2015 April - Pro Football Rumors

Maurice Jones-Drew Announces Retirement

April 23rd, 2015 at 9:58am CST by Luke Adams

APRIL 23: Jones-Drew will be in Jacksonville next Tuesday to officially retire as a member of the Jaguars, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.

MARCH 5: Maurice Jones-Drew will not return to the Raiders or any other NFL team for the 2015 season. The veteran running back confirmed today (via Twitter) that he has decided to end his playing career, announcing his retirement.

“After much discussion with my family and business team during this offseason, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Drew wrote in his statement. “Football has been a central part of my life for the past 24 years. But, now I’m excited about and looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”

Although he played his final year in Oakland, most of Jones-Drew’s nine-year career was spent in Jacksonville with the Jaguars, and he’ll leave the game as the franchise’s second-leading rusher, behind Fred Taylor. While he didn’t mention the possibility in his statement today, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 29-year-old signed a one-day contract with the team to formally retire as a Jaguar.

In 126 total regular season games, MJD racked up 8,167 rushing yards to go along with another 2,944 yards through the air — he finishes with a very neat 11,111 yards from scrimmage for his career. Jones-Drew’s best season came in 2011, when he was named to the NFL’s All-Pro First Team after leading the league with 1,606 rushing yards.

Although the Raiders signed Jones-Drew to a three-year, $7.5MM contract last March, the odds were slim that the team would have brought him back for the 2015 season, considering he had a $2.5MM cap hit and no dead money let on his contract. Already armed with well over $50MM in cap room, the team will create a little flexibility by removing MJD from its books.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Titans To Sign Byron Bell

April 23rd, 2015 at 9:03am CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 9:03am: Bell’s deal with the Titans is for one year and is worth about $1.5MM, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Per Wyatt, the ex-Panther could earn another $750K through playing-time incentives.

WEDNESDAY, 3:49pm: The Titans will sign offensive tackle Byron Bell, according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Bell, he writes, will compete for the starting right tackle job, but he’s far from guaranteed to win it.

Bell met with the Titans earlier this month. after they lost longtime tackle Michael Roos to retirement and released Michael Oher. Of course, the Panthers signed Oher earlier this year, so the two teams have effectively swapped struggling offensive tackles.

Bell, 26, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Panthers, starting 56 of the 62 regular season contests he played for the club since 2011. In 2014, the New Mexico product was handed the reins at left tackle for the first time, and the results were not pretty. Bell graded out as the second-worst offensive tackle in football out of 84 qualified players, with a -33.4 overall rating, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Only Jake Matthews of the Falcons (-36.8) finished lower.

North Notes: Bengals, Peterson, Ravens

April 23rd, 2015 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

Working out extensions with cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and guard Kevin Zeitler before May 4 is “a big priority” for the Bengals at the moment, writes Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. Both 2012 first-round draftees are eligible for fifth-year options for 2016, and if Cincinnati is happy enough with both players to want to extend them, I’d imagine the team would exercise those options.

While it’s possible that the Bengals agree to an extension with one or both players within the next week and a half, it seems more likely that a deal would be struck sometime later in the offseason. A year ago, no club extended a former first-round pick before exercising his fifth-year option, but several teams finalized new deals with those players later.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two North divisions:

A reader asked Peter King of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link) if he thinks the Vikings will trade Adrian Peterson before or during the draft. King says his gut feeling is that Minnesota won’t do that. With $45MM due to the 30-year-old running back over the next three years, it’ll be hard to find the right deal. On top of that, the Vikes want a high draft pick to part with AD.
Elsewhere at TheMMQB.com, former Packers executive Andrew Brandt is less convinced that the Vikings will hang on to Peterson. As Brandt writes, the key person to smooth tension between a player and his team is usually the agent, but in this case, Ben Dogra has clashed with Vikings management and is doing all he can to get his client on a new team. Brandt views the Cowboys as the best fit for the running back.
Miami receiver Phillip Dorsett recently paid a visit to the Ravens, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The team also met with Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson and worked him out, Wilson writes in a separate piece for the Sun.
Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review provides a breakdown of the Steelers‘ 29 pre-draft visits, while Lindsay Selengowski of DetroitLions.com lists all 30 prospects the Lions brought in for visits.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Rivers, Brown, Johnson

April 22nd, 2015 at 9:33pm CST by Zachary Links

A federal judge has approved a plan to resolve thousands of NFL concussion lawsuits that could cost the league $1 billion over 65 years, Maryclaire Dale of The Associated Press writes. The awards could reach $1MM to $5MM for those diagnosed in their 30s and 40s with Parkinson’s disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, or for deaths involving chronic brain trauma. NFL actuaries estimate 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players to someday suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia. The settlement between the two sides ends a four-year legal battle. Here’s more from around the league..

A possible trade of Philip Rivers to the Titans is complicated by the fact that Tennessee would have to work out a contract extension in the days prior to the deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. A deal couldn’t begin and end while the Titans are on the clock at No. 2 since Tennessee would need permission from the Chargers to work on Rivers’ contract (link).
Antonio Brown took to Twitter to explain his absence from the Steelers‘ voluntary offseason program. “Just enjoying my new born Ali can not wait to get back with my teammates! I am dad first and working to be best player I can be,” Brown tweeted. It’s very possible that Brown is holding out for a new contract too, but that’s apparently not the sole reason.
Andre Johnson insists that he didn’t sign with the Colts just to get revenge on his former team, as Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. “I didn’t come here because we play against the Texans twice a year..I have bigger goals than just playing against the Texans,” the wide receiver said. Johnson signed with the Colts on a three-year, $21MM deal.
Former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla working out this spring and is a player worth watching, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets.
Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton feels that he could form an “unstoppable” duo with Haloti Ngata if the Lions draft him, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Peterson, Cowboys

April 22nd, 2015 at 8:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks GM John Schneider told reporters, including Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (Twitter link), that he still wants to re-sign Tarvaris Jackson as a backup quarterback. However, he added that Jackson is still feeling his way through free agency. Here’s more from the NFC..

Schneider went on to say that he’d “be lying” if he said that the offensive line isn’t a need for the Seahawks, but he also noted that the draft isn’t the only avenue for adding to that area (link).
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald would love to see his team trade for Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson, Marc Sessler of NFL.com writes. “Adrian Peterson is arguably the best back in the NFL,” Fitzgerald told Around The NFL. “You know, he’s been unbelievable. If he were to leave Minnesota, which I think is maybe a bit unlikely, he would be a huge, huge playmaker for whatever team he went to.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones issued a statement explaining that the team respects Roger Goodell’s ruling on Greg Hardy, as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes. “This suspension is something that we anticipated prior to Greg’s signing, and we respect the Commissioner’s ruling,” the statement reads. “Our organization understands the very serious nature of this matter. We will use our resources — work closely with Greg and with the league — to ensure a positive outcome.”
News of Hardy’s 10-game suspension only makes Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News more certain that the Cowboys should trade back in the draft.

Draft Notes: Thompson, Winston, Gurley

April 22nd, 2015 at 8:23pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re just days away from the 2015 draft! Here’s the latest news from around the league..

Shaq Thompson told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter) that he has drawn the most interest from the Panthers, who both worked him out and brought him in for a visit. Thompson, one of the best athletes in this year’s draft class, could be a strong option for the Panthers to groom as an outside linebacker behind Thomas Davis.
Sources from five different teams tell Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter) that Georgia running back Todd Gurley has a great shot to be ready by Week 1 of the NFL season. Right now, his medicals from Indianapolis indicate that he’ll be back at some point during training camp, though how his situation is handled will depend on the team that drafts him (link).
Former Florida State star quarterback Jameis Winston said he received free food from Publix, which led to his shoplifting citation last year and could be a violation of NCAA rules, as Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times writes. One GM told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that Winston’s story checks out. “Our investigators found several Publix employees who corroborated what Winston said. Winston told this story to our team and I believe others. We were able to determine that he was telling the truth. I won’t get into more detail than that,” the GM said.
Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is visiting the Rams today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). Flowers is projected to be a first round pick with some pegging him as a candidate for St. Louis at No. 10 overall.

Minor Moves: Wednesday

April 22nd, 2015 at 6:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

The Dolphins signed offensive lineman Jacques McClendon, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). The Jaguars declined to extend an offer to the restricted free agent earlier this offseason. McClendon, 28 in December, played in 13 games for the Jags at center and right guard last season with three starts. Miami also added fellow offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach earlier today.
Ravens defensive tackle Casey Walker signed his $510K exclusive-rights tender, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Baltimore signed Walker off of New England’s practice squad last year.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Jennings, Dolphins

April 22nd, 2015 at 6:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots typically don’t stress over the depth chart when they evaluate players in the draft, CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran writes. “You look at them independently; you evaluate the player irrespective of what you have on your team,” exec Nick Caserio explained. “It’s like we talked about a few years ago (in 2011) with Nate (Solder). We had Sebastian (Vollmer). We had Matt Light. So we had two good tackles, starting level tackles that play at a high level. So then you add Nate Solder (with a first-round pick). So here’s a third tackle that you’re bringing in that you feel has good ability. Is he better than Light or Vollmer? Maybe, maybe not. But we know at some point, this guy’s gonna be a good football player.” More from the AFC East..

On the surface it might seem like the Dolphins are set at wide receiver after adding Greg Jennings, but they could still go for a No. 1 type in the draft, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald writes. Beasley hears that the Dolphins could trade back from No. 14 to select someone like Central Florida’s Breshad Perriman or USC’s Nelson Agholor.
Jennings is a solid addition for the Dolphins, but not a No. 1 receiver, James Walker of ESPN.com writes. The former two-time Pro Bowler is not the player he was several years ago with the and is not the No. 1 receiver that Miami desperately needs. He still has something left in the tank, Walker writes, but he won’t turn their passing offense into a juggernaut.
The Patriots officially have the Texans’ seventh-round pick in 2016 thanks to the Ryan Mallett trade with Houston, according to a pre-draft press release (via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald on Twitter). Mallett, 26, was acquired by the Texans in a trade with the Patriots last offseason, and got a chance to start a couple games for Houston in 2014 before landing on injured reserve due to a pectoral injury. The deal gave New England a conditional seventh-round choice that could have matured into a sixth-rounder if Mallett met a certain snap requirement.

NFC West Notes: Wilson, Rams, Cardinals

April 22nd, 2015 at 5:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson still loves baseball but isn’t planning on leaving football, Terry Blount of ESPN.com writes. “I didn’t say I was going to leave the NFL,” Wilson told ESPN Radio. “I love playing the game of football, to be one of 32 men [starting NFL quarterbacks] in the world who get to do what I do. It’s a special thing and I’ve been able to play in two Super Bowls and I’m only 26 years old. That’s been a blessing…It was my dad’s dream for me to play two sports, so I’ve never killed the dream and probably never will. It’s something that I think about all the time.”

Wilson recently raised the notion of pursuing a career in MLB in an interview with HBO’s Bryant Gumbel. Seattle reportedly has viewed his flirtation with baseball as nothing more than a negotiating ploy. Here’s more from the NFC West..

The Rams already have six running backs on the roster, including presumptive starter Tre Mason, but it’s probably a good bet that they take a running back before the draft is through, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com writes. Some within the Rams organization believe Todd Gurley is the best running back prospect to come out in years, and though No. 10 is probably too high for him given his injury history, he might be in play in a possible trade-down scenario.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians termed this year’s quarterback class after Winston and Mariota “average at best,” Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. Arians went on to say that the Cardinals probably won’t draft a quarterback to push Logan Thomas, though he won’t rule it out, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets.
When asked about his team’s needs, Arians said, “We could go play with this team right now,” Urban tweets.

NFL Suspends Greg Hardy For 10 Games

April 22nd, 2015 at 3:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL has announced that Greg Hardy has been suspended for 10 games without pay, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) that the Cowboys defensive end will appeal the decision.

Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Facebook) passes along the entire statement from the league. It reads, in part, “In a letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell, Hardy was informed that an extensive two-month NFL investigation following the dismissal of his case in North Carolina state court determined that there was sufficient credible evidence that Hardy engaged in conduct that violated NFL policies in multiple respects and with aggravating circumstances.”

Within his message to Hardy, Goodell also said that the defensive end “should understand that another violation of this nature may result in [his] banishment from the NFL.” In order to return to playing, Hardy “must have no further adverse involvement with law enforcement and must not commit any additional violations of league policies.”

The statement outlined, in detail, the events that took place on May 13th, 2014.

“First, he used physical force against her which caused her to land in a bathtub. Second, he used physical force against her which caused her to land on a futon that was covered with at least four semi-automatic rifles. Third, he used physical force against her by placing his hands around Ms. Holder’s neck and applying enough pressure to leave visible marks. And fourth, he used physical force to shove Ms. Holder against a wall in his apartment’s entry hallway.

‘The net effect of these acts was that [Nicole Holder] was severely traumatized and sustained a range of injuries, including bruises and scratches on her neck, shoulders, upper chest, back, arms and feet,’ Commissioner Goodell wrote. ‘The use of physical force under the circumstances present here, against a woman substantially smaller than you and in the presence of powerful, military-style assault weapons, constitutes a significant act of violence in violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.'”

The Cowboys expected a four-game suspension and, at maximum, a six-game suspension for their new star defensive end, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. Of course, much of Hardy’s contract is tied to bonuses based on games played and performance, so Dallas is protected financially. If Hardy winds up serving the entire 10-game suspension, his first game back will be against the Panthers on Thanksgiving. In total, Hardy stands to miss 25 games between 2014 and 2015 for his actions.

Hardy made the Pro Bowl in 2013 after he compiled a career-high 15 sacks, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him as the second-best overall defensive end in the league. He was franchised for a one-year salary of $13.1MM for the 2014 season and wound up playing in just one game for that entire campaign.