HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Eagles Notes: Bradford, O-line, Alonso

September 27th, 2015 at 11:10am CST by Rory Parks

The Eagles will look to avoid an 0-3 start when they square off this afternoon against the Jets, who are looking to open the season 3-0. Much has been made of the Eagles’ disappointing start to the 2015 campaign, and Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer points to the run game as the biggest culprit. Head coach Chip Kelly‘s play designs are not nearly as effective without a “read” option–i.e., a quarterback who can run the ball–and Sam Bradford is not a threat to run. The offense has also lost some of its unpredictability, as package plays, which involve run and pass options that are decided post-snap, have been limited due to Bradford’s immobility. Bradford remains the starter for now, but one has to wonder how much longer he will last under center in Philadelphia if the team’s allegedly high-powered offense continues to struggle.

Now let’s have a look at a few more Eagles links:

  • Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer examines another flaw in Bradford’s game, which was well-publicized during his time in St. Louis: his inability to throw the deep ball. The Eagles continue to insist the problem is not Bradford, but the running game, but as McLane pointed out above, the running game is struggling at least in part because of Bradford. When combined with the tendency of teams quarterbacked by Bradford to fall behind early in games, Philadelphia may be privately grateful that Bradford was unwilling to engage in serious talks about a long-term deal this offseason.
  • Of course, not all of the Eagles’ offensive woes can be pinned on its quarterback. As Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes, the offensive line deserves its share of the blame. Kelly, who let go of two longtime starters along the O-line and did little to add depth during the offseason, is not making any lineup changes, so the unit will be given the opportunity to prove that it can produce. Through two games, Philadelphia has gained just 70 yards on the ground, the fewest in the league.
  • Kiko Alonso is expected to see Dr. James Andrews this week to get a second opinion on his torn ACL, according to Les Bowen of The Philadelphia Daily News (via Twitter). That visit will likely entail a second MRI.
  • All is not lost for the Eagles, says Bob Brookover of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The NFC East is up for grabs this year, so if Philadelphia can sort out its run game, there is no reason the team cannot still emerge with the division crown in 2015.

Injury Updates: 9/27/15

September 27th, 2015 at 10:38am CST by Rory Parks

We’ll keep an eye on any major injury news throughout the course of the day and add to this post as necessary to reflect any updates:

  • DeMarco Murray is inactive for the Eagles this afternoon, per Howard Eskin of Fox 29 Philadelphia (via Twitter). Murray has been bothered by a hamstring injury, and though he had been expected to play today, his hamstring did not respond well to his morning workouts. It is unclear how the injury will impact his status moving forward, but at this point it appears as though he should be ready for Week 4.

Earlier updates

  • NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says Saints QB Drew Brees, who has already been ruled out for Week 3, is a long-shot to return for his team’s Week 4 matchup against Dallas (Twitter link). Interestingly, Rapoport adds in a separate tweet that Brees’ injury, which has been called a bruise, is actually a rotator cuff sprain. A sprain indicates a stretch or tear in a ligament, and we heard from ESPN’s Ed Werder just a few days ago that Dr. James Andrews had confirmed Brees did not, in fact, suffer a torn rotator cuff. This is not the first time in recent memory that Werder and Rapoport have delivered conflicting news regarding a major injury; the two well-known scribes also issued differing reports on when Dez Bryant might return to the field in 2015.

RGIII Staying Put In 2015

September 27th, 2015 at 9:47am CST by Rory Parks

Although Robert Griffin III‘s long-term outlook in Washington is very much in doubt, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that the team has no intention of moving him in 2015, and that he may even move up to No. 2 on the depth chart in the coming weeks. Although there have been reports of animosity between Griffin and current starter Kirk Cousins, and although Griffin’s comments and actions on social media have drawn negative attention, La Canfora says the team is actually operating without internal strife for the first time in a long time.

Indeed, Cousins has gone out of his way to avoid tension with Griffin, and Griffin has been a willing cheerleader on the sidelines, has handled scout team duties gracefully, and has otherwise handled his demotion as well as anyone could have expected. As such, GM Scot McCloughan has not made a single call to another club to gauge interest in Griffin, and he reportedly has no plans to do so. Of course, no team has called Washington either, which makes sense given that Griffin’s $16MM salary for 2016 is guaranteed for injury. Griffin, for his part, has not requested a trade or a release.

Washington believes it has a legitimate shot to win the NFC East, which is as wide open as any division in the league. As such, the team does not want to sacrifice its quarterback depth. Griffin, for all his injury problems, still has some upside as a starting signal-caller, and Cousins is far from a sure thing under center. If Griffin’s career has proven anything, it is that no one can predict what will happen in the NFL from one week to the next, and Washington wants to be prepared for any obstacle in its path to the playoffs. For now, that means that Griffin is staying put, and that he will remain in burgundy and gold for the duration of the 2015 season. What happens beyond that is anyone’s guess.

Pagano Doubts He’ll Be Back In Indy

September 27th, 2015 at 8:38am CST by Rory Parks

Colts head coach Chuck Pagano has informed people around him that he “has doubts” he will return as Indianapolis’ head coach next year, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Of course, this does not come as much of a surprise; there were reports several weeks ago that 2015 would be Pagano’s last season with the Colts, and those reports came on the heels of an offseason full of articles describing a rift between Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson.

Owner Jim Irsay quickly tried to downplay news of a strained relationship between his head coach and his general manager, but given the team’s ugly start to the campaign, it is looking more and more as though both parties will be heading in different directions at season’s end (if not sooner). Earlier this week, Pagano made comments regarding his team’s offensive line that some interpreted as a shot at Andrew Luck and some believed was a thinly-veiled barb directed at Grigson. While Rapoport tweeted this morning that Pagano’s comments were simply meant to convey the difficulties the team has had with injuries to the unit, any negative statement from either the head coach or the front office at this point only serves to intensify the reported turmoil.

However, there are still 14 games to play, and Pagano and Grigson will both put forth their best efforts to get the Colts to the playoffs. As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, Pagano, who has a reputation as a defensive guru, has been even more hands-on with the defense than usual. But if the team’s early struggles persist, La Canfora writes that “any shuffling of the coaching staff would have to come from above Pagano. Sources said Pagano does not have the autonomy to hire or fire staff if he sees fit.”

The only question, then, is who will take over the reins as the Colts head coach in 2016, and where Pagano himself will end up. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Irsay could clean house, like he did when he hired Pagano in 2012, or he could retain Grigson and hire a new coach like he did in 2002, which would effectively “neuter” Grigson. The direction Irsay takes will have a direct impact on the number and caliber of coaching candidates available to him.

Pagano, meanwhile, has indicated that he plans to retire whenever his tenure with the Colts ends. Even if Indianapolis continues to struggle in 2015, Pagano would remain a viable defensive coordinator or positional coach candidate. At the moment, however, he is not thinking about his life after Indy, even if the rest of the football world is.

Extra Points: Manning, Wilkerson, Ivory, Texans

September 26th, 2015 at 9:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In his new book Brady vs. Manning, Gary Myers of the New York Daily News recounts the sequence of events that led to Peyton Manning eventually leaving the Colts following the 2011 season, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Per former Indianapolis GM Bill Polian, the Colts had little to no contact with Manning due to the ongoing lockout, and therefore believed he’d be ready to play following neck surgery. In turn, they didn’t use a draft pick on a quarterback such as Colin Kaepernick or Andy Dalton — either of whom likely would have allowed the Colts to finish better than their 2-14 record.

Also from Myers, Polian says he was willing to carry both Manning and Andrew Luck on the roster, similar to what the Packers did with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. However, Colts owner Jim Irsay was adamant that the club couldn’t pay both QBs, so Manning was eventually released.

Here’s more from around the league…

  • The Jets and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson are at a stalemate in contract talks, but that standstill could actually help New York land a franchise quarterback, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The Jets could slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on Wilkerson next season (at a value of around $16MM), and then trade him, potentially for a pick in the top 10, opines Mehta. Other clubs have made similar moves in the past: the Chiefs with Jared Allen in 2008, the Packers with Corey Williams the same year, and the Patriots with Matt Cassel in 2009.
  • A bit more pressing Jets news: running back Chris Ivory believes he’ll be able to play tomorrow against the Eagles, tweets Mehta. However, he will have to prove to both the coaching staff and the club’s medical personnel that he’s able to go.
  • The NFL will take a look at the rule that awards possession of the ball to the defense following an offensive fumble through the end zone (as happened with Matt Jones and Washington during Thursday night’s game), per Florio at PFT. NFL VP of officiating Dean Blandino tweeted that giving the ball back to the offense at the spot of the fumble “has merit.”
  • The Texans have yet to make a transaction after placing Jeff Adams on injured reserve earlier today, meaning they still only have 52 players on their roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Presumably, they’ll make a move before tomorrow’s game against the Buccaneers.

NFC Notes: Brees, Bush, Hicks, Lions

September 26th, 2015 at 7:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Drew Brees won’t play for the Saints this weekend as he deals with a shoulder injury, but New Orleans’ woes could extend beyond Week 3, writes Jarrett Bell of USA Today. The Saints made several moves to upgrade their offensive line during the offensive line, but Bell questions whether sacrificing a game-changing talent like Jimmy Graham was worth it, noting that finding a weapon like Graham is conceivably more difficult than landing solid offensive linemen. Additionally, Brees’ 2016 cap hit of $27.4MM won’t leave New Orleans much room to bring in reinforcements. Trading Brees could help kickstart a rebuild, but Bell rightly wonders whether Saints fans would accept the club dealing an icon such as Brees.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • 49ers running back Reggie Bush will miss his second consecutive game, as he’s been declared out for Sunday’s contest with a calf injury. As Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes (via Twitter), Bush will miss out on $18,750 in per-game roster bonuses for each contest that he misses. The 30-year-old Bush signed a one-year, $2.5MM with San Francisco during the offseason.
  • Third-round pick Jordan Hicks will start his first game for the Eagles on Sunday, according to to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. With both Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks dealing with leg injuries, Hicks, a Texas product, will step in next to veteran DeMeco Ryans, who has already expressed faith in Hicks. “He’s a guy who’s kind of above his years,” said Ryans. “To me, it’s not like he’s a rookie. When he stepped in, it’s like we’ve been doing this all summer and he’s a pretty smart guy, and it’s not like he has a big learning curve to hurdle.”
  • The Lions rank 25th in the NFL in offensive yards, and Kyle Meinke of MLive.com believes offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is mostly to blame. (For what it’s worth, Detroit places a more respectable 16th in offensive DVOA.) The Lions scribe covers a plethora of other topics in his mailbag segment, including whether or not Matthew Stafford is still the future at quarterback.

Breer’s Latest: Incognito, Gurley, Manziel, Jets

September 26th, 2015 at 6:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In his latest piece for NFL.com, Albert Breer leads off by examining the performances of the seven clubs who hired new head coaches during the offseason, specifically taking a look at the Falcons and Jets, with whom Dan Quinn and Todd Bowles, respectively, have started a combined 4-0. Despite that robust start, both men were quick to deny that their teams had achieved much of anything. “I don’t know if I’d use the word ‘accomplished’,” said Quinn candidly.

“We haven’t accomplished anything,” Bowles said. “It just means we’re off to a good start. We’re trying to establish ourselves and guys are coming together. To me, it’s a long season, a very long season. No guarantees. The only guarantee is we won’t be worse than 2-14.”

Let’s dive into some more notes from Breer’s column…

  • Embattled Bills guard Richie Incognito will make a homecoming of sorts this weekend when Buffalo heads to Miami to play the Dolphins, and despite his reputation, Incognito still has a positive reputation among members of Miami’s coaching staff. “Awesome guy,” one Dolphins assistant told Breer. “Would talk to everyone in the building, always worked hard, very respected … A guy you wanted on your side.”
  • The Rams saw rookie running back Todd Gurley as a “generational talent,” according to Breer, which lead the club to not only select the former Georgia star with the 10th overall pick, but to display caution in terms of Gurley’s return from an ACL injury. Gurley is expected to be active for Sunday’s contest against the Steelers, and St. Louis believes that he’ll be able to perform as would any normal rookie, unencumbered by his knee ailment.
  • After Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel returned from his stint in rehab, Cleveland’s coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator John DeFillipo, worked with Manziel to reshape his delivery and mechanics. Specifically, the club wanted to ensure that Manziel exhibited better footwork and demonstrated “quieter” lower body, per Breer. Manziel had a solid start against the Titans last week, but he’ll head back to the bench in Week 3 following the return of Josh McCown.
  • Sam Bradford was never expected to be a running quarterback, but the complete lack of a mobile QB in Philadelphia has led to defenders ignoring the possibility of a quarterback run, allowing them to send waves of defenders into the backfield, according to Breer. However, Breer has heard that Eagles head coach Chip Kelly is not stubborn, meaning he won’t to allow subpar play — either due to play-calling or a lack of talent at offensive guard — to persist without looking for some sort of solution.

Extra Points: Wilkerson, Graham, Manziel, Brady

September 26th, 2015 at 5:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

As Muhammad Wilkerson begins another standout season, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News begins wondering if he could be the trade chip that lands the Jets a quarterback.

After noting the Jets prefer the skill set of currently troubled 2013 defensive rookie of the year Sheldon Richardson to Wilkerson, Mehta speculates whether Wilkerson’s contract-year campaign could still benefit the Jets down the road by allowing them to keep the defensive end around for trade purposes. Using the Chiefs’ 2008 trade of Jared Allen to the Vikings as an example, Mehta proposes the Jets use a non-exclusive franchise tag on Wilkerson after this season and dangle him in trade talks, as Kansas City did seven years ago.

He continues in saying the only way the Jets could keep both of their star ends is one agreeing to take far less than their value, which will not happen. Of course, this talk of trading Wilkerson is contingent on Richardson re-routing his career, which is far from a certainty at this point.

Here is some other news from around the league.

  • Jimmy Graham‘s level of happiness with the Seahawks has been one of the key points of discussion in the NFL this week, and the sixth-year tight end might not experience a morale uptick, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk offers. While noting satisfaction could come in time as Graham and Russell Wilson increase their rapport, Florio suggests Graham is not a fit for what the Seahawks do. Graham’s begun to lobby for Wilson to not shy away from throwing his way, even if he’s covered. “Obviously, Drew (Brees) wasn’t running the read options, Graham told media. €œIf (Wilson) is in trouble, he was going to read me, and I was the option. … I tell Russ every day, it don’€™t matter (if coverage is tight) and sometimes just throw it because sometimes it just doesn’€™t matter.”
  • Sufficiently recovered from a high-ankle sprain, Eric Fisher will return to the Chiefs‘ starting lineup against the Packers, doing so at right tackle now, after sitting behind waiver pickup Jah Reid in the first two games, reports Kevin Patra of NFL.com. Although Andy Reid denied the speculation Fisher delayed his recovery in order to not have to face J.J. Watt in the Chiefs’ opener, Fisher hasn’t remotely lived up to expectations as a No. 1 pick and will begin a critical campaign in hopes of rescuing his career.
  • Nick Toon‘s workout itinerary now includes a stop in St. Louis, as the Rams examined the former Saints backup, per Florio. The Rams also worked out wideouts Issac Blakeney, Kain Colter, DaVaris Daniels, Jordan Leslie, Tyler Rutenbeck and Taylor Washington. Florio opines that the Rams, who carry six healthy receivers presently, are sending a message to some in the unimpressive group. Toon also worked out for the Cowboys and Titans this month after being waived by the Saints.
  • After news emerged on the timeline for the Tom Brady case, Michael Coyne of the Massachusetts School of Law explains to CSNNE.com how that will affect the 38-year-old quarterback’s season, should the Patriots return to the playoffs as expected. While distractions are inevitable given how this has unfolded, Coyne points out Brady will not have to be present for the appeal hearings.
  • Johnny Manziel fumbling twice in each of the Browns‘ first two games was the driving force behind them opting to relegate him back to the bench in favor of Josh McCown, Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com writes. The Browns lost possession on both mishaps against the Jets and recovered each loose ball against the Titans. “The No. 1 thing when you play quarterback is you have to protect the football,” Browns OC John DeFilippo told media. “. . . If you don’t protect the football, then you’re not giving yourself the best chance to win.”
  • A knee injury this week during practice will keep Trent Cole from traveling with the Colts to Nashville, Tenn., for their Week 3 tilt with the Titans, reports Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (on Twitter). Robert Mathis‘ workload will increase as a result, Holder reports.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/15

September 26th, 2015 at 4:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • The Dolphins elevated center Sam Brenner from their practice squad to the active roster and cut guard Jacques McClendon, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald notes (on Twitter). A third-year player, Brenner made four starts with the Dolphins in 2013. McClendon’s bounced around after being selected by the Colts in the fourth round of the 2010 draft, playing for five teams and only staying in the same place in consecutive seasons once, with the Jaguars from 2013-14.
  • To make room for Kam Chancellor on their 53-man roster, the Seahawks waived safety Dion Bailey, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. The second-year player started the Seahawks’ opener against the Rams, but an ill-timed stumble allowed a costly Lance Kendricks fourth-quarter touchdown en route to St. Louis’ overtime victory. Bailey joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.
  • Wide receiver Tony Washington received a promotion to the Jaguars‘ 53-man roster from their practice squad, while the team waived linebacker LaRoy Reynolds to make room, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports. Washington’s promotion coincides with Marqise Lee being downgraded from probable to questionable for the Jags’ Week 3 contest against the Patriots. Washington will play behind Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and recently re-signed Bryan Walters if Lee is unable to go, notes O’Halloran. Reynolds has played in 30 games for the Jags over the past three seasons, starting in three games in 2014, and O’Halloran speculates the 24-year-old special-teamer could be brought back if he clears waivers.

NFC Rumors: Peterson, Fusco, Maxwell, RG3

September 26th, 2015 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is the latest coming out of NFC facilities, starting with Minnesota.

  • The NFL and NFLPA reached a settlement to dismiss a motion in the Adrian Peterson case, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. As a result, the NFL will not use the post-Ray Rice scandal domestic violence penalties for incidents occurring before Aug. 28, 2014, which includes the Vikings‘ star running back’s case. Oral arguments in Peterson’s case remain set for Oct. 19 in front of the Eighth Circuit in St. Paul, Minn.
  • Brandon Fusco played through a concussion in the Vikings’ Week 2 win over the Lions, and the Players Association is investigating whether the ATC spotter failed to take appropriate action when the Minnesota guard struggled to stand up after a third-quarter block involving helmet-to-helmet contact, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. The spotters are independent certified athletic trainers present to determine if players suffer concussions who as of this season have authorization to stop games in order to initiate immediate concussion examinations.
  • Byron Maxwell‘s struggles are flying under the radar compared to those of Sam Bradford and Chip Kelly amid the Eagles‘ 0-2 start, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. In the first month of a six-year, $63MM contract, Maxwell allowed Julio Jones to compile another Monday Night Football highlight package and then admitted to being too fatigued to stop Terrance Williams from scoring last week. Mehta argues matters will worsen for the ex-Seahawks corner when he faces a rejuvenated Brandon Marshall. The 27-year-old Maxwell is the 89th-rated corner thus far, according to Pro Football Focus, and has begun to hear the displeasure of a notoriously impatient fanbase. €œI feel it. They’re cold on me,” Maxwell told the Daily News. That’€™s fine. Everybody’s got their opinion.”
  • Florio notes Maxwell’s monstrous agreement with the Eagles is somewhat tenuous at two years and $25MM, with just $3MM of the $10MM salary in 2017 guaranteed. PFT’s top scribe believes that, absent “significant” improvement, Maxwell will be jettisoned after 2016.
  • In analyzing Washington‘s switch to Kirk Cousins, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap believes the team made this move so Robert Griffin‘s $16.5MM fifth-year option doesn’t become guaranteed due to an injury sustained this season. Expressing shock Washington picked up its maligned third-string signal-caller’s option and tied itself to Griffin further, Fitzgerald notes had this transaction not taken place, Griffin would be the starter, with the team only being on the hook for the fourth-year quarterback’s 2015 salary in the event of an injury.
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