Extension Candidate: Jadeveon Clowney
Despite an injury-riddled rookie season, Texans edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney has blossomed into one of the league’s best defensive players. Now coming off of his second-straight Pro Bowl selection and his first full season, Clowney is pushing for a lucrative new deal to put him near the top of the market at his position. 
[RELATED: Who Will End Offseason As NFL’s Highest-Paid Defender?]
Thanks to the fifth-year option, the Texans have Clowney under contract for 2018 at a salary of $12.3MM. After that, Clowney will be eligible to hit the open market, unless the Texans use the franchise tag or iron out an extension with him.
The projected franchise tag amount often provides a framework for deals, but it’s a bit more complicated than that in Clowney’s case. In 2016, Clowney saw a great deal of time at defensive end in the Texans’ 3-4 scheme. Last year, he saw more time at linebacker than defensive end. It remains to be seen how Clowney’s position will be defined for purposes of the tag. If he’s classified a linebacker, then the tag will be worth around $16.3MM in 2019. If he’s considered a defensive end, then the Texans will be looking at the prospect of at least $18MM for the one-year placeholder.
The Texans and Clowney have not made significant strides on an extension just yet, and that could have something to do with Clowney’s slower-than-expected recovery from a recent knee procedure. The pending extensions for Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald may also hold things up. We could see a three-way game of chicken here as each player would probably like to use one of the other deals as a framework for talks. Then again, Clowney is not quite as accomplished as Mack and Donald, so his agents might not be wary about being the first to the trough.
So, what sort of deal would make sense for both sides? The Texans showed a willingness to back up the Brinks truck in 2014 when they gave J.J. Watt a six-year, $100MM deal, but his injury issues are a reminder of the risks that come with big-money deals.
Clowney’s camp will certainly use Watt’s deal as a reference point, but they could use Olivier Vernon‘s five-year, $85MM free agent deal with the Giants as their real blueprint. Clowney just turned 25 in February, so a shorter deal would allow him to hit the open market near the age of 30, giving him an opportunity to cash in all over again. Copying Vernon’s deal to the letter would give Clowney $17MM/year on average with a whopping $40MM fully guaranteed at signing. An equivalent deal adjusted for cap increases, meanwhile, would give him nearly $19.5MM per season, which may be too rich for the Texans’ blood. For reference, the AAV on that deal would top Von Miller‘s six-year, $114.6MM contract, which presently stands as the league’s richest deal for a defensive player.
NFL Suspends Packers RB Aaron Jones
The hits just keep on comin’. On Tuesday afternoon, the NFL announced that Packers running back Aaron Jones has been suspended for the first two games of the season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. 
In typical fashion, the NFL has used the cover of the upcoming holiday as a cover for its less-than-positive news. First, a two-game ban was announced for 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster. Then, Rams lineman Jamon Brown was hit with a two-game suspension. Now, Jones has been sidelined for the first two weeks of the regular season.
Jones was slated to start the year as the Packers’ top ball-carrier this year, along with former wide receiver Ty Montgomery. Now, Jones will have to wait until Week 3 to take the field.
It’s likely that Jones’ ban stems from the multiple charges he picked up from a traffic stop in October of last year. Jones, who told authorities that he had smoked marijuana, pleaded not guilty to counts of speeding, driving without a valid license, and operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his system.
Jones, 23, averaged an eye-popping 5.5 yards per carry in a limited 12-game sample for the Packers last year. This year, he’ll miss the club’s first two games against the Bears and Vikings before returning on Sept. 23 to face the Redskins.
Rams’ Jamon Brown Suspended By NFL
Rams offensive guard Jamon Brown has been suspended without pay for the first two games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He’ll be barred from playing against the Raiders and Cardinals before being eligible to return in Week 3 against the Chargers. 
[RELATED: Latest On Aaron Donald, Rams Extension Talks]
Brown, who is entering his fourth year in the NFL, was projected to open the year as the team’s starting right guard. For the first two weeks of the season, the Rams could plug interior lineman Austin Blythe as the starter. Alternatively, they could explore veteran options on the open market.
Last year, Pro Football Focus rated Brown as the 38th best guard in the NFL with an uninspiring 52.1 overall score. He did, however, do a respectable job of run blocking, per the advanced metrics.
Between now and the start of the season, Brown remains eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.
NFL Suspends 49ers LB Reuben Foster
The NFL has suspended 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster for the first two games of the regular season. Foster will miss contests against the Vikings and Lions before returning to the active roster on Sept. 17. 
[RELATED – Could The 49ers Sign Dez Bryant?]
Foster’s suspension comes as a result of violating the NFL’s conduct and substance-abuse policies. He’ll also be fined for violations stemming from weapons and drug charges. Although he will not serve jail time for any of his off-the-field missteps, the league reserves the right to discipline players for actions that are barred by the NFL.
“Our organization understands and supports the League’s decision,” GM John Lynch said in a statement. “Although we are disappointed that Reuben will not be with our team for the first two games of the season, we will continue to work with him on making better decisions and eliminating unnecessary distractions. We are encouraged to see Reuben take responsibility for his mistakes, and hopeful that he has learned from them as well.”
Just weeks ago, Foster was facing jail time for accusations of domestic abuse against his former girlfriend. Had he been convicted, Lynch said he would have been booted from the team.
Foster, meanwhile, says that he accepts the league’s decision and took accountability for his actions.
“I accept the League’s decision and am sorry that my mistakes have hurt my team,” Foster said in a statement released by the Niners. “I have a responsibility to the 49ers, our fans and our community, and I am committed to learning from this situation and making better choices in the future. The support I have received over the last five months has been humbling, and I do not take it for granted.”
On the field, Foster has been a solid contributor for the Niners. As a rookie in 2017, he recorded 72 total tackles in ten games (all starts). In November, he earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors.
LSU, Alabama Lead NFL In Cap Dollars By College
Alabama won the national championship this year, but LSU has them beat in another category. More salary cap dollars in the NFL are being spent on Tigers alum than any other school in the country, according to Over The Cap.
Former LSU players are set to take in a total of $160.37MM NFL dollars this year, thanks in part to top earners such as Jarvis Landry, Patrick Peterson, Andrew Whitworth, Michael Brockers, and Odell Beckham Jr. Alabama – a group that includes Julio Jones, Marcell Dareus, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Kareem Jackson – is not far behind at $157.12MM.
Here’s the rundown of the Top 25, according to OTC:
| Rk. | College | # of players | Cap Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LSU | 61 | $160,369,274 |
| 2 | Alabama | 60 | $157,122,963 |
| 3 | USC | 48 | $151,068,123 |
| 4 | Georgia | 44 | $149,165,318 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 53 | $130,270,159 |
| 6 | Miami | 50 | $128,288,740 |
| 7 | California | 33 | $126,843,410 |
| 8 | Florida State | 50 | $121,923,570 |
| 9 | Florida | 51 | $118,224,071 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 38 | $105,483,720 |
| 11 | Stanford | 36 | $100,104,655 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 32 | $95,928,735 |
| 13 | Clemson | 42 | $90,882,721 |
| 14 | Michigan State | 28 | $90,363,894 |
| 15 | Notre Dame | 38 | $88,797,566 |
| 16 | South Carolina | 28 | $88,350,715 |
| 17 | Texas A&M | 33 | $85,645,140 |
| 18 | Iowa | 33 | $82,139,839 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 38 | $79,788,631 |
| 20 | Penn State | 40 | $75,628,782 |
| 21 | Oregon | 33 | $73,695,597 |
| 22 | Mississippi State | 25 | $71,898,567 |
| 23 | Michigan | 36 | $71,787,690 |
| 24 | Mississippi | 28 | $71,757,391 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 33 | $66,999,307 |
There has been some movement on this list since 2017. In September of last year, Georgia led the way thanks to the big money contracts of Justin Houston, Cordy Glenn, Matthew Stafford, A.J. Green, Geno Atkins, and Thomas Davis. After that, USC, Alabama, LSU, and Cal rounded out the top five.
The list may also change between now and the start of the 2018 season. For example, if the Falcons give Jones the contract enhancement he’s seeking, Alabama could easily regain the top spot.
OTC also has the breakdown of cap dollars spent per FBS conference. As expected, the SEC leads the way with nearly $1.2 billion spent on its former players. After that, it’s the Big Ten ($834.41MM), Pac-12 ($796.4MM), ACC ($789.6MM), Big 12 ($419.21MM), The American ($299.85MM), Mountain West ($231.81MM), Mid-American ($190.55MM), Conference USA ($154.3MM), the Independents ($130.37MM, led by Notre Dame), and the Sun Belt ($96.34MM). Players from outside of the FBS fall somewhere in the middle, with a total of $643.31MM.
Poll: Which Team Will Sign Dez Bryant?
Dez Bryant, to our knowledge, has not drawn a significant offer since turning down a three-year, $21MM offer from the Ravens. As his market stagnated, Bryant’s camp leaked word that he would not be signing until July. Well, here we are.
We’ve heard very little about Bryant over the last four weeks, so it’s anyone’s guess as to where he’ll land. And, if it’s anyone’s guess, it might as well be our guess. Before we ask you predict where Bryant will land, let’s run down some of the possible contenders: 
49ers – Bryant has openly lobbied for an opportunity with the Niners and there’s reason to believe that could become a reality. The 49ers stayed away from the wide receivers at the top of this year’s free agent market, but Bryant’s price tag figures to be a lot lower than that of Sammy Watkins or Allen Robinson. With more than $45MM in cap room – good for third-highest in the NFL – the Niners certainly have the space to take on a player of Bryant’s caliber. And, because they have an eye on the future, they could be willing to give Bryant the one-year platform deal he is seeking. The 49ers have some talent at wide receiver including Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, but none of the receivers expected to make the roster are above 6’0″. Bryant – billed at 6’2″ – would give provide them with a tall red zone target.
Bills – Outside of No. 1 WR Kelvin Benjamin, the Bills have tons of question marks at the position. Bryant is the best wide receiver still available (or, at least, the biggest name left), so he could make some sense as the player to supplant the unreliable Zay Jones as the team’s No. 2 WR. Bills GM Brandon Beane didn’t sound enthusiastic when talking about Bryant back in April, but he didn’t explicitly rule him out either.
Cardinals – After losing both John Brown and Jaron Brown, the Cardinals could be interested in adding some talent to their wide receiver group. Then again, they may already feel comfortable with J.J. Nelson, rookie Christian Kirk, and free agent addition Brice Butler behind Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals have upwards of $13MM in cap space, according to the NFLPA, so they have the cash necessary to sign Bryant if they want him.
Cowboys – When the Cowboys released Bryant earlier this year, they were not aware of Jason Witten‘s impending retirement. Months later, could they circle back to Bryant in order to fortify their lackluster WR group? Probably not, but we’ll put them on the board anyway and let you decide.
Eagles – After Bryant was released, he indicated that he wanted to play in the NFC East in order to face the Cowboys pay twice in 2018. The Eagles, in theory, could make some sense now that Torrey Smith is out of the picture and Alshon Jeffery is out for the offseason with a shoulder injury. However, the Eagles already have a new veteran in Mike Wallace and their $6MM in cap space might not be enough to land Bryant, even if they wanted him.
Packers – The Packers have been speculatively linked to Bryant over the last few months. Some see a potential fit, but others, such as Aaron Rodgers, do not. The Packers are now without Jordy Nelson, but they drafted three wide receivers while retaining Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, and Geronimo Allison, so there might not be any room in the inn.
Patriots – The Patriots will be without Julian Edelman for the first four games of the year, which could lead them to consider Bryant. They also have a history of signing older big-name wide receivers with reputation problems, including Randy Moss and Chad Johnson (some worked out better than others), so the possibility of adding the mercurial Bryant cannot be discounted. On the other hand, they have plenty of weapons to get them through the opening month of the season in Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews, Phillip Dorsett, and Cordarrelle Patterson, not to mention Malcolm Mitchell and speedy rookie Braxton Berrios, who may or may not make the final cut. There’s also a tight end by the name of Rob Gronkowski who should be able to catch an extra pass or two while Edelman is out.
Saints – With a wide receiver group of Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., free agent addition Cameron Meredith, third round pick Tre’Quan Smith, and Brandon Coleman, is there room for Bryant? Not necessarily, but there also wasn’t a clear spot for Adrian Peterson in New Orleans before the Saints signed him last year. The Saints have a little more than $7MM in cap space, which could be enough to sign Bryant depending on his market at this stage of the offseason and his desire to play for a contender.
Redskins – Former teammate Orlando Scandrick has advocated for Washington to sign Bryant and the Redskins would give him the opportunity to face the Cowboys twice per year. The problem, however, is that the Redskins seem pretty set at the top of the order with Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, and Paul Richardson.
Titans – The Titans have talent at wide receiver, but Rishard Matthews‘ support staff is decidedly inexperienced. With Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, and Tajae Sharpe all yet to celebrate their 24th birthday, could the Titans consider Bryant? In theory, he would add some experience to the group, but he might not be a great influence on the younger guys.
Click below to make your choice and defend your decision in the comment section:
Which Team Will Sign Dez Bryant?
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49ers 23% (626)
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Patriots 16% (419)
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Packers 12% (311)
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Other (specify in comments) 9% (246)
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Redskins 8% (219)
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Bills 8% (209)
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Saints 5% (139)
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Cowboys 5% (137)
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Titans 5% (134)
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Eagles 5% (127)
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Cardinals 4% (109)
Total votes: 2,676
This Date In Transactions History: NFL Suspends Dolphins’ Dion Jordan
In 2013, the Dolphins made defensive end Dion Jordan the highest selected University of Oregon product since Joey Harrington in 2002. Like Harrington, the selection of Jordan did not prove to be a good one. 
Jordan, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, was only a part-time player as a rookie and his sophomore campaign did not get off to a promising start. On this date in 2014, Jordan was banned for the first four games of the season after a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
For his part, Jordan claimed that he tested “positive for stimulants that are banned under the NFL policy.” In September, his suspension was lifted as a part of the league’s overhaul of its drug policy, but he was immediately hit with another four-game suspension for a separate infraction. Jordan wound up missing the first six games of the 2014 season and underwhelmed in the ten games he did play.
In 2015, Jordan lost his entire season after the NFL found that he diluted one of his test samples. He was conditionally reinstated in 2016, but the Dolphins were forced to place him on the NFI list as he was recovering from a knee surgery that he did not inform the team about. After a second knee surgery in the fall, the Dolphins were fed up, and they opted against activating Jordan for the home stretch of the season.
The good news here is that Jordan may finally be on the right track. Last year, he hooked on with the Seahawks and showed promise in a small five-game sample as he tallied four sacks. This offseason, the Seahawks retained Jordan on a one-year, $1.9MM deal. He underwent a minor knee procedure in June, but Seattle expects to have him back in time for the preseason.
Poll: Who Will Be The First Coach To Get Fired This Season?
It’s a new year for every coach in the NFL, but not every coach will survive the year. Already, there’s speculation about which coaches could be on the hot seat in 2018. Some coaches with shaky job security may include:
- Hue Jackson, Browns: Jackson is the oddsmaker’s favorite to lose his job first. After compiling a 1-31 record in his two seasons at the helm in Cleveland, it’s hard to argue with the professionals. Jackson certainly has more talent to work with thanks to the arrivals of running back Carlos Hyde, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, and a vastly improved secondary, but along with that comes raised expectations. When also considering that Jackson is a holdover from the previous regime and not necessarily the preferred choice of new GM John Dorsey, it’s quite possible that Jackson could be ousted with another bad start.
- Adam Gase, Dolphins: When Gase was hired in 2016, he was the league’s youngest head coach at the age of 38. He earned a playoff appearance in his first year on the sidelines, but last year turned ugly after quarterback Ryan Tannehill was lost for the season and replaced by Jay Cutler. Tannehill’s return should help matters, but it’s fair to wonder whether this team has improved much at all after losing Ndamukong Suh on the other side of the ball. The Dolphins’ early schedule may also hurt Gase as they open against the Titans, Jets, Raiders, and Patriots. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Dolphins split those games, like they did in 2017, but it’s also conceivable that they could open the year 0-4. As you can probably guess, an 0-4 start is historically difficult to climb out from. Of the 117 teams that have started 0-4 in the 16-game era, the ’92 Chargers are the ones to have reached the postseason with with an 11-win campaign. The 2004 Bills and the 2017 Chargers both rallied to win nine games, but neither club reached the playoffs.
- Marvin Lewis, Bengals: The Lewis saga took some weird twists and turns last season. In the midst of a second-straight season without a playoff appearance, there was speculation about Lewis’ job security. Then, in December, we started hearing rumblings that Lewis might leave the Bengals to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Ultimately, Lewis was signed to a two-year extension to, theoretically, keep him under contract for his 16th and 17th seasons in Cincinnati. Lewis has avoided lame duck status for 2018, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll survive the year if the Bengals falter.
- Vance Joseph, Broncos: Joseph was nearly axed after the 2017 season before John Elway ultimately decided to retain him. The Broncos’ defense is still jam-packed with talent and they have a capable quarterback in Case Keenum, so anything short of a playoff appearance will be a disappointment in Denver. This will be Joseph’s second season at the helm in Denver, but it’s clear that he is under pressure it win.
- Dirk Koetter, Buccaneers: Koetter was already believed to be on the hot seat but he was placed squarely behind the 8-ball last week when quarterback Jameis Winston was suspended for the first three games of the season. Even if the Bucs come out of September unscathed, they’ll be up against an overall schedule that is the fourth-toughest in the NFL, based on the combined win percentage of opponents in 2017.
The list goes on from there. Jay Gruden (Redskins), Todd Bowles (Jets), Bill O’Brien (Texans), Jason Garrett (Cowboys), John Harbaugh (Ravens), and Ron Rivera (Panthers) could also be in varying degrees of jeopardy with disappointing seasons. We’d be surprised to see a quick hook for Garrett, Harbaugh, or Rivera no matter what happens, but you may feel differently.
Click below to make your pick for who will be the first to get the axe. Then, you can head to the comment section to back up your choice.
Which NFL Head Coach Will Be The First To Get Fired In 2018?
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Hue Jackson 24% (521)
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Dirk Koetter 16% (336)
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Vance Joseph 11% (229)
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Marvin Lewis 10% (205)
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Adam Gase 9% (196)
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Jason Garrett 8% (172)
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John Harbaugh 7% (148)
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Jay Gruden 6% (138)
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Todd Bowles 5% (100)
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Bill O'Brien 2% (52)
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Ron Rivera 1% (29)
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Other (specify coach in comments) 1% (28)
Total votes: 2,154
Seahawks Meet With J.R. Sweezy
The Seahawks are meeting with guard J.R. Sweezy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Sweezy is taking a physical with the team, which may signal that Seattle is serious about signing him. 
Sweezy entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Seahawks in 2012. They converted Sweezy from the interior defensive line to the interior offensive line and he went on to start in 49 games for the Seahawks over four seasons, including the team’s Super Bowl winning-season in 2013.
In 2016, Sweezy signed a five-year deal with the Buccaneers worth $32.5MM. That deal was terminated last week after two injury-plagued seasons with Tampa Bay.
The 29-year-old guard started all 14 games he played for the Bucs last season, though he was less than 100% healthy. Pro Football Focus rated Sweezy as its No. 53 guard in 2017.
The Seahawks can use all the help they can get on the offensive line, so it makes sense for them to kick the tires on Sweezy and see where he stands in his rehab from a broken leg. For now, the Seahawks project to start 2017 second-round pick Ethan Pocic and free agent pickup D.J. Fluker at the guard positions.
The Average Age Of NFL Head Coaches In 2018
This year, seven NFL teams made head coaching changes. As a whole, the moves continued the NFL’s trend of moving in a younger direction. 
Here is the age of every NFL’s head coach, ordered from youngest to oldest at the start of Week 1 of the 2018 season:
- Sean McVay, Rams – 32
- Kyle Shanahan, 49ers – 38
- Matt Nagy, Bears – 40
- Adam Gase, Dolphins – 40
- Mike Vrabel, Titans – 43
- Matt Patricia, Lions – 43 (Note: Patricia turns 44 just days after the Lions’ season opener.)
- Sean McDermott, Bills – 44
- Vance Joseph, Broncos – 45
- Mike Tomlin, Steelers – 46
- Dan Quinn, Falcons – 47 (Note: Quinn turns 48 just days after the Falcons’ season opener.)
- Bill O’Brien, Texans – 48
- Anthony Lynn, Chargers – 49
- Steve Wilks, Cardinals – 49
- Doug Pederson, Eagles – 50
- Jay Gruden, Redskins – 51
- Jason Garrett, Cowboys – 52
- Hue Jackson, Browns – 52
- Pat Shurmur, Giants – 53
- Doug Marrone, Jaguars – 54
- Sean Payton, Saints – 54
- Todd Bowles, Jets – 54
- Mike McCarthy, Packers – 54
- Jon Gruden, Raiders – 55
- John Harbaugh, Ravens – 55
- Ron Rivera, Panthers – 56
- Frank Reich, Colts – 56
- Dirk Koetter, Buccaneers – 59
- Marvin Lewis, Bengals – 59
- Andy Reid, Chiefs – 60
- Mike Zimmer, Vikings – 62
- Bill Belichick, Patriots – 66
- Pete Carroll, Seahawks – 66 (Note: Carroll turns 67 just days after the Seahawks’ season opener.)
Just two years ago, Adam Gase was the league’s youngest head coach at the age of 38. That’s still young by NFL head coaching standards, but 38-year-old Kyle Shanahan is a ways behind Sean McVay of the Rams, who is the youngest head coach in the NFL.
The NFL’s oldest head coach is Pete Carroll, who was born about eight months before Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
Using Week 1 as our starting point, the average age of NFL head coaches in 2018 is 51 years old. That shows a significant dip from 2016, when the average age of head coaches was 53.4 and 2017, when the average age was 52.5.
Could the average of NFL head coaches dip even further in 2019? It’s certainly possible with coaches over the average age on the hot seat including Hue Jackson, Dirk Koetter, Jay Gruden, John Harbaugh, and Todd Bowles.