2017 HOF
- Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk points out that LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Hines Ward, Brian Dawkins and Donovan McNabb are the best players who are eligible for induction in 2017.
Browns
Browns LT Joe Thomas mentioned that losing C Alex Mack and RT Mitchell Schwartz in free agency would obviously be a major setback for them.
“I understand from a business standpoint they need to move on if they get a better offer somewhere else. I certainly would understand it, but I definitely hope that they’re back,” Thomas said, via Cleveland.com. “I don’t know what the Browns’ perspective is on it. I feel like we have a lot of salary cap space to spend on it. … We have the best right tackle and the best center in the NFL and I’d certainly like to keep those guys. You’re not going to make your team better by getting a worse player at those positions.”
Panthers
- Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer writes that the Panthers are likely to use their franchise tag on CB Josh Norman to buy them additional time to workout a long-term deal.
- Should the Panthers elect to cur DE Jared Allen or see him retire, they would pick up $8.5 million in available cap space.
- With this in mind, Jones mentions that they don’t have to cut DE Charles Johnson, but could still ask him to rework his contract.
- Jones anticipates Carolina approaching DT Kawann Short regarding a contract extension while also picking up Star Lotulelei‘s fifth-year option.
- Jones doesn’t rule out the possibility of the Panthers bringing back WR Jerricho Cotchery.
- In regards to the draft, Jones suggests drafting a potential successor to veteran LT Michael Oher.
- Jones could see them having interest in veteran RB Matt Forte, but this would only be if Jonathan Stewart is no longer with the team.
- Jones believes FB Mike Tolbert could be re-signed.
- Interestingly enough, Jones thinks free agent S Eric Weddle could be an option for the Panthers. Re-signing S Roman Harper to a short-term deal is another possibility.
- Jones can see the Panthers re-signing WR/QB Joe Webb to a one- to two-year deal.
Patriots
- Mike Reiss mentions that the Patriots are unlikely to use their franchise tag on any of their unrestricted free agents in the coming weeks.
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RT Mitchell Schwartz would be better off moving on to another team like the Panthers. The Browns front office just can’t seem to get it together in the draft or FA. From HC’s o the rest of the coaching staff seems like a circus act.
If Mitchell Schwartz wants to ever be on a contending team he needs to come here IMO.
Sure could go to the Patriots or NYG, but what would the benefit be. 1. Patriots roll players like rolling the dice, plus just fired their o-line coach. NYG just has to much Drama and HC Tom Coughlin resigned.
Mitchell Schwartz would benefit landing on a team that has a great coaching staff in place and 1 of the best o-line coaches in the league in John Matsko.
I trust GM Dave Gettleman to do the hard thing right. The job he has done in the last 3 years has been unremarkable.
If we lose a great player there is a reason behind it. We will see.