Collins: I Didn’t Ask For “Von Miller Money”
After the Patriots shipped Jamie Collins to the Browns, it was widely reported that the team’s unsuccessful contract talks helped to spur the deal. According to one report, Collins’ camp once told the Patriots that they were seeking “Von Miller money.” In a chat with reporters today, Collins denied setting his asking price that high. 
“I’m not Von Miller. Let’s be smart,” Collins said (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com).
Collins also denied rumblings of an $11MM/year contract offer from the Pats (Twitter link). However, as noted yesterday, it sounds like a matter of semantics. The Patriots apparently floated that number in talks, but never formally put such an offer on the table.
The details of Collins’ talks with the Patriots are largely irrelevant now, but it does give us insight into where his team may kick things off in negotiations. The Browns obviously want to lock Collins up for future seasons and they now know that they won’t have to work his reps down from a ludicrously high six-year, $114.5MM starting point. Yesterday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com heard that Collins does want to top Luke Kuechly‘s $12.36MM/year average, which is a more realistic target. Kuechly signed his deal with the Panthers prior to the 2015 season and the cap/market increase may allow Collins to leapfrog him, depending on how he performs for the rest of the season.
Collins also said he feels he’s auditioning for the 31 other teams, considering he’s out of contract after this season. At the same time, he said that he “wasn’t worried” about joining the winless Browns and is putting his focus on thriving with his new team.
Latest On Eagles WR Josh Huff
Yesterday, Eagles wide receiver Josh Huff was pulled over for speeding on the Walt Whitman Bridge. When cops inspected his car, they found that he was in possession of a gun and marijuana. The arrest could have major legal ramifications for the 25-year-old while also impacting his NFL future. 
The major issue here is that Huff is not licensed to carry a weapon in New Jersey. However, lawyer Fortunato Perri Jr. tells The Associated Press that he is licensed in his home state of Texas. New Jersey has strict gun laws and does not cross-honor permits from other states, but Huff’s attorney is going out of his way to make the distinction and probably feels that it will help his case.
For now, Huff faces charges for gun possession without a permit, possessing a magazine with six hollow-point bullets, and “a disorderly persons offense” for having less than 50 grams of pot. Given the tough gun laws in N.J., Huff could face separate charges for each of those six bullets.
Coach Doug Pederson told reporters today that Huff will be available for Sunday’s game against the Giants until they got more information.
Norv Turner Resigns As Vikings OC
Surprising news out of Minnesota as Norv Turner has resigned as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. The team announced that Pat Shurmur is taking over as interim offensive coordinator. The exact circumstances of Turner’s departure are not immediately clear. Turner has released the following statement:
“I have tremendous respect for [head coach] Mike Zimmer, our coaching staff, and our players and at this time I think it is in the best interest of the team to step down. I thank the Wilf family for my time here in Minnesota and want to see our players and coaches achieve success.”
The Vikings got off to a hot 5-0 start this year which was extra impressive considering the team’s unusual situation at quarterback. Since then, however, the Vikes have dropped their last two games. While Minnesota sits atop the NFC North, they have gotten there thanks in large part to their defense. Offensively, the team has left much to be desired in its seven games this season. Currently, the Vikings have the fifth-worst passing yards per game average in the league (221.4). Meanwhile, their running game (mostly without Adrian Peterson) has amassed just 71.9 yards per game, the second-worst average in the NFL.
Turner was in his third season as Minnesota’s OC. Over the years, Turner has built up quite the resume including head coaching stints with the Redskins, Raiders, and Chargers. While Turner has taken criticism from Vikings fans for his play calling, one has to wonder how different things might be if the team was at full strength. After all, this a club that has lost its top quarterback, top running back, and two starting tackles. Before those injuries, the team also saw veteran lineman Phil Loadholt retire.
Before today’s sudden promotion, Shurmur was serving as the Vikings’ tight ends coach. Shurmur served as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator from 2013-2015, so he has a history with quarterback Sam Bradford.
Eagles WR Josh Huff Arrested
Eagles wide receiver Josh Huff was arrested earlier today, as Stephen McKenzie of CBS3 tweets. Huff was pulled over for speeding and when cops approached his vehicle, they found a gun and marijuana. 
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The Eagles are now gathering more information on the incident, but the league does not look favorably on reckless handgun possession. If it is found that Huff does not have a proper permit for the weapon, he may face significant legal consequences as well.
Howard Eskin of FOX29 in Philly reports (via Twitter) that Huff was also found with six hollow point bullets. Each of these bullets may lead to their own, individual charges.
Huff, an Oregon product, was a third-round pick of Chip Kelly‘s Eagles’ in 2014. This season, the 25-year-old has 13 catches for 72 yards and one touchdown plus a 98-yard kick return touchdown.
Chiefs To Release LB Sam Barrington
The Chiefs are slated to release linebacker Sam Barrington, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). His release will make room for the newly-acquired Bishop Sankey.
Barrington was dropped by the Packers prior to the 53-man deadline this year. The Chiefs moved quickly to pick him up but he did not have much of an impact for them this year, appearing in two games without an official statistic.
In 2015, Barrington’s season ended during Week 1 when he suffered a major foot injury. In 2014, his last real season, Barrington appeared in 14 games for the Packers with seven starts. The former seventh-round pick racked up 66 total tackles, two pass deflections, and one sack in that season.
Jets Claim RB Knile Davis Off Waivers From Packers
The Jets have claimed running back Knile Davis off waivers from the Packers, according to his agent (via Twitter). 
Green Bay acquired Davis from the Chiefs earlier this month after starter Eddie Lacy and primary backup James Starks were sidelined with injuries. However, his short stay in Wisconsin ended yesterday when the Packers cut him loose. Apparently, they saw enough out of him after he amassed just five yards off of five carries for them.
Now, Davis is hoping to find better results on his third team of the year. As it stands, Davis will join Matt Forte, Bilal Powell, and Troymaine Pope on the Jets’ running back depth chart, though it’s possible that Davis’ arrival could bump Pope from the roster.
Seahawks Sign DE Damontre Moore
The Seahawks have signed defensive end Damontre Moore, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Moore will help fill the gap while the team is without Michael Bennett for the next few weeks. 
Moore was in camp with the Raiders this offseason before being cut loose in August. Since then, we haven’t heard much buzz around the 24-year-old.
A 2013 third-round pick, Moore hasn’t really impressed at the professional level. The Giants decided to move on from Moore late last year after he threw down with teammate Cullen Jenkins in a fight about free headphones. Moore, who had picked up three sacks to that point, then joined the Dolphins via waivers. After making three appearances and recording a sack in Miami, Moore ended up back on waivers in May.
Lions DE Armonty Bryant Suspended
The Lions announced that defensive lineman Armonty Bryant has been hit with a three-game suspension. Bryant already served a four-game PED suspension to start the season, but this is a separate ban for a separate incident. 
Over the summer, Bryant pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted drug possession, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was originally charged with felony drug possession after he was caught with Adderall and Oxycodone. After serving 68 days of probation, he’ll now be sidelined from NFL action until next month.
The Browns surprised many when they cut Bryant on Oct. 3, the day he was slated to return from his first suspension. Cleveland brass didn’t feel that he was worth the headaches, but the Lions decided to roll the dice on him. Bryant, 26, enjoyed something of a breakout season in 2015, racking up career-highs in sacks (5.5), tackles (40), and forced fumbles (two). In four games for Detroit, Bryant racked up five total tackles and three sacks.
The Lions released a statement on Bryant moments ago:
“When we signed Armonty, we knew additional discipline from the NFL was a possibility due to an incident that occurred in 2015. Since joining our team, Armonty has met our expectations on and off the field.”
In related news, the Lions signed tight end Matthew Mulligan and placed fellow tight end Cole Wick on IR.
Dolphins Rumors: Haden, Culliver, Branch
Here’s a quick look at the Dolphins as the trade deadline approaches:
- Could the Dolphins make a play for Browns cornerback Joe Haden before the deadline? Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald isn’t so sure that Miami would make that move. So far, Pro Football Focus has Haden ranked as the 29th overall cornerback in the NFL and if Miami views him in the same light, then they won’t want to move the necessary resources to acquire him. Salguero notes that safety, linebacker, and running back are also potential positions of need for the Dolphins, but it’s not clear if they’ll look to the trade market to address those problems either. For more on Haden and other top trade targets, check out our 2016 NFL Trade Deadline Primer.
- Dolphins cornerback Chris Culliver says he’s ready to make his 2016 debut after being sidelined with a knee injury, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. “I feel good; I can play Sunday,” said Culliver, who has been on the PUP list since the start of the season. “If I’m not activated, I’ll be mad. It would be a disappointment. I’m ready to rock.” Culliver’s contract calls for him to earn $156K+ for each game he’s on the 53-man roster, so it would greatly benefit him if he were activated.
- Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch has hired agents Jimmy Sexton and Tory Dandy of CAA Football for representation, according to Rand Getlin (on Twitter). Branch signed a one-year, $2.75MM deal ($2.5MM guaranteed base) with the Dolphins this offseason. He’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2016 season. Branch, a second-round pick in 2012, spent the first four years of his career in Jacksonville, where he amassed 14 sacks in 51 Andre Branch appearances (13 starts). He logged a career-best 10 starts in 13 appearances last season, totaling 24 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles. So far this year, he has 17 total tackles and three sacks.
Jets Actively Shopping Sheldon Richardson
The Jets are actively shopping Sheldon Richardson as the trade deadline approaches, according to a source who spoke with Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter).
This jibes with a previous report which indicated that the Jets have approached the Cowboys about a potential deal. While we heard last week that the Jets were unlikely to move Richardson, it now appears that they have ramped things up with hours to go.
The Jets, in theory, can afford to part with Richardson as they already have Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson along the defensive line. Over the summer, it appeared that the Jets were preparing to part ways with Wilkerson so that they could give big bucks to Richardson down the line. Now, their preference may have shifted after Wilkerson inked a five-year deal worth $86MM, including $37MM in guaranteed money. The Jets exercised Richardson’s fifth-year option to keep him through 2017 at a below-market rate, but it’ll cost them if they want to retain him beyond that point.