Here's a look at some of the top rumors for Thursday, Jan. 28:
The San Diego Chargers continue to negotiate with the Los Angeles Rams about a potential partnership in L.A., and it sounds like a decision should be coming soon. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune hears from a source that the Chargers' goal is to make a decision by the end of the week, with a move to Los Angeles being "what they want to do. That's where ... it's headed." However, Acee adds that the same source and others around the league are unsure if owner Dean Spanos will ultimately be willing to make the move, with one source saying, "I believe Dean will be very, very unhappy in Los Angeles." Acee goes on to offer many other details about the negotiations, including the overall financial upside of a potential deal for the Chargers, as well as the pressing deadlines that should facilitate an imminent decision. Ultimately, it sounds like the Chargers are likely to head to L.A., where they would play second fiddle to the Rams from a marketing perspective but would take on little debt or risk with the new stadium project. Stay tuned to this one, as a decision could be coming any time.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy made waves with his behavior in his first year with the team, and it sounds like he might be one-and-done in Dallas. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports that Hardy's side doesn't expect the team to re-sign the pending free agent, in large part because Hardy "partied a lot" and "was not in great physical shape" this season. Cole adds that Hardy's habit of staying out late contributed to his late arrival to team meetings. Because of Hardy's production -- he had six sacks and 20 QB hits in 11 games -- he still expects to be signed by a team in free agency, per Cole. It's unclear who would want to take on the colossal headache for a player who, while still productive, did not play like the game-plan wrecking force he was in 2013. Still, some team will probably take the gamble and hope it can get all of Hardy's talent with minimal distractions. Good luck.
As for a player who has learned from his past mistakes, Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito appears to want to stay with the team that gave him a second chance, saying as much in a radio interview on Wednesday night. "My goal is to come back and play in Buffalo," Incognito said on the John Murphy Show. "I love it there. I love my teammates and I love playing for coach Rex and Greg Roman. ... I hope it all works out and I hope I'm back there real soon."
The mutual interest is ideal for the Bills, but it remains to be seen what sort of contract the 32-year-old will merit. Despite his excellent play this season, Incognito is likely nearing the end of his career and has a checkered past. Voicing his desire to return to Buffalo suggests Incognito isn't concerned about maintaining leverage or hitting the open market and going to the highest bidder, so it seems like a deal will get done. Still, it'll be interesting to see what numbers he hits. The league's five highest paid guards all average more than $7 million annually. Bills GM Doug Whaley has made it known that he wants to re-sign Incognito and fellow pending-free agent offensive lineman Cordy Glenn. We discussed Glenn's situation on Wednesday.
Another free agent who could garner some interest this offseason, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin might wind up staying put as well. Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report reports that Martin's agent, David Dunn, and Bucs GM Jason Licht have met at the Senior Bowl this week to discuss a new contract for the running back. We've heard previously that there's "mutual interest" for a deal, and that it could end up being around four years for $25 million, "if not more." After two straight sub-par seasons, Martin delivered his best yet as a pro in 2015, proving to be even more efficient than in his rookie campaign.
As for another top running back, it sounds like the Pittsburgh Steelers' Le'Veon Bell may have to wait a little longer to get his own new deal. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette noted in a chat with fans on Tuesday that the Steelers won't make Bell "a break-bank offer" this year. Though Bell has proven to be one of the league's most dangerous and complete backs, this makes sense considering his injury history, including the torn MCL that ended his 2015 season. Bell is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and he should get paid handsomely if he looks like his old self during the 2016 season, especially because it would give Bell leverage as he nears free agency.
Other nuggets from Bouchette in the chat transcript: He writes that cornerback Cortez Allen "is not going to be on the team" in 2016, meaning the Steelers will cut bait with Allen just one year into his four-year extension, leaving a dead-money hit of $4 million on the cap. He also notes that offensive coordinator Todd Haley "told people he was not interested in any head coaching jobs this year," which would explain why Haley's name only came up for one opening: the Miami Dolphins. Bouchette also thinks tight end Heath Miller will be back with the team next year, despite carrying a cap hit of $7.2 million. Pittsburgh could save $4 million against the cap by releasing Miller this offseason, a year before his contract expires.
Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris could be a veteran on the move this offseason, as his rookie contract will expire after his least productive season as a pro. Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com doesn't think Morris will be back in 2016, but he wouldn't rule it out, while he also doesn't think Matt Jones will automatically be the team's workhorse next year. Tandler could envision a scenario where Morris returns on a modest deal after failing to find big money on the open market. Additionally, he hears the team likes Jones but is "not sure that he will be able to fix everything he needs to fix between now and September," particularly fumbles and inconsistency. At his best, Jones looks extremely explosive as a rookie, but he also had five fumbles and averaged less than four yards per carry in a whopping 10 games. The market for Morris in free agency should help determine what GM Scot McCloughan does at the position this offseason.
In other running back news, Baltimore Ravens back Justin Forsett told Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun that he "should be 100 percent in a couple of weeks."
Forsett is recovering from a broken arm suffered in Week 11 against the Rams. Like many Ravens players, the 30-year-old had a disappointing season in 2015, struggling to live up to the three-year, $9 million deal he signed last offseason. Still, ESPN's Jamison Hensley noted in November that Forsett will likely be back with the Ravens, although it's fair to expect youngsters Javorius Allen -- nicknamed "Buck" -- and Lorenzo Taliaferro to eat into his workload a bit.
It appears the New York Jets want to re-sign pending free-agent linebacker Erin Henderson. Dom Cosentino of NJ.com reports the two sides have begun negotiating a new contract at the Senior Bowl and "are optimistic a deal will get done" before free agency begins. Henderson was out of football in 2014 after being arrested for multiple alcohol-related incidents, but he caught on with the Jets this season and saw increased playing time down the stretch. Expect Henderson to continue to play on running downs for Todd Bowles before subbing out in nickel and dime situations.
