2019 August - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Patriots, Tom Brady

August 5th, 2019 at 5:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

The report of Tom Brady‘s through-2021 extension being made possible through the inclusion of two void years is accurate, leading the Patriots iconic quarterback into a de facto contract year. Brady will be headed toward 2020 free agency.

On Monday, more information emerged on this extension/2019 pay raise. Brady’s contract includes a provision the Patriots cannot place their franchise or transition tag on Brady in 2020, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The void years kick in on the final day of the 2019 league year, sending Brady to free agency for the first time.

While it is difficult to imagine the future Hall of Fame quarterback changing teams, this extension-in-name-only development certainly will make Brady’s status more interesting (should he decide to play next season).

Brady has obviously never hit free agency, and it still seems likely he will not next year. This contract can be renegotiated before the 2020 league year begins next March, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reporting the Patriots constructed a deal that is not categorized as one that cannot be adjusted for a calendar year. So, odds are we will hear about another Brady contract before free agency.

Brady’s 2019 pay increases to $23MM, and SI.com’s Albert Breer notes (via Twitter) the Patriots got there by giving their 20th-year quarterback a $20.25MM signing bonus and $1.75MM base salary. The other $1MM comes through 16 $62.5MM per-game roster bonuses. The Pats saved $5.5MM in cap space.

The Patriots are going into an 18th Week 1 with Brady as their starter. The parties have formed one of the greatest partnerships in American sports history, with Brady’s unparalleled longevity and Bill Belichick‘s perennially top-end defenses powering the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships. This mutually beneficial setup would seemingly stand to continue into 2020, with the Patriots having yet to identify a true Brady successor since trading Jimmy Garoppolo. But Brady is entering uncharted territory as a 42-year-old full-time starting quarterback.

With Brady voyaging into (essentially) a walk year for the first time, this season does not feature as much certainty as the Pats’ most recent post-Garoppolo campaign did. As Florio points out, a quarterback-needy team could promise Brady an offseason windfall to lure him away from New England. Considering the discounts Brady has taken in recent years, a separation from the Patriots to close his career would be quite the development.

Jadeveon Clowney To Report To Texans In Late August

August 5th, 2019 at 5:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jadeveon Clowney has made it known he plans to return to the Texans before their first week of regular-season practice. The franchise-tagged edge defender will be back in August.

The sixth-year standout plans to report following Houston’s third preseason game, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Clowney will not play in the Texans’ fourth preseason contest but will get some extra work in with his teammates before suiting up in Week 1.

A previous report indicated Clowney would show up before the Texans’ regular-season opener against the Saints, but it looks like he will try to get a bit more work in before then. The Texans play their third preseason game Saturday, August 24, so they will be set to have their full team at practice between then and August 29.

As could be expected, the 26-year-old standout has worked his way into good shape on his own this offseason. He has remained in contact with Texans players and coaches, despite the team opting not to finalize an extension with him. Clowney has been extension-eligible since January 2017 but will still be without a long-term deal by season’s end. A grievance about Clowney’s tag amount (currently at the linebacker rate of $15.967MM) has also been rumored. But the Texans will nonetheless see their top J.J. Watt sidekick earlier than initially expected.

The Texans reportedly did not offer the former No. 1 overall pick a deal in line with those fellow franchise-tagged edge players DeMarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark received, and it was reported Bill O’Brien and since-fired GM Brian Gaine had a difference of opinion regarding a long-term Clowney contract. O’Brien was said to be against it.

Colts Claim RB D’Onta Foreman

August 5th, 2019 at 4:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

D’Onta Foreman will have a second chance in the AFC South. The Colts claimed the third-year running back off waivers from the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

The former third-round pick will join a Colts backfield that just lost Spencer Ware. Seeing his career sidetracked by an Achilles’ tendon tear in late 2017, Foreman will venture from the defending AFC South champions to the team that beat the Texans in Round 1 of the playoffs last season.

The 236-pound back took only seven handoffs last season, gaining minus-1 yard. As Lamar Miller‘s top backup in 2017, Foreman amassed 327 rushing yards (4.2 per tote) and two touchdowns. Foreman spent the first part of the ’18 season on the Texans’ PUP list and has yet to prove he has surmounted one of the most troublesome injuries a running back can encounter.

Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines head up the Indianapolis backfield. The Colts waived second-year running back Keith Ford, per Mike Chappell of CBS4 (on Twitter), to make room for Foreman.

While the Texans reportedly were not pleased with Foreman’s work ethic as of late, the Texas alum has a decent chance to stick on the Colts’ roster after the preseason. But that’s obviously not a given. Ware’s placement on the Colts’ reserve/PUP list ends his season, at least his chances of playing for the 2019 Colts, so the Chris Ballard-headed front office making this claim adds up.

Latest On Cowboys’ Randy Gregory

August 5th, 2019 at 3:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has yet to apply for reinstatement, Mike Florio of PFT hears. However, he has every intention of filing his petition and returning this season, according to a source.

Furthermore, Florio hears that Gregory is “’doing well’ and continues to do everything necessary in his treatment and personal responsibility plan.” Meanwhile, Gregory’s parents are moving from Michigan to North Texas as part of Gregory’s “reliability partner” program.

Reading between the lines, this could be an indication that Gregory is not quite ready to retake the field. Florio hears that it’s unlikely that Gregory will get Roger Goodell’s approval for the start of the regular season, though hope has not been lost for 2019.

Once he applies, Gregory will push for a conditional reinstatement that will allow him to participate in training camp, meetings, and conditioning work leading up to his return. That seems feasible, particularly with the support of owner Jerry Jones, though Gregory stumbled when granted the same thing last year.

Ravens Trade Alex Lewis To Jets

August 5th, 2019 at 3:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Remember that time the Ravens released offensive lineman Alex Lewis? Well, that didn’t quite happen.

Before formally releasing him, the Ravens struck a deal to trade Lewis to the Jets, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. In the trade, the Jets will send a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick to Baltimore.

It’s not uncommon for teams to intend on releasing a player before an eleventh-hour deal was struck. Often times, teams will leak word of an impending release via the press in order to solicit interest. In this case, the Ravens told Lewis directly that he would be released, so it’s likely that they connected with the Jets after failing to find a trade in discussions with other teams.

It’s a mild return for the Ravens, but they did manage to recoup something for a player who was owed $2MM for 2019 and was about to be released anyway. For the Jets, it’s a modest expenditure that could pay some dividends – Lewis is a former starter who can provide depth along the offensive line. Meanwhile, they will get him into the fold immediately without having to first vie for his services against other clubs.

Bills Work Out Sam Young

August 5th, 2019 at 12:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Dolphins offensive lineman Sam Young will work out for the Bills on Monday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). With offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle likely done for the season, Young could be a great fit for Buffalo.

The Bills – or at least, the remaining people that were around from 2011-2013 – are already familiar with Young, who made 20 appearances for the team. Since then, he’s spent time with the Jaguars and Dolphins.

Recently, the rival Jets also met with the veteran.

Steelers, Joe Haden Making Progress

August 5th, 2019 at 11:39am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers and corner Joe Haden are making progress on a two-year contract extension, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The two sides have exchanged proposals, so a deal might not be far off.

For now, Haden is due $10MM as he enters the final year of his deal. A new pact would likely lessen Haden’s cap hit, while giving him security through the 2021 season.

After missing time in 2018 with an injury, Haden returned to play 15 games last season. He graded as a top-40 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. That is a cut below his best Browns seasons, but the 30-year-old defender remains an upper-echelon cover man.

The Steelers added cornerbacks this offseason, signing Steven Nelson and drafting Justin Layne in Round 3. Meanwhile, they’ll move forward with disappointing 2016 first-rounder Artie Burns after cutting him an $800K bonus check over the weekend.

Haden has operated as the team’s No. 1 cornerback since arriving. The Steelers have not enjoyed much consistency aside from Haden at the boundary corner positions for a while, a new deal would make sense.

While the corner market has not moved much at the top in recent years, lesser-acclaimed DBs have signed for $10MM-plus since Haden last put pen to paper. The $9MM-AAV defender will almost certainly target eight figures per year for his early-30s contract.

Bills’ LaAdrian Waddle Likely Done For Year

August 5th, 2019 at 9:41am CST by Zachary Links

Bills offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle has a torn quad, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s likely a season-ending injury, since quad tears usually require four or five months of recovery.

The Bills signed Spencer Long, Mitch Morse, Ty Nsekhe and Jon Feliciano this offseason as a part of their offensive line revamp. Waddle, an experienced vet, factored into the plans, but they’ll have to make a depth addition to make up for his absence.

Waddle’s run as a Lions starter did not produce a long tenure in Detroit, and after being waived in 2015, he landed in New England. He was a part of two Super Bowl champions, the second such run including three starts. His departure to Buffalo continued the exodus of recent Patriot tackles, with Waddle’s defection following those of Nate Solder, Cameron Fleming and Trent Brown.

Waddle’s one-year, $2MM called for $1MM in base salary.

Ravens Release OL Alex Lewis

August 5th, 2019 at 8:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens have released Alex Lewis, according to a social media post from the offensive lineman. Just this week, Lewis was cleared for action, but he’s apparently not part of the team’s plans for 2019.

The Ravens shopped Lewis before cutting him and there was trade interest in him in recent days, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That suggests that the former starter won’t be out of work for very long, especially after passing a physical.

Before today, Lewis was expected to compete for the Ravens’ starting left guard job. Over his last two healthy years (interrupted by a torn labrum in 2017), Lewis has made 18 starts in total.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Haskins, Giants

August 4th, 2019 at 9:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

As other teams continue to finalize pivotal extensions, work remains for the Cowboys on this front. Contract talks are ongoing for Dallas’ standout trio — Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper — entering the team’s first preseason game, and ESPN.com’s Todd Archer notes none of these contracts is particularly close to being done. Nevertheless, Jerry Jones remains confident.

“You just know like so many things it’ll happen. It’ll happen,” Jones said of the extensions. “There literally is no concern on my part at all about any timeframe. That’ll happen. The results are too good for them and too good for the Cowboys. Think about it a minute. The results are too good for them and too good for the Cowboys. That always happens when it’s good for both (sides).”

Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones has mentioned possible team-friendly discounts for these players, due to the financial opportunities that come with playing with this particular franchise, and added the team not does not intend to set positional markets. (For what it’s worth, the Cowboys set the guard market last summer with Zack Martin.) Elliott, however, remains a holdout — with two days remaining until the Aug. 6 date that will determine whether the running back is a UFA or an RFA in 2020 — and Prescott does not sound receptive to a Cowboys-friendly deal.

Going from the Cowboys’ off-field matters to some of their rivals’ on-field setups, here is the NFC East’s latest:

Although Colt McCoy spent the offseason rehabbing a broken leg, he emerged as the Redskins‘ starting quarterback on their first depth chart. It is not certain he will take the snaps in Week 1, but J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington indicates camp work thus far has revealed this competition has become a two-man battle between McCoy and Case Keenum. It should be expected Dwayne Haskins takes over at some point this season, but Finlay notes the first-round pick has not looked ready yet. Haskins sits as Washington’s QB3 on the first depth chart.
Despite Dexter Lawrence tipping the scales north of 340 pounds, the Giants are playing him as a five-technique defensive end, Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com notes. This will accommodate the 318-pound Dalvin Tomlinson, who moved from end to tackle after Damon Harrison was traded midseason. Tomlinson is indeed operating as Big Blue’s first-string nose. Lawrence played the nose spot at Clemson but has impressed the Giants with his pass-rushing ability this offseason. The mammoth defensive lineman registered 1.5 sacks last season but collected 6.5 as a freshman in 2016. Either way, New York will boast a physically imposing defensive front.
Darius Slayton‘s encouraging offseason has not yet translated to camp, with the rookie wide receiver joining some higher-profile Giants wideouts in being unavailable. Slayton has missed 10 consecutive practices because of a hamstring injury, Dunleavy notes. For the non-Giants-following sect, Sterling Shepard broke his thumb, Corey Coleman tore his ACL and Golden Tate received a four-game suspension since camp began.