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.
East Notes: Manning, Shurmur, Ryan
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post takes an in-depth look into how the Giants can be contenders again in 2015 as they play out the string in 2014. The good news, Hubbuch writes, is that New York will be in great shape vis-a-vis the salary cap after being in “cap jail” not too long ago. The Giants figure to have just over $118MM in cap commitments next season, and thanks to highly-lucrative television deals, the salary cap could reach over $140MM for 2015. That leaves New York plenty of room to quickly fortify their roster, especially considering next year’s free agent class looks to be especially deep.
There is, of course, one caveat to all of this: Eli Manning. Hubbuch quotes former NFL agent and current salary cap guru Joel Corry, who noted that “I would think the next six games will decide where the Giants go with Eli. It’s probably going to be a big stretch for him. I know the Giants pride themselves on loyalty, but you can’t have your quarterback out there throwing five interceptions.” However, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com tweets, the Giants do not really have a choice when it comes to their 34-year-0ld signal caller next season; his contract makes him virtually untouchable at this point.
So it appears as though New York will have to rebuild around Manning and hope that their vast amount of salary cap room, which could continue to grow if the team decides to part ways with players like Mathias Kiwanuka and Jon Beason, will allow them to acquire the talent to return to relevancy in the NFC East.
Now for several more items from the league’s east divisions:
- In the same piece, Hubbuch suggests five specific moves that would help turn the Giants around, which include hanging onto Manning for one more season while turning 2015 into a contract year by not extending his current deal and drafting his potential replacement in May.
- Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) released a list of top head coaching candidates for 2015, a list that includes former head coaches in the Patriots‘ Josh McDaniels and the Eagles‘ Pat Shurmur.
- Mike Pouncey, although he has agreed to play guard for the Dolphins this season, wants to return to his natural center position after the 2014 season and Miami is aware of that desire, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com believes a Jets loss to a “displaced and distracted” Bills squad this week would be “the final nail in [Rex Ryan‘s] coaching coffin.”
- We looked at Robert Griffin III‘s uncertain future in Washington earlier today.
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.
Giants Waive Charles Brown
Offensive lineman Charles Brown didn’t even last one season in New York, as ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that the Giants have waived the 27-year-old. ESPN’s Josina Anderson adds (via Twitter) that the team has promoted linebacker Justin Anderson to take Brown’s place on the roster.
The former second-round pick signed a one-year deal with the Giants in April after having spent the first four years of his career with the Saints. The tackle wasn’t necessarily productive with New Orleans in 2013, but ProFootballFocus.com (subscription required) ranked him as an above-average run blocker.
Brown compiled nearly 1,000 snaps with New Orleans last season, but he’s barely seen the field in 2014. The lineman’s only seen 62 snaps on offense, and PFF’s advanced metrics ranked him among the least-productive players on the Giants.
Anderson, an undrafted rookie out of Louisiana-Lafayette, was cut by New York last week. He quickly rejoined the team’s practice squad only a couple of days later.
NFC East Notes: Bryant, Washington, Giants
The 7-3 Cowboys are playing well, but they won’t stop to pat themselves on the back, writes David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. “You know honestly what I love about our team is we understand we have a good record, but at the same time, it’s really nothing,’’ receiver Dez Bryant said. “We know that we haven’t gotten anywhere yet, and we know we have to work hard.” More out of the NFC East..
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if coach Jay Gruden could be one and done in Washington. The rift between Robert Griffin III and Gruden playing out in public would suggest that there’s much more dysfunction going on behind the scenes. A one-and-done arrangement would seem stunning on the surface, Florio notes, but it would be the fourth straight year and the fifth time in six seasons that an NFL coach loses his job after one year.
- Earlier today, Bryant, a pending free agent, spoke glowingly of Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, writes Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News. “He seen a lot of potential in me, and I took that as he believed in me, so it was my job to show him what he wanted me to be or better, and I think he does an outstanding job with us. He don’t BS around with us. He lets us know the truth,” Bryant said.
- In an interview with ESPN Radio’s Michael Kay (audio link), Adam Schefter said that he expects coach Tom Coughlin to leave the Giants on his own terms rather than get fired at season’s end. In the midst of a forgettable season, there has been a great deal of speculation about Coughlin’s job security. Recently, former running back Tiki Barber became the latest to pile on the Super Bowl winning coach.
New York Notes: Manning, Coughlin, Jets
As Paul Schwartz of the New York Post tweets, Giants quarterback Eli Manning said today that he wants to retire as a Giant, and it sounds as if the team has interest in extending the relationship as well. Giants owner John Mara believes Manning is still in his prime and “has a lot of good years left,” as he told Newsday’s Tom Rock last week. Even though Mara made his comments before Manning’s disastrous five-interception showing on Sunday, that one game is unlikely to significant alter the franchise’s perception of Eli as its quarterback of the future.
Here’s more on the NFL’s two New York teams:
- Speaking of Manning, he was asked today about his former teammate Tiki Barber, who suggested earlier this week that the Giants should fire head coach Tom Coughlin. “It’s good to hear from old Tiki,” Manning quipped, according to Art Stapleton of the Bergen Record (Twitter links). Asked how it feels to hear a former player call for a coach to be fired, Manning replied, “I think it depends on your opinion of that player,” hinting that the Giants locker room probably isn’t taking Barber too seriously.
- Much has been made of the potential departures of head coach Rex Ryan and GM John Idzik if the Jets’ season continues to head south, but Seth Walden of the New York Daily News points out that those aren’t the only notable names who could leave the team in the offseason. Walder identifies Percy Harvin, Geno Smith, Michael Vick, and coordinators Dennis Thurman and Marty Mornhinweg as others whose futures in New York are uncertain.
- While the firing of Ryan at season’s end has seemed inevitable over the last few weeks, Brian Costello of the New York Post outlines a scenario in which it makes sense for the Jets to keep their head coach for at least one more year.
Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday
We’ll round up today’s practice squad signings and cuts in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day….
- The Packers have filled the lone opening on their practice squad by signing guard Rishaw Johnson, the team announced today. Johnson previously spent time this season on the Buccaneers’ active roster and the Cowboys’ practice squad.
Earlier updates:
- The Steelers, who cut LeGarrette Blount and promoted running back Josh Harris to their roster yesterday, have added another back to the practice squad to replace Harris. LaDarius Perkins, an undrafted rookie out of Mississippi State who spent the summer with the Packers, is the newest member of the taxi squad, per Burt Lauten (via Twitter).
- Defensive end George Uko, who spent three weeks on the Buccaneers‘ practice squad earlier this year, has been re-signed to the unit, the team announced today in a press release. Tampa Bay cut punter Jacob Schum to make room for Uko.
- After cutting him earlier this week to accommodate the activation of guard Geoff Schwartz, the Giants have re-signed linebacker Justin Anderson to their practice squad, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.
Giants Activate Geoff Schwartz, Cut Anderson
The Giants have officially activated guard Geoff Schwartz from their injured reserve list, cutting linebacker Justin Anderson to make room on the 53-man roster, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun first reported earlier today that Schwartz would be added to New York’s active roster.
Schwartz, 28, signed a four-year deal with the Giants when he hit free agency in March, but has yet to make his regular-season debut for the club. Sidelined with a toe injury, Schwartz was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return prior to Week 1. The team had until today at 4:00pm eastern time to decide whether to place Schwartz on the 53-man roster or move him to long-term injured reserve, ending his season.
As for Anderson, he had been promoted from the Giants’ practice squad to the 53-man roster in advance of the team’s game against the 49ers. Assuming he clears waivers, Anderson appears to be a candidate to rejoin the taxi squad later this week.
NFC East Notes: Schwartz, Bryant, Melton
Let’s take a look at a few Monday items from out of the NFC East, where the Cowboys and Eagles are tied for first place at 7-3, with the 3-7 Giants tied with Washington in the cellar….
- The Giants are expected to activate guard Geoff Schwartz today based on the progress he has made in his recovery from a toe injury, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Head coach Tom Coughlin has since confirmed that Schwartz will be added to the roster in advance of today’s deadline, per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
- Taking an in-depth look into Dez Bryant‘s contract situation with the Cowboys, Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News concludes that something in the range of six years and $84MM, with $28MM in guaranteed money, could make sense for both the team and the wideout.
- While the Cowboys have been known for their lavish spending in the past, the team’s recent deals have been more club-friendly, often offering protection against injuries or a decline in performance, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. That doesn’t mean that Bryant won’t get a long-term deal from the Cowboys, but it means that negotiations might be trickier than they would have been a few years ago.
- In a separate ESPN.com piece, Archer takes a look at defensive lineman Henry Melton, whose deal includes an option that the Cowboys will have to exercise or turn down this winter. Based on Melton’s performance so far, it looks like a sure thing that Dallas will pick up the option, but Melton tells Archer that he’s not thinking about his future for now.
- At OverTheCap.com, a pair of NFC East quarterbacks show up in Jason Fitzgerald’s weekly list of players whose stocks took a hit over the weekend. Fitzgerald identifies Giants QB Eli Manning and Washington signal-caller Robert Griffin III as players on the decline, suggesting Griffin’s “star hasn’t just dimmed, its completely burned out.”
NFC Notes: Cutler, Lynch, Ingram
Jay Cutler‘s future with the Bears has grown quite murky over the course of his shaky 2014 campaign, and David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune writes that the league’s highest-paid player this season also looks like its worst bargain. Haugh adds that if Chicago replaces head coach Marc Trestman or GM Phil Emery in 2015, Cutler’s stability vanishes completely. Furthermore, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes, the Bears could trade Cutler after this season and save $12.5MM. The team is therefore not financially tethered to the quarterback it hoped would be its franchise savior, and Schefter reports that there would be a fair amount of interest in Cutler if Chicago were to make him available via trade.
Now for some more links from the NFC:
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes that the Vikings have stockpiled seven first-round draft choices over the past three seasons and wonders if that approach is something the Bears could use as a blueprint.
- Citing colleague Ian Rapoport, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reaffirms something that we’ve heard previously: that the Seahawks plan to move on from Marshawn Lynch after the 2014 season. Assuming Seattle does indeed go that route, Rapoport tweets that record-setting Wisconsin standout Melvin Gordon will be on the team’s radar.
- Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune writes that the Buccaneers‘ draft needs in 2015 will go far beyond the quarterback position.
- Because of their dire salary cap situation, the Saints will likely not be able to prevent Mark Ingram from hitting the free agent market, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
- Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News provides a list of 10 issues the Giants must confront this offseason, including the fates of Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, and Jason Pierre-Paul.
- In a piece we cited earlier, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant appears destined for the franchise tag.