Newsstand News & Rumors

Bill Belichick Interviewed For North Carolina HC Job; Latest On NFL Interest

December 5th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

This season marked Bill Belichick‘s first out of the NFL since 1974. The legendary HC-turned-media mainstay has only served as a full-time coach in the NFL ranks, moving from assistant positions in Baltimore, Detroit, Denver and New York to his two HC roles (Cleveland, New England). It is widely known the recently fired Patriots leader is eyeing a jump back into the league.

An unusual development may well have taken place in the meantime. Belichick interviewed for the North Carolina head coaching job, according to 247Sports.com’s Grant Hughes. Considering the instability in the college ranks right now, along with Belichick’s exclusive ties to the NFL over a near-five-decade span, it would be borderline shocking if he made his coaching return to that level. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms the North Carolina meeting.

Discussions have occurred over a several-day period, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer and Pat Forde report. Belichick is the son of a longtime college coach. His father, Steve, was an assistant at Navy for 34 years. Steve Belichick also spent three seasons (1953-55) as an assistant at North Carolina. While the NFL lifer bowing out of a second NFL derby to coach the Tar Heels 70 years after his father did would be unexpected, it is a key coaching storyline to monitor right now. Belichick indeed still would likely prefer the pros, per Breer, though he has done extensive research on the current college game.

Belichick, 72, has been tied to the Giants and Cowboys and has connections to Jaguars ownership, further clouding Trent Baalke‘s Jacksonville future. All three jobs may soon be available, and while Belichick has an advantage on candidates employed by teams presently, he would need to wait on those three jobs. The Bears, Jets and Saints are the only teams that can interview Belichick now.

Coaches still on staff elsewhere must wait until after the wild-card round to interview, while unattached candidates can start early. Though, Belichick is almost definitely not returning to the Jets due to a long-adversarial relationship. Unless the Bears and Saints show interest, Belichick will need to wait until the offseason carousel starts.

North Carolina fired its two-time HC Mack Brown recently, and Steelers OC Arthur Smith came up as a target. Smith rebuffed Tar Heels interest, as a potential second chance as an NFL leader awaits. Belichick taking the meeting is certainly interesting, and he would obviously raise the ACC program’s profile. That said, Belichick’s age and the unstable landscape of Division I sports right now stand to generate roadblocks. The Tar Heels have been open to senior-citizen HCs, hiring Brown back at age 67 in 2018. The Tar Heels have produced one 10-win season over the past 27 years.

Belichick’s 20-plus-year tenure as a de facto GM would appeal to schools in the NIL era, in addition to his obvious coaching resume’s draw, though the transfer portal and evolving compensation setup have led high-profile coaches in both football and basketball out. Boston College’s Jeff Hafley was among them, leaving an ACC HC gig for the Packers’ DC post (Brown also expressed frustration with the current state of college sports). The world’s highest-profile football coach stepping in would be rather strange. Indeed, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz adds some in the NFL believe Belichick is using North Carolina in an effort to push teams to act faster and make it known he wants back into the league in 2025.

Any college commitment would also drain time from Belichick’s quest to break Don Shula‘s career wins record. At 333, Belichick sits 14 behind Shula’s mark. The NFL also brings a potential age barrier, one that impacted Belichick’s candidacy this year. No team has hired a head coach older than 66; Belichick will turn 73 in April. The Falcons viewing Belichick as a short-term option prompted them to steer clear, though myriad other factors were also behind Atlanta’s decision.

The Raiders job also may open soon, creating a fascinating what-if about now-part-owner Tom Brady overseeing his former coach. Mark Davis pulling the plug so quickly on longtime Belichick lieutenant Josh McDaniels likely makes that a nonstarter, and ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano indeed does not see a fit there if the Silver and Black boot Antonio Pierce soon.

The Cowboys continue to come up as a potential Belichick destination, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who adds the Buccaneers have as well. Tampa Bay passed on firing Todd Bowles last year, as the third-year HC ultimately rallied to lead the team to the divisional round. The Bucs are 6-6, putting Bowles on shaky ground once again. Though, they play in the NFL’s worst division and could certainly claim a playoff spot for a fifth straight year. Mike McCarthy is wrapping up a five-year contract, though the prospect of Jerry Jones keeping his embattled HC — one Dak Prescott strongly endorsed this week — has also surfaced.

Belichick was believed to be willing to cede some power if hired by the Falcons, with Arthur Blank confirming the coach did not demand a de facto GM role during his interviews. But meshing with Dallas’ long-running honcho, who obviously plays the lead role in Cowboys personnel moves, continues to loom as a potential dealbreaker for both parties. Barring an unexpected move into the college ranks, Belichick connections to teams figure to pick up again soon.

Cardinals Extend RB James Conner

December 5th, 2024 at 8:30pm CST by Ben Levine

DECEMBER 5: Details of Conner’s contract have emerged via OverTheCap. The deal includes $10.39MM in total guarantees, including $8.25MM of fully-guaranteed money. Conner’s $6.75MM signing bonus and his $1.5MM guaranteed salary in 2025 are both fully guaranteed, with an additional $2.14MM of 2025 salary that becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year.

The contract also includes $100k in workout bonuses and $510k in per-game roster bonuses in both 2025 and 2026, as well as a $1MM roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2026 league year. Connor’s 2024 salary cap number rose to $11.24MM to account for the $2.25MM prorated portion of his new signing bonus. His cap hit will be $6.5MM in 2025 and $10.25MM in 2026.

Overall, the deal rewards Conner for his success this season with solid guarantees while the structure minimizes risk for the Cardinals if his effectiveness dips next year. Conner can be released after the 2025 season with just $2.25MM in dead money while saving $8MM against the cap.

NOVEMBER 30: James Conner is sticking in Arizona. The impending free agent running back has signed a two-year extension with the Cardinals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is worth $19MM. The extension will keep Conner in Glendale through the 2026 campaign.

The 2025 campaign will represent Conner’s age-30 season, a milestone that teams have generally been wary of investing in. While the RB missed time in each of his first three seasons with the organization, he’s still topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage each year. He’s collected 35 touchdowns over that span, including an 18-score campaign during his debut in Arizona.

Conner has avoided the injury bug for the first chunk of the 2024 campaign, and he’s continued to produce. In 11 games, the 29-year-old has collected 993 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. As Schefter notes, the Cardinals are 5-1 when Conner reaches 100 scrimmage yards…and 1-4 when he doesn’t. The team continues to be especially reliant on their RB1, and he should continue to be a focal point over the next few seasons.

The former third-round pick started his career as Le’Veon Bell‘s backup in Pittsburgh. When the starter sat out the 2018 campaign due to a contract dispute with the Steelers, Conner literally and figuratively ran with the job. Conner finished his sophomore campaign with 1,470 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. Thanks in part to injuries and a drop in efficiency, Conner’ was barely able to match his 2018 numbers to his 2019 and 2020 outputs; between those two campaigns, the RB collected 1,651 scrimmage yards and 13 scores.

The Cardinals were somewhat taking a chance on Conner during the 2021 offseason, signing the RB to a one-year deal. His 18-touchdown performance earned him a new three-year pact with the organization, so today’s extension represents his third contract with the Cardinals.

The front office could have been preparing for a post-Conner backfield when they selected running back Trey Benson in the third round of this year’s draft. The Florida State product will move forward as high-end insurance behind the oft-injured starter.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.

Ryan Poles To Lead Bears’ HC Search

December 2nd, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of Matt Eberflus‘ firing, Ryan Poles’ status briefly became a talking point. The latter is nevertheless set to remain in place as general manager of the Bears through the team’s upcoming head coaching search.

“Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears,” president Kevin Warren confirmed on Monday (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “I am confident in Ryan. My belief is strong in Ryan.”

Warren noted that Poles – in place since 2022 – will be Chicago’s “point person” during the process of finding Eberflus’ replacement. The Bears went 14-32 with Eberflus at the helm, and a distinct lack of success in close games played a key role in the decision to make the franchise’s first in-season coaching change. Poles specifically mentioned the handling of late-game situations as being a factor in Eberflus’ firing (h/t Adam Jahns of The Athletic).

Poles’ tenure has featured a rebuilding effort at a number of positions, including the decision to reset under center this offseason. Justin Fields was traded away before Chicago used the No. 1 pick (acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Panthers the previous spring) on Caleb Williams. The rookie’s play this season has been up and down, but it has shown signs of improvement since Thomas Brown took over as offensive play-caller. Brown is now interim head coach, and strong reviews from within the organization could give him a realistic chance at landing the full-time gig.

Still, the Bears will of course look at outside candidates as well. A long list of staffers with an offensive background could be on the team’s radar over the coming months, and to no surprise Poles named (via Cronin) a development plan for Williams as a central aspect of any candidates’ chances of being hired. Helping Williams reach his potential will be crucial as the Bears look to find stability at the QB spot and elsewhere in the organization.

Questions have been raised about whether or not Warren is truly leading the way for the Bears in terms of key decisions. During his Monday remarks, Warren did say (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network) that Poles will have the final call on the upcoming head coaching hire. That decision will nevertheless be a collaborative one this winter with Chicago looking for a long-term solution on the sidelines.

Jaguars, LT Walker Little Agree To Extension

December 1st, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Rory Parks

The Jaguars have agreed to a three-year, $45MM extension with left tackle Walker Little, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report. The deal, which features $26MM in guaranteed money, will keep Little under club control through 2027.

Little, 25, was selected by Jacksonville in the second round of the 2021 draft and saw just six regular season starts over his first two professional seasons. However, three of those games — along with two more postseason appearances as a starter — came at the end of the Jaguars’ exciting 2022 campaign, when the club rallied to a playoff berth and won a memorable wildcard round bout against the Chargers. Little’s efforts during that stretch earned the praise of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

This season, speaking shortly after the Jags traded longtime LT Cam Robinson to the Vikings (thereby paving the way for Little), Lawrence said, “[Little] had to come in, in ‘22 when Cam got hurt, and finish the season when we were on that run. We didn’t skip a beat because he was prepared, and he prepared every day like a starter. … [H]e’s more than ready and he’s done a great job. I’m excited for him. I’ve got all the faith in the world, and he’s played great so far” (h/t John Shipley of SI.com).

Little received extensive work in 2023 thanks in large part to Robinson’s PED suspension and subsequent knee injury (though some of Little’s action came at left guard). In 14 games (11 starts), Little was flagged for seven penalties and yielded 26 total pressures, seven of which got home for sacks. That amounted to a middling 58.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which positioned him as the 58th-best tackle out of 81 qualifiers.

Now the unquestioned starter at left tackle in the wake of this year’s Robinson trade, Little has started each of the Jags’ last four games and has allowed just one sack and three QB hits during that time. PFF has assigned him a strong 67.9 overall mark for his 2024 work, and his performance to date has convinced Jacksonville brass that Little is the right player to protect Lawrence’s blind side for the foreseeable future.

Naturally, GM Trent Baalke was “heavily involved” in the Little negotiations, as Schefter confirms. Of course, Baalke is very much on the hot seat, so it is at least notable that he is making major decisions that will impact the long-term future of the Jaguars. A rival executive tells Schefter that the Little extension is a sign that Baalke is planning to remain with the club, though Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle throws some cold water on that notion. As Branch reminds us, Baalke authorized a five-year, $35MM deal for tight end Vance McDonald in December 2016, when Baalke was serving as GM of the 49ers. Baalke was fired less than a month later.

Regardless of what it means for Baalke’s future, Little’s new contract likely takes the 2-9 Jaguars out of the running for an offensive tackle when they make their first pick of the 2025 draft, as ESPN’s Field Yates posits.

Bears Fire Matt Eberflus

November 29th, 2024 at 10:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

Matt Eberflus offered the public remarks often made by head coaches on the hot seat in the wake of the Bears’ most recent loss. The franchise is nevertheless making an unprecedented in-season change on the sidelines.

Eberflus has been fired, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. His tenure in Chicago comes to an end after two-plus years at the helm of the team. He compiled a 14-32 record along the way, and the latest contribution to the team’s current six-game losing streak has marked the end of his first NFL head coaching gig. Recently-promoted offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will serve as interim head coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.

Eberflus had a strong four-year run as the Colts’ defensive coordinator before being hired by the Bears to replace Matt Nagy. The 54-year-old was unable to guide the team to a run of success in two seasons with Justin Fields at quarterback, although during the second half of last year in particular the defense did show signs of improvement. A number of moves made this past offseason added new faces on offense, highlighted by the decision to move on from Fields and select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. The latter’s rookie season has been marred by a string of close losses in recent weeks, several of which have increased the speculation Eberflus would not last the year.

Chicago had a 4-2 record heading into the bye week, an indication the team would at least be competitive in what has proven to be a very strong NFC North. The Bears lost to the Commanders on a Hail Mary (during which cornerback Tyrique Stevenson joined Eberflus in receiving considerable blame) in Week 8, however, and that marked the beginning of the current streak. Low-scoring defeats against the Cardinals and Patriots led to a play-calling change on offense, with Brown taking over from Shane Waldron as OC.

Williams’ play has generally improved since that move was made, but narrow losses to the Packers (on a blocked field goal), Vikings (in overtime) and Lions (during which the Bears mismanaged the situation at the end of the game and did not generate at least an attempt at a game-tying field goal) have now left Eberflus out of opportunities to rebound this season. Chicago sits at 4-8 on the year with the postseason no longer a realistic possibility. He defended the manner in which the Thanksgiving game ended yesterday before a brief media availability this morning. Shortly after multiple public appearances – during which, in both cases, he expressed a belief he would be retained – Eberflus is now out of the organization.

Three head coaching vacancies are now present in the NFL. The Jets moved on from Robert Saleh while Dennis Allen was dismissed by the Saints. Eberflus now joins them as a head coach with a defensive background on the lookout for a new opportunity. No shortage of candidates (particularly on the offensive side of the ball) will be involved in the 2025 hiring cycle, likely the earliest point at which Eberflus will join a new staff.

Brown made his NFL coaching debut in 2020 with the Rams. He was a member of Sean McVay‘s staff for three years before taking the Panthers’ OC gig last offseason. The 2023 campaign saw head coach Frank Reich fired amidst changes in play-calling duties with Brown. The latter spent much of the year at the helm, though, and the lack of development shown by quarterback Bryce Young helped lead to his departure. In a very short period of time, Brown has now ascended from passing game coordinator to OC and now, at least for a short-term spell, head coach.

From a big-picture perspective, today’s move represents the continuation of an unwelcomed trend regarding the HC-QB combination in Chicago. Mitch Trubisky spent one season with John Fox before a change on the sidelines was made. Nagy, in turn, spent one year with Fields in place before being dismissed at the end of the 2021 campaign. Now, Eberflus has received less than one full campaign following the Williams selection. The young passer’s development is of course the organization’s top priority, and finding a long-term coach to pair him with for 2025 and beyond will be critical in that process.

In all, Eberflus becomes the fifth Bears head coach to be fired since George McCaskey took over as chairman in 2011. Over that span, Chicago has posted a winning record only twice while cycling through three general managers and another three offensive coordinators. Finding stability will be key moving forward, but the latest attempt on that front will include a new voice on the sidelines.

Vikings Sign QB Daniel Jones

November 27th, 2024 at 10:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumored early as a Daniel Jones suitor, the Vikings are indeed making the move. The six-year Giants starter is set to land in Minnesota, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports.

Ten-plus teams were connected to Jones, though money was not believed to be a factor. His first rebound spot will emerge in the Twin Cities, where he will step in as Sam Darnold‘s backup. Jones is expected to sign for the prorated veteran minimum, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. That amount will provide a small offset for the Giants, who are eating eight figures in 2024 guarantees from their release and Jones then clearing waivers.

Although Jones will be positioned to back up Darnold, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Cameron Wolfe note this will first be a practice squad agreement. The Vikings would have the option to elevate Jones three times, but given his experience, it would surprise if the former Eli Manning successor is on Minnesota’s taxi squad for too long. That $375K number from the Vikings will cover Jones once he is on the active roster, though veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson indicates the sides are still finalizing compensation — perhaps a bump from a standard practice squad salary for the near term.

This contract’s active-roster salary will indeed be just $375K, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who confirms this is the expected one-year agreement. Jones could still technically bolt Minnesota’s practice squad if another opportunity — via an injury — opens up in the near future. Teams attempted to poach Joe Flacco from Cleveland’s P-squad last year, but with plenty of interest coming in for Jones already, it would surprise if he left the team he carefully selected in order to learn a new playbook elsewhere.

Jones, 27, enjoyed his finest hour as a pro at U.S. Bank Stadium, piloting the Giants to a wild-card upset to eliminate a 13-4 Vikings team in Kevin O’Connell‘s first season. O’Connell, however, has shown an ability to coax quality play from quarterbacks. Darnold’s bounce-back season has most recently revealed this, and Schultz adds Jones wanted to end up in a QB-friendly system with a coaching staff capable of generating the best from passers.

While Baker Mayfield ended up in Sean McVay‘s QB-friendly system via waiver claim, Jones having $13.81MM in remaining 2024 salary made that route a non-starter for teams. This situation resembles Mayfield’s in terms of a fit, with Jones likely hoping he can use a Vikings stay as a springboard to a 2025 starter opportunity. Contractually, this reminds of Russell Wilson‘s Steelers signing. Wilson’s Denver deal covered him, and after he visited the Giants, the 13th-year veteran landed in Pittsburgh for the veteran minimum.

Jones, whose comeback from ACL surgery began with a Vikings matchup in Week 1, will join a Minnesota team that has two backup QBs on its active roster. Nick Mullens is Darnold’s backup, while late-summer addition Brett Rypien sits as the team’s emergency option. It looks like Rypien’s roster spot will be threatened by the Wednesday agreement.

The Vikings joined nearly a dozen teams in being connected to Jones. The Ravens, Lions, Dolphins, 49ers and Raiders were among the closely tied teams. Jones was believed to have preferred a contending team, and despite the Raiders losing Gardner Minshew on Sunday (thus opening a potential starting role), the free agent was believed to have ruled out Las Vegas. Dan Campbell said Tuesday (via DetroitFootball.net’s Justin Rogers) the Lions had not engaged in serious internal discussions on the newly available QB, praising Hendon Hooker‘s development behind Jared Goff. While some in the league viewed the 49ers as a viable Jones destination, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, he will instead join a 9-2 Vikings team on its way to a second playoff berth under O’Connell.

The Giants benched Jones after he was unable to position this year’s team among the NFC’s contender contingent. For the season, Jones ranks 28th in QBR (Darnold is 14th) and threw eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions in 10 starts. Jones also averaged only 6.1 yards per attempt — 33rd this season — and has never ended a season north of 7.0. The Giants still gave the scrutinized starter six seasons to prove himself, representing a much longer runway than Jones’ performance warranted. Big Blue has turned to Tommy DeVito, though it would not surprise to see UFA addition Drew Lock see time as well. Jones now will get to work developing in O’Connell’s offense.

Both Jones and Darnold are due for free agency in 2025, still clearing the runway for J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota’s first-round pick has undergone a second surgery on his injured meniscus but remains on schedule to be ready for the 2025 season. The Vikings are fine with Darnold pricing himself out of town next year, Graziano adds, as it will mean a successful season for the team. Jones could also provide potential cover and a McCarthy insurance option beyond 2024, though it would stand to reason the former No. 6 overall pick’s primary aim will be to land somewhere with a chance to start next year.

O’Connell saw his 2022 team’s defense struggle to contain Jones twice. The then-fourth-year quarterback played well in a narrow loss to the Vikings in Week 16 that season then return to Minneapolis to deliver a versatile effort to propel the Giants to the divisional round. In that first-round playoff tilt, Jones was 24 of 35 for 301 yards through the air — despite the Giants not having much of note in terms of pass-catching help at the time — and offered a 17-carry, 78-yard rushing performance. That keyed a 31-24 upset win, one that brought long-term repercussions for the Giants.

Prioritizing Jones over Saquon Barkley due to positional value, GM Joe Schoen authorized a four-year, $160MM deal that included $81MM guaranteed at signing. The latter figure will be paid out this year, but the Giants will eat $22.2MM in 2025 dead money due to prorated signing bonus money. Jones did not remotely justify the contract on the field, playing poorly — albeit behind an injury-riddled offensive line — before suffering an ACL tear last season and not rebounding at the level the Giants hoped this year. As the Giants’ effort to land Drake Maye as a Jones replacement failed, Barkley has become an MVP candidate with Philadelphia.

Darnold and Jones will be two of the top free agent QBs available come March, though the Vikings will now hold exclusive negotiating rights with both until the legal tampering period begins March 10. Should Darnold suffer an injury or see his play decline significantly, the Vikings now would have Jones to deploy rather than Mullens, who was among the three QBs to make a Minnesota start last year after Kirk Cousins‘ Achilles tear.

As Jones hopes a stay in a strong offensive system can boost his long-term value, the Vikings have a much better QB2 option as they assemble their pieces for a potential playoff run this season.

Brandon Graham Suffers Triceps Tear

November 24th, 2024 at 11:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brandon Graham made Eagles history this year, becoming the first player in franchise history to suit up for a 15th season with the franchise. The 36-year-old edge rusher also made an impact in Sunday night’s game, but it is now expected to be his last this season — and potentially his final NFL contest.

Following the game, Graham said (via ESPN.com’s Tim McManus) he suffered a triceps tear. This injury regularly shelves players for extended periods, and while it may be slightly premature to deem Graham done for the season, he went as far as to proclaim his campaign is over.

While this injury comes for an Eagles team that just lost Bryce Huff for a period due to a wrist injury. Huff landed on IR this week but is expected back later this season. For the time being, an Eagles team flush with D-end investments will be shorthanded.

As for Graham, it is fair to speculate on whether Sunday night will be his NFL finale. The Eagles have continued to sign the 2010 first-round pick to one-year contracts, and he put off retirement to play a 15th season this year. Graham said this offseason he would retire after the 2024 season, though he did not confirm that when asked postgame.

Graham left the Eagles’ Week 12 win over the Rams during the fourth quarter. He sacked Matthew Stafford once and compiled three QB hits in Philadelphia’s convincing road victory. If Graham’s season is over, he finishes with 3.5 sacks and seven QB hits in 11 games. The Eagles have Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith still healthy on the edge, and the team drafted Jalyx Hunt in Round 3 this year. The Eagles regularly pour premium assets into their lines, but the 9-2 team is now down two regulars.

The Eagles re-upped Graham on a one-year, $4MM deal in March. This came when the club’s “Core Four” split via the retirements of Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox. Graham and Lane Johnson remain, though it has been expected the quartet would lose another member after this season. Steve Smith famously put off retirement because he suffered an injury in what was to be his exit year (2015), but it remains to be seen how Graham will handle his own late-career setback.

Drafted before the other three core Eagles linemen, Graham has 79 sacks for his career. This does not include the Super Bowl LII takedown of Tom Brady, a forced fumble that became one of the most iconic plays in Eagles history. The sequence led to the Eagles staving off the Patriots and winning their lone Super Bowl and celebrating their first championship since 1960.

Graham has started 106 games but has settled in as a rotational rusher, accumulating a career-high 11 sacks during the 2022 season — an NFC championship campaign that nearly broke the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record of 72. The Eagles finished with 70 sacks that year. Tonight marked the Michigan alum’s 206th as an Eagle — 13 more than the next-closest player (Kelce). Graham broke Chuck Bednarik‘s mark by playing a 15th season with the franchise.

Philly let Haason Reddick seek a trade, preceding what turned out to be a messy year for the accomplished sack artist, and Sweat is due for free agency in 2025. The team has Graham in place as an apparent stopgap, given his offseason retirement comments, and Huff has seen his role diminish despite signing a three-year, $51.1MM deal. It will be interesting to see how Philly goes about reassembling its pass-rushing puzzle following its two recent setbacks, and monitoring Graham’s future plans — which appear less clear now — will be necessary in the coming months.

Raiders’ Gardner Minshew Out For Season

November 24th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone against the Broncos in Week 12, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

Minshew left the game in the fourth quarter after being sacked by Cody Barton and Jonathon Cooper. Desmond Ridder finished the game at quarterback for the Raiders, completing five of his 10 passing attempts for 64 yards and a 70.4 passer rating.

Las Vegas will now have to decide between Ridder and 2023 fourth-rounder Aidan O’Connell as their starting quarterback next week. O’Connell is still on injured reserve after a broken thumb suffered in October, but he is eligible to return this week. He is likely the team’s preferred choice – the Raiders only signed Ridder after O’Connell’s injury – but his original return timeline was expected to be four to six weeks.

O’Connell’s practice availability will be a major indicator of his potential to play in Week 13, but he will have less time than usual to prepare with the Raiders playing the Chiefs on Friday. If he is designated to return to practice this week, he should be able to start. However, if there are any setbacks – or if O’Connell’s thumb is simply not healed yet – then Ridder will start under center in Kansas City with practice squad quarterback Carter Bradley likely to be elevated for backup duties.

As for Minshew, he will spend the rest of the season on the sidelines, waiting for his collarbone to heal so he can work his way back to full strength. He signed a two-year, $25MM deal with the Raiders this offseason but won just two of his eight starts with 178 completions on 264 attempts for 1,783 yards with more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (eight). His $14MM cap hit in 2025 is reasonable for a potential starting quarterback, but Las Vegas may be in search of long-term stability at the position. If O’Connell performs well to close out the year, he may get a shot as a full-time starter next year. If not, the Raiders should be well-positioned to select a top quarterback prospect in the 2025 draft.

Just $3.16MM of Minshew’s 2025 salary is guaranteed, so the Raiders could save $9.34MM in cap space with a post-June 1 cut, leaving dead cap hits of $4.66MM and $3MM in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Minshew’s injury will naturally stir speculation that the Raiders could sign Daniel Jones, who was officially waived by the Giants on Saturday. Multiple reports listed Las Vegas as a potential destination for Jones even before Minshew went down. Those rumors will likely intensify with Minshew sidelined, though it’s worth noting that Jones would reportedly rather join a team contending for a postseason berth, not a top-10 pick in next April’s draft.

Giants Waive QB Daniel Jones

November 23rd, 2024 at 4:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 23: The Giants officially waived Jones on Saturday, per a team announcement. Teams have until 3pm CT on Monday to claim him, though that is considered highly unlikely.

NOVEMBER 22: No ambiguity about Daniel Jones‘ status remains. The Giants are moving on early. Days after benching him, the Giants have agreed to cut their six-year starting quarterback.

Jones requested the release, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. While Jones’ contract will hit waivers, it is highly unlikely he is claimed. As such, a path to free agency exists early. Jones met with John Mara on Friday morning, and the sides reached an agreement to part ways.

“Daniel came to see me this morning and asked if we would release him,” Mara said. “We mutually agreed that would be best for him and the team. Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way. His handling of this situation yesterday exemplifies just that.

“We are all disappointed in how things have worked out. We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

The Giants had demoted Jones from the starter to the third-string level, but Brian Daboll said Wednesday it was uncertain if Jones would even be the QB3. Practice squad addition Tim Boyle took reps ahead of Jones in practice, telegraphing the franchise’s plans for the longtime starter. Jones said Thursday he was processing whether he would stay with the Giants through season’s end.

This sets up an interesting situation, as Jones will be in play to catch on with a team early. This reminds somewhat of the Baker Mayfield path two years ago, with the Rams claiming the QB after his Panthers exit. Mayfield used that Los Angeles stay as a springboard to a Buccaneers opportunity in free agency. Jones, 27, being a near-certainty to not be claimed — as no contract adjustment will reduce his $35.5MM base salary (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero) — so he will head to free agency soon after. Jones is due $13.81MM in remaining guarantees. A claim would offset that for the Giants, but they are all but certain to take on that number in dead money this year.

As the Giants are slated to eat this additional $13MM-plus in dead money this year, their offseason equation will not change. Due to signing bonus proration, the Giants will eat $22.2MM in dead cap. Because no post-June 1 cut will occur, the team will see that figure hit its 2025 payroll. That marks an interesting facet from this early departure, with the prospect of Jones playing for another team this season obviously the other key prong here.

An emotional Jones addressed Giants media Thursday, reading a prepared statement about his impending exit. The team would have risked being on the hook for an additional $23MM in dead money had Jones suffered a significant injury. The QB being unable to pass a physical by the start of the 2025 league year (March 12) would have triggered that guarantee. Thus, the Giants benched their most talented passer in favor of Tommy DeVito, who is rising from the third-string level to the starter. Drew Lock will back up the 2023 UDFA.

Friday’s news concludes the Jones saga in New York, a story that featured a 2023 re-signing as a pivot point. The Giants had prioritized Jones over Saquon Barkley before free agency last year, agreeing to a four-year, $160MM extension minutes before the franchise tag application deadline. The team then tagged Barkley, setting in motion the six-year running back starter’s exit to Philadelphia. Jones, who received $81MM guaranteed at signing, did not come close to living up to the contract. The Eli Manning successor suffered an ACL tear midway through last season and did not play well before that injury, as another neck injury hampered him prior to that knee malady. While he made it back in time for Week 1 this year, no substantial improvement transpired.

Declining Jones’ fifth-year option shortly after arriving in New York, GM Joe Schoen signed off on the Giants becoming the first team in the option era (2011-present) to pass on a QB’s option and then later re-sign him. In securing that $40MM-per-year payday, Jones then became the first primary starter in that span to average fewer than seven yards per attempt in each of his first five seasons as a starter and then stay with that team for a sixth. The Giants are still showing respect to a player that did not pan out, but they will certainly have a glaring void at the game’s premier position entering 2025.

Schoen attempted to engineer a trade-up to No. 3, offering the Patriots this year’s Giants first- and second-round picks and their first-rounder in 2025. The Pats, who also received an offer from the Vikings, passed and selected Drake Maye — a player both New York and Minnesota coveted. While the Vikings ended up with a quarterback in this class (J.J. McCarthy), Schoen passed. The Giants had the chance to draft McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix at No. 6; Schoen chose Malik Nabers. The 2025 QB class is not regarded on the same level as this year’s, making the Giants’ Jones replacement effort more challenging.

Understandably coming out against the Giants’ plan to draft his replacement, Jones submitted sub-average numbers in his sixth season. He finished a 10-game run with eight TD passes, seven INTs while averaging a paltry 6.1 yards per attempt. The Giants slumped to a 2-8 record, with Schoen admitting the team’s 2022 playoff appearance prompted some moves that set the team back in the long term. No 2023 decision proved worse than the Jones re-signing, as a player who drew significant criticism during his rookie contract received a lucrative second chance. While Barkley has displayed All-Pro form with the Eagles, the player the Giants chose — due to positional value, as Barkley’s status as a superior player was never in question — burned them and has both Schoen and Daboll on hot seats, Mara’s October vote of confidence notwithstanding.

Jones threw more than 15 TD passes in a season just once (2019), and the Giants went 24-44-1 with him at the helm. Struggling mightily during Jason Garrett‘s time as OC, Jones did battle back from a season-ending neck injury to lead a rebuilding Giants team to the 2022 divisional round. The dual-threat QB played well to upset the No. 3-seeded Vikings in those playoffs, helping a team devoid of much receiving talent to its first divisional-round cameo since 2011. The Giants did not see Jones build on that form in 2023, prompting the search for a successor this year.

The Duke alum’s struggles aside, there will be interest both next week in free agency and in 2025 — assuming the team that signs Jones inks him to a one-year deal now. A few clubs are playing without their starters, the Cowboys among them. A role as a backup also would offer intrigue, as Jones would be a QB2 upgrade for most teams.

While Sam Darnold looks to have surpassed Jones as a free agent option in 2025, the latter can adjust his standing on the market by showing decent form late this season. Darnold also upped his stock by backing up Brock Purdy last year; Jones will have a chance to choose his next destination soon, potentially allowing him to craft a similar path to the true free agent market come March. A team that signs Jones will hold exclusive negotiating rights with him until the legal tampering period begins March 10.

As for the Giants, they will be able to retain DeVito as an ERFA in March. Lock is playing out a one-year, $5MM deal. With Big Blue choosing DeVito to replace Jones, there appears little chance Lock will be back in 2025.

Losses down the stretch would improve the Giants’ prospects of landing a viable Jones successor, but that mission is incongruent with the Daboll-Schoen regime attempting to convince Mara it should stay on for a fourth year. As Jones will prepare to head elsewhere, these warring agendas will make for a fascinating finish to another disappointing Giants season.

The Ultimate Fan’s Holiday Wishlist: Baseball and Football Edition (Sponsored)

November 20th, 2024 at 9:44am CST by Tim Dierkes

This is a sponsored post from Legends Memorabilia.

This holiday season, Legends Memorabilia Collection (LMC) offers a gift lineup for the ultimate sports fan. From MLB autographs from Hall of Famers and All-Stars to iconic NFL and college
football memorabilia from the biggest names in the game, this curated guide spotlights top items perfect for the holiday gift-giving season!

For the Baseball Aficionado

Freddie Freeman (LMC Exclusive) and Kiké Hernandez 2024 World Series Champs Signed Memorabilia: Celebrate the glory of the 2024 World Series with signed items from LMC Exclusive
Freddie Freeman and Kiké Hernandez. Whether it’s a signed baseball, jersey, or photo, these collectibles are bound to be treasured keepsakes from the championship. Additionally, send in your own item to be signed to add a personal touch!
Mike Trout (LMC Exclusive) Autographed Items – Special Holiday Pricing: An exclusive deal for the season, LMC offers Mike Trout autographed memorabilia at a special holiday price. As one of baseball’s all-time greats, Trout’s items are a gift any fan would cherish, offering history and legacy for a price that won’t last long. Personal items
can also be sent in for Trout to autograph, creating a unique keepsake.
Sandy Koufax Autographed Baseball: An autographed baseball from the legendary Sandy Koufax is a collector’s dream. Known for his incredible career with the Dodgers, Koufax’s signed ball is a timeless piece that will impress fans and collectors alike.
Paul Skenes Autographed Jerseys (LMC Exclusive): Perfect for the LSU and Pittsburgh Pirates fans, these Paul Skenes signed jerseys are exclusively available through LMC. Skenes’ impressive career is just beginning, making this an exciting investment in the next big MLB star.
Ted Simmons Autographed Items (LMC Exclusive): A Hall of Fame catcher, Ted Simmons autographed baseballs are ideal for longtime baseball fans. These signed items are the perfect tribute to Simmons’ impressive career.
Patrick Bailey Autographed Items (LMC Exclusive): Known for his skills behind the plate, Patrick Bailey’s signed items make for an amazing gift. This LMC Exclusive brings Giants fans closer to one of their franchise’s future legends.
Kyle Harrison Autographed Items (LMC Exclusive): Kyle Harrison, San Francisco’s pitching phenom, has autographed items available exclusively through LMC. Get an item signed by this rising star before he cements his place in Giants history.

All MLB items include MLB Authentication.

For the Football Fanatic

Detroit Lions – Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush Autographed Helmets: Celebrate Detroit’s football greats with autographed helmets from two fan-favorite players. Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and Reggie Bush’s signed gear are iconic reminders of their impact on the field and an exciting addition for Lions fans.
LSU Tigers – Tyrann Mathieu and Harold Perkins (LMC Exclusive) Signed Items: LSU fans, look no further! Autographed memorabilia from Tigers legends Tyrann Mathieu and Harold Perkins are available for the ultimate fan experience. Celebrate LSU’s legacy with these iconic signatures from two standout players.
Ohio State Buckeyes – Jeremiah Smith and Jack Sawyer: Buckeye fans can own a piece of Ohio State pride with items signed by rising star Jeremiah Smith and defensive powerhouse and team captain Jack Sawyer. These autographed pieces celebrate both the future and present of Ohio State football, making them a must-have for the true Buckeye faithful.
Ole Miss Rebels – Jaxson Dart and Eli Manning Signed Items: Ole Miss fans can own a piece of Rebels history with items signed by two of their most iconic quarterbacks, Jaxson Dart and Eli Manning. These items celebrate both past and present and are a perfect fit for the Rebel faithful.
USC Trojans – Zachariah Branch (LMC Exclusive) and Reggie Bush: Embrace the Trojan spirit with signed memorabilia from rising star Zachariah Branch and all-time great Reggie Bush. This selection makes the ideal gift for USC fans who love both the team’s future and historic past.

This holiday season, make a sports fan’s dream come true with these unforgettable items from Legends Memorabilia Collection. Whether you’re adding to a collection or gifting a lifelong memory, these exclusive items make for the ultimate surprise under the tree!

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