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AFC Rumors: Texans, Patriots, Ihedigbo

February 12th, 2017 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

While upgrading at quarterback will be a priority for the Texans, reaching an agreement to keep A.J. Bouye in Houston will be the AFC South champions’ top priority, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle notes. This gels with what came out of Houston last week, with a report indicating the team eyes a Bouye re-up and a DeAndre Hopkins extension. Finishing behind only the Broncos’ standout pair on Pro Football Focus’ 2016 cornerback rankings, Bouye emerged as one of 2016’s top breakout players, and McClain Chronicle comrade Aaron Wilson expects the fifth-year player to secure a deal that pays him upwards of $13MM annually. Bouye comes in at No. 7 on PFR’s Free Agent Power Rankings.

Here’s more from Houston and some other AFC locales.

  • Bob McNair said the Texans will target a young quarterback in the draft after an investment in Brock Osweiler did not generate much this season. This means the team does not stand to be a player in the Tony Romo sweepstakes. At least, that was the last update coming out of Houston. But McClain expects the Texans to take a look at Romo if he hits free agency. McClain agrees with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport by saying the Texans won’t be interested in trading for Romo, and the longtime Houston reporter notes the soon-to-be 37-year-old quarterback will have to take a big pay cut if he wants to play for the Texans. However, McClain doesn’t expect the team to bypass this potentially high-caliber stopgap solution entirely.
  • No surprise walkoff retirement appears to be in the cards for Tom Brady, with the 39-year-old passer relishing in the joy of the Patriots‘ most recent Super Bowl championship and saying on Instagram (via Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com) the mythical nature of winning championships is “why I’ll never stop as long as I’m able.” Brady insisted he wants to play into his mid-40s, and remaining a top-tier quarterback by that time would put him on uncharted terrain. Brett Favre serves as basically the only comparison of a 40-year-old high-end passer. The Patriots, though, aren’t counting on a slowdown soon, planning an extension after the 2017 season.
  • Malcolm Butler will be a restricted free agent, and Joel Corry of CBS Sports (via Twitter) expects the Patriots to place a rare first-round tender on their top cornerback. Corry anticipates that price to come in at nearly $4MM after settling in at just over $3.6MM last year. Another team would have to surrender a first-round pick to sign Butler in the event the Patriots don’t match the offer sheet.
  • James Ihedigbo became a starter almost immediately after signing with the Bills late in the season, and although the veteran safety ended his year on IR, he wants to return to the Bills, he told the team’s website. The 33-year-old Ihedigbo made three starts for the Bills, his fifth NFL employer, last season.

Patriots To Seek Tom Brady Extension Next Offseason

February 5th, 2017 at 10:59am CST by Rory Parks

The Patriots will look to capture their fifth Super Bowl championship today, and next offseason, they plan to seek an extension for quarterback Tom Brady, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). They believe Brady will play another three to five years, which is why they are currently willing to trade promising backup Jimmy Garoppolo (Twitter link).

Tom Brady (vertical)

Brady is currently under contract through 2019, his age-41 season, so a new deal would likely take him through the end of his playing career. He is set to earn a total of $14MM next year, $22MM in 2018, and another $22MM in 2019. Andrew Luck is currently at the top of the quarterback heap in terms of average annual value ($24.59MM), although Matthew Stafford may will surpass him in that regard this offseason. Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, is the current pacesetter with respect to total guarantees ($54MM).

An extension after the 2017 campaign would allow the Patriots to spread out Brady’s subsequent $22MM cap hits, which are still pretty reasonable for a quarterback of his caliber. Indeed, Brady’s 2016 campaign was one of his best, as he threw 28 touchdowns to just two interceptions en route to yet another AFC Championship, the seventh of his career. He has captured four Super Bowl titles, a slew of AFC East titles, three Super Bowl MVPs, and two league MVPs.

Plus, he has been durable. He missed almost all of the 2008 campaign due to injury, but otherwise has not missed a game for injury reasons since he captured the starting quarterback job in 2001. Of course, his prodigious offensive lines and the offensive system in which he plays have been a big part of that, but since neither of those things figure to change anytime soon, there is no reason to think that Brady will be more susceptible to injury moving forward than he has been in the past.

Garoppolo, meanwhile, is expected to receive significant interest in the trade market this offseason, and while the Patriots may be hesitant to have Jacoby Brissett serve as their primary backup, the haul for Garoppolo could be too good to pass up.

AFC East Notes: Brady, Watkins, Bills, Revis

December 15th, 2016 at 9:58am CST by Zachary Links

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says that playing until he’s 45 years old is a “great goal” of his, as WEEI.com’s Ryan Hannable writes.

“I think that — they kind of brought that up and I said that would be a great goal,” Brady said. “I certainly think I can do it. It’s just about how long I want to make the commitment to doing the things that get me ready to go. Look, I love playing. I would love to play the game for as long as I can. There are a lot of things that aren’t up to me, but I am going to do everything I can to keep playing at this level for as long as I can. I think I can do it. Why would I stop now? I’ve worked to get to this point and this is I think when I can really capitalize and really try to make the most of everything that I have learned over the years with who I have been fortunate to be around. If I can keep doing it, I certainly think I can.”

Brady is signed through 2019, when he will be 42 years old. Will the Patriots sign him to another deal? That depends on a lot of factors, including his performance and whether they have a succession plan in place involving Jimmy Garoppolo. Last year, we saw Peyton Manning decline sharply in his final season when he was only 39, so Brady will have his work cut out for him.

Here’s more out of the AFC East:

  • Speaking to reporters – including Mike Rodak of ESPN.com – on Wednesday, Bills receiver Sammy Watkins implied that the team could fire head coach Rex Ryan with a loss to 0-13 Cleveland on Sunday. “We know if we lose, something crazy might happen immediately,” he said. “We need to go out there and win this game.” A loss would drop the Bills to 6-8 this year and 14-16 during the Ryan era.
  • It has been speculated that the Jets could eventually move Darrelle Revis to safety, but it won’t be happening this season, coach Todd Bowles says (link via Brian Costello of the New York Post). Revis says he would consider moving to safety, possibly as soon as next season. But Bowles says that’s not a transition that should happen in the middle of the season. “It’s not a thought process right now,” Bowles said. “That’s something we may talk about in the offseason. It ain’t going to happen in the next three games.” Revis is under contract through 2019 thanks to the ill-advised deal given to him prior to the 2015 season. Already, Revis has declined sharply and the Jets have to be giving serious thought to taking a dead money cap hit and releasing him before the start of the 2017 season.
  • The Jets need a quarterback and they reportedly have their eye on UNC signal caller Mitch Trubisky.
  • This week, the Dolphins passed on activating Dion Jordan.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Brady, Harvin, Bills

November 2nd, 2016 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Football is a strange business and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is aware of how quickly things can change. In the wake of the surprising Jamie Collins trade, Brady was asked if he knows he could be traded at some juncture. “Absolutely. You can’t be around this long and not realize the world will keep spinning,” Brady said (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN). Of course, there’s no reason to expect the Patriots to move on from Brady anytime soon.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Patriots Activate Tom Brady, Rob Ninkovich

October 8th, 2016 at 4:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

It’s time for pure, unadulterated excitement, Patriots fans. New England activated Rob Ninkovich on Saturday in advance of the Patriots-Browns game. He will be set to return to his place at left defensive end after his four-game PED suspension concluded.

The team also activated Tom Brady, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

While these moves aren’t surprising, they officially mark the return of the iconic quarterback and longtime edge player to the field for the AFC East-leading Pats.

In addition to the suspension, Ninkovich suffered a torn triceps muscle in August. Both Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long have played more than 70 percent of the Patriots’ snaps at defensive end, so Ninkovich might not return to the starter’s role he held immediately, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald estimates. The 32-year-old veteran has started since the 2010 season for the Pats and has been the longest-tenured performer on their defense, starting in all 16 games in each of the past five seasons.

Both Long and Sheard have five quarterback pressures, and the former Browns edge presence leads the Pats with three sacks.

For the record, Brady returns from his four-game Deflategate suspension to stabilize what’s been a chaotic Patriots quarterback position.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

14 Players Returning From Suspension

October 3rd, 2016 at 7:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Fourteen players will return from four-game suspensions this week, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The most high-profile returnee, of course, is quarterback Tom Brady, who will re-join the 3-1 Patriots on Sunday against the Browns.

The following players have completed their suspensions:

The club that employs each player will receive a short roster exemption that ends the day following the team’s Week 5 game. that means the 49ers’ exemption for Lynch ends Friday, the Panthers’ exemption for Scott ends next Tuesday, and the rest end next Monday.

Sterup, meanwhile, was on the Chiefs’ practice squad when he was banned, but he hasn’t completed the PED reinstatement requirements, according to Balzer. So although he can sign with a new club, Sterup can’t practice or play until he’s approved by the league.

NFLPA, Brady Won’t Push Deflategate Further

October 2nd, 2016 at 8:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s defining saga of the mid-2010s will conclude its relevancy once Tom Brady returns from his four-game suspension Monday. Brady and the NFLPA decided to decline to pursue the Deflategate case any further, Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports (on Twitter).

“After consultation with Tom Brady and our appellate counsel, we have decided to not pursue additional appeals in this matter,” the NFLPA said, regarding what would have meant taking the case to the Supreme Court.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk categorizes the move as a surprise after the NFLPA and Brady’s decision to bring aboard former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson to the legal team. However, Florio also notes the high court accepting this petition may have been a long-odds proposition that could have still featured it ruling against Brady in what ended up being a 21-month saga. Sunday’s step, though, represents a win for Roger Goodell‘s discipline power.

Nevertheless, the 39-year-old quarterback already served his suspension. He will be back to stabilize a chaotic Patriots quarterback position next week in Cleveland.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Tom Brady Suffers Thumb Injury

August 18th, 2016 at 8:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Quarterback Tom Brady was supposed to start the Patriots’ preseason game against the Bears on Thursday, but the 39-year-old ended up leaving Gillette Stadium beforehand. It turns out Brady sliced his right thumb with a pair of scissors prior to the game, reports Tom Curran of CSNNE.com.

Tom Brady (vertical)

It’s unknown whether Brady needed stitches, per Curran, and there’s no timetable for his return. Via text, agent Don Yee informed reporters – including Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link) – that Brady “will be okay in time.” That’s a vague statement from Yee, whose client is already set to miss the first four games of the regular season as a result of a suspension for his role in the Deflategate scandal.

Brady’s temporary replacement, third-year man Jimmy Garoppolo, got the start and finished the first half 12 of 16 for 123 yards and a touchdown. He went 11 of 18 for 168 yards in the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Saints last week.

Brady also didn’t face New Orleans, and in the event he misses New England’s remaining two exhibition contests, it would mean a wide gap in game action for the four-time Super Bowl champion. Brady last took the field against another team Jan. 24, when the Pats lost the AFC title game in Denver, and his debut this year is set for Oct. 9 versus the Browns. In the meantime, he’ll sit out regular-season matchups against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans and Bills.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

QB Notes: Patriots, 49ers, Jets

August 12th, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In an interview with the Patriots Radio Network on Thursday, team president Jonathan Kraft exalted Tom Brady and expressed frustration over the quarterback’s season-opening four-game suspension for his role in the Deflategate scandal.

Of Brady, who has won four Super Bowls with the Patriots, Kraft said (via Ryan Hannable of WEEI), “From our perspective, he’s the type of professional athlete that you want to celebrate, hold up as an example, not only to other players in the league but hold up to kids that are playing the game, and just as somebody you want to model your life off of, not only as a professional athlete but how he is as a father to his children, a husband, a son to his parents, a brother to his sisters. He is as good of a human being as you can get.”

After praising Brady, Kraft took aim at the NFL, stating that the league’s treatment of the 39-year-old “eats at” the Patriots organization. “And there’s still a tremendous amount of, there’s frustration around how the pure facts of science and lack of any type of tangible, hard evidence that certain people can look at those circumstances and then try to taint him or his legacy without that type of evidence,” he continued.

A few items on Brady’s fellow quarterbacks:

  • Colin Kaepernick is vying for the 49ers’ starting job, but shoulder tightness is currently preventing the sixth-year man from competing with Blaine Gabbert, as Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group writes. It’s important to note that Kaepernick’s right shoulder – not the left shoulder that required November surgery – is the one bothering him. The 28-year-old is “not too concerned about” the issue, he said Friday, and classified it as “just tightness.” Nevertheless, Kaepernick’s inability to garner first-team reps isn’t helping his cause in a battle that Gabbert looks primed to win, according to Inman.
  • Despite going in the second round of this year’s draft, Christian Hackenberg was unable to get into the Jets’ preseason opener against Jacksonville on Thursday. Head coach Todd Bowles offered an explanation afterward, telling reporters (including Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday), “We wanted to take a look at Geno (Smith) and Bryce (Petty). And to play Hackenberg with minimal reps in practice would be doing him a disservice to play him with minimal reps in a game.” Bowles went on to state that it “remains to be seen” whether the former Penn State signal-caller will appear in either of the Jets’ next two preseason games. “It’s not like we’re forced to play him right now,” added Bowles, whose club has two veteran options in starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and Smith, a fourth-year man. Petty was a fourth-rounder last year who hasn’t yet appeared in a game.
  • If any Jets quarterback is in jeopardy of the team handing him a pink slip this summer, it’s likely Petty. But Tara Sullivan of USA Today opines that New York should take the rare route of keeping four passers. Indeed, with Fitzpatrick and Hackenberg not going anywhere, Smith possessing substantial experience, and the Jets having made a somewhat significant investment in Petty just over 15 months ago, they do look like strong candidates to employ a quarterback quartet.
  • In the biggest QB-related news of Friday, the Bills inked starter Tyrod Taylor to an extension.

Tom Brady Authorized NFLPA To Continue Fight

July 18th, 2016 at 11:00am CST by Zachary Links

Last week, after the Second Circuit denied his request for a rehearing, Tom Brady announced that he would not pursue his case any further and would accept his four-game suspension from the NFL. Soon after, the NFLPA released a statement explaining that they could still petition the Supreme Court to hear the case, even though Brady had elected against taking that step himself. As it turns out, that’s only half right. Tom Brady (vertical)

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In actuality, Brady has authorized the NFLPA to proceed with the appeal on his behalf, sources tell Mike Florio, who penned a guest column for The MMQB today. Without Brady’s OK, the NFLPA would not have the option of continuing the legal battle.

If the NFLPA does take Brady’s case to the SCOTUS, they probably won’t be able to keep Brady from missing the first four games of the 2016 season. However, a successful appeal could restore Brady’s lost pay (~$253K) and reduce the Commissioner’s power in future disciplinary cases. None of this is possible without a greenlight from Brady, however.

The four-game suspension means that Brady won’t be eligible to return to regular season action until Sunday, October 9th against the Browns. The Patriots will be without their No. 1 QB for games against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans, and Bills, leaving understudy Jimmy Garoppolo in the starting role for the first month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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