2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Bucs Rumors: Tillman, Ginn, Joseph

March 12th, 2014 at 1:52pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers aren’t done yet. Even after signing Alterraun Verner yesterday to a four-year, $26.5MM pact and landing quarterback Josh McCown, Tampa Bay is still in on free agent cornerback Charles Tillman, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Tillman figures to have plenty of suitors around the NFL but the opportunity to reunite with former coach Lovie Smith might draw him to Tampa Bay. More on the Buccaneers..

Along with the Ravens, the Buccaneers and Raiders could be a landing spot for free agent wide receiver Steve Smith, a source tells Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). Earlier today, Smith’s agent revealed that his client has played his last snap in Carolina.
The Buccaneers confirmed that they are hosting free agent wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., writes Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. Ginn, the ninth-overall pick in the 2007 draft, has made a name for himself in the return game. Ginn, 29 in April, averaged 12.2 yards per punt return in 2013 and 23.8 yards per kickoff return.
Former Buccaneers guard Davin Joseph is visiting the Rams today, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of CBS Sports (on Twitter). Joseph saw time in all 16 games for Tampa Bay last season.

Cowboys Release Miles Austin

March 12th, 2014 at 1:45pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 1:45pm: The Cowboys have officially announced the release of Austin, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

TUESDAY, 6:19pm: The Cowboys are set to release wide receiver Miles Austin, and will designate the move as a post-June 1 cut, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The move won’t free up any cap space for free agency, but will allow the club to spread out Austin’s cap hit over the next two years, beginning in June.

Without the post-June 1 designation, releasing Austin would have only created about $400K in cap savings for the Cowboys, reducing the veteran’s $8.25MM cap number to about $7.86MM. Instead, there will only be $2.75MM in dead money on the team’s 2014 books, for about $5.5MM in savings.

Giants Sign Geoff Schwartz

March 12th, 2014 at 1:40pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY, 1:40pm: Schwartz has signed his four-year deal with the Giants, and it will be worth $16.8MM, with $6.2MM in guaranteed money, his agent tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).

TUESDAY, 4:12pm: The Giants are set to sign guard Geoff Schwartz tomorrow, according to Kim Jones of WFAN (on Twitter). We learned earlier today that Big Blue was interested in the former Chiefs guard.

The 27-year-old moved into the starting lineup at right guard for Kansas City late in the season. The Chiefs will have to work diligently to make sure their offensive line is solid in 2014. In addition to Schwartz, KC’s other primary right guard, Jon Asamoah, is also on the verge of hitting unrestricted free agency.

Schwartz was a seventh-round pick of the Panthers in 2008 and made enough of a mark there to see time in all 16 games during his rookie season, including three starts. In his sophomore campaign, he started all 16 games at right guard. He went a couple of years without another start until this past season with KC.

Jared Allen Rumors: Wednesday

March 12th, 2014 at 1:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Jared Allen almost seemed destined to sign with the Broncos, but their interest in DeMarcus Ware has thrown a wrench into those plans. Instead, the Pro Bowler is looking at some alternatives. Last night we heard that he’s talking with the Seahawks and Bears, but Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com reported this morning that Chicago doesn’t seem too likely for the defensive end. The latest on Allen..

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter links) that the Broncos would have made Allen a three-year offer similar to the one DeMarcus Ware received, if Ware turned it down.
Contrary to previous reports, the Seahawks haven’t yet spoken to Allen’s camp, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That doesn’t mean Seattle won’t eventually discuss a deal with Allen, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Earlier updates:

Allen’s agent, Ken Harris, issued a statement today saying that his client hasn’t yet agreed to visit and teams, and isn’t discussing any suitors that have been in contact, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). Harris suggests that there’s a lot of misinformation out there and that “none of the rumors are coming from our camp.”
Allen wants fair value after a career in which he has averaged nearly 13 sacks per season and if he doesn’t get what he wants, he’s at peace with living his life without football, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Buccaneers Sign Josh McCown

March 12th, 2014 at 1:28pm CST by Zachary Links

1:28pm: McCown’s deal also includes incentives that could push the deal to $15MM, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports 1. The deal is similar to the one Chad Henne struck with the Jaguars.

1:16pm: The Buccaneers have signed Josh McCown to a two-year deal, tweets agent Mike McCartney. McCown broke out last season when he got the opportunity to start in place of Jay Cutler. McCown will get $10MM over two years under the deal with $4.75MM coming this year and $5.25MM next year, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter).

We heard earlier today that the Bucs were pushing to land the veteran quarterback. While McCown may not have the full career resume of other free agent quarterbacks like Michael Vick, he had the best 2013 of any free agent signal caller. The 34-year-old also had visits scheduled with the Texans and Jets this week, but he’ll be skipping those flights. McCown previously said that he’d only leave the Bears for an opportunity to lead his own team and it appears that he got that with his deal in Tampa Bay.

“If I leave Chicago, if that’s the case, [a starting job] is the opportunity I’m looking for,” McCown said. “And once those opportunities come, what’s the coaching staff? What are the players there in place?…. To leave Chicago, it would be a situation where I’m looking to be able to compete to start or grow more as a player. The only way you can do that as a player is on the field.”

After a journeyman career, McCown found his footing in Chicago over the course of five starts and eight games in total. McCown, who was thrust into the starting role after Cutler was lost to injury, ended the 2013 season completing 66.8 of his passes for 1,829 yards with 13 touchdowns, one interception and a 109.0 passer rating, the third highest behind Peyton Manning and Nick Foles. Over the course of his career, McCown has spent time with the Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Panthers, and Bears, making a total of 38 starts under center. In his five games starting for Chicago this year, McCown filled in admirably with the Bears going 3-2.

AFC Rumors: Griffen, Soliai, Vick, Raiders

March 12th, 2014 at 1:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos were high on Everson Griffen and dangling a deal averaging $9MM per season, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports 1. That forced the Vikings to sweeten their offer to keep Griffen in house. Minnesota wound up giving the defensive end a five-year deal worth $42.5MM that includes $20MM guaranteed. More out of the AFC..

The Colts had interest in nose tackle Paul Soliai before he signed with the Falcons, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Soliai got $33MM over five years from Atlanta with $14MM guaranteed over the life of the contract.
Michael Vick will likely wait until after the draft to sign with a team, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Meanwhile, the Raiders are waiting to see what happens with Matt Schaub and are also interested in Josh Freeman.
The Texans will try and trade Schaub before releasing him, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora adds that the Raiders are after a veteran quarterback and someone like Mark Sanchez could be a fit, if he becomes available.

Bucs Pushing To Land McCown, Collins

March 12th, 2014 at 12:48pm CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers have pushed their afternoon press conference back to 4:30pm ET as the team attempts to increase its free agent haul. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), the Bucs are “pushing to add” quarterback Josh McCown and offensive tackle Anthony Collins, and have a good chance of landing both players.

Both McCown and Collins made Tampa Bay the first stop in their respective free agency tours, and while McCown at least has more visits scheduled, it’s possible that he won’t end up making them. With a new regime in place for the Bucs, the team is seeking a veteran free agent quarterback, and McCown had the best season of any of 2014’s free agents, even if the career achievements of Michael Vick and some others may surpass McCown’s career production.

As for Collins, he has appeared likely to end up with the Bucs since the free agent market for tackles began taking shape. Other teams prioritizing left tackles in free agency, such as the Dolphins, Ravens, Raiders, and Cardinals, have already reached agreements with players, less than 24 hours into free agency.

By the time the team’s presser begins this afternoon, Tampa Bay may also have news to announce regarding Darrelle Revis. The Bucs are expected to trade or release the star cornerback by 4:00pm ET today.

Cowboys To Sign Terrell McClain

March 12th, 2014 at 12:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are signing defensive tackle Terrell McClain to a three-year deal, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). McClain was a restricted free agent for the Texans but they opted against giving him a tender.

McClain is joining the third team in his NFL career but this time he might not have to change addresses. The 25-year-old broke into the league as a rookie with the Panthers and started all 12 games that he appeared in. In his tours of duty with the Texans and Patriots since then, McClain has yet to see another start. In 16 games last season, McClain had eight tackles and one fumble recovery.

Bears To Sign M.D. Jennings

March 12th, 2014 at 12:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears announced via Twitter that they have agreed to terms with safety M.D. Jennings on a one-year deal. Jennings started all 16 games for the Packers last season at safety.

Jennings was a restricted free agent this offseason but Green Bay opted not to tender an offer to their starting free safety. The 25-year-old registered 59 tackles and a sack in 2013 plus a fumble recovery for a touchdown early in the season against the Bengals.

Agent: Steve Smith Done With Panthers

March 12th, 2014 at 12:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The agent for wide receiver Steve Smith says his client has played his final snap for the Panthers, writes Steve Reed of the Associated Press. Smith’s longtime representative Derrick Fox says the five-time Pro Bowler “is not going to play for the Panthers next year, I know that. I just don’t know when that transaction is going to take place.”

Fox added that the Panthers have been trying to trade Smith, but expects he will ultimately be released. Meanwhile, the Panthers have not asked the veteran to restructure his contract which calls for him to make $7MM under this year’s salary cap. No matter what Carolina does, they’ll be on the hook for $3MM as part of the three-year deal he signed in 2012.

Smith had 64 receptions for 746 yards and four touchdowns last season, helping the Panthers go 12-4 in the regular season and capture the NFC South championship. Fox said Smith plans to continue his playing career in the NFL when the Panthers cut ties and said that his client would like to get back to playing slot.

Smith 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.