Jon Gruden seemed to indicate the Raiders wouldn’t be overly aggressive in free agency this offseason during a recent podcast interview, per Scott Bair of NBC Sports. “Obviously, we’re not looking to add players at the end of their career. We’re looking for blossoming young players. Those guys usually don’t get to free agency, so the pickings are slim”, Gruden said, adding “we’ll see where the market goes, but you don’t want to spend all the money you have on a few free agents. You want to try to keep some of that money available in case a trade might develop during the draft.” Gruden separately again emphasized the possibility of making a trade, saying “I think there’s a lot of potential for trades.”
Here’s more from around the league on this Friday night:
- The Rams are making another change to their coaching staff. So far this offseason they’ve lost Zac Taylor to the Bengals, promoted Jedd Fisch and Shane Waldron, and hired Wade Phillips’ son Wes to be their tight ends coach. Now, they’re hiring away Eric Henderson from the Chargers to be their new defensive line coach, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Henderson had been serving as an assistant defensive line coach with the Chargers. Before that, he had been an assistant with Oklahoma State. The Rams haven’t made any announcement, but Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic was able to confirm that their incumbent defensive line coach, Bill Johnson, won’t be back with the team next year (Twitter link).
- Browns receiver Antonio Callaway had his marijuana charge from last October dropped recently, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Callaway had maintained all along that he had no idea the small amount of marijuana was in his car, and apparently he was right. Callaway had previously tested positive at the combine before he was drafted, so his citation turned into somewhat of a big deal.
- Earlier this week, we heard that the Chiefs intended to franchise tag pass-rusher Dee Ford. The team could be facing a fight with Ford though over which position he’ll be classified as, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. Ford has played outside linebacker in old defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s scheme, but Ford is a pass-rusher first and foremost and will want to be classified as a defensive end for tagging purposes. As Florio points out, because the tag is valued based on what the top players at a given position are being paid, it’s the difference of several million dollars. Newly-hired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo runs a 4-3 defense so Ford will be a defensive end in 2019 anyway, but Florio writes that Spagnuolo intentionally declined to talk specifics about positions in his defense during recent comments to reporters, perhaps because of an impending battle between Ford and the club.
Apparently he was right????
Wow.
No one proved him “right”
Dumb
Why should it matter if an NFL player smokes marijuana? Seems like such a non issue that it shouldn’t even be on the radar anymore.
I agree. If you are an adult, and you choose to get high, as long as you don’t operate a vehicle or cause damage due to your impairment, then knock yourself out. It’s like alcohol. It’s got some very potentially damaging outcomes but the ability to escape from reality with drugs or just alter your state of mind artificially should be a legal responsible adult decision. Let’s stop trying to regulate people’s lives.
“the ability to escape from reality with drugs or just alter your state of mind artificially should be a legal responsible adult decision.”
Sounds good but people engage in this activity for the express purpose of AVOIDING responsible decisions.
Because it’s not a wise choice health wise, especially for athletes? The damage done by weed to lungs is worse than what cigarettes cause.
Why do they give to cancer patients, Epilepsy patients, people with chronic pain? Serious question
cigarettes aren’t banned by the NFL so it’s definitely not a health issue for them. And the vast majority of NFL players get high
Sounds like Chucky is getting an itchy trigger finger and can’t wait to deal Carr.
I have been thinking the same thing the whole time.
When is that going to happen? They didn’t do it last year and there’s been no rumors about it this year.
There has been plenty of speculation about it happening. Didn’t happen last season because Chucky was trying to shine everyone on about him and Reggie McKenzie having this great rapport….. but now everyone knows that was all bs.
Make up yo MIND Gruden
Raiders looking to tank for another season until they get to Las Vegas.
Why is the f bold?