NFL Notes: Bruce Arians, Bills, Jets & Saints

Bruce Arians

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians explained how he was fired by the Steelers during an interview with Andrea Kramer of “Real Sports.”

“I got a call on Monday and said, ‘I can’t get you the money.’ I said, ‘Okay.’ He said, ‘No, I can’t get you a contract.’ I said, ‘Are you firing me?’ He said, ‘No…’ ‘Well… it’s just a matter of words, Mike [Tomlin]. Okay. If I don’t have a contract, I’m fired.’ And he said, ‘I’m going to fly down and talk.’ Said, ‘Why waste the money and the time?’ And so that was it. Walked upstairs and told my wife. And I’ve never seen her cry. And she cried.”

Arians adds that he felt betrayed by the team because he felt that he had done a good job.

“Because I had done a good job. Maybe not the right image, but it was a damn good job,” Arians said, via the Arizona Republic. “I was pissed. But again, time heals things. I had retired.  Legitimately retired.”

In regards to what led to his departure, Arians said that they wanted him to run the ball more and some within the team felt that he was too close to QB Ben Roethlisberger.

Bills

• Joe Buscaglia of WBKO writes that if Bills WR Marquise Goodwin qualifies for the Olympics, “the writing may just be on the wall for his Bills career.“
• Buscaglia points out that if Goodwin gets to the finals in the long jump, which is scheduled for August 13, it would likely cost him half of training camp, and that could be before he’s in game shape.

Jets

• Jets franchise DL Muhammad Wilkerson says he’s “frustrated” by his lingering contract situation: “Yeah, I’m surprised. Frustrated. But what can I do?” (Mike Galvin)

Saints

The New Orleans Saints announced that owner Tom Benson has reached a settlement with trustees regarding his estate.

“The parties have informed the National Football League and the National Basketball Association of the terms related to the framework of the settlement. Operations for all Tom Benson business properties including the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, WVUE-FOX 8, automotive dealerships and Benson Tower remain “business as usual.””

• Katherine Terrell doesn’t think LB Darrelle Ellerbe will be on the roster bubble this summer, due to the team’s lack of experience at linebacker. However, Terrell admits that playing time for Ellerbe is by no means guaranteed.