March 2014 - Football Wiretap

Manziel Compared To RG3 By Kyle Shanahan

Jun 4, 2014 3:33 AM

Johnny Manziel has reminded Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan of Robert Griffin III during his early workouts.

"Johnny and Robert are very similar," Shanahan told USA TODAY Sports. "They're both talented guys who can make plays with their legs. But there comes a time in the NFL when they're going to keep you in the pocket, and you're going to have to have that ability to make the throws with your arm and mind.

"And Johnny, just like Robert, has that arm talent and intelligence to do that."

Manziel has been everything Shanahan had hoped.

"Perception becomes everyone's reality, but Johnny has been here working his tail off day and night, doing everything we ask," Shanahan said. "He's really attacked it every day, done a good job even as each week gets harder as we throw a lot more at him.

"I've been very impressed."

Jim Corbett/USA Today

Tags: Cleveland Browns, IQ

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Cousins Never Received Information If Trade Was Close

Jun 30, 2014 4:22 AM

The Washington Redskins were interested in trading Kirk Cousins this offseason, but he "never really got a whole lot of information" on how close a deal was.

Cousins will now enter his third season as Robert Griffin III's backup at quarterback.

“I think the mind-set is the same as it’s always been since the day I was drafted,” Cousins said following Thursday’s practice at Redskins Park, “which is stay ready, make the most of your opportunities whether it’s in practice or in games, and learn this system as best you can, and play well in practice so that these coaches get excited about what you can bring to the team. So that’s kind of been my same mindset all the way along. And it really won’t change depending on circumstances."

The Cleveland Browns reportedly offered a fourth round pick for Cousins.

“I didn’t know what was truth and what was rumors, what was speculation,” Cousins said Thursday. “So it was hard for me to really read into anything because you didn’t know how true it was. So I think for the most part it was smart for me just to stay out of it.”

Mark Maske/Washington Post

Tags: Washington Football Team, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Cousins Never Received Information If Trade Was Close

Nov 11, 2014 4:53 PM

The Washington Redskins were interested in trading Kirk Cousins this offseason, but he "never really got a whole lot of information" on how close a deal was.

Cousins will now enter his third season as Robert Griffin III's backup at quarterback.

“I think the mind-set is the same as it’s always been since the day I was drafted,” Cousins said following Thursday’s practice at Redskins Park, “which is stay ready, make the most of your opportunities whether it’s in practice or in games, and learn this system as best you can, and play well in practice so that these coaches get excited about what you can bring to the team. So that’s kind of been my same mindset all the way along. And it really won’t change depending on circumstances."

The Cleveland Browns reportedly offered a fourth round pick for Cousins.

“I didn’t know what was truth and what was rumors, what was speculation,” Cousins said Thursday. “So it was hard for me to really read into anything because you didn’t know how true it was. So I think for the most part it was smart for me just to stay out of it.”

Mark Maske/Washington Post

Tags: Washington Football Team, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Daryl Washington Receives One-Year Suspension

Dec 4, 2014 4:37 AM

Daryl Washington has received a one-year suspension by the NFL for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim, not sounding very happy in a statement, called the violation "completely unacceptable."

"It's completely unacceptable that Daryl has once again put us in this position," Keim said. "We all know what the consequences are and will deal with them. From a personal standpoint, our hope is that this suspension will give Daryl the opportunity to accept the necessary help and guidance to get his life back on track and we will certainly support him however we can.

“As it pertains to our team, our approach is the same as it's always been: next man up. We talk a lot about how critical depth is to a team because situations always arise where you lose players, whether by injury or other circumstances such as this one. One player's absence is another's opportunity. That approach has served us well in the past and we will rely on it now."

Will Brinson/CBS Sports

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Suspension

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Josh Gordon Issued Speeding Ticket, Passenger Had Marijuana

Nov 24, 2014 12:47 PM

Josh Gordon was issued a speeding ticket over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

According to the citation, Gordon's 2014 grey Mercedes-Benz SUV was clocked going 74 miles an hour in a 60-mile-per-hour zone north of state route 82 on Interstate 71 North at 9:43 p.m. on Sunday, May 25.

Gordon is summoned to appear in court on Wednesday, June 4 to dispute the citation.

"We are gathering information regarding the situation," Browns general manager Ray Farmer said in a statement released by the team. "We will not have any further comment until the appropriate time."

In addition to his speeding ticket, Gordon's passenger was issued a citation for possession of marijuana in an amount under 200 grams during the traffic stop. The marijuana was found in a blue bag with identification, and Gordon's passenger admitted it was theirs on the scene.

Matthew Florjancic/WKYC

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Legal

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Giants Release Josh Freeman

Jul 1, 2014 7:55 AM

The New York Giants have released Josh Freeman.

Freeman was signed by the Giants this offseason to provide depth at quarterback behind Eli Manning and Ryan Nassib.

Freeman has now been on three teams in less than one season.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: New York Giants, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

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Dez Bryant, Cowboys Could Agree Upon Extension Before Season

Nov 25, 2014 3:28 PM

Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys could agree upon an extension before or during the 2014 season.

"We’re certainly taking a long look at that,” Stephen Jones said on 1310 The Ticket [KTCK-AM]. “As we do with any great player in our organization who’s nearing the end of a contract, we start to look at it and see how we might structure something going forward. I think that’s a possibility, yes.”

Bryant, 25, is coming off his first Pro Bowl season, catching 93 passes for 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Jon Machota/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Misc Rumor

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Stafford Quickly Picking Up New Lions' Playbook

Nov 27, 2014 3:38 AM

Matthew Stafford is quickly learning the Detroit Lions new offensive playbook.

"He's really remarkably bright," offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. "I've heard that he was a smart player, but the speed and ease with which he picks things up has even surprised me, and I had pretty high expectations coming in."

Stafford freely admits the offense is dense, with a heavy amount of new verbiage and an expansive playbook.

Justin Rogers/MLive

Tags: Detroit Lions, IQ

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Doug Baldwin Signs Extension With Seahawks

Oct 31, 2014 3:00 PM

Doug Baldwin has signed a contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks worth a minimum of $16 million over three seasons.

Baldwin's deal can escalate to $19.5 million overall if achievable bonuses are reached.

Baldwin caught 50 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season last year.


Terry Blount/ESPN

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Misc Rumor, Signing

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DeSean Jackson Tweaks Hamstring

Oct 31, 2014 6:13 AM

DeSean Jackson appeared to tweak his hamstring while running a deep route in Thursday's practice session.

Jackson was injured when barely overthrown by Robert Griffin III.

Jackson walked gingerly to the sideline.

Mike Jones/Washington Post

Tags: Washington Football Team, Injury

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Seahawks To Increase Christine Michael's Usage
Christine Michael had only 18 carries in 2013 while playing behind Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin at running back.

Marcas Grant/NFL.com

Markus Wheaton Ready To Have Breakout Season For Steelers
Markus Wheaton has a clear path to become the Steelers' No. 2 wide receiver this season, but he takes an unusually humble approach for a player at that position.

Scott Brown/ESPN

Prosecutor Claims Hernandez Killed Two Men Over Spilled Drink
Aaron Hernandez pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to seven charges in the 2012 shooting that killed Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

Comcast

Kaepernick: I Did Nothing Wrong In Miami Incident
Colin Kaepernick reiterated he did nothing wrong in an incident that took place last month in Miami.

Matt Maiocco/Comcast

Vernon Davis Losing $200,000 Workout Bonus By Skipping OTAs
Vernon Davis is scheduled to make base salaries of $4.7 million and $4.35 million in the final two years of his contracts.

Matt Maiocco/Comcast

Malcolm Glazer Passes At At 85
Malcolm Glazer has passed away at the age of 85.

RealGM Staff Report

Texans Keeping QB Competition 'Wide Open'
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, T.J. Yates and rookie Tom Savage participated on Tuesday.

Brian T. Smith/Houston Chronicle

Cardinals Expect Andre Ellington To Get 25-30 Touches Per Game
Andre Ellington will be the No. 1 running back for the Cardinals in 2014.

Mike Jurecki/FoxSports

Domenik Hixon Tears ACL Again, Playing Career Likely Over
Domenik Hixon signed a one-year deal with the Bears in March.

Dan Hanzus/NFL.com

Gronkowski Hasn't Had Any Setbacks In Knee Injury Rehab
Rob Gronkowski isn't participating in the Patriots' OTAs as he continues his own rehab from a torn ACL and MCL in December.

Zuri Berry/Boston Globe

Sean Lee Tears ACL In Left Knee
Sean Lee tore his right ACL in April 2008 while at Penn State, then partially tore his left ACL during the 2009 season.

Adam Schefter, Todd Archer/ESPN

Andre Johnson Misses OTA As Expected
Andre Johnson's absence was expected and it confirmed that he remains at odds with the front office.

Brian T. Smith/Houston Chronicle

Sean Lee Injures Knee At Practice
Sean Lee injured his left knee during the Cowboys' practice on Tuesday.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Reid 'Sure' Chiefs Will Eventually Re-Sign Alex Smith
Even though talks between the Chiefs and Alex Smith have progressed slowly, Andy Reid is confident that a deal will be reached.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

49ers At Forefront Of Redshirting Trend
Tank Carradine and Marcus Lattimore were widely considered first round talents before suffering season-ending knee injuries.

Albert Breer/NFL.com

Marshawn Lynch To Play Himself In Biopic
The film will look at Lynch's life from childhood to his Super Bowl win with the Seahawks.

John Breech/CBS Sports

Ju'Wuan James: We've Been Practicing To Be Track Stars During Draft
Ju'Waun James is an offensive tackle out of Tennessee.

Peter King/Sports Illustrated

Brady: Nothing I Like Doing That's Close To Football
Tom Brady wants to continue playing for as long as possible.

Peter King/Sports Illustrated

Bills Unlikely To Relocate To Los Angeles
The NFL hasn't had a home in Los Angeles for nearly two decades and the Bills are available following the passing of Ralph Wilson.

Tim Graham/Buffalo News

Dee Ford Honors Derrick Thomas By Wearing His College Number
Dee Ford will wear No. 55 for the Chiefs in honor of the late Derrick Thomas.

John Breech/CBS Sports