Todd Gurley - Pro Football Rumors

NFC Notes: Gurley, Carr, J. Jones, Bears

June 17th, 2015 at 7:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Former agent Jimmy Halsell passes along an interesting note on Todd Gurley‘s rookie contract with the Rams, observing that the running back will get his full 2015 and 2016 salaries even if he’s on the non-football injury list due to his knee (Twitter link). Gurley’s ACL injury occurred when he was still at Georgia, so based on the NFL’s definition, it would be considered a non-football injury, and teams can opt not to pay full salaries when placing players on the NFI list.

Here’s more from across the NFC:

Brandon Carr won’t be released late in the offseason like Evan Mathis was, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said today that the cornerback will be with the team for the 2015 season. However, as Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets, the club is still working on lowering Carr’s cap number ($12.717MM).
Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones told reporters today, including D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that he doesn’t intend to hold out at all as he seeks a new contract.
A pair of former second-round picks, running back Daniel Thomas and defensive back Sherrod Martin, are trying out for the Bears at the team’s minicamp, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Thomas has been busy over the last few weeks, working out for the Lions and Cowboys as well.
The Panthers promoted director of football operations Brandon Beane to assistant general manager, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Beane was briefly Carolina’s interim GM before Dave Gettleman took over the job in 2012.

Rams Sign Todd Gurley, Entire Draft Class

June 12th, 2015 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

As expected, the Rams have signed their entire 2015 draft class in one fell swoop, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who tweets that first-round running back Todd Gurley and seven other draftees have inked their rookie contracts with the club.

The only Rams draft pick who had previously signed his deal was sixth-round wideout Bud Sasser, who wasn’t physically cleared to play for the team due to a heart condition. St. Louis signed him to his rookie contract, ensuring he’d get his signing bonus, then waived him. Here’s the full list of the remaining Rams draftees who are now under contract with the club:

1-10: Todd Gurley, RB (Georgia)
2-57: Rob Havenstein, T (Wisconsin)
3-72: Jamon Brown, T (Louisville)
3-89: Sean Mannion, QB (Oregon State)
4-119: Andrew Donnal, T (Iowa)
6-215: Cody Wichmann, G (Fresno State)
7-224: Bryce Hager, LB (Baylor)
7-227: Martin Ifedi, DE (Memphis)

Gurley’s four-year deal will, of course, be the most lucrative of the bunch, with a signing bonus worth about $8.313MM and an overall value of $13.823MM, per Over The Cap. The contract for the 10th overall pick will also be the only one that features a fifth-year option, allowing the Rams to lock up the running back for the 2019 season.

While most teams announce their signings in bunches in the weeks following the draft, the Rams make a habit of waiting until mid-June to confirm their rookie deals. Head coach Jeff Fisher has said in previous years that he likes to make sure his newcomers are educated on financial planning before they sign their first NFL contracts.

West Notes: Bowlen, L.A., Kaepernick, Seahawks

June 4th, 2015 at 7:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen‘s son John Bowlen Jr. was released on a $1,000 bond after being arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and harassment stemming from a domestic violence incident Wednesday night, reports Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post.

Bowlen Jr. allegedly pushed his girlfriend against a wall as she was trying to call the police as a result of his “erratic behavior,” per Jhabvala. She told police he was under the influence of nitrous oxide and alcohol.

“This is the owner of the Denver Broncos. I am sorry. Nothing is wrong,” Bowlen Jr., 29, said when he picked up the phone, according to the police report.

The Broncos placed him on an indefinite leave of absence. Bowlen Jr. works as an administrative employee with the team but is a candidate to take over when Pat Bowlen, 71 and stricken with Alzheimer’s, decides to cede ownership to one of his seven children. Per Jhabvala, Bowlen Jr. had drug charges dismissed and was arrested under suspicion of alcohol-induced driving in 2003 and 2005, respectively.

Here are some (lighter) notes from the Western divisions.

The Rams may have adjusted contracts with seasonal contractors to coincide with the NFL’s February 2016 deadline for relocation bid submissions, reports Brian Feldt of the St. Louis Business Journal. According to Feldt, these contracts typically run from May to May, but with owner Stan Kroenke securing land in Inglewood, Calif., for a possible $2 billion stadium, he likely plans on posting a bid between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2016. Two Rams contractors told Feldt their contracts were changed, with the Rams saying telling one it’s to coincide with the end of the season.
The NFL will hold a special owners meeting Aug. 11 in Chicago on the topic of the three-team Los Angeles relocation derby, according to Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal (via Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Miklasz notes this date is important for St. Louis in its effort to securing a site and funding for a new stadium on the north Mississippi riverfront. The Post-Dispatch columnist also notes the NFL is expected to let teams apply for relocation starting this fall.
League executive Eric Grubman, who’s serving as the NFL’s point man on the Los Angeles efforts, told reporters the special meeting will determine if the NFL needs to provide an “expedited timetable” for teams looking to move, meaning the Feb. 16 deadline could indeed be moved up, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. For San Diego’s prospects, Williams reports Chargers and NFL officials think the $1.1 billion proposal put forth by a local advisory group for a stadium in Mission Valley, Calif., is “nowhere near enough” to bring about an actionable plan to keep the Chargers in the city they’ve played in since 1961.
The Rams appear to have more zone-blocking concepts in store this season under new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., reports Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. And though Todd Gurley remains a ways away from full practices, the rookie runner worked on some straight-line speed with Rams trainer Byron Cunningham and caught passes from rookie quarterback Sean Mannion, although those weren’t at full speed.
After working at EXOS training facility in Phoenix from January to April, Colin Kaepernick appears to have a quicker release, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Entering his third full season as the 49ers QB, Kaepernick is expected to return to the facility to finish up his offseason work in July.
Albert Wilson joined Dontari Poe in leaving early from Chiefs OTA practice, exiting Thursday’s workout due to a hamstring injury. Poe departed Wednesday’s workout with a back ailment, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
Speaking at a town hall meeting with fans, Pete Carroll noted this team’s depth may be the best it’s been in his tenure. Of course, town hall addresses aren’t exactly hard-hitting reports, but offensive line coach Tom Cable said the competition to replace Max Unger could soon be down to two or three players, according to the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. Lemuel Jeanpierre is leading that competition — or at least receiving the first opportunity to do so by trotting out with the starters in OTAs.

Chargers GM On Gurley, Gordon, Collins

May 5th, 2015 at 8:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Some draft prognosticators had the Rams selecting Todd Gurley at No. 10, but Chargers GM Tom Telesco wasn’t expecting him to be the pick. Telesco told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM (audio link) that he thought St. Louis was set at the position with incumbent Tre Mason in the backfield. It turns out that the Gurley selection altered the Bolts’ draft plans at the last minute and forced them to make a move. Here’s more from Telesco’s chat with Marvez…

Telesco explained that after Gurley came off the board at No. 10, he started making calls to other teams. He didn’t expect the University of Georgia star to be available at No. 17, but he did feel compelled to move up in the draft to get a running back after he was taken. The Chargers, of course, moved from No. 17 to No. 15 in order to draft Melvin Gordon.
The GM said that the Chargers have kept in touch with La’el Collins‘ agent and they continue to “compile information” on his off-field situation. A number of teams are getting background information on the LSU tackle and individual players are working hard to recruit him.
Sixth-round pick Darius Philon could see action as an inside pass rusher in nickel packages, Telesco said. He also said that the team will find a role for inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, whom they drafted in the second round.

Jets Talked To Rams About Zac Stacy

May 2nd, 2015 at 12:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets have already made a number of splashes this offseason, but it looks like the front office is not done. According to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter), the Jets are one of “several teams” to have spoken to the Rams about running back Zac Stacy. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News clarifies (on Twitter) that the Jets discussions with the Rams did not include a formal offer. Stacy, of course, recently requested a trade following the Rams’ first-round selection of running back Todd Gurley.

The Jets already added one running back this offseason, signing former Patriots rusher Stevan Ridley. The team also has Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory under contract, but the Jets may be intrigued by the youth and potential of the 24-year-old Stacy.

The former fifth-rounder had a disappointing season in 2014, running for 293 yards and a touchdown on 76 carries. This was a far cry from his 2013 performance, when he rushed for 973 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. As our own Luke Adams previously pointed out, Stacy’s contract makes him a valuable trade asset. The running back is set to earn $585K in 2015 and $675K in 2016, and the Rams would be left with only $88K in dead money if they decided to move him.

Draft Notes: Gregory, Jags, Eagles, Titans

May 1st, 2015 at 7:47pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest notes concerning the ongoing 2015 NFL Draft:

Despite possessing immense talent, Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory wasn’t one of the first 50 players taken in the draft. One reason, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is that Gregory missed at least three pre-draft meetings with various teams, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That “alienated” some clubs, per Schefter.
Jaguars general manager David Caldwell, who selected Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon in the second round, tried to trade back into the first round Thursday to land either Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon, tweets NFL.com’s Michael Silver. Both went in the top 15, however, which was too high for the Jags to trade up.
The Eagles tried to acquire the 45th pick from the Vikings, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link), before Minnesota used the selection on UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks. Philadelphia ended up moving from the 52nd pick to No. 47 and taking Utah defensive back Eric Rowe – whom Chip Kelly expected to go higher, per Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter).
After the Titans traded down from the 33rd overall pick to the 40th selection on Friday, general manager Ruston Webster said they were able to do so because there were four or five players on the board they liked. Therefore, Webster felt moving down was a worthwhile risk, tweets Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com. The Titans ended up taking former Missouri and Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham with the 40th pick.
The mother of new Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker, the 14th pick, had some choice words for Cleveland. “We didn’t want him going to Cleveland,” Reneca Parker said Friday, according to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald.“They don’t have a team, really, or a quarterback.” The Browns passed on Parker at No. 12, which pleased Dolphins football czar Mike Tannenbaum.“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the result,” he said.

Extra Points: Falcons, Bennett, Spikes, Stacy

May 1st, 2015 at 2:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Some assorted, non-prospect related notes from around the NFL…

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff denied a report that the team was working a trade to land Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. “He’s under contract,” Dimitroff said on 92.9 The Game this morning. “I didn’t give it a second thought.” Irvin, an Atlanta native, played for Falcons head coach Dan Quinn for the past two seasons in Seattle.
Bears tight end Martellus Bennett told NFL Network (video link) that he’s extremely high on first round choice Kevin White. While it’s not proof positive that Bennett is staying in Chicago, it could be a sign that he anticipates staying put this season. Bennett was rumored to be a trade candidate earlier this week.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was contacted on Thursday night about his interest in free agent linebacker Brandon Spikes, according to Darren Wolfson of KSTP TV in Minneapolis (via Twitter). Spielman passed on the offer, as Wolfson notes that the GM is confident he’ll get a linebacker in the draft.
Following reports that Rams running back Zac Stacy requested a trade, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets that representatives for the former fifth-rounder met with the organization. While it was a productive meeting, Thomas notes that a a decision hasn’t been made regarding Stacy’s future with the team. The Rams selected Georgia running back Todd Gurley with the tenth pick of the first round.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Draft Rumors: Williams, Gurley, Collins

May 1st, 2015 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

Some of the latest fallout from the first round..

Some promising news for Jets fans and Rams fans: teams had USC defensive end Leonard Williams as their top-rated defensive player and at least three had Todd Gurley as their top-ranked offensive player, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
The view on Williams’ shoulder problem is that it’s not a long-term issue and is only a problem that might slow his development a bit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Jets nabbed the USC star with the No. 6 overall pick last night.
Several scouts and execs tell John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (on Twitter) that they feel Randy Gregory is the best player left on the board.
La’el Collins’ attorney reached out to the security directors for all 32 teams to try to provide clarity on his situation, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. Breer (link) feels that it’s unlikely that the LSU offensive lineman will hear his name called tonight, but he could be drafted tomorrow.

East Rumors: Jets, Flowers, Giants

May 1st, 2015 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets had cursory talks with the Titans about moving up for the No. 2 , but they weren’t exploring the move to try and land Marcus Mariota, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..

Brandon Scherff was higher on the Giants‘ board than Ereck Flowers, but they did not expect Scherff to get to No. 9, Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News tweets. Many speculated that the Giants were left scrambling at No. 9 with Scherff off the board, but it sounds like they were never banking on the Iowa standout.
The Giants did not make any effort to trade up to the Jets‘ No. 6 pick when USC defensive end Leonard Williams fell to the Jets at that spot, Vacchiano tweets.
Despite a report to the contrary, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter) says the Dolphins have never expressed interest in Evan Mathis of the Eagles.
More from Salguero (link), who notes that the Dolphins wanted Todd Gurley. According to a team source, they were prepared to move up for him, but didn’t expect him to go as high as he did. “It’s not like we sat on our hands while he went No. 13. He went No. 10,” the source said.
The Cowboys taking Byron Jones in the first round should create some leverage for a Brandon Carr pay cut and give the Cowboys the upper hand in Orlando Scandrick‘s contract dispute, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets.

Extra Points: Mariota, Welker, Forte, Gurley

April 30th, 2015 at 8:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Titans will not trade Marcus Mariota after selecting him second overall, GM Ruston Webster said, per Paul Kuharksy of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Moreover, he’ll be the Week 1 starter, says head coach Ken Whisenhunt (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean). Additionally, despite reports that Zach Mettenberger wants to be traded, Webster says he think the incumbent QB will come to embrace his new backup role, adding that Mettenberger won’t be traded (link).

Free agent receiver Wes Welker has been cleared to play by a top concussion expert, according to Mike Klis of 9 News, who writes that Dr. Stanley Herring (a member of the NFL’s Head, Neck, and Spine Committee) has given Welker the green light. The 33-year-old Welker indicated in February that he intends to play in 2015 despite a myriad of health concerns.
Despite the fact that he wasn’t present at voluntary workouts, Bears running back Matt Forte doesn’t intend to stage a training camp holdout as he angles for a new contract, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Though Forte admits he wants an extension, and says he and GM Ryan Pace discussed such a deal earlier this offseason, Forte realizes he has little to no leverage in the situation.
Todd Gurley was the No. 1 player on the Rams’ board, so choosing him at No. 10 was an easy call, per Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter link).
The Eagles apparently aren’t interested in players with character concerns, as neither Marcus Peters nor Dorial Green-Beckham is on their board, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).