Raiders RB Coach Kirby Wilson Retires
Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson has retired (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Wilson exits after several decades on the sidelines — 15+ years in the college ranks and roughly 20 years in the pros.
Wilson’s first NFL coaching job came with the Patriots in 1997, during Pete Carroll’s tenure. Then, when Carroll went to USC, he brought Wilson along with him to coach the wide receivers. Wilson went back to the NFL in 2002, served as a running backs coach for seven teams across 19 seasons. The Raiders picked him up in 2019, putting him with Jon Gruden for the second time in his career.
His retirement comes as something of a surprise, given that he was a candidate for the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator post just a few months ago. Carroll ultimately went with the younger Shane Waldron.
With training camp just a few short weeks away, the Raiders will look to fill the role quickly.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/16/21
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DT Nazair Jones
Richard Sherman Pleads Not Guilty
Former 49ers and Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman pleaded not guilty to five misdemeanor charges on Friday (via Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle). Sherman could more than 450 days in jail if he’s convicted of all charges. 
Police say that Sherman, 33, attempted to break into his in-laws’ home in Washington. Previous to that, Sherman was involved in a single-car hit and run incident. According to the authorities, Sherman was combative when cops arrived on the scene, leading them to use a K-9 during the arrest. For his part, Sherman has vowed to seek treatment.
“I am deeply remorseful for my actions on Tuesday night,” Sherman said in a statement. “I behaved in a manner I am not proud of. I have been dealing with some personal challenges over the last several months, but that is not an excuse for how I acted. The importance of mental and emotional health is extremely real and I vow to get the help I need. I appreciate all of the people who have reached out in support of me and my family, including our community here in Seattle. I am grateful to have such an amazing wife, family and support system to lean on during this time.”
Sherman’s wife, Ashley Moss, has also offered public support for her partner.
“At this time we’re going to make no statements, except he didn’t harm anybody,” Moss said. “My kids were not harmed in the incident. He’s a good person and this is not his character. We’re doing all right, just trying to get him out. I want people to know no one was injured.”
Ted Ginn Retires From NFL
Veteran wide receiver Ted Ginn has announced his retirement from football. Ginn, the No. 9 overall pick in 2007, enjoyed 14 seasons in the NFL with six different teams. 
“It was a hard decision, but it was one that had to be made,” Ginn said at a Friday press conference (via News5 Cleveland). “I’ve been gone 20 years, not being able to have some of the joys that you’re supposed to have as a man —being able to enjoy your parents, being able to enjoy your kids, your wife and just yourself,” Ginn said.
Ginn’s blazing speed made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the ’07 class. He didn’t quite live up to all the hype, but he outlasted many of his first-round peers. Over time, Ginn found his footing as a return man, racking up seven touchdowns on special teams plus countless highlights.
Last year Ginn spent some time with the Bears but see much action in his six games. His last full season came in 2019 with the Saints, when he caught 30 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns. After that, New Orleans signed Emmanuel Sanders, and Ginn was pushed out.
All in all, Ginn leaves football with 33 receiving touchdowns for the Dolphins, 49ers, Panthers (2x), Cardinals, Saints, and Bears. We here at PFR wish Ginn the best in retirement.
Six-Game Ban For Saints David Onyemata
The NFL has suspended Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata for six games, per a press release from the league office. Onyemata’s suspension will take effect after the preseason, keeping him off the field until late in the fall. 
The Saints have a Week 6 bye, so Onyemata won’t be eligible to rejoin the Saints until Tuesday, October 26. It’s a bad break for New Orleans’ defense, especially since a suspension for cornerback Marshon Lattimore could be just around the corner.
“I was informed by the NFLPA yesterday that I have tested positive for a banned substance resulting in a suspension for part of the 2021 NFL season,” said Onyemata earlier today. “While I was certainly surprised and disappointed with this news, I am responsible for what I put in my body. As I have never knowingly taken anything that could cause a positive test, we are currently in the process of testing the supplements I was taking at the time of the test. Regardless, I am committed to being more aware of any medication and dietary supplements that may contain substances banned by the NFL.”
The Saints have Onyemata signed through 2022, thanks to the three-year, $27MM deal he signed in 2020. Last year, he registered 44 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and one interception while grading out as the seventh-best interior defender in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
Richard Sherman Charged With Five Misdemeanors
Richard Sherman has been charged with five misdemeanors stemming from his arrest earlier this week. The free agent cornerback will have to answer to charges of resisting arrest, criminal trespassing in the second degree, reckless endangerment of roadway crews, driving under the influence, and malicious mischief (via Mike Carter of the Seattle Times). Two of those charges include an attachment of a “domestic-violence element.” 
If convicted across the board, Sherman could face up to 450+ days in jail. However, as a first-time offender, additional jail time doesn’t seem likely. Sherman, who was released from custody on Thursday, has since released a statement and vowed to straighten out his personal life.
“I am deeply remorseful for my actions on Tuesday night,” Sherman wrote. “I behaved in a manner I am not proud of. I have been dealing with some personal challenges over the last several months, but that is not an excuse for how I acted. The importance of mental and emotional health is extremely real and I vow to get the help I need. I appreciate all of the people who have reached out in support of me and my family, including our community here in Seattle. I am grateful to have such an amazing wife, family and support system to lean on during this time.”
Sherman, 33, has said that he wants to continue playing. Of course, he has other matters to address before returning to the workout circuit.
This Date In Transactions History: Steelers Extend Cameron Heyward
Six years ago today, the Steelers gave Cameron Heyward his first ever re-up. The defensive lineman scored a six-year, $59.25MM extension with the Steelers, tying him to the club through much of his prime. 
Pittsburgh selected the Ohio State product with the 31st pick of the 2011 draft. It took a while for Heyward to settle into a starting role, but he never looked back after starting 13 games during the 2013 campaign. After combining for 12.5 sacks between the 2013 and 2014 seasons, the Steelers decided to lock him up. However, the deal left them with plenty of wiggle room as Heyward got just $15MM in guaranteed cash.
Heyward more than lived up to that deal. He earned Pro Bowl appearances in every season from 2017 through 2020, plus first-team All-Pro honors in 2017 and 2019. The veteran has only missed two regular season games over the past four years, averaging just over eight sacks per season. And, from ’17 through ’19, he was averaging roughly 10 sacks per campaign.
Last fall, just before Heyward’s would-be walk year, the Steelers inked him to yet another extension. This time around, it was four years for $71.4MM in total with a stronger guarantee of $20.25MM. At the time, there were rumblings that Heyward would approach Aaron Donald‘s six-year, $135MM deal. But, ultimately, he was on the wrong side of 30. He also didn’t have a ton of leverage — throughout the talks, he was vocal about wanting to stay in Pittsburgh.
Heyward’s four-sack season didn’t jump off of the page, but he was still strong in 2020. And, besides Donald, he has more total pressures than anyone over the last four years. There’s still lots of time left on his most recent deal, but it’s safe to say that the Steelers got their money’s worth on Heyward’s first extension.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
NFL Suspends Saints’ David Onyemata
Defensive tackle David Onyemata announced that he has tested positive for a banned substance (Twitter link via Kat Terrell of The Athletic). As a result, he’s facing a suspension from the league office, though it’s not clear how long the suspension will be. Meanwhile, Onyemata says he didn’t knowingly violate the rules. 
“I was informed by the NFLPA yesterday that I have tested positive for a banned substance resulting in a suspension for part of the 2021 NFL season,” Onyemata wrote on Instagram. “While I was certainly surprised and disappointed with this news, I am responsible for what I put in my body. As I have never knowingly taken anything that could cause a positive test, we are currently in the process of testing the supplements I was taking at the time of the test. Regardless, I am committed to being more aware of any medication and dietary supplements that may contain substances banned by the NFL.”
Onyemata cracked the Saints’ starting lineup in 2019 and re-upped with the Saints last year on a three-year, $27MM deal. The move garnered mixed reviews since Onyemata wasn’t a tremendous performer in his platform year, per the advanced metrics. Then, he silenced the critics with 44 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and one interception in 2020. Pro Football Focus graded him as the seventh-best interior defender in the NFL, behind only Aaron Donald, Chris Jones, Mario Edwards Jr., Vita Vea, DeForest Buckner, and Cameron Heyward.
It sounds like the Saints will be without Onyemata for their season opener, a bad blow given that they may also be without cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore seems likely to receive a suspension for his March arrest and subsequent charge for handgun possession.
Onyemata has started in 40 of his 78 games for the Saints, notching 16 career sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 42 quarterback hits in total.
MCL Surgery For Buccaneers’ Tom Brady
Earlier this year, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady underwent knee surgery, but didn’t specify the exact issue, saying only that it was “pretty serious.” According to a source who spoke with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Brady had a partial tear of the MCL. Meanwhile, people close to Brady claim that it was actually a complete tear of the ligament (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).
[RELATED: Brady Won’t Commit To Playing Beyond 2022]
Brady says that he became aware of the injury in the spring, but Stroud hears that it actually occurred in 2019, Brady’s last year with the Patriots. He’s had similar issues before, including an MCL sprain towards the end of the 2018 season. The Patriots — in classic Patriots fashion — declined to disclose the injury.
Fortunately, Brady is expected to be cleared in time for training camp this summer. It won’t be an easy recovery — especially since Brady is in his mid-40s — but he’s proven that he can outrun Father Time. At minimum, Brady hopes to play through 2022.
“Fifty? That’s a long time. Even for me, that’s a long time,” Brady said recently, somewhat countering GM Jason Licht‘s suggestion. “I’ve always said 45 was the age that I wanted to reach and that was my goal. This year I’ll be 44, so next year I’ll be 45. I got a two-year contract. I’m going to be able to obviously play this year and God forbid anything happens but play next year and then see what happens after that.
“If I still want to keep playing, I might be able to do that. And if that’s enough, then that would be enough.”
No Deal For Saints, Marcus Williams
Earlier today, the Panthers and tackle Taylor Moton beat the buzzer. The same can’t be said for their divisional rivals. The Saints and Marcus Williams are not expected to hash out an extension before this afternoon’s franchise-tender deadline (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
With that, Williams is set to play on his one-year, $10.612MM tender for 2021. As of this writing, everyone else (besides Moton) is in a similar boat. That means one-year pacts for Jets safety Marcus Maye, Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson, Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson, and Washington guard Brandon Scherff.
It’s not for a lack of trying — Saints GM Mickey Loomis wants to keep Williams for the long haul. However, New Orleans is already projected to be over the 2022 cap of ~$208MM, and they also have other players to consider, like cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore may also be the higher priority, given that he plays a premium position and has three Pro Bowls under his belt. On the other hand, his March arrest could complicate matters.
The recent Ryan Ramczyk extension cleared roughly $5.5MM off the books for 2021, so the Saints didn’t necessarily have to smooth out Williams’ cap hit. Also, Lattimore’s fifth-year option for this season was already restructured, allowing for more breathing room.
Even though it’s tabled for now, the Saints will surely revisit Williams’ contract down the road. Williams, a 2017 third-rounder, picked off three passes and racked up seven passes defended in 14 games last year. All in all, he’s got 246 tackles, 13 interceptions, and one pick-six to his credit. That’s not even counting his work in the playoffs — 38 tackles and an INT in seven postseason contests.