Vikings’ Mike Zimmer Could Return Next Week
Although Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer underwent a fourth eye operation on Friday, he could still return to coach his club in Week 14, a source tells Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. Zimmer was forced to miss Minnesota’s Thursday night contest against the Cowboys after having emergency eye surgery on Wednesday night.
[RELATED: Adrian Peterson To Miss Rest Of Season?]
The Vikings are set to play the Jaguars on December 11, and while Zimmer’s most recent procedure could prevent him from flying to Jacksonville, he would likely be able to drive to Florida to attend the game. However, Goessling reports that Zimmer could return to the club before that contest. In fact, Zimmer is scheduled to speak to the media on Wednesday, so it would appear that Minnesota is aiming for business as usual.
If plans change, the Vikings would once again turn to special teams coach Mike Priefer to lead the team. Priefer did so against the Cowboys, presumably so coordinators Pat Shurmur and George Edwards could focus on their play-calling roles. According to Goessling, Priefer said he would be honored to step in for Zimmer once again, but said he hopes he’s “not needed in that capacity.”
The NFC North rival Lions and Packers both secured victories today, and now stand with records of 8-4 and 6-6, respectively. The Vikings are also 6-6 after Thursday’s loss to Dallas, and need to finish the season strong to have a chance at a postseason berth. After the Jaguars game, the Vikings will face the Colts, Packers, and Bears to close out the 2016 campaign.
Darrelle Revis Won’t Hire An Agent
Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis will not hire an agent and will represent himself going forward, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Revis fired agents Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod in May 2016, and does not intend to replace them.
[RELATED: New York Jets Depth Chart]
“I’m not going to have representation,” Revis said. “I feel through all the years I’ve learned a lot. Don’t get me wrong … with all the craziness that is going on, me and my former agents have done some great things together. … At the same time, I had to move forward. I’ll represent myself and go from there.”
Revis is signed through the 2019 season, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be entering negotiations in the near future. Due $6MM in guaranteed salary plus a $2MM roster bonus in 2017, Revis is increasingly likely to face release — or at the very least, be asked to accept a pay cut — next spring. But despite the fact that he won’t be guided by an agent, Revis is confident he’ll be able to work out an agreeable solution with the Jets front office.
“I think the situation will be easier with whatever we need to discuss with this ballclub and me still being here,” Revis said. “They definitely know I want to retire as a Jet. That was one of the first discussions of coming back here. That’s still in play. They know that’s dear to me. That’s why I wanted to come back. I never wanted to leave.”
Revis, 31, has started 10 games this season without registering a single interception, and most observers believe that he’s posted the single worst season of his All Pro career. Among 120 qualified cornerbacks, Revis ranks just 82nd according to Pro Football Focus‘ grades, a far cry from his days of living near the top of that list. Despite those struggles, however, Revis has dismissed rumors that he’s ready to retire once the season concludes.
Free agent offensive lineman Russell Okung notably acted as his own agent earlier this year, and ultimately negotiated a deal with the Broncos that contained no guaranteed money and was widely panned. Revis could be at risk of suffering a similar fate, though he has played the free agent game with more adroitness than perhaps any player in recent history, constantly maximizing his earnings.
One note: If Revis is released and becomes a free agent, he wouldn’t be able to speak with interested clubs during next spring’s legal tampering window. Only agents are allowed to contact teams during that three-day period, meaning Revis would have to wait until free agency actually opens before negotiating a contract.
Martellus Bennett Rejected Patriots Extension
Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett rejected a $7MM per year extension offer before the season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, talks are expected to resume after the season concludes.
[RELATED: Fallout From Rob Gronkowski Injury]
Bennett, 29, was reportedly one of several New England players that received contract offers earlier this year, although reports have indicated that those proposals were rather team-friendly, presumably containing little incentive for the player to sign on the dotted line. Additionally, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com previously reported that the Patriots explored adding only a single year to Bennett’s deal, so it’s possible that the veteran tight end is aiming for a longer commitment.
Nevertheless, Bennett figures to be an offseason priority for the Patriots, especially now that Rob Gronkowski has undergone yet another surgery and continues to face health questions. But Bennett won’t be the only New England player heading for free agency next spring, as Dont’a Hightower, Jabaal Sheard, LeGarrette Blount, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon, Malcolm Butler (restricted), and others are scheduled to hit the open market.
With Gronkowski sidelined for the rest of the season, Bennett will take over as New England’s primary tight end, and have a chance to build on what has already been a solid 2016 campaign. After the Patriots acquired him (plus a sixth-round pick) from the Bears in exchange for a fourth-rounder, Bennett has hauled in 42 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns.
Latest On Raiders’, Chargers’ Relocation
Although the Raiders and owner Mark Davis appear to be moving full-steam ahead with their plan to relocate to Las Vegas, not every NFL owner is on board, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (all links to Twitter). Multiple owners voiced various concerns with a potential move to Las Vegas at a recent league financial meeting, per Cole, who adds the NFL is now viewing the situation as a choice between two poor options.
At least two owners on the 15-man finance committee voiced concerns about the “logic” of transferring the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas, according to Cole, adding substance to recent reports that have indicated that Las Vegas’ small market size — not its reputation — is giving owners pause. League officials seem to agree, as they presented a study that showed Vegas would have the smallest “potential season ticket base” in the NFL, per Cole.
Another owner was skeptical of the relationship between Davis and financier Sheldon Adelson, and even argued that the Raiders should be wedged out of the NFL’s local revenue sharing agreement if they relocate to Vegas. Meanwhile, owners aren’t sold on Fortress Investment Group, which is set to contribute $600MM in private money towards a new stadium, and don’t believe the company is “trustworthy,” reports Cole.
On the Chargers, Cole corroborates Jim Trotter of ESPN.com’s recent report that the Bolts are likely to move to Los Angeles in the near future, although no “definitive statement” was made at the league’s meetings. The Chargers are progressing towards a deal with the Rams to share a stadium in Inglewood, California, but owner Dean Spanos “loves” San Diego, per Cole, and is presumably ready to exhaust every effort to stay put.
NFC North Notes: Packers, Lions, Nelson, Cobb
The Packers seem likely to ask either — or potentially, both — Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb to take paycuts this offseason, writes Pete Doughtery of the Green Bay Press Gazette, who argues that the club needs to reverse its typically free agent-wary way of thinking and sign an explosive pass-catcher this March. If Green Bay is forced to choose between Nelson and Cobb, Nelson — despite his age — is the likelier option to be retained, says Doughtery, and the potential release of Cobb would clear enough cap space to allow the Packers to bring in an outside option.
The top two free agent wideouts figure to be the Bears’ Alshon Jeffery and the Browns’ Terrelle Pryor, but both are candidates to be hit with the franchise tag (as Jeffery already was this season). If either makes it to free agency, the Packers could certainly take a look, but they may have to settle for lesser options, such as Michael Floyd, Robert Woods, or Kamar Aiken.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- When the Lions declined defensive tackle Nick Fairley‘s fifth-year option for the 2015 season, the club’s brass defended the decision as a motivational tactic, hoping the sting of the move would incite Fairley into improvement. That strategy worked, Fairley tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com, as the current Saints defender says Detroit’s choice not to pick up the option “hit home” and forced him to self-evaluate. Fairley, who will face the Lions on Sunday, has since signed consecutive one-year deals with Los Angeles and New Orleans.
- While Fairley will be active and playing when Detroit faces New Orleans, Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead has been downgraded to out for Sunday’s contest, the club announced today. Whitehead hasn’t been all that effective this season, as he ranks just 79th among 85 qualified linebackers, per Pro Football Focus, but he has been available — Whitehead has played on every Lions defensive snap this season. With Whitehead sidelined, Detroit will likely utilize more nickel packages, as well as three-safety looks, tweets Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.
- The Packers announced that offensive lineman T.J. Lang and J.C. Tretter are both out for the club’s Week 13 against the Texans. Lang has been sidelined since Week 10, while Tretter was injured in and hasn’t played since Week 9. Jason Spriggs will start at left guard for Lang, while Corey Linsley will continue to fill in at center for Tretter.
Andrew Luck To Play On Monday Night
The Colts will see the return of their best player when they face the Jets on Monday Night Football, as quarterback Andrew Luck has emerged from the league’s concussion protocol and will start in a critical Week 13 contest, the club announced today.
[RELATED: Colt Activate Trent Cole]
Indianapolis was forced to turn to backup signal-caller Scott Tolzien against the Steelers on Thanksgiving Day, and the Colts predictably struggled to generate any sort of consistent offense (though the club’s defense perhaps shoulders more of the blame for that Week 12 loss). The Colts now sit with a record 6-6, one game behind the AFC South-leading Texans, and a half-game behind the Titans, who are on bye.
Heading into their matchup against the Jets, the Colts have a 20.7% chance of earning a postseason berth, according to Football Outsiders, and the path to playoffs almost assuredly entails taking the division crown thanks to the strength of other AFC wild card contenders. A victory over New York would bump those odds to roughly 30%, tweets Brian Burke of ESPN.com, while a loss would drop them to the 10-15% range.
The news and signals on Luck coming out of Indianapolis had been positive all week, as he was spotted on the practice field as early as Monday. Additionally, the Colts opted to waive quarterback Stephen Morris when activating linebacker Trent Cole, a clear indication that Luck was looking at an imminent return to game action.
Vikings HC Mike Zimmer To Miss TNF
The Vikings announced that head coach Mike Zimmer is undergoing emergency eye surgery and will be forced to miss Thursday night’s game against the Cowboys. General manager Rick Spielman announced that special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will be in the driver’s seat while Zimmer is out. It’s not immediately clear whether Zimmer could miss multiple games.
[RELATED: Adrian Peterson Ahead Of Schedule?]
“We are taking it one day at a time. We want to get through tonight’s game and then tomorrow we will reassess where we’re at,” Spielman said.
This is at least the third eye operation for Zimmer, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. Zimmer previously had eye surgery in early November after tearing his retina during a game, as Dave Campbell of the Associated Press detailed at the time. Zimmer was able to coach the Vikings’ subsequent game, but did note that he had not sought immediate treatment, he may have been at risk for blindness.
The decision to go with Priefer is interesting, considering that the Vikings already have two former head coaches on staff. Offensive line coach Tony Sparano was previously the head coach of both the Dolphins and Raiders, while offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur once led the Browns. Former offensive coordinator Norv Turner also had head coaching experience, but he resigned earlier this month.
PFR extends its best wishes to Coach Zimmer and hopes for a safe, quick, and thorough recovery.
This post was modified from an earlier version published on Wednesday.
Jets CB Darrelle Revis Ready To Retire?
By nearly every metric, Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis‘ once-great level of play has declined in 2016, and much of that fall-off can be attributed to effort level, as one source close to Revis explains to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “He’s done,” the source told Mehta, adding that Revis has “tanked” this season. “If he had his way, he’d be done right now. He doesn’t want to play anymore. He’s made a lot of money.”
[RELATED: Ryan Fitzpatrick To Remain Jets’ Starter]
Revis, 31, has started 10 games this season without registering a single interception, and most observers believe that he’s posted the single worst season of his All Pro career. Among 120 qualified cornerbacks, Revis ranks just 82nd according to Pro Football Focus‘ grades, a far cry from his days of living near the top of that list. And the Jets’ defensive backfield as whole, once thought to be the strength of the New York roster, places just 29th in passing DVOA, thanks in large part to Revis’ poor play.
Revis has already had to answer questions about retirement this year, and just last month denied that he was ready to hang up his cleats soon. Additionally, general manager Mike Maccagnan has said that he doesn’t have any concerns about Revis’ commitment level. “I’m sure there’s plays he’d like to have back, but you watch a lot of other plays where he does give effort,” Maccagnan said earlier this month.
But Revis was evasive when asked about his future with the Jets, and the club could clear between $7-9MM by releasing him next offseason (depending on when the cut occurs). However, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap explained yesterday, New York will likely need to wait until the 2017 league year begins to cut ties with Revis due to the fact that his 2017 guarantee comes in the form of base salary, not prorated signing bonus.
Vikings HC Mike Zimmer May Miss TNF
The Vikings announced that head coach Mike Zimmer is undergoing emergency eye surgery and could be forced to miss tomorrow night’s game against the Cowboys. General manager Rick Spielman stated that he has met with the club’s coaches and players, and Minnesota has a “contingency plan in place” in case Zimmer is unable to coach.
[RELATED: Adrian Peterson Ahead Of Schedule?]
This is at least the third eye operation for Zimmer, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. Zimmer previously had eye surgery in early November after tearing his retina during a game, as Dave Campbell of the Associated Press detailed at the time. Zimmer was able to coach the Vikings’ subsequent game, but did note that he had not sought immediate treatment, he may have been at risk for blindness.
As noted, the Vikings have plan in place in the event that Zimmer is sidelined, and the club does have two former head coaches on staff. Offensive line coach Tony Sparano was previously the head coach of both the Dolphins and Raiders, while offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur once led the Browns. Former offensive coordinator Norv Turner also had head coaching experience, but he resigned earlier this month.
PFR extends its best wishes to Coach Zimmer and hopes for a safe, quick, and thorough recovery.
Giants Work Out Group Of Safeties
The Giants auditioned safeties Cedric Thompson, Duke Thomas, Ryan Murphy, and Trae Elston today, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.
[RELATED: New York Giants Depth Chart]
New York is on the lookout for defensive back depth given that top reserve Nat Berhe suffered a concussion during Sunday’s win over the Browns. At present, the club only has two other two true safeties left on the roster in the forms of starters Landon Collins and Andrew Adams. The Giants are so depleted in the secondary, in fact, that the current backups at safety are cornerback Leon Hall and linebacker Eric Pinkins.
A concussion caused Berhe to miss three games earlier this season, so it’s possible that his most recent brain injury could force him to be sidelined for even longer. None of the options worked out by the Giants today have any NFL experience, however, so they may not be able to help immediately. New York doesn’t have any safeties on its practice squad — the only defensive back on the taxi squad is Michael Hunter, a natural cornerback.