April 2022 - Football Wiretap

Justin Fields Has 'Plenty Of Confidence' In Chicago's Receivers

May 31, 2022 9:01 AM

The Chicago Bears shuffled their receiving corps this offseason, but second-year quarterback Justin Fields remains confident in his weapons.

The Bears lost Allen Robinson, Jakeem Grant and Marquise Goodwin, while adding Tajae Sharpe, Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown.

"We don't have an Odell [Beckham Jr.] or a Cooper Kupp on our team, but at the end of the day I think if everybody is on their P's and Q's, and we're on top of everything and not making mistakes, the players we have right now are good enough," Fields said.

"The front office thinks that, too. The fans outside of the facility, they don't know what's going on at practice. Just because we don't have a big-name guy doesn't mean those guys aren't talented. I have plenty of confidence in myself and my teammates that we're going to get the job done."

Bobby Kownack/NFL

Tags: Chicago Bears, Misc Rumor

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Adam Thielen Feels 'Rejuvenated' Entering 10th Season

May 31, 2022 8:58 AM

Adam Thielen is excited for his 10th season in the NFL.

"I feel fresh, I feel energetic, I think the culture that's been created here is just a breath of fresh air," the wide receiver said. "It just makes it exciting to be here and work."

Thielen's 2021 season was hindered by an ankle injury that first popped up in a Week 13 game, eventually leading to season-ending surgery.

"[The ankle] is great, it feels good to be out here and feeling young again, and fresh, and not having to worry about my ankle," Thielen said. "To not be out there, it's tough. ... I'm not taking my reps out here for granted, because who knows when I'll be done and won't be able to play this game anymore."

Coral Smith/NFL

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Misc Rumor

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Report: Browns Unwilling To Release Baker Mayfield

May 31, 2022 8:53 AM

The Cleveland Browns have no plans to release Baker Mayfield, even if he remains on the roster at the start of training camp, according to a report.

The Browns have been unable to find a trade partner for the quarterback after landing Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans and signing him to a huge contract.

Releasing Mayfield outright wouldn't save Cleveland any of the 18.58 million he is due on his guaranteed fifth-year option.

Cody Benjamin/CBS Sports

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Aaron Donald 'At Peace' With Career If He Doesn't Get New Deal

May 31, 2022 8:44 AM

Aaron Donald, 31, says he could walk away from football after just eight seasons without playing another down and be satisfied.

While appearing on Brandon Marshall's "I Am Athlete" podcast, Donald said four times he is "at peace" with his career.

Donald is not participating in the voluntary organized team activities with the Los Angeles Rams as he seeks a new contract, having outplayed the six-year, $125 million deal he signed in 2018.

"It ain't about the money, but it's a business at the end of the day," Donald said. "That's what you've got to see. For me, it’s about winning. I don’t want to play football if I can’t win anyway, so I feel like if I got a real opportunity to win another Super Bowl, then it makes sense to play. But again, it’s still a business. We’ve got to handle the business side of things, and if that wasn’t to get handled then, you know, it is what it is type of situation. I’ll be fine regardless.

"But me talking about retirement, that was happening way before we won a Super Bowl. I’ve been saying that since I got into the league that I was going to play eight years and be done. That’s just what I’ve been saying. It just came out and then everybody think that, ‘Oh, he said if he wins a Super Bowl he’s going to retire.’ Nah, I got teammates, coaches, my family who know about this. I said I’m going to play eight years, and I’m going to probably be done playing football. But winning a Super Bowl you get kind of a little addicted to it. I ain’t going to lie. I want to feel that again. That experience is like none other. If I was to play, it’s just to win another Super Bowl, but at the end of the day, it’s still a business and it got to make sense to me and my family."

Charean Williams/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Los Angeles Rams, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Cardinals' Jeff Gladney Dies In Car Accident At Age 25

May 30, 2022 4:05 PM

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jeff Gladney was killed in a car accident early Monday morning, his agent, Brian Overstreet, confirmed to ESPN.

The Cardinals released a statement Monday afternoon, also confirming Gladney's death.

"We are devastated to learn of Jeff Gladney's passing. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all who are mourning this tremendous loss," it said.

"We are asking prayers for the family and privacy at this most difficult time," Overstreet said in a statement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

espn.com

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Legal, Misc Rumor

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David Njoku, Browns Agree To Four-Year, $56.75M Deal

May 28, 2022 7:55 AM

The Cleveland Browns and David Njoku have agreed to a four-year, $56.75 million deal with $28 million guaranteed.

The Browns placed the franchise tag on Njoku earlier this offseason, and he had until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract. 

Njoku, 25, has totaled 148 receptions in five seasons with the Browns, including 36 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns last season. 

Jake Trotter/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Travis Kelce: Money Is Secondary, I'm Here For Legacy, Team

May 27, 2022 9:06 AM

Greg Kittle made headlines last week when he said Travis Kelce is so underpaid it "boggles my mind."

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, however, doesn't agree.

"I appreciate Kittle saying that," Kelce said. "That’s my guy and he always wants to see every tight end get paid as much as their production is. But at the same time, I signed my contract understanding what I had. I put a lot into this, man. Money, in my mind, is almost secondary at this point in my career. I’m here for the legacy and I’m here to try and make the Kansas City Chiefs the best team possible. So that’s my main focus. That’s why I’m here."

Kelce, 32, has four years left on a contract that will pay him less than $15 million a year.

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, Misc Rumor

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Saints Expect Michael Thomas To Be Ready For Camp

May 27, 2022 9:02 AM

Michael Thomas isn't participating in OTAs with the New Orleans Saints, but the team expects him back from his ankle injury in time for training camp.

Dennis Allen added that Thomas is present and rehabbing with the team during the voluntary workout period.

The 29-year-old wide receiver missed the entire 2021 season with the ankle injury after he delayed his first surgery to repair multiple ligaments until June -- then suffered a setback in November that required a follow-up procedure. 

"I think he's doing well in his rehab. He's not ready yet. But he's here, he's rehabbing, he's getting himself better. And we're certainly anxious to get him out here," Allen said. "I know that he's working his tail off to get himself back. And we feel good about where he's at right now."

When asked whether Thomas will be ready for training camp, Allen said, "That's certainly our plan."

Mike Triplett/ESPN

Tags: New Orleans Saints, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Patrick Mahomes: K.C.'s Offense Will Involve 'Everybody'

May 27, 2022 8:54 AM

Patrick Mahomes believes the Kansas City Chiefs will feature a different offense this coming season.

"That's what you're going to see with this offense this year," Mahomes said. "It's going to be everybody. It's not all going to be one guy. Obviously [Travis Kelce] is still going to get a lot of completions, a lot of yards but the whole receiving room is going to have big days and that can be something we use to our advantage."

"It's a very deep receiving room. It's hard to tell which guys are going to make it because we've got so many good receivers. That's what you want. You want that competition. You want guys competing every single day to make the roster because they're going to help us in the end."

The Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins this offseason, but added Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency and drafted Skyy Moore.

Adam Teicher/ESPN

Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, Misc Rumor

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Colin Kaepernick's Workout With Raiders 'Positive,' No Deal Imminent

May 27, 2022 8:48 AM

Colin Kaepernick's workout with the Las Vegas Raiders went well, but no signing was imminent as of late Thursday night, according to sources.

The Raiders considered Kaepernick's workout a "positive."

Kaepernick, 34, hasn't played in the NFL since 2016, the year he began protesting racial inequality during the national anthem.

Jeremy Fowler/ESPN

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Frank Reich: 'I Wanted Nick Foles Since I've Been Here'

Grant Gordon/NFL

GM Confident Cardinals Will Get Something Done With Kyler Murray

Myles Simmons/Pro Football Talk

John Harbaugh: Lamar Jackson Can Speak On OTA Absence

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

Judge Denies NFL's Motion To Dismiss Jon Gruden's Lawsuit

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

Colin Kaepernick To Work Out For Raiders

Adam Schefter/ESPN

NFL Mulling Changes To Pro Bowl Format

Nick Shook/NFL

Kyle Shanahan Remains Confident 49ers, Deebo Samuel Will Reach Deal

Charean Williams/Pro Football Talk

Roger Goodell 'Not Aware' Of Owners Trying To Force Out Dan Snyder

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Sam Darnold Confident He Can Be One Of NFL's Best QBs

David Newton/ESPN

Steelers Will Promote Omar Khan To GM

Brooke Pryor/ESPN

Woman Suing Deshaun Watson: Contract 'A Big Screw You'

Jake Trotter/ESPN

Bill Belichick Won't Reveal Who Will Call Plays For Patriots

Nick Shook/NFL

Source: Commanders Spend $100M On Land In Virginia

John Keim/ESPN

Kyler Murray To Skip Cardinals' OTAs This Week

ESPN

Dwayne Haskins Legally Drunk At Time Of Death

ESPN

Cardinals To Be Featured On In-Season 'Hard Knocks'

Josh Weinfuss/ESPN

Nick Foles, Colts Agree To Two-Year Deal

Mike Garafolo/NFL Media

Deebo Samuel Won't Attend OTAs With 49ers

Ian Rapoport/NFL Media

Jadeveon Clowney, Browns Agree To One-Year, $11M Deal

espn.com

Buccaneers Have No Timetable For Chris Godwin's Return

Jeff Kerr/CBS Sports