March 2023 - Football Wiretap

Aaron Rodgers' Agent Gave Packers Ultimatum Early In 2021 Offseason

May 31, 2023 10:36 PM

Early during the 2021 offseason, Aaron Rodgers' longtime agent David Dunn called Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy and requested he fire Brian Gutekunst or trade Aaron Rodgers. Murphy did neither, but news broke close to the draft that Rodgers wanted a trade but the Packers kept him.

“I was under contract, for one, so definitely wasn’t gonna hold out and let them fine me,” Rodgers said. “There were a lot of things that I was hoping were gonna change, and they made some promises about things they were gonna try and do better. But I just felt like coming back, have a good season, move forward and just not focus on some of those things that I really felt strongly about but that may or may not actually ever get done.”

Rodgers went on to win his second straight MVP award and the Packers had the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.

In March 2022, Rodgers signed a three-year, $150 million extension to keep him in Green Bay. 

Matt Schneidman/The Athletic

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

Discuss
Troy Aikman Believes Tom Brady Could Still Play For Raiders In 2023

May 31, 2023 8:48 AM

Jimmy Garoppolo is once again battling injury concerns, which has left the Las Vegas Raiders linked to available veteran quarterbacks.

There has been speculation that Tom Brady could once again come out of retirement, but the future Hall of Famer would face several hurdles to a potential comeback while becoming part-owner of a team.

"It's a good fit for Tom," Aikman told TMZ Sports of Brady's Raiders partnership. "I'm not surprised by it, especially after his other partnership with (owner) Mark Davis. ... I would imagine, being Tom Brady and being a silent partner or a minority investor would be hard, to only be that. I would think that he would want to have a fairly significant role within the organization.

"Maybe (he'd be) involved to the point where he's actually suiting up," Aikman continued. "I don't wanna speak for Tom. (But) I wouldn't rule anything out. He obviously has a relationship with the head coach, he knows the offense, he'll keep himself in great shape. ... I would bet that nothing's off the table, as far as what may occur during the season, or what Tom's role may be. I think he's done playing, but you just never know."

Cody Benjamin/CBS Sports

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Jameis Winston Still Sees Himself As Starting Quarterback

May 31, 2023 8:44 AM

Jameis Winston agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the New Orleans Saints this offseason, but that doesn't mean he's resigned to being a backup quarterback for the remainder of his career.

Winston re-signed despite the Saints bringing in Derek Carr to be the clear No. 1.

"The main thing is the opportunity, and I'm just grateful every chance I get an opportunity to step into a building and play a sport I love," Winston said.

"However, I know that I'm still a starting quarterback in this league. But, man, I have to be, like this is all a process. There's some Hall of Famers that made their big break at 30. So I'm still young, I'm still 29, but right now my role is to serve this team in the role that I'm in. And I'm all-in to doing that. Because again, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be able to still wear a Saints uniform or to be in the NFL in general."

Kevin Patra/NFL

Tags: New Orleans Saints, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Deshaun Watson 'Would Love' DeAndre Hopkins On Browns

May 31, 2023 8:41 AM

Deshaun Watson says that he "would love" to have former Houston Texans teammate DeAndre Hopkins join him with the Cleveland Browns.

Hopkins was recently released by the Arizona Cardinals, clearing the way for him to join another team for the upcoming season.

During a Browns charity golf tournament, Watson hinted that he's informed Cleveland's front office that he would like for the team to make a run at Hopkins.

"That's kind of out of my range of things," Watson said. "All I can do is make a call and see what happens."

Jake Trotter/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Tyler Boyd: Bengals Would've Beaten Chiefs If I Was Healthy

May 31, 2023 8:36 AM

Tyler Boyd believes he was the missing factor that kept the Cincinnati Bengals from making back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.

Boyd suffered a deep thigh bruise early in the second quarter of the 23-20 loss. He said he would have finished the game if he was at least 80 percent healthy.

In his first day of offseason workouts, the veteran wide receiver met with reporters for the first time since the AFC championship loss to Kansas City.

"Still to this day, I feel like if I would have played the whole game, I was the key factor," Boyd said. "We would've won the game."

At the time of the injury, Boyd had two catches for 40 yards.

Ben Baby/ESPN

Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Sources: Commanders Plan To Release G Andrew Norwell

May 31, 2023 8:34 AM

The Washington Commanders placed guard Andrew Norwell on the reserve/physically unable to perform list Tuesday.

They intend to eventually release him.

Multiple sources have said in the past two months that Washington plans to release Norwell once he's able to pass a physical. He's dealing with a right elbow injury that has lingered all offseason.

Washington would save $2.28 million if he's released before Thursday -- and does not receive a post-June 1 designation.

The Commanders could save $4.38 million against this year's salary cap with a post-June 1 designation.

John Keim/ESPN

Tags: Washington Football Team, Misc Rumor

Discuss
George Pickens Felt He Was 'Snubbed' From Pro Bowl

May 30, 2023 8:54 AM

George Pickens had a solid rookie year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the wide receiver is ready for a second-year leap.

"Year 2 goals are Pro Bowl, and I feel like last year I feel like I got snubbed," he said. "Cause there wasn't a lot of guys in there at the Pro Bowl that excited me. Then the Super Bowl. The two bowls. A lot of RAC, run after catch. Two bowls for sure."

Pickens finished his rookie season with 52 catches for 801 yards and four touchdowns.

Kevin Patra/NFL

Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Only Bills, Chiefs Had Real Trade Talks For DeAndre Hopkins

May 30, 2023 8:50 AM

The Arizona Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins on Friday, months after the wide receiver first surfaced as a trade candidate.

According to a report, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs were the only teams that engaged in "substantive talks" with the Cardinals about a trade.

Both clubs balked due to financial reasons.

SI

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

Discuss
Robert Woods Compares Texans To Rams In Sean McVay's First Year

May 30, 2023 8:45 AM

The Houston Texans signed Robert Woods this offseason to bring a veteran presence to the locker room.

Woods sees similarities between his new club and the Los Angeles Rams team he joined in 2017. At the time, the Rams were coming off a 4-12 season and in their first year under Sean McVay.

The Texans went 3-13-1 last year and they have a new head coach in DeMeco Ryans.

"I think a lot of hungry players, hungry coaches," Woods said. "I feel like this is a similar situation to when I came to L.A. with a young McVay. Some say it was a rebuild. I feel like it was just a team buying into your coach, believing in the coach, believing in the system, and I think coach Ryans has that here. Got a lot of young players buying into this defense, into this culture, and we can change this environment."

Brian Barefield/USA Today

Tags: Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Report: Jon Gruden Helps Derek Carr, Saints Install Offense

May 30, 2023 8:41 AM

The New Orleans Saints brought in Jon Gruden to help install their offense during offseason workouts, according to a report.

While with the Las Vegas Raiders, Carr ran the West Coast offense installed by Gruden during the latter's tenure as coach from 2018 through the first five games of the 2021 season.

The offense is similar to the one the Saints employ.

The Saints' version of the West Coast offense is an offshoot of the one former coach Sean Payton used during his 15 seasons as head coach in New Orleans.

ESPN

Tags: New Orleans Saints, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Jimmy Garoppolo Had To Rework Contract With Raiders Over Foot

Mike Florio/ProFootballTalk

Cardinals Release DeAndre Hopkins

Myles Simmons/Pro Football Talk

Darren Waller On Giants: 'They Value Our Opinions Here'

Jordan Raanan/ESPN

'NFL Sunday Ticket' Will Remain Available To DirecTV For Bars, Hotels

Associated Press

Josh McDaniels: Davante Adams Earned Right To Vent On Raiders

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

Lions' Jameson Williams 'Wasn't Aware' Of Gambling Policy

Eric Woodyard/ESPN

Jimmy Garoppolo Underwent Foot Surgery In March

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

'Washington Commanders' Trademark Denied By USPTO

Tyler Sullivan/CBS Sports

DK Metcalf Still Wants To Race Tyreek Hill

Harrison Reno/SI

Lamar Jackson Expects To Run Less, Throw More

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

Ron Rivera: Chase Young 'Understands' Decision On Option

John Keim/ESPN

Patrick Mahomes: I Worry About Winning Rings More Than Money

Adam Teicher/ESPN

Patriots Docked Two OTA Days Due To Offseason Rule Violation

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Roger Goodell Nearing Contract Extension Through 2027

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Josh Allen 'Badly' Wants Super Bowl Title For Buffalo

Alaina Getzenberg/ESPN

Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy Optimistic About Week 1 Return

Nick Wagoner/ESPN

NFL Changes Fair Catch Rule, Eyeing Fewer Injuries

Kevin Seifert/ESPN

Kenny Pickett Has No Hard Feelings Toward Ben Roethlisberger

Brooke Pryor/ESPN

Justin Fields Worried About Wins, Not Next Contract

Courtney Cronin/ESPN

Saints, Commanders Flipped Vote, Leading To TNF Flexing

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk