Lions Part Ways With Sheldon White
New Lions general manager Bob Quinn continues to make changes in Detroit’s front office, and the latest executive to leave the team is the one Quinn replaced in the GM role. According to Justin Rogers of MLive.com, the Lions have parted ways with longtime director of pro personnel Sheldon White, who served as the team’s interim GM following Martin Mayhew‘s mid-season dismissal.
White was one of several candidates to interview for the Lions’ permanent general manager position, but when the team ultimately decided on Quinn, White’s future in Detroit became uncertain. The new GM said nearly a month ago that he wasn’t sure whether or not White would be back with the team.
At the time, I noted that White had been with the franchise for nearly two decades, in several roles and under multiple regimes, meaning it would be a bit of a surprise if he went anywhere. While White joined the Lions as a scout in 1997, he has spent most of his tenure with the club as the director of pro personnel, having been promoted to that role under former GM Matt Millen in 2000.
It’s not clear yet whether White’s departure was solely Quinn’s decision, or whether the two sides came to a more mutual agreement. Either way though, it figures to be just a matter of time before a seasoned executive like White lands with another team — that may happen sometime after this year’s draft, with teams like the Eagles looking to make front office changes at that point.
As for the Lions, they hired Jaguars director of college scouting Kyle O’Brien last month to head their pro and college scouting departments, and added former Patriots director of player development Kevin Anderson last week, to head their football operations department. The team figure to make another front office hire at some point to help replace White.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC South Notes: Colts, Titans, D. Robinson
After spending big on veteran free agents last offseason, Colts owner Jim Irsay doesn’t expect to take the same approach this time around. While Indianapolis will delve into free agency a little if there’s a good fit, Irsay wants to recommit to building the roster through the draft, as Mike Wells of ESPN.com details.
“The draft is where we’re really going to get better,” Irsay said. “I think over the next two drafts, continue to identify guys, particularly defensively, that are going to be key guys going forward.”
Let’s check in on the rest of the teams in the AFC South…
- According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, NFL personnel executives say there’s a real chance that the Titans will select Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil with the first overall pick in this year’s draft, assuming the team keeps the pick and doesn’t trade down. Having drafted Marcus Mariota a year ago, Tennessee doesn’t need a quarterback, so Tunsil or Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa look like the most logical targets for the club.
- Jaguars running back Denard Robinson is extension-eligible for the first time this offseason, and tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com that he “definitely” wants to stay in Jacksonville. “It’s a great place and I enjoy it, enjoy the coaches and everything,” Robinson said. Still, the former fifth-round pick acknowledged that there have been no discussions with the Jags about a new deal so far.
- The NFL has been tentatively planning to play a game in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium in 2016, and it appears that game will feature the Texans and Raiders, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. The Raiders are a logical candidate to be the “home” team since they’re currently without a stadium lease, while the Texans have a growing fan base in Mexico and have expressed interest in being a part of the league’s international series.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Cousins, Goldson, Eli
After meeting with several candidates for their front office opening, the Eagles have halted their search for a new personnel chief for now, as we learned earlier this week. Speaking on Wednesday to reporters, including Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Howie Roseman explained why the team doesn’t plan to fill that position until after the draft.
“Just by the nature of the time of year, teams aren’t necessarily going to be so aligned with [a comprehensive search],” Roseman said. “We’re looking at this as a long-term decision for us – not just a five-month decision. The candidates we looked at were good, but we also want to make sure we’re looking at all the good candidates that are available.”
Roseman was also asked about the possibility of re-signing quarterback Sam Bradford and extending defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, and while he declined to go into specifics, he expressed some interest in locking up both players. “Everything is positive about Sam” and the Eagles have the cap space to re-sign him, according to Roseman, who said of Cox, “We’d love for him not only to start his career but finish his career as an Eagle.”
Here’s more out of the NFC East:
- Although Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap initially thought the Eagles overpaid offensive tackle Lane Johnson on his new extension, a deeper dive into the number reveals the deal is more team-friendly than it looks on the surface, as Fitzgerald explains.
- Mike Jones of the Washington Post weighs the pro and cons of Washington franchising Kirk Cousins or signing him to a multiyear deal, concluding that locking the quarterback up to a long-term deal now would “probably bring more benefits” than the franchise tag would.
- Veteran safety Dashon Goldson is set to count for $8MM on Washington‘s books in 2016, and the team could clear that entire amount by cutting him. However, John Keim of ESPN.com thinks Goldson will stick around, perhaps after accepting a pay cut or restructure, since the club still values what he can provide both on the field and in the locker room.
- As his 39-year-old brother prepares to play what could be his last game, Giants quarterback Eli Manning said this week that he believes he has several more good years of football in him and is optimistic about playing until he’s 40, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
Extra Points: Benjamin, Steelers, Lang
Asked during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (SoundCloud link) about his pending free agency, Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin replied that “the ball is in my court,” suggesting that he hasn’t yet decided whether he’ll sign an extension with Cleveland or explore the open market. However, Benjamin said he’d like to return to the Browns, and his agent tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link) that he’s optimistic a deal can be completed soon.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- The Steelers used a nickel package for about 75% of their defensive snaps in 2015, which is one reason why the team figures to focus on improving its secondary again this offseason. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette discusses the Steelers’ need to target cornerbacks and safeties in the draft, and perhaps in free agency.
- After playing the 2015 season with two bad shoulders, Packers guard T.J. Lang will have one of those shoulders repaired this week. Lang told Rob Demovksy of ESPN.com that he’s scheduled to undergo surgery on his right shoulder on Wednesday. It’s not clear yet whether Lang, who is entering a contract year in 2016, will also have surgery on his left shoulder.
- There’s no doubt that adding Peyton Manning to their roster would give the Rams “plenty of sizzle” as they head back to Los Angeles, but the idea doesn’t make a lot of sense beyond that for Manning or the Rams, opines Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. A report earlier today indicated that the Rams have internally discussed the possibility of pursuing the Broncos quarterback, assuming he doesn’t retire.
Jets Sign Dri Archer
The Jets have signed former Steelers third-round running back and return man Dri Archer to a reserve/futures contract, the team announced today in a press release. Archer finished the 2015 season as a free agent after being cut by Pittsburgh, meaning he didn’t have to wait until March to sign with a club.
Despite being selected with the 97th overall pick in 2014, Archer didn’t see much action after joining the Steelers, with all 17 of his offensive touches coming in his rookie year. He had been Pittsburgh’s primary kick returner in 2015 before his release, averaging 25.3 yards on 14 attempts, but was cut when the team picked up Jacoby Jones to fill that role.
A report shortly after Archer’s release in November suggested that he had received and passed on offers from 10 teams to join their practice squads. At the time, the Kent State product reportedly planned to wait and see whether he got any offers to join a 53-man roster, but apparently such an opportunity never arose, since Archer didn’t sign anywhere for the rest of the season.
Archer, who worked out for the Jets in November, could have a decent opening to earn a roster spot in New York this season. The club’s three top running backs – Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, and Stevan Ridley – are all eligible for free agency, and no player on the roster has a stranglehold on the kick return duties, which were split last season by Zac Stacy and Antonio Cromartie.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Washington Signs Ziggy Hood
WEDNESDAY, 3:15pm: Washington has officially signed Hood to a reserve/futures contract, the team confirmed in a press release.
TUESDAY, 8:54am: Washington has agreed to a one-year contract with free agent defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, reports Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan in Washington (Twitter link). Hood didn’t finish the 2015 season on any NFL roster, making him eligible to sign a new deal before the new league year begins in March.
Hood, a first-round pick back in 2009, spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Steelers before signing with the Jaguars for the 2014 season. In 2015, Hood was placed on IR by the Jaguars to open the season, but was released when he got healthy, allowing him to sign with the Bears in October. Although he spent nearly two months on Chicago’s roster, Hood didn’t see the field much, and was ultimately cut in December.
Although he hasn’t produced much value since leaving Pittsburgh, Hood had some solid years for the Steelers, averaging three sacks and more than 40 tackles per season during his last two years with the team. In Washington, Hood will be given the opportunity to earn a roster spot and a place in the team’s defensive line rotation.
Hood is unlikely to be the final defensive line addition of the offseason for Washington, as John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. The position figures to be an area of focus for the club in free agency and/or the draft.
Before agreeing to a one-year deal with Washington, Hood worked out for the team last month.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/3/16
Here are Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Bengals have signed tight end John Peters to a reserve/futures deal, the team announced today (on Twitter). Peters spent time with Cincinnati last summer after being signed as an undrafted free agent, but was waived by the club before the regular season began.
Earlier updates:
- After striking gold a year ago with Delvin Breaux, who was New Orleans’ most reliable cornerback in his first season with the club, the Saints have signed another defender from the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Linebacker Erik Harris has inked a contract with the Saints, according to Drew Edwards and Justin Dunk of 3DownNation.com. Harris, who played with Breaux in 2014, recorded 43 tackles and a pair of interceptions this past season.
- The Bills have signed cornerback Javier Arenas to a reserve/futures contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). A former second-round pick, Arenas has logged a total of 69 career regular season games, including 12 starts, during stints with the Chiefs, Cardinals, and Falcons. However, he didn’t play for an NFL team in 2015 after being cut by the Jets last August.
East Notes: Jets, Curry, Cox, Deflategate
As first reported on Tuesday night by Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Jets have hired Brant Boyer as their new special teams coordinator, the team announced today in a press release. Boyer arrives in New York from Indianapolis, where he has served as the Colts’ assistant special teams coach for the last four seasons, working with Pro Bowlers Adam Vinatieri, Pat McAfee, and Matt Overton.
The Jets took their time finding a new special teams coordinator, after parting ways with Bobby April nearly a month ago. As Todd Bowles and the Jets considered their options, April found a new home in Tennessee, where he’ll serve as the Titans’ special teams coach.
Let’s round up a few more Wednesday notes from around the NFL’s East divisions….
- Appearing today on ESPN’s First Take (video link), Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall was asked about the latest Colin Kaepernick rumors, and replied that he’d prefer the team to bring back Ryan Fitzpatrick rather than going after Kaepernick.
- Having signed a lucrative new long-term deal with the Eagles, Vinny Curry said that it wouldn’t have happened if not for the team’s scheme change, per Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). With Jim Schwartz replacing Billy Davis as Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator, the club will be shifting from a 3-4 look to a 4-3 base, which should better suit Curry.
- Curry added that he has been in constant contact with Fletcher Cox, and he thinks his fellow defensive lineman will get a contract extension done with the Eagles (Twitter link via Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal).
- More than a year after the NFL began looking into the Patriots for what became known as Deflategate, the league is still mishandling the situation, writes Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports. As Wetzel notes, Roger Goodell‘s assertion that the NFL didn’t keep any of the information logged during the 2015 season on the air pressure of game-day footballs creates more questions than answers.
- Eagles fans will see some familiar faces in this week’s Super Bowl, writes Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News, who points to Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and safety Kurt Coleman as “Eagles discards” who are thriving in Carolina.
Rams Have Discussed Pursuing Peyton Manning
It remains to be seen whether this Sunday’s game against the Panthers will be the last of Peyton Manning‘s playing career, but most people around the league believe it will be his last game as a Bronco, says Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. According to Schefter, the Rams are monitoring the Manning situation, and have had internal discussions about bringing him to Los Angeles if he wants to continue his career.
A report surfaced earlier this week suggesting that Manning has told some friends that he expects to retire following the Super Bowl, and that comes on the heels of the veteran quarterback telling Bill Belichick after the AFC Championship game that this could be his “last rodeo.” However, speaking to reporters this week, Manning downplayed his “last rodeo” comments, and said he’d like to meet the “close friends” who are privy to his plans, suggesting that he hasn’t made a decision on his future yet.
Manning is coming off the least productive season of his long NFL career, and will turn 40 in March. Throw in the fact that he’s owed a $19MM base salary for 2016, and it’s easy to see why he might not be in the Broncos’ plans for next season, even if he decides not to retire. Brock Osweiler is eligible for free agency this winter, and Denver is expected to try to lock him up to a deal that would pay him starter-type money.
If Manning’s career continues somewhere besides Denver, Los Angeles seems like a viable destination — last week, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com identified it as perhaps the most logical potential landing spot for the former first overall pick. From the Rams’ perspective, adding a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback like Manning would help build some buzz as the team moves west from St. Louis. Currently, Nick Foles and restricted free agent Case Keenum are projected to compete for the starting job, so the team could use some veteran help at the position.
In 2015, Manning nearly led the league in interceptions, with 17, despite only playing 10 regular-season games. He also completed just 59.8% of his passes, his lowest mark since his rookie year, and his QB rating of 67.9 was a career worst. However, he has looked a little better in the postseason, having not thrown an interception in wins over the Steelers and Patriots.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC West Notes: Kaepernick, Irvin, Fitzgerald
A New York Daily News report on Tuesday suggested that 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick would prefer to leave San Francisco this offseason, with the Jets named as his potential destination of choice. Kaepernick is still recovering from surgeries on his thumb and knee, and the 49ers don’t have to make a decision on his future until April 1st, so there likely won’t be any resolution to the QB’s situation anytime soon.
There’s little doubt that Kaepernick would prefer a fresh start, but even if he prefers to join a team like the Jets, he doesn’t control his own fate, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. As Maiocco points out, new head coach Chip Kelly will be the one deciding whether or not Kaepernick remains a Niner — if Kelly wants Kaepernick on the roster, he’ll stay on the roster. While it’s possible that Kaepernick will ultimately be traded or released, a new coaching staff in San Francisco could help give him the fresh start he seeks.
Here’s more from around the NFC West:
- Even if the Jets don’t want Kaepernick, they could use his reported interest in them as leverage in negotiations with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) opines. If the 49ers still haven’t made a decision on their quarterback by the time free agency opens on March 9th, it’ll be interesting to see how that situation affects the Jets — if at all.
- Vinny Curry‘s new deal with the Eagles should provide a good “data point” for Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin and his contract talks, tweets Corry. Seattle turned down its fifth-year option on Irvin, so he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency this winter.
- Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald is entering the final season of his contract, and it’s possible it will also be the final season of his NFL career, though he has yet to directly address the issue. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic discusses that possibility.
- The 49ers have added J.P. Crowley Hanlon, who worked under Chip Kelly in Philadelphia, as an assistant to the coaching staff, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links).