HEADLINES

Month: March 2014

Redskins Re-Sign Santana Moss

March 11th, 2014 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins have re-signed Santana Moss, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). Moss has publicly indicated his desire to remain in Washington.

The 5’10”, 185 pound receiver hauled in 42 catches for 452 yards last season. He played in all 16 games as he has done in five of the last six seasons. Moss, 35 in June, began his career as a star with the Jets but has made D.C. his home for the last nine seasons.

Moss had a prominent role in the return game last season, taking 18 punts back for 130 yards.

Titans To Sign Dexter McCluster

March 11th, 2014 at 3:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Dexter McCluster has reached agreement on a three-year pact with the Titans, league sources tell ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The former Chief will earn a maximum of $12MM, including $4.5MM in guaranteed money, on the deal, according to Schefter (via Twitter).

McCluster had interest from four or five suitors leading up to the official start of free agency. The 49ers were among the clubs believed to have interest but he’ll instead be joining Tennessee for 2014.

Browns To Sign Donte Whitner

March 11th, 2014 at 3:10pm CST by Luke Adams

3:10pm: The Browns have reached an agreement on a four-year, $28MM deal with Whitner, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

2:44pm: The Browns’ agreement with Whitner is expected to be worth in the neighborhood of $7MM annually over four years, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The deal would make Whitner one of the league’s top 10 highest-paid safeties and sounds like it’d be similar to contracts signed by Kam Chancellor and Reshad Jones.

12:51pm: In addition to being the favorites to land free agent linebacker Karlos Dansby, the Browns are also in pole position for safety Donte Whitner, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Cabot reports that Whitner is expected to ink a deal with the Browns today when free agency opens, replacing T.J. Ward, who figures to sign elsewhere.

Coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, Whitner was one of the league’s best safeties in pass coverage last season, limiting yards after the catch and grabbing a pair of interceptions. At age 28, the longtime Bill and 49ers should have plenty of productive years left in him, and represents the best possible free agent replacement if the Browns had to lose Ward.

As we noted yesterday, the Browns, Bears, and Jets were in the mix for Whitner, and it was the Browns that sounded the most serious about landing the Cleveland native. Albert Breer of the NFL Network reported earlier today that there was a lot of talk about Whitner joining new Browns head coach Mike Pettine in Cleveland.

Falcons Release Thomas DeCoud

March 11th, 2014 at 3:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons are set to release Pro Bowl safety Thomas DeCoud, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). Atlanta has faced a bit of a numbers crunch this offseason and DeCoud is a notable victim.

The move has long been expected. A portion of DeCoud’s salary was set to become guaranteed if he remained on the team’s roster beyond March 14th. The 28-year-old earned a spot in the Pro Bowl a year ago due in large part to his six interceptions during the 2012 season. However, he didn’t grade well according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics that season, and was even worse in 2013, ranking 83rd out of 86 qualified safeties (subscription required).

The longtime Falcons starter had three years remaining on his contract, but the club has instead $3MM in 2014 cap savings by releasing him. DeCoud will join a group of free agent safeties that currently includes T.J. Ward, Jairus Byrd, Donte Whitner, Chris Clemons, and James Ihedigbo, among others.

Cowboys To Release DeMarcus Ware

March 11th, 2014 at 2:55pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are releasing DeMarcus Ware, tweets Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram. Interest from teams with 3-4 schemes as well as 4-3 schemes is expected, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN. We learned earlier today that Ware requested that Dallas decide on his future before the start of free agency this afternoon.

Ware would have accounted for a $16MM cap hit in 2014 and was owed $26MM in total between ’14 and ’15. Ware, once among the NFL’s elite front seven personnel, is on the verge of turning 32 and isn’t the type of game-changing talent that he once was. The linebacker-turned-defensive end is a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time First-Team All-Pro, but he clearly lost a step in 2013.

The Cowboys theoretically could have kept Ware on board with his current contract thanks to the Sean Lee, Orlando Scandrick, and Tony Romo contract adjustments putting them right around the ~$133MM cap limit, but that money could be better allocated elsewhere.

Austin Howard To Hit Open Market

March 11th, 2014 at 2:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jets couldn’t strike a deal with Austin Howard before free agency begins today, and the offensive tackle will reach the open market, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). According to Mehta (via Twitter), a few teams have already reached out to Howard.

While Howard has played right tackle for the Jets for the last two seasons, it’ll be interesting to see if he draws interest from teams who missed out on the top tier of left tackles. Branden Albert, Anthony Collins, Jared Veldheer, and Eugene Monroe are among the linemen who look like they’ll finalize new agreements today.

Defensive Back Rumors: Tillman, Bethea, Mitchell

March 11th, 2014 at 2:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest secondary news..

  • The Buccaneers are interested in acquiring cornerback Charles Tillman, two sources tell Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. The Bucs are preparing to part with star cornerback Darrelle Revis and Tillman could come and reunite with coach Lovie Smith.
  • Antoine Bethea is a possibility for the 49ers at safety, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
  • It sounds like the Redskins are now a longshot to land free agent safety Mike Mitchell, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Mitchell is picking up interest after having a solid year with the Panthers on a one-year, make good contract. Diana Marie Russini of NBC Washington (on Twitter) hears the same thing and says that Jairus Byrd is even less likely.

Giants To Re-Sign Curtis Painter

March 11th, 2014 at 2:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Giants will re-sign prospective free agent quarterback Curtis Painter after the new league year gets underway, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Painter acted as the team’s backup signal-caller behind Eli Manning last season.

Painter, who started eight games for the Colts in 2011 between the Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck eras in Indianapolis, saw action in three games for New York in 2013, completing just half of his 16 pass attempts and throwing a pair of interceptions. Painter may not return to his No. 2 role next season if he’s beaten out by Ryan Nassib, the Giants’ fourth-round pick in 2013.

Painter played at the minimum salary last season, and I expect his new contract will be worth the minimum as well.

AFC Rumors: Raiders, Chargers, Haden, Edelman

March 11th, 2014 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

It appears the Raiders, the team with the most cap room in the NFL, will let both of their marquee free agents walk, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio hears from a source that Oakland believes Jared Veldheer is better suited to right tackle than left tackle, and that the team can’t justify paying $7MM annually to a defensive end (Lamarr Houston) who is more a run-stopper than a pass-rusher.

With free agency looming at the top of the hour, here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Raiders defensive tackle Vance Walker will test the market at 3:00pm CT, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Oakland made Walker an offer, and he likes playing for the Raiders, but he wants to take advantage of the rare opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent, says Tafur.
  • The Chargers are “very much in the mix” for free agent defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
  • The Colts remain in talks to bring Ahmad Bradshaw back, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. The former Giants running back was an impact player last year before his injury.
  • The Browns‘ talks with Joe Haden on a long-term deal are ongoing, tweets Breer, adding that it would be interesting to see how a deal for Darrelle Revis would affect those talks.
  • Sources tell Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star that the Chiefs have interest in wide receivers Jason Avant and Devin Hester.
  • Assuming the Patriots can’t re-sign Julian Edelman, Andrew Hawkins is a target to keep in mind for the team, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Hawkins received an RFA tender from the Bengals, so Cincinnati would have a chance to match any offer for the receiver.
  • Speaking of Edelman, the Ravens have interest in him, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson also hears from a source that the Ravens will evaluate tight end Owen Daniels, who was released by the Texans (Twitter link).
  • After voiding his deal and becoming a free agent yesterday, defensive lineman Jason Babin told SiriusXM NFL Radio today that he’d like to return to the Jaguars if it’s possible. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has the details and quotes.
  • Bills GM Doug Whaley told WGR 550 that “offers are on the table” for tight end Scott Chandler and kicker Dan Carpenter, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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