HEADLINES

Patriots Release OL Nick Leverett

October 14th, 2024 at 12:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Nick Leverett briefly stepped in as the Patriots’ David Andrews replacement at center. He struggled in that role, however, and the team is set to move on.

New England will release Leverett, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move (which is now official) comes after he was charged by PFF with 10 pressures and one sack allowed in Week 5 against the Dolphins. In advance of Sunday’s contest, the Patriots added Ben Brown off the Raiders’ practice squad. It was Brown who got the start at center yesterday, a sign of how Leverett was viewed in the organization.

Now, the the latter will hit the open market. Leverett, 27, began his career with the Buccaneers in 2020. It was one year later that he made his regular season debut, appearing in a pair of games. During the 2022 season, he started 10 of his 11 contests, operating almost exclusively at left guard. The former UDFA signed a one-year deal in March to provide depth on an offensive line which faced plenty of questions ahead of the campaign. Given the low-money nature of New England’s investment, Leverett’s release will produce only $575K in dead money while yielding $1.2MM in cap savings.

Leverett earned a PFF grade of 64 in 2022, but his evaluations through the rest of his career have left plenty to be desired. The extent of his struggles in Week 5 will certainly not help his market value, although teams around the league are often interested in healthy depth up front. The Rice product will look to help his free agent prospects by latching onto a roster in short order, something which could result in new playing time opportunities.

Andrews is out for the year after he underwent shoulder surgery, but he is under contract through next season and will reprise his starting gig once healthy. Brown is now positioned to handle first-team duties moving forward as the 1-5 Patriots look to find a successful combination up front.

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Addresses Jabrill Peppers’ Future With Team

October 14th, 2024 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

Jabrill Peppers was recently arrested on a number of charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident. The Patriots safety is currently the subject of a league investigation, leaving his future with the team in question.

Peppers is on the commissioner’s exempt list, and both the NFL and the Patriots are looking into the situation. Depending on the outcome of that process, he could soon find himself in free agency. Patriots owner Robert Kraft publicly stated Peppers will be released if the accusations he faces are proven true.

“When you read the [police report] initially, it turns your stomach,” Kraft said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “Once he goes on the commissioner exempt list, they do their independent checking. We’re doing ours. If what was reported is true, he’s gone. There have been some suggestions that this was a set-up and a lot of what was reported isn’t accurate… We want to get the facts.”

Peppers is alleged to have choked a woman and shoved her head against a wall outside his Braintree, Mass., apartment; he is also facing charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and the possession of a class B substance. The 29-year-old has been in New England since 2022, and this summer he agreed to a three-year extension. A portion of his 2025 salary is guaranteed as a result of that agreement, but a suspension under the personal conduct policy could void that compensation.

Cutting Peppers now would create a dead money charge of $8.73MM (although the remaining guarantees in his base salary for this year could of course be altered by league discipline). New England certainly has the cap space to absorb such a move, but it would leave the team in need of a new full-time starter in the secondary. Peppers has handled starting duties since last year, but his NFL future could change in short order depending on the outcome of the NFL’s investigation.

Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson Leaves Game With Season-Ending Leg Injury

October 13th, 2024 at 10:58pm CST by Ely Allen

10:58pm: Rapoport has officially reported that Hutchinson’s broken tibia is season-ending. The loss is obviously huge for the Lions’ defense who will need to triage their defensive ends group, but the loss of this season is perhaps bigger for Hutchinson. The 24-year-old’s incredible production through four games had him in conversations as a potential Defensive Player of Year, albeit an extremely early candidate for the award.

Hutchinson will miss the remainder of the season, but his prognosis to return for 2025 does not appear to be in question. The Lions, though, still have 2024 to contend with. How they will address the defensive ends position remains to be seen.

7:14pm: The Lions experienced an impressive win today in a dominant performance over the Cowboys. In the midst of that victory, though, the team suffered a brutal loss. As star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson tackled quarterback Dak Prescott for the team’s third sack of the day, Hutchinson appeared to suffer a serious leg injury.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters that Hutchinson would stay in Dallas for immediate treatment and that “obviously he’s going to be down for a little while.” Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reported that Hutchinson would be undergoing immediate surgery for a broken tibia, an injury he reported to be “season-ending.” The Lions will likely have more tests performed and treatments done before coming to that conclusion themselves.

As Hutchinson descended to the ground in the third quarter, bringing Prescott down with him, cameras could just pick up what appeared to be a bend in Hutchinson’s leg below the knee, a gruesome indicator of a broken bone. The medical carts were rushed onto the field, where an aircast was applied to his left leg before he was carted off the field into the locker room, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport followed that up with a quick report that Hutchinson had been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a lower leg injury.

The NFL’s No. 2 overall draft pick in 2022, Hutchinson has lived up to his draft stock thus far. As a rookie, Hutchinson was dynamic all over the field. Not only did he make plays on an improved defense as a pass rusher, totaling 9.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits, but he also added value as a disruptive force. Hutchinson tallied nine tackles for loss, three passes defensed, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries during his rookie campaign.

Hutchinson avoided a sophomore slump, improving on his rookie numbers with 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 33 quarterback hits, one interception, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and two more fumble recoveries. In only four games in 2024, Hutchinson was showing signs of improvement once again. He entered the day with 6.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble, all stats that were on track for new career highs. He added a sack, a tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits before exiting today’s contest.

Hutchinson’s injury is only the latest of what has been a slew of injuries in Detroit this year. The Lions already have 13 players on injured reserve, including five on the defensive line and eight on the defensive side of the ball. By the end of today’s game, Detroit ruled out seven more players, including Hutchinson.

If Hutchinson’s leg injury is as serious as it appeared, his name will be the latest placed on IR in Detroit. The Lions’ defensive ends room is looking extremely bare with Marcus Davenport, John Cominsky, and Nate Lynn all on IR. In addition, or more aptly subtraction, James Houston has missed two games, as well.

Houston suffered a fractured ankle in Week 2 of the 2023 season, and though he attempted to make a comeback late in the year, the injury ended up being season-ending. He seems to be healthy at this point, but a combination of limited snaps and healthy scratches have kept him from contributing this year. Houston made an impact in 2022 as a rookie, tallying eight sacks across from Hutchinson, but lately has struggled to get back on the field. His return could be key during this time when bodies are scarce.

If the Lions can get Houston back to his rookie form, he would likely line up across from Josh Paschal as the starter. One would also expect practice squad edge rusher Isaac Ukwu to get promoted to the active roster after getting elevated from the practice squad today. Past that, Detroit will need to get creative with how it fills out the ends of its defensive line. There’s seems to be a bit of hope that Hutchinson might return late in the year as major outlets and Campbell have yet to call the injury a season-ender, but the outlook is grim for now.

Aidan O’Connell Could Impact Possibility Of Davante Adams Trade?

October 13th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Rory Parks

In keeping with recent reports suggesting that the trade market for Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams could be cooling, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms that Adams may indeed remain with Las Vegas for the rest of the season. That is primarily because the club continues to push for a second-round pick plus additional compensation in an Adams trade, and it also wants the acquiring team to cover the entirety of Adams’ remaining 2024 base salary.

In addition to the Raiders’ demands – to say nothing of how the Jets’ firing of HC Robert Saleh and the multi-week injury to Saints QB Derek Carr might impact trade talks – a more unexpected factor could play a role in keeping Adams in Nevada. Per Schefter, the Raiders’ recent decision to bench quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of second-year passer Aidan O’Connell could make Adams reconsider his desire to be traded.

Last year, Adams was frustrated when Las Vegas deployed Jimmy Garoppolo under center, and those frustrations dissipated when O’Connell emerged as the QB1 (a move that Adams endorsed and to which he tied his future with the Raiders). Sources tell Schefter that Adams believes O’Connell is one of the best signal-callers he has played with, and he is intrigued by the prospect of catching passes from the Purdue product once again.

That said, both Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) report that the Jets, Saints, Steelers, and Bills continue to discuss a potential deal with the Raiders. Schefter adds that Pittsburgh brass was expected to continue those discussions in person yesterday, as the Steelers are in Las Vegas for their Week 6 game against the Raiders.

Additionally, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda hears that an Adams trade could happen as early as next week, and that the Jets are the most aggressive suitor at the moment (last week, New Orleans was reportedly making the hardest push to land the soon-to-be 32-year-old). According to Pauline, the Saleh firing and the subsequent demotion of OC Nathaniel Hackett has not made Adams any less open to playing for Gang Green, but Pauline is in agreement with Schefter that O’Connell’s presence could scuttle trade talks.

Mark Davis is fond of Adams, who is said to have the owner’s ear. Pauline says it is certainly possible that, with O’Connell back in the starting lineup, Adams could ask Davis to break off discussions with rival clubs.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, however, believes the reports indicating that the Raiders could keep Adams are being driven by the team itself in order to create leverage that it does not presently have. After all, regardless of whether Minshew or O’Donnell is at the helm, it is difficult to envision Las Vegas making a deep playoff run, and as a non-contender with a talented but aging player who is due a non-guaranteed $35.6MM base salary in 2025, the only logical move for the Raiders is to deal the decorated wideout.

Likewise, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears from multiple league sources that Las Vegas is merely bluffing. One source said, “feels a bit like Vegas is trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube to salvage Davante’s market. I think everyone knows their only play is to deal him.”

In Florio’s estimation, the Jets are the only club that truly wants Adams at the moment, and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network hears that this could be a “Jets or bust” situation (video link). Garafolo adds that if New York should win its game against the Bills tomorrow night – which would move Gang Green into first place in the AFC East – the club may be more inclined to make a bold strike for their long-desired target (even though Jones, contrary to Pauline, says the Saleh firing has indeed made Adams a little more wary of going to the Jets).

Adams will be sidelined for today’s matchup with the Steelers due to a hamstring ailment. It will mark his third straight absence.

Community Tailgate: WR Trade Market

October 13th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

With less than one month remaining until the trade deadline, a number of players could soon be on the move. The receiver position in particular is set to see notable deals over the coming weeks.

Davante Adams’ name was mentioned in trade talk before the 2023 deadline with an Aaron Rodgers reunion being a possibility. Once again, the Jets are in the running and they represent the former Packers All-Pro’s preferred destination. The Saints also loom as a serious contender, though, and playing once again with Derek Carr would be a situation Adams is amenable to. New Orleans has aggressively pursued a trade agreement with the Raiders over the past several days.

The Raiders have remained consistent in their asking price of a second-round pick plus other compensation, however, and no suitor has come close to meeting it at this point. Vegas also prefers not to retain salary on the 31-year-old’s deal, one which runs through 2026. Without any guarantees remaining after the current campaign, Adams will either be a rental or a player who works out a restructure upon arrival with a new team.

Rehabbing a hamstring injury, he could of course remain with the Raiders if no trade agreement is worked out. The team sits at 2-3 on the year, and struggles on offense have resulted in Aidan O’Connell taking over at quarterback. Selling Adams or other veterans over the coming weeks would aid Vegas’ long-term goals while allowing him to aid a potential Super Bowl run elsewhere. The Fresno State product has five 1,100-yard seasons on his resume.

Aside from Adams, several wideouts could offer a considerable boost to a contending team down the stretch. Pending free agents are often the names to watch ahead of the deadline, but some receivers with term remaining on their deals may also get dealt soon.

One of those is Christian Kirk, whose availability will be tied to the Jaguars’ record over the coming weeks. At 1-5, Jacksonville does not have a clear path to the postseason and questions have been raised over the job security of head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke. Owner Shad Khan, for his part, remains confident in the team’s decision-makers.

The Jags are not currently interested in adopting a sellers’ standpoint, but Kirk has drawn interest from potential suitors. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2025, although he is not due any guarantees that season. Near the front of one of the receiver position’s recent financial waves, Kirk inked a four-year deal averaging $18MM per year; that figure has since been surpassed many times over, and his production to date in Jacksonville (which includes a career-year in 2021 and a 13.2 yards per catch average) has been notable. The former Cardinal could provide relatively cost-effective play at or near the top of a new WR depth chart.

DeAndre Hopkins represents a pure rental, as his contract will expire after the 2024 campaign. The three-time All-Pro had a strong debut Tennessee season (75-1,075-7 statline), but with the team facing a steep path to postseason contention he could be offloaded. The Titans made a big-money investment in Calvin Ridley this offseason, also adding Tyler Boyd on a one-year deal. If Hopkins is not in the organization’s long-term plans, adding draft capital could pave the way to a younger receiving option being added.

To little surprise, Tennessee has received calls about the 32-year-old’s availability. Any number of teams could stand to add him to their receiving corps, and the Chiefs could be a team to watch on this front. Kansas City – or any other contender – would need to take on a prorated portion of Hopkins’ $8.27MM salary, a figure which could fit into the cap structure of at least some playoff-bound teams.

Likewise, Diontae Johnson is attached to an expiring contract; his base salary sits at $7MM and the Panthers have paid a notable portion of that out through the first six weeks of the campaign. Acquired via trade from the Steelers (after he requested to be moved), the Pro Bowler did not immediately find himself on the extension radar for Carolina. Given the team’s struggles, moving on before a potential free agent departure would allow the Panthers to recoup draft capital.

At the age of 28, Johnson represents one of the younger wideouts who figures to be available at the deadline. Bills head coach Sean McDermott recently spoke about the inexperienced nature of their post-Stefon Diggs WR setup, with Johnson being named as a potential target. Buffalo ranks near the bottom of the league in cap space, though, which could complicate a deal for any pass-catching help.

Trade speculation is not new to the likes of Amari Cooper (Browns) or Darius Slayton (Giants). Neither veteran expects to be dealt in the near future, but both are on expiring deals. Cleveland and New York entered Sunday’s action with three combined wins, so either or both teams considering a sale of experienced players would not come as a surprise. If the top receivers on the market move soon, interest could pick up for at least one member of the Cooper-Slayton pair. Given their 1-4 record, meanwhile, the Bengals could (at a minimum) give thought to a Tee Higgins trade since the franchise-tagged wideout is widely expected to depart during the spring.

With respect to receivers on their rookie deals, Tyquan Thornton is known to be available. The 2022 second-rounder is being shopped by the Patriots, although his value is not particularly high with just 37 receptions to his name. Romeo Doubs is also playing on the third year of his initial pact, and questions about his future arose in the midst of his team-induced, one-game Packers suspension for Week 5. No trade is believed to have been contemplated by Green Bay, though, and Doubs, 24, is back with the team.

With a multitude of receivers to keep an eye on, several options exist for teams looking to make a splash for the second half of the campaign. How do you see things playing out? Which wideouts will ultimately be moved, and which contenders will pay the price to acquire them? Have your say in the comments section below.

Bengals HC Zac Taylor Not On Hot Seat

October 13th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Ely Allen

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor‘s short history as a head coach is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s been a bit of all or nothing for Cincinnati fans as Taylor’s squad has either been playing in an AFC championship game (and a Super Bowl) to end a season or finishing fourth in the AFC North to end a season. Currently at 1-4 with a Sunday night matchup against the Giants to determine if they will be in fourth place in the AFC North to end Week 6, some are beginning to wonder if Taylor’s seat is starting to heat up.

Taylor’s first two seasons saw a combined record of 6-25-1. The first, two-win season solidified the Bengals’ ability to draft LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall draft pick. An ineffective rookie Burrow, who would eventually miss time with injury, led to a second straight losing season.

The next two years saw the best of what Taylor and his team had to offer. In Burrow’s sophomore campaign, Taylor and his quarterback led the team to its first division title since 2015 with a 10-7 record. They fell in Super Bowl LVI to the Rams then avoided the hangover by going 12-4 to secure back-to-back division titles for the first time in franchise history.

That success didn’t hold over into 2023. In 10 games with a healthy Burrow, the Bengals only won five games, and the team went 4-3 for the remainder of season, finishing fourth in a very competitive AFC North with a 9-8 record. So far, in 2024, the Bengals are 1-4 and in danger of once again falling to fourth place in the division with a loss tonight. To date, Taylor’s record as a head coach in the regular season is 38-48-1.

Despite the all or nothing results each season, many journalists are under the impression that Taylor’s job is in no danger. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated points out that the Bengals are historically a very patient franchise. Taylor’s predecessor, Marvin Lewis, was given ample time in his role. Hired in 2003, Lewis was in place for the Bengals for 16 years before finally departing.

In all that time with Lewis the Bengals saw a variety of results. They made the playoffs seven times during Lewis’ tenure, even finding the postseason six times in a seven-year stretch, but they never made it past the wild-card round, going 0-7 in the playoffs. Not only was Lewis given grace despite an absence of any sort of playoff success, but he was also given the nearly full tenures of two franchise quarterbacks, Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton, to figure it out. Despite that consistency at the quarterback position, Lewis failed to find lasting success, and still the franchise persisted under his leadership.

In contrast, Taylor’s lack of consistent regular season success has had no bearing on his 5-2 playoff record. Not only has he made it past the wild-card round in both playoff appearances, but he also made it to the Conference final in both years. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic tends to agree with Breer’s sentiments, pointing out that, despite the team’s 1-4 record, Taylor is still calling plays for a top-10 offense and a top-five passing offense coming into Week 6. There’s still plenty of time left in the season, and Dehner believes that, despite the odds, Cincinnati cannot be ruled out for a playoff spot.

Combine Taylor’s playoff success and offensive success with very patient franchise ownership, and there’s no reason to believe that a new coach will be in place for the Bengals in 2025. Fans and pundits tend to get upset in the midst of stretches that result in a 1-4 record, but team owners and management are rarely as reactive.

NFL Injury Updates: Harbaugh, Jones, Gray

October 13th, 2024 at 10:02pm CST by Ely Allen

The Chargers experienced a strange scare during today’s win over the division-rival Broncos when head coach Jim Harbaugh left the field for a short period due to what was reported as “illness.” According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harbaugh informed reporters that he went to the locker room to deal with an atrial flutter episode.

AJ Ross of NFL on CBS spoke with Harbaugh, who told her “he was dealing with arrhythmia…something he’s been dealing with on and off for a while.” If that’s the case, it’s likely something his employers were aware of, prompting the team to have a plan in place for situations like today.

The heart episode appears to be a non-issue for now, as Harbaugh returned to the sideline and continued coaching his team to victory. That said, if the issue persists, Harbaugh’s presence on the sideline may not be guaranteed moving forward. If the new head coach continues to miss any game time, the Chargers will need to make sure their order of operations behind Harbaugh is effective.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • Vikings running back Aaron Jones left last weekend’s win over the Jets early with a hip injury. According to Schefter, Jones is going to be week-to-week because of the hip issue. Luckily for Minnesota, the team had a bye in Week 6, allowing their veteran rusher to rest for a little over a week. He reportedly avoided major injury, but his practice report this week will show just how lucky he was.
  • Titans rookie linebacker Cedric Gray was designated to return from injured reserve earlier this week. Tennessee has no plans to rush the 24-year-old back from IR, though, as Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com reports that the team plans to utilize most of Gray’s 21-day practice window before activating him. There’s always a chance that Gray is not able to return after the 21 days and is returned to IR for the remainder of the year.

Tom Brady Ownership Deal With Raiders To Be Discussed This Week; Not As Sure As Some Think?

October 13th, 2024 at 9:34pm CST by Ely Allen

The NFL’s team owners are set to meet in Atlanta this Tuesday, and according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post, one of the topics of discussion will likely be an approval vote for former quarterback Tom Brady‘s proposed deal for part-ownership of the Raiders.

The future Hall of Famer has been toying around with several post-NFL careers in the last two years. He currently works as an analyst with FOX Sports, has been pursuing an ownership stake in the Raiders, and many times has seemingly flirted with unretiring a second time. His pursuit of the Raiders’ ownership stake has faced its challenges, though, as many have noted a conflict of interest with his broadcasting duties.

Of course, teams do not want anyone with an ownership stake in a rival outfit having the access and obtaining the inside information that broadcasters often enjoy, and Brady has done little to suggest that his access will be any different than that of his media peers. In fact, the only suggestion has been on the other end of the deal with the idea that Brady would be a “very passive” part-owner.

Still, at points in the last calendar year, Brady’s ownership interest was cleared for approval (but an approval vote was still put on hold), former defensive tackle Richard Seymour joined in Brady’s bid, restrictions on Brady’s duties as an announcer were suggested by the NFL, and Brady upped his offer for the ownership stake, separating from Seymour’s bid in the process.

A source for The Washington Post suggested that a vote could finally be coming this Tuesday. Brady and Tom Wagner, a co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management, are reportedly attempting to purchase 10 percent of the franchise at an alleged discounted price from principal owner Mark Davis. The league informed owners that if the vote goes through, Brady’s access to teams in his broadcasting role would be limited. Those limitations include being barred from production meetings with NFL teams and from being present in teams’ facilities during any team activities.

The vote requires at least 24 of the league’s 32 owners to ratify the deal. It’s been pending with the NFL finance committee since last year but has steadily progressed to the point of a potential vote this week. While some NFL sources, like ESPN’s Adam Schefter, seem to expect the vote to pass as a formality, others, like Mike Florio of NBC Sports, still believe that the vote is not a done deal. Several teams were involved in raising concerns about Brady’s broadcasting access, and if just nine of them still hold reservations, the deal may get declined.

Florio also reports that Seymour’s bid, which, again, was separated from Brady’s, has a better chance of approval. Seymour’s bid has progressed like Brady’s but is unburdened by the conflicts of Brady’s deal. An end to both situations could be in sight this week.

Jets’ Haason Reddick Dropped By Agency

October 13th, 2024 at 2:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 13: A new agreement may soon be reached regarding Reddick finding new representation, per veteran insider Josina Anderson. Nothing is firmly in place at this point, but changes on that front could be followed by some kind of Jets resolution. Then again, Reddick has already turned aside a New York offer during the regular season.

OCTOBER 10: The Haason Reddick saga has taken another notable turn. As his Jets holdout continues, the veteran edge rusher has been dropped by his agency, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Reddick has remained away from the Jets since his introductory news conference in April. No movement is known to have taken place with respect to a contract resolution being reached, although his agents have been in communication with general manager Joe Douglas. That process has not yielded results, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes a philosophical difference has resulted in CAA’s decision to move on.

A number of veteran players have engaged in holdouts (or at least hold-ins) while seeking a new or upgraded contract during the offseason, something which is done in conjunction with their representatives. As SNY’s Connor Hughes confirms, however, Reddick’s actions have not been on the recommendation of his agents. The 30-year-old has decided on his own to continue holding out through the regular season after skipping OTAs, minicamp and training camp.

Doing so has resulted in major financial penalties. Reddick racked up over $8MM in fines for his offseason absences, and he has missed out on $4.2MM in base salary for the 2024 season. A pending free agent (but only if he accrues a year of service time by reporting relatively soon), the two-time Pro Bowler was dealt from the Eagles to the Jets once it became clear Philadelphia would not commit to a new contract. A Jets offer was turned down, and the team has insisted new negotiations will not take place until Reddick reports. It very much remains to be seen when (if at all) that will take place.

Reddick requested a trade in August, but Douglas immediately made it clear no consideration to such a move would be given. While a deal sending him elsewhere remains possible, the former first-rounder is not expected to be included in any potential Davante Adams trade. Speculation on Reddick’s future will thus remain tied to his willingness to remain absent through the coming weeks.

Jets owner Woody Johnson said Reddick would be welcomed “with open arms” if he were to report, adding, “he’s got to get here first. So, Haason, get in your car, drive down I-95 and come to the New York Jets. We can meet you and give you an escort right in the building and you will fit right in and you’re going to love it here, and you’re going to feel welcome and you’re going to accomplish great things with us” (h/t ESPN’s Rich Cimini).

The Jets paid a conditional 2026 third-round pick – which could become a second-round selection – to acquire Reddick. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes, a trade back to the Eagles at this time is not permissible under league rules. Other suitors could eventually be in play, though, in which case the other selection involved in this situation (a 2026 second-rounder) would become particularly important. Veteran insider Josina Anderson reports the conditions on that pick are tied to Reddick’s destination if he does wind up being traded away again.

Speculation increased that New York could re-engage on a resolution after Jermaine Johnson‘s Achilles tear. That has not proven to be the case, and 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald has posted six sacks while stepping into an increased role. What happens next on the Jets’ part will be worth watching closely. Of course, the possibility remains that Reddick continues to hold out – a move which will no doubt negatively affect his ability to land new representation in the future.

Stephen Ross Nearing Deal To Sell Minority Stake In Dolphins

October 13th, 2024 at 12:45pm CST by Rory Parks

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has been attempting to sell a minority stake in his franchise, and it appears he could be getting close. Per Randall Williams of Bloomberg.com, Ross is nearing a deal to sell a 10% total stake in the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the Miami Grand Prix to private equity firm Ares Management. Ross would sell another three percent of those assets to Joe Tsai, who owns the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and WNBA’s New York Liberty.

This transaction would be notable in and of itself, but as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes, it would represent perhaps the first sale to a private equity fund in league history. With the prices for NFL franchises continuing to soar, it was only a matter of time before the league relaxed its ownership rules and permitted private equity firms to acquire an interest in NFL clubs, and in August, the league adopted a regulation allowing certain PE firms to buy up to 10% of teams. Ares is one of a handful of firms that are currently on the “approved” list.

Ross was recently engaged in sales discussions with hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin, though those talks did not produce an agreement. Ross also reportedly rejected a $10 billion offer – made by someone other than Griffin – for control of the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the Miami Grand Prix.

Indeed, Adam H. Beasley of Pro Football Network hears that if and when the deal is completed – Ross hopes the sale will be finalized and approved at the league’s December 2024 meetings – there will be no change in the Dolphins’ operation. Ross, 84, wants the club to eventually pass to his daughters, Jennifer and Kimberly.

The prospective sale to Ares and Tsai is based on a valuation of $8.1 billion, which further demonstrates the rise in the values of NFL teams. Ross, who purchased the Dolphins for $1.1 billion in 2009, is on the verge of recovering almost the entirety of that investment by selling just 13% of the club and other assets.

Ross has been in the public eye for his ownership actions at multiple points in recent years. This includes his 2022 suspension and the Dolphins losing first- and third-round picks for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton. Ross firing Brian Flores in 2022 brought on a discrimination lawsuit that includes other teams — the class-action suit is ongoing — and an allegation from Flores that Ross offered money for losses during the 2019 season. The NFL did not punish Ross for tanking.

Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times was among the first to report that Ross was attempting to sell a minority share in the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the Miami Grand Prix to a private equity firm. Sorkin’s initial report indicated the valuation used for such a sale would be in excess of $7 billion, and that Arctos Partners was one of the PE firms involved.

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