Browns Unlikely To Trade Josh Gordon
The Browns are “highly unlikely” to trade wide receiver Josh Gordon before Tuesday’s deadline, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Cleveland is said to be open to moving Gordon — and were reportedly shopping him earlier this month — but apparently the odds of a deal coming together are not good.
[RELATED: Cleveland Browns Depth Chart]
Gordon, who was released from rehab earlier today, originally decided to enter the facility following a “slip up,”and reports indicated that Gordon was dealing with an alcohol addiction. Some of Gordon’s past suspensions have been related to alcohol, and the pass-catcher also has a DUI on his rap sheet, so he decided entering rehab was the “extra step” he needed to get well.
Rival clubs were reportedly inquiring on Gordon over the summer, but the Browns indicated that they had no interest in trading their talented yet troubled wide receiver. However, former Patriots/Browns executive Michael Lombardi disputed that sentiment, claiming that Cleveland had been shopping Gordon all summer.
The Browns have indicated that they intend to part ways with Gordon at some point, although he won’t be an unrestricted for some time given his multiple suspensions.
Seahawks, Cards, Broncos Eyeing OL Upgrades
The Seahawks, Cardinals, and Broncos are among the teams internally considering an offensive line acquisition, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, and those clubs are having conversations regarding what they would sacrifice in a trade. The Giants are also interested in making an offensive line deal, per La Canfora, confirming a report earlier today that indicated New York is evaluating the Browns’ Joe Thomas.
[RELATED: Trade Deadline To Be Active?]
Thomas is of interest to Seattle, Arizona, and Denver, as well, but so is 49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley, who is thought to be on the trade block. However, both Cleveland and San Francisco have placed high price tags on their respective tackles, and it’s unlikely that any of the interested clubs will be able to meet the cost, reports La Canfora. Both the Browns and 49ers have downplayed the idea that they’re looking to sell at the deadline, but that could be part of a strategy to drive up the price of their assets.
The Seahawks, of course, have fielded one of the more porous offensive lines for several years, and haven’t seemed interested in making a serious investment along their front five. The offensive line issues have become even more obvious with quarterback Russell Wilson playing through injuries, meaning he can’t move about the pocket with his usual prowess. Seattle also ranks 28th in adjusted line yards, Football Outsiders‘ run-blocking metric, and is now starting George Fant — a rookie undrafted free agent who hasn’t made a start since Pee Wee football — at left tackle.
The Cardinals’ offensive line troubles, meanwhile, have been on the interior, where the club has lost guard Evan Mathis for the season and center A.Q. Shipley hasn’t played well. But an acquisition of Thomas or Staley would clearly offer an upgrade, and would allow Arizona to move former first-round pick D.J. Humphries back to the bench. In such a scenario, either current left tackle Jared Veldheer or the Cards’ presumed addition would shift to the right side.
Like Arizona, most of Denver’s line problems have come on the inside, meaning the Broncos would need to shuffle their line in the event of a tackle trade. If Denver picked up Thomas or Staley, incumbent left tackle Russell Okung would probably move to the right side, allowing Donald Stephenson to switch from right tackle to guard.
Cowboys RB Darren McFadden On Trade Block
The Cowboys are willing to trade running back Darren McFadden, but the price tag is said to be “significant,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. McFadden hasn’t suited up yet this season, as he’s been recovering from an offseason injury while on the non-football injury list.
[RELATED: NFL Interviews Ezekiel Elliott]
Dallas received calls on McFadden before the season even began, as rival clubs likely assumed that the veteran back wasn’t part of the picture with the Cowboys after Dallas drafted Ezekiel Elliott fourth overall and signed free agent Alfred Morris. However, a subsequent report indicated that the Cowboys didn’t have any interest in dealing McFadden, and would keep him on the roster as something of an insurance policy.
With Elliott looking like the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, there likely won’t be a role available for McFadden even if he can return to health. A rival club, then, could acquire a somewhat underpriced asset, given that McFadden rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season and will cost only the prorated portion of a $1.25MM base salary. However, his health has always been a question mark, and given that he’s injured at the moment, the risk in adding McFadden is that much greater.
Bears Leadership Under Scrutiny
The Bears have limped to a disappointing 1-6 start, and the club’s front office and coaching staff is now being reviewed with the assistance of an outside consultant, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Sources tell Rapoport that Chicago has initiated a “full examination of the football operation from top to bottom,” and head coach John Fox may not be safe after the season concludes.
[RELATED: Chicago Bears Depth Chart]
Opposing general managers and coaches have been extremely critical of the Bears’ performance thus far in 2016, per Rapoport, and some around the league have also questioned whether Fox is fully invested in the club’s results. While those close to Fox claim he is still putting in as many hours as ever, it’s clear that Chicago is heading in the wrong direction. As Rapoport notes, Fox has led turnarounds in both Denver and Carolina in the past, but that trend isn’t continuing with the Bears.
General manager Ryan Pace is also being evaluated, but Rapoport reports that Chicago’s ownership doesn’t believe Pace’s two-year tenure is enough time by which to judge his accomplishments. Acquiring talent is a more arduous process than developing it, and the Bears are pleased that their 2016 rookie class has shown “flashes” of promise. Still, rancor seemingly abounds between the front office and the coaching staff, and Rapoport says the two sides conducted “intense meetings” during the past week.
Fox is under contract through the 2018 season, while Pace is signed through the 2019 campaign.
Giants Express Interest In Joe Thomas
The Giants have expressed interest in acquiring Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. However, Cleveland does not seem intent on trading Thomas, and New York would need to offer a substantial package in order to pique the Browns’ interest.
[RELATED: New York Giants Depth Chart]
Thomas would certainly be an upgrade to a Giants’ offensive line that has been a mixed bag so far this season. Though New York ranks third in Football Outsiders‘ adjusted sack rate, it places just 27th in adjusted line yards, FO’s run-blocking metric. 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers has been adequate at left tackle, but a Thomas acquisition would allow Big Blue to move Flowers to the right side, where Bobby Hart has been overmathed through five starts.
The 31-year-old Thomas is in the midst of another excellent season, as he’s started all eight games and graded as the league’s No. 8 offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. Thomas, a nine-time Pro Bowler, has never missed a contest during his 10-year NFL career, and is actually quite affordable from a cap perspective. Given that the Browns would absorb his remaining signing bonus money, Thomas would only count for $9MM in each of the next two years.
Thomas, a lifelong member of the Browns, has never been to the postseason. Still, he does not want to be traded. First-year coach Hue Jackson addressed reporters earlier this week and said that Thomas would not be dealt between now and the deadline. Despite that, rival GMs believe that top exec Sashi Brown could pull the trigger on a deal, especially since the team is going nowhere in 2016.
Texans OT Derek Newton Undergoes Surgery
SUNDAY, 10:59am: Wilson solicited the opinion of several highly-respected doctors on the severity of Newton’s injury. The entire piece is worth a read, but the upshot is that Newton should be able to resume his career and regain nearly full recovery of knee motion. Unsurprisingly, however, the injury could prevent him from reaching his former level of performance, although he should be able to at least come close to that standard.
THURSDAY, 7:50pm: After suffering a gruesome injury on Monday Night Football, Texans offensive tackle Derek Newton underwent surgery today to repair his two torn patellar tendons, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Luckily, Newton did not tear either of his ACLs, but still faces a lengthy recovery that will include time in wheelchair. He’s unlikely to walk again for three months.
[RELATED: Texans Place Kevin Johnson On IR]
“I am not aware of an NFL athlete, who came back to play at a similar level after this injury,” said former Chargers doctor David Chao, per Wilson in a separate article. “The injury is very rare. It’s not a once-a-year injury. This is a once-every five years. This is harder to come back from than a torn ACL. To have two of them is devastating, but, yes, he should be walking in three months. There’s a big difference between walking and playing.”
Torn patellar tendons have derailed the careers of other NFLers — including defensive back Gary Baxter and wide receiver Wendell Davis — in the past, as Wilson notes. But the Texans reportedly are expressing “guarded optimism” about Newton’s ability to resume playing, thanks both to advances in injury science and Newton’s work ethic.
Newton, who will be replaced at right tackle by veteran Chris Clark, signed a five-year extension prior to the 2015 season that contained $10MM in guarantees. The 28-year-old Newton has been a full-time starter for the Texans since 2012, and has 82 career appearances under his belt.
AFC Notes: Jaguars, Marrone, Patriots, Sankey
The Jaguars‘ decision to promote Nathaniel Hackett to offensive coordinator today would ease the transition in the event that Doug Marrone is promoted to head coach, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). Obviously, projecting the firing of current head coach Gus Bradley is putting the cart before the horse, and recent reports have indicated that Bradley is safe through the end of the season. But Hackett has a working relationship with Marrone — he called plays for Marrone both at Syracuse and with the Bills — and would certainly keep the OC job if Marrone were to take over.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- Offensive line should be the priority for the Jaguars in 2017 free agency, opines Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. Jacksonville signed left tackle Kelvin Beachum over the offseason, but otherwise stood pat on its offensive line. The unit has struggled to get the run game going, ranking 30th in Football Outsiders‘ run grading metric. Former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel, who recently underwent surgery and is done for the year, could be an option to be re-signed, while T.J. Lang, Kevin Zeitler, and Riley Reiff will be the top options on the 2017 market.
- The Patriots‘ trade for linebacker Kyle Van Noy could be the club guarding against free agent losses, writes Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, who points out that both Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins are headed for the open market next spring. New England made a similar move before the season, dealing for cornerback Eric Rowe, who can help protect against possible defections by Malcolm Butler or Logan Ryan.
- The Patriots opted to promote running back Tyler Gaffney from the practice squad instead of fellow RB Bishop Sankey, and there could be several reasons for that decision, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Gaffney offers more a power-back look than Sankey, and also plays on special teams, a trait that head coach Bill Belichick values. Additionally, Gaffney could be easier to sneak back through waivers, whereas Sankey could be claimed.
NFL Trade Deadline To Be Active?
The NFL’s trade deadline occurs next Tuesday, and a NFL source tells Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link) that the league could see a decent amount of activity. Since the NFL currently boasts “some bad teams and decent cap room league wide,” per the source, which could lead to several trades going down.
The most high-profile name that has reportedly been bandied about in talks over the past several days is that of Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas, whom most general managers believe will ultimately be dealt. Head coach Hue Jackson was adamant that Cleveland would not entertain offers for Thomas, and other reports have indicated weak league-wide interest in the tackle. But with the Colts, Vikings, and Seahawks looking for offensive line upgrades, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Browns ship out Thomas.
San Francisco has also been the source of conflicting reports, as talks had reportedly ignited between the 49ers and Eagles regarding wide receiver Torrey Smith, while Joe Staley is also thought to be on the block. However, Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson shot down the notion that his club was aiming for receivers via trade, and subsequent reports have disputed that the Niners are shopping anyone.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are thought to be searching for a pass-catcher, and are willing to trade cornerbacks Alterraun Verner or Johnathan Banks in order to acquire one. The Chargers, who have already lost Keenan Allen and Stevie Johnson this season, are also in the market for a playmaker on offense. On the other side of the coin, the Panthers are unlikely to make a trade before next week’s deadline.
As a refresher, here’s a list of trades that have been completed since the 2016 season began (our full list of 2016 trades can be found here):
- Broncos acquire TE A.J. Derby.
- Patriots acquire a 2017 fifth-round pick.
- Patriots acquire LB Kyle Van Noy and a 2017 seventh-round pick.
- Lions acquire a 2017 sixth-round pick.
- Packers acquire RB Knile Davis.
- Chiefs acquire a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Patriots acquire CB Eric Rowe.
- Eagles acquire a conditional 2018 fourth-round pick.
- Pick becomes third-rounder if Rowe plays 50% of snaps in either 2016 or 2017.
Panthers Unlikely To Make Trade Next Week
The Panthers don’t seem likely to make a deal before Tuesday’s trade deadline, according to Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review. Carolina head coach Ron Rivera spoke with reporters — including Voth — this week, and spoke to the odds of general manager Dave Gettleman swinging a trade in the coming days.
[RELATED: Carolina Panthers Depth Chart]
“I think it’s one of those things where there’s a number of names are out there,” Rivers said yesterday. “And I know Dave and his guys have been looking at those guys. But whether we’re going to be an active participant or not, I’m not sure if that’s been decided.”
Though the Panthers have areas of their roster that could use upgrades, the club’s surprising 1-5 start means sacrificing draft compensation for an immediate talent infusion might not be the correct course of action. Both Football Outsiders and FiveThirtyEight give Carolina less than a 10% chance of earning a postseason berth, and even the most significant addition wouldn’t do much to affect those odds.
So while a unit such as the defensive backfield (which ranks 27th in defensive passing DVOA, and recently saw its 17th and 18th transactions in activating Leonard Johnson and placing Teddy Williams on IR, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer) could use help, a deal doesn’t appear likely to come to fruition. However, while the Panthers might not be buyers next week, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be sellers.
“I don’t think there’s anybody we’re looking to sell. I think for us, everything is going forward,” Rivera said. “We’re in an interesting position in terms of our core guys. There’s eight, nine, ten of them that we feel really good about going forward.”
“I think we’ve got a good, solid group,” Rivera continued. “If anything, who knows, maybe there is something that we’re looking at.”Maybe this is the type of game that could dictate whether or not we’re buyers. But that’s pure speculation.”
Patriots Promote RB Tyler Gaffney
The Patriots have promoted running back Tyler Gaffney from the practice squad to the active roster, the club announced today. Because it had already had an empty roster spot, New England did not need to make a corresponding transaction.
[RELATED: Dion Lewis Returns To Practice]
Gaffney, 25, was a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft, but various injuries have left him unable to appear in a single game during his career. The Patriots claimed Gaffney off waivers from the Panthers during his rookie season, and stashed him on injured reserve in each of the next two years. After being waived with an injury settlement in September, Gaffney signed on with New England’s practice squad in mid-October.
If he’s active on Sunday against the Bills, Gaffney will serve as a depth option behind LeGarrette Blount, James White, Brandon Bolden, and D.J. Foster, while also likely playing on special teams. Gaffney’s roster spot could be in danger if and when Dion Lewis returns from the PUP list — Lewis returned to practice earlier this week, meaning the Patriots have a three-week window during which they can activate Lewis.
Given that Gaffney went unsigned for more than a month earlier this year, the Patriots likely believe they can pass him through waivers and place him back on the taxi squad if Lewis comes back soon, as Doug Kyed of NESN tweets.