AFC Rumors: Browns, Lynch, Broncos, Jets
Kenny Britt is now on thinner ice with the Browns despite his lucrative free agent deal, but there’s now a report that the Browns made an exception to their curfew policy. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports the Browns previously did not enforce their 11 p.m. curfew on injured players. Both Britt and Corey Coleman were declared out for the Texans game, and Schefter reports Britt did not get back to the team hotel until around 1:15 a.m. It’s unclear why the Browns apparently changed their policy, which resulted in Britt and Coleman being sent home. Although, Schefter reports the wideouts returned to Cleveland at the same time as their team. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk doesn’t believe the team that employs Josh Gordon and the one that drafted Johnny Manziel would have a double standard like this, where injured players could stay out much longer than their teammates who are preparing to play.
Here’s the latest from around the AFC.
- The NFL revealed Friday it planned to explore fines and a suspension for Marshawn Lynch, and it came forth with a one-game ban for the Raiders running back. However, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the league will not impose any additional fines on Lynch — other than the docked game check he’ll miss if this suspension is upheld. Lynch stands to lose $110K, from a portion of his base salary and $500K roster bonus. The maximum fine he was facing, if the NFL didn’t go through with the suspension, was $60K.
- The Broncos cut both Ahtyba Rubin and Kyle Peko from their 53-man roster this week, and some of the reasoning behind these moves centered on Zach Kerr improving to the point he can contribute after a lengthy injury absence, Mike Klis of 9News notes (on Twitter). Signed in March after the Colts non-tendered him, Kerr was expected to be a key rotation presence at defensive end and nose tackle prior to suffering a preseason knee malady. He’s played in one game for the Broncos this season.
- A Muhammad Wilkerson release has emerged as a key Jets topic this week, and ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini indeed expects Gang Green to follow through with this after the season (Twitter link). Wilkerson has not been the same player since signing his landmark extension at the 2016 franchise tag deadline, with injuries playing a role in that. While the Jets would incur a $9MM dead-money charge — which could be spread out over multiple years if Wilkerson is a post-June 1 cut — they would also save $11MM by parting with the seventh-year veteran.
- Jay Ajayi‘s chemistry with Jay Cutler may be suffering because of a chronic knee condition that keeps the Dolphins running back out of at least one practice per week, Roy Cummings of FloridaFootballInsiders.com notes. Miami OC Clyde Christensen said Ayaji’s condensed practice time is limiting his development as a pass-catcher. Ajayi has just seven receptions (on 12 targets) for 23 yards through five games. He wasn’t used much in the passing game last season, but the third-year running back remains productive on the ground with his 391 rushing yards ranking seventh in the league.
Latest On Colin Kaepernick, NFL Protests
One of the centerpieces of Colin Kaepernick‘s collusion grievance against the NFL will be President Donald Trump’s tweets and comments regarding his and other players’ racial inequality-themed protests and those words’ possible influence on owners, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports. La Canfora adds Kaepernick’s case will involve the numerous times the president has attempted to exert influence on owners regarding this matter, one that the quarterback is charging has him unemployed while numerous passers of lesser pedigrees are on teams’ rosters. Arguing certain inferior players are rostered while Kaepernick isn’t may not be enough to satisfy the CBA’s “burden of proof” element, so it appears Kaepernick’s side is taking a different approach.
Trump’s tweeted about having conversations with owners about protesting players and has discussed publicly his sway over them regarding this recent movement, and La Canfora writes Kaepernick’s lawyers could argue this has created a climate in which “numerous owners have colluded” to keep the quarterback from having a chance to sign as a free agent. Trump recently tweeted about speaking with Jerry Jones in late September regarding this issue, and the Cowboys owner made comments about the team benching protesting players in early October. Jones spoke about Trump discussing the game-day manual regarding anthem protocols as well, per La Canfora.
Kaepernick became a free agent in March by opting out of his 49ers contract, but San Francisco GM John Lynch said the team would have released him had he not done so.
Here’s the latest surrounding the Kaepernick grievance and the protest discussions that came out of the league meetings this week.
- Other owners wish Jones would refrain from making bold pronouncements like his anthem directive in an effort to preserve the goodwill fostered between them and the players this week, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com reports, adding the owners would like the NFL to stay off Trump’s political agenda. Jones could be an outlier among owners who have expressed optimism about talks with the players on social activism, Robinson writes. The Cowboys owner did not make further remarks about this issue after the owners’ meetings. Considering Jones speaks with the media often, this issue will come up again soon.
- Michael Bennett said an early step toward further discussions with owners about social issues would be making sure Kaepernick signs with a team. “I think before we even negotiate anything about whether we sit, whether we stand [during the national anthem], it should be a negotiation about opening up the doors for Colin Kaepernick and giving him an opportunity again,” the Seahawks defensive end said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. “Because I feel like through everything, that’s been lost.”
- However, other players may not see a Kaepernick job as an automatic end to the protests. One anonymous member of the NFL players coalition, assembled this year to help with criminal justice reform in these players’ respective communities, told Ed Werder (Twitter link) a Kaepernick signing won’t just stop the protests. The same player told Werder (Twitter link) the quarterback “continues to isolate himself from [the coalition]” with this grievance.
- The Jets player reps at this week’s owners’ meetings, Kelvin Beachum and Demario Davis, declined to answer questions about them. Davis did compose a statement, however. “I will say that the talks were very productive,” the linebacker said, via Daniel Popper of the New York Daily News. “It’s encouraging to me as an athlete to see so many athletes and owners so concerned about our country and pushing in the right direction. We have a tremendous platform in the NFL, and to whom much is given, much is required. And that’s why we simply can’t just play football.”
- Jaguars owner Shad Khan said Trump’s failure to buy an NFL team has led to this crusade against the league. “This is a very personal issue with him,” Khan said (via Jarrett Bell of USA Today). “… He’s been elected president, where maybe a great goal he had in life to own an NFL team is not very likely. So to make it tougher, or to hurt the league, it’s very calculated.” Trump attempted to buy the Bills in 2014, but Terry Pegula wound up acquiring the franchise.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- Multiple injuries along their offensive front prompted the Broncos to promote two O-linemen from their practice squad. Dillon Day and Elijah Wilkinson will be part of Denver’s 53-man roster for its Week 7 game in Los Angeles, Mike Klis of 9News reports (Twitter links). The team placed inside linebacker Corey Nelson on IR after the fourth-year player tore a biceps muscle, and the Broncos waived defensive tackle Kyle Peko, Klis reports (on Twitter). An ex-UDFA interior lineman out of Mississippi State, Day’s spent the past 2 1/2 seasons on the Broncos’ practice squad. A tackle, Wilkinson is a rookie UDFA out of UMass. Both Menelik Watson and Donald Stephenson are out against the Chargers.
- The Packers will give Aaron Rodgers‘ roster spot to safety Jermaine Whitehead, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. Whitehead signed a reserve/futures deal with the Packers in January after spending time on Green Bay’s practice squad last season. The ex-UDFA safety resided on the 49ers’ taxi squad for much of the 2015 season.
- The Jaguars swapped out wide receivers on their active roster before their Week 7 game, waiving Max McCaffrey and signing Jaydon Mickens, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets. The son of Ed McCaffrey and older brother of Christian McCaffrey, Max has now been cut by four teams — the Raiders, Packers, Saints and Jaguars — since entering the league as a 2016 UDFA. A second-year player out of Washington, Mickens received a Jags practice squad invitation last month.
Poll: Which Team Is NFC Favorite?
The NFC lost its top difference-making presence in Week 6, and while Aaron Rodgers is not a lock to miss the rest of the season despite undergoing collarbone surgery, the Packers are without their perennial MVP candidate for at least the next two months. That figures to be a key factor in shaping the NFC race.
As it stands, Carson Wentz‘s progression has the Eagles with the NFL’s best record at 5-1. But a host of NFCers are just behind. And without these Eagles having the kind of pedigree the Rodgers-era Packers do, it seems the NFC’s home-field advantage pursuit is wide open.
Philadelphia’s taken a noticeable step forward, with Wentz developing quickly from intriguing non-Division I-FBS prospect to a player who looks like a bona fide franchise passer. The Eagles rank No. 2 in DVOA, illustrating their potential (although, Football Outsiders had the franchise’s 2016 7-9 iteration at No. 4, so perhaps this isn’t as illuminating as it would appear). Nevertheless, the Eagles are in a better position post-Rodgers setback.
But the NFC’s other surprise contender sits fourth on that DVOA list through six weeks, with the 4-2 Rams slotting in high in that category. These two teams lead the NFC in point differential at plus-43 (Eagles) and plus-41, with Sean McVay playing a key role in transforming the Los Angeles pass offense from the league’s worst to one that’s 10th thus far.
The Rams, however, could not beat the Seahawks at home for a fourth straight year and obviously don’t possess the proven capabilities the Russell Wilson-fronted team does. Seattle stands to benefit from Green Bay’s setback, housing a veteran-stacked roster — one that lost to the Packers in Week 1 — that’s secured five straight postseason berths.
Rodgers going down certainly changes the complexion of the NFC North. The Vikings, whose past five playoff appearances have come with five different starting quarterbacks, are 4-2 without the benefit of an upper-echelon passer. Sam Bradford may return this season, and Teddy Bridgewater‘s progress is certainly encouraging, but this could be Case Keenum‘s operation for a while. Minnesota’s standout defense notwithstanding, is that enough to prop up the Vikes to their second NFC North title in three years?
The North champions in five of the past six seasons, the Packers are not planning to pursue UFA quarterbacks. Mike McCarthy emphatically said third-year backup Brett Hundley is his guy. Green Bay faced this situation before but did make a midseason switch after Scott Tolzien struggled replacing Rodgers in 2013. Matt Flynn re-signed and went 2-2 to help keep the team afloat until Rodgers returned in Week 17. He of 11 pass attempts prior to entering Sunday’s game, Hundley does not possess Flynn’s experience. So it’s hard to determine how the Packers will look without their centerpiece.
Thanks to Atlanta not yet showing the kind of form it did during its Super Bowl season, the South may be the NFC’s toughest division to handicap. The Falcons, Panthers and Saints each have two losses and each has a former first-team All-Pro at quarterback.
New Orleans’ defense looks to be improved (15th in DVOA), and that could make a big difference in supplementing Drew Brees — who’s had to carry porous defenses for years. Luke Kuechly‘s third concussion in three seasons stands to wound the Panthers, who have received better work from Cam Newton lately after a brutal start, as long as the stalwart linebacker’s out. But this nucleus also has a history of booking January home games and shouldn’t be discounted despite a sluggish 2016. The Falcons (17th in DVOA but fifth in total offense) obviously have the potential to repeat as South champs; it just doesn’t figure to be as easy as it was in 2016.
So who is the best bet to emerge from this pack now that the conference’s top weapon is out of the picture? Are teams like the Lions, Redskins or Cowboys legitimate darkhorse candidates? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Who is the NFC favorite?
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Philadelphia Eagles 39% (517)
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Seattle Seahawks 14% (188)
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Minnesota Vikings 13% (168)
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Atlanta Falcons 10% (137)
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Other (Write in comments section) 7% (91)
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New Orleans Saints 5% (70)
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Los Angeles Rams 5% (64)
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Green Bay Packers 5% (62)
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Carolina Panthers 3% (45)
Total votes: 1,342
Kenny Britt’s Roster Spot In Jeopardy?
While neither Kenny Britt nor Corey Coleman were going to play in what turned out to be a 16-point Browns loss against the Texans, the wide receivers did not get to view the game from NRG Stadium.
The Browns sent both of their Week 1 starters home because of curfew violations, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports. Both injured players were not allowed to be with the team during the 33-17 loss, adding more tumult to a Browns season that’s been chock full of it.
Britt, who has battled injuries and poor play this season, received a warning from the Browns, with Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reporting newly acquired pass-catcher’s roster spot is not a given any longer. Cabot reports Britt was told he could be cut if he doesn’t “shape up.”
Knee and groin maladies sidelined the underperforming free agent signing the past two weeks. Those ailments stood to make Britt inactive in Houston, but Cabot reports Britt’s play was a factor in the Hue Jackson-led staff deeming him inactive against the Texans.
Britt is questionable for Sunday’s Titans game in Cleveland.
Both Britt and Coleman met with Cleveland’s coaching staff and apologized, Garafolo reports. Coleman is on IR with a broken hand. Britt has been a disappointment since signing a four-year, $32.5MM deal in March, making just eight catches for 121 yards through four games, and this incident did not help the ninth-year veteran’s stock with the franchise.
Cowboys Promote DT Richard Ash
Following news that defensive tackle Stephen Paea had informed the Cowboys that he intended to retire, the organization has added some defensive line help. ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that the organization has promoted Richard Ash from the practice squad.
Ash, 25, entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie out of Western Michigan in 2015. The nose tackle spent the first two seasons of his career with the Jaguars, and the Cowboys signed him off the Jacksonville practice squad in late 2016. He was ultimately waived by the organization in early September, but he landed back on the team’s practice squad soonafter. Ash has three career games under his belt, having compiled six total tackles. Ash will now presumably slide in behind David Irving, Maliek Collins, and Brian Price on the depth chart.
Paea, a seven-year veteran, suddenly informed the organization that he intended to retire earlier this month. The 29-year-old had struggled for much of the campaign, ranking towards the bottom of the league in Pro Football Focus’ interior defensive lineman rankings. Paea was also suffering through a knee injury, which surely contributed to his decision.
NFC Notes: Eagles, Bethel, 49ers, Barr
While newcomer Ronald Darby has only played 16 snaps for the Eagles this season, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes the Jordan Matthews trade still worked out for Philly. The writer mostly cites the fact that the trade provided both wideout Nelson Agholor and tight end Zach Ertz with more offensive opportunities, and the duo has more than delivered in 2017.
Agholor has hauled in 20 catches for 321 yards and four touchdowns, while Ertz has established himself as one of the top tight ends in the league, catching 34 passes for 405 yards and four scores. While Ertz was productive in 2016, Agholor has seen a drastic boost in production, which could be directly attributed to him sliding into the slot role.
“It’s been a great opportunity for me to run different routes and give a different look,” Agohlor said. “I like playing outside, inside, wherever. I just like being a guy you can get the football to, so I want to know as much as I can in terms of the route tree.
“Doug Pederson decided this was a great place for me to help me get those targets and I’m very appreciative.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…
- With cornerback Justin Bethel continuing to struggle, ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reports that the Cardinals will likely replace him in the starting lineup with veteran Tramon Williams. Pro Football Focus ranks Bethel 95th among 108 qualified cornerbacks, a far cry from his above-average rankings in 2016 and 2015. Coach Bruce Arians all but confirmed the move, noting that Williams is “in a bunch of packages, and he’ll be playing a bunch.”
- Rookie linebacker Reuben Foster has missed the past five games as he’s recovered from a high-ankle injury, but the 49ers are confident the first-rounder will play this weekend. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that coach Kyle Shanahan said Foster should be in the lineup this weekend against the Cowboys, barring a setback.
- After undergoing surgery earlier this week, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was placed on the injured reserve yesterday. Well, the player who caused that injury is now trying to clear his name. Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr told ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin that he isn’t a dirty player. “By no means was I trying to injure or take out Aaron Rodgers,” Barr said. “He’s one of, if not, the best player in this league. I’m not a dirty player. I don’t play dirty. We don’t preach that around here…It’s unfortunate, the injury. I hate to see anybody get hurt. It’s a gift and a privilege to be able to play on the field each week, so I would never try and take that away from anybody, let alone one of the best players in our game.”
Ravens Re-Sign OG Tony Bergstrom
The Ravens have added some reinforcement on the offensive line. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the team has re-signed offensive guard Tony Bergstrom. To make room on the roster, the Ravens have waived cornerback Tony McRae.
Baltimore has already placed three offensive lineman on the injured reserve this year, including Marshal Yanda, Nico Siragusa, and Alex Lewis. Backup guard/center Matt Skura was also listed as a DNP on Thursday’s injury report due to a knee ailment, effectively leaving Luke Bowanko as the Ravens’ lone backup lineman.
Fortunately, Bergstrom is plenty familiar with Baltimore’s scheme. The 2012 third-round pick was traded to the Ravens in early September, with the organization sending a conditional seventh-rounder to Arizona. He proceeded to play in three games for the Ravens before being released earlier this week. Over his six-year career, the 31-year-old has appeared in 43 games (four starts). It’s worth noting that Bergstrom has only played 45 total snaps this season, and if continues to solely serve in a backup role, there’s no guarantee that the conditional pick will translate.
A 2016 undrafted rookie out of North Carolina A&T, McRae saw the field for five games this season, compiling a single tackle. His release leaves first-rounder Marlon Humphrey and undrafted rookie Jaylen Hill as the lone backups on the cornerback depth chart.
AFC Notes: Steelers, Broncos, Ravens, Jets
Following the Steelers‘ victory over the Chiefs this past weekend, the team compiled more than $94K in fines, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Mike Mitchell led the way, as the safety was fined more than $48K for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Kansas City running back Charcandrick West. Mitchell picked up another $9K fine for a late hit on quarterback Alex Smith, but the defensive back made it clear that he wasn’t trying to hurt anybody.
“I’m not a dirty player, I’m not out here trying to take his legs out,” Mitchell said (via Omari Sankofa II of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). “It’s just one of those things you don’t want to see in a football game. So unfortunate that it happened because it ended up flipping momentum on the field in a significant way. We were in dominant control of that football game, and really before that.”
Meanwhile, linebacker Bud Dupree ($24K) and running back Le’Veon Bell ($12K) were also handed fines by the NFL.
Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the AFC…
- The Broncos are currently dealing with injuries on the offensive line, and according to Troy Renck of Denver7 (via Twitter), the team is expected to add reinforcement to the unit. Right tackle Menelik Watson is set to miss this weekend’s game, and he’ll be joining fellow lineman Donald Stephenson on the sideline. These injuries will force Allen Barbre into the starting lineup, leaving Connor McGovern as the team’s lone healthy reserve lineman.
- Similarly, John Harbaugh said the Ravens will also look to add a lineman, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Baltimore currently has three lineman on the IR, including Marshal Yanda, Alex Lewis, and rookie Nico Siragusa. This would leave Luke Bowanko and Matt Skura as the team’s only backup linemen.
- Cornerback Morris Claiborne, defensive end Kony Ealy, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley have been revelations for the Jets this season, and Darryl Slater of NJ.com believes the team will look to bring back the impending free agents for 2018. However, the writer doesn’t expect any extensions to be finalized before the end of the season.
AFC East Notes: Bills, Glenn, Clay, Patriots
While left tackle Cordy Glenn is no longer listed on the NFL’s injury report after recovering from an ankle injury, he’s not a certainty to regain his starting role along the Bills‘ offensive line, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. Head coach Sean McDermott admitted as much today, noting that Buffalo hasn’t decided whether Glenn will take starter’s snaps against the Buccaneers on Sunday, per Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (Twitter links). While Glenn has lined up with the Bills’ first team during practice this week, the club’s coaching staff is reportedly high on rookie Dion Dawkins, who’s started on the blindside in Glenn’s absence. Still, benching Glenn — who earns $12MM annually and graded as the league’s No. 21 tackle a season ago, per Pro Football Focus — would be a surprising decision by Buffalo brass.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Speaking of Bills‘ injuries on the offensive side of the ball, McDermott indicated he’s “very encouraged” by tight end Charles Clay‘s progress after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month, and said the veteran pass-catcher could return later this season, tweets Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. Initial reports suggested Clay would miss multiple weeks after going under the knife, and the fact that Buffalo hasn’t placed Clay on injured reserve bodes well for a potential return. Had Clay been IR’d, he would have been eligible to play again in early December. With Clay sidelined, the Bills have turned to Nick O’Leary as their starting tight end — he managed receptions for 54 yards in Buffalo’s Week 5 loss to Cincinnati.
- Patriots linebacker Harvey Langi is likely to miss the remainder of the 2017 campaign after being involved in a car accident last week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Langi and his wife reportedly suffered serious injuries after being rear-ended last Friday, but thankfully the issues are not thought to be life-threatening. Still, Langi’s back injury is apparently significant enough to rule him out for the rest of the season. A highly sought-after undrafted free agent earlier this year, Langi had only appeared in one game for New England.
- Cornerback Ryan Lewis is now earning an active roster salary rate ($465K) as a member of the Patriots‘ practice squad, and that’s because the Bills recently expressed interest in adding Lewis to their 53-man roster, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Instead of signing with Buffalo, however, Lewis opted to stick with New England’s taxi squad given his familiarity with the Patriots’ coaching staff. Lewis, an undrafted Pitt product who originally signed with the Cardinals earlier this year, managed two sub-4.40 40-yard dash times during the predraft process, but his “lack of experience shows up on tape,” according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.