NFL Notes: Bills, Colts, Redskins, Texans

Bills

Former Bills HC Rex Ryan explained that the one player he “definitely did not want to lose” was WR Chris Hogan, who signed a restricted deal with the Patriots last year.

“This one drives me crazy because that was the one player I definitely did not want to lose when I was at Buffalo,” Ryan said, via PatsPulpit.com. “Not only was he really our best receiver that year, remember, he was third, I think, in the league in yards per reception, he averaged over 17 yards a catch, so that was impressive, but he was also our best special teams player. This kid’s a great football player, a great competitor, and a great athlete. You know, obviously, he was a multi-sport athlete in college and you don’t want to lose these guys.”

According to Ryan, he thought former GM Doug Whaley was going to tender Hogan at the second-round level, but that didn’t happen and the Bills ultimately declined to match the three-year, $12 million offer he got from the Patriots.

“Let’s just say I wasn’t real happy,” Ryan said. “You know at first, here’s what happened, this is how uninformed I was at that time. I’m thinking, okay, well we get a second round pick. So I was disappointed, but I’m like, anyway we’ll get a second round pick so that’s pretty cool. No, the tender wasn’t high enough. So that’s when I left the office, was not happy. Let’s just put it that way. Then the fact that you gotta go against the guy. That was, but that’s it. That’s what [Belichick] does. He’ll make a team worse and make his own team better. That’s his brilliant — that’s a guy who runs a whole show, he runs the entire program, whether it’s the draft, and with the draft, trades, free agents, whatever, and obviously the guy knows football better than anybody out there and that’s why I think he takes advantage of running his own show.”

Colts

• Michael Lombardi of TheRinger believes Jon Gruden will end up being the head coach of the Colts next year if they fire Chuck Pagano after this season.
• In fact, Lombardi goes as far to “guarantee” Gruden will be the Colts new head coach next year if they do, in fact, part ways with Pagano.

Redskins

• Master Tesfatsion reports that RB Chris Thompson‘s new contract, which includes a two-year extension, is essentially a three-year contract worth $9,752,800.
• According to Tesfatsion, Thompson receives $6.466 million guaranteed as part of this deal, which includes a $3 million signing bonus.
• Thompson will carry cap figures of $2,506,880 (2017), $3,246,000 (2018) and $4 million (2019).
• Jason La Canfora reports that Redskins C Spencer Long is expected to start and be full go for Sunday’s game after a recent knee scope.

Texans

• Texans GM Rick Smith said of LT Duane Brown‘s holdout: “We’d like for him to be a part of our team & we look forward to him coming back.” (Sirius XM NFL Radio)
• Brown is not expected to report to the team in time for their Week 1 game against the Jaguars. (NFLTR)