HEADLINES

Greg Hardy

South Notes: J. Jones, Titans, Hardy, Jags

February 19th, 2015 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

Falcons owner Arthur Blank and new head coach Dan Quinn have both expressed in recent weeks how much Julio Jones means to the franchise, but the club has yet to start discussions with the wideout about a contract extension, a source tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Having exercised their fifth-year option on Jones last spring, the Falcons will have Jones under contract at least through the 2015 season, but he’s currently eligible to hit the open market in 2016, so the team figures to open extension talks at some point in the coming weeks or months.

Here’s a round-up of a few more items from around the NFL’s two South divisions:

  • Per McClure (via Twitter), the contract that new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan signed with the Falcons is a three-year deal.
  • Former Bucs GM Mark Dominik told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM (on Twitter) that he gets the sense that the Titans are trying to generate interest for a trade of their No. 2 overall pick.
  • Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com examines the Greg Hardy situation, which has become complicated despite the fact that his legal case has been resolved. The Panthers defensive end is a test case for the league’s new personal conduct policy, and the NFL’s decision on him could significantly impact his free agent stock next month.
  • Tight end Julius Thomas makes total sense for the Jaguars and should be near the top of their Plan A list, even if he’ll cost more than Marcedes Lewis, opines Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Besides Thomas, another Broncos free agent – free safety Rahim Moore – would be a solid fit for them in his view.
  • Our preview of the Saints‘ offseason was published earlier this morning.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Off-Field Notes: Bradshaw, Fairley, Hardy

February 13th, 2015 at 6:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Impending free agent Ahmad Bradshaw‘s road back to the field now includes more than just another injury rehabilitation after the veteran running back was cited for marijuana possession Feb. 5 in Ohio, WDTN in Dayton reports.

Also cited for following too close on Westbound I-70, Bradshaw could be subject to the NFL’s personal conduct policy. While with the Colts last year, 29-year-old was one of the league’s best all-around backs in 2014 on a per-touch basis, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 7.9 yards per catch en route to an eight-touchdown year — his most since 2011 with the Giants. Bradshaw graded as Pro Football Focus’ 11th-best back (subscription required) despite missing more than five games due to the season-ending fractured fibula he suffered against the Patriots in November.

The multipurpose ball-carrier also missed most of the 2013 campaign — his first with the Colts — with a season-ending neck injury. Since playing in at least 15 games in his first three seasons, Bradshaw has missed at least four during the past four slates.

Coupled with his most recent brush with the law — of which there were more during his college days, issues that resulted him spending time in jail while with the Giants — Bradshaw entering his age-29 season will not make him a high commodity on a running back market that also includes younger performers DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and C.J. Spiller.

  • Nick Fairley, on the other hand, can enter his free agent year relatively free of distractions after being found not guilty for driving under the influence, WKRG’s Jacqueline Quynh tweeted. The jury did find Fairley guilty of reckless driving, however. A former Lions first-round pick in 2011, the 27-year-old Fairley is a free agent after Detroit did not pick up his fifth-year option. After posting a top-20 season for defensive tackles, per PFF (subscription required), Fairley should be a reasonably coveted commodity in March, especially now that his chances of missing the first two games on a personal conduct-related issue are slimmer — but not out of the question.
  • Even though Greg Hardy‘s domestic violence case was dismissed earlier this week, the NFL seeks his court file, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The free agent defensive end ,who drew the franchise tag from the Panthers last offseason before the incident forced him off the field for almost all of 2014, can still be suspended. The former Pro Bowler, however, is now a free agent with a clearer future than he had entering this month.

Latest On Greg Hardy

February 9th, 2015 at 4:45pm CST by Luke Adams

The domestic violence charges against Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy were dismissed in court earlier today, but for now, that doesn’t do anything to change his NFL status. The league confirmed that Hardy remains on the commissioner’s exempt list as the NFL completes its own review of his case, and the Panthers said this afternoon (via Twitter) that they’re essentially following the league’s lead.

“We are aware of the decision by the district attorney’s office to dismiss charges against Greg Hardy,” the team’s statement read. “Greg remains on the commissioner’s exempt list and the NFL has advised us to allow it to complete its review under the personal conduct policy. There is no change in his status at this time.”

Here are the latest updates and rumors on Hardy, in the wake of the conclusion of his legal case:

  • Even though the charges against Hardy were dismissed, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets that people around the Panthers he has spoken to don’t expect the defensive end to return to the team for next season.
  • As we saw with Adrian Peterson, the league won’t consider Hardy’s paid leave in 2014 a form of punishment, writes Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. Garafolo believes that the NFL could still come down hard on the standout pass rusher — even though Nicole Holder disappeared prior to this case, the league could still point to the previous guilty verdict, Holder’s previous testimony, and an apparent civil settlement between Hardy and Holder as the basis for discipline. In fact, Garafolo wouldn’t be surprised if Hardy receives a suspension of more than six games, given some of the extenuating circumstances in the case, such as the weapons allegedly involved.
  • Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, on the other hand, suggests that the NFL is “extremely unlikely” to punish Hardy further, though he thinks the league will find out as much as it can about Hardy’s alleged settlement with Holder. Cole is bullish on Hardy’s prospects in free agency, indicating that there will be five to eight teams interested if the 26-year-old reaches the open market, and predicting that he could make $15-20MM in guaranteed money. Cole adds that Panthers head coach Ron Rivera still has interest in bringing back Hardy.
  • While Rivera may try to pitch the front office and ownership on the idea of re-signing Hardy, don’t expect owner Jerry Richardson to seriously entertain the idea, says David Newton of ESPN.com.

Charges Against Greg Hardy Dismissed

February 9th, 2015 at 9:29am CST by Luke Adams

Superior Court Judge Robert Sumner has dismissed the two domestic violence charges against Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter links). According to Person (Twitter links), the state had been unable to locate alleged victim Nicole Holder, despite multiple and repeated attempts. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reported earlier this morning (via Twitter) that a settlement had been reached between Hardy and Holder.

While the dismissal of the case clears Hardy legally, the NFL’s new personal conduct policy calls for an independent investigation by the league, and there’s no guarantee that Roger Goodell will abstain from penalizing Hardy just because the charges were dropped. Hardy missed all but one game in the 2014 season, but it wasn’t technically a suspension. He landed on the commissioner’s exempt list, and still received his full salary for the season, in a situation similar to Adrian Peterson‘s in Minnesota. The standout pass rusher would’ve been facing a lengthy suspension had he been convicted — now, the discipline he receives from the league figures to be more modest.

Hardy’s stock heading into free agency remains a little cloudy, at least until the NFL announces what penalty, if any, will be levied against him. But he’s certainly in better shape now than he would’ve been if his trial had dragged out and perhaps resulted in a conviction. I’d assume that the Panthers are still unlikely to assign the franchise tag to Hardy. In spite of his talent and his past production for the club, a franchise salary would cost more than $15MM, and would send a questionable message, especially after a portion of the $13MM+ that the team paid the 26-year-old in 2014 presumably went toward his settlement with Holder.

Assuming Hardy does reach the open market, he figures to draw significant interest from teams in the market for a pass rusher. Not many players in the NFL are better at getting to the quarterback than the former sixth-round pick, who racked up 26 total sacks in 2012 and 2013.

NFC South Notes: Hardy, Saints, Bucs, Mariota

February 7th, 2015 at 7:57pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The upcoming jury trial for Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy will play a key role in his NFL future, writes the Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person.

Hardy’s trial for misdemeanor domestic violence charges starts Monday, a month before the former Pro Bowler is scheduled to become a free agent. A District Court judge found Hardy guilty in July of assaulting and threatening to kill his girlfriend last May. If he is found guilty again, Hardy is likely to face at least a six-game suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which would be a significant blow to his value.

The 26-year-old appealed for the upcoming jury trial and the outcome could decide whether he cashes in during free agency or meets a weak response from the market. Hardy played just one game in 2014 as a result of being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list in September. That amounted to a paid suspension for Hardy, who collected $13.1MM on the strength of 11- and 15-sack seasons the two prior years.

Despite his past success, the Panthers are not expected to retain the five-year veteran, according to Person. Domestic violence issues are especially sensitive in today’s NFL, given the controversies Hardy, Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson caused in 2014, and Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is cognizant of that. “I stand firmly against domestic violence, plain and simple,” said Richardson.

  • The Saints have hired a new running backs coach in Joel Thomas, tweets Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evans. Thomas held the same position for the University of Arkansas since 2013.
  • With the hiring of Thomas, the Saints have two RBs coaches – the other being Dan Roushar. There is no official word on Roushar’s fate, though the Times-Picayune’s Katherine Terrell speculates that he could shift to tight ends coach, a position he held at Michigan State from 2011-12. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweeted in January that the Saints were parting ways with tight ends coach Terry Malone and wide receivers coach Henry Ellard. However, the team still hasn’t officially confirmed their respective statuses.
  • Former Buccaneers general manager and current ESPN analyst Mark Dominik believes Tampa Bay should use the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft on Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Dominik, who was with the Bucs from 2009-13, told ESPN Radio’s Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Rusillo on Thursday that he favors Mariota over Florida State QB Jameis Winston, according to the Tampa Tribune’s Roy Cummings. “He’s super smart, he’s competitive, he’s got a good release, he processes quickly, he gets the ball out of his hand fast,” Dominik said of Mariota. “He does all these other things that are fine. Whereas with Winston, you sit there and you say you like everything about the player. And you do. But there’s that what-if concern that’s laying over him, and that’s hard to manage because that’s something you can’t control and that’s something that you have to hope or find out if you can trust him.”

NFC Mailbags: Panthers, Washington, Lions

February 7th, 2015 at 12:01pm CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN.com’s AFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now check out notes from the NFC…

Panthers Notes: FAs, Newton, Hardy, Carter

January 13th, 2015 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to the media today, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman indicated that his team will have a little more flexibility to spend in free agency this offseason, likening last year’s approach to FAs to shopping “in the dollar store,” writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. However, while the GM said Carolina may “move up in class” in 2015’s free agent market, that came with a caveat: “I said we’re going to move up in class, I didn’t say we’re going to go out and spend big money on a player.”

Let’s round up a few more Panthers-related items…

  • According to Person, Gettleman didn’t sound particularly enamored of Byron Bell‘s play at left tackle in 2014, suggesting that could be a position the team looks to improve: “Byron showed flashes. It’s about consistency. I give him a little bit of the benefit of the doubt, it was his first year playing there. But I think we’ve shown if a player shows up that we think is going to make us better, we’re going to go get him.”
  • Gettleman referred to Cam Newton as the Panthers’ franchise quarterback and wants to lock him up with a long-term contract, but declined to go into any details on extension discussions between the two sides, says Person.
  • Gettlemen also shot down any speculation on Greg Hardy‘s situation, saying there’s nothing to discuss until his domestic violence trial is adjudicated. Asked whether a player’s history of domestic violence would dissuade the Panthers from signing him, Gettleman conceded, “It would be something that you’d have to really think about.”
  • CFL receiver Duron Carter has a visit to the Panthers on his schedule for Wednesday, and could still visit the 49ers, Browns, and Titans after that, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. We heard last week that the Vikings are the frontrunners for Cris Carter’s son, with the Colts strongly in the mix as well.

 

NFC Notes: Falcons, Bowles, Newton

January 12th, 2015 at 8:44am CST by Zachary Links

There is no need for the Falcons to start thinking about another kicker, regardless of Matt Bryant‘s age, writes Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. Still, there’s plenty of work for Atlanta to do this offseason. The Falcons, he writes, should consider bringing back defensive tackle Corey Peters in 2015. He’s talented and played well when given the opportunity, though he’ll want money similar to what Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai got. More from the NFC South..

  • Cardinals free safety Rashad Johnson has nothing but nice things to say about Falcons coaching candidate Todd Bowles. “He’s very aggressive, but at the same time, he knows how to mix it up because teams have learned that he’s a very aggressive guy,” Johnson told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “He’s just very smart about how he brings his pressures.”
  • Panthers star Cam Newton is a quarterback worth wagering on, writes Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer. Giving Newton a ~$100MM deal would be a risk, but it’s a gamble that is worth taking in Sorensen’s view. Still, he’ll need some help in the form of a tackle (or two) and another receiver.
  • Exiled defensive end Greg Hardy left a cryptic message for his Panthers teammates on the white board, as Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer writes. Still, Panthers cornerback Josh Norman hopes Sunday was not goodbye. “A guy of that caliber, man, we need that,” Norman said. “Hands down, I would welcome that and relish the chance to play with that guy again.”

NFC Notes: Bucs, Panthers, Saints, Cutler

December 27th, 2014 at 12:24pm CST by Ben Levine

Wide receiver Louis Murphy agreed to a three-year extension with the Buccaneers yesterday, and the 27-year-old is thrilled to be sticking around Tampa. The former fourth-rounder said as much to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:

“I believe in this team, I believe in coach Lovie (Smith), I believe in the organization. I believe in all the guys in that locker room, regardless of what the record says. I believe we’re going to be contenders in the future and I want to be a part of it. I want to see it turn around.”

Murphy, who currently has 31 catches for 380 yards and a pair of scores, reflected on his tumultuous tenure with the Raiders, Panthers and Giants:

“My dad always told me growing up when preparation and opportunity meets, it equals success. So this year, I wrote it on my bathroom wall. Early on in the game, you can drop a ball and say, ‘Oh, I’ll get another chance at this.’ But with the road that I’ve taken and the road I’ve had to go through, I said, ‘No, I’m not going to let anything slip through the cracks.’ And that’s the mind-set I’m going to keep from here on out.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes out of the NFC…

  • ESPN.com’s David Newton is skeptical about the return of two key Panthers (on Twitter): running back DeAngelo Williams and defensive end Greg Hardy.
  • Saints wideout Marques Colston isn’t thinking about next season. When asked by Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate whether he’s consider returning for less money, the receiver responded that he’d cross that bridge when he comes to it (Twitter link).
  • The Saints will enter the offseason over the salary cap, but veteran guard Jahri Evans isn’t worried about his team’s predicament. “(The front office) will figure a way to figure it out. That’s what those guys get paid to do,” he told Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com. “I don’t see myself going anywhere.”
  • The Giants have yet to reach out to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul regarding an extension, tweets ESPN’s Josina Anderson. The lack of communication is not a concern, however, and Anderson notes that the team will start the process following the season.
  • If one head coach could help turn around the play of Jay Cutler, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio believes it would be the man who drafted him: Mike Shanahan. Of course, that would depend on the Bears keeping the embattled quarterback and not shipping him off to another franchise.

NFC Notes: Suh, Peterson, RGIII, Hardy

December 4th, 2014 at 10:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy signed the richest contract ever for a player at his position two months ago and he’s rooting for Lions pending free agent Ndamukong Suh to shatter that figure, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I hope he breaks the bank,” McCoy said. “He’s an awesome player, an all-pro, Pro Bowl player. Was Rookie of the Year. Just a dominating force since he’s been in the league. Everything that’s coming to him, he deserves it.” More from the NFC..

  • There has been no settlement reached in the Adrian Peterson appeal yet, so the hearing went on as planned today, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The hearing for the Vikings running back wrapped up around 3:20 CT (link).
  • There’s a “real chance” Robert Griffin III will be Washington‘s starting QB before this season is over, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). A report earlier today indicated that coach Jay Gruden wants the team to get rid of RGIII in the offseason.
  • Rams coach Jeff Fisher is most certainly telling the truth when he says that he doesn’t regret the 2012 blockbuster deal that sent the draft rights to RGIII to Washington, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t missed opportunities in that draft. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, of the 74 picks used before the Seahawks took quarterback Russell Wilson, the Rams had five of them. Instead, the Rams selected Michael Brockers, Brian Quick, Janoris Jenkins, Isaiah Pead, and Trumaine Johnson with those picks.
  • Panthers coach Ron Rivera had positive things to say after pending free agent Greg Hardy visited with some of his teammates on Saturday. “He looks good. He looks like he’s fit and in shape,” Rivera said, according to Bill Voth of Black And Blue Review. “I had a chance to say hello, talk a little bit. Between he and I, it was a nice conversation. He’s trying to keep himself busy, and he’s just waiting to find out what his situation and circumstances are going to be.” Still, given Hardy’s baggage, it’s unclear if there’s a future for him in Carolina.
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