2022 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: December 2024

Texans To Extend LS Jon Weeks

February 22nd, 2022 at 5:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

No Houston Texans player has reached a 13th season with the franchise. Jon Weeks is now in position to do so.

The veteran long snapper agreed to a one-year extension Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Weeks was on track for free agency but is now signed through the 2022 season.

This agreement puts the former UDFA in position to surpass Andre Johnson as the longest-tenured player in Texans history. Johnson played in Houston from 2003-14; he and Weeks are the only 12-year Texans in franchise annals.

Weeks, 36, has never missed a game and has long since passed Johnson for the most games played in team history. Houston’s 17-game 2021 season pushed Weeks to the 193-game mark. No other player has suited up for 170 contests with the Texans. A 2015 Pro Bowler, Weeks played last season under the customary long snapper salary parameters. After playing for $1.2MM last season, Weeks is likely to return at around the veteran minimum in 2022.

Rams To Hire LSU’s Jake Peetz

February 22nd, 2022 at 4:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

A two-time quarterbacks coach in the NFL, Jake Peetz spent the past season as LSU’s offensive coordinator. It turns out the Rams will have two 2021 SEC OCs on their staff next season.

After naming ex-Kentucky coordinator Liam Coen as their next OC, the Rams are adding Peetz to their offensive staff, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This marks a reunion between Peetz and Sean McVay, who were both on Washington’s staff in 2014. Peetz, 38, has bounced around since.

Peetz’s most notable NFL development probably came in 2018, when the Colts had him on their offensive coordinator radar during the short time in which Josh McDaniels was on track to be their next head coach. McDaniels nixing those plans led Peetz to Alabama for a second one-year stint under Nick Saban. Peetz spent the 2019 and ’20 seasons with the Panthers, with Matt Rhule keeping the Ron Rivera-era assistant and moving him from running backs to quarterbacks coach.

Peetz, who was a quality control staffer during McVay’s first Washington OC season, also coached the Raiders’ QBs from 2016-17. LSU’s offense ranked just 80th in 2021, a 6-7 Tigers season, though sophomore quarterback Max Johnson did finish with a 27-6 TD-INT ratio in his first full year as a starter.

The Rams lost two-year OC Kevin O’Connell to the Vikings. Coen, Peetz, Greg Olson and Thomas Brown are set to be key McVay lieutenants for the defending Super Bowl champions next season. Of this group, Brown was the only one on staff last season.

Chiefs Release LB Anthony Hitchens

February 22nd, 2022 at 2:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs have made a cost-cutting move on defense. Per a team announcement, they are releasing veteran linebacker Anthony Hitchens.

“When I first became general manager, one of the first moves I wanted to make was to bring in Anthony Hitchens”, said Brett Veach. “We knew how intelligent, hard working and consistent he was as a player, and we knew he’d become a selfless leader. He was that and more. He has all the intangibles and was an integral piece in our franchise winning a Super Bowl title. We appreciate everything he’s done for the organization and wish him the best as he continues his career”.

Head coach Andy Reid added: “I really enjoyed the opportunity to coach Anthony over the last four years. He’s as tough as they come in this league and is a team-first player. I appreciate the way he came to work… but also his willingness to teach the younger guys around him”.

Hitchens was scheduled to have a base salary of $7.8MM in 2022, the final year of his contract. His cap hit, however, would have been just over $12.6MM. The move saves the Chiefs more than $8.4MM, nearly tripling the cap space the team had prior to today.

The 29-year-old signed a five year, $45MM deal with Kansas City in 2018. That came after four seasons in Dallas, who drafted him in the fourth round out of Iowa. He flashed plenty of potential with the Cowboys despite only playing a full season once. His inaugural campaign in Kansas City saw him record a career-best 135 tackles, including seven for a loss, along with two QB hits and one forced fumble. In the proceeding years, he proved to be a consistent presence in the middle of the defense, albeit with a reduced snap count.

With fellow linebacker Ben Niemann a pending free agent, this move opens the door to Willie Gay Jr. and Nick Bolton taking on even more responsibility moving forward. Second round picks from the past two drafts, Bolton in particular has shown he is capable of a larger workload in the future. Linebacker could, of course, also be a position of focus in the coming weeks as well as the draft.

Update On Patriots’ Coaching, Front Office Staffs

February 22nd, 2022 at 2:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the talk around the Patriots this offseason revolves around the challenge of replacing Josh McDaniels‘ contributions to the team’s offense. Two of the assistants that will be tasked with working on the new-look staff are ex-Patriot staffers Joe Judge and Matt Patricia. As Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes, the specific roles for those two seem to have been identified.

As Breer notes, Judge is expected to work with the team’s quarterbacks, something he hasn’t done at any point in his coaching career. When it was announced that he would be returning to New England, it became clear he would work on the offensive staff in some capacity. His only role as a position coach with the Patriots came in 2019, when he worked with the receivers in addition to his more familiar special teams coordinator duties. Regardless of his experience, Judge will have a hugely important role, given that much of the team’s success will likely hinge on Mac Jones‘ development in his second season.

As for Patricia, Breer states that he will work with the offensive line. That would be a slightly more familiar spot for him, since he was an assistant with that position group in 2005 with the Patriots. Still, it’s a long way from the defensive work that earned him a head coaching job. In any event, that position change would confirm the recent belief that Patricia would be transitioning away from the quasi-front office role he took when retuning to New England back to the sidelines.

In addition, Breer writes that “the Patriots haven’t so much as talked to Adam Gase about their OC opening, and things have been quiet on the Bill O’Brien front as well”. That would suggest that their staff is more or less intact as is, something which ESPN’s Mike Reiss corroborates. With regards to the front office, Breer points out that Matt Groh being promoted to director of player personnel as Dave Ziegler‘s replacement – rather than the more experienced Eliot Wolf – is striking. He posits that Bill Belichick likely found Groh to be the safer option to remain with the team long-term, as Wolf has generated outside GM interest.

Overall, there is a degree of risk with entrusting these staffers with positions they haven’t served in during their ascension up the organizational ladder in New England. If it works out, the team’s offense in particular could be in position to take a step forward; if not, though, more shuffling along the staff could prove necessary this time next year.

Bears’ Allen Robinson, Akiem Hicks Leaving In Free Agency?

February 22nd, 2022 at 12:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

2022 will be an important season for the Bears, with Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles taking over as head coach and general manager, respectively. It will also be the first full year of Justin Fields being the undisputed starting quarterback. However, as Adam Jahns of The Athletic writes, they could very well find themselves without Pro Bowlers Allen Robinson and Akiem Hicks.

Poles’ stated goal to “be selective in free agency” might not include Robinson or Hicks. The former has made it clear that he was not a fan of ex-HC Matt Nagy in particular, and of the offensive direction of the team more generally. The 28-year-old posted 38 catches for 410 yards and one touchdown last season, a far cry from his 1,100-plus yard seasons in the two previous campaigns.

Robinson signed his franchise tender last year, with many feeling it may be his final season in the Windy City. As Jahns writes, “aligning with a veteran quarterback is arguably in his best interests”, either as part of a long-term deal closer to the $14MM per year he originally agreed to in Chicago, or on a shorter pact to prove he can still play at an elite level.

As for Hicks, frustrations with the franchise could again be a deciding factor in his plans. As Jahns notes, even tough nearly the entire defensive staff has been replaced, the 32-year-old could look elsewhere on the open market – a stark turnaround from preseason reports that he was looking to stay in Chicago. With injuries becoming a concern in recent years, Hicks is still amongst the most disruptive interior linemen in the league, recording seven total sacks in the last two seasons. However, Jahns writes, “Hicks seemed to sense that his time was ending with the Bears” towards the end of the regular season. Regardless of where he ends up, Hicks will likely not be able to match the $12MM annual average he was making on his soon-to-be expired contract.

In the case of both players, Jahns predicts that they will leave in free agency, leaving the Bears to focus on other priorities, such as offensive linemen James Daniels. If Robinson and Hicks do depart, they will leave Chicago with plenty of cap space to work with, but also a significant number of additions needing to be made to rebound from 2021’s disappointing performance.

Wisconsin K Collin Larsh Declares For NFL Draft

February 22nd, 2022 at 11:49am CST by Adam La Rose

Wisconsin kicker Collin Larsh has entered the NFL Draft, despite the deadline for declarations having long passed. In a tweet, he announced that he is forgoing his final year of eligibility and turning pro.

“Excited to announce that I will be pursuing my dream of playing in the NFL”, he wrote. “Beyond blessed to have spent my college career as a Badger and excited for my next opportunity”. As Michael Smith of Pro Football Talk writes, Larsh had already spent five seasons in Wisconsin, but was eligible for another campaign – just as all other college athletes of that age were – because of the 2020 season being cut short by COVID-19.

In his final year, Larsh made 17 of 22 field goal attempts, for a career-best percentage of 77.3%. Over the past three seasons, he made all but two extra point attempts. As Smith notes, those less-than-spectacular numbers should serve as essentially a guarantee that he won’t be drafted; still, his body of work could earn him at least a spot on an NFL practice roster this fall.

Lions Re-Sign LB Josh Woods

February 22nd, 2022 at 10:52am CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions have brought back another player they were impressed with in 2021, this time on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Josh Woods has re-signed with Detroit, per a team announcement. David Birkett of The Detroit Free Press adds that it is a one-year deal.

The 25-year-old began his career with the Bears, signing there as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played as a safety during a four-year college career at Maryland, but transitioned to linebacker to try and latch onto an NFL roster. He played 46 total defensive snaps in Chicago, but established himself as an effective special teamer during his time there.

Woods signed with the Lions this past September, off of the Bears’ practice squad. While he still primarily played on special teams – quickly emerging as one of the team’s best players in that role – he did start to see time on defense. After injuries to starters Alex Anzalone and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, he saw the heaviest workload of his career, making a team-leading 13 tackles in Week 14. Not long after, though, he suffered a season-ending neck injury.

With both Anzalone and Reeves-Maybin set to be free agents, Birken notes that “Woods could compete for time on defense next season”. While the team does intend to keep Anzalone in particular, Woods’ play in the Motor City has earned him at least one more season of trying to establish a full-time defensive role.

Could The Cowboys Tag Randy Gregory Or Dalton Schultz?

February 22nd, 2022 at 9:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Two of the most important pending free agents in Dallas are defensive end Randy Gregory and tight end Dalton Schultz. As ESPN’s Todd Archer writes, each could be franchise tag candidates, as the team faces numerous tough roster decisions.

Gregory, despite being 29, is set to hit the open market for the first time in his career. After dealing with suspensions and injuries (including a knee problem that required recent surgery), he likely earned himself a payday in 2021, since he posted six sacks (which tied for a career high), along with three forced fumbles in 12 games. Along with DeMarcus Lawrence – who was himself tagged twice by the team, before ultimately signing a long-term extension – and Micah Parsons, Gregory was part of a dominant pass rush for the Cowboys this season.

Archer notes that the tag number for defensive ends is likely to be around $20MM. In part because of that high figure, he writes that “the Cowboys’ hope is that standing by Gregory through his off-field issues… will help them in securing a favorable long-term deal”.

As for Schultz, Archer believes a tag is more likely. The 25-year-old has grown into an important offensive contributor in the last two seasons, especially so in 2021, where he notched 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. A franchise tag for Schultz would cost the team just under $11MM, which is less than what Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry received when they signed with the Patriots in 2021, and, quite possibly, some of the other pending free agents at the position could get this year.

Tagging either one would, of course, leave the team in the position of needing to commit long-term to the other. Given the fact that, as Archer points out, Dallas is currently over the cap by more than $20MM, tough, there will inevitably be holes in the roster to be filled if the Cowboys are to remain Super Bowl contenders.

Latest On Browns’ Jarvis Landry

February 22nd, 2022 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Amidst speculation that the Browns could move on from wideout Jarvis Landry, the veteran made his stance on the matter clear on Tuesday. In a trio of tweets, he updated his injury status, while publicly stating his intention of remaining with Cleveland.

“I came back to play in the best shape of my life”, Landry wrote. However, he suffered an MCL sprain in Week 2, which landed him on IR. He then “came back way too early and ended up staying hurt the entire season”. That injury, amongst others, limited the 29-year-old to 12 games in 2021. He recorded career-lows in catches (52), yards (570) and touchdowns (two) in what was a disappointing campaign for the Browns’ offense as a whole.

After the team was eliminated from playoff contention in January, questions arose regarding what the team would do to handle the five-time Pro Bowler’s contract, which has one year left on it. His 2022 cap hit is scheduled to be roughly $16.4MM, so a restructure could be a viable option. However, the Browns would only be saddled with $1.5MM of dead money if they cut Landry, who might welcome a fresh start after a down season and the messy departure of his close friend Odell Beckham Jr.

Landry further explained that his injuries were the reason for him missing media availability, which was another cause of speculation his days in Cleveland were numbered. However, Landry states that “I have put the ball in [the Browns’] court by telling them I would like to stay”. His presence would certainly help a WR corps which is lacking established production, although the team could try to start fresh at the position this offseason.

In that case, according to Landry, “I’m confident enough in myself to be a better healthy me this year and moving forward to helping do my part in winning a championship elsewhere”. What the team ultimately decides with him will certainly be one of the more intriguing storylines in Cleveland in the coming weeks.

This Date In Transactions History: Giants Extend Tom Coughlin

February 21st, 2022 at 7:46pm CST by Ben Levine

On this date in 2014, the Giants were coming off their first losing season in almost 10 years and head coach Tom Coughlin was about to enter lame-duck status. So, to avoid any controversy regarding their coaching staff, the organization decided to give their head coach an extension.

On February 21, 2014, the Giants signed Coughlin to a one-year extension. The deal kept the long-time head coach on the sideline through the 2015 campaign, with the new deal paying Coughlin around $7MM.

“The Giants have always done that,” Coughlin said of his one-year deal (via Conor Orr of NJ.com). “That’s the way it has been indicated to me. I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to it to be honest with you. We’ve got a lot of work going on in our business, as you know. I had great confidence that it would happen. And it did.”

Following a relatively successful stint as the Jaguars head coach, Coughlin joined the Giants in 2004. During his first five season at the helm, the Giants won 47 regular season games, made four postseason appearances, and won a Super Bowl. After dropping to 8-8 in 2009, they rebounded with 10 wins in 2010 before going 9-7 and earning another ring in 2011. After that second championship, the Giants inked Coughlin to a three-year, $20MM deal.

Following their Super Bowl XLVI victory, the Giants had another 9-7 record in 2012, but this time the team failed to reach the playoffs. The team fell to 7-9 in 2013, but there was still some reason for optimism. The team had an awful start to the season, going 0-6 through the first month-plus. However, they managed to rebound, going 7-3 for the rest of the season. Plus, the head coach had shown an ability to rebound from underwhelming seasons with championship-winning squads. So, when the Giants committed to Coughlin beyond the upcoming 2014 campaign, it raised few eyebrows.

However, things wouldn’t get better for the organization. The team fell to 6-10, but Coughlin still got another one-year extension to once again avoid lame-duck status. The team had another 6-10 season in 2015, and the writing was on the wall. There were whispers that the Giants were prepared to move on from Coughlin, but naturally, the organization allowed their successful coach to save face. So, Coughlin announced that he was stepping down from his position after the two sides decided to part ways.

The Giants took it year-by-year with Coughlin during his final seasons with the organization, but the team has been willing to commit to their recent hires. The team inked Ben McAdoo to a four-year deal, and they signed Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge to five-year deals. We haven’t heard anything about the length of Brian Daboll‘s contract, but the new HC is surely hoping he’ll last longer than his predecessors.

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