This Date In Transactions History: Dolphins Sign Chad Johnson
In the summer of 2012, the Dolphins found themselves less-than-enamored with their options at wide receiver. The Dolphins had just recently traded Brandon Marshall – fresh off of his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season – to the Bears for a pair of third-round picks. Then, in the draft, they did not select a wide receiver until the sixth round.
‘‘You would like to have some players make it easy and distinguish themselves, maybe make the picture a little bit clearer,’’ head coach Joe Philbin said (via The Boston Globe). ‘‘We have to catch the ball more consistently at every position on offense, because it is not quite where it needs to be.’’
After missing out on the first and second wave of free agent wide receivers, the Dolphins placed a call to Drew Rosenhaus to inquire on Chad Ochocinco (née Chad Johnson). On June 11, 2012, the Dolphins inked the eccentric veteran to a one-year deal.
Ochocinco’s career credentials were as impressive as his touchdown celebrations were inventive. To that point, he had 766 catches for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns, six Pro Bowl nods, and two First-Team All-Pro selections.
However, the receiver’s best days were spent with the Bengals and he looked like a shell of his former self with the Patriots in the 2011 season. In his lone campaign with New England, Johnson had just 15 catches for 276 yards and one touchdown and was targeted just 32 times in total. Johnson clearly didn’t mesh with the Patriots’ offense and he didn’t impress in his two intra-divisional games against the Dolphins either. Against Miami, he had just one catch in each of those two games.
Ochocinco – who changed his name back to Johnson shortly after signing with Miami – didn’t mesh with Philbin and the rest of the staff. The melding of personalities turned out to be the least of his issues. In August, Johnson was arrested on domestic battery charges. Johnson proclaimed his innocence, but the Dolphins released him the very next day. Thanks to “Hard Knocks,” we have video of Philbin’s final conversation with Johnson.
Johnson’s deal with the Dolphins up being his final NFL contract. Johnson went on to play for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes in 2014 and was suspended for the 2015 season when he skipped mandatory practices. He re-emerged in 2017 to play in a single game for the Monterrey Fundidores of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional de México, where he scored on a 41-yard touchdown reception in the Fundidores’ winning effort.
Extra Points: AAF, Dolphins, Ray, Broncos
The Alliance of American Football is set to debut this winter. While the league is expected to provide an alternative for NFL fans, founder Charlie Ebersol said they aren’t intending to put their counterpart out of business.
“It’s a positive relationship,” Ebersol told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. “One of the reasons that we made the contract the way we do for the players where they have an out to go to back to the NFL is because we recognize the fact just like the MLS recognizes the fact that the Premier League is ultimately gonna pay players more and put them on a bigger stage than the MLS will. They support that. We support the same concepts. I think that it’s a foolish to try to pick a fight with a $150 billion business when you’re starting up and when you’re also not competing. I mean none of my content touches any of their content. Ultimately, it’s a complementary, positive relationship.”
Ebersol touched on several additional points during the interview, including the ability for players to switch to the NFL should they receive an offer.
Let’s take a look at some other notes from around the NFL…
- Dolphins second-round tight end Mike Gesicki has yet to impress during the media portions of practices. While the Penn State product clearly has some work to do, it sounds like Miami’s coaching staff is optimistic about the prospect’s future in the NFL. “Mike is a little bit unique,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains told Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. “[Durham Smythe] is a ‘Y’ and Mike G is more of a … We’ve got to find out exactly what he can and can’t do and what he can and can’t handle early. As the season goes and the offseason goes and training camp, his package will expand and his routes will expand as we found out what he can and can’t do.” To start the season, Gesicki is expected to backup A.J. Derby.
- Beasley writes that filling Ndamukong Suh‘s role is easier said than done. However, several Dolphins players could be ready for the challenge, and the writer specifically points to 2017 third-rounder Vincent Taylor. “It’s hard losing a guy like Suh just knowing what he’s capable of doing; but at the end of the day, it’s a business decision,” Taylor said. “I know all of the things when I was coming in, what he taught me, so I learned some of the things that he taught me.”
- The Broncos declined to pick up Shane Ray‘s fifth-year option. As a result, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post believes the injured linebacker should take as long as he needs to recover from wrist surgery. The writer explains that returning early and re-aggravating the injury could hurt Ray’s market value. However, if the linebacker is productive and healthy in a lesser playing sample, he still might be able to secure a lucrative contract. The 2015 first-rounder had a disappointing season in 2017, compiling only 16 tackles and one sack in eight games (seven starts).
- O’Halloran also observes that Broncos tight end Jake Butt has been an offensive standout during practices. “It’s our responsibility as tight ends and slot (receivers) to win one-on-one match-ups on the inside,” he said. “We’ve got to make plays when our number is called to take a little bit of pressure off those guys (Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders) on the outside.” Butt could end up with the starting gig in Denver, but he’ll have to compete with a grouping that includes Jeff Heuerman and Troy Fumagalli.
NFC Notes: Vikings, Cardinals, Thomas
The Vikings roster is quickly getting expensive. As Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com points out, six players have salary-cap numbers that exceed $10MM for next season: quarterback Kirk Cousins, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, linebacker Anthony Barr, defensive end Everson Griffen, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, and safety Harrison Smith. The team is also paying more than $8MM to defensive tackle defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Sheldon Richardson, and they still have to extend wideout Stefon Diggs and defensive end Danielle Hunter.
With money quickly running thin (the Vikings currently have $17MM in cap space, and Tomasson believes part of that will be used for extensions), general manager Rick Spielman acknowledged that it’s difficult managing the team’s budget.
“The hardest thing right now is the economic structure on our team where we have all these high-priced guys now because they all deserve to get paid the way they’ve been playing,’’ Spielman said. “But economically, we’re not going to go out there, you can’t play fantasy football and have $3 (million), $4 (million) or $5 million backup guys. Those are going to be the young guys that we’ve drafted or we’ve developed.’’
Of course, as he should, Spielman has an optimistic view of the cap crunch.
“It’s a good problem to have, but we have a very high-priced roster right now,’’ Spielman said. “And eventually some of those guys are going to get aged out, just like we had some of our other Pro Bowlers … and you have to replace them.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…
- There are a number of receivers who could realistically slide in behind Larry Fitzgerald on the Cardinals‘ depth chart, but even head coach Steve Wilks doesn’t have clarity on the situation. “It’s hard to say right now who will be that number two,” Wilks told Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “We’re still working, and those guys understand and know — we talk about it all the time — the best 11 are going to play. We create competition.” Roster Resource currently has JJ Nelson, Christian Kirk, Brice Butler, Chad Williams, and Cobi Hamilton rounding out Arizona’s top-six.
- Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times believes Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas is seeking a deal that would exceed Eric Berry‘s $13MM average annual salary. At the very last, the writer could see the veteran striving for the $12MM average annual salary that teammate Kam Chancellor earned from his extension. Earlier today, we learned that the safety was going to continue his holdout and would miss mandatory minicamp.
- Yesterday, the Rams continued a yearly tradition of signing all of their draft picks on one day.
RB C.J. Prosise Fighting For Roster Spot
One look at the Seahawks depth chart would lead anyone to infer that running back C.J. Prosise is on the roster bubble. However, it makes it a whole lot easier when the head coach comes out and says it.
Talking to reports this week, Pete Carroll said the former Seattle draft pick is fighting for a spot on the team.
“C.J. has really jumped out, too,” Carroll said (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). “He’s looked good now. He knows he’s battling (for a roster spot).’’
Prosise, a third-round pick back in 2016, is battling a number of running backs for a backup gig. First-rounder Rashaad Penny is expected to earn the starting gig, but any of Prosise, Chris Carson, J.D. McKissic, and Mike Davis could make the team. For what it’s worth, Roster Resource currently lists Prosise fourth on the depth chart.
There was once hope that the 24-year-old would be Seattle’s long-term replacement for Marshawn Lynch. Unfortunately, the young running back has battled injuries during his brief career. Both his 2016 and 2017 seasons ending prematurely due to a fractured scapula and an ankle injury, respectively. In 11 career games (two starts), Prosise has compiled 195 rushing yards (4.8-yards per carry) and one score. He’s added another 23 receptions for 295 yards.
Free Agent RB Chris Johnson Facing Battery Charge
Running back Chris Johnson isn’t ready to call it a career, but it doesn’t sound like he’s doing himself any favors. WFTS in Tampa Bay (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com) reports that the free agent is facing a misdemeanor battery charge in Florida.
The charge stems from allegations that Johnson assaulted a valet driver in Tampa, causing the victim to suffer a cut lip and bloody nose. Surveillance cameras reportedly captured the confrontation, and after the club’s owner identified Johnson, the victim separately picked him out of a lineup. Through his lawyer, the veteran entered a plea of not guilty earlier this week.
We heard back in March that the 32-year-old wasn’t ready to retire, with Johnson stating that he wanted to “give it another go.” Johnson didn’t have many suitors last offseason, and he ended up catching on with the Cardinals on a one-year deal. Arizona cut the veteran one month into the season, and the running back didn’t attract any reported interest after that.
In those four games (three starts), Johnson compiled 114 rushing yards on 45 carries. He added another five receptions for 43 yards. The former first-rounder last looked solid during the 2015 campaign, compiling 814 rushing yards and three scores. When Johnson suffered a suffered a fractured tibia in Week 12 of that season, the door opened for David Johnson, who has since emerged as one of the league’s top young rushers.
Falcons Work Out Punter Austin Rehkow
The Falcons could be hunting for some depth or competition at the kicker and punter position. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that the team auditioned special teamer Austin Rehkow earlier this week.
The 23-year-old was a standout during his tenure at Idaho, serving as the team’s punter and kicker. He was a three-time First-Team All-Sun Belt Punter, and he also earned a pair of Second-Team All-Sun Belt Kicker recognitions, as well. Scouts ultimately surmised that Rehkow lacked the leg power to be a full-time kicker, although they believed his precision could make him a competent punter.
Despite the optimism, the special teamer went undrafted during the 2017 draft. He caught on with the Bills as a kicker, but he was released after he lost the gig to Steven Hauschka. He later signed a future/reserve contract with the Giants, but he was let go back in May.
Matt Bryant is locked in as the Falcons starter, and he recently signed a three-year extension with the organization. However, he is 43 years old, and the organization could be doing their due diligence when it comes to eventual replacements. Meanwhile, Matt Bosher has been Atlanta’s punter for the past seven seasons. The veteran’s metrics were underwhelming last season, so the Falcons could be considering a competition at the position.
5 Key NFL Stories: 6/3/18 – 6/10/18
Julian Edelman suspended four games. The NFL suspended Edelman for a quarter of the 2018 campaign for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Edelman is appealing the ban, but if the suspension holds, he’ll lose nearly $1MM in combined base salary, roster bonuses, and a signing bonus proration, while his incentive package will also more difficult to attain. Now 32 years old, Edelman missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a torn ACL. If Edelman is out for the season’s first four games, the Patriots will be forced to rely on fellow wideouts Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Jordan Matthews, among others.
Shane Ray needs another wrist surgery. After missing eight games with a wrist issue in 2017, Ray will need to undergo another operation for the same wrist injury. Ray has already had a disappointing offseason, as the Broncos declined his 2019 fifth-year option, meaning he’ll hit free agency next spring. Now, his platform season could be in question, as there is no guarantee Ray will be on the field for Week 1. Ray, who posted eight sacks in 2016, is now expected to be fourth in line for pass-rushing snaps in Denver, behind Von Miller, Shaquil Barrett, and fifth overall selection Bradley Chubb.
Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski attend Patriots minicamp. After an offseason filled with drama, both Brady and Gronk appeared at Gillette Stadium last week. Brady re-affirmed this relationship with New England and head coach Bill Belichick is still in a good place, while Gronkowski was presumably skipping organized team activities in an effort to get a reworked contract. Gronkowski trade rumors surfaced on Twitter last week, but there is reportedly “zero truth” about reports which Gronk labeled “fake news.”
Bears bring back Zach Miller. After suffering a devastating injury in 2017, Miller was told he might lose his left leg. Nine surgeries later, Miller’s leg is safe, but he faces a lengthy uphill battle if he wants to return to the NFL. Chicago re-signed him last week in something of a goodwill gesture: while Miller has already been placed on the physically unable to perform list (meaning he won’t play in 2018), he can collect a salary and benefits as he continues rehab.
Mychal Kendricks finds a new home. After an odd turn in which Kendricks denied that he’d signed with the Browns, Cleveland announced that it had officially signed the former Eagles linebacker. Kendricks’ one-year, $3.5MM deal comes with just $500K guaranteed, so he’s not a lock for the Browns’ squad. That’s especially true given that Cleveland already boasts three starting-caliber linebackers in Jamie Collins, Christian Kirksey, and Joe Schobert.
PFR Originals: 6/3/18 – 6/10/18
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- We covered six notable moves in our This Date In Transactions History series:
- Ryan Posner on Colin Kaepernick‘s six-year, $126MM contract extension with the 49ers, signed well before the now-free agent quarterback began his protests against police brutality.
- Zach Links also covered a 49ers’ extension in the six-year, $42MM extension Joe Staley inked in 2009, a deal which quickly proved to be below-market (San Francisco has since extended Staley again).
- Zach touched on the 2010 trade that sent wide receiver Isaac Bruce from the 49ers back to the Rams, allowing him to retire with his original organization.
- Zach also looked at the six-year extension tight end Rob Gronkowski signed with the Patriots in 2012, a deal which (at the time) made him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.
- Ben Levine examined the five-year extension inked by Chargers defensive tackle Corey Liuget in 2015, noting that the now-suspended interior defender has since seen his salary reduced.
- Andrew Ortenberg went over the rookie contract signed by Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez in 2009, prior to the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement in 2011.
- As of last week, 20% of 2018 NFL draft picks remained unsigned. That figure has dropped a bit since (the Rams signed their entire draft class, for example), but there are still 17 first-rounders without a contract in place.
- In a pair of polls, Andrew asked PFR readers which clubs in the AFC North and AFC West posted the best overall offseasons.
- Zach explained the concept of offset language in NFL contracts.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/10/18
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Josh Woods
NFC Notes: Bradford, Cardinals, Breeland, Rodgers-Cromartie, Giants
Sam Bradford‘s tenure as the Cardinals’ unquestioned starting quarterback didn’t last long. Just a month after signing a one-year $20MM deal with an option for a second year, the Cardinals selected Josh Rosen 10th overall. The move suggested that the Cardinals don’t view Bradford as their longterm answer, and see him more as a bridge quarterback/stopgap option.
If Bradford plays well though, it will be hard for the Cardinals to turn to Rosen and Bradford has certainly shown he’s capable of playing at a high level when he’s able to stay healthy. Bradford’s health may end up being the determining factor for when Rosen sees the field, and Bradford is apparently now beginning to ramp up his on-field work according to Mike Jurecki (Twitter link).
Jurecki reports that Bradford “will be able to participate more in the mandatory minicamp” this week and that as long as Bradford is healthy he thinks he’ll be the week one starter, noting that Bradford’s “accuracy has been impressive during workouts.”
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has made it clear he still wants to play, and told reporters at Landon Collins‘ charity softball game that he “knows where he will sign before training camp”, according to Paul Schwartz of the NY Post (Twitter link). Rodgers-Cromartie said he didn’t want to do OTAs anywhere and told the assembled Giants writers that “Y’all might see me again.” Schwartz added in a follow-up tweet that he thought Rodgers-Cromartie was referring to playing against the Giants this upcoming season, perhaps for a division rival.
- Despite a recent report that the Cardinals wanted to re-evaluate cornerback Bashaud Breeland in a “few weeks”, Jurecki tweets that “as of today, he’s not on the radar” for the Cardinals. Breeland agreed to a three-year, $24MM deal with the Panthers earlier this offseason, but the deal was nullified due to a foot injury Breeland suffered.
- In case you missed it, Odell Beckham Jr.’s ankle may be what is causing the Giants to move slowly on an extension for their star wide receiver.