Latest On Antonio Brown Extension Possibility
When the Steelers restructured the contract of Antonio Brown prior to the 2016 campaign, the club promised Brown that it would extend an offer of a new deal at the conclusion of the season. That agreement is reportedly still in place, and as such, Brown is poised to “cash in,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), who adds that Brown has a chance to become the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
[RELATED: Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart]
Last August, Pittsburgh converted some of Brown’s 2017 base salary into a signing bonus (meaning Brown received more money immediately), but also changed some of Brown’s 2016 base salary into a bonus in order to reduce the salary cap effects. All told, the moves increased Brown’s 2016 cap charge by about $500K. The transaction was largely a show of good faith, as the Steelers did not want to violate their rule of not extending players with more than one year left on their contract.
That internal team precedent won’t come into play this offseason, however, as Brown is only signed through the 2017 season. At present, he is set to earn a base salary of $4.71MM and carry a cap number of $13.618MM. An extension would presumably lower that cap charge, but could also make Brown the most highly-compensated pass-catcher in the league. On an annual salary basis, that honor currently belongs to the Bengals’ A.J. Green ($15MM). In terms of guarantees, the Falcons’ Julio Jones leads the way with $35.5MM.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/11/17
Wednesday’s minor moves:
Reserve/Futures Contracts
New York Giants
New York Jets
- WR Deshon Foxx
- FB Julian Howsare
- WR Myles White
Philadelphia Eagles
- OL Josh LeRibeus
- WR Dom Williams
Practice Squad
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Gus Johnson
- Practice squad/injured: RB Dreamius Smith
Todd Haley Open To HC Jobs
Last year, when teams came calling for Todd Haley, he said “Thanks, but no thanks.” This time around, the Steelers offensive coordinator would interview for a head-coaching vacancy, if asked, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. 
[RELATED: Steelers To Franchise Le’Veon Bell, Want To Extend Antonio Brown]
Haley was identified as a potential candidate for the Dolphins early in their search process last year, but his name didn’t surface after that for any openings around the league and that’s presumably because he turned them away. For one reason or another, Haley is now open to a second head coaching stint.
Haley’s first run as a head coach came with the Chiefs. That stint lasted two-and-a-half seasons as KC went 19-26 with one playoff berth. In 2012, Haley joined up with the Steelers and he has restored his image as an offensive guru by steering Ben Roethlisberger & Co. to success, though he does have some of the game’s best weapons at his disposal, including Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
The Steelers take on Haley’s former team, the Chiefs, on Sunday afternoon. If the Steelers have a deep playoff run, it might be a while before Haley can interview. Of course, that’s also a non-issue until a team actually requests and interview with him. So far, to our knowledge, that hasn’t happened in this cycle.
Steelers To Franchise Le’Veon Bell, Want To Extend Antonio Brown
We heard last month that the Steelers were expected to put the franchise tag on Le’Veon Bell this offseason, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported today that Pittsburgh will indeed franchise their star running back.
The tag will be about $12.3MM for running backs, and after the Steelers use it on Bell, the two sides will have a few months to work out a long-term contract. If they cannot, Bell could play out the 2017 season under the tag and be eligible for free agency again next offseason.
There are complications to a multi-year deal, of course. Bell has a history of off-field trouble, having been been suspended in each of the past two seasons, and he sustained knee injuries in 2014 and 2015. But when he’s on the field, he’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the game, both as a runner and as a receiver. Despite missing four games this season, Bell ranked first in the NFL in touches per game (28.0) and scrimmage YPG (157.0), and he was second in rushing YPG (105.7). From Weeks 4-16–Bell was suspended for the first three weeks of the season and was rested for the team’s meaningless Week 17 contest–he led the NFL in touches (336) and scrimmage yards (1,884).
It appears that the Steelers are comfortable with Bell’s health and they seem to believe that his off-field issues are behind him, as a long-term deal is considered likely at this point. While Bell is unlikely to reach Adrian Peterson’s record-setting $14MM/year deal, he stands an excellent change of netting an eight-figure annual salary.
Per Rapoport, the Steelers also want to extend wide receiver Antonio Brown, who is under club control for one more season. Brown’s exceedingly club-friendly deal will pay him just $4.7MM next year, quite a bargain for arguably the best receiver in the game. But with substantial raises for Bell and Brown on the horizon, Pittsburgh will need to make some tough decisions elsewhere.
Latest On Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill
Dolphins coach Adam Gase says Ryan Tannehill won’t practice today (Twitter link via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com). If he gets one day of practice, that will be enough for Miami to play him on Sunday. However, Gase admits the Dolphins “may run out of time this week” (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com). 
[RELATED: Dolphins To Release DL Mario Williams]
Miami’s original plan was to bring Tannehill back for Week 17 against the Patriots, but they decided to play it safe since they already had a 92% chance of making the postseason. With the ultra-tough Steelers on the docket, however, the Fins are eager to get their No. 1 QB back.
Tannehill was able to shed the cast on his injured leg some time ago, so he is at least moving in the right direction. Initially feared to be an ACL tear, Tannehill is dealing with an ACL/MCL sprain. That’s no walk in the park, but not as grim as it could be.
In his 13 games this season, Tannehill has completed a career-high 67.1% of his passes with 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. If Tannehill is unable to go, quarterback Matt Moore will start in his place.
2017 NFL Draft Order
The Browns almost blew it yesterday. In the regular season finale, the Browns took the Steelers to overtime before ultimately losing 27-24. Had they won, the Browns would have been picking at No. 2 instead of the top position. Meanwhile, the Jaguars nearly slipped to No. 5, but they held their ground in the draft order when they lost 24-20 to the Colts. Phew.
The playoffs will help determine the bottom 12 picks, but the draft order has now been set for most of the NFL. Here is the list, with ties being broken by strength of schedule:
1. Browns (1-15)
2. 49ers (2-14)
3. Bears (3-13)
4. Jaguars (3-13)
5. Titans (via the 4-12 Rams)
6. Jets (5-11)
7. Chargers (5-11)
8. Panthers (6-10)
9. Bengals (6-9-1)
10. Bills (7-9)
11. Saints (7-9)
12. Browns (via the 7-9 Eagles)
13. Cardinals (7-8-1)
T-14. Eagles (via the 8-8 Minnesota Vikings)
T-14. Colts (8-8) (Note: The Vikings and Colts have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broke by coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 14 and the other team getting the No. 15 pick.)
16. Ravens (8-8)
17. Redskins (8-7-1)
18. Titans (9-7)
19. Buccaneers (9-7)
20. Broncos (9-7)
Le’Veon Bell Wants To Stay With Steelers
Le’Veon Bell addressed his impending free agency today, deviating a bit from his previous remarks. Or at least providing some clarity. The top-tier running back expressed a desire to remain in Pittsburgh after his rookie contract expires.
“I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Bell said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. “We’re going to try to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
This comes more than a week after Bell said he has not been paying attention to his contract but focusing on the Steelers’ playoff push. The Steelers are expected to apply the franchise tag to their top UFA, provided they cannot work out a deal before free agency. It might be a complex negotiation given Bell’s history, his ability when healthy, and the contract he’ll likely be seeking.
Having successfully returned from the torn MCL that spoiled his 2015 season, Bell has two substance-abuse suspensions on his record and but also two standout campaigns. This one has been his finest on a per-game basis. The superstar back averaged a career-best 157.0 yards from scrimmage in 12 games this season and will finish with 1,884 and nine touchdowns. He totaled 2,215 and 11 TDs in 2014, but those numbers came in 16 games. The 24-year-old runner will not play in the Steelers’ finale against the Browns.
The franchise tag will cost the Steelers $12.37MM. The team is expected to possess approximately $36.9MM in cap space this offseason. Bell will undoubtedly be eyeing the eight-figure-per-year threshold — a standard only Adrian Peterson ($14MM-plus per year) surpasses on a deal the Vikings will almost certainly either renegotiate or free themselves from in 2017. LeSean McCoy‘s $8MM-AAV deal leads all other ball-carriers, but Bell’s numbers have eclipsed Shady’s on a per-year basis during the former’s four years in the NFL.
Steelers Make Several Pre-Week 16 Moves
- The Steelers made several moves in advance of their Week 16 clash with the Ravens, signing defensive lineman Johnny Maxey and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. To make room, Pittsburgh cut running back Daryl Richardson and moved cornerback Shamarko Thomas to IR.
Terry Bradshaw Not Impressed By Mike Tomlin
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has compiled a 101-57 record during his 10 years in Pittsburgh, and he’s also led his squad to a pair of Super Bowl appearances, winning one. Despite the apparent success, Terry Bradshaw isn’t impressed.
The Hall of Fame Steelers quarterback said on FOX Sports 1 that Tomlin isn’t among the best active coaches in the NFL.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Ronald Zamort
Cleveland Browns
- Signed LB James Burgess, TE J.P. Holtz
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Austin Traylor
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Andrew Turzilli
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Max McCaffrey
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Cory Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: C Kyle Friend, TE Jason Vander Laan
Philadelphia Eagles
- Cut: TE Marcel Jensen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Al-Hajj Shabazz
- Cut: CB Brandon Dixon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DiAndre Campbell, CB Duke Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Malcolm Johnson
- Placed on practice squad IR: OL Robert Myers