Tag: Mike Florio

PFT says Commanders treated QB prospects like ‘lab rats’ during interviews

More nonsense from from Washington’s favorite critic.

Pro Football Talk blasted the Commanders on Friday.

The Commanders had entertained multiple players, including four quarterbacks, earlier in the week. It was a job interview, and apparently, Josh Harris and the Commanders were really out of line, according to Mike Florio and Myles Simmons.

“I think it is imperative to bring in these guys (quarterbacks) one at a time, know everything you can about them, get them all in with you. And that is where this has kind of gone off the rails for the Commanders. Because I’m hearing belief that maybe Jayden Daniels is not all that interested now in going to the Commanders,” Florio said during Friday’s installment of “PFT Live.”

Simmons replied: “You can pick up another asset (not picking Daniels and trading down), but is that going to be worth it if you are playing games and you don’t get the exact quarterback that you sensibly have fallen in love with throughout this draft process? To me, that would not make much sense. But, there are a lot of things about the way the Commanders have gone about, let’s call it, the last week that have not made much sense to me.”

Added Florio: “Here is the other thing I’ve picked up from somebody that I trust immensely, who is very plugged into the ownership scene. Josh Harris? A lot more involved than they thought he would be. … They brought them all in on the same day because that’s the day Mr. Harris was available to see them. That’s the only plausible explanation for having them there.

“Here is the danger, the David Tepper danger. This is when the owner is involved in any way. … At the end of the day, if you get it wrong, you better get it wrong with the guy the boss wanted. Your worst-case scenario is, the boss wanted this guy, and you went with that (other) guy, and that guy stinks. … Your long-term job prospects are best suited by giving the boss what you think the boss wants, and it all comes down to how vocal the boss is.

“You are the No. 2  guy. The people who know what they are doing, have Jayden Daniels as the clear No. 2 guy. So, when you have your visit to this team, that wants you supposedly, and the day is diluted by the three other quarterbacks being there. At some level you are going to be pissed. … There’s red flags there, and it all flows back to how the Commanders have handled it. It’s not anything about Jayden Daniels. It’s how the Commanders have handled Jayden Daniels.”

Wow, has it not yet occurred to Florio that comparing Harris to Tepper is extremely unfair to Harris? If Harris proves himself to be a Tepper, then yes. But for now, doesn’t that seem like attacking Harris prematurely?

Second, do Florio and Simmons fail to comprehend the Commanders have not presented any signs whatsoever that Daniels is obviously their guy?

Third, they are flat-out wrong because several analysts also think Drake Maye should be the second selection. The situation is not as simple as Florio and Simmons erroneously believe it to be.

Fourth, are any of the other quarterbacks who visited complaining about the process? So how can Florio and Simmons logically conclude it has to be the Commanders at fault in how they handled Daniels this week?

Simmons then proceeded to say twice the Commanders’ process was “disrespectful” to the prospective quarterbacks, expressing, “I am confused by this approach.”

Though Adam Peters and Lance Newmark stated there were both individual meetings and group time, this simply does not satisfy Florio and Simmons. Florio then called it “the strategy the Commanders concocted; I know people and am a student of the human condition. It’s disrespectful, it’s disrespectful to all of them.”

Florio then said the Commanders were treating the quarterbacks “like lab rats in a weird sort of way. … Let’s just put them in a room together and see how they act. Maybe one will kill the other three, and that will clearly be the right choice for us. … There is an element of evil scientist that comes through this, that is just offputting to me as an outsider.”

Florio then called it “this weird power-trip [expletive].”

Here is the video of their entire discussion:

 

 

Chris Simms: Bills wouldn’t allow Stefon Diggs to seek a trade with Chiefs

Chris Simms told “Pro Football Talk” that the #Bills wouldn’t allow Stefon Diggs to seek a trade with the #Chiefs

The saga of exciting games between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have been must-watch events for the NFL. The stars on both sides have amazing games while remaining loyal to their side of the rivalry until possibly this offseason.

The Bills shocked the football world when it was announced that they had traded their top wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans earlier this week. Diggs, who had expressed his displeasure with the team at times during last season, was moved, but there appears to be more to the story, and it involves Kansas City.

Chris Simms and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk spoke on a recent podcast episode about an intriguing rumor that indicates Diggs was blocked from ever being dealt to the Chiefs.

“From what I do know, he was allowed to seek a trade from anybody in the league except the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Simms. “That’s what I’ve been told by multiple people that he was allowed to do that (and) the Chiefs were the only team they weren’t going to trade for him.

The Chiefs and Bills have had a fierce rivalry over the past few seasons, with Buffalo falling to Kansas City each year in their postseason meetings. Diggs being unable to pitch a deal to Kansas City sounds realistic but is another exciting chapter in the two teams’ competitive struggle for superiority in the AFC.

PFT’s Mike Florio criticizes Commanders owner Josh Harris

Some absolutely ridiculous criticism of Harris.

Mike Florio didn’t waste any time criticizing new Commanders majority owner Josh Harris.

Florio, the man behind Pro Football Talk, took aim yesterday at the comments from Josh Harris during the Monday press conference announcing Ron Rivera’s firing and the hiring of Rick Spielman and Bob Myers.

Florio opened “PFT Live” by suggesting that when Harris said, “I’m going to really be somewhat flexible around talent,” that he was signaling “if I decide I want Bill Belichick to be my head coach and I have to give him the keys, though there will be someone who is called the head of football operations, Bill Belichick will still be in charge if that is what it takes.”

Florio went further and questioned the integrity and honesty of Harris.

“Josh Harris is in charge. Is he setting up this network, this table of people who will be advising him to truly, objectively advise him? Or is this all just a way to make it look like what he wants to do anyway, is the right thing to do?” Florio asked.

He then concluded: “It just looks like a meddling owner who’s coming in saying, ‘This is what I want to do.’ ”

Florio expressed a warning to future Washington coaches.

“I don’t know that it’s real attractive to me as a coach if I got to go to a place where I am answering to this person, this person, that person, then I got this person over here, this person over here. That makes it harder not easier for me. There are more people I’ve got to worry about. Who’s on my side? Who’s behind me? Who’s working against me?”

Why is Florio attributing improper motives to Harris like this? Doesn’t this allow Florio to interpret everything negatively that Harris says, painting a very pessimistic, oppositional portrait?

Harris has remained mostly quiet all of his first NFL season. Doesn’t he deserve a more fair hearing? Has Harris, up to this point, done anything to warrant such skepticism, suspicion and mistrust?

Will the Commanders move on from team president Jason Wright?

Could Washington’s upcoming housecleaning also include team president Jason Wright?

Changes are on the horizon for the Washington Commanders. Head coach Ron Rivera will be relieved of his duties after four seasons sometime after Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys.

While Washington will need a new coach — who will hire his own staff — it will also need a new general manager. Rivera has served as Washington’s chief football decision-maker since his hiring in Jan. 2020.

Martin Mayhew is Washington’s general manager, while Marty Hurney is the vice president of player personnel — Rivera hired both.

There will be many changes on the football side; some would even say there will be wholesale changes.

But what about the business side?

Washington hired Jason Wright to serve as team president in Aug. 2020. A former NFL player, Wright came to Washington with an impressive resume. He led the franchise’s rebranding efforts to its current nickname, the “Commanders,” which was unveiled in Feb. 2022.

While Wright has done some good things since arriving, there have also been many mistakes, sometimes simple mistakes. Much like Rivera, there is some sympathy for Wright, considering he entered an almost impossible situation, working for former owner Dan Snyder.

But with a new regime coming, could Wright also be on the way out?

On Friday’s edition of “PFT Live,” Mike Florio and Peter King discussed Washington’s future.

“He (Rivera) knows what’s coming, we all know what’s coming,” Florio said. Ron Rivera will be replaced. Martin Mayhew, the GM, will be replaced. Jason Wright, the president of the team, most likely will be replaced…………. I feel like the housecleaning is coming.”

There is nothing definitive here. Wright’s status has been less certain than Rivera’s since Harris took over, as he’s often seen with Harris at Washington’s games.

Harris could choose to keep Wright aboard, considering the team’s business has dramatically improved since Snyder sold the team. Is that due to Wright or just the fact that Snyder is gone? That’s likely the latter.

Regardless of Wright’s status, it should be a busy week for the Commanders.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson provides deeper context on disrespect from Mike Florio

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson provided other context on the disrespect from Mike Florio

The Baltimore Ravens have been subject to plenty of disrespect throughout the 2023 NFL season. The most significant bulletin board material the team received was courtesy of Mike Florio before the team’s Week 16 game with the San Francisco 49ers, something they didn’t take kindly to.

“I really don’t pay attention to it. It was how [Mike Florio] presented it. That’s what made me [think], ‘You really feel this way?’ We’re an NFL team as well. We’re not a high school team going up against an NFL team. [He said], ‘Beat the dog [crap] out of them.’ I was like, ‘[Dang].’ I just felt some way about that. [I’m] not taking anything away from him. He’s just doing his job. That’s his opinion. I just didn’t like how he said it. That’s all.”

Jackson put Florio in his place after the game and provided even more context when asked about it later. He said he usually doesn’t pay attention to outside noise, but the way Florio said his comments wasn’t acceptable.

Chris Simms believes Nick Mullens should start after bye

One former quarterback believed that Mullens should be the starter coming out of the bye week

The Josh Dobbs story has been one of the more unlikely ones in the NFL this season. But that story may be coming to an end when the Minnesota Vikings return from their bye week. Dobbs and the Vikings have lost two straight after a five-game win streak, and Dobbs has struggled mightily in each. At least one analyst believes Nick Mullens should be at the helm when the Vikings next take the field.

During a segment on Pro Football Talk with Mike Florio, analyst and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms expressed that he believes Nick Mullens should be the guy — if healthy — for the Vikings moving forward.

Simms points out that, while the Dobbs story has been a great one, now that teams have some film on him and have seen what he’s capable of, the flaws are starting to show themselves. He goes on to say there’s a reason Dobbs is a backup and has been with multiple teams in his career.

Mullens has been designated to return to the team after spending time on IR with a concussion. The team could also turn to rookie Jaren Hall, who was initially planned to take over for Kirk Cousins after his Achilles injury, but left his first game early with a concussion of his own.

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Will Commanders trade for Bill Belichick?

But a source close to Josh Harris said this is “simply not true.”

“I caught wind over the weekend of some chatter in league circles with this notion that when the season ends, the Commanders will trade with the Patriots to get Bill Belichick.”

That’s how Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio introduced the rumor that the Commanders will pursue New England head coach Bill Belichick.

Florio continued, saying he was told, “Everyone is out. Jason Wright, team president; Martin Mayhew, general manager; Ron Rivera, head coach; all out.”

The PFT host conveyed that Monday’s trades of Montez Sweat and Chase Young also point to new owner Josh Harris cleaning house and getting his own people in there.

It’s important to remember that Belichick still has multiple years remaining on his contract. Indeed, if Washington were to pursue Belichick, it would cost them, and perhaps cost them dearly.

WJLA-TV sports anchor Scott Abraham said he too reached out and was told the rumor is simply not true.

But back to Florio: He said that once the season is over, Patriots owner Robert Kraft will simply sit back, not firing Belichick but waiting for Harris to make the first move.

Once Kraft and Harris would work out the compensation, then Harris would be free to contact Belichick and discuss the concept with Belichick and work out a deal.

Florio went even further, suggesting someone other than Harris would contact Belichick’s agent, and the two would be informally discussing the possibility if the other party were interested.

As to the origin of the story, Florio thought it was from the Belichick camp, getting the story out there so the league teams know that Belichick is going to be available for the right price after this season.

Would Harris pursue Belichick?

Or would Harris prefer someone younger, likely one of the more respected coordinators who desires to be head coach?

Could Commanders owner Snyder, have one final trick up his sleeve?

The vote for Washington’s ownership transfer is expected this week.

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One NFL insider is not yet ready to say Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder won’t make one final attempt to mess up everything.

Though Daniel Snyder had his office at the Ashburn facility cleaned out prior to the 2022 season finale home game against Dallas, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is still not putting it past Snyder to attempt something.

“Daniel Snyder is leaving; he wants to leave it all behind him,” said Florio Thursday. He doesn’t want to be responsible for any liabilities that may arise in the future.”

However, there is one item Florio believes could cause problems in this sale to the Josh Harris group this upcoming Friday.

“I overlooked a very important issue of how the NFL and Daniel Snyder will handle the potential for liability arising from the actions of one or the other. Snyder presumably wants indemnification for anything that could stick to him in this Gruden email case.  The league may want indemnification for Dan Snyder for anything that could stick to them, caused by him.”

Florio feels “it is possible that both sides have civil liability to Jon Gruden by the time this is all said and done.”

Gruden may have some leverage in trying to get more of a financial settlement from the NFL. Thus, could this hold up the sale being approved this coming Friday?

Who leaked the Jon Gruden emails? Snyder testified under oath that he did not leak the emails. Bruce Allen testified under oath the NFL told him they did not leak the emails but that the leak came from the team.

How much money will be enough for Gruden to settle? Will the settlement be with the NFL or Snyder?

Florio doesn’t see Snyder wanting to move on so easily. “If he wants to be a jerk, yeah, he can hold their feet to the fire. ‘I want this, I want that. Hey, you want to get rid of me; you give me those things. Otherwise, I’m not going.’ Wouldn’t that be something?”

Meanwhile, Commanders fans, media following the team, franchise employees and the team itself want this to simply be concluded and for Snyder to determine he will quietly ride off into the sunset.

Having made a huge profit, after all.

Pro Football Talk: ‘Commanders is the right move for Bieniemy’

PFT explains why the Commanders were the right move for Bieniemy.

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“He’s very hard on us and he sets a high standard as you guys can probably tell,” said new Commanders quarterback Sam Howell about his new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy.

“That’s what we want, we want to be coached hard and we want to play for someone who has a high standard. It’s been really good. Obviously, its a really good system and I think it will be a good way for us to use the weapons that we have. I am excited,” said Howell.

Thursday, Pro Football Talk hosts Mike Florio and Chris Simms both expressed their belief in the hire of Bieniemy for the Commanders and as a future head coach in the NFL.

Florio said for Bieniemy it was a case of, “My ship is never going to come in, in Kansas City. It’s just not going to happen. I’ve got to go somewhere else where people will at least perceive I have more responsibility in the offense. He’s changing the construct enough to maybe get people to notice ‘I could be a pretty good coach.’ So maybe it will happen for him after a year or two in Washington.”

Simms affirmed Florio’s view, “You heard what Howell said; it’s cut-throat; the guy is in your face. He handled some personalities in Kansas City and did a great job. ”

“I am kind of excited about what the Commanders can be on offense. I am excited to see what Sam Howell can be. He’s got a natural feel for the game. He’s a good down-the-field thrower, Mike. That is definitely one of the positives about him coming out of North Carolina.”

“This might save some jobs (Ron Rivera and his staff). Maybe get Eric Bieniemy a new job, right?”

Mike Florio expects Patrick Mahomes to be highest-paid player in league history by Week 1

We’ve known that a sweetened deal was coming for #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, but a new report says to expect it to happen before Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.

We’ve been saying all offseason that it was only a matter of time before the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes worked out a renegotiated contract. A new report has put a timeline on when that might actually happen.

According to NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, a reworked deal between the Chiefs and Mahomes is expected to happen before the 2023 NFL season begins. Take a look:

Chiefs G.M. Brett Veach already has vowed to address the Mahomes deal after more quarterback contracts are completed. While Veach didn’t delve into any specifics, here’s what reasonably should be expected, based on our conversations with folks aware of the dynamics of the situation.

Expect Mahomes, before the season begins, to once again be the highest-paid player in league history.

When Mahomes signed his 10-year extension worth up to $503M back in 2020, it was one of the wealthiest sports contracts in history. With recent deals for Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Mahomes’ contract value is well-behind the top in the league.

We know that Brett Veach has been monitoring the changes to the quarterback market and back in February said he was open to adjusting Mahomes’ contract amidst the rising market. He recently suggested that the team might wait for contract extensions for Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert to be done before they explored any adjustments.

The general manager’s latest comments following the 2023 NFL draft didn’t clarify when a deal could happen.

“I mean, the draft just ended here,” Veach said. “Coach got asked about it, I got asked about it (and Chairman & CEO) Clark (Hunt) got asked about it there. We’re a few years into a long deal but at the same time, we have great communication with Pat (Mahomes), so that’ll be a situation where we work through all those things. There’s no timing on it from our end because we’re in constant communication.”

As Veach alluded, Clark Hunt was asked about the situation too. He had an interesting perspective on all of it.

“Well, I don’t know that there’s really a way to quantify it financially and no matter what he makes over his career, I’m sure one way or another he’ll be underpaid,” Hunt said during the NFL draft. “The great thing about Patrick (Mahomes) is, when we did that deal, he recognized that he wanted to give the club the flexibility to build the team around him. And that contract was structured in that way. We’re only one year in to a 10‐year contract, so there’s a long way to go but I think what Patrick cared most about was winning and he’s certainly been able to do a lot of that. (General Manager) Brett Veach has had enough flexibility to be able to add quality players each year and that’s part of the reason why were able to lift the Lombardi Trophy again.”

Knowing that Mahomes structured his contract in a way to give the team the utmost flexibility the first time around, it’s reasonable to expect that any adjustment to his contract would maintain a similar level of flexibility. Even with the words, “highest-paid player in league history” floating around.

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