As the Ravens and Steelers prepare to kick off the AFC’s playoff slate tonight, let’s round up a few items from around the conference….
- The Chiefs are focused on Eric Berry’s health and not his contract, as Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star writes. Berry, who was diagnosed with lymphoma, is scheduled to have a cap number of $8.357MM in 2015 and is slated to receive $5.455MM in total salary. If he’s placed on the non-football injury list in 2015, the Chiefs are technically under no obligation to pay him, but it’d be a highly questionable PR move for the team.
- The Steelers are missing Le’Veon Bell and probably wish they had a better Plan B right now. Tyler Dunne of the Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter) notes that the Steelers made a play for James Starks in free agency, but ultimately whiffed. The Steelers then signed LeGarrette Blount, who is no longer with the team.
- James Walker of ESPN looks at a number of offseason decisions the Dolphins are set to make over the next few months in his mailbag. Walker sees Miami having a need at running back but passing on Wisconsin runner Melvin Gordon in the first round. He also can see the club moving on from backup quarterback Matt Moore, and possibly cutting guard Shelley Smith.
- The Patriots will likely need to cut receiver Danny Amendola and restructure the contracts of Darrelle Revis and Jerod Mayo this offseason in order to open up cap room to sign other players, says Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).
Rob DiRe contributed to this post.