April 2016 - Football Wiretap

Moritz Boehringer Becomes First Draft Pick Outside North America

Apr 30, 2016 8:58 PM

Moritz Boehringer has become the first draft pick who didn't play in North America.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Boehringer with the 186th overall pick of the draft.

Boeringer comes to the Vikings from the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns of the German Football League.

Boehringer had 70 catches for 1,461 yards and 16 touchdowns in 21 games with the Unicorns in 2015 and was named the GFL's Rookie of the Year. 

Ben Goessling/ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Vikings

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Bears Sign Brian Hoyer To One-Year Deal

May 2, 2016 10:35 AM

Brian Hoyer has agreed to sign with the Chicago Bears on a one-year deal.

Six teams expressed interest in Hoyer, who played one season in Cleveland under Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.

Hoyer will serve as Jay Cutler's backup at quarterback.

Last season, Hoyer played in 11 regular season games for the Houston Texans.

Jeff Dickerson/ESPN

Tags: Chicago Bears, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Andrew Luck, Colts Make Progress On Extension

Apr 30, 2016 7:09 PM

The Indianapolis Colts and Andrew Luck have made significant progress on a contract extension.

Jim Irsay would like a deal with Luck to be agreed upon by the start of training camp in July.

During the NFL owners meetings in March, Irsay said he hoped a "nine-figure" deal would be reached with Luck by July 4.

"Talks are progressing well. We have made progress," said Irsay. "I mentioned Fourth of July before. I don't think that marker is something that needs to be watched as an indicator. We should be able to come to a deal. Until you do, we still have ground to cover. There's no question about that. It's a complicated contract. It's one that has to work both ways to make sure we're able to field a great football team."

Mike Wells/ESPN

Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Misc Rumor

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Cowboys Draft First QB Since 2009 In Dak Prescott

Apr 30, 2016 5:13 PM

The Dallas Cowboys took Mississippi State's Dak Prescott with the 135th overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL draft Saturday, two days after a failed bid to trade up for another first-round choice to select Paxton Lynch of Memphis.

"This means everything. It was just something I dreamed about," Prescott said. "I ran around the house acting like I was a Cowboys quarterback my whole life, so for it all to come true it's such a blessing. Just being here with my family, and Mr. Jones gave me that call, and just the excitement to have my family a majority of Cowboys fans, it was awesome."

With Tony Romo in the latter stages of his career, Prescott gives the Cowboys a quarterback with upside.

The Cowboys last selected a quarterback in the 2009 NFL Draft and only their third since 2001. Romo was undrafted in 2003.

ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Draft, Draft Misc

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Raiders Trade Up To Select Connor Cook

Apr 30, 2016 8:43 PM

The Oakland Raiders traded up in the fourth round to select Connor Cook out of Michigan State.

Oakland gave up the No. 114 and No. 154 overall selection to move to 100th overall.

Before the start of the fourth round, multiple teams had shown interest in trading up for the first pick of the round.

Cook will compete with Matt McGloin to be Derek Carr's backup.

ESPN

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Ravens Would Have Picked Laremy Tunsil If Not For Mask Post

Apr 30, 2016 1:26 PM

The Baltimore Ravens were prepared to take Laremy Tunsil with the sixth overall pick but decided not to after the gas mask video leaked on social media.

Tunsil fell all the way to the Miami Dolphins at No. 13.

The Ravens drafted Ronnie Stanley, who is also an offensive tackle.

According to a team source, one team official saw Tunsil's video just as the draft began. It was then shown to general manager Ozzie Newsome and owner Steve Bisciotti.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Draft, Draft Misc

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Jaylon Smith Drafted No. 34 By Cowboys

Apr 30, 2016 1:31 PM

Jaylon Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 34 overall despite his torn ACL and LCL.

Smith was expected to be a top pick before his Jan. 1st injury.

"It's been the most challenging time of my life, but at the same time, it's the best time of my life, where my dream has just come true," said Smith, who is questionable to play in 2016. "I've been wanting to play in the NFL since I was 7 years old."

The delay in his return to the field is due to nerve damage, but the Cowboys are confident the nerve will refire.

Jerry Jones said the Cowboys targeted Smith with their second-round pick since the start of the week. 

Todd Archer/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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Cowboys Wanted To Trade Up For Paxton Lynch

Apr 29, 2016 8:42 AM

The Dallas Cowboys wanted to trade up to draft Paxton Lynch on Thursday night, but couldn't close the deal.

Dallas, who had the fourth overall pick, tried to trade back into the first round to grab the Memphis quarterback, but couldn't find a trade partner. The Denver Broncos traded for the 26th pick (Seattle) to select Lynch.

Kevin Patra/NFL

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Draft, Trade Rumor

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Cowboys Select Ezekiel Elliott No. 4

Apr 29, 2016 8:40 AM

The Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick on Thursday night.

Just minutes before the selection, it was reported that Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey was the highest remaining player on the team's draft board. However, it appears as though Jerry Jones, who was said to be a big fan of Elliott's potential, won out.

Dan Hanzus/NFL

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Draft

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Myles Jack Falls Out Of First Round Amid Knee Issues

Apr 29, 2016 8:37 AM

Considered one of the most athletic players in this year's draft class, Myles Jack wasn't selected in the first round of Thursday's NFL Draft amid concerns about his knee.

Jack admitted to the New York Post on Wednesday that his injured knee might require microfracture surgery.

The former UCLA linebacker suffered a season-ending torn lateral meniscus during practice in September. He wasn't cleared for physical activities until March, five days before UCLA's pro day, where Jack worked out publicly for the first time since the injury.

Jack told the Post that the degenerative issues with his knee are there, "but it's nothing extreme."

"Down the line, possibly, I could have microfracture surgery, potentially," he said. "Who knows what will happen? Nobody knows how long anybody is going to play in this league. To play three years in this league would be above average."

ESPN

Tags: Draft

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Broncos Trade Up To Draft Paxton Lynch
The Broncos traded the 31st pick and a third-round selection (94th) to the Seahawks for the 26th pick.

Jeff Legwold/ESPN

Eagles Take Carson Wentz, Say Sam Bradford Is 'Our Quarterback'
The Eagles insist Sam Bradford is their quarterback despite drafting Carson Wentz second overall on Thursday night.

Phil Sheridan/ESPN

Laremy Tunsil Falls To Dolphins At No. 13 After Tweet
Not that long ago, Laremy Tunsil was considered a potential first overall pick.

Kevin Seifert/ESPN

Ryan Fitzpatrick Willing To Sit If Jets Don't Increase Offer
Ryan Fitzpatrick has told people he would "rather not play football" than play for the Jets at their contract offer, according to a source.

ESPN

Mark Davis Wants To Move Raiders To Las Vegas
Mark Davis wants to move the Raiders to Las Vegas and pledged $500 million toward the building of a proposed $1.4 billion domed stadium in the city.

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

Broncos Reach Out To Eagles About Sam Bradford
The Broncos inquired with the Eagles about Sam Bradford this week, but the Eagles aren't currently inclined to trade the quarterback.

Ian Rapoport/NFL

Carson Wentz On Sam Bradford Situation: 'We'll See What Happens'
Things could become awkward in Philadelphia soon with the Eagles having traded up for the No. 2 pick, presumably to draft Carson Wentz, and Sam Bradford subsequently requesting a trade.

Kevin Patra/NFL

Von Miller Confident He'll Get New Deal From Broncos
The Broncos placed the exclusive franchise tag on the Super Bowl MVP.

Associated Press

NFL Unlikely To Discuss Settlement With Tom Brady
The NFL doesn't think it's necessary to reopen settlement talks with Tom Brady and the NFL Players Association regarding the quarterback's four-game suspension, according to a source.

ESPN

Scout: Ezekiel Elliott Could Be The Next Adrian Peterson
Ezekiel Elliott's draft stock may be on the rise leading up to the NFL Draft.

Chase Goodbread/NFL

Matt Forte Would Be 'Disappointed' If Jets Don't Keep Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets remain millions of dollars apart in contract talks, a stalemate that has Matt Forte concerned.

Conor Orr/NFL

Rams Won't Reveal No. 1 Pick Until Draft Night
The Rams have no plans to reveal who they will take with the No. 1 overall pick until the last minute.

Marc Sessler/NFL

Drew Brees Takes Aim At Roger Goodell
Saints QB Drew Brees feels NFL commissioner Roger Goodell "has too much power."

ESPN.com

Agent: Sam Bradford Wants To Be Where 'He's The Man'
Tom Condon confirmed on Monday night that his client, Sam Bradford, will sit out voluntary workouts and is seeking a trade from the Eagles.

Dan Hanzus/NFL

Cowboys Likely To Keep No. 4 Pick, Unlikely To Take QB/RB
Jerry Jones says the Cowboys are likely to keep the No. 4 overall pick, the team's highest selection in 25 years.

Associated Press

JaMarcus Russell Wants To Make Comeback, Would 'Play For Free'
JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, hasn't played in the NFL since 2009.

ESPN

Sam Bradford Asks Eagles To Trade Him
Sam Bradford will skip the Eagles' offseason training program from here on out in an effort to get himself traded.

Gregg Rosenthal/NFL

Court Rules Tom Brady Must Serve Four-Game Suspension
Tom Brady's suspension for Deflategate has been reinstated.

ESPN

Chargers GM: Running Game Has To Get Better
The Chargers aren't ready to give up on Melvin Gordon, last year's first-round pick, but general manager Tom Telesco says the team's running game "has to get better."

San Diego Union-Tribune

Josh Norman Tried To Sign Tag With Panthers At Last Minute
Josh Norman made a last-minute attempt to sign his franchise tag with the Panthers, according to a league source and multiple reports.

David Newton/ESPN