The NFLPA seems unlikely to fight for the removal of the franchise/transition tag during the next collective bargaining agreement negotiations, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. As Graziano notes, players aren’t expected to “go to the mat” over an issue that will never affect the majority of the league. Franchise tags, of course, don’t prevent a player from leaving his incumbent team, but they do place serious restrictions on a player’s ability to navigate the open market. Any club wishing to sign a franchise player must sacrifice two first-round picks in order to do so. In 2018, just five players received a franchise tag, while one — Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller — was issued a transition tag.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley‘s success at the collegiate level has led to speculation that he could eventually make the leap to the NFL level, and Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reported earlier this year that pro teams were attempting to pick Riley’s brain. While that’s not surprising given the exciting offensive scheme run by the Sooners, Breer also noted NFL clubs could soon make overtures to the 34-year-old. However, Riley attempted to downplay any NFL interest earlier today, according to Jori Epstein of the Dallas Morning News. “That got blown out of proportion a little bit,” said Riley, who took over for Bob Stoops in 2017. Riley currently earns $3.1MM annually as part of a contract that runs through 2022.
- NFL teams aren’t using the uncertainty of the impending collective bargaining agreement negotiations to their benefit, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap tweets. The current CBA only runs through 2020, so clubs should be altering contracts that run past that season to use more current cap space, explains Fitzgerald. While the CBA now allows teams to carry over cap space each year, there’s no guarantee that provision will remain in the next agreement. Therefore, teams should be deploying all the cap space they can now before the rules possibly change.
- The Panthers have announced several changes to their coaching staff, including the promotion of Richard Rodgers to secondary coach and Jeff Imamura to assistant secondary coach. Rodgers will replace Curtis Fuller, who resigned earlier this year following allegations of workplace misconduct. Formerly Carolina’s safeties coach, Rodgers had 23 years of collegiate experience under his belt before joining the Panthers in 2012. The Panthers ranked 11th in pass defense DVOA a season ago, meaning they were relatively efficient when compared to other NFL clubs.
Riley won’t leave for the nfl anytime soon. Too many college guys have failed recently at the next level. He loves Oklahoma, and has that drive to win here. Maybe if he can win it all, then the chance increases, but he will be like Stoops and stay. Also I’m sure Stoops is giving him the same advice since he was courted multiple times by the nfl and never left.
Also Oklahoma just gave Riley a 5/25m raise in June.
I’d like to see Riley accomplish a little more before moving to the NFL. He’s still young, and needs to prove a little more, plus I’m sure he’d want to win a Championship before moving anyways.
That loss to UGA has to sting, considering it very well may have been Riley’s best shot with the #1 QB in college at the helm, and countless offensive weapons..
His offense, as long as he continues to use the Oklahoma brand to lure top prospects, should continue to dominate over an extremely weak defensive conference…
His success in college will greatly depend on Riley being able to bring a dominant defense to Oklahoma…TCU will always have a solid defensive foundation, but they won’t ever have the offense to compete with Oklahoma…And, I don’t trust Hermann yet in Texas, he has to prove he can scheme and develop as well as he attracts those highly ranked recruits first before Texas is even really a legit competitor..
Like I said, with little competition, in terms of complete teams in their conference, Oklahoma should get a spot in each of the Playoffs for at least the next two seasons, but Riley’s ability to win and advance will greatly hinge on his ability to build and scheme up a solid defense to match with his highly intelligent offensive schemes…
while baker was great, I don’t think last year was our best shot for LR to win a title. until the d gets fixed (stoops fired) I am not sure we will ever win another one. we also showed while the b12 defenses are weak Ohio st and uga also had problems slowing down rileys offense as well. I don’t see a title in 2018, but with back to back top 10 recruiting classes and the current #3 class forming for 2019, I don’t think it will be long until the sooners are back in the playoff and this time with the talent on defense to win it.
Bill Belichek has expressed his faith in Kirby Smart as a coach that can develop NFL talent at a high rate, which didn’t supreme me that the Pats took two bulldogs with their top two 1st round picks..
And he seems to think Smart is the most NFL ready up aND coming college coach; however, I’d have to think that Kirby would need a great offensive mind if he was able to succeed at the NFL level…
The same would go for Riley, except I think he’d need a great defensive mind to coordinate his defense..
What would be awesome is if Riley and Smart were the NFL’s first tandem head coaches, with Riley coaching the offense and Kirby coaching the defense…
Obviously this would never happen, but with two of the best college coaches joining forces, and two of the best minds on offense and defensiveefense collaborating, you have to think they could drive their opponents nuts!! A man can dream..lol, but good lord I’d love to see that duo coaching together…