March 2016 - Football Wiretap

NFL Finds 'No Credible Evidence' In Al-Jazeera Investigation

Aug 31, 2016 4:10 PM

The NFL has found "no credible evidence" that James Harrison, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers used or were provided with prohibited substances after an investigation into allegations made in a documentary by Al-Jazeera.

An NFL statement said the investigation, which started in January, "involved witness interviews, a review of relevant records and other materials, electronic research, and laboratory analysis and review.''

After the interviews last week, a source close to the situation told ESPN that the players were not confronted with any new evidence or allegations.

The league interviewed Peyton Manning, who also was named in the report, earlier this offseason and issued a statement last month clearing his name.

ESPN

Tags: Suspension

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Steelers Move Up $4M For Antonio Brown, Promise True Extension In 2017

Sep 1, 2016 11:48 AM

The Pittsburgh Steelers have restructured the contract of Antonio Brown, boosting his salary to $10.25 million this season.

According to the source, the Steelers moved up $4 million from next year to this year. No new years were added to his deal.

The Steelers are promising a true extension to Brown after the 2016 season.

Once an extension was out of the picture for 2016, Brown privately hoped the Steelers would use the same restructuring tactic as in 2015, when they moved up $2 million of Brown's future salary into a signing bonus.

Brown caught 136 passes for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015.

Adam Schefter, Jeremy Fowler/ESPN

Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Saints Will Sign Paul Kruger

Aug 31, 2016 8:25 AM

The New Orleans Saints will sign Paul Kruger, according to a report.

The Cleveland Browns released Kruger earlier this week.

Ian Rapoport/NFL

Tags: New Orleans Saints, Free Agent Rumor, Signing

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Cowboys To Work Out Austin Davis

Aug 31, 2016 11:37 AM

The Dallas Cowboys will work out Austin Davis on Wednesday as they look for a quarterback in the wake of Tony Romo's back injury.

Davis was waived by the Cleveland Browns on Monday. He started two games last season.

Chris Wesseling/NFL

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Free Agent Rumor

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Mike Zimmer: Don't Count Vikings Out After Teddy Bridgewater Injury

Aug 31, 2016 8:15 AM

The landscape of the season for the Minnesota Vikings changed dramatically on Tuesday when Teddy Bridgewater suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL during practice.

However, Mike Zimmer doesn't believe the Vikings should pity themselves.

"We'll get back in here tomorrow and we'll get back to work," Zimmer said. "We're not going to stick our heads in the sand. We're not going to go tuck our legs. We're not looking for excuses. We're going to fight like we always do. We have some great football players on this team and we'll figure out ways to win football games if he's not here and that's what we're going to do."

Chris Wesseling/NFL

Tags: Minnesota Vikings

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Adam Gase Wants DeVante Parker 'To Push Through Certain Kinds Of Pain'

Aug 31, 2016 8:11 AM

DeVante Parker hurt his hamstring in practice on Monday and won't play in Thursday night's preseason game.

Parker's hamstring has been an issue this summer and a foot injury limited the 2015 first-round pick during his rookie season.

Adam Gase, who spent time coaching with the Denver Broncos, referenced Demaryius Thomas overcoming injury issues early in his career and said Parker needs to do "all the little things" needed during the week to make sure that you're able to go on Sunday.

"Sometimes it takes some guys more time to learn more than others," Gase said. "Eventually you get tired of being the guy standing on the sideline. I do think he's a little frustrated. He's been the odd man out all the time. Eventually ... he will know how to push through certain kinds of pain."

Miami Herald

Tags: Miami Dolphins

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Patriots Extend Matthew Staler's Deal Through 2017

Aug 31, 2016 8:06 AM

The New England Patriots have signed Matthew Slater to a one-year deal that will keep him with the team through 2017.

The deal is worth $1.8 million for the wide receiver/special teams ace.

Slater has been named to five Pro Bowls as a special teams player.

Field Yates/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Free Agent Rumor, Terms Agreement

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Peyton Manning Will Remain Retired

Aug 30, 2016 8:58 PM

Peyton Manning will not consider returning to the NFL, according to a source.

With Teddy Bridgewater suffering a season-ending injury, the Minnesota Vikings have a need at quarterback.

Manning announced his retirement shortly after the 2015 NFL season.

Zac Jackson/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Colin Kaepernick Has Been Vegan For Nine Months

Aug 30, 2016 6:05 PM

Colin Kaepernick confirmed he has been a vegan for approximately nine months.

Kaepernick has lost noticeable mass in the offseason while rehabbing from three surgeries and is not back to his previous playing weight.

Kaepernick said he made the decision because of ethics and he feels much healthier because of it.

Kaepernick’s girlfriend, MTV “Code Girl” star Nessa Diab, host of a nationally syndicated radio show, recently discussed their choices of a vegan lifestyle.

“He's also a vegan with me,” Diab said of Kaepernick on a video posted to the MTV2 Facebook page in June. “We did it together. Because we feel like, it's true that, I guess, the more animal products you eat and stuff like that, your body becomes more acidic, which allows more diseases to basically breed within you.

“So the more alkaline state that your body is in, the less likely you are to get some type of diseases. The more alkaline, the better you are health-wise, supposedly.”

Kaepernick underwent surgeries to his left shoulder, right thumb and left knee that kept him unable to resume his usual work in the weight room during the offseason. Kelly said Kaepernick is not back to his playing weight of previous seasons.

“He’s not and obviously you understand that because he did have three surgeries, so he’s limited in the type of lifting he does,” Kelly said. “So he’s not the same size he was when he played. I don’t know the exact playing weight he was at, because I wasn’t here before. But, he’ll be the first to tell you that, that’s he’s not where he was before.”

Matt Maiocco/Comcast

Tags: San Francisco 49ers

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Blacks Represent 70 Percent Of NFL Players, Fan Base 83 Percent White

Aug 30, 2016 4:30 PM

Seventy percent of African-American men comprise NFL rosters despite representing only six percent of the United States' population.

While the majority of NFL players are black, the NFL fan base is 83 percent white and 64 percent male.

The NFL has no African-Americans who are a majority owner of a team and no African-American CEOs or Presidents.

Colin Kaepernick has received criticism from many of his fellow NFL players and fans for his protest of the treatment of people of color in the United States by not standing for the national anthem.

 

Morgan Jerkins/Rolling Stone

Tags: San Francisco 49ers

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Cowboys Getting Calls About Darren McFadden
Dallas wants to keep Darren McFadden despite having Alfred Morris and first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott on the roster.

Ian Rapoport/NFL

Teddy Bridgewater Suffers Dislocated Knee, Torn ACL
Mike Zimmer said Teddy Bridgwater will likely miss the entire season.

Conor Orr/NFL.com

Russell Wilson Hoping Seahawks Use 'Empty' Sets More In 2016
Russell Wilson averaged 10.3 passing yards per attempt when the Seahawks were in 'empty' last year.

Sheil Kapadia/ESPN

Tom Brady Working On Plan To Stay Sharp During Suspension
Tom Brady will miss the first four games of the 2016 NFL season.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Zach Mettenberger To Be Released By Chargers
Zach Mettenberger had been outplayed by Mike Bercovici who is an undrafted rookie.

Eric D. Williams/ESPN

Broncos Shopping Mark Sanchez To Cowboys
The Broncos are shopping Mark Sanchez to the Cowboys, who may be looking for a quarterback with Tony Romo sidelined.

Jane Slater/NFL.com

Washington-Buccaneers Preseason Game Moved Due To Weather
The Buccaneers have announced that this week's preseason finale against Washington has been moved up to Wednesday due to the threat of severe weather.

Zac Jackson/Pro Football Talk

Barkevious Mingo Finds 'Culture Shock' Between Patriots, Browns
Cleveland traded Barkevious Mingo to New England late last week.

Adam Kurkjian/Boston Herald

Players Remained In Locker Room During National Anthem Until 2009
Players and coaches remained in the locker room during the national anthem until the 2009 NFL season.

Amy Trask/CBS

James Jones Released By Chargers
James Jones never seemed to become comfortable in the Chargers' offense.

Chris Wesseling/NFL.com

Early Rounds Of Fantasy Football Now Dominated By Wide Receivers
NFL teams are throwing the ball more and there's also been an increase in fantasy football leagues using Point-Per-Reception scoring.

Michael Salfino/Wall Street Journal

Browns Trade Punter Andy Lee To Panthers
The Browns have traded Andy Lee and a 2017 seventh-round draft pick to the Panthers for Kasey Redfern and a fourth-round pick in 2018.

Zac Jackson/Pro Football Talk

Bryan Stork Fails Physical With Washington
Bryan Stork has failed his physical with Washington, the latest in a lengthy drama.

Kevin Patra/NFL.com

Joey Bosa, Chargers Finally Agree Upon Four-Year Deal
Joey Bosa was the third overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft and has been expected to play a key role in the Chargers' defense.

AP

Mark Sanchez Likely To Be Traded Or Released By Broncos
Mark Sanchez could be released if they are unable to trade him as it would save $3.5 million in both money and cap space.

Josh Alper/Pro Football Talk

Broncos Name Trevor Siemian Starting QB
Trevor Siemian won the job over Mark Sanchez and Paxton Lynch as they move on from Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler.

RealGM Staff Report

Browns Release Pass Rusher Paul Kruger
The Browns have released Paul Kruger, according to a report.

Conor Orr/NFL

Cullen Jenkins To Work Out For Washington
Washington is looking for depth along the defensive line and they will reportedly work out Cullen Jenkins.

Chris Cooley/ESPN 980

Cowboys Haven't Ruled Out Dak Prescott Remaining Starting QB
The Cowboys haven't shut the door on Dak Prescott remaining the starting quarterback even when Tony Romo's back is healthy enough for him to play.

Peter King/Sports Illustrated

Eric Berry Signs Franchise Tender With Chiefs
Eric Berry earned the 2015 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award following the 2015 season after returning to the starting lineup in Week 1 after a battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

RealGM Staff Report