NFL - NEWS & NOTES

He broke the bank, lol!

 

Chris Grier: Tyreek Hill does something every day that has you shaking your head



Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier was expecting big things from Tyreek Hill, which is why he traded five draft picks for him and signed him to a four-year, $120 million contract extension. But at Organized Team Activities, Hill is exceeding the already very high expectations in Miami.

Grier said Hill has transformed the Dolphins’ offense and made breathtaking plays in every practice since he arrived.


“He does something on the field every day that has you shaking your head,” Grier said on Sirius XM NFL Radio, via the Miami Herald. “Everyone knows the speed and what he does. A phenomenal athlete. Multiple people in Kansas City told me just wait until you watch him in practice and watch the things he does. That’s what gets you excited. His love and passion for how he plays, it’s really impressive watching him work. That has been a catalyst. Jaylen Waddle already has been a very good practice player for us. And Cedrick Wilson Jr. [too]. The whole group being around with [Hill’s] energy, work ethic has elevated the expectations. It seeps through to all facets of the team.”

Hill will have to be at least as good in Kansas City as he was in Miami to justify the resources the Dolphins expended to acquire him. Grier sounds optimistic that’s going to happen.

PFT

 

Broncos announce sale of team to Walton-Penner family



The Denver Broncos finally will be sold.

After years of the team being held in trust while the children of the late Pat Bowlen tried, unsuccessfully, to resolve their differences in a way that would allow one of them to take over, the league nudge the situation to resolution. And it has now nearly resolved.


The team and the Walton-Penner family announced late Tuesday that they have entered into a purchase and sale agreement. The agreement is subject to the approval of the league’s finance committee, the league’s owners (at least 24 must agree), and “the satisfaction of customary closing procedures.”

The group is led by Rob Walton, the son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. The primary ownership also includes his daughter, Carrie Welton Penner, and her husband, Greg Penner. Greg Penner has served as the chairman of Walmart since 2015. He succeeded his father-in-law in the position.

Mike Klis of 9News.com reports that the Walton-Penner family will pay $4.65 billion for the team. Some had said it would go for $4.5 billion. We’d heard that the price would start with a 5. Ultimately, the other three groups bidding for the team didn’t drive the auction price up as high as expected.

That will be viewed by other owners as a disappointment, since it suggests that their own teams may not be worth as much as they believed. Eventually, however, that price will keep going up and up and up.

PFT

 

Inflation is going crazy, I remember when you could buy a team for a cool billion.

 

Malcolm Glazer paid $192 million for the Buccaneers in 1995 - setting the bar at that time for the highest amount paid for a NFL team.

 

Sheesh what would one of thr big teams go for?

 

There is a story saying Josh Harris and his group would pay 5 billion if they new it would get the job done. They were not told it would. So they opted not to bid 5 billion (their thinking is the walton group would just trump it so they turned their attention to another nfl team). This meana that money was left on the table so I doubt other owners are fretting.

I think the red..um wft I mean the wtf no the commanders thats it are 3rd ranked in net worth and there have been rumblings about forcing snyder out so how mucjnwould they go for? Broncos were 10th ranked btw.

 

Reports: Cooper Kupp agrees to three-year, $80 million extension



It didn’t take long for reports of the Rams having made significant progress on a deal for Cooper Kupp to a done deal for Kupp.

The All-Pro receiver has agreed to a three-year, $80 million extension that includes $75 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The $75 million guaranteed is the most for any receiver, topping Tyreek Hill‘s $72.2 million in guarantees. Kupp now is under contract through 2026.


He has two years and $31.5 million left on the extension he signed in 2020.

The Rams announced the extension was agreed upon.

The Rams signed defensive lineman Aaron Donald to a three-year, $95 million contract earlier this week, resetting the market for defensive players, and quarterback Matthew Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million extension earlier this offseason.

The team signed linebacker Bobby Wagner (five years, $50 million) and receiver Allen Robinson (three years, $46.5 million) in free agency.

Kupp earned his extension by becoming the first receiver since 2005 to lead the league in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions in 2021. He capped his historic season with Super Bowl MVP honors.

UPDATE 7:50 P.M. ET: Initial reports of three years, $78.5 million for Kupp were updated to three years, $80 million with $75 million guaranteed.

 

The Rams just printing money and hoarding talent.

 

Davante Adams confirms Packers offered him more money than Raiders



Just after reports emerged that receiver Davante Adams was being traded to the Raiders in March, several reports emerged from reporters on the Packers beat that Green Bay was willing to pay Adams just as much — if not more — than Las Vegas.

But Adams chose to go to Southern Nevada regardless, reuniting with his former college quarterback Derek Carr and getting closer to his native California.


Adams hadn’t necessarily addressed those reports. But he confirmed them in his Thursday press conference when asked about being happy in Las Vegas with his new organization.

“You guys have heard Green Bay offered this which is higher than what I was [going to make with the Raiders] and all of that. And, yeah, I’ll say it, it was true. OK, it was true,” Adams said. “But there’s much more that goes into it. And family is a big part of it for me. So, geographically being here, it makes it a lot easier for me to stay connected to my family year-round.

“And this isn’t Year Two, or I’m not trying to necessarily fight for a job or anything like that to where you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do — you’ve got to stay out there. I had the choice and the choice was for me to come here and raise my family on the West Coast and come out here and have some fun in the sun.”

Adams signed a reported five-year, $141.25 million deal when he was traded to Las Vegas, which at the time made him the league’s highest-paid receiver.

A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Adams caught 123 passes for 1,553 yards with 11 touchdowns for the Packers last season.

PFT

 

Guess it aint all fun & games in GB... Adams takes less to go to LV... interesting.

 

I think he made a mistake. Green Bay is a better place to raise a family. Vegas is going to be a hard place to raise kids.

 

Depends. I don’t imagine he’ll have an issue with his budget to get in the exclusive places like Henderson or Summerlin. Having lived outside of Vegas for 4 years those areas are not bad. More to Vegas than the strip. There’s also a sh!tty school district

 

Raiders, Hunter Renfrow agree to two-year contract extension



The Raiders and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow have agreed to a new contract.

Renfrow will sign a two-year, $32 million extension with $21 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network.


The Raiders had been hoping to get a new deal done with Renfrow, who was heading into the final year of his rookie contract. Now they have a key piece of their offense locked in.

Davante Adams arrived in Las Vegas this offseason to become the Raiders’ No. 1 receiver, and it’s likely that with Adams around this year, Renfrow will catch fewer than the 103 passes he caught in 2021. But the Raiders still have high hopes for Renfrow’s long-term future, and they’ll now ensure that he won’t leave next year.

PFT

 

Falcons quarterback Feleipe Franks getting reps at tight end

A dual-threat quarterback whose legs have been as prevalent in his game as his arm, Feleipe Franks is getting a chance to show off his hands, too.

Franks, heading into his second season with the Atlanta Falcons, has been working out at tight end during organized team activities.

An undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, Franks hauled in the highlight of the day in Thursday's OTAs, catching a touchdown from rookie QB Desmond Ridder.

"It gives you confidence seeing a play come together," Franks said, via the team website’s Scott Blair. "That's not just for me, but for [Ridder] who threw a great ball and the other receivers. It's a group effort. It's not just me running a route. It's everybody doing their job to make that play happen.

"When you see plays come together, it's nice and they can be staples going into the season. For sure, it's a confidence booster."

This isn't a completely new development for Franks and the Falcons. He got practice reps at special teams and tight end last offseason, according to the team website.

This time around, though, Franks' time at tight end is garnering more attention and more time.


"Right now he's working more at tight end than at quarterback," offensive coordinator Dave Ragone said, via the Associated Press.

The 6-foot-6, 234-pound Franks certainly has the frame for the spot and could help offer one of the most athletic tight end rooms in the NFL along with 2021 first-round pick Kyle Pitts, who's listed at 6-foot-6, 246 pounds. Right now, Franks is part of one more the athletic QB rooms with Marcus Mariota, Ridder and himself.

With the Falcons hopeful of hitting on Ridder as their QB of the future and Mariota getting a second chance as a starter under head coach Arthur Smith, seeing if Franks can make a larger contribution at another position is worth a shot.

Cordarrelle Patterson was an All-Pro four times as special teamer in his first eight seasons, but nobody could truly unlock his potential as an offensive contributor before Smith did in 2021. Earlier this offseason, the Falcons moved defensive back Avery Williams to running back. Could Franks possibly be the next position switch to pay off for Smith's Falcons?

It's far too early to predict that, but Franks is plenty pleased to have the opportunity.

"I'm about whatever I can do to help," said Franks, who appeared in nine games as a rookie with no pass attempts and three carries. "It was more about adding more value for myself in the quarterback and tight end room. For me, it's about being able to do more things, at tight end and quarterback and on special teams. I'll do whatever."

Right now, it's double the learning as Franks works with TEs and QBs. One help to him is working with Pitts, as the two were teammates at Florida prior to Franks transferring to Arkansas.


"I really want to learn what I'm being asked to do," Franks said. "With the tight ends, I really want to understand what they're doing so I'm not missing anything. I don't want to do too much at one time. So, learning that position, and obviously in the quarterback room, I'm staying on top of that. I just want to be available for whatever they need."

Whatever and wherever Franks is needed, it seems he's up for the task.

For a Falcons offense looking to build with Pitts, Patterson and first-round wide receiver Drake London, having the athletic 24-year-old as an option at tight end is at the very least intriguing.

NFL.com

 

The lack of legit WRs made it easier to keep Franks on the roster last year. This year, it seems less likely that the team will opt to keep three quarterbacks on the main roster. He's also on the outside looking in among the TEs. Pitts is obviously the #1, with Anthony Firkser as the new #2. The team drafted John Fitzpatrick to compete with John Raine and Parker Hesse for the #3 spot.

So... early projection for opening day = Feleipe Franks to the practice squad as the scout team QB.

 

Ron Rivera fines Jack Del Rio $100,000



Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has faced harsh criticism and calls for his job after referring to the January 6 insurrection as a mere “dustup at the Capitol.” Today his boss decided that Del Rio won’t be fired, but will be fined.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera released a statement harshly condemning Del Rio and saying his comments do not reflect the values of the team. Rivera has fined Del Rio $100,000, which will be donated to the Capitol Police Memorial Fund, but Rivera indicated that Del Rio will remain the team’s defensive coordinator.


“This morning I met with Coach Del Rio to express how disappointed I am in his comments on Wednesday,” Rivera said. “His comments do not reflect the organization’s views and are extremely hurtful to our great community here in the DMV. As we saw last night in the hearings, what happened on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was an act of domestic terrorism. A group of citizens attempted to overturn the results of a free and fair election, and as a result, lives were lost and the Capitol building was damaged. Coach Del Rio did apologize for his comments on Wednesday and he understands the distinction between the events of that dark day and peaceful protests, which are a hallmark of our democracy. He does have the right to voice his opinion as a citizen of the United States and it most certainly is his constitutional right to do so. However, words have consequences and his words hurt a lot of people in our community. I want to make it clear that our organization will not tolerate any equivalency between those who demanded justice in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the actions of those on January 6 who sought to topple our government.

“After reflecting on the situation and circumstances, I have decided to fine Coach Del Rio $100,000, which the team will donate to the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund. I feel strongly that after our conversation this morning, he will have a greater understanding for the impact of his language and the values that our team stands for.”

PFT

 

Guess freedom of speech doesnt fly in Washington. Whether or not one agrees or disagrees with what he said, he should be able to express himself, but hell, I guess im old fashioned.

 

Old fashioned? No. your right. And speaking of rights/old, The first amendment is way older than you are. Just pull him aside and tell him to keep his f**king mouth shut while your at work.

 

Old fashioned? Guilty.

I don't necessarily agree with Del Rio but I will defend his absolute right to voice his opinion. Especially on a topic not directly work related.