Week In Review News & Rumors

It’s Super Bowl Sunday! All the trades, signings, draft selections, coaching hires, front office additions, game-planning, and practice sessions have led to this: Super Bowl LII between the Eagles and Patriots. New England will have tight end Rob Gronkowski available after he suffered a concussion in the AFC Championship Game, but the club is expected to lose coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia to head coaching jobs once the contest concludes. Philadelphia, meanwhile, will go into today’s game with backup quarterback Nick Foles, and they too could lose a respected staffer — quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo — following the Super Bowl. And by the way: Brandin Cooks was nearly an Eagle!

Redskins trade for a new quarterback. Kirk Cousins always seemed unlikely to return to the nation’s capital in 2018, so Washington found itself a new QB by trading for the Chiefs’ Alex Smith. The Redskins gave up a 2018 third-round pick and promising young cornerback Kendall Fuller (and inked Smith to a four-year, $94MM extension), but they now have a quarterback in place for the foreseeable future. Reports today have indicated Washington could still franchise tag Cousins again despite having acquired Smith, but that’s likely an empty threat.

…but the Jaguars will stick with their signal-caller. Jacksonville is planning to retain Blake Bortles and his $19MM+ salary in 2018, but the team likely doesn’t have much of a choice. Bortles recently underwent wrist surgery, meaning he may not be able to pass a physical by the time the new league year rolls around in March. If that’s the case, his injury guarantees will kick in, meaning Bortles will collect his base salary (which is courtesy of his exercised fifth-year option) whether he’s on the Jaguars’ roster or not.

Ravens plan front office transition. Ozzie Newsome has been leading Baltimore’s front office since the Ravens’ inception in 1996 (although he didn’t officially become the NFL’s first African-American general manager until 2002), and has led the club to continued success and two Super Bowl titles during that time. While Newsome will remain with the organization as an adviser, longtime assistant GM Eric DeCosta — who has consistently turned down interviews with other teams around the NFL — will take charge of personnel after the 2018 campaign.

Cardinals expected to cut Adrian Peterson. While Peterson has claimed he’d like to play four-to-five more years in the NFL, it likely won’t be in Arizona, as the Cardinals are likely to release the future Hall of Famer this offseason. Arizona acquired the 33-year-old Peterson from the Saints at midseason, but he managed only 3.5 yards per carry on 129 rushes and scored twice in the desert. With superstar David Johnson returning from injury, the Cards don’t have a pressing need for a back like Peterson.

Titans, Cardinals fill head coaching vacancies. Tennessee and Arizona were the last two NFL clubs searching for new head coaches (discounting Detroit and Indianapolis, which will hire Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels, respectively, when the Super Bowl concludes), and both teams hired former defensive coordinators with only one year of experience last week. The Titans settled on ex-Texans DC Mike Vrabel, who is still filling out his staff after missing out on defensive play-caller James Bettcher. The Cardinals, meanwhile, landed former Panthers DC Steve Wilks, who has already hired Mike McCoy to lead Arizona’s offense and Al Holcomb to run the club’s defense.

Panthers begin general manager search. While the Panthers fired Dave Gettleman last July, they’re just now starting the process of filling their general manager vacancy. Interim GM Marty Hurney led the club’s front office during the 2017 campaign, and he’s still considered the frontrunner for the job. However, Carolina also plans to interview the Texans’ Jimmy Raye III and the Browns’ Lake Dawson. Titans executive Ryan Cowden is also viewed as a candidate, but no meeting has yet been arranged.

Jarvis Landry approaches free agency. While Landy figures to be one of the top wide receivers available when the free agent market opens in March, the Dolphins reportedly haven’t made much of an effort to retain him. Landry, who has previously called Miami’s negotiating tactics “disrespectful,” has told his inner circle that he doesn’t expect to re-sign with the Dolphins this offseason. The two sides exchanged offers in December, but the club has to counter Landry’s most recent proposal. The Ravens, meanwhile, discussed a Landry trade with Miami last season, meaning Baltimore could be a potential landing spot for the slot receiver.

Vince McMahon reboots XFL. 17 years after it disbanded, the XFL is back, as McMahon last week announced plans to re-open the league beginning in 2020. Initially, the venture will be comprised of eight teams with 40-man rosters, although no host cities have yet been announced. In order to compete with the NFL, the XFL feature fewer commercial breaks and move at a fast pace than the signature football league. The real question, then, is when He Hate Me will make his debut.

Bills center Eric Wood is forced to retire. In a devastating bit of news from last week, Wood will be forced to retire due to a severe neck injury. Wood, 31, has been a solid pivot during his nine-year career, and had appeared in all 16 games in four of the past five seasons. His absence will add yet another entry to Buffalo’s list of offseason needs, and could also complicate the Bills’ salary cap.

Panthers owner plans to sell/cedes control of team. In a major twist after a series of workplace misconduct allegations made against Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, we learned last Sunday night that the 81-year-old would sell the franchise this coming offseason. Richardson announced his intentions in a letter posted to the team’s website, but made no mention of the current allegations he faces. It still remains to be seen how the NFL’s current investigation will impact the Panthers’ only owner now that he plans on separating from the league. While prospective suitors like P Diddy have said they plan to put in a bid to buy the organization, the only thing we know so far is that the NFL made clear that they did not put pressure for there to be an ownership change and that the team will remain where it is. During this past week, we also learned that Richardson ceded control of the day-to-day operations to executive Tina Becker.

Zeke is back. After the Ezekiel Elliott sat out from Week 9 through Week 15, he returns to the gridiron just in time with Dallas’ 2017 season on the line against the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon. The second-year pro bowl caliber back has had a crazy season because of the constant back and forth between him and the league regarding his six-game suspension. Though, his play never suffered as Elliott was still a dominant force on the ground, rushing for over 4.0 yards per carry and seven touchdowns this season. With Zeke back in the fold and the Cowboys on a three-game winning streak, it would seem that they would be a tough out in the playoffs should they sneak into that final NFC Wild Card spot.

Giants interview GM candidates. The Giants are in the process of determining who will be the next person to lead their football operations in the post-Jerry Reese era. The team reportedly interview two internal general manager candidates in Marc Ross and Kevin Abrams. Both of whom have been key parts of the current football structure during their tenure with the team. Ross currently acts as the team’s Vice President of Player Evaluation. He’s been with the franchise for over the past decade. On the other hand, Abrams has been more involved in working with the team’s cap situation as the team’s assistant general manager. The G-Men have also interviewed former Panthers executive David Gettleman, who helped form Carolina’s 2015-16 NFC Championship team, and plan to interview current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, who’s already been a popular name thrown around in other general manager searches this past year.

Panthers LB suspended for a game. Panthers veteran linebacker Thomas Davis was originally suspended for two games by the league for his illegal hit on a defenseless receiver. While the 34-year-old has established himself as a notable team leader over his career, he’s still had a reputation to be over aggressive on plays that are away from the football. Davis did eventually get his suspension reduced to just one game through an appeal, but this situation just further sheds another light on opposing players putting each other in unnecessary danger.

The Rams lose their Pro Bowl kicker. It’s not usually a big story when a kicker goes on IR, but the Rams are going to feel a huge impact with Greg Zuerlein being forced to the sidelines for the playoffs. The placekicker injured his back in the Rams Week 15 contest vs. the Seahawks. Zuerlein had clearly separated himself as one of the league’s best kickers this season, knocking through 38 of 40 kicks in 2017. Legatron is known for having a big leg and has continued to add to that reputation by converting six field goals over 50 yards this year. Los Angeles signed Sam Ficken to replace Zuerlein, although it looks like the team could continue its search once again after Ficken missed a field goal and extra point in today’s win over the Titans. The team would likely choose to replace Ficken with one of the other nine kickers they worked out during this past practice week.

Carson Wentz done for the season. A likely MVP candidate, Wentz suffered a torn ACL in the Eagles’ Week 14 victory over the Rams and has since been placed on injured reserve. Wentz, who had led Philadelphia to a 11-2 record in his second NFL campaign, will end the season with 3,296 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. While the Eagles will assuredly miss Wentz, backup quarterback Nick Foles managed a victory over the Giants today while tossing four touchdowns.

Marvin Lewis out in Cincinnati? After 15 seasons in the Queen City, it appears Lewis will not remain the Bengals’ head coach in 2018. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported earlier this morning that Lewis — whose contract expires after the current season — will not return to Cincinnati next year. Following the Bengals’ loss to the Vikings, Lewis denied that any decision has been made, but didn’t definitively say he will return. If Lewis is out, Cincinnati could look at head coaching candidates such as the Browns’ Hue Jackson or incumbent defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.

Roger Goodell expected to retire in 2024. Goodell formally received a contract extension earlier this month, and he’s privately informed owners that he’ll retire when that new deal expires in 2024. In fact, Goodell could even call it a career before his contract ends. He’s reportedly told the league he’ll guide the owners through another round of collective bargaining agreement and television rights negotiations, meaning he cold retire in 2021 or 2022.

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson faces accusations. The nationwide uprising regarding sexual harassment has hit the NFL, as the league is now investigating Richardson for inappropriate comments and contact with female Panthers employees. In addition, Richardson allegedly used a racial slur against an African American scout. Richardson reportedly has used financial settlements and non-disclosure agreements to keep accusations under wraps, but now that they’re out in the open, it’s fair to wonder how much longer Richardson will control the Carolina franchise.

Aaron Rodgers returns in Green Bay. After spending eight weeks on injured reserve with a broken collarbone, Rodgers returned to action today against the Panthers. The Packers likely needed to win out to have any chance at a postseason berth, so today’s loss may have knocked Green Bay out of contention. As such, the Packers will need to decide whether playing Rodgers over the next two weeks in worth the risk.

Giants make changes at the top…Despite reports that the Giants wouldn’t fire any of their decision-makers until the regular season concluded, Big Blue parted ways with both general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Ben McAdoo last week. In turn, Eli Manning has been reinstated as the club’s starting quarterback, while defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been named interim head coach. Dave Gettleman, the former Panthers general manager who also worked in New York for years, is considered the front runner for the Giants’ GM post.

…and the Browns do, too. Hue Jackson has seemingly won the power struggle in Cleveland, as the Browns fired executive vice president Sashi Brown last week. Ownership acted quickly to install a new GM, as former Chiefs personnel executive John Dorsey was hired as the team’s general manager roughly 11 hours after Brown was fired. It’s unclear if Cleveland will immediately turn away from the analytics movement given Brown’s departure, but Paul DePodesta is staying put. Dorsey has moved quickly, as he’s already released albatross wideout Kenny Britt.

Suspensions galore. The NFL suspended Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for illegal hits in Week 13, while Bengals safety George Iloka saw his initial one-game ban overturned following an appeal. Gronkowski, of course, went after Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White after the whistle, while Smith-Schuster hit Bengals ‘backer Vontaze Burfict on a block. Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, meanwhile, was handed a team-imposed suspension after throwing an official’s flag into the stands last week.

Ravens lose CB Jimmy Smith. Midway through a season that registers as the best of his NFL career, Smith will be sidelined for the remainder of the year after suffering a torn Achilles in Week 13. Incidentally, Smith was also subsequently suspended four games for performance-enhancing drug use, but he’ll be able to serve that ban while on injured reserve. Smith’s injury will have wide-ranging implications not only on the field, but on Baltimore’s salary cap: the Ravens may have considered releasing fellow corner Brandon Carr this offseason, but such a move is now unlikely given Smith’s uncertainty.

Roger Goodell‘s extension is done. Goodell is officially locked up as the NFL’s commissioner through the 2024 campaign, as he agreed to a contract extension that could reportedly be worth as much as $200MM via incentives. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones opposed the deal and attempted to stop negotiations, although compensation committee chairman Arthur Blank noted “nearly unanimous consensus” on Goodell’s new pact.

Ezekiel Elliott drops appeal. At long last, the Cowboys running back has agreed to serve his suspension and has officially withdrawn his appeal. At times, the ongoing saga surrounding Elliott seemed to have an indefinite timeline, as continuous legal actions by both Elliott and the NFL led to uncertainty. But Elliott will now accept his six-game ban, meaning he’ll be sidelined through Week 15. By taking the suspension now instead of allowing it to rollover into next season, Elliott is actually saving money given that his 2018 base salary is larger than his 2017 paycheck.

NFL investigating Jameis Winston. Winston is alleged to have groped a female Uber driver in 2016, and the NFL is now looking into the incident. Winston has denied the claims, stating the driver is mistaken on her charges; he also noted that he previously reported the mistake to Uber, but the company suspended his account nonetheless. Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby, a collegiate teammate of Winston, alleges he was in the Uber vehicle with Winston on the night of the alleged incident, also rejected the driver’s story. Winston is not a candidate for the commissioner’s exempt list given that no official charges have been filed.

Bills bench Tyrod Taylor. Had the season ended last Sunday, Buffalo would have been in the postseason. Despite that fact, the Bills decided to bench Taylor — the club’s starting quarterback — and replace him with fifth-round rookie Nathan Peterman. Buffalo had reportedly been weighing the decision to go to Peterman for weeks, and now Taylor is a viable offseason trade candidate. Peterman, meanwhile, has already thrown five interceptions in the first half of today’s game against the Chargers.

Cardinals extend Larry Fitzgerald. As they did in 2016, the Cardinals have given Fitzgerald a one-year extension that will seemingly keep the future Hall of Famer in the desert for one more season. Of course, just because Fitzgerald inked the new deal doesn’t mean he still won’t consider retirement during the offseason. Instead, the pact ensures that Fitzgerald will remain with Arizona if he decides to play in 2018. The contract is worth $11MM but doesn’t contain any guaranteed money.

Legion of Boom disintegrating. After placing Richard Sherman on injured reserve last week, the Seahawks could now do the same with safety Kam Chancellor, who may miss the remainder of the season with a neck injury. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll hasn’t ruled Chancellor out for 2017, but all signs are pointing to lengthy absence or an IR trip. Meanwhile, a former LOB member is back in town, as the Seahawks agreed to sign cornerback Byron Maxwell.

Ezekiel Elliott‘s suspension (finally) takes effect. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Elliott last week, meaning his six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations has been restored. For the time being, Dallas will roll with Alfred Morris, Rod Smith, and Darren McFadden in its backfield, but the saga isn’t over yet. Elliott’s appeal is scheduled for December 1, meaning that while he’ll miss at least four games, he could be back on the field before his full six-game ban tolls. The former first-round pick has since left the country to “clear his head” and train.

Jerry Jones v. the NFL. Elliott isn’t the only member of the Cowboys organization fighting the NFL, as Jones — the club’s owner and general manager — has also gotten in on the action. Jones reportedly feels the league’s owners are being misled on the details of commissioner Roger Goodell‘s contract extension, and has threatened to sue the NFL over the issue. Goodell, for his part, is “furious” over the delay in negotiations and the concept of a proposed performance-based pay schedule.

Martellus Bennett is a Patriot again. What a week it’s been for Bennett — the Packers cut the veteran tight end with a “failure to disclose medical condition” designation, while Bennett claims Green Bay’s medical staff wasn’t helpful in regards to his reported torn rotator cuff. Bennett, who has flirted with a post-2017 retirement, was claimed off waivers by New England, with whom he spent the 2016 campaign, and has since passed a physical. The Packers, meanwhile, will attempt to recoup a portion of Bennett’s signing bonus.

Vontae Davis hits free agent market. Bennett wasn’t the only veteran player to go through waivers this week, as the Colts cut Davis following reports that the defensive back would be placed on injured reserve. It’s been a maddening campaign for Davis, as a groin injury has contributed to his performance struggles, while he’s also had communication disputes with head coach Chuck Pagano. Indianapolis tried to trade Davis before the league’s deadline, and while clubs such as the Bills expressed interest, no deal was made. However, contending teams are now expressing interest in Davis now that he’s a free agent.

Welcome back Teddy. The Vikings now have another quarterback on their roster, and it’s the familiar face of Teddy Bridgewater, who was activated from the PUP list approximately 15 months after suffering a devastating knee injury. Whether Bridgewater will serve as Minnesota’s starter at any point this season is an open question (especially given that Case Keenum tossed four touchdowns against the Redskins today), but he gives the club another option under center. Fellow signal-caller Sam Bradford has been placed on injured reserve.

Deshaun Watson tears ACL. On a rate basis, Watson was in the midst of one of the more successful rookie campaigns in NFL history. Among first-year signal-callers since the merger, Watson ranked first in touchdown percentage and second in quarterback rating while tossing a league-leading touchdowns and scoring twice more on the ground. An ACL tear (suffered in practice) means the Texans will turn to Tom Savage as their starter, while the club also added veterans Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates.

Trades, trades, trades! The NFL’s trade deadline hit last Tuesday, and five deals were made in advance of 4pm ET. The 49ers surprisingly picked up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots, the Seahawks fortified their offensive line by acquiring left tackle Duane Brown from the Texans, the Bills got wideout Kelvin Benjamin from the Panthers, running back Jay Ajayi was shipped from the Dolphins to the Eagles, and the Jets received cornerback Rashard Robinson from the 49ers. Perhaps most notable, however, was the non-trade of quarterback A.J. McCarron from the Bengals to the Browns.

Ezekiel Elliott saga continues. Elliott’s six-game suspension was once again restored last week, but after another appeal, an administrative stay allowed the Cowboys running back to play against the Chiefs today. A three-judge panel is scheduled to rule on Elliott, and after that decision, his six-game suspension may finally be put in place for good. New reports have indicated Elliott and his legal team are open to a settlement, but the NFL isn’t interested in any sort of agreement.

Josh Gordon granted reinstatement. At long last, Gordon is now on to track to appear in an NFL game for the first time since 2014. Still only 26 years old, Gordon led the league in receiving in that 2013, managing 1,646 yards in only 14 games. He’s been suspended for much of the three-plus seasons since, but will now likely be eligible to play in Week 13. Cleveland management is set to meet with Gordon soon.

Andrew Luck finally shelved. The Colts finally capitulated and placed Luck on injured reserve after the starting quarterback had not played a down for the club in 2017. Still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Luck is expected to be fully healthy in time for the 2018 season, but with Indianapolis going nowhere fast this year, it didn’t make sense for Luck to come back. The Colts “won’t ignore” the 2018 quarterback draft class, although they now boast another competent signal-caller — Jacoby Brissett — in addition to Luck.

Trade deadline primer. With the NFL’s trade deadline only two days away, rumors are everywhere. Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton could possibly be available, while Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll strongly denied tight end Jimmy Graham could be used as a trade chit. Seattle is on the lookout for an offensive tackle, however, with the Bills’ Cordy Glenn and the Texans’ Duane Brown among the club’s possible targets. Meanwhile, clubs are asking the Lions about retired wideout Calvin Johnson‘s rights, while Detroit tight end Eric Ebron is also purportedly on the block.

Jaguars fortify their defense. Jacksonville made a massive — both in terms of magnitude and the player in question’s size — acquisition over the weekend by sending a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. The Jaguars, who already rank first overall in defensive DVOA, hope they’ll be able to motivate Dareus into improving their run defense. Buffalo, meanwhile, wasn’t actively shopping Dareus, but general manager Brandon Beane has now cleared a hefty contract from the Bills’ books while removing a player in Dareus who may not have bought into the club’s culture. In addition to acquiring Dareus, the Jaguars also inked linebacker Telvin Smith to a four-year, $44MM extension.

Stalwart left tackles go down. Joe Thomas had never missed a snap during his NFL career, but he’s now on injured reserve after suffering a torn triceps in Week 7. The Browns will now lose the opportunity to trade Thomas — something they likely had no interest in doing anyway — and will go forward with Spencer Drango at left tackle. The Eagles, meanwhile, lost their blindside protector when Jason Peters suffered a torn ACL, and could now be open to acquiring another left tackle via the trade market.

Anquan Boldin wants to play. Boldin surprisingly retired just weeks after signing a one-year deal with the Bills earlier this year, but now he wants back in the league. The only problem? Buffalo still controls his rights, and has no plans to release Boldin to the open market. While the Bills’ front office says there’s a small chance Boldin could return to Buffalo, the veteran wideout reportedly wants to play closer to his Florida home. The Bills are open to trading Boldin, but aren’t expecting much in the way of offers.

Dwight Freeney finds a home. At long last, Freeney is back in the NFL after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Seahawks. Seattle was on the hunt for defensive line depth after losing Cliff Avril for the rest of the season, and Freeney was among the best edge rushers available on the open market. Freeney, who said he was close to hanging up his cleats after garnering little offseason interest, will earn a prorated $1MM base salary, plus an additional $8K for each game he’s on the 53-man roster.

Quarterbacks go down in Green Bay, Arizona. Aaron Rodgers will be sidelined for at least eight weeks after suffering a broken a collarbone in Week 8, and while there’s a chance he could return later this year (and into the postseason), some reports indicate that the Packers aren’t expecting Rodgers back. Green Bay won’t add a veteran quarterback, meaning 2015 fifth-round pick Brett Hundley will handle starting duties. The Cardinals, meanwhile, will be without Carson Palmer for eight weeks, as well, as the veteran signal-caller broke his left arm on Sunday. Like Rodgers, could conceivably play again this season, but if Arizona is out of contention, it’s unlikely he’ll return.

Zeke’s suspension on hold…again. Ezekiel Elliott was granted yet another temporary restraining order last week, ensuring his availability for the Cowboys’ Week 7 contest against the 49ers. Next up is a hearing on October 30, meaning that Elliott should be available in Week 8, as well. However, the NFL is pushing for an expedited hearing (with a target date of October 27). And despite reports to the contrary, the league has no interest in discussing a possible settlement with Elliott.

NaVorro Bowman stays in the Bay Area. After securing his release from the 49ers, Bowman signed on with the Raiders, inking a one-year deal worth $2MM. The veteran linebacker will be able to “double dip,” as the lack of offset language in his San Francisco deal means he’ll be able to collect a paycheck from both the 49ers and Raiders. The Niners had originally agreed to trade Bowman to the Saints a week ago, but Bowman wanted to hit free agency and choose his next club. He had a visit lined up with the Cowboys before signing with Oakland.

Colin Kaepernick alleges collusion. With no teams showing serious interest in Kaepernick despite several injuries around the league, the free agent signal-caller initiated a collusion lawsuit against the NFL, accusing the league’s owners of keeping him unemployed because of his social activism. Kaerpernick has a broader goal in mind, however, as he reportedly wants his lawsuit to lead to the termination of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. All the latest on Kaepernick and the NFL’s anthem protests can be found here.

Beast Mode suspended. Marshawn Lynch was banned for one game after making contact with an official in Thursday night’s Raiders victory. Lynch, who was ejected following the incident, is appealing the suspension. League spokesman Joe Lockhart seemingly indicated Lynch would also be heavily fined for the contact, but the league is surprisingly not hitting Lynch with a financial penalty.