NFL rumors: Steelers' Antonio Brown requests trade, tweets goodbye

#NFL #MiamiDolphins  #AntonioBrown,

The 2019 NFL offseason gets rolling, let's take a look at the notable players who have been cut, plus who could be coming next. Among the interesting names to watch in this cycle of cuts: Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. 

Adam Schefter

✔@AdamSchefter

Antonio Brown has not been traded nor has he been released. But Brown wants a trade and he officially has requested that from the Steelers, per source.

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9:51 AM - Feb 12, 2019

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ESPN: Antonio Brown officially requests a trade

Antonio Brown

✔@AB84

Thank you SteelerNation for a big 9 years...time to move on and forward.......... #NewDemands

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9:32 AM - Feb 12, 2019

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Antonio Brown says goodbye to Steelers?

WHO IS ALREADY CUT?

Here is a rundown of the players who have already been released. 

WR Demaryius Thomas, Texans

Broncos traded him to Houston in October. Two months later, he tore his Achilles tendon. He is 31. How much time does he have left in the league? In 15 games last season, he had just 59 catches for 677 yards and five touchdowns. 

DE Vinny Curry, Buccaneers

Had just 2.5 sacks last year, his first season in Tampa Bay. He spent the first six years of his career with the Eagles. He turns 31 in June. 

Projecting the top 50 players available

RB Jonathan Stewart, Giants

Stewart’s option would have paid him $2.35 million with a salary caphit of $2.75 million. By releasing Stewart, the Giants free up $250K in cap space, without taking a dead-money hit.

C Spencer Long, Jets

The move does not come as a surprise, given Long’s struggles last season and the way his contract was structured. Long was signed through 2021, but all of his guaranteed money was paid out in 2018. As such, the Jets will not face any dead-cap penalty for cutting him, but will save about $6.5 million in cap space in 2019.

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Buffalo Bills

✔@buffalobills

We've signed OL Spencer Long to a three year deal.

Details: http://bufbills.co/m4l1hA 

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9:20 AM - Feb 12, 2019

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UPDATE (Feb. 12, 1:15 p.m.): Spencer Long signs with Bills

QB Nick Foles, Eagles

While not a straight roster cut, Foles is set to be a free agent after declining the team's $20.6 million option. The move gives the Eagles salary cap relief unless they decide to use the franchise tag on the Super Bowl LII MVP.

Bleak picture for Jets?

WHO COULD BE NEXT?

Here are names to watch, for upcoming cuts. 

CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Bengals

Underwhelming 2018 season for him, with zero interceptions. No way he sticks around with a $10.9 million salary cap figure in 2019. 

CB Joe Haden, Steelers

He wasn't awful in 2018, but he is quite expensive in 2019. His cap figure is scheduled to be $11.9 million, in the final year of his deal. The Steelers would free up $10 million of that by cutting him. 

QB Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

Time for the Dolphins to start over at quarterback. This won't be an easy cut for the Dolphins, from a cap perspective. They'll have to eat $13.4 million in dead money. But at least Tannehill's $26.6 million cap hit won't be on their books for 2019.  

Top ILBs for Jets to watch at NFL Combine

QB Joe Flacco, Ravens

Lamar Jackson is now the Ravens' starting quarterback, after a darn fine run from Flacco. Here's the issue: The Ravens would free up just $10.5 million of Flacco's $26.5 million cap hit for 2019 by releasing him. Look for the Ravens to try to trade Flacco, though doing so won't lessen the $16 million dead money cap hit they'll have to take on. 

OLB Justin Houston, Chiefs

He just turned 30, so while he is aging, he wasn't awful in 2018. Far from it, as he had nine sacks. If the Chiefs want to go all-in on re-signing younger pass rusher (and pending free agent) Dee Ford, then Houston could be released. The move would free up $14 million in cap space, with $7.1 million in dead money attached. 

DT Malik Jackson, Jaguars

Just 3.5 sacks for him last season, down from eight in 2017. Cutting him would free up $11 million of his $15 million cap hit in 2019. 

QB Blake Bortles, Jaguars

He obviously isn't a legit NFL starting quarterback. His cap hit in 2019 would be $20.8 million. A pre-June 1 cut would free up just $4.3 million of that. A post-June 1 cut would free up an additional $5 million for 2019, as the dead money hit is spread between 2019 and 2020. Either way, the Jaguars will have to eat a sizable dead money cap hit for Bortles in 2019, with a cut.

By Darryl Slater | February 12, 2019