HEADLINES

Month: February 2017

Ravens Trying To Re-Sign Ricky Wagner

February 13th, 2017 at 4:59pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Ravens right tackle Ricky Wagner could be the best soon-to-be free agent bookend in the NFL, but the club is trying to keep him off the open market, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link). While Wagner “rebuffed” the Ravens’ initial offer, the team is motivated to re-up both him and nose tackle Brandon Williams.

Ricky Wagner (featured)

Wagner, whom the Ravens chose in the fifth round of the 2013 draft, is coming off a 14-start season – his third straight campaign with at least that many. Along the way, the 27-year-old ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 18th-best tackle among 78 qualifiers, and he could seek a deal worth around $10MM per annum as a result. That would be a bank-breaking amount for a right tackle, as would the $14.4MM-plus franchise tag, and either route could prove too rich for a Baltimore club which currently only has in the neighborhood of $15MM in spending room.

As for Williams, it has been known since last month that the Ravens are going to make a strong effort to prevent him from hitting free agency March 9. Assistant general manager Eric DeCosta called Williams an “‘A’ player” for the Ravens a couple weeks ago.

Chiefs Making Staff Changes

February 13th, 2017 at 4:32pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

After going with a two-offensive coordinator approach in 2016, the Chiefs will return to a more traditional style next season. The club has announced that Matt Nagy, who co-coordinated with Brad Childress in 2016, will stay on as the sole OC. Childress, meanwhile, will become Kansas City’s assistant head coach.

Brad Childress

Under Nagy and Childress last season, the AFC West-winning Chiefs finished 13th in the NFL in both offensive DVOA and scoring. That was their only year at the helm together, as the Chiefs had promoted the pair last winter to take over for Doug Pederson after he became the Eagles’ head coach.

The 60-year-old Childress is the more established coach than Nagy, 38, and will enter his fifth season with the Chiefs in 2017. Childress potentially could have departed last month to become the Bills’ offensive coordinator, but he took himself out of the running. He’s now in perhaps his most prominent position since he was the head coach of the Vikings, with whom he went 39-35 from 2006-10.

Giants Will Push To Re-Sign JPP

February 13th, 2017 at 4:26pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Giants are parting with wide receiver and Victor Cruz and running back Rashad Jennings, whose releases will save the club $10MM in cap space. New York will attempt to use some of that money to retain its best pending free agent, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports the team will “make a legitimate run” at re-signing JPP before the market opens March 9 (via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com).

Jason Pierre-Paul

At this time a year ago, Pierre-Paul was coming off a season limited to eight games and one sack as he tried to move on from a gruesome July 2015 fireworks accident. Thus, he settled for a one-year pact last offseason to remain a Giant. Now that he has reestablished himself as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, Pierre-Paul is unwilling to take another one-year deal and could target a contract similar to the one teammate Olivier Vernon signed with the Giants last offseason. Then a free agent, Vernon inked a five-year, $85MM deal featuring $52MM in guarantees.

Vernon signed in advance of his age-26 season and had posted four straight 16-game campaigns, whereas Pierre-Paul is a bit older (28) and has missed 12 contests over the past two years. Pierre-Paul played in 12 games before his 2016 ended in December on account of core muscle surgery, though he showed well with seven sacks and three forced fumbles. Pierre-Paul also ranked 13th among Pro Football Focus’ 109 qualified edge defenders and totaled the league’s 15th-most QB hurries (24).

Pierre-Paul has clearly set himself up for a raise, one that could lead the seven-year Giant to a new franchise, though Big Blue has used the franchise tag on him in the past and could do so again. At an estimated $16.955MM, the tag will be worth around $7MM more than Pierre-Paul’s $10MM salary from last season.

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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Giants Will Not Re-Sign Larry Donnell

February 13th, 2017 at 3:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are doing some major house cleaning today. Hours after releasing Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings, the Giants have informed tight end Larry Donnell that he will not be re-signed this offseason, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. "<strong

Donnell earned $1.671MM in 2016 but wound up with just 15 catches for 92 yards and one touchdown. Donnell broke out for the Giants in 2014, but he hasn’t been quite the same since suffering a severe neck injury in November 2015. That ailment was thought to be a potential career ender and its admirable that he was able to return at all. Unfortunately, the Giants don’t envision him getting back to his old form.

Donnell looked like a star in the making in ’14 when he caught 63 passes for 623 yards and six touchdowns. Since then, he has totaled just 44 catches for 315 yards and three scores. Now, at 28, he’s parting ways with the only NFL team he’s ever known.

The Giants still have Will Tye at tight end but they’re also likely to make an addition or two at the position.

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AFC East Notes: Jets, Williams, Clady

February 13th, 2017 at 3:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the AFC East:

  • K’Waun Williams‘ visit to the Jets will take place on Wednesday, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY tweets. The former Cleveland corner will arrive in town on Tuesday night, following his visit to Detroit.
  • The Jets’ anticipated roster purge could start with Ryan Clady, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. Clady, who finished the year on IR with rotator cuff surgery, is due a $1MM roster bonus by Wednesday. With a total cap charge of $10.5MM, it seems likely that he’ll be cut loose. However, it’s also possible that the Jets could renegotiate his deal. Clady didn’t set the world on fire last year, but there aren’t a ton of quality options out there in the draft or on the open market. Cimini estimates that a $6MM salary – in line with what he made last year – could work for both sides. The Jets will still need a backup plan for Clady given his injury history, so Cimini also suggests a new deal for Ben Ijalana.
  • After Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Martellus Bennett, Alan Branch ranks as the Patriots‘ highest priority free agent, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss writes. Branch, 32, was the team’s most consistent defensive tackle by Bill Belichick’s measure in 2016. Reiss estimates that a two-year, $11MM deal (similar to what Vince Wilfork signed in Houston two years ago) could get the job done. Others listed include cornerback Logan Ryan and wide receiver Michael Floyd.

49ers To Hire Robert Saleh As DC

February 13th, 2017 at 2:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Jaguars linebackers coach Robert Saleh is expected to join the 49ers as defensive coordinator, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It was previously reported that Saleh was being considered for a “co-defensive coordinator” role with Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Jerome Henderson, but this job will be Saleh’s alone.

Many thought Saleh would follow former Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley and join the Chargers’ staff, but the 49ers came through with a better offer and title. Saleh, 38, has been in the NFL coaching world since 2006. In addition to his time with the Jaguars, he also has experience with the Titans and Seahawks.

San Francisco previously targeted Bradley for this job and also tried to interview Bears DC Vic Fangio, but they were denied permission by Chicago. Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores was also mentioned as a candidate. Ultimately, Saleh has the gig and he’ll be tasked with turning around the league’s worst defense.

Giants Release RB Rashad Jennings

February 13th, 2017 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

This is shaping up to be a busy day for the Giants. The G-Men are releasing former starting running back Rashad Jennings, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). "<strong

[RELATED: Giants Release Victor Cruz]

Jennings was set to carry a cap charge of $3MM. By releasing him, the Giants will save $2.5MM.

The veteran running back was brought to New York in 2014 with the idea that he would be the team’s workhorse in the backfield. Instead, injuries held him back in two of his three seasons. In 2016, he averaged a paltry 3.3 yards per rush on 181 carries. Jennings made a name for himself in 2013 with the Raiders when he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and scored a career-high six touchdowns. Now on the verge of his 32nd birthday, it’s fair to wonder if he can get back to that level of production.

The Giants are now expected to turn to youngster Paul Perkins to hold down the running back job. As it stands, the Giants also have veteran Shane Vereen on the books for one more year at a roughly $5MM cap charge.

Giants To Release Victor Cruz

February 13th, 2017 at 11:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants informed wide receiver Victor Cruz that he will be released, according to Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record (on Twitter). Cruz would have counted for $9.4MM against the Giants’ cap but his release this afternoon will free up $7.5MM in cap space. Victor Cruz (vertical)

Last year, Cruz accepted a pay cut which took his base salary from $7.9MM to just $1.3MM. This year, some expected the two sides to work out another pay slash which would allow the salsa dancing wide receiver to stay on board. For one reason or another, that did not come to fruition. For his part, Cruz was vocal about wanting to stay in New York, but he also admits that he’d like to perhaps go elsewhere and return to his roots.

“That’s a good question. Maybe. You never know,” Cruz said earlier this month when asked about the possibility. “I think you’ve just got to take it as it comes, eat the food that’s given to you, and see how it tastes. That’s kind of the term I like to use. But we’ll see. Playing the slot is obviously something that I’m best at, and an opportunity to do that would definitely be great.”

This past season was Cruz’s first full campaign since 2013. In 15 games, he caught 39 of 72 targets for 586 yards and one touchdown. Cruz is still hoping to get back to his 2011-2013 form. In those seasons, he averaged 80 catches for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns. He also earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2012.

Alabama LB Reuben Foster Has Surgery

February 13th, 2017 at 10:50am CST by Zachary Links

Former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster recently had right rotator cuff surgery, a league source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Teams have been informed of the operation. The good news is that Foster is projected to be cleared for action in about four months, which means he should be ready before training camp in July. Unfortunately, however, he’ll be unable to participate in drills during the draft combine (Twitter links). "<strong

Back in January, one scout told Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that Foster has a “perfect grade” on his board. Opinions vary on the Alabama product, but he is widely projected as a first-round pick with many prognosticators saying that he could go inside of the Top 10. Foster, who had five sacks in 2016, is regarded as an exceptionally well-rounded prospect and most see him as the best inside linebacker in this year’s crop.

In other draft news, Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes could reportedly go in the Top 3 and Washington wide receiver John Ross is expected to undergo surgery after the combine. Meanwhile, some are saying that Alabama’s Cam Robinson is no longer the top offensive tackle in this year’s draft.

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