LARAMIE -- Aside from being NFL quarterbacks, what do these guys all have in common?

  • Brady Quinn
  • Ben Roethlisberger
  • Jay Cutler
  • Matt Stafford
  • Ryan Tannehill
  • Mike Glennon
  • Derek Carr
  • Blake Bortles
  • Joe Flacco
  • Drew Brees
  • Carson Palmer
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick
  • Deshaun Watson
  • Jacoby Brissett
  • Patrick Mahomes
  • Matt Ryan
  • Teddy Bridgewater
  • Drew Lock

They've all been picked off by former Wyoming defensive back, Tashaun Gipson.

In fact, the current safety of the Chicago Bears has multiple interceptions off Roethlisberger (3), Cutler (2), Mahomes (2), Ryan (2), Flacco (2) and a pair off the right arm of Bortles.

His last victim was Carolina's Bridgewater last Sunday. That came on the Panthers' third offensive play of the afternoon. Three plays later, the Bears punched it in and were well on their way to a 23-16 road victory to move to 5-1 on the season.




A loss by Green Bay later that night, vaulted Chicago right into first place in the NFC North.

"We'll win games 3-2 if we have to," Gipson told Spain and Fitz Tuesday on ESPN Radio. "That's the Chicago way. We understand that way and we're OK with that."

Pro Football Focus, a website dedicated to stats and analytics, has Gipson as the fourth-least targeted safety in the NFL through six games. Quarterbacks throw his way just once every 20 snaps when the defense is on pass coverage.

"You know, it's just a testament to the guys we have," Gipson told 247sports.com. "It’s a collective effort between a group of men that just make it a conscious effort to say, 'we’re going to make a play, we’re going to make a stand.' I think that’s a testament to how we’ve been coached, our preparation. It just shows the type of guys that we have."

To think, this guy is on a one-year deal in Chicago.

That should change soon.

While Gipson was in Laramie from 2008-11, he split time between the corner and safety position. He picked off nine passes and registered 250 tackles from the back end.

Here's how the other UW alums did this past weekend in the NFL:




QB-Josh Allen-Buffalo Bills

Keith Kelley started the Sports Zone on KFBC in Cheyenne Tuesday by stating the obvious: "Josh Allen is trash." That is if you believe everything you read on Buffalo Bills' message boards. An MVP candidate a couple of weeks ago, those so-called fans and even some national media members (looking at you Terry Bradshaw) have left the third-year quarterback out of Wyoming for dead after the Bills have dropped two in a row, including a Monday night loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Was Allen great Monday afternoon? No. He completed just 14-of-27 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns in rain-soaked Buffalo. He also threw a pick in the 26-17 loss. Allen is still completing 67.1 percent of his passes and has tossed 16 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. The "Bills Mafia" bandwagon is clearing if you're interested in a new team.




RB-Brian Hill-Atlanta Falcons

For just the second time in his 34 career games, Brian Hill fumbled the ball. For the first time in 2020, the Atlanta Falcons actually won a football game. Hill, who is Wyoming's all-time leading rusher, carried the ball a season-high 10 times for just 28 yards Sunday in the 40-23 road win in Minnesota. He also caught two passes for six yards. By the way, Atlanta was up 10-0 late in the first quarter when Hill lost a grip on that ball. The Vikings failed to take advantage. No harm, no foul, right? See that tweet above? Give Falcons fans a break -- they've been through a lot this season. Hill now has 161 yards on 35 carries this season. He also has a touchdown.




DB-Tyler Hall-Atlanta Falcons

Speaking of the Falcons, Tyler Hall saw action in the third NFL game of his career. The former Cowboy was signed by Atlanta as a free agent minutes after the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft. So far, he has one tackle to his credit. That came back on Oct. 11 in a loss to division rival Carolina. Watch for No. 44 on special teams. He's playing more each week.




LB-Logan Wilson-Cincinnati Bengals

What's wrong with Logan Wilson? The rookie from Casper didn't pick off a pass Sunday in a 31-27 road loss to the Colts. All kidding aside, Wilson did register three tackles, including a "stuff." That would be a tackle for loss in our neck of the woods. Wilson played just 52 percent of the snaps for the Bengals defense as he still gets used to the pro game. His stat line reads like this through four games: 12 tackles, a stuff and two interceptions. How grounded is this guy ... before his game Sunday, he reached out to current UW linebacker Chad Muma to congratulate him on becoming one of four team captains this fall. Never change, Logan.




LB-Cassh Maluia-New England Patriots

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone around here who was sad that Cassh Maluia's team lost on Sunday. They played the Broncos at Gillette Stadium. They fell 18-12. The rookie free agent linebacker from Wyoming has yet to record a stat in his brief NFL career, but he did appear in 50 percent of New England's snaps on special teams.




DT-Mike Purcell-Denver Broncos

Speaking of Denver, Mike Purcell helped hold the Patriots to just 117 yards rushing Sunday afternoon in Foxborough. Nearly 80 of those came in 10 carries from New England quarterback Cam Newton, who fell to 0-4 all time against the Broncos. You probably feel really bad for him, huh? Purcell, who was limited in practice during the week with a knee injury, registered just two tackles in the victory, and now has 15 on the season to go along with a sack.




C-Chase Roullier-Washington Football Team

"Riverboat" Ron Rivera didn't earn that nickname for nothing. With 36 ticks remaining on the clock Sunday in the Meadowlands, Kyle Allen hit Cam Sims for a 22-yard touchdown pass. The team formerly known as the Redskins were down 20-19 with the point-after attempt pending. Why not go for two? With just one win since his arrival in DC, Rivera did just that. It didn't work. Washington fell to 1-5 on the season, but did some good things in the process. Running back JD McKissic amassed 41 yards on just eight carries and Allen completed 71.1 percent of his passes, going for 280 yards through the air with two touchdowns. He was sacked just three times. That all fits under Chase Roullier's department.

Here's a list of Cowboys who were on a bye this week:

WR-Rico Gafford-Las Vegas Raiders

DE-Carl Granderson-New Orleans Saints

TE-Jacob Hollister-Seattle Seahawks

There were some injuries, too:

S-Andrew Wingard-Jacksonville Jaguars (Abdominal strain)

S-Marcus Epps-Philadelphia Eagles (Ribs)

LB-Mark Nzeocha-San Francisco 49ers (Strained quadriceps)

TE-Austin Fort-Denver Broncos (Knee-season ending)

How about a feel-good story:




DE-Eddie Yarbrough-Minnesota Vikings

The smiley big man who can play a mean ukulele was re-signed to Minnesota's practice squad Oct. 12 after being cut a week prior. The former Wyoming defensive standout has played in just one game for the Vikings this season. Eddie Yarbrough recorded two tackles in an opening-day loss to the Packers.

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