Uncategorized News & Rumors

AFC South Links: Texans, Jaguars, Brazill

July 13th, 2014 at 12:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A panel of NFL writers at ESPN.com ranked all 32 teams in order of future projected success — that is, how each franchise will fare over the next three seasons — by assigning grades for components like quarterback, front office, and coaching staff. Unsurprisingly, the Seahawks finished first in the exercise, but one underlying point was the brutal future prognosticated for the teams in the AFC South. The Colts ranked as the top team in the division, but were listed at just No. 20 overall, while the Jaguars, Titans, and Texans registered as Nos. 23, 25, and 27, respectively. I might quibble with the Texans’ projected futility, but as a whole, the AFC South looks like the weakest division in football, and could remain that way for some time.

The Texans have several interesting position battles that need to be resolved during training camp, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes. Left guard will come down to either incumbent Ben Jones or rookie Xavier Su’a-Filo, while Randy Bullock will try to keep undrafted rookie Chris Boswell from taking the kicking job.
In a video link, McClain and his Houston Chronicle colleague Brian T. Smith run down the top storylines on both sides of the ball for the Texans.
The Jaguars don’t have much experience at receiver behind Cecil Shorts, but Jacksonville receivers coach Jerry Sullivan isn’t worried that his young players, including 2014 second-rounders Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson, will buckle under the NFL lights. “I never think about that,” Sullivan told Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. “I put the pressure on myself to get them trained to perform at the NFL level.”
In the wake of LaVon Brazill‘s suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, ESPN.com’s Mike Wells opines that the 25-year-old ex-Colt has no one to blame but himself.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins

July 13th, 2014 at 11:50am CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest from the NFC East…

Todd Archer of ESPN.com answered several Cowboys questions, and a few are noteworthy (all links go to Twitter). Archer believes that Tyron Smith is more likely to receive a contract extension than Dez Bryant by the time training cam opens on July 24.
Archer added that the Cowboys definitely expect Kyle Orton to report at some point, and that running back DeMarco Murray will eventually be re-signed.
The Eagles have a long list of veterans who might not make the 53-man squad, but as Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com writes, defensive end Brandon Graham and cornerback Bradley Fletcher are the two players who are most likely to be cut during training camp.
Assessing the Redskins’ right tackle situation, both Tarik El-Bashir and Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com believe they Tyler Polumbus will remain the starter. However, 2014 third-rounder Morgan Moses will probably take over the position in 2015.
In a piece for RealRedskins.com, Tandler writes that he has some doubt as to whether Colt McCoy will be able to stick as the Redskins’ third quarterback.
Eli Manning regressed last season, but according to Kevin Armstrong of the New York Daily News, the 33-year-old is excited about new Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s scheme. “It’s re-energized me,” said Manning. “I’m trying to speed up the process of getting comfortable in the new system. I don’t have 10 years. I have a few months.”
Connor Orr of the Star-Ledger profiles Brandon Mosley, a fourth-round pick of the Giants in 2012 who is pushing Chris Snee for the starting right guard job.

AFC East Notes: Bills, ‘Fins, Pats, Jets

July 13th, 2014 at 10:18am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills are coming off a disappointing 6-10 season during which rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel struggled (when he was able to remain on the field), and are now facing new ownership. Add the scrutiny placed on star players like C.J. Spiller and Mario Williams, and Buffalo is potentially facing a make-or-break season, writes Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. General manager Doug Whaley doesn’t dispute that the 2014 season is important for the Bills, but claims the team will not wilt under the pressure. “This is a results-based business,” Whaley said on draft night. “Every year we’re out to win as many games as possible and to make the playoffs. So that does not factor into what we do day-to-day, the ownership issue. Our issue is making the playoffs. That could be last year, this year, next year.”

Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore has been largely successful when given a chance to start, but he seems to be wholeheartedly embracing the role of backup for 2014, per George Richards of the Miami Herald. “I would love it if we won every game, and I never played,” said Moore. “That means Ryan [Tannehill] is killing it. But limited time, getting in late in the year is tough. You know that’s the role of the No. 2 quarterback. That’s just the way it is.”
Rich Cimini of ESPN.com previews the Jets’ quarterback depth chart, and notes, as PFR’s Zach Links wrote in his recent Offseason in Review, the Geno Smith/Michael Vick dynamic will be highly intriguing come training camp.
Duron Harmon is the favorite to start at safety for the Patriots alongside Devin McCourty, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com in his assessment of New England’s second-year players.

AFC Notes: Bills, Ravens, Jaguars

July 12th, 2014 at 8:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We posted one batch of AFC links earlier today, but more news abounds in the American Football Conference, so let’s dive in:

B. Thomas Golisano, the former owner of the NHL’s Sabres, had been discussing partnering with developer Scott Gongel in an effort to purchase the Bills, but those talks are now dead, a source tells Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. Golisano still plans to bid on the team alone, however, and Congel is also considering either a solo bid or finding a different partner (Twitter link).
Defensive end Jacquies Smith could be a surpise addition to the Bills’ 53-man roster, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak. Smith has yet to take an NFL snap, but he could make for a suitable backup behind Jerry Hughes, Mario Williams, and Manny Lawson.
In his latest chat, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com opines that it’s more important for the Ravens to lock up kicker Justin Tucker than defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, reasoning that Tucker has more upside and Ngata might not be effective for much longer.
Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union offers an intriguing profile of Tim Walsh, whose official job title is the Jaguars’ Director of Football Administration. Walsh acts as Jacksonville’s cap and contract expert, and the piece is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at a role that doesn’t get much publicity.
Sean Mannion of Oregon State beat out Brandon Bridge of Southern Alabama in the quarterback challenge at Peyton Manning‘s passing academy, reports Chris Mortensen of ESPN (via Twitter).

NFC Links: Saints, Cowboys, Cardinals, Rams

July 11th, 2014 at 10:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Saints tight end Ben Watson was keeping tabs on the franchise tag situation regarding his team and the player he backs up, Jimmy Graham. However, the 33-year-old is confident that both sides will be able to move on and told ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett that heated moments accompany any contract negotiation…

“I’m very confident that it’ll be resolved the right way and guys can move forward. Obviously it’s always tough when you go through litigation with somebody, and it can probably get heated. And I’m sure there are emotions on both sides. But that is the business side of the game.

“And it’s unfortunate that it came to that and that it was so public. But I really think – I know, I don’t think – I know that Jimmy loves New Orleans and I know that he loves our team and the organization and he loves playing here. And we love him, everybody wants him here, coaches included. So when it comes down to contract situations, that’s just a necessary evil…not even evil, but just a necessary progression of getting a player here.”

Let’s check some more NFC notes…

Nick Hayden had a great comeback last season with the Cowboys, but Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News writes that free agent addition Terrell McClain will push him for the starting defensive tackle gig.
Cardinals linebacker Ernie Sims is hoping to play ten seasons in the NFL, the veteran told Jim Henry of the Tallahassee Democrat. The 29-year-old has played for four teams during his eight-year career.
Count Will Witherspoon as a Kenny Britt fan. The former Rams linebacker thinks his former Titans teammates will flourish in St.Louis, the free agent said on SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com). “I think the addition of Kenny Britt will be a huge boost for the Rams offense,” Witherspoon said. “I expect him to blossom into a star.”

Extra Points: Lee, Jaguars, Bengals, Fitzgerald

July 10th, 2014 at 9:27pm CST by Zachary Links

NFL teams split an eye-popping $6 billion in revenue last season, writes ESPN.com’s Darrel Rovell, who figured out the total number by looking into the Packers’ financials. That money was divided equally among all 32 teams. The national revenue dollars the Packers and the rest of the league’s teams have received continue to climb over the years, with the total pie up 56 percent, factoring for inflation, since 2006. The most significant jump will happen next season, as new television deals with each of the league’s partners, along with the new CBS Thursday Night package, pushes the league’s media revenue from the networks alone to an average of more than $5 billion a season. More from around the NFL..

Jaguars second-round pick Marqise Lee is only four of 256 draft picks who are unsigned and Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida-Times Union wonders why. Lee’s contract is slotted at a total value of $5.174MM over four years, including a $2MM signing bonus. A veteran agent tells O’Halloran that if agent Andrew Kessler of Athletes First is holding out for an un-slotted deal is wasting his time. Kessler could be holding out for workout money, but that would only be a disparity of $2-3K and that shouldn’t hold up a deal.
More from O’Halloran, who writes that of the 17 undrafted rookies on the Jaguars‘ roster, there are two that stand out above the rest. Wide receiver Allen Hums has made a strong impression on coaches in the wake of injuries to others at the position. Tight end Marcel Jensen, meanwhile, has healed nicely from sports hernia surgery and is making a strong case to be on the roster.
Andy Dalton is still trying to figure out a new deal with the Bengals and star wide receiver A.J. Green doesn’t want to work with any other quarterback, writes Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “We came in together and that is the great thing for me and him,” Green said. “I know he’s my guy. I don’t want any other quarterback throwing me the ball. I think he feels the same way about me.”
The Patriots need a big target like Andre Johnson, writes CSNNE.com’s Jimmy Toscano. Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Kenbrell Thompkins, and the rest can’t be counted on to stretch the field in 2014.
There was plenty of speculation, but Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald didn’t hear anything about the Patriots making a run for him at the trade deadline, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “[I heard] nothing at all. I mean, I heard stuff that was being said. But there was never a time where the team approached me. Nothing like that,” said the wide receiver, who is friendly with quarterback Tom Brady.
The NFL will name former Vikings and Ravens center Matt Birk as its director of football development, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Birk will work with players, coaches, and front office execs.

Extra Points: Cowboys, Smith, Bucs, Jackson

July 9th, 2014 at 10:35pm CST by Zachary Links

As a part of a roundtable discussion on FOX Sports Live, Randy Moss was quite critical of Jason Garrett and the Cowboys‘ coaching staff, writes Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “When you look on paper, it’s every year that the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders have a lot of talent on their team,” Moss said. “I mean, talented, top-end players. For the Dallas Cowboys to keep sputtering every year, it’s not the players – some of it falls on the players – but go on up top and see what’s going on.” More out of the NFC..

49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has left CAA Sports to join up with Relativity Sports, according to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal (on Twitter). NFL agents Doug Hendrickson & CJ Laboy will represent the talented and troubled athlete.
Jason Fitzgerald’s series on teams’ best and worst contracts continues today at OverTheCap.com with a closer look at the Rams’ cap situation. Offensive tackle Jake Long and tight end Jared Cook earn respective best and worst contract honors for St. Louis for the second straight year, according to Fitzgerald.
The Buccaneers badly need change and that all starts with new head coach Lovie Smith, writes Chris Korman of USA Today. Last year, Tampa Bay had a weird season under coach Greg Schiano and notched just four wins despite having big name talents like Darrelle Revis and receiver Vincent Jackson. It’s already clear that Smith is ready to take a different approach. “This is what I’ve found from men: They will do whatever you ask them to do if you look them in the eye and they feel like you know what you’re talking about and you have a plan,” Smith said. “I never had a hard time. I’ve dealt with very few players I haven’t been able to motivate and get them to do what we ask them to do. They’ll listen.“
New Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson says that he’s happy to be in the same locker room as quarterback Andrew Luck, writes Kevin Bowen of Colts.com. “It’s a breath of fresh air to see a quarterback on the other side that is learning, getting better each and every day. He’s making my game much better. He does a phenomenal job in practice of managing the offense, making the right reads. Whatever I can do to help him, great, and vice versa.”
In today’s mailbag, Craig Kelley of Colts.com writes that he believes Brandon McKinney can author a new chapter in his career this season. The defensive lineman signed with the Colts earlier this offseason and is looking to get back in the groove after two knee surgeries.

Extra Points: Graham, Jones, Cowboys

July 8th, 2014 at 10:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk got his hands on testimony from the Jimmy Graham franchise-tag grievance hearing. One of the more interesting highlights: former Buccaneers special assistant to the head coach Butch Davis said that the team’s draft strategy in 2012 was fueled directly by a desire to stop Graham. “We took [safety] Mark Barron in the first round simply because of Jimmy Graham,” Davis said of the team’s decision with the eighth overall pick that year. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, the Saints have gone 4-0 against the Bucs since then. Here’s more from around the league..

In former Ravens defensive end Arthur Jones, it’s clear that the Colts got the type of player and personality that they’ve been looking for, writes Kevin Bowen of Colts.com. Indianapolis pried Jones away from Baltimore this offseason with a five-year, $33MM deal that includes $10MM in guaranteed money.
Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com looks back to see what could have been for the Cowboys had they gambled on certain players. For example, if they put in a higher bid in the 2012 supplemental draft, they could have won top prize Josh Gordon, who is suspended for the 2014 season. The Cowboys would also look rather different if they went with Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in this year’s draft. While both athletes are talented, right now it seems like the Cowboys were better off steering clear of both of them.
Brandon George of the Dallas News writes that the Cowboys have depth but very little experience at the left defensive end spot.

AFC South Notes: Brazill, Titans, Jags, Texans

July 6th, 2014 at 4:28pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Our Offseason in Review series has hit the AFC South, and so far we’ve completed reports on three of the four teams in the division: the Colts, the Titans, and the Jaguars. An analysis of 2014’s last-place team, the Texans, will be up soon, but until then, let’s look at some notes from around the South:

The Colts were put in a tough position following LaVon Brazill‘s suspension for drug usasge, writes Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay’s struggles with drugs and alcohol also came to light this offseason, and the team offered him its full support. Therefore, the Colts must act delicately with regards to Brazill in order to avoid double standard accusations.
In his latest mailbag, Mike Wells of ESPN.com opines that while Trent Richardson will get the first crack at the Colts’ starting running back job, Ahmad Bradshaw could be in line for ample playing time if Richardson falters.
The Titans have something of a logjam at running back, writes David Climer of the Tennessean, with holdover Shonn Greene, second-rounder Bishop Sankey, and free agent addition Dexter McCluster among the ball-carrying options. Undrafted free agent Antonio Andrews has also been impressive, and he knows that even if success doesn’t come in Tennessee, it could occur elsewhere. “Every day’s a job interview,” said the Western Kentucky product. “You’re not just interviewing with one team. You’re interviewing for the NFL. You never know when a coach on another team is going to say, ‘Remember that guy with the Titans and how hard he worked? We want him.’ ” ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky recently noted that Andrews has a “nice skill set.”
Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union wonders how well second-round receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson will fare for the Jaguars, and takes a look at the recent history of pass-catchers taken in the second round.
The Texans are shaping up as one of the more interesting teams heading into next season, and Jordan Goodwin of USA Today offers a position-by-position preview of Houston’s squad.

NFC East Links: Jackson, McClain, Polk, Giants

July 6th, 2014 at 3:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Redskins safety Tanard Jackson, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2011 due to multiple suspensions, is fighting for a roster spot in Washington, but he’s just happy for the opportunity to compete again, writes Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. “You can imagine somebody getting taken away from something that they love to do and having to humble themselves after doing something wrong,” said Jackson. “That was me. I had to take responsibility for it and face the consequences.’’ The Redskins have several options at safety, including the free agent signee Ryan Clark, so Jackson isn’t guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster, but it sounds as though the 28-year-old has undergone an attitude adjustment. “Going from playing football to working in a warehouse at a nine-to-five job is a humbling experience,’’ he said. “It’s taught me to never take anything in this business for granted.’’