2020 January - Pro Football Rumors

Owners Confident CBA Will Include 17-Game Season?

January 6th, 2020 at 7:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

The owners and the NFLPA are making “incremental” progress toward finalizing a collective bargaining agreement, and Mark Maske of the Washington Post notes the goal of the process being finalized by Super Bowl LIV remains attainable.

While the revenue split continues to be the central issue, the prospect of a 17-game season persists. Owners appear “increasingly convinced” the 17-game schedule will be included in the next CBA, Maske adds. However, the addition of a game to the schedule would not have to take effect in the first year of the new agreement.

This topic has been on the table for months, and the owners have shown willingness to bend on Roger Goodell‘s disciplinary power and the issue of marijuana to make it happen. The sides indeed are continuing to discuss marijuana testing, per Maske.

A 17-game schedule becoming reality would alter the NFL calendar, with the preseason being reduced and the playoffs stretching well into February. A return to the double-bye setup — only used once, in 1993 — is believed to be attached to the 17-game proposal. That would mean a 19-week regular season. The NFL has used the 16-game schedule for 42 seasons — far longer than the 12- or 14-game formats lasted.

The prospect of the playoffs expanding from 12 to 14 teams remains a possibility, with Maske noting some owners believe the field will expand by two teams at some point during the next CBA. So it appears the sides may be setting up gradual shifts in the schedule and playoff bracket structure for the 2020s.

Latest On Tom Brady, Patriots

January 6th, 2020 at 6:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

His season complete after Round 1 for the first time since the 2009 season, Tom Brady is on the doorstep of free agency for the first time. As of now, the Patriots’ 42-year-old quarterback is not planning to retire. Brady followed up those comments soon after and did not sound like someone ready to leave the game.

“I’ll explore those opportunities whenever they are. If it’s the Patriots, great. If that doesn’t work, I don’t know. I just don’t know,” Brady said, via Peter King of NBC Sports. “I love playing football. I still want to play football. I think I still can play at a championship level. I’ve just got to go do it. I’m motivated to get back to work and training.”

Brady received a pay raise from the Patriots last year, but Tom Curran of NBC Sports notes the future first-ballot Hall of Famer wanted the type of extension Drew Brees received from the Saints in 2018. Brees re-upped for two years and $50MM two Marches ago, while the Patriots preferred a year-to-year arrangement entering his age-42 season. Brady would become a free agent in March and do so for the first time.

Robert Kraft has frequently made clear he does not want the all-time great playing for another team. The Patriots owner told King it was difficult to approve Brady’s request for 2020 flexibility, and he now hopes the team fits into the passer’s plans.

“Before the season started it was very important to Tom that he be free to do whatever he wanted at the end of the year. You know what I said to myself? That any person who plays 20 years for this team and helps us get to nine Super Bowls, and been really selfless, has earned that right,” Kraft said. “And you know, my hope and prayer is No. 1, he play for the Patriots. Or No. 2, he retires. … But I just hope and pray we fit into his plans.”

Bill Belichick will play a key role in determining if Brady is back. But rather than give the 20-year veteran a raise, Belichick is likely to allow Brady to see what his options are in free agency, Curran adds. With 38-year-old Philip Rivers a free agent-to-be, the Chargers have been linked to Brady. The Raiders could loom as a dark horse, King writes.

Having traded Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers years ago, the Patriots do not have a realistic Brady heir apparent that would keep them on this level. Allowing Brady to walk would create a fascinating scenario where this century’s premier franchise must aggressively chase a quarterback. At the same time, the Pats will likely need to upgrade their pass-catching corps to entice Brady to return.

Donovan Peoples-Jones To Enter Draft

January 6th, 2020 at 6:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michigan will lose a key piece of their offense, while the 2020 NFL draft’s receiver pool keeps increasing with high-end prospects. Donovan Peoples-Jones announced (via Twitter) he will enter the draft.

Once the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the 2017 class, Peoples-Jones became a solid, if unspectacular, weapon for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound wideout did not surpass 650 yards during any of his three Michigan seasons but did total 14 touchdowns between the 2018 and ’19 campaigns. He also combined for 14 receptions between Michigan’s 2017 and ’18 bowl games. Still, this would profile as a potential-over-production pick.

Peoples-Jones comes in at No. 45 on Scouts Inc.’s player ratings, and Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller slots the three-year Michigan man 38th on his big board. Both rankings account for Alabama’s Devonta Smith declaring, but with the junior opting to stay in school, Peoples-Jones’ chances of climbing into the first round stand to increase.

While several Wolverines wideouts have been drafted in recent years, no Michigan receiver has gone in the first round since Braylon Edwards in 2005.

Alabama WR Henry Ruggs To Enter Draft

January 6th, 2020 at 5:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

There are now two Alabama junior wide receivers in the 2020 draft pool. Shortly after projected first-rounder Jerry Jeudy made his decision to enter the draft, Henry Ruggs is following suit.

Ruggs revealed Monday (via The Players’ Tribune) he will join Jeudy and Tua Tagovailoa in the draft. While Jeudy has been tabbed as a possible top-five pick, Ruggs is Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 4 receiver prospect (13th overall). Kiper ESPN colleague Todd McShay has the speedster going 18th overall. Ruggs’ speed will enthrall Combine attendees; he was clocked in the mid-4.2-second range for the 40-yard dash at Alabama’s 2019 junior pro day.

The former four-star recruit did not flash statistically like Jeudy but may be the fastest player in the draft. Averaging 17.5 yards per catch for his career, the 6-foot Ruggs caught 24 touchdown passes and exceeded 700 yards in each of his final two Crimson Tide seasons. He suffered a concussion in the Citrus Bowl.

While Devonta Smith returning to school will prevent Alabama from having three wide receivers chosen in the first round, Jeudy and Ruggs going on Day 1 would be mark a rare occurrence. The last time two were drafted from the same school in Round 1 came in 2007, when LSU products Dwayne Bowe and Buster Davis joined Ohio State alums Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez.

Coaching Rumors: Panthers, Rhule, McDaniels

January 6th, 2020 at 2:11pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest from around the NFL:

Saints assistant Mike Nolan is a name to watch as new Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy searches for his next defensive coordinator, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears.
The Panthers‘ interview with Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski will take place in Minneapolis on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) reports. The Browns could also schedule a chat with Stefanski for that same day. During Stefanski’s first full season at the helm, the Vikings ranked as a top-10 offense in points. With Stefanski on the sidelines, the Vikings also managed a 26-20 win over the Saints on Sunday to advance to the divisional round.
The Giants‘ interview with Baylor head coach Matt Rhule has been scheduled for Tuesday, Schefter hears. After that, they’ll meet with Patriots OC Josh McDaniels on Wednesday. Both interviews will take place in New Jersey.
At least 4 NFL teams have expressed interest in former Giants head coach Pat Shurmur as an offensive coordinator, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) hears. Shurmur has also heard from “a college team or two.” Shurmur was fired by the Giants after amassing a 9-23 record over the course of two disappointing seasons.

Cowboys Could Keep Kellen Moore

January 6th, 2020 at 1:59pm CST by Zachary Links

New Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is a fan of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). McCarthy hasn’t made any firm decisions on his staff, but it seems like McCarthy is more than open to keeping Moore in his current role.

Moore, 31 this summer, took over for Scott Linehan prior to the 2019 season. The Cowboys’ offense lacked consistency throughout the year, but McCarthy isn’t necessarily placing the blame at Moore’s feet.

Marvin Lewis – the other only known candidate for the Cowboys head coaching vacancy – was reportedly eyeing Hue Jackson as his OC. The hiring of McCarthy means that Moore will have a chance to stay in Dallas, despite the departure of Jason Garrett.

Speaking of McCarthy – Rapoport hears that he has landed a five-year pact with the Cowboys. The financial terms of the deal are not yet known.

Vikings’ Mackensie Alexander May Need Surgery

January 6th, 2020 at 1:50pm CST by Zachary Links

On Sunday, the Vikings got past the Saints without Mackensie Alexander. They might not have him for the rest of the postseason, either.

Alexander is meeting with doctors to determine whether he needs surgery on his injured knee, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Alexander is dealing with a small tear to his lateral meniscus, so it could go either way. A final decision is expected to come by the end of business on Tuesday, which will give the Vikings some time to formulate a game plan in advance of Saturday’s showdown with the 49ers.

The Vikings are already without Mike Hughes, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Friday. Without Alexander or Hughes, the Vikings deployed Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, and Holton Hill at cornerback in their overtime victory.

Alexander, the No. 54 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is scheduled to reach free agency in March. Whether or not he returns to the Vikings, he’ll see a major pay bump from his four-year, $4.316MM rookie deal.

Rams To Move On From DC Wade Phillips

January 6th, 2020 at 1:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Wade Phillips won’t return as the Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2020. On Monday, Phillips announced that he’s leaving Los Angeles.

“I have been informed by the Rams that my contract will not be renewed,” Phillips wrote. “I want to thank them for the opportunity to be a part of their success the last three years. Most of all I want to thank the players who I loved workings with. I still want to coach and feel I can contribute.”

Phillips, 72, was a part of head coach Sean McVay’s inaugural staff. He’s been in the NFL since 1976 and even though he has done it all and captured a Super Bowl ring, he has no desire to retire. Given his resume, there’s little doubt that Phillips will be able to hook on elsewhere as a defensive coordinator, even though things did not go according to plan for his Rams defense in 2019.

In 2019, the Rams allowed 22.8 points per game and 339.6 yards per contest, putting them in the middle of the pack in both categories. Still, he didn’t get as much help from the offense as he would have liked – McVay’s much-ballyhooed offense put up just 24.6 points per contest.

Chargers To Keep OC Shane Steichen

January 6th, 2020 at 11:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers are expected to retain Shane Steichen as their offensive coordinator, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). They’ll first have to negotiate a new deal with him, however, as his contract is set to expire.

Steichen was elevated from quarterbacks coach to offensive play caller after the firing of Ken Whisenhunt in October. The Chargers’ offense improved somewhat under Stiechen’s guidance and the ground game went from pitiful to decent. Still, they went just 2-6 in the second half versus 3-5 in the first half of the season.

The Chargers believe that Steichen can do better this time around. The front office will have upwards of $55MM to spend in March and the No. 6 overall pick in April as they look to fortify the offense.

Meanwhile, the Chargers say they’ll stay the course with quarterback Philip Rivers, who GM Tom Telesco still views as a “top-starter level” player. Anthony Lynn, of course, will return as the team’s head coach.

Saints’ Kiko Alonso Suffers ACL Tear

January 6th, 2020 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). The early belief is that he’ll recover in time for the start of the 2020 season, but it’ll be a tough offseason for the linebacker as he approaches his 30th birthday in August.

This marks the third ACL injury of Alonso’s career. The veteran missed the entire 2014 season with the same injury and suffered a setback in that same knee in 2015.

Alonso is slated to earn $6.375MM in base compensation next year, the final year of his contract. The Saints, in theory, could save $7.85MM against the cap by releasing him, with just $850K left in dead money.

The Saints traded for Alonso in September by shipping Vince Biegel to the Dolphins. In 13 games this year, Alonso recorded 31 tackles and started in just four games.