2014 February - Pro Football Rumors

Broncos Links: Delmas, Dreessen, Draft

February 19th, 2014 at 4:39pm CST by Luke Adams

While not every NFL team’s head coach and/or general manager will speak to the media at this week’s scouting combine, the Broncos’ decision-makers will be available to reporters. Coach John Fox is scheduled to meet with the media on Thursday, with newly-extended general manager John Elway set to round out the schedule on Friday. As we wait to see what Fox and Elway have to say, less than three weeks after the team’s Super Bowl loss, let’s check in on the latest out of Denver:

The Broncos have spoken to agent Drew Rosenhaus about recently released safety Louis Delmas, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. However, while Delmas met with the Steelers earlier this week, he doesn’t currently appear to have any visit scheduled with the Broncos.
Tight end Joel Dreessen has one year left on the three-year pact he signed with the Broncos in 2012, and he intends to play out the final season of that deal if possible, writes Klis. According to the Denver Post scribe, Dreesen will undergo surgery on a troublesome left knee next week in the hopes of getting healthy for the 2014 season.
In a third piece for the Post, Klis takes a look at a number of positions of need for the Broncos, along with input from NFL Network’s Mike Mayock on players that could be possible fits for Denver. The Broncos’ figure to be focusing on their defense in the draft, potentially targeting players at defensive end, middle linebacker, safety, and cornerback.

Falcons Release Garrett Reynolds

February 19th, 2014 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 4:02pm: The Falcons finalized the move today, officially releasing Reynolds, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).

TUESDAY, 4:30pm: The Falcons have informed offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds of his release, according to agent Chad Speck of Allegiant Athletic Agency (Twitter link). Reynolds is the latest veteran to be cut by the Falcons, who also released Asante Samuel and Stephen Nicholas earlier this month.

Reynolds, who started 10 games for the Falcons in 2013, signed a two-year, $2.7MM extension with the club last offseason. However, the 26-year-old lost his starting job at right guard late in the 2013 season, and his released had been expected. The move reduces his $1.63MM cap hit to $250K in dead money, creating modest cap savings in the $1MM range for the Falcons.

Reynolds, who graded as Pro Football Focus’ 31st overall guard (subscription required), won’t have to pass through waivers, since he has at least four years of experience. He’ll likely be in line for a minimum-salary contract with another team.

Falcons Sign Gabe Carimi

February 19th, 2014 at 3:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

WEDNESDAY, 3:17pm: Carimi’s one-year contract with the Falcons is worth a total of $840K, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). The deal includes a $645K base salary, a $65K signing bonus, and $140K in “per game” roster bonuses.

MONDAY, 3:55pm: The Falcons have signed offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, according to their team website. He had been released by the Buccaneers on February 10.

Carimi, 25, was a 2011 first-round pick of the Bears. He started 16 games over two seasons, before being traded to Tampa in 2013, where he started three games. He has experience at both tackle and guard.

As Alex Marvez of Fox Sports notes on Twitter, Carimi played under current Falcons offensive line coach Mike Tice when they both were with the Bears. Additionally, ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure notes that Carimi played with Tice’s son while at Wisconsin (Twitter link).

Extra Points: Roberts, Fitzpatrick, Steelers

February 19th, 2014 at 2:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Andre Roberts doesn’t sound bullish about the possibility of returning to the Cardinals for 2014, suggesting during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio that there may not be “enough balls to go around out here” (link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com). Roberts will be looking for a four- or five-year contract this offseason, but will be willing to sign a one-year, make-good deal, according to Weinfuss. The receiver also sounds like he’s looking forward to testing the open market.

“I’m pretty excited about the whole free-agency process,” Roberts said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what’s coming for the rest of my career.”

Here’s more from across the NFL:

Titans backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick could be cut this offseason if the team wants to create a little cap flexibility, but he tells John Glennon of the Tennessean that he’s not worried about that possibility.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes there’s at least an outside chance that a grievance over Jimmy Graham’s franchise-tag position could result in the Saints star becoming an unrestricted free agent, as he explained in a piece this morning. Taking that possibility into account, Florio thinks the Saints ought to tag Graham and push for resolution sooner rather than later.
With a grievance over Graham’s position likely looming, Pat Kirwan of CBSSports.com takes a look at how the NFL could make franchise-tag positional designations more logical. In Kirwan’s view, the league and the NFLPA should agree on several adjustments to the system, including adding new designations for fullbacks and kick returners, and dividing offensve linemen and wide receivers into multiple groups.
Appearing on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert echoed comments made by team president Art Rooney II last month, suggesting that the franchise wants to re-sign Ben Roethlisberger and ensure that he remains a Steeler for the rest of his career. ESPN.com’s Scott Brown has the quotes and the details.
In an interesting piece for the National Football Post, Jack Bechta explains how agents help their clients prepare for the draft combine.

NFC East Notes: Riley, Cowboys, Eagles

February 19th, 2014 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s already been a busy day for NFC East updates, as the Cowboys opened the morning by winning a coin flip for the 16th overall pick in the 2014 draft, while the Redskins followed up by finalizing their new contract agreement with cornerback DeAngelo Hall. We also heard that Washington will be seeking at least a second-round pick if the team decides to make Kirk Cousins available via trade. Now we’ve got a few more NFC East notes to pass along, so let’s dive in….

The Redskins and free agent linebacker Perry Riley haven’t made much progress so far in contract negotiations, sources tell Mark Maske of the Washington Post. The two sides continue to talk, and the Redskins still want to retain the free-agent-to-be, but no deal is close at this point, says Maske, adding that one source suggests Riley appears increasingly likely to test the open market in March.
Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com explores the long-term implications of Hall’s new deal with the Redskins, in a post at RealRedskins.com.
The Cowboys are still “getting the lay of the land” when it comes to making roster decisions on players like DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin, executive vice president Stephen Jones tells Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
There’s a very real chance that the Eagles draft a quarterback this May, as Reuben Frank details at CSNPhilly.com.
According to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal, Eagles defensive end Cedric Thornton has moved from CAA Sports to Joby Branion of Athletes First (Twitter link). Mullen adds that Branion, Carmen Wallace, and Athletes First will also represent Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter, who has left former agent Carl Carey (Twitter links). Carter still has one year remaining on his contract, while Thornton is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason.

Pro Football Rumors Glossary

February 19th, 2014 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Pro Football Rumors is in the process of creating a glossary of terms related to free agency, the salary cap, and other areas of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. If you’re confused by our references to concepts like franchise players or reserve/futures contracts, or just want further clarification on the specifics, this tool should help clear things up.

We’ll continue to add entries to this glossary, which can be found anytime on the right sidebar under “PFR Features.” If there’s a specific concept you’d like us to cover, please let us know. Here’s what we have so far:

Redskins Re-Sign DeAngelo Hall

February 19th, 2014 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

11:34am: The Redskins have officially announced Hall’s deal, and Rapoport has the details (Twitter link): The four-year pact is worth $17MM, with a $3.25MM signing bonus and another $2MM in guaranteed money.

WEDNESDAY, 8:40am: The Redskins have officially confirmed their agreement with Hall, tweeting out a photo this morning of the cornerback signing his new contract.

TUESDAY, 3:09pm: Prospective free agent DeAngelo Hall and the Redskins have agreed to terms on a new contract, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). News4’s Dianna Marie Russini first reported (via Twitter) that the two sides had reached an agreement.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Hall’s new contract will be a four-year pact worth nearly $5MM per year. It’s not clear yet how much of that money will be guaranteed, but regardless, it’s a very nice raise for the veteran defensive back, who played the 2013 season on a one-year, $1.25MM deal.

Advanced stats haven’t been kind to Hall in recent years, and that trend continued in 2013, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 84th among the league’s cornerbacks (subscription required). However, the 30-year-old was easily the Redskins’ most explosive defensive playmaker, grabbing four interceptions and scoring three touchdowns (two on INTs, one on a fumble recovery).

For Washington, the agreement with Hall is the first step in bringing back several of the team’s notable free agent defensive players. Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley, and Brandon Meriweather are among the players eligible for free agency next month, and the team will still have plenty of flexibility to bring them back. Orakpo figures to be the Redskins’ top priority, with the franchise tag a possibility to keep him under contract.

We first heard two weeks back that Hall and the Redskins had begun discussing a new contract. Considering he grew up in the Virginia Beach area rooting for the Redskins, Hall’s decision to forgo unrestricted free agency isn’t a huge surprise.

NFC North Rumors: Suh, Tillman, Cobb

February 19th, 2014 at 11:28am CST by Luke Adams

The Lions would like to meet with Ndamukong Suh’s reps this week to discuss a new deal for the defensive lineman, but if Suh has hired a new agent, no one has informed the team yet, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Jay-Z and Roc Nation Sports have been linked to Suh, but it’s still not entirely clear if Roc Nation will only represent the 27-year-old for marketing purposes, or if the agency will be negotiating his contracts as well. As we wait for confirmation from Suh’s camp on who will be negotiating his new deal, let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFC North….

In an appearance on WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago, prospective free agent Charles Tillman continued to leave the door open for a return to the Bears, though he’ll definitely hit the open market, as Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune writes. “If I’m here, sweet,” Tillman said of Chicago. “If I’m not, that’s business.” The veteran cornerback also acknowledged that retirement may not be too far off (“I don’t want to play forever”), but shot down the idea of moving to safety in 2014.
Packers receiver Randall Cobb is entering a contract year in 2014, and as far as he knows, there haven’t been any extension talks yet between his agent and the team (link via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com). “I would definitely love that,” Cobb said. “But unfortunately that won’t be my decision. That will be on the team to come to me with that decision.”
Although the Vikings will have to address a “glaring need” at cornerback in either free agency or the draft, safety may be the only position on defense with no turnover this offseason, according to Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.

Mack Has Questions About Browns’ Direction

February 19th, 2014 at 10:13am CST by Luke Adams

Free-agent-to-be Alex Mack likely won’t be designated as the Browns’ franchise player, since the team won’t want to pay left-tackle money to its starting center, but Cleveland remains very interested in re-signing Mack. According to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, negotiations between the two sides are expected to get underway after Mack returns from a humanitarian trip to Rio de Janeiro at the end of the month. However, before negotiations begin, Mack will want some answers to questions he has about the Browns’ future and direction, agent Marv Demoff tells Grossi.

“I think the most important thing is Alex really would want to meet the coaches,” Demoff said. “He was pretty close to [former offensive line coach George] Warhop, and liked [former head coach Rob] Chudzinski. Everything he had in Cleveland is changed. Warhop was a constant for five years. He’s gone. There’s a different head coach, different offensive coordinator, different offensive line coach. If you’re looking at this from an intelligent point of view, there’s more to it than money. You have to believe in what you’re doing. I want Alex first to be able to sign off and say I’m fine with all the changes and where they’re headed.”

While Mack had been viewed as likely to leave Cleveland under the team’s old regime, the new decision-makers are anxious to meet with the center and his agent, according to Grossi. The club previously attempted to work out a long-term agreement in the fall, but couldn’t agree with Mack and Demoff on either the dollar figure or the number of years. Grossi hears from a source that the Browns wanted a five-year deal, while Mack preferred three years, though he was willing to do four.

Although those early negotiations weren’t fruitful, the two sides agreed to revisit the conversation after the season, and Demoff insists that the previous impasse in talks won’t preclude a deal this time around. In the agent’s view, his client isn’t necessarily clamoring to reach the open market.

“During the season, he was playing football with the Browns,” Demoff said. “When he was negotiating in October, he was negotiating a long-term deal for the Browns. Once that didn’t happen, he put it aside. He didn’t put a circle on March 11 on his calendar.”

If Mack isn’t tagged as the team’s franchise player, and if he and the Browns are unable to reach an agreement by March 11, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. In that case, the 28-year-old figures to be one of the most appealing offensive linemen available. According to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), Mack graded as the league’s fourth-best center in 2013.

AFC Notes: Monroe, Texans, Jaguars, Talib

February 19th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

As we heard earlier this week, re-signing offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will be a priority for the Ravens this offseason. However, the team shouldn’t expect to bring back Monroe at a discount. As Chris Wesseling of NFL.com details, Monroe recently told WNST-AM in Baltimore that he intends to maximize his value — either on the open market in March, or before that, if he and the Ravens can reach an agreement.

“Everyone in the business should understand – even coaches when they’re going through their deals negotiating contracts – you have to get the absolute best because you put forth your best effort all the time, every single day in this league,” Monroe said. “So there are definitely no discounts, and you have to have you and your family’s best interests at heart in terms of negotiating these deals.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

League sources “increasingly believe” that the Texans are leaning toward Johnny Manziel with the first overall pick, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, who hears that the team has been “quietly falling in lust” with the Texas A&M signal-caller. With over two and a half months still to go until the draft though, nothing is close to being set in stone yet.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com spoke extensively to Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell about his team’s future, and the piece produced several noteworthy quotes from the Jacksonville GM. Among them: Caldwell suggested he’d rather deal with the backlash for not drafting a quarterback third overall in May than pick the wrong guy.
While it’s still possible that the Redskins will make a play for free-agent-to-be Aqib Talib, their new contract agreement with DeAngelo Hall reduces their need for a cornerback, which could be good news for the Patriots, as Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes.
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune explores whether Eric Decker might be for a fit for the Chargers, but concludes that the free agent receiver figures to be too expensive for San Diego.
In an open letter to Joe Philbin, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald questions why the Dolphins’ head coach has been silent throughout the offseason, even since the publication of the Ted Wells report.