DeAndre Hopkins skips Texans camp, stages holdout.
The Houston Texans receiver is unhappy with his current contract and did not report to training camp, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday. Hopkins can be fined $40,000 for each day missed.
ESPN first reported the news.
The Texans brass has declined to negotiate a new deal. Hopkins has two years left on his rookie contract and is set to make just $1 million in base salary in 2016.
The 6-foot-1 wideout is a highlight machine. He's the NFL's premier boundary receiver, stretches the field, can post up smaller corners and outmuscle bigger defenders. There is little Hopkins can't do from the receiver position.
He also carried the Texans offense last season, earning 31.6 percent of the teams passing targets. Playing with a cadre of crappy quarterbacks last season, Hopkins put up 111 receptions, 1,521 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hopkins said last week he wanted to be paid "what I'm worth." He's certainly worth more than $1 million. The question is whether the Texans will pay him as such.
Teams generally don't re-do deals with multiple years left -- most don't want to set a precedent and contractually have no reason to negotiate. One option could be pushing some of next year's money into this season, without actually extending Hopkins' contract (a.k.a. The Marshawn Lynch Solution).
Hopkins' only leverage is to withhold his services, but holdouts generally don't end well for players once game checks are about to be missed.
Hopkins is certainly worth the $15 million per season other receivers of his caliber are making. Unfortunately for the former first-round pick, he's still under contract for multiple years -- plus the threat of the franchise tag in 2018 -- so he might have to wait a while to see those big dollars.
The Houston Texans receiver is unhappy with his current contract and did not report to training camp, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday. Hopkins can be fined $40,000 for each day missed.
ESPN first reported the news.
The Texans brass has declined to negotiate a new deal. Hopkins has two years left on his rookie contract and is set to make just $1 million in base salary in 2016.
The 6-foot-1 wideout is a highlight machine. He's the NFL's premier boundary receiver, stretches the field, can post up smaller corners and outmuscle bigger defenders. There is little Hopkins can't do from the receiver position.
He also carried the Texans offense last season, earning 31.6 percent of the teams passing targets. Playing with a cadre of crappy quarterbacks last season, Hopkins put up 111 receptions, 1,521 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hopkins said last week he wanted to be paid "what I'm worth." He's certainly worth more than $1 million. The question is whether the Texans will pay him as such.
Teams generally don't re-do deals with multiple years left -- most don't want to set a precedent and contractually have no reason to negotiate. One option could be pushing some of next year's money into this season, without actually extending Hopkins' contract (a.k.a. The Marshawn Lynch Solution).
Hopkins' only leverage is to withhold his services, but holdouts generally don't end well for players once game checks are about to be missed.
Hopkins is certainly worth the $15 million per season other receivers of his caliber are making. Unfortunately for the former first-round pick, he's still under contract for multiple years -- plus the threat of the franchise tag in 2018 -- so he might have to wait a while to see those big dollars.
Seahawks camp.
Patriot nation is out in full force....21,781 fans attended Day 3!
Andre Johnson pulls on his new practice jersey as he takes the field with the Titans.
Ben Jones, Marcus Mariota, and Derrick Henry at the very start of early warm-ups for the Titans first practice.
Day 2 of training camp begins in the Queen City.
Pads are on. Fans are here. Dawkins is back. It's all happening.
Big Ben says Martavis Bryant needs to 'grow up'.
Ben Roethlisberger is not happy about Martavis Bryant's year-long suspension.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is not only upset about missing the dynamic wide receiver on the field, but disappointed about Bryant not being completely honest about the circumstances surrounding his suspension.
"I just think the approach, the denial of everything. Looking me in my eye and denying everything, it's tough," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It disappoints you as a man and a guy who cared so much about him. I obviously care a lot about him as a person and a football player." Big Ben said he hasn't talked to his maligned receiver recently and called out Bryant for not responding overtures.
"I kind of put it on his plate. I would love to talk to him, but I have to let him make the move, he needs to reach out to me because I've tried and done those things," Roethlisberger said. "I'm not trying to be rude or mean, but I think he needs to do that, like grow up and reach out and talk to me, anybody. I know he talks to Markus (Wheaton)."
Bryant served a four-game suspension last season and will miss the entirety of what would have been his third NFL year. The lanky, speedy wideout was a clear difference maker when on the field. In his first two campaigns the Steelers averaged 29 points per game with Bryant in the lineup and just 22 PPG without him.
"The potential that he had, both on and off the field and you feel for him as a person first, just what he's going through and get your life right and those kinds of things, that's first and foremost," Roethlisberger said. "But, on the football field, the talent that he had, the sky's the limit. "He had and has more potential than a lot of guys you've seen. Just the things he is able to do, opening it up for (Antonio Brown). Opening it up for guys in the middle. He is a legit threat out there. So that was very disappointing."
Ben Roethlisberger is not happy about Martavis Bryant's year-long suspension.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is not only upset about missing the dynamic wide receiver on the field, but disappointed about Bryant not being completely honest about the circumstances surrounding his suspension.
"I just think the approach, the denial of everything. Looking me in my eye and denying everything, it's tough," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It disappoints you as a man and a guy who cared so much about him. I obviously care a lot about him as a person and a football player." Big Ben said he hasn't talked to his maligned receiver recently and called out Bryant for not responding overtures.
"I kind of put it on his plate. I would love to talk to him, but I have to let him make the move, he needs to reach out to me because I've tried and done those things," Roethlisberger said. "I'm not trying to be rude or mean, but I think he needs to do that, like grow up and reach out and talk to me, anybody. I know he talks to Markus (Wheaton)."
Bryant served a four-game suspension last season and will miss the entirety of what would have been his third NFL year. The lanky, speedy wideout was a clear difference maker when on the field. In his first two campaigns the Steelers averaged 29 points per game with Bryant in the lineup and just 22 PPG without him.
"The potential that he had, both on and off the field and you feel for him as a person first, just what he's going through and get your life right and those kinds of things, that's first and foremost," Roethlisberger said. "But, on the football field, the talent that he had, the sky's the limit. "He had and has more potential than a lot of guys you've seen. Just the things he is able to do, opening it up for (Antonio Brown). Opening it up for guys in the middle. He is a legit threat out there. So that was very disappointing."
Chiefs OT Eric Fisher signs 6-year, $63M deal.
The Kansas City Chiefs want former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher around for the long haul.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports they signed the offensive tackle to a four year, $48 million extension, with $40 million guaranteed. He's now under contract for the next six seasons for $63 million.
The Chiefs later confirmed the extension.
"We were able to reach an agreement with Eric and his representatives on a contract extension," Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. "In three seasons he's grown significantly as a football player in our system. He's a tough, physical presence and a leader on our offensive line. We look forward to keeping him as a part of our organization and community."
The Chiefs picked up Fisher's fifth-year option in May. He is scheduled to make $3.4 million and $11.9 million the next two seasons, respectively.
A new deal, including the eye-popping numbers are uber surprising given where Fisher was a year ago.
Last September, Fisher's career looked like it could take a sharp downward turn after losing his left tackle job. However, his play improved after he got the gig back midway through last season.
Per Pro Football Focus, Fisher allowed 42 pressures as a rookie, 42 pressures in 2014 and 37 in 2015, which is to say he's trending in the right direction, but still hasn't put up great numbers.
Fisher has been a mediocre blocker over the course of his three seasons. Now he's getting paid like one of the best -- in the top 8 among left tackles in average money per year and top five in overall value of contact.
The Chiefs are betting that Fisher will continue to improve and become worthy of the big money.
The Kansas City Chiefs want former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher around for the long haul.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports they signed the offensive tackle to a four year, $48 million extension, with $40 million guaranteed. He's now under contract for the next six seasons for $63 million.
The Chiefs later confirmed the extension.
"We were able to reach an agreement with Eric and his representatives on a contract extension," Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. "In three seasons he's grown significantly as a football player in our system. He's a tough, physical presence and a leader on our offensive line. We look forward to keeping him as a part of our organization and community."
The Chiefs picked up Fisher's fifth-year option in May. He is scheduled to make $3.4 million and $11.9 million the next two seasons, respectively.
A new deal, including the eye-popping numbers are uber surprising given where Fisher was a year ago.
Last September, Fisher's career looked like it could take a sharp downward turn after losing his left tackle job. However, his play improved after he got the gig back midway through last season.
Per Pro Football Focus, Fisher allowed 42 pressures as a rookie, 42 pressures in 2014 and 37 in 2015, which is to say he's trending in the right direction, but still hasn't put up great numbers.
Fisher has been a mediocre blocker over the course of his three seasons. Now he's getting paid like one of the best -- in the top 8 among left tackles in average money per year and top five in overall value of contact.
The Chiefs are betting that Fisher will continue to improve and become worthy of the big money.
Matt Ryan: Falcons can score 30 points per game.
The Atlanta Falcons' offense is primed for a major campaign in 2016.
Atlanta returns one of the top receivers in the NFL in Julio Jones, added wideout Mohamed Sanu, has a potent backfield with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, an underrated offensive line, and Matt Ryan, a franchise quarterback.
Ryan believes Atlanta's dynamic offense could score 30 points per game this upcoming season.
"Absolutely," Ryan said Friday, via ESPN. "There's no question. I feel like we have a really good receiving corps. We've got great running backs. We've got a really good offensive line; tight ends across the board. Of course we can.
"If you have the mindset that you can't, you have no chance. And I believe we've got the guys to do it. We've got the system to do it. Absolutely I think we can do it."
We'd hope every quarterback believes his offense can score at will. Even with the addition of Sanu, however, it'll be a big leap to 30 points per game for the Falcons.
Last season, Atlanta finished a middling 21st with 21.2 points per game. The Carolina Panthers (31.2) and Arizona Cardinals (30.6) were the only two teams to breach the 30-point mark.
The Falcons certainly have the weapons to be one of the most improved offenses in the NFL, assuming Jones and Freeman remain healthy. The key will be Ryan, who has suffered bouts of enigmatic play throughout his career. If Ryan has a career year at 31, the Falcons could nudge close to that 30-point mark.
Then Dan Quinn would just need to coax a similarly great year from his defense to unseat the Panthers atop the NFC South.
The Atlanta Falcons' offense is primed for a major campaign in 2016.
Atlanta returns one of the top receivers in the NFL in Julio Jones, added wideout Mohamed Sanu, has a potent backfield with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, an underrated offensive line, and Matt Ryan, a franchise quarterback.
Ryan believes Atlanta's dynamic offense could score 30 points per game this upcoming season.
"Absolutely," Ryan said Friday, via ESPN. "There's no question. I feel like we have a really good receiving corps. We've got great running backs. We've got a really good offensive line; tight ends across the board. Of course we can.
"If you have the mindset that you can't, you have no chance. And I believe we've got the guys to do it. We've got the system to do it. Absolutely I think we can do it."
We'd hope every quarterback believes his offense can score at will. Even with the addition of Sanu, however, it'll be a big leap to 30 points per game for the Falcons.
Last season, Atlanta finished a middling 21st with 21.2 points per game. The Carolina Panthers (31.2) and Arizona Cardinals (30.6) were the only two teams to breach the 30-point mark.
The Falcons certainly have the weapons to be one of the most improved offenses in the NFL, assuming Jones and Freeman remain healthy. The key will be Ryan, who has suffered bouts of enigmatic play throughout his career. If Ryan has a career year at 31, the Falcons could nudge close to that 30-point mark.
Then Dan Quinn would just need to coax a similarly great year from his defense to unseat the Panthers atop the NFC South.
Russell Wilson.
Rams camp is open.
Cruzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
