Ray Rice

North Notes: Rice, Ravens, Shanahan

November 30th, 2014 at 8:38am CST by Rory Parks

Four teams have expressed interest in former Ravens running back Ray Rice, writes ESPN’s Adam Schefter. One of those four teams, the Colts, have recently stated that they are not interested in signing the newly-reinstated Rice at this time. The Saints were the other team identified in Schefter’s report–the other two clubs said to have interest were unnamed–but SportsCenter staff, citing Schefter, later tweeted that the Saints, like the Colts, are not expected to pursue Rice.

Those who believe Rice will not play again this season, if at all, most frequently support their position by citing the obvious public relations ramifications that a team signing Rice would have to face. However, as Schefter points outs, there is also a sizable on-field concern to consider. One AFC running backs coach, speaking to Schefter’s colleague Josina Anderson, noted that the speed with which Rice would pick up a new offense could pose a problem. The coach said:

“Some guys learn faster than others. They just do. I don’t know what kind of shape he’s in. There are a bunch of different things. He’s going to have to get into shape, clearly because he hasn’t been hitting this year. You would think there would be some carryover … but he is a good player. He is a good player.”

So while it still seems more likely than not that Rice will not suit up in 2014, the recent interest in his services suggests that there could still be a match between Rice and a playoff contender.

Now for a few more items from the league’s north divisions:

Although we took a look at this mailbag from ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley yesterday, one item of note that should be passed along is Hensley’s belief that the Ravens will reward surprise contributors Justin Forsett and Will Hill with two- or three-year deals with a modest bonus during the offseason.
Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com writes that Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will garner at least some interest from the six (or more) teams that will likely be looking for a new head coach after this season. Although it may take another year or two of interviews before Shanahan lands a head coaching job, it does appear that he will make that leap in fairly short order.
Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel, in anticipation of today’s much-anticipated matchup between the Packers and Patriots, describes the different approaches that those two clubs take to roster construction and notes that Green Bay is relying on the type of players that New England head coach Bill Belichick may have already given up on.
Ben Goessling of ESPN.com believes left guard is the spot on the Vikings offensive line where a change is most likely.

Latest On Ray Rice

November 29th, 2014 at 8:45am CST by Ben Levine

It was a busy Black Friday yesterday, as we learned that running back Ray Rice is again eligible to play in the league. Whether that happens this season remains to be seen. Let’s take a look at some assorted overnight notes pertaining to the former Pro-Bowler…

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes the appeal decision will ultimately make the Robert Mueller investigation moot. The former Director of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation has been exploring the extent of the NFL’s knowledge when they increased Rice’s suspension.
Yesterday’s ruling may ultimately help Rice’s grievance against the Ravens, writes Florio. The former Pro-Bowler will be looking to recoup his paychecks from Week Three to the current day (or the games following his initial two-game suspension). As Florio points out, Rice will only be helped by previous comments by GM Ozzie Newsome, who said that Rice originally acknowledged hitting his then-fiance. These comments contradict the reasoning behind Rice’s indefinite suspension, which is the money Rice is hoping to recover.
The general consensus among NFL executives is that Rice will inevitably sign with a club… but not this season. “I’m sure he’ll garner some attention, but he didn’t play well last season, and backs tend to go downhill quickly once they start,” an AFC personnel official said (via Lindsay H. Jones and Jim Corbett of USA TODAY Sports).

Colts Have Fit, Not Interest, For Ray Rice

November 28th, 2014 at 7:55pm CST by Rob DiRe

One of the teams most desperate for competency at the running back position is the Indianapolis Colts, and they were on the list of front runners for Ray Rice‘s services, should any team target him for the stretch run.

The Colts would have been an ideal landing spot from Rice’s perspective as well, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). La Canfora qualifies that by admitting Rice wouldn’t have much say in where he goes, if he gets any opportunity at all.

La Canfora does cite Rice’s excellent relationship with head coach Chuck Pagano from their time together in Baltimore as one reason for the fit, as well as the locker room support of former teammates Cory Redding and Arthur Jones (via Twitter). Rice makes his home in New Rochelle, not a far trip from Indianapolis, which would ease the transition. The team needs desperately to find someone who can contribute in pass protection and in the screen game, two areas that Rice excelled in with the Ravens (via Twitter).

Another caveat is the recent troubles of owner Jim Irsay. La Canfora believes that Irsay’s recent transgressions and his humility in asking the fan base for a second chance would make him more likely to sympathize with Rice’s situation, which would provide an easier path for an owner to be willing to take on the negative publicity (via Twitter).

Still, Michael Grady of 1070 ESPN Radio doesn’t believe Rice will succeed with the Colts if he were signed, due to the team’s struggling offensive line (via Twitter). He doesn’t see Rice as the type of back to be able to make something out of nothing, which is what the Colts’ offensive line is giving the team in the running game.

All of this is probably moot, because the Colts stated they were not interested in Rice as recently as ten days ago, reports Ed Werder of ESPN (via Twitter). While that was a week and a half ago, it was still after the injury to Ahmad Bradshaw that left the team reeling at the position. Werder did admit that he was unsure if the club’s stance had changed.

Ray Rice’s NFL Future

November 28th, 2014 at 7:03pm CST by Rob DiRe

Now that Ray Rice is eligible to sign with an NFL team as a free agent, his chances of joining a team this season are not high. While Rice still carries a high profile as far as running backs go, his value as a ballcarrier has been greatly diminished.

Albert Breer of NFL Network points out that his disastrous 2013 season is hurting his chances on top of the baggage that he will bring to his next team (via Twitter). He averaged a dismal 3.0 yards per carry, which raises question about how much he would help a team anyway. Breer notes that the on-field performance is the biggest difference between the cases of Rice and fellow embattled tailback Adrian Peterson (via Twitter). Peterson’s talent and ability does not have the questions attached to it that Rice’s does. NFL teams have always been willing to take chances on players with checkered pasts, but only if their talent justifies it (via Twitter).

Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reiterated that he does not believe that Rice will ever play in the NFL again (via Twitter). The public relations nightmare that will come with Rice will be a deterrent for teams, and Freeman believes that the video attached to the running back’s case will be the difference between his case and others in similar situations (via Twitter).

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that Rice has stayed in phenomenal shape throughout the process, waiting for the opportunity to play this season. He disagrees with Freeman, saying that if no one signs Rice in the next month, he will be able to find a team during the offseason (via Twitter).

The chances Rice signs with a team after the season are much better than an immediate signing, and Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times believes he will have a team shortly after the Super Bowl (via Twitter). His reasoning is that it will give a new fan base six months to get used to him before he takes the field.

An added wrinkle is that any team that signs Rice will still be defying NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s suspension. If a team were to sign him for the stretch run, it would be “directly slapping Goodell in the face,” according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (via Twitter).

Even still, there are a few potential playoff teams that could be potential landing spots for Rice’s services, writes Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Among them are the Colts, Cardinals, Falcons, Lions, Broncos, and Chargers. Still, the need would have to outweigh the overwhelming negative publicity that would likely come along with Rice.

Ray Rice Wins Appeal, Eligible For Return

November 28th, 2014 at 3:50pm CST by Ben Levine

3:50pm: Rice has also released a brief statement (via Albert Breer):

“I would like to thank Judge Barbara Jones, the NFL Players Association, my attorneys, agents, advisors, family, friends and fans – but most importantly, my wife Janay. I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions. I am thankful that there was a proper appeals process in place to address this issue. I will continue working hard to improve myself and be the best husband, father and friend, while giving back to my community and helping others to learn from my mistakes.”

3:25pm: The NFL Players Association released a statement regarding the ruling:

“This decision is a victory for a disciplinary process that is fair and transparent. This union will always stand up and fight for the due process rights of our players. While we take no pleasure in seeing a decision that confirms what we have been saying about the Commissioner’s office acting arbitrarily, we hope that this will bring the NFL owners to the collective bargaining table to fix a broken process. It is clear that this decision should force the NFL to embrace neutral arbitration as part of a necessary due process in all cases. The players thank Judge Barbara Jones for her time and thoroughness in this matter.”

2:10pm: Former Ravens running back Ray Rice has won his appeal for reinstatement, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The running back’s indefinite suspension has been overturned and he is now eligible to sign with any team. However, based on the rumblings we’ve heard over the past couple of months, that seems unlikely, at least for this season.

Following a grand jury indictment on third-degree aggravated assault, Rice was suspended for the first two games of the 2014 season. When videos were released showing Rice striking his then-fiance, the NFL indefinitely banned the running back. The appeal hearing took place earlier this month, with Rice’s lawyers arguing that the running back shouldn’t have been penalized twice for the same offense, especially considering the league’s new six-game domestic abuse policy (via a tweet from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports).

The ruling certainly contradicts the punishment and subsequent comments by commissioner Roger Goodell in September. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that arbitrator and former U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones believed Rice did not lie to the league regarding the circumstances of the assault. While the league claimed that the TMZ video shed new light into the investigation, the judge decided that Rice “did not mislead the Commissioner” and that the league saw “no new facts” prior to handing out the second suspension (via USA Today’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter).

“In so holding, I find that the NFLPA carried its burden of showing that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16th meeting, and therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident and the same known facts about the incident, was arbitrary,” Jones’ stated (via ESPN.com).

“The Commissioner needed to be fair and consistent in his imposition of discipline.

“Moreover, any failure on the part of the League to understand the level of violence was not due to Rice’s description of the event but to the inadequacy of words to convey the seriousness of domestic violence. That the League did not realize the severity of the conduct without a visual record also speaks to their admitted failure in the past to sanction this type of conduct more severely.”

The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin believes that’s “not a good look” for the commissioner’s office (via Twitter). Either way, the NFL won’t pursue additional punishment for Rice, as Andrew Brandt tweets that the league is accepting the ruling as “binding.”

Rice has an active grievance against the Ravens regarding the money he believes he’s still owed, according to Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). However, if the running back were to join another team, it wouldn’t have an impact on the Ravens cap, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. Rice counts for $4.75MM against the cap this season and $9.5MM next year.

Some in the league believe that Rice’s return is inevitable, but not necessarily this season. That includes former Ravens executive Phil Savage and former Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik (via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)…

“I think it’s going to be tough for him to get his first crack at it in 2014,” said Savage. “I would tend to think that there would be — for lack of a better term — a cooling off period for him to reprove himself. But we’re a country of second chances and I do think he’ll get another opportunity.”

“You have to be willing to understand that it’s going to be a PR hit for a little bit, but I think you reason that as bad as the video was, they do their time for what they’ve done wrong,” said Dominik. “He’s still, from everything I’ve heard or know, gotten support from his wife to play and they are still together. I would sit there and have a lot of conversations, talk to ownership and you go through it. But Ray Rice is a good football player. I would expect him back in the league, but it may not be until 2015.”

Furthermore, Volin tweets that an owner would be “slapping Goodell in the face” if they decided to add Rice for the stretch run.

AFC Notes: Harris, Broncos, Jets, Rice

November 28th, 2014 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

After a Thanksgiving Day heavy on NFC action, this weekend’s slate of games will focus more on the AFC, including a Sunday night showdown between the Broncos and Chiefs that could go a long way toward determining the winner of the West division. As we look forward to the rest of Week 13’s contests, let’s check out some AFC items….

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris has become one of the most unheralded elite defensive backs in the league, as Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com details. The timing of Harris’ impending free agency is inconvenient for the Broncos, who will also have to lock up Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas this offseason. Speaking to Legwold, one NFC personnel director offered the following evaluation of Harris: “He’s an upper-tier player, a top player, and somebody is going to pay him if [the Broncos] don’t.”
The Jets should take a chance on Robert Griffin III, but not by trading for him, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. Costello wouldn’t deal for the embattled QB unless it’s for a rock-bottom bargain price, like a seventh-round pick. Instead, the Post scribe suggests that Gang Green should wait and see if Washington is forced to cut RGIII. Then, the Jets can draft a QB and have the rookie compete with Griffin and Geno Smith for two spots.
In the midst of a lost season, the Jets are hoping to find another Wayne Chrebet, Costello writes. The beloved Jets receiver saw plenty of losing seasons during his time but he used those opportunities to establish himself as a key piece for the future.
Earlier this month, we learned that a ruling on Ray Rice‘s suspension appeal was expected to happen by Thanksgiving weekend. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (video link) indicates that the decision still could come any day, including today, but it looks increasingly unlikely to happen this week. While the former Ravens running back would immediately be eligible to return to action if his suspension is overturned, teams may shy away from signing him this season.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Poll: Cowboys’ Running Back Options For 2015

November 23rd, 2014 at 7:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

As DeMarco Murray continues to rack up big yardage behind the Cowboys’ offensive line, much thought has been given to the team’s future plans at the position. While Murray is in the middle of an extravagant campaign that will put him on the short list for Offensive Player of the Year, he is a free agent after this season and will likely be looking for a long-term contract with guaranteed money.

The team has already made an effort to keep him, offering him a four-year deal earlier this season. The two sides were unable to agree, and Murray has played out the year on his rookie deal.

Murray’s leverage has since been complicated, as the prospect of other high-profile backs hitting the open market became more likely. Seahawks‘ star Marshawn Lynch is a candidate to be released this offseason, despite no signs of immediate decline in his performance in Seattle. He is an older back and carries a price tag that the Seahawks may be unwilling to pay, but could accept a modest deal elsewhere if the right opportunity calls.

Things change quickly, but signs point to this being his final season with the team. A player like Lynch could cut into the team’s need for Murray.

An even better fit could be Adrian Peterson, who has a future similarly in flux with the Vikings. Peterson admitted that he might be better off with a fresh start when he returns to the field following his suspension concerning his legal troubles. Peterson had been linked to the Cowboys before, and now with his tempered value and chance of being released, the connection could come to fruition.

Of the three players, Peterson might actually be the top target this offseason over Murray should he come available. Peterson’s unique talent could vault him to the top of many team’s wish list, as long as they are willing to deal with the off-field controversy.

Peterson may be a top commodity for many teams if he is available, but his counterpart in offseason controversy could be a low-risk high-reward backup plan. Ray Rice‘s play dropped off before being suspended and released by the Ravens, but the lack of clamor for his services could lead him to a team on a short-term deal without guaranteed money. With his fresh legs after the year off, a return to his 2012 form could yield high dividends for his next employer.

If all four of the players are available this offseason, which player would be the best runner for the money, whether with the Cowboys or another team in search of a star halfback?

North Notes: Blount, Gordon, Cobb

November 23rd, 2014 at 8:48am CST by Rory Parks

Although he acknowledges that there is no evidence to suggest that LeGarrette Blount wanted to get himself released from the Steelers when he left the field prior to Pittsburgh’s Monday night win over the Titans, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wonders if Blount “walk[ed] out on the Steelers so he could walk right back to the New England Patriots.” Bouchette notes that, with no ramifications whatsoever–although the Steelers certainly could have penalized him instead of essentially rewarding him for his behavior–Blount “went from a team fighting to make the playoffs to one among the favorites to win it all, one where he had success last season and was used more often than he was with the Steelers.” Even if it sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory, Bouchette believes it is fair to think that Blount knew exactly what he was doing and that everything played out according to plan for him and for New England.

Now for some more notes from the league’s north divisions:

The Browns expect star receiver Josh Gordon to be on the field for 20-30 snaps in his first game of the 2014 season this afternoon, according to ESPN.com staff.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that a ruling on Ray Rice‘s appeal hearing is expected by tomorrow. Even if the former Ravens running back is reinstated, of course, it will be difficult for him to find a job in the league this season.
Even though they have been publicly silent on the issue, ESPN’s Ed Werder tweets that Vikings ownership and management were pushing throughout the season to get Adrian Peterson back on the field. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets that Minnesota’s coaching staff would love to have Peterson back, and Werder adds in a full-length piece that head coach Mike Zimmer believes Peterson has not played his last game in a Vikings uniform.
Although he believes the Packers will work out an extension with Randall Cobb, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes that Cobb’s excellent 2014 season is driving up his price, possibly out of Green Bay’s budget. On the other hand, even though the Packers have a number of young wideouts on the roster, Demovsky notes that none of those players have proven they are capable of filling Cobb’s shoes.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe describes how Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh has finally paired excellent play with clean play in his free agent season.

Uncertain Futures For Peterson, Rice

November 22nd, 2014 at 5:19pm CST by Rob DiRe

Adrian Peterson was suspended for the rest of the season earlier this week, and his career with the Vikings could be coming to an end, according to Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com. Peterson has expressed concern about returning to the team after his suspension is over.

According to Tomasson, Peterson had told USA Today he “would love to go back and play in Minnesota” but that it might be “best for me to get a fresh start somewhere else.”

If the team decides his return is too much of a distraction to bring back, Peterson could find himself a hot commodity as far as running backs go. While Toby Gerhart and Donald Brown received only modest contracts as this past offseason’s top runners, Peterson should garner more attention than either of them. Those runners each signed deals in the $10-$11MM range, with between $4-$5MM in guaranteed money.

Both of those players have failed to live up to those modest contracts already in the first year. Peterson comes with some baggage now after missing almost all of the 2014 season, but his talent and potential upside far outweighs any runner to switch teams in recent years.

Peterson will be 30 years old by the time next season starts, but is still considered to be one of the top talents at the position across the league. While he might never again reach the level of his 2012 MVP season, he is not yet in decline as a player, amassing 1,266 yards in 14 games in 2013, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. This season will be the first year of his career that he failed to record double digit touchdowns.

Peterson’s fellow disgraced ball carrier, Ray Rice, shares the name recognition of Peterson, but his NFL future is much more up in the air. The Rice saga gained more media attention than did Peterson, with the visual of the TMZ video only exacerbating the public’s anger toward his case.

Rice, unlike Peterson, had experienced a sharp decline in on the field performance as well. Never the player Peterson was even at his peak, Rice’s 2013 season saw him gain only 660 yards at 3.1 yards per carry. Where Peterson never failed to score ten touchdowns in a season, Rice only hit that mark once, with 12 in 2011. Rice may be only a year younger than Peterson, but will likely be an afterthought in this year’s free agent class if he is even able to sign at all.

AFC Mailbags: Colts, Jags, Bengals, Jets

November 22nd, 2014 at 10:11am CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now check out some notes from the AFC…

If Mike Wells were a member of the Colts front office, he wouldn’t sign Ray Rice to a contract. The writer notes that the running back must be out of shape, and he also notes the difficulties in learning a new scheme.
Michael DiRocco believes the Jaguars biggest offseason needs will be a pass-rusher and a linebacker. As a result, the writer targets Nebraska’s Randy Gregory and Missouri’s Shane Ray.
Switching to the offense, DiRocco could see the Jaguars drafting a running back late in the draft. Regardless, he doesn’t think the team should part ways with Toby Gerhart, especially since Denard Robinson hasn’t proven he can be a featured back.
A.J. McCarron is clearly the Bengals backup plan at quarterback, so he won’t be traded or released any time soon, writes Coley Harvey.
If the Jets move on from Rex Ryan, the Jets owe it to their fans to pursue 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, opines Rich Cimini.
Meanwhile, Cimini doesn’t believe the Jets will pursue Darrelle Revis this offseason (if the cornerback becomes a free agent). The writer believes a Revis-Rex Ryan reunion is inevitable, but not in New York.

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