HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Police Investigating Rape Claim Against Nelson Agholor

June 10th, 2016 at 8:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

8:52pm: Eagles defensive lineman Fletcher Cox tweeted that he was also at the club, but he denied any involvement in the alleged incident.

5:46pm: Second-year Eagles receiver Nelson Agholor has been accused of rape by a dancer at Cheerleaders Gentlemen’s Club in Philadelphia, law enforcement sources told David Gambacorta of PhillyMag.com. Agholor has not been charged with a crime – and his attorney is “confident that he will not be charged” – but police are investigating the woman’s claim that Agholor raped her in the club at around 3 p.m. Thursday.

Detectives are working to track down video footage from the club, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said. Investigators will speak soon with Agholor, who was with at least two other Eagles players, according to Gambacorta. One of those players, linebacker Connor Barwin, acknowledged his own presence at the club, but he stated that he left around 2:30 p.m. (Twitter link via Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News).

The allegation against Agholor comes as the result of a financial dispute, a person with knowledge of the situation told Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advance Media. Agholor agreed to pay the dancer $1,400 for their time in a private room, but because she left before the time they agreed on expired, Agholor only paid her $800. The dancer then left the bar without informing management of the alleged rape, per the source, who informed Shorr-Parks that multiple dancers at the club have told management that Agholor didn’t do anything wrong. A source with ties to Agholor told Bowen that Shorr-Parks’ report is correct (Twitter link).

Agholor has since left Philadelphia for Florida, where he played high school football. The Eagles, meanwhile, issued a statement Friday in response to the allegations.

“We are aware of the police investigation involving Nelson Agholor. The organization has been in contact with Nelson and with the proper authorities in Philadelphia. Because of the legal nature of this matter, we will have no further comment.”

Agholor, whom the Eagles used the 20th overall pick on in last year’s draft, caught 23 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown in 13 games as a rookie.

Extra Points: Coaches, Bell, Boykin

June 10th, 2016 at 8:32pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Here’s the latest from around the NFL:

  • Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports examined the job security of each NFL head coach entering the season. In La Canfora’s estimation, Rex Ryan (Bills), Gus Bradley (Jaguars), Jim Caldwell (Lions), Mike McCoy (Chargers), Marvin Lewis (Bengals), Bill O’Brien (Texans) and Jason Garrett (Cowboys) are the least secure coaches going into this year. Of that group, two (Lewis and O’Brien) were at the helm of playoff teams last season. Ryan has only been in Buffalo for a year, making him the shortest-tenured member of the septet.
  • Free agent running back Joique Bell told SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link) on Friday that a few teams are interested in signing him. Bell added that he hopes to join his next team in July. The 29-year-old, who stated last week that he has “two or three offers on the table,” has been on the market since the Lions cut him in February.
  • One of Bell’s fellow free agents, cornerback Brandon Boykin, surprisingly can’t find work this offseason. One possible reason is a report that he has a degenerative hip problem – a rumor that Boykin blames Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake for starting. Lake had a chance Thursday to walk back comments he made last week about Boykin’s hip, but he opted against doing so, as Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. “I made some comments that I had at fantasy camp and I’m not going to go back on that,” said Lake. “I wish Boykin all the best; he helped us when we needed him, and I wish him the best in his career.”

AFC Notes: Jets QBs, Raiders, Vegas, Chargers

June 10th, 2016 at 7:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

With seemingly no progress being made in talks between the Jets and free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com told Toucher and Rich of CBS Boston (video link via CSNNE.com) that he could envision Gang Green setting a deadline for the 33-year-old to sign. If the Jets and Fitzpatrick aren’t able to reach an agreement this summer, the team believes it would be able to “tread water” with Geno Smith under center, says Breer. The Jets were prepared to go into last season with Smith as their starter before then-teammate IK Enemkpali broke his jaw with a punch, thereby leading to the Fitzpatrick era. Notably, Fitzpatrick’s output in 2015 was vastly superior to Smith’s when he was the Jets’ starter the previous two seasons.

In other AFC news…

  • The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee will meet June 23 to endorse the construction of a stadium that would house the Raiders and UNLV, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). It remains up in the air whether the state of Nevada can raise the projected $750MM needed to build the stadium, but if it does, the Raiders will seek the NFL’s approval to relocate, says Cole.
  • San Diego voters cut three candidates for City Attorney this week, which seems to bode poorly for the Chargers’ plans for a $1.15 billion downtown stadium and convention center, writes Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The two candidates who advanced, Republican Robert Hickey and Democrat Mara Elliott, are on record as saying the Chargers’ plan will need two-thirds voter approval. Bryan Pease, who received the fewest votes and is now out of the running, thought the stadium could come to fruition with a 50 percent plus one vote. In regards to the city helping fund a stadium, Elliott said, “I’d rather see the money go toward something that benefits the public. Public safety, roads, our infrastructure is crumbling. We’ve got water issues in the City of San Diego. So in my opinion, there are more critical concerns for San Diegans than there is building a private Chargers stadium.” The Chargers have until Jan. 15, 2017, to join the Rams in Los Angeles, so it stands to reason that they’ll depart by then if a stadium deal isn’t reached.
  • Earlier this evening, we checked in on the latest Broncos rumors.

AFC South Notes: Hurns, Jaguars, Luck, Colts

June 10th, 2016 at 5:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Allen Hurns did well for himself on his newly-signed extension with the Jaguars, Bryce Johnston of Over The Cap writes. Hurns gave up only three years of free agency but he secured more new guaranteed cash than Jordan Reed or Harrison Smith who gave up five. Locking up Hurns required a four-year, $40MM+ pact with ~$20MM in guarantees, but as Johnston notes, the Jags did not give up their financial flexibility. Going forward, the Jaguars should have enough room to take care of their other young talents.

Here’s more from the AFC South:

Broncos Rumors: Miller, Sanders, Marshall

June 10th, 2016 at 4:40pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The six-year, $114.5MM offer from the Broncos that linebacker Von Miller is unwilling to accept actually includes a $58MM injury guarantee at signing, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio adds that the remainder of the $58MM would become fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2018 league year. The Broncos, therefore, would have the chance to cut the reigning Super Bowl MVP loose after two seasons without any serious repercussions. Miller, however, would like the first three years of the deal guaranteed to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Here’s more on Miller and two of his Denver teammates:

  • The exact figure Miller wants over the first three years of his next deal is $70MM, which is the biggest stumbling block in negotiations between him and the Broncos, according to Florio. The Broncos are only willing to guarantee Miller $39.5MM over two years, and Florio doesn’t expect a resolution until right before the July 15 deadline for the team and its franchise player to work out a long-term agreement. That’s if a deal comes at all, of course, which doesn’t look promising at the moment.
  • Miller isn’t the only high-profile Bronco entering a contract year: Both receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Brandon Marshall are slated to hit free agency after the upcoming season. The team is engaged in contract talks with the pair, reports Mike Klis of 9News, who writes that Sanders’ agent, Todd France, recently sent the Broncos a counteroffer. “I want to retire a Bronco,” Sanders told 9News’ Rod Mackey. “I think everyone wants to know, but it’s all about being able to say, ‘I’m getting paid what I put out.’’ Negotiations in Marshall’s case are more advanced, per Klis, who notes that the defender’s deadline to sign his restricted free agent tender for 2016 is Wednesday. If Marshall doesn’t sign the tender, the Broncos will have a chance to reduce his deal from $2.553MM to a 10 percent raise over the $585K he made last season. Nevertheless, Klis expects Denver to award Marshall the $2.553MM even if he doesn’t put pen to paper by the tender deadline.
  • For in-depth analysis on what a Marshall extension might look like, check out this piece by PFR’s Sam Robinson.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/10/16

June 10th, 2016 at 4:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Lions have waived wide receiver Corey Washington with an injury designation, reports ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. Washington, who caught five passes with the Giants in 2014, spent last season on the Lions’ practice squad.
  • The Patriots have waived/injured tight end Michael Williams, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (Twitter link). Williams, who suffered a torn ACL on Wednesday, will revert to IR if he clears waivers.
  • The Chiefs (Twitter link) announced that they have signed defensive back Bryce Cheek and waived safety Peni Vea.
  • The Cowboys announced that they have waived cornerback Terrance Mitchell, who had one of their two interceptions by cornerbacks last season. The move is slightly surprising because Jason Garrett spoke highly of Mitchell earlier in the offseason, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer observes (Twitter link).
  • The Cowboys also waived cornerback Brandon McGee with an injury designation.

Bengals Sign William Jackson III

June 10th, 2016 at 3:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals announced that they have formally signed first-round pick William Jackson III. With the cornerback officially under contract, the Bengals have now signed every player in their 2016 draft class. William Jackson III (vertical)

Jackson, a University of Houston product, turned heads with a 4.37 second 40-yard-dash time at the NFL combine. Over the last two years at UH, Jackson allowed just 40% of passes thrown his way to be completed. The cornerback was reportedly at the center of what could have been a rare trade between the Jets and Giants on draft day. The Jets are said to have offered their No. 20 overall pick and second-rounders to the Giants to get the No. 10. The Jets had their sights set on Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil while the Giants would have targeted Jackson at No. 20. However, the Giants were zeroed in on Ohio State star Eli Apple and didn’t want to pass up the chance to draft him.

Here is a full recap of the Bengals’ 2016 draft class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Steelers Sign DT Javon Hargrave

June 10th, 2016 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers announced that they have signed third-round defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Now that Hargrave is inked, the Steelers have successfully signed every player in their 2016 draft class. Javon Hargrave (vertical)

Hargrave, a product of FCS program South Carolina State, offers major strength with his 6’1″, 309 pound frame. While Hargrave did not face the best of the best in college, his dominating performances and strong showing at the combine ensured that he would be a third or fourth-round draft pick. In 2014, Hargrave tallied 16 sacks and followed it up with 13.5 sacks last year.

The Steelers’ draft class was headlined by first-round cornerback Artie Burns who signed earlier this week. When his name was called in April, the former University of Miami standout became the first corner selected by Pittsburgh in the first round since Chad Scott in 1997.

Here’s the complete rundown of the Steelers’ 2016 class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Bills, Ryan, Patriots, Dobson

June 10th, 2016 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Recently, Bills coach Rex Ryan denied that he has been given an ultimatum by ownership to make the playoffs in 2016. Count Bills legend Jim Kelly among those who don’t buy it.

“I think we need to do it. I think we have to do it,” Kelly said (link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW). “If we don’t, I think Rex is probably looking for another job, too. I think everybody knows that, including Rex…We’ve got a heck of a football team, but you can’t win if you’re not on the football field competing and playing,” Kelly said. “I just hope we stay healthy, because if we do, and we don’t make it, there’s no excuses whatsoever.”

Here’s more out of the AFC East:

  • Wide receiver Aaron Dobson is on the Patriots‘ roster bubble, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. The 2013 second-round draft choice out of Marshall came into the league as a highly-touted prospect but injuries have altered his path in the NFL. When asked to assess his play in practice so far this year, the 6’3″, 205 pound receiver gave a positive review of himself. Julian Edelman (foot) and Danny Amendola (knee, ankle) have been sidelined so far, which has given Dobson a chance to work with the team’s top group of receivers.
  • If track paid as well as the NFL, Bills wide receiver and Olympic hopeful Marquise Goodwin told The MMQB’s Emily Kaplan (Facebook link) that it would be an easy choice. “I would definitely do track and field, man,” Goodwin said (transcript from Buscaglia). “Football was my opportunity to advance my life… kind of get a head start on life and put my family in a position to where they wouldn’t want for as much. I felt like track and field wouldn’t grant me that opportunity, being that I had a greater chance at making the amount of money that I do playing football, as opposed to going to track and field, and I would make it a lot sooner. Not saying I wouldn’t make it in track and field, but, I would make it pretty much at a guaranteed rate in football.” Goodwin is hoping to be a part of the 2016 games in Rio and the Bills have been supportive of his pursuit. If Goodwin gets to the Olympics and qualifies for the finals, the earliest he could get back to the team would be on August 15, which may not be enough time to show the team he is worthy of a roster spot. Goodwin is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is slated to hit the open market after the ’16 season.
  • Recently, former agent Joel Corry suggested a compromise for the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
  • Earlier this week, it was reported that the Dolphins are not prioritizing free agent Arian Foster.

NFC Notes: Lotulelei, Brees, Greenway

June 10th, 2016 at 11:30am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the NFC:

  • Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei says the Panthers have not approached him about a long-term extension, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. However, he made it known in his own way that he wants to stay. “It’s a great organization and a great team. I’ve grown to love this place,” said Lotulelei, who had his ~$6MM fifth-year option exercised for the 2017 season. “I’m going to play as hard as I can, work as hard as I can and we’ll see what happens.”
  • Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com took a stab at projecting the NFL’s next big-money contracts, including that of Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Brees, who turned 37 in January, would cost the team a whopping $43.09MM if they were to use the franchise tag on him next offseason. Unless the Saints want to move on from the veteran in 2017, they have to do a multiyear extension. The two sides have been discussing a deal for some time and recently, two league sources told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports that Brees could see in excess of $65MM in guarantees on a four-year contract worth between $95MM and $100MM in total.
  • This season will almost certainly be Chad Greenway‘s farewell tour with the Vikings and with that in mind, one reader asked Ben Goessling of ESPN.com about the team’s plan to replace him at weakside linebacker. Emmanuel Lamur would seem to be the in-house solution and Goessling says he might not have to wait until 2017 to get that chance. Lamur joined Minnesota on a two-year, $5.5MM deal this spring. The former Cincinnati outside linebacker is a favorite of coach Mike Zimmer. Of course, if the team feels the need to use Lamur elsewhere or things don’t work out, they could be in the market for a different WLB solution next year.
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