NFL Player News - Week of 2/18/19

Otters27 · 02-18-19, 08:52 AM

So Kaepernick gets all that money for kneeling and then get to be a back up. Hope he goes in. I'd like to see what he is made of

LT Profits · 02-19-19, 08:50 AM

Tuesday Update

Packers | Green Bay won't drastically change offense
Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will not be asked to run a dramatically different offense than the one he has operated for most of his career, according to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.'When you take a guy like Aaron Rodgers, who is a very good football player, I mean, he's kind of one of those guys where you can kind of pretty much do a lot of everything. I think a lot of it is going to carry over. I think some of the language will be different but it's going to be a lot of the same premises for him,' Hackett told PackersNews.com.
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Aaron Rodgers player page

Steelers | Le'Veon Bell not expected to get tagged
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell is unlikely to receive a franchise or transition tag from the team, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
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Le'Veon Bell player page

49ers | Odell Beckham a trade target for SF?
New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. is believed to be a trade target for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, according to ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio.
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Odell Beckham Jr player page

Cardinals | Kyler Murray would be fine with joining team
Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray said it would be fine if the Arizona Cardinals selected him in the 2019 NFL Draft because of his relationship with head coach Kliff Kingsbury but does not have any expectations. 'At the end of the day, they're going to do what's best for them,' Murray said. 'I can't go into it with any expectations of being taken by the Cardinals. That would be nice for sure.'
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Lions | Four expected to hit free agency
Detroit Lions impending free-agent TE Levine Toilolo, TE Luke Willson, RB LeGarrette Blount and DT Ricky Jean-Francois are all expected to hit the free-agent market this offseason.
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Ricky Jean-Francois player page
LeGarrette Blount player page
Levine Toilolo player page
Luke Willson player page

Redskins | Derrius Guice still has work to do
Washington Redskins RB Derrius Guice (knee) is able to sprint in a straight line but is still not able to do any lateral movements at full speed yet. He also wants to build the strength in his legs over the next few months.
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Derrius Guice player page

49ers | Robbie Gould looking for multi-year deal
San Francisco 49ers impending free-agent PK Robbie Gould said he is looking to sign at least a three-year contract this offseason.
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Robbie Gould player page

Dolphins | Frank Gore's status uncertain
Miami Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville said he is not sure if impending free-agent RB Frank Gore will receive a contract offer from the Dolphins this offseason.
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Frank Gore player page

Dolphins | Coach impressed with Kalen Ballage
Miami Dolphins RB Kalen Ballage was impressive during his rookie season but still has room to grow, according to running backs coach Eric Studesville. 'He's a big, physical body,' Studesville said. 'He can run. He's athletic. He's got a lot of growth to do as far as seeing and recognizing things. His work ethic is tremendous. He's got speed for a big man.'
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Kalen Ballage player page

Patriots | Stephen Gostkowski a tag candidate
New England Patriots impending free-agent PK Stephen Gostkowski will be a candidate for the franchise tag if the two sides are not able to agree to a long-term extension over the next few weeks.
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Stephen Gostkowski player page

Cowboys | Terrance Williams has option declined
Dallas Cowboys impending free-agent WR Terrance Williams' option was not exercised Monday, Feb. 18, according to sources. He is now a free agent.

Footballguys view: Williams may not have much of a market when the new league year begins on March 13th. He never quite played up to his potential with the Cowboys and now will try to find a new home. In 2018, Williams played in only three games and caught just two passes for 18 yards. A foot fracture (and a three-game suspension) ended his 2018 season prematurely.

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Terrance Williams player page

Broncos | Joe Flacco passes physical
Denver Broncos QB Joe Flacco passed his physical, making it possible for the Broncos and Baltimore Ravens to make their traded official in March. The Broncos agreed to trade the better of their fourth-round picks for Flacco.

Footballguys view: The trade can become official once the new league year begins on March 13th. Flacco is an upgrade over Case Keenum so long as he's healthy. A hip injury limited him to just nine games in 2018 and Flacco did play with a back injury for most of the 2017 season.

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Joe Flacco player page

Source: footballguys.com

LT Profits · 02-20-19, 09:49 AM

Wednesday Update

Rams | New information on Todd Gurley's injury?
Los Angeles Rams RB Todd Gurley (knee) was 'more hurt than we thought' and could have been dealing with a sprained knee as opposed to knee inflammation, as head coach Sean McVay and the team indicated during the season, according to comments made by C.J. Anderson on Fox Sports 1's 'Undisputed' on Tuesday, Feb. 19.'The injury was a little bit more than what everybody in the building thought, including himself. ... Yeah, he'd never really tell me. ... I would say sprained knee. Obviously, it's the same knee injury he's had before in his career. Obviously, I had surgery on my meniscus and once you have a knee, you always have a knee. So it aggravates and if he was getting a lot of touches earlier in the year -- obviously him being one of the best backs, that probably was the case,' Anderson said.
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Todd Gurley player page

Vikings | Adam Thielen extension coming soon?
Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen's agent recently expressed optimism that his client and the team are committed to hammering out an adjusted contract that will make Thielen one of the more highly paid receivers in the league. Thielen is about to enter the third season of a four-year, $19.246 million base deal.
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Adam Thielen player page

Broncos | Emmanuel Sanders refuses to restructure deal
Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders (Achillies') is sheduled to count $12.94 million against the salary cap in 2019, but he appears to have no interest in restructuring his contract entering the final year of his deal. Denver has until March 12 to exercise his 2019 option, which would trigger a $1.5 million guarantee of his salary. In the event they choose to release him, the Broncos will save $10.25 million against the cap.
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Emmanuel Sanders player page

Ravens | Baltimore attempting to rebuild offense
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is expected to be the focal point of an offense that is undergoing a 'reimagining,' according to offensive coordinator Greg Roman. 'We're really looking at this as a completely new beginning as if we were a new staff. I think we have run an offense here that has been kind of morphed over the years, and we really want to start fresh, start new, and (with) everything from our language, our formations, how we do everything, rebuild the thing from the ground up. That's one angle. The other angle is really, how do we want to move forward with Lamar Jackson? He's a unique player with a unique skill set, so let's build an offense that really accommodates that, as opposed to try to fit him into something that other people had once done,' Roman told The Athletic.
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Lamar Jackson player page

Jaguars | Kai Forbath let go
Jacksonville Jaguars PK Kai Forbath was released Tuesday, Feb. 19.
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Kai Forbath player page

Buccaneers | Tampa Bay signs Andre Ellington
Free-agent RB Andre Ellington (Texans) was signed to an undisclosed deal by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tuesday, Feb. 19. Ellington played for Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians when they were with the Arizona Cardinals.

Footballguys view: Ellington's best season as a pro came in 2014 under Arians. That year for the Cardinals Ellington had 660 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, plus 46 receptions for 395 yards and two receiving touchdowns. That was some time ago, and Ellington has not produced anything close to that since and was out of the league in 2018. Ellington will be hard pressed to make the final roster but will attempt to do so as a receiving back for the Bucs.

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Andre Ellington player page

Ravens | Hayden Hurst at full health
Baltimore Ravens TE Hayden Hurst (foot) is fully healthy again after a screw was recently removed from the foot he fractured last August.

Footballguys view: The 2018 first-round pick wasn't able to make much of an impact as a rookie. Hurst was able to play in 12 games in his rookie year and caught only 13 passes for 163 yards and one touchdown. The Ravens have a run-heavy offense with QB Lamar Jackson running the show, so Fantasy GMs should not expect much from Hurst outside of TE2 levels of production in 2019.

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Hayden Hurst player page

Source: footballguys.com

Otters27 · 02-20-19, 11:44 AM

Got to believe if Gurley was 100 percent then the Rams would have had a different game plan

mpaschal34 · 02-20-19, 12:35 PM

NFL | Jace Sternberger an early-round pick?
Texas A&M TE Jace Sternberger catches 'everything throw to him,' according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, and Jeremiah believes Sternberger will be selected in the first three rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Saw a video of this kid getting trucked by an Alabama DE. I lean towards the side of bust here.

LT Profits · 02-21-19, 08:10 AM

Thursday Update

Steelers | Le'Veon Bell looking for big contract
Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent RB Le'Veon Bell is believed to be looking for a contract this offseason that will pay him $50 million in the first two years of the deal.
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Le'Veon Bell player page

NFL | Orleans Darkwa recovering from injury
Free-agent RB Orleans Darkwa (Giants) suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon in October but was able to start running last week. He is expected to be cleared for football activities during offseason workouts.
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Orleans Darkwa player page

Steelers | Antonio Brown trade not guaranteed
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown will only be traded if the team receives a significant offer in return, according to general manager Kevin Colbert. Colbert said the team will keep Brown's agent up to date during trade negotiations but will not allow Brown to talk with other teams.
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Antonio Brown player page

Le'Veon Bell's weight a concern to Jets
Free-agent RB Le'Veon Bell (Steelers) reportedly weighed around 260 pounds during his year off from football. The Jets are fairly concerned about the shape Bell is in after he played at 225 pounds in 2017.

Footballguys view: New York is considered to be one of the front-runners to sign Bell this offseason. Despite the weight issue, the Jets will add him for the right price. The Jets currently boast the second largest salary cap heading into the offseason behind the Indianapolis Colts.

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Le'Veon Bell player page

Bears | Dion Sims done in Chicago
Chicago Bears impending free-agent TE Dion Sims is expected to be released, according to a source. Cutting Sims saves the Bears $6 million in salary cap space.
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Dion Sims player page

Browns | Cleveland adds Jaelen Strong
Free-agent WR Jaelen Strong (Jaguars) was signed to an undisclosed deal by the Cleveland Browns Wednesday, Feb. 20.
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Jaelen Strong player page

Source: footballguys.com

LT Profits · 02-21-19, 08:15 AM

Steelers fans are fed up!

mr. leisure · 02-21-19, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by LT Profits

Steelers fans are fed up!

Those shirts are great

LT Profits · 02-22-19, 08:41 AM

Friday Update

Steelers | Trainer refutes Le'Veon Bell's weight gain
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell's trainer shot down reports that Bell ballooned to as much as 260 pounds during the 2018 season, calling such assertions 'ridiculous' and 'laughable.' The trainer also told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that Bell will follow the same plan this year as they have every other year since the running back came out of college in 2013.
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Le'Veon Bell player page

NFL | Austin Seferian-Jenkins hurt all of 2018
Free-agent TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Jaguars) suffered two hernia tears during the first week of training camp but played through them until landing on the Reserve/Injured list in October, according to a source.
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Austin Seferian-Jenkins player page

Bengals | Tyler Eifert making progress with ankle
Cincinnati Bengals TE Tyler Eifert (ankle) posted a video on social media doing ladder drills at a rehabilitation center Thursday, Feb. 21.
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Tyler Eifert player page

Lions | Kerryon Johnson a complete back?
Detroit Lions RB Kerryon Johnson's ability to catch passes out of the backfield will be a 'bonus' for the offense, according to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. 'We're going to run the football, and we're going to run it really well,' Bevell said.
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Kerryon Johnson player page

Saints | Josh Hill in line to start?
New Orleans Saints TE Josh Hill is expected to be the No. 1 tight end in 2019, in the opinion of Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune.
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Josh Hill player page

Raiders | Jordy Nelson a trade chip for Oakland?
Oakland Raiders WR Jordy Nelson could be become a trade chip , in the opinion of Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com, and Barnwell believes Nelson could fetch a fifth- or sixth-round pick.
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Jordy Nelson player page

Broncos | Denver in the tight end market?
Minnesota Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph and Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate could be options for the Denver Broncos if they are cap casualties this offseason, according to Bill Barnwell, and Barnwell also believes the Broncos could target a tight end with an early pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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Kyle Rudolph player page
Cameron Brate player page

Browns | Cleveland eyeing Kenny Stills?
Miami Dolphins WR Kenny Stills would make sense as a trade target for the Cleveland Browns to address a need for a deep threat in the passing game, according to Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com.
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Kenny Stills player page

Browns | John Brown a fit in Cleveland?
Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent WR John Brown could be pursued by the Cleveland Browns in free agency to fill a need for a deep threat in the passing game, in the opinion of Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com.
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John Brown player page

NFL | Kyler Murray's combine participation uncertain
Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray said he will attend the NFL Scouting Combine but is not sure if he will throw during the quarterback drills.

Footballguys view: Murray doesn't really need to throw at the combine although it would be nice. His measurements will be key for his draft stock. He's a smaller quarterback, so teams will want to know if he's put on weight and if he's got the frame to add more muscle. Murray is a potential no.1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

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Jaguars | Carlos Hyde unlikely to stay
Jacksonville Jaguars RB Carlos Hyde is expected to be released this offseason. Cutting Hyde would save the Jaguars $4.75 million in salary cap space.

Footballguys view: The Browns traded Hyde to the Jaguars in the 2018 season for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Hyde didn't do much to impress in Jacksonville. His market should be somewhat cool as a free agent, although we expect some team to sign him for veteran depth.

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Carlos Hyde player page

Source: footballguys.com

LT Profits · 02-23-19, 08:39 AM

Saturday Update

Bills | Tyrell Williams a fit in Buffalo?
Los Angeles Chargers impending free-agent WR Tyrell Williams would provide a much-needed deep threat for QB Josh Allen, according to Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com, and Barnwell believes the Bills should pursue Williams 'even if it means paying an exorbitant price' to sign him.
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Tyrell Williams player page

Steelers | Jesse James staying in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh Steelers TE Jesse James is likely to receive an extension this offseason, according to general manager Kevin Colbert.
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Jesse James player page

49ers | Trent Taylor finally healthy
San Francisco 49ers WR Trent Taylor (back) said he expects to have a much more productive offseason now that he is completely recovered from his back injury. 'I think that's just such an advantage to be able to only think about building your body up with no limitations going on,' Taylor said.
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Trent Taylor player page

Titans | Delanie Walker hopes to be on field
Tennessee Titans TE Delanie Walker (ankle) said he hopes to run and catch passes during offseason workouts.

Footballguys view: Walker appeared in only one game in 2018, but he was targeted seven times in that contest where he caught four passes for 52 yards. The Titans tight end position wasn't the same without him and he should be eased back into action...whether that's OTAs or later. He said his rehab is on track at the end of the season.

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Delanie Walker player page

NFL | Dwayne Haskins expected to throw
Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins plans to throw during the NFL Scouting Combine, according to a source.

Footballguys view: Haskins is considered the top quarterback in the 2019 NFL draft. This past season for Ohio State, Haskins had 50 touchdown passes with only eight interceptions. He's a rhythm passer who can work well on the short-to-intermediate game. Haskins is not a scrambler but does have the athleticism to climb the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield.

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Steelers | Pittsburgh wants Antonio Brown in NFC
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown being traded to an NFC team is the preferred choice for the Steelers because of competitive reasons, according to a source.

Footballguys view: This counts out teams like the Patriots or the Raiders. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said that three teams have made offers on Brown, and we expect to see him dealt in the near future. The team will not trade Brown to any of the other teams in the AFC North.

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Antonio Brown player page

Eagles | Jake Elliott receives new deal
Philadelphia Eagles exclusive rights free-agent PK Jake Elliott signed a one-year contract with the Eagles Friday, Feb. 22. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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Jake Elliott player page

Source: footballguys.com

LT Profits · 02-24-19, 09:51 AM

Sunday Update

NFL | Kyler Murray standing by NFL decision
Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray reaffirmed his choice to play football over baseball Saturday, telling ESPN's Jake Trotter that while telling the Oakland Athletics he was pursuing football 'was tough,' he said, they can hold out all the hope they want to; I'm going to play football.'
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Texans | Deshaun Watson sets record
Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson became the first quarterback in NFL history with 4,000-plus passing yards (4,165), 25-plus touchdown passes (26), 500-plus rushing yards (551) and five rushing touchdowns (five) in a single season in 2018.
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Deshaun Watson player page

Steelers | DeSean Jackson to Pittsburgh plausible
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR DeSean Jackson is disgruntled with his current team and wants to play elsewhere. Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds opines that trading Jackson to the Pittsburgh Steelers makes sense as Jackson wants out and the Steelers will likely need to replace WR Antonio Brown.
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DeSean Jackson player page

Buccaneers | Drew Stanton an option for Bucs
Cleveland Browns QB Drew Stanton is an offseason trade candidate for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in the opinion of Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds. Reynolds posits the Buccaneers could trade their seventh-round draft pick for Stanton.
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Drew Stanton player page

Bears | Chase Daniel could be cap casualty
Chicago Bears QB Chase Daniel could be released this offseason since the team would save $3 million in salary cap space.
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Chase Daniel player page

Source: footballguys.com