2015 May - Pro Football Rumors

Corry’s Latest: Wilson, AP, Houston, Weddle

May 22nd, 2015 at 2:30pm CST by Luke Adams

After taking a closer look at the wide receiver market earlier this week, former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com focuses today on seven key contract situations involving players eligible for extensions. Corry’s piece includes several items of interest, so let’s dive right in and round up the highlights….

Corry hears from league sources that the Seahawks have offered Russell Wilson a deal worth approximately $80MM over four years, which aligns with other recent reports. As Corry writes, Wilson could make a case that he should be the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback, though contract structure could be a bigger issue on his next deal than total compensation.
Although he has relented on his demand for the Vikings to trade Adrian Peterson, agent Ben Dogra is now attempting to get the team to rework his client’s contract. Corry suggests that Dogra is probably looking for Minnesota to guarantee Peterson’s 2015 and 2016 base salaries, but the team doesn’t appear to be interested in adjusting the running back’s deal.
The Chiefs will likely be “adamant” about keeping Justin Houston‘s per-year salary under the $17MM that Alex Smith is getting from the team, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if agent Joel Segal raises his demands for the linebacker’s next contract after Ndamukong Suh signed for $19MM+ annually, writes Corry.
There has been “sporadic dialogue” between the Jets and Muhammad Wilkerson‘s camp on a contract extension. Corry observes that the Jets would probably be fine with something in the range of Calais Campbell‘s five-year, $55MM pact, while Wilkerson probably has his sights set on contracts like J.J. Watt‘s, Robert Quinn‘s, and Gerald McCoy‘s — all those deals are worth at least $13.6MM per year. If the Jets opt to explore the trade market for Wilkerson, the Browns are a potential suitor.
Eric Weddle has been absent from the Chargers‘ voluntary workouts because he feels “highly disrespected” by the lack of contract discussions with the team, says Corry. While former GM A.J. Smith would’ve played hardball with the safety, it’s not clear yet which path Tom Telesco will take, writes Corry.
Contract disputes with restricted free agents are rare, but Tashaun Gipson and the Browns could be headed toward one. Corry suggests keeping an eye on June 15, the day on which Cleveland could lower its restricted tender offer for Gipson from $2.356MM to $660K. If the Browns take a hard-line approach with the safety, he could decide to sit out training camp and even the regular season, says Corry.

East Notes: Richardson, Dareus, Cowboys

May 22nd, 2015 at 12:42pm CST by Luke Adams

When PFR’s Zach Links passed along word earlier this week that Sheldon Richardson was absent from the Jets‘ practices, he noted that the defensive lineman probably wasn’t seeking a new contract, since he’s not even eligible to negotiate a new deal until after the season. That still appears to the case, and Richardson took to Twitter today to respond to critics, writing that he has “a life outside of football” and simply wanted to spend a little more time with his family.

Here’s more from across the NFL’s two East divisions:

While Richardson isn’t eligible for a new contract with the Jets, his fellow defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson is, and the addition of Leonard Williams in the draft has made that situation murky. Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap takes a closer look at Wilkerson’s contract, concluding that the standout defender would probably be able to earn a bigger contract outside of New York, and may end up being the odd man out with the Jets.
Marcell Dareus of the Bills is another AFC East defensive lineman seeking a contract extension, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Buffalo still wants to lock up Dareus to a long-term deal, preferably before training camp gets underway. Rapoport echoes something I wrote yesterday, suggesting that Dareus’ one-game suspension won’t have an adverse effect on extension talks.
We heard yesterday that the Cowboys worked out a number of free agent running backs, including Ben Tate, Felix Jones, and Daniel Thomas. According to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the club also auditioned wide receivers B.J. Cunningham, Kris Durham, and Tommy Streeter.

Poll: Most Improved Revamped Contender?

May 22nd, 2015 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

Every team in the NFL has undergone changes to some extent this offseason, but some clubs have managed to maintain more continuity than others. Among the teams that have overhauled their rosters most significantly are three teams that just missed out on playoff spots by a game or two in 2014. The Eagles, Saints, and Dolphins have all seen major turnover at key spots on their rosters over the past few months.

In Philadelphia, Chip Kelly continues to allow standout offensive players to leave town, trading LeSean McCoy to the Bills and allowing Jeremy Maclin to walk in free agency. The Eagles also have a new starting quarterback (Sam Bradford) and landed the top running back (DeMarco Murray) and cornerback (Byron Maxwell) available in free agency.

While the Eagles’ biggest changes came in free agency, the Saints went the trade route, shipping out Jimmy Graham, Kenny Stills, and Ben Grubbs in separate deals. The team did add a few free agents, including running back C.J. Spiller and cornerback Brandon Browner, but New Orleans will be relying heavily on its rookie class, after having added extra picks in the first and third rounds.

As for the Dolphins, it’s no secret what their biggest offseason move was: Ndamukong Suh was the most noteworthy free agent to change teams in years, and he’s headed to Miami for the 2015 season. However, that was far from the only splash made by the Dolphins. The club also overhauled its wide receiving corps, acquiring Kenny Stills, signing Greg Jennings, and jettisoning veterans Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson, and Brian Hartline. Ryan Tannehill will also have a new weapon at tight end, in former Brown Jordan Cameron.

As noted above, there are plenty of other teams – both playoff clubs and non-contenders – who underwent major roster changes in the offseason, but few overhauled their rosters as significantly as the Eagles, Saints, and Dolphins. Will that pay off for those teams in 2015? Which of these three teams do you think improved the most this offseason?

Which postseason contender improved the most by revamping its roster this offseason?

Miami Dolphins 60.23% (524 votes)

Philadelphia Eagles 30.23% (263 votes)

New Orleans Saints 9.54% (83 votes)

Total Votes: 870

Michael Sam Signs With Montreal Alouettes

May 22nd, 2015 at 10:12am CST by Luke Adams

10:12am: Sam will earn $100K in 2015 and $150K in 2016, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), who notes that this is above the usual rate for CFL rookies ($51K).

9:45am: After failing to catch on with any NFL teams, Michael Sam will head north to the Canadian Football League, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the edge defender is signing with the Montreal Alouettes. The club has since confirmed the move.

“With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today,” said Alouettes general manager Jim Popp. “Not only have we added an outstanding football player, we have added even a better person that brings dignity, character, and heart to our team.”

The first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL draft (in 2014), Sam spent time with the Rams but didn’t make the team’s regular season roster, despite recording three sacks during the preseason. While he later joined the Cowboys’ practice squad, Sam didn’t earn a call-up to Dallas’ 53-man roster either, and had been on the free agent market for several months.

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links), the Alouettes – who held the CFL rights to Sam – have had an offer on the table to the Missouri product for a few months. With training camp around the corner, Sam has opted to sign the deal, which is a one-year pact with a team option for 2016.

Orlando Scandrick, Cowboys Reach Deal

May 22nd, 2015 at 9:08am CST by Luke Adams

9:08am: Per Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link), Scandrick will get $4MM fully guaranteed this year, and his 2016 salary will be bumped from $3MM to $5MM.

9:02am: It’s a one-year, $9.5MM extension for Scandrick, keeping him locked up through 2019, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). It sounds like the cornerback’s salaries for the next four years will be unchanged, though his cap numbers still figure to increase a little, depending on the size of the signing bonus in the deal.

8:44am: The Cowboys and cornerback Orlando Scandrick have reached an agreement on a new contract extension, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). According to Rapoport (Twitter link), Scandrick will sign the new deal later today.

Scandrick still had four years remaining on his previous contract, but wasn’t happy with the terms of that deal, which called for him to make just $1.5MM in base salary in 2015. After initially not reporting to the Cowboys’ voluntary offseason workouts, the 28-year-old showed up in Dallas earlier this month as a sign of good faith as the two sides negotiated a new contract.

Scandrick ranked as the 10th-best cornerback in the NFL in 2014 out of 108 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). According to PFF’s data, quarterbacks completed 74.3% of their passes into Scandrick’s coverage, but those completions averaged just 9.9 yards, and the Cowboys’ corner didn’t allow a touchdown in his 14 games. For the year, he recorded 63 tackles and grabbed a pair of interceptions.

While Scandrick was the Cowboys’ top corner in 2014, his salary for 2015 wasn’t worth nearly as much as Brandon Carr‘s $8MM figure, and wasn’t fully guaranteed like Morris Claiborne‘s salary, so it makes sense that he was seeking a new deal.

On his old contract, Scandrick’s cap numbers for the next few seasons were just $4.351MM (2015), $5.251MM (2016), $3.75MM (2017), and $3.75MM (2018). Those numbers – particularly the last couple – figure to rise now that the two sides have worked out a new arrangement, and it’s worth keeping an eye on whether the Cowboys will ask Carr to take a pay cut to help accommodate Scandrick’s raise.

The Cowboys’ cornerback depth chart may be on the verge of undergoing some changes within the next year or so. Carr’s future with Dallas could hinge on his willingness to reduce his salary, while Claiborne’s fifth-year option for 2016 wasn’t picked up by the team earlier this month. The club also used its first-round pick this year on a cornerback, selecting Byron Jones with the 27th overall pick. No matter how the rest of the depth chart shakes out though, Scandrick’s new contract should ensure that he’s locked into one of the Cowboys’ starting spots for the foreseeable future.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Brees, Cowboys, Rice

May 21st, 2015 at 9:21pm CST by Zachary Links

Drew Brees has said that he wants to play football until he is 45, but he admits that goal is a little bit unrealistic. “45 is a long way away,” the Saints quarterback said on ESPN’s SVP and Russillo, according to Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate. “I’m 36 right now, and I know I got maybe a little overzealous last year when I threw out the number 45.” Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, and Steve Deberg hung in there until they were 44, but those final years were mostly spent playing in reserve roles. Here’s more from around the NFL..

Along with free agent running backs Daniel Thomas, Ben Tate, and Felix Jones, Ronnie Wingo also worked out for the Cowboys today, as Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram tweets. Wingo was released by the Falcons earlier this month to help make room on the roster for incoming rookies.
A judge dismissed domestic violence charges against former Ravens running back Ray Rice, as The Associated Press writes. Rice completed the terms of his pretrial intervention, which included $125 in fines and anger management counseling.
Joe Barksdale, who signed a minimum-salary deal with the Chargers, was offered more from the Rams earlier in the offseason, Jim Thomas of the Post Dispatch tweets. Back in March, Barksdale looked like a decent bet to land a deal similar to the $6MM-per-year pacts signed by Austin Howard and Anthony Collins in 2014. However, that kind of market never materialized for the veteran. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former Ram just 48th out of 84 qualified tackles last season.
Falcons linebacker Joplo Bartu was fined $50,000 for an alcohol-related offense, but only after his two-game suspension was rescinded, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Bartu, who had 83 tackles in 2014, was handed a two-game suspension in March for his DUI arrest. Earlier this month, the linebacker brought new information to the league and his punishment was altered. However, future violations of the law will carry more significant discipline for him.
Ravens rookie lineman Leon Brown hopes to land a roster spot with his hometown team, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun writes. The 6-foot-5, 332-pound former junior college All-American also had an invite to try out for the Jaguars, but he chose the Ravens instead. Brown, an Alabama product, went undrafted this year.

Minor Moves: Thursday

May 21st, 2015 at 8:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

The Raiders announced that they have signed fifth-round draft pick Neiron Ball, as the staff at CSNBayArea.com writes. The linebacker was selected 161st overall by the Raiders after starting four seasons at Florida.
The Chiefs released Ricky Henry and signed tight end Ryan Taylor, according to the league’s transaction report, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. Taylor, 28 in November, appeared in 45 games for the Packers from 2011 through 2013.
The Colts announced that they have waived tackle Demarco Cox. Cox, who four years of college basketball at Ole Miss (2010-14) before transferring to Georgia Tech (2014-15) for his final season of eligibility, just signed with the club on Tuesday.
The Packers announced that they have signed cornerback Travis Manning. Manning, 24, was a standout at Division II Northwest Missouri State. He previously participated in camps with the Cowboys and Chiefs.
The Saints placed wide receiver Andy Tanner on the IR after he cleared waivers today, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune tweets.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Tannehill, Pats

May 21st, 2015 at 8:29pm CST by Zachary Links

It remains to be seen how Jimmy Garoppolo will do when the Patriots are counting on him, but he looks pretty good throwing spirals on the beach. This week, Pats wide receiver Julian Edelman released video (YouTube link) of him training with the rising NFL sophomore in Los Angeles. While we wait to find out how many games Garoppolo will be starting under center, here’s a look at more from the AFC East..

The Dolphins‘ new-look front office has new approach to contract negotiations, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. Based on conversations he has had with agents, Salguero has found that Miami is doing business a different way. They’re no longer getting caught up in the weeds as much and there has been less antagonism in negotiations compared to the last regime. That includes the Ndamukong Suh and Ryan Tannehill deals, though the Charles Clay dealings are an exception to that.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap took a closer look at Ryan Tannehill’s brand new contract with the Dolphins. Because of the inclusion of the fifth-year option from his rookie deal, Fitzgerald evaluates the pact as a five year deal rather than a six year one. Tannehill will earn significantly more than Dalton over the course of the deal but Miami is also well protected in the event that he needs to be released. What doesn’t work in the Dolphins favor, however, is the cap charges associated with the contract.
Those bashing Patriots owner Robert Kraft should be ashamed of themselves, Gary Tanguay of CSNNE.com opines. Kraft could have long ago sold the Pats for much more than the $175MM he paid for them and if he had, there’s no telling where the franchise would have ended up.

Cowboys Notes: Thomas, Rice, Randle

May 21st, 2015 at 7:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest on the Cowboys..

Besides Felix Jones and Ben Tate, the Cowboys also worked out running back Daniel Thomas today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). Thomas, a second-round pick in 2011, was a prominent part of the Dolphins’ backfield from 2011 through 2013. In 2014, he was squeezed out of the picture after the signing of Knowshon Moreno but he was re-signed by the club a couple of weeks into the season.
Even with many factors working against him, there’s still a good chance that a team will bring Ray Rice in at the start of training camp and give him an opportunity to make the roster, John Clayton of ESPN.com writes. Clayton figures that there are five teams that make sense for the troubled tailback, including the Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones appears to be content with starting the season with Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden in the backfield, but Clayton figures that Rice could be an option if something happens to either player.
Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News ran down the reasons why the Cowboys would and wouldn’t be interested in signing Rice. Aside from the obvious, Rice is also rusty – he hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2013.

Chargers Optimistic About Rivers Extension

May 21st, 2015 at 6:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers are optimistic about working out a long-term extension with Philip Rivers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Weeks ago, the quarterback was uncertain about his future in San Diego, so this is a positive turn for both parties. There’s still work to be done between Rivers and the Bolts, Rapoport adds (on Twitter), but the team believes that they can work out a deal that would ensure that the QB retires with them.

Throughout the offseason, speculation was rampant that the Bolts could move on from their longtime franchise quarterback. In the weeks leading up to the draft, there was talk that San Diego could build a package centered around Rivers and the No. 17 selection to deal for the Titans’ No. 2 overall pick and take Marcus Mariota. Of course, that never came together.

Rivers, 33, started all 16 games for the Chargers last season, just like he has done in every season since 2006 when he broke in as the starter. The veteran threw for 4,286 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Rivers as the seventh-best quarterback in the league last season, putting him ahead of Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, and Peyton Manning.

Back in April, Rivers rebuffed the Chargers’ attempts to hold contract extension talks. Rivers is scheduled to earn a total of $17.42MM in 2015, his final year under contract. Tight end Antonio Gates, tight end Ladarius Green, wide receiver Malcom Floyd and guard Johnnie Troutman are also entering their walk years and, along with Rivers, they represent the only holdovers from when GM Tom Telesco and coach Mike McCoy first arrived in 2013.