NFL about to celebrate New Year: 7 things that will happen this week
Negotiation window opens
The window when teams can begin to negotiate with the representatives of free agents will open Monday at noon ET. This year there are a few tweaks to the so-called “tampering window.” It’s now only two days (compared to three in previous years) teams can now legally discuss contract offers with actual financial terms. In the past, that wasn’t allowed, though it was nearly impossible to enforce. The only restriction is that new contracts may not be executed until March 9.
Happy New Year (sorta)
Building on the first point, the new NFL league year commences at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 9. It’s at this point when all 2015 contracts expire and 2016 deals officially kick in. It’s also the time when prospective free agents can begin to sign their new tenders and when a portion of the majority of 2016 deals become guaranteed. More on that later.
Quarterback market picks up
The quarterback crop is expected to generate significant interest, which undoubtedly means significant money. Brock Osweiler is now in an interesting situation. With Peyton Manning announcing his retirement, he’s the clear heir to the Bronco offense. He can stay with the Denver – a team that is built to win with its formidable defense – and capitalize on momentum he has been fostering over his four seasons as a backup. Or he could test the market and see what kind of big-money offer he can garner. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had a nice campaign for the Jets, could suddenly become a sought-after commodity. But with familiarity in coordinator Chan Gailey’s offense and having bounced around the league, he may be comfortable in New York. Quarterback options are limited, so Osweiler could be in a spot to cash in. If he signs a short-term deal in Denver, however, and follows it up with success, he could be poised for a huge, third contract.
And that brings us to Johnny and RG3
The Redskins have been trying to trade QB Robert Griffin III to get something in return, but they released him Monday morning. Where he lands will be one of the bigger stories of the week. As for Johnny Manziel, the Browns have hinted (not so subtly) all offseason that his time in Cleveland is coming to a close. Once cut, he will be free to sign with any team, though his ongoing investigation for a domestic violence incident in Texas, as well as his many off-field concerns in the past couple of months, may prevent any teams from having significant interest in him.
Pro day plans
With the NFL scouting combine well in the past, NFL coaches, executives and scouts will disperse throughout the country in order to get a closer look at draft-eligible players. That means any lingering questions – on or off the field – that weren’t answered in Indianapolis will be revisited. Notable pro days this week include
March 9
Alabama: running back Derrick Henry, linebacker Reggie Ragland, defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson
March 10
Clemson: defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, cornerback Mackensie Alexander
Oregon: defensive tackle DeForest Buckner
March 11
Ohio State: defensive end Joey Bosa, running back Ezekiel Elliott, cornerback Eli Apple, quarterback Cardale Jones, receiver Braxton Miller, linebacker Darron Lee
More cuts
Mario Williams and Arian Foster, both of whom were veteran cap casualties last week, were just the beginning. With the new league year quickly approaching, a large chunk of most contracts that are still on the books become fully guaranteed. That means any squads in need of financial trimming will release aging veterans whose production didn’t match the salary. Among the players who could be let go: Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson, Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake, Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams, Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons and Browns receiver Dwayne Bowe.
Megatron announcement
The Lions have been willing to wait and see if All-Pro receiver Calvin Johnson will be back for his 10th NFL season. And with a $24 million cap hit in 2016, Detroit needs to figure out – sooner rather than later – what to do with Johnson. Maybe he’ll be back in the fall as a Lion. But if he’s truly undecided about retirement, the Lions may feel it’s best to release him before March 9, to make sure they’ll have a contingency plan on what to do with all the money that his departure would free up.
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter@LorenzoGReyes