Saints head coach Sean Payton had breakfast with free agent quarterback Johnny Manziel last week, but New Orleans has no plans to sign Manziel, a team source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Indeed, Payton says his meeting with Manziel was focused on getting to know the young signal-caller, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes. In early March, there was word that Manziel was drawing “real” NFL interest, and Manziel says he is sober and focusing on his comeback.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- The Falcons hope to come to an extension agreement with cornerback Desmond Trufant “very soon,” Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff tells Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Earlier this month, a report indicated the Falcons and Trufant were nearing a “lucrative” long-term deal, but no announcement has since been made by the club. Atlanta is also planning to get a contract with running back Devonta Freeman “wrapped up,” per Dimitroff. In January, Freeman was said to be seeking “elite” running back money, but he and his agent have since walked those comments back.
- Veteran guard Chris Chester isn’t in the Falcons‘ plans for 2017, and the team ultimately expects him to retire, according to Marvez. Chester, entering his age-34 season, was the weak link on a solid Atlanta offensive line in 2016. PFR pointed to right guard as an area of need when assessing the Falcons’ offseason strategy, and while the club has only added Hugh Thornton in free agency, they could still address the interior offensive line in the draft.
- Jonathan Stewart‘s extension with the Panthers is for one year, but the new deal affects both his 2017 and 2018 cap charges, as Field Yates of ESPN.com reports. Stewart accepted a slight paycut in 2017 in exchange for an effective guarantee of $3.6MM, while the base values of his next two seasons are $4.25MM and $3.75MM. The veteran running back can also earn up to $750K annually via rushing yards incentives.
- Saints general manager Mickey Loomis considers cornerback and defensive “must” additions this offseason, according to Larry Holder of NOLA.com (Twitter link). So far, New Orleans has addressed those area with bit acquisitions, although the team is considering a big swing as they negotiate with Patriots restricted free agent corner Malcolm Butler.
I really don’t want to be “that guy,” but in the bullet about Loomis’ plans there are a couple of errors.
I normally wouldn’t bother commenting on grammatical or typing errors, but I am having trouble fully understanding what is being said.
After clicking on the link to Twitter, and reading the tweet, I believe you meant to say, “Loomis considers corner back and a [defensive pass rusher]…..”
Then further down, you state, “So far, New Orleans has addressed those [areas] with ‘bit’ acquisitions….” I am not exactly sure what the sentence means. My best guess is that it was originally supposed to say, “So far, New Orleans has [not] addressed those areas with [big] acquisitions…” Like I said, I am just not sure.
Again, I am sorry for being “that guy,” but I just wanted some clarification behind the meaning of that particular bullet paragraph…Thank you in advance..
But acquisitions are small minor transactions with relatively unknown players I think
*Bit