HEADLINES

Month: February 2014

Following Specific Players On PFR

February 3rd, 2014 at 3:05pm CST by Luke Adams

As we’ve outlined before, there are a number of different ways to follow Pro Football Rumors via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and RSS. If you don’t want to follow all the site’s updates, you can subscribe to team-specific or transaction-only Facebook, Twitter, and RSS feeds. Although we don’t have Facebook pages or Twitter feeds for specific players, it’s easy to follow all our updates on your favorite player.

If, for instance, you want to keep track of all the latest news and rumors on Eric Decker as he approaches free agency, you can visit this page. If you’re interested in keeping tabs on the latest trade rumors involving Kirk Cousins, you can find Cousins’ page right here. In addition to players, we also maintain archives for certain specific topics. For example, all our posts relating to the 2014 NFL draft can be found here.

Every player we’ve written about has his own rumors page, and each of those players also has his own RSS feed, making it even easier to follow the latest updates. Links to RSS feeds for specific players are all located on this page. You can also find links to RSS feeds for various miscellaneous categories there. For instance, if you only want to receive one update every Sunday recapping the week’s notable headlines, you can subscribe to our Week in Review RSS feed, right here.

AFC Links: Bailey, Davis, Harrison, Dolphins

February 3rd, 2014 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

During the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Champ Bailey indicated that he hoped to his continue his playing career and didn’t have any interest in moving from cornerback to safety. However, after the game last night, Bailey appeared willing to compromise on one of those two stances. The longtime corner suggested that he’d “definitely look into” playing safety if it’s something that makes sense for him and the Broncos, according to Matt Walks of the Denver Post. Of course, given his $10MM cap number for 2014, Bailey isn’t a mortal lock to remain in Denver, at least at that price.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • While Vontae Davis is expected to be among a strong crop of free agent cornerbacks this offseason, both he and the Colts seem to have interest in a reunion, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. There’s no guarantee that the team will re-sign Davis, but Holder expects the two sides to “work diligently” on a new contract in the coming weeks.
  • Jets defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who will be eligible for restricted free agency a year from now, has changed agents, joining CAA Sports, tweets Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal.
  • ESPN.com’s James Walker examines a list of potential cap casualties for the Dolphins, led by offensive lineman Jonathan Martin.
  • One of the Dolphins‘ GM candidates who didn’t get the job tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) that he believes the club is one good offseason away from a playoff berth, and two or three years away from bigger things.
  • With backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst facing free agency, the Chargers will have to decide whether to bring him back or to add another signal-caller via the draft, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com.

NFC East Notes: Bryant, Orakpo, Redskins

February 3rd, 2014 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Redskins, Eagles, and Giants should all have a moderate amount of cap flexibility this offseason, no team in the NFL currently projects to be further over the 2014 cap than the Cowboys, as Jason Fitzgerald’s newest update as OverTheCap.com shows. With about $152MM in total commitments among their top 51 contracts for 2014, the Cowboys will likely have to clear $24MM+ in salary before March 11 in order to get under the cap. As we look forward to seeing Dallas’ moves over the next several weeks, let’s check in on a few other NFC East items….

  • Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is eligible for unrestricted free agency a year from now, but it doesn’t sound like he’s thinking ahead to the possibility of testing the market. Asked by TMZ about his upcoming free agency, Bryant replied, “I don’t even think about leaving Dallas. I’m Dallas forever” (hat tip to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com).
  • In his latest piece for the Washington Post, Mike Jones discusses Brian Orakpo‘s impending free agency, noting that some league insiders believe the linebacker will be seeking something in the $10MM per year range on a long-term contract. Responding to Jones’ column, cap expert Joel Corry tweets that Orakpo’s asking price figures to exceed $10MM annually and will probably be in the neighborhood of $30MM in guaranteed money. As Jones writes, the Redskins will certainly attempt to work out a multiyear deal with Orakpo, but may also consider using the franchise tag in order to put off a long-term commitment for one more season.
  • The NFL’s offseason waiver system opens today, and it figures to be of great interest to the Redskins, according to Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com. The Redskins may not have their second overall pick, but they have the second overall waiver priority, meaning that when other teams start to release young players, Washington will essentially have its pick of those players on waivers.

Seahawks Notes: Wilson, Roster, Salary Cap

February 3rd, 2014 at 10:36am CST by Luke Adams

A day after securing the first championship in franchise history, the Seahawks opened as the odds-on favorites to win next year’s Super Bowl. According to website Bovada.lv, Seattle currently has 9/2 odds to repeat as NFL champions next season, while the 49ers rank second at 15/2 and the Broncos place third at 8/1. Here’s more on the champs:

  • Since Russell Wilson still has a cheap cap number for two more years, GM John Schneider is in a great spot to keep adding complementary players around him, or at least to keep the current core intact, writes ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. “Obviously, we feel like we have a really strong foundation,” Schneider said. “Every team’s looking for a great pass rush, a great quarterback and a strong runner like Marshawn [Lynch].”
  • Adam Schefter of ESPN.com agrees that the Seahawks have a bright future, suggesting that the club is “very well-positioned” to keep its important players under contract going forward.
  • In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Mike Sando takes a look at the keys for the Seahawks if they want this Super Bowl win to be the start of a dynasty. In Sando’s view, Seattle’s priorities should include developing the passing game, improving the offensive line, extending the right players, and keeping the draft pipeline open.
  • Taking into account tenders for restricted free agents and exclusive rights players, the Seahawks currently project to be about $4MM above the anticipated salary cap for 2014, according to cap expert Joel Corry (via Twitter). Teams have until March 11 to get under the cap for the ’14 season.

Hall, Redskins Talking Multiyear Deal

February 3rd, 2014 at 9:31am CST by Luke Adams

The Redskins have begun to negotiate a new multiyear contract with veteran cornerback DeAngelo Hall, reports Mike Jones of the Washington Post. The free-agent-to-be spent the 2013 season playing on a one-year, $1.25MM deal.

Hall, a former eighth overall pick, grew up cheering for the Redskins and has played for the club since the 2008 season, so it’s not a surprise that he’d like to work out a new deal to remain in Washington. Meanwhile, the Redskins are projected to be among the teams with the most cap flexibility this offseason, and have indicated a desire to be active in free agency. That will likely include bringing back a handful of their own free agents, including Hall and perhaps linebacker Brian Orakpo.

Advanced stats historically haven’t been kind to Hall, who still considers himself the best cornerback in the league. However, he had a strong 2013 season, and was the most explosive playmaker on the defensive side of the ball in Washington, returning a fumble and a pair of interceptions for touchdowns. At age 30, Hall may not receive a long-term extension, but it at least sounds like the Redskins are interested in locking him up for more than one year.

Dan Quinn May Have Taken Browns HC Job

February 3rd, 2014 at 8:21am CST by Luke Adams

In their hunt for a new head coach, the Browns targeted multiple coaches involved in Sunday’s game, including Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. However, when Quinn indicated he wouldn’t interview for a second time until after the Super Bowl, the Browns moved on to other options, eventually hiring Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. If Cleveland had waited and offered Quinn the job, he likely would have accepted it, as he told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer after Sunday’s game.

“I certainly would’ve been interested,” Quinn said. “I mean, it’s a big-time place. It’s the Cleveland Browns.”

The Browns can’t be blamed for wanting to finalize their decision well before this week. Cleveland was already the last club in the NFL without a head coach, and waiting another two weeks would’ve made it difficult for the team to fill out its staff, given all the coaches who found jobs in the meantime. Prior to Sunday, the Browns hired Jim O’Neil as their defensive coordinator and reportedly reached an agreement with Kyle Shanahan to become the team’s offensive coordinator.

As for Quinn, based on the Seahawks’ defensive performance on Sunday, it’s hard to say he made the wrong decision by choosing to focus solely on the game rather than pursuing another job. He told Cabot that he had “not one” regret about his choice. While Quinn appears poised to head Seattle’s No. 1 defense again in 2014, it will likely only be a matter of time before another head coaching opportunity arises for him.

PFR Originals: 1/27/14 – 2/2/14

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:43pm CST by Peter Sowards

With the 2013 season in the rearview mirror, here’s a look back at some original content posted by the Pro Football Rumors staff this past week…

Super Bowl Free Agent Performances

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:15pm CST by Peter Sowards

In stunning fashion, the Seattle Seahawks pummeled Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Seattle linebacker Malcolm Smith taking home MVP honors.

Among the most notable free agents playing in tonight’s game was Broncos receiver Eric Decker, who barely registered on the stat sheet with one reception for six yards. He was targeted five times.

Here’s a list of the rest of the free agents from Super Bowl XLVIII:

Denver Broncos

Seattle Seahawks 

Seahawks Expected To Re-Sign Bennett

February 2nd, 2014 at 7:14pm CST by Peter Sowards

The Seahawks are leading Super Bowl XLVIII 22-0 at halftime, thanks in part to consistent pressure on Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning from a fierce pass rush by the Seattle defensive line.

An integral part of the Seahawks’ front-four is Michael Bennett, whom the team plans to re-sign this offseason, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Bennett flourished in his first season in the Pacific Northwest, playing all 16 regular season games and totaling 8.5 sacks after signing a one-year deal.

Rapoport did not mention if a deal was already in place. The fifth-year player out of Texas A&M spurred a defense which sacked opposing quarterbacks on 7.7% of pass plays, good for fifth in the league. 

After earning just $5MM in 2013 on his one-year deal, Bennett is likely to receive a steep boost in pay and also secure a long-term contract with the NFC champions.

Week In Review: 1/27/14 – 2/2/14

February 2nd, 2014 at 6:17pm CST by Peter Sowards

This week culminated with a showdown between the unstoppable force (Broncos offense) and the immovable object (Seahawks defense) in Super Bowl XLVIII, but there were plenty of news items and notes leading up to the big game. Let’s recap Super Bowl week together in the links listed below…

  • The Falcons announced contract extensions for head coach Mike Smith, president/CEO Rick Mckay and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
  • The Ravens hired former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak to be Baltimore’s new offensive coordinator.
  • The Bills are hoping to re-sign free agent safety Jairus Byrd.
  • The Panthers signed head coach Ron Rivera to a three-year contract extension worth between $4-5MM annually. Rivera was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year.
  • The Packers and free agent cornerback Sam Shields are in talks on a new contract.
  • The Cowboys promoted Rod Marinelli from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator.
  • Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin told NBC Sports’ Tony Dungy that he hopes to continue his NFL playing career next season.
  • The Broncos are not expected to re-sign free agent running back Knowshon Moreno.
  • Giants defensive end Justin Tuck is looking forward to hitting free agency.
  • The Rams hired Gregg Williams to replace Tim Walton as the team’s defensive coordinator.
  • Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is “absolutely” willing to restructure his deal if “that’s what needs to be done.”
  • Free agent kicker Adam Vinatieri is not considering retirement and hopes to continue kicking in the league for “two or three more years.”
  • Rams owner Stan Kroenke bought a 60-acre lot in Inglewood, California, prompting speculation that the team could be return to the Golden State. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell cautioned against “overreacting” to the news.
  • Jaguars owner Shad Kahn said his team will be drafting a quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft, “maybe two.”
  • Free agent tight end Jermichael Finley said he wants to remain a “Packer for life,” but mentioned Seattle as a possible destination.
  • The Ravens would like to retain the services of wide receiver/kick returner Jacoby Jones if the price is right.
  • The Browns hired Kyle Shanahan as the team’s offensive coordinator.
  • Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins told the team he is open to a trade and said he believes he is ready to be a starting quarterback in the league.
  • Michael Vick said he will “absolutely” be a starting quarterback in Week One of the 2014 NFL season. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter mentioned the Buccaneers and Jets as potential landing spots.
  • Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker will explore his options in free agency after the expiration of his rookie contract.
  • The Seahawks tabbed extending safety Earl Thomas, not cornerback Richard Sherman, as the team’s number one priority this offseason.
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