AFC East Notes: Talib, Edelman, Wilkerson
The Patriots want cornerback Aqib Talib to return, but it’s a matter of price tag, writes Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Talib is a highly effective player when healthy, but injury concerns figure to drive his contract demands down. Reiss projects a three-to-four-year deal at around $8MM annually, with guarantees in the neighborhood of $12-14MM, figures similar to those in Antonio Cromartie‘s contract signed before the 2011 season. Like last year, it stands to be a buyer’s market in terms of cornerbacks, with other options like Brent Grimes, Alterraun Verner, and Vontae Davis available. Reiss ultimately believes Talib will re-sign with the Patriots.
Other notes from the AFC East:
- Within the same post, Reiss indicates that Julian Edelman could approach the salary range of Danny Amendola, who was guaranteed $10MM over five years. While the Patriots could likely afford this, Reiss sees Edelman moving on, and identifies the Texans, with former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien now in charge, as a top suitor.
- The Patriots could stand to improve with regards to signing veteran free agents. Last season, they paid about $14MM to Amendola, Adrian Wilson, Tommy Kelly, and Leon Washington, and got little to no return.
- Some in the industry believe Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson should hold out during training camp in an attempt to get a new contract, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Wilkerson is due only a maximum of $7.2MM over the next two seasons, assuming the Jets exercise his 2015 option.
- Cimini urges the Jets to get involved in any Larry Fitzgerald trade discussions, although he notes that Fitzgerald’s $18MM 2014 cap hit could be troublesome.
Extra Points: Cowboys, Saints, Bills, Roster Rankings
Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was sentenced to just 180 days in jail after he was found guilty of intoxication manslaughter, and Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News believes the team will try to bring him back for the 2014 season. The team will push for a ruling from commissioner Roger Goodell regarding a league suspension before the draft, in the hopes that their areas of need will be more clarified. Regardless of Brent’s fate, the Cowboys will need to boost their defensive line this offseason. For his part, Gosselin opines that Brent should move on to a different team, and open a new chapter in his life.
Some more notes from around the league:
- The Saints need to get younger at receiver, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. Marques Colston may only have a few years left as a productive player, and Robert Meachem and Lance Moore might not return to New Orleans next season. Adding big names to the receiving core via free agency is unlikely, as the Saints have proven they can succeed by pairing lightly-regarded players with quarterback Drew Brees.
- The Bills have added Pepper Johnson as defensive line coach and Fred Pagac as linebackers coach, according to a team statement. Johnson was on the Patriots coaching staff for the past 12 seasons, while Pagac spent the past seven years with the Vikings.
- Evan Silva of Rotoworld ranks each franchise by roster strength and identifies the top needs of each team. The Super Bowl participant Seahawks and Broncos come in at numbers one and three, respectively, while the 49ers, Patriots, and Saints round out the top five.
- Teams like the Chiefs, who will pick near the end of the first round in the upcoming draft, may benefit from the ever-rising number of declaring underclassmen, writes Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
Tuck “Thinks” He Wants To Return To Giants
Giants defensive end Justin Tuck believes he wants to return to the Giants, the only team with which he has ever played, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. Tuck, who previously stated his intentions to assess his value in free agency, said while he wants to return, certainty is impossible. “I honestly think the Giants are going to do everything in their power to make it work,” he said. “They want me to be back. I think I want to be back.”
Tuck’s familiarity with Giants as an organization seems to be important to him, as he noted, “I’ve only been here, with one team.” He continued: “The Giants are a great organization, but everyone understands it’s a business. We’ll do our due diligence — on both sides — and see what happens.”
Tuck, 31, enjoyed his best season in years, and one that was injury-free, a recent rarity for him. He accrued 13 sacks, and was graded as the seventh-best 4-3 defensive end by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The Giants should have ample amounts of cap space with which to work, so re-signing Tuck from should not be a problem from a financial point of view.
Rivera, Gettleman On Hardy
Panthers coach Ron Rivera has had a busy week. On Tuesday, he signed a three-year extension to remain in Carolina, and earlier this evening he was crowned Coach of the Year. But despite his heavy personal schedule, Rivera is still thinking about the offseason, specifically the future of defensive end Greg Hardy, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. After a recent meeting with GM Dave Gettleman to discuss the team’s salary cap situation, Rivera gave his opinion on Hardy. “…we most certainly would like to have Greg back. He’s a big part of what we did this year. It’d be hard to imagine doing things without him.”
Hardy was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, after poor performance and injury questions caused his stock to slip. He became a starter in 2012, and has since registered 26 sacks over the past two seasons. Pro Football Focus graded him as the third-best 4-3 defensive end, behind only Robert Quinn and Cameron Wake (subscription required). Hardy joined with Charles Johnson and Star Lotulelei in making the Panthers’ defensive line one of the most dominant in football.
Gettleman was ambiguous on his intentions regarding Hardy, but allowed that retaining the end wasn’t guaranteed. “Everybody in this league lets players go. There isn’t a team in this league that hasn’t let a big dog walk out the door, and don’t print that I’m saying he’s going to go. I’m just making a statement. There isn’t anybody that hasn’t done that. But again, there is a whole big puzzle we’re putting together. And he’s one of the pieces.”
Hardy has admitted that being franchise tagged would not be an issue for him, as long as a long-term deal was revisited at some point in the future. This might be the most likely option, as the Panthers are up against salary cap constrictions. The franchise tag figure for defensive ends will likely be around $12.5MM, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com.
Vikings Notes: Mallett, Hoyer, Freeman, Verner
Ryan Mallett could present an interesting answer to the Vikings’ quarterback woes, writes ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling in a recent mailbag. Mallett, a third-round pick of the Patriots in 2011, has thrown all of four passes while acting as Tom Brady‘s backup, but is noted for his tremendous arm strength. New Vikings coach Mike Zimmer’s former team, the Bengals, were linked to Mallett leading up to the 2011 draft. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s former employer, the Browns, reportedly kicked the tires on acquiring Mallett before the 2013 season. Additionally, Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been down this road before, having turned former backup quarterback Matt Cassel (interestingly, now a Viking) into a Chiefs second-round pick before the 2009 season. Unlike Mallett however, Cassel had a season’s worth of experience, having lead the Patriots to a 10-5 record in 2008.
Some other Vikings tidbits from Goessling’s mailbag:
- Brian Hoyer is another quarterback who could be linked to the Vikings, due to his success with the Browns last season under Turner’s tutelage. However, the Vikings are likely to look for a younger option at the position to pair with Cassel.
- The relationship between the Vikings and quarterback Josh Freeman was contentious enough that it is doubtful he will return next season. Signed after his release from the Buccaneers, Freeman struggled mightily in his only start. His accuracy and footwork remained a problem throughout practices, and Freeman was also confused by his lack of opportunity.
- Goessling expects the Vikings to make a run at cornerback Alterraun Verner, who has experience with new Vikings defensive backs coach Jerry Gray (who previously served as Titans defensive coordinator). The Vikings are expected to have over $20MM in cap space, so they afford to make a big move in free agency.
Cap Notes: Bills, Giants, Browns, Texans
Bills safety Jairus Byrd will need to be tendered at $8.3MM if the team wants to keep him under the franchise tag for a second consecutive year, reports Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Back-to-back franchise tags call for the affected player’s salary to be increased by 120%. Byrd, widely considered one of the best safeties in the NFL, was displeased with being franchise tagged last year, having hoped to work out a long-term extension. Recent extensions by comparable safeties include those of Eric Weddle, who was guaranteed $19MM by the Chargers, and Dashon Goldson, to whom the Buccaneers guaranteed $18MM (numbers courtesy of OverTheCap.com).
Some other cap notes from around the league:
- The Giants have about $13.7MM in cap space, estimates Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. However, they can clear approximately $14 million more by cutting players like Chris Snee, Mathias Kiwanuka, David Baas, Brandon Myers, and Corey Webster. Still, even with $27 million to work with, the Giants will might be strapped as the need to bolster a porous offensive line, add offensive play-makers to potentially replace Hakeem Nicks and David Wilson, and improve a defense that was among the league’s worst.
- Within the same article, Graziano suggests the Giants designate Baas as a post-June 1 cut, spreading the hit over two seasons, and enabling the team to sign someone like Alex Mack. Graziano also thinks the team should sign defensive tackle Linval Joseph to an extension before free agency starts.
- Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com does not believe the Browns will place the franchise tag on safety T.J. Ward, instead attempting to sign him to an extension, or waiting to match an offer from another team. This is contrast to the opinion of ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi, who noted he does think the Browns will tag Ward.
- The Texans will likely part ways with quarterback Matt Schaub and his $14.5MM 2014 cap number, reports Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, Johnathan Joseph, Owen Daniels, and Danieal Manning, all of whom have significant cap figures, appear to be safe.
Arians On Cardinals’ Left Tackle Situation
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians downplayed the idea that acquiring a left tackle to help protect quarterback Carson Palmer was a pressing need, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. While Arians noted that improving the blind side will be a priority, he said “it doesn’t have to be the highest.” “(Current left tackle) Bradley (Sowell) played OK, and he’s going to get better with another year of strength and conditioning,” said Arians.
Arians’ opinion that Sowell “played OK” seems to be without much validation. After taking over for the injured Levi Brown following the fourth week of the season, Sowell gave up seven sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and 40 quarterback hustles, leading to his being graded as the worst offensive lineman in football, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, as Weinfuss notes, Sowell did not allow a sack over the course of the final four games. Brown, meanwhile, was traded to the Steelers, meaning Sowell currently sits atop the depth chart.
Palmer has never been the most mobile of quarterbacks, meaning that the Cardinals’ left tackle position is even more crucial than it may be on other teams. If they do opt for improvement, Chiefs tackle Branden Albert may be the primary option, tweets Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports Radio 910. Albert played the 2013 season under the franchise tag, and Jurecki notes that Albert’s asking price in free agency will determine if the Cardinals draft a left tackle. Eugene Monroe of the Ravens and Jared Veldheer of the Raiders are also scheduled to hit free agency, and could interest the Cardinals.
The Cardinals hold the 20th pick in the first round, so potential options like Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews and Auburn’s Greg Robinson will likely be off the board. However, Taylor Lewan of Michigan and Zach Martin of Notre Dame present intriguing selections. Additionally, the Cardinals will have 2013 first-round guard Jonathan Cooper back in the fold after returning from a broken leg, which should help steady the line play.
AFC Notes: Sanchez, Freeman, Tate, Ward
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez underwent minor knee surgery during the season, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello (via Twitter). Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News follows up by reporting the operation was not performed on the same knee that required surgery following Sanchez’s rookie season. Mehta also notes that Sanchez has begun some light tossing as he begins rehab on his injured shoulder. This injury news may affect the future of Sanchez, who is widely expected to be released before his $2MM March roster bonus is due. While his career has been disappointing to date, Sanchez may appeal to several quarterback-needy teams. Paul Guiterrez of ESPN.com writes that Sanchez could be a top option for the Raiders, who may look to improve upon the performances exhibited by Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin. Additionally, Sanchez could offer a stop-gap solution to a team like the Browns, who will likely select a quarterback early in the draft.
- Guiterrez also notes several other potential quarterback options for the Raiders, including Josh Freeman, Matt Cassel, and Josh McCown. With Cassel still under contract with the Vikings, and McCown indicating his preference to re-sign with the Bears, Freeman may present the most likely option. While he struggled last season, he has both youth and experience with Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson on his side.
- Texans running back Ben Tate has experience in new Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s style of offense, tweets Evan Silva of Rotoworld. Silva also notes that Browns GM Mike Lombardi was a fan of Tate when he entered the league in 2010, as evidenced by a Lombardi article in the National Football Post.
- The Browns may look to use the franchise tag on safety T.J. Ward, not center Alex Mack, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.
Peyton Manning Wants To Play In 2014
At his Super Bowl press conference on Sunday, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reiterated his desire to continue playing football beyond this season, according to Don Banks of Sports Illustrated (via Twitter). “I certainly want to keep playing,” said Manning.
The 37-year-old noted that he will take the rest of his career on a season-by-season basis, with the status of his neck likely being a deciding factor. Chris Mortensen of ESPN recently reported that Manning will undergo tests on his neck in March, per his contract details. If injury risk has increased, Manning might be forced to retire. Manning dispelled notions that he would follow in the footsteps of John Elway and Ray Lewis, both of whom retired immediately following a late-career Super Bowl victory (Twitter link). “They couldn’t play any more,” he said. “I still enjoy playing football.”
Manning has enjoyed a career revitalization since coming to Denver in 2012. This season, he broke league records by throwing for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns. He also led quarterbacks by a wide margin in DYAR, and helped the Broncos finish first in offensive DVOA.
AFC Coaching Notes: Browns, Jets
4:25pm: Cameron will reportedly stay at LSU, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
2:34pm: The Browns are considering LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and former Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains for the same position in Cleveland, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cameron has a decade of coordinating experience in the NFL, with both the Chargers and the Ravens. His last two NFL stops have ended unceremoniously — he led the Dolphins to a 1-15 record in his lone season at the helm, and was fired mid-season in 2012 by the Ravens, who then went on to win the Super Bowl.
Loggains was the Titans play-caller for the past two seasons, during both of which Tennessee finished in the bottom third of the league in yards per game. However, the offense did improve from 29th to 16th in DVOA from 2012 to 2013. Cabot also tweets that Loggains could be the Browns quarterbacks coach, as previously reported by NFL Network’s Albert Breer.
- LSU special teams coach Thomas McGaughey is the favorite to become the Jets special teams coach, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. McGaughey has been with LSU for three seasons, after previously serving as an assistant special teams coordinator with the Giants. He would fill the void left by Ben Kotwica, who left to become the special teams coach of the Redskins.