AROUND THE NFL

Daily Briefing

NFC EAST

DALLAS

The Cowboys need a new center.  Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News:

Travis Frederick is one of the best players at his position.

The Cowboys center was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl in 2019, returning from the effects of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

He knew it would take nearly two years to fully recover from the autoimmune disorder and play at an elite level. He was just grateful to play center for the Cowboys in 2019.

His offensive line coach, Marc Colombo, gave him high grades for his work. He played 1,117 snaps and never missed a game.

But Frederick just wasn’t the player he thought he once was.

Frederick came to grips with this late Monday afternoon when he announced his retirement from football at 29.

He released a late afternoon statement, stunning the football world and putting the Cowboys into a situation some weren’t expecting.

“I started a journey almost two years ago that completely blindsided me,” Frederick said in his statement. “When I developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome, I did not know how to handle things. I was scared. That experience forced me to re-evaluate my life priorities.”

Frederick has a wife. Two kids. A family. Grown-man stuff.

Sitting out the 2018 season while recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome gave Frederick a new perspective on life.

The rare disorder attacks the immune system and takes away basic motor skills. Frederick had to learn how to walk again. Lifting weights, blocking defenders, running at full speed and making line protection calls were no longer easy. They were hard. Just doing a push-up was hard.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, about 30% of those with Guillain-Barre have residual weakness after three years. At least 15% deal with long-term weakness where it requires the use of a walker or wheelchair, and about 3% may suffer a relapse years after an initial attack.

These are the facts Frederick was weighing as he found the strength to play football again. It was a true testament to the type of man he is: a fighter. Someone to depend on.

All season he said the right things about playing football again, but deep down he knew something was wrong.

“I made my return to the field, played well, overall, and was selected to the Pro Bowl, but it was a difficult year for me,” he said. “Each day, I faced a struggle: I could no longer perform at my highest level. Playing ‘well’ is not what I expected of myself and is not what my teammates deserve. Because of this, I know my days as a football player are done. I am proud of what I have accomplished in my career, and I walk away with my head held high.”

Frederick was signed through 2023 and leaves $32.3 million in uncashed checks. He was scheduled to make $7 million in base salary in 2020.

The Cowboys will now have to deal with the loss of Frederick again, this time for good.

Joe Looney, who signed a one-year contract, is the projected starting center now. He took over for Frederick in 2018 when he was recovering from Guillain-Barre. Connor McGovern, a 2019 third-round pick, can also play center, so he’ll get a chance, too.

Frederick was quarterback Dak Prescott’s eyes and ears along the line in terms of making protection calls. The year without Frederick, Prescott was sacked 56 times. Last year he was sacked a career-low 23 times.

From a financial standpoint, the Cowboys have two options: They will have $11.04 million in dead money to absorb now or make Frederick a post-June 1 departure, which would mean $4.9 million in dead money and $7 million in salary-cap savings. There’s also the possibility Frederick will have to return a portion of his signing bonus money.

When you think about Frederick’s play and the type of person he is, money isn’t an issue. His life, especially post-career, was on his mind.

A source said Frederick was thinking about retirement for some time, considering the health problems. But the same source said he was surprised Frederick did retire.

– – –

The Cowboys could be making a big signing, literally, on the other side of the line.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Cowboys added one former Panther to their defensive line last week when they signed Gerald McCoy and they are in discussions with another one as this week gets underway.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the team is talking about a deal with Dontari Poe. Per the report, it could get done by the end of the day on Monday.

Poe spent the last two seasons with the Panthers, but missed the final five games of last season after tearing his quad. He had 39 tackles and five sacks during his time in Carolina.

Rapoport’s report came in response to a tweet by colleague Jane Slater indicating the Cowboys were also considering players like Ndamukong Suh, Damon Harrison and Mike Pennel as additions to the defensive line.

WASHINGTON

Add QB KYLE ALLEN to the list of ex-Panths residing in our Nation’s Capital.

Kyle Allen, who started 12 games under center for the Panthers last season, has been traded to the Redskins in exchange for a fifth-round pick, according NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The news comes shortly after the Panthers signed former XFL standout P.J. Walker.

A third-year veteran who spent two seasons in Carolina with new Redskins head coach Ron Rivera, Allen will now back up former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins, who went 2-5 as a starter during his rookie season. In two seasons with the Panthers, Allen played in 15 games while receiving 13 starts. He completed 62.1% of his passes for 5,388 yards with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Allen, who compiled a 5-7 record as the Panthers’ starting quarterback in 2019, also rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries.

Allen replaced quarterback Cam Newton after the latter had to be shut down due to injury. Allen enjoyed immediate success as a starter last season, throwing four touchdown passes in the Panthers’ Week 3 victory over Arizona. But after leading Carolina to five wins in his first six starts, Allen and the Panthers ended the season on an eight-game losing streak that ultimately led to Rivera being relieved of his duties with four games to go in the regular season.

This from the AP:

Rivera repeatedly praised Allen’s toughness and said, ”He doesn’t let things faze him.”

”I’m not concerned about Kyle’s learning curve,” Rivera said last season. ”He’s a young quarterback who is going to make young mistakes. But that is why you put him out there. We’re going to live with his learning pains because that is what the game is all about.”

Meanwhile, the Redskins sent CB QUINTON DUNBAR to Seattle (figuratively that is, he won’t actually show up there until the coast is clear) among some other moves.  The AP:

Washington continued its roster makeover by sending a disgruntled player in Dunbar to Seattle and completing a few other moves. The team made deals official with tight end Logan Thomas and safety Sean Davis, re-signed defensive lineman Caleb Brantley and released safety Montae Nicholson and four other defensive backs.

Dunbar asked for a raise that would’ve fit with his promotion to No. 1 cornerback after the release of Josh Norman. When that didn’t materialize, the Redskins traded him and could turn to Kendall Fuller in that role after bringing him back on a multiyear deal.

The Redskins are also listening to trade offers for left tackle Trent Williams, who sat out all of last season in a dispute with the front office. Williams and Dunbar both criticized the team’s medical staff, which was overhauled after president Bruce Allen was fired.

Nicholson’s release comes after a couple of troubling off-field incidents over the past 18 months. A 21-year-old woman died in November after Nicholson dropped her off at a hospital, and in 2018 he was arrested and charged with assault and battery after a fight at a restaurant and retail complex near the team’s practice facility in Ashburn, Virginia.

– – –

John Keim of ESPN.com says it is time to move on from T TRENT WILLIAMS:

The agent for Washington Redskins’ left tackle Trent Williams claims the organization has not acted in good faith regarding his client, demanding once again that he be traded or released.

In a statement to ESPN, Vince Taylor said the relationship had reached a point where the team should trade or release Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowl tackle.

Taylor said, “Despite its knowledge of the irreconcilable differences, Washington was unable (or unwilling) to negotiate a trade of Williams. The team then gave Williams and his representatives the right to seek trading partners. Williams’ representatives provided the team with trading options, but the Redskins have shown no interest in negotiating in good faith, and, in fact, have given inconsistent demands on what it wants in return for a trade.”

Redskins coach Ron Rivera spoke with Williams over the phone earlier this offseason and the two met in person one time for five minutes. Washington gave permission for Williams to seek a trade on March 5. But, a source said, the Redskins have made it clear they won’t give Williams away. They would like to get a second-round pick in return, but also have hinted that they’d be flexible with the compensation. They have also placed more of the burden on Williams to strike a deal with a team before they can proceed. The Redskins have talked to teams about Williams.

But they know if they keep Williams and he leaves after 2020 via free agency, they might end up with a third-round compensatory pick in 2022. Williams would count $12.5 million vs. the salary cap this season, but the Redskins would save $10.5 million if they released him. There have been no indications Washington would do so. And, sources said, they could end up bringing him back if no deal is struck before, or during, the draft.

– – –

If the Redskins keep Williams, he can’t hold out for a second consecutive season. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, a player won’t get credit for an accrued year if he fails to report on time to training camp or leaves the team for more than five days without permission. Also, a player would be fined $40,000 per day and teams would be unable to waive that fine upon return.

The Redskins traded corner Quinton Dunbar on Monday, receiving a fifth-round pick from Seattle. He, too, was seeking a new deal. Dunbar was more vocal on social media about his displeasure. Williams, who turns 32 in July, has not said anything this offseason regarding his status.

In the statement, Taylor said, “Throughout the process, Williams has maintained his silence and not spoken negatively about the team nor has he pursued potential legal actions. This seems to not be a successful strategy. Players who are outwardly critical of the team do get traded.”

There was some hope the relationship with Williams could be repaired after this season. In an 18-minute interview with reporters after returning, Williams let it be known he no longer trusted Bruce Allen, but the Redskins fired him after the season. They also got rid of head athletic trainer Larry Hess.

Taylor said, “Although Trent Williams will always love and respect Dan Snyder, his teammates, and the Washington Redskins’ fans, he wants to be traded or released. It’s time for the organization to act in a manner that is in both Williams’ and the team’s best interest.”

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA

P.J. WALKER, the best QB in the XFL, is now with the Panthers.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com on the connection to Panthers coach Matt Rhule:

P.J. Walker “had a purpose” when he signed on to play quarterback for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks and he realized it on Monday.

Walker’s goal was to get back into the NFL after a stint with the Colts and his play with Houston helped him land a contract with the Panthers. He said he also heard from the Seahawks and Cardinals, but the opportunity to reunite with his college coach Matt Rhule in Carolina swung things in the Panthers’ favor.

Walker told Joseph Person of TheAthletic.com that he think he can be a starter “with the right opportunity and the right system and everything,” but Teddy Bridgewater just joined the Panthers and that means he’s aiming a little lower at the outset.

“Right now I’m just going in there trying to compete for the No. 2 job behind Teddy and see what happens from there,” Walker said.

Walker’s bid for that job got a boost on Monday when the Panthers traded Kyle Allen to Washington. Walker’s familiarity with Rhule should also be a plus for his effort to land that backup job and position himself for a shot at something more down the road.

NEW ORLEANS

CB JANORIS JENKINS is coming back to the Saints with a re-structured deal.  Amie Just of the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

The New Orleans Saints and cornerback Janoris Jenkins have agreed to a restructured contract for 2020, ESPN’s Field Yates reported Monday evening.

Before the restructure, Jenkins’ cap number was $11.25 million, one of the highest on the team for 2020. As it stands, he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season.

The terms of Jenkins’ restructured contract are not yet known.

Jenkins signed with the Saints for the last two games of the year after the New York Giants waived him mid-season.

For the Saints and Giants combined last season, Jenkins had five interceptions, 16 pass breakups and 61 tackles. One of those interceptions came when he was with the Saints.

Jenkins, 31, has been in the league for eight seasons, dating back to when the then-St. Louis Rams drafted him as the No. 39 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

With cornerback Eli Apple now with the Las Vegas Raiders, Jenkins is one of the presumed starting cornerbacks for the Saints next season.

NFC WEST

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Presumably, a lot of thought went into the Rams new look with smart people designing looks and showing them to focus groups.  Lindsay Thiry of ESPN.com plays it straight in her report.

The Los Angeles Rams on Monday revealed new team colors and logos that will debut this season.

The new look is part of a rebranding effort that has been in progress since the Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016 after 21 seasons in St. Louis.

“The most exciting part of this for me, and I hope for Rams fans, is it blends the best of our pasts with what we believe is the best of our future,” said Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ chief operating officer. “I’m sure it will be a surprise, it will be change, but lots of things are and I think it’s a change that our fans will come to know and love over time.”

Gone is navy blue, light gold and white, a scheme the Rams adopted in 2000 in St. Louis.

Their new colors are a spinoff of their throwback royal blue and gold. The Rams have dubbed their hues “Rams Royal” and “Sol.” White also is featured in the new look.

“We always looked at blue and yellow and white, we looked at a wide range of things around that as accent colors,” Demoff said. “But at the end of the day, that was one place we knew our fans weren’t going to compromise.”

The reveal comes two weeks after a specialty hat, made by New Era specifically for the NFL draft in Las Vegas, was leaked on social media. Fans expressed disdain for the design, which was navy blue with neon yellow accents.

The Rams were caught off guard by the leak, said they turned down the design of the cap multiple times, and ultimately were disappointed the specialty hat was the first piece of rebranded merchandise seen by fans.

“It’s not a hat I would buy or we would ever want in the marketplace, but we didn’t get much of a say in that,” Demoff said. “[That hat] was a terrible first introduction to where we are headed, but there’s nothing we can do about how that came to be.”

The Rams will unveil new uniforms later this spring.

Their rebranding effort coincides with the completion of SoFi Stadium, Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s $5 billion project, which is scheduled to open for the 2020 season and will be home to the Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.

Eric Ting, who does write for the San Francisco Chronicle, was unimpressed:

The Los Angeles Rams released a new logo Monday in advance of their move to Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium for the 2020 season, and NFL fans everywhere took a break from their normal quarantine activities to make fun of the NFC West team’s new look.

In total, the team released four new official logos: 1. The main logo, which is simply the letters “L” and A” with a ram horn coming out of the “A” and extending back behind the “L,” 2. A ram’s head that actually looks kind of cool, 3. A line of yellow text that reads “Los Angeles Rams” and 4. The main logo with the all-caps “RAMS” next to it.

Many on the Internet wanted to know why the team chose the “LA” logo over the ram’s head, especially since the LA logo reminded people of the Internet Explorer logo, croissants, and President Donald Trump’s hair, among other things.

The situation gets even more amusing when you head to the Rams’ official website and read the team’s explanation behind the logo.

“By focusing on the most iconic part of the team’s brand identity throughout franchise history – the Horn – the Rams discovered nature’s beauty unfold with the golden ratio (aka Fibonacci Sequence) in its curvature,” the website states. “This same ratio underpins the perfect spiral and the perfect wave and became the driving concept behind the new logos.”

Makes perfect sense when you think about it like that.

Ross Tucker was among many who tweeted something like this:

@RossTuckerNFL

LOVE the Rams new logo … for the Chargers.

Sports ON Tap Seattle

@SONTSeattle

Lol to the dumb ass Rams logo that looks like a Chargers logo, the team they share a stadium with? Rolling on the floor laughing

Especially when you are sharing a market, and in that market sharing a sport and in that market sharing a stadium – why would you drive your look closer to the other team’s?

Unless you wanted to save on color scheme costs in decorating – same banners for both teams except logos are plugged in and out?

This from longtime LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke:

@BillPlaschke

The one clear advantage the Rams could always claim over the Chargers was their historical ties with the LA community. A new logo that looks a bit like the Chargers would appear to negate some of that advantage. Here’s hoping at least the helmet doesn’t change

And this:

@DAitken90

Yes the Rams logo is awful but we’re dancing around the real issue and that’s the Rams and Chargers have the same color scheme and having two pro sports teams in the same city with the same colors is incredibly illegal

Don’t know if it’s “illegal” –

Can we hope the Chargers will now go all in with the powder blues?

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

The Chiefs have signed a QB from the XFL.  Adam Teicher of ESPN.com:

Always searching for developmental quarterbacks, the Kansas City Chiefs found one Monday, agreeing to contract terms with XFL star Jordan Ta’amu, according to his agent, Kenny Zuckerman.

Ta’amu was the XFL’s third-rated quarterback for the St. Louis BattleHawks this season. Ta’amu completed 72% of his passes for 1,050 yards and a league-leading 12 touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.

Ta’amu went to training camp last year with the Houston Texans but was released before start of the regular season. He was 7-of-12 for 50 yards with one interception in the preseason.

Ta’amu played two seasons in college at Ole Miss, where he threw for 5,600 yards and 30 touchdowns.

The Chiefs recently re-signed veteran Chad Henne to be the backup for starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs’ other quarterback is Kyle Shurmur, who arrived last year as an undrafted rookie.

LAS VEGAS

The Raiders have given WR NELSON AGHOLOR a minimum wage contract after his Eagles rookie deal ends.  Reuben Frank of NBCPhiladelphia discusses:

Talk about a pay cut.

Nelson Agholor made $9.387 million this past season on the one-year option written into his original rookie contract from 2015.

As an unrestricted free agent?

Would you believe barely above minimum wage?

Agholor’s one-year contract with the Raiders is worth only $1.0475 million, which includes $910,000 in base salary – that’s minimum wage under the new CBA for players with five  years of experience – along with a $137,500 signing bonus.

That’s a humbling 89 percent pay decrease from 2019 to 2020 for the 2015 first-round pick.

According to Spotrac, it makes Agholor the 101st-highest-paid receiver in the league, although he’ll drop even lower as more receivers and draft picks sign.

The contract is so low it qualifies the Raiders for cap relief in the form of what’s called a veteran salary benefit, a clause in the CBA that allows teams to sign players with at least four years of experience to a minimum-wage deal with a capped signing bonus and not have the full amount count against their salary cap.

The maximum contract to qualify for the veteran salary benefit is minimum base salary, that $910,000 figure, along with a signing bonus not to exceed $137,500 figure.

Agholor will count only $750,000 – the minimum wage for a second-year player – under the Raiders’ 2020 salary cap.

Only $887,500 of the deal is guaranteed, which is the $750,000 that counts against the Raiders’ cap plus the small signing bonus.

The rule was put into place in the previous CBA because capable veteran players with high minimum wages were going unsigned because teams needed cap savings.

Agholor, the 20th pick in the 2015 draft, caught just 224 passes for 2,515 yards and 18 touchdowns in five seasons with the Eagles. This past season, he was limited by injuries and lack of production to 39 catches for 363 yards and three TDs.

Since he entered the league, Agholor ranks 22nd of 23rd NFL regular starting wide receivers with 224 catches and last with 2,515 yards – about 600 fewer than anyone else with at least 60 starts.

The only starting wide receiver in the NFL drafted in the first round over the last 20 years with fewer yards than Agholor is Darrius Heyward-Bey.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

Although he wasn’t very good for two other teams, former Texans WR Jaelen Strong thinks his failure to establish himself in the NFL can be traced to the attitudes of Bill O’Brien:

(in the wake of the D’Andre Hopkins trade) Former Texans receiver Jaelen Strong chimed in to take aim at O’Brien.

“This is who Bill O Brien is,” Strong tweeted with a link to the initial stories regarding Irvin’s inflammatory remarks. “Y’all thought it was my fault I wasn’t seeing the field. The man simply didn’t like me because I was a product of my environment. PERFORMANCE means nothing. He wasted my first 3 years ultimately ruining my NFL career. I never knew how to kiss ass.”

It’s unclear whether Strong, a third-round pick of the Texans in 2015, ever would have or could have become a high-level performer. He had 14 catches as a rookie and 14 catches the next year. The Texans released Strong in September 2017, one game after he was suspended for Week One due to a substance-abuse policy violation.

Still only 27, Strong thereafter spent time with the Jaguars and Browns and currently is out of football.

TENNESSEE

The DB didn’t receive a call from Mike Vrabel yesterday, but another senior citizen did. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Elderly people around the world have been isolated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but Titans coach Mike Vrabel found a way to visit one big Titans fan who is quarantined.

Vrabel called 87-year-old Titans fan Ron Kegarise and lifted his spirits as the two talked football.

“I just wanted to call in and check in on you, make sure you’re doing OK and see how you’re feeling,” Vrabel said.

Kegarise attended Ohio State in the 1950s and has been a fan of Vrabel’s since Vrabel played there in the 1990s. In their conversation, Kegarise talked about attending Ohio State at the same time as Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, the 1955 Heisman Trophy winner. Kegarise grew up in Canton, Ohio and told Vrabel about playing on a playground that is now on the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kegarise and Vrabel discussed how they both met their wives at Ohio State. Kegarise’s wife died in September.

Vrabel and the Titans’ staff are working remotely on their draft evaluations, and Kegarise urged him to draft some Ohio State players. Vrabel said he may do that, and he invited Kegarise to visit the Titans’ facility as soon as it’s safe for him to do so.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

QB TOM BRADY isn’t the only longtime Patriot to move on this month.  PK STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI will be waived.  Jim McBride of the Boston Globe:

Tom Brady walked over to the sideline and simply said to the coaching staff, “Let’s just kick the field goal.”

Moments later, Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 41-yarder to clinch a 13-3 win over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019.

That probably will be the last memory many Patriots fans have of Gostkowski, who was released Monday afternoon, a league source confirmed.

The Patriots moved on from Gostkowski, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, just days after Tom Brady departed for Tampa Bay.

The move creates about $2.6 million in cap space.

The 36-year-old Gostkowski played 14 seasons in New England after being selected in the fourth round in 2006 out of Memphis. His 2019 season was cut short after four games because of a left hip injury that required surgery.

Gostkowski connected on 374 of 428 field goal attempts and 653 of 664 PATs for 1,775 points in 204 regular-season games.

Additionally, he hit 39 of 44 career field goal attempts in 28 postseason games. Only Brady (41), Adam Vinatieri (32), and Jerry Rice (29) have played in more playoff games. His 205 postseason points trail only Vinatieri (238) all time.

The Patriots don’t have another placekicker on the roster. Nick Folk was solid in taking over for Gostkowski last season, hitting 14 of 17 field goal attempts and all 12 PATs. He remains a free agent. Punter Jake Bailey took over on kickoffs and was outstanding.

In addition to Gostkowski’s sterling field goal kicking (his 87.4 percent success rate is tops in franchise history and fifth best in NFL annals), he was adept on kickoffs. He consistently boomed his kicks through the end zone early in his career and later became a master at shorter kicks, allowing his teammates to pin returners deeper than the 25-yard line when touchbacks were moved up.

The Gostkowski transaction makes Matthew Slater the longest-tenured Patriot (he’s heading into year 13) and also the oldest player (he’s 34) on the roster.

NEW YORK JETS

A one-year deal for LB JORDAN JENKINS.  Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:

After failing to land a long-term deal on the open market, linebacker Jordan Jenkins is returning to the New York Jets on a one-year contract, a source confirmed to ESPN on Monday.

The NFL Network, which broke the news of the agreement, reported the deal is worth $5 million.

Jenkins, who broke into the starting lineup as a rookie in 2016, was one of the Jets’ most consistent defenders in 2018 and 2019.

Though never considered a pure pass-rusher, he tied for the team lead in sacks in 2018 (seven) and he followed up by leading the team in 2019 (eight). He improved his sack total in each of his four seasons, demonstrating the career arc of a player on the rise.

Jenkins, who will turn 26 in July, came into the league as a strongside run defender but developed into a contributor on passing downs. Four of his eight sacks last season came on third down, doubling his 2018 output.

Overall, Jenkins played only 52% of the defensive snaps in 2019. He played outside linebacker in their 3-4, but the Jets played that alignment only 13 percent of the time, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Jenkins, a third-round pick out of Georgia, is one of the team’s few second- and third-day draft picks in recent years who actually became a solid player. In four seasons, he has 152 total tackles, 20.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and no interceptions.

THIS AND THAT

BROADCAST NEWS

Peyton Manning doesn’t need $18 million per year.  Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, who seems to own these scoops now, has the tale:

Peyton Manning turned down ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” The Post has learned.

Sources say the overriding factor was whether Manning finally wanted to enter the broadcast booth and commit to the weekly schedule in the fall. The answer remains no.

Manning has declined to be an “MNF” analyst on multiple occasions, turning down basically every network since he retired from the NFL in 2016.

ESPN and Manning’s broadcast agent, Sandy Montag, declined comment.

Manning has done “Peyton’s Places” and “Detail” shows for ESPN+. If he had agreed to do “MNF” and combined it with his current role, Manning conceivably would have been in Tony Romo’s $18 million-per-year neighborhood.

ESPN had dreamed of an Al Michaels and Peyton Manning booth, but NBC initially balked at letting ESPN talk to Michaels.

Michaels has two years remaining on his deal.

The exact figure ESPN was willing to offer Manning is unknown. However, according to sources, ESPN had capped its proposed offer to Romo at 10 years and $140 million. ESPN never got the chance to put it in front of Romo because CBS signed Romo for $180 million in full value over 10 years.

A contract offer in the $12 million to $14 million range seems realistic for “Monday Night Football,” but it never fully got to that point with Manning, according to sources. Manning may have been able to top Romo’s contract if he were to combine “MNF” with his other two shows.

Prior to signing Romo, CBS tried to lure Manning into the booth with Jim Nantz. It offered Manning a contract that was in the range of $10 million to $14 million per season, according to sources, but Manning did not accept.

ESPN still has not officially relinquished play-by-player Joe Tessitore and analyst Booger McFarland from their “MNF” positions.

The coronavirus outbreak has slowed sports media, but officials are still doing business. ESPN executives may choose to take a break from “Monday Night Football” after plans to hire one of Romo, Manning, Drew Brees or Philip Rivers did not work out. At this point, it appears an internal solution is much more likely, though someone like Hall of Famer Kurt Warner could still be considered.

After making an attempt at the big-name quarterbacks, ESPN could take a breath to deal with the day-to-day operations of having no games to broadcast due to the coronavirus.

ESPN has discussed a team of Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick as a possibility. The trio called the second half of the Monday night doubleheader last year. Levy and Griese currently do college games together.

While its top college team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit have been mentioned for “MNF,” ESPN is hesitant to mess with its National Championship game-callers. Besides Levy, ESPN could consider its NBA Finals play-by-player, Mike Breen, or its college basketball lead, Dan Shulman. Neither has called football games recently.

With all that is going on in the world, ESPN could tell the NFL it is punting until next year when the network contracts of play-by-players like CBS/TNT/YES’ Ian Eagle and Fox’s Kevin Burkhardt could be up.

Nantz also has a deal that expires at the end of the year, but he is CBS’ lead play-by-play man on the Masters, the NFL and the Final Four.

In a year, ESPN could see if Rivers or Brees decides to retire. Someone like former quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky could also then be a bigger candidate. Early indications were that ESPN was not going the Orlovsky route at this point. But the company’s thought process is fluid, so maybe Orlovsky could re-emerge.

Hanging over the Monday night booth decision is that ESPN/ABC/Disney has wanted to add more NFL and specifically a Super Bowl. It has hoped to spruce up its booth to give itself the best chance possible to accomplish these goals.

At the end of the day, the networks that offer the most money will probably receive the best NFL deals, no matter their current booths.

As for Manning, with no games, ESPN2 will celebrate his 44th birthday Tuesday with five hours of programming, including some episodes of his “Peyton’s Places” series.

The DB believes Breen can do whatever you ask him.  He called NFL games, and called them well, back in the 90s.

2020 DRAFT

The esteemed Daniel Jeremiah fits in the NFL’s quarterback prospects in the wake of free agency.  No surprises at the top.

The first wave of NFL free agency truly reshuffled the league deck, with the quarterback position — per usual — playing a leading role. Tom Brady’s a Buccaneer, Philip Rivers is a Colt, Teddy Bridgewater’s a Panther, Nick Foles is a Bear and Marcus Mariota’s a Raider. So, what’s next at the game’s most important position?

Now that the dust is settling on the frenzied portion of free agency, I’m thinking about possible homes for the top quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft. Who fits where? Feels like a perfect time to explore prospect-team pairings.

Before I play matchmaker, though, I want to address one team that you won’t find attached to a QB below: the New England Patriots. Obviously, everyone’s wondering how New England will replace Brady. But personally, I don’t see Bill Belichick and Co. drafting a QB early. I’ve been told the Pats are very high on Jarrett Stidham, expecting the 2019 fourth-rounder to be their guy next season and into the foreseeable future.

So, with that out of the way, let’s get to some hypothetical marriages that would make plenty of sense:

Joe Burrow, LSU

NFL team fit: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are poised to land Andy Dalton’s replacement in the 2020 NFL Draft. All signs continue to point to Burrow. A couple months back, there were rumors and chatter about Burrow potentially trying to persuade the Bengals to avoid picking him. I can’t see that happening. He is a perfect fit for Zac Taylor’s offense and his leadership will be essential in turning around the organization.

One thing to keep in mind: I won’t be surprised if the Bengals ultimately decide to hold onto Dalton. Seeing how COVID-19 figures to have a significant impact on the NFL offseason, Dalton’s presence would allow the Bengals to avoid rushing Burrow onto the playing field before he’s comfortable in his new setting.

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

NFL team fit: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were very aggressive in free agency, addressing several needs on their roster. One area they didn’t address: quarterback. Bucky Brooks and I had a good chat with Dolphins GM Chris Grier during the NFL Scouting Combine. He mentioned to us that his player personnel staff had spent time studying the QB crop in the 2021 class, as well as the current one. This led us to believe there was an outside chance they could address other needs in this year’s draft and pursue their signal-caller in next year’s class. Scratch that theory off the list. They’ve greatly improved their roster with an aggressive free agency approach that will likely take them out of the running for a top pick in the 2021 draft.

I’ve been told by trusted personnel sources around the league that the Dolphins have strong grades on Burrow, Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. I could see them attempting to move up for Burrow, but I seriously doubt the Bengals will trade the top pick. It’s not hard to imagine the Fins making a move up to the No. 3 slot in order to land their preferred choice between Tagovailoa and Herbert. However, I’m not certain which player will top their list. I’ll stick with Tagovailoa under the assumption the Dolphins are comfortable with his recovery from hip surgery.

Justin Herbert, Oregon

NFL team fit: Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers made a strong play for Tom Brady, but ultimately lost out to Tampa Bay last week. There have been credible reports — including one from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport — that the Bolts will not pursue any other veteran options (Cam Newton and Jameis Winston are still available) at this time. Head coach Anthony Lynn has a strong affection for Tyrod Taylor, after their experience together in Buffalo. He appears to be the bridge QB to whomever they select in the upcoming draft.

Tagovailoa would be the home run selection, if he were to fall to the Chargers at No. 6. I won’t be surprised if Los Angeles looks to aggressively move up and snag the Alabama product. However, here’s the problem: If the Bolts get into a bidding war with the Dolphins, Miami has considerably more ammo (draft currency). Herbert would seem to be the most likely option if L.A. sits and picks at 6. He could sit behind Taylor until he’s ready to go, either later in the 2020 season or at the beginning of the 2021 campaign.

Jordan Love, Utah State

NFL team fit: Green Bay Packers

I won’t be shocked if Love goes in the top 10. I also won’t be surprised if he falls to the bottom of the first round. Grades are all over the place on the Utah State product. He is the most talented natural thrower in the entire draft. However, due to a variety of circumstances (losing a number of starters, dealing with a new coaching staff and scheme, etc.) his play dramatically fell off this past season. He will need some time to sit and develop, but the payoff could be huge.

Prior to free agency, I felt like his sweet spot was between Pick Nos. 7 and 14. Things have changed since then. The Panthers, picking seventh, have signed Teddy Bridgewater and appear set at the position for the next few years. The Colts, initially picking 13th, traded their top selection to the 49ers for DL DeForest Buckner. That takes another potential landing spot off the table. The Bucs, picking 14th, signed Tom Brady. Logically, signing a soon-to-be 43-year-old QB shouldn’t preclude anyone from taking another signal-caller in the first round. However, you don’t sign Brady without making an all-out effort to chase a championship in the next two years. Plus, there’s an intriguing option that likely won’t cost them a first-round selection (see below). That’s why I think there’s a good chance Love could begin to slide.

Enter the Packers, currently holding the No. 30 pick. Aaron Rodgers is still playing at an elite level. That said, he’s 36 years old and there has been some minor slippage in his performance. Green Bay has been blessed to have stability at the position for nearly three decades with Rodgers and Brett Favre. If a talented player like Love slides to the Pack, I think they will pull the trigger and take their time developing Rodgers’ eventual replacement. This could lead to another 15-plus years of stability at the position.

Jacob Eason, Washington

NFL team fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As I mentioned above, the Bucs won the Tom Brady sweepstakes in free agency. For this reason, I believe they will give him some help (likely on the defensive side of the ball) in the first round. However, I could see them targeting a quarterback in the second round to eventually take over for Brady. Everyone I’ve spoken to about Eason believes he’ll end up in Tampa Bay. His big arm is a great fit for Bruce Arians’ offense and he would be afforded the luxury of time to develop behind Brady. In a perfect world, Eason would sit for two seasons before Brady retires and hands him the reins to the offense.

Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

NFL team fit: Las Vegas Raiders

Hurts is the one quarterback who keeps me up at night. He still has some improvement to make as a passer — mostly, his ability to throw with anticipation — but there’s a lot to like in this prospect, both as a player and as a competitor. He has the arm strength to make every throw on the field. He can extend plays with his legs and create big plays both throwing and running. He is very smart and his competitive spirit is outstanding. He embodies a lot of what the Raiders have tried to build since Mike Mayock took over as general manager.

The Raiders made an interesting acquisition when they inked Marcus Mariota to a deal in free agency. They made it clear to Mariota that he was coming in as the No. 2 quarterback. He’ll have a chance to revitalize his career if Derek Carr takes a step back this fall. However, I still expect Las Vegas to bring in a quarterback in the draft. Hurts will likely go in the second round. The Raiders don’t currently own a second-round pick, but I could see them trading out of one of their first-round selections to secure more draft capital.

Jake Fromm, Georgia

NFL team fit: New Orleans Saints

Fromm is a fascinating evaluation. He doesn’t possess a huge arm or special athleticism. His statistics don’t jump off the page, but he won a bunch of games at Georgia. He’s lauded for his intelligence and leadership. I asked a handful of teams which quarterback was the most impressive in their combine interview and every single one of them mentioned Fromm at or near the top of the list. His physical limitations will limit the number of teams interested in him, but I believe someone will fall in love and take him in the second or third round.

I would love to see him sit and learn behind Drew Brees in New Orleans. Sean Payton has always valued the strengths in a quarterback like Fromm — smarts, accuracy and decision-making. If not the Saints, I could see the Colts or Raiders being a good landing spot for the Georgia product.