NFL News

[Mainevent]

[dpatnod]

Ricky Williams?

[jaadam4]

Cross off Orlando Brown Jr. as an option for the Jaguars. I’ll love the Saints if they somehow tag Armstead and work magical accounting voodoo on their cap situation.
We’re about to see a storm of NFL news hit us in the coming days regardless…

I still can’t believe he fell that far in the draft when he was that good in college.

40 times for an OL? The bench screwed him tho

[jaadam4]

Calvin Ridley is getting screwed over IMO. That dude wasn’t even playing football at the time as he was sitting out. I get they he might have inside info and connections to the game but that’s garbage.

The NFL has no issue partnering with gambling sites.

[Futureshock]

Calvin Ridley is getting screwed over IMO. That dude wasn’t even playing football at the time as he was sitting out. I get they he might have inside info and connections to the game but that’s garbage.

The NFL has no issue partnering with gambling sites.

I somewhat agree only because the league is aware and allows the players to be in fantasy leagues AND allow casinos to advertise. It's just the epitome, to me, of hypocrisy. I don't think players should be gambling (that includes fantasy) and i don't think the league should be in bed with casinos. There's a long line of companies willing to pay that money. It's not a good look when a League, or Association to be getting money from gambling.

To me, it looks bad for Ridley, but it looks worse on the NFL and other sports. Whatever

[Futureshock]

You can bet on it.

Nice!

[Futureshock]

Bills will pick up Ed Oliver’s fifth-year option

Posted by Myles Simmons on March 8, 2022, 8:52 AM EST

Getty Images

There won’t be much drama when it comes to Ed Oliver‘s 2023 season with Buffalo.

Via Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said during an interview on WGR 550 that the team will exercise Oliver’s fifth-year option before May 2 deadline.

Oliver, the No. 9 overall pick of the 2019 draft, will earn $10.735 million guaranteed in 2023.

Beane noted that the team doesn’t anticipate getting a long-term deal done with Oliver before formally picking up the option, as there’s plenty of time to get that done before Oliver’s contract expires.

Oliver started all 17 games for Buffalo in 2021, playing 58 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. He finished with 41 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, and 14 quarterback hits.

In 49 games with 40 starts, Oliver has 12.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, 21 tackles for loss, and 28 quarterback hits.

[Futureshock]

USFL’s full TV schedule will put most games on broadcast television

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 8, 2022, 8:24 AM EST

Getty Images

The USFL faces an uphill battle to succeed where other recent spring football leagues have failed, but the league’s TV deal certainly gives it a chance to reach a large fan base.

The full TV schedule for the 2022 USFL season was announced today, and most games will be on broadcast television. Fox will air 14 USFL games and NBC will air nine USFL games. The first game, on April 16, will air on both NBC and Fox, making it just the third pro football game to air simultaneously on two broadcast networks, following Super Bowl I and the 2007 Patriots-Giants game that concluded New England’s 16-0 season.

In all there will be 43 USFL games: A 10-week regular season with four games a week, followed by two playoff games and one championship game. In addition to the 14 games on Fox and nine on NBC/Peacock, nine games will air on USA, eight games will air on FS1 and four will air exclusively on Peacock.

The USFL will have 20 Sunday games, 19 Saturday games and four Friday night games.

[Futureshock]

The Calvin Ridley punishment raises the stakes for Stephen Ross

Posted by Mike Florio on March 7, 2022, 8:49 PM EST

Getty Images

The NFL has hammered Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley for betting on football while away from the team and on the non-football injury list in 2021. That’s the league’s prerogative.

Nevertheless, the situation places even greater pressure on the NFL to properly handle the still-lingering controversy regarding the allegation made by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered Flores $100,000 for each loss in 2019.

Compare the two situations. Ridley made a variety of parlay wagers. In so doing, he bet on his team to win, not lose. He wasn’t even playing in the games, so there was no direct connection between bettor and player. Also, he wasn’t even with the team when he placed the bets. (And did we mention that he actually bet on the Falcon? The Falcons?)

Ross, in contrast, is accused of encouraging his head coach to blow games in the hopes of enhancing draft status in 2020. Ross allegedly wanted his team to lose, necessarily compromising the integrity of all wagers placed on the Dolphins in 2019.

It’s a far more serious infraction. It’s a far more troubling situation. And to the extent that owners are held to a higher standard than players (as explained in Playmakers, they’re supposed to be — but they’re not), Ross will be facing far greater consequences than Ridley, if the allegations are proven to be true.

For the NFL, that’s the real challenge. Will it aggressively pursue the situation, given the practical consequences for Ross? Will the league want to admit to the world that such an egregious affront to the integrity of the game occurred, at the behest of one of the stewards of the league’s 32 franchises?

Ross ultimately may push the idea that he was joking. Will the league buy that one? Can the league afford not to?

The Commissioner’s constituents are the owners. No one else. He doesn’t answer to the players. They don’t hire him. They don’t pay him. Ross and his partners do.

That’s the way it is. The way it goes. But if the league is going to kick Ridley out of the sport for a year because he decided to download an app and place a few bets that had no direct impact on the integrity of the game, it can’t mince words or pull punches with Ross, who wanted his team to lose.

Let’s see whether the league applies the same standard to Ross that it applied to Ridley.

[Cody_Russell]

A lot of spending so far. Come on, Lions. Please re-sign Tracy Walker…

I still can’t believe he fell that far in the draft when he was that good in college.

40 times for an OL? The bench screwed him tho

I remember Orlando Brown Jr. having questions about his size and quickness. Maybe was he fat in college?
Yeah… I had positive memories about him as a draft prospect out of Oklahoma.

[Futureshock]

Bengals announce franchise tag for Jessie Bates

Posted by Charean Williams on March 7, 2022, 6:48 PM EST

Getty Images

The Bengals announced the use of the franchise tag on safety Jessie Bates III, a move that appeared on the NFL’s transactions report Monday.

He will count $12.911 million against the team’s salary cap and gives the sides until 4 p.m. ET on July 15 to work out a long-term deal.

“Jessie has been an outstanding player here for four years,” Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said in a statement. “Over the past year, we’ve tried to extend his contract here in Cincinnati, and while that hasn’t come to pass, we want him here for 2022 to be a part of what we think should be an exciting football season and bright future for our organization.”

The Bengals made Bates a second-round choice in 2018. He has played i3 career games and has 406 tackles, 10 interceptions, 35 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Bates was a team captain in 2021.

“Jessie has been an important part of this organization both on the field and in the locker room,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “I’m excited about the opportunity for Jessie to be with us again this year as we continue to improve our team.”

[chemiclord]

He has played i3 career games and has 406 tackles, 10 interceptions, 35 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Bates was a team captain in 2021.

Damn, imagine how good he would have been if he had been installed with an i7 at least, or sprung a little bit extra for an i9.

[Futureshock]

Fifth-year option salaries set for 2019 first-round picks

Posted by Josh Alper on March 7, 2022, 6:35 PM EST

Getty Images

NFL teams have until May 2 to make decisions about picking up fifth-year options for their 2019 first-round picks and the league set the salaries that go with those options on Monday.

Those salaries are guaranteed when the option is picked up and come in four different categories. The lowest level is equal to the average of the 3rd to 25th highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons while players who have played 75 percent of their team’s snaps in two seasons or 50 percent over their first three seasons get salaries equal to the 3rd to 20th highest salaries at their position.

Players who have made one Pro Bowl have a salary equal to the transition tag while players with multiple Pro Bowl appearances earn the same as this year’s franchise tag. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is in that group and he kicks off this year’s list of players in line for options as the first overall pick from 2019.

1. Quarterback Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $29,703,000
2. Defensive end Nick Bosa, 49ers: $17,859,000
3. Defensive end Quinnen Williams, Jets: $11,500,000
4. Defensive end Clelin Ferrell, Raiders: $11,500,000
5. Linebacker Devin White, Buccaneers: $11,706,000
6. Quarterback Daniel Jones, Giants: $22,384,000
7. Defensive end Josh Allen, Jaguars: $11,500,000
8. Tight end T.J. Hockenson, Lions: $9,392,000
9. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Bills: $10,753,000
10. Linebacker Devin Bush, Steelers: $10,892,000
11. Tackle Jonah Williams, Bengals: $12,604,000
12. Linebacker Rashan Gary, Packers: $10,892,000
13. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, Dolphins: $10,753,000
14. Guard Chris Lindstrom, Falcons: $13,202,000
15. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins: No option because he was released by the Commanders.
16. Defensive end Brian Burns, Panthers: $16,012,000
17. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, Giants: $10,753,000
18. Center Garrett Bradbury, Vikings: $13,202,000
19. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, Titans: $10,753,000
20. Tight end Noah Fant, Broncos: $6,850,000
21. Safety Darnell Savage, Packers: $7,901,000
22. Tackle Andre Dillard, Eagles: $12,604,000
23. Tackle Tytus Howard, Texans: $13,202,000
24. Running back Josh Jacobs, Raiders: $8,034,000
25. Wide receiver Marquise Brown, Ravens: $13,413,000
26. Defensive end Montez Sweat, Commanders: $11,500,000
27. Safety Johnathan Abram, Raiders: $7,901,000
28. Defensive end Jerry Tillery, Chargers: $11,500,000
29. Defensive end L.J. Collier, Seahawks: $11,500,000
30. Cornerback Deandre Baker: No option to pick up after being released by the Giants.
31. Tackle Kaleb McGary, Falcons: $13,202,000
32. Wide receiver N'Keal Harry, Patriots: $12,425,000

[Futureshock]

NFL sets franchise, transition tag salaries for 2022 season

Posted by Josh Alper on March 7, 2022, 5:36 PM EST

Getty Images

A couple of teams used their franchise tags on Monday and the league has now officially announced the salary that goes along with that tag.

Browns tight end David Njoku will earn $10.931 million if he plays out the year on the tag and Bengals safety Jessie Bates will take home $12.911 million if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal with the team in the coming months.

Word on Monday was that the Buccaneers are prepared to tag wide receiver Chris Godwin. The wide receiver tag comes with a salary of $18.419 million, but Godwin would make around $19.18 million because he was tagged last year and a second tag comes with 120 percent of the previous year’s salary.

If a team uses an exclusive franchise tag, that player would be in line for a salary equal to the average of the five largest salaries at the position for the current year. Non-exclusive tags are derived from the top five salaries over the previous five seasons.

The non-exclusive tags by position are:

Quarterback: $29,703,000
Running back: $9,570,000
Wide receiver: $18,419,000
Tight end: $10,913,000
Offensive line: $16,662,000
Defensive tackle: $17,396,000
Defensive end: $17,859,000
Linebacker: $18,702,000
Cornerback: $17,287,000
Saftery: $12,911,000
Kicker/Punter: $5,220,000

Transition tags are derived from the top 10 salaries at a position. While teams have to give up two first-round picks as compensation for signing a player with a non-exclusive franchise tag, there is no compensation for transition-tagged players.

The transition tag values are:

Quarterback: $27,186,000
Running back: $8,034,000
Wide receiver: $16,782,000
Tight end: $9,392,000
Offensive line: $15,348,000
Defensive tackle: $14,716,000
Defensive end: $16,012,000
Linebacker: $15,783,000
Cornerback: $15,167,000
Safety: $10,817,000
Kicker/Punter: $4,701,000

[Futureshock]

Report: Panthers have gotten calls about trading Christian McCaffrey

Posted by Josh Alper on March 7, 2022, 2:55 PM EST

Getty Images

Panthers General Manager Scott Fitterer said in January that the team had “no intentions right now” of trading running back Christian McCaffrey, but that he’d take all calls and listed to what other teams might offer.

Fitterer has reportedly been getting those calls. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that the Panthers have gotten more than one call from teams seeing if the Panthers would part with the 2017 first-round pick.

Per the report, the Panthers would require a first-round pick and “another piece of compensation” in order for any deal to move forward.

McCaffrey has missed 23 games over the last two seasons because of ankle, hamstring, and shoulder injuries. He signed a contract extension through 2025 ahead of the 2020 season and is set to make $8.4 million this year with a cap hit of over $14.3 million.