Newsstand - Pro Football Rumors

Raiders Part Ways With Sebastian Janikowski

By Zachary Links | at February 14, 2018 4:26 pm

Sebastian Janikowski‘s 18-year run with the Raiders has come to an end. On Wednesday, the Raiders informed the kicker that he will not be re-signed for the 2018 season, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Last offseason, Janikowski initially balked when the Raiders asked him to take a pay cut, and that nearly marked the end of his tenure in Oakland. The kicker eventually acquiesced, but a preseason back injury kept him off of the field for the entire season.

Janikowski’s replacement, Giorgio Tavecchio, may have the inside track on the job, but new coach Jon Gruden could also open up a competition. Last year, the 27-year-old (28 in July), connected on 76.2% of his field goal tries and made 33 of 34 extra point attempts.

Before 2017, the 2000 first-round pick missed four games with the Raiders, and his 268 appearances are the most in franchise history. Despite his long-running history with team, the Raiders clearly had concerns about his age and possible decline. In 2016, Janikowski made 82.9% of his field goals and went 37-of-39 on extra point tries. He has not cleared the 83% mark on field goals since 2014. If not for the timing of the team announcing a move to Las Vegas, Janikowski might have been released before the 2017 season.

Janikowski turns 40 in March, but it seems likely that he’ll want to continue playing.

With Janikowski out of the picture in Oakland, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stands as the only player from the 2000 NFL draft still with the team that drafted him.

15 comments Las Vegas Raiders Newsstand Sebastian Janikowski

Latest On Colin Kaepernick’s Collusion Lawsuit

By Dallas Robinson | at February 14, 2018 11:35 am

Colin Kaepernick and his legal team have now requested two high-profile individuals be deposed in his collusion lawsuit against the NFL. Jane Goodell, the wife of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and John Schnatter, the former CEO of Papa John’s pizza, have both been sent deposition requests, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

Kaepernick has already asked for records, emails, and text messages from Roger Goodell and several other notable NFL executives and coaches — including Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and 49ers owner Jed York — but Jane Goodell is only tangentially related to the league. Her inclusion in the lawsuit is most likely related to an October Wall Street Journal article which detailed Goodell’s use of an anonymous Twitter account to defender her husband from social media criticism.

Schnatter’s involvement in the Kaepernick grievance is also adjacent to the league, as he complained that kneeling NFL players — a form of protest initiated by Kaepernick — was to blame for declining television ratings, and therefore, lackluster pizza sales. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who is also on Kaepernick’s deposition list, owns more than 100 Papa John’s locations and enjoys a close relationship with Schnatter, per La Canfora, who reports Kaepernick’s lawyers want to determine Jones’ role in Schnatter’s comments.

Kaepernick, of course, didn’t play in the NFL in 2017 and has since argued that league owners are conspiring to keep him off the field. The end goal of Kaepernick’s grievance may be to terminate the current collective bargaining agreement (no matter how unlikely that may seem), but he’d been expected to be granted much leeway when questioning NFL owners.

49 comments Newsstand Colin Kaepernick Jerry Jones

Pro Hockey Rumors: Your Source For NHL Trade Deadline Coverage

By Dallas Robinson | at February 14, 2018 8:56 am

Two weeks remain until the February 26th NHL Trade Deadline, and our sister site Pro Hockey Rumors is all you need to stay up to date on the latest news. Will the Buffalo Sabres find someone to pay their steep asking price for Evander Kane? Will the Vegas Golden Knights buy to help their historic expansion run? Are the New York Rangers really going to blow it up while Henrik Lundqvist is still there?

Visit Pro Hockey Rumors now and be sure to follow us @prohockeyrumors on Twitter!

1 comment Newsstand

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Dallas Robinson | at February 13, 2018 8:30 pm

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Jude Adjei-Barimah, CB (RFA)
Peyton Barber, RB (ERFA)
Cameron Brate, TE (RFA)
Will Clarke, DE
Javien Elliott, CB (ERFA)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB
Nick Folk, K
Adam Gettis, OL
Adarius Glanton, LB (RFA)
Brent Grimes, CB
Adam Humphries, WR (RFA)
Robert McClain, CB
Clinton McDonald, DT
Patrick Murray, K
Kevin Pamphile, G
Ryan Russell, DE (RFA)
Garrison Sanborn, LS
Sealver Siliga, DT
Charles Sims, RB
Evan Smith, OL
Keith Tandy, S
Justin Trattou, DE
T.J. Ward, S

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2018:

Mike Evans, WR: $13,258,000
Gerald McCoy, DT: $12,750,000
DeSean Jackson, WR: $11,000,000
Lavonte David, LB: $8,750,000
Jameis Winston, QB: $8,066,315
Doug Martin, RB: $6,750,000
William Gholston, DE: $6,500,000
Robert Ayers, DE: $6,000,000
J.R. Sweezy, G: $5,875,000
Chris Baker, DT: $4,875,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $61,478,282
Seventh pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2019 fifth-year option for QB Jameis Winston

Three Needs:

1) Find a new running back: It’s difficult to overstate just how poor Doug Martin played in 2017. Among the 36 running backs who handled at least 125 carries last season, Martin finished dead last with a paltry 2.94 yards per rush. Pro Football Focus ranked Martin as the No. 53 RB among 58 qualifiers, while the 29-year-old placed last among backs in Football Outsiders‘ DVOA metric, which measures value on a per-play basis. Martin caught only nine passes a year ago, but even on a per-pass basis, he was well below-average, as FO ranked him 25th in receiving DVOA among the 30 RBs who managed fewer than 25 targets.

Martin took the most touches of any Buccaneers running back in 2017, but given that he only started eight games, he wasn’t the only problem in the Tampa Bay backfield. Peyton Barber handled 108 carries but finished with only 3.9 yards per carry — he’s an exclusive rights free agent, and if he returns next season, it could be as a backup. Jacquizz Rodgers may be a candidate for release after averaging 3.8 yards per touch, and Charles Sims — the club’s main receiving back — is a free agent and seems unlikely to be re-signed.

Tampa Bay will essentially start with a blank slate at the running back position, but the 2018 free agent market is well-stocked with potential upgrades. Le’Veon Bell is clearly the top available back, but it seems inconceivable that he won’t return to the Steelers next season (if not via a long-term deal, then under the franchise tag). If Bell somehow does finagle his way out of Pittsburgh, though, the Buccaneers would be a prime landing spot. Not only does Tampa have the cap space to pay Bell what he wants, but the club could immediately make him the centerpiece of its offense.

If and when Bell re-signs with the Steelers, the Buccaneers will still have plenty of options at running back. Aside from Bell, Carlos Hyde may be the most talented runner on the free agent market, although injuries and a lack of talent on the 49ers’ roster have limited his overall production. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay could afford the $6MM annual salary that Dion Lewis is reportedly searching for, while Isaiah Crowell could also make sense as an every-down back.

Another strategy the Bucs could pursue would involve installing the 225-pound Barber as their early-down bruiser while inking a running back who specializes in the passing game. Lewis would fit that bill (and add much more), but fellow Patriot Rex Burkhead could potentially serve as an excellent receiver for Jameis Winston. Burkhead ranked first among pending free agent running backs in FO’s receiving DYAR and DVOA, and shouldn’t be all that expensive given that he secured only a one-year deal in 2017. The Vikings’ Jerick McKinnon — essentially a souped-up version of the incumbent Sims — could also fill a receiving role.

In the draft, Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is the clear-cut top available back, but it’s unclear if he’ll fall to the seventh overall pick. If he does, the Buccaneers would likely jump on him, although the club has enough other needs that it’s not a guarantee. Instead, Tampa Bay could hold off on adding a young running back until the second round, when other players such as Ronald Jones (USC), Sony Michel (Georgia), and Derrius Guice (LSU) may be available. Jones, in particular, would be a solid fit in an outside zone running scheme, as Benjamin Solak of NDT Scouting recently detailed.

2) Bolster the pass rush: No team struggled more to get after opposing quarterbacks in 2017 than did the Buccaneers. Tampa finished dead last in sacks (22), adjusted sack rate, and pressure rate, and just this week fired defensive line coach Jay Hayes. While there’s no word yet as to who will replace Hayes, a new coach should be leading a unit that undergoes a significant revamp this offseason.

The first thing the Buccaneers need to do is trim the fat on their defensive line. We’ll focus primarily on edge rushers given that Tampa Bay is set in the middle with Gerald McCoy and Chris Baker (although neither is a spring chicken). Veteran Robert Ayers posted the best season of his career in 2017 and is under contract for one more year, while former second-rounder Noah Spence will return from injury in 2018. Ayers and Spence should be in the Bucs’ plans for next season, but nearly every other pass rusher should be shown the door.

Ryan Russell somehow managed to play the second-most snaps of any Tampa Bay edge defender a year ago, but now that he’s a restricted free agent, I’m not sure he should even be offered an original round tender (which would pay him in the neighborhood of $1.9MM). Will Clarke is a failed former Day 2 draft pick who followed Hayes from Cincinnati; he’s a free agent now and shouldn’t be retained. And William Gholston was signed to a “$27.5MM deal” last offseason that — thanks to Tampa Bay’s contract strategy — is really worth $7MM. He can be released with no penalty this spring.Read more

The Buccaneers should have their choice of the non-Bradley Chubb edge rushers in the 2018 draft, but there may only be one or two other defensive end worthy of the No. 7 overall selection. In his first mock draft of the year, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com sent UTSA pass rusher Marcus Davenport to Tampa Bay, noting that he compares well to the Lions’ Ezekiel Ansah. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says Davenport has “good quickness in lateral slides down the line of scrimmage” but lacks change-of-direction speed and acceleration. If the Bucs trade down in the first round or wait until Day 2 to draft an edge defender, Harold Landry (Boston College), Sam Hubbard (Ohio State), Arden Key (LSU), or Hercules Mata’afa (Washington State) could come into play.

Speaking of Ansah, he should be the Buccaneers’ top free agent target when the market opens on March 14. Aside from Demarcus Lawrence (who isn’t leaving the Cowboys), Ansah is the best available edge rusher scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency. The 28-year-old managed 12 sacks in 2017 — the second time in three years Ansah has posted double-digit takedowns — but he only put up 21.5 total pressures, meaning he was converting pressure into sacks at an unsustainable rate. Still, Ansah would give Tampa Bay a much-needed burst of athleticism on the edge, and should be general manager Jason Licht‘s first call next month.

Other younger defensive ends such as Alex Okafor and Kony Ealy could also be on the Buccaneers’ radar, but given that Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter are likely facing a “playoffs-or-bust” ultimatum, I don’t think Tampa Bay will be adverse to adding aged veterans. Edge rushers such as William Hayes, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, and Lamarr Houston are each at least 30 years old, but that shouldn’t stop them from being in the Buccaneers’ potential plans.

3) Add a starting corner (plus depth): So, the Buccaneers couldn’t put pressure on opposing quarterbacks…and they also couldn’t hold up in the back end. It doesn’t take a seasoned NFL analyst to realize that’s a combination ripe for exploitation. Not only did Tampa Bay rank 31st in pass defense DVOA, but the team gave up a ton of big plays in the passing game, as it allowed 57 completions of at least 20 yards (third-most in the league).

Veteran cornerback Brent Grimes wasn’t typically the problem last season, although a few advanced metrics have conflicting opinions of the 34-year-old defensive back. PFF graded Grimes as the No. 36 corner in 2017, and the Bucs finished 15th in DVOA against opposing No. 1 wideouts, but Grimes finished just 57th among 80 qualifiers in FO’s success rate and 68th in yards allowed per pass. Overall, it was a slightly above average campaign for Grimes, which is an excellent accomplishment for a defender of his age. Given his fit in defensive coordinator Mike Smith‘s scheme, Grimes should be retained for another year — but he can’t be Tampa’s No. 1 corner for much longer.

Former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves took a large step forward in 2017 after moving to the slot, and if the Bucs can count on him to be their nickel corner (and bring back Grimes), they can take a big swing in free agency to land a top-end defensive back. Malcolm Butler could potentially be in consideration for Tampa Bay, but he played a ton of man coverage in New England, while the Buccaneers play mostly zone. The Rams’ Trumaine Johnson, then, might be a better candidate: most of his career had been in a zone-based scheme before Los Angeles hired Wade Phillips as DC in 2017. Both Butler and Johnson figure to command $10-12MM annually on their next contracts.

Other free agents that could be of in interest to Tampa Bay include Kyle Fuller (Bears) and E.J. Gaines (Bills), but Bashaud Breeland and Byron Maxwell could possibly be had for even cheaper. Breeland is only 25 years old, and the 2018 Pro Football Focus Free Agent Guide indicates he’s best playing off coverage in a zone scheme (another nugget from the PFF guide: Breeland finished 14th among CBs in yards per coverage snap in 2017). Maxwell, meanwhile, has always been solid in zone looks, and while he’s been inconsistent, he could serve as the Buccaneers’ No. 2 option behind Grimes.

Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick is considered the best defensive back in the 2018 draft class, and Todd McShay of ESPN.com sent Fitzpatrick to Tampa Bay in his most recent mock draft. But Fitzpatrick is likely going to play slot corner or safety in the NFL (he played only 13 snaps at outside corner last year), so he may not be what the Buccaneers need. Instead, Tampa could eye Denzel Ward (Ohio State) at pick No. 7, or Josh Jackson (Iowa), Mike Hughes (Central Florida), or Jaire Alexander (Louisville) following a trade down or in Round 2.

4 comments Newsstand PFR Originals Tampa Bay Buccaneers Top 3 Offseason Needs

Chiefs To Allow Derrick Johnson To Reach Free Agency

By Zachary Links | at February 13, 2018 2:42 pm

The Chiefs will allow Derrick Johnson to become a free agent this offseason, the club announced on Tuesday morning. A return is not explicitly ruled out, but it is heavily implied in the press release that the linebacker will not be back with the team in 2018.

“Few players in recent history have meant more to the Chiefs franchise and the Kansas City community than Derrick Johnson,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “His tireless work ethic and passion for the game made him one of the most productive defensive players to ever wear a Chiefs uniform and one of the most respected players both in our locker room and around the league. Over the last 13 seasons, Derrick represented himself and the Chiefs organization with integrity and class, and he will always be a part of our Chiefs family.”

Johnson, 35, is the franchise’s all-time leading tackler, with 1,262 career stops to his credit over 13 seasons with the Chiefs. Since entering the league as a first round pick in 2005, Johnson has appeared in 182 games with 169 starts. He’s also earned four Pro Bowl nods, plus a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2011.

“I’ve been blessed to be a part of the Kansas City Chiefs organization my entire career,” Johnson said. “I’d like to thank the Hunt family, my coaches, teammates and the staff for the tremendous amount of support I received over the years. I love Kansas City and this fan base, they’ve always had my back. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to spend 13 years in a place I love. I plan on playing for several more years because I love this game so much, but I look forward to retiring as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs when my career is over. I’ll miss my Chiefs teammates – we made a lot of big plays together over the years – and I wish them the best in bringing a championship home to the best and loudest fans in the NFL.”

Johnson’s deal was set to void when free agency opened up on March 14 as part of his restructured deal that he agreed to last offseason that dealt him a pay cut. The Chiefs will still owe Johnson $2.25 million in dead money after his contract is officially voided.

Last season, Johnson earned a 77.3 overall score from Pro Football Focus, which placed him as the 33rd best linebacker in the NFL. Johnson is no longer a world-beater, but he can still be a quality piece for a 3-4 team in need of veteran reinforcement. Johnson posted 48 tackles last season, the second-lowest mark for a season in which he’s appeared in at least 10 games.

Reggie Ragland played in 12 games at middle linebacker last season for the Chiefs. Kevin Pierre-Louis, who appeared in 14 games, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

8 comments Kansas City Chiefs Newsstand Derrick Johnson (LB)

Seahawks’ Kam Chancellor Plans To Play

By Zachary Links | at February 13, 2018 1:04 pm

Kam Chancellor has hinted that he might retire on social media, but that’s apparently not in the cards just yet. The Seahawks safety plans to play in 2018 if he gains medical clearance, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Chancellor’s $6.8MM salary became fully guaranteed last week, so the Seahawks are intent on moving forward with him. It’s still not a slam dunk that Chancellor will get the green light from doctors, however. The veteran missed nearly half of 2017’s games with a neck injury and that comes with a greater risk than, say, a twisted ankle.

Back in January, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll hinted that Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril could be forced to hang ’em up. Despite his assessment, both players are still intent on playing. In January, Avril announced his intentions to continue, but it’s quite possible that the Seahawks will release him anyway in order to save $7.5MM against the cap.

Chancellor’s nine appearances last season marked a career low since the Seahawks took him in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. Between 2011-14, the four-time Pro Bowler started at least 14 games and recorded at least 65 tackles within Seattle’s “Legion of Boom.” He’s missed 16 games over the last three seasons.

Seattle’s vaunted secondary may be disbanded before too long as Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are both due to become unrestricted free agents next offseason. Chancellor isn’t set to become a free agent until after the 2020 season. Cornerback Byron Maxwell and safety Bradley McDougald will hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. The Seahawks allowed 209.2 yards per game through the air last season, which ranked sixth-best in the NFL.

2 comments Newsstand Seattle Seahawks Kam Chancellor

Giants Hire Mike Shula As Offensive Coordinator

By Zachary Links | at February 13, 2018 10:13 am

The Giants have hired Mike Shula as offensive coordinator, according to Kimberly Jones of NFL.com (on Twitter). An official announcement is expected later today.

Shula spent seven seasons with the Panthers before he was fired in January. His longstanding relationship with former Panthers GM and current Giants GM Dave Gettleman helped him land a new OC gig in New York.

Last year, Carolina placed 19th in total offense (323.7), 17th in offensive DVOA, fourth in rushing offense (131.4), 28th in passing (192.3), and 12th in points (22.7). Ultimately, it wasn’t good enough as the Panthers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Giants believe that Shula can deliver better results for them in 2018.

Along with his role as offensive coordinator, Shula is expected to assume the role as the Giants’ quarterbacks coach, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Shula, 52, the son of Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, previously worked as the quarterbacks coach for the Jaguars and four seasons as the head coach at Alabama before landing his job with the Panthers. He’s also previously worked as the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers (1996-1999).

The Giants ranked 21st in the NFL in total yards per game (314.2) under last season’s offensive coordinator, Mike Sullivan, who was given the chance to pursue other opportunities after the hiring of Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur and is now serving as the Broncos quarterbacks coach.

Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham. was limited to just four games last season and Eli Manning was benched for a contest in favor of Geno Smith. Mike Shula will also be tasked with helping the Giants jumpstart their ground game as they ranked 26th in the league at 96.9 yards rushing per game.

Shurmur now has the offensive and defensive coordinators for his new staff, with the Giants agreeing to terms with former Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher in late January. The team was also looking to potentially hire Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski as offensive coordinator but were denied a request to interview him.

2 comments New York Giants Newsstand

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Dallas Cowboys

By Micah Powell | at February 13, 2018 9:38 am

In advance of March 14, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Dallas Cowboys, who missed the playoffs despite entering the season as potential Super Bowl contenders. The team was rocked with turmoil due to the lengthy Ezekiel Elliott suspension and couldn’t turn it on down the stretch, finishing 9-7. With its main contributors on both offense and defense expected back, the Cowboys are in position to rebound from the disappointing season in 2018.