2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Bears Re-Sign Dante Rosario

March 13th, 2014 at 4:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have re-signed tight end Dante Rosario, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Bears GM Phil Emery recently said that he was optimistic about Rosario’s chances of returning to Chicago.

Rosario, 29, was re-signed to a one-year deal by the Bears in late February only to be released on March 10th and neither side has explained that bizarre chain of events. The tight end had seasons of 26 and 32 catches several years ago with the Panthers, but didn’t act as a receiver often in part-time action for the Bears in 2013. He was very productive as a run blocker, however, recording Pro Football Focus’ second-highest run-blocking grade among tight ends, despite playing just 186 snaps (subscription required).

Rosario had signed a one-year, minimum salary deal with the Bears, without any bonus money last time around, so it’s possible that the previous deal was dissolved in order to give him some guaranteed cash.

Panthers Release Steve Smith

March 13th, 2014 at 4:23pm CST by Luke Adams

4:23pm: According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), the Panthers designated Smith as a post-June 1 cut, which will reduce the dead money on the team’s 2014 books, stretching some of that hit into 2015.

10:27am: The Panthers have officially released Smith, the team announced today (Twitter link).

9:55am: Before the Panthers decided to cut Smith, the receiver presented the team with five preferred trade destinations, a source tells Joseph Person. Those clubs were the Cowboys, Patriots, Ravens, Bucs, and Chargers.

7:12am: Unable to find a trade partner for Steve Smith, the Panthers will release the veteran wide receiver, according to Bill Voth of the SportsXchange (via Twitter). Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer confirms (via Twitter) that the move is expected to come later today. According to Person (via Twitter), Hakeem Nicks will be the club’s top target as they consider replacements for the longtime Panther.

Smith’s agent, Derek Fox, had suggested yesterday that his client’s time in Carolina was almost certainly over, noting that the club would likely release the wide receiver if he couldn’t be traded. When the move becomes official, Smith is expected to draw serious interest from the Ravens, and a report this week indicated that interest should be mutual. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter) calls Baltimore the early frontrunner in the upcoming Smith sweepstakes, though we heard the Buccaneers and Raiders mentioned yesterday as likely suitors as well.

Assuming the Panthers don’t designate Smith as a post-June 1 cut, his cap number will be higher after he’s cut ($9MM) than it would’ve been if he remained on the roster ($7MM). As Person wrote yesterday, GM Dave Gettleman doesn’t view the move as a financial necessity, but thinks the team needs to part ways with the veteran receiver to let younger leaders like Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly take control of the locker room.

Smith, who turns 35 in May, is Carolina’s all-time leading receiver with 836 receptions for 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns receiving. He’s also is 19th all-time in NFL history in yards receiving and 25th in receptions.

Texans Re-Sign Garrett Graham

March 13th, 2014 at 4:14pm CST by Luke Adams

4:14pm: The Texans have officially re-signed Graham, the team announced today in a press release.

1:16pm: Graham’s new three-year deal is worth $11.25MM, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).

11:27am: The Texans have agreed to terms on a new deal with tight end Garrett Graham, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). According to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston (via Twitter), it’s a three-year contract.

Graham, 27, had a breakout year for the Texans last season, hauling in 49 passes for 545 yards and five touchdowns. He started 11 games for the team in 2013 after an injury to Owen Daniels created an opening.

With Daniels having been released earlier in the offseason, Graham looks poised to assume the role of No. 1 tight end in Houston, with Ryan Griffin backing him up, tweets James Palmer of CSNHouston.com.

Panthers Re-Sign Derek Anderson

March 13th, 2014 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

3:56pm: Anderson’s new contract with the Panthers is a two-year pact, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

11:36am: Another backup quarterback is off the free agent market, as Derek Anderson tweeted today that he has re-signed with the Panthers: “Happy to be coming back to Charlotte next season! #keeppounding #wantthatring.” Anderson is expected to serve as the team’s No. 2 signal-caller behind Cam Newton.

Anderson, who has been with the Panthers since 2011, hasn’t seen the field much in the last three seasons thanks to the good health of Newton, who has yet to miss an NFL game. In 2013, Anderson saw action in just four contests, and didn’t throw a single post.

Tommy Kelly Restructures Pats Contract

March 13th, 2014 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Patriots defensive lineman Tommy Kelly has restructured the final year of his contract to reduce the team’s cap hit for 2014, reports Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.

Kelly’s deal had originally featured a $2.656MM cap number for 2014, but that has been reduced to about $1.85MM in the restructure, according to Yates. Kelly can still earn approximately the same total salary if the contract maxes, but more of it is tied up in per-game roster bonuses and playing time incentives.

Unlike Kelly, it doesn’t appear fellow lineman Vince Wilfork will be reworking his deal. He reportedly asked the Pats for his release earlier today.

Eagles Agree To Sign Nolan Carroll

March 13th, 2014 at 3:42pm CST by Luke Adams

3:42pm: Garafolo clarifies (via Twitter) that he misunderstood his source this morning, and that Carroll’s deal can be worth up to a maximum of $5.2MM with incentives. The two-year deal is worth $3.65MM on the surface, plus a $900K escalator and incentives in 2015, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

9:00am: Carroll’s deal with the Eagles will be a two-year pact worth $5.2MM, plus incentives, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.

8:50am: A little over an hour after reaching a deal to acquire Darren Sproles, the Eagles have struck again, agreeing to terms on a contract for free agent cornerback Nolan Carroll, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Carroll, a four-year veteran, started 22 games at cornerback for the Dolphins over the last two seasons, and had his best year in 2013. In over 800 defensive snaps, Carroll recorded 47 tackles, three interceptions, a pair of sacks, and a slightly positive grade, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). While he isn’t the big-name addition some Eagles fans may have been hoping for, Carroll has performed well so far, and could still be on the rise, having just turned 27.

Before agreeing to terms with the Eagles, Carroll met with the Bills, and reportedly drew interest from the Steelers, 49ers, Vikings, and his former team, the Dolphins.

Giants Re-Sign Henry Hynoski

March 13th, 2014 at 3:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants have re-signed fullback Henry Hynoski, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. It’s a one-year, $1MM deal. New York elected not to extend an RFA tender worth $1.431MM to Hynoski this week, and after the three-year veteran visited with the Lions, he opted to return to New York.

Hynoski, 25, figures to battle with tough blocker John Conner for the full-time fullback job. A shoulder injury in Week 3 ended Hynoski’s 2013 season prematurely, and Conner performed well in his absence. A

Dolphins Rumors: Strief, Smith, Brown

March 13th, 2014 at 3:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the latest out of Miami, courtesy of the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson..

Zach Strief, 30, remains by far the best unsigned right tackle, and the Dolphins want to set up a visit with him. Trouble is, he was committed to a banquet in Cincinnati and was unable to take any visits when Miami reached out to him. The Dolphins tried him again this afternoon and a decision is pending.
Guard Shelley Smith is visiting with the Dolphins tonight after visiting with the Patriots this afternoon and his camp is hopeful there will be an offer from Miami. The 30-year-old has started just eight games over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Miami has called to express some level of interest in several other guards, including Daryn Colledge and Wade Smith and center/guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. Davin Joseph remains a possibility as well.
Miami has expressed interest in cornerbacks Tarell Brown and Walter Thurmond.

Mutual Interest Between Alex Mack, Colts

March 13th, 2014 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard yesterday that four teams, including the Ravens and Colts, have been in contact with Alex Mack‘s camp about a potential offer sheet for the free agent center. Speaking to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star today, Mack declined to comment on which specific teams had expressed interest in him, but suggested he’d have interest in playing for the Colts.

“Anytime a player has a chance to talk with a team with a proven record like the Colts, (with) a quarterback and other weapons of the caliber Indy has, it certainly catches your attention,” Mack said.

Because he was designated by the Browns as the team’s transition player, Mack can negotiate with rival suitors and sign an offer sheet, but Cleveland will have the opportunity to match it and bring him back. The center’s agent has expressed optimism about constructing an offer sheet the Browns would be hesitate to match, and Holder suggests (via Twitter) that Indianapolis’ interest in Mack is “very real,” so it sounds like the two sides will continue to talk.

Broncos Offered DRC Six-Year Deal, Made Run At Revis

March 13th, 2014 at 2:45pm CST by Luke Adams

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, before the Broncos signed Aqib Talib, they approached Darrelle Revis‘ camp with a similar six-year, $54MM proposal. However, Revis declined, sticking to his demand for $12MM per year. The timeline of events isn’t entirely clear, since the Broncos reached their agreement with Talib on Tuesday night, while Revis wasn’t officially released until Wednesday.

Perhaps even more interestingly, Florio hears that before pursing Talib or Revis, the Broncos also made a six-year, $54MM offer to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who didn’t accept it. It’s possible that Denver’s offer to DRC didn’t include as much guaranteed money as the team’s agreement with Talib. Still, it’s a surprise that Rodgers-Cromartie would turn down such a seemingly lucrative deal unless the specific terms were very unfavorable

Florio also passes along the financial details on Talib’s contract with the Broncos, which will pay him $12MM in 2014 if he stays healthy, and has base salaries guaranteed for injury only in 2015 and 2016. The contract is more like a three-year, $27MM deal, even though it has the potential to max out at around $57MM.