MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Report: Goodell Isn’t the One Who Determines Whether Deshaun Watson Violated NFL Policy

Although Roger Goodell confirmed the league’s investigation into Deshaun Watson is still ongoing, the commissioner is reportedly not the one who will determine whether the quarterback violated the personal conduct policy, per the 2020 collective bargaining agreement.

A source told Yahoo! Sports that, instead, it is expected to be former U.S. District Court Judge Sue Robinson, someone both the NFL and NFLPA agreed to act as an impartial arbitrator with disciplinary cases similar to Watson’s.

Goodell had previously been able to act unilaterally before the new CBA. Regardless of who determines the outcome of the investigation, Watson still faces three possibilities: fine, suspension or no punishment.

The commissioner also said he will, in all likelihood, not land on the commissioner’s exempt list, per The MMQB‘s Albert Breer.

“We’ve been very clear over the last year that the civil cases were at play over the last year; the only thing that has changed is the criminal element that has been at least resolved,” Goodell said. “And that was an important element in the context of the commissioner’s exemption that we have discussed with our players association. So, if the criminal had proceeded, that would’ve more likely triggered a commissioner’s exempt. I think at this point the civil cases in and of itself would not do that. If there is a violation of the personal conduct policy, that may trigger something. But it would more likely trigger some type of discipline in some fashion.”

The former Texans quarterback was recently traded to the Browns in a blockbuster five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal, a record-setting contract that became the largest guaranteed contract in league history. However, Watson still faces extensive legal trouble—22 active civil lawsuits that allege sexual harassment and assault during massage therapy sessions.

SI

 

The Raiders have added another backup quarterback to the mix.

Nick Mullens has agreed to a deal with Las Vegas, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.


Mullens joins Garrett Gilbert on the quarterback depth chart behind starter Derek Carr. A Mullens-Gilbert competition in training camp may determine who backs Carr up when the regular season begins.

Last year Mullens started one game for the Browns, and it was against the Raiders. He has previously started a total of 16 games over a three-year stint with the 49ers.

PFT

 

Justin Fields’ quarterback coach details offseason training



The Chicago Bears kick off their offseason program on Monday, but quarterback Justin Fields has already been hard at work preparing for the new season.

Fields has organized workouts with teammates wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet, and he’s also trained with Colin Kaepernick.

Fields will have a new coaching staff in place this year, including offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. But Fields has had the same personal quarterbacks coach in Ron Veal since he was in sixth grade.

Veal recently appeared on 670 the Score, where he talked about Fields’ offseason preparation. He’s had 16 workout sessions, where the focus has been on areas of concern, including ball security and quicker delivery.

“We’re trying to speed up his drops a little bit more, trying to speed up his delivery a little bit more so he can throw the ball on time,” he said. “… A little bit more anticipation. Those are the things we focused on.”

There’s a lot of excitement surrounding Fields heading into Year 2, where he’s the undisputed QB1. Fields has an entire offseason to prepare as the starter, which he wasn’t afforded last year.

The Bears are looking to build this new offense around Fields’ strengths, which is certainly a novel concept after watching Matt Nagy run the same offense with Andy Dalton and Fields.

BEARSWIRE

 

Oh no!

 

Daniel Jones: I’ll be cleared and ready to go

Daniel Jones missed the last six games of the 2021 season with a neck injury.

But the Giants quarterback doesn’t anticipate he’ll be sidelined any longer by the time the regular season comes.


Speaking to the media on the first day of New York’s offseason program, Jones said his neck is feeling good and he had no doubt he’ll be fine for 2022.

“Yeah, I’ll be cleared and ready to go,” Jones said, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.

Jones started 11 games last season, completing 64.3 percent of his passes for 2,428 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 298 yards with a pair of TDs.

The Giants have yet to pick up Jones’ fifth-year option, though a decision on the No. 6 overall pick of the 2019 draft will have to come sooner than later.

PFT

 

Do you say this out of fear due to being a Vikings fan? Training from Kaepernick wiuld put any QB on an elite level.

 

lol. thats what I was referring to in a tongue in cheek manner. Huge Fields fan, I think he will be a good one (not vs Vikes tho).

 

His Achilles heal. Can they correct it?

 

Its possible. I seen it with Cousins in Minnesota. Cousins didnt have to do much of anything different and it sure helps to have an offensive line in front of you.

 

Matt Corral expects to visit Falcons, Steelers, Eagles

Matt Corral is one of the six quarterback prospects set for meetings with the Panthers next week, but the NFC South club won’t be the only one he’s traveling to meet as part of the pre-draft process.

Corral was a guest on The Rich Eisen Show and shared more details about his upcoming itinerary during the conversation. Corral listed the Falcons, Steelers, and Eagles as the other teams that he’s slated to meet with in the near future.

Corral also said that he was supposed to meet with the Saints last week, but the trip was postponed due to weather issues that impacted travel. He said they are working to reschedule that meeting.

The Panthers, Falcons, Steelers, and Saints have all been frequently mentioned as potential landing spots for a quarterback early in the draft. All indications from the Eagles have been that Jalen Hurts will get at least one more year to make his case for the job.

YAHOO

 

Yeah, you're not correcting a serious part of a QB's mechanics this far into his career. You can make tweaks to habits surrounding that mechanic, but ultimately it's about playing to your QB's strengths and giving him more time / space.

Interesting that beachum is saying Fields has an "achilles heal", but Trubisky gets benefit of all doubt because he played for Chicago / Nagy. They played for the same team and coach...

 

Sam Darnold: I know I’m a good quarterback; I’ve proved it



The Panthers are bringing the top quarterback prospects to Carolina as they consider what to do with the sixth overall selection. Panthers General Manager Scott Fitterer acknowledged recently the team doesn’t have a long-term answer at the position and “at some point you have to take a shot” if you’re picking at the top of the first round.

While it’s not a given that the Panthers will draft Liberty’s Malik Willis, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, North Carolina’s Sam Howell or Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe, it does make clear what the Panthers think of Sam Darnold.


The Panthers moved on from Teddy Bridgewater last year after trading for Darnold. Now, they are looking for an upgrade to Darnold.

Darnold’s feelings are not hurt, because of his belief in himself.

“It truly is like whatever happens happens, because at the end of the day, it’s out of my control, and I know that,” Darnold said on Bussin’ with the Boys, a podcast created by Titans tackle Taylor Lewan and free agent linebacker Will Compton. “I have enough security in myself to where I can be like, ‘I know I’m a good quarterback. I know I can be a good quarterback in this league. I’ve proved it.’ And I know there’s a team, if something happens, that would want me.”

It seems unlikely any other team would want Darnold as its starter for 2022. The former first-round choice has played with two teams in four seasons and has a 17-32 record, 54 touchdowns, 52 interceptions and a 76.9 passer rating.

PFT

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most interested teams when it comes to quarterback draft prospects, and they'll visit with Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder on Thursday and North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell on Friday. Pittsburgh has the 20th overall pick in the first round of the draft, and even though they signed Mitchell Trubisky in free agency, they'll likely be looking to add another signal-caller in the draft to help replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. Ridder is making the rounds in the pre-draft process, as he'll visit with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday and with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday. Ridder could be the third QB off the board behind Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett later this month.

Roto Baller

 

I haven't had much time to post lately (insane work schedule), but I have been keeping up with a lot of the news and I've stacked up a lot of scouting scores.

I put some thought into the Baker Mayfield situation and I think there are some variables that are being passed on by the press:

• Is it possible that Mayfield is a problem in the locker room that GMs/coaches are aware of?
• Does the turnover issue for Baker make him more in the category of Sam Darnold than what most believe?
• Have there been no offers for Mayfield that would represent a value that makes him worth moving before the start of the 2022 regular season?
• With Mayfield being cleared to play, was the injury discussion more of a product of protecting the brand and less of a factor on game day than discussed?
• Is Mayfield considered a less 'coachable' player at the professional level than what he was considered to be in Oklahoma?
• How much does the success of Murray and Hurts reflect on Baker, considering their joined history in college?

Now, all of those questions should be fair game. There is usually more than one reason (a set of unfavorable facts/circumstances) involved when a player that was being viewed as successful in one location has had basically zero suitors for a new destination. And that, is simply a fact. If Mayfield was the player that many believe him to be there would be owners telling GMs to make the deal, consequences be damned. I think the talking point on the contract is way overblown, although there was reporting that Baker may have given the Browns a list of teams he did not want to move to. If that is the case, then he effectively crushed his own market, to a degree.

Right now, I think the best case scenario would be for Mayfield to go into a situation where he can become the primary back up. It will give him a chance to either rehab his image (if needed, and I'm starting to think it does so more than what most believe) and work on possibly securing another crack as a starter. I don't see that opportunity popping up again this season as I believe the Seahawks are sincere in wanting to go with Drew Lock in 2022. Considering Carrol was open about the knock on Lock being his turnover rate, I doubt they have more than a late round pick in the offering for Baker Mayfield. The Lions are another team that I don't believe want to go in that direction as they are looking to build themselves up as a strong, overall roster and giving up assets for an unknown (at best) commodity makes little sense.

We could be looking at a scenario where the Browns are comfortable with eating Baker's salary until the very last moment before ultimately dumping him off roster for next to nothing, or simply cutting him. It makes little sense for Cleveland to make a trade in a watered down market that would include them paying some of his salary when the option is there to simply continue paying him until the market begins to rebound.

And if it doesn't rebound? Well, then so be it, because there would have to be money paid out either way in order to pack his bags.

 

Glad to see you.

Yes... I believe so. More of a hunch than based on factual evidence, because as I posted earlier, its unusual that no one had his back when things were going down. Not 1 player, coach, friend, associate, nada, zip, zero, zilch came to his rescue. I thought that was very strange and indicative to a serious problem.

Yep.

I guess not. I havnt even heard of anyone kicking the tires. I think some GM's might be just doing the wait and see to see what Cleveland is eventually going to do. Why offer draft picks now, when in a not too distant future, there is a chance he might be cut or at least, in a better scenario, a reduced asking price.

Im thinking personally, that the injury factor was just a glossy way to protect Mayfield. Im thinking the damage was more to his attitude and ego than anything else and the poor play was killing him, the Browns and the whole team moral... which was the fuel needed to rely on or create an excuse so the injury thing could protect him as a trade chip?

Unfortunately it appears to be that way. I cant see him as able/willing to make major changes to create/help his situation on the field or in the locker room.

Might have created added pressure, but usually a competitive spirit would bring the best out of someone, but I also think its a low key factor.
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Anyway, I took these questions one by one in an honest attempt to share an opinion as harsh as some of my comments may have been... I in no way shape or form meant any ill treatment or cheap shots towards Browns fans, Mayfield fans or anyone... sometimes you just have to call them as you see them (just opinions). I simply see Baker as a deep rooted infectious problem in the situation with Cleveland and the sooner its resolved, the better it will be for him and the Browns as obviously they have both moved on from each other.

 

I think there are more than a few variables being passed on by the press. [Note: I interpreted "passed on" as "ignored"]

I don't believe the Browns are busting their collective asses to trade Baker Mayfield.

• He's still under contract with the Browns for the 2022 season at $18M plus change.
• They just mortgaged their future for a much better QB than Mayfield. The rub is that Watson probably won't be available for part (or any) of the 2022 season.
• $18M is reasonable to pay a starting caliber QB. It may even be reasonable to pay as "insurance" to ensure you have a veteran starting caliber QB on your roster should (when) your QB1 gets suspended.
• It's unreasonable to cut him and eat $18M in dead money. It's equally unreasonable to trade him for (at best) a 2nd round draft pick and eat 50% of his salary as that 2nd round pick would then cost you $10.5M in 2022.

 

I don't know that this is a factor as there is no no-trade clause in rookie contracts. It doesn't matter where he wants to go, if a team makes an offer worth considering, they take it. Otherwise, he is their QB, whether starting or backup. They owe him $18M+ this season and cutting him to save $1M isn't an option.

There is no possible way you cut Baker Mayfield. It makes no sense in any business way. It could harm the team less by keeping him on the team and using him as one of the non-active roster spots each week. There is no way they are paying 95% of his salary to have an opportunity to go to another team, in which case he has a very good chance to start. That would go down as the worst move in the history of the NFL if he had any success at all. Say they cut him, the Steelers sign him to league minimum ($1.05M) and he leads them to the playoffs and worse yet a playoff win. I don't know if there is any coming back from that. Everyone in the front office would be fired, unless a Browns team led by Watson actually made it to the AFC Championship game and Baker's Steelers were eliminated already. Hell it might take them winning the AFC to get them out of hot water in that scenario.

 

It’s absolutely a factor if you are a rebuilding team.

It makes zero sense to give up high/mid draft capital for a player that doesn’t want to play for you, meaning he will be gone at the end of the year.

I agree that the odds favor him not being cut, but we have no idea how it is going to go down this summer.

Could be that the Browns have zero fear of Baker becoming a success anywhere and he becomes too much of a PR headache, maybe no one makes a viable offer, or Andrew Berry decides that the combination of no viable offers and a preferred free agent becoming available makes his contract a liability to move forward.

It’s not a high probability, but it remains a possibility so long as no deal is reached.

 

I agree, but I also think the market is such that the Browns have no other option at the moment but to approach it passively.

I don’t see a scenario where they would start Baker if Watson is suspended. That’s the reason for modifying the quarterback room quickly.

 

So you actually believe he gave out a list to 31 teams and it didn’t leak to the media? If he gave a list to the BROWNS, why would they give a shit if he didn’t want to go there?

As I said before, it doesn’t matter if there were teams he didn’t want to go to, if a team made a fair offer, Berry would take it.

As of right now, Baker just needs the only team willing to give him a chance to start some games so he can play for a contract… that team could be the Browns…

He isn’t getting shit on a contract for 2023 without playing some good ball in 2022.

True and it’s possible monkeys could fly out of my Ass if I get caught in a tornado and it takes me to Oz.