HEADLINES

Month: March 2017

Zach Brown Deciding Between Raiders, Dolphins?

March 24th, 2017 at 11:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several teams have pursued Zach Brown this offseason, but the UFA linebacker may be down to his final two choices. Brown is believed to be deciding between the Dolphins and Raiders, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.

Brown has visited the Dolphins, Raiders and Bills, while the Colts have expressed interest as well. While Oakland and Miami believe they’re in the running for the non-rush linebacker, neither looks set to meet Brown’s asking price of $6MM per year, Salguero notes. The south Florida-based writer reported earlier this week the Dolphins would be more comfortable paying Brown a deal in the $3MM- or $4MM-per-year range.

The Dolphins have been active this month in reshaping their linebacking corps, signing Lawrence Timmons as a UFA, restructuring Koa Misi‘s deal and extending Kiko Alonso. Brown would seemingly take Misi’s place in the lineup, with the 30-year-old middle ‘backer taking a pay cut to stay in south Florida, if he were to sign with the Dolphins.

Either way, Brown would be moving from a 3-4 defense to a base 4-3 look. The Raiders signed former Dolphins outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins to likely play the weakside spot but have a need inside. Bruce Irvin plays as an outside linebacker in the Raiders’ 4-3 base but slides to defensive end in pass-rush situations, leaving an opening in nickel sets. Raiders 2016 middle linebacker Perry Riley remains a free agent. He of 149 tackles in a standout season in Buffalo, Brown ranks as PFR’s No. 1 linebacker remaining in free agency. Riley sits No. 2 on this list but hasn’t generated nearly as much interest.

If Oakland sought to outmuscle Miami for Brown, the team has $32MM-plus in cap space compared to the Fins’ $15MM. But the Raiders have a possible Derek Carr extension coming this year, almost certainly contributing to their free agency plan.

Previously viewed as a plus-coverage ‘backer with the Titans, Brown experienced a tepid market for his services as a first-time UFA last year. A deal in the $3-$4MM-AAV range would put him below lesser names like A.J. Klein ($5MM AAV), or $4MM-per-year players Tahir Whitehead or Damario Davis on the inside linebacker salary spectrum. Fellow UFA Kevin Minter signed a one-year, $4.25MM deal with the Bengals last week.

Extra Points: Raiders, Steelers, Jeffery

March 24th, 2017 at 10:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

The city of Oakland is attempting a last-ditch effort to keep the Raiders in advance of what promises to be a seminal vote Monday at the owners’ meetings. But this latest $1.3 billion proposal may not be enough to stop the owners from green-lighting a Las Vegas move. Oakland’s updated pitch “did not move the chains forward” with the NFL, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reports (on Twitter). The league is reviewing the proposal, but Bonsignore adds (Twitter link) the core issues at the root of the NFL’s reluctance regarding this project are not resolved. Bonsignore does not estimate the project can move forward (Twitter link) as presently constructed, setting the stage for a possible third Raiders relocation. This belief would stand to continue the league’s pessimism on the Oakland front.

Here’s the latest from Oakland and the rest of the NFL.

  • The Fortress Investment Group’s involvement in this project may not be a plus investment for the Raiders, who would “have to be in desperate straits” to sign up for an arrangement in which the team wouldn’t have much stake in its own stadium, Stanford economics professor Roger Noll said, via J.K. Dineen of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Even if Las Vegas doesn’t work out, the Raiders could get a better deal in San Diego or St. Louis,” Noll said. “There has never been a major league sports team that has had a deal like this where a third party is the main financier of the stadium and the main beneficiary of the revenue it generates.” The project would in large part be financed by a Fortress loan of $600MM, along with another $500MM loan backed by seat licensing fees, Dineen reports.
  • Dont’a Hightower agreed to take less money from the Patriots than he would have gotten from the Jets as a UFA, but the Steelers also offered the linebacker a better deal, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports. Pittsburgh offered the sixth-year linebacker a deal that would have paid him more then $9MM per year. He signed to stay with the Patriots for $8.7MM AAV. However, both the Steelers and Jets were concerned with Hightower’s health. This led to the Jets pulling their offer after Hightower’s physical. La Canfora adds the Jets and Steelers felt they were being used as leverage during this process.
  • Mark Sanchez‘s one-year Bears deal is worth $2MM, with $1MM guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports (on Twitter). The journeyman backup can earn another $2MM in incentives.
  • A thorough piece on Adam Schefter — by TheMMQB.com’s Tim Rohan — revealed a phone conversation ESPN’s chief NFL reporter had with Alshon Jeffery during the first day of free agency. Rohan reports Jeffery called Schefter asking him how much money the other UFA wide receivers were going to sign for. “It’s all about the guarantee, Alshon,” Schefter said, per Rohan, who noted players sometimes call the longtime NFL reporter with similar queries. “It’s all about the guarantee … Your average per year could be $100 million. It doesn’t matter. If they’re going to guarantee you the majority of the contract, that’s what you want.” Jeffery, who signed with the Eagles, does not remember the events unfolding like this. “I NEVER sought advice from media before I decided to sign my contract with the Eagles,” Jeffery tweeted. The wideout who is attempting to shake off an injury- and suspension-marred past two years signed with Philadelphia for one year and $9.5MM ($8.75MM guaranteed).

Browns To Shop Josh Gordon

March 24th, 2017 at 9:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Gordon has teamed with an interesting trainer in an effort to make yet another NFL comeback. But he will probably have to do it on another team.

Although the Browns still control his rights — for two more years — they are likely going to try to trade the mercurial wide receiver, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. The Browns attempted to unload Gordon at the trade deadline last year. However, if they are unable to swing a trade, a source informs Cabot they will likely release him.

Gordon, of course, is still suspended. Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports Gordon’s camp expects to hear about a Roger Goodell reinstatement ruling within the next month, but Graziano adds Cleveland plans to jettison the 25-year-old former All-Pro via trade or release. Gordon applied for reinstatement earlier this month.

For now, Gordon is being trained by former Olympian Tim Montgomery, Graziano reports. The ex-world 100-meter record holder banned for performance-enhancing drugs and later imprisoned for heroin possession and distribution, Montgomery has rebounded in part by training Gordon and other athletes in Gainesville, Fla., as a speed coach. Gordon has also changed agents. Joby Branion, the agent for Von Miller, now represents him, Graziano reports. Business manager Michael Johnson said earlier this month the pass-catcher is in “the best shape of his life” earlier this month. This offseason regimen may shed some light on that assessment, but Gordon’s NFL future is very much in doubt.

The league reinstated Gordon last year, but the embattled wideout checked into a rehab center and did not play in 2016. The 2013 All-Pro remains banned indefinitely and hasn’t played since the final six weeks of the 2014 season.

Cleveland drafted Corey Coleman in the first round last year, and although Terrelle Pryor signed with the Redskins, the Browns also now employ Kenny Britt as well. Hue Jackson said after Gordon became sidetracked again last October the team was planning to move on from him.

Draft Rumors: Panthers, QBs, Broncos

March 24th, 2017 at 8:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier today, the Panthers extended Jonathan Stewart through 2018, what would be an 11th year in Charlotte for the running back. However, this transaction won’t preclude the team from drafting a running back high next month, GM Dave Gettleman said (via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, on Twitter). Viewed as a landing spot for Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook at No. 8, Carolina won’t use Stewart’s latest agreement as a reason to avoid the position in Round 1. While the Panthers have some other needs, Stewart turned 30 this week and hasn’t played 16 games in a regular season since 2011. Taken at No. 13 in 2008, Stewart represents the most recent Panthers Round 1 running back investment.

Here’s more from this draft class.

  • Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is working out with the Chargers on Friday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Kizer already worked for the Jets and Browns, Rapoport adds. “(Kizer) makes some throws that Trubisky and Watson cannot make,” ESPN.com’s Todd McShay said during the Notre Dame passer’s pro day (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com). “But Kizer also misses a lot of throws that typically you wouldn’t see from (Mitchell) Trubisky or (Deshaun) Watson. I think probably he has the strongest arm. He has the biggest upside of all of these quarterbacks.” Potentially ready to tab a successor to Philip Rivers, the Bolts have been linked to Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes as well.
  • Speaking of Mahomes, the rising Texas Tech quarterback had dinner with Bears brass recently, Rapoport tweets. Both Kizer and Mahomes also worked out for the Browns recently. While not a likely candidate for Chicago’s No. 3 pick, Mahomes could be in range when the Bears’ second-round selection comes up at No. 35.
  • Michigan edge defender Taco Charlton has visits lined up with the Buccaneers, Cowboys, Dolphins and Saints, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports. Registering 9.5 sacks during a season in which he played with a high ankle sprain, Charlton believes he’s a top-15 player. He met Thursday night with the Steelers, Ravens, Titans and Saints. There’s definitely one team that appears to be interested here, if the overlap is any indication.
  • If pass-rusher serves as a glaring Saints need, the Broncos have one at left tackle. Alabama’s Cam Robinson will visit as a potential candidate to fill that spot, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post tweets. The Broncos did not pick up Russell Okung‘s option and signed Menelik Watson likely to serve as their right tackle. Although they restructured Donald Stephenson‘s contract, the team might not view the 2016 UFA signing as a left tackle starter after he struggled on the right side last season. They have not selected a tackle in first round since Ryan Clady in 2008.

Zach Links contributed to this report.

Latest On Oakland Stadium Plan

March 24th, 2017 at 6:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

In what could be the city’s last-ditch effort to keep the Raiders, Oakland has submitted an updated stadium proposal. Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf revealed the revised plan for a $1.3 billion facility for the franchise, Jim Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Schaaf sent a letter to the NFL regarding specific contributions from the entities who have a financial role in this project, which includes aid from the Fortress Investment Group and the Oakland City Pro Football Group. Instead of having a murkier financial stake in this operation, Fortress will play a part similar to Bank of America’s in Las Vegas’ stadium proposal, Trotter reports.

The NFL is reviewing the letter, Andrew Dalton of the Associated Press reports.

“At the end of the day this is the decision of the Raiders and the NFL,” Schaaf told Trotter by phone. “What I am confident about is, if the Raiders want to stay in Oakland we have a viable plan to build them a stadium with no upfront money from them, in financial terms that I believe are more favorable to them than the terms in Las Vegas — what we know of them.

“And then, of course, we have something that Vegas can never offer, and that’s legacy and loyalty.”

Fortress is now set to contribute $650MM to this stadium, a 55,000-seat venue slated to be built on the current Oakland Coliseum site. The AP pegs Fortress’ stake at $600MM. The Raiders and the NFL are tabbed to contribute $500MM, with the city of Oakland — with assistance from Fortress — putting forth $200MM, Trotter reports. The Oakland Athletics would continue to play in the Oakland Coliseum while the football-only stadium is being built.

Relying to some degree on tradition here, Schaaf is banking on the NFL slowing down on what’s been a reinvigorated Vegas push. The Raiders, though, have not engaged in substantive discussions with their current city in months. They’ve instead devoted all their efforts to Vegas, securing the crucial Bank of America backing after Sheldon Adelson and Goldman Sachs dropped out. The team needs 23 additional votes to move to Nevada.

The Raiders’ latest relocation vote is expected to take place at the owners’ meetings Monday in Phoenix. The Las Vegas relocation fee is not expected to be close to what the Rams and Chargers paid to move to Los Angeles, and the Raiders secured a record $750MM in public money for a $1.9 billion stadium in Sin City. Schaaf reached out to Roger Goodell on Wednesday, but as of then no significant progress had been made between the league and Oakland. The city having no viable plan up to this point has it well behind going into the meetings, but the league reviewing this latest proposal reveals Oakland might still have a glimmer of hope.

“I recognize that this could be our final chance, but we have worked so hard these last two years,” Schaaf said, via Trotter. “We’ve put together a viable deal that satisfies many requirements that we believe is the best deal for the Raiders and the NFL. We hope that they give it full consideration on Monday.”

Broncos Backing Off Tony Romo Chase?

March 24th, 2017 at 6:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

While multiple networks have now entered the Tony Romo equation, one suitor’s interest may be dwindling. The Broncos are not aggressively pursuing Romo, per Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com, who adds Romo now believes his options are the Texans or retirement (Twitter link).

Darlington notes the Broncos haven’t closed the door on Romo, but they may be a clear second behind the Texans at this juncture. Romo-pursuing talk has emerged from Denver more than Houston during this complex offseason for the soon-to-be 37-year-old quarterback, but the Texans now have a bigger hole at quarterback and more cap space ($30MM to the Broncos’ $20MM) after making the unprecedented Brock Osweiler trade.

Romo has interest in the Broncos, Troy Renck of Denver7 notes. It’s unclear if that’s dissipated to the point a Denver route is no longer a reasonable consideration. Earlier this month, the Broncos resided as Romo’s preferred destination. Darlington’s report points to that no longer being the case. Renck notes the Broncos are still expected to express interest in Romo once he’s released, reiterating the team has “zero desire” to trade for him. The Cowboys are likely hoping to make one final push at adding something in return for Romo when the owners convene beginning Sunday for their latest meetings.

A Romo deal with the Broncos would be expected to be for $5-$8MM in base salary, Renck writes, with incentives that would possibly enhance the quarterback’s 2017 compensation to $14MM — his current Cowboys base salary. Neither the Broncos nor the Texans have a quarterback set to count more than $2.2MM against the cap this year. Houston backup Brandon Weeden is signed to a veteran deal but is only set to count $1.6MM against the Texans’ 2017 cap.

Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.

Latest On Browns’ Draft Plans

March 24th, 2017 at 5:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns remain expected to take Myles Garrett with their No. 1 overall pick, and the team has already observed the Texas A&M edge defender during a private workout, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. However, more mystery surrounds Cleveland’s second first-round selection.

Acquired after the Eagles traded up to take Carson Wentz, the Browns’ designs for the No. 12 pick appear to be rather quarterback-centric at this point. Cleveland’s brass conducted private workouts with both DeShone Kizer and Patrick Mahomes. The Browns are also expected to observe Mitchell Trubisky and Deshaun Watson soon but will do so privately. The team has been skipping pro days in lieu of focusing on potential draft targets privately. Hue Jackson did attend Malik Hooker‘s in Columbus, however.

While the Kizer has been rated as the better prospect, with the Notre Dame passer almost unanimously expected to go off the board in Round 1, the Browns are believed to prefer Mahomes. Cabot reports the Browns indeed like the Texas Tech air raid conductor better than Kizer and notes both are under consideration, along with Watson and Trubisky, for Cleveland’s No. 12 overall choice.

In addition to the private workouts, the Browns plan to bring top prospects to their Berea, Ohio, headquarters for official visits. Unless one of the quarterbacks “blows the team away” during the next month, Cabot writes the Browns are expected to take Garrett and focus on aerial help after that pick.

Mahomes’ status may be the most difficult to pin down of the upper-tier quarterback prospects. Given a second-round grade, the ex-Red Raiders signal-caller has been linked to a possible early first-round 1 selection as well. Three teams with aging quarterbacks — the Saints, Chargers and Cardinals — each are interested as well.

The Browns have also been linked to Jimmy Garoppolo with their No. 12 pick and have been attached to Watson and Trubisky during the draft process, the Clemson passer in particular with the No. 12 pick.

NFLPA Probing Jaguars For CBA Violation

March 24th, 2017 at 5:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tom Coughlin‘s return to Jacksonville may encounter some mild turbulence this offseason. A letter from the new Jaguars executive VP to several players is now the subject of an NFLPA investigation, with Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reporting a possible CBA violation occurred this month.

Coughlin sent a letter to several Jaguars players currently under contract saying they needed to report to the team’s facility for a physical earlier this month. However, the Jags do not begin their offseason program until April 10, and multiple sources informed O’Halloran the league’s CBA does not permit this request.

A player who does not live in Jacksonville who balked at paying his own travel expenses to return for this surprise request is believed to have notified his agent, who then alerted the NFLPA, per O’Halloran. Jags players are not allowed at their facility until that April date. Several players, though, were advised by their agents to follow through with the physical even as the investigation transpires. O’Halloran reports a possible punishment for the franchise will be the forfeiture of an OTA this spring.

This potential violation, though, does not appear to be as severe as the one the Ravens were found guilty of last year. Baltimore had to forfeit a week’s worth of OTAs for its practice-related infraction last year. The Seahawks and Falcons will also have fewer than the allowed 10 OTA sessions this year due to violations.

Cowboys To Sign Byron Bell

March 24th, 2017 at 4:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Byron Bell‘s visit to Dallas today led to the veteran tackle signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Bell has not played since the 2015 season but will now step into a possible role on arguably the league’s best offensive line.

Doug Free‘s retirement opened a spot at right tackle, and Bell will assuredly factor into the competition for that vacancy. Free had manned the Cowboys’ right tackle spot for most of this decade and was a starter for Dallas dating back to the 2009 season. The Cowboys will go about replacing two starting linemen from last season, and Bell’s signing gives an indication of how they plan to do that.

La’el Collins now looks likelier to slide back to the left guard position he occupied prior to a foot injury derailing his 2016 season. Ronald Leary‘s defection to Denver opens up that spot again. Dallas brass said earlier this offseason Collins could be a right tackle option. Bell has spent most of his six-year career at tackle, serving as the Panthers’ right-edge protector for three seasons before moving to the left side in 2014. He played both tackle and guard for the Titans in 2015, but with Collins having only seen time at guard, Bell’s 2017 spot looks like it will be right tackle.

Prior to visiting the Cowboys, the 28-year-old Bell met with both the 49ers and Packers. He missed all of the 2016 season due to a foot injury sustained during OTAs last year. He ranked as PFR’s No. 7 tackle option left on the market. Bell stands to compete with 2015 third-rounder Chaz Green for the starting right tackle gig.

CBS, FOX Courting Tony Romo

March 24th, 2017 at 3:39pm CST by Zachary Links

There has been a lot of speculation about where Tony Romo will play in 2017, but there exists the possibility that he doesn’t play at all. Both FOX and CBS are interested in adding the Cowboys quarterback to their broadcast teams, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Tony Romo (vertical)

After months of speculation about where the Cowboys quarterback could end up and how he’ll get there (trade or release), he remains in limbo. There is no realistic scenario in which he remains in Dallas to hold the clipboard for Dak Prescott. By the same token, the Cowboys are still hoping to get something to get something in return for him via trade, if possible. A trade would also allow them to dictate Romo’s landing spot. A wink-wink deal between the quarterback and Dallas owner Jerry Jones could steer him away from rival clubs, but a swap would give the Cowboys a level of certainty that a CBA rule-breaking handshake would not.

Of course, it’s not 100% clear that Romo wants to continue playing in the NFL. Now on the cusp of his 37th birthday, Romo has more money than he could ever spend and plenty of nagging injuries to already deal with. After injuries effectively sidelined the veteran for two straight seasons, no one would blame Romo for transitioning to the broadcast booth.

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