HEADLINES

Month: April 2014

NFC Notes: Vikings, Bears, Panthers

April 12th, 2014 at 8:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Jon Bon Jovi is reportedly interested in buying the Bills, but we shouldn’t expect fellow 80’s icon Mike Ditka to follow suit and go after a team of his own. “I’ve had an interest, but I’m not in a position where I can do something like that. Jon Bon Jovi is,” the former Bears coach told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’m satisfied having been a player and a coach. I don’t have to be an owner or an executive. That doesn’t do anything for me.” Tonight’s look at the NFC..

  • With Toby Gerhart out of the picture in Minnesota, the Vikings would be wise to draft a running back, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune. The Vikings are in obvious need of support at tailback behind Adrian Peterson, who is 29 and comes into 2014 with a very serious injury history. Since being drafted seventh overall in 2007, Gerhart has been the only tailback drafted by the Vikings. It seems likely that they’ll break that streak this year.
  • It’ll be tough for the Bears to fill Devin Hester‘s shoes, but they’re hoping to hit on a modest investment in former CFL receiver Chris Williams, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Williams, who could be a factor in the return game, wants to show the world that he’s ready for the NFL grind after his pit stop north of the border. “Everyone’s situation is different and everyone ends up where they are for a reason. It doesn’t necessarily mean you were not good enough. I made the best of what I could and now that I am getting this opportunity, I want to show I can be helpful and successful on any team,” Williams said.
  • There’s some panic surrounding the Panthers after their wide receiver fire sale, but tight end Greg Olsen is acting as the voice of reason, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “I know everyone at one point was kind of panicking. Would it have been nice to have those (receivers) back? Of course,” Olsen said. “But I think we’ve signed a lot of guys that can fill a lot of those roles. We’re putting it together. It’s hard to judge a team in March. When the season gets closer, that will be a better example of what our team is.”

East Rumors: McClain, Herron, Cowboys, Pats

April 12th, 2014 at 6:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, Terrell McClain joined SiriusXM NFL Radio to discuss signing with the Cowboys and explained that Rod Marinelli had a lot to do with his choice (transcript courtesy of The Dallas Morning News). “It factored in a lot. He actually came down to my pro day and actually did the drills at my pro day three years ago when I was coming out of college, so I had a chance to talk to him. He was telling me all about himself. He’s a great guy, a great coach and I’m really fortunate to be able to be coached by him the next three years,” McClain said. The latest from the AFC and NFC East..

  • In his latest draft diary entry for USA Today, Wyoming receiver Robert Herron discussed his visit to New Orleans and disclosed that he’ll visit with the Dolphins in the near future. The Rams have also reached out to Herron, who had 72 catches for 937 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns in 2013.
  • The Cowboys are willing to invest resources in developing a quarterback, just not draft picks, writes Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News. Dallas has drafted the fewest quarterbacks of any team since 2000 and we shouldn’t expect them to break that cycle this year. The Cowboys are looking to resurrect the career of signal caller Brandon Weeden in an effort to solidify things behind top signal caller Tony Romo.
  • Arjuna Ramgopal of WEEI.com looks at Charles Sims of West Virginia as a prospect who could potentially be a target of the Patriots. The 6’0″, 214 pound tailback has shown that he is a strong, quick back with good speed burst and great field vision. As it stands, Sims projects to come off the board in Round 3 or 4.

NFC Notes: Giants, Jackson, Visits

April 12th, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Rob DiRe

It has been difficult to predict which way the Giants will go during the draft in May, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Mock drafts have the Giants looking at a number of different positions, from defensive tackle to offensive tackle, from receiver to cornerback. Aaron Donald of Pittsburgh and Eric Ebron of North Carolina are the most common choices, with three mock drafts selecting them out of a dozen. Mike Evans of Texas A&M and Taylor Lewan of Michigan each appear on two mocks, with Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert and Notre Dame’s Zack Martin rounding out.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • Reports stated that DeSean Jackson was more trouble than he was worth to the Eagles, but LeSean McCoy stuck up for his former teammate, writes Les Bowen of Philly.com. “Playing against him is really going to be different,” said McCoy. “It’s some big shoes to fill. DeSean’s by far one of the biggest playmakers in the game, and the biggest deep threat there is in the game. Some big shoes to fill, for sure.“
  • Preston Brown of Louisville will visit the Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday, reports Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Brown said he grew up in Cincinnati watching Mike Zimmer coordinated defenses.
  • Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin is set to visit with the 49ers, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Colvin tore his ACL at the senior bowl in January, which will hurt his draft stock, but the 49ers have 11 draft picks and could take a chance on the rehabbing corner.

AFC Notes: Bengals, Brooks, Amaro

April 12th, 2014 at 4:14pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Bengals have a very crowded depth chart at the wide receiver position, which could take them out of the running to jump on a very strong receiving class when they select with the 24th pick of the NFL Draft, writes Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. While the team wants to put Andy Dalton in the best position to succeed, using a valuable pick at the position would be tough considering the team already has A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Dane Sanzenbacher, Brandon Tate, Ryan Whalen, and Cobi Hamilton.

Here are some other notes from around the NFL:

  • The Ravens have a great need at safety, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. While the team could target Northern Illinois’ Jimmie Ward, Hensley writes that Florida State safety Terrence Brooks could be a fallback plan. Brooks, a former corner, has the range to play centerfield.
  • The Patriots need to find a second tight end to pair with Rob Gronkowski, and Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com thinks that the draft could be a place to fill that hole. Curran picks out Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro as a possible option, as Amaro was a top flight receiving option in 2013.
  • The Titans have been looking for linebacker help this offseason, and Will Lomas of MusicCityMiracles.com writes that the team should look at James Harrison. Although the pass rusher is 35 years old, he can still be effective in the run defense on a limited snap count.

AFC East Notes: Bridgewater, Decker, Patriots

April 12th, 2014 at 2:00pm CST by Rob DiRe

As Louisville quarterback Terry Bridgewater continue’s to see his stock fall, teams in the mid-to-late first round have to be seriously considering the possibility of him being on the board when they draft. Once thought to be the potential top pick, GangGreenNation.com asks if the Jets should consider taking Bridgewater should he be on the board when they come up to the podium.

While the Jets have Geno Smith and Michael Vick in the fold, Bridgewater could represent the long-term solution at quarterback that some fans and pundits hope Smith can still become. It also increases the trade value of the pick should the Jets decide to move down in the draft, as teams moving up to take a quarterback are often willing to overpay in a trade.

Here are some other notes from the AFC East:

  • GangGreenNation.com also notes the despite the Jets’ improvement the quarterback situation should experience, that adding Eric Decker would not adequately fix the depth chart at receiver. They note that while Decker is an upgrade, he is not the elite type receiver that would be able to change the offense. Also, the belief that Stephen hill will be the second receiver would give pause, as he has not proven himself as a viable option in his first two seasons.
  • In a series of tweets, Albert Breer of the NFL Network discusses the Patriots’ offseason. He notes that the team has made a focused effort to be good in 2014, although the team says they are all in for the Super Bowl every year. Breer notes that Nate Solder and Devin McCourty are the top priorities going forward, and that interior line play and backup tight end will be priorities in the draft.
  • The Dolphins are set at running back after signing Knowshon Moreno, and they will not pursue free agent Chris Johnson, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. However, the team has a backlog at the position, and while Lamar Miller is safe, Daniel Thomas and Mike Gillislee will fight for a roster spot.

Draft Notes: Murray, Barr, Mason, Hyde

April 12th, 2014 at 12:29pm CST by Matt Feminis

Georgia quarterback prospect Aaron Murray, recovering from an ACL injury, has drawn significant interest, reports Pro Football Talk, which lists the Browns, Dolphins, Jaguars, Lions, Patriots, Rams and Titans as teams taking an extended look.

In other draft-related news and notes…

  • LSU quarterback prospect Zach Mettenberger has a private workout scheduled with the Titans, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • Drafting UCLA pass rusher Anthony Barr is a better option for the Eagles than trading for Dolphins second-year pass rusher Dion Jordan (drafted third overall last year after playing for Chip Kelly at Oregon), according to NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks, who provides a detailed comparison.
  • BYU rush linebacker prospect Kyle Van Noy did an interview with Darren Smith of 1090 AM and said the Chargers would be his ideal landing spot.
  • A pair of running back prospects, Auburn’s Tre Mason and Wisconsin’s James White, worked out for the Dolphins yesterday, per Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel (via Twitter).
  • The Eagles have also shown interest in Mason, according to Shorr-Parks. The team sent running backs coach Duce Staley to Auburn’s pro day
  • Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde, Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens visited the Bills yesterday, according to the team’s website.
  • The 49ers are expected to draft a center to compete with Daniel Kilgore, writes Doug Williams of CSN Bay Area.
  • Small-school pass rusher Howard Jones from Shepherd University spent two days meeting with the Cardinals, according to a story by David Fawcett on insidenova.com. Jones is also scheduled for a visit with the Cowboys, though a Chiefs scout advised him he has “got to eat.”

AFC Notes: Mack, Pouncey, Chiefs, Pats, Jets

April 12th, 2014 at 10:37am CST by Matt Feminis

The Browns’ patient strategy with Alex Mack seems to have worked out for the best, opines Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto, who says the new deal is “expensive, but not outrageous for one of the top centers in the NFL — and a player who has not missed a snap since being drafted…”

In other AFC notes…

  • Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey stands to benefit from Mack’s new contract, asserts the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette, who writes Pouncey can justify saying he should be the highest paid center in the NFL. Pouncey has one year remaining on his rookie deal, though contract negotiations have yet to commence, as the 24-year-old lost his 2013 season because of a torn ACL injury.
  • The Chiefs had a productive return game last season, but lost Dexter McCluster and Quintin Demps in free agency, meaning they’ll likely draft at least one player with kick return ability, writes ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher, who relays Mel Kiper’s suggestions for prospects who fit the profile.
  • The Patriots graded out well in free agency, in the opinion of Jason Fitzgerald at overthecap.com. Fitzgerald credited the Pats, who signed Darrelle Revis to “what was essentially a one year Franchise tender,” calling it a “no-brainer” since there is minimal long-term commitment. In summation, Fitzgerald says, the team “went into free agency without a ton of cap space and came back with two upgrades at cornerback without having to part ways with [Vince Wilfork] or get into future cap headaches by restructuring the contract of Logan Mankins or Jerod Mayo.”
  • Fitzgerald was not as complementary of the Jets, however, as they received a C-minus free agency grade. In fairness, despite having ample cap space, the Jets were relatively passive in free agency, opting instead to rely on their 12 draft picks to add depth.

That strategy was the focus of a recent piece by ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini in which he underscored the importance of this year’s draft: “Because of their deliberate approach in free agency — some might say cheap — they have raised the stakes for the upcoming draft. May 8-10 will be the three biggest days of the year for a franchise in Stage 2 of its rebuilding project.”

Cimini also highlighted the stylistic and philosophical difference between GM John Idzik and former GM Mike Tannenbaum:

“Many fans are restless because they are not accustomed to this way of doing business. Under Idzik’s predecessor, Mike Tannenbaum, the Jets owned the New York back pages in March, titillating the fan base with sexy trades and expensive signings.

Tannenbaum knew how to feed the beast, but there was a method to his madness. His research told him they were better off spending the money on proven commodities instead of stockpiling draft choices, figuring the bust rate of draft picks — especially in the late rounds — didn’t validate the risk-reward.”

Idzik, however, patterns his more conservative approach after some of the league’s more successful, draft-driven organizations which emphasize college scouting, player development and re-investment in homegrown talent. Cimini cited one personnel executive who defended Idzik’s approach: “The football offseason is like an event, a circus act, and fans in general want to see something. With John, he takes the air out of the balloon. It’s not exciting, but he does it his way. You have to respect that.” 

Ultimately, Idzik has put the onus squarely squarely on himself to hit big in the draft.

NFC Notes: Packers, Bucs, Vikings, Eagles

April 12th, 2014 at 9:08am CST by Matt Feminis

The Packers have two quarterbacks on the roster (Aaron Rodgers and Scott Tolzien), but the team is expected to sign a backup and draft a developmental passer, writes ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky. In his mailbag piece, Demovsky also mentions the team is monitoring Johnny Jolly‘s progress from neck surgery and he could return.

Other NFC notes:

  • Sticking with the Packers, Demovsky provides a salary-cap breakdown of the team’s defense.
  • The Packers are famously conservative in their approach to free agency, but that has not been the Buccaneers’ philosophy this offseason, writes ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas. Since the start of free agency, the team has spent $74.3MM in guaranteed money, and “No other team is even close.”
  • Pass protection is a skill the Vikings are prioritizing as they search for Toby Gerhart‘s replacement, says ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling.
  • The Eagles prioritize size, speed and separation in their receivers, and believe this year’s draft crop is loaded with attractive prospects. In a piece for Philly.com, Jeff McLane says, “…the Eagles won’t have to stray from their promise to select the best available player because — as general manager Howie Roseman said in February at the NFL combine — there will be a receiver the team covets in every round.”
  • The Redskins are also looking to add a receiver or two, but they’re looking to upgrade the bottom of the depth chart, writes the Washington Post’s Mike Jones and ESPN.com’s John Keim, who mentions the team “received little help on special teams from receiver last season.”
  • USC center prospect Marcus Martin has met with the Saints, Eagles and Panthers, according to Aaron Wilson of National Football Post.

Extra Points: Pettine, Mack, Weems, Manziel

April 11th, 2014 at 10:14pm CST by Zachary Links

New Browns coach Mike Pettine says he’s ready to “fight” his way out of two decades of losing, writes Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Pettine believes the difference between finishing 6-10 and 10-6 is often how a team handles two-minute drills, performs on third downs, and plays in the red zone. “We are going to over practice in these areas,” he said. More from around the NFL..

  • Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida-Times Union discusses the Jaguars‘ pursuit of Browns center Alex Mack. O’Halloran notes that Jacksonville considers center the third-most important position on the offense after quarterback and left tackle and wanted to acquire an experienced player. With that kind of importance placed on the center position, one has to wonder why the Jags didn’t make their offer harder for the Browns to match.
  • One motivating factor for Eric Weems remaining with the Bears is that he believes he will have good chance to make an impact in the return game, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Earlier tonight we learned that Weems took a $270K paycut to stay with Chicago.
  • The Texans should make Johnny Manziel their No. 1 pick, opines Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union Tribune. Roger Staubach has compared Manziel to Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Canepa notes that Johnny Football is even more athletic than the Super Bowl champion.
  • Towson running back Terrance West took to Twitter to announce that he’ll have a workout with the Ravens on Monday. We heard earlier today that the tailback was impressive during his Pro Day and appeared to solidify himself as a fourth-round pick.
  • Losing nickel corner Corey Graham to the Bills in free agency could hurt the Ravens, so they may not wait long to draft a replacement, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. It’s hard to see Baltimore drafting a corner in the first round over their needs at right tackle and safety, but there are some cornerbacks that could interest them in the second round, including Stanley Jean-Baptiste of Nebraska, Larmarcus Joyner of Florida State, and Keith McGill of Utah.

East Notes: Revis, Roberts, Bills, Giants, Jets

April 11th, 2014 at 7:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap wonders what the Patriots‘ offseason might have looked like if Darrelle Revis hadn’t become available. Of course, the Pats have never been the type of team to commit major money and years to a cornerback. However, with Revis willing to sign was it essentially a one-year deal with a franchise tender, New England was able to add a top flight talent on a low-risk move. All things considered, the Pats didn’t have a ton of room to work with this winter and came away with two major upgrades for their secondary in Revis and Brandon Browner and Fitzgerald gives them the appropriate credit. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..

  • Andre Roberts thought he was going to step into the No. 2 receiver role for the Redskins when he signed with them this offseason, but the arrival of DeSean Jackson has put that into serious doubt, writes ESPN.com’s John Keim. The 26-year-old was frustrated by his role after four seasons with the Cardinals but he might be facing more of the same in D.C. with Jackson and Pierre Garcon in the fold.
  • The Bills hosted Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde, Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens today, writes Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com.
  • In addition to the Buccaneers, former Boston College and Florida lineman Matt Patchan told Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter) that he has already worked out for the Patriots. Patchan’s next trip is to the 49ers on Monday.
  • Albany State offensive tackle Kadeem Williams met with Giants coach Tom Coughlin after his workout today, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. His next workout will be with the Meadlowlands’ other tenants, the Jets. Williams worked out for the Buccaneers and Chargers in late March.
  • Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News doesn’t expect nose tackle Josh Brent to be back with the Cowboys in 2014, but he says that the possiblity is not completely closed. If the Cowboys don’t get what they want in the draft and still find themselves thin at the defensive line, it could still be in the cards. Brent, of course, hasn’t been on the field since 2012 following the tragic car accident that claimed Jerry Brown.
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