Philip Rivers - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Rivers, Brown, Johnson

April 22nd, 2015 at 9:33pm CST by Zachary Links

A federal judge has approved a plan to resolve thousands of NFL concussion lawsuits that could cost the league $1 billion over 65 years, Maryclaire Dale of The Associated Press writes. The awards could reach $1MM to $5MM for those diagnosed in their 30s and 40s with Parkinson’s disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, or for deaths involving chronic brain trauma. NFL actuaries estimate 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players to someday suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia. The settlement between the two sides ends a four-year legal battle. Here’s more from around the league..

A possible trade of Philip Rivers to the Titans is complicated by the fact that Tennessee would have to work out a contract extension in the days prior to the deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. A deal couldn’t begin and end while the Titans are on the clock at No. 2 since Tennessee would need permission from the Chargers to work on Rivers’ contract (link).
Antonio Brown took to Twitter to explain his absence from the Steelers‘ voluntary offseason program. “Just enjoying my new born Ali can not wait to get back with my teammates! I am dad first and working to be best player I can be,” Brown tweeted. It’s very possible that Brown is holding out for a new contract too, but that’s apparently not the sole reason.
Andre Johnson insists that he didn’t sign with the Colts just to get revenge on his former team, as Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. “I didn’t come here because we play against the Texans twice a year..I have bigger goals than just playing against the Texans,” the wide receiver said. Johnson signed with the Colts on a three-year, $21MM deal.
Former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla working out this spring and is a player worth watching, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets.
Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton feels that he could form an “unstoppable” duo with Haloti Ngata if the Lions draft him, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.

Chargers GM On Rivers, Mariota, Stadium

April 22nd, 2015 at 2:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Minutes ago, Chargers GM Tom Telesco addressed reporters and took questions on a wide range of topics, including the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Philip Rivers. Here’s a look at the highlights with all links going to Twitter..

Telesco says that Rivers is the Chargers’ quarterback and his “intent” is to keep it that way, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. That statement probably won’t stop the chatter, and neither will this one: “I figure at least half of you are here for a Philip Rivers update. … There really is no update,” the GM said (link).
Still, Telesco told reporters (including Gehlken) that he’d be as honest as possible about Rivers and other matters, explaining, “I’m Cathlolic. I tell the truth.“
The GM dodged a question about whether he’s spoken to the Titans about Rivers (via Gehlken).
Telesco said the Chargers are evaluating Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota because “it’s what we do,” Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweets.
Like Rivers, Telesco said he wants safety Eric Weddle with the Chargers long-term, Eric Williams of ESPN.com tweets. Weddle, of course, is absent from camp as he pushes for a contract extension. Even though the interest is mutual, the two sides probably won’t hammer out a new deal in the next eight days. “Right now, we’re focused on the draft,” Telesco said (via Gehlken).
When asked about Weddle’s no-show, Telesco emphasized that they are voluntary (via Williams).
Telesco said the stadium issue has not affected day-to-day football operations, but he’s not naive about what is going on, Williams tweets.
Telesco says he’s pleased with what the organization has got done so far this offseason (via Williams).

AFC West Notes: Brown, Chargers, Raiders

April 21st, 2015 at 6:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Coach Jack Del Rio says Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree is eager “to create a role” for himself with his new club, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. Crabtree had a down year in 2014, but still recorded 68 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns. Now, after hanging around on the shelf for a while, he’ll look to rebuild his value in Oakland. Here’s more from the AFC West..

Free agent running back Ronnie Brown told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter) that he hasn’t heard from the Chargers about a potential reunion. “I haven’t talked to the Chargers about a return. They have a bunch of running backs and are looking for a running back in the draft,” Brown said.
Brown went on to say (link) that he doesn’t get the sense that quarterback Philip Rivers is headed elsewhere. When considering the production that Rivers provides and San Diego’s young offense, Brown doesn’t see the signal caller leaving the Chargers.
The Raiders shifted around their depth chart a bit, sliding Taiwan Jones from cornerback back to his native position of running back, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. Former coach Dennis Allen put Jones on defense in 2013 and the results were mixed. While he succeeded on special teams thanks to his speed, he never really got the grasp of the cornerback position. Still, with running backs Latavius Murray, Trent Richardson, Roy Helu Jr. and Marcel Reece also on the depth chart, Jones figures to be more of a special teams contributor again this year.

Philip Rivers Declines Extension Talks

April 20th, 2015 at 10:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers recently approached star quarterback Philip Rivers with an extension offer, but he declined, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. Rivers, 33, has expressed intention to play out the deal without an extension. Meanwhile, trade speculation continues to swirl around him.

As Gehlken notes, uncertainty looms over the franchise when considering the players they have in contract years and the possible relocation of the team to Los Angeles which could take place as soon as 2016. Tight end Antonio Gates, tight end Ladarius Green, wide receiver Malcom Floyd and guard Johnnie Troutman are also entering their walk years and, along with Rivers, they represent the only holdovers from when GM Tom Telesco and coach Mike McCoy first arrived in 2013.

While Rivers turned down the Bolts’ overtures, safety Eric Weddle is still waiting to have substantive talks about a new deal. Last month, he made his desire publicly known.

“I think I’ve earned [a new deal],” Weddle said. “But it has to work both ways. They have to want it, too. And if they don’t, then we will play it out and I’ll be a free agent next year “I want to be here, but I understand the situation and what they want to do. If I’m a part of it — great. If not, then I plan on making this season a memorable one and we’ll see what happens from there.”

Weddle is currently holding out of camp, while Rivers is in attendance. Both players find themselves in uncomfortable situations with their club and uncertain futures, though for different reasons.

AFC Notes: Jets, Colts, Richardson, Rivers, Charles

April 19th, 2015 at 7:53pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets have question marks surrounding their first-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, with a number of players making sense for the team. Geno Smith is a question mark at best, therefore Marcus Mariota could be in play if he slips to No. 6, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Cimini also examines the possibility of the team selecting offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, but points the Jets towards a pass rusher or receiver instead.

Here are a few other notes from around the AFC:

The Colts have a lack of depth along the defense, and could dramatically improve their team through the draft despite picking so late in the first-round. The team could stand to add along the defensive line, safety, and corner with high draft picks, according to Stephen Holder of IndyStar.com.
Trent Richardson‘s grievance over having the final year of his contract voided by the Colts still looms over the 2015 season, but this is not unusual as the timeline for these proceedings can often take a while, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. He writes that he wouldn’t be surprised if the team is forced to pay a portion of his 2015 salary, but doesn’t expect the Colts will be on the hook for the whole thing.
The Titans’ attempts at acquiring Philip Rivers from the Chargers may all be for show, but the deal makes a lot of sense to many NFL pundits, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean. Wyatt breaks down the possible compensation that would be included in order to make the deal happen, based on a number of different opinions.
Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles has been one of the consistent, driving forces of the team’s offense for most of the past six years (excluding the torn-ACL season from 2011), and has been outspoken after the offense took a step back in 2014, writes the Associated Press on USAToday.com. He specifically pointed to the offensive line as a part of the team that needs improving. “I definitely want them to address that,” he said. “I’m not a GM, so I can’t do that job. But it was challenging last year playing with guys — some got hurt, some got suspended. So it was hard playing. I never knew how crucial it was to my career that I needed linemen.”

Rivers Rumors Just A “Mating Dance”?

April 19th, 2015 at 10:36am CST by Rory Parks

One prominent NFL scribe has already offered his take on the Philip Rivers-to-Tennessee rumors this morning, and now Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk provides his opinion on the matter. Expanding on a piece he wrote earlier this month, Florio points out that all of the chatter surrounding the Chargers’ alleged desire to trade Rivers, whose contract expires at the end of the year, is largely just a “mating dance” between two parties who actually have mutual interest in extending their relationship beyond 2015.

For his part, Rivers knows that his value to the team–which is already quite high given his durability and the caliber of his play–could potentially increase dramatically should the team move to Los Angeles, as the Chargers will be hungry to make a good first impression in the nation’s No. 2 market. The Chargers know he is right, but that does not mean they want to pay Rivers any more than fair market value for a quarterback of his age and abilities.

Furthermore, outside of the Titans, no real suitors for Rivers have emerged over the past month or so. And there’s not much chance that one will. As Florio writes, if the Chargers were intent on trading up to the No. 2 overall selection, it would have happened by now. The fact that these rumors have been swirling for over a month without any substantial progress being made–like the parameters of a new contract between Rivers and the Titans–suggest that these rumblings are mostly predicated on contract leverage.

After all, it is hard to believe that the Chargers would want to start anew with an unproven rookie when Rivers may well have four or five good years left, and it is equally hard to believe that Rivers would want to go to a team that, even with him under center, would be unlikely to compete for a playoff spot. Any team trading for Rivers without a multi-year deal in place would be getting a one-year rental, and those teams that would want to make a deal for Rivers are generally not destinations that he would be willing to commit to long-term. So as the tango continues, it looks more and more like Rivers will be staying put; the only question is what it will cost the Chargers to keep him in San Diego (or LA).

Extra Points: Manziel, Rivers, Parker, Kendricks

April 18th, 2015 at 5:04pm CST by Rob DiRe

Ben Levine parsed through both AFC and NFC mailbags earlier this morning, but as a few more ESPN mailbags have come available throughout the day, let’s take a look at a few more notes from around the NFL:

With Johnny Manziel out of rehab, one could wonder if the Browns are evaluating him before the draft in case the potential of a trade arises. Tony Grossi notes that NFL rules dictate only strength and conditioning coaches can be on the field and in the weight room, and no footballs are allowed during that time, so the Browns would not be able to evaluate Manziel that closely.
Grossi also examines various trade options for the Browns, such as moving down from both No. 12 and No. 19 for more picks, or using those picks to acquire Sam Bradford and Robert Griffin III, dismissing all as positive options for the club.
With the idea that the Titans could add Philip Rivers, Paul Kuharsky admits that the veteran passer would likely help the team turn their fortunes around faster than anyone they could select at No.2.
Kuharsky also explains how the Titans would likely be given the opportunity to discuss a contract extension with Rivers prior to a trade, or that a mention of parameters would be though of as a “ballpark” figure would be brought up by the team and his agent.
The Dolphins weakest position is at linebacker, which is worrisome because it is not a deep position group in the draft. However, James Walker still believes the team must target a wide receiver in round one, and highlights DeVante Parker as the team’s best option.
If Parker is not available, Walker doesn’t recommend the Dolphins reach for the next receiver. Instead, he picks Todd Gurley as an option based on being the best player available.
Given a projected first three picks of Eric Kendricks, Carl Davis, and Rob Havenstein, Derek Newton thinks the Panthers would be extremely well set up with that haul. Newton also points to cornerback Quinten Rollins as a potential third-round pick.
In the best Panthers question of the day, Newton is asked who would win in a pickup game between 11 Cam Newtons and 11 Luke Kuechlys. Newton correctly chooses the team of Kuechlys. I can’t imagine five Newtons successfully blocking against five Kuechlys.

AFC Mailbags: Ravens, Rivers, Carr, Jags

April 18th, 2015 at 10:41am CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN.com’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now shift our focus over to the AFC…

The current group of Ravens tight ends have a combined one NFL start, and Jamison Hensley believes the draft will present an opportunity for the team to acquire a veteran. The writer suggests Brandon Pettigrew (Lions) or Marcedes Lewis (Jaguars) as potential targets.
Considering Rich Cimini can’t envision Marcus Mariota dropping to pick number six, he doesn’t think a Philip Rivers trade will work out between the Jets and the Chargers. However, if Mariota were to be available, the writer says the Jets would need to get a long-term commitment from Rivers before pulling the trigger.
Bill Williamson would be “stunned” if the Raiders drafted Marcus Mariota and traded Derek Carr. The team’s coaching staff is counting on Carr to be part of the future of the organization, so a shift in philosophy would be a “major storyline.”
Besides an edge rusher, wideout Amari Cooper would be the only other player the Jaguars would consider with the third pick, opines Mike DiRocco.

AFC Notes: Rivers, Titans, J. Houston, Colts

April 16th, 2015 at 8:35pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

As the NFL draft draws closer, rumors of a trade that would send Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to the Titans continue to swirl. According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), there is a strong likelihood that Rivers and the 17th overall pick (and perhaps more pieces) will end up heading to Tennessee in exchange for the second overall selection. The Chargers would then draft Oregon signal caller Marcus Mariota to replace Rivers.

Here’s more on Rivers and the rest of the AFC:

Jason Fitzgerald of the Sporting News writes that now is the time for the Chargers to deal Rivers. Doing so would enable the Bolts to get out from under the high-paying deal Rivers, who is entering a contract year, will get sometime prior to the 2016 campaign and replace him with a much younger player, Mariota, with franchise QB potential. Rivers, 33, is 12 years older than Mariota.
The Chiefs used the franchise tag to retain linebacker Justin Houston in February after long-term contract negotiations proved unsuccessful, and the sides haven’t resumed discussions since then, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. If Kansas City fails to lock up Houston by July 15, it’ll have to wait until the end of next season to restart talks on a new deal. In the meantime, another team could sign Houston to an offer sheet, but if that happens and the Chiefs don’t match the offer, it would cost Houston’s new club a first-round pick in both 2016 and ’17. The four-year veteran may be worth it, having racked up three straight double-digit-sack seasons and a league-best 22 in 2014.
Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star took a pre-draft look at the Colts’ projected starting lineup for 2015. Holder notes that the team has potential weaknesses along both lines (center, right guard and right tackle on offense; nose tackle on defense) and at free safety. All could be areas for the Colts to improve via the draft.
Broncos special teams ace and backup safety David Bruton has started just five a possible 91 games during his career, but Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that the 27-year-old wants to change that in 2015. The Broncos lost free safety Rahim Moore in free agency and are down to Darian Stewart and Bradley Roby at the position. Bruton hopes to be in the mix for the No. 1 job. “I envision myself starting,” said the six-year veteran. “I’m dreaming big this season, especially (in a) contract year.”
The Browns will visit with Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian on Sunday and Monday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Siemian accounted for 12 touchdowns in 2014 (seven passing, five rushing) before suffering a torn ACL in November.

Extra Points: LeSean, Rivers, Raiders, Steelers

April 14th, 2015 at 10:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles originally wanted draft picks from the Bills in exchange for LeSean McCoy, writes Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com in a profile of new Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan. But because the Bills lack a 2015 first-rounder, general manager Doug Whaley told Philadelphia to look over Buffalo’s roster, at which the Eagles decided on linebacker Kiko Alonso. The entire piece is worth a read, as it includes interesting notes about Ryan’s hiring and, of course, grade-A quotes from Ryan himself.

Let’s take a look at more from around the league…

The Chargers have the option of using the franchise tag on Philip Rivers for the 2016 season, but they’re concerned he may simply retire instead of playing for the team, especially if it relocates to Los Angeles, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). If Rivers is going to walk away from football rather than play for San Diego, the Chargers feel they must get some sort of compensation for him, adds Rapoport.
NFL officials will meet with representatives of Oakland and Alameda County on Wednesday to discuss the status of an East Bay stadium proposal for the Raiders, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. NFL executive Eric Grubman will lead the discussions for the league, and report the results to the NFL’s Los Angeles committee on April 22.
The recent retirements of Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor have helped the Steelers’ dire cap situation, writes David Steele of the Sporting News, who examines the costs of paying a franchise quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger market value.
Because the league continually fails to conceal the results of draft prospects’ Wonderlic tests (Jameis Winston‘s score was reported earlier), players should simply refuse to take the exam, argues Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.