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The Cardinals hold the No. 1 pick in next
week's NFL draft and speculation is rampant that the team, with
new coach Kliff Kingsbury at the helm, will select former
Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.
"I definitely understand the situation," Rosen told SI TV. "I
mean, it's annoying but, like, it is what it is. Football's a
business, and I definitely respect the higher-ups and their
decisions. ... Whatever decisions are made, it's my duty to
prove them right if they keep me, and prove them wrong if they
ship me off."
The Cardinals went 3-13 last year under former coach Steve Wilks.
Rosen started 13 games and passed for 2,278 yards, throwing for
11 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in his rookie season.
Rosen was conspicuous in his omission from the Cardinals' hype
video -- save for a brief shot of him 56 seconds in -- released
earlier Thursday along with a 2019 promotional calendar.
--The Carolina Panthers restructured the contract of star
linebacker Luke Kuechly to free up more than $7 million in cap
space, ESPN reported.
The Panthers converted $9.05 million of Kuechly's 2019 salary
into a bonus, a move that gives the cap-strapped club an
additional $7.24 million to play with one week ahead of the
draft, according to the report. The Panthers had just $1.34
million in cap space prior to the restructure.
It's the second consecutive year the Panthers have given Kuechly
upfront money. The 28-year-old linebacker is coming off his
fifth first-team All-Pro bid. Kuechly posted 130 tackles --
including a career-high 20 for loss -- last year to go with two
sacks and an interception in 16 games.
--Speaking during the Jacksonville Jaguars' annual state of the
franchise address, team executive vice president of football
operations Tom Coughlin spoke about team attendance at this
week's organized team activities and criticized those not in
attendance.
"We're very close to 100 percent attendance, and quite frankly,
our players should be here building the concept of team, working
hard side by side, constructing our bond of togetherness,
formulating our collective priorities and goals," Coughlin said,
via ESPN.
The players not in attendance are All-Pro cornerback Jalen
Ramsey -- who also missed last offseason's program to train at
his father's facility in Nashville, Tenn. -- and starting
linebacker Telvin Smith. Following Coughlin's comments, the
NFLPA tweeted a statement from president Eric Winston
reiterating that such activities are voluntary and that coaches
and executives are prohibited "from threatening players to
participate in voluntary workouts."
--Washington Redskins defensive end Matt Ioannidis agreed to a
three-year extension worth $21.75 million, NFL Network reported.
Ioannidis was drafted 152nd overall in 2016 out of Temple and
was entering the final year of his rookie contract. In 38 career
games, Ioannidis has 19 starts and 12.0 sacks, including 7.5
last season.
--The Houston Texans expect wide receiver Will Fuller to be on
the field for their season-opening Monday night game against the
Saints at New Orleans, team general manager Brian Gaine told the
team's website.
Fuller emerged as a dangerous deep threat in his third season in
2018, catching 32 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns
through seven games but suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 against
Miami.
--Field Level Media
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