HEADLINES

Month: August 2015

Seahawks Notes: Bennett, Chancellor, Wilson

August 6th, 2015 at 10:25am CST by Luke Adams

The Seahawks recently extended Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner with big-money contracts, and the roster is beginning to look awfully top-heavy, with several players set to earn $10MM annually over the next few years. Defensive end Michael Bennett, who isn’t overly pleased with his current deal, also expressed some concern that solid role players like Tony McDaniel are being let go due to cap concerns.

“That’s what people don’t understand, people talk about Tony McDaniels like ‘Oh, he’s just another guy,’ but think about, how does a Bobby Wagner make those tackles?” Bennett said to Frank Schwab of Yahoo! Sports. “These are the workers. It’s like the clothing line. You see the people who own the clothing line, but you don’t see the people who work and make the clothes. The middle man is always needed for success in this league.”

Of course, if the Seahawks reward disgruntled players like Bennett and safety Kam Chancellor with the raises they’re seeking, it might mean losing another one of those “middle men,” perhaps someone like Brandon Mebane. So Seattle will have to tread carefully when it comes to renegotiating contracts.

Here’s more out of Seattle:

  • A source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Chancellor’s holdout could potentially go into the regular season if the two sides can’t reach a middle ground. As was the case with Dez Bryant‘s threat of missing regular season games, I’ll believe it when I see it. But Chancellor has made plenty of money over the last couple years, and has shown a willingness to give up money by missing camp.
  • Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show today, Wilson downplayed the notion that he had been looking to become the NFL’s highest-paid player, as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk details. “No. The only thing that was important was being in Seattle,” Wilson said. “In terms of being paid, however I played, that’s what I wanted to dictate my pay raise.”
  • In the wake of the Wilson and Wagner extensions, former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes a closer look at the Seahawks’ cap situation, writing that the team should be able to contend for the Super Bowl through at least the 2017 season.

South Notes: Saints, David, Texans, Colts

August 6th, 2015 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

It’s been an eventful year for cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who received a raise for 2015 and won a Super Bowl with the Patriots within the first few weeks of the year. However, since then, he’s been cut twice, by the Pats and Cardinals, negating that non-guaranteed raise that he earned back in January. Currently, Dennard is a free agent, and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that he’s working out for the Saints today.

Dennard missed 10 regular season contests in 2014, as he was plagued throughout the season by shoulder and hamstring issues. In New Orleans, he could help provide depth for a secondary that’s banged up early in training camp — cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and Delvin Breaux were among the players absent from the team’s walkthrough on Wednesday.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two South divisions:

  • Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David will likely be keeping a close eye on the financial terms for DeAndre Levy‘s new extension with the Lions, since David figures to surpass Levy’s deal. According to Anderson (via Twitter), the Bucs and David were “still not close” to working out a new contract as of Wednesday morning.
  • Pierre Thomas and the Texans could revisit a deal, even though there’s no pact at this time, writes Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Wilson, who says Houston offered Thomas a minimum-salary contract, indicates that the two sides will likely remain in touch, since the former Saint was “clearly” the Texans’ preferred choice of the backs that auditioned for the team.
  • Former Patriots and Rutgers linebacker Steve Beauharnais worked out for the Colts on Wednesday, a source tells Wilson (Twitter link). The 25-year-old saw a little regular season action with Washington in 2014.

East Notes: Cowboys, Brady, Giants, McDaniel

August 5th, 2015 at 9:00pm CST by Zachary Links

In an interview on KESN-FM 103.3, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones left the door open for signing a free agent running back. “I do think we’re a popular place for a running back right now. There’s backs out there that I think still have some gas left in their tank. If we need to go get one, then we can get one,” Jones said (transcript via The Dallas Morning News). Here’s more from the East divisions..

  • After poring over the entire 457-page transcript of Tom Brady‘s appeal hearing, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports just wants to see a settlement take place. One could poke holes in the argument of either side, but none of which could be big enough to blow the whole case wide open. The NFL won’t allow Brady to avoid a suspension and the Patriots quarterback won’t admit guilt, but they can still meet in the middle for a reduced suspension.
  • Newly-acquired wide receiver James Jones signed with the Giants for the veteran minimum, according to a person with knowledge of the contract who spoke with Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. Jones had 73 catches for 666 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Raiders in 2014.
  • There hasn’t been much talk about the Cowboys making a play for Tony McDaniel, but the team could take a hard look at him because he played in a defense that is similar to Dallas’, Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News writes. McDaniel was released by the Seahawks earlier this week due to financial constraints.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/5/15

August 5th, 2015 at 8:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor NFL moves and signings..

  • The Eagles signed rookie free agent linebacker Diaheem Watkins, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets.
  • The Seahawks announced that they have signed linebacker Dakorey Johnson, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets. Johnson takes the place of linebacker Alex Singleton, who was cut loose earlier today.
  • The Bears have waived/injured tight end Brian Vogler with a foot injury, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
  • The 49ers agreed to terms with wide receiver Nigel King, as Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com tweets.

Earlier Updates:

  • The Rams waived wide receiver Devon Wylie, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Falcons waived cornerback Michael Lee and signed nose tackle Derrick Hopkins, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Buccaneers announced (on Twitter) that they have waived long snapper Courtland Clavette.
  • The Panthers signed cornerback T.J. Heath and defensive tackle Kenny Horsley, David Newton of ESPN.com tweets. To make room, Carolina released punter Matt Wile.
  • Washington announced the signings of cornerbacks Bryan McCann and DreQuan Hoskey. McCann, who first entered the league as UDFA with the Cowboys in 2010, has made multiple stops around the NFL. Hoskey, a Virginia product, was in rookie minicamp this summer and made a strong impression on coaches. Washington also cut Phillip Thomas and waived/injured Tevin Mitchel, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Steelers signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Kenzel Doe of Wisconsin and waived-injured undrafted rookie receiver Eli Rogers, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets.
  • The Ravens signed defensive tackle Micajah Reynolds and waived defensive tackle Casey Walker, who just came off the PUP list on Monday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Bears are signing USC tight end Kevin Greene, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets.

West Notes: Wagner, Floyd, Chancellor

August 5th, 2015 at 7:42pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders, Chargers, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Los Angeles Sports Council are hosting a luncheon in downtown L.A. on August 17th, Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. Daily News tweets. At the luncheon, Carmen Policy will give an update on the Chargers’ and Raiders’ combined effort to build an NFL stadium in L.A. (link). Here’s more from the West divisions..

  • Good news for the Cardinals. There was word earlier tonight that wide receiver Michael Floyd broke multiple fingers during practice today, an injury that would have left him sidelined for several weeks, including regular season games. As it turns out, those fingers are only dislocated, and Floyd will only miss 3-4 weeks, a team official tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • DeAndre Levy‘s contract extension with the Lions will likely be more relevant to Lavonte David‘s negotiations with the Buccaneers than Bobby Wagner‘s talks with the Seahawks, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. Earlier today, the Lions and Levy reached agreement on a brand new four-year deal.
  • Seahawks GM John Schneider told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter) that there’s no animosity between safety Kam Chancellor and the club. The GM has been in touch with Chancellor’s reps, but he can’t say if or when he’ll report to camp.

    • Offseason In Review: Atlanta Falcons

    August 5th, 2015 at 5:33pm CST by Zachary Links

    With a different regime in place – including new head coach Dan Quinn – can the Falcons rebound from their 6-10 showing in 2014?

    Notable signings:

    The Falcons’ two biggest expenditures this offseason were at the linebacker position. On March 10th, the official start of free agency, Atlanta inked Brooks Reed and Justin Durant. Reed spent the first four years of his career in Houston, where he started 52 of a possible 60 games and racked up 14.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated him the 26th-best 3-4 OLB in the NFL out of 46 qualifiers last season.

    Now with the Falcons, Durant joins his fourth team in what will be his ninth year. He spent 2014 with the Cowboys and missed 10 games with a torn bicep, amassing 49 tackles in six contests. Durant finished 17th out of 40 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus’ 4-3 OLB rankings. The Cowboys reportedly hoped to retain the 29-year-old, but they were unsuccessful in their efforts.

    O’Brien Schofield, another linebacker of note, followed his former coach to Atlanta this offseason. Schofield recorded 25 total tackles and two sacks last season with the Seahawks and played in all 16 regular season games.

    Adrian Clayborn, 27, played only one game for the Bucs before being placed on IR last September. In the year prior, he made 16 starts at right defensive end and tallied 43 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Clayborn was hoping to establish himself in 2014, his contract year, but he didn’t get the opportunity to show what he can do before hitting open market. The Bucs declined their fifth-year option on the former No. 20 overall pick in April of 2014. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) weren’t all that fond of Clayborn’s performance in 2013, ranking him 47th out of 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends. Clayborn didn’t shine in his walk year like he had hoped, but the Falcons may have gotten a great value on this one-year deal.

    When veteran guard Chris Chester was released by Washington, he didn’t last long on the open market. Two days after he was put on the unemployment line, the Falcons swooped in and signed him. Chester, 32, started at right guard for Washington last season, but with 2014 third-rounder Spencer Long ready to take over that role and Chester’s cap number approaching $5MM, the veteran became expendable. Still, while Spencer, a former second-round pick, may not have been in Washington’s long-term plans, he can still be a positive contributor.

    Veteran free agent Jacob Tamme didn’t play a focal role in the Broncos offense last season but it’s possible that we’ll see a little more of him on the field now that he’s in Atlanta. The tight end grabbed 52 balls in 2012, but the former fourth-round pick had his reception total drop to 20 in 2013 and to just 14 in 2014.

    In late February, the Falcons kept longtime kicker Matt Bryant from hitting the open market with a multi-year extension. Bryant, who has been with the Falcons since the 2009 season, has been very consistent during his time in Atlanta. He made 29 of 32 field goal attempts in 2014, with his only three misses coming from 50+ yards out. In 2013, two of his three misses were from 50+ yards.

    Notable losses:

    Steven Jackson first joined the Falcons as a free agent in March of 2013 after spending his entire career with the Rams up until that point. In February of 2015, Atlanta parted ways with the veteran. At the peak of his career, Jackson was regarded as one of the best running backs in the NFL and had three Pro Bowl selections to his credit. Unfortunately, he was never able to match that same kind of success in Atlanta. Follow running back Jacquizz Rodgers is also out of Atlanta after hooking on with the Bears.

    Justin Blalock was a mainstay at the left guard spot in Atlanta since entering the league in 2007, having started all 125 games he has played during his career with the Falcons. That’s why his February release came as something of a surprise. Even putting his experience aside, the former second-round pick was still an above-average guard, according to Pro Football Focus – Blalock received positive grades from the site for each of the last five seasons (subscription required). In June, Blalock decided to walk away from the game.

    Harry Douglas was a hero in 2013, when injuries to Julio Jones and Roddy White increased his role in the Falcons’ offense, allowing him to set new career highs in catches (85) and receiving yards (1,067). Jones and White returned to health for the 2014 season, and Douglas returned to his role as Matt Ryan‘s No. 3 target. With a base salary of $3.5MM for the 2015 season, the Falcons felt that Douglas wasn’t worth the cash and released him in late February, right around when they bid farewell to S-Jax.

    Veteran pass rusher Osi Umenyiora didn’t draw a ton of interest on the free agent market after his deal with the Falcons expired and Atlanta didn’t seem all that interested in a reunion. Late last month, the veteran agreed to sign a one-day deal with Big Blue so that he could retire as a member of the Giants.

    Trades:

    • Acquired a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 137; DT Grady Jarrett) from the Vikings in exchange for a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 146; WR Stefon Diggs) and a 2015 sixth-round pick (No. 185; T Tyrus Thompson).

    Draft picks:

    • 1-8: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB (Clemson): Signed
    • 2-42: Jalen Collins, CB (LSU): Signed
    • 3-73: Tevin Coleman, RB (Indiana): Signed
    • 4-107: Justin Hardy, WR (East Carolina): Signed
    • 5-137: Grady Jarrett, DT (Clemson): Signed
    • 7-225: Jake Rodgers, T (Eastern Washington): Signed
    • 7-250: Akeem King, S (San Jose State): Signed

    The Falcons have struggled to produce an effective pass rush over the last couple seasons, and the arrival of Beasley is expected to help improve that aspect of the defense. It will be interesting to see how Quinn makes use of Beasley, who was considered one of the top edge rushers in this year’s draft.

    Other:

    • Restructured front office. GM Thomas Dimitroff retained final say over draft and free agency, while assistant GM Scott Pioli took on more pro/college scouting and draft responsibilities.
    • Hired Dan Quinn as head coach to replace Mike Smith.
    • Hired Kyle Shanahan as offensive coordinator to replace Dirk Koetter.
    • Hired Richard Smith as defensive coordinator to replace Mike Nolan.
    • Signed 11 players to reserve/futures contracts.
    • Signed 19 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

    The hiring of Dan Quinn as Falcons head coach was the worst kept secret in football for what felt like forever. After the Super Bowl, however, the Seahawks defensive coordinator finally was able to put pen to paper with Atlanta. A former defensive line coach, Quinn has led the league’s top defense in Seattle in each of the last two seasons as the club’s defensive coordinator. While his stint with the Seahawks had an unfortunate ending, Quinn was regarded as one of the leading head coaching candidates of the offseason. He is a highly touted defensive mind, but Quinn also had a pool of talent available to him in Seattle. It’ll be interesting to see if he has enough to work with in Atlanta after the moves made this offseason.

    Prior to the hiring of Quinn, the Falcons announced a restructuring of the player personnel department with changes affecting general manager Thomas Dimitroff and assistant GM Scott Pioli. Pioli has taken on pro and college scouting and NFL draft responsibilities, reporting to Dimitroff. Dimitroff also “retain[ed] management responsibility for salary cap, player affairs, equipment, sports medicine and performance, and video activities.” Each exec now reports separately to owner Arthur Blank.

    Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

    1. Matt Ryan, QB: $19,500,000
    2. Julio Jones, WR: $10,176,000
    3. Roddy White, WR: $5,556,250
    4. William Moore, S: $5,368,750
    5. Paul Soliai, DT: $4,400,000
    6. Jon Asamoah, G: $4,268,750
    7. Justin Blalock, G: $4,120,000 (dead money)
    8. Joe Hawley, C: $4,000,000
    9. Tyson Jackson, DT: $3,850,000
    10. Jake Matthews, LT: $3,733,977

    The Falcons didn’t make the flashiest moves this offseason, but they might have had one of the better offseasons of any team in the NFL. Atlanta undeniably got stronger on the defensive side of the ball and they have the right coach to make that unit as successful as possible. If the Falcons’ offensive line – which was largely neglected this spring – can perform better than last season, there’s no reason to think that they can’t come out on top in the NFC South.

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

    Community Tailgate: T.Y. Hilton’s Value

    August 5th, 2015 at 4:37pm CST by Zachary Links

    We’re still a few weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

    Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

    Today, we’ll be discussing T.Y. Hilton‘s value as he is in contract discussions with the Colts. Hilton, of course, is a very productive player, but he’s not the sort of prototypical No. 1 receiver that guys like Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are. This offseason, Bryant and Thomas signed nearly identical deals with their respective clubs worth $70MM over five seasons. That comes out to an average annual value of $14MM, and Hilton is expected to look for at least that much on a new long-term pact.

    While Hilton probably isn’t on the same level as Bryant and Thomas, there is something to be said for timing. With the salary cap growing each year, Hilton could have a case for a contract on the same level. There’s also something to be said for the Colts taking the “safe” route and locking Hilton up before he could potentially have the best season of his career in 2015, boosting his value even further.

    What kind of a contract do you think the Colts should give to Hilton? Do you think he can match or come close to the deals given to Bryant and Thomas? Let us know in the comment section below!

    AFC Notes: Foster, Hilton, Bills, Raiders

    August 5th, 2015 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

    Texans running back Arian Foster is headed to Philadelphia to get a second opinion on his groin injury, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (Twitter link), and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the second opinion will come on Friday from Dr. William Myers, an expert on sports hernias. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com goes one step further, tweeting that Foster won’t just be in Philadelphia for Myers’ assessment — he’ll also undergo surgery on Friday.

    With Foster expected to miss the start of the regular season, the Texans wanted to sign Pierre Thomas, but the two sides couldn’t agree to terms today after the ex-Saint worked out for Houston. Now that they failed to lock up Thomas, the Texans may not sign a veteran, since they like their young backs and want to get them reps, tweets Rapoport.

    Even if the Texans do continue to explore the free agent market, Ray Rice probably won’t be considered, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, who says owner Bob McNair likely wouldn’t approve such a move. Rice may not be an appealing on-field option anyway — one GM tells Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that his most recent game tape “isn’t get enough to get excited about.”

    Let’s check in on a few more items from around the AFC….

    • Agent Drew Rosenhaus left Indianapolis today, despite the fact that he and the Colts have yet to work out an extension for wideout T.Y. Hilton. However, talks are ongoing, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
    • Appearing on WGR 550 in Buffalo today (Twitter link), GM Doug Whaley admitted that the Bills are in “quarterback purgatory,” since the team doesn’t have a clear long-term answer at the position, and doesn’t expect to pick near the top of the draft within the next couple years.
    • The Raiders have likely made contract with defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, who was released on the weekend by the Seahawks, writes Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group. GM Reggie McKenzie said “there’s a chance” Oakland could bring in the veteran, who has a history with new Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
    • In the wake of reports suggesting they tipped off the Colts about the Patriots deflating footballs, the Ravens issued a strong denial of their involvement today, via a team release.
    • Bills running back Boobie Dixon, who isn’t considered a lock to make the team’s roster, is expected to miss several weeks with a calf injury, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

    49ers Release Chris Cook

    August 5th, 2015 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

    1:06pm: The 49ers have officially released Cook, the team announced today in a press release. the move opens up a spot on the San Francisco roster.

    10:54am: The 49ers have informed veteran cornerback Chris Cook that he is being released by the team, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle first reported (via Twitter) that San Francisco would be cutting Cook.

    A hamstring injury limited Cook to just six games for San Francisco in 2014, his first season with the team. However, the Niners saw enough from Cook in his limited playing time that they re-signed him to a one-year deal in March, and with Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox no longer in the mix for the club, it appeared that the former Viking might take on a larger role.

    Instead, Cook will immediately become a free agent without having to pass through waivers once his release becomes official. The former 34th overall pick signed a deal that included $800K in guaranteed money, so his release comes as a bit of a surprise, since it doesn’t create any real cap savings for the Niners.

    With Tramaine Brock and Shareece Wright projected to be the 49ers’ starters on the outside, and Cook no longer in the picture, Dontae Johnson, Leon McFadden, and Marcus Cromartie are the top candidates to see increased playing time in 2015.

    NFC Notes: Ginn, Kerrigan, Chancellor

    August 5th, 2015 at 12:03pm CST by Luke Adams

    Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. admitted that he was “chasing a check” when he signed with the Cardinals last year, suggesting he took the highest offer he got in free agency for the benefit of his family (link via Tim Durr of the Black and Blue Review). Although Ginn signed a three-year deal with the Cards, his stint in Arizona didn’t last long — he was cut by the team in February.

    Here’s more from across the NFC:

    • ESPN.com’s John Keim and Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examine the specific details on Ryan Kerrigan‘s new contract with Washington, and Fitzgerald also provides a breakdown of the extension in chart form. The deal, which includes a $16MM signing bonus, features cap hits of $6.238MM in 2015 and $8.45MM in 2016 before jumping to $11.7MM+ for the final four years.
    • Since Kam Chancellor‘s holdout from Seahawks camp is now at six days, Seattle is allowed to recoup 15% of the safety’s signing bonus proration for 2015, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. Since Chancellor’s bonus counts for $1MM against the team’s cap this year, Seattle could recoup $150K.
    • Lions GM Martin Mayhew explained that the team’s depth at cornerback led to the trade that sent Mohammed Seisay to the Seahawks, a deal he called “win-win for everybody.” Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has the quotes from Mayhew.
    • Packers defensive end Datone Jones told reporters, including Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that he did not appeal his one-game suspension. Jones was suspended last month after receiving a citation for marijuana possession.
    • Free agent cornerback Josh Victorian, who recently auditioned for the Texans, worked out for the Panthers following Chris Houston‘s retirement, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.

    Zach Links contributed to this post.

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