HEADLINES

Justin Houston

West Notes: Boone, Charles, Houston

July 23rd, 2014 at 8:20pm CST by Zachary Links

It was revealed earlier today that longtime Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is giving up control over the franchise due to his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The 70-year-old is placing ownership in the Pat Bowlen Trust that is controlled by non-family members, with team president Joe Ellis assuming control of the club. “It’s a really, really sad day,” Ellis said. “It’s sad for his family, his wife and his seven children. It’s sad for everyone in the organization. And it’s sad for all the Bronco fans who know what Pat Bowlen meant to them as an owner. It’s a day nobody wanted to see happen.” More out of the AFC and NFC West..

  • As expected, 49ers guard Alex Boone did not report to camp and he has been placed on the did not report list, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The Niners can fine him $30K for each day he remains absent.
  • Terez A. Paylor of The Star (on Twitter) has received zero indications that Jamaal Charles’ new deal with the Chiefs will affect any potential deal with Justin Houston. Houston, 25, has racked up 21 sacks in 27 games for the Chiefs in the last two seasons, earning spots in consecutive Pro Bowls. However, since he was a third-round pick in 2011, he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and will earn a base salary of just $1.4MM in 2014.
  • More from Paylor (on Twitter), who hears that despite some speculation to the contrary, Houston has reported to camp with the Chiefs.

AFC Notes: Pouncey, Bengals, McCourty

July 23rd, 2014 at 12:56pm CST by Luke Adams

While Mike Pouncey‘s initial recovery timetable from hip surgery suggested he’d miss the first month of the season, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that the veteran center may not return for a few more weeks after that. According to Salguero, Pouncey’s rehab could extend into late October, meaning he’d miss nearly half the regular season.

Meanwhile, extension talks between Pouncey and the Dolphins have been put on hold for now, says Salugero (via Twitter). Besides the fact that Pouncey, who turns 25 tomorrow, isn’t healthy, it’s still a little early to make serious progress on a new contract, considering the team has exercised its fifth-year option for 2015. So far, no 2011 first-rounders have signed extensions, since their teams still have most of the leverage.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • For years, Bengals owner Mike Brown has served as the team’s de facto general manager, but speaking to reporters – including Joe Danneman of Fox19 – Brown said yesterday that his daughter Katie Blackburn and head coach Marvin Lewis are now running the franchise (Twitter link). As Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer details, Brown still has the final say on personnel decisions, but typically follows the lead of Blackburn and Lewis.
  • A report in early June suggested extension talks between the Patriots and safety Devin McCourty had gotten underway, but according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter), there have been no new talks since that initial dialogue. Regardless, McCourty isn’t phased by heading into the regular season on an expiring deal.
  • Focusing on how contract situations may affect players’ roster security, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe breaks down the Patriots who may be on the hot seat as roster cuts approach.
  • Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star consults cap expert Joel Corry to determine whether or not the Chiefs will be able to lock up both Jamaal Charles and Justin Houston to new long-term contracts. The answer: Yes, though the team will have to be careful about how it spreads out the money on the cap.

AFC Links: Texans, Jets, Ravens, Titans, Bills

July 7th, 2014 at 11:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Texans and Jets may have added their starting quarterbacks for 2014 in free agency this offseason, with Houston inking Ryan Fitzpatrick to a two-year deal and New York signing Michael Vick to a one-year pact. Fitzpatrick sits atop the depth chart for the Texans, and Vick figures to push Geno Smith for the starting job in New York. However, both teams made more under-the-radar signings that Lorenzo Reyes praises in his most recent piece for USA Today, with the Texans adding running back Andre Brown and the Jets landing cornerback Dimitri Patterson. According to Reyes, while these moves didn’t receive the same sort of attention that other offseason transactions did in Houston or New York, they could ultimately pay major dividends.

We examined Houston’s offseason activity last night, and will be shifting our focus to the Jets and the rest of the AFC East this week. In the meantime, here are a few more links from across the AFC:

  • Albert Breer of the NFL Network takes an in-depth look at the reasons why players should (or should not) hold out, using J.J. Watt of the Texans and Justin Houston of the Chiefs as a pair of examples. As Breer outlines, Watt may have the leverage this offseason to hold out for a new deal, though there has been no indication that he’ll do so. Meanwhile, Houston’s situation is more tenuous, since he could potentially forfeit an accrued season and a chance at future unrestricted free agency if he misses too much of Kansas City’s training camp.
  • The NFL shouldn’t punish the Ravens along with Ray Rice by continuing to delay its announcement on a suspension for the running back, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, who wonders why the league is taking so long to make its decision.
  • A pair of offensive linemen receive best and worst contract honors in Jason Fitzgerald’s look at the Titans‘ books at OverTheCap.com. In Fitzgerald’s view, Michael Roos is playing on the most team-friendly deal on the roster, while recently-signed tackle Michael Oher has the Titans’ worst contract.
  • As Mike Rodak of ESPN.com details, the Bills are using less than $4MM in cap space on their quarterbacks this season, meaning that even if there are no above-average signal callers on the roster, at least the team isn’t overpaying anyone at the position.

Minicamp Updates: Jets, Jags, Dolphins, Orton

June 17th, 2014 at 10:45am CST by Luke Adams

The minicamps being held around the NFL this week are mandatory for players on rosters, but those aren’t the only guys in attendance. Many clubs are also auditioning non-roster players who are hoping to earn contracts and the opportunity to compete in training camp for a regular-season roster spot. Here are the latest updates from minicamps around the league:

Extra Points: Colts, Houston, Chiefs, Ryans

June 16th, 2014 at 7:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In his latest mailbag, John Clayton of ESPN.com writes that sub defensive packages are now the new normal in the NFL, as teams continue to add more versatile defenders on passing downs in an effort to stop high-powered offenses. Clayton labels the Seahawks as the “gold standard” in the sub department, pointing out that defensive linemen Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, paid $6.5MM and $4.8MM respectively in 2013, only “started” a combined five games, yet were key cogs on the league’s most dominant defense. He lists the Buccaneers, who added Michael Johnson in free agency, and the Texans, who drafted Jadeveon Clowney, as teams who could vastly improve in nickel and dime situations in 2014.

  • Safety Jordan Pugh tried out for the Colts today, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The 26-year-old was a 2010 sixth-round pick by the Panthers, and spent the past two seasons with the Redskins.
  • Justin Houston is looking for a contract extension with the Chiefs, and as such, head coach Andy Reid isn’t sure if the pass rusher will be attending minicamp, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I don’t know that,” said Reid. “I expect them all to be here and then whoever is here, we’re going to coach them. If they don’t show up, I understand the profession. I’ve been around it a long time and I just move on. That’s how it works. You coach who you have, and you coach them like crazy.”
  • Speaking of the Chiefs, Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com examines the team’s defense in the wake of Brandon Flowers‘ release, and writes that defensive coordinator Bob Sutton might be part of the reason for Kansas City defensive woes. Sutton, whose scheme might have expedited Flowers’ departure, seemed unwilling to make adjustments in 2013 even when it was apparent his defense was flailing.
  • Eagles middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans played 96% of the team’s defensive snaps last season, and defensive coordinator Billy Davis intends to reduce that number, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “We want DeMeco for the long haul this season, and so many times when you overwork a veteran — and he takes great care of his body — but it’s a lot of games,” said Davis. “I think we have more depth than we had and more experience and more people who can play versatile roles in the defense. I think it’ll help.”
  • We learned earlier today that the Cowboys don’t expect Kyle Orton to show up for the team’s minicamp this week, and ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins says a team source has confirmed that view (via Twitter).

Chiefs Rumors: Houston, Flowers, Alex Smith

May 27th, 2014 at 4:26pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chiefs’ OTAs got underway today, and a couple of notable players weren’t in attendance. Here are more details on that story, along with a couple more updates out of Kansas City:

  • Justin Houston and Brandon Flowers weren’t present today when the Chiefs’ OTAs got underway, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). Houston, who has recorded 21 total sacks in the last two seasons and is on the books for a base salary of just $1.4MM in 2014, is looking for a new contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The 25-year-old is entering the last year of his rookie deal, so the Chiefs will likely be interested in working something out if they can.
  • As for Flowers, Paylor isn’t sure why he’s not in attendance, since he’s owed $30MM over the next three years (Twitter link). The cornerback has been the subject of trade rumors lately and there have been rumblings that his style of play may not fit into what Kansas City is trying to do on defense, so perhaps he’s seeking clarification about an uncertain future.
  • Appearing on the NFL Network today, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the team is in “open communication” with Alex Smith about a new contract and that he’s confident that something will get done (Twitter link via Marc Sessler of NFL.com). However, Paylor hears something a little different about the extension negotiations, tweeting that a source says contract talks have been “almost nonexistent” within the last few months.
  • The Chiefs have signed offensive lineman Ryan McKee, who participated in the club’s rookie minicamp, tweets Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. Offensive guard Chandler Burden was cut to clear room for McKee.

Chiefs Notes: Albert, Houston, Lewis, Avery

March 1st, 2014 at 11:43am CST by Matt Feminis

Let’s round up a few of the latest items out of Kansas City….

  • Yesterday, Branden Albert‘s free-agent outlook was evaluated by ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher, who believes, “It’s time for both sides to move on.” A veteran left tackle whose pass blocking prowess dwarfs his run blocking skill, Albert played for a $9.8MM franchise tender in 2013, but will hit the open market this year. Despite his flaws, Albert is expected to cash in, a la Jermon Bushrod, as detailed by Bleacher Report’s Ty Schalter earlier this month.
  • Meanwhile, the team has initiated contract talks with Justin Houston, whose deal expires after next season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS (via Twitter).
  • Free safety Kendrick Lewis was a nice find in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, but his play has declined since that season, says Teicher. The Chiefs will look to upgrade that position with a rangier, more athletic player in an effort to cut down on big plays against and provide more consistency on the back end.
  • After sending a second-round pick to San Francisco in the Alex Smith trade, the Chiefs hold just one draft pick in the first 86 and would like to add more, according to Teicher, who also thinks Donnie Avery‘s roster spot could be in jeopardy.