HEADLINES

Marcus Mariota

Extra Points: Mariota, Titans, Fairley

February 17th, 2015 at 10:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Marcus Mariota has informed teams that he will throw Sunday at the combine even though the other quarterbacks will go on Saturday, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jameis Winston is also throwing at the combine, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), though it’s not immediately clear if he’ll also buck the trend and throw on Sunday. Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Titans GM Ruston Webster recently said a lot of good things about quarterback Zach Mettenberger and Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com wonders if he should instead be sending smoke screens when it comes to the No. 2 pick in the draft. With potentially quarterback hungry teams like the Jets, Browns, Texans, and Eagles further down in the draft, they could potentially use that kind of talk to get a massive haul for Mariota
  • Defensive tackle Nick Fairley told SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link) that he is still waiting on a phone call from the Lions. The hosts of “The SiriusXM Blitz” also asked Fairley if he thought that the Lions’ lack of a long-term offer would hurt his marketability. Fairley doesn’t see that being the case.
  • The Vikings haven’t approached linebacker Chad Greenway about restructuring his contract, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com writes. The linebacker said at the end of the season he was open to reworking his deal if it helped keep him in Minnesota for the final year of his contract, and Greenway reiterated on Tuesday that he’s still willing to do that. But for the moment, he said, “We’re still under contract. We’ll just see what they say.”
  • At long last, the Browns formally announced that Kevin O’Connell has been hired as the team’s quarterbacks coach. “Kevin has already shown a knack for individual teaching at a high level,” head coach Mike Pettine said. “Our experience being around him makes us confident he will easily transition into being an extremely valuable member of our staff.”

Extra Points: Giants, Revis, Bears, Browns

February 15th, 2015 at 10:58pm CST by Rob DiRe

As this Sunday comes to an end, here is a roundup of some stories from around the NFL:

  • As the window to use the franchise tag opens up, the Giants will have to make a decision on whether to place that on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. The tag number is estimated to be $14.6MM, a large number for a player who has been inconsistent over his career.
  • The Patriots and star cornerback Darrelle Revis are in a “staring contest” over a long-term contract, according to Tom Curran of CSNNE.com. The Patriots need to work out a contract as soon as possible to open up cap space to re-sign their other free agents.
  • Most teams have a number one position of need as the NFL draft approaches, but the Bears and general manager Ryan Pace have a different goal: to improve the draft class in general, writes John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. The team has drafted poorly in recent years, and the top priority for the new administration is to reverse that trend.
  • The Browns were very high on Marcus Mariota, and the team could consider moving up in the draft to take the Heisman-winning quarterback, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. With the 12th and 19th picks in this draft, they could have the ammunition to move up and draft their third quarterback in the first round since 2012.
  • The NFL combine will give the Titans a chance to interview both Jameis Winston and Mariota and begin to decide their future at quarterback, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean. With the second overall pick, they could have a chance at either player, or they could elect to take one of the top pass rushers and move forward with Zach Mettenberger under center.
  • Rookie Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon played well before being shut down due to injury last season, but is recovering well and should be back in time for offseason workouts, writes Matt Vensel of StarTribune.com.
  • Michigan attorney Jim Acho has received two written endorsements from player reps nominating him to become the next NFLPA executive director, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Acho only needs one more in order to officially be included on the ballot.

Extra Points: Browns, Hoyer, NFLPA, L.A.

February 11th, 2015 at 2:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Executives from rival teams are beginning to complain about the fact that Kevin O’Connell, who is on track to become the Browns‘ new quarterbacks coach, continues to work with Marcus Mariota to help him prepare for the draft, amidst rumors that Cleveland is contemplating trading up to draft a QB.

“So let me get this straight,” said one high-level team executive on another team, to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “The Browns can have their quarterbacks coach in waiting work with a player, teach him the entire offense, etc., but we can’t even talk to any potential draft pick until the combine per league rules? Something is wrong here.”

As Florio notes, the Browns may not technically be violating any rules, since they haven’t officially announced O’Connell as their QBs coach yet, but considering Cleveland is currently under investigation for another rules violation (“Textgate“), the team may want to tread carefully.

Let’s check in on a few more odds and ends from around the NFL:

  • Speaking of the Browns‘ quarterback situation, prospective free agent Brian Hoyer told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that while it’s possible he’ll return to Cleveland, the city he grew up in, he also has do what’s best for himself this offseason. With that said, Hoyer is confident that he could become the Browns‘ starting quarterback again if he stayed with the club. “I did it once [before],” Hoyer said (Twitter link).
  • Three notable quarterbacks from the class of 2004 – Eli Manning (Giants), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), and Philip Rivers (Chargers) – are headed into the final year of their respective contracts. As Jordan Raanan of NJ.com details, contract extensions for the trio won’t come cheaply even as the three players enter their mid-30s, with the price tags likely to be in the neighborhood of $20MM annually.
  • The battle to become the new NFLPA executive director is becoming a crowded field, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. Cole reports (via Twitter) that, in addition to incumbent union leader DeMaurice Smith, at least three other candidates – Jim Acho, Sean Gilbert, and John Stufflebeem – will run for the position, while two others are considering entering the mix.
  • The NFLPA Committee on Agent Regulation and Discipline (CARD) announced that agent Vincent Porter has been suspended after he was arrested for wire fraud. Porter was the agent for Giants linebacker Devon Kennard and previously worked with Seahawks tailback Christine Michael and Patriots running back Jonas Gray as well.
  • Bryce Johnston of Over The Cap puts his concept of “expected contract value” to the test by using it to break down recent contracts signed by top centers Ryan Kalil (Panthers), Alex Mack (Browns), and Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers).
  • Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson is interested in becoming involved in efforts to get an NFL franchise to Los Angeles, as he tells Jarrett Bell of USA Today Sports.

NFC South Notes: Bucs, Saints, Panthers

February 11th, 2015 at 1:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik may prefer Marcus Mariota to Jameis Winston with the first overall pick in this year’s draft, but Dominik won’t be involved in that decision. On the other hand, head coach Lovie Smith will have significant input in making that call, and according to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, early indications are that Smith likes Winston more than Mariota.

Yasinskas writes that, from what he has gathered, Tampa Bay chose Dirk Koetter over Marc Trestman as the team’s new offensive coordinator in part because Trestman preferred Mariota to Winston. Of course, there’s still plenty of time for Smith to change his mind on the draft’s top two quarterbacks, with the combine, pro days, and individual interviews still on tap, and he won’t be the only person making the decision on that No. 1 pick. But for now, it looks like Winston could be the early favorite.

Here’s more on the Bucs and a couple of their division rivals:

  • Mel Kiper of ESPN.com agrees with Yasinskas’ assessment, and has Winston going first overall to the Buccaneers in his latest mock draft (Insider link). As Kiper explains, he expects the Bucs to take a close look at Mariota, but he believes Tampa Bay will ultimately opt for Winston if their questions about his past off-field behavior are answered to the team’s satisfaction.
  • The Saints have officially announced their complete 2015 coaching staff, including new additions like senior defensive assistant Dennis Allen and wide receivers coach John Morton. Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune takes a closer look at the new additions, and at Allen in particular — he expects the former Raiders head coach will “undoubtedly place his mark” on Rob Ryan’s defense.
  • The Panthers confirmed a previously-reported hiring today, announcing in a press release that Cameron Turner has joined the club’s staff, and will assist Ricky Proehl in working with Carolina’s receivers.

Extra Points: D. Thomas, Mariota, Boyd

February 10th, 2015 at 10:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos are set to wield the franchise tag, if necessary, to keep Demaryius Thomas, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Rapoport adds that there have been no talks between the team and Thomas’ camp for some time. The tag would cost Denver about $13MM and would limit the team’s options when it comes to tight end Julius Thomas. Here’s tonight’s look around the NFL…

  • Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, a candidate to be picked first overall in April, has signed with Rep 1 Sports, and will be represented by agents Ryan Tollner, Bruce Tollner, and Chase Callahan, reports Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal (via Twitter). The agency also represented QB Blake Bortles in last year’s draft.
  • Tajh Boyd, a former Jets sixth-round pick, had a good workout for the Lions today, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Nonetheless, Birkett says no deal is imminent between the team and the young quarterback.
  • By the time the first round of this year’s NFL draft ends, a running back or two might be among the selections, which clashes with recent history. Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Georgia’s Todd Gurley could lead the draft’s running back rebirth, writes Jim Corbett of USA Today Sports.
  • Oklahoma’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery is heading to to the Packers, according to Jason Kersey of The Oklahoman. There’s no sign of any defensive coaches leaving the Packers, so it seems that Montgomery will likely be installed in a new defensive position, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (via Twitter). His position will effectively be defense quality control, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
  • At OverTheCap.com, Bryce Johnston has introduced a new concept called expected contract value to attempt to more accurately assess the true value of a player’s contract.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Bradford, Mariota, Manning

February 9th, 2015 at 10:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) hears from executives that some quarterback-needy teams in position to potentially have a shot at drafting Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston would actually prefer to roll the dice on former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford, if the Rams decide to release him. Of course, that may end up being a moot point, since St. Louis has expressed interest in bringing back Bradford, assuming he’s willing to restructure his contract. More from around the NFL..

  • Within that same video, Cole suggests that Ravens linebacker Pernell McPhee is likely to hit the open market next month, since the club views him as a complementary player rather than a core piece, and will want to use its available cap room elsewhere.
  • Peyton Manning is back home in New Orleans and training with the intent to play the 2015 NFL season, a source close to the quarterback told Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune. Manning wants to talk with Broncos executive vice president and general manager John Elway before announcing his intentions for the 2015 season and hopes to chat with him in the next couple of days. Manning, 39 in March, is the NFL’s oldest starting quarterback.
  • Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun says the Ravens should pick a top cornerback in the draft. The top four cornerbacks right now appear to be Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson, Washington’s Marcus Peters, and LSU’s Jason Collins.
  • While it appears that the previously reported changes to the Packers‘ coaching staff will indeed happen, the team has yet to formally finalize those moves, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
  • The Dolphins may not be in talks yet with quarterback Ryan Tannehill on a long-term contract extension, but one could certainly be in the cards. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald explored what a deal for the signal-caller might look like.
  • The Raiders announced that they have hired Rod Woodson as an assistant defensive backs coach, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That means that defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson is the lone holdover from the 2014 staff.

East Notes: Wallace, Cowboys, Foles

February 8th, 2015 at 8:44am CST by Rory Parks

The future of Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace has been up in the air virtually since the ink dried on the five-year, $60MM deal he signed with Miami in 2013. Even before the 2014 season began, we heard that Wallace could be on the trading block, and questions regarding his status with the team arose again within the past couple of weeks.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Wallace and GM Dennis Hickey recently had a meal together, suggesting that Miami is open-minded about retaining Wallace and will not release him without first determining whether the situation is salvageable. Jackson breaks down the cap ramifications of whatever decision the team ultimately makes, noting that the Dolphins will absorb a $12.1MM cap hit if Wallace is on the team, $9.6MM if he is cut without a post-June 1 designation, $6.6MM if he is traded, and $5.2MM if he is cut with a post-June 1 designation (which also would entail a 2016 cap hit).

Now let’s take a look at a few more links from the league’s east divisions:

  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com previews the Jets‘ quarterback options this offseason, writing that the team is likely to bring in a veteran quarterback and a rookie signal-caller to challenge Geno Smith. Cimini names Ryan Fitzpatrick as a particularly viable veteran option if he is released by the Texans. Fitzpatrick knows new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey‘s system well from the time the two spent together in Buffalo.
  • Finding a way to retain both Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray is at the top of the Cowboys‘ priority list this offseason, but Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News writes that Dallas desperately needs to draft upgrades at every level of its defense. George goes on to examine the state of the team’s defensive line, linebackers, and secondary.
  • Former Pro Bowl tackle Tra Thomas, who served as a coaching intern and offensive assistant coach with the Eagles for the past several seasons, says that the team needs a running quarterback in order to effectively run Chip Kelly‘s offense. As Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com notes, Thomas’ comment is interesting because “it is the closest thing the Eagles have had to a coach…coming out and saying [Kelly] needs a running quarterback,” and because the questions surrounding Nick Foles‘ status with the team are rooted in the fact that he is incapable of beating teams with his legs.
  • Speaking of the Eagles‘ quarterback situation, NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock has said that former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is a “projection” for every team in the league except Philadelphia (link via Tucker Bagley of PhillyMag.com).
  • Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com examines the emphasis that new Washington GM Scot McCloughan will place on player development.

 

NFC South Notes: Hardy, Saints, Bucs, Mariota

February 7th, 2015 at 7:57pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The upcoming jury trial for Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy will play a key role in his NFL future, writes the Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person.

Hardy’s trial for misdemeanor domestic violence charges starts Monday, a month before the former Pro Bowler is scheduled to become a free agent. A District Court judge found Hardy guilty in July of assaulting and threatening to kill his girlfriend last May. If he is found guilty again, Hardy is likely to face at least a six-game suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which would be a significant blow to his value.

The 26-year-old appealed for the upcoming jury trial and the outcome could decide whether he cashes in during free agency or meets a weak response from the market. Hardy played just one game in 2014 as a result of being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list in September. That amounted to a paid suspension for Hardy, who collected $13.1MM on the strength of 11- and 15-sack seasons the two prior years.

Despite his past success, the Panthers are not expected to retain the five-year veteran, according to Person. Domestic violence issues are especially sensitive in today’s NFL, given the controversies Hardy, Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson caused in 2014, and Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is cognizant of that. “I stand firmly against domestic violence, plain and simple,” said Richardson.

  • The Saints have hired a new running backs coach in Joel Thomas, tweets Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evans. Thomas held the same position for the University of Arkansas since 2013.
  • With the hiring of Thomas, the Saints have two RBs coaches – the other being Dan Roushar. There is no official word on Roushar’s fate, though the Times-Picayune’s Katherine Terrell speculates that he could shift to tight ends coach, a position he held at Michigan State from 2011-12. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweeted in January that the Saints were parting ways with tight ends coach Terry Malone and wide receivers coach Henry Ellard. However, the team still hasn’t officially confirmed their respective statuses.
  • Former Buccaneers general manager and current ESPN analyst Mark Dominik believes Tampa Bay should use the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft on Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Dominik, who was with the Bucs from 2009-13, told ESPN Radio’s Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Rusillo on Thursday that he favors Mariota over Florida State QB Jameis Winston, according to the Tampa Tribune’s Roy Cummings. “He’s super smart, he’s competitive, he’s got a good release, he processes quickly, he gets the ball out of his hand fast,” Dominik said of Mariota. “He does all these other things that are fine. Whereas with Winston, you sit there and you say you like everything about the player. And you do. But there’s that what-if concern that’s laying over him, and that’s hard to manage because that’s something you can’t control and that’s something that you have to hope or find out if you can trust him.”

Extra Points: Winston, Mariota, Keisel, Schaub

February 5th, 2015 at 10:38pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a look at a few notes from around the league to finish out the night:

  • Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News tweets that he has not heard anyone from a team’s personnel department say that they would draft Jameis Winston over Marcus Mariota.
  • ESPN’s draft guru Todd McShay offers a contrasting viewpoint in his second mock draft, as he projects Winston will be taken first overall by the Buccaneers (Insider subscription required).
  • After Brett Keisel’s season ended with a torn triceps in November, many expected his 13th season with the Steelers to be his last. However, the defensive end wasn’t talking retirement at a charity event on Wednesday. “I’ve been preparing for when that day comes, and by ‘that day’ I mean the end,” Keisel told reporters, including Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. “But right now I’m under contract and I’m going to rehab and see (how) things turn out.”
  • Brown (via Twitter) wonders if FSU cornerback P.J. Williams might be of interest to the Ravens. Williams was the Defensive MVP of the 2014 BCS National Championship Game, and would be a solid addition to a secondary in need of an upgrade.
  • Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton says, as players are wont to do, that the team does not need to be active in free agency to improve its defense (even if New Orleans had the cap room to be especially active players). Per Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune, Lofton says what the defense really needs is to improve its situational football: “When it comes to situational football, I think of third-and-one, third down, red zone, two-minute — all those things are super-important and lead to wins and losses. If we get better in all those areas, we’ll be pretty good next year.” Lofton said the Saints had not yet approached him about a contract restructure, but New Orleans is expected to convert his $4.5MM roster bonus into a signing bonus in order to drop his cap number from $9.25MM to $6.25MM.
  • Michael Wagaman of ESPN.com reports that Matt Schaub will either have to restructure his current deal with the Raiders or otherwise be released. Schaub has stated that he does not intend to retire, but if he wants one last crack at being a starting quarterback, he may prefer to get out of Oakland, where Derek Carr is seen as the future of the franchise.
  • Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at the major changes that could be coming for the 49ers, including the likely retirement of stalwart Justin Smith.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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.
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