NFL To Investigate Manning, Others Accused Of PED Use
The NFL plans to investigate Peyton Manning, Julius Peppers, and other players accused of taking PEDs in a recent Al Jazeera report, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). It’s the standard operating procedure for the league to follow up on any such lead and/or tip in a matter such as this, per Cole, but the NFL has no official comment on the situation at this time.
A past history of failed drug tests will play a role in the investigation, reports Cole. While that won’t affect Manning (who hasn’t failed a test in his 18-year career), Peppers and fellow Packer Mike Neal have each served four-game bans in the past, so they could see additional scrutiny as the league looks closer into the report. Peppers was suspended way back in 2002 for taking a banned dietary supplement, while Neal was banned in 2012 for using Adderall.
Meanwhile, the Colts have issued a statement on the matter (specifically relating to the charges against Manning), calling the report “utterly ridiculous” while lauding Manning’s lengthy history of excellent work ethic and integrity (link via Pro Football Talk).
Jim Mora, Pat Fitzgerald Candidates For NFL Jobs
With Black Monday – the day following the conclusion of the regular season when a number of NFL head coaches will inevitably lose their jobs – about a week away, clubs will soon take a circumspect look at the available candidates. Many of those replacement options will come from the NFL ranks, but college coaches will naturally engender interest, as well. Two such NCAA coaches, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, are Jim Mora of UCLA and Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern.
Mora, 54, spent 2004-06 as head coach of the Falcons, earning a postseason berth during his first season; he was also the Seahawks’ head coach during a forgettable 2009 season. He’s been much more successful during his NCAA time, posting a 37-16 record in Los Angeles. Per La Canfora, More might not be too eager to make the jump to the NFL, as he has long-term job security and one of the top collegiate rosters at UCLA. But the Chargers job, if open, would be particularly appealing to Mora, as he’d be able to stay on the West Coast while leading a team with a franchise quarterback in Philip Rivers.
The 41-year-old Fitzgerald has been garnering NFL interest for years, per La Canfora, as clubs are impressed that Northwestern has been able to stay competitive in the Big 10 despite lacking top-end talent. NFL teams are even more impressed this season, says La Canfora, and search firms are actively testing Fitzgerald’s level of intrigue in leaping to the NFL. One possible roadblock? Fitzgerald might be reticent to leave the greater Chicago area (and the Bears job isn’t likely to open up any time soon).
The Titans and Dolphins will certainly be searching for new head coaches this offseason, while the Rams, Browns, Giants, 49ers, Lions, and Saints could also be in the hunt.
PFR Originals: 12/20/15 – 12/27/15
The original content and analysis produced by the PR staff during the past week:
- Luke Adams took a look at the Pro Bowlers playing on expiring contracts, with Josh Norman, Von Miller, and Muhammad Wilkerson topping the list.
- Luke scrutinized the 2016 cap outlook for the Jets, noting that Sheldon Richardson could a candidate for an extension, while receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker could have their deals restructured.
- With the 2015 season nearing a close, Luke also went over several key dates on the 2016 offseason calendar.
- Zach Links rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
- In our Community Tailgate series, we post topics for discussion and encourage readers to share their thoughts in the comments section. Last week’s issues covered by Luke, Rob DiRe, and myself:
- Who will secure the two AFC Wild Cards? (link)
- Should the Saints Drew Brees given his torn plantar fascia? (link)
- Which club has the league’s best offense? (link)
Week In Review: 12/20/15 – 12/27/15
The headlines from the past week at PFR:
Key News:
- An Al Jazeera documentary has accused Peyton Manning, Julius Peppers, and other NFL players of obtaining HGH from an Indianapolis clinic. Manning has strongly denied the claims.
- Future Hall of Fame safety Charles Woodson announced that he will retire at the end of the season.
- Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was handed a one-game suspension following his actions during last week’s game against the Panthers (the ban was subsequently upheld).
- The Cardinals‘ defense was dealt a devastating blow, losing DPOY candidate Tyrann Mathieu to a torn ACL.
Signed/Re-Signed:
- Giants – Brandon Meriweather, S (link)
- Patriots – Steven Jackson, RB (link)
Waived:
- Patriots – Leonard Hankerson, WR (link)
Injuries:
- 49ers – Alex Boone, G (IR)
- Browns – Andrew Hawkins, WR (IR)
- Buccaneers – Akeem Spence, DT (IR)
- Chargers – Melvin Gordon, RB (IR)
- Cowboys – Tony Romo, QB (IR)
- Texans – T.J. Yates, QB (IR)
Extra Points: Draft, Rams, Chargers, LA
After recently taking a tumble from a hotel window, Mississippi defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche has been suspended for his team’s upcoming bowl game, Daniel Paulling and Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger report. It’s not all bad news for Ndemkiche, however, as the junior announced that he’s forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Once a projected first-round pick, it’s unclear how recent off-field issues will affect his stock.
Here’s more from around the league…
- Another underclassmen, Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa, is also throwing his hat in the draft ring, as he tells Dan Duggan of NJ.com. Longa, who has posted three consecutive 100-tackle seasons, says he did receive information on his draft stock from the league’s advisory board, but declined to share those specifics.
- Ground has been broken at Hollywood Park in California, and now the only question is whether the Rams will move west, as Sam Farmer and Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times write. Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who is building the arena, plans to move ahead with its construction regardless of his club’s status. NFL owners are expected to meet in mid-January, and could vote to approve the project.
- League sources tell Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that neither LA plan – the Rams in Inglewood or the Raiders/Chargers in Carson – has enough owner support to pass, but each could get enough anti-votes to ensure that it does not get approved. An extra year in San Diego, write Acee, could be exactly what the Chargers need in order to make their case to stay in the area long-term.
Community Tailgate: Should Saints Sit Brees?
As the NFL regular season nears its home stretch, there are plenty of topics and storylines to discuss, and PFR’s Community Tailgate is designed to address those stories. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. We’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
We learned earlier tonight that Saints quarterback Drew Brees has a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, the same injury that has kept Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning out since Week 10. Despite the tear, reports indicate that Brees is considered day-to-day, and that he hopes to play in the club’s final two games.
But even if Brees wants to participate in Weeks 16 and 17, should New Orleans let him? The Saints are mathematically eliminated from earning a postseason berth, so their next two contests — against the Jaguars and Falcons — have no significance (at least for the Saints themselves). Those games do have implications for Jacksonville and Atlanta, and while teams competing with those two franchises for playoff spots might not be happy if the Saints play without their star quarterback, New Orleans has to value the health of Brees over those concerns.
And while backup Matt Flynn might be the favorite to make starts if Brees does sit, the Saints might also consider playing 2015 third-round pick Garrett Grayson during the last two games of the season. Grayson has only been active for one game and hasn’t seen any live action, but with little on the line, New Orleans could take this opportunity to give the Colorado State alum a chance.
On the other hand, head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis (not to mention Brees himself) probably want to finish as strong as possible after struggling though a miserable campaign. Brees, as competitive as they come, obviously isn’t eager to sit on the bench if he isn’t forced to. And Saints fans, especially those who have already paid for tickets for the final two games, surely want to see their franchise QB in action.
What do you think? Should the Saints rest Brees for the final two games of the year (even if he’s deemed able to play)? Or should they let him play out the string? Weigh in below in the comments section with your thoughts!
Drew Brees Has Torn Plantar Fascia
An MRI revealed that Saints quarterback Drew Brees is dealing with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, according to Ed Werder of ESPN (Twitter link). It’s the same injury suffered by Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, and coincidentally, Werder reports that Brees is waiting for the opinion of Dr. Robert Anderson, the same physician who treated Manning.
The injury occurred during the first half of last night’s contest between New Orleans and Detroit; Brees was noticeably limping and flexing his right leg/foot for much of the night. The tear is in Brees’ plant foot, meaning throwing the ball could be quite difficult and/or painful for the remainder of the year, but sources tell Werder (Twitter link) that Brees hopes to play in season’s remaining two games.
The Saints are out of playoff contention, so it wouldn’t be out of the question for the club to shut down its star quarterback now instead of allowing him to continue playing. Veteran Matt Flynn would likely start in his absence, but the team could also turn to 2015 draft pick Garrett Grayson, who was inactive last night.
Workout Notes: Bears, Broncos, Patriots
Clubs continue to update their emergency lists as the season winds down, so let’s take a look at the latest workouts from around the league…
- We’ve learned the names of half of the eight players the Broncos worked out today, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that in addition to the previously-reported Still, Denver tried out defensive end DeAngelo Tyson, linebacker Dekoda Watson, and defensive tackle Phil Taylor.
- The Colts also tried out a couple of additional players, including kick returner Demarius Washington and defensive back Terell Floyd, tweets Wilson.
- Looking for depth along their front seven, the Texans worked out linebackers Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo and Xzavier Dickson, per Wilson (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
- The Bears auditioned six players today, including running backs Vick Ballard and Alonzo Harris, receiver Chris Harper, and defensive linemen Davon Coleman, Euclid Cummings, and Keith Browner (Twitter links via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). The 25-year-old Ballard is the most notable name here, as he ran for more than 800 yards during his rookie season with the Colts before suffering a string of injuries.
- Not to be outdone, the Broncos tried out eight players, including former Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, per Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link). Still, a former second-round pick, hasn’t played in 2015, but after announcing last month that his daughter’s cancer is in remission, he surely has many around the NFL rooting for him.
- The Patriots brought in a pair of CFL defensive ends for workouts, auditioning Freddie Bishop and Cleyon Laing earlier today, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Texans Place T.J. Yates On IR
MONDAY, 5:28pm: The team officially placed Yates on IR and signed quarterback B.J. Daniels off the Seahawks’ practice squad to fill Yates’ roster spot, the Texans website reports. The 26-year-old Daniels has bounced between positions, and between the active roster and practice squad, in Seattle, playing both quarterback and wide receiver. A former seventh-round 49ers draft pick in 2013, Daniels caught two passes for the Seahawks this season.
MONDAY, 12:47pm: Today’s tests confirmed that Yates tore his ACL, ending his season, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Houston figures to place him on the injured reserve list this week.
SUNDAY, 2:40pm: The Texans believe that quarterback T.J. Yates suffered a torn ACL during today’s game against the Colts, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26 (Twitter link). If confirmed, Yates would obviously be lost for the remainder of the season.
Yates was starting today in the absence of Brian Hoyer, who suffered a concussion near the end of last week’s game against the Patriots and was inactive today. Houston has now turned to the only other quarterback on its roster, Brandon Weeden, whom the club recently claimed off waivers from the Cowboys. With Hoyer’s status for next week still uncertain, it’s likely that the Texans will look to add a quarterback in the next week.
It’s almost inconceivable given their turnover at quarterback this season (Hoyer, Yates, Weeden, and Ryan Mallett have all seen time this year), but the Texans are still very much in the running for a postseason berth. If they beat the Colts today, Houston will take over first place in the AFC South with just two games to play. Depending on the nature and severity of Hoyer’s concussion, it’s entirely possible we’ll witness a sight few would have predicted at any point in recent history — Weeden starting a playoff game.
Entering today’s contest, Yates had played in three games in relief of Hoyer since being signed in late October — his only start (against the Jets in Week 13) resulted in a 24-17 Houston victory. The 28-year-old Yates, who also spent 2011-12 with the Texans, is a free agent at season’s end. Given his projected recovery timetable, he might find it difficult to land a job next summer.
PFR Originals: 12/13/15 – 12/20/15
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- In our latest Community Tailgate post, Luke Adams asked readers to weigh in on several tight division races. In the NFC, the North and East are still up for grabs, while in the AFC, the North, South, and West could all conceivably see a shake-up before now and the end of the regular season.
- Luke also outlined how you can follow specific players on PFR.