Redskins Release Josh Norman
The Redskins have released cornerback Josh Norman, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). Some believed that new Redskins head coach and old friend Ron Rivera would keep Norman on board, but his outsized contract ultimately pushed him out of the picture. 
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Norman was at odds with the Redskins last year and the club tried to shop him at the deadline. Towards the end of the season, he missed time due a reported illness and saw his snap count dwindle. He wound up playing in just 12 games total and recorded 40 tackles, his lowest career showing for any season with double-digit appearances.
The advanced metrics also showed that he lost a step or three in 2019. Norman graded out as the third-worst qualified cornerback in PFF’s rankings with a putrid 45.6 overall score. It was a precipitous fall for the 32-year-old, who was once one of the league’s best.
Norman joined the Redskins on a five-year, $75MM deal in April of 2016 following a messy breakup with the Panthers. At the start of the offseason, the Panthers employed the franchise tag to keep Norman from testing free agency – a one-year, $14MM deal. Then, they hit a stalemate in long-term talks when Norman demanded roughly $16MM per season. The Panthers stunned everyone by rescinding the tag and the Redskins were happy to pounce on the opportunity.
At the time, Norman profiled as an absolute game-changer. In 2015, he was named to the All Pro first team and notched career highs in interceptions (four) and passes defensed (18). In that season, he was PFF’s No. 12 ranked CB.
With drama throughout the organization and issues on both sides of the ball, the Redskins have been mired in an absolute rut for years. Norman, never one to pull punches, was openly critical of Washington throughout.
Cornerback now profiles as one of the Redskins’ top needs this offseason, and they’ll have a bit of extra cap room to land a new cover man. Panthers free agent James Bradberry – one of Rivera’s faves from their time together in Carolina – figures to be heavily connected to the Redskins as they reconfigure their secondary. For his part, Bradberry says he wouldn’t mind a reunion, though staying with the Panthers would be his top choice.
By releasing Norman, the Redskins will save $12.5MM against the 2020 salary cap with just $3MM in dead money.
Jets Sign TE Daniel Brown To Extension
The Jets have signed tight end Daniel Brown to a one-year extension, according to a team press release. Terms of the deal are not yet known. Last year, he earned $805K while counting for just $735K against the cap, thanks to the minimum salary benefit provision.
Brown joined Gang Green in March, fresh off of a two-year stint with the Ravens. In recent years, he hasn’t been utilized much as a pass-catcher, but the Jets still found plenty of use for him in 2019. Brown, 28 in May, lined up for 29% of their offensive snaps and was featured 67% of the time on special teams. He also appeared in every single game, marking his first NFL season with perfect attendance.
Brown figures to be a part of the plan in 2020 as well, though he’ll be playing behind Ryan Griffin and Chris Herndon. Herndon missed all but one game last year thanks a suspension, plus hamstring and rib injuries. In his stead, Griffin had 34 catches for 320 yards and five touchdowns.
Today, the Jets also announced the signing of Rutgers product Anthony Cioffi. Cioffi spent the last two seasons in the CFL where he played as a defensive back and an undersized linebacker.
Chargers’ Anthony Lynn Signs Extension
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn will not be a lame duck in 
2020. The Chargers recently inked Lynn to a one-year extension that keeps him under contract through 2021, per Eric Williams of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Williams’ ESPN colleague, Adam Schefter, reported earlier this month that the two sides had agreed to an extension.
The move obviously represents something of a vote of confidence in Lynn and suggests that he won’t be on the hot seat this year, despite the team’s disappointing 2019. The Chargers finished out with a 5-11 record, but they still believe that Lynn is the best man to lead them moving forward.
The new deal for Lynn addresses at least one question mark for the Bolts, but plenty remain for them this offseason. The Chargers’ first priority will be to figure out the future of their quarterback position.
Longtime franchise face Philip Rivers recently bought a home in Florida, leading many to speculate that a divorce is just around the corner. However, the Chargers haven’t made a firm decision on what they’ll do with No. 17 – they could use the franchise tag to keep him, rather than negotiating a fresh deal with the aging vet. Alternatively, they could allow Rivers to walk and promote Tyrod Taylor to the starting role. Beyond those two QBs, there are ample possibilities on the open market, including future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
In three seasons as the Chargers’ head coach, Lynn has coached the team to a 26-22 record. In 2018, his second year at the helm, the Chargers made the playoffs with a 12-4 record and advanced to the Divisional Round before they were downed by Brady & Co.
In the eyes of GM Tom Telesco, Lynn was not to blame for the Chargers’ down year – there were injuries abound and Rivers’ inconsistency certainly did not help matters. This year, the Chargers will have upwards of $48MM in cap room, plus the No. 6 overall pick, as they look to get back on the right track.
Colin Kaepernick Still Wants To Play In NFL
Colin Kaepernick is long removed from his last snap, but he’s not giving up hope on returning to the NFL. The former 49ers quarterback tells Jarrett Bell of USA Today that he’ll be ready to go if he gets a call. 
“My desire to play football is still there,” Kaepernick said. “I still train five days a week. I’m ready to go, I’m ready for a phone call, tryout, workout at any point in time. I’m still waiting on the owners and their partners to stop running from this situation. So I hope I get a call this offseason. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
At this time, it doesn’t seem likely that Kaepernick will get that opportunity. Late last year, the NFL organized an open workout for the QB, a tryout that came without much in the way of prior notice for anyone, including Kaepernick. Instead of going through with the one-man combine at the Falcons’ facility, Kaepernick pivoted at the last moment and staged a workout of his own elsewhere in Georgia. Afterwards, Kaepernick’s camp sent footage of the workout to all 32 teams. Still, his agent admitted that the odds of his client signing an NFL deal were slim.
In the midst of all of this, there have been murmurs of Kaepernick joining up with Vince McMahon’s reboot of the XFL, which kicked off its 2020 season just after the Super Bowl. There’s no movement on that front, either, and it doesn’t sound like things will change anytime soon. Recently, XFL commish Oliver Luck reiterated that Kaepernick’s salary demands were too high, and also said that the league would not be willing to bend on its policy on standing for the national anthem.
Kaepernick, 33 in November, hasn’t seen live action since January 1, 2017. Since then, the Seahawks have been the only team to bring him in for a workout.
From 2011-2016, he went 28-30 in his starts for San Francisco. Following the 2012 season, he took the 49ers to the Super Bowl. In the 2013 season, he was under center as they reached the NFC championship game.
Later this year, Kaepernick will release a memoir via his newly formed publishing company and a partnership with Audible.
Lions Shoot Down Matthew Stafford Trade Talk
On Wednesday night, a local Detroit TV station reported that the Lions have been discussing a Matthew Stafford trade for the past few weeks. Early Thursday morning, GM Bob Quinn issued a strong denial.
“100% False!!” Quinn wrote in a text message to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
After a 3-12-1 season, the Lions figure to make plenty of changes this offseason. Those changes apparently won’t include the departure of Stafford, who has been their starter for the past eleven seasons. Even if the Lions did want to move on, Stafford’s contract would be an impediment. Thanks to his lucrative deal, and a restructuring of the pact late last year, a trade or release would result in a $32MM dead money hit against the 2020 cap. Instead, Stafford will stay put and count for a $21.3MM charge.
It was a trying year for Stafford, who saw his streak of 136 consecutive starts come to a halt in November. Even with fractured bones in his back, Stafford tried and hoped for a quick recovery that would allow him to retake the field last season. That didn’t happen – his season ended after eight starts, nearly 2,500 passing yards and 19 touchdowns against five interceptions.
Now 32, Stafford still profiles as a veteran QB who can help the team win. His presence won’t preclude the team from exploring passers in the draft, either. The Lions hold the No. 3 pick, which should give them the opportunity to select anyone not named Joe Burrow. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, for example, figures to be available. Given his serious hip injury, it would make perfect sense for Stafford to operate as the team’s starter while Tagovailoa works his way back to full strength. Same goes for Justin Herbert or any rookie QB in need of seasoning.
Or, instead, the Lions could parlay their No. 3 pick into a host of picks to address multiple holes. If the Bengals stand pat at No. 1 and take Burrow, and the Redskins keep their No. 2 pick to select Chase Young, the Lions would be in a great position to trade with another team desperate to land their QB of choice while he’s still up for grabs.
Bengals Willing To Work With Andy Dalton On Trade
Earlier this offseason, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin left all options on the table when addressing Andy Dalton‘s future. Now, the wheels are in motion for the expected scenario to play out. The Bengals informed their longtime quarterback that they’re willing to work with him in order to facilitate a trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 
The Bengals are widely expected to take LSU’s Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick. Dalton, in theory, could return as a bridge to Burrow (or another QB), but the veteran has made it known that he wants to start in 2020.
Dalton, a second-round pick in 2011, has been the Bengals’ starter since the get-go. But, in the midst of a dreadful 2019 for the entire team, he was benched in favor of rookie Ryan Finley. Dalton got the ball back in Week 13, but he didn’t do much to change anyone’s mind. In the final four games of the season, Dalton completed just 57.9% of his throws with seven touchdowns that were tarnished by six interceptions.
For what it’s worth, Dalton was under center for the Bengals’ only two victories of the season – a 22-6 win over the Jekyll-and-Hyde Jets and W over the Browns (sans Myles Garrett) in the finale.
Dalton, 33 in October, has thrown for a franchise record 204 touchdowns. He’s also three full seasons removed from his best work. In 2016, he captured his third career Pro Bowl nomination with a 64.7% completion rate and 4,206 passing yards. Even then, his 18 passing touchdowns were nothing to write home about and the Bengals only managed a 6-9-1 record on the year.
Still, Dalton is an important part of the franchise’s history. He’s one of only five quarterbacks in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first five seasons, but when Marvin Lewis was finally fired after last year it signaled the beginning of the end. As for where the TCU product might land, that’s very much up in the air. There are a number of teams that could be interested on paper, but there are also going to be a ton of veteran quarterbacks looking for new homes. This should be one of the most active quarterback carousels in recent memory, and it’s possible Dalton is dealt sometime after the dust settles between free agency and the draft.
Cardinals Owner Backs GM Steve Keim
With eight total wins over the last two seasons, Cardinals fans are feeling antsy and some have pointed fingers at GM Steve Keim. In an interview with 98.7 Arizona Sports on Wednesday, owner Michael Bidwill made it known that Keim has his full support, despite the club’s recent lack of success. 
“He just picked a Rookie of the Year,” Bidwill said, referring to No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray (transcription via the team website). “He had a lot to do with hiring [head coach] Kliff Kingsbury. He’s done a lot of things right. I feel like we’ve certainly turned, and for as much as the Cardinals are going in the right direction, Steve Keim deserves a lot of credit for that. I hope fans realize that was a lot of his decision-making.”
Bidwill admitted that Keim’s draft record has been less than sterling, but he also pointed out some highlights of the GM’s resume, including the trade to acquire running back Kenyan Drake. Many questioned the wisdom of that move, given that the Cardinals were out of the playoff hunt and Drake is due for free agency in March. Still, Drake delivered, rushing for 5.2 yards per carry in his eight games with Arizona.
“He has received his fair share of criticism,” Bidwill said. “Some of these draft picks didn’t work out. But you look at this last year, look at the number of starters who were not available for the defense and had they been available, things could have been, on the defensive side of the ball, much different. That had to do with injuries and other things you can’t blame the general manager for.”
Keim, with support from Bidwill, has nearly $54MM in cap space to work with, as of this writing. He’s also armed with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft as the Cardinals look to climb out of their rut.
No Surgery For Laviska Shenault
Good news for one of the most talented wide receivers in this year’s draft. Colorado’s Laviska Shenault was informed that he’ll only need rest, and not surgery, to address his nagging groin injury, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
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Shenault’s pain has been traced to osteitis pubis, which translates to inflammation of the pubic bone. Despite the aches, Shenault hopes to participate in the combine later this month as well as his pro day on March 11.
Before his latest doctor’s visit, teams were concerned that Shenault had aggravated a core injury, which kept him out of two games in 2019. Fortunately, that’s not the case, and the Colorado star should still be on track as a first-round pick.
This year’s crop of available receivers is uncommonly deep. Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma), Henry Ruggs III (Alabama, again), Tee Higgins (Clemson), and Justin Jefferson (LSU) headline the group along with Shenault. All of those players offer serious upside, but not all of them possess Shenault’s versatility. At Colorado, the man they call “2 Live” lined up at all three WR spots.
Shenault broke out in 2018 as he posted more than 1,000 yards and six touchdowns through the air, plus five more TDs on the ground for good measure. In eleven games last year, he finished with 764 yards but upped his per-catch average to 13.6 yards.
Browns’ Myles Garrett Reinstated By NFL
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has been reinstated by the NFL, as first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (on Twitter). Garrett was suspended indefinitely for his role in last year’s brawl against the Steelers, but he has the green light to return after meeting with league brass this week. 
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“We welcome Myles back to our organization with open arms,” said Browns GM Andrew Berry in a team press release. “We know he is grateful to be reinstated, eager to put the past behind him and continue to evolve and grow as a leader. We look forward to having his strong positive presence back as a teammate, player and person in our community.”
Garrett, the former No. 1 overall pick in the draft, made headlines for all the wrong reasons in November after he swung at Mason Rudolph‘s unprotected head with the quarterback’s own helmet. In the days that followed, Garrett’s camp alleged that the fracas was prompted by Rudolph’s use of a racial slur. The Steelers QB, through his attorney, vehemently denied those charges.
All along, it has been expected that Garrett would be permitted to play this season. Going off of the league’s recent disciplinary history, there will likely be some conditions for Garrett to satisfy even as he’s welcomed back to the field. During his ban, the NFL ordered Garrett to undergo counseling, among other things.
Before the ugliness, Garrett had a reputation as one of the league’s consummate professionals. His lack of a rap sheet, and humanitarian work, probably helped to facilitate his return. Next week, he’ll fly to Tanzania to bring clean water to locals in need.
Garrett, set to enter his fourth season as a pro, registered ten sacks in just ten games last season. Had he played a full season, he likely would have shattered his previous watermark of 13.5 sacks from the 2018 campaign. Despite the time he missed between his first-year injuries and last year’s suspension, Garrett’s 30.5 lifetime sacks are the most ever tallied by a Browns player during the first three years of their career.
Latest On Patriots, Tom Brady
With roughly one month before the start of the new league year, Tom Brady still seems on course for free agency. As of late last week, the Patriots and Brady have yet to engage in contract talks, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss reports. 
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That shouldn’t necessarily be cause for panic among Patriots fans. Brady has been upfront and clear about his intentions for months – he plans to test the waters and chat with interested teams in March before signing his next deal.
Brady, at this point, has all of the power for obvious and contractual reasons. If Brady is not on the Patriots’ roster on March 18th, the Patriots will be hit with a $13.5MM cap charge thanks to the structure of his deal. Ideally, the Patriots would like to extend Brady before that point to solidify their plans and smooth out the fiscal impact. Right now, the Pats are projected to have $29MM in cap space.
For what it’s worth, Brady’s buddy and former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis believes that the QB will prioritize winning over money.
“I texted him when they picked the top 100 … and said ‘Congrats.’ He said ‘For what?’ I said for being part of the top 100 and then on top of it, [some in the media] picked you to be the starter. He goes, ‘You know the only thing I’m worrying about is a ring,’” Weis told SiriusXM recently. “That kind of sums it up. He wants to win another championship. That’s why he’s still playing. He wouldn’t play for money at this point.”
The Chargers and Raiders have been heavily connected to Brady, but the future Hall of Famer figures to have a long list of suitors in March. The Titans, for example, could throw their hat in the ring if they are unable to find middle ground with free agent Ryan Tannehill.