It was no secret that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was dealing with back issues leading up to training camp. Wednesday. Now, news has broken that Flacco could miss the next three to six weeks with a severe disc issue. The NFL Network’s Ian Rappaport broke the story.
#Ravens QB Joe Flacco is preparing to miss 3-6 wks with a disc issue in his back. Out at least a week or 2, sources tell me & @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 27, 2017
If Flacco misses the whole six weeks, that will make him unavailable for the entire preseason. The Ravens have just two other quarterbacks under contract, Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan, so prepare your Twitter and Facebook feeds to filled with calls for Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick would make a lot of sense for the Ravens, as I’ve said in the past. I don’t feel like his signing would be controversial for the people of Baltimore at all and, in fact, could be seen as a real positive. Not only that, but Kaepernick’s former coach, Jim Harbaugh, has been an advocate and might be able to allay any of his brother John’s concerns. It’s certainly made the Kaepernick talk more interesting. Especially since John Harbaugh has ridiculed the idea that Kaepernick can’t find a job because of his political stances.
RE: Joe Flacco's back injury. New #Ravens assistant Greg Roman was Colin Kaepernick's OC in San Fran for the first 4 years of Kap's career.
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) July 27, 2017
Meanwhile, Flacco’s loss is a huge one. Last year he had another solid season, completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 4,317 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
It’s been a rough couple of days for the Ravens and injuries. Second-year running back Kenneth Dixon will miss the entire 2017 NFL season after submitting to repair a medial meniscus in his back Tuesday. Dixon was battling (and was likely going to win) the starting job in the backfield for the Ravens. Last year as a rookie out of Louisiana Tech, Dixon carried the ball 88 times for 382 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He caught 30 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown.
In a corresponding move, the Ravens signed running back Bobby Rainey. The NFL journeyman runner spent last year with the New York Giants where he carried the ball 17 times ofr 63 yards and caught 20 passes for 153 yards.
Everson Griffen will retire a Viking
Since 2014, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen has been one of the best pass rushers in the league. As of Wednesday, he’s getting paid like one. Griffen and the Vikings agreed on a four-year, $58 million contract extension with $34 million in guaranteed money.
“Man, this means I’m a Vike for life,” Griffen said. “I appreciate the coaching staff, the ownership and the organization.”
Everson Griffen has lived up to his contract and then some pic.twitter.com/OBO0yAoJm7
— PFF (@PFF) July 26, 2017
Griffen was still playing on his second deal in the league, a five-year, $42.5 million agreement he signed before his breakout 2014 season. These four years get added to that existing deal, meaning that Minnesota has claim to Griffen’s services for the next six seasons.
Griffen was drafted in the fourth round out of USC back in 2010, but served solely as a reserve in his first four years in the league, making just one start. In 2014 that all changed, with Griffen starting all 16 games and recording 56 tackles, 12 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes defended. Over the last three seasons Griffen has 30.5 sacks and has never recorded fewer than 44 tackles.
Obi Melifonwu signs rookie deal, others still in the wind
Oakland Raiders rookie safety Obi Melifonwu out of Washington finally signed his rookie deal with the team Wednesday. He was all alone, as Raiders first round Gareon Conley is still negotiating his contract.
We have signed second round pick Obi Melifonwu.
Read: https://t.co/E1iCHT5uHP pic.twitter.com/5aNNuV3MHZ
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 26, 2017
Conley isn’t the only first round pick that’s yet to put his name on the dotted line. Solomon Thomas, No. 3 pick for the San Francisco 49ers, has yet to sign. Neither has Corey Davis, No. 5 pick of the Tennessee Titans. They are currently the only three first rounders yet to sign. It’s likely Conley and the Raiders are butting heads over some potential off-set language after the cornerback was accused, but not charged, with sexual assault on April 9. Conley was not arrested, but the case is still officially under investigation according to Cleveland police.
Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio talked about Conley and his contract Tuesday.
“These are issues that should get resolved shortly and they’ll join the team,” Del Rio told a radio station. “It’s one of those situations where, years ago, …those were issues. Holdouts could last the whole camp and into the season. The structure is in place now, and we expect these things to get resolved shortly and they’ll be getting their work in.”
Jaguars and Brandon Linder agree on extension
Griffen wasn’t the only player to cash in long term over the last two days. Late Tuesday the Jacksonville Jaguars announced they had signed center Brandon Linder to a five-year, $51.7 million contract extension with $24 million guaranteed. Linder is now the highest paid center in the history of the NFL.
“It means the world to me,” Linder said in a statement. “I’d love to play here my whole career. I fell in love with this city and we have big things coming, changing the culture, and now we start tomorrow for training camp. I couldn’t think of a better place to play my career.”
Jaguars and C Brandon Linder have agreed to a 5 year, $51.7M extension. The deal makes Linder the highest paid C in the league.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 25, 2017
Linder has started every game in which he was healthy for the Jaguars since the team drafted him in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He missed most of 2015 with an injury, but bounced back to start 14 games last season. According to Pro Football Focus, Linder was the No. 5 rated center in the league last season.
Collins and Cowboys work out extension too
The Dallas Cowboys won the lottery when La’el Collins fell out of the 2015 NFL Draft thanks to his connection to a murder investigation where he was not involved. The Cowboys moved quickly to sign Collins as an undrafted free agent and now, Collins will finally get paid the money he lost with a two-year, $15.4 million extension.
Cowboys, OT La'el Collins agree to two-year extension: https://t.co/ZMv44PCPlJ (via @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/z3ANVoLsCr
— NFL (@NFL) July 26, 2017
Collins was never a suspect in the murder investigation, but as his draft position tumbled, his agent evidently told teams not to pick him so he could work out a deal as an undrafted free agent. Surprisingly, it all seemed to have worked out for the former LSU standout. Collins missed most of last season with a toe injury, but started 11 games as a rookie at guard.
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
