Footballguys #276 - 1/23 - News & Notes From Around The League

To unsubscribe {EMAIL} from these mailings, click [here](. --- [Footballguys.com]( Volume 19, #276 -- Tuesday Night, January 23rd, 2018 Note: Unsubscribe instructions are at the bottom of this email --------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Folks, Good Wednesday to you. We've got some News and Notes so let's get to it. J [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [NE - Optimism with TE Rob Gronkowski](#1) 2. [NE - QB Tom Brady getting stitches removed](#2) 3. [DAL - No surgery for Tyron Smith](#3) 4. [DAL - Dallas finalizes two coaches](#4) 5. [NYG - Kyle Carter claimed by Giants](#5) 6. [BUF - QB Tyrod Taylor's future in Buffalo unclear?](#6) 7. [MIA - QB Matt Moore likely done in Miami](#7) 8. [MIN - Mike Zimmer not sold on QB Case Keenum?](#8) 9. [GB - RB Jamaal Williams wants to be more explosive](#9) 10. [ARI - WR Larry Fitzgerald undecided on retirement](#10) 11. [OAK - QB Derek Carr was bothered by back](#11) 12. [NFL - Mason Rudolph hopeful for NFL Combine](#12) 13. [DAL - WR Dez Bryant's antics a distraction](#13) 14. [NFL - Josh Allen measures up](#14) 15. [CLE - Josh Allen welcoming of Cleveland](#15) 16. [OAK - Oakland to target Le'Veon Bell?](#16) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [NE - Optimism with TE Rob Gronkowski]( Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport New England Patriots TE [Rob Gronkowski]('s (concussion) official status will be unclear for a couple more days, but there is some optimism regarding his availability for the Super Bowl, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Patriots have two weeks for Gronkowski to get healthy. We'll have an update on his status next week when the Patriots begin to practice in preparation for Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [NE - QB Tom Brady getting stitches removed]() Source: ESPNBoston.com - Mike Reiss New England Patriots QB [Tom Brady]( (hand) mentioned he was getting the 12 stitches on his hand removed in the coming days. 'And at that point, again, because I was fortunate not to tear any ligaments or anything like that - there was no broken bones - that was obviously the best news I could ever hear based on what you thought it could be,' he said. 'It ended up being a lot of good luck after, I'd say, a pretty unlucky injury. It turned out to be a lot good luck it wasn't more serious than it was.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Brady has two weeks to heal for Super Bowl LII. The team is off this week, but they begin practicing next week in Minneapolis. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [DAL - No surgery for Tyron Smith]() Source: The Dallas Morning News - Brandon George Dallas Cowboys OT Tyron Smith (knee) will not need offseason surgery on his injured knee, according to vice president Stephen Jones. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Great news for the Cowboys here. Smith dealt with knee problems later in the 2017 season but this injury wasn't serious enough to warrant surgery. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [DAL - Dallas finalizes two coaches]() Source: The Dallas Morning News - Brandon George Former Dallas Cowboys QB [Kellen Moore]( was brought on as the quarterbacks coach Tuesday, Jan. 23, according to owner Jerry Jones. Additionally, running backs coach Gary Brown was re-signed. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Moore goes from being a teammate of Dak Prescott, to his coach in one year. He retired after working as the Cowboys no3 quarterback for part of 2017. Moore will work with Jason Garrett closely to get the most out of the situation, and he's always had a coaches mentality to approaching the game. It should be a near seamless transition for Moore. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [NYG - Kyle Carter claimed by Giants]() Source: ESPN.com - Field Yates Free-agent TE [Kyle Carter]( (Vikings) was claimed by the New York Giants Tuesday, Jan. 23. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Carter is known mostly as a blocker, H-back type of tight end who came out of Penn State as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He follows Pat Shurmur over from the Vikings to the Giants. Carter is not much of a receiving threat, so his dynasty stock in crazy deep leagues isn't that interesting. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [BUF - QB Tyrod Taylor's future in Buffalo unclear?](=) Source: WGR Sports Radio 550 - Joe Buscaglia Buffalo Bills QB [Tyrod Taylor]('s future with the team was not addressed Tuesday, Jan. 23, as head coach Sean McDermott declined to comment on the topic. McDermott simply said the coaching staff will continue to evaluate. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We highly doubt the Bills will keep Taylor on the team in 2018. Expect the team to try and trade Taylor if they can. He's got a cap number of $18 million in 2018, and there is $8.6 million in dead money. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [MIA - QB Matt Moore likely done in Miami]( Source: The Miami Herald - Armando Salguero Miami Dolphins impending free-agent QB [Matt Moore]( is not expected to be re-signed as he would like to explore his options to see if he'll be a better fit in another city, according to a source. Moore has been in Miami since 2011. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Miami will get Ryan Tannehill back from the knee injury that cost him the 2017 season. Behind him might be a young quarterback they take in this year's draft. If they need a better backup they can trust, perhaps the Dolphins would get one of the numerous "Brian Hoyer-like" reserve QBs out there. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [MIN - Mike Zimmer not sold on QB Case Keenum?]( Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Andrew Krammer Minnesota Vikings impending free-agent QB [Case Keenum]('s future with the Vikings is in limbo. Head coach Mike Zimmer said the Vikings will go through the process of determining who their starting quarterback will be next season. Keenum and fellow QBs [Teddy Bridgewater]( and [Sam Bradford]( are all in the running. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Reports before the NFC Championship Game indicated the Vikings were going to franchise tag Keenum and also try to keep Bridgewater around. Now, after losing in that game, things don't seem as certain for Keenum...even Peter King is speculating that Keenum will be the Broncos starter in Week 1 of the 2018 season. Stay tuned, as Keenum would have a strong price tag if available in this quarterback desperate league. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [GB - RB Jamaal Williams wants to be more explosive]( Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Charean Williams Green Bay Packers RB [Jamaal Williams]( is focusing on improving his explosiveness this offseason. Williams wants to have quicker feet, more speed and to make sure his knees are up. He added that he'll be working on his lateral movements and speed in order to make sure his knees are up and that his lower body is stronger. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Williams is a big back, and he does a good job of keeping his feet after contact...but nobody is calling him an explosive player. That could change as he reshapes his body and his preparation for the league. Even with Ty Montgomery splitting time in the backfield (for one more year), Williams is a dynasty asset we love. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [ARI - WR Larry Fitzgerald undecided on retirement]() Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss Arizona Cardinals WR [Larry Fitzgerald]( has still not decided as to whether or not he will retire this offseason, according to new head coach Steve Wilks. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The future Hall of Fame receiver wanted to see who the Cardinals hired as head coach before deciding on his future in the league. Fitzgerald just completed his 14th season in the NFL and will turn 35 years old before the 2018 regular season begins. The Cardinals now have their coach, but they still are uncertain on who their quarterback will be. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 11. [OAK - QB Derek Carr was bothered by back]() Source: CSNBayArea.com - Scott Bair Oakland Raiders QB [Derek Carr]( (back) admitted that a back injury suffered in Week 4 did impact his play throughout the course of the season. 'Injuries will never be something I talk about, especially during the season, but since it's after the season, the [back issue] was one of those things that was there,' Carr said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Things start to make more sense after the season when this type of information comes out. Carr just didn't look like himself in 2017. Some felt it was because Bill Musgrave was not retained as offensive coordinator but this report indicates it might have had more to do with his health. The fourth-year quarterback suffered three transverse process fractures and said he wanted to deal with the injury instead of using it as an excuse. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 12. [NFL - Mason Rudolph hopeful for NFL Combine](=) Source: BuffaloBills.com - Chris Brown Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph (foot) has been diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain, but he is optimistic he will be ready to participate during the NFL Combine in late February. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Rudolph is walking around the Senior Bowl in a walking boot. He's not participating in practices, but he's there for the interview process before the game. Rudolph put up great numbers at Oklahoma State and is seen as a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The Combine will be big for him, partly because he missed the Senior Bowl but mostly because of the medical checks that will be done. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 13. [DAL - WR Dez Bryant's antics a distraction](=) Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Clarence E. Hill Jr. Dallas Cowboys WR [Dez Bryant]('s antics on the sideline are a distraction, according to Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones. 'The Dez situation has a lot of moving parts to it,' Jones said. 'The chemistry between Dak (Prescott) and Dez is different between Tony (Romo) and Dez. Tony and Dez had their game tailored to one another. Dak doesn't play the way Tony played. It's a work in progress. The other thing that we all see and it is certainly visible to anyone who watches our games, watches our sideline, is Dez is certainly a fiery guy who plays with a lot of emotion both on and off the field. Sometimes that can be a distraction.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Bryant has been a handful for the Cowboys ever since he was drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday that the team had no plans on moving on from Bryant. They'll continue to deal with his distractions on and off the field. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 14. [NFL - Josh Allen measures up](=) Source: The Buffalo News - Mark Gaughan Wyoming QB Josh Allen measured at 6-foot-4 7/8, 237 pounds with a 10 1/8 hand size at the Senior Bowl Tuesday, Jan. 23. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Allen certainly looks the part of a franchise quarterback. He's big, has a strong arm and is athletic enough to threaten a defense as a runner. Allen had poor accuracy in college at Wyoming, and historically that's something that doesn't take leaps and bounds in a positive direction in the pros. Even with that huge question mark about his accuracy, Allen might be the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 15. [CLE - Josh Allen welcoming of Cleveland](=) Source: CBS Radio Cleveland - Keith Britton Wyoming QB Josh Allen said he wants to be the guy that turns around the Cleveland Browns. 'To think about that and to put yourself in that situation and in those shoes, you gotta love that as a quarterback and you gotta love that as a football player and competitor,' Allen said. 'This is something that can really be set in stone forever, if you're the guy that can help turn this Cleveland Browns team around. I know they've got the youngest team in the NFL, they've got the most cap space, the most high draft picks, brand new GM who has done a lot of good things in his past.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Allen is saying all the right things at the Senior Bowl. He sounds like a franchise quarterback, and he's certainly built like a franchise quarterback. If the Browns were able to trade for Alex Smith (Chiefs), then drafting Allen would make sense as he'd get time for much-needed development. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 16. [OAK - Oakland to target Le'Veon Bell?](=) Source: MMQB - Peter King Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent RB Le'Veon Bell could be a target for the Oakland Raiders, according to The MMQB's Peter King. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Raiders offense would certainly get some punch if Bell was added via free agency. The Steelers could always franchise tag Bell for the second year in a row, but he's expressed thoughts of retirement if that was the case. In order to make room for Bell, the Raiders would likely have to part ways with Marshawn Lynch. In 2018, Lynch has a cap hit of $5.9 million but there is zero remaining in dead money. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of Footballguys. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J = --- Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! Get your 3 Free Downloads [here](=). You are currently subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: =