HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Latest On Western Michigan’s Sam Beal

June 28th, 2018 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Sam Beal is well on his way to becoming the first player selected in the NFL’s supplemental draft since 2015. The former Western Michigan cornerback ran a 4.40 second 40-yard-dash at his pro day, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 

NFL personnel people believe Beal is likely to fall somewhere in the first three rounds of the draft, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. In the last decade, only Josh Gordon and Terrelle Pryor have been selected in the top three rounds.

After discussing Beal with a scouting analyst and scouts from across the NFL, Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports estimates that Beal will fall in the third or fourth round.

“I think collectively, Beal is considered the top guy,” scouting analyst Eric Galko said. “Being a taller corner, being long, fluid and works well vertically, I think he’s a better athlete in terms of his hip fluidity and quick-twitch for a taller corner than most guys are. Usually, you’re sacrificing height for quickness but he does a great job of not being that way — he sinks really low. His ability to play as a press Cover 3 guy will help, and he can play underneath, he can play man coverage and he can work across the field. He plays like a 5’10” corner at 6’1″, that’s why teams are excited about him. I think he had a great shot for Round 1 [in the 2019 draft] if he came back to school.”

Beal is the most notable entrant in this year’s supplemental draft, but Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander and Mississippi State defensive back Brandon Bryant have also drawn the attention of clubs. After talking with scouts, Paylor estimates that Alexander will be selected in the fifth or sixth round and hears Bryant may go in the sixth or seventh round. Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu has also entered the second chance draft, but his odds of being selected are unclear at this time.

NFL Suspends Bucs QB Jameis Winston

June 28th, 2018 at 12:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL has suspended Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston for the first three games of the 2018 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This was the expected outcome after the league wrapped its investigation earlier this month. 

Winston was alleged to have groped an Uber driver back in March 2016. The QB long denied any wrongdoing, but he took at least some responsibility for his actions in a statement issued on Thursday.

“The NFL informed me today that I will be suspended for the first three games of the season. First and foremost, I would like to say I’m sorry to the Uber driver for the position I put you in,” Winston said. “It is uncharacteristic of me and I genuinely apologize. In the past two-and-a-half years, my life has been filled with experiences, opportunities and events that have helped me grow, mature and learn, including the fact that I have eliminated alcohol from my life. I know I have to hold myself to a higher standard on and off the field and that I have a responsibility to my family, community, and teammates to live above the platform with which God has blessed me.

“I apologize to my teammates, the Buccaneers organization and fans for letting them down and for not being able to be out there for the first three games of the season. Although I am disappointed in the NFL’s decision, I understand the NFL’s process, and I embrace this as an opportunity to take advantage of the resources available to help me achieve the goals that I have for myself. I now look forward to putting this behind me and I will continue to work hard every day to be a positive influence in my community and be the best person, teammate and leader I can be.”

The suspension was the result of the settlement talks between the NFL, NFLPA, and his Winston’s representatives, Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter) hears. That means there will be no appeal on Winston’s behalf. Per league rules, Winston will be able to participate in team activities, including the preseason, until the suspension begins in September.

The three-game ban will keep Winston off of the field as the Buccaneers start the season against the Saints, Eagles, and Steelers. Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will try to navigate the team through those difficult games before Winston is eligible to return in Week 4 against the Bears.

NFL Fines Former Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson

June 28th, 2018 at 12:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL has fined former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson after a lengthy investigation into his comments and workplace behavior, the league announced. Richardson has been fined $2.75MM that will go towards supporting “organizations addressing race and gender-based issues and fund league-wide workplace training.” 

After Richardson’s behavior came to light last year, he quickly put the team up for sale. The Panthers went on the block in December 2017 and Steelers minority owner David Tepper was approved as the team’s new owner in May 2018. The franchise was sold for $2.2 billion, setting a new NFL record.

“I appreciate [investigator] Mary Jo White’s careful and thorough examination of these issues, and her thoughtful recommendations to the Panthers and the entire NFL,” said commissioner Roger Goodell. “Her recommendations will help ensure that our workplaces are open, inclusive and respectful.”

According to the league, the investigation covered the publicly reported allegations as well as those that have not been written about in the press. The investigation found that the bad conduct was limited to Richardson and confirmed that the Panthers did not report the claims, or settlements stemming from the claims, to the league office before the bombshell report in December.

To combat similar problems in the future, White recommends measures including the “specific prohibition of using Non-Disclosure Agreements to limit reporting of potential violations or cooperation in League investigations under the Personal Conduct Policy.” White also recommended that the Panthers be required to report on the club’s ongoing work to address claims of racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and related workplace issues. Goodell, according to the press release, has adopted that recommendation.

The sale of the team to Tepper is expected to be finalized within the next two weeks.

Eagles’ Jay Ajayi Changes Agents

June 28th, 2018 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

Eagles running back Jay Ajayi has changed agents in advance of his walk year. Ajayi has left Select Sports Group to join up with Drew Rosenhaus, according to an announcement from his agency. 

Ajayi played well after coming over in a midseason trade with the Dolphins. With Miami, he gained just 3.4 yards per carry. In Philly, he averaged 5.8 yards per carry in seven regular season games and was also effective in the postseason.

The Eagles would probably like to keep him for the long term, but that’s easier said than done. The Eagles have one of the tightest cap situations in the NFL and Ajayi will likely command a deal that will put him near the top of the running back market. As a former fifth-round pick, Ajayi is averaging $625K per year on his four-year rookie deal. That’s well below the league average of $1.38MM for running backs and far below what he’d command as a free agent. His alignment with Rosenhaus is a signal that he’s looking to get the biggest payday possible.

The Eagles may have an in-house replacement for Ajayi in Corey Clement, but they’d have to give him a larger workload this year in order to find out if he’s a potential third-round back. Otherwise, the Eagles may have to look elsewhere to find a new No. 1 running back next year.

This Date In Transactions History: Ed Reed

June 28th, 2018 at 8:20am CST by Zachary Links

In his prime, few players were more fearsome than safety Ed Reed. On this date in 2006, the Ravens rewarded Reed with a six-year, $40MM contract, making him the highest-paid player at his position in league history. 

The previous league-leading deal for safeties belonged to Adam Archuleta, who inked a six-year, $30MM deal with the Redskins in March of ’06. Reed blew past him on a rocket ship, and for good reason.

Reed became a starter as a rookie in 2002 and quickly cemented himself as a key cog in Baltimore’s defense. He notched 21 interceptions in his first three seasons and led the league with nine picks in 2004. Although he was held back by an ankle injury in 2005, the Ravens saw a Reed as a multiple-time Pro Bowler who was ready to get back to his old form.

“It was his time,” GM Ozzie Newsome said. “He has earned the contract.”

Indeed, the Ravens were right. Reed came back in a big way in ’06 as he started in every game and tallied five picks, plus two in the postseason. He earned Pro Bowl nods in every season from 2006 through 2012 and picked up four First-Team All-Pro nods in that span.

Reed earned his first ring in the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and notched his ninth career postseason interception in the big game. Although he was still productive, Reed and the Ravens went their separate ways in the offseason. Reed signed a three-year, $15MM deal with the Texans, but that deal was terminated midway through the ’13 campaign. He reunited with Rex Ryan by signing with the Jets, but he was unable to turn back the clock. After sitting out the 2014 season, Reed signed a one-day contract with Baltimore so that he could retire a Raven.

Reed’s final season on the field was forgettable, but the extension he signed with the Ravens in 2006 proved to be a win-win for both sides. Reed cashed in and gained financial security in a violent sport, and the Ravens got elite level production out of him for the majority of the deal.

Extra Points: Foles, Eagles, Bucs, Clark

June 27th, 2018 at 9:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Last offseason, Nick Foles considered several opportunities before ultimately joining the Eagles. This included a chance to sign with the Buccaneers, where head coach Dirk Koetter was heavily pursuing him. During an appearance on SiriusXM Radio, the quarterback discussed his decision to join Philly.

“Initially we were trying to stay (in Kansas City),” said Foles (via Ed Kracz of TheEaglesWire.com). “We loved Kansas City. I never thought I’d handle being a backup because I always like being on the field, but my heart had changed. Those were my favorite years of football being in Kansas City. We loved being there, loved the barbecue, loved my teammates. We tried to work it out but couldn’t.

“We were trying to figure out what was best for our family. My wife at the time was really pregnant. That comes into account. Do you want to move somewhere where you know no one or go to a city you were traded from but know so many people and wonderful people? That was a tough decision for me.”

Well, we all know how that ended up. Foles joined the Eagles and was forced into the starting lineup following a season-ending injury to Carson Wentz. The 29-year-old ended up starting all three of the Eagles’ playoff games en route to a championship and a Super Bowl MVP.

Let’s take a look at some other notes from around the NFL…

  • Meanwhile, during an appearance on FS1, Foles discussed his backup role and his revised contract with the Eagles. “I would love the opportunity to lead a team,” Foles said (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “Now, let me also say this, I’m not just going to go to a team and say, ‘Hey, I want to lead this team,’ and not see where they are. It’s about an environment. . . . So if that does come to be, I want to find the right [place], be with the right team, a team like the Philadelphia Eagles organization…They had me under contract this year. Everyone wanted to know where I was going to be. I’m grateful to be a part of it. They restructured my deal. They wanted me there. I wanted to be there this year. We’ll see what happens after the season, but I’m excited about this 2018 Eagles season. I get to wear that jersey at least one more year, and I’m super excited about wearing it one more year.” Back in April, Foles and the Eagles agreed to a reworked deal that included a mutual option for 2019.
  • Former NFL agent Joel Corry says Danielle Hunter‘s new deal shouldn’t define the market for Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark (Twitter link). The 2015 second-round pick had spent his entire three-year career in Seattle, and he finished the 2017 campaign with 32 tackles, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles in 16 games (12 starts). The 25-year-old will earn $943K in 2018 before hitting free agency next summer. The anticipated franchise tag for his position is expected to be around $17.5MM, according to Corry.
  • Earlier today, Hunter signed a five-year, $72MM extension with the Vikings. We’ve listed reactions to the new deal, we’ve heard from general manager Rick Spielman, and we’ve explored why linebacker Anthony Barr could be next in line for an extension.

Extension Candidate: Anthony Barr

June 27th, 2018 at 8:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Over the past two offseasons, the Vikings have signed a number of their defensive players to extensions: cornerback Xavier Rhodes, defensive end Everson Griffen, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, and (most recently) defensive end Danielle Hunter. That leaves linebacker Anthony Barr as the one defender who’s yet to sign a new deal.

Barr, a 2014 first-round pick, is heading into his fifth-year option season, and he’ll earn a $12.3MM base salary. Plenty of teams would line up to sign the three-time Pro Bowler should he hit free agency next year, especially if he has another season like he did in 2017. The 26-year-old finished the year having compiled a career-high 75 tackles to go along with one sack and six passes defended.

It sounds like the Vikings are going to now shift their focus to locking up Barr (and wideout Stefon Diggs), with general manager Rick Spielman indicating today that he wants to retain their entire core. While recent reports had hinted that contract negotiations were progressing, Barr didn’t sound as optimistic earlier this week. The linebacker said an extension was “more about feeling valued and respected than the actual dollar amount.” He also noted that while he wants “to be there long term… It’s not my decision; it’s on them, and I would like to get it.” Barr had already skipped out on non-mandatory workouts, perhaps showcasing his unhappiness with the situation.

While Barr is surely frustrated with the fact that his teammates have received lucrative extensions, he’s probably also aggravated at the team’s disappearing cap space. Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune estimates that the Vikings will have around $27MM in cap space in 2019. While that’s still enough space to sign Barr, they might have a tough time signing him if he’s looking to become one of the highest-paid linebackers. While it’s unlikely that he’ll receive a deal that’s more than the $12MM annual salary he’s set to earn this year, an $11MM annual salary would still place him in the top-5 among 4.3 outside linebackers. Considering the team’s cap constraints, this would likely be the most money they’d be willing to offer.

Fortunately for the Vikings, their defense will be fine with or without Barr. In fact, their decision to hold off on the linebacker’s extension could be an indication of his standing within the organization. While a deal is still expected to get done, it wouldn’t be overly surprising if Barr ends up hitting free agency next summer.

This Date In Transactions History: Desmond Bishop

June 27th, 2018 at 6:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Five years ago today, the Vikings added what they presumed would be their new starting linebacker. Unfortunately, the veteran’s injury woes continued during his brief tenure in Minnesota.

On June 27th, 2013, the Vikings signed linebacker Desmond Bishop to a one-year contract. The 2007 sixth-round pick out of California had spent his entire career with the division-rival Packers, and he proved to be a revelation in Green Bay. After serving as mostly a backup during his first three seasons in the league, Bishop had a breakout campaign in 2010, finishing with 99 tackles (which was more than his previous three seasons combined). He also had a fumble recovery in his team’s Super Bowl XLV win over the Steelers.

His breakout campaign earned him a four-year, $19MM extension, and Bishop followed that up with an even better season in 2011. He ultimately established career-highs with 115 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. Unfortunately, Bishop suffered a significant hamstring injury during the 2012 preseason, forcing him to miss the entire campaign. He ended up being released by the team prior to training camp in 2013.

After having visited the Chiefs and Vikings, Bishop ultimately decided to join Minnesota. While he was projected to slide into the team’s starting lineup, he lost the gig early on during the 2013 season. Then, in mid-October, the linebacker tore his ACL, ending his season. During his one year in Minnesota, Bishop compiled only five tackles in four games (one start). He’d later have brief stints with the Cardinals, 49ers, and Redskins.

Following a 2012 campaign that saw them go 10-6, the Vikings were probably hoping that Bishop would provide them with a veteran presence on defense (they even released former fourth-rounder Stanford Keglar to make the necessary roster space). Fortunately for Minnesota, they didn’t lock themselves into a long-term deal with the linebacker.

Latest On Aaron Donald, Rams Extension Talks

June 27th, 2018 at 5:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Even with recent reports indicating that star defender Aaron Donald was looking to reset the market for non-quarterbacks, Rams COO and VP Kevin Demoff told NFL Network’s Steve Wyche that extension talks have been going well.

“I think when you build stadiums like this, it’s with players like Aaron Donald in mind,” Demoff said (via Marc Sessler of NFL.com). “And we’ve been at this process, working with them for the past year and a half to try to make sure that Aaron is not only here for the opening of the stadium but plays well into his years. And that he can play in the 2022 Super Bowl in his own home stadium.

“So we’re working on it and we’ll keep pushing forward. The dialogue’s been great. It’s been positive. I think [Donald] and coach [Sean] McVay have a terrific relationship. We look forward to getting this done. And putting Aaron in the place where he should be among the highest-paid defensive players.”

Demoff refused to give a definitive timeline for any signing, joking that the deal would be completed before the team’s new stadium was completed. The executive did admit that the front office is hoping to have a deal done before training camp.

It sounds like both sides are trying to avoid the scenario from 2017. Donald ultimately held out for all of training camp and preseason, and his absence forced him to miss the first week of the season. This time around, both the Rams and Donald seem committed to agreeing to a new deal, although it’s going to be pricey for the organization. If the 2014 first-round pick is indeed hoping to reset the market, then he’d surely be eyeing an average annual salary that tops Von Miller‘s league-leading $19.1MM. GM Les Snead previously acknowledged that the Rams will have to sign Donald to an unprecedented contract.

Of course, if there’s any defender who’s worth a top contract, it’s Donald. The 27-year-old has earned four straight Pro Bowl nods and three straight first-team All-Pro honors. Despite ultimately missing a pair of games last season, the defensive lineman was still plenty productive. Donald ended up finishing the campaign with 41 tackles, 11 sacks, and a career-high five forced fumbles.

Vikings GM Discusses Extensions, Hunter, Future

June 27th, 2018 at 5:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Earlier today, the Vikings and pass rusher Danielle Hunter agreed to a lucrative five-year, $72MM extension. With the deal, the organization has now locked up many of their core players through at least 2020, including quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook, wide receiver Adam Thielen, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, center Pat Elflein, linebacker Erik Kendricks, safety Harrison Smith, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and defensive end Everson Griffen.

Following the news, general manager Rick Spielman addressed the media, touching on a number of relevant points (including the team’s willingness to still sign Anthony Barr and Stefon Diggs to extensions, which we covered earlier). Lindsey Young of Vikings.com passed along some of the soundbites from the press conference, and we compiled some of the more notable quotes below:

On the Vikings ability to hit on players at any point of the draft (including Hunter in the third round):

“Ever since [Head Coach Mike] Zimmer has been here and we’ve come together, and the way we’ve kind of tailored our drafts, taking guys like this who might not be as polished right out of college, but you see that they have this tremendous upside, and they have these tremendous physical traits. And they’re quality people – they want to really work, and they have passion for the game.

“When they check all of our boxes, then we feel that we have a pretty good chance of having success and hitting on those types of guys.”

On the important of Hunter:

“Pass-rushers are a premium in this league, especially with the way offenses have developed. You have to be able to rush the passer, and Danielle fits like a lot of guys we’ve been able to extend. They come in, they’re high character people, they work extremely hard, they have a passion for the game, and they’re taking to the coaching they’re getting.”

On any worries about a player becoming complacent after signing a lucrative contract:

“Even when they get these contracts and the contract extensions that we’ve done in the past, it seems like those guys take it to the next step after they get these kinds of contracts. And I think that’s, one, the coaching they’re getting and two, hopefully we’re bringing in those types of guys that the game and the passion for the game means something.”

On the difficulty of retaining the Vikings core:

“We started this planning three years ago, and we’re always, we’re planning for the next three years. It’s a combination of us being able to keep this team together but also rewarding the players as they show success on the field and that they’re doing the right things off the field, as well. But it’s not easy.

“It seems like guys want to be here and want to be part of this culture, want to be a part of this organization and want to be a part of this community. They’re going to get rewarded for their success on the field financially, but also I think every one of these guys wants a chance to go in and win and wants to play for an organization that does things the right way, and to play with a group of coaches that have a history of taking guys and developing these guys and actually making them better than when they came in.”

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