NFC Rumors: Smith, Kaepernick, Wilson, Floyd
PFR’s Ben Levine assessed some of the Aldon Smith fallout this morning, and now the conversation shifts to which team will take a chance on him.
Whichever franchise takes this PR plunge, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes said team should insist the deal for the former All-Pro pass-rusher is for at least two years, with at least part or all of the fifth-year veteran’s 2015 set to be erased via suspension. That way, Florio notes, the team that acquires Smith’s rights would be able to play him in 2016 and ’17.
While general managers will be careful, with Smith being a repeat offender who shows no signs of slowing down, there will be considerable interest in a refocused Smith’s services, Florio writes.
Among the teams referenced as potential landing spots are the Seahawks, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Giants in the NFC, with the Patriots, Steelers and Colts serving as theoretical destinations in the AFC. Some of these teams would place Smith at defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, but with
With Junior Galette signing so quickly after video of him striking a woman surfaced, a Smith signing soon isn’t out of the question.
Here are some more items from around the league as we continue in the last Saturday before game action commences.
- A TMZ report alleging Smith and Colin Kaepernick and another naming the car that Smith is being charged with vandalizing as Kaepernick’s are being debunked by the fourth-year quarterback, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. With TMZ reporting a fight between the two took place Tuesday, Inman reports no fights have taken place in the 49ers‘ five practices. “I don’t drive a Mercedes. Let’s put it that way,” Kaepernick told media in his denial of the report.
- Russell Wilson‘s new Seahawks contract does not include a no-baseball clause like Jameis Winston‘s does with the Buccaneers, Florio reports. Johnny Manziel has a similar clause.
- Bruce Arians doesn’t know when Michael Floyd will be able to return due to having never witnessed a sequence like the one that ended with the wideout dislocating three of his fingers this week in 40 years in football, according to Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. “There really is no timetable because it really is such a different type of injury,” Arians told McManaman. Arians said the Cardinals will now break camp with six receivers, since Floyd is not viewed as a short-term IR candidate, after saying there was a chance they would have anyway.
NFC Notes: Peterson, Sendlein, Guion, Saints, Sproles
The relationship between the Vikings and star-running back Adrian Peterson had seemingly become strained since he missed 15 games last season after a domestic violence charge. Even so, Peterson has stated that not only does he want to keep playing until he is in his late thirties, and said he would have no problem signing another long-term contract with the team, in a Q&A with Ben Goessling of ESPN.
Here are some more stories from around the NFC:
- Newly re-signed Cardinals center Lyle Sendlein said he had interest from other teams throughout the NFL, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter). “Deep down,” said Sendlein, “we wanted to come back here.”
- The appeal of Letroy Guion‘s three-game suspension stemming from an offseason arrest will be heard by the NFL on August 24th, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
- Tight end Jean Sifrin got a tryout with the Saints, according to Nick Underhill and Joel Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate (via Twitter).
- Former Saints defensive end Glenn Foster, who was released recently, said he needs about one month to complete the rehab on his knee, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN. Foster still plans to sign somewhere when healthy and play in 2015.
- Despite adding workhorse running back DeMarco Murray and former Charger Ryan Mathews, head coach Chip Kelly sees a bigger role in the Eagles’ offense for Darren Sproles. While that could be the result of a pair of running backs with injury history, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes the extra snaps and touches will like come as a receiver in 2015.
Community Tailgate: Who Will Win NFC West?
We’re still a few weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Since we began our Community Tailgate series, we’ve been examining each division in football, slowly but surely making our way through all eight and asking you which team you think will win each division in 2015. Having already looked at the first seven, we finally arrive today at the NFC West.
On paper, the Seahawks appear to be strong favorites in the West. The team didn’t lose any of its most important players in the offseason, and has appeared in consecutive Super Bowls. Still, there are some potential red flags in Seattle. Reports have indicated that Kam Chancellor‘s holdout could extend into the regular season if the two sides don’t reach a compromise. And while the addition of Jimmy Graham should help the Seahawks’ passing game, center Max Unger headed to New Orleans in that trade, leaving the club to work in another new starter on the offensive line, which is arguably the weakest position group on the roster.
In recent years, the 49ers have been Seattle’s primary competition in the West, but an offseason exodus has left plenty of question marks in San Francisco. Among the 2014 Niners who were released, retired, or signed elsewhere? Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, Justin Smith, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, head coach Jim Harbaugh, and, most recently, Aldon Smith.
The new-look Niners may exceed expectations and challenge for the division crown, but the Cardinals look like the stronger team. Arizona was in first place in the West last year before its top two quarterbacks went down with injuries. With Carson Palmer ready to return in 2015, head coach Bruce Arians will look to lead the Cards back to the postseason.
Finally, the Rams may not have won a division title since 2003, but St. Louis’ defense looks increasingly fearsome, having added Nick Fairley to what was already one of the NFL’s best defensive lines. If Nick Foles can provide consistent, steady production at quarterback, the Rams could be a dark horse in the West.
Who do you think will win the NFC West in 2015? Let us know in the comment section below!
Cardinals Re-Sign Lyle Sendlein
2:55pm: The Cardinals have officially re-signed Sendlein, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter). The team also signed guard Nate Isles and wide receiver Travis Harvey, cutting quaterback Chandler Harnish in a corresponding move.
8:46am: The Cardinals are bringing in veteran center Lyle Sendlein for a physical today, and if everything goes according to plan, he’ll re-sign with the team, reports Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 in Arizona (Twitter links). According to Jurecki, the Cards don’t appear content with their current centers, so Sendlein figures to get a chance to compete for the starting job if and when his signing becomes official.
Sendlein, 31, has been the Cardinals’ starting center for most of the last center, appearing in 121 regular season games (109 starts) for the team since 2007. The veteran offensive lineman started all 16 games at the position for Arizona in each of the last two seasons. However, he was released by the club in March after grading as the NFL’s second-worst center out of 41 qualified players in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required).
Shortly after the Cards cut Sendlein, head coach Bruce Arians indicated the team wouldn’t mind bringing him back at a reduced cap figure. The longtime Arizona center had been set to earn a $3MM base salary in 2015 before he was released, so when he re-signs, it figures to be for something closer to the minimum salary.
With Sendlein out of the picture for the past few months, the Cardinals have been leaning on A.Q. Shipley and Ted Larsen at center. However, it seems as if the team isn’t comfortable, at least for now, heading into the regular season with one of those two players as its starter. Either Shipley or Larsen could still ultimately win the job, but they’ll get some additional competition from the veteran Sendlein.
More Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/16
We rounded up some of the minor signings and moves in the NFL earlier today. Below, we’ll round up the very latest..
- The Bills are signing former Eastern Michigan running back Bronson Hill, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Hill should provide Buffalo with more depth as they get set to install a run-heavy offense. To make room, the Bills cut defensive end Erik Williams, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Colts were awarded cornerback Tevin Mitchel off waivers from Washington and waived safety Robert Smith to make room for him, Wilson tweets.
- The Steelers waived-injured Rob Blanchflower and claimed tight end Ray Hamilton off waivers from the Cowboys, Wilson tweets.
- The Patriots announced today that they have signed offensive lineman Mark Asper and tight end Mason Brodine. To make room, offensive lineman Harland Gunn has been let go. Asper, 29, originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick by the Bills in 2012.
- The Cardinals waived/injured guard John Fullington (knee) and released tight end Ted Bolser, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets.
- The 49ers have waived/injured offensive lineman Ben Gottschalk, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group tweets.
- The Saints waived defensive end Glenn Foster with a failed physical designation, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets. To fill his spot, New Orleans inked undrafted rookie cornerback Travis Manning.
NFC Notes: Ginn, Kerrigan, Chancellor
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. admitted that he was “chasing a check” when he signed with the Cardinals last year, suggesting he took the highest offer he got in free agency for the benefit of his family (link via Tim Durr of the Black and Blue Review). Although Ginn signed a three-year deal with the Cards, his stint in Arizona didn’t last long — he was cut by the team in February.
Here’s more from across the NFC:
- ESPN.com’s John Keim and Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examine the specific details on Ryan Kerrigan‘s new contract with Washington, and Fitzgerald also provides a breakdown of the extension in chart form. The deal, which includes a $16MM signing bonus, features cap hits of $6.238MM in 2015 and $8.45MM in 2016 before jumping to $11.7MM+ for the final four years.
- Since Kam Chancellor‘s holdout from Seahawks camp is now at six days, Seattle is allowed to recoup 15% of the safety’s signing bonus proration for 2015, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. Since Chancellor’s bonus counts for $1MM against the team’s cap this year, Seattle could recoup $150K.
- Lions GM Martin Mayhew explained that the team’s depth at cornerback led to the trade that sent Mohammed Seisay to the Seahawks, a deal he called “win-win for everybody.” Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has the quotes from Mayhew.
- Packers defensive end Datone Jones told reporters, including Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that he did not appeal his one-game suspension. Jones was suspended last month after receiving a citation for marijuana possession.
- Free agent cornerback Josh Victorian, who recently auditioned for the Texans, worked out for the Panthers following Chris Houston‘s retirement, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/15
Tonight’s minor moves..
- The Eagles waived/injured linebacker Travis Long, who tore his ACL yesterday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. If unclaimed, he’ll revert to the team’s IR list.
- The Patriots waived A.J. Derby, a sixth-round pick out of Arkansas, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Jets signed receiver Arthur Williams and waived receiver Jarrod West, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets.
- The Dolphins were awarded wide receiver Kevin Cone off waivers from the Browns, James Walker of ESPN.com tweets. They also cut guard Dionte Savage.
- The Patriots announced that they have signed linebacker L.J. Fort, linebacker Cameron Gordon, fullback Eric Kettani, and defensive lineman A.J. Pataiali’I.
- Panthers wide receiver Stephen Hill officially cleared waivers and has been placed on the team’s IR, Jonathan Jones of The Observer tweets.
- The Lions have filled their last roster spot with the signing of cornerback Ethan Davis out of Troy, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com tweets.
- The Cardinals cut cornerback Damond Smith while signing cornerback Jonte Green, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets.
- The Chargers announced that they signed corner Jordan Mabin and released receiver Demetrius Wilson.
- The Eagles announced that they released wide receiver Devante Davis while signing fellow wideout Josh Reese.
- The Lions cut Jerell Harris, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets.
NFC West Notes: Wilson, Seahawks, Rams
Multiple reports have indicated that the Seahawks are offering Russell Wilson $21MM per year. However, Mike Florio of PFT hears from one league source that they might actually be offering $21MM in new money rather than $21MM annually. If the Seahawks are offering Wilson a five-year deal with $21MM per year in new money, that average applies to the four new years, making the total value in the range of $85.5MM ($17.1MM per year).
Here’s more on Wilson, the Seahawks, and a couple of Seattle’s division rivals in the NFC West:
- If the Seahawks don’t give Wilson roughly $25MM per year, there are six or seven teams lined up that will, tweets Benjamin Allbright of 1340AM in Denver.
- The best chance for Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett to get new deals with the Seahawks is to go for a rare tandem holdout, opines Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Legendary Dodgers pitchers Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax employed this technique decades ago but it has rarely been attempted since in any major sport.
- The Rams are currently on track to have more than a dozen players eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016, and many of those players are starters or top reserves, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While extension discussions take time, the club would ideally like to have a few of those contract situations resolved before the end of the season, says Thomas.
- In the wake of the Cardinals‘ addition of Jen Welter to their coaching staff – detailed here by Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic – other teams around the league are interested in identifying other potential female coaching candidates, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Cardinals To Release Alfonzo Dennard
The Cardinals are releasing cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, according to a source that spoke with Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Dennard’s stint in Arizona lasted less than three months, after the Cards claimed him off waivers from the Patriots in early May.
Dennard, 25, was limited to just six games in 2014, having been plagued by shoulder and hamstring issues. He also saw his role in New England reduced with the arrivals of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, and played in just 241 regular season snaps before landing on injured reserve. While the sample size was small, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) also graded him as the Pats’ least effective coverage corner — he allowed QBs to complete 68.2% of their passes and accumulate a 111.2 passer rating on throws into his coverage.
Due to an escalator in his rookie contract, Dennard had been set to earn a base salary of $1.542MM this season after making the minimum for his first three years, so his release by the Pats doesn’t come as a total surprise. However, that salary is non-guaranteed, so if he clears waivers after being cut by the Cards this time, a team should be able to take a flier on him at a lesser price.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/15
Today’s minor moves and signings..
- The Bills cut Deon Broomfield from injured reserve, Wilson tweets.
- The Browns announced that they have signed offensive lineman Erle Ladson while waiving defensive back Micah Pellerin, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal tweets.
- The Panthers waived running back Darrin Reaves, who saw a good amount of playing time last season as the Panthers had issues with their backfield, ESPN.com’s David Newton writes. Meanwhile, Carolina inked tackles Tony Hills and Davonte Wallace.
Earlier Updates:
- Bengals wide receiver James Wright has been released with a waived/injured designation, according to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com (on Twitter). If he isn’t claimed tomorrow, he’ll be placed on the Bengals’ IR for the season.
- The Cowboys released running back Ryan Williams, linebacker Cameron Lawrence, and offensive lineman Ryan Miller while signing running back Gus Johnson, offensive lineman Ronald Patrick, and linebacker Justin Anderson, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Cardinals placed wide receiver Damond Powell on the reserve/NFI list, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. The move creates a place for tight end Jermaine Gresham on the 90-man roster.
- The Jets announced that they have released kicker Andrew Furney. That move will create room for the addition of wide receiver Austin Hill, who was picked up yesterday. Furney was signed by the Jets last offseason as an undrafted free agent out of Washington State to compete with Nick Folk during the ’14 training camp. He signed a reserve/future contract to return to the Jets last Dec. 30.
- The Bears signed defensive lineman David Carter to a one-year deal, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Tribune tweets. To make room, linebacker Jonathan Brown has been waived.