HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Le’Veon Bell Wants To Stay With Jets

December 28th, 2019 at 10:20am CST by Ben Levine

While Le’Veon Bell‘s first season in New York has been a disappointment, the running back isn’t looking to leave the Jets after only one season. Bell told ESPN’s Rich Cimini that he’s committed to the organization and intends to be back in 2020.

“I wouldn’t have signed here for four years if I didn’t want to be here four years,” Bell said.

“When I did sign here, I didn’t expect us to go 16-0, you know what I’m saying? I knew it would be a process. I understand everything. We got a young quarterback, a whole group of guys coming in — new offensive coordinators, head coaches. … I understand what goes on. It’s not like basketball. You can’t take one or two guys and change a team.”

After sitting out the 2018 season, Bell inked a lucrative $52.5MM deal with the Jets this past offseason. The 27-year-old has proceeded to put up some of the worse numbers of his career; in 14 games this season, Bell has ran for only 748 yards and three scores on 229 carries, good for a career-low 3.3 yards per carry. He’s also hauled in 61 receptions for 425 yards and one touchdown, his lowest totals since 2015.

There were whispers that head coach Adam Gase wasn’t a fan of the Bell signing, and with a new front office, it’s been assumed the Jets will shop the veteran this offseason. Bell is set to make a fully-guaranteed $13.5MM next year, making a trade difficult (it also makes cutting Bell all but impossible).

There could be some reasons for optimism in New York. Sam Darnold took a step forward during his second season in the league, the Jets are 5-2 over their last seven games, and the team will be armed with another high first-rounder. Bell’s also aware of these positive factors, so he’s willing to be patient when it comes to team success.

“I’m a guy that is extremely patient, not just on the field,” Bell said. “I understand it takes a while to build a stable program. I’m here for it. It’s what I want to do. I’m not saying I’m ecstatic about it. I’m not saying I’m down about it. I understand it’s a process, getting things going in the right direction.”

Bengals Sign OL Trey Hopkins To Extension

December 28th, 2019 at 9:01am CST by Ben Levine

Trey Hopkins is sticking around Cincy for the foreseeable future. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Bengals have signed the center to a three-year extension. The three-year pact is worth $20.4MM, and Hopkins will receive a $4.5MM guaranteed roster bonus.

The 2014 undrafted free agent out of Texas struggled to see the field during his first few years in the NFL. He spent his rookie campaign on the injured reserve with a leg injury, and he spent the majority of the 2015 and 2016 seasons on the Bengals’ practice squad.

Hopkins finally got a chance to contribute in 2017, as he started 12 of his 13 games at right guard (he also missed four games due to a knee injury). He started nine games at various positions in 2018, including center and both guard spots. He received a second-round restricted free agent tender from the Bengals this past offseason.

This year, Hopkins has settled into the starting center role, starting all 15 games for the Bengals. The 27-year-old will presumably have the same role in 2020, with ESPN’s Ben Baby opining (on Twitter) that former first-rounder Billy Price will play offensive guard moving forward.

“I didn’t think I would ever be in this situation,” Hopkins told Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “I started as an undrafted free agent just making sure I at least made the team. It’s nice having a little bit of security.

“It’s nice to be wanted. I’m in a place where I’m comfortable. I feel like I’m valued. I think I can contribute and help the team.”

Interested Teams To Hold Off On Antonio Brown

December 27th, 2019 at 9:25pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Saints won’t be signing Antonio Brown for now, and it appears there are some other interested teams who are taking a wait and see approach. Brown’s agent Drew Rosenhaus has said there are three teams interested in his client, with one of them obviously being New Orleans.

Both of the other teams that are interested in the embattled receiver have “made clear they would want to talk further with him after the conclusion of the NFL investigation,” per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Fowler adds that “anything before that is considered a non-starter.” Considering there’s nothing to suggest the league’s investigation is close to wrapping up, it doesn’t sound like Brown will be signed anytime soon. Were a team to ink Brown before the investigation is over, he would likely be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, rendering him unable to play.

Brown is quite possibly facing a significant suspension from Roger Goodell, and the earliest we’re going to see him on the field is almost certainly 2020 despite the Saints’ surprise workout. All that being said, Fowler’s report does seem to confirm that there are indeed other teams out there with legit interest. How Brown answers the questions that franchises are obviously going to have will go a long way in determining whether one of them gives him another shot.

Coaching Rumors: Jaguars, Browns, Panthers, Patriots

December 27th, 2019 at 8:10pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The 2019 regular season is winding down, which means the coaching carousel is about to start ramping up. Earlier today the Falcons announced Dan Quinn would be back for 2020, crossing one potential opening off the list. This is shaping up to be a potentially quiet year in terms of number of coaches fired, but there should still be a good amount of action. One man still on the hot seat is the Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone. The latest reporting indicated the Jags were leaning toward keeping Marrone and GM Dave Caldwell, and we have more info to back that up now. Tony Khan, the team’s EVP and son of owner Shad Khan, is expected to take on an increased role in the organization, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.

That’s good news for Marrone and Caldwell, since Breer writes that the younger Khan has a good relationship with both. He further adds that “things are trending toward” the duo “surviving the weekend.” Tom Coughlin, the team’s head of football operations, was fired recently and has been taking the brunt of the blame for the organization’s spiral.

Here’s the latest from around the league:

  • There’s been a lot of speculation that Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens could be one and done, as Cleveland has been a dumpster fire all year long. Breer writes that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam initially seemed inclined to keep him around for a second year, but that recently Haslam has “kept his cards closer to the vest.” Even if Kitchens survives, Breer says he expects there to be significant changes to his staff. It’s been “an open secret that offensive coordinator Todd Monken hasn’t been happy” this season, he reports. How the Browns fare in Week 17 against the 1-14 Bengals could go a long way in determining Kitchens’ future.
  • Everyone that Breer has talked to indicated that the Panthers are going to conduct an extensive search for Ron Rivera’s replacement. Notably, Breer has learned that the search is expected to include a college coach or two. Baylor coach Matt Rhule and Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley have been two college coaches heavily linked to NFL jobs recently. New owner David Tepper is looking to put his stamp on the team, and it’ll be very interesting to see which direction he heads. He’s been very keen on analytics, so a younger offensive-minded hire wouldn’t be surprising. Further, Breer writes to “keep an eye out” for Josh McDaniels and the Panthers. The Patriots offensive coordinator nearly took the Colts’ job two cycles ago, and will be a hot name again this time around. Whoever the Panthers hire “will have considerable say over the football operation, in areas like strength-and-conditioning, training and video,” Breer reports.
  • Speaking of the Patriots, Nick Caserio isn’t the only exec in their building who could get poached. Breer speculates that McDaniels could try to lure pro personnel director Dave Ziegler with him if he leaves to become a head coach. Given that Caserio and director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort are both on expiring contracts, Breer thinks the Pats might work hard to retain Ziegler.

Cowboys LB Sean Lee Undecided On Playing Next Year

December 27th, 2019 at 6:30pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

As Week 17 approaches, it looks like the Cowboys are going to miss the playoffs, barring a Giants upset of the Eagles. If they’re eliminated, longtime head coach Jason Garrett is expected to get the boot shortly after. That might not be the only major change Dallas sees this offseason, as there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding some key players. 

One of those is veteran linebacker Sean Lee, who was rumored to be considering retirement last year. He ultimately decided to come back, and will play in 16 games in 2019 for the first time in his career. The Penn State product is undecided about whether he wants to play in 2020, and elaborated on his process in some recent comments to the media. “If I do want to play again, you want to be a part of the entire offseason, which really kind of starts mid-March for me,” Lee said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “And so that’s probably when I would make a decision.”

Lee’s contract is set to expire at the end of the year, and it sounds like he wants to inform the team of his decision before free agency starts, so don’t expect a prolonged process. “I’m happy that I was able to be consistently on the field and in a lot of situations, being able to help and being effective. That was a plus for me, and that will be part of the evaluation, obviously,” he said.

That last statement would seem to indicate he feels like he’s got something left in the tank. Lee has been plagued by injuries in recent years though, only playing in seven games last year and 11 the season before. He started the year off as a part-time player but has been counted on for a much larger role recently with younger linebacker Leighton Vander Esch on the shelf.

Lee is a franchise icon, and it’ll be interesting to see what path he takes. The Cowboys will almost certainly be entering a new era next season, and Lee could decide to return for one more run at a Super Bowl or to hang them up as the team starts over. Lee has functioned as somewhat of a coach when banged up the past couple years, and it’s entirely possible he’ll transition to coaching when he does decide to retire.

Cowboys Workout Group Of Players

December 27th, 2019 at 5:02pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

As the regular season winds down, teams are starting to look toward the future. With that in mind, the Cowboys brought in a group of players for workouts on Friday.

Dallas auditioned running back Alex Barnes, quarterback A.J. Bush, defensive backs Derrick Jones and Derrick Kindred, and wide receiver Derel Walker, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Barnes is an undrafted rookie from Kansas State, who spent time with the Titans during training camp. Bush is also an undrafted rookie, from Illinois. Jones and Kindred have the most NFL experience in the group. Jones was a 2017 sixth-round pick of the Jets out of Ole Miss, who was hurt in training camp with the Texans this summer.

Kindred was a fourth-round pick of the Browns back in 2016, who has a significant amount of starting experience. He started ten games for Cleveland in 2017 and two last year, while appearing in all 16 games. Walker went undrafted out of Texas A&M back in 2014, and has spent the past handful of years playing in the CFL. With the Cowboys unlikely to make the playoffs, they’re most likely taking a look at these guys with an eye toward 2020. Players can be signed to reserve/futures contracts next week.

 

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/19

December 27th, 2019 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

  • Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Redskins

Latest On Redskins’ HC Search, Front Office

December 27th, 2019 at 3:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bruce Allen is wrapping up his 10th season in the Redskins’ front office, but Washington’s team president has not been given the lead role in identifying the franchise’s next head coach.

Dan Snyder has been working on the team’s HC situation for several weeks, with Albert Breer of SI.com reporting he’s assembled a group of football people to help on this front. None of those in this committee of sorts are Redskins employees, Breer notes (on Twitter).

The longtime Redskins owner has kept his football staff in the dark on some of the changes he’s mulling, Breer adds, inviting speculation Allen will not be in the team’s future plans. This would undoubtedly please a sizable sect of Washington’s fanbase, but as of now, the veteran exec remains the top cog in Washington’s football operations staff.

Allen has plans of his own on how the franchise should proceed, per John Keim of ESPN.com, who confirms Snyder has left him out of certain parts of this process (Twitter link). A November report indicated Allen’s status for 2020 was uncertain, so these next several days will be critical for the Redskins.

Snyder is believed to be far along in this search, which has yet to produce any known candidates. Though, Breer identifies Ron Rivera as a name to monitor. Interim HC Bill Callahan would like to be considered, but it’s unlikely given Washington’s post-Gruden performance that the team will go with the 63-year-old coach as its next full-time leader.

The Redskins are 62-96-1 during Allen’s tenure, one that has now included three head coaches. Should they lose to the Cowboys on Sunday, they will secure the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Saints To Hold Off On Antonio Brown Signing

December 27th, 2019 at 2:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints’ Antonio Brown audition doubles as one of the highest-profile occurrences in the history of the in-season workout circuit, but the mercurial superstar does not look to be set for a lengthier New Orleans stay.

Sean Payton said Friday afternoon the Saints do not plan to sign Brown at this point, adding that this morning’s summit was “due diligence.” While any meeting with Brown would exceed such a qualifier, it may be a moot point — at least for the 2019 season.

The NFL plans to place Brown on the commissioner’s exempt list if a team signs him, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Payton confirmed (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk) that’s the information he’s received from the league. Nevertheless, Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, indicated he will continue discussions with the Saints, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

The investigation into the two sexual misconduct allegations against the 31-year-old All-Pro remains ongoing, with Schefter noting no end date is known at this point (Twitter link). A Brown return to the league will likely not happen until 2020, and NFL discipline could further delay his re-emergence.

Bringing Brown in without the intention of signing him soon is an interesting move, especially considering Payton indicated the team was not interested in him when he became available in September. The 14th-year Saints HC said Friday he was not being truthful when he previously claimed the team possessed no interest in the superstar talent.

Midway through last season, the Saints worked out then signed Dez Bryant. Their 2019 receiving corps looks similar to how it did at that point, with role players surrounding new single-season reception record-holder Michael Thomas. Ted Ginn, however, has stayed healthy this season. He remains New Orleans’ top Thomas sidekick. Jared Cook, however, serves as the key difference between this year’s Thomas supporting cast and last season’s, with the tight end’s 661 yards second on the team.

Packers, Aaron Rodgers Rework Deal

December 27th, 2019 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers carved out some future cap room on Friday, with some help from Aaron Rodgers. The quarterback agreed to convert $14.26MM of his $19.5MM roster bonus into a signing bonus, which allows the club to prorate the hit over five seasons, including 2019 (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). 

It’s a common move in the NFL – Yates notes that the Lions recently agreed to a similar adjustment with Matthew Stafford‘s 2020 roster bonus, which was slated to count for $6MM against the cap.

With the move, the Packers have carved out $11.4MM in cap space for 2020. The Lions, meanwhile, have $4.8MM to work with.

Rodgers is signed through the 2023 season thanks to the four-year, $134MM extension he inked with the Packers just prior to the 2018 season. Before the deal was revised, his contract was slated to count for more than 16% of the Packers cap next year.

With a little extra breathing room, the Packers will have more dollars to fortify their roster on the open market and retain key players, including right tackle Bryan Bulaga and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

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