NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Charges or not Johnny is definitely headed for suspension. For one it is now multiple offenses. For two with the black eye the league took when it came to dealing with domestic violence in the past they will have to make a example of the troubled young man.

 

Cowboys' Gregory suspended four games for substance abuse violation
By Jared Dubin | Staff Writer
February 19, 2016 3:34 pm CT


Apparently that private security team Jerry Jones paid for didn't do its job. Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has been suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, it was announced on Friday.


Gregory failed a drug test at least year's NFL combine, after which he reportedly asked teams to provide him with a security detail to help keep him out of trouble after he was drafted. That failed test reportedly entered him into the league's substance abuse program, which means he likely failed three more tests (assuming this violation, like the previous one, was for marijuana) to get this suspension.

He was considered a top-10 talent, but fell all the way to the Cowboys late in the second round. He then specifically made the same request of the Cowboys after they tabbed him.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said at the time that it was the team's responsibility to help Gregory overcome his issues.

"We think his football character is very good," Garrett told NFL Network. "He practices hard, he plays hard. ... Obviously, there are some off-the-field concerns with him. To test positive at Indianapolis (at the NFL combine) for drugs is an issue. It's a red flag.

"But we spent a lot of time with him. We spent a lot of time with people who know him, have been around him. And we got our arms around the fact that, at the right selection, he could be someone we feel like we could bring into our organization. With the right support system -- from the coaching staff and from other people that we have -- we could get him on the right track.

"Again, we feel like he's a very talented guy with very good football character. We have to help him with some of the off-the-field stuff and we're excited about that challenge."

Less than nine months later, Gregory has been suspended for four games for the same violation. That's a big blow not only to his career, but to the Cowboys' pass rush as well. Gregory had his rookie season derailed by a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 1 and never really got back on track after his return. He should have entered next season as a rotation regular across from DeMarcus Lawrence on the defensive line, but now he'll have to wait at least four weeks to even get on the field.

 

Highly disappointing. Guess he didn't learn a lesson from costing himself millions when he dropped from a likely Top 10 pick to the bottom of the second round.

 

Dude's making Johnny Manziel look well-adjusted.

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? The Indianapolis Colts released linebackers Jonathan Newsome and Andy Studebaker on Monday.

Newsome was arrested last week on charges of marijuana possession. He used his Twitter post to thank coach Chuck Pagano, general manager Ryan Grigson and team owner Jim Irsay for giving him a chance to play in the NFL.

Newsome was a fifth-round draft pick in 2014 and had a promising rookie season. In 30 games, he made only three starts and finished with 61 tackles, 7? sacks, three forced fumbles and two passes defensed.

Studebaker re-joined the Colts in mid-December and played primarily on special teams. He had 70 tackles and 2 ? sacks in 97 games and had 68 tackles on special teams.

 

Malcolm Jenkins agrees to 5-year deal with Eagles

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Safety Malcolm Jenkins has agreed to a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins was about to enter the final season of a three-year, $15 million deal he signed as a free agent in 2014. He now will be with the Eagles through 2020 if he plays out the new contract.

The 28-year-old Jenkins has been one of the more consistent performers on a defense that often struggled under former coach Chip Kelly. Over the past two seasons, Jenkins led the Eagles in tackles (233), passes defensed (29) and interceptions (five).

Jenkins made the Pro Bowl in 2015 even though the other three starters in Philadelphia's defensive backfield were new. He had 120 tackles last season.

 

NEW YORK (AP) ? The Jets let Cro go. Again.

For the second time in three years, New York released cornerback Antonio Cromartie, a cost-cutting move that will save the team $8 million in salary cap space.

Cromartie was re-signed last offseason after he spent a year in Arizona, where he played under then-Cardinals defensive coordinator and current Jets coach Todd Bowles.

After reuniting with Darrelle Revis in New York, Cromartie struggled mightily at times at the beginning of the season before having a solid finish.

The move Monday was not surprising because it made financial sense for the Jets, especially because there was no guaranteed money remaining on Cromartie's contract. He signed a four-year contract worth $32 million last March, but only his $7 million salary from last season was guaranteed.

 

The funny part is - the accounting error totaling $120mil could be totally legit.

Only in the world of NFL ownership can over a hundred million turn up in the couch cushions.

 

Mark Cuban's couch?

 

New Orleans Saints to cut WR Marques Colston

After a decade the New Orleans Saints are set to part ways with receiver Marques Colston.

NFL Media's Rand Getlin reports that the Saints will release the 32-year-old receiver, per a source briefed on the move.

ESPN first reported the news.

The Saints' all-time leading receiver finished with 9,759 yards and 72 touchdowns. Colston was a dominant force alongside Drew Brees for years, compiling six 1,000-plus-yard seasons in his first seven years. He burst onto the scene after being drafted in the seventh round in 2006, compiling 1,038 receiving yards and eight TDs as a rookie.

Colston clearly lost a step the past two years, falling off a cliff for just 520 yards on 45 catches and four TDs in 2015. The question remains whether he'll take a shot at landing with another squad or retiring.

Cutting the wideout saves the Saints $3.2 million in cap space, but leaves $2.7 million in dead money.

The Saints believe they have the "heir apparent" to Colston in Brandon Coleman, making it easier to jettison one of the most important players in franchise history.

Moving on from Colston is the correct move, but it's the latest reminder of an organization moving further from its Super Bowl years. (NFL.com)

 

Super Bowl year. Fix it for NFL.com

 

The SB44 star players keep on disappearing.

 

Tip of the cap: Ruling brings bigger NFL salary cap in 2016

NEW YORK (AP) ? The NFL's salary cap will get an additional boost of more than $1.5 million per team next season following an arbitration victory by the players union.

An additional $50 million or so will be available for teams to spend. The official salary cap has not been determined, but before the ruling it was expected to rise by at least $10 million from the $143.5 million ceiling of last season.

The arbitrator's ruling was made last week but not announced until Tuesday.

The NFL calls the adjustment a technical accounting matter. The NFL Players Association contends the league miscalculated or was hiding money due the players.

"Our union will always look to enforce our economic rights under the collective bargaining agreement," the NFLPA said in a statement.

The issue was whether specific revenue the league called exempt from being applied toward the salary cap actually should be counted.

The NFL said the decision will "increase the number of seasons over which the league's investments in stadium projects will be recouped from local stadium revenues."

 

49ers re-sign TE Garrett Celek to 4-year extension

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) ? The San Francisco 49ers have signed tight end Garrett Celek to a four-year contract extension.

The 49ers finalized the deal on Tuesday to keep Celek from becoming an unrestricted free agent next month.

Celek played 11 games last season and started eight for San Francisco. He caught 19 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns before missing the final month with an ankle injury.

Celek originally joined San Francisco as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and has 27 career catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns in 39 games.

 

Video of Jaguars' Dante Fowler includes 'disturbing images'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) ? The NFL says video of Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. apparently refereeing a fight between his girlfriend and the mother of his child includes "disturbing images."

Fowler took responsibility "for everything that happened" in the 30-second video released by TMZ on Tuesday.

The surveillance tape shows Fowler and the two women standing outside an elevator and talking. Fowler appears to offer a hand gesture for them to start fighting and then steps back. One of the women kicks off her flip flops before they exchange punches. Fowler eventually pulls them apart.

"These are disturbing images and we will review the matter," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

Fowler says he is "embarrassed and have apologized for my actions to everyone involved."

"As a family, we have been dealing with this moment and the conflict that led to it since this occurred," Fowler said in a statement. "The video surfacing is a sad reminder that emotions got the best of all of us. I take 100 percent responsibility for everything that happened."

The Jaguars said Fowler made them aware of the video before it was released.

"Dante brought the incident to our attention prior to the video being released and was embarrassed and remorseful," the team said. "Violence of this type against others is unacceptable in our society and to our organization. We will continue to look into the incident while offering resources and providing support to Dante and his family to help them through this private matter."

The Jaguars selected Fowler with the third overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. The former Florida standout tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the first hour of a rookie minicamp the following week and missed the entire season.

The Jaguars expect him to be fully recovered before the offseason program this year and make a significant impact in 2016.

 

Competition committee debates ejections for personal fouls

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? The NFL competition committee is considering a rules change that could lead to more ejections for personal fouls.

After meeting most of the day Tuesday in Indianapolis, where the league's annual scouting combine is being held, committee member Stephen Jones said he expects a resolution at next month's owners meetings in Florida.

The Dallas Cowboys executive vice president of player personnel said most of the debate has centered on details such as which penalties would qualify for ejections.

Any changes would come just months after Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. drew three personal foul penalties in a loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The committee also has discussed the rule on catches, though Jones said he does not anticipate that changing this year.

 

3rd time the cap thing has been posted now lol.