NFL News

[Futureshock]

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer: It hurt to trade DJ Moore, but we had to do it to move up to No. 1

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 22, 2023, 5:13 AM EDT

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When wide receiver DJ Moore signed a three-year, $61.9 million contract extension with the Panthers a year ago, General Manager Scott Fitterer thought he had signed one of the most important players on the roster he was trying to build. A year later, Fitterer traded Moore to the Bears.

Fitterer says that wasn’t something he wanted to do, but he believed drafting a franchise quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft is of vital importance to the Panthers, and trading Moore to the Bears as part of the package to get that pick was necessary.

“You never want to — especially someone like DJ,” Fitterer said, via the Charlotte Observer. “You do your best not to [trade players], but the price of this No. 1 pick was too expensive to give up all of these picks and everything else to get there. So, unfortunately, we had to give up DJ, who was a great member of our team, did a tremendous job for us, great locker room guy. It hurt, but we had to do what we had to do to get in this position.”

Fitterer said signing wide receiver Adam Thielen will go a long way toward making up for the departure of Moore. And the Panthers’ primary focus is now drafting the right quarterback to throw to him.

[Futureshock]

Damien Harris feels signing with Bills can take him to a new height

Posted by Josh Alper on March 22, 2023, 4:17 AM EDT

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Running back Damien Harris is switching teams in the AFC East for the 2023 season.

Harris has signed with the Bills after spending four seasons with the Patriots and he’s joining an offense that is bringing back a number of weapons from their third straight division champion. Those weapons include running backs James Cook and Nyheim Hines, but Harris does not sound like he believes those players will keep him from thriving in Buffalo’s offense.

“I always said that playing against the Bills, I felt like brought out the best in me as a competitor and as a player,” Harris said, via the team’s website. “And from the outside looking in as an opponent if I felt that way then I knew that if I was able to join this organization, I feel like I could just take it to a new height.”

After rushing for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021, Harris dipped behind Rhamondre Stevenson in the New England backfield pecking order last year. It remains to be seen just how he’ll fit into the Bills attack, but it’s clear he feels like he can bounce back to previous heights.

[Futureshock]

Cam Newton throws more than 30 passes, including to his brother, Caylin, at Auburn’s Pro Day

Posted by Charean Williams on March 21, 2023, 11:35 PM EDT

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Free agent quarterback Cam Newton threw more than 30 passes during Auburn’s Pro Day on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. He declined to speak to reporters after the workout.

While Newton hopes for a chance to return to the NFL, he also wanted to highlight his brother. Caylin Newton, a former quarterback at Howard who finished his collegiate career as a wide receiver at Auburn and William & Mary, caught passes from his brother.

“This was him showing love to me,” Caylin Newton said. “He doesn’t owe anybody anything. He has had an amazing journey, an amazing career in the NFL. He has nothing to prove to anybody. . . . He came to show his ability, show he still has it.

“I think, for him, this was a selfless act. But it was also to show and prove to everybody he’s not sitting around. He’s still got it. Whatever organization wants to get a winning quarterback, his number’s still open and available.”

Newton, 33, hasn’t played since 2021 in a second stint with the Panthers. He has received no offers since.

In a video Monday announcing the throwing session, Newton questioned why he isn’t still in the league.

“Tell me how these randoms keep getting jobs,” Newton says during the video before later adding, “Ain’t 32 mother [expletive] better than me. You dig?”

On social media, Newton earned rave reviews for a video showing him scrambling in the pocket before throwing a 50-yard pass downfield to his younger brother.

Caylin said Newton is working hard to get back into the league.

“What everyone sees on the TV screen, they see his character and they see his confidence,” Caylin Newton said. “They don’t see the grit. They don’t see how many hours he puts in. So, the media has what they say about who he is. I know who he is. And anywhere he’s been, they know who he is, too.”

[Futureshock]

Well... He can still wear the same swag...


Report: Eagles hire Eastern Michigan assistant Taver Johnson

Posted by Charean Williams on March 21, 2023, 5:07 PM EDT

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The Eagles are hiring veteran secondary coach Taver Johnson, Matt Zenitz of on3sports reports.

Johnson spent last season as the safeties coach and defensive pass game coordinator at Eastern Michigan.

He previously worked in the NFL with the Raiders from 2019-21. Johnson was assistant coach/defensive backs with the team in 2019-20 and offensive assistant/running backs in 2021.

He was special teams coordinator at Ohio State in 2018 and defensive coordinator at Temple (2017) and Miami University (2005).

[Futureshock]

Ben Roethlisberger claims he was in discussions with 49ers during 2022 season

Posted by Mike Florio on March 21, 2023, 5:03 PM EDT

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Tom Brady almost had company in the unretired quarterback category last year.

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told Mark Madden of 105.9 The X on Tuesday that Roethlisberger was in conversations with the 49ers during the 2022 season.

The 49ers lost starter Trey Lance in Week Two. Later in the year, Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a foot injury. In lieu of adding a veteran, the 49ers relied on rookie Brock Purdy.

“They were, I think, reaching out maybe just to gauge my interest,” Roethlisberger told Madden, via SteelersNow.com. “I had discussions. . . . I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was a small part of me that was intrigued. I could still do it and prove to people that I could still play. At the end of the day, I just can’t see myself in anything other than black and gold.”

It would have made for an interesting stretch run, if Roethlisberger had played well and stayed healthy. But for Brock Purdy’s elbow injury early in the NFC Championship, the 49ers may have landed in the Super Bowl.

[Futureshock]

Law professors attack Roger Goodell’s authority to resolve claims in Brian Flores case

Posted by Mike Florio on March 21, 2023, 4:47 PM EDT

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As Brian Flores, Steve Wilks, and Ray Horton seek reconsideration of a mixed-bad ruling regarding their effort to escape mandatory arbitration of claims made against the NFL and multiple teams, they have allies in the form of law professors who focus their efforts on dispute resolution.

On Tuesday, 12 law professors filed paperwork in support of the position by Flores and his co-plaintiffs that Commissioner Roger Goodell should not be handling the arbitration of the pending claims.

They argue that arbitration controlled by Goodell would “undermine the equitable administration of arbitration and erode public confidence in arbitration.” They write that delegating the authorities to Goodell is “unconscionable and contrary to the norms of fundamental fairness developed by the arbitration community.”

Most significantly as it relates to other employees and other employers, tThe law professors argue that, if the NFL’s position prevails, companies throughout the country “may rewrite their arbitration clauses to imitate the NFL’s provisions whereby a company representative serves as the sole, designated arbitrator for employment disputes or consumer disputes against the company.” They explain that this “could transform arbitration as it has been practiced for decades and damage the credibility of arbitration as a viable form of dispute resolution.”

The NFL likes to brag about how other businesses emulate the Rooney Rule. Ironically, the NFL tries to ensure that any lawsuits attacking the league’s failure to properly honor the spirit and letter of the Rooney Rule will be resolved in a way designed to lead to a good outcome. Surely, that approach will inspire other companies to follow the league’s lead.

The document submitted by the law professors also points out something we’ve repeatedly argued here, by calling the league’s arbitration procedures a secret, rigged, kangaroo court. And while the law professors devote most of their argument to the more usual (and hard to follow, for non-lawyers) legal terms, they use a football metaphor that any football fan will understand. It’s like, they explain, “allowing a referee to officiate a professional football game where the referee owns one of the teams.”

It remains to be seen whether the effort works. The presiding judge already has ruled that several of the claims should go to arbitration, despite these basic and obvious flaws with the process. As Flores, Wilks, and Horton seek reconsideration of the prior ruling, they’re hopeful that the input from the law professors will spark an adjustment to the decision, short of having to file an appeal to a higher court.

[Futureshock]

Goodell’s new deal will run through early 2027

Posted by Mike Florio on March 21, 2023, 3:56 PM EDT

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Pete Rozelle left at age 63. Paul Tagliabue was 65 when he stepped down. The current Commissioner will soon be on track to last until age 68, or longer.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that the new deal for Roger Goodell, who turned 64 last month, will last until spring 2027.

It remains unknown whether the new deal will be Goodell’s last one, or whether the latest arrangement requires affirmative succession planning. Currently, there’s no one who is being prepared to take over for Goodell.

The owners, most of whom are significantly older than Goodell, presumably would prefer that he remain in the job indefinitely. They still would be wise to have a clear plan in place for the future. Even a ship cruising clear, open waters needs a captain who will avoid finding an iceberg into which it will be steered.

The new deal will be final if at least 24 of the owners approve it. There’s currently no reason to believe the proposed contract will be rejected.

[Futureshock]

JONAH WILLIAMST, CINCINNATI BENGALS
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports several teams are interesting in acquiring Bengals LT Jonah Williams.


SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 22, 2023, 9:40 AM ET

[jaadam4]

If the NFL had protected Cam the same as they protected Rodgers, Cam would still be a factor in the league.

Cam and Big Ben ran big and that was their own faults. They ran like a cross between a Mack truck and John Elway

but there’s no denying Erin getting GB treatment. All the greats were protected a bit but Erin had home cooking like I’ve never seen. Those back to back sacks by Trey Flowers that were each nullified was the worst calls I’ve ever seen.

[froot loops]

A lot of the shit that Cam Newton had to put up with was not because he ran. The Broncos beat the shit out of him in the pocket in the Super Bowl and in the rematch. He was not protected like Golden Boys Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Every one of those uncalled illegal hits in the pocket on Cam would always be called for Tommy. People knew it at the time, it was a thing to do for defenses, just beat the crap out of him because the refs wouldn't call it.

[CGVT]

A lot of the shit that Cam Newton had to put up with was not because he ran. The Broncos beat the shit out of him in the pocket in the Super Bowl and in the rematch. He was not protected like Golden Boys Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Every one of those uncalled illegal hits in the pocket on Cam would always be called for Tommy. People knew it at the time, it was a thing to do for defenses, just beat the crap out of him because the refs wouldn't call it.

His running didn't help his longevity, but you are correct. He got the shit beat out of him in the pocket and never got that call. That took more of a toll on him than his running in my view. And although Chemi has a point concerning his size and strength, the reality was that he never got the same treatment as one of the NFL's golden boy QBs

[froot loops]

The reason his career went south was because of the shoulder. He can't throw anymore. It should be noted that neither shoulder injury came from Newton running the ball. He screwed up his AC joint trying to make a tackle on an Int in 2016. The second injury came in 2018 when he was sacked on a mostly clean hit by TJ Watt. It was within the rules but it was a direct hit to that injured shoulder. He has been throwing dirt balls ever since.

[jaadam4]

I forgot about that tackle injury.

[whatever_gong82]

From yesterday's Athletic. Something for those Goff haters to consider if you are a fan of another team that currently don't have a NFL quarterback on your team.

Report broken into 3 parts.





Keefer: There’s no quick fix for the Colts, and they’ve finally figured that out

By Zak Keefer

Mar 21, 2023



Pull some pieces from Chris Ballard’s 38-minute, 46-question season-ending news conference in January, and his words tell the story, not solely of this team’s failures in 2022 but his own. The Colts’ disastrous 4-12-1 finish was a four-month indictment of their general manager’s flawed roster-building approach and all the mistakes made in the years preceding it.


A natural conclusion: the thinking needed to change.


Drastically, perhaps.


“I know there’s doubt,” Ballard vented that day. “There should be. The criticism — it’s warranted. The criticism regarding my job and what I’ve done, it’s warranted.”


And: “I’m very stubborn and dogmatic sometimes.”

And: “Like, y’all write stuff (critical of the team) … I’ve fired myself 50 times this year.”


And toward the very end, a revelation that hinted at a hard-to-swallow truth this organization has been slow to come to grips with: “Our plan from a roster standpoint wasn’t there,” Ballard conceded. “We didn’t manage expectations very well. At all.”



No. They didn’t. And while that’s not solely on Ballard — owner Jim Irsay is guilty, as well — the GM’s decisions over the last few years have been born of a belief that wasn’t rooted in reality. The Colts thought they were ready to win the AFC South, ready to make a run deep into January. Two critical additions last spring were an obvious reflection of that: a 37-year-old quarterback in Matt Ryan and a 32-year-old cornerback in Stephon Gilmore.


They were supposed to get the team over the hump.


Twelve months later, both are gone, part of the fallout from the Colts’ failures last fall. Ryan was cut in order to save $17 million and pave the way for a rookie passer, while Gilmore was shipped to Dallas for a fifth-round pick, where he’ll get something he didn’t in Indianapolis: a chance to return to the playoffs.


The moves also speak to a much-needed organizational shift in thinking. The days of chasing a few pricey veteran free agents seem to be over. The Colts, instead, are prioritizing long-term stability over short-term gains, mindful that a young quarterback is all but assuredly on his way. Irsay, for one, wants to “grow his own” at that position.



continued..

[whatever_gong82]

It’s going to take some time to get this right.

Deep down, they know this. And the decisions they’re making now — and the ones they’ll make come late April — need to reflect that. This is more about 2024 and 2025 than it is about 2023.


To that end, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that the Colts have been mostly quiet a week into free agency. Part of that is a mediocre market: The Colts, like a lot of teams, didn’t think it was a particularly strong free-agent class. There’s also Ballard’s approach, which has been no different than in years past. The GM has long resisted paying what he calls “B players” A-level money. For the most part, league-wide results over the last decade bear this out. Teams that go bold in free agency are more likely to regret those splashy contracts in a few years’ time.



The past couple of offseasons, the Colts have tried to straddle a very fine line between prudent roster construction and addressing the immediate needs of a team that’s continued to underperform. Twice they made an ambitious short-term play at quarterback (Philip Rivers in 2020, Ryan last spring) and sandwiched in between was the Carson Wentz gamble, one the Colts thought might ease the QB headache for four or five years. We know that was done from the minute Wentz walked off the field after that disastrous 2021 season finale in Jacksonville.


Six years into his tenure, Ballard had mostly used free agency to selectively attack the holes on his roster, usually in the second wave: Denico Autry, Eric Ebron, Justin Houston, Xavier Rhodes and Gilmore, to name a few, plus trades for DeForest Buckner, Wentz and Ryan.



So far this spring, the Colts have dialed that approach back, mindful that one or two key additions probably won’t be the difference between a mediocre season and a playoff spot. That’s the lesson the last 19 games have taught them, dating to the Colts’ inexplicable collapse to close 2021. They were never as close as they thought.


This time, with a young quarterback soon arriving — and with him, a new era, as well — there’s not much justification for high-priced, short-term bets.


It’s time to play the long game. It’s time to be patient.

Because this is likely to get worse before it gets better.


Typically, most of the Colts’ money stays home; five of the team’s top six salary-cap hits for 2023 are homegrown draft picks. Ballard has long preferred rewarding his own, and last week, he dished out moderately priced contracts to defensive end Tyquan Lewis, linebacker E.J. Speed, wideout Ashton Dulin and cornerback Tony Brown.



It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that the Colts kept Speed over fellow free agent Bobby Okereke, who signed a four-year deal with the Giants for up to $40 million. Shaquille Leonard is on a five-year, $98 million deal and Zaire Franklin’s under contract through 2024. In Speed, the Colts save some money at the position and keep a versatile special teams weapon in tow.


Indianapolis essentially made the same decision at wide receiver, choosing to pay the less-proven Dulin (two years, $7.2 million) over Parris Campbell, who followed Okereke to New York on a one-year, $4.7 million deal. But Dulin has some upside the Colts like, and he’s an excellent special teamer, something Ballard has always valued.



Retaining Dulin doesn’t change the fact that the Colts need to add at the position. Picking up a piece early in the draft — even at pick No. 35 — makes sense.



And the Colts give out lucrative contracts only when they feel that player is one of the best in the league at his position. That’s why, in part, they let Okereke and Campbell walk. Good players, not great ones.



Indy’s two strongest moves so far weren’t splashy, but they were smart additions with the future in mind. Ballard secured his bridge quarterback on Thursday, landing Gardner Minshew on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. Minshew arrives with the backing of new coach Shane Steichen — the two were together for two seasons in Philadelphia — and will be a capable starter in the likely event the Colts’ rookie QB isn’t ready to go from Day 1.

continued..