NFL | Tavon Austin didn't know playbook as rookie

Welcome, Guest Login | Register | Contact / Help | My Roto

Latest Headlines

Tavon Austin didn't know playbook as rookie

Tavon Austin acknowledged he struggled to learn the Rams' playbook as a rookie.

It's worth noting Austin scored a 7 on his 2013 Wonderlic test. "I didn't really know what was going on," he said. "Everything looked like Spanish and sounded like Spanish to me." Entering his second season, Austin now claims to have OC Brian Schottenheimer's system down pat. He's expected to be a sub-package weapon, playing limited snaps. Austin is a long shot for steady WR3 value.

Source: Associated Press

Wed, Jul 23, 2014 12:06:00 PM

Report: Texans will cut or trade Andre Johnson

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain reports the Texans have given Andre Johnson permission to seek a trade, and if one can't be found, he'll be released.

The Texans informed Johnson that he'd have a reduced role, and the soon-to-be 34-year-old promptly requested to be cut or traded. Houston will grant his wish. We highly doubt any team will trade for Johnson, considering he's scheduled to earn base salaries of $10.5 million and $11 million in the final two years of his contract. The Texans will clear $8.825 million against the cap by shedding Johnson's contract. The move will lock DeAndre Hopkins into the clear-cut No. 1 receiver role after he leaped forward as a sophomore.

Source: John McClain on Twitter

Mar 2 - 8:27 PM

Report: AZ, IND, JAX may target DeMarco Murray

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport mentions the Cardinals, Colts, and Jaguars as "potential suitors" for free agent DeMarco Murray.

RapSheet also throws the Seahawks into the mix if Marshawn Lynch retires, but we don't see them as a serious threat. The Seahawks are unlikely to get anything definitive from Lynch within the next week, and Murray is going to sign within the opening 48 hours of free agency. The other three teams make plenty of sense and have also been linked to Adrian Peterson. Arizona is looking to take some work off Andre Ellington after he broke down as the workhorse in 2014. Ahmad Bradshaw is a free agent in Indy, and Trent Richardson is likely a goner. Toby Gerhart didn't cut it as the Jaguars' lead back, while Denard Robinson is more of a change-of-pace runner. Murray will likely go to the highest bidder.

Source: Around the NFL

Mar 2 - 7:22 PM

Report: Redskins interested in Ndamukong Suh

"Sources with the organization" tell NBC Washington that the Redskins are interested in free agent Ndamukong Suh.

Consider this the least-surprising development of the offseason. Owner Daniel Snyder has long thought games are won in March, not September-December. Per the Washington Post, the Redskins have about $25 million in cap space. A run at Suh isn't a pipe dream, but would limit new GM Scot McCloughan's options in his first year on the job. The Redskins are 12-15 players away from being a contender, not one.

Source: Dianna Marie Russini on Twitter

Mar 2 - 4:30 PM

Dolphins assign $7.07M transition tag to Clay

Dolphins assigned the transition tag to TE Charles Clay.

The little-used tag costs $7.071 million, and gives the Dolphins right of first refusal on a player they badly want to keep. Using the transition instead of franchise tag saves the cap-strapped Dolphins $1.27 million. Clay can sign an offer sheet with any of the 31 other teams, but the Dolphins will have the right to match. If they do not, they will receive no compensation if Clay walks. Barring a truly crazy or odious offer from elsewhere, Clay should be back in Miami next season.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 2 - 3:01 PM

Pats apply franchise tag to kicker Gostkowski

Patriots assigned the franchise tag to K Stephen Gostkowski.

The move means FS Devin McCourty will be headed to the open market. The tag for kickers is a relatively steep $4.126 million, but ensures the Pats will keep a kicker who has converted field goals at an 86.8 percent rate since 2006. Gostkowski was 35-of-37 on field-goal attempts in 2014, and is one of the league's very best, if not best, kickers.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 2 - 2:49 PM

G-Men use $14.8M franchise tag on Pierre-Paul

Giants assigned the franchise tag to RE Jason Pierre-Paul.

JPP's one-year tender is for $14.8 million. The sides have been talking for the better part of a month, but aren't believed to be particularly close to a long-term deal. They have until July 15 to reach an accord. Pierre-Paul has been on a career roller coaster since taking the league by storm in 2011, but his 12.5 sacks last season were his most in three years. The Giants may prefer a one-year deal to a multi-year pact considering JPP's inconsistency and past injury issues.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Mar 2 - 1:54 PM

Cowboys slap $12.823M franchise tag on Dez

Cowboys assigned the franchise tag to WR Dez Bryant.

It's a one-year, $12.823 million tender. The sides now have until July 15 to work toward a long-term agreement. Bryant has expressed displeasure at the prospect of being tagged, and won't be in a hurry to sign. The Cowboys appear to have genuine interest in getting Bryant locked up, while owner/GM Jerry Jones has always been loath to let his stars walk. There's a legitimate chance the sides come to an accord sometime over the next four months.

Mar 2 - 1:38 PM

NFL sets 2015 salary cap at $143.28 million

The 2015 salary cap has been set at $143.28 million.

In the midst of unprecedented popularity, the NFL continues to rake in massive revenue. That can be seen in the cap, which has risen from $123M in 2013 to $133M last year and now all the way up at $143M. According to OverTheCap.com, the Jaguars, Raiders, Browns, Jets and Colts have the most space right now. The Saints, Patriots, Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs have the least.

Mar 2 - 12:16 PM

Chiefs slap Justin Houston with franchise tag

Chiefs placed the franchise tag on OLB Justin Houston.

Houston's one-year tender will be worth roughly $13.1M. It's a bargain deal for a player that has emerged as a truly elite edge defender, leading the league in sacks with 22 last season (just a half-sack short of Michael Strahan's NFL record). Over the last three years, Houston has ranked first, first and fourth in PFF's 3-4 OLB grades -- and he's just 26 years old. The Chiefs will continue to try to get a long-term deal worked out, but they were never going to let Houston play anywhere else in 2015. If Houston had hit the open market, he would have rivaled Ndamukong Suh for the richest free-agent contract.

Mar 2 - 9:42 AM

Le'Veon Bell could face up to four-game ban

Le'Veon Bell faces a maximum suspension of four games.

Early last month, Bell essentially pled guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana. Under the league's new substance-abuse policy, first-offense DUIs get a two-game suspension. But the policy also says violations of law involving "other substances" exposes the player to a ban of "up to four" games. Marijuana is illegal in the state of Pennsylvania, while alcohol is obviously legal.

Source: ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com

Mar 2 - 8:19 AM

Report: Broncos will tag Demaryius on Monday

The Denver Post reports the Broncos will apply the franchise tag to free agent Demaryius Thomas on Monday.

Both Dez Bryant and Demaryius can expect tags on Monday. Beat writer Mike Klis guesses Thomas won't sign the one-year franchise tender until after the Broncos' offseason program is completed, allowing him to skip the activities without penalty. The wide receiver tag is expected to be worth $12.797 million. The Broncos offered Demaryius a deal worth $13 million annually last summer, but Thomas was "seeking something north of $15 million per." He proceeded to set the Broncos' franchise record for receiving yards (1,619).

Source: Denver Post

Mar 1 - 7:32 PM