HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Police Investigation Into Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill Ongoing

June 22nd, 2023 at 9:45am CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 22: In an update on the situation which contradicts Wednesday night’s, Angie DiMichele of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel notes the police investigation is still ongoing. In addition, the police report indicates the unnamed victim is in fact interested in proceeding with what would be misdemeanor charges. Depending on what additional information is uncovered during the investigation, further developments could take place on this matter. Any NFL discipline will likely only be decided upon after the police investigation has concluded.

JUNE 21, 5:17pm: This investigation wrapped Wednesday, and it does not look like a charge will be filed. Police informed the alleged victim he would need to pursue a criminal charge with the state attorney, per Slater. Hill certainly does not come off looking good, despite potentially avoiding a charge, as Slater adds the second-year Dolphins pass catcher allegedly told the employee, “I can buy you and the boat” (Twitter links).

9:39am: Miami-Dade Police have begun an investigation into Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, according to Local 10 News’ Ian Margol, who reports Hill allegedly hit a worker at Haulover Marina.

A disagreement with a man working at the marina led to Hill slapping the employee, Fox Sports 640’s Andy Slater tweets. This dustup began when Hill and others attempted to board a boat without permission, per Slater, who adds police are reviewing a video that may show the alleged strike.

Hill shared an Instagram story of a Father’s Day celebration on a boat Sunday. Police were at the marina Tuesday, and Margol indicated the department confirmed an investigation is underway. The Dolphins announced Wednesday morning they are aware of the investigation.

The employee is not believed to want to press charges, per Slater, but the NFL’s personal conduct policy does not require an indictment for a suspension to take place. The Dolphins have Hill signed to a receiver-record four-year, $120MM contract. A suspension would put Hill’s guarantees at stake.

The eighth-year wide receiver has a history of off-field violence connections. He was arrested for reportedly punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend in December 2014. That arrest led to Hill’s dismissal from the Oklahoma State football team and caused him to fall to the fifth round of the 2016 draft. In 2019, audio emerged of Hill threatening the same woman, and an investigation into the then-Chiefs wideout striking his oldest child took place. The investigation did not produce an NFL suspension.

Traded to the Dolphins for a five-asset package including a first-round pick, Hill delivered another All-Pro season in 2022, doing so despite Miami playing without Tua Tagovailoa for a chunk of the slate. The perennial Pro Bowler totaled career-high marks in receptions (119) and receiving yards (1,710) in his first year with the Dolphins.

Latest On Raiders, CB Marcus Peters

June 22nd, 2023 at 9:01am CST by Adam La Rose

With minicamps having been completed, many teams and free agents are in a holding pattern in the build-up to training camps opening next month. In the case of the Raiders and cornerback Marcus Peters, that appears likely to continue.

The two parties have been connected since May, when the 30-year-old visited Vegas. That led to the expectation a deal could soon follow, something which would come as little surprise given Peters’ track record and the question marks the Raiders face at the CB spot. Nothing has materialized yet, but the two-time All-Pro remains on the teams’ radar.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal confirms that a Raiders pact remains a distinct possibility for Peters at some point in the summer. He adds that Vegas is in no hurry to make a serious push at finalizing a contract, however, as the team continues to evaluate the three-time Pro Bowler’s health in particular. A 2021 ACL tear has led to questions about his ability to return to the form he showed earlier in his career.

The injury cost Peters the entire 2021 campaign, and its effects appeared to linger this past season. The Washington alum played 14 regular and postseason games, but he was held to a career-low one interception and just six pass deflections. Given his history as one the league’s premier ballhawks, those figures are understandably a cause for concern on the part of the Raiders or other interested teams.

In addition, Peters struggled in coverage in 2022, allowing seven touchdowns as the nearest defender and surrendering a passer rating of 113.7. Each of those totals were the worst in his career, and helped inform the Ravens’ decision to look elsewhere on the veteran corner market by signing Rock Ya-Sin. That move has left Peters on the open market into June, and his wait may continue for many more weeks.

The Raiders signed Duke Shelley, David Long and Brandon Facyson in free agency, then used a fourth-round selection in this year’s draft on Jakorian Bennett. Those newcomers will be tasked with helping the team’s secondary take a needed step forward, but a healthy Peters would provide a starting-caliber option alongside them. The point at which the latter joins the team (if at all) will likely be no earlier than July, though.

Giants Still In Talks With Saquon Barkley

June 21st, 2023 at 10:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants have until July 17 to reach an extension agreement with Saquon Barkley. Otherwise, the Pro Bowl running back would be forced to play the season on the franchise tag. While acrimony has come out during this process, Barkley is still in talks with the Giants, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Barkley turned down multiple proposals from the Giants, one of which in the $13MM-per-year neighborhood. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has expressed frustration about the leaks from the team’s side during the talks, and the Giants’ previous top offer — which was taken off the table after team applied the tag in March — is not believed to have been favorable on the guarantee side.

Offer No. 1 came during the Giants’ bye week last season, and it was believed to be north of $12MM per year. But Barkley and the Giants did not come close to a deal at that point. The second proposal came this offseason, when the Giants attempted to keep both Barkley and Daniel Jones off the market. They succeeded, extending the fifth-year quarterback minutes before the franchise tag deadline. The third phase of discussions began shortly after the draft, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy (Twitter link). Since the Barkley tag, however, not much has come out regarding terms.

The prospect of Barkley missing training camp — absent a long-term deal by the July extension date — has emerged, but Rapoport notes the Penn State product should not be expected to follow in Le’Veon Bell‘s footsteps by skipping the season. While Barkley responded in the affirmative when asked if this strategy was in play, the sixth-year back passing on a $10.9MM guaranteed salary has never been a likely scenario.

While the Giants pulling their offer to Barkley suggested these negotiations could take a bad turn, Rapoport adds a deal should not be considered out of the question. The 26-year-old back is the team’s most popular player, and few running backs are as important to their respective franchises. That said, Barkley went through three injury-plagued seasons prior to a breakthrough contract year.

The Giants being hesitant to provide a substantial guarantee is understandable, and the running back market losing two top contracts (Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook) this offseason while seeing the other free agent backs struggle did not help the tagged contingent (Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard). Jacobs has expressed disappointment with his time on the tag as well.

The Giants have used their franchise tag seven times since the tag’s 1993 inception and have never failed to hammer out an extension, though two players did play on the tag before being re-signed following a second tag. The team reached an agreement with tackle Jumbo Elliott in 1993 and extended punter Steve Weatherford in 2012. Both Jason Pierre-Paul and Leonard Williams were tagged twice; each signed an extension following the second tag (in 2017 and 2021, respectively).

Barkley bucking that trend would certainly be a notable development for the team, which has also given a big-money deal to Dexter Lawrence this offseason. But if the Giants do not submit an offer with at least $22.2MM guaranteed — which would cover a second Barkley tag in 2024 — it will put the dynamic back to a tough decision.

Poll: Who Will Sign Dalvin Cook?

June 21st, 2023 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Indicating on multiple occasions he plans to take his time during his first go-round in free agency, Dalvin Cook is surveying the field. The six-year Vikings running back is believed to have attracted interest from a few teams, but the market has not produced many known suitors yet.

When determining a Cook destination, it is probably logical to start with the Dolphins. Cook is a Miami native who dropped a bit of a hint about his hopes after the Vikings released him. Mutual interest is believed to exist between these parties, and while the Dolphins are not planning to give Cook a contract on par with the $12.6MM-per-year deal he signed with the Vikes back in 2020, they are expected to make an offer.

Miami adding Cook would crowd its backfield, given the re-signings of ex-Mike McDaniel 49ers charges Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, along with Myles Gaskin (though, Gaskin’s deal contains no guarantees). The team also drafted Texas A&M’s Devon Achane in Round 3. Cook would fit in on a Dolphins team loading up around Tua Tagovailoa‘s rookie contract. Tyreek Hill‘s deal represents the only notable skill-position contract on Miami’s payroll, and Tagovailoa is due to count only $9.63MM against the team’s cap this season. Next year becomes trickier, with Tua’s fifth-year option bumping his cap number to $23.17MM.

Elsewhere in the AFC East, the Jets have not exactly made their desperation a secret. They have brought in three veteran skill cogs already, in Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb, to team with Aaron Rodgers. New York features a question at running back, with Breece Hall coming off ACL surgery. But the 2022 second-round pick is on track to be ready for Week 1. The Jets have Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight and fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda. The Bills appear less needy, having signed Damien Harris and Latavius Murray. But the team does roster Dalvin’s younger brother, James Cook, and is aiming to capitalize on a Super Bowl window that has been open for years.

Beyond the competitive AFC East, the Bengals loom as an interesting option. They are still planning to seek a Joe Mixon pay cut. A refusal by the six-year starter would deal a blow to a locked-and-loaded offense, but in the event the $12MM-per-year back balks, the Bengals would check Cook boxes of a contender with a clear need. That said, Mixon would not have many options were he to refuse a cut. It will be interesting to see how much of a reduction Cincy requests.

The Ravens have seen their J.K. Dobbins–Gus Edwards backfield plan thrown off course by injuries, and considering the aggressive moves to bolster a long-shaky receiver situation, would Baltimore consider a veteran back without major injury questions? Cook has said he is recovered from the February shoulder surgery he underwent. The Browns are likely to explore the addition of a Nick Chubb backup, though the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot notes the team is unlikely to chase a Cook- or Ezekiel Elliott-level back for this role.

The NFC East profiles as another division to watch here. Elliott remains in play to return to Dallas on a significant pay reduction; Cook would be an upgrade on the popular Cowboy. But how much money would the team be comfortable shelling out during an offseason in which it tagged Tony Pollard at $10.9MM? Washington has Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson rostered, but the team is looking into former Eric Bieniemy Chiefs charge Kareem Hunt. Cook may need to compromise on his interest in landing with a contender, given the uncertainty surrounding likely Commanders QB1 Sam Howell. But the team’s running back interest should be factored into this equation.

Last month, the Buccaneers were connected to the pursuit of a veteran to complement Rachaad White. Cook would be overqualified for such a role, and Tampa Bay’s post-Tom Brady contender status is in question. But the Bucs, their Chase Edmonds acquisition notwithstanding, profile as a team that could stand to add a backfield piece. The Broncos initially came out as a team monitoring the four-time 1,100-yard rusher, joining the Dolphins in this regard, but they have since been mentioned as a team expected to steer clear of this market.

Kirk Cousins mentioned a potential Vikings reunion — which would need to come at a significantly reduced rate — and Cook has spoken highly of Minnesota. Though, this does not seem likely. Is there another team that should be mentioned as a Cook destination? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this summer free agency storyline in the comments section.

Texans Notes: Green, Perryman, Griffin, Staff

June 21st, 2023 at 9:53pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans received updates on two injury situations with the potential to bleed over into training camp, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. It looks like Houston will see a defender back at full-speed, while an offensive starter may have a bit further to go.

Firstly, Wilson reported that free agent addition Denzel Perryman is nearly back to full-strength after recovering from labrum shoulder surgery. The former Raiders linebacker missed games last year with a dislocated shoulder before ultimately undergoing the procedure. The 30-year-old has graded out as a top-30 linebacker in each of his two years in Las Vegas, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He’s projected to start beside Christian Kirksey and Christian Harris in 2023.

On the offensive side of the ball, last year’s rookie starter at offensive guard, Kenyon Green, is still making his way back from an arthroscopic knee surgery that he underwent this offseason. New head coach DeMeco Ryans was noncommittal on when Green would return. “We’ll see where Kenyon is come training camp,” Ryans told reporters. “For Kenyon, he has to be ready to go, and the work he puts in over the next few weeks will see if he’s ready and ready to go out and compete.”

Here are a few other rumors coming out of H-Town:

  • The Texans were recently able to add free agent cornerback Shaquill Griffin to their secondary. According to another report from Wilson, Houston wasn’t the only team with interest in the veteran corner. Griffin claims that along with his former team in Jacksonville and his new team in Houston, he felt interest from the Vikings and Commanders. He only made one visit, but his trip to Texas was enough to sell him on the team’s scheme and “energy.”
  • Houston was recently able to reach an agreement to extend defensive tackle Maliek Collins to a new two-year, $23MM deal with a reported $20MM of guaranteed money. Recent updates adjust the latter number slightly. Collins was actually guaranteed $20.5MM, consisting of a $10.5MM signing bonus, Collins’s 2023 base salary of $2MM, and his 2024 base salary of $8MM. His contract will also include a per game active bonus of $29,411 for a potential season total of $500k.
  • Lastly, there was a bit of a shakeup in the Texans’ front office last weekend. According to Wilson, former chief of staff Nick Kray is no longer with the organization. Kray came over with Ryans from the same position in San Francisco when Ryans took the head coaching gig in Houston. Since his departure, assistant to the coaches Jake Olson has taken over Kray’s duties. Olson was recently added to the staff after stints as Kent State director of football operations and Yale chief of staff.

Ravens Rumors: Ricard, Bateman, OL

June 21st, 2023 at 8:57pm CST by Ely Allen

Baltimore will be without its four-time Pro Bowl fullback to start training camp, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Head coach John Harbaugh told the media last week that Patrick Ricard underwent hip surgery this offseason, meaning he’ll start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

After five seasons of defensive line play at Maine, Ricard began his career playing on both sides of the ball for the Ravens, serving double duty as a defensive lineman and a fullback. Over the past four years, Ricard has played exclusively on the offensive side of the ball, routinely grading out as the league’s top fullback, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

With Ricard out, the Ravens will turn to former fifth-round pick Ben Mason. It’s no wonder Baltimore saw something it liked in Mason in the 2021 NFL Draft. Coming out of Michigan, Mason had just moved into a fullback/tight end role for the Wolverines after spending a season at defensive tackle as a junior. They must’ve seen a lot of Ricard in Mason, but without an immediate need for him, Mason failed to make the final 53-man roster that year.

Mason spent 2021 on the Patriots’ and Bears’ practice squads. After the season ended, Mason returned to Baltimore, spending last season on the practice squad. If Ricard is forced to miss extended time due to his hip surgery, Mason could finally get a chance to prove his worth.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of Charm City:

  • Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has had a rocky start to his NFL career. Despite obvious displays of the talent that got him drafted in the first round two years ago, Bateman has struggled to stay on the field. Over his first two seasons, Bateman has missed 17 total games, including a playoff game this past season. Groin surgery just before his rookie season forced him to miss five games and a Lisfranc surgery ended his season early last year. He’s not quite out of the woods yet, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner. Harbaugh told the media that Bateman had received a cortisone shot “for healing purposes.” He seemed to hope that it would help keep the injury short-term, claiming that the shot would only sideline Bateman for a couple of days. “We just decided to let him keep rehabbing and make sure he’s ready to go for training camp,” Harbaugh explained.
  • A couple weeks ago, we delved into the Ravens’ position battle at left guard. At the time, we mentioned drafted rookies Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Andrew Vorhees. Vorhees will likely spend most, if not all, of his rookie season recovering from recent injuries, while we noted Aumavae-Laulu was projected as a developmental pick. The assessments on Aumavae-Laulu may have been a bit off as Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic has reported that he appears to be very much in the mix for the starting left guard job. Harbaugh apparently made it very clear by featuring the sixth-round pick heavily in minicamp.
  • Former first-round wide receiver Laquon Treadwell recently got another chance to stick on a roster by signing with Baltimore. Thanks to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, we now have a few details on his new contract. According to Wilson, Treadwell will receive the league veteran minimum on a one-year, $1.17MM deal.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/21/23

June 21st, 2023 at 7:30pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s only minor transaction across the NFL:

Los Angeles Rams

James was one of 26 undrafted free agents signed by the Rams in May. James decided to forgo his final year of eligibility granted to him due to COVID-19, cashing in on a season that saw him catch 46 passes for 745 yards and six touchdowns. His career numbers at West Virginia included 190 catches for 2,229 yards and 15 touchdowns.

A bit undersized, James faced long odds to make the team’s final 53-man roster. Despite his additional experience returning kicks in college, he had to compete with 12 other receivers on a roster that is certain to include Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson and very likely to include Ben Skowronek, Demarcus Robinson, and Tutu Atwell, as well.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/21/23

June 21st, 2023 at 6:52pm CST by Ely Allen

Another pair of signings of late-round picks today:

Los Angeles Rams

The team with forty rookies on the roster signed two of them today to their initial four-year contracts. Hampton turned into a physical specimen over his time with the Mountaineers, gaining 40 pounds to reach his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame. He landed on the NFL’s radar after a redshirt junior season that saw him record 11.0 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Injuries held him up from reaching those numbers again in 2022, but he still was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in both of his final two seasons. He may need some time before he is considered an every-down NFL linebacker, but his experience as a standup pass rusher should get him some snaps in rotation with the Rams.

McClendon was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs, planted at the right tackle position. While he was never as lauded as former teammates Jamaree Salyer and Broderick Jones, who started on the opposite side of the line in each of the last two years, he didn’t allow a sack in the 2021 or 2022 seasons and earned first-team All-SEC honors as a team captain last year. McClendon provides an immediate benefit as depth in a room thin on tackles but should have the ability to move inside and help out at guard, as well, if necessary. With Hampton and McClendon now under contract, the team has six more draft picks to sign.

LB Alec Ogletree Announces Retirement

June 21st, 2023 at 4:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Alec Ogletree made an effort to play a 10th season last year, but the veteran linebacker will not aim to suit up this season. The former first-round pick announced his retirement (Instagram link).

One of the more successful players to enter the league from the much-maligned 2013 first round, Ogletree secured a Rams extension and started 110 games across a career spent in St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York (with the Giants and Jets) and Chicago. Ogletree picked up a second-team All-Pro honor (in 2016) and finished his career as a full-time starter, lining up with the Bears’ first-stringers throughout the 2021 season.

Known best for his Rams tenure, the off-ball linebacker began as a No. 30 overall pick during Jeff Fisher‘s regime. Fisher and then-second-year GM Les Snead signed off on the linebacker in a two-first-rounder Rams draft, which began with Tavon Austin going eighth overall. Both players fetched extensions from the Rams, but Ogletree made a bigger impact. His 2016 second-team All-Pro season included a career-high 136 tackles (nine for loss), two interceptions and a forced fumble.

That showing earned Ogletree a four-year, $42MM extension in October 2017. Despite the Rams changing HCs by hiring Sean McVay in 2017, they signed off on keeping Ogletree. Though, they reversed course during the ’18 offseason by trading the contract to the Giants. Ogletree, who combined to force 10 fumbles over his first two seasons, led the Rams in tackles during each of the four seasons he finished with the team.

The Giants kept the Georgia alum on that contract for two seasons, and he posted two pick-sixes during his Big Blue debut slate. The Giants had traded fourth- and sixth-round picks to the Rams for Ogletree and a seventh. A 2020 release led Ogletree to the Jets, with whom he only played two games. Despite the Jets cutting bait in October 2020 and Ogletree not playing again that season, he stepped in as a Bears full-timer to close out his career. In 16 Chicago starts, Ogletree made 87 tackles in 2021.

Ogletree, 31, collected just more than $40MM during his NFL run. He added 12 INTs and 7.5 sacks to a resume that includes 766 tackles (49 for loss).

Vikings Not In Rush To Complete Justin Jefferson Extension?

June 21st, 2023 at 2:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year’s wide receiver market boom set up Justin Jefferson for a monster extension, and the superstar Vikings pass catcher continued his historic ascent with a push for the first 2,000-yard receiving season. While Jefferson fell short (an NFL-most 1,809 yards), he did nothing to remove himself from the record-setting extension track.

Jefferson and the Vikings have begun discussions, but it does not sound like the team is intent on hammering out a deal before the season. Both Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have indicated a desire to have Jefferson locked down long term, though the former did not want to place a timeline on these talks. The contract is all but certain to set the market at the receiver position. But the Vikings picking up Jefferson’s fifth-year option limits the urgency on the team’s part, since that transaction pushed the All-Pro’s contract through 2024.

[RELATED: Kirk Cousins Not Expecting Contract Talks Until 2024]

Teams do not make a habit of extending non-quarterbacks with two years of control remaining, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com noted during a recent SportsCenter appearance the Vikings may not be committed to extending their top player just yet. The team is not in a rush here, per Fowler (h/t SI.com’s Joe Nelson), due to both the money involved and the rookie-contract component. Although Minnesota believes Jefferson is a cornerstone player and the league’s best wideout, the NFL’s modern history with receiver extensions may complicate matters.

Since 2014, the first year players given fifth-year options under the 2011 CBA were eligible for extensions, no team has authorized an extension for a first-round receiver before his option year. Star first-round talents like Julio Jones, A.J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans each signed extensions during the offseason of their respective option years. Amari Cooper and Mike Williams played out their option seasons and re-signed during the ensuing offseason. A fairly extensive history exists of teams tabling receiver extensions, but Jefferson’s camp may try to force the issue.

Off to a better statistical start than any of the above-referenced receiver standouts chosen in Round 1 (or any wideout in NFL history), Jefferson skipped Vikings offseason workouts before reporting to minicamp. Jefferson plans to show for training camp, as the 2020 CBA placed stiff penalties on holdouts, but a hold-in measure should not be ruled out. Jefferson’s 4,825 receiving yards are the most through three seasons in NFL history, outpacing the previous three-year pace setter here (Randy Moss) by nearly 700. Jefferson can ramp up the pressure on a Vikings team that needs him by holding in, but if the Vikings do not cave, he will be tied to a $2.39MM salary.

Vikings negotiations with the 24-year-old phenom figure to start north of Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year deal, and while it took a backloaded deal for the Dolphins wideout t0 land that lofty per-year average, the NFC North pass catcher should be able to secure a $30MM-plus AAV without heavy backloading. The Vikings’ preference to not have injury guarantees vest a year out may be an issue for Jefferson’s camp, though the team made an exception for Cousins. That issue aside, we have not heard any major hiccups in these negotiations. If Jefferson is intent on breaking precedent and landing a monster deal ahead of his fourth season, however, some turbulence could emerge.

The 2020 CBA introduced fully guaranteed fifth-year options, and Jefferson is tied to a $19.74MM 2024 salary as a result. But the option’s existence still restricts first-round picks, while later-round selections are frequently paid before Year 4. Last year featured the receiver standouts from the 2019 second and third rounds — A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, Terry McLaurin, D.K. Metcalf and Diontae Johnson — secure pre-Year 4 extensions. It will be interesting to see if Jefferson is forced to wait until his fifth offseason for his payout.

Load More Posts