Week In Review: 3/3/14 – 3/9/14
With the start of free agency less than 48 hours away, let’s look at the top stories of the past week:
- The Redskins used their franchise tag on linebacker Brian Orakpo.
- Receiver Anquan Boldin re-signed with the 49ers on a two-year-deal.
- The Browns placed the transition tag on center Alex Mack.
- The Steelers used the transition tag to retain linebacker Jason Worilds.
- Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy signed his franchise tender.
- Offensive guard Uche Nwaneri was released by the Jaguars.
- The Eagles cut receiver Jason Avant.
- Fullback Le’Ron McClain was released by the Chargers.
- The Titan re-signed safety Bernard Pollard.
- The Redskins cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca.
- Cornerback Derek Cox was released by the Chargers.
- The Chargers also released cornerback Johnny Patrick, who was then claimed by the Jets.
- Veteran Falcons running back Jason Snelling announced his retirement.
- The Browns cut receiver Davone Bess in light of his off-the-field issues.
- Safety Aaron Williams agreed to a four-year extension with the Bills.
- The Dolphins re-signed cornerback Brent Grimes to a four-year deal.
- The Steelers extended both tight end Heath Miller and safety Troy Polamalu.
- The Bears released punter Adam Podlesh.
- Tight end John Carlson was released by the Vikings; he then signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals.
- The Steelers cut veteran offensive lineman Levi Brown and linebacker Larry Foote.
- The Rams will release cornerback Cortland Finnegan.
- The NFL has reinstated free agent cornerback Brandon Browner, but he will have to serve a four-game suspension during the 2014 season.
- Running back Bobby Rainey agreed to a two-year extension with the Buccaneers.
- The Bears re-signed defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff to a two-year contract.
- The Broncos released cornerback Champ Bailey.
- Center Samson Satele was released by the Colts.
- The Browns and kicker Billy Cundiff agreed to a one-year contract.
- Defensive lineman Ropati Pitoitua agreed to terms on three-year deal with the Titans.
- The Bengals re-signed offensive lineman Mike Pollak to a three-year pact.
- Quarterback Matt Cassel agreed to two-year, $10MM deal to remain with the Vikings.
- The Colts and punter Pat McAfee agreed to a five-year, $14MM contract.
- The Colts also signed linebacker D’Qwell Jackson to a four-year, $22MM deal.
- Tight end Clay Harbor signed a two-year contract with the Jaguars.
- Quarterback Chad Henne will remain with Jaguars after agreeing to a two-year, $8MM deal.
- The Saints released veteran receiver Lance Moore.
- The Jaguars signed the recently-released defensive lineman Red Bryant to a four-year, $17MM contract.
- Tight end Jeff Cumberland and the Jets agreed to a three-year deal worth $3.7MM.
- The Packers signed cornerback Sam Shields to a four-year deal worth $39MM.
- Offensive guard Daryn Colledge was cut by the Cardinals.
- The Vikings re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen to a five-year contract worth $42.5MM.
- The Jets released cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
AFC Notes: Albert, Verner, Clabo, Byrd
Branden Albert is likely to sign with the Dolphins when free agency officially begins on Tuesday, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Albert, 29, was the Chiefs first-round-pick in 2008, and as Florio notes, was nearly traded to the Dolphins last offseason.
The Dolphins need to rebuild a porous offensive line, and they essentially need four starters to team with center Mike Pouncey. The unit was decimated by the controversies relating to Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, neither of whom is expected to return to Miami. The Chiefs, meanwhile, will fill Albert’s shoes at left tackle with either Eric Fisher or Donald Stephenson, with the other manning the right tackle position.
Other news from the AFC:
- Offensive lineman Tyson Clabo is expected to hit the free agent market, and there is “real interest” from teams around the league, tweets Adam Beasely of the Miami Herald. Clabo started 15 games last season for the Dolphins.
- The Titans are still talking with cornerback Alterraun Verner, but it is unlikely he will return to Tennessee, according to the Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt (via Twitter).
- As of Sunday afternoon, the Browns had not contacted safety Jairus Byrd, writes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Browns are widely expected to express interest in Byrd, who played under new Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine with the Bills.
- The Patriots expect both cornerback Aqib Talib and receiver Julian Edelman to come back to them with any free agent offers and give the team the opportunity to match, notes Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com.
Hakeem Nicks Wants Long-Term Deal
Free agent receiver Hakeem Nicks has shot down a report that he would consider a short-term deal, perhaps in the one- to two-year range, in an attempt to rehabilitate his value. Rather, he tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he wants a long-term contract:
“I want to go to a team where I’m the missing link. There are a number of teams that I have my eye on once I hit the market. I know if I went to a place like Indianapolis I would be dangerous with a quarterback like Andrew Luck. I can see myself catching passes from Cam Newton or even Philip Rivers. Players have already started to reach out to me from other teams saying they would love for me to come join them. I just want to make it clear that I want a long-term deal and I want to be happy. I’m excited about talking to teams and making it work.”
While Nicks may desire a long-term pact, he may not get it. After Nicks sent a letter to all 32 teams claiming he is injury-free, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that organizations are more concerned with the receiver’s mental state than his physical struggles. Florio writes that teams wonder if Nicks still has the passion to play football, and these worries might cause reluctancy towards a long-term deal.
Nicks has been ineffective the past two seasons while dealing with injuries. However, between 2010-2011, he averaged 78 receptions for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. PFR’s Luke Adams ranked Nicks among the first-tier of free agent receivers, and Rob DiRe also profiled the pass-catcher.
Jets To Release Antonio Cromartie
2:20pm: The Jets have officially announced the transaction.
1:47pm: The Jets will release Cromartie, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
1:43pm: It appears the Jets have cut cornerback Antonio Cromartie, based on tweets by Cromartie himself. The seven-year-veteran sent out two separate messages, first: “I would like 2 thank the Jets organization so much with helpin me grow as leader and a player. S/O 2 my teammates I wish u guys the best.” This was followed by: “I would also like to give a big up to The Jets Fan base. Thank you for all the support thru my 4 yr career with you. Thank you again.”
Cromartie was due to count almost $15MM against the cap in 2014. By releasing him, the Jets will save $9.5MM in cap space. Cromartie’s play suffered greatly in 2013, as he was ranked as the eighth-worst corner in football by Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).
FA Rumors: Allen, Johnson, Mitchell, Jones
Jared Allen will not return to the Vikings, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Allen, 34, spent the past six seasons in Minnesota, after the team acquired him in 2008 from the Chiefs in exchange for a first-round-pick. La Canfora reports that Allen has narrowed his focus to teams that can contend next season, and that his list of preferred organizations contains less than five teams (via Twitter). The Raiders have been mentioned as a potential fit, while the Broncos would also seem to be an ideal match, as they are a veteran-laden squad with Super Bowl aspirations, and have a need at defensive end.
Allen’s play slipped last season, as he graded out as just the 34th-best defensive end in the league according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), although he did finish with 11.5 sacks. The Vikings seemed to have replaced him today by re-signing fellow end Everson Griffen to a five-year pact. The team had already extended defensive end Brian Robison in October.
Other notes from free agency:
- Although the Vikings could sign both Griffen and free agent defensive end Michael Johnson, sources expect Johnson to land elsewhere following the Griffen deal, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN. Johnson played under new Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer in Cincinnati.
- We noted earlier that the Redskins are expected to be “major players” for cornerback Aqib Talib, but it seems they also have interest in safety Mike Mitchell, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Mitchell, a second-round-pick by the Raiders in 2009, notched 66 tackles and four interceptions in his first season in Carolina last year.
- Defensive end Arthur Jones is a popular name on the free agent market, having already drawn interest from the Titans, Redskins, Giants, and Vikings, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson also tweeted that the Packers are also intrigued by Jones. Jones, 27, is a versatile player who would fit in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense, as evidenced by the teams calling on him.
Extra Points: Manning, Draft, Steelers
An assortment of news items from around the NFL:
- Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will have his long-awaited physical on Monday, and it could determine his future, writes Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. He has undergone four surgeries on his neck, and if the examination shows any risk of further damage, the future Hall-of-Famer could be forced to retire. A physical at the same time last year guaranteed his $20MM salary for both 2013 and 2014, but negative results now would void his 2014 salary. All parties involve believe the tests will be reveal that Manning is good-to-go for next season.
- Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com looks at whether it makes sense to trade a first-round-pick for a head coach. This article comes in the wake of the Jim Harbaugh-to-Cleveland rumors, and is buttressed by comments from Patriots president Jonathan Kraft. The Patriots, notably, traded their 2000 first-round-pick for Bill Belichick.
- Football Outsiders pioneered the “speed score,” which uses a running back’s forty-yard-dash time and his physical size to assess his explosiveness, and they take a look at the top four backs in this year’s class by said metric.
- The Steelers will have to make some tough decisions to emerge from their current cycle of mediocrity, writes Greg Bedeard of TheMMQB.com.
- Grantland.com’s Bill Barnwell examines the rise of analytics in sports, and how they could be useful in both play-calling and roster construction.
Eagles May Gauge Interest In DeSean Jackson
The Eagles could possibly look to trade receiver DeSean Jackson, according to Jimmy Kempski of CSNPhilly.com. Kempski is clear that the team will not actively shop Jackson, but if another team called with interest, “the Eagles certainly wouldn’t laugh and hang up.”
Jackson is entering the third year of five-year, $47MM deal he signed in March 2012. The star receiver, who enjoyed the best season of his career in 2013 in Chip Kelly’s new offense, has had contract squabbles before, including this year, leading a team source to state that a new pact was unlikely. According to Kempski, Jackson’s attitude has rubbed some in Eagles headquarters the wrong way, and his personality may run counter to the type of “locker room culture that Chip Kelly is trying to cultivate.” Additionally, fellow receiver Jason Avant had acted as something of a buffer between Jackson and receivers coach Bob Bicknell; Avant, however, is expected to be released.
There is also a disconnect between recent comments by Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and the team’s roster construction. The team recently re-signed both Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin, and is now second in the league in wide receiver investment, something Roseman might be concerned about. “We’re trying to figure out the whole dynamic of it,” said the GM. “You can only put a limited amount of resources at a particular position before it starts taking out from other places.”
Still, a trade of Jackson does seem unlikely. He is a great fit in Kelly’s scheme, with his ability to both stretch the field and act as a weapon on short out patterns. He ranked as the seventh-best receiver by both Pro Football Focus’ and Football Outsiders’ metrics. The Eagles, meanwhile, would be relegated to relying on the one-year sample size of Cooper, and, in Maclin, a player coming off of a torn ACL. In the event of Jackson’s being made available, there would certainly be a market for his services, with the 49ers among his potential suitors, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
NFC Notes: Suh, Bethea, Ware, Graham
Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is going to be the next player to break the bank, writes Joel Corry of the National Football Post. Suh is under contract through the 2015 season; however, that year is a player option, which Suh will likely decline. 2014, then, is effectively the last year of his current deal. If the Lions do not sign the star lineman to a new contract before next season, the franchise tag will probably not be an option, as his tag figure would be an untenable $26.87MM.
Suh has restructured his contract twice in as many years in order for the Lions to gain more cap space. An extension would serve the same purpose, as well as lowering Suh’s cap number, which is second in the league at approximately $22.4MM. The Lions are still feeling the effects of selecting high in the draft under the previous collective bargaining agreement, when rookie salaries were much higher. The rookie deals of Suh, quarterback Matthew Stafford, and receiver Calvin Johnson have put the team in an unenviable position. Extending Suh, as the Lions did with both Stafford and Johnson, would help to alleviate some of that cap strain.
More items from the NFC:
- Safety Antoine Bethea could be an option for the Falcons, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. The team is expected to release Thomas DeCoud, and has been linked to free agent Louis Delmas. Jairus Byrd could also be intriguing, but both he and Delmas might be too expensive for Atlanta’s tastes.
- Demarcus Ware, due $26MM over the next two seasons, is too expensive to be traded, but he could brought back to the Cowboys at a lower salary, argues Todd Archer of ESPN.com in a recent mailbag.
- Mike Triplett of ESPN.com believes the Saints’ Jimmy Graham is a tight end, writing that lining up in the slot is simply part of that position’s job description in today’s NFL. Triplett thinks the murky situation could be resolved with a long-term contract in excess of $10MM annually.
- The Rams could add two quarterbacks to backup Sam Bradford, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Kellen Clemens could return, and the team figures to draft a quarterback somewhere in the third-to-fifth-round range.
- In a mailbag segment, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com says receiver will be a priority in the draft for the 49ers, and singles out Oregon State WR Brandin Crooks as an option. He also writes that running back LaMichael James could be used more in the slot and on screens as the teams aims to get the speedy back more touches.
PFR Originals: 2/24/14 – 3/2/14
The original content produced this past week by the staff at PFR:
- A look at the free agent market for offensive tackles, with Branden Albert, Eugene Monroe, and Jared Veldheer leading the way on the left side, and Zach Strief and Austin Howard topping the list on the right.
- Alex Mack is far and away the best option among free agent centers; here’s a look at his stock and the rest of the pack.
- A detailed examination of contract bonuses and how they affect teams’ cap space.
- A list of the potential franchise tag candidates.
- The free agent outlook for quarterback Michael Vick, who could be a possible starting option for some QB-needy teams.
Week In Review: 2/24/14 – 3/2/14
A look back at the week’s headlines:
- The Bears re-signed safety Derrick Martin and center Taylor Boggs.
- The Titans re-signed running back Jackie Battle.
- The Panthers cleared cap space by restructuring the contracts of center Ryan Kalil and running back Jonathan Stewart.
- The Raiders extended the contract of running back Taiwan Jones.
- The Panthers offensive line was dealt a blow as tackle Jordan Gross announced his retirement.
- Rumors abounded that several teams have inquired as to the availability of Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis.
- The Eagles signed veteran left tackle Jason Peters to an extension.
- The Texans signed tight end Zach Potter.
- The Browns released linebacker D’Qwell Jackson.
- Center Jason Kelce signed an extension with the Eagles.
- The Eagles also signed receiver Riley Cooper to a five-year contract.
- The Bears signed longtime center Roberto Garza to a one-year pact.
- The Redskins and defensive lineman Chris Baker agreed to terms on a new deal.
- The Ravens cut fullback Vonta Leach and linebacker Jameel McClain.
- The Bears signed veteran tight end Dante Rosario.
- The Eagles are expected to release receiver Jason Avant.
- The Panthers signed kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract.
- The 49ers signed center Daniel Kilgore to an extension, which could signal the end of Jonathan Goodwin‘s tenure in San Francisco.
- The Bears re-signed cornerback Kelvin Hayden.
- The Patriots intend to release safety Steve Gregory.
- Tight end Dennis Pitta agreed to a five-year contract with the Ravens.
- The Chargers re-signed linebacker Donald Butler.
- The Eagles culminated their series of moves by signing receiver Jeremy Maclin to a one-year deal.
- The Seahawks officially released defensive lineman Red Bryant, as well as receiver Sidney Rice.
- The Jets opted to use their franchise tag on kicker Nick Folk.
- Linebacker Jasper Brinkley was cut by the Cardinals.
- The Cowboys released former secound-round-pick Everette Brown.
- The Panthers placed their franchise tag on defensive lineman Greg Hardy.
- Several reports indicated that the Dolphins had gauged interest in receiver Mike Wallace and defensive lineman Cameron Wake and Dion Jordan. The team denied the reports.
- The Cowboys plan to release center Phil Costa.
- The salary cap was officially set at $133MM.
- The Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes.
- The Saints placed the non-exclusive tag on pass-catcher Jimmy Graham, but a battle over his position designation likely looms.
- Cornerback Sam Shields will not re-sign with the Packers before the start of free agency.