Cowboys “Holding Out Hope” Of Acquiring Earl Thomas?
While there has been no recent movement in talks regarding a trade that would send Seahawks safety Earl Thomas to the Cowboys, Dallas has “quietly held out hope” that it may acquire the All-Pro defensive back, according to Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.
The Cowboys have made no secret in their interest in Thomas, and the club reportedly had talks with the Seahawks near the draft. However, Dallas balked at sending a second-round pick (which would have been the 50th overall selection) to Seattle in exchange for Thomas. Since that time, Seahawks general manager John Schneider acknowledged that while his team did have discussions involving Thomas, no deal was “remotely close to happening.”
However, Thomas has since continued his holdout: he did not report to mandatory minicamp earlier this week, and indicated he’ll continue to stay away from the Seahawks until his contract is “resolved.” Thomas’ absence isn’t major news in and of itself, but Seattle reportedly hadn’t had any conversations about Thomas’ deal — which expires after the 2018 season — as of late May. As such, there may not be a clear resolution in sight.
Thomas is scheduled to earn a base salary of $8.5MM in 2018, so the Cowboys — who have roughly $11.5MM in cap space — would be able to fit him on their books. Given that Thomas’ is clearly unhappy with his current contract, Dallas would likely need to extend the 29-year-old. Seattle, meanwhile, would incur a dead money charge of $1.9MM as a result of a Thomas trade.
Arguably the most consistent safety in the NFL since 2010, Thomas graded as the league’s No. 9 safety in 2018, per Pro Football Focus. In Dallas, Thomas would not only give the Cowboys over either Jeff Heath or Xavier Woods, but reunite with former Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard, who is now Dallas’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.
AFC East Notes: Patriots, Edelman, Jets
There’s some mystery surrounding Julian Edelman‘s positive test for a performance-enhancing substance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Edelman will get off scot-free, as Mike Florio of PFT writes.
Edelman reportedly tested positive for a substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable, but the PED policy dictates that players can be suspended for “substances with a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s)” to the 71 specifically banned substances. The league will have to make its case in Edelman’s appeal, but the presence of the catch-all language in the PED policy could swing arbitration in its favor.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- If Edelman’s suspension holds up, there may be a roster spot open for another wide receiver. Assuming Malcolm Mitchell opens the season on the PUP list, Doug Kyed of NESN.com predicts the Patriots will carry Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews, Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, Matt Slater, and Braxton Berrios on their opening day roster.
- Outside of Sam Darnold and fourth-round tight end Chris Herndon, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY isn’t sure that any member of the team’s draft class will make an immediate impact. The Jets have high hopes for third-round defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd, but he may struggle in his first year out of Division II Fort Hays State.
- Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald has some details on cornerback Bobby McCain‘s new four-year, $27MM extension with the Dolphins. The deal lowered his cap hit for 2018 from $1.9MM to $1.5MM, giving Miami a little bit of extra wiggle room this year. Meanwhile, he has no guarantees on his deal beyond the 2020 season. McCain’s deal should keep him under team control through 2022.
Raiders Release Christian Hackenberg
That was fast. The Raiders have released quarterback Christian Hackenberg just three weeks after acquiring him, according to a team announcement. Linebacker Brady Sheldon has also been cut. With those two out of the picture, the Raiders have formalized the signing of defensive linemen Ahtyba Rubin and Frostee Rucker.
Hackenberg was considered to be an extreme longshot to make the Jets’ final cut following the re-signing of Josh McCown, the free agent addition of Teddy Bridgewater, and the drafting of Sam Darnold with the No. 3 overall pick. The waiving of Bryce Petty gave the former Penn State signal caller some reason for hope, but the Jets saw little need to keep Hackenberg around after Bridgewater took the practice field on Tuesday with no ill effects from his surgically-repaired knee.
In May, the former second-round pick was sent to the Raiders for a conditional seventh-round choice. The Jets will not receive any compensation for the QB now that he has been released.
Despite Jon Gruden‘s affinity for Hackenberg, which dates back to his college days, his odds of making the Raiders’ final cut weren’t much better than they were in New York. The Raiders already have E.J. Manuel and Connor Cook battling for time behind starter Derek Carr. With Hackenberg’s release, it seems likely that those three will be the QBs on the opening day roster, barring another addition.
Per league rules, Hackenberg will be subject to waivers. If no club claims him and his contract within the next 24 hours, he’ll be free to sign with any team of his choosing.
Saints To Meet With Former Ravens RB Terrance West
The Saints are doing their homework on free agent running backs. Terrance West is scheduled to visit the Saints on Wednesday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 
News of West’s impending visit comes hours after word of Tim Hightower‘s Tuesday tryout and Jamaal Charles‘ Wednesday tryout emerged. The Saints were said to be content with their group of running backs despite Mark Ingram‘s four-game ban to start the season, but that might not be the case.
The Saints’ running back group presently consists of Ingram, young star Alvin Kamara, Trey Edmunds, Daniel Lasco, rookie Boston Scott, and Jonathan Williams. If there is a running back to be added, Hightower’s familiarity with the offense could give him a leg up, but the experience of Charles and the past performance of West could give the Saints something to think about.
West’s 2017 season was cut short due to a calf injury suffered in October. He didn’t do much in his 39 rushing attempts last year, but he did average a respectable 4.0 yards per carry as the Ravens’ leading ball carrier in 2016.
West met with the Colts, Eagles, and Jaguars in the spring, but has yet to sign with any club this offseason.
Browns’ Howard Wilson Done For Year
Cornerback Howard Wilson is expected to miss the entire 2018 season with a torn patella tendon, the Browns announced on Tuesday. It’s an unfortunate setback for the 2017 fourth-round pick, who also missed his would-be rookie season with the same ailment. Wilson is expected to be placed on injured reserve in the coming days.
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In 2017, the Browns traded up with the Broncos in order to select the Houston standout. The 6’1″ defender missed the bulk of his 2015 collegiate season with a torn ACL, but came back strong in ’06 as he intercepted five passes. After three serious knee injuries in four years, Wilson’s football future is in flux.
Fortunately for the Browns, they are not short on options at cornerback. The Browns’ revamped secondary will see free agent pickup T.J. Carrie start opposite of first-round pick Denzel Ward with newcomers E.J. Gaines and Terrance Mitchell among those in support at cornerback.
This Date In Transactions History: Michael Vick
On this date in 2009, the Falcons moved on from the biggest star in the history of their franchise. After unsuccessful attempts to trade Michael Vick, the Falcons cut finally ties with the quarterback. 
With the ability to run as well as he could throw, Vick was one of the brightest young stars in the NFL. In six seasons, he earned three Pro Bowl nominations and led the Falcons to the NFC championship game twice. The first go-round in 2002 snapped a four-year playoff drought in Atlanta.
The trajectory of Vick’s career and the entire Falcons franchise changed in 2007 when Vick was indicted for his role in the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting ring. The Falcons pretty much made up their minds on Vick after the quarterback was sentenced to nearly two years in prison, but there were paperwork and cap issues to sort out. The Falcons successfully recovered ~$20MM of Vick’s $37MM signing bonus in ’07, but it wasn’t until the summer of ’09 that they formally terminated his nine-year deal which had the potential to be worth as much as $130MM.
The Falcons were able to move on from the Vick era after selecting Matt Ryan with the third overall pick in the 2008 draft. Vick, meanwhile, managed a second act in the NFL after landing with the Eagles. He was signed to be Donovan McNabb‘s backup in 2009, but he wound up as the team’s starting QB in 2010 after McNabb was traded and Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion. Vick went on to take the Eagles to the playoffs and eventually sign a six-year, $100MM extension with Philly.
Vick’s subsequent stints with the Jets and Steelers were less remarkable and he was unable to find an NFL home in 2016. Last summer – on the eight-year anniversary of his release from Atlanta – Vick retired after signing a ceremonial contract with the Falcons.
With his playing days behind him, Vick has now set his sights on coaching. He’ll serve as the offensive coordinator of the Alliance of American Football’s Atlanta franchise when the league kicks off in February.
Jamaal Charles To Visit Saints
Running back Jamaal Charles will visit the Saints on Wednesday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). We haven’t heard much about Charles since the end of the season, but he may finally get a chance to find an NFL home for 2018. 
After an exceptional, albeit injury-riddled, career with the Chiefs that included four Pro Bowl selections and two First Team All-Pro nods, Charles signed a one-year deal with the Broncos last year. Coming off multiple knee surgeries, he joined a crowded backfield that included C.J. Anderson and second-year back Devontae Booker and never established himself as the dominant force of years past.
Last year, Charles tallied 69 carries for 296 yards and a touchdown. The 31-year-old was a healthy scratch to close out the year and expressed his frustration with the team.
In addition to Charles, the Saints are also looking at old friend Tim Hightower, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter). Hightower was spotted on the practice field Tuesday morning as he auditioned with the team’s running backs.
The Saints will be without Mark Ingram for the first four games of the season thanks to his suspension. The Saints have said that they’re comfortable with their remaining group – which includes Alvin Kamara, Trey Edmunds, Daniel Lasco, and roster hopefuls Boston Scott and Jonathan Williams – but they are giving some thought to adding some veteran reinforcement.
Pats Owner: “No Truth” To Gronk Trade Talk
The internet was abuzz with unsubstantiated rumors of Rob Gronkowski potentially being traded last week. On Tuesday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft felt compelled to set the record straight and let everyone know that such talk was “hogwash.” 
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Kraft even went so far as to say “that was never in the works…that was just completely made up.” One could be forgiven for being skeptical about that part of Kraft’s statement. After Gronkowski threatened to retire in the offseason – potentially because of his unhappiness with the “Patriot Way” – it would have made sense for the Patriots to explore a Gronkowski trade.
Although Gronkowski (and Tom Brady) reported to the Pats last week, the duo is not expected to reappear for team practices until July. Between now and September, you can expect the Pats and Gronkowski to discuss some revisions to the tight end’s contract. If those talks don’t produce results, the Gronk trade speculation could pick up once again.
Taylor Lewan Skipping Titans’ Minicamp
The Titans’ mandatory minicamp is underway, but Taylor Lewan is not on the practice field. The offensive tackle is staying away from the team as he pushes for a new contract. 
“As we start the mandatory veteran minicamp, we were informed by the representatives for Taylor Lewan that he would not be attending the camp,” GM Jon Robinson said in a statement. “We have had several constructive conversations over the last 5-6 weeks about his contract status. He is currently under contract, and we are working to keep Taylor as part of this organization for a long time.”
Lewan previously indicated that he would not hold out this summer, but his plans have clearly changed. Lewan may be looking for a deal that puts him near top of the heap for all left tackles, and he specifically referenced Nate Solder‘s new contract when discussing his own situation in late May.
“I’m a professional athlete. Obviously you’re going to see those things,” Lewan said in reference to lucrative deals for other offensive tackles. “I see Nate Solder getting the contract he did. That’s awesome.”
Lewan, the former No. 11 overall pick in the 2014 draft, will earn $9.341MM in 2018. He graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the NFL in 2016 and placed 16th last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Broncos’ Clinton McDonald Takes Pay Cut
Broncos defensive tackle Clinton McDonald accepted a pay cut of $3MM for 2018, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. However, he can earn that back via $2MM in base salary and a $1MM roster bonus by being on the 53-man roster ($140,625/game) and 46-man roster ($46,875/game) for the full season. 
The Broncos’ likely requested the pay cut because of the shoulder injury that has kept the veteran from participating in OTAs. Per the terms of his free agent deal with Denver, McDonald had to pass a physical on or before June 11 in order to guarantee his $4MM salary for 2018. Because he was unable to get the medical greenlight, he is guaranteed just $1MM this year.
McDonald, 31, split time with Chris Baker in Tampa last year and recorded five sacks with 18 tackles. The sack total is impressive, though the advanced analytics at Pro Football Focus were not high on him.
The Broncos project to start Domata Peko in the middle with McDonald and Zach Kerr and/or Kyle Peko in support. DeShawn Williams, who signed a futures deal with the club in January, will also fight to make the final cut, but his path to the 53-man roster may be challenging unless McDonald is unable to play up to par this summer.