HEADLINES

Month: February 2017

Cardinals HC Hints At Carson Palmer Return

February 3rd, 2017 at 2:33pm CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like Carson Palmer won’t be keeping us in suspense for much longer. When asked about Carson Palmer’s future on ESPN (Twitter link), Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said, “I think he’ll announce he’s coming back real soon.” Carson Palmer

[RELATED: Cardinals Not Interested In Daryl Washington Return]

This week, things got murky when a report claimed Palmer had put his Arizona home up for sale, pulled his kids out of school, and relocated to another state. Soon after, another Arizona beat writer heard that no such plans were in motion. Indeed, Palmer remains rooted in Arizona and it sounds like he will remain with the club in 2017.

Palmer, a three-time Pro Bowler, will turn 37 during the ’17 season. While he has defied his age in the past, 2016 was a rough year for him and it led many to wonder if he was finished. Now that Palmer is (likely) coming back, it will be interesting to see whether the Cards still pursue other QB options. Reportedly, the team likes Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Bills signal caller Tyrod Taylor.

Palmer is very close with Larry Fitzgerald and the receiver’s decision to return for another season likely played a role in Palmer’s call to come back.

East Notes: Giants, Cruz, Floyd, Patriots

February 3rd, 2017 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the East divisions:

  • Many expect the Giants to come to Victor Cruz with a pay cut proposal, but so far that hasn’t happened, the wide receiver says (link via James Kratch of NJ.com). Last year, Cruz took a big cut from a $7.9MM base to just $1.3MM. To stay on board, he’ll almost certainly have to agree to a similar slash. Cruz wants to stay, but he also concedes that he might be better off with a team that will regularly keep him in the slot. “That’s a good question. Maybe. You never know,” Cruz said. “I think you’ve just got to take it as it comes, eat the food that’s given to you, and see how it tastes. That’s kind of the term I like to use. But we’ll see. Playing the slot is obviously something that I’m best at, and an opportunity to do that would definitely be great.”
  • If Michael Floyd has his way, he’ll return to the Patriots for another season, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. “I hope to be back in Foxborough,” Floyd said. “I love it here. I hope that I can make that happen, for sure.” He noted that he was able to pick things up very quickly in New England despite joining the team mid-season and he wants to see what he can do there in a full year. Floyd’s career was in a free fall ever since his breakout 2013 season. Now, he may be back on the right track with the Pats.
  • The Cowboys worked out quarterback Garrett Gilbert, wide receivers Bryan Burnham and Corey Washington, and tight end Andrew McCleneghen earlier this week, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Pass-catchers Quincy McDuffie and Uzoma Nwachukwu were also part of the audition group, and signed reserve/futures contracts with Dallas on Tuesday. As Archer notes, the Cowboys could have some some upheaval at the quarterback position behind Dak Prescott, as Tony Romo could be traded or released, while Mark Sanchez and Kellen Moore are free agents. Gilbert, then, could be a candidate for a deal down the road.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Cardinals Not Interested In Washington Return

February 3rd, 2017 at 12:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Daryl Washington anticipates being reinstated this year and expects that the Cardinals will want him back in the fold. Well, we have some bad news for the suspended linebacker. When asked about the possibility of Arizona welcoming Washington back, one source told Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter), “[I] highly doubt it.” Daryl Washington (vertical)

Washington has been encountered a number of hurdles with regards to a potential return. He was suspended indefinitely in 2014 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. On top of that, he still could face league discipline for a domestic violence incident which resulted in one year of probation. Washington has not played since Week 17 of the 2013 season and despite his optimism, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be given the green light for 2017.

Washington, 30, earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2012 when he notched 134 total tackles and 9.0 sacks. Even in his final year, he continued to be productive with 75 total tackles and 3.0 sacks. Still, the Cardinals have run out of patience with Washington. If cleared, he’ll have to try and hook on elsewhere.

PFR Social Media Feeds By Team

February 3rd, 2017 at 12:32pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ve detailed how you can follow Pro Football Rumors on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or using an RSS reader to ensure that you receive all of our updates, 365 days a year. If you prefer to only receive news about your favorite NFL team, PFR has you covered. Below are links to our Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds for all 32 teams.

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Transactions only: Twitter / RSS

 

Saints To Re-Sign John Kuhn

February 3rd, 2017 at 10:54am CST by Zachary Links

Last year, John Kuhn lingered on the market until August. This time around, he has everything ironed out in early February. The Saints are re-signing Kuhn to a one-year deal with an $80K bonus, a source tells Herbie Teope of The Times-Picayune (on Twitter). John Kuhn (vertical)

The fullback spent the majority of his career with the Packers where he was a fan favorite. He had to adjust to a new system in New Orleans, but he handled everything quite well, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ ninth-best fullback in 2016. The veteran’s 79.7 score was roughly in line with his career average leading into last season. In addition to blocking, he also got some touches including four rushing touchdowns and 16 catches for 70 yards and one passing TD.

Kuhn will celebrate his 35th birthday before Week 1 of the 2017 season.

West Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Chargers

February 3rd, 2017 at 9:46am CST by Zachary Links

After facing the Patriots on Sunday, the next daunting task for Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will be to fix the 49ers, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes. It won’t be easy, but plenty of people say he’s up for the task.

“He’s an excellent player evaluator, and I think he can evaluate any position,” said Atlanta quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur, who has worked on Shanahan’s staff eight of the past nine years in three different cities. “He as a vision for what he wants, and he knows how to find those players to fit exactly what that vision is. He can recognize what players do well and put them in position to be successful. I think that’s one of his best attributes.”

Shanahan will be blocked from taking many of his assistant coaches with him to San Francisco, but Graziano says that a few of his current players could follow. Falcons backup quarterback Matt Schaub played for Shanahan in Houston and will be a free agent. Same goes for Falcons starting right guard Chris Chester, who played for him in Washington.

Here’s more out of the West divisions:

  • Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington “anticipates the team wanting him back,” a source tells Joe Pequeno of CBS5 (on Twitter). Furthermore, Washington expects to be reinstated in March. This item should be taken with a kosher grain of salt since Arizona’s level of interest is unknown. Washington’s own assessment of his reinstatement process also doesn’t mean a great deal. The former Pro Bowler hasn’t played since Week 17 of the 2013 season thanks to a substance abuse ban that has yet to be lifted.
  • Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Benjamin was dealing with a grade-2 PCL sprain for several weeks last season. There’s no mention of Benjamin potentially missing an extended period of time, so he should be good to go this summer.
  • The Chargers officially terminated their lease with City of San Diego today, paying a $12.575MM termination fee in the process, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. It remains to be seen whether SD might redirect those funds towards an effort to lure the Raiders to town. As the Raiders’ planned move to Las Vegas hit some roadblocks this week, mayor Kevin Faulconer reached out to see if the Raiders might be willing to move ~500 miles south.

Broncos To Discuss Extension With John Elway

February 2nd, 2017 at 10:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos are expected to resume contract talks with general manager John Elway soon, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, who notes that Elway is entering the final season of his contract. Now that Denver has revamped its coaching staff, the club will now turn its attention to the front office.John Elway (Vertical)

[RELATED: Top Three Offseason Needs — Denver Broncos]

“I’ll start to have discussions with his representatives and I know he’ll want to move that along and I’m confident that we’ll be able to get a deal done and keep him here for a long time,” Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said. “As it should be.”

Elway, 56, took over as Denver’s vice of president of football operations in 2011, and was named general manager in 2014, when he signed a three-year extension with the club. Elway’s run with the Broncos can’t be considered anything other than a tremendous success, as he’s kept the club competitive while cycling through head coaches, quarterbacks, and schemes. Denver has posted a 67-29 under Elway’s leadership, and won the Super Bowl in 2016.

Latest On 49ers’ Decision-Making Structure

February 2nd, 2017 at 9:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although 49ers general manager John Lynch will assume control of the club’s draft, free agent, and 90-man roster decisions, presumptive head coach Kyle Shanahan will have final say over San Francisco’s 53-man roster, according to Jim Trotter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).John Lynch

[RELATED: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart]

Such a delineation of power is rather unique in the NFL, but Trotter notes (Twitter link) that at least six other teams use a similar structure. The Falcons — who currently employ Shanahan — utilize the same setup, as general manager Thomas Dimitroff heads up Atlanta’s draft and free agency plans, while head coach Dan Quinn is in charge of the club’s 53-man squad.

All in all, San Francisco’s front office management figures to be a collaborative effort, as Lynch is expected to bring in more executives even after hiring former Broncos staffer Adam Peters as vice president of player personnel. Assistant general manager Tom Gamble could be given the opportunity to stay on board with the 49ers, while ex-general managers Mark Dominik (Buccaneers) and Martin Mayhew (Lions) may also be in the running for a position with the club.

Lynch maintains that he will “aggressively pursue” additional front office hires, but former NFL head coach Mike Shanahan won’t be among those joining the 49ers. While Lynch is open to advice from the longtime NFL head coach, Shanahan won’t be joining his son in San Francisco, at least in an official capacity.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/2/17

February 2nd, 2017 at 8:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Steelers announced that they’ve signed long snapper Greg Warren to a one-year deal. While there’s word on the financial details, Warren has signed a minimum salary benefit contract in each of the past few offseasons, so it’s fair to assume he’s agreed to a similar pact. Warren, 35, has served as Pittsburgh’s long snapper since 2005, and has played in 180 career games.
  • The Steelers weren’t done inking new deals with special teamers, as the club has also agreed to a one-year contract with exclusive rights free agent Chris Boswell, tweets James Palmer of NFL.com. As an ERFA, Boswell lacked the ability to negotiate with any other teams unless Pittsburgh waived its rights of first refusal. Acting as the Steelers’ placekicker for the past two seasons, the 25-year-old Boswell has managed an 87.7% career success rate on field goals, and converted all of his extra point attempts in 2016.
  • Former NFL quarterback Ryan Lindley announced (via Twitter) that he’s signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League. Lindley, 27, started six regular season games in two seasons with the Cardinals, and was memorably under center during Arizona’s 2014 playoff contest. After a brief stint with the Colts in 2015, Lindley was out of the league last year.
  • The Jets have agreed to sign former Sacramento State long snapper Josh Latham, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Tanner Purdum is New York’s current long snapper.

Cards Eyeing Deshaun Watson, Tyrod Taylor

February 2nd, 2017 at 7:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals are “very high” on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and are willing to trade up in the draft in order to select him, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. If Arizona fails to land Watson, the club could instead target Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who’s expected to hit the free agent market.Deshaun Watson

[RELATED: Larry Fitzgerald To Return In 2017]

Arizona, of course, already has an incumbent signal-caller in Carson Palmer, but he’s reportedly considering retirement and the Cardinals are unsure if he plans to play in 2017. Given that wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald announced that he’ll play at least one more season in the desert, Palmer may be more apt to return, too, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds that Palmer and Fitzgerald are “tied at the hip.”

Watson could still make sense for the Cardinals even if Palmer does continue his career, as the latter is now 37 years old and nearing the end of his NFL run. Long projected as a first-round pick, Watson has a chance to be selected within the top-10, and may not get past the Browns at pick No. 12. Arizona sits one pick later at No. 13, and could need to move up in order to find its long-term franchise quarterback, an area of focus I pointed to when assessing the Cardinals’ top offseason needs.

Taylor, on the other hand, probably isn’t a fit for Arizona unless Palmer hangs up his cleats, as Taylor is unlikely to accept an offer to become a backup quarterback. Buffalo is expected to decline an option on Taylor that would guarantee him north of $30MM, and instead allow him to reach the open market. Over the past two seasons, Taylor has completed 62.6% of his passes while averaging 18 touchdowns and six interceptions per year, adding more than 1,000 yards on the ground during that span.

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