Broncos, Chris Harris Agree To Extension
SUNDAY, 10:20am: Former NFL agent Joel Corry weighed in this morning with a series of tweets on the Harris deal. Corry noted that Harris’ extension is, for all practical purposes, a three-year, $25MM pact, with two separate option years in 2018 and 2019 that require $1.1MM and $1MM payments to be exercised. Most importantly for Broncos fans, Corry writes that, assuming a 2015 salary cap of about $142MM, Denver will have approximately $31MM of cap space, which is more than enough room to lock up Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas long-term. Corry also adds to the narrative that GM John Elway and his staff have been consistently able to secure quality players with below-market deals, writing that Harris should have been able to get a more lucrative offer from the Broncos as free agency approached.
FRIDAY, 5:41pm: The Broncos and cornerback Chris Harris have reached an agreement on a five-year, $42.5MM extension, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Harris was set to enter unrestricted free agency at season’s end, but he’ll now remain in Denver through the 2019 season.
Per the terms of the new deal, Harris will receive $24MM in guarantees, with $10MM of that coming in the form of a signing bonus. As usual, we’ll have to wait until we se
e the full details of the contract to see how much cash is fully guaranteed — if a portion is guaranteed for injury only, for example, then Harris’ extension might look less impressive. He’ll be paid $18MM over the first two years of the contract, the same amount that Broncos offseason addition (and fellow CB) Aqib Talib will receive during the first two years of his pact. According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link), the maximum value of the contract is $49MM, which indicates the deal likely includes incentives
“Chris is a young, ascending player who has consistently performed at a high level during his first four years in the NFL,” said general manager John Elway. “He joined the Broncos as a college free agent and has worked tirelessly to become one of the league’s best at his position. It’s a priority for us to develop and reward our own players as we continue assembling the best possible team. Whether it’s on the field or in the community, we are proud to have Chris representing the Broncos for many years to come.”
While we heard on November 8 that the Broncos and Harris had engaged in contract negotiations, a report just 11 days later indicated that the talks had stalled. Per Klis, it seemed that the possibility of an extension was at times “on life support,” but the framework for a new deal rounded into form when Elway began taking the lead in discussions with Harris’ agent, Fred Lyles. Harris, 25, is earning $2.187MM this season, after being tendered at the second-round level as a restricted free agent over the offseason.
Harris has been with the Broncos since 2011, when he joined the club as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas. He became a full-time starter the following season, and has since started 46 contests over the course of his career, registering 46 passes defensed and 10 interceptions. He rates extremely well per advanced metrics, grading as the No. 1 overall corner in the NFL per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
According to Klis, one sticking point in negotiations was whether Harris should be paid like a No. 1 or a No. 2 corner. In the end, it appears as though he was compensated as a top-flight defensive back, although his contract doesn’t quite compare to the deals recently signed by Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, and Joe Haden. At $8.5MM, Harris’ annual average value lags behind all three of the defensive backs listed — in fact, his AAV ranks just 12th among corners, while his total value is eighth. However, if the reported $24MM figure is correct, his guarantee would be second amongst corners, trailing only Brandon Carr.
With Harris now locked up, the Broncos will presumably turn their attention to securing extensions for Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas, each of whom will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. While we heard in October that the club didn’t anticipate signing either one to a new deal during the season, it’s possible that could change now that the Harris pact has been finalized. For his part, Demaryius Thomas recently indicated that he was open to taking a “hometown discount” to remain in Denver.
Harris’ contract should help clarify the upcoming free agent cornerback market, which, while not overly impressive, does include one young CB — the Ravens’ Jimmy Smith — and another impressive veteran, Brandon Flowers of the Chargers. At age 29, Flowers probably won’t receive a deal resembling that of Harris, but Smith could point to the Broncos’ willingness to hand Harris a hefty sum during his negotiations with Baltimore. Harris was the only cornerback listed on the inaugural edition of our Free Agent Power Rankings, where he placed fifth overall.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Saints, Kromer, Patriots, Lions
The Saints are known for pushing the limits of the NFL’s salary cap, and the club will have some tough decisions to make prior to the 2015 season, as Bill Barnwell of Grantland and Mike Triplett of ESPN.com outline. For his part, Barnwell classifies New Orleans’ offseason strategies as high-variance — when the team hits on free agents, the plan works, but when new additions struggle, the scheme fails. While Barnwell believes that the Saints will be in “salary cap hell” when Drew Brees‘ play begins to deteroriate, Triplett thinks it’s possible that the team continues with its current tactics, cutting players and restructuring contracts year-after-year in order to create financial relief. Here’s more from around the league…
- In his latest notes column for NFL.com, Albert Breer looks at some potential general manager candidates, looks at the free agency case of Patriots safety Devin McCourty, and points to the Falcons head-coaching job as perhaps the most desirable position that could be available this offseason.
- Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer isn’t considering resigning after revealing that he was the source for a story that painted Jay Cutler in a negative light, tweets Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com.
- The Patriots worked out former LSU defensive back Delvin Breaux, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Breaux, 24, currently plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. As Reiss notes, New England could be looking at players to sign to reserve/futures contracts.
- Rugby star Jarryd Hayne visited with the Lions today, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Hayne, who has also met with the 49ers and Seahawks, is trying to start his NFL career as a running back.
Reaction To Chris Harris Extension
After signing a five-year, $42.5MM extension with the Broncos, Chris Harris took to Twitter to express his gratitude and excitement. “Blessed to be in Denver five more years. Thanks to all my teammates, coaches, and fans for all the love and support.” Here’s more reaction to Harris’ new deal…
- Harris will receive half of his $10MM signing bonus now, and the rest in March, tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. From a salary cap perspective, the timing of the payout is inconsequential, as the bonus will be prorated on Denver’s cap over the next five seasons. Legwold also notes that the deal means that Harris, Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, and T.J. Ward, the key members of the Broncos’ secondary, are signed through at least 2017.
- In a separate piece, Legwold passes along some presecient comments by ex-Bronco Champ Bailey, who was a fan of Harris. “Chris is playing the best of any player at his position in the league,” Bailey said in November when announced his retirement. “I hope [the Broncos] pay him like it. I think they will. Knowing John Elway, how he goes about it, I think they will.”
- Speaking to Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter links), Harris said that negotiations ramped roughly a month ago, and confirmed that Elway was central to the deal getting finalized. Harris allowed that playing this season without long-term security had been strenuous, and that the extension is a “huge relief.”
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap lauds Elway & Co. for continuing to sign players to below-market deals, and wonders if the allure of playing with Peyton Manning convinces Denver signees to accept less than they’re worth. Fitzgerald also examines the state of the cornerback position, noting the large separation between the “name-brand” CBs (Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, Joe Haden) and the next tier of players.
- 49ers cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver are both free agents at the end of the season, but Cam Inman of the Mercury News (Twitter link) doesn’t think San Francisco will attempt to match Harris’ contract when negotiating extensions for its CB duo.
Minor Moves: Friday
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
- The Dolphins have placed defensive tackle Anthony Johnson on injured reserve, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of LSU, has seen just 84 snaps this season.
- In advance of Sunday’s game against the Colts, the Texans have placed defensive end Tim Jamison, who’s been dealing with a knee injury, on injured reserve, tweets Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston. To fill its 53-man roster, Houston promoted fellow DE Keith Browner from its practice squad.
Adrian Peterson Has Considered Retirement
After arbitrator Harold Henderson denied Adrian Peterson‘s appeal earlier today, ensuring that Peterson’s suspension would remain in place, the Vikings running back voiced his displeasure with the case to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, and even admitted that he’s thought about quitting football.
“I’ve considered retiring from the NFL,” Peterson told Goessling in a 60-minute phone call. “I still made $8MM this year. I’ve thought about getting back into the real estate (business in Texas) I’m already in. That’s something I’ve been interested in, something I’m involved in. I’ve thought about getting back into that. I’ve thought about going after the Olympics — you only live once. It might be time for me to pursue that, as well.
I love playing football, don’t get me wrong, but this situation is deeper than that. For me, it’s like, ‘Why should I continue to be a part of an organization or a business that handles players the way they do? Making money off the field anyway, why not continue to pursue that (Olympic) dream and pursue other dreams and hang up the cleats?'”
Peterson also relayed that he plans on filing a federal lawsuit against the NFL, claiming that league official Troy Vincent told him in early November that if he attended a meeting with Roger Goodell, he would be suspended for just two games. Peterson ultimately opted against taking the meeting because the league refused to inform of the specifics and implications of the summit.
A report yesterday suggested that the Vikings would welcome Peterson back to the team, though they would likely want to him to accept a reduced salary — currently, the average annual value of his contract is more than $5MM higher than the second-highest paid running back. Retirement talk aside, Peterson doesn’t believe he should have to take a pay cut from his current salary (his 2015 cap hit is $15.4MM) to remain in Minnesota. “I don’t see why it would be the case,” he said. “I see me being a better player than I was.”
West Notes: Raiders, Cardinals, Broncos
Let’s check out the latest from the West divisions, where the Broncos signed cornerback Chris Harris to a five-year extension earlier this evening…
- Raiders owner Mark Davis gave general manager Reggie McKenzie another vote of confidence today, perhaps mitigating the sentiment that McKenzie won’t last in Oakland past this season. “He is my guy right now, absolutely,” Davis told Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News (Twitter link). While the “right now” qualifier could lead to speculation that McKenzie is still a candidate to be fired, Davis has given similar declarations before, and the Raiders have won two of their past three games.
- Because Drew Stanton is expected to return at some point this season, the Cardinals will probably opt to sign just a practice-squad quarterback, if they sign one at all, head coach Bruce Arians told Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter).
- John Fox expects other teams to be interested in interviewing his coordinators for head-coaching positions, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. Broncos OC Adam Gase is only 36 years old but he was a candidate for several jobs last offseason, while DC Jack Del Rio would offer previous experience as a head coach, having served in that role with the Jaguars from 2003-11.
- Chargers defensive end Dwight Freeney and tight end Antonio Gates are getting up there in years, but it sounds like both men have different things in mind for 2015, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego writes. Freeney will weigh retirement after this season while Gates has every intention of finishing out his contract, which runs through next year.
- Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett is playing on nearly 30% more snaps than he did last season, and he believes his four-year, $28.5MM contract is the impetus for the increase. “When they pay you a lot of money they want you on the field all the time,” Bennett told Terry Blount of ESPN.com. “That’s just how it is.”
Zach Links contributed to this post.
West Notes: McGahee, Hayne, 49ers, Raiders
The latest out of the West divisions…
- Ex-Broncos running back Willis McGahee apparently hasn’t found an NFL team willing to take him on, because he’s trying his luck at a different sport altogether…rubgy. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link), McGahee will try out at the National Rugby Football League combine January 12 in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old played in the NFL just last season with the Browns, but was largely ineffective.
- Improbably, we have more rugby-related news, as Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne visited the Seahawks today; Wilson reported that the 26-year-old met with the division rival 49ers yesterday. We last heard in October that Hayne, who would likely play running back, could fit with Seattle.
- 49ers rookies Brandon Thomas and Keith Reaser will both remain on the reserve/NFI list after their practice periods ended today, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Thomas, a guard, was chosen in the third round of this year’s draft, while Reaser, a cornerback, was a fifth-round pick.
- As both a current Raider and a Michigan alum, Charles Woodson has a unique perspective on Jim Harbaugh’s potential choice between Oakland and Ann Arbor. So what does Woodson think Harbaugh should do? “If the choice was out there, it would definitely be Michigan,” Woodson told NFL Network (link via CSNBayArea.com). “As a guy that played there, I think the fans would love it, I think it would be great for recruiting and all of that. Just to have a guy that’s proven, he’s won everywhere he’s been as a coach and I don’t think it would be any different if he went to Michigan. I would say ‘yeah.’ Go Blue.”
AFC Notes: Ray Rice, Coaches, Tryouts
Ray Rice‘s grievance hearing against the Ravens will take place on January 15 and 16, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. We heard last week that Rice’s representatives were working with the NFL to schedule a date for the hearing, and it looks like an agreement has been struck. Rice, of course, has already won his reinstatement to the league after Judge Barbara S. Jones overturned his indefinite suspension. In this matter, Rice will seek to recoup the more than $3.5MM in salary he lost as a result of his release, which he believes was unfounded. Here’s more from the AFC…
- Rex Ryan is likely to leave the Jets this offseason, albeit involuntary, but one other New York coach would like to leave on his own accord. As Mark Berman of My Fox Houston writes, Thomas McGaughey, the Jets’ special teams coordinator, would like to become the head coach at the University of Houston, his alma mater. McGaughey, 41, is in his first season directing Gang Green’s special teams, and previously served in the same capacity at LSU from 2011-13. He was a defensive back at Houston from 1991-95.
- With firing season inching ever closer, Alex Marvez of Fox Sports’ looks at which head coaches may soon be out of a job, and a pair of AFC coaches are listed. Rex Ryan and Joe Philbin, in Marvez’s view, could soon be shown the door by the Jets and the Dolphins, respectively.
- The Jets worked out fullback/linebacker Mario Harvey and LB Uani ‘Unga today, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link) and the New York Post’s Brian Costello (Twitter link).
South Notes: Clowney, Newton, Locker
After undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee today, Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is expected to miss nine months as he recovers from the procedure, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). That timeline could prove problematic, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes, because it could mean that Clowney will be still be sidelined when the 2015 season begins. Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, was placed on injured reserve last week after playing in only four games, registering just seven tackles. Here’s more from the South divsions…
- Cam Newton is unlikely to play this weekend after being injured in a car accident earlier today, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Newton suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back, the same injury that forced Tony Romo to miss one game earlier this season. The Panthers, who at 4-8-1 are still in NFC South hunt, will turn to backup Derek Anderson against the Buccaneers.
- While one quarterback in a contract year – Browns signal-caller Brian Hoyer – has been benched as he nears free agency, another will get an opportunity to showcase his skills before he hits the open market. Former first-round pick Jake Locker will start the Titans’ final three games with Zach Mettenberger out, as John Glennon of the Tennessean details.
- Two days after he made several errors in the Saints’ loss to the Panthers, second-year safety Kenny Vaccaro has been benched, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Vaccaro, the fifteenth overall pick in the 2013 draft, recorded an outstanding rookie season, and was expected to form an excellent defensive backfield duo with free agent signee Jairus Byrd. Now, Byrd is on injured reserve, while Vaccaro, who rates as the third-worst safety in the league per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), will watch from the sideline.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Chargers Sign Mat McBriar
6:36pm: To make room for McBriar, the Chargers have released center Jeff Baca, reports Eric Williams of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
6:06pm: Two days after Chargers punter Mike Scifres suffered a broken clavicle against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football, San Diego has found its replacement, signing former Cowboys punter Mat McBriar, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. McBriar, a veteran of 11 NFL seasons, has also spent time with the Broncos, Seahawks, Eagles, Steelers, but most of his career has been spent in Dallas, where he played from 2003-11.
McBriar, a 35-year-old Australian native, was undrafted out of Hawaii in 2003. He led the league in yards per punt in both 2006 and 2010, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in both years. At one point, he was the highest-paid punter in the league, having signed a five-year, $8.5MM extension with the Cowboys in 2007. McBriar last saw NFL action during the latter portion of the 2013 season, when Pittsburgh signed him to replace Zoltan Mesko.
The Chargers currently have a full 53-man roster, meaning they’ll have to make a transaction to free space for McBriar. The club doesn’t plan to place Scifres on injured reserve because it believes he can return for the postseason, so San Diego will presumably carry two punters for now.