NFC Notes: Raji, Iupati, Fitz, Weatherspoon
Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji is scheduled to become a free agent next month, but it appears that the 28-year-old will remain in Green Bay for at least another season. Bill Huber of PackerReport.com writes that, according to a league source, Green Bay is expected to re-sign the six-year veteran.
Raji missed all of 2014 after tearing his right bicep during the preseason, but he stayed with the team through the season to rehab and should be at full strength by training camp. Raji has played in 76 games for the Packers since they drafted him ninth overall out of Boston College in 2009. The one-time All-Pro made $4MM last season and, per Huber, is likely to re-up in Green Bay on a one-year deal.
Here’s the latest on some of Raji’s fellow NFC players:
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweeted Friday that 49ers guard Mike Iupati is expected to hit the open negotiating market March 7. Even if that happens, the three-time Pro Bowler could still end up re-signing with the 49ers, according to Maiocco.
- Earlier this month, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald agreed to a two-year contract to stay with the Cardinals, for whom he has caught over 900 passes in 11 seasons. Albert Breer of NFL Network reports that Fitzgerald’s deal is rare in that it contains a no-trade clause.
- New Falcons head coach Dan Quinn hopes the team can retain linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Weatherspoon, who’s currently without a contract, sat out all of last season because of an Achilles’ tear and missed nine games in 2013 on account of a Lisfranc injury. The five-year veteran’s only 16-game season came in 2011, when he totaled 115 tackles and four sacks
Cardinals Release Darnell Dockett
The last time Darnell Dockett appeared in a game for the Cardinals, he was carted off the field during a preseason contest after suffering a torn ACL, an injury that wiped out his entire 2014 season. As it turns out, that may be the last time Dockett takes the field in a Cardinals uniform. According to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter), the team released Dockett today. The move was first reported by Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 in Washington (via Twitter).
While Dockett will immediately hit the open market and can look for work elsewhere, the Cardinals haven’t closed the door on a potential reunion, notes Urban. The veteran defensive lineman will have a chance to gauge his value around the NFL before the free agent period officially begins, and general manager Steve Keim is very open to bringing Dockett back, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
“We have been very clear about our feelings for Darnell and our desire to have him back,” Keim said.
Dockett, who has been with the Cardinals since the 2004 season, earning three Pro Bowl nods during that stretch, was scheduled to count for $9.8MM against the team’s cap in 2015. By cutting him, Arizona will create $6.8MM in cap savings, with $3MM dead money left on the deal.
While a defensive lineman entering his age-34 season and coming off an ACL tear may not generate huge interest on the open market, I imagine plenty of teams will kick the tires on Dockett, who can still be effective and productive when he’s healthy. In 2013, the former third-round pick started all 16 games for the Cards, logging 46 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
With Dockett out of action in 2014, the Cardinals primarily relied on Tommy Kelly to fill his shoes, and the former Raider did an excellent job, recording a positive grade against both the pass and the run in 726 defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, Kelly is eligible for free agency next month as well, so if Dockett doesn’t return to Arizona, the team could either lean on Frostee Rucker to take on a larger role, or pursue a replacement in free agency or the draft.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
North Notes: Felton, Peterson, Canty, Suh
Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, former Vikings fullback Jerome Felton, who opted out of his contract at season’s end, said he has talked to his old team about the possibility of a reunion (Twitter link). Felton went on to say he wouldn’t close the door on re-signing with the Vikings, though it sounds as if a possible return for the veteran fullback may hinge on whether or not Adrian Peterson stays with the team. Felton has, of course, been Peterson’s lead blocker since 2012, earning a Pro Bowl nod during the season in which the MVP ran for nearly 2,100 yards.
Here’s more on Peterson, along with a few more items from out of the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Barring something unexpected, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) expects Peterson to ultimately end up with the Vikings, Cowboys, Colts, or Cardinals for the 2015 season.
- Although the Ravens released veteran defensive lineman Chris Canty today, he expects to continue playing in 2015, and Baltimore hasn’t ruled out the possibility of bringing him back at a lesser salary, according to GM Ozzie Newsome. “We certainly would not close the door to Chris coming back to us,” Newsome said (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com).
- If the Lions shell out the money necessary to keep Ndamukong Suh locked up for multiple seasons, it may be a big gamble for the franchise, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As Birkett outlines, teams in similar situations in the past have had mixed results when making a big investment in a star player.
- Birkett has a second piece on Suh today for the Free Press, identifying the Raiders, Jaguars, Colts, and Jets as the likeliest suitors for the star defensive linemen if he doesn’t return to the Lions.
Cardinals Re-Sign Bradley Sowell
The Cardinals have locked up a reserve offensive lineman, keeping him off the free agent market, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team inked Bradley Sowell to a one-year deal. Sowell had been eligible for restricted free agency, so after playing out the 2015 season, he’ll have the chance to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
Sowell, 25, was forced into a starting role during the 2013 season, and struggled with the added responsibility, ranking as the worst qualified tackle in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). After the Cardinals signed Jared Veldheer in free agency last March, Sowell reverted a reserve role in 2014 — his offensive snap count dropped from 842 in ’13 to zero in ’14.
Taking into account Sowell’s struggles as a regular, and his lack of playing time in 2014, I would guess that the Cardinals signed the offensive lineman for less than the restricted free agent tender would have been worth. However, financial terms of the agreement aren’t yet known.
In addition to locking up Sowell for another season, the Cards also confirmed the signing of free agent cornerback Damond Smith, per Urban. That deal was previously reported.
James Casey Visiting Several Teams
10:02pm: Casey’s visit with the Broncos concluded without a contract, according to the Denver Post’s Mike Klis. He will move on to his other summits.
THURSDAY, 11:11am: Caplan (via Twitter) adds a few more clubs to Casey’s list of suitors, reporting that the tight end also has visits scheduled with the Jaguars, the Bengals, and Washington.
WEDNESDAY, 8:07am: After meeting with the Cardinals and Broncos, Casey will move on to visit the Titans and Browns, according to Caplan (via Twitter). Caplan adds (via Twitter) that at least eight teams have requested to have Casey in for a visit, as clubs value his positional versatility and recognize that 2015’s tight end draft class is weak.
MONDAY, 3:48pm: Tight end James Casey got a head start on the 2015 free agent market last week when the Eagles released him from his contract, and he’s taking full advantage of that. According to Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 (Twitter link), Casey is scheduled to visit the Cardinals this week. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com confirms Jurecki’s report and adds (via Twitter) that two or three other teams would also like to bring in Casey, who is scheduled to meet with the Broncos after his sitdown with the Cards.
Casey, 30, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Texans, parlaying a solid 2012 season into a three-year, $12MM deal with the Eagles. Although he caught 34 balls during his final year in Houston, Casey wasn’t used as a pass-catcher in Philadelphia, having totaled just six receptions on nine targets in two seasons with the team. He was released last week without any discussions about taking a pay cut, and is expected to seek out a situation where he’ll have a larger role than he did with the Eagles.
In 2014, the Cardinals relied primarily on John Carlson and Rob Housler at tight end, so it makes sense that the club would target a player like Casey. Housler is eligible for unrestricted free agency next month, and Carlson didn’t have a great year — Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him 65th out of 67 qualified TEs, grading him poorly as a pass catcher, pass blocker, and run blocker.
The Broncos would be a logical fit for Casey as well, since Julius Thomas is expected to land elsewhere as a free agent and Virgil Green‘s contract is also expiring.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report
Minor Moves: Cardinals, Falcons
Tonight’s minor moves..
- Former Chiefs defensive back Damond Smith has signed with the Cardinals, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Smith was with KC before being removed from the Chiefs’ injured reserve with an injury settlement in September. The 23-year-old previously played for the British Columbia Lions of the CFL.
- Former UConn wide receiver Nick Williams has signed with the Falcons, according to Zac Boyer of The Washington Times (on Twitter). Williams first joined Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2013.
NFC West Notes: Palmer, Dockett, Seahawks
While he appeared over the weekend to be headed to Detroit, Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne still hasn’t officially signed with an NFL team. That leaves the door open for another suitor to swoop in, and agent Jack Bechta confirms to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com that there’s mutual interest between Hayne and the 49ers. Per Maiocco, the Niners don’t have a standing offer out to Hayne, but could still put something on the table — the former rugby player is expected to decide on his NFL team early next week.
- The Cardinals may decide to restructure Carson Palmer‘s contract in order to create some cap flexibility, tweets Mike Jurecki of 910 Fox Sports Arizona. Palmer’s has a $9.5MM roster bonus coming up in March, which could be converted into a signing bonus to free up a chunk of cap room for 2015.
- Kent Somers of Arizona Republic dives into the Darnell Dockett situation in Arizona, explaining why the Cardinals will likely have a harder time finding common ground with the veteran defensive lineman than they did with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
- We heard earlier today that Ricky Jean-Francois has visits lined up with Washington and the 49ers, and those aren’t the only teams that he’s scheduled to meet. According to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter), a visit with the Seahawks is also on the free agent defensive lineman’s docket for this week.
- With the idea of a fully guaranteed contract for Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson gaining steam (at least among reporters), Joel Corry of CBSSports.com notes that one difficult aspect of such a deal would involve team ownership having to put the entire amount of the contract in escrow up front. While that wouldn’t be an issue for Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who is one of the richest men in America, if it were to set a precedent, other owners may be reluctant to sign off on fully guaranteed deals where $50-100MM could be tied up.
Cardinals Cut Ted Ginn Jr.
Shortly after ensuring that two key members of their organization are locked up for the next several years, the Cardinals announced another move, this time releasing a player from their roster. As Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com details, the team has parted ways with wide receiver and return man Ted Ginn Jr., just one year into a three-year contract.
Ginn, 29, agreed to a three-year, $9.75MM contract with the Cardinals a year ago, coming off a season in which he was an all-purpose threat for the Panthers, accumulating 36 catches, 26 punt returns, 25 kickoff returns, and even four carries. In his first and only season in Arizona, Ginn didn’t have the same impact, outside of one 71-yard punt return touchdown back in September. For the season, Ginn posted a career-low 19.0 yards per return on kickoffs, and caught just 14 balls on offense.
By releasing Ginn, whose base salary for 2015 was non-guaranteed, Arizona creates $2.5MM in cap room, slicing Ginn’s cap number from $4MM to $1.5MM in dead money. The former first-round pick is immediately free to sign with another team, prior to next month’s free agent period.
Cardinals Extend Arians, Keim Through 2019
12:58pm: Arians’ new contract pays him an average of $6MM per season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
12:43pm: The new contracts for Arians and Keim include team options for a fifth year, so the Cardinals essentially have both of them locked up through 2019, reports Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter).
11:59am: The Cardinals have reached agreements with head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim to extend their respective contracts through the 2018 season, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter). While details of the new deals aren’t yet known, Urban notes that they’ll “presumably” involve big raises for both the coach and the GM.
Both Arians and Keim had been under contract for at least two more years, so locking them up to new extensions wasn’t something the Cardinals necessarily needed to prioritize. However, team president Michael Bidwill suggested last month that the club would try to get something done with its two primary decision-makers this offseason, to reward them for their impressive performances since they assumed their current roles within the organization.
Since taking over as Arizona’s head coach prior to the 2013 season, Arians has led the team to a 21-11 record, earning a playoff berth in 2014. While the Cardinals ultimately couldn’t withstand all their health problems – including injuries that sidelined quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton – Keim provided a roster deep enough that the team was able to win 11 games despite losing multiple QBs and defensive contributors.
Arians, who was named the PFWA’s Coach of the Year for 2014, was believed to earning between $3-4MM a year on his old contract — his new deal will likely bump him up into the salary range of coaches like Rex Ryan and Jason Garrett, who signed contracts last month reportedly worth $5.5-6MM annually.
NFC Links: Cardinals, Fairley, Cowboys, Vikings
The Oscar’s were the big story this Sunday, but in case you missed any of the NFL tidbits that spread while you were rooting for your favorite movie of the year, here are some links surrounding NFC teams:
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a look at the Cardinals salary cap situation going into the offseason. He writes that the team should be all in on 2015, and could afford to take some risks to put them over the top.
- Cardinals running back Andre Ellington averaged only 3.3 yards per carry this past season under an increased workload, down from a fantastic 5.5 yards per carry as a rookie in 2013. The organization still believes he can be the focal point of the offense, but that he needs to get bigger and stronger in order to carry that load, writes Chris Wesseling of NFL.com
- The Lions had a very positive interview with defensive tackle Nick Fairley at the combine today, and expressed interest in keeping him in Detroit, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- In Cowboys’ news, Kevin Sherrington of DallasNews.com suggests that the team is not dependent on a Dez Bryant deal in order to move on with other roster moves this offseason, and his colleague Rainer Sabin writes that he does not expect the franchise tag to alter Bryant’s on-field performance if the Cowboys decide to use it on him this offseason.
- The Vikings’ front office has been looking closely at running backs in the combine, with plans to either supplement or replace Adrian Peterson depending on what happens this offseason, writes Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
- Washington executive A.J. Smith will not be returning to the team, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times who cites a Providence Journal report (via Twitter). Boyer notes that this isn’t a surprise, as team president Bruce Allen hinted at it when Scott McCloughan was hired as the team’s general manager.