Football Wiretap

NFL Could Move To 18-Game Season, Super Bowl President's Day Weekend

Apr 26, 2024 2:41 PM

The NFL is considering an 18-game regular season and a Super Bowl on President's Day weekend. 

Goodell said he would embrace a schedule featuring 18 regular-season games and two preseason contests, a significant shift from the current 17 regular-season and three preseason contests that was implemented in 2021.

"I think we're good at 17 now," Goodell said. "But, listen, we're looking at how we continue. I'm not a fan of the preseason." Then, gesturing toward a group of fans assembled nearby, Goodell said, "And I don't think these guys like it either." He continued: "The reality is, I'd rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season game any day. That's just picking quality. If we get to 18 and 2, that's not an unreasonable thing."

The NFL could add a second bye under an 18-game regular season that could push back the Super Bowl to President's Day weekend.

"And then you have Monday off," Goodell said.

The length of the season would have to be collectively bargained with the NFLPA.

Stephen Holder/ESPN

Tags: Legal

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Chargers Say Justin Herbert Trade Was Never An Option

Apr 26, 2024 9:02 AM

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz says the team received inquiries about Justin Herbert, but the offers were immediately rejected.

"Justin who?" Hortiz said. "No. No, at the combine I had some people ask me would we consider it, and they were quickly shot down. No, that is never an option."

Adam Schefter reported Thursday night that the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings called about Herbert.

Kris Rhim/ESPN

Tags: San Diego Chargers, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Vikings GM: Sometimes You Have To Take Swings For Great Players

Apr 26, 2024 8:51 AM

The Minnesota Vikings traded up twice on Thursday night to draft quarterback J.J. McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner.

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team didn't want to look back and feel they missed out on something.

Minnesota moved up from No. 11 to No. 10 for McCarthy and from No. 23 to No. 17 to take Turner.

"You know, we're always talking about minimizing regret," Adofo-Mensah said. "If you're sitting on your couch one day, and you're like, 'That extra fifth [-round pick] or whatever it was, and you could have had a chance at a guy you think could be special,' you're never going to care about that fifth-round pick. And there's ways of getting it back. Obviously, I'm a spreadsheet guy myself, but sometimes, you've got to step out from there, take your Clark Kent glasses off, have a championship mindset and swing for a great player."

Josh Alper/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Draft, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Report: Three Teams Attempted To Trade Up For Michael Penix

Apr 26, 2024 8:47 AM

The Atlanta Falcons surprised many when they used the No. 8 pick on Michael Penix, a month after giving Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract.

The Falcons weren't the only team highly interested in Penix.

According to a report, the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders all attempted to trade into the top 10 for the former Washington quarterback.

James Palmer/NFL

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, Draft, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Niners: WR Trade Unlikely Despite Ricky Pearsall Pick

Apr 26, 2024 8:38 AM

The San Francisco 49ers drafted a wide receiver on Thursday night, but the team says that doesn't mean they'll trade someone like Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, which has led to plenty of trade speculation.

John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that there had been discussions with other teams, but no deals came close to happening.

Asked late Thursday night if such a trade could still happen heading into Friday, Lynch and Shanahan again didn't sound like a deal for either player was imminent, though they didn't close the door completely.

"It doesn't seem that likely to be honest," Shanahan said. "But I'm still on the table. If someone offered [owner] Jed [York] and John good stuff for me, I'm going to be out of here."

Nick Wagoner/ESPN

Tags: San Francisco 49ers, Draft, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Chargers Received Trade Calls On Justin Herbert From Pats, Vikings

Apr 26, 2024 12:20 AM

The Los Angeles Chargers received trade inquiries on Justin Herbert from the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings.

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz confirmed Thursday that he fielded inquiries about Herbert but did not specify which teams contacted him, adding "they were quickly shot down."

"Justin who?" Hortiz said with a smile. "No. No, at the combine I had some people ask me would we consider it, and they were quickly shot down. No, that is never an option."

The Chargers would have had to take on a $63.5 million salary cap charge for 2024 if they traded Herbert. The Chargers signed Herbert last July to a five-year, $262.5 million extension that included $133.7 million in full guarantees and $193.7 million in injury guarantees.

New England selected Drake Maye at No. 3, while the Vikings picked J.J. McCarthy at No. 10. 

Kris Rhim/ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Kirk Cousins Frustrated, Confused By Falcons Drafting Michael Penix

Apr 26, 2024 12:12 AM

Kirk Cousins was amongst the observers stunned by the decision by the Atlanta Falcons to spend a first round pick on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington. 

The Falcons made the pick despite signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract last month in free agency.

Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN's Pete Thamel that the Falcons only notified the QB that they'd pick Penix while the team was on the clock. McCartney said there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins' camp because Atlanta did not use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024.

Penix, himself, said he was surprised when he got the call telling him he was the pick.

"I'm not going to say I knew it was coming," Penix said. "But I knew once the phone call came through."

Marc Raimondi/ESPN

Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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2024 NFL Draft: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye Go 1-3

Apr 25, 2024 9:48 PM

The Chicago Bears led off the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting Caleb Williams out of USC as expected with the Washington Commanders taking Jayden Daniels at No. 2 and the New England Patriots also taking a quarterback at No. 3 in Drake Maye.

There were a NFL draft record 23 offensive players selected in the first round:

• Six Quarterbacks

• Seven Wide Receivers

• Nine Offensive Linemen

• One Tight End

2024 NFL Draft Results (First Round)

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odense, WR, Washington

10. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

11. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Browers, TE, Georgia

14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

17. Minnesota Vikings: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OG, Washington

21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

23. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

24. Detroit Lions: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, C, Duke

27. Arizona Cardinals: Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

29. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

32. Carolina Panthers: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team, Draft, Draft Misc, IQ

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Vikings Trade Up To No. 10, Select J.J. McCarthy

Apr 25, 2024 9:28 PM

The Minnesota Vikings traded up to No. 10 with the New York Jets to select J.J. McCarthy.

The Vikings sent the No. 11 pick as well as a fourth rounder and a fifth rounder for No. 10 and the No. 203 pick.

McCarthy was the fifth quarterback selected Thursday night, following Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr.

ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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A.J. Brown, Eagles Agree To Three-Year, $96M Extension

Apr 25, 2024 9:26 PM

A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a three-year, $96 million extension. The $84 million is the most guaranteed money in NFL history for a wide receiver, surpassing the $77 million guaranteed that Amon-Ra St. Brown recently received from the Detroit Lions. 

Brown's $32 million average annual value is also the highest for any receiver in the NFL.

Earlier this month, the Eagles signed DeVonta Smith to a three-year extension worth $75 million with $51 million guaranteed.

Tim McManus/ESPN

Tags: Philadelphia Eagles, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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NFL To Open Academy On Australia's Gold Coast

NFL

Cowboys Meeting With Ezekiel Elliott's Representative

Josina Anderson/CBS Sports

Report: Tee Higgins Reaffirms Desire To Be Traded

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Sources: Steelers Won't Pick Up Justin Field's Option

Brooke Pryor/ESPN

Bears Unveil $5B Proposal For Domed Lakefront Stadium

ESPN

Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, Seeking Long-Term Deal, Requests Trade

Ben Baby/ESPN

Penei Sewell, Lions Agree To Four-Year, $112M Extension

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions Agree To Four-Year, $120M Extension

Ian Rapoport/NFL Media

Bill Belichick To Make Regular 'Manningcast' Appearances

Andrew Marchand/The Athletic

Bears Want $2.3B In Public Funding For New Stadium Project

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Report: Niners Could Still Trade Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco Chronicle

Report: Raiders Attempted To Trade Up To No. 2 Overall

Mike Garafolo/NFL

Diontae Johnson: Here 'To Make Plays' For Panthers

David Newton/ESPN

Jerry Jones Preaches Patience On Deals For Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb

Todd Archer/ESPN

NFL: Falcons, Eagles Tampering Probes Won't Conclude This Week

Marc Raimondi/ESPN

Bengals Re-Sign Jake Browning To Two-Year Deal

Ben Baby/ESPN

Andy Reid's Extension With Chiefs Worth $100M Over Five Years

Kurt Badenhausen/Sportico

Bears To Unveil Plan For New Stadium In Chicago

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Decision Imminent On Eagles, Falcons Tampering Charges

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Matt Ryan Officially Retires With Falcons

Michael Rothstein/ESPN