2017 February - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Cruz, Bengals, Eagles

February 13th, 2017 at 10:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Giants are releasing wide receiver Victor Cruz, which will save them $7.5MM in 2017. Theoretically, they could attempt to bring back the 30-year-old at a lower cap charge next season, but there’s “no indication” they have any interest in doing that, writes Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com. Cruz spoke in the past tense about his six-year run with the Giants on Monday, saying: “I did some great things there. There are so many experiences, times and moments that I shared in that building with that team in that jersey. Those can’t be replaced or forgotten. I’m happy I have those moments to look back on.”

Cruz will ceremonially retire as a Giant someday and later end up in their Ring of Honor, opines Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. His next step, though, will be to head to the open market, where he could find a fit with the Panthers, suggests Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. There’s already a connection between Carolina and Cruz: Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman was the Giants’ director of pro personnel when Big Blue signed the wideout as an undrafted free agent in 2011.

The Broncos, meanwhile, got virtually no production last season from receivers not named Demaryius Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders, but they haven’t had any discussions about pursuing Cruz, reports Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter link).

Staff Notes: Pats, Fins, Bolts, Hawks, 49ers

February 13th, 2017 at 8:59pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Alabama Crimson Tide are searching for an offensive coordinator in the wake of Steve Sarkisian‘s departure and will likely interview Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll for the role, reports Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Daboll previously served under Alabama head coach Nick Saban at Michigan State, as Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com notes, and worked as an NFL offensive coordinator in Cleveland, Miami and Kansas City from 2009-12.

More coaching news from around the league:

Former defensive end Andre Carter is joining the Dolphins’ staff as an assistant D-line coach, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Carter, 37, played in the league from 2001-13 and piled up 80.5 sacks.
The Chargers have hired ex-Atlanta defensive coordinator Richard Smith to coach their linebackers, per a team announcement. Smith, who was atop ATL’s defense the past two years, became a coaching free agent when the team fired him last week. The 61-year-old has been working with pro linebackers since 1988, when he was with the now-defunct Houston Oilers, and has since coached LBs in Denver, San Francisco, Detroit and Carolina.
Sherman Smith is out as the Seahawks’ running backs coach, a position he had held since 2009, according to Sporting News’ Alex Marvez. The Seahawks are promoting assistant RBs/assistant special teams coach Chad Morton to Sherman’s former spot (Twitter links).
The 49ers have landed ex-Buccaneers tight ends coach Jon Embree as an assistant head coach/TEs coach, writes Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle. His son, Taylor Embree, is coming aboard as a quality control coach. The younger Embree spent last season as a defensive assistant in Kansas City.
Elsewhere on the 49ers’ staff, the team has interviewed Falcons assistant special teams coach Eric Sutulovich to become its special teams coordinator, per Marvez (Twitter link). Caplan reported last week that the Niners were likely to meet with Sutulovich.
The Redskins have hired Cannon Matthews as a defensive quality control coach, relays JP Finlay of CSN Mid-Atlantic. Matthews served as the assistant defensive backs coach last year with the Browns, who parted with him in January.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/13/17

February 13th, 2017 at 8:28pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Monday’s minor moves:

Practice squad

Atlanta Falcons

OG Blake Muir

Reserve/Futures Deals

Pittsburgh Steelers

DL Lavon Hooks (via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
DL Roy Philon

Lorenzo Alexander To Get $10MM Per Year?

February 13th, 2017 at 7:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

On the heels of a shockingly effective season in which he earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors, journeyman linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is preparing to land a significant raise in free agency, as CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora writes in a piece that’s worth a full read. Alexander could end up with a short-term contract worth $5MM to $10MM per year, his agent, Peter Schaffer, told La Canfora.

The success Alexander had in 2016 with the Bills was completely unexpected, as evidenced by the fact that the longtime special teamer had to settle for a minimum salary benefit deal last April. Alexander went on to find a home in now-former Bills head coach Rex Ryan‘s defense, though, as he notched 76 tackles, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception in his age-33 season. Remarkably, Alexander entered 2016 having combined for nine sacks, four forced fumbles and no picks over the first nine years of his career, which he divided among the Redskins, Cardinals and Raiders.

Since his breakout season in Buffalo concluded, Alexander has stated that the Bills want him back, but he’s noncommittal about where he’ll play in 2017. Alexander, who’s listed at 245 pounds, would like to stay at his 2016 playing weight (235), he told La Canfora, who names a return to the Redskins, a reunion with ex-Washington defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in Cleveland, or a deal with the 49ers as possibilities. Staying close to his native Oakland would be a boon for Alexander, per La Canfora, which could tip the scales in the 49ers’ favor.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Browns Working To Re-Sign Terrelle Pryor

February 13th, 2017 at 7:21pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

While the Browns could use the franchise tag to stop pending free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor from hitting the open market, the team would much rather retain him on a multiyear contract, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. As a result, the Browns are “redoubling efforts” to re-sign Pryor and will meet with agent Drew Rosenhaus this week, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Cleveland and Rosenhaus will have “strong discussions,” a source told Cabot.

As a 27-year-old who possesses size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) and speed, Pryor will be among the most sought-after players available this offseason if he actually reaches free agency. It’s arguable he’s currently among the top two unsigned wideouts in the NFL, joining the Bears’ Alshon Jeffery, after Pryor broke out last season as part of a one-win team. Despite having to work with five quarterbacks, most of whom were mediocre or worse, Pryor (an ex-QB himself) piled up 77 receptions, 1,007 yards and four touchdowns on 140 targets in his first serious action as a receiver.

Notably, both Pryor and the coach who has developed him as a pass catcher, the Browns’ Hue Jackson, have spoken highly of each other over the past year. Pryor has made it known that he’d like to stay under Jackson’s tutelage, though he cautioned in December that “it’s got to come down to what my agents think is right for me.” Those agents might not have as much say as they’d like if the Browns slap the estimated $15.826MM franchise tag on their client between Feb. 15 and March 1. A long-term pact, on the other hand, could net Pryor at least $10MM per year and $28.5MM in guarantees (the same deal the Rams gave Tavon Austin last summer), CBS Sports’ Joel Corry posited in November.

Regardless of whether they tag or re-sign Pryor, the Browns – with a league-high amount of cap space – shouldn’t have difficulty retaining him if that’s their goal. The team has already stopped its top pending defensive free agent, linebacker Jamie Collins, from getting to the market, having awarded him a four-year, $50MM deal in January.

Colin Kaepernick Switching Agents

February 13th, 2017 at 6:47pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has parted ways with XAM Sports, the agency that had represented him since he entered the NFL in 2011, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. It’s currently unknown which agency Kaepernick will tab to replace XAM, but it’s clear someone else will negotiate his next contract if he opts out of his current deal in the coming weeks.

As a client of XAM, Kaepernick inked a six-year, $114MM extension with the 49ers in 2014, when he and the franchise were among the NFL’s upper echelon. Kaepernick’s on-field output has gone downhill in the three seasons since, and the 49ers have cratered over the past two years in the wake of former head coach Jim Harbaugh‘s exit.

The Niners won just two games last season and will try to turn around their fortunes with a rookie general manager, John Lynch, and a first-time head coach, Kyle Shanahan. Those two will have a decision to make at quarterback, where they could target an upgrade over Kaepernick, who is facing a March 2 deadline to opt out of his contract. Lynch spoke glowingly last week of Kaepernick, who reached out to the ex-FOX analyst shortly after San Francisco hired him.

“Colin and I, when I did some 49ers games, I’d say we hit it off,” Lynch said. “I’d say there was a trust there. I think that trust extends, and I was thrilled when he reached out. I’m looking forward to talking with him.

Kaepernick has earned more than $40MM since signing his extension, notes Barrows, who adds that the 29-year-old enlisted the help of Jeff Nalley of Select Sports Group – not XAM – to renegotiate the accord last year. The six-year veteran is now undecided on whether he’ll opt out of the amended contract. The Lynch-led 49ers could essentially make the call for Kaepernick and cut him, which would save the already cap space-rich team $16.9MM in spending room for 2017. However, there’s also the possibility they’ll bring him back on a less expensive pact.

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K’Waun Williams To Meet With Lions, Jets

February 13th, 2017 at 6:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Browns cornerback K’Waun Williams is already making the free agent rounds. As a rare February free agent, he has visits scheduled with the Lions on Monday followed by a meeting with the Jets, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Williams is also on the Saints’ radar, tweets The Advocate’s Joel A. Erickson, though he notes that other teams seem to have more interest in the defender.

Williams, who had ankle surgery in November, was recently given full clearance by Dr. Robert Anderson. In theory, the young cornerback could sign with a team right away and give a club a quality option to consider in the slot.

Last summer, Williams was embroiled in a high-profile spat with the Browns organization. The Browns suspended Williams for “conduct detrimental to the team” when he said that he independently decided that he could not play in the team’s first preseason game because of the ankle condition. Ultimately, Williams had to have an operation to remove painful bone spurs and he is now pushing for the team to reimburse him for his 2016 $600K salary. In between all of this, Williams had an agreement with the Bears that was scuttled by a failed physical.

T.J. Lang Expects To Reach Free Agency

February 13th, 2017 at 6:06pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Packers could be more aggressive than usual in free agency this year, but one of their best players, guard T.J. Lang, might not be among the beneficiaries of their spending. With the market set to open in less than a month, Lang told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday that he “hasn’t heard a word” from the Packers and is preparing to explore his options around the NFL (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).

“If Green Bay calls and we can get something done, that would be awesome,” said Lang. “But if not, I’m sitting a good spot here, too, coming off a pretty solid year and making my first Pro Bowl, which was a great honor. It’s been so long since I was in this position to choose who I want to play for, since college when I picked Eastern Michigan.”

Lang underwent hip surgery after the Packers’ loss to the Falcons in the NFC title game – a contest in which he was carted off the field – but he classifies it as a “pretty common procedure” that shouldn’t hurt his earning power. While injuries did keep the 29-year-old out of three games in 2016, he has otherwise made no fewer than 15 regular-season appearances since 2010. Dating back to 2011, his first year as a No. 1, Lang has started in all 91 of his appearances.

Despite his track record of durability and productivity (he ranked eighth among Pro Football Focus’ 72 qualified guards last season), Lang could go the way of fellow guard and ex-teammate Josh Sitton and leave Green Bay. The Packers surprisingly released Sitton, who’s now with the NFC North rival Bears, prior to Week 1 last year, and they subsequently didn’t engage in extension talks with Lang during the season. Thus, general manager Ted Thompson could be primed to use the club’s $40MM-plus in cap space on other players.

Barring a 180 from the Packers, Lang will reach the market March 9, when he’s slated to join the Bengals’ Kevin Zeitler and the Cowboys’ Ronald Leary atop this year’s class of unsigned guards. PFR’s Zach Links placed Lang just outside the top 10 of all pending free agents in his latest rankings.

Steelers In Talks With Brown, Timmons

February 13th, 2017 at 5:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A report earlier this month stated that the Steelers and wide receiver Antonio Brown had already begun contract extension talks, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports hears that those discussions just began Monday. The Steelers have also opened dialogue with linebacker Lawrence Timmons, La Canfora adds (Twitter link).

Unlike Brown, who has another year on his contract, the Steelers are in imminent danger of losing Timmons. The soon-to-be 31-year-old could depart the organization via free agency as early as next month, but Pittsburgh clearly wants to re-sign the longtime stalwart.

Timmons is fresh off his 10th NFL season, all of which have been spent in Pittsburgh, and continued to fill the stat sheet with 114 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in his sixth straight 16-start season. Timmons, who hasn’t missed a game since 2009, also played 92.9 percent of the Steelers’ defensive snaps, though Pro Football Focus wasn’t impressed with his work. The site placed him just 70th in overall performance among 87 qualified linebackers.

On the other hand, there’s no arguing with Brown’s production. The 28-year-old is arguably the league’s top receiver, having earned his third consecutive first-team All-Pro nod in 2016. Brown has matched or exceeded 100 catches, 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns in each of the past four seasons, and he could become the league’s highest-paid wideout as a result. He’s due to make $4.71MM salary and count $13.618MM against the Steelers’ cap in the final year of his contract in 2017, but there’s optimism he and the club will hammer out a new deal before training camp. Unsurprisingly, then, Pittsburgh has told rival teams that it’s not making Brown available via trade.

Aldon Smith Under Police Investigation

February 13th, 2017 at 5:07pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Troubled Raiders pass rusher Aldon Smith is under “active” police investigation for an alleged domestic violence incident that took place over the weekend, according to TMZ. Police responded to a phone call placed from a San Francisco home early Saturday morning and took a report after speaking to Smith and the alleged victim. Smith was not arrested.

If anything comes of the police investigation, it could be a death blow to Smith’s NFL career. The 27-year-old has already accrued five arrests since entering the NFL as the 49ers’ first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in 2011. He’s also amid his second suspension, one that cost him a significant portion of the 2015 season and the entire 2016 campaign. Smith’s latest ban came after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and he’s currently on track to gain reinstatement in March. But another serious off-field slip-up before then – which this could be – would surely prevent the league from allowing him to return.

While Smith is under Raiders control through next season, team owner Mark Davis has taken a strong stand against domestic violence, as Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News notes (Twitter link). As evidenced in the cases of Ray Rice, Greg Hardy and Josh Brown, all of whom were in the news for domestic violence incidents in recent years, it’s difficult to find work in the league these days with such a black mark on your resume. Like Hardy, Smith has been especially productive on the field. In 59 career regular-season games, Smith has amassed 47.5 sacks and five forced fumbles, though his immense talent has largely gone to waste over the past couple years.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.