Jets Sign Kyle Brindza, Freddie Bishop
The Jets have signed a pair of players to reserve/futures contracts, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Schefter reports that linebacker Freddie Bishop has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with the Jets, who have also added kicker Kyle Brindza to their roster.
Bishop, who played his college ball at Western Michigan, has spent the last two seasons with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. He was one of the league’s more effective edge rushers in 2015, tying for fourth with 11 sacks. Bishop worked out for the Chargers, Steelers, Titans, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, and the Jets in December and January before agreeing to terms with New York.
As for Brindza, the 23-year-old began the 2015 season as the Buccaneers’ kicker, beating out veteran Connor Barth for the job. However, he struggled mightily in the role, and was waived after just four games. After missing just one of nine total kicks in his first two games, Brindza missed two extra points and converted only two of seven field goal attempts in Weeks 3 and 4.
Randy Bullock, who finished the season as the Jets’ kicker, is eligible for free agency and likely won’t return. For Brindza to earn a roster spot though, he’ll have to beat out Nick Folk, who ended the year on injured reserve and still has two years left on his contract. Folk’s cap number jumps to $3.34MM in 2016, which could give the inexpensive Brindza an opening to earn the job with a strong training camp.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Marvin Jones Plans To Test Free Agency
Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones is eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, and he doesn’t sound like someone who is interested in signing an extension without first seeing what’s out there on the open market. With free agency approaching, Jones told NFL Media’s Scott Hanson (story via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com) that he plans to “look at all angles” on the market, suggesting he’s not interested in taking a hometown discount to re-sign with Cincinnati.
“I love Cincinnati,” Jones said. “…But at the same time, I am a free agent. It wouldn’t be good for me not to test the waters a little bit. It’s just an exciting process.”
With very few top wideouts expected to be available this offseason, Jones could be one of the top targets for teams looking to add pass catchers. The former fifth-round pick had arguably his best year in 2015 after missing the entire 2014 campaign with a foot injury, setting new career highs with 65 receptions and 816 yards. While he didn’t come close to matching the 10 touchdowns he posted in 2013, Jones reached the end zone four times and was among the league’s more productive No. 2 receivers.
Wesseling suggests that Jones ought to be targeting the same sort of five-year, $31MM deal that Golden Tate signed with the Lions a couple offseasons ago, adding that perhaps the Browns – whose new head coach Hue Jackson worked with Jones as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator – would be a logical suitor.
However, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer hears from sources that Jones will seek about $7MM per year, slightly more than Tate. That could make Eric Decker‘s deal with the Jets (five years, $36.25MM) a potential point of comparison for Jones, though he might not get quite that high. Still, while the Bengals may be unwilling to match that number, the wide receiver will be the team’s top priority among free-agents-to-be, says Owczarski.
Although the Bengals will prioritize a deal for Jones, he’s not likely to be a candidate for the franchise tag, which is expected to exceed $14MM for receivers in 2016. So Cincinnati will have to get something done within the next few weeks to keep him from getting offers from other teams.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
South Notes: Titans, D. Martin, Colts, M. Martin
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota obviously has some pull with his franchise, but he told Pro Football Talk that he didn’t want to be significantly involved with the team’s head coaching search.
“I didn’t want any input or anything like that,” Mariota said. “They did ask. They asked about Chip Kelly, about Coach (Mike) Mularkey. They obviously asked my opinions about people here and there, but I wanted them to make their own decision.”
Last month, the Titans made the call to elevate Mularkey from interim head coach to head coach, while Kelly – Mariota’s old head coach at Oregon – joined the Niners.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s South divisions:
- Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is eligible to hit the open market in March but on Thursday, he took yet another opportunity to profess his love for Tampa Bay. “I love Tampa and Tampa loves me,” Martin told PFT. “I’ve got a house out there so I do wish I’ll go back to Tampa.”
Muscle HamsterMartin also said that he was surprised by the firing of coach Lovie Smith, though he’s excited about playing for Dirk Koetter, who was elevated from offensive coordinator. - Colts owner Jim Irsay told WISH-TV’s Anthony Calhoun that he hopes to see Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning retire as a member of the Colts, signing a one-day contract with Indianapolis when he decides to call it a career. Of course, rumors have been swirling in recent weeks that Super Bowl 50 could be Manning’s final game. Then again, maybe this won’t be Manning’s “last rodeo” — the Rams have reportedly discussed Manning internally as they gear up for their move to Los Angeles.
- Titans defensive lineman Mike Martin has had to adjust to several different schemes throughout his college and NFL career, as his teams made multiple coaching changes. As he tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com, Martin – a pending free agent – is hoping for some stability with his next team, assuming he isn’t back with Tennessee.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Johnny Manziel Refuses Admittance To Rehab
Johnny Manziel‘s agent has publicly parted ways with him and expressed concern about the quarterback’s future, and he’s not the only one close to Manziel who hopes the 23-year-old gets serious about getting help. According to Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News, Manziel’s family is concerned for his well-being, with his father Paul Manziel suggesting that his son has twice declined to be admitted to area rehab facilities in the last week.
“I truly believe if they can’t get him help, he won’t live to see his 24th birthday,” the elder Manziel said.
According to Hairopoulos’ report, Manziel’s family attempted last Saturday afternoon to get him to agree to go to the Enterhealth Ranch addiction facility in Van Alstyne, Texas. However, he refused to stay there. Paul Manziel said that he tried this Tuesday to have his son admitted to Carrollton Springs Hospital, but that Johnny was allowed to leave.
[RELATED: Browns expected to cut Johnny Manziel on March 9th]
Carrollton Springs is a psychiatric and chemical dependency hospital, working with patients who suffer from mental illness and/or addiction. Paul Manziel told Hairopoulos that he was upset that Johnny was allowed to leave after Paul told a Denton County Sherriff officer that he believed his son to be suicidal.
Manziel previously checked himself into a rehab facility in 2015 voluntarily, entering a program to treat possible alcohol dependence.
In a statement issued today, agent Erik Burkhardt announced that he was ending his professional relationship with the Browns quarterback, suggesting that he had spoken at length to Manziel’s family, with all parties except the QB himself agreeing that he ought to seek help.
“Though I will remain a friend and Johnny supporter, and he knows I have worked tirelessly to arrange a number of professional options for him to continue to pursue, it has become painfully obvious that his future rests solely in his own hands,” Burkhardt said. “His family and I have gone to great lengths to outline the steps we feel he must take to get his life in order. Accountability is the foundation of any relationship, and without it, the function of my work is counterproductive.”
Police recently investigated a January dispute between Manziel and his ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley, but ultimately elected not to file charges. Crowley told police that Manziel struck her several times and seemed to be on drugs, and that he also told her “shut up or I’ll kill us both” after forcing her into a car and dragging her by her hair. Manziel denied those allegations.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Agent No Longer Representing Johnny Manziel
In the wake of Johnny Manziel‘s latest off-field incident and a report that the Browns plan to cut him, Manziel’s agent has announced that he has ended his business relationship with the quarterback. As Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, agent Erik Burkhardt issued a statement explaining why he is no longer representing Manziel.
“It is with deep regret that, after several emotional and very personal discussions with his family, his doctors, and my client himself, I have made the decision to terminate my professional relationship with Johnny Manziel,” Burkhardt said.
“Though I will remain a friend and Johnny supporter, and he knows I have worked tirelessly to arrange a number of professional options for him to continue to pursue, it has become painfully obvious that his future rests solely in his own hands. His family and I have gone to great lengths to outline the steps we feel he must take to get his life in order. Accountability is the foundation of any relationship, and without it, the function of my work is counterproductive.
“I truly wish the best for Johnny and sincerely hope he can, and will, find the kind of peace and happiness he deserves.”
While Manziel isn’t the first player to lose an agent, it’s a rare occurrence, and it’s even rarer to see any player’s representative announce so openly and bluntly that his client has let him down. In many ways, Burkhardt’s statement is a more worrying indictment of the former Texas A&M star than the announcement issued by Browns executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown earlier this week. Brown’s statement read, in part: “Johnny’s continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization.”
A first-round pick in 2014, Manziel started eight games during his two years in Cleveland, completing 57% of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns to seven interceptions, for a QB rating of 74.4. While his on-field performance was unspectacular, it was his off-field behavior that will cost him his agent and his roster spot, with the Browns expected to cut him when the new league year begins on March 9th.
Although there has been plenty of speculation about what teams might be a fit for Manziel when he becomes a free agent next month, these latest developments suggest that he may have a hard time finding any team willing to take a shot at him unless he can convince clubs that he’s committed to staying out of trouble and focusing on saving his football career.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Offseason Outlook: San Diego Chargers
Pending free agents:
- Jahleel Addae, S (RFA)
- Joe Barksdale, T
- Kellen Clemens, QB
- Malcom Floyd, WR
- Antonio Gates, TE
- Ladarius Green, TE
- Chris Hairston, T
- Dontrelle Inman, WR (ERFA)
- David Johnson, TE
- Cordarro Law, OLB (ERFA)
- Jeff Linkenbach, G
- Ricardo Mathews, DE
- Joe Mays, ILB
- John Phillips, TE
- Kendall Reyes, DE
- Patrick Robinson, CB
- Brandian Ross, CB (RFA)
- Damion Square, DE (RFA)
- Johnnie Troutman, G (RFA)
- Cassius Vaughn, CB
- J.D. Walton, C
- Eric Weddle, S
- Kenny Wiggins, T (ERFA)
Top 15 cap hits for 2016:
- Philip Rivers, QB: $21,000,000
- Corey Liuget, DE: $10,000,000
- Brandon Flowers, CB: $9,750,000
- Donald Butler, ILB: $9,280,000
- Melvin Ingram, OLB: $7,751,000
- Orlando Franklin, G: $7,200,000
- King Dunlap, T: $6,343,750
- Mike Scifres, P: $4,162,500
- Steve Johnson, WR: $3,900,000
- D.J. Fluker, T: $3,628,067
- Donald Brown, RB: $3,500,000
- Danny Woodhead, RB: $3,000,000
- Melvin Gordon, RB: $2,424,946
- Trevor Robinson, C: $2,375,000
- Jason Verrett, CB: $2,151,546
Notable coaching/front office changes:
- Head coach: Extended Mike McCoy‘s contract through 2017.
- Offensive coordinator: Hired former Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt to replace Frank Reich.
Draft:
- No. 3 overall pick
- Owe fifth-round pick to 49ers in deal for RB Melvin Gordon.
- Acquired sixth-round pick from Vikings in deal for T Jeremiah Sirles.
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $27.75MM
- Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2017 for T D.J. Fluker.
- Chargers will play in San Diego in 2016, but hold option to move to Los Angeles for 2017.
Overview:
After narrowly missing a playoff berth in 2014, with a 9-7 record, the Chargers came into the 2015 season determined to take a step forward and become a postseason contender. Instead, the team headed in the other direction.
Plagued by injuries, particularly on the offensive line, the Chargers’ offense struggled to put points on the board. The defense, an area of weakness in past seasons, didn’t improve at all, and the end result was a disappointing 4-12 season.
While the team’s on-the-field performance was a letdown, Chargers fans were preoccupied all season with concerns about the franchise’s long-term future in San Diego. Team owner Dean Spanos filed for relocation and was approved by his fellow NFL owners, who deemed San Diego’s stadium proposal as insufficient.
However, since those other team owners approved Stan Kroenke‘s Inglewood project, rather than the Carson plan put forth by the Chargers and Raiders, Spanos had the option of partnering with Kroenke in Los Angeles or returning to San Diego for another year. The Chargers opted for the latter scenario, meaning the team and the city – armed with an extra $100MM from the NFL – have another 12 months to try to improve their plan for a San Diego stadium. If those efforts fall short, 2016 may very well be the Chargers’ final year in San Diego.
The Chargers’ uncertain long-term future looms large over the offseason, but while Spanos and his closest confidantes work to solve that issue, the club’s top personnel decision-makers, including general manager Tom Telesco, must focus on improving the product on the field after an unsatisfactory 2015 showing.
Key Free Agents:
By working out a new contract with quarterback Philip Rivers last August, the Chargers ensured that their most noteworthy potential free agent won’t reach the open market this winter. However, the team’s list of free-agents-to-be still includes a handful of big names.
We’ll start with one longtime Charger who almost certainly be back with the team in 2016: Eric Weddle. The veteran safety, who failed to record an interception last season for the first time in his career, was still fairly effective on the field, but his relationship with the team seemed to grow more and more acrimonious as the year went on.
After refusing to discuss a potential extension in the summer, to the chagrin of Weddle and his agent, the Chargers placed the former second-round pick on injured reserve heading into Week 17, even though he felt he could play. Reports also indicated that the team fined Weddle $10K for remaining on the field during halftime to watch his daughter perform during a dance ceremony, and said there would be no room for him to travel on the team plane to the regular season finale in Denver. Several days after that game, Weddle publicly stated that he doesn’t think re-signing with the Chargers is a realistic possibility.
While Weddle spent nine years in San Diego, tight end Antonio Gates has been with the franchise even longer, having made his Chargers debut way back in 2003. He’s also eligible for free agency this offseason, and so is his understudy at the position, Ladarius Green. Gates has said he’d like to play for at least one more season, and the Chargers appear to reciprocate that interest, but it will be interesting to see what that means for Green.
Long viewed as Gates’ eventual replacement, Green has seen the veteran continue to get the majority of the targets at the position over the last few seasons. When Gates missed the first four weeks of the 2015 season due to a suspension, it looked like Green was poised to break out. However, after catching 26 balls in his first six contests, Green didn’t have more than two receptions in any game the rest of the way. Unless the Chargers are willing to give him a nice raise, it wouldn’t be a surprise for the 25-year-old to explore his options on the open market and potentially find a spot where he could get out of Gates’ shadow.
The Chargers’ offensive line was a mess in 2015, but one constant was offensive tackle Joe Barksdale. Not only was he the only lineman to start all 16 games for San Diego, but he was by far the team’s most reliable player up front, ranking 22nd among 81 qualified tackles, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades. Given the number of question marks facing the Chargers on the offensive line heading into 2016 in terms of both performance and health, it would make sense for the team to make a strong effort to bring Barksdale back into the fold.
The Chargers’ other free agent offensive linemen – including Chris Hairston, Jeff Linkenbach, and J.D. Walton – are more expendable, though it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one or two of them re-signed for continuity’s sake.
While none of the rest of the Chargers’ unrestricted free agents are must-sign players, cornerback Patrick Robinson was a nice complementary piece to Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers in the secondary, and should be affordable enough to bring back. Restricted free agents Jahleel Addae, Johnnie Troutman, and Damion Square are also decent bets to receive low-end tenders.
Possible Cap Casualties:
Linebacker Donald Butler has a complicated contract that includes a $12MM option bonus in 2017. The Chargers must make their decision on that option this offseason, and given Butler’s underwhelming performance on the field, it seems obvious that San Diego will move on from him. Doing so would create more than $2.5MM in cap savings in 2016, and would remove his contract from the books entirely for the following four seasons.
The contract signed two years ago by Donald Brown raised some eyebrows at the time, and the running back hasn’t done a whole lot since then to justify the Chargers’ investment. Brown’s paltry 3.1 yards per carry average on his 144 attempts in San Diego can be attributed partially to the team’s ineffective offensive line, but it would still be a surprise if he’s on the roster by September. The Chargers could create $3.5MM in cap room by cutting him.
Other candidates to be cut include center Trevor Robinson and punter Mike Scifres. Robinson stayed relatively healthy compared to the rest of the Chargers’ offensive line in 2015, but PFF ranked him 37th out of 39 qualified centers, so the team could potentially replicate – or improve – his production at a lower cost.
As for Scifres, like Gates, he has been with the Chargers since 2003, so the club may prefer not to release him. But he ranked in the bottom half of the league in both total yards and net yards per punt last season, and his cap number ($4.163MM) is high for a punter. Depending on how aggressive San Diego is in free agency, the team may not need that extra cap room.
Positions Of Need:
As noted above, the Chargers’ offensive line was extremely shaky in 2015. Pro Football Focus ranked the group dead last in the NFL overall, placing it in the bottom five in terms of pass blocking, run blocking, and penalties taken, writing that the Chargers “just haven’t got it right on the line and it shows each and every game.”
Health issues are partly to blame for the offensive line’s ineffectiveness, but even when they were healthy, big-money investments like King Dunlap and Orlando Franklin were far from dominant in 2015, and D.J. Fluker has yet to play like an 11th overall pick. Even if Barksdale returns, the Chargers will have to assess nearly every spot on the line, deciding whether they want to continue to rely on the current group, or whether it’s time to make some significant changes.
It might make sense for the Chargers to take an approach to the 2016 draft that the Bengals did in 2015 — Cincinnati’s first two picks were offensive tackles, despite the fact that the team didn’t expect them to play right away. If the Chargers were to use the third overall pick on Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, it would give the club an immediate starter, one who would likely be a cog on the offensive line for years to come.
After the free agent market produced mixed results for the Chargers a year ago, adding some young offensive line talent to the current group could create a strong insurance policy in the event that Dunlap, Franklin, and/or Fluker don’t play like San Diego believes they’re capable of playing. If the team does decide to revisit free agency for offensive line solutions, Byron Bell, who played for offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt in Tennessee, could be a player worth watching.
While some of the Chargers’ skill position players struggled in 2015, improved offensive line play would likely create a domino effect and allow some of those players to have bounce-back seasons in 2016 — Melvin Gordon, for instance, could be in line for a nice increase in production if the line creates some holes for him. The return of Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator also bodes well for the offense. As such, it makes sense for the Chargers to devote most of the rest of their resources to the defensive side of the ball.
San Diego should be fairly solid on the outside in 2016 — the cornerback group is a good one, particularly if Robinson returns, and outside linebackers Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu played well in 2015. However, that still leaves a number of spots on the middle for the Chargers to address.
Corey Liuget is a nice piece on the club’s defensive line, but he didn’t get much help up front, making me wonder if the Chargers might take a long look at a veteran nose tackle in free agency. With Damon Harrison, Ian Williams, B.J. Raji, and Letroy Guion among the players whose contracts are expiring, there will be no shortage of potential options.
At inside linebacker, 2015 second-round pick Denzel Perryman took over Butler’s starting role in the second half of last season, and I’d expect him to run with that job next year. But he only has nine career starts to his name, and fellow starter Manti Te’o has had major issues against the run, so the Chargers might want to fortify this group with another veteran. Spending a day two or three draft pick on the position might not be a bad idea either, since top inside linebackers typically don’t come off the board right away.
Finally, with Weddle on his way out, the Chargers will be in the market for a new free safety. Reggie Nelson, Tashaun Gipson, Rodney McLeod, and Isa Abdul-Quddus are among the free agents at the position that could appeal to San Diego. And while the division-rival Chiefs are a good bet to lock up Eric Berry, the Chargers may want to take a look at his backup, Husain Abdullah, who played well as a full-time starter in 2014 and is also eligible for free agency.
Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:
Although the Chargers had a disappointing year on the whole in 2015, outside linebacker Melvin Ingram enjoyed his best season as a pro, establishing new career highs with 65 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He’s under contract for one more year,
since San Diego exercised his fifth-year option for 2016 last spring. Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Chargers seriously explore a contract extension for their best pass rusher before the season begins.
Outside linebackers who can rack up double-digit sacks don’t come cheap, so if the Chargers intend to extend Ingram, it will almost certainly require an annual salary north of $7MM, and perhaps one much higher than that. A logical point of comparison if and when the two sides enter negotiations could be Bills pass rusher Jerry Hughes, whose 2014 numbers were very similar to the ones Ingram posted in 2015. Hughes, who had a slightly more extensive track record than Ingram, signed a five-year, $45MM contract that included nearly $18MM in fully guaranteed money.
Like Ingram, wide receiver Keenan Allen will be entering a contract year, and you could make the case that he’s the most important player on San Diego’s offense, outside of Philip Rivers. With 62 receptions in his first seven games, Allen was on pace to challenge the record for most catches in a season before a lacerated kidney in his eighth game prematurely ended his season.
Because Allen’s breakout season was cut short, his reps and the Chargers may have a hard time agreeing on his value this offseason. I’d expect Allen’s agent to aim for a T.Y. Hilton-type deal ($13MM per year), while San Diego may prefer something in the Randall Cobb range ($10MM per year). If the two sides can agree on the numbers, the Chargers will want to get something done as soon as possible, to ensure the 23-year-old remains under contract for years to come.
Overall Outlook:
As long as the Chargers still hold an option to move to Los Angeles in 2017, fans in San Diego will be apprehensive about getting too attached to the roster on the field. There’s some reason for optimism from a football standpoint though — if the Chargers can stay a little healthier in 2016 and fortify two or three key positions, there’s enough talent here for the team to bounce back to respectability.
The Chargers’ ability to take a major step forward and return to postseason contention will hinge on whether the team can put together an offensive line capable of keeping Rivers upright and creating holes for Gordon, and whether the club can add some defensive playmakers at up-the-middle positions. Those figure to be the areas GM Tom Telesco prioritizes as he makes his roster decisions this winter and spring.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
East Notes: Murray, Morris, Bills, Dolphins
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wrote earlier today that the Eagles and DeMarco Murray are headed toward a “stare-down” this offseason, but even though that may be the case, the running back likely isn’t going anywhere, says Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com. Rapoport’s report suggested that the Eagles hanging onto Murray is the most likely outcome, and Kempski goes into a little more detail explaining why that’s the case, despite the fact that it might not be the preferred outcome for both sides.
If Murray is released or traded at some point this year, it sounds like we can count Dez Bryant among those who would like to see the ex-Cowboy return to Dallas. “Come on home D.Moe,” Bryant wrote this afternoon in a tweet directed to Murray, Jason Witten, and Tony Romo.
- Washington general manager Bruce Allen appears prepared to let Alfred Morris depart as a free agent this winter, as Liz Clarke of the Washington Post writes. “Free agency is going to be a great test for him,” Allen said of Morris, during an appearance on ESPN 980. “If he gets a great contract, we’re going to applaud him. If not, we’ll see what happens with us.”
- The Bills don’t have a ton of cap flexibility this offseason, and are expected to simply focus on re-signing their own free agents rather than bringing in outside veterans. If the team needs to free up a little space though, it could potentially do so by extending the contract of cornerback Stephon Gilmore, lowering his $11.082MM cap number and ensuring that a talented player at a premium position remains in the fold. Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News explores the possibility – and the importance – of a Gilmore extension.
- Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman didn’t draw any head coaching interest this offseason, but veteran tight end Vernon Davis, who played under Roman in San Francisco, believes his former OC will make a “great head coach one day,” as Dunne writes in a separate Buffalo News piece.
- With 2015 first-rounder DeVante Parker waiting in the wings to take Rishard Matthews‘ spot in the Dolphins‘ lineup, James Walker of ESPN.com believes it’s unlikely that the free agent receiver will re-sign with Miami, putting the odds at just 20%.
NFC South Notes: Brees, Tolbert, Scobee, Bucs
Saints quarterback Drew Brees has just one year left on his contract, and is set to count for $30MM on New Orleans’ 2016 cap, meaning it’s essentially inevitable that the two sides will discuss an extension at some point this winter. So far though, negotiations between the quarterback and the team haven’t gotten underway, Brees said today during an appearance on ESPN (link via Christopher Dabe of NOLA.com).
“If conversations are to be had, they haven’t happened yet,” Brees said. “But when they do that will be between us, and then we’ll kind of announce that, and everybody will find out at the same time.”
Brees, who said on The Dan Patrick Show today that he expects to remain in New Orleans for the rest of his career, will have $10.85MM of his base salary for 2016 become fully guaranteed next week.
Here’s more from out of the NFC South:
- Asked this week about his pending free agency, fullback Mike Tolbert said he hopes this Sunday’s game isn’t his last with the Panthers, adding that he “absolutely” wants to re-sign with the team, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “These guys are my brothers,” Tolbert said. “I don’t want to leave any more than the next guy. But I have to do what’s best for my family and for me. If moving is part of it, then that’s a part of it. But I don’t want to.”
- Veteran kicker Josh Scobee had a tryout with the Saints on Wednesday, but didn’t sign a contract, a source tells Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The longtime Jaguars kicker was acquired in a trade by the Steelers in September, but struggled during his brief stint in Pittsburgh, missing four field goals and an extra point in four games. He was cut in October.
- The Buccaneers have plenty of cap room at their disposal this offseason, but Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap is skeptical that they’ll use a big chunk of it, as he explains in his preview of Tampa Bay’s offseason.
Latest On DeMarco Murray, Eagles
The Eagles have overhauled their coaching staff and restructured their front office hierarchy in the last month, but DeMarco Murray‘s situation in Philadelphia remains relatively unchanged, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, the Eagles and Murray “appear headed toward a stare-down” regarding his future with the team.
Rapoport explains that there are doubts within the Eagles organization that Murray can bounce back and have a big year for the team in 2016. However, it’s not clear if the team is willing to stomach the $13MM charge on the cap that would apply if Murray is released and not designated as a post-June 1 cut.
Meanwhile, it’s probably fair to say that Murray wouldn’t strongly oppose a change of scenery after posting a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry during his first season as an Eagle. However, the former third-round pick, who will turn 28 next Friday, is saying all the right things publicly — per Jamie Apody of WPVI TV (Twitter link), Murray told ESPN today that he wants to return to Philadelphia, since last season’s performance isn’t the lasting impression he wants to leave on the city.
According to Rapoport, the former NFL rushing leader hasn’t asked to be traded or released, and so far the Eagles haven’t shown any real interest in cutting him. Some bridge-building may be necessary though, after a disastrous 2015 — if the two sides aren’t confident that the relationship can work going forward, the odds increase that the situation “could explode,” writes Rapoport.
For now, with his $7MM base salary guaranteed for 2016, Murray and his his $8MM cap number seem likely to return to Philadelphia for 2016. However, if things take a turn and Murray is cut, teams like the Seahawks, the Raiders, and – of course – the Cowboys would have interest, says Rapoport. Those clubs all had varying levels of interest in Murray a year ago when he was a free agent.
If Murray and the Eagles decide that things won’t work for the running back in Philadelphia, the two sides could also explore a potential reworking of his contract that would make a trade a more viable possibility.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFL To Institute Rooney Rule For Executive Positions For Women
The NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach or a general manager, will be expanded in the near future, commissioner Roger Goodell announced today. According to Goodell, the NFL will institute a Rooney Rule for women for executive positions around the league.
“You can see that progress is being made,” Goodell said, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “And our commitment is we have something called the Rooney Rule, which requires us to make sure when we have an opening, that on the team or the league level, that we are going to interview a diverse slate of candidates. Well, we’re going to make that commitment and we’re going to formalize that we, as a league, are going to do that for women as well in all of our executive positions. Again, we’re going to keep making progress here and make a difference.”
While Goodell’s announcement signals a positive step forward for diversity in the NFL, there are still a handful of unanswered questions about the initiative. For one, the commissioner’s comments don’t entirely clarify whether the NFL is simply instituting the new guidelines for league office positions, or if the league will require each of its 32 teams to follow similar guidelines. I imagine it’s the latter, but it’s not entirely clear yet.
Assuming the new rules apply to all NFL teams, the league will need to specify whether they apply to all front office positions, or only to particular jobs. The Rooney Rule, for instance, requires teams to interview a minority candidate before hiring a head coach, but doesn’t require them to do the same for offensive or defensive coordinators.
It’s also unclear when the new guidelines will officially be instituted. There are certain NFL teams that will make changes to their front office following the draft, so we’ll see if the league’s new Rooney Rule for women has been formally instituted by then, or whether the NFL intends to have it in place for the 2017 hiring cycle.
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