NFL - NEWS & NOTES

He's a physical freak like Josh Gordon. Doesn't mean squat if the mind isn't in it.

 

Mary Jo White is investigating Hue Jackson’s retracted claim of tanking by the Browns

If Mary Jo White needs a bigger boat, she’ll soon be able to afford one.

The NFL’s “independent investigator” of choice has added yet another project to a list that currently stands at three. Per the Browns, she’ll be investigating claims made by former head coach Hue Jackson that the team tanked on his watch.


“Even though Hue recanted his allegations a short time after they were made,” the team said, “it was important to us and to the integrity of the game to have an independent review of the allegations. We welcomed an investigation and we are confident the results will show, as we’ve previously stated, that these allegations are categorically false. We have fully cooperated with Mary Jo White and look forward to her findings.”

It’s not clear when the investigation began. The statement implies that it’s already underway, and that it’s been happening.

It’s also not clear whether the Browns asked for it, or whether the league initiated it.

After former Dolphins coach Brian Flores alleged in his lawsuit against the team that owner Stephen Ross offered Flores $100,000 per loss in 2019. Jackson chimed in regarding a similar practice in Cleveland. We argued that the time that an investigation was needed, especially after the executive director of Jackson’s foundation claimed to have documentation that Jackson, former Browns executive Sashi Brown, current Browns executive Paul DiPodesta, and current G.M. Andrew Berry received bonuses in 2016 and 2017, seasons that culminated in the Browns “earning” the first overall pick in the next draft.

The Browns strongly denied the claim. Jackson later backed off, saying he wasn’t offered money to lose games.

Obviously, a direct cash-for-clunking offer would create major problems, along with civil and criminal liability. But what if it wasn’t quite so direct? What if the Browns had a bonus system that was tied to factors that weren’t conducive to winning games?

Bonuses could have been based on, for example, unused cap space or extra draft picks or specific statistical achievements (or lack thereof) that would, if triggered, make it harder to win wouldn’t constitute an incentive to lose, but an incentive to engage in practices that will necessarily make it harder to win.

Regardless, White’s findings quite possibly will be influenced by her perception as to the findings that her client wants. That’s how the same lawyer often keeps getting asked to conduct “independent” investigations. The NFL is pleased with White’s work, and time will tell where her work leads in pending investigations against the Browns, the Dolphins, and the Commanders.

PFT

 

NFL expects Browns investigation to conclude soon

Mary Jo White is indeed investigating the claims made in early February by former Browns coach Hue Jackson regarding money for losing, even though Jackson later backtracked.

“We can confirm the NFL engaged former SEC chair Mary Jo White in February to look into allegations made by Hue Jackson against the Cleveland Browns,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a Monday night email. “The review is ongoing and is expected to conclude soon.”


The investigation isn’t new, we’re told. It started after Jackson made the allegations and then tried to clarify them.

The Browns apparently acknowledged the investigation in response to a media request. It’s somewhat surprising the investigation remained under wraps as long as it did.

PFT

 

Hue Jackson claims he tried to blow whistle on Browns “two years ago”

When a statement appeared last night on Twitter from the Browns regarding the existence of an NFL investigation into claims of tanking made in early February by former head coach Hue Jackson, the reason for the timing of the disclosure wasn’t immediately clear. As it turns out, the Browns were providing a quote to SI.com in connection with an investigation on the matter.

As part of the investigation, SI.com obtained a comment directly from Jackson. He claims he previously reported the situation to the NFL.


“Two years ago I tried to do this the right way, through the bylaws and constitution of the National Football League, to ask them to investigate the Cleveland Browns for all the allegations that I’ve made,” Jackson said. “So why open an investigation now?”

It’s the latest confusing comment from Jackson on the matter. He made the claim that he was paid to lose games, and then he retreated from it. Now, he’s going the other way.

As explained last night, this may not be a situation of Jackson claiming that he received a specific offer of money for losing games. Instead, Jackson could be alleging that the Browns had a system of incentives tied to factors that made it harder to win, such as unused cap space or stockpiled draft picks or other factors that would point to an analytics-based strategy of building a better team in the future by not being very good in the present.

That’s essentially what Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wanted, based on the claims made by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores. Ross wasn’t looking to lose games because he was placing bets on the team’s opponents. Ross, under the theory advanced by Flores, wanted to lose games in 2019 in order to secure the top pick in the 2020 draft.

The Browns, on Jackson’s watch, secured the No. 1 overall pick in 2017 and 2018. Thus, if they had a system of incentives based on losing now to win later, the first part worked. The second part didn’t work quite as well, at least not yet.

PFT

 

Hue Jackson is notorious for sticking his foot in his mouth.. By the way it usually goes, he wears about a size 19.

The fact of the matter is, the management team had a plan to gain draft picks and build a cap carry over war chest. However, this is the NFL, all players in the league are professional athletes. I will agree that the Browns didn't have a Super Bowl caliber roster, but they had pieces that should have made them competitive, to the level that all teams in the NFL are competitive... In 2016 and 2017 they were not competitive in any way. That fell on Hue. They had a scattering of top draft level talent on defense, a very strong offensive line and a lot of 2nd level talent on offense. They lacked greatly at QB, but what teams haven't gone through situations of bad QBs on the roster. They had Cody Kessler, who had shined for the Patriots, they brought in Josh McCown to help him. Then they drafted Kiser in the 2nd round. Hindsight is 20/20, but I'm sure they drafted him with the thought he would be a viable option at the position. When it was obvious he wouldn't be, they drafted Baker Mayfield #1 overall the very next year.

In other words, I don't think they will find any impropriety in this investigation. They made moves to be a competitive team, they had very poor leadership, otherwise they would have won more than 1 game in two seasons.

They had a plan, yes, but the plan didn't cause the 1-31.

 

In Will's defense, there is a precedent set for failure at developing WRs in Baltimore and you can look at Waller's production there compared to his second year in OAK. Yes, there is a position change, but Darren basically plays a big WR in that offense and should have at least been quasi productive in Baltimore when you consider his high rate of production with the Raiders.

Marquise Brown may be able to buck the trend, but his yards per reception have gone down each year he has been in Baltimore.

Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith are probably the two best wideouts to play in purple and black, neither of which were developed in that building.

It's an open bias of mine that I do not hide - I dread seeing talented receivers drafted to Baltimore.

 

The Falcons have wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus back in the fold for the 2022 season.

Zaccheaus was tendered as a restricted free agent early in the offseason and his agent said on Tuesday that Zaccheaus has signed that tender. The Falcons begin their offseason work on Tuesday.


Zaccheaus was tendered at the original round level, which sets him up to make $2.433 million. He made the Falcons after going undrafted in 2019 and he has 54 catches for 795 yards and five touchdowns in 38 career games.

The Falcons lost Russell Gage to free agency and Calvin Ridley to suspension, which leaves Zaccheaus as the returning member of the unit with the most experience. Atlanta has also added Damiere Byrd, KhaDarel Hodge, and Auden Tate as free agents to a group that includes Frank Darby, Chad Hansen, and Austin Trammell.

PFT

 

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (ankle) is participating in offseason workouts. Injuries have limited him to just 10 games combined over the past two years. The 25-year-old is explosive when healthy, rushing for 442 yards and one touchdown while catching 37 passes for 343 yards and a score over seven games in 2021. Health has been the biggest question mark for McCaffrey, but he is a top fantasy back when on the field. The Panthers are looking to upgrade Sam Darnold at quarterback, which would only improve McCaffrey's fantasy stock. Despite being limited due to injuries the past two seasons, McCaffrey is expected to be a top-five pick in upcoming fantasy drafts.

Roto Baller

 

Just wanted to make a comment about the USFL... Ive attempted 3 or 4 games so far and havnt made it to halftime on any of them. Its interesting and exciting, but im spoiled/blessed with the product of the NFL... nothing compares.

And how in the hell are they paying these guy's, or are they? Yesterdays game between Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh had no more than 20 or 30 people in the stands... wtf!

 

I'm having a hard time watching these USFL games too, and I'm not quite sure why. Might be the announcing and the XFL-like feel of the camera work. Might also be that we're old enough to remember the original USFL and know that these new guys aren't even close to that talent level.

 

Deebo Samuel Requested a Trade

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel said that he has asked the team to trade him. Samuel didn't want to discuss the specific reasons behind his request, but he has indeed let the Niners know about his desire to leave the organization. The 26-year-old do-it-all receiver/running back is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and likely wants to be paid more than the 49ers are willing to offer after the receiver market blew up this offseason. He was one of the most valuable fantasy pass-catchers last year, catching 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns while also chipping in 59 carries for 365 yards and an additional eight TDs in 16 games. Any team willing to trade for Samuel would have to give up a lot, and a move out of San Francisco probably won't negatively affect his fantasy stock much, if at all.

--Keith Hernandez - RotoBaller​

 

Samuel is going to want around 30 million. Great player but not a team friendly type deal.

 

I seen this coming from reports ive read... and being a no-show for voluntary workouts and the like put up some red flags. I was surprised at this, because if im San Fransico, I sign a blank check for this guy. I like him a lot, very talented player.

Im thinking the 49ers dont know what they are doing on the offensive side of the ball.

 

He's nearly worth it as the bar has ben raised lately buy the divas, um, I mean WR's that have gotten these extremely lucrative contracts.

 

Giants RB Saquon Barkley on returning to form after injuries: 'I want to go out there and prove (myself)'

Saquon Barkley says he's back -- and ready to show that he can still be a top running back.

Barkley spoke to the media on Wednesday as the Giants opened up their first voluntary training camp of the offseason. The running back said that after a disappointing last few seasons, he is ready to prove to the haters and to the organization that drafted him that he can still contribute the way he did early in his career.

"I just want to kill, just go crazy," Barkley said, per SNY. "I'm tired of the BS that is said about me or this team, and I want to go out there and prove to this organization that the player they drafted is still there."

Selected No. 2 overall by New York in 2018, Barkley burst onto the scene in his rookie campaign, amassing over 1,300 rushing and 2,000 total yards. He received his first Pro Bowl selection and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. But since then, injuries have left Barkley unable to produce the kind of numbers he achieved in his debut season. First there was a sprained ankle in 2019, then an ACL tear in 2020, and most recently Barkley was hampered by another ankle injury last season. The Penn State product collected just 593 yards and two TDs rushing in 2021, a far cry from his breakout 2018 season.

While Barkley remains one of the more notable players in the Giants organization, GM Joe Schoen sparked speculation in March that New York was willing to trade him when Schoen told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that "I'm open to anything". Co-owner John Mara later clarified the team's position, saying that while they had received some calls about Barkley, they were not actively shopping him.

And now, with the signs pointing to Barkley staying in New York for the foreseeable future, the running back said that he feels healthier than ever and ready to make a difference in 2022.

"I definitely feel a lot different, a lot better, like myself again," Barkley said.

NFL.com

 

Amari Cooper 'elated' to join Browns, holds no ill will toward Cowboys

Having been traded once before in his NFL career, Amari Cooper knows full well the business of the league.

Thus, after being traded for a second time -- going from the Dallas Cowboys to the Cleveland Browns -- he holds no ill will toward the 'Boys and is elated for another fresh start.

"I wouldn't say I just wanted to leave, but at the same time, it's never personal, it's just business and that's part of the business of being in this league," Cooper told reporters Wednesday, via USA Today. "Things like that happen all the time, players get cut, players get traded.

"There's no player in the league who's still in the league from 30 years ago. It all comes to an end at some point. With that said, I am excited about this new chapter, and I embrace it. I look forward to the future here."

The Cowboys agreed to trade Cooper to the Browns back on March 12, but there were rumblings that the four-time Pro Bowler was going to be moved prior to that. So, there was little shock when the deal came to fruition.

"It's not like back in the day. I had a coach when I was in Oakland who played wide receiver for 10 years, Rob Moore, he got traded. He didn't even know about it because there was no social media, so guys were interviewing him and asking him questions and that's how he found out," Cooper said. "But it's always something looming when you're about to get traded or something like that, so you kind of know. So I wasn't really surprised at all."

Though being traded wasn't a stunning development, where Cooper would land was an unknown. He found out he was headed to Cleveland from his friends and was plenty pleased with the destination.


"My friends called me right away. I woke up, just saw a whole bunch of text messages and stuff like that. Guys were like, 'Man, you're lucky,'" Cooper said. "Some of my former teammates. I was like, 'What?' Then I checked social media, the news and found out that information.

"I was happy. I was elated."

Cooper was part of an excellent wide receiver corps in Dallas that also included CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson. Now, he's unquestionably the top dog in a Browns WR stable with a dearth of experienced talent. Cooper is a huge addition to the offense overall, one that boasts an outstanding offensive line, a pair of excellent running backs and a talented quarterback.

Cooper has earned Pro Bowl nods and 1,000-yard seasons with the Raiders and Cowboys. He'll look to do the same in Cleveland, leaving no baggage of ill will from his time in Dallas as he embarks on a fresh start in the NFL for a third time.

"Obviously when you come into a new environment, it feels like getting drafted all over again or feels like the first day of summer workouts in college," Cooper said. "I've been in this situation before. It's cool getting to know new people, being in a new environment, getting to explore a different part of the country that I've never been to."

NFL.com

 

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has officially requested a trade, but the 49ers have zero intention of trading him, according to sources. If a team were to trade for Samuel, they'd likely have to go over the top and offer something that San Francisco couldn't refuse. Samuel is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is in line for a massive contract extension, especially considering how the receiver market has blown up this offseason. If the 26-year-old does stay in San Fran, we could see him used exclusively as a pass-catcher, as apparently Samuel isn't in love with becoming a hybrid receiver and running back. He was the No. 2 fantasy WR in 2021, behind only the Rams' Cooper Kupp.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBaller

 

Report: Julién Davenport signing with Bears



Free agent offensive tackle Julién Davenport worked out for the Bears. He now is expected to sign with the team, Aaron Wilson of profootballnetwork.com reports.

Offensive linemen Caleb Benenoch and Trenton Scott also worked out for the Bears.


Davenport, 27, entered the NFL as a fourth-round choice of the Texans in 2017. He also has played with the Dolphins and Colts.

He played nine games with four starts with Indianapolis a year ago.

In his five seasons, Davenport has appeared in 60 games with 32 starts.

PFT

 

Da, Bearza...

Free-agent cornerback Greg Stroman agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. The 26-year-old was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has played sparingly since entering the league, and his most noteworthy year came during his rookie campaign, where he finished with 38 total tackles and an interception throughout 15 games. While Stroman may not be featured defensively for the Bears this season, at least consistently, he could see some action as a member of the special teams unit.--Dennis Clausen - RotoBaller

Free-agent wide receiver David Moore signed a one-year contract with the Bears on Thursday. Moore, who was selected by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, has accumulated 78 receptions for 1,163 yards and 13 touchdowns during his career. Moore isn't the most reliable fantasy option by any means, and he likely won't draw a ton of interest from managers in any format. However, there's a chance his name will pop up in waiver wire columns during the 2022-23 season, primarily if there are injuries throughout Chicago's receiving corps.--Dennis Clausen - RotoBaller