2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Ted Ginn, Cardinals Agree To Three-Year Deal

March 13th, 2014 at 9:34pm CST by Luke Adams

9:34pm: Ginn’s three year deal will be worth at least $9.75MM with a maximum of $14.25MM, and includes $5.2MM in guaranteed money, reports Kent Somers of AZ Central Sports (via Twitter).

6:20pm: Ginn was “surprised” that the Panthers didn’t try harder to retain the veteran receiver, reports Urban (via Twitter).

5:19pm: Ginn’s deal with the Cards is worth $9.75MM for three years, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

4:38pm: The Cardinals have agreed to terms with receiver and return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. on a three-year deal, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter).

Ginn, 28, was an all-purpose threat for the Panthers in his first and only year in Carolina, with 36 catches, 26 punt returns, 25 kickoff returns, and even four carries. He enjoyed the most success as a receiver, recording 556 receiving yards and five TDs while catching balls from Cam Newton.

Prior to agreeing to sign with the Cards, Ginn drew plenty of interest from other suitors. The Giants were reportedly eyeing him and the Bucs had him in for a visit, while newly-signed Brown Donte Whitner urged Cleveland management to consider signing him.

FA Rumors: Rice, Sanders, Thurmond, Melton

March 13th, 2014 at 8:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest free agent rumors..

The 49ers will host Julian Edelman on Friday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). The club is also interested in Hakeem Nicks.
Jermichael Finley left his meeting with the Seahawks without a contract, sources tell Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).
The Seahawks are now interested in re-signing Sidney Rice, who was a salary cap casualty earlier in the offseason, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Jets still have interest in Emmanuel Sanders, but they had to reschedule his visit due to conflicts, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. He’ll pay the Chiefs a visit tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. The Ravens have yet to get involved, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets.
Cornerback Walter Thurmond told his fans via Twitter that he had a great meeting with the Jaguars and noted that the club is “headed in the right direction.” Thurmond’s next stop is San Francisco.
Henry Melton plans to spend the rest of the evening in Minnesota with the Vikings, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.
Ryan Clark tweeted to Richard Sherman to let him know his visit with the Redskins went well. Now he says that “the money guys have to work.”
The Panthers aren’t showing interest in Hakeem Nicks yet, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It should be noted that this report came out before Carolina officially said goodbye to Steve Smith. Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported this evening that the Panthers indeed have interest.
Jets free agent guard Vlad Ducasse will visit the Bengals before coming to the Vikings, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter).
The Cardinals are still negotiating with Ben Dogra, the agent for Antonio Cromartie, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. This one isn’t as easy as some other deals, Somers adds.
The Steelers are bringing Chargers free agent nose tackle Cam Thomas for a visit on Friday, tweets Alan Robinson, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If he’s put in the middle, San Diego can move Steve McLendon over to defensive end.

Phil Emery On Henry Melton, Charles Tillman

March 13th, 2014 at 8:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Bears have been active in retooling a defense that struggled in 2013, already adding a number of pieces to a unit that fell behind the offense for one of the few times in team history. The revamping on the defensive side of the ball does not necessarily have room for some of the Bears recent defensive stalwarts.

Julius Peppers was already released, and is now looking to free agency for his next contract. Henry Melton, who was involved in an altercation that has led to a civil suit being filed against him, has been visiting with teams but has yet to receive a substantial offer. The Bears could still utilize him, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com, but his legal issues make his return to the team uncertain. Bears general manager Phil Emery spoke about where Melton currently stands with the organization:

“We pretty much left it with [agent] Jordan [Woy] that he was gonna go through this process, and when he got through it and he had a pretty good idea of what his market is, we could talk at that time,” Emery said. “Of course, the clock is ticking. So our resources or what we have at the time may have changed. But we’ll see where we’re at when that’s all finished.”

Charles Tillman struggled with injuries in 2013, missing eight games due to torn triceps. Even still, Tillman has been a tremendous talent, arguably the best defensive back in team history according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. The 33-year-old cornerback was disappointed that he did not receive a contract extension to keep him with the team.

He has been taking visits, garnering little interest from around the league. He was closely linked to the Buccaneers, but the signing of Alterraun Verner diminishes his value to the team. The Bears have not ruled out the idea that Tillman could return.

“No different than yesterday,” Emery said. “It’s an ongoing process.”

Dickerson writes that Tillman still has a chance to make an impression on a short-term deal with the Jaguars, Panthers, Cowboys, and Redskins if he is not open to returning to the Bears.

Derek Cox Signs With Vikings

March 13th, 2014 at 7:22pm CST by Rob DiRe

Derek Cox and the Vikings have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter). The former Charger will join newly signed Captain Munnerlyn and 2013 first-round draft pick Xavier Rhodes to create a deep rotation at the cornerback position.

Cox spent his first four seasons with the Jaguars before signing a four-year $20MM contract with the Chargers one year ago today. He was released after just one season despite receiving $10.25MM in guaranteed money. He played in all 16 games for the Chargers in 2013, but started only 11 games.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar Re-Signs With Rams

March 13th, 2014 at 7:01pm CST by Rob DiRe

Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar has come to terms on a two-year deal to return to the Rams, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The deal could be worth up to $3.5MM.

The deal is a wonderful birthday present for Dunbar, who just turned 29 today. Dunbar started all 16 games for St. Louis in 2012 and he recorded 88 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two picks, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

However, he missed the first four games of the 2013 season after violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs policy. The suspension led to his release, but the club re-signed him on October 1st. He finished 2013 with 33 tackles in total.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

49ers Acquire Jonathan Martin From Dolphins

March 13th, 2014 at 6:41pm CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 6:43pm: The 49ers have announced that Martin has passed his physical and has officially joined the team (via Twitter).

TUESDAY, 10:09pm: The Dolphins will get a seventh-round pick from the 49ers in 2015 if he’s on San Francisco’s opening day 53-man roster, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.

9:09pm: The 49ers are trading a conditional pick to the Dolphins for offensive tackle Jonathan Martin, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter).

From Miami’s perspective, the deal gives both the Dolphins organization and Martin a fresh start. For the 49ers, they acquire a 2012 second-round selection on a low-risk trade.

Still just 24, Martin started all 16 games in 2012 for the Dolphins at right tackle and did the same at left tackle for seven games in 2013 before leaving the team. Martin went from an unknown in the world outside of football to a front page mainstay for months thanks to the Richie Incognito scandal. It was presumed from the get-go that the club would move on from both Martin and Incognito in an effort to revamp their locker room. With Incognito in NFL limbo and Martin on his way to San Francisco, the Dolphins have all but turned the page on an ugly chapter in their franchise’s history.

The trade reunites Martin with his former coach at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh spoke highly of Martin’s character in the now infamous Wells Report.

Martin will come to San Francisco in support of offensive tackles Joe Staley and Anthony Davis. The deal marks the second swap by the 49ers today. Earlier, they acquired Blaine Gabbert from the Jaguars for a low draft pick.

Steve Smith Rumors: Thursday

March 13th, 2014 at 6:37pm CST by Luke Adams

6:37pm: Smith is scheduled to fly to Baltimore tonight in order to meet with the Ravens tomorrow, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

5:32pm: The Smith market is starting to heat up now that he’s officially a free agent. According to Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the Ravens, Patriots, Chargers, Redskins, and Seahawks have all reached out so far. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (via Twitter) that Baltimore expects to schedule a visit with Smith soon, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears from a source that no deal is imminent tonight (Twitter link).

12:26pm: Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) clarifies that the Ravens haven’t reached out to Smith yet, and will do so later this afternoon when he’s officially off the Panthers’ roster.

11:00am: The Panthers officially announced today that Steve Smith has been released, and the Ravens have already inquired on the veteran wide receiver, according to ESPN.com’s David Newton (via Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that Baltimore has emerged as the early favorite to land Smith.

The Ravens’ interest in Smith was first reported earlier this week, well before Carolina decided to release him, by Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The Buccaneers and Raiders were also mentioned yesterday as likely suitors, and the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers were among Smith’s preferred trade destinations when Carolina was trying to move him, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

Raiders Sign LaMarr Woodley

March 13th, 2014 at 6:17pm CST by Luke Adams

6:17pm: The Raiders announced via Twitter that the deal is official.

5:22pm: The Raiders have reached an agreement to sign LaMarr Woodley to a two-year deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Schefter reports that the new contract will have a max value of $12MM.

The 29-year-old pass rusher had 18 sacks over the past three seasons while playing through injuries, missing 14 games over that time span. Between 2008 and 2010, Woodley was among the most terrifying pass rushers in the game. He reached the quarterback consistently, recording 34.5 sacks during those seasons on the way to a monster contract extension to stay with the Steelers.

After an injury plagued 2013, the Steelers faced a dilemma with an aging star in Woodley, and a promising young player in Jason Worilds. With their salary cap problems, when they placed the transition tag on Worilds, they all but guaranteed Woodley would not return.

Captain Munnerlyn Signs With Vikings

March 13th, 2014 at 6:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

6:13pm: The Vikings announced on Twitter that the deal is now official.

5:36pm: Munnerlyn’s deal is worth $14.25MM over three years, with $7MM guaranteed, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

5:05pm: Captain Munnerlyn and the Vikings have to terms on a three-year contract agreement, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter). According to Rapaport, the deal could be worth as much a $15MM (via Twitter).

The former Panther had an excellent season for the division champions, after signing a one-year deal last offseason to stay with the team. He reportedly wanted to remain with the Panthers, but with their cap troubles he was able to secure more money with the Vikings, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).

Munnerlyn, 26 in April, started all 16 games last season for Carolina, registering 52 tackles, one fumble recovery, two picks, and two defensive touchdowns.

NFC Contract Details: Quarless, Collins, Saffold

March 13th, 2014 at 6:02pm CST by Luke Adams

We rounded up a handful of AFC contract details earlier this afternoon. Now, let’s turn our attention to the NFC:

Andrew Quarless‘ two-year contract with the Packers is worth $3MM in total, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The base salaries are $800K and $1.3MM, while the remaining money is made up of a $350K signing bonus, $200K in per-game roster bonuses, and $75K in annual workout bonuses.
Pelissero tweets that only $9MM of Anthony Collins‘ five-year deal with the Bucs is fully guaranteed at signing, which is $6MM less than what was reported earlier. I’m guessing that $6MM is guaranteed for injury only.
Although Rodger Saffold‘s new five-year contract with the Rams is worth $31.7MM, it can max out at $35MM+, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Willie Young‘s three-year contract with the Bears includes a $1MM roster bonus and $150K in workout bonuses, tweets Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Meanwhile, the Bears‘ signing of Ryan Mundy has the club on the hook for a two-year, $3MM contract, with $650K guaranteed, says Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (all Twitter links). That $650K guarantee comes in the form of a roster bonus, while the pact includes base salaries of $800K (2014) and $1.45MM (2015), plus workout bonuses of $50K annually.
Eric Wright‘s one-year contract with the 49ers sounds like a minimum salary benefit deal, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link). For a player with Wright’s experience, that’s an $855K base salary to go along with a $20K reporting bonus and another $25K if he makes the team.
Joe Berger‘s one-year deal with the Vikings is worth $920K, with a $65K signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). That makes it a minimum salary benefit contract too.
Anthony McCoy will have a base salary of $950K on his one-year contract with the Seahawks, tweets KJR’s Curtis Crabtree.