2014 February - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins Rumors: Grimes, Patterson, Tannehill

February 7th, 2014 at 10:31am CST by Luke Adams

Rookie general manager Dennis Hickey will have his work cut out for him in Miami, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who takes a detailed look at the offseason decisions facing the Dolphins. La Canfora’s piece is filled with notable tidbits, so let’s dive and round up some of the highlights….

Several team and league sources tell La Canfora that bringing back cornerback Brent Grimes is a top priority for the Dolphins. Grimes will be eligible for free agency next month, and could earn the franchise tag if he and the team can’t work out a long-term deal.
It’s “virtually certain” that Dimitri Patterson won’t be back at his current salary ($5.4MM), though he could return to the Dolphins at a lesser figure.
Defensive tackles Randy Starks and Paul Soliai are both free-agents-to-be, and the Dolphins will likely only keep one of the two, sources tell La Canfora.
Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey “might not be inclined” to play for his current 2014 salary of $1.7MM, and figures to seek an extension that will put him among the highest-paid players at his position, says La Canfora.
Said one person who interviewed for the Dolphins’ GM job: “It’s a total rebuild on the offensive line. They seemed to understand that there. Total rebuild. I’m not sure exactly how much of their budget they were planning to put into the line, but it had better be substantial.”
Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin “definitely wants to push [Ryan] Tannehill more,” according to one source, who adds that the club could turn to highly-paid backup Matt Moore if Tannehill doesn’t show noticeable improvement.
According to La Canfora, Hickey’s contract with the Dolphins is for two years, with a team option for year three, as I speculated earlier in the week.
If 2014 doesn’t go well for the Dolphins, there’s a possibility that the team could jettison Philbin and renew its pursuit of an A-list coach, such as Jim Harbaugh, Bill Cowher, or Jon Gruden, writes La Canfora.

Winston Plans To Play Two More Years At FSU

February 7th, 2014 at 9:13am CST by Luke Adams

Coming off a season in which he led the Florida State Seminoles to a BCS National Championship victory and became the youngest player to win the Heisman, quarterback Jameis Winston is one of the top young prospects in college football. However, backing up comments made by FSU coach Jimbo Fisher this week, Winston says he intends to play college ball for two more years rather than entering the NFL draft when he’s eligible in 2015, according to Kareem Copeland of The Associated Press.

“Everybody says, well he’s going to stay one (more) year and leave,” Fisher said this week. “I think it’ll be two.”

Asked about his his coach’s declaration, Winston confirmed that “whatever he says most likely is true,” adding: “Obviously I’m a big baseball person, so that’s an accurate statement because I plan on playing baseball [at FSU] next season anyway.”

Plenty could change between now and next year’s draft, so there’s no guarantee that Winston sticks to his plan and waits until 2016 to head to the NFL. Still, even if he doesn’t declare his intent for the 2015 draft, it shouldn’t have a significant effect on NFL teams’ approaches for the coming offseason. Perhaps clubs in need of a young quarterback will be slightly more inclined to draft one this year, but considering how quickly Winston figures to come off the board when he’s draft-eligible, it would have been misguided for any one team to bank on landing him anyway.

Jets Eyeing Jeremy Maclin, Emmanuel Sanders

February 7th, 2014 at 8:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Jets will be looking this offseason to upgrade a passing offense that was one of the league’s worst in 2013, and have particular interest in two free agent receivers, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. According to Mehta, the Jets “covet” Jeremy Maclin of the Eagles and Emmanuel Sanders of the Steelers. Both players are eligible for unrestricted free agency next month.

While we haven’t heard much on the likelihood of Sanders returning to Pittsburgh, Eagles GM Howie Roseman hinted this week that there’s a chance Philadelphia may not retain both Maclin and Riley Cooper this offseason. After missing the 2013 season due to a torn ACL, Maclin figures to come cheaper and may be available on a one-year, make-good deal, which makes him a strong candidate to return to the Eagles, but also could make it easier for the Jets to outbid Philadelphia and other rival suitors.

As Mehta notes, the Jets’ top four receivers this past season – Santonio Holmes, Jeremy Kerley, David Nelson, and Stephen Hill – combined for just 126 catches and 1,744 yards, barely outpacing the individual stats of the league’s top receivers. Holmes, the highest-paid of that group, won’t be back in New York next season, at least not at his current price. The Jets can free up $8MM+ by cutting Holmes, and Mehta hears from sources that the club has already factored that amount into its pool of available free agent money.

While adding playmaking receivers will be a priority for the Jets this spring, the team is unlikely to be heavily in the mix for Eric Decker, says Mehta. New York may reach out to Decker and his reps to gauge the Denver receiver’s value, but there are those within the Jets organization who question his ability to be a true No. 1, according to Mehta.

Given the influx of talent required at the position, wide receiver figures to be an area of focus for the Jets in May’s draft as well as in free agency.

Redskins Re-Sign Doug Worthington

February 6th, 2014 at 10:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins have re-signed defensive end/tackle Doug Worthington to a one-year, $495K pact, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Worthington, who has limited NFL experience, was an exclusive rights free agent, meaning that he didn’t have the option of going elsewhere once Washington made him an offer.

Worthington suffered a biceps tendon injury in the summer of 2013 and spent the year on injured reserve. The 6’7″ Ohio State product saw time in three regular season contests in 2012, plus the club’s playoff loss to the Seahawks.

Extra Points: Kluwe, Blackmon, Rogers

February 6th, 2014 at 9:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Clayton Halunen, the attorney for former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, says he’s upset with the club’s decision to retain special teams coach Mike Priefer before the conclusion of the investigation into his comments, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press details. The punter, who has been a vocal advocate for gay marriage, alleged that Priefer made a number of homophobic remarks in his presence. More from around the NFL..

At a fan event, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said that at some point, suspended wide receiver Justin Blackmon will be back with the team, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. That falls in line with recent comments from Jags owner Shad Khan.
The 49ers may ask cornerback Carlos Rogers to take a pay cut yet again, writes CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco. Money is fairly tight in San Francisco. The salary cap is expected to be in the $126-128MM range and the 49ers’ top 51 players currently under contract account for $121.2MM, according to a league source. The club has an additional $2.175MM in carryover of unused cap space from the 2013 season, but Rogers, Jon Baldwin, and others may have to take less to stay in SF.
Newly-minted Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil is glad to have Barkevious Mingo on his squad. In fact, Buffalo’s former outside linebackers coach pushed the Bills to pick Mingo with the eighth pick in last year’s draft but he was off the board once Cleveland grabbed him at No. 6, writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. “I’m a big fan of Mingo. I’m looking forward to working with him. He flashes some on tape. He did a lot of good things. He’s obviously a young player. He’s got some things to work on, but we’re excited as a defensive staff to get him back here and start working with him,” said O’Neil.
Albert Breer of NFL Network (via these five Twitter links) rightfully notes that the NFL salary cap isn’t set in stone at the $126.3MM estimate that came about in December. A number of factors, including TV money and the influence of the NFLPA, could drive that number closer to $130MM.
Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter) expects the Cowboys to sign quarterback Mike Kafka. Dallas will need a QB to get through the offseason program while Tony Romo goes through rehab. Earlier today we learned that Dallas auditioned the former Northwestern signal caller.

Broncos Retain Jack Del Rio As DC

February 6th, 2014 at 7:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio agreed to terms Thursday on a new two-year contract, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The deal between the AFC champions and the former Jaguars head coach should be finalized tomorrow.

“Jack did a nice job with our defense,” said John Elway, the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations. “We had a lot of injuries on that defensive side and Jack did a good job holding that side together. Even in the Super Bowl, our defense kept us in the game in the first half.”

Of course, Denver wasn’t really known for its defense this year as Peyton Manning and the club’s electric passing game took most of the attention. However, Del Rio has done enough to halt the revolving door that has been the Denver DC position in recent years. Before Del Rio’s arrival in 2012, the Broncos went through seven in seven years.

When Broncos head coach John Fox underwent open-heart surgery in November, Del Rio served as interim coach and led Denver to a 3-1 mark as interim coach. The Broncos’ defense was just belo the middle of the pack last season with 356 yards allowed per game, good for 19th overall.

Drew Brees Could Run For NFLPA Prez

February 6th, 2014 at 7:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Saints quarterback Drew Brees could run for president of the Players’ Association when the role will be up for a vote in March, writes USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Current player president Domonique Foxworth retired in 2012 and rules prohibit him from serving on the board since he didn’t play this past season.

“I’ve given it thought,” Brees said of becoming union president. “There’s a lot of guys that I feel like would be great presidents. I think that it requires a lot of time. And regardless of whether I ever choose to do that or not, I’ll always be involved.”

The Saints’ signal caller, who has sat on the executive committee for six years, is considered a shoe-in for the presidency if he chooses to run. However, Brees has turned down nominations twice before, two people with knowledge of the process told Pelissero. Meanwhile, Brees says that the state of the union is strong despite the fact that some are said to be unhappy with executive director DeMaurice Smith over the last CBA. Multiple executive committee members say that confidence is high in Smith, but he has detractors among agents, player reps, and the rank and file

Executive committee members Charlie Batch, Brian Dawkins, Scott Fujita, Matt Light, Brandon Moore, and Jeff Saturday will also need to be replaced in March. An eighth member, Cowboys guard Brian Waters, may choose to give up his spot if he retires, which would leave just three holdovers in Brees, Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, and Saints tight end Ben Watson.

NFC East Notes: RGIII, Morgan, Cowboys

February 6th, 2014 at 6:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, our own Luke Adams ran down the free agent market for quarterbacks, starting with Michael Vick of the Eagles. Vick had a strong first month to the season but understudy Nick Foles eventually seized his opportunity when he fell to injury. The veteran is unlikely to return to Philadelphia and is confident that he’ll be starting somewhere to open up the 2014 season. The Jaguars, Texans, Browns, Vikings, Buccaneers, and Raiders are among the teams expected to seek a starting QB and he could have the opportunity to show that he still has plenty to give in the fall when he will have turned 34. More from the NFC East:

New Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan says the adversity that he experienced with the Redskins and quarterback Robert Griffin III last season will help him improve going forward, writes Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. The topic of Shanahan’s relationship with RGIII came up in his interview with Cleveland on January 29.
Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan would like to play for his hometown team again in 2014, but he’s not sure if the feeling is mutual, writes CSNWashington.com’s Tarik El-Bashir. Morgan was the Redskins’ leading receiver in 2012, hauling in 48 passes for 510 yards. Last season, however, the 28-year-old fell out of favor with then-coach Mike Shanahan and was deactivated twice. He finished with 20 receptions for 214 yards and zero touchdowns.
The Cowboys auditioned quarterback Mike Kafka and former Arena League receivers Braylon Bell and Maurice Williams at a local high school, according to Rowan Kavner of DallasCowboys.com. Kafka, a fourth-round draft pick of the Eagles’ in 2010 out of Northwestern, spent time briefly with the Patriots and Jaguars last season but hasn’t played in a regular season NFL game since 2011.

Extra Points: Decker, Peppers, Graham

February 6th, 2014 at 5:34pm CST by Zachary Links

The very best wide receivers usually don’t reach the open market, but there are still plenty of gems to be found. Yesterday, Andrew Cohen of OverTheCap.com previewed the 2014 free agent class at the wide receiver position. The class is highlighted by Broncos wideout Eric Decker, athletic Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, and more. Cohen sees Maclin, who missed all of 2013 with an ACL tear, staying with the Eagles on a one-year, $5MM pact. Meanwhile, he predicts that Decker will wind up with the Browns on a five-year, $62MM deal with about $25-30MM guaranteed. Here’s more from around the NFL..

Chris Burke of SI.com breaks down the possible cap casualties of the offseason. The once dominant Julius Peppers probably won’t be with the Bears if he doesn’t take a pay cut and Chris Clemons and Sidney Rice are probably on the block with the Seahawks.
Who will be slapped with the franchise tag this offseason? Cohen writes that five to eight players will likely be hit with one of the most unique clauses in professional sports. Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, Browns safety T.J. Ward, and Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta are among the candidates for the tag.
NFL.com has released the list of players invited to participate in the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. Of course, an invitation doesn’t ensure that the player will participate and every year there are notable players who opt out of the mass audition. The combine runs from February 22-25.

AFC Links: Texans, Browns, Pats, Raiders

February 6th, 2014 at 4:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Asked today on the Dan Patrick Show (video link) if he believes he should be picked first overall in May’s draft, Jadeveon Clowney said yes, but former Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would go a different direction if he were making the call for Houston. Appearing on 610 SportsRadio in Houston (hat tip to Pro Football Talk), Phillips said he told Texans ownership that he believes quarterback Johnny Manziel is the best choice for the franchise.

“Those kinds of guys who can make first downs when you’re not supposed to, I think they give you something.” Phillips said. “I just think he makes plays that nobody else can make.”

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who has maintained that the Texans intend to take a QB with the No. 1 pick, tweets that, with so much of the process still remaining, the team doesn’t yet favor one of the top three (Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, or Blake Bortles). The club still has three months to decide what it’ll do with that top pick so in the meantime, let’s round up a few more updates from across the AFC….

After the trade of Trent Richardson, running back devolved into the weakest position on the Browns‘ roster, and will need to be addressed this offseason, says Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.
Noting that the Patriots typically spend as little as possible on a backup quarterback, Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston writes that it would make sense if the club selects a QB in the draft’s middle rounds, with Ryan Mallett a good bet to depart via free agency in a year.
The Raiders announced four additions to their coaching staff today, including defensive backs coach Joe Woods, according to a team release.
Mike Wells of ESPN.com discussed the Colts with former Browns scout Matt Williamson, who suggested that Indianapolis could use some help on the interior of the offensive line, as well as just about everywhere on defense.