NFL News, Rumors and Musings

[Leonardfan]

49ers MLB Reuben Foster was arrested Sunday morning in Santa Clara (CA) on charges "related to domestic violence," and for possessing an assault rifle.

He's being held on $75,000 bail, $50,000 for domestic violence and $25,000 for the assault weapon. It's Foster's second arrest in the last month; he was popped for marijuana possession in Alabama on January 12. Foster also failed a drug test at the 2017 Combine and was kicked out of the Combine after an altercation with a hospital employee. When healthy, Foster proved a difference-making run defender as a rookie. He now risks missing significant time due to a string of off-field incidents.

 

[Westside]

49ers MLB Reuben Foster was arrested Sunday morning in Santa Clara (CA) on charges "related to domestic violence," and for possessing an assault rifle.

He's being held on $75,000 bail, $50,000 for domestic violence and $25,000 for the assault weapon. It's Foster's second arrest in the last month; he was popped for marijuana possession in Alabama on January 12. Foster also failed a drug test at the 2017 Combine and was kicked out of the Combine after an altercation with a hospital employee. When healthy, Foster proved a difference-making run defender as a rookie. He now risks missing significant time due to a string of off-field incidents.

Tom Iron Alert!

 

[Heretic]

Nick Foles "only worth 4th/5th round pick" according to the Caste media. That's right, the man that lead his team to the Super Bowl and played like an all-Pro QB along the way is worth nothing more than a mid-round pick. With "logic" like that, an owner or GM would be pretty stupid to waste tens of millions of dollars on picking an unproven QB in the first round, just find one in the mid rounds for a bargain since that's all the quality you need to take your team to the Super Bowl and win it. I guess so many teams have been doing it all wrong for all of these years.

 

[Don Wassall]

I'll be surprised if tackling machine Matakevich doesn't become a starting inside backer for the Steelers at some point next season. If so that will give them two White starters on defense, the most since Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel both started at 3-4 DE.

Anthony Chickillo is also good enough to start at inside or outside linebacker, but given the team's infatuation with over-drafting black LBs, it's likely they'll draft yet another one in the first or second round in April and then give him his two to four seasons to conclusively prove he's a bust, ala Jarvis Jones and Bud Dupree, first round busts taken in recent years. From Weenieworld (btw Vince Williams isn't very good either):

Steelers ILB Tyler Matakevich underwent shoulder surgery following the season. Matakevich only played 60 snaps on defense as a sophomore, but he would have had a much bigger role if he had not suffered a labrum injury in the same game Ryan Shazier suffered his spinal injury. The issue limited Matakevich to special teams the rest of the season. The Steelers will almost certainly add someone to play next to Vince Williams this offseason, but Matakevich should get a shot to earn a role.

 

[StevenSmith]

Nick Foles "only worth 4th/5th round pick" according to the Caste media. That's right, the man that lead his team to the Super Bowl and played like an all-Pro QB along the way is worth nothing more than a mid-round pick. With "logic" like that, an owner or GM would be pretty stupid to waste tens of millions of dollars on picking an unproven QB in the first round, just find one in the mid rounds for a bargain since that's all the quality you need to take your team to the Super Bowl and win it. I guess so many teams have been doing it all wrong for all of these years.

Good. I hope other teams undervalue Foles so the Eagles will keep him for at least another year.

 

[Don Wassall]

Good news for A. J., maybe the Browns or another team will give him an opportunity to start.

A.J. McCarron has won his grievance against the Bengals and been awarded unrestricted free agency. The grievance dated back to McCarron's rookie season in 2014, where the Bengals kept him on the non-football injury list for all but two games, saying he suffered a shoulder injury away from the team. That prevented his contract from tolling, and meant he was headed for restricted, instead of unrestricted, free agency this offseason. McCarron contended his injury was wrongly listed as non-football, and an independent arbitrator agreed. Going on 28, McCarron will now be one of the "stars" of a slightly-deeper-than-usual free agent quarterback class. The No. 164 overall pick of the 2014 draft, McCarron has attempted just 133 career passes. He could be a Brock Osweiler or Mike Glennon waiting to happen. McCarron has a noted admirer in ex-Bengals OC/current Browns coach Hue Jackson, who nearly pulled off a deadline deal for his ex-pupil.

 

[Don Wassall]

The best thing about this Weenieworld blurb is that it doesn't mention Teddy Bridgewater. Hopefully the Vikings have just been playing the game of treating Bridgewater reverently (and you can be sure that having the name "Teddy" as in teddy bear triggers all the right emotions in DWF Nation, which fetishizes blacks as it is) while knowing that he's the third best QB on the roster after Keenum and a healthy Sam Bradford.

According to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, free agent Case Keenum "still seems to be the favorite" to return as the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2018. Based on his comments, OC John DeFilippo seems to prefer an "athletic quarterback with ability to extend plays." Keenum and Kirk Cousins both fit that profile, though Keenum would obviously come at a much cheaper cost. According to Walters, it would be "out of character" for the Vikings to get into a bidding war and expects Cousins to sign wherever he can get the most money. Minnesota blocked QBs coach Kevin Stefanski from joining Pat Shurmur in New York, which could be a sign the Vikings would like to keep the status quo by retaining Keenum.

 

[Leonardfan]

The McCarron story is a good one. I am glad he was able to hit UFA - he should command some interest. I have also read that the Bills want to trade up and are targeting a QB. Knowing that organization they will probably draft Lamar Jackson but it would be nice to see them draft a bonafide franchise QB like Darnold, Rosen or Mayfield.

 

[Leonardfan]

Must be nice to have that Black Privilege and so much untapped "upside" even at the age of 29 and being a huge FA bust signing:

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer confirms free agent Terrelle Pryor will be "on the Browns' radar" this offseason.

Pryor had his best season with Cleveland in 2016, leading the Browns in both catches (77) and receiving yards (1,007). He didn't fare as well in Washington but was obviously hampered by injuries including an ankle issue that eventually required surgery. Pryor would add to a Cleveland receiving corps already featuring Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman.

 

[Don Wassall]

Brian Cushing released by Houston. Looks like J.J. Watt is the last man standing on what used to be the relatively Whitest defense in the league.

Cushing is 31, should still be able to find a job if he wants to continue to play though maybe not as a starter. Injuries and a couple steroids suspensions have hurt but overall he's been a solid inside linebacker. In 2015, when he last played all 16 games, he had 110 combined tackles. I was shocked to hear his name come up on a local Pittsburgh sports show talking about possible linebackers for the Steelers to sign. Apparently there isn't much in the free agent market this offseason as far as linebackers, and of course that's hardly a surprise since so many defensive players stink and the league is permanently committed to keep mining the same shriveled up talent pool.

 

[Leonardfan]

Brian Cushing released by Houston. Looks like J.J. Watt is the last man standing on what used to be the relatively Whitest defense in the league.

Cushing is 31, should still be able to find a job if he wants to continue to play though maybe not as a starter. Injuries and a couple steroids suspensions have hurt but overall he's been a solid inside linebacker. In 2015, when he last played all 16 games, he had 110 combined tackles. I was shocked to hear his name come up on a local Pittsburgh sports show talking about possible linebackers for the Steelers to sign. Apparently there isn't much in the free agent market this offseason as far as linebackers, and of course that's hardly a surprise since so many defensive players stink and the league is permanently committed to keep mining the same shriveled up talent pool.

The Texans defense was one of the best in the league too when it featured, Watt, Barwin, Cushing and Brooks Reed. Now its a shell of itself but loaded with "upside".

 

[Westside]

The Texans defense was one of the best in the league too when it featured, Watt, Barwin, Cushing and Brooks Reed. Now its a shell of itself but loaded with "upside".

Linebacker is similar to the quarterback. You have to think and react. Obviously, the upsiders as linebackers are flawed in the thinking category. Thus the horrible defensive play in the league.

 

[Don Wassall]

Not an unexpected move, this fortifies Nick Kwiatkoski's opportunity to start at one of Chicago's ILB spots in '18. Nick is the real deal but needs to stay healthy as a bad chest injury caused him to miss a good chunk of the '17 season.

Bears released ILB Jerrell Freeman. This fully expected move will save Chicago $3.5 million against the cap. Freeman played well his first season with the Bears, but he missed four games because of a PED suspension and picked up another 10-game ban last year, the final two games of which he will have to serve in 2018. He is also set to turn 32 in May and is coming off a torn pectoral. Even so, Freeman is good enough to get a look from teams in need of linebacker help.

 

[icsept]

Talking heads are rejoicing that “old whitey” Richardson is selling the Panthers. I’ve heard ridiculous speculation that anyone from P Diddy to Steph Curry could buy. I’ll be the first to predict: the new majority owner will be a Jew. And the public will be clueless.

I have to reply to myself now that JEWISH hedge fund manager David Tepper has emerged as the front runner to purchase the Panthers...

 

[Don Wassall]

Remember this weirdo from a few years ago? Richie Incognito took a lot of heat for being a supposed "racist," but the reality is that Martin was/is just pathetically soft. This story made NBC's nightly fake news.

Former Dolphins and 49ers OL Jonathan Martin has been taken into police custody after posting a disturbing image on Instagram of a shotgun and ammunition, threatening "suicide" and/or "revenge". Martin was the famous victim of "Bullygate" while with the Dolphins back in 2013. In the photo he posted on Friday, Martin wrote, "When you're a bully victim & a coward, your options are suicide, or revenge." In the photo, there was a shotgun and several rounds of shells lying on a bed, and Martin tagged former Dolphins teammates OG Richie Incognito and C Mike Pouncey. Martin also tagged two others, presumably from his old high school, while also tagging the #MiamiDolphins and #HarvardWestlake, his high school. Harvard Westlake subsequently shut down its campus after seeing the image. Martin was then taken into custody shortly after. The 28-year-old hasn't played in the NFL since 2014 and clearly has some mental issues. Thankfully, it didn't turn ugly.

 

[Don Wassall]

This will anger the army of Bortles haters in the media and DWF Nation:

Jaguars signed QB Blake Bortles to a new three-year, $54 million contract.

 

[Leonardfan]

Trey Burton - the black TE who threw that TD to Foles in SB apparently going to be a sought after commodity. He is undersized 6-3, 235lbs - more of an h-back than an actual TE. I wonder what team is going to be stupid enough to fork over money for him to be viewed as a starting TE. His production is pretty mediocre over his 4 seasons in the league.

Free agent Trey Burton turned down a contract from the Eagles he "didn't consider serious."
One of the top free-agent tight ends, the Eagles don't have the cap space to re-sign Burton. He's looking for a starting role after spending the last few years behind Zach Ertz. Burton should be targeting Jared Cook money ($5M-plus annually).

 

[Don Wassall]

We'll see if a team signs Bridgewater to starter's money if he becomes a free agent. I doubt it'll happen, even in the Caste NFL, the QB position is too important and can't be sacrificed nearly as readily as other positions.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said Teddy Bridgewater's free agency status has yet to be determined. This contradicts a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who said Bridgewater is expected to be a free agent. The quarterback's status is in question because he spent the first six games of 2017, his contract year, on the PUP list, a situation which should cause his contract to toll. The Vikings reportedly will not argue it should have tolled, however, making it likely Bridgewater will be ruled a free agent. McCarthy said the issue should be resolved "in the next few weeks." Free agency opens in 15 days.

 

[Extra Point]

I'm looking forward to the decline in NFL attendance when people who had season tickets last year don't renew them this year because of the league's support of left wing politics.

 

[Leonardfan]

We'll see if a team signs Bridgewater to starter's money if he becomes a free agent. I doubt it'll happen, even in the Caste NFL, the QB position is too important and can't be sacrificed nearly as readily as other positions.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said Teddy Bridgewater's free agency status has yet to be determined. This contradicts a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who said Bridgewater is expected to be a free agent. The quarterback's status is in question because he spent the first six games of 2017, his contract year, on the PUP list, a situation which should cause his contract to toll. The Vikings reportedly will not argue it should have tolled, however, making it likely Bridgewater will be ruled a free agent. McCarthy said the issue should be resolved "in the next few weeks." Free agency opens in 15 days.

I saw something yesterday where Bridgewater has supposedly told his teammates he feels disrespected that Minnesota is probably not going to resign him. Just goes to show what an ingrade he is. He bought into his own press - he isn't better than Keenum, he is a black game manager (you are not able to label a black QB game manager). If anything he was coddled by Minnesota after his injury and was treated like a hero. In his two seasons as a starter he threw 14 TDs/12 Ints and 14 TDs/9 Ints. Very pedestrian numbers in today's pass friendly league.

 

[white lightning]

Some good news guys. First off the Panthers let go of Jonathan Stewart so CMac should now with out any
question be the number 1 running back on the team and therefore should get the bulk to the carries! This
is exciting news for next fall.

Second there are reports coming in about some teams talking about Johnny Manziel again. The Rams in particular
are one team but there are others. Johnny Football said he would take a minimum salary and possibly play for free to
prove himself to teams. He even said he would play on a practice squad because he misses football so much. We can
only hope there rumors are true on both sides!

 

[Carolina Speed]

Some good news guys. First off the Panthers let go of Jonathan Stewart so CMac should now with out any
question be the number 1 running back on the team and therefore should get the bulk to the carries! This
is exciting news for next fall.

Second there are reports coming in about some teams talking about Johnny Manziel again. The Rams in particular
are one team but there are others. Johnny Football said he would take a minimum salary and possibly play for free to
prove himself to teams. He even said he would play on a practice squad because he misses football so much. We can
only hope there rumors are true on both sides!

WL, not so fast. I'm generally wrong in my predictions, but what are the odds that Carolina either goes after a free agent, and or drafts another RB? They could keep CM, Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whitaker, or they could cut Whitaker and go after a FA and or a draft pick. Lots of things could go wrong here, except one. That Carolina picks up Rex Burkhead. Is he a FA? It would be wonderful if CM is the opening day starting RB, but....we've all seen what usually happens too many times!
I believe another poster said that Carolina would draft a RB also. If they do, there's no certainty that CM will be the number 1 RB, but again I'm usually wrong and I hope I am this time.
Other thoughts?

 

[jacknyc]

The Panthers have shown a great reluctance to use CM as a running back. They prefer to pass to him. I don't expect that to change.

 

[Extra Point]

WL, not so fast. I'm generally wrong in my predictions, but what are the odds that Carolina either goes after a free agent, and or drafts another RB? They could keep CM, Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whitaker, or they could cut Whitaker and go after a FA and or a draft pick. Lots of things could go wrong here, except one. That Carolina picks up Rex Burkhead. Is he a FA? It would be wonderful if CM is the opening day starting RB, but....we've all seen what usually happens too many times!
I believe another poster said that Carolina would draft a RB also. If they do, there's no certainty that CM will be the number 1 RB, but again I'm usually wrong and I hope I am this time.
Other thoughts?

I could see the Panthers drafting a power back to work in tandem with McCaffrey. I can't see them taking a running back early after taking one in the first round last year. Maybe in the mid to late rounds.

But you never know with NFL teams.

 

[The Sapient]

The Buccaneers have signed first-year running back Dalton Crossan.

Hoping we can have McCaffrey, Burkehead, Woodhead, Zenner, Dalton Crossan, and a rookie like Ryan Nall all on a 2018 NFL roster.