HEADLINES

Month: March 2014

D-Line Notes: Houston, Allen, Johnson

March 10th, 2014 at 6:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A few notes from the National Football Conference:

  • The Bears are “pushing hard” for defensive end Lamarr Houston, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The Bears missed out on Michael Bennett when he re-signed with the Seahawks earlier today.
  • A source tell Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that they would be “shocked” if defensive end Jared Allen does not sign with the Broncos (via Twitter). I speculated as much yesterday after Allen said he would not return to the Vikings, and hoped to play for a contending team. The Broncos need pass-rush help, and a short-term deal would makes sense for both sides.
  • Tomasson also tweets that the Vikings are “definitely out of the running” for defensive end Michael Johnson. Johnson had been linked to the team, primarily based on his familiarity with new head coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings signed fellow end Everson Griffen to a five-year extension yesterday.
  • Kevin Williams, the Vikings‘ longest-tenured player, hasn’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing with the team, as he tells Tomasson. The big defensive lineman has been with Minnesota since the club drafted him ninth overall in 2003.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Jarret Johnson Agrees To Pay Cut

March 10th, 2014 at 6:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Chargers linebacker Jarret Johnson has agreed to take a pay cut, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (in an article by Eric Williams of ESPN.com). Johnson was scheduled to earn a base salary of $4MM in 2014. $2MM of that will now be converted into a signing bonus, and he will earn a $1MM base salary, saving the Chargers $2MM in total 2014 cap space, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.

Johnson, 32, joined the Chargers on a four-year deal in 2012, after spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Ravens. In 2013, he started nine games, accruing 33 tackles and three sacks. Despite those pedestrian numbers, he was still able to rate as the 18th-best 3-4 outside linebacker, per Pro Football Focus.

Chris Snee Restructures Contract

March 10th, 2014 at 6:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Giants guard Chris Snee has agreed to restructure his contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It appears to be a straight pay cut, as Schefter reports that Snee’s base salary will lower from $7.2MM to just $1.1MM, with another $1MM available through incentives. The move allows to keep a stalwart of their offensive line on the same day that they released center David Baas.

Snee, 32, was a fourth-round-pick of the Giants in 2004, and has spent his entire career in New York. He was entering the final year of a six-year extension he signed in 2008. He played in only three games in 2013 due to hip injuries.

Contract Tenders: Monday

March 10th, 2014 at 5:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys punter Chris Jones signed his exclusive rights tender of $645K, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. The move locks down Dallas’ punter situation but eats up about $150K of the ~$2MM salary cap space the club had to work with. Jones averaged 45 yards per punt in his first full season with the Cowboys. The latest contract tenders from around the NFL..

  • Restricted free agent tackle Byron Bell has received a second-round tender worth $2.187MM from the Panthers, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). The club also tendered exclusive rights free agent Chris Scott, tweets ESPN.com’s David Newton.
  • The Chargers have only two exclusive rights free agents in linebacker Bront Bird and guard Stephen Schilling and they won’t be tendering either one, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.
  • Jets linebacker Nick Bellore got the low restricted free agent tender, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). Bellore led Gang Green in special teams kickoff tackles last season.
  • The Ravens won’t extend an RFA tender to wide receiver Tandon Doss, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The team could still bring Doss back on a smaller deal though.
  • Lions wide receiver Kris Durham confirmed via Twitter that he inked his tender with the club. Durham, a fourth-round pick in 2011, became a more significant part of the Lions’ offense in 2013, racking up 38 receptions, 490 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns while starting 13 games. He didn’t perform well based on Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), which ranked him 109th out of 111 qualified receivers, but he’s still just 25 years old, and may not be relied upon for quite as large a role in 2014 if the team adds a receiver or two.
  • Joe Morgan and Jed Collins won’t receive RFA tenders from the Saints, but the club still has interest in re-signing the two free agents, says Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune.
  • The Rams won’t tender tight end Mike McNeill, who was eligible for restricted free agency, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  • Linebacker Justin Hickman has signed his ERFA tender from the Colts, according to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter).

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Eugene Monroe, Ravens Negotiating

March 10th, 2014 at 5:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Offensive tackle Eugene Monroe might yet return to the Ravens, as Albert Breer of NFL.com remains the two parties are “deep in constructive talks” (via Twitter). The offensive tackle market appears to be rounding in to form, as Branden Albert is overwhelmingly likely to sign with the Dolphins tomorrow, and rumors abound that Jared Veldheer will be heading to the Cardinals. Monroe, however, rated higher than either of them in Pro Football Focus’ metrics, coming in as the tenth best left tackle last season.

The Ravens, who acquired Monroe last season from the Jaguars, reportedly would like to pay the left tackle $8-9MM per season, while Monroe would like to average closer to $10MM annually. Monroe might be able to reach his asking price, as reports say that the Dolphins are likely to pay Albert around $10MM per season. Monroe is three years younger than Albert. The Ravens, meanwhile, need to solidify their offensive line, as right tackle Michael Oher is also a free agent.

Bears Release Michael Bush

March 10th, 2014 at 5:11pm CST by Luke Adams

5:11pm: The Bears have officially cut Bush, the team announced today (Twitter link).

4:41pm: The Bears are releasing veteran running back Michael Bush, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Bush had two years remaining on his contract, which would have run through the 2015 season.

Acting as Matt Forte‘s backup and a short-yardage option in the Bears’ backfield, Bush set career-lows in rushing attempts (63) and yards per carry (3.1) in 2013, en route to a career-worst 197 rushing yards. He was on Chicago’s books for a $3.85MM cap hit in 2014, so releasing him will reduce that number to $2MM in dead money, creating $1.85MM in cap savings for the Bears.

Chris Kuper To Retire

March 10th, 2014 at 5:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran Broncos guard Chris Kuper will retire, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Kuper, 31, was a fifth-round-pick in 2006, and has spent all eight of his NFL seasons in Denver. He became a full-time starter in 2007, and remained a mainstay on the offensive line until he dislocated his ankle late in 2011. He would have been entering the final season of a five-year, $25.5MM deal he signed in June 2010.

Although Louis Vasquez is now firmly entrenched at right guard, Kuper’s announcement adds more intrigue to a Broncos offseason that is already in flux. Left guard Zane Beadles is a free agent, and left tackle Ryan Clady will be returning from a torn ACL. The Broncos offense also faces a decision on running back Knowshon Moreno, and the likely defection of receiver Eric Decker.

Dolphins To Sign Louis Delmas

March 10th, 2014 at 5:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins have agreed to sign Louis Delmas, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The veteran safety, who was released by the Lions last month, can earn up to $3.5MM on his new one-year contract, Florio reports.

Delmas, who turns 27 in April, started all 16 games for the Lions in 2013, recording 64 tackles, three interceptions, and a pair of sacks. He also ranked 26th among NFL safeties using Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Despite his solid performance, he was cut by Detroit because of his oversized cap number and also perhaps due to lingering concerns about his knees. In 2011 and 2012, Delmas missed 13 games due to knee injuries.

The Dolphins were one of several teams Delmas visited in the last few weeks. The Saints and Steelers were among the clubs who met with the former second-round pick, while the Broncos, Ravens, and Falcons were all believed to have at least a little interest at some point. With Delmas locked up, the Dolphins likely won’t be seriously involved in bidding for top-tier free agent safeties like Jairus Byrd, who was linked to Miami earlier today.

NFC Rumors: Cowboys, Bell, Vikings, Bears

March 10th, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys are interested in re-signing free-agents-to-be Jason Hatcher and Anthony Spencer, but Dallas isn’t the only team with interest in the defensive linemen. According to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com, the free agent duo has at least seven interested suitors, including the Cowboys. Dallas is also interested in defensive tackle Henry Melton, according to Watkins (Twitter link), but the ESPN scribe cautions that there are no assurances of a deal, given the Cowboys’ limited cap space.

Here’s more from around the NFC, with free agency less than 24 hours away:

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Giants Rumors: McBride, Dietrich-Smith, Dickson

March 10th, 2014 at 4:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we heard that the Giants will cut center David Baas, and that the team is close to locking up kicker Josh Brown to a new deal. Here’s more on the G-Men:

  • Cornerback Trumaine McBride and the Giants are close to agreeing on a two-year contract, reports Art Stapleton of the Bergen Record. McBride saw an increased role in New York’s secondary during the second half of 2013 and performed well, ranking 24th among qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
  • As expected, the Giants expressed interest in Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. A team source described the interest as “serious,” and that was before word broke that the club would be cutting Bass. Dietrich-Smith could sign quickly tomorrow, and the Giants look like the frontrunners, says Vacchiano (via Twitter).
  • The Giants are interested in tight end Ed Dickson, tweets Vacchiano. Both New York teams may be in on the Ravens free agent, as Brian Costello of the New York Post says the Jets also have interest (Twitter link).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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