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Latest On NFL Personal Conduct Policy

November 28th, 2014 at 10:08pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL Players Association got a win of sorts today when Judge Barbara S. Jones overturned the league’s indefinite suspension of former Ravens running back Ray Rice, but the decision won’t necessarily result in any major changes to the NFL’s disciplinary process. Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports (via Twitter) that the league expects to complete and announce a new personal conduct policy “in the weeks ahead,” and it remains to be seen exactly how much input the union will have on that new policy.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFLPA fears that the NFL will unilaterally implement a new conduct policy without any collective bargaining – and without accounting for the union’s objecting – following the next ownership meetings, which are scheduled for December 10. While that new policy might be an improvement on the current one, the league and commissioner Roger Goodell may not concede to independent arbitration for disciplinary matters and appeals, in which case we could see more cases like Rice’s, where the disciplinary process is somewhat arbitrary.

For the NFLPA’s part, president Eric Winston says the players just want to be involved in the creation of the new conduct policy, per Pelissero.

“If they want the buy-in of the players, sit down at the table with us and bargain,” Winston said. “If not, then they’re going to unilaterally do this, they’re going to keep messing up the game and we’re going to keep talking about these things, unfortunately, instead of a big matchup on Sunday …. Every player has rights. We’re not against discipline, and we’ve never been against discipline. But that discipline needs to be carried out in the proper fashion, within the rights both sides have negotiated.”

Rice’s suspension is far from the first case in which the NFL has issued a ruling that had no precedent and didn’t match up with the rules in the current conduct policy. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is embroiled in a similar situation now, having agreed to be placed on the exempt list, believing the time served would help alleviate any additional suspension. His suspension is currently under appeal, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Still, in the case of Rice, a third party (Jones) called out Goodell and the league for an “arbitrary” process, and the NFLPA is hoping the ruling draws attention to what the union sees as a disturbing pattern.

“It’s starting to become a pattern now,” Winston said. “We’re having a lot of this overreaching, lack of due process, and so now (the league says), ‘Let’s make changes. Well, we only want to make the changes we want to make.’

“I’m not happy about this,” Winston said of today’s ruling. “There’s not a winner here. The judge said we were right, but we didn’t win. There’s been way too many of these.“

Colts Have Fit, Not Interest, For Ray Rice

November 28th, 2014 at 7:55pm CST by Rob DiRe

One of the teams most desperate for competency at the running back position is the Indianapolis Colts, and they were on the list of front runners for Ray Rice‘s services, should any team target him for the stretch run.

The Colts would have been an ideal landing spot from Rice’s perspective as well, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). La Canfora qualifies that by admitting Rice wouldn’t have much say in where he goes, if he gets any opportunity at all.

La Canfora does cite Rice’s excellent relationship with head coach Chuck Pagano from their time together in Baltimore as one reason for the fit, as well as the locker room support of former teammates Cory Redding and Arthur Jones (via Twitter). Rice makes his home in New Rochelle, not a far trip from Indianapolis, which would ease the transition. The team needs desperately to find someone who can contribute in pass protection and in the screen game, two areas that Rice excelled in with the Ravens (via Twitter).

Another caveat is the recent troubles of owner Jim Irsay. La Canfora believes that Irsay’s recent transgressions and his humility in asking the fan base for a second chance would make him more likely to sympathize with Rice’s situation, which would provide an easier path for an owner to be willing to take on the negative publicity (via Twitter).

Still, Michael Grady of 1070 ESPN Radio doesn’t believe Rice will succeed with the Colts if he were signed, due to the team’s struggling offensive line (via Twitter). He doesn’t see Rice as the type of back to be able to make something out of nothing, which is what the Colts’ offensive line is giving the team in the running game.

All of this is probably moot, because the Colts stated they were not interested in Rice as recently as ten days ago, reports Ed Werder of ESPN (via Twitter). While that was a week and a half ago, it was still after the injury to Ahmad Bradshaw that left the team reeling at the position. Werder did admit that he was unsure if the club’s stance had changed.

Ray Rice’s NFL Future

November 28th, 2014 at 7:03pm CST by Rob DiRe

Now that Ray Rice is eligible to sign with an NFL team as a free agent, his chances of joining a team this season are not high. While Rice still carries a high profile as far as running backs go, his value as a ballcarrier has been greatly diminished.

Albert Breer of NFL Network points out that his disastrous 2013 season is hurting his chances on top of the baggage that he will bring to his next team (via Twitter). He averaged a dismal 3.0 yards per carry, which raises question about how much he would help a team anyway. Breer notes that the on-field performance is the biggest difference between the cases of Rice and fellow embattled tailback Adrian Peterson (via Twitter). Peterson’s talent and ability does not have the questions attached to it that Rice’s does. NFL teams have always been willing to take chances on players with checkered pasts, but only if their talent justifies it (via Twitter).

Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reiterated that he does not believe that Rice will ever play in the NFL again (via Twitter). The public relations nightmare that will come with Rice will be a deterrent for teams, and Freeman believes that the video attached to the running back’s case will be the difference between his case and others in similar situations (via Twitter).

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that Rice has stayed in phenomenal shape throughout the process, waiting for the opportunity to play this season. He disagrees with Freeman, saying that if no one signs Rice in the next month, he will be able to find a team during the offseason (via Twitter).

The chances Rice signs with a team after the season are much better than an immediate signing, and Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times believes he will have a team shortly after the Super Bowl (via Twitter). His reasoning is that it will give a new fan base six months to get used to him before he takes the field.

An added wrinkle is that any team that signs Rice will still be defying NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s suspension. If a team were to sign him for the stretch run, it would be “directly slapping Goodell in the face,” according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (via Twitter).

Even still, there are a few potential playoff teams that could be potential landing spots for Rice’s services, writes Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Among them are the Colts, Cardinals, Falcons, Lions, Broncos, and Chargers. Still, the need would have to outweigh the overwhelming negative publicity that would likely come along with Rice.

Bears To Place Lance Briggs On IR

November 28th, 2014 at 5:07pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Bears are placing long-time linebacker Lance Briggs on injured reserve with a groin injury, ending his season, reports Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).

Briggs has spent 12 seasons in Chicago, making the Pro Bowl seven times in his career with the team. He is one of five Bears to start 170 games for the team, along with Walter Payton, Olin Kreutz, Brian Urlacher, and Mike Singletary, according to Brad Biggs (via Twitter).

Briggs was one of former coach Lovie Smith’s favorites, making a career as a weakside linebacker on some great 4-3 cover-two defenses. His performance since Smith was fired had declined precipitously, and the new regime had made an effort to move on from the team’s defensive stalwarts.

If Briggs decides to continue his career, he will likely have to find somewhere else to play other than Chicago. The Bears are unlikely to bring Briggs back next season, reports David Haugh (via Twitter).

One likely landing spot for Briggs if he pursues another team would be the Buccaneers, where he and Smith could reunite, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN (via Twitter). If his level of play returns to what it was under Smith, he will add to a run defense highlighted by Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David.

Minor Moves: Friday

November 28th, 2014 at 4:38pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll round up Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, including practice squad signings and cuts, in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Dolphins have claimed former Patriot defensive back Don Jones off waivers, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Patriots had waived Jones on Thursday. The Dolphins waived Lowell Rose in order to make room for Jones, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).

Earlier Updates:

  • The Jaguars have swapped one wide receiver for another on their 53-man roster, waiving Mike Brown and promoting Tommy Streeter from the practice squad to take his spot, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Brown, who had seven catches for 88 yards this season, had been a healthy scratch for each of the last six games.
  • After releasing him from their active roster on Wednesday, the Bills have re-signed defensive end Bryan Johnson to their practice squad, the club announced today in a press release. To accommodate the addition of Johnson, Buffalo has parted ways with practice squad cornerback Brandon Smith.
  • The Patriots have removed a pair of players from their practice squad, cutting long snapper Charley Hughlett and tight end Xavier Grimble, according to a team release. Regular Pats long snapper Danny Aiken suffered a concussion during last week’s game against the Lions, but Hughlett’s release bodes well for Aiken’s chances of playing this weekend.

Ray Rice Wins Appeal, Eligible For Return

November 28th, 2014 at 3:50pm CST by Ben Levine

3:50pm: Rice has also released a brief statement (via Albert Breer):

“I would like to thank Judge Barbara Jones, the NFL Players Association, my attorneys, agents, advisors, family, friends and fans – but most importantly, my wife Janay. I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions. I am thankful that there was a proper appeals process in place to address this issue. I will continue working hard to improve myself and be the best husband, father and friend, while giving back to my community and helping others to learn from my mistakes.”

3:25pm: The NFL Players Association released a statement regarding the ruling:

“This decision is a victory for a disciplinary process that is fair and transparent. This union will always stand up and fight for the due process rights of our players. While we take no pleasure in seeing a decision that confirms what we have been saying about the Commissioner’s office acting arbitrarily, we hope that this will bring the NFL owners to the collective bargaining table to fix a broken process. It is clear that this decision should force the NFL to embrace neutral arbitration as part of a necessary due process in all cases. The players thank Judge Barbara Jones for her time and thoroughness in this matter.”

2:10pm: Former Ravens running back Ray Rice has won his appeal for reinstatement, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The running back’s indefinite suspension has been overturned and he is now eligible to sign with any team. However, based on the rumblings we’ve heard over the past couple of months, that seems unlikely, at least for this season.

Following a grand jury indictment on third-degree aggravated assault, Rice was suspended for the first two games of the 2014 season. When videos were released showing Rice striking his then-fiance, the NFL indefinitely banned the running back. The appeal hearing took place earlier this month, with Rice’s lawyers arguing that the running back shouldn’t have been penalized twice for the same offense, especially considering the league’s new six-game domestic abuse policy (via a tweet from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports).

The ruling certainly contradicts the punishment and subsequent comments by commissioner Roger Goodell in September. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that arbitrator and former U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones believed Rice did not lie to the league regarding the circumstances of the assault. While the league claimed that the TMZ video shed new light into the investigation, the judge decided that Rice “did not mislead the Commissioner” and that the league saw “no new facts” prior to handing out the second suspension (via USA Today’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter).

“In so holding, I find that the NFLPA carried its burden of showing that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16th meeting, and therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident and the same known facts about the incident, was arbitrary,” Jones’ stated (via ESPN.com).

“The Commissioner needed to be fair and consistent in his imposition of discipline.

“Moreover, any failure on the part of the League to understand the level of violence was not due to Rice’s description of the event but to the inadequacy of words to convey the seriousness of domestic violence. That the League did not realize the severity of the conduct without a visual record also speaks to their admitted failure in the past to sanction this type of conduct more severely.”

The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin believes that’s “not a good look” for the commissioner’s office (via Twitter). Either way, the NFL won’t pursue additional punishment for Rice, as Andrew Brandt tweets that the league is accepting the ruling as “binding.”

Rice has an active grievance against the Ravens regarding the money he believes he’s still owed, according to Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). However, if the running back were to join another team, it wouldn’t have an impact on the Ravens cap, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. Rice counts for $4.75MM against the cap this season and $9.5MM next year.

Some in the league believe that Rice’s return is inevitable, but not necessarily this season. That includes former Ravens executive Phil Savage and former Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik (via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)…

“I think it’s going to be tough for him to get his first crack at it in 2014,” said Savage. “I would tend to think that there would be — for lack of a better term — a cooling off period for him to reprove himself. But we’re a country of second chances and I do think he’ll get another opportunity.”

“You have to be willing to understand that it’s going to be a PR hit for a little bit, but I think you reason that as bad as the video was, they do their time for what they’ve done wrong,” said Dominik. “He’s still, from everything I’ve heard or know, gotten support from his wife to play and they are still together. I would sit there and have a lot of conversations, talk to ownership and you go through it. But Ray Rice is a good football player. I would expect him back in the league, but it may not be until 2015.”

Furthermore, Volin tweets that an owner would be “slapping Goodell in the face” if they decided to add Rice for the stretch run.

NFC Links: Cardinals, Bears, Bucs

November 28th, 2014 at 3:20pm CST by Ben Levine

Following his brief retirement, James Harrison rejoined the Steelers, and the 36-year-old linebacker has been among the league’s biggest surprises this season. However, his resurgence almost didn’t happen in Pittsburgh, as the veteran was close to signing with the Cardinals. Via Peter King of MMQB.com…

“I had a deal in Arizona,” Harrison said. “I could have gone to Arizona for $2 million guaranteed. I kept asking for more money, and I could tell they wanted me to sign. But at the end of it, I didn’t want to play anymore … if I had to be away from my kids. I was already away from my family for a year in Cincinnati, and I wasn’t going to do that to them again.

“Then the Steelers had that injury. At, like, 4:03 a.m. [Monday], Brett Keisel texted me: ‘Come back.’ Coach [Mike] Tomlin called me. But I wasn’t going to come back if it wasn’t okay with my boys. So I asked them, and they both said yes. And I signed.”

Let’s take a look at some other notes from the NFC…

  • By his standards, Brandon Marshall has had an underwhelming 2014 season so far, prompting Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune to look back at the extension the wideout signed earlier this year and wonder if the Bears would’ve been better off waiting to lock him up.
  • Some Bears reporters believe change is inevitable, especially if the team continues on their current course. Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com says changes will be made for next season, but the specifics may be a result of the team’s performance down the stretch. Meanwhile, Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times believes the team has “anesthetized everyone into surrender,” adding that ownership will not make any significant changes.
  • If the Buccaneers decide to draft a quarterback in next year’s draft, the team will likely have to choose between Josh McCown or Mike Glennon. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times believes Glennon could have some trade value, while McCown could be a good mentor for a young player.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Falcons Waive Cameron Bradfield, Activate William Moore

November 28th, 2014 at 1:45pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons will welcome back one player today, but they’re also parting ways with another. ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the team has activated safety William Moore from the injured reserve-designated for return list. To make the necessary space, Atlanta waived veteran offensive lineman Cameron Bradfield.

It’s been a tumultuous 2014 for Bradfield, who re-signed with the Jaguars in March after having spent his first three seasons in Jacksonville. He started the first two games this season, and while Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) did not rate him favorably, he wasn’t the weakest lineman on the squad. Regardless, the tackle was cut in mid-September, and he was picked up by the Falcons two weeks later. The 27-year-old did not play a single snap for Atlanta.

Moore was placed on the short-term IR in September and was subsequently replaced in the lineup by Kemal Ishmael. The veteran safety led the Falcons defense in snaps last season, and PFR consistently ranked him among the better defenders on Atlanta. The 29-year-old signed a five-year contract worth $32MM in early 2013.

AFC Notes: Harris, Broncos, Jets, Rice

November 28th, 2014 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

After a Thanksgiving Day heavy on NFC action, this weekend’s slate of games will focus more on the AFC, including a Sunday night showdown between the Broncos and Chiefs that could go a long way toward determining the winner of the West division. As we look forward to the rest of Week 13’s contests, let’s check out some AFC items….

  • Broncos cornerback Chris Harris has become one of the most unheralded elite defensive backs in the league, as Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com details. The timing of Harris’ impending free agency is inconvenient for the Broncos, who will also have to lock up Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas this offseason. Speaking to Legwold, one NFC personnel director offered the following evaluation of Harris: “He’s an upper-tier player, a top player, and somebody is going to pay him if [the Broncos] don’t.”
  • The Jets should take a chance on Robert Griffin III, but not by trading for him, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. Costello wouldn’t deal for the embattled QB unless it’s for a rock-bottom bargain price, like a seventh-round pick. Instead, the Post scribe suggests that Gang Green should wait and see if Washington is forced to cut RGIII. Then, the Jets can draft a QB and have the rookie compete with Griffin and Geno Smith for two spots.
  • In the midst of a lost season, the Jets are hoping to find another Wayne Chrebet, Costello writes. The beloved Jets receiver saw plenty of losing seasons during his time but he used those opportunities to establish himself as a key piece for the future.
  • Earlier this month, we learned that a ruling on Ray Rice‘s suspension appeal was expected to happen by Thanksgiving weekend. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (video link) indicates that the decision still could come any day, including today, but it looks increasingly unlikely to happen this week. While the former Ravens running back would immediately be eligible to return to action if his suspension is overturned, teams may shy away from signing him this season.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Teams Facing Offseason Quarterback Decisions

November 28th, 2014 at 10:22am CST by Luke Adams

No position in the NFL – or, arguably, in any of North America’s major sports leagues – is more crucial to a team’s success than quarterback. And by our count, half the teams in the league shouldn’t have to worry about the position this offseason at all.

Many of these 16 clubs have an established veteran who remains under contract for multiple seasons, like the Packers with Aaron Rodgers or the Patriots with Tom Brady. Others don’t necessarily have an elite veteran quarterback, but have recently committed a high draft pick to a young signal-caller who is still expected to be the long-term answer — think Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota or Blake Bortles with the Jaguars.

However, the other half of the league’s teams have some uncertainty at the position. In some instances, a team will actively pursue a starting quarterback in the draft of free agency. For other teams, it’s simply a matter of ensuring that the current QB gets locked up for a few more years beyond next season.

Here’s an early look at those teams that should need to address the quarterback situation in one way or another during the offseason:

Teams with no clear-cut starter for 2015:

  • Buffalo Bills: Both players who have started at quarterback this year for the Bills could theoretically be back for the 2015 season — Kyle Orton has a second-year option on his deal, while E.J. Manuel‘s rookie contract runs through 2016. Neither player has asserted himself as a real answer for the club this season, but without a first-round pick, the Bills will be hard-pressed to find a long-term solution in the offseason.
  • Cleveland Browns: Unlike many of the teams in this group, the Browns actually may have two plausible options at quarterback, rather than none. The question GM Ray Farmer and his staff must answer is whether the team will hitch its wagon to Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel, or whether both players will return for 2015. Hoyer is eligible for free agency in March, so Cleveland could simply let him walk if the team believes Manziel will be ready to take over.
  • Houston Texans: Even if the Texans had seen enough from Ryan Mallett to think he was their future starter, he’s a free agent at season’s end, so there’s no guarantee he returns. Perhaps Houston views Tom Savage as its future starter, but I’d be surprised if the team doesn’t seek out alternatives this winter.
  • New York Jets: Like the Bills, the Jets haven’t had any success with their young quarterback (Geno Smith) or their veteran stopgap (Michael Vick). Smith could get one more chance in 2015 depending on how he finishes this season and who is coaching the team next year, but there are certainly no guarantees for the former second-round pick.
  • St. Louis Rams: Coming off another season-ending knee injury and owed a base salary of nearly $13MM in 2015, Sam Bradford is a strong candidate to become a cap casualty in the offseason. Austin Davis likely isn’t the Rams’ long-term signal-caller of choice, so St. Louis looks like a team that could target a QB in the draft. The Rams are currently projected to select 12th overall.
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Glennon received a vote of confidence as the Buccaneers’ “quarterback of the future” in the offseason from head coach Lovie Smith, but with Glennon currently backing up ineffective veteran Josh McCown, it’s not clear if the Bucs continue to stand by that stance. Glennon and McCown are both under contract for next season, so maybe Tampa Bay will try again with the duo and hope for better results, but with a potential top-five – or at least top-10 – pick on the way, the club will have to at least consider drafting a QB.
  • Tennessee Titans: Former first-rounder Jake Locker is on an expiring contract and appears to be on his way out of Tennessee. That could leave Zach Mettenberger as 2015’s starter, but the LSU product was a sixth-rounder and will have only a half-season of experience heading into next year. Presumably, like the Bucs, the Titans would have to take a long look at quarterbacks with their potential top-10 draft pick.
  • Washington: Amazingly, it was only two and a half years ago that Washington was giving up the farm in order to land Robert Griffin III. Now, it’s looks like there’s a reasonable chance that RGIII’s time in D.C. is coming to an end. Head coach Jay Gruden doesn’t seem any more enamored with Kirk Cousins than he is with Griffin, and Colt McCoy isn’t a long-term solution, so Washington is another team that could target a quarterback near the top of 2015’s draft. If they don’t go that route, Griffin could ultimately get the nod for at least one more year.

Teams facing decisions on options or extensions:

  • Carolina Panthers: As the first overall pick in 2011, Cam Newton remains under contract for one more season because the Panthers exercised his fifth-year option for 2015. Still, it seems unlikely that the team would let him play Week 1 without a new deal. In all likelihood, it’ll be a matter of when – not if – Newton and the Panthers reach a long-term agreement, which could provide a notable benchmark for the quarterbacks from the 2012 draft.
  • Indianapolis Colts: One of those 2012 quarterbacks is Andrew Luck, and again, it’s a matter of when – not if – he signs a new long-term contract with his current team. He becomes eligible for an extension this winter, but the Colts could choose to simply pick up his 2016 option and put off long-term negotiations another year.
  • Miami Dolphins: Unlike Luck, Ryan Tannehill isn’t a lock to have his fifth-year option exercised. Still, despite Tannehill’s ups and downs over the years, and despite an expected price tag of about $15MM on that 2016 option, I’d expect the Dolphins to exercise it. It’s not immediately fully guaranteed, and even if it were, Tannehill has done enough this year that he’s worth keeping around for an extra year at that price, if not locking up to a full-fledged, multiyear deal.
  • New York Giants: Eli Manning and the Giants have both expressed interest in continuing the relationship, and I anticipate that’ll be exactly what happens. Manning’s current pact expires after the 2015 season, so the two sides should get serious about an extension this winter.
  • Philadelphia Eagles: Perhaps the Eagles should be included in the section above, since we can’t say with 100% certainty that Nick Foles will reclaim his starting role in 2015, given how shaky he was early this season. Still, I’d be pretty surprised if Philadelphia went another direction. Because he wasn’t a first-round pick in 2012, Foles doesn’t have a fifth-year option, meaning his deal will expire after 2015, and the Eagles will have to make a decision on him soon. In my view, Foles could start the ’15 season without a new deal and – if the Eagles like what they see – he could sign an in-season extension like Carson Palmer did with the Cardinals this year.
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: Another instance where it’s only a matter of time until a new deal gets done — the Steelers will likely sign Ben Roethlisberger to a contract this offseason that locks him up beyond 2015. The team has already indicated that negotiations will resume at season’s end.
  • San Diego Chargers: Another veteran who should remain with his current team, Philip Rivers is expected to re-open extension discussions with the Chargers after the season. His current deal expires after 2015.
  • Seattle Seahawks: Like Foles, Russell Wilson is a third-round pick whose rookie contract doesn’t feature a fifth-year option. As such, the Seahawks may be more aggressive about working out a multiyear extension sooner rather than later with their franchise quarterback, whose deal runs through the 2015 season.
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