Greg Olsen

Redskins Visit Up Next For Greg Olsen

February 6th, 2020 at 9:16am CST by Zachary Links

Greg Olsen finished up his Bills visit on Thursday morning, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Olsen, who isn’t in any particular rush to sign, left without a deal. His next visit will be with the Redskins, followed by the Seahawks.

The order of Olsen’s three visits may or may not be an indicator of his preference. The Bills would make some sense for Olsen – they’re not high on anyone’s list of Super Bowl contenders for 2020, but they do have a talented young quarterback in Josh Allen and Olsen could provide him with a better security blanket than rising NFL sophomore Dawson Knox.

Ditto for the Redskins – expectations aren’t high in D.C., but they would give Olsen an opportunity to reunite with old friend Ron Rivera. Of course, the two were together for years in Carolina, where Olsen went on a tear of three straight 1,000-yard seasons. No one knows what’s in store for Jordan Reed after a scary number of concussions; Olsen can help them fortify that position and possibly take over as the TE1, if needed.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, are in a better position to win right away. And, with serious uncertainty around their tight end situation, Olsen would be a logical fit. Will Dissly might not be 100% after his Achilles tear and Ed Dickson could be a cap casualty in the coming weeks. Beyond those two, Luke Willson is scheduled for free agency in March and Jacob Hollister will be a restricted free agent.

There will probably be more teams beyond those three with interest in Olsen. Earlier this week, Olsen said that he’d like to hear from the Bears – his first NFL team – but hasn’t been in touch with them since his release from the Panthers.

Greg Olsen Hopes To Hear From Bears

February 5th, 2020 at 8:20am CST by Zachary Links

Greg Olsen has drawn tons of interest on the open market, but there’s one call that he’s still waiting for. In an interview with ESPN 1000 (Twitter link), Olsen said that he would like to hear from the Bears.

“I’ll be honest. In my heart I was hoping they would have been one of the first calls,” the tight end said when asked about the Bears. “To my knowledge we have not heard from them. Whether or not they do or not is hard to say.”

Olsen started his career in Chicago as the No. 31 overall pick in the 2007 draft and played four seasons for the Bears. The University of Miami product started paying dividends immediately and went on to average roughly 49 catches, 495 yards, and five touchdowns across four seasons with the club. Then, in the summer of 2011, the Bears shipped him to the Panthers for a third-round pick.

A reunion would make sense, and not just for nostalgia reasons. Last year, Bears tight ends Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, and Ben Braunecker all finished the season on injured reserve. Olsen would make lots of sense for Chicago, but, so far, they’ve yet to show interest.

Meanwhile, plenty of other clubs would love to have Olsen. Since his release from the Panthers, Olsen has booked visits with the Seahawks, Bills, and Redskins. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network says Olsen will take his time with his decision and is not expected to sign quickly (video link).

Extra Points: Brown, Olsen, Lewis, Colts

February 4th, 2020 at 9:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Marvin Lewis is back in the coaching ranks. Doug Haller of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that the former Bengals head coach has been named co-defensive coordinator at Arizona State.

Former defensive coordinator Tony White left for a new gig at Syracuse, providing an opening for Lewis. He’ll coach alongside fellow co-defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce.

After being fired by the Bengals following the 2018 season, Lewis joined his buddies Ray Anderson and Herm Edwards at ASU. He served last season as a special advisor, and the 61-year-old had said he didn’t intend to coach again. Despite his declaration, Lewis met with the Cowboys about their head coaching vacancy back in January.

While Lewis didn’t help the Bengals achieve any playoff success (0-7 in seven appearances) during his 16 years in Cincy, he did finish his tenure with a 131-122 record. Those 131 victories are the most all-time among Bengals coaches, while his seven playoff losses without a win is an NFL record.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFL…

When Greg Olsen was released by the Panthers, it was described as a mutual parting. However, the veteran tight end said he would have been open to returning to Carolina in 2020. “I told them all along that if they wanted me back…obviously I would have been back,” the veteran said (via WFNZ-AM/FM on Twitter). “The ‘mutual parting’ might have been a little overblown. The reality was…they weren’t going to bring me back…I understood it but I didn’t force my way out of here.”
We learned this past weekend that former Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh was joining the Colts coaching staff. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the 48-year-old will be Indy’s new wide receivers coach. Groh was a natural fit for the Colts, as he actually replaced current Colts head coach (and former Philly offensive coordinator). Frank Reich in 2018. Kevin Patullo, who previously held the role of wide receivers coach, will remain on the staff in a different role.
Marquise Brown had a standout rookie campaign for the Ravens, but ‘Hollywood’ was battling an injury throughout the season. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley writes that the first-rounder never fully healed from a foot injury suffered earlier in the year. Despite the ailment, Brown still finished the season having hauled in 46 catches for 584 yards and seven touchdowns, leading quarterback Lamar Jackson to compare him to one of the NFL’s top receivers. “Even though he was hurt with his foot, he still felt like he should be Julio (Jones) already,” Jackson said. “I told him, ‘Bro, you’re good. Your foot not already 100 and you’re making plays.’ This year, he’s going to be dangerous.”

Greg Olsen To Visit Seahawks

February 4th, 2020 at 10:33am CST by Zachary Links

Greg Olsen will visit the Seahawks as a part of his free agency tour, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. As previously reported, Olsen will also be checking in with the Bills and Redskins as he weighs his options.

Olsen, 35 in March, parted ways with the Panthers earlier this winter. The veteran wasn’t interested in being a part of a rebuild and the Panthers elected to cut him loose in order to save $8.1MM against the cap.

Olsen might not be quite as effective as he was during his prime years, but he still profiles as a productive vet who could be of use in Seattle. The Seahawks aren’t quite sure what they’ll have in Will Dissly, who is coming off of a torn Achilles tendon. Meanwhile, Ed Dickson could be released in a cost-cutting move, Luke Willson is headed towards the open market, and Jacob Hollister will be an RFA.

Olsen caught 52 passes for 597 yards and two touchdowns in 2019, showing that he can still play at his advanced age. He was also healthy, for the most part – he appeared in 14 games after missing a combined 16 contests between 2017 and 2018.

Before the injuries, Olsen was one of the league’s most consistent and reliable tight ends. Olsen topped 1,000 yards receiving in three straight seasons and was a no-brainer choice for the Pro Bowl in each of those campaigns.

Greg Olsen To Visit Bills, Redskins

February 3rd, 2020 at 6:28pm CST by Rory Parks

That didn’t take long. Hours after Greg Olsen‘s release from the Panthers was made official, his free agency tour is taking shape. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the veteran tight end will take visits with the Bills and Redskins this week (Twitter link).

Though it doesn’t guarantee anything, this development makes it sound as if Olsen will play in 2020 and will postpone his journey to the broadcast booth for at least another year. If he were to sign with Washington, Olsen would reunite with longtime Carolina head coach Ron Rivera, and recent rumors suggested that Olsen is indeed amenable to joining the ‘Skins.

Fresh off their second playoff appearance in three years, the Bills would appear to give Olsen a better chance at bringing home a championship ring in 2020. But both Buffalo and Washington are obvious fits for the 34-year-old (35 in March), as neither club got much production from the tight end position in 2019.

The Bills were paced by rookie Dawson Knox, who averaged just under 26 yards per game. Rookie tight ends rarely excel, and while the Bills surely expect Knox to take a step forward in 2020, Olsen would represent a reliable veteran target for QB Josh Allen.

The Redskins, meanwhile, lost Jordan Reed for the 2019 season due to yet another concussion, and they have a young quarterback of their own in Dwayne Haskins who would benefit from Olsen’s presence. But Olsen will likely generate more interest from other clubs before he decides to put pen to paper.

Panthers Release Greg Olsen

February 3rd, 2020 at 3:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Feb. 3: On the first day veterans can be released, the Panthers made this move official. For the first time since coming into the league in 2007, Olsen is a free agent.

Jan. 30: Greg Olsen has not decided on returning for a 14th season or beginning a full-time broadcasting career, but he will not be part of Matt Rhule‘s first Panthers team. Olsen and the Panthers confirmed as much Thursday afternoon.

After meeting with GM Marty Hurney, Olsen said (via Twitter) he will not be part of the 2020 Panthers. The team will move on from the former Pro Bowl tight end.

It does not sound like FOX is a lock to land Olsen, who has one season left on his Panthers contract. The soon-to-be 35-year-old veteran is interested in joining another team, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who adds agent Drew Rosenhaus will be communicating with other teams after the Super Bowl (Twitter link).

“The team and I are both on the same page that it is best we go in different directions for now,” Olsen said. “At this time I have not closed the door on any potential career options. I still have the love of football in my heart and will explore all opportunities presented to me.”

Acquired in a trade from the Bears in 2011, the former first-round pick revitalized his career with Carolina. He made three Pro Bowls from 2014-16, serving as Cam Newton‘s top target in the immediate post-Steve Smith years. Olsen eclipsed 1,000 yards in each of those seasons but struggled with foot injuries from 2017-18. Olsen returned to play 14 games this past season, catching 52 passes for 597 yards for a Panthers team that struggled in the season’s second half and used three quarterbacks.

The Panthers releasing Olsen will free up $8.1MM in cap space, tagging the team with $3.7MM in dead money. Olsen hitting free agency would add a name to an already intriguing mix potentially set to hit the market. Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and Eric Ebron are also free agents-to-be. And Jason Witten is now open to opportunities beyond Dallas. While Henry and Hooper are tag possibilities, this could be an interesting signing period for the tight end position.

For the Panthers, Olsen departing represents another major change for an organization that has gone through many in recent weeks. The Panthers fired Ron Rivera after eight-plus seasons, and Rhule brought in new coordinators Joe Brady and Phil Snow from the college ranks. Luke Kuechly surprised the football world by choosing to retire at 28. And Newton’s status is far from certain as he recovers from foot surgery.

Greg Olsen To Consider Redskins?

January 31st, 2020 at 1:21pm CST by Zachary Links

If longtime Panthers star Greg Olsen continues his playing career, he could wind up with an old friend. The tight end would consider reuniting with Ron Rivera by signing with the Redskins, a person familiar with the situation tells Mark Maske of the Washington Post.

Olsen, 35 in March, will also have is broadcasting opportunities to consider. In the past, Olsen has rejected overtures from ESPN and FOX to consider his pursuit of a Super Bowl ring. The Redskins would not represent his best chance at a championship, but Olsen is at least open to the idea of teaming up with his longtime coach.

Rivera has a good deal of authority in Washington and has already shown a predilection for getting the band back together via his coaching hires. Olsen would be a logical fit for the Redskins, who could use his veteran leadership and help at the tight end position. Thanks to his latest concussion, Jordan Reed missed all of last season.

During his nine season with the Panthers, Olsen enjoyed a streak of three straight 1,000-yard seasons. He was still reasonably productive in 2019, notching 52 catches for 597 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games.

Before that, Olsen spent four seasons with the Bears. All in all, he has 718 catches for 8,444 yards and 59 touchdowns across 13 seasons. Currently, he ranks fifth all-time in catches and receiving yards by a tight end in the NFL.

FOX Interested In Panthers’ Greg Olsen

January 28th, 2020 at 3:37pm CST by Zachary Links

In 2018, Greg Olsen flirted with retirement and the possibility of moving to a job in broadcasting. This year, the Panthers tight end will have similar options to consider. If Olsen wants a career in TV, FOX Sports executives will offer him a position as an analyst, Richard Deitsch of The Athletic tweets.

Two years ago, Olsen had ESPN and FOX hot on his trail. Ultimately, he turned down opportunities to do color commentary on Monday Night Football (that job went to Jason Witten, before he returned to the field) and a gig with FOX’s Thursday Night Football. Instead, he signed an extension with the Panthers – that deal is set to take him through the 2020 season.

This time around, Olsen may consider a third option – moving on to a new team. Olsen says he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuilding effort and, clearly, that’s what will take place in Carolina.

“I just think sometimes the writing’s on the wall,” Olsen said in December. “There hasn’t been anything officially. But I wanted to make sure if that was my last time that I made sure I told the people that I needed to how much they meant on my career.”

Olsen is set to count for a $11.8MM cap figure, but the Panthers can save $8.1MM by releasing him against just $3.7MM in dead money. He may also hold some trade value, though it’s unlikely that he’d net the Panthers a large return as he nears his 35th birthday in March.

Olsen, a first round pick in the 2007 draft, finished the season with 52 catches for 597 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. His last 16-game season came in 2016, when he tallied 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight year.

NFC South Notes: JPP, Panthers, Falcons

December 31st, 2019 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bruce Arians has understandably asserted Shaquil Barrett‘s all-time contract year will keep him with the Buccaneers but added the team wants to keep its other high-profile front-seven starters as well. Both Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh‘s contracts are up, but Arians said keeping both will be a top priority (Twitter link via Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com). The veteran HC may have indicated JPP resides slightly higher on the priority list as well, per Greg Auman of The Athletic (on Twitter). Pierre-Paul returned from another scary injury this season and has registered 8.5 sacks in 10 games, giving him 21 in two Bucs seasons. The Bucs hold a great deal of cap space, at $88.9MM, but will likely need to devote a chunk of that amount to Jameis Winston.

Here is the latest from the AFC South:

If Greg Olsen opts to put off his broadcasting career for another year, he will likely need to relocate. The veteran tight end indicated recently he did not want to take part in a potential Panthers rebuild. While the franchise has not committed to charting that path, Joe Person of The Athletic expects Olsen to be elsewhere in 2020. “I just think sometimes the writing’s on the wall,” Olsen said, via Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). “There hasn’t been anything officially. But I wanted to make sure if that was my last time that I made sure I told the people that I needed to how much they meant on my career.” One year (at a $6.6MM base salary) remains on the 34-year-old tight end’s contract. Carolina would save $8.1MM by cutting Olsen, its top tight end for the past nine years.
Moving to a younger NFC South tight end, Austin Hooper acknowledged the Falcons have not yet made him an offer to stay, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link). Hooper, however, would like to return, and Thomas Dimitroff appeared to indicate the breakout tight end will be a priority (Twitter link via Ledbetter). We heard this earlier this season as well.
A Hooper return may lead De’Vondre Campbell elsewhere. The Falcons already gave a top-market contract to Deion Jones and are up against the salary cap. While noting he wants to stay in Atlanta, the Falcons’ top 2019 tackler acknowledged (via ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure) he may need to change teams. Although the Falcons will consider re-signing Campbell and Vic Beasley, Dimitroff did not commit to either’s return (via McClure, on Twitter).
Despite Breshad Perriman‘s end-of-season stretch potentially raising his free agency price, the Buccaneers‘ No. 3 wideout would like to stay in this high-octane offense. Perriman signed a one-year, $4MM deal with Tampa Bay, doing so after backing out of a Cleveland commitment following the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. The Bucs have Mike Evans on a high-end deal and will see Chris Godwin enter a contract year in 2020, perhaps pushing Perriman to another team.
A player the Panthers do not want on another team: James Bradberry. Carolina’s top cornerback met with GM Marty Hurney, and David Newton of ESPN.com notes the fourth-year corner received a “be patient” message from this summit. The Panthers want Bradberry back, Newton adds, but the former Round 2 pick would obviously prefer an upper-echelon deal to stay.

NFC South Notes: Winston, Brown, Olsen

December 28th, 2019 at 5:50pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Buccaneers decision makers have faced one looming question at the quarterback position this season: Is Jameis Winston their franchise quarterback? Jenna Laine of ESPN chronicles the situation and details the organization’s biggest upcoming off-season decisions. Per Laine, members of the Tampa Bay organization have gone back and fourth on their belief in Winston and just a few weeks ago, some brass were “absolutely ready to be done with Winston,” however, the enigmatic quarterback has led the Bucs on a four-game winning streak and has changed some opinions.

While Winston’s play helped make his case, it also limited Tampa’s options at finding a replacement. Top quarterback prospects Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa are unlikely to be attainable for the Bucs in the draft now that they are unlikely to have a top-15 pick. There are a number of potential free agent options at the position, but Winston’s pedigree and relative youth likely means he’ll be back in Tampa.

Here’s some other notes from around the NFC South:

Wide receiver Antonio Brown was not alone when he arrived in New Orleans for his workout with the Saints this week, according to Mike Garafolo on Good Morning Football. The four-time all-pro was accompanied by his entourage and a camera crew during the process. Brown has been mired in controversy surrounding his locker room antics in Pittsburgh, his strange decisions with the Raiders, and multiple allegations of sexual and behavioral misconduct that led to his release from the Patriots. No one denies his talent, but it remains unlikely any team will sign him this season.
While the future of quarterback Cam Newton will be the biggest offseason story in Carolina, longtime Panthers tight end Greg Olsen will be deciding between retiring or returning next season. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the former may impact the latter. Newton and Olsen made one of the best quarterback-tight end combinations from 2014-16 and Yates believes Olsen is less likely to walk away from another chance to play with Newton.

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