Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Tom Brady is in the final season under his current contract with the Patriots (12-4), it’s been a mediocre year of play for the quarterback otherwise known as the GOAT.
Tom Brady is in the final season under his current contract with the Patriots (12-4), it’s been a mediocre year of play for the quarterback otherwise known as the GOAT.
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton credited Teddy Bridgewater for stepping into the lineup and winning five games with Drew Brees injured.
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The New Orleans Saints were in rough shape early in the 2019 season. Drew Brees, the starting quarterback and face of the franchise, was going to miss a month after injuring his throwing hand. Teddy Bridgewater turned in an ugly performance after getting rushed into a road game against Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams defense. There was reason to suspect the season was going to be a disaster.
Instead, Bridgewater did all that was asked of him, and won all five of his starts during Brees’ absence. Saints coach Sean Payton was a believer in Bridgewater all along, but he was still impressed with how the backup and the team around him responded to life without Brees.
“It’s a whole different type of year and I just think he was part of that,” Payton said during his Thursday media availability, “and I think that was kind of a pivotal point for our team to figure out, ‘Hey, how can we handle this adversity?’ And not one person was going to just become Drew Brees, but everyone had to pick up the specifics and we had to find a way to win each one of those weeks.”
Bridgewater performed like a starting quarterback should in the NFL, and by the time Payton took the training wheels off, Bridgewater was downright dominating. Including his first appearance against the Rams, Bridgewater’s first three games saw him complete 59 of 87 passes (67.8%) to gain 535 yards, scoring just two touchdowns against one interception. He averaged just 6.1 yards per pass attempt.
However, Bridgewater rose to a higher level in the following three weeks. He went 73-of-108 for a similar completion percentage (67.6%), but gained 835 yards through the air. He scored seven touchdowns and threw just one interception, and his yards per pass attempt rate climbed to 7.7 And Payton took notice.
Payton continued, “I think directly towards Teddy, he was prepared, ready for the opportunity. It has been a while and yet what I mean for him, it’s him getting back on the horse here in the regular season. And all of a sudden winning, getting better, winning again, winning again and each week his confidence (increased), I just think it was an important part of what became a 13-win season and the importance of having a number-two (quarterback) that can do that.”
The future is murky for Bridgewater. He and Brees are both going to be unrestricted free agents in the spring, and the success lesser quarterbacks have had in free agency suggests he could be due for a huge payday. If Nick Foles can parlay a hot three-game playoffs run into $88 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars, why can’t Bridgewater spin his five-game winning streak into his own big-money contract?
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The Broncos will likely rework Phillip Lindsay’s contract during the offseason.
After earning $478,112 and $575,000 over the last two seasons, Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay is scheduled to earn $665,000 in 2020. Because he has two years of experience, though, Lindsay is eligible for a re-worked contract — and he’ll probably get one.
Lindsay (5-8, 190 pounds) played college football at Colorado and was not selected by the 2018 NFL draft. He then signed with the Broncos as a college free agent and he has gained 2,485 yards from scrimmage and has scored 17 touchdowns over the last two years.
Denver general manager John Elway said during his end-of-season press conference Monday that the team will “look at” revising Lindsay’s contract this offseason.
“We’ll get back into when we start planning and budgeting for 2020 and where we are money-wise,” Elway said. “Obviously, Phillip has done a tremendous job and being the first college free agent to go over 1,000 yards [in two consecutive years to start his career].
“As Vic [Fangio] said last night, there are 32 dumb-dumbs that didn’t draft him and I was one of them. Thank God we talked him into coming here.”
Under his current contract, Lindsay is set to become a free agent in 2021. Denver will probably give him an extension before then.
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Broncos general manager John Elway hopes to sign safety Justin Simmons to a long-term contract extension this offseason.
After earning $4,710,139 over the first four years of his career, Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Denver could place a one-year franchise tag on the defensive back but general manager John Elway would prefer to give him a long-term extension.
“We want him back,” Elway said during his end-of-season press conference Monday. “You know the option’s there. Before we came down, I talked to Justin and said, ‘You know what, we want you back.’ He’s a great football player, but he’s a better man.
“What he does outside of this building and what’s done in Denver has been tremendous. Just the type of guys he is. These are the type of guys that we want on this football team. Obviously, we have the franchise option there, but we’d like to get something done with Justin for the long term.”
Simmons, 26, had a brilliant year this season, totaling 93 tackles and a career-high four interceptions. He also broke up 15 passes.
“I love the defense,” Simmons said Monday. “It works for me; I think I make it work just as well. I think it’s a good relationship. With that being said, it just has to work out. There’s no hiding that I want it to work out. I just hope it does.
“It’ll be exciting regardless. Whatever happens, I know it’s all on the Lord’s will. If it does happen, I’ll just further his kingdom, so it’ll be good.”
Broncos coach Vic Fangio believes that Simmons could show even more improvement in 2020 if he stays in Denver.
“I think he’ll still at the stage of his career where he can still improve more, especially within the inner workings of our defense and mastering some of the things we do even better, which will only come through reps — it won’t come through meetings,” Fangio said.
“Really good football player, a really good person and a really good teammate. He’s everything we want in a player.”
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Will the Broncos re-sign cornerback Chris Harris this offseason? The two sides seem to be sending mixed messages.
After the Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 16-15 in Week 17, veteran cornerback Chris Harris tweeted a “thank you” to fans. That prompted the question, ‘Why would he thank fans if he wasn’t on his way out the door?’
“Thank You Broncos Country for everything,” Harris tweeted on Sunday evening. “It’s incredible what we’ve accomplished. Undrafted and 9 years later…Love y’all !!!!! 🙏🏾🙌🏾”
Does that mean Harris isn’t coming back?
Not necessarily.
Denver made Harris a three-year, $36 million contract offer earlier this season so the team clearly is open to giving him an extension. The 30-year-old cornerback is open to returning, too.
“I’d love to,” Harris said Monday. “We’re getting the right pieces back — definitely need some more pieces around me to just do what I do. That’s one thing I’m looking at in the offseason.
“My family loves it here. Of course, my kids growing up here — I grew up here. It’s definitely my first home for sure.”
Given that the Broncos are open to an extension and that Harris is open to returning, the only holdup would be contract terms. Denver general manager John Elway was non-commital during his Monday press conference when asked if the team will increase their offer to Harris this offseason.
“We have to go back and look at the money that we have available,” Elway said. “We will go through and make a plan before we get to that. We will budget it out and see what our plan is and put that plan together. I can’t answer that question right now.”
The Broncos are expected to have well over $70 million in salary cap space next year so there should be enough to re-sign Harris. The question is, how much of that cap will Denver be willing to use on Harris? Elway will have to make a decision on that this spring.
“We’re going to look at our budget, see how the pie fits, see how everybody fits in the pie and do the best job of using our money in the best ways that we can but also find the players that we hope can get us back to the playoffs and compete for a World Championship,” Elway said.
The Broncos will pick up Von Miller’s contract option for the 2020 season, GM John Elway said.
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller will have salary cap hits of $25.625 million and $22.225 million over the next two seasons, according to Spotrac.com. Alternatively, Denver could opt out of his contract in 2020 with a “dead cap” hit of $17.85 million, a net saving of $30 million.
When it comes to Miller, though, the Broncos are not interested in saving money. Denver general manager John Elway confirmed during his end-of-season press conference Monday that the team will pick up Miller’s contract option this offseason.
By picking up Miller’s option, the Broncos are guaranteeing $6 million of the linebacker’s $18 million salary in 2020, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. The 30-year-old edge defender earned a Pro Bowl nod after totaling eight sacks this season and he’s eager to return next year.
“I can tell you one thing right now, we’ve got a good team . . . . We’re done with this losing,” Miller said after Sunday’s 16-15 win over the Raiders. “Next year is going to be our year and I’ll be ready to go.”
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New Orleans Saints players including Teddy Bridgewater and P.J. Williams can earn contract incentives by standing out against the Panthers.
The New Orleans Saints are hours away from closing out the 2019 regular season against the Carolina Panthers, but there’s more on the line for some players than others. Performance-based contract incentives are on the line, and multiple Saints could cash an extra check or two. Others have already missed out on potential cash-ins (like Demario Davis, who was undercut by a badly-designed Pro Bowl ballot from earning $500,000 by getting voted in), while some are just a big play or two away from it.
Fortunately, the Saints have a history of paying out these bonuses even if players come up a little short. Just last year, defensive end Alex Okafor missed out on a $400,000 incentive for logging four sacks (he bagged three), but the Saints cut him a check anyway. Those actions mean a lot to players, and it wouldn’t be surprising in the least if they award some bonuses again this year.
According to The Athletic’s Nick Underhill, several Saints players could trigger bonus payouts by meeting certain criteria in Week 17. Here’s who could bring in some extra money after standing out against the Panthers:
Bridgewater can earn as much as $5.25 million through contract incentives, but realistically speaking he’s only going to qualify for $500,00 of that thanks to his extended starting-time earlier this season — and only if he throws a touchdown pass against Carolina. Here’s the breakdown:
The New Orleans Saints will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 without top wide receiver D.J. Moore or starting linebacker Shaq Thompson.
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The Carolina Panthers preemptively ruled out two players ahead of their Week 17 regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints: wide receiver D.J. Moore and linebacker Shaq Thompson. Additionally, Panthers cornerback Corn Elder and linebacker/defensive end Marquis Haynes are questionable to play. Elder is battling an illness, while Haynes is dealing with a knee injury. This injury news was first reported by the Charlotte Observer’s Alaina Getzenberg.
Moore, who has been sidelined by a concussion, is an especially significant loss considering the success he had against the Saints in their last meeting. He caught six passes to gain 126 receiving yards, including two long touchdown catches, feasting against a New Orleans secondary that was overmatched without top cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Though Lattimore is back in the saddle and playing well, Moore would have expected to run against the same cornerback he fried last time (P.J. Williams, likely starting in place of Eli Apple).
Thompson is another big loss. He signed a four-year, $54.2 million contract extension (with bonuses raising its value to as high as $57 million) just three weeks ago, but he won’t be able to play against the Saints after sustaining late-season foot and shoulder injuries. Without him in the lineup, things could project well for Saints running back Alvin Kamara to continue building on the momentum he gained in last week’s big win over the Tennessee Titans — Kamara finally looked like his old self, running for 80 yards (and scoring twice) while catching six of his seven targets for 30 yards through the air.
We’ll learn more when the Saints and Panthers release their final injury report later on Friday. For now, it looks like the Saints are getting healthier, while the Panthers are getting close to throwing in the towel.
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Georgia Football great AJ Green will skip OTAs if franchise tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Georgia great AJ Green is one of the most humble, drama-free players in the NFL.
However, when it came time to step up and think about himself first, Green did so.
Good for Green, who has sat the whole season, a contract year, with injury.
Last offseason, Green said multiple times that he would like to stay in Cincinnati and finish his career there.
The two parties have not reached a deal that would allow him to play out the rest of his career in Cincy, and the Bengals have said they would franchise tag Green if they could not reach a long-term deal.
To that, Green responded that he would play the regular season, but will skip OTAs and maybe training camp.
A.J. Green said if he is franchise tagged he would definitely not be participating in any of the OTAs and maybe not all of training camp next year.
On TC: "I don't know. It's still a business."
On proving he's healthy in offseason: "I don't have to prove anything to nobody."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 18, 2019
Green, 31, would be paid $18m next season if he is tagged by the Bengals.
Green gets that, but he said it makes him feel like the team is not committed to him.
“But that also shows that they’re not committed, and in that circumstance,” Green told ESPN, “I have to protect myself.”
If the Bengals do tag Green, they will have until July to reach a deal before the tag turns into a one year contract.
If no deal is reached, Green will not participate in much preseason training.
Can you blame him, though? He’s on the wrong side of 30, he has a history of getting injured and he’s still one of the best receivers in the NFL when healthy.
He does not need training camp or OTAs anyway. He’s AJ Green.
Why risk injuring yourself in practice when you’re franchise tagged rather than under a long-term deal?
Kenny Vaccaro was drafted by the New Orleans Saints out of Texas, but he’ll get a shot at playing his old team with the Tennessee Titans.
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Things haven’t quite gone as planned since Kenny Vaccaro left the Texas Longhorns behind and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints. A series of injury-shortened seasons on under-performing defenses sent him into free agency after his five-year rookie contract expired, and he found his way with the Tennessee Titans — but it would be tough to complain about how his tenure in Nashville, Tenn. has gone.
Vaccaro inked a four-year, $24 million contract extension before the 2019 season and has started all 14 games for the Titans this season. He ranks fourth on the team in total tackles (70), and has teamed up with All-Pro free safety Kevin Byard to form one of the NFL’s stronger tandems on the back end.
Still, he’s not expecting the years of practice he put in against Drew Brees to be much of a benefit on Sunday. Odd as it may feel to find himself playing opposite the black and gold, he wants to take a team-first approach.
“I really have truly been focused on week to week, but now that it’s here is it like, ‘Oh, wow, we are playing the Saints,’” Vaccaro said on Wednesday during an interview with the official Titans website. “But I approach it kind of like the way Logan (Ryan) did when we played the Patriots last year. I am not going to make this about me and playing my former team at all, because it is not about that really – it is about us staying in this playoff race.”
Vaccaro is fresh off the heels of a six-tackle performance in last week’s loss to the Houston Texans, a game in which he bagged his first interception of the season. He’s going to do his best to help his squad this week and avoid making it personal with the team that drafted him — and ultimately passed on him. But don’t be shocked if he and some former teammates find time to embrace and swap jerseys afterwards.
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