NFL Rumors: Latest Buzz Following 2015 Super Bowl

With 32 teams in the NFL, there is plenty of colorful conversation to be had all year round. Every team has its wants, needs, hopes and dreams, and for pretty much 50 out of 52 weeks of the year, one can find meaningful discussion related to just about any team.

However, for two weeks, all the football world's attention narrows in on the Super Bowl, and no year was that more apparent than 2015 with all the pearl-clutching, rabble-rousing and analysis regarding Deflategate. Sure, other NFL news and rumors are always out there, constantly generated by the behind-closed-doors machinations of the league, but you're forgiven for not paying attention.

Now that the New England Patriots are world champions, having put the Seattle Seahawks (and the season) to bed with one of the wildest Super Bowl finishes of all time, it's time to move forward in the football discussion and the offseason.

Here's the latest rumor buzz surrounding four high-profile players—two of whom happened to play in the Super Bowl—and what the future may have in store for them.


Marshawn Lynch

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Okay, the Seahawks didn't hand Lynch the ball on the 1-yard line with the Super Bowl on the line, but they do at least appear willing to hand him a nice stack of cash.

After another season of leaving broken defenders in his raucous wake—to the tune of 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns—Seattle seems ready and willing to commit big money to Lynch.

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, sources say the Seahawks are lining up a long-term contract extension for Beast Mode, one that would make him a very rich man, even by NFL standards:

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The deal is believed to include more than $10 million for Lynch in the 2015 season alone. Lynch currently is slated to make $5 million in 2015, the final year of what originally was a four-year, $31 million deal.

The Seahawks believe that Lynch, who has rushed for at least 1,200 yards in each of the past four seasons, has outplayed his contract, sources say. They want to reward him for his work.

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For a 28-year-old tailback, in this climate, that's an offer you can't refuse. That goes doubly for a back who lives for a contact like Lynch does.

Considering DeMarco Murray isn't a lock to stay with the Dallas Cowboys due to durability concerns—392 carries in 2014 will take something out of you, so the thinking goes—Lynch should be feeling the love from Seattle. It seems the team believes that Lynch, who's racked up 1,181 carries in four years with Seattle, won't break down in disastrous fashion.

It's an interesting bet, but Lynch appears to be a running back cut from a different cloth—or more like steel wool.

The contract offer paints a rosy picture, but Lynch and the Seahawks brass have been tough to read this season, per Rapoport:

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This is a stunning turnaround from where the Seahawks were with Lynch earlier in the season. For a variety of issues -- including Lynch's somewhat chilly relationship with coaches, his age and his hefty salary -- the expectation was that Seattle wouldn't bring Lynch back for another season. But the way Lynch has played and led this team to another Super Bowl forced the Seahawks to reverse course.

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There is always the chance Lynch bolts for one reason or the other, but it's tough to see him getting this kind of money elsewhere. Perhaps the Seahawks should promise him a few extra goal-line carries as well (sorry).

According to Spotrac, a $10 million cap hit in 2015 would put Lynch between LeSean McCoy and Matt Forte, two of the best backs in the league.

This contract could be problematic for Seattle down the line, however, as Russell Wilson is due for a big payday either this offseason or the next as his cheap rookie deal expires after next season, per Spotrac. 

They will lose a great deal of cap flexibility, and the front office will have to continue their shrewd drafting and signings in order to maintain the same level of play they've enjoyed on defense over the past few seasons. 

Darrelle Revis

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Darrelle Revis, one of the best cornerbacks in the league over the past six seasons or so (if not the best), finally reached the pinnacle of his profession with the Patriots win on Sunday. With all that he's accomplished thus far—six Pro Bowls, Super Bowl ring, legendary nickname—one has to wonder: What's next? Surely not a trip to the doldrums, right?

Well, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, a pair of New York teams want to lure Revis back down from the mountaintop:

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The Jets are expected to pursue Revis to see if they can bring him back to New York, sources told ESPN. The Jets have already been preparing how to best make their run at Revis.

As if that weren't intriguing enough, former Jets head coach Rex Ryan -- still disappointed his former team didn't bring Revis back last year when it had the chance -- also wants to try to bring the Pro Bowl cornerback to the Bills, sources told ESPN.

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Intriguing news, indeed. The Buffalo Bills may not necessarily be the doldrums, per se, but they don't offer nearly as much promise as the Patriots. Buffalo went 9-7 last season, veteran quarterback Kyle Orton abruptly retired at the end of the season and former head coach Doug Marrone opted out of his contract and is now coaching in Jacksonville, of all places.

Make no mistake, Revis would be an ideal fit for the Bills. They have a ferocious pass rush in place, with the likes of Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus in the fold. Adding a player like Revis in the secondary could make them one of the best pass defenses in the league. Revis also enjoyed some of his best success as a pro as a member of a Rex Ryan-coached team. 

However, the Patriots have an undeniable tradition of winning, while the Bills haven't been to the playoffs since 1999.

As for the Jets, well, Revis' post-Super Bowl comments hinted at his contract issues with New York, so there could be some bad blood there. Via the New York Post's Bart Hubbuch:

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Since I sat down with [Patriots owner] Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick [last spring], this was the reason — to be part of this legacy that we did tonight and win the Super Bowl, to be part of something great.

I’m happy they had arms open for me, especially coming from New York. It’s been an amazing journey.

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It's tough to ignore the bright lights of the Big Apple, but Revis has played that one out. Unless the team can convince him it's got a plan in place for a quick turnaround, don't expect the 29-year-old corner to bolt from New England.

The only thing keeping him away from that team is if Bill Belichick and company don't want to re-sign him at a hefty $20 million salary, per Hubbuch, and Revis decides to cash in elsewhere.

Mike Pouncey and Ryan Tannehill

Al Bello/Getty Images

Alright, now for some news regarding two players who had nothing to do with this year's Super Bowl.

According to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, Miami Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum might be ready to secure the future of the team's offense by offering extensions to two key players:

Securing Mike Pouncey to a long-term deal is an obvious choice, and a strong one at that. He's proven to be adept at playing both guard and center, and he could be a bedrock of the offensive line for years to come. Salguero noted his deal could also be re-worked to benefit the team as a whole:

As for Ryan Tannehill, he figures to cash in on last season. He made a leap of sorts in 2014, passing for over 4,000 yards with 27 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.

"I certainly think Ryan (Tannehill) did a lot of good things and a lot of positive things," said Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin on Jan. 25, per Fox Sports Florida's Jameson Olive. "I think he's headed in the right direction. I thought his performance was better. That's always encouraging when your quarterback plays better from the previous year."

He could very well provide the Dolphins with much-needed stability at quarterback and is worth keeping around. The issue, of course, is at what cost. According to ESPN.com's James Walker, he has a pricey fifth-year option on his contract:

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...In terms of Tannehill, he's under contract for 2015. He will be the starting quarterback next season. The biggest question is what will Miami do with Tannehill's fifth-year option? It's pricey at approximately $15 million for 2016, and that could prompt extension talks this offseason. With the amount of decent (but not great) quarterbacks getting huge contracts, I'm very curious to see where Tannehill's price point lands. If those numbers aren't favorable for the Dolphins, they could just pick up the option and see where Tannehill is after two additional seasons.

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Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Picking up the option and seeing if Tannehill can repeat his 2014 performances over the next couple of years is the best choice here. The Dolphins don't get stuck with him long term if he regresses between now and 2016. Olive did point out one aspect of Tannehill's game that could still use work and might need to see significant improvement if the 26-year-old is to become an elite quarterback:

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Rarely testing opposing defenses down field, Tannehill's longest completion of 50 yards ranked dead last in the NFL last season. If Lazor hopes establish Miami as an elite offensive unit, the passing game must add the deep ball to its repertoire.

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Considering Tannehill's improved play and the emergence of running back Lamar Miller and wideout Jarvis Landry, it appears the Dolphins have a solid group of players to compete with the league's best offenses over the next few years. Tannehill just needs to prove he can keep it together to earn a long-term contract, although that still isn't out of the question this offseason.