AFC West Notes: Raiders, Moss, Chiefs
Former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros will lead a group of governmental and civic leaders set to meet with Raiders officials today to discuss the possibility of the team moving to Texas should talks with Oakland fall through, per Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. While Cisneros believes the idea of the Raiders coming to San Antonio is a “50-50 proposition,” it’s hard to imagine the team leaving California, and Jason Cole of Bleacher Report hears the same thing from three sources. According to Cole (Twitter link), owner Mark Davis is using San Antonio as leverage, and there’s “no way” the team moves there rather than staying in Oakland or relocating to Los Angeles.
Here are a few more Friday morning links from around the AFC West:
- Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie’s 2014 draft might save his job, according to CSN Bay Area’s Scott Bair, who says the team’s first three picks – linebacker Khalil Mack, quarterback Derek Carr, and guard Gabe Jackson – look like “franchise fixtures.”
- Could we see 37-year-old Randy Moss back on an NFL field as a player again? The former Pro Bowl receiver confirmed that the Seahawks reached out to him about a possible comeback after trading Percy Harvin, but said he’d only consider coming out of retirement if it meant having an opportunity to catch passes from a player like Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. “I’m gonna tell you this, for me to come out of retirement for a player such as Peyton Manning, I would consider that,” Moss said last week on Fox Sports’ The Peter Schrager Podcast last week, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. “I really would consider it. I’m still in great shape, I can still run. I’m not the most old, but just by looking at the things I see on Sundays, I can still go out there and catch some passes and catch some touchdowns.”
- The Chiefs had linebacker JoJo Dickson and defensive back Cannon Smith in for auditions this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
Matt Feminis contributed to this post.
Freeman’s Latest: Giants, Welker, Sam
Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report tackles a number of issues and topics around the NFL in his latest 10-Point Stance column, opening with a look at red-hot Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and also discussing Rob Gronkowski and Andrew Luck, among others. Here are a few of the more interesting tidbits from Freeman’s piece:
- Expect “heads to roll” if the Giants don’t make the playoffs this year, according to Freeman. Across the NFL, there’s speculation that New York’s front office could undergo changes if the team misses out on the postseason, and head coach Tom Coughlin‘s job would likely be in jeopardy as well. There are only six teams in the NFC currently above .500, so the 3-5 Giants aren’t totally out of the hunt yet, but they’re slipping out of contention, and personnel men around the league are bracing for the club to make “fairly substantial changes” in the offseason.
- Several former Patriots teammates of Wes Welker asked about the Broncos wideout after Sunday’s game, and were concerned about his health. According to Freeman, there are “a lot of people close to Welker” who would like to see him walk away from football soon for the sake of his long-term health.
- Passing along data compiled by Cyd Zeigler of Outsports.com, Freeman suggests that Michael Sam‘s sexuality seems to be playing a part in his inability to land even a spot on a practice squad. Sam doesn’t appear to be drawing serious interest from any NFL teams at this point, and while no personnel execs will say the defensive end’s sexuality is a factor, the fact that he can’t find a job is virtually unprecedented for a player with his college resumé.
- Following up on reports by ESPN’s Britt McHenry and the Washington Post’s Jason Reid, Freeman indicates that Washington “is a mess,” as much as the club may try to deny it. The Bleacher Report scribe points to a leadership vacuum that needs to be addressed.
Extra Points: Welker, Spiller, Concussions
While they’re surely focused on the regular season after losing 43-21 to the Patriots yesterday, the Broncos are going to have to make several difficult decisions during the offseason. Most importantly, Denver will need to figure out how to retain both Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas, meaning that fellow pass-catcher Wes Welker‘s impending free agency might be put on the back burner. A team source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report that Welker is the odd man out in regards to a new contract, and that the 33-year-old will likely be playing somewhere else in 2015. Welker, working under the final year of a two-year, $12MM deal, has just 22 receptions for 212 yards and one touchdown this season. Though he currently earns $6MM per year, Cole speculates that Welker will be lucky to find $2-3MM on the open market.
- Despite being placed on IR-DTR after breaking his collarbone, C.J. Spiller tells Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he isn’t worried about his free agent stock. “I think I’ve laid a great foundation,” says the Bills running back, who will be part of a free agent running back class that could include DeMarco Murray, Mark Ingram, Shane Vereen, and Frank Gore.
- 220 former NFL players have opted out of the proposed concussion agreement, per an ESPN report. The league has agreed to pay in excess of $765MM in order to cover health risks associated with concussions. The retired players, or their families, who opted out of the settlement have the option of suing the NFL individually.
- Colts defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois has hired Drew Rosenhaus as his new agent, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). It’s probably not a signal that the 27-year-old is looking for a new contract, as he signed a four-year, $22MM deal with Indianapolis just last year. He’ll count $6.125MM against the cap in 2015, and though the club could save $4.875MM by cutting him, it’s presumably pleased with his production, as he graded out positively, especially against the run, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Injury Updates: Monday
Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston and Jaguars cornerback Will Blackmon have both officially landed on their respective teams‘ injured reserve lists today, though both those injuries were suffered in Week 8 games. Teams are still diagnosing injuries suffered by players in Week 9, so we’ll provide the day’s injury updates in the space below, with the latest items added to the top of the page throughout the day….
- As first reported by Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link), the Dolphins believe safety Michael Thomas‘ season is over due to a pectoral injury. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) and James Walker of ESPN.com have since confirmed that Thomas will be out for the year and that he should land on IR later this week. The loss of Thomas will have an impact on the Dolphins’ special teams and on the nickel package of a defensive unit that’s coming off its best game of the year.
- Although the Broncos feared that linebacker Nate Irving suffered structural damage to his knee ligaments, the initial diagnosis suggests he has a sprained MCL and should return this season, according to Jeff Legwold and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Still, Irving will undergo more tests before the team determines his potential recovery timetable.
- Head coach Chip Kelly confirmed today to reporters, including Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), that Nick Foles has a crack in his clavicle and underwent an MRI this afternoon. The Eagles signal-caller is expected to be sidelined for several weeks as his collarbone heals.
AFC Notes: Mallett, Clowney, Broncos, Ravens
The Texans lost 31-21 to an Eagles’ team that was led on offense by backup quarterback Mark Sanchez. In Houston, their own backup quarterback made waves after the game, tweeting a message that stirred up unrest among Texans’ fans, according to Ultimate Texans.
“I’m staying focused for when the time comes…seize the opportunity #justwaiting,” wrote Mallett.
The Texans are 4-5 and Ryan Fitzpatrick has been underwhelming as the starting quarterback, leaving Mallet and rookie Tom Savage as options for the team going forward.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC:
- The Texans are growing frustrated with Jadeveon Clowney‘s absence from the field, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). He had missed a number of weeks with a knee injury, and as he is getting healthier, he missed today’s matchup against the Eagles with an illness. The team wants him to be more mature in dealing with his injuries, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).
- The Broncos and Patriots both had themes for their offseasons, writes Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The Broncos wanted to get tougher on defense, and the Patriots were focused on becoming more physical in the secondary. Those themes dictated the moves each team made all offseason.
- The Ravens are making the most of their free agent acquisitions, with many of their unappreciated signings coming up big for the team through the first half of the season, writes Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Running back Justin Forsett, receiver Steve Smith, and tight end Owen Daniels have all contributed big numbers to the offense so far this year.
Extension Candidate: Von Miller
Although they came into the season looking up at the defending-champion Seahawks, having been steamrolled by Russell Wilson and company back in February’s Super Bowl, the Broncos have since established themselves as 2014’s best team through eight weeks. At 6-1, Denver’s only loss came against those aforementioned Seahawks, and that was an overtime contest that could’ve gone either way. With solid victories against the Colts, Chiefs, Cardinals, 49ers, and Chargers also on their 2014 resumé, the Broncos head into the second half in pole position for the AFC’s top seed.
Everything is firing on all cylinders now for the Broncos, but at season’s end, the team will have several tough decisions to make. Impact players like wideouts Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker, tight end Julius Thomas, and cornerback Chris Harris face potential unrestricted free agency, and with about $108MM in salaries already on the books for 2015, the team may not have the flexibility to retain all its key players.
While those players whose deals expire at the end of the 2014 season will likely be Denver’s top priorities, the team also figures to address another important contract situation this offseason, with standout linebacker Von Miller eligible for an extension. Denver picked up its fifth-year option on Miller this past spring, meaning he’s under contract for a $9.754MM salary in 2015. However, it may be in both sides’ best interests to work out a longer-term agreement, one that locks up Miller for a few additional years and perhaps lowers his cap hit for ’15.
Two years ago, Miller was one of the league’s best defensive players in just his second NFL season, piling up 18.5 sacks and forcing six fumbles for the Broncos, earning himself a Pro Bowl spot and a First-Team All-Pro nod. 2013 was a struggle for Miller though, beginning with a six-game suspension for attempting to cheat a drug test and ending with a torn ACL that ended his year early. In between, the former second overall pick also recorded just five sacks in nine games and dealt with off-field legal issues.
As such, 2014 was an important year for Miller as the team assessed which soon-to-be free agents would be part of the long-term plans in Denver, and which were more expendable. So far, the 25-year-old’s play hasn’t left any doubt — the Broncos should do everything they can to lock him up. Through seven games, only Justin Houston of the divisional-rival Chiefs has more sacks (10) than Miller’s nine.
Of course, even in 2013, an apparent down year, advanced metrics suggested that Miller was far and away the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the league. Since he entered the NFL in 2011, Miller has ranked atop the list of qualified players at the position, and it hasn’t been close, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required). Miller’s grades of +48.2, +82.6, +42.8, and +26.4 have given him a double-digit margin over the runner-up in each of his four seasons, and have provided an indication of just how good he is against the run as well as the pass — his grade as a run defender has placed first among 4-3 OLBs in each of his four seasons.
There’s no question then that any team would love to have Miller on the field, and if he were a model citizen off the field, it would probably be just a matter of time until he signed one of the most lucrative contract extensions in all of football. But those off-field problems that have nagged Miller throughout his career figure to come up in contract negotiations, even if accounts out of Denver this season suggest that the Texas A&M product is developing into one of the Broncos’ leaders on defense. With the NFL facing increased public scrutiny in recent months, the league’s policies and penalties for off-field transgressions could become more punitive, and the risk of future suspensions for Miller might make the Broncos shy away from making a massive investment.
Still, it’s hard to downplay Miller’s on-field contributions. With the exception of J.J. Watt and perhaps a couple other players, no defender in the league has the sort of impact at his position that Miller does. Offseason additions like Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, and DeMarcus Ware have played a part in the Broncos’ improved defense this season, but Miller is the unit’s most valuable piece, and I’d be shocked if the club ever let him reach the open market, even if there are lingering concerns about his off-field conduct.
In order to re-sign players like the Thomases and Harris in the offseason, the Broncos may look to reduce Miller’s $9.754MM cap hit for 2015 by signing him to an extension that pushes some of that money back to future seasons. If the two sides do try to work something out this winter, recent contracts signed by pass rushers like Tamba Hali and Trent Cole could serve as a baseline for Miller’s new deal. Given his astronomical numbers, I’d expect a deal for Miller to exceed the $11.5-12MM annual salaries secured by those players and perhaps land in the neighborhood of contracts signed by Charles Johnson, Robert Quinn, or even Mario Williams.
Those three deals range from four to six years, at a rate of $12.5-16MM per season, with between $15-32MM in guaranteed money. Based on Miller’s history and the Broncos’ typical method for structuring contracts, I could picture the two sides agreeing to a deal for something in the neighborhood of five years and $70-75MM, with a fairly modest guarantee — perhaps $15MM or so. An offer like that would give Miller the opportunity to earn significant annual salaries while giving the team some insurance in case the veteran’s off-field issues resurface.
General manager John Elway and company aren’t likely to address Miller’s contract, or any others, until after the season, but these negotiations shouldn’t be overlooked, even as the team attempts to re-sign Peyton Manning‘s top receivers (Thomas and Thomas) and the defense’s best cornerback (Harris). Playing out the 2015 season with Miller on a one-year deal is a possibility, particularly if the team wants to see him continue to mature, but this winter could be the best time to hammer out a long-term contract from a financial perspective.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC West Links: Houston, Berry, McNeil
The Chiefs do not have a single rookie on Mel Kiper’s list of the 35 best rookies through the midpoint of this season (subscription required), and Adam Teicher of ESPN.com is not surprised by this. He writes that only guard Zach Fulton has played enough snaps to qualify for this list, and he has performed poorly.
Teicher writes that the team passed on such impact players as guard Joel Bitonio, cornerback Jason Verrett, and receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who have all been among the best rookies in the league this year.
- Chiefs‘ outside linebacker Justin Houston is halfway through the final year of his contract, but is unlikely to sign an extension with the team. Houston is treating the home stretch of the season as business as usal, reports Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star. “I’ll worry about that at the end of the season,” said Houston. “I can’t let that get in my head at all. I don’t want it to slow me or affect what I’m doing on the field. I just want to continue play as I’m playing and continue to make plays.”
- Chiefs‘ safety Eric Berry is active and will play Sunday against the Jets, writes Teicher. He suffered a high ankle sprain in a loss to the Broncos during their week two matchup, and has not seen the field since.
- The Broncos have recently added former Arena League receiver Douglas McNeil to the practice squad, and Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com believes that if he continues to adjust to the NFL game, his combination of size and speed could make him an intriguing prospect for the team.
- The Raiders are poised to select at the top of the draft, and Bill Williamson of ESPN.com thinks the team should seriously consider a receiver at that spot. He identifies Alabama star Amari Cooper as a target high in the first round.
AFC Notes: Rice, Colts, Broncos, Gipson
There’s been no indication that a settlement is close in Ray Rice‘s appeal of his indefinite suspension, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The appeal hearing, set to get underway on November 5, will involve the interrogation of commissioner Roger Goodell, so a settlement could give the appearance that Goodell is wary of answering questions under oath, surmises Florio. Additionally, even if Rice is reinstated, the ex-Raven would likely want to compensated for the income he lost during his ban. Ultimately, a settlement appears unlikely, per Florio, though it would be the best outcome for both parties involved. Here’s more from the AFC.
- The Colts held a workout for linebacker Carlos Fields, according to Aaron Wilson of Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Fields, 24, was cut from the Giants’ practice squad three days ago, and given that New York and Indianapolis play on Sunday, it’s possible the Colts attempted to glean some strategical information from Fields. Additionally, Indianapolis listed three LBs on its latest injury report, so Fields could add some depth to a banged up position if signed.
- The Broncos’ next opponent, the Patriots, feature a left-footed punter in Ryan Allen. As such, in what was likely an attempt to practice against a lefty in advance of Sunday’s game, Denver auditioned fellow left-footed punter Michael Palardy, per Wilson (via Twitter).
- Browns safety Tashaun Gipson, the NFL’s current interception leader, is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and as he tells Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, he’d like to remain with in Cleveland.” I’d love to finish my career playing in this city,” said Gipson. “This is the first organization to give me my opportunity, the first one that took a chance on me, an unheralded guy coming out of Wyoming that nobody wanted to take a chance on.”
East Notes: Talib, Patriots, Jets, Hall
With the AFC East-leading Patriots set to host the AFC West-leading Broncos this weekend, it’s the latest chapter in the ongoing Tom Brady/Peyton Manning rivalry, but there are a few other subplots at play. One of them involves Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, who was a Patriot last year, but signed a huge deal with the Broncos in the offseason and will be playing on the other side of the rivalry this time around. Here’s a round-up of East-related links, including a note on Talib:
- Speaking to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Talib says he “relished” his time in New England and came close to re-signing with the Patriots last spring. “It was a negotiation, and it came down to the language of the contracts,” Talib said. “I just went with what I feel was best with me and my family. I can’t remember the logistics and everything. It wasn’t bad at all. The offer wasn’t bad.”
- In advance of Sunday’s showdown, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com takes a look at the differences between how the Patriots and Broncos built their current rosters.
- With the 2015 free agent market for quarterbacks not likely to yield any long-term solutions, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News explores the Jets‘ potential options for signal-callers in next year’s draft.
- After tearing his Achilles tendon last month and undergoing surgery to repair it, Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall tore it again and will have to go back under the knife, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Although Hall is still expected to be ready for training camp in 2015, the re-injury will make his recovery more challenging, and it raises some questions about his future in Washington, according to Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com.
AFC Notes: Broncos, Verrett, Jets, Rice
Here are a few Thursday items from around the AFC:
- The Broncos have taken a step forward on the defensive side of the ball this season, and the team’s pass rush has played a significant role in the unit’s improvement. Joan Niesen of TheMMQB.com takes a look at some of Denver’s key defenders, including free agent signee DeMarcus Ware and outside linebacker Von Miller, who will soon be in line for a pricey contract extension.
- Rookie Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett has been diagnosed with a torn labrum, and is expected to miss two or three weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport indicates that Verrett hopes to play through the injury and perhaps explore surgical options after the season. With Brandon Flowers also ailing, San Diego could look into adding depth at cornerback, though it’s hardly the only position where the team has been hit hard by injuries.
- Geno Smith doesn’t represent the present or the future for the Jets at quarterback, in the view of Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, who suggests that the club needs to move on from its former 39th overall pick and focus on identifying a new QB of the future.
- While Ray Rice likely won’t ever play for the Ravens again, some team will look into signing him eventually. Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com examines what a conversation between a general manager and a head coach may look like if the topic of signing the veteran running back surfaces.