NFL - NEWS & NOTES

If anyone is interested in participating in this year's collaborative mock draft, here it is:

2022 Collaborative Mock Draft

I'm hoping we can get underway with the first 8 picks on Thursday evening (mirroring the real draft in terms of a Thursday evening opener). I know everyone is busy, so this one is designed to try to make it easy to participate. Check out the thread and join in if you can.

 

Report: Falcons to sign free-agent DL Vincent Taylor

Despite having Pro Bowl defensive lineman Grady Jarrett under contract for one more year, the Atlanta Falcons are lacking depth along their defensive line following the release of nose tackle Tyeler Davison.

The team hosted free-agent defensive lineman Vincent Taylor earlier in the week and on Saturday, Jordan Schultz reported that the Falcons are signing the 28-year-old veteran.

YAHOO

 

I'm stoked. He had a solo tackle AND an assist last year! CHAMPIONSHIP !

Actually, it's a good signing. We need cheap depth to help push the youngsters. He's cheap depth. Perfect match.

 

Free-agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney is expected to re-sign with the Cleveland Browns, in the opinion of Toni Grossi. The blockbuster trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson, who played with Clowney in Houston, is expected to keep Clowney in Cleveland. The Browns offered Clowney a two-year, $24 million deal last month, but he often marches to his own beat and isn't in any rush to sign. The 29-year-old former first overall pick in 2014 has had trouble staying healthy in his NFL career, but he managed 37 tackles (24 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 19 QB hits, nine sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 games in his first season with the Browns in 2021. He'd continue to form a fearsome pass rush alongside Myles Garrett if he re-signs.

Roto Baller

 

Free-agent wide receiver Jarvis Landry isn't expected to re-sign with the Cleveland Browns, in the opinion of Tony Grossi. The Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons could be the top landing spots for Landry this offseason, but the veteran pass-catcher could wait until after the NFL draft this month to sign with a new team. The 29-year-old is reportedly seeking $20 million per season on a new deal after he was released by the Browns after an injury plagued 2021 campaign. The five-time Pro Bowler had 52 catches for 570 yards and a career-low two touchdowns in 12 games last season, but he could bounce back in a better situation with better quarterback play in 2022.

Roto Baller

 

Who the heck is Tony Grossi?

 

Guessing he’s a Cleveland beat-writer. All Browns talk.

Wow, Landry wants $20/year. Good luck with that

 

That’s correct, he’s the Browns beat writer for ESPN Cleveland. He used to be with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, got fired, free lanced for a bout 5 months and signed a contract with the local ESPN affiliate. He has retained the Cleveland area HOF vote throughout. He is one of the biggest voices in the room when it pertains to keeping Art Modell out of the HOF… one of the only reasons I like him.

 

Landry is a good player, but $20M is crazy...I thought $16M was too much.

 

Holy Cow! Thats kinda crazy... highest paid ever in NFL history. Im not knocking it, just seems like the Browns arnt afraid of spending some cash if they really like somebody.

 

Browns sign Sheldon Day, Stephen Weatherly



The Browns report for the start of their offseason workouts on Tuesday and they announced a handful of roster moves ahead of that kickoff on Monday.

Defensive tackle Sheldon Day and defensive end Stephen Weatherly have both signed contracts with the team. Wide receiver Ja'Marcus Bradley and guard Michael Dunn both signed their exclusive rights free agents tenders as well.


Day played seven games and made one start for the Browns last season. He had 21 tackles and a sack in those appearances. Day has also played for the Colts, 49ers, and Jaguars.

Weatherly split last season between the Vikings and Broncos. He played in 15 games and finished the year with 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Bradley has nine catches for 124 yards in eight games over the last two seasons and Dunn made a pair of starts for the team last year.

PFT

 

Ravens cut Miles Boykin



The Ravens were trying to trade wide receiver Miles Boykin last month, and after they found no takers, they have decided to let him go.

Baltimore cut Boykin today, ending a three-year tenure for him with the team.


Boykin was a 2019 third-round draft pick who got significant playing time on offense his first two seasons but was limited almost exclusively to special teams last season. He caught just one pass last year.

The Ravens also signed four exclusive rights free agents: Quarterback Tyler Huntley, center Trystan Colon, linebacker Kristian Welch and long snapper Nick Moore.

PFT

 

The Ravens probably have the worst track record in the NFL (over recent memory) of developing wide receivers.

I would like to see Boykin signed to Detroit and given a shot to work as a fourth and push for playing time in 3WR sets (Chark, St.Brown, Boykin).

 

Shoot, Tim.. Id like to see him get a shot with the Vikings. They could use a solid WR3. They have some pieces there (Johnson, Osborne and Smith-Marsette) , but Boykin, I think, would be a nice addition, but im being greedy.

The Lions really could benefit from him more, tho.

 

The New Orleans Saints re-signed running back Dwayne Washington to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, bringing him back for a fifth season. In 14 games (no starts) for the Saints last year, Washington had only four carries for 16 yards while catching both of his targets for 12 yards receiving. He has 47 rushing attempts for 245 yards and no touchdowns in 54 games (no starts) in his four seasons in New Orleans. The 27-year-old was originally a seventh-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2016 out of Washington. He will continue to be off the fantasy radar while serving as RB depth in New Orleans behind Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram II and Tony Jones Jr.

Roto Baller

 

The Chicago Bears signed free-agent tight end James O'Shaughnessy to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday. The former Jacksonville Jaguar tight end will join Cole Kmet, Ryan Griffin and Jesper Horsted in Chicago. The 30-year-old dealt with hip and ankle injuries last year in Jacksonville and only played in seven games, securing 24 of his 34 targets for 244 yards and no touchdowns. In his seven NFL seasons (two with the Kansas City Chiefs), O'Shaughnessy has 112 catches for 1,108 yards and three touchdowns on 166 targets over 80 games (40 starts). He could put a little pressure on Kmet as Chicago's top pass-catching tight end, but fantasy managers shouldn't be looking at O'Shaughnessy in the vast majority of leagues.

Roto Baller

 

well earned...

 

Commanders send letter to Federal Trade Commission denying financial impropriety

The Washington Commanders denied several allegations of financial impropriety in a letter sent Monday to the U.S Federal Trade Commission.

The 105-page letter, which included testimony, emails and other documents, came as a response to the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee asking the FTC to look into the team's business practices.

The committee last week told the FTC in a letter that it found evidence of potentially deceptive business practices over the span of more than a decade, including withholding ticket revenue from visiting teams and refundable deposits from fans. The NFL said it engaged Securities and Exchange Commission chair Mary Jo White "to review the most serious matters raised by the committee."

The Commanders' letter, signed by Jordan W. Siev from the law firm Reed Smith, denies all of those allegations and takes aim at the motives and character of former VP of sales and customer service Jason Friedman, whose testimony against the team framed the committee's recommendation. Siev argues no financial investigation is warranted, writing the committee never requested information about the allegations made, which the Commanders believe would clear them of any wrongdoing.

"The committee did not request a single document from the team; the committee did not invite a single representative of the team to address the truth of the matters contained in the committee's letter; and the committee did not pose questions to the team to answer in writing about its allegations, or provide any mechanism whatsoever for the team to address the truth of the allegations," the letter said. "Had the committee posed any of these questions or requests to the team, the team could -- and would -- easily and fully have rebutted each allegation."

Congress began looking into the team's workplace misconduct after the league did not release a report detailing the findings of an independent investigation into the matter, which led to a $10 million fine but no other discipline. The committee said the NFL and the team "have taken steps to withhold key documents and information."

In response to Congress' letter to the FTC on April 12, a Commanders spokesperson referred NFL.com to the organization's statement issued on March 31: "The team categorically denies any suggestion of financial impropriety of any kind at any time."

"We adhere to strict internal processes that are consistent with industry and accounting standards, are audited annually by a globally respected independent auditing firm, and are also subject to regular audits by the NFL. We continue to cooperate fully with the Committee's work."


Friedman testified before Congress saying the team had two separate financial books: one with underreported ticket revenue that went to the NFL and the full, complete picture. According to Friedman's testimony, owner Dan Snyder was aware of the numbers shared with the league while also being privy to the actual data.

In the team's letter to the FTC, former director of finance Paul Szczenski is quoted as saying, "I can state unequivocally that I never helped maintain, or saw anyone else maintain, a 'second set' of books." The team also cites declarations from former chief operating officer Mitch Gershman and former general counsel David Donovan along with emails and other documents to refute allegations cited by the Oversight Committee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Hmmm... 2020 stats = 16 games (13 starts) and 19 receptions. Good size for a depth guy to line up on the outside, but is 1.5 receptions per start the kind of production the Vikings or Lions would want to sign? Kinda says he's not so good at getting open.