Workout Notes: Friday
Here is a list of the players working out with clubs, hoping to join a roster for the season’s home stretch:
- The Jaguars worked three players, including former second-round pick Arrelious Benn, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team also worked out Tim McCornett and Chidera Uzo-Diribe.
- The Raiders worked out former Saints’ receiver Joe Morgan earlier this week, but have also looked at Vernon Kearney and Marvin McNutt, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Dolphins tried out kicker Dustin Hopkins, reports Wilson (via Twitter)
- The Falcons have worked out Lavelle Westbrooks, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Chiefs worked out Travis Chappalear, writes Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Vikings worked out two players, Jordan McCray and Greg Van Roten, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Lions brought in Dejon Gomes for a workout, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Steelers brought Ronald Patrick in for a visit, writes Wilson (via Twitter).
- Wilson doesn’t get to have all the fun, as Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that the Broncos have worked out two defensive backs on Wednesday (via Twitter). They brought in Delvin Breaux and Jalil Carter, who played in the Canadian Football League.
Extra Points: Peterson, Playoffs, Super Bowl
As we close one more Sunday of regular season football with an huge win for the Cowboys to take control of the NFC East, here are a few NFL stories that could have an impact going forward:
- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson plans to file a lawsuit on Monday beckoning the NFL to reinstate him in time for the beginning of the league offseason, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Peterson’s suspension calls for him to be considered for reinstatement on – or after – April 15, but the All-Pro runner is hoping to be reinstated earlier in order to provide maximum flexibility for his offseason, whether he remains the the Vikings or enters into unrestricted free agency.
- The league votes on rule changes every offseason, but a more notable vote could come this March, when league owners will make a decision on whether to expand the current playoff format, reports Chris Mortenson of ESPN. The plan to be put up to vote should include two additional Wild Card teams making the playoffs, one in each division. In addition to the extra postseason teams, owners will also look into reseeding playoff clubs, so that a division title wouldn’t necessarily guarantee a home playoff game — that’s likely a reaction to this year’s NFC South, which could potentially have a six win champion.
- In one of the stranger and more interesting stories this Sunday, there may be a scenario in which the Super Bowl is canceled this season. According to Howard Kunreuther and Erwann Michel-Kerjan of BusinessWeek.com, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act is set to expire, and Congress will have to make a decision on renewing it by December 31. The bill was put into effect in 2002, following the attack on September 11. Under this bill, insurance companies that off terrorism insurance are backed by government money in case of a large scale attack. Without this backing, insurance companies may be reluctant to sell insurance to high-risk events at a reasonable price. This came to play before during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and although the matter was resolved, it took several months to work out an agreeable deal.
Coaching Notes: Harbaugh, Coughlin, Philbin
Whether or not the 49ers‘ window is closed, head coach Jim Harbaugh’s time with the team may be in its waning moments. His relationship with CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke has deteriorated, and questions have arisen over his future with the team since before the 2014 season.
Harbaugh expects to meet with the organization about his future, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
“I’m always available to sit down with the owner and general manager, absolutely,” Harbaugh said. “Yes, at some point I expect that.”
Here are some other notes regarding coaches on the hot seat:
- Giants‘ head coach Tom Coughlin has long been rumored to be at the end of his rope as the team’s head coach, due to his advanced age and the team’s poor performance. Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com believes coach Coughlin deserves one more year. O’Connor believes that his two Super Bowl rings have earned him the benefit of the doubt, and believes the organization owes him the opportunity to coach the phenomenal rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in 2015.
- After being blown out by the Patriots, the Dolphins should consider moving on from head coach Joe Philbin at season’s end, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. With the team’s playoff hopes nearly out the window, Salguero argues that anything short of two wins and an unlikely playoff berth would cement the season as another disappointment.
- Buccaneers‘ head coach Lovie Smith has also been underwhelming, but the team would be unlikely to move on from him so soon, writes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Smith is in the first year of a five-year deal, and it would be unusual for the organization to make a move so early into the contract.
Update On Race For 2015 No. 1 Pick
Not much has changed in a week regarding the number one overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Four out of the five two-win temas projected to select in the top five next offseason going into Week 15 lost again today, with the lone winners being the New York Jets.
The Jets of course defeated the Titans, who themselves are vying for the number one pick. The Jets now have three wins and will probably miss out on a top-five pick, due to a difficult strength of schedule that had them choosing after the Buccaneers, Titans, and Jaguars despite finishing with the same win total.
With two games left, the draft order among non-playoff teams is beginning to take shape, and the top four selections are comprised of the two win teams currently sit as follows, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter):
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers; vs. GB, vs. NO
- Tennessee Titans; @ JAX, vs. IND
- Jacksonville Jaguars; vs. TEN, @ HOU
- Oakland Raiders; vs. BUF, @ DEN
One of those four is guaranteed to improve to 3-12 next week barring any ties, as the Titans will travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.
Washington is sitting at 3-11 much like the Jets, with Washington currently slotted to pick fifth overall. They could still jump the Jaguars, should Jacksonville beat the Titans at home on Thursday, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com.
Even if the Jets lose out, the only way they can jump back into the top five is with a win from Washington or the Raiders in these last two weeks.
Kaepernick: “Not A Chance” Window Is Closed
With the loss to the Seahawks today, the 49ers have officially been eliminated from playoff contention, ending a streak of three consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances earlier than most fans and pundits would have expected before the season.
At 7-7 and with nothing to play for, the focus in San Francisco will turn to the ongoing drama concerning head coach Jim Harbaugh’s future in the NFL. It seems as if the Harbaugh rumors have been a cloud over the team for the entire season, and the tension between the coach and his bosses, CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke, seem irreparable.
However, the franchise quarterback Colin Kaepernick is not ready to give up on the coach who gave him his first shot to play in the NFL, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBAyArea.com. “I think we have great confidence in coach Harbaugh and this staff and everything we’re doing to make sure this team is prepared for Sundays,” Kaepernick said before the game against the Seahawks. “Things haven’t gone as smoothly as the last three seasons, so people start panicking and criticizing.”
When asked if he thought that this team’s window was closing, the quarterback answered very simply, “Not a chance.”
Harbaugh had been a big supporter of Kaepernick, who signed a year-to-year deal that made it easy for the organization to move on from him financially. However, Kaepernick’s job is not directly linked to Harbaugh, and the 49ers would likely be excited to see how he takes to a new system on offense, especially after the regression he has experienced as a passer this season.
Jay Cutler Unhappy With Coaching Staff
Earlier this week, Bears’ offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer was revealed to have spoken to the media about the organization’s doubts of quarterback Jay Cutler‘s abilities as the signal caller in Chicago. Despite a public apology, Cutler is extremely unhappy with the coaching situation, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
Cutler’s contract is guaranteed at least through 2015, and there is an expectation on his part that staffing changes will occur in the offseason, according to La Canfora. Due to the comments made by Kromer, La Canfora believes that organization will have grounds to fire him with cause.
Kromer’s job was not safe to begin with, amidst reports that head coach Marc Trestman is already on the hot seat. The Bears would most likely be reluctant to fire a coaching staff only two seasons into its tenure, but the recent unrest could convince them otherwise. If there is a serious rift between the coaching staff and Cutler, it might be logical to move on from one of the two, and Trestman could lose that battle.
Trestman has not only upset his quarterback, but possibly his entire team. Reports that Trestman addresses the team from behind in meetings, and the tremendous focus on offense might be growing tired, especially considering the lack of success on that side of the ball and overall. With a number of problems surfacing for Trestman, Kromer’s comments may be the last straw that brings a short and uneven NFL coaching career to an early end.
Rams, Chargers “Race” To Los Angeles
SUNDAY, 9:24am: Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that Eric Grubman, the NFL executive overseeing the relocation process, “acknowledged that there were multiple teams with the intent of moving to Los Angeles as soon as next season.” Grubman, speaking at last week’s owner’s meeting in Dallas, added that there were a number of options as to when and where those teams might relocate within the Los Angeles region. The most significant part of Grubman’s statement, however, was his reaffirmation that the NFL will have complete control over the process. As La Canfora writes, “it will be the league’s decision which team or teams, and on which timeline, they move to Los Angeles.” La Canfora adds that Rams officials are the most frustrated with the current pace of the process.
SATURDAY, 7:37pm: The NFL says it’s unclear if there will be an application for relocation to L.A. for 2015, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link). The window for those applications is January 1st through February 15th, which is right around the corner.
SATURDAY, 9:54am: As reports surface about which teams could potentially find a new home in Los Angeles, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report took to Twitter to clarify the situation. In a series of tweets, Cole writes that the Rams and Chargers are essentially in a race to get to L.A. first (via Twitter).
The belief is that two teams will eventually make their way to Hollywood, but even though the Rams and Chargers are the top choices to get there first, it doesn’t mean those two will go together. The Raiders are trying to find a way to be the second team to move into the market. Although the team has a strong connection to the city, they cannot afford to move there themselves (via Twitter).
The Raiders have explored moving to Los Angeles and using the Rose Bowl and/or the Coliseum through UCLA and USC, respectively, but were told there is no interest in hosting the franchise on an interim basis (via Twitter). Since neither venue will take the Raiders while a new stadium is being built, the team needs someone else to build an NFL stadium in the city (via Twitter). The Raiders would need either the Rams or Chargers to move there first, saving the Raiders the time and money needed to build for themselves.
The Chargers were at one point considered the favorite to move, but Cole writes that the team does not want to leave San Diego (via Twitter). However, management realizes the team will not be able to remain at Qualcomm Stadium long term.
The Rams have their own holdups, as Cole writes that owner Stan Kroenke is hesitant to spend the money needed to invest in the move (via Twitter). The Rams have had the most discussions about moving, particularly in Inglewood.
Another option is an AEG Project the NFL is pushing, but neither the Chargers nor the Rams seem interested in the option (via Twitter). That deal would focus on bringing in only one team, so the Raiders wouldn’t draw much interest either (via Twitter).
Minor Moves: Saturday
Here are Saturday’s minor moves, with the most recent transactions added to the top of the list:
- The Packers have placed backup linebacker Jamari Lattimore on the injured reserve, tweets Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo. The team will promote safety Chris Banjo from the practice squad to take the open roster space (also via Garafolo).
- The Dolphins have promoted defensive back T.J. Heath, tweets Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. The former Jacksonville State standout previously spent time with the Jaguars, Bengals, Bills and Browns.
- The Seahawks have released cornerback Kennard Cox from their practice squad, tweets The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. Taking his place will be linebacker Allen Bradford, who was cut from the team’s active roster earlier this week.
Earlier updates:
- The Raiders have signed safety Ras-I Dowling and linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu to the active roster from the practice squad, according to the team website. They have also placed safety Larry Asante on the reserved/injured list.
- The Ravens have promoted running back Fitzgerald Toussaint from the practice squad to the active roster, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The team has placed offensive tackle Jah Reid on injured reserve after re-aggravating a hand injury (via Twitter).
- The Bears have placed linebacker Darryl Sharpton on the injured reserve list, and signed quarterback David Fales to the active roster, reports Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter).
- The Browns have signed former Saints‘ kicker Garrett Hartley, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). The team has released kicker Billy Cundiff with an injury settlement (via Twitter).
- The Panthers have promoted linebacker Kevin Reddick from their practice squad and have waived linebacker Horace Miller, according to team’s official Twitter page.
NFC Links: Quinn, Colston, Sanchez, Warner
With the resurgence of the Seahawks‘ defense, the team’s defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has re-emerged as a top head coaching candidate this offseason, according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.
Here are some other links from around the NFC:
- The Saints are looking at salary cap hell in the coming seasons, which could lead the team to move on from some veterans. According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, the Saints could release Brodrick Bunkley, David Hawthorne, and Marques Colston this offseason due to their high salaries.
- The Falcons are 5-8 but in first place in the dismal NFC South. Despite looking at a playoff berth, the team has already started preparing for the 2015 NFL Draft. Their biggest need is at pass rusher, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He writes that the team will also look closely at receivers, a receiving tight end, and linebackers.
- Eagles‘ quarterback Mark Sanchez has played well in starter Nick Foles‘ absence, but has looked bad against the Seahawks and Packers. He will likely need to impress during these next three games in order to keep Foles from usurping the starting job for the playoff run, if they even stay in contention with Sanchez, writes Jeff McClaine of the Philadelphia Inquirer. With the Eagles likely to only keep one of the two going forward into 2015, Sanchez could also be auditioning for next season.
- With the Cardinals‘ quarterback situation potentially in ruins after losing Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton to injuries, thoughts of Kurt Warner returning to save the 10-3 Cardinals from an early playoff exit have been floated. Those hoping for Warner to save them shouldn’t hold their breath, according to Bob McManaman of AZCentral.com. He writes that while Warner may have thought about it, the idea of him stepping in after not playing for five years is unrealistic.
- Giants‘ quarterback Eli Manning has not been spectacular the last few seasons, but it isn’t time to look for his replacement, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. The team has more pressing needs along the offensive line, at pass rusher, safety, and even possibly receiver, according to Vacchiano.
- As the problems in Washington continue, Bill Simmons of ESPN and Grantland posed in interesting question to Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post: Would the fans be willing to give up the team to another city and go without NFL football for three years, with the promise of getting an expansion team (retaining the rights to the colors and name if they want it) along with a new ownership group? Definitely a loaded question, but Steinberg initially thought 75% of fans would make that trade, and based on response from fans, he thinks he may have underestimated that number.
Patriots Notes: Salary Cap, Brady, Cannon
The Patriots still have $5.9MM in cap space this season, reports Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). He writes that they will likely lose some of that after incentives this season, but will likely roll the rest over into next season.
Here are some more notes surrounding the Patriots financials:
- Assuming the Patriots do not cut Tom Brady before Week 17 (a pretty safe assumption by Volin), his base salaries for the next three years become fully guaranteed (via Twitter). This seemed like a bigger deal in early October.
- Volin also came up with a few details on Marcus Cannon‘s extension (via Twitter). He writes that the $3.2MM signing bonus will be split over three seasons, and he will have base salaries of $1.2MM and $3.4MM the next two seasons.
- For those looking at a more in-depth look of the Cannon extension, Field Yates of ESPN.com provides a comprehensive breakdown of how the contract is structured.