Eagles Sign Punter Donnie Jones To Extension
You get an extension! And you get an extension! And you get an extension! 
The Eagles are on a mission to lock up their core special teams players. After extending safety Chris Maragos on Thursday afternoon and striking a three-year deal with long snapper Jon Dorenbos on Friday morning, the Eagles have also locked punter Donnie Jones up on a three-year pact. The team confirmed the deal via press release moments ago.
Jones is in his fourth season with the Eagles. So far this year, Jones has booted 38 punts for a net average of 39.7 yards. That’s a below-average mark in the NFL, but the Eagles are obviously happy with his work. He’s now slated to be a part of the team through 2019 with Dorenbos and Maragos. Kicker Caleb Sturgis got an extension of his own in September, but that deal only carries him through the 2017 season.
RELATED:
Luke Kuechly In Concussion Protocol
Last night, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly gave fans reason for concern after taking a big hit in the fourth quarter of last night’s game against the Saints. The Carolina star suffered an apparent concussion and bawled as he was carted off of the field. Today, coach Ron Rivera confirmed to reporters that Kuechly did indeed suffer a concussion and is now in the league’s required protocol program. 
This marks the linebacker’s second concussion in two years. Concussions come in varying degrees and aren’t always detected or reported, so it’s possible that he has had even more. When Kuechly suffered his concussion in last year’s season opener, he wound up missing three games. If this one is as severe as it looked, he could be out for a longer stretch. Rivera declined to comment on the Pro Bowlers’ status but we should know more about his condition by early next week.
Kuechly, 25, has established himself as one of the game’s best defenders and as the heart of the Panthers’ D. In each of the last three seasons, he has earned both First-Team All-Pro selections and Pro Bowl nods. Before the 2015 season, the Panthers rewarded Kuechly with a five-year, $62MM deal. He rewarded them with stellar play as they captured the NFC Championship.
Dolphins Concerned About Mike Pouncey
The Dolphins are worried about Mike Pouncey‘s long-term health, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Pouncey has had hip issues for the past two years and those troubles resurfaced this week. 
The standout center has missed time in each of the past four season with various injuries. With this particular issue, some within the organization believe that this is a degenerative issue, meaning that it could lead to the premature end of his career. The Dolphins do believe that he will play again this season, but it sounds like there are question marks about 2017 and beyond.
It should be noted that there are conflicting reports on Pouncey’s long-term status. Just yesterday, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported that Pouncey’s hip injury is not a career-threatening situation. Still, Pouncey has undergone three hip surgeries since 2014 and it would be foolish to dismiss Cole’s report.
Pouncey, 27, has made the Pro Bowl as both a guard and center in recent years. The sixth-year pro graded as the league’s No. 11 center last year, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. This year, he is just the 29th ranked center, putting him ten spots behind his brother, Maurkice Pouncey.
Eagles Extend LS Jon Dorenbos
The Eagles announced that they have extended the contract of long snapper Jon Dorenbos. The new deal will take him through the 2019 season. 
Dorenbos’ deal comes on the heels of an extension for fellow special teamer Chris Maragos. Maragos’ deal also locks him up through ’19.
After going undrafted out of UTEP, Dorenbos joined the Bills prior to the 2003 season. Eventually, he found his way to the Eagles when long snapper Mike Bartrum suffered a career-ending neck injury. Since then, Dorenbos has earned two Pro Bowl nods and now stands as the team’s longest tenured player. If Dorenbos plays out this contract, he would set record for most games played in Eagles history and tie Chuck Bednarik for most seasons, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
Dorenbos recently received some attention for his second greatest talent – magic. This year, he appeared on America’s Got Talent and wound up finishing third in the competition. Just this week, he returned to national television with a spot on Ellen, as detailed by NBC10.
NFC Notes: Bucs, Lions, Packers, Vikings
After the Buccaneers used a second-round pick on him in 2013, cornerback Johnthan Banks went on to make 30 starts and intercept seven passes during his first two seasons. Banks’ playing time and impact dwindled in Tampa Bay over the past year-plus, though, leading the team to trade him to the Lions on Nov. 1. The 27-year-old attributes his precipitous decline to the Buccaneers’ coaching staff. “What was holding me back in Tampa? Coaches. That’s what was holding me back. Coaches,” he told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com on Thursday.“I mean, I can play. If you go and look at this year’s preseason, nobody in that secondary made more plays than me.” Banks added that he’s “past Tampa. I’m glad to be out here, and I wish them well.”The Bucs are
While Banks hasn’t yet debuted with the Lions, their staff – including cornerbacks coach Tony Oden – expects him to contribute soon, writes Meinke. Oden was the Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach in 2013, Banks’ three-INT rookie year. “I feel like he’s readjusted me all over again,” Banks said. “I’m a new corner again. Just changing me, getting me low, getting me into a better stance. I’ve had so many coaches, I’ve been changed so much, I feel like I was changed the wrong way. And, you know, I feel like I’m being coached right again.”
More from the NFC:
- Can Christine Michael halt the Packers‘ running back carousel? Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com presents both sides of the argument but rightly notes that it will take a few weeks before we have a concrete answer. With only a few days to ready himself for Sunday’s game against Washington, it doesn’t seem likely that we’ll see Michael do much this weekend. But, for what it’s worth, Seattle coach Pete Carroll spoke highly of C-Mike on Wednesday and made it clear that his work ethic was not an issue. “He’s been busting his tail the whole time he’s been here,” Carroll said. “Everything we’ve said about him has been true and real, and he made a great comeback with us. He was the only guy there for a while, and we’re really grateful to the play that he gave us. He’s a good kid.”
- As of this morning, Michael was still “en route” to the Packers, coach Mike McCarthy said (Twitter link via Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel). He added that Michael still has to go through a physical.
- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is “looking good in the weight room,” according to a team source who spoke with Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Peterson, who suffered a torn meniscus in Week 2, is now eligible to return from injured reserve, though he remains on the shelf. Minnesota’s Peterson-less rushing attack has been the NFL’s worst this year.
- The Buccaneers claimed Sealver Siliga off waivers from Seattle on Wednesday, but coach Dirk Koetter told reporters the team actually almost signed Siliga weeks ago (Twitter link via Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com). Tampa Bay worked out Siliga on Oct. 12, but he signed with the Seahawks on Oct. 18.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Petty, Revis, Pead
Here’s a look at the AFC East:
- Jets coach Todd Bowles was reluctant to name Bryce Petty the Jets’ starter over fears that players will quit on him, sources tell Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan has also hinted at this publicly. “You think of different aspects when you decide on making a change, especially at that position, because it affects other players on the team, too,” the GM said. “If you’re trying to determine what gives you the best chance to be successful, but also if you’re looking how players develop and progress, I think the point I would simply make is you just don’t do it. You don’t just wing it. … It’s not a decision you take lightly. You also want to make sure the player … is ready to a degree to set them up for success.”
- Jets GM Mike Maccagnan is protecting owner Woody Johnson by sticking up for Darrelle Revis, Mehta opines. It is widely believed that Johnson was the driving force behind the ill-advised signing of Revis before last season but Maccagnan obviously can’t throw his boss under the bus. The Jets gave Revis ~$39MM fully guaranteed at an advanced age and they are watching him decline sharply, as many outside observers predicted. What no one saw coming, however, was an apparent drop in work ethic from the veteran.
- On his WLW 700 radio show, Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said former Dolphins running back Isaiah Pead “lost part of his left leg” in last weekend’s car accident, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters earlier this week that Pead’s football career is definitely over and we now know why. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pead and his family.
- Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin says his comeback could extend beyond 2016.
- The Patriots brought Glenn Gronkowski (a.k.a. “Baby Gronk”) back to the practice squad yesterday. Here’s a full rundown of Wednesday’s practice squad moves in the NFL.
Latest On Tony Romo, Rolando McClain
Before his classy press conference, Tony Romo politely lobbied Cowboys brass for an open quarterback competition, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com writes. Not wanting to mess with their success, the Cowboys didn’t go for it.
“Tony’s smart,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “He’s very bright. And so when he came out and said it, in the end, I don’t think it took him long to figure that wouldn’t be a great thing for the team. We’ve got a good thing, and no one wants Dak looking over his shoulder.”
With a league-best 8-1 record, it’s no surprise that the Cowboys have decided to go with Prescott, but Romo’s petition to play was also expected. The veteran has taken the news hard, but he has also handled the situation with class.
Here’s more out of Dallas:
- Jones says that having Tony Romo on the team next year is tenable, even when considering his contract, Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram tweets. Jones added that he believes Romo is capable of quarterbacking a Super Bowl team and he has “no plans for him not to be a part” of the Cowboys (Twitter links). Romo is currently slated to earn a $14MM salary for the 2017 season and, in theory, Dallas could cut him for $5.1MM in cap savings. They could also find a decent trade market for No. 9. Multiple teams will be seeking a quarterback and there will be very few quality options in this year’s draft class.
- Jones says Rolando McClain will not be back with team when his suspension is formally lifted on Monday, Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram tweets. That doesn’t necessarily rule out a McClain return at some point this season, though the Cowboys might not want to go down that road. The linebacker reportedly wants to rejoin the team for the final stretch of the season.
- Teammate Jason Witten doesn’t think Tony Romo is thinking about retiring anytime soon.
Rolando McClain Wants To Return To Cowboys
Suspended Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain wants to return to the team, a source tells Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News. However, it doesn’t necessarily sound like the team wants him back. 
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has left the door open to the possibility of McClain playing this season. Meanwhile, coach Jason Garrett seemed to have a different take on things when asked about the troubled linebacker today.
“We’re just focused on the players that we have here,” Garrett said, adding that he hasn’t had any contact with McClain while he’s been suspended.
It’s also noteworthy that the Cowboys have not kept a locker for McClain at their facility, even though they did keep one for Randy Gregory. The 8-1 Cowboys are likely concerned about McClain’s conditioning and also worried about how his attitude could potentially hurt the positive locker room atmosphere.
“The best thing this team has done is just limited and eliminated the distractions,” tight end Jason Witten said Thursday, not specifically referencing any one player. “And that’s for everybody and we’ve got to continue to do that.”
A source familiar with McClain told George that he has overcome his well-publicized “purple drank” problem and has been working out on his own. A source also indicated the Cowboys are “certainly open” to McClain returning, though it’s hard to peg whether he could play this season. McClain, 27, is scheduled for free agency in the spring.
Return Possible For Colts LB Trent Cole?
The Colts have yet to use their IR-DTR spot this season but there is some reason to believe that Trent Cole could be their one player to come back. Cole was spotted at practice today working with the team’s rehab staff, a first for the season (Twitter link via Stephen Holder of the Indy Star). It’s not immediately clear whether Cole can play again this year, but it is a promising sign.
Cole was placed on injured reserve in September with a back injury and he had surgery soon after. Typically, back surgery is the type of procedure that would knock a player out for an entire season. However, it’s possible that Cole’s recovery is ahead of schedule and at 4-5, the season is still alive for Indianapolis.
The 34-year-old signed a two-year, $14MM contract with the Colts in March of 2015. In his first year with the team, Cole had just three sacks. This offseason, he accepted a pay cut that trimmed his cap hit for 2016 from $7.125MM to $4.875M, which is perhaps more in line with his ability at this stage. Eligible for free agency in the spring, a return this season could be Cole’s only chance at keeping his paycheck at the same level.
Latest On Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel has reached a tentative deal with prosecutors for a dismissal of his domestic assault case, according to Schuyler Dixon of The Associated Press. Manziel’s case stems from allegations brought forth by his ex-girlfriend. 
The 23-year-old was/is facing a misdemeanor assault charge that calls for up to a year in jail and a $4K fine. Defense attorney Jim Darnell says the deal still needs to be finalized, but he left a Thursday morning hearing feeling encouraged. Another hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 1, when the case could be settled and put to bed.
At the moment, Manziel is technically free to sign with any team and is not under suspension. However, he may still face discipline for the aforementioned DV case, even if charges are dropped. Furthermore, teams are probably going to steer clear from Manziel until he can demonstrate that his demons are behind him and that he will focus on football. So far, he has done nothing to ease such concerns.
Manziel’s off-the-field problems have prompted his father to say that he should jailed and led two agents to drop him in the last year. His last agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claimed that there was NFL interest in Manziel as recently as March. Of course, it’s fair to take a skeptical view of Rosenhaus’ comments.
Back in July, Manziel privately told people that he was eyeing a 2017 NFL comeback and had effectively given up on 2016.