April 2015 - Football Wiretap

Brandon Marshall, Jets Agree Upon Reworked Contract

Jun 1, 2015 6:22 PM

Brandon Marshall and the New York Jets have agreed upon a reworked contract.

The Jets increased his salary from $24.3 million to $26 million over the next three seasons, per NFLPA records.

Marshall's base salary now jumps from $7.5 million to a guaranteed $9 million in 2015.

Marshall caught 61 passes last season after back-to-back 100-catch campaigns for Chicago in 2012 and 2013.

 

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: New York Jets

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Michael Bennett Skips OTAs, 'Trying To Get Contract Right'

May 31, 2015 11:18 PM

Michael Bennett was a no-show for the Seattle Seahawks' organized team activities this week as he attempts to get a new contract.

"Trying to get the contract right," Bennett said Friday at a charity event, per The Seattle Times. "I'll be there shortly. I don't know when I'll be there. Depends on the team and stuff. See how it works out."

In just the second season of a four-year, $28.5 million deal he inked last March, Bennett confirmed that he asked Seattle's front office for more money.

"Somewhere near the top seven at my position, top eight at my position," Bennett said after playing 85 percent of the team's snaps on defense last season. "Not a lot of guys play inside and out (tackle and end). Not a lot of guys do what I do. So I feel like I should be somewhere near there."

Said Bennett: "I just want to be in the realm of the guys that play like me."

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Bills Claim Matt Simms, Release Jeff Tuel

May 30, 2015 12:46 PM

The Buffalo Bills cut Jeff Tuel in order to claim Matt Simms off waivers from the New York Jets.

Tuel was a favorite of former Bills' head coach Doug Marrone, while Simms spent the past two seasons under Ryan with the Jets.

Simms faces long odds of even making the Bills' roster as they have Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel competing for the starting quarterback spot.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Byron Maxwell Guarantees Eagles Will Reach Super Bowl

May 29, 2015 2:34 PM

Byron Maxwell is convinced the Philadelphia Eagles will go to the Super Bowl.

“We’re gonna go that far,” Maxwell told reporter Jenny Vrentas. “You can take that as a guarantee. That’s just me believing in my team and the product we’re going to put out there on the field. I really do believe that. I have no choice but to think that way.”

Vince Young made headlines in 2011 when he looked around Eagles training camp and proclaimed his new squad "the dream team."

Phil Sheridan/ESPN

Tags: Philadelphia Eagles

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Belichick On Deflategate: We're On To Next Year

May 29, 2015 2:15 PM

Bill Belichick made his first public comments since the NFL punished Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for Deflategate.

"That's a long time ago," Belichick said when asked if the issue has affected any of the team's enjoyment from winning the Super Bowl. "We're on to next year. It's 2015. You can forget about last year. That was last year."

Belichick's remarks came Friday after the team's organized team activity at Gillette Stadium, where quarterback Tom Brady -- who has been suspended for the first four games -- participated and took his standard repetitions for a spring practice.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots

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Adrian Peterson Asks Vikings To 'Honor' Contract

May 30, 2015 12:49 PM

Adrian Peterson has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal with the Minnesota Vikings and would like financial assurances from the Minnesota Vikings beyond the 2015 season.

Peterson is due $12.75 million in 2015 and his concern is with 2016.

"I love people who think they know it all!," Peterson wrote. "Smh, Research how many NFL teams hasn't honored a player's contract & learn something. Question for the people, is a contract two sided or one? Ok great two sided! Well why when one party decides ... Mr. ? we wan't you to take a pay cut now or better yet flat out release you! There's never no talk about honoring a contract!"

Peterson spent all but one game of last season serving a suspension stemming from his no-contest plea on what the league called "an incident of abusive discipline" toward his 4-year-old son.

 

"I know hundreds of player's that wished their team would've HONORED the contract! But instead got threw to the side like like trash," Peterson went on. "A lill crazy how one side has so much power that they can do as they please when it come to the contract!"

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Misc Rumor

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Ryan Clady Likely Out For Season With Torn ACL

May 28, 2015 5:44 PM

Ryan Clady tore his left ACL during practice on Wednesday and will likely miss the entire 2015 season.

Clady was injured while blocking on a pass play during an 11-on-11 drill. He was treated by trainers after he went down and did not participate for the rest of the practice, but he remained on the field, limping slightly.

 

"He pulled himself out (of drills), said his knee was sore," Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. "We really weren't that worried last night, everybody felt good, but we felt like we'd take a look at it this morning, and unfortunately we got some horrible news."

Clady previously blew out his left knee in a pickup basketball game in April 2010, but returned to start every game for Denver that season.

This will be his fourth major surgery in the last five years, with the others coming on his left knee, shoulder and foot.

 

A first-round pick in 2008, Clady is the last remaining player from Mike Shanahan's 14-year tenure as Broncos coach.

 

A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, Clady has started 16 games in six of his seven NFL seasons. 

ESPN

Tags: Denver Broncos, Injury

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Peyton Manning Growing More Comfortable In Kubiak's Offense

May 28, 2015 1:18 PM

Peyton Manning is still getting accustomed to the Denver Broncos' new offense under Gary Kubiak.

Manning has been more comfortable operating from the shotgun late in his career, but he's coming up to the line of scrimmage on almost all of his snaps right now.

"We know the other end of the stick is fine. It's something he's been doing forever," Kubiak said. "So, we're going to spend a lot of time under center initially. ... He's been very responsive and he's working extremely hard."

After what he called the Broncos' "first real day of practice in shoulder pads," Manning said he's eager to smooth out the roughness in this new hybrid offense, saying, "I feel I can do whatever they ask me to do."

Some believe quarterbacks like the shotgun because they don't have to take their eyes off the pass rush.

Arnie Stapleton/AP

Tags: Denver Broncos, IQ

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Odell Beckham Jr. Doesn't Expect Double Teams To Be Effective

May 28, 2015 1:11 PM

Odell Beckham Jr. is expecting to receive double teams this season, but he doesn't believe it will slow down the New York Giants' passing game.

“I definitely expect to receive a lot more attention,” Beckham said, via NJ.com. “But it’s just not going to work.”

Beckham said Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle will benefit if opposing team's secondary key in on him too much.

“You know you have Vic and Reuben, it’s going to be hard to double or have a safety over the top with the stuff that we have going on,” Beckham said. “I don’t think it’s going to be beneficial for them.”

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Tags: New York Giants

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Agent: Russell Wilson's Contracts With Seattle 'Positive, Encouraging'

May 28, 2015 12:52 PM

Mark Rodgers, the agent for Russell Wilson, said Thursday that negotiations on a new contract with the Seattle Seahawks have been "positive and encouraging," but there is no deadline for getting a new deal done.

"We've had an ongoing dialogue, not all of it being a negotiation,'' Rodgers told 710 ESPN radio in Seattle in his first public comments about the negotiations. "Some of it just being philosophical and really trying to understand each other's positions.

"I would characterize our talks as ongoing, fluid, robust at times, thoughtful and we've made progress. Frankly, about 95 percent of the speculation has been off point. I would characterize [the negotiations] as positive and encouraging."

Wilson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which will pay him $1.54 million this season. He signed a four-year, $2.99 million deal in May 2012 after the Seahawks drafted him in the third round.

Wilson is believed to be seeking a contract worth more than $100 million over five years.

Terry Blount/ESPN

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Misc Rumor

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Ex-Teammate: Rivers Far More Approachable Than Peyton
Peyton Manning has been affable pitchman in commercials, but his qualities as a teammate have been uneven.

RealGM Staff Report

Sam Bradford Sitting Out Drills At Eagles' OTAs
First-team reps have gone to Mark Sanchez, which isn't surprising considering that Sam Bradford is still recovering from his ACL injury.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Adrian Peterson Says Absence About Securing Future With Vikings
Adrian Peterson closed the statement by saying 'Go Vikings.'

Josina Anderson/ESPN

Zimmer: Peterson Can Play For Vikings Or Not At All
The Vikings have been adamant they intend to keep Adrian Peterson.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Carroll: Communication With Russell Wilson On Contract Has Been Great
Russell Wilson is scheduled to make $1.5 million this season in the last year of his rookie deal.

Terry Blount/ESPN

Texans To Be This Year's 'Hard Knocks' Team
This marks the first time the Texans are the subject of the show, which dates back to 2001.

Tania Ganguli/ESPN

Jaguars Have Youngest Offense In NFL
The Jaguars ranked 31st in offense in 2014.

Alfie Crow/Big Cat Country

Julio Jones Not Holding Out While Seeking Long-Term Extension
The Falcons picked up Julio Jones' fifth-year option for 2015 and could slap him with the franchise tag in 2016 if a deal can't be worked out.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Ndamukong Suh Joining Dolphins For OTAs
Ndamukong Suh signed a $114 million contract in the offseason with the Dolphins.

Kevin Patra/NFL.com

Cowboys To Sign A.J. Jenkins
A.J. Jenkins caught just 17 balls for 223 yards in 25 games for Kansas City.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Eric Mangini Plans Confusion For 49ers' New Defense
Eric Mangini is planning on putting his own mark on the 49ers' 3-4 defense with that being total confusion.

Conor Orr/NFL.com

Ray McDonald Arrested On Domestic Violence Charge
Ray McDonald signed with the Bears this offseason.

CSN Bay Area

Adrian Peterson Won't Attend OTAs With Vikings
It could cost Adrian Peterson a $250,000 workout bonus and comes in the context of his expressed unhappiness with the organization.

ESPN

Falcons Likely To Have Tevin Coleman, Devonta Freeman Split Reps
Tevin Coleman was a third round pick out of Indiana and has said he's ready to be the starter.

Vaughn McClure/ESPN

DeMaurice Smith: Wells Report Delivered What Client Wanted
The Wells Report was commissioned by the NFL and returned findings that found the New England Patriots as being culpable in deflating footballs

ESPN

NFL Rejects NFLPA Motion For Goodell To Recuse Himself From Brady Case
The NFLPA will likely eventually go to court on Tom Brady's suspension barring a total overturn of the suspension.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Reggie Bush Would Like To Return Punts Again
Reggie Bush hasn't returned any punts since 2011, but he's taken four back for touchdowns during his career.

Jared Dubin/CBS Sports

Chargers Optimistic About New Deal With Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers was in trade rumors leading up to the draft due to his uncertain future with the franchise.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Orlando Scandrick Signs $9.5M Extension With Cowboys
Orlando Scandrick finished 10th out of 108 qualified cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus' ratings.

Dan Hanzus/NFL.com

Michael Sam Signs Two-Year Deal With Montreal Alouettes
Michael Sam was the SEC co-defensive player of the year in 2013.

ESPN