Kamerion Wimbley Announces Retirement
After a nine-year NFL career, Titans outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley has decided to retire, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). Wimbley, who signed a five-year deal with the Titans prior to the 2012 season, still had two years left on that contract, which he won’t play out.
Wimbley, 31, began his career in 2006 with the Browns, who selected him 13th overall out of Florida State. In a strong rookie campaign, Wimbley recorded 11 sacks and recovered three fumbles, marks he wouldn’t match again in subsequent years. Still, while Wimbley’s first season may have been his best, he had some productive years in Cleveland, Oakland, and Tennessee, including a nine-sack season for the Raiders in 2010.
For his career, Wimbley totaled 53.5 sacks, 442 overall tackles, eight forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions in 140 contests. He never appeared in a playoff game, and only played on one squad that had a winning season — the 2007 Browns, who went 10-6.
In a statement announcing his decision, Wimbley explained why he has decided to call it a career at age 31:
“While I still feel like I could be competitive on the field, at this point in my life, my family is my priority. Although my wife and two young daughters have always been incredibly supportive of my career, I am looking forward to spending more meaningful time with them and never missing another big moment in their lives!”
Fred Davis Reinstated By NFL
Former Washington tight end Fred Davis has been reinstated by the NFL, more than a year after he was suspended indefinitely by the league for substance abuse violations, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Davis is now free to sign with any team and play in the 2015 season.
Davis, a former second-round pick, had some productive seasons in Washington, including a 2011 campaign that saw him set career highs in catches (59) and receiving yards (796). However, injuries and off-field issues – including legal run-ins – derailed his career. The 29-year-old hasn’t seen the field for 2013, a season in which he grabbed just seven balls for 70 yards.
With a handful of teams around the NFL in need of a tight end, there may be a club that decides to take a flier on Davis. However, after the veteran tight end spent a year away from the game, I have my doubts that he’ll ascend a depth chart and become a primary weapon for an NFL offense anytime soon.
La Canfora’s Latest: Bennett, Eagles, Titans
Michael Bennett and his agent have “made it clear” he’d rather not return to the Seahawks, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Of course, as La Canfora points out, the Seahawks typically don’t budge when it comes to trades or contract situation, so while the two sides may be able to work something out that makes sense for all parties, Bennett may not go anywhere or sign a new contract in the next few months.
Bennett and various members of the Seahawks organization have repeatedly denied a rumor that he wants to be traded. However, that initial report came from another reporter, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, so the fact that La Canfora has heard similar rumblings suggests there may be something to it. It wouldn’t be surprising if, at the very least, Bennett wants to rework his deal, considering he’s one of the league’s best pass rushers and is earning a relatively modest $7MM per year.
Here are a few more tidbits from La Canfora’s piece on potential trade candidates:
- Whether it’s this week or the week before the season begins, the Eagles will trade Evan Mathis at some point, in La Canfora’s opinion. The CBSSports.com scribe adds that Chip Kelly was trying to move Mychal Kendricks for a second-round pick in the week leading up to the draft. La Canfora predicts that Philadelphia will eventually get a late-round pick for Mathis and a fourth-rounder for Kendricks.
- While the Titans say they don’t plan to move Zach Mettenberger after drafting Marcus Mariota, the second-year QB would “relish a change of scenery,” per La Canfora.
- La Canfora views the Browns as the most logical potential suitor for Muhammad Wilkerson, suggesting that while the Jets won’t shop the standout defensive lineman, they should at least be willing to listen. The Bears, Saints, and Raiders would all be reasonable fits as well, according to La Canfora, who thinks a team should offer a first- and third-round pick for Wilkerson.
- A veteran backup like Jason Campbell or Tarvaris Jackson would be a better match for Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers than Mike Glennon, who continues to be a trade candidate, writes La Canfora.
Brandon Spikes Visiting Patriots
Free agent linebacker Brandon Spikes is in Foxboro today paying a visit to the Patriots, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). On a typical Wednesday in May, news of Spikes’ visit to New England might be the biggest Patriots story of the day. However, today it will be dwarfed by Ted Wells’ report on the DeflateGate scandal.
Spikes, 27, started his career with the Pats, spending four seasons with the team before joining the division-rival Bills a year ago. While he’s typically taken off the field in passing downs, Spikes is an effective part-time player, specializing as a run defender. He has received interest from – or at least been linked to – the 49ers, Vikings, Dolphins, and Bills this offseason.
If the Patriots decide to bring back Spikes, the team likely wouldn’t make anything official for another week or so. Veteran free agents signed after May 12 won’t be counted toward the compensatory draft pick formula for 2016, so it wouldn’t make sense for New England to rush into a contract agreement.
PFR’s Dallas Robinson took a closer look at Spikes’ free agent stock last month.
Bears Reach Deals With White, Goldman
After reaching contract agreements with a few of their late-round picks yesterday, the Bears continue to move toward locking up their entire rookie class within days of the draft. According to the team (Twitter link), first-rounder Kevin White and second-rounder Eddie Goldman have now agreed to terms on their rookie deals.
According to Over the Cap’s rookie pool estimates, White, the No. 7 overall pick and the second receiver to come off the board, will have an overall four-year value of about $16.5MM on his contract, including an eight-figure signing. Since he’s a first-rounder, White will also have a fifth-year option in his contract, allowing the Bears to lock him up through the 2019 season.
As for Goldman, the former Florida State defensive tackle should be in line for a four-year contract in the $5.7MM range, including a signing bonus worth about $2.4MM. Goldman was the 39th overall pick last week.
Having locked up their top two picks, the Bears have now agreed to terms with five of their six picks. Only third-round offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu remains unsigned.
Ted Wells Releases DeflateGate Report
After a 103-day investigation, Ted Wells has submitted his report on the “DeflateGate” controversy to commissioner Roger Goodell and the Patriots. The report, which spans 243 pages, is available in full right here. Wells and his team conclude that it’s “more probable than not” that Patriots personnel knowingly altered the inflation level of the game balls.
“In particular, we conclude that it is more probable than not that [locker room attendant] Jim McNally and [equipment assistant] John Jastremski participated in a deliberate plan to circumvent the rules by releasing air from Patriots game balls after the examination of the footballs by NFL game officials at the AFC Championship Game,” the report reads. “We believe that McNally and Jastremski were aware that the inflation level of the Patriots game balls following pre-game inspection by the game officials would be approximately 12.5 psi and planned for McNally to deflate the balls below that level following the pre-game inspection using a needle provided by Jastremski.
“Based on the evidence, we also have concluded that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls.”
While the report implicates Brady, it adds that there’s no indication that Patriots ownership or the front office, including head coach Bill Belichick, was involved or had any knowledge of the affected balls. Team owner Robert Kraft has already released a statement in which he and his club will accept the findings of the report. However, he continues to stick behind members of his organization, and expressed disappointment with the investigation.
“To say we are disappointed in its findings, which do not include any incontrovertible or hard evidence of deliberate deflation of footballs at the AFC Championship game, would be a gross understatement,” Kraft said.
Although there is not hard evidence proving that Brady was aware of the game balls being altered, text messages exchanged by McNally and Jastremski strongly suggest that the quarterback knew what was going on, making him a candidate for discipline from the NFL. Goodell released a statement today saying that a determination on “what steps to take” would be made by the league’s executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent and his team (Facebook link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).
East Notes: McCoy, C. Johnson, Cowboys
Bills running back LeSean McCoy has poured some fuel on what appeared to be a dormant controversy, not-to-subtly suggesting to Mike Rodak of ESPN that Chip Kelly‘s roster decisions for the Eagles have some racial motivation to them.
“He wants the full control,” McCoy said of Kelly’s managerial style. “You see how fast he got rid of all the good players. Especially all the good black players. He got rid of them the fastest. That’s the truth. There’s a reason. … It’s hard to explain with him. But there’s a reason he got rid of all the black players — the good ones — like that.”
While McCoy raises a few eyebrows, let’s check in on a few other items from out of the NFL’s two East divisions…
- Approached by TMZ and asked about the possibility of signing with the Cowboys, free agent running back Chris Johnson admitted that “that’s what we’re trying to do,” adding that he’d be a good fit in Dallas (link via the Dallas Morning News). The Cowboys haven’t been too aggressive in trying to replace DeMarco Murray this offseason, unexpectedly passing on running backs in last week’s draft. However, executive VP of football operations Stephen Jones did tell DMN’s Jon Machota that the team is open to adding another veteran, so perhaps Johnson will receive consideration at some point.
- While La’el Collins would be a great addition to the Dolphins‘ roster on the field, the team should exercise caution and slow its pursuit of the former LSU offensive lineman until he’s completely cleared by police, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
- Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus reviews the draft and the undrafted free agent class for the Patriots and for the Jets.
Falcons To Sign 19 Undrafted FAs
The Falcons announced today in a press release that they’ve agreed to terms with 19 undrafted free agents, the largest UDFA class yet among those that have been officially confirmed.
The full list of the newest additions to the Atlanta roster is below. Players whose signing bonuses have been reported are noted:
- Derek Akunne, LB, North Texas ($2K bonus, per Vaughn McClure)
- Chris Brown, DT, Tarleton State
- Marquez Clark, WR, Central Oklahoma ($3.5K bonus, per McClure)
- Cody Clay, OL, Azusa Pacific University
- Terell Floyd, S, Louisville
- Beau Gardner, TE, Northern Arizona
- Warren Herring, DT, Wisconsin
- Mike Lee, CB, Fort Valley State ($1K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- Eric Lefeld, T, Cincinnati
- Derrick Malone, LB, Oregon
- Joey Mbu, DT, Houston ($5K bonus, per McClure)
- Jordan Ozerities, CB, Central Florida ($1K bonus, per McClure)
- Damian Parms, S, Florida Atlantic ($3K bonus, per Wilson)
- Joshua Stangby, WR, Ottawa University ($1K, per McClure)
- Robenson Therezie, S, Auburn
- Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, C, New Mexico State ($3K bonus, per Wilson)
- Terron Ward, RB, Oregon State
- Kevin White, CB, Texas Christian
- Shane Wynn, WR, Indiana ($2K, per McClure)
Update On Restricted Free Agents
Most of the league’s notable unrestricted free agents come off the board in mid-March, within days – or hours – of officially hitting the open market. However, the process for restricted free agents can often drag out a little longer.
Over the last several weeks, players who received restricted free agent tenders from their respective teams have, for the most part, simply signed them. Players like Ravens safety Will Hill, Jets defensive tackle Damon Harrison, Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, and – most recently – Seahawks wideout Jermaine Kearse will return to their clubs for at least one more season, earning either $1.542MM (the low-end tender) or $2.356MM (the second-round tender). Then, if they don’t work out a longer-term deal, they’ll be unrestricted free agents in 2016.
Not every restricted free agent has simply signed his tender. Lions defensive end George Johnson signed an offer sheet with the Buccaneers, and Packers safety Sean Richardson inked one with the Raiders. After disputing the terms of his offer sheet with the Bucs, the Lions eventually let Johnson go to Tampa Bay, getting a draft pick in the deal for their troubles. Green Bay, meanwhile, matched Oakland’s offer for Richardson, bringing him back to the team.
One restricted free agent, Eagles running back Chris Polk, had his RFA tender rescinded by the team, allowing him the freedom to sign with another team — Polk and his new club then wouldn’t have to worry about Philadelphia matching an offer sheet. The running back quickly found a new home with the Texans, just a couple days after the Eagles withdrew their one-year offer.
The deadline for restricted free agents to sign an offer sheet with another team came and went last month (April 24), but two players appear to still be unsigned, and both of them are Browns — safety Tashaun Gipson, who received a second-round tender, and defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, who got a low-end tender, have yet to sign their contracts for 2015.
There’s no indication that Kitchen is unhappy with his situation. In fact, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported two weeks ago (via Twitter) that the defensive lineman intended to sign his tender. No confirmation has come from the team or Kitchen’s camp since then, but it’s possible he signed his tender and it has yet to be announced — it’s also possible he’ll make it official any day now.
Gipson’s case isn’t quite so simple. The 24-year-old has started 26 games for the Browns in the last two seasons, racking up 146 tackles during that stretch and showing a knack for coming up with big plays — he has grabbed 11 interceptions during the last two seasons, returning two of them for touchdowns. Despite playing just 11 games in 2014, Gipson earned a Pro Bowl nod.
After an impressive first three seasons, Gipson was reportedly less than thrilled to receive a second-round tender from the Browns, and didn’t report to the club’s voluntary offseason program last month. Head coach Mike Pettine indicated that the club is “very optimistic” about working something out with Gipson, but the team has most of the leverage here, at least for the 2015 season.
Since the deadline has passed for Gipson to negotiate with other teams, if he wants to play in ’15 and earn his $2.356MM, he’ll have to sign his tender with the Browns at some point. In Philadelphia, Polk was expendable after the Eagles signed a pair of running backs in free agency; for the Browns, Gipson is a key contributor, so they’re not about to withdraw his RFA tender.
A longer-term deal is also a possibility for Gipson and the Browns, but the team isn’t under any pressure to work something out with the safety. According to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, Browns sources don’t expect Gipson to be on the roster is 2016, believing that he has priced himself out of the team’s range. That asking price could eventually come down, but for now it appears Cleveland is simply satisfied to welcome Gipson back to the roster for 2015 if and when he signs his RFA tender, with no guarantees beyond this season.
La’el Collins Rumors: Tuesday
2015’s most noteworthy undrafted free agent is generating plenty of headlines again today, as teams around the NFL consider making a play for him. Here’s the latest on former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins:
- The Giants continue to monitor Collins’ situation and remain “in the mix” for the LSU lineman, a source tells Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
- Another former LSU teammate of Collins, Panthers guard Trai Turner, is doing his best to recruit the rookie to Carolina, as David Newton of ESPN.com details. We noted below that a number of Dolphins players who used to play at LSU are also making an effort to woo Collins.
- NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that NFL clubs are prohibited from visiting Collins at his campus or residence until final exams conclude at LSU. According to Florio, that will happen on May 9, which explains why Collins’ reps say no formal meetings are happening for now.
Earlier updates:
- According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, Collins’ agents are calling teams to let them know who’s in and who’s out in the race for their client. “This is a football decision and that is what we will focus on in helping La’el find the best team for him in the future,” a source in Collins’ camp tells Wilson.
- On the other hand, an Associated Press report (via The Denver Post) cites agent Deryk Gilmore as saying that his client isn’t meeting with NFL teams about his pro football future at this time. That doesn’t necessarily contradict Wilson’s report — Gilmore, Collins, and co. may simply be narrowing down their options before making formal visits. Of course, Collins also met with many teams during the pre-draft process, so he may not need to make repeat trips to some cities.
- While teams may not be officially meeting with Collins at this point, that hasn’t stopped individual players from recruiting him. According to Chad Sabadie of Fox 8 in New Orleans (Twitter link), current Dolphins – and Collins’ former LSU teammates – Jarvis Landry, Anthony Johnson, and Kelvin Sheppard are meeting with the lineman today.
- Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is “pushing hard” for Collins to come to Tampa Bay, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter links). Getlin writes that the No. 1 overall pick has reached out to Collins “multiple times” over the last 24 hours to sell him on the idea of joining the Bucs.
- Earlier today, we heard that Washington isn’t expected to be a serious suitor for Collins.