Football Wiretap

Bills Selling 25 Percent Stake In Franchise

Apr 19, 2024 3:24 PM

The Buffalo Bills are putting a minority stake in the franchise for sale with a "working figure" of 25 percent.

“The Pegula family has retained Allen & Company to explore the potential sale of a non-controlling, minority interest in the Bills,” the team said Friday in a statement to Graham. “These discussions only involve the Bills and no other team. No investment would be possible without Terry Pegula and the Pegula family maintaining a controlling interest in the team. Their continued commitment to Western New York, the new Highmark Stadium, our fans and the other teams in their portfolio remains unchanged.

“Neither the team nor the Pegula family are able to comment further at this point.”

Forbes estimated the Bills are worth $3.7 million in August 2023. Terry and Kim Pegula used cash to purchase the team for a then-record $1.4 billion in 2014. The Washington Commanders recently sold for $6.05 billion.

Tim Graham/The Athletic (via PFT)

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Legal

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Zach Wilson Skipping Voluntary Workouts With Jets

Apr 19, 2024 2:53 PM

Zach Wilson, who has been on the trading block by the New York Jets since the start of the offseason, is skipping voluntary workouts as he remains in limbo with the NFL draft approaching next week.

Wilson was granted permission in February to speak to teams about a potential trade.

The Jets already replaced him on the roster, having signed veteran Tyrod Taylor as Aaron Rodgers' backup.

Rich Cimini/ESPN

Tags: New York Jets, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Patriots Open To Trading Out Of No. 3

Apr 18, 2024 1:23 PM

The New England Patriots are open to trading the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but are also comfortable keeping the selection for a quarterback. 

Eliot Wolf described trade discussions with other teams as "ongoing" while adding: "We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft. We're a draft-and-develop team; the more picks we have, the better."

The Patriots enter next week's draft with eight total selections, headlined by the No. 3 pick and selections at the top of the second (No. 34) and third (68) rounds. 

Caleb Williams is expected to go No. 1 to the Chicago Bears, while the Washington Commanders are widely expected to pick Jayden Daniels at No. 2. The Patriots could consider Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr. at No. 3.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Jalen Hurts: I Yearn For Consistency At Playcaller

Apr 17, 2024 9:19 PM

Jalen Hurts hopes the Philadelphia Eagles find continuity at offensive coordinator with the hiring of Kellen Moore.

"I think as a player, I definitely yearn for the sustainability and the consistency there. ... As a quarterback, I yearn for those things in a playcaller and a quarterback coach because you kind of see how consistency in those areas can breed excellence," Hurts said.

"I find myself in a situation very similar to college in terms of having a constantly revolving door in terms of coordinators and coaches. But I've always managed to have success in it, so that's always been a good thing, because you've been able to learn from people and apply it."

Hurts had continuity at offensive coordinator for the 2021 and 2022 seasons under Shane Steichen, but he left the Eagles to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Moore is expected to be "in charge" of the offense, per Sirianni's phrasing, with Sirianni taking on a more macro-level role after being the chief offensive designer for his first three seasons in Philadelphia.

Tim McManus/ESPN

Tags: Philadelphia Eagles, IQ

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J.K. Dobbins, Chargers Agree To One-Year Deal

Apr 17, 2024 9:17 PM

J.K. Dobbins plans to sign a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The move reunites him with Greg Roman, his former offensive coordinator in Baltimore, as well as his former Ravens backfield mate Gus Edwards.

ESPN

Tags: San Diego Chargers, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Steve Sarkisian Considered Alabama Job For 'About 60 Seconds'

Apr 17, 2024 9:14 PM

When Nick Saban retired as head coach of Alabama, Steve Sarkisian admitted to briefly considering the possibility of replacing him. Sarkisian coached under Saban as his offensive coordinator. 

"Naturally, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it," Sarkisian told ESPN. "But it took me all of about 60 seconds to say, 'Yeah, I'm not doing that.' I had an awesome two years at Alabama and loved my time under Coach Saban, but ultimately you want to reap what you sow.

"We've poured a ton into this program for three years, and we're on the cusp, I think, of going on a run that will be epic. I believe that. Our staff does, and our players do, too, just the support we have and the culture we've created here. Why leave something like that?"

Chris Low/ESPN

Tags: Misc Rumor, NCAA

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Bill Belichick Expected To Sign With Omaha Productions

Apr 17, 2024 10:27 AM

Bill Belichick is expected to sign a deal to do analysis for Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions, which produces ESPN's "ManningCast" during "Monday Night Football." 

Belichick would still like to return to coaching with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants being teams on his radar.

"I don't think Bill Belichick will ever be a head coach again in the National Football League," a friend of Belichick said. "Unless it's [for] Jerry Jones."

Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham, Jeremy Fowler/ESPN

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Robert Kraft Warned Arthur Blank On Hiring Bill Belichick

Apr 17, 2024 10:12 AM

When the Atlanta Falcons were considering hiring Bill Belichick as head coach, Robert Kraft reportedly spoke to Arthur Blank with "a stark assessment of Belichick's character," two sources tell ESPN.

"Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill," said a source.

Multiple sources said that Kraft spoke with "some candor" to Blank about Belichick, though the sources declined to elaborate.

One source close to Belichick said Kraft "was a big part" of why the Falcons passed on hiring him.

"Blank likes coaches who feel part of a family," a Falcons source said, "and it wasn't going to be that way with Bill."

Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham, Jeremy Fowler/ESPN

Tags: Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Misc Rumor

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Stephen Jones: We Have To Hold Money Back To Sign Our Stars

Apr 16, 2024 9:56 PM

Stephen Jones said the Dallas Cowboys spend as much as possible to keep their core players on their roster.

"We spend max, max money year in and year out. All 32 can only spend the same amount of money over a five-year stretch," executive vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. "When we're all said and done, we max out our salary cap every year. We will have done that and what comes with having a good roster, which we do, we also are looking towards signing our own guys. It doesn't mean it happens overnight. But when you're wanting to sign players like Dak [Prescott] and Micah [Parsons] and CeeDee [Lamb], then certainly you have to hold money back if you want to have a realistic chance of signing those guys."

Todd Archer/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Trevor Lawrence: I'd Love To Obviously Be Jag For As Long As Possible

Apr 16, 2024 9:54 PM

Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars are in discussions on a contract extension as he is between his third and fourth NFL season.

NFL rules allow Lawrence to sign an extension after his third season. He signed a fully guaranteed fourth-year contract worth $36,793,592 after the Jaguars selected him first overall in 2021. 

"There's definitely been some conversations," Lawrence said Tuesday. "As far as where that's at now, it's not really my focus. I'd love to obviously be a Jag for as long as possible. We love it here, and I love where we're headed as an organization.

"I feel like I'm just getting better every year and my best ball's definitely ahead of me."

Michael DiRocco/ESPN

Tags: Jacksonville Jaguars, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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DeVonta Smith, Eagles Agree To Three-Year, $75M Extension

Tim McManus/ESPN

DeForest Buckner, Colts Agree To Two-Year, $46M Extension

Stephen Holder/ESPN

Tee Higgins Anticipates Playing For Bengals In 2024

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Hines Ward To Coach ASU Wide Receivers

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Laken Tomlinson Signing One-Year Deal With Seahawks

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Hannah McNair: Texans 'Want To Win Now'

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Jason Kelce Tried Recruiting Joe Burrow To University Of Cincinnati

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NFL To Allow Third Helmet Option For 2025

Tom Pelissero/NFL Network

Jared Goff: Detroit Media Almost 'Relish In Negativity'

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Tom Brady 'Not Opposed' To A Late-Season Return

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Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye To Attend NFL Draft

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O.J. Simpson Passes Away At 76

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Eagles Now Working To Extend DeVonta Smith

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Report: Antoine Winfield Working Toward Huge Deal With Buccaneers

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Source: Nick Chubb Agrees To Reworked Deal With Browns

Jake Trotter/ESPN

Aaron Rodgers Says He Feared Career Was Over After Injury

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Packers To Play Eagles In Friday Night Game In Brazil

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Andy Dalton: Panthers Setting Bryce Young Up For Better Season

The Jim Rome Show

Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Logan Ryan Retires

ESPN

Jaguars, Josh Allen Agree To Five-Year, $150M Deal

Michael DiRocco/ESPN