Dr. Fauci: NFL Needs “Bubble” Format
Dr. Anthony Fauci says the NFL needs a “bubble” system in order to go ahead with its season. In other words: keeping players away from the public with constant COVID-19 testing and games played in a central location to limit travel.
[RELATED: NFL Has No Plans For Bubble Setup]
“Unless players are essentially in a bubble — insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day — it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall,” Fauci told CNN (h/t ESPN.com). “If there is a second wave, which is certainly a possibility and which would be complicated by the predictable flu season, football may not happen this year.”
That’s the plan for the NBA and MLS, but the NFL is not currently interested in a one-site setup. Instead, the league plans to rely on frequent testing and contract tracing. For now, they’re aiming to test players three times per week in advance of training camp. Depending on how the pandemic unfolds from here, and how the testing technology progresses, they may adjust the frequency of testing. But, as it stands, the NFL is not interested in consolidating its game locations.
Other changes are likely to come, however. For starters, the league is considering a 16-man practice squad. The NFL already bumped its taxi squad from ten to 12; a group of 16 standbys would give teams additional insurance against more positive player tests.
NFL May Expand Practice Squads To 16 Players
Recently, the NFL expanded practice squads from ten players to 12. Now, the league may go from a dozen to 16, according to Judy Battista and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
The NFLPA would have to sign off on the measure, but it would only make sense for the union to approve it. With four more spots per team, there would be as many as 128 more jobs for players around the league. Meanwhile, teams would have more roster flexibility in the event of positive COVID-19 tests.
Several players have tested positive for the coronavirus amidst the country’s burgeoning second wave. Players from the Texans and Cowboys – including star running back Ezekiel Elliott – tested positive earlier this week, and Broncos safety Kareem Jackson tested positive on Wednesday morning. Even though the NFL has protocols in place to limit the spread of the virus, the league understands that this is an inevitability. You can keep players apart from one another in the locker room, but there is no such thing as social distancing on the football field.
There has also been some talk of expanding the regular season roster. The new collective bargaining agreement already allows for teams to carry 55 players on game days with 48 active players, up from the previous 53-man/46-active roster setup. Further expansion – even a temporary one – would give teams additional insurance if COVID-19 forces players out of action.
This Date In Transactions History: Panthers Extend Michael Oher
On this date in 2016, the Panthers agreed to a brand new three-year, $21.6MM deal with Michael Oher. Unfortunately, Oher never played a down under the new contract. 
[Poll: Which First-Round WR Will Make The Biggest Impact In 2020?]
Oher, of “Blindside” fame, found his way to the Panthers after an up-and-down career with the Ravens and Titans. His first deal was a modest one – two years, $7MM – and he quickly proved to be a bargain. Oher played in 98.4% of the team’s snaps in 2015 as the starting left tackle. With Oher as Cam Newton‘s protector, the Panthers went all the way to Super Bowl 50 before losing to the Broncos.
With one year remaining on his contract, the Panthers wanted to lock Oher up long before he could reach the open market. Thanks to Oher’s personal progression and the progression of the tackle market, he netted more than $7MM per annum on his new deal from Dave Gettleman & Co.
The new deal was set to start in 2017, but things did not go according to plan. After just three games in the 2016 season, a concussion shut Oher down for the season. Then, in the offseason, things took a strange turn. Oher was alleged to have fought an Uber driver in the spring and later posted a picture to Instagram with what appeared to be bottles of prescription medication to deal with brain injuries. The now deleted photo was captioned, “All for the brain, [shaking my head].”
In July of that year, the Panthers released Oher with a failed physical designation. The move saved them just $1.69MM against the cap but allowed Oher to collect injury compensation. With that, Oher’s contract was over before it even began.
Former Broncos DE Adam Gotsis Hopes To Be Cleared In August
Former Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis is still looking for work, but he’s hopeful that a deal isn’t too far off. The free agent says he’s able to run after undergoing ACL surgery. 
“I was hoping to get cleared to return to football, hopefully, at the start of August,” Gotsis said (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic). “That’s kind of a rough date I put in my head.”
Teams haven’t gotten a close look at Gotsis because of the ongoing pandemic, but that may change in the coming weeks. Early on, doctors believed that Gotsis could miss the first quarter of the 2020 season as he healed up, but the latest news is good news. Gotsis seems to think that he’ll be ready to go in time for Week 1 and, possibly, the tail-end of offseason practices.
“I’m thinking in a hopeful way that come July, August some teams are like, ‘Well shoot, we need to bring in a D-lineman that can pick up a playbook and has played a lot of snaps and is a smart guy that can just pick up the system in a week,’” he said. “Whereas some of these rookies, in OTAs and stuff is where they really get the chance to get their feet wet with a lot of the NFL vets and then all of a sudden it’s training camp, and they really haven’t had any time working against pro guys. In a way, I think it might be an advantage to me as well in that I can come back healthy and rehabbed.”
After compiling three sacks and 38 total tackles in 16 games (12 starts) in 2018, Gotsis registered zero in nine games (three starts) last year with 16 total tackles. Gotsis also didn’t seem get the hang of Vic Fangio‘s defense. With 28 starts under his belt – and more good than bad overall on his game tape – the 27-year-old should be able to find work this summer. But, in all likelihood, it’ll come on a one-year, prove-it deal.
Giants K Aldrick Rosas Arrested For Alleged Hit And Run
Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas was arrested after an alleged hit-and-run in California (via TMZ). Cops say that Rosas was going 100 mph when he t-boned another car early Monday morning and they believe that he may have been intoxicated. 
Per the police report, Rosas was driving erratically before he blew through a red light. That’s when cops say he smashed into the side of a pickup truck and continued driving, instead of stopping. Moments later, when his SUV broke down, witnesses say Rosas took off running. When police arrived on the scene, they found Rosas walking nearby with his legs and bare feet covered in blood.
Unfortunately, this is not Rosas’ first run-in with the law. Court records show that in February 2016, roughly two months before the 2016 draft, he was arrested in California and charged with DUI and having a BAC of over 0.8% (via Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com). The DUI charge was ultimately dismissed, but Rosas pled guilty to the BAC charge and received 30 months of probation. According to Rosenblatt’s NJ.com colleague, Matt Lombardo, the Giants were aware of that incident prior to signing Rosas in 2017. He has been the team’s kicker ever since.
Since joining the Giants, Rosas has made 62 of his 75 field goal tries. In 2018, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, making him just one of four kickers in Giants franchise history to secure the honors. There have been some bumps along the way, however, including four missed PATs last year.
After 48 straight games with the team, the Giants used a second-round tender to bring Rosas back for 2020. He’s currently set to earn $3.26MM this season, but if he stays on the roster, there will surely be league discipline coming his way. He may be the only kicker on the roster for now, but expect that to change soon.
Eagles Head Coach: Alshon Jeffery Is “Big Part” Of Team
Despite all the speculation, it sounds like Alshon Jeffery is staying put. In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, head coach Doug Pederson said that the wide receiver is “a big part” of the Eagles’ offense.
[RELATED: Eagles To Replace Brandon Brooks Internally?]
“All our veteran players, to be part of this virtual offseason like they have, I have been impressed and Alshon is of those guys,” head coach Pederson said (via Evan Macy of the Philly Voice). “The dialogue he’s had in the receivers room, the way he converses with some of the younger players…”
That’s all very promising for the Birds, given the drama they’ve had with the veteran in the past Last fall, Jeffery was accused of anonymously ripping into quarterback Carson Wentz and other teammates through the media. For his part, Jeffery has denied any involvement in that bombshell story.
Frankly, the Eagles don’t have much flexibility when it comes to Jeffery. Thanks to a restructuring of his deal in September, they’d be looking at a $26MM cap hit if they wanted to cut him. Jeffery is now guaranteed a base salary of $11.5MM for 2020. In total, he’s got upwards of ~$55MM guaranteed on his four-year deal.
Jeffery’s 2019 – capped with a trip to the injured reserve list – ended with 43 catches for 430 yards and four touchdowns. It was a step down from his 65 catches for 843 yards and six touchdowns in 2018 and his 11.4 yards per catch average last year marks a career low.
Eagles To Replace Brandon Brooks Internally?
After losing Brandon Brooks for the year, many have been quick to connect the dots between the Eagles and old friend Jason Peters. A reunion certainly seems possible, but head coach Doug Pederson says he’ll take a good look at his in-house options first. 
[RELATED: Eagles’ Brandon Brooks Done For Year]
“My heart sunk when I got the news,” Pederson said (Twitter link via John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia). “We are still looking at a lot of options. Starting with our own roster. We’ve got some time before training camp.”
Since joining the Eagles, Brooks has blossomed into one of the game’s best guards. Despite the bad luck with injuries – two Achilles and one shoulder tear – he’s managed to make the last three Pro Bowls. He lived up to the lofty expectations set by his initial five-year, $62.5MM deal, prompting the team to lock him up with a four-year, $54.2MM pact late last year. At the time of signing, the deal made Brooks the second-highest-paid guard in the game, with his $13.6MM AAV only trailing Zack Martin‘s $14MM/year.
Peters, meanwhile, stands as the best available offensive lineman left, and one of the best free agents left on the market, period. His age (38) has hindered his market, but he turned in yet another solid season in 2019. Peters has said that he’s willing to play on the left or the right side, so it stands to reason that he could be talked into moving inside.
Larry Warford would represent a less flashy option, but he still offers ample starting experience. And, for what it’s worth, he’s a whole lot younger – Warford will turn 29 later this week. The Eagles’ tight cap situation for 2021 would make a multi-year deal tricky, but Warford might be willing to accept a one-season prove-it deal at this stage of the offseason.
Internally, the options are somewhat limited. Matt Pryor, who has experience at guard and tackle in the Eagles’ system, would be the favorite to fill in. There’s also fourth-round rookie tackle Jack Driscoll, who has taken some snaps on the inside.
Eagles’ Brandon Brooks Done For Year
Guard Brandon Brooks suffered a torn Achilles tendon while working out at the Eagles’ facility. Brooks personally confirmed the news in a tweet on Monday night, vowing to come back “and better than ever.” 
Unfortunately, Brooks has been here before. In January of last year, Brooks tore his right Achilles. This time, it’s the left one. His previous tear came in the 2018 playoffs, giving him enough time to recover before the start of the season. He managed to play in all 16 games for the Eagles in 2019, providing much-needed consistency for an offense that desperately needed it. Then, right when the Eagles clinched the NFC East title, they lost Brooks all over again, thanks to a shoulder injury.
Brooks joined the Eagles in 2016 as a free agent, following his time with the Texans. Since then, he’s performed as one of the best interior linemen in the league. With the Birds, Brooks has started in 62 games, plus five postseason contests.
The 30-year-old (31 in August) will be under contract with the team for years to come, thanks to his recent four-year, $54MM+ extension. The Eagles can expect more good work between 2021 and 2024, but they’ve got a major hole to fill this year.
Bills Sign RB Zack Moss
The Bills have officially signed third-round running back Zack Moss, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Per the terms of his slot, Moss will earn $4.6MM over the course of his four-year deal.
Moss could have gone much higher 2019 draft, if not for season-ending knee surgery. Before he went under the knife, he racked up 1,096 rushing yards off of 179 carries, good for an average of 6.1 yards per attempt. When he came back last year, he went off for 1,400 yards with a 6.0 ypc average.
Moss’ knee checked out well in a pre-draft exam and the Bills believe that Moss is ready to be a difference-maker at the pro level. In Buffalo, Moss will team with Devin Singletary to form a 1-2 backfield combo.
With Moss officially in the fold, the Bills have now wrapped their entire 2020 draft class. Here’s the full rundown, via PFR’s tracker:
2-54: AJ Epenesa, DE (Iowa): Signed
3-86: Zack Moss, RB (Utah): Signed
4-128: Gabriel Davis, WR (UCF): Signed
5-167: Jake Fromm, QB (Georgia): Signed
6-188: Tyler Bass, K (Georgia Southern): Signed
6-207: Isaiah Hodgins, WR (Oregon State): Signed
7-239: Dane Jackson, CB (Pittsburgh): Signed
Ryan Kerrigan Wants To Stay With Redskins
Ryan Kerrigan has one year to go on his deal with the Redskins, but he’s hoping to stick around for longer. The edge rusher told the team website that he wants to finish his career in Washington.
“I obviously hope to be here for the duration of my football career, however long that is,” said Kerrigan. “I’ve gotten to talk to [head] coach [Ron] Rivera a couple of times over the phone, [but] haven’t really been able to meet him in person yet because of the whole lockdown and whatnot. Hopefully, I’m here for the long haul. I want to be here. They know where I stand and I want to be here.”
From the sound of it, the two sides have yet to discuss an extension. For now, Kerrigan is set to earn $11.5MM in base salary for 2020, though that sum is completely non-guaranteed. A longer deal would allow the Redskins to smooth over the $11.687MM cap hit while giving Kerrigan the additional years he’s seeking.
Kerrigan stands as the Redskins’ second-longest tenured player on the roster. The nine-year pro is 1.5 sacks away from topping Dexter Manley as the franchise’s all-time leader in the category. He’s also coming off of a down year, which may complicate things. In 2019, Kerrigan had just 5.5 sacks, the lowest single-season tally of his career.
“What I did last year was definitely not what I ever want to put on film again,” Kerrigan said. “I got away from some fundamental things that really prevented me from being productive like I usually am.”
There was some talk that the Redskins would cut Kerrigan this offseason, but Rivera said in February that the veteran is staying put.