Denver Broncos wide receiver Carlos Henderson has been suspended without pay by the NFL for the opening week of the 2018 season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
The Fulton County district attorney’s office has dropped a rape case against Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis, writing in a statement that “the evidence presented does not warrant any further action in this case.”
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Henderson didn’t report to the Broncos’ training camp this year and is on the team’s reserve/did not report list.
Head coach Vance Joseph said in late July that Henderson was “having some family issues he’s working through and it’s really his timeline” when he returns.
“He just has to figure it out. Whatever it is. If it’s football, whatever, he’s got to figure it out and he’s got to find his happiness, and I hope he finds it,” fellow wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said in late July.
Henderson, who spent his rookie season in 2017 on injured reserve with a thumb injury he suffered in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears, was arrested in January in West Monroe, Louisiana, and charged with first offense possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.
The Broncos selected Henderson in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2017 draft.
NAPA, Calif. — The day after agreeing to a restructured contract, three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn was activated from the physically unable to perform list and moved to a new position with the Oakland Raiders — right tackle.
The move could also portend first-round draft pick Kolton Miller winning the starting left tackle job.
“They talked to me about it, about trying it out, seeing what it would do, seeing how I would feel over there and I told them, ‘I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help this team win, and if you guys feel that’s going to be in the best interest of the team, I’ll do it,'” Penn said Tuesday, following his first training camp practice.
“Today felt kind of awkward and rusty, but I need time to develop. I don’t know if that’s going to be a permanent thing or not yet, but it is something we’re testing out and I told them I’m all for it. We’ve got a young kid over there [Miller] that’s doing a lot of good things.”
Penn, who received a two-year, $21 million extension after a 26-day holdout last year, reportedly took a small pay cut this year to get some guaranteed money next season.
Per ESPN Stats & Information, Penn was due base salaries of $6 million in each of the next two seasons, with a guaranteed $3 million this season and a $300,000 workout bonus based on six weigh-ins, with $50,000 per weigh-in.
And under the parameters of said contract, he was due a $1 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year in 2019 and the remaining $5 million of his salary became fully guaranteed if he had 75 percent playing time in 2018.
Penn, who had been rehabbing from Lisfranc surgery on his right foot in December that ended his consecutive starts streak at 170, said the Raiders mentioned the possibility of a position switch to him during “negotiations with the contract stuff” over the past week.
“And then this morning, they told me that they wanted me to try it out today and see how it goes,” Penn said. “I told them I was going to give my best effort and go out there and try to be Donald Penn over there.”
The only other time Penn played right tackle was in an emergency situation in the 2016 season opener at New Orleans, after Menelik Watson and Vadal Alexander were lost to injury.
Per Pro Football Focus, Penn played 24 snaps at right tackle that day and in 18 pass-block snaps there, he did not allow a quarterback pressure.
“It was tough,” Penn said. “I’m glad we won. I was out there battling, holding on for dear life. It was tough.”
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said it was strange seeing the protector of his blind side now lined up in front of him.
“It was a little different, but that’s why you have good players,” Carr said Tuesday. “That’s why you add good players to your team, so when things happen you can put guys in different spots.”
“We’ve got a good thing going here,” Penn said. “I just want to help us win. I’m not playing too much longer. I just want to win, really. So if this is going to help us win, I’m all in for it.
“Kolton, me and Kolton, we’re developing a good friendship. I want to have him ready so when he goes out there he can succeed. It’s not like I’m over here, like jealous or mad. I’m trying to help the kid out so the kid can be as good as possible because it’s going to help us out as a team.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers said he was not sending a message last week when he referred to practice as “piss poor,” but if some members of the Green Bay Packers were bothered by it, well, now it sounds like Rodgers has a message for them.
“I hope we’re not that soft,” Rodgers said Monday. “I hope we can hear comments or read comments and not get offended by things. It’s a professional environment; it’s not a personal environment. The things I’m saying, I don’t have some vendetta against any player. I care about winning, No. 1, and I’m going to say and do the things that I feel like can advance us. It’s going to be tough at some points. It’s not a popularity contest all the time. Obviously, as a human, you like being liked and appreciated, but I’m trying to win games because that’s my job.”
It was after a sloppy practice last week, one that ended with Rodgers flinging the ball at some tackling dummies in frustration, that he criticized the young receivers — without naming any names — for their effort while running the scout team. Rodgers was working with them on the scout team last week because he wasn’t going to play in the preseason opener against Tennessee.
After the game, Valdes-Scantling said: “You know, when the leader says you’ve got to pick it up, that’s what you do. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it, so whatever he says, we have to go out and do it.”
Rodgers, however, said he doesn’t think it was because of what he said.
“Again, I don’t feel like when you make a statement like that that there needs to be some big response or feelings hurt or offense that somebody takes with it,” Rodgers said. “If they do, they’re taking it the wrong way because this is a professional environment. Like I said, I’m doing things that I feel like are in the best interest of the team from a leadership standpoint, and if no one else is going to stand up and criticize a bad practice, then maybe I need to be the one to do it. So I did it.
“I talked about the carded period that we had. The guys played well in the game, made some plays. It’s been a good week of practice, I think. It’s been hot, but the guys have been competing and making plays. I don’t think that’s a response to anything I’ve said. Now maybe it is for a couple of them, but it shouldn’t be. You get to this league, and to stick around, you’ve got to be self-motivated. So as a leader, you try to inspire, but the motivation to change and to improve has got to come from within.”
“I hope we can hear comments or read comments and not get offended by things,” Aaron Rodgers said. “I care about winning, No. 1, and I’m going to say and do the things that I feel like can advance us.” Jim Matthews/Green Bay Press-Gazette
It appears that Rodgers will make his preseason debut on Thursday against the Steelers because he was off scout-team duty Monday. Last year, he played one series in Week 2 of the preseason (and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett at the end of a 15-play drive) and two series in Week 3.
Rodgers said it was important to him to play at Lambeau Field, something he hasn’t done since Week 4 of last season against the Bears. He broke his collarbone in Week 6 at Minnesota, and his only game back last season was at Carolina in Week 15. The Packers’ final two preseason games are on the road: at Oakland and at Kansas City.
“I haven’t played at home for a long time,” Rodgers said. “So it will be nice to get out on Lambeau. And then we’ll see about Week 3 and 4, but you’re always working on things, whether it’s practice or preseason game. It’s just trying to get the timing down with the guys, and the speed is obviously a little faster at times in practice — not always. The scheme is not always extremely difficult, so it’s more about making sure you’re seeing things the right way. Like I said, it’s not a ton of preparation in the same way it would be for a regular-season game. But I think there’s still things to be gained even for a veteran player in the preseason.”
RICHMOND, Va. — A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. Macc and Mack: General manager Mike Maccagnan got his quarterback. Now he needs to find someone to get to the opponent’s quarterback.
While the addition of Sam Darnold filled a big hole in the Jets’ rebuilding puzzle, it will never be complete until they add a formidable pass-rusher on the edge. My advice to Maccagnan: Call the Oakland Raiders.
In case you haven’t heard, the Raiders and star pass-rusher Khalil Mack are locked in a contract dispute. Mack, due to make $13.8 million in the the final year of his contract, is holding out of training camp, reportedly seeking at least $20 million per year. There’s no evidence to suggest the Raiders have put him on the trading block, but that doesn’t mean the Jets can’t place a phone call.
Will they? I wouldn’t be surprised if they do. The Jets have a proactive front office (see: the trade up for Darnold) and they’re always looking for ways to improve the roster. No matter what Todd Bowles says publicly, the organization recognizes that outside linebacker is its biggest need. Jordan Jenkins is a competent first- and second-down player against the run, but there’s no one who can rush from the edge. Their current leading sacker at the position is David Bass (3.5 sacks last season), and he might not make the team. It’s hard to run a 3-4 defense without a “rush” linebacker.
Mack, the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, would elevate the Jets’ defense to another level. He’s had 36.5 sacks over the past three seasons and he’s still only 27 years old, which means he still has a few prime years left.
What are the chances he will get traded? It’s unlikely. Two NFL executives told me the Raiders would be dumb to trade Mack, whom they can control for three years — this year, plus two franchise tags. If they put him on the block, they’d demand at least a first-round pick. This is one of those two-pronged situations because any team that wants Mack would have to agree to trade compensation with the Raiders and negotiate a long-term contract with the player — and it’s not easy to pull that off.
The Jets have $16 million in cap room this year and a league-high $82 million next year, according to overthecap.com. So, yes, they could absorb a huge contract, especially with only one potentially big deal on the horizon (Leonard Williams). The draft-pick compensation might be tough for them to swallow, considering they’re already without a second-round choice in 2019 (the Darnold trade), but my take is this: Would you find a better pass-rusher than Mack in next year’s draft? Probably not.
Maccagnan told ESPN New York radio that upgrading the pass rush is “an area we’re focused on,” saying he will explore possible trades and waiver-wire pickups throughout the preseason. Forget the waiver wire; if a player like Mack becomes available, you pounce.
2. Marked man: The Jets flew to Richmond after Friday night’s preseason opener and will hold joint practices with the Washington Redskins starting Sunday. The teams will cap the week Thursday night with a game at FedEx Field.
The Jets haven’t conducted a joint practice since 2005, when they met the New York Giants in Albany, New York. That was a memorable day, marked by several fights and a shouting match between Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson and Giants coach Tom Coughlin. In 1988, they scrimmaged the Redskins at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. I’ll never forget the sight of Mark Gastineau’s actress girlfriend, Brigitte Nielsen, emerging from a white stretch limo that had driven up to the Jets’ sideline in the middle of the scrimmage. Ah, yes, good times.
These Jets-Redskins sessions also could get chippy because Redskins linebacker Zach Brown put a target on Terrelle Pryor in June, saying the defense will “have it out” for their former teammate. Let’s just say Pryor wasn’t Mr. Popularity on the 2017 Redskins. They believed he was coddled by the coaching staff and was too much of a showman in practice.
For the most part, Pryor has laughed off the trash talk, although he did deliver one salvo.
“If they take dirty shots, I’m sure we’ll handle that accordingly,” he said last week.
Pryor versus Josh Norman should be a fun watch.
3. Goal in Richmond: Bowles said the focus in the joint practices will be on the young players, seeing how they react to different competition and new schematic looks.
“You get tired of going up against the same offensive and defensive schemes, and they’re a very good football team and they have a lot of things they do well,” Bowles said. “It will be a good test for some of the guys that won’t play a lot in the game next Thursday.”
4. The other rookie: Darnold has been grabbing all the headlines, but the Jets do have other rookies in camp, you know. One of them — tight end Chris Herndon — has a chance to be an immediate contributor. Sorry, I don’t have a stat on this (you’re shocked, I know), but he has to be among their leading receivers in practice. He dropped to the fourth round because of a late-season knee injury at Miami.
Former tight end Anthony Becht, who has attended a few practices in his role as the new color analyst on the Jets’ preseason telecasts, said Herndon has the ability to play both tight-end spots — in-line (the Y position) and flex (F). In other words, he can block and catch.
“He can be productive in both roles,” said Becht, who suspects Herndon would’ve been a second-round pick if it hadn’t been for the knee injury. “To me, that’s the key in the NFL now. You have to be able to do everything at every position.
“The kid’s a good player. He’s very explosive. I think he’s a playmaker in the passing game. He can do all those things and, unlike a lot of the tight ends coming out, he can be an in-line blocker, too. When you can get a little bit of both and yet you’re still predominantly a pass-catching tight end, that’s key.”
Herndon sat out Friday night because of “a couple of bruises” from practice, according to a tight-lipped Bowles. This bears watching.
Fourth-round tight end Chris Herndon is among the Jets’ leading receivers in practice. Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports
5. No Madden love: The folks who create the player ratings for the Madden video game evidently don’t expect much from Darnold this season. Here’s how they ranked the rookie quarterbacks:
For what it’s worth, I think the Jets’ top three was Darnold, Rosen and Mayfield.
6. Sad stories: The recent passing of coach Tony Sparano triggered thoughts of his one season with the Jets, 2012, when he served as offensive coordinator for Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow & Co. A quick review of the roster uncovered this chilling fact:
Three members of that team are dead: Running back Joe McKnight was murdered in 2016, tight end Konrad Reuland died of a brain aneurysm in 2016 and Sparano died of heart disease at age 56.
