HEADLINES

Month: February 2014

NFC East Rumors: Cousins, Orakpo, Cowboys

February 24th, 2014 at 2:27pm CST by Luke Adams

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported last week that the Redskins don’t plan to move Kirk Cousins, on the heels of another report indicating that the team would seek a second-rounder in any trade. At the time, it looked like an attempt by Washington to regain some leverage in potential talks, and a story from Mark Maske of the Washington Post today lends credence to that idea. Maske hears from “multiple people familiar with the situation” that the Redskins remain open to the possibility of trading Cousins, even if the club isn’t actively pursuing a deal.

“It’s not a case of looking to trade him,” said one of Maske’s sources. “That’s not the situation. But it’s not a case of there being absolutely no interest in a trade under any circumstances, either. It would all depend on what someone might offer.”

Here are a few more updates from around the NFC East, including another note on the Redskins’ backup quarterback:

  • Appearing on 106.7 The Fan in Washington recently, Cousins reiterated that he’d like to start, for the Redskins or another team, but downplayed the idea that he’s pushing for a trade or that his desire for a starting job is newsworthy (link via Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post).
  • Cousins on wanting to start: “If there’s any NFL quarterback who doesn’t want what I just communicated, I would seriously question – as a fan base or as an organization – what good he’s doing for your team. Now that being said, I’m gonna communicate my desire to play in a classy way. I don’t want to do it in a way that’s gonna hurt our organization or reflect poorly on me or the team. But yeah, I absolutely want to play, and that’s not a complicated fact.”
  • No deal is imminent for Brian Orakpo and the Redskins, but the two sides are talking and will continue to talk, a person familiar with the negotiations tells Maske.
  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones suggested that the Cowboys’ cap constraints aren’t as bad as people think. “The only thing the cap issues do with us is we can’t be big players in free agency,” Jones said, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “And I think history will tell you that being a big player in free agency is overrated and usually detrimental to the growth of a franchise, because a lot of these guys are leaving their other team for a reason.”
  • While it seems likely that Justin Tuck and Jon Beason will hit the open market on March 11, Giants GM Jerry Reese didn’t entirely close the door on the possibility of re-signing them before or after that date, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Sulia link).
  • Dan Graziano of ESPN.com explores a few reasons why the Giants won’t feel compelled to extend Eli Manning‘s contract this offseason.

Panthers Pick Up Options On Davis, Restructure Deal

February 24th, 2014 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY, 1:47pm: In addition to picking up their two option years on Davis, the Panthers also restructured his contract, creating additional flexibility for the 2014 season, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. By agreeing to a $5MM signing bonus and tacking three voidable years onto Davis’ deal, the Panthers will reduce Davis’ cap number by $3.25MM for the 2014 season.

The Panthers are also hoping to restructure other contracts to create more cap savings, according to Person, who identifies defensive end Charles Johnson and center Ryan Kalil as potential candidates.

FRIDAY, 3:21pm: The Panthers have exercised their 2014 and 2015 years on Thomas Davis‘ contract, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. The longtime Carolina linebacker will earn $13.5MM over the next two seasons.

After three ACL tears sidelined Davis for all but nine regular-season games from 2009 to 2011, the former first-round pick has come back to start 28 contests in the last two seasons for the Panthers. Davis had perhaps his best season as a pro in 2013, racking up 123 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions, while ranking as the third-best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Davis will be in line for a base salary of $2.75MM in 2014 and $7.25MM in 2015, with various bonuses adding a few more million dollars to his total earnings.

Talks Between Shields, Packers Heating Up

February 24th, 2014 at 1:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Negotiations between the Packers and Sam Shields‘ agent on a new agreement for the free agent cornerback “heated up” over the weekend in Indianapolis, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. According to Demovsky, Green Bay and agent Drew Rosenhaus met in the hopes of working out a deal for Shields prior to the free agent period of March 11.

While the two sides didn’t reach an agreement this weekend, they still have more than two weeks before free agency begins, and discussions are “ongoing,” says Demovsky. We first heard nearly a month ago that talks were underway between Shields’ camp and the Packers — at the time, a source told Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the odds of a deal were about 50/50, but it seems they may have improved at least a little since then.

Shields started all 14 games he played for the Packers in 2013, matching a career high with four interceptions. Although the 26-year-old ranked in the middle of the pack for cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), he placed 15th overall in 2012. Coming off a modest $2.023MM salary, he’ll be in line for a significant raise, with estimates this month ranging from about $7-9MM per year.

If the Packers can’t reach a long-term agreement with Shields, using the franchise tag on him is a possibility. However, that would eat up more than $11MM of the team’s 2014 cap space.

AFC Notes: Jets, Raiders, Colts, Texans

February 24th, 2014 at 1:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Local beat writer Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News doesn’t view the Jets as a likely candidate to sign Michael Vick, but it seems that isn’t the consensus perception around the NFL. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the Jets are considered a “legitimate possible landing spot” for Vick, based on conversations he has had at the combine this week. I expect the Jets to look a tier or two below Vick if they pursue a free agent quarterback, and would be surprised if a reunion between Vick and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg actually materialized, but it sounds like we shouldn’t rule out the possibility.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Raiders owner Mark Davis and the team’s brass met with Johnny Manziel this weekend and came away “very impressed,” tweets Eddie Borsilli of SiriusXM NFL Radio. Oakland is expected to strongly consider drafting a quarterback with the No. 5 overall pick in May.
  • The Colts aren’t expected to splurge in free agency this offseason, but they could take an approach that would allow them to spend in future years, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star, who suggests the possibility of signing shorter contracts, or frontloading deals.
  • The Ravens conducted a formal interview with Minnesota defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman at the combine, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Mike Rodak of ESPN.com examines the Bills‘ options at kicker, where it’s no certainty that Dan Carpenter will return.
  • Jadeveon Clowney isn’t an ideal fit for the Texans, even if the team decides not to take a quarterback, in the view of the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain. McClain’s colleague Jerome Solomon thinks the club’s interest in Clowney should be a moot point, suggesting in a separate Houston Chronicle column that Houston needs to draft a QB with the first overall pick.

Free Agent Market For Offensive Tackles

February 24th, 2014 at 12:11pm CST by Luke Adams

When we evaluate and take stock of free agent running backs or wide receivers, it’s easy to point to simple statistics like yards per carry, receptions, or yards after catch to attempt to determine a value. For offensive linemen, there are no basic stats that fully capture a player’s performance. Even a quantifiable number such as sacks allowed doesn’t tell the whole story, since it leaves out a variety of variables — the lineman’s competition, how many times he received help, how many quarterback hits he allowed, and so on.

Watching a particular lineman on every snap would give us a pretty clear idea of how he’s playing, but few of us have the time to devote to such a project. Fortunately, the team at Pro Football Focus has done the majority of the dirty work for us, evaluating players’ performances on each snap and turning that data into grades that take into account pass blocking, run blocking, and the ability to avoid penalties, among other factors. For our next few installments in our look at the free agent market, we’ll be relying heavily on PFF’s data in helping to determine which free agent offensive linemen should attract the most attention this offseason.

This year’s group of free agent offensive tackles should generate plenty of interest on the open market next month, with a number of clubs looking to upgrade the most important positions on the offensive line. It’s fair to suggest that nearly every team in the NFL will consider adding at least one tackle this offseason, if only for depth purposes. As for the teams with a more pressing need, the Dolphins, Cardinals, Rams, Saints, Falcons, Titans, Seahawks, Ravens, Panthers, Jets, Jaguars, and Raiders could all be in the market for a starter on one side or the other.

Here are some of the players expected to be available:

First tier:

Zach Strief of the Saints ranked as 2013’s best right tackle according to Pro Football Focus’ grades, buoyed by his excellent pass-blocking numbers. Strief will be a priority for the Saints, as they look to keep Drew Brees out of harm’s way, but the 30-year-old will be an intriguing commodity if he hits free agency. Austin Howard, meanwhile, saw his PFF ranking hurt by his run-blocking grade, but the Jets are making him a priority this offseason, with one report speculating that a lucrative four-year contract is a possibility.

Former second-round pick Rodger Saffold played all over the line for the Rams in 2013, and is reportedly drawing interest as a guard as well as a tackle. His flexibility will make him attractive to potential suitors, as will his age — coming off his rookie contract, he’s still just 25 years old.

The real prizes of this group though are the left tackles, the players tasked with protecting their quarterbacks’ blind sides. By PFF’s numbers, Jordan Gross ranked as the best tackle of this year’s free agent class, and the NFL’s third-best tackle overall. However, he remains undecided on whether or not he’ll continue his career. If he does decide to keep playing, he’s a good bet to return to the Panthers. At age 26, Jared Veldheer certainly isn’t considering retirement, but it sounds like there’s a decent chance he re-signs with his current team (the Raiders) as well. After a triceps injury sidelined him for a good chunk of 2013, Veldheer is reportedly seeking a long-term deal rather than a franchise tag, and would like to see talks accelerate before next month.

Branden Albert and Eugene Monroe round out the top tier of left tackles eligible for free agency. Albert appears likely to leave the Chiefs, while Monroe is in talks with the Ravens but says he isn’t about to take a discount to stay in Baltimore.

Second tier:

Speaking of the blind side, the subject of Hollywood’s only film about a left tackle, Michael Oher, had a down year in 2013, ranking as the worst run-blocker of 76 qualified tackles according to PFF’s metrics. His pass blocking was much better, albeit as a right tackle in 2013, which should get him some offers. If the Ravens can lock up Monroe, I wouldn’t expect Oher to return.

Tyson Clabo‘s performance as Miami’s primary right tackle in 2013 was passable, though it remains to be seen whether he’ll be back as the team overhauls its offensive line in the wake of the Wells report. Fellow right tackle Tony Pashos of the Raiders turns 34 this summer, but ranked slightly ahead of Clabo on PFF’s metrics and figures to seek out another starting gig for 2014.

Byron Bell has been the Panthers’ starting right tackle for three straight seasons, and has been steadily climbing out of the basement of PFF’s rankings, from 68th to 60th to 52nd. For a Super Bowl contender, he’s not an ideal option, but as a restricted free agent, he should be relatively affordable, which could mean a reunion with Carolina. Breno Giacomini has been the starting right tackle for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks in recent years, but that relationship looks less likely to continue, with Giacomini potentially being too expensive for Seattle, a team which has other priorities.

Rounding out the second tier: Veteran Eric Winston, who has started all 16 games for seven straight seasons; Anthony Collins of the Bengals, who has never had a chance to run with a full-time starting job during his six years in Cincinnati; and Khalif Barnes of the Raiders, who filled in for Veldheer at left tackle for much of 2013, but is probably better suited for another spot on the line.

The rest:

A team that misses out on one of the options above may be pressed into starting one of the players in this group, but in an ideal scenario, these guys would be no more than the third tackle in a rotation.

That includes Bryant McKinnie, Charles Brown, and Cameron Bradfield (restricted), all of whom logged major time at left tackle in 2013 and whose PFF grades were significantly below average. Sean Locklear, Jeremy Trueblood, Marshall Newhouse, and Winston Justice were also all starters at some point in their careers, but would be better utilized as backups.

One intriguing name amidst this bevy of options might be Ryan Harris, who was an above-average right tackle for the Broncos for multiple seasons before coming off the bench during the last two years in Houston. He’ll only turn 29 next month, so Harris should still have plenty left in the tank and may have a little upside.

Previously:
Free Agent Market For Quarterbacks
Free Agent Market For Running Backs
Free Agent Market For Wide Receivers
Free Agent Market For Tight Ends

NFC North Links: Bears, Lions, Packers

February 24th, 2014 at 11:07am CST by Luke Adams

As the combine rolls along in Indianapolis, let’s round up a few recent stories related to NFC North teams….

  • Given the success head coach Marc Trestman had with Josh McCown in 2013 and comments made by GM Phil Emery before last year’s draft, the Bears should draft a quarterback in 2014, even with Jay Cutler locked up, says Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
  • Safety figures to be a position of need for the Bears, which could prompt the club to draft a prospect like Louisville’s Calvin Pryor or Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with the No. 14 pick, writes Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
  • Of course, the Lions will draft a few spots ahead of the Bears, at No. 10, and could also be eyeing those top two safeties, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press details.
  • While he acknowledges that safety is probably a more pressing need for the Lions, Josh Katzenstein of MLive.com suggests that it may be hard for the team to pass on a potential shutdown cornerback like Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard or Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert with the tenth overall pick.
  • The Packers opted to go with a relatively unproven center in Evan Dietrich-Smith last season and it worked out well for the club. So Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders, in his look at Green Bay’s offensive line, whether the team is willing to take a similar approach this year and anoint J.C. Tretter as 2014’s starting center.

Combine Updates: Clowney, Ford, Tuitt, Mason

February 24th, 2014 at 10:12am CST by Luke Adams

Jadeveon Clowney is the talk of the NFL combine on Monday morning, running an unofficial time of 4.47 in the 40-yard dash today. The time is easily the best among defensive linemen, and in fact surpassed the times of most of the running backs and receivers that ran the 40 yesterday. Clowney won’t participate in all of today’s on-field drills, citing a hip flexor, but there are still plenty of combine updates to pass along from Indianapolis:

  • Auburn defensive end Dee Ford was medically flagged due to a 2011 procedure on a herniated disc in his lower back and won’t work out today at the combine. Scott Hanson of NFL Red Zone first reported (via Twitter) that Ford would sit out, while Steve Wyche of NFL Network passed along the specifics (Twitter link).
  • Like Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt was diagnosed with a fractured foot by doctors at the combine, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, who says Tuitt will undergo surgery in about a week, with a full recovery expected in six to eight weeks. Ford and Tuitt are viewed as two of the top non-Clowney DEs available in the draft.
  • The Titans, Dolphins, Rams, and Cardinals are among the teams that have met with Auburn running back Tre Mason at the combine, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
  • The Ravens have met with Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland, as well as wide receivers Brandin Cooks (Oregon State) and Jordan Matthews (Vanderbilt), Aaron Wilson writes in separate pieces for the Baltimore Sun. Wilson also says the team will meet with LSU receiver Jarvis Landry.
  • Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle won’t participate in drills at the combine due to health concerns, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
  • For a complete list of combine results, including scores in the 40-yard dash, bench press, and broad jump, be sure to check out NFL.com’s tracker.

AFC East Rumors: Vick, Jets, Grimes, Bills

February 24th, 2014 at 9:27am CST by Luke Adams

On Sunday morning, we passed along word that the Jets are eyeing Josh McCown as a potential quarterback option in free agency. Today’s first round of rumors out of the AFC East includes a couple more updates on potential QB targets for the Jets, so let’s dive right in….

  • A reunion between free-agent-to-be Michael Vick and Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is not likely, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The two men spent several years together in Philadelphia, when Vick was the Eagles‘ quarterback and Mornhinweg was the club’s offensive coordinator.
  • According to Mehta, Matt Schaub is also an unlikely target for the Jets. The Texans are expected to release their longtime starter, but if he hits free agency, Schaub won’t be interested in backing up Geno Smith, sources tell the Daily News.
  • Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes is “cautiously optimistic” he’ll sign a long-term contract with the team this offseason rather than receiving the franchise tag, tweets Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Grimes expressed his desire for a multiyear deal earlier this month, suggesting that being franchised “is not what anybody wants.”
  • There’s a disconnect between the younger members of the Bills‘ front office and the so-called “lifers,” writes Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. According to Graham, head coach Doug Marrone and GM Doug Whaley are looking to shift the team’s “this-is-the-way-we’ve-always-done-it culture” and want more say in personnel decisions, but are facing pushback from execs like CFO Jeffrey C. Littmann, senior VP of football administration Jim Overdorf, and senior VP of communications Scott Berchtold.

Latest On Jim Harbaugh, 49ers, Browns

February 24th, 2014 at 8:59am CST by Luke Adams

Since Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported on Friday that the Browns had “nearly” acquired the rights to 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, several reports have followed up on that story with additional details and an assortment of half-confirmations, half-denials from the Browns and Niners. Here’s a round-up of where the story stands as of Monday morning:

  • After tweeting on Friday that PFT’s report “isn’t true,” 49ers CEO Jed York softened his stance somewhat. “The Browns reached out to me, and we had no interest in pursuing it,” York tells Peter King of TheMMQB.
  • Speaking to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, York explained that he initially shot down the report because it wasn’t true that the 49ers were willing to move forward with the deal and Harbaugh wasn’t interested. Asked how far discussions progressed, York replied “not far at all,” adding that the Niners had “no interest” in entering serious negotiations. According to York, the team intends to reopen extension talks with Harbaugh before the 2014 season.
  • Barrows reported yesterday that the Browns called the 49ers last month to ask about several of the team’s coaches. During conversations between the two sides, Harbaugh’s name came up, and former Browns CEO Joe Banner indicated what sort of compensation the team would be willing to provide for the Niners head coach. However, the discussion didn’t progress from that point.
  • Browns owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed this weekend that there was at least something to the initial report, telling Jarrett Bell of USA Today, “There was an opportunity there, and it didn’t materialize.”
  • While Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com also believes talks between the Browns and Niners didn’t get far, he says the rift between Harbaugh and San Francisco’s front office – including GM Trent Baalke and president Paraag Marathe – is much greater than has been portrayed in the media. League sources who have spoken to La Canfora at the combine have been pessimistic about the odds of an extension this offseason for Harbaugh.

Jerry Jones Talks Garrett, Orton, Coaches

February 24th, 2014 at 8:33am CST by Luke Adams

Jerry Jones spoke to the media yesterday, and while we already passed along his comments on DeMarcus Ware, the Cowboys owner weighed in on several other topics as well. Among the highlights from Jones was a vote of confidence for embattled head coach Jason Garrett, who heads into a contract year in 2014. While the coming season as viewed as a potential make-or-break year for Garrett, Jones suggested that’s not necessarily the case, according to ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer.

“Jason should know and I know that he knows that the plan here is and has been for him to be long term,” Jones said. “And long term certainly being beyond this year as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”

Here’s more from the outspoken Cowboys owner:

  • Kyle Orton‘s certain with the Cowboys remains uncertain, but Jones is moving forward as if the backup quarterback will return and play out the final year of his contract, according to Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
  • Jones on Orton: “If he plays, we want him to play with the Cowboys. I could say to him directly the last time we were together made it very rewarding and worthwhile for you to be on the team, and I hope it was rewarding to you. I can say that. That was a good example of money well spent in my mind, and it shows you where we might be if we need him for an extended period of time.”
  • Jones believes that the Cowboys are capable of competing for a Super Bowl in 2014 in spite of the club’s cap limitations, writes Sabin in a separate Morning News story.
  • As Archer details at ESPNDallas.com, Jones also clarified the roles that Scott Linehan, Bill Callahan, and Jason Garrett will have in the offense for 2014.
Load More Posts