NFL News

[Futureshock]

There's nothing but air, opportunity and patience (well, lack thereof) in your way pal...

Trent Baalke hopes Jaguars get to place where they don’t rely on free agency as much

Posted by Josh Alper on March 17, 2022, 7:54 AM EDT

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The Jaguars have been one of the busiest teams in the NFL this week.

Wide receiver Christian Kirk, linebacker Foye Oluokun, guard Brandon Scherff, defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi, cornerback Darious Williams, wide receiver Zay Jones, and tight end Evan Engram are coming to Jacksonville as free agents after the Jaguars handed out more than $155 million in guaranteed money. The moves come after the team went 4-29 the last two seasons while playing with a roster short on talent.

The hope is that this week’s moves push the team to better results, but General Manager Trent Baalke noted on Wednesday that it’s not a sustainable approach to long-term team building.

“We’re trying to fix this thing long term, have a vision for the future as we build this thing out, and right now it’s a combination of free agency and the draft,” Baalke said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. “We hope to get this organization to the point where we’re not relying on free agency as much. We’re relying on our drafts and giving second contracts to those guys.”

A similar spending spree in 2017 was followed by a trip to the AFC Championship Game, but the Jaguars fell off a cliff from there as they never built a long-term foundation for success. Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson will be trying to avoid the same kind of fate after splashing money around this offseason.

[Futureshock]

A similar spending spree in 2017 was followed by a trip to the AFC Championship Game, but the Jaguars fell off a cliff from there as they never built a long-term foundation for success. Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson will be trying to avoid the same kind of fate after splashing money around this offseason.

This whole paragraph is oxymoronic.

The reason it fell apart was they had a bunch of players that needed to get paid and they never planned for it because they threw all their money to FAs instead of taking care of their own. The same moron is still going to make the same mistake.

Hutch (if they pick him) should be available in FA in 6 yrs

[Futureshock]

Jerry need money to pay his baby momma


DeMarcus Lawrence calls Cowboys’ initial $9 million pay cut request “disrespectful”

Posted by Charean Williams on March 16, 2022, 11:01 PM EDT

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DeMarcus Lawrence‘s future with the Cowboys appeared in doubt when he turned down a pay cut earlier this offseason. But the sides worked things out, with the edge rusher signing a new three-year, $40 million deal that fully guarantees him $30 million.

All’s well that end’s well?

Lawrence pulled back the curtain on how it went down, leaving him initially upset with the team. He was scheduled to make $19 million in base salary in 2022, and Lawrence said the Cowboys asked him to take a $9 million pay cut.

“(Executive vice president Stephen Jones) sent me over a number and I’m like, ‘What is this shit, bro?'” Lawrence said on CBS’ “All Things Covered” podcast with Bryant McFadden and Patrick Peterson. “‘Why are y’all sitting here playing with me.’ You don’t want to know (the number) man; it’s disrespectful. . . . I feel like it was disrespectful. I told them like, ‘Hey, man, the Cowboys have done a lot for me, and I thank y’all for everything y’all done, but I think it’s time for us to part ways, and I wish for y’all to cut me.'”

In an effort to keep Lawrence in Dallas, Lawrence’s agent, David Canter, constructed a new deal he presented to Stephen Jones.

“Stephen was like, ‘All right, I’m about to bring your offer to Jerry (Jones) to see what he says, but I’m pretty sure he’s gonna be pissed about it because he just gave you $65 million,'” Lawrence said. “My response was, ‘He ain’t give me shit. I earned it. Feel me? So if Jerry wants to keep me here, he has to understand this is what I’m worth, and I’m actually showing love and helping y’all out by offering y’all the relief in cap space.

“‘So let’s go out here and have a fruitful free agency and pick up the guys we need in order to win a Super Bowl. Because if I’m not getting this number, I won’t be here to help.’ Jerry was like, ‘Shoot, D-Law has been faithful to us for the last seven or eight years, give him his money. Jerry came in and got it straight.'”

No team has received more negative publicity this offseason than the Cowboys, who, among other things, saw their public relations director resign last month before a 2015 voyeurism scandal became public. Lawrence’s comments came out on the same day his former teammate, Randy Gregory, agreed to a deal with the Cowboys and then changed his mind and signed with the Broncos. Gregory’s agent, Peter Schaffer, accused the Cowboys of adding a clause that wiped out guarantees in the event of a fine after Gregory agreed to the deal.

Lawrence, though, got what he wanted, becoming the NFL’s first defensive end to have his contract fully guaranteed for seven consecutive seasons.

[Futureshock]

Four teams propose delaying certain front-office hirings until after the draft

Posted by Mike Florio on March 16, 2022, 10:44 PM EDT

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At a time when some want to delay the hiring of coaches until after the Super Bowl, four teams have proposed delaying the hiring of some front-office personnel until after the draft.

The Ravens, Bills, Eagles, and Buccaneers have proposed an amendment to the tampering policy that allows teams to decline permission for so-called “Secondary Football Executive” positions (e.g., assistant G.M.) until the draft has come and gone. After the draft and through June 30, the employer club would be required to grant permission for another club to interview and hire a non-high-level executive or non-secondary football executive for a secondary football executive position.

In the formal proposal, the teams that submitted it explain that it will allow “the employer club the choice to retain its player personnel staff” through the draft, and that after the draft “the employer club is required to grant permission for another club to interview and hire a non-high-level executive or non-secondary football executive for a secondary football executive position.”

The goal is to strike the balance between promoting opportunities and ensuring competitive integrity, given that employees who take jobs with new teams in January or February take with them a significant amount of institutional knowledge as to free agency and the draft.

Along with the various proposals to revise overtime, these are the only new rules proposed by any of the NFL’s teams in advance of the league meetings to be held later this month. The Competition Committee likely will have other proposals for ownership.

[Futureshock]

“Torn” over his next move, there’s no timetable for a Deshaun Watson decision

Posted by Mike Florio on March 16, 2022, 8:39 PM EDT

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Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has met with four teams in the past two days — the Saints, Panthers, Browns, and Falcons. He was impressed by every presentation.

For each franchise, the owner, General Manager, and coach personally attended. Three happened in Houston. The meeting with the Falcons happened in Deshaun’s hometown of Atlanta.

He’s “incredibly torn,” a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT. There’ no timetable for the decision. He could, as the source put it, wake up in the morning with a choice made. He also could take a few days.

There’s also a chance that more teams will get involved. The Texans are screening all interested teams, requiring them to propose acceptable trade terms before they are authorized to meet with Watson. If another team meets Houston’s specifications, and if Watson is willing to do it, a sit-down could occur.

[Futureshock]

Report: Vikings trying to trade Danielle Hunter

Posted by Charean Williams on March 16, 2022, 8:26 PM EDT

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The Vikings are shopping edge rusher Danielle Hunter as the clock ticks toward Sunday when he is owed an $18 million roster bonus, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports.

Hunter has a $25.83 million cap number for 2022, and the team needs to clear space to make their new deals official.

The team could convert Hunter’s roster bonus to a signing bonus to save $13.5 million on their cap.

Hunter, 27, has played only seven games the past two seasons because of injuries. A torn pectoral muscle ended his 2021 season after seven games. He had six sacks.

Hunter has played 85 career games and totaled 60.5 sacks, 90 quarterback hits and six forced fumbles.

[Futureshock]

I think more EDGE guys are going to go earlier then the draft pundits think. Look at all the EDGE guys that are getting booted and teams aren't even flinching.

The Lions need to get theirs right at #2. They may be surprised at what's left when they get their next shot at it.

[Futureshock]

Another EDGE guy cut...


Seahawks are releasing Benson Mayowa

Posted by Charean Williams on March 16, 2022, 8:13 PM EDT

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The Seahawks are cutting edge rusher Benson Mayowa, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.

His release saves the team $1.45 million.

The move comes after the Seahawks signed Uchenna Nwosu earlier Wednesday.

Mayowa, 30, joined the Seahawks on a one-year deal in 2020. He signed a two-year, $7.6 million extension last March.

He ended up playing 28 games in two seasons, totaling 54 tackles, seven sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

Mayowa previously played for the Raiders, Cowboys, and Cardinals after beginning his career with Seattle in 2013.

In 115 career games, he has 27 sacks and 52 quarterback hits.

[Nick Pappageorgio]

The first blurb from the Hunter article- shopping him ahead of his 18m bonus on Saturday.

LOL…..hard to see them getting a bidding war started on this one.

[jaadam4]

Russ had to run for his life behind that terrible line. And now they're even worse there. AND this draft isn't deep in good OL. They're in a whole lot of trouble.

What is it with Seattle and OL? They've been a shit show since Okung left

[Futureshock]

Other teams in NFCN continue to get weaker...


Bears cut Danny Trevathan

Posted by Charean Williams on March 16, 2022, 5:59 PM EDT

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The Bears finally have made the anticipated official, cutting Danny Trevathan on Wednesday.

The team announced the move.

Trevathan, 31, signed with the Bears in 2016 after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Broncos. He appeared in 67 games with 62 starts in six years in Chicago.

Trevathan totaled 459 tackles, seven sacks, 19 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 21 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his time with the Bears.

Trevathan played only five games last year, making 19 tackles before going on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury.

The Broncos selected Trevathan in the sixth round in 2012.

Trevathan joins Eddie Goldman, Khalil Mack and Tarik Cohen as star players sent on their way as new General Manager Ryan Poles reconstructs the roster.

[Futureshock]

Couldn't escape the first impression Big Mouth...



Report: Browns, Baker Mayfield are “breaking up” because Browns “want an adult” at quarterback

Posted by Mike Florio on March 16, 2022, 4:32 PM EDT

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The first overall pick in the 2018 draft will apparently be playing for a new team in 2022.

As surmised earlier, the Browns are done with Baker Mayfield.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN said earlier today that the Browns and Mayfield are breaking up because the Browns want an “adult” at the quarterback position.

That statement becomes the point of no return for the relationship, especially if the conclusion the Browns have reached is accurate. We’ve said for a while that it appears Mayfield is, behind the scenes, a difficult person for the Browns to deal with. If he were playing great, he could get away with it. He’s not, so he won’t.

So he’ll be gone, apparently. While I always root for a good story — and while Mayfield being dumped by the Browns counts as a good story — a better story at this point would be the Browns keeping him. The Browns, who apparently have “adults” at most key positions in the organization, realize that this can’t happen.

[Futureshock]

Titans plan to cut Julio Jones

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 16, 2022, 4:06 PM EDT

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The Titans’ trade for Julio Jones did not work out. And now they’re moving on.

Tennessee plans to cut Jones, according to ESPN.

The Titans gave up a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick to get Jones, the seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, from the Falcons last year. But Jones managed just 31 catches for 434 yards and one touchdown — all career lows — in Tennessee. Jones missed seven games and wasn’t 100 percent for much of the season.

Jones can certainly find another team interested in his services, but it’s safe to say he won’t be making the kind of money he has demanded for most of his career. At 33 years old, Jones doesn’t appear to have much left.

[Cody_Russell]

Lol. Good job, Browns.

[Nick Pappageorgio]

Yeah….as much as I think Mayfield is kind of an asshat….badmouthing the old QB before the new one is in the fold…not the best idea.