AROUND THE NFL

The NFLPA is taking the concerns of its members back to the NFL.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

The future of the NFL could be reaching a significant point in the coming weeks.

The NFL Players Association executive committee and player representatives are headed to Washington, D.C. for a Thursday meeting with the NFL armed with a final list of their asks of the league’s owners, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported.

How the league responds to those asks will go a long way toward determining whether a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached before the final season is played under the existing agreement, Rapoport added during Friday’s edition of NFL Now, because if they’re to the owners’ liking, there will likely be a vote.

Historically, things don’t happen so smoothly in such negotiations, but these talks have had a more positive tone than the last time the two sides begrudgingly came to terms on an agreement nearly a decade ago. Discussions between the two sides have been described as “productive” since the summer and seem to be much further along, meaning there’s a better chance than usual this might come to an important vote.

Then again, these final asks will launch a bit of a tennis match between the two sides, because even if the owners approve each and every one of these final asks, it will still have to come to a vote on the players’ side as well. We’re not quite out of the woods yet, but the mere fact we’re nearing a vote from at least one side and discussions seem to be winding down is encouraging. Now it seems it’s just a matter of when it will get done — before free agency, or after the 2020 regular season — not if.

– – –

TE GREG OLSEN is negotiating with three teams – and the Patriots are not one of them.  Nick O’Malley of MassLive.com:

It looks like the New England Patriots will be passing on an older-but-effective tight end on the free agency market.

On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that free-agent tight end Greg Olsen has finished up his offseason visits, seemingly taking the Patriots out of the running. Now, Schefter reports that the veteran tight end has started negotiations with three teams: the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks.

Olsen was released by the Carolina Panthers earlier this month, making him a free agent before the start of the new year.

The Patriots, meanwhile, are in dire need of tight end help after a 2019 season where the position was largely considered a non-factor. Following the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, the team used a combination of Ben Watson, Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse to little effect in the passing game.

Olsen will turn 35 next month, but is still considered an effective pass catcher, logging 52 receptions for 597 yards in 2019.

Olsen himself noted during Fox’s Super Bowl pregame broadcast that he expected the Patriots to pursue him.

“They’re trying to get Gronk back. If they don’t get him, I’m like third in line,” Olsen said, via The Athletic’s Jeff Howe.

Despite the connection, the Patriots were not among the teams who are reported to have made contact with Olsen. The team now heads to free agency and the NFL Draft with the expectation that tight end will be chief among the needs that will be addressed.

– – –

Assistant coaches around the NFL who like to visit St. Elmo’s Steakhouse are shuddering with news that two teams won’t be sending their staffs to the combine. Adam Schefter of NFL.com:

In what could portend the wave of the future, the Broncos are not sending their assistant coaches to the scouting combine in Indianapolis this year because they believe they will make better use of their time by watching film in Denver, league sources told ESPN on Friday.

Additionally, the Rams are not sending their offensive and defensive coordinators, Kevin O’Connell and Brandon Staley, to the combine because they would rather have them in Los Angeles implementing the team’s new offensive and defensive schemes, sources said.

In a copycat league, the Broncos and Rams could be establishing a trend that other teams will follow, leaving coaches behind to watch the combine on television and do their own scouting work in the office.

Steak, booze and a sense of dull dread: Here’s what really happens at the NFL combine

Broncos coach Vic Fangio, who will attend this year’s combine in person, told ESPN he thought the assistant coaches’ time would be better spent study prospects on tape rather than in person.

The Broncos’ assistant coaches also will have access to the combine private interviews led by the personnel staff and Fangio in Indianapolis.

Rams coach Sean McVay will attend the opening days of the combine, fulfilling his obligation to speak with the media, before returning to Los Angeles to continue implementing his systems with his two new coordinators, sources told ESPN. The rest of the Rams’ coaching staff will attend the combine.

Both organizations believed there was better use of their time than to attend the combine en masse, sources told ESPN. Though it did not drive either team’s decision, there also is a hefty financial savings for each organization by not having everyone travel to Indianapolis.

– – –

Peter King leads his Monday column by guessing where the QB dominoes will fall

Tom Brady – back to New England

Drew Brees – back to New Orleans

Taysom Hill – back to New Orleans

Teddy Bridgewater – signs with Tampa Bay

Philip Rivers – Indianapolis

Ryan Tannehill – back to Tennessee

Cam Newton – back to Carolina or LA Chargers

Joe Burrow – drafted by Cincinnati

Tua Tagovailoa – drafted by Miami but watch out for a trade up by LAC

Dak Prescott – back to excited

Jameis Winston – battling Trubisky in Chicago

We may have the whole thing tomorrow, but it really isn’t all that dynamic.  You can read it here.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

Here are the five biggest moves that Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com would make with the Cowboys.

1. Lock up Dak Prescott. Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, Chad Hutchinson, Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe. Those are the quarterbacks the Cowboys started between the end of Troy Aikman’s run and the beginning of Tony Romo’s, and they stumbled onto Romo as an undrafted free agent. When Dallas was ready to replace Romo, owner Jerry Jones had to be talked out of drafting Johnny Manziel and only ended up with Prescott after the Broncos and Raiders beat him to Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, respectively.

The overwhelming evidence suggests the Cowboys have had virtually no idea of what makes a good quarterback in the draft for two decades now. (If they were really confident Romo was going to turn into a starter, they would have used an actual draft pick on the Eastern Illinois product.) While there are other quarterbacks available in free agency, none of them are in Prescott’s league. The 2016 fourth-round pick finished fourth in the NFL in Total QBR.

It would cost the Cowboys $59.2 million to franchise Prescott twice and $105.6 million to get him a third time, which is right in line with the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks. They might not want to pay that much, but after years of signing their homegrown talent to massive extensions, they can’t suddenly expect Prescott to take a discount. No, Prescott isn’t Patrick Mahomes. If the Cowboys decide to play hardball or actually move on from Prescott thinking they can just find another quarterback, their chances of finding another Hutchinson or Cook are far greater.

2. Transition tag Amari Cooper on the way to an extension. Given how aggressively the Cowboys restructure deals, they can create plenty of cap room to retain Prescott and at least one of their other star free agents without much effort. Cooper should be the first one to target. Since the start of 2018, Prescott averages 8.2 yards per attempt and a passer rating of 102.3 with Cooper on the field. Those marks fall to 7.0 yards per attempt and 89.5, respectively, without the former Raiders first-rounder.

Injuries appear to be part of the reality with Cooper. Even though he has only missed three games in his five-year career, the former Alabama star has spent months of his career battling injuries like plantar fasciitis and ankle sprains. There’s no doubting his toughness, but the healthy Cooper we saw swing the division for the Cowboys in 2018 was likely the exception as opposed to the rule.

Even with that reality, the Cowboys can’t justify moving on from Cooper after trading away a first-round pick to grab him from the Raiders in 2018. If they can get a deal done with Prescott, they should franchise Cooper; if not, they should start with the transition tag and work quickly toward an extension. There are going to be teams that take a shot at signing Cooper without any compensation attached.

3. Rebuild the defensive line around DeMarcus Lawrence. Beyond re-signing their stars on offense, the Cowboys have major work to do up front on defense. Robert Quinn, Michael Bennett, Maliek Collins, Christian Covington and Kerry Hyder are all free agents, and it’s probably time to move on from Tyrone Crawford, who hasn’t lived up to a $45 million extension. Those guys combined for more than 3,500 defensive snaps last season, and the only linemen left who played more than 500 snaps for the Cowboys in 2019 is Lawrence. Randy Gregory is suspended indefinitely, while Antwaun Woods is likely to return as an exclusive-rights free agent.

Dallas has also turned over its defensive coaching staff, replacing Rod Marinelli and Kris Richard with former 49ers coach Mike Nolan. The defense is likely to stick with four down linemen as its base defense package, which means it needs to do some work. Woods might figure in as a run-plugging defensive tackle, but the Cowboys likely need to give him help and find a penetrator to play alongside hum. They would surely love to bring back Quinn, but if we assume that he gets a bigger deal elsewhere, Nolan will need a starter across from Lawrence and a replacement for Bennett behind them. If the Cowboys can convince Crawford to come back on a reduced salary, he would figure in as part of the tackle rotation, but there are four or five players the team realistically needs to add this offseason.

Nolan just came over from the Saints, where he was linebackers coach; there’s not a flood of defensive linemen leaving New Orleans, but I wonder if the Cowboys might look at David Onyemata, who was a solid starter for the Saints and is likely to leave in free agency. Former Packers standout Mike Daniels might also look to reunite with new Dallas coach Mike McCarthy after a frustrating season in Detroit. In the much bigger picture, you can’t count out the Cowboys in the Jadeveon Clowney pursuit, even if it means paying two defensive ends like franchise players.

4. Sign a star defensive back. The Cowboys don’t appear to have much interest in retaining cornerback Byron Jones, who is likely to get something close to top-of-the-market money in free agency. Safeties Darian Thompson and Jeff Heath are both free agents, and while the latter has seemingly been with the Cowboys since the Jimmy Johnson days, safety is due for a refresh.

The team seemed to signal that it wanted to make a significant investment at safety near the trade deadline when it was reportedly attempting to add Jamal Adams from the Jets, which would have likely cost a first-round pick. While I don’t think the Adams negotiations are likely to open up again, I wonder if they’re more likely to target safeties than cornerbacks this offseason.

Just based on their new coaching staff, the Cowboys could target Vonn Bell of the Saints and former Packers standout Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Picking No. 17 over in April’s draft, though, they could also target LSU’s Grant Delpit, who is one of the top safeties in this class. In his most recent mock draft, Todd McShay has them preferring Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. Either way, it wouldn’t be shocking see the Cowboys looking toward safety in Round 1.

5. Find a solution at tight end. Jason Witten returned to the Cowboys after a year here at ESPN and basically re-created the season he had before retiring; he caught 63 passes on 87 targets for 560 yards and five touchdowns in 2017, then returned with 63 catches on 83 targets for 529 yards and four touchdowns last season. He is going to be a reliable set of hands who catches the ball 8 yards downfield and falls down (he ranks 135th out of 140 receivers in average yards after catch) for as long as he wants.

It’s unclear whether he will play in 2020 or if he’ll do so for the Cowboys, with rumors linking Witten to a season in New York with new Giants offensive coordinator (and former Dallas coach) Jason Garrett. The Cowboys will likely bring Witten, 37, back for another season if he wants to return, but they will need a short-term starter if he doesn’t. This is also a position the team should look to address with a younger player for the long term, although given the work they have to do on defense, they might have to put it off until 2021.

You can see Barnwell’s schemes for other teams here.

WASHINGTON

CB JOSH NORMAN is moving on after four years with the Redskins.  He was cut by his old coach reports John Keim of ESPN.com:

The Washington Redskins have released cornerback Josh Norman, the team announced Friday.

“It’s their choice, not mine,” Norman told NBC Sports Washington on Friday. “Now I can start something new and fresh.”

Norman said new Redskins coach Ron Rivera, who coached the cornerback in Carolina, called him Friday morning to inform him of the release.

The move will save the Redskins $12.5 million in cap space, money that could be used in part to sign another cornerback. The move was widely expected, even though Washington hired Rivera after the season. Norman’s best work came in Carolina, where he was named a first-team All-Pro after the 2015 season.

Can the Cowboys really not keep Dak? Barnwell predicts moves for all 16 NFC teams

That honor coincided with Norman’s first venture into free agency. After the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag they had placed on Norman, he quickly signed a five-year deal with Washington worth up to $75 million, making him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback.

Norman intercepted seven passes and forced eight fumbles in his four seasons, but he didn’t provide the game-changing plays that he did in his final season with the Panthers. That season, he intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns, and forced three fumbles as Carolina reached the Super Bowl.

He often was on the wrong end of some long receptions with Washington, though there were times when he anticipated safety help that didn’t come. He also was asked to play different styles than what made him successful in Carolina, where he played a lot of cover-2 zone.

Washington benched Norman late last season. He played in only two games, covering 10 snaps, over the final six games. In another game, his only work was two special-teams snaps. Even as the Redskins needed to sign other cornerbacks off the street, they held firm to not playing Norman.

Washington also has a decision to make on starting cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who is seeking a new contract. A source close to Dunbar said he wants to be traded or released if he doesn’t get a new deal and that he won’t negotiate after training camp begins.

Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com with more:

On Saturday, Rivera explained the decision to release Norman, who made just eight starts during his final season with the Redskins.

“The big thing is it’s an opportunity for us to get younger,” Rivera said, via NBC Sports’ JP Finlay. “Josh is a veteran guy and again, just looking at the young guys that we have, we got to get these guys on the football field and more exposed.”

Norman is 32 years old. While a youth movement may be underway in D.C., money is likely another reason why the Redskins are parting with Norman, who was slated to make $15 million next season. With Norman now off the books, the Redskins will save $12.5 million in cap space, money they will likely use to address the cornerback position in free agency, which begins on March 18. Two names to keep an eye on, according to Finlay’s sources, are James Bradberry and Bashaud Breeland. Bradberry, who played under Rivera in Carolina, has been a starter in each of his four seasons with the Panthers. Last season, he recorded a career high three interceptions with 12 passes defensed. Breeland, who started his career with the Redskins before spending one season in Green Bay and another with Kansas City, picked off two passes with the world champion Chiefs last season while also returning one of his two fumble recoveries for a touchdown.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com sees only one choice for the Buccaneers at QB:

The Buccaneers should find a way to keep Jameis Winston. They’ve come this far with him, on the field and off, and to walk away now doesn’t make much sense. Even if it costs them one more year — at around $28 million or so — it’s more than worth it, especially after paying him over $20M last year on his fifth-year option.

The longer I have analyzed and considered the options for Tampa at quarterback, the more I keep coming back to Winston, the first overall pick from 2015, being back there in 2020. I don’t see an avenue for them to upgrade, frankly, and certainly not at this non-exclusive franchise tag price point. Sure, they have kicked around the idea of Philip Rivers internally, but I’d much prefer another year of an ascending 25-year-old versus two years of a (rapidly) descending Rivers; if the interceptions with Winston are the biggest issue, I’m not signing a guy 10 years older who has the same issues, only with a declining arm and for the same amount of money.

Otherwise, what are we talking about here? Tom Brady and Drew Brees aren’t going to Tampa. The Panthers aren’t trading Cam Newton in the NFC South. Derek Carr isn’t enough of a downfield threat for Bruce Arians (which is part of the reason Jon Gruden is open to moving on from Carr himself). Andy Dalton isn’t an upgrade. Teddy Bridgewater isn’t the big-armed bomber that Arians always covets (and he will be plenty expensive himself). Ryan Tannehill is gonna get tagged. And, well, even if Arians’ old buddy Andrew Luck somehow came out of his retirement (and there is zero evidence that is even a remote option), well, he’d be bound to the Colts, anyway.

So, seriously, what are the Bucs to do at quarterback outside of Winston?

Sitting at 14th overall, the run on QBs in the draft will have started way before they pick, and mortgaging everything to jump up 10 spots doesn’t make much sense. Arians isn’t in this for a five-year plan at this stage of his career given all his body has already been through. Taking a project in the mid-rounds is a huge risk. And going into 2020 with someone like Case Keenum or Joe Flacco as a reclamation project wouldn’t make sense either.

Another year of Winston, given the construction of this roster – coming off his historic 30 touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 5,000-yards season – is the way to go. And, frankly, giving the young man a little help would be in order. Say what you will about his decision making, but Winston has never had a semblance of a running game or a defense in his five years in the league (ex coordinators like Lovie Smith and Mike Smith exited the NFL, it’s worth pointing out, after struggling with the Bucs), and has always been in situation where chasing points and forcing the ball downfield were the only viable options.

It’s not all on him. It’s worth pointing out that Andrew Luck threw 18 picks in his first year with Arians in Indianapolis, and Carson Palmer tossed 24 picks in his first season with Arians in Arizona. And Winston did play through a broken hand last season, which may have something to do with leading the NFL in interceptions, too.

Since entering the league (2015) here is where the Bucs rank in several key metrics:

Yards per carry – 30th (3.9)

Rushing yards per game – 24th (103.4)

First down % on rushes – 31st (19.9%)

Rushing TDs – 25th

Points Allowed – 31st (2081, only Miami – 2089 – is worse)

Opposer Passer Rating – 31st (97.0, only Detroit – 98.6 – is worse)

Scrimmage Yards Allowed – 25th (377.2/game)

That’s an untenable situation for any quarterback, especially a one of his rookie contract who already has a lot of gunslinger in him, and who is carrying the with the weight of a first-overall selection on his shoulders. And it’s not as if the run game or defense was above average for a few years, and then really bad for others. They basically haven’t been able to run the ball at all or stop anyone from moving the ball on them for the entirety of Winston’s career.

Perhaps with a semblance of balance on offense and defense capable of the occasional key stop, Winston will curtail his turnovers and continue to make strides. The Bucs can’t afford to let this become a Drew Brees situation, where he ascended to superstardom after leaving San Diego for New Orleans at age 26.

After all they’ve been through to this point, the Bucs have more motivation than any team in the league to see it first-hand, in Tampa. It’s time to play tag and find out. Letting him walk now is too risky, and with teams able to use a franchise and transition tag in 2020 barring a new CBA, and the Bucs sitting on $85M in space, they can tag Shaq Barrett, too. That’s what I would do.

It’s time to pay or tag Winston.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

It turns out that LB KWON ALEXANDER’s return to action in the postseason did not mean that he was healthy. Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander was a banged-up player during the team’s Super Bowl run.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Alexander was dealing with a biceps injury that is being surgically repaired Friday, per sources informed of the situation.

The biceps injury was in addition to the pectoral surgery Alexander underwent that forced him on IR. After missing the final eight regular-season games, the 25-year-old returned for the postseason march.

Alexander didn’t play particularly well after his return from the pec injury. News that he was also dealing with a biceps issue provides further context for those struggles.

The linebacker is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2020 season. Rapoport added that Alexander’s 2020 salary goes from injury guaranteed to fully guaranteed on April 1, which is the reason he’s having the procedure now. The news confirms he’ll be back with the team in 2020, if there was any doubt whether they’d bring back the prized free agent for another run.

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

QB DEREK CARR is tired of people trying to get him out of a Raiders uniform.  Gary Peterson of BayAreaNewsGroup.com:

It has been 46 days since the Raiders’ season came to a merciful end.

Derek Carr is still being pounded like a pinata.

The latest idignity: ESPN on Wednesday published a list of 32 NFL players — one per team — who could use a fresh start this offseason. Carr is the Raiders’ representative (there are five other quarterbacks on the survey).

Writes ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez: “The most polarizing figure in recent Raiders history said it himself the day after the season finale, uttering it would be good to get some ‘fresh air.’”

Yes, he was referring to getting out of Oakland, where he was mercilessly booed off the field in his final game there, and heading to Las Vegas. But with so many rumors of Tom Brady ready for a Sin City engagement, might Carr just throw up his hands and welcome a complete change of scenery?

“C’mon, man, when’s it going to end?” Carr said to Gutierrez when asked about the constant offseason rumors. “I look forward to taking the first snap in that (Las Vegas) stadium, and I look forward to taking every snap from here on out — until I’m done.”

Carr, a three-time Pro Bowl honoree, is a curious case. He appears to have skills. His numbers aren’t terrible. His quarterback rating, completion percentage, passing yardage, and interception avoidance were in the top 10 in 2019.

There’s no denying that he is polarizing. But why? He compares favorably to every primary quarterback who labored for the Raiders during their second tenure in Oakland (Rich Gannon excepted). Which is to say Carr was no Jeff Hostetler, Jeff George, Donald Hollas, Kerry Collins, Andrew Walter, Daunte Culpepper, JaMarcus Russell, Carson Palmer, Jason Campbell and Terrelle Pryor.

Carr has a 39-55 record as a starter, but Ken Stabler might not have had a chance with the team the Raiders threw out there the past six seasons.

At some point perception blends with reality. That’s where Carr resides as we speak, with observers seeing in him what they want to see. A fresh start? Can’t speak for how it will affect the Raiders, but it says here it would be a godsend for Carr.

So would it be good for both QBs (and reasonable for the teams) if Carr went to Tampa Bay and JAMEIS WINSTON ended up in Vegas?

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

S TONY JEFFERSON is a Raven no more.  Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com:

The Baltimore Ravens cut ties with veteran safety Tony Jefferson on Friday, releasing him after his 2019 season was cut short by a torn ACL.

The Ravens saved $7 million in cap space with the move.

Jefferson, 28, received $19 million guaranteed on a four-year deal with the Ravens in 2017, but he never lived up to being a prized free-agent acquisition. He failed to consistently make impact plays, totaling 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed in 35 games.

Jefferson’s departure was sealed last season. After he tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 5, the Ravens defense played better when Chuck Clark, a 2017 sixth-round pick, replaced him.

Even though he disappointed on the field, Jefferson was one of the most respected players on the team because of his work ethic and football IQ.

After going undrafted in 2013, Jefferson spent his first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. In seven seasons, Jefferson has recorded 450 tackles, 4 interceptions and 22 passes defensed.

Also Friday, the NFL suspended Ravens offensive lineman James Hurst for the first four games of the 2020 season for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Hurst is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games. He will be allowed to return to his team’s active roster on the Monday following the team’s fourth game.

PITTSBURGH

MYLES GARRETT of the Browns is continuing to claim that his helmet swing was a delayed reaction to a vicious slur whispered by Steelers QB MASON RUDOLPH, a slur that only Garrett could hear while Garrett was tugging at Rudolph’s face mask.

Rudolph and Coach Mike Tomlin respond.

Two days after a Myles Garrett interview aired reiterating Mason Rudolph used a racial slur toward him, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and his head coach spoke out against the allegation.

“1000% False. Bold-Faced Lie. I did not, have not, and would not utter a racial slur. This is a disgusting and reckless attempt to assassinate my character,” Rudolph tweeted Saturday morning.

The social media post includes a link to Garrett’s interview on ESPN’s Outside The Lines, which includes the Cleveland Browns defensive end alleging Rudolph “called me the N-word. He called me a ‘stupid N-word.'”

Shortly before Rudolph’s tweet, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin released a statement.

“I support Mason Rudolph not only because I know him, but also because I was on the field immediately following the altercation with Myles Garrett, and subsequently after the game,” the statement read. “I interacted with a lot of people in the Cleveland Browns organization — players and coaches. If Mason said what Myles claimed, it would have come out during the many interactions I had with those in the Browns’ organization. In my conversations, I had a lot of expressions of sorrow for what transpired. I received no indication of anything racial or anything of that nature in those interactions.”

Garrett initially accused Rudolph of using the slur while appealing his indefinite suspension for striking the QB in the head with his own helmet during a Week 11 brawl. The NFL, which reinstated Garrett earlier this week, reiterated Saturday it did not find evidence to support Garrett’s claim.

“As we said at the time the allegation was made, we looked into the matter and found no such evidence,” the league said in a statement.

“There was no sound recorded from the field during that game. As with every game, there were microphones on the center or interior linemen that help amplify the ambient sound as the quarterbacks were calling signals at the line of scrimmage. But they do not record sound. Microphones are opened from the break of the huddle (or when the center places his hand on the ball in a no-huddle offense) through the snap of the ball. They are turned off at that point.

“We checked with the officiating crew, including the ref who was on top of the play and the ensuing aftermath. No player on either team came forward to say they heard him say it on the field. There was also no indication of any players saying they heard him say it in their postgame comments.”

Is it “bold-faced” or “bald-faced”?  We thought the latter, but are willing to be educated.  No less an authority than Merriam-Webster weighs in directly on point:

Is That Lie ‘Bald-faced’ or ‘Bold-faced’?

And what about ‘barefaced’?

Lies come in a variety of types. There are white lies and big lies, of course, but there are also the kinds of lies told without concern for their ethical implications, in full disregard of those who will be affected.

If you wanted a descriptor for such a lie in the 19th century, chances are you would have opted for barefaced (or in its slightly less common variant form, bare-faced). Lies (and, less frequently, liars) have been described as “barefaced” since at least the 1830s. The term was doing other jobs before it had that application, however. Since the late 16th century it’s described those having the face uncovered, whether by being sans beard or sans mask. And in between, it developed the meaning “open, unconcealed,” as in “barefaced impudence”—a descriptor for bold rudeness that paved the way for the “barefaced lie.”

By the mid-20th century, it seems (though we can only speculate) that “barefaced lie” didn’t sound awful enough, and the term bald-faced (less commonly, baldfaced) began to describe the lies and liars:

The fancy leaflet … says that this insurance is “comprehensive” and “pays liberal benefits.” That is a bald-faced lie, experts say. The actual policy is “extremely restricted” and “extensively limited.”

— J. C. Furnas, Good Housekeeping, June 1948

Mr. Koch says everybody out in the country drives a pickin’ up truck and wears Sears suits. Well, sir, that’s a bald-faced lie. Don’t nobody around here wear a suit. Don’t need to. They don’t care what you wear over to the Moose Club, long as you ain’t barefoot.

— William Robert “Billy Bob” Jones, Playboy, July 1982

The bald-faced lie doesn’t toy with my perceptions—it argues with them. It doesn’t try to refashion reality, it tries to refute it.

— Stephanie Ericsson, Utne Reader, November/December 1992

Instead of telling a bald-faced lie, why not whip up a truth sandwich, which is an honest, meaty comment between two slices of lie bread?

— Barbara Sher, Real Simple, November 2002

Barefaced over time became significantly less common, but it didn’t go away:

A man can’t remember where he was on the night of the tenth? Then he’s lying. He can remember? Then he’s too damn flip with his alibi. You go one more yard with this and everyone who tells the truth will become a barefaced liar, everyone who does a decent job will be working for the other side.

— John Le Carré, A Perfect Spy, 1986

“His daddy lives in California somewhere,” Gloria said, and didn’t know what made her tell that barefaced lie.

— Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992

And then, in the late 20th century, the term bold-faced (less commonly, boldfaced) got into the game. Since the late 16th century (back when barefaced was first describing beardless folks), the word had meant “bold in manner or conduct,” or “impudent.” It was a word used to describe brazenly rude types. But in the second half of the 20th century the word began to modify lie, as well as liar, with a frequency that increased as the century wore on:

… that people of otherwise unblemished character told him bold-faced lies when he inquired about their knowledge of, and involvement with, the Iowa Baseball Confederacy.

— W. P. Kinsella, Sports Illustrated, 14 Apr. 1986

Its use was sometimes questioned. A character in a 1991 Bobbie Ann Mason story called “Rolling Into Atlanta” says “People everywhere saying they’re sincere and they seem sincere, but at the same time they’re living a bold-faced lie.” Another character responds, correcting her, “You mean a bald-faced lie,” to which she replies, “I thought it was ‘bold-faced’ Like a headline.”

It’s possible that’s what all the new “bold-faced lie” users were thinking. The late 20th century was a time of increased intimacy with word processing and the various typeface options it permitted, including bold. The evidence is not conclusive, but one very large database of primarily news sources shows a dramatic increase in the use of “bold-faced lie” in 2008—and a dramatic increase in the use of “bold-faced type” during the same year. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

The current status of this trio of lie-and-liar descriptors is this: both bold-faced and bald-faced are used, but bald-faced is decidedly the preferred term in published, edited text. Barefaced is the oldest, and is still in use, but it’s the least common. To report otherwise would be a bald-faced lie.

As the political season heats up, the above is good to know.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

Congratulations to DE J.J. WATT and his bride, Kealia Ohai.  Sarah Barshop of NFL.com:

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt married Chicago Red Stars midfielder Kealia Ohai in the Bahamas on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, he posted several photos and tweeted, “Best day of my life. Without question.”

The pair were introduced by former Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, who is married to Ohai’s sister. Cushing is now the Texans’ assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Watt and Ohai got engaged in May 2019.

Ohai was drafted by the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2014 but was traded to Chicago in January. Ohai, 27, has made three appearances for the U.S. women’s national team. Watt will turn 31 next month.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com senses that QB TOM BRADY is going to hit free agency.

For exactly one more month, the Patriots officially have exclusive negotiating rights with quarterback Tom Brady. It would be foolish to assume that, unofficially, other teams already aren’t making their proposals known to Brady and/or his agent, Don Yee.

But the only team that has the right to talk to Brady about a contract for 2020 and beyond isn’t. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, there has been no movement between Brady and the team he joined 20 years ago in April.

So here’s what likely will happen over the next two weeks. The whispers and chatter regarding Brady’s future will accelerate into yes-it’s-tampering-but-no-one-cares face-to-face meetings between Yee and interested teams in Indianapolis, when the Scouting Combine gets rolling on Monday the 24th of February. By the end of the week in Indianapolis, Yee will know: (1) every other team that wants to pursue Brady; and (2) the general terms of their expected financial offers.

At that point, fully aware as to who and what is lurking behind Door No. 2, Yee and/or Brady can try to work something out with the Patriots before seeing the unofficial discussions pivot to something firm and official as of March 16, when teams can contact agents to make offers and to strike deals in principle.

If the calendar gets to March 1 without a new New England deal for Brady, it’s time for Patriots fans who want him to stay to start getting nervous. If March 5 rolls around with no news of a new deal to stay in New England, it makes sense for Pats fans to get more nervous. With each passing day that no new deal is leaked or announced, the likelihood of Brady making his currently unofficial free agency official increases.

It still remains to be seen whether Brady will embark on a full-blown free agency tour. Regardless, if he becomes a free agent, the chances of him staying with the Patriots plummet — especially if the Patriots decide to join the looming game of quarterback musical chairs, in search of a veteran on whom to spend money that otherwise would be paid to Brady. If, on the other hand, the Patriots decide to ride with 2019 rookie Jarrett Stidham, they could in theory welcome back Brady after he looks around and realizes that the grass really isn’t any greener elsewhere.

THIS AND THAT

XFL THOUGHTS

From ProFootballTalk.com, three posts that prove they were paying attention.

Michael David Smith:

The XFL’s first weekend was a success, with solid TV ratings and generally favorable fan reactions to the upstart league’s innovative rules. Week 2 of the XFL is a different story.

Two more XFL games were played on Saturday, neither of them was compelling, and both of them suffered from bad quarterback play. The quarterbacks playing in the XFL right now just don’t look capable of delivering the kind of football that modern fans have grown accustomed to watching.

Obviously, no quarterback who’s good enough to start in the NFL is going to play in the XFL. But for its games to be entertaining, the the XFL at least needs quarterbacks who are able to play well against XFL defenses. And currently, the XFL doesn’t have enough of those quarterbacks.

Through six XFL games, there still hasn’t been a quarterback with a 300-yard passing performance. And XFL quarterbacks have collectively thrown as many interceptions as touchdown passes. In the NFL last season there were almost twice as many touchdown passes as interceptions. Football fans enjoy the quarterback-driven game that the NFL has become, and the XFL isn’t able to provide that.

Among the poor performances yesterday were Brandon Silvers of the Seattle Dragons completing just 7 of 18 passes for 91 yards, two Tampa Bay Vipers quarterbacks combining for zero touchdowns and three interceptions, and New York Guardians starting quarterback Matt McGloin completing just 8 of 19 passes for 44 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions before getting benched. Only DC Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones, who threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns, resembled a competent professional quarterback.

The poor quarterback play has led to low-scoring games: XFL teams are averaging 17 points a game. Last NFL season, teams averaged 23 points a game.

The XFL instituted several rules that were supposed to favor the offense and result in high-scoring games. So far, those rules have not been enough to compensate for poor quarterback play.

More from Michael David Smith:

The XFL allows teams to go for one, two or three points after a touchdown, and today the DC Defenders became the first XFL team to go for three.

Blowing out the New York Guardians 27-0 with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, Defenders coach Pep Hamilton decided to give going for three a shot and lined up his offense on the 10-yard line.

Hamilton then called a play that can only happen in the XFL: A double forward pass, which is illegal at all other levels of football but is legal in the XFL, as long as the passes are thrown behind the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, the second pass fell incomplete.

“I thought it was a great time to give one a shot,” Hamilton said in a sideline interview immediately after the play. “We understand that the odds are against us, but we had a chance. They played it well.”

And this:

DC Defenders wide receiver Eli Rogers is playing today’s XFL game with a heavy heart.

Rogers’ mother died this week and her funeral is today, according to the ABC broadcast of today’s game.

Rogers chose to play, and on the first drive he played very well, catching all three of the passes thrown to him and gaining 50 yards as the Defenders marched down the field and scored a touchdown on their opening possession.

The 27-year-old Rogers had a very promising season as a rookie with the Steelers in 2016, catching 48 passes for 594 yards. But he couldn’t match that production in 2017 or 2018, and he was released before the start of he 2019 season. Now he’s trying to get back into professional football, and he’s willing to make personal sacrifices to get there.

More from Liam Blackburn of The Sporting News:

The DC Defenders wide receiver’s mother, Tranae Jackson, was laid to rest in Miami on Saturday, but her son was in Washington playing a game against the New York Guardians.

Asked why he had done so, Rogers told ESPN: “Man, I’m really just thinking about her and what she would want for me.

“We have a certain relationship where she understands that I’m not too fond of certain things.

“So I just wrote a letter, I let my family read it at the funeral and they said it was a great turnout.

“I can’t wait to go back and speak to them so they can tell me all about it.”

Rogers had five catches for 49 yards in the Defenders’ 27-0 victory over the Guardians.

The 27-year-old spent three seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers between 2016 and 2018, accumulating 822 receiving yards and catching four touchdowns.

E L I

@__bELIeve17

I know My Mother is proud of who I am today and the decision I chose today. Without Her sacrifice and humiliation, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is because of her I was able to be in a position to chase my dreams. That is all she her wanted from me. I Love You Ma 💜

Commenting on Twitter before the game Saturday, Rogers wrote: “Today was one of the toughest decisions I had to make in my life. My Mother’s final service is today and I am not going to be there. After a long talk with God and her, I came to this conclusion… I know most people may think I am crazy. Selfish even..

“I respect your opinion. But in life, Sometimes, it is not about doing what you feel is right, it is about doing what you know is right. It’s not about physically knowing someone. It is about know building a relationship with a person from the inside out.

“I know My Mother is proud of who I am today and the decision I chose today. Without Her sacrifice and humiliation, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is because of her I was able to be in a position to chase my dreams. That is all she wanted from me.”

Reading between the lines, is Rogers one of those people who really, really, really don’t like to go to funerals?

NFC CAP CUTS

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com gave us his AFC cap cut candidates last week.  Here is who he has his eye on in the NFC:

Strong candidates for release

1-3) CB Josh Norman, TE Jordan Reed and WR Paul Richardson, Washington Redskins: A new regime usually means housecleaning, so that’s the obvious expectation in Washington, with Ron Rivera in and Bruce Allen out. Even a reunion with Norman’s old Panthers coach is unlikely to help the 32-year-old’s status. Reed missed all of 2019 with concussion complications and has a $10.3 million cap figure. Richardson figures to be an odd man out after gaining fewer than 300 yards in each of the last two years, as the Redskins are reportedly interested in finding a new veteran wideout. Making all three cuts would open up over $23 million in cap space before what figures to be an active offseason in D.C.

(UPDATE: NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on Friday that the Redskins are indeed releasing both Norman and Richardson.)

4) Jimmy Graham, TE, Green Bay Packers: I’ve read some arguments for keeping Graham in Green Bay, but GM Brian Gutekunst has already held on a year too long. After a lucrative career for Graham, it’s worth wondering if he’ll embrace going elsewhere as a low-cost role player or whether this could be it for the five-time Pro Bowler.

5) Tyrone Crawford, DL, Dallas Cowboys: Crawford is one of those lifetime Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will hate to say goodbye to, so it’s possible Dallas could bring him back at a lower price.

6) Nigel Bradham, LB, Philadelphia Eagles: A Jim Schwartz favorite, Bradham’s $9.8 million cap figure doesn’t make sense on a roster that is ready to make some changes.

7-8) CB Xavier Rhodes and NT Linval Joseph, Minnesota Vikings: It will be fascinating to see how far coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman go in breaking up the Vikings’ defensive band. These cuts won’t be easy, considering the players’ history with Zimmer, but Minnesota is the rare team in 2020 that actually needs to create some space.

9) Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons: It was disheartening to see the once-great running back so clearly diminished last season by his history of injuries.

10) Dontari Poe, NT, Carolina Panthers: Poe played fairly well in 2019, but the combination of a new coaching staff and a star-level cap figure ($13.1 million) could conspire against him.

11-12) LB Kiko Alonso and CB Janoris Jenkins, New Orleans Saints: Alonso tore his ACL in the Saints’ playoff loss, so his release could come with an injury settlement. His salary made him very vulnerable regardless. Jenkins is a strong candidate to work out a new deal with New Orleans, but it’s hard to imagine him back at his current $11.25 million cap figure.

13) David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals: Cutting Johnson would create a bigger cap hit than keeping him, but how can the Cardinals roster a backup running back still due more than $11 million in 2020 pay? (Johnson was barely playing behind Kenyan Drake late last season.) A salary-dump trade where Arizona gets a negligible late-round pick swap would be ideal, but Cardinals GM Steve Keim would have to take on much of Johnson’s guaranteed contract in that scenario. Either way, Keim will be paying dearly for a contract gone this wrong that was hard to see coming.

(UPDATE: Cardinals GM Steve Keim told 98.7 FM in Phoenix on Friday that cutting Johnson “is not an option.”)

14-15) RB Jerick McKinnon and WR Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers: GM John Lynch has been around long enough to start cutting some of the players he brought in, like McKinnon. Goodwin’s solid run in San Francisco appears to have reached its end because of injuries.

Potential surprise cuts

1) Adrian Peterson, RB, Washington Redskins: Peterson doesn’t cost much ($2.25 million base salary) and ran well last year, but new coach Ron Rivera may want to get younger at the position.

2) Everson Griffen, DE, Minnesota Vikings: Cutting a franchise legend coming off a fantastic season doesn’t make much sense, but Griffen has been written about as a potential cut candidate by smarter Vikings observers than myself because Minnesota needs the cap room. Releasing Griffin would save over $13 million in cap space; I still don’t believe it will happen because Griffen played too well last year.

3) Keanu Neal, S, Atlanta Falcons: This would be a brutal cut by the Falcons. Neal is coming off a torn ACL followed by a torn Achilles, but NFL teams make colder moves every year. Perhaps a restructuring of his contract that includes pushing some of his guarantees in the future could help both sides.

4) Tevin Coleman, RB, San Francisco 49ers: Coleman started the Super Bowl and should be safe, but the 49ers need to create some cap room and don’t have many other great options to do so. Kyle Shanahan has proven to be an expert at creating rushing yards from odd places, so it’s possible they could try to go cheap with Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida and a rookie to be named later.

5) Clay Matthews, OLB, Los Angeles Rams: This is only listed under “Potential surprise cuts” because cutting Matthews wouldn’t save an incredible amount — $3.75 million. General manager Les Snead needs to create some flexibility, however, and this is a logical place to start.

6) Nate Solder, OT, New York Giants: Good left tackles are hard to find, as the Giants know well after overpaying for Solder two years ago. That makes a Solder release somewhat unlikely, but he hasn’t lived up to his contract.

Other players in trouble (in alphabetical order): Allen Bailey, DL, Atlanta Falcons; Antoine Bethea, S, New York Giants; Mike Davis, RB, Carolina Panthers; Rhett Ellison, TE, New York Giants; Cameron Fleming, OT, Dallas Cowboys; D.J. Fluker, OG, Seattle Seahawks; Kareem Martin, LB, New York Giants; Patrick Robinson, CB, New Orleans Saints; Ty Sambrailo, OT, Atlanta Falcons; J.R. Sweezy, OG, Arizona Cardinals; Lane Taylor, OG, Green Bay Packers; Jarius Wright, WR, Carolina Panthers.

ANTONIO

After a lost 2019 season, WR Antonio Brown is making plans for 2020.  Bryan McArdoo of CBSSports.com:

Antonio Brown has spent recent weeks discussing everything from the XFL to his prior relationships with teammates Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Brown is trying to get back into the NFL after being released by the Patriots after just one game last season, and apparently he has an idea for taking the first steps to do it.

Over the weekend, Brown told TMZ Sports that he plans to be at the league’s upcoming combine in Indianapolis in order to meet with teams and their general managers.

“I’m excited and looking forward to seeing those guys at the combine,” said Brown, who led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions from 2013-18. “I’m [going to] be out there ready to get things back on the right page.”

Brown didn’t offer a preference when asked if there was a team he’d play for play for in 2020. But through his social media outlets, he has expressed a desire to play with Tom Brady again after the two were briefly teammates during the 2019 season.

“Whoever wants to win, man,” Brown said. “I’ll be ready.”

The NFL is currently investigating multiple accusations that have been levied against Brown since the beginning of the 2019 season, including a sexual assault lawsuit in Florida, and being accused of sending intimidating text messages to a woman who had accused him of sexual misconduct. Brown was released by the Patriots shortly after allegedly sending those messages.

The NFL is also likely reviewing Brown’s recent actions as it pertains to the NFL. Brown forced a trade from the Steelers — his team from 2010-18 — before essentially forcing the Raiders to release him just before the start of the regular season. Brown lasted less than two weeks in New England before the Patriots released him after just one game.

Given Brown’s ongoing legal situation, it’s unlikely that a team will sign Brown until those situations have been settled. At that point, Brown would then have to gain clearance from Roger Goodell, who could immediately place him on the commissioners’ exempt list if/when he is signed by an NFL team.