Ravens Rumors: Eagles, Harbaugh, Flacco
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh addressed reporters minutes ago in Baltimore. Here’s a look at the highlights:
- The Eagles have not called the Ravens about Harbaugh, owner Steve Bisciotti said, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The Baltimore head coach was viewed as a long shot target for Philadelphia, but it appears the Eagles recognize Harbaugh isn’t leaving the Ravens.
- Newsome is hopeful that team can reduce Joe Flacco‘s cap number in 2016 but he said the team has to have a plan of putting together a roster if Flacco’s cap number remains at $28.55MM, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes.
- Linebacker Terrell Suggs is coming back in 2016, Newsome says (via Hensley). Suggs told him that he doesn’t want to leave game like he left Denver with Achilles injury. The former first-round pick has played his entire career in Baltimore, making six Pro Bowls and winning the defensive player of the year award. Prior to his 2015 injury, the 33-year-old missed only 11 games during his career, including eight in 2012 when he tore his right Achilles.
- When discussing the cap situation further, Newsome explained that the team had dead money with Ray Rice last year and he indicated that tight end Dennis Pitta could call for more dead money in 2016, as Zrebiec tweets. Pitta is dead set on returning to the field next year, despite his constant hip problems. “I’m a football player and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” said Pitta back in November. “I have a sense of duty to my teammates, the team and to this organization. This organization has given me a lot over the last few years.” The tight end has played in only three games since receiving a five-year deal with $16MM guaranteed in February 2014. One has to wonder if he might be forced to retire at this point.
- Newsome said trying to extend Justin Tucker is a priority and if it gets to the point where they have to, they will use franchise tag on him, Zrebiec tweets. Tucker, 26, has been a little shakier during the last two seasons than he was in his first two years, missing five field goal attempts in 2014 and seven in 2015. However, all but one of those misses came from 50+ yards, and he converted all 29 of his extra-point tries in 2015, so he’ll be in line for a nice raise from Baltimore.
- Owner Steve Bisciotti said that team exec Eric DeCosta is still committed to the organization, Zrebiec tweets. “He’s got too much at stake here in his relationship with Ozzie [Newsome],” Bisciotti said. The owner added that DeCosta probably could have had 10 different GM jobs by now if he wanted them. Bisciotti said that he doesn’t see either exec going anywhere for “many years” (link).
- Harbaugh said that the team is definitely looking to add a pass rusher, Zrebiec tweets.
- When asked about his free agency approach, Newsome said, “I don’t think we’ll be as busy as some teams are in March. We never have” (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun). Newsome said that the Ravens will have money available if a free agent they like is out there (link).
- Newsome said that he feels the team needs to add one more, if not two more, wide receivers early on in the draft or in free agency (Twitter link via Zrebiec).
Extra Points: Rams, Pettine, Flacco, Raiders, Draft
A look around the NFL as Tuesday wraps up:
- Free agent cornerback Cary Williams, whom Seattle released Monday, is drawing interest from several teams around the league, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter). One of those teams is the Rams, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- The Browns officially named Johnny Manziel their starting quarterback today, but it doesn’t sound as if head coach Mike Pettine is 100% committed to the decision. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) suggests that the move back to Manziel from Austin Davis was motivated in part by Pettine trying to save his job.
- Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had surgery Tuesday to repair his torn ACL. The procedure went well, per ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). He’s expected to make a full recovery and should be back in six to nine months, adds CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link).
- The Raiders extended the contract of fullback Jamize Olawale on Tuesday, and ESPN’s Bill Williamson points to offensive tackle Donald Penn and receiver Michael Crabtree as players the club could look to lock up next (Twitter link). Penn has started 28 straight games since joining the Raiders in 2014, while Crabtree leads the team in receptions (66), targets (115) and touchdowns (seven) this year. Both are scheduled to hit free agency during the upcoming offseason.
- Clemson safety Jayron Kearse and Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee are leaning toward entering the 2016 draft, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter links: 1; 2). If they do, Michigan tight end Jake Butt won’t be joining them. He announced that he’ll return to school for his senior season (Twitter link via Getlin).
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Still, Flacco
With his job security potentially dwindling, Browns head coach Mike Pettine suggested on Monday that there’s some tension within the organization, dropping some hints without specifically saying which departments are at odds. After pointing out that a team needs its building to be unified in order to have success, Pettine was asked whether the Browns’ building is unified, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com details.
“It’s hard to be at this point,” Pettine said. “It’s human nature. When things don’t go well, everybody has a tendency to kind of bunker in and get into that mode. I think we all want what’s best for the Cleveland Browns. we all have ideas on how to get it done, and we need to be collaborative and we need to make sure that we’re picking the best ideas and pushing those agendas moving forward.
“I can’t sit here and say, ‘Absolutely, we’re all on board, 100 percent,'” Pettine continued. “That’s not reality because when things don’t go well, everybody has their opinions and their reasons why, but it’s going to come down to a brutal self-assessment and to be able to have the strength to make tough decisions and trust them and move forward.”
As we wait to see whether Pettine will be a part of the Browns as the team tries to move forward, let’s check in on some other items from out of the AFC North….
- Former Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still may be back under contract with an NFL team in a few weeks. According to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, Still said on Monday that he has received reserve/futures contract offers from two teams. Those deals can’t be officially signed until after a team’s season comes to an end.
- Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is undergoing surgery on his left knee today, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed (link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). It has been nearly two and a half weeks since Flacco tore his ACL against the Rams, but he had to wait for the swelling to go down before going under the knife. Dr. James Andrews will perform the procedure.
- With one tight end suspended and two others dealing with nagging injuries, the Ravens had former New Hampshire tight end Harold Spears in for a visit, per Hensley (Twitter link).
Ravens Claim Jimmy Clausen Off Waivers
As expected, the Ravens have nabbed a backup quarterback off waivers, claiming Jimmy Clausen from the Bears, the team announced today (via Twitter). In a corresponding move, the Ravens have placed Joe Flacco on injured reserve due to his torn ACL (Twitter link).
Clausen, 28, served primarily as the Bears’ backup signal-caller last year, getting a start in Week 17 when Marc Trestman wanted to see someone besides Jay Cutler lead the offense. Clausen re-signed with Chicago on a one-year deal back in March, and was forced into action again early in the season, when Jay Cutler went down with an injury. In two games (one start) for the Bears, Clausen completed 23 of 40 passes for 184 yards and an interception.
Given the connection to Trestman, who is now the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, there seemed to be a natural fit for Clausen in Baltimore, with the team needing a backup for Matt Schaub. The Ravens also had a fairly high waiver priority, given their 3-7 record, allowing the team to avoid being blocked from claiming Clausen.
When the Bears cut Clausen, they also promoted David Fales to their 53-man roster, with head coach John Fox explaining that the young QB had received interest from other teams. According to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link), those teams were the 49ers and the Ravens. So Baltimore tried to sign one signal-caller with a connection to Trestman, then ultimately settled for another.
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.
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.
Joe Flacco Tears ACL, Done For Season
The Ravens’ nightmare season continues — after losing running back Justin Forsett to a fractured arm earlier today, quarterback Joe Flacco will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL, and perhaps his MCL, according to Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links).
Baltimore beat the Rams today to improve to 3-7 on the season, but they still trail both the Bengals and the Steelers in the AFC North, and a multitude of teams in the AFC Wild Card race. Based on the standings alone, a playoff berth for the Ravens was an extreme longshot, and given the wave of injuries that have hit the club, the postseason can all but be ruled out. Baltimore will now have placed four of its key players — Flacco, Forsett, Steve Smith, and Terrell Suggs — on season-ending injured reserve.
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.
Flacco’s injury has presents a new concern for the Ravens regarding his contract situation — Flacco’s cap number will jump to more than $28MM in 2016, and as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap notes (via Twitter), that’s a cap charge that will inevitably need to be addressed. An extension would seem to be the obvious method to bring that figure down, but with Flacco now having suffered a major injury, the Ravens could be wary of such a financial remedy.
The Ravens will turn to backup quarterback Matt Schaub for the remainder of the season. Schaub, of course, has a wealth of starting experience, and did have some success during his run with the Texans. Baltimore doesn’t currently have another quarterback on either its active roster or on the practice squad, so the club will need to act quickly to bring in another signal-caller. The trade deadline has passed, so the Ravens will need to look to the free agent ranks to find a replacement. Jordan Palmer, for one, has experience with Baltimore offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, as the two worked together in Chicago.
Getting through the rest of the season without Flacco isn’t the only concern for the Ravens, however. The timetable of Flacco’s injury and recovery period could put his availability for beginning of the 2016 season in question, meaning Baltimore might need to heavily in the backup QB position (Schaub is only signed through 2015). Simply completing offseason work could also be a struggle for the Ravens, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com notes (via Twitter), as they’ll need to bring in an arm or two for minicamps, OTAs, and training camp.
North Notes: Pouncey, Flacco, Guion, Lions
Injured Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey is undergoing surgery on his fractured ankle today, tweets Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), the exact timetable for Pouncey’s recovery still isn’t known, but the injury is unlikely to be season-ending. Based on what we’ve heard so far regarding the veteran center, he would appear to be a viable candidate for Pittsburgh’s IR-DTR slot this season.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two North divisions:
- As Ashley Fox of ESPN details, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been keeping an eye on the megadeals signed by his fellow signal-callers, recognizing that Baltimore will almost certainly have to rework his contract in 2016, when his cap hit is set to jump to $28.55MM. Both Flacco and the team would like to see the former Super Bowl MVP become a “Raven for life.”
- The appeal hearing for Letroy Guion‘s three-game suspension concluded on Monday, but there has been no ruling yet on whether that penalty will be reduced for the Packers defensive lineman, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
- Demovsky also provided an update on former Packers receiver Kevin Dorsey, tweeting that the ex-Maryland wideout has retired. Green Bay used a seventh-round pick in the 2013 draft to nab Dorsey, but he only played in three games with the club.
- After losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency this offseason, the Lions were happy to acquire Haloti Ngata to fill the newly-created void on their defensive line. However, the club still isn’t sure when Ngata will return from the hamstring injury that has plagued him throughout training camp, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Ravens Notes: Yanda, Osemele, Flacco, Tucker
Although the Ravens took care of one impending free agent contract yesterday — locking up punter Sam Koch to a five-year extension worth $18.75MM — the club’s roster still contains several key players who will head into the year on expiring contracts, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. I profiled the two most prominent FAs-to-be, guards Marshal Yanda and Kelechi Osemele, earlier this year, and Wilson adds that while no deal is imminent with either player, Osemele could end up being the odd man out given his injury history, including a significant back ailment suffered just last season.
Let’s take a look at some more notes out of Baltimore…
- Kicker Justin Tucker is another candidate for a multi-year deal, according to Wilson, who writes that the former undrafted free agent could eventually become the highest-paid kicker in the league, garnering more than $9MM in guarantees. At the minimum, the Ravens would use the franchise tag on Tucker next season, but it sounds like the two sides would like to work to come to an agreement.
- The Ravens are expected to attempt to restructure the contract of quarterback Joe Flacco between now and the start of the new league year in March 2016, writes Wilson within his story on Koch’s extension yesterday. The news is unsurprising, as Flacco’s 2016 cap number of $28.55MM is projected to be the second-highest in the league. Flacco obviously wouldn’t be sacrificing any money, but a simple restructure — converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus — should be able to give Baltimore some breathing room.
- The primary motive in negotiating a long-term deal with Koch wasn’t to clear out cap space for 2015, per Wilson. I had included Koch among the AFC North candidates for release earlier this week, speculating that the Ravens might to like to clear out, or at least reduce, Koch’s 2015 cap charge of $3.1MM (although I ultimately predicted he would not be cut). However, Wilson reports that the extension was instead aimed at solidifying the contract status of a well-respected veteran, meaning the deal can be viewed more as a reward than a financial maneuver. (It should be noted, though, that Koch’s cap number for next year will decrease by $700K; Wilson has the entire breakdown of the deal here.)
AFC Notes: Ravens, Flacco, Thomas, Houston
The Ravens are dealing with the loss of an all-time great defensive tackle in Haloti Ngata, and have a number of options to try to replace him. They have penciled in Timmy Jernigan in his spot, and re-signed both Chris Canty and Lawrence Guy to keep depth along the defensive line.
Additionally, the team hopes to be able to count on getting contributions from two linemen with injury histories, with both Brent Urban and Kapron Lewis-Moore making their return to the field, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
“He has practiced really well, Brent has, and so has Kapron,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “They both look like they’re 100 percent as far as the way they’re moving around, and they look like they’re going to be able to contribute for us.”
Here are some other notes from around the AFC:
- Entering his age-30 season, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco doesn’t see his career as being in decline, writes Wilson. “I don’t feel any worse because of my age yet,” Flacco said. “I think you learn more. I’m not going to be 50 and playing. I hope I’m 40, but 50, no.“
- Demaryius Thomas has not signed his franchise tender with the Broncos, and has been absent from team facilities this offseason. They key to his deal will be who goes first between him, Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, and Julio Jones, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The first one to sign a contract will in turn set the bar for the rest of the group. He is hoping to get a long-term deal with Calvin Johnson level money, but that is unlikely.
- The Chiefs have the pieces in place to have a very good pass rush in 2015, even without star Justin Houston who has not yet signed his franchise tender, writes Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. With Tamba Hali and 2014 first-round pick Dee Ford on the outside, and Dontari Poe and Allen Bailey inside, the team has other options in a worst-case scenario without Houston.