Media Friday: Week of 4/21/14

  Welcome back to Media Friday, your #1 source for everything involving the NFL media. Throughout the past week, several things have happened within the National Football League, including the release of the 2014 regular season schedule, the beginning of off-season workouts, and seemingly countless contract extensions. So without further ado, these are the actions that have happened in the NFL during the week of April 21st, 2014. 

More Players Receive 5th-year Contract Extension

  During this week, several more teams have decided to keep their young star players for an additional season by exercising contracts's optional 5th-year extension. In the NFL, it is required that first-round rookies are signed to a 4-year contract with an optional fifth year extension. Generally, first-round rookies that become prominent players in the NFL receive the optional fifth year, which acts almost like a franchise tag. Here is a list of the notable players to receive a 5th-year contract extension, along with their salaries for the 2015 season:

• A.J Green-Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals: $10.18 million
• Patrick Peterson-Cornerback, Arizona Cardinals: $10.08 million
• Marcel Dareus-Defensive Tackle, Buffalo Bills: $8.06 million
• Cameron Jordan-Defensive End, New Orleans Saints: $6.96 million

Future Players Accept Invitations to Attend Draft

  Every year between the months of March and April, the National Football League sends out nearly 50 invitations to future players to attend the NFL Draft. Although several former college players declined the offers and wished to stay home with their families, there will be 29 future stars in Radio City Music Hall on May 8th to be part of the annual event. Of the 29 players that are planning to attend, some of the notable players are quarterbacks Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles, receiver Sammy Watkins, linebackers Khalil Mack and C.J Mosely, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, and several other talented prospects. Click here to see a full list of prospects attending the 2014 NFL Draft. 

2014 Regular Season Schedule is Released
  For the last few months, it has been well known throughout the NFL what the match-ups of 2014 would be, but the only question was when? On Wednesday, April 23rd, the NFL released their full regular season schedule for the 2014 season, and, as always, there are several games to that are sure to excite. Some of these important match-ups include prime-time games between Seattle and San Francisco (Thanksgiving night), Denver and Indianapolis (Week 1), Green Bay and Chicago (Week 10), and a 16th installment of the classic Tom Brady-Peyton Manning rivalry in Week 9. To see a full week-by-week rundown of the 2014 regular season schedule, click here. Unlike other seasons, the scheduling of the 2014 regular season comes with a twist: flex scheduling. In simple terms, if the NFL wants to move an afternoon game to a prime-time game, they are permitted to make that schedule change after Week 5 of the regular season. Also, channel scheduling is not strictly linked to conferences, meaning that some AFC games will be shown on FOX, and vice versa with some NFC games and CBS. As always, the upcoming NFL season is packed with interesting games that are sure to excite millions of fans every week.

All 32 Teams Begin Off-Season Workouts
  Not a single professional football game has been played in over two months, and all of the NFL's players are finally back to work. On Monday, April 21st, the last handful of teams started their off-season conditioning program, and the very beginnings of the 2014 season have begun. Although men lifting weights and jogging isn't nearly as entertaining as a football game, these workouts mark the first stage of a grueling schedule for all of the NFL's players. During 'Stage 1', players are allowed to work with their strength and conditioning coaches, as well as the training staff. 'Stage 2' will begin in May, and players will then be able to reunite with their coaches and begin doing team workouts and drills.

Media Friday: Week of 4/14/14

Chris Johnson Signs With Jets
  From the moment that he hit the free agent market, Chris Johnson was the most talented player in free agency, and multiple teams were interested in signings the former 2,000-yard rusher. But, after nearly a week of rumors and speculation, Johnson signed with the New York Jets for a two-year contract that is worth $8 million, with $2.5 million in the first year. Although Chris Johnson is not considered the franchise running back that he was in 2009, he is expected to add a new dimension to the Jets' offense as a 'split back'. Johnson is the epitome of a home-run hitting running back, with tremendous speed and elusiveness. Despite these attributes, Chris Johnson is not always seen as a complete running back, which is why he is expected to split carries with other backs on the Jets' roster. With the signing of Chris Johnson in addition to Eric Decker and Michael Vick, it is safe to say that the New York Jets' offense will look completely different next year, compared to 2013. (To see some of Chris Johnson's highlights, click here.)

Aldon Smith Taken Into Custody, May Miss 2014 Season 

  Throughout his career, Aldon Smith, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, has been one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL, averaging nearly a sack per game. With this said, Aldon Smith has not performed as well off of the field, missing games for alcohol use, gun felonies, and other legal problems. Unfortunately, Smith was yet again in a legal issue, when he allegedly stated that he was in possession of a bomb in the Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, April 13th. After being taken into custody by LAX police officials, Aldon Smith was charged with a false report of a bomb threat, and paid a $20,000 bail at the Los Angeles Jail. Although these actions had no affiliation with his professional football career, Smith may receive harsh penalties from the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers. At this time, no official punishments have been given to Smith, but it is very possible that he will be suspended for several games in 2014, and possibly the entire season. Along with this, there is also a possibility that Aldon Smith must serve time in jail for his three gun felonies, his DUI from last year, and now the LAX incident. Needless to say, the future of Aldon Smith's football career seems very cloudy right now, and only time will tell what will happen.

Multiple Teams Pick Up Player's 5th-Year Options

  Throughout this past week, several organizations have decided to retain some of their talented, young players by extending their contracts for one more year. In the NFL, it is required that first-round rookies are signed to a four-year contract with an optional fifth year that can be added on if the team wishes to do so. This 'extra year' is usually called a 5th-year option. The two most notable players to receive would be Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and J.J Watt, defensive linemen of the Houston Texans. The Texans announced that Watt would be paid around $7 million in 2015, while Cam Newton will be earning roughly $14 million from the Carolina Panthers in 2015. Along with these two pro-bowl players, other players such as defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson of the New York Jets and cornerback Jimmy Smith of the Baltimore Ravens have also had their 5th-year options picked up. Although these contract options may seem similar to contract extensions, they act more as extra time for teams and their players to sign new, multi-year contracts. Hopefully for both the players and teams, these long-term deals will be reached sooner than later. 

2014 Draft Preview: Picks 1-5

  We are now in the middle of April, and the countdown to the NFL Draft is finally upon us. After months of draft experts calling this "the best draft class in years", we finally get to see exactly which players will be going to which teams. But before the clock starts, let's look over what we can expect in the upcoming NFL Draft, starting with picks 1-5.

#1: Houston Texans (Finished 2-14)
 After a truly awful 2013 season, the Houston Texans are looking to revamp their team in hopes of becoming Super Bowl contenders once again. Despite having several talented player on their roster, the Houston Texans also have several holes to fill on their depth chart. Along with a huge need at quarterback, the Texans could also use depth on defense, especially in the secondary. In the draft, there seem to be three main beliefs as to what may happen with the first overall pick: 1) The Houston Texans will draft a quarterback, 2) The Texans will draft Jadeveon Clowney, or 3) The first overall pick will be traded. Since the Texans have such a large need at quarterback, it would seem reasonable that the team would draft a quarterback, whether it be Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, or Teddy Bridgewater. But, none of these three quarterbacks seem to be #1-pick worthy, while defensive end Jadeveon Clowney does seem worthy of the pick. With an all-pro defensive end in J.J Watt, drafting Clowney would certainly make up one of the deadliest duos in pro football. Finally, the fact that the 2014 draft is very deep gives a viable third option for the Houston Texans: a trade. If Houston decides that "their player" is later in the draft, the Texans could trade the #1 overall pick for several other picks at a very high price. All of these three options are very possible for the Texans in the draft, and the only way to know for sure is to find out on May 8th. If Houston can draft a franchise-level player, then this team could easily be back in contention for a division title.

#2: St. Louis Rams (Finished 7-9)*
  Just as their record would indicate, the St. Louis Rams were just about average in 2013, with a decent defense and a lackluster offense. Although the Rams have some needs in their defensive secondary, the majority of their problems lie on offense. Both running and passing the ball were issues in 2013, and quarterback Sam Bradford was injured halfway into the season. During the draft, the main priority is obviously to help a struggling Sam Bradford, who is still the center of the Rams' offense. With no elite running backs in this draft class, it's very possible that the Rams will draft either a wide receiver or an offensive tackle. The three most likely picks for St. Louis would be receiver Sammy Watkins, offensive tackle Jake Matthews, or tackle Greg Robinson. All of these players are expected to be very productive in their professional careers, and the Rams have several choices when making their pick. Similar to the Houston Texans, the Rams could also take advantage of the depth in the draft and trade away the #2 overall pick. The Rams did this in 2012 and it was very beneficial to them, receiving three first-round picks from the Washington Redskins. With no serious holes in their roster, the chance of a trade does seem likely, but there is no way of knowing for sure until the night of the draft. Despite a very competitive division, the St. Louis Rams are in perfect position to greatly improve their roster in this year's draft.

#3: Jacksonville Jaguars (Finished 4-12)
  As the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to rebuild under Gus Bradley, the situation has not changed much since the 2013 off-season. The Jaguars can improve at nearly every position, and are overall a bad team. Despite playing awfully at defense, it seems more likely that the Jaguars will draft an offensive star, to aid an equally bad offense. Similar to the St. Louis Rams, the Jaguars were average at best in the passing game in 2013, and were overall one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Along with a huge need at quarterback and offensive lineman, Jacksonville could also use a star receiver such as Sammy Watkins from Clemson. The Jaguars have already worked out most of the top quarterbacks heading into the draft, and are obviously in the market for one of the top three signal-callers in the draft. Unlike the previous two picks, there is almost no possibility that the third overall pick will be pried away from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade. Although there would be a very high price for the pick, it seems that the Jaguars have too many immediate needs to afford to trade away the third pick in May's draft. This team might not have a shot at an 8-8 record like the Texans and Rams, but picking a talented player with this pick might just put the Jacksonville Jaguars on the right track.

#4: Cleveland Browns (Finished 4-12)
  Besides the fact that they only won a handful of games, the Cleveland Browns finished the 2013 season with 6 pro bowlers and a great opportunity to improve their football team. Despite having talent in several different positions, the Browns have a huge need at quarterback, and this has been the recurring issue every year for this team. The Cleveland Browns seem to be the most likely team to draft a quarterback with their first pick, and a franchise quarterback could immediately put this team into playoff contention. Although a quarterback seems to be the obvious selection, there is a chance that a talented player such as Sammy Watkins could fall to the Browns, and could draft him instead. There is also a chance that the Browns could fall in love with a defensive player, such as linebackers Khalil Mack or Anthony Barr, and add depth to the defensive side of the ball. Along with Jacksonville, it's very unlikely that the Cleveland Browns will trade away the 4th overall pick, as this team is expecting results in the very near future. Like they were in free agency, the Cleveland Browns are most likely going to be very aggressive in the draft, and in all probability will draft a quarterback with this pick. If the Browns are able to take a franchise-caliber player with the fourth overall pick, this team will be primed for success and could easily earn an 8-8 record next season.

#5: Oakland Raiders (Finished 4-12)
  Although the Oakland Raiders only managed to win four games in 2013, and has continued their 11-year streak without a winning record, it appears that this team is finally rebuilding. In 2013, the Oakland Raiders were near the bottom in the NFL in nearly category, and truly has no way to go but up. And, after a blockbuster free agent period with several veteran signings, the Raiders now have a nucleus of talent to build their team around. With the fifth overall pick, the Raiders can draft a player of almost any position, and the team is most likely going to take the best player available. With this said, Oakland also has a huge need at quarterback, and a quarterback being drafted at #5 would not be unlikely. In the NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders always seem to be a wild card, and this year is no exception. Prospects such as Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Greg Robinson, Sammy Watkins, and Khalil Mack are all in the mix to be drafted by the Raiders. Like so many other organizations heading into May's draft, the chances of this pick being traded are slim to none. The Raiders are currently in the phase of finding franchise players to lead their team for the next 10-15 years, and trading far down into the draft would be unwise for this team. But, there is also a small possibility that this team could trade up in the draft, and steal a talented player away from other teams. Despite drastic improvements to this team, a talented AFC West division may hold back the Oakland Raiders in 2014, and may only win 5 or 6 games.


*The second overall pick (Rams) was received in a trade with the Washington Redskins in the 2012 draft.*

Media Friday: Week of 4/7/14

  After yet another week in the 2014 NFL off-season has passed, and once again, new stories have developed in the league. Throughout the last week, three big stories have emerged in the National Football League, and is sure to impact not only the 2014 season, but the future of the league as well. With these three major topics to cover, it is time for yet another installment of Media Friday.

Eli Manning Has Surgery

  After a disappointing 2013 season for the New York Giants, the situation got even worse on Thursday, April 10th. After several months of dealing with a nagging ankle sprain injury, Eli Manning underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to relieve his joint pain. This ankle injury was caused by an ankle sprain in week 17 against the Washington Redskins, as shown in the picture below. After having surgery, Eli Manning is expected to be inactive for five or six weeks, which should be right on time for the Giant's off-season training program. This loss will surely have a negative impact on the New York Giants, but the impact should be minimized due to the limited activity over the next few months. Nevertheless, when a team's starting quarterback goes through surgery, it is definitely noteworthy.  

Alex Mack Signs With Jaguars, Browns Quickly Re-Sign

  Throughout the off-season so far, the Cleveland Browns have been one of the most active teams in the NFL, and after a week of little activity, the Browns will once again be making moves. On Friday, April 11th, pro-bowl center Alex Mack was officially signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 5-year, $42 million contract. The part of this transaction that involves the Cleveland Browns is that Alex Mack was under a transition tag for the Browns. In simple terms, a transition tag is a one-year contract that allows a player to negotiate with other teams, but is still bound to the first team's contract. If the player is signed by a new team, the old team has five days to match the deal. If the deal is not matched by the first team, then the player moves to the new team. Luckily for Cleveland, the Browns did match Jacksonville's contract only a few hours after the contract was signed, and Mack will remain a Brown for the 2014 season. By retaining one of their best players, the Browns now have an even more talented roster heading into next season, and is a major underdog in 2014.

NFL Releases Preseason and 2015 Pro Bowl Schedule

  On April 9th, the NFL released both the 2014 preseason schedule and the new site of the 2015 Pro Bowl. On January 25th, 2015, the NFL's annual Pro Bowl will be played in University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. Fun Fact: This is only the second time in over 35 years that the Pro Bowl will be hosted outside of Hawaii. Interestingly, Arizona will also be the host of Super Bowl IL (49), which is only one week after the Pro Bowl. This relocation isn't permanent, however, as the 2016 Pro Bowl will be back in Hawaii. Along with this announcement, the NFL also released the preseason schedule for the 2014 season, which can be seen here. Although the stakes aren't very high in the preseason, there are a few interesting games that will be played, including a rematch of the two previous Super Bowls. The preseason also dictates which rookies will "make the cut" and end up on an NFL roster. Along with the preseason schedule, the 2014 regular season schedule is also expected to be released within the next few weeks.

Media Friday: Week of 3/30/14

  Another week has passed, and the interesting action in the NFL has begun to slow down. Although there were only a few headline-worthy stories within the NFL during this week, they will certainly have an impact on the 2014 regular season. So, let's get right into all of the developing stories in pro football in another installment of Media Friday.

Jadeveon Clowney Has Pro Day
  To several NFL scouts and football 'experts', South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was seen as one of the most talented players entering the 2014 draft, and had several questions regarding his work ethic. Although a player's work ethic can't be measured at a pro day, Jadeveon Clowney did show his talent and athleticism at South Carolina's pro day on April 2nd. At the pro day, Clowney tried to cement himself as the first overall pick in May's draft by showing off his pure athletic ability as a talented pass-rusher. After a very impressive workout, the South Carolina defensive end brought even more controversy to the question "Who will be the first overall pick?". Multiple different analysts stated that Clowney is almost definitely going to be picked in the top three, and there is a possible chance of him going with the first selection. After years of terrorizing college level quarterbacks, it will be very interesting what uniform Clowney will put on in 2014.

DeSean Jackson Signs With Division Rival

  Only a few days after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles, DeSean Jackson signed with another team within the NFC East. On April 2nd, DeSean Jackson signed a 4-year, $32 million contract with the Washington Redskins to improve an already deep receiving corps. Jackson's contract includes $16 million guaranteed, with $9.25 million being his average salary after his first year. Next year, he is expected to make around $4.25 million. Jackson will be teaming up with Robert Griffin III, Pierre Garcon, and Alfred Morris to form an offense to be reckoned with, and the NFC East just became much more interesting. The Redskins' now have an offense that can compete with Chip Kelly's Philadelphia Eagles, and will be using one of there former star players. (Note: Since Robert Griffin III's jersey number is #10, DeSean Jackson's jersey number will now be #11.)

Titans Release Chris Johnson

  After several months of speculation and trade rumors, the Tennessee Titans finally decided to release Chris Johnson, after multiple years of very inconsistent play and average production. Despite being very talented, Chris Johnson was scheduled to make over $8 million in the 2014 season, and the Titans obviously did not want to pay this high salary. Throughout the last few months, the Titans had been preparing to trade the running back, with some interest from the Bills, Jets, and Cowboys (Clearly this did not work out). After rushing for over 2,000 yards in 2009, Chris Johnson's production took a major decline, and barely ran for over 1,000 yards in 2013. In regards to Johnson, there seems to be two main opinions: He's a great player or he's an inconsistent player. With this big dip in production, it's unclear if Chris Johnson will become a great player again, but we will have to wait until next season to find out. 

Pete Carroll's Contract with Seattle Extended

  Almost exactly two months after winning Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seattle Seahawks extended the contract of Pete Carroll for another three years. Coach Carroll was a key part to Seattle's football team during 2013, and in four years was able to tranform an average team into a championship-winning team. It's needless to say that Pete Carroll is one of the faces of the Seahawks' franchise, and re-signing the coach was obviously one of the highest priorities heading into the off-season. Similar to Joe Flacco last year, coach Carroll was able to cash in a Super Bowl win, and is now one of the three highest paid coaches in the NFL. This was a safe, smart, and obvious decision by the Seattle Seahawks, and will stabilize this franchise throught the 2017 regular season.

John Fox Signs New Deal With Denver

  Only a few mere hours after Pete Carroll extended his contract with the Seahawks, the AFC Champion Broncos decided to re-sign their coach as well. On Friday, March 4th, John Fox and the Denver Broncos came to terms on a 3-year deal that will pay about $5.5 million per year. Unlike Pete Carroll's contract, Fox's contract will begin during the 2014 season, terminating his previous deal. This new contract will keep John Fox with the Denver Broncos throughout the 2016 regular season, and will hopefully be able to replicate his success from last season.