NFL Off Season News /Rumors And Discussion

[NewYorkKnight]

The Broncos have exchanged contract proposals with free agent Ronnie Hillman.

Hillman outplayed C.J. Anderson last preseason and early last year, but averaged under 4.0 YPC in four of Denver's last five games, while Anderson emerged as the Broncos' best offensive player. Hillman was especially dreadful in the playoffs, managing 54 yards on 32 carries (1.69 YPC). Hillman set a career high with 207 carries in 2015. That number should be drastically reduced.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Ex-NFL CB Rashean Mathis will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Jaguar next week.

Mathis ended his career in Detroit, but enjoyed his best years in Jacksonville with 30 interceptions over ten years. He owns the Jaguars' single-season record for most single-season interceptions -- eight in 2006. Mathis made only one Pro Bowl in his 13-year career, but was always one of the NFL's most underrated cover men. He may get some consideration for the Jaguars' Ring of Honor.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Over the past 2 offseasons the Jets have turned a pair of fifth-round picks into Brandon Marshall, Ryan Clady & 2 seventh-round picks.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

PFT's Mike Florio reports the Rams are expected to move on from Nick Foles by the start of training camp and that he will "definitely" be gone before Week 1.

Florio cited a source with "knowledge of the dynamics." The Rams have committed to Case Keenum as the starter for 2016, so trading or releasing Foles wouldn't be a shocking development. Assuming the Rams are serious about moving him, Foles could be a cheap fallback option for the Broncos if they fail to acquire Colin Kaepernick. Foles carries a $1.75 million base salary for 2016, which is certainly within the Broncos' price range. Of course, Denver might not see him as much of an upgrade over current starter Mark Sanchez. Either way, Foles should be gone sooner rather than later, especially if Los Angeles drafts a quarterback with the 15th pick.

 

[Mobdeeper7239]

Ex-NFL CB Rashean Mathis will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Jaguar next week.

Mathis ended his career in Detroit, but enjoyed his best years in Jacksonville with 30 interceptions over ten years. He owns the Jaguars' single-season record for most single-season interceptions -- eight in 2006. Mathis made only one Pro Bowl in his 13-year career, but was always one of the NFL's most underrated cover men. He may get some consideration for the Jaguars' Ring of Honor.

he had 3 straight pro bowl worthy years early with Jags, they robbed him

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Giants signed RB Bobby Rainey, formerly of the Buccaneers.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

FOX Sports' Mike Garafolo reports suspended WR Josh Gordon's reinstatement process has been held up by another failed drug test.

Garafolo makes it clear that Gordon isn't necessarily suspended for another year, but it's not looking good. Collected by the NFL in early March, Gordon's test reportedly came up positive for "marijuana and dilute." "Though the level of marijuana was below the 35 nanograms per milliliter required for a positive test, the diluted sample is considered a positive test," per Garafolo. Gordon is currently living with Johnny Manziel in L.A. Garafolo also reported that several people "close to Manziel" are concerned that Johnny Football "continues to party in Los Angeles, even as his NFL career is at a low point."

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Free agent Montee Ball was arrested Saturday night for violating his bail agreement.

It's a felony. Out on bail on domestic violence charges, Ball wasn't allowed to be drinking, but was spotted at a bar. When apprehended elsewhere, he was believed to be intoxicated, but refused a breathalyzer, prompting a blood draw. It's one more nail in Ball's NFL career.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports LeSean McCoy is not expected to face league discipline for his alleged role in a February nightclub brawl in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia D.A.'s office announced last week McCoy will not face any charges for the incident. McCoy was not expected to receive a suspension after avoiding charges, but it is nice to get confirmation before fantasy draft season. With the legal issues behind him, McCoy is shaping up as a locked-in RB1.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

ESPN's Jeff Legwold reports the Broncos "don't figure" to bend in their contract demands for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.

Legwold reports the Broncos want the 49ers to pay $4.9 million of Kaepernick's salary this season and the quarterback to reduce his 2017 salary from $14.5 million to $7 million. Neither the 49ers nor Kaepernick has appeared willing to accept Denver's demands, making this deal all but dead. The Broncos may now look to trade for Browns QB Josh McCown, and they will almost certainly target a quarterback early in the draft.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Ravens TE Dennis Pitta (hip), out almost 2 years, is going to keep playing. He's agreed to a pay cut with incentives to earn some back

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Broncos CB Aqib Talib said franchise-tagged OLB Von Miller plans to participate in the offseason program.

"I think that he's going to be there on the 18th," Talib said. "The last time I talked to him, he was going to be on his way to Denver on the 18th with everybody else." Miller has yet to sign his exclusive franchise tender, meaning he is technically not yet under contract. He would have to sign the tender before participating in any offseason work. Miller is set to earn $14.1 million this season under the terms of the tag, but both sides are interested in working out a long-term deal.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Patriots re-signed RB LeGarrette Blount to a one-year contract.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

LeGarrette Blount details ... one-year, $760,000 contract.

Coming off a hip injury which landed him on I.R. in December, Blount did not garner much interest in free agency. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Blount is back to full health, however, and he should enter the offseason program as the favorite for the "big back" role in the offense. Blount turned 165 carries into 703 yards (4.26 YPC) and six scores last season.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Saints exercised the fifth-year option of SS Kenny Vaccaro.

The move keeps Vaccaro under contract through 2017. Vaccaro struggled through an injury-riddled sophomore campaign, but he has been well-worth the $5.6 million option value his other two years in the league. If Jairus Byrd can stay healthy, the Saints have the makings of a solid safety pair. Vaccaro is the first player from the 2013 draft class to have his option picked up.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

NFL.com's Albert Breer reports Eddie Lacy has undergone a "remarkable" physical transformation this offseason.

What Breer considers "remarkable" is Lacy's "redistribution of weight" from his midsection to his shoulders and arms. "I know the people around Eddie Lacy really feel like the Packers are going to be happy with what they see when Lacy reports for the offseason program next week," Breer said. It jibes with what everyone has been saying this offseason, including coach Mike McCarthy. Lacy appears to have gotten the message after his sluggish 2015.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Redskins' RB Silas Redd suspended indefinitely without pay for violating NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Profootballtalk's Mike Florio reports suspended Browns WR Josh Gordon can next apply for reinstatement on Aug. 1.

The indefinitely banned Gordon's most recent bid for reinstatement was denied on Tuesday, but the league has taken a surprisingly lenient approach. Now is the time for Gordon to show a "commitment to sobriety," something a league source recently told the Cleveland Plain Dealer he had yet to demonstrate. Considering Gordon's history, we wouldn't count on it. If the Browns or Dynasty league owners get even a single catch from Gordon in 2016, it will be a bonus.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Free agent CB Leon Hall is reportedly recovering from back surgery.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

More on Leon Hall ...


Per WCKY's James Rapien, Hall had an operation to "repair a disc injury that required epidurals late in the year." It's unclear when the procedure occurred, though it was likely in January. Although he turned 31 in December, Hall remained amongst the league's most effective corners last season. Hall has appeared in 29-of-32 games over the past two years, but has an injury history that includes two Achilles' tears.