Week In Review News & Rumors

NFL officially suspends Jameis Winston. As expected, the league banned Winston for the first three games of the season after he allegedly groped an Uber driver in 2016. Winston has denied any wrongdoing, but did accept some responsibility for the incident in a public statement. The suspension, which will cost Winston more than $1MM, will force him out of action against the Saints, Eagles, and Steelers, leaving veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick to start in his stead. If Winston violates that NFL’s personal conduct policy again, he could face a permanent ban from the league.

Vikings extend Danielle Hunter. After extending fellow defensive end Everson Griffen last summer, the Vikings have also handed a new deal to Hunter, inking him to a five-year, $72MM pact. Hunter’s $14.4MM annual salary will place him 11th among rushers, which given his age and contract leverage, makes Hunter’s deal extremely team-friendly. While full details have yet to be divulged (Hunter received $40MM in guarantees, but those almost certainly aren’t full guarantees), Hunter did receive a $15MM singing bonus. Up next on Minnesota’s docket? Finding new contracts for receiver Stefon Diggs and/or linebacker Anthony Barr.

Tamba Hali likely to retire. While he hasn’t made a final decision, Hali sounds incredibly likely to hang up his cleats. “I don’t want to focus too much on football,” Hali said. I don’t see myself getting back into football. I see myself being involved with the Chiefs somehow, maybe as a specialist being able to teach the guys. I don’t want to lie to myself. I think the time has come.” Hali, 34, only managed to appear in five games after an injury limited him for the majority of the season. He hasn’t posted double-digit sacks in five years, and hasn’t generated any known free agent interest since being released by Kansas City in March.

Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham suspended. The defending champs will play one game without a starting linebacker, as Bradham was banned a single contest due to a 2016 case in which he was charged with aggravated assault. Although Bradham avoided jail time for the incident, the NFL often suspends players regardless of legal outcome. Bradham signed a five-year, $40MM extension with Philadelphia after posting arguably the best season of his career in 2017. Without Bradham in tow, the Eagles will turn to either Corey Nelson, Kamu Grugier-Hill, or Nate Gerry to step into the starting lineup.

Bucs release guard J.R. Sweezy. Only two seasons into a five-year deal, Sweezy was cut loose by Tampa Bay last week. While health questions marks kept Sweezy off the field in 2016, he did manage to post 14 starts a season ago. Still, the Bucs could now use the money saved by releasing Sweezy to extend one of their young players such as linebacker Kwon Alexander or offensive lineman Ali Marpet. Sweezy, meanwhile, could logically reunite with the Seahawks, with whom he played four seasons earlier in his career.

Texas franchises reach extension agreements: The Cowboys now have all of their core offensive linemen locked up long-term. Zack Martin‘s six-year, $84MM deal represents a new standard for guards. He’s signed through the 2024 season and will see $40MM guaranteed. Martin joins Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick in being entrenched on future Dallas lines. Benardrick McKinney will also be anchoring many future Texans linebacking crews. By reaching a five-year, $50MM extension with Houston, McKinney’s the latest member of the eight-figure-per-year club among off-ball linebackers.

Andrew Luck resumes throwing, at long last: The endless saga finally brought some positive developments for the seventh-year passer. The Colts quarterback resumed throwing during the team’s minicamp this week, first on Tuesday with high school-sized footballs and then finally picking up “The Duke” on Wednesday. After missing a full season due to a January 2017 shoulder surgery, Luck is building toward being available for the Colts in 2018. He’s expected to ramp up his work in preparation for Indianapolis’ training camp, when the team expects no limitations from the centerpiece performer.

Holdout core forming: Khalil Mack extended his holdout to minicamp. So did Aaron Donald, as expected. Earl Thomas also didn’t show for Seattle’s, but count David Johnson among those who skipped minicamp in pursuit of a new contract. Taylor Lewan joined some of his 2014 first-round brethren, having observed what Nate Solder‘s Giants deal did to the left tackle market. Odell Beckham Jr. did not take this route, instead attending New York’s minicamp and participating partially. While Beckham said he’ll attend Giants training camp, that’s not a lock due to his extension talks residing at a standstill.

Familiar faces on suspension block: For a second straight June, the Cowboys learned they’ll be without David Irving for the first four games of the season. The defensive lineman this time incurred a substance-abuse suspension after being popped for PEDs last summer. And Martavis Bryant may now run the risk of an extreme ban, considering he missed an entire season for running afoul of the league’s substance-abuse policy. The Raiders are worried their new deep threat is about to be banned. Also banned this week: new Browns tackle Donald Stephenson and free agent defensive tackle Roy Miller.

Chargers considering an Antonio Gates reunion: After declaring via press release the Gates era was over, the Bolts are now open to bringing him back. Tom Telesco said the team has talked to the future Hall of Fame tight end, who would have a bigger role than he otherwise would have thanks to Hunter Henry‘s ACL tear. Los Angeles signed Virgil Green in the offseason but has a big need at the pass-catching tight end spot.

Julian Edelman suspended four games. The NFL suspended Edelman for a quarter of the 2018 campaign for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Edelman is appealing the ban, but if the suspension holds, he’ll lose nearly $1MM in combined base salary, roster bonuses, and a signing bonus proration, while his incentive package will also more difficult to attain. Now 32 years old, Edelman missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a torn ACL. If Edelman is out for the season’s first four games, the Patriots will be forced to rely on fellow wideouts Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Jordan Matthews, among others.

Shane Ray needs another wrist surgery. After missing eight games with a wrist issue in 2017, Ray will need to undergo another operation for the same wrist injury. Ray has already had a disappointing offseason, as the Broncos declined his 2019 fifth-year option, meaning he’ll hit free agency next spring. Now, his platform season could be in question, as there is no guarantee Ray will be on the field for Week 1. Ray, who posted eight sacks in 2016, is now expected to be fourth in line for pass-rushing snaps in Denver, behind Von Miller, Shaquil Barrett, and fifth overall selection Bradley Chubb.

Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski attend Patriots minicamp. After an offseason filled with drama, both Brady and Gronk appeared at Gillette Stadium last week. Brady re-affirmed this relationship with New England and head coach Bill Belichick is still in a good place, while Gronkowski was presumably skipping organized team activities in an effort to get a reworked contract. Gronkowski trade rumors surfaced on Twitter last week, but there is reportedly “zero truth” about reports which Gronk labeled “fake news.”

Bears bring back Zach Miller. After suffering a devastating injury in 2017, Miller was told he might lose his left leg. Nine surgeries later, Miller’s leg is safe, but he faces a lengthy uphill battle if he wants to return to the NFL. Chicago re-signed him last week in something of a goodwill gesture: while Miller has already been placed on the physically unable to perform list (meaning he won’t play in 2018), he can collect a salary and benefits as he continues rehab.

Mychal Kendricks finds a new home. After an odd turn in which Kendricks denied that he’d signed with the Browns, Cleveland announced that it had officially signed the former Eagles linebacker. Kendricks’ one-year, $3.5MM deal comes with just $500K guaranteed, so he’s not a lock for the Browns’ squad. That’s especially true given that Cleveland already boasts three starting-caliber linebackers in Jamie Collins, Christian Kirksey, and Joe Schobert.

Brandon Marshall finds a home…The Seahawks were the only team known to have expressed interest in Marshall, and they’re the club that ultimately signed the veteran wideout, inking him to a one-year deal that can be worth as much as $2.155MM. Marshall will only receive $90K in guaranteed money, and needs to hit certain production thresholds in order to max out the contract. Seattle doesn’t have a ton of depth behind Doug Baldwin, and it’s entirely possible Marshall can take playing time away from Tyler Lockett, Jaron Brown, and the rest of the Seahawks’ wide receivers. Marshall, for his part, admitted he “didn’t have a ton of options” before landing with Seattle.

…but Dez Bryant hasn’t, and might not for awhile. Bryant, instead, may need to wait until training camp begins to sign with a new team, and it may even take an injury before he can sign a fresh contract. There hasn’t been a single team concretely linked to Bryant, although he recently lobbied for the 49ers to sign him. It doesn’t seem as though the NFL is still high on Bryant, as many clubs reportedly wouldn’t even consider the 29-year-old on a minimum salary deal. Bryant reportedly rejected a three-year, $21MM pact from the Ravens earlier this offseason.

Tre Boston takes another meeting. A trio of safeties — Boston, Eric Reid, and Kenny Vaccaro — are surprising still available as the calendar turns to June, but Boston’s market could be heating up, as he took a visit with the Cardinals last week. Boston, one of the best free agents who still remains unsigned, has also taken a meeting with the Colts, and has been linked to the Browns, Giants, and Raiders. Free agent safeties aren’t getting much interest this year, and it’s possible that Reid’s social activism — and ongoing collusion case against the NFL — has set the entire positional market back.

Dolphins extend CB Bobby McCain. Miami locked up McCain — its starting slot cornerback — through the 2022 campaign, signing the 24-year-old to a four-year, $27MM extension. A former fifth-round pick, McCain will earn nearly $2MM in 2018 thanks to the NFL’s proven performance escalator program. McCain has appeared in all 16 games in each season of his three-year career, and last year made seven starts while posting two interceptions and grading as the league’s No. 46 cornerback among 121 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

NFL introduces new national anthem policy. The NFL responded to recent national anthem protests by instituting a new policy that will fine teams if players show signs of “disrespect” for the anthem. Players will no longer be required to be on the field for the pregame ceremony, but those that are will be required to stand. Additionally, personnel who do not stand can be “appropriately” disciplined by commissioner Roger Goodell. The new strictures were put in place without consultation with the NFLPA, and players are now reportedly devising other methods to protest.

Chargers lose Hunter Henry. After suffering a torn ACL last week, Henry will now miss the entirety of the campaign. Henry, who’d been set to enter his third pro season, was expected to take on a larger role after managing 45 receptions and 579 yards a season ago. The Chargers had previously announced they wouldn’t re-sign franchise icon Antonio Gates, but that could possibly change now that Henry is sidelined. Indeed, general manager Tom Telesco said the Bolts will consider all options at tight end and didn’t rule out a Gates pursuit.

Reuben Foster has charges dismissed. Although prosecutors intended to press on with domestic charges against Foster even though his ex-girlfriend testified she’d concocted her story, a judge put an end to Foster’s case by dismissing the DV charges last week. Additionally, Foster saw the charges in an Alabama marijuana case dismissed, as well, although he is still facing a weapons charge in California. Foster, a first-round pick in 2017, has already been welcomed back to the 49ers’ facilities.

Bills cut Richie Incognito. Incognito, who announced his retirement earlier this year, apparently wants to play again, and the Bills have released him from the reserve/retired list. That transaction made Incognito a free agent, meaning the Pro Bowler can now sign with any team of his choosing. Clubs will likely be troubled by Incognito’s most recent incident, however, which involved him getting into an argument at a Florida gym and claiming he is working for the government.

Eagles release Mychal Kendricks. After spending much of the last few years on the trade block, Kendricks was finally cut loose by the Eagles. Kendricks, who is only 27 years old, is expected to garner a significant amount of interest on the free agent market, although he is recovering from a minor ankle operation. Philadelphia lost another linebacker last week, as free agent addition Paul Worrilow tore his ACL on Tuesday.

Panthers have a new owner. The NFL’s Carolina franchise is in new hands, as Steelers minority owner David Tepper purchased the club from Jerry Richardson for a league-record $2.2 billion. That enormous figure may not have even been the high bid, but the NFL looked favorably on Tepper, who not only has league experience, but will own the Panthers in their entirety and without any other investors. While Tepper could make changes to the business side of Carolina’s infrastructure, he’s reportedly unlikely to alter the club’s football operations staff.

Reuben Foster‘s accuser recants allegations. Foster’s ex-girlfriend admitted she fabricated a domestic violence story against the 49ers linebacker, and instead suffered visible injuries during an altercation with another woman. San Francisco had been adamant that it would released Foster had the allegations been proven, but he now appears ready to return to the club at some point. That won’t be during organized team activities, as the 49ers will bar Foster from participation as his case is ongoing.

Johnny Manziel finds work. Although Manziel won’t be playing in the NFL in 2018, he will be on a football field. The former first-round pick signed a two-year deal with the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, meaning he’ll be under center for the first time since 2015. Manziel, who will earn a base salary of $122K for the upcoming season, won’t be able to ink another NFL contract until his CFL deal expires, but Hamilton could do Manziel a favor and release him after the 2018 campaign.

Cardinals address cornerback hole. Arizona had been looking for a defensive back to play opposite All-Pro Patrick Peterson, and began seriously exploring options last week. The Cards first took a visit with free agent Bashaud Breeland, whose three-year, $24MM pact with the Panthers was voided following a failed physical. But instead of inking Breeland, Arizona made a trade, shipping a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Browns in exchange for cornerback Jamar Taylor, who figures to see the majority of snaps as the Cardinals’ CB2.

Safety market heating up? Free agent safeties have largely been out of luck this season, as Tyrann Mathieu‘s one-year, $7MM deal with the Texans still represents the largest annual average for any non-franchised player at the position. The tide could be turning, however, as the Colts met with both Tre Boston and Kenny Vaccaro last week. The Jets, too, had planned to visit with Vaccaro following his summit with Indy. Boston, Vaccaro, and Eric Reid comprise the top of what is still a strong free agent safety crop.

Matt Ryan becomes the NFL’s highest-paid player. Fewer than two months after Kirk Cousins inked a fully guaranteed $84MM deal with the Vikings, Ryan has taken over the moniker of the league’s highest-paid player of all time. Ryan signed a five-year, $150MM extension, and both his new $30MM annual average and $94.5MM guarantee are NFL records. The 32-year-old former MVP had always been expected to land a massive deal, and Cousins’ pact surely set the basis for talks with the Falcons. With Ryan now under contract, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers figures to leap the $30MM annual threshold on his next extension, which Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst says will come “soon.”

Jason Witten retires to join MNF. The Cowboys are now extremely thin at tight end, as Witten last week announced his retirement in order to become an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. While owner Jerry Jones apparently wasn’t ready for Witten to hang up his cleats, the 36-year-old is expected to earn roughly $4-4.5MM on his new TV contract. Witten, who will follow other ex-Cowboys such as Troy Aikman and Tony Romo into the booth, is leaving the NFL with the fourth-most catches (1,152) in league history. Dallas’ tight end depth chart is now led by Geoff Swaim, Rico Gathers, and rookie Dalton Schultz.

Dez Bryant‘s market shrinking. Speaking of former Cowboys, Bryant has yet to find a new team since being released by Dallas last month. Indeed, there are reportedly “far more” teams unwilling to even pay Bryant the minimum salary than there are clubs open to considering a Bryant addition. Bryant recently turned down a pact from the Ravens, a contract that was reportedly worth something close to $21MM over three years. Instead, Bryant is hoping to secure a hefty salary on a one-year deal that will allow him to hit the open market again in 2019.

Derrick Johnson joins a division rival. After 13 seasons with the Chiefs, Johnson will now be suiting up in silver and black. The 35-year-old is the latest addition to Jon Gruden‘s veteran Raiders roster after agreeing to a one-year deal. While Johnson may not be the All-Pro he once was, he will bring leadership and experience to a weak Oakland linebacker depth chart. It’s unclear if the signing of Johnson will prevent the Raiders from bringing back NaVorro Bowman, but the club did cancel its impending meeting with fellow free agent Brian Cushing.

Timmy Jernigan goes under the knife. The Eagles’ vaunted defensive line has taken a hit, as Jernigan is expected to be sidelined four-to-six months after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc. Even in a best-case scenario, Jernigan’s availability for the start of the regular season will be in doubt. Haloti Ngata will replace Jernigan on the interior, while Michael Bennett also has the ability to play on the inside.

Cowboys cut Dez Bryant. Dallas finally cut Bryant on Friday, waiting a month after the opening of the free agent period to do so. The Cowboys did not ask Bryant to accept a pay cut in order to stay (although he says he would have been open to lowering his salary), and the veteran wideout now seems intent on exacting revenge by signing with a club within the NFC East. The decision by Dallas to hold on on releasing Bryant makes little sense, as the club can now no longer enter the market to find a replacement (it’s also not ideal from Bryant’s perspective given that most teams have spent the majority of their free agent dollars). Early potential suitors for Bryant include the Packers, Bills, Cardinals, and Ravens.

Seahawks postpone Colin Kaepernick workout. Seattle had plans to audition the controversial Kaepernick last week, but postponed the scheduled meeting over concerns about Kaepernick’s national anthem protests. While some reports have indicated the Seahawks are still open to signing Kaepernick and simply want to get a sense of his current thinking on the protests, others have said Kaepernick specifically declined to stop kneeling during the anthem. Kaepernick, of course, did not play in 2017 as teams were evidently wary of adding him given his stance on the anthem.

Browns extend Jarvis Landry. A little more than a month after acquiring him from the Dolphins, the Browns handed Landry a five-year, $75.5MM extension that contains $34MM guaranteed. On an annual basis, Landry is now the sixth-highest-paid wideout in the NFL, while his guarantees ranks fifth. Landry, of course, was under the franchise tag when Miami shipped him to Cleveland in excahnge for fourth- and seventh-round picks. One of the better slot receivers in the league, Landry’s new salary could mean the Browns have plans to use him on the outside.

Saints sign RFA Cameron Meredith. The Bears declined to match a two-year, $9.6MM offer sheet for Meredith and thus lost him to the Saints. Because Chicago only tendered Meredith at the original round level, the club won’t receive any compensation as Meredith heads to New Orleans. The Bears had the option of tendering Meredith at the second-round level at a cost of $2.914MM, only ~$1MM more than the original round price of $1.907MM.

Eric Reid visits Bengals. Like Kaepernick, Reid has not drawn much interest after kneeling for the anthem over the past season-plus. However, the safety market has also been slow to develop, as starting options such as Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, and Tre Boston all remain unsigned. Cincinnati owner Mike Brown reportedly asked Reid about his plans for the anthem going forward, and Reid did not say he would stop kneeling.

Brandin Cooks to Rams. New England and Los Angeles completed a blockbuster last week, as the Patriots sent Cooks and a fourth-round pick to the Rams in exchange for the No. 23 overall selection plus a sixth-rounder. Cooks, who will help replace Sammy Watkins in LA, is entering the final year of his contract, but the Rams have every intention on extending him. The Patriots reportedly discussed a multi-year deal with Cooks before trading him, but they’ve begun to fill his void by signing former Bills wideout Jordan Matthews.

Patriots won’t trade Rob Gronkowski. Now that Cooks is no longer in tow, New England has no intention of shipping out Gronkowski. While reports indicated that rival clubs planned to call the Patriots in regards to Gronk’s availability, New England never gave any real indication that the All Pro tight end was on the table. Gronkowski, of course, is still a dominant player when healthy. In 2017, Gronk was on the field for 14 games, and managed 69 receptions, 1,084 yards, and eight touchdowns, all of which placed him within the top-five among tight ends. He’s signed through the 2019 campaign, with base salaries of $8MM and $9MM over the next two respective seasons.

RG3 is back. After spending the 2017 campaign out of the NFL, Robert Griffin III has returned on a one-year deal with the Ravens. Griffin is now slotted in as the Ravens’ backup quarterback behind starter Joe Flacco, and his addition almost surely means Baltimore will not re-sign former No. 2 signal-caller Ryan Mallett. Flacco has been extremely durable during his decade-long career, so there’s no guarantee that Griffin will see any action during the regular season, but the ex-Offensive Rookie of the Year will have a shot to show what he has left during the preseason.

Saints deploy RFA offer sheet. The Saints inked Bears restricted free agent wide receiver Cameron Meredith to a two-year, $9.6MM offer sheet which includes $5.4MM guaranteed, and because Chicago only tendered Meredith at the original round level, the Bears won’t receive any compensation if they fail to match. Chicago general manager Ryan Pace could have avoided this entire situation by tendering Meredith at the second-round level, a decision which would have only cost the Bears an additional ~$1MM. Before signing a proposal with New Orleans, Meredith was also handed an offer sheet from the Ravens.

Odell Beckham Jr. to report to Giants. Despite weeks of speculation, it remains “highly unlikely” that the Giants will trade Beckham as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. New York was reportedly searching for two first-round picks in exchange for OBJ, but barring a mammoth offer, it appears he’ll be suiting up for Big Blue. Beckham will report to workouts on Monday in something of a goodwill gesture.