Combine Pressers: Washington, Lions, Chargers, Ravens
Head coaches and general managers continue to speak to the media at press conferences in Indianapolis, and we’ve already rounded up the highlights from several of them so far today. Here are a few more noteworthy comments from some NFL decision-makers, with all links go to the Twitter accounts of various reporters in attendance:
Washington head coach Jay Gruden:
- In perhaps the most newsworthy moment of any of today’s pressers so far, Gruden said that Robert Griffin III will open the 2015 campaign as Washington’s starting quarterback. There’s still plenty of time for things to change between today and September, but on a day when Jay Cutler couldn’t get a vote of confidence from the Bears, it’s notable that Washington seems committed to RGIII.
- According to Gruden, the Washington front office is in contact with the reps for high-priced players like Pierre Garcon, Barry Cofield, and Stephen Bowen about possible contract restructures. Discussing Garcon specifically, the head coach stressed that the veteran wideout is still very much in the club’s plans.
- Echoing the mantra of new GM Scot McCloughan, Gruden said Washington’s philosophy will be to target the best available players in the draft.
Lions GM Martin Mayhew:
- While he admitted that a new deal with Ndamukong Suh isn’t done, Mayhew remains confident that the two sides will work something out. According to the GM, the defensive scheme, coaches, and players are all a good match for Suh, and the club will definitely “keep working on it.”
- The Lions still haven’t decided whether or not they’ll resort to the franchise tag if the team and Suh don’t reach an agreement by March 2. Detroit also remains undecided about the fifth-year option for offensive tackle Riley Reiff, and hasn’t yet made any final determinations on any free agents except center Dominic Raiola, who won’t be re-signed.
- Mayhew can envision a situation where both Suh and Nick Fairley return to Detroit, but he can also imagine a scenario in which neither player is back. The Lions aren’t sure yet how seriously they’ll pursue Fairley, but will meet with his agent, Brian Overstreet, this week.
- The general manager also has a combine meeting lined up with the agent for free-agent-to-be Matt Prater.
- According to Mayhew, the team is engaged in dialogue with some players about contract restructures to clear some cap room. Although the GM didn’t identify anyone specifically, one of those players could be Reggie Bush — Mayhew said the team hasn’t determined yet what the running back’s future with the team is.
Chargers GM Tom Telesco:
- The Chargers plan to meet with the agent for free agent running back Ryan Mathews at the combine this week, according to Telesco. The GM added that the Chargers are “a different team” when Mathews is healthy and on the field.
- The team is currently planning for D.J. Fluker to play right tackle in 2015, rather than continuing to try him at guard. San Diego figures to have some holes to fill on its offensive line this offseason, so having a set plan for Fluker should help identify the spots that need to be addressed.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh:
- According to Harbaugh, the team’s free agents want to return to Baltimore, and the team wants them back. “That bodes well for us,” Harbaugh said.
- It’s not clear if the head coach’s comment applies to every Ravens free-agent-to-be, but when he was asked specifically about Torrey Smith, Haloti Ngata, and Lardarius Webb, Harbaugh said, “They want to be back [and] we want them back, so we should have a good chance.” Smith is eligible for free agency, while Ngata and Webb are candidates for contract restructures or pay cuts.
- Harbaugh also expects wide receiver Steve Smith to be back with the Ravens in 2015. The former Panther has two years left on his contract, but will turn 36 in May, so retirement may be a viable option soon.
AFC Notes: Jets, Hoyer, Broncos, Jags, Titans
We heard yesterday that new Jets GM Mike Maccagnan will meet with Muhammad Wilkerson‘s agent this week in Indianapolis, and a sit-down to discuss the team’s most obvious extension candidate isn’t the only noteworthy meeting on Maccagnan’s schedule for the combine. According to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com, the general manager will also huddle with the agent for linebacker David Harris, who is perhaps the club’s top free-agent-to-be. As Cimini points out, it should be an interesting negotiation, since Harris is coming off a four-year, $36MM and is now 31 years old — he also plays a position which typically doesn’t produce big paydays.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Brian Hoyer had hoped to sit down with Browns GM Ray Farmer by now to gauge Cleveland’s interest in re-signing him, but that meeting hasn’t happend yet, sources tell Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. In Grossi’s view, it looks increasingly unlikely that Hoyer will return to the Browns.
- New Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said today that he expects the team to be on the hunt for a fullback this offseason, tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. “Obviously I’ve had one on my team all the time,” Kubiak said.
- A talent upgrade should be coming to Jacksonville, according to Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union, who writes that Jaguars owner Shad Khan wants to take advantage of the team’s huge chunk of cap space by targeting “the better players.”
- Titans general manager Ruston Webster has a much better idea this offseason than he did a year ago what sort of players the Titans should target from a personnel standpoint, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Most notably, as the team continues its transition to a 3-4 unit, linebacker will be an area of focus for Tennessee at the combine and in the draft.
Combine Pressers: Bears, Bucs, Titans, Bills
Earlier today, we rounded up the noteworthy comments made by a handful of head coaches and general managers who spoke to reporters today in Indianapolis at the NFL’s scouting combine. Wednesday’s press conferences will continue through to about 3:30pm central time, and we’ll keep providing recaps of the highlights from those sessions. Here’s the latest:
Bears head coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace:
- Asked about whether he has decided to proceed with Jay Cutler as the team’s quarterback, Fox replied, “We’re not up against a deadline. … We’ll keep you posted.” Fox later continued: “I don’t think there’s any question there’s ability and talent there but there’s a lot more that goes into it.”
- In addition to dancing around questions about Cutler, Fox was also noncommittal when asked about Brandon Marshall.
- Like Fox, Pace didn’t put his full support behind either Cutler or Marshall — the new GM didn’t call Cutler the team’s starting QB, and said the team would “take our time” with evaluations. As for Marshall, Pace suggested football needs to be the wideout’s top priority, in reference to Marshall’s 2014 gig with “Inside the NFL.”
- The Bears head coach confirmed that he met with Josh McCown today and that the club has interest in him. “He’s the right kind of guy… that you want on your football team,” Fox said of the former Buccaneer. Pace also had praise for McCown, suggesting he’s capable of being a starter or backup for an NFL team.
- Fox also confirmed that the Bears will be switching to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Defensive ends like Jared Allen and Willie Young are expected to get a look at the outside linebacker position in the new system.
- Fox and his staff are still evaluating players like Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs, so there’s no decision on whether to bring them back, but they’ve been “great Bears,” says the head coach. Pace added that the decisions on Tillman and Briggs will be big ones for the team.
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht:
- The Bucs are leaning toward keeping the first overall pick, but are open to all options and aren’t closing any doors, according to Licht. As for who the Bucs will select with that No. 1 pick? “We have a favorite, but we want to let the process play out,” said the GM, adding that it would be an “insult” to say it’s 50-50 between Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota based on the team’s research and draft meetings to date.
- For what it’s worth, Lovie Smith said earlier today that the Bucs would be comfortable making Winston the “face of the franchise,” and previous reports have indicated that Tampa Bay prefers the Florida State signal-caller. Licht said today the Bucs will have “several meetings” with both Winston and Mariota.
- Veteran guard Logan Mankins is part of the solution in Tampa Bay, not part of the problem, according to Licht, who says Mankins has a future with the team.
- While Licht reiterated the team’s support for Mike Glennon, he said he remains open-minded about discussing trades and moving players in general.
Titans GM Ruston Webster and head coach Ken Whisenhunt:
- The Titans like Zach Mettenberger but haven’t yet committed to him as the 2015 starter, and will fully consider Jameis Winston and/or Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 overall pick, according to Webster.
- Although the QBs are receiving most of the attention at the top of the draft, Webster said today that there are several other players the Titans feel are worthy of the second overall pick. The lines of communication are also open for Tennessee in terms of trading the selection to another team. Whisenhunt added that a “defensive difference-maker” would be an option for the club at No. 2.
- The general manager expects the club to try to fill some holes through free agency, but cautioned that the most effective way to build a strong roster is through the draft.
- While the Titans will work through their defensive coaching roles this spring, Whisenhunt said today that new senior assistant Dick LeBeau will have control of the unit, and that defensive coordinator Ray Horton is comfortable with LeBeau’s hiring and his role.
Bills head coach Rex Ryan:
- Even after signing Richie Incognito, the guard and tackle positions are priorities for Ryan, who wants to make the offensive line an area of strength for the Bills.
- Ryan said that he’s excited about E.J. Manuel, who “has some potential,” but finding a long-term answer at quarterback remains a top priority for the club.
- Ryan confirmed that the Bills have some interest in free agent signal-caller Josh McCown.
- The Bills new head coach declined to comment on questions about Darrelle Revis, Mark Sanchez, and Chris Johnson.
NFC West Notes: Gore, 49ers, Cards, Lynch
In an Instagram post earlier this week, Frank Gore publicly expressed some doubt about how invested the 49ers are in re-signing him this winter. According to Niners GM Trent Baalke, that prompted him to reach out to the veteran running back to reiterate the team’s position, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.
“That’s why we talked. That’s the exact (reason),” Baalke said. “We reached out. He reached out back. He wasn’t expecting it to take legs like it did. Nor were we. He didn’t have any intentions by it and he made that very clear in our conversations. … It’s at the same place it was the last time we talked. We’re still working on it. It’s not something that’s going to get done yesterday. It’ll take some time to resolve. It’s our intention to have Frank back.”
While we wait to see what Gore’s future holds, here’s more from around the NFC West:
- Baalke also said today that he plans to meet with Michael Crabtree‘s agent this week in Indianapolis, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). The 49ers wideout is eligible for free agency next month.
- Speaking today to reporters in Indy, including Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link), Cardinals GM Steve Keim said he doesn’t want to get into specifics, but the team intends to talk to Darnell Dockett about his contract. Dockett, who missed the entire 2014 campaign with a knee injury, is on the books for a 2015 cap hit of $9.8MM, a figure the club may want to reduce.
- Keim also today that he expects some of the Cardinals‘ free agents, such as Antonio Cromartie, to test the open market, though that doesn’t rule out the possibility of them re-signing with Arizona (Twitter link via Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com).
- While a full breakdown of Larry Fitzgerald‘s new contract with the Cardinals isn’t out there yet, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap takes a stab at determining what it will look like.
- A Seahawks player tells Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that he thinks it’s 50/50 as to whether Marshawn Lynch continues his career or decides to retire. “Marshawn is a different kind of guy,” the player said. “He could retire tomorrow, walk away and not think twice about it.”
- With Lynch’s future up in the air, Terry Blount of ESPN.com identifies three running backs that may be on the Seahawks‘ radar during this week’s combine and during the draft this spring.
Cards, Larry Fitzgerald Agree To New Deal
11:04am: Although Fitzgerald’s new deal is technically a four-year pact, it voids after two years, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. That allows the Cards to spread out bonus money over additional years, reducing the cap hits for 2015 and 2016.
10:38am: Speaking to reporters in Indianapolis today, Cardinals GM Steve Keim confirmed that Fitzgerald’s deal is done, and said it’s “essentially” a two-year agreement (Twitter links via Josh Weinfuss and Darren Urban).
10:06am: A source tells Pro Football Talk (via Twitter) that the agreement between Fitzgerald and the Cards is “done” and that it will create $13MM in cap space for 2015. Fitzgerald’s old contract has been replaced by a new one that will guarantee him $11MM in each of the next two seasons, per PFT.
8:07am: The Cardinals and receiver Larry Fitzgerald are closing in on a new multiyear contract extension that is expected to be finalized soon, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Schefter, the agreement will enable the veteran wideout – and longtime Cardinal – to finish his career in Arizona.
Fitzgerald is currently under contract with the Cardinals through the 2018 season, so the new agreement may not add any new years to that deal. However, it will certainly reduce the 31-year-old’s cap number for 2015, at least — an $8MM base salary, combined with a $7.35MM prorated bonus and an $8MM roster bonus, had Fitzgerald counting for more than $23MM on the Cards’ books for the coming year.
Fitzgerald’s production has fallen off a little during the last three years, as he has averaged only about 72 catches and 845 yards per season from 2012 to 2014, compared to averages of close to 93 receptions and 1,296 yards in the five-year span from 2007 to 2011. Nonetheless, the Cardinals wanted to keep him around, and there was also interest from Fitzgerald’s side in working out a new arrangement that would give him a better opportunity to play out the rest of his career in Arizona without fear of being cut.
Additionally, Arizona is one of just a handful of teams currently projected to be over the 2015 cap, ahead of only the Saints in terms of potential cap room (or lack thereof), per Over the Cap. As such, restructuring Fitzgerald’s deal was a top priority for the club as the free agent period approached.
A simple restructure, which involves converting base salary to a signing bonus, won’t be enough to lighten the load on the Cardinals’ cap in 2015 and beyond, so the wideout will almost certainly have to take a pay cut, though I assume he’ll be receiving some money up front as part of the agreement — converting his $8MM roster bonus into a prorated signing bonus could be part of the move, but we’ll have to wait for the full details to be reported to be sure.
Vikings GM Expects To Retain Adrian Peterson
While the general consensus as recently as a few weeks ago suggested that Adrian Peterson‘s time in Minnesota was probably over, members of the Vikings’ brass have been going to bat for the embattled running back lately. Today, Vikes general manager Rick Spielman became the latest key member of the organization to suggest he wants to see Peterson wearing purple again in 2015, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press details.
“I think our whole organization is on that same page (about wanting Peterson back),” Spielman said. “What team wouldn’t want an Adrian Peterson talent? He’s a unique player that you don’t see come around too often and Adrian’s been a key part of our organization. He’s made a mistake. He’s doing everything and he’s got to follow through and rectify and do the things the NFL is requiring him to do.”
Peterson and the Vikings are in a tricky situation, given where his suspension and his contract currently stand. The team isn’t allowed to be in contact at this time with the running back, who isn’t eligible for reinstatement until at least April 15. Once he’s reinstated, Minnesota will likely want to address his contract, since Peterson is currently on the books for a $12.75MM base salary and a $15.4MM cap hit.
Since the free agent period begins several weeks before Peterson is eligible to be reinstated, most teams will have already completed their major offseason roster moves by that point, meaning the running back’s leverage will be reduced. That may be one reason why the Vikes are leaning toward bringing him back — AP may be more inclined to take a pay cut or restructure his deal if there aren’t many other legit suitors out there for him, particularly if Minnesota continues to publicly support him while he serves the suspension.
Besides addressing Peterson, Spielman also said today that he likes Matt Cassel, but wouldn’t commit to whether or not the Vikings have decided to bring him back as their backup quarterback for 2015, tweets Tomasson.
Combine Pressers: Steelers, Bucs, Broncos, 49ers
48 head coaches or general managers are scheduled to speak today, tomorrow, and Friday at the NFL’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, with the Eagles, Saints, and Patriots the only teams not represented on this year’s schedule. Those mini-pressers are already underway, so let’s round up a few of the notable comments made by the men who have spoken to the media so far. All links go to the Twitter accounts of various NFL reporters in attendance….
Steelers GM Kevin Colbert:
- Contract talks between Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers are “progressing,” according to Colbert. With Big Ben heading into the final year of his current deal, the two sides are expected to work out a new agreement at some point during the offseason, and the GM is very confident it can be done within a traditional cap structure.
- Despite the fact that LeGarrette Blount ultimately played a major role for the Super Bowl champion Patriots, Colbert said today that he and his club have no regrets about parting ways with the running back during the season.
- While Colbert said he’d love to bring back free-agent-to-be Jason Worilds, he didn’t convey a ton of confidence that something will get done, telling reporters, “Maybe he comes back, maybe he moves on.” Per Colbert, the outside linebacker may need to test the open market to gauge his value.
Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith:
- Calling Josh McCown a “lifelong friend,” Smith said he thought it was in both the team’s and the quarterback’s interests to part ways earlier this month.
- The Buccaneers’ new coaches like Mike Glennon, so the plan right now is to move forward with Glennon at quarterback — he’s the only signal-caller on the roster at the moment, but Smith thinks he has the potential to be a solid NFL starter.
- While Glennon may be atop the Tampa Bay depth chart by default for now, Smith also addressed the idea of selecting a quarterback with the first overall pick in April. According to the head coach, the Bucs aren’t put off by Jameis Winston‘s off-field issues, and would be comfortable with the idea of making him the face of their franchise. The vetting process for both Winston and Marcus Mariota is ongoing, and Smith says the team has already “talked to a lot of people” about both prospects.
- Asked about Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs, two potential free agents whom used to play for Smith in Chicago, the head coach said he’s not sure how much interest they’ll generate, but he believes they can still be positive contributors.
Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak:
- Although Kubiak said he has received no assurances that Peyton Manning will be back with the Broncos, all indications are pointing toward him returning. The new Denver head coach talked about adjusting his offense to suit Manning’s skills, which strongly suggest he expects to be coaching the future Hall-of-Famer.
- According to Kubiak, he had a “good conversation” with Wes Welker, who says he’s feeling good and wants to play in 2015. Of course, the receiver doesn’t have a contract yet, so there’s no guarantee he’ll continue playing for the Broncos. Denver would “love to have him back” though, says Kubiak.
- Kubiak expects the transition from a 4-3 defense under Jack Del Rio to a 3-4 scheme under Wade Phillips to go fairly smoothly.
49ers GM Trent Baalke:
- Baalke intends to meet with veteran defensive end Justin Smith after the combine to determine whether or not Smith wants to return for a 15th NFL season in 2015.
- Asked about wide receiver prospects at the combine and in the draft, Baalke said, “It’s no mystery, we’re looking for guys who can run.”
- Baalke declined to comment on Jim Harbaugh‘s recent suggestion that the former head coach’s departure from the 49ers was the team’s decision and not his own. “He’s moved on and we’ve moved on,” the GM said.
- According to the Niners GM, the team’s head coaching job was offered to “one person and one person only” (Jim Tomsula), meaning the club never officially offered the position to Adam Gase. Baalke did confirm that the Niners made an effort to retain defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, but that was dependent on who became the head coach.
Free Agent Market For Interior DL
Our list of 2015 free agents provides a comprehensive position-by-position breakdown of which players are eligible to hit the open market this year. However, that list of names doesn’t include much context or additional information about those players. So, with March’s free agent period fast approaching, we’ll be taking a closer look this month at the free agent market for each position. Today, we’ll turn our attention to interior defensive linemen — defensive tackles and 3-4 defensive ends. Let’s dive in….
Top unrestricted FAs:
- Nick Fairley (Lions)
- Tom Johnson (Vikings)
- Terrance Knighton (Broncos)
- Ray McDonald (N/A)
- Henry Melton (Cowboys)
- C.J. Mosley (Lions)
- Jared Odrick (Dolphins)
- Stephen Paea (Bears)
- Corey Peters (Falcons)
- B.J. Raji (Packers)
- Cory Redding (Colts)
- Ndamukong Suh (Lions)
- Dan Williams (Cardinals)
Suh may be the subject of more headlines this offseason than the rest of the players in this group put together, but there are plenty of above-average contributors here besides the Lions star. In fact, a couple of them are Suh’s teammates, Fairley and Mosley. It’s almost certainly a one-or-the-others scenario for Detroit, as the team will likely let its other defensive tackles go if Suh returns to the fold — if he lands elsewhere, the Lions would have much more flexibility to bring back the rest of their potential free agents.
Outside of the Lions trio, the top names here include Odrick, Knighton, Paea, and Williams. Melton could join this group too, if a team was confident in his health. All five of those players ranked among the top 20 defensive tackles in the league in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). Paea and Melton excelled at getting to the quarterback, but had the worst grades against the run of any top-20 defensive tackle. Knighton and Williams, on the other hand, had their positive grades buoyed by strong performances against the run, while Odrick was somewhere in between.
PFF also liked the performance of McDonald, who ranked as the NFL’s 12th-best 3-4 defensive end. However, the off-field issues surrounding McDonald, who is being investigated following accusations of sexual assault, were serious enough that the 49ers released him before the season even ended. Even if McDonald isn’t formally charged or convicted, he could be facing discipline from the league, and the trouble he has had with the law could scare off potential suitors.
Raji is another wild card in this group. He’s still only 28 years old, and he’s a former first-round pick, but he missed the entire 2014 campaign with a torn biceps, and had a dismal 2013 as a 3-4 DE. If he’s healthy and transitions back into his original nose tackle role, Raji could be a bargain for a team that takes advantage of a buy-low opportunity.
Other unrestricted options:
- Alan Branch (Patriots)
- Terrence Cody (N/A)
- Landon Cohen (Seahawks)
- Colin Cole (Panthers)
- Brandon Deaderick (Saints)
- Leger Douzable (Jets)
- Dwan Edwards (Panthers)
- Kenrick Ellis (Jets)
- Andre Fluellen (Lions)
- Sione Fua (Browns)
- Clifton Geathers (Steelers)
- Letroy Guion (Packers)
- Lawrence Guy (Ravens)
- Nick Hayden (Cowboys)
- Tim Jamison (Texans)
- Jarvis Jenkins (Washington)
- Tommy Kelly (Cardinals)
- Karl Klug (Titans)
- Ricardo Mathews (Chargers)
- Fili Moala (Colts)
- Chris Neild (Washington)
- Mike Patterson (Giants)
- Ryan Pickett (Texans)
- Ahtyba Rubin (Browns)
- Pat Sims (Raiders)
- D’Anthony Smith (Seahawks)
- Mitch Unrein (Broncos)
- Kevin Vickerson (Chiefs)
- Kevin Williams (Seahawks)
- C.J. Wilson (Raiders)
If a team misses out on the top tier of interior linemen, it should have plenty of choices here. The players in this list range from nose tackles to 4-3 DTs to 3-4 DEs, and some of them may even be capable of playing on the end for a 4-3 team, so a club’s targets will depend on its needs.
Kelly and Williams are among the veterans here who would be nice stopgaps for a team looking for a short-term solution on the inside. Guion should also attract plenty of interest, though he could be facing discipline from the league following his legal troubles. The same goes for Cody, whom the Ravens released just weeks before he actually reached the open market, due to an animal cruelty investigation.
Klug, Jenkins, Douzable, and Ellis are a few more players in their mid-to-late 20s who could be nice fits in the right system. Douzable and Ellis, in particular, are interesting cases — they have played well for Rex Ryan‘s Jets as run stoppers in recent years, but with so much talent on the Bills’ defensive line already, it will be interesting to see if they follow Ryan to Buffalo or try to find an opportunity that could afford them more playing time.
Restricted FAs:
- Christo Bilukidi (Ravens)
- Damon Harrison (Jets)
- Ishmaa’ily Kitchen (Browns)
- Jerrell Powe (Texans)
- Devon Still (Bengals)
- Alameda Ta’amu (Cardinals)
- Cedric Thornton (Eagles)
- Tyrunn Walker (Saints)
In a class of restricted free agents that isn’t particularly strong overall, this group actually looks a little more intriguing than the RFAs at most positions. In my opinion, Harrison and Thornton are each worthy of at least second-round tenders from their respective clubs. Both players ranked among the best players at their positions against the run, according to PFF (subscription required). The full list of defensive tackle who had better run defense grades than Harrison? Marcell Dareus and Suh — that’s it. With negotiations for Muhammad Wilkerson on the horizon, the Jets will want to ensure that they lock up Harrison, so it wouldn’t even be a surprise if he received a first-round tender, given the team’s excess cap room.
Walker and Kitchen also held their own as part-time players for the Saints and Browns respectively, so I’d expect them to draw interest if their clubs decide not to extend an RFA tender.
Previous looks at the 2015 free agent market:
Browns, Bears Eyeing Josh McCown
After Josh McCown left Buffalo earlier this week without an agreement in place, reports indicated that he had at least one more visit – and perhaps more – lined up. It looks like one of the stops on McCown’s free agent tour could be Cleveland, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who reports that the Browns are interested in the veteran quarterback. Cabot says the two sides haven’t officially planned a visit yet, but could do so soon.
The Bills and Browns certainly aren’t the only teams interested in McCown, however. The free agent signal-caller said last week that at least six teams had expressed some interest in him after he was cut by the Buccaneers, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets this morning that the number is up to eight. Per Rapoport, one of those potential suitors is the Bears, and according to Vaughn McClure and Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (Twitter links), McCown is dining with new Chicago head coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace this morning. McCown can afford to be patient and take his time with the free agent process, since his main competition on the market won’t be free to sign until March 10.
For the Browns, McCown makes some sense as a potential fit. While we’ve heard some whispers about the club having interest in Oregon prospect Marcus Mariota, it seems more likely that the team would bring in a veteran to compete with and push Johnny Manziel, last year’s first-round pick. Brian Hoyer served that role in 2014, and could still return to Cleveland, but the closer this year’s free agent period gets, the more likely Hoyer is to test the open market.
As Cabot notes, McCown also has a little history with new Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who was working in Oakland as the Raiders’ quarterbacks coach when McCown started nine games for the team back in 2007. A source tells Cabot that, despite Hoyer’s 2-7 record during that run, the two enjoyed working together and would welcome the opportunity to do so again.
NFLPA Files Grievance Vs. Browns For Gordon Suspension
7:30pm: Gordon was notified in writing about his lateness on multiple occasions, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). The NFLPA grievance claims that he wasn’t notified or fined for it.
9:11am: The NFL Players Association has filed a non-injury grievance vs. the Browns, challenging the one-game suspension the team handed out to Josh Gordon at the end of the 2014 season, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The ban, which happened prior to Week 17, came from the team, and is separate from the year-long suspension the wideout later received from the league.
This grievance had been anticipated, since suspending Gordon for the final game of the 2014 campaign ensured that he only played in five games, one short of the six he would require for an accrued season. While the discipline may have been warranted, it looked like it also could have been a ploy by the Browns to push the 23-year-old’s eligibility for unrestricted free agency back by a year.
Regardless of whether or not Gordon’s suspension from the team is upheld by an arbitrator, the wideout’s unrestricted free agency will still be delayed by at least one year due to his more recent ban from the league, since a player doesn’t receive an accrued season when he spends the year on the reserve/suspended list. A player is eligible to be a UFA after four accrued seasons, but if both of Gordon’s suspensions stand, he’ll only have two accrued seasons by 2016, which is when he originally would’ve been set to hit the open market.