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Ereck Flowers

Extra Points: Fowler, Jordan, Giants, Bolts

May 9th, 2015 at 10:59pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Although Jaguars defensive end and third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL in rookie camp earlier this week and won’t play in 2015, don’t expect the team to shortchange him on his first contract. Fowler, who is currently unsigned, will still receive the deal he was originally going to get, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.

The injury to Fowler might bring about a change in the structure of his contract, not the value, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. That could include an offset clause in Fowler’s deal, meaning the Jags would owe him less money in the event that they release him down the line. Further, in the wake of Fowler’s injury, Corry believes agents could insist their unsigned clients sit out rookie minicamp in the future.

Here’s other news from around the league as Saturday wraps up:

  • Linebacker Dion Jordan, whom the Dolphins chose third overall in 2013, has an uncertain future with the team after his most recent suspension, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. While the Dolphins stood by Jordan in the past, head coach Joe Philbin isn’t committed to having him back in 2016.
  • It isn’t set in stone that ninth overall pick Ereck Flowers will be the Giants’ starting right tackle in 2015, according to offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. “Justin Pugh, right now, is the starting right tackle for the Giants,” said McAdoo, per Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News.
  • If Flowers doesn’t end up on the right side, there’s a chance he could be the Giants’ solution at left tackle. “We believe that he has a skill set to play left tackle in this league,’’ McAdoo said, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “We will give him opportunities to train at multiple spots.’’
  • Chargers team president Dean Spanos met with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer earlier this week. That might be a sign negotiations on a new stadium are picking up, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. Williams expects the Chargers to give an update on their situation in two weeks at the league’s owners meetings. If a new stadium deal isn’t reached between the Chargers and San Diego by the end of next season, the team will be able to relocate. Carson, Calif., is its likely destination.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

Draft Notes: Seahawks, Ajayi, Bills, Flowers

May 2nd, 2015 at 11:33am CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted draft notes from around the league…

  • The Seahawks made a big push to move up to the No. 100 spot in the fourth round, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
  • A “potential bone-on-bone issue” may be a contributing factor to running back Jay Ajayi falling in the draft, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan. The writer notes that the main concern is regarding the player’s longterm picture, not his immediate impact. He was projected to be a second-round pick by NFL.com.
  • Meanwhile, a knee issue had led to FSU offensive lineman Tre Jackson falling in the draft, according to ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner (via Twitter).
  • Joe Buscaglia of WKBW says if the Bills ultimately select a quarterback today, the rookie will end up on the practice squad (Twitter link).
  • Giants first round pick Ereck Flowers will negotiate his own rookie contract, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (via Twitter).

East Rumors: Jets, Flowers, Giants

May 1st, 2015 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets had cursory talks with the Titans about moving up for the No. 2 , but they weren’t exploring the move to try and land Marcus Mariota, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..

  • Brandon Scherff was higher on the Giants‘ board than Ereck Flowers, but they did not expect Scherff to get to No. 9, Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News tweets. Many speculated that the Giants were left scrambling at No. 9 with Scherff off the board, but it sounds like they were never banking on the Iowa standout.
  • The Giants did not make any effort to trade up to the Jets‘ No. 6 pick when USC defensive end Leonard Williams fell to the Jets at that spot, Vacchiano tweets.
  • Despite a report to the contrary, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter) says the Dolphins have never expressed interest in Evan Mathis of the Eagles.
  • More from Salguero (link), who notes that the Dolphins wanted Todd Gurley. According to a team source, they were prepared to move up for him, but didn’t expect him to go as high as he did. “It’s not like we sat on our hands while he went No. 13. He went No. 10,” the source said.
  • The Cowboys taking Byron Jones in the first round should create some leverage for a Brandon Carr pay cut and give the Cowboys the upper hand in Orlando Scandrick‘s contract dispute, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets.

Breer’s Latest: Titans, Gurley, Rams, Bears

April 30th, 2015 at 6:13pm CST by Luke Adams

With the draft less than an hour from getting underway, Albert Breer of the NFL Network took to Twitter to pass along a number of draft-related nuggets. Here are the highights from Breer (all Twitter links):

  • The Titans have fielded offers for the No. 2 pick, but haven’t gotten any to their liking yet and are ready to draft Marcus Mariota. The club isn’t very interested in picks below 15th overall as a central part of any trade package.
  • Teams like the Browns, Dolphins, and Chargers are eyeing Todd Gurley, and it’s possible one of those clubs – or another suitor – will get anxious and trade up for the Georgia running back, given the interest he’s generating.
  • Although Washington, the Jets, and the Rams are all viewed as trade-down candidates in the top 10, St. Louis is a little more flexible than the other two teams, who may not want to drop too far. Washington may target an offensive lineman like Brandon Scherff or Ereck Flowers if Scot McCloughan decides to move down, and those players – or Andrus Peat – could be targets for the Giants and Rams as well.
  • There’s a belief that Giants GM Jerry Reese would prefer a pass rusher to an offensive lineman at No. 9, but depending on how the first few picks play out, the value might not match up.
  • According to Breer, the run on offensive lineman may happen earlier in the first round than people think, which may motivate one or two teams to trade up. Cameron Erving has a chance to go in the teens. The Panthers and Broncos are among the teams picking late in the first who are seeking offensive linemen.
  • Cornerback Trae Waynes is generating buzz and could go as high as seventh overall to the Bears. Dupree and Kevin White are also in the mix at No. 7. The draft range for Amari Cooper appears to be between the third and sixth overall pick, so he likely won’t be available for Chicago at No. 7.
  • The Falcons may decide to move up from No. 8 for an impact defender like Leonard Williams, but if they stay where they are, Bud Dupree could be their man.
  • Either Sean Mannion or Bryce Petty figures to be the third quarterback off the board, and it’s not likely to happen in the first round.
  • According to Breer, teams believe Shane Ray will slip but will be picked in the first round, whereas Randy Gregory isn’t viewed as a first-round pick.

Pompei On Flowers, Mariota, Cooper

April 30th, 2015 at 8:54am CST by Zachary Links

Ereck Flowers could be the surprise player to go in the top ten, Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report tweets. The reason for that? The murky La’el Collins situation could vault him up the board. Here’s more draft news from Pompei..

  • The Titans have been doing a lot of talking, but as of this point the chances are very good they will stay put and take Marcus Mariota at No. 2 (link).
  • The Rams are a wildcard. They could move up for Amari Cooper and, if they don’t, they could drop back (link).
  • Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff is hot with the Giants, Rams, Jets, Washington, and others potentially in play (link). If there’s a trade up made beyond the top five, it could be for him, Pompei reasons.
  • The Jets and Washington are the most likely trade-down candidates (link).
  • Meanwhile, the Falcons, Rams, Browns, and Eagles are the most likely to trade up (link).

Draft Notes: Thompson, Winston, Gurley

April 22nd, 2015 at 8:23pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re just days away from the 2015 draft! Here’s the latest news from around the league..

  • Shaq Thompson told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter) that he has drawn the most interest from the Panthers, who both worked him out and brought him in for a visit. Thompson, one of the best athletes in this year’s draft class, could be a strong option for the Panthers to groom as an outside linebacker behind Thomas Davis.
  • Sources from five different teams tell Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter) that Georgia running back Todd Gurley has a great shot to be ready by Week 1 of the NFL season. Right now, his medicals from Indianapolis indicate that he’ll be back at some point during training camp, though how his situation is handled will depend on the team that drafts him (link).
  • Former Florida State star quarterback Jameis Winston said he received free food from Publix, which led to his shoplifting citation last year and could be a violation of NCAA rules, as Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times writes. One GM told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that Winston’s story checks out. “Our investigators found several Publix employees who corroborated what Winston said. Winston told this story to our team and I believe others. We were able to determine that he was telling the truth. I won’t get into more detail than that,” the GM said.
  • Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is visiting the Rams today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). Flowers is projected to be a first round pick with some pegging him as a candidate for St. Louis at No. 10 overall.

NFC Notes: Davis, Panthers, Johnson, Wilson

April 17th, 2015 at 10:39am CST by Luke Adams

After working out a new contract with veteran tight end Greg Olsen last month, GM Dave Gettleman indicated that linebacker Thomas Davis would be the next longtime Panther in line for an extension. The two sides have engaged in discussions since then, and while no deal has been finalized yet, Davis tells Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review that he’s not worried about it at all, and expects to finish his career in Carolina.

“We’re trying to get something worked out. It’s a process, but I’m not stressing over it one bit,” Davis said. “Really and truly, I just want to be here. I want to play football here. If I’m not playing here, I’m not playing football.”

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (all Twitter links) supplies the details on George Johnson‘s new deal with the Buccaneers, reporting that the defensive end will earn a base salary of $750K in year one, with a $2MM roster bonus due next week. Johnson’s base salaries for 2016 and 2017 are $2MM and $2.5MM respectively. However, those numbers can increase via escalators if the ex-Lion plays at least 46% of Tampa Bay’s snaps ($500K) and/or records at least six sacks ($500K) during the next two seasons.
  • Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com dives deep into the Russell Wilson contract talks, reiterating in the wake of comments from GM John Schneider that it’s possible the Seahawks won’t lock up their quarterback this year. As La Canfora observes, there seems to be a gap between the two sides at this point regarding what Wilson’s next deal should look like.
  • Mike Jones of the Washington Post adds Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers to the list of prospects visiting Washington next week.
  • The Rams, who appear to be keeping a very close eye on this year’s crop of quarterback prospects, are putting Oregon State QB Sean Mannion through a workout today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune and Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter links) pass along Bears updates, reporting that the team hosted Portland State offensive lineman Cornelius Edison on an official visit this week, and will host Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson today.
  • After having met with the Broncos recently, William & Mary receiver and returner Tre McBride visited the Lions today, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.

NFC East Notes: Dez, Cowboys, Giants, Eagles

April 16th, 2015 at 9:31pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Since the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant in March, there hasn’t been much progress in keeping the 26-year-old in Dallas long term. One reason, according to Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com, is a dispute between Bryant’s representatives at Roc Nation and his former adviser, David Wells. In February, one of Bryant’s attorneys, Jordan Siev, sent Wells a cease-and-desist letter ordering him to terminate his formal business relationship with the two-time Pro Bowler. Wells claims to have an adviser agreement with Bryant that runs through 2016, however, and has served as an off-field mentor to the star wideout.

“My job is to make sure Dez is productive in society and do what he’s supposed to do to make him a better citizen, so he can be a productive player for the Dallas Cowboys,” Wells said, per Taylor.

Other news on Bryant, the Cowboys and a couple of their NFC East rivals:

  • Bryant still hasn’t signed his franchise tender with the Cowboys yet, but Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News doesn’t believe it’ll be a big deal until the July 15 deadline to negotiate a long-term deal passes. If Bryant doesn’t sign either the tender or new contract by then, it’ll mean that he’s a potential training camp holdout. What’s more, even if Bryant ends up signing the tender and reporting, he and the Cowboys won’t be able to restart negotiations on a new contract until the end of next season.
  • Dallas worked out UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley, reports Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link).
  • Neither of the Giants’ starting safeties for 2015 are currently on their roster, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN (via Twitter). Graziano also tweeted that offensive linemen Brandon Scherff (Iowa) and Ereck Flowers (Miami) and Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes are among the draft prospects the Giants are eyeing. All could be potential first-round targets for the Giants, who hold the ninth overall pick.
  • If the Eagles are unable to land quarterback Marcus Mariota in the draft, Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com doesn’t expect them to address the position with a high-round pick – perhaps opting instead for a developmental project to put behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez. McManus also believes there’s a good chance the Eagles will use their first-rounder, the 20th overall pick, on a defensive back.

East Rumors: Mariota, Grayson, Flowers

April 13th, 2015 at 6:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

In the escalating derby to become the team that drafts Marcus Mariota second overall, the Jets may have the trump card, writes ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

The sweepstakes featuring the Jets, Browns, Rams, Eagles, Bears, Chargers and Saints, according to Cimini, vying to vault into the Titans’ No. 2 spot may hinge on how far a team devoid of blue-chip talent will be to fall in the draft order.

The Jets pick the highest of these teams, but Cimini notes that the No. 2 overall slot is worth 2,600 points on the draft value chart, meaning the Jets would have to throw in not only their second-round selection this year (No. 37) but their first-rounder in 2016 to make the numbers match up. Cimini also notes the Chargers would be the favorite if they part with Philip Rivers. Washington should probably also be included among those interested, and it holds the No. 5 pick, which would make things interesting despite their complex Robert Griffin situation.

Other notes from the eastern divisions on Monday night …

  • Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson will work out for the Jets a few days before the draft, notes Cimini on Twitter. Grayson projects anywhere from being the No. 3 quarterback in the top-heavy class to a mid-round pick.
  • Ereck Flowers‘ flight log will expand further in the Eastern Time Zone soon when the Miami tackle visits the Giants, according to a Flowers interview with Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. The prospective first-round right tackle already visited or has meetings scheduled with the Browns, Panthers, Colts, Buccaneers and Jets.
  • Texas Southern’s Tray Walker worked out with the Patriots today and will visit the Rams on Tuesday, reports Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net on Twitter.
  • Washington will host Nebraska guard Jake Cotton on Friday and Washington Huskies edge defender Andrew Hudson this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun and NFL agent Brett Tessler, respectively (Twitter links).
  • Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk each of the roster’s four quarterbacks — EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel, Jeff Tuel and Tyrod Taylor — will receive first-team reps as they vie for the job. Although Cassel and Manuel are the frontrunners here, Florio notes Taylor, signed from the Ravens this offseason, is the only QB Rex Ryan‘s openly praised thus far.
  • The Eagles‘ infatuation with Oregon talents continues, kind of. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the Eagles are categorizing Southeastern Louisiana signal-caller Bryan Bennett as a safety. Bennett played under Kelly at Oregon but transferred from Eugene when he lost a position battle with Mariota.

NFC South Notes: Falcons, Winston, Parker, Tillman

April 11th, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Falcons have visited the University of Miami to get a closer look at some of the draft’s most intriguing prospects. The team will workout Phillip Dorsett, Duke Johnson, Clive Walford, Ladarius Gunter, and Ereck Flowers, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). He also writes the team will meet with Denzel Perryman, who will not be working out for the team.

The team also worked out defensive lineman Anthony Chickillo while in Coral Gables, according to Ledbetter (via Twitter).

Here are a few more notes from around the NFC South:

  • The Buccaneers are expected to take Jameis Winston with the first-overall pick, and if there were any doubts about how the fans would react, those were put to rest Thursday. Winston’s appearance on a video board during the team’s Q&A session in front of fans drew a roar of applause, the loudest of the night according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
  • The Saints will host Louisville receiver DeVante Parker for a pre-draft visit, according to Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com. Terrell outlines some of Parker’s strengths and weaknesses, noting that Parker will likely be drafted in the early-to-mid first round. The Saints select 13th overall, but after drafting Brandin Cooks last year, might look elsewhere early in the draft.
  • The Panthers attempted to bolster their secondary by signing cornerback Charles Tillman. Tillman’s one-year contract is worth $1.75MM, which includes a $350,000 signing bonus, $150,000 roster bonus, and $15,625 in per gamer roster bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson adds that the Tillman deal is expected to include incentives to increase the total value (via Twitter).
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