2016 June - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Extra Points: Von, Ryans, D. Murray, Adams

June 22nd, 2016 at 8:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Few in the NFL expect superstar linebacker Von Miller to sit out the season if he and the Broncos don’t resolve their contract dispute, writes Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post, but Kiszla believes doing so in protest of the franchise tag could revolutionize the NFL. If Miller eschews the $14MM tag, skips the 2016 campaign and signs elsewhere next offseason with a team willing to treat him like a full partner – as LeBron James is with the Cleveland Cavaliers, notes Kiszla – it could have a significant impact on the league, the writer opines. However, given Miller’s love for Denver, Kiszla expects the Super Bowl 50 MVP and the franchise to ultimately reach a long-term accord by the July 15 deadline.

Here’s more from around the league:

DeMeco Ryans is hoping to play in 2016 but he also understands if that opportunity doesn’t come around. “Either way, I’m happy spending time with the family,” the former Texans and Eagles linebacker told Mark Inabinett of AL.com. “It’s just a blessing for me to be able to play 10 years in the NFL and have a great career. I have no regrets about it, so it’s great either way. If I could play again, that’ll be great. If not, that’s great as well.” Ryans, 31, spent the last four seasons with the Eagles after playing his first six in Houston. A two-time Pro Bowler with the Texans, Ryans had a pair of strong seasons with the Eagles before an Achilles injury and a reduced role slowed him down from 2014-15. Ryans recorded 49 tackles to go along with an interception, a forced fumble, and five passes defended last season.
This is usually the time on the calendar in which players who had poor years during the previous NFL season predict better things during the approaching campaign, so it’s no surprise that DeMarco Murray is excited about 2016. Murray’s situation is unique, however, as he went from AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year two seasons ago in Dallas to a free agent bust with the Eagles in 2015. Having once again switched uniforms, this time going from the Eagles to the Titans in a trade, the 28-year-old sees himself as a better fit in Mike Mularkey’s offense than he was in Chip Kelly’s. “It’s strictly downhill and that’s what I’ve been accustomed to my entire life,” Murray told Jim Rome on Wednesday (link via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “Nothing against last year or what happened, it just didn’t work out, but I’m very excited about this upcoming season and looking forward to it.”
Former Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams is adjusting to life with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes and while it’s not what he envisioned for himself, he says that he is focusing on being at his best north of the border, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert writes. “I can tell you I am not worried about the NFL,” Adams said, “and they’re not worried about me. I’m not even starting here. I want to get bigger and faster and play here. If the NFL comes calling in five or 10 years or whatever, then maybe I might consider it. But as of right now. I’m fine.”

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Vegas, Bengals, Browns, Broncos

June 22nd, 2016 at 7:24pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The National Hockey League officially announced its expansion into Las Vegas on Wednesday, which could affect the NFL – and the Raiders, to be more specific. The Raiders have been working to relocate to Vegas if they fail to come up with a stadium solution in Oakland, though there has been concern historically about placing a pro sports franchise in a city built on gambling. However, as evidenced by the NHL’s decision, sports commissioners are less and less worried about gambling as a factor, per Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). Now, with the NHL having taken the plunge into Vegas, the door has opened that much more for the Raiders to do the same.

For more on the NHL’s 31 franchises, bookmark the newly launched Pro Hockey Rumors and follow PHR on Twitter.

Elsewhere around the NFL…

Bengals linebacker Karlos Dansby has tried to recruit free agent safety Donte Whitner to Cincinnati, he told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday (Twitter link via Alex Marvez). The rebuilding Browns released Dansby in March and Whitner in April after the two played together in Cleveland from 2014-15. Given the Bengals’ situation at safety, odds are seemingly against the 31-year-old Whitner joining them as anything but a backup – for which he’s overqualified. As Roster Resource shows, the team has expensive, in-their-prime starters in George Iloka and Shawn Williams.
In his interview with SiriusXM, Dansby also opened up about his experience with the 3-13 Browns last season (via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com). “The coaches and the front office, there was just a lot of mess going on, a lot of things going on, a lot of distractions.” Dansby said, referring to the coaching staff Mike Pettine was at the helm of and the Ray Farmer-led front office. The 13th-year man added that his teammates “had just shut down” after a certain point, which would help to explain Cleveland’s 1-10 finish. The Browns moved on from both Pettine and Farmer at the end of the season, of course, and have begun a new era with ex-Bengals assistant Hue Jackson atop the coaching staff and Sashi Brown leading the front office.
Three of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen’s seven children – John Michael Bowlen, Brittany Bowlen and Jane Elizabeth Bowlen Wallace – are no longer employees of the organization, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. That doesn’t mean a sale of the franchise is in the works, though. “No plans for the sale of the team. The hope remains to keep the Broncos in the Bowlen family,” Broncos vice president of communications Patrick Smyth tweeted in response to a Pro Football Talk report on Wednesday. PFT’s Mike Florio is skeptical, however, noting that “hope” isn’t a guarantee and one of Bowlen’s children will eventually have to show why he or she is worthy of taking control of the Broncos. In the meantime, with Pat Bowlen having resigned as the Broncos’ CEO in 2014 because of his battle with Alzheimer’s, the team will remain in a trust and president Joe Ellis will continue running the operation.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/22/16

June 22nd, 2016 at 6:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Today’s minor moves from around the NFL:

Offensive tackle Dominick Jackson, whom the Lions waived Tuesday, cleared waivers and is now a free agent, tweets Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. The undrafted rookie from the University of Alabama signed with the Lions on June 1 after the Redskins jettisoned him May 16.
The Chargers have signed rookie punter Drew Kaser and rookie guard Donavon Clark, per the team’s website.

NFC Notes: 49ers QBs, Bears, Falcons

June 22nd, 2016 at 5:15pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick has plenty of work to do this summer if he’s going to beat out Blaine Gabbert for the team’s starting quarterback job, writes Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.

The fact that Kaepernick – who’s returning from left shoulder, left knee and right thumb surgeries – is likely to receive medical clearance for full participation at training camp will obviously help his cause. But the 49ers’ coaching staff is enthusiastic about Gabbert’s physical tools, intelligence and leadership, with quarterbacks coach Ryan Day stating, “I didn’t know he’s as athletic as he is. He can make all the throws you need. He has a really good skillset and we’re excited about that moving forward.”

On Gabbert’s smarts, Day said, “When he comes into a meeting room, you better buckle up, because he knows what he’s talking about. He’s really sharp.”

The 10th pick in the 2011 draft, Gabbert flamed out in Jacksonville after three disappointing seasons. Last season was the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder’s first extensive action since 2012, and he fared respectably in completing a career-high 63.1 percent of throws and averaging a personal-best 7.20 yards per completion in eight games. He also added 11 touchdowns (10 passing, one rushing) against seven interceptions, and now appears to have the inside track on the 49ers’ starting job in Year 1 of the Chip Kelly era. If he rides the bench in favor of Gabbert, it’s fair to say it won’t sit well with Kaepernick, who requested a trade during the winter but stayed put after talks with the Broncos fell through.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Tannehill, Suh, Pats

June 22nd, 2016 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

New Dolphins head coach Adam Gase is giving Ryan Tannehill more freedom to change plays and making more of the playbook available to him at the line of scrimmage, backup Matt Moore tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

“Maybe it’s not the entire playbook but there’s a lot of things we can get to very quickly,” Moore said. “[Gase] really instills in your mind that if there’s something you don’t like, you can get into it or out of it at your will. We have a lot of answers to a lot of different looks. If Ryan sees something he likes, it’s very easy to get to it. That’s probably the biggest thing…The whole offense can be done at the line of scrimmage. It’s very simple to get from one thing to another. In other offenses, it’s small packages or a couple plays here or there. Everything is on the table at all times [now].”

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap ran down the best and worst contracts on the Dolphins. The best deal on the team, he says, is the team’s deal with strong safety Reshad Jones. Miami inked Jones to a four-year, $28MM deal back in 2013 with $15MM guaranteed. It turned out to be a very team-friendly deal and, of course, Jones was holding out earlier this offseason in an effort to get out of it and draw up a new deal. Ultimately, however, Jones caved and returned to the team midway through the June minicamp. Fitzgerald’s only criticism of the deal isn’t really a criticism at all – he says Miami in hindsight should have made it a five-year pact rather than a four-year agreement.
On the flipside, Fitzgerald says that Ndamukong Suh‘s six-year, $114.375MM deal with $59.95MM guaranteed is the deam’s worst deal. In fact, he believes that the deal could go down as one of the worst in NFL history when all is said and done. Even if Suh is the best veteran defensive tackle in the NFL, he’s still arguably the worst value in the league at this exorbitant rate, Fitzgerald argues.
Brandon Marshall has a new four-year deal, worth $8MM in average annual value with the Broncos and Phil Perry of CSNNE.com wonders how that might impact the deals that Patriots linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins can expect in the near future. Perry notes that the advanced metrics have been very impressed with the work of both players. Collins graded out as the No. 5 linebacker in the league in 2015, according to Pro Football Focus, and was No. 6 in the year prior. Hightower, meanwhile, was ranked at No. 10 and No. 5, respectively, in those years. Since his rookie season in 2012, Hightower has never graded below No. 24, according to PFF.
Bills owner Terry Pegula told WGR 550 that the NFL has asked him about his plans to build a new stadium. “Obviously, we’ll look into that,” he said (link via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak). He added that he listens to other owners’ thoughts but, ultimately, he’ll make his “own judgment.”

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Cox, Giants, Redskins

June 22nd, 2016 at 12:03pm CST by Zachary Links

In the 2012 draft, the Eagles had their eye on defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. The night prior to the draft, the Eagles agreed to a deal with the Seahawks that would move them from No. 15 to No. 12, provided that one of the players on their short wish list was still available. Cox fell to No. 12, the two teams made the trade, and the Eagles were ready to announce their pick. However, when the Eagles were on the clock, they received a tempting trade proposal which would have netted them a future first-round pick in exchange for moving back, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. The Eagles, of course, declined.

“If he was [what the Eagles thought], how would we get that guy again?” Eagles exec Howie Roseman said. “And all around the room, everyone agreed that to get a 6-4, 310-pound guy, 35-inch arms, powerful, athletic, great character, we’d have to pick in the Top-5 — 21 years old. For us, even if that future one was a 12 or 13 or 14, we thought it was a unique opportunity that we were able to get that kind of guy, so we just kind of made the pick.”

In theory, the Eagles could have grabbed a player like Sheldon Richardson, Star Lotulelei, or Kenny Vaccaro in the following year, but there’s no way of knowing what they would have done in that scenario. In any event, the Eagles are thrilled with how things turned out and earlier this month they locked up their star defensive tackle on a massive deal through the 2022 season.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

If rookie Jerell Adams shows that he can adjust to the speed of the NFL, he will allow the Giants to carry only three full-time tight ends, James Kratch of NJ.com writes. However, if he looks to be more of a project player, the Giants may have to carry a fourth tight end. As Roster Resource shows, the Giants’ depth chart at TE is headlined by Larry Donnell and Will Tye with Adams, Matt LaCosse, and UDFA Ryan Malleck also on the 90-man.
Many expected the Redskins to make a significant splash on the defensive line this offseason but that didn’t materialize as the team applied its resources elsewhere. Now, as the Redskins enter 2016 without vets Jason Hatcher and Terrance Knighton, the team is banking on consistency from its returning D-linemen, Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post writes.
Left tackle Takoby Cofield finds himself on the Redskins‘ roster bubble and Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes that he could be ready to challenge for a spot on the active roster. Cofield joined the Redskins as a UDFA in 2015 and spent the year on the taxi squad.
Cowboys free agent Greg Hardy may be trying to clean up his public persona by making changes to his social media.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Seven Rookies Remain Unsigned

June 22nd, 2016 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

Updated on June 25th, 2016 3:32pm CT

The overwhelming majority of the rookies in the 2016 draft class have officially signed. However, as we approach July, we still have a small group of stragglers. Seven rookies have yet to put pen to paper with their respective teams and that group includes three first-rounders: Joey Bosa (Chargers, No. 3), Darron Lee (Jets, No. 20) and Joshua Garnett (49ers, No. 28).

Bosa, of course, stands as the most high-profile player yet to sign his rookie pact and his negotiations are also the most public of the bunch. This week, agent Todd France and team president of football operations John Spanos both discussed the negotiations in radio interviews and it appears that the two sides aren’t even in agreement as to what the disagreement is all about. Spanos says the two sides are hung up on the idea of offset language. France, meanwhile, says there are other reasons behind the protracted talks, including cash flow.

The latest Collective Bargaining Agreement has made rookie contracts much simpler than they used to be. Every rookie from No. 1 through (roughly) No. 256 receives a four-year deal with varying salary amounts based on where they are selected. However, offset language is among the key clauses which may be discussed. If a player with offset language in his contract his released midway through the deal, the original team is only on the hook for the difference in salary between the two contracts. Without offset language, the player can effectively double dip and collect two paychecks. Naturally, there are many player agents who are disinclined to forfeit that potential earning power.

Of the seven players without signed deals, four of those players are third-round picks. That’s because contracts in the third round are, for some reason, far less regulated than the rest of the draft. While third round picks have slotted signing bonuses like everyone else, the base salaries can be brokered and that’s probably at least part of the holdup for these four rookies. However, one pattern to note is that first-rounders Bosa, Lee, Fuller, and Garnett are all represented by powerhouse agency CAA.

Here is the complete list of 2016 rookies who have yet to complete their contracts with signatures and initials:

Cleveland Browns

3-65: Carl Nassib, DE (Penn State)

Dallas Cowboys

3-67: Maliek Collins, DT (Nebraska)

New York Jets

1-20: Darron Lee, LB (Ohio State)

San Diego Chargers

1-3: Joey Bosa, DE/OLB (Ohio State)
3-66: Max Tuerk, C (USC)

San Francisco 49ers

1-28: Joshua Garnett, G (Stanford)

Tennessee Titans

3-64: Kevin Byard, DB (Middle Tennessee State)

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFL, NFLPA Adjust Practice Squad Rules

June 22nd, 2016 at 8:29am CST by Zachary Links

The NFL and the NFLPA have agreed to continue having 10-man practice squads for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, according to Mark Dominik of ESPN (on Twitter). One notable change has been made, however. Previously, teams were allowed to sign a maximum of two players who have up to two accrued seasons of NFL experience while the other eight players had to fall within a limited range of 53-man roster time. Now, teams can have up to four players with two accrued NFL seasons.

At the end of August, the claiming period for players waived during final roster cutdowns will conclude, and, at that point, teams are free to start signing players to their practice squads. While practice squad players aren’t eligible to play in regular season games, they practice with their team’s active players during the week, and receive a weekly salary. For the 2016 season, the minimum weekly salary for practice squad players is $6,900, though teams are permitted to offer more than that in an attempt to entice players to sign to their squad rather than join another club. In 2017, that number will jump to $7,200 per week.

Of course, practice squad players are under contract, but the fact that they’re not on an active roster means they’re free to sign with another NFL team if the opportunity arises. That new team must add the player to its 53-man active roster, however. The practice squad system allows teams to keep a group of players in reserve in the event of an injury and provides young players an opportunity to develop their skills and make an impression on team personnel. Thanks to this week’s win-win agreement between the league and the players’ union, the 10-man practice squad structure will remain in place for at least the next two years.

Free Agent Rumors: Moore, Williams, Lanning

June 21st, 2016 at 10:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here are some PFR-exclusive updates on three veteran free agents:

Veteran wide receiver Denarius Moore has worked out for both the Lions and Jaguars this offseason, PFR has learned. Moore was signed by the Bengals prior to the 2015 season, but was cut before the season began and ultimately appeared in five games with the Bills. The 27-year-old was part of a wideout contingent that auditioned for the Saints last month.
Three teams have expressed interest in signing cornerback Cary Williams, a source tells PFR. After signing a three-year deal with the Seahawks prior to last season, Williams lasted only 10 games before he was released. He latched on with the Redskins at the tail end of the year, and appeared in Washington’s playoff game. Though he’s now 31 years old and coming off a down stretch in his career, Williams does have 75 starts under his belt, and could serve as a veteran presence in a club’s secondary.
Free agent punter Spencer Lanning worked out for the Saints last week, PFR has learned. Lanning, 28, was the Brown’s full-time punter from 2013-2014, but appeared in just one game last season, filling in for the Bears in early October while Pat O’Donnell was injured. The South Carolina product also auditioned for the Jaguars back in January, but is in no rush to sign as training camp approaches.

Extra Points: Colts, LA, Von, Falcons, J. Long

June 21st, 2016 at 8:38pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Colts might be in Los Angeles right now if not for Peyton Manning, former general manager Bill Polian told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday. Polian informed Zig Fracassi (Twitter link) that Colts owner Jim Irsay waited until the last minute around 2000 to prevent a move to LA, ultimately getting Lucas Oil Stadium built because of the presence of Manning, then the face of the franchise. Manning, who was only a three-year veteran at the end of the 2000 season, stayed with the Colts through the conclusion of the 2011 campaign – which he missed because of a neck injury – and helped to secure their only Super Bowl title and, apparently, their presence in Indianapolis.

Now, as we ponder an alternate reality in which the LA Colts exist, let’s check in on more from the league:

The Broncos and superstar linebacker Von Miller are embroiled in a well-publicized contract battle and haven’t engaged in much dialogue over the last week and a half, but Troy Renck of the Denver Post expects the two to get a deal done before the July 15 deadline. It’s going to take more than $63MM in guarantees for that to happen, Renck acknowledges.
Ninth-year Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff doesn’t expect to last much longer in Atlanta if the team doesn’t turn around its on-field performance, he told Talk of Fame Sports Network. “Of course I’m on the hot seat. Every year I’m on the hot seat. I believe that 100 percent,” he said. “I believe anyone who doesn’t think they are maybe just won a Super Bowl. But I think most of us know that it’s a very urgent league now.” After going a wildly successful 56-24 with four playoff berths and at least nine wins in each of Dimitroff’s first five years with the Falcons, the club has combined for an 18-30 mark and no postseason appearances since 2013. The suddenly inept Falcons also turned a 6-1 start last season into an 8-8 overall finish.
Despite a belief from some league insiders that Jake Long‘s legs are “shot,” the free agent offensive tackle told SiriusXM on Tuesday that he’s “100 percent confident” he’ll play in 2016, also stating that his agent has been in contact with teams (Twitter links). Long, who claims to be fully healthy, missed all but four games as a member of Dimitroff’s Falcons in 2015 and didn’t log any starts. Since last season ended, the 2008 No. 1 overall pick has garnered just one workout – with the Bears, who signed fellow offensive lineman Nate Chandler instead.

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