Mort & Schefter On Norv Turner, C-Mike, Rams
After stepping down as Vikings offensive coordinator, Norv Turner is not looking for work at this moment. However, he is still interested in coaching, according to Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. Once his Vikings contract runs out this winter, Turner would like the opportunity to help mold an up-and-coming quarterback.
“I just enjoy it too much,” Turner said. “I really enjoy teaching the players.”
Turner says he’ll only return to the sidelines for the right opportunity or, as Schefter and Mortensen put it, “the right team in the right city with the right quarterback.” Given the Vikings’ offensive struggles under Turner, he is probably a stronger candidate as a quarterbacks coach than an offensive coordinator. Turner has had several stops as an OC in the NFL, but serving as strictly a QB coach at the professional level would be a first for him. The only time he ever held that title was with USC from 1981-1983.
Here’s more from Mortensen and Schefter:
- Christine Michael‘s release was about his regression as a runner and also a statement about the Seahawks‘ confidence in rookie C.J. Prosise, Mortensen writes. At Notre Dame, there were doubts about Prosise’s ability to grind out tough yards because of his soft-spoken personality. However, the Seahawks saw a warrior underneath his reserved demeanor and had enough faith to use a third-round pick on him. Going forward, Mortensen writes that Prosise is expected to be the main ball carrier with Thomas Rawls eased back into action.
- Case Keenum will move into a backup role behind No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, but it’s actually possible that he’s bumped all the way down to No. 3 and made inactive on gamedays if the Rams fall out of the playoff hunt. Keenum is headed for free agency at the end of the year and L.A. will likely want to gauge what they have in Sean Mannion, a 2015 third-round choice.
- There has been a lot of talk about Oklahoma defensive tackle Charles Walker and his controversial decision to leave the team in advance of the 2017 NFL Draft. The popular view is that NFL teams will not look favorably upon Walker’s decision to abandon the Sooners, causing him to slide in the draft. However, Mortensen isn’t certain that clubs will concur with Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops‘ framing of the situation. Walker suffered the third reported concussion of his career in early October and cutting his season short may benefit him on multiple levels. From a talent perspective, Walker is viewed as a first- or second-round pick for the spring.
Extra Points: Cowboys, Bengals, Rams, Lions
After defensive end Randy Gregory‘s latest slip-up, Babe Laufenberg of The Dallas Morning News hopes that the Cowboys and Jason Garrett realize the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. In the wake of Gregory’s latest failed drug test, owner Jerry Jones has said that he will not give up on the former second-round pick. Still, Dallas probably would have been better off paying attention to Gregory’s red flags and passing on him in the draft, Laufenberg opines. Many fans have expressed similar sentiments after the Cowboys have dealt with Gregory, Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain, and other failed reclamation projects, but it is hard to argue with the club’s results on the field this season. Teams can often get ahead by taking risks and the 8-1 Cowboys seem to be doing fine despite some miscalculations.
More from around the NFL:
- With Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff starting in Week 11, Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes that Bengals cornerback William Jackson III will be the only 2016 first-rounder to not yet play this season. Jackson suffered a torn pectoral muscle over the summer and was placed on IR. It’s possible that the 24th overall pick could return this season, but his status is currently up in the air.
- Case Keenum, whom Goff is replacing as the Rams’ No. 1 signal-caller, is predictably displeased that he lost his place atop the team’s depth chart. On receiving the news, Keenum said Wednesday, “Honestly, I wasn’t happy. I want to play. That’s why I play football, to be the quarterback and the guy with the ball in his hands” (via Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk). However, Keenum isn’t going to cause any behind-the-scenes problems for LA. “With that being said I trust Coach (Jeff) Fisher,” he continued. “I trust these coaches and their decision. I’m a captain and I have to do my job. My job is whatever they tell me my job is.”
- Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since Week 1, per Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Levy, who has missed 23 of the Lions’ past 25 games, has been dealing with knee and quad injuries this year. While it’s possible the 2014 second-team All-Pro could take the field Sunday against Jacksonville, it’s likelier he’ll suit up on Thanksgiving versus NFC North rival Minnesota, writes Meinke.
- Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro said he’s playing Thursday night in Carolina, as Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune tweets. This likely means Vaccaro has appealed his four-game ban for Adderall. Players are typically able to suit up while the process plays out.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/16
Wednesday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
- The Cowboys promoted wide receiver Vince Mayle from the practice squad to the active roster. He takes the place of tight end Geoff Swaim, who has been formally placed on IR after undergoing pectoral surgery. Mayle was a fifth-round pick of Cleveland in 2015.
- The Packers placed running back Don Jackson on IR to make room for the newly acquired Christine Michael, tweets ESPN’s Field Yates. Green Bay promoted Jackson from its practice squad last month, and the undrafted rookie from Nevada went on to amass 10 carries for 32 yards before succumbing to a knee injury in practice Wednesday.
Buccaneers Claim Sealver Siliga
The Buccaneers claimed defensive tackle Sealver Siliga off waivers from the Seahawks, a source tells Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Buccaneers OL Evan Smith To Miss Time]
Siliga saw time in four games this season and racked up five total tackles. Siliga saw time in 13 games (four starts) for the Pats last season and finished out with 29 tackles. Between 2013 and 2014, he totaled 5.5 sacks in limited action.
To make room, the Bucs are waiving undrafted rookie defensive end Channing Ward. The Ole Miss product was inactive for Sunday’s game versus the Bears. Ward went undrafted this year despite enjoying his best collegiate season as a senior. In 2015, he tallied 35 tackles (including 6.5 tackles for a loss) and 3.0 sacks.
Packers Claim Christine Michael Off Waivers
The Packers have claimed running back Christine Michael off waivers, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Michael was dropped by the Seahawks yesterday, much to the surprise of the football world. 
Reportedly, the decision to cut Michael was purely made for football reasons. The Seahawks have Thomas Rawls returning and wanted to use him and C.J. Prosise as the top two backs. Still, one has to wonder why there wasn’t a place behind them for C-Mike, rather than rookie Alex Collins and newly-promoted running back Troymaine Pope.
The Packers lost their top two running backs around the same time this year when Eddie Lacy and James Starks went down. Starks is now back in limited action, but it’s not clear when or if Lacy will return this season. The Packers found an unlikely stopgap in wide receiver/running back Ty Montgomery, but he didn’t see a ton of action against the Titans this past weekend. Knile Davis also had a cup of coffee in Green Bay that ended after just five carries for five yards. Now, Michael enters the mix and the Packers will see if he can contribute to the mix.
Michael averaged 4.0 yards per carry for the first half of the season in Seattle.
Matthew Stafford Denies $25MM/Year Target
Over the weekend, it was reported that Matthew Stafford wants $25MM per year on his next contract. When asked about those rumblings today, Stafford issued a clear denial. 
[RELATED: Jason La Canfora On Stafford And Much More]
“That was news to me, to tell you the truth,” Stafford said. “Hadn’t, obviously, had any thoughts of that in my mind, to tell you the truth. I don’t know where that came from or how it got out there, but I’m focused on our team, this season, playing well this week. That’s really all I care about.”
It’s possible that Stafford has that $25MM figure in mind, but doesn’t want his contract to become a distraction for the team. Stafford may also be telling the truth on a technicality. It could be his reps that are seeking $25MM per season while he mostly stays out of the talks. In any event, this is a public denial by Stafford that he is eyeing a contract that would make him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
Stafford closed strong in 2015 and he has continued to play well through the first half of 2016. He’s not the top quarterback in the NFL, but timing is everything and between his contract year performance, the league’s dearth of reliable quarterbacks, and the increased salary cap, he could be poised to set a new watermark. Stafford doesn’t turn 29 until February and Andrew Luck‘s five-year extension worth $24.6MM per year could be in his crosshairs.
So far this year, Stafford is Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 rated QB in the NFL, putting him behind Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, Luck, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Derek Carr, Carson Wentz, and Cam Newton. By that measure, he’s also ahead of guys like Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, and Philip Rivers.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Fitzpatrick, Revis, Fins
Jets GM Mike Maccagnan says he has “no regrets” about re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick, as NJ.com’s Darryl Slater writes.
“We’re obviously disappointed by the season in terms of the record,” Maccagnan said. “Based on the season [Fitzpatrick] had prior to this season, he was very instrumental in a lot of our success in the 10-6 season. I have no regrets about bringing Ryan back. I think going into it, we felt very good about the season Ryan had previously. I have no regrets from that standpoint. Of course, I think everybody, and Ryan included, would probably say he holds himself to a fairly high standard. I’m sure there are aspects that he would like to … we all would like to have better success on the field as a team. But from the standpoint of bringing Ryan back, no, I don’t have regrets on that.”
Given Fitzpatrick’s struggles (and possible ceding of the job to Bryce Petty), many fans will roll their eyes at Maccagnan’s assertion. Fitzpatrick turns 34 on Thursday and the Jets will carry a $5MM cap hit on the books for him next season even though he will almost certainly be gone.
Here’s more on the Jets and the AFC East:
- Given an opportunity to join the chorus of voices criticizing Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Maccagnan demurred and said that the veteran’s work ethic has been where they want it to be. “I’m happy with his effort,” Maccagnan said (via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv). “I’m sure there’s plays he’d like to have back, but you watch a lot of other plays where he does give effort.” Revis is set to earn $13MM in 2017 and a decision on him will have to be made before March 10 when he’s due a $2MM roster bonus. Many have speculated that Maccagnan was forced by ownership to give Revis a monster free agent deal prior to the 2015 season. I’m inclined to agree with that take, though Maccagnan has denied such talk.
- The Dolphins confirmed that tackle Branden Albert is not playing against Los Angeles on Sunday, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets. Miami is reportedly concerned about Albert’s wrist for the long term and his status going forward is unclear. Albert played in nine games in 2014 but mostly stayed healthy last year as he played 14 games and earned a Pro Bowl nod.
- Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski could miss time after taking a big hit on Sunday.
- Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin is back and he says he could continue playing beyond this season.
- Speaking of the Bills – some within the organization want to cut ties with Marcell Dareus. Of course, that’s easier said that done given his issues and contract.
Bills’ Percy Harvin Wants To Play In 2017
Seemingly out of nowhere, Percy Harvin returned to the Bills earlier this month, ending his brief retirement. It was the Bills that initiated contact and Harvin decided to play again without much previous consideration. It’s early into Harvin’s comeback, but he already says that he has interest in continuing his career beyond 2016 (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). 
Right now, Harvin says that he feels good and apparently isn’t troubled by his hip injury or any of the other maladies he has suffered over the years. He expects to be “full go” this Sunday against Cincinnati this weekend after taking significant first-team reps today, which means that we are close to getting our first real glimpse of Harvin. He was on the field for 21 snaps on Nov. 7 against the Seahawks, but was only used as a decoy in an attempt to fluster his former team.
The Bills have struggled since their four-game winning streak earlier this year and the hope is that Harvin can inject some new life into the offense. Playing on the prorated portion of a one-year, $1.5MM deal, it’s a low-risk move for Buffalo. If all goes well, it sounds like Harvin will have interest in a new deal this spring.
Cowboys Have Not Pondered Tony Romo Trade
Now that Dak Prescott has been anointed as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback, speculation has been rampant about Tony Romo‘s future with the organization. If Prescott’s success continues, it certainly stands to reason that the Cowboys could trade Romo to allow him to start elsewhere and allow themselves to add a draft pick. However, the Cowboys have not yet considered that possibility, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). 
[RELATED: Tony Romo On Status As Cowboys No. 2 QB]
There’s a strong belief within the organization that they may need Romo around at some point. Meanwhile, one league source believes that the Cowboys will not be able to retain the veteran if Prescott continues to play well. Two other league sources say that Romo will be in high demand this offseason because he offers experience at a notoriously thin position and he comes at a reasonable salary for the next three years.
Of course, the Cowboys have lots of time to ponder the possibility of trading Romo. Now that the trade deadline has passed, Dallas is in no rush to gauge the market and, as Cole cautioned, circumstances can certainly change between now and the end of the season. If Prescott were to falter badly or get injured, that could open the door for Romo this year and make him a necessary piece for 2017.
Cardinals, WR Jaron Brown Agree To Extension
Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown is done for the 2016 season, but he’ll still be in the team’s plans for 2017. The Cardinals and Brown agreed to a one-year extension, according to a source who spoke with Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). 
Brown was shut down for the year after suffering a torn ACL last month. The timing was unfortunate as Brown had been given an opportunity for more playing time in the wake of John Brown‘s bout with sickle-cell trait. Prior to suffering the injury, Jaron Brown had been a more prominent part of the Cardinals’ offense this season compared to previous years. He had already tied his 16-game reception total from last season (11) and amassed 22 targets – one fewer than his 2015 amount. He also averaged an impressive 17.0 yards per catch and added a touchdown over the Cardinals’ first seven games.
The Cardinals have made a point to stick by their players and they have been extension-happy all year. In August, the team extended veterans Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer despite their age and advanced mileage. The Cards also paid Tyrann Mathieu handsomely on a long term deal despite his own ACL injury. As a player-friendly organization, the Cardinals have likely established themselves as a preferred destination for free agents going forward.