NFL notebook: Foles to become free agent

[February 28, 2019]  Nick Foles will become a free agent in March as the Philadelphia Eagles declined to use the franchise tag to retain and trade Foles for compensation.

Howard Roseman, the team's vice president of football operations, said the Eagles understand and respect Foles' desire to lead a team after using him in relief of injured starter Carson Wentz for back-to-back playoff berths, including the team's first Super Bowl win in February 2018.

"We decided to let Nick become a free agent," Roseman said Wednesday at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. "He deserves an opportunity to lead a team."

--As more teams call to inquire on the asking price for disgruntled wide receiver Antonio Brown, the Pittsburgh Steelers say they are considering all trade partners -- even rivals from the AFC North.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said a growing number of potential trade partners have stepped forward. He added that although the Steelers still would prefer not to face Brown twice in the regular season, Pittsburgh might make an exception for the right price.

--Giants coach Pat Shurmur said he still considers Eli Manning his starting quarterback, but New York general manager Dave Gettleman might have other ideas.

"I think Eli can help us win games. He proved, when the players around him starting playing better, that he can play at a very high level and help us win games," Shurmur said.

Even though Manning might be on the roster when training camp opens, Gettleman wouldn't guarantee that the 38-year-old would begin, and end, the 2019 season as the starting QB.

--New head coach Brian Flores continues to plot the future of the Miami Dolphins, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill is not guaranteed to be along for the ride.

"Right now, everything is in the evaluation process," Flores said of the 30-year-old Tannehill, whose salary-cap hit for next season is extremely high at $26.6 million.

--Derek Carr's place on the hot seat seemingly has cooled off, as Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock has given the signal-caller an endorsement.

"We've got a young quarterback that we think is a franchise quarterback that's going to be 28 in March, so we're pretty happy with where we are," Mayock said.

--Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury made headlines when a video from last college football season -- when he was the head coach at Texas Tech -- made the rounds. The money line: Kingsbury said he would take Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the top pick in the draft if he could.

As it turns out, Kingsbury could. The Cardinals have the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

But Kingsbury said Josh Rosen, the No. 10 pick in 2018, remains the Arizona quarterback. "We want to build it around him," Kingsbury said.

Philadelphia Eagles' Nick Foles celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LII REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

--The contract of Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has been extended through the 2020 season, general manager Rick Spielman said. His contract was to expire after 2019.

Zimmer, 62, has a 47-32-1 record in five regular seasons in Minnesota. His team has won two NFC North titles (2015 and 2017) and lost to Philadelphia in the 2018 NFC Championship Game.

--The Denver Broncos will pick up the contract options on receiver Emmanuel Sanders ($1.5 million) and defensive end Derek Wolfe ($1 million), general manager John Elway said.

Sanders, 31, had 71 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games last season. Wolfe, 29, played all 16 games and tallied 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.

--Settling the status of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is the top priority for the Atlanta Falcons, general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. He could wind up receiving the franchise tag if the sides don't reach an agreement on a contract extension.

Jarrett, a fifth-round pick in 2015, was ranked the No. 5 defensive tackle by Pro Football Focus in its 2018 postseason grades.

--The Chicago Bears will release kicker Cody Parkey, coach Matt Nagy confirmed.

Parkey, 27, not only missed a career-high seven field-goal attempts and three extra points during the regular season, but he also failed to convert a 43-yard attempt in the final seconds of the NFC wild-card loss to the Eagles.

--Former NFL receivers Wes Welker and Miles Austin joined the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff.

Welker, 37, will coach the wide receivers. He spent the past two seasons as an offensive/special teams assistant with the Houston Texans. Austin, 34, will be an offensive quality control coach.
 

--The New York Jets will entertain offers for the No. 3 pick in this year's draft, general manager Mike Maccagnan said.

"It would have to be the right kind of deal, but I definitely wouldn't rule anything out at this point in time," he said.

--Field Level Media

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