HEADLINES

Month: April 2014

Latest On 49ers, Aldon Smith

April 25th, 2014 at 1:37pm CST by Zachary Links

This afternoon, 49ers GM Trent Baalke told reporters, including Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter), that he hopes Aldon Smith is with the team in “2016 and 2017 and 2018.” In the wake of Smith’s airport incident, many have wondered if the 49ers want to stay the course with the talented but troubled defensive force.

Baalke went on to say, “We’re a family. You don’t just open a door and toss people out of it,” tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. However, he stopped short of saying that he’ll pick up Smith’s option for 2015, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group (on Twitter). The GM added that he has no plans to trade running back LaMichael James.

Even though Baalke threw his support behind Smith today, it’s hard to get a read on what the team will do with Smith’s fifth-year option. Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News wrote earlier this month that he got the sense from club officials that Smith would not play for San Francisco in 2014. Meanwhile, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com wrote last week that the 49ers were not expected to trigger the option.

Meanwhile, the 49ers were said to be shopping James in an effort to move up in the draft. For his part, James hasn’t asked for a trade, but he would welcome the opportunity to see more playing time elsewhere. As it stands, James could be behind Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, and possible Marcus Lattimore on San Francisco’s depth chart.

North Notes: Suh, Lions, Browns, Bengals

April 25th, 2014 at 1:23pm CST by Zachary Links

There has been talk that the Lions are shopping Ndamukong Suh, but Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report writes that Detroit is really just doing its due diligence. “What the Lions are doing is standard operating procedure,” one team executive said. “Just in case they don’t think they can sign him, they’re preparing for worst case. It’s smart.” Team officials that have spoken with the Lions believe that the two sides will work out an arrangement and the defensive tackle will stay in Detroit. Meanwhile, as you might expect, clubs from around the NFL love Suh’s talent but are very concerned about his behavior. More out of the NFC and AFC North…

  • The Lions should hang on to Suh if they want to win now, opines Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. The best move for the Lions would be to let things play out in 2014 and then work out a new contract, in McCosky’s view.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap offers his thoughts on the Browns‘ job in free agency. Fitzgerald didn’t like the Browns’ handling of the Alex Mack situation and gets the impression that they didn’t have a concrete plan regarding the center heading into the offseason. Additions Karlos Dansby, Donte Whitner, and Andrew Hawkins could give the team a boost, but they’re all overpaid. All in all, Fitzgerald gives the Browns and GM Ray Farmer a C grade.
  • Fitzgerald also offers up his thoughts on the Bengals‘ work in free agency. In short, he feels that the Bengals didn’t do nearly enough to improve their situation despite having plenty of cap room to make changes.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Claiborne, Redskins

April 25th, 2014 at 11:56am CST by Zachary Links

Some Eagles fans are fretting over the loss of DeSean Jackson, but Jeremy Maclin isn’t too concerned, writes Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. “I think we’ll be fine, man. Obviously, DeSean’s one of the better playmakers in this league, but we’re moving forward, and I think we’ll be just fine . . . I’ve got faith in the guys in the locker room. [Coach] Chip [Kelly] said it himself: The offense is not built around one guy. We have multiple guys out there who can make plays,” said Maclin, who was not critical of his former teammate.

  • If it were up to Giants veteran Victor Cruz, the club would draft Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans at No. 12, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Cruz told NFL Network that he sees Evans as a possible replacement for the departed Hakeem Nicks and he’s not the only one in New Jersey thinking that way. Several sources have told Vacchiano that Evans, a 6-5, 225-pounder, is up near the top of their draft board .
  • The Cowboys‘ decision to pick up the option of cornerback Morris Claiborne next year isn’t nearly as easy as the one they’ll have to make on Tyron Smith, writes David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. The cornerback, who has been hampered by injuries in each of his first two seasons, took a step back in his second season and lost his starting job to Orlando Scandrick. Luckily for Dallas, the club won’t have to cross this bridge until next year.
  • Mark Bullock of the Washington Post looks at three right tackles who could be fits for the Redskins. If Washington wants to tap a tackle early on in the draft, Bullock sees Morgan Moses of Virginia as a good match.
  • CSNWashington.com’s Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir wonder who will take on London Fletcher‘s leadership role with the Redskins. With Fletcher now retired, El-Bashir believes it’ll have to be a team effort to lead the locker room while Tandler says Robert Griffin III is up to the task.
  • Purdue offensive tackle Kevin Pamphile is visiting the Giants this week, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The Packers, Bears, Texans, Cardinals, Dolphins, Chiefs, Raiders, Rams, and Jaguars have also shown interest.

Panthers Pick Up Cam Newton’s 2015 Option

April 25th, 2014 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

FRIDAY, 11:40am: The Panthers announced via Twitter that they have exercised Newton’s option.

THURSDAY, 5:00pm: Based on tweets from Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com’s David Newton, it sounds like the option pickup isn’t quite finalized yet, but the team is in the process of making it official.

4:14pm: The Panthers have officially exercised their fifth-year option on quarterback Cam Newton, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). The move ensures that Newton remains under contract with the club through the 2015 season.

As the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, Newton is eligible for a 2015 salary equivalent to the 2014 transition tag amount for QBs, meaning his ’15 salary will be $14.666MM. Although that’ll be the largest fifth-year salary for any members of the 2011 draft class, it’s still a good price for the Panthers, given the going rate for franchise quarterbacks.

Still, even with Newton now formally locked up for two more seasons, Carolina will presumably keep working on a longer-term deal for the 24-year-old. Newton had perhaps his best all-around season in 2013, leading the Panthers to a division title and a first-round bye. He’ll have his work cut out for him in 2014, after the club’s top four receivers from 2013 departed in free agency and standout offensive tackle Jordan Gross opted to retire.

Panthers GM Dave Gettleman first said nearly a month ago that the club would pick up its 2015 option on Newton. To keep tabs on all of this year’s fifth-year option decisions, be sure to check out our tracker.

Bills Exercise Option On Marcell Dareus

April 25th, 2014 at 10:43am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have picked up the fifth-year option for 2015 on former first-round choice Marcell Dareus, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Bills GM Doug Whaley recently said that a contract extension for the defensive tackle was “on the radar,” but he’s apparently content to wait things out.

As shown in our 2015 Fifth-Year Option Tracker, Dareus will earn $10.633MM in his final year under the current contract. Dareus was taken with the No. 3 overall pick and as someone chosen in the top ten, his 2015 salary matches the 2014 transition tag salary for his position.

The 24-year-old hasn’t missed a game over the course of his three-year career and, statistically, last season was his best yet. In 16 starts, Dareus racked up 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and three pass deflections.

Pompei’s Latest: Rice, Pryor, Hyde, Draft

April 25th, 2014 at 9:52am CST by Zachary Links

In today’s column, Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report writes that executives see this year’s draft as rich in offensive talent and lacking in defenders. “It’s surprising how heavy it is on the one side of the ball,” one NFC General Manager said. That GM estimated that of the 120 or so players on his board, 65% are offensive players. The draft has plenty of talented wide receivers and offensive linemen and solid depth at quarterback, but running back stands out as the one underrepresented offensive position at the top of draft boards. More from Pompei..

  • Sidney Rice took less money on a one-year deal from the Seahawks (a one-year, $1.4MM deal) than he could have had with the Jets in part, because he thinks he might be able to make more money in 2015 if he spends this season in Seattle. The 27-year-old is looking at next offseason since it could be his last chance to cash in big. People who know the wide receiver say he has been working his tail off in order to come back from a torn ACL healthy and stronger than ever and maximize his value next year.
  • One of the reasons Terrelle Pryor is in Seattle is that the timing of his availability was ideal for the Seahawks. The Seahawks, 32nd in claiming order, knew they would not have had a chance at acquiring him through waivers. They also knew they could not get a similar athlete with a seventh-round pick, which was the trade compensation they gave the Raiders. Pete Carroll & Co. are hoping that Russell Wilson will rub off on his new understudy.
  • Insiders are predicting a flurry of trade activity toward the bottom of the first round of the draft as teams jockey for position to try to get a falling quarterback, or the rising quarterback of their choice. The thinking is, the teams at the top of the draft that ignore their QB need will be looking to jump back in at the top of the second round.
  • Another potential trade target at the bottom of the first round is Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde, as some teams see him as clearly the best prospect at the position. One team picking late in the round already has received two phone calls feeling them out for interest in a potential deal.

Evan Mathis Won’t Hold Out For New Deal

April 25th, 2014 at 8:52am CST by Zachary Links

Yes, Evan Mathis is an Eagles Pro Bowler and a client of Drew Rosenhaus who is seeking a pay raise while under contract. But, no, he won’t pull a Terrell Owens on us.

“I think with those contract questions, you haven’t heard anything from myself, you haven’t heard anything from Rosenhaus, the Eagles,” the left guard told CSN’s Derrick Gunn. “For that type of matter I think it’s best that anything stays in house, just be professional about it. If I did ask for a new contract, I’m not going to tell [the media] I want a new contract. How are you going to get me a new contact? Seriously though, for all that type of stuff, the best approach would be to keep it in house. I’m here. I’m not holding out. I much prefer reading the articles and the hate tweets and everything from conjecture as opposed to any information that ever came from anybody that knew anything about the situation.”

Mathis won’t keep himself out of workouts over a new deal or, as he later put it, “we’re not in my driveway.” The offensive guard, who made his first Pro Bowl after the 2013 season, approached the Eagles about re-doing the five-year, $25.5MM he signed before the 2012 season over the winter. The Eagles responded by advising Mathis and Rosenhaus to check the market to see if another team would be interested in dealing for him.

The 32-year-old feels that he’s the best guard in the league and wants to be paid like it, but it doesn’t sound like the Eagles will have to cave to his demands to keep him on the field. In late March we heard that the Eagles were seeking a third round pick and would possibly settle for a fourth rounder, but they apparently haven’t found a deal to their liking.

 

NFC North Rumors: Bears, Reynaud, Lions

April 24th, 2014 at 9:24pm CST by Zachary Links

With the draft rapidly approaching, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune looks at the wide receivers the Bears might target. With wide receiver being a position of moderate need, Thompson suggests they could look at South Carolina’s Bruce Ellington, Saginaw Valley State’s Jeff Janis, and others.

  • Kick returner/running back Darius Reynaud worked out for the Bears yesterday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Reynaud, 29, could be brought in to fill the sizable shoes of Devin Hester as a return man. Last season, the veteran spent time with the Titans and Jets.
  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) has the goods on George Johnson‘s one-year deal with the Lions. The defensive end gets $730K with no guaranteed money. He’ll have a $570K cap number thanks to the minimum salary benefit.
  • The Lions hosted former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy on a pre-draft visit today, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Van Noy, who has gotten first-round and second-round grades from analysts, has also met with the Ravens, Jaguars, and Falcons.

Bills Notes: Mosley, Draft, Trump

April 24th, 2014 at 8:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Yesterday, the Bills hosted Clemson star Sammy Watkins and speculation started flying that Buffalo would look to trade up in the draft. The Bills are currently slated to pick at No. 9 but if they want this year’s No. 1 receiver, they’ll have to vault up into the Top 5. The Rams at No. 2 could be a potential trade partner since they’re said to be open to moving down. The Texans are also open to deals for the No. 1 pick but the asking price is rather high. The latest out of Buffalo..

  • The Bills hosted Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley and Towson running back Terrance West on pre-draft visits today, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Mosley, widely praised for his strong character and work ethic, is a likely first round pick. West won’t hear his name called on Day 1 but he is one of the better tailbacks in a class that is paper thin at the position.
  • Jeremy M. Jacobs Jr, a member of one of Buffalo’s wealthiest families, says his clan is involved behind the scenes in the effort to keep the Bills in Western New York, writes Stephen T. Watson of the Buffalo News. “We are using our resources, our contacts, our relationships to do everything we can to ensure the Bills stay in Buffalo,” Jacobs said. When asked whether those efforts could include making a bid for the team, or joining a group making an offer, Jacobs did not offer a direct answer.
  • Would Donald Trump make a good NFL owner? Former standout running back Hershel Walker sure thinks so. “He would be a great owner, and a credible owner,” Walker told Jarrett Bell of USA Today Sports. “People can think what they want to think about Jerry Jones — he’s a terrible general manager, but he’s a great owner. He has done a tremendous job in marketing his team to keep it relevant. I think that’s the same thing Donald Trump would do with the Buffalo Bills.”

Extra Points: Dansby, Seahawks, Texans

April 24th, 2014 at 6:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL believes the Eagles released DeSean Jackson based on football reasons and not due to alleged gang connections, according to NFL senior vice president of law and labor policy Adolpho Birch. “I think we are comfortable that the decisions that were made on both ends were football decisions,” Birch told reporters, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Both sides, the objective that they sought from a football perspective, they got, whether that be the Eagles or the Redskins. I think the player’s going to be in a good position. I think at the end of the day, everyone was comfortable with that.”

  • Cardinals veteran Darnell Dockett was sad to see Karlos Dansby go to the Browns this offseason, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “I’ve got a lot of respect for our guy that left, I love him like a brother but we were one or two pieces away from making a lot of noise,” Dockett said. “But we are going to regroup. Our GM, coaches, owner will get someone to fill that role and we’ve got guys with enthusiasm of getting that opportunity for that role. They know they have big shoes to fill.“
  • Former Vikings and Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson worked out for the Seahawks today, a source told Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The 26-year-old saw action in ten games last season for Minnesota.
  • Wide receiver Armanti Edwards is also working out for the Seahawks, a source tells Caplan (on Twitter). The wide receiver/special teamer split time between the Panthers and Browns last season. His campaign ended in November when he suffered an ankle injury in Cleveland.
  • Former Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson had a very positive visit with the Texans today, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Getlin adds (link) that Robinson’s agent, Eric Metz, has been good friends with Houston offensive line coach Paul Dunn since college. If the Texans are really high on Robinson, they can likely move down a few spots and walk away with additional picks.
  • Sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com that if the Texans take a defensive player first overall and draft a quarterback atop the second round, Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr, if available, would be Houston’s top two targets.
  • Baylor’s Demetri Goodson is scheduled to meet with the Texans on Saturday, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. The Cowboys, Dolphins, Saints and Eagles have also shown interest in the former Gonzaga point guard turned cornerback.
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