NFC North Notes: Suh, Peterson, Bears
With Ndamukong Suh eligible for unrestricted free agency this coming March, the Lions need to do whatever they can to make sure the star defensive tackle stays in Detroit, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Rothstein even suggests that the team will have to consider franchising Suh if the two sides can’t reach a longer-term deal, since his value to the Lions’ defense makes paying a premium worthwhile.
Here’s more from around the NFC North:
- A source close to Adrian Peterson tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report that Peterson’s camp would like to reach a settlement on his suspension appeal, but the Vikings running back isn’t interested in any deal that would see his ban stretch into next season.
- Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg Sports passes along some details on Troy Vincent‘s testimony from Peterson’s hearing, noting that the NFL executive told Peterson he would be subject to the league’s old personal conduct policy rather than the new one.
- Bears general manager Phil Emery is likely experiencing some buyer’s remorse after extending Jay Cutler last January, says Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune, suggesting that the decision could ultimately cost Emery his job.
- In spite of speculation that the Bears might consider other quarterback options for next year and beyond, head coach Marc Trestman told reporters today, including Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that the club has never wavered on its commitment to Cutler.
Bears Place Marshall On IR, Promote Bellamy
As expected, the Bears have officially placed wide receiver Brandon Marshall on injured reserve, ending his 2014 season, the team announced today (Twitter link). In a pair of related roster moves, Chicago promoted wideout Josh Bellamy from the practice squad to the active roster, and signed linebacker Jonathan Brown to the taxi squad.
Marshall, 30, left last Thursday’s game against the Cowboys with a rib injury and was hospitalized for several days. The veteran receiver broke multiple ribs and also sustained a lung injury, making it an easy decision to shut him down for the rest of the season, particularly with the club no longer in the playoff hunt.
With Marshall out for Chicago’s last three games, it could open the door for second-year wideout Marquess Wilson to assume an increased role in the team’s offense. Wilson entered the season hoping to establish himself as the No. 3 receiver behind Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, but missed a good chunk of the year with a fractured clavicle.
Rapoport On Bears’ Future
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com examined the respective futures of some of the key figures within the Bears organization this morning, and the most notable item he passed along (via Twitter) is that, barring significant improvement, the team plans to fire defensive coordinator Mel Tucker after the 2014 season.
As for head coach Marc Trestman, whose job is in serious jeopardy, Rapoport tweets that he is not convinced Trestman will be replaced. This is in line with reports that PFR’s Ben Levine passed along yesterday, and there is something to be said for having some sort of consistency at the head coaching position and for giving a coach the chance to work through adversity early in his tenure with a club.
The elephant in the room, of course, is quarterback Jay Cutler, whom the team considered benching during its matchup with Tampa Bay several weeks ago (per a tweet from Rapoport). Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that the Bears have serious buyer’s remorse over Cutler’s contract, and that there is doubt within the front office that the team can consistently win with Cutler under center. Rapoport also tweets that the team could save $12.5MM against the salary cap if they could somehow trade Cutler in the offseason, and Jason Fitzergald of OverTheCap.com adds (via Twitter) that a trade would save the club $30MM of guaranteed salary over the next several years . Needless to say, it would be difficult to find a team willing to trade for Cutler at this point, but such a move would give the team and (possibly) Trestman the chance to start anew with a little financial flexibility to boot.
Coach Notes: Jets, Trestman, Coughlin
Jets coach Rex Ryan intended to talk to the media on Friday about this team’s matchup with the Vikings. Instead, he addressed rumors that he had considered firing offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.
“I would deny that, 100 percent I’ll deny that, that I’m looking to fire Marty or anybody,” Ryan said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “You know we challenge each other all the time. … I don’t know where it’s coming from. So to me I think it’s a complete bogus deal. So, I’m not saying it wasn’t said by somebody, but it certainly wasn’t said by me or thought by me.”
Let’s take a look at some more rumblings out of the NFL front offices, including whispers about coaches potentially on the hot seat…
- There has been plenty of finger-pointing in New York regarding the issues surrounding the Jets, and Ryan, Mornhinweg and general manager John Idzik have faced their fair share of criticism. Bart Hubbach of the New York Post believes one member of the organization has unfairly gone unscathed: owner Woody Johnson.
- While the Bears‘ season certainly hasn’t gone as planned, it doesn’t look like the team will endure any drastic changes. John Mullin of CSNChicago.com appeared on ProFootballTalk Live and stated his belief that head coach Marc Trestman is safe (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com), noting that firing the coach would be an admission of failure by general manager Phil Emery.
- Meanwhile, Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times believes the Bears need to make major changes. However, based on the team’s moves in previous years, the team will be apprehensive about making any drastic moves.
- Dan Graziano is unsure what the Giants will do with head coach Tom Coughlin, but he believes there’s a chance that the team could be grooming offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo for the role.
Extra Points: Peterson, Rice, Bears, Cowboys
As of this morning, the NFL had not offered a settlement proposal to embattled Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, who also confirms Peter King of Sports Illustrated’s earlier report that a ruling in Peterson’s appeal case could come next week. Arbitrator Harold Henderson has encouraged the two parties to reach an agreement that would preclude the need for him to issue a formal decision, but it sounds like that hasn’t happened yet. Here’s more from around the league…
- More from Pelissero, who tweets the league and the union are working to schedule the grievance hearing between Ray Rice and the Ravens. Rice, of course, already won his reinstatement to the NFL after appealing his suspension. Succeeding against the Ravens would entitle him to roughly $3.5MM in lost salary.
- After suffering a 41-28 loss at the hands of the Cowboys on Thursday night, Bears head coach Marc Trestman told reporters, including Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com, that the club won’t make any coaching changes at this time. Trestman mad a similar declaration in November after the Bears were dominated by the Packers. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is taking the brunt of the criticism in Chicago, as his defense ranks dead last in point per game allowed and 27th in DVOA.
- The Cowboys will be up against the cap again in 2015 — currently, they have just over $1.2MM available in cap space for next season. As Rick Gosselin of the the Dallas Morning News writes, the club has several decisions to make regarding its offensive stars — namely Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray — but it will need cap relief in order to fix its defense. Dallas’ only impact defender, per Gosselin, is linebacker Rolando McClain, also a free agent this offseason. I would guess that Jerry Jones & Co. will attempt to restructure Tony Romo‘s contract in order to create the cap room needed to retain at least a few free agents.
- Amid reports of turmoil along the Jets’ coaching staff, Rex Ryan denied that he considered firing offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. As Smith writes, the point is probably moot, as Ryan and the rest of the coaching staff will likely be let go at the end of the season.
Brandon Marshall Out For Season
2:40pm: Marshall is out for the rest of the season, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Facebook link).
1:41pm: Marshall broke two ribs last night and also injured a lung, the Bears announced today (Twitter links). The wideout, who remains in hospital due to the lung issue, will definitely miss next week’s game against the Saints, though the club has yet to rule him out for the season.
8:53am: The 5-8 Bears aren’t technically eliminated from playoff contention yet, but the team may need a couple more wins this season merely to stay out of last place in the NFC North, let alone to make a long-shot run at the postseason. As Chicago prepares for its final three games, it appears likely that the team will be without wide receiver Brandon Marshall for the rest of the season. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Bears believe Marshall fractured his ribs, and his spleen is being examined as well.
Marshall, 30, has seen his overall numbers slip this season, averaging just 55.5 receiving yards per game, his lowest mark since his rookie year. Still, that dip in production can probably be attributed in large part to the Bears’ overall struggles, rather than to a steep decline in Marshall’s own performance. The Bears locked up the veteran wideout to a contract extension earlier this year that keeps him under team control through the 2017 season, so it would make sense for the club to play it safe and shut down Marshall this year, ensuring that he gets healthy for the future.
If the Bears decide that Marshall, who sustained his injury in last night’s loss to the Cowboys while taking a hit after a catch, can’t return this season, a move to the injured reserve list would be the next move. That would allow the Bears to open a spot on their 53-man roster. If Marshall misses the season’s final three games, it could also give Jay Cutler and the offense an opportunity to take a longer look at second-year receiver Marquess Wilson, whose role would presumably increase.
Bears Sign Jay Feely, Waive Chris Williams
In advance of tomorrow night’s game against the Cowboys, the Bears have tweaked their special teams unit, signing free agent kicker Jay Feely and waiving wide receiver and kick returner Chris Williams with an injured designation, the team announced today (Twitter link).
Feely, 38, was the Cardinals’ regular kicker from 2010 to 2013, but has remained on the open market this season, despite working out for several teams. Most recently, Feely had an impressive audition for the Broncos, making 14 of his 15 field goal tries, including a 60-yarder. However, Denver opted to sign the younger Connor Barth instead. By signing with the Bears, Feely will have an opportunity to assume kicking duties tomorrow if Robbie Gould, who is suffering from a sore quad, is unable to play.
Williams, meanwhile, returned kicks for the Bears for a good chunk of the season, but has been slowed by a hamstring injury as of late, and has been replaced by Marc Mariani in the return game.
NFC Notes: Briggs, Panthers, Peterson
The Bears placed veteran linebacker Lance Briggs last week, and while Briggs intends to continue his career next season, he sounds resigned to the fact that it may not happen in Chicago. The former third-round pick, who has been with the club since 2003, may become the latest longtime Bear to find work elsewhere, as he acknowledged on his Comcast SportsNet show yesterday.
“I’ve been through some nasty contract disputes,” Briggs said, per Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “I got a chance to see a lot of guys come and go. And I got a chance to see how things were handled with players before me. So for me, it just laid the foundation for what’s to come. For me, I prepared myself for the days that are coming. So I don’t hold bitterness. There’s no bitterness. When I think of the whole situation, I think of all the great years and I’m thankful for everything that Chicago has meant to me.”
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- The Panthers‘ willingness to part with veteran players whose mental lapses cost the team is sending a strong message to the rest of the roster, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. After releasing players like Charles Godfrey and Jason Avant earlier this season, Carolina cut cornerback Antoine Cason and linebacker Jason Williams this week after Cason gave up an easy touchdown catch late in the first half and Williams missed an assignment on a blocked punt that resulted in a TD for the Vikings.
- Arbitrator Harold Henderson encouraged the NFL and NFLPA to try to reach a settlement on Adrian Peterson‘s case, but so far no offers have been exchanged between the two sides, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com.
- As our Offseason in Review post on the Giants shows, New York was extremely active in free agency in 2014, but the spending spree hasn’t paid off at all for the club this season, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
- The fact that Jim Harbaugh has a year remaining on his contract with the 49ers wouldn’t be an impediment if he wanted to pursue a college job, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Still, if Harbaugh is coaching a team besides San Francisco in 2015, it’s likely to be an NFL franchise.
Minor Moves: Saturday
Here are today’s minor moves, with the most recent transactions added to the top of the list:
- The Buccaneers have promoted rookie offensive lineman Josh Allen from their practice squad, cutting cornerback C.J. Wilson to accommodate the addition, writes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Allen will provide insurance in case center Evan Dietrich-Smith, who has been sidelined with flu symptoms, can’t play tomorrow.
Earlier updates:
- The Patriots have promoted linebacker Darius Fleming off their practice squad, reports Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston (via Twitter).
- The Bears signed veteran safety Anthony Walters to the active roster, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). The team also brought defensive end Jamil Merrell onto its practice squad (via Twitter).
- The Chargers have promoted offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles to their active roster, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego. Sirles has spent most of the season on the team’s practice squad. The Chargers have announced that safety Adrian Phillips was released in a corresponding move that would open up space on the roster for the utility lineman.
- For the second time this month, the Panthers have waived running back Chris Ogbonnaya, the team announced (via Twitter). Defensive tackle Micanor Regis has been promoted from the practice squad to take the open roster spot. Ogbonnaya was waived in early November, but he rejoined the squad only two days later. The 28-year-old has compiled 50 yards on 14 carries this season, but he hasn’t played since the team’s loss to the Saints in late October.
Lance Briggs Will Test Free Agency
Lance Briggs‘ season is over after the Bears placed him on injured reserve with a groin injury yesterday. With his contract up in March, many pundits have suggested that this will call to a close his career in Chicago, where he spent 12 years with the team.
Although it seems like a foregone conclusion that he will not be returning to the Bears in 2015, that does not mean the end of the road for Briggs altogether. Briggs has no plans to retire, and will test free agency this offseason, reports Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
Briggs’ 12 seasons with the Bears have placed him among the franchises all-time great defensive players. He missed only four games in his first ten years with the team, earning seven trips to the Pro Bowl during that time. He was also named All-Pro three times, in 2005, 2006, and 2009.
His 170 starts as a Bear puts him among the top five in franchise history, alongside such names as Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Olin Kreutz, and Brian Urlacher. He and Urlacher anchored a defense that was frequently among the best in the NFL.
Still, his play declined in his final years with the team, struggling with performance and with injuries after head coach Lovie Smith left town. He played in only eight games in 2013 and will finish 2014 only appearing in nine games.
Additionally, Briggs will turn 35 in 2015, and given his recent injury history, he may not be a hot commodity as a free agent. He also plays a non-premium position as a 4-3 outside linebacker, and those spots are often filled with younger talents and mid-round draft picks.
One obvious fit would be a reunion with his old coach Smith in Tampa Bay, where he could join a young defense headlined by stars Lavonte David and Gerald McCoy. Under Smith, there has been upheaval on the defense as the coach attempts to bring in his own talent, and it can be seen most notably as the secondary has roster turnover. Briggs could be a key in Smith implementing his scheme to the younger players.
Outside of the Buccaneers though, desire for the former Pro Bowl linebacker will most likely be limited, and he may be forced to sign for the veteran’s minimum if he is intent on continuing his NFL career.