2017 June - Pro Football Rumors

Mike Zimmer Returns To Vikings

June 5th, 2017 at 9:13am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings announced this morning that head coach Mike Zimmer has returned to practice. The now-61-year-old (his birthday is today) has been absent from the first two weeks of OTAs as he recovered from eye surgery.

The eye woes aren’t anything new for Zimmer, as Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com notes that the coach has undergone eight separate surgeries over the past year to repair a detached retina. Considering the apparent on-going issues, some wondered if Zimmer would consider retirement, but the head coach quickly dismissed that theory.

One eye or two, it really doesn’t matter. I’m going to be back,” Zimmer said in May. “So we can put the retiring thing or whatever to bed quickly.”

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, defensive coordinator George Edwards and special teams coach Mike Priefer were required to lead their respective units during OTAs. Alper notes that defensive line coach Andre Patterson “covered some of Zimmer’s duties” during the head honcho’s absence.

In three seasons with the team, Zimmer has led the Vikings to a 26-22 record and one playoff appearance. Prior to his time in Minnesota, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Bengals, Falcons, and Cowboys.

Eagles Sign DT Gabe Wright

June 5th, 2017 at 8:30am CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles have added some defensive line reinforcement. Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed defensive tackle Gabe Wright to a one-year deal.

Wright entered the league as a 2015 fourth-round pick out of Auburn, but he hasn’t been able to establish himself in either of his two seasons. The 25-year-old compiled six tackles in seven games (one start) with the Lions during his rookie campaign, but he was waived by Detroit in 2016.

He subsequently joined the Browns practice squad and ended up appearing in five games with Cleveland, collecting four tackles and one pass defended. The 6-foot-3 lineman was waived in late May after the Browns claimed offensive lineman Chris Barker off waivers from the Patriots.

The Eagles’ defensive tackle depth chart has been a bit thin during OTAs, as Beau Allen has recovered from injury and rookie Elijah Qualls is temporarily barred from participating. Before signing Wright, Destiny Vaeao and Justin Hamilton were the lone defensive tackles behind starters Fletcher Cox and Timmy Jernigan.

Terrance Williams Took Less Money For Cowboys

June 4th, 2017 at 8:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Terrance Williams took less money to stay with the Cowboys, the wide receiver tells Drew Davison of the Star Telegram. Williams re-signed a four-year, $17MM contract with $9.5MM guaranteed early on in free agency.

“It just wasn’t about money to me,” Williams said of his free agency. “There was a lot of money I could have taken, but it’s just the people. The guys I hang around with in my locker room and then the coaches that I have. That’s a bigger price tag on it for me than money.”

Williams, a third-round pick of the Cowboys in 2013, mentioned fellow receiver Dez Bryant as one reason he gave Dallas a hometown discount. It also helps that Williams is already familiar with the playbook and has already enjoyed success with the team. He had 44 grabs for 594 yards and four touchdowns in 2016. In the year prior, he set watermarks in receptions (52) and yards (840).

Cardinals Content At RB?

June 4th, 2017 at 7:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have one of the very best running backs in the game, though some might say that the supporting cast for him is lacking. Right now, the Cardinals seem content with Kerwynn Williams, T.J. Logan, Eli Penny, and Andre Ellington as the reserves behind him, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com writes.

If that’s truly the case, then that might mean that the Cardinals are moving on from veteran Chris Johnson. CJ2K was hoping to find an opportunity where he could get significant playing time, but he might not even have the opportunity to return for table scraps. Johnson claims that he has been in contact with Arizona brass about a potential deal, but that has not been verified by any other report.

It’s possible that the Cardinals and C. Johnson have an understanding in which he will wait until after the offseason program to sign. This also might be a case of the Cardinals wanting to fully assess what they have in house before bringing CJ2K back. The Cardinals might wait to see Logan and Penny in pads before circling back to the former Titans star.

5 Key Stories: 5/28/17 – 6/4/17

June 4th, 2017 at 4:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Chiefs release WR Jeremy Maclin. Kansas City’s decision to part ways with Maclin came as a surprise both for financial reasons and due to the lack of pass-catching depth on the Chiefs’ roster. KC could have designated Maclin as a post-June 1 release months ago, allowing him to hit the free agent market early while gaining cap space at the same date (June 2). Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, and rookie Jehu Chesson, meanwhile, now top the Chiefs’ depth chart at wideout. Bills running back LeSean McCoy is now attempting to lure Maclin to Buffalo.

Jets trade a former first-rounder. New York shipped 2014 first-round safety Calvin Pryor to the Browns last week, re-acquiring linebacker Demario Davis in return. Pryor, whom the Jets reportedly wanted out of their locker room, will now try to restart his career on a rebuilding Cleveland roster. Davis, for his part, is now back with the club with which he spent the 2012-15 campaigns, but he may not make the roster without accepting a pay reduction.

Seahawks pass on Colin Kaepernick. While Seattle had genuine interest in adding Kaepernick as a backup to starter Russell Wilson, the Hawks aren’t giving Kaepernick a roster spot right now. Head coach Pete Carroll lauded Kaepernick, indicating that the former 49ers quarterback can still be a starter in the NFL. But reports indicated that the two sides were apart on money, as Kaepernick may be looking for a larger payday than the Seahawks are willing to provide.

Two Ravens go down. Fresh off a comeback season during which he led all NFL tight ends in receptions, Baltimore’s Dennis Pitta dislocated his hip for the third time in four years, a devastating injury which could lead to the end of Pitta’s career. While the veteran tight end hasn’t yet made a decision on his future, it’s difficult to imagine the 31-year-old will continue the risk of playing. Nickel cornerback Tavon Young, who shined during his rookie campaign in 2016, also suffered an serious injury, an ACL tear which will likely end his season before it began.

Christine Michael finds a home. One month after being cut by the Packers, Michael landed with the Colts last week. Indianapolis marks the fifth club that’s employed Michael over the past two years, joining the Seahawks, Cowboys, Redskins, and the aforementioned Packers. While the Colts are counting on Michael to play a lead back role, he’s landed in a favorable position, as Josh Ferguson, Robert Turbin, and rookie Marlon Mack represent Michael’s only competition to serve as Frank Gore‘s backup.

LeSean McCoy Recruiting Jeremy Maclin

June 4th, 2017 at 3:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin were teammates with the Eagles from 2009-14, and McCoy would like to reunite with the newly free agent wide receiver. McCoy is recruiting Maclin to sign with the Bills, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

“I know he could help us out tremendously,” McCoy said. “I’ve been doing my recruiting already, and don’t be surprised if it happens. That would be cool to have another weapon on the offense. But you never know. A lot of things would have to work out for that to happen. You know how the business goes.”

While McCoy was clear that he has no inside information on Buffalo’s plans, a Maclin addition would make sense for the club. Sammy Watkins is the Bills’ No. 1 wideout, but he’s had problems staying healthy, and second-round pick Zay Jones will be making the transition from East Carolina to the NFL. Other wide receivers on Buffalo’s depth chart include Rod Streater, Andre Holmes, and Corey Brown, so the team could certainly use a veteran presence like Maclin.

McCoy isn’t the only Bills offensive player who plans to speak with Maclin, as quarterback Tyrod Taylor told Rodak he’ll reach out to the former Chiefs wide receiver and lobby Buffalo coaches about Maclin. “Would love to have a guy like him on our team competing and coming out and making plays for us,” Taylor said. “Especially means a lot to our wide receiver room, putting another veteran guy with a whole bunch of talent and still potential left to reach his best. I would love to have him.”

PFR Originals: 5/28/17 – 6/4/17

June 4th, 2017 at 2:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff:

Given that Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor is entering the final year of his contract, Connor Byrne examined what kind of extension the All Pro defensive back could land if Seattle chooses to retain him for the long haul. While Reshad Jones‘ four-year, $48MM deal with the Dolphins could serve as a basis for talks, the Seahawks might have pause about handing Chancellor — on the verge of 30 and with a concerning injury history — that type of money.
10 quarterbacks were selected in the 2017 draft, starting with Mitch Trubisky at No. 2 (Bears) to Chad Kelly at No. 253 (Broncos), leading Connor to ask which rookie signal-caller will have the largest impact during the upcoming season. Thus far, the Texans’ Deshaun Watson leads the poll with more than 40% of the vote.
The Jets are still shopping defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, so Ben Levine asked where the former first-round pick will be playing in 2017. Although New York reportedly offered Richardson to teams such as the Colts, Seahawks, and Buccaneers, most PFR readers Richardson will be suiting up for an unidentified club next season.

Jets Likely To Ask Demario Davis For Paycut

June 4th, 2017 at 1:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets re-acquired linebacker Demario Davis last week in a trade that sent safety Calvin Pryor to the Browns, but unless Davis accepts a reduction on his $3.7MM base salary, he isn’t likely to make New York’s final roster, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

None of Davis’ 2017 salary, so the Jets could cut him without incurring any dead money on their salary cap. As Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap wrote last week, the trade was odd on its face: given that Pryor is due a salary of roughly $1.6MM for the upcoming season, New York is essentially paying $2.1MM in order to rid itself of Pryor.

If the Jets do opt to release Davis, the club would be in the same position it would have been in had they simply cut Pryor. Because none of Davis’ money would accelerate onto their cap, the only remnants of the trade on the Jets’ book would be Pryor’s ~$1.1MM in dead money. That total would have remained on New York’s cap whether it traded or waived Pryor.

Davis, 28, is an strange fit for a Jets club that already employs veteran David Harris and 2016 first-round pick Darron Lee at linebacker, but New York is familiar with Davis given that he played for Gang Green from 2012-15. While Davis could conceivably serve as a backup and a special teams player (he played on a quarter of the Jets’ ST snaps during his last season with the team), he isn’t likely to do so on a $3.7MM salary.

AFC Rumors: Steelers, Jets, C. Kelly

June 4th, 2017 at 11:56am CST by Rory Parks

Steelers star RB Le’Veon Bell has yet to sign his franchise tender, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if the club would consider rescinding the tender, just as the Panthers did with Josh Norman last year. The closer we get to training camp, the more difficult it would be for Bell land a contract on the open market that pays him even $10MM in 2017, much less the $12.1MM he stands to receive under the franchise tender, and if Pittsburgh were to rescind the tender late in the summer, Bell’s financial prospects would only worsen. In the meantime, the Steelers’ other backs will get ample opportunity to prove their worth, and Florio speculates that Pittsburgh could decide to save millions by severing ties with Bell if its other options could combine to approximate Bell’s production.

But given that the rest of the Steelers’ RB corps features the likes of Knile Davis, Fitzgerald Toussaint, and rookie James Conner, that notion seems almost laughable. Even if the Steelers were considering rescinding the tender, it’s not surprising that there have been no reports about it, as such decisions are made and executed swiftly to avoid the possibility that the player will catch wind of it and pounce on the tender. Nonetheless, if Bell is not lined up behind Ben Roethlisberger on Week 1 (assuming he’s not injured or suspended), it would be the surprise of the season.

Now for more from the AFC:

Speaking of Davis, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that the Arkansas product, whom the Steelers signed as a free agent this offseason, has a good chance of landing the team’s No. 3 RB spot behind Bell and Conner. Third-string backs have been important players for Pittsburgh in recent years, and Davis’ experience returning kickoffs could give him the edge over Toussaint.
New Jets OC John Morton, unlike his predecessor, Chan Gailey, utilizes two-back sets, and the only fullbacks currently on New York’s roster are the unproven Julian Howsare and undrafted rookie Anthony Firkser. As such, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com believes the team could add a fullback like Zach Line, whom the team expressed interest in earlier this offseason, in the near future.
Darryl Slater of NJ.com says Jets QB Christian Hackenberg has shown some progress in OTAs, though he is still struggling with accuracy and turnovers. If the team can get him some game action, and if he flashes some potential, Slater believes the Jets may refrain from drafting a QB in 2018. If not, look for Gang Green to use another early selection on a signal-caller next year.
Broncos rookie QB Chad Kelly, this year’s Mr. Irrelevant, is close to getting back on the field, as Mike Klis of 9News.com writes. Kelly is coming off an injury to his right throwing wrist and his second ACL operation on his right knee, and while the Ole Miss product likely wouldn’t have been a factor in Denver’s QB competition this year anyway, he could have a legitimate chance at the job in 2018 or 2019.
Texans rookie Deante’ Gray, who signed with the club as a UDFA last month and who has a chance of cracking the back end of Houston’s WR corps, is expected to be out until training camp with a Grade 2 partially torn hamstring, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes.
Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union compares the career trajectory of Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith, who is entering his contract year, with that of Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey, who recently signed a four-year, $38MM extension with Cleveland. The two players, who were both drafted in 2014, have similar numbers through this point in their careers, so O’Halloran suggests that Kirksey’s deal will be a good foundation for a new Smith contract if the Jags are open to extending Smith before the season starts.

NFC Rumors: DGB, E. Thomas, H. Smith

June 4th, 2017 at 10:27am CST by Rory Parks

Dorial Green-Beckham, whom the Eagles acquired in a mid-August trade last year, believes Philadelphia has not seen him at his best. After all, he had to learn a new offense on the fly after the trade, and then he had to adjust to a new starting quarterback a few weeks later. But as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes, DGB has an uphill battle just to make the team, let alone make a major impact. The Eagles signed Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith in free agency, they spent mid-round draft choices on Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson, and Jordan Matthews looks to remain with the club after being the subject of offseason trade rumors. All five of those players are roster locks, which means that Green-Beckham will battle former first-round selection Nelson Agholor — whom the Eagles have more of a commitment to from a salary and draft standpoint — for the final wide receiver spot. So, barring injury or a transcendent training camp, DGB’s days in Philadelphia could be numbered.

Now for more from the NFC:

Steve Wyche of NFL.com reports that Seahawks safety Earl Thomas is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken left left leg, and head coach Pete Carroll has no doubts that Thomas will be at full speed in training camp. WR Tyler Lockett, who is also recovering from a broken leg, is not as far along as Thomas, but Carroll indicated that Locket is still “on schedule.”
The Giants signed D.J. Fluker this offseason to help bolster an offensive line that was a major weakness last season. Fluker, whom the Chargers drafted as a tackle, shifted inside to guard over the past couple of seasons, but it was expected that he could at least compete for the Giants’ right tackle job this summer. But the Associated Press reports that Bobby Hart has manned right tackle during OTAs, which has relegated Fluker to John Jerry‘s backup at right guard.
The Lions recently signed former division-rival Matt Asiata to complement their running back corps, but barring an injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press does not see Asiata making the team. Birkett expects Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington to be the Lions’ running backs, in that order, and he does not believe there is room for a fifth RB, even without a fullback.
Vikings star safety Harrison Smith says his ankle is fully healed and is now a non-issue, per the Associated Press.
Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune reports that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is expected to return to Minnesota today, to visit his eye doctors tomorrow, and if all goes well, he will be coaching OTAs on Tuesday (Twitter links).