The Jets have requested permission to speak with Joe Douglas and Champ Kelly for their GM vacancy, according to the NFL Network. Douglas, the presumptive frontrunner, is the Eagles' vice president of player personnel. Kelly is the Bears' assistant director of player personnel. Both men have a background with coach Adam Gase, the interim GM in the aftermath of the Mike Maccagnan firing.
Gerald McCoy's visit with the Browns has concluded. No contract, but I'm told Cleveland is very much in the race. He'll have a number of teams to choose from. I'm told that this isn't about money. He really wants to go to a contender. He's never gotten to play in a postseason game.
I'm told that Ndamukong Suh officially signed his contract (from France) and will be in Tampa next week for a physical. The decision hasn't been made as to when his first practice will be but he'll definitely be taking part in mandatory minicamp June 4-6.
Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette said Friday that he used this offseason to essentially re-boot himself and start over. Admitted he made some mistakes -- meaning his arrest for driving with a suspended license -- but said he doesn't feel he has to prove to the team that they can rely on him because "everybody has a bad year." Fournette also said he's going to look forward and not back toward 2018. "It's a new year," he said. "We have a new team. We're focused and we have new players. It's a new year for us. So it's a new everything. It's a clean start for a lot of us guys. We're not focused on the past. The past's the past. Some things I did, whether it was offseason and I admitted to, yeah I was wrong. We moved on. We're in a good place right now.
Rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine was back on the field participating in individual drills on Thursday at Giants OTAs. This less than a month after being shot in the backside the morning after he was drafted in the sixth round. Making progress as he gets back to full strength.
Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona (Navy) on Memorial Day weekend: "Memorial Day is a day of reflection. It's great to spend time with family and enjoy that. But it's imperative that every American takes time to reflect on a loved one, a friend, a family member, someone they are connected to who either paid the ultimate sacrifice or served honorably in difficult circumstances. It's a time to reflect upon that and be grateful for it."
Another veteran #NFL player announces retirement... twitter.com/NFL_Titans247/…
Talking Gerald McCoy, #Browns, #Buccaneers, #Colts, #Ravens and more with @michaelkimHD via "The Territory" on… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
A big thanks to Mel Kiper @MelKiperESPN for going over our NFL lists for the magazine and giving us some great input. Thanks as always Mel!
Surprise medical bills give both parties an unexpected opportunity to agree nyti.ms/2HTfwtk via @UpshotNYT
Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds said new pass interference rules will be ‘tough' but will incentivize players to use their feet more than their hands.
When it comes to pass interference, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones wants to be able to correct the obvious missed calls but he does not want a new rule to go too far. “I do think anything that we can do that makes it address a wrong, a wrong - that's a key right there - a wrong, that doesn't disrupt the natural flow or the parts of the game that aren't as disruptive that are hard to call or hard to officiate,” Jones said. “I hope we stay away from those areas because that takes flow out of the game, that costs time, all of that is not in the direction we want to go, not just with officiating but the entertainment, the game part of it. We want to get it right. There's too much at stake. When we have a chance to basically say that we can change something that doesn't have other consequences down the road, the nuances of not necessarily getting the obvious one right, but the nuances of everything else is where you get into all of the debate.”
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones does not believe there will be any actions taken against Ezekiel Elliott by the NFL from the incident early last Sunday morning in Las Vegas. “I think that the main thing is that I don't see anything that needs supporting,” Jones said Thursday. “In terms of his status with us, (it) has not been impacted in any way and frankly I know how conscientious he has been in the offseason and that's good enough. No, I don't see that having any consequences for us.”
The Patriots have signed undrafted rookie WR/PR Gunner Olszewski of Division II Bemidji State (Minnesota). Olszewski, who played CB in college, was present at today's voluntary organized team activity, wearing No. 72. The team had an open roster spot after OT Jared Veldheer was placed on the reserve/retired list on Tuesday.
Per the 49ers, rookie DE Nick Bosa has a grade 1 hamstring strain and will not practice the next few weeks while receiving treatment. That likely means he will not participate in the rest of OTAs or the final minicamp and will return for the start of training camp in July. Bosa tweaked the hamstring in Tuesday's OTA.
LB Jamie Collins, who in spring practices is wearing the same jersey number he donned in college, acknowledged that part of him was surprised to hear from the Patriots as a free agent. He said part of his decision to return was based on family considerations. Collins added that one of the nice parts of returning to New England is reunited with LB Dont'a Hightower, whom he called his "big bro." He also said that being coached by his former teammate Jerod Mayo makes it "even more fun."
Julian Edelman on his contract extension: "I'm born here in my football career. I'm going to have a few more years here. I just want to take a second and thank the Kraft family, Coach Belichick, Nick Caserio, my agents, and everyone that was involved for getting this done. I love being here. I don't want to be anywhere else. I'm excited for this upcoming year … to mold our team and keep it going. I've got a big chip on my shoulder still."
My biggest takeaway from the Patriots' voluntary organized team activity is that the depth is thin at left tackle with 2018 first-round pick Isaiah Wynn (Achilles) and 2019 third-round pick Yodny Cajuste (calf) not yet ready to participate in 11-on-11 drills, and then veteran Jared Veldheer informing the club he plans to retire earlier this week. So that had starting left guard Joe Thuney kicking out to left tackle, where he had played at NC State, with veteran Brian Schwenke moving to left guard.
Pat Mahomes was wearing a helmet visor at practice on Thursday. "We're trying it out,'' Mahomes said. "I definitely like it. Hopefully I keep playing (well) in it. I'm pretty superstitious. If I'm playing well with it, I'll keep it going.''
