NFC East Notes: RGIII, Bryant, Beckham
Washington has until May to decide whether to exercise the 2016 option on Robert Griffin III, but Jay Gruden doesn’t sound like someone who wants his future to be tied to RGIII‘s arm, writes Peter King of The MMQB. Gruden has since apologized for his remarks on RGIII, but there are some things that just can’t be taken back. Griffin now has the final five games of another lost season to prove that he’s still the future in D.C. Here’s more from the NFC East..
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was spotted talking to Jay-Z, now the agent for Dez Bryant, before last night’s game. Jones didn’t say much when asked if the two sides discussed a new deal for the star receiver, writes Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News. “Yeah, I was working on a halftime deal with [Jay-Z] for Thanksgiving,” Jones said, winking. “No it’s good. He had just been to the stadium and entertained there. He’s outstanding.”
- The pre-draft measurables on Odell Beckham Jr. were off the charts, notes Gil Brandt of NFL.com (on Twitter). Brandt adds that he can’t recall seeing numbers that were as good as the LSU receiver’s. The Giants got Beckham with the 12th overall pick and that’s looking to be quite a steal given the season he’s having and last night’s unbelievable touchdown grab.
- Maybe after last night’s game, Jones will stop talking about how Johnny Manziel got away from the Cowboys in the 2014 draft and speak instead about how the club never quite got a shot at Beckham, writes Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News.
Poll: Cowboys’ Running Back Options For 2015
As DeMarco Murray continues to rack up big yardage behind the Cowboys’ offensive line, much thought has been given to the team’s future plans at the position. While Murray is in the middle of an extravagant campaign that will put him on the short list for Offensive Player of the Year, he is a free agent after this season and will likely be looking for a long-term contract with guaranteed money.
The team has already made an effort to keep him, offering him a four-year deal earlier this season. The two sides were unable to agree, and Murray has played out the year on his rookie deal.
Murray’s leverage has since been complicated, as the prospect of other high-profile backs hitting the open market became more likely. Seahawks‘ star Marshawn Lynch is a candidate to be released this offseason, despite no signs of immediate decline in his performance in Seattle. He is an older back and carries a price tag that the Seahawks may be unwilling to pay, but could accept a modest deal elsewhere if the right opportunity calls.
Things change quickly, but signs point to this being his final season with the team. A player like Lynch could cut into the team’s need for Murray.
An even better fit could be Adrian Peterson, who has a future similarly in flux with the Vikings. Peterson admitted that he might be better off with a fresh start when he returns to the field following his suspension concerning his legal troubles. Peterson had been linked to the Cowboys before, and now with his tempered value and chance of being released, the connection could come to fruition.
Of the three players, Peterson might actually be the top target this offseason over Murray should he come available. Peterson’s unique talent could vault him to the top of many team’s wish list, as long as they are willing to deal with the off-field controversy.
Peterson may be a top commodity for many teams if he is available, but his counterpart in offseason controversy could be a low-risk high-reward backup plan. Ray Rice‘s play dropped off before being suspended and released by the Ravens, but the lack of clamor for his services could lead him to a team on a short-term deal without guaranteed money. With his fresh legs after the year off, a return to his 2012 form could yield high dividends for his next employer.
If all four of the players are available this offseason, which player would be the best runner for the money, whether with the Cowboys or another team in search of a star halfback?
NFC East Links: Rolle, Smith, Cowboys, Cofield
Antrel Rolle is playing in a contract year for the Giants, and while he wants to stay with the team, he knows that anything can happen in an NFL offseason, writes Bob Glauber of Newsday.com.
“Staying here would definitely be ideal,” said Rolle. “I feel like there’s a lot of things that I would like to get accomplished with a new set of [teammates]. I feel like there’s a lot more to get done. Unfortunately, if you don’t have the opportunity to stay, you move on.”
The 32-year-old safety has been a stalwart of the Giants’ defense since coming over from Arizona in 2010.
Here are some other links from around the NFC East:
- Eagles‘ first-round pick Marcus Smith has struggled to see the field as a rookie, but the team worries if he will ever develop into the player they had hoped when they drafted him, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Smith has been compared to Danny Watkins, another failed first-round selection.
- Cowboys‘ head coach Jason Garrett has been thought of as a puppet for Jerry Jones, but Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com thinks Garrett has wielded more power within the organization recently. He cites the team drafting Zack Martin, letting DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher leave in free agency, and holding off on extensions for Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray as all uncharacteristic moves for Jones, likely influenced by Garrett.
- Martin has been excellent as a rookie, validating the Cowboys‘ decision not to draft Johnny Manziel. However, if the Browns decide to sign Hoyer to a long-term contract, Manziel could still be a fit for the Cowboys, writes Steven Mullenax of The LandryHat.com. With the struggles of Brandon Weeden and Tony Romo‘s injury issues, Manziel could be a good backup and eventual replacement in Dallas.
- Given the choice between Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, or Murray this offseason, Jon Machota of DallasNews.com believes the Cowboys should place Peterson at the top of their wish list. He believes that signing Peterson behind this offensive line would be more dangerous even than the younger DeMarco Murray.
- Washington defensive lineman Barry Cofield eased his way back into action last week against the Buccaneers, after returning from injury. Cofield should see his snaps increase starting this week, reports Tom Schad of the Washington Times.
- Washington defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has been in charge of an erratic defense during his tenure with the team, but despite scheme changes and coaching changes, he has survived, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Jones paints the major problem in the consistency of the defense as a lack of talent on that side of the ball.
- As the controversy with the Washington team name carries on, one devoted fan has decided to take a stand against the name, writes John Woodrow Cox of the Washington Post. He found a company to make strips of cloth that say “Washington” in which fans can use to patch over their old team apparel. Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News points to the name change for the University of Stanford as a precedent for the change, and the New Yorker has used their cover to mock the name in anticipation of Thanksgiving, according to Sports Illustrated.
Minor Moves: Saturday
Here are today’s minor transactions. We’ll update the list throughout the day, with the most recent moves added to the top…
- The Seahawks have added offensive lineman Andrew McDonald to their practice squad, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). The team released defensive lineman Jimmy Staten to make room.
- The Chiefs have placed receiver A.J. Jenkins on the injured reserve, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The team signed former Panther and Eagle Jason Avant to replace Jenkins, who has had nine catches this season.
Earlier Updates
- The Chargers have signed offensive lineman Ryan Miller to their active roster from the practice squad, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter). Chargers’ center Rich Ohrnberger is injured and might not play on Sunday. The team has waived cornerback Richard Crawford in order to make room for Miller (via Twitter).
- With Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman out this week, the Broncos have promoted running back Jeremy Stewart from the practice squad, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The team waived running back Kapri Bibbs to make room for Stewart.
- The Patriots have signed Casey Walker to their practice squad, reports Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter). The team waived the defensive tackle to make room for LeGarrette Blount, but were able to bring him back after Walker cleared waivers.
- With only two runnings back on the roster, the Colts have promoted Zurlon Tipton from their practice squad, reports Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (via Twitter). To make room on the roster, the team waived receiver/returner Griff Whalen.
- The Cowboys have promoted cornerback Micah Pellerin and released defensive tackle Davon Coleman, reports ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (via Twitter). Coleman has compiled three tackles this season after joining Dallas as an undrafted free agent.
NFC East Links: Garrett, Bryant, Eagles, RGIII
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett will be a free agent at the end of the season, but that’s not distracting anyone within the organization. That includes owner Jerry Jones, who talked about his lack of concern on 105.3 The Fan (via Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News):
“It’s really a non event for me, whether there is concern [from the outside] about it or not. I don’t mean to sound that way, but it hasn’t been a concern of mine and we haven’t made it a concern for the club this year. This talk about these contracts, no matter who it is that has a pending contract or one that’s coming up, that’s all for [media and fans] to talk about. That really has no impact on my day.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC East…
- Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News looks at how Garrett and the Cowboys front office have constructed the team’s current roster. Instead of rebuilding the team from scratch, Garrett has done a nice job of bringing in young pieces while keeping the team competitive.
- ESPN.com’s Todd Archer believes a deal will eventually get done between the Cowboys and Dez Bryant. However, the writer believes the franchise tag is the most likely option at this point.
- There is an “ominous feeling” in the Eagles organization that rookie linebacker Marcus Smith will not develop into an impact player, writes Jeff McLane of Philly.com. The first-rounder hasn’t seen the field much this season, but the Eagles are not panicking and refuse to rush their young player.
- ESPN.com’s John Keim thinks Washington could give Robert Griffin III another offseason with coach Jay Gruden before ultimately make a decision on their quarterback.
Cowboys Promote Micah Pellerin
FRIDAY, 12:53pm: The Cowboys have officially promoted Pellerin from the practice squad to their active roster, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. As noted below, Dallas didn’t have an open roster spot, so we’re still awaiting word on the corresponding move.
WEDNESDAY, 5:50pm: The Cowboys will sign practice squad cornerback Micah Pellerin to the active roster later this week, according to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. The move will give the Cowboys added depth in the secondary in advance of their Sunday showdown against the Giants.
It’s not yet known what the corresponding move will be, but Williams suggests that the Cowboys will likely target the defensive line where they have eleven players on the active roster. The promotion of Pellerin to the varsity squad was necessitated by Tyler Patmon‘s injury which will sideline him for two to four weeks.
The Hampton University product went undrafted in 2012 and has had stints with the Colts, Packers, Titans, and two go-rounds with the Cowboys. In 2013, he saw five games of NFL action for the Cowboys and Titans.
Extra Points: Lynch, Brent, Ryan
Some in the NFL are starting to view elite coaches as underrated investments, writes Andrew Brandt of The MMQB. There’s no cap on coaches and the market for top coaches – about $7MM per year – is about half the market for elite defensive linemen and one-third the market for elite quarterbacks. Relatively speaking, owners are paying the best coaches insignificant sums. More from around the NFL…
- Marshawn Lynch is so important to the Seahawks that it’s hard to envision the team allowing him to move on, says Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Still, there are issues with him and he beats to his own drum. Most recently, on Sunday, Lynch decided not to leave the field on Sunday and instead stay out there to work with trainers. If Seattle has enough confidence in Christine Michael and Robert Turbin, the team could at least give it some thought.
- David Moore of The Dallas Morning News wonders if Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli will find a spot for the returning Josh Brent in the rotation.
- The Jets players want Rex Ryan to return in 2015, writes Bob Glauber of Newsday. “Rex is a great coach, and I definitely want him back,” tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson said. “He’s always been a very passionate coach and we all enjoy playing for him. The record isn’t what we want it to be, but it doesn’t mean we can’t continue to strive to do the things that we know to be right. You look around this locker room and you’ve got guys that enjoy playing with each other.”
NFC East Notes: RGIII, Washington, Carter
Washington coach Jay Gruden told reporters today that he’s going to stop criticizing quarterback Robert Griffin III in public. “Early on in the season, when I first got the job, I knew there were going to be a lot of questions about Robert,” Gruden said, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. “But I wanted to make this thing about the Redskins and not about him, and somehow we’ve made it more about him than about the team. And that’s my fault.” More from the NFC East..
- Former Packers offensive tackle Derek Sherrod got a tryout with Washington earlier today, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). Just yesterday, Sherrod auditioned for the Patriots. The Packers, who took the 25-year-old with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2011 draft, waived Sherrod earlier this month.
- DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant are getting more attention, but Bruce Carter will also be a free agent at season’s end. The linebacker could wind up elsewhere, but he wants to stay with the Cowboys, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. “I love it here,” Carter said. “It’s been a great organization, since Day 1 when I got the first call when I was getting drafted. So it’ll be a nice place to stay. But it is a business, so we’ll just see how it goes.”
- In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News if the Cowboys should add to their strength and take an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2015 draft. While beefing up the O-Line is always a good thing, Sturm suggests that defensive end should be top priority followed by running back and safety. Of course, depending on how things shake out with Murray, running back might not be a real need for Dallas.
East Notes: Cowboys, Pats, Eagles, Bills
The Cowboys need to draft a promising young arm and develop him rather than just rely on retreads to back up Tony Romo, opines Rich Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News. The Cowboys aren’t looking to replace Tony Romo today, but Gosselin would like to see them do something similar to the Packers, who drafted Aaron Rodgers and let him sit for three years before turning him loose. More out of the AFC and NFC East..
- The Patriots became the latest team to give former Packers offensive tackle Derek Sherrod an audition, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- Safety Earl Wolff, who was placed on injured reserve by the Eagles today, confirmed that an MRI showed a lesion on his knee which needs time to heal. It was Wolff’s decision to go on IR, tweets Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com.
- Although the Bills are certainly happy with Sammy Watkins, who has helped the team win multiple games this season, it’s fair to wonder if Buffalo’s draft-day trade for Watkins was worth it, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Considering how many rookie wideouts are having big years, the Bills may have been better off keeping their 2015 first-round pick and perhaps even trading down from No. 9 in 2014 to take a player like Odell Beckham or Kelvin Benjamin.
- Even though Rex Ryan appears likely to be replaced at season’s end, he may end up saving the job of GM John Idzik if he’s able to steer the Jets to a strong finish, says Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday
As usual, Tuesday means plenty of practice squad signings and cuts for teams around the NFL. Here are today’s practice squad moves, with the latest updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- To make room for their new practice squad additions, the Broncos have released defensive end Zach Thompson and wide receiver Douglas McNeil, tweets Mike Klis of The Denver Post.
- The Saints signed former Chiefs inside linebacker Jerry Franklin to their practice squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
- According to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (via Twitter), tackle Mark Asper and defensive back Josh Bush have joined the Broncos‘ practice squad. Denver previously had a full 10-man unit, so we’ll have to wait for word on which players are being replaced.
- The Bengals have swapped one linebacker for another on their taxi squad, signing Terrell Manning and dropping Justin Jackson, per the team (Twitter link).
- The Cowboys have made a few changes to their practice squad, releasing guard Jeff Baca and linebacker Will Smith and adding linebacker Keith Smith and cornerback Robert Steeples to replace them (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
- Rookie running back Dominique Williams, who was with the Vikings in camp, has re-signed with the team, joining the practice squad, according to a press release. Minnesota had a full 10-man unit, but now no longer lists safety Pierre Warren on its roster, so perhaps he was signed away by another club — the Saints, Warren’s former team, would be the most likely candidate.
- In addition to making multiple changes to their 53-man roster, the Colts also tweaked their practice squad today, adding running back Michael Hill and cutting wide receiver Eric Thomas, the team announced today. We’ll have to wait to see whether Hill, the only running back on Indianapolis’ practice squad, has a chance to be promoted in Ahmad Bradshaw‘s absence, or if the team will opt for a veteran replacement instead.
- The Falcons have filled the 10th and final spot on their taxi squad by signing former Oregon defensive tackle Ricky Havili-Heimuli, per Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com (Twitter link).
- Having recently worked out for the club, cornerback Marcus Cromartie has joined the 49ers‘ practice squad, replacing tight end Xavier Grimble, who has been cut, according to the club (Twitter link).
- Outside linebacker Cordarro Law, who was cut from the Chargers‘ active roster prior to Sunday’s game against the Raiders, has re-signed with the team’s practice squad, according to the Chargers’ transactions list.