NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Cardinals
Michael Bennett took to SiriusXM NFL Radio and talked to hosts Bruce Murray and Rich Gannon about his future with Seahawks, writes Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The defensive end revealed that discussions “have been positive,” adding that the team wants him “to be a Seahawk for the rest of (his) career.”
While it certainly sounds like the Seahawks will bring back their defensive end, Bennett admitted that his brother, Martellus Bennett, is still trying to recruit him to come to the Bears. The Bears would have to “open up their wallet” for that to happen, Bennett said.
Let’s take a look at what else is happening around the NFC West…
- The 49ers did not use their franchise tag on Monday, but could use it next season, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com says. Colin Kaepernick, Michael Crabtree and Aldon Smith are entering the final season of their contracts and could be tagged next offseason.
- Considering the safety’s connection to St. Louis, Jairus Byrd could potentially be a target of the Rams, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Byrd played high school football near St. Louis, and Wagoner believes the prospective free agent would be a great fit for the team. Still, the writer thinks it’s unlikely the Rams would dish out the kind of money that would be required for Byrd’s services.
- Larry Fitzgerald acknowledged that the restructuring of his contract should allow the Cardinals to re-sign some key free agents, like Karlos Dansby and Patrick Peterson. One interesting name that the receiver also brought up was Frostee Rucker, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com writes. Fitzgerald said, “Some guys have gaudy numbers. I know his numbers weren’t crazy high. In terms of locker room guy, you can’t ask for a better teammate.”
NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals
The Jim Harbaugh saga continues. Today we learned that some 49ers players may be getting sick of their head coach. Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that “Harbaugh’s act has worn thin in the locker room, particularly among some key “face of the 49ers” type players.” As Killion points out, this information comes close to a week before free agency is set to open. Harbaugh had been reportedly discussed in a potential deal between the 49ers and Browns.
Now, for more news around the NFC West…
- The Seahawks will not offer the franchise tag to Steven Hauschka, tweets Tom Pelissero of the USA Today. Pelissero mentions that he thought the team might be tempted to use the tag on the journeyman kicker.
- The Rams have three quarterbacks without contracts and may be looking for two backups for next season, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Wagoner believes the team will go with a rookie and a veteran, and thinks that Kellen Clemens is likely to return. He also mentions Mark Sanchez as a possibility, pointing out the connection between Sanchez and Rams’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
- As the salary cap continues to grow, so do the chances that Larry Fitzgerald stays with the Cardinals beyond 2014, writes Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.Weinfuss hypothesizes that if the cap increases to north of $140MM, there may be another restructuring of Fitzgerald’s contract that would be more manageable for the team.
NFC Links: Sanchez, McFadden, Jackson
The extra cap space the Lions will have will allow them extra flexibility in free agency, but Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com doesn’t see the team making a big splash. Free agent Willie Young still isn’t a lock to be retained, and Rothstein thinks the team will look to get younger at many positions this offseason.
Here are some other notes from the NFC:
- If the Vikings draft a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft, they could still look for a veteran quarterback to bridge the gap in free agency, writes Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. While Matt Cassel seems like an obvious choice, Goessling thinks Mark Sanchez could be a dark horse candidate.
- Steve Smith of the Panthers has an uncertain future in Carolina, and Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer writes that Smith is distrustful of general manager Dave Gettelman.
- Darren McFadden is looking for a new team, and Bill Williamson of ESPN.com sees a potential fit with the 49ers. McFadden is familiar with the team’s runningback coach Tom Rathman from their Raider days, and he would be a cheap veteran the team could afford.
- While the Cardinals are waiting to see of they can keep Karlos Dansby, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com thinks D’Qwell Jackson would be a great alternative. Though a little older, the veteran will bring leadership to the locker room, and could be had on a team-friendly deal.
Cardinals Cut Jasper Brinkley
The Cardinals have made a cap casualty out of Jasper Brinkley, releasing the veteran linebacker today, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter). Brinkley’s cap number of $2.2MM will be reduced to $200K in dead money, saving Arizona $2MM on the 2014 cap.
Brinkley, 28, spent one season with the Cardinals after starting his NFL career with the Vikings. As a full-time starter in Minnesota in 2012, Brinkley ranked among the worst inside linebackers in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In part-time action for Arizona this past season, he received better grades, particularly as a run-stopper, but he was too expensive for the Cardinals to keep around as a bench player.
As a five-year veteran, Brinkley will immediately become an unrestricted free agent without having to pass through waivers. He’ll be able to sign with another team prior to March 11.
Cardinals Rumors: FAs, Dansby, Jackson
We’re getting closer and closer to the beginning of free agency, with just 11 days until the start of the new league year. Prospective free agents will be able to talk to rival teams a week from tomorrow, though they won’t be able to officially put pen to paper until March 11. As such, teams are preparing to make pitches to free agent targets. Asked if he and the Cardinals had their eye on anyone in particular, head coach Bruce Arians said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that the team has more than one player in mind.
“We probably have five,” Arians said of the Cards’ early free agent targets. “[GM] Steve [Keim] and I have the same philosophy: ‘Here it is, do you want it? I’m going to ask this guy in about a half an hour. If you don’t want it, I’m going to ask him. If he wants it, you’re out.’ It’s easy. We don’t play games.”
Let’s round up a few more Cardinals-related items….
- Within the same interview, Arians said the Cardinals offered Karlos Dansby a contract immediately after the season ended. While the veteran linebacker obviously hasn’t accepted that offer, the two sides remain engaged in negotiations, and the head coach said he’d “definitely” love to have Dansby back.
- Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com believes Dansby wants to see what sort of offers he gets on the open market, which doesn’t necessarily preclude a return to Arizona.
- It appears the Cardinals are eyeing alternatives in the event that the club can’t re-sign Dansby. According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link), Arizona is among the clubs interested in recently released linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. The Cards have contacted Jackson’s agent and will try to set up a visit for next week.
- Arians on where the Cardinals need to improve: “I think we need to get bigger and stronger on both sides of line with more depth — offensive line and defensive line. We need to get some depth because of our division. You’re going to win at the line of scrimmage in our division, you have to be physical.”
NFC West Notes: Cards, Browner, Kaepernick
With less than two weeks remaining until 2014’s free agent period opens, let’s check out what’s going on in the NFC West….
- The Cardinals and free agent pass-rusher Mike Neal have mutual interest, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (via Twitter). However, Weinfuss notes that “a bunch” of other clubs also have interest in the 26-year-old, who has spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay.
- Brandon Browner‘s agent and lawyer, Peter Schaffer, intends to file a lawsuit next week challenging the NFL’s indefinite suspension of his client, reports Mike Florio or Pro Football Talk. Before the Seahawks cornerback was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, he had been scheduled to hit restricted free agency this offseason. As such, Schaffer’s complaint will also include a motion asking the court to allow Browner to become a free agent on March 11.
- There are no real updates to report on the contract extension negotiations between Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, “things went fine” in the early stages of the talks, and the two sides will continue the conversation.
- Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Louisville’s Calvin Pryor both had formal interviews with the Rams at the combine, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details. While the club won’t select either of the top two safeties in the draft with the No. 2 pick, one or both of them could receive strong consideration if they’re still on the board at No. 13.
AFC East Links: Jets, Dolphins, Albert
While various reports may claim the contrary, the Jets are a “realistic possible landing spot” for quarterback Michael Vick, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports (video link). Rapoport cites the team’s desire for a veteran alternative to Geno Smith, as well as Vick’s connection to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.
A few other notes from one of the Jets’ rivals in the AFC East…
- The Dolphins and Brent Grimes continue to make progress, and the cornerback is “pretty optimistic” about returning to Miami, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Grimes also said that the franchise tag has not been brought up in negotiations.
- In the same article, Jackson mentions that the Dolphins have not yet made offers to impending free agents Randy Starks or Paul Soliai. The team has expressed interest in bringing back both players, though.
- The Dolphins have made signing offensive tackle Branden Albert a “high priority,” league sources told Ian Rapoport (via NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal). The Cardinals are also zeroing in on Albert.
- Dolphins’ Philip Wheeler isn’t likely to be a casualty of the June 1st cut day, writes Ryan Feder of OverTheCap.com.
Combine Updates: Clowney, Ford, Tuitt, Mason
Jadeveon Clowney is the talk of the NFL combine on Monday morning, running an unofficial time of 4.47 in the 40-yard dash today. The time is easily the best among defensive linemen, and in fact surpassed the times of most of the running backs and receivers that ran the 40 yesterday. Clowney won’t participate in all of today’s on-field drills, citing a hip flexor, but there are still plenty of combine updates to pass along from Indianapolis:
- Auburn defensive end Dee Ford was medically flagged due to a 2011 procedure on a herniated disc in his lower back and won’t work out today at the combine. Scott Hanson of NFL Red Zone first reported (via Twitter) that Ford would sit out, while Steve Wyche of NFL Network passed along the specifics (Twitter link).
- Like Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt was diagnosed with a fractured foot by doctors at the combine, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, who says Tuitt will undergo surgery in about a week, with a full recovery expected in six to eight weeks. Ford and Tuitt are viewed as two of the top non-Clowney DEs available in the draft.
- The Titans, Dolphins, Rams, and Cardinals are among the teams that have met with Auburn running back Tre Mason at the combine, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- The Ravens have met with Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland, as well as wide receivers Brandin Cooks (Oregon State) and Jordan Matthews (Vanderbilt), Aaron Wilson writes in separate pieces for the Baltimore Sun. Wilson also says the team will meet with LSU receiver Jarvis Landry.
- Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle won’t participate in drills at the combine due to health concerns, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
- For a complete list of combine results, including scores in the 40-yard dash, bench press, and broad jump, be sure to check out NFL.com’s tracker.
Arians: Bethel As Talented As Peterson
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said the team is “very solid” at cornerback when he spoke with azcardinals.com’s Darren Urban, citing Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, Jerraud Powers and Tyrann Mathieu, who showed playmaking ability before suffering torn knee ligaments. However, Arians raised eyebrows by identifying third-year man Justin Bethel, who made the Pro Bowl as a special teams player, as a potential breakout candidate.
“I think the guy who really should make the big move is Justin Bethel,” said Arians. “He’s as talented probably as Patrick. He just has to start believing it and play corner the way he plays special teams and we’ll really be set back there.”
A 2012 sixth-round pick out of Presbyterian, Bethel put himself on the NFL radar by earning Big South Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2011. He blocked nine kicks during his college career and showed well in the pre-draft process, recording a 39.5-inch vertical leap and 10-foot, 11-inch broad jump.
NFC Notes: Panthers, Saints, Dansby
The Panthers were “vague” when addressing Steve Smith‘s future with the club, says ESPN.com’s David Newton. General manager Dave Gettleman didn’t express much confidence when talking about whether the team’s all-time leading receiver will play again.
“Steve’s had a great career. None of us are here forever,” Gettleman said. “He’s part of the evaluation.”
Newton says the decision has little to do with Smith’s injury and more to do with money or Smith’s desire to play another couple of seasons to make a run for the record books. While the Panther await Smith’s decision, here are a couple more notes from the NFC…
- Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says that the reported change in the salary cap will not affect any of his team’s decisions, reports Roman Vargas of the Black and Gold Blog. The team already cut veterans Jabari Green, Roman Harper and Will Smith, and the extra $5MM will put the team at $6MM beneath the cap.
- The Cardinals have offered Karlos Dansby a multi-year deal, tweets Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports Phoenix. Dansby had stated his desire to stay in Arizona earlier this offseason. He recently told ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (via Twitter) that his agents had not yet started negotiating with the Cardinals.