Latest On Raiders’ Vontaze Burfict
The appeal hearing for Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict will take place on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. As it stands, Burfict is facing a suspension that would sideline him for the rest of the season. 
Per the collective bargaining agreement, these sessions are heard by an appeals officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. This hearing will be presided by Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, who upheld Burfict’s three-game suspension in 2016 after his controversial hit on Antonio Brown.
The NFL moved to keep Burfict off the field for the final 13 weeks of the ’19 campaign after he drove his head into Jack Doyle‘s helmet on Sunday. Burfict’s history won’t help him here but this is, by far, the lengthiest suspension ever set against a player for an on-field infraction, so Burfict may have a good chance at getting the suspension reduced.
Khalil Mack Thought He'd Spend Whole Career With Raiders
The Bears are set to face off against the Raiders in London this weekend, which means Khalil Mack will have his first chance to play against his former team. The linebacker told reporters today that he actually envisioned playing for the Raiders for his entire career.
Mack spent the first four seasons of his career with Oakland, but the Raiders put him on the block when the two sides couldn’t agree to a long-term selection. The Bears swooped in and ended up signing four-time Pro Bowler to a deal that included $90MM in guaranteed money. Mack rewarded his new team by compiling 47 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 14 games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/19
We don’t dance now, we make minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Pharoh Cooper
- Released: DT Miles Brown
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Jerry Attaochu
- Signed: OT Calvin Anderson
- Waived: LB Keishawn Bierria
Houston Texans
- Released: TE Jerell Adams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Trevon Coley
- Waived: DT Jihad Ward
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: TE Stephen Anderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived from reserve/injured: S Isaiah Wharton
New York Giants
- Suspended (four games, PEDs): TE Isaiah Searight
New York Jets
- Waived from exempt/left squad: TE Bucky Hodges
Oakland Raiders
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: DT Eddie Vanderdoes
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Ryan Lewis
- Released: CB Ajene Harris
Washington Redskins
- Waived: WR Robert Davis
Raiders’ Vontaze Burfict To Appeal Ban
As expected, Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict will appeal his season-long suspension, agent Lamont Smith tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). If Burfict cannot overturn the ban, he’ll be sidelined for the remaining 12 games of the 2019 season. 
The NFL moved to keep Burfict off the field for the final 13 weeks of the ’19 campaign after he drove his head into Jack Doyle‘s helmet on Sunday. This is, by far, the lengthiest suspension ever levied against a player for an on-field infraction, so Burfict may have a good chance at getting the suspension reduced.
Obviously, Burfict’s history of rules violations is playing a big role here. Burfict has racked up 14 fines and/or suspensions from the league office throughout his career, including three league office penalties in 2018. Throughout his career, Burfict’s tenacity has been a major double-edged sword and source of controversy. He’s been one of the league’s most feared defenders for all of the right, and all of the wrong, reasons.
Regardless of what happens in his appeal, Burfict figures to be on extremely thin ice with the NFL moving forward. It’s worth noting that the veteran will be eligible for free agency once again in March, after the expiration of his one-year, $2MM deal with Oakland.
Raiders’ Vontaze Burfict Facing Season-Long Ban
Vontaze Burfict is facing a season-long suspension for his late-game hit on Colts tight end Jack Doyle, a source tells ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (on Twitter). Burfict has a history of player safety violations and the NFL appears poised to send a message.
“There were no mitigating circumstances on this play,” NFL V.P. of Football Operations Jon Runyan said in an open letter to Burfict. “Your contact was unnecessary, flagrant and should have been avoided. For your actions, you were penalized and disqualified from the game. Following each of your previous rule violations, you were warned by me and each of the jointly-appointed appeal officers that future violations would result in escalated accountability measures. However, you have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designed to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk. Your extensive history of rules violations is factored into this decision.”
A suspension was viewed as likely after Burfict’s ejection from the game, but a season-long ban was not necessarily expected. Burfict may fight the suspension, but he’s facing an uphill battle – in seven seasons, Burfict has earned 14 total fines and/or suspensions from the league office, including three times in 2018.
In Sunday’s game against the Colts, Burfict lowered his helmet and rammed it into the helmet of Doyle. It’s an awful look for Burfict, given his checkered past, and a not-so-great look for the Raiders, who made Burfict a captain this offseason.
If Burfict is indeed suspended for the length of the season, it would be the longest ban for an on-field act in league history, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The previous watermark is believed to belong to Albert Haynesworth, who drew a five-game suspension for stomping on the face of Cowboys center Andre Gurode.
Burfict, 29, has 628 tackles and 8.5 sacks to his credit over the course of seven seasons with the Bengals and 1/4 season with the Raiders. In the Raiders portion, he has tallied 18 total stops.
After beating the Colts 31-24, the Raiders are at the .500 mark as they head into Week 5 against the Bears. They’ll try to advance to 3-2 as they take the field, likely without Burfict.
Raiders’ Jordan Devey Done For The Year
The interior of the Raiders’ offensive line just suffered another blow. Right guard Jordan Devey tore his pec and will miss the rest of the season, head coach Jon Gruden announced after the team’s victory over the Colts, per Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Devey has started each of the team’s first four games, filling in for injured starter Gabe Jackson. Oakland has been thin on the interior for a while, as left guard Richie Incognito was suspended for the first two games of the season and Jackson got hurt in training camp. Gruden told reporters that the team expects Jackson, one of the league’s highest-paid guards, to return in Week 7 following the team’s bye week.
That means they’ll need a new replacement for at least one more week. Denzelle Good filled in for Devey after he went down against the Colts, and will likely start in London next week against Chicago. Devey originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2013. He had stints with the Ravens, Patriots, 49ers, and Chiefs before signing a one-year deal with Oakland back in March. For his career, he’s made 42 appearances and 20 starts.
Antonio Brown To File Up To Nine Grievances/Appeals
The Antonio Brown news machine keeps chugging along. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Brown is poised to file up to nine grievances/appeals, which would be a league-record number of filings generated from one season for one player (though as Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets, no grievance has been filed yet).
Schefter helpfully summarizes the potential filings as follows:
• Fine appeals with the Raiders: $215K
• Salary guarantees with the Raiders : $29MM
• Signing bonus with the Raiders: $1MM
• Unpaid Week 1 salary from the Raiders: $860K
• Salary guarantees with the Patriots: $1MM
• Signing bonus with the Patriots: $9MM
• Unpaid Week 3 salary from the Patriots: $64K
• 2020 option year with the Patriots: $20MM
• Potential appeal of NFL suspension
The consensus seems to be that Brown is likely to win his grievance against the Patriots for the $9MM signing bonus. However, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports confirms, that matter will probably not be resolved until 2020.
The NFL’s investigation into accusations of sexual assault/misconduct levied against Brown by two different women is ongoing. Despite reports that teams remain interested in Brown — reports championed by Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus — Brown himself has indicated that he is done with the NFL, and he recently enrolled in online classes at Central Michigan University.
Latest on Dwayne Haskins, Redskins’ Coaching Staff
There was some chatter Saturday suggesting that Redskins head coach Jay Gruden could be coaching for his job against the Giants this afternoon, but Dianna Russini of ESPN.com reports that no Washington coaches were informed by team execs or ownership that they will be fired if they lose against New York today (Twitter link). That may or may not mean anything, but since Gruden’s seat gets hotter by the day, these types of reports are worth monitoring.
However, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports confirms that the relationship between the coaching staff and the front office, headed by team president Bruce Allen, has become untenable. And differences in opinion over roster construction are just the beginning. Per La Canfora, the organization wants Gruden to part ways with defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, but Gruden refuses to consider any changes to his staff.
But it seems inevitable that Gruden, at least, will be looking for a new job in 2020. Manusky will likely be gone too, but La Canfora says team brass is high on first-year OC Kevin O’Connell, so he may stick around. If Gruden were to fired be mid-season, offensive line coach Bill Callahan may serve as the team’s interim HC. Gruden, meanwhile, may join his brother Jon’s staff with the Raiders.
As we have been hearing, another source of contention between the Redskins’ coaching staff and front office/ownership is rookie QB Dwayne Haskins. La Canfora writes in a separate piece that many members of the coaching staff — including Gruden — and people close to Haskins believe that it would be best for the Ohio State product to redshirt his entire rookie year, especially given the state of Washington’s O-line and the club’s general dearth of offensive talent. But owner Dan Snyder may be inclined to throw Haskins into the fire sooner rather than later, while Gruden views playing Haskins as a last resort. Although Gruden’s fate with the Redskins is likely sealed, the disagreement between him and Snyder over Haskins may hasten his departure.
As for today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Case Keenum will get the start, and Haskins will be his backup. Colt McCoy, who recently returned to practice, will be inactive, though the Redskins did consider dressing all three signal-callers. Despite Gruden’s reservations about playing Haskins, Rapoport hears that if Keenum should struggle against the Giants’ defense, Gruden may feel compelled to send in his rookie signal-caller (video link).
Antonio Brown Moving Toward Grievance Against Raiders?
Antonio Brown looks likely to be in for two grievance battles. The now-twice-released wide receiver unloaded on Patriots owner Robert Kraft last week, and a grievance is expected against that organization. However, the NFLPA is going through scenarios regarding a grievance against the Raiders, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The Raiders were the first team to void Brown guarantees, doing so hours before releasing the mercurial superstar. Among the items being considered for a grievance against the Raiders on Brown’s behalf: his 2019 and ’20 base salaries ($14.625MM and $14.5MM, respectively), an unpaid Week 1 salary, three fines levied against him and a $1MM signing bonus, per Fowler.
The NFLPA has yet to file this grievance, and as will be the case in a battle against the Patriots, Brown’s actions while in Oakland — highlighted by missed practices over multiple issues and a confrontation with GM Mike Mayock — will make it a more challenging effort to recoup a significant amount of cash. The $1MM signing bonus may be Brown’s best chance at seeing a seven-figure payment from the Raiders. Brown racked up $215K in fines while with the Silver and Black.
There was offset language in Brown’s Raiders contract, meaning his $10MM Patriots deal would have stood to minimize the Raiders’ commitment. However, with the Pats also voiding Brown’s money, this has become quite the murky situation. The All-Pro talent received nearly $40MM in guarantees from two franchises this year; he has a chance to walk away with very little of that money.
Currently a free agent, Brown has ranged from quitting the NFL altogether to re-enrolling at Central Michigan to suddenly wanting back in the league. Drew Rosenhaus indicated teams are “very interested” in signing Brown, despite an unbelievable run of drama this year, but considering Brown faces multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, it does not appear likely he will play again anytime soon.
Raiders Release Ryan Grant
Ryan Grant‘s time in Oakland is over. The Raiders are releasing the veteran receiver, according to a tweet from Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. In a follow-up tweet, Bair notes the team is promoting linebacker Justin Phillips from the practice squad to take his place on the roster.
It’s been a tumultuous past couple of seasons for Grant, who was originally drafted by the Redskins in the fifth-round back in 2014. He made a name for himself in Washington and was a favorite of head coach Jay Gruden, racking up 573 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. The strong season landed him a four-year, $29MM deal from the Ravens with a whopping $14.5MM in guaranteed money in free agency. The amount Baltimore gave him attracted a lot of criticism, and the next day they failed his physical and voided the deal.
Grant ended up signing a one-year, $5MM deal with the Colts, and spent last year in Indy. He didn’t play a huge role, catching 35 passes for 334 yards. He signed with Oakland this offseason, and he had nine targets in the team’s first two games. He quickly fell out of favor and was a healthy scratch this past week, so the writing was on the wall.
With promising rookie Hunter Renfrow in the slot, there wasn’t much of a need for Grant’s services anymore. Fortunately for Grant as a vested veteran his salary became guaranteed Week 1, so he’ll collect $1MM from Oakland. He should be able to latch on with a team in need of receiving help at some point. Phillips is an undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State.