HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Packers, Aaron Rodgers Making Progress On Extension

August 1st, 2018 at 8:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have made “noticeable progress” during their negotiations for a long-term extension, and Green Bay reportedly is optimistic that Rodgers will have a new deal in place by the time the 2018 regular season gets underway, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link).

Green Bay has apparently been setting Week 1 as a potential deadline for Rodgers talks for awhile, as previous reports have also indicated a similar timeline. But Rapoport’s signal of progress is certainly an improvement over recent reports — such as the one issued by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk in late July — which said Rodgers and the Packers were still far apart in negotiations.

Any stalls in talks can likely be blamed on the structure of the pact, as Rodgers is believed to prefer a contract that doesn’t lock him into a number long-term. The two-time MVP would like more control over his future and may prefer a deal that includes one big payout before a series of player options. The Packers, however, are attempting to lock up Rodgers via a “bland and traditional” long-term extension.

“As far as setting a trend or breaking down things, it’s great for the game and its players, for sure, when Kirk (Cousins) does a deal like he did,” Rodgers recently said of Cousins’ fully guaranteed Vikings deal. “The reality is, there’s not many teams that would do that, first of all. And there aren’t many teams that would do it for more than three years. So at some point, there are going to be contracts that will continue to extend that, and there’s been guys who’ve done it over the years, who’ve done monumental things, whether it’s Reggie White in free agency, that make a difference for the next generation. That’s something you can have as part of your legacy.”

Rodgers, 34, is currently signed through the 2019 season, with cap charges north of $20MM in each of the next two campaigns. On an annual average basis, though, Rodgers’ $22MM/year now ranks just 10th among quarterbacks, behind the likes of Joe Flacco, Alex Smith, and Derek Carr, among others.

Browns Haven’t Scheduled Dez Bryant Visit

August 1st, 2018 at 7:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While the Browns and wide receiver Dez Bryant reportedly have “mutual interest”, Cleveland has not yet scheduled a meeting with the veteran pass-catcher, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Indeed, the Browns only have a “modicum of interest” in Bryant, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, adding that Cleveland has not yet officially reached out to the ex-Cowboys wideout. If Bryant ultimately does sign with the Browns, he’d likely need to ink a one-year deal that would not be lucrative, per La Canfora, who indicates Bryant isn’t a “natural fit” for the Cleveland roster.

The Browns have interest in Bryant due to fellow receiver Josh Gordon‘s ongoing absence, and it’s presently unclear if and when Gordon will be returning to the club. However, if Cleveland’s interest is as lukewarm as reports suggest, Bryant could conceivably hold off on signing a new contract until later this year. Some teams will surely face injuries at the wide receiver position, which could create more openings for Bryant around the league.

While a number of teams — including the Packers and Cardinals — have been tangentially linked to Bryant since he was released by the Cowboys, no clubs aside from the Ravens and Browns have been directly interested in the former first-round pick. In fact, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com has reported many teams are unwilling to consider Bryant even at the minimum salary. Bryant had been expected to land a new deal inJuly, so the clock is now ticking on the veteran wideout.

Bryant, 29, certainly comes with risk, as he hasn’t topped 1,000 yards receiving since 2014, while his 12.1 yards per reception in 2017 was the lowest average of his career. But he can still post up opposing defensive backs near the end zone, and would be a tantalizing option for most quarterbacks. Recently, Bryant has expressed interest in signing with the 49ers, while Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report indicated that league insiders’ “best guess” is that Bryant will land with San Francisco.

Terrance Williams Has Charge Dismissed

August 1st, 2018 at 6:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A public intoxication charge against Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams has been dismissed, as the veteran pass-catcher’s attorney announced in a statement.

“Mr. Williams faced only a single charge, a Class C Misdemeanor of Public Intoxication,” the statement reads. “The maximum punishment for a Class C Misdemeanor in Texas is fine only. This is the same level charge as a speeding ticket. Mr. Williams’ [case] has now been dismissed following the completion of a state-mandated Alcohol Awareness Education course.

Additionally, any damage caused by Mr. Williams’ vehicle has been settled with the City of Frisco as well as any labor utilized by the city to fix any damage. The Frisco Police Department has reported that no additional charges are pending nor forthcoming.”

In May, Williams was arrested after allegedly crashing his vehicle into a light pole and subsequently leaving the scene of the crime. Notably, Williams first accused Vikings wide receiver and former teammate Kendall Wright of driving the car, but later retracted those claims. While it appears Williams escaped without ever formally being charged with leaving the scene, he was facing a public intoxication charge until today.

While no legal case will be brought against Williams, it’s possible that he’ll still face a suspension from the NFL. The league holds the ability to ban any player for off-field conduct, even if formal charges are never filed. A suspension seems unlikely given that Williams completed a diversion course, and any ban would almost surely come in 2019, not during the upcoming season.

Latest On Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin

August 1st, 2018 at 5:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin is expected to miss most, if not all, of the preseason as he deals with a knee injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). However, Seattle expects Baldwin to be available to the start of the regular season.

Baldwin is a veteran receiver, so the preseason isn’t a necessity as he prepares for the start of the 2018 campaign. However, it’s not clear at present exactly what type of knee issue is ailing Baldwin. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said the club would take precautions in order to preserve Baldwin’s health.

“We’re gonna give him a couple weeks here before we bring him back out to make sure that we’ve ramped him back up properly,” Carroll said. “He came into camp a little bit off and we just want to make sure that we take care of him. We know exactly what’s going on. He’s doing some special treatments to make sure that we’re taking care of him, and we want to bring him back into shape so we can really get him ready for the long haul.”

If Baldwin is lost for any significant amount of time, the Seahawks’ wide receiver depth chart doesn’t provide much in the way of reinforcements. Perpetual breakout candidate Tyler Lockett would become Seattle’s default No. 1 wideout, while veteran Brandon Marshall could also have a greater chance of making the team’s 53-man roster. Other Seahawks pass-catchers include free agent acquisition Jaron Brown, 2017 third-rounder Amara Darboh, and Marcus Johnson, among others.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/18

August 1st, 2018 at 4:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

Patriots Release WR Jordan Matthews

August 1st, 2018 at 4:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots announced that they’ve released wide receiver Jordan Matthews and signed fullback Henry Poggi. Although Field Yates of ESPN.com tweeted New England would placed Matthews on injured reserve, it appears the Patriots have simply cut the wideout.

The Pats signed Matthews to a one-year deal worth $1MM back in April. However, the pact was only partially guaranteed, so the Patriots won’t be left on the hook for much. Matthews collected on his $80K signing bonus, $130K offseason workout bonus, and $90K of his base salary, so he leaves New England with $300K altogether.

Matthews was also held back by injuries in 2017, so this is an unfortunate setback for the wide receiver. Prior to that, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns per season for the Eagles from 2014-16.

The release of Matthews leaves the Patriots a bit thin at wide receiver. They’ll be without Julian Edelman for the first four games of the season and the availability of Kenny Britt and Malcolm Mitchell is in question as they deal with ailments of their own. These issues could help to explain the team’s recent interest in free agent Eric Decker.

Redskins Notes: Smith, Thompson

August 1st, 2018 at 3:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Preston Smith is slated to be a free agent after the season, but the Redskins have yet to approach him about a new deal (Twitter link via John Keim of ESPN.com). The Redskins have hammered out pre-season extensions with key players in the past such as Trent Williams, Ryan Kerrigan, and Jordan Reed, but Smith is still waiting on that call. For what it’s worth, Smith says he’s staying patient.

“You play good; they’re going to pay good,” said Smith, who matched a career-high with eight sacks last season.

If Smith is not signed to a new deal and can offer a repeat performance, he could be in store for riches in March. For now, the former second-round pick is set to play out the final year of his contract as he earns a modest $1.2MM base salary.

Here’s more from D.C.:

  • Redskins running back Chris Thompson says he likely won’t be fully recovered from his broken fibula until November (Twitter link via Keim). Thompson has had a handful of surgeries in his career, but he says that this has been his most challenging recovery to date. Thompson suffered the broken leg last November, so he’s looking at a full year before being back to 100%. It’s a frustrating situation for Thompson, who was in the midst of a breakout campaign before being sidelined in 2017. Heading into Week 11, Thompson had posted 771 yards from scrimmage, a total that had already topped his previous career high, and was averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He was even more effective in the passing game, where he recorded 38 receptions for 494 yards.
  • Recently, the Redskins extended the contract of backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
  • On Wednesday, the Redskins added linebacker/defensive end Dadi Nicolas to the roster.

Seahawks Sign G J.R. Sweezy

August 1st, 2018 at 3:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have signed guard J.R. Sweezy, according to a team announcement. To make room, the club waived guard Avery Young with an injury designation. 

The deal brings Sweezy back to the team that drafted him six years ago. A seventh-round pick out of N.C. State in 2012, Sweezy spent his first four seasons in Seattle before signing with the Bucs as a free agent in 2016. That deal was terminated this summer after two injury-plagued seasons with Tampa Bay.

The 29-year-old guard started all 14 games he played for the Bucs last season, though he was less than 100% healthy. Pro Football Focus rated Sweezy as its No. 53 guard in 2017.

The Seahawks can use all the help they can get on the offensive line, so it makes sense for them to kick the tires on Sweezy and see where he stands in his rehab from a broken leg. For now, the Seahawks project to start 2017 second-round pick Ethan Pocic and free agent pickup D.J. Fluker at the guard positions.

Colts OL Jack Mewhort Retires

August 1st, 2018 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Colts guard/tackle Jack Mewhort has retired from the NFL, according to an announcement from the team. Mewhort was set to enter his age-27 season, but has decided to hang up his cleats instead. 

“I would like to thank the Irsay family and the entire Colts organization for giving me the opportunity to live a childhood dream,” Mewhort said in a statement.

Mewhort entered the league as a second-round pick of the Colts in 2014. Mewhort has been a starter for the Colts throughout his career, but he has been seriously hampered by knee problems as of late.

Mewhort’s season ended in October thanks to a knee injury, marking his second straight incomplete campaign. Over the last two years, Mewhort has missed 17 games out of a possible 32.

Despite his health issues, the Colts re-signed Mewhort to a one-year, $1.5MM deal in March that could have been worth up to $3MM with incentives. However, the Colts did not bank on his health as they added guards Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith in the first two rounds of the draft. The club also has new interior lineman Matt Slauson in the mix for depth, so they won’t necessarily have to go shopping for offensive line health.

Redskins Sign LB/DE Dadi Nicolas

August 1st, 2018 at 2:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins have signed linebacker/defensive end Dadi Nicolas, according to a team announcement. To make room, the team has waived offensive lineman Alex Balducci. 

Nicolas, 26 in September, joined the Chiefs as a sixth-round pick in 2016, and the Chiefs soon announced their intention to move him from defensive end to linebacker. The position switch never quite off the ground, however, as Nicolas appeared sparingly in eleven games during his rookie campaign before a ruptured patellar ended his season. He hasn’t seen the field since.

The Chiefs actually completed a trade involving Nicolas earlier this year, sending him to the Browns in exchange for tight end Randall Telfer. That deal was later voided, however, and though no specific reason was given, failed physicals are known to regularly cancel transactions. Kansas City subsequently waived him, leading him to the Seahawks in May. However, he was released one month later.

At 6″3, 225 pounds, Nicolas could see time at either linebacker or defensive end for the Redskins, if he makes the roster. The Redskins edge rushing crew is headlined by Matthew Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, and Preston Smith. Nicolas will fight for a spot in reserve, alongside new outside linebacker Pernell McPhee.

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