2014 April - Pro Football Rumors

Johnny Manziel To Visit Patriots

April 1st, 2014 at 6:56pm CST by Rory Parks

Texas A&M product and top quarterback prospect Johnny Manziel is in Foxboro and will meet with the Patriots tomorrow, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport adds that Manziel’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, would not confirm the visit, though Alex Marvez of FOX Sports tweeted that the meeting will indeed take place.

This is probably nothing more than thorough due diligence on New England’s part. Nonetheless, the NFL Network’s Albert Breer tweets that the visit is “interesting” in that it comes on the heels of the team’s meeting with UCF quarterback Blake Bortles in Orlando last week. Bortles, like Manziel, is expected to be taken early in the first round of this year’s draft, and although the Patriots may be looking for a quarterback to groom given Tom Brady‘s age and the fact that Ryan Mallett will be a free agent at season’s end, it is highly unlikely that they would spend their first-round pick on such a quarterback at this point. For that matter, it is highly unlikely that Bortles or Manziel would even fall to New England, who hold the 29th overall pick in the draft.

Nonetheless, it is sure to be an intriguing visit, and we will keep you posted if anything of note should come of it.

Saints Sign Parys Haralson

April 1st, 2014 at 6:33pm CST by Rory Parks

The Saints have re-signed free agent LB Parys Haralson to a one-year deal, the team announced (via Twitter).

New Orleans acquired Haralson last season in a trade with the 49ers, sending a 2014 seventh-round draft pick to San Francisco in exchange for the veteran linebacker. Haralson played in all 16 games for the Saints last season, starting eight of those games and finishing with 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Over the course of his eight-year career, the former Tennessee Volunteer and 2006 fifth-round draft pick has played in 102 games, including 76 starts, and has amassed 330 tackles, 25 sacks, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and 24 special teams stops. Haralson is capable of playing either on the weak-side or the strong-side, and is particularly particularly adept against the run; his presence would have been missed in New Orleans had he signed elsewhere.

Jets Sign Dimitri Patterson

April 1st, 2014 at 6:18pm CST by Rory Parks

The Jets have signed free agent cornerback Dimitri Patterson, the team announced (via Twitter). According to a tweet from Pro Football Talk, it is a one-year, $3MM deal, which Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News confirms (via Twitter).

The Jets will be the sixth different team that Patterson has played for in his nine-year career, having also suited up for the Redskins, Chiefs, Eagles, Browns, and Dolphins. Despite missing 10 games with a groin injury, Patterson played well for the Dolphins last season, recording four interceptions in just 240 defensive snaps. He also tallied four picks with Philadelphia in 2010, the only season in which he played the full 16 games.

Patterson, who will turn 31 before the season begins, helps to solidify a very uncertain New York secondary. Excluding Patterson, the top three corners on the depth chart are Dee Milliner, Darrin Walls, and Kyle Wilson, none of whom have inspired a great deal of confidence. Of course, the Jets either missed out on, or did not pursue, top free agent corners like Vontae Davis, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Darrelle Revis (who signed with division rival New England after being released by the Buccaneers). For a defense predicated on strong man-to-man play from its cornerbacks, the inability to land a top corner represented a major concern.

Although Patterson is at his best when lined up in the slot, he did play primarily on the outside with Miami and proved that he could at least hold his own there. Given the lack of experience of the other corners currently on the roster, Patterson will certainly have the chance to start for the Jets and, assuming he stays healthy, may prove to be a quality signing for a bargain price.

FA Visits: Heyward-Bey, Wright, Ayers, Coleman

April 1st, 2014 at 5:14pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard this afternoon that veteran cornerback Champ Bailey is in New Orleans to meet with the Saints, but Bailey’s trip to Louisiana isn’t the only free agent visit that has been reported today. Let’s round up a few more….

Former top-10 pick Darrius Heyward-Bey is scheduled to visit the Steelers on Wednesday, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The former Raider grabbed 29 balls last season for the Colts.
Free agent safety Major Wright will meet with his old head coach Lovie Smith as he visits the Buccaneers today and tomorrow, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Wright himself tweeted that he’s looking forward to seeing “familiar old faces in Tampa,” while Rapoport adds that the Bucs will look to sign the 25-year-old before he leaves town.
Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange passes along word of a pair of New York free agent visits, tweeting that the Giants hosted defensive end Robert Ayers and safety Kurt Coleman met with the Jets. Ayers was linked to the Giants earlier in the offseason.

Champ Bailey Visiting Saints

April 1st, 2014 at 4:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent defensive back Champ Bailey is visiting New Orleans to meet with the Saints, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Schefter and Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter), other teams have expressed interest in Bailey, so the veteran figures to take at least one more visit if he doesn’t ink a deal with the Saints right away.

Bailey, will turn 36 this summer, appeared in just five regular season games in 2013 due to a foot injury, and his exorbitant cap hit made him a cap casualty for the AFC champion Broncos. While he can walk away from the game as one of the top cornerbacks of his time and a likely ticket to Canton, Bailey indicated after the Super Bowl that he would like to continue playing. The longtime cornerback also previously expressed reluctance about moving from corner to safety, as many veterans do, but sounded at least open to the idea when asked again after the Super Bowl.

NFC Notes: Soliai, Seahawks, Vikings, Lions

April 1st, 2014 at 4:23pm CST by Luke Adams

New Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai signed one of the more unexpectedly lucrative long-term deals of the offseason last month, agreeing to a five-year, $33MM contract with Atlanta. Agent David Canter was responsible for negotiating that deal, and he walked ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure through the process that led to he, Soliai, and the team agreeing to that figure.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

Although the Seahawks haven’t retained notable players like Golden Tate, Red Bryant, and Chris Clemons this offseason, GM John Schneider tells ESPN 710 Seattle that he’s pleased with the team’s free agent period, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times outlines.
Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link) hears from multiple sources that the Vikings are “heavily leaning” toward LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger in the second round of May’s draft, with a preference for a linebacker like Khalil Mack in the first round.
The Lions continue to pursue defensive upgrades, with the team focused on improving at cornerback and finding a “flamethrower” at outside linebacker. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News has the details on the team’s secondary search, while Kyle Meineke of MLive.com passes along head coach Jim Caldwell‘s quotes on the need for an outside pass-rusher.
Former Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan made a pre-draft visit with the Lions today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). Twentyman adds in a second tweet that Lewan will meet with the Rams next, while Gil Brandt of NFL.com says (via Twitter) the Michigan tackle worked out for the Falcons yesterday.
According to Brandt (via Twitter), former Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy worked out for the Panthers today and will do the same for the Falcons tomorrow.
The 49ers are eyeing safeties in next month’s draft, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Raiders Release Mike Brisiel

April 1st, 2014 at 3:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders have officially cut offensive lineman Mike Brisiel, the team announced today (Twitter link). Brisiel had three years remaining on his contract, and his release will leave the Raiders with $3.93MM in dead money on their books for 2014, creating a modest $1.38MM in cap savings.

After starting his NFL career by spending five seasons in Houston, Brisiel started 30 games for the Raiders at right guard over the last two seasons. The 31-year-old, who was in line for a base salary of $3.85MM, was rumored to be a cap casualty earlier this offseason, with one report suggesting he could be released if he didn’t retire. According to Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com (via Twitter), Brisiel’s agent has indicated his client intends to return for the 2014 season, so if that’s still the plan, it appears Brisiel will be playing for a new team.

Cards Sign LeQuan Lewis, Eddie Whitley

April 1st, 2014 at 3:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

TUESDAY, 3:06pm: Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com confirms (via Twitter) that the Cards have signed Lewis, and adds that the team has also inked cornerback Eddie Whitley to a two-year contract. Whitley, a Virginia Tech alum, has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game.

MONDAY, 10:55pm: The Cardinals will sign cornerback LeQuan Lewis to a two-year deal, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.

Lewis, 25, entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He has logged time with seven NFL teams, but last took a snap as a member of the Buccaneers in 2012. The contract likely contains a minimum salary, and serves as a chance for Lewis to make the Cardinals this summer, probably as a special-teamer.

AFC Notes: Chiefs, Patriots, Bills, Blount

April 1st, 2014 at 2:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Danieal Manning said signing with the Cowboys “would be fun,” since he grew up rooting for them. However, the free agent safety added that a team’s direction and opportunity to win will be determining factors in his decision on where to sign (Twitter links). That’s not to say that Dallas should be ruled out as a suitor, but it makes sense that Manning’s first two visits are to a pair of AFC playoff teams. Last night, we heard about his scheduled meeting with the Bengals, and today during his SiriusXM appearance, he confirmed that a visit to the Chiefs is also on tap (Twitter link).

Here’s more from around the AFC as the league’s free agent period enters its fourth week:

Mike Reiss (Twitter link) passes along word from ESPN.com colleague John Clayton that free agent defensive end Will Smith is visiting the Patriots today. Smith, who was cut by the Saints earlier this offseason, indicated shortly after his release that he’d be open to playing in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.
Speaking to WBEN in Buffalo, billionaire Donald Trump confirmed that he has been approached about the possibility of joining an investment group in a bid to buy the Bills. Suggesting that he’ll “take a look” at the possibility, Trump stressed that he wants to see the franchise remain in Buffalo, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com details.
LeGarrette Blount’s new two-year deal with the Steelers includes a $150K incentive for reaching 800 yards rushing in 2014, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Steelers Sign Brice McCain

April 1st, 2014 at 1:19pm CST by Luke Adams

1:19pm: McCain’s contract with the Steelers is a minimum salary benefit deal with a $65K signing bonus, so it’ll count for $635K against the team’s cap, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

12:00pm: The Steelers have signed free agent cornerback Brice McCain, according to agent David Canter (via Twitter). ESPN.com’s Scott Brown reported earlier today (via Twitter) that McCain, who was cut by Houston last month, was visiting Pittsburgh.

McCain, who grabbed one interception and defended seven passes for the Texans in 2013, had the dubious distinction of ranking dead-last among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). While he was solid against the run and avoided taking penalties, McCain ranked as the league’s worst cover corner by a wide margin, according to PFF.

Nonetheless, the Steelers saw enough in the 27-year-old that they liked to bring him aboard. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, but it’ll likely be a minimum salary deal.