Gators in the NFL: Greenard to the Pro Bowl and Anzalone to Return
Plus, New Year's Resolutions for every former Gator
Happy New Year everybody. This past year was one of struggle and adversity and pain. But it was also one of growth and inspiration and love. I am grateful to all of you for being a part of my life and wish you all happiness and joy in 2025.
Whether you have been reading me since the start or you’re new to my writing, thank you for being here. I promise to keep cranking out stories and insights that inspire me and hopefully entertain you in the year ahead. My only ask - share my work with others in Gator Nation who might enjoy it as well. I’ve been writing some version of this going back to 2011 for various websites, and although I will write this no matter how many people read it, I’d love to expand my audience and potentially attract the interest of a larger website and readership.
In any event, thank you for being here every week. In honor of the new year, I’m sharing a resolution for every former Gator below. May 2025 be the best yet for Gator Nation. But first, let’s do our normal catch up on what’s happening in the NFL.
GREENARD TO THE PRO BOWL
Jon Greenard has made his first Pro Bowl. The dominant edge defender was voted a starter for the NFC for the annual competition that takes place in Gator Country in Orlando the first weekend in February.
Greenard ranks in the top 10 among all defenders in sacks (11, tied-8th), QB hurries (18, 2nd), QB pressures (40, 5th), tackles for loss (16, tied-7th), and forced fumbles (4, tied-3rd). He is the only player in the entire league with at least 50 tackles, 10 sacks, 40 QB pressures, and 15 tackles for loss. As I’ve written about a lot this year, those aren’t just Pro Bowl numbers, they are defensive player of the year stats.
Greenard is the only Gators Pro Bowler this season and the first in two years. Florida did not have a Pro Bowler in 2023; Tommy Townsend made the games in 2022. Townsend is also the last All Pro out of UF, and Greenard should join him on at least one team. In fact, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has named him to his second-team squad.
Greenard was thrilled and said making the Pro Bowl was a lifelong dream, but at the same time he hopes he doesn’t have to play because he’s busy with another game. And the 14-2 Vikings just might be.
ANZALONE CLOSE TO RETURN
Alex Anzalone returned to practice this week for the first time since fracturing his forearm on November 17. He hasn’t been activated off injured reserve yet, but after practicing in full on Friday, there is growing optimism he’ll play Sunday night.
The Lions have clearly missed their defensive leader in the six games since his injury. Over their past four games, Detroit is allowing 32.5 points per game.
Anzalone said he isn’t 100 percent and doesn’t think he will be until the offseason, but that’s not going to keep him off the field. He knows the Lions have a great chance to make history and get to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
BEST PLAYER OF WEEK 17
C.J. Gardner-Johnson had two interceptions on Sunday, returning one of them for his first NFL touchdown.
That was his first pick six since taking one back against Michigan in the Peach Bowl back in 2018.
Quietly - because let’s face it his trash talking gets all the attention - CJGJ is now tied for third in the league with six picks and 116 return yards. He also had six interceptions back in 2022 when he tied for the league lead despite missing the final games of the season. Since entering the league in 2019, he’s tied for sixth with 18 picks.
BEST PLAY OF WEEK 17
Ricky Pearsall went viral for this grab last year.
And while his juggling, one-handed catch on Monday wasn’t as good, it was still pretty ridiculous.
He also hauled in a touchdown on what was an excellent route and catch as well.
We thought Pearsall had his breakout game back on November 10 when he grabbed four passes for 73 yards and a score. He followed that up with two total catches in his next five games as the 49ers season collapsed. The real breakout was on Monday night with eight catches for 141 yards and that score.
TOP 10 WEEK 17 PERFORMANCES
1 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S, PHI
Week 17: 2 INT, 94 return yards, TD, 1 tackle, 2 PD, 47 snaps (76%)
Season: 9 INT, 116 return yards, TD, 59 tackles, 12 PD, 2 TFL, 1 FF
New Year’s Resolution: Let your play do the talking. We love the fire and passion and certainly CJGJ wouldn’t be the player he is without the edge that fuels his trash-talking, but maybe turn the dial down from 11 to 8.
2 - Ricky Pearsall, WR, SF
Week 17: 8 rec (10 targets), 141 yards, TD, 2 rush, 6 yards, 0/1 passing, 45 snaps (70%)
Season: 25 rec (38 targets), 331 yards, 2 TD, 3 rush, 45 yards, 3 PR, 13.7 avg, 0/1 passing
New Year’s Resolution: Dream Big. Despite injuries in training camp and the horrific shooting before the season opener, Pearsall’s rookie season has to be considered a success. He’s shown speed, elusiveness, toughness, great hands, and precise route-running. The 49ers are in transition and could be parting with Deebo Samuel this offseason. With a strong spring and summer, Pearsall can emerge as the next great San Francisco playmaker.
3 - Kyle Pitts. TE, ATL
Week 17: 4 rec (5 targets), 44 yards, TD, 30 snaps (47%)
Season: 45 rec (65 targets), 587 yards, 4 TD
Pitts had his best game in over a month and scored for the first time in two months. The clutch game-tying touchdown was an excellent contested catch.
This has been a disappointing season overall for Pitts, but that grab and a couple of others in this game came off plays where new quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. trusted Pitts to win one-on-one. If he isn’t traded this offseason, it could bode well for 2025 and launch him into free agency with a big season.
That was also his fourth touchdown reception this season, a career-high. He’s improved his TD totals every year of his career - one in 2021, two in 2022, three in 2023, and four in 2024.
New Year’s Resolution: Catch fire! Whether it was the devastating knee injury two years ago or the inexplicable usage in the Falcons offense, Pitts has seemed to lack juice on the field most of the time. Hopefully he can find passion and joy in football again either with his rookie QB Penix - who is 151 days OLDER than Pitts - or eventually on a new team.
4 - Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, WAS
Week 17: 1 sack, 2 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 1 QB hit, 41 snaps (64%)
Season: 10.5 sacks, 35 tackles, INT, 67 return yards, TD, 14 TFL, 12 QB hits, 1 PD, 2 FF
Dante Fowler didn’t make the initial Pro Bowl roster, but as a third alternate at outside linebacker, he has a chance to eventually earn the honor when guys in front of him opt out for injuries or deep postseason runs.
His excellent season continued Sunday night with another sack and forced fumble.
Fowler is 10th in the league in sacks with 10.5 and is one of only three players with that many sacks and a pick-six. He can tie his career-high with one more sack in week 18.
New Year’s Resolution: Get the bag! Fowler has earned over a million dollars in contract incentives with his double-digit performance this year. He can rack in a cool $375,000 more with just a half sack on Sunday.
5 - Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, MIN
Week 17: 2 tackles, 3 QB hits, 1 PD, 53 snaps (84%)
Season: 11 sacks, 54 tackles, 16 TFL, 20 QB hits, 4 FF, 3 PD
New Year’s Resolution: Stay Healthy. This is the first time Greenard will have played every game in a season. He’s a clear superstar when he’s on the field, so whatever training and diet changes he’s made,
6 - Gervon Dexter, Sr., DT, CHI
Week 17: 2 tackles, 2 QB hits, 29 snaps (56%), 4 ST snaps (19%)
Season: 5 sacks, 46 tackles, 4 TFL, 18 QB hits, 1 PD, 2 FR
New Year’s Resolution: Hit the cardio. Big Dex made a leap in year two, especially the first half of this season. But on a bad team with little help around, he wore down. If he’s going to take his game to an elite level - something he definitely flashed he’s capable of - he has to get in better condition.
7 - Jonathan Bullard, DL, MIN
Week 17: 3 tackles, 26 snaps (41%)
Season: 38 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 QB hits, 2 PD
New Year’s Resolution: Enjoy this. Bullard has found a home and a role in Minnesota, putting together easily the best two seasons of his career. His ability to stuff the middle and hold the point of attack has allowed the stars around him - Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkle - to make plays. He’ll be a free agent this offseason and will turn 32 next fall so nothing is guaranteed going forward.
8 - Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU
Week 17: 5 rush, 13 yards, 1 KR, 45 yards, 14 snaps (25%), 7 ST snaps (29%)
Season: 21 rush, 117 yards, TD, 2 rec, 2 yards, 8 KR, 38.1 avg
Pierce had another big kick return on Christmas Day.
It was so violent, it caught the attention of my friends at Good Morning Football and Kyle Brandt was predictably foaming at the mouth over the angry run.
Pierce leads the league in kick return average (38.1) among players with at least eight run backs.
New Year’s Resolution: Escape from Houston. Pierce has been a non-factor in Houston’s offense for two years now. Yes he’s found a role and a way to make an impact returning kicks, but no doubt he feels he can still be a lead back in the league. He’ll most likely have to do it with a new team.
9 - O’Cyrus Torrence, G, BUF
Week 17: 70 snaps (100%), 6 ST snaps (27%)
Season: 943 snaps (99%), 84 ST snaps (21%), 2 FR, 6 penalties
New Year’s Resolution: Keep Josh Allen safe. Torrence has done an excellent job of that his first two years in the league. That should be the goal for the next decade - and if he succeeds, he’s going to have a shot at winning a few Super Bowl rings.
10 - T.J. Slaton, NT, GB
Week 17: 2 tackles, 25 snaps (40%), 11 ST snaps (41%)
Season: 1 sack, 27 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 QB hits
New Year’s Resolution: Google Cal Ripken, Jr. On his first defensive snap this Sunday, Slaton will complete a remarkable streak to start his career - he will have played in all 68 games since coming into the league. Life in the NFL for big men is very hard. It’s a helluva accomplishment.
THE REST OF THE FORMER GATORS
Brenton Cox, Jr., OLB, GB
Week 17: 1 QB hits, 29 snaps (40%), 6 ST snaps (22%)
Season: 7 G, 4 sacks, 12 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 FF, 7 QB hits
New Year’s Resolution: Stay focused. Cox has always had massive potential, but off-the-field issues and attitude sidetracked him at Georgia and Florida. After a year and a half of watching in Green Bay, he’s finally cracked the rotation and become an instant force.
Taven Bryan, DT, IND
Week 17: 1 tackle, 6 snaps (11%), 13 ST snaps (41%)
Season: 1 sack, 18 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 QB hits, 1 PD, 1 FR
New Year’s Resolution: F them haters. Bryan will always have the label of a first-round bust. He’s never had more than three sacks or 33 tackles in a season. He’s bounced around to three different teams over the past four seasons and never been anything more than a role player with any of them. At the same time, he is finishing up his seventh season in a league where most players don’t make it past two or three. For a lightly recruited kid out of Wyoming, that’s a fantastic career.
Tommy Townsend, P, HOU
Week 17: 6 punts, 48.2 avg, 43.7 net
Season: 72 punts, 48.0 avg, 44.0 net
New Year’s Resolution: Never change. Kickers and punters are always weirdos, but Townsend is definitely one of the coolest guys in the fraternity. The long hair, the celebrations, the swag. He’s got it all.
Brandon Powell, WR/PR, MIN
Week 17: 1 PR, 0 yards, 4 snaps (6%), 11 ST snaps (33%)
Season: 7 rec (10 targets), 71 yards, 21 PR, 7.2 avg
New Year’s Resolution: Find a seam. Powell has been close a couple of times this season to breaking a long punt return. I’d love to see him house one in the postseason.
Demarcus Robinson, WR, LAR
Week 17: 2 targets, 45 snaps (79%)
Season: 28 rec (58 targets), 433 yards, 7 TD
The streak continues. Robinson has not had a reception in four straight games. Since he was integrated in the Rams passing attack in week nine last season, Robinson had recorded at least one grab in 20 of 21 games and totaled 54 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns. It’s wild that he has become an afterthought in L.A.’s offense.
New Year’s Resolution: Grab an Uber. Robinson’s DUI two months ago was an awful mistake that he clearly knew was wrong and apologized for. Coincidentally, his production on the field has cratered. Hopefully he puts it behind him, regains some mojo on the field, and always gets a ride home going forward.
Van Jefferson, WR, PIT
Week 17: 1 target, 32 snaps (43%)
Season: 21 rec (36 targets), 258 yards, 2 TD
New Year’s Resolution: Try to find a role on special teams. It’s pretty clear Jefferson is nothing more than a fourth or fifth receiver in the league at this point. He struggles to get open and doesn’t make many contested catches. If he wants to stay in the league, he’s going to need to help on special teams.
Jawaan Taylor, RT, KC
Week 17: 62 snaps (100%), 4 ST snaps (16%), 3 penalties
Season: 1,094 snaps (98%), 74 ST snaps (18%), 14 penalties
New Year’s Resolution: Find the joy in two-tenths of a second. If Taylor waited that long before moving on the snap, he’d eliminate about half the penalties he’s hit with every year. I’ve written repeatedly how Taylor is targeted by the referees when plenty of other tackles jump the snap the same way.
Eddy Piñeiro, K, CAR
Week 17: 0/1 FG, Miss 53, 2/2 XP
Season: 21/25 FG, Long 53, 28/30 XP
Piñeiro has missed three field goals and two extra points over the past five weeks.
New Year’s Resolution: More pilates and leg days. Piñeiro has suffered too many nagging injuries that have often sapped his strength and consistency. His recent slide has come after he hurt his knee celebrating a game-winning kick. He’s also had groin, hamstring, and ankle injuries over the course of his career. He has to find a way to avoid the minor knocks.
Zach Carter, DT, LV
Week 17: 25 snaps (42%), 2 ST snaps (7%)
Season: 1.5 sacks, 17 tackles, 2 QB hits
New Year’s Resolution: Eat seconds. And thirds. Carter made his mark in Gainesville as a defensive end with quick feet, strong hands, and the ability to penetrate and make plays in the backfield. In the pros, he isn’t fast enough to play on the edge and he isn’t strong or quick enough to play in the middle. He has to bulk up and become someone who can hold the point of attack, shed blockers, and make plays. He needs more size to do that.
Amari Burney, LB, LV
Week 17: 11 snaps (18%), 22 ST snaps (79%)
Season: 1 sack, 13 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 FF, 1 QB hit
New Year’s Resolution: Become a special teams ace. Burney hasn’t been able to crack the Raiders defensive rotation despite all their issues. If he’s going to make it in the NFL, he has to become a quality special teams player.
Marco Wilson, CB, CIN
Week 17: 5 snaps (8%), 9 ST snaps (36%)
Season: 17 tackles, 1 PD
New Year’s Resolution: Invest wisely. The Cardinals drafted Wilson and dumped him after 43 games. The Patriots - with perhaps the least amount of talent on any NFL roster - let him go after 11 games. He’s with his third team in a year and that’s only because of Cincinnati’s injuries. Wilson isn’t long for the league.
Jeremiah Moon, OLB, PIT
Week 17: 1 tackle, 5 snaps (8%), 19 ST snaps (76%)
Season: 9 tackles
New Year’s Resolution: Be a sponge. Moon has always been a longshot to stick in the league, but he’s in the perfect place to give him the best chance. T.J. Watt is one of the best outside linebacker/EDGEs of this generation. The Steelers grow and develop better than just about every other team. Plus, Moon’s measurements (6’5/247 lbs/4.76 40) are pretty close to Watt’s (6’4/252/4.69). Watch and learn from the best.
Justin Shorter, TE, LV
Week 17: 2 snaps (3%), 9 ST snaps (32%)
Season: 25 OFF snaps (4%), 111 ST snaps (46%)
New Year’s Resolution: Bulk up. Shorter has officially transitioned to tight end. To have any success and longevity, he has to get bigger and stronger.
Fred Johnson, OT, PHI
Week 17: 7 snaps (11%), 8 ST snaps (31%)
Season: 413 snaps (38%), 84 ST snaps (20%), 3 penalties
New Year’s Resolution: Stay Ready. Johnson filled in admirably at both right and left tackle earlier this season. The Eagles expect a long playoff run and may need him again.
Stone Forsythe, OT, SEA
Week 17: 2 ST snaps (10%)
Season: 414 OFF snaps (76%), 34 ST snaps (15%), 2 penalties
New Year’s Resolution: Convince Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald to use him on a tackle eligible play. How sweet would a touchdown pass to “Stone hands” be?
Kyle Trask, QB, TB
Week 17: 3 rush, -2 yards
Season: 1/1 passing, 5 yards, 5 rush, -4 yards
Mop-up duty allowed Trask to play a season-high 11 snaps in Tampa’s blowout win. He did not attempt a pass, instead logging three kneel downs to end the game.
New Year’s Resolution: Embrace the backup quarterback life. Trask has thrown 11 passes in his first four seasons. He’ll be a free agent this spring, and while he certainly won’t have a chance to become a starter in the league, he can hang around as a backup or third quarterback for a few more years.
INACTIVE
Anthony Richardson, QB, IND
New Year’s Resolution: Live in the Colts facility this offseason. Richardson had moments of brilliance and moments of calamity this year. Ultimately though, there might be more questions about him entering this offseason than last. He has to take ownership of the Colts and prove to everyone he’s a leader who can fulfill his potential as a star in the league.
D.J. Humphries, LT, KC
New Year’s Resolution: Be ready. By the time the Chiefs play their first playoff game in the divisional round, Humphries will have had five weeks to heal from the hamstring injury he suffered in his first game in KC.
Kaiir Elam, CB, BUF
New Year’s Resolution: Find the playoff magic. Elam has had an interception in each of his first two seasons in the playoffs. He’s out of the rotation in Buffalo, but when injuries call, he has shown he can make a play on the biggest stages.
Ventrell Miller, LB, JAX
New Year’s Resolution: Find some luck. Miller has had to deal with some sort of injury in every season going back to 2020 in Gainesville. Thankfully this year’s ankle injury is only minor and won’t sour what has been a very nice rookie season.
PRACTICE SQUAD
Trey Dean III, S, CLE
Malik Davis, RB, DAL
Kingsley Eguakun, C, DET
Richard Gouraige, OT, BUF
David Sharpe, OT, NYJ
New Year’s Resolution: Find a way. Stay in the league as long as you can, even if you’re on a practice squad. Guys like Trey Dean and Kingsley Equakun have never played in a regular season game. On the flip side, David Sharpe has played in 45 games over eight seasons but hasn’t started one since 2020. But each of them still have hope of getting back on an active roster. Hope is a good thing.
INJURED RESERVE
Marcus Maye, S, LAC
Evan McPherson, K, CIN
Trent Brown, RT, CIN
Alex Anzalone, LB, DET
C.J. Henderson, CB, PIT
New Year’s Resolution: Get healthy and get back on the field. Various ailments sidelined the guys on this list. Other than Anzalone, none were able to get back this season. McPherson has to find his old form once healthy. The other three - Brown, Maye, and Henderson - have to find a team willing to give them another chance in 2025.