HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Peter King On Riley, Murray, Haskins

February 25th, 2019 at 11:08am CST by Zachary Links

Towards the end of the 2018 season, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley and a potential jump to the pros. Ultimately, Riley opted to stay put with the Sooners.

Recently, Peter King of NBC Sports had the opportunity to catch up with Riley and ask him about the possibility of moving to the NFL at some point down the line.

“I certainly wasn’t tempted at all this year. I would say right now it wouldn’t surprise me at all if I am a college lifer,” Riley said. “I think it’ll be interesting how a lot of things go on from here … if there’s a lot of changes in both games. Football is evolving; there’s a lot of changes obviously at the NFL level right now. There’s a lot of changes with all the transfers and recruiting and all the different things going on at the college level. You never know how those games are going to evolve. I might’ve been tempted honestly had I not been at a place like Oklahoma. But this is one of the best jobs there is in football. Like I’ve said before, I’ll never say never. I never want to promise things that I can’t 1,000% guarantee. It’s not something that really tempts me at all right now.”

After coaching Heisman Trophy winners in back-to-back seasons, Riley is certainly in a great position at Oklahoma. He also recently inked a lucrative extension with OU, so his comfort in Norman, Oklahoma is certainly understandable.

Here’s more from King:

  • There has been a lot of talk about Kyler Murray and his lack of bulk, but King hears the quarterback has bulked up to 206 pounds, a significant jump from his playing weight of 190 pounds at Oklahoma.His added size may give teams confidence that he’s ready to withstand bigger hits at the next level.
  • Murray and Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins are solid top 10 picks, based on what King is hearing. Meanwhile, King doesn’t put a lot of stock into the will-they-won’t-they talk about whether the QBs will throw at the combine. In King’s experience, he’s never heard post-draft chatter of a team executive having downgraded a QB because he did not throw at Indianapolis.
  • King gets the sense that the Rams are hoping that left tackle Andrew Whitworth will come back for one more season, even though he’ll earn a substantial $10.7MM in the final year of his three-year pact. Right now, the 37-year-old is wrestling with the idea of retirement, but the Rams could use his skill and experience, especially since the Rams could lose free agent left guard Rodger Saffold in March. Rising sophomore Joseph Noteboom could take over for Saffold, but the 2018 third-rounder may be forced to fill even bigger shoes at left tackle if Whitworth hangs ’em up.

Panthers Won’t Re-Sign Mike Adams

February 25th, 2019 at 10:45am CST by Zachary Links

On Monday morning, Panthers safety Mike Adams took to Instagram to tell fans that he won’t be returning to the team. However, the veteran hopes to continue playing in the 2019 season. 

“This great city and organization showed me nothing but love while I was here!” Adams wrote. “I have a lot more ball left so I plan on playing this year! I just hope the young boys have learned as much from me as I did from them!”

Adams, who turns 38 in March, has been a starter for the majority of his career. He’s been first-string for every Panthers game over the last two years and finished out the 2018 season with 75 tackles, six passes defensed, and three interceptions.

However, the Panthers are looking to get younger in the secondary and the advanced metrics indicate that Adams may have lost a step in 2018. Last year, he earned a 51.4 overall score from Pro Football Focus – his lowest since his rookie season in 2006 – and graded out as just the No. 86 overall safety in the NFL out of 93 qualified players.

Adams, and the league’s other free agents, can officially sign with clubs beginning on March 13.

Panthers Re-Sign RB Elijah Hood

February 25th, 2019 at 9:53am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers have re-signed running back Elijah Hood to a one-year deal, the club announced today. Wood had been scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, so he wouldn’t have had the option to leave Carolina unless the team opted to non-tender him.

Hood, 22, entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2017. While he didn’t make Oakland’s 53-man roster at the outset of his rookie campaign, Hood signed with the Raiders’ practice squad and was eventually promoted in for one week that October. After being waived the following May, Hood was claimed off waivers by the Panthers. However, he spent the entire 2018 season on injured reserve after tearing his ACL on a preseason kickoff return.

Carolina’s backfield was dominated by Christian McCaffrey — who played more than 90% of the club’s offensive snaps — last season, but Hood could compete for backup duty. Travaris Cadet, Kenjon Barner, Cameron Artis-Payne, and Fozzy Whittaker are all unrestricted free agents, leaving 2018 undrafted free agent Reggie Bonnafon as the only other Panthers back under contract alongside McCaffrey and Hood.

Eagles Hire Andrew Berry

February 25th, 2019 at 8:43am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman have made an addition to the club’s front office, hiring former Browns executive Andrew Berry as vice president of football operations, according to Ian Rapoport and Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Berry joined Cleveland’s front office in 2016 after ex-GM Sashi Brown hired him as vice president of player personnel. He’s now being hired away by the Eagles for what is considered a promotion, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Berry had reportedly drawn interest from several other teams in the past, per Rapoport and Kinkhabwala, but the Eagles make sense as a fit given Cleveland and Philadelphia’s shared interest in analytics.

A Harvard graduate, Berry first entered the NFL in 2009 as a scouting assistant in the Colts’ front office. He was eventually promoted through a number of roles, and ultimately served as Indianapolis’ pro scouting coordinator from 2012-16 before leaving for Cleveland.

Although Berry is departing the Browns’ front office, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta is expected to remain in his current role, per Cabot (Twitter link).

Extra Points: Bucs, Smith, Jets, Sanders

February 24th, 2019 at 9:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

More buzz points to the Buccaneers keeping Donovan Smith. After a report indicated the Bucs were not likely to let Smith walk in free agency, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times follows that up by noting the team will, in fact, use its franchise tag to keep the left tackle — barring a pre-free agency deal coming to fruition. The Bucs will talk with Smith’s representatives at the Combine. While the team is up against the salary cap and changed coaches, Stroud adds the Bucs are eager to see how Smith progresses under new offensive line coach Joe Gilbert and new run game coordinator Harold Goodwin. Tampa Bay already has three offensive linemen signed to veteran-starter-level contracts — Ryan Jensen, Ali Marpet and Demar Dotson. But shedding Dotson’s deal in advance of the right tackle’s age-34 season would free up nearly $5MM. A 10-year Buccaneer, Dotson has one season left on his deal. It stands to cost more than $14MM for the Bucs to tag Smith.

With the Combine approaching, here is the latest from around the league:

  • A Smith tag would make it less likely Adam Humphries returns. Although the Bucs are high on their slot receiver, Stroud notes he was eyeing an $8MM-AAV pact prior to his career-best 2018 season. With receiver not a particularly strong position this year — though, some key names will be available — Humphries can probably command a deal worth more than the Bucs ($15MM-plus in cap space) can afford.
  • Needs exist across the Jets‘ roster, but they are expected to target a pass rusher with their No. 3 overall pick, Brian Costello of the New York Post notes. However, the top two teams in this draft — the Cardinals and 49ers — are candidates to select edge defenders ahead of the Jets. The Cards have been connected to trade-down scenarios, and Costello adds the Jets would love to move back to collect more picks as well. New York traded three second-round picks — two last year, one this year — to move into position to nab Sam Darnold. The Jets’ second 2019 pick comes at No. 68 overall.
  • Gang Green could use skill-position help, and the team is expected to pursue a slot receiver, Costello notes. From Wes Welker to Jarvis Landry, Adam Gase‘s offenses have worked best when a high-end slot player has been present. Humphries, Golden Tate, Jamison Crowder, Randall Cobb and Cole Beasley are the top slot talents available in free agency.
  • Should the Broncos decline Emmanuel Sanders‘ option, they would save $10.2MM. However, the injured wide receiver was by far their best aerial threat last year. Releasing Sanders would leave Denver thin at wideout, which would not make much sense after the team traded for Joe Flacco. The Broncos will probably pick up Sanders’ option, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry and OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald predict (subscription required). Both analysts write that even if Sanders starts the season on the PUP list, he would be worth keeping. One year and nearly $13MM remain on Sanders’ deal. He recently said he would reject a pay cut, though the Broncos haven’t made that request. He tore an Achilles’ tendon in December, so training camp would be the earliest the soon-to-be 32-year-old receiver could return.

This Date In Transactions History: Falcons Trade For Chris Chandler

February 24th, 2019 at 9:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier this month, it cost the Broncos a fourth-round pick to acquire Joe Flacco from the Ravens. The former Super Bowl MVP will head into his age-34 season with a chance to rebound in another city.

One of the best possible scenarios for the Broncos would be Flacco giving the team a season like the one Chris Chandler delivered shortly after he was dealt for a package centering around a fourth-round pick.

Twenty-two years ago today, the Falcons landed a long-term starting quarterback for only fourth- and sixth-round picks. Atlanta acquiring a 31-year-old quarterback for late-round picks turned out to be a pivotal exchange. (This was not even the most interesting Chandler trade, with the former Colts third-round pick fetching Indianapolis the 1992 No. 2 overall selection from Tampa Bay in a 1990 swap.)

The primary Houston Oilers starting quarterback from 1995-96, Chandler became expendable after the since-relocated franchise gave the keys to former top-five pick Steve McNair. The latter soon led the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance, but the player he replaced reached the NFL’s biggest stage first. Chandler piloted the best season in Falcons history, steering the then-32-year-old organization to a 14-2 record and Super Bowl XXXIII.

A journeyman prior to finding his footing in Georgia, Chandler made two Pro Bowls in a 17-year career. Both came with the Falcons. After landing on the NFC’s 1997 Pro Bowl roster, Chandler secured a four-year, $25MM extension. He rewarded that investment by throwing for 3,154 yards and 25 touchdown passes — both career-high marks — and leading the Falcons to the No. 2 seed in the 1998 NFC playoffs. Chandler then threw for 340 yards and connected on three scoring strikes in the Falcons’ upset win over the Vikings to secure the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth.

Although Atlanta did not fare well against Denver in that game and did not post another winning season with Chandler at the helm, the veteran turned a modest investment into a trip to previously unseen heights. After the Falcons traded up for Michael Vick in 2001, Chandler still started 14 games that season. The Falcons, though, began the full-fledged Vick era in 2002 and released Chandler. He retired after the ’04 season.

The Oilers did not do poorly in making this move, either. They used the 1997 fourth-round pick to select Derrick Mason, who became McNair’s No. 1 target for several years in the early 2000s. Mason played 15 NFL seasons, primarily with the Titans and Ravens.

Buccaneers Offered Third-Rounder For Landon Collins In 2018

February 24th, 2019 at 7:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Prior to the 2018 trade deadline, the struggling Giants made multiple deals to collect future draft capital. They dealt Damon Harrison and Eli Apple and received fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks in those exchanges.

However, the Buccaneers were willing to give up a better pick for Landon Collins. Near the deadline, Tampa Bay offered a third-round choice for the All-Pro safety, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv reports. The Bucs did not profile as buyers last season but identified Collins as a player they wanted to keep around long-term, rather than a contract-year rental player, per Vacchiano.

While Tampa Bay has a new coaching staff, GM Jason Licht remains in place. He traded a 2018 third-round pick to the Giants for Jason Pierre-Paul. The Bucs could be a Collins suitor in free agency. They are still in need of help at a few spots on defense. After allowing the most passing yards in 2017, the Bucs’ defense yielded the 26th-most in 2018.

However, the Giants may prevent that from happening. They are still expected to place the franchise tag on the three-time Pro Bowler, but an extension may be difficult. A Collins tag would cost the Giants more than $11MM, and with no known negotiations having taken place since he became extension-eligible last year, this could become a reluctant rental situation. If tagged, Collins is pondering a holdout.

Just 25, Collins would stand to pursue a top-end safety pact, with Vacchiano noting this could eclipse $12MM per year and surpass $20MM guaranteed. The Giants have $28MM-plus in cap space — 16th in the league — and needs exist at several spots on Big Blue’s defense.

Bengals Notes: Eifert, Staff, O-Line

February 24th, 2019 at 6:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Tyler Eifert has been one of the most injury-riddled players in the NFL over the past few seasons, he may still have an avenue back to Cincinnati. The Bengals may be able to bring him back on a cheaper, incentive-laden deal than the one he signed last year, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. Eifert decided between the Bengals and Rams last year, and with Zac Taylor coming from Los Angeles to Cincinnati, he may view Eifert as a possible target. Eifert received more than $4MM last year but did not trigger any performance incentives. The 28-year-old tight end posted a workout video on Twitter recently, showing he has made significant strides since breaking his ankle last season. Eifert, though, has missed an astounding 34 games since his 2015 Pro Bowl season. His previous backups, Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah, are also free agents. So, the Bengals will have to make a few moves to solidify this position this offseason. Jared Cook, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Jeff Heuerman highlight a thin tight end free agent group.

Here is the latest from southwest Ohio:

  • The Bengals are interested in giving Saints defensive assistant Michael Hodges a promotion. The team submitted a request to interview Hodges for its vacant linebackers coach position, Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Radio tweets. A two-year New Orleans staffer, Hodges primarily works under Mike Nolan in working with linebackers. Nolan and Saints DC Dennis Allen were linked to the Bengals’ now-filled DC job, but the franchise clearly likes what the Saints have done to revamp their defense. The Bengals were also interested in Chargers assistant defensive line coach Eric Henderson, a Bengal from 2006-08, but he accepted a job with the Rams instead, Marvez adds (via Twitter).
  • While the Bengals have a new coaching staff, which is still being filled out, their front office remains unchanged. That will mean a similar approach in free agency. The Bengals are not expected to be players for big-name UFAs, Dehner notes. Cincinnati is one of the more conservative franchises on this front, but Dehner does expect more roster changes than the team has seen in recent years. This may mean being connected to second-tier free agents. With a new coach in place for the first time since 2003, that can be assumed.
  • Cordy Glenn and Billy Price came in last year to fill spots on Cincinnati’s offensive line, but the team is still expected to pursue upgrades — either through free agency or the draft — for the right side of the front, Dehner notes. The Bengals’ 2015 draft choices of Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher did not end up working out. The former never found his footing and the latter started just one game in 2018. Taylor coached Ja’Wuan James with the 2015 Dolphins, potentially creating a possible landing spot for the UFA right tackle. However, Dehner expects the team select a right tackle with one of its first two picks.

5 Key NFL Stories: 2/17/19 – 2/24/19

February 24th, 2019 at 4:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Robert Kraft charged with soliciting prostitution. The Patriots owner was caught as part of a sting operation at a massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida last week. While he’s only expected to be charged with a misdemeanor, Kraft could face more severe consequences from the NFL — a six-game suspension and a heavy fine could both be on the table. Meanwhile, Kraft’s legacy will almost certainly be tarnished, and his eventual Hall of Fame enshrinement is likely to be delayed.

Steelers won’t tag Le’Veon Bell. Although speculation had arisen that Pittsburgh could deploy the transition tag on Bell with the intention of trading him, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert announced that no tender — not the franchise nor transition tag — would be used on Bell. The veteran back would have had to sign the transition tender before the Steelers could have dealt him, and given that Bell sat out the entire 2018 campaign rather than ink his franchise tag, such a scenario never seemed all that likely.

Antonio Brown trade talks begin. Brown with met Steelers owner Art Rooney II last week, and the two sides have agreed that a trade would be the best outcome for all parties. While Colbert said Pittsburgh won’t simply give Brown away, rival executives reportedly believe the Steelers may only be able to get a third-round pick in exchange for the star pass-catcher. So far, three unknown clubs have contacted Pittsburgh regarding Brown’s availability.

Bengals find a DC. Nearly three weeks after Cincinnati hired Zac Taylor as its new head coach, the team finally has a defensive coordinator in place. Taylor selected Giants defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo — who coached alongside Taylor with the Dolphins from 2013-15. Before hiring Anarumo, the Bengals were linked to 11 other candidates, including Jack Del Rio, Dom Capers, and Dennis Allen.

Raiders likely to spend 2019 in Oakland. The Raiders appear set to announce an agreement with the city of Oakland that would keep the club in the Oakland Coliseum for at least one more season. The deal will reportedly come with an option for the 2020 campaign, insurance in case the Raiders’ Vegas stadium isn’t ready on time.

Austin Davis Joins Seahawks Staff

February 24th, 2019 at 3:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks recently announced several changes to their coaching staff, and perhaps the most notable was the addition of former NFL quarterback Austin Davis as an offensive assistant. Davis hadn’t formally announced his retirement after being cut by the Titans earlier this month, but it’s now to safe assume he’s ended his playing career.

A 2012 undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, Davis bounced around during his seven-year career, spending time with the Rams (two stints), Dolphins, Browns, Broncos, Seahawks, and Titans. All told, Davis appeared in 16 total games, with his most significant action coming with St. Louis in 2014. That year, he started eight contests, completing 63.4% of his passes for 2,001 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

Last season, Davis was on call at various points for the Titans, signing with the club when fellow quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert suffered injuries. Davis spent the 2017 campaign as Russell Wilson‘s backup in Seattle, and the Seahawks’ coaches were apparently impressed enough by his football acumen to add him to the staff.

In addition to hiring Davis, the Seahawks also promoted Steve Shimko from offensive assistant to assistant quarterbacks coach and hired assistant wide receivers coach Brad Idzik.

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