Tuck “Thinks” He Wants To Return To Giants
Giants defensive end Justin Tuck believes he wants to return to the Giants, the only team with which he has ever played, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. Tuck, who previously stated his intentions to assess his value in free agency, said while he wants to return, certainty is impossible. “I honestly think the Giants are going to do everything in their power to make it work,” he said. “They want me to be back. I think I want to be back.”
Tuck’s familiarity with Giants as an organization seems to be important to him, as he noted, “I’ve only been here, with one team.” He continued: “The Giants are a great organization, but everyone understands it’s a business. We’ll do our due diligence — on both sides — and see what happens.”
Tuck, 31, enjoyed his best season in years, and one that was injury-free, a recent rarity for him. He accrued 13 sacks, and was graded as the seventh-best 4-3 defensive end by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The Giants should have ample amounts of cap space with which to work, so re-signing Tuck from should not be a problem from a financial point of view.
Rivera, Gettleman On Hardy
Panthers coach Ron Rivera has had a busy week. On Tuesday, he signed a three-year extension to remain in Carolina, and earlier this evening he was crowned Coach of the Year. But despite his heavy personal schedule, Rivera is still thinking about the offseason, specifically the future of defensive end Greg Hardy, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. After a recent meeting with GM Dave Gettleman to discuss the team’s salary cap situation, Rivera gave his opinion on Hardy. “…we most certainly would like to have Greg back. He’s a big part of what we did this year. It’d be hard to imagine doing things without him.”
Hardy was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, after poor performance and injury questions caused his stock to slip. He became a starter in 2012, and has since registered 26 sacks over the past two seasons. Pro Football Focus graded him as the third-best 4-3 defensive end, behind only Robert Quinn and Cameron Wake (subscription required). Hardy joined with Charles Johnson and Star Lotulelei in making the Panthers’ defensive line one of the most dominant in football.
Gettleman was ambiguous on his intentions regarding Hardy, but allowed that retaining the end wasn’t guaranteed. “Everybody in this league lets players go. There isn’t a team in this league that hasn’t let a big dog walk out the door, and don’t print that I’m saying he’s going to go. I’m just making a statement. There isn’t anybody that hasn’t done that. But again, there is a whole big puzzle we’re putting together. And he’s one of the pieces.”
Hardy has admitted that being franchise tagged would not be an issue for him, as long as a long-term deal was revisited at some point in the future. This might be the most likely option, as the Panthers are up against salary cap constrictions. The franchise tag figure for defensive ends will likely be around $12.5MM, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com.
Vikings Notes: Mallett, Hoyer, Freeman, Verner
Ryan Mallett could present an interesting answer to the Vikings’ quarterback woes, writes ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling in a recent mailbag. Mallett, a third-round pick of the Patriots in 2011, has thrown all of four passes while acting as Tom Brady‘s backup, but is noted for his tremendous arm strength. New Vikings coach Mike Zimmer’s former team, the Bengals, were linked to Mallett leading up to the 2011 draft. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s former employer, the Browns, reportedly kicked the tires on acquiring Mallett before the 2013 season. Additionally, Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been down this road before, having turned former backup quarterback Matt Cassel (interestingly, now a Viking) into a Chiefs second-round pick before the 2009 season. Unlike Mallett however, Cassel had a season’s worth of experience, having lead the Patriots to a 10-5 record in 2008.
Some other Vikings tidbits from Goessling’s mailbag:
- Brian Hoyer is another quarterback who could be linked to the Vikings, due to his success with the Browns last season under Turner’s tutelage. However, the Vikings are likely to look for a younger option at the position to pair with Cassel.
- The relationship between the Vikings and quarterback Josh Freeman was contentious enough that it is doubtful he will return next season. Signed after his release from the Buccaneers, Freeman struggled mightily in his only start. His accuracy and footwork remained a problem throughout practices, and Freeman was also confused by his lack of opportunity.
- Goessling expects the Vikings to make a run at cornerback Alterraun Verner, who has experience with new Vikings defensive backs coach Jerry Gray (who previously served as Titans defensive coordinator). The Vikings are expected to have over $20MM in cap space, so they afford to make a big move in free agency.
Cap Notes: Bills, Giants, Browns, Texans
Bills safety Jairus Byrd will need to be tendered at $8.3MM if the team wants to keep him under the franchise tag for a second consecutive year, reports Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Back-to-back franchise tags call for the affected player’s salary to be increased by 120%. Byrd, widely considered one of the best safeties in the NFL, was displeased with being franchise tagged last year, having hoped to work out a long-term extension. Recent extensions by comparable safeties include those of Eric Weddle, who was guaranteed $19MM by the Chargers, and Dashon Goldson, to whom the Buccaneers guaranteed $18MM (numbers courtesy of OverTheCap.com).
Some other cap notes from around the league:
- The Giants have about $13.7MM in cap space, estimates Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. However, they can clear approximately $14 million more by cutting players like Chris Snee, Mathias Kiwanuka, David Baas, Brandon Myers, and Corey Webster. Still, even with $27 million to work with, the Giants will might be strapped as the need to bolster a porous offensive line, add offensive play-makers to potentially replace Hakeem Nicks and David Wilson, and improve a defense that was among the league’s worst.
- Within the same article, Graziano suggests the Giants designate Baas as a post-June 1 cut, spreading the hit over two seasons, and enabling the team to sign someone like Alex Mack. Graziano also thinks the team should sign defensive tackle Linval Joseph to an extension before free agency starts.
- Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com does not believe the Browns will place the franchise tag on safety T.J. Ward, instead attempting to sign him to an extension, or waiting to match an offer from another team. This is contrast to the opinion of ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi, who noted he does think the Browns will tag Ward.
- The Texans will likely part ways with quarterback Matt Schaub and his $14.5MM 2014 cap number, reports Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, Johnathan Joseph, Owen Daniels, and Danieal Manning, all of whom have significant cap figures, appear to be safe.
Arians On Cardinals’ Left Tackle Situation
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians downplayed the idea that acquiring a left tackle to help protect quarterback Carson Palmer was a pressing need, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. While Arians noted that improving the blind side will be a priority, he said “it doesn’t have to be the highest.” “(Current left tackle) Bradley (Sowell) played OK, and he’s going to get better with another year of strength and conditioning,” said Arians.
Arians’ opinion that Sowell “played OK” seems to be without much validation. After taking over for the injured Levi Brown following the fourth week of the season, Sowell gave up seven sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and 40 quarterback hustles, leading to his being graded as the worst offensive lineman in football, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, as Weinfuss notes, Sowell did not allow a sack over the course of the final four games. Brown, meanwhile, was traded to the Steelers, meaning Sowell currently sits atop the depth chart.
Palmer has never been the most mobile of quarterbacks, meaning that the Cardinals’ left tackle position is even more crucial than it may be on other teams. If they do opt for improvement, Chiefs tackle Branden Albert may be the primary option, tweets Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports Radio 910. Albert played the 2013 season under the franchise tag, and Jurecki notes that Albert’s asking price in free agency will determine if the Cardinals draft a left tackle. Eugene Monroe of the Ravens and Jared Veldheer of the Raiders are also scheduled to hit free agency, and could interest the Cardinals.
The Cardinals hold the 20th pick in the first round, so potential options like Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews and Auburn’s Greg Robinson will likely be off the board. However, Taylor Lewan of Michigan and Zach Martin of Notre Dame present intriguing selections. Additionally, the Cardinals will have 2013 first-round guard Jonathan Cooper back in the fold after returning from a broken leg, which should help steady the line play.
AFC Notes: Sanchez, Freeman, Tate, Ward
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez underwent minor knee surgery during the season, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello (via Twitter). Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News follows up by reporting the operation was not performed on the same knee that required surgery following Sanchez’s rookie season. Mehta also notes that Sanchez has begun some light tossing as he begins rehab on his injured shoulder. This injury news may affect the future of Sanchez, who is widely expected to be released before his $2MM March roster bonus is due. While his career has been disappointing to date, Sanchez may appeal to several quarterback-needy teams. Paul Guiterrez of ESPN.com writes that Sanchez could be a top option for the Raiders, who may look to improve upon the performances exhibited by Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin. Additionally, Sanchez could offer a stop-gap solution to a team like the Browns, who will likely select a quarterback early in the draft.
- Guiterrez also notes several other potential quarterback options for the Raiders, including Josh Freeman, Matt Cassel, and Josh McCown. With Cassel still under contract with the Vikings, and McCown indicating his preference to re-sign with the Bears, Freeman may present the most likely option. While he struggled last season, he has both youth and experience with Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson on his side.
- Texans running back Ben Tate has experience in new Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s style of offense, tweets Evan Silva of Rotoworld. Silva also notes that Browns GM Mike Lombardi was a fan of Tate when he entered the league in 2010, as evidenced by a Lombardi article in the National Football Post.
- The Browns may look to use the franchise tag on safety T.J. Ward, not center Alex Mack, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.
NFC Notes: Redskins, Bears, Graham
New Redskins’ head coach Jay Gruden has decisions to make on how much of the Bengals’ offensive scheme he will implement, and how much of the Redskins’ system he will keep, write Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. Tandler notes that at Gruden’s introductory press conference, the new coach mentioned that he liked how effective the Redskins zone blocking was in 2013. That would bode well for the interior of the offensive line already in place, as the team could look to keep Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, and Chris Chester. Of those three, only Chester’s cap hit is high enough to provoke a release. However, if Gruden does bring over the power blocking scheme the Bengals employed, El-Bashir writes that the offensive line must be completely retooled to be a bigger, stronger unit. Here is some other news from the NFC:
- Bears’ center Roberto Garza has not yet begun talks of a new contract for the 2014 season, but believes there is still a shot he is back with the team next season, writes Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Obviously I want to be back there,” Garza said. “They told me they want me back, so we’ll see.”
- Finley also wrote that another Bears free agent, Charles Tillman, would be open to all teams if Chicago doesn’t re-sign him, and would be particularly excited to find a new home in Tampa Bay with his old coach Lovie Smith. “Obviously, it makes the deal probably a little sweeter just because it’s a former head coach,” Tillman said. “You do know the system, you know the scheme.”
- Drew Brees made headlines last week by saying that he thought of Jimmy Graham as a tight end rather than a receiver, but now emphasizes that regardless of position, he only cares that Graham is playing for the Saints, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Brees appeared on the Dan Patrick show on Friday, to make it clear his feelings on the situation. “I want Jimmy back!” Brees said. “I want Jimmy Graham back!”
Potential QB Options For Browns
The Browns’ 2013 season was highlighted by the rise of Josh Gordon and an improving defense, but with a 4-12 record, there is still plenty of work to be done with this roster. The most glaring problem was the lack of consistent quarterback play. The Browns, with two first round draft picks and a new coaching staff, are in a great position to explore a variety of options to improve the position in 2014.
On the Roster:
Brandon Weeden‘s first two seasons have been considered a disappointment, considering he was a first-round-pick who will be 31 years old this season. Brian Hoyer showed some promise in two games before losing his season to a torn ACL, although after five years as mostly a backup, he has not done enough to warrant a long term commitment. Jason Campbell had some ups and downs given the chance to start, but at this point in his career he is more qualified to be a veteran backup than a starter on a rebuilding team. All three are under contract for 2014, but the organization has given the perception that they would like to move on from Weeden, and even if they decided to start the season with Hoyer (or even Campbell), it would be as a stopgap at best, unless proven otherwise.
In the Draft:
With three big names at quarterback being talked about as options at the top of the draft, the Browns hope to have a chance to draft a signal-caller with the fourth overall pick. The team is reportedly very high on Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel, with speculation that if he is on the board, Cleveland would most likely take him. Of course that depends on what happens in front of them, where the Texans and Jaguars are both also looking for quarterback help, and the Rams potentially willing to move out of the second overall pick, presumably for a team trying to jump up and potentially grab one of the star passers. Depending on how the draft unfolds, and the Browns’ assessment of the other big names at quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater of Louisville and Blake Bortles of UCF, the future of the team could be decided on draft day.
The Browns also own the 26th overall pick, acquired from the Colts in the Trent Richardson trade. This only increases their options. It gives them the extra ammo to move up in front of the Jaguars if they target a quarterback they want. It also allows them to fill another position at the top of the draft, and look at the next tier of quarterbacks with their later pick. Options there would be Derek Carr of Fresno State, A.J. Macarron of Alabama, and Zach Mettenberger of LSU. If they wait until a later round, they will still have notable names such as Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, San Jose State’s David Fales or Georgia’s Aaron Murray, among others.
In Free Agency:
If the Browns are looking for a quick fix, they could pursue one of the likely cap casualties from around the league. Michael Vick is not likely to return to Philadelphia, but is committed to finding a new home as a starting quarterback. If the Texans proceed to draft a quarterback first overall, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle believes (via Twitter), then Matt Schaub would also be an available option for the quarterback starved Browns. Also, with a large cap hit and the emergence of Geno Smith as the starter, Mark Sanchez may find himself looking for work this offseason. All three of these options would represent a lateral move for the Browns, but could give them time to develop a younger quarterback should they pass on the more highly touted options at the top of the draft.
Via Trade:
In a less likely scenario, the Browns could look to trade for a backup currently on another roster. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeted a link to an article his old colleague Mike Lombardi wrote in 2012. In the article, Lombardi praised the job that Kyle Shanahan did with the Redskins in Robert Griffin III‘s first season, and how impressed he was that Shanahan got production out of not one but two rookie quarterbacks that season, saying that a team that hires Shanahan should look to pair him with Kirk Cousins. Now, Lombardi is the Browns’ general manager and the team just hired Shanahan as the offensive coordinator, making Cousins an intriguing option.
Falcons Need To Upgrade Right Guard
The Falcons’ offensive line is in major need of an upgrade following a disappointing 2013 campaign, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. As a team, the Falcons allowed franchise quarterback Matt Ryan be sacked 44 times last season, which tied them for the tenth most in the NFL, according to NFL.com.
While the Falcons moved second year offensive lineman Peter Konz from center to guard due to his struggles, the team would prefer to move him back to his natural position of center. Garrett Reynolds and Harland Gunn also had time at right guard, though neither is set up to be the long term answer at the position.
McClure does provide a few options the Falcons could pursue in free agency that could sure up the unit in 2014:
- Zane Beadles – Beadles will be starting at guard in the Super Bowl tomorrow for the Broncos, but is set to hit free agency this offseason looking for a long term deal. The 27-year-old Pro Bowl talent has played left guard and right tackle in his NFL career, after playing left tackle in college at Utah. His versatility makes him a great fit on an offensive line that is rebuilding. While the Broncos are expected to try and re-sign him, if he hits the market at a reasonable price, McClure thinks the Falcons might make a run at him.
- Jon Asamoah – Asamoah was a big part of the Chiefs’ success this year, paving the way for Jamaal Charles big season. However, the cap-strapped Chiefs will have to make some difficult decisions on which of their free agents to retain. If the 25-year-old Asamoah reaches the market, Falcons’ general manager Scott Pioli (who drafted Asamoah in 2010) could make him a long term solution at guard.
- Willie Colon – While Colon is not necessarily a long term solution, if the Jets draft a guard they may release the 30-year-old lineman. McClure notes that new Falcons’ offensive line coach Mike Tice lobbied hard for Colon to join the Bears last season, before the former Steeler decided to join Rex Ryan and the Jets, but if Tice pushes for his services again it is possible that the Falcons use him as a stopgap on a short term contract.
AFC Notes: Johnson, McFadden, Butler
The Bengals used the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Johnson a year ago, but the 27-year-old repaid the team with just 3.5 sacks in 2013, making a second tag unlikely. Consequently, he’s expected to hit the open market, but the presence of Carlos Dunlap and Wallace Gilberry could soften the blow, according to ESPN.com’s Cole Harvey.
Other AFC news and notes:
- Harvey also mentions Raiders free agent running back Darren McFadden as a realistic acquisition given Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson’s not-so-secret appreciation for the 26-year-old, 2008 first-rounder.
- Chargers inside linebacker Donald Butler, whose rookie deal is expiring, has missed 23 of 66 career games, but the Bolts value what he brings when healthy, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic. In fact, the team drafted Manti Te’o with the intention of pairing him with Butler inside defensive coordinator John Pagano’s 3-4 front. Butler and the team discussed a contract extension last summer, and all indications suggest both sides are interested in a new deal.
- The Ravens are expected to be awarded the league-maximum four compensatory picks, according to ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley.