Texans’ Deshaun Watson: “Loyalty Is Everything. Don’t You Ever Forget It.”
The Texans want to mend fences with Deshaun Watson. Based on Watson’s latest comments, it doesn’t sound like the situation has gotten much better. 
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“Loyalty is everything,” Watson tweeted. “Don’t you EVER forget it.”
Watson has been at odds with the Texans for some time now. Tensions boiled over this offseason when Watson was not included in the team’s search for a new GM or head coach. Watson wanted input and, specifically, wanted the Texans to hire Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as the new HC. Ultimately, they went with veteran assistant David Culley and former Patriots exec Nick Caserio. Reportedly, Watson has yet to answer the phone for either one of them. Meanwhile, Watson and his camp have let the world know that there is no chance of salvaging things in Houston.
“What’s the criteria for a quarterback asking to get traded, then actually getting traded?,” Watson’s personal coach Quincy Avery tweeted recently. “Asking for a friend.”
Watson isn’t the only unhappy Texans standout. Wide receiver Will Fuller — who is close with the QB — also wants out. Technically, the Texans are in the driver’s seat on both fronts. Watson is under contract through 2025, thanks to the four-year, $156MM deal he signed less than a year ago. Fuller, meanwhile, is subject to the franchise tag.
Broncos Release Jurrell Casey
The Broncos will release defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The move will clear $11.875MM from the Broncos’ books and put the veteran on the open market. 
Casey, 31, made the Pro Bowl every year from 2015-2019. And, from 2013-2019, the USC product had at least five sacks from the interior. His best work earned him a four-year, $60.4MM extension from the Titans. Last offseason, the Broncos agreed to take on that contract. All it cost them (besides cash and cap flexibility) was a seventh-round pick.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, Casey’s first Denver season ended in September. Unable to return after a bicep tear, Casey finished out with just three appearances and a grand total of 14 tackles. It was his first season with less than 14 games played and his first ever sackless campaign.
There was no guaranteed money left on Casey’s deal, so the Broncos get to wipe the entirety of his remaining commitment from the books. Heading into today, the Broncos had roughly $166MM on the cap for 2021. Now, between this and the recent release of cornerback A.J. Bouye, they should have upwards of $35MM to spend, depending on where the final cap number lands. For now, all we know is that the cap will be no lower than $180MM, the agreed upon floor for the coming year.
This Date In Transactions History: Jets Release Nick Mangold
After eleven seasons, Nick Mangold‘s time with the Jets came to an end. On this date in 2017, Gang Green released the veteran center to save roughly $9MM against the cap.
Mangold played in a career-low eight games the previous year and had no guaranteed dollars to go on his deal. It was supposed to be the final year of Mangold’s seven-year Jets contract. He was a standout, a fan favorite, and he was synonymous with the organization for over a decade. However, the Jets were one of the league’s most cap-strapped teams at the time.
A two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, Mangold started all 164 games in which he played for the Jets. Mangold said he’d continue playing after rehabbing from the ankle injury that hampered his 2016 season. Unfortunately, the issue lingered. Contenders like the Ravens could have used Mangold, but he wasn’t able to answer the cll.
The Jets turned the job over to backup Wesley Johnson, who would find himself with the rival Dolphins one year later. Mangold, meanwhile, inked a one-day contract to retire with the Jets in 2018. Ultimately, the beloved center was unable to bounce back at the age of 34.
“Everything that happened from pee-wee football to high school football to having the good fortune to play at The Ohio State University molded me for my opportunity to play for the New York Jets,” said Mangold. “In my 11 years as a Jet, there were plenty of ups and downs but, through it all, I wanted to be the Steady Eddie. I wanted to be the guy that other guys looked at to see how it was done. I learned this attribute from the vets that I played with.”
“My biggest regret is not bringing the Lombardi Trophy to New York but, as I retire, I will continue my efforts to bring the Trophy home in a different capacity. I have no idea what that capacity is but I’m sure I will figure something out in the future.”
This Date In Transactions History: Jaguars Extend Blake Bortles
Three years ago today, the Jaguars took themselves out of the quarterback market by sticking with Blake Bortles. The move was widely panned and, ultimately, it did not work out for Jacksonville. 
The Jaguars were fresh off of an AFC Championship Game appearance and their first playoff appearance in nine years. Bortles, meanwhile, tossed a career-low 13 interceptions. Still, his overall body of work did not inspire a ton of confidence – his 60.2% completion percentage actually marked a new career best.
Despite the question marks, Bortles became the first 2014 first-round pick to receive an extension – stars like Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, and Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack were still negotiating for their new deals (Of course, they all eventually secured the bag.)
Reported to be a three-year, $54MM pact, the deal included $26.5MM guaranteed with the potential to reach $66.5MM in total through bonuses. He did not earn those incentives, nor did he get to play out his deal – Bortles was cut loose in 2019, clearing the way for Nick Foles to take over.
Bortles went 3-9 in 12 starts for the Jaguars as head coach Doug Marrone flip-flopped him with Cody Kessler. During his five-year run with the Jaguars, Bortles led the league with 75 interceptions – more than one INT per start.
With his stock at an all-time low, the former No. 3 overall pick hooked on with the Rams in the 2019 offseason. Playing behind Jared Goff, Bortles appeared in only three games and attempted two passes. Without a real opportunity to play in 2019, Bortles did not get a chance to silence his critics. Last year, he found his way to Denver, where he was penalized for breaking the league’s COVID safety protocols. Now, on the verge of his 29th birthday in April, Bortles is a free agent once again. And, much like last year, the former No. 3 overall pick is on the NFL fringes.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
DUI Hearing Delayed For Broncos’ Melvin Gordon
Broncos running back Melvin Gordon was originally set to have his disposition hearing today. Now, the hearing has been pushed back to March 10, as Mike Klis of 9News writes. 
According to the October police report, Gordon was speeding 25-39 mph over the limit and found to be intoxicated when he was pulled over. He chose to take a field sobriety test over a breathalyzer test — cops say that didn’t go to well.
“Some new information has come up that is the subject of discussion between the parties,” Gordon’s lawyer Robert Malen said in a virtual hearing.
The final outcome of the matter could impact Gordon’s early-season availability and his future with the Broncos. A guilty verdict or plea would likely trigger a three-game ban from the league office. It would also nix his $4.5MM guarantee for 2021. That means that the Broncos could easily shed Gordon’s contract, if that’s what they want to do.
Gordon, presently set to enter his second year with the Broncos, ran for 966 yards, good for tenth in the league. He also inched back towards his ~2018 efficiency and scoring rate, averaging 4.6 yard per tote and notching nine touchdowns.
Lions Hope To Keep Kenny Golladay
Some have wondered whether Kenny Golladay could price his way out of Detroit this offseason. However, with weeks to go before free agency, Lions exec Chris Spielman tells WXYT-FM that Golladay — and the wide receiver position in general — is one of his very top priorities (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). 
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“I think Kenny is a, he’s a competitive guy and the thing that I’ve always admired most about Kenny when doing the games on TV is his ability to win the 50/50 ball,” said Spielman, an ex-linebacker and broadcaster who serves as one of the organization’s top executives. “I just think his size and what he can bring to the table is something that a lot of people liked about Kenny Golladay, including me.”
The Lions — like most teams this year – are facing a numbers crunch due to the anticipated salary cap decrease. As they rebuild for the near-term and long-term, Spielman says he’ll be looking at talent and character in equal measure.
“In any philosophy, you can fill in voids in free agency, but you can’t buy a locker room,” Spielman said. “That’s been a philosophy for a lot of teams. And generally, what I believe is that you want to build your team through the draft. So it’s kind of, draft, develop and re-sign. And I think that’s hopefully the direction that I think the Lions will take.”
When it comes to Golladay, the Lions figure to have lots of competition if/when he reaches the open market. The Giants, who are eyeing a major WR upgrade, are expected to be among his top suitors.
Bucs To Talk Extension With Tom Brady?
Jason Licht talks to Tom Brady “often.” Their next convo could include contract extension discussions, the Buccaneers GM says. 
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“It’s a possibility. He certainly didn’t look like he slowed down any this year,” Licht told Rich Eisen (Twitter link). “It appears that he had a really good time this year winning the Super Bowl…It’s a match made in heaven, so we’d like to keep this going.”
A Brady extension isn’t necessarily the team’s No. 1 priority, since the veteran is signed through the 2021 season. However, a new deal could allow the Buccaneers to retain more of their standout free agents and retool as necessary. This year’s out-of-contract group includes wide receivers Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Lavonte David, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and running back Leonard Fournette. Fortunately for the Bucs, Godwin seems willing to give a bit of a hometown discount.
“The goal obviously is to get paid, right? But, at the same time, I’m not stupid,” Godwin said recently. “I’m not going to put myself in a situation where I’m going to be miserable for some years to come just for a couple extra dollars. I think my happiness is paramount in all of this and part of that happiness is winning. Just having a bunch of different guys on the offensive side that can make your job a little bit easier but also give you the best chance to win is something that I’m strongly considering.”
Brady, who will turn 44 before Week 1, still says that he wants to play forever and ever. Meanwhile, he’ll undergo surgery to clean up a lingering knee injury that hampered him in 2020.
Steelers Prez On Ben Roethlisberger Meeting
Steelers president Art Rooney met with Ben Roethlisberger on Tuesday to discuss the quarterback’s future. On Wednesday morning, Rooney let fans know that the meeting was productive and a big step towards moving forward together. 
“Ben Roethlisberger and I met yesterday morning and we had a productive meeting,” Rooney said. “We were able to discuss a lot of things that relate to where we are and where we want to go. Ben assured me that he is committed to coming back to help us win, and I told Ben that we would like to have him back to help us win a championship. We both understand the next step is to work out Ben’s contract situation.”
Roethlisberger’s agent Ryan Tollner made similar comments yesterday following the meeting. Of course, the big barrier here is Big Ben’s contract. The veteran is set to count for more than $41MM against the Steelers’ 2021 cap. In one fashion or another, that number has to be tampered down. It’s the highest cap hit of any player for 2021, and the overall salary cap is set to drop for the first time in a decade.
Roethlisberger, who turns 39 next week, isn’t the only Steelers player in flux. JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton and Alejandro Villanueva are also slated for free agency, and the Steelers don’t have the capital to keep all of them. Even without those players factored in, the Steelers are already looking at a ~$210MM payroll, which probably puts them $20MM-$25MM over the to-be-determined max.
Titans’ Isaiah Wilson “Done With Football”?
In a since-deleted tweet, Titans tackle Isaiah Wilson declared that he is “done with football” (via CBSSports.com). Of course, after recent comments made by GM Jon Robinson, it’s quite possible that the Titans are also done with him.
Wilson, the No. 29 overall pick in the 2020 draft, saw a grand total of four snaps last year. Once considered a top 5 prospect, Wilson went on to receive a DUI charge and spend two separate stints on the COVID-19 list. There was also a strange encounter with Tennessee State campus police in which Wilson was said to be trespassing and threatening to jump off of a balcony.
“He is going to have to make a determination on if he wants to do everything necessary to play pro football,” Robinson said earlier this month, adding that he hasn’t connected with Wilson since placing him on the non-football injury list to close the year.
Wilson has three years to go on his four-year, $11.6MM rookie deal. It’s not cost-prohibitive, but keeping Wilson could be more trouble than it’s worth. Releasing him this offseason would leave a sizable dead money charge on the books, with no real savings to be had.
Wilson was nitpicked by evaluators, as all prospects are, but no one could have anticipated such a precipitous and drastic fall for him. If the situation is unsalvageable for the Titans, and Wilson is not in fact “done with football,” there will still be plenty of interested teams. It was less than a year ago that Wilson was a rumored candidate for the Dolphins at No. 5 overall. At 6’7″ and still only 22 years of age, he’d profile as an intriguing low-risk, high-reward signing, despite all of the red flags.
Franchise Tag Candidate: Bears WR Allen Robinson
Allen Robinson has been the Bears’No. 1 chain-mover since 2018. Now, the Pro Bowler could be weeks away from free agency. Of course, it’s not a given that he’ll get there. The Bears could keep Robinson from the market with a pricey multi-year extension. Or, they could cuff him for another year with the franchise tag. So far, the two sides haven’t much progress on Scenario 1. 
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“My personal opinion, if something could possibly work? Yes,” Robinson said (via Tyler Dunne of Go Long). “I’m not opposed to being back in Chicago by any means. I’ve even expressed that over the last couple of years — wanting to be the all-time leading receiver in Chicago which, I believe, I’m under 2,000 yards away from that. With all that being said, unfortunately we’ve come to what seems to be a fork in the road. But not even a fork. We haven’t even been given a viable option to be able to do those things that we want to do without sacrificing a ridiculous amount pretty much for the rest of my career.”
Robinson, 28 in August, is coming off of his best season as a Bear. In 2020, he finished out with 102 catches for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns, in spite of the Bears’ overall inconsistency.
The franchise tag would kick the can down the road, but Robinson doesn’t want to get tagged. Also, the Bears are facing a cap crunch, so even a one-year, ~$17MM deal could be too rich for Chicago’s blood. Robinson, meanwhile, wants pre-pandemic top-WR money — that means $20MM+ per year, on average. It’s also worth noting that he views himself as the market’s top wide receiver, ahead of Buccaneers standout Chris Godwin.
The Bears have not used the franchise tag since 2016, when they kept Alshon Jeffery from reaching the open market. That tender did not lead to a new deal — Jeffery played out the year and joined up with the Eagles the following year. This time around, many view the tag as likely, but this could wind up being a tag-and-trade situation. The Bears’ offense can’t really afford to be without Robinson’s athleticism, but they also have a number of other needs to consider, including the quarterback situation.