Chris Cooley Unlikely To Sign Before Camp
Former Washington tight end Chris Cooley remains realistic about his possible comeback, but he says that he doesn’t anticipate a team signing him before training camp, John Keim of ESPN.com writes.
“I’m not holding out hope,” said Cooley, who last played in the 2012 season.
Interestingly, even though he spent his entire nine season career in Washington, he is prohibited by NFL rules from signing with them for the 2015 season. Teams are prohibited from signing a player in the same year that it’s already paying for a different service. In addition to his daily radio show, Cooley serves as an analyst on Washington games. Cooley confirmed that he did have discussions with the Cardinals, but they no longer have a need after they signed Jermaine Gresham.
“I will absolutely continue to work out,” Cooley said. “And look towards realistically a later date in someone’s camp after an injury were to occur or even into the season, which I would be fine with. It would probably have to be a team that realistically has a chance of winning this year. Teams that don’t have a chance of winning don’t sign 33-year-old tight ends.”
Cooley was just 30 when he decided to walk away from his NFL career and start a new one in sports radio. Cooley was cut by Washington in training camp in 2012 but was brought back during the playoffs when Fred Davis went down with an injury. That offseason, Cooley was leery of playing for anyone but Washington and he intimated that his asking price was higher than the offers he was receiving from other teams.
The tight end wound up signing a radio deal, though the contract included an out in case a football opportunity emerged. Two NFL assistant coaches, including Jay Gruden who was with the Bengals at the time, informed him of their interest only to be told that Cooley was done. Given Gruden’s previous fondness of Cooley and the tight end’s deep connections to Washington, one can’t help but wonder if there could be a connection in D.C.
In nine seasons with Washington, Cooley hauled in a total of 429 receptions – the all-time high for any tight end in franchise history – 4,711 yards, and 33 touchdowns. The veteran made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2007, catching 66 balls for 786 yards and 8 touchdowns. He followed that up in 2008 with another Pro Bowl appearance thanks to his 83 catches, 849 yards, and one touchdown. In both campaigns, Cooley started in all 16 regular season contests.
Cooley will presumably be open to all opportunities but he says that he’s not expecting a call from the Falcons. According to Cooley, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan kept Cooley off the field in 2012 because he believed that he had nothing left in the tank.
NFC Notes: Cardinals, Galette, Holmgren, JPP
Cardinals wideout Damond Powell was shot Friday night at his home in Toledo, Ohio, the city police announced today (via Fox10Tv.com). The undrafted rookie was reportedly sitting in his driveway with friends when shots were fired from a car down the street.
Police do not believe the injuries to be life-threatening, and they’ve yet to make an arrest.
The Iowa star finished his two-year career with 31 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns. He also added three rushes for 23 yards. The 22-year-old was among 14 undrafted free agents to be picked up by the Cardinals in May.
Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…
- Several Saints players told Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller that Junior Galette was a “cancer” in the locking room. The writer praises the Saints for the move, citing the team’s desire to change the culture of the franchise. Meanwhile, ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett says the Saints should be “ripped” for making a bad investment, but should also be “applauded” for not letting money cloud their judgement.
- Mike Holmgren had reached out to the 49ers regarding their head coaching vacancy, but the 67-year-old was told the organization wanted someone younger. “I probably needed to hear that because you get your ego stroked and you’re flattered when people call you and you kind of get into a place where I’m not sure you’re making great decisions, but when I heard that I said, ‘Okay, I needed to hear that and now I’m going onto other things,’” Holmgren told CBS Sports’ Rich Eisen (via ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio).
- Giants legend Phil Simms told SiriusXM (via Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News) that defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul should have trusted the organization following his firework accident. Simms cited the organization’s willingness to work with injured players, and Samuel notes that the team held on to David Wilson this past season despite the player suffering a career-ending injury.
Cardinals, Jermaine Gresham Agree To Deal
The Cardinals have agreed to a one-year contract with free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports (via Twitter). Financial terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
The 27-year-old Gresham spent the first half-decade of his career in Cincinnati, which used a first-round pick on him in 2010. With the Bengals, the ex-Oklahoma Sooner hauled in 280 passes and 24 touchdowns – including 62 receptions and five scores last season – while earning a reputation as a solid blocker. He averaged a meager 7.4 yards per catch in 2014, however, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him a below-average 37th out of 67 qualifying tight ends.
Gresham – who underwent surgery on a herniated disc in March – drew interest this offseason from several teams besides the Cardinals, including the Saints, Packers, Bears and Raiders. In Arizona, Gresham will provide a veteran tight end to a team that lost John Carlson and Rob Housler during the offseason. Carlson and Housler combined for 42 receptions, 479 yards and a touchdown last year. Gresham has exceeded 42 catches every year of his career, surpassed the 479-yard mark twice, and totaled at least four TDs in each of his five seasons.
Cardinals Have Interest In Chris Cooley
Having lost tight ends John Carlson and Rob Housler during the offseason, the Cardinals are in the market for a veteran replacement at the position, and the team appears willing to consider a player who hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since the 2012 season. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the Cards have spoken to Chris Cooley, and have expressed interest in signing him.
As we learned yesterday, Cooley is contemplating making an NFL comeback after nearly three years away from the game. In nine seasons with Washington from 2004 to 2012, Cooley hauled in a total of 429 receptions – the all-time high for any tight end in franchise history – 4,711 receiving yards, and 33 touchdowns. The former third-round pick made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2007, catching 66 balls for 786 yards and eight touchdowns, and followed that up in 2008 with another Pro Bowl appearance thanks to his 83 catches and 849 yards.
When he suggested he may try to catch on with an NFL team this year, Cooley stated that he “could be anybody’s third tight end,” though it sounds like the Cardinals may be looking for a player capable of moving even higher on the depth chart. With Carlson and Housler no longer in the mix, Troy Niklas, Darren Fells, and Ted Bolser are among the players poised to head into training camp vying for playing time for Arizona.
In addition to having expressed interest in Cooley, the Cardinals also recently hosted former Bengal Jermaine Gresham for a visit. Gresham is coming off back surgery, so it’s not clear if Arizona’s interest in Cooley indicates that the Cards weren’t comfortable with Gresham’s physical, or if they’re simply considering all their options at the position.
Cardinals veterans are scheduled to report to camp on July 31, so I’d expect the club to address its tight end spot at some point before then.
NFC West Notes: Okung, Seahawks, Gresham
With less than 10 days to go until the start of training camp, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times wonders if Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner will be signed to a contract extension. Seattle, he posits, may wait to see what develops with Russell Wilson over the next week or so before moving on to Wagner. If nothing gets done, the urgency could increase to get a deal signed with Wagner. Former agent Joel Corry says that Luke Kuechly should command a higher salary than Wagner, but if the Panthers standout were to sign a significant deal before Wagner, it could compel Seattle to pay more.
Here’s more from the NFC West..
- Self-representation will prevent Seahawks tackle Russell Okung from participating in the three-day negotiating period before free agency unless the rules change, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. Meanwhile, Okung took to Twitter to thank his union for its support. “Thanks to the @NFLPA for immediate assistance in providing the resources I’ll need to move forward. Players, the tools are there for you too,” Okung tweeted. We learned yesterday that Okung, eligible for free agency after the season, will be representing himself in talks. In 2014, the 27-year-old dealt with a labrum tear and a bruised lung after having undergone foot surgery in the offseason.
- Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports got the skinny on the support the NFLPA is giving to Okung. Union prez Eric Winston says Okung has been provided with the top 10 offensive tackle contracts and he’ll be offered further analysis and legal advice on contract language as needed. Meanwhile, the NFLPA’s committee on re-examining agent fees has convened three times now and one has to wonder if Okung’s decision could become a trend. Giants running back and player rep Rashad Jennings, who signed a four-year deal worth $10MM in March 2014, says that he will negotiate his next deal without an agent.
- Free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham visited the Cardinals as planned on Tuesday but no deal is in place between the two sides yet, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. The former Oklahoma product never lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he was selected by Cincinnati in the first round of the 2010 draft, but he has a history of consistent production, averaging about 56 catches, 544 yards, and five touchdowns per year.
Jermaine Gresham To Visit Cardinals
MONDAY, 1:59pm: Gresham’s visit with the Cardinals is scheduled for Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). In addition to receiving interest from Arizona and New Orleans, Gresham also continues to draw some interest from the Raiders, per Rapoport. Oakland hosted the tight end for a visit at the start of the free agent period in March.
SUNDAY, 9:31am: Free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham will visit the Cardinals this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Gresham, one of the more intriguing talents still available on the free agent market, visited the Saints last month, and Schefter reports that New Orleans has offered the 27-year-old a contract. But Gresham, who underwent back surgery in March to repair a herniated disc, apparently now has a number of interested suitors after what had been a pretty quiet offseason. According to Schefter, Gresham also has other visits planned over the next two weeks and intends to sign with a team before training camps open.
The Saints are an obvious fit for Gresham, as they traded dynamic tight end Jimmy Graham to Seattle in March and would like an established veteran to fill his shoes. John Carlson was the Cardinals’ leading receiver at tight end last season, but he announced his retirement in May. Rob Housler, meanwhile, signed with the Browns, which leaves second-year man Troy Niklas at the top of Arizona’s depth chart. Though Niklas, a second-round pick in last year’s draft, has some upside, he played in just seven games in his rookie season, catching three balls for 38 yards.
Gresham, therefore, makes perfect sense for the Cardinals. The former Oklahoma product never lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he was selected by Cincinnati in the first round of the 2010 draft, but he has a history of consistent production, averaging about 56 catches, 544 yards, and five touchdowns per year. He is also a capable blocker, and although there is no chance he will return to the Bengals, he now has a handful of clubs to choose from as he enters the next stage of his career.
Sunday Roundup: Gresham, Elam, Kromer
Let’s have a look at some links from around the league on this Sunday afternoon:
- We learned earlier today that Jermaine Gresham would be visiting the Cardinals this week, and Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com says it would be no surprise if Arizona landed the suddenly popular tight end, given the team’s need for a pass catcher at the position and GM Steve Keim‘s propensity to bring in a veteran free agent right as training camp opens.
- Matt Elam has been a big disappointment for the Ravens, who selected the former Florida safety with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Elam’s move to strong safety in 2014 should have been beneficial to him considering his skill set, but he led the team in missed tackles and struggled mightily in coverage. As Bo Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com writes, Elam is the Raven facing the most amount of pressure this season.
- Ben Goessling of ESPN.com says the Vikings‘ safety position next to Harrison Smith is up for grabs, as evidenced by GM Rick Spielman‘s unsolicited praise of second-year player Antone Exum after the draft.
- Some Lions fans are already looking ahead to the 2016 season, and as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes in his latest mailbag, no matter how the team’s defensive tackles perform this year, that will be a position of need for Detroit given free agency and the age of Haloti Ngata.
- Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is on indefinite paid leave, and he can only return to full status when his criminal case ends. As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes, the first opportunity for Kromer to resolve his case is August 12, when he is expected to enter a plea. If he has a plea deal in place with prosecutors at that time, the case could be over on that day. However, he would still be subject to a fine, suspension, or both under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. Buffalo has not announced how it intends to replace Kromer once camp opens.
- Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union examines the Jaguars‘ running back situation heading into training camp.
- Marc Sessler of NFL.com looks at the best remaining free agents on the defensive side of the ball, a list that includes veterans like Dwight Freeney looking for one last contract and busts like Da’Quan Bowers.
NFC West Notes: Washington, Rams, Seahawks
The NFL’s four unsigned franchise-tag players are dominating headlines this week, but it’s fairly quiet elsewhere in the league, such as in the NFC West, where no teams or players are involved in that franchise-player drama. Still, there are a handful of updates trickling out of the West, so let’s round up the latest from the division….
- According to Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 in Arizona (Twitter link), Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington applied for reinstatement from his indefinite suspension way back on May 8. The NFL’s substance abuse policy dictates that the league must issue a decision on an application for reinstatement within 60 days, so it’s not clear what the holdup is in Washington’s case. Yesterday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Jurecki (Twitter link) that “there is no change” in Washington’s status.
- In response to a report indicating that Rams games don’t create enough tax revenue for the city of St. Louis to cover the city’s annual debt and upkeep payment, regional leaders have suggested that various conventions booked at the Edward Jones Dome help cover those debt payments. David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the details on the tax issue, which could be a point of emphasis in talks involving a new St. Louis stadium.
- Gregg Bell of The News Tribune examines the Seahawks‘ crowded race for wide receiver jobs on the 53-man roster, noting that Jimmy Graham‘s ability to line up on the outside could be a factor as the team makes its decisions.
Extra Points: JPP, Luck, Bucs, Cardinals
At some point, the Giants and Jason Pierre-Paul are going to have to talk money, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes. The Giants want JPP in camp learning the new defense, so Graziano figures that the most likely outcome is that the two sides negotiate to a lower franchise figure and he signs it in exchange for a written promise from the team to pay him the entire amount. Under that scenario, the Giants could theoretically have Pierre-Paul in camp and help administer his rehab and Pierre-Paul would not have to worry about rushing back to the field in order to get paid. Here’s more from around the NFL..
- Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com gave his thoughts on at how an extension might look for Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck could be looking at a five-year, ~$125MM pact in exchange for tearing up his currently contracted 2016 season (~$16.15MM), but Seifert suggests he could instead push the Colts to give him a $100MM deal with $90MM fully guaranteed. Such a deal wouldn’t just benefit Luck, it would allow the Colts to spend more on the roster around their star quarterback.
- Buccaneers cornerback C.J. Wilson, who lost two fingers in a fireworks accident, was released from a hospital on Friday, and he is doing well and is “in very good spirits,” sources tell ESPN’s Adam Caplan. Wilson is in the final season of his two-year deal that carries a non-guaranteed base salary of $585K for the 2015 season. Wilson, not to be confused with the defensive tackle who goes by the same name, hadn’t been expected to play a major role for Tampa Bay in 2015, but he did appear in two games for the team at the end of last season, logging some snaps on both defense and special teams. Now, his chances of seeing the field at all this season are up in the air.
- Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson says that he has long planned to be a coach when his playing career is through, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. Somewhat surprisingly, Johnson doesn’t dream of being a head coach, but instead wants to be a defensive coordinator. “It’s something that makes me who I am,” Johnson said. “It makes me that special player that’s vital even if he’s not a Patrick Peterson-type of athlete. Vital because he can help the defense as a whole because he knows the plays. He can help everyone play faster.” Johnson, who is entering the final year of his deal, has been mentioned as an extension candidate this summer.
NFC Mailbags: Washington, Panthers, Packers
It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s start off with some interesting notes out of the NFC…
- Washington isn’t necessarily looking to upgrade at any position, but John Keim writers that the team is hoping to add a tight end and outside linebacker.
- Jose Weinfuss says there could be a number of reasons why a decision hasn’t been made yet regarding Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington‘s reinstatement. No one is entirely sure when the player applied, and the NFL has up to 60 days to make a final decision.
- David Newton believes the Panthers final receiver spot will come down to Brenton Bersin, Jarrett Boykin and Stephen Hill. The writer picks Bersin as the favorite, considering the chemistry between him and quarterback Cam Newton.
- The Packers don’t want to give up on punter Tim Masthay, but Rob Demovsky says the team needs to see more consistency from the position. The Packers also have 2014 undrafted free agent Cody Mandell on their roster.