HEADLINES

Month: March 2014

Steelers Sign Cam Thomas

March 14th, 2014 at 4:45pm CST by Luke Adams

4:45pm: Thomas’ two-year contract with the Steelers is worth $4MM overall, with a $1MM signing bonus and base salaries of $1MM (2014) and $2MM (2015), tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

12:56pm: The Steelers have signed defensive tackle Cam Thomas to a two-year deal, according to agent David Canter (via Twitter). Thomas, an unrestricted free agent, had spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Chargers.

Making 11 starts for the Chargers in 2013, Thomas played 547 defensive snaps for the Chargers, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF graded his performance as a little below average, but he managed to log 26 tackles and 13 quarterback pressures while playing primarily at nose tackle.

For the Steelers, Thomas will help fill the void on the defensive line left by Ziggy Hood, who signed with the Jaguars earlier this week.

Ravens Sign Steve Smith To Three-Year Deal

March 14th, 2014 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

4:27pm: La Canfora clarifies (via Twitter) that the deal, which has been confirmed by the team, can reach a max value of $11MM if an option bonus is exercised down the road.

4:16pm: Smith’s three-year contract is worth $10.5MM, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who adds that the deal includes a $3.5MM signing bonus (Twitter links).Steve Smith

4:09pm: The Ravens have agreed to sign wide receiver Steve Smith, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The longtime Panther was released by Carolina earlier this week, and will ink a three-year contract with the Ravens, Schefter adds in a second tweet.

Even before he was officially cut by the Panthers, Smith was heavily linked to the Ravens, with multiple reports suggesting there was mutual interest between the two sides. The Buccaneers and Raiders were also mentioned as likely suitors, and the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers were reportedly among Smith’s preferred trade destinations when Carolina was trying to move him.

More recently, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the Seahawks were also in the mix to sign Smith, along with the Pats. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears from a source that the veteran receiver actually had a visit lined up with New England, but canceled his flight to remain in Baltimore.

Smith, who turns 35 in May, is 19th all-time in NFL history in receiving yards (12,197) and 25th in receptions (836). While he’s not the same explosive playmaker he was in his prime, he should still be a capable target for Joe Flacco alongside Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta in Baltimore. Last season, Smith grabbed 64 balls for 745 yards and four touchdowns.

Signing with Baltimore will also give Smith a chance to face his old team next season, as the Ravens are set to host the Panthers in 2014. In Smith’s words: “Put your goggles on cause there’s going to be blood and guts everywhere.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

49ers To Sign Chris Cook

March 14th, 2014 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

The 49ers have reached an agreement with free agent cornerback Chris Cook, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). Barrows reports that Cook’s new deal will be a one-year contract.

Barrows had suggested earlier in the week that San Francisco was in the market for tall, long-armed cornerbacks, and Cook certainly fits that bill. The 27-year-old, who spent the last four seasons with the Vikings after being selected 34th overall in the 2010 draft, stands 6’2″ and weighs over 200 pounds.

While he recorded 47 tackles last season in just 12 games, Cook also allowed nine touchdowns to opposing receivers, tied for worst among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Additionally, off-field issues have plagued him early in his NFL career, and he has yet to grab an interception since entering the league.

As such, it doesn’t look like Cook will be assured of a roster spot in San Francisco. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes that the ex-Viking will compete for a spot in a secondary that also includes Tramaine Brock, Chris Culliver, Eric Wright and Darryl Morris.

Redskins Release Will Montgomery

March 14th, 2014 at 4:07pm CST by Luke Adams

4:07pm: The Redskins have officially released Montgomery, the team announced today (via Twitter).

8:26am: The Redskins have informed center Will Montgomery he’ll be released, according to Sky Kerstein of 106.7 The Fan (via Twitter). Montgomery had been on the books for a cap hit of $3.425MM, which includes $1.5MM in dead money, so the team will create nearly $2MM in cap savings with the move.

Montgomery’s release comes as a mild surprise. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), only four plays saw more snaps at center than Montgomery, who recorded a +4.8 grade, good for a ranking of 15th out of 35 qualified players. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

As for the Redskins, Kory Lichtensteiger appears to be next in line to take over at center, while the $1.9MM+ in cap savings could be put toward another move.

Cowboys Won’t Sign Will Herring

March 14th, 2014 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

4:05pm: The decision to scrap Herring’s deal doesn’t sound like it was as mutual as initially suggested. Archer follows up his earlier reporting by tweeting that the linebacker’s agent is upset with the Cowboys. According to the agent, his client passed his physical, but the team believes he may be an injury risk and reneged on the agreement.

FRIDAY, 1:53pm: After agreeing to terms earlier this week, the Cowboys and Herring have decided to scrap their deal, with both sides agreeing to walk away, according to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. A source tells Archer that Herring didn’t fail his physical, so it’s not entirely clear why the two sides decided not to finalize the deal.

THURSDAY, 5:00pm: The Cowboys appear to have reached a contract agreement with free agent linebacker Will Herring, according to Herring himself. The former Saint sent out a tweet today, announcing the deal: “Blessed to be playing in the Big D this year and to be a part of Cowboys organization!”

Herring, a seven-year NFL veteran, has played primarily in a reserve role as a linebacker for the Seahawks and Saints since being drafted in the fifth round in 2007. However, he has become a key contributor on special teams, serving as the captain of the unit for the Saints in 2013 and recording 13 special teams tackles.

Bears To Re-Sign Charles Tillman

March 14th, 2014 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

4:01pm: Tillman’s one-year pact with the Bears is worth a little less than $3.5MM, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.

3:47pm: The Bears have agreed to terms on a new contract with free agent cornerback Charles Tillman, bringing back the veteran to Chicago for the 2014 season, the team announced today (via Twitter). The one-year deal was first reported by Sean Jensen of Thrive Sports (via Twitter).

Tillman, 33, has been with the Bears since he was selected by the team in the second round of the 2003 draft, and has long been a disruptive force in the team’s secondary. Tillman has grabbed at least three interceptions and forced at least three fumbles in eight of his last nine seasons, and is a year removed from forcing an incredible 10 fumbles in 2012.

Facing unrestricted free agency this offseason, Tillman visited with the Bucs and old Chicago head coach Lovie Smith before agreeing to re-sign with the Bears. GM Phil Emery had just indicated to reporters yesterday that the door was still open for Tillman to return to Chicago.

Panthers Sign Mike McNeill

March 14th, 2014 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Panthers have signed free agent tight end Mike McNeill to a two-year contract, reports David Newton of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The signing may signal the end of Ben Hartsock‘s time in Carolina, adds Newton (via Twitter).

McNeill, who turned 26 last Friday, hasn’t seen much action in his NFL stints with the Colts and Rams. In the last two seasons in St. Louis, he has played less than 200 total offensive snaps, recording five catches for 36 yards.

Bengals Claim Dontay Moch Off Waivers

March 14th, 2014 at 3:44pm CST by Zachary Links

FRIDAY, 3:44pm: The Bengals have claimed Moch off waivers from the Cardinals, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter).

THURSDAY, 4:21pm: The Cardinals have released Dontay Moch, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). The defensive lineman saw time in just five games across his three seasons in Arizona.

Moch, 26 in July, was a third round pick of the Bengals in the 2011 draft. While he impressed scouts during his time at the University of Nevada, he hasn’t made a major impact at the professional level in his young NFL career. Moch ran an eye-popping 4.44 sec 40-yard dash at the 2011 NFL Combine, ranking best among all front seven players at the event.

Dolphins Sign Finnegan To Two-Year Deal

March 14th, 2014 at 3:35pm CST by Luke Adams

3:35pm: Breer hears (Twitter link) that the Dolphins’ deal with Finnegan, which the team has now announced, could be worth close to $11MM over two years.

3:24pm: The Dolphins and Finnegan have reached an agreement on a two-year deal, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

2:55pm: The Dolphins are finalizing a two-year contract agreement with defensive back Cortland Finnegan, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Finnegan was released by the Rams earlier this week.

Finnegan, whose 2013 season was cut short by a fractured orbital bone, was one of the league’s worst corners even before the injury, according to Pro Football Focus advanced metrics (subscription required). PFF ranked Finnegan 109th out of 110 qualified corners, with a grade of -19.7 in just seven games. A longtime starter for the Titans, the former seventh-round pick was named to the All-Pro first team in 2008, but has seen his production fall off in recent years. He became a cap casualty in St. Louis, with the Rams removing a chunk of his $10MM cap number from their books by cutting him.

Two of the Dolphins’ top cornerbacks were eligible for free agency this offseason, and while the team re-signed Brent Grimes, it saw Nolan Carroll head to Philadelphia. Dimitri Patterson was also released for cap purposes, so Miami may look to add at least one more cornerback through free agency or the draft.

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