NFL News

[Futureshock]

No

[Futureshock]

Dirty mfrs....


NFL’s handling of Cardinals tampering violation creates bizarre new precedent

Posted by Mike Florio on April 28, 2023, 1:18 PM EDT
The NFL knew damn well what it was doing when it announced the unprecedented settlement of a tampering investigation between the two involved teams, the Cardinals and Eagles. By dropping it literally minutes before the start of round one of the draft, the news would draw minimal attention and/or scrutiny.

The league doesn’t want it to be scrutinized because, as one source described it, the decision is “bullshit.”

More specifically, the decision allows teams to negotiate among themselves the outcome of tampering violations. That has never happened.

Besides, cases settle when there are disputed factual issues. Here, there was no dispute. Cardinals G.M. Monti Ossenfort called former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon at a time when such communication was prohibited. Ossenfort admits that he broke the rules.

So why do the Eagles and Cardinals get to work it out among them? And why did the Eagles emerge with a higher draft pick, when the Saints and Buccaneers got NOTHING for blatant tampering by the Dolphins with Sean Payton and Tom Brady, which resulted in Miami losing its first-round pick?

It’s a classic example of the NFL making it all up as it goes. Which is exactly why the news was announced less than 10 minutes before the start of the draft. With the ultimate offseason bright, shiny object bearing down on the media, they were counting on no one noticing that the outcome was, as the source said, “bullshit.”

[The King]

I can’t wait to see how many gambling suspensions get announced. No way is Jamo the only guy betting on their phone at facilities.

[froot loops]

Probably not but that's not an option for players in half the franchises.

[ghandi]

Probably not but that's not an option for players in half the franchises.

When they leave Allen Park, the next facility has no wifi or cell service.....

[Futureshock]

Cardinals decline fifth-year option on Isaiah Simmons

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 1, 2023, 7:17 PM EDT

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Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons will play out the fourth and final year of his rookie contract this season.

The Cardinals have declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Simmons’ rookie deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

That means Simmons will play this year with a cap hit of $6.574 million. The fifth-year option would have been a guaranteed salary of $12.722 million in 2024.

Simmons is slated to hit free agency in March of 2024. If he plays well in new head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense, the Cardinals may try to work out a deal to keep him, but for now they’re ready to give him the chance to leave next year.

[ghandi]

Those 5th year options can get a little spendy.....it would be interesting to see what % of 5th year options get picked up....also how many get a second contract with the team that drafted them.

[Futureshock]

Which should be part of the post-draft eval. 2 days after a draft is not the time to be grading a draft. Way too soon

[Futureshock]

DeAndre Hopkins: Who said I wanna go? Who said I wanna leave?

Posted by Charean Williams on May 1, 2023, 3:04 PM EDT

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The draft has come and gone, and veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins remains a member of the Cardinals.

Rumors had Hopkins on the move this offseason — and he still might be — and he recently indicated he’d like to play for the Bills or the Chiefs, but not the Jets or the Patriots. Bills edge rusher Von Miller said Hopkins has indicated to him the star receiver wants to play in Buffalo.

It appears Hopkins has returned to Phoenix (but not to the team facility), posting a video on social media Monday.

“I see everybody telling me to stay,” Hopkins said on Instagram. “Who said I wanna go? Who said I wanna leave? I’m out here working, baby.”

So, maybe some team offers enough to pry Hopkins from the Cardinals . . . at some point. But maybe not.

It sounds as if he’s ready for whatever happens.

Hopkins is scheduled to make $19.45 million in 2023 and $14.915 million in 2024, and no team is likely to give him a raise. He is on the wrong side of 30, has played 19 games and missed 15 with injuries and a suspension over the past two seasons and has not had a 1,000-yard season or made the Pro Bowl since 2020.

His last 1,000-yard season was 2020 when he made his most recent of five Pro Bowls.

[Futureshock]

Those 5th year options can get a little spendy.....it would be interesting to see what % of 5th year options get picked up....also how many get a second contract with the team that drafted them.

low%

Jaguars decline K’Lavon Chaisson’s fifth-year option

Posted by Charean Williams on May 1, 2023, 2:39 PM EDT

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The Jaguars have declined the fifth-year option on K’Lavon Chaisson’s rookie contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports.

The fifth-year option for Chaisson was a fully guaranteed $12.141 million for 2024. He now is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2023 season.

The team made Chaisson the 20th overall selection in 2020, but he has only one sack in each of his first three seasons in Jacksonville.

Chaisson, 23, had a rotational role last season, playing 109 defensive snaps and 108 on special teams. He missed eight games with injuries.

Coach Doug Pederson said over draft weekend he is expecting Chaisson to “take a step.”

The Jaguars also drafted cornerback C.J. Henderson in the first round in 2020. They traded him to the Panthers early in the 2021 season, and Carolina has declined Henderson’s fifth-year option.

[Futureshock]

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Ravens decline fifth-year option on Patrick Queen

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 1, 2023, 12:57 PM EDT

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The writing was on the wall for Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen when Baltimore drafted a potential replacement on Friday night, and today it’s official: The Ravens will not pick up Queen’s fifth-year option.

That means the 2023 season will the fourth and final year on Queen’s rookie contract, and he’ll hit free agency in March of 2024.

The Ravens drafted linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third round on Friday night, prompting Queen to tweet “Sheesh,” appearing to recognize what the move signaled for his future in Baltimore.

The Ravens chose Queen with the 28th pick in the 2020 NFL draft, and although he has started all 50 games in his three-year career, they don’t think he’s worth the price of a fifth-year option, and they’re ready to move on.

[Futureshock]

Broncos pick up Jerry Jeudy fifth-year option

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 1, 2023, 11:45 AM EDT

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After much talk this offseason that Jerry Jeudy could be on the way out in Denver, today the Broncos gave him some job security.

The Broncos have picked up Jeudy’s fifth-year option, according to NFL Network. That means Jeudy is guaranteed a 2024 salary of $12.987 million, and then he’s scheduled to hit free agency in March of 2025. Jeudy and the Broncos could also work out a new contract before that.

Although the Broncos did talk about trading Jeudy this offseason, from all indications they were only willing to do so if they got a significant offer, and no offer to their liking came in.

The Broncos selected Jeudy with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Despite a down year for the Broncos’ offense last season, he hit career-highs with 67 catches, 972 yards and six touchdowns in 2022.

[Futureshock]

NFLPA advises agents that sports books are snitching on players who use gambling apps

Posted by Mike Florio on May 1, 2023, 11:45 AM EDT

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It’s been obvious that the NFL is catching players who gamble in violation of league policy not by any high-end sleuthing activities but by having the proof fall into its lap, thanks to one or more sports book partners.

That seems to be exactly what’s happening.

The NFL Players Association has sent an email to all agents alerting them to the fact that recent suspensions arose from players using mobile apps on their phones, either while at work or while traveling with their teams.

“I am sure all of you have seen the recent suspensions of players that resulted from violations of the NFL Gambling Policy (which is unilaterally imposed by the NFL and not collectively bargained),” the email to all contract advisors, a copy of which PFT has obtained, explains. “These recent violations involved players placing bets using mobile apps on their phone while at work or while traveling with their teams. This is a violation of the NFL’s Gambling Policy.

“During the NFL’s investigations we have learned that these apps (like FanDuel) are highly sensitive and very sophisticated at tracking, among other things, user location to be sure that the people using the app are not ‘prohibited gamblers’ and/or that the person using the app is in a location where they are allowed to place bets on the app. We have confirmed that some states monitor/audit FanDuel and the other gambling apps to ensure that the companies are in compliance with state law. Further the apps monitor gambler activity. It was as part of that monitoring that the NFL learned of the players using the apps at work in violation of NFL rules. At no time should players open or use any mobile gambling app while at work.”

It’s unclear why the union sent the email to agents and not to the players. It’s not for the agents to warn the players not to gamble on their phones. It’s for the union to issue that warning.

Frankly, it almost seems as if the union is warning agents so that the union can blame the agents for not warning the players, if the violations continue.

The reality is that, for some players, no warning is going to work. They’re either not paying attention, or they don’t care.

The individual teams have every reason to warn players about the gambling policy, and they do. But it still happens.

And it likely will keep happening.

It shouldn’t. Players who read this stuff (and we know plenty of you do), make sure your teammates realize that they shouldn’t gamble on their phones. Never on pro football, and never on anything while “at work” (practice, facility, traveling with team, etc.).

They’ll find out, and they’ll take swift and serious action.

They’ll do it because it’s easy to prove. They’ll do it because it creates the impression they’re proactively enforcing the policy. Even if the truth is they’re sitting back and waiting for the sports books to snitch on the players.

[Futureshock]

Saints won’t exercise 2024 option on Cesar Ruiz’s contract

Posted by Josh Alper on May 1, 2023, 10:38 AM EDT

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It’s decision time on 2024 contract options for 2020 first-round picks and the Saints have reportedly made theirs.

According to multiple reports, the Saints will not exercise their option on guard Cesar Ruiz‘s deal. Ruiz was the 24th overall pick in 2020.

Ruiz started all 14 games he played last season and has started 40 of the 46 games he’s played since joining the team. Picking up the option would have left the Saints on the hook for a fully guaranteed $14.175 million salary in 2024.

The Saints picked guard Nick Saldiveri in the fourth round on Saturday. Andrus Peat, Calvin Throckmorton, Yasir Durant, and Koda Martin are the other guards on the Saints roster.

[Futureshock]

Bills sign Latavius Murray

Posted by Josh Alper on May 1, 2023, 10:04 AM EDT

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The Bills didn’t take a running back in the draft, but they have made a veteran addition to the backfield.

The team announced the signing of Latavius Murray on Monday. Murray visited with the Bills in April.

Murray spent time with the Broncos and Saints last season and ran 171 times for 760 yards and six touchdowns across the two stops. He has also played for the Raiders, Vikings, and Ravens since entering the league as a 2013 sixth-round pick and has 1,481 carries for 6,252 yards and 55 touchdowns over the course of his career.

James Cook, Damien Harris, and Nyheim Hines were already on hand in the backfield in Buffalo.