HEADLINES

Brian Hartline

East Notes: Manziel, Patriots, Cowboys

May 9th, 2014 at 10:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here’s the latest from out of the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that the Patriots were considering taking Johnny Manziel at pick No. 29 (via the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin on Twitter). This report clashes with a leaked Pats scouting report on Manziel, which painted the quarterback in a largely negative light.
  • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones conceded that Manziel was the highest player left on Dallas’ board when it picked at No. 16, but noted that the team simply has too much invested in Tony Romo, according to Charean Williams of the Fort-Worth Start Telegram (via Twitter).
  • The Dolphins’ selection of Jarvis Landry could mean the team parts ways with Brian Hartline after the 2014 season, tweets Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post. Miami could save a little over $6MM by cutting Hartline after the coming season.
  • Jace Amaro, taken by the Jets in the second round (No. 49), thought New York might select him in the first round, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
  • Eagles coach Chip Kelly agrees with the sentiment that this draft is exceptionally deep, tweets Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. “There are guys right now still on the board that we have rated in the third round that will be there tomorrow,” said Kelly.

Dolphins Notes: Kouandijo, Hartline, Linebackers, Draft

April 19th, 2014 at 10:00am CST by Matt Feminis

With the obligatory, pre-draft, take-with-a-grain-of-salt disclaimer in mind, the Dolphins reportedly have eyes for Alabama right tackle prospect Cyrus Kouandijo with the 19th overall pick, according to Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post.

Abramson’s piece included a few Dolphins news nuggets:

  • The team is not as high on Virginia tackle prospect Morgan Moses because of work ethic and off-the-field concerns. This is noteworthy because offensive coordinator Bill Lazor coached Moses for three seasons at UVA (2010-12).
  • The team is likely to go offense with its second-round pick, too, be it a guard or receiver.
  • According to a source, a second-round receiver “would likely mean the departure of receiver Brian Hartline after the 2014 season.” Releasing Hartline after next year would save $4MM.
  • Abramson quelled speculation the team will take Alabama inside linebacker C.J. Mosley: “Miami is planning to move Koa Misi from strong-side linebacker to middle linebacker. Dannell Ellerbe, who struggled last season, would move from the middle to the weak side. Philip Wheeler, who also had a sub-par year, would move from weak-side to strong-side linebacker.”
  • Ellerbe ($7.4MM cap hit) and Wheeler ($4.4MM) are candidates to be cut after the season with “minimal cap consequences if they don’t perform well in 2014.”
  • The team is high on Alabama defensive lineman Ed Stinson, a stout run defender who would be a mid-round option.