February 2012
66 posts
Ward to be Cut by Steelers
While the Steelers continue to finagle their salary cap holdings in order to ensure the return of receiver Mike Wallace, it is clear that another receiver will not be back in Pittsburgh in 2012.
It was announced this afternoon that Hines Ward, who has been with the Steelers for each of 14 NFL seasons, will be released by the team.
Speculation surrounding Ward’s future in black and...
Brees, Saints a Ways Apart on Contract
The biggest name on the impending free agent market (and no, I’m not counting Peyton Manning as a free agent yet) is New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. He’s a former Super Bowl winner (and game MVP), a two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, owner of the most passing yards in a single season, and without a contract for the 2012 NFL season.
What’s clear about Brees’ situation is...
Franchise Snapshot: Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
Division: AFC East
Owner: Stephen Ross
Head Coach: Joe Philbin (entering 1st season with Miami)
General Manager: Jeff Ireland
2011 Record: 6-10, 4th in AFC East
First Round Draft Status: 8th overall pick.
Notable Free Agents: QB Chad Henne, OT Vernon Carey, OT Marc Colombo, NT Paul Soliai, LB Jason Taylor (retired), DE Kendall Langford, DE Phillip Merling...
Report: Patriots Approach Ochocinco About Contract
Given his paltry production in 2011, it’s no surprise that the Patriots have reportedly approached receiver Chad Ochocinco about restructuring his current contract, which is due to pay him a base salary of $3 million for each of the next two seasons.
The colorful wideout is always a topic of conversation in NFL circles, and although he played a miniscule role in the Patriots...
Hue Jackson: Insurance for a Gruden Departure?
In a move that many chalked up to “the Bengals being the Bengals,” Hue Jackson – the former Oakland Raider head coach – was hired to be Cincinnati’s assistant specials team and assistant secondary coach.
Fired coaches often return to previous employers (Jackson was Cincinnati’s receiver coach before becoming Oakland’s offensive coordinator in 2010), so it wasn’t so much that Jackson was...
Browns Won't Franchise Hillis
Cross Peyton Hillis’ name of the list of potential players to receive the franchise tag this offseason, as Mary Kay Cabot reports in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Browns do intend to try to re-sign Hillis, but will not franchise the running back, which would entitle him to a one-year deal worth roughly $8 million.
It’s a sound move by the franchise, even though...
Bart Scott Seeks Trade
Apparently, the Jets “cant wait” to say goodbye to Bart Scott, as the team has given the veteran linebacker permission to seek a trade.
Scott, who joined New York shortly after head coach Rex Ryan arrived in town, has three years remaining on the original six-year, $48 million pact he signed in 2009, and a fully guaranteed base 2012 salary of $4.2 million.
His role diminished in 2011...
Franchise Snapshot: Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
Division: AFC East
Owner: Ralph Wilson
Head Coach: Chan Gailey (entering 3rd season with Buffalo, 10-22 record)
General Manager: Buddy Nix
2011 Record: 6-10, 4th in AFC East
First Round Draft Status: 10th overall pick.
Notable Free Agents: WR Stevie Johnson, WR Roscoe Parrish, TE Scott Chandler, OT Demetrius Bell, LB Kirk Morrison, S Bryan Scott, OL Kraig Urbik...
Crennel Talks Manning, Misguided Media Backlash...
In the latest attempt to make a mountain out of an ant hole, media members have jumped all over Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel’s comments regarding Peyton Manning.
To paraphrase, Crennel indicated that if Manning were to become available, he – like anyone else – would be “crazy” not to consider signing the veteran to his team.
Although it appears the Colts wont pursue any...
Jason Smith May Stick in St. Louis
It’s likely a player from Baylor will be selected with the second overall pick in this year’s draft, as quarterback Robert Griffin III has emerged as the best draft prospect this side of Andrew Luck.
The pick currently belong to St. Louis, although it’s likely the Rams will unload it via a pre-draft trade.
Three years ago, another Baylor Bear flew up the draft...
Three Up, Three Down
We spent time yesterday fawning over Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd, who leaves the NFL combine in much better shape than how he entered it. But the speedy 22-year old isn’t the only person whose stock shifted over the weekend.
Here’s a look at three winners and three losers.
Winners:
1. Stephen Hill, wide receiver, Georgia Tech: Hill talked at the combine about being the...
49ers Re-Sign CJ Spillman
The San Francisco 49ers had 19 players with expiring contracts after the 2011 season, one in which they surprised the NFL with 13 wins and a division championship.
At least one of those 19 players isn’t going anywhere, as back-up safety and special teams ace CJ Spillman was signed to a three-year contract extension, providing the 25-year old some financial security.
It’s a move...
Browns Re-Up D'Qwell Jackson
Few stories parallel that of D’Qwell Jackson’s comeback to football in 2011, after the Browns middle linebacker missed nearly all of 2009 and 2010 with major injuries.
The former second round pick amassed 158 tackles this past season to go along with 3.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. He’s widely regarded as one of the best inside linebackers in all of football, and he’s now...
Packers Targeting Chris Myers?
They say holding isn’t a penalty if you don’t get caught, and apparently the same is true about premature contract negotiations in the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers – who face the prospect of their starting center Scott Wells testing the free agent market – have had discussions with the agent for Texans center Chris Myers, who is also due to become a free agent, according to Bob McGinn of...
Griffin, Luck Measure Up Athletically
These days, it seems like Robert Griffin III can do no wrong.
After leaving Baylor early – and arguably as the greatest player in school history – the 22-year old has been on a mission to make his case to be the top pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL draft.
Upon his arrival in Indianapolis for the combine, Griffin held court in front of throngs of media members and wowed reporters with...
Moss Willing to Sign Without Financial Guarantee?
Randy Moss – the former Viking, Raider, Patriot and Titan wide receiver – has made it clear he intends to return to the NFL in 2012. Apparently, he’s pretty serious.
A recent report on Yahoo! Sports indicates that Moss is willing to sign an incentive-laden contract with a team without any up front guarantee.
While questions remain about the shape and condition Moss has kept his body in...
Manningham May Land in Tampa Bay, According to...
Mario Manningham’s ascension to national notoriety is likely to land him a hefty pay raise, as he’s due to become a free agent March 13th.
Early indications are that the Giants receiver wont be back with New York, however, as Clark Judge of CBS Sports says in this report.
Judge believes that Manningham will end up in Tampa Bay, where he would reunite with former...
Floyd Takes Flight
The combine is an opportunity for players to improve their draft stock – at least in some instances – and few players have done that as much as wide receiver Michael Floyd of Notre Dame.
And he managed to do so in less than four and a half seconds.
Floyd, who finished his four-year career as a Golden Domer with 271 catches and 37 scores, was amongst the wide receivers who...
Welker, Bowe Likely to be Franchised
Despite the fact that no player has officially received the franchise tag this offseason, multiple reports have indicated that a growing list of free-agents-to-be will soon be franchised.
Why no tags yet? Teams remain optimistic (or at least hopeful) that they can sign their players to multi-year extensions, and the window for franchising doesn’t close until March...
Matt Kalil Ready to Make NFL a Family Affair
In some ways, it might not be easy being the kid brother of one of the best young centers in all of football, but that’s a reality former USC left tackle Matt Kalil has to live with.
At least for now.
Matt’s older bro Ryan, a USC grad himself, is the center and anchor of the Carolina Panthers offensive line and was inked to a 6 year, $49 million extension with the team before the...
Peyton to the Chiefs?
Few players who aren’t in attendance could command the attention of some 750 media members at this weekend’s combine, but few players have the historical success of Peyton Manning.
Manning, who happens to have played his entire career in the city where the combine is annually hosted, continues to be a major topic of conversation this off-season, and comments from Chiefs head coach...
Orson Charles: First Round Pick in the Making?
The meteoric rise of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in 2011 for New England further signaled that a new brand of tight ends is ready to emerge across the NFL landscape.
Gronkowski set records for touchdown passes and yards in a single-season by a tight end, and Hernandez aligned all over the field in New England’s high-octane attack.
Each had questions surrounding them prior to...
DeSean Jackson on Trading Block, According to...
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to field trade offers for WR DeSean Jackson, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Jackson, who is presumed to soon receive the franchise tag, finished 2011 with 58 catches for 961 yards, and is considered one of the best big play threats in all of football.
Immaturity issues hurt Jackson in 2011, and he was deactivated for a late season game by head...
Griffin, Luck Hold Court, Impress the Media Masses
Unsurprisingly, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III said all the right things in front of hoards of media members on Friday afternoon at the NFL combine.
Both players displayed humility and an appreciation for Peyton Manning, a player one of them may soon replace in Indianapolis.
For whatever it’s worth (that’s for you to decide yourself), Griffin proved more...
Blackmon, Jeffrey Won't Run At Combine
Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffrey, the two wide receivers eligible for the 2012 NFL draft that everyone wants to see run, will not at the NFL combine.
Blackmon, who projects as a top five selection, is nursing a hamstring injury and will not run until his March pro day.
Jeffrey has no such injury concerns, and flexed a trimmer physique at Friday’s measurements, but he too will wait...
Jeff Fisher is Bold
Jeff Fisher, the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams, is bold.
Despite curious off-field behavior and mediocre on field results, Fisher has openly acknowledged his potential interest in free agents WR Randy Moss and DT Albert Haynesworth.
Moss’ figures to draw an unpredictable market – as memories of his Hall of Fame worthy career seem to have overshadowed his porous 2010. Moss...
Chiefs Seek Competition; Orton Return Possible
Ample indications suggest that Matt Cassel will enter 2012 training camp as the Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback, but general manager Scott Pioli remains determined to provide competition throughout the roster.
Pioli, who met with the press Friday during the NFL combine, acknowledged that the Chiefs have had discussions with soon-to-be free agent Kyle Orton about a possible return...
Tyron Smith Heads Left
It’s not uncommon to see college offensive tackles switch to the opposite side of the line when they reach the ranks of the pros, only it typically involves a left tackle alternating to the right side.
The reason rests in the premium put on left tackles at all levels, but especially in the NFL, where franchise quarterbacks are the most expensive investments on the field, and a capable blindside...
Andre Carter Could Head Back to Patriots
According to several tweets from New England-based media members, the agent for soon-to-be free agent defensive end Andre Carter indicated that he and the Patriots have discussed a possible return for the 11-year veteran to New England.
Carter rejuvenated his career as a Patriot in 2011, his first season with the team, by recording 10 sacks in 14 games, including a four-sack effort against the New...
Friday Round-Up: VJax, RG3, Coin Flips, Wallace &...
Jackson Back as a Bolt?
One of the fun parts about the combine, and this holds true any time the 32 NFL franchises congregate, is that it seems to force chatter, speculation and action on the parts of team decision-makers.
Entering the combine, many assumed that Vincent Jackson’s career with the Chargers was a thing of the past. Now, evidently, that may not be the case. The Chargers have the...
Packers Lock Up Finley
While precisely no NFL players have yet received the franchise tag from their respective teams, there is one (former) free agent we know will not earn that distinction.
The Green Bay Packers struck a two-year, $15 million deal with free agent tight end Jermichael Finley, one of the players many assumed would receive the franchise tag if he and the Packers could not agree to...
On Draft Grades
As the 2012 NFL combine draws ever nearer (it begins tomorrow), an issue that permeates throughout draft coverage and analysis has once again come to light. Over the next six days in Indianapolis, and for the remaining two-plus months before the draft, you’ll hear players described by experts and analysts alike as “first-round” or “late round” or “second day” picks, amongst many other terms. ...
To Throw Or Not To Throw?
Up to this point in time, former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III has done as much as one could possibly ask of an NFL draft prospect. He guided a long-downtrodden Big 12 school to unparalleled success on the field, captured a Heisman trophy for his personal accolades, and did it all with abundant dignity and class.
He personifies the newest blend of franchise quarterback’s in the NFL: a...
On the Steelers Offseason
Typically when teams experience sustained success on the field, it is preceded and followed by productive (if not smooth) offseasons away from it.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, its looking like this once again might not be the case.
Previous offseasons in Pittsburgh have centered as much on franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s legal woes as the game of football itself, but it’s nothing that...
Griffin Switches Pro Day
Debate will continue over who deserves to be selected with the top overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, as Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck continue to impress in every opportunity they receive.
The two possess similar acumen on the field, and are apparently like-minded off of it, as both Baylor and Stanford – their respective universities – were scheduled to hold Pro Days on March 22nd, an...
On the Value of the Combine
For the first time in its history, the NFL combine will host 250 spectators for the forthcoming events to be held in Indianapolis this weekend. This select group will be afforded the opportunity to watch the on-field drills that will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium, and witness such highly-touted prospects as Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III in the midst of their pre-draft...
Bills, Johnson Negotiating
The window for teams to franchise players has officially opened, and it’s starting to look like Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson won’t be one of the lucky tag recipients.
Johnson’s pending free agency was a topic of conversation throughout much of the 2011 season in Buffalo, as the fourth year wide receiver emerged as a capable threat in Chan Gailey’s offense.
Coming off of back-to-back...
Making Sense of the Hue Hiring
Rarely does the hiring of a position coach generate noise across the NFL landscape, and even more rarely (as in, never) does the hiring of an assistant position coach make headlines across all media outlets.
Until now.
Hue Jackson, he of former Oakland Raider head coach fame, was recently tabbed as an assistant secondary and assistant special teams coach on Marvin Lewis’ staff in Cincinnati –...
Links!
Who says nothing happens in the weeks following the NFL season and before the combine?
Here’s a look at some of the major news of the past few days in the NFL:
Coaching News
Former Raiders head coach Hue Jackson — who has never coached special teams or defense in his career — is rejoining the Bengals staff as a defensive/special teams assistant.
Bill Sheridan, who briefly...
Roster Holes: 5 Non-Quarterback Team Needs That...
Few universal beliefs exist amongst coaches across the National Football League.
Some prefer their linemen strong enough to move mountains. Others like 300 pounders with the feet of a dancer.
Some blitz. Others cover.
Some win the coin toss and receive. Others defer.
Plainly, no two coaches are the same. And neither are their approaches to winning football games.
Except in one way.
Every...
Thoughts From The Field Podcast, February 15th
Here’s the link to today’s podcast, covering Irsay and Manning, Haynseworth, Monday Night Football, and more from all four major sports leagues.
http://thoughtsfromthefield.podbean.com/2012/02/15/tftf-21512/
Jim Irsay: A Smart Guy Who Isn't Acting Like It
Jim Irsay is a smart guy. He’s worth over a billion dollars. Must be pretty smart, right?
Evidence beyond his financial fortune exists to suggest that Irsay is a capable mind: he took over a struggling NFL team at the age of 24 and has overseen its growth into an elite NFL franchise.
He catalyzed the building of Lucas Oil Stadium, brought Indianapolis its...
On The Patriots And Green-Ellis
To oversimplify it, free agency – in any sport – is founded upon four principles: knowing what you have, knowing what you want, knowing what a player offers, and knowing the price you’re willing to pay for a particular player.
One player due to hit the free agent market when the new league year commences is Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, affectionately known by...
5 Players Who Should Be Franchised, in 140 Words...
If such a thing as a contractual double-edged sword exists in the world of NFL contracts, the franchise tag is it.
Teams have the option to assign the tag to one of their free agents (restricted or unrestricted) during a window that closes on March 5th, and that tag ensures the player a one-year contract worth the average of the top five salaries at his position from the season past. That is to...
Landing Randy: 5 Potential Fits For Moss, in 140...
In football, few things are more difficult than letting go.
Even the most iconic of players have ended their careers with pedestrian years in the post-prime portion of their professional timeline, and such seasons often threaten to cloud their once invincible legacies.
No example rings louder in recent memory than Brett Favre, who faded back and forth between retirement and “unretirement” on...
Breakout Candidates For 2012, in 140 Words or Less
Any day now, the Indianapolis Colts are likely to make a decision on the future of QB Peyton Manning, and a ripple effect will erupt as a result of it.
No shortage of suitors are likely to line up for the soon-to-be 36-year old’s services, and the group is sure to include teams with and without perceived quarterback issues – Manning is that good.
It’s obvious that teams like Miami, Washington...
Making Amends: Four Rule Changes That Need To Be...
The NFL, like any good business operation, is perpetually seeking ways to improve its product. Typically areas of weakness shine through during game play, leaving the NFL two options: implement alterations to the rulebook that take effect immediately, or stew on the dilemma until the offseason and allow the Competition Committee to sift through the plausible options to address...
Worthy Investments
The first round proceedings for the 2012 NFL draft remain some 75 days away, but draft season is long under away, with teams gearing up for the combine in Indianapolis, which is finally just around the corner.
The combine is an opportunity for the most NFL-ready of eligible draft prospects to showcase their individual abilities, both on and off the FieldTurf of Lucas Oil...
Hindsight: Looking Back at 10 NFC Decisions, In...
A day after sifting through 10 critical decisions that affected the AFC during the 2011 NFL season, we’re ready to turn our attention to the NFC.
It was a good season for the conference, as the Giants won the Super Bowl and three teams won thirteen or more regular season games. But not everything went quite as planned for the 16 NFC franchises.
Here’s a look back at 10 critical decisions...
Hindsight: Looking Back at 10 AFC Decisions, In...
The beauty of hindsight is the impeccable lens we look through to see it. We know now that favoring the Patriots heading into Super Bowl XLVI was unwise, but what percentage of football fans could have declared such to be the case with conviction before Sunday night?
We also know that just because you win during the offseason, it doesn’t translate to winning during the regular season (just ask...
