After analyzing each team’s best and worst contracts, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap takes a look at the league as a whole to determine who has the most most team-friendly deal. Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake, who is set to count just $7.285MM against the cap in 2014, rated as the third-best 4-3 defensive end in the league last season per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and has the league’s best contract from management’s perspective, per Fitzgerald. Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart has the most constraining deal, says Fitzgerald, as the RB is in the midst of a five-year, $36.5MM extension.
- Rather than file an appeal, the Redskins are actually starting litigation anew regarding the cancellation of several of their trademarks, writes Megan Finnerty of the Arizona Republic. The case will attract the attention of a federal courtoom, rather than redirect back to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, the team will argue that there is a distinction between “redskin” and “Redskin,” holding that the latter, proper noun is not disparaging.
- Ryan Mallett started the Patriots’ first preseason game, perhaps as a showcase for a trade, so New England’s use of the fourth-year quarterback in Friday’s game against the Eagles will be interesting to watch, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. If rookie Jimmy Garoppolo is allowed to play most of the second half behind starter Tom Brady, it could be a sign the Pats are willing to deal Mallett.
- An arbitrator ruled in April that Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson owed his former agent Drew Rosenhaus over $500K in fees and loans, but that decision is now being called into question. Per Will Brinson of CBSSports.com, arbitrator Roger Kaplan failed to notify Jackson’s legal team that he had a prior working relationship with Rosenhaus. A district court judge has ordered a hearing to determine whether Kaplan, who claims he disclosed his conflict in a letter to Jackson’s lawyer, acted improperly.