Cowboys Extend DeMarcus Lawrence
The DeMarcus Lawrence contract drama is about to be over. We heard earlier today he was nearing a deal with the Cowboys, and now it’s more or less official.
Lawrence and the Cowboys have an agreement in place that will pay him more than $100MM over the course of a five-year extension, sources told Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). Rapoport writes that they’ve “agreed on basic parameters of a deal.” Garafolo posted in a follow-up tweet that Lawrence will indeed be getting more than $20MM annually. Rapoport soon noted in a tweet that it’ll be worth $105MM total.
Just a few days ago we heard talks were at an “impasse,” so things clearly progressed quickly. Last month, Lawrence reportedly upped his asking price to $22.5MM annually, and it sounds like he got close to it. Cowboys exec Stephen Jones had previously said that Lawrence’s desire to get paid like Aaron Donald and Von Miller was holding up negotiations, and he indicated that the Cowboys wouldn’t cave from their asking price.
Lawrence might not be getting as much as the top couple of guys, but he apparently is breaking a record. Lawrence “will get the most money in Year 1 for a defensive player ever,” Garafolo tweets. The previous record, Garafolo notes, was held by Khalil Mack, who got $31MM in the first year of his deal.
It also sounds like a huge portion of Lawrence’s contract will be guaranteed. Albert Breer of SI.com chimed in a with a tweet noting the deal “will set new benchmarks for defensive players in percentage of a multi-year deal fully guaranteed, and percentage in total guarantees.” Todd Archer of ESPN.com later tweeted that $65MM of the deal will be guaranteed.
Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawrence Nearing Deal
The Cowboys and Demarcus Lawrence are nearing agreement on an extension, according to PFT. We have similar word from Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (video link) who hears the two sides are in deep negotiations with reason for cautious optimism. 
Both the Cowboys and Lawrence’s agent want to get a deal done sometime soon and there’s hope that a pact can be agreed to in the near future. Often times, franchise tagged players will not make real headway on negotiations until the deadline draws near in July, but this could all be sewn up months in advance.
Just a few days ago, things seemed to be at an impasse between the two sides. The Cowboys finally upped their offer to about $20MM per year, but Lawrence’s camp countered by asking for around $22.5MM per season. A deal worth $20MM/year on average would make Lawrence the NFL’s highest-paid 4-3 defensive end, but he’s now gunning for a contract that would put him in the same neighborhood as Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack.
Lawrence, 27 in April, has spent his entire five-year career with the Cowboys. He has posted double digit sacks in each of the last two campaigns and is currently cuffed by a second consecutive franchise tag. Unfortunately for Dallas, Lawrence has indicated that he will not play on the one-year tender, even though it would pay him $20.5MM.
Josh Sitton Retires From NFL
Josh Sitton is calling it a career. On Thursday, the four-time Pro Bowl guard announced his retirement from the NFL. 
In an interview on ESPN Wisconsin, Sitton dropped a double dose of major news. First, he announced the birth of his son. Then, he told the radio hosts that he was done with football.
Sitton, an 11-year vet, spent the first eight years of his career with the Packers. That run came to an end just before the 2016 season when the Packers made the surprising decision to release him. The next day, he inked a three-year, $21.75MM deal with the rival Bears. That deal was terminated after two seasons, leading to him signing with the Dolphins last year as a free agent.
Throughout his Packers tenure, Sitton was known for his toughness and durability. However, injuries have held him back in recent seasons. With the Bears, he still managed to play at a high level, but he missed six games across his two seasons in Chicago. Then, last year, he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 1 that sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Sitton is the fourth former Packers Pro Bowler to retire this offseason, joining fellow guard T.J. Lang, receiver Jordy Nelson and fullback John Kuhn. We here at PFR wish Sitton the best in retirement.
Russell Wilson Sets Deadline For New Deal
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has given the team an April 15 deadline to complete negotiations on a new contract, a source tells Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. It’s not clear what the passing of the deadline without a deal would mean, but it would likely shut down talks until after his contract expires following the 2019 season. 
As it stands, Wilson has one year to go on his four-year, $87.6MM deal. Wilson, who currently ranks 12th among QBs in yearly salary, likely wants a new deal to push him up the chart and he wants it done by the start of the club’s official offseason workout program. The reason for the deadline is unclear, but Wilson probably wants to minimize distractions heading into the new campaign.
In January, Wilson indicated he would be fine with playing the 2019 season without a new contract.
“Oh, yeah, if that’s what I’ve got to do,’’ Wilson said. “It’s business and everything else and I know essentially after this season I could potentially be a free agent, that kind of thing. I don’t think that way — I see myself being in Seattle. I love Seattle, special place for me. I also understand it’s a business world and everything else.”
The Seahawks also have the franchise tag on their disposal, so Wilson is not assured to reach free agency in March. The franchise tag for QBs would cost a projected $30.6MM and a repeat tag in 2021 would come in at a whopping $36MM. Meanwhile, the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire after the 2020 season, which may cloud negotiations for Wilson and other star players around the league.
Texans’ Andre Hal Retires From NFL
Texans safety Andre Hal is calling it a career. After spending the last five seasons with the Texans, and surviving lymphoma, Hal announced his retirement from football on Tuesday. 
“One thing I’ve learned in life is that change is inevitable and life goes through seasons,” Hal wrote. “This season of my life has come to an end. I will be retiring from the NFL. My health did not have anything to do with my decision. I am completely healthy. Thank you to the Houston Texans organization for giving me the opportunity to live my childhood dream. I also want to thank my family and friends for all of their support. I truly appreciate it.”
After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Hal returned to play in eight regular season games for Houston last year, plus the club’s playoff loss to the Colts. He was more than just an inspiration – he was an impact player. Hal recorded three interceptions in his half-season and was a slam-dunk choice for the Texans’ Ed Block Courage award, given to players who overcome adversity.
“Andre Hal is the epitome of what it means to be a Houston Texans player. What he overcame last season is nothing short of incredible and is an inspiration to every single person in this building,” Bill O’Brien said. “He’s what this place is all about.”
Hal leaves the game with 189 tackles, 12 interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one sack across 69 career games. He also leaves the Texans a little thinner at safety. Currently, the club’s safety depth chart consists of Justin Reid, Tashaun Gipson, and Briean Boddy-Calhoun.
AAF To Suspend Operations, May Fold
The Alliance of American Football (AAF) will suspend all football operations on Tuesday, according to Darren Rovell of Action Network (on Twitter). New majority owner Tom Dundon, Rovell hears, acted against the wishes of league co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian with the decision. 
On the surface, Dundon has lost approximately $70MM on his investment just weeks after scooping up the league. However, the perception inside the league office is that Dundon simply purchased a majority stake in the company to obtain the technology behind its gambling app, Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter) hears.
“Dundon got the technology he wanted and he’s now minus one rather large headache,” a source told Breer.
John Kryk of the Toronto Sun offers a grim prognosis, saying that an AAF source has told him that the league is finished (Twitter link). Even if that’s not the case, the league’s move to suspend operations in the middle of its first season is not a good sign. Early on, the AAF seemed to have potential thanks to a broadcast deal with the CBS Sports Network, but the costs of stadium rentals and payroll quickly caught up with the fledgling league. Additional backing from Dundon appeared to be their life preserver, but that was not the case.
Recently, Dundon indicated that the league would not be able to move forward unless the NFLPA agreed to allow active players to join the AAF. Ultimately, the tactic did not work, and the AAF is now in serious trouble.
Browns Trade Emmanuel Ogbah To Chiefs
Emmanuel Ogbah stayed away from the Browns’ voluntary workout on Monday with the expectation that he would be traded in the near future. As it turns out, the near future arrived in a matter of hours. The Browns have traded the defensive end to the Chiefs in exchange for safety Eric Murray, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
After a foot injury ended his 2017 season, Ogbah suffered an ankle malady early in 2018. The former second-round bounced back, however, and delivered three sacks in 14 games (all starts).Ogbah has 12.5 career sacks to his credit and will have an opportunity to make an impact in KC.
There was no room for Ogbah in Cleveland with Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon as the starting bookends and Chad Thomas, Chris Smith, and Anthony Zettel supporting the high-profile duo. He follows wide receiver Ricardo Louis and safety Derrick Kindred, other relics of the Sashi Brown era, out the door.
In the swap, the Chiefs and Browns each traded from a surplus to fill a weakness. The Browns were able to part with a DE after adding Vernon and the Chiefs have extra ammo at safety thanks to the addition of Tyrann Mathieu. Even without Eric Berry, the Chiefs were able to part with a supporting safety, enabling them to bolster a pass rush that no longer features Dee Ford or Justin Houston.
Murray, 25, made a career-high nine starts last season as he logged 55 tackles and two pass deflections. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 50 ranked safety in the NFL out of 93 eligible players, positioning him as a starting-caliber player.
T.J. Lang Retires From NFL
Former Lions and Packers guard T.J. Lang has retired from the NFL after ten years in the game. The news was first reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press and Lang confirmed his retirement via social media on Friday. 
“For the past 3,624 days I have woken up with one goal in mind: ‘How can I be a better pro football player than I was yesterday?’ Well, those days are now over,” Lang wrote. “The only thing I ask myself today is how can I be a better husband, father, son, brother, [and] friend. I will forever cherish the great times that I had playing this game.”
In his farewell address, Lang thanked the Packers for his development and the Lions for allowing him to finish his career near his friends and family in Michigan.
“Thank you Green Bay Packers for taking a chance on a 21-year-old kid and giving me the opportunity and patience to grow into a man and reach my full potential as a football player. Thank you Detroit Lions for granting me a chance to finish my career in the place that I call home,” said Lang. “It would’ve been impossible to play this game for ten years without great teammates, coaches, trainers, strength staff, doctors, agents, fans, family, and friends. I thank each and every one of you for the unwavering support over the years. Whatever the next chapter holds, I hope to stay around the game in some capacity. Its been an amazing ride. Thank you all for being a part of it.”
Lang, 31, was released by the Lions earlier this month after spending the past two seasons in Detroit. It’s not a total surprise Lang has decided to hang up his cleats, as he’s dealt with a myriad of injuries throughout his career. Lang ended the 2018 campaign on injured reserve with a neck injury, and last season suffered the sixth known concussion of his playing career.
While Lang only played in 19 of a possible 32 games while in the Motor City, he was relatively durable during his eight-year career with the Packers. After becoming a full-time starter in 2011, Lang proceeded to appear in 91 games over the next six seasons, missing only five contests during that span.
A former fourth-round pick, Lang earned two Pro Bowl nods (one with Green Bay in 2016, the other with Detroit in 2017), and also won a Super Bowl XLV ring with the Packers. Lang wasn’t able to complete the three-year, $28.5MM contract he signed with the Lions in 2017, but he’ll still end his playing days with more than $43MM in career earnings.
PFR extends it best wishes to Lang and his family as he enters his post-playing career.
Bill Belichick Could Become Patriots DC
Thursday began with the news that Patriots defensive coordinator Greg Schiano would be stepping down from the post. Later in the day, news trickled out that head coach Bill Belichick could assume a larger role with the defense or even take over the role of defensive coordinator, ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes. 
Following their victory in Super Bowl LIII, the Patriots saw a mass exodus from their defensive coaching staff, which included former defensive coordinator Brian Flores take the head-coaching gig in Miami and a number of assistants leaving. Schiano, highly trusted by Belichick, was expected to help the transition, but his abrupt departure puts the Pats in a tough situation.
Reiss notes Belichick assuming defensive coordinator duties is the most likely of scenarios but is not the only one. Another possibility is a “Hail Mary” call to former defensive line coach Brendan Daly, who left to become the Chiefs run-game coordinator. Considering his family’s roots in K.C. area, however, it could be a tough sell.
Another potential candidate would be Bret Bielema, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin tweets. Volin mentions that Bielema, the former University of Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach and current defensive consultant with the Pats, thought he was getting the job earlier this year.
Belichick, of course, is no slouch as a defensive coordinator. With the Giants, he won a pair of Super Bowls under head coach Bill Parcells while running the defense. As the head coach of the Patriots, Belichick has always played a large role on the defensive side of the ball, except in 2009 when he contributed largely to the offense following Josh McDaniels‘ departure to Denver.
Bears Trade RB Jordan Howard To Eagles
There were rumors earlier this month about the Bears exploring a trade of running back Jordan Howard. On Thursday, those rumblings were proven true as the Eagles are acquiring the back for a 2020 draft pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. 
According to Schefter, the pick is a sixth-round selection that could become a fifth-round pick.
In early March, it was reported “multiple teams” approached Chicago about a potential deal for the 24-year-old back and that discussions were ongoing. With less than a month to go until the NFL Draft, the Bears found a taker in the Eagles, who would appear to be out of the running to reunite with Jay Ajayi.
Howard is entering the final year of his contract and will make about $2MM this season. Linked to running backs early in many mock drafts, the Eagles could still land a back in the middle rounds and let him develop under Howard. Like he did in Chicago, Howard is expected to fill first- and second-round duties with Philadelphia, while a collection of Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams vie for third-down responsibilities. Obviously, this could change if the team looks to add another back in the draft.
With the Bears, Howard burst on the scene in 2016, finishing second in the league in rushing yards with 1,313 yards and earning a Pro Bowl nod. He again topped the 1,000-yard mark in Year No. 2, tallying 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. Though trade rumors swirled last season about this time, Howard returned to the team and amassed 935 yards and nine touchdowns on 250 carries, averaging just 3.7 yards a tote.
With the move, the Bears appear to be confident in the one-two punch of Tarik Cohen and the newly signed Mike Davis. Cohen broke out in 2018, tallying 1,169 yards from scrimmage and eight total offensive touchdowns. Davis impressed in limited work with Seattle in 2018, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and tallying 34 receptions.