Dallas Robinson | Pro Football Rumors

The Hidden Value Of Barkevious Mingo

By Dallas Robinson | at August 26, 2016 11:38 am

The Twitter-verse was quick to decide a winner in yesterday’s trade of linebacker Barkevious Mingo from the Browns to the Patriots, with the new potential outcomes for the former sixth overall pick ranging from Pro Bowler to Hall of Famer. Bill Belichick has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to wringing out every last bit of talent from an unheralded player, but the New England head coach might be playing an entirely different game altogether: mastering the NFL’s compensatory pick system.

While the league has never disclosed the formula that it uses when calculating which clubs receive compensatory selections, the basics of the process are known. Essentially, comp picks are granted to teams that lose more compensatory players than they sign during the free agent period. Each club can receive a maximum of four comp selections, and while the specifics of the method aren’t made public, analysts such as Nick Korte of Over the Cap have reverse-engineered the exercise to reveal that average salary and play time are key factors.

The Patriots, among other teams, have taken advantage of this arrangement for years by staying out of the big-ticket free agent market. As Bill Barnwell of Grantland explained last January:

By [not signing expensive free agents] and having other teams target their free agents, the Patriots come in line for various compensatory picks from the NFL’s obtuse, black-box system. These picks aren’t tradable (ed. note: comp picks will be tradable beginning in 2017), and no team can receive anything higher than a third-rounder as part of the league’s system, but their value can add up over time. The Patriots have made 25 compensatory selections during Belichick’s time with the team, and the estimated value of those picks — based on their draft slot alone — is roughly between the value of having the first overall pick and the second overall pick. All for not signing free agents.

But Belichick and the rest of the New England front office have also been targeting another ripe area of the NFL’s structure: the trade market, and more specifically, the trade market for players nearing the end of their contracts. Mingo is the latest example, but over the past several years, the Patriots have looked to acquire players who were close to reaching the free agent market, presumably in the hopes that yet another compensatory pick might come their way.

In 2012, the Pats shipped a fourth-round pick to the Buccaneers for a (at the time) disappointing former first-rounder cornerback in Aqib Talib, who had earlier that year been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s PED policy. Given that they also received a seventh-round pick in the swap, the Patriots gave up roughly 3.7 points of approximate value in order to acquire Talib, according to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective’s draft value chart.

17 months later, Talib hit free agency and signed a hefty contract with the Broncos that averaged $9.5MM per season. New England, in turn, netted a third-round compensatory pick, which ended up being the 97th overall selection. That pick, per Stuart’s valuation, was worth 5.5 points of AV, meaning it was roughly 67% more valuable than the package the Patriots originally sent to Tampa Bay for Talib. Without even factoring in the 13 points of AV that Talib posted while in New England, the Pats were able to leverage the comp pick system to their benefit by simply exuding patience and fiscal restraint.

Belichick and the Patriots pulled another heist in October 2014, when they traded a sixth-round pick to the Titans in exchange for linebacker Akeem Ayers and a seventh-round pick. The difference in draft selections ended up being negligible (208 vs. 219), so the Pats only surrendered 0.3 points of AV in the deal. Ayers put up 3 points of AV down the stretch run in New England, and then signed a two-year pact with the Rams in the spring of 2015.

As such, the Patriots are currently projected to pick up the final 2017 compensatory pick, a sixth-rounder that will help defray the original cost of acquiring Ayers. So, at the end of the day, New England will have essentially gotten Ayers’ 2014 production for free. While it’s not quite the massive success that was that Talib trade, it’s a small move that added talent to New England roster at zero cost.

Not every trade with an eye towards a future compensatory pick has worked out for the Patriots. Less than a week after acquiring Ayers in 2014, New England dealt for fellow linebacker Jonathan Casillas, sending a fifth-round pick to the Bucs in exchange for Casillas and a sixth-rounder. While the deal itself was a win — the Pats sacrificed only 0.4 points of AV while Casillas posted 2 AV once coming to New England — the club didn’t reap a comp pick because Casillas’ new deal with the Giants wasn’t costly enough. It’s a similar story for defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, whom the Pats traded for last year — New England won’t get a comp selection thanks to the league’s complicated cancellation charts.

So, back to Mingo: clearly, the former LSU Tiger never lived up to his draft billing. He’s largely become a special teams player, and he’s posted only seven total sacks during his entire career, including none last season (although he did grade as Pro Football Focus’ No. 14 3-4 OLB in 2014). But Mingo wouldn’t have to do all that much to allow the Patriots to get a comp pick in 2018.

Next spring, for example, the last compensatory selection is expected to be awarded to the Steelers for losing Antwon Blake, who signed for less than $2MM annually with the Titans. Mingo wouldn’t have to be a superstar during the upcoming season to get $2MM on the open market. With his draft pedigree, Mingo would probably land a respectable deal if he shows any semblance of competence over the next few months.

Let’s take a look at the possible net gain (or loss) in AV for the Patriots based on a potential comp pick. I used mid-range values for the compensatory picks, and an early playoff pick for the 2017 fifth-rounder sent to Cleveland.

Obviously, it’s extremely unlikely that Mingo would net the Patriots a third-round comp pick; in 2017, those selections are projected to go to the clubs that lost Brock Osweiler, Olivier Vernon, Josh Norman, and others who crossed the $11MM annual salary barrier. It’s hard to imagine Mingo reaching that level even if he somehow posted a breakout campaign, but New England can still defray its cost in acquiring Mingo (and benefit from his 2016 production) if its able to leverage him into a mid-round compensatory pick.

Along with Belichick, Tom Brady‘s presence in the Patriots organization is the single largest contributor to the club’s run of success. But the little things — making smart draft-day swaps, capitalizing on the compensatory system by staying out of free agency, and acquiring players with an eye towards the comp selection process — have also played a significant role in New England’s triumphs over the past 15 years, and the rest of the NFL could stand to take a page out of the Patriots’ book.

Compensatory pick research by Nick Korte of Over the Cap was extremely helpful in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

10 comments New England Patriots PFR Originals Barkevious Mingo

Offseason In Review: Indianapolis Colts

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 8:53 pm

Many NFL observers had not only penciled in the Colts for a lengthy postseason run, but projected Andrew Luck to be among the league’s top contenders for the MVP award. Instead, Luck dealt with injuries (and wasn’t all that productive when he was on the field), and though backup Matt Hasselbeck played well at times, the offense couldn’t handle the loss of its starting quarterback, and finished 30th in DVOA. Indy’s defense was surprisingly competent (13th in DVOA), but that performance wasn’t enough to help the club finish better than 8-8, second in the AFC South.

Notable signings:

Dwayne Allen, TE: Four years, $29.4MM. $11.5MM guaranteed.
Patrick Robinson, CB: Three years, $14MM. $6MM guaranteed.
Adam Vinatieri, K: Two years, $6MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Scott Tolzien, QB: Two years, $3.5MM. $500K guaranteed.
Jordan Todman, RB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $480K guaranteed.
Antonio Cromartie, CB: One year $3MM. $250K guaranteed. $500K available via incentives.
Jack Doyle, TE: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Robert Turbin, RB: One year, minimum salary benefit.

The Colts and general manager Ryan Grigson have been active spenders during the last two free agent periods, as they’ve attempted to augment their roster with external additions. During the 2014-15 offseasons, Indianapolis handed out an average of $38.5MM in guaranteed money while inking veterans such as D’Qwell Jackson, Arthur Jones, Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, and Trent Cole. This year, the club took a markedly different approach, limiting their free agent spending and disbursing less than $20MM in guarantees.

The majority of that money went towards re-signing one of the Colts’ own free agents, as the club hammered out a four-year deal to retain tight end Dwayne Allen. The 26-year-old is coming off a platform season during which he was not only hampered by ankle and calf injuries, but posted only 16 receptions for just over 100 yards and one touchdown, so it’s perhaps surprising that Allen is now among the 10 highest-paid tight ends on an annual basis.

But this contract was offered with an eye towards the future, as new Indy offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski — a former tight ends coach who often features the position in his scheme — reportedly told Allen that he’d be more involved in the club’s gameplan going forward. Allen has flashed before (he put up a 45/521/3 line during his rookie campaign), and as Scott Barrett of Pro Football Focus noted at time of the signing, Allen has always graded out well as a blocker, both in the run and pass game.

The Colts’ only other notable re-signing was that of kicker Adam Vinatieri, with whom the club worked out a two-year deal. In 2015, Vinatieri connected on 25 of 27 field goal tries, for a 92.6% conversion rate. However, he did occasionally struggle with the longer extra point, missing three of 35 attempts. Still, there were few NFL kickers more reliable than Vinatieri, who is now third on the league’s list of all-time leading scorers. With 2,253 points, Vinatieri should be able to make a run at Morten Andersen (2,544) and Gary Anderson (2,434) as he plays out the final leg of his career.

On defense, Indianapolis found a cornerback who can slot in opposite Vontae Davis, as it agreed to terms with Patrick Robinson, who spent last season with the Chargers. A first-round pick of the Saints back in 2010, Robinson never broke out until heading to San Diego, as he started 10 games in 2015 and graded as the league’s No. 30 CB among 111 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

Because Davis lines up primarily on the right side, Robinson will see most of his time at left corner, although he is also capable of playing in the slot. As PFF’s Nathan Jahnke tweeted earlier this year, Robinson held quarterbacks to the third-worst rating (67.7) in the league when lined up in the slot. But with Darius Butler entrenched on the inside, Robinson will likely stay on the outside most of the time, something that Grigson confirmed when the 28-year-old was signed.

Joining Robinson in the secondary will be veteran corner Antonio Cromartie, who was just signed yesterday following news that Davis will miss at least the first month of the season with an ankle injury. Cromartie, a 10-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler, has been on the open market since the Jets released him in February. That was the end of Cromartie’s second stint with New York, which lasted only one season. Pro Football Focus ranked him just 86th out of 111 qualified cornerbacks in 2015, but he’ll now likely be counted on to start for a quarter of the season at minimum.

While Indianapolis is planning on Robinson and Cromartie providing consistent production in the defensive backfield, the club is surely hoping that Scott Tolzien doesn’t see many — if any — snaps this year as he serves as Andrew Luck‘s backup at quarterback. Luck is coming off an injury-wrecked season, but the Colts were able to stay afloat thanks in some part to the play of Matt Hasselbeck.

Tolzien, meanwhile, doesn’t have anywhere close to the level of experience that Hasselbeck did, as Tolzien has only attempted 91 passes during his career. As such, it’s fair to wonder why Indy didn’t target a more high-profile backup signal-caller. But, as former Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore once said (in an extremely colorful way), clubs are usually finished if their starting quarterback goes down, so perhaps not investing in a No. 2 option is the smart strategy.

Indianapolis doesn’t have much depth behind Luck, and the club is also short on options behind running back Frank Gore, who is entering his age-33 season. Veteran free agent additions Jordan Todman and Robert Turbin, each of whom signed minimum salary benefit deals, both figure to make the roster and would likely share carries if Gore suffers an injury. However, 2016 undrafted free agent Josh Ferguson has been drawing rave reviews, and could leap both Todman and Turbin for playing time.

Continue reading about the Colts’ offseason…

Notable losses:

The Colts were always going to be forced to choose between tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, and according to Fleener, Indianapolis didn’t seem to struggle with their decision. “The Colts’ lack of interest and the Saints’ interest made going to New Orleans an easy choice,” Fleener told Mike Wells of ESPN.com earlier this year. Allen is probably the more complete tight end, but Fleener holds the advantage in terms of pure receiving talent, and he could be in line for a massive season catching passes from Drew Brees. Allen scored a slightly larger annual salary, but Fleener secured $3MM+ more in guaranteed money.

Indy’s passing attack will also be without veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson, who was released just one season into a three-year deal, meaning he earned $10MM+ for one campaign’s worth of work. Johnson, who has since signed with the division-rival Titans, posted the worst season of his career in 2015, struggling to create separation from defensive backs while managing only 503 receiving yards and two scores. The Texans looked to have made the right decision in parting ways with Johnson after 2014, and his deal with the Colts is just one more black mark on general manager Ryan Grigson‘s ledger. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who has been incredibly productive on a per-play basis with Indy, was placed on injured reserve in November and hasn’t drawn any known interest on the open market.

Elsewhere on offense, veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck — who helped the Colts stay on the fringes of the playoff race despite a bundle of injuries — decided to retire, despite the fact that he posted relatively results in 2015. In eight starts, Hasselbeck posted a 5-3 record, completed 61% of his passes for 1,690 yards, and threw nine touchdowns against five interceptions. Although he likely would have been welcomed back for another season in Indianapolis, Hasselbeck instead chose to become an analyst for ESPN.

Center Khaled Holmes and guard Lance Louis spent more than 700 snaps trying to protect Hasselbeck, but neither will be back with the Colts in 2016. Both were slightly below-average players last season, but it was a tad surprising that Indy chose to cut ties with Holmes, who is still only 26 years old. Clearly, Holmes wasn’t going to continue to start after the Colts drafted Ryan Kelly in the first round, but he could have been a relatively valuable depth piece on an offensive line that has struggled with injuries.

On the defensive side of the ball, the most talented player walking out the door is linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who was lured to Chicago by a three-year, $12MM deal. There were conflicting reports as to whether the Colts were serious about retaining Freeman, a former CFLer who ranked as PFF’s No. 4 linebacker last season. While Freeman says Indianapolis never actually made him an offer, other reports indicated that the Colts proposed the same contract that he ultimately signed with the Bears.

Grigson has taken his fair share of heat for failed free agent signings, but Dwight Lowery, who agree to a minimum salary benefit contract prior to 2015, was a success story, as the veteran safety started all 16 games and served as a stabilizing presence in the secondary. However, Lowery is now 30 years old, so letting him walk and sign a three-year deal with the Chargers was also an idea I can get behind. Fellow defensive back Greg Toler is gone as well, but the Colts shouldn’t worry too much his loss, as he ranked about the six worst corners in the league last season, per PFF.

None of Bjoern Werner, Billy Winn, Jonathan Newsome, or Colt Anderson played more than 350 snaps on defense last year, and although all four played some sort of role on special teams, the Colts ranked in the middle of the pack on teams, so the club probably won’t miss anyone from this group. Werner, notably, is a former first-round pick who only posted 6.5 sacks in three seasons in Indy, while Anderson was part of perhaps the worst play in NFL history.

Trades:

Acquired a 2016 second-round pick (No. 57), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 125, and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 248) from the Packers in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick (No. 48).

Draft picks:

1-18: Ryan Kelly, C (Alabama)
2-57: T.J. Green, S (Clemson)
3-82: Le’Raven Clark, T (Texas Tech)
4-116: Hassan Ridgeway, DT (Texas)
4-125: Antonio Morrison, LB (Florida)
5-155: Joe Haeg, T (North Dakota State)
7-239: Trevor Bates, DE/OLB (Maine)
7-248: Austin Blythe, C (Iowa)

Offensive line has been an issue in Indianapolis since Andrew Luck entered the league in 2012, and the club has tried a variety of combinations in order to keep Luck upright. The front five hasn’t been stellar in the run game, either, as they ranked 27th in Football Outsiders’ adjusted line yards metric last season. With that in mind, the Colts used their first-round pick on center Ryan Kelly, whom some evaluators considered the most pro-ready offensive lineman in this year’s draft.

Kelly was immediately installed as Indy’s first-team center, and he should prove to be an upgrade over Khaled Holmes (who was waived) and Jonotthan Harrison. PFR’s scouting guru Dave-Te Thomas is a fan of Kelly, as well, writing that the Alabama alum will bring an “instant nastiness” to the Colts offensive line.

“Strength is needed [at center in the Colts’ scheme] in order to stall the bull rush and help in widening the rush lanes,” writes Thomas. “Quick feet and fluid retreat skills are required, as it is often the center that has to drop back and protect the pocket in passing situations. A long reach, firm anchor and great balance are important for the center, as he is usually asked to work in combination with his guards getting out in front on traps and pulls. These are all the traits that Kelly brings to the table…”

Second-rounder T.J. Green will also be expected to contribute from the get-go, as he’s penciled in as the Colts’ starting strong safety given that Clayton Geathers is still dealing with a foot injury. Defensive coordinator Ted Monachino says Green still has some work to do, but the former Clemson Tiger has a fan in Thomas. “Do not be fooled by Green’s lack of experience,” says Thomas. “He has keen football instincts and field awareness, showing good urgency taking proper angles to close and shows a good feel in zone coverage to pick up and anticipate on the switch-off and combo routes. He processes the action in front of him well and gets a quick jump on the ball in run support.”

Extensions and Restructures:

Andrew Luck, QB: Extended through 2021. Five years, $122.97MM. $47MM guaranteed.
Trent Cole, LB: Accepted pay cut, creating ~$1.5MM in cap space by lowering 2016 base salary from $4.25MM to $2MM. In exchange, will earn guaranteed $1MM roster bonus.
Arthur Jones, DL: Accepted pay cut, creating $2MM in cap space by lowering 2016 base salary from $4.5MM to $2.5MM. Can earn $2MM through roster bonuses and incentives.

The Colts made Andrew Luck the highest-paid player in NFL history on a per-year basis, but the deal still seems like an underpay, a conclusion reached by many league observers. Luck had all sorts of leverage during negotiations, even coming off a lost season, but he still failed to top the $25MM salary mark, a plateau that most believed he would easily reach. Additionally, Luck didn’t overtake Aaron Rodgers in terms of guaranteed money ($54MM to $47MM), a fact that’s even more stunning considering that Rodgers signed his extension three years ago.

Luck, whom the Colts chose No. 1 overall out of Stanford in the 2012 draft, completed just 55.3% of his passes and logged 15 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in his injury-riddled, seven-game fourth season. Prior to that, however, he led the league with 40 touchdown passes in 2014 and helped guide the Colts to an AFC title game berth. After going 2-14 in the bridge year between the Peyton Manning era and Luck’s tenure, the Colts posted three consecutive 11-5 seasons from 2012-2014. With Luck on the sideline for most of last season, Indy finished 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs.

All in all, the Colts look to have scored a team-friendly deal, and as Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star noted earlier this year, the contract doesn’t figure to negatively affect the club’s cap in years to come given that the league-wide salary cap will continue to rise. From Luck’s point-of-view, the pact ends one year after the CBA expires and a year before the current TV deals are done. Although Luck will be 32 then, he could be in line for a much larger deal on the other side of this lucrative extension.

Other:

Extended general manager Ryan Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano through 2019.
Hired Ted Monachino as defensive coordinator to replace Greg Manusky.
Hired former Dolphins HC Joe Philbin as offensive line coach.
Learned DL Arthur Jones would be suspended four games (PED policy).
Signed 21 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

In one of the most shocking turn of events during the offseason, the Colts retained both general manager Ryan Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano, ensuring that the pair of decision-makers are now “contractually tied” through 2019, as owner Jim Irsay put it. Despite the duo’s success together, nearly every indication was that Pagano was certainly on his way out, while Grigson was also a candidate to be fired. Pagano and Grigson’s relationship was reportedly “toxic,” and the two lacked any sort of communication throughout the season, but it seems as though the pair’s record together — 41-23 — won out over any sort of personal conflict.

Pagano will have several new coaches working under him, including one, defensive coordinator Ted Monachino, with whom he has prior experience. Monachino was Baltimore’s linebackers coach when Pagano was the club’s DC, so the two should be on the same page in terms of scheme and personnel. Former Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, meanwhile, will be tasked with overhauling an offensive line that has struggled to maintain any semblance of continuity during Pagano’s tenure.

Finally, veteran defensive lineman Arthur Jones will miss the first four games of the season after being popped for PEDs, but it’s hard to say that Jones will represent a major loss for the Colts. After coming over from Baltimore before the 2014 season, Jones has been either ineffective or hurt (he missed all of last year with injury), and was forced to take a paycut earlier this year. Fourth-rounder Hassan Ridgeway looks like the biggest beneficiary of Jones’ absence, as the could take over the starting role for the first quarter of the season, and perhaps beyond.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Andrew Luck, QB: $18,400,000
T.Y. Hilton, WR: $11,000,000
Anthony Castonzo, T: $9,800,000
Dwayne Allen, TE: $8,906,250
Vontae Davis, CB: $8,375,000
Gosder Cherilus, T: $5,800,000 (dead money)
D’Qwell Jackson, LB: $5,750,000
Trent Cole, LB: $5,903,750
Robert Mathis, LB: $5,000,000
Erik Walden, LB: $4,250,000

This offseason, the Colts stopped trying to improve their club by signing over-the-hill veterans, and instead sought to augment their roster through a few cheap free agent contracts and the draft. The AFC South hasn’t gotten any easier, as the Texans may have found a quarterback and the Jaguars supplemented their defense, but as long as Indianapolis has its franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck, contention should be within the club’s grasp.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

0 comments Indianapolis Colts Newsstand Offseason In Review PFR Originals

NFC South Notes: Saints, Aguayo, Panthers

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 8:02 pm

The Saints released Keenan Lewis last week, and the veteran cornerback thinks his relationship with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen led to his ousting, as he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Facebook link) that he and the New Orleans DC never got along. Allen, for his part, denies any rift with Lewis, and head coach Sean Payton says other issues went into the decision to cut Lewis. “He’s 52 weeks post-surgery…Just availability, ultimately. We wish him well,” Payton told Joel Erickson of the Advocate. “I think ultimately, it was just trying to get him on the field. It’s just been, it seems like, a long time.”

Let’s check out the latest from the NFC South:

When asked about bringing in a second kicker, Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said “I wouldn’t think that’s an option,” though he said that is a better question for GM Jason Licht (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times). So far, second-round selection Roberto Aguayo has been struggling, which has led to even more scrutiny on the team’s unorthodox pick.
Former Duke linebacker Jeremy Cash had a fairly quiet training camp, but he helped his cause for making the team in the preseason game against the Titans on Saturday, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. The 6’0″, 215-pound athlete is fighting to make the Panthers with a sizable group of linebackers in front of him on the depth chart.
While the two sides in the Saints‘ ownership spat want until October to decide to on the terms of the settlement that was agreed to earlier this year, the judge in charge of the case has not yet granted that request, writes Ramon Antonio Vargas of the Advocate. Instead, the parties will come together for a conference on the issue tomorrow.
Earlier this week, we learned that wide receiver Brandon Coleman is not a lock for the Saints‘ roster.

1 comment Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jeremy Cash Keenan Lewis

NFL To Interview James Harrison On Thursday

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 6:45 pm

While a prior report indicated the NFL would meet with Steelers linebacker James Harrison next Tuesday regarding recent PED allegations, the league will instead come to Pittsburgh this Thursday, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. the NFL had always wanted to talk this week — and in fact set a August 25 deadline — but Harrison wanted to speak next week, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).

Last week, the NFL stated that the four players involved in the PED scandal — Harrsion, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, and Mike Neal — would be required to submit to interviews by Thursday or face suspension. The NFL received written statements from the four players in question at the end of last month, and the NFLPA is of the opinion that those affadavits qualify as “cooperation.” The league disagrees, and is still requiring the individuals to partake in in-person interviews.

Harrison, for his part, has said he never denied any interview, but claimed he’d like for the meeting to be televised (and also referred to commissioner Roger Goodell as a “crook”). He, Matthews, and Peppers agreed to sit-downs, but Neal was of a different mind, at least originally. One report indicated that Neal had no intention of meeting with the NFL given that he’s considering retirement, but that notion was quickly disputed, and Neal will interview with the league.

Matthews and Peppers will meet with NFL officials in Green Bay tomorrow, while Neal is scheduled to sit down with the league in Chicago on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

3 comments Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison

Karlos Williams Visits Jets

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 5:57 pm

Former Bills running back Karlos Williams surprisingly went unclaimed on waivers after being cut loose over the weekend, but he’s already garnering interest from another AFC East club. Williams met with the Jets today, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 (Twitter link). However, “no deal is imminent” between the two sides, a source tells Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

The Jets would seem to be an odd fit for Williams given that they already boast a significant amount of talent in their backfield. New York agreed to a three-year deal with former Bears back Matt Forte over the offseason, and also re-signed Bilal Powell on a three-year pact that contained $6MM in guarantees. In addition to its top two backs, the Jets also have Khiry Robinson on the roster (though he’s admittedly still recovering from a broken leg) along with former Falcons RB Antone Smith, who was just signed last week.

Clearly, there are reasons to be concerned about Williams’ future. He’ll be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and he’s struggled with his weight throughout the offseason. At one point, Williams was up 261 pounds, and after losing some of that heft, he’d reportedly begun to balloon once again, leaving the Bills to wonder if he was serious about football.

But Williams also flashed dynamic ability during his rookie season, finishing with 613 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs on just 104 touches while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The 23-year-old also became one of just two players in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first six games in the league. All in all, Williams seemingly defines an old adage: high risk, high reward.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

1 comment New York Jets Karlos Williams

Jeremy Mincey To Retire

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 5:42 pm

Veteran defensive end Jeremy Mincey announced his retirement on Instagram, posting a picture of hung-up cleats along with a detailed message thanking his previous teams and supporters.

“I just want you all to know: family, fans, and supporters gave me the hope to make it this far, to inspire those who will come behind me,” said Mincey. “I played the game with love, passion and relentlessly (sic) to prove to people your heart will take you as far as you want it to go. Trust me. I had half the talent a lot of guys had in this league.What separated me from the others was my will for victory.”

Mincey had free agent offers on the table, but is instead opting to follow through with retirement, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. It’s not surprising that Mincey had generated interest, as even in his age-32 season he was productive, appearing in 14 games for the Cowboys (six starts) and grading as the No. 61 edge defender in the league, with exceptionally high marks against the run, according to Pro Football Focus. Dallas, however, was not open to a reunion with Mincey, whom PFR recently ranked as the 10th-best free agent defender.

Just a year ago, Mincey posted even better results, managing six sacks for the Cowboys while starting all 16 games. In eight NFL seasons, Mincey, a former sixth-round draft selection, appeared in 96 games and put up 26 sacks, eight fumble recoveries, and 158 tackles. The Florida alum spent time with the Patriots, Jaguars, and Broncos before signing with Dallas prior to the 2014 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

1 comment Dallas Cowboys Jeremy Mincey

Steelers Extend LB Vince Williams

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 5:13 pm

The Steelers announced that they’ve reached a three-year extension with linebacker Vince Williams. The new deal will begin this season, meaning Williams is now locked up through the 2018 campaign.

Williams, 26, started 11 games during his rookie season in 2013, but has since been relegated to a backup role — he’s appeared in all 32 contests over the past two years, but has started only two games during that time. Given the presence of Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons at inside ‘backer, Williams doesn’t figure to see much action with Pittsburgh during the upcoming season, but that’s not to say he isn’t a valuable commodity.

Though he played only 192 defensive snaps in 2015, Willams saw time on 300 special teams plays, meaning he was on the field for more than two-thirds of the Steelers’ ST snaps. The former Florida State Seminole picked up 25 tackles a year ago, adding a half-sack and two fumble recoveries for good measure. And, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, Williams might boast the league’s best bio picture on NFL.com.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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NFC West Notes: Rams, Keenum, Cards

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 12:00 pm

Case Keenum has performed well enough during the preseason to earn the Rams‘ starting quarterback job over No. 1 pick Jared Goff, argues Vincent Bosnignore of the Los Angeles Daily News. The duo’s stats aren’t all the different — Keenum has 10 of 13 attempts for 111 yards and a touchdown, while Goff is 12 of 21 for 121 yards, one score, and one interception — but Goff has struggled with snaps and penalties while Keenum has shown a command of the Los Angeles offense. Additionally, says Bonsignore in a few follow-up tweets, the Rams could be competitive in 2016 thanks to their defense and running game, so Keenum makes more sense for the club right now rather than Goff, who will need some time to develop.

Let’s check out a few more notes from the NFC West:

Cardinals linebacker Shaq Riddick has a torn oblique and is facing an uncertain timetable, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. Riddick didn’t play a single snap after being selected in the fifth-round of the 2015 draft, and wasn’t even on the gameday active roster until December. However, Arizona has expressed faith in Riddick (and the club’s other young edge rushers), and had refrained from re-signing Dwight Freeney in the hopes of handing more snaps to its more youthful players. Riddick isn’t the only Cards defender dealing with an injury, as fellow linebacker Alex Okafor is set to play through a biceps tear.
Once roster cutdowns begin over the course of the next few weeks, the Cardinals could be looking for help at cornerback, offensive tackle, and linebacker, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link). Linebacker is an obvious area of need given the injuries to Riddick and Okafor, and Arizona’s depth at corner is depleted, even when counting its recent signings of Mike Jenkins (who is hurt) and Alan Ball. Swing tackle is another area of concern, and the Cards have been linked to free agent Will Beatty.
Former first-round pick Jimmie Ward, who spent his first two seasons with the 49ers as a reserve safety and nickel corner, is likely to be San Francisco’s starting outside corner opposite Tramaine Brock, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “It’s looking that way right now,” said 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil. “He hasn’t really been tested in a game, yet. But he’s done a great job in the three practices we’ve had with other teams and the two preseason games.” Ward played on roughly 65% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps a year ago, and should see that percentage rise as he takes on a larger role.
In case you missed it, PFR spoke with Will Leitch about the Cardinals‘ offseason and the season ahead.

0 comments Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Jimmie Ward Shaquille Riddick

Eagles Sign Stephen Tulloch

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 10:23 am

TUESDAY, 10:23am: The deal is now official.

SUNDAY, 5:05pm: The Eagles have reached an agreement with free agent linebacker Stephen Tulloch, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter links). The deal is worth up to $3MM, and contains $1.75MM in guaranteed money, per Florio.

Tulloch, 31, had long been connected to Philadelphia given the presence of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was Tulloch’s head coach in Detroit. The Eagles were said to be in “heavy negotiations” with Tulloch more than two weeks ago, but a contract apparently took awhile to hammer out.

Philadelphia has been on the lookout for help at linebacker, as multiple reports have indicated that the club wanted to add more talent to their front seven, a need that became even more pressing when seventh-round rookie Joe Walker went down with a torn ACL. Moving back to a 4-3 defense following three years playing a 3-4 front, the Eagles are projected to start Jordan Hicks at middle linebacker, with Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks flanking him on either side

In his fifth year in Detroit, Tulloch started all 16 games, racking up 108 total tackles, one sack, and two fumble recoveries. However, he wasn’t quite an every-down player, as he saw time on less than 70% of the Lions’ defensive plays. Tulloch also graded out relatively poorly in Pro Football Focus’ rankings, placing as the No. 54 inside linebacker among 97 qualifiers.

The Dolphins had also recently expressed interest in Tulloch, and had discussed having him in for a workout. However, the club made it clear that it would only consider a cheap deal, which Tulloch apparently wasn’t willing to settle for.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

0 comments Newsstand Philadelphia Eagles Transactions Stephen Tulloch

AFC North Notes: Foster, Steelers, Browns

By Dallas Robinson | at August 23, 2016 10:02 am

Steelers player rep Ramon Foster is prepared for a tussle over the collective bargaining agreement in 2020 and says players should be prepared to sit out games, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Because the league could be headed towards a strike or lockout, Foster is hoping players will save up now. “Hit them in the pocket,” said Foster of the league. “Money always talks.”

Let’s take a look at the latest out of the AFC North:

The Browns are shuffling their defensive backfield, as the club plans to move Jamar Taylor — acquired from the Dolphins in exchange for a 27-spot drop in the draft — to the outside, meaning veteran Tramon Williams will play the slot in sub packages, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. The shift was somewhat necessitated by the ongoing saga of usual slot corner K’Waun Williams, who has been suspended by Cleveland and may not be long for the roster. The Browns, who finished just 27th in pass defense DVOA, also boast Pro Bowler Joe Haden, Justin Gilbert, Trey Caldwell, and Charles Gaines at cornerback, per Roster Resource.
Some of the Ravens‘ roster decisions have been made easier thanks to various suspensions and injuries, as Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun details, but the club’s choice at backup quarterback could still be up in the air. Free agent addition Josh Johnson has played well over the summer, and head coach John Harbaugh said the veteran quarterback is in the competition to be Baltimore’s No. 2 signal-caller. But as Zriebec notes, Ryan Mallett is still the favorite to be the direct reserve to Joe Flacco, especially given that he has more recent starting experience and has also been productive during the preseason.
Earlier today, we heard that while clubs are expressing interest in trading for Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, Cleveland is likely to hold onto the dynamic pass-catcher.
Recently-released cornerback Keenan Lewis will head to Pittsburgh tonight for a visit with the Steelers, for whom he played from 2009-12.

1 comment Baltimore Ravens Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers Jamar Taylor

Headlines

Author: Dallas Robinson

The Hidden Value Of Barkevious Mingo

Offseason In Review: Indianapolis Colts

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Trades:

Draft picks:

Extensions and Restructures:

Other:

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

NFC South Notes: Saints, Aguayo, Panthers

NFL To Interview James Harrison On Thursday

Karlos Williams Visits Jets

Jeremy Mincey To Retire

Steelers Extend LB Vince Williams

NFC West Notes: Rams, Keenum, Cards

Eagles Sign Stephen Tulloch

AFC North Notes: Foster, Steelers, Browns