HEADLINES

Month: August 2023

Broncos DL Eyioma Uwazurike Subject Of Criminal Gambling Investigation

August 2nd, 2023 at 9:18am CST by Sam Robinson

Second-year Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike received a full-season suspension for betting on NFL games, joining a handful of players during what has been an active stretch for the NFL and gambling trouble. The former fourth-round pick’s rookie season is now believed to have included bets on Broncos games.

Uwazurike bet on at least five Broncos games, two in which he played, according to the Des Moines Register’s Travis Hines and Randy Peterson. These were among the approximately 801 wagers a FanDuel account controlled by Uwazurike made. These bets totaled just more than $21K and are the subject of a criminal gambling investigation in Iowa, per Hines and Peterson, who add Uwazurike also bet on Cyclones games he played in during the 2021 season.

In total, Uwazurike made 32 bets on Broncos games or Broncos players. It is not yet known if any of these bets were on the Broncos to lose or unders involving Denver players. Prosecutors have accused Uwazurike of tampering with records and disguising his identity to make these bets, according to the complaint, by using another person, Rachel Louise Francis, to make the wagers for him. The Broncos have cooperated with this investigation, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.

Uwazurike, 25, is far from the first player to be hit with a gambling ban in recent months. A handful of players, including Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, were found to have bet on NFL games and are thus under indefinite suspension. Rodgers was found to have bet on Colts games. Uwazurike’s involvement in a criminal gambling matter is a different story, and his role as a rotational D-lineman in Denver clouds his NFL future in light of this probe. Three years remain on Uwazurike’s rookie contract, which will toll to 2024 — provided he is still with the team by that point.

The Colts waived Rodgers, while the Lions cut the four non-Jameson Williams popped with gambling suspensions. Defensive end Shaka Toney remains with the Commanders. The NFL went years without a gambling policy violator, but a 2018 Supreme Court decision that expanded betting to numerous states beyond Nevada and New Jersey has both affected the NFL through partnerships and with players running afoul of the betting policy. Teams have attempted to better educate players on the gambling policy, but Uwazurike trudged into hot water earlier by allegedly making bets as a college athlete.

The Broncos used Uwazurike as a backup D-lineman in eight games last season; he played 165 defensive snaps. Along with fellow second-year player Matt Henningsen, Uwazurike had a chance to play a bigger role this season. He is due in court August 16.

Vikings Host G Dalton Risner On Visit

August 2nd, 2023 at 8:46am CST by Ben Levine

AUGUST 2: Risner left his Vikings visit without a deal in place, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. While Ingram may well be ticketed to keep his starting job, Kevin O’Connell said Reed does not have a return timetable just yet. Risner figures to have other options, with a handful of teams showing some degree of interest earlier this summer. But the Vikings may be in the market for a lower-priced guard should Reed not show progress.

JULY 31: One of the best remaining free agent linemen is heading out for a visit. Veteran offensive guard Dalton Risner is visiting with the Vikings, according to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (on Twitter).

Risner was a 2019 second-round pick by the Broncos and proceeded to earn PFWA All-Rookie Team honors after starting all 16 games that season. The lineman ended up starting all 62 of his appearances in Denver, playing primarily at left guard.

This past season, the 28-year-old missed a pair of games thanks to an elbow injury but otherwise started all 15 of his appearances. When he was on the field, he didn’t do a whole lot to impress, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 42nd among 50 qualifying offensive guards in 2022. In fact, the site has never been all that fond of the lineman, with Risner peaking as the 28th-best guard in 2021.

As ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweets, there’s little chance Risner would be brought in to battle guards Ezra Cleveland or Ed Ingram for their starting spots. Rather, Risner would be viewed as a depth piece in Minnesota, especially with the Vikings currently dealing with some injuries at the position. That includes Chris Reed, who is currently on the non-football injury list with an undisclosed issue.

With Reed sidelined, that leaves inexperienced options like Bobby Evans, Alan Ali, and Jack Snyder to soak up snaps at offensive guard. Risner would provide a bit of veteran know-how, especially when you consider his experience playing under Vikings OL coach Chris Kuper and assistant OL coach Justin Ruscati during the trio’s time in Denver.

Teams Showing Interest In Jonathan Taylor

August 1st, 2023 at 9:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The escalating drama between the Colts and Jonathan Taylor certainly qualifies as one of the defining storylines during an important year for the running back position. Taylor remains out of Colts practice and has requested a trade.

As of Tuesday, the Colts are against trading the former rushing champion. A recent report also indicated a robust market should not be expected to form, as several backs — including some who have also expressed frustration about their present situations — are on track to hit free agency in 2024. Taylor is as well, though the franchise tag is a play the Colts can make. Would another team force the Colts’ hand early?

Interest is, however, expected to exist for Taylor, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Adding on that point, Rapoport indicates multiple teams are expected to call the Colts to see how resolute they are in not trading the 2021 All-Pro. No resolution between Taylor and the Colts appears close.

The former second-round pick is going into a contract year and doing so at a bad time for the running back market. But Taylor is only going into his age-24 season. Prime years should remain for the Wisconsin alum, who finished second in the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year voting. Although a team that trades for Taylor would have the option of franchise-tagging him in 2024, Rapoport adds multiple clubs are believed to be open to giving him a real contract. That would presumably mean a deal north of $12MM per year, though it is not known how high prospective suitors would be willing to go.

No team has authorized a running back deal beyond the $13MM-AAV point since the Saints reupped Alvin Kamara in August 2020. The Vikings cut bait on their $12.6MM-per-year Dalvin Cook deal this offseason, while the Bengals and Packers trimmed their $12MM-per-year backs’ pay for 2023. The salary cap has risen by nearly $30MM since the Kamara and Christian McCaffrey deals, however, and will make another climb in 2024.

Taylor voiced frustration about the market after Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard were not paid, and his issues with the Colts have escalated since. That said, ESPN’s Stephen Holder adds that the contract-year back has been at odds with the organization for a while (Twitter link). The Colts have not made an offer, with Jim Irsay — whose previous comments about the RB position added more fuel to this fire — publicly indicating as such.

Since the Taylor drama became known, the Colts have lost Zack Moss to a broken arm. They traded Nyheim Hines last season. Fifth-round rookie Evan Hull and veteran Deon Jackson reside as the top available options currently, though a few notable free agents — Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt — remain beyond Cook. The ex-Viking’s connections remain to the AFC East at this point.

Aaron Rodgers Addresses Pay-Cut Decision, Jets Future

August 1st, 2023 at 9:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Rodgers has gone from being “90% retired” to regularly talking about playing multiple seasons with the Jets. The Packers and Jets briefly discussed a trade term of a 2025 Green Bay pick going to New York in the event Rodgers retired after the 2023 season, but no traction emerged in that direction. As of now, at least, it does not sound like that will end up being relevant.

The 19th-year quarterback said he is expecting this to be a “few-years partnership,” via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. The future Hall of Famer’s thinking has moved considerably from a retirement lean before the winter darkness retreat. After keeping the Packers in suspense about his plans in recent offseasons, Rodgers is hoping to extend his career into at least 2024.

In his first press conference with the Jets, Rodgers stopped short of saying he would play beyond this season. Now, he is back to a place where he would like to play well into his 40s. Rodgers, 39, had previously said this was a goal. But during his final few years with the Packers, that talk fizzled. In September 2022, Rodgers made a point of saying he will not follow Tom Brady‘s lead by playing until age 45. But that still leaves some wiggle room for the four-time MVP.

“I want play a few more years and it’ll be five after that,” Rodgers said, alluding to the Hall of Fame’s waiting period. “Who knows what’s going to happen in eight or nine years? That’s a long way off.” Rodgers also said, “I’m taking it one year at a time. Yeah, I’d love to play as long as I can, as long as it’s fun, as long as my body feels good, as long as they want me.”

The long-QB-starved Jets sent the Packers a 2023 second-round pick and swapped first-rounders this year. If Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets’ snaps this season, the Packers will receive Gang Green’s 2024 first. Previously citing the assets the Jets gave up in his reasoning for now eyeing multiple seasons in New York, Rodgers has since agreed to trim roughly $35MM in guarantees on the contract he agreed to in 2022.

Coming after Quinnen Williams‘ extension freed up cap space for the Jets, Rodgers’ surprising decision leaves the team with $15.9MM — 11th as of August 1. Rodgers’ pay cut has helped the Jets stay in the lead for Dalvin Cook, who visited the team Sunday.

“I thought it was important they knew how committed I was. And in my conversations with Joe [Douglas], he has made it very clear the vision for the football team,” Rodgers said, via NBC Sports’ Peter King. “You probably agree with this. This year, compared to like 2005, the amount of transactions that happen now with guys getting cut and the amount of trades — way more than before. Big names move at the trade deadline now. I wanted to make sure that if somebody valuable came available that we’d be able to get him. I’m very happy with the contract. I feel great about it.”

Rodgers’ April Packers restructure left a whopping and untenable $107MM cap hit on the Jets’ 2024 payroll. That number is now down to $17.16MM; Rodgers counts for just $8.89MM on New York’s 2023 cap sheet. The Jets used the increasingly popular void-years tactic in this restructure. Four void years are in the contract, with those coming after a $35MM roster bonus due in 2025. The guarantees cover Rodgers through 2024. A $63MM dead-money penalty sits on the Jets’ payroll in 2026; that number is $28MM north of the dead-cap hit the Buccaneers are currently navigating after Brady’s retirement.

While this might not be the final Jets-Rodgers transaction, the high-profile trade acquisition is squared away for now. The two-year, $75MM arrangement came about quickly, via ESPN’s Dianna Russini, though it remains interesting Rodgers was willing to move down to a $37.5MM-per-year number so soon after becoming the first NFLer to clear the $50MM-AAV bar. Rodgers has already earned more than $305MM as a pro.

“I feel great about what I’m making,” he said, via Cimini. “It wasn’t really a negotiation, like back and forth, me starting at 50 and them starting at 20 and meeting somewhere. It was an easy conversation, much of it between me and Joe, just talking about the state of the team and the opportunities that could be out there — that are out there now, that could be out there.”

Bucs Eyeing Antoine Winfield Jr. Extension

August 1st, 2023 at 9:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tristan Wirfs resides as the Buccaneers’ top extension candidate from the 2020 draft, but the rookie class that played a key role in the team winning a second championship includes another such priority.

A new deal for Antoine Winfield Jr. is on the Bucs’ radar as well, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. While Wirfs is tied to Tampa Bay through 2024 via the fifth-year option, Winfield is going into a contract year.

[RELATED: Bucs Restructure Winfield’s Rookie Deal]

Winfield, who will turn 25 later this month, is one of the NFL’s best young safeties. Pro Football Focus has graded the second-generation NFL DB as a top-10 safety in each of the past two seasons. As the Bucs’ offense cratered last year, its defense submitted respectable numbers (13th in points allowed, ninth in yards, 13th in DVOA). Winfield represented a big reason for the unit staying afloat, and he is now extension-eligible.

The top of the safety market ballooned toward $20MM per year last summer, with Minkah Fitzpatrick and then Derwin James topping Jamal Adams‘ record-setting AAV. James’ $19MM average leads the way. Winfield may not be a candidate to top James, but he should certainly be in the mix to land an extension near the top tier.

The Falcons just gave Jessie Bates a four-year, $64MM accord; that sits fourth at the position. Granted, that came on the open market, and other safeties did not do nearly as well in free agency this year. But at 25, Winfield should be going into his prime. That should make this a costly payment for a Bucs team that already has a number of pricey deals on defense — from Carlton Davis to Jamel Dean to Vita Vea to Shaquil Barrett. Reporting to training camp months after requesting a trade, Devin White sits in limbo entering his fifth-year option season.

Tampa Bay has managed to lock down its cornerstone defensive backs at manageable rates in recent years. Davis and Dean hit free agency, but neither cornerback secured a deal north of $15MM per year. Despite being more than $50MM over the cap at one point this winter, the Bucs re-signed Dean on a four-year, $52MM deal. Davis agreed to terms on a three-year, $44.5MM accord in March 2022.

With Tom Brady‘s void money coming off the books after this year and no franchise-QB salary on the Bucs’ books, money should be available for a player like Winfield, whom Fowler adds could be a candidate to be extended before the season starts. That would be a different approach compared to how the Bucs played it with Davis and Dean. But Winfield appears a priority for a team that, despite Brady’s retirement, still has several Super Bowl LV starters under contract.

Cowboys Unlikely To Re-Sign Ezekiel Elliott?

August 1st, 2023 at 9:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

As most teams’ training camps head into their second week, Ezekiel Elliott remains unsigned. The two-time rushing champion has been connected to a few teams, but his main connection is not generating momentum.

The Cowboys saw offseason pickup Ronald Jones incur a two-game suspension Monday, and they are otherwise thin on experience behind Tony Pollard. But Elliott does not look to be in the Cowboys’ current plans, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill, who notes a reunion with the longtime starter is not a consideration at this point.

[RELATED: Cowboys Offered Pollard Long-Term Deal]

Mike McCarthy said the team does not want Elliott to take reps from its younger collection of backups. Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle and 5-foot-6 sixth-rounder Deuce Vaughn comprise that contingent. With Jones not exactly a lock to make the team regardless of his suspension, the Cowboys will be closely monitoring the progress of the aforementioned trio.

McCarthy’s comments regarding the backfield, however, came as Jerry Jones once again (via the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins) left the door open to a Zeke-Cowboys reunion. The prospect of the Cowboys bringing Elliott back at a significantly reduced rate surfaced in March, and the topic came up after the draft in April and again in June.

“I’ve been very consistent,” Jones said. “We’re just kind of see how it plays and we’re certainly haven’t closed the door. I wouldn’t know right now, what adjustments we might make, but just working ahead I don’t want to rule it out.”

Elliott, 28, has visited the Patriots. Prior to meeting with Elliott, Bill Belichick consulted Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets. Belichick contacted Jones for a reference of sorts. The Patriots have looked into Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson but have not made an addition. They have also discussed a meeting with Dalvin Cook, but as of now, the Jets have secured the only summit with the top back available. Cook may be zeroing in on the Jets, though with no deal agreed to, the Pats and Dolphins still have time to up their offers.

While Elliott has undeniably slowed down since his initial NFL breakthrough, he still matched Pollard’s 12 touchdowns last season and has frequently generated praise from Jerry Jones. But the former No. 4 overall pick has logged 2,186 touches — 309 more than any other active back. Elliott did well to fetch that six-year, $90MM extension from the Cowboys in 2019. Playing four years on the deal gave him vital security. Although the Ohio State product may well have a chance to play an eighth season soon, this year’s grim running back developments do not have teams eager to add him.

The Cowboys growing dissatisfied with the Davis-Dowdle-Vaughn group as camp progresses could reopen a door for Elliott, considering how many times the topic of a reunion has come up this since the March separation.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/23

August 1st, 2023 at 8:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: RB Toriano Clinton, TE La’Michael Pettway, T Dan Skipper
  • Waived: T Jordan Murray, TE Kaden Smith, DT Jamal Woods

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

  • Claimed (from Bears): WR Thyrick Pitts
  • Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Jalen Hurd

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Chosen in the third round by the 49ers back in 2019, Hurd never ended up seeing regular-season action. A converted running back who played in front of Alvin Kamara at points while at Tennessee, Hurd transferred to Baylor and became a wide receiver. Two season-ending injuries — a back malady in 2019 and an ACL tear in 2020 — derailed Hurd’s 49ers tenure. The team cut him during the 2021 season. Barely a week after the Patriots signed Hurd, it appears he is throwing in the towel on an injury-plagued career.

Penisini had unretired this offseason, joining the Panthers. The former Lions sixth-rounder played two seasons on his rookie contract but called it quits in June 2022. His unretirement will precede a Panthers exit. The Lions are moving Zylstra off their 90-man roster due to a severe knee injury. If unclaimed, Zylstra would revert to Detroit’s IR list. Zylstra has seen action in 17 games for the Lions over the past two seasons.

Hassenauer will require surgery to repair a triceps injury, and this transaction will shut him down — as far as the Giants are concerned. The only way Hassenauer can play in 2023 would be if the Giants removed him from IR via an injury settlement. Hairston suffered a herniated disk during practice, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).

49ers Sign DE Taco Charlton

August 1st, 2023 at 6:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers of recent years have been known to generate some production from lower-profile defensive end additions, and the team will take a flier on a former first-round pick.

Taco Charlton signed with the 49ers on Tuesday. They are the ex-Cowboys first-rounder’s seventh team since leaving Dallas back in 2019. Charlton, 28, has been with the Dolphins, Chiefs, Steelers, Saints, Bears and Jaguars in the years since his Cowboys rookie deal did not pan out.

Last season, the Michigan alum stopped through Chicago and Jacksonville. The Bears used him as a backup in five games, while the Jags freed up a practice squad spot. Charlton does have 13 career starts, the most recent stretch of note coming in Miami four years ago. Charlton totaled five sacks with the Dolphins, who were not exactly going all out to win during that season.

The six-year veteran joins the 49ers’ Nick Bosa-fronted defensive end contingent. The 49ers have coaxed some decent work from the likes of Charles Omenihu, Samson Ebukam, Kerry Hyder and Arden Key in recent years. D-line coach Kris Kocurek‘s unit lost Omenihu (Chiefs) and Ebukam (Colts) in free agency. The Niners will expect 2022 second-rounder Drake Jackson to make a leap in Year 2, and Hyder re-signed with the team this offseason. The 49ers drafted Robert Beal in the fifth round, and they are also making a low-level bet on former Raiders top-five pick Clelin Ferrell.

With Ferrell, Bosa, Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw, the 49ers now have five first-rounders on their D-line. Though, a few of these players have obviously not justified those past investments. Charlton will attempt to assimilate here, with the 49ers’ P-squad a potential option as well. The team waived safety Avery Young to clear a roster spot.

AFC East Notes: Becton, Diggs, Dolphins

August 1st, 2023 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

His place as one of the NFL’s most injury-prone players notwithstanding, Mekhi Becton made some pointed comments when insisting he was a left tackle in May. This forced Robert Saleh to address said comments. Several weeks after predicting he would return to his former spot and win the job, the fourth-year blocker now said (via the New York Post’s Brian Costello) he would be fine playing right tackle again. Becton, who has missed 33 straight regular-season games, said he underwent the wrong surgery to repair his September 2021 knee injury. He indicated he was not fully healed when he went down again, shortly after being moved to right tackle, during the Jets’ 2022 training camp. Becton, who missed time during this year’s camp with more knee trouble, has returned to the field and is expected to play in a limited role in Thursday’s preseason opener, Saleh said.

Duane Brown, 37, has been viewed as the favorite to win the Jets’ left tackle position. But the 16th-year veteran, who underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, remains on the team’s active/PUP list. Billy Turner had received first-team left tackle reps in front of Becton earlier in camp, though the ex-Packers and Broncos right tackle has also been working on the right side with Max Mitchell.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • The Bills have made a concerted effort to put Stefon Diggs questions in their rearview mirror. The Pro Bowl wide receiver said he is not angling for more say in the team’s play-calling. “For me to just want more say in the offense, it’s crazy because I play receiver,” Diggs said recently. “I don’t care what play is called. I can’t get up there and say, ‘Call this.’ It’s a lot of outlandish, obvious things where people [are] throwing out there or people were saying as far as my role.” A report suggested Diggs was unhappy with his role in Buffalo’s offense. Although Diggs did not say what caused Sean McDermott to send him home from a minicamp day, the ninth-year veteran has since said he was never at odds with Josh Allen and said he and the Bills are on good terms. Diggs’ $24MM-per-year contract runs through 2026.
  • Although it would seem Mike White had a virtual guarantee to become the Dolphins‘ backup quarterback, he entered camp in a battle with 2022 third-stringer Skylar Thompson for the gig. White signed a two-year, $8MM deal ($4.5MM guaranteed) in March, and the Dolphins were believed to be enamored with the ex-Jet as Tua Tagovailoa insurance. Thompson has extended a promising offseason into training camp, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, who adds last year’s QB3-turned-emergency starter is being given a legitimate opportunity to become the backup. Considering Tagovailoa’s injury history, Miami’s QB2 post stands as one of the league’s most important reserve spots.
  • Daron Payne, Jeffery Simmons, Dexter Lawrence and Quinnen Williams have signed long-term deals this offseason, creating a fairly set price range for the Dolphins as they negotiate a Christian Wilkins extension. While the team wants to extend the fifth-year D-tackle and is optimistic on doing so, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes no significant momentum has developed in these talks. Wilkins is tied to a $10.75MM fifth-year option salary. The sides have been talking for months.
  • Dolphins target Cedrick Wilson Jr. has been connected to trade rumors. Multiple reports indicated the team was willing to part with Wilson, who signed a three-year deal worth $22.1MM in March 2022. Dolphins GM Chris Grier said the team is not shopping Wilson, despite reports to the contrary, and the sixth-year receiver said (via Jackson) he is not seeking a trade. Wilson’s $5MM guarantee for 2023 will complicate a trade; the Dolphins would save $7MM by moving him. Wilson did not live up to his contract last year, totaling 136 receiving yards in 15 games. While Trent Sherfield is no longer in the mix, the Dolphins have added Chosen Anderson and Braxton Berrios this offseason.

Broncos To Sign CB Fabian Moreau

August 1st, 2023 at 3:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Making Ronald Darby a cap casualty earlier this year, the Broncos had stood pat on the veteran front at cornerback. They are making a mid-training camp addition, however.

Fabian Moreau will join the team on a one-year deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Moreau has experience as a boundary and slot corner. He will join a group anchored by Patrick Surtain but one featuring some questions at the other spots.

The Dolphins worked out Moreau recently, but they signed Eli Apple in the wake of Jalen Ramsey‘s knee surgery. The Broncos will take a look at the former Washington, Falcons and Giants corner, who is going into his age-29 season. The former third-round pick has made 45 career starts, including 11 last season for the Giants.

Qualifying as a journeyman at this point, Moreau spent last year with two teams. The Texans signed the UCLA alum but released him before the regular season. Moreau caught on with the Giants but did not debut for the playoff-bound team until Week 2. The Giants lost one of their starting corners (Aaron Robinson) for the season and another (Adoree’ Jackson) for a sizable chunk of it, depleting Don Martindale‘s depth chart. Moreau moved from the practice squad into the lineup, and while his coverage metrics rated slightly better compared to a rough 2021 opposite AJ Terrell in Atlanta, Pro Football Focus still rated him 90th at the position.

Moreau, whom Pro-Football-Reference charged with allowing five touchdown passes (after ceding eight in 2021), saw time in the slot in Washington but was not re-signed following the expiration of his rookie contract. Moreau intercepted six passes from 2018-20 and was credited with 21 passes defensed over the past two seasons.

The 6-foot cover man will be given a chance to earn a spot in a Broncos CB corps that features Damarri Mathis and K’Waun Williams as its expected starters alongside Surtain. The team did, however, trade up for Iowa’s Riley Moss in Round 3. Moreau would represent a veteran option on the outside in the Surtain-fronted group, with Mathis — Darby’s injury replacement last year — going into his second season.

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