March 2017 - Football Wiretap

Ravens Release David Olson, Sign Josh Woodrum

Jul 31, 2017 12:56 PM

The Baltimore Ravens have released David Olson and signed Josh Woodrum.

Woodrum will serve as the Ravens' No. 3 quarterback behind Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan until Joe Flacco returns from a back injury.

On Sunday, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said the team was still considering Colin Kaepernick and asked for fans to "pray for us."

Kaepernick remains a free agent.

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Branden Albert Announces Retirement From NFL

Jul 31, 2017 10:51 AM

Branden Albert has announced his retirement from the NFL.

Albert was acquired by the Jaguars in a trade with the Miami Dolphins on March 9, 2017.

Albert was a Pro Bowl selection in 2013 and 2015.

Albert, who missed the voluntary portion of the Jaguars' offseason program in an unsuccessful effort to renegotiate his contract, participated in the mandatory three-day minicamp in June. He said during the minicamp he planned to attend training camp and would be in shape at that time.

"After nine seasons playing in the National Football League, I have decided to retire from the game that has given me so much," said Albert. "I would like to thank Mr. Khan and the Jaguars organization, Mr. Ross, Joe Philbin, Dennis Hickey and the Dolphins organization and Mr. Hunt, Carl Peterson, Herm Edwards and the Chiefs organization for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime. GOD has blessed me with so much through football that I thought would never be attainable. It's been truly a blessing. I cherish all of the relationships and people I have encountered while playing in the NFL! Special thanks to Al Groh and the University of Virginia for giving me the opportunity for a great education and showing faith in me when no one else wanted to take a chance on me. I am truly thankful for my UVA family.

"This is such a special league and it's been an honor and a privilege to play this sport professionally for the past nine years. I wish Coach Marrone and my Jacksonville teammates the best of luck on their journey this season. During my short stint in Jacksonville, I quickly realized that they are working incredibly hard to turn the corner and I truly believe that they will find success in the coming years. I look forward to returning to Miami, the place that I now call 'home,' and running my businesses, while giving back to the community. While this chapter of my life is coming to an end, my story is still going and I hope you'll follow along. I will be furthering and finishing my education. GOD BLESS AND GODSPEED."

John Oehser/Jaguars.com

Tags: Jacksonville Jaguars, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Doug Martin May Not Have Starting RB Job After Suspension

Jul 30, 2017 4:49 PM

Doug Martin will be suspended for the first three games of the 2017 season and he won't be guaranteed the starting running back job when he returns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"It might not," Jason Licht said. "Look, he has done everything we've asked him to do, and he looks reminiscent of 2015 when he was playing for his contract. He looks the same out there, mentally and physically. So he might be one of those guys that needs a carrot. And he's got a pretty big carrot in front of him right now, because there's no guarantees that he's going to be here. And he knows that. We've talked to him, and he's good with it. He goes, 'I understand.'"

The Buccaneers believe Jacquizz Rodgers can fill in well at running back while Martin is out, and they like Charles Sims as a third-down back who can help in the passing game.

Dan Graziano/ESPN

Tags: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fantasy

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Xavier Rhodes Agrees Upon Six-Year, $78.1M Extension With Vikings

Jul 30, 2017 4:42 PM

Xavier Rhodes has agreed upon a six-year, $78.126 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings.

The deal is one of the richest in NFL history for a cornerback.

The new contract includes $41 million guaranteed and pays more than $42 million over the first three years.

Kevin Seifert/ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Rob Ninkovich To Retire From NFL

Jul 30, 2017 9:52 AM

Rob Ninkovich will retire from the NFL.

Ninkovich has been considering retirement in recent seasons. He entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints in 2006. A Purdue alum, Ninkovich didn't see his NFL career take off until he joined the Patriots as a free agent on Aug. 2, 2009.

Ninkovich was credited with 423 tackles and 46 sacks with the Patriots.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Misc Rumor

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Russell Wilson Wants To Play 25 Years In NFL

Jul 30, 2017 4:42 PM

Russell Wilson wants to have an especially long NFL career.

"I want to play 25 years," Wilson repeated three times during the course of a 15-minute conversation.

No NFL quarterback has ever played that long.

Wilson is inspired by how Tom Brady has been able to extend his career.

"Uh, yeah, I pay attention," Wilson told ESPN.com. "I’ll say that. I pay attention. Something that I’ve observed and seen. He’s a great example of longevity. He’s a great example of being able to be mobile -- a different mobility, but you know what I mean. Being able to seem like he’s just getting better. That’s what I always want to be. That’s my focus."

Sheil Kapadia/ESPN

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Misc Rumor

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Titans Agree Upon Four-Year, $60.4M Extension With Jurrell Casey

Jul 29, 2017 11:36 AM

The Tennessee Titans have agreed upon a four-year, $60.4 million extension with defensive tackle Jurrell Casey.

Casey will receive $40 million in guaranteed money.

"I want to make sure I make every play I possibly can," Casey said after signing his extension.

Casey has notched at least five sacks in each of the past four seasons. He made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Tennessee Titans, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Joe Flacco Endorses Ravens Signing Colin Kaepernick

Jul 29, 2017 11:21 AM

Joe Flacco is endorsing the idea of Colin Kaepernick joining the Baltimore Ravens.

"I would like to see Colin get back in [the NFL] and, at some point, maybe get another shot [to be a starter]," said Flacco, who hasn't spoken to Kaepernick about it. "I wouldn't like that to be here. I do not want him to get another shot [to be a starter] here, but yes, he can come here and have some fun. I think it would be a good spot for him."

Flacco and Kaepernick faced off in Super Bowl XLVII.

Kaepernick is considered the best available quarterback remaining in free agency.

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Ben Roethlisberger Will Factor CTE Into Retirement Decision

Jul 29, 2017 11:39 AM

Ben Roethlisberger will factor the growing knowledge of CTE into his decision on whether to extend his career beyond the 2017 season.

Roethlisberger also considered retiring after the 2016 season.

"I've been blessed to do this a long time," Roethlisberger, 35, told the Post-Gazette. He starts each training camp with a series of interviews with long-standing local media. "I think it's just seeing my kids growing up, and in the offseason I love getting to spend time with them, and then I come here and football season just has to take up so much of your time. Even when you get home, I try my best to turn it off when I walk in the front door. I think I do a pretty good job of that, but it still consumes you in a way.

"Just all those things combined -- being healthy, being able to play catch with my kids. I feel good mentally, I know this new study that came out that 90 percent [of NFL] players' brains who were studied had CTE.

"There's a lot of scary things, and I think my wife would be OK if I hung it up, too. But I still love the guys, I still love the game, so it was right for me to come back and give it everything I have this year."

Jeremy Fowler/ESPN

Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Legal, Misc Rumor

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Ravens Sign Arena League QB David Olson

Jul 28, 2017 10:14 AM

The Baltimore Ravens have signed David Olson following the injury to Joe Flacco.

Baltimore used offensive assistant coach Matt Weiss to line up under center and hand off to running backs in drills.

Olson will help spell Ryan Mallett, who has taken Flacco's spot with the first-team offense, and Dustin Vaughan, who is on his fourth team in four seasons.

The Ravens also have interest in Colin Kaepernick.

The agreement with Olson would not preclude the Ravens from adding Kaepernick.

Olson most recently played in the Champions Indoor Football league.

ESPN

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Raiders Plan To Release OT Austin Howard
Austin Howard has started 39 games for the Raiders over the last three seasons.

ESPN

Odell Beckham Jr. Wants To Become NFL's Highest Paid Player
Odell Beckham Jr. is to make $1.8 million this season.

Jordan Raanan/ESPN

Ravens In Contact With Colin Kaepernick
The Ravens have interest in Colin Kaepernick.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

John Urschel Retiring From NFL To Focus On MIT Studies
John Urschel is currently a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Ryan Mink/NFL.com

Cowboys Sign Ronnie Hillman
Ronnie Hillman split time last season between the Vikings and Chargers.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Dak Prescott Doesn't Want Any Playbook Limitations
After one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, Dak Prescott is ready for the Cowboys to remove any offensive limitations.

Lakisha Jackson/NFL

Ron Rivera: Cam Newton 'Rusty' But Looks Good Throwing
Cam Newton is still rounding into form after undergoing rotator cuff surgery four months ago.

ESPN

Patriots Want Running Back To 'To Play Power Football'
The Patriots have a habit of using different running backs in varying situations and this year promises to be no different.

Patriots

Joe Flacco To Miss Time With Back Injury
Joe Flacco is expected to miss at least the first week of training camp with the Ravens because of a back injury.

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

Chargers Acquire Cardale Jones From Bills
Cardale Jones appeared to be fourth on the Bills' depth chart entering camp.

ESPN

Eagles Cut Allen Barbre, Marcus Smith
Allen Barbre, 33, started 12 games last season for Philadelphia, playing left guard and some right tackle.

Tim McManus/ESPN

Browns To Initially Give Cody Kessler First Team Snaps
Cody Kessler started eight games for the Browns in 2016 after he was a third round pick.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Everson Griffen Signs Four-Year, $58M Extension With Vikings
Everson Griffen earned 8.0 sacks in 2016 with 30.5 coming over the past three seasons.

Kevin Patra/NFL.com

Michael Vick Working As Coaching Intern With Chiefs
Michael Vick is working as a coaching intern with the Kansas City Chiefs during training camp.

Kevin Patra/NFL

Andrew Hawkins Retires Two Months After Signing With Patriots
Andrew Hawkins was trying to crack a crowded wide receiver depth chart, with Julian Edelman, Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell and Danny Amendola.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Brandon Linder Agrees To Five-Year, $51.7M Extension With Jaguars
Brandon Linder was the No. 5 center for Pro Football Focus last season.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Kenneth Dixon Out For Season With Torn Meniscus
Terrance West and Danny Woodhead are the Ravens' top running backs.

Charean Williams/Pro Football Talk

La'el Collins Signs Two-Year, $15.4M Extension With Cowboys
La'el Collins' average of $7.7 million is second highest in the NFL amongst right tackles.

Mike Garafolo/NFL.com

Lucky Whitehead Was Victim Of Mistaken Identity
The Cowboys released Lucky Whitehead on Monday following the erroneous report.

ESPN

Broncos Hire Gary Kubiak As Scouting Advisor
Gary Kubiak stepped down as head coach of the Broncos after the 2016 season.

Mike Klis/KUSA