HEADLINES

Month: March 2014

Giants Made Offer To Justin Tuck

March 8th, 2014 at 1:38pm CST by Rob DiRe

While defensive end Justin Tuck will have his opportunity to test free agency, the Giants have made him an offer in the hopes the Super Bowl winning pass rusher will return, reports Jordan Rannan of NJ.com. It is believed the offer was made some point during the last week, but no deal was struck between the two parties.

Tuck had 11 sacks last year, and is a part of a free agent class at a position that includes Michael Bennett, Jared Allen, Michael Johnson, Lamarr Houston, and Everson Griffen.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that at this point, it is unclear if the offer makes the Giants serious contenders to retain Tuck’s services in 2014, or if it is just an empty offer so the team can claim they tried to keep the 31-year-old defensive end.

Tuck’s agent stated that his client is the most complete player at the position in this free agency class, and in our own Luke Adams’ preview of the top 25 free agents, Tuck was among eight players who “just missed the cut.”

Darrell Stuckey, Chargers Agree To Deal

March 8th, 2014 at 1:21pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Chargers and safety Darrell Stuckey have agreed to a multi-year contract, reports Ricky Henne of Chargers.com (via Twitter). The 26-year old has mostly played on special teams in his short career in San Diego. Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports that according to Stuckey the contract is a four-year deal (via Twitter).

Details of the contract have yet to be released, but it can be assumed that although Stuckey has been a top special teams player when healthy, his contract will be at or close to the minimum salary for a fifth year player.

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Quinn, Cardinals

March 8th, 2014 at 12:25pm CST by Matt Feminis

The 49ers have big-money decisions to make, while the Cardinals eye offensive line help in a batch of NFC West division tidbits:

  • Last season, 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers declined a pay cut, but the team had no recourse because they needed him on the field. A year later, the team is prepared to release Rogers if he does not agree to a pay cut, as the veteran is scheduled to earn a $6.25MM base salary and count nearly $8.1MM against the cap, writes Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. Releasing Rogers after June 1 would save $6.6 on the 2014 cap, but the team would incur $1.5MM in dead money on the 2015 cap. If the team swallowed the entire cap hit in 2014, the immediate cap savings would be $5.1MM with no dead money in future years.
  • The escalating salary cap helps the 49ers long-term, especially given the team’s desire to retain 2015 free agents Colin Kaepernick, Aldon Smith, Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati, but the extra $10MM the rest of the league has to play with in the short term could make it difficult to retain this year’s free agents, including Donte Whitner, Tarell Brown and Phil Dawson, writes Eric Branch of sfgate.com.
  • Robert Quinn is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract, but a provision in the new CBA (instituted in 2011 when Quinn was drafted 14th overall) allows the Rams to keep the reigning Defensive Player of the Year through 2015, notes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. By virtue of Quinn being selected between No. 11 overall to No. 32, the team can pay Quinn the average salary made by the third- through 25th-highest paid players at the defensive end position ($6.9MM).
  • The Cardinals are targeting Branden Albert and Rodger Saffold in that order, according to Kent Somers of azcentral.com (via Twitter).

Bucs Release Davin Joseph

March 8th, 2014 at 11:47am CST by Matt Feminis

A couple days ago, speculation circulated that the Buccaneers would attempt to trade veteran guard Davin Joseph. Apparently they couldn’t find a taker. Joseph has been released, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Times (via Twitter).

Joseph, 30, was drafted by the Bucs in the second round of the 2006 draft and started 99 of the 100 games he played for the franchise. Joseph was a Pro Bowler in 2011, but missed the 2012 season with a torn patellar tendon and was not the same player last season despite starting all 16 games. He was scheduled to count $6MM against the cap in 2014.

Free Agent Notes: Pierre Thomas, Ravens, Bears, Giants

March 8th, 2014 at 10:41am CST by Matt Feminis

Miscellaneous news and notes, including free agent primers for the Bears and Giants:

  • Malcolm Jenkins‘ tweet indicates Pierre Thomas won’t be back with the Saints, points out NOLA.com’s Larry Holder (via Twitter).
  • The Ravens have made an offer to retain free agent receiver/returner Jacoby Jones, according to team insider Aaron Wilson (per Twitter).
  • Ravens free agent cornerback Corey Graham “should have a healthy market,” according to Wilson (via Twitter). Graham, a 2007 fifth-rounder, broke in with the Bears, made a name for himself as a Pro Bowl special teams player and earned a two-year, $3.95MM deal with the Ravens in 2012. He played a more prominent role in Baltimore, where he started 13 games over two seasons and contributed as a productive sub-package defender, tallying 74 tackles, 12 passes defended and four interceptions. The team wants Graham back, but will be unable to compete if another team is willing to pay him like a starter, says Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • The Bears will target defensive ends in free agency, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, who breaks down four groups of free agents the Bears will sift through: big-ticket targets (such as Michael Bennett or Everson Griffen); “budget buys” (similar to Matt Slauson, who signed an inexpensive one-year deal last year, started all 16 games and earned a four-year extension); cap casualties (veterans with “a little juice left,” as Biggs puts it); and the club’s own (most notably, Henry Melton, Charles Tillman and D.J. Williams).
  • Expect the Giants to act quickly in free agency, says NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, who predicts the team will land a priority free agent, likely an offensive lineman, in a matter of days. Raanan cites recent history as an indicator, reminding the team signed Antrel Rolle on the first day of free agency in 2010, signed David Baas in two days in 2011 and added Martellus Bennett three days into the 2012 signing period.

Jets Have Sights Set On Asamoah

March 8th, 2014 at 9:17am CST by Matt Feminis

“Legal tampering” begins at 11 a.m. CT, when the NFL’s three-day negotiating window opens, allowing teams to discuss deals with impending free agents. The Jets will waste no time in an effort to upgrade their offensive line, as the team is planning to lure Chiefs free agent offensive guard Jon Asamoah, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Despite losing his starting job to Geoff Schwartz late in the season, the 26-year-old Asamoah has 41 career starts under his belt and will have multiple suitors, including the Falcons and Chargers, writes Mehta. He is considered a better pass protector than run blocker.

The Jets are seeking to upgrade from Willie Colon, who started 16 games at right guard last season before tearing a biceps tendon in Week 17. He is considered a “back-burner option.” Meanwhile, the team is negotiating to retain right tackle Austin Howard, who has started all 32 games the last two seasons.

NFC Notes: Umenyiora, Sproles, Smith, Rudolph, Dietrich-Smith

March 8th, 2014 at 8:51am CST by Matt Feminis

A handful of Saturday morning notes from around the NFC leading up to the opening of free agency:

      • If Osi Umenyiora declines to accept a pay cut in Atlanta, a Giants reunion would be a possibility, writes Conor Orr of the New Jersey Star Ledger.
      • Darren Sproles would be an “outstanding fit for the Bears,” writes Dan Pompei, who says the former Saint could replace Devin Hester and be a dynamic change-of-pace back the team has been unable to field behind Matt Forte. Additionally, Pompei notes the connection between Sproles and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, who was with Sproles in New Orleans.
      • “Financially, it makes little sense” for the Panthers to release Steve Smith because the team would take a financial hit in each of the next two seasons, says ESPN.com’s David Newton. The writer thinks the decision isn’t so much about money as it is the effect in the locker room. If the veteran’s role is reduced, would he turn sour?
      • The Vikings have $41MM worth of cap space to play with, and ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling thinks a chunk of it will go to Kyle Rudolph, who is scheduled to hit free agency next year but has said he wants to remain in Minnesota long-term. It could behoove the team to act now, as Rudolph could see his production (read: value) increase under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
      • The Packers have expressed their desire to bring back center Evan Dietrich-Smith, says the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, who compares Dietrich-Smith’s free agent situation to Scott Wells‘ in 2012. Back then, the team thought they could let Wells negotiate with other teams and still retain his services, but they miscalculated and lost him to the Rams. The Packers are taking the same approach with Dietrich-Smith, who, coincidentally, has the same agent as Wells.

Ross, Greenwood Accept Contract Tenders

March 7th, 2014 at 11:37pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of Chris Cabott clients have signed on for the 2014 season with their respective teams, the agent tweeted tonight. Cabott confirmed that cornerbacks Brandian Ross and Chris Greenwood have extended their contracts with the Raiders and Lions respectively.

We heard earlier this week that Oakland had tendered a contract offer to Ross, while Detroit extended a tender to Greenwood. Both players had been exclusive rights free agents. Unless Cabott negotiated a longer-term deal for either client, Ross and Greenwood are likely now on those one-year contracts for 2014.

While Greenwood has yet to see much NFL playing time, Ross assumed the starting strong safety job for the Raiders in 2013. The 24-year-old notched a pair of sacks and 75 tackles, but ranked 85th among 86 qualified safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

Extra Points: Saints, Bears, Gore, Eagles

March 7th, 2014 at 10:35pm CST by David Kipke

Earlier tonight, franchise player Jimmy Graham tweeted that he’s “shocked and disappointed” about everything that’s happened in New Orleans this offseason. Graham is likely referencing the Saints’ decisions to cut offensive weapons Lance Moore and Darren Sproles. According to John Breech of CBSSports.com, there’s a chance the team could release running back Pierre Thomas as well. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeted that the decision to cut Moore and Sproles likely stemmed from the large cap numbers of Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs, Marques Colston, and Brodrick Bunkley.

Let’s look at some other news tidbits from this Friday evening…

  • Lance Briggs expressed similar frustrations to Graham with the Bears‘ front office on Friday, saying that if he ran the team, he would “trade all the draft picks and bring my brothers back.” Briggs was presumably referencing players like Charles Tillman, Devin Hester, and Brian Urlacher. While Urlacher retired after last season, the team seems ready to cut ties with Hester and Tillman. It is widely expected that the Bears will also part ways with Julius Peppers due to the eight-time Pro Bowler’s huge cap figure.
  • 49ers GM Trent Baalke has said that, considering Frank Gore “had a A++ season” in 2013, the team doesn’t feel it needs to restructure the five-time Pro Bowl running back’s contract this offseason, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
  • Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks that the Eagles should pursue safety Malcolm Jenkins in free agency. McLane argues that the new free agent would be a better schematic fit for the Eagles than more prominent free agent safeties such as Jairus Byrd and T.J. Ward. He thinks the Eagles could also pursue the Panthers’ Michael Mitchell and the Dolphins’ Chris Clemons, among others.
  • Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune (via Twitter) thinks that because of the departures of Sproles and Moore, the Saints will be looking for a return specialist this offseason. Duncan speculates that the team could address this void by targeting Devin Hester, New Orleans native Jacoby Jones, or perhaps even a prospect like LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham.
  • Desmond Bryant, defensive end for the Browns, says he’s been medically cleared to play after a health scare, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com and Bryant’s personal Twitter account.
  • Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group identifies six free agent offensive lineman that could interest the Browns, including San Diego’s Chad Rinehart and Kansas City’s Geoff Schwartz.
  • Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody, whose contract situation is currently up in the air, has signed with Authentic Athletix NFL agent Peter Schaffer, according to a tweet by Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journalism. Cody had been previously represented by Athletes First.
  • Ben Tate told Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston that he can become an “elite” running back next season. Tate has not been shy about his plans to test free agency and finally step into a starting role on another team.
  • Darnell Dockett called free agent tackle Branden Albert his teammate in a tweet earlier today, according to Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride. While Albert’s response to the tweet, which was quickly deleted, deflected Dockett’s comments, it did not directly dispute the teammate comment.

Eagles Show Interest In Michael Johnson

March 7th, 2014 at 9:30pm CST by David Kipke

The Eagles are showing interest in one of 2014’s top free agents, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com, who reports that Chip Kelly‘s team is eyeing edge defender Michael Johnson. A 4-3 defensive end in Cincinnati, Bennett could draw interest from teams like the Eagles, who may view him as a fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker, writes McManus.

Johnson, a Georgia Tech product, was franchise-tagged by the Bengals for the 2013 season after an incredibly successful 2012 campaign in which he tallied 52 tackles (35 solo) and 11.5 sacks. Considered a high-ceiling prospect coming into the 2009 NFL Draft, Johnson fell all the way to the third round, when the Bengals selected him with the 70th overall pick. The prospective free agent has been linked to several teams this offseason, including the Vikings.

While providing excellent run defense has become Johnson’s calling card, he demonstrated some versatility in zone coverage schemes last season, as McManus exhibits with visual evidence in his piece. In fact, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) found that Johnson dropped into coverage 31 times last season.

The Eagles currently have over $24MM in estimated cap room, so the team could likely afford to make Johnson a lucrative offer. However, a move for the Bengals free agent would raise one intriguing question: What would happen to current starters Trent Cole and Connor Barwin? The two starters are firmly entrenched in their roles within the team and were both effective in 2013.

Within his piece, McManus suggests that Mike Neal and Rob Jackson could be alternative outside linebacker targets for the Eagles this offseason.

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