HEADLINES

Month: April 2017

Draft Notes: Kizer, Giants, Lions, Jets

April 22nd, 2017 at 11:43am CST by Ben Levine

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer does not lack confidence. The Fighting Irish finished last season with a 4-8 record, and there are a number of quarterback prospects (including North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Cal’s Davis Webb) who could be taken before Kizer in the upcoming draft. Despite that, the signal caller believes he should be a candidate for the top-overall pick.

“Name a college quarterback who goes into the game-plan meetings on Monday and throws his notes at the coaches,” Kizer said (via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). “No one else game plans the way I do. No one else prepares the way I do. No one else knows football the way I do. No one else is as big as I am. No one else is as powerful a runner as I am. Pat Mahomes might throw the ball 80 yards and I can only throw the ball 72, but I guarantee he can’t throw an out route the way I can.

“No one else can do what I can do. And I’ve truly figured out in this (draft) process, if I can maximize all my potential in every aspect of the game – this is bold – I do have the ability to be the greatest quarterback to ever play. Imagine taking (Tom) Brady’s intellect and Brady’s preparation and putting it on a guy with Cam Newton’s body. Why can’t I be the greatest? The only thing stopping me from it is me. That’s what’s driving me now.”

Our own Dallas Robinson had Kizer being selected by the Saints with the 32nd pick in PFR’s recent mock draft.

Let’s check out some more draft notes from around the NFL…

  • The Giants are not fans of this year’s offensive line class, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv. The team sorely needs some reinforcement on the unit, and Vacchiano notes that the team could consider Utah’s Garett Bolles and Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk. However, it’s more likely that the organization moves forward with their current crop of lineman.
  • Don’t expect the Lions to be drafting offensive lineman, either. As Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes, Bob Quinn spent much of last season revamping the unit, so it’s unlikely that he commits more picks to the offensive line. Instead, the general manager expects to select the best players available, especially in the first round. “I’m big into the best player available,” Quinn said. “I mentioned it last year, best player available, meshing with kind of what your needs are on your team, so I think you kind of have to look at both avenues when you’re making decisions in the draft.”
  • LSU safety Jamal Adams met with the Jets earlier this week, tweets ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. However, the prospect said that the organization was skeptical that he’d still be available with the sixth-overall pick. Adams was projected to be selected by the Chargers with the seventh pick in our recent mock draft.

AFC Notes: Carr, Raiders, Gillislee, Patriots

April 22nd, 2017 at 10:06am CST by Ben Levine

We learned earlier this week that Raiders quarterback Derek Carr wants to wrap up extension talks by the beginning of training camp. General manager Reggie McKenzie stated yesterday that he’d prefer to get a new contract wrapped up as soon as possible, and he expressed optimism that the two sides could come to an agreement.

“I feel good about it,” McKenzie said (via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com). “When both sides want to get it done, that’s a great first step. I’m looking forward to getting it done by then.”

Carr had another productive season in 2016, completing 63.8-percent of his passes for 3,937 yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Let’s take a look at some other notes from around the AFC…

  • Aldon Smith is still under contract with the Raiders, although the linebacker hasn’t taken the field in more than a year after having violated the league’s substance abuse policy. The NFL hasn’t made any move to reinstate the embattled player, and McKenzie isn’t expecting a resolution anytime soon. “Our thought process is on the draft and not considering Aldon at this point,” McKenzie said (via Bair). “He’s still on the suspension list, so we’re not considering him at this point.”
  • Last offseason, when the Patriots signed restricted free agent wideout Chris Hogan, the Bills immediately made it clear that they wouldn’t be matching the contract. However, Buffalo has taken their time deciding what to do with running back Mike Gillislee, who signed an offer sheet with New England earlier this week. ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss wonders if the delay could be an indication that the Bills are strongly considering matching the offer.
  • Following the death of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, legal analyst (and ESPN.com writer) Lester Munson writes that the organization may be required to pay his family “a significant sum of money.” The NFLPA says there are “three outstanding grievances” between Hernandez and the Patriots stemming from the team’s refusal to pay the player’s $3.25MM bonus following his initial arrest. “How these are resolved will determine” whether Hernandez’s family will ultimately receive any money from the Patriots.

Redskins Re-Sign Chris Thompson

April 22nd, 2017 at 8:56am CST by Ben Levine

Chris Thompson will be returning to the Redskins next season. The team announced that the restricted free agent running back has signed a new contract, although terms of the deal were not reported.

Chris ThompsonThis isn’t particularly surprising, as the deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets with rival clubs was yesterday. Therefore, Thompson essentially had no other choice but to sign Washington’s tender. The Redskins applied a second-round tender to Thompson back in March, which was estimated to be worth $2.74MM.

The 2013 fifth-round pick has spent his entire four-year career with the Redskins. 2016 was arguably his most productive campaign, as he collected career-highs in attempts (68), rushing yards (356), and rushing touchdowns (three). The versatile weapons has also shown to be a threat in the passing game, as he hauled in 49 catches for 349 yards and two scores last season. Thompson ultimately finished the year with 489 offensive snaps, the most among Redskins running backs.

Besides being a threat in the running and receiving game, the Redskins have also used Thompson as a return man. The 26-year-old has returned 33 career punts and 28 career kickoffs.

Thompson will be re-joining a Redskins running back corps that features Rob Kelley, Keith Marshall, Matt Jones, and Mack Brown.

Latest On Browns’ Mitch Trubisky Interest

April 21st, 2017 at 9:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier today, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported the Browns were still mired in a Myles Garrett-vs.-Mitch Trubisky debate despite the former being the consensus top talent in the draft. More came out of Cleveland on Friday night to support the Browns are legitimately considering the North Carolina product.

The team is both pondering a trade-up for the former Cleveland-area high school quarterback and selecting him at No. 1 overall, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. Cabot adds that the pro-Garrett vibes coming out of Sashi Brown‘s Wednesday press conference do not mean the team is going to take the defensive end, noting the Browns are “strongly considering” bypassing the Texas A&M sack artist and selecting Trubisky.

Cleveland’s line of thinking here is believed to be that the pro-Trubisky contingent within the Browns’ decision-making structure is uncertain he will be there at No. 12 and isn’t sure the team will be able to swing a trade back into the top 10 to select him. Sources informed Cabot the team is ready to select its quarterback of the future.

During the second-year GM’s pre-draft presser, Brown said the Browns have “just about finalized” their decision at No. 1. While that was believed to be interpreted as a sign the team was ready to take the best player available, sources told Cabot that Brown may have meant Trubisky is the emerging consensus choice.

Cabot also hears the 49ers are a threat to take Trubisky at No. 2 overall, and that the North Carolina-honed signal-caller won’t last past the Jets at No. 6. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported earlier this month some Jets officials are high on Trubisky, and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report noted the team could serve as a trade partner for the Browns if they wanted to get back into the top 10.

If the Jets are entertaining the thought of using another high pick on a passer, the Titans hold the No. 5 pick. Tennessee had to surrender a 2016 third-rounder and 2017 second-round choice to Cleveland in order to move from No. 15 to 8 to select Jack Conklin. The price could be similar for the Browns, who have been more known for stockpiling draft picks than trading up for talent since the Brown- and Paul DePodesta-led front office took over.

The Browns have turned down offers for the No. 1 pick, Cabot reports, but after the team traded out of No. 2 last year and passed on Carson Wentz, it’s now poised to make that quarterback pick this year. Cabot adds that the Browns missing out on Trubisky would result in them moving on to Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes — presumably with their No. 12 pick. Of course, a GM told NFL.com’s Charlie Casserly he believes two quarterbacks would go in the top nine selections. In that scenario, the Browns would have to trade back into the top 10 if they wanted to draft the second-best quarterback on their board.

This would wrap up another complex Browns pre-draft process. Reports about the Browns’ astronomical grade on Garrett and team brass being awed by his Combine showing eventually leading to a Trubisky pick would be quite interesting. As would the possibility that owner Jimmy Haslam, who was possibly connected to having made the decision to trade up for Johnny Manziel in 2014, being involved in the decision-making process, as La Canfora suggests he could be.

Draft Notes: QBs, Foster, Ross, Cook, Mixon

April 21st, 2017 at 8:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the 2017 rookie quarterback pool has been heavily scrutinized this offseason, teams are warming up to select signal-callers as the draft nears. While this shouldn’t be unexpected, given the position’s scarcity at the sport’s highest level, Charlie Casserly of NFL.com and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) hear two QBs could well be taken in the top 10. A GM told Casserly he expects two quarterbacks to be taken in the top nine picks, meaning the Bills — who have been linked to passers at 10 — could have to look elsewhere if they don’t trade up. Miller points to Mitch Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes as the players most likely to be those top-nine choices, while a 22-team survey from Casserly produced Trubisky or Deshaun Watson as the quarterbacks teams identify as this draft’s best.

Here’s more from this draft pool, with the three-day event less than six days away.

  • Reuben Foster has been linked as high as No. 2 overall to the 49ers, but since, the former Alabama linebacker has run into off-field trouble on multiple fronts. And Miller hears a Myles Jack-like fall could be in store for the talented ‘backer. Viewed as a top-five talent in 2016, Jack plummeted to the Jaguars at No. 36 last year because of a severe injury he suffered while at UCLA. Foster falling out of the first round based strictly on character issues would stand as a surprise. A failed drug test and his forced exit from the Combine indeed raise red flags, but Foster has been viewed as the top off-the-ball linebacker in this draft throughout the process. It would take a lot of linebacker-needy teams to pass on him for this freefall to commence. PFR’s Zach Links asked whether Foster was going to fall out of the top 10 earlier today; slinking out of the top 32 would be something else entirely.
  • Regarding other possible falling stocks, Miller hears John Ross and Dalvin Cook may fall out of the first round as well. The Florida State back has not seen much momentum since the Combine, with a low SPARQ score accompanying a past that includes some troublesome signs. Ross underwent surgery after the Combine to repair a torn labrum but did set the event’s modern record with a 4.22-second 40-yard dash time. This isn’t the first time Miller’s warned about concerns around Ross potentially causing a slippage for the Washington-developed speedster.
  • Ross’ agent, Brad Cicala, attempted to address concerns that there’s more to Ross’ medical history. Ross underwent two surgeries to correct knee problems in early 2015, per Cicala, but did not undergo two ACL procedures. “Despite recent reports, John Ross III has never sustained 2 ACL injury’s (sic) nor has he had 2 ACL surgeries,” Cicala wrote (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Facebook link) “In January of 2015 he endured surgery on his right lateral meniscus and in April of 2015 he had surgery on his left ACL.” Cicala adds that Ross has been deemed “ahead of schedule” in his recovery from the labrum surgery, with the wideout expected to be ready by training camp.
  • Miller is hearing Mixon’s name connected to the second round. One team to meet with the runner has a need at running back but is connected to a higher-profile name. The Raiders met with the Oklahoma product who grew up in the Bay Area, and Reggie McKenzie was satisfied with the embattled running back’s answers. “We thought he was a really good kid,” McKenzie said Friday, via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “He came off really well. He explained each and every thing. The questions that we had, he had an explanation. He was upfront about everything.” Mark Davis is associated with having a “zero tolerance” policy on domestic violence, and the Raiders are currently negotiating with Marshawn Lynch. So, this would be an interesting fit, to say the least.
  • Former USC wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster said the Rams and Cowboys have shown the most interest in him, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The Los Angeles-based wideout said he would like to play for the Chargers last month.

Joe Mixon Reaches Civil Settlement

April 21st, 2017 at 6:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Mixon and the woman he punched nearly three years ago agreed to a civil settlement on Friday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports. Terms of the settlement are not available.

The likely draft pick and Amelia Molitor, the victim in the infamous incident in 2014, settled on her accusation of intentional infliction of emotional distress. Trotter reports an Oklahoma judge threw out Molitor’s accusations of negligence and willful and wanton misconduct in her original suit in November of last year.

Mixon and Molitor released a joint statement, revealing they met privately.

“I’m thankful Mia and I were able to talk privately,” Mixon said in the statement. “I was able to apologize to her one-to-one. The way I reacted that night, that’s not me. That’s not the way I was raised. I think she understands that.”

The punch, one that broke four bones in Molitor’s face, resulted in Mixon being suspended from Oklahoma for the 2014 season and has led to Mixon landing as the biggest character risk in this year’s draft. The running back accepted a plea deal after the incident but returned to the Sooners’ football team a year later and put himself in position to be a possible Day 2 draft pick. The incident being caught on tape has caused several teams to remove Mixon from their respective draft boards and has the talented ball-carrier’s stock in a murky place with the draft a week away.

“I greatly appreciate his apology and I think the feelings he expressed were sincere. We both could have handled things differently,” Molitor said in the statement. “I believe if we had a chance to go back to that moment in time, the situation would not have ended the way it did. I’m finished talking about what happened that night with Joe. It’s time to move on from that. I wish Joe the best of luck in his future.”

AFC South Notes: Texans, QBs, Colts, Alie-Cox

April 21st, 2017 at 6:09pm CST by Zachary Links

While the quarterback dominoes could fall before the Texans‘ No. 25 selection window opens, GM Rick Smith does not feel obligated to take a quarterback in Round 1. Of course, it’s not like the veteran decision-maker would say his team has to have a quarterback by a certain point, it is notable Smith said he would be fine with Tom Savage as a Week 1 starter.

“I think he’s proven that he can play at a high level in the offense,” Smith said, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com. “He’s been injured, so he hasn’t had an extended amount of time to do that, but I am comfortable with that.”

Smith confirmed Houston plans to add a third quarterback going into training camp but didn’t say said passer has to be added through the draft. Although, the 12th-year GM did call this maligned crop of quarterbacks a “good class.” Smith echoed what Bill O’Brien said earlier this offseason, noting the difficulties modern rookies face when taking the reins in Year 1.

“It’s rare that you can get a guy that can come in and play at a high level at the position early,” Smith said, via Barshop. “But it’s certainly possible.”

The Texans brought in Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, the latter of whom O’Brien is quite fond of, for visits earlier this week. Both could well be off the board by the time the Texans pick, which could place the team — in the event it doesn’t trade up — with Savage as its Week 1 starter. Potential Day 2 prospect Brad Kaaya also visited this week. The Texans had mild interest in Jay Cutler, but O’Brien prefers Savage to him.

Here’s more from the AFC South.

  • Colts GM Chris Ballard is borrowing a page from “The Cubs Way,” a book about how Theo Epstein reshaped baseball in Chicago. One key similarity between the two decision-makers is their emphasis on young talent. “It takes time to build a team,” Ballard said (via ESPN.com’s Mike Wells). “… Do we have work in front of us? Yes, we do. But it takes time. And the biggest thing that I want to make sure that we’re emphasizing is that competition and they have to earn it. It doesn’t matter where you come from and how we build it or where, from first-round pick to undrafted free agent to street free agent, guy that was cut at the 53-[man roster], future signing.”
  • On a conference call with reporters, new Colts addition Mo Alie-Cox said that the Buccaneers, Chargers, and Seahawks were among the teams that also made offers (Twitter links via Stephen Holder of the Indy Star). The former VCU basketball player added that he picked the Colts in part because coach Chuck Pagano reminded him of (former VCU coach) Shaka Smart. Some teams thought Alie-Cox could play defensive end, but he’ll be a tight end with the Colts.
  • Texans GM Rick Smith said he has not talked to Vince Wilfork since last season, but his “expectation is that Vince is not playing anymore,” Barshop tweets. Wilfork retired after 13 seasons in the league after the Texans’ loss to the Patriots in January.
  • Both Harry Douglas and Da’Norris Searcy accepted paycuts from the Titans this week.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report.

Latest On Marshawn Lynch, Raiders

April 21st, 2017 at 5:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marshawn Lynch is still tied to a Seahawks-constructed deal that would pay him $9MM in 2017, and that’s causing some issues between the Raiders and their prospective high-profile running back.

The Raiders want Lynch to play for approximately a third of that this season, while Lynch is currently balking at taking less than half of that amount, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. This is expected to be an incentive-heavy deal for the unretiring runner, according to Tafur, who notes (on Twitter) both sides could move a bit from their current stances.

Lynch, per Tafur, also wanted to get this deal done by his 31st birthday, which is Saturday.

The Raiders have more than $34MM in cap space but are currently negotiating with Derek Carr on what will surely be the biggest contract in franchise history. Possible extensions for Khalil Mack and Gabe Jackson reside on the Raiders’ itinerary after Carr, making money tighter than it has been in many years for this franchise.

Lynch has not played for less than $3MM in base salary since 2011. His bases from 2012-15 were $4MM, $7MM, $6MM and $4.5MM. However, the 2012 and ’15 seasons featured Lynch receiving $6MM and $7.5MM signing bonuses, respectively. The Raiders have also not paid a back $3MM in a season since Darren McFadden in 2014. The 2015 signing of Roy Helu netted the Silver and Black next to nothing, and the Raiders went with rookie-deal players last season in Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.

Earlier today, GM Reggie McKenzie said the draft stands as the deadline for the Raiders to add Lynch. The Raiders currently house Washington, Richard and running back-turned-cornerback-turned-running back Taiwan Jones as incumbent backs. Jamize Olawale profiles as the short-yardage back as of now, but another ball-carrier is expected to be added — either in Lynch or a rookie — to help with traditional between-the-tackles work.

Tafur adds at that a trade with the Seahawks is expected to be a formality once the Raiders and Lynch work out a contract. The Bay Area native visited the Raiders more than two weeks ago.

“I think every indication I got is he was excited to play for the Oakland Raiders,” Jack Del Rio said today, via Tafur.

Rams Cut Tre’ Jackson

April 21st, 2017 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tre’ Jackson‘s Rams stay did not last long. The third-year guard saw another team cut ties with him this week, with Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reporting (on Twitter) the Rams waived Jackson on Friday after he failed his physical.

The Rams picked up Jackson via waivers after the Patriots cut him earlier this week. Volin reports a bad knee led to Jackson failing his Rams physical. He will venture back onto the waiver wire as a result of this development.

The former fourth-round pick started nine games for the Patriots in 2015 but did not play last season. Knee injuries ended Jackson’s rookie campaign and prevented him from playing at all in 2016. After multiple teams cut ties with the 24-year-old interior blocker this week, it looks like the former Florida State talent may have to recover on his own before making a return to action.

Browns Owner Wants QB At No. 1?

April 21st, 2017 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Complicating the divide between the Browns’ coaches and their front office regarding the No. 1 overall pick: Jimmy Haslam is believed to be weighing in on this process.

The team’s owner “badly wants” a quarterback, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). As the draft nears, Haslam has been asking about this draft’s quarterback class and wondering why there hasn’t been much clamoring for a passer at No. 1 overall among the team’s decision-makers (Twitter links, via La Canfora).

While this would seem to open up a bigger issue for the Browns, who have seen Haslam make quick decisions regarding previous head coaches during his tenure, the team still has a chasm between its coaching staff and new-era front office about which player to select first overall.

The coaching staff continues to prefer Myles Garrett, with La Canfora echoing what we’ve heard before about Jackson’s preference for the Texas A&M defensive end. But the front office, per La Canfora, is leaning more toward Mitch Trubisky as the pre-draft process enters its final week.

Trubisky has evidently made a late push for a Browns team that has probably experienced the biggest trouble at the quarterback spot of any team during the 21st century. The Cleveland-area native, though, could be viewed as a reach at No. 1 overall due to his one year of starting experience and the constant scrutiny about this year’s quarterback class having been present throughout the pre-draft months. But the Browns are also believed to be pondering a move up from their No. 12 spot to select the North Carolina-developed passer.

The owner weighing in on the process would certainly appear to throw more weight behind Trubisky. Haslem wanting to leave the draft with a surefire starting signal-caller doesn’t necessarily mean the Browns are going to pass on Garrett, but it might mean the team will trade up from No. 12 or use multiple picks as currency in a trade. La Canfora tweets a trade scenario would be welcomed by Browns brass, as it would “appease” Haslam and allow the franchise to select Garrett. The Browns have been linked to Jimmy Garoppolo throughout the offseason, but the Patriots have shown increased reluctance to unload Tom Brady‘s backup.

Of course, Browns GM Sashi Brown said earlier this week the team doesn’t envision a trade for a veteran quarterback. So, the complicated offseason — one that has the Browns still trying to work a trade to get Brock Osweiler off the roster — continues in Cleveland.

Load More Posts