HEADLINES

Month: August 2015

West Notes: Von, Chancellor, McDaniel, Hawks

August 2nd, 2015 at 2:56pm CST by Rory Parks

After getting drug tested multiple times a week for two years, Broncos LB Von Miller has been released from the league’s substance abuse program, according to Mike Klis of 9News.com. The news comes at a great time for Miller, who is in the final year of his contract and who now has a long track record of clean drug tests to present to teams interested in his services.

Let’s take a look at some more from the West divisions, including notes from Seattle:

  • Now that the Seahawks have extended both Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, head coach Pete Carroll says the club can turn its attention to bringing safety Kam Chancellor back in the fold (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). Chancellor, set to earn $4.55MM in 2015, is holding out while aiming for a new contract.
  • Former NFL receiver Tim Brown told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that Seattle’s decision to release Tony McDaniel in order to fit in Wilson and Wagner’s contracts could lead to a locker room problem. While that may be true, I find it hard to believe that Seahawks players wouldn’t accept the club making the moves necessary to keep two of its stars.
  • McDaniel might not be gone for long, as Carroll tells Condotta (via Twitter) that the Seahawks would like to re-sign the veteran defensive tackle, obviously at a lower salary.
  • NFL agent Brett Tessler tweets that the Seahawks are bringing in Gabe Miller for a workout tomorrow. Miller played outside linebacker for Washington last season, but he will try out for Seattle as a tight end.
  • The Broncos will bring in former Kansas receiver Nigel King for an audition today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). King went undrafted earlier this year.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Week In Review: 7/26/15 – 8/2/15

August 2nd, 2015 at 2:26pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Extensions:

  • The Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson agreed to a four-year, $87.6MM extension. The deal, which keeps Wilson under contract through 2019, includes $31.7MM in full guarantees.
  • The Seahawks also extended linebacker Bobby Wagner, inking him to a four-year deal that will keep him in Seattle through 2019. The pact is worth $43MM in total, and contains $22MM in guarantees.
  • Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan signed a five-year extension with Washington that is worth $57.5MM.
  • The Vikings inked kicker Blair Walsh to a four-year deal, agreeing to a pact that will pay him $14MM through 2019.

Suspension News:

  • The NFL upheld Patriots quarterback Tom Brady‘s four-game suspension, arguing that Brady destroyed his cell phone, which may have contained evidence that he was complicit in the DeflateGate scandal. Brady will challenge the decision in federal court.
  • The league reduced Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell‘s suspension from three games to two.

Signed/Re-Signed:

Released/Waived:

Trades:

  • Seahawks – acquired CB Mohammed Seisay from the Lions in exchange for a 2016 sixth-round pick (link)
  • Steelers – acquired CB Brandon Boykin from the Eagles in exchange for a conditional 2016 fifth-round pick (link)
    • Pick will increase to a fourth-rounder if Boykin plays 60% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps.

Suspended:

Holdouts:

Retired:

Seahawks Acquire Mohammed Seisay

August 2nd, 2015 at 1:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks have added a bit of depth in the secondary today, as they’ve acquired cornerback Mohammed Seisay from the Lions, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Seattle will surrender a 2016 sixth-round pick, according to Rob Rang of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).

Undrafted out of Nebraska in 2014, Seisay latched on with Detroit following the draft and went on to appear in 13 games. The 25-year-old played mostly on special teams, as he logged just 17 snaps on defense. Seisay is earning the minimum salary, so this trade wasn’t financially motivated — rather, it was intended to clear out the Lions’ logjam at cornerback, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

For the Seahawks, Seisay will give the club another option at corner, where Jeremy Lane is rehabbing from both knee and arm surgery, while Tharold Simon is recovering from a shoulder operation. Interestingly, Seattle made a similar trade last summer, sending a late-round pick to the Colts for CB Marcus Burley, who went on to see more than 300 snaps. Seisay will now compete with Burely (and others) for time behind Richard Sherman and Cary Williams.

Seattle released defensive tackle Tony McDaniel this morning, so Seisay will presumably take the veteran’s spot on the club’s roster.

Seahawks Release Tony McDaniel

August 2nd, 2015 at 1:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In need of cap space following the extensions of both quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, the Seahawks have released veteran defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Seattle has since confirmed the move.

McDaniel, 30, was scheduled to earn a $2.5MM base salary in 2015 — combined with his prorated roster bonus and workout bonus, he would have counted $3.625MM against Seattle’s cap. By cutting him now, the club will clear out that total except for his roster bonus, saving $3MM in the process.

Since joining the Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, McDaniel has been a full-time starter in the middle of the team’s defensive line, starting 29 contests during that stretch. He played on 413 snaps last year, posting 17 tackles, but didn’t grade too well according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked McDaniel as a bottom-10 defensive tackle.

McDaniel, who has also spent time with the Jaguars and Dolphins, is a vested veteran, so he won’t need to pass through waivers, and he’s available to sign with any club immediately.

East Notes: Cowboys, Kelly, Mathis

August 2nd, 2015 at 12:37pm CST by Rory Parks

Jeremy Mincey is expected to end his holdout pending a meeting with Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones and head coach Jason Garrett today, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). Per Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News, Mincey arrived in Oxnard on Saturday night and will discuss a new two-year deal with the club. If the two sides strike a deal, Mincey can join his teammates later today for the fourth day of training camp practices.

Now let’s take a look at some more links from the league’s east divisions:

  • The Cowboys will be on the lookout for more linebacker depth, as Justin Jackson tore his ACL in a special teams walkthrough (Twitter link to ESPN’s Todd Archer).
  • Brandon Boykin, who was dealt from the Eagles to the Steelers last night, is the latest to take a racially-related jab at Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. Per Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, Boykin said Kelly is “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture…He can’t relate and that makes him uncomfortable. Players excel when you let them naturally be who they are, and in my experience that hasn’t been important to him, but you guys have heard this before me.” Former Eagles LeSean McCoy and Tra Thomas have made similar comments about Kelly in the past, and although there is plenty of evidence to suggest that sentiments like those expressed by Boykin are a bit misguided, it will be interesting to see what, if any, impact this will have on Kelly’s control of his locker room.
  • Mychal Kendricks, who was rumored to be on the trading block, will likely remain with the Eagles as an insurance policy for DeMeco Ryans, according to Andy Schwartz of CSNPhilly.com.
  • Citing GM Jerry Reese, Ralph Vacchiano of The New York Daily News tweets that Giants left tackle Will Beatty will return at some point this season, and the team has not closed the door on free agent tackle Jake Long.
  • The Jets, who have a hole at right guard, have spoken with free agent Evan Mathis, per Justin Tasch of The New York Daily News. However, Mathis’ asking price appears to be out of New York’s range at the moment.
  • We learned several days ago that Jets rookie wideout Devin Smith suffered broken ribs in Friday’s practice, and Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Smith also has a partially punctured lung. Smith will be sidelined for four to six weeks.
  • Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets that Bills head coach Rex Ryan has declared Richie Incognito the team’s starting left guard and Cordy Glenn the team’s starting left tackle.

Seahawks Extend Bobby Wagner

August 2nd, 2015 at 12:12pm CST by Luke Adams

SUNDAY, 12:12pm: The deal is done, per the Seahawks’ official website.

SUNDAY, 9:33am: Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times writes that Wagner will receive $22MM in guaranteed money. Former NFL agent Joel Corry tweets that Wagner’s 2016 and 2017 salary guarantees will be for injury only at first, and then become fully guaranteed on the fifth day after the waiver period starts. Corry also notes (via Twitter) that, if Wagner’s signing bonus is based on the same formula the team used when crafting new deals for Thomas and Sherman, about $6-8MM of his guaranteed money will be in the form of a signing bonus. Both Condotta and Corry note that the club had just under $4MM of salary cap room after the Wilson extension, so it will be interesting to see how Wagner’s deal will be structured.

Rand Getlin of the NFL Network points out (via Twitter) that the $10.75MM average annual value of Wagner’s deal “blows the top off” of the inside linebacker market, making Wagner the highest-paid inside linebacker in league history (of course, the inevitable extension for Carolina’s Luke Kuechly will probably change that).

SATURDAY, 11:54pm: Wagner’s four-year extension will be worth $43MM, making him the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL, tweets Garafolo. It appears that, like Wilson’s deal, Wagner’s extension will be tacked onto his 2015 season, keeping him under contract through 2019.

SATURDAY, 11:34pm: A day after Russell Wilson agreed to a four-year extension with the Seahawks, Seattle has locked up another one of its key players. According to former Seahawk Michael Robinson (via Twitter), linebacker Bobby Wagner has agreed to a new contract with the team. A source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link) that Wagner is expected to officially sign his new deal tonight."<strong

Despite missing five games in 2014 with turf toe, Wagner racked up an impressive 135 regular season tackles and was named an All-Pro linebacker, in addition to earning a Pro Bowl nod. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Wagner fifth out of 60 qualified inside linebackers, grading him as an above-average contributor in pass coverage, as a pass rusher, and especially against the run.

We heard last month that Wagner and the Seahawks were making progress on an extension, and despite the fact that the linebacker ominously tweeted “Can’t keep everyone” yesterday following the Wilson news, head coach Pete Carroll strongly hinted the club would lock up Wagner as well.

It will be interesting to see the years and dollars on Wagner’s extension. An April report suggested the 25-year-old could command a deal north of $8MM per year, but that estimate rose to around $10MM by June. Currently, the largest inside linebacker contract in the NFL belongs to Lawrence Timmons of the Steelers, who is averaging nearly $9.6MM annually. Wagner’s contract figures to be in the same ballpark as Timmons’ deal, perhaps even exceeding it, but the Seahawks probably did well to secure their own standout linebacker before the Panthers extended Luke Kuechly — the Carolina star is expected to set a new standard for inside linebackers when he eventually signs an extension.

Wagner’s deal will add another sizable average annual salary to Seattle’s books. Although the linebacker was probably right when he observed that the Seahawks can’t keep everyone, they certainly seem to be trying. In addition to Wilson and presumably Wagner, Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Cliff Avril, and K.J. Wright are under contract through the 2017 season on contracts worth at least $6MM annually — and some are worth significantly more than that.

The Seahawks’ latest extensions leave the team with fewer contract situations to address, but there are still some notable players who will be seeking extensions or restructures. Bennett and Chancellor are both unhappy with their current deals, and the safety is holding out from training camp as he angles for a new contract. Meanwhile, left tackle Russell Okung and linebacker Bruce Irvin will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Steelers Acquire Brandon Boykin From Eagles

August 2nd, 2015 at 10:49am CST by Luke Adams

SUNDAY, 10:49am: Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the conditional fifth-round pick will become a fourth-rounder if Boykin plays 60% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps.

McLane’s colleague at the Inquirer, Zach Berman, tweets that the Eagles also received a trade offer for Nolan Carroll, but the team viewed Boykin as more expendable.

SATURDAY, 7:02pm: The Eagles have sent cornerback Brandon Boykin to Pittsburgh, trading him for a conditional 2016 fifth-round pick, the Steelers announced today (Twitter link). According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), that pick could become a fourth-rounder, depending on how much Boykin plays this season.

Boykin, who turned 25 on Thursday, had played in all 48 of the Eagles’ regular-season games since Philadelphia selected him in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. However, he only started six of those games, and said a couple months ago that he would welcome the opportunity to start outside, suggesting that the chance to compete for a starting job would be a priority when he reaches free agency.

It’s not clear yet whether Boykin will get the chance to start in Pittsburgh — William Gay figures to be the team’s top cornerback, but Cortez Allen struggled last year after signing a long-term extension. Still, I expect both players will see the field more often than Boykin. Antwon Blake and rookie Senquez Golson will also be in the mix for the Steelers, though Golson is still recovering from a shoulder injury.

From the Eagles’ perspective, Boykin had been a player the team considered moving for months, according to multiple reports. The signing of Byron Maxwell in March ensured Boykin would continue to play a complementary role in Philadelphia, and after the club added three more corners in the draft, he became even more expendable.

The Eagles did well do get a pick as high as a fourth-rounder for Boykin, since he wasn’t expected to be a major contributor in 2015 and is entering the final year of his contract. Tthe Georgia product will count for $1.542MM against the Steelers’ cap this year before becoming eligible for free agency in the winter.

Fallout From Bobby Wagner Extension

August 2nd, 2015 at 10:40am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a look at how Bobby Wagner‘s new four-year, $43MM deal impacts his club and several other teams with linebackers anticipating a new contract.

Seahawks

  • ESPN’s Andrew Brandt tweets that the Seahawks structured Russell Wilson‘s extension to give them maximum salary cap room for this season, thereby allowing them to sign Wagner to a long-term contract. As such, the team will probably need Wilson to restructure his deal a couple years from now.
  • Wagner made some waves on Friday when he tweeted “Can’t keep everyone.” As former NFL agent Joel Corry tweets, that message may end up applying to Seattle left tackle Russell Okung, whose contract expires at the end of this year. Bruce Irvin, who is also eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of 2015, may also be playing his last year in a Seahawks uniform.
  • The Wagner extension has inevitably called attention to the contract situations of Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett, who are both unhappy with their current deals (Chancellor, of course, has decided to hold out of training camp). Corry tweets that, if the Seahawks address Chancellor’s contract, it would “create an issue” with Bennett. Chancellor does have three years left on his contract, so should the Seahawks rework his deal in any way, Corry tweets that Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas will both expect the same treatment in 2016.
  • Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times believes the Seahawks will likely want to keep guard J.R. Sweezy, who is playing in the last year of his contract, but it is too early to say how the team will approach impending free agent punter Jon Ryan (Twitter links).

Buccaneers

  • Rand Getlin of the NFL Network tweets that the Wagner deal was “always going to inform the Lavonte David deal,” a sentiment shared by several other prominent scribes. Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, though, is not so sure. Fitzgerald points out (via Twitter) that David and Wagner play completely different positions and that David, as a non-pass rushing outside linebacker, is likely to land around $3MM less per season than Wagner.
  • In any event, Getlin tweets that David and the Bucs will continue to talk over the coming days, and both sides are reportedly motivated to strike a deal.
  • Corry tweets that Tampa Bay prefers contracts longer than four years when it comes to extending its best players, so that may be what the team is aiming for with David.

Lions

  • DeAndre Levy, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of this season, saw Wagner’s deal and hopes to remain with the Lions, but he said he will leave all contract talk to his agent (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press).

AFC Notes: Miller, Rivers, Dareus, Jets

August 1st, 2015 at 9:35pm CST by Luke Adams

Two years ago, Broncos pass rusher Von Miller was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse program, and missed nearly half the 2013 season. However, last season, he played all 16 of Denver’s regular season contests, and a source tells Mike Klis of 9NEWS that after not testing positive for two years, Miller is no longer in the league’s drug program.

Typically, multiple positive tests result in harsher and harsher penalties for players, as we’ve with someone like Josh Gordon. But a positive test for Miller at this point wouldn’t result in significant discipline, since his status has been reset, writes Klis. It’s an extremely positive development for Miller as he enters a contract year, since the Broncos will have less reason to be concerned about him missing games in the future, making the team more likely to offer him a lucrative extension.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers confirmed today that there are no new developments on the contract extension front, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. According to Rivers, the two sides will likely shelve negotiations until 2016 if they don’t reach an agreement within the next 10 or 12 days.
  • According to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News, Marcell Dareus seems encouraged by the progress that has been made in contract discussions between him and the Bills, joking that he owes a thank-you to Ndamukong Suh for resetting the market this offseason.
  • Jets GM Mike Maccagnan expressed support for Sheldon Richardson following his recent arrest, indicating that he and the Jets will devote resources to helping the standout defensive lineman, as Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com outlines. However, Maccagnan was noncommittal on Richardson’s long-term future with the Jets, and acknowledged that there’s “a degree of trust that has been broken.”
  • Chargers defensive end Tenny Palepoi suffered a fractured foot, and will likely be sidelined for two months, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Depending on how Palepoi’s recovery progresses, he could be a candidate for the injured reserve list with the designation to return, though the Chargers may prefer to save that one-time designation for someone else.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/2015

August 1st, 2015 at 8:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

  • Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, who was cut by the Bengals earlier this week to make room for Greg Little, was claimed off waivers by the Dolphins, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Miami waived another wideout, Kai De La Cruz, just three days after signing him in order to clear room on the roster for Hamilton.
  • The Giants created two roster openings today by waiving two players with injury designations. Per Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), tight end Matt LaCosse (hamstring) and defensive end Brad Harrah (quad) were cut.
  • The Vikings have a full roster again after signing wide receiver Ryan Whalen, a former sixth-round pick, tweets Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.
  • The Jets cut fullback J.C. Copeland today after a poor showing in practice, according to Connor Hughes of the Journal Inquirer and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter links).

Earlier updates:

  • A sixth running back is coming to the Eagles, with rookie free agent Kevin Monangai signing with the team, per Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. Monangai starred at Villanova, scoring 29 career touchdowns in four years with the Division I-FCS Wildcats.
  • The Patriots‘ roster stands at 87 players following the cutting of cornerback Justin Green and linebacker D.J. Lynch, reports WEEI’s Mike Petraglia. Green signed with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2013, playing in two games since, with practice squad time in between. Lynch came to the Pats this offseason as a rookie free agent from Bowling Green.
  • The Bills‘ roster now sits at 89 players after the team claimed Terren Jones off waivers from the Titans, ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak reports, on Twitter. An undrafted free agent who signed with the Falcons in 2013, the 6-foot-7, 341-pound Jones becomes the fifth offensive tackle on Buffalo’s roster. He’s spent time with the Titans, Ravens and Washington, playing in one game in two seasons.
  • To clear space for wideout Trent Steelman, the Ravens cut quarterback Jerry Lovelocke, according to CSNBaltimore.com’s Clifton Brown (Twitter link). Levelocke came to the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in May from Prairie View A&M. A former Army quarterback, Steelman will vie for a roster or practice squad spot at wide receiver. Eligible for the 2013 draft and a participant in the Ravens’ rookie minicamp that year, Steelman was released from active duty in Dec. 2014 in order to pursue an NFL career.
  • The Falcons swapped out one offensive lineman for another, in signing Pierce Burton and waiving Harland Gunn, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link). The Vikings originally signed Burton as an undrafted free agent last offseason, while Gunn played in 13 games for Atlanta from 2012-14 after signing there as an undrafted rookie in 2012.
  • Washington signed rookie cornerback Deshazor Everett and released fellow first-year player Dasman McCullum, a linebacker, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (on Twitter). Everett is an undrafted product from Texas A&M and will serve as secondary depth while Bashaud Breeland recovers from a torn MCL.
  • The Cowboys signed Will Smith, a linebacker taken by the team in the seventh round of the 2014 draft before spending his rookie campaign on Dallas’ practice squad, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).
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