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Month: September 2024

T.J. Lang Retires From NFL

March 29th, 2019 at 1:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Lions and Packers guard T.J. Lang has retired from the NFL after ten years in the game. The news was first reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press and Lang confirmed his retirement via social media on Friday. 

“For the past 3,624 days I have woken up with one goal in mind: ‘How can I be a better pro football player than I was yesterday?’ Well, those days are now over,” Lang wrote. “The only thing I ask myself today is how can I be a better husband, father, son, brother, [and] friend. I will forever cherish the great times that I had playing this game.”

In his farewell address, Lang thanked the Packers for his development and the Lions for allowing him to finish his career near his friends and family in Michigan.

“Thank you Green Bay Packers for taking a chance on a 21-year-old kid and giving me the opportunity and patience to grow into a man and reach my full potential as a football player. Thank you Detroit Lions for granting me a chance to finish my career in the place that I call home,” said Lang. “It would’ve been impossible to play this game for ten years without great teammates, coaches, trainers, strength staff, doctors, agents, fans, family, and friends. I thank each and every one of you for the unwavering support over the years. Whatever the next chapter holds, I hope to stay around the game in some capacity. Its been an amazing ride. Thank you all for being a part of it.”

Lang, 31, was released by the Lions earlier this month after spending the past two seasons in Detroit. It’s not a total surprise Lang has decided to hang up his cleats, as he’s dealt with a myriad of injuries throughout his career. Lang ended the 2018 campaign on injured reserve with a neck injury, and last season suffered the sixth known concussion of his playing career.

While Lang only played in 19 of a possible 32 games while in the Motor City, he was relatively durable during his eight-year career with the Packers. After becoming a full-time starter in 2011, Lang proceeded to appear in 91 games over the next six seasons, missing only five contests during that span.

A former fourth-round pick, Lang earned two Pro Bowl nods (one with Green Bay in 2016, the other with Detroit in 2017), and also won a Super Bowl XLV ring with the Packers. Lang wasn’t able to complete the three-year, $28.5MM contract he signed with the Lions in 2017, but he’ll still end his playing days with more than $43MM in career earnings.

PFR extends it best wishes to Lang and his family as he enters his post-playing career.

Contract Details: Seahawks, Lions, Thorpe

March 29th, 2019 at 12:27pm CST by Zachary Links

A look at the details on recent deals from around the NFL:

  • Neiko Thorpe, DB (Seahawks): One-year, $1MM. $100K signing bonus $850K base (not guaranteed) (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson).
  • Tommylee Lewis, WR, (Lions): One-year, $720K base salary. $50K signing bonus. $920K cap hit (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein).
  • Logan Thomas, TE, (Lions): One-year, $805K base salary. $30K signing bonus. $735K cap hit.
  • Andrew Donnal, OL, (Lions): One-year, $805K base salary. $15K signing bonus. $685K cap hit.
  • Marcus Cooper, CB (Lions): One-year, $805K base salary. $150K guaranteed. $735K cap hit.

49ers Did Not Pursue Antonio Brown

March 29th, 2019 at 12:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers had interest in trading for Odell Beckham Jr. before the Giants shipped him to the Browns, but they did not go after this year’s other available star wide receiver. In an interview with KNBR, 49ers GM John Lynch said that he did not engage in talks with the Steelers for Antonio Brown. 

“We took a quick look and then we just said, ‘Hey, we’re not interested in that for our team,’” Lynch said (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of The Athletic). “That’s where we are. I think we feel pretty good about our receiving corps. I know a lot of people don’t share our sentiments.”

Brown, of course, went to the Bay Area’s other NFL team in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks. If Brown reverts to his old form in Oakland, there may be questions about the Niners’ lack of interest in the future Hall of Famer.

Meanwhile, Lynch indicated that the Niners’ possession of the No. 2 overall pick in the draft actually complicated trade talks with the Giants. The Giants were looking to come away with an additional first-round pick for 2019, but the Niners were unwilling to give up their valuable position.

“I think, ironically, the fact that we had the No. 2 pick made it more difficult because they wanted that badly,” Lynch said (Twitter link). “They wanted two No. 1s. And we weren’t willing to part with that. It was too valuable of a pick.”

The Niners, who did not land Brown or OBJ, are set to feature a receiving corps headlined by Marquise Goodwin and Jordan Matthews. There will be opportunities to bolster the WR group in the draft, but there are no prospects that warrant consideration at No. 2 overall.

Given Lynch’s reluctance to part with the No. 2 pick, one can’t help but wonder if the Niners should have given more thought to a Brown pursuit.

Latest On Patriots Owner Robert Kraft

March 29th, 2019 at 11:09am CST by Zachary Links

Lawyers for Robert Kraft are taking steps to keep surveillance video allegedly showing the Patriots owner engaging in sexual activity out of court, as Deadspin’s Diana Moskovitz writes. Kraft’s attorneys are also looking to attack the traffic stop that occurred outside of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. 

[RELATED: Bill Belichick Could Become Patriots DC]

Kraft’s lawyers will argue that the video, which was filmed without Kraft’s knowledge or consent, violated legal standards. And, if the traffic stop is also effectively whitewashed, there won’t be much of a case for Florida prosecutors to make.

Recently, Kraft rejected a plea deal that would have called for him to admit that he would have been found guilty in a court setting. Meanwhile, the NFL is keeping a watchful eye on the case. This week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that the league’s personal conduct policy will apply to Kraft just as it applies to players.

Goodell stopped short of declaring Kraft will be suspended, but that remains a possibility for the billionaire owner.

Cowboys Notes: Lawrence, Irving, Jones

March 29th, 2019 at 10:04am CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones had hip surgery this week, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. The issue started for Jones during the 2018 season and the club initially hoped that it would heal with rest. Unfortunately, things did not improve, forcing Jones to go under the knife. The good news is that the team believes Jones could be ready for training camp.

To date, the 26-year-old (27 in September) has not missed an NFL game. Last year, the Cowboys shifted Jones back to cornerback after spending the previous two seasons at safety and he thrived. Jones led the club with 15 pass breakups and earned the first Pro Bowl nod of his career.

Jones figures to be a part of the club’s plans moving forward and an extension could be on the way. For now, he’s set to play out his fifth-year option in 2019 at a salary of $6.26MM.

Here’s more from Dallas:

  • Cowboys exec Stephen Jones says Demarcus Lawrence‘s desire to get paid like Von Miller and Aaron Donald is holding up negotiations. “The top two guys, I’m sure that is why we’re struggling a little bit,” Jones said (via the Dallas Morning News). “There is a delta between the top two guys and where the rest of the edge rushers and pressure players have been paid up to this point. We’re motivated to do it right now. We were motivated to do it before we put the tag on him. At the same time, we have some conviction of the range he should be in in terms of his compensation and I’m sure they have some conviction of what they’re asking for. I’m not being critical, but therein lies the root of the negotiations.” The Cowboys are offering Lawrence $20MM per season, but Lawrence recently upped his asking price to $22.5MM/year.
  • Defensive tackle David Irving has retired from the NFL, and as he tells it, it was coach Jason Garrett‘s suggested course of action. “He told me I should just quit, smoke all the weed I want, the team didn’t need me,” Irving told Jori Epstein of USA Today. “I’m a distraction to the team. He views marijuana as a drug, whereas I view it as a medicine. It’s not a good situation.” Meanwhile, Irving says owner Jerry Jones was supportive of him and expressed disagreement with the NFL’s drug policies that landed him an indefinite suspension. Irving, meanwhile, plans to be a pro-marijuana advocate in his post-football life with a focus on how CBD can help NFL players deal with pain.
  • On Thursday, the Cowboys acquired pass rusher Robert Quinn from the Dolphins, which should help to reinforce their D-Line after losing Irving to retirement and Randy Gregory to an indefinite ban. Of course, they could be left with a glaring hole on the other side if they are unable to reach a long-term deal with Lawrence.

Bill Belichick Could Become Patriots DC

March 28th, 2019 at 9:30pm CST by Micah Powell

Thursday began with the news that Patriots defensive coordinator Greg Schiano would be stepping down from the post. Later in the day, news trickled out that head coach Bill Belichick could assume a larger role with the defense or even take over the role of defensive coordinator, ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes. 

Following their victory in Super Bowl LIII, the Patriots saw a mass exodus from their defensive coaching staff, which included former defensive coordinator Brian Flores take the head-coaching gig in Miami and a number of assistants leaving. Schiano, highly trusted by Belichick, was expected to help the transition, but his abrupt departure puts the Pats in a tough situation.

Reiss notes Belichick assuming defensive coordinator duties is the most likely of scenarios but is not the only one. Another possibility is a “Hail Mary” call to former defensive line coach Brendan Daly, who left to become the Chiefs run-game coordinator. Considering his family’s roots in K.C. area, however, it could be a tough sell.

Another potential candidate would be Bret Bielema, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin tweets. Volin mentions that Bielema, the former University of Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach and current defensive consultant with the Pats, thought he was getting the job earlier this year.

Belichick, of course, is no slouch as a defensive coordinator. With the Giants, he won a pair of Super Bowls under head coach Bill Parcells while running the defense. As the head coach of the Patriots, Belichick has always played a large role on the defensive side of the ball, except in 2009 when he contributed largely to the offense following Josh McDaniels‘ departure to Denver.

 

Bears Trade RB Jordan Howard To Eagles

March 28th, 2019 at 7:26pm CST by Micah Powell

There were rumors earlier this month about the Bears exploring a trade of running back Jordan Howard. On Thursday, those rumblings were proven true as the Eagles are acquiring the back for a 2020 draft pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. 

According to Schefter, the pick is a sixth-round selection that could become a fifth-round pick.

In early March, it was reported “multiple teams” approached Chicago about a potential deal for the 24-year-old back and that discussions were ongoing. With less than a month to go until the NFL Draft, the Bears found a taker in the Eagles, who would appear to be out of the running to reunite with Jay Ajayi.

Howard is entering the final year of his contract and will make about $2MM this season. Linked to running backs early in many mock drafts, the Eagles could still land a back in the middle rounds and let him develop under Howard. Like he did in Chicago, Howard is expected to fill first- and second-round duties with Philadelphia, while a collection of Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams vie for third-down responsibilities. Obviously, this could change if the team looks to add another back in the draft.

With the Bears, Howard burst on the scene in 2016, finishing second in the league in rushing yards with 1,313 yards and earning a Pro Bowl nod. He again topped the 1,000-yard mark in Year No. 2, tallying 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. Though trade rumors swirled last season about this time, Howard returned to the team and amassed 935 yards and nine touchdowns on 250 carries, averaging just 3.7 yards a tote.

With the move, the Bears appear to be confident in the one-two punch of Tarik Cohen and the newly signed Mike Davis. Cohen broke out in 2018, tallying 1,169 yards from scrimmage and eight total offensive touchdowns. Davis impressed in limited work with Seattle in 2018, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and tallying 34 receptions.

 

Chiefs, DL Chris Jones Discussing Extension

March 28th, 2019 at 5:59pm CST by Ben Levine

If the Chiefs have their way, Chris Jones will be sticking around Kansas City for the foreseeable future. General manager Brett Veach told Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star that the two sides have started discussing a contract extension.

“There’s a lot of time to go before the season starts, and he’s certainly a guy that we’ve targeted and would love to get done,” Veach said. “The conversations have started.

“I wouldn’t say they are heating up at a rapid pace, but you’ve got to start somewhere. We’ve had two to three of these conversations and they’re getting better.”

As Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com points out, the former second-rounder is entering the final year of his contract. Jones is set to earn a $1.2MM base salary and will account for a $1.3MM cap hit.

Following his 2018 season, the 24-year-old should end up seeing a sizable pay raise. Jones had a breakout campaign last year, finishing with a career-high 40 tackles and 15.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked him fifth among 112 interior defenders, with his pass-rushing score ranking second at the position.

With Dee Ford out of the picture, the Chiefs will lean even more on Jones in 2019. The team can also turn to Derrick Nnadi and Xavier Williams in the middle of its defensive line, and reports yesterday indicated that the Chiefs were still pursuing free agent Allen Bailey. Either way, we should see Jones top his 11 starts from 2018.

Bills Sign RB Senorise Perry

March 28th, 2019 at 5:20pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills have added a key special teamer. The team announced that they’ve signed former Louisville standout Senorise Perry.

After spending the first three seasons of his career with the Bears, Perry had spent the past two campaigns with the Dolphins. The 27-year-old had 21 tackles during his two years in Miami, including a team-leading 12 special teams tackles in 2018. He also added a forced fumble to his resume last season.

The running back hasn’t done much offensively throughout his career. The Dolphins gave him eight carries in 2017, and Perry finished the campaign with 30 yards and a pair of first downs. The veteran also has two career receptions and 22 career kick returns.

In Buffalo, we can probably expect more of the same from Perry. New special teams coordinator Danny Crossman will likely find ways to capitalize on his talents, but it’s unlikely he’ll unseat any of LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, or Marcus Murphy for snaps on offense.

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