2014 February - Pro Football Rumors

Free Agency Notes: Pitta, Maclin, Cooper

February 22nd, 2014 at 7:47pm CST by Peter Sowards

Taking care of free agent tight end Dennis Pitta is the top priority for the Ravens, according to Bo Smolka of CSN Baltimore.

With the contract extension for linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs in the books, GM Ozzie Newsome said at his Scouting Combine news conference that Baltimore is “concentrating” on locking up the fourth-year BYU player for the foreseeable future.

Smolka notes that Baltimore has until March 3 to apply the franchise tag on Pitta, and they can expect a fight if they do so — Pitta lined up as an in-line tight end less than 25% of the time and will argue he deserves the $11.6MM wide receiver designation, as opposed to the $6.8MM tight end figure.

We talked yesterday about Ravens coach John Harbaugh being optimistic that the team can retain Pitta, as well as offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. Newsome is arguably the finest general manager in the league, so don’t bet against the possibility of him bringing back both players at team-friendly prices.

Some other free agent notes to pass along, in particular dealing with Philadelphia…

The Eagles are prioritizing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, NFL sources have told Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In a perfect world, McClane says Philadelphia would sign Maclin to a one-year deal, then try to sign another receiver with starting ability.
In his Thursday interview at the NFL Combine, GM Howie Roseman said it would be a tough sell to keep both players. “You can only put a limited amount of resources into the position before it starts taking out from other places,” he said.
This previous PFR post takes an in-depth look at the two receivers with the help of Pro Football Focus.

Combine Updates: Sam, Bridgewater, Browns

February 22nd, 2014 at 6:31pm CST by Peter Sowards

Last year, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o‘s media session at the Scouting Combine drew the biggest crowds. Before that, it was Florida’s Tim Tebow who stole the show.

Today was Missouri defensive end Michael Sam‘s turn to face the horde of reporters, his first public speaking appearance since coming out February 9. He impressed, as expected, according to Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star.

Sam tried to downplay his sexuality and steer things back to football. “I wish you guys would just say, ‘Michael Sam, how’s football going?'” he said. “I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player instead of Michael Sam the gay football player.”

When pushed about an environment like the Dolphins‘ locker room and the Richie Incognito bullying scandal, Sam said he was “not afraid” and that he could handle himself.

In the end, Sam just wants the opportunity to make a roster and rush the passer. “If you put me in a situation to get the quarterback, I’m going to get the quarterback,” he said. “And this league is a passing league, so I like to (see) myself as a good pass rusher. … I can jump back in coverage as well. But my specialty is rushing the passer.”

Other notes from Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine…

Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater proclaimed himself the best quarterback in the draft, per Jim Corbett of USA TODAY.
Bridgewater won’t throw during Sunday’s quarterback drills, but he will throw at his pro day, which takes place on March 17.
Tania Ganguli covers the Texans for ESPN, and said Bridgewater “projected an air of sincerity and likability throughout his combine news conference.” She expects Bridgewater to fare well when he sits down with Houston coach Bill O’Brien, owner of the 2014 No. 1 overall pick.
The potential pairing of Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins with Browns second-year stud Josh Gordon has Cleveland scribes buzzing, especially after Watkins mentioned it himself. “I think Josh Gordon is probably one of the top receivers in the NFL,” Watkins said, according to ESPN Browns reporter Pat McManamon. “He led receivers this year with 1,700 yards. I’d kind of take the pressure off of him with being double-covered or them flipping coverage to his side. It’d be a nightmare for (defenses) to match up.”
McManamon wrote a separate piece yesterday discussing the virtues of a possible pairing, using the successful duo of the Falcons’ Julio Jones and Roddy White as an example.
Texas wide receiver Mike Davis has a minor right foot injury and was not cleared to take part in Sunday’s on-field drills, tweets NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.

Nick Hardwick Plans On Being Back

February 22nd, 2014 at 5:31pm CST by Peter Sowards

Despite rumors to the contrary, Chargers center Nick Hardwick told Ricky Henne of Chargers.com that he has every intention of playing his 11th season.

“I plan on being back next year and giving them hell again,” Hardwick said. “I look forward to having fun with the guys, stirring up the city and doing some damage across the league.”

Hardwick said he never mentioned retirement and he just wanted to have some time to assess where he’s at and how he’s playing. Eric D. Williams, who covers the Chargers for ESPN, said Hardwick is in the final year of a three-year deal and is due to earn $4.4MM in total compensation.

Chargers GM Tom Telesco said yesterday that the team has been planning for Hardwick’s return, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “We’re expecting him to play next year until told otherwise,” Telesco said. “Obviously, he’s a big part of the offensive line. A true team leader, a rock inside, and a guy we’d definitely love to have back.”

Gehlken also touched on receiver Malcom Floyd, who, like Hardwick, has spent the entirety of his 10-year career in San Diego. Floyd suffered a neck injury in September and his future is still undetermined.

NFC Notes: Lions, Giants, Clowney, Watkins

February 22nd, 2014 at 4:46pm CST by Rob DiRe

The biggest positions of need for the Lions is thought to be cornerback after a poor performance from the secondary in 2013, and also finding a talented receiver to pair with Calvin Johnson. Even still, Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News writes that doesn’t lock the Lions first-round pick into those positions. He writes that there are some interesting offensive tackles projected as top ten picks, including Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews, Auburn’s Greg Robinson and Michigan’s Taylor Lewan. If any of those three were still available, they would be real options for the Lions at tenth overall. Here are some other notes from the NFC:

If Hakeem Nicks leaves the Giants in free agency, the team will have a hole to fill at receiver, writes Tom Rock of Newsday. He writes that general manager Jerry Reese is not sold that Rueben Randle can fill that role, and that the team could look to address the position in free agency or with its first-round pick.
Rams’ head coach Jeff Fisher subscribes to the theory that you can never have enough pass rushers, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. If the Texans select a quarterback with the first pick, the Rams may have the opportunity to add a great pass rusher in Jadeveon Clowney. While it is not a position of need, he is thought to be the best player available in the draft.
Bill Williamson of ESPN.com wrote about the possibility of the team moving up in the draft to grab a big time playmaker like Clemson’s Sammy Watkins. While Williamson thinks it is too big of a leap, as Watkins is thought of as a top five pick, if he begins to fall past tenth overall the 49ers have the resources to consider packaging picks to move up in the draft.
John Kuhn‘s agent, Kevin Gold said there is “mutual interest” in Kuhn returning to the Packers, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (via Twitter). Gold and the Packers have been talking specifics in Indianapolis at the Scouting Combine.

Broncos Willing To Spend

February 22nd, 2014 at 3:44pm CST by Rob DiRe

Broncos’ general manager John Elway has invigorated the team since winning the battle for Peyton Manning two years ago. He quickly created a roster that dominated the AFC en route to a Super Bowl appearance. Despite the disappointing performance in the big game, Elway is focused on bringing back some of the team’s top talent in order to make another run at a championship.

Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that the team has shown a willingness to spend under the leadership of Elway. Presumably, the entire organization understands that there is urgency to bring a Super Bowl trophy to Denver now, with Manning under center. That only gives them two or three more seasons to realistically contend as currently constructed. However, a willingness to spend doesn’t necessarily equal an improved roster due to the amount the team has already spent and their situation in regard to the salary cap.

While the team is expected to have enough cap room to maneuver this offseason, Elway did say that he believes Manning would be willing to restructure his deal if the team needed some extra flexibility. “I think we’ll be fine,” Elway said. “I don’t think (Manning) would have any problem, if we needed to find some cap room, that he wouldn’t help us out.”

Klis writes that Elway and head coach John Fox will begin discussing a contract extension. Retaining the head coach is thought to be a top priority. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has already received a two-year contract extension after optimizing a defense that was without its best player, Von Miller, for almost all of the season, due to suspension and injury. Del Rio also filled in admirably during Fox’s absence when his health forced him to miss games in the middle of the season.

Another urgent matter for Elway is the status of Champ Bailey‘s contract. He is scheduled to make $10MM in 2014, but due to his advanced age and declining ability it is unlikely the team would be willing to bring him back at that number. He will most likely be cut or take a pay cut to stay with the team.

As for the current Broncos about to hit free agency, Elway said the team would allow them to hit the market. While he would like to bring back many of the team’s own talent, Elway knows with some of their other key players requiring new contracts after next season that they cannot commit all of their future cap space to this season’s group of free agents.

He does note that the team wants Decker back, and that Decker expressed interest in returning as well. Even still, it could be difficult for the team to match an offer in the open market.

Colin Kaepernick, 49ers Talking Extension

February 22nd, 2014 at 2:52pm CST by Rob DiRe

Earlier today, Ian Rapaport reported that Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers have begun preliminary contract talks (via Twitter). While some believe that he could be looking at an elite payday, Dan Hanzus of NFL.com is less clear about what the quarterback’s value is. If the team is sold on his talents, the best chance they have of extending him on a fairly team-friendly deal would be this offseason.

2014 will be the last year on Kaepernick’s rookie contract, and although he was drafted in 2011, because he was not a first-round pick the 49ers do not own a team option for a fifth year of his services, like the Panthers do with Cam Newton. Kaepernick is scheduled to make just under $1MM before hitting free agency next season.

That free agency is something the 49ers would like to avoid. Hanzus writes that although Kaepernick took the league by storm after replacing an injured Alex Smith midway through the 2012 season, he struggled with consistency in 2013. The 26-year-old signal caller failed to throw for 200 yards in eight different games despite throwing for 412 yards to start the season and 310 yards to end it.

He also failed to throw for 200 yard in his final two playoff games, and turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Seahawks.

Kaepernick was reported saying that he was not likely to try to make his contract situation a point of contention, realizing that holding out for every last dollar would hurt the team’s ability to surround him with important players. While Hanzus makes note of the flaws in his seemingly superhuman talent, he still believes that Kaepernick’s potential upside is remarkably high, and writes that it would be a “a Tyson-in-Tokyo upset if Kaepernick ever reached the open market.”

Bills Plan To Keep Jairus Byrd

February 22nd, 2014 at 1:55pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Bills still intend on signing Jairus Byrd to a long-term deal, according to Ian Rapaport of the NFL Network (via Twitter). However, if a contract cannot be reached, Rapaport reports that the team plans to franchise their star safety.

Byrd played under the franchise tag this past season, after a tumultuous offseason where he expressed his unhappiness at failing to secure the long-term deal.

It shouldn’t be thought of as a given that Byrd will be franchised, as the Bills are still trying to come to terms with the leader of their defense. His cap number if franchised would be close to $8.3MM, which raises the question of whether the team could afford to use the tag on him again. It has been reported from early on this offseason that the team would rather sign him without having to designate him with the franchise tag.

The only reason to use the franchise tag is to guarantee that he does not reach the open market, where he would certainly draw interest as one of the biggest free agents available. He could garner attention from quite a few teams with cap space, and here at Pro Football Rumors we have already examined the possibility of him as a target for teams such as the Eagles and Falcons, or reuniting with his defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, now head coach of the Browns.

AFC Notes: Pouncey, Chiefs, Satele, McGlynn

February 22nd, 2014 at 12:20pm CST by Matt Feminis

“The Ted Wells report most likely saved the Dolphins a lot of money when it comes to Mike Pouncey,” says ESPN.com’s James Walker. Pouncey is a 24-year-old Pro Bowler, but his part in the bullying of Jonathan Martin “is reason enough to deny Pouncey a long-term extension,” according to Walker, who believes rewarding Pouncey would send a bad message.
The Chiefs will not have to release any players for cap purposes, believes ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher, who also says the team must retain two of the three starting offensive linemen scheduled to hit free agency: Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz. Says Teicher: “[The Chiefs] might be able to get Schwartz and Asamoah for what they could pay Albert. That’s what makes the most sense. But I know Schwartz wants to be a starter (and get paid like one). I don’t blame him. He won’t come back for a backup job or backup money unless he can’t get better somewhere else. That’s true for Asamoah, too. So the Chiefs may be forced to choose between Schwartz and Asamoah and look elsewhere for their backups.”
Colts center Samson Satele did not get a ringing endorsement from GM Ryan Grigson, says ESPN.com’s Mike Wells. Satele’s roster spot could be in jeopardy, as he struggled last season and counts $5.1MM against the 2014 salary cap. Additionally, Wells mentions some scouts think Mike McGlynn, a free agent-to-be, is a better option. The team also spent a fourth-round pick on Khaled Holmes, a developmental center out of USC.

Rams Not Tipping Hand On Finnegan

February 22nd, 2014 at 11:21am CST by Matt Feminis

Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan‘s second season in St. Louis was a disaster, as he struggled to play through a fractured orbital bone before hitting Injured Reserve. Because of his scheduled $10MM cap hit, speculation suggests he’s on the chopping block, but ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner explains a more optimistic scenario in which Finnegan restructures his five-year, $50MM deal and stays in St. Louis.

Head coach Jeff Fisher said he expects Finnegan in the team’s off-season program and GM Les Snead did not sound intent of severing ties with the veteran corner, who is considered a positive locker-room presence and secondary leader. “What we want to do is get the cap where we don’t have to make a non-football decision,” said Snead, who acknowledged that Finnegan’s injury caused headaches and vision issues. “First of all, get him healthy and then with [defensive coordinator] Gregg [Williams] coming in figure out where we all fit. In this league, like pass-rushers, corners that can go inside and play nickel, you can’t have enough of those people.”

Giants Notes: Nicks, Tuck, Wilson, Beason

February 22nd, 2014 at 9:51am CST by Matt Feminis

Giants Senior Vice President & General Manager Jerry Reese spoke to the media Saturday morning and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post tweeted some of the topics addressed:

Hakeem Nicks and Justin Tuck will hit the free agent market (via Twitter).
The team is optimistic about David Wilson‘s neck injury, but will likely select a running back in the draft (Twitter).
Uncertainty about the health of Chris Snee (wrist) and David Baas (knee) is making offensive line decisions difficult (Twitter).
Jon Beason, who was acquired in trade last season and recorded 93 tackles and an interception in 11 starts, will become an unrestricted free agent, but the Giants want him back (Twitter).