David Harris - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Rumors: Garoppolo, Jets, Lynch, Ravens

June 6th, 2017 at 6:24pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Contract-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo indicated Tuesday that he would be open to discussing an extension with the Patriots, relays Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com. “I’d entertain any possibility,” said Garoppolo. “I’m really not thinking about too much right now. There’s just so much going on with OTAs and training camp is right around the corner. That’s where my focus is, and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, I guess.” Unsurprisingly, Garoppolo added that he’s not satisfied holding a clipboard, saying: “Obviously I want to play. That’s the competitor in me. I think everyone out here wants to play. And we come out here and compete every day for that opportunity. If you go out there and earn it, it’s yours.”

With Tom Brady entrenched under center, there’s no path to immediate playing time in New England for Garoppolo, though the former is in a race against time as he goes into his age-40 season. While the Patriots would like to keep Garoppolo and have him eventually take over for Brady, preventing him from hitting free agency next offseason might not be realistic if Brady‘s excellence continues. There’s no indication an extension is coming, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, but Mike Reiss of ESPN.com suggests the Patriots should take a proactive approach and offer the signal-caller a one-year, $24MM extension now. If Garoppolo were to accept it, the Pats would be able to spread the money over the next two seasons. Otherwise, should the team place the franchise tag on Garoppolo next year, it would potentially have a backup QB occupying $24MM in cap space.

Jets To Release LB David Harris

June 6th, 2017 at 12:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets are planning to release linebacker David Harris, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Harris was slated to head into his eleventh NFL season with Gang Green.

Harris, 33, started 15 games for the Jets last season and played 250 more defensive snaps than any other Jets linebacker. All in all, he graded out as the NFL’s No. 35 linebacker, per the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. In terms of the traditional stats, Harris racked up 94 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a half-sack. He’s started 147 contests during his whole Jets tenure, placing him sixth all-time in franchise history.

Harris was due a base salary of $6.5MM in 2017, but none of that total was guaranteed. The team’s decision to move on from him could be a sign that the returning Demario Davis is indeed in their plans for 2017. With Harris out of the equation, Davis could be plugged in as a starting inside linebacker or used as a key sub behind Bruce Carter. Even if the Jets are able to make up for Harris’ production, they’ll be hard-pressed to make up for the loss in locker room leadership.

The Jets cut several veterans at the age of 30 or older this offseason. Only a handful of players on the wrong side of 30 remain, including quarterback Josh McCown (37), running back Matt Forte (31), and wide receiver Eric Decker (30).

Dont’a Hightower Meeting With Jets

March 12th, 2017 at 7:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower is currently visiting the Jets, reports CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (via Twitter). The meeting is expected to “wrap up” on Monday. We learned earlier today that New York was one of the two “favorites” (along with the Patriots) to sign the free agent.

We’ve been hearing throughout the offseason that the Patriots are interested in retaining Hightower, and La Canfora notes that New England is still very interested in retaining the defender. The former first-rounder finished the 2016 campaign with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games. We listed him as the best available linebacker in our free agent positional rankings.

The Jets have seemed to prioritize making their roster younger throughout the offseason. While Hightower, 27, isn’t a spring chicken, he’s still young enough to fit into the team’s long-term game plan. The Jets haven’t been big spenders in free agency, so they’d have plenty of money to throw at the Pro Bowler.

They’ll presumably have to offer a contract that drastically exceeds that of the Patriots, and it’s important to remember that New England is still operating with a good chunk of cap room. La Canfora notes that teams around the NFL are assuming Hightower will return to New England on a contract that pays $10MM a season.

If Hightower did sign with the Patriots’ division rival, he’d be joining a linebacker corps that currently features starters Sheldon Richardson, David Harris, Darron Lee, and Jordan Jenkins. Seth Walder of The New York Daily News writes that if the team does sign Hightower, they might move on from Harris. The veteran is a long-time member of the Jets defense, but the team could save $6.5MM against the cap by cutting him loose.

Jets To Cut Richardson, Skrine?

March 3rd, 2017 at 2:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets aren’t done cleaning house. Sheldon Richardson, Buster Skrine, Marcus Gilchrist, and Calvin Pryor are among the players that are in danger of losing their roster spots, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets. As previously reported, Eric Decker may be in the same boat.

Cimini writes that David Harris seems safe for now, but that could change if they add a free agent at inside linebacker. Gang Green could also try to deal Pryor and Richardson since the former first-round picks still have some trade value. The Jets once shopped Richardson with the hope of netting a first-round pick, but it now seems like they might have to settle for a third-round choice given Richardson’s down year and off-field red flags. Pryor, a big hitter in the secondary, has yet to really break out in his three NFL seasons. This past season, Pro Football Focus rated the Louisville slugger as the No. 73 safety in the NFL out of 89 qualified players.

In recent days, the Jets have released wide receiver Brandon Marshall, cornerback Darrelle Revis, center Nick Mangold, offensive tackles Ryan Clady and Breno Giacomini, kicker Nick Folk, and linebacker Erin Henderson. It sounds like that list is about to grow even more.

Jets Likely To Retain LB David Harris

February 25th, 2017 at 8:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets have cleared a good deal of cap space in the past week by parting ways with offensive linemen Ryan Clady, Nick Mangold, and Breno Giacomini, linebacker Erin Henderson, and kicker Nick Folk, but one veteran may not face the same fate as that cadre. Linebacker David Harris is in “no immediate danger” of being released, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

Harris, 33, started 15 games for Gang Green last season and played 250 more defensive snaps than any other Jets linebacker, grading as the NFL’s No. 35 ‘backer, per Pro Football Focus. All told, Harris racked up 94 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a half-sack in his 10th New York campaign. He’s started 147 contests during his Jets tenure, and if he starts all 16 games in 2017, he’ll move into fifth all-time among Jets players (right behind Mangold).

Harris is due a base salary of $6.5MM in 2017, but because none of that total is guaranteed, and no prorated bonus money remains on Harris’ deal, the Jets could hypothetically part ways with the veteran linebacker without incurring any dead money. As Cimini writes, however, Harris is the leader of the Jets’ defense, so perhaps the club wants to retain him even if they’re going through a rebuilding stage.

Jets Notes: Quarterbacks, Harris, Cap Room

February 25th, 2017 at 10:10am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets will surely be exploring every possible option when it comes to the quarterback position, and WFAN host Boomer Esiason believes Chiefs signal-caller Alex Smith would be an excellent fit for the organization.

“He can handle the crap if he has to,” Esiason told Connor Hughes of NJ.com. “He would be a very steady influence and somebody who is in the midst of his prime. And he knows the West Coast offense. I’m assuming that’s what [offensive coordinator] Johnny Morton is going to be running?

“There’s no way Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are going to be ready for that. They’re just not ready for it. Alex has, obviously, played his entire career in it.”

Of course, Smith would only be available if the Chiefs acquire an upgrade at the position. This past season, the 32-year-old completed 67.1-percent of his passes for 15 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a career-high 3,502 passing yards. The veteran’s cap hit is expected to be around $16.9MM next season, and he’s signed through the 2018 campaign.

Let’s take a look at some other notes coming out of the Big Apple…

Speaking of quarterbacks, NFL.com’s Charley Casserly believes Bears veteran Jay Cutler would be a fit for the Jets… as long as he can handle the media. Cutler has a history with wideout Brandon Marshall, and he’s also played for quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates. The 33-year-old appeared in only five games this season, marking the seventh-straight campaign that he failed to play in all 16 games.
Darryl Slater of NJ.com believes that the Jets restructuring linebacker David Harris‘ contract would be “ideal.” The veteran is set to enter the final year of his deal, and the team could free up $6.5MM by cutting him loose. However, Slater believes the 33-year-old can still play, and a lower salary may be the better option than simply cutting him.
Slater also points out that the Jets have already cleared $17.5MM be cutting Ryan Clady, Breno Giacomini, and Nick Folk. The team could free up at least another $30MM by releasing Marshall, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis, and Marcus Gilchrist.

AFC East Notes: Garoppolo, Jets, Workouts

December 10th, 2016 at 9:39am CST by Ben Levine

Where will Jimmy Garoppolo be playing next season? Well, if you ask former Browns and Patriots executive Mike Lombardi, he believes the young quarterback will be playing in Cleveland.

“The next quarterback that’ll be the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback perhaps is Jimmy Garoppolo in New England,” Lombardi said on FS1’s Speak for Yourself (via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com). “I think Cleveland understands, [coach] Hue Jackson specifically understands he needs a quarterback. I think they’ll be very aggressive. I think Jimmy Garoppolo’s on top of their list, and I think they’ll go hard after him.”

The Browns are stocked with picks for the upcoming draft, including a pair of firsts and a pair of second-rounders. Furthermore, the two teams have already made a pair of trades this year in the Barkevious Mingo deal and the Jamie Collins deal.

Assuming the Browns aren’t going to pursue some of the available veteran options, Garoppolo could be the most attractive option. In two full games this season, the former second-rounder completed 70-percent of his passes for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. The 25-year-old will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2017.

Let’s check out some more notes out of the AFC East…

Ben Volin of The Boston Globe suggests (via Twitter) another suitor for Garoppolo: the Bears. Volin tweets that Chicago desperately wants a young quarterback, and he also notes that the Patriots signal-caller is from Chicago and went to Eastern Illinois. Volin also suggests the 49ers and Cardinals as potential landing spots.
ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini details how the Jets can get under the cap and clear about $50MM worth of space. In a vacuum, the team could cut or trade several notable veterans to get to that threshold, including Brandon Marshall, Nick Mangold, David Harris, Ryan Clady, Breno Giacomini, and Sheldon Richardson (trade). Of course, as Cimini notes, cutting that many veterans would create some giant holes on the roster.
Wideout Quincy McDuffie worked out for the Jets yesterday, tweets agent Brett Tessler. McDuffie spent the 2016 season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Tessler notes that the speedy wideout is widely regarded as the best return man in the CFL.

Jets Notes: Decker, Trades, Revis

October 22nd, 2016 at 9:36am CST by Ben Levine

Jets wideout Eric Decker recently underwent hip surgery, and the 29-year-old is also awaiting an operation to repair his partially torn rotator cuff. Despite these setbacks, Decker said he wouldn’t miss any games in 2017.

“I’m not worried about missing any time next year,” Decker said on ESPN New York (via Darryl Slater of NJ.com). “I’ll be fine by the start of next year.”

Decker will be on crutches for a few more weeks, and he’ll have his shoulder surgery once he’s recovered from his hip operation. The shoulder should take about eight months to recover, which should line up perfectly with offseason workouts.

“I think they say eight months is kind of the time frame where you’re back to full strength lifting,” Decker said. “But there are a lot of guys that say after six weeks, after eight weeks, they feel pretty good. And then it’s a matter of obviously strengthening the shoulder.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the Gang Green…

With the trade deadline looming, some assumed the Jets may look to trade some of their veterans. Well, we learned earlier this week that the team won’t be selling any of their “key players.” Still, Connor Hughes of NJ.com highlighted some veterans that the Jets could consider moving. Among Hughes’ sell candidates were cornerback Buster Skrine, defensive end Sheldon Richardson, and linebacker David Harris.
Meanwhile, Hughes also looked at players that the Jets could look to acquire at the deadline. Among the candidates are Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and Packers wideout Davante Adams.
The Jets will be in a cap bind next offseason, and Darryl Slater of NJ.com discussed some potential cap casualties. Darrelle Revis and his $15.3MM cap number are an obvious candidate, as is offensive lineman Ryan Clady and his $10.5MM cap hit. Slater also suggests Harris, safety Marcus Gilchrist, right tackle Breno Giacomini, and kicker Nick Folk.

Injury Notes: Dixon, Pead, Harris, Gilbert

August 28th, 2016 at 7:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Ravens rookie Kenneth Dixon is expected to miss four weeks with an MCL tear, but the running back won’t require surgery, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Dixon, a fourth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech, wasn’t going to play a large role on offense (at least early in the season), but this injury means it will take him even longer to ingrain himself into Baltimore’s offense behind Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Terrance West, and Lorenzo Taliaferro.

Let’s take a quick look at the latest NFL injury news as teams prepare their rosters for the start of the regular season:

Baltimore isn’t the only AFC club dealing a running back injury, as the Dolphins‘ Isaiah Pead will be sidelined at least two weeks with a hamstring injury, head coach Adam Gase told reporters, including Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Pead, a former second-round pick, had been drawing rave reviews in recent weeks, if it’s unclear if Miami will hold a roster spot for him while he gets healthy.
An MRI has revealed that Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert is dealing with a “significant” hyperextended elbow, writes Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Gilbert, however, vowed that he won’t miss any action, telling Fowler that he’ll play in the regular season opener “no matter what.” Just last week, the 28-year-old offensive lineman agreed to restructure his contract and give Pittsburgh some financial breathing room.
The Jets can rest easy after an MRI showed that linebacker David Harris is merely dealing with a shoulder bruise, tweets Schefter. Harris won’t play in New York’s final preseason game (and probably woudn’t have even barring injury), but he’s expected to be ready for Week 1.
Elsewhere in New York, Giants tight end Matt LaCosse will require knee surgery and is out indefinitely, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. The 23-year-old LaCosee, an undrafted free agent in 2015, could potentially miss the season, per Raanan.

East Notes: Cousins, Brady, Lombardi, Jets

June 26th, 2016 at 9:58am CST by Rory Parks

The latest reports on contract talks between the Redskins and Kirk Cousins suggested that the two sides may not be reaching a long-term pact prior to the July 15 deadline, and that Cousins may consequently play out the 2016 season on the $19.95MM franchise tender. As Albert Breer of TheMMQB pointed out, Washington could be playing with fire if, as expected, Andrew Luck signs a record-breaking extension with the Colts and Cousins turns in another strong year.

Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com echoes those sentiments. He believes that, as we are still nearly three weeks away from July 15, both player and team are exercising the appropriate amount of patience and are right to not rush into a deal, but he does note that the Redskins have to be worried about the pending Luck contract. As Tandler writes, Washington could lock up Cousins today for something in the neighborhood of $20MM per year, but if they wait until next season, the club could end up paying more than $40MM more over the life of Cousins’ contract than if it acts now.

Let’s take a look at a few more links from the league’s east divisions:

Tomorrow marks five full weeks since Patriots quarterback Tom Brady filed a request for an en banc hearing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes, legal experts anticipated that the Court would take no more than six weeks to make its decision, so Brady should know within the next few days whether he will get a second bite at the appellate apple.
Ben Volin of The Boston Globe hears that Michael Lombardi‘s recent departure from the Patriots was not as mutual as it was first reported. Volin writes that New England was happy to have Lombardi serve as the team’s assistant to the coaching staff the past two years, because most of his salary was still being paid by the Browns, but after Lombardi’s contract expired, the Patriots chose not to keep Lombardi on the books. Volin adds that head coach Bill Belichick was Lombardi’s only real ally inside the building, and that Lombardi’s role in bringing in former Browns like Jabaal Sheard and Dion Lewis was overstated.
In his ongoing examination of each team’s best and worst contracts, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com writes that the best deal on the Jets‘ books is Brandon Marshall‘s, whereas Fitzgerald believes David Harris‘ deal is the team’s worst contract.