March 2016 - Football Wiretap

Browns Waive Connor Shaw

Jun 30, 2016 4:58 PM

Connor Shaw, who made one start over two years, has been waived by the Cleveland Browns.

Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler remain on the roster as Cleveland decides on a starting quarterback.

Shaw, 24, spent all of last season on injured reserve with a broken thumb.

Marc Sessler/NFL

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Free Agent Rumor

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Rolando McClain To Be Suspended 10 Games

Jun 30, 2016 4:56 PM

Rolando McClain will be suspended for the season's first 10 games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, according to multiple sources.

The Dallas Cowboys linebacker was suspended the first four games of last season for violating the policy.

Dallas re-signed McClain to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million in March.

He is set to receive a $1.25 million base salary and could earn $125,000 for each game he is on the 46-man roster, maxing out at $42 million. He also has $1 million in play-time incentives.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Suspension

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Roger Goodell Made $32M In 2015

Jul 3, 2016 12:13 AM

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made $32 million in 2015, according to tax filings acquired by The Sports Business Journal.

The figure represents a drop from $34.1 million the previous year and the fourth straight year that Goodell's compensation has dropped.

Unless the league reverses course on it's decision to give up tax-exempt status for the league office, this will be the last year they have to disclose Goodell's pay.

Daniel Kaplan/Sports Business Journal

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Sheldon Richardson Suspended For Week 1

Jun 30, 2016 1:05 PM

Sheldon Richardson has been suspended for Week 1 of the 2016 season for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.

Richardson will be eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

NFL.com

Tags: New York Jets, Suspension

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Johnny Manziel Suspended Four Games By NFL

Jul 3, 2016 12:13 AM

Johnny Manziel has been suspended by the NFL for four games for violating their substance abuse policy.

Manziel is currently a free agent and has said he'll go sober beginning July 1st.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Suspension

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Howie Roseman: Eagles Made Mistakes Paying 'Guys Who Aren't Our Own'

Jun 30, 2016 8:37 AM

Howie Roseman prefers to build an NFL team by drafting well and keeping his own players.

The Philadelphia Eagles general manager says the team faltered last year by going too hard after free agents who ultimately didn't produce.

"When you look at it, some of the mistakes we've made have been going out and spending a lot of money," Roseman said. "A lot of those mistakes were on guys that aren't our own. They were guys that we've brought from another organization, and we thought we knew."

Roseman didn't identify players by name, but he was clearly referring to DeMarco Murray and Byron Maxwell.

USA Today

Tags: Philadelphia Eagles, Free Agent Rumor

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Cam Newton Launches Production Company

Jun 30, 2016 8:32 AM

Cam Newton has launched Iconic Saga Productions, in partnership with Magical Elves, the producers behind "All in With Cam Newton."

Newton will now be able to expand his presence in the entertainment world. He was already an executive producer for Nickelodeon's "All In With Cam Newton."

The Carolina Panthers quarterback will be helped by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves, who will create and develop unscripted projects.

"As soon as we started working on 'All In,' I knew that Dan and Jane would be the perfect partners," Newton said in a statement.

"I'm excited to continue building on what we've already started, creating new, fun, authentic content for the world to see."

Bill Voth/Black And Blue Review

Tags: Carolina Panthers

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Mark Murphy: 17-Game Season Could Facilitate More International Play

Jun 30, 2016 1:00 PM

When asked about playing more games overseas, Mark Murphy says that a 17-game regular season could facilitate more international play in the future.

The Green Bay Packers CEO says that such an expansion would have each team play eight games at home, eight on the road and one outside the United States.

"As you look ahead, if we're going to have more and more international games, something's got to give at some point," Murphy said. "One thought that's been discussed is to go to 17 [regular-season games] and three [preseason] and then everybody would have an international game. So nobody would have to give up a home game then."

NFL players have largely opposed the possibility of making the regular season longer, and the owners can’t expand the regular season without the approval of the NFL Players Association.

ESPN

Tags: Green Bay Packers

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Andrew Luck Becomes NFL's Highest Paid Player With Extension

Jun 30, 2016 1:00 PM

Andrew Luck has signed a six-year deal worth nearly $140 million with the Indianapolis Colts through 2021.

Luck will earn $75 million over the first three seasons of the deal and slightly less over the final two.

Luck will now be the NFL's highest paid player.

There will be $89 million in guaranteed money in Luck's deal.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Eighth-Grade QB Says Michigan Offered Him Scholarship

Jun 29, 2016 2:57 PM

Sol-Jay Maiava, who is entering his freshman year of high school, says on Twitter that he received his first scholarship offer from Michigan.

The offer coincides with Michigan's stop in Hawaii on Jim Harbaugh's whirlwind circuit of satellite camps.

Last month, Alabama offered a scholarship to ninth-grade in linebacker Jesus Machado.

Commitments are non-binding until prospects sign a letter of intent as high school seniors.

Chase Goodbread/NFL

Tags: NCAA

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Cory Redding Announces Retirement After 13 Seasons
Cory Redding played in 12 games on the defensive line for the Cardinals last season.

ESPN

Jay-Z Name-Drops Josh Norman In New Song
Jay-Z, who rapped on DJ Khaled's "I Got The Keys," mentions the cornerback around the one-minute mark.

Scott Allen/Washington Post

Jeremy Maclin Mentoring Kansas City's Young Receivers
Jeremy Maclin has worked with Chris Conley and Albert Wilson over a stretch from February to late April, lifting weights, watching film and working on route concepts.

Terez A. Paylor/Kansas City Star

Seahawks Agree To Four-Year, $46M Extension With Doug Baldwin
Doug Baldwin tied the NFL lead with 14 receiving touchdowns last season.

Ian Rapoport/NFL

Zurlon Tipton Killed In Accidental Shooting
Former NFL running back Zurlon Tipton died Tuesday after a gun in his car was accidentally discharged.

Fox 59

Marcus Mariota Willing To Hand Ball Off 40 Times If Titans Win
The Titans traded for DeMarco Murray and drafted 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.

The Daily Press

Mike Singletary To Serve As Rams Defensive Assistant
Mike Singletary will work as a defensive assistant for the Rams this season.

WSCR-AM

Buddy Ryan Dies At Age 82
Former NFL coach and defensive guru Buddy Ryan has died at the age of 82, his agent has told the press.

Josh Paunil/Philly Mag

Eli Manning Looking Forward To Making Playoffs Again
The Giants haven't made the postseason the past four years, but Eli Manning sees the drought ending this season.

Max Meyer/NFL

Saints Still Plan To Hold Training Camp In West Virginia
There have been reports indicating that the Saints wouldn't hold camp in the state.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Russell Wilson Working With Mental Conditioning Coach
Trevor Moawad and Russell Wilson first connected during the pre-draft process in 2012 and have had a relationship ever since.

Sheil Kapadia/ESPN

Ravens Optimistic About Offense In Year 2 Under Marc Trestman
Marc Trestman is in his second season as offensive coordinator after being asked to continue the work of Gary Kubiak in Year 1.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Sammy Watkins Hopes To Be Ready For Camp
Sammy Watkins says he hopes to be ready for training camp after suffering a broken foot and having surgery in May.

Tyler Dragon/NFL

Marvin Lewis Advises Dirk Dirk Koetter To 'Throw Deep'
Marvin Lewis has some advice for longtime friend Dirk Koetter, who is in his first season as head coach of the Buccaneers.

Idaho State Journal

Eagles Plan To Make Carson Wentz Inactive For Games
The Eagles have said they'll be patient with Carson Wentz and they currently plan to make the quarterback inactive on game days.

Jimmy Kempski/Philly Voice

Falcons May Not Play 2017 Preseason Games In New Stadium
The Falcons haven't ruled out playing their 2017 preseason home games at a stadium other than their new home.

Vaughn McClure/ESPN

Tarvaris Jackson Arrested On Suspicion Of Aggravated Assault
Tavaris Jackson is a free agent after being the backup to Russell Wilson with the Seahawks over the past three seasons.

Austin Knoblauch/NFL.com

Emmanuel Sanders Letting Representatives Handle Talks With Broncos
Emmanuel Sanders is entering the final year of his contract with the Broncos and a contract extension appears possible.

Denver Post

Texans Sign First-Round Pick Will Fuller
With Will Fuller signed, the Texans have now struck deals with their entire draft class.

Josh Alper/Pro Football Talk

Rams Have Already Sold 63,000 Season Tickets
The team's goal is to sell 70,000 and leave the remaining seats for single-game sales.

VC Star