HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFC Notes: Johnson, Redskins, Falcons, Cardinals

February 1st, 2019 at 8:44pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

One of the best stories of the 2018 NFL season was Josh Johnson. The longtime journeyman quarterback finally got a chance to start his first game since the 2011 season, and immediately sparked the slumping Redskins. The injuries Washington had suffered ultimately proved too severe to overcome, but Johnson still looked pretty good for someone seeing his first live action in seven years who was signed cold off the street. Now, it looks like Johnson could be back with Washington next year.

The team is working on bringing Johnson back, Redskins team president Bruce Allen told JP Finlay of NBC Sports (Twitter link). Word came out recently that the Redskins were expecting Alex Smith to miss the entire 2019 season, so it’s not surprising they’d want to have as many bodies at quarterback as possible. With only Colt McCoy on the roster, it’s not inconceivable that Johnson could have a chance to be Washington’s starter next year.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff again reiterated the team’s desire to lockup defensive tackle Grady Jarrett with a longterm deal this week at the Super Bowl, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’ve had a number of conversations. We still have a ways to go but we are confident he’s going to be here for years to come”, Dimitroff said. Jarrett is set to be a free agent this March, but it looks like he won’t ever hit the open market.
  • Speaking of the Falcons, don’t expect them to be big spenders in free agency. Dimitroff said he doesn’t anticipate being that aggressive in pursuing guys from other teams, declaring “I don’t think necessarily we need to make a whole bunch of bold moves.” While he acknowledged that the team has some “regrouping to do” after their disappointing season, he expressed confidence in the group of players currently in the building, and said he doesn’t foresee himself “dropping a ton of money in free agency.”
  • New Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury isn’t just retaining one member of last year’s coaching staff, he’s promoting him. Kingsbury will promote Chris Achuff, who was an assistant defensive line coach on Steve Wilks’ staff last year, to be his defensive line coach, a source told Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Achuff had been with Baylor for nine years before joining the Cardinals, so perhaps he had some familiarity with Kingsbury from their Big 12 days.

Browns’ Rashard Higgins Wants Extension

February 1st, 2019 at 7:08pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins could receive some significant interest on the open market this offseason, but the young wideout is making it clear he wants to stay in Cleveland. “I want to be in Cleveland, no other team. Tell (John) Dorsey, Tell Lonzo (Alonso Highsmith) to get it done”, Higgins said this week at the Super Bowl, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Dorsey, the Browns’ GM, said last week that the team had talked to Higgins’ representatives about a new contract, and it sounds like the interest is definitely mutual. Higgins is only scheduled to be a restricted free agent anyway so the Browns could match any offer he receives from another team, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll get to that point.

Higgins’ agent Michael Swensen told Kay Cabot “we’re getting there”, meaning a deal could be close. The Browns drafted Higgins in the fifth round out of Colorado State back in 2016. They cut him before the 2017 season, but quickly re-signed him. He didn’t do much as a rookie, but showed signs of progress last season before breaking out in 2018.

This past year he caught 39 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns in only 13 games, and showed a nice rapport with rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield. With Jarvis Landry entrenched in the slot, Higgins should have an opportunity to start outside next year. Higgins sounded excited to help turn around the Browns, raving about Mayfield, new coach Freddie Kitchens, and the organization in his comments to Kay Cabot. At this point it would be surprising if he’s not locked up by the time free agency rolls around in March.

Latest On Antonio Brown, Steelers

February 1st, 2019 at 5:42pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

For a while now it has seemed like Antonio Brown and the Steelers parting ways at some point this offseason is a foregone conclusion, but that might not be the case. When Steelers owner Art Rooney II spoke again last week he used a much softer and less definite tone, and now we have more reason to believe a reunion isn’t impossible. 

Brown made his first public appearance since this saga began yesterday from the Super Bowl, and in his brief comments he didn’t rule out returning to Pittsburgh, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Brown said he just wants to win, and emphasized that it “doesn’t matter where.” Brown didn’t elaborate much further but it’s interesting given the way Rooney publicly softened his stance recently.

“There has been contact between both sides, though it’s unclear whether Brown has spoken directly with Rooney”, Fowler writes. Sources told Fowler that Brown is “open to thriving in a new offense if that’s the path the Steelers choose”, which seems to suggest Brown isn’t demanding a trade. As Fowler points out, Brown has solely communicated through social media since the season ended up until this point, so these comments are significant.

It was also reported just a few days ago that the relationship remains solid between Brown and some members of the front office. For a while it seemed like the bridge had been burned, and if he does return it’ll definitely take a lot of work from Mike Tomlin to mend things in the locker room. Brown coming back to the Steelers is clearly picking up some steam, but there’s still plenty of time for things to reverse course yet again.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/1/19

February 1st, 2019 at 4:43pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Today’s reserve/futures contracts will be posted here:

Miami Dolphins 

Delaney was a rookie undrafted free agent this past year who first signed with the Jaguars. He bounced between Jacksonville’s practice squad and active roster, before he was ultimately cut and scooped up by the Dolphins, who stashed him on their practice squad. Delaney played his college ball at Miami, so it makes sense why two of the Florida NFL teams were interested.

Eagles Rodney McLeod Takes Big Pay Cut

February 1st, 2019 at 12:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The details are in on Rodney McLeod’s reworked deal with the Eagles. McLeod’s 2019 base salary will drop from $7.5MM to $1.5MM under the revised terms, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In total, the move creates $7.469MM in new cap room for Philly. 

Under the old terms of his deal, McLeod’s contract meant that he was likely a goner in Philadelphia. McLeod has been a starter since the 2013 season and started the first three games of 2018 for the Eagles, but a knee injury ended his season in September. Given the Eagles’ limited cap room and the awful market for free agent safeties over the last year, McLeod probably didn’t have much leverage in this round of negotiations with Howie Roseman & Co.

On the plus side, McLeod has done well for himself over the course of his career. He joined the Eagles on a five-year, $35MM deal prior to the 2016 season and is still young enough to cash in again down the line. He’ll turn 29 in June, just before training camp begins for his eighth NFL season.

NFL: Cowboys Did Not Tamper With Earl Thomas

February 1st, 2019 at 12:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Earl Thomas‘ flirtations with the Cowboys have been well-documented. The Cowboys, some say, have flirted back, but the league found no wrongdoing on the part of the organization, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 

Over the last year, Thomas has professed his love to the Cowboys in a number of ways. He bowed to the Dallas bench after an interception in September, cut plans short to catch the Cowboys on TV, and likely leaked further word of his interest to the press through backchannels.

Meanwhile, it was alleged that Cowboys staff members made comments to Thomas before a game this year that may have violated tampering laws. It’s unclear whether such comments were actually made, but in any event, the league will not pursue the allegations.

The Cowboys flirted with the idea of a Thomas trade, but all trade discussions were brought to a screeching halt when Thomas was carted off of the field with a season-ending leg fracture. While being carted off of the field, Thomas flipped off his own bench.

After wrapping up his four-year, $40MM extension, Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent in March.

Ryan Shazier Wants To Stay With Steelers

February 1st, 2019 at 10:44am CST by Zachary Links

Ryan Shazier wants to play football again, but he’ll technically be a free agent in March. When/if he returns to the field, he says he’d ideally like to suit up for the Steelers, as Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette writes. 

“Really nothing has been decided,” Shazier said. “I definitely want to be with the Steelers. I was drafted here and everything’s been going great. I just love the atmosphere, I love the family aspect of it, but I also love the way they do business. So I definitely want to stay.”

Shazier was in the film room with the Steelers throughout the 2018 season and attended team meetings, even though he was on the PUP list. There’s likely a similar plan in place for 2019 – recently, team president Art Rooney II said he’s working on a way to keep Shazier in the fold on a new deal.

For now, Shazier is taking things day-by-day. He’s already regained the ability to walk, but he has a ways to go before he can resume football activities.

“I have a time frame in my head, but I haven’t really told anybody yet,” the linebacker said. “At the end of the day I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m a lot closer to my goal than I was when I got hurt.”

Panthers’ Julius Peppers Retires From NFL

February 1st, 2019 at 8:39am CST by Zachary Links

Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers announced his retirement from football on Friday morning. The 39-year-old is hanging ’em up after 17 seasons in the league. 

Peppers leaves the game after a storied career and the fourth-most sacks in NFL history. Many thought Peppers would have continued to play for at least another season to jump to third on the all-time list – his 159.5 sack total is just half a sack behind Kevin Greene.

“Anybody who knows me knows I’m not big on words and I don’t like to put myself out there, so I’m just gonna get right to it,” Peppers wrote in a piece for The Players’ Tribune. “Seventeen years is a long time to be playing this game. It’s two careers for a lot of people. I’m thankful that I have been able to play so long and still be healthy. I’m not all banged up and beaten down. I still feel good. But as much as I would love to play forever, I know that I can’t. It’s gotta end at some point. That point is now. Today, I’m retiring.”

The UNC product was a star from the get-go as he tallied 12 sacks in 12 games as a rookie. He spent his first eight years in the league with the Panthers, but when the two sides couldn’t agree to terms on a new deal in 2010, he joined up with the Bears on a six-year, $91.5MM deal. Later, he hooked on with the Packers before returning home to Carolina in 2017.

“In getting to know Julius over these past months, I’ve learned that he is a man of few words. When he speaks, everyone listens. With that in mind, I will be brief. He’s one of the best to ever wear a Carolina uniform,” new Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement released by the team. “He carries himself with dignity, integrity and class, and will always be a Panther.”

Peppers was hoping for something better than back-to-back 7-9 seasons to wrap up his career, but he came full circle nonetheless and excelled on a personal level. He notched eleven sacks in ’17 and was still productive last season with five QB takedowns. According to Pro Football Focus, Peppers graded out as the No. 21 DE in the NFL last year (tied with Ryan Kerrigan and Michael Bennett).

We here at PFR wish Peppers the best in retirement.