HEADLINES

Month: September 2019

Buccaneers Restructure Mike Evans’ Deal

September 5th, 2019 at 6:52am CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers converted $2MM of Mike Evans‘ base salary into a bonus, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The move creates $1.6MM in cap room for Tampa Bay, giving them some much needed flexibility. 

Prior to the adjustment, the Bucs were pretty much up against the wall. Obviously, all of the hefty spending took place in the offseason, but the Bucs will now have room to make small pickups and salary acquisitions via trade, should they need reinforcements.

As with most adjustments of this nature, the move will have ramifications on future seasons for the Bucs. It’ll tack $400K on to Evans’ cap hits for each remaining season on his deal, which takes him through the 2023 season.

Evans, 26 in August, also reworked his contract back in June to give the Bucs some extra wiggle room. His five-year, $82.5MM extension has no guaranteed dollars left after the 2020 season, but he should continue to remain in the team’s plans. In 2018, he tallied 86 catches with a career-high 1,524 yards.

Latest On Falcons, Julio Jones

September 4th, 2019 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons and Julio Jones appear to be on the verge of their long-discussed extension agreement, but no deal is done. This is not a situation where the team is waiting to announce it, either, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noting the sides have not finalized a contract.

Arthur Blank confirmed this new agreement will make Jones the league’s highest-paid receiver and considers the possibility of a deal not being finalized by Week 1 (and Jones perhaps missing that game) “remote.” It’s just not known by how much. Michael Thomas signed for $19.25MM per year earlier this summer.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll get something done, so I’m not going to focus on something that I consider a remote possibility,’’ Blank said of Jones missing the game, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “There’s no obstacle, per se. When you’re talking about a contract for that much money over that period of time for a premier, outstanding player, it’s just very complicated. It’s not cut and dry.”

The two-time first-team All-Pro wideout did not hold out from Falcons minicamp or training camp, so it would obviously mark a course change if Jones missed Sunday’s game against the Vikings. A new contract would eliminate any mystery here, and it sounds like there’s a better chance of Jones signing one before then than not.

Jones going into his age-30 season, his ninth in the NFL, makes this deal more complicated than the ones given to younger stars like Thomas or Odell Beckham Jr. the past two summers. But the team has been clear about wanting Julio Jones to follow Grady Jarrett and Deion Jones in Blank’s “Falcons for life” vision. The Falcons freed up $5MM in cap space earlier Wednesday, further setting the table for Jones’ next deal — expected to eclipse the $20MM-AAV barrier.

Patriots Give Demaryius Thomas Raise

September 4th, 2019 at 9:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of a few teams to release a vested veteran over the weekend rather than expose a non-vested player to waivers, the Patriots re-signed Demaryius Thomas in advance of Week 1. The defending Super Bowl champions will give the 10th-year veteran a raise as well.

The Pats increased Thomas’ base salary from $1.2MM to $1.5MM, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. While this is minimal compared to what Thomas entered last season earning, the Patriots now have two Pro Bowlers (Thomas and Josh Gordon) and a Super Bowl MVP in their receiving corps.

Thomas entered last season in the fourth year of his five-year, $70MM deal he and the Broncos hammered out at the 2015 franchise tag deadline. The 31-year-old talent may now be a week-to-week proposition, depending on how he looks, health-wise. The Pats have not been shy about cutting veteran wideouts over the past two years, and Thomas’ status may be tenuous if/when N’Keal Harry comes off IR.

The 2010 first-round pick spent much of Patriots camp on the active/PUP list but was activated in time for a seven-catch, 87-yard, two-touchdown showing in the team’s final preseason game. Thomas suffered his severe Achilles injury in Week 16 of last season and said no other teams expressed interest. The four-time Pro Bowler, who posted 677 yards and five touchdown catches in 2018, will have a chance to prove he can still contribute.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/4/19

September 4th, 2019 at 8:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Codey McElroy

Houston Texans

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: LB B.J. Bello

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Ben Johnson

Miami Dolphins

AFC Notes: Colts, Pouncey, Marshall, Calitro

September 4th, 2019 at 8:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts confirmed Jim Irsay received a $3.2 billion offer to sell the team, the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson and Nat Newell report. A Colts spokesperson informed the newspaper’s duo the team is not for sale. Still, that reported offer came in far north of what it cost for David Tepper to acquire the Panthers last year ($2.3 billion). It would have been a record price for an NFL franchise. Forbes’ most recent valuation of NFL teams placed the Colts 20th at $2.65 billion — up 11% from last year’s figure. The Irsay family has owned the Colts since 1972.

Moving back to on-field matters, here is the latest out of the AFC:

  • Mike Pouncey asked his agent, Joel Segal, to pursue a new deal with the Chargers, Eric Williams of ESPN.com notes. The Pro Bowl center signed a one-year, $9MM re-up; the 30-year-old blocker wanted to stay with a team he felt had Super Bowl aspirations rather than try to maximize his value on the open market. “At this point of my career, this team gives me the best chance to win,” Pouncey said, via Williams. “For me to want to leave here in Year 10 and go somewhere else, it didn’t make any sense to me, no matter what the number was in salary. I felt like whenever we got done with training camp and the offer was there, we jumped on it.” Pouncey, who did not play in a playoff game in seven Dolphins seasons, started 16 games for the Bolts last year.
  • Brandon Marshall worked out for the Texans this week but was not signed. The former Super Bowl starter and recent Raiders cut mentioned to ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson the Texans informed him a signing could take place after Week 1 (Twitter link). Marshall spent much of the offseason rehabbing a knee injury that helped lead to his Broncos departure, mentioning on Hard Knocks he was in pain for much of that time. However, the soon-to-be 30-year-old off-ball linebacker said during the HBO series finale he has returned to full health — albeit too late to make the Raiders. The Texans feature Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham as their starting inside ‘backers but are much less proven behind them.
  • The Jaguars claimed linebacker Austin Calitro off waivers from Seattle, but other AFC teams wanted to add the recently cut defender. Both the Broncos and Bengals submitted claims for Calitro, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. But the Jags’ higher waiver priority, No. 7, won out. Both Denver and Cincinnati are thin at inside ‘backer presently.
  • Myles Jack‘s recent Jags extension secured him the NFL’s second-highest guarantee figure.
  • The Dolphins’ inexperienced defensive line became even less seasoned, with the team cutting Nate Orchard.

NFC West Rumors: Polite, 49ers, Cardinals

September 4th, 2019 at 6:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jachai Polite became the only 2019 third-round pick to be booted from a roster after cutdown weekend, but the Jets Day 2 selection found his way to the Seahawks‘ practice squad. Pete Carroll said the Seahawks placed a late-first- or early-second-round grade on the Florida product, per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson. Polite will have a chance to develop in Seattle, doing so behind Jadeveon Clowney, Ziggy Ansah and first-round pick L.J. Collier — none of whom were part of the 2018 Seahawks.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • While some of the 49ers‘ injury troubles are here to stay, with Jerick McKinnon on season-ending IR again, the team received good news on other key cogs. Nick Bosa returned to practice this week and is improving daily, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required). Jason Verrett joined Bosa in going through a limited Wednesday practice. Dee Ford was not listed as limited. Despite John Lynch at one point being 50-50 on Bosa’s Week 1 availability, it appears much of the concern around these San Francisco’s newcomers was overblown. Though, Bosa’s spate of setbacks over the past year have, fairly or unfairly, attached an “injury prone” label to the Ohio State product for the time being.
  • The Cardinals were the only team to submit a waiver claim for offensive lineman Brett Toth, Barrows adds. The U.S. Army cleared Toth on Wednesday morning to pursue a career with the Cardinals, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Prior to signing with the Eagles midway through last month, Toth had not participated in a practice in 18 months. Under the previous guidelines, Toth would have been locked into his service requirement. However, he’ll be able to put all of that on hold as he pursues his NFL dream.
  • With the Cardinals cutting 2017 fifth-rounder T.J. Logan and former Rams All-Pro returner Pharoh Cooper, Christian Kirk expects to reprise his role as the Cardinals’ punt returner, Katherine Fitzgerald of the Arizona Republic notes. Kliff Kingsbury did not confirm as much, but Kirk returned 21 punts as a rookie. While at Texas A&M, Arizona’s current WR2 notched six punt-return TDs in three seasons.
  • Arrested on suspicion of DUI last month, Cardinals COO Ron Minegar will be suspended six weeks and fined $200K, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Steve Keim was suspended five weeks and also fined $200K last year for his “extreme” DUI. Minegar serves more as a business-side Cards exec.
  • Free agent tackle Marshall Newhouse visited the 49ers this week, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio notes (on Twitter). The Saints released the 30-year-old edge blocker from IR via injury settlement last weekend. Newhouse played 14 games with the Bills and Panthers last season.

Kendell Beckwith Not Planning Return?

September 4th, 2019 at 5:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers’ 2017 linebacking trio of Lavonte David, Kwon Alexander and Kendell Beckwith has since disbanded, with Alexander departing for San Francisco and Beckwith residing on Tampa Bay’s reserve/NFI list. And Beckwith may not intend to come back.

Sidelined because of a fractured ankle suffered in a 2018 car accident, Beckwith will miss all of 2019 as well. As of now, the former third-round pick is “likely done with football,” Jenna Laine of ESPN.com tweets.

Beckwith started 11 games and played in 16 for the Bucs two years ago. He returned to practice in October of last year but was shut down for the season in November. Beckwith’s 2019 did not get off the ground, with the Bucs placing the LSU product on the reserve/NFI list in May. They have since changed coaching staffs and schemes. They drafted one of Beckwith’s former college teammates, Devin White, at No. 5 overall and added former Bruce Arians–Todd Bowles cogs Deone Bucannon and Kevin Minter this offseason.

Beckwith, 24, made 73 tackles as a rookie. He is still under contract with the Bucs and has yet to file any retirement paperwork. But it appears that unfortunate offseason accident irrevocably altered his career.

Latest On Ezekiel Elliott’s Extension

September 4th, 2019 at 5:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ezekiel Elliott‘s long-rumored extension was finalized early Wednesday morning, and more details are now available. Of the $50MM fully guaranteed in this six-year, $90MM re-up, only $28.1MM is fully guaranteed at signing. That still places Elliott second among running backs, behind only Saquon Barkley‘s rookie deal.

However, Elliott will soon be in line to bump that guaranteed figure north of $37MM. In addition to his $7.5MM signing bonus, a $752K 2019 base salary and a fully guaranteed $19.8MM option bonus due in March, a $9.6MM injury guarantee for 2021 becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2020 league year, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reports. The same structure is in place for the 2022 season, only that March 2021 injury-to-full guarantee transition involves a $12.4MM figure.

Altogether, Elliott being a Cowboy in mid-March of 2021 would secure him $50.1MM — the most guaranteed money for a running back.

This extension does include a $15MM AAV, though it took a through-2026 pact to for the Cowboys and Elliott to get there. Todd Gurley ($14.38MM AAV) is signed through 2023. Elliott only counts $6.3MM against Dallas’ 2019 cap; that figure climbs to $10.9MM in 2020, $13.7MM in 2021 and $16.5MM in 2022, per Spotrac. In 2023, the Cowboys could get out of the deal with only a $6.7MM dead-money charge. After 2022, this would stand to be a year-to-year proposition for the Cowboys.

AFC South Notes: Tunsil, Brissett, Jack

September 4th, 2019 at 3:40pm CST by cwcrouse

New Texans starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil is wasting no time getting acclimated to his new team. Coach Bill O’Brien said the former first-round pick is putting in “double time” with regard to getting up to speed with Houston’s communication on packages, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle relays.

“Laremy has been in here all day working with Mike, working with a couple of guys, some of the veteran guys, Nick Martin, guys like that,” the coach said. “Look, at the end of the day, that’s going to be a challenge early on here because he just got here.

“But I think that he’s played a lot of football and maybe what somebody calls an apple, we call an orange. It’s just different terms, but it’s the same blocking assignment.”

Here’s more from the AFC South:

  • Jacoby Brissett, who recently signed a new two-year, $30MM extension, told Mike Chappell of CBS4 in Indianapolis that he negotiated the contract himself. “I don’t like people to BS on my behalf. I try to say it for myself. . . . all you can be is honest,” the Colts new starting quarterback said. “I did my rookie contract, too, so I kind of had the gist of it.’’
  • The details on Myles Jack‘s new contract are in. The deal pays the linebacker $26.06MM in guarantees, as Pro Football Talk details. That figure is second in the league among inside linebackers (C.J. Mosley).
  • Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline envisions Dion Lewis being heavily involved in the Titan’s offense. Lewis has three years remaining on the four-year, $19.8MM deal he inked during the 2018 offseason.
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