East Notes: Rice, Wilkerson, Brady, Cofield
Ray Rice and his supporters are reportedly lobbying NFL teams to give the veteran running back a shot to make a roster this preseason, and the Cowboys are the team most often linked to free agent backs, but Dallas has no interest in signing Rice, a source tells Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter links). According to Williams, the Cowboys want to see how their current running backs look — the team hasn’t ruled out adding a veteran, but it likely won’t happen for a couple weeks, if it happens at all.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:
- As expected, Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson will report to camp rather than holding out, despite the fact that he has yet to sign a contract extension, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post. According to Costello, the two sides remain “far apart” on a new deal, though I’d expect negotiations to continue in the coming weeks.
- Although there have been whispers that an announcement on Tom Brady‘s suspension appeal could come within the next day or two, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says the NFL and NFLPA are still exchanging offers for a potential settlement (link via Kevin Patra of NFL.com). However, with the Patriots quarterback seemingly unwilling to accept a deal that includes any sort of suspension, a compromise remains unlikely. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com echoes Rapoport’s report, tweeting that the NFL and NFLPA aren’t expected to reach a settlement for Brady.
- Rapoport (Twitter link) suggests keeping an eye on free agent defensive tackle Barry Cofield, who is recovering from groin and abdomen surgeries and should be ready to go in four to six weeks. Cofield, who was released by Washington earlier this year, said last week in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was “doing really well” in his recovery and was looking forward to signing with a team.
Patriots Notes: Brady, Flynn, Allen
As the Patriots, along with the rest of the NFL, continue to wait for Roger Goodell to announce a ruling on Tom Brady‘s suspension appeal, let’s round up a few of the latest notes out of New England….
- Appearing on ESPN today, Adam Schefter said the NFL isn’t “inclined to budge much” on Brady’s appeal, adding that he expects the suspension to remain at four games (Twitter link via Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal). If Schefter’s prediction turns out to be accurate, Brady and the NFLPA will almost assuredly fight the decision in court.
- As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes, Brady is hardly the only one whose 2015 outlook will be significantly altered by Roger Goodell’s ruling on his suspension appeal — Matt Flynn‘s odds of making the Patriots‘ 53-man roster hinge largely on whether or not Brady will be available.
- Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) and Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter links) have the details on Ryan Allen‘s new contract extension with the Patriots. Allen’s deal is worth $6.685MM, including a $2MM signing bonus and $3MM in new guarantees. The contract also features $200K in annual per-game roster bonuses from 2016 to 2018, and an annual $50K incentive for making the Pro Bowl.
NFL Open To Settlement For Tom Brady
A report last week indicated that the NFL Players Association made a settlement offer to the NFL regarding Tom Brady‘s suspension, and the league met that offer with “silence.” However, over the past several days, the NFL has been more open to the idea of a possible settlement for Brady, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, who reports that the league and the union have had an “open line of communication.”
Veteran Patriots players will report to training camp on Thursday, so the clock is ticking for resolution on Brady’s appeal. A source tells Garafolo that the Super Bowl MVP is frustrated with the lack of a decision from Goodell, nearly five weeks after the appeal hearing took place.
While a ruling from Goodell could come soon, a settlement would likely be the preferred outcome for both sides, since it would avoid prolonging the saga into the regular season with a court battle. However, it still appears unlikely that the two sides will reach a resolution that satisfies all parties — Brady figures to fight any penalty that includes him missing games, while the commissioner is reportedly receiving pressure from some owners to uphold the four-game suspension.
East Notes: Brady, Philbin, Eagles, Beason
Tom Brady and the NFL Players Assocation are entitled to an independent decision on Brady’s appeal, so recent reports suggesting NFL team owners are trying to influence Roger Goodell’s ruling make it even more likely that the NFLPA will eventually take the league to court, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
As Florio obseves, if a truly independent arbitrator were handling Brady’s appeal, it would be highly irregular for a team owner to lobby that arbitrator one way or the other. The fact that owners are apparently lobbying Goodell as he contemplates his decision could become a central issue in the looming litigation.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin wants to win this year, but it’s “more for everybody else’s sake” than for his own job security, he tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. “For everybody, I’d like us to reap the rewards of our labor. It’s time for all of us,” Philbin said. “But I haven’t really thought about playoff or bust for me.”
- It’s easy to realize that you have to fix a 4-12 team, but Chip Kelly‘s decision to revamp a 10-6 Eagles squad this offseason wasn’t quite so simple, as Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com writes.
- Giants linebacker Jon Beason, who spent most of the 2014 season on injured reserve, talks to Steve Serby of the New York Post about his recovery from last year’s toe and foot injuries, Jason Pierre-Paul‘s status, and the impact that free agent signee Shane Vereen will have for the Giants, among other topics.
AFC Notes: Revis, Steelers, Bell, Easley
Darrelle Revis is back with the Jets after a two-year hiatus, and as he tells it, he never wanted to leave — it was club management, the veteran corner tells Brian Costello of the New York Post, who saw to his departure.
“It wasn’t [owner Woody Johnson],” Revis said . “He’s a businessman and he’s going to make the best decisions he can and bring the best players in here or bring the right players in here to contend. It wasn’t him. It was the general manager. What I was told by [John] Idzik wasn’t accurate. But that’s a whole other story.”
Let’s look at more from the AFC:
- Steelers swing tackle Mike Adams is likely to miss all of training camp while dealing with a back injury, and as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets, Adams’ absence eliminates any leverage the Steelers may have had as they try to negotiate an extension with starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum. Pittsburgh, who has recently agreed to multi-year deals with general manager Kevin Colbert, head coach Mike Tomlin, and defensive end Cameron Heyward, have reportedly opened talks with Beachum, but not much progress has been made.
- More on the Steelers, as running back Le’Veon Bell tells Kaboly (via Twitter) that his hyperextended right knee is still bothering him, but he’s getting close to 100 percent. Bell is currently suspended for the first three games of the 2015 season due to his 2014 arrest, and although he has appealed, we heard earlier today that no date for the hearing is set.
- Defensive tackle Dominique Easley, the Patriots‘ first-round pick in 2014, has switched agents, signing with Sean Stellato of SES Sports, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. As Volin correctly notes, it’s a little odd for Easley to change agencies at this point in his career, as he isn’t eligible to renegotiate his contract for two more years. Easley played just 270 snaps during his rookie season while still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college, but he should see a larger role in 2015.
AFC Notes: Pats, Smith, Raiders, Dolphins
Here are some notes from around the AFC on the last Saturday before training camps begin.
- Chief among the owners that would be irked if Roger Goodell trimmed Tom Brady‘s Deflategate suspension are Ravens boss Steve Bisciotti and Jim Irsay of the Colts, Sal Palantonio of ESPN.com notes. The news that these two lead this figurative charge isn’t exactly surprising, with each’s organization voicing gripes during the Patriots‘ playoff run that included wins over each squad. The longtime ESPN reporter also noted other AFC owners who believe the Pats have “gotten away with murder” would be upset if Brady’s four-game ban was slashed.
- Recently suspended cornerback Sean Smith may have been able to suit up for the Chiefs in Week 1 had he resolved his case by last November instead of this April, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Had Kansas City’s top cornerback reached a resolution before Nov. 1, 2014, he could have paid a $50K fine since players, with this opportunity being afforded to players with pending charges under the NFL’s previous substance-abuse policy. Instead, the 28-year-old Smith will miss three games under the new policy, which was agreed upon in September 2014, and forfeit $750K in base salary.
- The Raiders and the city of Oakland are communicating again after more than a month of silence, report Matthew Artz, Rebecca Parr and Mike Blasky of the Bay Area News Group. Raiders president Mark Badain called Oakland assistant city administrator Claudia Cappio. The sides previous halted communication after the Bay Area News Group’s publishing of a plan that would have called for team ownership to sell off 20% of the club.
- Joe Philbin isn’t concerned about Branden Albert and DeVante Parker‘s Week 1 availability for the Dolphins despite offseason rehabilitation, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. There’s still a chance the highly paid left tackle won’t pass his physical and subsequently end up on the physically unable to perform list, however, after his knee surgery. Parker will not be 100% by training camp, though, after undergoing foot surgery.
Patriots, Ryan Allen Agree To Extension
After having extended kicker Stephen Gostkowski last week, the Patriots wrapped up another key member of their special teams today. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed punter Ryan Allen to a three-year contract extension.
An undrafted rookie out of Louisiana Tech in 2013, Allen’s been the Patriots’ punter for the past two seasons. He’s averaged 46.1 yards a punt during his career, and he’s landed 54 balls inside the 20. The 25-year-old certainly made a name for himself during this past year’s championship game, when he recorded the longest punt in Super Bowl history.
Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) aren’t particularly fond of his performance, however. He ranked 20th among 34 punters during his rookie campaign, and he dropped to the bottom six in 2014.
East Notes: Brady, Kromer, Randle
After speaking to multiple sources, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) says the NFL believes Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will ultimately accept a reduced suspension in order to avoid having the DeflateGate saga continue to be a distraction into training camp and the preseason. We’ll see if that’s ultimately the case, but we probably won’t find out today — a report this morning indicated there was “no chance” of an announcement on Brady from Roger Goodell before the weekend.
Here’s more from Cole on Brady, along with a couple other items out of the NFL’s East divisions:
- According to Cole, the wording of Brady’s penalty could be crucial — the Patriots signal-caller would be more inclined to accept a penalty for not cooperating with the league’s investigation, but would likely continue to fight any penalty that’s based on his perceived involvement in deflating footballs.
- The Bills are likely to part ways with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer following his arrest earlier this month, sources tell Joe Buscaglia of WKBW. For now, the team is weighing its options while Kromer remains on indefinite paid leave as his legal case plays out.
- After stealing $123 worth of cologne and underwear from a Texas mall last October, Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been put on six months of probation, according to an Associated Press report. At the time of the incident, the Cowboys opted to fine – but not suspend – Randle, who could still face additional discipline from the league now that the case has been resolved.
QB Rumors: Brady, E. Manning, Wilson
A handful of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks are in the news this Friday morning, so let’s dive in and round up the latest on the Patriots, Giants, and Seahawks signal-callers….
- A source tells Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that there’s “zero chance” of a ruling on Tom Brady‘s appeal being announced today, meaning the saga figures to drag on until at least next week. As a point of comparison, arbitrator Harold Henderson took 43 days following Greg Hardy‘s appeal to make a decision — so far, it has been 31 days since the appeal hearing for the Patriots quarterback.
- Contract talks between Eli Manning and the Giants have “intensified” within the last few days, with the team making an effort to see if something can get done before training camp begins, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
- Graziano’s report echoes one from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com earlier this week, suggesting that the Giants are confident they’ll get Manning locked up “at some point.” Per Graziano, New York would prefer to get it done before training camp, but the club doesn’t mind waiting until after the season, if necessary. According to Graziano, the Giants are comfortable with the idea of paying Manning an annual salary in the range of the $21.75MM Ben Roethlisberger got on his new deal with the Steelers.
- According to Werder (via Twitter), one reason the Seahawks may be reluctant to pay Russell Wilson like a franchise quarterback is the team’s emphasis on its running game and defense. As Werder observes, Wilson’s 26.8 pass attempts per game over the last two years represents the lowest mark in the NFL.
- Former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren believes Wilson should accept Seattle’s offer, suggesting that the team has definitely not “lowballed” the quarterback. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the details on Holmgren’s comments, made during an appearance on The Erik Kuselias Show on NBC Sports Radio.
Community Tailgate: 7/23/15
We’re still several weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we 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 weekday, 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 taking your pulse on the Tom Brady appeal in light of word that settlement discussions for Brady have occurred between the NFL and the Players Association. The commissioner is being pushed by “a small handful of influential owners” to uphold Brady’s four-game suspension, but the league’s participation in settlement talks could be an indication that they are fearful of how a judge would rule on the matter in court.
NFLPA president Eric Winston, meanwhile, sounds fed up with the whole process. When asked how long it might take for Goodell to render his verdict, Winston said it’s “not even worth trying to guess” when Goodell will make his decision. The union prez hopes that Brady’s appeal is successful, but if he’s not, the union is prepared to take the next step, which would mean legal action.
With the possibility of a showdown in court becoming more and more realistic, how do you see Brady’s situation playing out? Do you think he could have his entire suspension overturned? Let us know in the comments!