NFC Notes: Morris, Forte, Ross, Carr
Running back Alfred Morris is aware that his contract situation could become a subject of interest and speculation as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, but he tells Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com that he couldn’t care less about it.
“I approach every year the same,” Morris said. “I’m a running back so I’ll be running the ball, blocking, catching it. I don’t even think about next year.”
For the team’s part, Washington appears set to take a wait-and-see approach with Morris. Since he was a sixth-rounder in 2012, the running back’s contract doesn’t feature a fifth-year option for 2016, but Washington will have exclusive negotiating rights until next March.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- “It’s a hypocritical league,” Bears running back Matt Forte said of the NFL, in reference to his contract situation (link via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times). Forte is seeking an extension, and recognizes that if he hadn’t reported to the voluntary portion of Chicago’s offseason program, he would’ve been labeled selfish. “But then if, say, I didn’t perform last year and (the Bears) wanted to cut me or cut my pay, they can do that,” Forte said. “They can get rid of you. So nobody says nothing to the team about that.”
- Former Giants defensive back Aaron Ross, who played 83 career NFL games for New York and Jacksonville, is aiming to return to action after missing last season with a torn Achilles, and has workouts lined up with the Rams and 49ers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- Reports this offseason have indicated Brandon Carr isn’t interested in accepting a pay cut, but the Cowboys still hope to reduce the cornerback’s 2015 cap number, and owner Jerry Jones says there could be ways to do that that benefit Carr as well as the team, writes Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
- The Vikings are expected to explore a possible contract extension with safety Harrison Smith this offseason, but he tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that a new deal is “the furthest thing” from his mind at the moment. There’s no urgency for Smith or the Vikes, since his contract includes a fifth-year option for 2016.
Community Tailgate: 6/18/15
We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This week, we’ve launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every day, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Today, we’ll be discussing the crop of top wide receivers who are eligible for contract extensions. Dez Bryant has received most of the headlines this week, but Demaryius Thomas is currently in the same situation as the Cowboys wideout, having received a franchise-tag tender that he has yet to sign. Meanwhile, both A.J. Green and Julio Jones are entering their fifth-year option season, making them eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016.
All four players could ultimately play out the coming season on one-year contracts and be franchised in 2016, but there’s a belief that once one of the four reaches a long-term agreement with his team, it will provide a template for the other three to negotiate their own deals. It’s just not clear yet what those extensions might look like.
While Calvin Johnson, Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., and others would have something to say about it, you could make a reasonable case that these four extension candidates are among the top five wide receivers in the NFL. Consider the following résumés:
- Dez Bryant: Has averaged approximately 91 receptions, 1,312 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns over the last three seasons, earning an All-Pro spot in 2014.
- Demaryius Thomas: His three-year averages (99 catches, 1,494 receiving yards, 12 TDs) match up favorably with Bryant’s, and he’s coming off a career year in which he racked up 111 catches and averaged more than 100 yards per game.
- A.J. Green: Has been a Pro Bowler in each of his four NFL seasons, and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of those seasons as well, despite being slowed by injuries last year. In 2013, his last fully healthy campaign, he totaled 98 catches, 1,426 yards, and 11 TDs.
- Julio Jones: Established new career highs with 104 receptions and 1,593 yards in 2014, earning his second Pro Bowl berth.
All four appear headed for huge paydays, but there’s plenty to debate and discuss. For instance: Will any of these player challenge Calvin Johnson’s seven-year, $113MM+ contract? Which of the four will sign first, and which will receive the largest deal? Which of the four would you want on your favorite team? Would you be reluctant to invest significant money in any of them? We want to hear from you, so head to the comments section to place your bets and voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to hearing what you have to say!
Dez Bryant Attends Cowboys Practice
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett confirmed to reporters, including Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter) that wide receiver Dez Bryant is on hand today. The star wide receiver will not practice with his team, however.
Bryant recently attempted to regain some leverage by suggesting he was prepared to sit out regular season games if an extension isn’t in place. However, when speaking to reporters yesterday, owner Jerry Jones didn’t seem to put much stock in that. Jones said that he has “no doubt” Bryant will be on the field for Dallas’ Week 1 game against the Giants. Last year, Bryant became the first player in Dallas history to have three straight seasons with at least 85 receptions, 1,200 receiving yards, and 12 touchdown receptions, but he has limited leverage until he’s eligible to hit the open market.
Because he has yet to sign his one-year franchise tender, Bryant can’t be fined for missing this week’s minicamp, or August’s training camp. However, if Bryant were to start missing regular season games, he’d lose nearly $753K per week. After Bryant appeared in Texas today, however, it’s even harder to envisioning him following through on that threat.
The Cowboys and Bryant have until July 15 to reach a multiyear deal. Do you take today’s development as a sign that the two sides are nearing an agreement?
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Amukamara, Giants
Kenrick Ellis, 27, is in the midst of his first minicamp with the Giants after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Jets. He’s already noticing some differences in the two teams, including their quarterback situation.
“It’s a different feeling, man,’’ Ellis told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “I notice in practice having a franchise quarterback of Eli Manning’s caliber is a lot different in practice than when I was with the Jets. Those guys are good quarterbacks, but having a franchise, Super Bowl-winning quarterback, practice is a lot different. The feel of it is a lot different. The way it’s run is different, and it’s a beautiful thing. I really like it.’’
Here’s more from the NFC East..
- Ever since DeMarco Murray signed with the Eagles, the Cowboys‘ running back situation has become a popular topic of discussion. While many have been waiting for the Cowboys to upgrade over their current stable of backs, owner Jerry Jones says that he’s “very comfortable” with the group he has, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News writes. If the season started tomorrow, the Cowboys would likely split carries between Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar. Based on Jones’ comments, Machota gathers that if the Cowboys were to add a veteran back, it probably wouldn’t happen until at least late August.
- Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara is entering his walk year but he’s not overly concerned about his next deal, as Steve Serby of the New York Post writes. The 26-year-old also knows that he’s not exactly “indispensable” for the Giants since he has yet to be approached about a new contract.
- With safety Antrel Rolle out of the picture, the Giants are now left with a young and inexperienced group of defensive backs, as Tom Canavan of The Associated Press writes.
East Notes: Hunter, Bills, Giants
Earlier today, Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant took to Twitter to further present his side of the story in his contract dispute.
“$13MM is cool, but where is my security?” Bryant tweeted.
Recently, Bryant suggested that he is prepared to sit out regular season games if an extension isn’t in place. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that he’s not taking that threat seriously. Here’s more from the East divisions..
- Former Jets offensive lineman Wayne Hunter had a tryout for the Bills at the team’s minicamp today, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (via Twitter). It’s been a couple years since we’ve heard from Hunter, who started all 16 games at right tackle for the Jets in 2011, and last appeared in the NFL in 2012.
- Ereck Flowers is one of just six first-round draft picks without a signed NFL contract, but the Giants’ rookie left tackle isn’t worried, as Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes. Flowers’ situation is unique in that he does not have an agent, so he is effectively represented by himself and his family. When asked if he might be a possible training camp holdout, Flowers said “I don’t see it getting to that point.’’
- When asked if he had any indication from the league when a ruling might be coming down, Jones said that he hasn’t. “No, I don’t. We don’t want to expect anything from a time standpoint. We don’t want to expect anything cause we need to have the league and Greg and us to have a full opportunity to have a thorough consideration,” the Cowboys owner said, according to Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram. Hardy’s suspension was the subject of today’s Community Tailgate here at PFR.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
NFC Notes: Gurley, Carr, J. Jones, Bears
Former agent Jimmy Halsell passes along an interesting note on Todd Gurley‘s rookie contract with the Rams, observing that the running back will get his full 2015 and 2016 salaries even if he’s on the non-football injury list due to his knee (Twitter link). Gurley’s ACL injury occurred when he was still at Georgia, so based on the NFL’s definition, it would be considered a non-football injury, and teams can opt not to pay full salaries when placing players on the NFI list.
Here’s more from across the NFC:
- Brandon Carr won’t be released late in the offseason like Evan Mathis was, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said today that the cornerback will be with the team for the 2015 season. However, as Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets, the club is still working on lowering Carr’s cap number ($12.717MM).
- Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones told reporters today, including D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that he doesn’t intend to hold out at all as he seeks a new contract.
- A pair of former second-round picks, running back Daniel Thomas and defensive back Sherrod Martin, are trying out for the Bears at the team’s minicamp, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Thomas has been busy over the last few weeks, working out for the Lions and Cowboys as well.
- The Panthers promoted director of football operations Brandon Beane to assistant general manager, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Beane was briefly Carolina’s interim GM before Dave Gettleman took over the job in 2012.
Community Tailgate: 6/17/15
We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This week, we’ve launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every day, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Today, we’ll be discussing Greg Hardy‘s suspension. The defensive end is currently slated to sit out the first ten games of the season and any day now we should learn about the resolution to his appeal. After all, arbitrator Harold Henderson heard Hardy’s case all the way back on May 28th and decisions rarely take a full month to come down.
You might remember Henderson as the same arbitrator that heard Adrian Peterson‘s appeal in late 2014. At the time, the player’s union was less than thrilled about his appointment.
“A long-time NFL Executive and current legal consultant cannot, by definition, be a neutral arbitrator,” the union said in a statement.
While a court eventually wound up siding with No. 28, Henderson initially held up Peterson’s indefinite suspension in December. The choice of arbitrator alone is enough to make one wonder if Hardy has much of a chance at reducing his suspension. The circumstances of Hardy’s incident, as outlined by the NFL’s letter to him, make the odds seem even more slim.
“First, he used physical force against her which caused her to land in a bathtub,” Commissioner Goodell wrote. “Second, he used physical force against her which caused her to land on a futon that was covered with at least four semi-automatic rifles. Third, he used physical force against her by placing his hands around Ms. Holder’s neck and applying enough pressure to leave visible marks. And fourth, he used physical force to shove Ms. Holder against a wall in his apartment’s entry hallway. The net effect of these acts was that [Nicole Holder] was severely traumatized and sustained a range of injuries, including bruises and scratches on her neck, shoulders, upper chest, back, arms and feet,”
The Cowboys reportedly anticipated a four-game suspension and, at maximum, a six-game suspension for their new star defensive end. The NFLPA, meanwhile, was reportedly getting ready to battle it out with the league if Hardy was suspended for anything more than two games. Hardy’s transgressions were undeniably ugly, but after sitting out all but one game in 2014, the union figured that Hardy had more or less served his time.
Ultimately, how do you think Henderson will see it? Will Hardy have his 10-game suspension reduced? Head to the comments section below to place your bets and voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Latest On Cowboys, Dez Bryant
With contract negotiations between Dez Bryant and the Cowboys producing plenty of rumors and speculation but little progress, the star receiver took to Twitter today to weigh in on the situation. “$13MM is cool, but where is my security?” Bryant tweeted, pointing out that he had been waiting five years for the opportunity to negotiate a long-term deal.
Not long after Bryant published his tweet, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke to reporters about the issue himself, as Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News details. According to Jones, he has spoken to Bryant within the last two weeks, and while he’s not sure if the wideout will be at the team’s training camp, the Cowboys “would like nothing more than to have long-term security with Dez.” Jones wants Bryant to be a Cowboy “for life,” tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com.
While Jones may have said all the right things, the apparent impasse between the two sides has arrived as a result of the team not meeting Bryant’s asking price, and the Pro Bowler attempted to regain some leverage recently by suggesting he was prepared to sit out regular season games if an extension isn’t in place. Jones didn’t seem to put much stock in that though, saying today that he has “no doubt” Bryant will be on the field for Dallas’ Week 1 game against the Giants.
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Jones’ response is a polite way of saying that he and the Cowboys believe Bryant is bluffing, and it doesn’t appear it has changed the team’s stance at all. Because he has yet to sign his one-year franchise tender, Bryant can’t be fined for missing this week’s minicamp, or August’s training camp. However, once he starts missing regular season contests, he’ll lose nearly $753K per week. It appears the Cowboys aren’t buying that their No. 1 receiver would be willing to simply forfeit those pay checks.
The Cowboys and Bryant have until July 15 to reach a multiyear contract agreement.
East Notes: Bryant, Williams, Henderson, Jets
With a couple dozen June minicamps around the NFL taking place this week, let’s check in on a few East teams whose sessions got underway yesterday….
- A Cowboys source tells Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter) that the Dez Bryant holdout threat is “not in our control.” Of course, the team certainly will play a part in determining whether or not the star wideout gets a new contract by the July 15 deadline. If that deadline passes without an agreement though, there’s not much the Cowboys can do for Bryant until after the season.
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link), Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said that there’s currently “too big of a divide” between the team and Bryant. Jones also indicated that it’s difficult to ascertain Bryant’s value since other top wide receivers around the league are also waiting for new deals. It’s possible that once A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas, Julio Jones, or Bryant signs a new contract, the others will follow suit.
- We heard yesterday that offensive lineman Chris Williams and Seantrel Henderson were absent for the start of the Bills‘ minicamp. In a pair of pieces for ESPN.com, Mike Rodak explains that Williams did show up and participate on Tuesday, while “travel issues” kept Henderson away.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com identifies outside linebacker Calvin Pace, running back Stevan Ridley, and guard Willie Colon as a few Jets veterans who could be on shaky ground once training camp rolls around.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Jets and Mark Sanchez of the Eagles rank as the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks heading into training camp, in the view of John Clayton of ESPN.com. New York acquired Fitzpatrick in a trade this offseason, while Sanchez signed a new contract to remain in Philadelphia.
Extra Points: Sam, Foles, Thompson, FXFL
Conspiracy theories have emerged about Michael Sam and why he requested permission last Friday to leave the his CFL team’s training camp for personal reasons. There are still no concrete answers as to why the NFL’s first openly gay drafted player made that call, Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette writes.
In a separate piece, Zurkowsky notes that the latest theory is that Sam sensed that he wouldn’t make the Montreal Alouettes’ roster and – seeing the writing on the wall – left to save face for himself and the club. While GM Jim Popp says the door remains open for Sam’s return, another source within the organization said that’s unlikely to happen. The Alouettes officially moved the former Rams draftee to the suspended list, according to the CFL (on Twitter).
Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the football world:
- Following up on yesterday’s report about extension talks between Nick Foles and the Rams, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com tweets that the quarterback loves being in St. Louis, but will let agent David Dunn handle negotiations. As Wagoner adds in a second tweet, the Rams are talking to a few potential 2016 free agents about new contracts, so it doesn’t sound like they’re focused exclusively on Foles.
- Taylor Thompson‘s 2015 season is off to an ominous start. According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, the Titans tight end is facing a fine for arriving late to the team’s mandatory minicamp, and is still having issues with the knee he injured last season, raising concerns about his NFL future.
- Former Wake Forest wideout Matt James was trying out for the Saints today at the club’s minicamp, a source tells Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (Twitter link).
- The FXFL is getting ready to get its 2015 season underway, but Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (on Twitter) hears from a source that multiple players are still owed money from last season. The FXFL had its first season in 2014, beginning in October. Since then, several players from the upstart league have found their way to the NFL.
- Bill Williamson of ESPN.com wonders if the Raiders could be in the mix for two players released by their respective teams today, running back Shonn Greene and safety Taylor Mays.
- Former Cowboys running back Tashard Choice is at the team’s minicamp today, but it’s in a coaching capacity, not as a player, as Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com explains (via Twitter).
Zach Links contributed to this post.