NFL Extends Roger Goodell’s Contract
Finally, Roger Goodell has his extension. The league’s Compensation Committee has told all owners that a new contract for the commissioner has been executed, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT (Twitter link). It’s a five-year extension, taking Goodell to the start of the 2024 league year (Twitter link via Albert Breer of The MMQB). 
It has been an arduous few months for Goodell. Initially, it seemed that the commissioner’s new contract would be inked in the summertime. However, the anti-Goodell campaign from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones threw a wrench into things. While Jones was not technically a member of the six-man Compensation Committee, he was regarded as an unofficial seventh member. Using his influence, Jones helped to galvanize a small group of owners against a lucrative new contract for Goodell – or, at least, invite new scrutiny into the pact. But, it seems that he lost momentum as time went on. Florio hears that Jones “had four or five other owners on his side, at most.”
In a memo to all 32 owners, the league says that there was a “nearly unanimous consensus” among all owners to finalize the deal. With the support of his fellow committee members, Falcons owner Arthur Blank signed the “binding contract extension” on Wednesday afternoon.
While Jones is presumably unhappy about the extension, he may come away with a separate victory. For a long time, Jones has railed against the high salaries of executives in the league office. Already, buyouts have been offered to senior officials and the NFL may scale back its budget for investigations, such as the one that resulted in Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-game ban.
Goodell’s new deal, which will keep him in place beyond the next round of CBA negotiations, could be worth as much as $200MM.
Here is the complete text of the Compensation Committee to all owners, via PFT:
“In recent days, we have spoken with each of you regarding the status of the negotiations to extend Commissioner Goodell’s employment contract. In the course of those discussions, we have reviewed with you the details of the contract extension. Our Committee unanimously supports the contract and believes that it is fully consistent with “market” compensation and the financial and other parameters outlined to the owners at our May 2017 meeting, as well as in the best interests of ownership. We also have expressed in those conversations our strong belief that we should proceed to sign the agreement now, consistent with the unanimous May resolution and to avoid further controversy surrounding this issue. We are pleased to report that there is a nearly unanimous consensus among the ownership in favor of signing the contract extension now.
Accordingly, this will advise the ownership that a binding contract extension has been signed by the Commissioner and by Arthur Blank, on behalf of the League entities.
We are pleased to have resolved this issue and we appreciate the strong support received from our partners. It was particularly gratifying to hear so many owners commit to being more engaged in league affairs and to express the desire to work more closely with the Commissioner and League staff on matters critical to the League. We know that we speak for all of you, as well as for the Commissioner, in saying that the NFL is strongest when our ownership is active and unified.
We look forward to seeing each of you at the Special Meeting in Dallas on December 13th and to working together, as a partnership, to address the important issues facing the League.“
Patriots Sign LB Jonathan Freeny
The Patriots have signed Jonathan Freeny, a source tells Doug Kyed of NESN (on Twitter). Details of the deal are not known, but it is most likely a one-year pact for the prorated portion of the minimum salary. 
The 28-year-old linebacker did his best work with the Patriots in 2015 and 2016, though the ’16 season was mostly lost due to injury. He started eleven games in that span, but he was not able to make the Pats’ initial 53-man cut in September. After stints with the Ravens and Jaguars – the latter lasting less than a week – he’s back in New England.
Freeney will provide some much needed depth at linebacker. It’s not clear whether Trevor Reilly will be able to suit up this week after suffering a concussion. Meanwhile, Dont’a Hightower, Harvey Langi, Shea McClellin, and Derek Rivers are all shelved.
The six-year NFL veteran amassed 60 tackles and one sack for the Patriots over the last two years.
Chiefs Suspend Marcus Peters
The Chiefs have suspended cornerback Marcus Peters for Sunday’s game against the Raiders, coach Andy Reid announced. 
“This was something Marcus and I discussed,” Reid said (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star) “I’m going to leave it at that.”
Peters lost his cool during Sunday’s game against the Jets when teammate Steven Nelson was called for defensive holding on a two-point conversion attempt. After throwing the penalty flag into the stands, Peters was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of his own. Peters ran off of the field and into the locker room, though he was not ejected from the game. Chiefs personnel had to follow Peters into the tunnel to inform him that he was still in the game. Reid, clearly, was angered by Peters’ actions.
Reid is sending a clear message to the Chiefs in advance of a hugely important divisional game. At 6-6, KC is currently in a three-way with the Chargers and Raiders for top record in the AFC West. A loss on Sunday would extend the Chiefs’ streak to five games and put them behind the 8-ball. The Chiefs presently have a 56.8% chance of reaching the postseason and a 54.3% chance of taking the division, according to Football Outsiders.
Without Peters, the Chiefs will be leaning more on Terrance Mitchell and Darrelle Revis alongside starter Kenneth Acker. With five cornerbacks still remaining on the roster, they don’t necessarily have to add one between now and Sunday.
Suspension Overturned For George Iloka
George Iloka won’t serve a one-game suspension after all. The Bengals safety has won his appeal, according to an announcement from the team. 
Iloka was initially given a one-game ban for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Antonio Brown with 3:55 left in Monday night’s game. Instead, he’ll pay a $36K fine and suit up for Sunday’s game against the Bears. Had he been suspended, Iloka would have missed out on a $235K game check and his $31K per-game roster bonus. Wednesday’s decision by appeals officer Derrick Brooks will save him a pretty penny.
Initially, Iloka was reprimanded by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan for his especially violent tackle.
“On a play which began with 3:55 left in the game, you violently struck a defenseless receiver in the head and neck area,” Runyan wrote. “The Competition Committee has clearly expressed its goal of ‘eliminating flagrant hits that have no place in our game’ and has encouraged the League office to suspend offenders for egregious violations such as the one you committed [on Sunday].”
If Iloka’s suspension was upheld, the Bengals likely would have signed a safety or promoted a defensive back like Tony McRae or Sojourn Shelton from the practice squad. They can hold off on any roster moves now.
Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was also suspended for an incident in the same game. He tried to appeal his one-game ban, but the league quickly rejected his plea.
Suspension Upheld For Gronk
Appeals officer Derrick Brooks has upheld the one-game suspension of Rob Gronkowski, the league announced. Gronkowski will not dress for Monday night’s game against the Dolphins. 
Gronk lost his cool after Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White intercepted a pass in his direction. Apparently frustrated with the rookie’s pestering D, Gronkowski hit White after the whistle. Surprisingly, the dirty play did not earn him an ejection, but few were caught off guard by the league’s one-game ban. Gronkowski appealed in an effort to keep himself on the field and potentially save millions of dollars, but it was an uphill battle.
Now that Gronk has officially been ruled out for Monday’s game against Miami, the Patriots may promote Will Tye off of the practice squad to serve as the team’s third tight end. Conversely, they may go out-of-house if they are keen on protecting Tye. If they were to promote Tye for just one game, they’d have to expose him to waivers before re-signing him to the taxi squad.
Texans Place Fiedorowicz, Ellington On IR
The Texans have placed tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (concussion) and wide receiver Bruce Ellington (hamstring) on injured reserve. Both players will be sidelined for the last four games of the regular season. 
Fiedorowicz left Sunday’s game when he suffered his third concussion of the year. Thanks to head injuries, he appeared in only five games in 2017. He finishes out with 14 catches for 127 yards – not quite the encore he was hoping for after reeling in 54 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs. He’s scheduled to be back with the team in 2018 after signing a the three-year, $21.5MM extension in the offseason.
Ellington missed all of last season with the same injury. The former fourth-round pick is scheduled to reach free agency in March.
The 4-8 Texans will round out the season with games against the 49ers, Jaguars, Steelers, and Colts. The Texans’ 2018 first round pick – which would be in the top ten if the season ended today – is owned by the Browns.
Bears Place Kyle Long, Mitch Unrein On IR
As expected, the Bears have placed right guard Kyle Long on injured reserve. Defensive end Mitch Unrein has also been shut down for the year. 
On Tuesday morning, coach John Fox indicated that this was a likely outcome for Long. It’s undoubtedly a frustrating end to the year for the veteran. Last year, he suffered a painful leg injury in the eighth game of the season. This time around, it’s a shoulder malady that will keep him from the field in the final month of the season.
Unrein was starting for the Bears at defensive end, so they’ll have to turn to reserves Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris for support. The Bears are also expected to add a bookend to the mix.
In 12 games this year, Unrein recorded 31 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus, which has Unrein listed as an interior defender, gives him a career-high 83.9 score for his work this year. That’s good for No. 29 among all interior defenders.
Bills Place Matthews, Lawson On IR
The Bills are shutting down two of their starters for the rest of their seasons. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews and defensive end Shaq Lawson have been placed on injured reserve. 
To fill their spots, the Bills have promoted defensive end Cap Capi and wide receiver Brandon Reilly to the active roster.
Matthews was the Eagles’ leading receiver in 2016, but Philly spent much of the offseason looking to unload him. In August, they found a taker in the Bills, who shipped Sammy Watkins to the Rams on the same day. Buffalo gave up cornerback Ronald Darby to receive Matthews and a 2018 third-round pick.
Unfortunately, injuries have held Matthews back all year long. Matthews recovered from a broken thumb and fractured sternum, but he has been dealing with a knee issue in recent weeks.
In ten games, the wide receiver had just 25 catches for 282 yards and one touchdown. That pales in comparison to the 73 catches for 804 yards and three touchdowns he had in 2016 and the career-high numbers (85 grabs, 997 yards, eight touchdowns) he put up in the previous year. Matthews is scheduled for free agency in March and he was hoping for a much better platform when he arrived in Buffalo.
Lawson, meanwhile, sprained his ankle last Sunday and had to be carted off of the field. The No. 19 overall pick in the 2016 draft has appeared in just 21 games in his first two NFL seasons.
FSU’s Derwin James To Enter NFL Draft
No surprise here, but Florida State safety Derwin James has announced that he will go pro in 2018 rather than play out his final season. James will also skip the Independence Bowl at the end of the month. 
[RELATED: Jimbo Fisher Leaves For Texas A&M, Taking Himself Out Of NFL Consideration]
“After a lot of prayer and plenty of conversations with my coaches and especially my teammates, I’m ready to begin preparing for my next chapter: becoming the next great Florida State DB in the NFL,” James wrote in a piece for The Players’ Tribune. “I feel extremely grateful that every person I spoke to supported my decision to begin my training immediately.”
James has been on the NFL radar for some time now. Back in September, one scout told NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread that James has the body type to play “about seven positions.” He’s widely viewed as a first round prospect and he may work himself into top ten consideration.
On the flipside, evaluators will be taking a close look at his knee following an injury in 2016. Some draft experts, including Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, have opined that James has looked timid in his return.
Giants Reinstate Eli Manning As Starter
It’s official – the Giants are going back to Eli Manning as their starting quarterback, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). Manning will be under center this weekend as the Giants face the Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 
Mired in a lost season, the Giants made a daring move to bench Manning on Sunday in favor of Geno Smith. The decision ended Manning’s streak of 210 consecutive NFL starts and caused an uproar among Giants fans. There’s little doubt that the ensuing controversy sped up the inevitable for coach Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese.
At 2-10, the Giants aren’t playing for much this year, but the outcome of these next four games will help shape the offseason. If Manning plays up to par, it’s conceivable that he could return as the starting QB in 2018, though that might require some healing between the two-time Super Bowl champ and team ownership. Manning remains under contract through next season, but the team must decide whether to keep him before his $5MM roster bonus comes due on March 18.
Manning, 37 in January, has completed 62.5% of his passes with 14 touchdowns against seven interceptions this year. He currently ranks as the 18th best quarterback in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. For what it’s worth, the advanced metrics have not been a big fan of his work over the last five seasons. In 2011 and 2012, however, he rated as a top five passer in the NFL.
Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter) first reported that Manning would be reinstated as the Giants’ starting quarterback.