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AFC East Notes: Patriots, Garoppolo, Jets

December 23rd, 2017 at 5:54pm CST by Zachary Links

A look at the AFC East:

  • Patriots owner Bob Kraft did not force Bill Belichick‘s hand in trading Jimmy Garoppolo to San Francisco, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston (Twitter link) hears. However, Belichick “desperately wanted” to keep the young QB, which could be an indication that the team simply could not go far enough to sign him to an extension. Garoppolo looks like a star in the making with the Niners while the Pats came away with a 2018 second-round pick in the swap.
  • Cornerback Morris Claiborne wants to return to Jets next season, as Calvin Watkins of Newsday writes. “I hope to be back here,” Claiborne said. “That’s my plan, that’s what I want to do. I like it here. I like the coaching staff, the trainers, I like everything about the Jets organization, since I’ve been here. It’s been nothing but love. I would rather go nowhere else, I would rather stay here.” Claiborne joined the Jets on a cheap a one-year deal in the offseason worth $2.5MM with a $500K roster bonus. So far, he has 37 tackles, seven pass breakups, and one interception to his credit. Claiborne also says that he wants to see Todd Bowles return as head coach.
  • Could you imagine Eli Manning as the Jets‘ next quarterback? Bob Glauber of Newsday can. He hypothesizes that the Giants will take a QB at No. 2 overall in the draft, displacing Manning. The Jets, who are expected to look for a new signal caller this year, could have interest in Manning winds up on the open market. Meanwhile, Glauber expects Kirk Cousins to stay with the Redskins, meaning that he would not be an option for Gang Green.

49ers To Retain DC Robert Saleh

December 23rd, 2017 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Robert Saleh hovered behind Gus Bradley and Vic Fangio in the 49ers’ search for a new defensive coordinator this offseason, but the first-time DC’s performance will ensure the franchise doesn’t look to upgrade that spot after the season.

Saleh will stay on as DC for 2018, Kyle Shanahan said (via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com).

“Yeah, there’s no doubt about that,” Shanahan said, on 49ers Game Plan, of Saleh returning to the DC role next season. “Robert has been great. I think he’s gotten better throughout the year, and I think he’ll be even better next year. Robert has a great future ahead of him. And I feel very fortunate that he’s the coordinator for the Niners.”

The former Jaguars linebackers coach has the 49ers in a better spot defensively than they were a year ago. The 49ers rank 22nd in total defense and 23rd in scoring defense. While not exactly upper-echelon placements, they allowed the most points and yards in the league last season under Jim O’Neil.

Fangio looks to be headed out of Chicago, with his contract set to expire, and the new San Francisco regime wanted to bring him back to the Bay Area in January. The Bears blocked that move, leading to the Saleh hire. Instead, Saleh switched the 49ers to a 4-3 scheme. And a younger defense has shown signs of improvement. Saleh appears to have ensured the 49ers won’t pursue Fangio again this offseason.

Texans Place Tom Savage On IR

December 23rd, 2017 at 3:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The concussion Tom Savage sustained in Week 14 will end his season. The Texans placed him on IR on Saturday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets.

This could end Savage’s time in Houston. He’s set to be a UFA in March and do so after a season that didn’t go as the team would have hoped. Savage ended up playing in eight games and starting seven, but he went 1-6 in those starts — six of which came after the franchise lost Deshaun Watson for the season.

Savage earned the Texans’ Week 1 starting job but was yanked halfway through it. Watson is now the future, and Savage will enter free agency in a year where there will be other higher-profile passers available via the UFA or trade markets.

The former fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh finished this season with 1,412 yards, five touchdown passes and six interceptions. He completed just 56 percent of his passes in what was by far his most substantial NFL audition. It ended with one of the uglier sequences the NFL saw this season, with the 27-year-old quarterback being allowed to re-enter a game after a scary hit left him shaking.

The Texans replaced Savage on the roster by promoting tight end Ryan Malleck from the practice squad, Berman reports (on Twitter).

Seahawks To Activate CB DeShawn Shead

December 23rd, 2017 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

DeShawn Shead will be in uniform for the Seahawks when they play a do-or-die game against the Cowboys on Sunday.

The Seahawks are activating the cornerback from the PUP list, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Shead tweeted he’d been given the go-ahead as well earlier today. Shead returned to practice recently after a lengthy recovery from knee surgeries.

Shead underwent a second operation on his left knee in July, delaying his return to action. As a result, he’s missed almost all of his sixth NFL season. He signed a one-year deal to stay in Seattle during the offseason. The injury against the Falcons in January damaged his stock, and not playing until Week 16 of this season — with a possibility this will be a two-game campaign for the 29-year-old Shead — won’t help garner him a long-term deal.

But Shead was Richard Sherman‘s starting mate throughout last season and will be a key component for secondary that’s missing Sherman and Kam Chancellor for this all-hands-on-deck contest. Shead made 90 tackles and deflected 14 passes in 2016. He also started six games in 2015.

The 8-6 Seahawks are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season, and winning out won’t be enough. They need help to secure another berth.

Jeff Fisher On Rams’ Success, Jared Goff, Coaching Record

December 23rd, 2017 at 2:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jeff Fisher‘s name has resurfaced recently as coaching changes are set to commence. The multi-decade sideline veteran wants another chance as a head coach. Fisher is eager to “salvage his legacy” and has already begun contacting potential staff members in the event he does receive the keys to a third NFL franchise.

The former Rams and Oilers/Titans leader said during a radio interview he had “a lot to do with” assembling the roster Sean McVay has on the cusp of an NFC West championship.

“I have no regrets whatsoever,” Fisher said on Nashville’s 104.5-FM (via Rich Hammond of the Los Angeles Daily News). “I am a huge fan of the Rams players. They’re basically — I don’t want to say my players — but I had a lot to do with that roster. Left them in pretty good shape, and Sean, as he has shown in a short period of time, is an outstanding young coach, and he’s got the offense going, which was needed.”

The core of this Rams roster — Aaron Donald, Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Trumaine Johnson and Co. — arrived during Fisher and Les Snead‘s four-plus-year run together. However, the veteran coach couldn’t steer the Rams into the playoffs. They are likely to snap a 13-year drought. Fisher traced some of his struggles back to Sam Bradford‘s ACL tears in 2013 and ’14, when the team ended up going 7-9 and 6-10, respectively.

“We were making progress and the team was deprived,” Fisher said. “It was deprived of talent. So we started building. The next year, our quarterback tears his ACL. The next year, our quarterback tears his ACL again.”

A Fisher-led team has not made the playoffs since the 2008 Titans. That drought — an eight-season hiatus — helped tie Fisher with Dan Reeves for the most losses in NFL history by a coach. The Rams fired him before he could potentially set the record. At 173-165-1, Fisher has the 12th-most wins in NFL history.

“My perspective is different because I went through it and I know exactly what I went through,” Fisher said. “I get a kick out of people (saying), ‘Oh, you just tied Dan Reeves for most losses in the history of the National Football League.’ Well, I’m a few wins away from being in the top 10. So, where do you want to emphasize? What’s your point?

“Two different franchises, five different cities, six different stadiums. Not an easy thing to do. The Chargers moved from San Diego to Orange County and started 0-4 (this season). Relocation is huge. And I’m not making excuses.”

Lastly, Fisher addressed Goff’s progress under McVay. Fisher kept fellow 2017 breakout performer Case Keenum in over Goff for several games last season, one that did not go well for Goff — or just about any Rams offensive player involved a league-worst attack — but said he kept the No. 1 pick on the bench for protection purposes.

“All through it, I was thinking about the best interests of the franchise, not myself,” Fisher said. “If I was worried about myself, I probably would have started him from day one and said, ‘Hey, this guy is going to be a better player.’ That was his rookie year, so we could chalk (struggles) up to a rookie year, but no, I wanted to do what was best for Jared.“

Steelers Cut James Harrison

December 23rd, 2017 at 2:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ latest Super Bowl push will not include James Harrison come playoff time. Pittsburgh cut the veteran outside linebacker, per a team announcement.

Harrison’s departure coincides with the Steelers activating right tackle Marcus Gilbert off the reserve/suspended list. Harrison re-signed with the Steelers on a two-year deal in March. He will now be placed on waivers.

While this move is certainly a surprise given Harrison’s impact in Pittsburgh and his success as recently as last season, the 39-year-old edge rusher has not played much this year. The Steelers used Harrison on just 40 snaps throughout the season, making him a healthy scratch in some games and failing to deploy him in others.

Harrison said earlier this month he would not have re-signed with the Steelers had he known how little he would play. He will now see if another contending team values him more. He’s attached to a two-year, $3.5MM deal with little guaranteed money remaining. He was a full participant in Steelers practice today.

“There was no animosity or bad feelings. It’s just the business of the NFL. I believe he still wants to play,” Harrison’s agent, William Parise, told ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter link). “We’ll have to wait and see what happens with waivers.”

A team submitting a waiver claim for Harrison could get him for just $70K weekly, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap tweets.

If another team does not take on that contract, it’s conceivable Harrison — who began his NFL career with the 2002 Steelers — could return to the team if he clears waivers despite his sporadic usage. The other time he ventured away from Pittsburgh, with the 2013 Bengals, did not go well and led to a sudden retirement. Upon unretiring with the Steelers later that year, Harrison re-emerged as an edge force. As recently as last season, he was one of Pro Football Focus’ top-graded edge defenders. This year, though, Harrison has just five tackles and one sack.

Should this be it with the Steelers, Harrison crafted an impressive resume. He stands atop the storied franchise’s sack hierarchy with 80.5 — 3.5 ahead of Jason Gildon — and earned defensive player of the year acclaim in 2008. That season ended with Pittsburgh’s sixth Super Bowl title, one Harrison helped cement with his 100-yard interception return in Super Bowl XLIII.

Bud Dupree, T.J. Watt, Arthur Moats and Anthony Chickillo comprise the Steelers’ edge-rushing contingent. Gilbert has missed the past four games because of a performance-enhancing drugs suspension.

Jaguars Promote WR Jaelen Strong

December 23rd, 2017 at 11:56am CST by Ben Levine

Jaelen Strong is back. The Jaguars have promoted the wideout to the active roster, reports John Oehser of Jaguars.com (via Twitter). To make room on the roster, the team has waived/injured receiver Larry Pinkard.

Jaelen StrongStrong has bounced around a bit in 2017, spending time with both the Jaguars and Texans. The former third-round pick started the season in Houston, but he was released by the team after serving a one-game suspension. He later caught on with Jacksonville, but he was released by the team without having played a game. He subsequently signed with the team’s practice squad.

The 23-year-old has only appeared in a single game this season without compiling a catch. During his first two years in the league, Strong hauled in 28 catches for 292 yards and three touchdowns in 18 games (three starts). He’ll presumably slide behind Keelan Cole and Jaydon Mickens at the bottom of the receiver depth chart.

Pinkard had been recovering from a concussion in recent weeks. The former undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion was promoted to the Jagaurs active roster in mid-November. He ultimately played in four games, compiling a single five-yard catch.

Latest On Jets, Muhammad Wilkerson

December 23rd, 2017 at 10:47am CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Muhammad Wilkerson may have already played his final game in a Jets uniform. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that the coaching staff has “no intention” of playing the defensive end in this weekend’s game against the Chargers. The reporters notes that it’s unclear whether the defender will be deactivated or in uniform, but it sounds like a foregone conclusion that he won’t play.

Muhammad Wilkerson (vertical)As Mehta writes, the Jets would be taking a huge financial risk by putting Wilkerson on the field for the final two games of the season. The 28-year-old’s $16.75MM base salary in 2018 is guaranteed for injury only. In other words, by putting Wilkerson on the field and exposing him to a potential injury, the Jets would be risking their ability to get out of the contract during the offseason. However, assuming Wilkerson remains healthy, the Jets can create $11MM in cap space by cutting the lineman.

The writer also notes that many in the Jets organization are simply looking for the entire ordeal to be over, as the team is “fed up” with the former Pro Bowler. In fact, some members of the organization don’t want Wilkerson to practice with the team anymore, while others want him banned from the team facility. Wilkerson compiled more than 35 sacks during his first five seasons in the league, but he’s only added eight sacks since he inked a lucrative five-year, $86MM extension with the team.

Giants Notes: Abrams, Apple, Shepard, JPP

December 23rd, 2017 at 9:42am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants interviewed interim general manager Kevin Abrams for the team’s full-time position yesterday, lengthening a list of candidates that already includes Giants VP of player personnel Marc Ross, former Giants executive Dave Gettleman and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick. While Abrams had spent the majority of his career as a salary cap guru, he’s focused on proving that he can also build a winning roster.

“My role has been more than just doing the cap stuff,” Abrams told Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.TV. “I wasn’t raised to be a cap guy. It was just the opportunity that was given to me and I was grateful of the opportunity. And the Giants do a great job with everyone — not just me, but we’re all encouraged to grow professionally. And like everyone else, I was getting a lot of opportunities to do that and I tried to take advantage of them whenever I could. A lot of that included being involved with our personnel departments.”

While Giants owner John Mara may be seeking major “wholesale changes,” sources told Vacchiano that Abrams is a serious candidate for the gig. The writer notes that the organization could choose to pair the interim general manager with someone like Gettleman.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the Giants organization…

  • While many attributed cornerback Eli Apple‘s tumultuous season to immaturity, Dan Duggan of NJ.com explored the true root of the player’s issues. Ultimately, the reporter attributed the problems to “strife in Apple’s family,” particularly a falling out with his stepfather, Tim. “One of the biggest reasons Eli is declining so much this year as opposed to last year is (Tim’s absence),” Apple’s half-brother Dane Blackson said. “I know everyone always talks about the fame and all of the attention and how all of that can go to your head. But you have to imagine that from middle school to the NFL, Tim was there. Tim made this whole thing happen. Tim didn’t miss a game. Whenever Eli looked for that support, that was always there. Now, this year whenever he goes to look for support, it’s not real, it’s not genuine.” Duggan dug more in Apple’s family issues in a must-read article.
  • While the 2017 season hasn’t gone as planned for the Giants, one player has emerged as a major piece of the organization’s future. Zach Braziller of The New York Post writes that wideout Sterling Shepard has emerged as a “a future organizational linchpin.” The 2016 second-round pick is on pace to surpass his rookie numbers, as he’s hauled in 54 receptions for 686 yards and two scores. “I was ready to take it on,” Shepard said of the added responsibility. “You don’t expect for your top two receivers to go down. It kind of just throws a lot of weight on you. I’m a second-year player but kind of forced to take that leadership role because I’m the guy in that room with the most experience.”
  • Jason Pierre-Paul revealed that he’s recovering from a broken finger, although he expects to play this weekend against the Cardinals. Neil Best of Newsday.com believes the defensive end suffered the injury during his early-December matchup against the Raiders.
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