Dion Jordan

Latest On Dolphins, Dion Jordan

July 28th, 2016 at 11:00am CST by Zachary Links

In recent weeks, there has been a great deal of talk as to whether the Dolphins will pay Dion Jordan his $1.69MM roster bonus if he is reinstated by the league office. As it turns out, the Dolphins don’t really have a decision to make with regards to that payout.

The Dolphins are in fact required to pay Jordan a $1.69MM bonus on the fifth day of training camp, but Jordan also must repay his $3.35MM signing bonus to the team as a result of his multiple suspensions, according to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald. That money has not been fully returned yet and Jordan owes the Dolphins more money than he owes them. So, a reinstated Jordan would not be cut by the team in an effort to save money. However, the Dolphins could theoretically release or trade Jordan if they do not want him on the roster for football reasons.

The Dolphins have yet to hear from the commissioner regarding Jordan’s reinstatement, but one has to imagine that there will be a resolution soon.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Fitz, Jordan, Cromartie

July 26th, 2016 at 5:19pm CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like we shouldn’t expect much to change between the Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick this week. As training camp approaches, it doesn’t appear that the two sides are any closer to a deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Fitzpatrick has touched base with teammate Brandon Marshall after multiple weeks without contact, but it’s not clear when or if the two will be reunited on the field.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

If the NFL doesn’t reinstate Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan before his roster bonus due on the fifth day of camp, his representatives will file a grievance, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. Jordan’s camp will also push back if the Dolphins move to wipe out the $1.69MM payout (Twitter link). Jordan applied for reinstatement almost two months ago, but has yet to hear back from the NFL. Some execs in Miami’s front office do not want to give Jordan that kind of money following his third drug suspension.
Although Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears that Antonio Cromartie‘s hip issues could end his career, the former Jets cornerback denies that he’s ready to hang up his cleats. “Hell, no. I’m not done,” Cromartie told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). “My hip wasn’t the problem last year.” Cromartie was highly ineffective in 15 starts for Gang Green last season, but he did earn an honorable mention on PFR’s list of the best available defensive free agents.
Running backs LeGarrette Blount and James White could be on the roster bubble when the Patriots break camp in a few weeks, writes Doug Kyed of NESN.com. Blount has acted as New England’s power back for the past several years, and scored six touchdowns in that role last season, while White has been a valuable asset as a pass-catcher. But as Roster Resource shows, the Pats are well-stocked in their backfield, with Dion Lewis, Donald Brown, Brandon Bolden, and Tyler Gaffney among the club’s other options. Lewis, recovering from a torn ACL, could begin the year on the PUP list, which could open up a spot for another runner.

Latest On Dion Jordan

July 25th, 2016 at 6:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan applied for reinstatement almost two months ago, and while the organization is hoping to hear back from the NFL this week, Miami has been given no definite indication as to whether Jordan will be allowed to rejoin the club, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

However, even if Jordan is granted reinstatement, the Dolphins might not welcome him back to their roster, and the chief reason could be financial. As Salguero writes, Jordan is owed a fully guaranteed $1.69MM roster bonus if he’s on Miami’s roster on the fifth day of training camp, and there’s disagreement within the team’s leadership as to whether Jordan should be paid that figure. Some in the club’s hierarchy believe that Jordan still possesses the talent that made him a No. 3 overall pick, while others in the front office don’t think a player with three drug suspensions and little production should be handed a bonus.

If he makes the roster, Jordan could still have time finding snaps, as the Dolphins added several pieces to their defensive end rotation over the offseason, signing Mario Williams, Jason Jones, and Andre Branch. Miami also signed starter Cameron Wake to an extension, so the best bet for Jordan might be as a special teams player. Additionally, there is still some concern that Jordan’s shoulder, which was flagged before the 2013 draft, might not be quite right.

The Dolphins have tried to trade Jordan in the past, Salguero notes, as they attempted to deal him to the Eagles when Jordan’s former college coach Chip Kelly was in charge. Now that Kelly is in San Francisco, Salguero suggests that the 49ers could have some interest in acquiring Jordan.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Garoppolo, Pats, Jets, Dolphins

July 20th, 2016 at 6:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

If Jimmy Garoppolo performs well during Tom Brady‘s four-game suspension, the Patriots would reap benefits not only during the 2016 season, but beyond, especially if they can use Garoppolo as a trade chip, writes Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports. New England could view Garoppolo as its quarterback of the future, but given that he’s only signed through 2017, he might be more valuable to other clubs than to the Pats. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could show interest if he lands a head-coaching job next offseason, while Robinson also tosses out the 49ers, Saints, Redskins, and Browns as clubs that might be willing to trade for Garoppolo.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Now that Muhammad Wilkerson is under contract for the foreseeable future, the Jets could have a valuable trade asset in fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson — but don’t expect Richardson to be dealt any time soon, opines Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Richardson can be controlled though 2017 via his fifth-year option, and New York could then franchise him in 2018. The club doesn’t figure to engage in extension talks right now, especially given that Richardson is set to be suspended for one game due to a personal conduct violation. But if he proves he’s reliable, Richardson could be the next Jet in line for a long-term contract, or he could be bandied about in trade discussions.
The Dolphins invested in their defensive line over the spring, signing Mario Williams, Andre Branch, and Jason Jones, but another option might come internally, as Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald hears (Twitter link) that former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan looks “brand new.” Yesterday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that there’s been no status update on Jordan, who applied for reinstatement in April. Jordan is thought to be dealing with shoulder issues, but if reports are to be believed, it looks he’ll be a full-go for camp, if and when he’s eligible.
Miami also spent capital on the offensive trenches, and James Walker of ESPN.com (video link) examines whether the Dolphins‘ offensive line can come together as a unit to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill. With No. 13 overall pick Laremy Tunsil scheduled to start at left guard, the Fins will have four former first-rounders among their front five. And the club has also stockpiled depth, adding veteran options like Jermon Bushrod and Sam Young to handle backup roles.
Jace Amaro has a decent chance at opening the season as the Jets‘ starting tight end, but the third-year pro needs to work on his blocking, both in the run and pass game, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Amaro missed his sophomore campaign with a shoulder injury, allowing Kellen Davis to step in and start nine games last year. As Roster Resource shows, Gang Green also boasts Wes Saxton, Zach Sudfeld, and Brandon Bostick at tight end.

Dion Jordan’s Status Still Unclear

July 19th, 2016 at 11:45am CST by Zachary Links

In late April, Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan became eligible for reinstatement. In June, Jordan’s team finally filled out the paperwork to get the ball rolling on his NFL return. Now, we’re in mid-July, and the Dolphins still haven’t heard from the league office on the status of the former first-round pick, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes.

A friend of Jordan’s told Jackson that Jordan is “doing great,” and that “when he is reinstated, you will see a brand new Dion.” If that account is to be believed, then the holdup in Jordan’s reinstatement isn’t to be blamed on the player himself. Jordan, in theory, could be in limbo because many league executives are on vacation during the month of July. However, as Jackson notes, the league office has meted and mitigated punishments for other NFL players in recent weeks.

Jordan is slated to earn $600K in base salary and is due a $1.69MM signing bonus if he’s on the roster on the fifth day of training camp. If he is allowed back by the NFL, the Dolphins could keep Jordan at his original defensive end position or they could shift him to linebacker. Even though Miami boasts depth at defensive end, bookend still might be the way to go for this year since there would be a steep learning curve in changing positions after spending a year away from the team.

In theory, the Dolphins could drop Jordan before his roster bonus is due. Miami could also try and work Jordan’s bonus down before it kicks in. Of course, there will be nothing for Miami and Jordan’s camp to discuss if he is not permitted to play football in 2016.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Breer On Cowboys, Hardy, Jordan, Manning

June 17th, 2016 at 4:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Last year, the Cowboys added Greg Hardy on a one-year, incentive laden deal. That bold move gave Dallas one of the most feared defensive linemen in the NFL, but also gave them one of the league’s biggest headaches and PR nightmares. Still, after dealing with Hardy’s down year and bad attitude, Jerry Jones says that he isn’t necessarily changing his approach going forward.

“We’ve taken risks,” Jones told The MMQB’s Albert Breer. “It was a huge risk to take (Charles) Haley back (in the ’90s). Haley was a cancer on the Niners, and that’s why they gave him to us for next to nothing. Dez (Bryant) was a risk. Dez was a Top 5 pick that fell because he was a risk. And in the end, you win on some, you lose on some. That’s a little piece of how you succeed in business. You have to take chances.”

The Cowboys, of course, have publicly ruled out a Hardy reunion. Despite all of his baggage, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ranked Hardy as one of the best defensive free agents to remain on the board at this juncture of the offseason. There has been very little talk about Hardy lately, but we recently ran down some teams that could at least consider signing the defensive end.

Here’s more from Breer’s column:

Defensive end Dion Jordan insists that he’s drug-free as he looks to return to the Dolphins, but people who were around him over his first two years tell Breer that they’d first be looking to see what condition his shoulder is in. Prior to being taken No. 3 overall in the 2013 draft, Jordan’s shoulder was flagged, so it has been an issue for some time. If things work out well, however, Breer feels that Jordan could be a big part of the team’s future on the defensive line. Cameron Wake is 34 and Mario Williams is 31, so the team will need a youth injection in the coming years.
Word has it that Peyton Manning will wind up in a John Elway-type executive role at some point in the next few years. Because Manning is hoping to work in someone’s front office, Breer hears that he could be more willing to help the NFL’s investigation into the allegations levied against him in the Al Jazeera report last December. Manning said that he would sue Al Jazeera for what he deemed to be false claims against him, but he recently decided against taking action.
Breer believes that Von Miller and Eric Berry will wind up getting multi-year deals done with their respective teams. Unsurprisingly, he does not see a deal happening for Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Dolphins, Dion Jordan

June 15th, 2016 at 12:00pm CST by Zachary Links

On Tuesday, one report claimed that the Dolphins are skeptical about Dion Jordan‘s commitment to football and perhaps his overall wellness as he looks to return. Jordan, who was banned from the league in 2015 due to his latest violation of league substance abuse policy, was eligible to apply for reinstatement in late April but did not get the ball rolling until June, which raise eyebrows in Miami.

The account from Omar Kelly of The Sun Sentinel indicated that the Dolphins could consider moving on from the former No. 3 overall pick or, at the very least, negotiate with him to reduce or eliminate his upcoming ~$1.7MM roster bonus. For what it’s worth, Jordan’s agent tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald that the league is ready to welcome his client back and the league office will almost certainly green light his return by the end of July.

“I feel very strongly he will be reinstated without question,” agent Doug Hendrickson said. “He’s done everything he has been asked to do. We feel very good where we’re at. We expect Dion to start training camp with the Dolphins…They are excited to have him back. Every team wants top talent.”

Jordan is slated to earn $600K in base salary and is due a $1.69MM signing bonus if he’s on the roster on the fifth day of training camp. Hendrickson seems to believe that Jordan is virtually guaranteed to have a place with the Dolphins in 2016, though he’s not sure where he’ll be used in the front seven. The Dolphins could keep Jordan at his original defensive end position or they could shift him to linebacker. Jackson notes that despite the team’s defensive end depth, DE might be the way to go for this year since there would be a steep learning curve in changing positions after spending a year away from the team.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Jordan, Gilmore, Jets, Colon

June 14th, 2016 at 1:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Will Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore show for training camp as he pushes for a new contract? Gilmore said he’ll get there “whenever I get there,” (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News). When asked if that means he could miss the start, he said, “We’ll see.” If Gilmore does skip out on camp, he’ll be docked $40K per day.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Omar Kelly of The Sun Sentinel wonders if the Dolphins should balk at paying Dion Jordan‘s ~$1.7MM bonus. Word has it that the Dolphins are open to giving Jordan another chance, but sources tell Kelly that the team was curious about the timing of Jordan’s bid for reinstatement. The former No. 3 overall pick was eligible to apply for reinstatement in late April but he didn’t kickstart the process until June. Jordan is due his hefty roster bonus on the fifth day of training camp and the Dolphins might not be inclined to pay it if Jordan isn’t truly committed to football. Kelly suggests that Miami could push Jordan to re-work the contract and have the roster bonus moved or even eliminated since he would be unlikely to command that same kind of money on the open market.
Much of the Jets‘ quarterback shuffle will hinge on second-year quarterback Bryce Petty, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. If Ryan Fitzpatrick returns, there is a belief in NFL circles that the Jets could keep all four quarterbacks – Fitzpatrick, Smith, Petty,and rookie Christian Hackenberg – on the roster. However, if Petty proves he can be the No. 2 QB, the team could cut Smith. Or, if Petty struggles mightily, the Jets could drop him and just keep Smith and Hackenberg as the backups. If the team does not sign Fitzpatrick, then Petty must prove his worth or the team might have to look into signing a veteran signal caller.
No surprise here, but Jets offensive lineman Willie Colon says that if he does play football in 2016, it will be his last season in the NFL. “If I do go back on the field, it’s going to be my last year. I just know it is,” Colon told Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday. “But the ego and the [guts] I have, if I do get back, I want to go out like Clint Eastwood — I want to go out firing and shooting. If it doesn’t happen, I’m going to move on and get a recorder just like you.” The 33-year-old guard suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2015 and only saw time in six games.
The Bills have a kicking battle worth keeping an eye on, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW writes. The Bills have been pitting veteran kicker Dan Carpenter against UDFA Marshall Morgan. Morgan boasts a big leg while Carpenter has made his name on accuracy. Meanwhile, kickoff specialist/punter Jordan Gay is also in camp and it remains to be seen whether he’ll be given an opportunity to kick field goals. If he isn’t given that chance, then he faces an uphill climb to make the cut.

AFC East Notes: Welker, Jordan, Fitzpatrick

June 7th, 2016 at 11:52am CST by Zachary Links

Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph says he has given no thought to what position Dion Jordan would play if he is reinstated, as Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald tweets. Jordan, a defensive end, could theoretically be moved to linebacker since the team seems pretty set at DE. A position change could also give him a much needed shot in the arm: the former No. 3 overall pick has totaled just three sacks in 26 career games.

Here’s more out of the AFC East:

Wide receiver Wes Welker turned up at Dolphins OTAs and appeared to be working with the team’s wide receivers. However, head coach Adam Gase said that the team will not be signing the veteran wide receiver as a player (link via CBSSports.com’s David Dwork). Welker, a five-time Pro Bowler, recently indicated that he is unsure about whether to continue playing. It’s also not clear if Welker has any clubs interested in his services as a player.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com weighed in on the Jets‘ ongoing battle with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Corry says that the Jets may come to regret their heavy-handed approach with Fitzpatrick since he is represented by Jimmy Sexton, who handles some of the biggest names in the sport. At the same time, he says that a one-year, $12MM deal is not realistic. To break the impasse, Corry suggests a deal that pays $12MM in year one, but $9MM in each the next two years instead of $6MM. The deal could also include incentives that could boost its max to about $45MM.
There’s tons of talk about Malcolm Butler right now, but Dont’a Hightower is the most important player for the Patriots to keep long term, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com writes. Hannable notes that since Hightower entered the league in 2012, the Patriots have a regular season record of 42-12 in games Hightower appears in, but just 6-4 in games he doesn’t play. Also, the Pats allowed 3.65 yards per carry when Hightower was on the field last year but they surrendered 4.5 yards per carry when he wasn’t. Hightower is slated to hit the open market for the first time following this season. Hannable suggests that Danny Trevathan‘s four-year, $24.5MM deal ($6.1MM/year) with the Bears could be a good comp.

AFC East Notes: Brady, Jets, Watkins, Jordan

June 1st, 2016 at 5:17pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has added a couple of powerful allies – the AFL-CIO and high-profile attorney Kenneth Feinberg – as he seeks to overturn his four-game suspension for his role in the Deflategate scandal, details The Associated Press. In a friend of the court brief filed Monday, the AFL-CIO asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a three-judge panel’s April decision to reinstate Brady’s suspension. According to the labor federation, the panel made a mistake in regarding NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as a neutral arbitrator. Meanwhile, Feinberg claims that Goodell “impermissibly exceeded the scope of his authority” and “used the vehicle of arbitration as a mechanism to rewrite the underlying bargain between the parties, to the sole advantage of his organization.”

As for the rest of the AFC East…

There was a report last week that the Jets’ Eric Decker was skipping OTAs because of the team’s lack of progress in re-signing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, but the receiver issued a denial Wednesday. “That’s not the reason I wasn’t there,” he said (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News). Decker also expressed confidence that Fitzpatrick will eventually re-up with Gang Green, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. On the other hand, fellow wideout Brandon Marshall wouldn’t say whether his absence was on account of the Fitzpatrick situation (Twitter link via Costello). However, Marshall did acknowledge Wednesday that the Fitzpatrick-less Jets must “move forward and try to figure out how we can win some games.”
When news of a minor foot fracture surfaced earlier this month, the expectation was that Bills receiver Sammy Watkins would be ready for training camp. Based on the words of Watkins and head coach Rex Ryan, that’s now up in the air, as Kevin Patra of NFL.com writes. “The goal is the regular season,” said Watkins, whose walking boot will come off Thursday. “All I know is that Sammy won’t miss time in the regular season,” Ryan commented.
When asked about defensive end Dion Jordan applying for reinstatement, Dolphins coach Adam Gase said, “I’ll worry about that when it comes around” (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports). Jordan, the third pick in the 2013 draft, had to sit out last season after the league suspended him for violating its substance abuse policy. Jordan has missed 22 games because of suspensions during his short career and has totaled just three sacks in 26 contests.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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