NFL Fines Former Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson
The NFL has fined former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson after a lengthy investigation into his comments and workplace behavior, the league announced. Richardson has been fined $2.75MM that will go towards supporting “organizations addressing race and gender-based issues and fund league-wide workplace training.” 
After Richardson’s behavior came to light last year, he quickly put the team up for sale. The Panthers went on the block in December 2017 and Steelers minority owner David Tepper was approved as the team’s new owner in May 2018. The franchise was sold for $2.2 billion, setting a new NFL record.
“I appreciate [investigator] Mary Jo White’s careful and thorough examination of these issues, and her thoughtful recommendations to the Panthers and the entire NFL,” said commissioner Roger Goodell. “Her recommendations will help ensure that our workplaces are open, inclusive and respectful.”
According to the league, the investigation covered the publicly reported allegations as well as those that have not been written about in the press. The investigation found that the bad conduct was limited to Richardson and confirmed that the Panthers did not report the claims, or settlements stemming from the claims, to the league office before the bombshell report in December.
To combat similar problems in the future, White recommends measures including the “specific prohibition of using Non-Disclosure Agreements to limit reporting of potential violations or cooperation in League investigations under the Personal Conduct Policy.” White also recommended that the Panthers be required to report on the club’s ongoing work to address claims of racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and related workplace issues. Goodell, according to the press release, has adopted that recommendation.
The sale of the team to Tepper is expected to be finalized within the next two weeks.
Eagles’ Jay Ajayi Changes Agents
Eagles running back Jay Ajayi has changed agents in advance of his walk year. Ajayi has left Select Sports Group to join up with Drew Rosenhaus, according to an announcement from his agency. 
Ajayi played well after coming over in a midseason trade with the Dolphins. With Miami, he gained just 3.4 yards per carry. In Philly, he averaged 5.8 yards per carry in seven regular season games and was also effective in the postseason.
The Eagles would probably like to keep him for the long term, but that’s easier said than done. The Eagles have one of the tightest cap situations in the NFL and Ajayi will likely command a deal that will put him near the top of the running back market. As a former fifth-round pick, Ajayi is averaging $625K per year on his four-year rookie deal. That’s well below the league average of $1.38MM for running backs and far below what he’d command as a free agent. His alignment with Rosenhaus is a signal that he’s looking to get the biggest payday possible.
The Eagles may have an in-house replacement for Ajayi in Corey Clement, but they’d have to give him a larger workload this year in order to find out if he’s a potential third-round back. Otherwise, the Eagles may have to look elsewhere to find a new No. 1 running back next year.
This Date In Transactions History: Ed Reed
In his prime, few players were more fearsome than safety Ed Reed. On this date in 2006, the Ravens rewarded Reed with a six-year, $40MM contract, making him the highest-paid player at his position in league history. 
The previous league-leading deal for safeties belonged to Adam Archuleta, who inked a six-year, $30MM deal with the Redskins in March of ’06. Reed blew past him on a rocket ship, and for good reason.
Reed became a starter as a rookie in 2002 and quickly cemented himself as a key cog in Baltimore’s defense. He notched 21 interceptions in his first three seasons and led the league with nine picks in 2004. Although he was held back by an ankle injury in 2005, the Ravens saw a Reed as a multiple-time Pro Bowler who was ready to get back to his old form.
“It was his time,” GM Ozzie Newsome said. “He has earned the contract.”
Indeed, the Ravens were right. Reed came back in a big way in ’06 as he started in every game and tallied five picks, plus two in the postseason. He earned Pro Bowl nods in every season from 2006 through 2012 and picked up four First-Team All-Pro nods in that span.
Reed earned his first ring in the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and notched his ninth career postseason interception in the big game. Although he was still productive, Reed and the Ravens went their separate ways in the offseason. Reed signed a three-year, $15MM deal with the Texans, but that deal was terminated midway through the ’13 campaign. He reunited with Rex Ryan by signing with the Jets, but he was unable to turn back the clock. After sitting out the 2014 season, Reed signed a one-day contract with Baltimore so that he could retire a Raven.
Reed’s final season on the field was forgettable, but the extension he signed with the Ravens in 2006 proved to be a win-win for both sides. Reed cashed in and gained financial security in a violent sport, and the Ravens got elite level production out of him for the majority of the deal.
AFC Notes: Broncos, Ravens, Flacco
Sad news out of Denver as Annabel Bowlen, the wife of longtime Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, announced that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
“I recently learned that I’ve joined my husband Pat and the millions of others who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,’’ Annabel said in a statement to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. “Since Pat’s diagnosis, I have gained a vivid understanding of this disease’s progression and its effect on those living with it as well as their families. My family and I have been—and will remain—dedicated supporters of Alzheimer’s awareness, treatment and research funding.’’
News that both Annabel and Pat Bowlen have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is devastating to the Broncos community, but Klis hears that it will have no effect on how the franchise is run or on Pat’s long-standing succession plan. Joe Ellis, the team’s president and CEO, has been acting as the controlling owner delegee of the Broncos since Bowlen relinquished day-to-day responsibilities following the 2013 season and will continue to do so.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is entering a pivotal season, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com writes. If Lamar Jackson is indeed the future in Baltimore, then Flacco should approach this season as an audition for the rest of the league, in Corry’s opinion. In 2019, the Ravens can save $10.5MM against the cap by releasing Flacco, with $16MM left in dead money. If Flacco can stave him off for another year, he’ll carry a $28.25MM cap number in 2020, though the Ravens could also cut ties to save $20.25MM against just $8MM in dead money.
- More from Corry, who notes that Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett can change his fortunes with a big year in 2018. Knee issues have limited Verrett to four games over the last two seasons, but he earned Pro-Bowl honors in 2015, his only healthy season. Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller, a fellow first-round pick in ’14, stepped up after the Bears declined his fifth-year option and earned a four-year, $56MM deal from Chicago. Verrett, who is entering his walk year, could boost his stock in similar fashion with a quality showing this year.
- Former Chiefs great Tamba Hali sounds like he’s ready to retire.
Colts Sign Second-Round Pick Braden Smith
The Colts have signed second round pick Braden Smith, according to a team announcement. With that signing, the Colts have now formally inked ten of their eleven draft picks. 
Smith, a 6’6″ guard, was taken with the No. 37 overall pick. The Auburn product earned All-America honors in each of his final two seasons and won the 2017 SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given to the conference’s best blocker.
Smith projects to start at right guard on the Colts’ new look offensive line. Fellow rookie Quenton Nelson will start at left guard and free agent Austin Howard projects to start at right tackle with holdovers Anthony Castonzo (left tackle) and Ryan Kelly (center) rounding out the front five.
Second round pick Darius Leonard stands as the Colts’ last straggler in this year’s class. Although the deal is taking a while, Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter) has not received word of any major holdup. Leonard and 49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis stand as the final two unsigned second-round picks in the NFL.
Tamba Hali Likely To Retire
Former Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali sounds like he’s ready to retire. In an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio (Twitter link), Hali indicated that he might be ready to move on. 
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“I just need to continue to work out and do my music,” Hali said. “I don’t want to focus too much on football. I don’t see myself getting back into football. I see myself being involved with the Chiefs somehow, maybe as a specialist being able to teach the guys. I don’t want to lie to myself. I think the time has come.”
Hali has not finalized his decision and admitted that he wants to continue playing “at times.” However, at other times, he has found himself far more interested in his family and his other hobbies.
The Chiefs released Hali in March after a season that began on the PUP list and ended with little playing time overall. Hali appeared in just five games, starting none, and did not record a sack.
Hali left the Chiefs as the team’s No. 2 all-time sacker — behind only Derrick Thomas. The former 2006 first-round pick re-signed twice with the Chiefs and earned five straight Pro Bowl invites, from 2011-15, recording 89.5 sacks after his 11th season. He finished with three double-digit sack seasons, the last of which coming in 2013. Unfortunately, injuries plagued him for years and he has not been in top form for a while.
Hali confessed that he would like to rack up another 10.5 sacks to hit 100 for his career, but he is also content knowing that he gave it his all over 12 NFL seasons.
Reactions To Danielle Hunter’s Extension
On Wednesday, the Vikings and Danielle Hunter agreed to a five-year, $72MM extension. The new deal, which will keep Hunter in place through 2023, is said to include $40MM in guarantees, giving the 23-year-old plenty of financial security. Still, many are wondering whether Hunter should have waited in order to get more out of the Vikings.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions to Hunter’s brand new deal:
- The deal is a team-friendly “steal” for the Vikings, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (via Twitter links) opines. Hunter, he feels, could have targeted Olivier Vernon‘s five-year, $85MM deal had he notched about ten sacks this year and entered the free agent market in ’19. Hunter’s deal gives him nearly as much as teammate Everson Griffen, but Hunter is significantly younger and is on his way to being equally productive. At minimum, Fitzgerald feels that Hunter would have been better served by waiting for the market to reset at $20MM/year when Khalil Mack and others sign their next deals.
- Hunter didn’t top Vernon, but Cowboys star DeMarcus Lawrence should blow right past him, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. As Corry notes, Lawrence and Vernon are both represented agent by David Canter.
- With Hunter locked up, Vikings GM Rick Spielman indicated that wide receiver Stefon Diggs and linebacker Anthony Barr may be next up for extensions (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). “We want to keep all of our guys and we’ll try to see if there’s a way that we can do that because not only, those guys are very important to us and would love to get them locked up as well,” the GM said.
Vikings, Danielle Hunter Agree To Extension
The Vikings have agreed to terms on a contract extension with pass rusher Danielle Hunter, sources tell Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a five-year deal worth $72MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
The deal includes $40MM in guarantees, Rapoport hears, though it’s not immediately clear whether that represents the contract’s full guarantee at signing. Hunter’s deal includes a $15MM signing bonus, so his full guarantee is worth no less than that amount.
Hunter will earn $48MM over the first three years of his deal, Rapoport tweets. He can also earn another $6MM in incentives, which could push the maximum value of the deal to $78M.
Hunter’s new deal gives him a $14.4MM average annual value, which gives him just a bit less than that of teammate Everson Griffen. Last summer, Griffin inked a four-year, $58MM extension with $18.8MM fully guaranteed at signing. That pact gave Griffen an AAV of $14.5MM.
The Vikings have been aggressive in locking up their core players, but there’s still more work to be done in that area. They’ll have to address linebacker Anthony Barr‘s contract, since he is set for free agency after he plays out his fifth-year option this year. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is also slated to hit the open market when his rookie deal expires at the end of the 2018 season.
Hunter, a third-round pick in 2015, has registered 25.5 sacks in three NFL seasons. That stat ranks first among all players who entered the league in 2015, which is to say that he has outperformed Vic Beasley, Leonard Williams, and other notables who were taken ahead of him. In that span, Hunter and Griffen have combined for 57 combined sacks, the second most of any duo in the league from 2015-17. Only Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap of the Bengals (58) have had more over that stretch.
Hunter, who graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 29 ranked edge defender in the NFL last year, may have been able to earn even more on the open market next year. However, the 23-year-old (24 in October) has opted for security over upside. It’s hard to find fault with Hunter playing it safe here, however, given the aggressive cash flow he has secured in the early part of the contract.
The Vikings now have most of their most important players locked up through at least 2020. Quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook, wide receiver Adam Thielen, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, center Pat Elflein, linebacker Erik Kendricks, safety Harrison Smith, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, Griffen, and Hunter are all under contract for the next three seasons or more.
Hunter is represented by agent Zeke Sandhu, who will turn his attention to extension talks for Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. next.
PFR Glossary: NFL Supplemental Draft
The supplemental draft allows NFL teams to select players who, for one reason or another, were barred from entering the regular draft in the spring. When a team selects a player in the supplemental draft, they forfeit the corresponding pick in the regular draft next year. For example, if a team selects a player in the sixth round of the supplemental draft this year, they will have to give up their 2019 sixth round selection.
There have been no players taken in the supplemental draft in the past two years, but that is likely to change this year thanks to Sam Beal. Draft prognosticators had the former Western Michigan cornerback pegged as an early pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and it is believed that he’ll be taken somewhere in the first three rounds this year. Mississippi State defensive back Brandon Bryant and Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander are also drawing serious interest and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them selected in the later rounds. Earlier this week, Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu became the latest player to throw his hat in the ring.
In the past, teams have found gems in the supplemental draft. In 2011, the Raiders selected Ohio State quarterback and future standout NFL receiver Terrelle Pryor. In 2012, the Browns used a second round pick to take the talented and troubled Josh Gordon. Other supplemental draft alums include quarterback Bernie Kosar (Browns, 1985), wide receiver Cris Carter (Eagles, 1987), running back Bobby Humphrey (Broncos, 1989), wide receiver Rob Moore (Jets, 1990), nose tackle Jamal Williams (Chargers, 1998), and linebacker Ahmad Brooks (Bengals, 2006).
This year’s supplemental draft has been set for July 11 and, unlike the last couple of years, it figures to hold some intrigue.
Note: This is a PFR Glossary entry. Our glossary posts explain specific rules relating to free agency, trades, or other aspects of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
East Notes: Cowboys, Gregory, Jets
The Cowboys are hoping to learn about the fate of Randy Gregory around the start of training camp, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Gregory recently met with NFL officials in New York, but things have been quiet on that front over the last couple of weeks.
Dallas could use some clarity on the makeup of its defensive line, particularly as David Irving faces a four-game suspension for a violation of the substance abuse policy. It’s highly unlikely that Gregory would be plugged into the starting lineup, but he would be a useful reserve behind starters DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford if he is allowed to play.
Here’s more from the East divisions:
- The Redskins won’t necessarily miss wide receiver Terrelle Pryor after his disappointing 2017 season, but they will have to make up for the departure of Ryan Grant. Rich Tandler of NBC Sports Washington believes that newcomer Paul Richardson can easily top Pryor’s 240 receiving yards, but exceeding Grant’s 573 yards receiving may be a challenge. Ultimately, he expects one of the team’s backup wide receivers to step up while Josh Doctson improves across the board. All in all, he anticipates a wide receiver group that is somewhat more productive than last year, even as they catch passes from a new quarterback.
- This is a make or break year for Jets offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. Beachum has two years to go on the three-year, $24MM deal he inked in 2017, but the Jets can cut him after this season and save $8MM in cap space versus just $1.5MM in dead money. If he wants to stick in New Jersey, he’ll have to step his game up. Last year, Pro Football Focus ranked Beachum as its 35th best tackle. He did well in pass protection (18th), but he placed just 71st in run blocking.
- Will Giants running back Saquon Barkley make the biggest impact of any top ten pick this year? Click here to cast your vote.