Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints in action against the Tamba Bay Buccaneers at Caesars Superdome on September 18, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Today’s slate of NFL rumors involves the Dolphins gearing up for money moves, the Saints giving a pity deal to Jameis Winston, and the end of Vikings’ Kirk Cousins.
The NFL is getting zanier by the minute. Some cases in point: Aaron Rodgers emerged from his darkness retreat as a bat, ready to take flight with the New York Jets. Daniel Jones got paid like a top-10 quarterback in the league — which he isn’t. Lamar Jackson’s future is potentially getting sabotaged by franchise owners’ collusion.
As the rest of the quarterback dominoes continue to fall, today’s NFL rumors take a turn for the aquatic: first, Jaboo, NOLA’s infamous crab leg-stealer, has to decide whether he wants stay a Saint or jump back into the ocean. Then, the Dolphins are seemingly hot in pursuit of a Moby Dick-sized whale based on their recent cap moves and restructures. And finally, the Vikings may be preparing to sail off and say goodbye to Captain Kirk.
Ray Bradbury couldn’t have written it better himself. We’ve got a sci-fi thriller here, folks.
Let’s take a look at the three biggest NFL rumors for today.
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NFL Rumors: Saints lay down an ultimatum for Jameis Winston
After landing Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints hold the upper hand in any contract negotiations with Jameis Winston.
The Saints offered Winston a restructured deal to stay, per the league’s sources, and Winston has until next Wednesday to accept the offer or be released.
It’s the inevitable “take a pay cut” or “be cut” portion of the offseason, and Winston just happens to be the player that suffers the most from the Carr signing. Michael Thomas hurt his feelings last week by throwing some shade at Winston on Twitter — does Winston really want to stay on a team where he’s known as a bumbling, pick-throwing, ne’er-can-stay-healthy disappointment?
For the Saints, one financial incentive to keep Winston is that they would avoid the $11.2 million cap hit that comes with releasing him. The exact details of the amended deal the Saints offered Winston were not released, but one can only assume it pays Winston as a backup quarterback, the role he’ll assume if he stays on for 2023.
A quarterback room of Carr and Winston is enticing to Saints fans, though rostering Andy Dalton at that No. 2 spot may make more sense given Dalton’s less troubling injury record.
Winston already used up his second life on his current failed stint with the Saints. Maybe the football gods will smile down on him and give him a third shot on another quarterback-needy team this offseason.
Dolphins Posturing for Big Move? | Writing on the Wall for Cousins?
