Opinion

Professional wrestling is, was and always will be at its very best when rooted in reality, as fans witnessed Wednesday night when MJF stood in the center of the All Elite Wrestling ring and cut a scathing promo on company owner Tony Khan.

The 26-year-old voiced his disenfranchisement with his perceived value to the promotion he has been with since day one and his desire to no longer be there.

The vitriol that spewed from the lips of the self-proclaimed Salt of the Earth not only made public his heavily rumored disputes with Khan and the current landscape of AEW, but it also resulted in the Long Island native becoming the hottest star in professional wrestling following a promo that can most accurately be described as "explosive."

It isn't the first time a disgruntled employee with a live mic and a penchant for speaking his mind has captured the attention of the wrestling world and elevated his own stock in the process.

It also isn't the first time reality has blended with storyline to elevate the talent involved and bring in new eyes intrigued by a segment of television that left fans buzzing.

First, though, how did MJF get here?

The Salt of the Earth and How MJF Got Here

From day one in AEW, it was clear Khan and Co. had struck gold by signing Maxwell Jacob Friedman to a contract.

He was red hot, had captured the attention of indie fans through his work with Major League Wrestling and other high-profile promotions, and he was almost instantaneously viewed as one of the pillars on which AEW could build its future.

Then he was positioned in a program with Cody Rhodes that saw him buddy-buddy with The American Nightmare before turning on him in a fierce angle and rivalry. From there, he would battle Jon Moxley for the AEW world title in a feud that further proved his ability to hang with top-tier talent.

A show-stealing match with Jungle Boy at Double or Nothing 2020, a main event feud with Chris Jericho, an extraordinary program with CM Punk and a storyline in which he single-handedly elevated Wardlow's star all proved MJF was ready to grab the industry by the horns and run to the top of the card.

So it is easy to see why a guy responsible for so many memorable matches, moments and promos would be frustrated by the idea of former WWE guys infiltrating AEW and making "four to five times" what he is, per PWTorch's Wade Keller.

Guys like Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Malakai Black, Christian Cage, Adam Cole and Mark Henry.

Yes, Henry, the former world heavyweight champion and Hall of Famer whose past greatness is undeniable but whose only on-screen role with AEW is his weekly, Friday night catchphrase, "It's time for the main event!"

The other guys are undeniably high profile, but they all arrived at AEW only after competitors like MJF had laid the groundwork to ensure the promotion would be a success.

His frustration and anger over the lack of reciprocity by Khan is absolutely fair. The list of genuine stars MJF has worked with to help evolve the AEW product is awe-inspiring and to think he is so underpaid, at least according to the Keller report, is insulting to the reader let alone the talent himself.

It should be no great surprise that tensions boiled over in Las Vegas before Double or Nothing, when MJF no-showed at a meet and greet at the AEW fanfest and reportedly booked a flight out of town before his match with Wardlow.

He showed up, did the business and appropriately paid off the months-long storyline with Wardlow, ensuring the big man got the moment he had been working toward for the better part of two years, but that was not to suggest things had improved between him and Khan.

All of MJF's reported points of frustration were laid out in a promo that not only made him the hottest wrestler in the business but also replicated that of his childhood idol and set him up for the most significant run of his young career.

Pipebomb

The wrestling world knew MJF could talk long before he took to the ring Wednesday night. He was regularly lauded as one of the best promos in the business, courtesy of his ability to get under the audience's skin and the conviction with which he spoke.

Act or not, no one had any problem believing the scarf-wearing heel believed every word hurled from his mouth. The pipebomb he unleashed on the post-Double or Nothing episode of Dynamite, though, was an entirely different beast.

Whether it was a shoot, work or something inbetween, the promo MJF delivered just a half-hour into the broadcast blew everything else on the show away and left fans buzzing. He talked about his frustration over his perceived value, namedropped WWE when talking about the new guys Khan has paid exorbitant amounts of money for and said he no longer wants to be in AEW.

It played to preconceived notions about his real-life feelings toward his employer, his status as the best in the world, a contract that is legitimately up in January 2024 and his disenchantment with a company that does not at all resemble the one he started to help build three years ago.

The promo was based in reality, and the fans recognized it as such. MJF spoke with such conviction that it was easy to buy everything he was selling.

Was it mostly genuine? Probably. Was it part of an expertly concocted plan by MJF and Khan to take real-life animosity and project it on television, for the sake of the show and possibly public therapy? Most likely.

And therein lies the beauty of it: Even if this is a work, that is hardly a bad thing. Much like Punk's famed pipebomb promo in 2011, which was also rooted in mounting frustrations, MJF's promo has the ability to make him the biggest star in the company and the most sought-after name in the industry.

The money he feels he is owed for his work? It will come tenfold as a result of what he accomplished Wednesday night. He was given the floor to voice his frustrations and, even if Khan was in on the whole thing, it works for all involved.

MJF's star burns brighter than it ever has (and with that comes a larger payday), AEW gains new viewers and fans are enthralled by the "is it or isn't it real?" nature of the storyline.

Even if Khan fails to pony up the money MJF feels is fair for everything he has done, Vince McMahon will be licking his chops at the prospect of writing the pro wrestling prodigy a check with more zeros than AEW Dark Elevation has squash matches.

As of Thursday morning, AEW Dynamite was still trending at No. 3 on Twitter. The most talked-about topic? MJF.

We have seen this play out before in the aforementioned Punk promo. MJF did not do or say anything that his idol and on-screen foe didn't in his own industry-shaking moment, right down to voicing frustration over other stars receiving accolades he believes he should have, assigning blame to fans for not supporting him and ranting his way right into his mic being cut off.

Just like Punk a decade ago, MJF is suddenly the hottest act in wrestling. How AEW follows up on his promo will be key to either protecting itself against his claims it was a shoot or ensuring it can build on the angle's momentum moving forward.

Either way, fans have every reason to be excited in the wake of Wednesday's jaw-dropping promo. If nothing else, the landscape of professional wrestling is about to get even hotter and more enjoyable than it has been in recent memory.

All thanks to a guy whose work to this point is reflective of someone in line for a massive pay raise, regardless of who is paying it out.

We're still in the honeymoon stage of the NFL offseason—a time when optimism runs through team facilities with a fresh start in the minds of players and coaches.

Following the first waves of free agency, the Chicago Bears took a lot of criticism for their offseason plan, specifically for the offense. However, last week in an interview with Bleacher Report's Scott Polacek, quarterback Justin Fields highlighted his wide receiver unit as a group of unheralded playmakers.

"We don't have an Odell [Beckham Jr.] or a Cooper Kupp on our team, but at the end of the day I think if everybody is on their P's and Q's, and we're on top of everything and not making mistakes, the players we have right now are good enough. ... Just because we don't have a big-name guy, doesn't mean those guys aren't talented. I have plenty of confidence in myself and my teammates that we're going to get the job done."

Fields is absolutely right in one aspect. Aside from Darnell Mooney, the Bears' wide receiver room isn't going to grab headlines.

Chicago signed veteran wideouts Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, Tajae Sharpe, Dante Pettis and David Moore. None of them have recorded 50 catches or 600 receiving yards in a single season. At best, they're all No. 3 options on any given roster.

The Bears selected Velus Jones Jr. in the third round of the 2022 draft. If he plays a decent role, the speedy Tennessee product could be dangerous in the open field and rack up yards after the catch. The rookie made a play on the practice field that caught Fields' attention.

"At rookie minicamp there was one play that stood out to me, he had a 10-yard dig route in and caught it and hit that second gear kick for a touchdown. I think he caught it at 10 yards and took it 60, so he's a great run-after-the-catch guy. He's going to pick up a lot of yards and is physical. He's almost like a running back at receiver. Having him on the outside and putting the ball in his hands and letting him work will be great."

While Jones' early impression sounds good, he only had one standout collegiate campaign as a pass-catcher through six years between USC (four) and Tennessee (two), registering 62 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021.

If Fields isn't right about the hidden gems in his wide receiver group, he'll struggle to move the ball through the air, especially with two inexperienced second-year players projected to play at tackle in Larry Borom (eight starts) and Teven Jenkins (two starts). The Bears need a solid No. 2 option in the passing game to complement Mooney for a balanced attack.

As a second-year player in a leadership position, Fields isn't going to throw the front office under the bus or downplay the potential of his teammates. He said the right thing publicly, which is part of his job as a quarterback.

Even if the Bears strongly believe at least one wideout will emerge from a group that lacks leaguewide recognition, the front office should do its due diligence to help its young signal-caller.

Fortunately for the Bears, they can explore multiple options on the trade market. With a change of scenery, three players in particular could take advantage of new opportunities in the Windy City. Chicago can possibly land any of them with a middle- or late-round 2023 pick.

The Bears should make the first call to the New York Giants, who may have a former fifth-round standout on the outside looking in at a spot on the depth chart.

The Athletic's Dan Duggan believes Darius Slayton might have an uphill climb to make the 53-man cut.

"Don't be surprised if Slayton doesn't make the final roster if the Giants aren't able to find a trade partner and their cap situation remains tight," Duggan wrote.

After Big Blue selected Wan'Dale Robinson in the second round of the 2022 draft, Duggan doubled down on his take about Slayton.

"The Giants added Robinson in the second round to a position group that looks deep on paper but could be in a state of flux," Duggan wrote. "The odds of trading or cutting Slayton for $2.5 million in cap savings increased with the addition of Robinson."

As an underrated player out of Auburn, Slayton caught 98 passes for 1,491 yards and 11 touchdowns between 2019 and 2020. Last year, he saw a drop-off in target volume and production (26 receptions for 339 yards and two touchdowns) with the addition of Kenny Golladay, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal, and Kadarius Toney (2021 first-rounder).

The Bears should at least pick up the phone and gauge the asking price for Slayton, who posted WR2-level receiving numbers in his first two pro years.

Staying in the NFC East, Chicago can inquire about Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who may fall to fourth on the depth chart.

On Day 1 of the 2022 draft, the Eagles acquired Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown and signed him to a four-year, $100 million extension. He'll line up opposite DeVonta Smith, who had a strong 2021 rookie campaign, hauling in 64 passes for 916 yards and five touchdowns. Last year, Quez Watkins made significant strides, primarily out of the slot, logging 43 receptions for 647 yards and a touchdown.

Through two campaigns, Reagor has registered pedestrian receiving numbers with just 64 catches for 695 yards and three touchdowns. He's unlikely to play up to his potential with Brown, Smith and Watkins healthy.

According to ESPN's Tim McManus, the Eagles will listen to offers for Reagor, and he could become an afterthought in the offense if the team doesn't move him.

"The Eagles are open to listening to offers for him, according to league sources," McManus wrote. "This feels like a situation where a change of scenery would be best for all sides. Even if he does return for the 2022 season, the Eagles won't be banking on Reagor as a primary option."

Eagles executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman doesn't "anticipate" a trade that involves Reagor—perhaps a fifth-round pick changes his mind, though.

Reagor has the draft pedigree (2020 first-rounder) that will likely allow him to get a second chance to catch on with a new team. He could see a lot of looks in the passing game with the Bears.

With a third call on the trade market, the Bears should check in on Nelson Agholor, who's played on a Super Bowl team and finished with at least 736 receiving yards in three out of his last five seasons.

After an underwhelming 2021 campaign with then-rookie Mac Jones, catching 37 passes for 473 yards and three touchdowns, Agholor may drop a spot or two on the New England Patriots depth chart.

The Patriots acquired DeVante Parker from the Miami Dolphins and selected Tyquan Thornton in the second round of the draft.

The Bears should strongly consider a battle-tested veteran who can quickly establish a rapport with Fields as a reliable target. Nelson could aid the development of the two young wideouts expected to handle big roles in Mooney and Jones, too. In exchange for a late-round pick, Chicago may be able to snag a productive leader for an offense in transition, which is key for a rebuilding squad.

General manager Ryan Poles can believe in his offseason plan and still look to improve a wide receiver corps that only features one established playmaker. He doesn't have to take a big swing and give up premium draft capital either.

The Bears can bargain-bin shop on the trade market for receivers who wouldn't cost them much but may possibly reinvent themselves within an unsettled group.

Slayton and Agholor have already shown they're capable of filling the No. 2 role. Reagor has some appeal with his potential and inside-outside versatility. Chicago should roll the dice on any of the three wide receivers in an effort to provide Fields with another viable pass-catching target in 2022.

College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

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New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley entered the NFL as a supposed generational talent. Beyond a promising first season, he's been anything but an elite playmaker. 

His career now sits at a crossroads with a new regime in place. Head coach Brian Daboll can unlock the potential that once made Barkley look like a future star, or the Giants may look to move on from the 2018 second overall pick at some point within a year.

A short shelf life due to the physicality required to play the position coupled with the ability to find quality performers at a low price have devalued the running back position. But previous Giants general manager Dave Gettleman thought differently, bucked positional value and made Barkley the highest-drafted running back since Reggie Bush went second overall in 2006. 

"I think a lot of that is nonsense," Gettleman told reporters when asked about positional value shortly after Barkley's selection. "I think it's someone who had this idea and got into the analytics of it, and did all these running backs and went through their whatever. ... I don't believe in it [positional value]."

His stubbornness may have hastened his retirement.

In Year 1, Barkley dazzled when he led the league with 2,028 yards from scrimmage, made the pro Bowl and became the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Over the next three seasons, the running back totaled 2,391 yards. 

Barkley fought through a high-ankle sprain during his sophomore campaign, suffered a torn ACL in 2020 and dealt with a balky ankle last season. He hasn't looked like the same dynamic threat since his rookie campaign.

"You don't screw up the special ones when you are a talent evaluator. This guy is special," a general manager told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein prior to the 2018 draft. "Any concerns you file on him just feels like nitpicking to fill out the report."

Much like the term generational talent, the descriptor "total package" is often overused. Barkley was treated like a unicorn coming into the league because of his rare combination of size, strength, athleticism and ability to affect games as a runner and pass-catcher.

Barkley's relative athletic score (RAS) ranks him among the top five most athletic running backs over the last 35 years, according to Pro Football Network's Kent Lee Platte. He's a 6'0", 232-pound ball-carrier with tree trunks for legs, baby-soft hands and 4.4-second 40-yard dash speed. 

Despite being a near-perfect prospect, Barkley couldn't escape the same issues other running backs face.

The Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry is the game's premier workhorse, yet he missed nine games last season with a Jones facture in his right foot. The Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb shares the backfield, meaning he doesn't take on the same type of workload, and he's still missed seven games over the last two seasons. 

The pounding takes its toll over time. The solution in New York is to use Barkley less as a true running back and more as an offensive weapon.

"I'd say I've had some good running backs in my career," Daboll told reporters during organized team activities last week. "But Saquon is a unique guy. If you go back, I've watched all of his tape all the way back from his rookie year when he had [91] catches. He's a versatile player ... I'm excited to work with him."

Daboll spent four seasons as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator before being named the Giants' head coach. During that stretch, no back on the Bills roster managed more than 870 rushing yards in a singular season, though players at the position were often a part of the passing game as both pass-catchers and blockers.

In general, quarterback Josh Allen determined the success of the offense as the Bills coaching staff put more on his shoulders with each passing season. Last year, Allen posted a career high with 646 passing attempts, which ranked fourth overall. The Bills had at least three wide receivers on the field for 80 percent of their snaps last season, according to Sharp Football. For comparison, New York used multiple-receiver sets on 63 percent of its offensive plays. In fact, Buffalo ran 255 more plays than New York from 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers). 
 
To be fair, Buffalo running back Devin Singletary isn't Barkley, and Giants quarterback Daniel Jones certainly isn't Allen. As such, Daboll will make adjustments based on available talent.
 
"You try to do as much work as you can on these guys before they get here to see what have they been successful at and figure out how to use them in the things that they've excelled at," Daboll said at the league meetings in March. "But you've got to see them do the things you're going to ask them to do in the offense, and there's plays we're going through right now that, heck, if these guys want to turn inside on this route, let's figure it out when they get here and ask them."

How everyone looks at Barkley should change to some degree. He's still an amazing talent if healthy. He can be a 1,000-yard back again. At the same time, his increased implementation in the passing game could enter him into a different category of backs who create an all-around impact.

Those players don't need to be traditional backs. Alvin Kamara and Carolina's Christian McCaffrey aren't. They're dynamic playmakers with the ball in their hands. The goal should be to feature them as much as possible in a way that takes away some of the consistent body blows a traditional back faces on a down-by-down basis. They both have still dealt with injuries, but they're not nearly as thick or as compactly built as Barkley is. 

Additions along the offensive line, including Mark Glowinski, Jon Feliciano and 2022 seventh overall pick Evan Neal, should make life a little easier on Barkley and the rest of the Giants' skill-position players. However, New York can strike a balance, using Barkley out of the backfield and even as a wide receiver.

Jones' growth will likely become a big part of this transition. The quarterback can form a symbiotic relationship with the running back so the pair can help take pressure off each other. As Daboll and his staff continue their evaluation of these previous top-10 picks, difficult decisions could be forthcoming.

The 25-year-old Barkley will play under his fifth-year rookie option in 2022. How much of an impact he can create under Daboll's supervision will determine whether he's a member of the Giants for the entirety of this campaign and into next offseason. If his performance doesn't necessitate an extension, the organization may even try to trade him before this year's deadline in an effort to gain assets for future roster improvements. 

Basically, the G-men find themselves in a transitory phase. A strong offseason created some excitement, though expectations should be tempered in an NFC East in which the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles feature better rosters and the Washington Commanders should be improved. New York is likely a year or two away from consistently competing in the division and entering in the postseason discussion.

Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen should give Barkley every opportunity to show he's still the same player who took the league by storm as a rookie by making him the focal point of the offense.
 
"I think, one, the energy that he's bringing and the conversations about the way he's going to relate the offense to the players and make the system work for the players," Barkley told reporters in February when asked about his initial impression of Daboll and the new regime. "Obviously, I think with Joe Schoen, what he's going to do in free agency and the draft to build the team. I think we have the talent on the team. I truly don't think we’re that far. We just have to keep working."

The sunk cost of Barkley's original draft status doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is whether Daboll can maximize the running back's abilities. The best thing for all parties is to put the ball in Barkley's hands as part of a new-look offense and let his play determine which direction the franchise should go. He's capable of being so much more than what's been seen so far, as long as the coach adjusts his scheme, uses Barkley as the focal point of the offense and makes him a much bigger part of the passing game.