2014 February - Pro Football Rumors

Chris Baker, Redskins Discussing Contract

February 5th, 2014 at 1:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Redskins have opened up contract discussions with free-agent-to-be Chris Baker, reports Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. According to El-Bashir’s source, the team met on Tuesday with Baker’s rep to discuss a new deal for the defensive lineman, who is coming off a $1.3MM salary in 2013.

In his second year with the Redskins, Baker earned three starts at the end of the regular season, recording a career-high seven tackles in the team’s Week 17 game against the Giants. While re-signing Baker may not be as high a priority on Washington’s offseason to-do list as bringing back defensive players like DeAngelo Hall, Brian Orakpo, and Perry Riley, the 26-year-old lineman appears poised to earn a larger role next season if he returns to the club. As El-Bashir notes, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett mentioned Baker along with those other three players when asked last month about which defenders the team hoped to bring back.

Armed with more cap flexibility than they they’ve had in recent years, the Redskins appear committed to reaching deals with all or most of their key defensive free-agents-to-be. Yesterday, GM Bruce Allen confirmed that the team is in the early stages of negotiations with Hall, Orakpo, and Riley.

Extra Points: Cassel, Muamba, L.A., Patriots

February 5th, 2014 at 12:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Fans of Phil Simms and Jim Nantz will be pleased with the NFL’s new schedule for Thursday Night Football, which will feature eight 2014 games broadcast by CBS and eight by the NFL Network, according to an official release. All 16 games, however, will be produced by CBS and will feature Simms and Nantz on color and play-by-play respectively. Here’s more from around the NFL:

With Matt Cassel voiding the final year on his contract with the Vikings, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com predicts that the free agent quarterback will be seeking a salary in the neighborhood of $4-5MM this offseason.
The CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released linebacker Henoc Muamba, allowing him to pursue NFL opportunities, the team announced today in a press release (hat tip to Pro Football Talk). The first overall pick in the CFL’s 2011 draft, Muamba has reportedly worked out for multiple NFL teams in recent months, including the Ravens, Colts, and Browns.
In an interesting piece, Jack Bechta of the National Football Post draws on his extensive experience as a player agent to explain how the NFL’s free agent period really works.
While it doesn’t sound like Los Angeles is on the verge of getting an NFL team anytime in the immediate future, Tim Newcomb of SI.com writes that there are now three potentially viable stadium locations in the area for an NFL franchise.
Safety may not be an area of need for the Patriots in 2014, but the team should keep it in mind for the future, says Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.

Colts Sign Jack Breckner

February 5th, 2014 at 11:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Colts have signed offensive lineman Jack Breckner, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter). While Bowen doesn’t pass along the specific terms of the agreement, it figures to be a reserve/futures contract that will take effect next month.

Breckner, who stands 6’9″, has played for various arena and indoor football teams, including the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League, the Eastern Kentucky Drillers of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, and the AFL’s Iowa Barnstormers.

Eagles Facing ‘Complicated’ WR Situation

February 5th, 2014 at 11:10am CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles’ wide receiving corps played a large role in Nick Foles posting a ridiculous ratio of 27 touchdown passes to just two interceptions during the 2013 season, but multiple key pieces of that unit will be facing free agency this offseason. With both Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin poised to hit the open market next month, GM Howie Roseman tells Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com that the Eagles’ wide receiver situation is “complicated.”

“You have guys that you want to have back,” Roseman said, “And also, what resources are you going to devote to that position with the guys who are already on the roster? And then you look at it in the draft, obviously a very strong position, so I think … it’s a complicated situation but we’ve never ruled out bringing both of those guys back.”

As Mosher writes, the Eagles have the cap flexibility to re-sign both players, particularly since a knee injury wiped out Maclin’s season and likely derailed his chances of earning a lucrative long-term deal. Still, the club has other positions to address, as well as a few players who will need to be extended within the next year or two. Throw in the fact that Roseman’s comments suggest the team is eyeing receiving options in the draft, and it stands to reason that perhaps Philadelphia will let Cooper or Maclin walk.

A source tells Mosher that the Eagles and Cooper have yet to engage in extension talks of any substance, though that will likely happen later this month, perhaps at the league’s scouting combine. It’s not clear how far talks with Maclin have progressed, if they have at all. But for what it’s worth, Mosher wrote last month that he had a “hunch” the club would re-sign Maclin to a one-year pact and let Cooper walk.

Browns Unlikely To Trade For Kirk Cousins

February 5th, 2014 at 10:33am CST by Luke Adams

The Browns’ hiring of Kyle Shanahan to run their offense has fueled speculation that the Redskins’ former offensive coordinator could bring backup quarterback Kirk Cousins with him to Cleveland. However, despite a report indicating Cousins would be open to a trade, don’t expect the Browns to land him, according to Dianna Marie Russini of News4. Russini reports (via Twitter) that Cleveland isn’t interested in acquiring Cousins, since the team believes Brian Hoyer is a better option.

The report echoes one from over the weekend by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Cabot cited a source in writing that there was only a “remote possibility” of Cousins being sent to the Browns. In addition to having Hoyer under contract for another year, the Browns are positioned to pick fourth overall in May’s draft, so they could also add a young, high-upside quarterback with that selection.

While the Browns may not have a ton of interest in acquiring Cousins, that doesn’t mean the young signal-caller won’t be surrounded by trade rumors during the offseason. GM Bruce Allen has publicly indicated that Washington isn’t looking to move its backup QB, but the club will have plenty of holes to fill heading into 2014, so if a deal could net the Redskins a solid piece or two, the team would probably at least have to consider it. The ’14 free agent market for quarterbacks is fairly thin, and there’s considered to be a moderate drop-off after the top three QBs in the draft. In other words, teams searching for an upgrade may be willing to make it worth the Redskins’ while to part with Cousins.

Broncos Links: Moreno, DRC, Salary Cap

February 5th, 2014 at 10:01am CST by Luke Adams

While Sunday’s 43-8 drubbing at the hands of the Seahawks is still fresh in the Broncos’ minds, the team is now looking forward to the coming offseason rather than dwelling on its Super Bowl XLVIII loss. Let’s round up the latest links on Denver’s upcoming winter and spring:

Speaking to reporters (video link via NFL.com), running back Knowshon Moreno said “hopefully” he’d re-sign with the Broncos and return to Denver for the 2014 season. As Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk notes, executive VP of football operations John Elway pointed out on Tuesday that Denver has plenty of running back depth, though Elway said the club will wait to see how things “flesh out” with Moreno. A recent report indicated that the Broncos don’t expect to re-sign 2013’s starting running back.
Irv Moss of the Denver Post spoke to impending free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie about his next contract, with DRC indicating that he’s “not worried about the money,” but rather will prioritizing signing with a team in position to win — like the Broncos.
Because of Russell Wilson‘s small cap number, the Seahawks’ front office had plenty of flexibility to add complementary players around the club’s quarterback. The Broncos are in the opposite situation, prompting Mike Klis of the Denver Post to explore whether Peyton Manning‘s $20MM+ cap hit will prevent Denver from building a sustainable Super Bowl contender.

Rolle Recruiting Jermichael Finley For Giants

February 5th, 2014 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

While the NFL’s free agent period doesn’t officially open until March, at least one player has already been laying the groundwork to bring a prospective free agent to his team. At an awards dinner on Tuesday, Giants safety Antrel Rolle admitted that he has been recruiting free-agent-to-be Jermichael Finley, as Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News writes.

“I said I would love for him to be a part of the Giants so I wouldn’t have to face him,” Rolle said. “He’s an extreme talent. He’s an exceptional guy and more importantly I know he’s a fiery guy. I think that’s something we can definitely use on the offensive side of the ball.”

Finley, who underwent single-fusion spinal surgery in November, hopes to be cleared for contact soon and return to action in the 2014 season. The longtime Packer has mentioned the possibility of returning to Green Bay or signing with the Seahawks and said he’d “love to be a part of the Giants,” according to Rolle, so it sounds like the 26-year-old is looking forward to testing the open market.

As for Rolle himself, he only has one year remaining on his deal with the Giants, but has no interest in going anywhere and would reportedly be open to discussing an extension with the team this offseason.

Golden Tate Willing To Take Discount

February 4th, 2014 at 11:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Wide receiver Golden Tate helped the Seahawks capture their first Super Bowl championship but there’s no guarantee that he’ll be back for the encore attempt this fall as he is an unrestricted free agent. Seattle will face a bit of a numbers crunch this offseason, but Tate told Ian Furness and Jason Puckett of Sports Radio 950 KJR that he’s willing to take a little bit less to make it all work.

“I probably shouldn’t even say this right now but I’m going to say it anyway just because I love Seattle, honestly, I would rather take a little less to be happy and win ball games than to take way more and go to a crappy city where the fans don’t give a crap about the team. You win a game once a month of something like that. I would much rather stay in the situation that I have now for a little less than to go and try to break the bank somewhere else,” Tate said (transcript from Pro Football Talk’s Curtis Crabtree).

With limited breathing room, the Seahawks will try to retain Tate and Michael Bennett while also working on extensions for Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman. Tate says that he doesn’t want to be “disrespected” by the terms of his next deal, but he is willing to take less than another team might give him on the open market.

Jaguars Notes: Henne, Draft, Clowney, Shorts

February 4th, 2014 at 10:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley spoke with Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida-Times Union about free agency, the upcoming draft, and the importance of re-signing quarterback Chad Henne.

“The competition that took place with [Henne] and Blaine Gabbert during OTAs and minicamp and training camp, he didn’t really flinch through the whole process and when he got his opportunity, he took advantage of it and we thought he made really good process,” Bradley said of Henne. “We think, having a year under his belt, he will have a better understanding of the system and we’re really excited as far as what he brought to us leadership wise.”

Here’s more from Bradley’s interview and other notes on the Jaguars..

Bradley won’t jump to conclusions over talk that quarterback A.J. McCarron might not throw at the draft combine in Indianapolis, saying that it’s not always a red flag when a player opts out of working out. However, he did admit that there’s a part of him that likes to see an athlete take every opportunity to compete.
Bradley mentioned Auburn defensive end Dee Ford and Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr when asked what players stood out at the Senior Bowl and spoke glowingly of Jadeveon Clowney.
The Jaguars should pass on tapping a quarterback early in the 2014 draft, writes ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco. DiRocco reasons that defense wins championships and a young QB needs the right pieces around him to succeed – something that Jacksonville doesn’t have at the moment.
More from DiRocco, who writes that Jacksonville should wait on extending Cecil Shorts as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

NFC West Rumors: Wilson, Fitzgerald, Seahawks

February 4th, 2014 at 9:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Expecting to see Russell Wilson go from the pages of Pro Football Rumors to MLBTradeRumors? Unfortunately, despite some speculation to the contrary, the Seahawks star quarterback won’t be heading to spring training with the Texas Rangers, his agent tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The Rangers acquired Wilson’s rights in December’s Rule 5 draft from the Rockies, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll explore being a two-sport athlete anytime soon. More out of the NFC West..

The Seahawks will have to create space to sign Golden Tate and Michael Bennett and extend Richard Sherman and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter) surmises that they’ll likely cut Sidney Rice and ask Zach Miller to take a pay cut.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com weighs in with his reaction to Larry Fitzgerald‘s contract restructuring. The Cardinals wide receiver agreed to convert $11.75MM of his $12.75MM deal into a bonus to help the Cards save about $9.4MM against the cap.
The restructuring of Fitzgerald’s deal should all but end the trade speculation around him, writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. The Patriots and Cardinals have never entertained serious trade discussions for Fitzgerald but the speculation/wishful thinking has been there for some time.