Tag: nfl free agency 2023

Odell Beckham, Jets have ‘informal’ chat at NFL meetings

PHOENIX — The NFL meetings had a surprise guest Tuesday: free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. 

Beckham, who lives in Arizona, dropped into the Arizona Biltmore — where most of the NFL owners, general managers and coaches are this week — and chatted up several GMs and coaches, including Jets head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. 

A source said the meeting was “very informal” and they just chatted in a courtyard at the hotel.

Beckham also spent time talking to Rams GM Les Snead and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski.

CBS Sports reported that Beckham has had a formal meeting with the Ravens. 

The Jets have admitted they are interested in Beckham.

“I’ve had some productive conversations with Odell’s agent, Zeke Sandhu,” Douglas said Monday. “Odell is obviously a really talented player. He worked out for several teams a few weeks ago.

“We’ll see how that process plays out, but we have had conversations.”

Aaron Rodgers has said he would like to play with Beckham, and it is possible the two sides will end up making a deal at some point this offseason.


Joe Douglas and the Jets continue to stay in contact with Odell Beckham.
USA TODAY Sports

Beckham’s price may have to come down, however, before the Jets can do a deal with him. 

Team owner Woody Johnson said the fact Beckham is even considering the Jets shows how improved they are as a team. 

“The fact that Odell Beckham, a man of his character and the quality and his ability, would consider us and want to be with us if that’s what he wants is pretty much a compliment,” Johnson said. 

Beckham was at the hotel for about an hour and was accompanied by his agent, Zeke Sandhu. 

Douglas said on Monday that there was nothing scheduled with Beckham so his drop-in to the Biltmore may have been unexpected.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Baker Mayfield lands with Buccaneers in NFL free agency

Baker Mayfield has a new home.

The 27-year-old quarterback is signing a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL free agency, according to multiple reports.

Mayfield now figures to be in the catbird seat to be Tom Brady’s successor after the future Hall of Famer retired for good this offseason.

The move also likely eliminates any possibility that Brady returns to Tampa Bay, as he did last year after announcing his retirement – slim as those chances may have been.

Mayfield, a former No. 1 overall pick with the Browns, has bounced around the league after four underwhelming seasons in Cleveland.

He was traded to the Carolina Panthers last offseason after the Browns landed Deshaun Watson, then was cut halfway through the season and resurfaced with the Los Angeles Rams.


Baker Mayfield
Getty Images

Mayfield went 1-3 with the Rams, but head coach Sean McVay expressed interest in retaining him, either as a backup or a possible security blanket in case injured quarterback Matthew Stafford doesn’t recover properly ahead of the 2023 season.

Instead, Mayfield took a job with the Buccaneers, where he has a much greater chance of starting.

He will likely compete with Kyle Trask, whom Tampa Bay selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Mike White leaves Jets for Dolphins

Mike White is effin’ gone.

White, who started seven games at quarterback over the last two years for the Jets, agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $16 million with the Dolphins, a source confirmed.

White will back up Tua Tagovailoa in Miami.


Quarterback Mike White following a Jets win in November 2022.
Robert Sabo for the NY POST

For White, 27, this is a homecoming.

He grew up in Pembroke Pines, Fla., and attended South Florida University before transferring to Western Kentucky.

The Jets felt White was a quality backup and expressed some interest in bringing him back, but it did not make sense for them as they pursued a veteran quarterback that was going to cost a lot of money.

The team also has Zach Wilson on the roster.


Quarterback Mike White throws the ball during Jets practice in November 2022.
Bill Kostroun for the NY Post

White’s most memorable moment with the Jets came in 2021 when he started in place of an injured Wilson against the Bengals.

He threw for 405 yards and led the Jets to a stunning 34-31 upset of Cincinnati, which would go on to win the AFC.

The Hall of Fame asked for some pieces of his uniform to display from that game.

After the game, he was referred to as Mike “Effin” White by his teammates and became a folk hero.


Mike White speaks to the media following the Jets’ loss to the Seahawks in January 2023.
AP

White injured his arm in the Jets’ next game against the Colts and things fizzled out for him.

White became a starter again in late November after Wilson was benched.

Follow the Post’s NFL Free Agency live coverage

White led the Jets to a win over the Bears but suffered broken ribs two weeks later in a loss to the Bills.

He missed two games before returning against the Seahawks in a game in which he never looked like himself.

The Jets liked White and he had a shot at grabbing the long-term starting job if he had not been injured.

Now, he will be on a rival.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Baltimore ice cream shop makes him a flavor

Here’s your new scoop on Lamar Jackson.

No, it’s not about his potential new contract, possible new team, or anything related to his play on the field or negotiations off of it.

It’s an actual scoop of ice cream, made to support him in search of a long-awaited new deal with the Ravens.

The Charmery, a Baltimore-based ice cream shop, has debuted a new flavor on their menu called “Pay Lamar,” which is essentially peanut butter and caramel ice cream with chocolate chips and roasted peanuts.

Think PAYDAY the candy bar — but with more of a confrontational connotation.


Charmery ice cream shop in Baltimore, who debuted a new flavor, PAY LAMAR, in support of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returning to the team on a new contract.
@TheCharmery on Instagram

The Ravens placed a $32.416 million non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson earlier this week.

As a result, they’ll have until July 17 to reach a multi-year extension before that number becomes permanent for the 2023 season.

Under league rules, Jackson is free to negotiate with other teams, but his options could be thinning as the Carolina Panthers have traded up for the No. 1 overall pick and the Miami Dolphins exercised oft-injured signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, which will pay him a fully guaranteed $23.4 million in 2024.

The Jets are looking for a quarterback, but they appear to be zeroed in on Aaron Rodgers.

The Charmery’s owner, and longtime Ravens fan, David Alima said that he and his friends “love Lamar [Jackson] and want to see him stay in Baltimore,” according to The Baltimore Banner.


The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson.
Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Lamar Jackson (8) was the NFL’s MVP award winner in 2019.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“[Jackson] deserves every bit of money that he feels he deserves. Whatever he thinks he’s worth, I’m in agreement with him,” Alima added.

“I don’t proclaim to know the inside workings of the business,” continued Alima, who has owned The Charmery for over 10 years with his wife, Laura, according to the report.

“All I know is that Lamar is worth every single penny that he feels he’s deserved. That’s why I want to pay him.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Eyes on Ravens, Lamar Jackson at NFL franchise tag deadline

The Ravens are firmly up against the clock. 

As Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline looms for NFL teams to use the franchise tag on players, all eyes remain on Lamar Jackson. 

Baltimore and Jackson were poised to continue to talk about a long-term deal right up to that deadline, Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome told “The Bernie Kosar Show” on Monday.

But after over two years of trying to reach an agreement, all signs point to the franchise tag as a temporary resolution. 

The superstar quarterback and the Ravens have been in talks for a lucrative contract extension each of the last two offseasons, but haven’t been able to reach common ground. 

Head coach John Harbaugh and GM Eric DeCosta have made their intent for a long-term deal clear, but there’s seemingly still a large gap — particularly over guaranteed money — between the two sides.

If he’s tagged, Jackson will earn a guaranteed $32.4 million on a one-year deal. 


Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will negotiate over a long-term deal right up to the franchise tag deadline.
AP

Elsewhere, the Cowboys tagged breakout running back Tony Pollard after he recorded 1,007 rushing yards, 371 receiving yards, nine rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns. All were career-highs.

The tag will pay Pollard a guaranteed $10.09 million for one season. 

After previously not picking up his fifth-year option, the Raiders officially tagged running back Josh Jacobs, who led the league in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage last year, on Monday.


Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have tried to. reach common ground each of the last two offseasons.
Getty Images

He’ll earn the same $10.09 million for one season as Pollard, giving both their respective teams another season to weigh a long-term deal and prove their breakout seasons weren’t anomalies. 

Polarizing ex-Giants tight end Evan Engram enjoyed his own career year with the Jaguars (73 catches for 766 yards, both career-highs).

In return, the Jaguars slapped the tag on him Monday, earning him $11.35 million guaranteed for one year. 


Evan Engram enjoyed a career year in his first season with the Jaguars.
Getty Images

The Commanders will continue to negotiate with star defensive tackle Daron Payne, but the team tagged him Monday.

If Washington doesn’t reach a long-term deal, Payne will earn $18.94 million guaranteed for one year. 

As they try to sort out their salary cap, the Chiefs have decided not to franchise tag left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., which will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. 

If the Giants reach an agreement for a long-term deal with Daniel Jones by the deadline, they will likely use the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley.

If they can’t reach a deal with Jones, they will be forced to use the tag on him, which will earn him the same $32.4 million as Jackson. 

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version