AFC North Notes: Manziel, Pouncey, Ravens
Video footage has surfaced in recent days of Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel partying at a nightclub in Austin, Texas, the latest off-field distraction for a player who vowed to cut down on those stories this season. While Manziel hinted that the video posted of him could be an old one, multiple outlets have indicated it was filmed last week, during the Browns’ bye, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com outlines.
Speaking today to reporters, including Cabot, head coach Mike Pettine said that the Browns are still in the process of gathering information about the video, but called it “very” disappointing (Twitter links). It was only a week ago that Pettine committed to Manziel as the club’s starting quarterback for the rest of the season, but this situation may make the staff reconsider — Pettine confirmed today that Josh McCown is ready to play if Cleveland decides to start him over Manziel (Twitter link).
As Pettine explained, the Browns’ concern and frustration stems from Manziel’s “repeated pattern of behavior” (Twitter links). The head coach wouldn’t say if the organization would ask Manziel to get more help, after he spent 10 weeks in a rehab facility during the offseason (Twitter link).
Here’s more from around the AFC North:
- Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey has been on IR-DTR since the start of the season, and it doesn’t sound like he’s quite ready to be activated. The initial timetable for Pouncey, who broke his fibula, suggested he’d be out until at least Week 12, and head coach Mike Tomlin said today that he hasn’t checked on the veteran lineman’s status, adding that it’s not the “11th hour” for that situation quite yet (Twitter link via Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network).
- The Ravens are in the market for a backup quarterback, with Matt Schaub set to take over for Joe Flacco. However, there’s nothing going on between the team and veteran free agent Jason Campbell, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link). That’s not surprising, since other teams have had no luck wooing Campbell this year.
- Flacco’s ACL injury adds another layer to the contract re-negotiations that are sure to happen this offseason between the quarterback and the Ravens, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. In Zrebiec’s view though, Flacco will still have the leverage, assuming his recovery is progressing smoothly. Zrebiec also addresses Tyrod Taylor‘s offseason departure, Quinton Coples‘ potential fit – or lack thereof – in Baltimore, and the idea of the Ravens targeting a tackle in next year’s draft.
Community Tailgate: NFC Playoff Picture
As the NFL regular season nears its home stretch, there are plenty of topics and storylines to discuss, and PFR’s Community Tailgate is designed to address those stories. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. 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.
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Last week, we explored the AFC playoff picture, which appeared cloudy at the time and hasn’t exactly cleared up any further in the days since then. Things are perhaps a little less murky in the NFC, where there are at least two clear contenders for the Wild Card spots, but with six weeks still left in the season, there are plenty of questions still to be answered.
The 10-0 Panthers have all but locked up a postseason berth in some form or another, and the 8-2 Cardinals, barring a total collapse, will join them in the playoffs. In the NFC North, the Packers and Vikings are tied at 7-3, putting them in good position to earn playoff spots as the division winner and Wild Card team, in some order.
Green Bay and Minnesota aren’t 100% locks though, and neither are the 6-4 Falcons, who are currently holding the second Wild Card spot despite losing three consecutive games. The Giants, Buccaneers, and Seahawks are all lurking at 5-5, and there are several 4-6 teams that shouldn’t be ruled out of the picture quite yet.
Of course, one of those 5-5 teams – the Giants – leads the NFC East, where no teams are above .500 at the moment. That division is so bunched up that the 3-7 Cowboys, who lost seven straight contests in Tony Romo‘s absence, are a solid dark horse candidate to ultimately snatch the East crown from New York, Philadelphia, and Washington.
What do you think? Which six teams will make the postseason in the NFC? Will the defending NFC champs in Seattle end up nabbing a Wild Card spot? Will the first team to nine wins take the NFC East?
Weigh in below in the comments section to let us know your thoughts!
NFC Notes: Martin, Packers, Caldwell
Buccaneers running back Doug Martin, the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 draft, was one of 12 first-rounders from that year to have his fifth-year option for 2016 turned down by his team earlier this year. Tampa Bay may regret that decision now, though it’s possible that, without that motivation, Martin wouldn’t be having the season he is. The fourth-year back is currently the NFL’s second-leading rusher, with his 941 yards placing him behind only Adrian Peterson.
As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times writes, the Bucs will have a tough call to make this offseason on Martin, whom Lovie Smith calls a “priority.” Tampa Bay has the flexibility to bring back the 26-year-old, and his production certainly warrants a new deal, but the club may decide that investing heavily on a running back coming off a huge bounce-back year isn’t the best use of its cap room.
Here are a few more items from across the NFC:
- Having been cut by the Buccaneers a week ago, free agent safety D.J. Swearinger paid a visit to the Packers on Monday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Green Bay safety Micah Hyde left Sunday’s game against the Vikings with a hip issue, so the team may be considering veteran options in case Hyde has to miss time.
- With the Lions all but eliminated from the playoff hunt, the job security of head coach Jim Caldwell has become a popular topic of discussion and speculation in Detroit. However, Caldwell told reporters, including Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, not to “fixate” on it, adding that “I don’t think about it as much as you do.” Assuming the Lions bring in an outside candidate to fill the permanent general manager role, it seems likely Caldwell will eventually be replaced by that new GM.
- Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has yet to play a game during his second stint in New York, and his practice time has been limited so far, but head coach Tom Coughlin likes what he sees so far, per Fred Kerber of the New York Post. “He’s energetic, he looked good,” Coughlin said of Nicks. “Veteran experience, catcher, outstanding hands. He’ll work very hard. He’s excited about being here. He’s missed the opportunity to compete.”
- The Talk of Fame Network spoke to former Panthers GM Marty Hurney, who is responsible for drafting a number of key contributors on this year’s 10-0 squad.
AFC East Notes: Brady, Pats, Jets
As the Bills and Patriots do battle, here’s a look at the AFC East:
- The NFL’s appeal on the Tom Brady ruling will take place on March 3rd, as Jonathan Stempel and Joseph Ax of Reuters write. The court date comes weeks after Super Bowl 50 (Feb. 7th), so the outcome will not affect Brady’s current season or the Patriots no matter what.
- On Monday, Jets coach Todd Bowles said that he is sticking with Ryan Fitzpatrick as his starting quarterback, as Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. Despite Fitzpatrick’s rough outing against the Texans, the coach said there was “not much” discussion about making a switch to Geno Smith. “We went over the film like we always do and we judge everybody and we graded every player,” Bowles said. “He missed some throws, but like everybody else he did a lot of things … and we did a lot of things as a group that we’ve got to correct. But we’re fine with Ryan.”
- Fitzpatrick has been struggling for sure, but the Jets‘ offensive problems go deeper than that, and Bowles is right to stick with him at quarterback, opines Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. For what it’s worth, the locker room still has Fitzpatrick’s back, including left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
NFC Notes: Kaepernick, Cowboys, Giants
Peter King of The MMQB talked to a “few league people” over the weekend about possible landing spots for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The ordered list starts with the Eagles at the top which makes sense given Chip Kelly’s offense and their need for a signal caller. After that, it’s the Jets, Ravens, and Raiders on King’s list.
The Raiders are a surprising one, of course, because of the presence of Derek Carr, but it could be a possibility for Kaepernick if he doesn’t get a starting opportunity elsewhere. King hears that the Raiders likely would have picked Kaepernick in the 2011 draft had the 49ers not leapfrogged them on the draft board. “Al [Davis] was upset,” Hue Jackson, the coach at the time, told King a couple of years ago. “So was I. Scouting him, I fell in love with the kid.” Years later, King hears that there are some within the Raiders organization that believe Kaepernick can be saved.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- Cowboys running back Christine Michael and cornerback Corey White were released, in part, because they did not wear suits on their road trip to Tampa Bay, a source tells Brandon George of SportsDay DFW. “Sometimes you just have to drop the hammer,” a Cowboys player said about the decision to part ways with the two veterans. White later confirmed that version of events with TMZ.
- Giants center Weston Richburg has a high ankle sprain, according to Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger (on Twitter). That’s potentially bad news for the center’s availability going forward.
- Panthers wide receiver Stephen Hill, who is currently on IR, has been suspended for one game for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes. Hill was stopped and cited for possession of marijuana over the summer, leading to his one-game ban. Hill can serve his suspension now, despite being medically unfit to play.
Bills GM On McCoy, Incognito, Ryan
Bills General Manager Doug Whaley hasn’t been heard from much in the 2015 season, but Joe Buscaglia of WKBW got an opportunity to sit down with him prior to Buffalo’s contest against New England. The whole Q&A is worth a read, but here’s a look at the highlights:
Offseason acquisitions Richie Incognito and LeSean McCoy had issues with their previous teams. What led you to believe that they would be such a good fit in Buffalo?
Two things. Just from our ownership, and the whole construction of our organization, we knew that once we got those players in here, they know what’s expected of them, and they’re going to toe the line and be Buffalo Bills not only on the field, but off the field. And I think that’s a credit to the coaching staff, Rex Ryan, and also the Pegulas — just to set up an organization when you come in, you’ve got to buy into what a Buffalo Bills means, again, on and off the field.
The Bills have three starters headed for unrestricted free agency: Incognito, Nigel Bradham, and Cordy Glenn. Will you be able to retain all three?
Well, it’s going to be an organizational determination on who can we keep, and prioritize from top to bottom, of your free agents. And we’re a victim, unfortunately, of our scouting staff and how well — not only on the pro side — of acquiring free agents, but on the college side and our drafting. So, we’ve been drafting everybody. And you can’t keep everybody. That’s just the nature of the business. We’re going to try. We’re going to try our hardest, and we’re going to develop a plan after the season and try to implement it. Again, it’s going to be tough, but we’re going to try our hardest to keep all those guys.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has one year left on his deal. Will the Bills try and lock him up long-term this offseason?
Again, that’s another thing we’re going to have to talk about in the offseason. It’s a possibility that we’ll try to do that, but again, we’ve got a lot of things to work through in this offseason. It’s going to be a challenging one for us as a staff and an organization, like you said, just because of all the guys we’ve got coming up and the guys you want to lock up long-term. If Tyrod’s the guy, we’ll try to make sure we get him, and be our quarterback for a long, long time. And that’s a good problem to have. All these problems, we’re not complaining about, but they’re good problems.
On talk of not being on the same page as Ryan:
Rex and I, like I said from day one, we can complete each other’s sentences. The best thing about our business now is, when someone throws a report out there, they’re more believed than when you ask me a question and I answer it. If I answer it and say, ‘We’re great,’ people are still going to say, ‘I don’t believe him.’ So, that’s the business we’re in and that’s the business we’ve chosen… I’m fine with that. To answer your question, Rex and I are thick as thieves.
Ravens Notes: Flacco, Forsett, Harbaugh
The latest on those jinxed Ravens:
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com (on Twitter), that it would be possible for the team to add two quarterbacks in the wake of Joe Flacco‘s injury – one for the 53-man roster and one to the taxi squad. Quarterback Bryn Renner is one candidate for the practice squad, the coach added (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun on Twitter).
- The Ravens believe that the injured quarterback will be back in time for the start of the 2016 season, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. “Indications that I’ve been given is he would be back for the start of training camp and it wouldn’t be an issue,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday when asked about Flacco. “However, as we well know, those are always things that get determined by how the rehab goes.” Flacco had never missed a game during his eight-year career, an impressive run of durability that will now come to an end. Record-wise, 2015 has been the worst season of Flacco’s career, but he was completing passes at a career-high rate of 64.8% while averaging more than 275 yards per game, and posted a 13-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
- Ditto for running back Justin Forsett, who broke two bones in his right arm and will miss the remainder of the season. “My assumption is that … bones heal pretty quickly, so I’m sure he’ll be back in the offseason lifting weights and training,” Harbaugh said, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli. “I would expect Justin back next year full-speed, ready to go. He’s under contract, and a big part of what we’re doing going forward.” Forsett inked a three-year, $9MM deal with Balitmore prior to the 2015 season, though most of his guaranteed cash came this season. Forsett finishes the 2015 season with 151 carries for 641 yards and two touchdowns while catching 31 passes for 153 yards out of the backfield.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/23/15
Here are Monday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Chris Matthews (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Ras-I Dowling (Twitter link via team)
- Cut: G Reese Dismukes
Chicago Bears
- Cut: CB Terrance Mitchell (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Quanterus Smith (Twitter link via Tad Dickman of Jaguars)
New York Jets
- Signed: S Ronald Martin (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: TE Sean McGrath (Twitter link via Eric Williams of ESPN.com)
San Francisco 49ers
- To be signed: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
Washington
- Signed: LB Derrick Mathews, LB Lynden Trail (press release via team)
- Cut: CB Deveron Carr
Panthers DE Wes Horton Suspended
Panthers defensive end Wes Horton has been suspended without pay for the teams next four games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes. Horton’s suspension begins immediately and he will be eligible to return to the Panthers active roster on Monday, December 21st. That means Horton won’t be eligible to play until the Panthers’ Week 16 contest against the Falcons.
Horton, an undrafted rookie in 2013, made 15 starts for the Panthers last season in place of suspended teammate Greg Hardy. Following a rookie campaign that saw him compile eight tackles and two sacks, the former USC standout finished 2014 with 26 tackles and three sacks. In 2015, Horton has compiled just 7 total tackles and one sack in eight games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/23/15
Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- Washington signed TE Je’Ron Hamm off the practice squad and released fellow tight end Anthony McCoy, John Keim of ESPN.com writes. Washington signed McCoy on September 7th and he played in six games while being inactive for the last three. McCoy did not give Washington the kind of blocking that they had hoped for but they’re likely not expecting that out of Hamm, either, since he is more of a receiving tight end.
- For the second time in 2015, the Buccaneers have claimed linebacker Kourtnei Brown off waivers from the Texans, as Jenna Laine of Sports Talk 1040 tweets. Brown spent three weeks with the Bucs before getting cut and getting signed to Tampa Bay’s taxi squad before joining Houston’s active roster. The 27-year-old played in one game for the Bucs earlier this season.
- The Saints are going to sign outside linebacker Phillip Hunt, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- To make room, the Saints cut linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, a source tells Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate (on Twitter).
- The Ravens waived wide receiver Joe Morgan and promoted Chuck Jacobs from the taxi squad, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).