La Canfora’s Latest: Jets, Fins, LA
The Dolphins and Jets are in the midst of their Wembley Stadium showdown, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports has been busy rounding up news from both teams. La Canfora also passes on some notes from the NFL-in-Los Angeles saga, so let’s dive right in:
- The NFL has given the Jets no indication that Sheldon Richardson will be subject to any immediate discipline on top of his four-game suspension that ends today. Richardson, of course, was suspended for violations of the league’s drug policy, but while facing that suspension, he was arrested for resisting arrest, allegedly speeding at over 140 mph with a 12-year-old relative in his car, smelling of marijuana, and having a fully-loaded automatic weapon in the car. Richardson, who has a court date later this month, could of course be suspended for those alleged transgressions at some point down the line–in fact, the Jets are said to be bracing for a 10-game ban–but for now, the NFL has simply stated that the matter is “under review.” As such, Gang Green expects to have Richardson back with the team during its Week 5 bye and suited up for its next game in Week 6.
- The 2016 fates of Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, of course, are inextricably linked, and Wilkerson’s agent, Chad Wiestling, says his client will not entertain any in-season extension talks with the Jets. Wilkerson, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency at season’s end, is off to a typically excellent start to the 2015 campaign, generating significant pass rush and excelling as a run stuffer in the middle of the Jets’ defensive line. Between his play and the exorbitant contracts handed out to fellow top defensive linemen like Marcell Dareus, Wilkerson’s value is on the rise. It is expected that the Jets will put the franchise tag on Wilkerson–at an estimated $15MM–but in this case, the tag may simply be a precursor to a trade, given the team’s pressing needs in other areas and the league-wide interest in Wilkerson. Wilkerson, for his part, hopes to stay with the Jets, but given that New York’s extension offers to this point have been more in line with contracts signed by less-accomplished players like Cam Heyward and Corey Liuget, the Jets would have to considerably up the ante if they want to retain Wilkerson’s services on a long-term basis.
- Despite the swirling rumors regarding Joe Philbin‘s job security, La Canfora says Dolphins ownership is not considering any immediate changes even if the team’s disappointing start to the season continues. Owner Stephen Ross, who has been striving for continuity in the wake of the major overhauls the club has undergone in recent years, reportedly wants to see things through with Philbin. It is not inconceivable that Miami could make changes in the bye week with respect to an assistant coach, play-calling duties, etc., but for the time being, Philbin himself is safe. How much good will he has left, however, remains to be seen, particularly if today’s game in London continues on its current trajectory.
- Rams owner Stan Kroenke is reportedly more willing to share his proposed Inglewood stadium with another club than originally thought. However, it remains unclear whether that other club would be Kroenke’s “tenant” or if it would have more of an “equity” stake in the stadium. Kroenke, of course, prefers the former option, but he is open to a more equitable arrangement as well, which would require a significant financial investment from the second team. At the moment, all options are on the table, and should the league approve a two-team arrangement in Inglewood, it appears as though it would be able to make the finances of such an arrangement work. But if a vote was taken today, neither the Carson project nor the Inglewood project would have enough support (24 votes) to move forward. It could be that Kroenke, who is said to have only 10-12 fellow owners in his corner at the moment–the Chargers/Raiders project in Carson has considerably more support–is becoming more receptive to compromise in order to bring his vision to fruition.
Latest On Matt Forte, Bears
As NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport correctly points out, the Bears’ recent trades of Jared Allen and Jonathan Bostic do not exactly constitute a “fire sale,” a term that has been generously applied to those transactions over the past week. After all, trading two players who were not integral to the team’s defense moving forward does not signal that the Bears are going to tear their roster apart and play for the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016.
Nonetheless, according to one rival general manager, Chicago has essentially told the other 31 teams in the league that they should not be afraid to ask if they are interested in someone on the roster. Rapoport writes that there are only a few players the Bears would not consider trading, and the list is fairly predictable: Kevin White, Kyle Long, Alshon Jeffery, Kyle Fuller, and Pernell McPhee. Noticeably absent from that group, of course, are Jay Cutler and Matt Forte.
It has been reported that the Bears considered dealing both Cutler and Forte during the draft, though a source familiar with the team’s thinking says the conversations regarding Forte never happened. And, although rumors surrounding Forte have heated up in the wake of Chicago’s disappointing start, it would be difficult for the Bears to recoup much value in a Forte trade, given the back’s age (30 in December) and salary (over $7MM).
That does not mean, though, that the Bears are not trying. Per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, they are more than willing to deal the two-time Pro Bowler, who has been one of the club’s few bright spots this season, but they would want at least a second- or third-round draft pick in exchange. It would take a special set of circumstances for Chicago to net that type of return for Forte–perhaps a team with legitimate championship aspirations losing their starting running back to injury–and even then, any trade would likely not happen until closer to the November 3 deadline, when the Bears’ asking price would be more likely to drop.
As for Cutler, his declining production and contract have continued to make the prospects of any trade remote. But if you’re a GM and there is someone on the Bears that intrigues you, apparently all you have to do is ask; Ryan Pace is willing to listen.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/4/15
Here are Sunday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL, with any additional moves added to the list throughout the day:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Ronald Patrick (Twitter link)
St. Louis Rams
- Cut: DT Doug Worthington (Twitter link)
Sunday Roundup: Browns, Whitworth, Brees
Dwayne Bowe is a healthy scratch for the Browns in Week 3, which, given Cleveland’s dearth of talent at wide receiver, speaks volumes about Bowe’s present ability. Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com appears to believe that the team will cut ties with Bowe sooner rather than later, tweeting that the team will wait for GM Ray Farmer to return from suspension after next week’s game and then pull the plug on Bowe. Grossi’s ESPN colleagues Adam Caplan and Jeremy Fowler, however, disagree. Fowler tweets that the Browns will at least wait to see if Bowe can get himself into game shape, while Caplan tweets that, between the $9MM in guaranteed money the Browns invested in Bowe, combined with the team’s need at wideout, Bowe will have a little more time to prove himself.
Now let’s take a peek at a few more links from around the league:
- Johnny Manziel may not be playing for the Browns this week, but as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, he continues to impress Cleveland brass with the strides he has made both on and off the field. The team will continue to roll with veteran Josh McCown for the time being, but if the Browns should begin to slip from the playoff picture, Manziel will get the chance to prove he is the team’s long-awaited solution under center.
- Coley Harvey of ESPN.com believes the extension that the Bengals recently gave to Andrew Whitworth is a clear indication that the team does not see its window of opportunity closing, and that they will continue to be championship contenders for the foreseeable future. Although the team has not officially announced the extension, Harvey tweets that the announcement could come after today’s game against Baltimore.
- Drew Brees‘ injury clouds his future with the Saints, and as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, the team could free up $20MM in salary cap room by parting ways with Brees next year and beginning the rebuilding process. Of course, before that happens, the team would have to have a viable alternative under center; Luke McCown is not the answer, and rookie Garrett Grayson, needless to say, has a long way to go.
- If Brees should end up looking for a new home next year, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com says the Jets would likely be a strong contender for his services.
- Chuck Pagano may be coaching his last season in Indianapolis, but he is apparently unafraid to make drastic changes to jump start his struggling club. As Mike Wells of ESPN.com tweets, the Colts went with a new-look offensive line today, starting Jack Mewhort at left guard, Hugh Thornton at right guard, and Joe Reitz at right tackle. Free agent acquisition Todd Herremans, notably, moves to the bench.
- During the 2009 draft, the Jaguars traded their seventh-round pick in that draft and their second-round pick in the 2010 draft to the Patriots in exchange for New England’s third-round pick in 2009. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets, Jacksonville selected Derek Cox with that third-round pick, and the Pats parlayed their two choices into Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.
Eagles Notes: Bradford, O-line, Alonso
The Eagles will look to avoid an 0-3 start when they square off this afternoon against the Jets, who are looking to open the season 3-0. Much has been made of the Eagles’ disappointing start to the 2015 campaign, and Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer points to the run game as the biggest culprit. Head coach Chip Kelly‘s play designs are not nearly as effective without a “read” option–i.e., a quarterback who can run the ball–and Sam Bradford is not a threat to run. The offense has also lost some of its unpredictability, as package plays, which involve run and pass options that are decided post-snap, have been limited due to Bradford’s immobility. Bradford remains the starter for now, but one has to wonder how much longer he will last under center in Philadelphia if the team’s allegedly high-powered offense continues to struggle.
Now let’s have a look at a few more Eagles links:
- Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer examines another flaw in Bradford’s game, which was well-publicized during his time in St. Louis: his inability to throw the deep ball. The Eagles continue to insist the problem is not Bradford, but the running game, but as McLane pointed out above, the running game is struggling at least in part because of Bradford. When combined with the tendency of teams quarterbacked by Bradford to fall behind early in games, Philadelphia may be privately grateful that Bradford was unwilling to engage in serious talks about a long-term deal this offseason.
- Of course, not all of the Eagles’ offensive woes can be pinned on its quarterback. As Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes, the offensive line deserves its share of the blame. Kelly, who let go of two longtime starters along the O-line and did little to add depth during the offseason, is not making any lineup changes, so the unit will be given the opportunity to prove that it can produce. Through two games, Philadelphia has gained just 70 yards on the ground, the fewest in the league.
- Kiko Alonso is expected to see Dr. James Andrews this week to get a second opinion on his torn ACL, according to Les Bowen of The Philadelphia Daily News (via Twitter). That visit will likely entail a second MRI.
- All is not lost for the Eagles, says Bob Brookover of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The NFC East is up for grabs this year, so if Philadelphia can sort out its run game, there is no reason the team cannot still emerge with the division crown in 2015.
Injury Updates: 9/27/15
We’ll keep an eye on any major injury news throughout the course of the day and add to this post as necessary to reflect any updates:
- DeMarco Murray is inactive for the Eagles this afternoon, per Howard Eskin of Fox 29 Philadelphia (via Twitter). Murray has been bothered by a hamstring injury, and though he had been expected to play today, his hamstring did not respond well to his morning workouts. It is unclear how the injury will impact his status moving forward, but at this point it appears as though he should be ready for Week 4.
Earlier updates
- NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says Saints QB Drew Brees, who has already been ruled out for Week 3, is a long-shot to return for his team’s Week 4 matchup against Dallas (Twitter link). Interestingly, Rapoport adds in a separate tweet that Brees’ injury, which has been called a bruise, is actually a rotator cuff sprain. A sprain indicates a stretch or tear in a ligament, and we heard from ESPN’s Ed Werder just a few days ago that Dr. James Andrews had confirmed Brees did not, in fact, suffer a torn rotator cuff. This is not the first time in recent memory that Werder and Rapoport have delivered conflicting news regarding a major injury; the two well-known scribes also issued differing reports on when Dez Bryant might return to the field in 2015.
RGIII Staying Put In 2015
Although Robert Griffin III‘s long-term outlook in Washington is very much in doubt, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that the team has no intention of moving him in 2015, and that he may even move up to No. 2 on the depth chart in the coming weeks. Although there have been reports of animosity between Griffin and current starter Kirk Cousins, and although Griffin’s comments and actions on social media have drawn negative attention, La Canfora says the team is actually operating without internal strife for the first time in a long time.
Indeed, Cousins has gone out of his way to avoid tension with Griffin, and Griffin has been a willing cheerleader on the sidelines, has handled scout team duties gracefully, and has otherwise handled his demotion as well as anyone could have expected. As such, GM Scot McCloughan has not made a single call to another club to gauge interest in Griffin, and he reportedly has no plans to do so. Of course, no team has called Washington either, which makes sense given that Griffin’s $16MM salary for 2016 is guaranteed for injury. Griffin, for his part, has not requested a trade or a release.
Washington believes it has a legitimate shot to win the NFC East, which is as wide open as any division in the league. As such, the team does not want to sacrifice its quarterback depth. Griffin, for all his injury problems, still has some upside as a starting signal-caller, and Cousins is far from a sure thing under center. If Griffin’s career has proven anything, it is that no one can predict what will happen in the NFL from one week to the next, and Washington wants to be prepared for any obstacle in its path to the playoffs. For now, that means that Griffin is staying put, and that he will remain in burgundy and gold for the duration of the 2015 season. What happens beyond that is anyone’s guess.
Pagano Doubts He’ll Be Back In Indy
Colts head coach Chuck Pagano has informed people around him that he “has doubts” he will return as Indianapolis’ head coach next year, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Of course, this does not come as much of a surprise; there were reports several weeks ago that 2015 would be Pagano’s last season with the Colts, and those reports came on the heels of an offseason full of articles describing a rift between Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson.
Owner Jim Irsay quickly tried to downplay news of a strained relationship between his head coach and his general manager, but given the team’s ugly start to the campaign, it is looking more and more as though both parties will be heading in different directions at season’s end (if not sooner). Earlier this week, Pagano made comments regarding his team’s offensive line that some interpreted as a shot at Andrew Luck and some believed was a thinly-veiled barb directed at Grigson. While Rapoport tweeted this morning that Pagano’s comments were simply meant to convey the difficulties the team has had with injuries to the unit, any negative statement from either the head coach or the front office at this point only serves to intensify the reported turmoil.
However, there are still 14 games to play, and Pagano and Grigson will both put forth their best efforts to get the Colts to the playoffs. As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, Pagano, who has a reputation as a defensive guru, has been even more hands-on with the defense than usual. But if the team’s early struggles persist, La Canfora writes that “any shuffling of the coaching staff would have to come from above Pagano. Sources said Pagano does not have the autonomy to hire or fire staff if he sees fit.”
The only question, then, is who will take over the reins as the Colts head coach in 2016, and where Pagano himself will end up. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Irsay could clean house, like he did when he hired Pagano in 2012, or he could retain Grigson and hire a new coach like he did in 2002, which would effectively “neuter” Grigson. The direction Irsay takes will have a direct impact on the number and caliber of coaching candidates available to him.
Pagano, meanwhile, has indicated that he plans to retire whenever his tenure with the Colts ends. Even if Indianapolis continues to struggle in 2015, Pagano would remain a viable defensive coordinator or positional coach candidate. At the moment, however, he is not thinking about his life after Indy, even if the rest of the football world is.
North Notes: Beachum, Browns, Suggs
One of the more important contract situations that has not received a great deal of media attention is that of Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum. The former seventh-round selection from SMU started all 16 games for Pittsburgh last season and graded out as the fifth-best tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Beachum was particularly effective at pass-blocking, and it is no coincidence that Ben Roethlisberger and his arsenal of explosive weapons enjoyed an immensely successful 2014 campaign.
However, as Mark Kaboly of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes, the deadline for the Steelers and Beachum to come to a contract extension came and went last week, which means that Beachum will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March. Beachum presents an interesting case, as he is the smallest starting left tackle in the league, but he has proven that he can be at least a capable starter, which is something that the Steelers have been seeking for a long time. Beachum understandably wants to be paid like one of the elite left tackles in the league, which would garner him a contract worth between $8MM and $13MM per year, but as Kaboly writes, “with the Steelers tight against the cap and Lawrence Timmons, Le’Veon Bell, Heath Miller and David DeCastro up for extensions next year, the Steelers simply can’t afford to pay Beachum market price.”
Now let’s take a look at some more links from the league’s north divisions:
- Although Johnny Manziel is getting the chance to start for the Browns today, Josh McCown will reclaim the job when healthy, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com (citing NFL.com colleague Ian Rapoport). Cleveland brass is pleased with the progress Manziel has made thus far, but the Browns continue to believe that McCown, who won the job in training camp, represents the best chance for them to win.
- Former NFL agent Joel Corry took a bit of a dig at the Browns this morning, tweeting that Cleveland appears to be a prime candidate to overpay for Bears WR Alshon Jeffery in free agency next offseason if Chicago does not put the franchise tag on Jeffery.
- Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that Ravens LB Terrell Suggs, who is out for the season after tearing his ACL in the team’s Week 1 loss to Denver, is not even considering retirement. Suggs will begin rehabbing his injury shortly and fully intends to play in 2016.
- Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune examines recent comments made by Cardinals GM Steve Keim regarding how he was able to effect such a quick turnaround in Arizona–specifically Keim’s belief in building through the draft and using free agency for short-term relief–and wonders if it is a model the Bears can realistically follow.
Latest On Dez Bryant’s Recovery
11:21am: Clarence Hill of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram confirms (via Twitter) that the the time frame for Bryant’s return remains six to eight weeks. Hill’s colleague at the Star-Telegram, Charean Williams, tweets that a bone graft simply indicates that Bryant had a bad break. It is not, however, uncommon to have a bone graft in that part of the foot. But, as Jay Glazer of FOXSports appropriately cautions (via Twitter), there are way too many variables in this injury for anyone to give an exact timeline.
8:31am: We heard earlier this week that ESPN’s Dr. Mark Adickes believes Dez Bryant‘s broken foot may keep him out for eight to 12 weeks, much longer than the four t0 six week timeline that was originally reported when Bryant sustained the injury in the Cowboys’ season opener against the Giants. As it turns out, Dr. Adcikes may be right. Bryant underwent surgery on the foot last Monday, and as Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network reports, the star wideout required a bone graft during that procedure, which could extend the healing process and keep Bryant off the field for 10-12 weeks.
However, ESPN’s Ed Werder and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk have a different take on the matter. Werder’s sources suggest that the bone graft actually enhances Bryant’s chances of returning in six weeks, though the team is prepared to be without him for eight weeks (Twitter link). Similarly, Florio’s source, NBC Sports Medicine Analyst Mike Ryan, says the procedure does not necessarily extend Bryant’s recovery time. Instead, Bryant’s return will be based on two factors: how quickly he heals and the team’s comfort level with the risk of re-injury.
As we learned last week, the Cowboys had previously decided against using their IR/designated to return slot on Bryant, as such a designation would sideline Bryant for at least eight weeks. Since the team was confident in an aggressive rehab and recovery, that was a move it was unwilling to make at the time. Certainly, the Cowboys would have been aware that Bryant required a bone graft when they made that decision, so at this point it appears as though the timeline that Werder provides is more accurate.
Nonetheless, Bryant’s surgery was a major one, and it is obviously difficult to accurately predict its effects. It is still possible that the team may be without Bryant until December; Bryant himself said after his surgery that he was “getting ready for the playoff run,” which hints at a lengthier recovery (Twitter link via Rapoport). At the moment, though, Cowboys fans at least have reason to be a little more optimistic than that.