HEADLINES

Month: June 2022

Ryan Fitzpatrick Planning To Retire

June 2nd, 2022 at 12:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

After 17 seasons, Ryan Fitzpatrick looks set to retire. The veteran quarterback texted former teammates, including ex-Bills running back Fred Jackson, who shared Fitz’s intentions via Twitter.

Amazon is negotiating a deal with the exiting QB, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Fitzpatrick’s 17th season only featured a handful of snaps in Washington’s Week 1 game, which included a season-ending hip injury. But the Harvard grad left an imprint on the game.

He is the only quarterback in NFL history to have started for nine different teams. No other QB has started for more than seven. The 39-year-old passer, despite being a seventh-round pick, will exit the NFL having started for the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Buccaneers, Dolphins and Washington. Stretches as a backup ensued, and an earned rollercoaster reputation followed Fitzpatrick, but the former 250th overall pick continued to deliver NFL relevance into his late 30s.

What looks like the NFL’s final Fitzmagic dose occurred late in the Dolphins’ 2020 season, when the bearded vet pulled off a game-winning drive in relief of Tua Tagovailoa in Las Vegas. During the second of his two Bucs seasons (2018), Fitz averaged 9.6 yards per attempt. That remains tied for eighth-best in a season in NFL history — behind only Kurt Warner among post-merger QBs. While that figure formed during a seven-start season, that form helped the popular passer stay a viable option to take snaps into the twilight of his career.

Financially, Fitz did quite well for himself. Even after the Bills bailed on his most notable contract — a six-year, $59MM extension in 2011 — in 2013, he collected a few other nice checks on short-term deals. After Fitzpatrick broke Vinny Testaverde‘s 17-year-old Jets record for single-season touchdown passes, tossing 31 in 2015, Gang Green gave him a one-year, $12MM deal after an offseason impasse. The Dolphins signed Fitz to a two-year, $11MM pact in 2019, and Washington upped that price by inking the then-38-year-old QB to a one-year accord worth $10MM. Despite only playing 16 snaps last season, Fitz collected every penny.

After backing up Marc Bulger and Carson Palmer in St. Louis and Cincinnati, respectively, Fitzpatrick broke through in Buffalo. Taking over for a Bills team that had tried J.P. Losman and Trent Edwards for a fairly lengthy stretch, Fitz started 53 games for the Bills from 2009-12. None of those seasons produced a winning record, however, during the Bills’ near-two-decade-long playoff drought. The Titans and Texans then bolted on two-year contracts after one season apiece.

The Jets brought in Fitz in 2015, after Geno Smith had started two seasons. Backup linebacker I.K. Enemkpali punching Smith in the locker room likely altered his backup’s career trajectory. Fitzpatrick stepped in for a team rostering Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and tallied a career-high 3,905 passing yards to go with the 31 TD throws. This produced the Jets’ most successful season of the past decade, a 10-6 campaign. While Fitz struggled in a crucial season finale, he re-established himself as a starter option.

Following his surprisingly explosive Jameis Winston fill-in season, which featured some memorable press conference attire, Fitzpatrick led a woeful 2019 Dolphins roster to five wins — something that produced a major NFL controversy years later — and concluded that season with a stunning upset in New England. That result game gave the Chiefs a first-round bye, catalyzing the eventual champions’ Super Bowl LIV push.

For his career, Fitz finishes with 34,990 passing yards (32nd all time), 223 touchdown passes (36th) and 169 INTs. This somewhat amazingly never translated to a single playoff appearance in 17 years, with his starter record 59-87-1. But this sub-.500, regular-season-only run certainly generated considerable attention and delivered a host of memorable moments.

Alex Mack Restructures Deal; Retirement Decision Still Looming

June 2nd, 2022 at 11:54am CST by Adam La Rose

While the 49ers await the ultimate decision made by center Alex Mack regarding his playing future, they have some added financial flexibility. The veteran agreed to a re-working of his contract, as detailed by ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). 

Mack’s base salary will drop from $5MM to $1.12MM this season, creating some immediate cap space for San Francisco. In 2023 — the final year of his contract — his salary will decrease from $3.35MM to just under $1.2MM. Perhaps the most telling aspect of this move, however is the matter of the guaranteed money in the deal.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that $500K (the only guaranteed compensation Mack was due this year or next) has been converted to a roster bonus. That is significant, as it means the 36-year-old will receive the money this month, something which wouldn’t have happened if he had retired and it had remained a part of his base salary. Garafolo posits that the move represents a “parting gift” from the 49ers.

That makes today’s news another sign that Mack has played his final game in the NFL. When it was first reported that he was considering hanging up his cleats – despite having only played one season in the Bay Area on a three-year pact, suiting up for all 17 games and being named a Pro Bowler for the seventh time — team personnel made it clear their expectation was that he would return. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently struck a much different tone on the subject, however.

“I’ve talked to him here and there,” Shanahan said last week. “I’ve been in touch with him throughout the offseason… I’ve got a pretty good idea of what he’s doing… I’m going to leave that up to Alex, but I’ve got a pretty good idea.”

If Mack does indeed retire, the 49ers would be forced to add a veteran at the center position for the second straight season. Some of the remaining options include J.C. Tretter, Trey Hopkins and Billy Price. The team now has more money to work with should it become necessary to sign one of them, but his retirement would leave another significant hole needing to be filled on the interior of their offensive line.

49ers’ John Lynch Confirms Deebo Samuel’s Short-Term Future With Team

June 2nd, 2022 at 10:07am CST by Adam La Rose

The largest question looming over the 49ers right now remains that of Deebo Samuel‘s future with the team. In the aftermath of a trade request which did not lead to him being moved, general manager John Lynch spoke recently about his intentions of keeping the wideout. 

When directly asked about Samuel’s future, Lynch said, “We haven’t traded him, and I’d be a fool to trade him, so yes, Deebo will be part of the 49ers this season” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The team’s front office has maintained their intention of keeping Samuel, but that statement is the most definitive to date with respect to quashing trade talk.

Samuel, 26, formally requested a trade one week before the draft in April. Not surprisingly, several teams showed interest in acquiring him, including the Jets; it was reported that they offered the No. 10 pick for the All-Pro receiver, but there was no point at which San Francisco came close to moving him.

Samuel has only one season remaining on his rookie contract, meaning that Lynch’s remarks could still refer strictly to the immediate future. He made it clear earlier in the offseason that the team had budgeted for sizeable extensions with both Samuel and Nick Bosa. However, there is a notable gap in the reported value of San Francisco’s initial offer and the terms Samuel is believed to be seeking on his second contract.

The South Carolina alum is currently absent from the team’s OTAs, something which has been expected since mid-April. In the absence of a new deal, Samuel will earn just under $4MM, while carrying a cap hit of $4.9MM. His level of play, especially this past season, has led many to believe he will be one of the next beneficiaries of the substantial upward trend in the receiver market around the league. While there is still plenty of time for a deal to be worked out, there is further evidence that Samuel will remain in the Bay Area for at least one more year.

Latest On Darius Leonard

June 2nd, 2022 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

The biggest news of the offseason for the Colts is the the arrival of Matt Ryan at quarterback, but another crucial storyline relates to the health of All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard. As detailed by Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, his injured ankle is “still giving him trouble”. 

As a result of that news, Erickson adds, Leonard is being held off the field during OTAs, just as he was last week. The team is being cautious at this point in the offseason, partially due to the voluntary nature of the present workouts and practices, but also to see if they can avoid a second consecutive surgery being necessary.

That seemed to be the prevailing sentiment when Leonard himself stated last month that the ankle was in an improved condition relative to one year ago. “It feels a whole lot better than what it did, coming from the end of the season” he said. “I feel better coming into this season than I did last year, I can say that.”

While Erickson adds that neither the 26-year-old nor the team believe another procedure is necessary, both sides have acknowledged that the ankle still hasn’t healed in full yet. “We’re just taking it day by day, trying to see what, exactly, we’re dealing with, how we can get it to respond and make some progress” head coach Frank Reich said.

Leonard played through the injury all of last season, maintaining the level of production expected of him, given his pedigree and lucrative contract. He totalled 122 tackles, four interceptions and a league-leading eight forced fumbles, earning him First-Team All-Pro honors for the third time in four years. Barring significant improvement in the coming weeks on the injury front, however, it appears the status of his ankle will linger over the rest of the offseason, and potentially into the fall.

Malcolm Butler Favorite To Start For Patriots

June 1st, 2022 at 10:19pm CST by Ely Allen

Cornerback Malcolm Butler was called back into action in New England after the Patriots lost J.C. Jackson to the Chargers in free agency this offseason. Despite not appearing in a game since the end of the 2020 NFL season, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports that Butler is a favorite to win the starting cornerback job across from Jalen Mills. 

After joining the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2014, Butler served as a reserve corner until being called into action in Super Bowl XLIX and making one of the most famous interceptions in NFL history. Butler was awarded the starting job the following season and stayed there until signing with the Titans as a free agent in 2018. He continued to start in Tennessee for three years before being released as a cap casualty after the 2020 season.

Butler rebounded quickly, signing a deal to join the Cardinals, but, just prior to the start of the 2021 season, Butler decided to retire for personal reasons. His retirement never sounded very final, but he never appeared in a game that season and Arizona formally released him this past February.

Butler rejoins a room that now holds Mills as a starter and Jonathan Jones as a starting nickel corner. The Patriots brought in Terrance Mitchell while returning Joejuan Williams, Shaun Wade, and Justin Bethel. New England also used a fourth-round pick this year to draft Jack Jones out of Arizona State. Out of the available options, Mitchell is most likely to give Butler competition for the job, but Butler’s experience and familiarity will afford the 32-year-old a bit of an advantage.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/1/22

June 1st, 2022 at 9:43pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: DE Drew Jackson

Minnesota Vikings

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: WR Juwan Green
  • Waived: TE Ryan Izzo

Former Cowboys, Bears RB Marion Barber III Dies

June 1st, 2022 at 9:33pm CST by Ely Allen

Former Cowboys and Bears running back Marion Barber III was found dead Wednesday in his Frisco apartment, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He was 38.

Frisco police responded to a welfare check at Barber’s apartment when someone called about a water leak. Upon arriving, the police forced their way into the apartment. As of the time of this reporting, the cause of Barber’s death is unknown.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic death of Marion Barber III,” the Cowboys said in a statement. “Marion was an old-school, hard-nosed football player who ran with the will to win every down. He had a passion for the game and love for his coaches and teammates. Our hearts go out to Marion’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

The Plymouth, Minnesota, native played in the NFL from 2005-2011. Barber was a fourth-round draft pick for the Cowboys out of the University of Minnesota where he played his last year as a Golden Gopher with his brother, former Texans safety Dominique Barber. In his final Minnesota season, Marion made college football history when he and former Patriots running back Laurence Maroney became the first teammates in Division I football to each rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Barber would make that a habit, finding success in the NFL despite being officially designated as Julius Jones‘ backup. Barber found his role as a third-down and red zone running back in Dallas. He finished his sophomore season third in the league with 14 rushing touchdowns, trailing only LaDainian Tomlinson‘s record-setting 28 and Larry Johnson‘s 17. In 2007, Barber was named to the Pro Bowl, receiving an invite despite not making a single regular-season start.

Barber ran with an aggressive, punishing style, leading the league in broken tackles in 2007. His identity as a power back earned him the nickname “Marion the Barbarian,” as he embodied his oft-quoted mantra “hit or get hit.” Barber’s last season in the NFL saw him join the Bears to back up Matt Forte. After the Bears failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2011, Barber announced his retirement. He finished his career with 4,780 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns.

The headlines following Barber’s NFL career tell a sad story. Barber ran into legal issues in 2014 and 2018, Hill adds, with both instances serving as cautionary tales on mental health. Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant tweeted almost a year ago lamenting the state of his former teammate saying he couldn’t even enjoy watching a video of Barber’s highlights know that Barber was “down and out bad.”

Sean McVay Comments On Aaron Donald Situation

June 1st, 2022 at 7:22pm CST by Ely Allen

We recently wrote about some comments made by Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald during an appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast. Donald’s comments echoed sentiments we heard after the team’s Super Bowl victory that the 31-year-old might be done playing football after eight years in the league. Specifically, Donald seemed to indicate that if he and the Rams can’t come to an agreement on a new contract, he would be “at peace” with his career coming to a close. 

Earlier this week, Rams head coach Sean McVay remarked on the comments and his view of the situation with Donald, according to Cameron DaSilva of USA Today. “We’ve had great dialogue,” McVay stated. “The goal all along has been to try to get this thing figured out, but also like I’ve said, if there’s anybody that’s earned the right to make the decision on their own terms…it’s Aaron.”

McVay went on to frame the situation in an optimistic light. “Things are trending in the right direction,” he continued. “We have regular dialogue with Aaron and the goal is to figure out how to get a contract done that he feels good about, that we feel good about, and have him continue to do his thing for the Rams leading the way.”

Donald currently has three years remaining on his six-year, $135MM contract. He’s only due to make $14.25MM next year, though, and Donald is seeking a raise based on everything he’s done for the Rams since signing that deal in 2018. Donald hasn’t appeared at OTAs this year, but that’s hardly out of the ordinary for the completely voluntary workouts.

When asked if Donald will be at mandatory minicamp next week, McVay expressed some hope. “I think so. That’s the plan right now, so we’ll see. I sure hope so, so I don’t have to answer your questions next week about it,” McVay joked. “No, I think he’ll be here. That’s the plan.”

Contract Details: Njoku, Addison, Fuller

June 1st, 2022 at 6:08pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on deals recently signed around the NFL:

  • David Njoku, TE (Browns): Four-year, $54.75MM. The contract, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, has an amount guaranteed at signing of $17MM consisting of a signing bonus of $11.47MM, the 2022 base salary of $1.04MM, and the 2023 base salary of $4.5MM. Unless the Browns release Njoku by the third league day in March of 2023, Njoku will receive an additional guaranteed bonus of $11MM consisting of an $8MM 2023 option bonus and $3MM of the 2024 base salary. The additional $11MM is only dependent on roster status, being guaranteed for injury at signing. The full amount of the 2024 base salary, including the guaranteed amount of $3MM, is $13MM. The 2025 base salary is worth $14.25MM. There are two automatically voided years built in for 2026 and 2027 meant to spread around the bonuses and cap hits. In 2024, Njoku will receive a per game active bonus of $88,235 for a potential total of $1.5MM. In 2025, Njoku will receive a per game active bonus of $58,823 for a potential season total of $1MM. The deal also includes annual incentives of $250,000 if Njoku is named first- or second-team All-Pro and $500,000 if he’s named All-Pro and the Browns make the playoffs.
  • Mario Addison, DE (Texans): Two-year, $7.7MM. The deal, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, has a total guaranteed amount of $4.6MM consisting of a signing bonus of $2MM, the 2022 base salary of $1.5MM, and $1.1MM of the 2023 base salary. The 2023 base salary, including the guaranteed amount, is worth $3MM in total. Wilson reports an annual per game active bonus of $35,294 for a potential per season total of $600,000.
  • Kyle Fuller, CB (Ravens): One-year, $2.5MM. The contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN, is fully guaranteed with a signing bonus of $1.38MM and a base salary of $1.12MM.
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