East Notes: Cowboys, Elliott, Eagles, Jets
Cowboys first-round rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is currently a suspect in a domestic violence report, but there’s skepticism about its veracity from within the organization. One Cowboys source informed Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) that the club thinks a Columbus woman’s allegations that Elliott assaulted her are flat-out untrue, but it warned the ex-Ohio State star to be more careful. Meanwhile, a team source told Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, “The kid, we’ve done our research on him (before he became a Cowboy), it doesn’t point to that (being) part of his nature. That’s all I know.'”
More from the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Former Lions head coach and current Eagles assistant Jim Schwartz is deferring to a neophyte, Doug Pederson, in Philadelphia, but he’ll essentially have full autonomy over the defense, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Schwartz, in fact, will be the “head coach on defense,” according to the offensive-minded Pederson. “He fully understands his role, his situation. He loves where he’s at as a coordinator,” Pederson said of Schwartz, who was 29-51 as Detroit’s head coach from 2009-13. Schwartz has accomplished more as a coordinator, including his stint atop a dominant Buffalo unit in 2014. Pederson is cognizant of that, saying, “My expertise is on offense. His is over there on defense. So whether I have suggestions or not, it’s our defense. But at the same time, he’s the master. He’s done it for 100 years. It’s proven. Just like the offense that I’ve been in is proven.”
- Sheldon Richardson‘s motivation to land a lucrative contract extension and his full-time return to the Jets’ defensive line could lead to a huge season for the 25-year-old, argues Brian Costello of the New York Post. The Jets will no longer experiment with Richardson at linebacker, where he spent some time in 2015. He’s also entering the penultimate year of his contract and will be eligible to sign an extension after the upcoming season. New York just awarded a high-paying deal to fellow standout D-lineman Muhammad Wilkerson last week, of course, and Richardson will look to follow in his footsteps in 2017.
- The Cowboys gave linebacker Justin Durant, who signed with them Monday, an $80K bonus and a $120K base salary guarantee on the one-year deal inked with the team. Durant will count $680K against their salary cap (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com).
- In case you missed it, Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who’s entering a contract year, is unlikely to receive an extension.
Browns Sign Nick Hayden
The Browns have added a 90th player to their roster, signing free agent defensive lineman Nick Hayden to an undisclosed contract, per a team announcement. Cleveland is now the fourth NFL organization for Hayden, who entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Panthers in the 2008 draft.
The Browns’ signing of Hayden, 30, comes on the heels of the season-ending surgery fellow D-lineman Desmond Bryant underwent earlier this month to repair a torn pectoral muscle. While Hayden isn’t on Bryant’s level, he logged extensive playing time as a Cowboy from 2013-15 and emerged as a durable option in Dallas. The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder started in 47 of a possible 48 regular-season games during his three years with the club and picked up 130 tackles, including a career-high 48 in 2015 while playing in 55 percent of its defensive snaps. That output didn’t impress Pro Football Focus, however, which ranked Hayden just 115th out of 123 qualifying interior defenders last year.
The majority of Hayden’s action last season came against the run, and the Browns finished 30th in the league in rushing yardage allowed and tied for 26th in yards per attempt yielded. Hayden could help their cause in that regard, or at least provide depth along a line that features Xavier Cooper, Danny Shelton and John Hughes as projected starters, as Roster Resource indicates.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On NFL’s Investigation Into PEDs
As its investigation into performance-enhancing drug allegations stemming from a 2015 Al Jazeera America documentary continues, the NFL has received written statements from accused linebackers Julius Peppers Clay Matthews III, James Harrison and Mike Neal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. While the NFLPA regards those sworn affidavits as reasonable cooperation from the players, the league disagrees and is still requiring the individuals to partake in in-person interviews at training camp.
The league informed the union that it first plans to interview Neal, who spent 2010-15 with the Packers but is currently a free agent. He attributes his unemployment, at least in part, to the documentary that links him, Peppers and Harrison to hormone supplement Delta-2, which is designed to stay ahead of drug tests.
Training camp opens for the Packers on July 26, which is the earliest the league can interview Peppers and Matthews – whom ex-Guyer Institute pharmacists Charlie Sly and Chad Robertson connect to the painkiller Toradol in the documentary. The soonest the league can talk to Harrison is July 29, when the Steelers start camp, though the 38-year-old isn’t pleased with the notion of participating in an interview and denies ever having met or communicated with Sly. In defense of Harrison and the other besieged players, the union wrote in a letter to the NFL last month that the league lacks ‘‘sufficient credible evidence’ to initiate an investigation of, and require an interview with, an employee.”
Nevertheless, despite the union’s objections, the league will go through with the interviews. There’s no word yet on if it will talk to retired quarterback Peyton Manning, the most famous player mentioned in the documentary. Given that Manning’s playing career is over, the league can’t force him to cooperate. However, if his desire is to eventually land a job as a front office executive, he’ll have to.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Notes: QBs, Defense, Elway
Broncos defensive tackle Sylvester Williams offered some insight into the team’s three-man quarterback derby Tuesday, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio, “I think [Mark Sanchez] has to go out there and lose the job” (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). Sanchez, 29, is the elder statesman of a troika that also includes 2015 seventh-round selection Trevor Siemian and first-round rookie Paxton Lynch. While Sanchez was previously at the helm of two defensively brilliant Jets teams that went to AFC title games, the 2009 fifth overall pick from USC hasn’t had much personal success in the NFL. It’s worth noting, though, that the Broncos’ dominant defense led them to a Super Bowl title last season in spite of subpar quarterback play.
More notes on the reigning champions:
- Although Sanchez looks like the favorite to win the No. 1 job, the seven-year veteran’s history suggests it would be a mistake for the Broncos to award him the role, argues Adam Schein of NFL.com. Given that Sanchez is known for wilting in the spotlight, as Schein writes, Denver’s best hope is for Lynch to grab the reins and take advantage of the excellent receiver duo of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
- Safety T.J. Ward believes the Broncos’ defense can improve on its output from last year and go down as a legendary unit. “We can become the best defense of all time. That’s what we’re working toward,” he said Monday (via Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post). Last year’s Broncos ‘D’ is arguably among the premier groups ever, having led the league in total defense, pass defense and sacks before steamrolling its three playoff opponents. Of that defense, general manager John Elway told John Clayton of ESPN.com in February that “it’s the best I’ve ever seen with the way they play and with the speed they play.” The squad has incurred a couple serious losses since then, however, with lineman Malik Jackson and linebacker Danny Trevathan taking bigger paydays elsewhere in free agency.
- Elway’s reign as an executive is beginning to rival his Hall of Fame playing tenure, contends Mike Klis of 9News. The Elway-led Broncos have accumulated 64 victories, the second-highest total in the league, in his five years as the GM, and have won a Super Bowl, two conference championships and five straight AFC West titles. Among Elway’s best work in the front office, offers Klis: Convincing Canton-bound veterans Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware to accept pay cuts; re-signing Pro Bowlers Von Miller, Thomas, Chris Harris Jr., C.J. Anderson, Ryan Clady, Champ Bailey and Matt Prater (the latter three of whom are now retired or elsewhere); and serving as the league’s only GM to pick up a Pro Bowler through the draft (Miller and Julius Thomas), street free agency (Manning, Ware and Willis McGahee), unrestricted free agency (Ward, Aqib Talib and Louis Vasquez) and undrafted free agency (Harris and Anderson) over the past half-decade.
AFC Notes: Fitz, Jets, Ravens, Williams, Colts
There doesn’t appear to be an end in sight to the months-long contract standoff between the Jets and free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even though training camp is fast approaching, the two sides haven’t spoken in over a month, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Similarly, Fitzpatrick and the Jets’ Brandon Marshall haven’t talked in multiple weeks, the concerned receiver stated Monday. And whether it means anything remains to be seen, but Fitzpatrick put his New Jersey house up for rent last week, per Darryl Slater of NJ.com. He and the Jets have been at odds since March over the club’s three-year, $24MM offer that features $15MM in guarantees.
Elsewhere around the AFC…
- Nose tackle Brandon Williams is the most obvious extension candidate on the Ravens’ roster, opines Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. However, Zrebiec doesn’t see any real incentive for Williams to discuss a new deal now, writing that his next contract could rival the five-year, $46.25MM pact fellow nose tackle Damon Harrison signed as a free agent with the Giants over the winter. Williams, 27, is coming off his third NFL season, one in which he started all 16 of Baltimore’s games, amassed 53 tackles and two sacks, and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 21st-best interior defender (fourth overall against the run) among 123 qualifiers. He’s scheduled to make $1.67MM in 2016, the final year of his rookie accord.
- Right guard and inside linebacker are two positions that will feature interesting battles for the Colts this summer, per Kevin Bowen of the team’s website. Incumbent Hugh Thornton, who has started in 32 of 37 career appearances, will try to fend off Denzelle Good, former No. 1 center Jonotthan Harrison and fifth-round rookie Joe Haeg at right guard. With Jerrell Freeman having departed as a free agent, Nate Irving and Sio Moore will fight for starting ILB duties next to D’Qwell Jackson. Irving (14) and Moore (22) have a combined 36 NFL starts between them.
- The Colts don’t have a clear long-term solution at running back, where 33-year-old starter Frank Gore is ancient for a rusher and coming off the worst season of his decorated 11-year career. But the club is bullish on undrafted rookie Josh Ferguson, writes Mike Chappell of CBS4. “He’s very, very athletic,’’ head coach Chuck Pagano said of the ex-Illinois back. “He’s a great receiver out of the backfield. We can split him wide. We can displace him formationally. He’s a mismatch out in space. He’s got juice. He can go. He’s got great vision. Just not a third-down back, but he’s a good runner.” Offered owner Jim Irsay, “We think guys like Josh Ferguson have a chance to be special. Time will tell.’’ Notably, draft guru Dave-Te Thomas, who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades, lavished praise on Ferguson when assessing the Colts’ rookie class for PFR earlier this month.
- Earlier Tuesday, Dave-Te Thomas analyzed some Baltimore rookies who could make significant impacts this year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/19/16
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Colts have signed free agent fullback/tight end Emil Igwenagu, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. To clear room for Igwenagu, they’ve waived quarterback Josh Woodrum, per Mike Chappell of FOX59 (Twitter link). Igwenagu signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent from Temple in 2012 and appeared in three games that year. That’s his only NFL action to date, though he remained with the Eagles organization in 2013 and then caught on with the Lions’ practice squad in 2014. Woodrum became a Colt after they claimed him off waivers from the Giants in May. The UDFA from Liberty signed with Big Blue just a few days earlier.
- The Falcons have waived center James Stone with an injury settlement, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Stone joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent from Tennessee in 2014 and went on to appear in 19 games for Atlanta, starting 10. The vast majority of those appearances (12) and starts (nine) came in Stone’s rookie year. A torn ACL cut his 2015 season short in December, thus leading to the injury settlement. Stone’s departure leaves the Falcons with 88 players on their 90-man roster.
- The Buccaneers have waived safety John Lowdermilk off the reserved/retired list, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). The Bucs placed Lowdermilk on the reserved/retired list May 24, just under two weeks after claiming him off waivers from the Vikings. Lowdermilk, 24, spent time with the Vikes and Chargers organizations after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Iowa last year. He didn’t appear in a game with either, however.
AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Mangold, Fins, Gase
This season is only Rex Ryan‘s second with the Bills, but it might already be a make-or-break year for the head coach. With the Bills’ disappointing defense having been the primary cause of the team’s 8-8 finish in 2015, another year without a playoff berth could push Ryan out of Buffalo. But count receiver Sammy Watkins as one notable Bill who, regardless of what happens this year, wants Ryan back in 2017. “Honestly, I love Rex,” Watkins said Tuesday (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). “It will be sad if somebody just got fired off of losses. And I know it’s a business, but that’s how things work.”
A full campaign from Watkins, who caught 60 passes for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games last season, could help the Bills end their NFL-worst 16-year playoff drought and keep Ryan under their employ. Watkins suffered a minor foot fracture during the spring, though the third-year man should be ready for the start of training camp at the end of the month.
More regarding Buffalo and two of its AFC East rivals:
- The Jets are at the beginning of a two-year evaluation period with center Nick Mangold, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. A Jet since they selected him in the first round of the 2006 draft, Mangold remains effective, as Costello notes, but he’ll be 34 when his contract expires after the 2017 season. If the seven-time Pro Bowler doesn’t show signs of aging over the next two years, he could extend his career-long tenure in New York.
- The presence of rookie head coach Adam Gase is one of the main reasons to expect the Dolphins to improve on their 6-10 mark and last-place finish from a year ago, opines Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. While opposing coaches often out-schemed Gase’s 2015 predecessors, Joe Philbin and Dan Campbell, Beasley doesn’t look for that to continue during the Gase era, citing his previous success as an offensive coordinator in both Denver and Chicago. Gase worked well with quarterbacks Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler in those cities, and he’ll now try to maximize Ryan Tannehill‘s potential with the Dolphins.
- Of the Bills’ seven undrafted free agents, former Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker has the best chance to earn a roster spot this summer, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW explains. After Preston Brown, Reggie Ragland and possibly Zach Brown, the Bills don’t have any inside linebackers who are strong bets to make their roster. That could open the door for Striker, who totaled 45 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks with the Sooners from 2013-15.
- At least in terms of name value, Miami made a significant move in signing free agent running back Arian Foster on Monday. Buffalo is also hoping to lure in a recognizable back, meanwhile, having made an offer to the unemployed Reggie Bush.
NFC East Notes: Redskins, Cousins, Cowboys
Although the Redskins didn’t extend franchise-tagged quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ contract by last Friday’s deadline, general manager Scot McCloughan told SiriusXM Bleacher Report Radio on Sunday that he hopes the 27-year-old is under center in Washington “for a long time going forward” (link via Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post).
McCloughan also elaborated on why he didn’t lock up Cousins, saying, “It’s the market. The NFL’s a phenomenal, phenomenal entity, and the money’s incredible. But the way I look at it is I want Kirk in a long-term deal, no doubt about it, but also I’m not gonna put our franchise in a situation where we’re gonna lose three or four younger guys that I think are gonna be good football players for one guy.”
With another strong campaign, Cousins will again put the Redskins in position to decide whether to tag or extend him next offseason. In the meantime, he’s set to pace all quarterbacks in 2016 base salary ($19.95MM), and that number will increase to $23.94MM in 2017 if the Redskins tag him for a second straight year. Prior to this summer’s extension deadline for tag recipients, Washington was only willing to pay Cousins $16MM per year and a total of $24MM in guarantees on a long-term deal.
Now for the latest on Washington’s fiercest rival:
- In assessing the Cowboys’ 2016 outlook, owner Jerry Jones told NFL Network (video link), “We like what we’ve got offensively. Defensively now, we’ve got some challenges.” Jones went on to acknowledge that, given their defensive limitations, the Cowboys will need to control the ball in order to achieve optimum results. PFR recently echoed a similar sentiment in its offseason review of the Cowboys, who are positioned well on offense with Tony Romo and Dez Bryant returning from 2015 injuries, first-round running back Ezekiel Elliott joining the fold, and an elite line set to aid their skill players. On the other side of the ball, a defense that was below average last year didn’t do much to improve via free agency and the draft and will be without three important front seven members – Demarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory and Rolando McClain – to begin the season because of suspensions. While Lawrence and Gregory will sit four games apiece, Dallas won’t have McClain in the middle of its linebacker corps for 10. In response, the club brought back free agent Justin Durant, who was a Cowboy from 2013-14, on Monday.
- Speaking of Bryant, the Cowboys wideout filed a lawsuit Monday against his former advisor, State. Sen Royce West, writes Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In the suit, Bryant accuses West of using him to “improperly line his own pockets and those of his business associates” and, along with fellow ex-advisor David Wells, take $300K from him. West called Bryant’s claims “lies and frivolous” and will file a defamation lawsuit against Bryant and attorney Kenneth Broughton, per Hill. West already filed suit against Bryant last month seeking up to $200K in damages from destruction the receiver allegedly caused while leasing a home from West. “Mr. Bryant needs to take responsibility for the damage done to my house and not attempt to avert focus away from his actions by making incredulous accusations against me,” said West.
- In case you missed it, Bryant officially left previous agency CAA on Monday and will use Jay-Z’s organization, Roc Nation, as representation.
Raiders, David Amerson Agree To Extension
TUESDAY, 3:26pm: Amerson’s deal is not quite as strong as early reports had indicated. Despite being described as a deal worth as much as $38MM with nearly $18MM in guarantees, it would be more accurate to say that Amerson’s true guarantee is really $5.5MM, according to PFT’s Mike Florio. Here are the full details:
- 2016: base salary of $1MM, fully guaranteed at signing. $3MM roster bonus, fully guaranteed.
- 2017: base salary of $6.5MM, guaranteed for injury at signing and the fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2017 league year. $1.5MM roster bonus for 2017, fully guaranteed.
- 2018: base salary of $5.5MM, guaranteed for injury at signing and the fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2018 league year.
- 2019: base salary of $7MM, not guaranteed.
- 2020: base salary of $7.38MM, not guaranteed.
- $500K per year in workout bonuses, from 2017 through 2020, totaling $2MM.
- $500K per year in original-roster Pro Bowl escalators, 2017 through 2020, totaling $2MM.
- $500K per year in original-roster Pro Bowl incentives, 2016 through 2020, totaling $2.5MM.
Amerson is guaranteed $5.5MM at signing plus rolling injury-only guarantees of $12MM. Technically, the deal has a maximum value of $38.38MM, but Amerson would have to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of the next five years to actually realize $4.5MM of that number.
FRIDAY, 4:28pm: Raiders cornerback David Amerson became the latest NFLer to cash in Friday afternoon, agreeing to a four-year extension worth as much as $38MM, including nearly $18MM in guarantees, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
On a day highlighted by big-money deals awarded throughout the league, Amerson’s pact is somewhat modest. However, it’s a tremendous payday for a player whom the Raiders claimed off waivers in late September and one who was set to make a little over $880K in 2016, a contract year.
Amerson, whom the Redskins cut between the second and third weeks of last season, quickly found a home in Oakland and became its best cornerback. The 24-year-old started in 12 of his 14 appearances with the Raiders in 2015 and piled up 58 tackles and a career-best four interceptions. Amerson’s performance earned him high praise from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked him 14th among 111 qualifying corners.
Given his draft pedigree – Amerson was a second-rounder in 2013 – it’s not a complete surprise that the ex-North Carolina State standout has turned into a quality pro. And Amerson wasn’t exactly inexperienced prior to donning the Silver and Black, having totaled 23 starts in 31 appearances in his two full seasons with the Redskins.
Amerson had a rather difficult time in Washington, though, particularly when PFF rated him as the worst corner in the league in 2014. Nevertheless, the former 51st overall pick developed into a force last year in Oakland, which has rewarded the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder handsomely as a result and will keep him in the fold as part of an impressive core of 20-something defenders. Along with Amerson, the Raiders’ defense is built around the likes of superstar end Khalil Mack, linebacker Bruce Irvin, fellow corner Sean Smith and first-round safety Karl Joseph.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC QB Notes: Cousins, Rodgers, 49ers, Giants
The Redskins didn’t put forth much of an effort to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins to a long-term deal in advance of Friday afternoon’s deadline for franchise-tagged players, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Media. In fact, the offer the Redskins presented Cousins at February’s scouting combine – $16MM per year and a total of $24MM in guarantees – never changed before the deadline, per Garafolo. Accepting that would’ve placed Cousins an underwhelming 21st among QBs in average annual salary, notes Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. Cousins will instead play the year under the $19.95MM franchise tender he signed in March, and while that doesn’t give the 2015 breakout star long-term security, he is set to lead all signal-callers in 2016 salary. If Cousins proves last year wasn’t a fluke and the Redskins tag him again as a result, he’ll rake in an even richer amount, $23.94MM.
More on Cousins and some other NFC passers:
- Although the Redskins’ offer to Cousins wasn’t in line with his outstanding production from last season, the organization thought it better to err on the side of caution and continue to make the 27-year-old prove he’s worthy of a substantial commitment over the long haul, writes John Keim of ESPN.com. Cousins has fans within the franchise, but others lack full certainty that he isn’t a one-year wonder. “It’s a critical moment for Kirk and the franchise,” one of Cousins’ teammates told Keim in regards to the upcoming season. “If this pans out, the franchise is set for the next eight years.” Like the anonymous player, Keim expects the Redskins to give Cousins a multiyear contract if he has another strong season.
- In an interview with HBO’s Bill Simmons, the Packers‘ Aaron Rodgers relayed the possible reason why the 49ers passed on him with the first pick in the 2005 draft (via CSNBayArea.com). “The story that I heard—and I don’t know if it’s true or not—that Mike Nolan said that when he saw Alex (Smith) open the car door for his mom that he knew that was the quarterback he wanted,” Rodgers said of Nolan, who was then the 49ers’ head coach. “And I said, ‘Well, I was at lunch with him. My mom wasn’t there and my dad wasn’t there.” Smith, now with the Chiefs, has experienced a fine career after some initial growing pains, but Rodgers – who fell to the 24th selection that year – is a Super Bowl champion and a Pro Football Hall of Fame shoo-in. Nolan, who may have taken the wrong QB based on preposterous rationale, is out of work after spending last season as the linebackers coach in San Diego. The 49ers went 18-37 during his three-plus-year tenure.
- The Giants plucked Logan Thomas off waivers less than a month ago, but his time with Big Blue could be short-lived, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Rookie head coach Ben McAdoo‘s predecessor, Tom Coughlin, was a proponent of keeping two QBs, and Schwartz writes that it wouldn’t be a surprise for McAdoo to operate the same way. With Eli Manning and Ryan Nassib atop the Giants’ depth chart under center, Thomas might not make it to Week 1 in their uniform.