NFL Notes: Khalil Mack, Martavis Bryant, Colts

Khalil Mack

Raiders HC Jon Gruden told reporters on Sunday that they didn’t come close to offering Khalil Mack the kind of money the Bears did.

“I don’t believe we were anywhere close to where the Bears were,” Gruden said, via Pro Football Talk. “He got a great contract from the Bears. A great contract. You know, $90 million guaranteed is an astronomical number, it’s phenomenal for the players, great for him obviously. But that was something we could not do.”

As for the decision to trade Mack, Gruden admitted that they’re going to be criticized for the move: “We’re going to be second-guessed until the cows come home on this; I understand that. But, bottom line is, we did do our due diligence, there was a standoff, and he got a great contract from the Bears – a great contract.”

• According to Gruden, he was not involved in the decision to include a second-round pick that went back to the Bears in the Mack trade. (Adam Schefter)

Martavis Bryant

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie said the team released WR Martavis Bryant on Saturday because it became evident that they could not count on Bryant after missing practice with “minor ailments.”

“The bottom line: With the competition we had, we feel like we got some good players, man,” said McKenzie, via ESPN. “And with Martavis, he missed some practice, a lot of practice time with minor ailments, and guys just came in and competed. And at the end of the day, the guys we rewarded were the guys who came to work every day and made plays. We just didn’t see it from him at the end of the day. It made it clear that he was not going to be one of the guys we were going to be able to count on.”

Raiders HC Jon Gruden later admitted that they will be criticized for the decision to trade a third-round pick for Bryant, but he seemed to indicate that they could consider bringing him back next year.

“The guy’s a superb talent. The guy’s got great talent,” Gruden said, via Pro Football Talk. “We’ll be criticized for that but it was a risk I think well worth taking. Perhaps we’ll get Martavis again next year and get the best out of him.”

Colts

Colts GM Chris Ballard admitted that it was a tough call to part ways with veteran DE/OLB John Simon.

“I’m close to John Simon,” Ballard said, via Zak Keefer of the Indy Star. “He’s one of my favorite guys and one of my favorite players, and he knows it. That was tough. You can point the finger directly at me … it just didn’t work.”

“Don’t sit there for a second and think that one doesn’t stick with me.”

“John Simon is a pro, he’s a pro,” Ballard added. “John Simon is going to go play and play for somebody and play his butt off … but sometimes you gotta move forward, sometimes you gotta make those tough decisions.”