East Notes: Bell, Schwartz, Garrett,
Jets running back Le’Veon Bell was part of one of the team’s most active offseason is in recent history. However, Bell may be putting on a new uniform as soon as next season, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Bell is in the midst of the worst statistical season of his career. Cimini details the various hurdles that will limit New York’s flexibility in finding a new option.
Bell’s guarantees will make it unpalatable for the Jets to simply release Bell and so Cimini suggests a trade following the Jadeveon Clowney model that allows the Jets to incur a smaller cap hit, while recouping some compensation for the 27-year old running back.
Here’s some more from around the NFC East:
- Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz may have the most power of any coordinator in the league, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Schwartz has led one of the strongest defensive units in football over his tenure, but has insisted on maintaining a low profile. But, given the strength of the team’s success, the former Lions head coach may be in line for another opportunity at the helm of a franchise this offseason.
- Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett held a meeting with the team’s players on Thursday where he took responsibility for some of the team’s recent shortcomings, according to Jane Slater of the NFL Network. Garrett has been on the hot seat for much of the season, although owner Jerry Jones has publicly remained confident in him, but has Dallas in the driver’s seat in the NFC East. According to Slater, the meeting was received well by the players and may be at least partially responsible for the team’s strong performance in their 35-27 victory in Detroit against the Lions.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: S Josh Jones
- Placed on IR: OL Adam Redmond
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Bo Scarbrough
- Waived: RB Paul Perkins
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Cam Sims
Latest On Colin Kaepernick’s NFL Workout
Yesterday, we learned that Colin Kaepernick is set to work out for NFL teams at the Falcons’ facility. Today, we have more details on the surprise audition, via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Colin Kaepernick Holding Private Workout]
On Saturday, Kaepernick’s workout will have something of a draft combine feel. He’ll get started at 3pm ET, interview at 3:15pm ET, and take measurements and warmup afterwards. He’ll be timed and tested at 3:50 and conduct quarterback drills at 4:15, with all parts being recorded for distribution to all 32 NFL teams.
Since becoming a free agent, Kaepernick has only received a workout invitation from one team — the Seahawks — and that was in the summer of 2017. Later on, the Seahawks cancelled a 2018 visit with the polarizing QB. The passer’s camp also spoke to both the Alliance of American Football and the XFL. In each instance, his camp reportedly asked for a $20MM salary, consistent with the middle tier of signal callers in the NFL.
Several clubs have reportedly inquired about Kaepernick’s football readiness and Kaep’s camp says he’s been “working out five days a week, for three years, in preparation to play again,” per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
An exec from one NFC team says they have “nothing to lose” by attending the workout (Twitter link via ESPN’s Josina Anderson). The full list of attending teams is not yet known, but the Cowboys will be among them, Anderson hears (Twitter link).
Cowboys LG Connor Williams To Undergo Surgery
Cowboys starting left guard, Connor Williams, will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. The injury is not expected to result in his placement on injured reserve and he could be back in as soon as a few weeks. Xavier Su’a-Filo is expected to play left guard in his absence.
Dallas’ recent run of success has been guided by a strong investment in the team’s offensive line. The organization continued the trend last year, selecting Williams in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Texas. Williams almost immediately slotted into the Cowboys starting lineup and fit in along one of the strongest units in the league.
Su’a-Filo was a second round pick of his own back in 2014 by the Texans, but has not developed into the player many thought he would. While he received ample playing time in Houston, his struggles in pass protection ultimately led them to move on from him at the end of the 2017 season. He has since served as a primary backup in Dallas.
The Cowboys are currently tied atop the NFC East with the Eagles, making the coming weeks games very important for their playoff hopes.
Dez Bryant Eyeing NFL Comeback
Dez Bryant is looking to make his NFL return ASAP. This week, the former Cowboys wide receiver took to Twitter to announce that he’s “feeling good” and intends to reach out to teams in the next couple of weeks. 
After departing from the Cowboys last year, Bryant hooked on with the Saints. Unfortunately, his season ended before it began when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Finally, the veteran says he’s ready to rock.
The Eagles would be one logical fit for Bryant after losing DeSean Jackson to a core muscle injury. However, they’ve reunited with Jordan Matthews, so they may be set on the WR depth chart.
Bryant, 31, has not played since the 2017 season. He notoriously sat out much of last season and declined multiple offers, including a lucrative three-year, $21MM pitch from the Ravens, before joining the Saints midway through the season.
This time around, it’s unlikely that he’ll see anything close to a $7MM AAV, or much in the way of guaranteed money beyond 2019.
NFC East Rumors: DJax, Cowboys, Peters
Here’s a look at the NFC East:
- The Eagles have yet another medical controversy on their hands with the DeSean Jackson situation, as Les Bowen of the Inquirer writes. The Eagles allowed Jackson to try to heal his core muscle tear through rest and rehab, but medical sources say it’s rare for an explosive athlete like Jackson to be able to function effectively without surgery.
- On Wednesday, Cowboys defensive lineman Daniel Ross was arrested on Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon charges, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas News (on Twitter). Ross, 26, appeared in 13 games for the Cowboys last year but has been on IR this season due to a shoulder injury.
- Jason Peters will regain his left tackle job once he’s healthy and back in the regular lineup, head coach Doug Pederson says (via E.J. Smith of The Inquirer). The 37-year-old has missed three straight games with a knee injury, but ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 tackle this year.
Dak Prescott Had Four Wisdom Teeth Removed
- During the Cowboys‘ bye week, quarterback Dak Prescott had four wisdom teeth removed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Through the first half of tonight’s contest against the Giants, Prescott has completed 11 of his 20 pass attempts for 137 yards, one touchdown, and a pick.
[SOURCE LINK]
Jamal Adams, Le’Veon Bell May Be Traded In 2020
The trade deadline has come and gone, and Jamal Adams is still a member of the Jets. That’s largely because New York’s asking price of a first-rounder and two second-rounders for its star safety was too rich for rival clubs, but before the Jets started asking for draft picks, they asked for players.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, when the Cowboys called the Jets to discuss an Adams trade, New York GM Joe Douglas asked about the availability of Dallas guard Zack Martin and left tackle Tyron Smith. Dallas made it clear that neither offensive lineman was available, and the Cowboys’ best offer ended up being a first-round pick and backup corner Anthony Brown. However, as Rapoport observes, Douglas’ initial ask is suggestive of how he plans to construct his roster going forward: from the inside out.
Dallas’ and Baltimore’s interest in Adams was previously reported, though Rapoport says the Jets received double-digit phone calls on the 24-year-old. RapSheet adds that a third team actually put forth the strongest offer, though who that team is and the details of the offer are presently unknown.
But the fact that Adams will be with Gang Green for the rest of the year does not mean that he will be with the club in 2020. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com believes Douglas will end up dealing Adams prior to the 2020 draft, and Cimini cites Adams’ “overreaction” to the trade rumors as one of the primary reasons for his prediction.
Adams’ post-deadline public comments in which he voiced his frustration and surprise that the Jets would even think about trading him are emblematic of what Cimini deems a me-first mentality that Adams has begun to display, a mentality which also manifested itself in a locker room blowup during halftime of last week’s loss to the Jaguars. Whether one agrees with Cimini’s characterization of these incidents or not, it seems true enough that Adams’ tenure with the Jets could be drawing to a close (especially given that he will be extension-eligible for the first time after this season).
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports also hears that Adams could be dealt in 2020, and JLC’s sources suggest that Adams and Le’Veon Bell may be traded at next year’s combine. La Canfora adds that the Jets were eager to move Bell and cornerback Trumaine Johnson at the deadline, but there was little interest in them because of their salaries. And while the Jets will surely not find any takers for Johnson in 2020, other clubs may be willing to take the plunge on Bell, and Adams will remain a hot commodity.
But for what it’s worth, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv believes the Jets should build around Adams, Bell, Sam Darnold, and Quinnen Williams and not subject the club’s fanbase to another teardown. As many have said about the division-rival Dolphins’ rebuild — draft picks are great, but a rebuilding outfit needs core players too — the Jets should not blindly pursue premium draft capital at the expense of their foundational pieces.
NFC East Notes: Williams, Gettleman, Hill
The NFL and NFLPA will conduct a joint investigation into claims made by Washington’s LT Trent Williams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Williams has been one of the best left tackles in football since entering the league in 2010. After solidifying the blindside in Washington for nearly a decade, Williams had been holding out for all of the 2019 season.
The team refused to move Williams before the trade deadline, but the tackle finally reported to the team on Tuesday. However, he has since failed his physical and publicly accused the team of failing to recognize the severity of a cancerous growth on his head this past summer. The team has since denied Williams’ claims of wrongdoing and called for a third-party evaluation. According to Rapoport, the collective bargaining agreement calls for a joint investigation amidst such accusations.
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- Giants general manager Dave Gettleman needs to answer for his trade deadline decisions, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Since the second day of training camp in late July, Gettleman has not answered questions from any reporters. Even more concerning, a Giants spokesperson said he is not currently scheduled to address the media again this season, per Slater. Currently at 2-6, many were surprised to see the team give up draft assets for impending free agent Leonard Williams. Moreover, the team recouped no draft capital for any of their veteran players. Slater maintains it is “part of the job” for Gettleman to take questions from the media regardless of how popular his decisions are.
- Cowboys rookie second-round pick Trysten Hill has become a problem, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News. Per Watkins report, the defensive tackle has recently been sent home after arriving late to practice and fell asleep in the middle of a speech by Hall of Fame basketball player Isiah Thomas. Dallas has not been publicly critical of Hill, but Watkins notes that even after losing starting defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford for the season, Hill remains outside the rotation.
Latest On Cowboys’ Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper is in no rush to get a deal done. On Friday, the Cowboys wide receiver told reporters that he’d prefer to wait until after the season to hammer out an extension (Twitter link via Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star Telegram). 
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This roughly echoes what we’ve been hearing from Cooper throughout the year. The Dallas star wants a long-term deal that will put him at the top of the market, but he’s also looking to maximize his leverage. His biggest possible payday would come after a huge 2019 season and he’s willing to gamble.
Cooper was inconsistent during his stay in Oakland, but he’s been rock solid in Dallas. In nine games with the Cowboys last year, Cooper exploded for 53 catches, 725 receiving yards, and six scores. Extrapolated for a 16 game season (while rounding up a bit), that’s a 96/1296/10 stat line over the course of a full 16-game season, which would represent all new career highs for Cooper. This year, he’s got 38 catches for 621 yards and five scores through seven games, putting him on pace for career highs in yards and TDs (and flirting with his previous watermark of 83 receptions).
Publicly, the Cowboys have been saying that talks are trending in the right direction for Cooper and Dak Prescott, but in reality, they have some serious gaps to bridge.