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#Danny and Jason decided to just go with it as bros in the beginning but then feelings happened
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Greaser Serpents | Part 1
A/N: Currently, I am infatuated with Sweet Pea from Riverdale and I have no clue why since he wasn’t in season 3 that much (also season 3 sucked, just saying), but I can’t seem to get this Serpent out of my head, so I decided, why not start writing imagines and one shots and fanfics about him? So, since I would LOVE to see Riverdale do Grease, I decided to write a mini-series myself. Where OC Luna Simmons, a clean-cut, dutiful Northsider is cast in the school musical as Sandy and the loyal, Northside-hating Serpent is cast as Danny. Somewhere between all the hate between the two, suddenly grows a little love too. 
Pairing: Sweet Pea x OC
Words: 2150
Warnings: none? 
Situated: somewhere during season 2, instead of Carrie: the musical. 
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“I’m directing Grease for this year’s musical,” announces Kevin when they’re all sat in the lounge together before classes start. They all look up at him, a small smile playing on each of their lips. Between all the chaos of the black hood and the red circle and everything with Hiram Lodge, the gang could use some good news. Something to focus on outside of the drama.  “I so love you for that,” Luna says with a wide smile plastered on her face. Luna Simmons isn’t new to the gang. She’s lived in Riverdale from the day she was born, next door to the Coopers on Elm Street. She’s been through everything with these kids: Jason Blossom’s murder last year, Veronica joining the gang, the drugs going around, the Sugarman, the Black Hood. And now, when Southside High School has been closed down and Jughead is back at Riverdale High, so are some other troublemakers. To say she can’t stand most of the Serpents is the understatement of the year. Toni Topaz is the only one she can stand. The pinkhaired lady greets her in the hallways, and they sit together in English class. But for some reason, she really cannot stand Sweet Pea nor Fangs. They seem too aggressive for her liking. They always need to solve every problem with violence, and it’s just not Luna’s forte. Musicals, however, and especially Grease, is her forte.  “When are auditions?” Betty asks her best friend.  “No auditions needed, just tell me who you want to play, and I’ll think about it,” Kevin replies, knowing how talented all of his friends are. “The Serpents are doing sets and decor, Toni is doing choreography,” he explains further, sending a shiver down Luna’s spine just thinking about working with the Serpents.  “Per Weatherbee’s orders, I assume?” Veronica retorts. A chuckle erupts from Luna’s body. Kevin nods his head while scrunching up his nose.  “Oh yeah,” he replies. Luna already thinks about what she’s going to do when she’s playing either Marty or Frenchy. Because, let’s face it, she won’t get the role of Sandy. That one has Betty Cooper written all over it. But Luna would be grateful to play an iconic character like Marty or Frenchy. 
“Patty Simcox? Who the hell is Patty Simcox?” Cheryl screams when she sees the character line-up for the musical Kevin had posted on Monday morning. Luna, who just happened to pass by when Cheryl cried out, decides to take a look, just to see whether she got the role of Marty or Frenchy. But, when her eyes fall upon the top of the page where her name is written behind SANDY. Her eyes widen before they glance down to DANNY. Upon seeing the name of Sweet Pea, her stomach churns and her face heats up to the point of nearly exploding. She rips the paper off the board and storms into the lounge where she finds Kevin, Betty and Jughead on the sofas.  “I THOUGHT THE SERPENTS ONLY HELPED WITH SETS?!” she screams at the director, pushing the paper into his chest aggressively. “You know I can’t stand them, Kev, and you still paired me up with fucking Sweet Pea of all people!” she paces the room in a petty rage, instead of being happy she got a leading role.  “Listen, Lunes, I lacked a couple of actors and let’s be honest, Sweet Pea would be a perfect Danny,” Kevin reasons with her, staying calm.  “Kevin is right, Luna,” Betty agrees with him and Luna stops in her tracks to look at the girl-next-door. “Sweet Pea would be one hell of a Danny.” Just at that moment, Sweet Pea and Fangs enter the lounge too, stopping upon hearing the Serpent’s name. Luna makes eye contact with him, suddenly seeing him as Danny. Fuck, he would be a great Danny.  “Wait, what?” the boy asks, tilting his head a little.  “I casted you as Danny for the musical,” Kevin tells him and stands up to hand him the paper, “But since our Sandy over there ripped off the paper in a rage, no one really knows,” he points at Luna, glaring at her for a second.  “I’m not playing in a fucking musical,” Sweet Pea snarls, pushing the paper back into the director’s arms. “I said I would work on sets, not actually play in your stupid play.” the boy growls and walks over to the vending machine for a snack.  “It’s either this or being suspended, Sweet Pea,” Jughead warns him from his spot on the couch next to his girlfriend.  “Fine,” Sweet Pea growls, “But I’m not rehearsing any shit with her,” it sounds bitter coming from his mouth as he sends a glare towards Luna.  “The feeling’s mutual, dickhead,” Luna snarls before grabbing her bag and leaving the lounge, leaving her friends behind, still enraged. “I can’t believe that prick,” she mutters as she passes Toni in the hallway who just happened to pick up on that. She enters the lounge, finding the others, still a little agitated about what had just happened.  “Did a bomb explode here, or what did I miss?” she asks them with a chuckle.  “Sweet Pea landed the role of Danny Zuko,” Fangs explains with a proud smile and a proud pat on his best friend’s back, only to get a glare in return.  “I thought Serpents were only doing sets?” Toni asks, grabbing the character sheet from Kevin to see if she landed a role too.  “I lacked some actors, okay? I had no other choice,” Kevin answers, getting annoyed by everyone’s reactions to him enrolling some Serpents too.  “I’m playing Frenchy?” Toni asks, her eyes sparkling, “Dude, she’s iconic! Thank you!” that was the first grateful response he’s had since he posted the cast list.  “Did you give me a role too?” Fangs asks, grabbing the sheet from Toni.  “You’re Sonny,” Kevin replies with a little smile.  “Because I’m tiny?” Fangs asks, raising an eyebrow. Kevin opens his mouth, wanting to say something, but Fangs beat him to it, “I’m kidding, bro. Thanks!” he gives Kevin a toothy smile before handing him back the sheet.  “When’s the first rehearsal?” Betty asks.  “Tomorrow after school. I hope to see you all at the auditorium at four,” he says when the bell rings, signaling class will start soon. All of them scatter to their classes after bidding brief goodbyes. Some more genuine than the other. This is going to be interesting. 
“Okay, Summer Nights from the top!” Kevin says from his spot in the audience with his script in front of him. Neither Sweet Pea nor Luna are happy to be there, but at least they’re doing what Kevin asks of them.  “So, what you do this summer, Sandy?” Toni asks as her character while the instrumental begins to play already.  “Oh, I spent most of it at the beach. I met a boy there,” Luna says her line without gagging at the thought of that boy being Sweet Pea.  “You hauled all your cookies to the beach for some guy?” Veronica asks as Rizzo. The attitude and the sass match Veronica’s actual, real-life quirks.  “Aw, he was sort of special,” Luna replies with a little smile, acting like she actually likes the guy she’s talking about. In her mind, she was scoffing at herself. Sweet Pea? Special? No way. He was just some plain, aggressive boy that thinks he could intimidate girls with his tough looks.  “Please,” Veronica hauls Luna from her thoughts, “There ain’t no such thing.” “Oh, you haven’t met this boy. It was really romantic,” she turns to Toni who had come to sit next to her, hitting her marks Kevin had given her perfectly.  “Woah, woah,” Sweet Pea then goes as Danny when it’s his turn on the other side of the stage, “You guys really want to hear all the horny details,” Luna rolls her eyes at him absentmindedly, earning a giggle from Toni and a glare from Kevin. The boys surrounding Sweet Pea all cheer. Luna nearly vomits as she hears them speak, until the Serpent begins to sing his part. That’s when she internally melts. His voice sounds like Elvis Presley’s voice. Rough and sultry, causing her toes to tingle.  “Summer lovin’, had me a blast,”  “Summer lovin’, happened so fast,” Luna sings in time, shaking herself out of her gross thoughts. His voice might charm her, but him as a person certainly doesn’t.  “Met a girl, crazy for me,” “Met a boy, cute as can be,” she gets up from her chair now. Her knees nearly giving away as the two harmonize at the next part.  “Summer days drifting away to uh all the summer nights,” they sound so good together. Kevin is proud of himself for casting those to as main characters.  “Tell me more, tell me more,” the girls sing together while doing the choreography Toni had taught them in earlier rehearsals.  “Like does he have a car?” Betty sings as Marty, her voice sounding better than ever. Maybe Betty would be a better Marty than Luna ever could be. Maybe she should be happy with the role she got. And to be fair, even doing this number all week long is actually fun. Seeing it come all together, becoming better and better every day they rehearsed. It’s something Luna could’ve only ever dreamed about. Hell, she dreamed about being Sandy all her life since she first saw the old movie classic with Betty when they were younger.  The music slows down as the cast is nearing the end of the song, Luna hops off the table she was sitting on and Sweet Pea gets off the stands he and the boys were dancing on.  “It turned colder, that’s where it ends,” Luna sings softly, her voice sending shivers down Kevin’s spine as he smiles up at her, proud of his friend.  “So, I told her, we’d still be friends,”  “Then we made our true love vows.” “Wonder what she’s doing now,” Sweet Pea sings, looking out into the distance.  “Summer dreams, ripped at the seams, but ... oh... Those summer...” both sing together, harmonizing perfectly and then even hitting the high note perfectly. “Niiiiiiiights”. Luna wraps her arms around herself, panting a little after using most of her breath intake for that one note. Kevin’s applause rips her out of her thoughts, and she glances over at Sweet Pea, who’s already looking at her with a soft smile on his face.  “That was amazing, you guys! Chills, literal chills!” Kevin says from his spot. “Let’s take that from the top one more time!” and they did. They rehearse that exact scene for a couple more hours until Kevin finally calls it a day. The entire cast is exhausted from all the dancing, but they’re quite chuffed with themselves as it sounds better each and every time. “Hey,” a voice makes Luna snap out of her thoughts as she’s packing up her stuff. She looks up to find Sweet Pea standing in front of her. In place of that intimidating glare he always put on, he now has a sweet, tender smile on his face and his eyes look a little lighter for once. A little less dark. “Just wanted to tell you that you did a really great job,” he compliments, stunning her a little. She didn’t expect that. Not from him anyways. Not at all. Luna Simmons is at a loss for words all at once. Only from one simple glance and one simple compliment. “T-Thanks,” she stutters, “Uhm, you too, Sweet Pea,” she fires back with a little, confused smile. The boy in front of her chuckles, his eyes glancing at the hardwood floor beneath their feet for a split second before looking up to her again. “Maybe we should uhm, you know, rehearse together sometime,” he suggests, pointing his script at her in an awkward and weird way. At least she’s not the only one feeling awkward about this entire interaction. She looks at him for a moment; did he really just ask her that? “Uhm, yeah, sure,” she replies, her eyebrows tugging together for a moment in confusion. “See you around, Zuko,” she bids her goodbyes with a little smirk at the nickname. Sweet Pea laughs lightly, causing Luna’s stomach to flutter for some bizarre reason. She turns around to walk away from the boy and finally head home. She’s ready for a hot bath and a good chick-flick. Maybe she should watch Grease tonight. “See you around, Sandy,” Sweet Pea calls behind her. Yep, she should definitely watch Grease tonight. She casts one last glance to her co-cast member before exiting the auditorium, excited for the next rehearsal with him. And maybe, just maybe, she should take him up on the offer to rehearse together. The boy doesn’t seem that bad after all.
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junker-town · 4 years
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8 winners from Week 5 of the NFL season
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Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Christian McCaffrey ruined the Jaguars. Aaron Jones ruined fantasy teams across the globe.
Week 5 of the NFL season saw some hot teams fall — or continue falling — back to earth. The Rams’ loss to the Buccaneers last week became the beginning of a possible trend when LA dropped its second straight game, this time a Thursday night thriller against the Seahawks. The Giants’ and Jaguars’ two-game winning streaks with rookie quarterbacks came to an end thanks to the Vikings and Panthers, respectively. The Bears’ dominant defense was cracked open by, of all teams, Jon Gruden’s bullying Raiders.
This week’s winners weren’t just the teams that broke out of box score to climb a rung in their divisional rankings, however. The first NFL football Sunday of October gave several individual stars — and, in the Raiders’ case, a whole galaxy of blockers — a chance to shine. Who were this week’s biggest winners?
It wasn’t...
Not considered: Washington head coach Jay Gruden
Gruden entered 2019 with the best odds to be the first coach fired this fall. It made sense; he’d only been to the postseason once in Washington and had never won 10 games in a single season.
He’s done nothing to justify his franchise’s decision to give him another year to turn things around in the nation’s capital. Washington is 0-5 to start the season after Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. The last three of those defeats have come by a combined 63 points. He’s put three different players behind center (Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy, in that order) and his quarterbacks have combined for seven touchdown passes and eight interceptions in five games. His defense has given up 24 points every week and at least 30 in all but one.
So Gruden is almost certainly done as Washington’s head coach. How’s he taking it?
#Redskins coach Jay Gruden: “If the key works Monday I'll keep working."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6, 2019
You can’t fault him for a lack of self awareness, at least.
This week’s actual winners:
8. Steven Sims, the pride of ... the University of Kansas? That can’t be right
Sims didn’t give the Patriots many opportunities to review his game film coming into Week 5. The undrafted rookie free agent and former Jayhawk only played 21 offensive snaps in his first four games.
That explains why New England’s vaunted defense looked wholly unprepared for this:
ALL the WAY for @StevenSimsJr #NEvsWAS pic.twitter.com/OOPQYSzaDV
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) October 6, 2019
Sims ripped off the biggest play the Patriot defense has given up so far in 2019, exploding for 65 yards out of the backfield to give Washington an early 7-0 lead over its undefeated opponent. The Pats were ready for him the next time he got the call out of the backfield. His follow-up touch, a shovel pass, was stopped for a loss of four yards in the second quarter. He’d add one more catch to wrap up 66 total yards against the defending champions, constituting 30 percent of the team’s net offensive yards and 85.7 percent of its points in a 33-7 loss.
7. Aaron Jones, who was either your fantasy league hero or villain in the late game
Jones tied a Packers franchise record with four rushing touchdowns Sunday, and he only needed 12 carries in the first three quarters to get there. The running back led his team in both rushing (19 carries, 107 yards) and receiving (seven catches, 75 yards) while doing something no other player has ever done against the Dallas Cowboys.
Aaron Jones is the first player to rush for 4 TD in a single game against the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/Fxk6pAE6g5
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 6, 2019
That was enough to carry Green Bay to a 34-24 road win in Dallas. It was also probably enough to sway plenty of fantasy football matchups across the fake sports landscape. Let’s say you’re in a point-per-reception fantasy league. With a standard scoring setup, Jones just sprang for 49.2 points. That’s enough to either entirely humiliate your opponent or enough to find yourself on the depressing end of a loss that once looked like a surefire win after the 1 p.m. ET games had finished.
6. The Raiders’ offensive line, which beat up a vaunted Bears defense
Oakland’s blocking faced its biggest test of 2019 against the league’s No. 2 scoring defense in London. The Bears came into their international game matchup with the Raiders averaging a sack in roughly one out of 10 opponent dropbacks as Khalil Mack, Danny Trevathan, Akiem Hicks, and Roquan Smith have presented a dominant front.
That unit was surprisingly quiet in the United Kingdom as they were snuffed out by an unheralded group of Raider linemen.
the Bears might have to bring more than 4 guys if they're gonna stop the Raiders offense today pic.twitter.com/iWkWGxOLG3
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 6, 2019
Chicago lost Akiem Hicks to an elbow injury early in the game and seemed to suffer without its wrecking ball defensive tackle eating up blockers. The Bears had at least two sacks in each game this fall — including six without Hicks last week — and were averaging 4.25 per game coming into their showdown with Mack’s old team. On Sunday, they dropped Derek Carr behind the line of scrimmage zero times and only hit him once.
More importantly, the Bears’ big men were moved off the line with relative ease as the Josh Jacobs became the first player to rush for 100+ yards against Chicago this fall. Oakland was able to create space early and often up front, which led to two different touchdown dives from inside the 3-yard line. The latter of which — Jacobs’ second touchdown of the game — turned out to be the game-winning points.
The Raiders’ defensive line was pretty good, too. Oakland sacked Chase Daniel four times in an impressive all-around effort. Khalil Mack’s revenge on the team that traded him away will have to wait.
5. Jordan Phillips, who looks like he weighs 350 pounds but does not move that way
Ed Oliver was tagged to be Kyle Williams’ replacement as the Bills’ middle-of-the-line force this season. While he’s been as good as expected, he might not be the most disruptive defensive tackle on his own depth chart this season.
Instead, that honor may belong to Phillips. Phillips, who has come off the bench in each of his five games to start the season, tore through the Titans’ offensive line like tissue paper en route to a career-high three sacks ... in the first half alone.
Jordan Phillips is EATING. #BUFvsTEN | #GoBills pic.twitter.com/bapnY7pLMR
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 6, 2019
Phillips teamed up with Shaq Lawson to expose All-Pro tackle Taylor Lewan in his first game back from a season-opening PED suspension, a matchup that did not go unnoticed by the fifth-year tackle:
"I was really happy (Taylor Lewan) came back today. I'm glad he could be a part of that today. That's all I have to say about him." – #Bills DT Jordan Phillips, after 3 sacks vs #Titans
— Jason Wolf (@JasonWolf) October 6, 2019
The Buffalo front seven beat the crap out of the Tennessee, hitting Marcus Mariota seven times in the first two quarters alone. That held an offense that had scored 24 points the week before to just a single touchdown in a 14-7 win.
Josh Allen’s return (both to the field after suffering a head injury last week as well as to competency in a 219-yard, two-touchdown performance) was a key component behind Buffalo’s fourth win of the season. Even so, the Bills might be starting up at .500 if not for a smothering defensive effort across the board. The emergence of a havoc-creating monster like Phillips is just endemic of that.
4. Justin Tucker, who is bored enough with kicking that he’s moved into the trick shot stage of his career
Tucker has been one of the league’s top three placekickers — and occasionally its best overall — for most of his eight-year career. So it makes sense a guy who has made more than 90 percent of his field goal attempts, including one that sent Sunday’s game against arch-rival Pittsburgh to overtime, would try to find new ways to make things interesting. Like by draining a game-winning kick with a fancy double-break trajectory.
JUSTIN TUCKER 46 YARDS FOR THE WIN IN OT! #RavensFlock #BALvsPIT pic.twitter.com/KkHM63tkBe
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2019
Tucker’s kick moved like Axl Rose dances, sliding side to side before slicing inside the goalpost and sending Steelers fans back to Primanti Bros. disappointed. Oh, and because kickers are weirdoes, he waited approximately one hour for Heinz Field to empty out in order to double-celebrate.
Wearing a gray sweatsuit, #Ravens kicker Justin Tucker just ran onto Heinz Field to celebrate his game-winning field goal, about an hour after it happened. pic.twitter.com/VRDnybZSMd
— Aaron Kasinitz (@AaronKazreports) October 6, 2019
3. Will Fuller, who Atlanta forgot existed and then paid dearly for it
DeAndre Hopkins is an All-Pro wide receiver. Keeping him covered is very important. Not so important that you can’t forget about all the other former first-round picks on the Houston depth chart. Namely, Fuller:
The entire Atlanta secondary decided to move with DeAndre Hopkins on Fuller's second touchdown. pic.twitter.com/czUspxVdaP
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) October 6, 2019
That impressive breakdown from the Falcons’ secondary produced Fuller’s second touchdown of the first half. He’d draw a little more coverage — read, one man — for his third touchdown later on, though it would be no less embarrassing for Atlanta’s cornerbacks.
Not one, not two, but three!@Will_Fuller7 | #ATLvsHOU pic.twitter.com/BiJD00uK3R
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 6, 2019
The biggest beneficiary of Fuller’s ability to torch defensive backs with elite straight-line speed was Deshaun Watson, who’s connected with his fourth-year wideout for 14 touchdowns in 16 games together. Watson put together one of his most explosive performances in a career filled with them. Week 5 marked his third NFL game with five passing touchdowns, and his 426 passing yards were the most he’s had in a single Sunday to date. Fuller was responsible for more than half those yards (217) in a 53-32 win that only solidified the Falcons’ claim as the NFC South’s saddest team.
2. Marshon Lattimore, who shut down one of the game’s most deadly wide receivers
Mike Evans had been Bruce Arians’ offensive enabler through four weeks in Tampa. The big, rangy wideout was able to demolish defenses in single coverage and take away enough defensive focus to allow other skill players like Chris Godwin or Ronald Jones to flourish. Through four games, he helped Jameis Winston get out to a career-high pace in both touchdown rate and passer rating while hauling in 18 catches for 368 yards and four touchdowns.
The Saints didn’t have much of a plan to stop him. They didn’t need one. They just stuck former defensive rookie of the year Lattimore on him and watched Evans set season lows in both targets (three) and catches (zero).
Marshon Lattimore shut down Mike Evans in the @Saints win, allowing 0 receptions on 2 targets as the nearest defender. Lattimore shadowed Evans all over the field, lining up across from him on 43 of Evans' 53 snaps (81%). #NOvsTB | #Saints pic.twitter.com/kSsyRAMJu9
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 6, 2019
This wasn’t the first time this has paid off for New Orleans. Lattimore drew primary coverage duties on Pro Bowler Amari Cooper in Week 4’s win over over the Cowboys. Cooper had five catches that night, but for only 48 yards as Dallas’ offense sputtered in a 12-10 defeat.
Lattimore’s coverage had a similar chilling effect in Week 5. Although Winston was still able to glean a monster performance from Chris Godwin (seven catches, 125 yards, two touchdowns), he got only eight catches on 17 targets to the rest of his teammates for just 79 yards. Tampa Bay really needed that extra firepower, too; the Bucs lost 31-24 in a game where it was soundly outplayed by Teddy Bridgewater.
1. Christian McCaffrey, who stole the souls of Jacksonville’s linebacking corps
McCaffrey is making a legitimate case to be the league’s first non-quarterback MVP since 2012. The Panthers’ do-it-all tailback turned the Jaguars’ linebackers tasked with covering him into a teal-tinted mist en route to 237 total yards and three touchdowns in a 34-27 win. Most importantly — and extremely embarrassingly for the Jags — he did it all while running pretty much the same running play over and over again.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever in my career heard the same play call so many times,” tight end Greg Olsen said.
...
“It’s kind of like this: Defenses call blitzes until you pick them up and we ran the same play until they could stop it,” left guard Greg Van Roten said. “And they didn’t.
Sometimes he did it running through holes roughly the size of a children’s choir:
IT'S A C-MAC ATTACK!!!@run__cmc | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/ZS5yqksJor
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 6, 2019
And sometimes he did it be juking defenders into oblivion:
HE. HIT. EM. WITH. THE. JUKE. @run__cmc | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/UVnr6RpfTi
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 6, 2019
But no matter how he did it, he utterly demoralized Jacksonville’s defense. By the end of the game, the Jaguars were so shook Reggie Bonnafon (two career carries for 5 yards) was able to do this:
Reggie Bonnafon got the call and boy did he DELIVER!!!#KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/GXQ8mqpOlc
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 6, 2019
You may see that as the kind of play that devalues McCaffrey’s early dominance. I say it only makes it more important. The starter chipped away at the Jags’ foundation until even the most gentle wind could knock it over — like, say, an undrafted free agent who’d only had two carries coming into Sunday.
That’s the kind of impact ol’ Run CMC’s had in 2019.
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weekendwarriorblog · 5 years
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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND January 4, 2019 – Escape Room
Happy New Year!
Thankfully, we’re getting a fairly light first weekend to the year, which is good, since I was ready to retire after last year’s sucky year. But it’s 2019, a new year and hopefully one with new opportunities. In fact, I wrote something previewing the 2019 box office for my old boss at VitalThrills.com, which you can read here.
As far as this weekend, and as has been the case a few times over the past few years, the year is kicking off with a horror movie.
ESCAPE ROOM (Sony)
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This high concept horror movie is the sole release of the weekend, and why not? After all, the film’s director Adam Robitel kicked off 2018 with Insidious: The Last Key, which he directed, and that opened with $29.6 million on its way to $67.6 million domestic and $100 million overseas.
There’s actually a pretty long history of horror movies kicking off the New Year with big business, even though most studios are afraid those returning to work/school after the long holiday might be too focused on work/school to go to the movies.  Usually, these horror films are fairly low-budget, so there isn’t much danger, but there have a few substantial hits in the first weekend of January like Taken 3 and Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Revenant.  In 2012, Paramount opened the high-concept horror The Devil Insideto $33.7 million, and that movie cost a cool million so it was instantly profitable. Another early January hit was 2005’s White Noise from Universal, which opened with $24.1 million; 2013’s Texas Chainsaw 3D also opened with $21 million.  Few of these movies are expected to stay around very long and few of them last beyond opening weekend.
As with many horror movies, the cast doesn’t do much to sell the movie, as Robitel stars in this one along with Deborah Ann Woll (Netflix’s Daredevil), Taylor Russell (Lost in Space), Tyler Labine and others whom I’ve never heard of.
At one point this had the generic title of “The Maze,” so it was a wise move to change the movie’s title to something that’s easy to understand (and works on a couple levels), since most young people that might be interested in the movie will know what an escape room is and may have even taken part in one or two.
Being the only new movie this weekend should help it bring in some of its projected younger target audience, especially being so different from other options in theaters. Coming out just two days after people are back from vacation may mean their priorities lie elsewhere, but this still should be good for somewhere between $12 and 15 million this weekend, and it should be able to make between $30 to 40 million depending how much it gets destroyed once Glassopens in two weeks.
MINI-REVIEW: Assuming you already know what an escape room is or have participated in one, then you’ll already know what to expect from this high-concept thriller that’s more about tension than gore. Then again, if you’ve seen Cube,Saw II or are even vaguely familiar with Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, then you’ll also be ready for this idea of strangers thrown together into a puzzle game of survival.
Personally, I prefer comparing it to Final Destination, my favorite horror franchise, as that also throws people together into situations where they have to work together to survive, the winner being promised $10,000. From the very first room, which turns into a giant oven, it’s obvious that it’s going to be harder to escape with one’s life.
In most horror movies, the characters are mostly stereotypes, including a-holes and idiots alike, who you’re eager to see killed off. In the case of Escape Room, there are actually likeable people including Taylor Russell’s shy science nerd Zoey, Deborah Ann Woll’s Amanda, a veteran of the Iraq War and other equally compelling (or annoying) characters.
What’s good is that Escape Room knows viewers need to be invested in and entertained by these people, which is why you have comic relief in Tyler Labine’s Mike and escape room expert/enthusiast Danny (Nik Dodani). Jay Ellis’ Jason is the clear-cut a-hole finance guy stereotype, while Ben (Logan Miller) is the underdog who never gets a break.
As they go through the rooms, we learn more about their pasts and what links them together, which makes things far more compelling and emotional as it becomes obvious that any of them can die at any time. 
The key to movies like this is when it gets to that third act, and there needs to be some sort of reveal of why these six people are being put through all of this and who is responsible. It’s often the point when movies like this can succeed or fail, and if you’re familiar with other films in this genre of horror, you can probably guess some of those things and probably be right.
If you can get past the decision to leave things open-ended without all the expected answers, Escape Room is equal parts clever and fun, pretty much the movie experience being advertised.
RATING:  7.5/10
This week’s Top 10 should look something like this…
1. Aquaman  (Warner Bros.)  - $24.8 million -53%
2. Mary Poppins Returns  (Disney) - $15.5 million -45%
3. Escape Room (Sony) -  $14.6 million N/A*
4. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse  (Sony) - $10 million -45%
5. Bumblebee  (Paramount) - $9.6 million -53%
6. The Mule (Warner Bros.) - $7.1 million -40%
7. Vice (Annapurna) - $4.5 million -42%
8. Second Act (STXfilms) - $4 million -45%
9. Holmes and Watson (Sony) - $3.5 million -55%
10. Ralph Breaks the Internet (Disney) – $3.1 -52%
* After seeing the movie and how well it plays with an audience, I have upped my weekend prediction.
LIMITED RELEASES
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Opening on Wednesday at the IFC Center is Oscar-nominated filmmaker Christian Frei (War Photographer) and Maxim Arbugave’s doc GENESIS 2.0 (KimStim), a documentary that profiles the hunters who brave the North Sibeiran Islands looking for rare mastodon tusks and other artifacts that are worth quite a good deal of money. While the tusks are often bought for a substantial resale value, they’re also are being preserved for the Mammoth Museum in Russia, and Frei’s film looks at the scientific efforts of North Korean scientists to find a sample of living mammoth DNA that can be cloned to bring the prehistoric creature back. Much of the film focuses on the Grigoriev brothers, Semyon being a paleontologist who runs the Mammoth Museum; as well as Spira Slepstov, a first-time tusk hunter in it for the “big money” promised by investors;  geneticist George Church, one of the pioneers in synthetic biology; and controversial Korean scientist Woo Suk Hwang, who has cloned hundreds of dogs and hopes to help the efforts to bring back the mammoth. There’s some really interesting science on display in the film which harks back to the documentary work by Werner Herzog with films like Cave of Forgotten Dreams and Encounters at the End of the World. (Frei’s narration isn’t nearly as commanding but it adds to the comparisons.) It also should be of interest for those who enjoy sci-fi films like Jurassic Park, as it explores the real science behind the science fiction. Genesis 2.0 will also open at L.A.’s Laemmle Music Hall on Jan. 18.
Another doc opening at the IFC Center is the Polish Oscar-shortlisted COMMUNION (from director Anna Zamecka looks at the lives of 14-year-old Ola, a Polish teen who must care for her autistic brother Nikodem while preparing him for his first Holy Communion, while also dealing with a lay-about father who relies more and more on his teen daughter. I was generally mixed on the film only because I’m not as big a fan of cinema verité-style documentary filmmaking i.e. just rolling the camera to show the lives and offering no narrative to help viewers understand the story.
Based on true events, Gerard Butler and Peter Mullan (Ozark) star in Kristoffer Nyholm’s suspense thriller THE VANISHING  (Saban Films) about three lighthouse keepers working on a remote Scottish island who discover a wrecked rowboat on which is a chest full of gold, forcing the men to make some tough decisions.  It opens in New York (Cinema Village), L.A. (AMC’s University City Walk) and other cities as well as On Demand this Friday. This is actually a fairly decent film, mostly due to the two lead actors doing a rare smaller film in their native country and accents.
Jen McGowan’s thriller Rust Creek (IFC Midnight) stars Hermione Corfield (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) as ambitious college senior Sawyer who takes a wrong turn on a way to a job interview and ends up in the frozen Kentucky woods pursued by outlaws until she hooks up with an enigmatic loner (Jay Paulson). It opens at the IFC Center and other theaters, as well as On Demand.
The final thriller (of sorts) this weekend is Meredith Danluck’s directorial debut State Like Sleep (The Orchard), starring Katherine Waterston as a widow who receives a disturbing phone call a year after the death of her husband (Michiel Huisman). Also starring Michael Shannon and Luke Evans, it’s in select theaters Friday and On Demand beginning Tuesday, following its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last year.
From China, the sequel to Xing Fei’s action-adventure film Mojin: The Lost Legend,  Mojin: The Worm Valley  (Well GO USA) once again follows tomb explorer Hu Bayi on a mission looking for the Tomb of Emperor Xian, which is located on an island filled with monsters. It will open in select cities.
James Brolin and Cybill Shepherd star in Rod McCall’s Being Rose with Shepherd playing Rose Jones, a widowed ex-cop who is diagnosed with a life-threatening health issue, so she decided to go on a road trip of the Southwest on her motorized wheelchair. In New Mexico she falls for an old cowboy, played by Brolin.
REPERTORY
METROGRAPH (NYC):
The Metrograph has been doing late night screenings most of this year, but this weekend they make it official with Late Nights at Metrograph, running from Thursday through Saturday nights with this weekend starting out with Masaaki Yuusa’s appropriately-titled Anime Mind Game (2005). Things are getting a little more esoteric in the New Year (at least for me) with Pier Paolo Pasolini: A Future Life, Part 1, a retrospective of the Italian filmmaker’s works including Salo, Or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975), The Decameron (1971), The Canterbury Tales  (1972) – the latter two of the three movies in his “Trilogy of Life” -- and more. I’ve heard of some of these but never seen any, so maybe that will change as this runs over the next two weeks. This weekend’s Playtime: Family Matinee is Barry Levinson’s baseball movie The Natural (1984), starring Robert Redford. On Saturday night, the Metrograph is also doing a special event, a screening of Godard’s 2010 film Film Socialisme presented by author Nico Baumbach.
THE NEW BEVERLY  (L.A.):
Tarantino’s repertory theater kicks the year off with a number of double features with Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 classic The Godfather. On Weds. and Thurs, it will double feature with The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (1971), while Friday and Sat. sees it paired with Richard Fleishcer’s The Don is Dead  (1973).
FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER (NYC):
You have to give the Film Society credit for being loyal to the filmmakers who regularly bring their works to the New York Film Festival, and in honor of Roma’s premiere there last year, this week begins Complete Cuaron, which is exactly what it sounds like showing all nine of Alfonso Cuaron’s films including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, although it’s also a great chance to see Children of Men back on the big screen as well as seeing Gravity back in 3D.
QUAD CINEMA (NYC):
The Rated X series continues this weekend with a few repeat showings, plus the Quad is screening the 1991 film Van Gogh from the Cohen Film Collection. Also, the Quad will be showing a 30th anniversary rerelease of Isao Takahata’s anime Grave of the Fireflies. 
IFC CENTER (NYC)
Hm… no new series announced yet for 2019… :(
EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):
Oscar-winning filmmaker Adam McKay gets a tribute this weekend with a double feature of Vice and The Big Short on Thursday, while Rob Marshall gets himself a triple feature on Friday with his musicals Mary Poppins Returns, Into the Woods and Chicago and Marshall there in person. (The American Cinemateque’s other theater, the Aero, is also showing fairly recent films rather than repertory ones.)
FILM FORUM (NYC):
Jacques Rivette’s banned 1966 drama La Religieuse (Rialto), starring Anna Karina, gets a 4k restoration, while this weekend’s Film Forum Jr. offering is Buster Keaton’s Three Ages  (1923) with live piano accompaniment.
LANDMARK THEATRES NUART  (LA):
Friday’s midnight offering is the classic 2001 Anime filmAkira.
MOMA (NYC):
New Year means a new series, and this week begins Modern Matinees: Sir Sidney Poitier  with 1963’s Lillies of the Field(for which Poitier won the Oscar) on Weds, To Sir, With Love  (1967) on Thurs. and Norman Jewison’s In the Heat of the Night (1967) on Friday.
MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (NYC):
The Astoria theater is beginning January with a series rescreening a Curator’s Choice of films from 2018 including Hereditary, The Rider and more.
That’s it for this week, but next week, there are three new movies in wide release, Sony’s A Dog’s Way Home, Keanu Reeves’ sci-fi thriller Replicas and the Bryan Cranston-Kevin Hart comedy The Upside.
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junker-town · 5 years
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All the NFL free agency rumors you need to know
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Le’Veon Bell finally has a new home and a bunch of big names got traded. What will happen next?
The race to Super Bowl 54 begins March 13. That’s the first day teams can officially sign the free agents who can push their rosters over the top and into the NFL’s record books.
This year’s class of available players is loaded with talent, though most of it comes on the defensive side of the ball. Pocket-crumpling pass rushers like DeMarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney, and Frank Clark all received the franchise tag and will be staying put. Versatile safeties like Landon Collins, Earl Thomas, and Lamarcus Joyner all cashed in during free agency.
There aren’t as many recognizable offensive standouts in this year’s list of available players, but the headliner is big enough to make up for a lack of depth behind him. Le’Veon Bell finally earned unrestricted free agency after two years of Steelers’ franchise tags, one of which the three-time All-Pro played an Uno “skip” card. The 27-year-old tailback got to choose where he’ll like to play next as he searches for the massive multi-year deal that includes the guaranteed money he couldn’t find in Pittsburgh — and he picked the Jets.
Even though there are many big playmakers hitting free agency, a couple more could be available via trade. The Steelers traded Antonio Brown, while the Giants sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns.
How are franchises lining up for what promises to be a mid-March spending spree? Here are some of the rumors following the league’s top free agents into the official start of bidding season.
Free agent rumors
Jay Ajayi, RB
2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Ajayi only played in four games last year due to injury, but he’s just 25 and has been productive when healthy. He has a visit lined up with the Colts.
Kwon Alexander, ILB
2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Alexander has missed 14 games the past two seasons, but that’s not scaring off the 49ers. General manager John Lynch is set to make him the highest-paid inside linebacker in the game with a four-year, $54 million deal.
Dwayne Allen, TE
2018 team: New England Patriots
The day after he was officially released by the Patriots, Allen visited the Ravens. The veteran tight end is also drawing interest from the Bills and met with the Lions and Dolphins as well.
Shortly after, he decided to stay in the AFC East and reunite with Brian Flores:
The #Dolphins and TE Dwayne Allen agreed to terms on a 2-year deal worth $7M, source said. A nice payday for a locker room leader and good guy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2019
Danny Amendola, WR
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
33-year-old Amendola spend just one season in Miami before getting released. As soon as he was, the rumors already started up about a possible return to New England:
Amendola would be interested in returning to the Patriots https://t.co/d6qXNWaZYR
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 8, 2019
But instead of moving back to New England, Amendola picked the Great Value version of Bill Belichick’s team — he’ll reunite with Matt Patricia by signing with the Detroit Lions. The deal is a one-year pact worth up to $5.75 million.
Ezekiel Ansah, DE
2018 team: Detroit Lions
Ansah played in just seven games last season and is recovering from shoulder surgery, so he has received a ton of interest on the market. Still, the 30-year-old pass rusher met with the Bills and will next visit the Saints.
Anthony Barr, LB
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
Barr was expected to sign with the Jets, where he could return to his old college position off the edge. And welp, never mind:
Plot twist! LB Anthony Barr has decided to agree to terms to remain with the #Vikings, sources say. He will not be a member of the #Jets after all.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019
Cole Beasley, WR
2018 team: Dallas Cowboys
The Bills needed receivers to help second-year quarterback Josh Allen. They might not have gotten Antonio Brown, but they did add John Brown and now Beasley:
#Bills aren't done at WR. They will sign WR Cole Beasley, sources say. He'll get $29 million over four years.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019
Le’Veon Bell, RB
2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert says the team won’t franchise or transition tag Bell this offseason. He’ll be completely free to negotiate with teams across the league this spring.
The Jets have long been a favorite to land Bell’s services, but after the combine, the Ravens emerged as another strong contender. The Raiders, who famously acquired Bell’s former Pittsburgh teammate Antonio Brown, are also in the mix. The Colts, however, are not.
And while the Jets lost out on Anthony Barr, they’re still trying to make a push for Bell:
With Anthony Barr spurning the #Jets, they have some extra money. I’m told they’ve taken some of that money and made a last and final big offer to Le’Veon Bell. It’s decision time for the ex-#Steelers RB.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
Former NFL receiver Antonio Bryant says that Bell has made up his mind, though the team is still TBD. It’s likely down to the Jets, Ravens, ... and maybe the Raiders?
Well, if there’s one thing Le’Veon Bell likes, it’s deadlines:
The #Jets have given Le’Veon Bell a deadline to decide if he is going to sign or not, per sources. They’re not waiting forever.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 12, 2019
If he doesn’t land in New York, there’s reportedly a list of teams waiting for the price to drop so they can jump in the mix.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen suggested some NFL teams are waiting to pounce if Le'Veon Bell's price comes down with market slower than expected. "I know some teams that are waiting to jump in there at a lower market value."
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) March 12, 2019
Maybe the Jets’ ultimatum worked or maybe there wasn’t much of a bidding war, but Bell landed exactly where most predicted he would:
Former Steelers’ RB Le’Veon Bell plans to sign with…the New York Jets, a league source tells ESPN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019
Martellus Bennett, TE
2018 team: n/a
Marty B spent the 2017 season with the Packers and Patriots before retiring in the offseason. With brother Michael Bennett heading to New England, Martellus might consider a return to the NFL to play alongside his older sibling:
Michael and Martellus Bennett always have wanted to play together. Now that the Patriots are trading for Michael, Martellus is interested in coming out of retirement to join his brother in New England, per a source. Then would be the McCourty and Bennett Bros. in New England.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2019
The Patriots also have an open spot at tight end after Dwayne Allen’s release. Michael Bennett isn’t buying it, though.
Eric Berry, S
2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs
Shortly after free agency officially began, the Chiefs announced the release of safety Eric Berry. It’s a surprising move simply because he leaves the Chiefs with $14.95 million in dead cap. Berry has only played in three games over the past two seasons, but before that, he was one of the league’s best safeties since being selected in the first round by the Chiefs in 2010. The Cowboys were unable to sign Earl Thomas, but they could find solace in another former All-Pro in Berry.
If not, Berry should garner interest from other teams:
Eric Berry’s visit in Dallas is complete, I’m told. He’s headed to the airport. More visits are expected to be scheduled.
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 19, 2019
Blake Bortles, QB
2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Foles’ impending arrival in Florida means the Jags have to do something with Bortles — and paying him $21 million to serve as a backup isn’t in the card. After the team signed Nick Foles, the former No. 3 overall pick was released, leaving him free to sign with any other team in the league.
He only needed one free agent visit to find his new home — he’ll back up Jared Goff with the LA Rams.
Free agent QB Blake Bortles, recently released by the Jaguars, will visit the Rams on Monday, according to a team source... @AroundTheNFL @nflnetwork
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 16, 2019
Teddy Bridgewater, QB
2018 team: New Orleans Saints
One report said that Bridgewater wasn’t out of the running for the Jaguars’ job, though that ended up going to Nick Foles. He reportedly turned down a more lucrative offer to compete for Miami’s starting role to remain in New Orleans as Drew Brees’ eventual successor, but that’s still TBD as well.
One reason that he might be hesitant to stay with the Saints: The rumor that Sean Payton could replace Jason Garrett in 2020.
Bridgewater visited the Dolphins at the start of free agency, though he left without a deal and ended up re-signing with the Saints for a year.
John Brown, WR
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
The Bills finally landed a receiver with the last name Brown:
WR John Brown and the Buffalo Bills have agreed to terms, per source. @nflnetwork
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) March 12, 2019
Trent Brown, LT
2018 team: New England Patriots
Brown is one of the hottest offensive linemen available in 2019, and he’s not expected to linger on this year’s open market. Teams expect him to decide on a new contract in advance of Wednesday’s official start to free agency.
So far, the Raiders look like the early favorite, although Ian Rapoport also mentioned the Texans as a possibility.
Keep an eye on the #Raiders as OT Trent Brown's market heats up. Internally, he's one of their top targets in free agency. pic.twitter.com/xIalBaf4fw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019
“This a player, I’m told, internally they love and are ready to spend for. This could be a player that the Oakland Raiders lock in pretty quickly in free agency if all goes well.”
Indeed, it was the Raiders who jumped up with a big offer — one Brown intends to sign Wednesday afternoon.
Former Patriots’ OT Trent Brown intends to sign a four-year, $66 million contract that includes $36.75 million guaranteed with the Oakland Raiders, per source, making him highest paid OL in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019
Dez Bryant, WR
2018 team: New Orleans Saints
Bryant tore his Achilles days after signing with the Saints last offseason. As they’ve said all along, they’re interested in bringing him back.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
2018 teams: Green Bay Packers, Washington
Washington hasn’t been able to re-sign the player it traded for midway through the 2018 season. Now it’s in danger of losing him to the Bears, who need a replacement for Adrian Amos.
Shortly after Clinton-Dix’s visit in Chicago, he signed with the Bears.
Randall Cobb, WR
2018 team: Green Bay Packers
The versatile veteran could wind up filling a major need with the. Cowboys. He’s taking a visit to Dallas March 18.
It must have gone well, because Cobb signed a one-year deal with the team the following day.
Tevin Coleman, RB
2018 team: Atlanta Falcons
As one of the youngest, top running backs to hit free agency, Coleman should have a few suitors. One of them is the tailback-needy Eagles, but he decided to reunite with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.
Jamie Collins, LB
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
The Browns were unable to find a trade partner to offload their high-priced inside linebacker, so they decided to release him instead — saving more than $9 million in cap space in the process. The 28-year-old now heads to free agency, where he can be a valuable, if limited, presence in the middle of the field.
Landon Collins, S
2018 team: New York Giants
Collins is headed for free agency, which in retrospective, shouldn’t be a surprise. The safety reportedly packed up much of his locker in northern New Jersey in February. ESPN’s Josina Anderson’s sources suggested he doesn’t expect to be with the club in 2019, while the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz refuted those reports. Collins himself checked in to make it clear he wasn’t entirely thrilled about the idea of playing for New York under a tag.
The stuff in that locker that I have left I do not need
— LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) February 20, 2019
Collins was reportedly prepared for a long contract standoff if he got tagged this spring — possibly long enough to last into the 2019 season. The Giants could’ve kept him in white and blue with the franchise tag at a cost of just over $12 million for 2019. However, despite contract talks between the two sides, the Giants let Collins walk.
Now, the Giants’ loss is another team’s gain. The Chiefs reportedly are high on the idea of adding the three-time Pro Bowler. The Cowboys, however, are not.
Collins ended up staying in the NFC East, signing a huge deal with Washington.
Jared Cook, TE
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
Cook, who was arguably the Raiders’ best weapon last year, would be a solid add for any team that needs a veteran tight end. Like the Saints, who lost Benjamin Watson to retirement:
#Raiders FA TE Jared Cook, the top available player at his position, is scheduled to visit the #Saints tomorrow, source said. There is a void there right now.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019
Cook is expected to sign with New Orleans, giving Drew Brees a third dynamic weapon alongside Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara in 2019.
Michael Crabtree, WR
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens signed the veteran receiver to a three-year deal last March, but they’re releasing him after just one season. He finished 2018 with just 54 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns. That’s not much production and Crabtree will be 32 at the start of next season. Still, this isn’t a deep year for free agent receivers.
Jamison Crowder, WR
2018 team: Washington
Crowder’s dynamic play from the slot was underutilized in a bad offensive season for Washington. He’ll work to rebuild his value after signing with the receiver-needy Jets.
Jonathan Cyprien, S
2018 team: Tennessee Titans
Cyprien’s disappointing run in Nashville will come to an end this spring. The Titans plan to release the run-stuffing safety after two seasons and only 10 games with the club. The move will create nearly $5 million in salary cap savings and clears Tennessee to re-sign him at a lower price in 2019.
Pierre Desir, CB
2018 team: Indianapolis Colts
At least a couple teams are interested in the 28-year-old corner, including the Giants and 49ers. But he’s staying in Indianapolis on a new three-year deal.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fitzmagic is staying in Florida. But he’s making his way back to the AFC East, this time with the Miami Dolphins on a two-year deal.
Nick Foles, QB
2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Foles voided his mutual option for the 2019 season, but the Eagles could have still use their franchise tag to retain his rights. They won’t, though, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent this spring.
The Jaguars were always the favorites to sign Foles, but one report says the Giants could be interested too. During the NFL Combine, one report said the Jaguars were the only team with real interest in Foles. Now, they’re signing him.
For a tremendous amount of money.
Guranteed money for Nick Foles in Jacksonville, per source: $50.125 million. https://t.co/45h5eJtHkM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019
Trey Flowers, DE
2018 team: New England Patriots
Flowers will hit the free agent market this spring, as the Patriots don’t intend to use their franchise tag on him or any player in 2019. He then reunited with his former DC, Matt Patricia, in Detroit.
Dante Fowler Jr., EDGE
2018 teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams
Fowler has yet to live up to the pre-draft pedigree that pushed the Jags to draft him with the No. 3 overall pick in 2016, but that hasn’t scared away potential suitors this spring. The Jets and 49ers are both reportedly lining up offers for the 24-year-old pass rusher. But the Rams ended up keeping Fowler, who played well once he was traded to LA, on a “prove it” deal.
Devin Funchess, WR
2018 team: Carolina Panthers
The once-rising wideout won’t return to Carolina for his fifth season in the league. The former Michigan star failed to follow up on 2017’s breakout 840-yard campaign, but a change of scenery could be all he needs to get back on track as a starting receiver. He’s getting a one-year deal with the Colts that could pay him up to $13 million.
Frank Gore, RB
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
The ageless Gore finished 2018 on injured reserve, but that didn’t stop his season from proving he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank. The Bills are dealing with their own veteran tailback in LeSean McCoy, but they’re allegedly interested in keeping Gore in the AFC East. A one-year, $2 million deal ensured Buffalo would have the league’s oldest tailback platoon.
Robbie Gould, K
2018 team: San Francisco 49ers
The Niners used their franchise tag to retain Gould, who led the league in field goal percentage after making 33 of his 34 attempts in 2018.
Robert Griffin III, QB
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
Griffin is a free agent, but he’s interested in staying with Baltimore to support second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson as the team’s backup in 2019.
Johnathan Hankins, DT
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
Hankins continued his streak of excellent play in the middle last fall, and that caught John Elway’s eye. The Broncos were interested in adding him to their stable., but Big Hank ended up staying with the Raiders on a new two-year deal.
Carlos Hyde, RB
2018: Cleveland Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars
Shortly after his release from Jacksonville, Hyde already has a free agent visit lined up. The veteran back met with the Chiefs.
And just like that, he signed a new deal with Kansas City:
Chiefs are giving former Jaguars’ RB Carlos Hyde a one-year, $2.8 million deal - $1.6 million of which is guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2019
Mark Ingram, RB
2018 team: New Orleans Saints
The dynamic backfield duo of Ingram and Alvin Kamara is no more. The Saints are signing Latavius Murray to a four-year deal — though they did offer Ingram an undisclosed amount to stay:
The #Saints reached out to Ingram. Made an offer and repeatedly said they wanted him to stay. Loved his flexibility and interchangeability in the offense. Will miss the closeness he and Alvin Kamara. Unique bond. https://t.co/Yk1MAqp5NP
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 12, 2019
He’ll now hit free agency, where the Ravens are interested — and then landed Ingram on a three-year deal.
Malik Jackson, DT
2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars parted ways with their prized free agent acquisition of 2016 to get some salary cap relief. Immediately after his release, Jackson drew interest. According to Pro Football Talk, the Packers were one of the finalists for the 2017 Pro Bowler.
Instead it was the Eagles that nabbed Jackson on a three-year, $30 million deal.
The #Eagles are expected to sign DT Malik Jackson on a 3-year deal worth $30M, source said. The deal isn’t agreed to yet, but it is getting there.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019
Ja’Wuan James, OT
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were interested in re-signing James, but it’s hard to top an offer like the Broncos made him:
Former Dolpins’ OT JaWuan James intends to sign a four-year, $52 million deal that includes $32 million guaranteed with the Denver Broncos, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019
James will now be the highest-paid right tackle in the league.
Grady Jarrett, DT
2018 team: Atlanta Falcons
Jarrett is staying in Atlanta in 2019. The problem-solving defensive mainstay signed his franchise tender for the upcoming season, locking him into at least one more year with the Falcons.
Kevin Johnson, CB
2018 team: Houston Texans
The oft-injured former first round pick is drawing plenty of interest after being released by the Texans. He visited the Bills, Browns, and Jets in his quest to find a new NFL home. He’s set to sign with Buffalo, pending a contract review.
Lamarcus Joyner, S
2018 team: Los Angeles Rams
A year after getting the franchise tag from the Rams, Joyner instead will hit the open market as one of the top safeties in a crowded market. It didn’t take long for him to land a deal, though. He’s joining the Raiders on a four-year deal.
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
2018 team: Dallas Cowboys
Lawrence isn’t interested in being tagged by the Cowboys for a second straight year. The dynamic pass rusher would reportedly refuse to sign a franchise tender this spring, giving way to a potential Bell-esque showdown between the two sides. Dallas would prefer to sign Lawrence to a long-term deal rather than resort to using the tag anyway.
That didn’t happen. Lawrence, to his displeasure, got the franchise tag yet again. He has already said he won’t sign the tender, meaning the two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal or things will get ugly in Dallas. NFL Network’s Jane Slater also said Lawrence felt “disrespected” by what has happened.
You know what’s a good cure for disrespect? A nine-figure contract. Lawrence is expected to re-sign with the Cowboys on a five-year deal worth more than $100 million.
Tyrann Mathieu, S
2018 team: Houston Texans
Mathieu is one of the most dynamic playmakers at the safety position, and the Texans want to bring him back. Unfortunately for them, it doesn’t seem like that’s happening, as Mathieu is joining the Chiefs on a three-year, $42 million deal.
C.J. Mosley, LB
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
The rangy inside linebacker will get the opportunity to test the waters of free agency this spring. Baltimore won’t use its franchise tag to retain Mosley, though that doesn’t mean he won’t be back with the team. They are currently trying to re-sign Mosley to a long-term deal, and have “sweetened their offer” to him, but the two sides haven’t agreed to anything yet.
No matter how sweet that offer was, it probably didn’t touch the Jets’. New York reset the inside linebacker market by inking Mosley to a five-year, $85 million contract that pays him over $4m more annually than Carolina’s Luke Kuechly.
Latavius Murray, RB
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
The 29-year-old Murray will serve as Mark Ingram’s replacement/Alvin Kamara’s complement in New Orleans. He signed a four-year deal with the Saints.
Jordy Nelson, WR
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
With Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams on board, the Raiders said goodbye to Nelson after one season. The soon-to-be 34-year-old was the most productive receiver for Oakland in 2018. He’s got a visit with the Seahawks coming up soon, but there are several suitors interested in his services.
Former Packers’ WR Jordy Nelson is scheduled to visit the Seahawks on Tuesday, per source. They were interested in Nelson last year; GM John Schneider loves Nelson. Other interested teams at this point include: Patriots, Titans, Chiefs, Raiders.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2019
DeVante Parker, WR
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were expected to release the former first-round pick. Parker had his least productive season as a pro in 2018, making only 24 receptions in 11 games. Instead, they’re giving him a new two-year deal worth $13 million.
Cody Parkey, K
2018 team: Chicago Bears
To no surprise of anyone who watched the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, the Bears are expected to release Parkey at the start of the new league year. Despite his infamous double-doink field goal miss that ended Chicago’s 2018 season, Parkey should be able to find a new team.
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/KR
2018 team: New England Patriots
New England’s Swiss Army Knife is headed to Chicago to give the Bears the league’s deadliest special teams tandem. Patterson will team with Tarik Cohen in the NFC North after signing a two-year, $10 million deal with Chicago.
Breshad Perriman, WR
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
Perriman never panned out with the Ravens, but the former first-round pick caught on with the Browns last season. That was enough for them to re-sign the receiver to a one-year deal ... until they traded for OBJ. Now he’s going to the Bucs:
After trade for Odell Beckham Jr., Browns’ GM John Dorsey and agent Drew Rosenhaus mutually agreed to not to follow through on verbal agreement with WR Breshad Perriman, per @mortreport and me. Perriman now will sign a one-year, $4 million deal with Tampa Bay, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019
Adrian Peterson, RB
2018 team: Washington
After an “I’m not washed yet” season with Washington, the soon-to-be 34-year-old is returning to the nation’s capital:
RB Adrian Peterson just called me and told me "I am going back to the #Redskins. It will be a 2-year deal. I feel like we made some good moves to get to where we are trying to go."
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 13, 2019
Spencer Pulley, OL
2018 team: New York Giants
The Giants made a major move to overhaul their o-line by trading for Kevin Zeitler, but decided Spencer Pulley did well enough in his lone year in north Jersey to stick around. The club signed the former undrafted free agent to a three-year deal.
Sheldon Richardson, DT
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
Richardson’s solid season in his first year away from New York earned him a three-year, $39 million contract to add some veteran punch to the middle of the Browns’ defensive line. He’ll join Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, and Larry Ogunjobi to form one of the AFC’s fastest-rising pass rushes.
Greg Robinson, OL
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
The former No. 2 overall pick will re-sign with the Browns after putting together one of the best seasons of his maligned career in Cleveland.
Bradley Roby, CB
2018 team: Denver Broncos
The former first-round pick is getting plenty of attention on the free agent market, but he’s decided to sign with the cornerback-needy Texans:
Broncos former first round pick CB Bradley Roby is signing with the the Texans for 1 year and 10 million, per source.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 12, 2019
Roby said he turned down offers from the Steelers and 49ers to take the “prove it” deal with the Texans.
Rodger Saffold, LG
2018 team: Los Angeles Rams
Saffold is scheduled to become a free agent and the Rams are not expected to re-sign him due to their limited cap space. Rams GM Les Snead said that Saffold would be too “expensive” for them to retain. That made him one of the more coveted players on the free agent market, given how rarely high-end offensive linemen become available.
The Titans snapped him up on a four-year deal.
Za’Darius Smith, LB
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
Green Bay is adding an underrated punch to its pass rush. The Packers reportedly scooped Smith away from Baltimore after his breakout 8.5-sack season with a multi-year deal.
Terrell Suggs, LB
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
Suggs is coming back for a 17th season, and possibly his first outside of Baltimore. The Ravens are interested in keeping the veteran leader around, but instead, he’s signing with the Cardinals.
Ndamukong Suh, DT
2018 team: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams acquired Suh on a one-year deal last season and it paid off, though not with a Super Bowl win. And now that the one-year rental is done, the Rams plan to let Suh hit free agency to test his market. One report says he wants to play for a West Coast team.
Golden Tate, WR
2018 teams: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles
Tate may be the top option on a limited list of free agent wideouts, and he’s interested in catching passes from Tom Brady. New England needs to replenish its receiving corps, but Bill Belichick’s bargain hunting ways kept the veteran WR from being a realistic option in Foxborough. Tate ended up not too far away, with the Giants, who were suddenly in need of a No. 1 WR.
Tyrod Taylor, QB
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
The Dolphins are expected to move on from Ryan Tannehill and draft a quarterback this year. That leaves an opening for a veteran quarterback to either start or to mentor the rookie — something Taylor is familiar with after his season in Cleveland. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Dolphins have interest in the 29-year-old.
But surprisingly, Taylor landed with the Chargers, where he’ll reunite with Anthony Lynn:
Source: The #Chargers agreed to terms with QB Tyrod Taylor on a 2-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019
Earl Thomas, S
2018 team: Seattle Seahawks
Thomas, a Texas native, has been linked to the Cowboys ever since becoming disillusioned with his place on the Seahawks’ spending sheet. He may not be able to earn what he feels he’s worth in Dallas, either. The Athletic’s Calvin Watkins reports a Cowboys’ source doesn’t see the team as more than “bargain shoppers” when it comes to the All-Pro safety.
Watkins also confirmed that the Cowboys met with Thomas’ representatives at the scouting combine, to gauge what kind of contract Thomas is looking for. With Dallas already dropping $3.5 million to $5 million on Jason Witten and with big extensions for Amari Cooper and Dak Prescott looming, the franchise may not be able to afford the All-Pro safety:
Let’s clear this up now. A source tells @TheAthleticDFW Cowboys have no interest in Earl Thomas or Landon Collins. The financial price is too steep. This isn’t new news. Now Cowboys also have no interest in Eric Weddle either. Price is everything.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) March 6, 2019
Thomas could get the mega-deal for which he’s been looking, if a saturated safety market allows it:
I said “rumored to be” but can now confirm, at least in the market of 14M or more a year, per source. He wants to beat S Eric Berry’s number which is roughly 13M a year https://t.co/uj7ntUHI7L
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 11, 2019
Following Tyrann Mathieu’s signing with the Chiefs, the Texans were sniffing around Thomas. But they’re out of the bidding after signing Tashaun Gipson.
There was talk about Thomas joining the wave in Cleveland, but that’s not going to happen. He is coming to the AFC North, however: Thomas signed a big-money contract with the Ravens.
Jason Verrett, CB
2018 team: Los Angeles Chargers
The former first-rounder, but oft-injured, Verrett is getting some attention on the open market. He has visits lined up with the 49ers, Texans, and Chiefs. He ended up staying in California on a one-year deal with the 49ers.
Eric Weddle, S
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
In one of 2019’s more surprising cuts, the Ravens got out of the Eric Weddle business. The veteran defensive back put together another strong season at age 33 last fall, earning a Pro Bowl berth and rating out as Pro Football Focus’s 10th-rated safety. It didn’t take him long to draw interest elsewhere.
Three days after his release, Weddle agreed to a two-year deal with the Rams worth up to $12.5 million.
Tyrell Williams, WR
2018 team: Los Angeles Chargers
Following four seasons with the Chargers, Williams will play for a new team in 2019. He could’ve found himself in the AFC North, considering the Browns and Steelers are both interested in his services.
But he’ll stay on the West Coast:
Former Chargers’ WR Tyrell Williams intends to sign with the Oakland Raiders, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019
K.J. Wright, LB
2018 team: Seattle Seahawks
The veteran middle linebacker is staying in Seattle.
And now that I just woke up and saw the message and reached out, Wright adds in another text, “it’s a “2-year deal worth up to $15M.” https://t.co/554Y34JiXe
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 14, 2019
Trade rumors
Odell Beckham Jr., WR
2018 team: New York Giants
Persistent rumors that Beckham could be traded are a little odd considering he received a lengthy extension from the Giants just before the 2018 season began. But Jay Glazer told The Athletic he believes the receiver will get dealt before the 2019 season gets started.
It was real enough that the Browns reportedly went to the Giants with a trade offer of Kevin Zeitler, Emmanuel Ogbah and one more player. The Giants laughed at the offer, according to NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala. That hasn’t kept the team from continuing to shop its All-Pro wideout as the official start to free agency approaches and at least one team is still reaching out:
Via @JosinaAnderson on NFL LIVE: there is an AFC North team that as recently as today continues to inquire on Odell Beckham, Jr.'s availability and discussions have remained ongoing.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 12, 2019
Perhaps it’s the Browns again?
I’m, uh, receiving some texts pic.twitter.com/TQfsTICwYs
— Jordan Zirm (@clevezirm) March 12, 2019
All this smoke doesn’t necessarily mean a fire, though.
“Everything that I have heard has been consistent that they are not looking to trade Odell Beckham Jr.,” NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones reported Tuesday. “I believe they want him in the fold. They know they’re better with him on the field. Would two No. 1 picks do it? Perhaps. But there doesn’t seem to be a team lining up with that kind of mega-offer.”
Oh wait, never mind. Because it DID happen. OBJ got traded to the Browns.
Michael Bennett, DE
2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Soon after signing Brandon Graham to an extension, the Eagles sent feelers out to the league about Bennett. The veteran defensive end has a $7.2 million cap hit for 2019.
Bennett told NFL Network that not only would he not be willing to take a pay cut, but that he actually wants a raise. That meant that Bennett likely wouldn’t be back with the Eagles, whether that be a release or a trade.
It was the Patriots that stepped up to get the deal done. The trade is expected to move the Eagles up from the seventh-round to the fifth-round in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Eric Berry, S
2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs
The writing is probably on the wall for Berry. The safety has missed 29 games the past two seasons, and the Chiefs signed Tyrann Mathieu in free agency. But it’s still possible the Chiefs trade Berry rather than release him. And guess who has an open spot at safety?
Hearing rumors that John Dorsey and Browns could be making a play to pluck Eric Berry out of Kansas City. Normally I'd ignore those rumors, but after the events of last night, this is another one I'll be keeping an eye on.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 13, 2019
However, the Chiefs ended up releasing Berry.
Antonio Brown, WR
2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Brown’s tumultuous tenure in Pittsburgh appears to be on its last legs after he formally requested a trade this winter. Now the Steelers are fielding offers and preparing to turn the team’s receiving corps over to JuJu Smith-Schuster.
After originally ruling out AFC North rivals and the New England Patriots as trade partners, Colbert now appears willing to trade Brown to any team willing to meet his asking price.
The Saints and Raiders are two clubs that cropped up on the horizon as the Steelers embark on their journey to trade Brown. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports the market has shrunk down to one club that’s willing to meet the Steelers’ asking price.
Interesting take on Antonio Brown market from a league source, as of early this morning (in their opinion): "one team race...I think the other teams decided the price was too high."
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 6, 2019
The Buffalo Bills came close to landing Brown, but the deal never happened:
A statement from GM Brandon Beane. pic.twitter.com/GK8wMqFTCA
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) March 8, 2019
Just over a day later, Brown finally got what he wanted and was traded to the Raiders, who are making him the league’s highest-paid receiver again.
Derek Carr, QB
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
Is Jon Gruden ready to find his own handpicked franchise quarterback? Maybe:
Hearing the Raiders were shopping Derek Carr at the NFL Combine
— Master (@MasterTes) March 2, 2019
The Raiders have three first-round picks, including the fourth overall selection, if there’s a quarterback they like in this draft class.
Dee Ford, DE
2018: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs used their franchise tag on Ford, but they’ve been open to trading their 2014 first-round pick. If a trade partner didn’t emerge, he’d stay in Kansas City and play 2019 under the tag. The Packers and 49ers have both expressed interest in the pass rusher, and the 49ers worked out a deal to land Ford.
Marcus Gilbert, RT
2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers put Gilbert on the block alongside Antonio Brown. But the Gilbert deal got done first; the right tackle was sent to Arizona:
Steelers OT Marcus Gilbert traded to the Cardinals, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2019
It’s gonna be a busy offseason in Pittsburgh.
Justin Houston, LB
2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs would have liked to keep their Pro Bowl pass rusher around, but at a cap hit of $21.1 million and with Dee Ford now earning a franchise tag salary of more than $15 million, the 30-year-old will have to find a new home this offseason. Kansas City had engaged in trade talks with multiple teams regarding his availability, but no suitors emerged and the expensive pass rusher ended up getting released.
Jordan Howard, RB
2018 team: Chicago Bears
The Bears running back was a Pro Bowler as a rookie, but only averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2018. Now, he might be on the trading block heading into the final season of his rookie deal.
According to Adam Schefter, multiple teams have reached out to the Bears about a deal for Howard. Discussions are reportedly “ongoing.”
DeSean Jackson, WR
2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
ESPN reports the Bucs are shopping Jackson, who would prefer to get dealt to the team that drafted him: the Eagles. It’s also possible Tampa Bay cuts Jackson instead of trading him. In either situation, a return to receiver-needy Philadelphia is possible.
The problem is that the trade market for Jackson reportedly isn’t strong and it may be in the Bucs’ best interest just to keep the receiver on the team.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not finding any takers in a trade for DeSean Jackson. I’m told for now... the plan is to keep him on the roster. Key words “for now”
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 11, 2019
In the end, a trade back to Philadelphia turned out to be the best solution for each side.
Tampa it was a great experience, but things didn’t work out !! Looking forward to my next destination .. Stay Tuned #0ne0fone https://t.co/dNsVXC3RMZ
— Desean Jackson (@DeSeanJackson11) March 11, 2019
Duke Johnson, RB
2018: Cleveland Browns
In February, the Browns signed Kareem Hunt (even though they didn’t have to). Despite Hunt facing a lengthy suspension, the Browns have a crowded running backs room, with 2018 rookie Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. That leaves Johnson as the odd man out. He is reportedly being shopping and getting some interest from other teams, including the Eagles.
Case Keenum, QB
2018 team: Denver Broncos
Washington is reportedly finalizing a deal that will involve a swap of late-round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft for Keenum. Essentially, the Broncos will get nothing for the quarterback, but they will move most of the money owed to the passer off the books. Washington will get a cheap veteran to step in as the starter with Alex Smith expected to miss the 2019 season due to a broken leg.
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
The Browns might not be done making moves. This time, they might be trading away a player rather than acquiring one:
Browns are now shopping former defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah after acquiring Olivier Vernon, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019
Robet Quinn, DE
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
Miami’s bottoming-out in 2019 now likely includes trading away Quinn, a prized trade acquisition for the Dolphins just a year ago. Dallas could be his destination of choice; he was seen touring the Cowboys’ facilities March 19.
Josh Rosen, QB
2018 team: Arizona Cardinals
Rosen is less than a year removed from being the 11th pick in the NFL Draft, but with new head coach Kliff Kingsbury entirely enamored with Kyler Murray, his time in Arizona may be short. He’s reportedly on the trading block, but it’s unclear just what the Cardinals can recoup for him after a rough rookie campaign as the centerpiece of a talent-starved offense.
The Cardinals reportedly rebuffed offers for Rosen at the combine. Whether or not that resistance holds true through the 2019 draft is another story. There’s at least one team interested:
#Giants would explore a trade for Cardinals QB Josh Rosen if he is made available, per ESPN.
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) March 14, 2019
John Ross, WR
2018 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Ross isn’t a free agent, but the player Cincinnati spent the ninth overall pick on in 2017 is reportedly available via trade.
Two years ago, top WR prospect John Ross set fire to the Combine with his 40 time. Now, sources say the #Bengals are shopping their former first rounder. A fresh start would be welcome by both parties, sounds like.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2019
It’s unclear just what he’d command from other teams after recording only 21 receptions in his first two seasons as a pro. A fresh start could be a boon for the oft-injured deep threat, but nothing in his Bengals tenure suggests he’ll be able to live up to the lofty expectations of his first-round pedigree.
The Bears have reportedly shown interest, while the Bengals are denying that they’re shopping Ross.
Ryan Tannehill, QB
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins kicked the tires on Teddy Bridgewater, and the Saints were expected to make a run at Tannehill.
Orrrrr, maybe they weren’t:
Source on the possibility of the Saints signing Ryan Tannehill: "No way."
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 13, 2019
It didn’t end up mattering. Tannehill’s career in Miami is over, but he wasn’t released as expected. He was traded to the Titans to back up Marcus Mariota.
Olivier Vernon, EDGE
2018 team: New York Giants
Vernon was New York’s prized $85 million signing in 2016, but he may not see out the end of his contract with the club. The Giants were reportedly listening to trade offers on the impactful pass rusher in hopes of recouping the young assets that can lead a rebuild in northern New Jersey.
In the end, they got a deal done with the Browns. In return, the Giants are getting guard Kevin Zeitler.
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