2018 February - Pro Football Rumors

Draft Rumors: Allen, Rosen, Smith, OL

February 1st, 2018 at 9:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Super Bowl LII three days away, the next wave of NFL players will begin to take center stage in news cycles as the Combine approaches. And no position, per usual, will be analyzed like quarterback. This year, though, there are several first-round passers expected, with a few vying for the No. 1 overall pick. Here’s the latest on the draft:

A source whose team has a top-five draft choice told Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller he expects Josh Allen to be drafted in the top two. This would gel with what ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. expects, having placed the Wyoming talent as Cleveland-bound. Miller has Allen as the third quarterback on his big board, behind Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen.
On Rosen, evaluators may be more interested in how he conducts himself during the pre-draft process. Having proven to possess an elite skill set as a prospect, the outspoken UCLA product has skeptics in the evaluation community. Multiple executives and scouts say Rosen’s style will turn off teams during interviews. “Scouts might like Rosen, but coaches won’t because he’s stubborn and cocky and he thinks he’s smarter than them,” a scout told Miller. This is far from the first time Rosen’s perceived attitude problem has landed on the NFL radar.
Roquan Smith may have stood out for Georgia during the Bulldogs’ best season in over a decade, but where he lands on draft boards will be up for debate. One NFC scout expressed concerns about Smith’s size. “You’re going to have to convince me he can get off blockers because he didn’t against Notre Dame or Oklahoma.” Another scout told Miller he views the early-entry linebacker as having “Ryan Shazier– or Shaq Thompson-like athleticism.” After a 137-tackle, 6.5-sack season with an SEC team, Smith figures to be an early-first-round selection.
Texas-San Antonio defensive end Marcus Davenport could fall into the high-ceiling/low-floor category among some evaluators. DraftAnalyst.com’s Tony Pauline notes some teams were not impressed with the smaller-school talent at the Senior Bowl.
Conversely, Nevada offensive lineman Austin Corbett used Senior Bowl practices to shoot up to a Day 2 selection, with Pauline writing that Corbett “dominated everybody” while lining up at center, guard or right tackle.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/1/18

February 1st, 2018 at 8:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s reserve/futures deals.

New York Jets

LB Micah Awe

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

LS Drew Ferris

NFLPA Doesn’t See Work Stoppage Being Avoided

February 1st, 2018 at 8:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season, and following its 10-year run, there looks to be a fight between the league and the NFLPA.

This has been rumored for many months, and executive director DeMaurice Smith still cannot see any way around a work stoppage being required prior to the 2021 campaign.

“No. We prepare for war,” Smith said (via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com) when asked if any hopes for a smooth CBA agreement exist. “So if we’re able to get a collective bargaining agreement done, that’s great. But all of these men went through a unilateral declared war on players in 2010 and 2011. I think it’s important for [NFL commissioner Roger Goodell] and I to have a wonderful open discussion, but he represents the owners, and we represent the players.”

Smith does not see any circumstances under which he would agree to extend the current CBA, but the recently reelected union boss didn’t close the door on early negotiations after the 2018 season (Twitter links via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and the Washington Post’s Mark Maske).

“This collective bargaining agreement was painfully negotiated at a time when the league secured a $4 billion war chest to basically put us out of business,” Smith said. “There are a lot of great things about the collective bargaining agreement, but whether it’s the great things or the thing that we don’t like, collective bargaining agreements are grinding, exhausting elements that come out of two parties that want fundamentally different things.

“So, I could never imagine a world where you would simply put a page on the back of it that says, ‘This document is now extended until 2035.”

Player discipline will be a central issue to the next agreement, per executive committee member Zak DeOssie, as will the resistance of the long-rumored 18-game season. NFLPA president Eric Winston remains opposed, a stance the players have long held.

Smith said he’s engaged in discussions with Goodell about injuries sustained on Thursday-night games. Possible fixes suggested in those talks were possibly scheduling bye weeks in front of teams’ Thursday assignments and implementing unspecified mandatory rest periods for players. Placing byes in front of Thursday games may conflict with the league’s London agenda. Many teams given the England games prefer their bye to come after that trip, so navigating around that could be difficult.

Teddy Bridgewater’s UFA Status Uncertain

February 1st, 2018 at 7:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The subject of Teddy Bridgewater‘s contract has emerged again, despite said contract having supposedly expired.

Bridgewater, Case Keenum and Sam Bradford would all be set to be unrestricted free agents, but in Bridgewater’s case, it’s still uncertain if he will hit the market. Bridgewater’s rookie deal could still toll because of the passer’s stay on the PUP list this season, in which case he would return to the Vikings on his 2017 salary of $1.354MM.

Article 20, Section 2 of the CBA indicates a player’s contract would toll if he’s on the PUP list as of the sixth regular-season game. With Bridgewater not coming off the PUP list until after the Vikings’ sixth game — since players placed on the PUP list must spend six weeks there — he would be trapped in that circumstance, if this is how this situation will be interpreted.

And the matters of who will determine this, and when a resolution will come, remain uncertain. Rick Spielman said (via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com) the NFL will make that decision, while NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said he wasn’t sure if the league or the Vikings would end up doing so.

“If it goes into that area, it’s not a Minnesota Viking (decision), that’s an NFL and player union that will have to decide that area,” Spielman said, via Cronin, adding he wasn’t sure if the Vikings would have to contact the NFL on this matter.

Word out of Minnesota during the 2017 offseason indicated Bridgewater’s camp and the NFLPA intended to fight that distinction if it was determined his contract would toll. Past cases of this have gone in favor of the player, with the NFL Management Council interpreting the CBA language as a player needing to miss his whole contract-year season for the deal to toll. Bridgewater returned to practice after the six-week PUP stay and was activated in November.

Smith said (via Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, on Twitter) the matter could come down to whether Bridgewater was medically cleared to return before Week 6. Bridgewater contended at the time he could have practiced before he was allowed to do so, specifying he could have done so “a couple weeks” (Twitter links via Goessling) before returning to the field.

Smith said the NFLPA will have access to the quarterback’s medical records, if this matter will come to that, and remain in touch with Bridgewater’s agent.

Despite having played in just one game since his gruesome injuries in August 2016, Bridgewater is one of several former starters expected to be available as UFAs in a complex quarterback market. Although it’s not known when his status will be determined, it will almost certainly come before the legal tampering period begins March 12. And the 25-year-old passer would stand to command a higher salary than what would come his way if this contract were to toll.

NFC North Notes: Rodgers, Vikings, Bears

February 1st, 2018 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Rodgers may not be too pleased with one of the moves the Packers made to restructure their coaching staff. While a new GM might mean more avenues to team improvement are now open, one of Rodgers’ former position coaches is now in Cincinnati. Rodgers spoke out about Alex Van Pelt not being retained as quarterbacks coach.

“My quarterback coach didn’t get retained,” Rodgers said (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin). “I thought that was an interesting change — really without consulting me. There’s a close connection between quarterback and quarterback coach. And that was an interesting decision.”

Van Pelt spent six seasons on Green Bay’s staff, the last four coming as QBs coach. The Packers let his contract expire at season’s end, freeing him to join the Bengals. Frank Cignetti Jr. will now serve as Green Bay’s QBs coach, coming over after two years as Giants quarterbacks instructor. He will work under now-two-time Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin — OC for the team’s most recent Super Bowl title and Rodgers’ first MVP slate a year later. However, Rodgers won the second of his two MVPs under Van Pelt, in 2014 and threw 40 touchdown passes in 2016.

Here’s the latest from the NFC North scene:

The Vikings have yet to make a decision about Pat Shurmur‘s replacement, but they’ve interviewed four OC candidates and are possibly waiting to talk to Eagles QBs coach John DeFilippo. Whomever the team chooses, that coach will play a key role in determining who will be Minnesota’s quarterback in 2018. “He’ll have a major part of the decision-making process. He’ll be heavily involved in that,” Rick Spielman said. “The way that we structure everything is that everybody has a part in that process … myself, Coach (Mike) Zimmer, our scouting department and all of our coaches.” With Zimmer being a defensive-minded leader, it could naturally be assumed the new OC will be the top offensive voice on the team and place him in position to help make a difficult call for a franchise with three UFA quarterbacks.
Mike Glennon will not be Mitch Trubisky‘s backup next season, leading Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com to wonder if Chase Daniel would be an option for the Bears. Although Daniel was not with the Chiefs during Matt Nagy‘s two years as OC, he played three seasons behind Alex Smith when Nagy was the team’s QBs coach. Daniel spent 2017 backing up Drew Brees again. Dickerson listed Josh McCown, who rose back to relevance after a strong 2013 relief stint with the Bears, and Tyler Bray as other possible choices. The latter, though, having thrown just one pass in five NFL seasons could pose a problem in inspiring confidence he’s a No. 2 option.
Although Malcolm Butler has played a key role with the Patriots ever since his era-reshaping interception sealed their Super Bowl XLIX win, two NFL personnel men are not as high on him as they are other UFA corners. Both told the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs Butler would rank third behind Trumaine Johnson and Bears emerging defender Kyle Fuller if given the choice of the three. Each pointed to Butler’s small stature as a drawback. But the Bears went after Janoris Jenkins and Stephon Gilmore, respectively, the past two offseasons. And corner remains a need area. They figure to be in the market for a top-tier UFA here, and it stands to reason these three will be on the radar.

Steelers Sign Jordan Berry To Extension

February 1st, 2018 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers and Jordan Berry have agreed to an extension. The new deal will keep the punter in place through the 2018 season.

“It’s pretty exciting to get it all finished, get it all sorted out, and get it done early,” said Berry in a press release. “I love being in Pittsburgh so I am excited to have it done. I don’t have to think about it. I can just focus on training and getting ready for next season, which is the most important part of everything.”

Last year, Berry averaged 43.2 yards per punt, with a net of 39.8 yards. He also had 26 punts inside of the 20-yard line. It was a solid showing for Berry, who credits special teams coordinator Danny Smith for his continued improvement.

“It’s a combination of him being on top of me, making sure I am putting the work in, as well as me having a few years of experience under my belt,” said Berry. “The combination has helped me improve in the time I have been here. Danny is there daily making sure we are doing the small things we need to do to get better. He has been coaching for a long time, so to have that experience helping us, myself, Kameron (Canaday) and (Chris Boswell), it’s beneficial.”

Re-signing Berry wasn’t necessarily priority No. 1 for Pittsburgh, but it does take an item off of the Steelers’ checklist this offseason.

Le’Veon Bell Not Interested In Jets?

February 1st, 2018 at 3:23pm CST by Zachary Links

Le’Veon Bell, technically, is scheduled for free agency. Should he reach the open market without any restrictions, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be joining the Jets. When asked by a fan on Twitter if he would sign with the Jets for $60MM “cash,” the running back replied, “That ain’t enough to come run with the Jets.”

Of course, it’s considered unlikely that Bell will be an unrestricted free agent in March. The Steelers have the ability to franchise tag him for a second consecutive season and they are expected to do so if they cannot sign him to a long-term deal. Even if he is allowed to test the open waters, the Jets have bigger fish to fry than finding a running back (though we did list RB as one of the team’s top three needs this offseason).

If the Jets make a major expenditure in free agency, they are much more likely to push those funds in the direction of Kirk Cousins. Signing both may be possible in the literal sense, but it wouldn’t show great cap management on the part of GM Mike Maccagnan to dedicate upwards of $44M to two players.

For what it’s worth, the Steelers and Bell are closer in long-term contract negotiations than they were last year, according to the running back.

Rob Gronkowski To Play In Super Bowl

February 1st, 2018 at 3:12pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots will have the services of Rob Gronkowski on Sunday. The tight end has cleared concussion protocol, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

Members of the press got their first clue that Gronk had cleared concussion protocol when he was announced to be available to media Thursday afternoon. This was the expected outcome as Gronkowski answered in the affirmative on Tuesday when asked if he would play.

Gronkowski was forced out of the Pats’ AFC Championship Game victory against the Jaguars two weeks ago, leading to some question about whether he would be ready to go. With the extra week off between the semifinal and the Super Bowl, the Pats star had enough time to clear the cobwebs and gain medical clearance.

Gronkowski hauled in a team-high 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Now that the Jaguars know he’ll be on the field, they’ll have to game plan for one of the game’s scariest offensive weapons. The Eagles’ linebackers will do their part to cover Gronkowski near the line, but Philly may be forced to use members of the secondary against him as well.

Terence Newman Plans To Play Next Year

February 1st, 2018 at 12:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Terence Newman will turn 40 in September, but he’s not thinking about retirement. Fueled by a desire to get the mountaintop, Newman says he plans to play in 2018.

“I want to play [next season], because we made it to an NFC Championship. We fell short. We fell way short … I want to be able to have an opportunity to win a ring. It’s that simple,” Newman said (via KFAN 100.3 on Twitter).

Bound for free agency, it’s not a guarantee that Newman will return to the Vikings next season. It seems like that Minnesota will have interest in retaining him, however, for his valuable veteran leadership and on-field production. In 2017, Newman graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 66 ranked cornerback, which puts him on the fringe of starter quality.

The Vikings are slated to start Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes at cornerback, but Newman could once again serve as support for that duo, along with Mackensie Alexander. If not, he’ll be exploring opportunities with other contending clubs.

John DeFilippo Likely To Stay With Eagles?

February 1st, 2018 at 11:32am CST by Zachary Links

Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo may be a candidate for the Vikings’ offensive coordinator vacancy, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll fly the nest this offseason. Sources believe DeFilippo will stay in Philadelphia, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski remains a strong candidate for the position.

The Vikings are reportedly hopeful they will get a chance to speak with DeFilippo about their OC job once Super Bowl LII is in the books. The Vikings have taken longer to fill their coordinator vacancy than most other teams in the league and it’s possible that DeFilippo’s name is keeping things in a holding pattern. If DeFilippo turns down the opportunity to interview after the big game, we could theoretically see a hire made early next week.

So far, four candidates have interviewed for the job: Stefanski, ex-Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell, Texans QBs coach Sean Ryan, and Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell.