2017 January - Pro Football Rumors

Redskins To Re-Sign Junior Galette?

January 6th, 2017 at 3:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Junior Galette signed his first deal with the Redskins in July of 2015. Unfortunately, he has yet to take the field for Washington thanks to two separate Achilles tears in each of his legs. Now set to hit the open market once again, Galette says that he has a handshake deal in place with the Redskins for another one-year pact.

“Technically I’m a free agent, but in my mind, like I said last year, I’m set to come back,” Galette told ESPN 980 (via Scott Allen of The Washington Post). “I already spoke to [GM] Scot [McCloughan], and we already have plans to just sign me back on a one-year deal. I told him I don’t care about no money right now. I could care less. I made tons of money in the NFL, and I set myself up to be good for life. I’m not worried about the money. It’s about my pride right now and to show myself that I can come back from back-to-back Achilles’ injuries. I feel like it would be one for the history books the way I come back if I could come back and take the league by storm and proceed and play for another five years in my prime.”

Between his 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Saints, Galette tallied up 22 sacks and established himself as a high-end linebacker. However, things soured in New Orleans thanks to his off-field troubles and the Saints cut him loose in the summer of 2015. Galette has yet to play a down in D.C. but he says he’s ready to show the world what he can do. The 28-year-old (29 in March) says both of his Achilles’ tendons are “as strong as they’ve ever been.”

Bengals Deny Redskins/Guenther Interview

January 6th, 2017 at 2:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals don’t want to lose their defensive coordinator. The Redskins have been denied permission to interview Paul Guenther, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.

Marvin Lewis is reportedly safe in Cincinnati, but he won’t be getting another extension this offseason, making him a lame duck for 2017. In the past, Guenther has been mentioned as an internal candidate to replace Lewis, meaning that bigger things could be in store for him if the Bengals falter next season.

The Bengals finished the season 6-9-1 and their defensive DVOA (18th in the NFL) admittedly left something to be desired. Still, the Bengals placed better in the previous two seasons under Guenther and he is well-regarded by his players.

Years before he joined the Bengals’ staff, Guenther was an assistant coach with the Redskins in 2002 and 2003. The faces in D.C. have changed quite a few times since then, but owner Dan Snyder presumably has a solid relationship with him.

The Beat: Chris Tomasson On The Vikings

January 6th, 2017 at 1:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Now that the regular season is over, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

This week, we caught up with Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press to discuss the Vikings. You can follow Chris on Twitter @christomasson and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: The Vikings have already anointed Sam Bradford as their 2017 starter. Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater‘s timetable for return is uncertain and the Vikings must decide on his 2018 option by May 2nd. How do you think they’ll handle the $12.5MM decision?

Chris Tomasson: It’s a very difficult question to answer since the Vikings know far more about the severity of his injury than they have let on. There would be some surprise from my end if the Vikings don’t pick up the option since it is guaranteed only in the event of injury, and it would have to be a new injury that would guarantee it. Even if Teddy Bridgewater can’t play in 2017, when he has a cap number of $2.18MM, picking up the option could buy time for them to assess his recovery. If the Vikings pick up the option, the big issue could come in March 2018 when the Vikings might have to make a final determination on their quarterback of the future. They can’t pay two quarterbacks a combined total of $30MM or more. At that point, Bridgewater could be released or asked to sign a deal for a lesser figure as a backup.

Zach Links: Recently, Adrian Peterson hinted that he might be open to a pay cut. Do you think he’s ready to take the kind of haircut the Vikings probably have in mind? Wherever he winds up, do you think he can resume playing at a high level?

Chris Tomasson: I think it will depend on what other teams might be willing to offer and how those teams stack up against the Vikings regarding a chance to win a Super Bowl. The Vikings stood by Peterson during his child-abuse situation and coach Mike Zimmer wants him back, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they look to bring him back. I don’t think Peterson is a 1,500-yard-type back anymore, but I think he could gain 1,000 yards for someone. I think he might have to accept a reduction in carries, wherever he might play.

Zach Links: Do you think pending free agent Cordarrelle Patterson will be back with the team next year? Do you see him moving forward as a kick return specialist or do you think he can fulfill his potential as an all-around wide receiver?

Chris Tomasson: I think Patterson got enough work at wide receiver this season that he will seriously consider a Vikings offer to return. I would be surprised if another team offered him a big deal to be a starting-caliber wide receiver. While much of it was a product of Minnesota’s short passing game, he averaged just 8.7 yards on his 52 catches. He has said he wants to return to Minnesota, and all I can do is take him at his word.

Zach Links: He’s stayed mum on the subject, but do you expect to see 38-year-old Terence Newman return to the Vikings in 2017?

Chris Tomasson: Terence Newman still can play, there’s no doubt about it. He told me that to return, there has to be certain conditions met, some that are in his control and some that are out of it. He wouldn’t tell me what they are. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, to see Newman back considering he has remained healthy and no serious slippage was evident in 2016. However, I’m sure if he were to return, his snaps would be cut back considering the continued maturation of Trae Waynes.

Dolphins Release DE Jason Jones

January 6th, 2017 at 12:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins announced that they have released defensive end Jason Jones. Jones recently returned from suspension.

Miami decided this week that they would not be using Jones in the first-round playoff game against the Steelers, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes. It’s possible that Jones reacted poorly to that news, because the Dolphins have decided they do not want to have Jones around at all. Jones, 30, appeared in ten Dolphins games this season. He posted 2.5 sacks, 23 tackles, and a fumble recovery. With Jones out, Mario Williams will play Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, in another surprising development, quarterback Ryan Tannehill returned to practice today. Previous reports indicated that Tannehill would definitely not play this weekend, but today’s news could open the door slightly to that possibility. At minimum, it’s a promising sign for his availability going forward, should Miami win this weekend.

Redskins Targeting Gus Bradley As DC?

January 6th, 2017 at 10:44am CST by Zachary Links

Gus Bradley might not be out of work for long. The former Jacksonville head coach is atop the Redskins’ list of defensive coordinator candidates, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Bradley has a connection to the organization since GM Scot McCloughan knows him well from their time together in Seattle. Bradley served as the Seahawks’ DC from 2009 through 2012 and that job launched him into the Jaguars gig in 2013. In his final year with Seattle, Bradley’s defense allowed a league-best 15.3 points per game.

Panthers secondary coach Steve Wilks is also said to be a name to watch as the Redskins look for Barry’s successor. Wilks has a D.C. connection of his own thanks to his time spent with cornerback Josh Norman. Working with Wilks in 2015, Norman enjoyed a career-year as he was named to the All Pro first team and selected for his first Pro Bowl. He also career highs in interceptions (four) and passes defensed (18).

Bills Intend To Move On From Tyrod Taylor

January 6th, 2017 at 9:37am CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here, but the Bills are getting ready to bring the Tyrod Taylor era to a close. The Bills will not pick up the $15.5MM option bonus in his contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes.

Buffalo has until March 11 to exercise the clause, but it sounds like their minds are already made up. Picking up the option would guarantee Taylor $30.75MM over the life of the contract and tie him to Buffalo for the next five seasons. Buffalo, as expected, is unwilling to make that commitment.

The Bills made their feelings for Taylor crystal clear when they benched him in the season finale. Had Taylor taken the field and gotten seriously injured, Buffalo would have been stuck with his multi-year deal. Keeping him off the field also gave the team a chance to take another look at EJ Manuel, a favorite of GM Doug Whaley.

Still, as we learned this week, there is one scenario in which the Bills could still be stuck with Taylor’s hefty contract.

Colts To Retain Chuck Pagano, Ryan Grigson

January 6th, 2017 at 9:07am CST by Zachary Links

Bad news for Colts fans who were hoping for a change. The team will be bringing back coach Chuck Pagano, according to Alex Marvez of the Sporting News (on Twitter). Meanwhile, we can expect the same for GM Ryan Grigson, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Last month, owner Jim Irsay downplayed the possibility of a shakeup in the front office and on the sidelines.

“I would say it would be unlikely for any changes to occur, honestly. It’s unlikely, but look, we’ll see when we sit down and thoroughly vet the season,” Irsay said.

Pagano has a 49-31 record in his five seasons with the Colts. After starting off with three 11-5 seasons, the Colts have now finished .500 in the last two campaigns. The Colts aren’t fond of that trajectory, but the first five years of the Pagano/Andrew Luck regime has gone better than the first five years of Peyton Manning‘s career in Indianapolis under Jim Mora and Tony Dungy. Overall, Irsay feels that the team is still moving in the right direction.

Last January, Grigson was extended through the 2019 season, despite the team missing the playoffs in 2015. He’ll continue to work under that deal, but it sounds like 2017 will be a make-or-break year for both Grigson and Pagano.

AFC Notes: Jets, Titans, Bills, Raiders

January 5th, 2017 at 9:55pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

While the Jets have two recently drafted quarterbacks on their roster in 2015 fourth-round pick Bryce Petty and 2016 second-rounder Christian Hackenberg, the franchise has little faith in either, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. General manager Mike Maccagnan opined Thursday that Petty has starting-caliber potential, but the organization only regards him as a backup behind the scenes, according to Mehta. Petty struggled mightily this season in his first taste of NFL action, completing 56.4 percent of attempts, tossing three touchdowns against seven interceptions and posting a 60.0 passer rating in parts of six games. Hackenberg wasn’t even active until Week 17, when he backed up Ryan Fitzpatrick, and a team source scoffed at the notion Thursday that the ex-Penn State Nittany Lion could be the Jets’ long-term solution. “He will never make it,” the source told Mehta. “Never.” Although Maccagnan stated that Hackenberg made progress during the season, the executive also implied that the Jets will look for an outside starter, revealing that “all options are on the table.”

More from New York and three other AFC cities:

As a reward for a strong debut season as the Titans’ GM, controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk decided Thursday to make Jon Robinson the second-highest-ranking member of the organization. Robinson is now the team’s executive vice president/GM after helping the Titans go from three wins in 2015 to nine victories this season. “This is an acknowledgement of his work and it puts him on equal footing with others in the league who direct football operations,” Strunk said in a statement (via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com).
Woody Johnson could be under consideration to become the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom when President-elect Donald Trump takes office later this month, but the Jets’ owner downplayed it as speculation Thursday, per the Associated Press. If chosen, Johnson would reportedly hand control of the Jets over to his brother until the appointment ends.
Bills linebacker and pending free agent Zach Brown posted a message Thursday on Instagram referring to his time in Buffalo in the past tense, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com points out (on Twitter). After spending the first three years of his career in Tennessee, Brown signed a modest deal with the Bills last April. The 27-year-old then emerged as a major bargain, playing 16 games for the fourth time in a row and totaling an AFC-high 149 tackles to go with four sacks and two forced fumbles. Brown, whom Pro Football Focus graded an impressive 17th among 89 qualified linebackers, should fare much better on the open market this offseason.
The Raiders are still optimistic that Matt McGloin will be able to serve as the primary backup to Connor Cook in Saturday’s wild-card game round game in Houston, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. “Moxy,” who’s dealing with a shoulder injury, got some light work in Wednesday.
The Jets worked out Olympic sprinter Tre Houston on Thursday, writes Mehta. Houston competed in the 200 meters for Bermuda at the 2016 Rio Games and projects as a wide receiver.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Vance Joseph Favorite For Broncos’ HC Job

January 5th, 2017 at 8:33pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Although he hasn’t met with Denver officials, Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has emerged as the front-runner to become the Broncos’ head coach, multiple league and team sources told Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Sporting News’ Alex Marvez previously named Joseph as the likely successor to Gary Kubiak, citing Joseph’s connection with Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell (Twitter link).

While Joseph hasn’t yet spoken with Denver’s brass this week, the former University of Colorado quarterback did interview with the club before it hired the now-retired Kubiak in January 2015. It’s also notable that Joseph once worked under the Broncos’ most recent defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, in Houston.

“I have so much respect for that man,” Joseph said of Phillips in October (via Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post).

Despite Joseph’s affinity for Phillips, Marvez reported Thursday that the latter is likely on his way out of Denver. If hired, Joseph would probably promote defensive backs coach Joe Woods to replace Phillips, whose contract is up.

Joseph, who’s preparing to counter the Steelers’ offense in this weekend’s wild-card round, is in the midst of his first season as a coordinator. While it hasn’t gone well statistically (Miami finished the regular season 18th in scoring, 19th in DVOA and 29th in total defense), Joseph is nonetheless drawing plenty of interest from teams without head coaches. That could add to the Broncos’ urgency to hire the 44-year-old, who’s facing competition from Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan – who prefers Denver’s job to others – and Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub. Bills interim head coach Anthony Lynn‘s name has also come up, though the Broncos haven’t sought an interview with him, according to Klis (Twitter link).

Vince Wilfork Mulling Retirement

January 5th, 2017 at 7:49pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Texans nose tackle Vince Wilfork is preparing for the team’s wild-card round game against the Raiders on Saturday, but he’s also contemplating his future in the NFL. The 13th-year man revealed Tuesday that he could retire after the season.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Wilfork said (via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com). “I’m not saying I will do it, and I’m not saying that I won’t do it. But it’s definitely not off the table.”

The 35-year-old Wilfork just wrapped up a regular season in which he started in all 15 appearances and finished second among Texans defensive linemen in snaps (507). However, the 325-pounder’s overall performance didn’t draw rave reviews from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 99th among 123 qualified interior defenders. Wilfork was a much more imposing presence as a member of the Patriots from 2004-14, earning five Pro Bowl nods and winning a pair of Super Bowls during that span.

Wilfork, who entered the league as a first-round pick from Miami, left New England in March 2015 to sign a two-year deal with the Texans. That contract will expire after the season, so Wilfork’s career might not continue in Houston even if he does return in 2017. In the meantime, he’ll spend the coming weeks trying to earn a third Super Bowl ring.

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