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Month: November 2024

Panthers DC On Thompson, Tillman, HC Gigs

July 4th, 2015 at 11:10am CST by Ben Levine

Since defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was hired by the Panthers following the 2011 season, the team’s defense has steadily improved. Prior to his signing, the Panthers placed 27th in points allowed. Since then, the team has moved up the rankings, culminating in allowing the second-fewest points in 2013.

The future is clearly bright for the Carolina defense, and the 41-year-old defensive coordinator added some useful pieces to his unit during the offseason. McDermott sat down with Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer to discuss some of those moves. We’ve highlighted the notable soundbites below…

On the Panthers selection of linebacker Shaq Thompson (25th overall), and how he fits into the team’s system:

You always go through that. I know Dave (Gettleman) and Ron (Rivera) talk a lot about fit. That’s part of the fit for a player. Where do you play him?

I’ve been in the league long enough to know sometimes a player falls to you and you say, pick him. Yeah, well, have you gone through the makeup? Have you gone through the whole (process) and answered all those tough questions? Well, you’ve got him. Now what are you going to do with him?

That’s always an important part of all those conversations leading up to the draft.

On the signing of veteran cornerback Charles Tillman:

Part of being a good coach is putting people in a position to be successful. With Charles, we’ve got a guy that’s played a lot of football. He’s been successful. He’s got some size to him that we feel like can help us.

You look at the division, right down the road in Atlanta, and Tampa, more and more you find these receivers have some vertical size to them. So that certainly helps us in that way. And then Bené [Benwikere], with what he’s shown in terms of tracking the ball, certainly helped as a rookie the last how many games he was out there for. We feel like we’ve got some options at this point. …

Really defense is a game of matchups. If we get a guy in the slot that’s quick, Bené could match up inside for us. And let’s not forget about Colin Jones and what he brings to the table.

On whether he was surprised at the lack of inquiries from other teams regarding his interest in head coaching:

Nah. That stuff, it goes in waves. I’m so dialed in on this team and this season.

Believe it or not, after about four or five days of being off, I’m already itching to get going here. I’m excited for the season. I’m excited for the group of guys we have on defense. It’s a terrific group of guys on the whole team.

They’re high-character, young men that just make it a joy to be around them everyday. I’ll say the same thing with the coaching staff, it’s a great group of men in our organization and I’m extremely happy to be a part of it.

I can’t wait to get training camp started.

NFC Mailbags: Packers, Giants, Cowboys

July 4th, 2015 at 9:44am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s start with notes from the NFC, with a cameo from the Dallas Morning News’ Bob Sturm…

  • Quarterback Brett Hundley is a lock to make the Packers roster, says Rob Demovsky. At wideout, the writer believes Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis will make the team.
  • The Packers could opt to keep a pair of fullbacks (John Kuhn and Aaron Ripkowski) on their opening day roster, writes Demovsky. This would probably require the team to keep only two running backs, and the writer can’t imagine the Packers going into the year with only Eddie Lacy and James Starks. If there were to be a third running back, Demovsky believes the competition is between Rajion Neal and John Crockett, with Neal being the favorite.
  • If Giants rookie Ereck Flowers shows promise at left tackle, Dan Graziano says the team could move on from veteran Will Beatty following the season. Beatty, who is scheduled to make $6.675MM next season, is expected to be out until at least November.
  • The Cowboys must be careful when Terrance Williams becomes a free agent in an effort to not overpay what Sturm calls an “adequate” wideout in a mailbag.
  • Sturm also predicts the Cowboys will regress in the running game but won’t be set for a freefall without DeMarco Murray, with Tony Romo ready to assume more control of the offense. Sturm expects Joseph Randle to be the starter in what is expected to be a coalition approach to replacing the league’s rushing leader.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Datone Jones Suspended For One Game

July 4th, 2015 at 9:12am CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 9:12am: The suspension will cost Jones $122,765, according to ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio.

He’ll forfeit $65,088 in base salary (1/17th of $1.106 million) and he could lose another $57,677 in signing bonus money (1/17th of his $3.922 million signing bonus).

FRIDAY, 6:35pm: Jones’ suspension likely stems from a citation for marijuana possession, reports Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com. The Green Bay defensive lineman was cited for possession the day after the Packers’ overtime loss in the NFC championship game. Jones paid $880 for his January citation in Green Bay, Wis.

This incident falls into the civil ordinance category, rather than a misdemeanor or criminal conviction, Wilde reports.

THURSDAY, 2:59pm: The NFL’s pre-holiday suspension announcements continue, as defensive end Datone Jones of the Packers is the latest to be penalized by the league. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter), Jones has been suspended for the first game of the 2015 season for a substance abuse violation.

Jones’ suspension is the third one announced today by the league, and it’s also the shortest of the three. Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain each received four-game bans earlier this afternoon for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Jones, a 2013 first rounder, suffered an ankle injury and didn’t get close to full health until the end of the year. In 2014, Jones played in 13 games and made 3 starts, racking up 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two pass deflections. Jones is signed through signed through 2016 and today’s news could complicate the Packers’ decision about whether or not to exercise his fifth-year option.

AFC Links: Raiders, Dolphins, Green

July 3rd, 2015 at 8:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

The stadium proposal that didn’t exactly receive rave reviews leaves some unanswered questions regarding the feasibility of its completion and, naturally, the Raiders‘ future in Oakland, writes Matthew Artz of the Bay Area News Group.

Chief among them, writes Artz, is whether the stadium can be built for the $900MM budgeted, and if not, what’s the plan if additional funds are required? Artz points out how Levi’s Stadium was slated to cost $937MM but ended up running a $1.3 billion tab.

The project would have to be financed entirely by the NFL and the Raiders, and the proposed 55,000-seat stadium would be smaller and is projected to generate less revenue than what’s being discussed in Carson, Calif. But before seeing a cost breakdown, which the Raiders have not released, determining the project’s viability is difficult, executive director of the Sports Business Institute at USC’s School of Business David Carter told Artz.

Here are some more details from around the league on Independence Day eve.

  • The Raiders upgraded at backup quarterback in Christian Ponder, a veteran of new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave‘s offense from the duo’s time in Minnesota from 2011-13, writes Steve Corkran of RaiderBeat.com. Corkran doesn’t doubt starter Derek Carr‘s ability to make a “precipitous” leap this season and believes new weapons Amari Cooper and Clive Walford will help in this effort. Concluding his analysis of the Oakland quarterback spot, the veteran Raiders reporter predicts Matt McGloin will beat out rookie Cody Fajardo.
  • New Raiders offensive coordinator Mike Tice has taken to second-year guard Gabe Jackson, referring to the 2014 third-round pick as a “rising star,” offers CSNBayArea.com. Jackson was the 27th-best guard, per Pro Football Focus, last season and now has the benefit of working next to key free agent acquisition Rodney Hudson in Year 2.
  • In his series on who’s bound for the Dolphins‘ 53-man roster, James Walker of ESPN.com gives running back Mike Gillislee a 25% chance at making the team in what could be his final training camp in Miami. Currently fifth on the depth chart behind Lamar Miller, rookie Jay Ajayi, LaMichael James and Damien Williams, Gillislee has just six carries for 21 yards in his two-year career.
  • Even before Antonio Gates‘ suspension, the Chargers were planning to allot more time to Ladarius Green, writes Eddie Brown of the San Diego Union-Tribune. With the Chargers viewing Green as a superior run-blocker to the 35-year-old Gates, the veteran’s early absence could expedite Melvin Gordon‘s development.

East Rumors: Richardson, Dolphins, Giants

July 3rd, 2015 at 6:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets‘ selection of Leonard Williams at No. 6 overall initially looked to put Muhammad Wilkerson in a corner regarding his pursuit of a contract extension. But after Sheldon Richardson‘s substance-abuse suspension Thursday that will keep him out four games, the Jets look like the ones at a disadvantage in the event of a Wilkerson holdout, writes Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk.

In reporting to minicamp, Wilkerson lobbied for a new contract. The fifth-year defensive end who’s curiously without a Pro Bowl invite, despite dominant seasons in 2012 and 2014 that ranked in the top 3 among 3-4 ends on Pro Football Focus (subscription required), will make $7MM this season after the Jets triggered Wilkerson’s fifth-year option.

Richardson’s reported marijuana-related offense could help his running mate, with Gang Green likely not wanting to go into the season with just Williams available for work among their first-round contingent of defensive linemen. Gantt also points out Williams’ arrival now may work against Richardson, with the team less likely to entertain the notion of extending the 2013 defensive rookie of the year’s contract when the time comes.

Here are some more notes from around the Eastern divisions.

  • Dolphins players are growing concerned about the team’s situation at guard, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. With the tackle and center spots sewn up with talented cogs, Miami hasn’t had a guard take command of a spot (although how much command could one take during padless minicamp/OTA sessions?). There have been positive reports of fourth-round rookie Jamil Douglas‘ progression, but the Fins will still head into training camp with guard as their biggest offensive uncertainty.
  • In the same report, Jackson notes the team’s wide receiver depth that once posed concern after the departures of Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline now appears solid. Players reportedly view Rishard Matthews — who could sit behind Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry, Greg Jennings and DeVante Parker — as a talent who could thrive if given a larger role. A former 2012 seventh-rounder, Matthews sought a trade or a release as recently as May due to dissatisfaction in playing as the No. 5 wideout. Matthews has 64 career catches for 734 yards and four scores.
  • A recent analysis conducted by Football Outsiders revealed the Eagles as the league’s healthiest team over the past two seasons, while the Giants are by far the most injury-stricken. Big Blue ranked last in the league for both the 2013 and 2014 campaigns but have slowly started to accept the sports science trends most notably thrust into the spotlight by the rival Eagles, writes the New York Post’s Jordan Ranaan. Despite Walter Thurmond‘s recent comments of Tom Coughlin being old school and resistant to these methods, Ranaan notes the Giants are now charting sleep schedules and placing chips onto players’ jerseys to measure explosiveness.

Largest 2015 Cap Hits By Team: NFC South

July 3rd, 2015 at 4:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Before NFL training camps get underway next month, we’ll be taking a closer look at the top 2015 cap hits for teams around the league. We began our series last week by focusing on the NFC East and AFC East divisions, and earlier this week, we looked at the NFC North and AFC North. Today, we’ll head back to the NFC to examine the South division.

Listed below are the top 10 cap hits for the coming season for each of the four NFC South franchises, accompanied by some observations on the spending habits of those clubs. Let’s dive in….

Atlanta Falcons:

  1. Matt Ryan, QB: $19,500,000
  2. Julio Jones, WR: $10,176,000
  3. Roddy White, WR: $5,556,250
  4. William Moore, S: $5,368,750
  5. Paul Soliai, DT: $4,400,000
  6. Jon Asamoah, G: $4,268,750
  7. Justin Blalock, G: $4,120,000 (dead money)
  8. Joe Hawley, C: $4,000,000
  9. Tyson Jackson, DT: $3,850,000
  10. Jake Matthews, LT: $3,733,977
    Total: $64,973,727

Besides Ryan’s substantial cap hit and an eight-digit figure for Jones, which could be reduced if he signs a contract extension this year, the Falcons aren’t carrying a single cap number exceeding $5.56MM in 2015. Overall, Atlanta’s top 10 players account for less than $65MM of the team’s 2015 cap, a very club-friendly total.

Of course, the Falcons are somewhat lacking in star power outside of the players involved in their passing game, so it makes sense that they wouldn’t be too heavily invested at other positions. In recent years, offensive and defensive line play has been one of Atlanta’s shortcomings, and the club’s recent investments at those positions is reflected in this list — Soliai, Asamoah, Jackson, and Matthews have all been added to the roster within the last year and a half.

At $4.12MM, Blalock easily represents the largest dead-money charge on the Falcons’ books, but if he had been retained for the 2015 season, his cap number would have been $7.91MM, third on the team behind Ryan and Jones.

Carolina Panthers:

  1. Charles Johnson, DE: $20,020,000
  2. Cam Newton, QB: $13,000,000
  3. Ryan Kalil, C: $11,795,000
  4. Jonathan Stewart, RB: $8,300,000
  5. Greg Olsen, TE: $6,300,000
  6. Thomas Davis, LB: $5,900,000
  7. DeAngelo Williams, RB: $4,333,333 (dead money)
  8. Luke Kuechly, LB: $4,002,283
  9. Steve Smith, WR: $4,000,000 (dead money)
  10. Mike Tolbert, RB: $3,425,000
    Total: $81,075,616

With a $20.02MM cap hit for the 2015 season, Johnson has a cap charge that ranks first among defensive players, and is also one of just three figures over $20MM at any position — Lions receiver Calvin Johnson‘s cap number also exceeds $20MM, as does another player in the NFC South, whom we’ll discuss shortly.

Still, despite Johnson’s extravagant figure, it may not even be the most noteworthy feature of the Panthers’ list. Even more unusual is the fact that three running backs show up within Carolina’s top 10 cap hits. Combining for a total cap charge of nearly $12MM, Stewart and Tolbert alone would represent an overpayment at the position, and that doesn’t even take into account Williams’ $4MM+ dead-money charge. I imagine GM Dave Gettleman is looking forward to eventually getting those deals off the books and perhaps investing in younger, cheaper backs.

The rest of the Panthers’ top 10 is made up primarily of core players who either recently signed extensions or will do so soon. Newton, Olsen, and Davis all agreed to new contracts this offseason, and it’s just a matter of time before Kuechly does the same.

New Orleans Saints:

  1. Drew Brees, QB: $26,400,000
  2. Jimmy Graham, TE: $9,000,000 (dead money)
  3. Jahri Evans, G: $7,000,000
  4. Marques Colston, WR: $6,500,000
  5. Ben Grubbs, G: $6,000,000 (dead money)
  6. Jairus Byrd, S: $5,500,000
  7. Junior Galette, OLB: $5,450,000
  8. Curtis Lofton, LB: $5,000,000 (dead money)
  9. Keenan Lewis, CB: $4,500,000
  10. Max Unger, C: $4,500,000
    Total: $79,850,000

Heading into the offseason, no team had more cap maneuvering to do than the Saints, who were about $20MM over the cap prior to free agency. All the dead-money charges on the team’s top-10 list don’t look great, but they reflect the moves New Orleans had to make in order to create a little flexibility this spring. If the team had kept Graham, Grubbs, and Lofton rather than trading or releasing them, their cap figures would be even larger.

The Saints aren’t quite out of the woods yet. Contracts like Byrd’s, Galette’s, and Cameron Jordan‘s – which didn’t make the cut here – have relatively modest cap numbers in 2015 before jumping significantly in future seasons. Those three players will count for a total of about $32MM against the cap in 2016, representing the club’s top cap numbers besides Brees.

Speaking of Brees, his $26.4MM cap hit is by far the biggest one in the NFL this year. However, the Saints did well to avoid restructuring his contract and pushing more money onto future seasons. Brees’ cap number will increase to $27.4MM in 2016, but since that’s the last year of his contract, New Orleans should be able to reduce that figure by extending him.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

  1. Gerald McCoy, DT: $14,595,000
  2. Vincent Jackson, WR: $12,209,777
  3. Michael Johnson, DE: $7,000,000 (dead money)
  4. Logan Mankins, G: $7,000,000
  5. Carl Nicks, G: $4,714,000 (dead money)
  6. Jameis Winston, QB: $4,609,323
  7. Bruce Carter, LB: $4,250,000
  8. Alterraun Verner, CB: $4,250,000
  9. Dashon Goldson, S: $4,000,000 (dead money)
  10. Evan Smith, C: $3,750,000
    Total: $66,378,100

Like the Saints, the Buccaneers have three dead-money charges amongst their top 10 cap hits, which I was somewhat surprised to see — Tampa Bay often structures contracts to include larger base salaries and small signing bonuses, in order to make it easier to go year to year. That wasn’t the case for these three players, though, particularly Johnson, who epitomizes the team’s misguided 2014 spending spree.

One factor that could give the Bucs a leg up on their division rivals within the next three or four seasons is the small amount of cap room they’re dedicating to their quarterback. The NFC South’s other three starters have an average cap hit of more than $19MM for 2015, while Winston comes in below $5MM. If the No. 1 overall pick develops into a solid NFL starter, it will allow Tampa Bay to surround him with pricier impact players at other positions until he’s eligible for his second contract.

Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.

Community Tailgate: Will McClain Rebound?

July 3rd, 2015 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still more than two months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Today, we’ll be discussing Rolando McClain and his most recent unfortunate development. On Thursday, the NFL decided to conduct a pre-holiday bad news dump when they announced the suspensions of four players, including McClain and Chargers star tight end Antonio Gates.

McClain, who turns 26 later this month, registered 87 tackles and a sack to go along with two interceptions in 13 games for the Cowboys in 2014. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former first-round pick eighth out of 60 qualified inside linebackers, and he excelled in every aspect of the game — PFF’s grades placed him eighth as a pass rusher, seventh as a cover man, and 11th as a run defender, among inside linebackers.

Needless to say, that performance had Jerry Jones doing cartwheels in Texas. The Cowboys more or less took a flier on McClain as he was viewed as damaged goods by many NFL clubs. What follows is a quick recap of McClain’s career for the uninitiated.

McClain, a standout at Alabama, was selected No. 8 overall by the Raiders in 2010. From there, McClain had flashes of brilliance mixed with aloofness and fluctuating effort. In December of 2011, he was arrested for an incident in which he discharged a firearm. In the spring of 2013, his tenure in black and silver came to an end when even the Raiders felt they had enough of his off-the-field shenanigans. He hooked on with the Ravens but shortly thereafter announced his retirement from football. The following year, the Cowboys acquired McClain’s rights on the cheap from Baltimore and no one knew exactly what he was capable of with so much rust on him.

Of course, McClain went on to help stabilize the Cowboys’ defense and linebacking corps, no small feat considering the absence of Sean Lee. Despite his solid play and flirtations with other teams in free agency, McClain circled back to Dallas on a modest one-year deal with a base value of $3MM, including $1.5MM via gameday active roster bonuses. Of course, it was McClain’s off-the-field history that kept him from cashing in big after his big comeback campaign.

Now, McClain will be absent for the first month of the season thanks to his violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. From here, McClain appears to be at a fork in the road where he can regroup and get back to his 2014 form or drift back towards where he was prior to last season. All in all, do you expect McClain to continue as a productive linebacker in 2015, or will this latest setback cause a harmful regression? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Latest On Dez Bryant Contract Talks

July 3rd, 2015 at 2:56pm CST by Luke Adams

2:56pm: A source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that “nothing would be happening soon” in regard to Bryant’s contract. That suggests no deal is imminent, though it doesn’t necessarily mean that the two sides won’t work it out prior to the July 15 deadline.

12:04pm: Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan (link via CBSDFW.com) paints a more positive picture of Bryant’s negotiations with the Cowboys, suggesting that the two sides have a good chance of finalizing a long-term agreement sometime after the holiday weekend and before the July 15 deadline. Sources tell Fisher that the Dallas front office, led by owner Jerry Jones, wants to avoid any negativity or potential unhappiness for Bryant, and hopes to make a “positive mark” heading into the 2015 season.

The two sides essentially agreed to take a break from contract talks during the long weekend, but are optimistic that an agreement can be reached soon, according to Fisher, who adds that one sticking point is the guaranteed money involved — when it will be paid and how much of it will be fully guaranteed.

8:55am: Last weekend, we heard that the Cowboys had a face-to-face meeting with Dez Bryant‘s agent Tom Condon for the first time in months, which was considered a positive sign for the possibility of the two sides working out a contract extension for the star receiver. However, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), the sitdown didn’t necessarily result in any forward momentum toward a deal. Here’s the latest on the Bryant negotiations:

  • A source tells Cole that “no progress” was made between the Cowboys and Bryant’s camp at last week’s meeting. Per Cole, the Cowboys are – at least for now – unwilling to budge off their standing long-term offer, which features about $20MM in guaranteed money. That proposal also includes additional money becoming guaranteed in later years.
  • According to Cole, the Cowboys believe they have the leverage in negotiations, since they don’t think Bryant would actually sit out a regular season game. Not only is Dallas skeptical that the wideout would miss regular season action after he couldn’t entirely stay away from the team’s offseason activities, but the club also believes Bryant can’t afford to miss out on pay checks. Based on his $12.823MM franchise tender, the 26-year-old would forfeit about $754K per week if he holds out during the regular season.
  • July 15 is the deadline for the Cowboys and Bryant to work out a multiyear extension, so the two sides have just under two weeks to reach an agreement. Otherwise, Bryant will have to play on his one-year tender in 2015, if he wants to play at all.

NFC Notes: Guion, 49ers, Panthers, Cowboys

July 3rd, 2015 at 1:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion is already at risk of being suspended for an arrest earlier this year, and now he’s facing a civil suit over a 2013 altercation in which no criminal charges were filed, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Seth Katz tells Demovsky that the suit is of “suspect nature” and that there’s “no basis for it.” While the suit is unlikely to lead to any discipline from the NFL, it’s the latest issue Guion has had to face in what has been a tumultuous offseason for the veteran defensive lineman.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • The 49ers, who selected 10 players in this year’s draft, have placed an emphasis on developing young players, which means some veterans may be in danger of losing their roster spots this fall. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com identifies three Niners – tight end Vance McDonald, safety Craig Dahl, and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks – whose places on the 53-man roster may not be completely secure.
  • The Panthers didn’t make a huge splash in free agency or on the trade market in recent months, as the 2015 offseason was all about keeping the team’s core intact, writes Max Henson of Panthers.com. Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, and Thomas Davis have each inked new contracts with Carolina since the start of March.
  • Considering how tight NFL playoff races can be, suspensions to key defensive players like Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain may have a noticeable effect on the Cowboys‘ postseason chances, says Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Earlier today, we asked whether McClain’s four-game ban would negatively impact the Cowboys more than Sheldon Richardson‘s and Antonio Gates‘ suspensions would impact the Jets and Chargers, respectively.

Poll: Which Thursday Suspension Will Have Biggest Impact?

July 3rd, 2015 at 12:18pm CST by Luke Adams

Black Monday is an annual NFL tradition, when coaches and general managers around the league are dismissed on the Monday following Week 17’s games. So why not a Black Thursday? Yesterday, on the Thursday before a holiday weekend, the league announced four suspensions over the course of the afternoon, including three four-game bans for standout players. Those penalties could end up having a real impact on a handful of teams as they pursue postseason berths this season.

Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain were suspended four games each for violating the league’s substance abuse policy; Packers pass rusher Datone Jones got one game for violating the same policy; and Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was banned four games for a violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Because Jones’ suspension is just for one game, and he hasn’t been a top performer so far in Green Bay, we won’t feature him in this discussion, but the other three players are all extremely important to their respective teams.

Richardson is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and was expected to once again contribute to one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, alongside Damon Harrison and Muhammad Wilkerson. Now, sixth overall pick Leonard Williams will presumably be pressed into starting action immediately, while Richardson sits out the season’s first month.

In Dallas, the Cowboys’ new-look linebacker corps includes offseason signees Andrew Gachkar and Jasper Brinkley, along with Sean Lee, who is returning from a torn ACL. But the team will certainly miss McClain, who ranked as the league’s eighth-best inside linebacker out of 60 qualified players in 2014, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), despite only playing 13 games.

Of course, the most recognizable name among the suspended players is Gates. The future Hall-of-Famer hasn’t earned a Pro Bowl nod since the 2011 season, but he remains a focal point for the Chargers’ passing attack, having racked up 146 receptions and 16 touchdowns over the last two years. Young tight end Ladarius Green, who many observers pegged as a breakout candidate last year, will be tasked with filling Gates’ shoes for the first month of the 2015 campaign.

While all three suspended players are key contributors, their teams have viable replacements, and should be able to get by for a few weeks while they wait for their veterans to return. Still, those players will be missed. Which suspension do you expect to have the biggest impact on that player’s team? Cast your vote in the poll and feel free to weigh in below in the comments section to explain your reasoning.

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