HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Latest On Sean Payton, Saints

January 4th, 2016 at 8:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The meeting between coach Sean Payton and Saints GM Mickey Loomis has concluded, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter links). It’s believed that the meeting went on for a long time because the two sides were discussing compensation at length. Payton’s status is still in limbo, Rapoport adds, it may not be decided tonight. Sean Payton (vertical)

[RELATED: Check out PFR’s 2016 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

It is no sure thing that Payton will leave the Saints, but if Loomis wants to keep Payton happy, the GM may need to “change certain things,” according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. Payton, of course, led the Saints to a Super Bowl title and an 86-52 overall record, but their partnership could be coming to an end. Payton appears to be unhappy about at least a few things in New Orleans and he is a hot name in regards to other coaching vacancies around the NFL. If the Saints decide to part ways with Payton, they can probably pick up some significant compensation in a trade.

For his part, Payton is reportedly be interested in the Giants vacancy and clubs like the 49ers and the Eagles have interest. He has been connected to the Dolphins for a long time but that reportedly will not be his landing spot if he parts ways with New Orleans.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills Sign Greg Salas To Contract Extension

January 4th, 2016 at 7:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced that they have signed wide receiver Greg Salas to a contract extension. In addition to Salas, cornerback Mario Butler, running back Mike Gillislee, and punter Colton Schmidt have all been given new deals.

A fourth-round pick in 2011, Salas has spent time with several teams, recording a total of 46 regular-season receptions for the Rams, Jets, and Bills. Salas joined the Bills in late December and apparently made enough of an impression on team brass to get a second look for 2016. In two games for the Bills, Salas drew five targets and three receptions, good for 41 total yards. Salas was a fourth-round pick of the Rams in 2011 after he enjoyed a 1,889-yard, 14-touchdown campaign in his final collegiate season. He is still looking to make an impact of a similar magnitude at the NFL level.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/4/16

January 4th, 2016 at 7:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Now that the 2015 regular season is in the books, teams can begin signing players to reserve/futures contracts, adding those players to their 90-man offseason rosters. Generally, these players finished the season on a team’s practice squad, though some were free agents at season’s end.

Here are today’s reserve/futures deals:

Atlanta Falcons signed four players (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)

Baltimore Ravens signed seven players (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun):

  • Brennen Beyer, LB
  • Leon Brown, G
  • Nordly Capi, DE
  • Blaine Clausell, T
  • Chuck Jacobs, WR
  • Nick Perry, S
  • Harold Spears, TE

Buffalo Bills signed seven players (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com)

Chicago Bears signed nine players (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune):

Cleveland Browns signed six players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

Dallas Cowboys signed eight players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

Denver Broncos signed four players (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9NEWS)

Detroit Lions signed five players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

Jacksonville Jaguars signed nine players (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union):

Miami Dolphins signed one player (link)

  • Tyler Davis, WR

New Orleans Saints signed five players (link via Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune):

New York Giants signed six players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

Philadelphia Eagles signed seven players (Twitter link via team):

San Diego Chargers signed six players (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego)

Seattle Seahawks signed three players (Twitter link via Wilson)

  • Andrew East, LS
  • Ronnie Shields, TE
  • Phillip Sims, QB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed nine players (link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times):

  • Josh Allen, G
  • Andre Davis, WR
  • Antoine Everett, G
  • Ben Gottschalk, C
  • Gerod Holliman, S
  • Martin Ifedi, DE
  • Derrick Lott, DT
  • C.J. Roberts, CB
  • Joel Ross, CB

Tennessee Titans signed five players (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com):

  • David Fluellen, RB
  • Kevin Greene, TE
  • Nick Harwell, WR
  • Josue Matias, G
  • Will Poehls, T

Washington signs three players (link via team):

2016 Home And Away Opponents Named For All 32 NFL Teams

January 4th, 2016 at 6:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the NFL revealed the complete list of home and away opponents for NFL teams in the 2016 season. Dates for these games will not be revealed until the spring, but these are the teams that will be on each club’s schedule, including home and away designation:

Read more

Colts QB Andrew Luck Wants Extension

January 4th, 2016 at 5:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck would be receptive to signing a long-term extension with the Colts, as Mike Chappell of CBS4 writes. Luck is under contract through 2016 with a base salary of $16.155MM.

[RELATED: Colts, Coach Chuck Pagano Still Mulling Future Together]

Andrew Luck

“Yeah, that would be great,” he said of a multi-year pact. “I haven’t thought about it too much. I wanted to make sure this season gets done. “But if there’s an opportunity for it, yeah, absolutely.”

A new contract for Luck could cost the Colts more than $22MM annually, exceeding Aaron Rodgers‘ average annual value with the Packers. In fact, Luck’s deal could even set a new watermark for guaranteed money in a deal. If they can’t hammer out a long-term contract, the Colts would have to use the franchise tag to keep him around beyond ’16. The former No. 1 overall pick ostensibly wants to get paid big bucks, but he also says that he is tired of the constant “rebuilding” talk in Indianapolis.

“It’s everybody’s goal to win the Super Bowl, right?” Luck said. “When you don’t do that, stuff happens. When you don’t get to the playoffs and give yourself a chance to win the Super Bowl, regardless of the situation going on (things happen). [Owner Jim] Irsay has done a great job of leading this franchise for a long, long time. It’s a winning franchise. Super Bowl winner and very, very successful. I know he has a vision for this team and whatever it is we’ll be there to make sure we try and get it done.”

Prior to the 2015 season, Luck led the Colts to three consecutive 11-5 seasons and established new career highs in 2014 with 4,761 passing yards and 40 touchdowns.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Colts: Still No Decision On Chuck Pagano

January 4th, 2016 at 4:45pm CST by Zachary Links

4:45pm: The two sides are still talking and both sides are evaluating the possibility of staying together, Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.

4:38pm: In an unusual move, the Colts announced they will not have a verdict on coach Chuck Pagano‘s future with the team tonight. One has to wonder if the team is stalling on its decision in order to see whether other candidates become available for the position, but the team’s reasoning is not immediately clear. Chuck Pagano (vertical)

After helping lead the Colts to playoff berths in his first three years with the team, Pagano’s club missed out this season during an injury-riddled, tumultuous campaign. After guiding the team to an 8-8 finish, the Colts have been widely expected to let go of Pagano, whose contract is up. However, his fate is still up in the air.

After finishing with an 11-5 record and an AFC South crown for three straight seasons, the Colts entered 2015 with Super Bowl aspirations, but took a significant step backward. While the Colts’ struggles could be attributed, at least in part, to injuries and questionable roster construction, Pagano was already under pressure to win heading into the year, with the team offering him only a one-year extension rather than any sort of longer-team deal — he turned down that offer. Pagano holds a 41-23 record during his four years in Indianapolis, which includes the time he missed in 2012 due to cancer treatments.

The fate of GM Ryan Grigson is also up in the air as the team has yet to decide on his status for 2016.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Browns, Joe Thomas

January 4th, 2016 at 4:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas said he wants to see who the team’s new coach and GM will be before deciding whether he’ll ask for a way out of the organization, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal tweets. The perennial Pro Bowl left tackle has been in Cleveland ever since the organization drafted him No. 3 overall in 2007. Joe Thomas (vertical)

“When there’s turnover in the coaching staff, a lot of good players end up leaving, a lot of good coaches leave,” Thomas said over the weekend. “There’s a lot of uncertainty when there’s turnover in the coaching staff. Certainly I could be one of them not here next year.”

Thomas was hoping that coach Mike Pettine would return, but he was fired on Sunday, along with GM Ray Farmer. Now it seems that Thomas could follow both men out of the door in Cleveland.

Thomas has three years and $29.5MM left on his contract, which contains no dead money. Back in November, the Browns nearly completed a deal that would have sent the left tackle to the Broncos in exchange for valuable 2016 selections. It was reported that the deal broke down, at least in part, over a holdup on converting Thomas’ remaining salary for 2016 and 2017 into guarantees. However, Thomas denied those claims.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rashean Mathis Still Undecided Between Retirement, Lions Return

January 4th, 2016 at 4:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback Rashean Mathis is undecided on whether to retire or return to the Lions, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Mathis, 35, says that the team’s coaching decision will factor into his own call on whether to continue playing. Rashean Mathis (vertical)

“If I’m not here then I’m nowhere,” Mathis said. “[Coach Jim] Caldwell, definitely, that could be a deciding factor if I decide if I want to play or not.”

Still, Mathis didn’t entirely rule out playing for another coach in Detroit besides Caldwell. The 35-year-old also doesn’t have a set timetable to make the call.

“It’s all my head, meaning how I want to handle things,” Mathis said. “Not from a health standpoint, meaning me mentally. I’ve given a lot and a lot has been given to me and I feel like I have done the best I could with both. And if I walk away, I walk away with my head up. And if I stay, I give it 100 percent again. And that’s just how I handle things. But the game has been good to me and I feel I have impacted some lives in this locker room and other locker rooms so in that case, I probably beat the game because I’ve given back. I feel like I’ve wanted to give back more than I’ve got so I’m proud of that.”

A second round draft choice of the Jaguars in 2003, Mathis has logged 175 career games with 636 tackles, 32 interceptions, eight forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. The Lions signed Mathis in 2013 after he was released by Jacksonville following the 2012 season and he has become very close with his teammates and the organization. Mathis was placed on injured reserve with a concussion midway through the 2015 season but unselfishly shifted to a mentor role for cornerbacks Darius Slay – a budding star -and Nevin Lawson, who replaced him in the starting lineup.

One thing that won’t factor into Mathis’ decision is his concussion. Mathis says that he has had everything checked out thoroughly and believes that he is now 100% healthy in that regard.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/16

January 4th, 2016 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The 12 NFL teams still alive in the postseason can continue to make changes to their 53-man rosters this week, and a couple of them have already done so today, so let’s round up Monday’s minor moves….

  • The Bengals have placed linebacker and special-teamer Emmanuel Lamur on injured reserve, promoting linebacker Trevor Roach from their practice squad in a corresponding move, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). Cincinnati’s IR has been fairly sparsely populated this year, with Lamur joining Darqueze Dennard, Marquis Flowers, and James Wright on the list.
  • Per agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link), the Texans are signing offensive tackle Andrew McDonald to their 53-man roster in advance of their playoff game against the Chiefs. When Houston makes the move official, the team figures to place injured tackle Duane Brown on IR to make room on the roster, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. McDonald finished the regular season on the Chargers’ practice squad.

Titans CEO On GM Search, Coaching Search

January 4th, 2016 at 3:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest on the Titans as they seek a new GM to replace Ruston Webster and examine their head coaching job, which may or may not be filled by interim coach Mike Mularkey:

  • Titans CEO Steve Underwood says that over a dozen candidates – names people “would know” – have asked about interviewing for the team’s GM job, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com tweets. He added that the club has multiple in-house candidates for both the team’s coaching gig and the GM vacancy (link).
  • Underwood says the Titans will not consider a head coach/GM in one role, a la Chip Kelly (Twitter link via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com).
  • Underwood said he has 14 GM finalists but he may not interview all of them, McCormick tweets.
  • The CEO said there were 155 coaching candidates after Ken Whisenhunt was fired and he’s trimming that list down now (link).
  • The CEO said that Amy Adams Strunk and Kenneth Adams will join him in the interview process, along with Vin Marino, Jim Wyatt of The Tenneseean tweets.
  • The team has never been for sale and is not for sale now, Underwood claims (link).
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