HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Tony Buzbee: Clients Won’t Settle With Deshaun Watson

May 13th, 2021 at 10:10am CST by Zachary Links

Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing 22 women suing Deshaun Watson, says four of his clients have met with NFL lead investigator Lisa Friel (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX26). Meanwhile, “eight to ten of his clients” have met with the Houston Police Department. 

[RELATED: Pats, Bears, Washington, Dolphins Pursued Watson]

Furthermore, Buzbee says four additional clients may want to speak with the league, but he may advise them against it (“Some of the women did not feel like they were being respected by the NFL,” Buzbee explained.) And, across the board, Buzbee insists that his clients will not agree to a settlement with the Texans quarterback.

Before the accusations came to light, Watson was pushing the Texans front office to trade him. The Patriots, Bears, Dolphins and the Washington Football Team all expressed interest in the three-time Pro Bowler, but later backed out. It’s unlikely that trade talks will resume until there’s some clarity on Watson’s off-the-field situation and his on-the-field availability.

Meanwhile, Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin says that the lawsuits are a “money grab.”

“It was not until the plaintiffs saw an opportunity for a money grab that they changed their stories to convert therapy sessions they bragged about to friends and family to something much more nefarious,” Hardin wrote in April.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/21

May 13th, 2021 at 9:33am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s late round signings:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • DT Alim McNeill (third round; North Carolina State)

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

QB J.T. Barrett Joining Cowboys On Tryout Basis

May 12th, 2021 at 10:34pm CST by Ben Levine

J.T. Barrett is getting another shot at an NFL gig. The journeyman quarterback is joining the Cowboys on a tryout basis, reports ESPN’s Todd Archer. Dallas is also auditioning quarterback Brady Davis.

Barrett had a standout career at Ohio State, earning three first team All-Big-Ten nods and setting a number of school records. He ultimately finished his collegiate career with a 38-6 record, tossing 104 touchdowns vs. only 30 interceptions. While many of his teammates were ultimately drafted following their stints with the Buckeyes, Barrett went undrafted in 2018.

Since that time, the quarterback hasn’t been able to hold a steady gig in the NFL. He’s had two stints with the Saints, and he also spent time with the Seahawks and Steelers, but the 26-year-old has yet to see the field for a regular season game. 2020 was the first season where Barrett didn’t have a job, so this could be his final chance to crack an NFL roster.

While he has some familiarity with a handful of Cowboys players (including college teammate Ezekiel Elliott), Barrett will be hard pressed to make the regular season roster. Barrett will have to leap at least two of Cooper Rush, Garrett Gilbert, and Ben DiNucci for the opportunity to be one of Dak Prescott‘s backup.

Davis, an undrafted free agent in 2020, split his collegiate career between Memphis and Illinois State. In 27 games for the Redbirds, the quarterback compiled 3,514 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Auditioning For Texans

May 12th, 2021 at 8:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is auditioning for the Texans. The veteran defensive back will join Houston on a tryout basis for their upcoming minicamp, reports Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.

The 2014 first-round pick spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Packers, including a 2016 campaign where he earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro recognition after finishing with 80 tackles, five interceptions, and seven passes defended. He was traded to Washington midway through the 2018 campaign, and he started all 16 games for the Bears in 2019, finishing with 78 tackles and two interceptions.

Clinton-Dix signed a one-year, $3.75MM deal with the Cowboys last offseason, teaming him up with former coach Mike McCarthy. However, after earning more than $2MM in guaranteed money, the safety was released by the organization in early September. Clinton-Dix sat in free agency for the remainder of the season.

The Texans current grouping of safeties include Lonnie Johnson Jr., Justin Reid, Terrence Brooks, and Jonathan Owens. Clinton-Dix has the versatility to play both safety positions, so there’s a chance he makes the team as a backup.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/21

May 12th, 2021 at 7:44pm CST by Ben Levine

A summary of today’s minor draft pick signings:

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Broncos, Bobby Massie Agree To Deal

May 12th, 2021 at 6:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Connected to several candidates to replace Ja’Wuan James at right tackle, the Broncos appear to have chosen a path here. They are signing Bobby Massie, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

One of several tackles to work out for the team this week, Massie agreed to a one-year deal worth $4MM. Massie’s time in Chicago overlapped with Vic Fangio‘s. The Broncos HC was with the Bears during three of Massie’s five seasons in the Windy City. The Bears parted ways with Massie in March, declining his 2021 option.

While this marks a big day for the Bears’ longtime tackle tandem, with Charles Leno signing with Washington, it provides the Broncos a veteran option at their second-most troublesome position. Brought in to stop a revolving door at right tackle in 2019, James missed most of that season and opted out in 2020. His Achilles tear is not certain to knock him out for all of 2021, but the Broncos placing him on the reserve/NFI list will prevent James from playing for them this season.

Massie, 32 in August, will be on track to be the ninth Week 1 Broncos right tackle starter in nine years. (The current list, for those curious: Orlando Franklin, Chris Clark, Ryan Harris, Donald Stephenson, Menelik Watson, Jared Veldheer, James and Elijah Wilkinson.) With James out of the picture, Wilkinson in Chicago and Massie on a one-year deal, this streak may well reach 10 in 2022. But Massie checks off a key need for the current Broncos, who have been linked to another longtime NFC North performer at quarterback.

Whether it’s Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater or Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Broncos had a major blocking vacancy. The James injury prompted them to bring in four tackles — Massie, Dennis Kelly, Jermaine Eluemunor and Cameron Fleming — for auditions. The Broncos also checked in on Leno, but he preferred to stay at left tackle and will do so in Washington. Denver added 2019 UDFA tackle Ryan Pope this week as well.

A former Cardinals fourth-round pick, Massie broke into Arizona’s starting lineup as a rookie. He served as the Cards’ primary right tackle in 2012, 2014 and ’15. The Bears signed Massie in 2016 and used him as a starter in 64 games. Pro Football Focus slotted Massie 36th among tackles last season. He graded just outside the top 30 in 2018 as well.

Bills Sign Round 2 Pick Carlos Basham Jr.

May 12th, 2021 at 6:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills operated aggressively in an effort to bolster their pass rush in the draft, taking defensive ends with each of their first two picks. The second of those selections, Carlos Basham Jr., signed his rookie contract Wednesday.

Basham will join first-round pick Gregory Rousseau in Buffalo. Cousin of Cowboys D-lineman Tarell Basham, Carlos went to Wake Forest and was a steady presence in ACC backfields.

The 6-foot-3, 274-pound pass rusher registered 10 sacks as a junior in 2019. Between his sophomore and junior seasons, the emerging Demon Deacons sack artist totaled 29 tackles for loss. Basham played in just six games last season, recording five sacks. Scouts Inc. graded Basham as the 43rd overall prospect — five spots ahead of Rousseau. The Bills drafted Basham at No. 61.

Last season, the Bills finished with just 38 sacks. No Buffalo rusher totaled more than five. The team still has thirtysomething starters Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison, but three first- or second-round picks over the past two years will be groomed to take over in the near future.

Buffalo drafted Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa in the 2020 second round and now will have two new coveted prospects set to help the cause. Hughes and Addison are set to be free agents in 2022. Addison adjusted his three-year contract in March, converting it into a two-year deal.

Former Vikings Coach Jerry Burns Dies At 94

May 12th, 2021 at 4:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former Vikings head coach and longtime offensive coordinator Jerry Burns died Wednesday. He was 94. Burns spent 24 seasons with the Vikings, who were a fixture in playoff brackets during his lengthy Minnesota stay.

Burns worked as Vikings offensive coordinator or head coach from 1968-91, serving as Bud Grant‘s OC throughout the team’s dominant stretch in the late ’60s through the late ’70s. The Vikings initially promoted wide receivers coach Les Steckel to succeed Grant in 1984, but Grant returned for a final season in ’85. The team then summoned Burns to take over.

Under Burns, the Vikings returned to Super Bowl contention amid fierce competition in a loaded NFC stretch. Minnesota reached three straight playoff fields from 1987-89. The ’87 team (8-7 in the strike-shortened season) upset the No. 1-seeded 49ers in the divisional round and fell just short of a third straight road postseason win in Washington. Burns’ HC tenure lasted six seasons. The Vikings went 52-43 in that span.

“The first year I was at the Vikings, I coached one guy short. I was holding the job for ‘Burnsie’ until he could come the next year,” Grant said. “He was a very astute football mind. He could see things on the field immediately. He was as important to my career as anyone I’ve been involved with.

“His coaching help, friendship, loyalty, family — he brought everything to the Vikings he had. I’m gonna miss him.”

Prior to joining Grant in Minnesota, Burns served as head coach at Iowa and an assistant under Vince Lombardi. A Detroit native, Burns was in Green Bay for two seasons, 1966 and ’67; the team won the first two Super Bowls in those years. The Vikings reached four Super Bowls during Burns’ time as their offensive coordinator, with Burns helping Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton retire as the NFL’s all-time leading passer.

Packers To Sign Blake Bortles

May 12th, 2021 at 4:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:36pm: No visit will be necessary. The Packers have reached an agreement with the seven-year veteran quarterback, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. It’s a one-year deal (Twitter links).

Bortles and Hackett will reunite with the Packers amid some QB turbulence. Rodgers is seeking a Green Bay exit, and Bortles does bring substantial experience as a starter. He has started 73 of the 78 games he has played. In addition to working with Hackett previously, Bortles has experience in the offense Matt LaFleur uses, having spent 2019 and some of 2020 with Sean McVay in L.A.

4:21pm: Jordan Love is the only Packers quarterback expected to take part in voluntary on-field workouts, which the team will begin next week. As it stands, the 2020 first-round pick is set to be the only Green Bay QB at minicamp as well.

This has led the team to show interest in free agent passers. Blake Bortles is now on the team’s radar, with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein noting (via Twitter) the Packers are pursuing the former Jaguars starter. A visit is likely. The Packers are set to meet with Chad Kelly and former Falcons backup Kurt Benkert, but Bortles obviously has far more experience.

Bortles spent last season with the Broncos and Rams. Despite Denver’s historic issues at quarterback, the five-year Jacksonville starter did not see action in 2020. He threw two passes in 2019, working as Jared Goff‘s backup in Los Angeles.

The former No. 3 overall pick would be a natural fit in Green Bay. Current Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett worked as Bortles’ Jags OC for nearly four years. After taking over the starting job early in his rookie season, Bortles held it until the 2018 season. The Jags were on the doorstep of Super Bowl LII with Bortles, though their talented defense played a notable role in the team reaching that point, but the quarterback’s subsequent extension quickly backfired. Jacksonville ate considerable dead money to cut Bortles in 2019.

Even if Bortles signs, the Packers are likely to add a UDFA, Silverstein adds (on Twitter). The rookie passer would profile as a camp arm behind Love and whichever veteran the team signs. With Aaron Rodgers still at odds with his team of 16 years, the Packers are in an unusual place at quarterback. They opted not to bring back multiyear backup Tim Boyle, bumping Love up to their QB2 role. Should Rodgers stick to his guns, Love may be summoned to action sooner than the team expected. Bortles or another veteran would be needed in this case.

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