HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

5 Key NFL Stories: 5/26/19 – 6/2/19

June 2nd, 2019 at 4:43pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Ben Watson suspended four games: The Patriots were already looking thin at tight end with Rob Gronkowski‘s retirement, and they took another blow at the position this week when Watson was slapped with a four-game suspension. Watson says he took a banned substance when he thought he was retiring, which triggered his positive test when he then decided to come back. New England was aware of the pending suspension when they signed him, so it won’t effect his status with the team. For at least the first month of the season, the Pats will have guys like Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Matt LaCosse atop the tight end depth chart.

Raiders sign Richie Incognito: The Raiders made a gamble when they decided to sign the controversial guard. It’s a one-year, minimum salary deal, so there isn’t much of a financial risk. That being said, Incognito is more well known for his numerous off-field incidents than his on-field contributions at this point. Just a couple of days after the signing, we got word Incognito had been arrested yet again for a previously undisclosed incident. Incognito, of course, was also at the center of the league’s bullying scandal years ago. Raiders GM Mike Mayock acknowledged he could be facing league discipline, while also saying you can’t have “all Boy Scouts” on a team.

Joe Douglas emerges as favorite for Jets GM job: Over the course of the week, the Eagles exec has emerged as a strong favorite for the Jets’ general manager opening. Douglas is reportedly Adam Gase’s preferred candidate, and recent reports indicate it would be a major shock if Douglas doesn’t end up getting the job. We’ve heard the Jets plan on making a formal decision sometime early in the week, so we should know a lot more soon. New York has one more interview set for Monday with Champ Kelly, and we’ve heard recently Kelly could accept a job under Douglas in New York.

Broncos, Chris Harris rework contract: One of the biggest storylines in the league the past couple of months has surrounded Harris’ contract. Harris at one point demanded a new contract or a trade, and at one point it looked imminent that he was going to be traded. Ultimately the two sides agreed on a compromise, with Harris receiving a significant raise on his 2019 salary. He didn’t get the longterm extension he wanted, and will now enter free agency next offseason. Harris is reportedly seeking $15MM-plus annually, and he said a few days ago that he wants to be the highest-paid cornerback in the league this time next year. Harris is the last remaining member of Denver’s legendary ‘No Fly Zone’ secondary, and has made the Pro Bowl in four of the last five seasons.

Gerald McCoy takes visits: The biggest name on the free agent market has been drawing a lot of interest, and he’s seemingly narrowed down his list to three teams since being released by the Buccaneers on May 20th. McCoy is reportedly down to the Panthers, Browns, and Ravens, and took visits to all three teams. McCoy apparently wants to attend his new team’s mandatory minicamp, which would suggest he’ll be signing very soon. All three visits went well, and each team seems to think they have a good shot at landing him. We’ve heard McCoy could sign Monday or Tuesday of this upcoming week, so we should know more very soon.

Rob Gronkowski Shoots Down Comeback Talk

June 2nd, 2019 at 3:13pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Rob Gronkowski‘s decision to retire has been met with more skepticism than perhaps any retirement announcement ever. Since the day he announced his intent to walk away from the game, rumors have swirled that he won’t stay away for long.

It’s been heavily speculated that he’ll end up missing the first part of the season and then come back for the stretch run with the Patriots. Even Gronk’s own agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has suggested that he’ll come back. The only one who hasn’t contributed to any of the talk has been the legendary tight end himself. Speaking at a recent charity event, Gronkowski shot down any talk of a return, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

When a reporter asked Gronk if he wanted all the comeback rumors to be put to rest, he replied “you can put them to rest, yes.” “I’m feeling good. Good place,” he added. Gronkowski did acknowledge that even his own denials probably won’t end the speculation, joking that “whatever I say, it doesn’t matter.”

Gronkowski has been moved to the reserve/retired list by the Patriots, and if he wants to come back he won’t be able to just wait until the very end of the season or the playoffs. If he isn’t moved off the list by Week 13, he won’t be eligible to return for the 2019 season. While he sure seems to be enjoying retirement, it still won’t be at all surprising if he changes his mind. If New England’s offense struggles without him, it could provide extra motivation for a return.

Demaryius Thomas Not A Lock For Patriots’ Roster, Could Start Season On PUP?

June 2nd, 2019 at 2:03pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

One of the Patriots’ biggest signings this offseason was receiver Demaryius Thomas. While Thomas is a big name, it doesn’t sound like he’s a lock to make a huge impact, or even the roster.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that “speculation has lingered that Thomas could go the way of other older players who for whatever reason didn’t mesh with the Patriot Way.” Additionally, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets that Thomas starting the season on the PUP list is a “realistic option.” If Thomas, who is still recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered toward the end of last season, did start the season on PUP, he would be forced to miss the first six games of the season.

If that’s the case, Volin writes he “could be a decent second-half addition for the offense.” But he’ll need to convince the Patriots he’s worthy of a roster spot first, and the injury isn’t the only hurdle he’s dealing with. Thomas is also facing potential league discipline after he was arrested and charged with vehicular assault following a car accident.

Thomas signed a one-year contract that could pay him up to $6MM if he reaches various incentives, but the Patriots could cut him without losing much. The base value of his contract is $1.2MM, and the only guaranteed money they gave him was a signing bonus of $150K. Thomas has a relationship with New England’s offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was his head coach in Denver, which should help his cause, but he still has a lot to prove.

Thomas entered the league as a first round pick of the Broncos back in 2010, and blossomed into one of the league’s best receivers with Peyton Manning. He made the Pro Bowl five straight times from 2012-16, but he isn’t the same physically anymore. He’s still crafty though and he remained pretty productive during his last full season, racking up 949 yards in 2017.

The Patriots were reportedly in on him at the trade deadline last year, which could be a good sign for his chances of making the roster since they tried to give up draft picks for him just last year. After being traded to the Texans at the deadline, Thomas played in just three games before going down with the Achilles injury. It’s unclear if he’s got much left in the tank, but he shouldn’t be counted out either.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Harry, Harris

June 2nd, 2019 at 12:39pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a quick swing around the AFC East:

  • Rich Cimini of ESPN.com says the Jets may have their new GM by the end of the week, and in keeping with all other reports we’ve heard to date, he says that Eagles VP of player personnel Joe Douglas is expected to be the guy. Gang Green began their meeting with Douglas last night, and the visit is continuing today.
  • Cimini says the weakest position group on the Jets‘ roster may be the cornerbacks. The position was suspect last year, and New York did little to address those deficiencies this offseason. The free agent cupboard is predictably pretty bare at this point, but the team could still reunite with Morris Claiborne, and the Jets will surely be on the lookout for other clubs’ cap casualties.
  • The Patriots have typically deployed smaller, shiftier players as their punt returners, but Mike Reiss of ESPN.com says the club has tried first-round draft pick N’Keal Harry (6-2, 228) in that role during OTAs. Reiss says Harry, who returned 14 punts over his final two collegiate seasons — including a 92-yard house call — has acquitted himself well thus far.
  • Dolphins 2017 first-rounder Charles Harris finds himself at the top of the team’s edge rusher depth chart despite his disappointing performance over his first two years in the league. But as Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com writes, new head coach Brian Flores is encouraged by what he has seen thus far. This offseason, Harris has spent more time upright as an OLB instead of with his hand in the dirt as a traditional 4-3 DE, and that may better suit his strengths. Flores said, “I can’t say enough good things about [Harris]. … Honestly, I don’t care about his past. I care about right now. … He’s smart. He’s hard-working. He’s got a lot of ability.” If Harris does not begin to live up to his potential, he may not be in Miami in 2020.
  • We wrote earlier today that the Dolphins hope to trade Reshad Jones.

Dolphins Want To Trade Reshad Jones

June 2nd, 2019 at 11:31am CST by Rory Parks

Dolphins GM Chris Grier said back in April that he expected safety Reshad Jones to be a part of the club in 2019, but there have been rumblings that Miami intends to shop Jones, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that the Fins would indeed prefer to trade the two-time Pro Bowler if they get an offer to their liking.

Jones has been absent from OTAs thus far, though head coach Brian Flores expects him to show up for this week’s mandatory minicamp. Jones, 31, is not a part of the Dolphins’ long-term future and carries significant yearly cap hits over the rest of his contract — which runs through 2021 — so it makes sense that Miami would want to make a trade.

Releasing Jones is not feasible because of the dead money that the team would incur, but if the Dolphins are able to deal him, they would carry just $4MM in dead money in 2019 while creating $13MM of cap space. Of course, another club would need to be willing to assume Jones’ contract, and given his age and the fact that he is coming off shoulder surgery, it is unclear if Miami will be able to drum up much interest.

As Jackson notes, the team won’t just give Jones away. If Miami can get a decent draft pick in return, it may be willing to pay part of his salary. If not, then the Fins will just hang onto him and cut him next spring, when the dead cap hit would be more palatable.

Because they don’t want to hurt his trade value, the Dolphins are not making a big deal about Jones’ absence from OTAs or the fact that he refused to go back in the team’s game against the Jets last November after being told earlier in the week that he would be used in a rotation. But the team internally believes those decisions run counter to Flores’ team-first mentality, which further underscores the desire to trade Jones.

If a deal is consummated, the club could shift 2018 first-rounder Minkah Fitzpatrick to safety, or if it feels Fitzpatrick is more valuable as a slot corner, then CB Bobby McCain would likely be asked to fill the void.

Malik McDowell: Seahawks Had Their Own Reasons For Not Letting Me Play

June 2nd, 2019 at 10:52am CST by Rory Parks

The Seahawks are suing Malik McDowell for the ~$800K that an arbitrator ruled he must pay back to the team, but as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (citing John P. Gilbert of FieldGulls.com) writes, Seattle initially wanted to recover even more.

As Gilbert notes, McDowell’s roughly $3.2MM signing bonus was to be paid out in installments, with about $1.6MM due at signing, $800K due in July 2017, and the final $800K due in July 2018. Seattle paid out the first $2.4MM, so it would seem that the arbitrator would have awarded at least that amount back to the club for McDowell’s breach of his contract (and, per Gilbert, the Seahawks actually asked for the full $3.2MM). But even though the bonus was to be completely paid by July 2018, the cap charges for the bonus were to be spread evenly from 2017-2020 in the amount of $800K per year. Since the Seahawks cut McDowell after the 2018 season, the CBA prohibits them from recovering the 2019-20 allocations totaling $1.6MM. Therefore, Seattle was only entitled to $1.6MM for the 2017-18 cap charges, less the $800K that it did not pay.

All of that is interesting enough, but more interesting is the fact that McDowell himself has taken to Twitter to address the issue (Twitter links 1, 2, 3, 4). Per McDowell, he was cleared by neurologist Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher to play football, but the team’s neurologist, Dr. Samuel R. Browd — whom McDowell says specializes in children under the age of two — did not clear him. McDowell suggests that the Seahawks hid behind Browd’s opinion and that the team had its own reasons for not letting him play, though he did not specify what those reasons might be.

After all, one would think that the Seahawks would want a player they just drafted in the second round and to whom they just paid $2.4MM to be a major contributor, so it’s difficult to envision a scenario in which the Seahawks would undermine that player’s efforts to return to the field. And, if McDowell had a legitimate grievance, one would also think that he would have contested the arbitrator’s ruling or appeal it, which he did not do.

Instead, this feels like McDowell’s attempt to suggest to potentially interested clubs that he is, in fact, healthy and ready to play. McDowell’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said in March that his client has been medically cleared by independent doctors, but the only team McDowell has visited after being cut by Seattle, the Cowboys, has been unable to give him a clean bill of health.

Latest On Darius Slay, Damon Harrison

June 2nd, 2019 at 9:33am CST by Rory Parks

We don’t know if Lions cornerback Darius Slay has explicitly asked the club for a new contract like defensive tackle Damon Harrison has, but we do know that neither player is taking part in Detroit’s OTAs. GM Bob Quinn has said that Harrison’s absence is not related to his contract, but that seems unlikely, and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes that Slay and Harrison are indubitably angling for new deals.

Birkett goes on to examine the dilemma that Quinn faces in those negotiations, if he chooses to open negotiations at all. Both players have two years remaining on their current contracts, and teams are loath to extend contracts that have more than one year left. Plus, Slay is 28 and Harrison is 30, so while the defensive standouts have some quality play left in them, the Lions do not want to fork over big money for declining performance.

On the other hand, the Lions cannot afford a repeat of their disappointing 2018 season, and if they believe keeping Slay and Harrison happy financially will ensure their continued strong play, then they may be willing to talk. Then again, it may be just as likely that the players will be more motivated to play well if they are still trying to land one last big contract.

After all, Slay and Harrison have already forfeited $250K workout bonuses by staying away, and Birkett believes that neither player is likely to hold out into the regular season, when the real fines start to accumulate (though both Slay and Harrison are represented by Drew Rosenhaus, so all options are theoretically on the table). As such, the Lions could cross their fingers and hope that Slay and Harrison report to training camp, soldier through the regular season, and revisit negotiations in 2020. Alternatively, since both players are now underpaid relative to their peers, but not dramatically so, the team could add a pay bump or an incentive package to their current deals without tacking on additional years.

Interestingly, Harrison himself took to Twitter yesterday and said that major news is coming soon, so we’ll have to wait and see exactly what he’s referring to.

Mark Murphy On Matt LaFleur’s Role In Hiring Process

June 2nd, 2019 at 8:36am CST by Rory Parks

The door to future controversy in Green Bay was pushed open a bit last month when a report emerged from Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggesting that new Packers HC Matt LaFleur was not the sole decision-maker in filling out his first coaching staff. The report noted, for instance, that LaFleur wanted to hire Darren Rizzi as his special teams coach, but that the Packers offered Rizzi less money than he was seeking, so Rizzi ultimately signed on with the Saints.

Silverstein also suggested that LaFleur was “strongly encouraged” to retain defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, and that other assistant coaching decisions may not have been left up to LaFleur. When combined with Green Bay’s already unusual power structure, in which LaFleur, GM Brian Gutekunst, and director of football operations Russ Ball all report directly to team president and CEO Mark Murphy, it would be easy to foresee some discord in the club’s front office down the line if Silverstein’s report is accurate.

Murphy, of course, insisted that LaFleur had full autonomy in the hiring process, and he elaborated on that point yesterday in his weekly piece for the Packers’ official website (while taking a shot or two at Silverstein’s journalism). Murphy said:

“Coach LaFleur had complete control over the hiring of his coaching staff. The report was the result of an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel based on interviews with 20 anonymous sources. I told the author that Coach LaFleur had complete control to hire his assistants, but he included comments to the contrary from an anonymous source. The editors said they wanted to present a “balanced” view of the hiring process. Interestingly, they never asked Coach LaFleur if he was able to hire his assistants, something he would have confirmed. The article was obviously very disappointing, and I find the increasing use of anonymous sources very problematic. I served as an athletic director for over 16 years and directly supervised hundreds of coaches, and never once told a coach who he or she should or should not hire. Hiring assistant coaches is one of the most important factors in the success of a head coach, and I’ve always felt it is foolish to restrict them in any way. “

Obviously, Murphy would not say anything different, and this could all be a non-issue if LaFleur’s first campaign as a head coach is successful. But if the 2019 season is another disappointment, then you can be sure that Silverstein’s report will be frequently cited and that the Packers’ structure will be called into question.

LaFleur is undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles today, which will force him to run things differently than he had during his first several months on the job.

Extra Points: CBA, Jets GM Search, Wilkerson, Ravens

June 1st, 2019 at 9:30pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Fears of a potential future lockout picked up again earlier this week, when we learned the NFLPA was telling agents to advise their clients to save money in the event of a work stoppage in 2021, when the current CBA expired. Turns out, things might not be so dire after all. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wrote about that leak, as well as the recent rumors the league would push for an 18-game regular season, and he thinks it’s all performative. La Canfora writes that both sides have to publicly posture, and that “no one wants to give off the air they are rolling over too much.”

La Canfora hears that preliminary negotiations are actually going very well, noting that the NFL and NFLPA “seem more aligned than anytime in recent memory.” In regards to an 18-game schedule or work stoppage, he says he’s “yet to speak to anyone on either side who envisioned either of these scenarios actually playing out.” One source told La Canfora that “everyone involved in this process feels really good about the negotiations.” Interestingly, La Canfora predicts that an “extra playoff game will be added to each conference,” and roster sizes will be expanded when it’s all said and done.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Jets’ general manager search continues to barrel on, but a resolution seems increasingly near. Eagles exec Joe Douglas has been viewed as the favorite for a while now, and La Canfora goes even further. In the same piece, La Canfora writes that “sources said there was already some contact between those parties prior to Douglas’ scheduled formal interview, and people in other front offices would be shocked if he does not take this job.” He adds that Douglas “will be the team’s next general manager barring some unforeseen breakdown between the sides.” La Canfora also scoops that if things do unexpectedly go sideways in the negotiations, “then Chicago exec Champ Kelly, who also has a prior relationship with Adam Gase, is viewed as the next in line.”
  • We found out earlier tonight that free agent Muhammad Wilkerson had been arrested and charged with DWI, and now we have more details. Wilkerson admitted to drinking, telling officers he “had one shot and two beers,” per Rebecca Rosenberg and Larry Celona of the New York Post. Wilkerson had some tough luck, as he was just barely over the legal limit. Wilkerson apparently had a BAC of .09, only slightly above the legal limit of .08. It’s unclear if that will help with his potential discipline from the league, but it could potentially earn him some leniency.
  • We have an update on the Ravens’ two rookie wide receivers, courtesy of Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (Twitter link). First round pick Marquise Brown is still recovering from his Lisfranc foot surgery, and “training camp remains the hope for his return.” Initially the hope was minicamp back in March, but that turned out not to be the case. Meanwhile the Ravens’ third round pick, Miles Boykin, is dealing with a hamstring strain, and Zrebiec writes he “should be getting closer to return.” Boykin and Brown are the only two of the Ravens’ draft picks not to sign yet, although that’s likely not related to their respective injuries. Still, it’s not great that they’re having to miss significant portions of their first offseason.

Rams Notes: Peters, Johnson, Gurley

June 1st, 2019 at 7:16pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Rams have a lot on their plate coming up. As they look to defend their NFC championship, they have a bunch of players who will need new contracts soon. One of those is cornerback Marcus Peters, who is heading into the final year of his rookie deal. Rams coach Sean McVay said back in March that the team wanted to extend Peters, but there hasn’t been much progress since then. There’s no guarantee that anything gets done, and Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic notes that while the “Rams have shown a tendency to lock up players they consider core pieces,” that “they’ve also been selective, if not entirely reluctant, to do so with defensive backs.”

Peters is surely looking for a huge payday, but he was inconsistent during his first season in Los Angeles last year. Bonsignore points out that just in the past few years they’ve let corners Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins and safeties Rodney McLeod, T.J. McDonald and Lamarcus Joyner all walk in free agency, choosing to replenish through the draft and in trades. The Rams gave up a lot to acquire Peters from the Chiefs, but it doesn’t sound like they’re quite sold on him. Bonsignore writes that “it looks like a situation they’ll table until next March,” so it doesn’t sound like Peters will get a new deal before the season starts. If that’s the case, he’ll need to prove himself with a bounce back 2019.

Here’s more from Los Angeles:

  • While Bonsignore pointed out an interesting trend about the Rams and defensive backs, in the same piece he noted it’ll soon be broken. Not necessarily by Peters, but by safety John Johnson. He writes the Rams “have made it clear they intend” to lock up Johnson, although he does caution that he “probably won’t get a new” contract until this time next year, as he still has two years left on his rookie deal. Johnson, a third round pick in 2017, has blossomed into one of the league’s best young safeties. He’s thrived in Wade Phillips’ defense, racking up four interceptions and 11 passes defended last year.
  • The Rams have been impressively tightlipped about the health of Todd Gurley. Ever since Gurley was hampered down the stretch last season and ended up splitting time with C.J. Anderson, it’s been impossible to pin down specifics. Reports have varied from him having arthritis in his knee that could potentially derail his career, to insisting that everything was fine. While the Rams have tried to put a positive spin on everything, Jay Glazer of The Athletic hears that Gurley’s knee “is a concern.” Glazer does write that “it’s not all doom and gloom” in Los Angeles, but he makes it sound like something that’s unpredictable and could blow up at any time. All the Rams would say recently is that they have an “individualized workout plan” for their star running back this offseason. Gurley has been staying away from the team’s OTAs, so he hasn’t had to answer questions from reporters yet. We should hopefully have more clarity on the situation soon.
  • In case you missed it, the Rams extended Troy Hill on Thursday.
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