Jadeveon Clowney - Pro Football Rumors

AFC East Notes: Gronk, Alonso, Clowney

August 30th, 2019 at 7:40pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Ever since Rob Gronkowski announced his decision to retire, rumors have swirled of a potential comeback to the Patriots. Gronk himself hasn’t done much to tamp down the speculation, notably leaving the door open in a press conference a few days ago. The legendary tight end recently did an interview with Jeff Howe of The Athletic, and dropped even more hints that he’d be ready to play. “My body feels good. I can even take it further physically, and I could play right now,” Gronkowski said.

However, he also cautioned that his heart isn’t in it right now when asked what it would take to get him to come back. “Mentally, the desire to play just isn’t there. I would have to literally just feel that desire – just feel that mentally, that desire to play, to be back out there. Like someone is calling my name, I would have to feel that inside. I would have to feel that on a consistent basis. That’s the way I would entertain coming back to football.” The former Patriots star also revealed that he currently weighs about 20 pounds less than his usual playing weight, although he did say it would be “easy” to put it back on.

Here’s more from the AFC East on a busy day around the league:

We heard last weekend that the Dolphins were shopping linebacker Kiko Alonso, and now we have more details. It was apparently Alonso who requested a trade during training camp, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). Rival organizations reportedly expect Alonso to be cut, which is hurting his trade value. Miami is starting completely fresh with new coach Brian Flores, and many of the team’s veterans are getting purged. Both sides apparently want to move on, so it would be a shock at this point if Alonso is on the team in 2019. Originally drafted by the Bills in the second-round back in 2013, Alonso has started at least 15 games in all three of his years as a Dolphin. He has two more years left on his four-year, $28.9MM deal.
It looks like Jadeveon Clowney won’t be going to the Dolphins, but they aren’t the only AFC East team interested. The Jets are apparently in the mix too, although you shouldn’t count on them landing the former first overall pick. Although New York is interested, “there may be far too many obstacles on both sides” to complete a deal, writes Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. “I’m not sure how much the Jets really want him, or how much (Clowney) wants them,” one rival exec told Vacchiano. “It’s hard to see Joe (Douglas, the Jets GM) going crazy for a player like him, especially just for a year. It doesn’t look like there’s a match.” Clowney’s reported preferred destinations are Seattle or Philadelphia.
Good news for the Bills, as Mitch Morse has officially cleared the concussion protocol, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Bills made upgrading the offensive line a priority this offseason, and Morse was one of their biggest acquisitions. He’s been dealing with this concussion for most of the summer, so this is great news that he’s been cleared. Morse has a history of concussions, and other injuries have limited him to just 18 games over the past two years. When healthy, he’s one of the best centers in the league, and he should provide a big boost for Josh Allen.

Jadeveon Clowney Doesn’t Want To Play For Dolphins

August 30th, 2019 at 4:18pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It seems like Jadeveon Clowney won’t be headed to the Dolphins after all. The Texans outside linebacker is “adamant” that he doesn’t want to play for Miami, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Just a few days ago, we heard that the Dolphins considered themselves the favorites to land the former first overall pick. The Jets, Redskins, Seahawks, and Eagles have all also held conversations with Houston about trading for Clowney. Since Clowney can’t be traded until he signs his franchise tender, he has the leverage to shoot down a potential trade. He’s apparently more interested in joining a playoff contender, as Seattle and Philadelphia are said to be his preferred destinations.

Clowney met with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and other members of the organization in person, but he clearly wasn’t swayed by their pitch. In a follow-up tweet, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes that Clowney specifically hasn’t signed his tender because he doesn’t want to play for the Dolphins.

Miami has been the most active publicly in their pursuit, and there have been rumors of a potential swap involving left tackle Laremy Tunsil. It was reported yesterday that there would be a “revolt” in the locker room if the Dolphins traded Tunsil. It’s unclear how interested the other four teams are, or if they’ll be willing to meet Houston’s asking price. Clowney has let it be known he’s willing to miss regular season games, so it doesn’t seem like there’s an end in sight here.

Latest On Texans, Dolphins, Jadeveon Clowney

August 30th, 2019 at 11:08am CST by Zachary Links

If the Texans want Dolphins tackle Laremy Tunsil, they’ll have to pay a hefty price for him. The Texans have dangled a first-round pick and Jadeveon Clowney in a proposed deal for Tunsil, but the Fins want even more, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hears from two NFL sources.

One of those sources tells Jackson that the Dolphins are seeking a high draft pick in addition to Clowney and a first-round choice. This could be a classic example of the old business adage, “Don’t tell them ‘no,’ tell them how much it will cost.”

The Dolphins’ interest in Clowney is very real, but so is their attachment to Tunsil, who is a quality tackle in a league that is largely devoid of them. There’s also this to consider – the Dolphins would have to give Clowney a hefty deal upon acquiring him, so they want to make sure the deal is worthwhile in total.

Will the Texans meet the sky-high asking price? That largely depends on exactly how desperate they are for left tackle help and how much other interested clubs will fork over for the former No. 1 overall pick.

Clowney is said to favor the Seahawks and Eagles, while the Dolphins, Jets, and Redskins have also touched base on him.

Latest On Dolphins’ Pursuit Of Jadeveon Clowney

August 29th, 2019 at 5:03pm CST by Rory Parks

Reports just two days ago suggested that the Dolphins would not trade offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Texans for Jadeveon Clowney, and earlier this week, Miami reportedly assured Tunsil’s camp that the former first-rounder would not be dealt.

However, Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald notes that the Tunsil-to-Houston rumors will not go away. It sounds as if Miami is still strongly considering a Clowney trade, but if the team deals Tunsil — one of the best and most-liked players on the team — Beasley says the Dolphins could have a mutiny on their hands.

Beasley’s source said, “[t]he backlash would be amazing. Guys would legit revolt.”

Beasley added the Fins will only include Tunsil in a Clowney trade if they are blown away by the offer. In other words, Houston would have to send back Clowney and premium draft capital if it wants to land the 25-year-old Ole Miss product. The Texans have been persistent in their efforts to pry Tunsil away, but the Dolphins are holding the line for now.

Miami clearly believes Tunsil can be a key component of its next competitive roster, but a package of draft picks could allow the team to assure itself of one of the top QB prospects in the 2020 draft, which would obviously help accelerate the rebuild. If the Dolphins are convinced to part with Tunsil, though, new HC Brian Flores will apparently face the first real chemistry test of his head coaching career.

Texans Discussing Jadeveon Clowney Trade With Five Teams

August 29th, 2019 at 8:21am CST by Zachary Links

Trade talks involving Texans pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney are rapidly heating up. The Texans have spoken with at least five teams about the former No. 1 overall pick so far: the Jets and Redskins are in communications with Houston brass, in addition to the previously reported talks with the Seahawks, Eagles, and Dolphins.

The Dolphins believe they are the favorites to land Clowney, and that makes sense given that GM Chris Grier and head coach Brian Flores have met with him in recent weeks. At the same time, Clowney is said to prefer the Seahawks and Eagles. Of course, Clowney is not a free agent, but he effectively holds the cards – he has yet to sign his franchise tender and is reportedly willing to miss regular season games until he gets his way.

The Redskins would also make some sense as an interested party, but they’re not in the mix for him at this time, per Wilson. They remain unwilling to trade Trent Williams, and that’s a big barrier when considering the Texans’ need for offensive line help.

The Clowney/Texans beef started sizzling again this week, sometime around when Clowney fired former agent Bus Cook. On that front, Wilson hears that Clowney is willing to represent himself, at least for now.

Jadeveon Clowney Willing To Miss Regular Season Games

August 28th, 2019 at 7:15pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It doesn’t seem like there’s an end in sight to the Jadeveon Clowney saga. The Texans have been looking to trade the former first overall pick, but he holds some leverage in trade negotiations because he needs to sign his franchise tender before he can be moved. Clowney was originally slated to report to the Texans after Week 3 of the preseason, but we heard earlier today Clowney changed his mind once he found out Houston was looking to deal him.

Clowney has been telling people he’s willing to drag his holdout into the regular season, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, who has spoken to multiple sources around the star outside linebacker (Twitter link). In a follow-up tweet, Garafolo’s NFL Network colleague Ian Rapoport writes that he’s heard the same.

As Garafolo points out, he has no financial incentive to sit out games. The deadline has passed for franchise-tagged players to get extensions from their current teams, so he won’t be getting any more money from the Texans in 2019. In fact, he’ll be forfeiting about $1MM for each game he misses since he’s slated to earn $15.967MM under the tag in 2019.

Garafolo reports that Clowney is genuinely hurt by the Texans’ desire to trade him, and that they allowed him to meet with the Dolphins. Houston is clearly planning for life without Clowney, giving his backup Brennan Scarlett an extension earlier today. We’ll keep you updated as we hear more, but as of right now it looks like there’s a very good chance he isn’t on anyone’s active roster come Week 1.

Latest On Texans’ Jadeveon Clowney

August 28th, 2019 at 8:56am CST by Zachary Links

Texans pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney wants out, and now we know why. The star defender planned to report this week, until he found out the team wanted to trade him, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.

Originally, Clowney was slated to report after Week 3 of the preseason. Now, no one knows when – or if – Clowney will show up.

Trade rumors have swirled around Clowney for some time now, but, this summer, it sounds like he was operating under the assumption that he would stay put. The Texans’ recent front office shakeup undoubtedly played a role in Clowney’s situation – former GM Brian Gaine was in favor of giving Clowney a new deal, but head coach Bill O’Brien was reportedly against it. Clowney has been extension-eligible since January 2017 but, so far, the Texans have been unwilling to commit.

Clowney recently met with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and the Fins view themselves as the favorites to land the former No. 1 overall pick. Meanwhile, Clowney is reportedly eyeing the Seahawks and Eagles.

Dolphins Notes: Clowney, Grant, Alonso

August 27th, 2019 at 7:15pm CST by Rory Parks

The Dolphins believe they are the favorites to land Texans star Jadeveon Clowney, but Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com believes that Miami would have to increase Clowney’s tag number (currently just under $16MM) to something in the $20MM+ range to land the former No. 1 overall pick (Twitter link). Fitzgerald suggests that the Dolphins may not be interested in giving Clowney the long-term deal he wants and could be looking to trade a second-round pick for Clowney this year and flipping him for a first-rounder next year.

Let’s take a quick swing around South Beach:

Wide receiver Jakeem Grant‘s extension was reported as a four-year, $24MM pact, but NFL Insider Adam Caplan says the base value is actually $19.7MM (Twitter link). The total value could increase to $24MM with Pro Bowl incentives. The contract includes $7.5MM in guaranteed money, only $3.72MM of which is fully guaranteed.
The Dolphins are said to be shopping linebacker Kiko Alonso, though rival teams expect him to be cut. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that head coach Brian Flores was non-committal when asked about the status of Alonso and tight end Dwayne Allen, both of whom have battled injuries this summer. Alonso returned to practice on a limited basis Sunday, and while Jackson says Miami could very well keep him around in 2019, it would not be surprising if both Alonso and Allen were released.
More from Jackson, who suggests that edge rusher Nate Orchard is on the roster bubble. Though Flores didn’t elaborate, he said “this will be a big week” for Orchard. It sounds as if one of last year’s “Hard Knocks” stars could find his way onto the 53-man roster with a strong performance in Miami’s last preseason game.
The Dolphins’ QB competition between Josh Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick remains open.

Dolphins Consider Themselves Favorites For Jadeveon Clowney

August 27th, 2019 at 6:49pm CST by Rory Parks

The Dolphins believe they are the leaders to land Texans star Jadeveon Clowney, as Armando Salguero and Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald write. We learned earlier today that Clowney has met in person with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and other members of Miami’s brass, and the team thinks that meeting helped sway Clowney towards South Beach.

As Clowney has not yet signed his franchise tender, he does have some say as to where he gets traded. Sources suggest that Clowney was not initially in love with the idea of coming to the Dolphins, and indeed, today’s report suggested that Clowney prefers the Seahawks or Eagles.

However, the Dolphins believe Clowney is now on board if they can swing a deal with the Texans. Salguero and Beasley say that a potential trade between the two teams would not include a first-round pick heading to Houston, though Miami is also refusing to give up offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.

In addition to offensive line help, the Texans are in need of a running back, and the Dolphins could package Kenyan Drake or Kalen Ballage along with some draft capital to make a trade work.

Dolphins Won’t Give Up Laremy Tunsil In Jadeveon Clowney Trade

August 27th, 2019 at 3:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins are interested in Jadeveon Clowney, but they’ll only go so far to get him. The Dolphins are unwilling to part with offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in any potential trade with the Texans, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter) hears.

That could be a potential roadblock for the Dolphins in their pursuit of Clowney, since the Texans are in need of offensive tackle help. But, as Wilson notes, the Texans could also use assistance at running back after losing Lamar Miller to a season-ending injury. If the Dolphins are willing to discuss tailbacks like Kalen Ballage, that could give them ammo in a Clowney deal.

Clowney, still only 26, has 29 career sacks despite playing in just 60 of 80 possible career games. Most of those missed games came in his rookie season and he has missed just three games in the last three years.