News

Broncos’ Elvis Dumervil arrested for assault with a deadly weapon

stevenlourie Broncos, News

Elvis Dumervil was arrested this weekend for assault with a deadly weapon. According to police reports, Dumervil and his friend got into an argument with another driver when this other driver cut them off. Dumervil and his friends then approached the other car and then pulled out their guns. When police arrived, Dumervil lied about being in possession of a gun and the police found the gun in his glove compartment.

Dumervil was arrested for assault and disturbing the peace in 2010, though the charges were eventually dropped. However, Dumervil is facing very serious charges this time around and could face discipline from the NFL. If he were formally charged, it would make that possibility more likely. It’s a situation to monitor because Dumervil is one of the Broncos’ best defensive players.

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Cliff Avril rejected Lions’ 3 year deal, worth 30 million with 20 million guaranteed

stevenlourie Lions, News

Today was the deadline for franchise players to sign long term deals with their teams. Among the players left unsigned was the Lions’ Cliff Avril. Hours after the deadline, it was reported that Avril rejected a 3 year, 30 million dollar deal, with 20 million guaranteed from the Lions and that that was their final offer.

Obviously, a 3 year deal is less than ideal, but 20 million guaranteed is a pretty good chunk of change and Avril is only 26 so this would have set him up for another big pay day in 2015, at age 29, should he continue to produce. Avril is a very good pass rusher, with 12 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, and 41 quarterback pressures last year (including playoffs). That’s good for a sack/pressure/hit on 11.5% of all pass rush snaps.

However, he struggles against the run, part of the Lions’ concern with him. Avril was likely seeking Charles Johnson money (6 years, 76 million, 32 million guaranteed) and the Lions were having no part of that. A free agent again next offseason, Avril could easily not be back with the team in 2013 and told NFL.com’s Albert Breer today that he would “probably” skip the start of Training Camp. He’ll make 10.6 million this year so he has a lot of reasons to sign his tender and get into camp.

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Cowboys’ Dez Bryant arrested for domestic violence

stevenlourie Cowboys, News

Cowboys’ wide receiver Dez Bryant was arrested today on misdemeanor domestic violence charges. This is a major red mark on an offseason that was so far going so well for Bryant, as he got himself into the best shape of his career and earned praise from several prominent people, including Owner/GM Jerry Jones, who praised the former 1st round pick’s maturity.

Contrary to popular belief, Bryant has never actually been arrested before, but he does have a bad reputation for several reasons and Roger Goodell has shown that he’ll factor in reputation when assessing potential discipline, especially with big name athletes, like he did with Ben Roethlisberger. Bryant still looks primed for a big fantasy season as a 3rd year receiver (that’s the breakout year), so it’s worth monitoring the situation. Any suspension should drop him in the fantasy rankings.

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Dwayne Bowe won’t be back in with Chiefs in 2013?

stevenlourie Chiefs, News

Today was the deadline for franchise players to sign long term deals with their respective teams. Among the several players who went unsigned was the Chiefs’ Dwayne Bowe. What’s particularly troubling about Bowe’s situation, however, is how little contact there was between the two sides. Among all of the franchise players, there might not have been two sides further apart than Bowe and the Chiefs. It’s unclear if Bowe was asking for too much money or simply did not want to sign long term with a team without a clear franchise quarterback, but the situation definitely looks bad.

Since he went unsigned, Bowe will be a free agent again next offseason. NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora opined today that he would be “pretty surprised” to see Bowe back with the Chiefs in 2013. This makes a lot of sense. The Chiefs have a trio of receivers signed through 2014, Steve Breaston, their 2nd leading returning receiver, Jonathan Baldwin, their 2011 1st round pick, and Devon Wylie, their 2012 4th round pick. That also may have had something to do with their hesitance to sign Bowe long term and meet what could have been very lofty demands.

Considering Vincent Jackson got 55.5 million over 5 years on the open market, Bowe, who will be 8 months younger next offseason than Jackson was this offseason, could get upwards of 60 million dollars on the open market next offseason. Currently 20 months younger than Jackson, Bowe already has more receptions and yards than Jackson does and without the benefit of a franchise quarterback in Philip Rivers, who Jackson had in San Diego. Bowe has also played in 17 fewer games. In the immediate future, it’s unclear if Bowe will report to Training Camp. If he doesn’t, the Chiefs might explore the possibility of trading him before the season, rather than risk losing him for nothing next offseason.

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Former Chief, Charger, and Dolphin Chris Chambers wants to return to the NFL

stevenlourie Chiefs, News

In an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, former NFL wide receiver Chris Chambers said he was training for a return to the NFL. Chambers, who was out of football last season, has 540 career catches for 7648 yards and 58 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the Dolphins, Chargers, and Chiefs after the Dolphins took him in the 2nd round in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Those are solid numbers, but he’s also 34 in August, didn’t play in the NFL last year and hasn’t caught more than 36 passes in a season since 2007. Given that a receiver like Plaxico Burress, who played in the NFL and had decent production last year (better than Chambers had had since 2007), is still out of a job at a similar age, Chambers is highly unlikely to get signed. Other veteran receivers like Burress, Braylon Edwards, Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Williams, or even Terrell Owens seem more likely to get signed at this point that Chambers. Chambers admitted in the same interview that he would officially retire if he couldn’t latch on with a team. That seems like the most likely outcome.

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Wes Welker “50/50” to sign new deal with Patriots before deadline

stevenlourie News, Patriots

NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, who has been the go to source on all things franchise player related this week, puts the odds for Wes Welker signing a long term deal with the Patriots at “50/50”. The Patriots and Welker are apart both financially (by the amount of 6 million guaranteed) and “philosophically,” which would appear to be an insurmountable difference with so little time before Monday’s 4 PM ET deadline.

However, Welker is aging and knows how much better off he is in New England’s system and with Tom Brady throwing him the football. He’s already caved once this offseason and signed the tender over a month before was necessary and when the team told him to backtrack on his public statement that he was “frustrated” with negotiations, he did. He could cave again. Right now, the two sides are working on a deal 3 years in length worth between 20-24 million maximum, but guaranteed money is what’s holding it up. Welker was offered a 2 year, 16 million dollar deal last season and rejected it. He’s owed 9.515 million in 2012 if he does not sign a long term deal.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If a long term deal is not reached, I would not be surprised in the least if the Patriots traded him. They’d almost definitely be selling him high and he’s had no career success outside of New England. They also have a decent amount of receiving depth behind him. The Patriots are no strangers to making shocking moves, such as trading Richard Seymour, trading Randy Moss, or cutting Lawyer Milloy. Unless he’s signed long term, Welker could be had in a trade for the right price. The Patriots would likely ask for at least a 2nd rounder in return.

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Talks between Chiefs, Dwayne Bowe have “gone nowhere”

stevenlourie Chiefs, News

According to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, talks between Dwayne Bowe and the Chiefs have “gone nowhere.” With just 2 days left before Monday’s 4 PM ET deadline for franchise players to sign long term deals, it looks highly unlikely that anything will get done between Bowe and the Chiefs. This offseason has been very light on news regarding Bowe and the Chiefs and for good reason. The two sides have had very little contact and spent very little effort trying to get a long term deal done. Both sides seem content with Bowe playing out the season under the 9.515 million dollar franchise tag. This season could be Bowe’s final with the organization.

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49ers, Dashon Goldson have not made progress

stevenlourie 49ers, News

On the same day that one Bay Area franchise safety signed long term (Tyvon Branch of the Raiders), it is reported that another one, Dashon Goldson, and the San Francisco 49ers have not made any progress, this according to CSN Bay Area. There are no shortage of deals being signed by safeties in the past calendar year for the two sides to use as reference as Michael Huff, Michael Griffin, Tyvon Branch, and Eric Weedle have all signed deals in the range of 4-5 years, 6.5-8 million yearly, and 15-19 million guaranteed. Things have looked bleak for the two sides all offseason and Goldson even admitted earlier this week that he may have to play out the season under the 6.2 million dollar franchise tag.

It’s definitely possible that the 49ers just slapped him with the franchise tag to give him a one year “prove it” deal as last year’s Pro Bowl year was his only good year (last offseason he had to sign for a small 1 year deal). On top of that, they may feel his strong season in 2011 was the result of incredible play upfront from the front 7. The fact that he was actually one of the most frequently beaten safeties in the league last year (4th most yards surrendered with 458, and 5th most touchdowns surrendered with 4) despite his 6 interceptions supports this. ProFootballFocus graded him 71st among 84 safeties in coverage, though he was above average against the run.

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Anthony Spencer won’t get a new deal from Cowboys

stevenlourie Cowboys, News

The agent for Cowboys unsigned franchise player Anthony Spencer confirmed today what many had been speculating for months, that his client will not be receiving a long term deal from the Cowboys. The Cowboys surprisingly slapped Spencer, a former 1st round pick who has never had more than 6 sacks in a season, with the franchise tag earlier this offseason, guaranteeing him 8.856 million this year. Spencer promptly signed the tender, but that’s about where this story ends as not much has happened since.

It appears the Cowboys just franchised him in order to give him a 1 year “prove it” deal. If Spencer doesn’t “prove it,” he may not be back with the team in 2013. Spencer had only 6 sacks, but 9 quarterback hits and 35 quarterback pressures last year, good for a rate of 12.2% on 411 pass rush snaps. He also leads all edge rushers in tackles over the last 3 seasons. For his efforts last year, he was a top-10 player at his position on ProFootballFocus and only James Harrison graded out better against the run at his position.

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Ray Rice “optimistic” about getting a new deal from Ravens before Monday

stevenlourie News, Ravens

In an interview with the Baltimore Sun, Ravens’ unsigned franchise player Ray Rice says he’s “optimistic” about getting a new deal from the Ravens ahead of Monday’s 4 PM ET deadline. While Rice may be “optimistic,” NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora is not so much. La Canfora reported earlier this week that talks were in a “stalemate,” while a report from the Carroll County Times seconded that and said that no deal was “imminent.”

Things could have changed in the few days since, but Rice has been asking all along for about 10 million per year, which would make him the 2nd highest paid running back in the league behind Adrian Peterson, while the Ravens have been insisting on paying him in the 8-9 million dollar range that backs like LeSean McCoy, Arian Foster, and Chris Johnson are paid in. It’s possible one side will cave before the deadline (if it’s either, I think it would have to be Rice), but all signs are pointing to Rice having to play out the season on his 7.7 million dollar tender. The Ravens could even franchise Rice again next offseason without having to pay him the 10 million per year he wants.

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