Cardinals TE Ricky Seals-Jones Arrested
Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones was arrested last Saturday on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespassing, according to KTAR News in Arizona.
Per the Scottsdale Police Department, Seals-Jones attempted to use a restroom both at the W Hotel and in a restaurant within the hotel, but was denied access in both instances, as staff told Seals-Jones only hotel guests were able to use the bathrooms. A hotel employee says Seals-Jones became combative and shoved the employee, but Seals-Jones maintains he tried to walk past the objecting staff before he was forced to the ground. The police report also indicates Seals-Jones appeared intoxicated when he was arrested.
If alcohol was a factor in Seals-Jones’ arrest, it would mark the second alcohol-related Cardinals incident this month. Arizona general manager Steve Keim was arrested and later plead guilty to extreme DUI earlier in July, and has subsequently been suspended and fined by the team. Keim will pay a $200K fine and spend five weeks away from the club, but there’s no word as to whether he’ll also face an NFL ban.
The NFL reserves the right to suspend players who have been involved in off-field incidents, even if said instances don’t result in legal discipline. Seals-Jones’ case may take a while to filter through the legal system, so regardless of outcome, he likely won’t be facing a ban in 2018. League discipline could come after Seals-Jones’ case is resolved, however, meaning a suspension may be looming in 2019.
Seals-Jones, 23, signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M in 2017. While he didn’t manage a reception until late November, Seals-Jones posted three receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans before putting up a 4/72/1 line against the Jaguars the following week. Seals-Jones could be ticketed for starting duty if fellow tight end Jermaine Gresham isn’t ready for Week 1 after suffering a torn Achilles in the 2017 season finale.
Former NFL DE Armonty Bryant Retires
Former NFL defensive end Armonty Bryant has announced his retirement in an Instagram post.
“However hard this may be, and although not the way I wanted to end my career, God has a funny way of timing things out in our lives,” Bryant’s statement reads. “Just before I got a chance to finish my career strong I was diagnosed with end stage renal failure.
Due to this I am forced to announce my official retirement from the sport I have eaten, breathed, slept, dreamt [sic] and loved for my entire life. But this isn’t the end. This is just the beginning of so much more that is coming. I have started a business with a woman I soon get to call my wife. And these opportunities we have together are endless.”
Bryant, 28, entered the league as a Browns seventh-round pick in 2013, and went on to appear in 31 games with Cleveland over the next three seasons. In 2016, Bryant was hit with the first of several suspensions (but his only performance-enhancing drug ban), and was subsequently waived by the Browns.
Claimed off waivers by the Lions, Bryant played in five games for Detroit, but also served two substance abuse suspensions during his time in the Motor City. After being cut by the Lions last October, Bryant hit the workout circuit, but failed to land a new contract until April, when he inked a one-year deal with the Raiders. After less than a month in Oakland (and presumably after he was diagnosed with severe kidney issues), Bryant was cut with a non-football illness designation.
South Notes: Falcons, Jones, Titans, Casey
Everyone is waiting to see whether Julio Jones will show up for Falcons training camp, but fans received an encouraging sign this week when Jones arrived at Matt Ryan‘s offseason passing camp (Twitter link via team). Jones has stayed away from the team this offseason in hopes of reworking his contract and it’s not clear if he’ll join his teammates on July 26 in Georgia.
Jones is underpaid for what he does, but he has three years to go on his deal and the Falcons aren’t under any real pressure to revise his deal. His yearly average of $14.25MM once seemed like a lot, but it’s now good for eighth among wide receivers. Jones could, in theory, improve his leverage by continuing to skip team activities, but he’ll have to pay substantial fines.
Here’s more from the South divisions:
- Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey says he’ll stay on the field and protest during the national anthem, while accepting any fines levied against him under the terms of the new anthem policy. “I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?” said Casey (via CNN). “I’m going to protest during the flag. That’s what I’m going to say now.” Casey, 28, inked a four-year, $60.4MM extension with the Titans in 2017, so he can probably afford to pay some fines. It remains to be seen whether other players will follow suit.
- Linebacker Darius Leonard is the only unsigned rookie left in the Colts‘ draft class yet to sign his contract, but that might not be the case for long. The Colts still expect to have a deal done by the time rookies report on Sunday, a source tells Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter).
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Lawrence, Eagles
The Cowboys don’t want to make DeMarcus Lawrence the highest-paid pass rusher in the league, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic writes. However, with another strong year, Watkins believes that the Cowboys would be willing to place him somewhere in the top three.
This year, Lawrence is set to play out the 2017 season on his one-year, $17.1MM franchise tag. Technically, the Cowboys can tag him again next year, but the $20.5MM cost is probably too high for the Cowboys to consider. Instead, the two sides could use that price as a reference point to hammer out the five-year deal that Lawrence is reportedly seeking.
After the Cowboys locked up Zack Martin to the highest contract for a guard in league history, Watkins doubts that the Cowboys will allow Lawrence to get away in 2019. They shelled out big bucks to give Martin a six-year, $84MM deal with $40MM in guarantees and structured the deal in a way that his cap number won’t be cumbersome until 2021, when it rises to $15MM. The Cowboys are skittish about overpaying Lawrence, but they don’t want to let their best pass rusher walk away and there’s likely a way to make the numbers work.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Do the Eagles have a better roster than last year entering training camp? Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks so, arguing that the defending champs have taken a step forward on paper. The offense had to replace tight end Trey Burton with rookie Dallas Goedert, but Mike Wallace might be an upgrade over Torrey Smith and they should see improvement from Nelson Agholor and Mack Hollins. Meanwhile, there are questions on the other side of the ball, but the Eagles’ secondary should be better with a healthy Sidney Jones and Ronald Darby working off of a full offseason.
- The Redskins invested a lot in their D-Line after drafting Da’Ron Payne in the first round, and JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington expects big improvement across the board. Their biggest upgrade may come from within, however, now that 2017 first-rounder Jonathan Allen is expected to be completely healthy this fall.
- Former Giants running back Shane Vereen signed with the Saints on Wednesday.
Lardarius Webb Wants To Keep Playing
Free agent defensive back Lardarius Webb plans to continue playing, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Webb, who played his entire career with the Ravens to date, has a few offers and is currently weighing them. 
Webb was used mostly off the bench last season, but he’s made 85 starts with Baltimore and suited up for 127 regular-season games. The Ravens, who were up against the cap in the spring, cut Webb to save $1.75MM. The Ravens also released Webb in March of 2017, but brought him back at a reduced rate. It’s not clear if the Ravens are considering something similar this time around.
Webb, 33 in October, saw action in six playoff games for the Ravens, though an injury prevented him from suiting up during the Ravens’ four 2012 playoff contests. In Baltimore’s near-Super Bowl run during 2011, Webb intercepted eight passes with five in the regular season and three in the postseason.
The Ravens project to start Brandon Carr and Jimmy Smith at cornerback with 2017 first-round pick Marlon Humphrey as their primary backup. Rookie Anthony Averett, Maurice Canady, and Stanley Jean-Baptiste are also among the cornerbacks on the offseason roster.
Saints Waive RB Daniel Lasco
The Saints have waived running back Daniel Lasco with a failed physical designation, according to a team announcement. The move will create room for the addition of running back Shane Vereen, who was signed on Wednesday morning. 
[RELATED: Saints Sign Shane Vereen]
Lasco first entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Saints in the 2016 draft and has largely played on special teams for New Orleans. Last year, he suffered a scary injury while making a special teams play against the Bills and had to be carted off of the field. Lasco had to be strapped to a board in order to limit his movement, but, thankfully, he was alright after the incident.
Without Lasco, the Saints still have six running backs under contract in Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, Vereen, Trey Edmunds, Jonathan Williams, and sixth-round pick Boston Scott. Ingram will be suspended for the first four-games of the season, which should open up an opportunity for one of the running backs on the bubble.
AFC Notes: Steelers, Bell, Jets
Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is essentially betting that a team will to pay him at least $58MM on a four-year deal in free agency next year. However, he can’t necessarily bank on that, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com explains, citing DeMarco Murray as an example.
After being named 2014’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Murray didn’t find the riches he thought he would thanks to the devaluation of running backs and his mileage. If Bell plays a full season he’ll also crank up the odometer significantly, and that could negatively affect his value next March.
When Bell hits the open market, Corry suggests that the Colts, Jets, Texans, Browns, and Raiders will be among the teams with serious interest in signing him.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- The Jets have nearly $20MM in cap room to work with, but they’re unlikely to land Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, NJ.com’s Ryan Dunleavy writes. For all of the Jets question marks, safety is actually one of their bright spots thanks to the presence of Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. Thomas would make any team better, but the Jets would be better served by putting their resources in another direction. Dunleavy also explains why New Jersey’s other favorite teams – the Giants and Eagles – aren’t likely to deal for the multiple-time Pro Bowler.
- Colts defensive end Chris McCain was arraigned this week on two misdemeanor battery charges stemming from a January incident in L.A., Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. McCain pleaded not guilty and was ordered by the court to stay minimum of 100 yards away from the alleged victim. The next hearing for McCain, who was held out of Colts minicamp in June, is scheduled for Aug. 21.
- Former Jets and Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis retired from the NFL on Wednesday.
Saints To Sign Shane Vereen
The Saints are signing former Patriots and Giants running back Shane Vereen, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Terms of the deal are not yet known, but its likely a one-year deal worth something close to the veteran’s minimum. 
Vereen, 29, made a name for himself with the Patriots and really came into his own from 2012-2014. In 2015, he hooked on with the Giants and was quietly productive. In his first season with the G-Men, Vereen averaged 4.3 yards per carry and caught 59 passes for 495 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, his ’16 season was derailed by injuries and he wasn’t all that productive last year as the Giants lost their best receivers and opposing defenses stacked the box. He had 44 grabs last season, but he averaged a career-low 5.8 yards per catch.
Vereen won’t be tasked with playing as a No. 1 running back with the Saints, but he could be a difference maker in small doses. Alvin Kamara will serve as New Orleans’ top rusher and Vereen might be able to start the year as their top pass-catching RB while Mark Ingram serves his four-game suspension.
In addition to Kamara, Ingram, and Vereen, the Saints also have running backs Trey Edmunds, Jonathan Williams, and sixth-round pick Boston Scott under contract.
Darrelle Revis Retires From NFL
Darrelle Revis announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. This was the expected move after an offseason in which Revis’ name has hardly been mentioned. 
“For the past eleven years, it has truly been an honor to showcase one of my greatest gifts to the world. Today, I am closing a chapter in my life that I once creamed of as a kid and I am officially retiring from the National Football League,” Revis said in a press release. “The game of football has opened doors for me I once thought were nearly impossible to get through. My passion to play the game at an elite level brought fun and excitement to the term “shutdown corner,” which was nearly on the verge of extinction. Covering some of the toughest assignments in league history was a challenge every Sunday, but also an honor within this game we all love. I would like to thank my coaches, teammates, and mentors who have made a significant impact in my life and helped to create amazing memories that my family and I will cherish for a lifetime. I’m excited as to what lies ahead as I pursue new ventures in different industries. Long live Revis Island.”
Revis, 33, was one of the league’s very best cornerbacks during his first stint with the Jets. After six seasons, four Pro Bowl nods, and three First-Team All-Pro selections, Revis was traded to the Buccaneers in 2013.
Revis was released after one season with Tampa Bay, which led him to the Patriots. Much to the chagrin of Jets fans, Revis had a stellar season and helped the Pats capture a Super Bowl win over the Seahawks.
The Jets attempted to rewrite history by signing Revis in the 2015 offseason, but the five-year, $70MM deal ($39MM guaranteed) given to him turned out to be one of the franchise’s biggest blunders in recent memory. The deal was supposed to allow Revis to retire as a Jet, but the team had no choice but to jettison him after two seasons.
Then, last year, the Chiefs signed Revis in November with the hope that he could help bolster their secondary. Unfortunately, Revis was nowhere near his 2014 form and some questioned his work ethic. After an offseason with no real chatter, Revis is calling it quits.
Revis’ second act with the Jets was a disappointment, but he will be remembered as one of the best cornerbacks of his time. The receivers who went to “Revis Island” from 2007-2014 were largely nullified, which is why Revis is a surefire bet for the Hall of Fame.
Extra Points: Cardinals, Cooks, Gregory, Manhertz, McCluster
Larry Fitzgerald will be back for a 15th season in Arizona, and the long-time Cardinals wideout is set to hit free agency next offseason. Of course, the future Hall of Famer can’t envision himself playing elsewhere, as he essentially told Jace Frederick of TwinCities.com that he’d hang up his cleats if he wasn’t retained by Arizona.
“If I’m not playing in Arizona, I won’t be playing anywhere,” he said. “I’ve built a good life for myself down there. Playing in the same place for 15 years is a true blessing.”
Fitzgerald is one of only two players (along with Antonio Brown) to compile 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards over the past three seasons. Despite turning 35 years old this fall, Fitzgerald says he isn’t slowing down.
“It doesn’t really matter about the age, it’s about what you put into it and your mind-set,” he said. “Everybody kind of takes numbers and assumes this is when it’s supposed to end. As an athlete, fortunately, you write your own script. If you still produce and you play at a high level, you kind of determine how long you want to play. If I can stay at a high level, I still keep destiny in my own hands.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFL…
- We learned earlier today that wideout Brandin Cooks had inked a five-year, $80MM extension with the Rams. NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora tweets that the new deal contains $20.5MM in guaranteed money and a $50.5MM injury guarantee. NFL.com’s Albert Breer clarifies (via Twitter) that the deal will actually total $81MM, with the $16.2MM average annual value trailing only Brown, Mike Evans and DeAndre Hopkins.
- Cardinals general manager Steve Keim pleaded guilty today to extreme DUI, and the Cardinals subsequently fined and suspended the executive. Kent Somers of AZCentral tweets that there won’t be an interim general manager during Keim’s absence, as the team will ultimately divide his responsibilities. Terry McDonough will likely handle the “evaluation side,” while Mike Disner will focus on contracts and the cap. Somer adds that Keim won’t face further discipline from the NFL.
- Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that Keim’s suspension “doesn’t preclude” the Cardinals from working out a long-term deal with running back David Johnson, echoing that Disner would likely negotiate the contract. The Pro Bowler skipped mandatory minicamp last month as he looks for a raise on his $1.8MM base salary.
- Panthers tight end Chris Manhertz will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. The 26-year-old underwent offseason surgery after suffering a Jones fracture in his left foot. The team is hopeful that Greg Olsen‘s primary backup will be ready for the start of the regular season. As Person points out, Manhertz’s absence will provide fourth-rounder Ian Thomas with an opportunity to contribute during training camp.
- Earlier today, the NFL reinstated Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory on a conditional basis. Naturally, after appearing in only two games over the past two seasons, the 25-year-old is excited about the prospect of returning to the NFL. “I’m very excited,” Gregory said (via the Dallas News’ Jon Machota on Twitter). “Thanks to the ones who supported me and stood by me. It’s a lot more to the story than it seems and it took me a lot to get to this point. Now I’m ready to make some plays.”
- Former NFL running back Dexter McCluster has caught on with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL (via CFL.ca). The 29-year-old played in six games with the Chargers during the 2016 season. During his four years with the Chiefs, McCluster compiled 662 rush yards, 1,500 receiving yards, and more than 2,000 return yards.