LeSean McCoy - Pro Football Rumors

LeSean McCoy Retires From NFL

September 30th, 2021 at 10:11am CST by Zachary Links

LeSean McCoy is hanging up his cleats. The veteran running back will sign a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Eagles, capping his career after 12 NFL seasons.

McCoy, 33, spent last year with the Buccaneers and captured his second Super Bowl ring. Afterwards, he seemed intent on playing in 2021.

“The only thing is it has to be the right team,” McCoy said. “I can’t go from two Super Bowls to playing with BA (Bruce Arians), Andy Reid, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes to not even having a team that’s competing. I’m still a competitor. To bring me back, I have to play for a team that is a contender, or with some young guys I could help out. I still want to be effective and get a shot to play and showcase my talent. I still have some more highlights to give out.”

McCoy played sparingly for Tampa last season, getting only ten carries and 15 receptions in ten games. Of course, he was also one of the most accomplished running backs of the past decade. McCoy made six Pro Bowls in seven seasons from 2011-17.

After 12 years with the Eagles, Bills, Chiefs, and Bucs, McCoy racked up 11,071 rushing yards. Another couple of seasons could have put him at 12,000 — every retired RB who has eclipsed 12,000 is in the Hall of Fame. Others who ended their careers between 11,000 and 12,000 — Fred Taylor, Steven Jackson, and Corey Dillon — have not been inducted, but McCoy could potentially find his way to Canton.

LeSean McCoy Wants To Keep Playing

February 28th, 2021 at 6:38pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Prior to the Super Bowl, veteran running back LeSean McCoy said that if he won his second ring in as many seasons, he’d consider hanging up his cleats and walking away from the game. McCoy easily picked up his second championship with the Bucs’ win over the Chiefs, but it didn’t take him very long to decide retirement isn’t what he wants.

On a recent appearance on NFL Network’s ‘Good Morning Football,’ McCoy said he’d like to keep playing and that he’s already had conversations with his agent about finding a new team, via Chris Franklin of Lehigh Valley Live.

“The only thing is it has to be the right team,” McCoy said. “I can’t go from two Super Bowls to playing with BA (Bruce Arians), Andy Reid, Tom Brady, and (Patrick) Mahomes to not even having a team that’s competing. I’m still a competitor. To bring me back, I have to play for a team that is a contender, or with some young guys I could help out. I still want to be effective and get a shot to play and showcase my talent. I still have some more highlights to give out.”

It sounds like after 12 seasons in the league he has no interest in playing for any random team, which is understandable. McCoy played sparingly for Tampa this season, getting only 10 carries and 15 receptions in 10 games. He’ll turn 33 in July, and if any team wants him it’ll be more as a veteran locker room presence than on-field contributor. He was on a one-year minimum deal with the Bucs, and likely won’t be brought back considering they’ve already got Ronald Jones and Lombardi Lenny Fournette in the fold.

One of the most accomplished running backs of the past decade, McCoy made six Pro Bowls in seven seasons from 2011-17. As recently as 2019 with the Chiefs he had 129 touches, so maybe he’s still got a little bit left in the tank. If nothing else he can claim to be good luck for whatever team signs him after the way his past two campaigns have gone.

South Notes: Texans, Titans, Bucs, Terrell

October 8th, 2020 at 5:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bill O’Brien‘s final weeks with the Texans were trying, with the team going 0-4 and the former head coach-GM’s near-universally panned DeAndre Hopkins trade benefitting the Cardinals early. But the since-fired HC also was involved in some internal turmoil, with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reporting O’Brien engaged in heated disputes with J.J. Watt and first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver at a recent practice (Twitter link). O’Brien also verbally sparred with other staffers in his final weeks, per Wilson. That can be expected given the Texans’ start, but the Watt argument may have been a tipping point. The dispute with Watt — arguably the defining player in Texans history — resulted in O’Brien losing the team, in the view of one source (via ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini). The O’Brien-Watt argument took place days before the Texans’ loss to the Steelers.

Here is the latest from the South divisions, moving first to more Titans news:

At least three separate Titans offsite workouts took place last week over a multiday period, veteran NFL reporter Paul Kuharsky notes. A group that included Ryan Tannehill was spotted working out Sept. 30 at Montgomery Bell Academy, an area high school, while Kuharsky reports a different group — comprised of defensive backs — worked out at a park near Belmont University that day. Multiple workouts took place at the park near Belmont, per Kuharsky, who adds that Mike Vrabel said during an Oct. 1 Zoom call he told players not to conduct offsite workouts. The NFL is now investigating the Titans for this, and punishment for the coronavirus-stricken team could be severe. Tight end MyCole Pruitt, one of the Titans’ positive testers, was not at the offsite workouts, per Titaninsider.com’s Terry McCormick (on Twitter).
Prior to the Titans being barred from their headquarters, the NFL showed images of players and staffers walking around the team’s facility without masks, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Aside from players during workouts, team personnel are required to wear masks inside team facilities. Twenty-three Titans players and staffers have tested positive for COVID-19.
Good news for the Falcons on the virus front. First-round cornerback A.J. Terrell returned to practice this week, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets. Terrell missed Atlanta’s past two games after being placed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list just before the Falcons’ Week 3 game.
For the sect of non-Chris Godwin fantasy managers who might have missed this (and the narrower swath of LeSean McCoy deep-league GMs), both Buccaneers will miss Thursday night’s game against the Bears. The Bucs declared Godwin and Shady out. This marks Godwin’s third missed game this season; he is battling a hamstring injury. Mike Evans, however, will play, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). Evans was a game-time decision because of an ankle injury.
Eli Apple is set to miss more time. After successfully rehabbing one hamstring injury, the Panthers cornerback has encountered another. Matt Rhule said the recent acquisition pulled his other hamstring, per Joe Person of The Athletic (on Twitter). Apple missed Carolina’s first three games because of his initial hamstring injury. He has played just six snaps (all on special teams) this season.

Buccaneers Sign RB Leonard Fournette

September 3rd, 2020 at 9:46am CST by Rory Parks

The Bucs got their man. Shortly after it was reported that Tampa was pursuing former Jacksonville RB Leonard Fournette, the Bucs agreed to terms with the 2017 first-rounder, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com).

It will be a one-year deal worth up to $3.5MM. Fournette will take home a base salary of $2MM and will have the chance to earn an extra $1.5MM in incentives based on rushing yards and playing time. Plus, since Fournette’s deal with the Jags did not include offset language, he could still pocket the $4.2MM that he was due to earn this year prior to being waived by Jacksonville if he wins his grievance against his former club.

Tampa was said to be interested in Fournette earlier this year and reportedly engaged in trade talks with Jacksonville. Ultimately, the Bucs were able to acquire him without sacrificing any draft capital, but their RB room has become pretty crowded. In addition to incumbent Ronald Jones, Tampa added Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Raymond Calais in the draft and signed veteran LeSean McCoy in July.

Prior to the Fournette signing, the team continued to tout Jones as its RB1, but Fournette is clearly the better back, even if he hasn’t quite lived up to his status as a former No. 4 overall pick. And since McCoy was signed for the veteran minimum, some have speculated that the Bucs could release him, though Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network says that Shady remains in the team’s plans (Twitter link). Fournette did pick up 76 receptions out of the backfield last year, but he may see most of his work on first and second downs while McCoy becomes a third-down/passing game complement.

Fournette added 265 carries for 1,152 yards in 2019, good for a career-high 4.3 yards-per-carry average. He now has a prime opportunity to truly break out in what is shaping up to be a prolific offense.

Buccaneers To Sign LeSean McCoy

July 30th, 2020 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers are making a big move at running back. They will bring in LeSean McCoy, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That works out to $1.05MM for a 12th-year player.

Bruce Arians confirmed the team was interested in Devonta Freeman earlier this offseason but said the ex-Falcon’s price tag was too high. The Bucs went in a different direction, signing the former All-Pro to work with Ronald Jones and third-round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn. With the pandemic nixing the onsite work and the preseason, it makes sense for the Bucs to bring in a veteran Jones complement while Vaughn develops.

McCoy said recently he had spoken to multiple teams and wanted to land with a contender. Considering the Bucs’ new profile after their Tom Brady signing, they certainly qualify. One of the other teams McCoy spoke with was indeed the Eagles, per Rapoport (on Twitter). The Eagles were interested in a reunion, but given McCoy’s league-minimum Bucs pact, it is unclear if an offer came.

Although the Chiefs made McCoy a healthy scratch in Super Bowl LIV, he showed flashes during the regular season. Shady averaged 4.6 yards per carry, bouncing back from a 3.2-YPC season in an undermanned Bills offense in 2018, and scored five touchdowns during his one-year Andy Reid reunion.

After collecting his first Super Bowl ring, the six-time Pro Bowler will join another team with Super Bowl aspirations. The Bucs have now added future Hall of Famers Brady and Rob Gronkowski to their offense, and McCoy will have a chance to work on his Canton credentials in Tampa.

The former Eagles and Bills standout wants to become the league’s 17th 12,000-yard rusher. Sitting on 11,071, the 32-year-old runner will likely need at least two seasons to get there. Every retired back who has eclipsed 12,000 is in the Hall of Fame. Rushers who ended their careers between 11,000 and 12,000 — Fred Taylor, Steven Jackson and Corey Dillon — have not been inducted, however.

LeSean McCoy Has Spoken With Multiple Teams

July 24th, 2020 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Eyeing a 12th NFL season, LeSean McCoy said he has spoken to multiple teams. The former All-Pro running back indicated Friday the teams he’s referencing are some of his “favorite teams.”

As a member of the Chiefs, McCoy collected his first Super Bowl ring. Kansas City did not dress McCoy for Super Bowl LIV, however, and drafted Clyde Edwards-Helaire in Round 1. McCoy continuing his career will almost certainly mean leaving Missouri. He would prefer to do so with a contending team.

“Right now, just talked to a couple of teams — some of my favorite teams — that I’d think would be a great fit for me,” McCoy said during an NFL Network interview with Mike Garafolo. “But I think the biggest thing is to find the right fit. Find the right fit for me. I think at the point in my career, not just playing football. I want to play for the right team.

“I want to be able to contribute. I want to be able to win another championship. You can’t go from playing with the Chiefs with all that talent and winning a championship to now just trying to play.”

McCoy has been connected to an Eagles return. They are open to that prospect, and multiple acclaimed Eagles have lobbied for this. Missing out on Carlos Hyde while also having pursued Devonta Freeman, the Eagles make sense as a McCoy suitor. The Eagles traded McCoy to the Bills in 2015. Although the Buccaneers have Ronald Jones and third-round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn, their Freeman interest could make them a candidate to add McCoy as well. Not many contenders are in dire need at this position, however.

The former Eagles and Bills Pro Bowler said he wants to surpass 12,000 rushing yards. Currently sitting on 11,071, McCoy would likely need to play at least two more seasons to get there. The 14 retired 12,000-yard rushers are in the Hall of Fame. He ranks 22nd on the all-time rushing list. While the Chiefs went away from McCoy down the stretch, he upped his per-carry average from 3.2 in 2018 to 4.6 last season.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, McCoy, Cowboys, Prescott

June 1st, 2020 at 12:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles have yet to make an offer to LeSean McCoy, but some of his teammates would like to see progress on that front.Wide receiver DeSean Jackson and offensive lineman Lane Johnson have both expressed support for a Shady signing, as Mike Kaye of NJ.com writes.

“I want to see it,” Johnson said about the notion of the Birds bringing back McCoy. “You already know how I feel.”

McCoy, 32 in July, could provide veteran support behind Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. Then again, he’s not the only notable running back available to the Eagles. After rejecting a one-year, $3MM offer from the Seahawks, Devonta Freeman remains a free agent, though his asking price may have to drop before the Birds get involved.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

Some have argued that Dak Prescott isn’t worth the market-resetting contract he’s seeking, but Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com says the Cowboys would have a hard time replacing the quarterback. His argument, in part, centers on the Cowboys’ difficulty in identifying good young QB talent. Before Prescott fell into their laps in 2016, the Cowboys were aggressively targeting Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, two players who have done little as pros. In 2014, Cowboys brass had to talk Jerry Jones out of chasing Johnny Manziel. Of course, they struck gold with undrafted free agent Tony Romo in 2013, but he was really the discovery of then-quarterbacks coach Sean Payton. Some have gone so far as to say that Andy Dalton could match Prescott’s production, but Barnwell isn’t buying it.
New Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith bulked up in advance of his NFL return (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer). The former Pro Bowler says he “feels great” at 285 pounds, which is roughly 15 pounds heavier than his previous playing weight. In May, the NFL reinstated Smith, clearing the way for him to start fresh in Dallas.
The Giants could use an edge rusher, but they won’t make a late run at Jadeveon Clowney.
New 49ers tackle Trent Williams says he was legitimately ready and eager to play for the Redskins last season.

Eagles Haven’t Made Offer To RB LeSean McCoy

May 28th, 2020 at 10:49am CST by Ben Levine

While the Eagles are reportedly “open to the idea” of bringing back LeSean McCoy, it doesn’t sound like they’ve seriously pursued the veteran running back. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports (via Twitter) that Philly hasn’t made an offer to their former Pro Bowler.

However, the Eagles have (or, at least, did) make offers to other veteran running backs. McLane notes that the organization made an offer to Carlos Hyde, who has since signed with the Seahawks. The organization also made an offer to Devonta Freeman, who is currently weighing his options.

We heard last week that there was some mutual interest in an Eagles/McCoy reunion. The running back spent six seasons in Philly between 2009 and 2014, earning three Pro Bowl trips and two First-Team All-Pro nods. Of course, the Eagles wouldn’t be getting that version of McCoy in 2020; despite starting 22 games for the Bills and Chiefs over the past two years, the veteran has only compiled 979 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 262 carries.

On the flip side, the Eagles probably wouldn’t be expecting a whole lot of production out of the 31-year-old (32 in July). Instead, he’ll be a mentor in a relatively young running backs room, a grouping that’s currently led by Miles Sanders and Boston Scott.

Eagles Open To Signing LeSean McCoy

May 21st, 2020 at 2:58pm CST by Zachary Links

LeSean McCoy wants to fly with the Eagles one more time. The running back remains available in free agency and the Eagles are at least open to the idea, Tim McManus of ESPN.com hears.

McCoy started his career with the Eagles and mostly excelled in those four seasons. Shady secured three Pro Bowl trips and two First-Team All-Pro nods in Philly before he was traded to Buffalo, where he secured the bag.

Before the start of the 2019 season, the Bills dropped McCoy and the remainder of his five-year, $40MM contract. Then, he hooked on with the Chiefs. He started strong in the first half, but his role was greatly reduced down the stretch. On the whole, it was a bounceback year for the veteran – he averaged 4.6 yards per tote, up from his career low of 3.2 in ’18. He also captured a Super Bowl ring to cap it off.

McCoy isn’t the only veteran RB on the Eagles’ radar. They’re also interested in Carlos Hyde and Devonta Freeman. Last we heard, the Eagles were pretty much lowballing Hyde, pitching the 1,000-yard rusher a veteran’s minimum deal. They might not be able to land Freeman, either. The Seahawks have offered him a deal worth around $3-4MM, which could be too rich for their blood.

McCoy would likely come at a cheaper rate than Freeman. If he returns to Philly, he’ll join Miles Sanders and Boston Scott in their RB group.

Raiders Had Interest In LeSean McCoy

May 14th, 2020 at 3:21pm CST by Zachary Links

We haven’t heard much about LeSean McCoy‘s market lately, but there have, in fact, been suitors. The Raiders showed interest in Shady before they added Devontae Booker to their running back depth chart, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).

McCoy “could see” himself with the Eagles, but Howie Roseman & Co. may be more keen on Carlos Hyde, if they can get the 1,000-yard rusher to agree to a dirt-cheap one-year deal. Last year, Hyde averaged 4.4 yards per carry with the Texans, proving that he still has lots left in the tank. McCoy, meanwhile, had a strange up-and-down year with the Super Bowl champs. After a red-hot start in his new Chiefs uniform, McCoy would up as a late-season afterthought.

Still, Jon Gruden loves his veteran players and the Raiders considered McCoy to join starter Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard, Rod Smith, and third-round rookie Lynn Bowden. The Raiders probably don’t have room for McCoy, but plenty of other teams could be interested in the one-time superstar. If the Philly return doesn’t go down, the Bears would be a logical landing spot for someone like McCoy – ditto for fellow free agent RB Devonta Freeman.

LeSean McCoy News & Rumors