Could Cowboys Shop CB Orlando Scandrick?
During the 2017 NFL Draft the Cowboys were in trade talks to send CB Orlando Scandrick to the Saints for S Kenny Vaccaro, a source told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill Jr. Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas confirmed the trade talks and believes the veteran cornerback will not be with the team next season. 
Scandrick is unlikely suit up for the team’s finale vs. Philadelphia after missing the team’s previous three games with fractured bones in his back and with the Cowboys eliminated from playoff contention. In his absence, the team has relied on rookie cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis, and second-year CB Anthony Brown. Those results have been favorable and could make the 10-year veteran expendable.
Though signed through the 2019 season, Scandrick, as Hill notes, is in a favorable contract that will pay the 30-year-old cornerback $3 MM in 2018 and $4 MM in 2019. The team could again target Vaccaro, who was placed on IR earlier this month with a wrist injury, though it is not known if the Saints will be willing to part with the former first-round pick who played a role in helping New Orleans dramatically improve its defense in 2018.
Though known in the past as one of the league’s top slot cornerbacks, Scandrick has endured a down year. Entering Week 17, Scandrick has not registered an interception and has just three passes defensed on the season. Pro Football Focus ranked the veteran as the No. 113 cornerback heading into the season finale.
Steelers Players Criticize Harrison’s Exit
Late last week the Steelers made the surprising decision to cut linebacker James Harrison. The veteran went unclaimed but was quickly signed by AFC rival New England. He then let it be known he was unhappy about his playing time and asked for his release several times. 
His Steelers teammates hit back at Harrison on Wednesday, saying it was exactly what he wanted to happen and that he went out of his way to try to get released, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Don’t make it look like it’s the team’s fault,” Maurkice Pouncey said. “You think the team and the organization wanted to get rid of James Harrison? Come on, now. If I wanted out, I wouldn’t let the team take the blame for it.”
According to Fowler’s source, Harrison would sleep during position meetings and snore loudly while linebacker’s coach, and Harrison’s former teammate, Joey Porter tried to teach. Another source said Harrison told teammates he was trying to get traded and would leave the facility or stadium at random times or during games when he was inactive.
With the Patriots and Steelers possibly set to meet in the AFC playoffs, some wondered if Harrison would share information with his new team. Linebacker Bud Dupree doesn’t think he will, saying, “I don’t know how many secrets about the playbook Harrison could give to [the Patriots] because I never saw him in meetings.”
Pouncey went as far to say that Harrison, who starred in Super Bowl XLIII vs. the Cardinals, “erased his own legacy” with the departure.
Though surprising to Steelers fans, the move obviously was one that was welcomed and expected by many within the organization. To say there is bad blood here would be putting it lightly.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/2017
Houston Texans
- Signed: QB Josh Johnson
- Placed on IR: S Corey Moore
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on NFI: WR Leonte Carroo
- Placed on IR: DT Vincent Taylor
- Promoted from PS: WR Rashawn Scott
- Promoted from PS: DT Gabe Wright
New York Giants
- Promoted from PS: WR Marquis Bundy
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from PS: TE Manasseh Garner
Contract Clause To Signal Apple’s Release?
On Wednesday, the Giants suspended second-year cornerback Eli Apple for conduct detrimental to the team. With the suspension, the team could have cleared the way to release the 2016 first-round pick without having to pay his contract guarantees for 2018 and 2019, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes. 
Graziano says Apple’s contract includes a clause that allows the team to void his guaranteed money if “among other things, ‘Player is suspended by the NFL or by the Club’ or ‘Player engages in conduct reasonably judged by the Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club, in Club’s sole discretion.'”
Graziano reports the Giants could then argue that they wouldn’t be on the hook for his guaranteed salaries of $1,827,484 in 2018 and $2,516,226 in 2019 if they were to release him.
To say this has been a roller-coaster ride for the Giants is an understatement. The team entered the 2017 season as Super Bowl contenders with one of the most promising secondaries in the league. It will end, however, with captain Landon Collins calling Apple a cancer and the team suspending the young corner for a series of events we detailed earlier in the day.
The writing appears to be on the wall for New York to cut ties with the No. 10 pick in last year’s draft at the end of the season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/27/17
Here are today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Jonathan Moxey
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OT Josh James
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL D.J. Tialavea
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR K.D. Cannon
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Jordan Leslie
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Alex Torgersen
Houston Texans
- Released: OL Dorian Johnson
- Signed: OL Erik Austell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Jalen Simmons
- Released: OL Andrew Wylie
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: LB B.J. Goodson
- Signed: DL Kristjan Sokoli
- Signed: WR Canaan Severin
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Francis Kallon
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Darius Hillary
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Rashard Davis
- Released: C Jon Toth
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jake Lampman
Accident Linked To DeSean Jackson
Tampa, Fla. police are investigating a crash on Christmas Eve that involved a vehicle registered to Buccaneers receiver DeSean Jackson, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports. 
The vehicle, a Chevy Silverado, was found unattended after it appeared to leave the road and struck a tree Sunday evening. Police discovered 6.3 grams of marijuana and also found two .38 caliber hollow-point bullets in the vehicle. In the state of Florida, the bullets are legal and any marijuana less than 20 grams is considered a misdemeanor offense. The police report indicated officers made contact with Jackson, who responded to the scene.
Per Garofolo’s source, “Jackson initially declined to cooperate, then gave officers the name of the alleged driver but declined to assist officers in getting the driver back to the scene.”
A representative of Jackson, Denise White, said “It was a friend of DeSean’s who borrowed his car while he was out of town. None of what was in the car was his obviously. He’s dealing with the person that was using it without his knowledge privately. The incident is being handled.”
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht responded to the reports in a statement:
“We are aware of a one-car accident involving a vehicle registered to DeSean Jackson on the night of Dec. 24. Our understanding is that DeSean has been in contact with authorities and is cooperating with the investigation.”
Jackson, who was inactive and did not travel to the team’s Week 16 matchup with Carolina, has tallied 50 receptions for 668 yards in his first season with the team. No arrests have been made and the case remains open.
Frank Gore Intends To Play In 2018
Colts running back Frank Gore reiterated on Wednesday that he expects to return in 2018 for his 14th NFL season and that quarterback and offensive line will factor into his decision, ESPN’s Mike Wells writes. 
“Quarterback, O-line, have to be my type of style of team,” he said. “Nasty, physical, punch you in the mouth. I don’t want to finish like this. I know I can still play. I want to help a team.”
Gore, an impending free agent, would be 35 years old at the start of the 2018 campaign and hasn’t averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry since 2014, his final season in San Francisco. Still, if a team needs an experienced back to groom a a first- or second-year ball carrier or a physical, goal-line back, it’s hard to bet against the veteran.
Gore has cracked 1,000 yards nine times in his career and enters Week 17 just 139 yards away from his 10th such campaign. If he were to reach the mark, Gore would join Emmitt Smith, Walter Peyton, Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis as players to achieve the feat 10 times.
Though he is among the league’s elder statesmen, Gore is sure to impress some general manager with his passion for the game. That’s what happened with Colts first-year GM Chris Ballard, who planned on cutting the back before the start of the season, MMQB’s Peter King writes.
“Frank picks up the phone in the middle of a party he was attending, and I could feel his passion and love for football,” Ballard told King. “He went on for 10 minutes about how much he wanted to win. So the next day I went to the office and watched all of his carries from 2016 and came to the conclusion that there was absolutely no way I was letting him out of the building.”
Gore is determined to go out on a high note and there’s no reason to think he won’t have the opportunity in 2018.
Dez Bryant Won’t Take Pay Cut
Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant said he would not accept a reduction in pay going forward, the pass catcher told reporters including ESPN’s Todd Archer on Wednesday. 
“I haven’t heard no talk about that but if it comes, I don’t know, probably not,” Bryant said. “Hell naw, man. I believe in me.”
Archer notes the three-time Pro Bowl receiver is set to make $12.5 MM while counting $16.5 MM toward the team’s salary cap in 2018. If the Cowboys release him, the team can free up $8.5 million or $12 million if he is cut after June 1.
Between 2012-14, Bryant was among the game’s best wideouts, posting at least 85 catches, 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns in each season. This season has been one to forget, however, with No. 88 amassing just 66 grabs for 815 yards and six touchdowns through Week 16. While the team focuses more on the run now than it did in years past, Bryant has still been inconsistent with frustrating drops and an inability to get open. The receiver placed most of the blame on the scheme rather than his chemistry with second-year quarterback Dak Prescott, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports (Twitter link).
Bryant said he plans on sitting down with owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett to discuss his fit in the team’s scheme. This will be a situation to keep tabs on in the offseason.
Rams Place LB Matt Longacre On IR
Rams linebacker Matt Longacre will miss the rest of the season after the team decided to place the pass-rush specialist on injured reserve with a back injury, Dan Greenspan of the Associated Press reports. 
The third-year product out of Northwest Missouri State ranks third on the team with 5 1/2 sacks, behind only Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn. After not recording a sack in his first two seasons, Longacre thrived in new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ pass-rushing scheme.
First-year head coach Sean McVay commented on the loss, saying, “it’s unfortunate that we’re not going to have him because of what he’s meant to our team.”
The Rams rank fourth in the NFL with 48 sacks heading into the season finale, behind only the Jaguars (52), Steelers (50) and Panthers (49). With the team gearing up for the postseason, it will turn to Donald, Quinn and veteran edge rusher Connor Barwin to fill the void left by Longacre. Not signed beyond this season, Longacre is sure to garner some attention on the free-agent market after his breakout campaign.
Job Security A Distraction For Bucs’ Koetter
After leading Tampa Bay to a 9-7 record in his first season as head coach, Dirk Koetter and the Buccaneers entered the 2017 season as breakout favorites in the NFC. Things have not gone according to plan, however, with the Buccaneers sitting at 4-11 entering the final week of the season. The dismal display has prompted talks about the coach’s future with the team, which have been a distraction in recent weeks, Koetter admitted to reporters including ESPN’s Jenna Laine on Tuesday. 
“It’s your life, it’s your life. It’s what you do. So just flip it around. Of course it is,” Koetter said. “But we all as players and coaches, we’re paid to do a job, and you try to do it to the best of our ability. That’s all you can do.”
His job security is not the only thing serving as a distraction in Tampa Bay at the moment. Koetter acknowledged that a screaming fit happened during the team’s Week 16 loss vs. the Panthers, with quarterback Jameis Winston and linebacker Kwon Alexander confronting defensive lineman Chris Baker about his late penalty that set up Carolina for the game-winning score and his lack of remorse for committing the infraction.
Koetter played off the incident by saying, “Emotions [were] running, and that game — we had a lot of nice opportunities to win, [but] we didn’t do it. No one’s happy about that. A shouting match … I don’t think that would be the first or last time that’s ever happened.”
Though his influence in the locker room appears to be dissipating, Koetter said he has no fears of having lost the team. With the disappointing season almost in the books, the Buccaneers appear like they could be looking for a new coach in the near future.