Latest On Former Saints HC Sean Payton
Sean Payton was linked to a number of a head coaching gigs this offseason, but it sounds like the former Saints HC was legitimately looking to take a break in 2022. There’s still a chance he’ll be ready to return to the sideline for the 2023 campaign, and if that’s the case, the long-time coach would have a few preferred destinations.
[RELATED: Sean Payton To Be Fox Analyst In 2022]
A source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that the Dolphins, Cowboys, and Chargers would interest Payton if the jobs became available. Of course, the source was also adamant that Payton “would never lobby for a filled job” and would only have interest if those organizations move on from their current coaches. Further, the source indicated that Payton valued “warm weather, a roster good enough to compete and most importantly, control over personnel decisions” at a new stop, and while a good QB would be helpful, that’d be secondary to his other priorities.
If you’ve been following the Payton rumblings throughout the offseason, you’re certainly not surprised about the Miami connection. There was a reported deal in place with the Dolphins that would have seen him join Miami alongside Tom Brady if not for Brian Flores‘ racial discrimination lawsuit. As Jackson writes, Payton was “flattered” by the Dolphins interest, but he truly intends to take time away from coaching in 2022. Further, while a previous source indicated that the Dolphins offered Payton a five-year, $100MM contract, Jackson notes that the Dolphins never had the opportunity to offer the contract since they were never granted permission by the Saints to speak to the coach.
Of course, the Dolphins ended up pivoting to Mike McDaniel, and the organization is hoping they won’t even have to think about a Payton pursuit next year. There’s also the status of general manager Chris Grier, but Jackson opines that the executive wouldn’t have an issue with deferring to Payton.
Payton has also previously been connected to Dallas, where he spent three seasons as the QBs coach before landing the HC gig with the Saints in 2006. Mike McCarthy has had a roller coaster two years in Dallas; after a 6-10 campaign in 2020, the former Packers HC led the team to an NFC East title last season. Unfortunately, that brief success was overshadowed by an underwhelming playoff loss, leading some to speculate that McCarthy could be on the hot seat. Jerry Jones made it clear that he’s committed to McCarthy, but things could obviously change if Dallas underwhelms in 2022.
The Chargers are an interesting inclusion on Payton’s list. The organization gave Anthony Lynn four seasons before replacing him with Brandon Staley, and there’s a good chance that the replacement will have just as long of a leash as his predecessor. Staley would surely get more than two seasons to guide the Chargers back to the postseason, but things could have obviously change if the organization has a chance to lure a coach with Payton’s resume.
Latest On Cam Akers, Rams Offense
Cam Akers was clearly limited when he returned from a full Achilles tear to join the Rams for their Super Bowl run. Following a rookie campaign where he collected 748 yards from scrimmage on 156 touches (4.8 yards per touch), Akers was limited to 248 yards from scrimmage on 75 postseason touches (3.3 yards per touch). Fortunately, the running back told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic that he’s 100 percent healthy heading into training camp, and he’s focused on maintaining his health throughout the upcoming season.
“(I’m) focusing on building my armor up as strong as it can be, but really locking in on the mental side, as well,” Akers said during spring practices.
New Rams running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples might not necessarily have the luxury of easing Akers back into action. As Rodrigue writes, fellow RB Darrell Henderson is recovering from his own surgery and has missed games in each of his three NFL seasons. Plus, rookie fifth-round RB Kyren Williams suffered a foot injury during OTAs that required surgery and could miss a chunk of training camp. Otherwise, the team will be relying on inexperienced options like Jake Funk, Raymond Calais, and Xavier Jones.
Elsewhere on offense, we may see the Rams sign another QB for the preseason. Rodrigue cites sources who believed the Rams would add a UDFA to serve as a fourth quarterback for training camp. The organization still hasn’t added anyone to the trio of Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, and Bryce Perkins, and Rodrigue opines that the grouping is probably locked in. As a result, the Rams can’t offer much to a free agent QB besides some preseason opportunities, but they’ll likely find someone to fill that role before the start of camp.
Finally, the Rams offensive line will see some changes next season, and that includes right guard after Austin Corbett left for Carolina. To replace the former RG, the coaching staff will have three players compete for the open starting gig, per Rodrigue: Logan Bruss, Coleman Shelton, and Tremayne Anchrum.
Vikings, Buccaneers Interested In TE Kyle Rudolph
It sounds like Kyle Rudolph‘s market is starting to heat up. The veteran tight end has drawn interest from “multiple teams,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. His known suitors include the Buccaneers and the Vikings. Fowler expects Rudolph to land somewhere before the start of training camp.
The Giants inked Rudolph to a two-year, $12MM deal in March of 2021, but following a season where the tight end finished with only 26 catches for 357 yards and one touchdown, the earned his walking papers. Since becoming a free agent, Rudolph received some interest from George Paton and the Broncos, but a deal never materialized.
Minnesota would obviously be a homecoming for Rudolph. The 2011 second-round pick spent the first 10 seasons of his career in Minnesota, where he hauled in 48 touchdowns in 140 games. Rudolph earned Pro Bowl nods in both 2012 and 2017, although his best offensive season came in 2016 when he finished with 83 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. Irv Smith Jr. sits atop the depth chart in Minnesota, but Rudolph could provide some veteran experience over the likes of Ben Ellefson, Johnny Mundt, Zach Davidson, and rookie Nick Muse.
Rob Gronkowski doesn’t sound like he’ll be returning to Tampa Bay, and you can bet Tom Brady and the Buccaneers would appreciate another veteran to pair with Cameron Brate at tight end. Otherwise, the Buccaneers are currently hoping rookies Cade Otton and/or Ko Kieft will provide depth at the position.
Commanders Add Two USFL CBs
A pair of former USFL standouts have found NFL gigs. The Commanders have signed defensive back DeJuan Neal (per ESPN’s John Keim on Twitter) and cornerback Channing Stribling (per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). To make room on the roster, Washington has cut cornerbacks Nijuel Hill and Devin Taylor.
Neal, a former Division II standout, got his first NFL gig with Washington as an UDFA in 2019, but he didn’t end up making it to the regular-season roster. Since then, he had a stint in the XFL and most recently the USFL. He played for the New Jersey Generals during the 2022 campaign, and while he battled injuries for much of the season, he still contributed 16 tackles.
Stribling went undrafted out of Michigan in 2017 and has had plenty of NFL gigs, spending time with the Browns, Colts (two stints), 49ers and Chargers. Since getting cut by the Chargers during the 2018 season, Stribling has had gigs in the AAF, CFL, XFL, and USFL. In seven games this past season, the 27-year-old had seven interceptions.
Hill, a UDFA out of California, and Taylor, a UDFA who spent time at Bowling Green, Virginia Tech, and Illinois State, were both added to the Commanders roster earlier this offseason.
Cowboys Sign LB Malik Jefferson
Malik Jefferson is heading back home. The former Longhorns linebacker is signing with the Cowboys, reports Jori Epstein of USA Today (via Twitter). To make room on the roster, Dallas has waived running back JaQuan Hardy, per ESPN’s Todd Archer (on Twitter).
Jefferson was a standout during his time at Texas, including a 2017 campaign where he earned Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. Despite warnings from the College Advisory Board that he should stay in college, Jefferson decided to forego his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL draft. While he was originally expected to be a second-round pick, he ended up sliding to the Bengals in the third round (No. 78).
The linebacker struggled to see the field during his rookie season; while he got into 12 games, he primarily played on special teams. Jefferson was let go by Cincinnati the following preseason, and he’s since bounced around the NFL, spending time with the Browns, Chargers (two stints), Titans, and Colts. After getting into a career-high 13 games with Los Angeles during the 2020 season, the 25-year-old was limited to only one game with Indy in 2021.
Hardy went undrafted out of Tiffin University in 2021. He caught on with the Cowboys last offseason and spent much of the season on the practice squad. He ended up getting into three games for Dallas, collecting 29 rushing yards and one touchdown on four carries.
Bill Belichick’s Success (Or Lack Thereof) With WR Draft Picks
When the Patriots chose N’Keal Harry during the 2019 draft, it was the first time the organization had selected a first-round WR during Bill Belichick‘s reign. Fast forward three years, and the Patriots pawned off Harry for a seventh-round selection.
[RELATED: Bears To Acquire N’Keal Harry From Patriots]
Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus recently explored Harry’s struggles in New England and what ultimately led to his trade to the Bears. This naturally led to another (and persistent) story of Belichick’s inability to find production from his receiver draft picks. Since Belichick took over in 2000, the Patriots have used 19 draft picks on the position. As Kyed notes, only three of those players (Deion Branch, David Givens, and Julian Edelman) started more than 20 games in the NFL. About half of those picks were selected in the fourth round or earlier, and many (like Harry) struggled to ever carve out a role in New England’s offense.
As sources told Kyed, part of this is on the Patriots’ strict offense and their unwillingness to tolerate rookie mistakes:
- “Just picking up the system that has been in place for 20 years and the type of routes and adjustments. Sometimes they just need to get the best damn players the ball and not be cute.”
- “It borders on impossibility for a guy fresh out of college.”
- “New England is a tough place for young players, not just because of the terminology, but it’s because if you mess up, you’re out. They’ll pull you out of the game.”
Now, Harry’s inability to stick in New England can’t be entirely put on the organization; sources also attributed Harry’s failures to a lack of maturity, work ethic, and commitment. Still, looking at Belichick’s list of WR draft picks is a bit damning:
- 2022: Tyquan Thornton, 2nd round
- 2021: Tre Nixon, 7th round
- 2020: N’Keal Harry, 1st round
- 2018: Braxton Berrios, 6th round
- 2016: Malcolm Mitchell, 4th round
- 2016: Devin Lucien, 7th round
- 2014: Jeremy Gallon, 7th round
- 2013: Aaron Dobson, 2nd round
- 2013: Josh Boyce, 4th round
- 2012: Jeremy Ebert, 7th round
- 2010: Taylor Price, 3rd round
- 2009: Brandon Tate, 3rd round
- 2009: Julian Edelman, 7th round
- 2008: Matthew Slater, 5th round
- 2006: Chad Jackson, 2nd round
- 2004: P.K. Sam, 5th round
- 2003: Bethel Johnson, 2nd round
- 2002: Deion Branch, 2nd round
- 2002: David Givens, 7th round
Branch and Edelman were both Super Bowl MVPs. Givens was one of Tom Brady‘s preferred targets for a bit, and Matthew Slater eventually became a ST ace. Otherwise, the team’s best picks at the position are probably Braxton Berrios and Brandon Tate, who both experienced NFL success outside of New England, and/or Malcolm Mitchell and Aaron Dobson, who combined for 1,099 career receiving yards.
Of course, even outside of Belichick’s Super Bowl rings, it’s hard to be too critical. While you could attribute much of the Patriots’ offensive success to Brady, it was still Belichick who brought in a revolving door of receivers via trade (highlighted by Randy Moss and Wes Welker) and free agency (including the likes of Danny Amendola and Brandon Lloyd). He also hit on his tight ends (led by Rob Gronkowski) and pass-catching backs (led by James White). Belichick even got some production from UDFAs, most recently Jakobi Meyers. Sure, he burned plenty of draft picks at the position, but it wasn’t like he completely compromised Brady’s receiving corps.
Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are now out of the picture. It will be intersting to see how a young receiver like second-round rookie Tyquan Thornton will fare alongside quarterback Mac Jones and a revamped offensive coaching staff guided by former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and former special teams coordinator Joe Judge. As Kyed notes, Belichick has mentioned a desire to “streamline” the offense heading into the 2022 campaign, and that potential change in mentality could have an impact on young receivers going forward.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/13/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LS Antonio Ortiz
The Bears moved on from the long snapper to make room for wide receiver N’Keal Harry, who was acquired from the Patriots. Ortiz spent four season at TCU, earning three Academic All-Big 12 First Team nods and being named a semifinalist for the 2021 Patrick Mannelly Award, which is handed out to the nation’s best long snapper.
After earning minicamp invites from both the Bears and Cowboys, Ortiz joined Chicago as an undrafted free agent back in May. This transaction likely means that veteran Patrick Scales will keep his LS gig with the Bears for an eighth season.
TE Matt LaCosse Announces Retirement
Matt LaCosse is calling it a career. The tight end announced on Instagram that he’s retiring from the NFL. In his message, LaCosse thanked the many people who played a role in his career
“I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to those who have helped me follow my dream,” the tight end said. “I am saying goodbye to the game that I love, the game that I have sacrificed so much for and I want to truly say thank you to those who have sacrificed so much for me. This dream wouldn’t have been possible without you.
“Since I was a kid I always dreamed of being a professional athlete. It started off with me just wanting to be like my Dad and it turned into something I wanted to dedicate my life to. There were countless up and downs, but the people above were always there to help me. I truly got to live out my dream.”
LaCosse went undrafted out of Illinois in 2015. He spent most of his first two-plus seasons in the NFL with the Giants, getting into five games between 2015 and 2017. He also had a brief stint with the Jets between two jobs with the Giants. The tight end caught on with the Broncos toward the end of the 2017 campaign before taking on a more significant role in 2018.
During that “breakout” season, LaCosse had 24 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown. That performance earned him a two-year contract with the Patriots during the 2019 offseason. He ended up spending three seasons with the organization, including a 2020 season that he ultimately opted out of. In 12 games with New England, LaCosse had 13 receptions for 131 yards.
Free Agent RBs Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell Discuss Their NFL Futures
Former All-Pro running backs Adrian Peterson and Le’Veon Bell will face off in an exhibition boxing match later this month in Los Angeles. The duo discussed the fight during a press conference this afternoon, but they were also naturally asked about their NFL futures. While Bell doesn’t seem all that focused on playing football in 2022, Peterson still seems to be keeping the door open.
“This is something that I definitely can see myself doing going forward as well, just depending on how things kind of play out for me,” Peterson said (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon). “I just been kind of grinding, so I might see this continue to do something going forward. So, even after this fight, I will still be on my same routine, waiting for that next opportunity to present itself.”
While Peterson only topped 1,000 rushing yards once since 2016, he still had a consistent job, appearing in 16 games as recently as 2020. He had a tough time finding a gig in 2021, however. He ended up getting into only four games in stints with the Seahawks and Titans, collecting 106 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 42 touches. The 37-year-old was arrested earlier this offseason on a felony domestic violence charge, but the felony charge wasn’t pursued. Peterson hasn’t been connected to any squads since the season ended.
Bell is seven years younger than his boxing opponent, but he also struggled to hold on to a gig in 2021. Perhaps the lack of NFL interest ended up playing a role in Bell pursuing boxing, and it sounds like the athlete will be sticking with his new sport.
“Boxing is something that, you know, they always say it’s something you can’t play boxing,” said Bell (via Gordon). “Last year, I almost sat out the whole year to try to focus on boxing because I kind of knew that was what I wanted to transition to. This year, I know I’m not going to be playing this year because I want to focus on boxing. So, this transition for me has kind of been like, I guess, another opportunity for me. I’m just ready to showcase what I’m about…This is not just a one-off. This is, I guess like my introduction to kind of show what I’ll doing and how I’ll be going about myself. Just an intro.”
The 30-year-old RB got into eight games with the Buccaneers and Ravens last season, collecting 131 yards from scrimmage and three scores on 44 touches. Similar to Peterson, Bell hasn’t been connected to any teams this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/12/22
Today’s minor transaction:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: QB Davis Cheek
Cheek joined the Panthers as an UDFA earlier this offseason, but following the acquisition of Baker Mayfield, the team decided to clear out some extra depth from their quarterbacks room. Cheek threw for 8,548 yards, 51 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 40 starts at Elon.