Footballguys #286 - 1/30 - News And Notes From Around The League

[Footballguys.com]( Footballguys #286 - 1/30 - News And Notes From Around The League Volume 21, #286 -- Thursday Night, January 30th, 2020 You're subscribed as {EMAIL} - click [HERE]( to unsubscribe. [View in Web Browser]( Howdy {NAME}, Welcome to Friday. We are almost to the Big Game. Can. Not. Wait. Let's get to it. J SITE NEWS A. [Last Chance To Win An All Pro Subscription]() LAST CHANCE! Complete our Footballguys 2019 Season Wrap-up Survey for a chance to Win one of 25 All Pro subscriptions. But the deadline to complete the survey is end of the day 1/31. Don't miss your chance. And thanks for helping with the Survey. [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [CAR - TE Greg Olsen parting ways](#1) 2. [KC - QB Patrick Mahomes excels vs. best](#2) 3. [CLE - Alex Van Pelt tabbed as Cleveland's OC](#3) 4. [KC - WR Sammy Watkins may sit out 2020](#4) 5. [KC - TE Travis Kelce excels as deep threat](#5) 6. [NYJ - WR Robby Anderson wanted back](#6) 7. [CHI - WR Allen Robinson wants to stick in Chicago](#7) 8. [SF - WR Deebo Samuel off to strong start](#8) 9. [NE - S Devin McCourty non-committal](#9) 10. [NO - QB Drew Brees still playing at high level](#10) 11. [NO - Sean Payton expects QB change](#11) 12. [SF - QB Jimmy Garoppolo on record-low pace](#12) 13. [TEN - RB Derrick Henry seeks to stay](#13) 14. [CIN - Dan Pitcher promoted](#14) 15. [NFL - Scouts raving about Van Jefferson](#15) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [CAR - TE Greg Olsen parting ways]() Source: Panthers.com Carolina Panthers TE [Greg Olsen]( mutually agreed to part ways with the team Thursday, Jan. 30. 'Today, I had the opportunity to sit down with (general manager) Marty Hurney and have a great conversation regarding my future with the organization,' Olsen said. 'The team and I are both on the same page that it is best we go in different directions for now,' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This is one of many steps for the Panthers this offseason which is going to feature quite a few changes. They have a new staff in place and are soon likely to deal QB Cam Newton and start fresh with a new quarterback. Olsen could continue playing for another team looking for a veteran tight end. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [KC - QB Patrick Mahomes excels vs. best]() Source: ESPN - Ed Werder Kansas City Chiefs QB [Patrick Mahomes]( has compiled a 10-1 record against defenses that have finished in the regular season's top 10 in terms of the fewest passing yards per game allowed, including a 5-0 mark this season. That's the best record among quarterbacks in that scenario (minimum five starts). [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Mahomes just excels no matter which defense he's playing. In the Super Bowl, he will be facing a 49ers defense that ranked No.1 in the NFL in 2019 by only allowing an average of 169.2 passing yards per game. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [CLE - Alex Van Pelt tabbed as Cleveland's OC]( Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt was named as the new offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, Jan. 29. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Van Pelt has been the quarterbacks coach for the Bengals over the last two years. There is some question as to whether or not Van Pelt or new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will call plays but we imagine that Stefanski will take on those duties. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [KC - WR Sammy Watkins may sit out 2020]( Source: ESPN.com - Adam Teicher Kansas City Chiefs WR [Sammy Watkins]( said Thursday, Jan. 30, he may sit out the 2020 season, if the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV Sunday, Feb. 2. 'I don't know what I'm going to do. If we win it, I might chill out. I might sit out a year. You just never know,' Watkins said. 'Not retiring, but I might just want to rest up and chill. I don't know. I don't want to say I'm going to do something, but you never know. I might want to go somewhere else and create another Super Bowl team. So it's just all about how I'm feeling.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This was an ...interesting bit of news to come out of the Super Bowl on Thursday. Watkins carries a cap hit of $21 million for the 2020 season. It's the final year of his current contract and the Chiefs could save $14 million while eating $7 million in dead money if they get rid of Watkins. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [KC - TE Travis Kelce excels as deep threat]() Source: ProFootballFocus.com Kansas City Chiefs TE [Travis Kelce]( this regular season paced all tight ends with 274 yards on receptions 20-plus yards downfield. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Kelce is going to be a huge threat for the 49ers on Super Bowl Sunday. The Chiefs will use 'sail' concepts with Kelce running corner routes to beat the 49ers Cover 3 zone defense with middle field closed. He should have a big game in the Chiefs biggest contest. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [NYJ - WR Robby Anderson wanted back]() Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo New York Jets WR [Robby Anderson]( said Thursday, Jan. 30, the team has expressed interest in him returning for the 2020 season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Anderson is actually one of the better wide receivers set to hit free agency this offseason. His speed is going to be coveted by teams out there including the Jets. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [CHI - WR Allen Robinson wants to stick in Chicago](=) Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Patrick Finley Chicago Bears WR [Allen Robinson]( said Thursday, Jan. 30, he's open to signing an extension with the team this offseason, as he prepares to head into his contract year. 'I want to be in Chicago, if they'll have me,' Robinson said. 'The biggest thing is, I can't make that happen solely myself. I just gotta control what I can control. I know that everything will probably play out fine.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Robinson had a bounce-back year in 2019, finishing with 98 catches for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns. He's set to break the bank if his 2020 season sees similar production. Robinson is the top target for the Bears passing game and would benefit from better play from QB Mitchell Trubisky. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [SF - WR Deebo Samuel off to strong start](=) Source: NFL Research San Francisco 49ers WR [Deebo Samuel]( has had more receptions (62) in his rookie season (including playoffs) than former 49ers WRs Jerry Rice (53) and [Terrell Owens]( (36) did in their first pro seasons and has as many 100-yard games (3) as Rice and Owens had as rookies combined. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Samuel has had a great rookie season for the 49ers. His strength and run-after-the-catch ability make him a factor in the passing game. Samuel should continue to develop as a pro and Fantasy GMs should consider him a WR3 with upside in 2020. He finished as the No.26 fantasy receiver in standard-scoring leagues as a rookie. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [NE - S Devin McCourty non-committal]( Source: NESN.com New England Patriots S Devin McCourty, a pending free agent, said Thursday, Jan. 30, he isn't committed to re-signing with the Patriots. 'I think for right now, I can't answer that,' McCourty said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] McCourty will be 33-years old later this year but he can still be a solid starter in the pros. Safeties are getting paid in a big way, but his age will keep McCourty from getting a huge contract. Instead, some team should get a strong starter for a good price. According to OverTheCap.com, the Patriots have around $46.9 million in salary cap space for 2020. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [NO - QB Drew Brees still playing at high level]() Source: ESPN.com - Mike Triplett New Orleans Saints QB [Drew Brees](, a pending free agent, is still performing at a high level, head coach Sean Payton said Thursday, Jan. 30, in an interview on ESPN's First Take. 'The job is for (Brees) is to win, and he's done that,' Payton said. 'Is the ball going down the field the same way? Maybe it's not. And yet his (yards per attempt) and all those things have been real good.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Brees may not quite be the player he used to be but his game has not fallen off a cliff. In fact, he can still be incredibly effective as a starter and with the Saints he keeps them a Super Bowl contender. Brees is going to take a month or so to make a decision on his future. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 11. [NO - Sean Payton expects QB change](=) Source: NFL.com - Nick Shook New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said Thursday, Jan. 30, that he doesn't expect QBs/pending free agents [Drew Brees](, [Teddy Bridgewater]( and [Taysom Hill]( will all be back with the Saints next season. To have all three of those guys back is probably very unlikely,' Payton said. 'You really appreciate the season you had when you had all three of them.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Change is part of the game, and getting all three quarterbacks back in 2020 just isn't going to happen. Brees could remain as the starter if he decides he wants to keep playing and can come to an agreement with the Saints. Bridgewater was incredibly effective as the starter while Brees was out in 2019, and he could be the heir apparent to Brees. Hill is a great part-time player and will have a market for his services because of his versatility as a passer, runner and receiver. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 12. [SF - QB Jimmy Garoppolo on record-low pace]( Source: ESPN Stats and Information San Francisco 49ers QB [Jimmy Garoppolo]( only has attempted 27 passes so far in two postseason games. If the 49ers throw 25 or fewer times in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday, Feb. 2, they'll finish in the top five in terms of fewest pass attempts by a Super Bowl team in a single postseason. Each of the current five teams on the list played in 1974 or earlier, and each of them wound up winning the Super Bowl. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The plan for the 49ers is to run, run, run against the Chiefs. First, it's what the 49ers do best and they can wear down the Chiefs defense. Second, they'll keep the Chiefs offense cold on the sidelines if they can run the ball effectively and eat up the time of possession. It's not their plan to have Garoppolo pass 25 or more times on Super Bowl Sunday. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 13. [TEN - RB Derrick Henry seeks to stay]( Source: NFL Network Tennessee Titans RB [Derrick Henry](, an impending free agent, said Thursday, Jan. 30, that 'I definitely want to stay in Tennessee.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Titans should pay Henry a contract that makes him one of the highest paid running backs in the NFL. They have $50.9 million in cap space according to OverTheCap.com. Henry is the centerpiece of what they do on offense and will be compensated as such. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 14. [CIN - Dan Pitcher promoted](=) Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby Updating a previous report, Cincinnati Bengals coach Dan Pitcher was officially promoted to quarterback's coach Thursday, Jan. 30. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Pitcher is going to be working with a first-round quarterback in 2020. Joe Burrow from LSU could be the No.1 overall pick but Justin Herbert from Oregon might be in that mix too. The Bengals needed to add a quarterback coach after Alex Van Pelt took the offensive coordinator job with the Browns. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 15. [NFL - Scouts raving about Van Jefferson]() Source: Pro Football Network University of Florida WR Van Jefferson impressed scouts with the way he was able to separate from opponents and catch the ball during Senior Bowl practice last week. If he runs well at the NFL Combine and/or at his pro day, those same scouts believe he could move into the second day of the NFL Draft. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Jefferson had a great week of practice at the Senior Bowl. He can run routes much better than most receivers coming out of college. Jefferson can get separation with ease and has good concentration when passes are coming in. We could see him go off the board on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft. [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're subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: =