Tag Archives: Mike Glennon

Teddy Bridgewater Injury: 5 Quarterbacks the Vikings Should Consider Adding

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The Minnesota Vikings are in a bad way at the moment, as they learned on Tuesday afternoon that starting quarterback Teddy Bridgwater would be lost for the season due to a devastating knee injury.

Huge Loss

Bridgewater reportedly fell to the ground during practice with a non-contact injury on Tuesday, cutting Minnesota’s team practice short at just 25 minutes. Bridgewater was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and sedated, where the team later learned he had suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL.

The silver lining is Bridgewater did not suffer any other serious dame to his arteries or nerves, and the third-year passer is expected to make a full recovery.

Moving On

Bridgewater is officially done for 2016, however, which naturally hinders Minnesota’s Super Bowl odds. Once a media darling, the Vikings may not even be in legit contention for the NFC North now that their quarterback situation is so murky. Career backup Shaun Hill is ready to slide into the starting role, but at 36 years old, it’s arguable he will either get hurt or falter early on.

Because of the current situation, Minnesota has to be considering alternative options. While they probably don’t want to make too crazy of a splash, as Bridgewater is their franchise quarterback, they also can’t just do nothing and waste an entire season. Let’s consider their five best options as they prepare for the start of the 2016 NFL season:

Trade For Josh McCown

Cleveland has continued to hold onto the savvy veteran for two reasons: they like him as a strong backup plan behind Robert Griffin III and they probably haven’t heard a trade offer they love yet. McCown is an expensive backup and has starter experience, so it would make sense for the Browns to unload him if someone offered a quality package.

Minnesota could be that team. Reports out of Dallas suggested the Cowboys (who saw Tony Romo go down recently) aren’t chasing McCown or other passers via trade. The Vikings probably should. McCown is as old as Hill, but provides far more upside in terms of athleticism, experience, awareness and arm strength. McCown also looked like a top-15 passer at times in 2015, but simply struggled to stay healthy.

In terms of potentially available backups that could actually solve Minnesota’s current dilemma, McCown takes the cake. The big question is whether or not the Browns are willing to give him up and if Minnesota is up for sacrificing a mid-round draft choice in an attempt to salvage their season.

Kick the Tires on the Sanchize

Denver didn’t think Mark Sanchez was the answer under center for them, but Minnesota could. Sanchez is more mobile than Shaun Hill and would probably withstand a beating a little bit better. He’s not the most accurate passer and turns the ball over, but he has experience and has made it to a conference title game twice before in his career.

With a terrific supporting cast, Sanchez could actually help get the Vikings by and might offer more upside through the air than anyone they currently have on the roster. Sanchez probably won’t get the Vikes to the Super Bowl, but he should do well enough to keep them afloat and give them a chance to make the playoffs, should he be acquired.

Bring in Johnny Football

This one comes out of left field, as the Vikings didn’t really seem to love Johnny Manziel back when they scouted him in the 2014 NFL Draft. He also has been as toxic as anyone, doesn’t seem to have his priorities right and is already suspended the first four games of the year due to substance abuse.

In addition, he’s still unproven on the field and bringing Manziel in could rub Bridgewater and his camp the wrong way.

All that being said, Manziel still has undeniable talent and untapped upside. In a good environment like Minnesota with strong talent, a good defense and quality coaching, he actually could have a chance to thrive and turn his career around. Minnesota probably won’t do it for all the reasons already mentioned, but if they’re upset that they’re isn’t a single quality option left in free agency, they’re just not covering all the bases.

Call Tampa Bay

Another backup that could make sense is Buccaneers passer, Mike Glennon. Glennon has starter experience and offers great size and arm strength. He isn’t getting Minnesota to their first ever title, but he really isn’t needed in Tampa Bay with Jameis Winston around and he still has some upside to his game. The Bucs also love third stringer Ryan Griffin and have been wanting to move Glennon for a while now.

Glennon could be the ideal add, too, as he’d be the starter for 2016, but wouldn’t be viewed as a real threat to Bridgewater’s job in 2017. Some of the aforementioned options might be.

Land Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick is even more toxic than Johnny Manziel right now – and that is not easy to accomplish. That being said, he has played in a Super Bowl, is still an elite athlete and still has the upside and talent to be a difference-maker. Some think he’s done in the league, but if he’s not, the Vikes have to consider him as one of the better options.

San Francisco has refrained from trading Kaepernick to this point, but if Minnesota produced the right offer, they’d surely listen.

Other Options

There are a number of directions the Vikings could go. Numerous teams only carry two quarterbacks, so they could just wait for final cuts and have their pick of the litter. They probably want to be a little more proactive than that, of course, so it’s more likely than not that we’ll hear them swing a trade this week.

Other backup quarterbacks who could be at odds with their current team and could be worth a look include Geno Smith, E.J. Manuel and maybe even Aaron Murray. Geno Smith stands out the most as a guy who has some experience and even could potentially be a major steal. He flashed solid ability in the past with the New York Jets and could just need a change of scenery to get his career back on track. Thanks to a similar skill-set to Bridgewater, he could actually be the perfect stop-gap replacement.

Minnesota Vikings Prediction

Ultimately I doubt the Vikings do anything crazy like trade for Geno or Kaepernick or sign Manziel. Those guys all are talented and could offer some upside, but they also all are distractions and would combat the idea that Teddy Bridgewater is still the team’s future under center.

Instead, the likely scenarios are trades involving McCown, Sanchez or Glennon. It really does seem like the Browns want to hold onto McCown and Tampa Bay has also kept too steep of an asking price for Glennon. Sanchez is done in Denver and it’s only a matter of time before he’s cut or traded. With that being the case and Minnesota having an immediate need, look for the Vikings and Broncos to work something out to get Sanchez in Minnesota by the end of the week.

Colin Kaepernick and 7 Star NFL Players Likely to Get Traded in 2016

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The 2016 NFL regular season is almost upon us, but it won’t arrive without some severe roster casualties. Every year some big name players feel like locks to win a key role or at least hold onto their roster spot, and every single time someone ends up being traded or cut as teams make those tough, last minute decisions.

The writing is already on the wall for numerous players, while we’ve even seen some get cut. Paul Kruger just got let go by the Cleveland Browns and more big names are sure to follow soon, whether their departures be by flat out release or some type of trade.

With NFL trade rumors being such a big draw, we’re naturally focusing on the star NFL players that could actually get dealt before week one, and maybe even after. Let’s take a look at the top pro football players that could be on the move very soon:

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

The man of the hour (in a sense) is absolutely in the NFL trade rumor mill due to his odd stance against the National Anthem, as well as his poor play on the field. Kaepernick is not on the good side of America at the moment, but he still provides upside as a passer, potentially.

Numerous teams could show interest, with the Vikings and Cowboys specifically being in the worst spots at the moment due to injury. San Francisco is inching closer to unloading him and those teams needing extra quarterback help could lead to them pulling the trigger on a deal.

Mark Sanchez, QB, Denver Broncos

Sanchez is almost certainly on the way out of Denver, as the Broncos traded for him to win their starting quarterback job and he ended up losing out to former 7th rounder, Trevor Siemian. With Paxton Lynch likely to take over as the top backup, Sanchez no longer has a place on the roster. Add in a hefty salary due come week one, and it makes little sense for the Broncos to hold onto their failed experiment.

That doesn’t mean Sanchez doesn’t have value, of course. The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, among other teams, could very well give Denver a call about his availability and their asking price. Both of those teams could look to add some quarterback depth due to injuries at the position, while other teams could also express interest in Sanchez as a backup.

Josh McCown, QB, Cleveland Browns

If Sanchez has trade value, you better believe Josh McCown does. McCown has flashed brilliance as a starter over the last four years, but the journeyman has struggled with consistency or the ability to stay healthy. After losing the starting job to Robert Griffin III in Cleveland, there is a decent chance the Browns are ready to move on from the aging passer.

McCown simply isn’t needed in Cleveland, while several teams could stand to improve their backup situation under center. The Cowboys and Vikings remain the two most likely trade partners.

Mike Glennon, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s the same story here, as the Bucs have a new franchise passer in Jameis Winston and don’t have much need for Glennon’s services. He’s a quality backup with starter upside, but Tampa Bay probably doesn’t need to carry three quarterbacks and they’re reportedly high on third stringer, Ryan Griffin.

The Bucs have been shopping Glennon for a while now, and it may only be a matter of time before someone is willing to trade a solid pick to make a deal happen.

Darren McFadden, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Numerous teams could use quality talent at the running back position and whispers suggest McFadden could be on his way out of Big D.

McFadden was regarded as a cheap depth add in 2015, and ended up being just fine as part of the Cowboys’ rotation in the offensive backfield. However, he’s always struggled mightily to stay healthy and with Ezekiel Elliott, Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar looking like the team’s top three rushers, he could be on the move.

Dallas is in need of quarterback depth, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them try to dangle McFadden as they try to bring in some passing help. In addition to teams that could try to trade a quarterback to Dallas, teams like the Dolphins, Chargers and Rams could express interest due to less than stellar running back depth.

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos

Hillman will be a much hotter name than McFadden on the trading block, as he really wouldn’t be exiting Denver based on performance or ability. He simply could finally be the odd man out on a team that is loaded at running back after drafting the talented Devontae Booker this off-season.

Hillman may not be a true feature back talent, but he’s extremely versatile and explosive and absolutely could fill a big role in the right situation. Denver would be wise to trade Hillman out of the AFC if they do look to unload him.

Aaron Dobson, WR, New England Patriots

New England is suddenly shoving Dobson onto the trade market, per reports, as it just doesn’t look like the former first round pick is long for the final roster. Dobson flashed big play ability during his rookie season, but he’s never been able to put it all together while battling drops, injuries and inconsistent route-running.

Dobson still has heaping talent and could thrive in a new environment, but the Pats seem ready to get rid of him for the right offer. New England also added Chris Hogan in free agency and drafted Malcolm Mitchell, so they seem to have already moved on.

Nick Foles and 6 Quarterbacks the Cowboys Should Consider Adding

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The Dallas Cowboys haven’t enjoyed the best stability under center lately. Last year starter Tony Romo succumbed to two breaks in his collarbone, and the team suffered through a losing season while the likes of Matt Cassel, Brandon Weeden and Kellen Moore tried to run the offense.

Down Goes Moore

Playing without Romo hasn’t gone well for the Cowboys (1-13 when Romo is out), but until Monday, Dallas seemed intent on going into the new year with Moore as his main backup and rookie Dak Prescott as the third stringer. Things changed when Moore had his ankle rolled up in during practice, resulting in a fracture that could end his season.

Seemingly content with their quarterback situation prior to Moore’s untimely injury, Dallas is suddenly staring even more instability under center in the face.

The plan in 2016 is to have the 36-year old Romo healthy and as good as ever, but if that doesn’t work out, where do the Cowboys turn? Right now it’d be too a raw Prescott, who virtually no one feels would be ready to run the offense and win games.

Needless to say, Dallas is in the market for a new backup, whether it be finding someone off the streets or in a trade. Let’s take a look at their six best bets and they look to bring someone in to slide behind Romo:

Josh McCown (Browns)

McCown has to be at the top of the list, as he’s the consummate teammate, has proven time and again he can master new systems and can start for lengthy periods of time and actually produce. He’s also as old as Romo and is fine with holding a clipboard if that’s what his team wants him to do.

McCown may still have a shot at starting in Cleveland, but if the Browns want to get rid of him and bring back something in return, this is the team to move him to. The only real issue is Dallas would have to give up a draft pick in order to land a backup that may never play a down – or at least they hope. Still, the ‘Boys haven’t been properly protected under center for years, so this could be an insurance move worth making.

Mike Glennon (Buccaneers)

Glennon isn’t a bad fallback plan, as the Bucs have moved on with franchise quarterback Jameis Winston in place. Glennon has also been in the midst of trade rumors pretty much ever since he was drafted, so even though Tampa Bay doesn’t mind having a capable starter backing up their main guy, they’ll listen to Dallas for the right price.

Glennon is younger than McCown and offers more upside, so Tampa Bay’s asking price should be more than Cleveland’s. That could be up to a second round pick or as low as a fourth rounder. It’s unlikely Dallas is willing to give that up for Glennon, but he’s still someone to consider.

Nick Foles (Free Agent)

Foles has certainly been shaky over the last two years, where he’s been exposed as an erratic passer who struggles with decision-making. That being said, he crushed it as recently as 2013 and still has the size, arm strength and (at times) pocket presence to be a quality NFL starter.

People focus too much on his flaws as a starter, however. As a backup, he is perfectly fine, as he’s competent enough to improve a quarterback room, learn an offense and step in as needed for short bursts. No team wants to lean on Foles for long stretches, but as a backup on the street, he figures to be the Cowboys’ best bet, far and away.

Johnny Manziel (Free Agent)

That, or Jerry Jones could take the dive many feel is coming, whether Dallas truly wants it to or not. Manziel played college ball in Texas, recently stated the Cowboys are the team he’d most like to play for and there has been a loose connection between the player and franchise ever since he left school.

Of course, there is the issue of Manziel’s substance abuse problems, his domestic violence case that is still unresolved and a four-game ban stemming from his drug and alcohol abuse. As he stands, Manziel is young and talented, but he’s a headcase that can’t be trusted. If it’s Jerry’s call, there is still a chance the ‘Boys bring in Johnny Football and see if they can save him. If they’re smart, however, they take a pass until Manziel is on the straight and narrow.

Tim Tebow (Free Agent)

Tebow stated recently he still believes he could be an “effective” NFL signal caller, and he’s once again just awaiting one more chance to prove his worth to someone. Dallas could be that someone, as they clearly have a need behind Romo and are running out of answers.

It’s tough to imagine it actually working out, but Jerry Jones likes a good splash and with all of the suspensions coming out of Dallas, they could use a high character guy for a change. Tebow wouldn’t be a great fit or likely to stick as the top backup, but he’d sell some preseason tickets and it’d be interesting to see if he got any better over the past year.

Michael Vick (Free Agent)

Vick may be the last ditch effort to get Romo a competent backup. Like any of these guys, you’re hoping you never see Vick on the field for meaningful snaps. Still, he has a ton of experience, still has the jets to spring big plays with his legs and has always been able to take shots deep down the field.

Should Romo miss a few games, Vick could still be good enough to get Dallas by on a short-term basis. He’s recently suggested he’d like to play one more year and for a contender, so this could actually be the perfect fit for both sides.

Ultimately, the guy that makes the most sense here is Nick Foles. He can be a decent pocket passer, Dallas gives up nothing but money to bring him in and his game is actually similar to the injured Kellen Moore’s. Dallas still doesn’t want to have Foles seeing the field much in 2016, but they should feel better having him than Prescott or some other unproven commodity.

Who do you think the Cowboys should sign to backup Romo? Manziel? Tebow? Foles? Someone else? Let us hear all about it in the comments below!