Giants Notes: McAdoo, McIntosh, Beal, Bettcher
Ben McAdoo has been fairly quiet ever since he was fired by the Giants midway through last season. Not anymore. McAdoo opened up in a recent interview with Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, dishing on a number of topics related to his old team. McAdoo talked about how excited he is for the Giants and how much he likes the vision being implemented by new GM Dave Gettleman. He even said he thinks the Giants are going to win the NFC East in 2018.
The most notable part of McAdoo’s interview may be his comments on offensive tackle Ereck Flowers. McAdoo was blunt in talking about Flowers’ shortcomings, and didn’t sound too hopeful for the fourth-year player. Selected ninth overall in 2015, Flowers has been a major bust at left tackle, and the Giants are experimenting with him at right tackle this offseason. McAdoo doesn’t think it’ll make a difference. “He can’t bend, you got to be able to bend” he said of his former player, adding “you can run around him on that side just like you can on the other side.” It’s somewhat refreshing to hear a coach speak that openly, but it likely won’t help him in his search for another coaching gig.
Here’s more from New York:
- Giants fifth round pick R.J. McIntosh is the only player drafted outside the first two rounds who has yet to sign his rookie deal. A thyroid issue may be holding up McIntosh’s contract, but a deal should get done soon, a source told Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com.
- Dunleavy thinks recently drafted cornerback Sam Beal “might not be able to make an impact until the second half of his rookie season” even if he impresses the team. Dunleavy notes that the Supplemental Draft pick is “16 practices and three months of preparation behind the other rookies” so it will take him a while to catch up.
- Defensive coordinator James Bettcher will be a “hot candidate” for head coaching vacancies in 2019 if the Giants defense “has a bounce-back year”, according to Dunleavy. He also thinks defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo is a future coordinator in the league who teams will soon begin to take notice of.
Extra Points: Broncos, Joseph, Jets, Rawls, Bears, Trubisky
ESPN’s group of AFC West reporters recently took a look at who was on the hottest seat in the division, among coaches, players, and executives. Although Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie‘s name came up a couple of times, the consensus seemed to be that Broncos coach Vance Joseph was the one most likely to be fired should he falter to early on this season.
Recently, our Zach Links asked readers which coach would be the first to be fired in 2018, and Joseph was a popular selection in the poll. Joseph was very nearly fired by John Elway after just one year following a disappointing 5-11 season in 2017, but his job was ultimately spared at the last minute. If new free agent acquisition Case Keenum doesn’t get things turned around in a hurry, there could be an early coaching change in Denver.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- In the Jets‘ suddenly crowded running backs room, Thomas Rawls is the “longest shot to make the roster”, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Isaiah Crowell is a lock to make the team, and Slater thinks Bilal Powell, Elijah McGuire, and Trenton Cannon are all in better position than Rawls.
- Bears guard Kyle Long says the team has “taken the training wheels off” for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, and that he’s finally “going to be able to do some things creatively and get to showcase his skills”, according to Madeline Kenney of the Chicago Sun Times (Twitter link). Former Bears coach John Fox was often criticized for being overly conservative with Trubisky, and it sounds like Trubisky will finally get to let loose in 2018.
- In case you missed it, yesterday we took a look at the latest from the AFC East, with notes on the Patriots, Dolphins, and Jets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/13/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed OL Ethan Cooper off waivers from Giants
- Waived: OL Kyle Meadows
Reactions To DeMarco Murray’s Retirement
Running back DeMarco Murray announced his retirement earlier today, ending a seven-year career during which he earned three Pro-Bowl nods, a First-Team All-Pro selection, and the league’s 2014 Offensive Player of the Year award. Murray was taken in the third round by the Cowboys back in 2011 out of Oklahoma, and quickly became a star in Dallas. He had a one year stop in Philadelphia before spending the last two years of his career with the Titans.
After Murray made the announcement on an ESPN broadcast of ‘NFL Live’, reactions quickly began trickling in. Many were quick to point out that this wasn’t a forced retirement from Murray, and that he had options to continue playing. Here are some of the responses from around the league:
- Former NFL agent and current CBS analyst Joel Corry pointed out that when a player expresses a recent desire to continue playing, like Murray did, and then suddenly retires, that “it usually means he didn’t like the type of money he was being offered” (Twitter link). It looks like Murray may have thought signing a minimum salary or low-guarantee deal simply wasn’t worth it.
- There were a “bunch of teams” interested in Murray’s services, according to Sirius XM NFL insider Adam Caplan (Twitter link). Caplan says his understanding was that Murray was “not retiring due to lack of interest” and that the veteran “would have had at least a backup role this season.” It seems like Murray would’ve only wanted to continue playing in a place where he had a clear path to playing time.
- Jim Wyatt of Titansonline.com took a look back at Murray’s career from a Titans perspective and examined his contributions to the team over the past two seasons. Wyatt notes that Murray “helped change the culture in the locker room” in Tennessee and that he “held teammates accountable” as part of his leadership role.
Latest On LeSean McCoy: Friday
Here’s a roundup of the latest on the situation surrounding Bills running back LeSean McCoy, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak (all links to go Twitter):
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Tanya Mitchell Graham, the attorney for Delicia Cordon, told WRNB radio on Thursday that neither she nor her client has “said directly” that McCoy was involved in the home invasion (link). “That could be factual [that McCoy was in Miami and not involved],” Graham said in the interview, which took place before records of Cordon’s comments to police were revealed. “The only thing I’ve said are factual things, for instance furniture was being moved on June 1. Mr. McCoy was not in Atlanta then. An eviction was filed on his behalf. He was not in Atlanta. Security cameras were changed at his residence. He was not in Atlanta then. So the fact that he was not in Atlanta doesn’t mean anything, really. But I have not – neither has my client – said directly that he was involved. I believe that the criminal investigation will play out and we will find out who the perpetrator or any accessories are.”
- Graham tells Rodak that there has been “no backtracking” of her client’s story. Graham says her client “suspects” McCoy had “something to do with it,” though Cordon is not directly blaming McCoy without further evidence (link).
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Graham says the piece of jewelry that was stolen from Cordon was given to her as a gift in 2016 and was not loaned by a jeweler, contradictory to what McCoy told police in 2017 (link).
- It has been reported that McCoy was in the process of trying to evict Cordon from the home, but Graham disputes that version of events (link). Graham said McCoy has “never asked [Cordon] to leave. … She does not have a text message, a phone or an email or a phone record that can show my client that he asked her to relocate.” McCoy took Cordon to court this year to have her removed from the property, so this could be a matter of semantics.
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Graham says neither her nor Cordon knew that Cordon’s friend would post the graphic hospital photo or make accusations against McCoy on Instagram (link).
Texans Release G Jeff Allen
The Texans announced that they have released guard Jeff Allen from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list with an injury settlement. Allen was placed on PUP in May after two years of dealing with concussions and ankle injuries. 
Allen was already off of the 90-man offseason roster thanks to the designation, but today’s transaction will allow him to seek work elsewhere. It’s not immediately clear whethe the 28-year-old will continue to play football.
A second-round selection by the Chiefs in 2012, Allen spent four seasons in Kansas City where he primarily played left guard, but also spent time at left tackle and right tackle. He made the move to right guard upon his arrival in 2016 missed six games for Houston with those injury issues. Prior to his release, he had two years remaining on his deal, with base salaries of $5.75MM (2018) and $6MM (2019).
The Texans project to start newcomers Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete at the guard spots this year. Greg Mancz and Chad Slade, meanwhile, appear to be in line for the top reserve spots.
DeMarco Murray To Retire From NFL
DeMarco Murray has played his last down in the NFL. Today, Murray will announce his retirement from football, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 
Murray, 30, was looking for work this offseason and met with several teams to try and find the right opportunity. Earlier this week, Murray reaffirmed his desire to continue playing. But, for one reason or another, the veteran has decided to call it quits.
“I’ve had a lot of discussions with four or five teams that I feel will be a great fit for me,” Murray said in an ESPN podcast released on Monday. “It’s all about being transparent and, for me, I’m not looking to lead the league in rushing yards. Obviously I would work and do everything to give me the opportunity to do that, but it’s all about having an opportunity to get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to win a championship.”
Perhaps realizing the limitations of what he can do at this stage of his career, Murray will move on from football in order to pursue other interested. Although he led the league with 1,845 rushing yards in 2014 with the Cowboys and nearly cracked 1,300 in 2016 with the Titans, he was largely overshadowed in Tennessee by Derrick Henry last year.
The Titans released Murray in March and subsequent meetings with the Lions, Seahawks, and Dolphins did not yield a contract. In June, the 30-year-old declined an opportunity to work out for the Saints. The timing of Murray’s decision is a curious one. Training camp often leads to injuries, which would have meant more opportunities for Murray. There’s also the ongoing situation in Buffalo that could leave the Bills without star LeSean McCoy to star the season.
Murray will be best remembered for his brilliant performances with the Cowboys, which included his first 1,000-yard season in 2013 and his unbelievably productive campaign in 2014 in which he totaled 2,261 all-purpose yards. Murray’s free agent deal with the Eagles was a dud, but he did enjoy a bounce-back season with the Titans in ’16.
When he was at his best, Murray was one of the league’s most electrifying rushers and he leaves the game with an impressive body of work. We here at PFR wish Murray the best in retirement.
South Notes: Saints, Unger, Titans
Three years ago, the Saints traded Jimmy Graham and a mid-round draft pick to the Seahawks for center Max Unger and the No. 31 overall pick, which turned into linebacker Stephone Anthony. Today, Unger looks like the best piece of that blockbuster deal, Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune writes.
Even as he enters his tenth NFL season, Unger stands as one of the better centers in the NFL. The 32-year-old has two years to go on his contract with the Saints, and if he maintains his level of play, Holder sees no reason why he won’t finish his career in New Orleans.
Unger’s yearly average of $7.4MM per year may sound pricey, but the center market has advanced to the point where he is just 12th in terms of AAV at the position. It’s unlikely that a 34-year-old Unger would command a significantly higher rate, so the Saints could easily move forward with Unger beyond 2019 if they are still happy with his work.
For what it’s worth, Unger garnered the worst Pro Football Focus score of his career in 2017 and graded out as just the 24th best center in the NFL. But, in 2016, he was PFF’s No. 14 center in the league. The Oregon product also boasts two Pro Bowl nods (2012, 2013) and one First-Team All-Pro selection (2012) on his resume.
Here’s more from the South divisions:
- The training camp battle between Titans running backs David Fluellen and Akrum Wadley is one to keep an eye on, Jim Wyatt of Titans Online writes. Wadley, a UDFA out of Iowa, has flashed during practices and is making a strong case to make the cut. However, Wyatt would be surprised if anyone beats Fluellen out for a spot on the roster given his special teams ability. Ultimately, however, Wadley can make the cut if the Titans opt to carry four running backs on their Week 1 roster.
- Meanwhile, the Titans have a dozen receivers in camp and no more than half of those players will make the final cut. Wyatt writes that the Titans will be keeping Corey Davis, Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, and Taywan Taylor, but the rest of the WR depth chart is in flux. Former Ravens receiver Michael Campanaro looked good in the preseason before suffering an injury, so he has a chance to be a contributor for the team this fall if he can stay healthy. After that, it sounds like Darius Jennings, Jordan Veasy, Deontay Burnett, and Devin Ross have the upper hand over Cameron Batson and Brandon Shippen. Teams will sometimes carry six wide receivers on the Week 1 roster, but it’s certainly possible that the Titans will only carry five into September.
- This week, two separate lawsuits were filed against Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus for sexual assault.
Redskins Sign Adonis Alexander
The Redskins have signed Adonis Alexander to his rookie contract. As with typical draft picks, it’s a four-year deal, so Alexander is under club control through the 2021 season. 
On Wednesday, the Redskins used a sixth-round pick in the supplemental draft to select the Virginia Tech cornerback. They’ll forfeit a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft as a result, but they’re getting a high-upside player to help them immediately rather than waiting. The Redskins still have two other sixth-round picks in next year’s draft thanks to the compensatory formula, so they’re only taking a mild risk by bringing Alexander into the fold.
Blessed with size and ball skills, the Redskins believe they can turn Alexander into a contributor at the pro level. Teams had some maturity concerns about Alexander after academic trouble cost him a spot with the Hokies, but his one-time defensive backs coach Torrian Gray is in D.C. and Redskins feel that Gray can help him stay on track.
Alexander will fight to make the roster behind top cornerbacks Josh Norman, Orlando Scandrick, and Fabian Moreau. Quinton Dunbar and seventh-round pick Greg Stroman are also among those looking to solidify their spots between now and September.
Bills Interested In RB Branden Oliver
The Bills have shown interest in setting up a workout with former Chargers running backs Branden Oliver, a source tells Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, no workout has been scheduled yet. 
Oddly enough, the Bills’ interest in Oliver actually predates this week’s incident involving LeSean McCoy‘s ex-girlfriend. But, with Delicia Cordon alleging that McCoy had a role in the assault, the Bills would be wise to ramp up their search for free agent running backs.
A deal would mark a homecoming of sorts for Oliver, who was raised in Florida but played his college football at the University at Buffalo. Oliver was not drafted after his time in Western New York, but he hooked on with the Chargers in 2014 and quickly made a name for himself with his bruising rushing style. Since then, however, injuries have held him back.
In addition to McCoy, the Bills also have running backs Chris Ivory, Travaris Cadet, Taiwan Jones, Marcus Murphy, and Keith Ford under contract. If McCoy is taken out of the equation and they do not sign Oliver, one can’t help but wonder if they’ll also consider the likes of DeMarco Murray and Adrian Peterson.