East Notes: Stills, McVay, Vereen
Let’s take a quick swing around the league’s east divisions:
- The Dolphins will try to retain impending free agent Kenny Stills, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Head coach Adam Gase loves Stills, who has become one of the league’s better deep threats, but depending on how aggressive the bidding on Stills becomes, Jackson writes that Miami could let him seek his fortune elsewhere and try to replace him with Leonte Carroo.
- Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch will continue to play as he appeals his recent four-game suspension, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports that the appeal is expected to be heard within the next month. That means that New England could lose Branch very late in the season and into the playoffs, which begs the question of whether it would be better for the team if Branch simply accepts his suspension now so that he is sure to be back for the stretch run. Branch, though, needs to do what is best for him, as the suspension could cost him about $1.13MM and could hurt his market when he reaches free agency this spring.
- Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay is not exactly a household name outside of the nation’s capital, but his work with Kirk Cousins and his development of Washington’s proficient offense is garnering attention around the league, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Per La Canfora, the 30-year-old McVay is viewed as a coaching prodigy, and he is expected to get interviews for head coaching gigs at the end of the year if the Redskins’ offense continues performing at a high level.
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter passes along another interesting detail about Matt Forte‘s brief flirtation with the Patriots. According to Schefter, Forte flew into New Jersey to meet with the Jets on the first day of free agency, and Gang Green decided to sign him. However, there were some concerns about the condition of Forte’s knee during the physical, and the Jets did not rush to get the paperwork done. That made Forte a bit antsy, and he made plans to board a plane and visit the Patriots. But when New York learned of those plans, the team’s concerns with Forte’s knee suddenly evaporated and Forte was handed his contract.
- Giants RB Shane Vereen, currently on IR, could be on his way back to the field. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Giants are optimistic Vereen can return for the club’s December 11 matchup with Dallas.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Vick, Leary, McVay
Cowboys guard Ronald Leary was looking for a trade earlier this offseason so that he could have an opportunity to start elsewhere. On Thursday, the veteran said that he still wants to be a starter, Drew Davison of the Star Telegram writes.
When asked if he feels he’s playing for 31 other teams right now, Leary said: “I’m playing football. Like I said, I’m just playing football. That’s all it is. “I know I’m a starter in this league, so I just approach it like I’m a starter. I make sure I’m ready for whatever comes my way. As far as all the trade talks and everything, that’s just going to happen.”
This week, we learned that the Saints have been pursuing Leary for some time, so it’s possible that Leary could get his wish. For now, however, the 27-year-old is buried behind starter La’el Collins.
Here’s more out of the NFC East:
- So far, the Cowboys have not inquired on free agent quarterback Michael Vick, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets. Vick, 36, has expressed his desire to play one final year and he says he wouldn’t extend his career past 2016. In other words, if no clubs come calling this year, he’ll retire.
- For his part, Vick says that he hopes to hear from the Cowboys and would love the opportunity to serve as the No. 2 QB behind Tony Romo. “I just want to put the helmet on one more time and dedicate myself to football,” Vick told Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Michael David Smith of PFT).
- At the age of 30, Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay is on pace to become one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history, Andy Benoit of The MMQB writes. McVay also has the endorsement of quarterback Kirk Cousins. “I could be here a long time talking about Sean’s help in my development and his ability to call plays for our offense and lead our offense,” says Cousins. “In the 2015 offseason I was coming off a year when I had been benched halfway through and was going into the next year with the chance to really only compete as a backup. I was a little disappointed with that and Sean was a great encourager through that process, challenging me to stay the course. I think his belief in me and his support and his encouragement was what enabled me to eventually have the opportunities that I had.”
- Eagles UDFA defensive end Connor Wujciak had shoulder surgery on Wednesday and is out for the season, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.