No Progress Between Bills, Stephon Gilmore
1:59pm: Gilmore would lose one regular-season game check (worth $652K) for every preseason contest missed, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. If he were to hold out all of August, it would cost him over $3MM – roughly $750K in daily camp fines and $2.6MM in preseason game fines (Twitter links).
9:02am: Bills general manager Doug Whaley indicated in February that the team was prioritizing an extension for cornerback Stephon Gilmore, but nearly five months have passed and the two sides aren’t progressing toward a new deal. As a result, Gilmore is a threat to hold out this summer and perhaps into the regular season, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. Gilmore already sat out voluntary OTAs in May, and the 25-year-old said at mandatory minicamp in June that he’d report to training camp “whenever I get there.”
Gilmore would like a contract similar to the five-year, $75MM pact Josh Norman inked with the Redskins in April, per Carucci, who writes that the Bills aren’t ready to approach that type of compensation for their 2012 first-round pick. Norman is currently among the league’s top two cornerbacks in average annual value ($15MM, first), total guarantees ($50MM, first) and guaranteed money at signing ($36.5MM, second), but with the cap rising and prices for corners increasing, those rankings might not last long.
Whether it’s from the Bills or someone else, Gilmore has a case to approach Norman’s deal – especially given that he’s three years younger. And while the ex-South Carolina standout has missed 11 games since 2013, he has nonetheless been a stalwart for Buffalo. The 10th overall selection in his draft class, Gilmore has logged 53 appearances, 51 starts and nine interceptions since entering the NFL. Three of those INTs came last season in 12 games for Gilmore, whom Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked a tremendous ninth among 111 qualifying corners (Norman, by the way, finished 11th).
If the Bills and Gilmore are unable to reach a deal this summer, he’ll play out this season on his $11.082MM fifth-year option. But holding out of camp would put a dent in the bank account of Gilmore, who would lose $40K per day.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sammy Watkins Expected To Return By Camp?
JULY 7: It now appears that Watkins is on track for training camp, as Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News tweets.
JUNE 26: Watkins has backed off his recent prediction that he will miss a maximum of two or three days of training camp, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports (citing a conversation that Watkins had with ESPN’s Vaughn McClure during a charity bowling event yesterday). Watkins told McClure, “Hopefully I’ll be back [for training camp]. If not, then cool. Get ready for the first [regular season] game.” It sounds as if Watkins’ earlier prediction was perhaps more optimistic than realistic.
JUNE 20: After Bills wideout Sammy Watkins suffered a minor foot fracture last month, there were conflicting reports as to exactly how long the third-year pass-catcher would be sidelined. While initial reports suggested that Watkins would be able to return to practice later this summer, head coach Rex Ryan didn’t sound as sure, stating that “the goal” was for Watkins to be available for the regular season. But speaking with Mike Hetherington of TSN.ca, Watkins was clear that he expects to be back in action by the time training camp rolls around.
[RELATED: No extension “imminent” for CB Stephon Gilmore]
“For training camp, I think I’ll definitely be available,” said Watkins. “I might sit out two or three days. It’s all about how I feel within those days. The goal is to come back and be prepared for training camp. Basically we are just taking it slow. Doing the little things now as far as cutting and moving around; the basics. There’s really no timetable. It’s really when I feel healthy, when I am healthy.”
As he continues to recover, Watkins plans to remain in the Buffalo area, maintaining contact with club officials and medial staff for the duration of the summer, according to Chris Brown of the team’s website. Watkins, 23, missed three games with injury in 2015, but still posted an excellent season, hauling in 60 passes for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns.
Despite the injury to Watkins, and the relative lack of receiver depth behind him, Bills general manager Doug Whaley said last month that he doesn’t anticipate signing any free agent pass-catchers for the time being. However, Whaley didn’t rule out inking a veteran such as Anquan Boldin down the road, presumably if the club’s young receivers don’t blossom, or Watkins doesn’t heal as hoped.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC West Notes: Bolts, Raiders, Broncos, Von
Even if the Chargers only need 50 percent – not 66.6 percent – of voters to approve public funding for a new stadium, they still could have a difficult time garnering enough support, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Chargers stadium advisor Fred Maas claims that San Diego residents who don’t live in a hotel “won’t pay a dime” to keep the team there, but Florio is skeptical, pointing out that money coming from a hotel tax could have other public uses instead. Further, those who vote no would be doing so because they don’t want any part of helping subsidize the NFL – a $13 billion-per-year industry – Florio adds.
Here’s more from the AFC West:
- The city of Oakland is taking bids for a new stadium, reports Zennie Abraham (Twitter link via Jason Cole of Bleacher Report). The Raiders – who are angling for Las Vegas relocation – find Oakland’s action odd because the city’s taking bids without having discussed anything with the team, per Abraham.
- Former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning expressed optimism Wednesday about the contract standoff between the club and franchise-tagged linebacker Von Miller, telling TMZ, “I think Von will re-sign, and I do not see that being a problem at all” (link via Joe Nguyen of the Denver Post). With next Friday serving as the deadline for franchise players to sign long-term deals, time is running out on the Broncos and Miller. General manager John Elway and the reigning Super Bowl MVP restarted talks over the weekend, though, so it appears they’re moving in the right direction.
- If the impasse between the Broncos and Miller continues, ESPN’s Ed Werder wonders (via Twitter) if Elway would trade the 27-year-old.
- Speaking of Denver stars who lack long-term security, we found out earlier Thursday that contract negotiations between the Elway-led franchise and wideout Emmanuel Sanders are on hold.
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AFC Notes: Bills, Jets, Texans
On the heels of finishing with the second-fewest sacks (21) in the NFL last season, the Bills spent the 19th overall pick on ex-Clemson edge rusher Shaq Lawson. Unfortunately, Lawson underwent right shoulder surgery after the draft and will be out until October, leaving the Bills without any real pass-rushing upgrades entering the season (plus, Mario Williams is gone). To fill Lawson’s void, the Bills could turn to IK Enemkpali, according to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW. Although the former Jet is known more for breaking quarterback Geno Smith‘s jaw with a punch last summer than anything he has accomplished on the field, Enemkpali impressed head coach Rex Ryan during spring workouts and garnered some first-team reps, per Buscaglia. As a result, the rush-needy Bills could platoon Enempkali and Manny Lawson at linebacker – using the latter on rushing downs – Buscaglia writes.
Notes on a couple other AFC linebackers:
- The Jets are counting on second-year man Lorenzo Mauldin to evolve into a more complete linebacker this season, writes Brian Costello of the New York. The 2015 third-round pick emerged as a pass-rushing threat in racking up four sacks while playing just 24 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps as a rookie. On the negative side, the team has concerns about Mauldin’s abilities in coverage and against the run, according to Costello, who nonetheless adds that the 23-year-old is the favorite to start on the weak side for Gang Green.
- Similarly, the Texans “expect a lot from” sophomore inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney, LBs coach Mike Vrabel told the Houston Chronicle. McKinney, whom the Texans want to use more in pass-rushing and coverage situations, has drawn praise from head coach Bill O’Brien this offseason. “I would say one guy on defense that I haven’t been asked a lot about that I think has really improved during the offseason and was improving at the end of last year is Benardrick McKinney,” said O’Brien. The 43rd pick in last year’s draft, McKinney started in 11 of 14 appearances as a rookie, picked up 63 tackles and a sack, and ranked an outstanding 17th among 97 qualifying linebackers at Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
- In case you missed it, the chances of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady avoiding a four-game suspension this year don’t look good.
Talks On Hold Between Broncos, E. Sanders
The Broncos and contract-year wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders had been negotiating a new accord since at least early June – with the two sides exchanging figures on a deal under three weeks ago – but talks are now on hold, reports Mike Klis of 9News.
As of last month, Sanders expressed a desire to retire a Bronco. The 29-year-old has so far only spent two seasons in Denver, where he has hauled in 177 receptions, 2,500-plus yards and 15 touchdowns in 31 games. In addition to his regular-season prowess, Sanders piled up 16 catches for 230 yards in three games during the Broncos’ run to the Super Bowl last winter.
Sanders originally joined the Broncos on a three-year, $15MM deal after four seasons with the Steelers. It’s fair to say his next contract will be much more valuable. Three of Sanders’ fellow wideouts – the Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin, the Chargers’ Keenan Allen and the Jaguars’ Allen Hurns – signed four-year extensions worth upward of $40MM, including $20MM-plus in guarantees, last month. While Sanders is at least two years older than each of them, he has outproduced the trio and topped them in approximate value since 2014.
General manager John Elway said a month ago that extending Sanders by mid-July would be “ideal,” but it now appears the Broncos could fall short of that goal. Of course, Elway has a higher priority – linebacker Von Miller – whom he must sign by July 15. The team’s franchise player will otherwise be unable to ink an extension until the offseason (and could sit out the season), so there should be more urgency to get a deal done with Miller than Sanders.
For now, Sanders remains on track to play out this season on a $5.6MM salary and hit free agency. However, given the seventh-year man’s stated desire to remain in Denver and the organization’s goal to retain him, odds are the two will work something out. It just might not happen as quickly as planned.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Checking In On The Vikings’ Offensive Line
The Vikings’ 2015 offensive line was, in a word, lackluster. Minnesota gave up 45 sacks, eighth-most in the league, and ranked 29th in adjusted sack rate. The unit was more successful in the run game, earning the No. 10 spot in Football Outsiders’ rankings — but even FO admits that its offensive line metrics are heavily influenced by the quality of the team’s running back, and Adrian Peterson certainly gave his front five a leg up.
[RELATED: Minnesota Vikings depth chart]
But that poor overall performance overlooks the fact that the Vikings had several surprising contributors among their top five lineman. Mike Harris, thrust into a starting role for the first time in his career, played exceptionally well, helping lock down the right side while seeing action at guard after primarily playing tackle in past seasons. Joe Berger, a 34-year-old reserve who had started more than 10 games only once in his career, was even better, grading out as the second-best center in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Neither Harris nor Berger is projected to enter the upcoming season as a starter, however, as Minnesota’s line will undergo a series of changes. Berger is likely to be usurped by John Sullivan, who missed the entire 2015 campaign after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy. Sullivan, 30, was a full-time starter for the Vikings from 2009-14, and was consistently viewed as one of the elite pivots in the league, ranking eighth in approximate value during that period.
Harris, meanwhile, will head back to the bench as Brandon Fusco moves from left to right guard, paving the way for free agent signee Alex Boone to take over on the left side. Fusco wasn’t very effective last year, but he’s been much more productive at right guard during his NFL stint, so perhaps the move back will do him good. Boone, meanwhile, is locked in as a starter after inking a four-year, $26.8MM deal in the offseason.
The Vikings didn’t stop after adding Boone, though, and subsequently signed former Bengals tackle Andre Smith to a one-year pact. Minnesota now ranks first in offensive line spending among all NFL clubs, ahead of other team such as the Raiders, Eagles, and Dolphins. Here’s a look at the top names on the Vikes’ offensive line depth chart, sorted by 2016 cap figure:
So with Boone, Sullivan, and Fusco manning the interior — and fending off competition from Berger and/or Harris — our attention turns to the outside, which is perhaps the most interesting subset of Minnesota’s offensive line. Matt Kalil‘s struggles have been well-documented, and he’s never returned to the heights he exhibited during his rookie season. The Vikings somewhat surprisingly exercised his 2016 fifth-year option, and his $11.096MM base salary for this year is now guaranteed.
At right tackle, Smith, who is protected by a $1MM guarantee, will compete with longtime Viking Phil Loadholt. The 30-year-old Loadholt has been an elite option on the right side when healthy, but he missed the tail of end of the 2014 campaign with a torn pectoral, and was sidelined for the entire 2015 season after tearing his Achilles. As such, many observers — including Ben Goessling of ESPN.com — have given the edge to Smith in this position battle.
Loadholt reworked his contract earlier this year, reducing his base salary to $2MM while not adding any guarantees, in the hopes of “betting on himself.” There’s likely only room for either Loadholt or Smith on the roster, as neither offers much versatility, and given that Smith has that $1MM guarantee in his back pocket, he is likely the favorite. Loadholt and his camp, however, expect him to venture into a strong market if he does enter free agency, a source tells PFR (Twitter link).
The makeup of this offensive line could realistically go any number of ways over the next few months, and how the front five shakes out could have free agent implications. If Berger mounts an attempt to hold onto the starting center position, is it possible Sullivan is released, especially given that he has no guaranteed money remaining and very little in the way of a prorated bonus? Or could the Vikings decide to go with Harris/Berger at right guard and clear out Fusco’s $3MM+ base salary?
We haven’t even discussed how the Vikings’ front five might change after 2016, when much of the offensive line is projected to hit free agency — but that’s a topic for another day. Suffice it to say: a solid player is going to emerge from this group and hit the free agent market at some point before September, and although Loadholt looks like he’ll be the odd man out, other scenarios could certainly come into play.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Underclassmen Combine In The Works?
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said today that he’s working in tandem with the American Football Coaches Association to develop some form of a combine for underclassmen, according to Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk. NCAA juniors don’t currently have a venue in which to work out for NFL scouts, coaches, and front office personnel without first declaring for the draft, and Meyer would like to see an opportunity for underclass players to showcase their skills without losing their eligibility.
“It’s not a process that’s well done right now,” said Meyer at a youth football camp. “There’s a rule that says the NFL can’t look at juniors. Well of course the NFL [scouts] are going to look at a junior. And they should look at a junior.
“We’re going to try to get something where there’s a time those [scouts] can actually come in and they can work out the juniors. Because information is good. [The players] are getting their information somewhere, so why not get it from the experts — the scouts, the general managers, people who have the right information? They’re getting it from agents and they’re getting it from wannabes, and that’s not good information.”
As Jackson notes, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has expressed support for an underclassman combine, and Meyer said he’s spoken with Saban about the issue in the past. But as Chase Goodbread of NFL.com notes, Saban’s proposal would involve pro day-esque events at every college campus, which would only serve to increase the required hours put in by NFL staffs. Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has also suggested allowing undrafted players to return to college, an idea that is fraught with problems, per Goobread.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Cowboys, Tulloch
Just one day after being released by the Lions, linebacker Stephen Tulloch is being linked to other clubs, at least speculatively. One potential destination that would seem to make quite a bit of sense of the surface is the Eagles, as Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com writes. Tulloch played under new Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in Detroit, and the Eagles have a need for depth at the linebacker position, as the unit is pretty thin after starters Mychal Kendricks, Nigel Bradham, and Jordan Hicks. But another NFC East team could also be on Tulloch’s radar, as James Kratch of NJ.com explains that the Cowboys are also on the lookout for linebacking help, especially after news broke that Dallas linebacker Rolando McClain will be serving a 10-game suspension. The Lions reportedly waited until Tulloch could pass a physical before cutting him, and although that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s fully healthy (it usually requires a major injury to fail a physical), interested clubs can take solace in the fact that Tulloch should presumably be ready for training camp.
Here’s more out of the NFC East:
- The Giants haven’t been mentioned as a suitor for Tulloch, but they do have a relatively unsettled situation at linebacker, as Kratch writes in a reader mailbag. Devon Kennard and Jasper Brinkley are expected to start, but Kratch believes that J.T. Thomas — who last spring signed a three-year deal that contained $4.5MM guaranteed — could be a surprise cut. Kelvin Sheppard, whom New York added this offseason on a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract, could also be released, but the Giants are likely to retain reserve ‘backer Mark Herzlich, who is reportedly viewed as a locker room leader. As Roster Resource details, Big Blue also fields Keenan Robinson (who received $1MM guaranteed this offseason), Jonathan Casillas, and rookie B.J. Goodson at linebacker.
- Although they ultimately selected receiver Josh Doctson earlier this year, the Redskins had defensive line and center ranked as higher needs heading into the draft, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Connecting the dots, that means the Redskins may have been interested in players such as Sheldon Rankins and Ryan Kelly, who were chosen 12th and 18th overall, respectively. Washington might have also simply had a higher grade on Docston than any other individual player remaining on its board, even if the club didn’t consider wide receiver to be a high priority position.
- Earlier today, we learned that former Giants first-round pick Kenny Phillips was officially hanging up his cleats. Phillips, 29, spent six seasons in the NFL, and spent time with the Saints and Eagles in addition to New York.
Extra Points: Megatron, NFLPA, Patriots, Raiders
Had the Lions resided in better position within the NFC hierarchy, Calvin Johnson would have been more likely to consider returning. In an admission not unlike the circumstances surrounding Barry Sanders‘ 1999 retirement, Megatron told ESPN’s Michael Smith the Lions’ poor 2015 season and current status didn’t make leaving the game as difficult as it would have if they built on their 2014 playoff season.
“If we would’ve been a contender, it would have been harder to let go,” the former three-time All-Pro wide receiver told Smith during an E:60 profile that also delves into the injury issues that led to Johnson stepping away at age 30.
Johnson still amassed 1,214 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns last year but had to deal with ankle injuries the past two seasons. The potential Hall of Fame wideout also told Smith he’s had “a few” concussions.
The Lions made two playoff berths during Johnson’s nine years, losing in the first round of the 2011 and ’14 NFC brackets. Detroit went 7-9 in ’15, but its 1-7 start effectively dashed any playoff hopes. Johnson retired in March but said in June that while he has no plans to return, such a re-emergence would be with the Lions.
Here’s the latest from around the league.
- In light of the NBA’s dramatic cap rise generating critiques of the NFLPA’s job during the 2011 lockout, NFL Players Association assistant executive director of external affairs George Atallah attempted to clarify some points to Robert Klemko of TheMMQB.com. The union floated the idea of negotiating the removal of the franchise tag but the owners’ concession demands would have been too high for their liking, Klemko writes. “Our system is designed to protect players as much as we can against a short career,” Atallah said. “So things like a higher minimum salary, injury protection, 89% minimum cap spending, post-career benefits that extend into forever. Our system is designed specifically towards the type of employee we have who is at risk of injury. That’s the best argument against comparing us and any sport; we just have a unique employee base.” While it’s difficult to reconcile Mike Conley making more than any NFL player at five years and $153MM fully guaranteed, Atallah pointed out the 53-to-15 roster imbalance between the leagues while emphasizing that the latest CBA stood to reward second- and third-tier players — i.e. Malik Jackson or Olivier Vernon — amid the franchise tag’s continued constraints.
- It’s been six weeks since the Tom Brady and the NFLPA appealed the federal court ruling that reinstated the Patriots quarterback’s four-game suspension, and despite the second circuit failing to rule in the three- to six-week span expected, Michael McCann of SI.com anticipates Brady’s ban remaining in place. “The most likely verdict is the second circuit will not grant a re-hearing,” McCann said, via WEEI.com. “The second circuit grants re-hearings at less than 1% of the time. The odds are certainly not good for Brady.”
- Andre Johnson remains interested in continuing his career, posting a video of a recent workout (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). The Colts released Johnson after one season in March, and we’ve heard nothing connecting the soon-to-be 35-year-old receiver to any teams at this point. PFR’s Dallas Robinson rated Johnson among his top-10 offensive free agents still available.
- Although the Raiders ended up with both Khalil Mack and Derek Carr in the 2014 draft, Mark Davis pushed the front office to select Carr with the No. 5 overall pick that became Mack, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recalls. Carr ended up going at No. 36, with Reggie McKenzie and Co.’s decision allowing them to land one of the game’s best players in Mack.