Sheldon Richardson

Jets GM On Fitzpatrick, Smith, Richardson

On Wednesday, Jets GM Mike Maccagnan addressed reporters for the first time since training camp. Here’s a look at the highlights of the 20-minute chat, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:

  • The GM said that veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has a place in the team’s future plans. Maccagnan said he’s “very happy” with the 32-year-old, who will be a free agent after the season. He raved about Fitzpatrick’s intangibles, adding, “I think he has a lot of good football left in him.” Fitzpatrick, who is earning $3.25MM this year, is scheduled to hit free agency after this season. He’s likely due for a raise based on the way he has played this season as the Jets’ starter.
  • Where does that leave Geno Smith? Maccagnan was non-committal when asked about the West Virginia product and declined to say whether he considers him to be a potential starter for Gang Green. “The jury is still out, but not in a bad way,” Maccagnan said of Smith’s future. For his part, Cimini said that he isn’t buying that, and noted that Jets brass has been around Smith every day for seven months, so they likely know what they have in the QB.
  • When asked about defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, the GM wasn’t willing to say much. “I’d say for the record, Mo has done a very good job and we’re very happy with what he’s done so far,” Maccagnan said. Cimini feels that all signs point to Wilkerson being slapped with the franchise tag at season’s end.
  • Things have “been positive” with Sheldon Richardson, the GM says, but he indicated that he still wants to see how the defensive end conducts himself going forward. Earlier today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that Richardson still may be disciplined by the NFL for his off-field behavior, but it likely won’t happen until the offseason.

East Notes: Redd, R. Matthews, Richardson

Washington running back Silas Redd has been suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Like teammate Junior Galette, who was hit with a suspension of his own this week, Redd is on injured reserve, meaning the suspension won’t force him out of action for any games he wouldn’t have missed anyway. However, it will cost him a few game checks. Redd will begin serving the four-game ban immediately, and will miss out on 4/17ths of his base salary for this season.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s East divisions:

  • With wide receiver Rishard Matthews enjoying a breakout year for the Dolphins, he could be in line for a contract worth between $4-6MM this offseason, according to the industry sources that have spoken to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. For their part, the Dolphins reportedly haven’t engaged in extension discussions with Matthews.
  • While Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson still may be disciplined by the NFL for his off-field behavior, it likely won’t happen until the offseason, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. As Rapoport explains, Richardson’s court date is in January, and the league isn’t expected to make a ruling on discipline until the case is resolved.
  • The Eagles are doing poorly on special teams this season and Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News blames exec/coach Chip Kelly for not retaining James Casey, Chris Polk, Casey Matthews, and Brandon Boykin from last year’s squad.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

East Notes: Bills, Taylor, Fells, Jets, Dolphins

The Bills signed quarterback Josh Johnson earlier today for depth purposes, but before they did, they looked into re-signing Matt Simms, who was with the team in camp, says Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter links). Simms, who knows the Bills’ playbook, would’ve been Buffalo’s preferred option, but he’s currently on the Falcons’ practice squad and thinks he has a better future in Atlanta, so he turned down the opportunity, says Carucci.

Why did the Bills need another quarterback in the first place? Carucci (Twitter link) hears that Tyrod Taylor is “hurt pretty bad,” noting that the team considered the passport status of potential QB additions, in advance of a Week 7 trip to London. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), Taylor could miss multiple games due to a sprained MCL, which figures to open the door for EJ Manuel to start.

As the Bills wonder whether they should have kept Matt Cassel, let’s check in on several other items from out of the NFL’s East divisions….

  • Doctors treating Giants tight end Daniel Fells for his MRSA infection are increasinly more optimistic that Fells won’t lose his foot, sources tell Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Fells remains hospitalized, and multiple reports have indicated that his NFL career is likely over, but it sounds as if a combination of surgical procedures and antibiotics have improved his outlook over the last few days.
  • The Jets almost certainly won’t be able to extend both Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, and “every indication” is that the team would prefer to lock up Richardson if he stays out of further trouble, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
  • Multiple people around the NFL that have spoken to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) suspect the Dolphins will pursue a high-profile head coach for the permanent job after the season. Cole identifies Mike Shanahan as one notable potential target for Miami.
  • Former 49ers and Dolphins running back LaMichael James – who now goes by LaMike James – is working out on Wednesday for the Cowboys, tweets Ross Jones of FOX Sports.

Gates, Hardy, Others Return From Suspensions

With four weeks of the NFL season now in the books, several players – and one general manager – are eligible to return from their four-game suspensions, as Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link) notes. While Yates’ list isn’t exhaustive, he includes the most notable names who will be eligible to suit up for their teams’ next games:

In most cases, teams will be given a roster exemption for their returning players, so they won’t have to immediately make room for them on the 53-man roster today. However, teams will have to create an opening on their rosters by Thursday if they intend to activate these players, and there aren’t any players on this list that look like release candidates.

The Cowboys could get the biggest boost this week, with two of their best defensive players – Hardy and McClain – set to return. McClain’s career production has been somewhat up and down, and Hardy hasn’t played since Week 1 of the 2014 season, so it’ll be interesting to see if either player is able to make an immediate impact for Dallas.

Richardson, meanwhile, could be a candidate for additional discipline — he’ll have his pre-trial hearing on street-racing charges today, but the legal process is expected to continue for about a month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). The NFL could step in and hand out another suspension for Richardson before his trial, but it’s more likely that the league will simply wait until after it concludes to make a decision.

As for Farmer, the Browns GM, who was suspended for texting coaches on the sideline during games last season, will be able to resume making roster decisions today, though Cleveland wasn’t exactly closed for business over the last four weeks — with interim GM Bill Kuharich at the helm, the team locked up quarterback Austin Davis to a two-year extension last week.

La Canfora’s Latest: Jets, Fins, LA

The Dolphins and Jets are in the midst of their Wembley Stadium showdown, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports has been busy rounding up news from both teams. La Canfora also passes on some notes from the NFL-in-Los Angeles saga, so let’s dive right in:

  • The NFL has given the Jets no indication that Sheldon Richardson will be subject to any immediate discipline on top of his four-game suspension that ends today. Richardson, of course, was suspended for violations of the league’s drug policy, but while facing that suspension, he was arrested for resisting arrest, allegedly speeding at over 140 mph with a 12-year-old relative in his car, smelling of marijuana, and having a fully-loaded automatic weapon in the car. Richardson, who has a court date later this month, could of course be suspended for those alleged transgressions at some point down the line–in fact, the Jets are said to be bracing for a 10-game ban–but for now, the NFL has simply stated that the matter is “under review.” As such, Gang Green expects to have Richardson back with the team during its Week 5 bye and suited up for its next game in Week 6.
  • The 2016 fates of Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, of course, are inextricably linked, and Wilkerson’s agent, Chad Wiestling, says his client will not entertain any in-season extension talks with the Jets. Wilkerson, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency at season’s end, is off to a typically excellent start to the 2015 campaign, generating significant pass rush and excelling as a run stuffer in the middle of the Jets’ defensive line. Between his play and the exorbitant contracts handed out to fellow top defensive linemen like Marcell Dareus, Wilkerson’s value is on the rise. It is expected that the Jets will put the franchise tag on Wilkerson–at an estimated $15MM–but in this case, the tag may simply be a precursor to a trade, given the team’s pressing needs in other areas and the league-wide interest in Wilkerson. Wilkerson, for his part, hopes to stay with the Jets, but given that New York’s extension offers to this point have been more in line with contracts signed by less-accomplished players like Cam Heyward and Corey Liuget, the Jets would have to considerably up the ante if they want to retain Wilkerson’s services on a long-term basis.
  • Despite the swirling rumors regarding Joe Philbin‘s job security, La Canfora says Dolphins ownership is not considering any immediate changes even if the team’s disappointing start to the season continues. Owner Stephen Ross, who has been striving for continuity in the wake of the major overhauls the club has undergone in recent years, reportedly wants to see things through with Philbin. It is not inconceivable that Miami could make changes in the bye week with respect to an assistant coach, play-calling duties, etc., but for the time being, Philbin himself is safe. How much good will he has left, however, remains to be seen, particularly if today’s game in London continues on its current trajectory.
  • Rams owner Stan Kroenke is reportedly more willing to share his proposed Inglewood stadium with another club than originally thought. However, it remains unclear whether that other club would be Kroenke’s “tenant” or if it would have more of an “equity” stake in the stadium. Kroenke, of course, prefers the former option, but he is open to a more equitable arrangement as well, which would require a significant financial investment from the second team. At the moment, all options are on the table, and should the league approve a two-team arrangement in Inglewood, it appears as though it would be able to make the finances of such an arrangement work. But if a vote was taken today, neither the Carson project nor the Inglewood project would have enough support (24 votes) to move forward. It could be that Kroenke, who is said to have only 10-12 fellow owners in his corner at the moment–the Chargers/Raiders project in Carson has considerably more support–is becoming more receptive to compromise in order to bring his vision to fruition.

AFC Notes: Texans, Richardson, Bowe

With Randy Bullock looking shaky, the Texans will audition a number of kickers this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Houston will take a look at Nick Novak, Connor Barth, Kai Forbath, Chris Boswell, and Giorgio Tavecchio as potential replacements, though it’s not a lock that they’ll sign one of those players.

Here’s more from the AFC..

  • The Jets haven’t heard from the league about more possible discipline for Sheldon Richardson and as of right now, coach Todd Bowles is operating under the assumption that he’ll be back on Monday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Despite the fact that he has yet to make his mark in Cleveland, Browns coach Mike Pettine says the team has not discussed cutting wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer tweets.  Bowe had a $9MM guarantee on his deal and the team expects him to play this season.
  • Jets guard Willie Colon suffered a sprained knee on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.  Colon will likely be out this week and may miss more time beyond that.
  • Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth told reporterss, including Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, that length wasn’t the most important factor for him when it came to his extension. Whitworth only wanted to be in Cincinnati again and the length of the deal was apparently secondary.  He admitted that his family and other factors could influence decisions on future deals.  “I want Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Adam Jones and all these guys to know what it’s like to win a Super Bowl,” Whitworth said (link).

Jets Trim Roster To 53 Players

The Jets have officially announced the cuts and other roster moves that will get their squad down to 53 players today. We’ve already heard about several of the moves — quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Josh Johnson, along with veteran defenders Jason Babin and Joe Mays, have been cut, and Stevan Ridley has been moved to the reserve/PUP list.

Here are the rest of the Jets’ moves to reduce their roster to 53, via a team release:

Cut:

  • WR Shaq Evans
  • WR Chris Owusu
  • WR Walter Powell
  • TE Arthur Lynch
  • TE Wes Saxton
  • RB Daryl Richardson
  • FB Julian Howsare
  • OL Charles Brown
  • OL Wesley Johnson
  • DL Ronald Talley
  • DL Jordan Williams
  • LB Deion Barnes
  • LB Taiwan Jones
  • CB Keon Lyn
  • S Durell Eskridge

Reserve/suspended:

  • OL Oday Aboushi
  • DL Sheldon Richardson

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Mathis, Jets

Since Evan Mathis was released by the Eagles, there have been conflicting reports on the Dolphins‘ level of interest, with some stories painting them as Mathis’ most likely suitor, while others suggest their interest has been overstated.

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Miami’s interest in Mathis is almost entirely dependent on his price. The Dolphins would be willing to do a deal similar to what they’ve done in the past with veteran offensive linemen, paying an annual salary of $2-3MM, with no guarantees beyond the first year. However, Mathis is seeking a salary close to the $5.5MM figure he would have made in Philadelphia.

For now, Mathis is content to wait, knowing that if a team has a starting guard suffer a serious injury, or if a team’s starting guards significantly underperform in the preseason, he may come closer to get the sort of money he’s seeking.

Let’s check in on a couple more AFC East teams….

  • Having read Tom Brady‘s appeal hearing transcript, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that Ted Wells was an “independent” DeflateGate investigator in name only. Florio points to specific excerpts from the transcript that suggest NFL general counsel Jeff Pash had some input on Wells’ report.
  • Following his recent arrest, Sheldon Richardson, who is already set to serve a four-game suspension to open the season, may face additional discipline from the NFL. In fact, Jets head coach Todd Bowles sounded today like he’s resigned to the fact that Richardson will be suspended further, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
  • Richardson’s uncertain future in New York won’t lead to a “massive about-face” in the Jets‘ stance with Muhammad Wilkerson, sources tell Albert Breer of NFL.com. The team plans to stick to its guns in regard to Wilkerson’s contract negotiations.

AFC Notes: Miller, Rivers, Dareus, Jets

Two years ago, Broncos pass rusher Von Miller was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse program, and missed nearly half the 2013 season. However, last season, he played all 16 of Denver’s regular season contests, and a source tells Mike Klis of 9NEWS that after not testing positive for two years, Miller is no longer in the league’s drug program.

Typically, multiple positive tests result in harsher and harsher penalties for players, as we’ve with someone like Josh Gordon. But a positive test for Miller at this point wouldn’t result in significant discipline, since his status has been reset, writes Klis. It’s an extremely positive development for Miller as he enters a contract year, since the Broncos will have less reason to be concerned about him missing games in the future, making the team more likely to offer him a lucrative extension.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers confirmed today that there are no new developments on the contract extension front, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. According to Rivers, the two sides will likely shelve negotiations until 2016 if they don’t reach an agreement within the next 10 or 12 days.
  • According to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News, Marcell Dareus seems encouraged by the progress that has been made in contract discussions between him and the Bills, joking that he owes a thank-you to Ndamukong Suh for resetting the market this offseason.
  • Jets GM Mike Maccagnan expressed support for Sheldon Richardson following his recent arrest, indicating that he and the Jets will devote resources to helping the standout defensive lineman, as Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com outlines. However, Maccagnan was noncommittal on Richardson’s long-term future with the Jets, and acknowledged that there’s “a degree of trust that has been broken.”
  • Chargers defensive end Tenny Palepoi suffered a fractured foot, and will likely be sidelined for two months, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Depending on how Palepoi’s recovery progresses, he could be a candidate for the injured reserve list with the designation to return, though the Chargers may prefer to save that one-time designation for someone else.

Reactions to Sheldon Richardson Arrest

Todd Bowles displayed a range of emotions when addressing the recent arrest of defensive end Sheldon Richardson, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. However, the coach’s message was clear: the Jets were more concerned about the person than the player.

“Right now I’m just worried about getting him help,” Bowles said. “I’m not even worried about the football player. Like I said, we can win without him. It will probably be more fun with him, but we’re prepared to win without him. The biggest thing is working on him as a person. When things like that happen, it’s not when he’s getting back on the field, it’s: Can he get his life together?

“There’s a problem there and we’ve got to try to help him.”

Let’s take a look at some more reactions to the former first-rounder’s arrest…

  • Following Richardson’s arrest, Muhammad Wilkerson should gain some leverage in his quest for a new contract, writes George Willis of the New York Post.
  • Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post tweets a bit of irony: Richardson had previously been pushing the Jets to give Wilkerson an extension, and “his issues might force [the] team to do so.”
  • Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News believes Richardson deserves another chance and should be given an opportunity to regain the organization’s trust.
  • Several of Richardson’s teammates came out and defended the embattled defensive end. “That’s my brother and I have his back. I can’t turn my back on him right now. This is when he needs us the most,” Damon Harrison told Howie Kussoy of the New York Post. “Anytime your brother tells you something, you want to believe him. We’re here. We have no choice but to believe him. He may have to build some trust back with some people on an individual basis, but that comes with time. That’s nothing that’s going to happen overnight.”
  • “We just want the best for Sheldon,” added teammate Willie Colon. “It’s not about how we feel. It’s his career, it’s his lifestyle and we just want him to be a better person off the field and he knows that. We’re all rooting for him.”