HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Dan Snyder Will Not Testify For House Oversight Committee Under Oath

July 13th, 2022 at 12:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

JULY 13: Another effort from Snyder to avoid questioning from the House Oversight Committee may be in progress. Responding to the committee’s latest salvo, Seymour said her client would only testify voluntarily (and not under oath).

“Under the circumstances, there is no valid basis to issue a subpoena for Mr. Snyder’s testimony,” Seymour said, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala (Twitter links). “We intend that he will testify voluntarily on July 28. We are confident that Mr. Snyder will able to provide full and complete testimony during his voluntary appearance – a view the Committee apparently shared…since the Committee invited him to testify voluntarily at a hearing held just three weeks ago.”

This figures to put the ball back in the committee’s court, continuing what has become a lengthy back-and-forth. The Congressional panel approving Snyder’s request to testify voluntarily would open the door to the Commanders owner ending his silence in this investigation but punting on certain questions. Seymour said Snyder would not answer questions on matters covered by nondisclosure agreements.

“Mr. Snyder has a troubling history of using NDAs to cover up workplace misconduct — behavior that is central to our investigation — and it would be highly inappropriate for him to employ the same tactic to withhold information from the Committee,” Oversight Committee chairperson Carolyn Maloney said Tuesday, via Mark Maske of the Washington Post. “Other former Commanders employees have participated in Committee depositions under subpoena, and Mr. Snyder should not be treated any differently.”

JULY 12: Dan Snyder has both avoided a House Oversight Committee request to testify in its months-long investigation into the Commanders’ workplace misconduct and has been evasive since he was hit with a subpoena to appear before the committee. But the committee is willing to accept one of Snyder’s stipulations in an effort to ensure he testifies.

Last week, Snyder attorney Karen Patton Seymour said her client would be available to be questioned by the committee on July 28 or July 29, via videoconference, but not June 30 — the date initially associated with the committee’s subpoena. The longtime Washington owner remains out of the country. The committee will now accept Snyder’s videoconference testimony, with John Keim of ESPN.com relaying (via Twitter) Snyder’s subpoena has been adjusted to allow for this session to take place July 28.

“The Committee accepts your offer for Mr. Snyder to testify on the subjects under investigation by the Committee on July 28,” the committee said in a statement to Seymour. “[We] will proceed with a subpoena in place to ensure that Mr. Snyder’s testimony will be full and complete.”

This process may encounter more Snyder resistance. The committee’s Tuesday decision pertains to Snyder testifying under its terms — via the subpoena — whereas Snyder’s offer was to testify voluntarily, according to Keim and the Washington Post’s Liz Clarke (Twitter links). Under the committee’s terms, Snyder must testify under oath and cannot choose the questions he does and does not answer. Snyder must decide his next move by 11am CT Wednesday, per Clarke.

Snyder cited a work conflict as the reason he could not testify alongside Roger Goodell at the June 22 hearing. The commissioner appeared virtually and answered the committee’s questions regarding the conduct of Snyder and his franchise. The committee then issued a subpoena to bring forth Snyder testimony.

The next chapter would be Snyder testifying later this month. It will be interesting to see if the embattled Commanders owner does so, or if another move to avoid questioning transpires.

49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo Resumes Throwing

July 13th, 2022 at 10:04am CST by Sam Robinson

Jimmy Garoppolo‘s March shoulder surgery is likely the reason he remains with the 49ers. Despite almost every team having addressed its quarterback position, the 49ers will still try to collect an asset for their longtime starter. A change in Garoppolo’s status will help on that front.

The rehabbing QB has resumed throwing, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. In fact, Garoppolo began throwing two or three weeks ago, per Barrows (subscription required). Garoppolo, 30, has rehabbed in the Los Angeles area; the 49ers excused him from their minicamp last month.

[RELATED: Teams Expecting July Garoppolo Trade?]

Signaling no setbacks have occurred, this news moves the 49ers’ planned separation from Garoppolo closer to reality. Still, Garoppolo’s trade value suffered because of the surgery — one that occurred nearly two months after Baker Mayfield‘s. While the former Browns QB underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, Garoppolo’s right shoulder issue further complicated his status.

Several teams filled their QB needs via trade, including the Panthers, who took a Garoppolo landing spot off the table last week by acquiring Baker Mayfield. Barring an injury, it is difficult to locate an obvious Garoppolo suitor. Prior to the surgery, the 49ers were holding out hope for a Day 2 pick in exchange for Garoppolo, who has gone 37-16 as their starter since 2017. While they received two second-round picks for Alex Smith nine years ago, no injuries clouded that move. And the 2013 offseason brought more of a seller’s market than this offseason presented at quarterback.

The Seahawks have done their due diligence on Garoppolo, but after holding out on a Mayfield trade, the 49ers’ NFC West rivals may again stick to their guns and wait for the other long-rumored trade candidate to hit free agency. The 49ers are going to let Garoppolo’s camp discuss his now-onerous contract with other teams, but the prospect of the ninth-year passer’s $24.2MM salary becoming guaranteed in Week 1 hovers over this drawn-out trade saga.

NHL Free Agency Begins Today

July 13th, 2022 at 8:38am CST by Josh Erickson

Although it’s a few weeks late due to the lingering schedule effects of the COVID pandemic, the NHL free-agent period kicks off today at 11 AM CT. Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors on Twitter) has all-day coverage of the busiest and most exciting day in hockey.

Some teams were busy yesterday keeping their star players from hitting the open market. The Pittsburgh Penguins came in at the eleventh hour to re-sign franchise cornerstone Evgeni Malkin to a four-year deal, while the Edmonton Oilers were able to retain left wing Evander Kane, who led the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs in goals, on a four-year deal as well.

There’s still plenty of drama left to unfold today, however. After a 115-point season, former Calgary Flame Johnny Gaudreau is hitting the open market and is undoubtedly the top free agent available. Likely to earn eight figures on his next deal, does he head to the Eastern Conference as expected? After winning the Stanley Cup this season with the Colorado Avalanche, where do center Nazem Kadri and goalie Darcy Kuemper land?

To keep up with what’s sure to be a chaotic news day, make sure to keep up with Pro Hockey Rumors‘ coverage of breaking news.

TE Matt LaCosse Announces Retirement

July 12th, 2022 at 10:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Matt LaCosse is calling it a career. The tight end announced on Instagram that he’s retiring from the NFL. In his message, LaCosse thanked the many people who played a role in his career

“I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to those who have helped me follow my dream,” the tight end said. “I am saying goodbye to the game that I love, the game that I have sacrificed so much for and I want to truly say thank you to those who have sacrificed so much for me. This dream wouldn’t have been possible without you.

“Since I was a kid I always dreamed of being a professional athlete. It started off with me just wanting to be like my Dad and it turned into something I wanted to dedicate my life to. There were countless up and downs, but the people above were always there to help me. I truly got to live out my dream.”

LaCosse went undrafted out of Illinois in 2015. He spent most of his first two-plus seasons in the NFL with the Giants, getting into five games between 2015 and 2017. He also had a brief stint with the Jets between two jobs with the Giants. The tight end caught on with the Broncos toward the end of the 2017 campaign before taking on a more significant role in 2018.

During that “breakout” season, LaCosse had 24 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown. That performance earned him a two-year contract with the Patriots during the 2019 offseason. He ended up spending three seasons with the organization, including a 2020 season that he ultimately opted out of. In 12 games with New England, LaCosse had 13 receptions for 131 yards.

Free Agent RBs Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell Discuss Their NFL Futures

July 12th, 2022 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Former All-Pro running backs Adrian Peterson and Le’Veon Bell will face off in an exhibition boxing match later this month in Los Angeles. The duo discussed the fight during a press conference this afternoon, but they were also naturally asked about their NFL futures. While Bell doesn’t seem all that focused on playing football in 2022, Peterson still seems to be keeping the door open.

“This is something that I definitely can see myself doing going forward as well, just depending on how things kind of play out for me,” Peterson said (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon). “I just been kind of grinding, so I might see this continue to do something going forward. So, even after this fight, I will still be on my same routine, waiting for that next opportunity to present itself.”

While Peterson only topped 1,000 rushing yards once since 2016, he still had a consistent job, appearing in 16 games as recently as 2020. He had a tough time finding a gig in 2021, however. He ended up getting into only four games in stints with the Seahawks and Titans, collecting 106 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 42 touches. The 37-year-old was arrested earlier this offseason on a felony domestic violence charge, but the felony charge wasn’t pursued. Peterson hasn’t been connected to any squads since the season ended.

Bell is seven years younger than his boxing opponent, but he also struggled to hold on to a gig in 2021. Perhaps the lack of NFL interest ended up playing a role in Bell pursuing boxing, and it sounds like the athlete will be sticking with his new sport.

“Boxing is something that, you know, they always say it’s something you can’t play boxing,” said Bell (via Gordon). “Last year, I almost sat out the whole year to try to focus on boxing because I kind of knew that was what I wanted to transition to. This year, I know I’m not going to be playing this year because I want to focus on boxing. So, this transition for me has kind of been like, I guess, another opportunity for me. I’m just ready to showcase what I’m about…This is not just a one-off. This is, I guess like my introduction to kind of show what I’ll doing and how I’ll be going about myself. Just an intro.”

The 30-year-old RB got into eight games with the Buccaneers and Ravens last season, collecting 131 yards from scrimmage and three scores on 44 touches. Similar to Peterson, Bell hasn’t been connected to any teams this offseason.

Chiefs, OT Orlando Brown Jr. Not Close On Long-Term Deal

July 12th, 2022 at 6:49pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chiefs only have a few more days to extend offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., but it sounds like a deal won’t materialize before Friday’s deadline. Brown’s camp told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link) that the sides are nowhere close to a new deal and the player won’t sign an extension “just to do a deal.” Garafolo warns that Brown could miss training camp and even the start of the regular season.

Ever since the Chiefs slapped the offensive lineman with a $16.7MM franchise tag, we’ve heard that the player was seeking a new deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. According to Garafolo, the Chiefs are willing to pay Brown money that would top the right tackle market but not the top of the OL/LT market. Of course, Brown asked for a trade out of Baltimore because of his desire to play left tackle. The Chiefs ended up acquiring him and letting him play his preferred position, so it’s certainly notable that the front office is turning to RT values during negotiations.

The difference in the salaries is significant. Left tackles like Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil all top $22MM per season. The three highest-paid right tackles (Ryan Ramczyk, Brian O’Neill, Lane Johnson) average a bit more than $18.5MM per season.

Brown hasn’t inked his franchise tender, so he won’t be fined for missing any training camp time. That provides the lineman’s camp with some leverage assuming they truly plan to stage a holdout. As our own Sam Robinson recently pointed out, the Chiefs have just one O-lineman, Joe Thuney, signed to a notable veteran deal, so it would seem the franchise is prepared to give Brown a big-ticket extension. It’ll be interesting to see if the Chiefs front office plays hard ball or extends their budget as they look to focus in on the upcoming campaign.

The two sides have sounded optimistic about a long-term deal throughout the offseason, and the Chiefs have made it clear that they valued Brown as a long-term option during their 2021 OL overhaul. We may have received some hints about a potential holdout earlier this offseason; when asked about the AFC West arrivals of Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack and Randy Gregory, Brown said it is “not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle.”

The former third-round pick quickly transformed into a starter for the Ravens, and he established himself as a Pro Bowl right tackle in both 2019 and 2020. Last offseason, he was traded (along with a second- and sixth-round pick) to the Chiefs for a first-round selection. During his first season in Kansas City, Brown earned another Pro Bowl selection while appearing in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps. Pro Football Focus ranked Brown 28th among 83 qualifying offensive tackles.

Latest On Panthers, Baker Mayfield

July 12th, 2022 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Now that Baker Mayfield is officially a Carolina Panther, his second NFL team has exclusive negotiating rights with him until the 2023 legal tampering period begins. That window, which closes in mid-March, could be critical not long down the road. For now, the Panthers are not looking at this acquisition through a post-2022 lens.

The Panthers have not discussed an extension with Mayfield, GM Scott Fitterer said Tuesday. Considering Mayfield is being pitted against Sam Darnold in a competition and has barely two weeks to learn OC Ben McAdoo‘s system ahead of training camp, extension talk is premature. The Panthers also helped sell the idea of a $3.5MM pay cut to Mayfield by pointing out how he can up his free agency stock after a year in Charlotte.

“We’ll let it play out throughout the season and we’ll make decisions later in the season whether it’s November or December, once there’s a track record behind [Mayfield] in this offense and this organization,” Fitterer said, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “… I just want to take it short term for now.”

Mayfield was connected to an extension worth more than $30MM per year in 2021, but he and the Browns tabled those talks. A disastrous 2021 campaign led to Mayfield’s value plummeting and the Browns moving to replace him. The former No. 1 overall pick will make more than $15MM this season, but the Panthers are responsible for only $4.86MM. That said, incentives could bump that number up by a few million.

Mayfield, 27, is expected to be the Panthers’ next starting quarterback. His beating out Darnold would put the latter in limbo. The Panthers cut Cam Newton and traded Teddy Bridgewater, eating some of the latter’s contract to move him. Carolina has seen considerable turnover at the game’s most important position.

Darnold, 25, is due $18.9MM fully guaranteed — a figure north of Mayfield’s, now that the former Heisman winner has taken a pay cut — and that number would be a non-starter for teams eyeing Darnold in a trade. The Panthers are not planning to move Darnold, Fitterer said (via The Athletic’s Joe Person, on Twitter). No trade calls have come. The Panthers now have Mayfield, Darnold, P.J. Walker and Matt Corral under contract.

Among Browns coaches and front office staffers, Mayfield support had waned, according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. The fallout from the Odell Beckham Jr. trade and the “adult in the room” comment that surfaced just before the Browns’ controversial Mayfield-to-Deshaun Watson switch indicated the four-year starter was wearing out his welcome in Cleveland. When asked about the “adult in the room” comment, Fitterer said Tuesday “a lot of people” among the Panthers went to bat for Mayfield, via ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter (on Twitter).

The Panthers and Browns haggled over Mayfield’s salary split for several weeks, despite Fitterer and Matt Rhule wanting the QB to be a Panther by the team’s minicamp. During the draft, the Browns were believed to be willing to pay just more than $3MM of Mayfield’s salary. They ended at $10.5MM. Those April negotiations also appear to have featured a better draft pick coming Cleveland’s way, per Fitterer, whose team backed out of those mid-draft talks and traded up for Corral. The sides ended up agreeing on compensation that will either be a 2024 fourth- or fifth-round pick.

“The draft pick compensation came first in order for us to talk to Baker and kind of take that next step,” Fitterer said Tuesday (h/t Yardbarker). “We had to work with Cleveland to figure out what the right number was. Obviously, we talked to Cleveland during the draft — those things have gotten out — the compensation was higher at that point.

“Now that it changed with Matt Corral being added to the group, us going through the spring and Sam playing really well throughout the spring, we just didn’t have that urgency to necessarily go out there and add someone right away. So we worked through that compensation, we reached that [fifth-round pick] going into a [fourth-rounder] in two years, and we thought that was fair.”

Bears To Acquire N’Keal Harry From Patriots

July 12th, 2022 at 3:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

After spending nearly 18 months in trade rumors, N’Keal Harry has a new home. The Patriots are sending the former first-round pick to the Bears, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report (on Twitter).

The Bears have added a few new wideouts this offseason, one in which they said goodbye to Allen Robinson after four years. They will take a shot with Harry, who is going into a contract year.

The Bears will send a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Pats, Rapoport tweets. Harry is due a $1.87MM base salary in 2022. The Patriots will save around $1.2MM by dealing him. This will provide a bit of breathing room for the Patriots, who entered Tuesday with the least amount of cap room — under $2MM.

Considering Harry’s status as the highest-drafted wideout in Bill Belichick‘s 23-offseason Patriots tenure, his New England career and this trade return represent a massive disappointment. The Pats had traded for DeVante Parker and traded up for wideout Tyquan Thornton in this year’s second round. Harry had been moved off the radar and, after a recent report that indicated the Pats could excuse the injury-prone receiver from training camp or drop him ahead of that point, the Bears moved in to see if a rebound of some sort can commence.

Acquired ahead of Tom Brady‘s final Patriots season, Harry missed most of that turbulent year for the Pats’ receiving corps. The Pats had Josh Gordon, Antonio Brown and Mohamed Sanu on their roster at points that season, but the year unfolded with scant Harry involvement. A preseason ankle injury limited Harry to seven games in 2019. He missed five last season, with shoulder and knee maladies sidelining him. A healthier 2020 (33 receptions, 309 yards, two touchdowns) did not stop Harry’s freefall, and the Patriots acquired Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne last year. That preceded a 12-catch Harry 2021 season and persistent trade/cut rumors.

While this wraps another Belichick-era draft miss at the receiver position, the Bears feature a less settled pass-catching corps. Behind Darnell Mooney, uncertainty resides ahead of Luke Getsy‘s first OC season.. Chicago signed Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, David Moore and Tajae Sharpe this offseason and used a third-round pick on Velus Jones. At 25, Jones is several months older than Harry, who will turn 25 in December.

Beyond Mooney and Jones, the Bears are taking a number of fliers. They will get one of the NFL’s biggest receivers in this trade. Harry goes 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. He ended his Arizona State career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and became the 32nd overall pick in 2019. Harry was that year’s second wide receiver selected, after only Marquise Brown. His going ahead of Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Terry McLaurin and Diontae Johnson both reflected poorly on the Patriots and reveals the receiver talent that can be had beyond Round 1. But the fourth-year pass catcher will have a stretch to impress a new Bears regime.

Deshaun Watson Ruling May Still Be Weeks Away

July 12th, 2022 at 3:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Post-hearing briefs from both sides in the Deshaun Watson case are due Tuesday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Following the submissions of these summaries, disciplinary officer Sue Robinson will come to a decision on the Browns quarterback’s punishment in connection with his alleged sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct.

Robinson’s ruling is not expected to emerge this week. The retired judge plans to deliberate for at least a week, according to Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson (on Twitter), and Josina Anderson of USA Today notes this process may still be “a few weeks” away (Twitter link) from an initial ruling. A detailed report will accompany Robinson’s ruling, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, who also offers the weeks-long timetable before the initial suspension length surfaces (video link).

The length of Watson’s ban has long been expected before Browns training camp, which begins July 27, but the longer Sue Robinson’s ruling takes, the longer it will be before the Browns know how to proceed at quarterback.

Following Robinson’s ruling, the appeal process is likely to begin. Unless Robinson rules Watson did not violate the NFL’s personal conduct policy, both sides can appeal. The final result will almost certainly not be known until the Browns begin camp, and it could come well into the team’s preseason workouts. With Baker Mayfield now officially out of the picture, Jacoby Brissett is positioned to be Cleveland’s starter if/once Watson is banned.

The Browns have taken an avalanche of criticism for acquiring Watson and giving him $230MM fully guaranteed — a figure that induced the former Texans standout to pass on NFC South destinations and head to Cleveland. The Browns expected the Pro Bowl passer to be suspended; they just did not anticipate a full-season ban being on the table. The team will need to determine how to prepare Brissett for the season, with Watson currently eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games.

A full-season Watson suspension — the NFL’s preference, which is certainly relevant considering Roger Goodell could ensure it via a league appeal — could induce the Browns to go after another QB to play in front of Brissett. A Jimmy Garoppolo trade has been floated, but nothing much has emerged regarding such a deal. Barring an injury, however, the 49ers do not appear to have many options regarding their four-plus-year starter. The Browns, who lead the NFL in cap space by a wide margin, could become one. But until they receive certainty on Watson’s timeline, it is unlikely they will pursue a non-Brissett replacement option.

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