Category : Red Zone Rumors

With executive director Lloyd Howell abruptly out, the NFL Players Association needs to replace him. It soon will. Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the NFLPA board of player representatives “is expected to vote” on a new interim executive director before the widespread launch of training camps, on Tuesday. The news

There’s a storm raging within the NFL Players Association, and at times it feels as if we’re in the eye of it. The vast majority of texts and calls to the PFT hotline since the resignation of NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell relate to the next steps for the union.

Joe Burrow didn’t need a Batmobile to bring a few jokers to justice. Authorities in New York have secured a pair of guilty pleas from pawn-shop managers who bought and sold items stolen from the Bengals quarterback’s home last December. On Friday, 43-year-old Dimitriy Nezhinskiy pleaded guilty to one count

In 2001, the Panthers drafted Steve Smith in the third round, played him mostly on special teams as a rookie, and then saw him develop into the best wide receiver in franchise history. This year, the Panthers drafted wide receiver Jimmy Horn in the sixth round, and Horn would love

The Panthers have agreed to terms with second-round edge rusher Nic Scourton, the team announced Saturday night. That means they will have their entire eight-player rookie class under contract when workouts begin Wednesday. The Panthers traded up to select Scourton with the 51st overall pick as they had on first-round

The Bengals signed second-round linebacker LB Demetrius Knight Jr. on Saturday, the team announced. His signing leaves only first-rounder Shemar Stewart unsigned. Knight received nearly 80 percent of his four-year rookie deal guaranteed, Jordan Schultz reports. It’s the first time in NFL history the 49th overall pick has received guarantees

The Saints have agreed to terms with veteran defensive end Jonathan Bullard, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports. Bullard visited with the Saints last month, and his signing will reunite him with Brandon Staley, an assistant with the Bears when Bullard played in Chicago in 2017-18. Bullard, 31, spent the

When it comes to NFL players creating mayhem and/or causing injuries while driving, there is precedent. When it comes to NFL players street racing on a city highway among and around other cars in broad daylight on video, there is no precedent. That’s the most important thing to remember when

The 49ers surprisingly released core special teams player George Odum on Saturday. It turns out Odum underwent elbow surgery last month from an offseason injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. That’s how Odum landed on the non-football injury list earlier this week. Odum should be healed in 6-8 weeks,

Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown tore the ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee in Week 14, which put his entire 2025 season in jeopardy. Overshown always has had a positive outlook, and it appears the medical staff has given him a positive update. “Good news from the Doc! We

The Jets placed edge rusher Jermaine Johnson on the active/physically unable to perform list Saturday, the team announced. Johnson tore his right Achilles in a Week 2 game against the Titans, but he is expected to be ready for the 2025 season opener. He gave an update after the Jets

As the Patriots head to camp, several players are on the physically unable to perform list, or the non-football injury/illness list. Receiver Stefon Diggs is not one of them. That means he is good to go, after the 2024 ACL tear that ended prematurely his lone season with the Texans.

The Jaguars placed linebacker Dennis Gardeck on the active/physically unable to perform list, the team announced Saturday. Gardeck, who signed with the Jaguars last month, can return to the 90-player roster once he passes his physical. He tore the ACL in his right knee on a punt play in a

The Texans signed wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a fully guaranteed deal on May 8, the first time in history for a second-round pick to receive a fully guaranteed deal. It delayed most of the rest of the second round from reaching deals for weeks. One of the 30 second-round

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson will begin training camp on the active/non-football injury list, the team announced. He is one of four players to get that designation, though he, backup quarterback Case Keenum, running back Ian Wheeler and wide receiver Jahdae Walker can return once they pass their physical. The Bears,

The Chiefs have agreed to terms with their second-round pick. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Kansas City and No. 63 overall selection Omarr Norman-Lott have come to terms on the defensive tackle’s four-year rookie contract. Norman-Lott, 23, was the penultimate selection of the second round. He played his first

Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the highest-paid receiver due in the NFL. Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension and Higgins a four-year, $115 million deal. They want to prove they are worth the $276 million. “I’m pretty sure that’s the big thing Cincinnati wants us to do, too,”

The 49ers are moving on from one of their special teams veterans. San Francisco announced on Saturday that the club has released safety George Odum. Odum, 31, had been with San Francisco since 2022. He appeared in 12 games with two starts last season, recording 16 total tackles and four

Richie James landed in the NFL as a seventh-round pick in 2018, and he has called it quit after six seasons. James did not play in 2024, so his final game came in Super Bowl LVIII. He announced his retirement in a social media post. “It took time but I

Saints second-round pick Tyler Shough is the favorite to win the starting quarterback job in New Orleans, and so the team didn’t want anything to keep him out of the start of training camp. As a result, the Saints agreed today to give Shough a fully guaranteed rookie contract, according

Holdouts often are couched in terms of the player wanting more, with the not-so-subtle suggestion that they want too much. They’re holding out, for more. It’s often more accurate to say they’re standing firm for what they deserve, and that the team is being unreasonable. That it’s not about the

With D.C.’s exclusive window closed, other jurisdictions are joining the chase for a new Commanders stadium. A recent report from WUSA9.com indicates that Maryland and Virginia have resurrected potential efforts to host the team, now that July 15 has come and gone. Per the report, both states have recently contacted

The NFL took no action against Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice despite eight felony counts arising from a street-racing incident because the league generally takes no action against a player who faces criminal charges until the case is resolved. Now that the case is resolved, the NFL will move forward with

It arrives one month from today. And you can get one of the first copies printed. This weekend’s giveaway will give you the second copy of Big Shield that comes out of the first box of books I receive. (The first copy goes straight to the PFT barn.) To enter,

The NFL Players Association’s board of player representatives met on Friday night, a day after executive director Lloyd Howell abruptly resigned. The first order of business remains naming an interim executive director, while the search for a new one commences. And the first battle in the unfolding Game of Thrones

Super Bowl rings include plenty of subtle details. The Eagles’ new ring has an obvious one. Engraved on the inside is a Brazilian flag. It commemorates the fact that the road to Super Bowl LIX began in São Paulo, with a 34-29 win over the Packers. The team has posted

There’s a loose rule of thumb among NFL agents that goes like this. If the financial details of a player’s contract aren’t reported within 24 hours of the deal coming to light, there’s nothing about the deal to justify bragging. That concept was mentioned during a recent episode of #PFTPM

The Vikings finished the regular season tied for the second-best record in the NFC last year, but because they didn’t win their division, they were the No. 5 seed. That meant they opened the playoffs on the road. And Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson has a problem with that. Jefferson was

Another team has settled a contract with a second-round pick. The Raiders have agreed to terms with receiver Jack Bech on his four-year rookie deal, per Tashan Reed of TheAthletic.com. Bech, the No. 58 overall pick of this year’s draft, was one of several second-round picks who had not agreed

The Lions announced their previously reported deal with second-round pick Tate Ratledge on Friday afternoon and they also shared news of three other signings. In addition to getting the offensive lineman under contract, the Lions also signed defensive back DiCaprio Bootle, defensive back Tyson Russell, and running back Jabari Small.

Some things are worth the wait. The Eagles were supposed to get their Super Bowl LIX rings on June 6. “Production issues” delayed the issuance of the trinkets. Tonight, they’ve gotten them. It’s the second Super Bowl championship for Philadelphia. And they’ve gotten their rings just in time for training

The Dolphins have agreed to terms with their second-round pick. Miami has agreed to a fully guaranteed contract with guard Jonah Savaiinaea, according to a report from NFL Media. Savaiinaea was the No. 37 overall pick of this year’s draft. His deal has implications for Browns running back Quinshon Judkins,

The dam broke for signing second-round picks this week and the outbreak has now spread to Indianapolis. NFL Media reports that the Colts have agreed to terms with defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau. It’s a four-year contract for the 45th overall pick and, given the other deals signed in the second

The Bears have agreed to terms with their final member of the 2025 draft class. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, receiver Luther Burden III has agreed to terms on a fully guaranteed rookie contract. With his contract, Burden becomes the first player selected at No. 39 overall to receive a

With NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell out, it’s more than fair to be curious about the future of NFLPA chief strategy officer JC Tretter. And we’re not the only ones who have curiosity. Tretter served as NFLPA president when a top-secret process resulted in Howell being hired. Then,

It’s becoming harder and harder to keep up with the various twists and turns in the disintegration of Lloyd Howell’s two-year run as the NFL Players Association’s executive director. Here’s something that seems odd, to say the least. On Thursday, ESPN reported on the existence of an internal disagreement regarding

The NFL Players Association has a mess on its hands. The effort to clean it up commences tonight. Via Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the NFLPA board of player representatives will meet on Friday night to discuss the union’s next steps following Thursday night’s sudden and surprising resignation of

In late February, a deal was in place to make Bill Belichick’s North Carolina program the subject of offseason Hard Knocks. And then it wasn’t. Now, there’s a deal for the UNC infomercial to land on Hulu, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of FrontOfficeSports.com. The show, per the report, will be

Offensive tackle Anthony Belton is among the latest second-round picks to sign his first NFL contract. The Packers announced that Belton’s deal was done on Friday afternoon. Belton was the 54th overall pick and he’s part of a rush of second-rounders who have signed in the last few days after

Another 2025 second-round pick has landed a fully guaranteed rookie deal. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Patriots signed running back TreVeyon Henderson on Friday. Henderson was the 38th overall pick in the draft and word of his agreement comes after 37th pick Jonah Savaiinaea and 39th pick Luther

Several Packers players are opening training camp on injured lists. The Packers put offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, running back Amar Johnson and kicker Alex Hale on the non-football injury list today. The Packers also put linebacker Quay Walker, wide receiver Christian Watson, defensive back Micah Robinson, guard John Williams and

Brandon Aiyuk was not the only wide receiver to land on the 49ers’ physically unable to perform list on Friday. The team announced that Ricky Pearsall has also landed on the list. Pearsall was dealing with a hamstring injury during the team’s OTAs and he can be activated at any

A member of the Chargers’ coaching staff has departed the franchise. Via Daniel Popper of TheAthletic.com, assistant defensive line coach Will Tukuafu has stepped down for personal reasons. Tukuafu, 41, played under head coach Jim Harbaugh with the 49ers. Harbaugh brought him on staff last year when he was hired

Lloyd Howell is gone, but that hasn’t stopped the reports from emerging. Via Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler of ESPN.com, Howell’s resignation came after an outside investigator received documents this week showing that Howell charged the NFL Players Association for a pair of visits to strip clubs. It’s

Lions offensive linemanst Tate Ratledge has joined the growing list of second-round picks to agree to their rookie deals. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that Ratledge has agreed to a deal that guarantees 66 percent of his salary in the third year of the deal. Negotiations about

Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe offered, per his lawyer, at least $10 million to settle a sexual assault claim before a lawsuit was filed in April 2025. Now, Sharpe will be paying an amount that likely exceeds $10 million. By more than a few bucks. From the accuser’s

Work at the site of the new Tennessee Titans stadium has stopped after a noose was found at the site of the construction. Via Turron Davenport of ESPN.com, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is investigating the incident. “This week, a racist and hateful symbol was discovered on our site,” the

At a time when some within the NFL Players Association are overly sensitive about outside scrutiny, there’s some significant internal scrutiny happening in the aftermath of the sudden resignation of executive director Lloyd Howell. PFT has obtained an email message sent by NFLPA lead security officer Craig Jones to all

The Chargers are set to make an addition to Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff. Pete Thamel of ESPN.com reports that Chuka Ndulue will be joining the team as an assistant defensive line coach. Ndulue was the defensive line coach at Colorado State. Ndulue joined that staff in 2024 after spending two

The Seahawks have gotten their second 2025 second-round pick under contract. Seattle has agreed to terms on tight end Elijah Arroyo’s four-year rookie deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Arroyo, 22, was the No. 50 overall pick in this year’s draft. He was selected 15 picks after Seattle took safety Nick