2016 July - Pro Football Rumors

Month: July 2016

Cole’s Latest: Bolts, Von, Supplemental Draft

July 5th, 2016 at 1:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The California State Supreme Court’s decision last week to review a lower court’s ruling that stated merely a simple majority was necessary to approve a downtown San Diego stadium measure rather than the traditional two-thirds majority dealt a blow to the Chargers‘ aspirations in their city. Enough so that the franchise is once again considering Los Angeles, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report notes (video link).

With the team not expecting a two-thirds majority to approve public funds to be put toward a new Chargers downtown stadium, they are reconsidering the league’s Los Angeles offer. But they’re not immediately keen on sharing a stadium with the Rams in Inglewood. Rather, the Chargers are revisiting the City of Industry site — a 600-acre locale eventually discarded in favor of the Inglewood and Carson projects during the three-pronged Los Angeles pursuit — due to its Eastern Los Angeles County location (22 miles from downtown L.A.) being viewed within the organization as a better way to attract fans from Orange County and the Inland Empire region of L.A., Cole reports.

The Chargers do not believe their downtown San Diego stadium measure can pass at a 66.6% requirement and do not want to continue playing at the Mission Valley site that’s been their home since initially moving from Los Angeles in 1961. They reached a deal in principle to join the Rams in Inglewood but used that as leverage against San Diego earlier this year. Those prospects are fleeting right now, however, bringing the dormant Chargers-to-L.A. talk back to the forefront.

Here’s more from Cole, beginning with the latest coming out of Denver.

The Broncos could soon present Von Miller with a new offer, Cole hears (video link), after they reached out to him last week. But if that offer does not contain $60MM in guaranteed money, Miller will reportedly not sign. Denver has until July 15 to reach a deal with Miller and hopes to avoid the prospect of the All-Pro linebacker sitting out the season. Although such a prospect seems extreme considering how much Miller would stand to lose by doing so, Cole notes that is still his position if the sides cannot agree on terms.
NFL GMs who spoke to Cole (video link) expect Purdue defensive tackle Ra’Zahn Howard to be selected in the supplemental draft, which is set for July 14. However, two GMs who discussed these prospects with Cole do not anticipate any of the other five players whose names are in the supplemental pool to be taken. Howard, though, is expected to be chosen between the fifth and seventh round, with the drafting team forfeiting that pick in the 2017 draft by doing so.

Buccaneers’ Dominique Robertson Shot In Leg

July 5th, 2016 at 11:41am CST by Ben Levine

TUESDAY, 11:41am: Ali categorized Robertson as having a clean record when speaking on behalf of his client after the shooting. But Auman reports Robertson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault and misdemeanor obstruction while at West Georgia in 2015. The offensive lineman initially received a felony charge for that Jan. 2015 incident, because of which he remains on probation.

According to a police report obtained by the Carrollton Times-Georgian, Robertson shoved a police officer against the wall with his back as he was trying to arrest the 315-pound lineman, inducing the officer to be hospitalized for a torn tendon after a “brief struggle.”

SATURDAY, 12:33pm: Buccaneers offensive lineman Dominique Robertson was “hospitalized with gunshot wounds” on Thursday morning in Loma Linda, California, reports Greg Auman of TampaBay.com. The undrafted rookie has been released from the hospital and has been questioned by police.

The player’s attorney, Zulu Ali, said the 22-year-old was shot twice in the leg, and he was adamant that Robertson was a “victim” and “bystander.” Ali also noted that the lineman was “doing OK” after the incident. Robertson was reportedly questioned by police for four hours after being released from the hospital.

“We just basically know that he was obviously a victim of a shooting and they came and they took him directly out of the hospital,” Ali said (via Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports).

Robertson told authorities that he was shot outside of an apartment complex, although residents reportedly heard no gunfire.

“We are aware of the reports concerning Dominique Robertson,” the Buccaneers said in a statement (via Auman). “We can confirm that he has been released from the hospital and is at home resting. We are in the process of gathering more information, but our primary concern is for Dominique’s health and well-being.”

Robertson, the nephew of Buccaneers offensive line coach George Warhop, is a rookie out of Division II West Georgia. Auman notes that he was working as the “second-team guard” during practices and minicamp, although J.R. Sweezy‘s absence likely contributed to the increased role.

AFC West Rumors: Miller, Chargers, Raiders

July 5th, 2016 at 11:13am CST by Sam Robinson

Von Miller and the Broncos have resumed talks as the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term extensions looms in 10 days. The sides communicated during the past few days, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter) after previously breaking off talks.

Caplan wouldn’t be surprised if Miller and Broncos to continue their talks this week (Twitter link) but said during a SportsCenter appearance the gulf on guaranteed money remains, even if the parties have agreed on the length (six years) and total value ($114.5MM) of a potential deal.

The Broncos rescinded their six-year, $114.5MM offer early last month after Miller declined it due to a lack of guaranteed money at signing, a figure which sat at $39.8MM last we heard. The 27-year-old pass-rusher has threatened to hold out, refusing to play 2016 on the $14.26MM exclusive franchise tag.

Here’s the latest from the rest of the AFC West.

Loosely connected to Las Vegas in light of a California State Supreme Court decision last week weakening their downtown San Diego stadium measure’s chances of passing, the Chargers are not believed to be an option for Vegas at this time, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News tweets. The Bolts’ choices look like a murky San Diego future or sharing a stadium with the Rams in Los Angeles if those talks fall through.
The Raiders remain strongly tied to Vegas, and news on the Oakland front has been scant to this point. However, Bonsignore tweets Mark Davis has talked with a developmental group led by Ronnie Lott that’s attempting a last-ditch stadium solution in the Bay Area. The Los Angeles-based reporter, though, notes such discussions look superfluous since they don’t solve the issues the team is having with the city and county.
On the field, the Raiders look to present a more diverse pass rush than what they deployed last season. Bruce Irvin‘s signing gives Khalil Mack a complementary presence, and an NFC scouting director told TheMMQB.com’s Albert Breer the best course of action for the Raiders is to move Irvin into a primary pass-rushing role at defensive end much like they did Mack in 2015. “His most productive NFL season came as a rookie, when he rushed from a three-point stance. Playing opposite Khalil Mack, he’d see a lot of one-on-one matchups he can win [if they use him as an end].” The Raiders use a hybrid 4-3/3-4 scheme, and Breer adds the suspicion is that DC Ken Norton — familiar with Irvin after serving as the Seahawks’ linebackers coach from 2010-14 — will transition the free agent acquisition to being predominantly a defensive end. Irvin registered a career-high eight sacks in 2012.
Eric Fisher viewed the Chiefs’ win against the Texans in last year’s wild card round, one that featured him win the battle against an ailing J.J. Watt, as a bit of a turning point in his career.

East Notes: Eagles, Cowboys, Brady, Bills

July 5th, 2016 at 10:08am CST by Sam Robinson

Although Jason Peters continued his upper-echelon play for the Eagles in 2015 and overall under Chip Kelly the past three seasons, he did not enjoy the offense’s frenetic pace in this period, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com writes. The belief within the Eagles is Peters, who will be one of the oldest offensive linemen in the league at age 34, can deliver superior production in Doug Pederson‘s more methodical attack in which the 13th-year player thrived previously.

Peters has booked eight Pro Bowls in his past eight healthy seasons and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 14 overall tackle last season on the strength of his run-blocking efforts. Shorr-Parks points out, however, the Eagles will need to find an heir apparent quickly if Peters looks slower or struggles with injuries in camp.

As Roster Resource shows, the Eagles are fairly deep at their interior-line spots but thin at tackle, so Peters continuing to play at a high level in ’16 looks imperative for the Birds.

Here’s more from the Eagles, as well as the latest from other eastern locales.

Leodis McKelvin‘s Philadelphia emergence appears to be quite real, with Shorr-Parks writing the former Bills return specialist is expected to be the Eagles’ No. 1 corner. Nolan Carroll and Ron Brooks look like the primary contenders to start opposite McKelvin in Jim Schwartz‘s system. Carroll started 11 games for the Eagles last season, with Brooks being yet another Schwartz disciple from Buffalo.
The Cowboys gave wide receiver Andy Jones their biggest signing bonus among their UDFA contingent this offseason at $15K, Rob Phillips of Cowboys.com notes. Dallas placed a draftable grade on Jones, whom Phillips opines could snare a roster spot as a backup. A Jacksonville University cog, Jones caught 144 passes for 2,120 yards at the Division I-FCS level and ventures into a Cowboys wideout corps largely unchanged from 2015.
Tom Brady has contended he intends to play well into his 40s, and James Walker of ESPN.com envisions that likely based on what the Patriots 17th-year quarterback has shown as he’s moved into his late 30s. Walker sees the now-39-year-old Brady playing three more seasons at a high level but offers he won’t make it much farther if he continues to absorb the kind of punishment he took last season. New England permitted its franchise icon to be sacked 38 times in 2015 after allowing just 21 in ’14.
Missing the Bills‘ offseason program in order to train for a potential Olympic bid hurt Marquise Goodwin‘s chances of making the team for a fourth season, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News writes. The backup wide receiver candidate who finished seventh in a loaded long jump competition at the U.S. Olympic Trials attended Bills minicamp but only as an observer. Carucci notes that Rex Ryan‘s previous speed preferences may not give the 25-year-old the edge against wideouts like Leonard Hankerson or Greg Salas who spent time developing a rapport with Tyrod Taylor.

Community Tailgate: Franchise Tag Deadline

July 4th, 2016 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Varying degrees of uncertainty engulf seven players as July begins, with their respective teams having placed their franchise tags on them. With the deadline for these talents to reach long-term deals with their organizations looming on July 15, multiple members of this contingent likely will not agree to a long-term accord with their respective team.

Here’s how the franchise-tagged club looks as of July 4:

Franchise players (exclusive):

Von Miller, LB (Broncos): $14.26MM

Franchise players (non-exclusive):

Eric Berry, S (Chiefs): $10.806MM
Kirk Cousins, QB (Washington): $19.953MM
Alshon Jeffery, WR (Bears): $14.599MM
Trumaine Johnson, CB (Rams): $13.952MM
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE (Jets): $15.701MM
Justin Tucker, K (Ravens): $4.572MM

Cordy Glenn‘s Bills extension and the Panthers rescinding Josh Norman‘s tag removed two players from the group, but several should remain unsigned by next Friday. With teams having until 3 p.m. CT that day to finalize these agreements, there’s a decent chance multiple tagged performers will play this season on one-year deals.

Of this septet, Eric Berry and Justin Tucker seem most likely to sign contracts with the Chiefs and Ravens, respectively. We’ve heard no acrimony coming from either side in these negotiations, pointing to Baltimore and Kansas City being in good positions to find common ground and secure the rights for the remainder of their tagged cogs’ primes.

But elsewhere, it hasn’t been so smooth. The Broncos have tagged three players — Matt Prater, Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas — since John Elway began functioning as the team’s top personnel executive, and they signed each to long-term deals. But Miller’s standoff with the Broncos has surpassed those impasses.

The nature of the deal the linebacker’s seeking, one that would make him the highest-paid defender in league history, was already going to complicate this. But after Miller turned down Denver’s six-year, $114.5MM proposal over money guaranteed at signing, the Broncos rescinded the offer (technically), and Miller vowed not to play the season on the exclusive tag. We could soon learn how serious he is about holding out.

Jeffery, Johnson and Cousins may reside in the same boat, with their respective teams possibly angling to see how they fare this season before being certain of their statuses as cornerstones, respectively.

Ascending into the Bears‘ No. 1 receiver role after Brandon Marshall‘s third career trade, Jeffery couldn’t display the form he showed as an overqualified No. 2 after he missed seven games due to multiple leg injuries. We heard in early June the sides expected the fifth-year receiver to play 2016 on the tag and reassess after the season, but a few weeks later, the bridge to a Jeffery long-term Bears pact doesn’t appear as long as previously thought. The team still has some obvious reservations on whether or not Jeffery’s body can hold up before giving him a $15MM+ AAV deal in line with A.J. Green or Dez Bryant, however.

Not as much has surfaced on Johnson, but news emerged last month the Rams cornerback may view Janoris Jenkins‘ $12.5MM-AAV deal with the Giants as a floor. The fallout from that rumor pointed to the sides not being close enough to agree on a sufficient offer that would keep the breakout corner on the Rams’ books for a while.

In a market that overpays quarterbacks and keeps them away from free agency, Kirk Cousins doesn’t look to be going anywhere else anytime soon. But the talks between the fifth-year passer and the Redskins aren’t progressing just yet. Of course, that could turn by next Friday, with the market for franchise quarterbacks being essentially set. Cousins, whom Washington wants to see perform again after his strong stretch run put him in this spot, would receive approximately $44MM if given the tag again in 2017.

Wilkerson’s prospects of a Jets contract remain slim. The perpetually disgruntled 2011 first-rounder has been angling for a commitment from Gang Green for over two years, threatening a holdout last season before reporting and playing on his fifth-year option. Fletcher Cox‘s extension looks like it will serve as the sixth-year 3-4 end’s floor in terms of asking price, at least in the mind of Wilkerson, who has made the same number of Pro Bowls (one) as the Eagles standout. But Wilkerson’s notched 33.5 sacks since 2012 compared to Cox’s 22.

However, the Jets’ deep defensive end stable, scant cap room and the lack of a starting-caliber quarterback on the payroll make this a dicey proposition, given their history with Wilkerson. The subject of trade speculation for months, Wilkerson would earn a projected $18.8MM if tagged again in 2017.

So, how many among this contingent will play 2016 under the terms of the franchise tag? Which has the best chance to play elsewhere in 2017? Who has the biggest gripe if they don’t see an acceptable long-term offer by next week? Which isn’t worth a long-term deal right now? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Sanders, Bucs, Marijuana

July 4th, 2016 at 9:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a string of tweets themed around Kevin Durant’s landmark defection to the Warriors, Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders addressed some of his own contract issues. The seventh-year wideout responded to a follower’s query about his status with the defending champions and professed his desire to stay in Denver (Twitter link) unless the Broncos determine they don’t want him after his contract year.

Sanders, who is set to count $6.6MM against Denver’s cap this season, observed the second-tier receiving market clear up before him after Allen Hurns, Keenan Allen and Doug Baldwin agreed to deals in June — each for between $10MM and $11.5MM per year. While the 29-year-old Sanders has shown superior production to those talents since coming to Colorado, he’s also nearly two years older than Baldwin and several years older than the former duo.

The former Steelers draft choice also attempted to clear up a matter from his past free agency foray. The Chiefs were reported to have struck a deal with Sanders in March of 2014 only to see the wideout then sign with their archrivals. Sanders tweeted the deal was indeed close to occurring, with incentives having loomed as a sticking point. He went on to record a 1,400-yard season in Peyton Manning‘s final productive year before following that up with an 1,100-yard slate in 2015 to vault him into position to possibly earn an eight-figure-AAV contract.

Here’s the latest from around the league.

The Buccaneers reuniting Mike Smith with Dirk Koetter is one of the reasons Tampa Bay fans should be excited about the season, Roy Cummings of Today’s Pigskin writes. Smith will be tailoring a more versatile scheme around the players’ strengths, Cummings writes, as the Bucs move away from Lovie Smith‘s preferred Tampa-2 scheme. Koetter worked as the Falcons’ OC under Smith from 2012-14. Smith spent last season out of football.
Former Broncos and Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer wrote TheMMQB.com’s Monday Morning Quarterback column published earlier today and outlined his push for the NFL to consider a form of medical marijuana to help players deal with pain. More specifically, Plummer is advocating for the league to get behind a compound derived from marijuana called Charlotte’s Web, a hemp extract high in CBD, which the former 10-year veteran describes as a “non-addictive, non-psychoactive naturally occurring in cannabis.”
Under the current CBA, such use of this compound would violate the league’s substance-abuse policy, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out. A move in this direction, also advocated by Eugene Monroe and Derrick Morgan, would require action on the NFLPA’s part. Unlike the year-round random PED testing, the NFL mandates a drug test at a point between April and August for players not in the league’s drug program. Florio points out that use of these products outside of this window provides a way for players not to fail tests, barring marijuana-related arrests. For a medicinal marijuana policy to emerge, Florio writes the owners may ask the union to make a trade at the bargaining table, given the sides’ acrimony on numerous issues.
The Giants insisting on keeping Ereck Flowers at left tackle has turned off some potential tackle options in free agency.

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Panthers, Giants, Eagles

July 4th, 2016 at 3:35pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Seahawks are in the market for a No. 2 quarterback, meaning Russell Wilson‘s 2016 backup might not be on their roster right now, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. Considering Seattle attempted to claim Connor Shaw off waivers earlier this week, its desire to land a signal-caller is no surprise. As Roster Resource shows, the only QBs under Seahawks control behind Wilson are undrafted rookie Trevone Boykin and second-year man Jake Heaps, who went unpicked in the 2015 draft and then spent time on the Jets’ practice squad and with the Brooklyn Bolts of the Fall Experimental Football League.

Free agent Tarvaris Jackson backed up Wilson from 2013-15, but he’s currently mired in serious legal issues. Fellow ex-Seahawks Charlie Whitehurst and Matt Flynn are also among those on the market. The biggest name without a contract is Michael Vick, who Phil Savage of ESPN believes is a logical fit for the Seahawks. Nick Foles could be an option if the Rams are willing to trade the 27-year-old to a division rival or if they ultimately release him, as PFR’s Dallas Robinson wrote last month.

AFC Notes: Jets, Dolphins, Chiefs, Broncos

July 4th, 2016 at 1:05pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

On the heels of his six-interception 2015 campaign, third-year cornerback Marcus Williams could be the Jets’ most underrated player, opines Brian Costello of the New York Post. The former undrafted free agent from North Dakota State and ex-Texans practice squad member showed off impressive ball-hawking prowess last season despite serving as a fourth corner and playing just 27 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps, and he’ll spend the next couple months battling Buster Skrine for a starting job opposite Darrelle Revis. As a contract-year player, Williams stands to earn a significant raise over his $600K salary by next offseason if he proves capable of filling a bigger role – whether as a starter or slot corner – in 2016.

Elsewhere in the AFC…

There’s a chance Dallas Thomas will beat out first-round pick Laremy Tunsil as the Dolphins’ starting left guard, which would be a nightmare for the team’s fans, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Thomas – whom Pro Football Focus ranked as the league’s second-worst guard among 81 qualifiers last season – seems to be ahead of Tunsil in the pecking order after the rookie struggled in minicamp, per Jackson. Tunsil, the 13th overall pick, was a dominant left tackle at Ole Miss and acknowledged that it’s not easy to learn a new position and playbook.
Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 draft, sees himself “on a steady incline” after transitioning back to the left side midway through last season, he told BJ Kissel of the team’s website. Fisher, whose pro career hasn’t lived up to his draft status, added that his impressive performance against the J.J. Watt-led Texans in the Chiefs’ 30-0 wild-card round victory “almost seemed like a little bit of a turning point in my career.” Having picked up Fisher’s $11.902 fifth-year option for 2017 in early May, the Chiefs are also clearly encouraged by the progress he made last season. That option is guaranteed for injury only, though, so if Fisher stays healthy and fares poorly this year, Kansas City will have the opportunity to reverse course.
Broncos general manager John Elway‘s competitiveness could be a roadblock in the way of a Von Miller deal, according to Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post. Kiszla wonders if the Hall of Fame quarterback can put aside his hatred of losing to reach a compromise with Miller, the franchise-tagged linebacker who’s fighting with the Broncos over the lack of guaranteed money in their six-year, $114.5MM offer. The two sides have until July 15 to reach an agreement; if that doesn’t happen, the reigning Super Bowl MVP’s only choices would be to sign the $14MM-plus franchise tender or continue sitting out.

North Notes: Cutler, Bell, Lions, Ravens

July 4th, 2016 at 10:53am CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bears spent the offseason making notable upgrades to their defense – adding edge rusher Leonard Floyd in the first round of the draft and, before that, free agents Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman and Akiem Hicks – but it’s quarterback Jay Cutler who will determine how far the club goes this season, opines Eric Prisbell of USA Today.

With Adam Gase having left Chicago over the winter to become Miami’s head coach, Cutler will now work with his sixth different offensive coordinator since 2009. There’s familiarity in place, though, as successor Dowell Loggains was the Bears’ quarterbacks coach last season. Under Gase and Loggains, Cutler posted a career-best passer rating (92.2) in 2015 and threw seven fewer interceptions (11) than he did in 2014. He’s in position to succeed again with the healthy receiver duo of Alshon Jeffery and last year’s first-round pick, seventh overall selection Kevin White. Jeffrey sat out seven games with various ailments in 2015, and White lost the entire season because of a stress fracture in his left ankle. On the other hand, it remains to be seen how well second-year running back Jeremy Langford will replace dual-threat Matt Forte, who will no longer serve as Cutler’s security blanket after signing with the Jets in free agency.

Notes on three other clubs from the North divisions:

Interestingly, contract-year Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell revealed in his new rap song, “Focus,” that he wants $15MM per annum on his next deal, relays FOX Sports’ Rob Perez. The 24-year-old superstar is highly unlikely to receive that much, however, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The Steelers will have a chance to quash Bell’s $15MM dream next offseason by giving him the franchise tag, which is worth $11.789MM for running backs this year. Bell could otherwise sign a contract that averages $15MM annually – but only artificially, notes Florio, who points out that the front end of the pact wouldn’t reach that total. For now, Bell is on track to play out 2016 on a sub-$1MM salary.
Given that second-year man Ameer Abdullah isn’t a traditional workhorse running back, the Lions will need someone to separate himself from the pack this summer and ultimately serve as a complement to Abdullah in 2016, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com. Free agent pickup Stevan Ridley – a 1,200-yard rusher in 2012 – and NFL sophomore Zach Zenner are strong candidates, but Michigan native George Winn also has a chance to win the role, Rogers contends. The 210-pounder has spent time with six organizations since going undrafted out of Cincinnati in 2013, logging 19 appearances and 23 carries – all with the Lions. Detroit also has Theo Riddick as a backfield option, of course, but he’s a far bigger threat as a pass catcher than as a rusher.
Newly acquired Ravens safety Eric Weddle wore the headset in his helmet as a Charger and relayed each defensive play call to his teammates, but that won’t be the case in Baltimore, according to Garrett Downing of the club’s website. For the third straight year, the Ravens will stick with middle linebacker C.J. Mosley in that role. Weddle, for his part, is content deferring to Mosley. “It’s best to have it as the [middle linebacker], because they are in the front seven most of the time,” he told Downing.

East Notes: Tyrod, Cowboys, Jets, Redskins

July 4th, 2016 at 9:16am CST by Connor J. Byrne

Andrew Luck‘s record-setting contract extension won’t affect Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor‘s next deal, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Rather, the Luck pact will only impact signal-callers who could end up in position to become the highest-paid player in the NFL – as Luck is for the moment. Taylor – who’s set to make $3MM this season – doesn’t qualify, contends Florio, who expects the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder to either land an accord in the $15MM annual range between now and next offseason or get the franchise tag over the winter. That puts the soon-to-be 27-year-old in company with Kirk Cousins, not Luck.

More from the NFL’s two East divisions:

If Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn’t sign off on the release of suspended linebacker Rolando McClain, it will further demonstrate that seventh-year head coach Jason Garrett has no real authority, argues Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. McClain is just one of several players with off-field issues Jones’ Cowboys have employed during Garrett’s tenure, which undermines the coach’s statements about “character” and playing “the right way,” notes Engel. Prior to the NFL slapping him with a 10-game suspension Friday for a violation of its substance abuse policy, McClain angered the Cowboys’ coaches by skipping OTAs, according to Engel. And now the Garrett-led staff has a chance to send a message by giving McClain his walking papers, though Jones would have to OK it. Cutting McClain, who missed four games last season because of a suspension, would save Dallas $2.63MM against the cap and leave it with $750K in dead money.
After signing with the Jets in free agency, defensive tackle Steve McLendon has a difficult task ahead of him in replacing elite run-stuffer and offseason departure Damon Harrison, but the longtime Steeler doesn’t see it that way. “He went somewhere else. I came here. So it’s not like I’m taking over for anybody,” McLendon told Darryl Slater of NJ.com. The 30-year-old McLendon also explained to Slater how he and Harrison differ as players, saying, “He was like the traditional nose tackle, do it all. Big, strong, explosive. I’m not as big as him. My game is built off quickness and strength.” Indeed, the 350-pound Harrison has 40 pounds on McLendon, who regards himself as a D-tackle. The Jets did deploy McLendon at nose tackle during spring practices, though that was just one of a handful of D-line spots at which they used him, per Slater.
Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com highlights three under-the-radar storylines the Redskins will deal with in training camp, pointing out that they face uncertainty along both lines and at cornerback.

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