Ross, Greenwood Accept Contract Tenders

March 7th at 11:37pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of Chris Cabott clients have signed on for the 2014 season with their respective teams, the agent tweeted tonight. Cabott confirmed that cornerbacks Brandian Ross and Chris Greenwood have extended their contracts with the Raiders and Lions respectively.

We heard earlier this week that Oakland had tendered a contract offer to Ross, while Detroit extended a tender to Greenwood. Both players had been exclusive rights free agents. Unless Cabott negotiated a longer-term deal for either client, Ross and Greenwood are likely now on those one-year contracts for 2014.

While Greenwood has yet to see much NFL playing time, Ross assumed the starting strong safety job for the Raiders in 2013. The 24-year-old notched a pair of sacks and 75 tackles, but ranked 85th among 86 qualified safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

Extra Points: Saints, Bears, Gore, Eagles

March 7th at 10:35pm CST by David Kipke

Earlier tonight, franchise player Jimmy Graham tweeted that he’s “shocked and disappointed” about everything that’s happened in New Orleans this offseason. Graham is likely referencing the Saints’ decisions to cut offensive weapons Lance Moore and Darren Sproles. According to John Breech of CBSSports.com, there’s a chance the team could release running back Pierre Thomas as well. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeted that the decision to cut Moore and Sproles likely stemmed from the large cap numbers of Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs, Marques Colston, and Brodrick Bunkley.

Let’s look at some other news tidbits from this Friday evening…

Lance Briggs expressed similar frustrations to Graham with the Bears‘ front office on Friday, saying that if he ran the team, he would “trade all the draft picks and bring my brothers back.” Briggs was presumably referencing players like Charles Tillman, Devin Hester, and Brian Urlacher. While Urlacher retired after last season, the team seems ready to cut ties with Hester and Tillman. It is widely expected that the Bears will also part ways with Julius Peppers due to the eight-time Pro Bowler’s huge cap figure.
49ers GM Trent Baalke has said that, considering Frank Gore “had a A++ season” in 2013, the team doesn’t feel it needs to restructure the five-time Pro Bowl running back’s contract this offseason, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks that the Eagles should pursue safety Malcolm Jenkins in free agency. McLane argues that the new free agent would be a better schematic fit for the Eagles than more prominent free agent safeties such as Jairus Byrd and T.J. Ward. He thinks the Eagles could also pursue the Panthers’ Michael Mitchell and the Dolphins’ Chris Clemons, among others.
Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune (via Twitter) thinks that because of the departures of Sproles and Moore, the Saints will be looking for a return specialist this offseason. Duncan speculates that the team could address this void by targeting Devin Hester, New Orleans native Jacoby Jones, or perhaps even a prospect like LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham.
Desmond Bryant, defensive end for the Browns, says he’s been medically cleared to play after a health scare, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com and Bryant’s personal Twitter account.
Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group identifies six free agent offensive lineman that could interest the Browns, including San Diego’s Chad Rinehart and Kansas City’s Geoff Schwartz.
Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody, whose contract situation is currently up in the air, has signed with Authentic Athletix NFL agent Peter Schaffer, according to a tweet by Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journalism. Cody had been previously represented by Athletes First.
Ben Tate told Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston that he can become an “elite” running back next season. Tate has not been shy about his plans to test free agency and finally step into a starting role on another team.
Darnell Dockett called free agent tackle Branden Albert his teammate in a tweet earlier today, according to Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride. While Albert’s response to the tweet, which was quickly deleted, deflected Dockett’s comments, it did not directly dispute the teammate comment.

Eagles Show Interest In Michael Johnson

March 7th at 9:30pm CST by David Kipke

The Eagles are showing interest in one of 2014′s top free agents, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com, who reports that Chip Kelly‘s team is eyeing edge defender Michael Johnson. A 4-3 defensive end in Cincinnati, Bennett could draw interest from teams like the Eagles, who may view him as a fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker, writes McManus.

Johnson, a Georgia Tech product, was franchise-tagged by the Bengals for the 2013 season after an incredibly successful 2012 campaign in which he tallied 52 tackles (35 solo) and 11.5 sacks. Considered a high-ceiling prospect coming into the 2009 NFL Draft, Johnson fell all the way to the third round, when the Bengals selected him with the 70th overall pick. The prospective free agent has been linked to several teams this offseason, including the Vikings.

While providing excellent run defense has become Johnson’s calling card, he demonstrated some versatility in zone coverage schemes last season, as McManus exhibits with visual evidence in his piece. In fact, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) found that Johnson dropped into coverage 31 times last season.

The Eagles currently have over $24MM in estimated cap room, so the team could likely afford to make Johnson a lucrative offer. However, a move for the Bengals free agent would raise one intriguing question: What would happen to current starters Trent Cole and Connor Barwin? The two starters are firmly entrenched in their roles within the team and were both effective in 2013.

Within his piece, McManus suggests that Mike Neal and Rob Jackson could be alternative outside linebacker targets for the Eagles this offseason.

Jets, Cumberland Agree To Three-Year Deal

March 7th at 7:41pm CST by David Kipke

The New York Jets and tight end Jeff Cumberland have agreed to a three-year contract, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Mehta had reported earlier today that the Jets were engaged in “serious negotiations” with Cumberland.

The organization has expressed significant confidence in Cumberland heading into the 2014 season. After signing with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Illinois, Cumberland finally began to show flashes of prominence in the tail end of the 2013 campaign. Although he had played largely in a secondary role to Kellen Winslow this past year, Cumberland still hauled in 26 receptions for 398 yards and four touchdowns.

Mehta also reports (via Twitter) that the Jets re-signing of Cumberland doesn’t mean the Jets won’t still explore other free agent tight end options, such as Brandon Pettigrew, Ed Dickson, and Scott Chandler. The Jets also figure to target high-value receiving talent in free agency next week, having been linked to Emmanuel Sanders and Jeremy Maclin, before he re-signed with the Eagles

Matt Cassel To Re-Sign With Vikings

March 7th at 6:56pm CST by David Kipke

7:31pm: Cassel’s two-year pact will be worth $10MM, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).

7:14pm: The deal is for two years, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).

6:57pm: Quarterback Matt Cassel is re-signing with the Vikings, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Cassel had been set to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday.

In six starts this season for the Vikings, Cassel enjoyed a relatively successful, albeit mistake-prone resurgence, amassing 1,807 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Cassel replaced Christian Ponder this past December when the Vikings starter exhibited concussion symptoms after a Week 13 game against the Bears, and Cassel’s new deal further signals that Ponder’s time in Minnesota is coming to an end. Ponder is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and almost certainly won’t be with the Vikings beyond 2014.

Cassel, 31, opted out of the final year of his contract with Minnesota last month. He had been set to earn a little over $3MM on that deal, so the new pact with the Vikings will surely represent a more lucrative payday. Even with Cassel now locked up, Minnesota figures to add at least one more quarterback this offseason, either in free agency or the draft.

Cassel was believed to be drawing interest from Bill O’Brien and the Texans, as recently as yesterday. The Vikings signed Cassel in March of 2013 immediately after the Chiefs decided to cut the 2010 Pro Bowler.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign Jonathan Casillas

March 7th at 6:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a new one-year contract with linebacker Jonathan Casillas, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (Twitter link). Casillas had been eligible for unrestricted free agency next week.

Casillas, 26, joined the Bucs last season after spending the first three seasons of his NFL career in New Orleans. The Wisconsin alum appeared in the team’s first 12 games, playing a total of 199 defensive snaps, before heading to injured reserve with a knee issue. Casillas was also a contributor on special teams, racking up 11 tackles on return plays.

Steelers, Antonio Brown Restructure Contract

March 7th at 6:08pm CST by David Kipke

The Steelers and wide receiver Antonio Brown have restructured Brown’s contract in order to free up about $4MM worth of cap space for Pittsburgh, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (via Twitter) that the move will convert $5.2MM of Brown’s $6MM base salary into a signing bonus, which will be spread over the contract’s remaining years.

Brown, who also reworked his deal last year, was in line to have a $8.47MM cap number for 2014. If his salary has indeed been converted to $800K, that means $1.3MM in bonus money would be added to each of the remaining four years on his deal, reducing his ’14 cap number to $4.57MM.

For the Steelers, it’s the latest in a string of cap-clearing moves for the team, as the 2014 league year nears. In addition to reworking Brown’s deal, the club also restructured Troy Polamalu‘s and Heath Miller‘s contracts, and released veterans Levi Brown and Larry Foote.

Saints Expected To Cut Darren Sproles

March 7th at 5:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after parting ways with one of their longtime offensive weapons, Lance Moore, the Saints are expected to cut another one. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that New Orleans is releasing running back Darren Sproles. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the move isn’t official yet and the Saints are still trying to find a potential trade partner for Sproles, but will cut him if no deal can be found.

The Saints were said to be shopping both Moore and Sproles earlier this week, along with Pierre Thomas, in an effort to create some cap flexibility. With younger, less expensive players like receiver Kenny Stills and running back Khiry Robinson ready for larger roles, the team can better afford to part ways with veteran contributors like Sproles. The 30-year-old was on the Saints’ cap for a $4.25MM cap number in 2014, but that will now be reduced to $750K in dead money, creating $3.5MM in cap savings for the club.

When the move becomes official, Sproles should draw plenty of interest from teams looking to add running back depth. The ex-Charger had developed into one of the league’s best receiving threats out of the backfield, averaging more than 77 catches per season in his three years with the Saints.

Seahawks Re-Sign Jeanpierre, Johnson

March 7th at 5:35pm CST by Luke Adams

5:35pm: The Seahawks put a second-round tender on Johnson, who accepted it, locking in a $2.187MM base salary for 2014, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). That salary isn’t guaranteed, but the team can’t rescind the offer now that Johnson has accepted it.

3:05pm: The Seahawks have inked a pair of restricted free agents to one-year contract extensions, the team announced today (via Twitter). Offensive lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre and safety Jeron Johnson will be returning to Seattle for the 2014 season, according to the club.

Both Jeanpierre and Johnson have been with the Seahawks for three seasons, playing almost exclusively off the bench. Jeanpierre started three games and saw a career-high 291 snaps during the 2013 season, primarily at center. Johnson, meanwhile, appeared in just four contests for the club after seeing action in every game of the 2012 season.

Seahawks Tender Doug Baldwin

March 7th at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The Seahawks have extended a second-round contract tender to wide receiver Doug Baldwin, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). The tender is a one-year contract offer worth $2.187MM, and ensures that Baldwin, a restricted free agent, can’t sign with another team without Seattle having the right to match the offer.

Although Seattle didn’t rely too heavily on its passing attack en route to a Super Bowl win this past season, Baldwin had a solid season, grabbing 50 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns. With three years of NFL experience and no contract for 2014, he can test the market this offseason. If Baldwin signs an offer sheet elsewhere, the Seahawks can either match it or let him walk and receive a second-round pick as compensation from Baldwin’s new team.

I’d be surprised if any team was willing to give up a second-round pick for the right to commit to Baldwin on a multiyear deal, so the likeliest outcome might see the 25-year-old accept the one-year tender offer and return to Seattle. In that scenario, Baldwin would earn $2.187MM in 2014 and be eligible for unrestricted free agency a year from now.

Page 1 of 7712 3 4 5...10 20 30...Next Last »