4/1/15 — Raiders sign QB Matt Schaub
Schaub will serve as the backup to QB Joe Flacco. He's probably getting used to riding that bench.
4/1/15 — Desmond Bishop returns to the 49ers
The 49ers gave Bishop a one-year deal. Bishop has struggled to stay on the field and has passed his prime, but the 49ers are desperate for linebackers. He'll likely serve as a camp body, and struggle to find a place on the roster. His career has been marred by injuries.
4/1/15 — The Colts signed WR Vincent Brown
This is a crowed position for the Colts now, though Brown certainly isn't guaranteed a roster spot. Brown hasn't done a whole lot since 2012, when he missed the season with a broken ankle. He only notched 12 catches in a bad Raiders receiving core last season, and was in and out of the gameday lineup. He won't be in Indy for long.
4/1/15 — Bears sign RB Jacquizz Rodgers
Rodgers will likely serve as a passing-down only back, though Matt Forte has served that role well in the past. More likely than not, he'll ride the bench until Forte gets banged up, then he'll share carries with second-year back Ka'deem Carey. Rodgers is by no means a good running back, though he does understand NFL offenses and is a solid blocker.
4/1/15 — Romo would have taken pay-cut for DeMarco Murray
Romo actually did take that paycut eventually, but the Cowboys were up against the cap. Jones and Co. just didn't have space for Murray, even if they wanted him. Romo is going to convert much of his base salary into a "signing bonus", which clears up cap for the Cowboys. Dallas will likely run with Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden at running back this season behind an absolutely stacked offensive line. A trade for Adrian Peterson is essentially out of the question (see: cap).
4/1/15 — The Texans signed WR Nate Washington
Washington has always been solid, but he's starting to even lose that as he's going on age 32. However, he will have a chance to win the No. 2 wide receiver job, just as he had in Tennessee, behind WR DeAndre Hopkins in Houston. Cecil Shorts III will also compete for that role. (Update: the team drafted WR Jaelen Strong, who is likely to steal that second starting spot by the time the season comes around, especially if Shorts goes back to his usual injured ways.()
4/2/15 — Dolphins sign former Bucs QB Josh Freeman
Well, hell, Freeman, it's been a while. Actually, since 2013. The former first round pick will try to make the Dolphins roster after completely blowing his chance with the Vikings in 2013, where he completed just over 40 percent of his passes and threw four interceptions in four games. Matt Moore is going to be the No. 2 QB behind Ryan Tannehill, so Freeman's best hope is to win the No. 3 job.
4/3/15 — Bucs trade safety Dashon Goldson to the Redskins
Goldson was traded to the Redskins along with a seventh-round pick, and the Bucs got a sixth-round pick. The value was about right: Goldson has been pretty bad since around 2010. The Redskins will take on a $8 million cap hit with the signing of the mediocre, over-the-hill safety.
4/3/15 — Sammy Watkins underwent hip surgery
It's not serious, luckily. He'll be ready to go by training camp.
4/3/15 — Colts agree to terms with S Dwight Lowery
Lowery simply wasn't good in coverage last year. The top remaining safeties were Lowery, Stevie Brown and Bernard Pollard, and the Colts stuck with Lowery. He signed on for under $1 million.
4/4/15 — NFL hires female official, Sen'Derrick Marks questions motives
Interesting read. Not much analysis to add.
4/6/15 — Bengals sign WR Denarius Moore
Moores is an absolute speedster, and matches up with an offensive coordinator who loves his speedsters: Hue Jackson. Jackson and Moore were together back in Oakland in 2011, when Moore has his best season,though he had to fight through some injuries. If Moore can become more consistent, he will compete for playing time on this team, though he won't be fantasy relevant without an injury higher up the depth chart.
4/7/15 — Lawrence Tynes sues Bucs for MSRA
Tynes is suing for a whopping $20 million after he contracted staph infection in the Bucs locker room in what became a bit of an outbreak. After that, he was never signed by another NFL team. Tynes is looking to be compensated for his missed time because of unsanitary work conditions. The MSRA bug also killed off Carl Nicks' career, so it wouldn't be surprising to see a case come from him either.
4/7/15 — Dante Fowler would be "stunned" if Jaguars pass him up at No. 3
Fowler is the consensus top edge rusher in this draft, and could be the pick to end the Jaguars first-round pick slump. (Update: This came true on draft day, only two picks after Jameis Winston was selected first overall.)
4/7/15 — Blount suspended for one game for violating substance abuse policy
Blount was pulled over with then teammate Le'Veon Bell, and the pair were found in possession of marijuana. The possession charge was dropped after he complete community service, but he still had to be served by the NFL. He will still be allowed to participate in camp and the offseason program, but will miss the Week 1 game, as the Patriots begin their run to defend their title.
4/7/15 — Chargers exercise fifth-year option on Melvin Ingram
It may be worth it to have Ingram under contract after this season, as many think he has the potential to really break out. Ingram has missed 19 games over the last two year, but could be one of the best edge rushers in the league if he stays on the field. The Chargers bring another level of pass-rush with Ingram on the field. 2015 is a massive year for the big guy from South Carolina.
4/7/15 — Aaron Hernandez Lawyer acknowledges he witnessed the murder
This was their best defense. See final result of the trial below.
4/8/15 — Eric Berry "doing really good" in fight against Lymphoma
4/8/15 — RB Stevan Ridley signs with Jets
Ridley's 2014 was cut short after he tore his ACL and MCL, and is only five months removed from that surgery. It's a one year deal for the power back, who will compete with Chris Ivory for a roster spot, in all likelihood. With only $80,000 of his $1.25 million guaranteed, he certainly is not a lock for the roster.
4/9/15 — RB Le'Veon Bell suspended for three games
Bell violated the league's substance abuse policy when he was pulled over with former teammate LeGarrette Blount and found in possession of marijuana. He's going to appeal the suspension, which may take some time to get the suspension set in stone, but it should stick. DeAngelo Williams and Dri Archer should share the workload to start the season for the Steelers.
4/9/15 — Browns, TE Rob Housler ink one-year deal
Housler only lasted this long because a multitude of teams were interested. Housler will fit right into the gap that Jordan Cameron left on this Browns squad when he left for the Dolphins. The one-year deal is perfect for Housler, who hasn't yet reached his full potential. It leaves him open to earn a long-term deal if he can prove himself during this season.
4/9/15 — Colts will exercise QB Andrew Luck's fifth-year option
This is a no-brainer. The quarterback will make $16.155 in 2016 on his last year of his rookie deal. The only question left is whether he can bring a Super Bowl back to Indianapolis.
4/9/15 — Panthers ink CB Charles Tillman
Tillman has battled with injuries as his NFL career winds down; he's only played 10 games in the last two years and he's entering his age 34 season. This is nothing but a spot signing for the Panthers, who will use Tillman in the slot, more than likely. It's an improvement on their secondary, but not one that will last long.
4/10/15 — Jets hold private workout with Brett Hundley
I found this interesting, since the Jets ended up taking Hundley in the NFL Draft. Pre-draft visits and workouts do matter, sometimes.
4/10/15 — Victor Butler suspended for four games
Butler's career never got on track after he tore his ACL a few years ago with Dallas, and this isn't going to help it. The edge-rusher showed promise across from DeMarcus Ware early in his career, but has never quite blossomed. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Giants cut Butler, who is on a reserve/future contract.
4/10/15 — Dolphins extend C Mike Pouncey
Pouncey was drafted in 2011 and was set to become a free agent after this season. Pouncey missed some of 2014 with a hip injury, then played guard rather unsuccessfully, grading out as one of the worst OGs on ProFootballFocus. However, Pouncey was a top 15 center in 2013. I expect Pouncey to play center again in 2015. The extension was worth $45 million over five years with $22 million guaranteed, a gross over-payment of the center, in my opinion
4/11/15 — Jets pick-up fifth-year option on Quinton Coples
The team will pay him almost $8 million in 2016 with the option. Coples is still coming into his own on the Jets roster, but has the potential to be a top flight edge rusher in the NFL. He'll be in New York as part of their strong-handed front seven for the next two years, at least.
4/11/15 — Broncos sign H-back James Casey to one-year deal
Casey will be moving on from the Eagles, officially. Casey will reunite with former Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak in Denver, and it's sure to be a good match. The team is trying to replace TE Julius Thomas, who signed with the Jags this offseason, and Casey will likely be a part of that, as he can lineup all over the field and do a whole lot of things. The team also signed Owen Daniels and has Virgil Green as depth with the potential to breakout.
4/12/15 — Titans think Mettenberger is a poor man's Tom Brady
This is a good joke by whoever planted this story in the Titans organization. It's pretty clear they will be taking Marcus Mariota and replacing Mettenberger but the end of the month. Plus, Mettenberger was pretty bad last year. The only thing Mettenberger and Brady have in common are their sixth round pick status and the fact that they are QBs.
4/13/15 — Michael Crabtree signing with the Raiders
4/14/15 — Steelers CB Ike Taylor retiring
4/15/15 — Bucs, Lions agree to trade for DE George Johnson
George Johnson and the Lions were fixing to go to court over a contract dispute. Instead, they moved him to another team, and he'll play on a three-year, $9 million deal. He'll be joining a Bucs defense that is pretty depleted, but has its strength in the defensive line, as he'll be playing opposite Jacquies Smith and next to Akeem Spence.
4/15/15 — Former Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez convicted of first-degree murder
Hernandez is going to jail for life without a chance of parole. The uber talented Florida prospect never got his head in the right place, and ended up taking at least one person's life in the process. It was actually believed that Hernandez might be able to win this case, since the defense had argued that he didn't actually pull the trigger. With the track record of celebrities in the court room, it wouldn't have been a shock to see him win the case. Instead, he won't see the light of day for the rest of his life.
4/17/15 — Browns QB Johnny Manziel out of rehab, reminds people it will be a process
When Manziel said "process" in his statement, he meant in regaining the trust and vote of confidence from his teammates. And he's going to need it. It's very possible that the Browns go into the NFL season with Manziel as their QB. It's not a bad roster, and if the team isn't behind their quarterback, they don't have a chance to go very far. He seems very sincere about getting it right off the field an repairing his image, now all is left is how he performs on the field.
4/18/15 — C Stefen Wisniewski joining the Jaguars
The former Raider is headed to another warm and sunny place: Jacksonville, Fla. It's only going to be a one-year deal for the 2011 second-round pick. He's a versatile OL-man who can play the guard positions as well for the Jags.
4/19/15 — Eagles sign QB Tim Tebow
Eat your heart out: Tebow reigns supreme. He'll be on an NFL roster for the first time since the 2013 season, after a two-year break from the NFL which included a stint in the broadcast booth. Some thin he'll be a camp arm, but Chip Kelly profusely has defended his chance to a real spot in the offense. He'll start as the fifth QB on the squad behind Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley, and G.J. Kinne.
4/20/15 — Antonio Brown seeking a new deal
Brown isn't going to be in Steelers offseason workouts until he gets a new contract. He's the first of many we'll touch on. He signed a six-year deal three summers ago, but has outproduced that contract. He's emerged to become a sure-fire top five wide receiver in the league. It's possible that Brown can even abstain from the team through training camp, though it's not been confirmed. The Steelers certainly have plenty of time to get something worked out before we get to that point.
4/20/15 — SS Adrian Wilson will retire with the Cardinals
Wilson is 35 years old and hasn't played in an NFL game since 2012; this was a long time coming. He only played on a football field with the Arizona Cardinals in his career, and signed a one-year contract to retire with the team. His prime came between 2004-2006 as he averaged over 80 tackles in those three years, and even tabbed 13 sacks in 2005 and 2006. He went to five Pro Bowls and was once and All-Pro safety.
4/21/15 — Michael Bennett absent from Seahawks workouts
I was told that Bennett is happy in Seattle, but he feels as if he's not being compensated fairly. He hasn't specifically requested a trade, but he does want to be paid the same as those players who are producing in his range. These workouts are voluntary, so it's not too serious yet. I expect Bennett to be in Seattle this year, but not happily; he won't be extended until next offseason, in all likelihood.
4/21/15 — Ravens extend CB Jimmy Smith
The extension is a big one: four years, $48 million, with $21 million guaranteed according to the linked source. He's going to be in Balitmore until 2019 with that deal (his age 31 season). He's a top 10 corner in the league without a doubt, and he's continually gotten better with the exception of last year, when he was hurt. He's well worth the money.
4/22/15 — NFL releases 2015 schedule
Some of my favorites:
- Seattle @ Green Bay (Week 2) — 2014 NFC Championship
- Arizona /Seattle (Week 10/17) — Battle for the NFC West... this time with Carson Palmer
- Seattle @ Dallas (Week 8) — My two best teams in the NFC
- New England @ Indianapolis (Week 6) — Luck vs. Brady and maybe the two best teams in the AFC.
- Denver @ Indianapolis (Week 9) — Maybe the last time we see Peyton Manning play at Lucas Oil Stadium
- New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills (Week 10/17) and New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills (Week 2/11) — The Bills are going to be really exciting, and I can't wait to see Rex Ryan take on his former team.
The ten game suspension is far too much for the new Cowboys pass rusher. The NFL already barred Hardy from playing for almost an entire season last year for a crime that later was settled outside the courtroom. If he was guilty, the NFL could defend this suspension. But now, the NFL have completely flipped the way we see domestic violence suspensions in the league; where NFL used to reactively suspend a player after a court decision, now a player can be suspended without even being ruled guilty in a case. Of course, this disaster of a format all sprouts from the Ray Rice incident, which began this precedent. If the suspension is upheld, Hardy will have missed 25 games for a crime that he was not found guilty of. Good job, NFL.
4/24/15 — NFL team could share a stadium with EPL's Tottenham
We've known that an NFL team could be in London for some time now, and now Roger Goodell has a timeframe of when he can move a team in. Wembley Stadium, of course, is open for business now, but Goodell also could move a team to Tottenham's stadium, which opens in 2018-19. The club says it's interested in hosting an NFL team if a team were to be located to London. It's something to keep in mind if talks of an NFL team to London ever really ramp up.
4/24/15 — Hakeem Nicks signs with the Titans
Nicks is only guaranteed $100,000 on this deal, but the deal maxes out at $1.4 million. Before he even thinks about money, though, he's going to have to make the roster. The injury-ridden receiver has never lived up to the hype, which means he'll fit perfectly in with the worst franchise in the NFL. Nicks will have easy competition though: Harry Douglas, Clyde Gates, and Jacoby Ford, among others.
4/24/15 — Chiefs pick up fifth year option on Dontari Poe
This was a no-brainer, as the former first round nose tackle has made the Pro Bowl twice in his three year career. Poe is a freak, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon, and it certainly won't come to an end in the next two years. The extra year on the contract is worth a $6.146 million.
4/26/15 — LSU CB Jalen Collins failed multiple drug tests
Collins — a consensus top five CB in the draft — didn't fall too far after this news. He went with the10th pick of the second round, 42nd overall. Still, its a big negative, as he ended up only playing 10 games at LSU. He was never a full-time player, which also detracts from his value, but he's very good in press coverage and had the second best burn rate of any CB coming into the NFL. His measurable, including a 4.48 40-yard dash time, have also helped his value.
4/27/15 — RG3 will be in Washington for a fifth year
This is a big of a surprise: The Redskins will pay QB Robert Griffin III $16.1 million in 2016, although that number is only guaranteed for injury. So, essentially, if Robert Griffin III is healthy come next season, the Redskins can flip-flop and let Griffin hit free agency. It's still a bit early to tell if Griffin is going to be a franchise quarterback; if he is, he's well worth the money. If he can stay on the field for all 16 games this year, we might get a better look at what Griffin can bring to the table in the future.
4/27/15 — Rams exercise fifth-year option on DT Michael Brockers
Brockers has been a significant starter over his time with the team, so this is no surprise. The fifth year will be worth just over $6 million. He's one of the safest DTs in the league, and you know exactly what you're getting from him. After the team signed Nick Fairley this offseason, it's possible the Rams drop this fifth-year after this season if he's not deemed worth the money.
4/27/15 — Eagles pick up fifth-year on DT Fletcher Cox
In the 2012 draft, Dontari Poe, Fletcher Cox, and Michael Brockers were taken from picks 11-14. Now all three have been extended to a fifth-year. Cox has emerged as one of the best DTs in the NFL in his first three years, and is maybe the face of the Eagles defense since Trent Cole was moved from the team.
4/28/15 — Shane Ray already in NFL's substance abuse program
This comes after Ray was cited for marijuana possession, and means Ray is now subject to random drug testing. If he fails a drug test, he will be suspended for four games. He's already failed drug tests in the past at Missouri, and has also already been dealing with a toe injury, though that won't require surgery. Ray should still go towards the bottom end of Thursday's first round.
4/28/15 — Dion Jordan suspended for one year
Oh boy. He suspended the league's substance abuse policy again, and will not be appealing the suspension after his sample was deemed diluted by the NFL. This the third suspension for the former third-overall pick. Jordan is on his way to becoming the biggest bust in recent years, as he hasn't played 16 games since his rookie year, when he logged only two sacks. Unless he turns his career around, he could be on is way out after a short stay in the NFL.
4/28/15 — Jets fined for tampering
It's a $100,000 fine because the team contacted CB Darrelle Revis while he was still a member of the Patriots. The infraction first began when Jets' owner Woody Johnson said he would "love for Darrelle to come back" to New York in December. Though the Jets projected tampering charges back onto their AFC East rivals, New England was not fined.
4/29/15 — Bears taking trade offers for Martellus Bennett
Bennett isn't at Bears voluntary workouts, but has been doing work on his own. With that the team has decided to try to move him, according to Adam Schefter. The former Cowboy and Giant would be a solid addition for any team: standing at 6'6", Bennett is a monster in the redzone. It's also worth noting that coach John Fox said he expects Bennett to be on his roster when the team concludes the draft. He'll likely be a more coveted asset for Chicago with Brandon Marshall out of the picture.
4/30/15 — Texans sign S Stevie Brown to one-year deal
Brown was always going to land on an NFL team, it was just a matter of when. The 27-year-old had a handful of offers and was just trying to narrow his list down. Brown will join a safety corps where he should likely fit in as a backup, with Rahim Moore and D.J. Swearinger already in the mix. However, with the team trying to trade Swearinger, Brown could have a chance to start at strong safety.
4/30/15 — Bucs takes QB Jameis Winston first overall
It was the pick that we all expected. Winston will fit well into Dirk Koetter's up-tempo offense, the same offense the Falcons have run in the past. There's no reason we shouldn't see Winston start Week 1 over Mike Glennon. The NFL schedule pits the first two picks of the draft — Winston and Titans new QB Marcus Mariota — against each other in Week 1.
———
So, this is where I leave you: the NFL Draft. With 100+ links, it's clear: there is no offseason in the NFL. There's always something going on — a player getting in trouble, getting signed, getting cut, retiring, or teams making moves. I hope that I helped you stay on top of what was happening in the NFL, because posting here certainly helped me do just that.
