Matt Schaub - Pro Football Rumors

Trade Buzz: V-Jax, Rams, Vikings

October 26th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Rory Parks

There seems to be more buzz surrounding this year’s NFL trade deadline than in years past, and Michael Fensom of the National Desk points out that Week 8 will be the final “audition” for those players who have generated the most interest, including the Buccaneers‘ Vincent Jackson and the Bengals‘ Jermaine Gresham. Fensom also observes that, since January 2012, the teams that have made the most trades are also among the most successful clubs on the field.

Of course, as CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora writes, the odds that a major trade comes to fruition are pretty slim, especially since so few teams are clearly out of the hunt at this point in the season. That does not mean, however, that it is not worth your while to take a look at some of the latest trade buzz. The trade deadline is Tuesday, October 28:

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the Eagles, Patriots, and Seahawks are among the teams calling about Jackson. He adds (via Twitter) that the Chiefs are also involved. He points out, however, that the Buccaneers are looking for real value in any trade involving Jackson, and Rapoport defines “real value” as a second-round pick (Twitter link).
Rapoport tweets that another player that could be on the move is Rams DT Kendall Langford, who has generated some interest. La Canfora believes that St. Louis may have also fielded some calls on RB Zac Stacy.
La Canfora writes that the Raiders are willing to deal Matt Schaub, but there is unsurprisingly not much of a market for him.
La Canfora adds that players who had previously been discussed as trade possibilities, like the Eagles‘ Brandon Graham, have since been taken off the table.
Fensom reasons that, given the Seahawks‘ reported interest in tight ends, Seattle is a potential landing spot for Gresham.
Our Zach Links recently wrote that Titans WR Nate Washington has been made available via trade, but Fensom writes that other Tennessee players like Wesley Woodyard and Michael Griffin are also rumored to be available.
There is also speculation that the Vikings are looking to sell, and Fensom lists Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway, and Greg Jennings as potential trade chips.

Matt Schaub Will Not Play Against Patriots

September 20th, 2014 at 10:38pm CST by Rob DiRe

10:38pm: Schaub left the team to be with his wife, who had an emergency C-section, says Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

2:57pm: Raiders’ backup quarterback Matt Schaub will not play this weekend against the Patriots as a healthy scratch, reports Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Tafur adds that Schaub made the trip to Boston, but had to take himself away from the team due to an emergency (via Twitter).

The Raiders thought they were getting a starting quarterback when they traded for Schaub this offseason. Rookie second-round pick Derek Carr outperformed his veteran counterpart in the preseason, and surprisingly won the starting job going into week one.

Schaub struggled with performance, but was also dealing with a sore elbow that kept him from playing to his accustomed level. The 11 year veteran had his worst season as a starter for the Texans in 2013, including a streak of four consecutive games in which he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, which is an NFL record.

If he continues going forward as neither the starting quarterback nor the backup, there are serious questions to his future with the team and in the league. Earlier this season he was adamant that he was not considering retirement, as he becomes further removed from the team that possibility seems all the more likely.

With $8MM guaranteed on his contract during this year and next, Schaub will almost definitely wait until he is cut from the team before considering retirement to ensure he gets his last NFL payday. He will be hardpressed to find another team willing to employ his services if he fails to turn it around in Oakland.

Former Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin is slated to back up Carr in Schaub’s absence.

Matt Schaub Not Considering Retirement

September 12th, 2014 at 3:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Matt Schaub didn’t quite envision this when he greenlighted the trade that sent him from the Texans to the Raiders this offseason. Troubled by elbow tendinitis, the veteran QB had a rough preseason and six days before the season opener against the Jets, the team crowned rookie Derek Carr as the team’s starter. Still, despite the adversity Schaub has gone through, his age, and presumed financial security, he is not thinking about calling it quits.

“Definitely not,” Schaub told Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle when he was asked if he might be confronting the beginning of the end of his career. “I’ve got plenty of football left in me, plenty left to give.”

Schaub admitted that he’s frustrated and disappointed, but he says that he’ll focus only on what he can control. In the interim, coach Dennis Allen has stated plainly that Carr is the team’s quarterback and, at least for the moment, that is not up for discussion.

Schaub was excited to join up with the Raiders earlier this year and he took significant pay cuts in 2014 and 2015 to make the trade work for Oakland. Although he struggled with performance and health in 2013, Schaub is only two years removed from a Pro Bowl season in which he threw for more than 4,000 yards, completing 64.3% of his passes and recording a 22-12 TD-INT ratio. Even during his down year, he completed 61.2% of his passes and averaged 231 passing yards per game.

Raiders Name Derek Carr Starting QB

September 1st, 2014 at 8:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

8:02pm: Allen confirmed to reporters, including Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (on Twitter), that Carr will be the Raiders’ starter, noting that it’s not a week-to-week proposition — Schaub is the clear No. 2.

5:14pm: After the Raiders acquired Matt Schaub from the Texans over the offseason, it was widely assumed the veteran would be the team’s starting signal-caller come Week 1. However, just six days before Oakland’s opener against the Jets, the team has made a depth chart alteration, as Jay Glazer of Fox Sports 1 reports (Twitter link) that rookie Derek Carr will start at QB against New York.

Schaub had been dealing with an elbow injury throughout the preseason, but head coach Dennis Allen contended that the ailment was not serious. However, Schaub’s absence allowed Carr, the 36th overall selection in May’s draft, to take the quarterback reins during Oakland’s exhibition games. The Fresno State product ran with the starting role, completing 67% of his passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Admittedly, Carr’s success came mostly against backups, but the numbers are still impressive for a player who was considered something of a project coming out of college.

Glazer’s report indicates that Carr will be the starter going forward, rather than just a temporary replacement until Schaub is healthy. Carr will be the only rookie QB to start for his team in Week 1, as the Jaguars, Browns, and Vikings opted against starting Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater, respectively. For his part, Schaub will earn $8MM while acting as the No. 2 quarterback — another $3MM is available to him via incentives, but they are likely unreachable unless he re-takes the starting job at some point.

McDonald on Matt Schaub’s Sore Elbow

August 24th, 2014 at 8:35pm CST by Rob DiRe

Raiders’ quarterback Matt Schaub has some soreness in his throwing elbow which kept him out of Sunday’s practice, reports Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune (via Twitter).

Dennis Allen said that the injury was not serious, and not a cause for concern. He noted that Schaub will be evaluated daily and is expected to return soon.

The short term beneficiary of this injury is rookie quarterback Derek Carr. David Carr‘s younger brother was a second-round pick, and will be getting first-team reps with Schaub sidelined for the time being (via Twitter).

Schaub brought up the soreness for the first time yesterday.

McDonald draws comparisons to the quarterback situation from last season, when Matt Flynn was set to be the starter after being brought in via a trade with the Seahawks. That was before a sore elbow held him out of practice towards the end of the preseason. Flynn would never regain a hold of his starting job, as Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin shuffled back and forth in and out of the lineup (via Twitter). Flynn would eventually be released, allowing him to rejoin the Packers later in the season.

If Carr impresses with the first team, it could accelerate his path to the starting job the Raiders hoped he would eventually take.

AFC West Links: Raiders, Chargers, Chiefs

August 9th, 2014 at 10:41pm CST by Rob DiRe

Matt Schaub struggled to lead the Raiders‘ first team offense in their first preseason game, but head coach Dennis Allen was “not displeased” with the performance, writes Vic Tafur of SFGate.com. He noted that while Schaub did not play well, his receivers dropped two passes and the coach and quarterback had a miscommunication on a third down play.

Here are some other links from around the AFC West:

Another Raider to watch was first-round pick Khalil Mack, who flashed his enormous talents at times in the first game, according to Tafur (via Twitter). Allen did say that Mack was “a little bit late reacting” in his NFL debut.
The Chargers are dealing with a number of minor injuries as they head back to practice, preparing for their next preseason game, and Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com discusses them in his Training Camp Report.
The Chargers are moving closer to deciding on their 53-man roster, and Kevin Acee and Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego predict who will make the team. They expect the Chargers to load up on skill positions, keeping three quarterbacks, four running backs, six receivers, and four tight ends. That of course will leave the team thin at other spots.
Chiefs‘ tight end Travis Kelce made a huge play on a 69-yard catch and run in the preseason opener, flashing some of the talent Kansas City missed with him missing 2013 with an injury, writes the Associated Press on USA Today. Both quarterback Alex Smith and head coach Andy Reid were impressed with the second-year playmaker.
Even with running backs Montee Ball and C.J. Anderson currently nursing injuries, head coach John Fox does not see a pressing need for the Broncos to add another back to the depth chart, writes Lindsay Jones of the USA Today (via Twitter).

Extra Points: Fitzpatrick, Hughes, Thomas, Robinson, Carr, Kennard

June 21st, 2014 at 12:57pm CST by Matt Feminis

With the Texans hitching their wagon to veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (known more for his intelligence than his physical ability) in 2014, Houston Chronicle beat writer Brian Smith released a few sobering tweets about Fitzpatrick’s prospects as a starter. Says Smith: “Recurring criticism of Fitzpatrick by analysts: Too much of a gunslinger with not enough of an arm.”
The Bills have a new defensive scheme this year under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but Jerry Hughes‘ deployment won’t change. “He’s brought in his 4-3 scheme, but as far as what I’m doing it’s pretty much the same thing I did last year,” Hughes told Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News. “My hand is in the ground and I’m coming off the edge trying to create pressure to get to the quarterback.” Drafted by the Colts in the first round in 2010, Hughes disappointed in Indianapolis. However, a trade to Buffalo last year gave Hughes new life as a pass-rush specialist, and he capitalized on the opportunity. Hughes registered 10 sacks, nine more quarterback hits and 39 quarterback hurries. In fact, he ranked first in the league in Pro Football Focus’ Pass Rush Productivity metric. Hughes will make just under $4MM this season before hitting free agency.
ESPN’s James Walker came up with two notable names when asked about potential surprise veteran cuts by the Dolphins: “Some veterans I think who are on the bubble include former Jeff Ireland draft picks who didn’t live up to their potential. Running back Daniel Thomas and tight end Michael Egnew come to mind. The Dolphins are no longer waiting on their potential. Both former highly-touted picks must bring it this summer or they could lose their roster spot.”
Julius Thomas, who emerged as a Pro Bowl tight end for the Broncos last season, could be a franchise tag candidate next year. Accordingly, he’s monitoring the Jimmy Graham situation with interest, writes the AP’s Arnie Stapleton.
Rams No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson admits the mental part of the game is giving him trouble early in his NFL career (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner): “It’s frustrating that I’m not up to pace right now because the playbook is more intense and things are changing but once I get back to where I’m comfortable, things will calm down and I can be myself out there…Right now it’s a lot of thinking going on, it causes me to move a little slower. Once I get up to speed, I can move with the snap count and stuff like that.”
Raiders second-round rookie Derek Carr has already ascended to No. 2 on the depth chart behind Matt Schaub, relays CSN Bay Area’s Scott Bair.
Giants rookie fifth-rounder Devon Kennard “impressed coaches in the spring program and could be in the mix to start on the strong side,” according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. A 6-3, 250-pounder out of USC, Kennard, whose father was a Super Bowl winning center for the Cowboys, was viewed as a tweener prospect, albeit one with outstanding intangibles and make-it traits.
Free agent offensive guard Garrett Reynolds visited the Cowboys, per ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). Reynolds started 23 games over the last three years for the Falcons, but struggled last season and was released in February.

Extra Points: Draft, Irsay, Carr, Incognito

June 7th, 2014 at 12:46pm CST by Matt Feminis

The NFL draft has become a behemoth, so much so that rumors of its location changing have become headlines. Meanwhile, small details such as, ya know, the players involved, tend to get lost in the shuffle. After 36 of 98 underclassmen who declared early eligibility (i.e. giving up collegiate eligibility) went undrafted, and Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage is calling for reform.

Speaking to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Savage advocates for pushing back the declaration deadline in order provide teams with more evaluation time and prospects for more thorough, insightful feedback:

“The bottom line is we have to figure out a way to make it more attractive to stay in school for one more year for some of these guys [and] give them a chance to go from being a sixth-round pick to a third-round pick. . .Some of these kids are going to come out regardless. They weren’t going to be going back to school or they have families to support or something else. But a lot of them think they run a 4.5, and then get to the combine and they run a 4.75 and they’re surprised and disappointed with what happens. That kind of information, maybe that helps reduce the numbers. Maybe we can give them a window where they’re really assessed, then understand it and then they say, ‘I really need to go back to school.'”

Here’s a handful of miscellaneous links from around the league:

“People around the league” think Colts owner Jim Irsay will be suspended six to eight games and be fined $1MM, according to Pro Football Talk, who cites a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Ravens insider Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun compares the contracts of Joe Flacco and 49ers trigger man Colin Kaepernick. While Flacco’s $120.6MM deal and Kaepernick’s $126MM deal seem similar on the surface, Wilson says, “the reality is that the deals are vastly different and the original reports about Kaepernick’s financial windfall are fairly misleading.” Wilson calls Kaepernick’s contract “extremely team-friendly” and characterizes it as “pay-as-you-go.”
In a video piece for NFL Network, Albert Breer reports, “There is now an internal belief” Raiders projected starter Matt Schaub will be pushed by second-round rookie Derek Carr.
Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr could be playing for his Cowboys future in the opinion of ESPN’s Todd Archer, who thinks a good season could lead to a contract restructuring, while a bad season could spell the end. Carr is in the third year of a five-year, $50MM deal which includes $25.5MM guaranteed and has cap hits of $12.2MM in 2014, $12.7MM in 2015 and $13.8MM in 2016. Last season, Carr managed an overall grade of -0.9, according to Pro Football Focus, including a -5.0 coverage rating.
Whether or not Richie Incognito gets another shot in the NFL “is going to be a football decision, not an emotional one,” thinks Bleacher Report’s Michael Schottey.

Raiders Notes: Woodley, Schaub, McFadden

May 31st, 2014 at 5:45pm CST by Peter Sowards

LaMarr Woodley won’t drop back into coverage as much with the Raiders like he did with the Steelers, and he’s just fine with that. Oakland utilizes a base 4-3 alignment, and defensive ends are consumed with what’s in front of them, not behind. As CSNBayArea.com’s Scott Bair notes, Woodley last played in a 4-3 defense at Michigan.

“Looking at the (Raiders) defense, seeing how guys were flying around on defense, getting after people, I kind of felt like after talking to the coach that that’s what he wanted me to do,” Woodley said. “He wanted me to rush the passer more and then drop back in coverage. I felt like with the kind of people that was on this defense, and add me in there, I felt like I could help the team win.”

Woodley signed a two-year deal worth a maximum of $12MM in March, and he’s eager to show the Raiders made a good investment.

“You still have to come here and prove yourself, at least that’s how I feel. The last few years for me haven’t been good. So I have to come here and I feel like I have to rebuild myself as well.”

Other news and notes from the Oakland Raiders:

Matt Schaub is a Top 10 quarterback in the Raiders’ eyes, says ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez in his Twitter mailbag. As long as the skill set of the former Texans QB can fit with what offensive coordinator Greg Olson wants to do, it’ll be a good match.
Gutierrez predicts a run-first offensive approach with Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew, along with 2013 sixth-round pick Latavius Murray. If the runners can stay healthy and consistently produce positive yardage, that’ll set up the play-action pass, at which Schaub excels.
Wide receivers Andre Holmes and Juron Criner have been the stars at three OTA practice thus far.
Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com recaps Week 1 of OTAs, with Schaub able to go against an active defense with his receivers for the first time.

Poll: Which Embattled QB Will Have Most Success?

April 28th, 2014 at 9:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Vince Young is set to work out for the Browns, and if he catches on he’d join a list of quarterbacks looking for a restart.

A number of embattled quarterbacks found new homes this offseason, each hoping to resurrect their once-promising careers. The majority of them will likely be serving as backups, but that also means an injury could suddenly thrust them into a starting role.

Mark Sanchez inked a one-year, $2.25MM deal to sit on the bench with the Eagles. He could be Nick Foles‘ backup, but the team could also select a quarterback in the draft. If that’s the case, Sanchez’s opportunity diminishes even more.

Brandon Weeden will have another opportunity to showcase the talent that (debatably) justified his first-round selection in 2012. The 30-year-old signed a two-year, minimum deal with the Cowboys where he will serve as a backup to Tony Romo. Considering Romo’s injury history, Weeden may have a chance to start next season (assuming Kyle Orton is not on the team).

It seemed inevitable that Matt Schaub‘s tenure in Houston would come to a close, and he was traded by the Texans to the Raiders last month. Following the trade of Terrelle Pryor, the starting gig seems to be Schaub’s. Barring the team drafting a top quarterback, he’ll likely be atop the depth chart heading into next season.

Josh Freeman was the starter for the Buccaneers from 2009 to 2012, but he completely unraveled prior to his release. After finishing the season with the Vikings, he signed a one-year, $750K deal with the Giants this offseason. Eli Manning is one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL, but Freeman is certainly a competent backup.

Which embattled quarterback do you expect to have the best season in 2014?