2018 February - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles’ Alshon Jeffery Out At Least 6 Months

February 21st, 2018 at 5:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery will be sidelined for “at least six months” after undergoing rotator cuff surgery, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Jeffery is likely to miss the 2018 preseason, and his status for the regular season opener is unclear. While a source tells Anderson that Jeffery’s availability for Week 1 is “unsure,” the “expectation” is that he’ll be ready to suit up.

As reports indicated earlier today, Jeffery originally suffered his shoulder injury during 2017 training camp, and played through the pain for the entire campaign and through Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run. While Jeffery post a somewhat disappointing 57 receptions and 789 yards, he did manage to get into the end zone nine times (second-most of his career). The Eagles clearly liked what they saw, as the club inked Jeffery to a four-year, $52MM extension before the regular season concluded.

Even if Jeffery is able to suit up for Week 1 in 2018, there’s reason to wonder if he’ll need a few games to ramp back up to full speed. His availability could cloud the Eagles’ wide receiver decisions in the coming weeks — Torrey Smith, for one, was expected to be a candidate for release this offseason, but it’s possible he’s retained if Philadelphia is worried about Jeffery’s outlook. Other wideouts on the Eagles’ roster include Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins, and Shelton Gibson.

NFC North Notes: Bears, McPhee, Vikings

February 21st, 2018 at 4:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Pernell McPhee is unlikely to be back with the Bears unless he accepts a pay cut, ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson writes. The outside linebacker has been plagued by knee problems since joining Chicago in 2015 and the team can save $7.075MM by cutting him with just $1MM in dead money. A revised deal makes more sense, Dickerson argues, since the team needs him for keeping the locker room in check.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

The Vikings and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd are going to the mat over a salary dispute, as Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune writes. Floyd spent 2017 on the non-football injury (NFI) list as he tried to return from a nerve issue in his right knee. The Vikings paid him $2MM in base salary and adding a $6K workout bonus to his 2017 pay. However, Floyd says he is owed his entire $6.757MM salary for last season since he says his issue should not have been classified as “non-football”. Had Floyd started the season on the PUP list and eventually gone to IR, he would have received his full salary for the year. At this point, it’s unlikely Floyd will be able to resume his career, Goessling writes.
There is much debate about whether the Bears should use the franchise tag on cornerback Kyle Fuller, but the transition tag might make more sense in this instance, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. The franchise tag value at cornerback is projected to cost roughly $15MM, while the transition tag will be closer to $13MM. The transition tag means that the Bears would not receive draft compensation if another team inked Fuller to an offer sheet, but they would have the right of first refusal and they have enough cap space to match any reasonable proposal.
On Tuesday, we learned that the Bears will decline Josh Sitton‘s option for 2018.

Dolphins Plan To Keep Mike Pouncey

February 21st, 2018 at 1:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins plan to keep Mike Pouncey. For now.

Despite speculation that Miami could cut the center or ask him to take a pay cut, that’s not something the Dolphins are currently planning on, a league source tells Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald.

Pouncey appeared in all 16 of the Dolphins’ games last year, despite dealing with a hip injury may require replacement surgery at some point. One doctor went so far as to tell Pouncey that he would have to retire as a result of the malady, but the Dolphins apparently believe that he’ll hold up just fine in 2018.

Some would argue that Pouncey is no longer worth a $9MM cap hit, particularly since the Dolphins would be left with just $2MM in dead money by releasing him. Last year, Pro Football Focus graded Pouncey as the league’s No. 25 center, a sharp contract with his No. 11 ranking in 2015. Still, the snapper is a favorite of coach Adam Gase, so his spot looks to be secure.

Salguero cautions that Pouncey’s status with the team could change if his injury is re-aggravated, but all signs currently point to the center staying in place.

Raiders Meet With Vontae Davis

February 21st, 2018 at 1:23pm CST by Zachary Links

Vontae Davis is not taking his free agency lightly. On Wednesday, Davis touched down in Oakland to meet with the Raiders, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).

This marks Davis’ fourth known free agent visit of the last week. In recent days, the veteran cornerback has met with the 49ers, Browns, and Bills. There could still be more meetings down the pike for the former first round pick.

The Raiders have a clear need in the secondary after releasing cornerback David Amerson. Safety Sean Smith is expected to also get a pink slip in the coming weeks and Davis could also contribute there.

For now, the only real certainty at cornerback is rising sophomore Gareon Conley. T.J. Carrie, who started in all but one of Oakland’s games last year, is slated to be an unrestricted free agent in March. Carrie graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 22 ranked corner in 2017, but new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther may or may not see him as a fit for his scheme.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Jeffery, Cousins

February 21st, 2018 at 1:07pm CST by Zachary Links

Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had surgery on Wednesday morning to fix a torn rotator cuff, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Jeffery first suffered the injury in training camp and played through the pain all the way to a Super Bowl championship.

Jeffery’s toughness is commendable, but rotator cuff tears come in various degrees and his wasn’t of the most severe variety. By getting the surgery in February, the receiver should be ready well in advance of training camp.

Last offseason, the Eagles signed Jeffery to a one-year prove-it deal when the open market didn’t yield the kind of contract offers he wanted. The contract paid big dividends for both sides. The Eagles saw Jeffery catch 57 passes for 789 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season. Jeffery, meanwhile, was rewarded with a fat four-year, $52MM extension in December.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

Many have assumed that the Redskins wouldn’t be eligible for a compensatory pick by tagging and then rescinding a Kirk Cousins franchise tender, but that may not be the case, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com writes. The Panthers and Dolphins both received 2017 draft compensation after revoking franchise and transition tags from cornerback Josh Norman and defensive end Olivier Vernon, respectively, in 2016. The Redskins have intimated that they could tag Cousins, but it is still viewed as improbable.
Duce Staley missed out on becoming the Eagles‘ new offensive coordinator, but the team has given him a new title. In 2018, he’ll serve as the team’s “assistant head coach” in addition to his duties as running backs coach, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. This week, the Eagles promoted Mike Groh to OC, though head coach Doug Pederson will continue to call the plays.
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall and cornerback Eli Apple are among the Giants‘ tough decisions this offseason, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. Raanan sees Marshall getting cut, which is consistent with what Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com recently reported, and believes that Apple will be traded since he could yield a middle round pick in return. Veterans Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Ereck Flowers, and John Jerry will likely stay, in Raanan’s estimation, while wide receiver Dwayne Harris seems likely to get cut in order to save $2.4MM against the cap.

Ravens’ Crockett Gillmore Moving To OL

February 21st, 2018 at 11:12am CST by Zachary Links

Pending free agent Crockett Gillmore could be changing teams in 2018. He could also wind up changing positions. The tight end is looking to transition to the offensive line, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Gillmore is training with former NFL player LeCharles Bentley, who runs an academy for offensive linemen. Gillmore has long talked about wanting to transition to the O-Line, according to Zrebiec, and has added “considerable bulk” in order to make the move.

Gillmore, 27 in November, had 33 catches for 412 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered him ever since. In 2016, he appeared in only seven games thanks to back and knee issues. Then, last year, a July knee injury cost him all of 2017.

It’s not immediately clear how the position change will impact his status with the Ravens. Gillmore is slated to hit the open market on March 14, the first day of free agency.

Giants Re-Sign G John Greco

February 21st, 2018 at 11:04am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants have re-signed guard John Greco, according to a team announcement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

You can expect to see a fair amount of roster turnover under Dave Gettleman‘s watch, but Greco was apparently a player worth keeping for the new GM. Historically, Gettleman has placed importance on big linemen – he calls them “hog mollies” – and the 6’4″, 315-pound Greco fits the bill.

“Tom Coughlin made a great statement to me fairly early when he came in [as Giants coach]: big men allow you to compete,” Gettleman said in 2016 (via Greg Bedard of SI.com). “And the more you look at it, the more you watch film—I was a pro [personnel] guy for 15 years, all I did was watch film—and it’s true. If you’re not strong on either side of the line with the big guys, it’s going to bite you. It’s going to cost you. That was the one thing I knew we had to do.”

Greco, 33 in March, joined the Giants midway through the season and appeared in six games. For his career, Greco has 85 appearances and 66 starts to his credit over ten years with the Browns, Rams, and Giants. Greco’s 105 snaps were not enough to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ rankings, but his 77.6 grade would have placed him in the top 20 at his position.

Panthers Appoint Marty Hurney As GM

February 21st, 2018 at 10:13am CST by Zachary Links

Marty Hurney is the Panthers’ GM. Again.

On Wednesday, the Panthers announced that they have removed the interim tag from Hurney’s title. He’ll move forward as the team’s top decision maker, which was the expected outcome this offseason.

Hurney’s first run as the Panthers’ GM came from 2002-12. When the Panthers made the surprising move to fire Dave Gettleman in the summer, they re-hired Hurney in an interim capacity. At the time, the team said that part of Hurney’s job would be to “help the team identify its next general manager.” Apparently, Hurney discovered the team’s new GM while shaving.

“We are very fortunate to have Marty as our general manager after he did an exceptional job in the interim role this past season.” Panthers COO Tina Becker said. “Marty’s guidance and vision helped build the foundation for this team, and his work this season was instrumental in returning the team to the playoffs. We believe he will continue to craft a roster that will win games and contend for a championship.”

Hurney has not managed a draft since 2012, but as the team’s press release notes, that draft brought linebacker Luke Kuechly (No. 9 overall) and cornerback Josh Norman (fifth round) to Carolina. Hurney is also responsible for the drafting of notables such as quarterback Cam Newton, defensive end Julius Peppers, offensive tackle Jordan Gross, cornerback Chris Gamble, linebackers Thomas Davis, and Jon Beason, and running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Before giving the job to Hurney, the Panthers interviewed Bills scout Lake Dawson twice while 49ers executive Martin Mayhew and Texans exec Jimmy Raye III at least once. By interviewing a minority candidate (in this case, multiple minority candidates), the Panthers satisfied the Rooney Rule.

Broncos Expected To Shop Trevor Siemian

February 21st, 2018 at 9:43am CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos are expected to make quarterback Trevor Siemian available via trade at the upcoming combine, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This doesn’t come as a huge surprise since the Broncos were already expected to make QB a priority this offseason.

In 2016, Siemian performed better under center than most expected as he completed 59.5% of his passes for 3,401 yards, 18 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. Unfortunately, Siemian’s third season was a disappointment for Denver. His adjusted net yards per completion dropped by nearly 25%, his total quarterback rating slipped by 25 points. and he threw for only 12 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. The Broncos yanked Siemian from the starting lineup midway through the season and he only regained his job after Brock Osweiler faltered and Paxton Lynch was injured.

Lynch is expected to return in Denver, though not necessarily as the starter. Whether it’s through trades, free agency, or the draft, the Broncos will look to acquire at least one new signal caller. Meanwhile, the Broncos could move Siemian to fill holes elsewhere on the roster.

Colts To Re-Sign Adam Vinatieri

February 21st, 2018 at 9:12am CST by Zachary Links

Adam Vinatieri is coming back to the Colts this season. The kicker’s agent is nearing a new deal to re-sign with the Colts, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Vinatieri has been with the Colts for the last 12 seasons and the team is now looking to make it a baker’s dozen. The kicker recently celebrated his 45th birthday, but the team believes that he still has enough left in the tank.

Technically speaking, Vinatieri’s completion percentage has been sliding since he connected on a career-high 96.8% of his kicks in 2014. He’s still doing okay in his old age, however. In 2017, Vinatieri made 85.3% of his attempts, placing him 13th in the NFL. He also nailed five kicks of 50+ yards and missed only two extra points.

Vinatieri already has his place in the record books as he is No. 2 all-time in points with 2,487 and field goals with 559. Witha nother 58 points, he can surpass Morten Andersen’s watermark of 2,544.

Vinatieri is off the market, but this year’s free agent class of kickers still includes names such as Nick Folk (who just received medical clearance this week), Kai Forbath,Matt Bryant, Graham Gano, and Sebastian Janikowski.