Poll: Will The Buccaneers Regret Signing Antonio Brown?
Bruce Arians said it would never happen. Tom Brady never stopped pushing. Ultimately, the future Hall of Famer got his way — the Buccaneers inked Antonio Brown to a one-year deal this week, equipping Brady with the most talented group of targets he’s ever had.
“He looks fantastic,” Arians said of Brown, following his first practice in Tampa (via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine). “I think we had really good conversations today, he and I. He was in the meetings and everything. And he’s working with…the strength staff. He looks in great shape. Yeah, [he’ll be] ready to go next week.”
The Bucs are hoping that Brown can quickly shed the rust as Chris Godwin recovers from finger surgery. Godwin might not be available for their Week 9 contest against the Saints, setting the stage for Brown to make an impact in his return game.
At the same time, many feel that Brown’s volatility will ultimately backfire on the Buccaneers, who currently lead the NFC South with a 5-2 record.
“Mark my words, it’s going to be a problem,” said one anonymous executive who has worked with Brown. “You have no idea the stories we could tell you about this guy. Everything is a struggle. … There were plenty of valid reasons why [Arians] didn’t want anything to do with him a year ago. Unless this guy has completely reinvented himself, and done a complete turnaround, this is going to get ugly.”
Will Brown’s baggage ultimately outweigh his upside? Vote in PFR’s latest poll (link for app users) and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Packers Inquire On Texans’ Will Fuller
The Packers are among the clubs showing interest in Texans wide receiver Will Fuller, according to Aaron Reiss of The Athletic 
(on Twitter). Nothing is imminent at the moment, but things could pick up between now and Tuesday’s trade deadline.
[RELATED: Teams Calling Texans On Fuller, Cobb]
Reiss also hears that the Texans are not interested in a full-on fire sale, though many observers are skeptical. Their firing of head coach/GM Bill O’Brien seemed to signal the start of a revamp, and they’re not playing for much this year with a record of 1-6. They’re also in the midst of their bye week, which would give them extra time to acclimate post-trade.
Fuller, who is playing on a $10.16MM fifth-year option salary, profiles as an interesting rental option for contenders. Through seven games, he’s been Deshaun Watson‘s favorite target, catching 31 passes for a team-high 490 yards and five touchdowns. The Texans could parlay Fuller into draft capital, but they seem to be telling teams that they’d rather keep him (and Brandin Cooks) for the long haul. For what it’s worth, interim head coach Romeo Crennel has been telling players not to worry about getting traded.
“With this situation, it might be more on their mind this year,” Crennel said when asked if the issue is a potential distraction. “I’ve talked to them and tried to reassure them that I’m not looking to trade guys.”
Texans Close Facility After COVID-19 Positive
3:35pm: Guard Max Scharping tested positive for the coronavirus, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports. The Texans placed him on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A 2019 second-round pick, Scharping worked as a starter for most of last season and in this season’s first three games. He has since played as a backup.
10:15am: The Texans will close their team facility following a player’s positive test for COVID-19, per a club announcement. The Texans are currently on their bye week, but they’ll be closely monitoring test results between now and their Week 9 contest against the Jaguars.
“Late last night, we received notice that a Texans player tested positive for COVID-19,” said the Texans in a statement. “In accordance with NFL protocols, the player immediately self-isolated and our Infection Control Officer and other members of the Infection Response Team began working with the NFL to perform contact tracing. Our facility will be closed today to players for deep cleaning. We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled bye week operations. The health and safety of our team, as well as our entire staff, are of highest priority.”
The Texans fell to 1-6 with their loss to the Packers on Sunday in Houston. As of this writing, the Packers have not received word of any positive tests.
Adam Gase: Jets Won’t Trade Quinnen Williams
Despite the speculation, the Jets won’t trade defensive lineman Quinnen Williams between now and Tuesday’s deadline. At least, that’s what head coach Adam Gase says. 
“He’s going to be here,” said Gase (Twitter link via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano).
Gase went on to say that there’s “nothing” to the “false” rumors of the first-round pick being shopped. However, at multiple beat writers have heard that the Jets are willing to listen on Williams, and one recent report indicated that the Jets are actively looking to recoup draft compensation for him.
The Jets took Williams with the No. 3 overall pick just last year. With the talent to be a defensive cornerstone for years to come, a trade would be shocking. Still, at 0-7, the Jets are expected to be active in the coming days.
The Jets reportedly more than a second-round pick for the former Alabama standout, though Gase claims he’s practically untouchable. Given his ability and improvement as an NFL sophomore, that seems like an achievable asking price. Through seven games, Williams has five tackles for loss and ranks as one of the league’s very best run-stoppers on the interior, according to Pro Football Focus.
If Williams stays put this week, he’ll line up across from Patrick Mahomes on Sunday.
Bengals Trade Carlos Dunlap To Seahawks
First, the Bengals told Carlos Dunlap to stay home. Now, they’re shipping him across the country. The Bengals have agreed to trade defensive end Carlos Dunlap to the Seahawks, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). In exchange for the former Pro Bowler, the Seahawks will send offensive lineman B.J. Finney and an undisclosed draft pick to the Bengals. The Bengals announced the trade.
[RELATED: Lions Beat Out Seahawks For Griffen]
The Seahawks have been in the market for help on the edge, having pursued Cowboys notable Everson Griffen last week. Instead, the Lions beat them to the punch, leading them to talks with Dunlap. The 5-1 Seahawks have been flying high so far this year, but their pressure has been lacking. Now, they have some big-time support to address their weakest unit.
Dunlap has been unhappy with his role in Cincinnati, to say the least. In recent weeks, he’s ripped the Bengals on social media and he’s been seen yelling at his coaches on the sidelines. Dunlap, 32, has been with the Bengals since 2010, making 148 starts between his debut year and 2019. This year, he’s been bumped from the starting lineup with his playing time dropping week after week.
The Bengals probably should have started their rebuild in earnest last year. Instead, they held on to pricey vets like Dunlap and watched their trade value dip significantly. Dunlap likely won’t be the only player traded this week — longtime D-Line partner Geno Atkins also wants a fresh start. On the other side of the ball, speedy wide receiver John Ross continues to push for a trade.
Falcons To Trade Takkarist McKinley?
The Falcons have had trade talks about defensive end Takkarist McKinley and other teams believe he’ll be moved before the Nov. 3 deadline, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Nothing is imminent at this moment, but the Falcons could very well find a trade for the former first-round pick between now and Tuesday. 
McKinley, who has been out of practice this week with a groin injury, has not lived up to expectations since being taken with the No. 26 overall pick in 2017. In his first two seasons, he managed a combined 13 sacks, but he started to regress in 2019. Last year, he finished out with just 3.5 sacks in 15 games. Then, he finished the year on IR thanks to a shoulder injury in December. The Falcons declined his 2021 option this offseason. That would have tied McKinley to the team through 2021 at a rate of $10MM, guaranteed only for injury.
So far this year, McKinley has notched just one sack and eight total stops in four games. But, for all the question marks, the talent and potential is still there.
Vikings’ Danielle Hunter Officially Done For Year
Danielle Hunter has been officially ruled out for the season after undergoing successful neck surgery to repair a herniated disc, head coach Mike Zimmer announced (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). This was the expected move for Hunter, who has not seen the field in 2020.
Hunter recently got a second opinion from a specialist in New York, who told him to shut it down for the season. On the field, he’s been sorely missed, though the Vikings’ problems have not been limited to the edge rush. The Vikings have struggled to generate consistent pressure without Hunter, and they’re now trying to improve on that front without the services of Yannick Ngakoue, who was shipped to the Ravens earlier this month.
When the Vikings placed Hunter on injured reserve in September, they hoped that Hunter would be able to make his debut either this week or next. Instead, he’ll be shelved for the remainder of the season. Even in a best case scenario, it wouldn’t have been an easy call to activate him. At 1-5, the one-time Super Bowl contenders aren’t playing for much.
Last year, Hunter graded out as the No. 7 ranked edge rusher in the league, ahead of Cameron Jordan, Myles Garrett, Demarcus Lawrence, and a host of other big names. He notched 14.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, bringing his career tally to 54.5. He’ll still be tied to the team for years to come, thanks to the five-year, $72MM extension he inked in 2018.
Bengals To Carlos Dunlap: Stay Home
Carlos Dunlap‘s time with the Bengals is running short. On Wednesday, the Bengals told the pass rusher to stay home instead than of joining his teammates in practice (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).
Dunlap has been unhappy with his role in Cincinnati, and he’s been vocal about it. The Bengals have discussed trades involving the veteran in recent weeks and it sounds like they may pull something together between now and November 3. If they don’t, the Bengals could opt to release him outright.
Cutting Dunlap sometime before the 2021 season would put $11.25MM back on next year’s books. That probably wouldn’t bother defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who has hardly used the longtime pillar of the Bengals’ D. Dunlap didn’t start in the Week 5 loss to the Ravens and he saw just eleven defensive snaps last week against the Browns.
Lately, Dunlap has been seen arguing with coaches on the sidelines and chirping at team brass on social media. Clearly, both sides are fed up, and a divorce is imminent.
Dolphins Extend Adam Shaheen
The Dolphins have agreed to a two-year contract extension with tight end Adam Shaheen, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The deal — worth up to $7.85MM with $3.2MM fully guaranteed — will keep him in the fold through the 2022 season. 
[RELATED: Dolphins’ Ryan Fitzpatrick Hasn’t Asked For Trade]
The Dolphins acquired Shaheen from the Bears in July for the cost of a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick. That is to say, they didn’t give up much for Shaheen, who was a second-round pick just a few years ago. In Chicago, he didn’t live up to his 2017 expectations, due in large part to injuries. All in all, he had totaled 26 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns in 27 games, out of a possible 48.
With the Dolphins, he’s managed to stay healthy while serving as a solid blocking tight end. Through six games, he’s played on 32% of Miami’s offensive snaps.
Shaheen figures to see more time this week, when the Tua Tagovailoa-led Dolphins face the Rams in Miami.
Cowboys To Trade Or Cut Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley
The Cowboys told defensive tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Daryl Worley they’ll be released if a trade cannot be completed today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Poe, a 346-pound force, spent 2018 and 2019 with the Panthers before his 2020 option was declined. That led him to Dallas, where he scored a two-year deal worth up to $10.5MM. Since then, Poe has started seven games with just seven total stops. According to Pro Football Focus, he has just one hurry to his credit this year. It’s a far cry from what Dallas expected of Poe, who made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014 while he was with the Chiefs. And, last year, he managed four sacks from the interior, despite being limited to just eleven regular season games.
Worley, meanwhile, has allowed ten catches on 12 targets. Prior to his one-year deal with the Cowboys, Worley started in most of his 25 games across two seasons. Last year, in 15 contests, he notched 58 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
The trade deadline won’t come until Nov. 3, but the Cowboys are looking to get an early jump on things by moving — or dropping — the duo. So far this year, the Cowboys have averaged 34.7 points allowed per game, positioning them as the worst defense in the league.