NFC South Notes: Bucs, Falcons, Panthers
The Buccaneers revamped both their front office and their coaching staff this offseason, but that doesn’t mean the situation in Tampa Bay is entirely negative. The team is actually in decent shape with regards to the salary cap, thanks in no small part to several players whose performance far exceeds their compensation. With that in mind, Pat Yasinkas of ESPN.com examines the top five bargains on the Bucs roster, with linebacker Lavonte David taking the top spot. David, a 2013 All-Pro, graded out as Pro Football Focus’ second-best 4-3 outside linebacker (subscription required), but his base salary is just $705K. Likewise, running back Doug Martin, who has shown flashes of brilliance when not impaired by injuries, will make only $1MM in 2014 and count just $1.8MM against the cap. Of course, both of these players are on their rookie contracts, and hefty extensions for both would certainly repeal each’s “bargain” label.
More from the NFC South:
- Change is definitely afoot in Tampa, as Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune notes (on Twitter) that the Buccaneers could have 11 new starters in 2014, including eight on offense alone.
- Kaufman also tweets that the primary goal for the Buccaneers should be to avoid last place in the NFC South; Tampa Bay has finished in the basement six times in the past 12 years, while the other teams in the division have only done so twice each.
- The Falcons bolstered their offensive line this offseason, adding Jon Asamoah in free agency and Jake Matthews in the draft, and quarterback Matt Ryan is hopeful that the changes will be a step towards Atlanta improving upon its 2013 4-12 record (per Daniel Cox of AtlantaFalcons.com). “I think our offensive line has done a really nice job during the OTA period as well as during minicamp,” said Ryan, who was sacked 44 times last year (third-most in the NFL). “From a communication standpoint, we’ve got a few changes from what we’ve done around here in the past and those guys are working through those changes. I think one of the big things that [head coach] Mike [Smith] preaches is communication at the line of scrimmage. You can hear those guys talking a bunch and making sure they’re on the same page.“
- Smith, who was notably unhappy with the presence of HBO’s Hard Knocks series in Baltimore when he was a position coach with the Ravens, has embraced the cameras this time around because he believes the show will handle sensitive Falcons issues, such as cuts, with tact, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- In his latest mailbag, ESPN.com’s David Newton writes that rookie Kelvin Benjamin is the Panthers’ nominal No. 1 receiver, adding that his size (6’5″, 240 pounds) will make him an ideal red zone target.
NFC Notes: Gabbert, Cromartie, Peterson
The 49ers acquired Blaine Gabbert from the Jaguars earlier this offseason, with the hopes that he could become the backup to Colin Kaepernick. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman had good early impressions of Gabbert, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “(I’m) excited about Blaine,” said Roman. “He asks all the right questions.”
Gabbert appears humbled in his time with Jacksonville, and is ready to make a new start. “I just came in here and tried to put my best foot forward every day and really enjoy the process and get better on a consistent basis,” Gabbert said. “That’s what you look for in the spring — just consistent improvement and getting comfortable in the offense and with the new surroundings and the new guys you’re working with.”
Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- While Cardinals‘ superstar Patrick Peterson has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, but his new teammate Antonio Cromartie is not sold on his skills, writes Nate Davis of USAToday.com. “You got three young guys that are up and coming, but right now it’s either me or (Revis) when we’re healthy. … We have zero help at all; we tell the safety to roll up to the other side. So we know what we can do,” said Cromartie. “I want these guys (Sherman, Peterson and Haden) to be on an island by themselves and play zero coverage (no safety help) – they (haven’t done) it yet. They haven’t done anything that me and Revis have done in a Rex Ryan defense.”
- As new offensive coordinator Norv Turner implements his offense on the Vikings, one key aspect he would like is increasing Adrian Peterson‘s role in the passing game, writes Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com. “A big part of that is finding ways for Adrian to not have to run in such crowded areas all the time. He’s going to have to do that, that’s part of his job, he’s the best in the league at it.,” said Turner. “But if we can get him more space we can take advantage of his great abilities.”
- The Packers have an open starting job at tight end with Jermichael Finley not re-signed, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Andrew Quarless filled in well for Finley last season, but has not reported for OTAs this season as he looks for a new contract. In his absence, rookie Richard Rogers has emerged as a possible frontrunner for the starting job.
- T.J. Yates, who was traded from the Texans to the Falcons on Wednesday night, tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he couldn’t be happier with his change of scenery.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Jets, Dolphins, Falcons, Giants
Plenty of teams around the league are making transactions today as minicamps wrap up and clubs look to finalize their rosters in advance of next month’s training camp. Let’s dive right in and check out the latest minor roster moves, with any additional transactions added to the top of the page throughout the afternoon and evening….
- Undrafted rookie tight end Terrence Miller has been cut by the Jets, creating a second available roster spot after yesterday’s release of Mike Goodson. As the team reveals in a press release, kicker Andrew Furney and punter Jacob Schum will fill those openings.
- The Dolphins have replaced one defensive back with another, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed Kevin Fogg and parted ways with Anthony Gaitor.
Earlier updates:
- The Falcons have waived quarterback Dominique Davis, the team announced today (via Twitter). Davis saw a little playing time last season in relief of starter Matt Ryan, but his grip on a roster spot was tenuous after Atlanta acquired T.J. Yates in a trade with the Texans yesterday. Davis will have to clear waivers before officially becoming a free agent.
- In a series of three tweets, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News passes along word of a series of signings and cuts for the Giants, who have added offensive tackle Demarcus Love and defensive lineman Everett Dawkins, parting ways with defensive tackle Eathyn Manumaleuna and offensive lineman Steven Baker to make room on the 90-man roster.
- Long snapper Charley Hughlett, punter Kasey Redfern, and wide receiver Nathan Slaughter, who auditioned for the Jaguars earlier this week, have been signed by the club, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. In addition to Jason Babin, wide receivers Kevin Smith and Brandon Wimberly were cut by Jacksonville to create roster space.
- The Chiefs have waived defensive lineman Chas Alecxih, according to the club (Twitter link).
- For the third straight summer, defensive lineman Brandon McKinney will try to earn a roster spot with the Colts, who inked him to a deal today, tweets Craig Kelley of Colts.com.
- The Bears have informed tight end Fendi Onobun of his release, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).
- The Patriots have cut wide receiver Reggie Dunn, the team confirmed in a press release.
South Notes: Jags, Babin, Bucs, Falcons
The Jaguars are being smart by taking a slow, deliberate approach with Blake Bortles, writes Jim Corbett of USA Today. The rookie quarterback has stumbled at times in practice, but GM Dave Caldwell is focusing on the positives and not stressing the mistakes. Here’s more on the Jags and a few other teams in the NFL’s two South divisions:
- The Jaguars‘ decision to release veteran defensive end Jason Babin today wasn’t an easy one, according to Caldwell, who spoke to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union about the move. “It was something that we met about until last night with the coaching staff,” Caldwell said. “Jason’s been great for us. But it was something we felt would be better now than the first, second or third week of training camp.”
- Now that Babin is a free agent, the Buccaneers and Falcons could be two potential suitors to watch, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. According to Garafolo, both NFC South teams have been kicking the tires on veteran pass rushers who may be available via trade.
- Even after the Texans parted ways with T.J. Yates, sending him to Atlanta, Case Keenum isn’t taking his spot on Houston’s roster for granted, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Keenum is expected to battle rookie signal-caller Tom Savage for the No. 2 job behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Falcons Sign Tim Dobbins
The Falcons lost a linebacker tonight when they traded Akeem Dent to the Texans for quarterback T.J. Yates, but they wasted little time in finding a replacement. The club announced that they have agreed to terms with linebacker Tim Dobbins, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Dobbins was mentioned last week by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network as one of the veteran LBs that Atlanta was eyeing. The Falcons were also considering Jonathan Vilma, who worked out for the team today, and Pat Angerer, but it appears that Dobbins has won out. Dobbins doesn’t have the name recognition of either player but Atlanta brass clearly feels better about what the lesser-known talent can provide in 2014.
Over parts of eight seasons with the Chargers, Dolphins, and Texans, Dobbins has appeared in 110 games and made 22 starts. He has 195 total tackles to his credit with two sacks and seven fumble recoveries. Four of those fumble recoveries came during an especially fortuitous 2012 season.
The Falcons could have given consideration to other big names like the recently retired London Fletcher or ex-Steelers LB James Harrison, but both ideas were shot down last week by Rapoport’s report.
Falcons Acquire T.J. Yates
The Falcons have acquired quarterback T.J. Yates from the Texans in exchange for linebacker Akeem Dent, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The Texans decided to waive Yates yesterday but it appears that the transaction wasn’t made official. Therefore, Yates remained on the Texans’ roster and they were able to ship him to Atlanta.
Yates, a fifth-round pick in 2011, has spent the last three seasons with the Texans, most notably starting five games for the club in his rookie year and winning a playoff game in that season. Since then, he has seen limited action, completing 19 of 32 attempts in the last two years, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The Ravens were linked to Yates but he’ll instead head to the NFC where he’ll look to find a role in support of starter Matt Ryan.
Yates started in place of Matt Schaub in 2011, helping to guide the Texans to their first franchise playoff victory. His career hasn’t exactly taken off since then, however, and last season he was supplanted on the depth chart by rookie QB Case Keenum. With Ryan Fitzpatrick anointed as the starter in Houston, Yates became expendable. The club initially planned on cutting him, but the phones started ringing once word of that got out. Now, the Texans won’t lose him for nothing. He’ll battle it out with Dominique Davis, Jeff Mathews, and Sean Renfree this offseason for a spot on the roster.
Dent, 26, was selected in the third round by Atlanta in the 2011 draft. In three seasons, Dent has seen the field in 47 games and racked up a total of 81 tackles and four pass deflections. Like Yates, Dent is entering the final season of his rookie deal.
Falcons Won’t Sign Jonathan Vilma
8:30pm: The injured knee that landed Vilma on the injured reserve has received a “thumbs up” medically, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. He adds that if Vilma’s signed, it will be before training camp.
4:19pm: Things could change, but as of right now, the Falcons won’t be signing free agent linebacker Jonathan Vilma, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Atlanta worked out Vilma earlier today.
If the Falcons sign Vilma, Garafolo says that it will be further down the line and possibly during training camp. Vilma and other veteran linebackers have been connected to Atlanta ever since the team lost Sean Weatherspoon to a ruptured Achilles, but the Falcons might not be in a rush to find an out-of-house replacement, if at all.
It’s also possible that Vilma’s performance today wasn’t quite what Atlanta was expecting. The former Jets and Saints standout has struggled with a left knee problem that limited him to just one game in 2013.
Free Agent Rumors: Flowers, Vilma, Muir
Earlier today, we heard that cornerback Brandon Flowers, the most noteworthy name on the free agent market, will likely make a decision on where to sign within the next three to five days. The afternoon has brought a couple of updates on Flowers, along with several items on other free agents. Let’s dive in and check out the latest….
- The Chargers are hosting Flowers for a free agent visit today, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As I pointed out this morning, the most serious suitors for the veteran corner may be teams we haven’t heard many rumblings about yet, and San Diego fits that bill.
- According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Flowers has also received significant interest from the Falcons and Vikings. Sources from both of those clubs have downplayed their interest to local reporters, so it’s hard to get a read on whether their interest is being overstated by sources close to Flowers or understated by team sources. Besides those clubs, the Patriots and Ravens also have some interest, tweets Wilson.
- As they continue to weigh options to replace Sean Weatherspoon, the Falcons are working out veteran linebacker Jonathan Vilma today, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). A source confirms to ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (Twitter link) that the workout went well, though the team didn’t sign Vilma right away.
- Defensive tackle Daniel Muir, who spent last season with the Raiders after also playing for the Packers, Colts, and Jets, auditioned for the Ravens today, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
- Guards Steve Greene and John Sullen and defensive tackles Gilbert Pena and Everett Dawkins tried out for the Giants at the team’s minicamp today, tweets Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
Brandon Flowers Rumors: Tuesday
Yesterday’s roundup of Brandon Flowers rumors primarily consisted of sources downplaying teams’ interest in the veteran cornerback, though several clubs still appear to be in the running. The Lions, at least, are said to be “seriously considering” making a run at the former Chief. Here are Tuesday’s updates on Flowers, with any new reports added to the top of the page throughout the afternoon and evening:
- Although the Falcons, who employ former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, were quickly identified as one of the favorites to land Flowers when he became available, an organizational source tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Atlanta doesn’t presently have interest in the corner.
- Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities hears that the Vikings are still in the hunt for Flowers, though he thinks it will be a “tough battle to win,” with several other clubs also involved (Twitter link).
- We heard yesterday that the Redskins don’t have interest in Flowers, and ESPN.com’s John Keim (Twitter link) confirms that Washington wasn’t even one of the 10 clubs that initially inquired on the free agent.
Minor Moves: Texans, Chargers, Pats, Titans, Falcons
Here are Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with any new moves added to the top of the page throughout the evening:
- The Texans have signed offensive tackle Will Yeatman to a two-year deal, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link). Yeatman is a converted tight end who has spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins; he’ll compete for a backup position in Houston.
- The Chargers added a little camp depth to their secondary today by signing former Texas safety Adrian Phillips to a contract, the team announced in a press release. Running back D.J. Adams was waived by San Diego to create an opening on the team’s roster.
- The Patriots have cut tight end Kyle Auffray, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter). The New Hampshire alum, who also has experience at quarterback and punter, only lasted a week on New England’s roster after signing with the club last Monday.
- Linebacker James Gayle, who was cut by the Titans on Friday, has been added to the team’s injured reserve list after clearing waivers, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Gayle is recovering from shoulder surgery.
- Another more notable name also hit injured reserve today: The Falcons placed linebacker Sean Weatherspoon on their IR list, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.