Defensive tackles are cashing in
One position that has had no trouble getting paid is defensive tackle. Nine have signed contract extensions worth at least $10 million per year, and that doesn’t include the Jets’ Quinnen Williams, who may end up with the largest contract of the group.
The top contracts were all four-year deals — $94 million for the Titans’ Jeffery Simmons, $90 million for the Commanders’ Daron Payne, $87.5 million for the Giants’ Dexter Lawrence, $84 million for the 49ers’ Javon Hargrave, $68 million for the Bills’ Ed Oliver, and $57 million for the Browns’ Dalvin Tomlinson.
The Falcons’ David Onyemata and Jaguars’ Davon Hamilton each got three years and about $35 million, and the Texans just gave Maliek Collins $23 million over two years. Plus, four defensive tackles got taken in the first round of the draft.
One AFC executive said it was mostly coincidence that several quality players hit free agency this year, like in 2020 when Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox, Grady Jarrett, Chris Jones, and DeForest Buckner reached the market.
“Many teams have valued interior pass rushers as second only to edge rusher in importance to the defense, even ahead of cornerbacks,” the executive said. “It had just been a few years since a number of DTs were up for second contracts at the same time.”
Is league doing enough?
It wouldn’t be an NFL offseason if the league and the Players Association didn’t find something to squabble about. This year, the bickering is over the league’s gambling policy, and whether the NFL is doing enough to educate players and properly explain the rules and consequences. Three players have recently been suspended for the season and two more for six games for violating the league’s gambling policies, and at least one other player is under investigation.
Last week’s column delved into the
NFL’s educational efforts — players are required to watch a video headlined by
Tom Brady, hear a presentation from a league or team official, and sign an acknowledgment that they understand the gambling policy. They are given the entire policy in their player manual, and also a one-page summary of the policy that outlines the key principles — don’t bet on the NFL in any capacity, don’t bet on other sports while in the team facility, don’t enter a sports book during the season, and don’t provide inside information.
The NFL has made a point to highlight all of these educational efforts. This past week, the league sent me unsolicited the one-page summary as well as a link to an interview on NFL Network from NFL executive vice president
Jeff Miller.
But one prominent agent reached out to say that most of the NFL’s educational efforts were lacking or nonexistent in 2022, when many of the recent violations took place. He claimed the teams didn’t spend much time explaining the policy, and sent a copy of last year’s player manual, in which the gambling policy is provided over six pages of a 397-page document.
“A needle in a haystack,” the agent said.
The aggressive nature in which the NFL is promoting its educational efforts creates the impression that this is more about PR than truly making sure the players understand the perils of gambling on football. But it’s still ultimately up to the players to know and follow the rules, no excuses.
Gruden remains in the game
Jon Gruden hasn’t coached since October 2021 after being fired by the Raiders, but he is still involved in the game. Per ESPN, Gruden has been working in Tampa with free agent quarterback Carson Wentz, who still hopes to play this year. And Gruden was in New Orleans last month working with his former quarterback Derek Carr ,as well as some of the Saints’ offensive coaches.
“Obviously, Jon’s a guy that has a lot of experience with Derek, and Derek has had his most success under Jon Gruden,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said.
Carr said he doesn’t agree with some of the homophobic and sexist remarks Gruden made in e-mails that led to his firing, but it was great to see his former coach.
“I can’t express enough how much I love Coach Gruden. He’s family to me,” Carr said. “When all that stuff happened, it was hard for me because you’re mad, you’re frustrated. But you don’t stop loving him, you know?”
Extra points
The NFL and HBO have yet to announce the team for this year’s “Hard Knocks,” offering more proof of how much the show is hated by the teams, especially since each already makes its own behind-the-scenes content for the web and social media. The Detroit
News this past week reported that the NFL approached the Lions about reprising their time in the spotlight after doing the series last year, and the Lions declined. The NFL a few years ago had to create rules to essentially force teams to participate — it has to be a team that missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, and doesn’t have a new head coach. The leaves four candidates for this year: Bears, Saints, Commanders, and Jets. How can the NFL not pick the Jets as they navigate training camp with the biggest story in the league, the addition of Aaron Rodgers ?...Agood stat from BetMassachusetts.com: The Patriots’ Rhamondre Stevenson was the most undervalued running back in the NFL last year, racking up 1,461 all-purpose yards with a salary-cap hit of $1.012 million, costing the Patriots just $693 per all-purpose yard. The Chiefs’ Isaiah Pacheco was next at $755 per yard, followed by Tony Pollard ($821), Dameon Pierce ($823), and Tyler Allgeier ($845) . . . Per multiple reports, the NFL’s finance committee told the 32 owners to be available on July 20 and Aug. 8 as potential dates to vote on the Commanders’ sale from Dan Snyder to a group led by Josh Harris. The deal requires the vote of 24 owners for approval. Harris’s bid has questions about its structure and the amount of debt, but NFL owners are eager to be rid of Snyder . . . The Bengals-Chiefs rivalry is getting fun. Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase said, “Pat who?” when calling
Joe Burrow the best player in the league. Patrick Mahomes responded Thursday night by posting, “That’s Who” and a picture of him wearing his two Super Bowl rings.