HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Jets, Jamal Adams Reach Stalemate

May 21st, 2020 at 8:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets and safety Jamal Adams have reached an impasse in extension negotiations, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Adams wants a new deal before the 2020 season gets underway, but New York is content to wait before agreeing to a long-term pact.

On Wednesday, the Jets and Adams discussed the idea of a trade, per Cimini, but it’s unclear how serious those talks have been. Adams, of course, has long been considered to be on the trade block, but Gang Green doesn’t have a desire to deal him right now, according to Cimini.

Adams, meanwhile, would welcome the idea of moving on from the Jets, as he and his agent feel the Jets have taken their time in working on a fresh contract, reports Cimini. More than half the teams in the NFL have reached out to New York about Adams’ availability, which is not all that surprising given his status as one of the league’s best defensive backs.

Adams, 24, became eligible for an extension at the end of the 2019 regular season. He’s under contract through 2021 after the Jets exercised his fifth-year option. Perhaps because of that level of team control, the Jets haven’t shown an inclination to rush an extension. In fact, New York and Adams haven’t even broached dollar figures yet in their negotiations, per Cimini.

Adams, who is surely to aiming to top Eddie Jackson ($14.6MM) as the NFL’s highest-paid safety, was publicly dangled at the 2019 trading deadline, with Gang Green reportedly posting an extraordinary asking price of a first- and two second-round picks. And while Jets general manager Joe Douglas has continued to rave about Adams, the two parties clearly aren’t any closer to a long-term agreement.

South Notes: Saints, Texans, Colts

May 21st, 2020 at 7:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Taysom Hill is expected to be “the guy” at quarterback for the Saints whenever Drew Brees decides to retire, as Jay Glazer of The Athletic writes. Brees has already signed a post-career deal with NBC Sports, and the 2020 season may or may not be his final year in the NFL, so Hill could be in line to become New Orleans’ starter as soon as next year. The drawbacks on Hill are apparent: he’ll be 31 years old when the 2021 campaign gets underway, and he’s only attempted 13 passes over the course of his career. But the Saints have nothing but shower with him praise in addition to extending him on a two-year pact that includes nearly $17.5MM in guaranteed money and a $16.1MM cap charge in 2021. Per Glazer, New Orleans isn’t attempting a “smokescreen” — the club is comfortable will Hill under center if Brees hangs up his cleats.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two South divisions:

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/21/20

May 21st, 2020 at 7:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s 2020 NFL draft pick signings:

  • The Jaguars have signed fourth-round linebacker Shaquille Quarterman, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Quarterman, whom Jacksonville selected with the draft choice it acquired from the Bears in exchange for quarterback Nick Foles, was a four-year starter at the University of Miami, and posted at least 80 tackles in all four of his seasons with the Hurricanes. In a pre-draft profile, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com praised Quarterman’s hustle and mentality, but indicated 6’0″, 235-pounder may not have the short-area quickness required to play linebacker in the NFL. The Jaguars already have Myles Jack and Joe Schobert starting at linebacker, meaning Quarterman will likely begin his pro career on special teams.

AFC North Rumors: Browns, Landry, Steelers

May 21st, 2020 at 6:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After undergoing hip surgery in February, Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry has pronounced himself “a little bit ahead of schedule,” according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Landry said he should be ready to return to field action at some point in August. At the moment, obviously, it’s unclear when/if training camp will officially get underway, but Landry figures to be ready during the preseason. Fresh off a campaign in which he posted 83 receptions for 1,174 yards and six touchdowns, Landry had hoped to avoid surgery in favor of a rest-and-rehab schedule, but ultimately went under the knife.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

  • Ben Roethlisberger, who missed the majority of the 2019 season after suffering an elbow injury, had already resumed throwing in February, but this week, he started throwing to his teammates. In a video tweeted by Roethlisberger, the veteran quarterback is shown throwing to Steelers pass-catchers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ryan Switzer, and James Conner (and subsequently undergoing a haircut and shave). Now 38 years old, Roethlisberger had hoped to gain full medical clearance by the summer. He’s signed for two more years, with a whopping $41.25MM cap charge on the books for 2021.
  • Former Packers area scout Charles Walls has joined the Browns‘ front office, reports Rob Demosky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Walls will receive a promotion in Cleveland and will hold the title of national scout, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). Walls, who had been with Green Bay since the 2013 season, had covered the Southeast region for the Packers.
  • In case you missed it, the Ravens are considering an out-of-state training camp location due to COVID-19 concerns.

Falcons Sign LB Deone Bucannon

May 21st, 2020 at 4:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have signed free agent linebacker Deone Bucannon, the club announced today.

Bucannon, 27, will return to the NFC South after spending part of his 2019 season with the Buccaneers. The former first-round pick signed a one-year, $2.5MM deal with Tampa Bay last offeason, but only appeared in five games before being cut. Bucannon’s play contributed to his release, but the Bucs also enhanced their compensatory pick selections by parting ways with the veteran linebacker.

After leaving the Buccaneers, Bucannon latched on with the Giants. He appeared in nine games down the stretch, and although he played on just eight defensive snaps, he did contribute on special teams (78 snaps). All told, Bucannon has made 57 career starts since being selected 27th overall by the Cardinals in the 2014 draft.

Atlanta lost linebacker De’Vondre Campbell in free agency, leaving Foyesade Oluokun as the most likely option to start next to Deion Jones. Bucannon, with his experience and ability to play multiple roles, should compete with Oluokun for playing time.

Saints Sign LB Anthony Chickillo

May 21st, 2020 at 4:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have agreed to sign free agent linebacker Anthony Chickillo to a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

A sixth-round pick in the 2015 draft, Chickillo had spent his entire career with Pittsburgh until being released earlier this year. After completing his rookie contract, Chickillo inked a two-year, $8MM contact with the Steelers in 2019 despite receiving free agent interest from the Patriots. Pittsburgh decided to cut bait halfway through the deal, saving $5MM in the process.

Chickillo, 27, spent most of his Steelers career as a reserve (65 games, nine starts). His most productive campaign came in 2016, when he made seven starts and played on roughly a third of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps. Last year, Chickillo played in 11 games, racking up a half-sack and 19 total tackles.

Chickillo has spent a great deal of time on special teams duty (at least 67% playtime in each of the past four seasons), and that’s likely what he’ll do for the Saints. New Orleans is projected to start Demario Davis, Kiko Alonso, and Alex Anzalone in base sets, with Craig Robertson and rookie Zack Baun in reserve, so Chickillo isn’t even necessarily guaranteed a place on the Saints’ final roster.

Eagles Open To Signing LeSean McCoy

May 21st, 2020 at 2:58pm CST by Zachary Links

LeSean McCoy wants to fly with the Eagles one more time. The running back remains available in free agency and the Eagles are at least open to the idea, Tim McManus of ESPN.com hears. 

McCoy started his career with the Eagles and mostly excelled in those four seasons. Shady secured three Pro Bowl trips and two First-Team All-Pro nods in Philly before he was traded to Buffalo, where he secured the bag.

Before the start of the 2019 season, the Bills dropped McCoy and the remainder of his five-year, $40MM contract. Then, he hooked on with the Chiefs. He started strong in the first half, but his role was greatly reduced down the stretch. On the whole, it was a bounceback year for the veteran – he averaged 4.6 yards per tote, up from his career low of 3.2 in ’18. He also captured a Super Bowl ring to cap it off.

McCoy isn’t the only veteran RB on the Eagles’ radar. They’re also interested in Carlos Hyde and Devonta Freeman. Last we heard, the Eagles were pretty much lowballing Hyde, pitching the 1,000-yard rusher a veteran’s minimum deal. They might not be able to land Freeman, either. The Seahawks have offered him a deal worth around $3-4MM, which could be too rich for their blood.

McCoy would likely come at a cheaper rate than Freeman. If he returns to Philly, he’ll join Miles Sanders and Boston Scott in their RB group.

Latest On Dak Prescott, Cowboys

May 21st, 2020 at 1:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have until July 15th to hammer out a new deal with Dak Prescott. Apparently, they’re not all that close to an agreement. So far, the talks have consisted of the Cowboys pushing for a longer deal and the quarterback gunning for a shorter contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

There’s little doubt that Prescott’s next deal will make him a very, very rich man. However, Schefter’s report indicates that there’s no truth to a recent rumor that made the rounds on Wednesday. The internet was buzzing with talk of a five-year, $175MM offer for the quarterback, but there was apparently no truth to those rumors. According to Todd Archer of ESPN.com, the Cowboys have an offer on the table that would make Prescott the league’s second-highest player in terms of average annual value (behind Seahawks star Russell Wilson and his $35MM AAV). That jibes with what we heard several months ago, when it was reported that Dallas had offered a contract with an AAV of about $33.5MM during the scouting combine (though that proposal didn’t gain much traction).

Currently, Prescott is slated to earn ~$31.4MM in 2020, per the terms of the franchise tag. If they can’t come to terms on an extension by July 15th, they’ll have to wait until after the season to restart talks. There’s clear mutual interest in a multi-year arrangement, but Prescott wants a shorter deal so that he can cash in all over again with youth on his side. The Cowboys, meanwhile, want a longer deal that won’t completely break the bank.

“There’s all sorts of analytics out there that show if your quarterback takes up too big a percentage of your salary cap, it decreases your chances to win,” COO Stephen Jones said recently. “We’re just trying to figure out the right fit. No one wants to sign Dak to a longer term deal more than Jerry and myself. We’re on the record time and time again on what we think of him as a leader. He has the ‘it’ factor. He’s a fierce competitor. He wants to win as well, and it’s just gotta be right for him and right for us.”

Prescott, a two-time Pro Bowler, threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019. He’s seeking a deal that would make him the league’s highest-paid quarterback, vaulting him ahead of Wilson. But as a source tells ESPN’s Ed Werder, the two sides are close enough on dollars that a long-term deal by July 15 is in reach (Twitter link). If they can agree on the length of the contract, this matter could come together quickly.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

NFL To Vote On Major Rule Changes

May 21st, 2020 at 12:55pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL figures to look mighty different in 2020. On Tuesday, owners will vote on the following rule proposals, per a press release from the league office: 

  • From the Eagles: An alternative to the onside kick, that would allow the trailing team a chance to keep the ball after scoring by going for it on a 4th-and-15 play from the kicking team’s 25-yard line. As Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) notes, this is similar to the rule used by the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.
  • From the Eagles: A permanent expansion of automatic replay to including “scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul, and any successful/ unsuccessful try attempt.”
  • From the Dolphins: Give the defense the option to have the clock to start on the referee’s signal, if the defense declines an offensive penalty late in the first or second half.
  • From the Ravens and Chargers: The addition of a “booth umpire” as well as the addition of a “Senior Technology Advisor to the Referee” to assist officials.
  • Increased “defenseless player protection” for a kick or punt returner who is “in possession of the ball but who has not had time to avoid or ward off the impending contact of an opponent.” (from the Competition Committee)
  • Cutting down on game clock manipulation by disallowing “multiple dead-ball fouls while the clock is running.” (from the Competition Committee)

The Eagles’ proposed amendment to the league’s onside kick is the boldest of the bunch, and support is growing among owners, Pelissero hears (on Twitter). Meanwhile, the Ravens/Chargers idea for a “sky judge” also has momentum (Twitter link). Either way, Pelissero gets the sense that some version of that concept will be tested in the preseason.

WR Josh Gordon To Apply For Reinstatement

May 21st, 2020 at 11:12am CST by Ben Levine

Count Josh Gordon among those who are looking to be reinstated by the NFL. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the embattled wideout “will be applying for reinstatement soon.”

Sources tell Florio that Gordon is “doing well,” and the receiver has been working out and is ready to play in the NFL again. The 29-year-old is hoping for a resolution before training camp starts.

Last December, Gordon was slapped with an indefinite suspension following his latest violation of the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse. Further, the league also flagged him for performance-enhancing substances. This was Gordon’s sixth career suspension from the league office; while the wideout has continually been given second (and third, and fourth…) chances, he could be facing an uphill battle this time around.

Further, if Gordon is reinstated, he’ll have to find a new team. As Florio writes, the receiver satisfied “his contractual obligations” to the Seahawks last season, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The wideout had a standout season back in 2013, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s only appeared in 33 regular season games since that time, including a 2019 campaign that he split between the Patriots and Seahawks. He finished last season with 27 receptions for 426 yards and one score.

Yesterday, the NFL granted reinstatement to Aldon Smith, and we learned earlier today that Randy Gregory was also pushing for a return.

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