Bucs Could Potentially Stick With Nick Folk
As expected, the Buccaneers are looking into making a change at kicker. However, it’s not a sure thing that they will move on from Nick Folk, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). 
Initially, the Bucs were hoping to have a handful of kickers audition early next week, but the team is not enamored with the options presently available, Rapoport hears. That’s why, at the moment, only Mike Nugent and Andrew Franks are slated to for the tryout. If more names aren’t added to the list and neither Nugent nor Franks performs well, the Bucs could wind up sticking with Folk.
It has been a rough two games for Folk. On Sunday, he struggled against the Giants before nailing the game-winning field goal at the end. Then, on Thursday, he bricked all three FG tries, costing the Bucs a win over the defending champs.
Folk has missed five field goals already this season, but he missed only four during his entire 2016 campaign with the Jets (27 for 31). The Buccaneers, understandably, want to get this right given what they went through last season with Roberto Aguayo . As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter) points out, the team has converted on just 28 of 42 field goal attempts (66%) since the beginning of the 2016 season. That marks the lowest percentage of any team in the league over that span.
Latest On Roger Goodell’s Extension
Back in August, it was reported that the NFL was on the verge of agreeing to a lengthy extension with commissioner Roger Goodell. Six weeks later, Goodell’s deal – which would supposedly take him through the 2024 season – has not been completed. It turns out that part of the hangup in negotiations is the amount of severance Goodell would receive in the event that he is fired, Daniel Kaplan of Sports Business Journal hears (Twitter links). Still, it’s expected that the deal will get done. 
Goodell’s current contract runs through 2019, which makes for awkward timing since the league’s current collective bargaining agreement expires in early 2021. NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith has said that a strike or lockout is a “virtual certainty” after the 2020 season, so the league will want to have stability in the role of commissioner heading into that pivotal time. If Goodell serves through 2029, that will mark 19 years in power.
The “compensation committee” has taken the lead on negotiations with Goodell, a group that is made up of owners Arthur Blank (Falcons), Clark Hunt(Chiefs), Robert Kraft (Patriots), John Mara (Giants), Bob McNair (Texans), and Art Rooney II (Steelers). Interestingly, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has injected himself as the unofficial seventh member of the committee. Jones, of course, is at odds with Goodell over Ezekiel Elliott‘s pending six-game suspension, a battle which is now being hashed out in the courts.
Goodell’s has earned upwards of $200MM in salary since he was elected commissioner in 2006. The NFL did not disclose Goodell’s pay for 2016 after dropping its tax-exempt status, but we do know that he earned $44.2MM in 2012 and $32MM or more from 2013-2015. Recently, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reported that Goodell earned $44MM in 2015.
Redskins’ Josh Norman To Miss Time
Redskins cornerback Josh Norman will miss four weeks with a rib fracture and related lung issues, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Norman first hinted at the news himself on Twitter.
[RELATED: Trent Williams Week-To-Week With Knee Injury]
Norman was forced out of Monday night’s game against the Chiefs, but there was initially hope that he would be able to play in Washington’s post-bye game against San Francisco on Oct. 15. That won’t be the case as Norman needs some additional time to heal.
The placement of the Redskins’ Week 5 bye will help them here, but they’re still facing three games without one their top cornerback. After facing the Niners in Week 6, the 2-2 Redskins will take on the rival Eagles in Philadelphia and then return home for a showdown with the Cowboys. Norman, it seems, is on track to return for the team’s Nov. 5 game in Seattle.
Norman has a 79.7 overall score from Pro Football Focus so far this season, down a tick from his best work in 2015 (87.7) and 2016 (81).
Bears Sign Howard Jones To P-Squad
The Bears have signed former Bucs defensive end Howard Jones to the practice squad, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). This marks Jones’ first employment since being non-tendered by the Buccaneers in the offseason. 
The 27-year-old auditioned for the Jets twice this year and recently worked out for the Titans. However, it was his September 25th audition with Chicago that landed him a job. It’s somewhat surprising to see that Jones had to settle for a practice squad deal, but then again he is returning from a torn ACL suffered last November.
Jones wasn’t a major contributor for the Bucs in his eight games last season, but he did manage five sacks in a rotational role for Tampa Bay in 2015.
The Bears run a 3-4 scheme, so Jones is likely being viewed by them as an outside linebacker. If there’s an injury to one of Chicago’s OLBs, it might not be long before the 27-year-old gets a shot on the 53-man roster.
Buccaneers To Audition Kickers
Well, you knew this was coming. After Nick Folk‘s dreadful performance on Thursday night, the Buccaneers will work out kickers, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
The audition will include Andrew Franks, Mike Nugent, and potentially two or three other kickers, Rapoport tweets. The kicker tryout is likely to take place next week rather than this weekend as the list is finalized, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times adds (on Twitter).
Folk went 0-for-3 on field goals against the Patriots, representing more than the difference between a Bucs win and loss. The Pats won by a score of 19-14 when Jameis Winston‘s end-of-the-game drive fell short.
Folk took full responsibility for Tampa Bay’s loss after the game, but his mea culpa will do little to help preserve his job. There’s no word on this yet, but Folk may not even get the opportunity to kick alongside the other hopefuls during the audition.
“[It has been a [bad week],’’ Folk said on Thursday (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “It started last Sunday and today. Bad week. “I left points out there. We should’ve won 20-19. This one is on me.’’
Two of Folk’s misses came in the fourth quarter, one from 49 yards out and one 31-yarder. He also missed a long 56-yard try at the end of the first half. This came on the heels of Sunday’s performance against the Giants in which he missed an extra point and two field goals before kicking the game-winner on the final play.
Colts Sign Henry Krieger-Coble
The Colts have signed tight end Henry Krieger-Coble. To make room, Indy waived center Adam Redmond. 
Krieger-Coble missed the Colts’ initial cutdown to a 53-man roster and signed with the team’s practice squad the next day. He was let go on Sept. 26 and went on to audition for the Ravens and Browns, but he went unsigned and remained available for the Colts to re-sign him today. Coble’s on-field experience is limited with just two games and one catch on his resume thanks to his time with the Broncos last year.
The Krieger-Coble signing could be an indication that Jack Doyle‘s status is up in the air following his concussion. On the flip side, he did practice on Thursday, so it’s possible that he could suit up for Week 5 against the 49ers. Brandon Williams and Darrell Daniels are also on the roster if Doyle can’t go. Erik Swoope, who was expected to see some playing time this year, is on IR following arthroscopic knee surgery and is hoping to return before the season is through.
Doyle had five catches for 27 yards before being forced out of last week’s game against the Seahawks. In the previous week, he had just two grabs against the Browns who have been generous with yards for other opposing tight ends. The Colts are hoping to have Doyle back to his healthy and productive ways against SF as he continues to seek his first touchdown of the 2017 season.
Jets Work Out Kendall Langford
The Jets worked out free agent defensive end Kendall Langford on Wednesday, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The 31-year-old has been yo-yo’d on and off of the Saints roster. Earlier this week, he was dropped by New Orleans, freeing him up to seek out other opportunities. 
The 31-year-old could be a contingency option for the Jets if help is needed on the defensive line. It’s not immediately clear if they are considering signing him right away, but it stands to reason that they will wait since they still need to free up room for the return of Jalin Marshall.
Langford spent the past two seasons with the Colts before being released in August. Before that, he was with the Dolphins and Rams. He had perfect attendance through eight seasons before he was slowed by injuries in 2016.
Langford had one of the best seasons in his career in ’15 as he registered 38 tackles and seven sacks. He might not be capable of that production any longer, but he could be a quality depth addition for the 2-2 Jets.
Patriots Make Alan Branch Healthy Scratch
Alan Branch was one of the Patriots’ top defensive performers in 2016. In 2017, he’s effectively done a disappearing act. The Patriots have responded by making him a healthy scratch for tonight’s game against the Buccaneers, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. Branch also did not travel with the team to Tampa. 
Branch is being cut out of the Patriots’ plans just months after re-signing on a two-year deal worth $8.45MM. At this point, it’s hard to see the 32-year-old (33 in December) playing out the second year of his contract. One has to wonder if he’ll even get to finish out the first year.
Branch’s deal included $3MM in guarantees at signing, but the Pats can wiggle out of their obligation to him in 2018 by eating just $1MM in dead money while saving $3.7MM against the cap. If he were to remain on the roster when the 2018 league year starts, he’d collect on a $1MM bonus.
Branch, a former second-round pick, was ranked as PFR’s No. 8 free agent interior defender at the outset of free agency. At the time, the Patriots’ decision to re-sign him seemed like a smart one. He turned in back-to-back seasons with 16 appearances, and 15 starts. In 2016, the veteran tallied a career-high 49 tackles and chipped in 1.5 sacks for the Super Bowl champs. Branch also ranked 25th in overall performance among Pro Football Focus’ 127 qualified interior defensive linemen.
Chargers Sign K Nick Novak
The Chargers are bringing Nick Novak back. He’ll replace Younghoe Koo, who has been waived.
Koo won the Bolts’ kicking competition over Josh Lambo this offseason. The undrafted rookie had some hiccups in Week 2, however, and the team didn’t test him much after he missed two of three tries against Miami. The Chargers, now 0-4, lost that game by two points.
Novak was released by Houston when he was edged out by second-year pro Ka’imi Fairbairn for the kicking job. He re-upped with the Texans on a one-year, $1.15MM deal this offseason, but had to settle for just the $250K signing bonus in the contract.
In 2016, Novak nailed 85.4% of his attempts last season, a tick above his career average. He was the Chargers’ full-time kicker from 2011 to 2014, making 101 of his 117 field goal attempts (86.3%) during his time in San Diego, including 11 of 17 from 50+ yards.
Latest On Dolphins’ Byron Maxwell
The Dolphins are not pleased with high-priced cornerback Byron Maxwell. Last week, the Dolphins deactivated him prior to their London game against the Saints. The assumption in the football world was that Maxwell was taken out of the lineup for substandard play. That is true, but the problem goes deeper than that. In addition to his struggles, Maxwell has refused to play the defenses called by coaches, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald hears. 
After being bumped from the active roster, Maxwell aired his frustrations to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson without giving a full account of the reasons behind his benching. That incensed the coaching staff even more, Salguero hears, and one has to wonder whether the Dolphins could get frustrated enough to release Maxwell outright and eat the money still owed to him.
“ …In no way, shape, did I think my play [warranted] that,” Maxwell said recently. “It’s a coach’s decision. Sometimes you have to deal with it. I’m a team player. Suck it up. Obviously, you think you’re the best man to do the job. You can’t control it. Everyone is trying to support your family trying to do the job.”
Two weeks ago, Dolphins coaches called for Maxwell to play press-man for much of the game against the Jets. Instead, he played far off of the Jets’ receivers as Gang Green rolled to a 20-6 victory. Now, the 29-year-old has ceded his starting job to rookie Cordrea Tankersley. He’s also been leapfrogged on the depth chart by Alterraun Verner, even though coaches feel that Maxwell is the superior talent.
The Dolphins would probably like to cut ties with Maxwell at this point, but his contract makes that hard to do. Releasing him today would leave them on the hook for a significant portion of his $8.5MM cap number. The good news, however, is that Miami can cut him after the season instead of carrying his $10MM cap number in 2018.