HEADLINES

Month: August 2015

Latest On Jason Pierre-Paul

August 8th, 2015 at 5:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Speaking to reporters earlier today, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin revealed that he had finally gotten in touch with defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, adding that the two had a “good conversation,” according to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News. JPP, of course, hasn’t been with the club since injuring his hand in a fireworks incident a month ago, one that ultimately led to the amputation of his right index finger.

“He’s looking forward to coming,” Coughlin said. “He’s anxious to be here. But he’s not going to come until he feels like he’s ready to be able to play.”

It’s unclear when exactly that will be, obviously, as there has been little word as to the actual extent of Pierre-Paul’s injury and recovery. But recent reports have indicated that he is in good spirits and is confident that he will play at some point during the season — but again, whether that means he’ll be ready for Week 1, or at some point further down the road, is unknown.

What is known is that JPP has no intention of signing his franchise tag tender until he is physically able to contribute — as soon as he signs the offer, the Giants have the right to place him on the non-football injury list, which allows them to withhold his pay. As Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes, the mostly likely outcome involves Pierre-Paul and the team agreeing to a new contract altogether — one that would presumably pay him something close to the franchise tag figure, but probably a bit lower — at which point JPP will report to camp.

But for now, the entire situation remains clouded with uncertainty. “It could be whatever amount of time,” said Couglin when asked when he thought JPP might return. “I’m not even going to speculate.”

“There’ve been many people talking to him,” Coughlin continued. “He’s little by little tried to make his contacts. That is a positive thing. I was glad to hear his voice. He sounded good. He sounded interested, that he wanted to get back here.”

East Notes: Carr, Brady, Blount, Jets

August 8th, 2015 at 3:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brandon Carr will miss time after breaking a bone in his right hand during practice, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. The highly paid Cowboys cornerback will have surgery Monday in Dallas.

Although Jason Garrett didn’t want to speculate on a timetable, Moore doesn’t anticipate the ailment will keep him out out of Week 1.

“We don’t think it’s serious. It’s a similar injury to what DeMarco Murray had last year when he played in the game, four or five days later,” Garrett told media from Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, Calif.

Murray did not miss any games when he broke his hand last December, though the Cowboys were gunning for an NFC East title as the running back aimed toward a rushing crown. So Carr’s recovery probably won’t be as expedited.

Here are some more notes from the Eastern divisions.

  • LeGarrette Blount sustained an MCL sprain and will undergo surgery, according to Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe. Since Blount’s regular season doesn’t start until Week 2 due to a suspension, the Patriots‘ top rusher is expected to be ready for his mid-September debut.
  • With the Patriots juggling their starting backfield frequently, Blount’s injury does open up time for its younger, slimmer ball-carriers. The returning starter still has the leg up in the competition, but after failing a conditioning test due to showing up for camp out of shape and now suffering an injury, Blount could be challenged for the spot, Ben Volin of the Globe writes. The player Blount replaced last year due to an alarm clock-related absence, Jonas Gray, could push Blount while he’s out, per Volin. James White remains the favorite to take on the Shane Vereen passing-down role, but free agent acquisition Travaris Cadet has outshined each of the backs in camp, Volin writes.
  • Volin also notes that Article 46, the now-controversial inclusion that continued to grant the commissioner disciplinary powers, now on full display in Deflategate, will replace player safety as the primary debate point in the next CBA negotiations in 2021.
  • With Antonio Allen now jettisoned after his Achilles’ tendon injury, the Jets are going to give cornerback Darrin Walls some work at safety, reports Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. Supplanted at corner by Gang Green’s splurge at the position this offseason, Walls join Jaiquawn Jarrett and Rontez Miles as back-line backups to gain some reps in case of another blow to the Jets’ secondary.

Latest On Deflategate

August 8th, 2015 at 2:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL relying on suspending Tom Brady for “conduct detrimental to the integrity of” the game is a slippery slope, writes Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio in analyzing both the league’s and NFLPA’s briefs issued Friday night (Twitter link).

While the NFL is aiming toward using this broad language to illustrate why Brady deserved the four-game suspension, the NFLPA can argue Brady’s punishment should reside in the realm of an equipment violation rather than a performance-enhancing drug-level ban. The 2011 CBA that grants Roger Goodell suspension leeway, however, the two sides negotiated points into the agreement that pertain to detrimental conduct.

Florio points to the fine schedule, which contains amounts for which players can be fined for certain offenses, such as taunting or various excessive roughness. The PFT writer compares this case to a player caught using stickum, which would bring a fine of less than $10,000, as opposed to the immense charges that have been levied here.

Here are some other observations from the latest Deflategate salvos.

  • The NFL will point to legal precedents where judges didn’t overrule the decisions of arbitrators, writes Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). Citing those cases, the NFL’s argument could supersede Goodell’s potentially questionable tactics when upholding the 16th-year Patriots quarterback’s suspension.
  • Whether or not Ted Wells needed to be viewed as an independent investigator poses another gray area, writes Michael McCann of SI.com. The NFL now argues Wells’ affiliation is immaterial, but McCann points out judge Richard M. Berman could look at previous statements praising the investigator’s impartiality in being assigned this case. Those optics wouldn’t look good for the league.
  • In addressing the case Friday night in Canton, Ohio, Goodell pointed to the CBA in defending his decision. “Listen, he’s a great player and he’s a great young man. We issued the decision just last week. We’re in the midst of litigation to … ensure that that’s enforced the way we ruled on that, after a long process that is established in our collective bargaining agreement. That’s something we’ll play through,” the commissioner said via Ron Borges of Talk of Fame Sports. Inductee Ron Wolf also praised Goodell for his judgment, replaying “Way to go on that Brady thing,” which induced uproarious Goodell laughter. The former Packers executive clarified that he while it came out as a joke, he meant to merely congratulate the league boss on finally coming to a decision.

Offseason In Review: New Orleans Saints

August 8th, 2015 at 12:31pm CST by Luke Adams

It was an eventful offseason in New Orleans, where the Saints entered the month of March way over the salary cap, necessitating a handful of trades, cuts, and restructures. With Drew Brees leading the way, the Saints should always have a chance to contend in the NFC South, but 2015 has been a year of transition for the club, and a new-look Saints team will take the field this year when the season gets underway.

Notable signings:

The Saints may have parted ways with more than one of Brees’ favorite receiving targets, but they made sure to keep the offensive backfield well stocked — the team’s two biggest free agent deals of the offseason, in terms of years and dollars, went to running backs.

One of those backs, Mark Ingram, is a familiar face in New Orleans, re-signing with the club after a career year in which he racked up 964 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Ingram’s 226 carries were by far the most he has received in any of his four NFL seasons, and he excelled in the increased role. Ingram may not be a lock to play in all 16 games, but with Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, and Pierre Thomas no longer in New Orleans, he finally got his chance to carry the load for the Saints, and I expect him to get plenty of work again in 2015 after getting $6.1MM in guaranteed money to return.

Joining him as a change of pace in the backfield is former Bill C.J. Spiller, an intriguing addition who should be able to do some of the things that Sproles and Bush used to do in New Orleans. Like Ingram, Spiller has had injury issues and probably shouldn’t be counted on for 16 full games, but he can still be an explosive player when he sees the field. From 2011 to 2013, Spiller averaged an impressive 5.3 yards per carry and racked up 115 total receptions. His contract, which is very similar to Ingram’s, suggests the Saints envision a time-share between the two players, and Spiller could excel if he’s not being relied on to be the primary playmaker on offense.

Outside of the two running backs, the Saints didn’t spend much in free agency, which can be at least partly attributed to their lack of cap flexibility. Most of the club’s other veteran free agent additions came on the defensive side of the ball, where Brandon Browner, Kevin Williams, and Anthony Spencer are among the newest Saints.

Of the three, Browner figures to have the biggest impact, and his contract reflects that — no free agent got more guaranteed money from the Saints this offseason than the $7.75MM Browner received. Considering New Orleans’ top two corners in 2014 – Keenan Lewis and Corey White – both ranked near the bottom of Pro Football Focus’ grades for the season, the investment makes sense. Browner should help fortify a Saints secondary that will get Jairus Byrd, last season’s top signee, back, but he’ll have to cut down on the penalties. Per PFF, he was called for 15 last season, the second-highest mark among cornerbacks, despite playing less than 600 snaps.

While Browner will see the field more often and play a more significant role for the Saints, Spencer is another free agent addition worth keeping an eye on. He’s on a minimum-salary deal, so there’s little downside from New Orleans’ perspective, and Spencer isn’t far removed from an 11-sack season in 2012. Of course, he has undergone microfracture surgery since then, and probably will never be the same player, but he’s another year removed from that procedure, and reuniting with former Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan could help him.

Notable losses:

On reason the Saints have found themselves up against the cap so often in recent years is a frequent inability to determine when it’s time to move on from a player. Often, the team finds itself releasing a player not long after signing him to an extension, which was the case with Thomas. The longtime Saints running back signed an extension in 2014 that locked him up for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, then was cut by New Orleans before he was able to play a single down on that new deal. In the short term, Thomas’ extension allowed the Saints to reduce his ’14 cap charge, but in the long term, it leaves unnecessary dead money on the club’s cap.

A more extreme example of this lack of foresight was the case of Junior Galette. After Galette’s breakout 2013 campaign, in which he posted 12 sacks and recovered a pair of fumbles, the Saints rewarded him at the start of the 2014 season with a four-year, $41.5MM extension, featuring a huge chunk of guaranteed money. Several months later, the Saints were already trying to trade him, and ultimately decided to simply part ways with the standout pass rusher after multiple off-field incidents. If the Saints had waited a little longer to extend the 27-year-old, who was kicked off Temple’s football team in college, they wouldn’t be stuck with more than $17.5MM in dead money on their cap for Galette over the next two seasons.

New Orleans’ cap situation also played a role in the loss of promising defensive lineman Tyrunn Walker, who was eligible for restricted free agency. The cap-strapped Saints opted to non-tender Walker, and before he signed with the Lions, the amount of interest the ex-Saint received from smart personnel people around the league was “staggering,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Of course, not all of the Saints’ cap casualties will be as difficult to replace as players like Galette and Walker. White and linebacker Curtis Lofton were among the team’s defenders who ranked near the bottom of Pro Football Focus’ rankings at their respective positions. Lofton’s tackles totals during his three years in New Orleans were lofty, and he was extremely durable, never missing a game for the team, but moving on from him in favor of younger, cheaper players was the right call.

Trades:

  • Acquired C Max Unger and a 2015 first-round pick from the Seahawks in exchange for TE Jimmy Graham and a 2015 fourth-round pick.
  • Acquired a 2015 fifth-round pick from the Chiefs in exchange for G Ben Grubbs.
  • Acquired LB Dannell Ellerbe and a 2015 third-round pick from the Dolphins in exchange for WR Kenny Stills.
  • Acquired a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 167; CB Damian Swann) from Washington in exchange for a 2015 sixth-round pick (No. 187; WR Evan Spencer) and a 2016 sixth-round pick.

The list of notable losses above featured a handful of key contributors for the 2014 Saints, but the list of players traded away by the team over the last several months is arguably even more star-studded. Topping this list is Jimmy Graham, Brees’ favorite target for the last few seasons.

Graham was another player whom the Saints probably extended too soon, considering he was traded away less than a year after he signed a long-term extension with the club, and will count for $9MM in dead money against New Orleans’ cap in 2015. Still, the structure of Graham’s contract allowed the Seahawks to add him to their books at a much lesser rate than they would’ve paid in free agency, which is why Seattle was willing to part with a first-round pick for him, so the extension didn’t totally backfire for the Saints.

The team’s other big trade of the offseason involved sending Kenny Stills to the Dolphins for veteran linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and a third-round pick, a deal that looked similar to the Graham trade. Both swaps allowed the Saints to add a veteran contributor at an area of weakness – center Max Unger in the trade with Seattle and Ellerbe in the Miami deal – as well as adding an early draft pick.

Considering how cheap rookie contracts are these days, it made sense for the Saints to stockpile draft picks in an effort to add talented, inexpensive players to help balance out the presence of their aging, overpriced veterans, and the glut of dead money on their cap. No team had more picks in the first three rounds of the draft than the Saints’ five selections, and the Graham and Stills deals were a key reason why. Landing a fifth-round pick from the Chiefs for veteran guard Ben Grubbs was a bonus, though it left New Orleans with a hole to fill on its offensive line.

Extensions and restructures:

  • Jahri Evans, G: Extended through 2017. Received $5.4MM signing bonus and $9.5MM in total guarantees. 2015 base salary reduced from $6.8MM to $1.003MM. Created $4MM in cap space.
  • Cameron Jordan, DE: Extended through 2020. Five years, $55MM. $22.969MM guaranteed. $1.25MM in incentives available annually from 2017-2020.
  • Jairus Byrd, S: Restructured contract to create $4.8MM in cap space for 2015, converting a $6MM roster bonus into a signing bonus.
  • Marques Colston, WR: Accepted pay cut. Base salary reduced from $6.9MM to $1.445MM in 2015 and from $7.7MM to $2.65MM in 2016.
  • Dannell Ellerbe, LB: Accepted pay cut before trade from Miami. Reduced base salary in ’15 from $8.5MM to $1.1MM, in ’16 from $6.45MM to $4.1MM, and in ’17 from $6MM to $4.1MM. Includes guarantee of 2015 base salary, $1.5MM signing bonus, $2.1MM 2015 roster bonus, $1MM roster bonus in 2016 and 2017, and $100K annually in workout bonuses.
  • Junior Galette, LB: Restructured contract to create $10MM in cap space for 2015, converting a $12.5MM roster bonus into a signing bonus.
  • David Hawthorne, LB: Accepted pay cut. Base salary reduced from $2MM to $1.19MM in 2015 and from $4MM to $1.75MM in 2016.

It’s fair to wonder how many of the players who restructured their contracts and/or accepted pay cuts would still be Saints if they had been unwilling to do so. I imagine when the offseason began, the team approached nearly all its high-priced veterans about reworking their deals, and the players who were open to the idea – such as Jahri Evans, Marques Colston, and David Hawthorne – remained on the roster. Others, like Lofton and Grubbs, may have been less thrilled about the idea, prompting the Saints to cut or trade them.

In some cases, the Saints had deliberately structured contracts to accommodate restructures — there was no way that the huge roster bonuses due to players like Byrd and Galette wouldn’t be converted to signing bonuses, for instance. That’s okay for now, but as we saw with Galette, that bonus money will still hit the cap at some point, and if the Saints have to move on from a player earlier than expected, that money will land on their cap sooner rather than later.

As the Saints worked to reduce big salaries, push those big numbers back to later years, or get rid of those salaries entirely, one exception was defensive end Cameron Jordan, who figures to be relied on more significantly with Galette out of the picture. $11MM per year may seem like a steep price for a defensive lineman who has only recorded double-digit sacks once in his NFL career, but Jordan is also stout against the run, and the cost around the league of extensions for players like Corey Liuget and Cameron Heyward showed that the Saints weren’t paying higher than market value.

Draft picks:

  • 1-13: Andrus Peat, T (Stanford): Signed
  • 1-31: Stephone Anthony, LB (Clemson): Signed
  • 2-44: Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB (Washington): Signed
  • 3-75: Garrett Grayson, QB (Colorado State): Signed
  • 3-78: P.J. Williams, CB (Florida State): Signed
  • 5-148: Davis Tull, OLB (Chattanooga): Signed
  • 5-154: Tyeler Davison, DT (Fresno State): Signed
  • 5-167: Damian Swann, CB (Georgia): Signed
  • 7-230: Marcus Murphy, RB (Missouri): Signed

Loaded with extra draft picks in the first three rounds, the Saints predictably used most of those selections on defensive players, adding inside linebacker Stephone Anthony, outside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha, and cornerback P.J. Williams.

Williams was considered a potential first-round pick based on talent, but was arrested on a DUI charge just a few weeks before the draft, raising concerns about his NFL future. Those charges were ultimately dismissed, and with an extra third-rounder, the Saints could afford to roll the dice on Williams. The team could have a steal if Williams stays out of trouble going forward, though after what they went through with Galette, Sean Payton and his coaching staff figure to keep a close eye on the former Florida State corner, just in case.

The Saints’ other two top picks were a little less predictable, as the club snagged offensive tackle Andrus Peat in the first round, and quarterback Garrett Grayson in the third. An NFL team can never have too many offensive linemen, but the Saints have solid starters on each side of their line, with Terron Armstead penciled in on the left side and Zach Strief expected to play on the right side, so it’s not clear whether Peat will get a chance to start in his rookie season.

Grayson, meanwhile, certainly won’t be starting in his rookie year, barring an injury to Brees. While the former Super Bowl MVP is entering the final year of his contract, he’s expected to stick with the Saints for at least a couple more seasons. Bringing a developmental quarterback on board at this point doesn’t necessarily suggests New Orleans views Grayson as its QB of the future, but it’s an interesting use of a pick that could have been used on adding more defensive help or an offensive playmaker to help Brees win in the short term.

Other:

Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

  1. Drew Brees, QB: $26,400,000
  2. Jimmy Graham, TE: $9,000,000 (dead money)
  3. Jahri Evans, G: $7,000,000
  4. Marques Colston, WR: $6,500,000
  5. Ben Grubbs, G: $6,000,000 (dead money)
  6. Jairus Byrd, S: $5,500,000
  7. Junior Galette, OLB: $5,450,000 (dead money)
  8. Curtis Lofton, LB: $5,000,000 (dead money)
  9. Keenan Lewis, CB: $4,500,000
  10. Max Unger, C: $4,500,000

NFL fans and observers spent most of the 2014 season waiting for the Saints to step up and take control of a weak NFC South division that didn’t feature a single .500 team. When that didn’t happen, New Orleans GM Mickey Loomis and the front office decided a retooling was in order, and created a little breathing room under the cap by jettisoning a number of veteran contributors.

Heading into the 2015 season, there are a number of question marks surrounding the Saints: Will the offensive backfield stay healthy? Will Brees have enough receiving talent around him to continue to be productive? Will the new additions on defense help turn around a unit that allowed the second-most yards in the NFL in 2014? If things break right, the club could contend for the division title again this season, but there may be some growing pains for the new-look squad.

Contract information from Over the Cap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

Extra Points: Browns, Hardy, Texans, Steelers

August 8th, 2015 at 11:59am CST by Ben Levine

Columbus, Ohio officials and Browns executives are working towards an agreement that would make the city the home to the organization’s training camp, reports Tom Reed of Cleveland.com. The team had it’s largest turnout for a practice in nearly a decade at Ohio Stadium on Friday, as about 50,000 fans packed the venue. This expectedly made Browns owner Jimmy Haslam very enthused.

“It’s not there yet, but I think we’re getting closer,” Haslam said. “(I) had dinner with (Ohio State athletic director) Gene Smith (Thursday) night and that was positive.

“Columbus has been great to deal with. I think it has been good for our guys to get away from Berea for a couple days. A little different scenario. And to play in front of 45, 50 thousand people is fun whether you’re a veteran or a young person. So, it has been a great two days at Ohio State and the city of Columbus has been great to work with.”

Reed had reported earlier in the week that Columbus was seeking a five- to ten-year agreement from the organization, with a plan to build a facility backed by public and private money. Such a venue wouldn’t be ready until 2017, but Reed notes that the team could still practice in a temporary home until then.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the league…

  • Even with Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy seeing his suspension reduced last month, Rand Getlin of the NFL Network tweets that the NFLPA is still considering whether they should seek “further reduction” in court.
  • Following Arian Foster‘s injury, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the Texans are hoping to add another running back. The team’s current core includes Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, Chris Polk and Kenny Hilliard.
  • Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the Steelers are trying to determine whether former fourth-round pick Landry Jones can be Ben Roethlisberger‘s long-term backup. The former Oklahoma standout will get his chance during Sunday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, where he’s expected to play most of the game. “He has had his moments before, but none more definitive than this in this part of his career,” said quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner. “He is getting a whole lot of work with (first string), the (second string) and now is the time to let this all come together.”

Reactions to Aldon Smith Release

August 8th, 2015 at 11:15am CST by Ben Levine

Following linebacker Aldon Smith‘s release from the 49ers yesterday, some of his former teammates voiced their concern for the 25-year-old. Still, consider all the turnover this offseason, the players know it’s best to look forward, and they made that clear in their comments to Eric Branch of SFGate.com.

“It’s a tough loss for us,” said wideout Anquan Boldin. “Aldon’s a great football player and it’s tough to replace someone like that … As a team, we have to move forward. We have no choice. And I think we’ll get over it. We’ve got some guys behind him that are capable of getting the job done.

“I think everybody was shocked. I wasn’t here the entire offseason, but from what I’ve gathered he’s worked his butt off. And it looked that way when I got here. So I think it was just a shock to everybody.”

Let’s check out some more reactions to Smith’s arrest and subsequent release…

  • The 49ers deliberately protected themselves when they restructured Smith’s contract in March, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The writer reports that the team had previously considered releasing the embattled player, and they were leaning towards not picking up his fifth-year option for 2015. When the sides restructured, Smith signed a deal that would only guarantee his salary if he was on the roster for the whole season. “It wasn’t like they said, ‘If you don’t do this, you’re cut,’” said Doug Hendrickson, one of Smith’s representatives. “The thought behind it is that Aldon realizes he’s been his own worst enemy. He has come a long way since he was suspended. Ultimately his goal, my goal, and the team’s goal is for him to sign a long-term contract with the Niners.”
  • Smith was “poised for a revival,” says Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, and the writer believes coach Jim Tomsula‘s comments following the linebacker’s release echoed that sentiment. “You saw a man fighting and working and trying, and I think, to a man in this building, and you’ve been to practice to watch him, the energy about him,” Tomsula said. “Once again, real life. Everybody has struggles – they’re just in different ways.”
  • Despite the Raiders‘ clear need for a pass-rushing defender, Steve Corkran of Raiderbeat.com doesn’t believe the team should pursue Smith. While the team is in “dire” need of an impact defender, Corkran says the embattled linebacker “isn’t worth the trouble.”
  • Smith’s issues are a reminder of what Broncos linebacker Von Miller could have become, writes Mike Klis of 9News in Denver. Both players were 2011 first-round picks, and they both battled substance abuse issues earlier in their careers. However, Miller has managed to stay clean over the past couple of seasons. “He was there for me and I’m going to be there for him—wherever that may be,” Miller said. “He’s just going through a tough patch right now. We all go through a tough patch. I have full confidence that he will be able to get out of it. We’ll see the same Aldon Smith that we saw his first two years in the league. It’s just tough right now. People go through tough times. I’ll be the first one to tell you. I’ve been through a lot of stuff and I’m going to be there for him however long it is to get him back right.”

Ravens’ Brent Urban Injured, Could Miss Season

August 8th, 2015 at 10:40am CST by Ben Levine

Ravens defensive end Brent Urban tore his biceps during Thursday’s practice, and Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun reports that the 2014 draft pick could miss the entire season.

The former fourth-rounder was injured on what Zrebiec described as a “minimal contact drill.” The reporter notes that it takes about 12 weeks to recover from that type of bicep injury, which presents the Ravens with an interesting choice.

The team could opt to put the 24-year-old on the season-ending injured reserve, or they could choose to place him on the injured reserve with a designation to return. The latter option would mean he’d have to miss at least the first eight weeks of the 2015 season.

Each team can only place on player on the injured reserve with a designation to return, and the Ravens may be forced to choose between Urban and recently -injured safety Matt Elam. Initial reports suggested that the defensive back would be placed on the season-ending IR, but Zrebiec wonders if the team could ultimately slap him with the designation to return.

A knee injury during training camp forced Urban to miss all of last season, and the defensive end had reportedly made a lot of progress in his recovery. The writer notes that Urban was expected to play a prominent role on the defensive line, serving as a backup to Chris Canty and Lawrence Guy.

Lions Sign DeAndre Levy To Extension

August 8th, 2015 at 9:45am CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 9:45am: Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has the details on Levy’s extension (via Twitter):

The linebacker’s 2015 base salary will be worth $1MM, followed by base salaries of $5.25M (2016), $5.75M (2017), $6.25M (2018) and $6.75 (2019). The 2016 and 2017 salaries are only guaranteed for injury, but the years will become fully-guaranteed on the third day of the league year.

As Birkett notes, Levi’s cap hit for 2015 was lowered to $4.4MM (down from the previous $4.5MM cap hit), and the writer adds that the signing bonus cap will be worth $2.4MM each season.

THURSDAY, 12:35pm: Levy’s deal, which is now official, will be worth $33.72MM over four years, with $20MM in guaranteed money, tweets Rapoport. It’s unlikely that the whole $20MM will be fully guaranteed at signing, but the annual average on the contract is $8.43MM, making Levy the highest-paid 4-3 outside linebacker in the league by a comfortable margin.

WEDNESDAY, 1:40pm: Levy’s extension will be for four years, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (via Twitter).

1:25pm: The Lions have reached an agreement on a contract extension for linebacker DeAndre Levy, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Locking up Levy to a long-term deal had been a priority this offseason for general manager Martin Mayhew, who said this week that he has also been in discussions about a new contract for Haloti Ngata.

Levy, 28, has developed into one of the Lions’ most important players on either side of the ball since joining the franchise in 2009 as a third-round draft pick. In 2014, he established a new career high in tackles, racking up 155 stops to go along with 2.5 sacks, five passes defended, and an interception.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), only one 4-3 outside linebacker played more snaps last season than Levy’s 1,072, and only two players at the position received better grades from PFF than the standout Lion. Levy performance was particularly strong against the run, earning him a +21.1 grade in that category.

While Bobby Wagner‘s new contract with the Seahawks, worth $43MM over four years, may have paved the way for the Lions to get something done with Levy, it would be a little surprising if he matched or exceeded Wagner’s per-year salary of $10.75MM. Middle linebackers like Wagner are typically paid better than 4-3 outside linebackers like Levy.

According to Over The Cap’s data, the top contract for an outside linebacker on a 4-3 team belongs to another Seahawk, K.J. Wright, who is earning $27MM over four years, for an average of $6.75MM per season. Levy should easily exceed that figure, though it remains to be seen if he’ll be paid like a top inside linebacker — I expect he will.

With Levy’s contract agreed to, the Lions can focus on locking up Ngata, which will be a priority for a defense that lost Ndamukong Suh earlier in the offseason. Like Levy, Ngata is entering the final year of his contract, and is on track to earn a salary of $8.5MM in 2015. Levy had been set to earn just $3.5MM, though he’ll likely make much more than that now, assuming his new deal includes even a modest signing bonus.

The Buccaneers also figure to be keeping a close eye on the details for Levy’s extension, since they have a similar player – Lavonte David – eligible for a new deal of his own. Since David is nearly three years younger than Levy, he may land an even bigger contract when the Bucs are ready to finalize something with him.

Adrian Peterson on Future, Vikings, Health

August 8th, 2015 at 9:00am CST by Ben Levine

Adrian Peterson is trying to move forward following his tumultuous 2014 season. The Vikings running back only played in one game last season before being placed on the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list, compiling 75 yards on 21 carries.

It remains to be seen whether Peterson can return to MVP form, but when he last missed significant time in 2011, he returned with a record-breaking 2012 campaign.

The 30-year-old sat down with ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling to discuss his prospect’s for this season, his future, and his relationship with the Vikings. The whole interview is worth checking out, but we’ve compiled some of the more intriguing quotes for you below…

On whether he’ll try to catch Emmitt Smith‘s records, requiring him to play until he’s at least 35 years old:

“I think if I’m blessed to play [that long], I’ll get a feel. I think I’ll go off my gut feel. I think I can play for a long time, but I’m just going to take it one year at a time and see how I feel, because I did enjoy myself, realizing how much I was missing, as far as my kids. Just doing simple stuff, taking them to school, picking them up, that was fun to me. I missed that. Unfortunately, it’s during football season. So that could bring my career to an end earlier than expected.”

On whether he believes his relationship with the Vikings organization is strong enough to produce a new contract:

“I do. I do. I feel like the relationship is that good. The big thing is — because it is a business — is still being productive, being able to perform at a high level. I feel like if I do my part, they’ll do their part.”

On how his perspective has changed:

“Going through everything and realizing that hey, you can get kind of caught up when you’re the face of the franchise, and they’ve got you all over NFL Network. But one thing to put in perspective: You realize you’re just a small piece. In the big scheme of things, they’re going to do what’s best for them. It puts things in perspective. That’s kind of how I look at things now. It’s like, I don’t owe the NFL anything. It’s a privilege for me and every other guy that’s on this field. For them, without us, they don’t make a dime. That’s how I look at it now.”

On how he’s feeling heading into the preseason:

“I definitely feel stronger, having the extra time to let the body rest, for one, and then train even more. In season, you probably lift twice a week, just to keep things sharp and keep your strength up through the season. But having the type of time I had, I was able to push my body to the max, knowing I had enough time to recover and be ready for OTAs [organized team activities] and camp. I feel stronger. I feel more explosive. Mentally, that was the biggest thing. I was able to grow stronger mentally, and it’s been showing, when I’m in the weight room and when I’m out here as well.”

Extra Points: Mexico, Milliner, Walker, Nicks

August 7th, 2015 at 9:59pm CST by Rob DiRe

As the NFL continues to expand its presence in London, the next step in forwarding the game internationally could be Mexico City. There has been a suggestion that the NFL will play five games there, starting in 2017, writes Conor Orr of NFL.com.

This has not been made official by the NFL as of yet, and spokesman Michael Signora had this to say in response to that report:

“We are pleased with the growth in fan demand and the increased partner support we have enjoyed in recent years. With this in mind, we are actively assessing the opportunity to play games in Mexico. We have visited several stadiums in recent months, and are analyzing what needs to be done to bring games to Mexico. It is premature to comment specifically as to when this will happen, let alone how many, if any, games might be played.”

Here are a few more notes from around the NFL this Friday:

  • The NFL has reversed a long-standing policy that regulated practice squad contracts by prohibiting teams from negotiating non-salary items into those deals, reports Diana Marie Russini of ESPN (via Twitter). Organizations will now be allowed to offer signing bonuses, roster bonuses, and guaranteed money to practice squad players (via Twitter). Russini expects this to cause teams to aggressively pursue other franchises’ top practice squad players (via Twitter).
  • With Dee Milliner‘s recent injury, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reminds fans that the Jets received a number of trade inquiries on the former first round pick. He adds that at least one team was still interested as recently as this week, before the injury (via Twitter).
  • The Patriots have opened up talks with defensive tackle Casey Walker about a possible return to the team, reports Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter).
  • Former Super Bowl hero Hakeem Nicks is fighting for his NFL career after signing a one-year deal with the Titans, writes Teresa Walker of the Associated Press. The chance to start across from Kendall Wright is an open competition, and Nicks will have to prove himself against former-Falcon Harry Douglas, rookie second-round pick Dorial Green-Beckham, and Justin Hunter.
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