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Marshawn Lynch

Poll: Cowboys’ Running Back Options For 2015

November 23rd, 2014 at 7:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

As DeMarco Murray continues to rack up big yardage behind the Cowboys’ offensive line, much thought has been given to the team’s future plans at the position. While Murray is in the middle of an extravagant campaign that will put him on the short list for Offensive Player of the Year, he is a free agent after this season and will likely be looking for a long-term contract with guaranteed money.

The team has already made an effort to keep him, offering him a four-year deal earlier this season. The two sides were unable to agree, and Murray has played out the year on his rookie deal.

Murray’s leverage has since been complicated, as the prospect of other high-profile backs hitting the open market became more likely. Seahawks‘ star Marshawn Lynch is a candidate to be released this offseason, despite no signs of immediate decline in his performance in Seattle. He is an older back and carries a price tag that the Seahawks may be unwilling to pay, but could accept a modest deal elsewhere if the right opportunity calls.

Things change quickly, but signs point to this being his final season with the team. A player like Lynch could cut into the team’s need for Murray.

An even better fit could be Adrian Peterson, who has a future similarly in flux with the Vikings. Peterson admitted that he might be better off with a fresh start when he returns to the field following his suspension concerning his legal troubles. Peterson had been linked to the Cowboys before, and now with his tempered value and chance of being released, the connection could come to fruition.

Of the three players, Peterson might actually be the top target this offseason over Murray should he come available. Peterson’s unique talent could vault him to the top of many team’s wish list, as long as they are willing to deal with the off-field controversy.

Peterson may be a top commodity for many teams if he is available, but his counterpart in offseason controversy could be a low-risk high-reward backup plan. Ray Rice‘s play dropped off before being suspended and released by the Ravens, but the lack of clamor for his services could lead him to a team on a short-term deal without guaranteed money. With his fresh legs after the year off, a return to his 2012 form could yield high dividends for his next employer.

If all four of the players are available this offseason, which player would be the best runner for the money, whether with the Cowboys or another team in search of a star halfback?

Sunday Roundup: Peterson, Mallett, Newton

November 23rd, 2014 at 12:33pm CST by Rory Parks

We heard earlier today that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer expects embattled running back Adrian Peterson to return to the team in 2015. However, outside of the obvious public relations decisions that Minnesota will have to make in evaluating Peterson’s future with the club, Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune discusses the untenable financial ramifications of keeping Peterson in the fold. Vensel cites former NFL agent Joel Corry, who says:

“His contract doesn’t bear any relation to the rest of the running back market. I know Peterson had some unique value as the face of the franchise with the new stadium opening in 2016, but that doesn’t exist anymore. From a pure economic perspective, having a 30-year-old running back in 2015 with a $15.4 million cap number and $13 million salary wasn’t going to be the most efficient use of resources.”

As Vensel suggests, the Vikings could approach Peterson with offers for a contract restructure, but Peterson’s receptiveness to such overtures is doubtful at best. That is especially true given that the same ESPN article in which Zimmer expressed his confidence that Peterson would be back with the club also contained the revelation that Vikings general counsel Kevin Warren has been working with the NFL to make sure Peterson does not return this season. That led Peterson to remark recently, “Maybe it’s best for me to get a fresh start somewhere else.”

Let’s look at a few more links as Sunday’s games get underway:

  • Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle details Ryan Mallett‘s journey to becoming the Texans‘ starter and Mallet’s desire to be more than a one-game wonder as he attempts to lead Houston to a playoff berth.
  • Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer writes that Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wants to lead a winner in Carolina and Carolina’s front office wants him to stay. His future with club could ultimately depend on if the Panthers can climb atop the weak NFC South in 2014.
  • Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com answers a number of questions from readers inquiring into the Jaguars‘ strategy this offseason, including draft and free agent targets and the club’s biggest needs.
  • Marshawn Lynch may be on his way out of Seattle in 2015, but regardless of how he his viewed by the public at large, he is beloved in the Seahawks‘ locker room and his teammates will hate to see him go, writes Jayson Jenks of the Seattle Times.

NFC East Links: Rolle, Smith, Cowboys, Cofield

November 22nd, 2014 at 8:50pm CST by Rob DiRe

Antrel Rolle is playing in a contract year for the Giants, and while he wants to stay with the team, he knows that anything can happen in an NFL offseason, writes Bob Glauber of Newsday.com.

“Staying here would definitely be ideal,” said Rolle. “I feel like there’s a lot of things that I would like to get accomplished with a new set of [teammates]. I feel like there’s a lot more to get done. Unfortunately, if you don’t have the opportunity to stay, you move on.”

The 32-year-old safety has been a stalwart of the Giants’ defense since coming over from Arizona in 2010.

Here are some other links from around the NFC East:

  • Eagles‘ first-round pick Marcus Smith has struggled to see the field as a rookie, but the team worries if he will ever develop into the player they had hoped when they drafted him, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Smith has been compared to Danny Watkins, another failed first-round selection.
  • Cowboys‘ head coach Jason Garrett has been thought of as a puppet for Jerry Jones, but Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com thinks Garrett has wielded more power within the organization recently. He cites the team drafting Zack Martin, letting DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher leave in free agency, and holding off on extensions for Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray as all uncharacteristic moves for Jones, likely influenced by Garrett.
  • Martin has been excellent as a rookie, validating the Cowboys‘ decision not to draft Johnny Manziel. However, if the Browns decide to sign Hoyer to a long-term contract, Manziel could still be a fit for the Cowboys, writes Steven Mullenax of The LandryHat.com. With the struggles of Brandon Weeden and Tony Romo‘s injury issues, Manziel could be a good backup and eventual replacement in Dallas.
  • Given the choice between Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, or Murray this offseason, Jon Machota of DallasNews.com believes the Cowboys should place Peterson at the top of their wish list. He believes that signing Peterson behind this offensive line would be more dangerous even than the younger DeMarco Murray.
  • Washington defensive lineman Barry Cofield eased his way back into action last week against the Buccaneers, after returning from injury. Cofield should see his snaps increase starting this week, reports Tom Schad of the Washington Times.
  • Washington defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has been in charge of an erratic defense during his tenure with the team, but despite scheme changes and coaching changes, he has survived, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Jones paints the major problem in the consistency of the defense as a lack of talent on that side of the ball.
  • As the controversy with the Washington team name carries on, one devoted fan has decided to take a stand against the name, writes John Woodrow Cox of the Washington Post. He found a company to make strips of cloth that say “Washington” in which fans can use to patch over their old team apparel. Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News points to the name change for the University of Stanford as a precedent for the change, and the New Yorker has used their cover to mock the name in anticipation of Thanksgiving, according to Sports Illustrated.

Pete Carroll: Marshawn Lynch Is “Our Guy”

November 21st, 2014 at 8:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though recent reports have indicated that the Seahawks plan to move on from Marshawn Lynch following the 2014 season, head coach Pete Carroll disputed that the veteran running back is as good as gone. “Somebody just started talking about that — he’s under contract next year, we’d love to have him back,” Carroll told Jim Corbett of USA Today. “There’s no hesitation in us saying that and there never has been. Somebody else said that. That’s never come from here. No one thinks that at all.

“Marshawn’s playing the best he’s played since he’s been here,” Carroll continued. “His feet are on fire. He’s tough as hell. He’s doing everything. He’s catching the ball. He’s our guy. And he has been all this time.”

Of course, these comments are far from a guarantee that Lynch will return to Seattle in 2015. And though Carroll does have final say over the construction of the Seahawks’ roster, it wouldn’t behoove him to be truthful if he does intend to jettison Lynch during the offseason. Regardless of the club’s future plans, Lynch is undoubtedly an important part of Seattle’s roster in 2014, and Carroll wouldn’t gain anything by discussing how the team will proceed with regards to Lynch’s future.

However, the fact remains that Lynch is a strong candidate to be released before next season. The Seahawks can clear $7MM in cap space by cutting Lynch, who’s cap number is made up of a $5MM base salary and a $2MM roster bonus. That cap relief would be beneficial to Seattle as it attempts to sign young contributors, such as quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, to long-term contracts. Additionally, the club has running backs Christine Michael and Robert Turbin waiting in the wings; with the RBs as interchangeable as they are, it could make sense for the Seahawks to hand the backfield to younger, cheaper players, and use the cap savings on improving their offensive line.

For his part, Lynch spoke with NFL.com’s Michael Silver earlier this week, and though it’s often difficult to get a read on what he’s actually thinking, Lynch didn’t sound overly confident that he would be with Seattle in 2015.

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Britt, Lynch

November 19th, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Before landing in Washington, DeSean Jackson seriously contemplated the idea of joining the 49ers in free agency, the veteran wideout told reporters today, including Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.

“I had some talks with them, the general manager, coach [Jim] Harbaugh, things like that,” Jackson said during a conference call. “It was a close call. Almost made a trip to come out there. But Washington did what did to keep me here and did everything right. Coach Harbaugh and I played against each other, when he was at Stanford and I was at Cal. I respect him. It was a close call but I came here.”

As we contemplate what the Niners’ offense might’ve looked like with Jackson in the fold, let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFC West….

  • If there’s tension in San Francisco between Harbaugh and the 49ers‘ front office, it doesn’t affect the players on the roster, according to running back Frank Gore. Appearing on the Jim Rome Show, Gore said that he and his teammates “don’t even think about it.”
  • At this point, there haven’t been any known communications or negotiations between the Rams and Kenny Britt‘s agent, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. However, the wideout, whose contract expires at season’s end, would like to stick with the Rams if he can. “Hopefully I can stay here after this season and be in this locker room,” Britt said. “It’s hard to put a team together like this in the locker room, with this chemistry.”
  • As a result of his decision not to speak to reporters after Sunday’s loss against the Chiefs, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has been fined $100K by the league, as Ed Werder of ESPN.com details. The league will collect $50K for this incident, as well as a $50K fine for a previous violation, which had been held in abeyance in anticipation of Lynch’s future cooperation.

NFC West Notes: Dorsey, Gore, Cardinals

November 17th, 2014 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Seahawks couldn’t pull out a comeback win in Kansas City yesterday, it was a successful Sunday for the rest of the NFC West, with the Cardinals, Rams, and 49ers all notching impressive victories. In his look at players who improved their free agent stocks over the weekend, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap picks a player from each of those teams, identifying Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie, Rams wideout Kenny Britt, and 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree as three players whose values got a bump after their respective performances on Sunday.

Here’s more from around the NFC West:

  • The 49ers intend to activate defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey from off the injured reserve list this week, head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters today, including Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
  • 49ers running back Frank Gore, who is in the final year of his contract, would like to return to the 49ers next season, but if that interest isn’t mutual, he’s intent on continuing his NFL career elsewhere, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com outlines.
  • Addressing the contract extension the team gave defensive coordinator Todd Bowles last week, Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said today that he and his staff want to be “proactive and aggressive” with all their decisions, which means locking up quality assistants. Keim recognizes that Bowles could still explore head coaching jobs this offseason, but says “it will take a special opportunity for him to leave us.” Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com has the quotes and the details from the GM’s appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7.
  • Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch may be facing a $100K fine from the league, as Peter King explains in his latest MMQB column.

Marshawn Lynch On Future, Carroll, Harvin

November 16th, 2014 at 9:07pm CST by Ben Levine

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Marshawn Lynch‘s future with the Seahawks, and the running back did little to quiet those rumors today. NFL.com’s Michael Silver reports that Lynch did not accompany his team into the locker room during halftime of today’s matchup against the Chiefs, and the reason was attributed to fatigue. However, Silver is skeptical about that excuse, and he openly wonders whether it was a statement of displeasure by Lynch.

Reporters didn’t have an opprtunity to speak to the All-Pro following the game (Lynch skipped out on his media session), but Silver was able to catch the running back on the phone. Here are some highlights from their conversation…

On his future with the Seahawks:

“Do I think I’ll be gone after this season. I don’t know, man. The Seahawks, their front office gets in the media; they talk a lot. I don’t talk too much. I just play the game.

“If they have something going on, I don’t know about it.”

On the potential that he could be released following the season:

“I understand the business. At the end of the day, it’s just a business.”

On his relationship with coach Pete Carroll:

“Pete’s my head coach. Well, I mean, you know, he’s really not in my position meetings. … It ain’t like we get to chop it up like that.”

On his reported displeasure regarding the Percy Harvin trade:

“I’m upset when I don’t get a first down on fourth-and-inches. … You know, it is what it is. I was surprised, I guess you could say.”

On whether the Seahawks are still a contender:

“Is this a championship team? Yeah, yeah, we’ve got the heart of a champion,” he said. “When you’ve got players like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor — you’re about to make me name the whole damn roster — aand there’s some young guys whose names a lot of people don’t know who bring a lot of fight. I always look at the best of our team. So … hell yeah. I would have to be a fool to say no.”

NFC Notes: Cutler, Lynch, Ingram

November 16th, 2014 at 12:39pm CST by Rory Parks

Jay Cutler‘s future with the Bears has grown quite murky over the course of his shaky 2014 campaign, and David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune writes that the league’s highest-paid player this season also looks like its worst bargain. Haugh adds that if Chicago replaces head coach Marc Trestman or GM Phil Emery in 2015, Cutler’s stability vanishes completely. Furthermore, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes, the Bears could trade Cutler after this season and save $12.5MM. The team is therefore not financially tethered to the quarterback it hoped would be its franchise savior, and Schefter reports that there would be a fair amount of interest in Cutler if Chicago were to make him available via trade.

Now for some more links from the NFC:

NFC West Notes: Aldon Smith, Rams, Lynch

November 10th, 2014 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

The Rams lost again yesterday, falling to 3-6 on the season and further deflating any long-shot playoff hopes they may have had. Things are getting interesting elsewhere in the NFC West though, with the Cardinals, Seahawks, and 49ers all picking up Week 10 victories. At 8-1, Arizona leads the way, but it looks as if the team will be without starting quarterback Carson Palmer the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, last year’s NFC Championship participants, Seattle and San Francisco, remain firmly in playoff contention, but don’t have an easy path to the postseason by any means. At the moment, the 7-3 Cowboys and 6-3 Seahawks project as the NFC’s Wild Card teams, with the 6-3 Packers and 5-4 49ers on the outside looking in.

Let’s round up a few items out of the NFC West to start the week….

  • NFLPA executive VP George Atallah tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports that 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith “fulfilled all of his obligations to be considered to return from his suspension early.” However, the NFL elected not to reinstate Smith until he served his full nine-game suspension. Garafalo suggests we can expect to hear more on this issue this week, since Smith’s camp and the NFLPA aren’t pleased that the linebacker wasn’t reinstated a week or two early, as had been rumored.
  • The Rams‘ defense came into yesterday’s game in Arizona thin at cornerback, and the club’s depth took another hit when nickel back Lamarcus Joyner left with a groin injury, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see St. Louis make a roster move or two this week to shore up the position.
  • It’s viewed as a fait accompli by some observers that Marshawn Lynch won’t be back with the Seahawks next season due to his age, contract, and possible off-field concerns, but performances like yesterday’s four-touchdown romp show how important he is to the club, says Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.

Sunday Roundup: Jags, Cowboys, Randy Moss

November 9th, 2014 at 12:33pm CST by Rory Parks

PFR’s Ben Levine wrote yesterday that Jaguars owner Shad Khan expects his club to be active in free agency in 2015, and Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union followed up on Khan’s statements this morning. O’Halloran, noting that the Jags have nearly $30MM in cap room, a “figure that could double with rollover (unused) dollars, an increase in the cap and cleared space from veterans who will be released or not re-signed,” will have a whole host of opportunities to improve their roster next year.

Although Jacksonville is still far from a destination of choice for the league’s top free agents, Khan noted that it is not just the money that the team has to spend that excites him, it is the fact that 2014 has revealed the specific needs that the Jaguars need to address in the offseason. As our Rob DiRe pointed out yesterday, the team could look to add a defensive lineman, a free safety, and a pair of linebackers.

Now for some more links from around the league:

  • An earlier report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport claimed that 20 Cowboys players missed curfew on Friday night, but Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes that owner Jerry Jones said there were no curfew violations because there is no curfew. Meanwhile, head coach Jason Garrett said there is a curfew, at midnight. As Alper notes, this is not the first time Garrett and Jones have issued contradictory statements regarding the team’s inner machinations, and the Cowboys need a win today to divert attention from what should have been a non-issue.
  • In the wake of the mounting criticism surrounding Falcons head coach Mike Smith, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution sides with defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora, who believes the coaching staff is not the problem. Ledbetter writes, “If the Falcons get rid of the winningest coach in team history, it won’t be about winning football games. It will be about selling tickets and premium seat licenses to the new stadium.”
  • Marc Sessler of NFL.com says retired wideout Randy Moss, to whom the Seahawks made overtures after trading Percy Harvin, said he would come out of retirement if Peyton Manning and the Broncos came calling.
  • Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that “how the season ends — and how [Marshawn] Lynch plays — may matter only so much in the debate” as to whether the Seahawks should retain Lynch after this season. Instead, “it will still come down largely to one thing — will the Seahawks think it worth it to pay Lynch $7 million in 2015 when he’s 29 years old? And will Lynch be happy playing out the final year or would he ask for more money?”
  • ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith‘s suspension was not reduced as expected, thereby allowing him to participate in today’s game, because “while Smith did more than mandated in terms of community service, he did not fulfill the obligations assigned him in terms of his counseling protocol.”
  • Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that, although the Browns and Brian Hoyer have not engaged in contract talks since the summer, sources indicate the deal that Andy Dalton recently signed with the Bengals will be the benchmark for future negotiations.
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