Malcolm Butler, Pats Likely To Part In 2018
The Patriots aren’t expected to re-sign cornerback Malcolm Butler after the 2017 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Butler, of course, was reportedly dangled in trade talks all offseason, and also had a restricted free agent dalliance with the Saints that ultimately led nowhere. Now that he’s in New England for one more year, Butler is teaming with free agent acquisition Stephon Gilmore to give the Patriots one of the more fearsome cornerback duos in the league. But it’s that hefty investment in Gilmore (five years, $65MM) that will likely lead to Butler going elsewhere.
New England has made Butler a “slew of offers” over the past few seasons, but none recently, per Rapoport, and the club is “done” negotiating with Butler. Additionally, the Patriots have no plans to use the franchise tag on Butler, as that would come with a price tag north of $15MM. Instead, New England hopes that Butler lands an expensive contract on the open market, which would in turn entitle the Pats to a 2019 compensatory selection.
A deal that makes Butler one of the NFL’s highest-paid corners isn’t out the question, as he’s started all 32 games over the past two seasons and ranked as the league’s No. 7 CB in 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Etched into the history books thanks to his game-winning interception in Super Bowl XLIX, Butler should surpass the $15MM per year barrier on the open market.
Patriots, LB Kyle Van Noy Reach Extension
The Patriots are have reached a two-year extension with linebacker Kyle Van Noy, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Van Noy is now under New England control through 2019.
Van Noy, a former second-round pick, was traded (along with a seventh-round choice) from the Lions to the Patriots midway through the 2016 season in a deal that cost New England a sixth-rounder. In seven games with the Pats, Van Noy made two starts and posted 27 tackles, one sack, and one interception. Van Noy played on 253 defensive snaps for New England, and also chipped in on special teams (58 snaps).
Because Van Noy only had one year remaining on his contract, his extension will necessarily increase his 2017 cap charge. Van Noy is scheduled to earn a base salary of roughly $990K this season.
Now in his age-26 campaign, Van Noy will continue to serve in the Patriots’ second level alongside fellow linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Elandon Roberts, and David Harris. Van Noy led New England ‘backers with 68 total snaps against the Chiefs on Thursday night.
Steelers, DE Stephon Tuitt Nearing Extension
The Steelers and defensive end Stephon Tuitt are close to inking a contract extension, according to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
[RELATED: Le’Veon Bell Signs Franchise Tender]
Pittsburgh has a team policy not to negotiate new deals once the regular season gets underway, so the club will cease talks after Saturday. The Steelers are tight on cap space — just under $7MM, per Over the Cap — and that’s accounting for fellow defensive lineman Cameron Heyward‘s contract restructure, which opened ~$3.1MM. An extension for Tuitt would likely cut into those reserves, as Pittsburgh nearly always relatively large signing bonuses.
Tuitt doesn’t have to worry about a fifth-year option given that he was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft, so he’ll hit the open market next spring. Scheduled to earn just $1.094MM in 2017, Tuitt posted four sacks a season ago while grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 interior defender. The going rate for non-Muhammad Wilkerson/J.J. Watt 3-4 defensive ends is around $10MM annually, and given his age (24), Tuitt could reach or surpass that mark.
The 2018 franchise tag for defensive ends figures to come in north of $17MM, a figure that’s probably untenable for a 3-4 end like Tuitt. As such, the Steelers will need to hammer out an agreement with Tuitt or risk losing him to free agency next year.
Bills Add Incentives To LeSean McCoy’s Deal
The Bills have added $2.5MM worth of incentives to running back LeSean McCoy‘s contract, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
While there’s no word as to how McCoy can reach that new incentive threshold, the extra funds are likely tied to rushing yards and/or rushing touchdowns. McCoy, 29, is scheduled to earn base salaries of $6MM, $6.075MM, and $6.175MM over the next three campaigns before becoming a free agent in 2020. Poised to be the focal point of Buffalo’s offense once again next season, McCoy averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2017 while posting 14 total touchdowns.
The Bills, of course, have traded away several assets this year, shipping wide receiver Sammy Watkins to Los Angeles and cornerback Ronald Darby to Philadelphia. However, general manager Brandon Beane has been adamant that Buffalo has no plans to shop McCoy.
Chiefs’ Eric Berry Done For Season
Chiefs safety Eric Berry has suffered a ruptured Achilles, meaning his 2017 season is now over, head coach Andy Reid confirmed to reporters, including Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).
The news doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as Reid indicated late last night that the Chiefs were expecting the worst. But it’s still a blow for both Berry and Kansas City, as the 28-year-old is not only an excellent defensive back (as evidenced by his erasing tight end Rob Gronkowski during the Chiefs’ surprise victory over the Patriots on Thursday), but also one of the club’s emotional leaders on and off the field.
Berry played a full 16-game season in 2016 and posted four interceptions, nine passes defensed, and one forced fumble. He graded out as the NFL’s No. 8 safety, per Pro Football Focus, which handed Berry top marks for pass coverage. In February, he re-signed with the Chiefs on a six-year, $78MM deal that made him the league’s highest-paid safety.
The Chiefs do have depth at safety, but clearly don’t have any players that can hope to replicate Berry’s production. Veteran Daniel Sorensen and 2016 fourth-rounder Eric Murray are candidates to take on more snaps, while Kansas City could speculatively re-sign defensive back Steven Terrell, whom the club released during final cutdowns. Other free agent safeties available on the open market include Will Blackmon, Jairus Byrd, Dwight Lowery, and Robert Blanton.
Saints Want To Rescind Jon Dorenbos Trade
The Saints will attempt to rescind the trade that sent long snapper Jon Dorenbos from Philadelphia to New Orleans given the news that Dorenbos will require heart surgery, head coach Sean Payton told reporters, including Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Because Dorenbos’ aortic aneurysm is a pre-existing condition, the Saints should be able to recoup the 2019 seventh-round pick they dealt to the Eagles.
To be clear, Dorenbos’ health is clearly the most important issue at hand, and the re-acquiring of a draft pick isn’t at the top of the Saints’ itinerary at the moment given Dorenbos’ impending surgery. As Katzenstein tweets, Payton didn’t bring up the effects on the original trade and was merely answering a question from the media.
Nevertheless, New Orleans will need to replace Dorenbos on the field. Free agent long snapper Jeff Overbaugh will work out for the club today, joining a group of snappers that will audition for the Saints on Friday, reports Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Justin Drescher, whom the Saints cut after acquiring Dorenbos, could also be an option, although that’s entirely speculative. Drescher was released with an injury settlement, so New Orleans might not have the right to re-sign him just yet.
For what it’s worth, Dorenbos has been dealing with a heart murmur for at least five years, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), who adds the Eagles were “monitoring” the condition.
Saints’ Jon Dorenbos To Have Heart Surgery
Saints long snapper Jon Dorenbos had an aortic aneurysm, coach Sean Payton told reporters on Friday. Dorenbos will be placed on the non-football injury list as he undergoes open heart surgery. 
The Saints acquired Dorenbos in a trade with Philadelphia less than two weeks ago. Eagles coach Doug Pederson says the team was unaware of the condition at the time and is only just learning about it today along with everyone else.
Dorenbos spent eleven seasons with the Eagles before he was sent to New Orleans for a 2019 seventh-round choice. He earned Pro Bowl honors in both 2009 and 2014.
We here at PFR wish Dorenbos the best of luck during this difficult time.
Saints Working Out CB Leon Hall
The Saints are working out cornerback Leon Hall, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The veteran also auditioned for the Niners on Thursday, a follow-up to his late May tryout. 
[RELATED: Saints To Re-Sign John Kuhn]
On the whole, it has been an eerily quiet offseason for Hall. Outside of the Saints and 49ers, we have not heard of any other workouts for the 32-year-old.
Hall hooked on with the Giants last year after nine seasons with the Bengals. He appeared in 12 games (two starts) and compiled 2o tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception. He appears to have lost a step or two since his prime years and has started just six games in the last two seasons.
The Saints could use some additional depth at cornerback after losing Delvin Breaux for at least eight weeks. They’re slated to start P.J. Williams and first-round pick Marshon Lattimore when they face the Vikings on Monday night.
NFL Suspends K Josh Brown For Six Games
Former Giants kicker Josh Brown has been suspended for an additional six games for domestic violence accusations, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. The timing of the ban makes little sense, particularly since Brown is highly unlikely to ever get another chance to play in the NFL. 
“We reopened the investigation based on new info,” a league source texted to Schefter on Friday. “[We] concluded there was a violation of our personal conduct policy and imposed six-game suspension which he accepted without appeal.”
By adding six games to Brown’s ban, the league could be looking to establish a stronger precedent heading in the Ezekiel Elliott court case. The Cowboys star is pushing for a temporary restraining order that would allow him to continue to play this season.
“[The] timing has nothing to do with Zeke and made no sense to hold this until Zeke was complete,” the source said via text.
In 2015, Brown’s last complete season, he sank a career-high 93.8% of his field goal attempts. He also contends that he never actually struck his ex-wife. Still, no NFL team will take on the PR firestorm that would come with signing him or even auditioning him at this point.
Chiefs’ Eric Berry Suffers Achilles Injury
The Chiefs crushed the defending champs on Thursday night, but it wasn’t all roses. Late in the game, star safety Eric Berry was carter off the field with what is feared to be an Achilles tear. The team is still waiting for tests, but head coach Andy Reid is bracing for the worst. 
“I don’t think it’s positive news,” Reid said.
If it’s a full on Achilles tear, then Berry’s season will end after three-and-a-half quarters of September football. From there, the Chiefs will consider promoting reserves Daniel Sorensen or Eric Murray to the starting lineup, but they may also want to look into some outside help.
Berry played a full 16 game season in 2016 and posted four interceptions, nine passes defensed, and one forced fumble. He graded out as the NFL’s No. 8 safety, per Pro Football Focus, which also handed Berry top marks for pass coverage. In February, he re-upped with KC on a six-year, $78MM deal instead of testing the open market.