One Team Was Interested In Recently Retired Josh McCown
Earlier this week, longtime quarterback Josh McCown called it quits on a 17-year career. He had the opportunity to push it another year, ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes. 
McCown, 39, who became a free agent this offseason, had at least one team interested in bringing in the veteran QB as recently as two weeks ago. The journeyman signal-caller decided to retire instead of take that offer.
It’s safe to assume that team would have pursued McCown as a mentor to a young quarterback, similar to the situation he was in with the Jets in 2018 as a de facto coach to first-round pick Sam Darnold.
Cimini also asked McCown about what Darnold could improve upon entering his second season. McCown responded with, “Playing fast and smart on early downs.” That criticism was dead on from the veteran, as Darnold performed better on third downs than he did on first and second downs as a rookie in 2018.
“He needs to know when to cut bait on a play and when to rip it,” McCown said. “That will be more fine-tuned this year because I know Adam [Gase] will help with that. That will be the biggest jump for him. If he can eliminate five or six incompletions per game, it’ll be a major improvement.”
As Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes, McCown has accepted a position as an NFL analyst for ESPN.
NFL Safety Exec Discusses New Initiatives
Among the safety initiatives coming to the NFL this season include safer helmets and cleats, the banning of some practice drills and the elimination of blindside blocks to any part of a defender’s body. The NFL’s executive vice president of health and safety initiatives, Jeff Miller, discussed these changes in an interview with the Toronto Sun’s John Kryk.
In regards to helmets, the NFL ranked the brands of helmets and gave them ratings from green (safest) to red (least safe). Those 11 helmet models that received a red listing were banned for the 2019 season. In 2018, less than 40 players wore a red helmet while 74 percent were in greens, according to Kryk.
“It is one of the pillars of our 2019 concussion-reduction strategy — to move the 26% of the league’s players still wearing either yellow or red helmets into green,” Miller said. “We know that 32 players who were in the red have to move into the better-performing helmets, but we’re also spending time and effort with the clubs to get those who were in yellow into green, because those are the helmets that test best in the laboratory, and there is a correlation with how those performed on the field.”
Miller also said that the punt has become the play with the highest rate of injuries. To help reduce that rate, the NFL is instituting a ban on the blindside block.
“We shared this information with the competition committee, and they came back and not only eliminated blind-side blocks, and broadened the (offending action) on the punt, but also prohibited the blind-side block on all other plays.”
Miller also discussed at length the banning of drills, such as the Oklahoma drill, in practices and a similar rating system for cleats that it already uses on helmets.
Russell Okung Injury Severity Not Yet Known
Chargers left tackle Russell Okung did not practice Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury, head coach Anthony Lynn said (Tweet via ESPN’s Eric Williams). When asked if the injury could potentially be longterm, Lynn responded with an ominous, “We don’t know yet.” 
That type of response will not help Chargers fans rest easy. A two-time Pro Bowl left tackle, Okung, 31, is entering his third season with a Chargers team that many expect to contend with the Chiefs for the AFC West crown in 2019.
With Okung out of practice, the Chargers shifted Sam Tevi to left tackle and Trent Scott played right tackle. The team did spend a third-round pick in April’s draft on Trey Pipkens, a 6-foot-6 tackle from little-known Sioux Falls.
Okung posted a grade of 78.4 on Pro Football Focus, making him the No. 11-ranked tackle in the NFL. In his time with the Chargers, Okung has missed just two games, one of which came due to a groin injury in 2018. In his first season with the Chargers, the team allowed the fewest sacks in the league (18) and ranked just outside the top 10 in sacks allowed the following season.
Okung is entering the third year of a four-year deal that will pay him $13MM in each of the next two seasons.
Raiders Notes: Hard Knocks, Incognito, Moreau
The Raiders will be the team featured in the HBO documentary series Hard Knocks in 2019, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Oakland was selected over other eligible teams that included the 49ers, Lions, Giants and Redskins.
When asked about the prospect of Hard Knocks being a part of training camp in March, Raiders owner Mark Davis voiced his displeasure by joking he’d rather fire head coach Jon Gruden than have the show follow them around. That tune was reversed in a statement on Tuesday, in which Davis said, “Everybody wants to be a Raider. Now they’ll find out what it takes to become one.”
The Raiders seemed like an obvious choice for the show thanks to the multitude of storylines surround the team this offseason. First, there is the team’s upcoming move to Las Vegas which will make this the last training camp as the Oakland Raiders. Second, there is the big-name addition of receiver Antonio Brown, who mades headlines throughout the offseason with his feud with his former team the Steelers. Throw in the recent signings of Richie Incognito, who’s had multiple run-ins with teammates and the authorities, and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, voted the league’s dirtiest player, add to the long list of made-for-TV characters.
The show, which has run for 13 seasons with HBO, will premiere in August.
Here’s more from the Raiders:
- Speaking of Incognito, the veteran guard has received plenty of work with the first team as left guard Denzelle Good has not been on the field for minicamp, the Las Vegas Review Journal’s Michael Gehlken tweets. Gehlken notes the left guard appears doubtful too see action before training camp begins.
- Fourth-round pick Foster Moreau will have a chance to compete for “serious playing time” when training camp arrives, the Oakland Tribune’s Jerry McDonald tweets. The athletic tight end from LSU will be competing with Darren Waller for playing time at the tight end position.
Julio Jones, Rest Of Falcons In Camp
Led by star receiver Julio Jones, all players who did not attend Falcons OTAs arrived for the first day on minicamp, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets. 
That list includes the recently franchise-tagged Grady Jarrett, defensive end Vic Beasley and linebacker Deion Jones.
In addition to arriving for mandatory minicamp, Julio Jones is not worried about his contract and is sure a new deal will get done, ESPN’s Vaughn McClure writes.
“The situation will get handled. It’s just a matter of time when they’re going to do it. Mr. Blank has spoken, so what more do I need to say or talk about?” Jones said.
McClure notes that in addition to a reworked deal for the pass-catcher, the Falcons also hope to sign Jarrett and Deion Jones to extensions. In addition to Julio not worried about his deal getting done, Falcons owner Arthur Blank sounds just as confident.
“I’m not worried about getting the deals done. I’m speaking on behalf of Atlanta and Atlanta fans. [General manager] Thomas [Dimitroff] is working hard to get them done. Coach [Dan] Quinn is supportive, as well. It will happen. It’s just a matter of when,” Blank said.
Though he did arrive at the three-day minicamp, Julio will not be participating due to a foot injury. Jones is coming off his fifth consecutive 1,400-yard campaign and led the league with 1,677 receiving yards in 2018.
Eagles Notes: Jenkins, Wentz, Staff
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins did not report to team OTAs earlier this offseason in the hopes of renegotiating his contract. At the first day of minicamp on Tuesday, the veteran defender opened up about his desire for a new deal and said that both sides are still talking, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane tweets.
Though he wants to rework his current deal, Jenkins said he did not consider skipping minicamp, citing his relationship with owner Jeffrey Lurie and the need to be with his teammates as motivating factors for showing up.
Jenkins is under club control through 2020 thanks to a four-year, $35MM extension he signed three years ago, but after the safety market famously stagnated in 2018, it came back in 2019. Jenkins is now the 10th-highest-paid safety in the NFL in terms of total value, full guarantee, and per-year average.
“I’m happy whenever any other player gets paid,” Jenkins said, as tweeted by the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Zach Berman. “You start to look at where you are and evaluate your position, just like anybody in any job. If you feel like you’re the best at what you do and there are other people out there making more than you, you want to renegotiate your contract make sure you’re getting the value you should be. Any business and any businessperson should think like that. I think any player should think like that.
As McLane notes, Jenkins and Lurie have a solid relationship and talks are ongoing, which should signal that a new deal could be in the offing before the start of the season.
Here’s more from Philadelphia:
- After an injury-plagued 2018 campaign, the Eagles decided to shake up their medical staff in 2019, McLane writes. The team parted way with its head physician and internist, Stephen Stache, and hired Arsh Dhanota to be the chief medical officer. Stache was in the position for just one season and the team saw a 57-percent increase in player injuries from the 2018 campaign.
- Among the pros of Carson Wentz‘s new deal with the Eagles include the annual cap hit and his future potential, 94WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks writes. In his pros-and-cons list, Parks notes that his current average between $26 and 27MM a year would rank ninth among all quarterbacks, a significant value for the potential of the signal-caller, which is a top-five passer. The obvious con is the risk involved with a deal for a player riddled with injuries through his first three seasons in the league.
Extra Points: Browns, OBJ, Falcons, Hawks
If there was any doubt after he missed all but one day of OTAs, Odell Beckham confirmed on Friday he will report to minicamp on June 3, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot writes.
Beckham confirmed the news replying to a comment on Instagram when one user told him to “cut out the crap and get to camp.” The star receiver responded, “I’ll be there on the 3rd, u coming?”
In his introductory press conference, Beckham said he wanted to set the tone by showing up the first day when asked how much he’d participate in OTAs. In all, the newly acquired pass catcher made one session and, when asked how much he missed, head coach Freddie Kitchens replied, ” A lot — the offense.”
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Another star player confirmed he will be showing up to mandatory minicamp, ESPN’s Vaughn McClure writes. That was Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley, who did not attend OTAs. Entering the final year of his deal, Beasley is set to earn $12.8MM after the Falcons picked up his fifth-year option this offseason.
- K.J. Wright believes Bobby Wagner will remain with the Seahawks past 2019, Pro Football Talk’s Curtis Crabtree writes. “It’s going to be really exciting to see everything pan out. He’s going to be a Seahawk for life.” Acting as his own agent, Wagner said he plans to surpass the $85MM with $43MM guaranteed deal that C.J. Mosley just inked with the Jets.
Latest On LB Blair Brown Arrest
Earlier this week it was reported former Jaguars linebacker Blair Brown was arrested on charges of domestic violence. He is being accused of pointing a gun at a women and threatening to kill her, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco writes. 
In the report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the woman said Brown pushed her to the ground, kicked her in the abdomen and punched her in the face during an argument in late April. A warrant was issued on May 23 for his arrest and he turned himself into the sheriff’s office on Wednesday.
The argument reportedly started at a local bar and continued once they arrived home separately. After kicking and punching her, Brown, according to the report, removed two guns from a safe in the garage before she locked the door behind him. Brown later threatened to kill her and another person in the house.
The other person in the house said they did not see any physical altercation because they were in another room, but later saw the woman with blood on her mouth and a cut on Brown’s hand. The witness did not see Brown point the gun at the victor and did not hear him say he was going to kill her. That person did say, Brown responded with, “I wish I could,” when asked if he was going to kill her.
Earlier this month, the Jaguars released Brown, who was drafted by the team in the fifth round in 2017. In two years with the team, the Ohio University product appeared in 28 games, starting two, and registered 12 tackles and 0.5 sack.
NFC East Rumors: Redskins, Eagles, Scherff
It was reported in February the Redskins and guard Brandon Scherff were discussing an extension but no news had trickled out since then. Scherff, however, confirmed earlier this week that talks were ongoing, NBC Sports’ JP Finlay writes.
“We’ve been talking, but I’m not really worried about that,” Scherff said. “I’m here for another year, so that’s all I’m worried about right now. Everything will take care of itself.”
Signed through 2019 via his fifth-year option, Scherff is set to make $12.5MM this season, but an extension could very well help lower Washington’s cap number heading into the season. An extension could see Scherff paid like Zack Martin and Andrew Norwell, who recently became the first guards to sign for $13MM-plus per year.
The fifth-overall pick in 2015, Scherff has justified the high-draft slot by earning two Pro Bowls in his first four seasons in the league. Though durable in his first three seasons, playing all but two possible games, the Iowa product suffered a torn pectoral in Week 8 of 2018 and was lost for the season.
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- Sticking with the Redskins, safety Montae Nicholson skipped the early sessions of the team’s OTAs, NBC Sports’ Peter Hailey writes. Though he showed up later, the safety’s absence turned some heads and coach Jay Gruden reportedly seemed annoyed by the situation. Nicholson is in a batter for the starting safety spot opposite the newly signed Landon Collins.
- Though the Eagles added Cody Kessler and rookie Clayton Thorson, Nate Sudfeld is still expected to fill the No. 2 quarterback role, NBC Sports’ Andrew Kulp writes. Early in the offseason, Philadelphia gave Sudfeld a second-round tender as an RFA, which should indicate that the backup gig is his to lose despite the additions.
- Remaining with the Eagles, it appears Jordan Mailata is ahead of Halapoulivaati Vaitai on the depth chart at tackle, NBC Sports’ Reuben Frank writes. Expected to enter 2019 as the team’s top backup tackle option, Mailata was thrown for a loop when the team took Andre Dillard in the first round. The former rugby player, however, is penciled in as the No. 2 at right tackle and Vaitai, a starter at left tackle in the Super Bowl just over a year ago, is now hoping to carve out a role at guard.
Poll: Where Will Gerald McCoy Sign?
Since being released by the Buccaneers earlier this week, Gerald McCoy has received his fair share of interest from about a quarter of the league’s teams. Once Tampa Bay quickly signed Ndamukong Suh as his replacement, the veteran defensive tackle became arguably the most impactful free agent left on the market. 
It’s not hard to see why the nine-year veteran is receiving so much attention. Since entering the league in 2010, the Oklahoma product has earned six Pro Bowl selections and a First Team All-Pro nod (2013) while recording at least five sacks in every season since 2012. He is the only defensive tackle who can make that claim.
The list of teams interested in McCoy’s service is a long one that includes the Browns, Ravens, Panthers, Colts, Bengals, Saints, Falcons and Patriots, who have reportedly pulled out of the running recently. As of this writing, only the Browns and Ravens have been linked to visits. According to reports, McCoy is more interested in playing for a contender and making the playoffs for the first time in his career than a pay day.
His fit in Cleveland would be an intriguing one. That would mean the Browns would roll out a defensive line that would feature McCoy, Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson. That is one formidable front four. The Browns have been connected to McCoy for some time, but they decided against trading for the defensive tackle while he was under contract for $13MM in the upcoming season. After his Bucs release, the Browns might be able to sign him at a lesser rate without giving up any draft capital.
Staying in the AFC North, Baltimore would provide McCoy a contender as the reigning division champs and a loaded defense to work in. In 2018, Baltimore allowed the fewest yards and the second-fewest points in the league, and would become even better on paper with the addition of McCoy. 
Drew Brees is making his own pitch for McCoy to join the Saints. “He’s a stud, he’s a great player,” Brees said this week. “I mean you’re basically asking me if I would love having a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that I’ve spent the last eight years trying to run around and avoid, not have hit me, join our team. Yeah, of course.” McCoy would team with the recently signed Malcom Brown up the middle for a team considered by many to be a Super Bowl frontrunner in 2019.
The Colts have the cap space to sign McCoy and have been relatively quiet so far this offseason. The longtime star would fill an immediate role as a leader on a young and up-and-coming defensive unit that features the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard.
Both the Panthers and Falcons have little in the way of cap room to sign McCoy, but that hasn’t stopped the NFC South squads from readying their pitches for the six-time Pro Bowler.
The Bengals are also interested in McCoy, but they are arguably the furthest away from competing for a playoff spot among the other teams listed. Though pairing McCoy with fellow standout Geno Atkins up the middle would instantly propel Cincinnati into the conversation in the AFC North.
So which team will be the one to land the impact defensive tackle? Is it one of the squads already rumored to be interested, or will a mystery team emerge and secure McCoy’s signature? Vote in the poll (link for app users) and let us know your thoughts in the comment section.