Ray Rice

AFC Notes: Jets, Rice, Chiefs, J. Harrison

January 22nd, 2016 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jets may undergo some changes at the running back position this offseason, with their top three backs all eligible for free agency. The team appears to be doing its homework in preparation for possible changes, and GM Mike Maccagnan acknowledged today during a WFAN appearance that Ray Rice is one veteran back whose name has come up, but it doesn’t sound like Rice will be a Jet anytime soon, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com details.

“You know, we’ve talked about that at various points in time,” Maccagnan said. “But I’d probably say that would be one … I’d have to sit down and talk with Todd [Bowles] and Woody [Johnson], but I don’t foresee that at this point in time.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey fully expects running back Jamaal Charles to remain on the team’s roster for 2016, as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com notes. “I love him to death, love how dirty tough he is,” Dorsey said of Charles, who is recovering from a torn ACL. “Yeah, he’s a Chief.”
Dorsey also said this week that he’s had “various discussions” with the representatives for Eric Berry, and will continue to talk to Berry’s reps (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). The longtime Chiefs safety is eligible for free agency this winter.
After being eliminated from the playoffs last weekend by the Broncos, Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison isn’t ready to make a decision on whether or not he’ll continue his playing career, as he tells Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “If you were to ask me something like that right after a loss, nobody wants to go out with a loss,” Harrison said. “It’s going to be an immediate, ‘Yeah, I’m coming back,’ not taking into account everything else. Right now, I’m not ready to make that decision.”
The Dolphins have been tight-lipped about what they plan to do with former first-round pick Dion Jordan, whose substance abuse suspension is expected to run through at least April 27, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. It’s hard to imagine Jordan playing another game for the team, even if he’s reinstated this spring.

Extra Points: LA, Chip, Rice, Bucs, Jets

January 20th, 2016 at 9:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Negotiations between the Rams and Chargers are going well, according to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole (video link), as the Bolts continue their quest to leave San Diego for Los Angeles. Cole offers a couple of reasons why the Rams hope the Chargers – not the Raiders – join them as LA’s second NFL team. The Rams believe marketing the Raiders in LA would be a challenge, given their past history in the city. Further, the Rams don’t want the Raiders’ rowdy fans in the state-of-the-art stadium and shopping complex they’re building in Inglewood. It appears the Rams won’t have to worry about it, as Cole expects they’ll reach a deal with the Chargers – perhaps in the next two weeks.

Ravens Rumors: Eagles, Harbaugh, Flacco

January 7th, 2016 at 2:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh addressed reporters minutes ago in Baltimore. Here’s a look at the highlights:

The Eagles have not called the Ravens about Harbaugh, owner Steve Bisciotti said, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The Baltimore head coach was viewed as a long shot target for Philadelphia, but it appears the Eagles recognize Harbaugh isn’t leaving the Ravens.
Newsome is hopeful that team can reduce Joe Flacco‘s cap number in 2016 but he said the team has to have a plan of putting together a roster if Flacco’s cap number remains at $28.55MM, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes.
Linebacker Terrell Suggs is coming back in 2016, Newsome says (via Hensley). Suggs told him that he doesn’t want to leave game like he left Denver with Achilles injury. The former first-round pick has played his entire career in Baltimore, making six Pro Bowls and winning the defensive player of the year award. Prior to his 2015 injury, the 33-year-old missed only 11 games during his career, including eight in 2012 when he tore his right Achilles.
When discussing the cap situation further, Newsome explained that the team had dead money with Ray Rice last year and he indicated that tight end Dennis Pitta could call for more dead money in 2016, as Zrebiec tweets. Pitta is dead set on returning to the field next year, despite his constant hip problems. “I’m a football player and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” said Pitta back in November. “I have a sense of duty to my teammates, the team and to this organization. This organization has given me a lot over the last few years.” The tight end has played in only three games since receiving a five-year deal with $16MM guaranteed in February 2014. One has to wonder if he might be forced to retire at this point.
Newsome said trying to extend Justin Tucker is a priority and if it gets to the point where they have to, they will use franchise tag on him, Zrebiec tweets. Tucker, 26, has been a little shakier during the last two seasons than he was in his first two years, missing five field goal attempts in 2014 and seven in 2015. However, all but one of those misses came from 50+ yards, and he converted all 29 of his extra-point tries in 2015, so he’ll be in line for a nice raise from Baltimore.
Owner Steve Bisciotti said that team exec Eric DeCosta is still committed to the organization, Zrebiec tweets. “He’s got too much at stake here in his relationship with Ozzie [Newsome],” Bisciotti said. The owner added that DeCosta probably could have had 10 different GM jobs by now if he wanted them. Bisciotti said that he doesn’t see either exec going anywhere for “many years” (link).
Harbaugh said that the team is definitely looking to add a pass rusher, Zrebiec tweets.
When asked about his free agency approach, Newsome said, “I don’t think we’ll be as busy as some teams are in March. We never have” (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun). Newsome said that the Ravens will have money available if a free agent they like is out there (link).
Newsome said that he feels the team needs to add one more, if not two more, wide receivers early on in the draft or in free agency (Twitter link via Zrebiec).

Extra Points: 49ers, Gase, Rice

December 1st, 2015 at 8:54pm CST by Zachary Links

As the 49ers get set to take on the Bears, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com can’t help but reflect on how either Chicago offensive coordinator Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could have wound up as head coach in San Francisco. As the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Fangio gave the 49ers a top five defense, but, of course, he was ultimately passed over for Jim Tomsula.

Maiocco hears that if Gase got the 49ers’ head coaching job, he would have kept Fangio on staff and given him full autonomy over the defense. GM Trent Baalke floated the idea of Tomsula taking over as defensive coordinator to Gase, according to one source, but Gase was wary about giving that job to someone with no experience regarding the secondary.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Even though Chris Johnson has been placed on IR-DTR and Andre Ellington is dealing with a toe injury, the Cardinals still have no interest in signing Ray Rice, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter). Despite not playing in an NFL regular season game since 2013, and not receiving a workout this year, Rice continues to train in the hopes of getting another shot at the NFL.
NFL executives have been informed by the league office that the 2016 salary cap will likely come in between $147MM-$155MM, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). If the cap comes in at the higher end of that range, it will represent a significant increase over this year’s cap of $143MM.
The NFL is likely to do away with the Veteran Combine it ran early this year, Cole tweets. Apparently, the league felt that they did not get enough of a return on the combine given the cost of holding it.
Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman has indicated to multiple sources that he’s strongly considering entering the NFL Draft, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.

AFC North Notes: Manziel, Burfict, Rice

October 29th, 2015 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this afternoon, we learned that Steve Smith‘s agent, Derrick Fox, isn’t entirely convinced that the Ravens wideout will retire at season’s end. That’s not the only news out of the AFC North today though, so let’s dive in and round up a few more items…

Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is not expected to receive discipline from the NFL for his role in an off-field incident earlier this month, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, the league has maintained that its investigation isn’t yet complete, so there’s no official word on Manziel yet.
Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who opened the season on the physically unable to perform list, returned to practice today, as Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. Burfict won’t play right away, but the Bengals now have three weeks to either activate him to their 53-man roster or shut him down for the year.
Despite not playing in an NFL regular season game since 2013, and not receiving a workout this year, former Ravens running back Ray Rice continues to train in the hopes of getting another shot, according to Luke Broadwater of the Baltimore Sun. Of course, even putting aside the elevator video that continues to haunt him, the longer Rice’s absence from the league lasts, the less likely it becomes that he’ll get another opportunity.

NFLPA Exec Discusses CBA, Rice, Discipline

October 22nd, 2015 at 9:51am CST by Luke Adams

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith was in Houston this week to meet with the Texans, as the team elected its union representatives — linebacker Brian Cushing, safety Quintin Demps, and center Ben Jones. During his visit to Houston, Smith spoke to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle about a few subjects of interest, so let’s round up the highlights….

On the Texans’ new player reps:

“All three of those guys are good, sharp guys. The core of our union is leadership from players, and we strive to find new leaders on each team in each locker room. The player reps are the guys who own the union. Every team needs strong representation. That helps me and it is important that every team has those guys in the locker room who have the respect of the men they work with every day. Brian, Quintin and Ben definitely fit that bill.”

On the CBA, and what issues need to be addressed:

“The reality is negotiations on the CBA never end. Two years ago, we came out with a new drug policy that was negotiated during the current term. We’ve already continued to negotiate whatever core issues there are. There’s a lot to talk about. We need a comprehensive improvement in workman’s compensation across the league. … We need to talk about the commissioner discipline issue, obviously. We haven’t had any real concrete discussions about that. We have had some discussions about stadium funding for Los Angeles. That’s something that was changed in the last collective bargaining agreement to have a more liberal system for stadium credits. That’s something they didn’t get. They have reached out about increasing credits for stadiums. I’m not sure we’re close to any sort of deal on that, but it shows the collective bargaining agreement isn’t written in stone. It’s something we’re constantly trying to work on and improve.”

On the fact that Ray Rice hasn’t been able to get a second chance:

“I believe in redemption. I’m troubled by the fact that no team has given him an opportunity to work out for them or meet with them. I think when a young person, any person, makes a mistake and atones for those mistakes, it’s our culture to give them another chance. I believe in forgiveness. I do think he deserves every opportunity to show he’s worthy of forgiveness. He made a mistake, an awful mistake and he’s paid an awful price. I do believe in the power of redemption. I do believe we tend to show our best when we forgive.”

On the issue of Roger Goodell handing out player discipline and overseeing appeals:

“I think we are better off obviously if the league and the union come to an agreement on commissioner discipline, whether it was Tom Brady or Greg Hardy or Adrian Peterson or Bountygate, the work we are able to accomplish when working together is always better than the work that results from when we are fighting each other. Right now, we’re at a place where if the owners want to get something done on commissioner discipline, it will get done. If they don’t, it won’t get done. We shouldn’t be in a world where we’re constantly fighting in the courts.”

Extra Points: St. Louis, Rice, Trades, JPP

October 18th, 2015 at 9:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL is looking into St. Louis’ plan for a new stadium, but even if the proposal meets all of the league’s criteria, Stan Kroenke doesn’t have to make his team play any games at the site, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports.

According to La Canfora, the city could present a stadium deal that would make moving difficult for the Rams. But Kroenke could counter that maneuver by continuing to play in the Edward Jones Dome and address the situation year by year while waiting for another market to open up rather than entering into a long-term commitment with a new St. Louis stadium.

Had certain NFL protocols not been in place, Kroenke would have already moved the Rams to Los Angeles this year, per La Canfora. But many in the league doubt the Rams owner would go into Al Davis mode and move his team anyway with a state-of-the-art structure ready.

Here are some other items from the league.

Although he hasn’t been given a tryout since the video of his domestic assault surfaced, Ray Rice now has strong support from the league, which could expedite the former Ravens Pro Bowler’s potential comeback, La Canfora reports. Should a team eventually give Rice a tryout, NFL VP of football operations Troy Vincent would indicate the league’s stance to that team. While unable to make pitches on behalf of Rice, Vincent and other representatives in the league office have been impressed with Rice’s community-based work since the incident.
Earlier today, we heard the Giants would meet with Jason Pierre-Paul on Tuesday to re-assess his hand injuries. Since JPP is a free agent having not signed the franchise tender, such a summit would be the last the Giants could have with the sixth-year defensive end due to league rules, reports Tom Rock of Newsday. The Giants would be able to sign Pierre-Paul at a later date but couldn’t re-evaluate his injury again after Tuesday since free agents can only make two in-person visits to the same team’s facility. Rock reports the Giants hope to have Pierre-Paul, who will play for far less than the $14.8MM franchise tag that was initially proposed in March, back for the final four games of the regular season, though some in the organization are skeptical he’ll play this year.
With the Nov. 3 trade deadline just more than two weeks away, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk examines the types of teams that will be ready to sell assets, tabbing first-year coach-led organizations like the Bears, led by a new coach and GM, being more inclined to deal than the Lions, who have Jim Caldwell in his second season and GM Martin Mayhew in his seventh.

Chiefs Have Not Called On Ray Rice

October 12th, 2015 at 6:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs might look into adding some running back reinforcements now that Jamaal Charles is done for the season, but it doesn’t appear that they’re considering the most notable name out there. Former Ravens running back Ray Rice hasn’t been invited to try out or visit NFL teams at this time, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.

Rice has met all of his legal obligations with New Jersey authorities following his incident, but NFL owners have not signed off on bringing the disgraced running back in for a look. Rice, of course, comes with tons of baggage and it doesn’t help his case that the last time he saw the field, in 2013, he looked pretty bad. The Rutgers product had a miserable season in Baltimore, averaging just 3.1 yard per rush on 214 carries, and 5.5 yards per reception on 58 catches.

The former second-round pick was one of the more dynamic playmakers in the league in the early stages of his career, piling up over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 2009 and 2011 and scoring 43 total touchdowns in a Ravens uniform. Outside of his rookie campaign, in which he was the third option in a three-man backfield, he never caught fewer than 58 passes in a season, and he holds a career 4.3 yards per carry average.

AFC Notes: Pats, Hilton, Rice, Manziel

September 17th, 2015 at 6:26pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Earlier this week, the NFL reinstated Patriots employee Jim McNally from suspension for his role in the DeflateGate scandal. McNally may not be totally out of the woods yet, though, as new allegations against him have come to light. Former official Mark Baltz, the league’s head linesman from 1989-2013, told WTHR.com that he was always suspicious of McNally, according to John Breech of CBSSports.com.

“[McNally] was always worried about the footballs. Always,” Baltz stated. “It was very odd. I reported him to the league, but never got any reaction from them. I don’t think they thought it was a big deal at the time. But [McNally] did things that 31 other locker room attendants don’t do.”

Baltz said he reported McNally to the league six to eight years ago.

“All I know is, when he got [the footballs], he would run. He would take off,” Baltz added. “Whether he was going somewhere and letting air out, I’m definitely suspicious, but I don’t know for sure.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Colts No. 1 receiver T.Y. Hilton caught seven passes for 88 yards before suffering a knee injury that caused him to leave the team’s 27-14 loss to Buffalo last Sunday. Afterward, there was fear that he’d be out for a solid chunk of time. However, Hilton and head coach Chuck Pagano think he could be ready to go in time for Monday’s game against the Jets. “A game-time decision depending on how I feel,” Hilton said Thursday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Pagano said he has “a lot” of optimism that Hilton will play this week.
With LeSean McCoy‘s hamstring injury continuing to be an issue, the Bills suddenly look thin at running back. However, don’t expect them to sign free agent Ray Rice, according to Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). Instead, look for rookie Karlos Williams‘ workload to increase. Williams rushed for a team-high 55 yards and a touchdown on just six carries in the Bills’ win over Indianapolis.
There aren’t many believers left when it comes to Johnny Manziel, but Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo is one of them. “Johnny has tremendous physical attributes — tremendous physical attributes,” DeFilippo said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “We just have to keep grooming him and keep teaching him situational football and when to take chances and when not to.”
The Ravens got just 190 total yards from their offense in their 19-13 opening week loss to Denver. New offensive coordinator Marc Trestman took the blame, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Trestman said his offense has to find ways to get the ball downfield. That should be easier this week against a thin Oakland secondary.

Browns Could Add Running Back To Roster

August 31st, 2015 at 1:57pm CST by Rob DiRe

MONDAY, 1:57pm: While the Browns may eventually add a running back, it doesn’t seem as if it will happen in the immediate future. Pettine told reporters today that the club isn’t planning to sign a back this week (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).

SUNDAY, 9:39pm: The Browns are awaiting medical reports as to the status of running backs Duke Johnson and Shaun Draughn, and head coach Mike Pettine said the team might have to add a back if one or both will miss extended time, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter).

In her piece for Cleveland.com, Cabot addressed the possibility of the team adding one controversial running back in particular. Ray Rice, currently a free agent, would be among the most high profile backs the team could bring.

Regarding adding a player at the position, Pettine wanted to wait to see where his current players were at medically. “We’ll wait and see how long Duke is potentially out,” said Pettine. “We’ll have a whole series of meetings this afternoon. We’ll start with the defense first and when we get to the offense, I’ll bet the running back will likely be one of the first topics discussed.”

That wasn’t enough for the media, who pushed him on whether the team would consider Rice, and Pettine would not rule out the possibility. “If we do come to the decision that we need to add a back that is not here,” said Pettine. “We’ll look at the list of backs that are available.”

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, no stranger to controversy himself, has come out in support of Rice earlier this month, according to Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk. Haslam said he’d like to see the embattled former Raven get another shot. With the current injuries, the Browns could be the team to give him one.

The Browns have discussed Rice earlier this offseason, and Pettine said then that they had not broached the idea of whether they’d be comfortable with him or not, because it didn’t make sense from a football standpoint at the time.

Not everyone thinks that Rice is being considered in Cleveland. Tony Gross of ESPN answers the question as whether it is a serious possibility with a resounding “No” (via Twitter).

For the record, the team does seem committed to some combination of Johnson and Draughn, with Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell as the depth chart. Although none have separated from the pack as the go-to runner and injuries have weakened the group, Rice likely wouldn’t be preferred over any of the internal options. If the team does need to bring in another player to round out the depth chart, they would be more likely to add a player who can contribute on special teams at the back end of the depth chart.

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