It is early, both sides are negotiating right now. Both Jones and Pierce will be here next year. I just hope the Colts don't overpay for DJ.

o


On a very sad off-season note, l Rondale Moore, l a wide receiver who was born, raised, and went to college (Purdue) in the state of Indiana, has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The 2nd-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, was 25 years-old.




Former Cardinals WR Died of Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

(By Theo Mackie)

https://removepaywalls.com/https://w...h/88814244007/




Rondale Moore’s cause of death was revealed on Sunday, Feb. 22, one day after the former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver died in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana.

Chief Todd Bailey of the New Albany Police Department said that Moore died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found dead in the garage of a property on the 1600 block of Ekin Avenue in New Albany.

Moore’s autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22. The New Albany Police Department is conducting an investigation into his death but did not provide additional information “due to the ongoing nature of this investigation.”

Moore, who was 25 years old, most recently played for the Cardinals in 2023 before a trade to the Atlanta Falcons. He then spent 2025 with the Minnesota Vikings, although he did not play in either of the past two seasons due to a pair of knee injuries.

After his death, tributes poured out from former Cardinals teammates.

“Just spoke to you bro,” quarterback Kyler Murray wrote on Instagram. “Blessed to have been able to share this life with you. I pray you’re in a better place now Ra.”

“Unbelievable,” running back James Conner wrote. “Lil bro was special.”

Michael Wilson, who shared a wide receiver room with Moore as a rookie, echoed that message.

“Truly heartbreaking,” Wilson wrote. “Rest in peace, brother.”

Like Murray, former Cardinals wide receiver Hollywood Brown said that he had recently spoken with Moore. In a follow-up post on X, Brown wrote, “You wasn’t alone bro. I told you I know how you feel.”


Former Cardinals WR died of self-inflicted gunshot wound
Portrait of Theo MackieTheo Mackie
Arizona Republic
Feb. 22, 2026, 1:32 p.m. MT
Rondale Moore’s cause of death was revealed on Sunday, Feb. 22, one day after the former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver died in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana.

Chief Todd Bailey of the New Albany Police Department said that Moore died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found dead in the garage of a property on the 1600 block of Ekin Avenue in New Albany.

Moore’s autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22. The New Albany Police Department is conducting an investigation into his death but did not provide additional information “due to the ongoing nature of this investigation.”

Moore, who was 25 years old, most recently played for the Cardinals in 2023 before a trade to the Atlanta Falcons. He then spent 2025 with the Minnesota Vikings, although he did not play in either of the past two seasons due to a pair of knee injuries.

After his death, tributes poured out from former Cardinals teammates.

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“Just spoke to you bro,” quarterback Kyler Murray wrote on Instagram. “Blessed to have been able to share this life with you. I pray you’re in a better place now Ra.”

“Unbelievable,” running back James Conner wrote. “Lil bro was special.”

Michael Wilson, who shared a wide receiver room with Moore as a rookie, echoed that message.

“Truly heartbreaking,” Wilson wrote. “Rest in peace brother.”

Like Murray, former Cardinals wide receiver Hollywood Brown said that he had recently spoken with Moore. In a follow-up post on X, Brown wrote, “You wasn’t alone bro. I told you I know how you feel.”

J.J. Watt, the former Cardinals defensive end, also posted a message on X.

“I can’t even begin to fathom or process this,” Watt wrote. “There’s just no way. Way too soon. Way too special. So much left to give. Rest in Peace, Rondale.”

Multiple team accounts also shared their condolences, including the Cardinals.

“We are devastated and heartbroken by today’s news concerning Rondale Moore,” read the Cardinals’ statement. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, teammates and everyone who had the privilege of knowing such a special person.”

o

I don't think he is against DJ, just doesn't want to break the bank for the guy. I agree and think we need a good out in case this injury cannot be come back from.

o


I've said before that I believe that Daniel Jones will do everything that he can to remain with the Colts in 2026 and beyond ....... he caught a lot of shit when he was playing for the New York Giants in the first 6 seasons of his career, and I think that he's smart enough to know that his legacy is more important than a few million dollars one way or the other ...... he made $108 Million while playing for the Giants between 2019 and 2024, and he got another $14 Million this season playing for the Colts in 2025 ...... that's a grand total of $122 Million that he has already collected before his 30th birthday. Jones originally committed to Princeton and wound up going to Duke, so he presumably has enough wisdom to know that remaining in a situation that is leaps and bounds superior to the one that he was mired in for 6 seasons in New York is more important than a few extra million dollars on the free-agent market.

I'm presuming that brainiac Daniel Jones is well aware of the fact that he probably already has enough money to send his grandkids to college someday ...... if Jones doesn't do everything in his power to structure a contract in a team-friendly way in order to remain with the Indianapolis Colts, then he is a fool whom I wouldn't lift a finger to defend in regard to his career decisions.

o

Yea. Just wondering if this was his take all along, I can agree that after the injury I am a bit hesitant. But still want him.

Just trying to see all thoughts and perspectives. Right now I am not sure there is a right or wrong answer

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/20...237525232?s=20

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
·
37m
The NFL competition committee is discussing the possibility of authorizing replay officials to throw flags for specific penalties.

Before the injury and when he was playing his ass off, I was for franchising him and if he repeated his success, then you could sign him long term. After the injury, my take is a 3 year contract

Year 1 10 million no bonus
Year 2 (provided year 1 was successful 30 million no bonus
year 3 (again, provided successful previous season) 50 million

with a contract like that, if he succeeds he gets his money, if he fails, you can cut him with no dead money. There is give and take, but the bottom line is not to be caught up in long term dead money if he shits the bed.

So it sounds as if they are negotiating with both Jones and Pierce on long term deals.

Pierce I am excited about having back. Jones I am less sold on. I think he’ll struggle next season coming off the injury.

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/20...788892833?s=20

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
·
7m
Falcons GM Ian Cunningham told 92.9 The Game in Atlanta that the team plans to release Kirk Cousins on the first day of the league year, Wednesday, March 11.

https://x.com/spotrac/status/2026283586127606264?s=20

Spotrac
@spotrac
·
1h
#Colts QB Daniel Jones carries a $43.6M valuation in our model.

Is a 3-year, $135M contract with $60M guaranteed at signing ($90M through 2027) enough to keep him off of the open market?

I am not against re-signing DJ at all....

I am against re-signing him to a top tier QB contract when he has played 9 games for us at over a 100 QB Rating which is a pretty solid benchmark for good QB play. Of note, of his 4 games under 100 QB Rating, two were solid with scores in the 80s or 90s and two were bad (LAR and JAX 1.0) in the 50s and 60s.

He does not have a long enough track record to demand top dollar and enough guarenteed money to sink the team if he flames out, IMO. It is a HUGE risk to sign him to a contract mentioned above with $60m guaranteed. Sure, with Ballard, he often depleted the majority of guaranteed money in the first two seasons of a contract (1st year and most/all of 2nd year guarenteed) but that would mean giving DJ an average of $30m per season in the first two seasons I think that is way too much for his track record.

A couple things to consider:

A. He has played a complete season one time in his NFl career...
B. His highest QB Rating of his career was based on 13 games with the Colts...
C. His highest completion precentage was based on 13 games with the Colts...
D. His highest yards per game of his career was based on 13 games with the Colts...
E. His lowest stack rate of his career was based on 13 geames with the Colts...
F. He is now coming off his second leg surgery/repair.....a 2026 achilles tear on his righ leg which follows a 2023 ACL tear in his right knee. No one can predict how his mobility and throwing action will be effected by the recovery from the achilles.

On one hand, many will point to his histroically good stats and say, "See! DJ found his team!." On the other hand, I could point to them and say with certain knowledge that even 13 occurances in a change of pattern does not a new pattern make. Statistically, DJ has not yet altered the course of his performance.

Too much risk, IMO, to sign him to a top tier QB contract paying him $30m+ per season. That kind of contract killed Miami with Tua (to be fair, lots of things have killed Miami but Tua's contract does not help) and it can kill the Colts too if DJ does not recover and have better sustained top tier performance than he has shown ever in his career.

So, if DJ is willing to take a team friendly "show me" contract that pays him in bonuses and/or low money for two years with little to no guarantee and than huge 3rd and 4th years? Yeah, I am all over that kind of contract.

But, no real NFL QB agent is going to accept a contract like that, IMO. DJ is going to get paid big money after playing well and leading his team to a 7-1 start. If so, I hope it is not the Colts that pay him well from day one.

Evan Sidery
@esidery
·
1h
Alec Pierce could earn upwards of $30 million annually in free agency, per
@RapSheet
.

Pierce is viewed as one of the NFL’s most coveted potential targets.

Indianapolis will likely utilize the franchise tag on Pierce, if no long-term agreement is reached within the next week.

Cousins will be available. He had the same injury IIRC and seemed t oplay fairly well last yr.

Other possibilities while most won't hit FA are

Tua
Murray
Trubisky
Wilson
T Taylor
Huntley
Flacco
A Rogers
Ehlinger
Minshew
Pickett
Trey Lance
Wilson. HELL NO!!
Sam Howell
Mariota
Driskall
Johnson
Keenum
Malik Willis. Maybe
Rypien
Wentz NEVER HAPPEN
Bridgewater
Jimmy G

Any of these guys over DJ? Even at the 135/60? Knowing that he really "gets' ths offense?

Would you do this?


https://x.com/SleeperColts/status/20...542164506?s=20

SleeperColts

@SleeperColts
Mock trade idea from Bengals OnSI’s
@JamesRapien
👀

#Colts receive:
▫️ Trey Hendrickson

#Bengals receive:
▫️ Josh Downs

Fair swap or overpay?

https://x.com/MySportsUpdate/status/...359952174?s=20

Ari Meirov
@MySportsUpdate
·
39m
#Bears GM Ryan Poles says the team has received calls about the potential trade availability of QB Tyson Bagent.

https://x.com/MikeGarafolo/status/20...468743248?s=20

Mike Garafolo
@MikeGarafolo
·
6m
Everything on the table, including a trade, for Tua Tagovailoa, as new #Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said he’s excited about what’s ahead for Quinn Ewers.

Coaching news

https://x.com/ZachHicks2/status/2026...681532397?s=20

Zach Hicks
@ZachHicks2
·
19h
Brent Stockstill moving to the offensive side of the ball after helping with defense last year. Former college quarterback that worked under Lane Kiffin in 2019 and under his dad Rick Stockstill from 2022-2023

IMO, that's a ridiculous contract offer. If that's what it takes to keep him, let him test the open market. I can't think of any team that would make that offer.

https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/...151464848?s=20

Jordan Schultz
@Schultz_Report
·
20h
The #Chiefs are releasing 2x Super Bowl champion DE Mike Danna.

Cousins got 100 for 2 years after his Achilles

:rolleyes: How'd that work out for the Falcons

2 losing seasons
average QB rating of 86
28 TD passes 21 INTs

Do you think the Falcons got their monies worth or did they just piss away 100 million?

Just showing what teams are willing to pay. DJ may get more than we hope,
But I think Ballard is pretty good with the cap

The Cousins contract should make teams even more wary of committing big guaranteed bucks for recovering QBs. And even more so for one that has more poor performances than great performances during healthy times.

I'd rather lose Jones to Free Agency than over pay him.

Fair enough. Who is your starter then?

Several options:

1. Jones on a fair but not exorbitant contract
2. Either Leonard or Richardson if it comes to that. A fair competition in camp and preseason
3. One of the other free agent QBs that can be gotten on a fair but not exorbitant contract.

Even swap? Not sure I would do it for a guy about to decline due to age. If they also threw in a pick, I might think it is a good idea.

I think I got duped by the post. Trey is a FA so no trade

The Hendrickson discussion disgusts me. It reeks of desperation and it makes sense given the regime is desperate.

I am not sure if Downs is necessarily the next great slot WR but I think he still has a lot of work to put in. More than Hendrickson can for us, at least imo.

I understand we've cleared up this isn't accurate but I still find little comfort in all the energy the universe is putting into getting Hendrickson here. I've had idiot takes before though.

Not an idiot take. If Hendrickson was the last piece in a Super Bowl team maybe but that isn't what we are talking about is it?

competing for Hendrickson is worth pursuing, however, I'm thinking there are teams that can offer him a better contract than the Colts can. As for Downs, he's still under contract.

The problem is the league so quarterback starved that someone will give him what he wants.

Ballard said we need to get younger on the D front. Which to me means no Trey.

Apparently this is a pretty deep DL draft. I am not much of a draft guy so maybe others on here can confirm

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he was talking about the depth behind the starters, I’ll take an older Hendrickson over a younger faster Kwity Paye anyday of the week

If we don't bring back Paye, do we have a starter at LDE? Mind you, I'm not advocating bringing back Paye, in fact the opposite is my opinion on him coming back. LDE will have to come from either free agency or the draft.

Holder I reporting that the Colts have give AR permission to seek a trade given his uncertain status in Indy. So we are going with an injured Jones and Leonard. Anybody excited?

I said AR was done in Indy after the tap out, because Steichen was done with him at that point. I stand by that.

As for being excited, it’s impossible to get excited about this guy. He shows just enough to wonder about the possibilities, then he sucks for a much longer time, then he gets hurt. Rinse and repeat.

I’m excited, what Leonard lacks in athleticism that Richardson has he makes up for it in competitiveness.

If Leonard starts the season and performs how he did at the end of the year, Jones may be excused. I know it is unlikely that it happens, but every time I convince myself that 7th. rounders are not good at football, A few names remind anything is possible and sometimes the professional talent hunters miss on guys

https://x.com/ProFootballTalk/status...786163198?s=20

ProFootballTalk
@ProFootballTalk
·
8h
Report: Vikings, Anthony Richardson have mutual interest.



My opinion. If he is traded. One day we will look back and say. Damn. Shoulda had more patience. I still think the kid is gonna do some good things in this leagus

Might end up with Miami qb with Miami paying his contract.