HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Browns Unlikely To Pursue Jimmy Garoppolo?

July 14th, 2022 at 10:02am CST by Sam Robinson

Deshaun Watson‘s initial suspension length is unlikely to surface until at least next week, and even that announcement might not happen until the Browns break for training camp. But the likely appeal process should be expected to drag into August, complicating matters for the team that surrendered three first-round picks and change for the former Texans Pro Bowler.

The prospect of Jimmy Garoppolo serving as an emergency option for Cleveland, in the event the NFL does suspend Watson for a full season or close to it, has come up in recent weeks. But the team is comfortable with Jacoby Brissett guiding the offense in Watson’s absence, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who said during an appearance on KNBR’s Tolbert & Copes (h/t 49erswebzone.com) he is not sure the Browns will emerge in the Garoppolo mix.

[RELATED: How Will 49ers’ Garoppolo Saga End?]

Not long after acquiring Watson, the Browns traded Case Keenum — their backup of two years — and signed Brissett to a one-year, $4.65MM deal. Cleveland also gave up one of the top trade packages in NFL history for Watson. In addition to the first-rounders being dealt, the Browns gave the Texans a third-rounder (in 2023) and two fourths (in 2022 and ’24). The team’s draft capital may be an issue regarding a Garoppolo pursuit, Fowler adds. Baker Mayfield went for only a 2024 fifth-rounder, and the 49ers are in a somewhat similar salary spot with Garoppolo — attached to a $24.2MM base salary that becomes guaranteed in Week 1 — so draft capital being a hang-up is interesting here.

Brissett, 29, has 37 career starts under his belt; five of those came with the Dolphins last season. The former third-round pick averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt in Miami, though he fared better during the second of his years as the Colts’ primary starter. Garoppolo would certainly be a more inspiring option than Brissett, but the Browns may stand down.

Garoppolo, 30, has resumed throwing. The 49ers could stash him on the active/PUP list to start camp, if they want to both give the veteran QB more recovery time and/or sideline him as they negotiate a trade, but Kyle Shanahan said in June the 49ers would likely have their trade chip at practice instead of stashed on the PUP list. The 49ers excused Garoppolo from minicamp, but he was not ready to throw at that point.

The Seahawks loom as a Garoppolo option but are more likely to wait out a potential release. The Texans have been loosely linked to Garoppolo this offseason, with Nick Caserio having been in New England throughout the ex-Tom Brady backup’s stay there. But Fowler adds it would be a bit of a surprise if Garoppolo ended up in Houston, given the team’s interest in developing Davis Mills.

After the Mayfield trade, Cleveland gained more than $8MM in cap space. The team’s $48.5MM is $25MM north of any other team’s cap room, providing options in the event Watson is shut down for the season. (The 49ers’ $4.9MM in space ranks 30th on that list.) Watson being shelved for all of 2022 would cause his five-year contract to toll, making it a 2023-27 pact. The Browns structured the $230MM guaranteed deal to minimize Watson’s penalties in a suspension — one the team did not expect to be a full-season ban when it made the trade. Watson’s $1MM base salary would move to 2023, pushing the run of $50MM-plus cap figures to 2024 and beyond.

Bill Belichick’s Success (Or Lack Thereof) With WR Draft Picks

July 13th, 2022 at 9:55pm CST by Ben Levine

When the Patriots chose N’Keal Harry during the 2019 draft, it was the first time the organization had selected a first-round WR during Bill Belichick‘s reign. Fast forward three years, and the Patriots pawned off Harry for a seventh-round selection.

[RELATED: Bears To Acquire N’Keal Harry From Patriots]

Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus recently explored Harry’s struggles in New England and what ultimately led to his trade to the Bears. This naturally led to another (and persistent) story of Belichick’s inability to find production from his receiver draft picks. Since Belichick took over in 2000, the Patriots have used 19 draft picks on the position. As Kyed notes, only three of those players (Deion Branch, David Givens, and Julian Edelman) started more than 20 games in the NFL. About half of those picks were selected in the fourth round or earlier, and many (like Harry) struggled to ever carve out a role in New England’s offense.

As sources told Kyed, part of this is on the Patriots’ strict offense and their unwillingness to tolerate rookie mistakes:

  • “Just picking up the system that has been in place for 20 years and the type of routes and adjustments. Sometimes they just need to get the best damn players the ball and not be cute.”
  • “It borders on impossibility for a guy fresh out of college.”
  • “New England is a tough place for young players, not just because of the terminology, but it’s because if you mess up, you’re out. They’ll pull you out of the game.”

Now, Harry’s inability to stick in New England can’t be entirely put on the organization; sources also attributed Harry’s failures to a lack of maturity, work ethic, and commitment. Still, looking at Belichick’s list of WR draft picks is a bit damning:

Branch and Edelman were both Super Bowl MVPs. Givens was one of Tom Brady‘s preferred targets for a bit, and Matthew Slater eventually became a ST ace. Otherwise, the team’s best picks at the position are probably Braxton Berrios and Brandon Tate, who both experienced NFL success outside of New England, and/or Malcolm Mitchell and Aaron Dobson, who combined for 1,099 career receiving yards.

Of course, even outside of Belichick’s Super Bowl rings, it’s hard to be too critical. While you could attribute much of the Patriots’ offensive success to Brady, it was still Belichick who brought in a revolving door of receivers via trade (highlighted by Randy Moss and Wes Welker) and free agency (including the likes of Danny Amendola and Brandon Lloyd). He also hit on his tight ends (led by Rob Gronkowski) and pass-catching backs (led by James White). Belichick even got some production from UDFAs, most recently Jakobi Meyers. Sure, he burned plenty of draft picks at the position, but it wasn’t like he completely compromised Brady’s receiving corps.

Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are now out of the picture. It will be intersting to see how a young receiver like second-round rookie Tyquan Thornton will fare alongside quarterback Mac Jones and a revamped offensive coaching staff guided by former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and former special teams coordinator Joe Judge. As Kyed notes, Belichick has mentioned a desire to “streamline” the offense heading into the 2022 campaign, and that potential change in mentality could have an impact on young receivers going forward.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/13/22

July 13th, 2022 at 9:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor transactions:

Chicago Bears

The Bears moved on from the long snapper to make room for wide receiver N’Keal Harry, who was acquired from the Patriots. Ortiz spent four season at TCU, earning three Academic All-Big 12 First Team nods and being named a semifinalist for the 2021 Patrick Mannelly Award, which is handed out to the nation’s best long snapper.

After earning minicamp invites from both the Bears and Cowboys, Ortiz joined Chicago as an undrafted free agent back in May. This transaction likely means that veteran Patrick Scales will keep his LS gig with the Bears for an eighth season.

Steelers Could Add RB; Najee Harris To Remain Workhorse

July 13th, 2022 at 8:01pm CST by Ely Allen

There aren’t many questions surrounding the Steelers’ approach to the running back position. As a rookie last season, Najee Harris put forth a workload worthy of a Pro Bowl selection and accounted for around 75% of Pittsburgh’s rush attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. While that may not sound overwhelming, the next closest player, Benny Snell Jr., only accounted for about 8% of the team’s rush attempts and 6% of the team’s rushing yards. Despite the seemingly small contribution, Snell is still the favorite to back up Harris next season, according to The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly. 

The Steelers’ offensive backfield doesn’t have a ton of experience. The oldest running back on their roster, Trey Edmunds, 27, has never started a game, has 31 career carries, and hasn’t had a carry since November 2019. Every other running back on the roster is 24 years old or younger. After Kalen Ballage announced he was stepping away from the NFL to coach, Pittsburgh’s roster only holds three running backs who had carries for the Steelers in the 2021 season: Harris, Snell, and Anthony McFarland Jr. After them and Edmunds, the only backs on the roster are two undrafted rookies: Mataeo Durant and Jaylen Warren.

McFarland currently has too small a sample size to depend on. During his two years in the league, McFarland has played in 13 games, carrying the ball 36 times for 116 yards. Last year, he only appeared in two games. He had three carries and three yards in those two games. Whether it’s health, size, or ability, Snell is clearly the preferred backup option over McFarland right now.

Snell has had more opportunities to showcase his abilities than McFarland. Snell was around for two years before Harris showed up, backing up James Conner. In those two years, Snell got the opportunity to start five games and contribute in many more. Kaboly compiled the stats of Snell’s starts and any game in which he had at least 12 carries, a total of ten games. Omitting an anomalous start against Washington in 2020, Snell averaged 17 carries for 72 yards per game, averaging 4.2 yards per rush in those nine games. In a full season of those opportunities, Snell would project at 1,150 yards.

Snell’s body of work in previous seasons supports the argument that he can be relied upon as Harris’ relief. But, even if the Steelers did want to add another back to the stable, what options do they have? They have the option of having the backup running backs reflect the Ravens’ starters from last year following season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, as Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman are available. (Even if Le’Veon Bell were planning to play in 2022, and not focus on a potential boxing career, his Steelers past and recent performance likely makes him a non-starter here.) Past those three, veterans Carlos Hyde, David Johnson, and Devontae Booker are all free agents. Are any of these options an improvement on Snell? Potentially, but it may not be worth the money and playbook study necessary to bring them level with where Snell is at now.

More potential names could surface as team’s trim their rosters down to the final 53. Myles Gaskin in Miami, Chris Carson in Seattle, Tevin Coleman in New York, and D’Onta Foreman in Carolina could all be on the chopping block come late August and find themselves looking for work.

Still, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Pittsburgh doesn’t enter the 2022 season with a 1-2-3 of Harris-Snell-McFarland. As attractive as those other options may sound, Pittsburgh has no interest in reducing Harris’ carries. If healthy, Harris will continue his role as a bell-cow, with Snell and McFarland only appearing in rare moments of exhaustion or for special situations. McFarland has shown he can play in a situational role and Snell has proven he can be effective when given a bulk-carry opportunity (for instance, if Harris gets injured), but the importance of the question of who backs ups Harris is moot as long as Harris stays healthy.

Latest On Texans’ Receiver Situation

July 13th, 2022 at 6:25pm CST by Ely Allen

After finishing the 2021 season as one of the five teams with the lowest passing yardage totals, the Texans made some moves this offseason to address their passing game. Houston utilized the draft in order to bring in some high-level, young protection and weapons for their second-year quarterback. As Houston starts to work towards a final regular-season roster, the Texans are looking to have a solid two-deep throughout the wide receiver position on their depth chart. 

The top three receivers on the depth chart are easy decisions. Brandin Cooks is going into his third year with the team after coming over from the Rams. The eight-year veteran has taken a leadership role in Houston’s receivers room, leading the team in receiving yards and receptions during both years with the team. Cooks acted a bit as rookie quarterback Davis Mills‘ security blanket last year, getting more than twice as many targets as the next receiver on the team.

The other two receivers in the starting lineup are inexperienced but promising. Second-year receiver Nico Collins stepped up during his rookie season. In the absence of Will Fuller, the team’s No. 2 receiver in the prior season, the third-round pick was second on the team in receptions and receiving yardage despite missing three games. Collins could have a breakout season with the development of Mills and Brevin Jordan, the expected starting tight end, as well as the draft addition of John Metchie III.

Metchie was drafted in the second-round this year to add another spark to the room. In his two full seasons at Alabama, Metchie totaled 2,058 receiving yards on 151 catches with 14 touchdowns. The only reason not to project Metchie to surpass Collins this year is the fact that Metchie is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Alabama’s SEC title game this past season. Houston drafted him with the understanding that he may miss some time to start his career but sounded hopeful recently that he could play this year.

Beyond the starting three of Cooks, Collins, and Metchie, Houston has a few solid backup options. Veteran Chris Conley returns on another one-year deal after finishing third on the team in receiving yards last season. Conley had shown the ability to be a starter during his time in Jacksonville. His best career season came as a Jaguar when he started 14 games, catching 47 balls for 775 yards and five touchdowns.

Another veteran returning on a one-year deal is midseason addition from last year Phillip Dorsett II. Dorsett’s career has been largely disappointing as a former first-round pick out of Miami (Fla.). His career highs for a season are 59 catches for 528 yards during his second year in Indianapolis and five touchdowns during his last season in New England. The deep threat will continue his search for the right team fit as a back up in Houston.

A sixth roster spot is likely going to come down to Chris Moore or Chad Beebe. Moore signed with Houston last year after five years in Baltimore that slowly saw his usage decline toward the end of his tenure. In his first season with the Texans, Moore was able to catch a career-high 21 passes, recording 227 yards and two touchdowns as a result. Beebe had the best statistical season of his career during his third season in Minnesota (2020). Very similar to Moore, Beebe had 20 catches for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Both may find their way onto the roster through special teams roles, though, as Beebe has punt return experience from his time with the Vikings and Moore has kick return experience from his time with the Ravens. Houston’s main return man from last year, Andre Roberts, is now with the Panthers, though they did utilize defensive back Desmond King II on punt returns last season.

That’s the six- to seven-deep Houston will work with to start the season: Cooks as a bona fide No. 1, Collins and Metchie striving to be effective early in their careers, and a stable of veterans ready to contribute. On paper, it doesn’t look like a huge upgrade, but the potential for a break-out season from Collins and the addition of a potential new No. 2 receiver in Metchie, could really open things up for Mills and the Texans offense.

Latest On WR Henry Ruggs

July 13th, 2022 at 4:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Las Vegas judge ruled the blood alcohol tests administered to Henry Ruggs are admissible as evidence in his case, according to Anthony Olivieri of ESPN.com. Ruggs’ attorney argued no probable cause existed for the tests, which occurred hours after the former Raiders wide receiver was involved in a car accident that killed a woman and her dog.

The Raiders waived Ruggs not long after he was charged with two felonies — DUI resulting in death and reckless driving. After being accused of driving 156 mph while impaired, in a crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor, Ruggs faces prison time. His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled four times; it is now set for Sept. 7.

Ruggs, 23, refused to take a field sobriety test while on the scene, according to a police report. He was later hospitalized for injuries sustained in the accident. His blood alcohol content, measured two hours after the crash, registered 0.16 — twice the Nevada legal limit. Ruggs’ lawyer argued the receiver’s involvement in the high-speed crash did not give police officers sufficient grounds to test his blood alcohol content, per Olivieri.

“There’s obvious time constraints in applying for a search warrant for a blood draw,” Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman said. “Under the totality of the circumstances, there is more than sufficient evidence for a finding of probable cause for the issuance of the search warrant in this case. Nobody has mentioned so far that Mr. Ruggs was seriously injured in this accident and transported to the hospital, so he would have been unable to submit to field sobriety tests. Coupled with his refusal to answer questions, this does not result in a reward.”

The Clark County coroner determined Tintor and her dog burned to death in the November 2021 crash, Olivieri and ESPN colleague Elizabeth Merrill write in an expansive piece. Clark County district attorney Steve Wolfson indicated that, in over 40 years in the justice system, he could not recall another criminal case that involved a 156-mph speed.

Ruggs secured permission in March to leave home confinement twice per week. The former first-round pick has been training at a Las Vegas-area facility geared toward pro-level athletes this year, according to ESPN. He faces a minimum of two years in prison, if convicted, with a maximum sentence of 50 years.

Browns Interested In DT Ndamukong Suh?

July 13th, 2022 at 2:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

2:10pm: Some cold water is falling on a potential Browns-Suh partnership. The Browns are not pursuing the 12-year veteran standout, with Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com noting (via Twitter) the team has not shown interest throughout the offseason. Suh will likely land somewhere, but despite questions at D-tackle, Cleveland may well pass.

10:10am: Both the Browns’ primary defensive tackle starters from last season — Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell — are no longer with the team. Although Jadeveon Clowney filled one D-line need by committing to return to Cleveland, the Browns have far less certainty at the spots between Clowney and Myles Garrett.

The team appears interested in seeing if Ndamukong Suh will fill one of those holes. Suh is on the Browns’ radar, according to USA Today’s Tyler Dragon (on Twitter). The All-Decade defensive lineman should be expected to land with a team, thus committing to a 13th NFL season, ahead of training camp.

The Raiders and Vikings have expressed interest as well, with the former perhaps not as interested in a partnership as Suh is. But the Browns have long loomed as a likely Suh suitor. With $48.5MM in cap space, Cleveland holds $25MM more than the team with the second-most cap room. The Browns would make a clear upgrade with Suh at D-tackle.

Cleveland added ex-Jacksonville first-rounder Taven Bryan in free agency and drafted Perrion Winfrey in the fourth round. The team also rosters former third-rounder Jordan Elliott, who started three games last season. These potential Garrett-Clowney supporting-casters obviously boast profiles several tiers below Suh’s.

With the Buccaneers moving on, after drafting Logan Hall in Round 2 and subsequently signing Akiem Hicks, Suh is likely to join a fifth NFL team. Although the former No. 2 overall pick has declined, as he enters his age-35 season, Suh remains effective and has been one of the most durable players in NFL history. Suh has never missed a game due to injury, having started in 191 games (plus 12 more playoff contests) since his 2010 rookie season.

Cleveland has both money and a clear need, but Suh’s decision also may come down to Deshaun Watson‘s fate. The longer the recently acquired quarterback is suspended, the less likely the Browns are to be a contending team. When the Browns traded for Watson in March, they looked like one of the AFC’s better squads. A full-season Watson ban, a scenario that has gained steam in recent weeks, would greatly diminish the 2022 Browns’ capabilities and likely reduce their appeal for veteran free agents.

Suh’s run of Pro Bowls stopped in 2016, and the Dolphins bailed on their big-ticket contract after the ’17 season. But Suh became a key piece for Rams and Bucs Super Bowl-bound teams in the years that followed. Last season, he registered six regular-season sacks and added four hits on Matthew Stafford in Tampa Bay’s narrow divisional-round loss.

Randy Gregory’s Age Factored Into Broncos’ FA Pursuit; OLB Will Be Limited At Training Camp

July 13th, 2022 at 1:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos separated from Von Miller at the trade deadline, moving the top pass rusher in franchise history for second- and third-round picks. That trade helped the Broncos assemble their Russell Wilson package, but Miller was interested in coming back to Denver this offseason.

After alerting the Broncos he would be interested in returning if they were to acquire Wilson or Aaron Rodgers, Miller — long stuck on Denver teams with bottom-tier QBs — did not hear from his longtime team in free agency. That led the future Hall of Famer to Buffalo, after offers emerged from the Rams and Cowboys. Dallas’ edge-rushing plans factored into Denver’s, with Randy Gregory‘s decision to spurn his former team leading the Cowboys to make Miller an offer.

[RELATED: How Will Broncos Sort Out Crowded OLB Corps?]

Gregory being nearly four years younger than Miller factored into the Broncos’ approach. Denver was also linked to Chandler Jones in free agency, but it made Gregory its top OLB target, Troy Renck of Denver7 notes. Jones is 32; Miller is 33. Gregory is not exactly on the young side for a first-time free agent, at 29, but the oft-suspended pass rusher certainly does not have the wear and tear on his body other edge players at his age generally do.

The Broncos gave Gregory a five-year, $70MM deal. While locking down the off-and-on Cowboy is a risk, due to Gregory’s unavailability history and recent injuries, the Broncos have him at $14MM per year. Gregory’s fully guaranteed money ($28MM) ranks just 24th among edge defenders. Gregory staying healthy would likely make Denver’s deal a bargain, but he will not go into training camp at full speed.

Rehabbing offseason shoulder surgery, Gregory will be a limited participant during the first week of Broncos camp, Mike Klis of 9News notes. The team is planning to ease its big-ticket edge acquisition into action, and Klis adds Gregory is not expected to play in the preseason. Teams have become increasingly more willing to sit starters during the preseason, and Gregory being sidelined until the Broncos’ Sept. 12 opener will give him a near-six-month recovery window.

In addition to the shoulder malady, the former Nebraska talent missed 2021 time because of calf injury and underwent knee surgery — to address an underlying problem — shortly after the season ended. As Bradley Chubb‘s 2021 recently illustrated, a two-surgery year is cause for concern. But the Broncos are planning to have Gregory ready to go when they face the Seahawks in Week 1. Gregory, Chubb, Malik Reed, second-rounder Nik Bonitto and relocated inside linebacker Baron Browning represent one of the NFL’s deepest edge-rushing corps. But the team’s top two cogs here are coming off injury-affected seasons and/or offseason surgeries.

Falcons Sign Round 2 OLB Arnold Ebiketie

July 13th, 2022 at 1:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

A handful of second-round picks have not signed their rookie contracts, with Texans decisions on guarantees believed to be holding up early-second-round draftees’ contract agreements. One of those players, Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie, finalized his deal Wednesday.

The Falcons now have Ebiketie, this year’s No. 38 overall pick, signed through 2025. Desmond Ridder is now the only unsigned Falcons rookie. Fewer than 25 draft choices have yet to sign their rookie deals.

Ebiketie is slated to be an edge rusher for the Falcons, who have retooled on the edge this offseason. Ebiketie and third-rounder DeAngelo Malone join Georgia native Lorenzo Carter — a former Giants third-round pick — as new additions to the group this offseason.

Ebiketie is not a lock to start for the Falcons in Week 1, but his draft slot and the team’s lack of impact players on the edge would make such a reality unsurprising. As the new Falcons regime’s top edge investment thus far, Ebiketie should be a full-time player at some point during his rookie season.

A Temple recruit who later transferred to Penn State, Ebiketie broke out as a senior in 2021. He registered 9.5 sacks (third in the Big Ten) and 18 tackles for loss, helping the Nittany Lions rank seventh in Division I-FBS scoring defense. Ebiketie recorded two sacks against College Football Playoff-bound Michigan and notched at least one TFL in all but one game last season.

Rob Gronkowski: Second Unretirement Will Not Happen

July 13th, 2022 at 12:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

When Rob Gronkowski retired for a second time, even his agent suspected there could be a chance at another return if Tom Brady made a midseason pitch. Gronk attempted to shoot down Drew Rosenhaus’ speculation.

The future Hall of Fame tight end, who ended his first retirement to reunite with Brady in Tampa in 2020, said he would not unretire for a second time.

“I would answer, obviously, the greatest quarterback of all time, ask him how he’s doing, tell him I’m doing good. But I wouldn’t go back to football; no,” Gronkowski said (via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss; video link), when asked how he would respond to a Brady request for a second unretirement.

“I’m done with football. Love the game. Definitely blessed with all the opportunities the game of football has given me, and relationships — obviously here in New England for nine seasons and down in Tampa for two. But done with football and stepping my feet into the business world, business ventures, and just seeing what’s out there and where I can find my place.”

Gronkowski initially unretired in April 2020, with the Bucs acquiring his rights for a fourth-round pick. The All-Decade performer became instrumental to Tampa Bay’s 2020 Super Bowl LV run and re-signed with the team on a one-year, $8MM deal that included incentives — ones Brady helped him reach late in the season. Gronkowski’s 802 receiving yards last season — in just 12 games — were the most he had accumulated since his 2017 All-Pro campaign.

Gronk, 33, was never able to fully capitalize on his talents, being tied to a Patriots extension signed in 2012 all the way through his 2020 Bucs debut season. (Though, the popular ex-NFLer has found a few other income streams.) It is unclear what the Bucs offered this offseason, but it was not enough to delay another retirement. While Gronk cannot be completely moved off the NFL radar, especially after Brady put off his own retirement to play again, the Bucs are set to enter training camp with Cameron Brate and two Day 3 rookies at tight end.

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