton is PRO READY!!” Two seconds later your Instagram feed fills up with betting gurus selling picks for a preseason game.
Yep. It is the most wonderful time of the year. Because August flies by faster than you think and Week 1 arrives before you can say “ankle sprain,” grabbing your fantasy draft board now is the smartest move you can make this summer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Omarion Hampton and is he worth drafting in fantasy football?
Omarion Hampton is a rookie running back who impressed during the Hall of Fame Game. Because he showed pro-ready skills in his first NFL action, Hampton is worth monitoring as a late round sleeper pick in deeper fantasy football leagues. Furthermore rookie running backs who impress in early preseason action often earn significant roles by Week 1.
What happened to Treylon Burks in fantasy football?
Treylon Burks was cut by the Tennessee Titans after fracturing his collarbone in practice. Because he was the player the Titans received when they traded A.J. Brown to the Eagles, his release makes that trade look even worse in hindsight. As a result Tennessee’s wide receiver room is now wide open heading into the season.
Is Trey Hendrickson worth drafting in IDP fantasy football?
Yes. Because Hendrickson ended his holdout and returns to the Bengals motivated after losing $50,000 per day during his absence, he is a must-start IDP option. Furthermore motivated players coming off contract disputes historically perform at their highest levels — making Hendrickson one of the most valuable IDP picks in 2025.
What is the Hawk-Eye first down system in the NFL?
The NFL introduced Sony’s Hawk-Eye virtual first-down system in the Hall of Fame Game. Because six 8K cameras track the ball in real time, measurements that previously took 75 seconds now take just 30. Furthermore the traditional chain gang remains as a backup for now — but their days appear to be numbered.
Did Commish Kit really make draft boards for ESPN?
Yes. Back in the early 2000s Commish Kit made fantasy football draft boards for ESPN and one of those boards appeared in a commercial during the ESPYs. Because Commish Kit has been part of the fantasy football industry since 2002, the brand has deep roots in the history of how fantasy football drafts are run across the country.
How long has Commish Kit been making fantasy football draft boards?
Commish Kit has been making fantasy football draft boards since 2002 and is based in Austin, Texas. As a result the brand has become the go-to draft board for fantasy leagues across the country, as featured on Thrillist.
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We’ll be back next time with more hot takes, cold cuts, and fantasy advice that probably won’t hold up in court. Looking for the ultimate fantasy football draft board? Commish Kit has everything you need—poster kits, stand-up corrugated boards, and a digital draft board so slick, your league might actually think you’re organized this year.
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