The legal fight involving a pair of Hall of Famers landed in an appeals court on Tuesday.
Brett Favre hopes to resuscitate his defamation case against Shannon Sharpe, with the assistance of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Via the Associated Press, the action returned to court on Tuesday. The case, which relates to Favre’s entanglement in a multi-million-dollar Mississippi welfare scandal, focuses on comments made by Sharpe in September 2022, when he said on his FS1 show that Favre was “taking from the underserved,” that he “stole money from people that really needed that money,” and that someone would have to be a sorry person “to steal from the lowest of the low.”
The lower court dismissed Favre’s case, reasoning that Sharpe’s comments were protected by the First Amendment as “rhetorical hyperbole.”
The legal question for now is whether a reasonable listener could interpret Sharpe’s comments as indicated that Favre actually stole money from Mississippi residents.
If the prior ruling is upheld, Favre’s next move (after seeking a rehearing before the full Fifth Circuit) would be to request the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case. If the decision is overturned, it would go back to the lower court for further proceedings.
Wide receiver Josh Reynolds became a free agent for the second time in his NFL career this offseason and he’s hopeful that the second time around goes better than the first.
Reynolds signed with the Titans in 2021 after spending his first four seasons with the Rams, but his stay with the AFC South team came to an end when he was waived after playing in five games. Reynolds was claimed by the Lions, who gave him a bigger role and then re-signed him to a two-year deal ahead of the 2022 season. Reynolds had 78 catches for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns over the life of that deal and then moved on to a two-year deal with the Broncos in March.
One reason Reynolds believes that this choice will prove to be a better one is because of how long he’s wanted to play for Broncos head coach Sean Payton.
“It was kind of a lot,” Reynolds said, via Jon Heath of USAToday.com. “I think the main decision was that I’ve always admired Sean Payton from afar. I was excited to see what that offense looked like.“
The Broncos traded Jerry Jeudy this offseason and drafted Troy Franklin in the fourth round to go with Reynolds, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, and Tim Patrick in a receiver group they hope will helpe make Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, or Zach Wilson thrive as their quarterback this fall.
Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II is no stranger to high expectations.
Surtain’s father was an NFL player, so eyes were on him from the first time he took the field. Everyone watching saw him become a high school star and top recruit who became a starter at Alabama during his freshman season. The Broncos took him ninth overall in 2021 and he proved to be worth the hype by making All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams since entering the NFL.
As he enters his fourth NFL season, Surtain is in line for a bigger role as a leader as he looks toward his second NFL contract.
“I’ve dealt with it my whole life . . . Living up to those expectations and making a name for myself excites me the most,” Surtain said, via Ryan McFadden of the Denver Post.
Ending the Broncos’ lengthy playoff drought won’t be a one-man job, but anything Surtain can do to get things pointed in the right direction will be welcomed by the Broncos.
Quarterback Chad Kelly’s CFL suspension continues. The struggles of his team possibly has left them counting the days until he can return.
Via the Toronto Star, a rough outing from Argonauts quarterback Cameron Dukes in a 30-23 loss to Saskatchewan has potentially opened the door for Kelly to reclaim his job, once he’s able to return.
The earliest date for that is August 22, after Kelly serves a nine-game suspension arising from allegations of misconduct made by a former Argonauts employee.
Kelly, who was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2023, left the team during training camp. Coach Ryan Dinwiddie has said as to Kelly’s potential return that “there’s no playbook for dealing with something like this.”
Ultimately, the desire to win games could win out. The Argos are currently 2-2 through four games; last year, they went 16-2 for the full season. Where they are after the next five games will say plenty about whether Kelly will be welcomed back.
The nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Chad was the last pick in the 2017 draft. He spent time with the Broncos and Colts. After a year out of football, he landed in the CFL.
He came off the bench to help Toronto win the 2022 Grey Cup before securing the starting job last year.
Last month, Kelly and the Argonauts settled a lawsuit filed by the former employee.
The Broncos have not settled on a starting quarterback for the 2024 season, but any choice would be helped with stronger support from the run game.
That kind of support was in short supply last year. The Broncos finished in the bottom half of the league in rushing attempts, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns and turned in some of their worst results over the final weeks of the regular season.
Denver did not take any big swings when it came to adding to their offensive backfield, but they do have Javonte Williams further removed from the multiple knee ligament injuries he suffered in 2022 and head coach Sean Payton said that he thinks that bodes well for better results from the 2021 second-round pick.
“I think historically speaking, when you talk to the experts, they say that the complete heal finishes at two years,” Payton said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. “Obviously you begin playing before then . . . I know that he’s looking forward to [this season]. The challenge last year was really when you think about it, even in training camp, it was still early enough in the process where it was hard for him to go full speed with confidence. And yet we were building and getting him where we all felt comfortable he could play.”
The Broncos are going to need better results on the ground whether they go with Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson, or first-round pick Bo Nix as their quarterback. Williams providing them would be an ideal outcome in Denver.
Training camp is coming. When the 32 teams gather for preseason practices, several high-profile players might not be present, if they force the issue on getting new contracts.
So which names are the ones to watch? Funny you should ask, even if you didn’t.
The goal of this item is to list all of the potential veteran holdouts, with some explanation and analysis of each situation.
That said, there’s a chance some of the players listed below will “hold in.” That’s a fairly new trend where the player shows up for training camp but doesn’t practice while negotiations continue. The only problem with this approach is that, if/when there’s no deal, at some point it’s time to practice and play. For the player who never shows up, it’s easier to keep holding firm. And the pressure remains even more pronounced on the team if the player isn’t there.
The following list has no particular order to it, other than the fact that I went through the eight divisions from AFC East to AFC North to AFC South to AFC West before doing the same in the NFC when compiling the list.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
He wants a market deal. The Dolphins have yet to offer one, or they’d already have an agreement. At some point before training camp opens, the Dolphins will make an offer far better than the $23.1 million he’s due to make in his option year. To get what he wants, Tua’s best and only play might be to hold out.
Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill
He’s doing everything he can to put a happy face on a contract situation that has him nearly as unhappy as he was two years ago in Kansas City. Still, the market has passed him by. Even though he says he’s making $30 million per year, he’s at $25 million — behind teammate Jaylen Waddle.
Hill seems to believe the Dolphins will adjust his contract. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. Maybe, at most, they’ll move some of the $45 million he’s due to make in 2026 into 2024, where he’s south of $20 million. If that’s not good enough, maybe he’ll stay away in order to get a deal that compares favorably to other high-end receivers.
Patriots linebacker Matt Judon
Judon skipped some of the offseason program as he enters the final year of his contract. He showed up for mandatory minicamp.
Last year, he held in. This year, he said he won’t be “throwing tantrums.”
One way to not throw tantrums is to not show up. Still, he has made it clear that he plans to show up. While plans can change, his mindset as of last month was to show up and get to work.
Jets linebacker Haason Reddick
The Jets traded for a guy who wanted a new contract without signing him to a new contract. It should be no surprise, then, that he skipped the entire offseason program.
Will he show up for camp? No one knows at this point. The possibility that he won’t underscores the magnitude of the mistake the Jets made in trading for him without getting him signed.
Yeah, the Jets supposedly thought they had a verbal understanding with Reddick that he’d show up for the offseason and they’d eventually do something with his contract. As we’ve seen time and again, verbal understandings aren’t worth the paper they aren’t printed on.
Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase
On the day Justin Jefferson got his new deal, the Bengals could have worked out a contract for Chase that same day. And they should have.
It should be easy to get to the new-money number Chase wants. Although Chase showed up for mandatory minicamp, he could decide to take a stand if the Bengals keep dragging their feet.
The good news for the Bengals is that receiver Tee Higgins has signed his franchise tender. Since training camp opens after the deadline for doing a long-term deal, there’s nothing to be gained by staying away. He has opted to accept $21.8 million for 2024, followed by a likely shot at free agency in March, given the team’s longstanding habit of tagging a player for one year before letting him walk away.
Browns receiver Amari Cooper
Cooper skipped mandatory minicamp in an effort to get a deal to replace the final year of his current contract, with a base salary of $20 million. If he doesn’t get a new deal by the start of camp, a holdout can’t be ruled out.
Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton
Sutton showed up for mandatory minicamp despite wanting a new deal. (He’s due to make only $13 million this season.) He hasn’t ruled out a holdout.
Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb
Lamb reportedly won’t attend camp without a deal that replaces the $17.9 million he’s due to make in the final year of his rookie contract. Will the Cowboys give him what he wants? As explained Monday, there’s a way to do it while also creating current-year cap space. Which would be a win-win for a team desperately hoping to engineer some wins in the playoffs.
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons
Parsons has said he’ll be patient when it comes to getting a new contract. He shouldn’t be.
He’s one of the best defensive players in football. He shouldn’t risk his health for less than $3 million in 2024. He should refuse to practice or play until he gets paid.
Yes, he attended mandatory minicamp. So did Ezekiel Elliott in 2019. And then Zeke didn’t show up for training camp.
Without a new contract, Parsons should do the same.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love
There’s currently no reason to think the Packers and Love won’t get a new deal done before training camp opens. If they don’t, however, why should Love show up?
He’s due to make only $11 million this year. He needs to be willing to take a stand, if his contract situation isn’t resolved before the Packers head to training camp.
Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs
With only $18.44 million in salary for 2024, he’s been looking for a new deal all year. He showed up at mandatory minicamp. Again, that’s no guarantee he’ll show up for training camp unless he gets a contract offer that prompts him to sign on the dotted line.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara
Kamara left mandatory minicamp early, due to frustration with contract talks. He wants security beyond 2024, given that the team will tear up next year’s phony-baloney $25 million compensation package.
Will he skip camp without a new deal? We’ll find out when camp opens.
49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk
Much has been said about Aiyuk and the 49ers and whether he will or won’t be traded. He ultimately needs to ask himself whether he’s willing to show up and play for $14.1 million in 2024 — or whether he wants to draw a line in the sand.
Short of a long-term, market-level deal, the 49ers could give him a sweetener and/or agree not to tag him in 2025. For now, there’s been nothing other than a staring contest augmented by the various things Aiyuk has said, on social media and elsewhere.
When it’s time to show up for camp, we’ll see if he does.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
Stafford has wanted more guarantees for a while. He should also want more money. A deal hasn’t been done yet.
If it doesn’t happen before camp opens, who knows? Given the lack of high-end options on the roster, Stafford had plenty of leverage. If he chooses to use it.
As Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike moves toward potential reinstatement following a gambling suspension, one specific development could slow things down.
Via Mike Klis of 9News.com, an investigation by the Colorado Department of Revenue and Arapahoe County prosecutors could result in criminal charges.
Per Klis, the NFL is waiting for the process to conclude before determining whether to reinstate Uwazurike. He is eligible to apply for reinstatement on July 24.
Uwazurike is accused of placing 32 bets on five Broncos games, including one in which he played.
The investigation traces to an Iowa investigation that was derailed by a determination that the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation wrongfully used geolocation software against Uwazurike and others.
Lawyer Harvey Steinberg, who has represented many Broncos over the years, represents Uwazurike.
“Iowa court suppressed all evidence seized, finding it was taken illegally,’’ Steinberg told Klis. “That ruling is binding on the Colorado courts and the Colorado prosecutors. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to attempt to prosecute a case here when all the charges were dismissed in Iowa as result of that ruling.”
Uwazurike was a fourth-round pick in 2022. Per Klis, the door hasn’t been closed on Uwazurike being restored to the roster, if/when he is reinstated by the league.
The Broncos are heading into their second season with head coach Sean Payton and one member of the defense thinks it will be a better year.
Linebacker Jonas Griffith said on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan this week that he senses a higher comfort level from Payton as the team moves toward the 2024 season. Griffith believes that comfort level is tied to Payton’s belief in what the team is capable of doing on the field and he said that he shares the coach’s expectations for how things will go in the fall.
“I think he’s very confident in the team this year,” Griffith said. “We’re going to surprise a lot of people. He talks about it a lot to us, too. He’s like, Hey, you know — real comfortable with the guys this year. And we’re ready to go. Got a lot of work to do still, but we’re ready.”
Griffith wasn’t able to help the Broncos on the field last year as he was sidelined by a torn ACL in August. His return should help the defense’s bid to make Payton a winner in Denver this time around.
The Broncos drafted quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick thinking he’s their quarterback of the future, but he may already be their quarterback of the present as well.
Nix is the betting favorite to take the first snap for the Broncos in their Week One game against the Seahawks.
In the three-way quarterback competition in Denver, Nix is a -400 favorite at DraftKings.com. New arrival Zach Wilson is a +450 underdog, while Jarrett Stidham, who started the final two games of last season for the Broncos, is the long shot at +650.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said near the end of the offseason program that all three quarterbacks are competing for the job and getting a chance to work with the first-string offense, and that Payton has no deadline to pick a starter other than before the first game.
If Nix looks good in training camp and the preseason, the job is likely his. Wilson or Stidham getting the job would be an upset.
Quarterback Russell Wilson’s two years in Denver were a dud and some of his former teammates will get a chance to try to make sure his move to Pittsburgh gets off to an unsuccessful start this season.
The Steelers will be in Denver in Week Two of the regular season and Wilson, who is currently slotted at No. 1 on the Steelers depth chart, facing his former team will be the central storyline heading into that matchup. During an appearance on Denver Sports 104.3, Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith said that he’s looking forward to the chance to spoil Wilson’s return to the Mile High City.
“I’m really excited obviously for any game I get to play in,” Griffith said. “But you see that one you’re excited to go out there and — beat the Steelers, first of all, it’s a great organization. I want to pick off Russ, for sure. I think that would be really cool, just to pick him off and get the victory, first and foremost.”
Griffith was asked by host and former Bronco running back Philip Lindsay if he’ll say “let’s ride” to his former teammate if he gets a sack. Griffith laughed while answering in the negative, but the Broncos are sure to be taking that home game a little more seriously due to their relationship with the opposing quarterback.