East Notes: Foles, Cousins, Mayo
As the games get underway, let’s take a look at some notes from the league’s east divisions:
- Although the Eagles are currently sitting pretty with a 5-1 record, Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Nick Foles has been neither very good nor very bad in the team’s first six games, and he wonders “[w]hether [head coach Chip] Kelly is fine with Foles as the long-term guy.”
- Speaking of NFC East signal-callers, John Keim of ESPN.com writes that the Redskins have not lost confidence in QB Kirk Cousins, but he has to prove that he can handle adversity better.
- We heard earlier today that the Cowboys may have interest in dealing for Bills RB C.J. Spiller in advance of the October 28 deadline, but Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes that it makes no sense for the Giants to consider adding Spiller to their backfield.
- Although Jerod Mayo‘s injury certainly hurts the Patriots on the field, it may actually help Mayo financially, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Volin writes, “Per [Mayo’s] contract…$4.5 million of his $6.25 million base salary is guaranteed for injury only. If he had stayed healthy this year and through the offseason, Mayo would have $0 in guarantees in 2015. But if he can’t fully return from the injury and the Patriots decide to move on, he’ll have recourse to still collect a fat check.”
- We learned earlier that the Patriots may be targeting offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker help prior to the trade deadline.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork has a few more notes on new Jets wideout Percy Harvin.
Trade Rumors: Thomas, V-Jax, Spiller
As we already pointed out earlier today, the Seahawks, who are in need of a tight end, reportedly asked for Browns TE Jordan Cameron in a potential Percy Harvin deal before ultimately sending Harvin to the Jets. As it turns out, Seattle aimed even higher by asking the Broncos for emerging star Julius Thomas, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Although Denver promptly rebuffed the Seahawks’ proposal, Joel Corry tweets that these tight end inquiries are not good news for Zach Miller‘s long-term prospects in Seattle. This is despite the fact that Miller has already cut $3MM and $2MM from his 2014 and 2015 salaries, respectively.
Let’s take a look at some other trade notes from around the league. Remember, the trade deadline is October 28:
- Citing his colleague Ian Rapoport, Kevin Patra of NFL.com writes that two other big-name players who are generating significant trade interest are Buccaneers‘ WR Vincent Jackson and Bills‘ RB C.J. Spiller. Rapoport says Tampa Bay is receiving a “ton of calls” on Jackson and would be open to anything. The Cowboys, meanwhile, were interested in Spiller last season, and given that Buffalo has been unable to effectively utilize his skill-set–in addition to the fact that he is in his contract year–Spiller could be on his way out of Buffalo within the week.
- Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 tweets that, unless Spiller accepts a “fair offer” from the Bills in the offseason, Buffalo will not re-sign him. That explains why trade talks surrounding Spiller may intensify.
- Noting that the Patriots are “usually active” at the trade deadline, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets that New England is targeting help on the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker.
- We learned earlier that the Bengals may deal Jermaine Gresham if the price is right.
AFC North Notes: Forsett, Steelers, Gresham
After Justin Forsett‘s surprising emergence as the Ravens‘ best running back this season, fans are wondering if he will have a future in Baltimore beyond 2014. Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes that it is too early to answer that question, particularly since Forsett is a small back that cannot withstand a big workload and is 29 years old. Hensley notes that Baltimore could certainly give Forsett a “modest” two-year contract at the end of the year, but the team remains high on younger players such as Bernard Pierce and Lorenzo Taliaferro.
- In the same piece, Hensley writes that if the Ravens‘ offense continues its upward trajectory under new OC Gary Kubiak, the chances increase that Kubiak will get another crack at a head coaching job in 2015. If that happens, current quarterbacks coach Rick Dennison, Kubiak’s right-hand man, would likely leave with Kubiak, and the Ravens ‘ only other legitimate in-house option would be current offensive line coach Juan Castillo. In other words, if Kubiak leaves, expect Baltimore to bring in an outside candidate to replace him.
- Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that an appeal hearing date has been set in the Ray Rice case, and a final decision could be handed down by mid-November, which means that Rice could be reinstated and eligible to play within the next four weeks. Whether a team would take the risk and sign him is another story, but La Canfora points to the Colts and Patriots as potential landing spots.
- Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that, although the Steelers prefer to “reload” rather than “rebuild,” that strategy has them currently caught in no man’s land: “not good enough to compete for a championship, but not bad enough to select high in the draft.”Although their decision to not entirely rebuild the roster in recent years is understandable, given that they have a franchise quarterback, the declining performance of some of the team’s veterans may soon make Pittsburgh’s front office reevaluate its strategy going forward.
- Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal describes how Browns OC Kyle Shanahan, like Kubiak, is reestablishing himself as a viable head coaching candidate as he leads Cleveland’s suddenly potent offense.
- With the trade deadline just over a week away, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham, who is in a contract year, could be available for the right price.
Extra Points: Peterson, Patriots, Fortt
Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson said he still texts Adrian Peterson once a week to let him know he’s thinking about him, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. The Vikings are using a combination of Matt Asiata and the more athletic Jerick McKinnon in the backfield, but it’s not quite the same. “You’re not going to have the dynamic, explosive, spectacular runs and plays that you get out of a player of [Peterson’s] magnitude,” Wilson said. “We definitely miss that element, but we’ve moved on to a certain degree.” More from around the NFL..
- The Patriots have had better luck with unheralded waiver wire pickups like Brian Tyms and Jonas Gray than high draft picks like wide receiver Aaron Dobson and running back James White, notes Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (via Twitter).
- The Saints are being vague about why rookie linebacker Khairi Fortt was released, but team captain Curtis Lofton seems to think the team was justified in their decision, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. “I just know that the Saints have a standard around here, and you gotta live up to that. If everybody else is doing it right, then you gotta do it right. And if you don’t, then you won’t be here,” Lofton said. “He was definitely treated fairly. You can’t have how many people on a team, 64 guys or whatever, doing it right, and you’re the one guy doing it wrong.”
- Steelers rookie Stephon Tuitt is getting ready for a big role, as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes.
Jets Notes: Revis, Ryan, Idzik, Johnson
Tonight, the Jets are going up against their former star cornerback Darrelle Revis. It didn’t have to be this way, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. When Revis learned that he was going to be a free agent this past offseason, he made a wish list of landing spots and the Jets were at No. 1. However, the Jets didn’t reach out to Revis about a trade or a release in time (link), so he joined up with his second choice, the Patriots. If things didn’t work out between New England and Revis, Rapoport says the Broncos were next on his list. As Jets fans everywhere slam their heads against the wall, let’s check out more on Gang Green..
- Ryan is more on the hot seat than GM John Idzik, opines Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (video link). Ryan did well with limited talent last season but he hasn’t been able to get far with lousy play from quarterback Geno Smith.
- Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (on Twitter) agrees, theorizing that Idzik has set Ryan up to fail this season because he has job security and wants to install his own head coach. With more than $20MM in cap space going unused, it’s not hard to see that being the case.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter) has the contract info on two of the newest Jets. Cornerback Josh Thomas will earn the minimum salary ($645K) on a one-year deal. Guard Wesley Johnson, meanwhile, has three years left on his deal with cap hits of $510K, $600K, and $690K. Johnson was claimed off waivers earlier this week from the Steelers to replace the injured Brian Winters.
Minor Moves: Thursday
We’ll keep tabs on today’s minor transactions right here, including practice squad signings and cuts, and moves at the back end of 53-man rosters. Here’s the latest:
- The Bears announced that they have waived center/guard Taylor Boggs off of injured reserve with an injury settlement, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
- The Patriots are promoting running back Jonas Gray from their practice squad to their 53-man roster today to replace Stevan Ridley, who is heading to injured reserve, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald adds that offensive lineman Chris Barker will also be promoted to the roster to replace injured linebacker Jerod Mayo. New England had been expected to make a move or two this afternoon, in advance of tonight’s game against the Jets.
Earlier updates:
- After waiving him earlier this week, the Bengals have re-signed linebacker Khairi Fortt to their practice squad, the team announced today (Twitter link). Fortt, a 2014 fourth-rounder, was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return by the Saints, but was cut before he was eligible to begin practicing again. In order to clear room for him on their taxi squad, Cincinnati has cut guard Jeff Baca.
AFC East Notes: Spiller, Revis, Jets, Bills
Bills running back C.J. Spiller is off to a slow start this season, having averaged a career-worst 3.4 yards per carry and failed to reach the end zone so far. However, as he looks to turn things around, Spiller insists that his looming free agency isn’t what’s affecting his performance.
“It has nothing to do with this being the final year of my contract,” Spiller said, according to Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News. “It’s just overthinking and trying to make that play when I should have just taken what they’re giving us … and kept us out of the negative plays.”
Spiller has also been the subject of trade rumors and speculation, but tells Skurski he’s been able to block out that talk. Although the former first-round pick would adjust to a new team if Buffalo decides to move him and recognizes that’s “part of the business,” he says he wants to remain a Bill going forward.
Here’s more from around the AFC East:
- Cornerback Darrelle Revis and the Patriots haven’t yet spoken about a new contract or an in-season extension, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. With Revis and the Pats focused on winning games and reaching the Super Bowl, the two sides aren’t expected to address the cornerback’s contract situation until after the season, writes Howe.
- After signing Michael Vick as a free agent this offseason and making him one of the highest-paid backups in the NFL, the Jets and head coach Rex Ryan should’ve been willing to turn to him earlier in the season to replace the struggling Geno Smith, says Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- Bills long snapper Garrison Sanborn has been limited in practice with a knee injury, prompting the club to take a look at free agents at the position just in case. According to Mike Rodak and Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Charley Hughlett and Kevin McDermott worked out for Buffalo yesterday.
- While the Dolphins didn’t get a great haul when they traded Brandon Marshall to the Bears, it was the right move philosophically for the organization, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
AFC Notes: Brady, Pats, Titans, Browns
Tom Brady, a Jet? It wasn’t far from happening, as a source tells Gary Myers of the New York Daily News. One scout — Jesse Kaye, now an advisor with New York — strongly argued for Gang Green to select Brady late in the 2000 draft. Even after the Jets drafted Chad Pennington in the first round, Kaye believed in Brady enough to lobby hard for head coach Bill Parcells to select the Michigan quarterback, and per Myers, almost stood on a table and yelled at Big Tuna. Ruefully, New York drafted North Carolina defensive back Tony Scott with pick No. 179; 20 picks later, the Pats selected Brady, and the rest is history. Here’s more from the AFC.
- It won’t be easy for the Patriots to replace running back Stevan Ridley, writes Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. While New England has Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden, and James White on the roster, none is the type of power back that was Ridley. The Pats’ best bet, per Volin, might be to promote third-year running back Jonas Gray from the practice squad. At 230 pounds, Gray could act as the “thunder” to the other backs’ “lightning.”
- Before signing veteran offensive lineman Will Svitek yesterday, the Titans also worked OLs Guy Whimper and Martin Wallace, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). Tennessee is attempting to bolster its offensive depth following a season-ending injury to left tackle Michael Roos.
- Brandon Marshall looks back fondly at his time with the Dolphins, writes Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Tribune. Marshall, who played in Miami from 2010-11, feels the Fins were just a solid quarterback away from being a contender. The star receiver was eventually traded to the Bears in 2012 for two third-round picks.
- In a video from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Browns general manager Ray Farmer discusses the differences between scouting college prospects and evaluating potential free agent fits.
AFC Notes: Burfict, Hoyer, Jets, Patriots
The NFL will review film of Sunday’s game between the Bengals and Panthers and look for evidence that Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict tried to intentionally injure Carolina players, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As detailed by David Newton of ESPN.com earlier today, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen complained that Burfict is something of a head-hunter. “At some point, if the NFL wants to really say they care about guys’ safety, they’ve got to start putting guys out for weeks,” said Olsen. “Me and Cam (Newton) are lucky we aren’t out for weeks, or Kelvin (Benjamin) isn’t out for weeks. If you’re going to start putting guys on other teams out, then the ramifications need to equal that.” One play that will probably be analyzed can be viewed here. For his part, Burfict suffered another concussion on Sunday, so he will probably be out of action for some time, regardless of any disciplinary action.
Let’s close out the night with more from the AFC:
- In response to speculation that Brian Hoyer wouldn’t be interested in an extension with the Browns unless Johnny Manziel was no longer on the roster, Hoyer’s agent, Joe Linta, told Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald: “No talks at this time, and Johnny Manziel’s presence will have no impact on any talks that we might have.”
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap looks at some questions Jets owner Woody Johnson might be facing this offseason, including whether John Idzik and Rex Ryan are the right men for their respective jobs. It’s fair to assume something of an overhaul will occur in New York once the season concludes, and Fitzgerald’s piece raises some valid points.
- More Jets: In the wake of several injuries sustained in yesterday’s contest, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes Phillip Adams and Darrin Walls will act as Gang Green’s starting corners going forward, while Oday Aboushi will make his first career start in place of Brian Winters at left guard.
- Now that Stevan Ridley is out for the rest of the season, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe wonders (via Twitter) if Bill Belichick and the Patriots regret letting LeGarrette Blount walk in free agency. There’s obviously no way New England could have predicted the loss of Ridley, but Blount would fit in nicely as the power back in the Pats’ offense right now.
- Despite investing nearly $30MM in their O-line this season, the Titans are in the middle of the pack in rushing and are 29th in sacks per pass play, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. While those are simple measures, they show that the Titans are getting the worst bang for their buck on the offensive line in the NFL. The Titans last two first-round picks (Taylor Lewan and Chance Warmack) were offensive linemen and Andy Levitre and Michael Oher were signed to significant free agent deals.
- As our Luke Adams recently noted, Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden is among the players on IR-DTR who can resume practicing this week. Per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link), that’s the plan with Hayden, as Oakland head coach Tony Sparano says all systems are go for the second-year player.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Jerod Mayo To Miss Remainder Of Season
MONDAY, 5:20pm: Sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter) that Mayo will indeed miss the rest of the season with a right lower leg injury simply described as “bad.”
SUNDAY, 5:36pm: The Patriots fear running back Stevan Ridley tore his ACL during today’s win over the Bills, and it appears the team could be without a notable defender for an extended period as well. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), it’s “pretty clear” that linebacker Jerod Mayo sustained a serious kneee injury, based on the rumblings and quotes coming out of New England’s locker room. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also reports (via Twitter) that Mayo’s injury is believed to be significant, with tests coming tomorrow to determine exactly how significant.
Prior to the 2013 season, Mayo had only missed five games in his five career NFL seasons, having assumed a starting role for the team immediately after being drafted 10th overall in 2008. However, his 2013 campaign came to an early end after he went down in Week 6 with a torn pectoral. Now, it appears his 2014 season could be over due to another Week 6 injury.
While tomorrow’s test will determine the extent of Mayo’s injury, if he misses most or all of the season, it’ll be a significant blow to the Pats’ defense. In Mayo’s absence, the Patriots could turn to Deontae Skinner at the Mike linebacker spot, or perhaps shift Jamie Collins or Dont’a Hightower over to fill the vacancy.
New England has already used its injured reserve slot with the designation to return this season, on defensive lineman Sealver Siliga, so the team will have to either keep Mayo on its 53-man roster while he recovers or place him on injured reserve, ending his season.