2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Pat McAfee, Colts Agree To Five-Year Deal

March 7th, 2014 at 9:21am CST by Luke Adams

9:21am: McAfee’s five-year deal will be worth $14MM, with $5MM in guaranteed money, reports Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link).

8:52am: Pat McAfee will continue booming punts downfield in Indianapolis in 2014 and beyond. The veteran punter announced today on NFL Network that he and the Colts have agreed to terms on a new five-year contract that will keep him off the free agent market (Twitter link).

McAfee, who has been the Colts’ full-time punter since the team selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 draft, averaged 46.0 yards per punt in 76 attempts last season, while also handling kickoffs for the team. According to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), only Shane Lechler of the Raiders and Johnny Hekker of the Rams ranked ahead of McAfee among punters in 2013. Outside of a down year in 2010, McAfee has placed among the top eight punters every year since his rookie season, according to PFF.

With McAfee locked up, the Colts will also have to address the other half of their kicking team, as Adam Vinatieri is headed for unrestricted free agency. The NFL’s leading active scorer said in January that he isn’t considering retiring and would “love” to re-sign in Indianapolis.

AFC East Notes: Spikes, Colon, Byrd

March 7th, 2014 at 9:09am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this morning, we passed along word that the Jets, unsurprisingly, intend to exercise their fifth-year 2015 option on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. We’ve got a few more updates and notes from out of the AFC East, so let’s dive in and check them out…

Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes said this morning on NFL Network that, while he hasn’t entirely ruled out the possibility of re-signing in New England, he thinks he and the Patriots could both “benefit from a fresh start,” tweets Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com. We heard earlier this week that the two sides aren’t discussing a new deal and that Spikes is expected to hit the open market.
Also apparently headed to the open market: Jets guard Willie Colon, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). Colon is recovering from biceps surgery and has had problems with penalties throughout his career, but he’s also a very good pass blocker, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of interest he receives.
Aaron Williams, who signed a long-term contract extension with the Bills this week, said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that fellow Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd also remains interested in re-signing with the team, as far as he knows (hat tip to Pro Football Talk): “I know that they’re still negotiating. I don’t want to speak on their situation because I have no say, nor do I know the full story on it, but I know Jairus does want to come back and wants to be a part of something special.”

Jets Plan To Exercise Option On Wilkerson

March 7th, 2014 at 8:31am CST by Luke Adams

2011’s first-round picks are eligible for contract extensions for the first time this offseason, but between now and May 3, teams will also have the opportunity to simply exercise a fifth-year option on those players for the 2015 season. That’s exactly what the Jets intend to do with defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who currently has one year remaining on his rookie deal, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

The Jets and Wilkerson have engaged in recent discussions about a long-term deal, but no agreement is on the horizon, a team source tells Mehta. With the team focusing almost exclusively on free agency and the draft over the next couple months, it’s unlikely that the two sides revisit a multiyear extension more seriously until the summer. Even then, Mehta’s source admits a long-term deal before the 2014 season is unlikely unless Wilkerson accepts a team-friendly contract. The 24-year-old may have unwittingly hurt his leverage last month when he suggested that he wouldn’t hold out if he didn’t receive a new contract this year.

Although the value of that 2015 option for Wilkerson has yet to be established, it figures to be fairly modest, perhaps in the neighborhood of $6MM. Given the impact the former 30th overall pick has had on the Jets’ defense, that will be a bargain for the team. Last season, Wilkerson recorded 10.5 sacks, forced a pair of fumbles, and even grabbed an interception. The Temple product placed eighth in Pro Football Focus’ rankings of 3-4 defensive linemen (subscription required), and played more snaps (1,067) than any of his competition.

The fifth-year option for 2011 picks becomes guaranteed for injury when it’s exercised, so the Jets will likely wait until closer to the May 3 deadline before picking it up on Wilkerson.

Salary Cap Could Exceed $150MM By 2016

March 7th, 2014 at 7:56am CST by Luke Adams

MARCH 7: A source with knowledge of the process tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Schefter’s projection of a $150MM cap by 2016 might be a little modest. According to Florio’s source, leaps to $145MM in 2015 and $160MM in 2016 aren’t out of the question.

FEBRUARY 28: Over the last week, we’ve heard multiple reports suggesting the NFL’s salary cap for 2014 should be higher than previously expected, perhaps in the neighborhood of $133MM. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter confirms as much this morning, and adds that the cap is expect to continue to grow significantly over the next couple years. According to Schefter (via Twitter), the cap could exceed $140MM in 2015 and $150MM in 2016.

While these numbers are subject to change, as we’ve seen with this year’s cap, the projections represent excellent news for the league as a whole, and particularly for teams that find themselves with little long-term flexibility. The Panthers, for instance, have restructured several contracts, pushing higher cap numbers and dead money into future seasons in order to create room in 2014. If the cap is at $150MM+ in two years, those dead money totals and increasing cap numbers will be much easier for the club to swallow.

As I noted last week, substantial growth for the cap is also good news for the players, whose agents will likely point to the league’s increasing revenue when they negotiate contracts. Of course, with only a few extra million for clubs to spend, and dozens of players vying for bigger salaries, only a handful of players per team figure to benefit.

The figure for the 2014 salary cap is expected to be made official very soon, perhaps as early as today.

Bengals, Pollak Agree To Three-Year Deal

March 7th, 2014 at 7:45am CST by Luke Adams

The Bengals have agreed to terms with prospective free agent Mike Pollak on a new contract that will keep the guard off the open market, according to Geoff Dobson of Bengals.com. Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports (via Twitter) that Pollak’s deal will be a three-year pact.

“I don’t think there’s any question there would have been a market for Mike, but he felt really comfortable playing for [Bengals offensive line coach] Paul [Alexander],” said agent Ken Zuckerman. “He likes the fit and Paul’s approach and is happy about going back there.”

Pollak, 29, has been limited to just eight games over the last two seasons due to injury issues, but started multiple contests at right guard for the Bengals last season and recorded positive grades, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. With some injury and free agent question marks along the offensive line, the Bengals will likely rely on Pollak as either the top interior reserve in 2014, or perhaps even as a starter.

I had ranked Pollak, a former second-round pick out of Arizona State, as a second-tier option when I broke down the free agent market for guards earlier this week.

Extra Points: Jackson, Carlson, Quarless

March 6th, 2014 at 9:11pm CST by Zachary Links

The agent for D’Qwell Jackson says that his client asked for his release from the Browns and adds that his client is happy to be with the Colts, tweets Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. Cleveland would have owed Jackson a $4MM roster bonus on March 16th but they cut him loose well in advance. This could be a case of Jackson’s agent trying to put a positive spin on things – it’s more likely that the Browns asked him to take a pay cut that was too steep for his liking.

The Jets and Packers are among the clubs with interest in tight end John Carlson, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. We learned earlier that Carlson, who was cut loose by the Vikings, is meeting with the Cardinals today.
The Packers are talking to tight end Andrew Quarless about a new deal before he hits the open market on Thursday, writes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. Of course, there’s also uncertainty surrounding the future of fellow tight end Jermichael Finley this offseason, but bringing back Quarless, who hauled in 32 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns, could give them more certainty at the position.
There’s mutual interest between the Bears and linebacker D.J. Williams in working out a new deal, tweets Michael C. Wright of ESPN. The two sides are talking and that’s expected to continue through the weekend. The former University of Miami standout spent his whole career in Denver up until 2013 when he joined Chicago. Unfortunately, his season ended when he ruptured his pectoral tendon against the Giants in Week 6.
Brandon Smith got a two-year deal from the Bills, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The cornerback was an exclusive rights free agent for Buffalo and accepted his offer earlier today.
The Cowboys are interested in TCU prospect Jason Verrett, writes ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins. The cornerback is a potential late-first round/early-second round pick, despite the fact that he is recovering from a torn labrum. “[The doctors] feel like it’s gonna be a very short process,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “Everybody that’s done it has been able to be back before camp. On the high road, I think that’s what he’s anticipating. That he’ll be back before camp.”
Steve Serby of the New York Post is less-than-thrilled about the idea of the Jets signing Michael Vick.
Former Jaguars wide receiver Mike-Sims Walker was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.

Titans, Ropati Pitoitua Agree To Deal

March 6th, 2014 at 9:00pm CST by Zachary Links

9:00pm: It’s a three-year, $9.6MM deal including a $2.175MM bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. His base salaries are as follows (link): $975K in 2014, $2.125MM in ’15, and $2.95MM in ’16 with a $600K roster bonus due in March 2015. The deal marks a nice bump in pay for Pitoitua who earned $1.1MM last season and has made ~$3MM over the course of his career.

5:46pm: The Titans have agreed to terms with defensive end Ropati Pitoitua, sources tell Jim Wyatt of The Tennesseean (via Twitter). Pitoitua, who was one of the club’s priorities after a strong year in 2013, gets a three-year deal from the Titans (link).

The 6’8″, 290 pound Samoan had a career high four sacks, four passes defended, and 34 tackles this season across 16 games (13 starts). After rotating between the Jets’ injured reserve and practice squad between 2008 and 2011, Pitoitua had his breakthrough season with the Chiefs in 2012 when he got to start ten games at right defensive end. He’ll be a part of the Titans’ transition to a hybrid defense under new defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

Keisel Prepared To Move On From Steelers

March 6th, 2014 at 7:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Larry Foote might not be the only veteran starter the Steelers lose from their defense. Defensive end Brett Keisel could be on his way out too, writes Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The eight-year starter hasn’t been contacted by the Steelers about returning next season and is preparing to play elsewhere, according agent Eric Metz.

While the unrestricted free agent will be 36 in September, Keisel is coming off an effective season in which he ranked out 13th among all NFL 3-4 defensive ends in Pro Football Focus’ pass rush evaluations. Keisel missed four games late last season with a painful plantar fasciitis condition in his left foot that was worsened by a tear, but he returned to have two sacks in the final two games, plus a critical fumble recovery against the Packers. Some players might retire rather than battle through injury after such a long career, but Keisel has no such plans.

“He’s productive, healthy and has every intention to continue to play football,” said Metz.

Keisel finished 2013 with four sacks (giving him 8.5 over the last two seasons), a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 29 tackles. He made $2,825,000 in base salary last season, with a salary cap charge of $4.9MM, but the Steelers — if they have any interest in having him back — probably don’t want to pay much more than the minimum of $955K, plus a small signing bonus, Robinson writes. For what it’s worth, Keisel’s agent says his client wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh.

Alex Mack Talks Free Agency

March 6th, 2014 at 5:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns center Alex Mack is getting ready for the start of free agency on Tuesday afternoon with the knowledge that he could be donning a different jersey for the first time in his career. Mack isn’t saying that he’s looking to jump ship after not seeing the playoffs in five years with Cleveland, but he’s also eager to explore his opportunities elsewhere, writes Brent Sobleski of USA Today.

“My time in Cleveland was interesting to say the least,” Mack said. “It was never boring. But there is no guarantee anywhere you go. It’s not a given what happens in Cleveland now or for any other team. I like where my future is going. Mr. [Jimmy] Haslam, he’s a really good owner. I got a really good feeling about him. He’s a direct person who knows what he wants to do. There’s something to be said of that. It’s now a clean slate.”

Sobleski notes that three teams could be of particular interest to the second-team All-Pro center. The Buccaneers, now under the direction of head coach Lovie Smith, feature Mack’s former college head coach Jeff Tedford as the offensive coordinator and his previous offensive line coach with the Browns, George Warhop. The Colts, who cut starting center Samson Satele earlier today, hired former Browns’ head coach Rob Chudzinski as a special assistant. The Raiders could also be a consideration as Mack grew up a Raiders fan as a child in Santa Barbara, California.

Prior to placing the transition tag on him on Monday, the Browns met with Mack over the weekend. Along with Haslam, Ray Farmer, and Mike Pettine, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and offensive line coach Andy Moeller were in attendance.

Cowboys Want Ware To Take Pay Cut

March 6th, 2014 at 4:58pm CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 4:58pm: Ware is open to listening to the Cowboys’ proposal, but will be reluctant to shave too much money off his salary, a source tells Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. If Ware doesn’t accept a pay cut and the Cowboys cut him, the veteran pass rusher expects to draw plenty of interest in free agency.

TUESDAY, 5:04pm: The Cowboys contacted DeMarcus Ware today to let him know they definitely wanted to keep him, but not at $13MM per year, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter). As it stands, Ware would account for a $16MM cap hit in 2014 and is 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. As Andrew Cohen of OverTheCap explains, the Cowboys could theoretically keep 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. However, it would make much more sense for Dallas to shave a bit off of his deal and put that cash to better use elsewhere.