Cowboys, 49ers, Jags Penalized For OTA Violations
SATURDAY: It turns out the 49ers were not forced to cancel their final week of OTAs this year, with Schefter adding the team avoided such a penalty after having already canceled its final OTA session and its mandatory minicamp (Twitter link).
THURSDAY: Three organizations have been slapped with fines following OTA violations. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the league handed out the following punishments:
- Cowboys fined $100K, HC Mike McCarthy $50K
- 49ers fined $100K, HC Kyle Shanahan fined $50K
- Jaguars fined $200K, HC Urban Meyer $100K
The three teams violated CBA rules focused on offseason workouts.
The Cowboys will also have to forfeit one of their OTA practices during the 2022 offseason, while the Jaguars will have to forfeit a pair of 2022 practices. The 49ers have already carried out their penalty; per Schefter, the NFL Management Council “ordered” the organization to cancel the final week of OTAs back in June. When we reported that the 49ers were cutting short their offseason program, the decision was attributed to injuries, as the team lost part-time starters Justin Skule and Tarvarius Moore for the season and running back Jeff Wilson for the next few months.
“The health and safety of our players is our highest priority, and we take following league rules very seriously,” the 49ers said in a statement today (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area on Twitter). “We will continue to work with the NFL and the NFLPA to ensure compliance.”
Former Seahawks UDFA Tamorrion Terry Indicted On Felony Murder Charge
We heard yesterday that the Seahawks cut wideout Tamorrion Terry, and we’re now learning the startling details that led to the transaction. Per court records obtained by the Miami Herald’s Adam H. Beasley, the former FSU receiver was among 11 defendants named in a grand jury indictment regarding the killing of a 21-year-old woman in 2018.
In June of 2018, a gang-related shooting took place at a nightclub in Ashburn, Georgia, leading to at least seven people getting shot. One of those seven individuals was the murder victim, and the 11 defendants have each been charged with with “felony murder, a charge applicable when a death, even accidental, occurs in the commission of a felony” (per Beasley).
ESPN’s David Hale writes that Terry is expected to turn himself in to authorities. The 23-year-old had reportedly cooperated throughout the investigation, and his camp is confident that he’ll ultimately be cleared.
The shooting took place the summer before Terry’s redshirt season at FSU. He ended up having a standout collegiate career at Florida State, hauling in 118 receptions for 2,221 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was known for his speed and YAC-prowess, holding an FSU record for most touchdowns of 70+ yards (five). His nine touchdowns of 50+ yards was tied for the second-highest ACC mark in more than a decade.
Terry joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, but the wideout was limited at minicamp and OTAs with a hip injury. It was a bit of a surprise when the receiver wasn’t cut with an injury designation, but today’s developments obviously provided an explanation. The Seahawks clearly moved quickly when they learned of the indictment.
Latest On WFT Owner Dan Snyder, NFL Investigation
Earlier today, we learned that the NFL slapped the Washington Football Team with a $10MM fine following the league’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations. Following the announcement, commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement:
[RELATED: NFL Fines Washington Football Team $10MM]
“I want to thank Beth Wilkinson and her team for conducting a thorough and independent review of the Washington club’s workplace culture and conduct and providing both the club and me with a series of thoughtful recommendations based on her findings,” Goodell said (via NFL.com). “Beth and her team performed their work in a highly professional and ethical manner. Most importantly, I want to thank the current and former employees who spoke to Beth and her team; they provided vital information that will help ensure that the workplace environment at the club continues to improve. It is incredibly difficult to relive painful memories. I am grateful to everyone who courageously came forward.”
We also learned that while the NFL didn’t suspended owner Dan Snyder, his wife, co-CEO Tanya Snyder, will now oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations. The decision to replace Dan Snyder with Tanya Snyder was “voluntary” and wasn’t mandated by the league, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. However, Mark Maske of the Washington Post clarifies (on Twitter) that Dan Snyder can only return to his day-to-day role following approval from Goodell. In the meantime, while Dan Snyder won’t be responsible for the team’s day-to-day operations, he’ll still play a role in getting the organization a new stadium (per Garafolo).
Meanwhile, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com tweets that the NFL won’t unveil any specific findings, as the league promised multiple interviewees that their “confidentiality would be protected.” Later, Florio shared that lawyers of the WFT employees blasted the league’s lack of transparency.
DL Steve McLendon Not A Lock To Make Buccaneers Roster?
The Buccaneers may have re-signed Steve McLendon earlier this offseason, but that doesn’t mean the defensive tackle is a lock to make the roster. As Greg Auman of The Athletic writes, Tampa Bay’s defensive line depth could lead to an “interesting battle for roster spots.”
Ndamukong Suh, Vita Vea, and William Gholston are locked in as starters on the defensive line, leaving space for only three (maybe four) of Rakeem Noches-Nunez, special team ace Patrick O’Connor, 2020 sixth-round pick Khalil Davis, veteran Jeremiah Ledbetter, and a handful of others. McLendon could find himself in that “others” category, especially considering his age (35) and his minimal signing bonus ($137.5K). While the veteran is “well-liked and respected” by teammates, McLendon could still find himself on the way out of Tampa Bay thanks to his minimal cap charge and/or the organization’s decision to pivot towards youth.
The Jets traded McLendon and a 2023 seventh-rounder to the Bucs last October in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round choice. It amounted to a virtually no-cost pickup for Jason Licht & Co., providing them with an accomplished run-stuffer to fill in for Vita Vea. After reuniting with Todd Bowles, McLendon notched 17 tackles and two tackles for loss in the regular season. In the playoffs, he tallied five tackles and three quarterback hits en route to a Super Bowl ring.
McLendon started at least 14 games in each season between 2017 and 2019. Last year, he was first-string with the Jets for six games, but came off of the bench for the Bucs in the latter half of the year. Now, he’ll reprise his role in the rotation, providing steady support on the interior.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/1/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: K Sam Sloman
- Waived: DE Demarcus Christmas
Sloman was selected by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, and he saw time in seven games for Los Angeles before they let him go. The 23-year-old ended up catching on with the Titans, where he ultimately made a single appearance. In total, Sloman converted 10 of his 13 field goal attempts and 23 of his 26 extra point tries.
Sloman will likely provide the Steelers with an extra leg as they look to keep starter Chris Boswell fresh. However, barring an injury or a drastic drop in performance from the veteran, Sloman likely won’t crack the Week 1 roster.
Raiders RB Jalen Richard On Roster Bubble?
The Raiders added Kenyan Drake to their running backs room earlier this offseason, and that could end up costing another Raiders RB their roster spot. As Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur of The Athletic write, five-year veteran Jalen Richard finds himself on the roster bubble heading into training camp.
The 2016 undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss was an immediate contributor, and by his junior season, Richard was leading the team’s running backs in yards from scrimmage (866). However, the organization added Josh Jacobs in the first round of the 2019 draft, and Richard has seen a reduced role over the past few years. This culminated in a 2020 campaign where the 27-year-old finished with a career-low 261 yards from scrimmage.
As the writers note, the Raiders could roster four or five running backs, so it’s not like Richard will lose his spot due to a roster crunch. Rather, Richard is set to make more than $3MM in 2021, and the front office could cut Richard, allocate that cash elsewhere, and rely on lower-price backups. Any of Theo Riddick, Trey Ragas, Garrett Groshek are cheaper alternatives who could push Richard for a roster spot.
Further, Richard made a name for himself thanks to his pass-catching ability, but Drake is expected to serve as the primary receiving back in 2021. Even quarterback Derek Carr discussed the similarities between the two running backs.
“I think Kenyan is a great player,” Carr said. “Super fast, super explosive. I don’t know if we were missing it, but I think he adds a dimension of just another threat. Him and Jalen Richard are similar. Very similar, but Drake [has] a receiver background.”
Richard doesn’t have a clear pathway to playing time, and with a modest hit against the cap, there’s a chance he could find himself playing elsewhere come the start of the regular season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/30/21
Today’s minor NFL transaction(s), which we’ll keep updated throughout the night:
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Tamorrion Terry
Terry had a standout collegiate career at Florida State, hauling in 118 receptions for 2,221 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was known for his speed and YAC-prowess, holding an FSU record for most touchdowns of 70+ yards (five). His nine touchdowns of 50+ yards was tied for the second-highest ACC mark in more than a decade.
Terry joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, but the wideout was limited at minicamp and OTAs with a hip injury. For what it’s worth, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets that the receiver wasn’t waived with an injury designation.
Panthers Hope To Sign Taylor Moton To Extension
The Saints and Ryan Ramczyk reset the market for right tackles earlier today, and that could pave the way for Taylor Moton‘s extension in Carolina. According to Joseph Person of The Athletic (via Twitter), the Panthers are hoping to complete a long-term deal with Moton before the July 15 deadline.
The team slapped Moton with the franchise tag earlier this offseason, but it was believed the team was eyeing a long-term deal for the former second-round pick. The 27-year-old has started 48 straight games at right tackle for the Panthers, with Pro Football Focus grading Moton as a top-20 tackle in each of those three campaigns. That included a 2020 season where the lineman ranked as a top-five right tackle.
Ramczyk’s new deal with New Orleans could certainly provide a basis for a Moton extension. Ramczyk inked a five-year, $96MM deal that included $60MM in guarantees. Ramczyk’s $19.2MM AAV makes him the NFL’s highest-paid right tackle, eclipsing a mark that was previously held by Eagles lineman Lane Johnson. Ramczyk’s $60MM guarantee also surpasses Johnson’s ($55MM), with the two players earning the distinction of being the only right tackles with guarantees surpassing $35MM. For comparison’s sake, Moton will earn around $13.7MM this upcoming season under the franchise tag.
The Panthers aren’t the only team looking to extend their right tackle. We learned earlier today that the Colts were working with Braden Smith on a long-term deal.
Latest On Unsigned First-Round Rookies
After the Falcons inked first-round tight end Kyle Pitts to his rookie deal earlier today, there are eight first-round rookies who remain unsigned:
1) Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB (Clemson)
2) New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB (BYU)
3) San Francisco 49ers (from Texans via Dolphins): Trey Lance, QB (North Dakota State)
13) Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT (Northwestern)
14) New York Jets (from Vikings): Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL (USC)
15) New England Patriots: Mac Jones, QB (Alabama)
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams): Travis Etienne, RB (Clemson)
26) Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome II, CB (Northwestern)
This isn’t a huge cause for concern, as first-round contracts are pretty standard and by-the-book. However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has an explanation for why at least a handful of these players still haven’t put pen to paper. According to the reporter (via Twitter), there are still some “wrinkles to work out” for the notable quarterback deals. This sentiment would presumably apply to each of the top-three picks, and it could even be referring to Patriots first-round quarterback Mac Jones.
There’s a number of minor details that agents could be pushing for, including signing bonus terms or any other contract language that goes beyond the standard, boilerplate options. On the other side, teams could be pushing for some type of offset language, meaning the organization would get some financial flexibility if the player for some reason doesn’t finish their rookie contract with the team.
When it comes to the quarterbacks, most of the agents are probably waiting to see how Lawrence’s deal unfolds in Jacksonville. Alternatively, if Bill Belichick and the Patriots (somehow) give in to any demands from Jones camp, you can bet the top-three QBs would argue for similar benefits. While there are a number of reasons why the other, non-QB players have yet to sign, one could guess that the two offensive lineman may be pushing for similar terms (Vera-Tucker could also simply be waiting for his teammate to sign their contract). Etienne is in a unique position as one of only two first-round running backs (or, like Vera-Tucker, he could be waiting for his teammate), while Newsome recently fired his agent.
The teams and the players will want the contracts settled prior to training camp in late-July, but that still leaves a few weeks for negotiating.
Latest On Bowlen Trust, Future Of Broncos Ownership
The trial between several of the children of late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen‘s is off, and it could ultimately result in a sale of the organization. The trial that was meant to clarify and finalize Bowlen’s estate (including future ownership of the Broncos ownership) has been vacated, according to Kevin Vaughan of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). Colleague Mike Klis confirmed the news.
To quickly review: following Pat Bowlen’s death, it was widely assumed that Brittany Bowlen would be the one of Bowlen’s seven children to take over ownership of the franchise. Brittany Bowlen seemingly had the support of the Pat Bowlen Trust, a group that includes Broncos CEO Joe Ellis. However, two of Pat’s daughters from an earlier marriage, Amie Klemmer and Beth Bowlen Wallace, filed a lawsuit challenging their father’s mental capacity to approve the Trust. The lawsuit specifically names Ellis, Broncos executive Rich Slivka, and attorney Mary Kelly as members of the Trust who influenced Pat Bowlen’s decision.
That brings us to the upcoming trial (set to begin in mid-July), which is now on pause. The decision to vacate the trial came after both sides filed a joint motion, per Vaughan, although there hasn’t been any word on a potential settlement. The decision to “stay proceedings” means the two sides have agreed to indefinitely stop the trial, while the decision to “vacate trial” effectively clears the schedules for the courts. In other words, while a settlement hasn’t been reported, a settlement was likely been reached.
How does this connect to the future of Broncos ownership? While the two sides will likely agree on a settlement, there’s a chance they still don’t see eye-to-eye when it comes to the organization, and a logical route would be to put the Broncos up for sale.Ellis had previously hinted that this was a potential path if the children couldn’t agree on the Trust.
“[I]t is an option, and we’ve told the beneficiaries that, because if Brittany [Bowlen] were to succeed and take over for her father, everybody else is going to have to sign off on that, most likely,” Ellis said (via Troy Renck of TheDenverChannel.com). “That may not be a requirement, but it’s going to be necessary, I think, moving forward from a trustee viewpoint. That’s why a sale remains a possibility I think — given the circumstances we’re in.”
Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post notes (on Twitter) that Beth Bowlen Wallace previously released a statement that said she and her sister would “walk away from trial if Broncos were put up for sale,” and the writer believes that’s what this current development will entail. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com tweets that if the Broncos indeed hit the market (or have already hit the market), rival owners expect the organization could be worth between $8B and $10B.