Bucs Intensifying Darrelle Revis Trade Efforts

March 10th at 8:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

8:37pm: In addition to attempting to trade Revis, the Bucs are also trying to rework his contact, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

8:18pm: As of now, the Bucs haven’t found any takers for Revis, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). If no trade partner is found, Revis will likely be released by 4pm on Wednesday, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.

7:45pm: The Buccaneers are “stepping up” their efforts to trade cornerback Darrelle Revis, according to Alex Marvez of FoxSports1 (via Twitter). 2013 was Revis’ first season in Tampa Bay, after the Bucs sent a first-round-pick to the Jets to acquire him. Upon his arrival, he signed a six-year, $96MM contract, none of which was guaranteed.

After missing 2012 with a torn ACL, Revis once again ascended to the top of Pro Football Focus’ cornerback rankings. While Bucs coach Lovie Smith has stated that Revis and his fondness for playing man-to-man coverage could fit in Tampa’s Cover-2 defense, some believe this scheme incongruity might be driving the Revis rumors. But NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports on Twitter that the team is simply “uncomfortable” with paying Revis’ schedule $13MM base salary. In fact, his high salary leads several executives to believe that the Bucs might have to just release Revis, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).

The talks could get serious this week, as Revis is due a $1.5MM roster bonus on Thursday, as ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets. Last week, we noted that both the Broncos and Patriots have expressed interest in acquiring Revis. On the Bucs side, Caplan tweets that some executives believe Alterraun Verner will land in Tampa in the event of Revis being cut or traded, noting that Verner would fit well in Tampa’s Cover-2 scheme.

Ike Taylor Accepts Pay Cut

March 10th at 8:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

8:25 pm: It’s a straight pay cut for Taylor, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter). Taylor’s salary is reduced from $7MM to $2.75MM, saving the Steelers $4.25MM in cap space. No extra years were tacked on to the deal.

6:18pm: Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor has appeared to restructure his contract, accepting a pay cut in the process, according to a tweet from Taylor himself. The veteran corner sent out a message stating: “The INK is about to dry on this paper…im a lifer…will retire as a ROONEY and a LEBEAU,” referencing Steelers owner Dan Rooney and Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com indicated that the restructure will involve a pay cut (via Twitter). Taylor was scheduled to earn a base salary of $7MM in 2014.

Taylor, 33, has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh after being drafted in 2004. In 2013, he accrued 63 tackles but no interceptions, and graded as just the 97th-best corner according to Pro Football Focus. For the Steelers, the move comes out of necessity as the team desperately needs salary cap space. They also restructured the deals of Antonio Brown, Troy Polamalu, and Heath Miller, and released Levi Brown and Larry Foote.

Colts, Fili Moala Agree To Terms

March 10th at 8:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts have agreed to terms with defensive end Fili Moala, reports Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star (via Twitter). The team has confirmed the transaction.

Moala, second-round-pick in 2009, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He played 2013 under one-year deal, after missing much of 2012 due to a torn ACL. He has started 45 games over the course of his career. Last season, he started only six games, accruing 19 tackles and one-and-half sacks, and ended the season on injured reserve.

Vontae Davis Expected To Sign Tomorrow

March 10th at 7:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

7:24pm: The mystery team could be the Jets, as Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net reports that the team is “going hard” after the cornerback (on Twitter).

5:18pm: Cornerback Vontae Davis is expected to sign a deal within the first hours of free agency on Tuesday, but he will likely not be re-upping with the Colts, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. There were reports late last month the Davis and the Colts were in the early stages of contract talks, but those appear to have fizzled. The Colts opted not to use their franchise tag on the free agent corner.

Though the cornerback is deep, Davis is considered one of the best options still available after the Dolphins re-signed Brent Grimes. In fact, only Darrelle Revis and Grimes had higher ratings among corners according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. Grimes’ four-year, $32MM extension should set the floor for Davis, who is six years younger. Davis could make for an interesting addition to a defensive-back needy team like the Broncos or Chargers, or perhaps he could reunite with his brother, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, by signing in San Francisco.

AFC West Notes: Jennings, Avant, Mitchell

March 10th at 7:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest from the AFC West:

Raiders free-agent-to-be Rashad Jennings tells Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com that he’d “love to return” to Oakland, but acknowledges that a new deal with the team is no sure thing. “I never look for a promise from anyone,” Jennings said. “Every year, I want an opportunity. Nothing is a given in this league. All I want is a chance to play in a system that fits my style of play.”
Blair also tweeted that the “Raiders remain a major player for” Jennings.
Although he thought the Chiefs might have interest in free agent safety Mike Mitchell, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets that there’s nothing doing on that front for now.
Paylor tweeted that the Chiefs have interest in recently-released receiver Jason Avant. Avant played under Chiefs coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia.
Looking to improve their defensive line, the Chargers will pursue nose tackle Earl Mitchell early in free agency, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

D-Line Notes: Houston, Allen, Johnson

March 10th at 6:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A few notes from the National Football Conference:

The Bears are “pushing hard” for defensive end Lamarr Houston, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The Bears missed out on Michael Bennett when he re-signed with the Seahawks earlier today.
A source tell Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that they would be “shocked” if defensive end Jared Allen does not sign with the Broncos (via Twitter). I speculated as much yesterday after Allen said he would not return to the Vikings, and hoped to play for a contending team. The Broncos need pass-rush help, and a short-term deal would makes sense for both sides.
Tomasson also tweets that the Vikings are “definitely out of the running” for defensive end Michael Johnson. Johnson had been linked to the team, primarily based on his familiarity with new head coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings signed fellow end Everson Griffen to a five-year extension yesterday.
Kevin Williams, the Vikings‘ longest-tenured player, hasn’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing with the team, as he tells Tomasson. The big defensive lineman has been with Minnesota since the club drafted him ninth overall in 2003.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Jarrett Johnson Agrees To Pay Cut

March 10th at 6:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Chargers linebacker Jarrett Johnson has agreed to take pay cut, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (in an article by Eric Williams of ESPN.com). Johnson was scheduled to earn a base salary of $4MM in 2014. $2MM of that will now be converted into a signing bonus, and he will earn a $1MM base salary, saving the Chargers $1MM total, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.

Johnson, 32, joined the Chargers on a four-year deal in 2012, after spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Ravens. In 2013, he started nine games, accruing 33 tackles and three sacks. Despite those pedestrian numbers, he was still able to rate as the 18th-best 3-4 outside linebacker, per Pro Football Focus.

Cardinals To Re-Sign Jay Feely

March 10th at 6:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

6:22pm: It’s a one-year deal for Feely, according to Kent Somers of AZCentral.com (via Twitter).

5:46pm: Kicker Jay Feely will re-sign with the Cardinals, according to a tweet from Feely’s personal account. The 37-year-old veteran, like most kickers, has made his rounds through the NFL, playing for six teams over the course of 13 seasons. He signed with the Cardinals before the 2010 season.

Last year, Feely made 30-of-36 field goals, with a long of 52 yards, and converted every extra point attempt. He rated 14th in terms of kickoff distance, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). For his career his field goal success rate stands at 82.7%.

Terms of the contract are not yet public, but Feely’s annual salary will likely be closer to the $1MM Billy Cundiff will earn on his new contract, rather than the multi-year, ~$3MM deals signed by Graham Gano and Dan Bailey.

Chris Snee Restructures Contract

March 10th at 6:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Giants guard Chris Snee has agreed to restructure his contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It appears to be a straight pay cut, as Schefter reports that Snee’s base salary will lower from $7.2MM to just $1.1MM, with another $1MM available through incentives. The move allows to keep a stalwart of their offensive line on the same day that they released center David Baas.

Snee, 32, was a fourth-round-pick of the Giants in 2004, and has spent his entire career in New York. He was entering the final year of a six-year extension he signed in 2008. He played in only three games in 2013 due to hip injuries.

Contract Tenders: Monday

March 10th at 5:59pm CST by Zach Links

Cowboys punter Chris Jones signed his exclusive rights tender of $645K, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. The move locks down Dallas’ punter situation but eats up about $150K of the ~$2MM salary cap space the club had to work with. Jones averaged 45 yards per punt in his first full season with the Cowboys. The latest contract tenders from around the NFL..

Restricted free agent tackle Byron Bell has received a second-round tender worth $2.187MM from the Panthers, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). The club also tendered exclusive rights free agent Chris Scott, tweets ESPN.com’s David Newton.
The Chargers have only two exclusive rights free agents in linebacker Bront Bird and guard Stephen Schilling and they won’t be tendering either one, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.
Jets linebacker Nick Bellore got the low restricted free agent tender, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). Bellore led Gang Green in special teams kickoff tackles last season with 27.
The Ravens won’t extend an RFA tender to wide receiver Tandon Doss, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The team could still bring Doss back on a smaller deal though.
Lions wide receiver Kris Durham confirmed via Twitter that he inked his tender with the club. Durham, a fourth-round pick in 2011, became a more significant part of the Lions’ offense in 2013, racking up 38 receptions, 490 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns while starting 13 games. He didn’t perform well based on Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), which ranked him 109th out of 111 qualified receivers, but he’s still just 25 years old, and may not be relied upon for quite as large a role in 2014 if the team adds a receiver or two.
Joe Morgan and Jed Collins won’t receive RFA tenders from the Saints, but the club still has interest in re-signing the two free agents, says Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune.
The Rams won’t tender tight end Mike McNeill, who was eligible for restricted free agency, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Linebacker Justin Hickman has signed his ERFA tender from the Colts, according to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter).

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

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