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Mike Pouncey

Extra Points: Cobb, Pouncey, Okung

August 29th, 2015 at 9:27pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A week after losing Pro Bowl receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending ACL injury, the Packers are hoping fellow Pro Bowl wideout Randall Cobb doesn’t join him on the shelf. Cobb suffered a right shoulder injury during the Packers’ game Saturday against Philadelphia. The severity of the ailment is currently unknown, but one injury that has been ruled out is a broken collarbone, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted. A serious injury to Cobb would be a devastating blow to the Packers, given that their receiving corps already lost Nelson. He and Cobb combined for a whopping 189 catches (25 of which were touchdowns) and nearly 3,000 yards last year.

More from around the NFL:

  • Dolphins center Mike Pouncey hurt his left knee during Saturday’s game against Atlanta and will have to undergo an MRI on Sunday. Pouncey, who is wearing a brace, vows not to miss any regular-season time, Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (Twitter link). Head coach Joe Philbin also expressed optimism regarding Pouncey’s injury. “We think he’ll be OK,” he said, per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).
  • Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung will probably use the five-year, $66MM extension Washington signed Trent Williams to earlier today as a benchmark for his next deal, according to CBS Sports’ Joel Corry (via Twitter). Okung, who’s in a contract year, was the sixth overall selection in the 2010 draft, going two picks after Williams. Okung has since made 59 starts and one Pro Bowl, while Williams has made 70 and three, respectively.
  • Don’t count on a reunion between the Giants and free agent safety Stevie Brown, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. The Giants are scheduled to work out Brown, but he has interest from “a number of teams,” according to his agent. Brown spent 2012-14 with the Giants before a brief stint in Houston this year.
  • The Colts scratched running back Vick Ballard from Saturday’s game in St. Louis. That doesn’t bode well for his chances of making the roster, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Ballard has battled serious injuries over the past couple years and has played in just one game since 2012 as a result.
  • Lions running back Joique Bell, who underwent knee surgery in January, is unsure if he’ll play Week 1. “I’m not going to say I’m ready to go out there and take every play and run every down, right now, but you never know how I’ll feel in two weeks,” Bell said, according to Justin Rogers of MLive.com. The fourth-year man is coming off his most productive season (1,182 total yards, eight touchdowns).
  • Patriots fullback James Develin suffered a broken tibia in Friday’s loss to Carolina, and ESPN’s Mike Reiss tweeted that the hope is recovery from surgery will take six to eight weeks. However, David Chao – the former team doctor for the Chargers – responded that it could actually take Develin six to eight months to return (Twitter link).

Dolphins Sign Mike Pouncey To Extension

April 13th, 2015 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

MONDAY, 12:09pm: Pouncey’s deal is now official, according to the Dolphins (Twitter link). The extension, which locks the center up through the 2020 season, adds five new years to his existing 2015 contract — those five new years are worth just under $45MM, with the full six-year value coming in at $52.15MM.

FRIDAY, 8:38pm: Pouncey’s extension is a five-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The contract is worth $52.15MM, per ESPN’s James Walker and Adam Schefter. and includes $22MM in guarantees and an $11MM signing bonus.

6:58pm: The Dolphins and Pouncey have agreed to an extension, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Details of the contract have not yet been released, but Salguero reports (Twitter link) that Pouncey will be the highest-paid center in the NFL.

12:46pm: Mike Pouncey appears set to remain with the Dolphins on a long-term extension, reports Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Terms of the impending agreement are not yet known, but Kelly reports they’re in the neighborhood of the $40MM extension Maurkice Pouncey received from the Steelers last year.

The Dolphins opted into Pouncey’s fifth-year option last May, which at the time guaranteed him just more than $7MM this season. This will likely lower his 2015 cap hit and guarantee the ex-first-rounder upwards of $13MM this season, reports Kelly.

After a return from an offseason hip injury that sidelined him for five games, the 25-year-old Pouncey made his second straight Pro Bowl last season despite shifting to right guard from his natural center role due to injuries on Miami’s front. The arrival of low-tier starting center J.D. Walton last month is not expected to deter Pouncey from moving back to the center position he occupied for the Dolphins from 2011 until midway through 2014.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) did not prefer Pouncey’s guard work to his top-flight center resume, rating him as a below-average blocker for a line that’s allowed 100 sacks the past two campaigns.

Miami remains interested in finding guards to place alongside Pouncey, according to Kelly.

As of now, the Fins have more than $11MM worth of salary cap space. Should this extension come to fruition, it will give the Dolphins’ line two top-market contracts, with Branden Albert signed to a five-year, $47MM deal.

Extra Points: Manziel, Mack, Vick, Kaepernick

April 11th, 2015 at 12:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Quarterback Johnny Manziel has been released from his rehab program, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter on Twitter). The 22-year-old is expected to rejoin the Browns on April 20th.

The 22-year-old entered a drug and alcohol treatment facility in late February following a tumultuous rookie season. After being selected 22nd overall in last year’s draft, Manziel disappointed during his first campaign, compiling only 175 passing yards and a pair of interceptions before succumbing to injury.

Newly-signed quarterback Josh McCown figures to be the sophomore’s main competition for the Browns’ starting gig.

Let’s take a look at some more assorted notes from around the NFL…

  • Following Mike Pouncey‘s extension with the Dolphins, Joel Corry of the National Football Post says (on Twitter) there is an increased likelihood that Browns center Alex Mack will void the final three years of his contract in 2016 (worth $24MM). Pouncey’s new deal was for five years and $52.15MM.
  • Meanwhile, Corry implies that the Dolphins will potentially lead the league in 2016 salary commitments, especially after they exercise Ryan Tannehill‘s $16.155M option.
  • Quarterback Michael Vick still intends to play next season, and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the veteran is hoping interest will pick up following the draft. The 34-year-old will specifically be eying teams that miss out on their quarterback targets.
  • Colin Kaepernick has been working this offseason to transform his game and his body. It’s clearly worked, as teammate Vernon Davis almost didn’t recognize his quarterback. “When I saw him yesterday, I didn’t even know that was Colin. No, seriously,” the 49ers tight end told Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. “He was working on his dropback and I was like, ‘Who is that?’… You guys are in for a treat. He looks like a totally different guy.”

East Notes: Graham, Ellis, Pouncey, Helu

March 9th, 2015 at 5:28pm CST by Zachary Links

News out of the AFC and NFC East..

  • The Giants thought they had Brandon Graham before he re-signed with the Eagles, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. He was prepared to make the move to a 4-3 team like the Giants, but he changed his mind and the Eagles found a way to keep him.
  • Jets free agent defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis is picking up a decent amount of interest and six teams are talking to him, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets. The Jets want him back but Ellis wants to scan the market first.
  • A source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter) that the Patriots are one of three teams in on free agent running back Roy Helu.
  • The Dolphins and Mike Pouncey have yet to discuss an extension/new deal, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets. Miami has understandably been busy in recent days.
  • A half a dozen teams are seriously monitoring Chiefs safety Ron Parker and the Giants are among them, Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger tweets. We learned earlier today that the Dolphins are among the teams with interest in Parker. The Jets also have interest in Parker and he could be on the Eagles’ radar now that they missed on Devin McCourty.

AFC East Notes: Pouncey, Wilkerson, Pats

February 17th, 2015 at 9:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Dolphins center Mike Pouncey, due $7.4MM in the final season of his contract, said Monday he was left with the impression that the Dolphins want to work out a multi-year deal this offseason, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. “I think I’ll be a Dolphin for a long time,” Pouncey said. Pouncey wants to move back to center and he’s advocating Miami to sign a “really good veteran guard.” Specifically, he wants the Dolphins to go after impending free agent Mike Iupati. Here’s more from the AFC East..

  • New Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has a meeting with Muhammad Wilkerson‘s agent on his schedule for this week in Indianapolis, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN New York. Wilkerson is heading into the final year of his contract and is extension-eligible, so while the two sides probably won’t reach an agreement this week – and may not even exchange figures – they’ll touch base with an eye toward getting something done eventually.
  • If Danny Amendola is cut by the Patriots, Chris Gasper of CSNNE.com doesn’t think they should turn to Wes Welker to replace him. Getting Welker back now, he says, would be adding him a year or two late at this point. The wide receiver has suffered multiple concussions over the course of his career and it appears that they have taken a toll.
  • Legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia has returned to work for the Patriots on a temporary basis through the end of the 2015 draft, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Scarnecchia also helped the Patriots last year around this time.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Peyton, Dolphins, Chargers, Titans

January 30th, 2015 at 9:36pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Ever since the Broncos’ divisional round loss to the Colts, Peyton Manning‘s NFL future has been a hot-button topic, but the future Hall of Fame quarterback doesn’t plan to make everyone wait for his decision on retirement. “I’m not interested in making this a lingering thing,” said Manning, via Mike Klis of the Denver Post. “I’d like to make a decision soon. At the same time, both coach [Gary Kubiak] and [team president] Joe [Ellis] and [general manager] John [Elway] have instructed me to take some time, so I’m kind of following their orders.” Manning is required to take a physical between February 23 and March 5, but unlike last season, this examination isn’t tied to money, tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. As Klis writes, however, Manning’s 2015 base salary of $19MM becomes fully guaranteed on March 9, so a decision — from either Manning or the team — needs to be solidified by then.

Here’s more from the AFC:

  • Entering his first offseason as the Dolphins’ executive vice president of football operations, Mike Tannenbaum has several challenges ahead, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Primarily, the former Jets GM must decide how to approach contract talks with quarterback Ryan Tannehill — if an extension isn’t worked out by May, Beasley projects Miami will exercise its fifth-year option on Tannehill. Beasley’s colleague Armando Salguero spoke with Tannenbaum today, and in turn believes (via Twitter) the club will work out a long-term deal with offensive lineman Mike Pouncey, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
  • The city of San Diego announced it has formed a nine-person committee to not only find a new venue for the Chargers, but figure out how to pay for it, according to David Garrick of U-T San Diego. In a somewhat snarky response, the Chargers reminded the city of nine previous proposals put forth by the team, as well as the failure of a similar committee, but still pledged cooperation.
  • Firing executive Lake Dawson was probably the right move for the Titans, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Labeling Dawson a “middle man,” Kuharsky argues that Tennessee’s front office is now more streamlined, with the heads of the college scouting and pro scouting departments reporting directly to GM Ruston Webster.

East Notes: Manning, Shurmur, Ryan

November 23rd, 2014 at 10:53am CST by Rory Parks

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post takes an in-depth look into how the Giants can be contenders again in 2015 as they play out the string in 2014. The good news, Hubbuch writes, is that New York will be in great shape vis-a-vis the salary cap after being in “cap jail” not too long ago. The Giants figure to have just over $118MM in cap commitments next season, and thanks to highly-lucrative television deals, the salary cap could reach over $140MM for 2015. That leaves New York plenty of room to quickly fortify their roster, especially considering next year’s free agent class looks to be especially deep.

There is, of course, one caveat to all of this: Eli Manning. Hubbuch quotes former NFL agent and current salary cap guru Joel Corry, who noted that “I would think the next six games will decide where the Giants go with Eli. It’s probably going to be a big stretch for him. I know the Giants pride themselves on loyalty, but you can’t have your quarterback out there throwing five interceptions.” However, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com tweets, the Giants do not really have a choice when it comes to their 34-year-0ld signal caller next season; his contract makes him virtually untouchable at this point.

So it appears as though New York will have to rebuild around Manning and hope that their vast amount of salary cap room, which could continue to grow if the team decides to part ways with players like Mathias Kiwanuka and Jon Beason, will allow them to acquire the talent to return to relevancy in the NFC East.

Now for several more items from the league’s east divisions:

  • In the same piece, Hubbuch suggests five specific moves that would help turn the Giants around, which include hanging onto Manning for one more season while turning 2015 into a contract year by not extending his current deal and drafting his potential replacement in May.
  • Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) released a list of top head coaching candidates for 2015, a list that includes former head coaches in the Patriots‘ Josh McDaniels and the Eagles‘ Pat Shurmur.
  • Mike Pouncey, although he has agreed to play guard for the Dolphins this season, wants to return to his natural center position after the 2014 season and Miami is aware of that desire, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com believes a Jets loss to a “displaced and distracted” Bills squad this week would be “the final nail in [Rex Ryan‘s] coaching coffin.”
  • We looked at Robert Griffin III‘s uncertain future in Washington earlier today.

 

AFC East Links: Ryan, Marrone, Gilmore

October 18th, 2014 at 5:11pm CST by Rob DiRe

Jets‘ head coach Rex Ryan is on the hot seat following a 1-6 record start to the season. In some minds, he is already as good as fired with his team facing another year missing the postseason. While his future with the Jets is bleak, Gary Myers of the New York Daily News writes that he expects Ryan to be a top candidate for teams looking for a head coach this January.

Myers lists a few teams where Ryan could fit in well, including the Falcons, Dolphins, and 49ers. He also warns that Ryan should avoid the Raiders, Bills, and Giants if those jobs open up. Myers also lists the Cowboys as a fit, but it would be hard to imagine them making a change at head coach without an epic collapse in the last ten games of the season.

Here are some other notes from around the AFC East:

  • One big distraction the Bills have had to deal with is the unhappiness amongst its players over recent weeks. Head coach Doug Marrone has addressed many of these issues, but Vic Carucci of BuffaloNews.com believes the coach needs to squash these trade talks. He writes that it doesn’t matter whether C.J. Spiller or Mike Williams are unhappy with playing time, both players need to join the rest of the team in preparing for a winnable game against the Vikings on Sunday.
  • The Bills have had a lot of faith in former first-round pick Stephon Gilmore, but the cornerback has also taken a lot of heat for mistakes he has made early in this season, writes Joe Buscaglia of WGR550.com. Defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson preaches that Gilmore needs to improve his consistency in order to reach his potential. “If you want to be a shutdown corner in this league, you’ve got to play technique and you gotta play your guy,” said Henderson. “That’s how we talk about it in my room. I don’t beat around the bush. I tell them straight that if you want to be a shutdown corner, you take your man out of it by working technique and making sure you get yours covered.”
  • Dolphins‘ star offensive lineman Mike Pouncey was a top flight center before making the transition to guard this season. The move went smoothly, but he might be back to center sooner rather than later with Samson Satele dealing with a hamstring injury, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

AFC Links: Talib, Ravens, Pouncey

September 27th, 2014 at 9:51am CST by Ben Levine

Patriots safety Devin McCourty has a playful rivalry with his brother, Titans cornerback Jason McCourty. Therefore, as the Patriots prepare to take on the Chiefs, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Patriots’ All-Pro defender is looking to top his brother’s production against quarterback Alex Smith. In the Titans’ first game of the season, McCourty picked off Smith twice.

When asked if he’d somehow outdo Jason, Devin sounded optimistic (via Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald). “I hope so,” he said. “You’ve got to tell Alex Smith to throw me the ball.”

Devin acknowledged that he has watched some of his brother’s interceptions to get a read on opposing quarterbacks:

“I always watch every interception a quarterback throws just to get an idea, see if there is a similarity of where it happens and different formations and what they like. I always try to see the turnover opportunities out there as far as throwing the ball, especially if it’s downfield.”

Let’s see what else is happening around the AFC…

  • The NFL was not impressed by Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib‘s late, fourth quarter hit against the Seahawks. According to Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com, the league has fined Talib $8,268.
  • Ravens defensive back Jimmy Smith has been assigned an October 7th court date in regards to his misdemeanor disorderly conduct case, according to Baltimore County police spokesman Shawn Vinson (via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun). Smith is subject to a maximum punishment of 60 days in jail.
  • Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com says the the Jaguars‘ biggest free agent disappointment is linebacker Dekoda Watson. The former Buccaneers draft pick has already had a pair of surgeries and couldn’t earn the starting spot once he returned.
  • However, DiRocco writes that he liked the majority of the Jaguars‘ offseason moves and still hasn’t soured on many of them. Instead, he criticizes the team for failing to sign center Alex Mack.
  • Dolphins center Mike Pouncey was hoping to make his season debut in London against the Raiders, but ESPN.com’s James Walker warns that it’s unlikely. Instead, Walker says it’s more likely that the former Pro-Bowler will make his debut in two weeks following the team’s bye.

Dolphins Bring Roster To 53

August 30th, 2014 at 4:42pm CST by Ben Levine

4:42pm: The Dolphins have whittled their roster down to 53 players, but the most important news to come out of Miami is that center Mike Pouncey, who is dealing with a hip injury, will be placed on the active roster rather than on the PUP or IR designated to return list. Pouncey will probably still miss some time, but he’ll be eligible to play as soon as he is healthy. The following players have been waived per a press release:

12:38pm: Following the Dolphins signing of Knowshon Moreno, it didn’t look particularly good for running back Daniel Thomas. Once it was clear that Moreno and Lamar Miller were the top backs on the roster, it looked even worse for the 26-year-old.

Well, as Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post reports (via Twitter), the Dolphins have cut ties with Thomas. It wasn’t that long ago that he compiled 165 carries as a rookie, so there’s a chance a team may take a flyer on him.

The Dolphins also let go of 13 other players. The complete list is below:

The Dolphins have also informed defensive tackle Kemal Johnson that he will be placed on injured reserve (via Jackson’s Twitter).

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