NFL News & Notes

[Bengals1]

Brad Spielberger @PFF_Brad
Have now heard from a few different folks the 2021 NFL salary cap should ultimately end up in the $185-$188M range
TV deals probably still have to be finalized, but growing optimism it may only drop about ~$10M from 2020’s $198.2M number, not close to $20M as previously expected

[Bengals1]

Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Packers released LB Christian Kirksey and OT Rick Wagner.

[Jmble]

The Eagles released DeSean Jackson.

[Mag]

Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Packers released LB Christian Kirksey and OT Rick Wagner.

Wagner, 32, would be a good pickup if he decides to keep playing (rumor has it he's mulling retirement). Get him for 2 years as a bridge to the future starter. He'd be a consolation prize if the team misses on higher tier FA OTs.

[Bengals1]

Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
#Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was diagnosed with COVID-19 & is away from the team facility, sources say. A team spokesman would not confirm the specific case, but did say members of the coaching & personnel staffs were sent home last week after a couple positives came up.

[Bengals1]

Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
The #Jaguars are expected to decline the team option for TE Tyler Eifert’s contract, source said. He was to earn a little under $5M for 2021, but now he’ll be a free agent.

[Jmble]

Tennessee Titans' 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Wilson says he's 'done with football as a Titan' in since-deleted tweet

Not sure we want that kind of attitude in the locker room, but he's definitely intriguing at a position of need.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nearly a week after being put on notice by the team's general manager, Tennessee Titans 2020 first-round NFL draft pick Isaiah Wilson wrote on Twitter on Monday night that he is "done with football as a Titan" before deleting the tweet soon after.

Wilson was the 29th overall selection in April's draft but played only four snaps in his rookie season, which culminated in him being placed on the non-football injury list in December. Before that, Wilson found himself on the reserve/COVID-19 list twice last year, during training camp and in October.

Titans GM puts '20 1st-rounder Wilson on notice
The rookie right tackle also had a couple of run-ins with the law. The first incident came when Tennessee State University police broke up an off-campus party that Wilson had attended during training camp. In their report, the police documented that Wilson went to the second-floor balcony, where he appeared to briefly consider jumping. He received a trespass warning.

The second incident occurred when Wilson was arrested and charged with a DUI in September when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a concrete wall.

Titans GM Jon Robinson addressed Wilson's status during a virtual news conference on Tuesday, telling reporters he had not spoken to Wilson since putting him on the NFI list and suggesting that Wilson "makes a determination on whether he wants to do what it takes to play pro football."

The Titans signed Wilson to a four-year, $11.6 million contract in August. Tennessee would have a $5.4 million salary-cap charge if it releases him.

Wilson's agency did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by ESPN on Monday night.

[Joe Bananas]

Let's see, probably drinking, disorderly, trespassing, and a DUI

Yes, he's definitely Bengals material!

[Bengals1]

Ben Roethlisberger’s agent says Steelers want the quarterback to return
Posted by Charean Williams on February 23, 2021

Steelers team president Art Rooney II met with Ben Roethlisberger on Tuesday. The meeting went well, according to a report afterward.

Apparently, the meaning of “the meeting went well” is both sides have agreed to give it another go.


Ryan Tollner, the quarterback’s agent, told Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network that the Steelers “want Ben back and will contact me soon to address his cap situation. As we’ve shared since the season ended, we are happy to creatively adjust his contract to help them build the best team possible. A year ago, Ben wasn’t sure if he could throw again, but he battled back to get 12 wins and the eighth division title of his career. They lost steam down the stretch and that doesn’t sit well for him, so the fire burns strong, and there is plenty of gas in the tank.”

The Steelers will have to rework Roethlisberger’s contract, which calls for a whooping $41.25 million salary cap hit for 2021. Roethlisberger already said he is willing to work with the team to make it work, which means a pay cut of some sort.

The Steelers created doubt about whether they wanted Roethlisberger to return last week. General Manager Kevin Colbert was noncommittal about Roethlisberger playing an 18th season with the team.

Roethlisberger, who turns 39 next month, remains the team’s best option at the position despite his age and his dropoff late last season. In the final five regular-season games he played, Roethlisberger threw nine touchdowns and had six turnovers as the Steelers went only 2-3.

Roethlisberger then threw four touchdowns and four interceptions in the wild-card playoff loss to the Browns.

But Roethlisberger’s return prevents the Steelers from hunting for a starting quarterback this offseason when they are up against the cap or from handing the reins to Mason Rudolph, who is 5-4 in his career as a starter.

[4256 Hits]

Ben Roethlisberger’s agent says Steelers want the quarterback to return

Best news I read all day. His body is done, he took beatings that Brady and Brees never did.