NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Packers, & Redskins

Buccaneers

Vincent Jackson

Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com reports that the Buccaneers will retain veteran WR Vincent Jackson at his full salary in 2016.

Reynolds points to the fact that there’s a week free agent market for receivers, so Jackson’s salary isn’t all that unreasonable. On top of that, this year’s draft class doesn’t include a good crop of receivers to bring in.

Lovie Smith

Reynolds spoke to some well-connected league sources at the Senior Bowl about the Buccaneers’ decision to fire HC Lovie Smith, and there apparently wasn’t a lot of sympathy for the veteran coach.

One source told Reynolds DC Leslie Fraizer got “a raw deal” when Smith decided to strip him of his play-calling duties

“Everybody could see the progress they were making at the end of that year,” Reynolds’ source said. “I don’t know why Lovie would do that other than ego. It backfired.”

Falcons

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff admitted that 2016 could be a make-or-break season for him with the organization.

“Again, I’ve said this to you for years now, I believe every year is,” Dimitroff said, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN. “That’s what I believe. I believe this year, just like last year, is about the success of this organization. That’s my responsibility. There’s no doubt in my mind that I look at it every year as I need to produce in order to keep my job. That’s just the way it is.”

Dimitroff also owned up to the team’s personnel failures in recent years.

“Like anything, this business is the way it is: You’re going to have some hits, and you’re going to have misses,” Dimitroff said. “And I understand that. The fan base deserves a very good product here. The media is going to report on it. I feel very strongly about that. I understand what my responsibility are, and I take full responsibility for where this organization is right now as far as the acquisition process. That is ultimately my duty, and that’s where my focus is.”

Packers

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that second-year QB Brett Hundley is expected to take over as the Packers’ backup quarterback in 2016.
• This means that No. 2 QB Scott Tolzien, who is an unrestricted free agent, is likely to be playing elsewhere next year.

Redskins

Now that the Chiefs and Eagles have locked up Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz to long-term deals, the Redskins and TE Jordan Reed should have a good idea of the type of extension it will take to keep him in Washington long-term.

Joel Corry mentions that Reed’s injury history and the Redskins affinity for per-game active roster bonuses will likely result him some large bonuses included in Reed’s next contract.