Martavis Bryant Still Awaiting Reinstatement
Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant has not been reinstated from suspension yet, NFL sources tell Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). There’s no indication of when reinstatement will occur, but Wilson hears it is still expected to happen eventually. 
[RELATED: Steelers Notes: Roethlisberger, Needs]
Bryant is currently in the midst of his second career suspension as an NFL player. In 2015, he served a four-game ban for multiple substance abuse violations. This time around, Bryant was sidelined by the league for missing multiple missed drug tests. Initially, the 25-year-old considered appealing the ban, but he decided against it and eventually entered rehab for depression issues.
In a statement from last March, the Steelers said that Bryant would have to make “significant changes…in his personal life if he wants to regain his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler.”
The ex-Clemson Tiger caught 50 passes for 765 yards and eight touchdowns in just 11 games in 2015. All told, Bryant has totaled 76 receptions with 14 touchdowns and a 17.3 YPC average in 21 games.
Latest On Tony Romo’s CBS Offer
As of this writing, we know of four potential suitors for Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo: the Broncos, Texans, CBS, and FOX. It seems that one of those TV offers could be even more lucrative and appealing than originally thought. CBS is eyeing Romo as a potential replacement for Phil Simms in the broadcast booth, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Simms has been the color commentator alongside Jim Nantz in CBS’ “A-Team” package for the last nine seasons, meaning that the duo gets assigned to the network’s most important game every week. Going back to his time at NBC in the mid-1990s, Simms has been an top level color man for more than two decades. At this point, Simms has earned far more in the broadcast booth than he ever did as an NFL quarterback. In total, he has been involved in the broadcast of seven different Super Bowls.
If Romo were to immediately step into Simms’ gig, he would be taking on one of the top jobs in the entire industry with a salary to match. If Romo’s heart is not totally set on playing, this opportunity could be appealing enough to make him forget about suiting up for Dallas, Houston, Denver, or any other NFL team in 2017.
Saints To Sign QB Chase Daniel
The Saints are signing quarterback Chase Daniel to a one-year deal, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Financial details of the deal are not yet known. 
Daniel will likely serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Drew Brees for the second time in his NFL career. The Saints also have veteran Luke McCown and former third-round pick Garrett Grayson under contract.
Daniel, 30, has been a free agent since securing his release from the Eagles two weeks ago. The QB spent the first three years of his career in New Orleans but only attempted nine passes during that time while holding the clipboard for Brees. Given that the Eagles were unable to trade Daniel earlier this month, it makes sense that he is signing on for a backup role without a chance to start.
Daniel inked a lucrative contract with the Eagles last offseason that made him one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s attempted only 78 passes as a pro, but as many as six teams were interested in Daniel last year before he signed with Philadelphia. No one knows for sure what Daniel can do in live action, but the Saints believe they have scored a solid backup QB.
Extra Points: Kaepernick, Bills, Panthers
The notion that Colin Kaepernick has requested $9MM-$10MM per year is “completely false,” a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. On Tuesday morning, it was reported that Kaepernick is seeking low-end starter/high-end backup quarterback money with a real chance of a starting job, which sounds out of range given his controversial views and lack of on-field performance. If Kaepernick isn’t seeking $9MM+, then we’re still left wondering exactly what he’s asking for. If he’s seeking a guarantee in excess of $5MM, then I believe he’s still looking for more than the market will give him.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- In Arizona this week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about Kaepernick and the accusation by some that he is being “blackballed” by the league. “I haven’t heard that from our clubs in any way,” Goodell said (via Ben Volin of The Boston Globe). “My experience in 35 years is that our clubs make any player evaluations, if they think a player can improve their team, they’re going to do that.”
- New head coach Sean McDermott thinks the Bills‘ No. 2 wide receiver is already on the club’s roster, although he didn’t specify if he has a certain player in mind, tweets Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. While the Bills have eight wideouts behind Sammy Watkins on the depth chart, none are all that uninspiring. Corey Brown, Andre Holmes, Dezmin Lewis, Jeremy Butler, and Brandon Tate are among the pass-catchers currently on Buffalo’s roster.
- The Panthers were willing to part with Kony Ealy via trade in part because of the team’s re-signing of Mario Addison, coach Ron Rivera says (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak). Of course, there was also matter of looming contract negotiations with Ealy.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.
NFC South Rumors: Saints, Butler, Mixon
Saints GM Mickey Loomis tried to play it cool when asked about his team’s pursuit of Patriots restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler (via Larry Holder of The Times Picayune).
“There’s not a lot I can say. We’re kicking the tires I guess,” Loomis said. “That’s the way to describe that. We’ll see how that process works.”
The Saints have presented the corner with a contract offer, but not an offer sheet. The Saints would like to work out a trade with the Patriots in which they can land Butler without forfeiting the No. 11 overall pick, but so far the Patriots are acting as though they will not play ball.
Here’s more on Butler and other news from the NFC South:
- Saints coach Sean Payton termed the Butler situation as “an exploratory mission,” (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Payton, from Rapoport’s perspective, seemed to indicate that the team has hit pause on a potential deal.
- When asked about the possibility of signing Butler to an offer sheet and giving up the No. 11 overall pick, per the terms of the first-round tender, Payton said, “I know we’re not going to do that.” (Twitter link via Phil Perry of CSNNE.com).
- Saints head coach Sean Payton says the team will meet with Joe Mixon during the draft process (Twitter link via Holder). New Orleans previously met with Mixon in early March. This week, we learned that the Patriots and Dolphins have both ruled out the controversial Oklahoma running back.
- Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he’ll be at Leonard Fournette‘s LSU Pro Day and added that no spot is “too high” to take a running back (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Recently, Panthers GM Dave Gettleman indicated that the team’s recent extension for Jonathan Stewart will not preclude the team from taking a running back early on in the draft. The Panthers own the No. 8 overall pick.
Browns VP: We’re Open To Josh Gordon Return
We have some conflicting word out of Cleveland regarding Josh Gordon. Last week, it was reported that the Browns will either trade or release Gordon if he is granted reinstatement this year. Publicly, at least, Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown is singing a different tune. 
[RELATED: Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement]
“We’re not in position at wide receiver to turn down a guy like Josh if we feel he’s settled himself,” Brown said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi).
When he’s on the field, Gordon is one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL. Unfortunately for Cleveland, we haven’t seen him out there since the final six weeks of the 2014 season. The league reinstated Gordon last year, but the 25-year-old (26 in April) went to rehab and did not play in 2016. For now, he is banned indefinitely, but he has applied for reinstatement and his camp is hopeful about a return for 2017.
In 2013, Gordon’s last full season, he had 87 catches, a league-leading 1,646 yards, and nine touchdowns in 14 games. That’s the kind of production Cleveland could use at wide receiver, particularly after losing Terrelle Pryor in free agency. For now, the Browns have free agent pickup Kenny Britt, rising sophomores Corey Coleman and Ricardo Louis, and six others under contract at wide receiver.
Seahawks Discussed Richard Sherman Trade
A couple of weeks ago, longtime NFL executive Michael Lombardi had everyone buzzing when he suggested the Seahawks could consider trading star cornerback Richard Sherman. It’s not clear if Lombardi had direct first-hand knowledge of the situation or if he was mixing his own opinion with league gossip, but it was enough to get people talking. 
Today, coach Pete Carroll acknowledged that teams have in fact called about trading for Sherman and the Seahawks have talked about it (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). However, he added that he doesn’t see a deal going down.
Sherman signed a four year, $56MM contract extension with the Seahawks in May of 2014. There are two years to go on the contract and it’s a whopper of a deal, even for a player of his caliber. Sherman is set to carry a $13.6MM cap number this season and $13.2MM in 2018, putting him fourth amongst all cornerbacks in terms of average annual value. It has been said that the cornerback position is not necessarily at the heart of the Seahawks’ defensive scheme, so that money could be applied elsewhere while the team can also fill holes with draft picks received in a trade. Historically, blockbuster trades have been rare in the NFL, but the Patriots, Saints, Browns, and Texans all bucked the trend this offseason.
Sherman, who turns 29 on Thursday, has not missed a single regular season game since entering the league in 2011. The lifelong Seahawk had 58 total tackles and four interceptions last year while grading out as Pro Football Focus’ 13th best cornerback in the league.
Patriots Rule Out Drafting Joe Mixon
Now we have two teams that reportedly won’t go near Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon. The Patriots will not even consider drafting him, according to a source who spoke with Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald. 
[RELATED: Patriots Rumors: Brady, Butler, Garoppolo]
Earlier this week, we learned that the Dolphins have also removed Mixon from consideration. Of course, it’s easy to take Mixon off the board when you already have talent at the running back position and that’s the case for both AFC East clubs. The Dolphins have Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake on the depth chart while the Patriots have plenty of depth with free agent pickup Rex Burkhead, James White, Dion Lewis, and DJ Foster.
For other teams looking for an impact player in the backfield, the moral conundrum isn’t quite as easy to sort out. Mixon, despite his red flags and potential for a PR nightmare, is one of the most talented running backs in this year’s class. The Sooners star could be available after Leonard Fournette, D’Onta Foreman, Dalvin Cook, and Christian McCaffrey are all off the board. In terms of talent, one could argue that he offers higher upside than at least two of those well-regarded backs.
When asked about Mixon this week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft declined to speak specifically about him, but he did reiterate his stance against domestic violence.
“While I believe in second chances and giving players an opportunity for redemption, I also believe that playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right,” Kraft said. “For me, personally, I believe that privilege is lost for men who have a history of abusing women.”
NFC East Rumors: Giants, Peterson, Hankins
Here’s a look at the NFC East:
- When asked whether the Giants might have interest in Adrian Peterson, coach Ben McAdoo replied “never say never,” (link via PFT). We’ve been here before. McAdoo also left the door open for Peterson earlier this offseason, but days later it was reported that the Giants were not in the mix. This week, we learned that the Lions have not ruled out a Peterson signing.
- Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins remains on the open market and some believe his agent is to blame, as Dan Duggan of NJ.com writes. Kevin Poston and his brother Carl Poston were once among the NFL’s most powerful reps, but their once impressive stable has been whittled down to nothing. Poston’s contract demands for Hankins have been “outrageous,” according to one league source who spoke with Duggan, and that seems to be the calling card of the Poston brothers.
- Although the Eagles signed veteran defensive end Chris Long earlier today, the club is still expected to target edge rushers in the draft, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The same can probably be said at cornerback, where Philadelphia agreed to terms with Patrick Robinson. Both Long and Robinson are veterans who agreed to short-term deals, so their additions shouldn’t affect the Eagles’ plans to add to their defense as the draft approaches.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.
Chiefs To Host Rey Maualuga On Visit
Former Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga will be visiting the Chiefs on Thursday, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star (on Twitter). Cincinnati released the linebacker late last week, ending his eight-year run with the team. 
[RELATED: Click Here For The Latest Chiefs Rumors]
Maualuga was a longtime starter for the Bengals but he was demoted in 2016. He saw just 326 snaps on the year and Pro Football Focus rated him as the third-worst linebacker out of the 100+ players who qualified for a ranking. The Chiefs could sign Maualuga with the hope that a change of scenery will rejuvenate him.
Most of the Chiefs’ linebackers – including Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson, and Tamba Hali – are homegrown. Victor Ochi, who was previously with the Jets’ taxi squad, is the only LB to join the group since the end of the 2016 season. If signed, Maualuga would be the second free agent LB of the year for Kansas City, and he would potentially displace Ochi.