Latest On Cardinals GM Steve Keim
We learned late last week that Cardinals general manager Steve Keim was cited for a DUI on July 5th. We knew then that Keim could face punishment under the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Today, team president Michael Bidwill seemingly confirmed that fact, as he hinted that the executive could face “consequences” for his actions.
“First of all, I’m extremely disappointed,” Bidwill said during an interview with KFYI’s Mike Broomhead (via ProFootballTalk.com’s Josh Alper). “It’s inexcusable. He did bring it to our attention right away that night and has been extremely remorseful and contrite. He’s taken steps to make things right, but the reality is that there is a process in place that the league has and there are going to be consequences here.”
Alper points out that previous discipline under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy has led to suspensions and fines, and he opines that Keim’s blood alcohol concentration will influence any potential punishment.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss passes along additional details regarding Keim’s arrest. The general manager was seen drifting between two lanes, and the officer could “smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” after Keim was pulled over. The executive did give his name to the officer, but he claimed to be the team’s director of security. Keim was also unable to complete the physical components of the field sobriety test, citing a “pre-existing knee injury.”
East Notes: Cowboys, Thomas, Jets, Giants
The Cowboys purged their veteran secondary in recent years by allowing Brandon Carr, Barry Church, and Morris Claiborne to walk in free agency. Now, the Cowboys have a young group of cornerbacks and safeties, which leaves some question marks on defense, Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas News writes.
Of course, the Cowboys could still inject some veteran savvy into the group by trading for Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. The Cowboys haven’t given up hope of acquiring the multiple-time Pro Bowler, and it sounds like Thomas would love to play in Dallas.
Here’s more from the East divisions:
- There are some notable players on the Jets‘ roster bubble, Darryl Slater of NJ.com writes, including wide receiver Devin Smith, outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, and running back Thomas Rawls. Rawls, at one point in time, flashed some potential with Seattle, but the Jets’ top two RB spots are locked down by Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell. Meanwhile, rising sophomore Eli McGuire and sixth-round rookie Trenton Cannon could place ahead of him.
- Speaking of running backs in the Meadowlands, Matt Lombardo of NJ.com takes a look at the Giants‘ RB depth chart. Lombardo sees Wayne Gallman and Jonathan Stewart as the top backs behind rookie Saquon Barkley with Robert Martin on the bubble and Jalen Simmons on the outside looking in. Both Martin and Simmons joined the G-Men this year as UDFAs and Martin’s explosiveness gives him the edge over Simmons. Although Martin has impressed in practice, there’s no guarantee that the Giants will carry more than three running backs on their initial roster.
- On Tuesday morning, we rounded up the latest on the Cowboys.
Virginia Tech’s Alexander Passes Drug Test
Good news for Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander. On the eve of the NFL’s supplemental draft, teams have received records of a clean drug test taken this week, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Alexander was arrested on a marijuana charge in 2016, but his camp has been working to prove that it was just an isolated incident. The defensive back has passed tests over the last eight months, which bodes well for his chances of being selected on Wednesday.
Alexander is one of three players believed to be contention to be drafted. Former Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal is reportedly the best of the bunch and could go as high as the second round. After that, Alexander could be in the mix in rounds 5-7, along with Mississippi State defensive back Brandon Bryant.
The supplemental draft – also known as the league’s “second chance” draft – gives players an opportunity to enter the league in July, provided that they are at least three years removed from high school. Order is determined by a weighted lottery based on the April draft order and teams are given an opportunity to enter a bid before each round. If a team selects a player, they’ll sacrifice the corresponding pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Alabama LB Terrell Lewis Suffers Torn ACL
One of the top prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft has suffered a serious injury. Alabama linebacker Terrell Lewis has bene diagnosed with a torn right ACL, according to an announcement from the school. Although “a timeframe for his return is unknown at this time,” it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to take the field this season. 
Early projections had Lewis (f.k.a. Terrell Hall) in the mix to be a first-round pick in the 2019 draft. That is now very much in jeopardy, though he might be able to recover in time for team workouts in the winter.
Unfortunately, injuries have plagued Lewis throughout his collegiate career. In 2017, he suffered an injury in the season opener which cost him the bulk of the year. Hopes were high after he excelled in spring football practices, but scouts will have to wait a while before seeing the 6’5″, 247-pound linebacker on the field again.
In the wake of this news, it’s quite possible that Lewis will stay in school for 2019 rather than going pro. He’ll have ample time to assess his decision, however, and the counsel of the College Advisory Committee (CAC) may play a role in his determination next year.
South Notes: Saints, Vaccaro, Texans
Saints free agent safety Kenny Vaccaro is still on the market, but it’s not due to any health issues, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. And, although the safety market didn’t develop as expected, Underhill anticipates that he’ll land somewhere before training camp starts.
It’s possible that Vaccaro turned down some low-cost deals early on in free agency, as Underhill notes that there was “no need [for him] to hurry and sign a deal when free agency opened.” He may have some regrets about that now, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Vaccaro won’t be able to find a team on a low-cost one-year deal.
The Colts, Jets, and Dolphins showed interest in Vaccaro earlier this offseason, but we haven’t heard much about him in recent weeks. While we wait to see where the former Saints safety will land, here’s more out of the South divisions:
- Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu is the best newcomer to the AFC South, Sarah Barshop, Mike Wells, and Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com argue. Mathieu isn’t coming off a great year, but the Texans will mostly play Mathieu at his natural safety position which may allow him to thrive. After the Texans fell to last place in the NFL in points allowed, they’re certainly hoping that Mathieu will have a big impact in 2018.
- In the same piece, ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe makes a case for Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler being the AFC South’s best new player. Although Butler’s curious benching in the Super Bowl has some concerned, he boasts 44 total pass breakups in the last three seasons, which is good for second most among all cornerbacks in the league since 2015. If things pan out, Butler could give the Titans the high-end defender they need to bottle up opposing receivers in the division like DeAndre Hopkins and T.Y. Hilton.
- New Panthers owner David Tepper confirmed that the team will remain in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Supplemental Draft Notes: Beal, Bryant
The NFL’s supplemental draft will take place on Wednesday and the football world is buzzing about former Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal. One scouting analysts for ESPN believes that he is worthy of a second-round grade in terms of talent.
“I think he’s going to be a starter within three years for whatever team drafts him,” ESPN.com’s Steve Muench said, “and a really good starter at that. You have someone with that frame and those skills, and that’s what teams look for.”
Beal offers good size for the cornerback position at 6’1″ and ran a 4.47-second 40-yard-dash during a recent workout. He is widely projected to go within the first three rounds, becoming the first player taken in the supplemental draft in years.
Here’s more on Beal and the other entrants in the supplemental draft:
- Mississippi State defensive back Brandon Bryant also has an opportunity to be drafted. Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com offers up a scouting report for the three-year starter, noting that he offers good size and serious athleticism. Although he is fluid and fast in coverage, Pauline dings him for his lack of physicality and sense of urgency. Pauline predicts that he’ll be taken in the sixth-round on Wednesday.
- When it comes to Beal, Pauline lauds the Western Michigan product for his outstanding closing speed and explosive nature. On the flipside, he feels that Beal does not demonstrate great recognition in zone coverage and notes that his instincts are suspect. Beal – who was said to be in the first-round range for the 2019 draft – should go in the second or third round in Pauline’s estimation.
- Nat Newell of the Indy Star wonders if the Colts could place a bid on Beal, Bryant, or Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander given their needs in the secondary. With size and the ability to excel in zone coverage, Alexander could be of particular interest to GM Chris Ballard.
- In addition to the aforementioned three players, Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu and Grand Valley State running back Martayveus Carter are also eligible to be drafted. However, their odds of being selected are reportedly slim.
LeSean McCoy Denies Abuse Allegations
On Tuesday morning, the friend of LeSean McCoy‘s ex-girlfriend took to Instagram to make a series of disturbing accusations against the Bills running back. The post included a picture of McCoy’s girlfriend with her face bloodied and accused McCoy of abusing her and his dog, as well as using “steroids.” Soon after, McCoy denied the allegations raised against him. 
“For the record, the totally baseless and offensive claims made against me today on social media are completely false. Futhermore, I have not had any direct contact with any of the people involved in months,” McCoy wrote (Twitter link).
For their part, the Bills say they are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.
McCoy, who turns 30 on Thursday, has been among the league’s top rushers for the last eight seasons. He has six 1,000-yard rushing seasons to his credit, including his 2017 effort in which he tallied 1,138 yards and averaged 4.0 yards per carry.
Cowboys Notes: Lawrence, Irving, White
Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is the rising star of the NFC East, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer writes. “Rising star” can be defined in a number of ways, but Archer argues that Lawrence had his best season ever in 2017, making him the breakout player of the division. With 14.5 sacks last year and a Pro Bowl nod, it’s hard to argue.
Lawrence proved that he can be the “war daddy” that owner Jerry Jones wants, but Jones will have to pay if he wants to keep him beyond 2018. The two sides are set to meet this week in advance of the July 16 deadline, but if no deal comes together, he’ll play out the season on his one-year, $17.1MM franchise tender.
Here’s more out of Dallas:
- Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News re-examined the Cowboys roster in the wake of David Irving‘s suspension and Randy Gregory‘s potential reinstatement. If Gregory is reinstated, Machota believes the Cowboys could opt to carry ten defensive line players on the Week 1 roster, with Irving’s starting role filled by defensive end Charles Tapper or a player not currently on the team. If the Cowboys are in the market for a defensive tackle, free agent Johnathan Hankins may be their best bet.
- Cowboys cornerback Marquez White faces felony assault charges due to a road-rage incident from last year in which he displayed a gun to another driver. However, White’s agent says charges should not have been filed. “We are very proud of the way he handled the entire situation,” agent Peter Schaffer said in a statement issued to PFT. “He defused a potentially dangerous encounter and did everything by the book. He notified the team and his agent. The police have done a disservice to him by doing an inadequate investigation and filing charges with no proof or justification.” White appeared in court last week and is due back on Aug. 10. The cornerback could face a suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
NFLPA Files Grievance Over NFL’s Anthem Policy
The players’ union is filing a grievance against the NFL’s new anthem policy, the NFLPA announced on Tuesday. The union argues that the new policy violates the rights of players. 
“Our union filed its non-injury grievance today on behalf of all players challenging the NFL’s recently imposed anthem policy,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “The union’s claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL’s governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights. In advance of our filing today, we proposed to the NFL to begin confidential discussions with the NFLPA Executive Committee to find a solution to this issue instead of immediately proceeding with litigation. The NFL has agreed to proceed with those discussions and we look forward to starting them soon.”
Earlier this year, the NFL’s announced that it will require players to stand for the national anthem if they are on the sidelines, but will allow players to wish to abstain to stay in the locker room while the anthem is played. Under this policy, teams get fined rather than players, but owners have the option to pass the fines along to players.
AFC Rumors: Gronk, Luck, Bell, Broncos
Rob Gronkowski is still operating on a contract he signed in 2012, slightly before he placed his name among the all-time tight end greats, but is committed to returning for a ninth season regardless. Reports of Patriots negotiations with Gronkowski on a revised 2018 deal emerged months ago, but nothing’s been resolved. That’s led some other executives around the conference to believe the Patriots are still motivated to trade their superstar pass-catcher.
“Where’s the restructure of his contract?” one AFC personnel executive said, via Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal (via NESN.com). “Until that’s done, I think he’s still available. I wouldn’t be surprised if (Bill) Belichick is going to test Gronk’s buy-in with the contract.”
The Pats are believed to have shopped Gronk to the Texans, Titans, Lions and 49ers. The 29-year-old All-Pro remains on New England’s roster but without the kind of pay-bump possibility 2017’s incentive package brought. Three of the five execs Bedard spoke with believe the Pats and Gronkowski will reach an agreement to redo his deal, but the fact that it hasn’t happened yet opens the door to rumblings of a trade — one that wouldn’t be out of character for Belichick. Two other AFC execs expect a harder fight from the Patriots, given that Gronk hinted at retirement and skipped OTAs.
Here’s the latest on some other AFC standouts:
- On the topic of impasses for All-Pros, Le’Veon Bell remains focused on a deal that represents a combination of his abilities on the ground and through the air — a demand that could be up to $17MM AAV. Although the Steelers‘ talks with their star running back resumed, they are still unlikely to produce a long-term deal, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. Fittipaldo is the latest to confirm Bell turned down a contract proposal that would have ensured he made $30MM in 2017 and ’18, adding it was a five-year offer. Bell’s entrance to the league as a 2013 second-round pick, and a player who has earned less than 2016 first-rounder Ezekiel Elliott (since Bell has yet to sign his $14.5MM 2018 tender, this is still accurate), is helping drive Bell to take this hardline stance, per Fittipaldo.
- While this isn’t exactly full confirmation, signs point to Andrew Luck participating in a passing summit with some of his pass-catchers at his alma mater. Colts wide receiver Chester Rogers tweeted he’s off to Stanford, where Luck spends time training during the offseason. Mike Chappell of Fox 59 assumes Luck will be throwing Rogers and others as he continues the final stages of his exhaustive rehab program. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t qualify as particularly newsworthy. But considering Luck’s progress in June, every throw the passer makes will be relevant as he prepares to surmount what’s been a significant hurdle to return to the field.
- Chris Harris has some interesting incentives in his contract, one the Broncos adjusted this year. The standout cornerback’s been attached to an incredibly team-friendly deal the past four years, and the Broncos added $3MM in incentives. Some of those escalators can only be triggered by team success, with the six-, eight- and 10-win benchmarks representing possible six-figure bumps for the 29-year-old corner. Harris preferred that being part of his contract. “Last year was unacceptable as a team,” Harris said, via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (subscription required) in an expansive piece on Denver’s DBs. “This year I’m putting that in my contract to make sure these guys are on the same page as me, how I think on the field and prepare them for games.”
- Jhabvala adds that Denver’s Su’a Cravens addition could threaten Will Parks‘ role more than anyone else’s. The third-year defender serves as a backup safety and occasional dime linebacker, and Cravens looks set to make a strong push to assume that role for a team that gave up a fifth-round pick to get him. The Broncos were said to view Cravens strictly as a safety, but the former second-round pick played a hybrid role with the Redskins in 2016.