NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I lurk from time to time, maybe don't sign in and comment as much as I used to or should, but like Pete Prisco, I have as many opinions as idiot's at an idiot convention.

 

Congratulations on your Bengals. They just fell short, but that was a good run. Burrow is a great QB.

 

Browns use franchise tag on David Njoku



A recent report indicted that the Browns would do whatever was necessary to keep tight end David Njoku from leaving the team as a free agent and they’re using the biggest tool at their disposal to ensure he stays off the open market.

According to multiple reports, the Browns have franchise tagged Njoku. The move sets Njoku up to make over $10.9 million for the 2022 season and would leave the door open for the two sides to talk about a longer deal until July 15.


Njoku was the 29th pick of the 2017 draft and is coming off a season that saw him catch 36 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns in 16 appearances. He has 148 catches for 1,754 yards and 15 touchdowns over his entire run in Cleveland.

Teams have until 4 p.m. ET on March 8 to use franchise tags. Chiefs tackle Orlando Brown and Bengals safety Jessie Bates are also expected to be tagged before that deadline passes.

 

Christian Kirk open-minded heading into free agency: 'I just want to land in the best place I can be'

Arizona Cardinals wideout Christian Kirk is heading toward free agency after a career-best 2021 campaign.

The 25-year-old receiver told TMZ that he's considering all options with his future.

"I kind of have an open mind with it," Kirk said of free agency. "I just want to land in the best place I can be. Whether that's in Arizona or somewhere else, man, I'm blessed to be in this position."

A second-round pick in 2018, Kirk netted 77 catches for 982 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. While he's never developed into more than a second-fiddle option, in today's league, teams need three productive wideouts.

In four seasons with Arizona, Kirk has displayed the ability to win deep, has good hands as a boundary receiver, and can make plays outside the structure of the offense.

Depending on what happens with the franchise tag, Kirk could find himself as one of the top young options for clubs seeking to upgrade their receiver corps through free agency.

Kirk recently went on a vacation with Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the Panthers' Sam Darnold and Washington's Kyle Allen. Given the off-field relationship with Josh Allen and the Bills' desire to add a third WR with speed this offseason, a Bills-Kirk coupling could be in the cards in free agency.


TMZ asked Kirk directly if he was angling to get to Buffalo.

"Possibly," he deftly responded. "Like I said, I'm just going to let my team and people that are helping me make the decision help me out. We'll see where it goes."

NFL.com

 

The Patriots have made a move in preparation for the new league year.

Per ESPN’s Field Yates, New England is releasing veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy. The move will create just under $5 million in cap space, which doubles the Patriots’ available funds.


Van Noy was an important piece of New England’s defense in 2021, returning to the club after a year with Miami. He appeared in 16 games for the Patriots, starting eight of them. And he played 81 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, recording 66 total tackles, 5.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception, and 10 passes defensed.


Van Noy previously spent four seasons with the Patriots, coming over in 2016 via trade. He signed a four-year deal with Miami in 2020 but was released last March, just a year into that deal. He then re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year contract worth up to $13.2 million.

As a released veteran, Van Noy is immediately able to sign a new contract with a team — getting a head start on the unrestricted free agents that will become available later this month. Van Noy also would not count in the compensatory pick formula.

PFT

 

Calvin Ridley suspended indefinitely for betting on games



Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley missed most of the 2021 season and he’s set to miss the entire 2022 season.

The NFL announced that Ridley has been suspended indefinitely for betting on games during the 2021 season. The suspension will run through the end of the 2022 season at least.


Ridley stepped away from the Falcons during the season in order to deal with mental health issues. The league’s announcement said that his betting took place while he was away from the team and that there is no evidence that he used inside information to facilitate his wagers. There is also no evidence that anyone from the Falcons or any other team was aware of Ridley’s activities.

“There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL’s success — and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league — than upholding the integrity of the game. This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote to Ridley. “Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.”

“For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction. In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.”

Ridley will be eligible to apply for reinstatement on February 15, 2023.

PFT

 

So, the league that heavily pushes gambling whenever possible, and found no evidence the player in question made those bets with any inside knowledge, communication, etc... is suspending that player. Look, usually I'm on the side of, "The player knows the rules", but this feels like an egregious enforcement. Especially since the owners don't get held to these same enforcement standards...

 

Yeah, it's good to be the owner.

"suspended indefinitely" leaves a lot of gray area but I'm guessing there is good reason to believe that Ridley f'd up...They wouldn't go through all this unless they had something substantial. Usually they bring the heavy hand. I'm sure more details will be coming soon.

 

So... the Falcons just gained $11 million in cap space. They are now under the cap - not by much, but they aren't going to be forced to make moves at the deadline. The problem is they still need just about everything and have no cap space to sign "real" free agents.

And here's the list of WRs they have under contract: Frank Darby, Christian Blake, Chad Hansen, Austin Trammell, and Brayden Lenius. Ever heard of these guys?

Blake had a whopping FOUR receptions for the Falcons last season (in 15 games). Darby had one. Trammell got called up from the practice squad for two games but didn't catch a pass. Hansen was hurt and out of the league most of the year before signing with Atlanta's practice squad. He didn't get called up.

The most productive receiver of the bunch in 2021 was Lenius. He caught 37 passes last year...



... for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

 

Before the announcement went public, Ridley had already tweeted about how he was looking forward to a fresh start and how "football is life". A few sources took his messages the wrong way, as if he was going to be demanding a trade or otherwise wanted out of the organization. Now we know a fresh start meant something much more serious.

A few details... the investigation had been going on for about a month. When interviewed by the league, he admitted that he had bet on games. He says his total bets were "only" around $1500. (It bugs me that he seems to feel being reinstated for 2023 is a slam dunk.)

It's not 100% confirmed yet, but what I'm seeing at this point is that his season will toll, meaning his contract year and salary (2022 would have been his fifth year option season) bump out to 2023. I'm still digesting that one, not quite sure how I feel about it. It's good that they'll still hold his rights and might be able to trade him next year, but they would be on the hook for $11 million in cap on him next year - and he's pretty much the living definition of "damaged goods" at this point.

 

Colts tight end Jack Doyle is hanging up his cleats.

The former Pro Bowler announced Monday that he is retiring after nine seasons.

"Growing up in Indianapolis in the late 90's/2000's it was impossible to not be a diehard Colts fan," Doyle said in a statement. "Getting the chance to play 9 seasons for the team I have always and will always cheer for has been a dream come true. It is something that is hard to describe. I now go back to being the fan I have always been and retiring from the great game of football.

"I have a deep love for the game of football. I took pride in playing the game the right way and always leaving everything I had on the field. I have a deep respect for the dedication and commitment it takes to be out there for your teammates. At this time, my body is telling me that is a sacrifice I can no longer make."

Doyle caught 295 passes for 2,729 yards and 24 touchdowns, all with the Colts, who signed him just ahead of the 2013 season after the undrafted free agent had been waived by the Titans. He never looked back in Indianapolis, appearing in 15 games as a rookie and becoming a full-time starter by his fourth. Doyle would catch as many as 80 passes in a season (2017) and earn two Pro Bowl nods. His 72.5 catch percentage since 2013 ranked second in the NFL among active tight ends with at least 200 receptions, per the team's release on his retirement.

"Jack not only represented himself and his family with class, but represented our entire organization and the community with the utmost professionalism," Colts owner Jim Irsay said. "We applaud the impact Jack and his wife, Casie, made in our community during his playing career and we know that commitment will not waver moving forward. Simply put, Jack was one of the most well-liked players in our locker room. We'll miss his presence in our building and watching him perform on Sundays, but we congratulate him on a fantastic career."

 

Dalton Schultz getting franchise tag from Cowboys



Add another tight end to the list of players getting franchise tags this year.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Cowboys are using their tag on Dalton Schultz. He joins Mike Gesicki of the Dolphins and David Njoku of the Browns as tight ends who have gotten tagged ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s deadline.


All three players will stand to make $10.913 million under the terms of the tag and will have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with their teams.

Schultz was a fourth-round pick in 2018 and had just 13 catches over his first two seasons before breaking out in the passing game the last two years. He has 141 catches for 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns in 33 regular season games and also had seven catches for 89 yards in Dallas’ playoff loss to the 49ers earlier this year.

PFT

 

Dolphins use franchise tag on Mike Gesicki



The Dolphins moved to keep tight end Mike Gesicki off the open market on Tuesday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Dolphins have placed their franchise tag on Gesicki. The deadline for teams to use the tag is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.


Gesicki is the second tight end to get the tag so far. The Browns used theirs on David Njoku on Monday and both players will make $10.913 million if they do not sign long-term deals before the July 15 deadline to do so.

Gesicki was a second-round pick in 2018 and set career highs with 73 catches and 780 receiving yards during the 2021 season. He has 199 catches for 2,255 yards and 13 touchdowns over the entire course of his career.

PFT

 

Franchise Tag = Tight End Tag

 

Rodgers signing 4 year/$200M extension in Green Bay

 

3 years/$60M

 

Gesicki likely going to file a grievance should they not reach an extension. 85% of his snaps are from the slot.