Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas was able to clear up a bit of cap space for the team with a restructure in March, but he likely would’ve preferred to receive an extension as he heads into a contract year. The veteran cornerback has been absent from all offseason workouts so far this year, causing some to speculate about a holdout over his contract.
According to Tim Graham of The Athletic, Douglas’ absence isn’t due to contract issues. There’s no further information to tell us whether the absence is injury-related or not, but there don’t appear to be any contact concerns for Douglas in Buffalo. Douglas provided a huge boost to an injury-riddled defense in 2023, and his significant contributions should set him up for a nice contract in the future.
While that contract hasn’t been a focus so far this offseason, it doesn’t appear that the lack of prospects for a new deal are keeping Douglas away.
Here are a couple of other rumors coming out of the AFC East:
- We continue to see rumors tying Jets head coach Robert Saleh to a larger role in the offense in 2024, reducing the role of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. We’ve started seeing examples of this in organized team activities as Saleh is spending increased time overseeing the offense in practice and has been more vocal in quarterback meetings, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. With an 18-33 record through three seasons as head coach in New York, Saleh, a former defensive coordinator, is doing whatever it takes to make sure he’s still there after Year 4.
- The Jets essentially exchanged pass rushers with the Eagles this offseason, trading for Haason Reddick while allowing Bryce Huff to depart in free agency. Despite Huff delivering a 10-sack season for the Jets last year, the team didn’t view him as an every-down player. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, New York is so confident that Reddick will be that guy for them that they took on an expiring contract and even traded away John Franklin-Myers to the Broncos to ensure Reddick has the opportunity to shine. After failing to land an extension with the Eagles, Reddick will attempt to show just how much he’s worth with the Jets in 2024.
Lance Reddick was on two of the best shows ever made.
Loved him as Phillip Broyles.
Using a former defensive coordinator to help run the Jets offense should work well – says Matt Patricia.
It’s better to do one job well that two jobs poorly. Saleh shouldn’t interfere with the offense. If it doesn’t produce then he has a fall guy he can use to save his own job. If he gets involved and both the offense and defense struggle then there is no fall guy and he’ll be even more likely to be fired.
I see where you’re coming from, but I think there’s more to Saleh’s involvement in the offense than meets the eye. It’s not just about dividing his attention between two jobs, but rather a strategic move to improve the team’s overall performance.
1. **Strategic Involvement**: Saleh isn’t just interfering with the offense, he’s actively participating in it. He’s been seen more frequently during practices and in meeting rooms, observing and learning.
2. **Defensive Perspective**: His input isn’t just valuable, it’s crucial. He provides a defensive perspective to the offensive strategies, which can lead to more balanced and effective plays.
3. **Collaborative Approach**: It’s not about taking over, but about collaboration. Saleh has been seen chatting with Rodgers and other offensive players on the field, indicating a team effort rather than a one-man show.
4. **Learning and Adapting**: Saleh’s deeper involvement in the offense is part of his learning and adapting process. He absorbed the new system in his first year and is now providing insight based on his understanding.
So, while it might seem like Saleh is stretching himself thin, it’s actually a calculated move aimed at improving the team’s performance. If both the offense and defense struggle, it won’t necessarily be because of Saleh’s involvement. There are many factors at play in a team’s performance, and pinning it all on one person oversimplifies the situation. Just my two cents!
it’s all a show – Aaron Rodgers will run the offense
But can he do it for more than 4 snaps?