2017 December - Pro Football Rumors

Giants To Waive OL Bobby Hart

December 30th, 2017 at 11:10am CST by Ben Levine

Dave Gettleman isn’t wasting any time in his new gig as Giants general manager. USA Today’s Art Stapleton reports (via Twitter) that the team is planning on waiving offensive lineman Bobby Hart.

The 2015 seventh-round pick out of Florida State has spent his entire career with the Giants, starting 21 of his 33 career games (including seven starts this season). Pro Football Focus hasn’t been particularly thrilled with his performance in 2017, ranking him 82nd among 86 eligible offensive tackle candidates. In fact, the lineman’s PFF rating has consistently dropped in each of his three seasons in the NFL.

The 23-year-old still had a year remaining on his contract, but it doesn’t sound like the move was money- or performance-based. Rather, Geoff Schwartz of SBNation tweets that the new regime may be looking to clear out “locker room cancers,” and the reporter notes that Hart randomly informed Giants staff that he wasn’t planning on playing this weekend.

With Hart out of the picture, the Giants could turn to Chad Wheeler, John Greco, or Damien Mama to slide into the starting lineup for this weekend’s season finale.

Packers Sign Corey Linsley To Extension

December 30th, 2017 at 10:38am CST by Ben Levine

A day after signing wideout Davante Adams to an extension, the Packers have locked up another key impending free agent. The team announced this morning that they’ve signed center Corey Linsley to a contract extension. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets that it’s a three-year, $25.5MM deal for the lineman.

Linsley has started each of the 53 games he’s played in since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2014. The Ohio State product has played a significant role in the Packers’ successful running game in 2017, which ranks fifth in the NFL in yards per carry (4.52). Despite Green Bay’s success, Pro Football Focus hasn’t been particularly fond of his performance, ranking him 23rd among 37 eligible center candidates. However, over the previous three years, Linsley has earned an above-average grade.

Despite PFF’s underwhelming grade, Linsley still earned a relatively lucrative contract extension. The $25.5MM contract value and $8.5MM average annual salary will both rank ninth among centers. With both Linsley and Adams locked up, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the Packers will shift their focus to extending quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Eagles To Activate Rookie CB Sidney Jones

December 30th, 2017 at 9:59am CST by Ben Levine

Cornerback Sidney Jones is set to make his NFL debut this weekend. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Eagles are planning on activating the rookie defensive back from the non-football injury list.

Jones, a projected first-rounder in this past year’s draft, finished his standout collegiate career with six forced fumbles and eight interception. However, the cornerback suffered a torn Achilles during his pro day workout. Despite the injury, the Eagles still selected the Washington product in the second round.

As Rapoport notes, the activation is a reward for the cornerback’s hard work in returning from the injury. Meanwhile, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com tweets that Jones has been ready to play for weeks, but the Eagles have been taking a cautious approach with the rookie.

While the rookie may have been “shining in practice,” it may be tough to expect a whole lot from the rookie during the regular-season finale. Jones will presumably fight for reps with Ronald Darby and Rasul Douglas behind starters Jalen Mills and Patrick Robinson.

Rams Activate Cody Davis From IR

December 30th, 2017 at 8:58am CST by Ben Levine

Cody Davis is back. Myles Simmons of TheRams.com reports (via Twitter) that the Rams have activated the safety from the injured reserve. To make room on the roster, the team has placed linebacker Matt Longacre on the injured reserve (as we learned yesterday).

Davis had played in six games for the Rams this season before injuring his quadriceps in October. The safety ultimately compiled 19 tackles, three passes defended, and one interception before landing on the IR in early November. The former undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech has spent his entire five-year career with the Rams organization, and he’s taken on more responsibility each season. In fact, despite missing more than half the season, Davis had already collected a career-high in tackles in 2017.

“Excited and happy for all of the success that this team has gotten accomplished,” Davis told the team’s website. “But sitting on the sidelines, you’re just itching to get back out there, so it feels great to be out practicing with my teammates.”

Davis will likely continue his role as a special teams’ ace and a backup safety for the Rams. He’ll presumably compete with Isaiah Johnson for snaps behind Lamarcus Joyner and John Johnson at safety.

NFC East Notes: Scandrick, Eagles, Williams

December 29th, 2017 at 6:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Orlando Scandrick doesn’t sound like he’s counting on another Cowboys contract in 2018. Dallas placed the veteran slot cornerback on IR Friday and dangled him on the trade block earlier this year. Younger talents Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown are signed to rookie deals for the rest of the decade, leaving the 30-year-old Scandrick as a player who may need another team to swoop in to allow him to continue his career.

“I’m prepared for whatever,” Scandrick said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m still going to play football. I’m still a good football player when I’m healthy. We’ll see what happens. … I’m not at the point of my career where I’m willing to just be an inactive guy or a guy that’s not a part of what’s going on and can’t help the team win. I just want to play somewhere I can finish things out the right way.”

The 10th-year veteran will be entering free agency after fracturing multiple transverse processes and missing the final five Cowboys games. Scandrick also thanked the Cowboys for his 10 seasons of work. He will turn 31 in February.

Here’s the latest from the NFC East, shifting to another team’s cornerback situation.

The Eagles‘ placement of linebacker Joe Walker on IR could open up roster a spot for cornerback Sidney Jones, who remains on the PUP list. Philadelphia’s roster stands at 52 players, and the rookie has to be activated by next week in order to be on the playoff roster. Zach Berman of Philly.com expects the Eagles to activate the second-round pick (Twitter link). This would allow Jones additional practice time to prepare for a small role in the postseason rather than a full redshirt year. The University of Washington product has not played in a game since New Year’s Eve of last year, but Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets he’s recovered sufficiently from the Achilles’ tendon tear that damaged his draft stock. However, Caplan adds a conditioning issue stands in the way of Jones’ potential activation now.
Trent Williams‘ post-surgery clock started Friday. The Redskins tackle underwent the long-discussed knee operation, one performed by a patella specialist. He’s expected to be shelved for approximately six months, putting training camp well within reach for Washington’s stalwart edge blocker.
The Redskins are expected to let fourth-year starter Bashaud Breeland walk as a free agent come March.
Dave Gettleman discussed Eli Manning‘s status for 2018, and as of now, he’s slated to be the Giants’ starter.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/17

December 29th, 2017 at 6:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

Cleveland Browns

Signed: FB Marquez Williams

New Orleans Saints

Signed: OL John Fullington
Waived: TE John Phillips

Philadelphia Eagles

Placed on IR: LB Joe Walker

Tennessee Titans

Signed: RB Khalfani Muhammad
Waived: CB Demontre Hurst

Dolphins Move Michael Thomas To IR

December 29th, 2017 at 4:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michael Thomas‘ Dolphins contract expires after Week 17, and the fifth-year safety will not be participating in Sunday’s game against the Bills.

The Dolphins announced they placed Thomas on IR. He had been recovering from a PCL injury and missed the previous two Miami games. The Dolphins claimed safety Trae Elston off waivers from the Bills to take Thomas’ roster spot.

Thomas played this season on an RFA tender ($1.797MM). He will be a UFA this coming March. The former UDFA who’s been a part-time starter the past three seasons posted a message to Dolphins fans on Twitter. Thomas played 179 defensive snaps this season, and Pro Football Focus graded those fairly well despite the Stanford product being categorized as a part-time performer.

A 2016 UDFA, Elston played in 13 games for the Bills this season after beginning his season with the Eagles. Elston is under contract for next season, giving the Dolphins a chance at an offseason evaluation for potential safety depth.

Giants Notes: Manning, Beckham, Apple, OL

December 29th, 2017 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dave Gettleman met with media for the first time as Giants GM on Friday, and he addressed the Eli Manning situation. Working under Ernie Accorsi when Manning was selected and staying on through the Giants’ second 21st-century Super Bowl title in 2011, Gettleman looked to show some faith Manning has quality football left. The new GM said he expects Manning to start in 2018.

“Eli’s won a lot of games,” Gettleman said, via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “A great competitor, very intelligent. He and I are gonna talk and if what I saw in Philadelphia was not a mirage — and I don’t believe it is — we’ll keep moving.”

Saddled with one of the league’s worst offensive lines and ground attacks, Manning has not enjoyed a good season. But he threw for 434 yards and three touchdowns against the NFC’s No. 1 seed earlier this month. Manning’s only other 300-plus-yard game this season came against the Eagles as well. Gettleman, however, said the Manning situation wouldn’t affect a possible first-round quarterback pick and added the “as of now” caveat to his Manning-in-2018 remarks, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv.

Here’s the latest out of New York on a busy day for the franchise.

John Mara has not wavered on his Odell Beckham Jr. stance. Although the co-owner said he’s unsure when an extension will be discussed for the rehabbing superstar, he remains committed to the wideout long-term. “Let’s face it, players with his ability don’t come along very often. So, yes, I want him to be a part of this team’s future,” Mara said, via Kimberly Jones of NFL.com (on Twitter). Gettleman, however, wasn’t as firm on a Beckham deal. Although, the new GM’s hesitance on an “obviously extremely talented kid” was largely based on a lack of interactions with Beckham, Vacchiano tweets. Beckham’s headed into his fifth-year option season.
Giants ownership wanted to wait until after the season when they could talk to other GM candidates, but after meeting with Gettleman, Mara and Co. decided to proceed in order to be ready to conduct a head-coaching search after Week 17’s conclusion, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Eli Apple‘s status with the Giants may be in the murky-at-best category after his disastrous sophomore NFL season. But Mara isn’t ready to throw in the towel on the cornerback yet. “You don’t want to quit on talent,” Mara said, via Jones (on Twitter). “I happen to like him personally. I’m obviously disturbed with what’s happened this year. … I think we have to figure out what’s going on with him. But I’d like for him to be a part of this team’s future.” The Giants suspended Apple for Week 17, and a source told ESPN’s Josina Anderson he would soon be done in New York. Apple is under contract through 2019, although this suspension makes that deal less binding.
Gettleman wasn’t vague about one area in need of repairs. The new Giants GM said the offensive lined needs to be fixed (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com). Big Blue’s boasted one of the NFL’s worst fronts for the past two years, and both Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg are in line to be free agents — and two of the best available. Ereck Flowers has not lived up to the billing as a top-10 pick, but his contract is guaranteed through 2018. Last year’s O-line draft class was not viewed as strong; this one has received higher marks early in the pre-draft process.
Accorsi could well seek Bill Belichick‘s counsel regarding a potential hire, but Garafolo reports (video link) he’s heard nothing to suggest the Patriots coach is playing a role in the Giants’ HC search thus far. A report earlier today indicated some buzz about Belichick advising Accorsi to get the Giants to hire Eagles DC Jim Schwartz.

Packers To Sign Davante Adams To Extension

December 29th, 2017 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers are making it clear who their No. 1 receiver of the future will be, agreeing to an extension with Davante Adams, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

It’s a four-year deal, Schefter reports, and for money that will make him by far the Packers’ highest-paid wideout. Adams will soon be earning $14MM per year — $4MM more annually than Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb are making as a result of their Green Bay re-ups.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) Adams’ deal is worth $58MM over four years. He will receive an $18MM signing bonus and $32MM in the first two years of the deal — one that will tie him to the Packers through 2021. Schefter reports it’s four years and $58.75MM (Twitter link).

By doing this deal now, the Packers could prorate Adams’ signing bonus over a five-year period, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. Adams was set to be a UFA in 2018, and this takes another higher-end receiver off the market.

It also makes Adams one of the NFL’s highest-paid wideouts. Only four wideouts — Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green and Julio Jones — make more money per year than Adams will on his second contract.

The fourth-year target out of Fresno State has graduated to perhaps the Packers’ go-to skill player. During a full Aaron Rodgers season in 2016, Adams caught 75 passes for 997 yards and 12 touchdowns. This season, despite sustaining two concussions because of illegal hits, Adams is at 74/885/10 with Rodgers and Brett Hundley splitting time throwing to him. Adams has over 250 more yards than any other Green Bay pass-catcher and having just turned 25 is seven years younger than Nelson.

Both Nelson and Cobb are under contract for 2018, but each is attached to a $10MM salary. While the Packers could look to adjust these figures, they now have three wideouts attached to eight-figure-AAV deals. No other team matches that commitment.

For hardcore contract-minutia fans, Adams will be live-streaming his signing (Twitter link).

Buccaneers To Retain Dirk Koetter For 2018

December 29th, 2017 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers’ 2017 underachievement will not cost Dirk Koetter his job. Ownership informed the second-year coach he will receive a third season, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport also reports Koetter will coach the Bucs next season (Twitter link). The Bucs are 4-11 and have endured multiple five-game losing streaks, putting Koetter on most estimated chopping blocks. But the team will stick with the coach it paired with Jameis Winston last year.

In agreeing to bring back Koetter for a third year, the Bucs are giving him a longer leash than they gave Greg Schiano or Lovie Smith. Both coached two seasons in Tampa before being shown the door, Smith in favor of Koetter, his then-OC. The most recent Bucs coach to receive a third season was Raheem Morris from 2009-11. Koetter is 13-18 thus far in his NFL head-coaching career, but his 9-7 record last season represented Tampa Bay’s first winning season since 2010.

Winston’s shoulder injury played into the Glazers’ decision to stick with Koetter, Stroud reports. Stroud notes Winston has played well since returning from his injury-induced rest, leading the NFL in passer rating (114.5) and yards per attempt (9.25) over the past four weeks.

This news comes during a trying season, one that featured a reported rift between Winston and Koetter. The third-year quarterback shot that down, however, and proceeded to improve in the final part of the season. Koetter also said the reports of his job status being up in the air affected him. He no longer has to worry about that. Both he and GM Jason Licht — whose 2018 option was picked up in the offseason — are coming back next year.

That said, Koetter, Licht and Winston are set for critical years in 2018. Each’s stock having plummeted as a result of this underwhelming season — one that began with many projecting a Bucs playoff cameo.

This also ends the Jon Gruden speculation, but with Gruden’s 2007 Bucs outfit being the franchise’s last postseason entrant, Koetter’s seat figures to be scorching in 2018.