After a retirement that lasted 40 days earlier this year, Tom Brady opted to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2022 season. While the campaign hasn't...
Jerry Jones: Cowboys Still Interested in Odell Beckham Jr. After T.Y. Hilton Contract
Dec 12, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 05: Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver Odell Beckham (3) looks on during the NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Rams on December 5, 2021, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Dallas Cowboys haven't ruled out a deal with free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham after signing T.Y. Hilton on Monday.
"He's a WR I think would fit any team," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said during an appearance on Shan & RJ on Audacy's 105.3 The Fan (Dallas) on Tuesday (h/t Jon Machota of The Athletic)."There's gonna be continued interest in Odell."
That confirms a report by CBS Sports' Josina Anderson, who said Monday that the Cowboys "feel unsure of how long the tail-end of Odell Beckham Jr.'s current rehab will specifically take" but that they're "still talking" with Beckham's representatives.
It was easy to connect the dots once the Hilton signing was announced.
ESPN's Ed Werder reported on Dec. 6 that Dallas was worried Beckham's recovery from a torn ACL would effectively cost him the entire season, including the playoffs. The team that signs him may not start to see a return on its investment until 2023.
Having met with Beckham during the three-time Pro Bowler's visit with the team, Cowboys star Micah Parsons said OBJ communicated how he expected to be out for another five weeks. That timeline set the playoffs as the earliest he might get on the field.
A day after Werder's report, NFL Network's Jane Slater reported there might be too many uncertainties for the Cowboys when it comes to Beckham:
#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones could surprise us all but getting the sense the #Cowboys are walking away from this one due to concerns about his ability to play this season. I’ll explain. pic.twitter.com/8rqygL5rFA
Not only has he not played since his second significant ACL injury, but the 30-year-old also hasn't worked out for any interested suitors. Agreeing to a deal would require a leap of faith.
From the Cowboys' perspective, you might as well keep all of your options open.
Even assuming the version of Beckham who lit up the NFL to open his career is gone for good, he showed in his brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams he can be effective as a secondary option. He caught 21 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns during their playoff run.
But it seems clear Dallas isn't willing to pull out all the stops to make this partnership happen right now. Jones, however, just isn't ready to rule out a potential move completely.
Report: 'Mounting Consensus' Broncos' Nathaniel Hackett Will Be Fired After 1 Season
Dec 6, 2022
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Nathaniel Hackett of the Denver Broncos reacts during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The struggling Denver Broncos may be in line for some serious changes this offseason.
According to Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post, "There is a mounting consensus that [head coach Nathaniel Hackett] will not be back—'They can't sell that to their fans in 2023,' one GM said—and three executives I spoke to all believe that front office changes are more likely than not in Denver."
La Canfora added that the job security of general manager George Paton, in particular, has been called into question by folks around the NFL.
Hackett, 42, was hired in January to take over for Vic Fangio, who spent three seasons as the team's head coach and never led them to a winning record. The hope was that Hackett, after tenures as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2013-14), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-18) and Green Bay Packers (2019-21), could help transition Denver's offense alongside new quarterback Russell Wilson.
Instead, the results have been nothing short of a disaster.
The 3-9 Broncos rank last in the NFL in scoring (13.8 PPG) and 27th in yards (315.2 YPG). They've only scored 17 or more points in two or more games. To put that in perspective, their upcoming opponents, the Kansas City Chiefs, haven't been held to less than 17 points in a single game this season.
This is amazing. The Broncos' ineptitude on offense is really hard to believe. https://t.co/sDWW03KMwb
The result has been eight losses in their last nine games.
Wilson in particular has been bad, throwing for 2,558 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 games while completing 60.1 percent of his passes. The decision to both trade for him and sign him to a five-year, $242.5 million day does not look good in hindsight.
That doesn't bode well for Paton. The general results on the field don't bode well for Hackett. If major changes come for the Broncos this offseason, it won't come as much of a surprise to anyone.
NFL Rumors: Execs Don't Expect Kliff Kingsbury to Return as Cardinals HC in 2023
Dec 6, 2022
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals walks off the field after a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Kliff Kingsbury's time as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals may be coming to an end.
Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reported executives around the league "are anticipating" that the NFC West team will move in a different direction before next season. He noted it is still up in the air if general manager Steve Keim will also be fired.
The Cardinals made the playoffs last season with an 11-6 record, meaning expectations were high entering the 2022 campaign.
However, things have gone anything but according to plan.
Arizona is 4-8 on the season and well behind the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers, who are 8-4. The Cardinals have also lost four of their last five and are largely just playing out the string at this point.
Things went off course before the year even started, as DeAndre Hopkins was suspended for six games for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. There was also plenty of outside noise regarding an independent study clause in Kyler Murray's contract that the team eventually removed.
Murray has dealt with a hamstring injury at times this season and exchanged in some back-and-forths with Kingsbury and others. It reached a point that Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson even called Murray out for only caring about himself.
Kingsbury has been unable to navigate the various challenges Arizona has faced this season into a winning record and could be approaching the end of his tenure as a result.
It was somewhat surprising when the Cardinals hired him ahead of the 2019 season considering his only head-coaching experience had been a mediocre run at the collegiate level with Texas Tech.
He went 35-40 in six seasons from 2013 through 2018 with the Red Raiders even though he had Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback for three of those years.
Kingsbury's record isn't much better with the Cardinals at 28-32-1, and he will have one single playoff game in four years at the end of this season. There is apparently a belief that won't be good enough to keep his job.
Odell Beckham Jr. Rumors: WR to Decide Midweek on Giants, Cowboys or Bills Contract
Dec 4, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 8: Odell Beckham Jr. of the Rams with the Vince Lombarbi Trophy during an NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills on September 08, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire)
The Odell Beckham Jr. saga is reportedly near an end.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "the middle of the week is the plan" for the free-agent wide receiver when it comes to a timeline for a decision. Rapoport noted Beckham already visited the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants ahead of a meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, who are considered the "favorites."
From @NFLGameDay: The Odell Beckham Jr sweepstakes are upon us, as he’s visited the #Giants and #Bills already, with the #Cowboys on tap. He plans to leave Dallas, then discuss his future with his family and make a decision by the middle of this week. pic.twitter.com/l1pRUURmav
The biggest question mark surrounding Beckham other than which team he will join is his health.
The 30-year-old suffered a torn ACL during the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reported one NFC executive said there remains "considerable doubt" about how healthy he is and whether he can effectively play this season.
"And that's a problem because Beckham has informed teams he's seeking a multiyear contract that he hopes will end up being worth $20 million per year," Vacchiano wrote.
There was a time when signing Beckham would have been a season-altering move for any team.
He surpassed 1,300 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons and 1,000 receiving yards in five of his first six years in the league. The three-time Pro Bowler was known for his spectacular catches and ability to high-point passes in traffic as one of the best wide receivers in the league.
To Beckham's credit, he was solid last season for the Rams and tallied 27 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season games. He also posted 113 receiving yards in the NFC Championship Game win over the San Francisco 49ers and scored in the Super Bowl win over the Bengals before exiting with the injury.
Buffalo and Dallas are both Super Bowl contenders with plenty of talent, so Beckham would not be asked to play the role of a No. 1 wide receiver.
That worked for the Rams, as he took advantage of the spacing created by playing alongside Cooper Kupp while catching passes from Matthew Stafford. Perhaps he can do the same with Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen in Buffalo or CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott in Dallas.
There is also history with the Giants since he played his first five seasons in New York. However, the team is trending in the wrong direction with three losses in their last four games after a blistering 6-1 start.
Beckham has plenty to consider, but it seems like he won't be considering for much longer.
Revisiting the 2023 Jimmy G Sweepstakes as 49ers Look Like Super Bowl Contenders
Dec 2, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 27: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Levi's Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The words "Jimmy Garoppolo sweepstakes" have been written many times before, and they will be written many times still. I also just wrote them now, and might as well do it again: Prepare for the 2023 Jimmy Garoppolo sweepstakes!
Yes, everyone's favorite in-limbo offseason quarterback is destined to hog speculative headlines through the first quarter of the 2023 calendar year as free agency awaits while Trey Lance's ankle recovers.
Lance, of course, remains the San Francisco 49ers' long-term future at the quarterback position. San Francisco gave up far too much for the 22-year-old, 2021 No. 3 overall pick to give up on him just four starts into his NFL career, which means the team will almost certainly —finally—lose Garoppolo.
Granted, that didn't happen last offseason despite the fact Lance was healthy and Jimmy G was featured in trade speculation throughout the spring. Indeed, the 49ers brought him back on a restructured one-year deal, which paid dividends almost immediately when Lance went down with that season-ending injury in September.
But now, Garoppolo is likely to be too expensive to keep around in a projected backup role simply because he's playing too well to be ignored by other teams that would be happy to make him their starter.
In what's becoming a career year at the age of 31, Garoppolo is the NFL's fifth-highest-rated qualified passer. He also ranks third in terms of DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) and DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) at Football Outsiders, and—while he might never be a prototypical gunslinger—he's one of just four qualified quarterbacks with a 112-plus passer rating on third down.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 21: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers calls a play during the first half of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Estadio Azteca on November 21, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Maybe most importantly, he hasn't committed a single turnover over the course of a four-game winning streak that has moved the 49ers into "prime Super Bowl contender" conversations ahead of a high-profile Week 13 matchup with Tua Tagovailoa and the contending Miami Dolphins.
This week, DraftKings only listed the Philadelphia Eagles with (slightly) better Super Bowl odds than San Francisco in the NFC.
Of course, things could become super awkward if Garoppolo actually leads the 49ers to a Vince Lombardi Trophy. But because the team is loaded with talent and realistically married to Lance, anything short of a championship likely means Garoppolo—who cannot be slapped with the franchise tag again—hits the market after this campaign.
Where might he land? Let's run through some options, from most to least likely landing spot.
New York Jets
Duh. Jets head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur came from San Francisco, and Zach Wilson is the league's lowest-rated qualified passer. It might feel early for the Jets to cut bait on Wilson—who was drafted right before Lance in 2021—but we're talking about New York, and patience levels are at an all-time low in this league already. Wilson has already been benched this season, so it's easy to see the Jets swapping him out for the veteran Garoppolo in March.
FLORHAM PARK, NJ - JULY 29: Head coach Robert Saleh, left, of the New York Jets stands next to offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur during a morning practice at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on July 29, 2021 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
New York Giants
Daniel Jones has had some moments this season, but we've officially reached a point at which the Giants are contending despite Jones, who has a mere 88.1 passer rating during a 1-3 stretch for Big Blue. Meanwhile, according to Spotrac, only two teams are slated to enter the offseason with more cap space than the G-Men.
Washington Commanders
I think the NFL might be ready to give up on Carson Wentz as a starter, and the Commanders can't possibly be convinced Taylor Heinicke is the solution beyond this season. It's still possible he grabs the reins entirely, but it's just as possible he fails to take over consistently and Washington is left wondering what could have been as a talented defense puts them into contention following a poor start to 2022.
New Orleans Saints
Jameis Winston just hasn't worked out, and I don't think anyone expects Andy Dalton to remain in the Saints' starting role indefinitely. And this is a team that still has plenty of talent—too much to be 4-8 coming entering December. That has to move them into Garoppolo's realm, but the problem is they are on track to be in salary-cap hell (again). If that's the case, they won't likely be capable of winning any bidding wars for Jimmy G.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 27: Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints shakes hands with Andy Dalton #14 during warm ups prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders
It hasn't been a good year for veteran Derek Carr, and the Raiders aren't in the mix despite plenty of talent. They just gave Carr a new contract in the 2022 offseason, but the Raiders can save $29.3 million of his $34.9 million projected 2023 cap hit by moving on. And if they do that, it would make a lot of sense to chase Garoppolo. They should have the cash to do it, too.
Indianapolis Colts
It's possible Matt Ryan is one-and-done in Indy, but the Colts have enough talent to remain competitive with a veteran under center. They can also afford to be involved in veteran quarterback sweepstakes, but they might prefer to avoid that route after being burned to various degrees by Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs won't likely have much money to spend either, but who knows if Tom Brady will be back. And if he isn't, it's entirely possible they coax Brady's former understudy to relieve him with a stellar supporting cast in Florida.
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 22: Tom Brady #12 and Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the New England Patriots walk through the tunnel before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers
The Baker Mayfield experiment has failed, and Sam Darnold isn't the answer, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. However, a rebuilding team like Carolina that is likely to have a high draft pick might not care to pay for a nine-year veteran.
Green Bay Packers
If by chance this is Aaron Rodgers' last year in Green Bay, a Packers team looking to save face and bounce back quickly could try to smooth things over with a veteran like Garoppolo.
Report: Red Sox Owner John Henry Eyes Commanders Bid amid Liverpool Sale Rumors
Nov 9, 2022
Boston Red Sox owner John Henry prior to a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group may be trading footy for American football.
According to Josh Kosman of the New York Post, Henry "is seen as a possible bidder for the Washington Commanders as the investing tycoon moves to sell his UK-based soccer team Liverpool."
According to that report, Fenway Sports Group "has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to unload Liverpool in a deal that's expected to fetch between $4 billion and $5 billion."
🚨 EXCLUSIVE statement from a Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) to @TheAthleticFC:
"This may be a precursor to him buying the Commanders," a source familiar with recent NFL franchise sales told Kosman. "John wants to own an NFL team. They will look at the Commanders."
While it isn't finalized that Daniel Snyder will sell the organization, the Commanders released a statement last week that it had hired Bank of America Securities to "consider potential transactions."
That announcement came hours before a report from ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. that the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of Virginia had commenced a criminal investigation into potential "financial improprieties."
While that investigation hasn't been confirmed publicly, it may be as soon as Thursday:
D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine will hold a news conference tomorrow afternoon “to make a major announcement related to the Washington Commanders.” No other details provided.
Racine's office has been investigating Dan Snyder and the team for months. https://t.co/nxqfuR4XkM
A Commanders spokesperson just issued this statement in light of D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine and his office scheduling a news conference "to make a major announcement related to the [team]" tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/HWYvdmzRY9
After multiple investigations into the team's toxic workplace, alleged sexual harassment and possible financial improprieties, the sale of the Commanders feels inevitable at this point.
For Henry, selling Liverpool could net him the chunk of capital needed to enter the bidding for the Commanders, which could hit as much as $5.6 billion, sources told Kosman. He may face stiff competition, with an ownership group comprised of Jeff Bezos, Jay-Z and Matthew McConaughey expected to enter the running.
Packers Rumors: WRs Frustrated at Being Made Scapegoat After Rodgers' OTA Absence
Nov 9, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks on in the first half of a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 06, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers' wide receiving corps is apparently tired of being scapegoated for the team's offensive struggles.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported the criticism of the receivers "isn't sitting well" given Aaron Rodgers' decision to not attend voluntary offseason workouts.
The Green Bay offense has been completely lacking in chemistry all season, with Rodgers going from back-to-back MVP to one of the worst starting quarterbacks in football. Rodgers currently sits 27th among starters in QBR, and his seven interceptions are already the most he's had over a full season since 2016.
No Packers wideout is currently on pace to top 1,000 receiving yards. Allen Lazard leads the team with 427 yards on 30 receptions, but he's been nowhere near a consistently reliable target. Rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson have dealt with injuries and have not been particularly impressive when they've been on the field.
While there may be some merit in criticizing Rodgers for skipping out on OTAs, the Packers had an entire training camp and more than two months of a regular season to fix things. They scored nine points against the Detroit Lions defense on Sunday.
Much of the fault here lies at the feet of the front office, which traded Davante Adams without a clear plan on how to replace him. The Packers had two first-round picks and selected a pair of defensive players before taking a gamble on Watson at the top of the second round. It's fair to wonder whether the front office should have used those two firsts to move up and select Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson.
Watson was always going to be a project after playing at FCS North Dakota State, and Rodgers turns 39 in December. He's not exactly on a patient timeline.
Regardless, following more silence from Lambeau at the trade deadline, it's clear the offensive misfires lay mostly at the feet of the people making roster decisions.
Raiders Rumors: Johnathan Abram Cut by LV After Being Shopped at Trade Deadline
Nov 8, 2022
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 25: Johnathan Abram #24 of the Las Vegas Raiders poses for a photo prior to an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly releasing safety Johnathan Abram on Tuesday, per the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
According to Rapoport, the Raiders shopped Abram ahead of the trade deadline but didn't find any suitors.
The move doesn't come as a major shock, as the former first-round pick had been falling out of favor in Las Vegas.
If this was 25-30 years ago, Abram would be fine. Nowadays, you need safeties that are going to be versatile in covering multiple types of players and he is definitely not that. https://t.co/CKgok7u0BT
#Raiders tried and failed to trade Abram since this summer. And, after the trade deadline passed without a deal, he played a season-low 22 snaps against the Saints and was on the field for just 32 snaps against the Jaguars. Now, he's gone.
Johnathan Abram' will indeed be released. His defensive snaps have been declining and his special teams snaps have been going up. Was also shopped at the trade deadline. Never good signs
Johnathan Abram was selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft by the Raiders. Ends up playing 36 games for the Raiders. He had an overall PFF grade 49.5 this season. Other seasons? 38.7, 36.8 and 56.9.
He's also yet another recent first-round selection who hasn't really panned out for the Raiders, a further indictment of the Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock era:
Here's what the #Raiders got out of their 3 extra first-round picks for Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper: Josh Jacobs Johnathan Abram, released in year 4 Damon Arnette, released in year 2
After playing just one game in his rookie season in 2019 because of a torn rotator cuff and labrum, the Mississippi State product posted solid counting stats in the 2020 (86 tackles, two interceptions) and 2021 seasons (116 tackles, one interception).
The 26-year-old has 48 tackles this year through eight games (six starts).
Abram was given ample opportunity to prove himself this season, with the Raiders playing him all over the field, at points utilizing him in both safety roles, as a linebacker, cornerback and nickelback.
It appeared the team was happy with how he was handling the variety of roles asked of him.
"He's a smart guy," head coach Josh McDaniels told reporters in September. "I mean, we put a lot on him. He's been able to handle the duality of the multiple roles that we've given him. He's a big cog in terms of the overall communication on the defense."
But apparently, those feelings changed, and his time in Las Vegas has come to a close.
He'll now hit waivers and owed about $1 million in base salary for the remainder of the season. The Raiders had declined the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, so he'll be a free agent after the 2022 season.
The Raiders will be expected to turn to a starting safety pair of Tre'von Moehrig and Duron Harmon following Abram's release.
