2014 February - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Wheeler, Grimes, Chargers, Gore

February 21st, 2014 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

There have been some rumblings at the combine that the Dolphins could cut linebacker Philip Wheeler, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, who adds (via Twitter) that the Raiders would be “very interested” in bringing Wheeler back to Oakland if he were available. Still, I’d be pretty surprised if Miami decided to part ways with Wheeler. With several years of prorated bonus money still left on his deal, the Dolphins wouldn’t create any cap savings by releasing the 29-year-old this offseason.

As the Dolphins weigh that decision, let’s check out a handful of other updates from across the NFL….

Cornerback Brent Grimes had been viewed as a candidate to be designated as the Dolphins’ franchise player this offseason. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com now hears that tagging Grimes may not be a realistic solution for Miami at a cost of about $11.3MM (Twitter link).
Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com provides a few of the notable quotes from Chargers GM Tom Telesco during his Thurday sesssion with reporters. Telesco acknowledged that the team isn’t exactly “flush with cap space,” suggesting there will be some tough decisions to make in the next several weeks.
In his comments to the media today, there were no indications that GM Trent Baalke and the 49ers will ask Frank Gore to take a pay cut for 2014, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
After spending big in free agency a year ago, the Colts plan to be more judicious with their spending this offseason, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star.
According to ESPN.com’s David Newton, the time may be right for the Panthers to draft a QB to back up Cam Newton.
The Ravens met with a pair of top-five OT draft prospects – Zack Martin and Taylor Lewan – at the combine, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
In an interview with Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press, former All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens suggested he still thinks he’s capable of playing in the NFL at age 40. In spite of T.O.’s confidence, I wouldn’t expect to see him sign with an NFL team anytime soon.

Packers Notes: Flynn, Jones, Finley, Cap

February 21st, 2014 at 10:15am CST by Luke Adams

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson have already addressed the media this morning in Indianapolis, so let’s round up some of the highlights from their respective sessions….

McCarthy indicated that a report suggesting Green Bay wants to get lighter on the defensive line isn’t necessarily accurate. McCarthy conceded that the defensive front may look a little different next season, but said he never wants his line to get smaller (Twitter links via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).
Asked about a few pending free agents, McCarthy expressed interest in bringing back quarterback Matt Flynn, as well as pass-catchers James Jones and Jermichael Finley (Twitter links via Demovsky and Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
Thompson deflected questions about his team’s biggest draft need and whether the Packers would use the franchise tag on cornerback Sam Shields (Twitter links via Dunne).
While some execs and experts have been lavish in their praise of this year’s draft class, Thompson was more restrained, telling reporters, including Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (Twitter link), that it’s hard to evaluate draft classes in the moment. In Thompson’s view, it won’t be possible to know how strong or deep this year’s group is until several years down the road.
Much has been made of the Packers’ cap flexibility, but Thompson says the team tries not to approach the offseason focusing too heavily on cap space: “We don’t talk much about the cap. We try not to make decisions based on the cap. We try to make football decisions” (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin).
Thompson added that there are always “surprises” during free agency, but that Green Bay is approaching the free agent period intent on keeping their own players (Twitter links via Dougherty).

NFC Notes: Orton, Saffold, Hardy, Palmer

February 21st, 2014 at 9:45am CST by Luke Adams

Kyle Orton has a year remaining on his contract with the Cowboys, but the team isn’t entirely sure that he’ll be back for the 2014 season, Clarence Hill and Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram hear from executive VP Stephen Jones and multiple sources. Orton is mulling the idea of retiring, and figures to make his decision before the new league year begins on March 11. If the Cowboys’ backup does call it a career, quarterback will become an even stronger area of focus for the club in free agency and the draft.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

The Rams will meet with Rodger Saffold‘s agent tomorrow to discuss a new contract for the offensive tackle, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Speaking to the NFL Network about free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said that GM Dave Gettleman told him they’re working to get something done with Hardy (Twitter link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer).
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told reporters, including Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that he thinks quarterback Carson Palmer can play until he’s 36 or 37. That would mean another two or three seasons for the Arizona signal-caller.
The 49ers haven’t had trade discussions involving LaMichael James, according to GM Trent Baalke, who says the running back will “continue to be a 49er” (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee). A report earlier this month indicated James could be on the trade block this offseason.
We rounded up several NFC East items earlier today.

Titans Rumors: Verner, Free Agents, Britt

February 21st, 2014 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

There’s some concern that free agent cornerback Alterraun Verner may be out of the Titans’ price range, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. The club has spoken to Verner’s agent and hasn’t ruled out using its franchise tag, but indications are that Tennessee won’t franchise its standout cornerback, who figures to attract several big-money suitors on the open market, says Wyatt. Here’s more on the Titans from the Tennessean scribe:

Within the same piece, Wyatt suggests that locking up Verner may require a deal similar to the one the Titans gave Jason McCourty, who is averaging $8.6MM per year.
GM Ruston Webster on Verner, and free agents in general: “You have to look at where he is going to fit in your puzzle with the salary cap, with the value, whatever you set his value at. You want to get good players on your team. We try and get as many of those as we can everywhere, but obviously you have to spread it out some, so you have to be careful that way.”
There are indications that the Titans have spoken to – or plan to speak to – the agents for several prospective free agents, writes Wyatt, listing running back Jackie Battle, wide receivers Damian Williams and Marc Mariani, return specialist Leon Washington and offensive lineman Chris Spencer.
One free agent with whom the team appears ready to part ways? Wide receiver Kenny Britt. Unsurprisingly, Wyatt tweets that Tennessee has no plans to re-sign Britt.

Redskins Don’t Plan To Move Kirk Cousins

February 21st, 2014 at 8:33am CST by Luke Adams

8:33am: Speaking to reporters today, including Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (Twitter link), Allen confirmed that he hasn’t had discussions with any teams about trading Cousins.

7:47am: Redskins general manager Bruce Allen publicly suggested earlier this month that the club is comfortable heading into 2014 with Kirk Cousins on the roster and isn’t looking to move its backup quarterback. Those comments didn’t come as a surprise, since team executives will often express one thing publicly and privately send different signals out to possible trade partners, but it appears that’s not the case for the Redskins and Cousins. League sources tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link) that the Redskins have no interest in moving the 25-year-old and no plans to do so.

Schefter’s report comes on the heels of a Washington Post story from earlier in the week that indicated the Redskins would be seeking a second-round pick if they were to consider dealing Cousins. While the Post report made it clear that Washington wasn’t openly shopping its No. 2 QB at this point, it’s still fair to wonder if a leaguewide lack of interest in giving up a second-rounder for Cousins is partially responsible for the team’s plan to stand pat. Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report said yesterday that clubs around the league were “laughing” at the idea of giving up a second-round pick for Cousins, calling it a “very ambitious” asking price.

I could still see Cousins being dealt at some point this offseason if Washington gets an offer it likes, and we know that the signal-caller himself is open to the idea of being sent to a team where he’d have a chance to start. With plenty of holes to fill on the roster and no first-round pick in this year’s draft, it could be in the Redskins’ best interests to deal from a position of strength. We’ll have to wait and see if they really do stick to their guns and hang on to Cousins through the spring and summer.

NFC East Notes: Orakpo, Eagles, Cowboys

February 21st, 2014 at 8:25am CST by Luke Adams

As we look forward to another busy day at the combine in Indianapolis, let’s check in on a few Friday morning updates on all four NFC East squads:

Redskins general manager Bruce Allen confirmed that the club will meet with the agent for free agent linebacker Brian Orakpo this weekend, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
Although the Eagles will have to make offseason decisions on about a third of the players on their roster, GM Howie Roseman was fairly noncommittal when asked about those decisions, as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer details.
In the last couple offseasons, the Eagles have made modest free agent expenditures, but the team is still willing to spend big on the right player, says Roseman (link via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “I think unique situations call for unique action,” Roseman said. “If there is a unique player in free agency that is hard to find other than top of draft and fits all the criteria that we outlined, some publicly and some privately, you have to look at it. We still view ourselves as aggressive and risk-takers. Sometimes you have to take risks to get better.”
With Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper facing free agency and Jason Avant‘s contract making him a potential cap casualty, Roseman sounds like he’s “willing to shuffle the [Eagles‘] deck at wide receiver,” writes Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com.
The odds are very slim that the Cowboys will draft quarterback Johnny Manziel, but they’ll meet with him at the combine today, writes Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Giants are well-positioned to get Eli Manning some help on offense in this year’s draft, according to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News, who suggests a few offensive linemen and pass-catchers the team may target at the combine.
Earlier this morning, we heard that the Redskins have no plans to trade Kirk Cousins.

Lions Rumors: Suh, FAs, Bell, Pettigrew

February 21st, 2014 at 8:02am CST by Luke Adams

Already this morning, we’ve passed along word that the Lions signed safety Isa Abdul-Quddus to a contract for 2014. Martin Mayhew offered several more tidbits of note during a conversation with reporters this morning though, so let’s dive right in and round up the highlights from the Detroit general manager….

While Ndamukong Suh has yet to officially decide on a new agent, the Lions still expect to get a contract extension done with their standout defensive lineman sometime around March 11, when the new league year begins, according to Mayhew (Twitter links via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com and Chris McCosky of the Detroit News).
With an extension likely for Suh, Mayhew says he hasn’t considered alternative scenarios, such as a trade, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Mayhew told reporters, including ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein (Twitter links), that the Lions don’t expect to bring back several prospective free agents: Safety John Wendling, defensive end Israel Idonije, kicker David Akers, linebacker Rocky McIntosh, and offensive lineman Dylan Gandy.
Although those players won’t be back with the Lions, the club has interest in retaining a couple of its free-agents-to-be. Mayhew indicated that Detroit is interested in a long-term deal for running back Joique Bell, who will be tendered and return to the Lions no matter what (Twitter link via Rothstein).
The Lions also want to re-sign tight end Brandon Pettigrew, and will talk to his agent at the combine, tweets Twentyman. Birkett adds (via Twitter) that Mayhew didn’t rule out the possibility of using the franchise tag on Pettigrew.

Lions Sign Isa Abdul-Quddus

February 21st, 2014 at 7:33am CST by Luke Adams

Not long after claiming him off waivers from the Saints, the Lions have signed safety Isa Abdul-Quddus to a contract for the 2014 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Despite being claimed on waivers by Detroit, Abdul-Quddus wasn’t under contract beyond next month, having been eligible for restricted free agency.

Abdul-Quddus, 25, spent his first three seasons with the Saints, starting three games for the team during the 2012 season. While he grabbed a pair of interceptions and defended seven passes on defense in ’12, the Fordham alum saw most of his action in 2013 on special teams.

According to Birkett (Twitter link), Abdul-Quddus’ new deal with the Lions is worth a total of $695K for 2014. Since the pact includes a $50K signing bonus, that means the safety will be under contract for a minimum base salary of $645K.

Patriots Hire Michael Lombardi

February 20th, 2014 at 11:00pm CST by Peter Sowards

After a tumultuous one-year tenure with the Browns, Michael Lombardi was on his way out of Cleveland.

He’s on his way to a reunion of sorts in New England, according to a release by the team.

The Patriots say Lombardi has been hired as an assistant to the coaching staff, “bringing 23 years of NFL experience as a front office executive.” Five years of experience was with Bill Belichick in Cleveland, with Belichick as head coach and Lombardi as pro personnel director and director of player personnel.

Lombardi went on to personnel positions with the Eagles and Raiders before working as an analyst and reporter, then joined the Browns last season.

Belichick was asked at the combine what Lombardi will be doing for the team, and the always-loquacious head coach gave another one of his trademark non-answers.

“Mike’s got a lot of experience. He’s done a lot of things in his career in the NFL. I’m sure he’ll be doing many of those things for us. We’ll see how it goes.”

Saints Won’t Tender Tom Johnson

February 20th, 2014 at 10:40pm CST by Peter Sowards

The Saints will not tender restricted free agent defensive tackle Tom Johnson, tweets USA Today’s Tom Pelissero. Johnson played in 40 games and totaled five sacks in three seasons with New Orleans.

After leaving Southern Mississippi in 2006, Johnson spent time in training camp with the Colts, then had various stints in NFL Europa, the AFL and the CFL before finding a home with the Saints.

Since Johnson went undrafted out of college, the Saints would not receive any draft pick compensation were they to place the lowest right of first refusal tender on him. But they would reserve to right to match any offer sheet he was offered.

The 2013 RFA original round and right of first refusal tenders amounted $1.32MM. With the 2014 salary cap projected to increase by $7MM, or 5%, one would expect a similar bump with the tenders.