March 2016 - Football Wiretap

Calvin Johnson Informs Lions He'll Retire

Feb 2, 2016 10:53 AM

Calvin Johnson had informed the Detroit Lions he plans on retiring. 

Johnson has been one of the NFL's best receivers throughout his career. 

Johnson told friends and family before last season that 2015 would be his final year in the NFL. 

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Detroit Lions, Misc Rumor

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Ryan Clady Willing To Restructure Contract With Broncos

Jan 31, 2016 3:55 PM

Ryan Clady is willing to restructure his contract to remain with the Denver Broncos.

Clady tore his ACL in May, missing the entire 2015 season. Clady also missed all but two games in 2013.

Under his current deal, he's due $9.5 million next season and $10 million in 2017.

"I'm sure that'll come after the season," Clady added. "I'm definitely willing to talk. I definitely would like to be a lifetime Bronco."

Andie Hagemann/NFL.com

Tags: Denver Broncos, Misc Rumor

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Panthers Made Blockbuster Offer To Colts For Peyton Manning In 1998

Feb 1, 2016 1:32 PM

The Carolina Panthers attempted to trade for Peyton Manning ahead of the 1998 NFL Draft.

The Panthers offered Kerry Collins and multiple draft picks to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for Manning

Bill Polian had drafted Collins just three years earlier when he was GM of the Panthers.

"Bill was dead set against it," said Dom Capers, Carolina's head coach at the time who was also given control of personnel decisions when Polian left the team after the 1997 season.

"He was set on keeping the pick. You never know on those kinds of things — but sometimes you have to try."

Polian said trading Manning was never a consideration.

"There wasn't anything they could give us that was going to replace Peyton Manning," Polian said.

Steve Reed/AP

Tags: Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Misc Rumor

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Browns, Chargers, Cowboys Could Select QB At Top Of Draft

Jan 31, 2016 1:21 PM

With high picks in the draft, the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys could each consider investing in a quarterback.

"If you're looking for a quarterback in that top 10, (picks) two, three and four have got to be locked in," Mike Mayock said on Saturday during the NFL Network's broadcast of the Reese's Senior Bowl. "Two with Cleveland, three with San Diego. Philip Rivers is one of my favorites of all-time, but remember they took Rivers when they had (Drew) Brees. And No. 4, Dallas has got to be looking, also."

Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch are considered the top quarterbacks.

"I look at Dallas at No. 4 and as much you love Tony Romo, three years in a row he's not been able to play 16 games," Mayock said. "He's 36 years old. At what point -- you're not going to be drafting that high again -- at what point do you pull the trigger? San Diego, same thing. Cleveland's got to get a quarterback. Philadelphia's sitting there at (pick) No. 13 saying 'My guy might not get to me anymore.'"

Chase Goodbread/NFL.com

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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Buccaneers Not Interested In Trading Away Mike Glennon

Jan 31, 2016 3:53 PM

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not interested in trading away Mike Glennon.

Glennon has previously been a starter at quarterback for the Buccaneers and is now Jameis Winston's backup. 

“I would hate to be in a position where your quarterback goes down for however many games it is and then you’re basically throwing the towel in, like a lot of teams did this year,” Licht said. “It wasn’t because they wanted to throw in the towel, that’s just the way it happened, without naming teams. Those were the same teams, a lot of them, that were inquiring about Mike Glennon at the time.”

Darin Gantt/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Police Called To Investigate Johnny Manziel On Incident With Woman

Jan 31, 2016 11:43 AM

Johnny Manziel was involved in an incident that required the police to investigate.

Fort Worth police said in a statement Saturday that officers were called to an apartment building around 2 a.m. about a possible assault. Police talked to a 23-year-old woman, who was not the caller, who said she had been involved in an incident earlier in the evening with her ex-boyfriend in Dallas. A preliminary investigation determined that a possible assault had occurred, though the woman refused to cooperate with officers and there was no evidence of a crime scene.

The woman also told officers she was concerned about her ex-boyfriend's welfare. Police officers attempted to locate him and later determined that he was safe and not in danger.

 

It was later confirmed Manziel was the man involved.

When asked about the incident by ESPN, the Browns said they would have no comment at this time. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told ESPN the league was aware of the incident and "looking into it.''

ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns

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Bennet Omalu Believes O.J. Simpson Suffers From CTE

Jan 30, 2016 10:30 AM

Dr. Bennet Omalu, the renowned neuropathologist whose discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in football players inspired the movie "Concussion," is willing to "bet [his] medical license" that O.J. Simpson is suffering from the disease.

"O.J. Simpson is more likely than not to suffer from CTE," Omalu told ABC News earlier this week. "I would bet my medical license on it."

Omalu has not examined Simpson personally, and CTE can only be diagnosed after death via an examination of brain tissue, but he told ABC News that he can identify the tell-tale signs of CTE's behavioral symptoms, which he said include explosive, impulsive behavior, impaired judgment, criminality and even mood disorders.

The strongest evidence that Simpson may have CTE, Omalu said, is that "he was exposed to thousands of blunt force trauma of his brain" during his playing career.

ESPN

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Chargers Will Remain In San Diego At Least Through 2016

Jan 30, 2016 3:52 PM

The San Diego Chargers will not relocate for at least the 2016 season.

The Chargers have until January 15, 2017, to exercise their option to move to Los Angeles. 

Should the Chargers build in San Diego, they would receive what amounts to a $100 million grant from the NFL in addition to the standard $200 million G4 loan for new stadium construction.

"We are very supportive of the decision by Dean Spanos to continue his efforts in San Diego and work with local leaders to develop a permanent stadium solution," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "NFL ownership has committed $300 million to assist in the cost of building a new stadium in San Diego. I have pledged the league’s full support in helping Dean to fulfill his goal."

Kevin Acee/San Diego Union-Tribune

Tags: San Diego Chargers

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Travis Kelce Signs Five-Year, $46M Extension With Chiefs

Jan 30, 2016 3:52 PM

Travis Kelce has signed a five-year, $46 million extension with $20.017 million guaranteed.

The deal links Kelce and the Chiefs through 2021.

 

Kelce has been a consistent target for quarterback Alex Smith over the past two seasons after missing most of his 2013 rookie campaign following knee surgery.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, Misc Rumor

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NFL Had 271 Documented Concussions In 2015

Jan 30, 2016 3:52 PM

The NFL documented 271 concussions between the preseason and regular season in 2015.

The NFL had 206 documented concussions in 2014.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

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Raiders Meeting With Sheldon Adelson About Potential Vegas Stadium
Mark Davis has long stated that remaining in Oakland is his primary goal.

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

Kirk Cousins Wants To Avoid Becoming 'Flash In The Pan'
Kirk Cousins emerged this season as a starter quality quarterback.

John Keim/ESPN

Thomas Davis Expects To Play In Super Bowl Despite Broken Arm
Thomas Davis underwent surgery which included 11 or 12 screws and a metal plate inserted into his arm.

David Newton/ESPN

Peyton Manning Welcomes Investigation Into 'Garbage' HGH Report
Peyton Manning supports the NFL's investigation into an Al-Jazeera America report linking him to human growth hormone.

Jeff Legwold/ESPN

NFL Announces Super Bowl 50 Golden Team
Adam Vinatieri is the only active player on the team and its only unanimous selection.

NFL.com

Dolphins Hope To Restructure Contract Of Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh signed a six-year, $114 million contract in March, with $60 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

Jeremy Bergman/NFL.com

Philip Rivers Considered Retirement Last Offseason
Philip Rivers signed a four-year extension with the Chargers in August.

Chris Wesseling/NFL.com

NFL Insists They're Investigating Peyton Manning Despite Report
The NFL says they're conducting a review of records, interviews, and coordination with other agencies.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Tyler Sash Posthumously Diagnosed With CTE
Tyler Sash was cut by the Giants in 2013 after suffering at least his fifth concussion.

Bill Pennington/New York Times

Eddie Lacy May Train With P90X Founder
Tony Horton volunteered to personally train Eddie Lacy.

TMZ

49ers Hire Jim O'Neil As Defensive Coordinator
Jim O'Neil entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2009 with the Jets, and served as assistant defensive backs coach for four seasons under Rex Ryan.

Matt Maiocco/Comcast

Calvin Johnson Has No Timetable For 2016 Decision
Calvin Johnson is now 30 years old and has slowed down from his historical 2012 season in which he caught 122 balls for 1,964 yards.

Dave Birkett/Detroit Free Press

Team With Better Defense 10-7 In Brady-Manning Games
Tom Brady had the better defense 10 times in his head-to-head meetings compared to seven for Peyton Manning.

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Peyton Manning Hints At Retirement To Belichick
PEyton Manning is under contract for 2016, with a salary cap charge of $21.5 million, which is bigger than his cap figure last season when the Broncos asked Manning to take a cut.

ESPN

Tom Brady Hit 20 Times In AFC Title Game, Most Of Any QB This Season
Tom Brady took 99 hits in his previous 17 games, an average of 5.8 per game.

Ben Volin/Boston Globe

Eagles Agree To Five-Year, $42.5M Extension With Zach Ertz
Zach Ertz was a second round pick in 2013 out of Stanford.

Phil Sheridan/ESPN

Panthers Open As -5.5 Favorites, Line Moves To -4 With Bets On Broncos
The Broncos were -2.5 favorites against the Seahawks and lost 43-8.

Ray Brewer/Las Vegas Sun

Peyton Manning Gets $2M Bonus For Winning AFC Championship
The Broncos' defense was outstanding throughout the season and were particularly strong in their two playoff wins.

RealGM Staff Report

Mike McCarthy Frustrated With Ted Thompson Not Signing Free Agents
The Packers have consistently relied heavily on the draft, but the first five selections in 2015 offered no help this season.

Bob McGinn/Journal Sentinel

Tony Romo To Undergo Collarbone Surgery
Since 2010, Tony Romo has broken the collarbone three times, including twice last season.

Ed Werder/ESPN