2016 Proven Performance Escalators
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure is projected to be $1.696MM in 2016. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2016 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
49ers: Gerald Hodges, LB
Bears: Marquess Wilson, WR
Buccaneers: William Gholston, DE; Mike Glennon, QB; Akeem Spence, DT
Cardinals: Andre Ellington, RB; Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S; Alex Okafor, LB
Chargers: Keenan Allen, WR
Colts: Sio Moore, LB; Hugh Thornton, G
Cowboys: J.J. Wilcox, S; Terrance Williams, WR
Dolphins: Jelani Jenkins, LB; Dallas Thomas, T; Dion Sims, TE; Kenny Stills, WR
Eagles: Bennie Logan, DT
Falcons: Kemal Ishmael, S; Levine Toilolo, TE
Jaguars: Josh Evans, S; Dwayne Gratz, CB
Jets: Brian Winters, G
Lions: Larry Warford, G
Packers: David Bakhtiari, T; Micah Hyde, S
Patriots: Duron Harmon, S; Chris Jones, DT; Logan Ryan, CB
Raiders: Mychal Rivera, TE
Rams: T.J. McDonald, S
Ravens: Ricky Wagner, T; Brandon Williams, DT
Saints: Terron Armstead, T; John Jenkins, DT
Seahawks: Luke Willson, TE
Steelers: Markus Wheaton, WR
Titans: Brian Schwenke, C
Washington: Jordan Reed, TE
Police Investigating Johnny Manziel
MONDAY, 4:02pm: A sworn statement from Crowley indicates Manziel struck her on the left ear during their altercation Jan. 30, and the blow left her unable to hear out of that ear when she provided the statement two days later, via Scott Gordon of NBCDFW.com.
Prior to this, the couple argued about another woman Manziel was reportedly seeing, according to Crowley’s affidavit, and the argument escalated to the point he led Crowley to her car forcibly from a hotel room at Hotel ZaZa in Dallas.
Manziel, the statement indicates, then “threw” Crowley into the passenger seat of her car as he planned to drive her home. Once in the car, Crowley then left the vehicle and hid behind bushes. But Manziel, the affidavit states, performed a U-turn and dragged Crowley by the hair back into the passenger seat. After Manziel hit Crowley on the ear, she struck Manziel several times in an attempt to leave the vehicle again only to see him “throw [her] off of him” and onto the floor of the passenger side.
The statement then indicates Manziel said, “Shut up or I’ll kill us both” as Crowley cried. Once back at Crowley’s Fort Worth apartment, Manziel smashed Crowley’s phone before she grabbed a knife. According to her statement, Manziel then fled Crowley’s apartment.
Crowley’s request for a two-year restraining order was granted.
SATURDAY, 8:19pm: The off-field struggles of Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel dominated the early-morning headlines — not only did Manziel’s agent part ways with him, but the Cleveland signal-caller reportedly refused to enter a rehabilitation clinic. There’s now a bit more news on the embattled Browns QB, so let’s take a look at the latest:
- The Dallas Police Department has in fact opened a criminal investigation regarding the domestic violence clams against Manziel, the DPD announced.
- While reports yesterday indicated that no charges would be filed against Manziel, Crowley has given a statement to the Dallas Police Department and has indeed requested that charges are filed, according to Lopez (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
- A judge has issued a protective order that requires Manziel to stay away from his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, for two years, and also mandates that him to pay $12K in legal fees, reports Rebecca Lopez of WFAA (Twitter link). Manziel was involved in an incident with Crowley last month — the disturbing details of which have recently come to light — and the judge found that there “was reason to believe that family violence occurred,” tweets Lopez.
- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has tried to reach Manziel on several occasions, and received no response, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds that Haslam seemed “frustrated [and] emotional.” Rapoport also passes along the full text of Haslam’s comments to the media via Twitter.
- The Cowboys had no interest in acquiring Manziel even before his latest off-field troubles, as team sources tell Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Manziel “was never on [the Cowboys’] radar.” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has long been rumored to be intrigued by Manziel, but Hill reports that Dallas’ front office remains steadfast in its opposition to bringing in Manziel, who is expected to be cut by the Browns. For his part, Manziel reportedly has expressed a desire to play for the Cowboys.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report
Extra Points: Manziel, Schwartz, London
Long thought to be Johnny Manziel‘s career lifeline, the Cowboys may not have been interested in the embattled quarterback at all, Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Team sources told Hill the Browns quarterback who could be facing legal action for his potential role in a domestic assault wasn’t on the Cowboys’ radar even before the ex-Heisman Trophy winner’s latest off-the-field occurrence.
Hill writes the same personnel who advised Jerry Jones to pass on the polarizing Texas A&M quarterback in favor of Zack Martin are still in place. The Cowboys remain very much in search of a quality backup quarterback, but Manziel doesn’t fit that profile and appears to be a non-starter in Dallas.
The Browns are expected to cut Manziel before the new league year begins.
Here’s the latest from around the league.
- The NFL’s tri-annual showcases in London continue to generate buzz on a franchise spawning in the United Kingdom’s biggest city, and Roger Goodell isn’t doing anything to squelch that notion. “We are considering playing more games in the U.K. It’s a balancing act with our schedule. … As far as a franchise, let’s continue to grow. Let’s continue to see that excitement and enthusiasm, passion and support continue to develop. If it does, I think that’s a realistic possibility,” Goodell told media, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. The obvious logistical issues remain, as London is an eight hours ahead of the Pacific Time Zone, and such an expansion would be the most daring step among the four major American sports leagues.
- Goodell stands in favor of the league pursuing a policy that will automatically eject players after they receive their second personal foul in a game, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports. “I believe that that’s consistent with what we believe are safety issues,” the commissioner told media at his yearly address, “but I also believe it’s consistent with what we believe are the standards of sportsmanship that we’ve emphasized. We should take that out of the hands of the officials.” Any rule change must be approved by at least 24 of the 32 owners. John Mara wants such a rule to be clear as opposed to a gray area regarding low-end personal fouls. “To me, it’d have to be severe enough personal fouls as opposed to something like an incidental facemask,” Mara told Maske. Following the actions of Odell Beckham Jr. and Vontaze Burfict within a span of three weeks, the league would appear to have momentum to pass legislation of this sort.
- Geoff Schwartz would be hesitant if the Giants were to pursue his free agent brother Mitchell Schwartz, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports. The Giants are in need of a right tackle after turning to journeyman Marshall Newhouse last season, and the 26-year-old Mitchell Schwartz is arguably the best available. The Browns’ right-edge presence graded as Pro Football Focus’ sixth-best tackle this season. “I don’t know if we would get along too well playing next to each other for a while, just because of our personalities,” Geoff Schwartz said. “Maybe after a week or so, we’d kind of get tired of each other. He’s a great player, don’t get me wrong. He’s the best right tackle this year, I hope he goes somewhere and gets every cent he can get. I just don’t know if the Giants are in position to pay a right tackle eight-and-a-half-, nine-million dollars.” Geoff Schwartz stands to make $3.9MM in base salary if the Giants bring the injury-prone guard/tackle back for a third season. He does not, however, want his brother to re-sign with the rebuilding Browns. “Obviously, you want to get your money, but you want to win. You don’t want to be on a losing team. He’s had four offensive coordinators in four years. He’s had three or four GMs, three head coaches. I mean, you can’t win that way,” Schwartz said.
- Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman did not activate the brakes when his Dodge Ram collided with a Honda Civic in October, injuring the other driver, according to the Seattle Times’ Lynn Thompson. Coleman, who played in a career-most 14 games for the Seahawks this season, was going 60 mph in 35-mph zone at the time of the crash, one that left the driver of the Honda Civic with a concussion and a broken collarbone. Coleman suffered a concussion in the accident while losing his hearing aid. Coleman told police he’d smoked a form of synthetic marijuana, not illegal in Washington, an hour before the collision.
Tony Romo Mulling Collarbone Surgery
FEBRUARY 5: Add another wrinkle to the story, as Romo tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he hasn’t decided whether or not to have the operation. Like Archer reported below, Romo will wait three or four weeks before making a final determination, using that time to “find the bone density and see how strong it is.”
11:02am: Romo still intends to have surgery on his left clavicle, but will wait to determine what kind of procedure he needs, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
Source tells Moore that two options are in play — Romo may have a plate surgically attached over the collarbone to limit the potential for recurring injury, or doctors could opt for a “Mumford procedure,” which involves shaving off or removing a portion of the distal clavicle.
As Archer notes below, the Cowboys and Romo intend to reassess their options in about four weeks.
FEBRUARY 3, 8:35am: The Cowboys and Romo have decided to postpone the decision on whether or not the quarterback will undergo surgery on his collarbone, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Romo’s collarbone will be re-evaluated in four weeks before a final determination on surgery is made, sources tell Archer.
As noted below, if Romo does eventually go under the knife, the recovery period is expected to be about six to eight weeks, which would still put him on track to participate in offseason workouts in May.
JANUARY 24: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will undergo offseason collarbone surgery, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, who reports that Romo will have a plate inserted in his left collarbone in order to prevent future injuries. Romo has fractured his left clavicle three times in the past five seasons, most recently in November 2015.
A report yesterday indicated that Romo would undergo a CT scan this week, and Werder says that scan will help determine if Romo’s clavicle has healed enough to support that hardware that doctors will insert into his collarbone. “I think we know which way we’re siding and some of the things,” Romo said Saturday, in regards to the possibility of surgery. “We’ve had exhaustive discussions about it.“
Cowboy management expects a six-to-eight week recovery period from the date of the surgery, adds Werder (Twitter link). So depending on when the actual operation occurs, Romo should clearly be available for the beginning of the 2016 regular season. It’s unclear how much of Dallas’ offseason program Romo will be able to participate in, but it’s likely that the club will take a cautious approach.
On a macro level, the Cowboys are widely expected to add a quarterback via the draft this year, as the club has been devastated by a lack of options behind Romo (Dallas posted a 1-11 record in the absence of Romo in 2015). Romo, 36 in April, said yesterday that he expects to remain in the NFL “for awhile,” but the team plans to acquire more depth, especially given that Matt Cassel, last year’s No. 2 quarterback, is an unrestricted free agent.
East Notes: Murray, Morris, Bills, Dolphins
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wrote earlier today that the Eagles and DeMarco Murray are headed toward a “stare-down” this offseason, but even though that may be the case, the running back likely isn’t going anywhere, says Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com. Rapoport’s report suggested that the Eagles hanging onto Murray is the most likely outcome, and Kempski goes into a little more detail explaining why that’s the case, despite the fact that it might not be the preferred outcome for both sides.
If Murray is released or traded at some point this year, it sounds like we can count Dez Bryant among those who would like to see the ex-Cowboy return to Dallas. “Come on home D.Moe,” Bryant wrote this afternoon in a tweet directed to Murray, Jason Witten, and Tony Romo.
- Washington general manager Bruce Allen appears prepared to let Alfred Morris depart as a free agent this winter, as Liz Clarke of the Washington Post writes. “Free agency is going to be a great test for him,” Allen said of Morris, during an appearance on ESPN 980. “If he gets a great contract, we’re going to applaud him. If not, we’ll see what happens with us.”
- The Bills don’t have a ton of cap flexibility this offseason, and are expected to simply focus on re-signing their own free agents rather than bringing in outside veterans. If the team needs to free up a little space though, it could potentially do so by extending the contract of cornerback Stephon Gilmore, lowering his $11.082MM cap number and ensuring that a talented player at a premium position remains in the fold. Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News explores the possibility – and the importance – of a Gilmore extension.
- Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman didn’t draw any head coaching interest this offseason, but veteran tight end Vernon Davis, who played under Roman in San Francisco, believes his former OC will make a “great head coach one day,” as Dunne writes in a separate Buffalo News piece.
- With 2015 first-rounder DeVante Parker waiting in the wings to take Rishard Matthews‘ spot in the Dolphins‘ lineup, James Walker of ESPN.com believes it’s unlikely that the free agent receiver will re-sign with Miami, putting the odds at just 20%.
Latest On DeMarco Murray, Eagles
The Eagles have overhauled their coaching staff and restructured their front office hierarchy in the last month, but DeMarco Murray‘s situation in Philadelphia remains relatively unchanged, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, the Eagles and Murray “appear headed toward a stare-down” regarding his future with the team.
Rapoport explains that there are doubts within the Eagles organization that Murray can bounce back and have a big year for the team in 2016. However, it’s not clear if the team is willing to stomach the $13MM charge on the cap that would apply if Murray is released and not designated as a post-June 1 cut.
Meanwhile, it’s probably fair to say that Murray wouldn’t strongly oppose a change of scenery after posting a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry during his first season as an Eagle. However, the former third-round pick, who will turn 28 next Friday, is saying all the right things publicly — per Jamie Apody of WPVI TV (Twitter link), Murray told ESPN today that he wants to return to Philadelphia, since last season’s performance isn’t the lasting impression he wants to leave on the city.
According to Rapoport, the former NFL rushing leader hasn’t asked to be traded or released, and so far the Eagles haven’t shown any real interest in cutting him. Some bridge-building may be necessary though, after a disastrous 2015 — if the two sides aren’t confident that the relationship can work going forward, the odds increase that the situation “could explode,” writes Rapoport.
For now, with his $7MM base salary guaranteed for 2016, Murray and his his $8MM cap number seem likely to return to Philadelphia for 2016. However, if things take a turn and Murray is cut, teams like the Seahawks, the Raiders, and – of course – the Cowboys would have interest, says Rapoport. Those clubs all had varying levels of interest in Murray a year ago when he was a free agent.
If Murray and the Eagles decide that things won’t work for the running back in Philadelphia, the two sides could also explore a potential reworking of his contract that would make a trade a more viable possibility.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Offseason Outlook: Dallas Cowboys
Pending free agents:
- Mackenzy Bernadeau, G
- Charles Brown, T
- Matt Cassel, QB
- Morris Claiborne, CB
- Tyler Clutts, FB
- Jack Crawford, DE
- Lance Dunbar, RB
- James Hanna, TE
- Greg Hardy, DE
- Nick Hayden, DT
- Jeff Heath, S (RFA)
- Cameron Lawrence, LB (RFA)
- Ronald Leary, G (RFA)
- Rolando McClain, ILB
- Danny McCray, S
- Jeremy Mincey, DE
- Josh Thomas, CB
- Robert Turbin, RB
- Kyle Wilber, LB
Top 15 cap hits for 2016:
- Tony Romo, QB: $20,835,000
- Tyron Smith, T: $14,000,000
- Brandon Carr, CB: $13,817,000
- Dez Bryant, WR: $13,000,000
- Tyrone Crawford, DT: $8,750,000
- Jason Witten, TE: $8,612,000
- Orlando Scandrick, CB: $7,782,271
- Sean Lee, LB: $5,950,000
- Doug Free, T: $5,500,000
- Barry Church, S: $4,750,000
- Cole Beasley, WR: $3,356,000
- Dan Bailey, K: $3,300,000
- Zack Martin, G: $2,445,763
- Travis Frederick, C: $2,185,918
- Darren McFadden, RB: $2,150,000
Notable coaching/front office changes:
- Defensive staff: Defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson left to become Falcons’ defensive passing game coordinator.
Draft:
- No. 4 overall pick
- Owe fifth-round pick to Raiders in deal for WR Brice Butler.
- Owe sixth-round pick to 49ers in deal for TE Geoff Swaim.
- Owe seventh-round pick to Seahawks in deal for RB Christine Michael.
- Acquired sixth-round pick from Raiders in deal for WR Brice Butler.
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $8.71MM
- Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2017 for C Travis Frederick.
- QB Tony Romo is expected to undergo offseason collarbone surgery.
Overview:
The Cowboys, fresh off an NFC East title and a trip to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, came into 2015 with high expectations. But when Dez Bryant broke his foot in the second half of the team’s Week 1 contest against the Giants, and when Tony Romo fractured his collarbone in Week 2, Dallas’ fate seemed all but sealed, even after the team managed to cobble together a 2-0 record to open the season. Romo would return to the field in Week 11, leading his struggling club to a victory over Miami, but he re-injured his collarbone in Dallas’ Thanksgiving game a few days later, ending his season.
Bryant, meanwhile, returned to the field in Week 8, but the injury sapped some of his usual explosiveness and he was hampered by the mediocre play of the quarterbacks who filled in for Romo. After finishing 2014 among the league’s five most efficient offenses, the Cowboys were the second-worst in 2015, per Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. They were, however, a slightly better defensive club in 2015 than they were in 2014, but they were still below league average, further proving that as the offense goes, so goes the team.
Nonetheless, the NFC East should again be a wide open division in 2016, and as long as the Cowboys can stay healthy, they should compete for the division crown.
Key Free Agents:
There aren’t a ton of invaluable names on this list, which is good news for Cowboys fans. Morris Claiborne didn’t escape the injury bug in 2015 — his entire career, in fact, has been beset by injury. He has not lived up to the promise that comes with a former sixth overall pick, and he finished last season ranked as the 106th-best corner out of 113 eligible players per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).
However, there is still some upside there, and Claiborne is probably not as bad as his PFF rating would suggest. And considering the state of the Dallas secondary, “not bad” might be as good as the team can hope for. We heard in late November that the Cowboys planned to move Byron Jones to safety in 2016, which increases the likelihood that Claiborne will stay in Dallas. He would probably not command a great deal of money on the open market, so unless he wants a change of scenery, it seems like a reunion is in the cards.
The same cannot be said for Greg Hardy, who continued to find his name in the headlines for the wrong reasons even as he was playing out his 2015 season under a fairly lucrative contract from a team willing to take a chance on him. Hardy was not the same player for Dallas that he was for Carolina, but he still had a strong season as a pass rusher, recording six sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in 12 games and ranking as the league’s 28th-best edge defender out of 110 qualified players, according to PFF. Dallas, whose defense is in desperate need of playmakers, would love to have that production back, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club will try to find that production elsewhere. Hardy, for his part, will probably have to settle for another short-term, incentive-laden contract.
Rolando McClain, on the other hand, could be back. Another player who has struggled to stay out of off-field trouble, McClain was a revelation for Dallas in 2014, but he was suspended for the first four games of 2015. When he returned to the field, McClain was noticeably rusty, but he seemed to get his legs back under him as the season rolled along and played some of his best football down the stretch. Given his history, McClain will not find a big-money deal in free agency, and he could probably be retained for a modest, one- or two-year contract. I would expect Dallas to do what it can to keep McClain in the fold.
Lance Dunbar, one of the candidates to help replace DeMarco Murray in 2015, was put on injured reserve on October 10, but he demonstrated skill as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, catching 21 passes for 215 yards in a little more than three games. If nothing else, Dunbar is a nice option as a change-of-pace back, and his receiving ability could make him a valuable part of the team’s offense moving forward. The Cowboys, though, will certainly need to address their running back situation in some capacity, as the injury-prone and aging Darren McFadden probably can’t be expected to replicate his 2015 performance in 2016. There are some intriguing names both in free agency (Lamar Miller, Matt Forte) and in the draft (Ezekiel Elliott, DeVontae Booker) that could interest the Cowboys.
The team will also look to address the backup quarterback situation, a position that let the Cowboys down in a big way in 2015. They may look to a mid-round QB prospect like Dak Prescott in this year’s draft to serve as a backup and potential successor to Romo.
RFAs Ronald Leary and Jeff Heath will almost certainly receive tenders.
Possible Cap Casualties:
Brandon Carr is perhaps the biggest name on the roster that could find himself as a cap casualty this offseason. Luckily for him though, he also plays a premium position, one which happens to be among the Cowboys’ bigger weaknesses. He remains, however, a prime restructure candidate, as we will discuss below.
Other potential cap casualties include Doug Free and Barry Church, but the problem is that they are both starters who are valued for their leadership (Church, in fact, is a team captain). Free is seen as the weakest link on an otherwise dominant offensive line, but that does not mean he is a bad player, and there is no way of knowing whether or not Chaz Green, who did not play a down in his rookie season, is a capable replacement.
On the other hand, if the Cowboys do, in fact, move Jones to safety, then they would have a replacement for Church, who performs well as an in-the-box safety but who tends to struggle in coverage. He has just one year remaining on his current contract, and if the team were to cut him, it would save $4.25MM in cap space.
Longtime stalwart Jason Witten could conceivably be a cap casualty, considering he will be 34 when the 2016 regular season opens and given that the Cowboys could create up to $6.5MM in cap space by cutting him. But again, there is no obvious replacement for Witten on the field or in the locker room. He remains one of the most durable players in the game, and despite playing most of the 2015 season with a parade of backup quarterbacks, he still managed to grab 77 passes for over 700 yards and three scores. Assuming Romo returns fully healthy, Witten may have another strong season or two left in him.
Positions Of Need:
As noted above, the Cowboys need to address their running back corps. They would presumably like to bring back Dunbar, and even if they don’t add one of the bigger names in free agency – a luxury they probably would be unable to afford – a mid-round draft selection or second-tier free agent like Alfred Morris could put up good numbers behind Dallas’ talented offensive front.
Dallas will also likely invest a draft pick on a quarterback, especially since the free agent class of quarterbacks as it currently stands will likely be devoid of any meaningful talent after some of the more intriguing names, such as Kirk Cousins, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brock Osweiler, re-sign with their current clubs. Johnny Manziel, of course, is believed to have interest in playing for the Cowboys, and so is Robert Griffin III (the assumption is that both players will be cut by their current teams). After Manziel’s latest off-field incident, I would not expect him to wind up in Dallas, but Griffin might be a possibility. RGIII has significant starting experience, but is young enough to still have some upside.
All in all, though, the offense should be in pretty good shape, as long as Romo stays healthy. The bigger concerns will be the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys need defensive playmakers, and although they are counting on the return of Orlando Scandrick from injury, the secondary remains suspect at best. First-tier free agents like Josh Norman may be out of Dallas’ price range, but even a player like Phillip Adams or Tracy Porter would provide a nice boost.
If Dallas is to make a big splash in free agency, it is likely happen along the defensive line. Whether or not Hardy returns, the Cowboys would still like to fortify their defensive line the same way they strengthened their offensive line. Olivier Vernon, who could reach the open market, might be a realistic option, and the Cowboys will surely monitor whether longtime Dallas tormentor Jason Pierre-Paul re-ups with the Giants or tests the free agent waters. But the Cowboys could use some help at every position in the front seven, especially if McClain were to depart. Potential draft targets that could immediately impact the team in that regard include Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson and Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith.
Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:
The Cowboys have been in so-called salary cap hell in recent years, but as Todd Archer of ESPN.com points out,
they should be in decent shape moving into 2016. They still, though, will need to create some cap room to sign their draft picks, retain their own free agents, and to add a couple of impact players from other clubs. Again, it is unlikely that the team will cut Carr, and as Archer observes, it would be problematic to restructure Romo’s or Bryant’s contracts, given Romo’s age and both players’ recent injuries.
That leaves Tyron Smith and Tyrone Crawford as the most likely restructure candidates. The Cowboys can create roughly $7MM in cap space by converting Smith’s $10MM base salary to $1MM and turning the rest into a signing bonus, and when Crawford signed his deal last season, it was set up to be restructured to give the Cowboys more flexibility. The team could also give Carr a completely new deal, which would serve the same purpose. And again, Church is a candidate to be released. Any combination of those maneuvers, along with one or two less dramatic restructures, should give Dallas enough flexibility to accomplish its offseason goals.
Overall Outlook:
All in all, then, the Cowboys appear to be in pretty good shape, and they will enjoy some continuity in the coaching staff, as defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson is the only notable coach to be heading elsewhere (the team is reportedly considering Mike Nolan and Tim Lewis, among others, to replace Henderson).
Romo is not getting any younger, and although his recent injury history is a bit troubling, all signs point to his being ready to go well in advance of the 2016 regular season opener. Dallas will look to add depth behind him, as the team went 1-11 in Romo’s absence in 2015, but it’s not as though many other clubs in the league could lose a starting signal-caller of that caliber for over 12 games and stay afloat. I would expect the Cowboys to sign a veteran like Chad Henne or Matt Moore while adding a prospect like Prescott in the middle rounds of the draft.
Defense has been a problem the last several seasons, and unless the team hits big on a couple of draft picks, it will probably remain so. Any splash signings would certainly come on the defensive side of the ball, with Vernon representing perhaps the most realistic option. But a few lesser-profile acquisitions would make sense, particularly in the secondary. Given the potential value for money, the Cowboys may also want to revisit their stance on Hardy, assuming they can deal with the persistent off-field headache he creates.
If I had to bet on the 2016 NFC East champion today, I’d be very tempted to put my money on Dallas.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
East Notes: Cowboys, Dolphins, Bromley
Earlier today, we heard that the Cowboys were set to talk to former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan about their defensive backs coach position, but Nolan isn’t the only candidate for the opening. According to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter), the Cowboys will also interview Tim Lewis, lost his job as the Niners’ defensive backs coach last month.
Alex Marvez of FOX Sports adds a few more names to the Cowboys’ list of possible targets, tweeting that the team has already interviewed Titans assistant secondary coach Steve Brown, former Colts assistant Mike Gillhamer, and former Miami Hurricanes head coach Al Golden, who has since been hired by the Lions. Even with Golden off the table, it certainly seems that Dallas has no shortage of candidates to replace Jerome Henderson.
Here are a few more items of interest from around the NFL’s two East divisions:
- It’s only been a few hours since word broke that the Browns are expected to cut Johnny Manziel when the 2016 league year officially begins, but that’s plenty of time for the speculation about Manziel landing with the Cowboys to rev up. As Todd Archer of ESPN.com and David Moore of the Dallas Morning News observe, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to select Manziel during the 2014 draft, but was talked out of it by other members of the team’s front office, and the quarterback has shown little since then – on or off the field – to make the club regret that decision. Still, Jones may still harbor some optimism for Manziel’s potential, and as Mike Sando of ESPN.com (Insider link) writes, the team hasn’t shied away from signing players with character red flags.
- The linebacker position “will be of particular interest” for the Dolphins throughout this offseason, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who writes that the club will be looking for two starting-caliber linebackers. Salguero suggests Miami will likely try to replace middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and outside linebacker Koa Misi this winter, if possible.
- A police source tells Ryan Sit and Rocco Parascandola of the New York Daily News that investigators have uncovered “significant discrepancies” in the story told by the woman who accused Giants defensive tackle Jay Bromley of assaulting and attempting to rape her. Bromley has steadfastly denied his accuser’s allegations.
Coaching Notes: Cowher, McDermott, Hirings
With CBS broadcasting this year’s Super Bowl, Bill Cowher is in San Francisco to cover the game for the network. But just because he’s on the media side of things now doesn’t mean he can avoid questions about a potential return to coaching.
Asked on Monday about that possibility, Cowher said that he didn’t have any contact with the Giants about their head coaching job after Tom Coughlin resigned, but the former Steelers head coach didn’t rule out a return to an NFL sideline, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News details.
“You know what? I’ve never shut a door,” Cowher said. “I don’t think you need to shut a door that you don’t need to. I’m very happy at CBS. I love what I’m doing. I’m 58 years old. I feel young. I still feel involved in the game. But this element of the game gives me a life that I was never able to experience before…. I never say never, but I’m very, very satisfied with where I’m at.”
Here are several more coaching-related updates from around the NFL:
- Speaking to the media on Monday night, Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott confirmed that he spoke to Howie Roseman about the Eagles‘ head coaching opening, despite not having a formal interview with the team, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We had some preliminary talks,” McDermott said. “It was clear from the beginning they wanted to go offense.”
- The Cowboys are looking to hire a replacement for defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, who joined the Falcons, and the next coach Dallas is talking to is former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- Alex Marvez of FOX Sports has the details on a couple additions to the Browns‘ coaching staff, reporting (via Twitter) that the team has hired Johnny Holland and Eric Sanders. Holland, who had been working in the CFL, resigned from the B.C. Lions last month because he knew he would have a position on Hue Jackson‘s staff, according to Marvez, who adds that Holland will be the Browns’ inside linebackers coach (Twitter links). Sanders, a Stanford defensive assistant, will join the Browns in the same capacity.
- The Chargers have hired former Titans quarterbacks coach John McNulty as their new tight ends coach, according to Marvez (via Twitter). McNulty has a longtime connection to former Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who has now returned to the offensive coordinator role in San Diego.
- The Titans have completed their coaching staff, hiring Keith Willis as the team’s assistant defensive line coach and Brandon Blaney as a defensive assistant, the club announced in a press release.
Joseph Randle Denies Sports Betting Allegations
Veteran NFL running back Joseph Randle was released last fall in part because the Cowboys learned that he had been betting on sports, four sources told Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News. According to George, a combination of issues led to the Cowboys’ release of Randle, who showed signs of mental instability and allegedly wagered on sporting events during the 2015 season.
“All of that became apparent to us right during the season,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said last week at the Senior Bowl. “Not before the season. It became real acute, a combination of things. Some issues … became more apparent.”
While Jones acknowledged that the team had concerns about Randle’s gambling – the running back was gambling at a Kansas City casino when he was arrested in November – the Cowboys owner suggested there’s no evidence that Randle bet on NFL games, or any games involving the Cowboys: “There are certain types of gambling that you can’t do as a player. Obviously you can’t be involved in … anything that we’re competing in, and I’ve never heard of anything like that.”
For his part, Randle is denying the allegations that he was involved in gambling on sports, telling Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in a text message that there’s “no truth at all” to the accusations. The NFL has a strict gambling policy in place prohibiting players and league personnel from sports betting.
Whether or not the latest allegations against Randle are true, he continues to have a hard time staying out of trouble off the field. As we noted yesterday, the free agent running back was arrested early Monday morning in Irving and booked on a speeding charge.
A source tells George that the Cowboys “remain concerned for Randle’s well-being and believe he needs serious help.” The Cowboys, the NFL, and the NFL Players Association have all reached out to the 24-year-old to offer help on several occasions, but he has turned down those offers, according to George.
For now, Randle remains available to sign with any team, but given these latest allegations, along with the potential discipline he’ll be facing for his most recent arrest, it seems unlikely that suitors will be lining up to roll the dice on him this offseason.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.