AFC Notes: Browns, Smith, Chiefs, Ivory
Here are some notes from the AFC as the third London game continues on Week 8 Sunday.
- With another Browns season unfolding in typical fashion since the franchise rebooted, the team has engaged in discussions to trade starting linemen Joe Thomas and Alex Mack, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. A potential Hall of Famer, Thomas has played in Cleveland since being drafted third overall in 2007. The eight-time Pro Bowler has no guaranteed money on his 2016 deal. However, the left tackle is under contract (for $9MM in ’16) until 2018 and would rocket to the top of the trade block if he’s being dangled. Mack can opt out of his Browns deal after this season, as the Jaguars intended when they designed the contract to make it difficult for Cleveland to match in 2014. The center’s deal features a no-trade clause, but he is allowed to waive it to expedite a move to a contending team, Rapoport tweets. Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich notes the Browns would likely have to be “blown away” by an offer to part with either of these two (Twitter link).
- Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger is also available for a trade, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported on SportsCenter (as relayed by Ohio.com’s Marla Ridenour on Twitter). Kruger’s played in Cleveland for three seasons after signing a big free agent deal in 2013. At $7.7MM, Kruger has the sixth-largest cap number on the Browns (Thomas and Mack are second and fifth, respectively). He’s under contract for two more seasons and carries just $3.6MM worth of dead money. Kruger, who will make $6.5MM and $7MM in base salaries the next two years, posted 11 sacks last season, but the 29-year-old has just a half-sack this year.
- Teams have called the Ravens on Steve Smith and have been told the 36-year-old wideout’s unavailable, Schefter reports (via Twitter). This approach would lend to the thinking Baltimore can convince Smith to postpone his retirement. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Smith will soften his stance on retiring instantly if traded if the Ravens lose today and drop to 1-7.
- The Chiefs do not plan to play host in London again for a while, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports (on Twitter). Chairman Clark Hunt did say the team would consider going abroad for a road game in the coming years (Twitter link).
- Paylor examines the reasoning for the Chiefs to cede a home game in favor of a London excursion. Growing the Chiefs’ brand and potentially joining the list of cities vying for a future Super Bowl are among them.
- Chris Ivory would like to continue his career with the Jets despite the team’s coaching staff upheaval, the New York Post’s Steve Serby reports. Ivory, who has 501 rushing yards and is barely 300 from a single-season career high, is a free agent at season’s end.
Extra Points: Jets-Pats, Browns, Hardy, Winston
It was reported Friday that NFL officials swept the Jets’ locker room and questioned three Patriots employees during their matchup last Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The report stated that the sweep came via request by the Jets, who were concerned that the stadium’s operations and radio frequencies weren’t up to par. Though the Jets subsequently denied having any involvement, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that the league informed the Pats that “a team” did ask for it to happen. New England believes the Jets are that team, Florio reports, which should add to an already heated rivalry.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stressed patience over the summer regarding his club’s rebuild, but the team is 2-5 and matters could worsen with several playoff-caliber opponents on the schedule over the final nine games of the season. A marked regression from last year’s 7-9 finish might force Haslam to consider making changes, writes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Those changes could begin in the front office and cost second-year general manager Ray Farmer his job.
- While the Cowboys have expressed a desire to give defensive end Greg Hardy a contract extension, the Dallas Morning News’ Tim Cowlishaw doesn’t think a new deal would make sense for either side right now. The Cowboys would be taking a substantial risk in signing Hardy just two games into his career with them, as they aren’t yet aware of whether he’s capable of staying out of trouble off the field. In Hardy’s case, he’ll have plenty of offseason suitors if he can behave himself until then. That would obviously up the 27-year-old’s asking price.
- Since playing arguably the worst game of his young career in an Oct. 4 loss to Carolina, Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has turned in back-to-back terrific performances, connecting on 34 of 48 passes for 500-plus yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is impressed with the progression of Winston, the No. 1 pick in last spring’s draft, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “Jameis is growing fast,” Koetter said.
AFC Notes: Raiders, Texans, Broncos, Workouts
As the possibility of losing the Raiders again continues to loom over the city, Oakland is continuing to formulate solutions on a path to a new stadium.
Mayor Libby Schaaf has initiated a process of bringing to light yet another stadium proposal with the goal of having it ready to present in the next couple of weeks, per Phil Matier and Andy Ross of the San Francisco Chronicle, who write this operation’s plan is to present this proposal to a special league committee — rather than the owners — by December.
Despite bringing in a consulting firm, Schaaf faces an uphill battle in procuring a land deal that will please the parties involved. The Raiders’ believing they should not have to pay for that part of the process is not sitting well with the city or Alameda County, Matier and Ross note.
The Bay Area scribes, however, hear that Oakland has the trump card in this standoff: the fact that Raiders owner Mark Davis does not have the votes to move and is lagging behind the Rams and Chargers, the latter once agreeing on a significant partnership for a Carson, Calif.-based stadium, in the Los Angeles sweepstakes.
The league desires a wealthier owner that will make an L.A. return profitable, per the Chronicle’s investigative-reporting tandem, and Davis doesn’t match up. He’s in the process of taking on a partner to help aid this potential relocation financially.
Let’s look at some additional AFC items.
- Ryan Mallett remains eligible to collect $1.47MM from the Texans in termination pay, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes. The Texans are carrying this figure on their 2015 payroll after extracting themselves from the two-year, $7.01MM contract they signed Mallett to in March. The reeling signal-caller can file for his remaining 10 game checks, each totaling $147K+, but the Texans are not on the hook for any money in 2016.
- Bill O’Brien and GM Rick Smith‘s indecisiveness on their quarterback situation should put their jobs at risk, writes the Chronicle’s Jerome Solomon.
- In advance of a matchup with the 6-0 Packers, the Broncos‘ coaching staff was noticeably stricter this week, players told Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post
- The Colts kicked the tires on former free agent acquisition and starting guard Donald Thomas today, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). Thomas played two games for Indianapolis in 2013 before suffering a season-ending injury. The former Patriots lineman sustained another in 2014, and the Colts cut his comeback short when they released him before the season.
- The Jets worked out former Chiefs center and sixth-round pick Eric Kush on Friday, Wilson reports (on Twitter). Current Kansas City center Mitch Morse beat out Kush for the position this summer.
- The Browns brought in defensive tackles Joe Vellano, Terry Williams and Toby Johnson for workouts this week, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
- J.R. Tavai worked out for the Titans this week, Wilson tweets. The rookie outside linebacker who the Titans cut just before the season also tried out for the Packers earlier this week.
Extra Points: Trades, FAs, Texans, Browns
The NFL doesn’t see that level of trade activity that does MLB or the NBA, but there are still a fair number of deals each year. Still, most of the trades (at least, those made in-season) are fairly minor in nature. However, in something of a thought exercise, Greg Garber of ESPN.com takes a look at five potential deals, involving star players such as J.J. Watt, Calvin Johnson, and Joe Thomas. Needless to say, it’s highly unlikely that any of these trades will come to pass, but it’s interesting to entertain, nonetheless. On a related note, I recently examined several AFC candidates to be traded before the November 3 deadline, and I’ll go over the NFC later this weekend.
Here’s a look around the NFL as we close out Friday night:
- In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Field Yates takes an early look at the top 10 free-agents-to-be for 2016, with Broncos pass rusher Von Miller topping his list. Considering Denver locked up Demaryius Thomas to a new contract earlier this year, Miller looks like a very strong bet to get the franchise tag this winter. However, if he signs a long-term deal with the Broncos or another team, Miller could become the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player, says Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (video link).
- The Texans brokered a one-week injury settlement of nearly $19K for tight end Mike McFarland, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. McFarland was removed from injured reserve following a bizarre incident where he was the victim of an extortion plot. Interestingly, Wilson writes that McFarland’s exit is related to that situation. McFarland joined the Texans as a UDFA this season out of South Florida. However, he began his career at USF as a four-star recruit.
- The Browns worked out former Patriots defensive lineman Joe Vellano today, according to Wilson (Twitter link). Vellano, who turned 27 today, appeared in all 16 games for New England back in 2013, but saw action in just five contests last year. Cleveland has a few defensive lineman who are dinged up, but the club is likely just updating its emergency list.
- The Titans will discuss re-adding receiver Rico Richardson to the active roster, reports Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com (Twitter link). Richardson was released and moved to the practice squad on Monday.
Luke Adams and Zach Links contributed to this post.
AFC North Notes: Manziel, Burfict, Rice
Earlier this afternoon, we learned that Steve Smith‘s agent, Derrick Fox, isn’t entirely convinced that the Ravens wideout will retire at season’s end. That’s not the only news out of the AFC North today though, so let’s dive in and round up a few more items…
- Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is not expected to receive discipline from the NFL for his role in an off-field incident earlier this month, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, the league has maintained that its investigation isn’t yet complete, so there’s no official word on Manziel yet.
- Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who opened the season on the physically unable to perform list, returned to practice today, as Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. Burfict won’t play right away, but the Bengals now have three weeks to either activate him to their 53-man roster or shut him down for the year.
- Despite not playing in an NFL regular season game since 2013, and not receiving a workout this year, former Ravens running back Ray Rice continues to train in the hopes of getting another shot, according to Luke Broadwater of the Baltimore Sun. Of course, even putting aside the elevator video that continues to haunt him, the longer Rice’s absence from the league lasts, the less likely it becomes that he’ll get another opportunity.
Extra Points: Manziel, Pryor, Ratliff
The next round of CBA discussions could include some talks on a revamp of team practices, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes. In the last Collective Bargaining Agreement, there was a reduction in the number of practices and changes as to how teams practice and coaches have been fighting for more teaching opportunities for young players who are still learning. Ultimately, one of the key changes could see the size of the practice squad roster – currently at 10 – increase.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- At this point it would be a surprise if Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is found culpable and faced discipline for his incident, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Either way, we should all know for sure this week. The NFL is interviewing Manziel tonight about his role in the incident and they’ve already interviewed several of the parties involved (link).
- Terrelle Pryor continues to work out in the hopes that a team will take a shot on him as a receiver, writes ESPN’s Ashley Fox. Pryor’s lack of practice squad eligibility has perhaps discouraged clubs from rolling the dice on him, but agent Drew Rosenhaus says his client’s workouts have all gone well: “We’re confident that it’s just a matter of time until one of these teams decides to make the move.”
- The Bears notified the Cowboys of Jeremiah Ratliff’s release as a security precaution, sources tell David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. The Bears cut Ratliff last week after an incident at their practice facility and it sounds like things got fairly hostile. Ratliff has not attempted to come by the Cowboys facility in the past week, but due to the acrimonious nature of their split, the Bears felt compelled to give them a heads up.
- Calvin Johnson to the Panthers? Tamba Hali to the Falcons? Those trade ideas may be far-fetched, but they’re two of eight deals that Gil Brandt of NFL.com would like to see happen by next Tuesday’s deadline.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Workout Notes: Saints, Seahawks, Jaguars
Today’s workouts from around the NFL..
- The Jets worked out defensive end Lawrence Okoye, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Okoye, a former University of Kentucky discus hurler, had previous stops with the 49ers and Cardinals.
Earlier updates:
- The Saints tried out John Conner and Henry Hynoski, a league source tells Mike Florio of PFT. New Orleans already has a fullback on the roster in Austin Johnson, but he was a surprise scratch on Sunday and he may have fallen out of favor with coaches. Conner, nicknamed the Terminator, was a favorite of Rex Ryan while with the Jets. Conner followed Ryan to Buffalo in 2015, but he was let go before the start of the season. Hynoski, a four-year veteran, spent his full career with the Giants and appeared in every game last year.
- The Seahawks had ten players in for tryouts on Monday, including running back Isaiah Pead and defensive end Lawrence Okoye, a source tells Florio. Linebacker John Lotulelei, tackle Jesse Davis, guard Taylor Boggs, defensive end Keith Browner, guard Kadeem Edwards, defensive end Efe Obada, and defensive end DeAngelo Tyson were also showing their stuff for Seattle.
- The Jaguars brought in kickers Zach Hocker and Randy Bullock for a workout on Wednesday, but Josh Scobee was not among those in attendance, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- In addition to their previously reported look at Jeff Demps, the Jets tried out running back Akeem Hunt on Tuesday, a league source tells Florio. Wide receiver Larry Pinkard also got a look from Gang Green. Chris Ivory is dealing with tightness in his quad, so the Jets might opt to add a running back if he needs to sit out for a while.
- The Browns recently worked out cornerbacks Bill Bentley, Chase Casey, Al Louis-Jean, and Robert Steeples, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Cardinals worked out Emmanuel Acho, James Anderson and Ja’Gared Davis, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Falcons worked out Mike Gillislee and Devin Wylie, Wilson tweets.
- The Panthers worked out Andrew Miller, Wilson tweets.
- The Jets worked out wide receiver Larry Pinkard, Wilson tweets.
- The Steelers worked out Dwight Bentley and Montell Garner, Wilson tweets.
- The Raiders worked out Dyshawn Davis, Wilson tweets.
- The Saints worked out Jeff Luc, Patrick Scales, Jason Williams, and Christian Yount, Wilson tweets.
- The Packers worked out Justin Anderson, Curtis Grant, and Ronald Powell, Wilson tweets.
- The Colts worked out Sean Baker, Matt Daniels, outside linebacker Mike McAdoo, and Dreamius Smith, Wilson tweets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/28/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB Terrence Magee, T Marcel Jones (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Chance Casey (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com)
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Daryl Richardson (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Ross Ventrone (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Quanterus Smith (Twitter link via team)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: G Ryan Groy (link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times); DT Derrick Lott, LB Julian Stanford (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune)
Browns Notes: Manziel, C. Johnson, Arians
Even if they wanted to suspend Johnny Manziel for his involvement in a recent off-field incident, the Browns wouldn’t be able to do so, GM Ray Farmer told reporters, including ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon. The Browns’ only option, under the NFL’s rules, was to make Manziel inactive for this past Sunday’s game against the Rams, the GM said.
Only the NFL has the authority to discipline the quarterback, because potential personal conduct policy violations fall under the umbrella of the league, not the team — Manziel was involved in an argument with his girlfriend and there may have been fisticuffs between the two.
Here’s more on Manziel, along with some other Browns-related items:
- The NFL hopes to have its Manziel investigation wrapped up by the end of the week, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Presumably, a decision on whether or not the signal-caller will be disciplined will be announced shortly after the investigation concludes.
- Manziel’s meeting with the league is imminent and “there’s a sense of urgency to it,” per head coach Mike Pettine (link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). It makes sense that Pettine would want things wrapped up as soon as possible, since the team needs some clarity on its quarterback situation for Week 8 — Josh McCown is banged up, and while he may be able to play, the team would need to add an insurance quarterback if Manziel receives a suspension from the NFL.
- With a game against the Cardinals on tap this weekend for the Browns, Cabot notes (via Twitter) that the Browns could have signed running back Chris Johnson when Duke Johnson was injured in camp. However, the Browns instead discussed signing Ray Rice at the time, and ended up passing on both Rice and Chris Johnson, who is now second in the league in rushing yards.
- The upcoming game against Arizona also resulted in Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians speaking to Browns reporters today, including Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. The former Cleveland offensive coordinator admitted he thought he might get a chance to return to the Browns as their head coach in 2009, but the club quickly hired Eric Mangini instead. “I always thought if you could build a winner in Cleveland how special that would be,” Arians said of the missed opportunity.
Coaching Rumors: Dolphins, Pagano, Texans
A report this weekend indicated that Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is expected to receive consideration in the offseason for the Dolphins‘ head coaching job. However, asked if there’s any truth to those Haley rumors, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) replied, “None.”
It isn’t the first time that Salguero has shot down a Dolphins-related report from La Canfora — during the 2014 offseason, La Canfora reported that the club was exploring trades involving players like Mike Wallace and Dion Jordan, which Salguero’s sources emphatically denied. It’s not entirely clear if the team was indeed considering deals back then, but the Dolphins ultimately traded Wallace a year later, and probably wish they had moved Jordan as well.
In this case, the performance of the Dolphins and interim coach Dan Campbell down the stretch will play a significant role in what candidates Miami considers after the season — if the club continues to look as good as it has in Campbell’s first two games, it’s hard not to imagine the team hiring him on a full-time basis.
Here are a few more coaching notes and rumors from around the NFL:
- While Chuck Pagano‘s job in Indianapolis isn’t totally safe, it’s highly unlikely that the Colts will make a change this week, tweets Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com. Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star is skeptical that firing Pagano is the answer to turning things around for the Colts.
- If the Colts do decide to make an in-season change, that move is most likely to happen during the club’s Week 10 bye, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Cole identifies offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, assistant head coach Rob Chudzinski, and quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen as the four in-house candidates to replace Pagano.
- In the wake of Monday’s report that head coach Bill O’Brien and general manager Rick Smith disagreed on whether Ryan Mallett should be cut, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk examines the Texans‘ organizational structure, suggesting that it will likely continue to cause problems. In Smith’s view, it may be time for either the head coach or GM – or both – to go. For what it’s worth, following Mallett’s release today, Tania Ganguil of ESPN.com tweeted that Rick Smith was always on board with the decision, but disagreed about the timing of the move, which would’ve left the team with just one active veteran quarterback.
- The Lions‘ firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi should officially put head coach Jim Caldwell on notice, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.
- The Eagles are almost certainly giving DeMarco Murray more playing time than Ryan Mathews because of the difference between the two players’ contracts and guaranteed money, and that’s just one example of how Chip Kelly‘s moves as a GM are hampering him as a head coach, says Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Michael Reghi, Bud Shaw, Dan Labbe, and Chris Fedor of the Northeast Ohio Media Group debate whether Browns head coach Mike Pettine should be on the hot seat in Cleveland.