HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

No Reinstatement For Seahawks’ Josh Gordon

December 23rd, 2020 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

Josh Gordon won’t be making his return this week after all. The Seahawks were notified by the league office that he has not satisfied all terms of his conditional reinstatement (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times). 

Gordon has suffered a setback in his battle with substance abuse, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The wide receiver will be permitted to attend team meetings and individual workouts, but he’ll be barred from practices or games until the matter is resolved.

Unfortunately, this is familiar territory for Gordon, who has been suspended nine times as a pro — mostly for from substance-abuse violations. Still, he excelled in a limited sample with the Seahawks last year, and the team happily re-signed him with the hope that he could serve as the team’s No. 3 receiver behind D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Without Gordon, they’ll continue to use David Moore as one of the leading supporters, plus rookie Freddie Swain.

Gordon, 29, caught 27 passes for 426 yards and a touchdown in eleven games for the Pats and Seahawks last year. In his five Seattle games, he averaged an eye-popping 19.9 yards per grab.

The Seahawks waived fellow wide receiver Penny Hart to make room for Gordon earlier this week. Hart remains unsigned, so the Seahawks may look to bring him back in the coming days.

Adrian Peterson Wants To Stay With Lions

December 22nd, 2020 at 6:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Fond of indicating plans to play until or close to his age-40 season, Adrian Peterson would like to stay with his current team beyond 2020.

The future Hall of Fame running back said he wants to re-sign with the Lions, veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweets. Peterson signed with the Lions shortly after Washington released him this summer, and the 35-year-old back has again proven productive without offseason acclimation.

Signed to a veteran-minimum deal, Peterson has made 10 starts for the Lions and gained 531 yards on the ground (3.7 per carry). He has added six touchdowns with Detroit, increasing his 14-year total to 123, and is barely 250 rushing yards shy of 15,000 for his career. Only Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Frank Gore and Barry Sanders reside in the 15,000-yard club. Peterson, whose 145 carries are tops among Lions this season, is barely 500 yards behind Sanders for fourth all time.

While Peterson has logged 3,181 carries (sixth all time), he has continued to produce as a late-career nomad. He rushed for 1,000 yards with Washington in 2018, despite signing there that August, and surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his two Washington campaigns. With Detroit, he has shared the backfield with rookie D’Andre Swift. The Lions have Kerryon Johnson under contract through 2021 as well, though Peterson has seen far more work than the 2018 second-round pick.

The Lions are set to hire a new GM and new head coach soon, so it will be interesting to see if Peterson will receive another chance in Detroit.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/20

December 22nd, 2020 at 6:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Anthony Edwards

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Activated off practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ishmael Hyman

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: RB Spencer Ware
  • Activated off practice squad injured list: WR Thomas Ives

Cleveland Browns

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Elijah Benton

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE David Irving

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Released: OL Andrew Jones

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/22/20

December 22nd, 2020 at 5:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL To Allow Teams To Interview Employed HC Candidates Beginning Wednesday

December 22nd, 2020 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

In what could make for a significant change to the head coaching interview process, teams will no longer have to wait until the regular season’s conclusion to interview candidates.

Beginning Wednesday, teams will be able to request and conduct virtual interviews with HC candidates currently employed by other teams, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report (via Twitter). No in-person interviews can happen until the regular season ends, however, and these virtual meetings will be capped at two hours, per Pelissero (on Twitter). This pre-interview policy of sorts does not apply to coordinator candidates, however.

Traditionally, teams must wait until their interview candidate’s team completes its regular season. This slows the process and allows unattached coaches to interview for jobs before active coaches have the opportunity to do so. Teams interested in active coaches will have interesting decisions to make beginning this week.

The Falcons, Lions and Texans have HC openings and could now get the jump on other teams expected to fire coaches — like the Jaguars or Jets — thanks to this rule change. This week should now also provide clarity on which teams are interested in certain HC candidates.

However, this rule tweak will give teams the opportunity to refuse HC-needy franchises’ requests to conduct these early-bird virtual interviews, per Pelissero and Rapoport. They do not have such privileges once the regular season ends. It will be interesting to see if teams decline requests for these virtual meet-and-greets, when these assistants will be free to interview for HC jobs in early January.

Texans Interview Matt Bazirgan For GM Job

December 22nd, 2020 at 5:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans’ GM search will include internal candidates. Texans director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan interviewed for the franchise’s vacant GM post on Tuesday.

This would be a long-shot hire, with Bazirgan having arrived in Houston during Brian Gaine‘s short tenure as GM. But he represented part of Houston’s post-Gaine power structure and had a voice in personnel matters.

Prior to Bazirgan joining the Texans in 2018, he spent nearly 15 years with the Jets. Working his way up to New York’s college scouting director by the end of his tenure, Bazirgan has steadily risen since his 2004 NFL entrance as a scouting assistant.

The Texans fired Bill O’Brien in October and are looking to make their third GM hire since 2018. Rick Smith‘s exit after a 12-year tenure led to Gaine, who barely spent a year on the job. O’Brien’s tenure produced fireworks but will leave his successor without much in the way of draft capital. The Texans have interviewed Louis Riddick for this position and remain interested in Patriots exec Nick Caserio as well, but they are covering their bases with the Bazirgan interview.

49ers To Sign Josh Rosen Off Bucs’ P-Squad

December 22nd, 2020 at 4:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Rosen will return to the NFC West. In need of quarterback help, the 49ers are signing the former Cardinals first-round pick off the Buccaneers’ practice squad, Field Yates and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com report (via Twitter).

This will mean a return to a 53-man roster for Rosen, who has resided on Tampa Bay’s taxi squad throughout his third NFL season. The 2018 No. 10 overall pick will be in line to back up C.J. Beathard, who will replace an injured Nick Mullens in San Francisco’s starting lineup.

Rosen was interested in joining the 49ers earlier this year, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), but instead went to Tampa. At the time, the 49ers were fully staffed at quarterback. But injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Mullens created a need in San Francisco, and the former UCLA passer will return to California.

Beathard is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and Mullens is due for restricted free agency. The latter is facing Tommy John surgery after encountering elbow ligament damage Sunday. No longer attached to his rookie contract, Rosen is signed only through the end of this season. Though, he does not have enough service time to qualify for unrestricted free agency come March. The 49ers could get an extended look at Rosen if they tender him a 2021 contract in March.

Rosen’s NFL career veered well off track early. Landing with a Cardinals team that used two offensive coordinators and numerous offensive linemen in 2018, Rosen became the rare first-round quarterback replaced by another first-round passer the following year. Only the Cardinals and Baltimore Colts of the early 1980s have drafted QBs in consecutive first rounds over the past 40 years, and the Cards shipped Rosen to the Dolphins for a second-round pick after selecting Kyler Murray. Rosen, however, failed to earn much playing time over Ryan Fitzpatrick in Miami. The Dolphins cut Rosen this summer; he has not played in 2020.

For his career, Rosen has a 54.8% completion rate and a 12-19 TD-INT ratio. He has averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt in 20 career games. But the ex-Bruins standout was viewed as a first-round passer ahead of his sophomore season. He ended up being the fourth quarterback chosen in 2018 but has been by far the worst of the five first-round QBs taken in 2018. Although, it can be argued the 23-year-old passer has run into circumstances that made success exceedingly difficult to attain thus far in his career.

49ers To Shut Down Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel; George Kittle Return In Play

December 22nd, 2020 at 4:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Raheem Mostert and Deebo Samuel will see their injury-marred seasons end early. The 49ers are shutting down both players with two games to go, Kyle Shanahan said (via the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman).

Both ran into multiple injuries this year, causing the second-year starters to miss significant time in what became a widespread injury-plagued 49ers season. Each player is under contract beyond this season, with Samuel’s rookie deal running through 2022 and Mostert’s pact expiring after next season.

The 49ers, however, are not opting to shut down all their injured skill-position talents. George Kittle has returned to practice, and Inman notes the All-Pro tight end is on pace to return against the Cardinals. Kittle, who has not played since suffering a foot fracture Nov. 1, would catch passes from his former college quarterback if he does return. The 49ers will start Iowa alum C.J. Beathard over Nick Mullens on Saturday.

A 2017 third-round pick, Beathard has worked as San Francisco’s third-string quarterback for much of his NFL tenure. His contract expires at season’s end. Mullens suffered what is believed to be ligament damage in his elbow against the Cowboys, Inman notes, and will likely need Tommy John surgery. He is due to be a restricted free agent in March.

Kittle will only play if he’s 100%, per Shanahan, who noted the 49ers will not shut down their star tight end if he is fully healthy — despite having been eliminated from playoff contention last week.

Mostert left Sunday’s game because of ankle trouble. The special-teamer-turned-RB1 sustained an MCL sprain in September and injured his ankle upon returning in October. Mostert, 28, was not able to surmount the latter malady. Mostert did end a second straight season averaging at least 5.0 yards per carry, however, though he only managed 104 totes this season. Samuel sustained a foot fracture before training camp but was able to return fairly early in the season. However, a hamstring injury hampered Samuel shortly after he returned. The 2019 second-round pick caught 33 passes for 391 yards over seven games this season.

Jimmy Garoppolo will resume practicing this week, but Shanahan said (via Inman) he would be surprised if doctors deem San Francisco’s QB1 100%. It is likely Beathard will handle the 49ers’ final two starts at quarterback. A high ankle sprain sidelined Garoppolo at multiple junctures this season. He played in just six games. Shanahan said last month the plan is for Garoppolo to return as the team’s starter in 2021, though the franchise will surely explore other options this offseason. Two years remain on Garoppolo’s contract, one the 49ers can move without incurring much dead money.

Broncos To Waive LB Mark Barron

December 22nd, 2020 at 3:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos’ late-summer signing of Mark Barron produced only several weeks’ worth of rehab and practice time, and the team will move on from the former starting linebacker.

Denver will waive Barron to clear a roster spot for cornerback Parnell Motley, according to 9News’ Mike Klis (on Twitter). The Broncos are reeling at corner, and Barron did not make an impact with his fourth NFL team.

Although the Broncos activated Barron from IR in late November, he did not play a snap for the team. Barron signed with Denver — on a one-year deal worth $2.5MM — in the offseason, with the franchise hoping he could play a sub-package role to help out Josey Jewell. But the latter has played well this season, alongside Alexander Johnson as a three-down player, leaving Barron on the sidelines.

Hamstring and pectoral injuries felled the former Buccaneers, Rams and Steelers defender this year. Barron, 31, suffered a hamstring injury before the season, leading him to IR. He remained there longer than expected because of a subsequent pec ailment.

Both the Broncos and Steelers ended up cutting Barron in 2020. The Rams made him a cap casualty in 2019. The former first-round pick converted from safety to linebacker and from 2015-18 with the Rams, and the Steelers used him frequently last season.

Xavien Howard Wants New Contract

December 22nd, 2020 at 2:48pm CST by Rory Parks

Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard just earned the second Pro Bowl bid of his career and is in the running for Defensive Player of the Year honors. He also wants a new contract.

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Howard’s camp will ask the team to renegotiate the five-year, $75MM contract that Howard signed with the ‘Fins in 2019. Although the contract made Howard the highest-paid CB in the league at the time, he is now the sixth-highest-paid corner, one spot behind teammate Byron Jones and his $16.5MM average annual value. Plus, Jones’ $46MM in full guarantees dwarfs Howard’s $27.2MM, and Howard is looking to strike while the iron is hot.

The 27-year-old is leading the league in interceptions this season (nine), and while he was limited to just five games in 2019, he also led the league in picks in 2018 (despite playing in just 12 games that year). Pro Football Focus considers him the best corner in football this season, with a stellar 90.0 grade in coverage.

From that standpoint, it’s easy to see why Howard is looking for a contract more akin to the market-topping five year, $105MM pact ($71.2MM fully guaranteed) that Jalen Ramsey recently pulled down from the Rams. But that’s the nature of the beast, particularly at a premium position like CB. One player sets the market and another player comes along, sometimes hours later, and resets it. But the first player generally doesn’t get another bite at the apple with four years left on his existing contract, and Howard is under club control through 2024.

That said, Miami knows what it has in Howard, and Salguero says it’s possible the team tries to appease him. It’s currently unclear if the Dolphins even know about Howard’s intentions at this point, and while they certainly don’t want to set a precedent by renegotiating a deal that has so much time remaining, Howard is obviously a game-changing talent.

The ‘Fins did field trade calls for Howard before this year’s deadline, but they put an enormous price tag on him. If negotiations go awry, they could theoretically look to deal him and would have no issue finding suitors, but they appear to be a team on the rise and surely don’t want to lose their best defensive player when they hope to be contending for titles.

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