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Poll: Which First-Round QB Will Start Most Games?

July 19th, 2018 at 6:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Five quarterbacks — Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson — were selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, but each signal-caller will have different outlooks for his rookie campaign. Team status, the presence of other options under center, and each quarterback’s own development will play a role in when exactly he starts his first game.

So which rookie passer will start the most contests in 2018? Let’s take a look at each individually:

Baker Mayfield, Browns

None of the first-round quarterbacks are guaranteed to open as a Week 1 starter, and Mayfield especially may face an uphill battle to overtake his club’s presumptive starter. Cleveland management has been adamant that Tyrod Taylor will be under center to begin the season, and there’s no reason (at present) to think that will change. However, Mayfield could certainly change minds during training camp and the preseason, and if the Browns get off to a slow start, Taylor could conceivably be benched in favor of the No. 1 overall pick.

Sam Darnold, Jets

Mayfield only needs to overtake Taylor in order to become the Browns’ starter, but Darnold might need to beat out two veterans: Josh McCown, who started 13 games for the Jets in 2017, and Teddy Bridgewater, who reportedly impressed during organized team activities. Darnold is the future of the New York franchise, of course, but that doesn’t mean the Jets are interested in throwing him on the field behind a porous offensive line and with limited offensive weapons.

Josh Allen, Bills

Like Darnold, Allen may also be competing against two other quaterbacks, as Buffalo signed former Bengal A.J. McCarron this offseason while 2017 draft pick Nathan Peterman is also still in the fold. Additionally, Allen was viewed as a raw prospect coming out of Wyoming, and the Bills will field one of the league’s worst offensive lines during the upcoming season. Buffalo’s wide receiver depth chart is a terrifying sight, while the club’s best offensive player — running back LeSean McCoy — could face discipline if domestic violence accusations prove true. The Bills may want to hold Allen on the bench for awhile, allowing either McCarron or Peterman more reps.

Josh Rosen, Cardinals

Another rookie quarterback facing a battle with two other options? Sounds familiar. Although in Rosen’s case, it’s unclear if Mike Glennon is a serious obstacle. Sam Bradford is the favorite to act as the Cardinals’ starter in Week 1, but Rosen is viewed as the most pro-ready signal-caller of the rookie bunch, so he could get on the field sooner rather than later. Arizona faces a stiff schedule to open the 2018 campaign, and if the club struggles, the Cards’ staff may choose to turn to Rosen.

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Jackson might be the first-round quarterback who sees the field first in 2018, but it may not be under center. The Ravens are reportedly interested in deploying Jackson as an “offensive weapon,” and could line him up on the field with starting quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco has produced poor performances in recent seasons, so Jackson is a reasonable candidate to see starts later in the year, especially if Baltimore falls out of the playoff picture.

So what do you think? Which first-round quarterback will make the most starts in 2018? Vote below!

Which first-round QB will make the most 2018 starts?
Josh Rosen 29.98% (369 votes)
Sam Darnold 26.73% (329 votes)
Josh Allen 18.60% (229 votes)
Baker Mayfield 17.71% (218 votes)
Lamar Jackson 6.99% (86 votes)
Total Votes: 1,231

Opinion: McCoy Likely Exempt List-Bound

July 14th, 2018 at 6:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Latest On LeSean McCoy: Friday

July 13th, 2018 at 3:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a roundup of the latest on the situation surrounding Bills running back LeSean McCoy, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak (all links to go Twitter):

  • Tanya Mitchell Graham, the attorney for Delicia Cordon, told WRNB radio on Thursday that neither she nor her client has “said directly” that McCoy was involved in the home invasion (link). “That could be factual [that McCoy was in Miami and not involved],” Graham said in the interview, which took place before records of Cordon’s comments to police were revealed. “The only thing I’ve said are factual things, for instance furniture was being moved on June 1. Mr. McCoy was not in Atlanta then. An eviction was filed on his behalf. He was not in Atlanta. Security cameras were changed at his residence. He was not in Atlanta then. So the fact that he was not in Atlanta doesn’t mean anything, really. But I have not – neither has my client – said directly that he was involved. I believe that the criminal investigation will play out and we will find out who the perpetrator or any accessories are.”
  • Graham tells Rodak that there has been “no backtracking” of her client’s story. Graham says her client “suspects” McCoy had “something to do with it,” though Cordon is not directly blaming McCoy without further evidence (link).
  • Graham says the piece of jewelry that was stolen from Cordon was given to her as a gift in 2016 and was not loaned by a jeweler, contradictory to what McCoy told police in 2017 (link).
  • It has been reported that McCoy was in the process of trying to evict Cordon from the home, but Graham disputes that version of events (link). Graham said McCoy has “never asked [Cordon] to leave. … She does not have a text message, a phone or an email or a phone record that can show my client that he asked her to relocate.” McCoy took Cordon to court this year to have her removed from the property, so this could be a matter of semantics.
  • Graham says neither her nor Cordon knew that Cordon’s friend would post the graphic hospital photo or make accusations against McCoy on Instagram (link).

Bills Interested In RB Branden Oliver

July 13th, 2018 at 10:33am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have shown interest in setting up a workout with former Chargers running backs Branden Oliver, a source tells Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, no workout has been scheduled yet. 

Oddly enough, the Bills’ interest in Oliver actually predates this week’s incident involving LeSean McCoy‘s ex-girlfriend. But, with Delicia Cordon alleging that McCoy had a role in the assault, the Bills would be wise to ramp up their search for free agent running backs.

A deal would mark a homecoming of sorts for Oliver, who was raised in Florida but played his college football at the University at Buffalo. Oliver was not drafted after his time in Western New York, but he hooked on with the Chargers in 2014 and quickly made a name for himself with his bruising rushing style. Since then, however, injuries have held him back.

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 and they do not sign Oliver, one can’t help but wonder if they’ll also consider the likes of DeMarco Murray and Adrian Peterson.

Latest On Bills RB LeSean McCoy

July 12th, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by Zachary Links

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.

Latest On Bills RB LeSean McCoy

July 11th, 2018 at 8:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After being accused of disturbing domestic violence actions earlier this week, Bills running back LeSean McCoy has hired defense attorney Don Samuel, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.

McCoy will launch a public relations campaign in the wake of the incident involving his ex-girlfriend, and has publicly denied all allegations. Although he was not located in the same state as his ex-girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, when she was reportedly abused, McCoy has been linked to the assault by his ex-girlfriend’s lawyer.

“The assailant demanded specific items of jewelry that had been previously gifted to Ms. Cordon by Mr. McCoy, which Mr. McCoy had requested back on many occasions,” the attorney’s statement explains. “In fact, after Ms. Cordon refused to return her jewelry gifts to Mr. McCoy, he would often suggest to Ms. Cordon that she could be robbed because the jewelry was expensive.”

Per Robinson, McCoy’s decision to hire Samuel is an indication that he’ll pursue an “aggressive” defense strategy as he seeks to clear himself of the abuse allegations. Samuel, for his part, has experience in the NFL realm, as he defended then-Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis against murder charges in 2000 before aiding Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger against sexual assault claims in 2010.

As Mike Rodak of ESPN.com notes, the NFL could choose to place McCoy on the commissioner’s exempt list while the investigation — both by authorities and by the league itself — is ongoing. If the NFL takes that step, McCoy would be temporarily barred from participating in either practice or games.

Latest On Bills’ LeSean McCoy

July 11th, 2018 at 10:55am CST by Zachary Links

On Tuesday, disturbing allegations were made against Bills running back LeSean McCoy. McCoy denied any involvement in abusing his ex-girlfriend, who was left battered and bloodied after an apparent home invasion. Furthermore, McCoy was not in the same state at the time. However, the attorney for Delicia Cordon is now also intimating that McCoy was involved in the incident.

Here’s the latest on McCoy:

  • “The assailant demanded specific items of jewelry that had been previously gifted to Ms. Cordon by Mr. McCoy, which Mr. McCoy had requested back on many occasions,” the statement from the attorney explains (via ESPN.com). “In fact, after Ms. Cordon refused to return her jewelry gifts to Mr. McCoy, he would often suggest to Ms. Cordon that she could be robbed because the jewelry was expensive.”
  • The Instagram post that brought the allegations to light has since been deleted, but the unidentified Instagram user says it was not her call. “For the record [the alleged victim’s] lawyer forced me to remove that post. I stand by what I said….I’ve personally addressed [LeSean McCoy] on everything that was stated many many times over the years. Lie to these people if you want Shady, but you know I know everything,” said the friend of Cordon (Twitter links via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak).
  • Court records in Georgia show McCoy has been attempting to evict Cordon from the home in question since last July. A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday in the case, but it was postponed until August because of an emergency in Cordon’s attorney’s family (via Rodak). The attorney for Cordon also alleges that on June 1, McCoy directed “his family, friends and laborers” to remove Cordon’s furniture from the home in an attempt to evict her. The attorney also claims McCoy changed the alarm system and removed security cameras.
  • The police report in the incident also points to a specific motive. “The preliminary investigation indicates that this residence was specifically targeted by the suspect or suspects, and not a random incident,” police said. “When officers arrived they found one victim who had been physically assaulted by a lone intruder. During the altercation, the suspect demanded specific items from the victim.”

LeSean McCoy Denies Abuse Allegations

July 10th, 2018 at 11:29am CST by Zachary Links

On Tuesday morning, the friend of LeSean McCoy‘s ex-girlfriend took to Instagram to make a series of disturbing accusations against the Bills running back. The post included a picture of McCoy’s girlfriend with her face bloodied and accused McCoy of abusing her and his dog, as well as using “steroids.” Soon after, McCoy denied the allegations raised against him. 

“For the record, the totally baseless and offensive claims made against me today on social media are completely false. Futhermore, I have not had any direct contact with any of the people involved in months,” McCoy wrote (Twitter link).

For their part, the Bills say they are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.

McCoy, who turns 30 on Thursday, has been among the league’s top rushers for the last eight seasons. He has six 1,000-yard rushing seasons to his credit, including his 2017 effort in which he tallied 1,138 yards and averaged 4.0 yards per carry.

Reason To Believe In 2018 Bills

July 6th, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s okay to be optimistic about the 2018 Bills, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic writes. While the offense lost a few key pieces, Fairburn argues that some change was probably needed after the passing offense finished 28th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. With a new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll and three new QBs in A.J. McCarron, Josh Allen, and Nathan Peterman, the Bills undeniably have shaken things up, even if there are some question marks.

The real reason of optimism, of course, is the defense, where they have added Tremaine Edmunds at linebacker plus Star Lotulelei, Harrison Phillips, and Trent Murphy on the defensive line. The Bills’ run defense was among the worst in the NFL last year, but they have nowhere to go up from here.

Offset Language Holding Up Top 10 Picks

July 5th, 2018 at 11:33am CST by Zachary Links

There are 15 unsigned rookies left, and seven of them are in the top 10. The holdup for this year’s highest selections is offset language, a league source tells Mike Florio of PFT. 

Players with offset language who are cut before the end of their rookie contract have the remaining guaranteed money reduced by whatever they earns elsewhere. Without offset language, players get to double dip. Top 10 picks expect to complete their rookie contracts, but it’s an important issue for agents nonetheless.

The following top 10 players are without deals and there’s a common thread in the representation for most of them:

As Florio notes, CAA also represents No. 6 overall pick Quenton Nelson. The new Colts guard agreed to terms back in May on a deal that contains offset language, but also includes large guaranteed training-camp roster bonuses in 2019 through 2021. The presence of those bonuses effectively offsets the presence of offsets and could be a good middle ground solution for the agency’s remaining unsigned top 10 picks.

There’s no sign of real acrimony between any of these players and the teams that drafted them, but Joey Bosa‘s situation in 2016 serves as a reminder that offset language can become a real issue that can lead to a training camp holdout.

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