Kyle Orton

NFC East Notes: RGIII, Orton, Eagles

The latest out of the NFC East..

  • During an interview with SportsTalk 570’s Andy Pollin, new head coach Jay Gruden said the Redskins can expect to see the read option, but that he didn’t intend to have Robert Griffin III using it all that frequently. “We’ll have sprinkles here and there,” Gruden said (link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post). “It’s not going to be a major part. I want to make sure that we have other things that we can do besides the read option, because it takes a toll. You have to practice it a lot to be very good at it. It kind of takes away from the defense’s ability a little bit, it takes away from other plays that you need to work on, your protection schemes, your running game, all that stuff. It just takes away from that. So we want to make sure that we work on the core running game that we have, the core drop-back passes we have. And then once we get going, we get those implemented, maybe sprinkle in some read option.
  • Although Kyle Orton didn’t attend the Cowboys’ voluntary workouts, costing himself $75K in the process, executive vice president Stephen Jones fully expects the veteran quarterback to rejoin the team eventually. “We expect Kyle, when mandatory practice starts and mandatory things begin, we fully expect Kyle to be there,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas (link via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer).
  • Former Howard cornerback Ademola Olatunji had a good workout for the Eagles yesterday and picked up interest from another unnamed team, according to agent Howard Shatsky (via Twitter).

NFC Notes: Orton, Draft Visits, Bears

Assuming Kyle Orton plans on playing out the final year of his contract in 2014, his salary will be decreased by $75K as a result of his missing the Cowboys‘ offseason workouts, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Taking into account Dallas’ recent additions of Brandon Weeden and Caleb Hanie, the offseason rumors about Orton’s potential retirement, and his absence from the workout program, the 31-year-old’s NFL future seems somewhat uncertain.

Here are a few more leftover Friday links from around the NFC:

  • Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link) adds offensive lineman Joel Bitonio to the list of players who visited the Giants this week. We heard yesterday that the Dolphins, Panthers, and Buccaneers were among the teams who might be eyeing the Nevada lineman.
  • The Lions hosted their final three prospects today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who has details on today’s visitors: Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Eastern Illinois wide receiver Erik Lora, and Kent State running back Dri Archer.
  • In addition to having pre-draft visits with the Lions, Buccaneers, and Cardinals, as we heard last month, Bloomsburg defensive end Larry Webster worked out for the Cowboys, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune fields a slew of Bears-related questions on the team’s draft needs and Alshon Jeffery‘s contract situation, among other topics.
  • North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner, a potential late-round pick, visited the Vikings last week, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).
  • In a series of tweets, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides the full list of seven prospects who participated in the Rams‘ local prospect day on Friday.

Extra Points: Orton, Roos, Savage

Today marked the first day of voluntary offseason workouts for the Cowboys, and backup QB Kyle Orton was absent, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Given conflicting reports earlier this offseason concerning whether Orton wanted to retire from the game, Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com writes that it is a “strange absence.”

However, Watkins points to earlier statements made by Orton’s agent, David Dunn, who said retirement was not an option for his client. And, as Williams points out, these are voluntary workouts, and the Cowboys remain hopeful that Orton will return (Twitter link). Nonetheless, this will be an interesting story to keep an eye on in the coming days, much more interesting than most stories involving backup signal-callers.

Now for some some quick notes from around the league to close out the evening:

Cowboys Notes: Free Agency, Orton, Ratliff

Let’s round up a few Monday items related to the Cowboys….

  • Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones indicated that his team is making a concerted effort to avoid players on the wrong side of 30, who are no longer in their primes, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. That helps explain why players like DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher, and Miles Austin won’t be on the roster next season.
  • One over-30 player is on his way back to the Cowboys, however, as agent David Dunn confirms his client Kyle Orton will return for 2014, rather than retire (Twitter link via Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas). Orton should enter the season as Tony Romo‘s primary backup, though he could get a push from newly-signed Brandon Weeden.
  • The Cowboys have filed a complaint against former defensive tackle Jeremiah (Jay) Ratliff in an effort to recoup some of the money they paid him, owner Jerry Jones confirmed today (link via David Moore). “This type of conduct, unable to play for us one day and a few days later working out for another club, is undermining and needs to be addressed,” Jones said.
  • According to Calvin Watkins, the Cowboys are looking to get back a portion of Ratliff’s $10MM signing bonus, a portion of his $1.34MM 2013 base salary, and monies owed on a luxury suite at AT&T Stadium.

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Bryant, Rice, Harbaugh

The Super Bowl champion Seahawks debuted their season highlights tonight, and coach Pete Carroll left the door open on a possible return of two recently released players, defensive lineman Red Bryant and receiver Sidney Rice.

“Maybe we have a chance to get them back,” Carroll said via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. “Maybe we don’t. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The two were slated to earn a combined $17MM in 2014 before receiving the ax.

Other notes from the NFC…

  • 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh addressed rumors he will leave the team after next season. “No,” Harbaugh told SI.com’s Michael Rosenberg. “Zero opportunity or chance of that in my mind.” Harbaugh flatly denied the assertions that he wants more money and power, and he spoke of the respect shared between himself and GM Trent Baalke.
  • Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton is set to earn $3.25MM in 2014, but the team still doesn’t if he plans on playing, according to ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer. Orton would have to repay $3MM of the $5MM signing bonus he received in 2012, so signs point to his return, but no declarative statement has been made.
  • Attempting to ease cap woes, the Cowboys converted base salary to bonus money for cornerback Orlando Scandrick and Sean Lee, per FOX Sports 1 NFL insider Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). This type of conversion lowers a cap number by spreading the hit over the length of the contract. Garafolo continued, saying the team will continue to rework contracts, and that Scandrick had $3.75MM converted. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that Dallas created $4.75MM in space with Lee and $8.5MM total.
  • With a $6.75MM salary and $11.3MM cap number in 2014, Giants offensive lineman Chris Snee reiterated his willingness to take a pay cut and “mentor the young guys,” from ESPN Giants reporter Dan Graziano.

Jerry Jones Talks Garrett, Orton, Coaches

Jerry Jones spoke to the media yesterday, and while we already passed along his comments on DeMarcus Ware, the Cowboys owner weighed in on several other topics as well. Among the highlights from Jones was a vote of confidence for embattled head coach Jason Garrett, who heads into a contract year in 2014. While the coming season as viewed as a potential make-or-break year for Garrett, Jones suggested that’s not necessarily the case, according to ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer.

“Jason should know and I know that he knows that the plan here is and has been for him to be long term,” Jones said. “And long term certainly being beyond this year as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”

Here’s more from the outspoken Cowboys owner:

  • Kyle Orton‘s certain with the Cowboys remains uncertain, but Jones is moving forward as if the backup quarterback will return and play out the final year of his contract, according to Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
  • Jones on Orton: “If he plays, we want him to play with the Cowboys. I could say to him directly the last time we were together made it very rewarding and worthwhile for you to be on the team, and I hope it was rewarding to you. I can say that. That was a good example of money well spent in my mind, and it shows you where we might be if we need him for an extended period of time.”
  • Jones believes that the Cowboys are capable of competing for a Super Bowl in 2014 in spite of the club’s cap limitations, writes Sabin in a separate Morning News story.
  • As Archer details at ESPNDallas.com, Jones also clarified the roles that Scott Linehan, Bill Callahan, and Jason Garrett will have in the offense for 2014.

NFC Notes: Orton, Saffold, Hardy, Palmer

Kyle Orton has a year remaining on his contract with the Cowboys, but the team isn’t entirely sure that he’ll be back for the 2014 season, Clarence Hill and Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram hear from executive VP Stephen Jones and multiple sources. Orton is mulling the idea of retiring, and figures to make his decision before the new league year begins on March 11. If the Cowboys’ backup does call it a career, quarterback will become an even stronger area of focus for the club in free agency and the draft.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • The Rams will meet with Rodger Saffold‘s agent tomorrow to discuss a new contract for the offensive tackle, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  • Speaking to the NFL Network about free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said that GM Dave Gettleman told him they’re working to get something done with Hardy (Twitter link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer).
  • Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told reporters, including Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that he thinks quarterback Carson Palmer can play until he’s 36 or 37. That would mean another two or three seasons for the Arizona signal-caller.
  • The 49ers haven’t had trade discussions involving LaMichael James, according to GM Trent Baalke, who says the running back will “continue to be a 49er” (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee). A report earlier this month indicated James could be on the trade block this offseason.
  • We rounded up several NFC East items earlier today.