HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Latest On NFL, COVID-19

May 19th, 2020 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive coronavirus test in mid-March brought the sports world to a standstill. Key NFL figures like Sean Payton and Von Miller tested positive later in the spring. NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills acknowledges players will test positive when teams reconvene, but the league expects the testing landscape to be different in the next month or two (Twitter links via ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano).

While testing has been inconsistent in the United States since the virus began spreading rapidly in March, some within the NFL are banking on increased test availability by the fall allowing for a 16-game season, Mark Maske of the Washington Post notes. Considering the roster and staff sizes the NFL brings, testing will be a greater task compared to the NBA and Major League Baseball. But the league reopened facilities (though not for coaches and players) Tuesday and has seen some states announce sports can be played by the end of the month.

Coaches are not expected to be back at facilities until all states’ stay-at-home orders cease, and Sills did not put a timeline on when players will be permitted to return. Training camp has been widely viewed as the first time players will be back. The NFL is working with other sports leagues on return protocols, though Sills acknowledges the nature of football presents a different challenge (Twitter links via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero).

Browns center J.C. Tretter said players returning to team workouts is still “a ways out.” The newly elected NFLPA president said the NFLPA has held biweekly meetings about various COVID-19 issues, including players with pre-existing conditions, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes. A player or coach in a higher-risk category contracting the virus would obviously become a much more serious issue for the league. The NFL and NFLPA have engaged in discussions about protocols for when players test positive, Maske adds, noting no agreement is in place.

With 90-man rosters in place until cutdown day, 2,880 players along with the hundreds of coaches and various other personnel will need extensive tests once teams reconvene for camp. Testing protocol has not yet emerged, but Sills said the league will make a “strong commitment” to avoid taking tests away from people who need them (Twitter link via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). Until a testing plan emerges, it is difficult to speculate how the NFL’s effort to accomplish this will look.

West Notes: Chiefs, Irvin, Amukamara

May 19th, 2020 at 3:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs moved on from their longest-tenured player this offseason, jettisoning 15-year punter Dustin Colquitt. Although the team with Patrick Mahomes negotiations looming and Chris Jones attached to a franchise tag created cap space by cutting Colquitt, the defending Super Bowl champions also identified his potential successor in its UDFA class. Chiefs ST coordinator Dave Toub said (via the Kansas City Star’s Herbie Teope, on Twitter) he rated rookie UDFA punter Tommy Townsend as this draft class’ best punter. Twice a semifinalist for the Ray Guy award, Townsend punted at Florida after transferring from Tennessee. The Chiefs signed both Townsend and 2019 UDFA Tyler Newsome this offseason. Toub’s glowing assessment of Townsend almost certainly gives him a leg up in this competition.

Here is the latest from the West divisions:

  • Bruce Irvin had his eye on a Seahawks reunion for a while. The former Seattle first-round pick texted Bobby Wagner during the playoffs he wanted to come back (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, on Twitter). Irvin also confirmed he will be playing linebacker in Seattle’s base defense while shifting to an edge-rushing role on passing downs, Condotta adds (via Twitter). This was the expected arrangement. The Seahawks used their base defense considerably last season but have not re-signed Mychal Kendricks. Irvin functioned in this versatile capacity during most of his first Seahawks stint.
  • Prince Amukamara will take a considerable pay cut to join the Raiders. The veteran cornerback signed a one-year, $1.05MM deal, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Amukamara will qualify for the new minimum salary benefit, counting only $888K against the Raiders’ cap. The Bears re-signed Amukamara in 2018, and he was set to make $9MM in base salary on that contract this season.
  • Frank Clark played a role in bringing Taco Charlton to Kansas City, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Charlton’s ex-teammate and roommate while at Michigan, Clark lobbied Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo in an effort to bring the former first-round pick to Kansas City. The Chiefs did not claim Charlton’s rookie contract but did add him at a cheaper rate. Charlton called his departure from Dallas and Miami “mutual,” according to Pelissero (via Twitter). Both teams waived the 2017 first-rounder, the Dolphins doing so despite Charlton leading the team in sacks last season with five. Charlton figures to fill a rotational role vacated by the exits of Emmanuel Ogbah and Terrell Suggs.
  • Despite Bashaud Breeland being arrested on several charges earlier this offseason, he has been part of the Chiefs’ virtual offseason since it began, Spagnuolo said (via NFL.com’s James Palmer, on Twitter). Re-signed on a one-year deal, Breeland will likely face a suspension for his arrest — which included the charge of resisting arrest.

NFL To Change Policy On Coordinator, Front Office Interviews

May 19th, 2020 at 1:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the NFL tabled the proposed Rooney Rule changes that would connect the hiring of minority HC candidates to certain draft-slot improvements, the league approved another key rule tweak Tuesday.

Teams can no longer block position coaches from coordinator interviews, Jim Trotter of NFL.com tweets. Previously, teams could nix assistants’ opportunities to become coordinators. The NFL confirmed the new rule applies only to interviews for “bona fide” OC/DC positions, meaning the opportunity must include play-calling responsibilities.

Tuesday’s changes will affect the front office level as well. Teams can no longer block scouts or executives from interviewing for promotions elsewhere, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Executives can no longer be blocked from interviewing for a job that would include assistant GM responsibilities, per the league.

While potential diversity hirings drove the league to propose these changes, the new rules will be popular with assistant coaches and executives of all colors.

Clubs annually block position coaches under contract from meeting with teams about coordinator jobs. This has led to countless coaches forced to continue in mid-level roles, thus missing out on key promotions that can lead to future HC interviews. Tuesday’s change figures to make staff continuity more difficult and could well lead to younger coaches rising to coordinator posts and, perhaps, HC positions in the near future.

This proposal surfaced on the same day as the draft-based concept, but this initiative received more support. The NFL made significant changes to its Rooney Rule on Monday, which will mandate meetings with multiple minority candidates for HC jobs and expand the 17-year-old rule to coordinator positions as well. Coupled with Tuesday’s change, the NFL’s coordinator landscape will be altered.

Lastly, the league will prevent teams from including language in execs’ contracts that prevents them from interviewing for jobs elsewhere, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The Patriots including such a clause in player personnel director Nick Caserio‘s contract spurred this change. Were it not for such language, Caserio may well be the Texans’ GM now. The Texans had intentions of poaching Caserio from New England last year, firing Brian Gaine. But the Pats exec’s contract prevented it, leading to Houston naming Bill O’Brien as its GM.

NFL Tables Rooney Rule Draft Proposal

May 19th, 2020 at 1:02pm CST by Zachary Links

On Tuesday, the NFL proposed incentives to further the mission of the Rooney Rule and increase the league’s number of minority coaches and lead executives. That resolution has been tabled for the time being, according to NFL.com’s Jim Trotter (on Twitter).

Under the proposed plan, teams would receive improved draft slots in exchange for hiring head coaches or “primary football executives” (read: GMs) of color. A team hiring a minority HC would move up six spots in the third round; a team hiring a minority GM would move up 10. Those incentives would also be combined – hiring both would mean a 16-spot leap in Round 3.

Reaction to the draft-related proposal was mostly negative, so it is not exactly surprising to see it stalled. But the league did make some key changes this week, implementations that add to teams’ hiring processes — which have received criticism in recent years. Of the past 20 head coaching vacancies, minorities filled only three. The changes will force teams to meet with more people of color.

Teams must interview multiple external minority HC candidates and expanding the Rooney Rule to the coordinator level. Clubs must also interview at least one minority candidate for all coordinator positions. These changes did not require a vote and will take effect immediately. But the more controversial changes involving draft positions, which first surfaced last week, will be pushed back.

Latest On DeAndre Baker, Quinton Dunbar

May 19th, 2020 at 12:54pm CST by Zachary Links

After being released on bond, Deandre Baker and Quinton Dunbar have entered not guilty pleas, as ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe writes. Baker is facing eight charges in connection with the alleged armed robbery in Florida; Dunbar is facing four counts. 

[RELATED: DeAndre Baker, Quinton Dunbar Released On Bond]

Meanwhile, the attorneys for both cornerbacks are going on the offensive. Michael Grieco, the lawyer representing Dunbar, says it’s “completely untrue” that the duo gambled away $70K before the night in question (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson). Furthermore, Grieco claims that they’re not especially close friends and they weren’t together at all in the weeks leading up to the fateful Wednesday.

The police department in Miramar, Florida has a different account of things. Authorities say Baker held partygoers at gunpoint while Dunbar robbed them. Some witnesses claimed that Dunbar also had a gun. With the aid of a third man wearing a mask, Miramar PD says they ran off with thousands of dollars, plus a Rolex, Hublot, and a Audemars Piguet.

Now, the duo will wait to find out whether the charges will actually be filed. Grieco expects word within a month and, ultimately, believes that his client will be cleared. Either way, the NFL is expected to conduct its own investigation into the matter.

This Date In Transactions History: NFL Adopts “Annual Draft Of College Players”

May 19th, 2020 at 11:57am CST by Ben Levine

On this day in 1935, the NFL made a significant decision that didn’t only impact football, but the entire sports world. As Hall of Famer (and NFL.com analyst) Gil Brandt points out on Twitter, the league “adopted an annual draft of college players” on May 19th, 1935.

There were several events that led up to this decision. For starters, collegiate players were initially allowed to sign with any NFL team, leading to a free-for-all that’s not too different than modern free agency. Specifically, Eagles co-owner Bert Bell found that these prospects were simply opting for the most lucrative deal, and if money was equal, the player would land with the more accomplished, competitive franchise. As a result, teams like the Bears and Packers generally recruited the top collegiate players.

There was also the matter of Stan Kostka, who had a standout campaign for the Minnesota Gophers during the 1934 season. The running back ended up waiting for the highest-possible offer, and after a nine-month “holdout” (which also included an unsuccessful campaign to be the mayor of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota), Kostka ended up landing a league-leading $5,000 deal (we swear, that’s not a typo) with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

This move infuriated Bell, who believed the NFL would ultimately fail if teams were allowed to simply buy the best prospects. So, on May 18th, 1935, the Eagles co-owner proposed a rookie draft. Bell touted that a draft would help increase parity, and he believed this would have a vicarious impact on the league’s financials. The next day, the league unanimously voted to adopt a draft starting with the 1936 season.

Of course, NFL teams didn’t have the scouting resources that they do now; in fact, NFL teams didn’t even have scouting departments. Organizations were required to randomly submit the names of college seniors, and these players would then be inserted into the draft pool. If a team selected a player, they were allowed to exclusively negotiate with the prospect. If a deal couldn’t be reached, the organization had the ability to trade the rookie. If neither a contract nor a trade materialized, the NFL was allowed to step in and arbitrate a settlement between the two sides. This ended up being relevant for the 1936 Draft, as only 24 of the 81 selections proceeded to play in the NFL that season.

In a not-so-ironic twist, the Eagles (and Bell, the architect of the draft) landed the first-overall selection of the inaugural event. The organization selected halfback Jay Berwanger, but after unsuccessfully negotiating with the prospect, Philadelphia traded his rights to the Bears. Berwanger didn’t sign with Chicago, either, and the first pick of the first draft ultimately never played a snap in the NFL.

Of course, who knows if Berwanger would have followed this same path had he been allowed to sign with any NFL team. There were surely some pundits who pointed to Berwanger and criticized the draft for alienating prospects. However, without the decision made 85 years ago today, the NFL (and sports as a whole) would look a whole lot different.

LeBron James Considered Playing Football In 2011, Received Contract Offer From Cowboys

May 19th, 2020 at 10:09am CST by Ben Levine

Back in 2011, LeBron James considered taking his talents to…the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. And no, we’re not saying he considered playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki on the Dallas Mavericks. Rather, the NBA star flirted with the idea of joining the NFL, and he had at least one potential suitor in the Dallas Cowboys. 

During an appearance on “Uninterrupted” yesterday, the future NBA Hall of Famer revealed that he considered switching to football during the 2011 NBA lockout (and the concurrent 2011 NFL lockout).

“I had no idea how long the lockout was going to be, and myself and my trainer … we really started to actually train to be a football player,” James said (via David Helman of DallasCowboys.com). “We started to clock our time in the 40, we started to add a little bit more to our bench presses and things of that nature.”

How serious did it get? Well, Maverick Carter, James’ friend and business partner, revealed that Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones sent the basketball great a contract (which James subsequently framed). Considering LeBron’s star power, you’ve got to assume that the contract offer was legitimate; even if the MVP’s talents didn’t translate from the court to the gridiron, he undoubtedly would have been atop the list of jersey sales.

Of course, it’s not even that outlandish to suggest that James could have succeeded in the NFL. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, James has the ideal body for a modern tight end. Plus, while we know we shouldn’t put too much stock into high school stats, LeBron hauled in 27 touchdowns in just two seasons while playing for St. Vincent-St. Mary.

As we all know, LeBron ended up sticking with basketball, which proved to be the right decision. Since the summer of 2011, the veteran has won three NBA championships and a pair of MVP awards. Still, it’s fun to wonder whether James could have helped guide the Cowboys to their first championship since 1995.

For the latest on LeBron, the Lakers, and all things NBA, follow Hoops Rumors on Twitter. (And, while you’re there, say hello to PFR editor emeritus Luke Adams!)

Latest On Redskins WR Cody Latimer

May 19th, 2020 at 9:05am CST by Ben Levine

Following his arrest in Colorado on Saturday morning, Redskins wideout Cody Latimer appeared at a court hearing yesterday morning, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter and John Keim. Latimer was ordered to return for a July 24 court date. He’s facing five individual charges, including assault in the second degree, menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, prohibited use of weapons, and reckless endangerment. Latimer was initially released from the Douglas County Jail on $25,000 bond on Saturday.

The police report states that Latimer was participating in a poker game at the home of one of his best friends, Roderick English. During that game, the NFL player got into a “heated argument” with another participant, at which point English ordered everyone to leave his apartment.

Latimer returned to the apartment about 30 minutes later and was “agitated and angry.” It was at this point that the 27-year-old pulled out a handgun, waved it around, and threatened to kill everybody in the residence. Latimer eventually “emptied the magazine and cleared the chamber of his gun,” but that was after he fired a pair of shots near English. The two also engaged in a physical confrontation, and English required medical attention after being hit in the head with the gun.

During Monday’s hearing, attorney Harvey Steinberg told the court that he had been contacted by law enforcement regarding “an investigation of a sexual assault of Latimer’s 4-year-old son that was allegedly perpetrated by one of the individuals at that poker game.” The shooting incident took place “at about the same time and location as the alleged sexual assault.”

Following a 2019 campaign that saw him compile career-highs in receptions (24) and receiving yards (300) with the Giants, Latimer joined the Redskins this offseason. While the veteran was expected to contribute on offense and special teams, ESPN notes that Latimer could end up losing his gig to fourth-round wideout Antonio Gandy-Golden.

Raiders Waive CB Nick Nelson

May 18th, 2020 at 6:06pm CST by Zachary Links

On Monday, the Raiders officially announced their signing of cornerback Prince Amukamara. To make room on the roster, they waived fellow corner Nick Nelson with a failed-physical designation.

Nelson was cut with a failed physical designation, bringing his Raiders run to a close after just two years. Nelson was a fourth-round pick of the (then Oakland) Raiders in 2018 and saw time in ten games as a rookie. Last year, however, he spent most of his time on the practice squad. Jon Gruden called him up to the varsity squad ahead of Week 15, but he landed on injured reserve before the season finale.

Unfortunately, Nelson is no stranger to the injury bug. Just weeks before the draft, Nelson suffered a torn meniscus during a private workout for an NFL club. The Raiders still used a fourth-round choice on the 5’11” Wisconsin product, believing that his coverage skills would translate to the pro game and make up for his stature.

If Nelson goes unclaimed in the next 24 hours, he’ll be free to sign with any team. If he gets picked up, his new team will be on the hook for the two remaining years on his deal.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/18/20

May 18th, 2020 at 5:58pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Kansas City Chiefs

Spaight joined the Chiefs early on in 2019 as a reserve/future signing but retired abruptly last May. Now that KC released him from the reserve/retired list, he’ll be free to sign with another club, if that’s what he’s looking to do. A fifth-round pick of the Redskins back in 2015, Spaight suited up in 30 games before moving on to the Jaguars and Dolphins in 2018. His most productive season came in 2017 when he saw time in 15 games (including six starts) and tallied 75 stops.

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