HEADLINES

Month: March 2014

Brian Orakpo Unlikely To Be Franchised

March 1st, 2014 at 5:20pm CST by Rob DiRe

5:20pm: Final deliberations are taking place at Redskins Park this weekend over whether to make a significant financial investment in Orakpo, report Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post.

2:39pm: Our own Luke Adams passed along the story that Brian Orakpo had not received a formal contract offer from the Redskins yet, but noted that Orakpo would likely be franchised if a long term deal was not reached.

However, NFL Insider Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports disagrees with the notion that the Redskins would franchise their star pass rusher. In a series of Tweets, La Canfora says that he would be surprised of Orakpo did not hit the open market. He notes that Redskins’ general manager Bruce Allen is unlikely to devote that much cap space to one position, and does not believe the teams are close to agreeing on a long-term contract.

Earlier today, John Keim of ESPN.com looked at where Orakpo was ranked as a free agent, in order to gauge the interest he could draw on the open market. With consesnus top free agents Jimmy Graham and Greg Hardy already receiving the franchise tag, Keim notes that Orakpo would be the best free agent left according to NFL.com, and the number one linebacker available on Yahoo.com. CBS and Rotoworld both rank him among the top two or three free agents set to hit the market, and MMQB has a lower opinion of him, while still thinking he is one of the top ten free agents available if he hits the free agency.

NFC Links: Sanchez, McFadden, Jackson

March 1st, 2014 at 4:43pm CST by Rob DiRe

The extra cap space the Lions will have will allow them extra flexibility in free agency, but Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com doesn’t see the team making a big splash. Free agent Willie Young still isn’t a lock to be retained, and Rothstein thinks the team will look to get younger at many positions this offseason.

Here are some other notes from the NFC:

Jimmy Graham’s Next Contract

March 1st, 2014 at 3:49pm CST by Rob DiRe

Now that Jimmy Graham has been officially hit with the franchise tag, his next contract could go in a number of different directions. In normal situations, a franchised player has two options: either play the next season under the tag number for your position or continue to work on a long-term agreement.

However, for the Saints’ pass catcher, it is not so simple.Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk outlined ten key points about the Graham situation, including the obvious controversy about which position Graham should be franchised as. Graham will argue that he lined up as a receiver more often than as a tight end, and the Saints will argue that all tight ends move around the formation, and no receiver actually lines up next to the tackle during a play.

Florio also notes that the two sides have until July 15 to come to terms on the long-term deal.

In signing a long-term extension, Graham will likely also argue that he should be paid like one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. Andrew Cohen of OvertTheCap.com sees Rob Gronkowski‘s six year, $54MM deal as the baseline for his long-term negotiation. Still, he sees that Graham has better leverage as Gronkowski had two years left on his deal, with a much longer injury history and a smaller salary cap to work under.

Cohen also sees the possibility, while unlikely, that a team offers Graham a contract in the hopes that the Saints will not match. Though the team will have to send the Saints two first-round draft picks for the opportunity to pay Graham, he believes this could be a worthwhile decision for either the Dolphins or the Jets. Both teams have the salary cap space to offer a frontloaded contract with a big signing bonus, and he writes that they are unlikely to find a better offensive weapon in the draft.

Broncos, Patriots Interested In Revis

March 1st, 2014 at 1:50pm CST by Rob DiRe

NFL teams have been considering trading for Darrelle Revis, and while the Buccaneers are not confirmed to be seriously shopping him, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that the Patriots and Broncos would both be interested in acquiring the superstar cornerback.

Revis holds a $16MM cap figure ($13MM in base salary, $3MM in bonuses) but the contract is completely non-guaranteed. Even still, this is a large number for two cap-strapped AFC contenders.

The thinking behind each move is that both the Patriots and the Broncos employ expensive quarterbacks that are both inching closer and closer to their 40th birthdays, with Peyton Manning at 37 and Tom Brady at 36. Each team knows its window to win a Super Bowl is now.

For the Patriots, Revis could be a safer alternative to re-signing Aqib Talib to a big money deal, especially after the team was embarrassed by other players with character concerns in Aaron Hernandez and Alfonzo Dennard. Also, Florio rights that the “icing on the cake” would be the ability to stick Revis against the Jets twice a year.

The Broncos have Champ Bailey on the books for $10MM in 2014, and for only $6MM more they could have a much younger, healthier option at corner. At this point in their respected careers, the older Bailey is not even close to the talent Revis is. Florio writes that Revis wouldn’t close the gap between the Broncos and the Seahawks in case of a Super Bowl rematch, but he would be a huge upgrade for a team that was embarrassed by 35 points in its final game.

Sam Shields To Hit Open Market

March 1st, 2014 at 12:30pm CST by Matt Feminis

12:30pm: This morning’s news is a negotiating tactic by Shields’ agent Drew Rosenhaus, in the eyes of Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writer Tom Silverstein, who weighed in on the situation. Silverstein considers the Packers’ $35MM in cap space and thinks the fact the two sides have been talking without settling on a deal indicates “a very different view of Shields’ worth.”

Prior to the scouting combine, it was believed Shields could take a deal similar to the one recently signed by Bears cornerback Tim Jennings, who inked a four-year, $22.4MM contract ($11.8MM guaranteed). Last season, Jennings tallied 57 tackles, 13 passes defended and four interceptions compared to 61-16-4 for Shields. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus rated Shields 42nd and Jennings 45th among cornerbacks who played at least 50 percent of snaps.

The Packers are probably willing to pay $6-$7MM per year, says Silverstein (via Twitter). In the same tweet, he says Rosenhaus’ conversations in Indianapolis revealed interest from other teams which “definitely affected Shields’ demands.”

Shields, who is taller, faster and younger than Jennings, stands to benefit from the cap going up, and Rosenhaus anticipates an active market for Shields even if the Packers don’t consider him an $11.83MM player. If they did, they would have locked him up accordingly or be willing to use the franchise tag. On Twitter, Silverstein reiterated there’s “no way” the Packers will do so.

11:03am: Earlier this week, it was believed the Packers and free agent cornerback Sam Shields were closing in on a new deal, but things have changed today. Shields will not re-sign with the team before March 8, according to Pro Football Talk. Instead, he’ll hit the open market, where the services of a young, fast, emerging cover man will be highly sought after.

Chiefs Notes: Albert, Houston, Lewis, Avery

March 1st, 2014 at 11:43am CST by Matt Feminis

Let’s round up a few of the latest items out of Kansas City….

  • Yesterday, Branden Albert‘s free-agent outlook was evaluated by ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher, who believes, “It’s time for both sides to move on.” A veteran left tackle whose pass blocking prowess dwarfs his run blocking skill, Albert played for a $9.8MM franchise tender in 2013, but will hit the open market this year. Despite his flaws, Albert is expected to cash in, a la Jermon Bushrod, as detailed by Bleacher Report’s Ty Schalter earlier this month.
  • Meanwhile, the team has initiated contract talks with Justin Houston, whose deal expires after next season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS (via Twitter).
  • Free safety Kendrick Lewis was a nice find in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, but his play has declined since that season, says Teicher. The Chiefs will look to upgrade that position with a rangier, more athletic player in an effort to cut down on big plays against and provide more consistency on the back end.
  • After sending a second-round pick to San Francisco in the Alex Smith trade, the Chiefs hold just one draft pick in the first 86 and would like to add more, according to Teicher, who also thinks Donnie Avery‘s roster spot could be in jeopardy.

Patriots Shopping Danny Amendola?

March 1st, 2014 at 11:25am CST by Matt Feminis

The Patriots have “floated” Danny Amendola in trade talks, according to Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei. After contract negotiations with Wes Welker turned sour last year, the Pats jumped at the chance to replace the veteran slot receiver with Amendola, ostensibly a younger, quieter replica. Amendola was handed a five-year, $28.5MM contract, but managed just 54 catches for 633 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. In two playoff games, he totaled 3-77-0 and was kept off the stat sheet in a season-ending loss to the Broncos.

When healthy, Amendola has been productive, but he’s missed 24 games the last three seasons and his cap hit ($4.575MM in 2014) escalates by $1MM each of the remaining four years. Pompei says Amendola could be cut if a deal is not found.

NFC Notes: Foles, Pettigrew, Young, Gerhart

March 1st, 2014 at 8:57am CST by Matt Feminis

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is the team’s unquestioned No. 1 entering 2014, but the team has yet to publicly declare its belief in the third-year passer as the team’s long-term solution, points out Philly.com’s Jeff McLane. Some believe the team still has doubts and is leaving itself some wiggle room, acknowledging the possibility (likelihood?) Foles regresses this season. There is a business element at play, too. Because Foles’ rookie contract cannot be renegotiated until after 2014, it’s prudent for the club to hold off on making any long-term declarations.

  • In light of recent transactions, Eagles GM Howie Roseman demonstrated he paid attention to the successful and unsuccessful aspects of the Joe Banner/Andy Reid era, says Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, who believes the previous regime undervalued the importance of veteran leadership. “[Roseman] recommitted the Eagles to rewarding homegrown talents such as Kelce and Cooper, and he’s acknowledged that certain older players are special cases.”
  • With Jimmy Graham franchise tagged and Dennis Pitta re-signed, the Lions‘ Brandon Pettigrew is potentially the most attractive free agent tight end, says ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein.
  • Meanwhile, the Lions have another free agent worth prioritizing, according to mlive.com’s Kyle Meinke, who says defensive end Willie Young‘s pending free agency “has hardly been discussed.” Plagued by inconsistency in the past, Young took a step forward in 2013, collecting 47 tackles and three sacks and ranking 16th in the league amongst 4-3 defensive ends, according to Pro Football Focus.
  • It is expected that Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart will leave in free agency, according to ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling.