April 2017 - Football Wiretap

Packers Plan On Starting Ty Montgomery Despite Drafting 3 RBs

Apr 30, 2017 4:16 PM

The Green Bay Packers selected three running backs in this year's draft, but Ty Montgomery will remain the starter.

"Absolutely, he's our starting running back," Mike McCarthy said shortly after the draft ended. "I think it gives us excellent depth, and it will be nice to have a full room."

The Packers lost Eddie Lacy to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.

Green Bay selected Jamaal Williams of BYU in the fourth round, Aaron Jones of UTEP in the fifth round and Devante Mays of Utah State in the 7th round.

Rob Demovsky/ESPN

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Draft, Draft Misc, IQ, Misc Rumor

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Bills Fire Doug Whaley As General Manager

May 1, 2017 10:49 AM

The Buffalo Bills have fired Doug Whaley as general manager.

The Bills were 30-34 in Whaley's four seasons as general manager as they continue their 17-year playoff drought.

"After a thorough review of our football operations over the past several months, Kim [Pegula] and I informed Doug this morning that we will be moving in a new direction," Bills co-owner Terry Pegula said in a statement. "We have enjoyed working with Doug. He is a good person and we want to thank him for his work and commitment to our football team. This was my decision. It was not an easy decision but I believe it's the right one for the future of the Buffalo Bills. Our search for a new general manager will begin immediately."

Sean McDermott began having more power after he was hired as head coach in January.

The Bills also fired their entire scouting staff.

Mike Rodak/ESPN

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Misc Rumor

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Bears Select Three Of Five Players Below FBS Level

Apr 29, 2017 7:38 PM

Ryan Pace followed up his surprise move for Mitchell Trubisky by selecting three of five players from below the FBS level.

The Chicago Bears drafted Ashland University tight end Adam Shaheen in Round 2.

On Saturday, Chicago took 5-foot-6 running back Tarik Cohen in Round 4 out of FCS school North Carolina A&T, and used their final pick of the draft in Round 5 on Kutztown OL Jordan Morgan.

Jeff Dickerson/ESPN

Tags: Chicago Bears, Draft, Draft Misc

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Jake Butt Collects $543k On Insurance Policy With Draft Slide

Apr 29, 2017 7:37 PM

Jake Butt slipped to the Denver Broncos in the fifth round at No. 145 overall but will receive compensation for his loss of value.

Butt suffered a torn ACL in the Orange Bowl.

Butt had taken a $2 million loss-of-value policy that he started collecting insurance on when he wasn't picked in the top half of the third round Friday night.

Butt first started collecting, at $10,000 a pick tax-free, in the middle of the third round. Butt was set to receive $543,000 on the policy.

Butt was the 2016 Mackey Award winner for the best tight end in the nation.

Darren Rovell/ESPN

Tags: Denver Broncos, Draft, Draft Misc

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Giants Inform Eli Manning Of Decision To Pick Davis Webb

Apr 30, 2017 10:53 AM

The New York Giants made a courtesy call to Eli Manning before they selected Davis Webb out of Cal with the 87th overall pick.

The Giants said they didn't think they needed to discuss it with him before.

"We didn't have any conversation with Eli before we drafted, but we drafted a quarterback, and we are going to let our quarterback know that we are drafting a quarterback, of course," general manager Jerry Reese said Friday night.

Webb becomes the fourth quarterback selected by the Giants since Manning entered the NFL in 2004.

Jordan Raanan/ESPN

Tags: New York Giants, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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Browns Take DeShone Kizer 52nd After Passing On QB Three Times In 1st

Apr 29, 2017 12:01 PM

The Cleveland Browns declined to select a quarterback with any of their three first round picks but selected DeShone Kizer 52nd overall.

The Browns have started 26 different quarterbacks since 1999. Cleveland also inquired about the availability of Jimmy Garoppolo.

"I do think there's a lot of potential and I think there's a lot of room for growth," Kizer told reporters after his selection. "My goal right now is to figure out a way to learn as much as I possibly can."

The Browns selected Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers and David Njoku in the first round.

ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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Giants Tried To Trade Up For Patrick Mahomes

Apr 28, 2017 9:05 PM

The New York Giants tried to trade up to select Patrick Mahomes.

The Kansas City Chiefs successfully traded up to No. 10 to select Mahomes. Andy Reid has a good track record of identifying quarterbacks.

Ben McAdoo reportedly loved what he saw from Mahomes and was "very upset it didn't happen."

Anita Marks/ESPN

Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Bears May Have Been Competing Against Themselves Trading Up

Apr 28, 2017 3:03 PM

The Chicago Bears may have been competing against themselves in trading up from No. 3 to No. 2 with the San Francisco 49ers to select Mitchell Trubisky.

According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, John Fox even was unaware of the Bears' plans to draft Trubisky until a few hours before the draft.

The Bears paid $1.56 on the dollar to trade up with the 49ers.

John Lynch did say publicly, however, that they 49ers had Trubisky as their top-graded quarterback.

Michael Lombardi/The Ringer

Tags: Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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Seahawks Would Have Considered Drafting Patrick Mahomes

Apr 28, 2017 2:49 PM

The Seattle Seahawks will consider drafting a quarterback with one of their day two picks.

The Seahawks would have considered using their first round pick on Patrick Mahomes if he would have dropped to them late in the first round.

While Russell Wilson is only 28 years old, the Seahawks have been weak at backup quarterback in recent seasons.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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Patriots Decline To Talk Jimmy Garoppolo Trade With Browns At Draft

Apr 29, 2017 12:09 AM

The Cleveland Browns called the New England Patriots during the first round of the draft about trading for Jimmy Garoppolo. 

The Patriots again declined to engage in trade talks centered on Garoppolo. 

The future of Garoppolo has been tied to how many more years Tom Brady will continue to play.

The Patriots could even use the franchise tag on Garoppolo next offseason as a backup to Brady.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Roger Goodell: NFL Sees No Benefits Of Medical Marijuana
Roger Goodell's comments came amid a federal lawsuit filed from former players who say they suffered long-term health problems because of improper and deceptive prescription drug-distribution practic

Kevin Seifert/ESPN

Andy Reid: Patrick Mahomes Will 'Take Some Time'
The Chiefs traded up to the 10th pick to take Patrick Mahomes, but Andy Reid is already tempering expectations for the rookie quarterback.

Kansas City Star

Saints Were Prepared To Trade Up For Marshon Lattimore
The Saints considered trading up in the first round on Thursday night, but didn't have to when Marshon Lattimore was available at No. 11.

Darin Gantt/Pro Football Talk

Week 13 Win Over 49ers Cost Bears Three Draft Picks
The Bears traded up to the No. 2 pick to take Mitchell Trubisky on Thursday night.

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Raiders Did 'Miles And Miles' Of Research On Gareon Conley
The Raiders did a lot of research on Gareon Conley before selecting the cornerback in the first round of the draft on Thursday night.

Las Vegas Review Journal

Browns, Washington Deny Kirk Cousins Trade Talks
Both the Browns and Washington have denied a report that they discussed a possible Kirk Cousins trade.

Darin Gantt/Pro Football Talk

Full List Of 2017 NFL Draft, First Round
John Ross went ninth overall, one of three wide receivers selected in the top-9.

RealGM Staff Report

Chiefs Trade Up To No. 10 With Bills To Pick Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs moved up to No. 10 to pick Pat Mahomes.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Myles Garrett Selected First Overall By Browns
Myles Garrett joins the likes of Carson Palmer, Cam Newton and Jadeveon Clowney as No. 1 picks.

RealGM Staff Report

Browns Attempting To Trade For Kirk Cousins
The Browns are attempting to acquire Kirk Cousins from Washington.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Bears Trade Up To No. 2 To Select Mitchell Trubisky
The 49ers want to trade down again.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Browns Will Select Myles Garrett First Overall
The Browns' top brass met on Thursday to solidify their plans even if it was a long time in the coming.

Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer

Scot McCloughan Consulting On Draft For Multiple NFL Teams
Scot McCloughan is running a scouting service that is being used by multiple NFL teams.

Kevin Patra/NFL.com

Joe Thomas Suffering From Memory Loss
Joe Thomas is entering his 11th season with the Browns.

Pat McManamon/ESPN

Myles Garrett Remains Expected Pick For Browns At No. 1
Sashi Brown told NFL Network's Mike Silver on Wednesday that he's known the pick for two weeks.

Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer

NFL Replacing Dean Blandino With Two Officiating Employees
Dean Blandino is leaving for a job with FOX.

Kevin Seifert/ESPN

Sanders: Paxton Lynch No Longer 'Like That Deer In The Headlights'
Trevor Siemian won the starting job ahead of the 2016 season and started 14 games.

ESPN

Ed Werder, Trent Dilfer Among ESPN Layoffs
Ed Werder had reported on the NFL for ESPN for 17 years.

RealGM Staff Report

Vikings Likely To Decline Option On Teddy Bridgewater
While the Vikings could still re-sign Teddy Bridgewater, they appear unwilling to guarantee his salary for 2018 at $11 million.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Raiders, Seahawks Agree Upon Marshawn Lynch Trade
The only thing remaining is for Marshawn Lynch to take a physical with the Raiders.

Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport/NFL.com