HEADLINES

Titans To Hire Dick LeBeau As Assistant

February 3rd, 2015 at 7:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is expected to be named the assistant head coach of the Titans, sources tell Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (on Twitter). LeBeau, 77, parted ways with Pittsburgh after a ten year stint with the team.

LeBeau was honored by the city of Pittsburgh earlier today and played coy when asked about what was next for him, as Bob Bauder of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. LeBeau said he “talked to some people” about coaching again, but would not offer specifics after he was given the key to the city. The Hall of Famer helped guide the Steelers to two Super Bowl trophies during his time there.

After leaving the Steelers, LeBeau had multiple suitors calling him, including the Cardinals. Arizona was set to make him a linebackers coach, but things fell apart for undisclosed reasons. At one point it was said that LeBeau would only seek defensive coordinator openings, but he had a change of heart as he has taken a different staff job with the Titans for 2015.

Minor Moves: Tuesday

February 3rd, 2015 at 5:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL’s waiver period for 2015 officially opened this week after the Super Bowl, which means we should see an uptick in transactions over the next few weeks, even before free agency opens on March 10. Here are Tuesday’s minor moves from around the league:

  • The Colts announced today that they have agreed to terms with guard Ben Heenan. Heenan, 6’4″, 316 pounds, spent the last three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. In 2014, he started all 21 games for the Roughriders, released Heenan from his CFL deal this week to allow him to pursue NFL opportunities. Heenan had offers from five NFL teams, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • The Bills have claimed wide receiver Justin Brown off waivers from the Steelers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). The Steelers waived Brown back in December to make room for the addition of Ben Tate. Brown, a sixth-round choice in 2013, caught 12 passes for 94 yards during his time in Pittsburgh.
  • While Brown didn’t clear waivers, several other players who were cut since the end of the regular season made it through, tweets Wilson. Safety Jakar Hamilton (Cowboys), offensive lineman Darren Keyton (Lions), and tight end Steve Maneri (Patriots) all went unclaimed.
  • After signing a reserve/futures contract with the Lions at the end of the regular season, tight end Ifeanyi Momah was cut today by the team due to a failure to disclose a physical condition, tweets Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Momah spent time on the Lions’ and Browns’ practice squads in 2014.
  • The Saints formally terminated the contract of linebacker Cheta Ozougwu today, says Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune (Twitter links). Ozougwu spent the entire 2014 season on New Orleans’ reserve-PUP list.
  • Fullback Greg Jones, who announced his retirement last month, has officially been moved to the reserve/retired list by the Jaguars, per Wilson (via Twitter).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Josh Gordon Suspended For At Least One Year

February 3rd, 2015 at 5:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

FEBRUARY 3RD, 5:42pm: Browns GM Ray Farmer released a statement regarding Gordon.

“As we have conveyed, we are disappointed to once again be at this point with Josh,” Farmer said, according to ESPN.com. “Throughout his career we have tried to assist him in getting support like we would with any member of our organization. Unfortunately our efforts have not resonated with him. It is evident that Josh needs to make some substantial strides to live up to the positive culture we are trying to build this football team upon. Our hope is that this suspension affords Josh the opportunity to gain some clarity in determining what he wants to accomplish moving forward and if he wants a career in the Nation Football League. We will have no further comment on Josh as he will not be permitted in our facility for the duration of his suspension.”

5:05pm: The NFL announced that it has officially suspended Gordon without pay for at least one year, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal (on Twitter).

JANUARY 25TH: 3:50pm: Due to his suspension, Gordon will be under contract with the Browns through the 2016 season, at which point he will only become a restricted free agent, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

2:50pm: Browns receiver Josh Gordon has failed another substance abuse test and will be subject to a one-year suspension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Unlike his past bans, which were marijuana-related, Gordon reportedly tested positive for alcohol, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). Gordon will presumably miss the entire 2015 season."<strong

Gordon will be able to appeal the decision, but given his history of transgressions, it seems unlikely that the league will reverse course. Indeed, a source tells Florio (via Twitter) that a successful appeal is improbable, and that the one-year ban is a “done deal.” An NFL player being suspended, or even being tested for, alcohol use, seems odd on its face, but Florio tweets that Gordon was being screened for alcohol due to his DUI arrest last year. The NFL’s drug policy is clear on the issue: “Alcohol is prohibited only if a player’s treatment plan explicitly prohibits alcohol,” according to the agreement, which lists more than .06 grams per deciliter as a failed test, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Since his entry into the league in 2012, Gordon’s NFL career has been tumultuous to say the least. He missed the first two games of the 2013 season following a drug suspension, but then went on to lead the NFL in receiving yards, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. Hopes were high for the 2014 season, but Gordon’s off-the-field issues arose again, as he was first arrested for DUI, and then suspended for one year after again violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was eventually reinstated after only 10 games as part of the NFL and the players’ union agreeing to a new drug policy, which reduced the sentences for some players-in-limbo. The Browns subsequently suspended Gordon for the final contest of the season after he reportedly violated team rules.

This latest development could be the final nail in the coffin for Gordon’s tenure in Cleveland. Trade rumors have surrounded the 23-year-old dating back to the 2012 season, as Browns coaches and management were reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with his actions. A trade is almost inconceivable now, as no club would part with draft pick compensation to acquire a player who will miss the entirety of the upcoming season. But a release seems like very real possibility, especially if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who reportedly blocked a Gordon-to-San Francisco trade, is fed up with his receiver’s struggles.

Gordon was set to count $1.68MM against Cleveland’s cap in 2015. About $565K of that total was due to signing bonus proration, money that the Browns could look to recoup following this suspension. Additionally, Gordon’s contract will now toll for another season, making it unclear when he’ll be a free agent. Because he wasn’t active for six games in 2014, there was speculation that he did not accrue a season towards free agency. Gordon and his representatives had planned to appeal that decision or take legal action, but that point now appears moot, at least for the time being.

For the Browns, this latest development will mean ever more fluctuation for an offense that lost its coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, to Atlanta following reports of friction between the coaching staff and the front office. Not only will Gordon be absent more the 2015 season, but the club’s other offensive playmaker, tight end Jordan Cameron, is a pending free agent, so it’s possible he won’t return. Quarterback Brian Hoyer is also an FA, while Johnny Manziel, last year’s first-round pick, didn’t show much in his limited playing time. It’s fair to wonder if Cleveland will select a receiver in the draft, or perhaps target someone like Randall Cobb or Jeremy Maclin in free agency.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC North Notes: Manziel, Browns, J. Jones

February 3rd, 2015 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Experts in the field say that a rehab program may not be effective, particularly for young people, if they’re not willing to go on their own, but that’s not the case for Johnny Manziel, who voluntarily entered treatment last Wednesday, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Based on Manziel’s willingness to seek help, friends and family of the Browns quarterback are confident that he’ll take it seriously and do the work needed to get well, according to Cabot.

While we wait for updates on Manziel and wish him the best, let’s check in on a few other items from out of the AFC North….

  • Responding to tweets from his followers about the likelihood of the Browns retaining a pair of their notable free agents, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com put the odds of Brian Hoyer‘s return at 51%, but gave tight end Jordan Cameron just a 1% chance to re-sign (Twitter links).
  • Although Ben Tate was a disappointment, rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West had solid rookie seasons for the Browns in 2014. Still, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com thinks running back is a position the team ought to address in the offseason, perhaps by bringing in a veteran to complement the youngsters.
  • Within his look at 10 of the most noteworthy NFL storylines to watch this offseason, ESPN.com’s Mike Sando (Insider link) suggests keeping an eye on the Ravens‘ offense and the Steelers‘ defense, after the two rivals lost coordinators Gary Kubiak and Dick LeBeau, respectively.
  • Wide receiver Jacoby Jones may be a luxury rather than a necessity for the Ravens, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, who explains why the club may consider cutting one of the most productive kick returners in football this winter.

Jerome Felton Opts Out Of Contract

February 3rd, 2015 at 4:52pm CST by Rob DiRe

FEBRUARY 3: Felton confirmed to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he has officially opted out of his contract with the Vikings, which will make him a free agent.

DECEMBER 26: Vikings fullback Jerome Felton said he has decided to opt out of his contract at season’s end and become a free agent this offseason, reports Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.

“The economics of my thing is they’re not going to pay me $2.5 million,’’ said Felton. “You wouldn’t just stay in a contract knowing your salary is that high. There’s no guarantee in the contract, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to opt in. So I’m a free agent after this season. If they wanted, they could re-sign me (at a lesser amount).’’

Felton has been considering opting out for a while now, despite having his base salary reduced this past offseason. A number of factors have contributed to his decision, including a heavy snap reduction under offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

Part of that could be the presence of Zach Line on the roster, and also the lack of commitment to the running game without Adrian Peterson in 2014.

Felton has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Vikings despite opting out. “You never say never,’’ Felton said. “I like the coaching staff and I appreciate the organization. We’ll see what the future holds.’’

NFC Notes: Lynch, Sherman, Lions, Houston

February 3rd, 2015 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

On a radio appearance, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said that the team has been “in the midst” of contract talks with running back Marshawn Lynch for a while now, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (via Twitter). Earlier this week it was reported that Seattle made a “huge” offer to the Skittles-loving tailback that would likely keep him with the team for the remainder of his career. The 28-year-old running back is set to make $5MM next year, but that offer would reportedly give him $10MM in 2015 alone.

Let’s round up a few more items from across the NFC….

  • Carroll also admitted today that he “might have been misled” regarding Richard Sherman‘s injury situation, suggesting that the Seahawks cornerback may not need to undergo Tommy John surgery after all. “He’s not a pitcher, and he’s not a left-hander,” Carroll said, per ESPN.com. “Sherm might not have to have that kind of surgery. If he was a thrower he would.”
  • Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com takes a look at the free agent decisions facing the Lions on their defensive line, where Ndamukong Suh is far from the only player with an expiring contract. Twentyman figures that if the team can get a deal done with Suh, it figures to be worth around $100MM, with $50MM+ in guarantees.
  • Lamarr Houston‘s $5.9MM base salary for 2015 with the Bears will now be fully guaranteed, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Houston’s contract called for his salary to be locked in on the second day of the 2015 waiver period, which is today. The defensive end’s season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL while celebrating a sack in October. It wasn’t exactly a banner year for Houston, as that sack was his very first of the 2014 campaign.
  • Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff says he has no problem with the way the team’s front office is set up, with new head coach Dan Quinn having final say on Atlanta’s 53-man roster — in fact, according to Dimitroff, he encouraged that. “It’s not about who has final 53 or who has authority over one thing or another,” Dimitroff said (link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution). “It’s about working together. It’s about nice equal footing and a partnership.”
  • The St. Louis group attempting to build a new stadium for the Rams has hired John Lloyd, who has “extensive experience” in the field, as a consultant on the project, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Ravens Offered Torrey Smith Five-Year Deal

February 3rd, 2015 at 2:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Prior to the 2014 season, the Ravens offered wide receiver Torrey Smith a five-year, $35MM contract extension, which included $19MM guaranteed, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). It’s not clear if such an offer remains on the table, but clearly Smith decided to pass at the time it was proposed.

Coming off a 2013 season in which he established new career highs in receptions (65) and receiving yards (1,128), Smith took a step backward in ’14, with just 49 catches for 767 yards. Still, he scored 11 touchdowns, and led the league in pass interference penalties drawn (12), which resulted in another 261 yards. Additionally, his presence on one side of the field likely played a large part in Steve Smith having a bounce-back year across from him.

When our Rory Parks examined Smith as an extension candidate before the season, he suggested that Baltimore would likely have to commit between $40-60MM on a five-year offer for Smith, so it makes sense that the wideout would turn down an offer worth just $35MM. Still, that proposal may look a bit more appealing now. Structurally, it’s fairly similar to the contract Eric Decker signed with the Jets a year ago — Decker’s deal included a little more overall money ($36.25MM), but a slightly smaller guarantee ($15MM).

If Smith reaches the open market, he should draw plenty of interest from teams in need of receivers, such as the Raiders, Panthers, and Chiefs. His value would be particularly strong if potential free agents like Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and Randall Cobb were locked up by their current teams prior to March 10. Still, Smith has indicated that he’d like to work out an extension with the Ravens before that point, so we’ll see if the two sides reach an agreement in the next few weeks.

Cole’s Latest: Browns, Draft, Revis, Wilfork

February 3rd, 2015 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

As free agency and the draft inch closer, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report figures to be busy, providing the latest buzz from around the NFL. Today, he has posted two videos passing along the whispers he’s hearing regarding the Browns’ plans at quarterback and what lies ahead for two key Patriots defenders. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights….

  • Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported yesterday that the Browns are optimistic that Johnny Manziel, currently in rehab, will be ready to go for training camp, and don’t plan to walk away from the young quarterback. Still, according to Cole, it sounds as if the team is mulling the possibility of trying to trade up for one of the top two signal-callers in this spring’s draft. Cole reports that Cleveland prefers Marcus Mariota to Jameis Winston, and may be well-positioned to make a move, since no other team has two 2015 first-round picks to dangle in an offer.
  • Cole echoes a weekend report from Adam Schefter, indicating that the Jets and Bills will have interest in Darrelle Revis if he reaches the open market. According to Cole, the Jets will be a “major player,” particularly since Revis loves New York and would seriously consider a reunion with the team. Before Revis hits free agency though, the Patriots will likely try to work out a long-term agreement, and Cole says the cornerback will take a couple weeks to decide whether or not he wants to continue going year to year as he approaches age 30. Of course, the Pats could also simply pick up Revis’ 2015 option, but that would result in a $25MM cap hit.
  • Vince Wilfork‘s cap number for 2015 jumps up to nearly $9MM, and the Patriots could save most of that total by cutting him this offseason, as Cole observes. Given Wilfork’s shaky performance down the stretch (he recorded a -6.0 grade in the postseason, per Pro Football Focus) and New England’s tendency to cut ties with longtime contributors when they’re no longer providing value, that doesn’t necessarily bode well for the big defensive lineman. However, Cole says Wilfork likes the idea of going out on top, so it’s possible he’ll decide to retire.

South Notes: Falcons, Colts, Saints, Texans

February 3rd, 2015 at 12:45pm CST by Luke Adams

In addition to announcing Dan Quinn as their new head coach today, the Falcons confirmed several other members of their coaching staff, via a team release. As previously reported, Kyle Shanahan will serve as the offensive coordinator in Atlanta, while Richard Smith will be the defensive coordinator and Raheem Morris will hold the title of assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator.

Other members of Quinn’s staff include Bobby Turner (RBs coach), Mike LaFleur (offensive assistant), Keith Armstrong (ST coordinator), Bryan Cox (DL coach), Wade Harman (TEs coach), Terry Robiskie (WRs coach), and Eric Sutulovich (assistant ST coach).

Here’s more on the Falcons and a few other teams from the NFC South and AFC South:

  • Perhaps more interesting than any of the Falcons‘ assistant coach announcements was the revelation that Quinn will indeed have control of the 53-man roster, as had been speculated (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution). As Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets, GM Thomas Dimitroff still has final say over the draft and free agency, so it’s a setup similar to the one in Seattle.
  • Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will get paid, but Stephen Holder of the Indy Star doesn’t necessarily see it happening this offseason. When Luck does get that fat contract, likely worth $20-$25MM annually, it won’t leave the Colts completely thin across the board as the team has been anticipating this for quite some time. The Colts currently rank in the bottom half of the league in current spending, giving them significant flexibility both this year and in years to come.
  • Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune writes that the Saints will still have to do some serious financial maneuvering this offseason beyond turning roster bonuses into signing bonuses. That maneuvering, while keeping the Saints “legal” for the start of the new league year on March 10, would leave no room for signing new players or improving the roster. Many have said that the Saints will be impeded by their big spending, but Woodbery notes that they have found themselves in this spot before. Last offseason, they didn’t find themselves with a lot of breathing room, but they still found a way to sign safety Jairus Byrd to a large multi-year deal.
  • The Texans have hired Mike Devlin (OL coach), Pat O’Hara (offensive assistant), and Paul Pasqualoni (DL coach), and promoted Anthony Pleasant to a defensive assistant role, the team announced today in a press release.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

2015 NFL Draft Order Set For First Round

February 3rd, 2015 at 12:29pm CST by Luke Adams

Following Sunday’s Super Bowl, the order for the first round of the 2015 NFL draft has officially been set, with the Buccaneers kicking things off at No. 1, and the Patriots wrapping things up at No. 32.

The first-round order will dictate how the order for the remaining rounds plays out, with teams that finished with the same records rotating choices in subsequent rounds — for instance, while the 2-14 Buccaneers pick ahead of the Titans in the first round, the Titans will get the first selection in the second round. This provision doesn’t apply to some playoff teams, however. For example, despite both finishing 12-4, the Packers and Patriots are locked into the 30th and 32nd picks, respectively, based on how far they advanced in the postseason.

So far, only one first-round pick has been traded. The Browns acquired the Bills’ first-rounder in last year’s Sammy Watkins deal. When the NFL officially releases the full draft order later in the offseason, it will include all compensatory picks, and every traded pick. In the meantime, our round-up of 2015’s traded picks can be found right here.

Here’s the full 2015 first round draft order, via the NFL:

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  2. Tennessee Titans
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars
  4. Oakland Raiders
  5. Washington
  6. New York Jets
  7. Chicago Bears
  8. Atlanta Falcons
  9. New York Giants
  10. St. Louis Rams
  11. Minnesota Vikings
  12. Cleveland Browns
  13. New Orleans Saints
  14. Miami Dolphins
  15. San Francisco 49ers
  16. Houston Texans
  17. San Diego Chargers
  18. Kansas City Chiefs
  19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)
  20. Philadelphia Eagles
  21. Cincinnati Bengals
  22. Pittsburgh Steelers
  23. Detroit Lions
  24. Arizona Cardinals
  25. Carolina Panthers
  26. Baltimore Ravens
  27. Dallas Cowboys
  28. Denver Broncos
  29. Indianapolis Colts
  30. Green Bay Packers
  31. Seattle Seahawks
  32. New England Patriots
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