March 2013 - Football Wiretap

Vince Young Has Job Waiting For Him In Texas Athletic Department

Sep 21, 2014 10:37 PM

Vince Young was cut by the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, but he hopes to continue his career as an NFL quarterback.

Young, however, has a job waiting for him with the University of Texas athletic department.

Young led Texas to a national championship.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Misc Rumor, NCAA

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Steelers Cut Jonathan Dwyer

Oct 16, 2014 11:46 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers have cut Jonathan Dwyer in a somewhat surprising move.

Dwyer was the Steelers' leading rusher in 2012, but a late trade for Felix Jones made him expendable.

The Steelers also drafted Le'Veon Bell in the offseason.

Scott Brown/ESPN

Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Fantasy, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

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Ryan, Idzik Agree Jets Should Start Geno Smith At QB

Nov 2, 2014 3:48 AM

Rex Ryan is in agreement with John Idzik that the New York Jets should start Geno Smith at quarterback instead of Mark Sanchez.

Sources say the Jets don't trust Sanchez and are particularly tired of his mistakes in the red zone.

Marty Mornhinweg is confident that the Jets can create a gameplan to minimize Smith's inexperience.

Manish Mehta/New York Daily News

Tags: New York Jets, IQ

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Be The GM: Andrew Luck Or J.J. Watt

Sep 29, 2014 10:09 AM

The most intriguing Round of 16 matchup in our 'Be The GM' series is undoubtedly between Andrew Luck and J.J. Watt.

No quarterback has come into the NFL in which there was as much certainty that he would become elite as Luck since Peyton Manning in 1998, while Watt has become a transcendent talent as a 3-4 defensive end at the age of 24 after just two seasons.

Luck’s individual statistics were fairly pedestrian in 2012, but he helped take a flawed Indianapolis Colts' team back to the playoffs with an 11-5 record.

Luck had a passer rating of jut 76.5 while completing 339 of his 627 attempts with 23 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. The Colts’ offensive line was a big liability for Luck and they allowed him to be hit more than any other quarterback in the NFL. The Colts improved their offensive line in the offseason and it is conceivable that Luck’s passer rating jumps nearly 20 points in his second season as Manning’s did in 1999 (71.2 to 90.7). 

Bruce Arians had a huge impact in Luck’s rookie season and with his departure to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, the Colts hired Pep Hamilton of Stanford. Luck expects the Colts’ offense to be a hybrid of Arians’ offense and the West Coast that Hamilton ran at Stanford. Luck’s low completion percentage will almost certainly improve moving away from Arians’ system.

Another issue for Luck in his rookie season was the absence of an effective running game. With the threat of the run established, Luck will see defenses not able to cheat as often as they were in 2012.

Luck, similar to Aaron Rodgers, is effective as a runner on occasion. Luck finished his rookie season with 255 yards and five touchdowns on 62 attempts.

The team success came sooner than expected for Luck and the statistics will almost certainly catch up with his physical and mental profile. 

Watt had a promising rookie season with 5.5 sacks and 58 tackles, along with a breakout game in the playoffs. But his 20.5 sacks and 16 pass deflections turned Watt into one of the most dominant defensive players in the entire NFL. In 2012, Watt become the first player to ever have more than 100 grading points from Pro Football Focus. Watt had 83 total pressures on 687 pass rushing snaps while also recording 52 of his 55 tackles against the run.

Watt also achieved numbers that he may never match again while playing the entire season with an injured elbow.

Watt’s pass rushing ability makes life extremely difficult for opposing offenses and the Texans ranked 10th in passer rating against at 80.0.

CLICK HERE to vote for Andrew Luck or J.J. Watt.

Be The GM (Round of 16) matchups.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Tags: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, IQ

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Rob Gronkowski To Remain On Active Patriots' Roster

Sep 22, 2014 4:13 PM

The New England Patriots will keep Rob Gronkowski on their active roster to begin the season.

Gronkowski was a candidate for the physically unable to perform list, which would have meant he'd miss at least six games.

There is still uncertainty as to Gronkowski's timetable to return to game action.

Jason La Canfora/CBS Sports

Tags: New England Patriots, Fantasy, Injury, IQ

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Seahawks Won't Keep Antoine Winfield

Oct 31, 2014 4:44 AM

The Seattle Seahawks won't keep Antoine Winfield on their 53-man roster.

Winfield is 36 and entering his 15th season.

The Seahawks will look to trade Winfield and will cut him if a deal cannot be reached.

Ryan Wilson/CBS Sports

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor, Waiver

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Jimmy Clausen Cut By Panthers

Oct 31, 2014 8:34 AM

Jimmy Clausen has been cut by the Carolina Panthers.

Clausen was a second round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Clausen struggled as a rookie before the Panthers moved in a different direction with Cam Newton the following season.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: Carolina Panthers, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

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Packers Release Vince Young

Sep 25, 2014 12:06 AM

Vince Young has been released by the Green Bay Packers.

Young didn't play in the NFL last season and was attempting to make a comeback with the Packers.

Young was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2006.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

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Tim Tebow Cut By Patriots

Sep 21, 2014 8:02 PM

The New England Patriots have cut Tim Tebow.

Tebow was signed by the Patriots in June more than a month after being released by the New York Jets.

Tebow finished the preseason with a 47.2 passer rating while completing 36.7 percent of his passes.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

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Be The GM: Von Miller Or Eric Weddle

Sep 20, 2014 1:51 AM

Von Miller dominated Jamaal Charles in their first round matchup, while Eric Weddle narrowly got past Jared Veldheer in our 'Be The GM' series.

Miller looks like an easy choice to move into the quarterfinals, though his six-game suspension suggests some underlying issues beyond the outstanding pass rushing production that may make some think twice for a split second.

Miller was the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after Cam Newton and has instantly become one of the NFL’s most invaluable defensive players. Miller had 11.5 sacks as a rookie and then followed it up with 18.5 sacks in 2012 at just 23. Miller is an every down linebacker, but is almost single-mindedly focused on pressuring the quarterback and not ever dropping in coverage.

Miller is able to get to the quarterback as well as anyone in the NFL on the outside as well as the inside, making him incredibly difficult to contain.

Weddle couldn't be spotted in a lineup, according to Warren Sapp, and that is true but he also was graded as having the best season at safety since Pro Football Focus was launched. Many questioned the Chargers' logic in making Weddle the highest paid safety in the NFL, but he has gone on to earn that contract.

In 2012, Weddle had 83 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. During the previous season, Weddle intercepted seven balls.

Weddle is still just 28 and is incredibly durable and should be among the NFL's most reliably elite secondary players for many years to come.

CLICK HERE to vote for Von Miller or Eric Weddle.

Be The GM (Round of 16) matchups.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Tags: Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, IQ

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LaMichael James Sprains MCL, Out Three Weeks
LaMichael James is third on the 49ers' running back depth chart behind Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Andrews More Concerned With Shanahan's Use Of Griffin Than Knee
Robert Griffin III has been medically cleared to start for the Redskins in Week 1.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Patriots Cut TEs Daniel Fells, Jake Ballard
The move suggests that the Patriots will keep Rob Gronkowski off the PUP list.

Dan Hanzus/NFL.com

Matt Leinart Released By Bills
Matt Leinart went just 3-for-10 for 11 yards and a pair of interceptions in Thursday's preseason game.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Raiders' QB Situation Remains Cloudy After Poor Performance From Pryor
Terrelle Pryor had previously looked like he might grab control of the job ahead of Week 1.

Kevin Patra/NFL.com

Patriots Leaning Toward Activating Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski is unlikely to play in the first few weeks of the season if he is activated now.

Albert Breer/NFL.com

Bears Cut J'Marcus Webb
Jay Cutler demonstratively yelled at J'Marcus Webb during a nationally televised loss to the Green Bay Packers last season.

Josh Alper/Pro Football Talk

Marqise Lee Insured For $10M In Case Of Injury
Marqise Lee is the No. 1 wide receiver on Mel Kiper's Big Board for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Darren Rovell/ESPN

Seneca Wallace Leaves 49ers
Seneca Wallace didn't play in the NFL last season.

Cam Inman/San Jose Mercury News

Andre Brown Breaks Leg
Andre Brown has suffered a fractured leg.

RealGM Staff Report

Be The GM: Robert Griffin III Or Jason Pierre-Paul
Robert Griffin III takes on Jason Pierre-Paul in the final second round NFC matchup of our 'Be The GM' series.

RealGM Staff Report

Mason Crosby Agrees To Take Pay Cut From Packers
Mason Crosby was scheduled to earn $2.4 million, but he will now earn $800,000 in base salary.

Brian McInyre/Yahoo! Sports

Asomugha Wins No. 3 CB Job With 49ers
Nnamdi Asomugha has struggled as a slot corner, so it remains to be seen how the 49ers will work him into the defense in passing packages.

Chris Wesseling/NFL.com

Aaron Curry Retires From NFL After Four Seasons
Aaron Curry was selected No. 4 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Seahawks.

Gregg Rosenthal/NFL.com

NFL Reaches $765M Settlement With 4,500 Players Suing Over Head Trauma
The NFL has reached a settlement in a concussion lawsuit with 4,500 litigants.

Peter King/Sports Illustrated

Reggie Bush: Lions' Running Game 'Getting There'
The Lions have averaged just 1.2 yards per rushing attempt in preseason.

Kyle Meinke/MLive

Revis Helping To Mentor Buccaneers' Young Defensive Players
Darrelle Revis has helped develop Buccaneers' rookie cornerback Johnathan Banks, who could start in Week 1.

Pat Yasinskas/ESPN

Be The GM: Aaron Rodgers Or Adrian Peterson
Aaron Rodgers moved past Brandon Marshall in the first round in a matchup that was difficult to take serious, while Adrian Peterson defeated Calvin Johnson in somewhat surprisingly comfortable fashion

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Patriots Cut Ras-I Dowling
Ras-I Dowling was the 33rd overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft at cornerback out of Virginia.

RealGM Staff Report

Levi's Stadium To Host 2014 Big Game Between Stanford, Cal
Cal will play Stanford at Levi's Stadium in 2014, the first year of the 49ers' new building.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk