HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson On Adam Gase

September 18th, 2020 at 12:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Jets head coach Adam Gase might not have total job security for 2021, but he doesn’t have a playoff mandate for this year. That was the message from CEO Christopher Johnson who was asked about Gase’s future this week. 

[RELATED: Jets Place Le’Veon Bell On IR]

“I’m going to want to see this team progress,” Johnson said (via Manish Mehta of the Daily News). “Hopefully, that won’t be too hard from that first game, but I’m looking for real progression over this season. I’m confident that we’ll see that.”

Gase, who he referred to as a “brilliant offensive mind,” guided the Jets to a 7-9 record in his first season at the helm. On Sunday, they opened the season with a tough 27-17 loss to the rival Bills. The Jets were a “mess” in that game, Johnson confessed, but he still believes that Gang Green can win in 2020 if the team stays healthy.

Of course, this Jets team wasn’t necessarily built to win this season. The Jets sat on their cash this offseason, mostly handing out one-year deals or contracts that are light on guaranteed dollars for ’21 and beyond. The Jets ultimately whiffed on most of their top targets and declined to go deep into talks for Jaguars star edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Then, just before the start of the season, the Jets shipped star safety Jamal Adams to the Seahawks. To most observers, it was a matter of penny-pinching, but Johnson claims that he gave GM Joe Douglas “complete discretion” in managing the roster.

 Coming into this season, Gase had a combined 30-34 career coaching record with the Dolphins and Jets.

Cardinals Add K Mike Nugent To Practice Squad

September 18th, 2020 at 11:09am CST by Zachary Links

Zane Gonzalez might be hearing footsteps. Or, perhaps, he just has some backup. On Friday, the Cardinals signed veteran kicker Mike Nugent to the practice squad, per a club announcement.

Nugent first made his Cardinals debut over a decade ago in 2009, appearing in a pair of games. Now 38, he owns a career 81% field goal completion rate across 168 games. Last year, he had a cup of coffee with the Patriots as a part of their revolving door of kickers. The veteran converted five of eight FGs with the Pats, who released him after a pair of missed field goals against the Browns. The Patriots won that October contest to advance to 8-0, but Bill Belichick wasn’t taking any chances.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, missed two of his three field goal tries in the season opener. Still, the one he converted on was from 56 yards out, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury says he’s “very comfortable” with the 25-year-old.

After topping the Niners in Week 1, the Cardinals will look to go 2-0 this Sunday against the Washington Football Team.

Bengals’ C.J. Uzomah Done For Year

September 18th, 2020 at 11:02am CST by Zachary Links

It’s now official. On Friday morning, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that tight end C.J. Uzomah will miss the remainder of the year with a torn Achilles tendon. Uzomah will be placed on injured reserve, freeing up a spot on the club’s active roster. 

Uzomah seemed on course for a big year after catching eight of Joe Burrow‘s eleven targets for 87 yards and a touchdown. Now, he’ll have to turn his focus to 2021. In the interim, Drew Sample seems poised for a larger role in the offense, and the Bengals will likely look to add another tight end off the bench to join Cethan Carter. Fortunately, the Bengals are rostering two tight ends on their expanded practice squad in Mitchell Wilcox and Mason Schreck.

Through two games, Burrow has been dialed in on Uzomah and wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who has eleven grabs for 105 yards and 1 TD thus far. It’s possible that Sample will absorb all of Uzomah’s would-be looks, and he might be able to capitalize on them in similar fashion. As a rookie last year, Sample registered just five receptions through nine games. Now, he’s looking like more than a blocking TE. Last night, he finished out with seven catches for 45 yards.

Torn Achilles For Bengals’ C.J. Uzomah?

September 18th, 2020 at 8:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals fear that tight end C.J. Uzomah has torn his Achilles, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). There is at least hope for better news, as the last medical check was inconclusive. After an MRI today, the Bengals will know for sure.

[RELATED: Bengals Place G Xavier Su’a-Filo On IR]

Uzomah was off to a hot start before he was carted off the field on Thursday night. Through two games – or, one game-and-change – Uzomah had eight catches for 87 yards, including last night’s 23-yard second quarter touchdown reception, Joe Burrow‘s first TD throw as a pro.

Uzomah, 27, broke out in 2018 with 43 catches for 439 yards and three scores. After that, the Bengals rewarded the former fifth-round pick with a new three-year, $18MM+ contract. Uzomah’s numbers weren’t as gaudy last year, but he was on course for a big 2020, especially considering his rapport with Burrow.

For now, the Bengals are left with second-year pro Drew Sample as their top tight end. Cethan Carter, a former UDFA out of Nebraska, will move up to the TE2 slot.

Ohio State CB Shaun Wade Opts Back In; Latest On Other Big Ten Opt-Outs

September 17th, 2020 at 6:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Big Ten now on track to begin its season in late October, Ohio State will have one of its top players back. Standout cornerback Shaun Wade said during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter (via ESPN.com’s Field Yates, on Twitter) he changed his mind on opting out of the 2020 season. He is now set to play as a senior.

Set to follow the likes of Bradley Roby, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley and Jeff Okudah as an Ohio State corner to hear his name called in the first round, Wade will do so after playing a fourth Buckeyes season. He ranks as the No. 7 player on Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest 2021 big board.

Wade hired an agent but did not file any paperwork, according to ESPN.com. He is not the only one of the Big Ten opt-outs to reconsider. Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis, a potential first-round pick, also reversed course and opted back in (Twitter link).

First-round prospects Micah Parsons (linebacker, Penn State), Rondale Moore (wide receiver, Purdue), Jalen Mayfield (tackle, Michigan) and Rashod Bateman (wide receiver, Minnesota) opted out before Wade initially decided to pass on 2020. Not all are committed to skipping the season, though some still are.

Penn State coach James Franklin said the door is open for Parsons to play as a junior, according to PennLive.com, while Purdue HC Jeff Brohm intends to check on Moore’s status now that the conference timetable has changed. Bateman, however, does not plan to opt back in, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Golden Gophers standout wideout has asthma and cited health concerns as a reason he will skip the COVID-19-altered season to prepare for the draft. Despite playing just one full season with the Wolverines, Mayfield plans to stick with his decision to bypass his junior season, per the Detroit Free Press.

Rams Plan To Extend Robert Woods

September 17th, 2020 at 5:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams appear to have identified their long-term wide receiver plan. Shortly after extending Cooper Kupp, they want to give Robert Woods another contract.

Sean McVay said Thursday a Woods extension will happen sooner rather than later. Woods has two seasons remaining on his deal, but the Rams have adjusted his earnings multiple times. A Los Angeles native, Woods has said he wants to be with the Rams long-term as well.

“We want to get him extended, too,” McVay said, via SI.com’s Eric Williams. “He’s a huge part of what we’re doing. That’s something I think is definitely important. You absolutely talk to your players about that. Robert and Cooper have been pillars of what we’ve done the last, few years.

“It’s great to get Cooper under contract; I’m so happy for him. And you can expect to see something similar down the line here very shortly we’re working toward for Robert.”

Woods, 28, counts barely $8MM against Los Angeles’ 2020 salary cap. He is set to earn a $9MM base salary in 2021. The former Bills second-round pick signed a five-year, $39MM deal with the Rams in 2017 but enhanced his stock considerably in Los Angeles, turning in back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons. His 176 catches since the start of the 2018 season rank sixth in the NFL.

The Rams gave Woods a modest bonus in 2018 and added $1MM to his 2019 base salary as well. Now, after trading Brandin Cooks and giving Kupp a $16MM-per-year deal — which was Cooks’ price on that 2018 extension — the team is turning its attention to Woods. The Rams are one of several franchises that project to be well over the 2021 cap, which could drop by a record margin. But extensions have picked up around the league, after a quiet several months, and the Rams seem confident they can finalize a deal with Woods.

NFC South Notes: Bucs, Forbath, Saints

September 17th, 2020 at 5:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Currently in the Buccaneers‘ concussion protocol, Chris Godwin may miss their Week 2 game against the Panthers. But the 2019 breakout wide receiver still looms as a candidate to sign a lucrative extension. The fourth-year wideout is willing to be patient ahead of his next contract, with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com noting (Insider link) the former third-round pick is willing to negotiate with the Bucs through the franchise tag or ahead of free agency. In April, Jason Licht said the team wants Godwin around for the long haul.

The Bucs already authorized a $16.5MM-per-year deal for Mike Evans — one of just two players ever to start a career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons (along with Randy Moss) — and the receiver market has ballooned since. A Godwin deal could come in north of $20MM annually, which would put Evans in a bit of a strange spot. With Godwin and Evans a big part of Tom Brady‘s two-year Tampa Bay commitment, the younger of the two Pro Bowl Bucs wideouts stands in good position as his contract season begins.

Here is the latest from Tampa and other NFC South cities:

  • Lavonte David began negotiating with the Bucs on another extension nearly three weeks ago. The sides have not made much progress, but Fowler notes David wants to retire as a Buccaneer. The 2012 second-round pick signed a five-year, $50.25MM deal in 2015. David joins Godwin as a contract-year Buccaneer, so the team will need to address one of these deals before free agency — in order to keep the franchise tag free for the other. David, 30, led all linebackers with 724 solo tackles during the 2010s and can conceivably push for a deal in the Bobby Wagner neighborhood ($18MM AAV).
  • Godwin and Evans represent a key reason why Leonard Fournette opted for a Tampa stay. The former Jaguars running back said the weapons the Bucs possess played a role in him agreeing to head to south Florida, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. As the centerpiece of the Jaguars’ offense for a while, Fournette faced stacked boxes on 39% of his carries from 2017-19, Palmer notes. Fournette received six touches in his Bucs debut but figures to become a bigger part of the offense in the games to come.
  • In addition to trading for Rob Gronkowski, the Bucs made another move to accommodate their new quarterback. They have given Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, an office at their facility, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes. The Patriots did this at one point too but removed the TB12 co-architect’s office later. Guerrero is working with Brady, Gronk and several other Bucs, per La Canfora, who adds that some believe the Pats souring on Guerrero helped lead Brady out of New England.
  • The Panthers worked out Kai Forbath on Thursday. Second-year kicker Joey Slye, whom the team went with over former Pro Bowler Graham Gano, made all three of his field goal tries in Week 1 but missed a PAT. Slye missed four extra points last season. Carolina does not have a kicker on its practice squad.
  • Panthers rookie UDFA Sam Franklin has moved from linebacker to safety, according to defensive coordinator Phil Snow (via The Athletic’s Joe Person, on Twitter). Franklin’s primary role still figures to be special teams this season. He played 18 special teams snaps against the Raiders compared to just two on defense.
  • The Saints worked out defensive lineman Anthony Zettel on Thursday. The journeyman D-lineman signed a one-year Vikings deal earlier this year but did not stick on their roster.

Panthers Host CB Trumaine Johnson

September 17th, 2020 at 3:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former Rams and Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson is back on the NFL radar. The Panthers brought in the veteran for a visit Thursday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

The Jets released Johnson on the first day of the 2020 league year, and the former Forbes List resident has been off the grid since. He struggled with injuries in New York and did not live up to the massive contract he signed in 2018. Gang Green ate $12MM in dead money to cut Johnson, though they spread the hit over multiple years via post-June 1 cut.

Johnson, 30, has made 77 NFL starts. His best work came in St. Louis and Los Angeles. The Rams prioritized Johnson over Janoris Jenkins in 2016, giving him the franchise tag. The sides did not work out an extension that year, and the Rams franchised Johnson again in 2017. Although the former UDFA out of Montana has not made a Pro Bowl, he earned quite a bit of dough from his tags and the Jets’ five-year, $72.5MM deal.

The Panthers were without free agent addition Eli Apple on Sunday against the Raiders, and the team was already light on proven corners with Apple in the equation. Apple currently sits on Carolina’s IR list. The Panthers used multiple draft picks on corners this year; both were Day 3 choices, however.

Titans WR A.J. Brown To Miss Time

September 17th, 2020 at 3:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

After narrowly escaping Denver with a Week 1 win, the Titans may be without a key piece of their skill-position corps against the Jaguars and potentially beyond Week 2.

A.J. Brown missed practice Thursday with a bone bruise in his knee, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports the second-year wide receiver could miss multiple games (Twitter link). Brown will be classified as week-to-week. Tennessee indeed declared its No. 1 wide receiver out for its Week 2 game against Jacksonville.

The Titans saw Brown enjoy one of the better rookie years a wide receiver has in recent memory, and the Ole Miss product played a pivotal role in the Titans making a surprise run to the AFC championship game. Although the 2019 second-round pick only received 84 targets, he turned those into 52 catches for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns. Next Gen Stats rated Brown first in yards after catch per reception (8.8) last season.

Tennessee has former top-five pick Corey Davis in a contract year, after not picking up his fifth-year option, and slot receiver Adam Humphries. Those two will need to fill a key void, should Brown be forced to miss multiple games.

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