Cowboys Increase Offer To Dez Bryant
11:26am: While the Cowboys improved their offer, it’s viewed as “still not great” by Bryant’s camp, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link), who suggests the odds of a deal getting done are less than 50/50. However, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) wouldn’t be surprised if Bryant accepts the team’s best offer today.
10:33am: The Cowboys have increased their contract offer to Dez Bryant and are making a strong push to sign their star wideout, according to Ian Rapoport and Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport indicates that Bryant is “more optimistic than ever” about getting a deal done.
It’s not clear whether the Cowboys just increased their offer to Bryant today, but with about four and a half hours until the deadline, it appears the two sides are making a real effort to get something done and avoid the possibility of a holdout that extends through the preseason and potentially into the regular season.
According to Rapoport and Getlin, the Cowboys’ new offer to Bryant goes “beyond $13MM” annually, which still seems a little light. Over the last couple weeks, figures like seven years and $100MM have been floating around, and I’d expect it takes something in that neighborhood to get Bryant locked up. Still, the chances of an agreement being reached will hinge significantly on the guaranteed money in the Cowboys’ offer, and possibly the contract language that could void those guarantees.
A number of factors remain in play as this afternoon’s deadline nears, including Bryant’s threat to hold out and the NFLPA’s threat to file a complaint against the Cowboys and Broncos for collusion. If the two sides can hammer out a multiyear extension today, it would render many of those other factors and concerns moot.
Cole’s Latest: Dez, Thomas, Houston, Collins
Jason Cole of Bleacher Report has been busy today, providing several updates on franchised players who are seeking new contracts, as well as publishing a Q&A with rookie Cowboys offensive lineman La’el Collins. Let’s dive right in and check out the highlights from Cole so far today….
- Cole gets the sense that, while Dez Bryant badly wants to get an extension done with the Cowboys, neither the team nor agent Tom Condon is eager to do a deal — presumably because the two sides don’t want to budge significantly from their current proposals (Twitter link).
- Echoing something that Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said earlier this week, Cole suggests that the Cowboys want to be able to escape a long-term contract for Bryant if the receiver gets into any off-field trouble (video link). As Florio writes in a new PFT piece, the Cowboys have included those sort of clauses in other recent deals, including cornerback Byron Jones‘ rookie contract. Jones’ deal features language that would void his guarantees if he’s arrested or even detained by police, or if he’s fined under the league’s substance abuse or personal conduct policies.
- Don’t expect the Broncos to budge much from their current offer to Demaryius Thomas, which is for about $13MM per year, says Cole (video link). While the star wideout is seeking Calvin Johnson money, Denver almost certainly won’t go that high.
- The Chiefs and Justin Houston are “still talking” about a multiyear extension, but Cole has no sense of where the two sides will land by the end of the day (Twitter link). Reports this week have suggested that Houston has the best chance of the four unsigned franchised players to come to terms on a long-term deal.
- Cole’s Q&A with Collins features plenty of details on the lineman’s draft experience — or lack thereof. The Cowboys rookie tells Cole he lost 10 pounds during the week of the draft due to stress and being unable to eat.
Thomas Likely To Skip Camp Without New Deal
The Broncos and Demaryius Thomas now have just a matter of hours to work out a new long-term contract extension, with this afternoon’s deadline looming. And according to Mike Klis of 9News, Thomas is expected to skip training camp and the preseason if he doesn’t get a new deal from the team today.
Of course, with the deadline for a multiyear contract only hours away, both sides figure to use whatever leverage they have, so there’s a possibility that Thomas is bluffing. But it’s not uncommon for unsigned franchise players to miss a good chunk of training camp and the preseason. Since he has yet to sign his one-year franchise tender, the star wideout wouldn’t be subject to fines for his absence.
Considering Peyton Manning is a player known for his meticulous preparation, the Broncos quarterback likely won’t be thrilled about the possibility of being without his No. 1 receiver this August, particularly with a new head coach and offensive coordinator in place. So the threat of Thomas’ absence could push the Broncos a little harder to get something done with him today.
However, based on this week’s reports, Thomas appears to be seeking a long-term deal in the Calvin Johnson range — Megatron’s contract with the Lions averages more than $16.2MM per season, with $48.75MM in fully guaranteed money. According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Broncos have made a “significant” long-term contract offer to Thomas, with agents speculating that the guaranteed money exceeds $40MM. It’s not clear if that entire amount would be fully guaranteed.
A compromise today is possible, but not particularly likely, according to Klis, Renck, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). If the two sides can’t finalize an agreement by 3:00pm central time, Thomas will have to play on a one-year pact in 2015. That doesn’t mean he necessarily has to sign the franchise tender as is — he and the team could negotiate a slightly different salary, or include various clauses, such as the Broncos not having the ability to tag him again in 2016.
While Denver appears to have most of the leverage once today’s deadline passes, Thomas’ absence from the camp and preseason could seriously impact the development of the club’s new offense, which may put pressure on John Elway and the front office to make concessions in negotiations.
Demaryius Thomas Rumors: Tuesday
Earlier today, we rounded up Tuesday’s rumors and updates on Dez Bryant‘s contract talks with the Cowboys. Now, we’ll shift our focus to another Pro Bowl wide receiver and franchise tag recipient, Demaryius Thomas. Here’s the latest on the Broncos’ star:
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Thomas is willing to miss games. He adds that the wide receiver won’t be at camp on time if a deal isn’t reached.
Earlier updates:
- Contrary to earlier reports, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that the Broncos and Thomas have not exchanged any proposals nor had any dialogue in over a month.
- Echoing Monday’s report from Mike Klis, Rand Getlin of the NFL Network reports that there’s still a “significant gap” between the Broncos and Thomas in extension negotiations. Denver is willing to pay the 27-year-old north of $13MM per year, but Thomas is seeking a Calvin Johnson-type deal, and it seems unlikely that the club will go that high.
- Based on his observations of the Broncos, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) doesn’t expect John Elway and company to budge significantly when it comes to the figures being discussed for Thomas.
- In the wake of news that the NFLPA plans to move forward with its collusion complaint against the Broncos and Cowboys if either Thomas or Bryant remain unsigned after tomorrow’s deadline, Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweets that the Broncos have “zero concern” about the issue.
Dez Bryant Rumors: Tuesday
The Cowboys and Dez Bryant have less than 30 hours to reach a long-term contract agreement before Wednesday’s deadline, and the wideout has threatened to miss training camp and regular season games if the two sides don’t come to terms. Here’s the latest on Bryant’s contract situation, with the clock ticking:
- The Cowboys’ offer to Bryant is more than the $12.8MM/year tag number, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That marks a significant climb from their original offer of $10MM per year over six years. Bryant, meanwhile, still wants Calvin Johnson money and one source says there’s still a “long way to go” (link). Echoing earlier reports, Rapoport says the Cowboys aren’t buying Bryant’s threat to miss regular season games (link).
Earlier updates:
- If Bryant and the Cowboys can compromise on a total dollar value that both sides find acceptable, the language regarding the voiding of future guarantees figures to become a major factor, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, though Bryant has avoided off-field trouble for several years, the Cowboys will likely push for language that would allow the team to void guarantees if the star receiver is suspended, or if he even just misses a practice or meeting. Bryant’s camp, of course, will attempt to restrict that sort of language.
- While not many people are taking Bryant seriously when he talks about missing regular season action, Florio suggests in a separate PFT piece that it could make sense for the Cowboys wideout to threaten to sit out 10 weeks, rather than just one or two. That would still allow Bryant to earn more than $5MM in the season’s final few weeks, which is more than he has ever made in a season before.
- Of course, Florio’s argument hinges on the fact that he believes Bryant would still be in line for a 20% raise if he sits out most or all of the season and gets the franchise tag again in 2016, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. That’s not how I read the CBA — it looks to me like the 20% raise only applies if Bryant earns his full $12.823MM salary in 2015. As Florio observes though, the language in convoluted enough that it could result in a grievance, if necessary.
- Having already informed the Cowboys and Broncos that they need to preserve emails, phone records, and other records of communication, the NFLPA intends to move forward with collusion charges against the two teams if Bryant and Demaryius Thomas don’t sign long-term contracts this week, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Based on Graziano’s report, it sounds like the NFLPA plans to go ahead with its complaint even if one of the two receivers lands a new deal this week.
Bills Place Aaron Kromer On Paid Leave
The Bills have placed offensive line coach Aaron Kromer on indefinite paid leave following his arrest in Florida, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link) passes along a statement from team president Russ Brandon explaining the decision.
“Over the last few days our organization has continued to gather information in regards to the alleged incident involving offensive line coach Aaron Kromer,” Brandon said in the statement. “We have been in regular discussions with the league office and have decided to place Aaron on indefinite paid administrative leave in accordance with the league’s Personal Conduct Policy while we continue to work our way through the investigative process with the league.”
Kromer, who joined the Bills this offseason after having served as the Bears’ offensive coordinator, was arrested late Saturday night on a misdemeanor battery charge. According to the Walton County Sherrif’s Office, Kromer allegedly confronted a group of three boys – who had been fishing – over the use of beach chairs. The victims told Walton County deputies that Kromer grabbed their fishing pole and threw it in the water, then pushed one of the boys to the ground and punched him in the face. The victim, a juvenile, also said Kromer threatened to kill his family if he reported the incident to the police.
The decision to place Kromer on paid leave is based on the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which last season applied to players like Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy — those players were placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while their legal situations played out. In Kromer’s case, I imagine the process will be similar, with the Bills possibly deciding to let him go and/or the league opting to suspend him if he’s determined to be guilty.
With Kromer on leave from the club, assistant offensive line coach Kurt Anderson figures to be the top candidate to take over his role, at least in the interim.
Danieal Manning To Retire
Former Texans safety Danieal Manning has decided to end his playing career, according to a report from CBS Houston. Manning announced his decision to retire from the NFL today during an appearance on SportsRadio 610 in Houston.
Manning, who will turn 33 next month, was selected in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Bears, spending the next five seasons with the team. In 2011, he joined the Texans, where he played out the final four years of his NFL career.
While Manning never developed into an elite defender in Chicago or Houston, he was a solid complementary piece for both teams, appearing in a total of 128 regular season games (96 starts) over the course of his nine-year career. During that span, the Abilene Christian product recorded 549 tackles, grabbed 11 interceptions, and forced 10 fumbles. Manning also contributed as a kick returner during his last few years in Chicago, averaging a league-best 29.7 yards per return in 2008.
After signing him to a one-year contract just before 2014 season got underway, the Texans seemed to be moving on from Manning this offseason, as the team overhauled its group of safeties. Last year’s top three contributors at the position – Manning, Kendrick Lewis, and D.J. Swearinger – have all moved on, with Rahim Moore and Stevie Brown among the new additions.
NFC West Notes: Washington, Rams, Seahawks
The NFL’s four unsigned franchise-tag players are dominating headlines this week, but it’s fairly quiet elsewhere in the league, such as in the NFC West, where no teams or players are involved in that franchise-player drama. Still, there are a handful of updates trickling out of the West, so let’s round up the latest from the division….
- According to Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 in Arizona (Twitter link), Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington applied for reinstatement from his indefinite suspension way back on May 8. The NFL’s substance abuse policy dictates that the league must issue a decision on an application for reinstatement within 60 days, so it’s not clear what the holdup is in Washington’s case. Yesterday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Jurecki (Twitter link) that “there is no change” in Washington’s status.
- In response to a report indicating that Rams games don’t create enough tax revenue for the city of St. Louis to cover the city’s annual debt and upkeep payment, regional leaders have suggested that various conventions booked at the Edward Jones Dome help cover those debt payments. David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the details on the tax issue, which could be a point of emphasis in talks involving a new St. Louis stadium.
- Gregg Bell of The News Tribune examines the Seahawks‘ crowded race for wide receiver jobs on the 53-man roster, noting that Jimmy Graham‘s ability to line up on the outside could be a factor as the team makes its decisions.
A.J. Green To Play 2015 Without New Deal
While long-term contract talks for star receivers like Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant go down to the wire, with possible holdouts looming, another Pro Bowl wideout is content to play the 2015 season without a new deal in place. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Conor Orr of NFL.com), A.J. Green doesn’t intend to sign an extension prior to the season, opting instead to play out the final year of his current contract.
It isn’t a real surprise that Green and the Bengals would decide to shelve extension discussions until after the season, considering there isn’t as much urgency to get something done as there is for the Broncos and Cowboys with their own star receivers. Since Green is currently playing on the fifth-year option that came attached to his rookie deal, the Bengals will have the option of using the franchise tag on him for the first time in 2016.
Additionally, Green, who turns 27 later this month, didn’t seem anxious to finalize a long-term pact with the team when he addressed the issue last week, indicting that he didn’t plan to hold out and wasn’t preoccupied with thoughts about his contract.
“I don’t get into all the ‘I need a contract’ stuff,'” Green told Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. “I’m not here for money. I’m not broke. So I’m fine. I can wait until the end of the year to get a contract, but I know that time is coming.”
By playing out the final year of his contract, Green will earn a base salary of $10.176MM before potentially returning to the negotiating table in 2016. Waiting on a new deal would also allow Green and the Bengals to see if other top wideouts – like Thomas, Bryant, and Atlanta’s Julio Jones – ink new contracts of their own in the meantime, perhaps giving the two sides a clearer idea of what the market looks like.
Community Tailgate: 7/13/15
We’re still almost two months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
With the July 15 deadline for franchised players less than 48 hours away, we’re looking today at the unsigned player deemed most likely to work out a long-term deal with his current team. While Jason Pierre-Paul begins his recovery from a hand injury and Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas try in vain to match Calvin Johnson‘s contract, Justin Houston and the Chiefs appear to have a reasonable chance of reaching an agreement.
Houston, 26, has been one of the league’s best pass rushers in recent years, racking up 43 sacks in 43 games over the past three seasons, including an NFL-best 22 in 2014. You could make a case that only J.J. Watt is a more valuable defender than Houston, and recent reports have suggested that the Chiefs pass rusher could be seeking a contract in the neighborhood of Watt’s six-year, $100MM deal.
Ndamukong Suh easily surpassed Watt’s deal this winter, but Suh had a ton of leverage, hitting free agency after the Lions deemed it impractical to use the franchise tag on him. A player signing an extension with his current team is unlikely to land that sort of payday, which is why Houston’s camp figures to identify Watt’s extension as a more attainable target.
Houston reportedly tested positive for marijuana at the NFL’s 2011 scouting combine, which resulted in him dropping to the third round. The league’s policy on substance abuse calls for strict penalties for repeated marijuana violations, but by all accounts, Houston has stayed out of trouble since entering the league. While that doesn’t mean that a long-term investment is risk-free for Kansas City, the last four years likely strengthened the team’s confidence in the 26-year-old. Whether the club is confident enough to pay him roughly $16MM per year remains to be seen.
What do you think? Is Houston worthy of a six-year, $100MM-type contract, like the one Watt received? If not, what do you think is a fair price for Houston? How high should the Chiefs be willing to go before they call off negotiations and try to simply bring their star pass rusher back on his one-year deal? Jump into the comment section below and let us know what you think!