HEADLINES

Month: April 2014

Bears Sign Chad Rempel

April 7th, 2014 at 6:56pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears have signed long snapper Chad Rempel to a three-year deal, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). This is coming off earlier news (via Biggs’ Twitter) that the team had hosted Rempel and fellow long snapper Brad Madison for a workout. In another tweet, Biggs adds that the signing has no impact on the status of long-time Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly, who will make a decision on his return from hip surgery in the upcoming months. The Bears also have Brandon Hartson on their roster, giving the team plenty of options should Mannelly decide to retire.

Rempel had bounced around the Canadian Football League since 2004, including a stint with the Montreal Alouettes where he played under current Bears head coach Marc Trestman. The 31-year-old’s best statistical season came in 2009 with the Toronto Argonauts, when he caught nine passes for 76 yards. Rempel also had 70 career special team tackles.

The Alberta-native also participates in bobsledding, a sport in which he won the Canadian four-man bobsled championship in 2009.

Panthers Sign Jason Avant

April 7th, 2014 at 5:35pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers have a deal in place with free agent wide receiver Jason Avant, tweets Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com confirmed the signing, reporting that it’s a one-year deal. The 30-year-old will add some much needed depth to a team that has lost three of it’s top four receivers from 2013.

Steve Smith (Ravens), Brandon LaFell (Patriots) and Ted Ginn (Cardinals) have all moved on, and tight end Greg Olsen is the Panthers’ only remaining offensive player who had more than 500 receiving yards last season. The team’s current depth at the position includes free agent additions Tiquan Underwood and Jerricho Cotchery as well as Marvin McNutt and Tavarres King.

Avant was released by the Eagles in early March. The eight-year veteran has spent his entire career in Philadelphia after being drafted out of Michigan in 2006. The receiver has been consistent over the past five seasons; he’s averaged 47 catches and 587 yards. 2013 was his worst season over the span, as he caught only 38 passes for 447 yards.

Free Agent Notes: Freeman, Jets, Daniels

April 7th, 2014 at 4:46pm CST by Ben Levine

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has a trio of re-signings (via Twitter): running back Matt Asiata (Vikings), wide receiver Jeremy Ross (Lions) and linebacker Craig Robertson (Browns). Each player signed an exclusive rights free agent tender to stay with their respect teams. The trio was solid in 2013; Asiata ran for 166 yards on 44 carries, Ross had six receptions and six kick returns and Robertson compiled 85 tackles.

Let’s take a look at some more free agent rumors…

Saints Match Falcons’ Offer Sheet to Rafael Bush

April 7th, 2014 at 3:33pm CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY 3:33pm: The Saints have matched the offer sheet Bush signed with the Falcons, the player tweeted. Agent Brian Anderson confirmed the news, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.

SATURDAY 9:50am: The offer sheet is worth $4.5MM over two years, according to The Advocate’s Ramon Antonio Vargas, who says Bush would prefer if the Saints let him go to Atlanta where he has the chance to start.

THURSDAY 3:53pm: Nearly a month ago, the Saints issued a contract tender to restricted free agent Rafael Bush, giving the team the chance to match any offers the safety received. Now, the Saints have been presented with that opportunity. According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Bush has signed an offer sheet with the Falcons, giving the Saints five days to either match the offer and retain him, or let him go to Atlanta.

Bush, 26, started six games in the Saints’ secondary last season, compiling 47 tackles and five passes defended. Though his numbers weren’t flashy, the three-year veteran graded well as a cover man, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), whose metrics ranked him 24th among 86 qualified safeties.

The Saints’ tender to Bush was a one-year offer worth $1.431MM. Because the team opted to tender him at the lowest amount, no compensatory picks will change hands if New Orleans decides not to match his offer from Atlanta. Terms of the Falcons’ offer sheet aren’t known yet, but I’d expect it to be a multiyear offer with about the same annual average value as the Saints’ tender.

So far this offseason, the restricted free agent market has been fairly quiet. Only Andrew Hawkins received an offer sheet, with the Bengals electing to let their receiver go to the Browns.

Texans Sign Andre Brown

April 7th, 2014 at 3:09pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans have agreed to terms with running back Andre Brown, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. McClain adds the deal is for one-year worth $645K (via Twitter).

The team lost backup running back Ben Tate earlier this offseason, and considering Arian Foster‘s inability to stay healthy, it was only a matter of time before the Texans added a veteran back. The other running backs currently on Houston’s roster (Dennis Johnson, Deji Karim and Jonathan Grimes) ran for only 264 yards last season.

Brown broke onto the scene with the Giants in 2012, rushing for 385 yards and eight touchdowns. He broke his fibula in late November that year, ending his season. He injured his leg during the 2013 preseason and ran for 492 yards this past season. Brown has also shown an ability to catch the ball, grabbing 20 receptions in 2013.

NFC Links: Harbaugh, Buccaneers, Eagles

April 7th, 2014 at 3:07pm CST by Ben Levine

After Pete Carroll signed his recent extension with the Seahawks, it was assumed that the deal would at least have some influence on a new Jim Harbaugh contract. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com thinks a deal is now less likely for the 49ers head coach. Maiocco cites team CEO Jed York‘s opinion that Harbaugh should not be paid like a championship coach until he actually wins a championship. With that thought it mind, Maiocco thinks Harbaugh will pass up a smaller extension and gamble on trying to win a Super Bowl this upcoming season.

More news from around the NFC…

  • After having traded Mike Williams, the Buccaneers need to draft a wide receiver in the draft, opines to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com. The team lacks any real depth behind Vincent Jackson, and the draft would be the most likely place to find a number-two receiver. Yasinskas suggests Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans.
  • The Buccaneers waived linebacker Marvin Booker, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. The 24-year-old spent 2013 on the team’s injured reserve list.
  • Receiver Kelvin Benjamin, cornerback Aaron Colvin and linebacker Jordan Tripp visited the Eagles today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The Eagles have the 22nd pick in this year’s first-round.
  • Kellen Davis‘ new contract with the Giants is worth $795K, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. The deal only counts for $570K against the cap.

NFC Notes: Bell, Wilson, Vaughn

April 7th, 2014 at 1:57pm CST by Matt Feminis

Cardinals safety Yeremiah Bell is likely to retire despite the team offering him a one-year contract, reports Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 in Phoenix (via Twitter). A Dolphins sixth-round pick in 2004, Bell, 36, spent eight years in Miami before joining the Jets in 2012 and the Cardinals in 2013. He played all 16 games in each of the last six seasons, starting all but one contest. Pro Football Talk provides additional perspective on a remarkable career which began when Bell decided to walk on at Eastern Kentucky.

Bell’s retirement would leave the Cardinals with Tyrann Mathieu at free safety and Tony Jefferson or Rashad Johnson at strong safety. However, the secondary has struggled to handle tight ends in coverage, and it would not be a surprise if the team added a bigger, more athletic, more physical safety in the draft.

In other NFC news and notes…

  • David Wilson would be an ideal No. 2 back for the Giants, but he’s coming off career-threatening neck surgery and his availability is unknown, writes Ralph Vacchiano in the New York Daily News.
  • Meanwhile, the Giants still have questions at three of five spots on their offensive line, in the opinion of ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
  • Losing starting center Brian De La Puente to the Bears didn’t surprise the Saints, as they seemingly chose to go another direction, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett, who details De La Puente’s replacement options.
  • The Lions have agreed to a one-year deal with cornerback Cassius Vaughn, reports Aaron Wilson of National Football Post (via Twitter). Vaughn, 26, played all 16 games (four starts) last season for the Colts, recording 30 tackles, six passes defended, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
  • Oregon running back/receiver/returner De’Anthony Thomas (otherwise known as “Black Mamba”) will visit the Bears tomorrow, per Ross Jones of Fox Sports (via Twitter). Thomas displayed speed, quickness and playmaking ability in Oregon’s prolific spread attack, but concerns about his size, durability and work ethic could push him into the middle rounds. Thomas’ skill set seems to fit with the Bears, who are in need of a speedy compliment to their large receivers, as well as a replacement for Devin Hester.

Wimbley, Titans Agree To Restructure

April 7th, 2014 at 1:20pm CST by Matt Feminis

Titans pass rusher Kamerion Wimbley has agreed to a restructured contract which will pay him $9MM over three years, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). Wimbley, who signed a five-year, $35MM deal in 2012, was scheduled to make a $6MM base salary and count $7.8MM against the cap before the team approached him about a pay cut. He has disappointed in his two seasons in Tennessee, but he’s expected to transition back to his more natural stand-up rush linebacker position in new defensive coordinator Ray Horton‘s 3-4 scheme.

Bucs Notes: Wright, Hawkins, Bridgewater

April 7th, 2014 at 12:51pm CST by Matt Feminis

The Buccaneers made it official with Major Wright and Lavelle Hawkins, tweeting the signings here and here. Last week, Luke Adams detailed Wright’s poor performance in Chicago, but the Bucs are hoping for a rebound from the 25-year-old safety who reunites with head coach Lovie Smith.

Other Bucs bits:

  • After trading away Mike Williams, the team has to address the receiver position in the draft because, “They have Vincent Jackson and almost nothing else,” says ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas.
  • Yasinskas also relays news that kicker Connor Barth, who missed last season because of a torn Achilles tendon, has been cleared medically.
  • Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is visiting the Bucs today, according to Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
  • Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is also visiting, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Fiedorowicz will head to the Jets next.

Draft Notes: Rams, Dolphins, Falcons, QBs

April 7th, 2014 at 11:49am CST by Matt Feminis

Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews is a possibility for the Rams with the no. 2 overall selection, and Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch makes the case. Aside from the prospect’s outstanding blocking, competitiveness and durability, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher coached Bruce Matthews, Jake’s father.

In other draft-related fodder…

  • If Rams GM Les Snead opts to trade out of the No. 2 spot, he believes there’s multiple players teams would trade up for and they’re not just quarterbacks. “I actually think there’s more than one player that people would want to move up for,” Snead told Greg A. Bedard of mmqb.si.com. “I just don’t know what they’d want to give to move up,” Snead said. “At the top maybe there’s four or five players who were one step or one notch ahead of the very good, and sometimes a team might say we need to get that guy. You don’t know the value of what people would be willing to give. The fact that there could be multiple teams eyeing one of those guys could drive up the price a little bit.”
  • This year’s crop of quarterback prospects is polarizing, says ESPN’s Mel Kiper in a conversation with ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss: “There are about a dozen quarterbacks that could be starters, and out of those dozen, there are some that argue that all 12 will never be a successful starter. This is a crazy year for quarterbacks. A lot of them. A lot of quantity. How much quality is debatable.”
  • LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger is scheduled to fly to Jacksonville to meet with the Jaguars, tweets NFL Network’s Albert Breer, who says the Raiders, Vikings, Titans and Lions will meet with Mettenberger in Baton Rouge (via Twitter). Coming off a November ACL tear, Mettenberger will throw at LSU’s pro day on Wednesday.
  • The Dolphins, in their quest to find a legitimate right tackle solution, have been linked to Notre Dame’s Zack Martin, but Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says the team also likes a Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield from Michigan, citing a team official. Meanwhile, a story published by Dan Parr at NFL.com quotes anonymous league evaluators who question Lewan’s toughness and physicality.
  • Speaking of offensive linemen, the Falcons are also in need, and Dawson Devitt of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution provides a primer detailing several OL prospects who could be available at different stages of the draft.
  • The Eagles will work out Canadian offensive tackle prospect Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).
  • Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard has pre-draft visits scheduled with the Bengals, Jets and Rams. He has already met with the Steelers, writes Jeff Howe in the Boston Herald.
  • Louisville safety Calvin Pryor is visiting the Steelers today, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter).
  • Towson running back, Terrance West, who shredded I-AA competition with 2,500 yards and 41 touchdowns as a junior, has his pro day today. Nearly half the league has shown interest, including the Ravens, Browns, Titans and Cardinals mentioned in a draft diary piece in the Baltimore Sun.
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