NFC Notes: Cardinals, D. Johnson, Vikings
After losing the majority of the 2017 season to injury, extension talks between David Johnson and the Cardinals could prove to be tricky. When healthy in 2016, Johnson was one of the very best running backs in the NFL. The Cardinals understand Johnson’s importance to the team, but there could be a divide between the two sides when it comes to money.
With that in mind, Hardik Sanghavi of Over The Cap took a stab at estimating a proper extension for Johnson. He believes a five-year extension with $48.75MM in new money ($9.75MM/year) and $19.5MM in full guarantees would get the job done. That deal would allow Johnson to top Devonta Freeman‘s annual average and three-year cash flow, while giving the Cardinals a lengthy period of control.
Johnson, in theory, could play out his final year under contract and push for more money down the road, but he’d lose the security of an extension and be subject to two consecutive franchise tags, which would preclude him from free agency until after the 2020 season.
For more on Johnson’s potential deal, check out Ben Levine’s recent look at the running back as an extension candidate.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- Tackle Riley Reiff, who signed a five-year, $58.75MM free agent deal with the Vikings last year, is among the players in Minnesota who must live up to his contract this year, Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune writes. Last year, Case Keenum was the third-most pressured quarterback in the NFL (39.3%), and part of that blame falls on the shoulders of Reiff, who is the leader of the offensive line. Reiff started the year strong, but his performance tailed off in the second half of the season, so he’ll look to get back on track this September. Reiff, the eighth-highest paid left tackle in the NFL, graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 59 ranked tackle in 2017.
- Both Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter and GM Jason Licht are on the hot seat this year, ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett opines. The Bucs were the only NFC South team to miss the playoffs last year and that was a disappointment considering their abundance of young talent. The Bucs did manage to win nine games in an injury-plagued 2016 season, but patience could quickly wear out if the team falters this year. Of course, Jameis Winston‘s three-game suspension to start the year won’t help matters.
- Linebacker Junior Galette seems to think that he could potentially re-sign with the Redskins.
Latest On Bills RB LeSean McCoy
The ex-girlfriend of Bills running back LeSean McCoy told police she believed McCoy “set her up” for the home invasion that left her bloodied and beaten this week, ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak writes. Police have yet to identify a suspect, but Delicia Cordon described the attacker as a black male who was wearing a mask. This person is wanted for armed robbery, aggravated assault with a firearm, residential burglary without force, and aggravated battery. 
The suspect in question is definitely not McCoy, who was in a different state at the time of the assault. But after the person demanded “specific items of jewelry” that Cordon received from McCoy, she believes that he had a hand in the incident.
Cordon’s attorneys say their client was beaten in the head with a firearm and also suffered wrist injuries as the suspect tried to remove her jewelry by force. Later, photos of Cordon posted on social media showed the brutal aftermath of the disturbing event.
Shortly after the allegations surfaced, McCoy issued a statement denying the “totally baseless and offensive claims” made against him. He has also hired high-profile defense attorney Don Samuel to represent him in the matter.
Police were also called to McCoy’s home in July of last year and April of this year for domestic disputes between McCoy and Cordon, Rodak writes. Last July, McCoy wanted Cordon evicted, citing a fear that she would make “false accusations” about him after they broke up. McCoy also told police that Cordon refused to return expensive jewelry that was loaned to him by jewelers.
The NFL is aware of the accusations against McCoy and is conducting an investigation of its own. While things play out, the league reserves the right to place McCoy on the commissioner’s exempt list. If the NFL takes that step, McCoy would be temporarily barred from participating in either practice or games.
In addition to McCoy, the Bills also have running backs Chris Ivory, Travaris Cadet, Taiwan Jones, Marcus Murphy, and Keith Ford under contract. If McCoy is taken out of the equation, it stands to reason that the Bills could consider free agents such as DeMarco Murray and Adrian Peterson to fill the void.
If McCoy is not fully cleared of the allegations between now and September, it seems unlikely that he will be in uniform for Week 1. And, if the allegations prove to be true, then McCoy has almost certainly played his final down in the NFL.
26 NFL Players Suspended To Start Season
Football gets underway in September, but not for these 26 players. Here’s a rundown of the players who have been suspended to start the 2018 season:
- Vadal Alexander, OT (Raiders) – Four games, PEDs
- Akeem Ayers, LB (Free Agent) – Four games, reason not disclosed
- Victor Bolden, WR (49ers) – Four games, PEDs
- Nigel Bradham, LB (Eagles) – One game, conduct violation
- Kentrell Brothers, LB (Vikings) – Four games, PEDs
- Jamon Brown, OT (Rams) – Two games, substance abuse
- Vontaze Burfict, LB (Bengals) – Four games, PEDs
- Jalen Collins, CB (Free Agent) – Ten games, PEDs
- Thomas Davis, LB (Panthers) – Four games, PEDs
- Julian Edelman, WR (Patriots) – Four games, PEDs
- Reuben Foster (49ers) – Two games, substance abuse and conduct violations
- Jerrell Freeman, LB (Free Agent/Retired) – Two years, likely for PED violation
- Demetrius Harris, TE (Chiefs) – One game, substance abuse
- Josh Huff, WR (Saints) – Two games, substance abuse and conduct violations
- Mark Ingram, RB (Saints) – Four games, PEDs
- David Irving, DT (Cowboys) – Four games, substance abuse
- Aaron Jones, RB (Packers) – Two games, substance abuse
- Cayleb Jones, WR (Vikings) – Four games, PEDs
- Corey Liuget, DT (Chargers) – Four games, PEDs
- Josh Mauro, DT (Giants) – Four games, PEDs
- Roy Miller, DT (Free Agent/Retired) – Six games, reason not disclosed
- Mark Sanchez, QB (Free Agent) – Four games, PEDs
- Donald Stephenson, OT (Browns/Retired) – Two games, substance abuse
- Kent Taylor, TE (Free Agent) – Four games, PEDs
- Robert Turbin, RB (Colts) – Four games, PEDs
- Jameis Winston, QB (Buccaneers) – Three games, conduct violation
AFC North Notes: Steelers, Ravens, Browns
Here’s a look at the AFC North:
- Guard Ramon Foster is entering his tenth season with the Steelers, but it could be his last, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. Foster’s contract expires after the season, and the Steelers might prefer to go with a younger option next year, such as backup B.J. Finney. Finney, who will be a 27-year-old restricted free agent in March, has filled in capably for Foster in four games over the last two seasons.
- The Ravens kept four tight ends last season, but there is no assurance that will be the plan this year, Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun writes. First-round pick Hayden Hurst and third-round pick Mark Andrews are locks for the roster, leaving returning veterans Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams on the bubble. Boyle and Williams offer blocking prowess, but they combined for just 289 receiving yards last year. That was barely more than half of the yards compiled by Benjamin Watson, who left in the offseason to sign with the Saints.
- The Browns are so bullish on their defensive ends that they passed on Bradley Chubb at No. 4 overall in order to select Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. That decision rankled some fans, but the Browns still have solid depth at the position. That depth could leave former second-round pick Nate Orchard without a job, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. Orchard second in the nation with 18.5 sacks as a college senior at Utah, but he has yet to produce at the pro level. He saw time in all 16 games in 2017, but started only one and finished out with 25 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one recovery.
Redskins Notes: Alexander, Kelley, Perine
On Wednesday, the Redskins selected cornerback Adonis Alexander in the sixth round of the NFL’s supplemental draft. Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports gives the Redskins a “B” grade for the pick, noting his size (6’2″, 194 pounds), ball skills, and potential as a development press corner. However, there are concerns about his maturity and a slow 40-yard-dash time (4.64 seconds) at his pro day earlier this year.
The Redskins have reason to believe that Alexander can shine, warts and all, thanks to the presence of defensive backs coach Torrian Gray. Gray coached Alexander during his freshman All-American season at Virginia Tech in 2015 and has seen what he can do at his best. Paylor also has some optimism about Alexander thanks to the veteran leadership of D.J. Swearinger. If Alexander can contribute in 2018, he’ll help to offset the loss of corners Kendall Fuller and Bashaud Breeland this offseason.
Here’s more out of D.C.:
- Alexander’s potential upside outweighed the risk for the Redskins, Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com writes. The Redskins tend to steer away from red flags, but Alexander has been honest about his academic troubles at Virginia Tech. It’s also worth noting that the Redskins had three sixth-round picks heading into the supplemental draft, so they still have plenty of late-round ammo for 2019.
- Derrius Guice and Chris Thompson are the only running backs that are locks for the Redskins’ roster, Tandler writes. After that, he classifies Samaje Perine and Rob Kelley as being “on the bubble.” It would be a surprise to see Perine, a 2017 fourth-round pick, on the outs, but Tandler says he must learn to follow his blocks in order to be a contributor for the club. Kelley, meanwhile, is a favorite of coach Jay Gruden, but injuries limited him to just seven games and 194 yards last year. If Kelley doesn’t look strong this summer, it’s possible that he could be leapfrogged by Byron Marshall or Kapri Bibbs as the fourth RB on the roster.
Free Agent K Nick Novak Recovers From Back Injury
Free agent kicker Nick Novak is healthy once again and ready to audition for teams, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. This week, Novak won a kicking competition at the John Carney specialty camp over Nick Folk and others, so it sounds like he’s back to his old form. 
Novak has enjoyed two separate stints with the Chargers: he first kicked for the club from 2011-14 before reuniting for a nine-game stretch in 2017. One of four kickers to appear in a game for Los Angeles last season, Novak converted only 9-of-13 field goal attempts and also missed an extra point. Towards the end of the year, Novak aggravated a back injury and was placed on IR. In 2016, Novak nailed 85.4% of his attempts with the Texans, which was a tick above his career average.
Novak, who will turn 37 in August, is hoping to get another shot in the NFL. There are no real kicker vacancies at this stage of the offseason, but it’s not uncommon for teams to bring in additional competition for the job.
Despite his struggles last year, Novak was once among the league’s best kickers. In 2013, he sank 91.9% of his attempts and connected on all eleven of his tries from 40-50 yards out.
Marcell Dareus Facing Second Lawsuit
On Wednesday night, we learned that Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is being sued by a Texas woman who is accusing him of sexual assault and the transmission of an STD. In addition to that, Dareus is also being sued for a separate incident in January of 2017, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times writes. 
Dareus rented a mansion in Florida on the week of the college football national championship game. The defensive tackle invited the accuser to an afterparty at his place, where she alleges that he groped her against her wishes. The woman says she “blacked out” from drinking and woke up next to an unclothed Dareus. Realizing that there had been “sexual physical acts upon her person,” she left to go back to her hotel.
No criminal charges were filed after the alleged event and the accuser says that she initially kept the details of the incident private, “due to embarrassment and self-guilt.” In a court date on August 9, Dareus will move to have the lawsuit dismissed.
Regardless of how either case turns out, Dareus could be subject to NFL discipline following an investigation from the league office. The league’s conduct policy calls for a baseline six-game ban for sexual assault offenses.
Dareus, 28, came to the Jaguars in a midseason trade from the Bills. Dareus wound up playing in nine regular season games for the Jags as well as their three-game playoff run. Overall, Dareus graded out as the No. 51 ranked defensive tackle in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus. It wasn’t his best season, but the Jaguars were hopeful that Dareus could get back to his old form this year. In 2014, he managed ten sacks from the interior.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/11/18
Today’s minor moves:
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Kenneth Durden
Washington Redskins
- Waived: P Sam Irwin-Hill
FOX May Hire Jeff Fisher As Analyst
Jeff Fisher recently said that he is still eyeing an NFL head coaching job, though he does not want to work as a coordinator or assistant in the interim. In keeping with that, Fisher could stay involved in the football world as an analyst. FOX Sports is talking to Fisher about serving as one of its NFL game analysts this season, sources tell Michael McCarthy of the Sporting News. 
Fisher was not seriously considered for any head coaching vacancies this offseason, even though he was reportedly eyeing jobs with the Colts, Browns, and Bears. The Bears hired Matt Nagy, the Colts went with Frank Reich, and the Browns retained Hue Jackson despite speculation that his job was in jeopardy. Fisher has connections throughout the NFL, but those contacts did not yield an interview this year.
Fisher boasts 22 years of head coaching experience, but he has five 8-8 seasons and four 7-9 seasons (plus one 7-8-1 campaign) on his record. Those numbers largely overshadow his successes, including his multiple playoff teams in Tennessee.
In his nearly five year run with the Rams, Fisher went 31-45-1 with no playoff appearances. He had better success with the Titans, though they reached the Super Bowl just once in his 17 years at the helm. Overall, Fisher owns a career 173-165-1 regular season record.
It’s not immediately clear whether Fisher would serve as a color commentator for FOX or as a studio analyst.
Jets Sign Brandon Bryant
The Jets are expected to sign former Mississippi State safety Brandon Bryant, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Bryant wasn’t selected in Wednesday’s supplemental draft, clearing the way for him to sign with Gang Green.
The team announced the signing Monday.
Bryant has been praised for his high-end athleticism, but he didn’t set the world on fire at his pro day. Still, he ran a 40-yard-dash in the 4.4-second range for teams and he’s viewed as someone who could be a special teams contributor right off the bat.
In a recent scouting report, Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com praised Bryant’s “huge upside” and ability to take off in every direction. While he moves well laterally and effectively covers receivers on crossing patterns, Pauline was less effusive in his evaluation of Bryant’s physicality and sense of urgency.
As a freshman, Bryant totaled 63 tackles, three interceptions, and six pass breakups. He has not been able to reprise that performance since then, however, and off-the-field troubles have hurt his stock in recent months. Bryant was arrested and charged for a DUI in January of last year and was declared academically ineligible for this season, prompting him to go pro.
The Jets will start Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye at safety and project to have Terrence Brooks and J.J. Wilcox as their top backups while Rontez Miles heals up from a knee injury. Bryant will work to crack the roster in the coming weeks, and, if he succeeds, he could displace Appalachian State product Doug Middleton.