Packers Sign Mike McCarthy To Extension
TUESDAY, 9:44am: The extension locks up McCarthy through the 2018 season, confirms Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
MONDAY, 3:05pm: The Packers have reached an agreement with Mike McCarthy to extend the head coach’s contract, the team announced today in a press release. The new multiyear deal will lock McCarthy up beyond the 2015 season, when his previous contract had been scheduled to expire.
“We are very happy to extend our relationship with Mike,” said general manager Ted Thompson in a statement. “Over the past nine years, he’s provided great stability and consistency to the Packers organization and our community as an excellent coach and leader. He’s a good man and we look forward to the future with Mike as our head coach.”
McCarthy, who turns 51 next Monday, took over the Packers’ coaching job prior to the 2006 season, making him the fourth-longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. Since taking the reins, McCarthy has led the club to an 87-48-1 record in the regular season and a 6-5 playoff record in six postseason appearances, including a Super Bowl run in 2010.
We heard way back in May that the Packers and McCarthy had started working on an extension, and after the team announced a new contract for Thompson during training camp, it figured to be just a matter of time until McCarthy got his new deal as well. As Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets, Thompson’s pact is believed to keep him under control through 2018, so McCarthy’s extension will likely cover the same period, which would mean it adds three new years to his previous contract.
Demovsky also notes (via Twitter) that McCarthy’s previous contract paid him more than $5MM annually. Financial terms for the new agreement have not been announced or reported, but I’d expect at least a modest raise for the Green Bay head coach.
Minor Moves: Monday
As teams deal with Week 9 injuries and look ahead to Week 10, we can expect to see several clubs tweak the backs of their 53-man rosters and their practice squads. Here are Monday’s latest minor transactions:
- The Dolphins have placed safety Michael Thomas on injured reserve after he suffered a significant chest injury in Sunday’s game, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). To take his place on the roster, Miami signed fellow S Jordan Kovacs off the Eagles’ practice squad, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The Fins will also add tight end Jake Stoneburner to its taxi squad, tweets Salguero.
- Two Buccaneers players, defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and fullback Jorvorskie Lane, have been reinstated from the suspended list, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
- The Buccaneers have waived defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo, reports Caplan (on Twitter). The 2012 undrafted free agent played in one game this season for Tampa Bay.
- Because return man Trindon Holliday was waived/injured, and has now cleared waivers, he has reverted to the Buccaneers’ injured reserve list, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
- More Bucs news, as the club has made several changes to its practice squad. Tampa added linebacker Denicos Allen and tight end Ted Bolser to its taxi squad, while cutting fullback Lonnie Pryor and linebacker Mister Alexander, says Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (via Twitter).
- To make room for Square (referenced below), the Chargers have cut safety Adrian Phillips, who was just signed on Saturday, per Wilson (Twitter link).
- The Bengals announced several changes to its practice squad, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. We learned earlier today that linebacker Khairi Fortt was lost to the Jaguars, but the team also cut tight end Kevin Greene. To replace them, Cincinnati signed tight end Jake Murphy and linebacker Justin Jackson.
- The Cardinals have re-signed defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, who was let go on Saturday, to their taxi squad, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter).
- The Jets have made an addition to their PS, bringing in receiver Chris Owusu, per Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). Owusu caught 13 balls for the Buccaneers last season.
Earlier updates:
- Defensive end Damion Square, who was cut by the Chiefs on Saturday, has been claimed off waivers by the division-rival Chargers, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). San Diego doesn’t have an open roster spot, so the team will need to make a corresponding move for the transaction to become official.
- The Bills have filled their lone open roster spot by claiming safety Jerome Couplin off waivers from the Lions, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Lions have made a few changes to their practice squad, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who tweets that the team has added tight end Jordan Thompson, cornerback Trevin Wade, and defensive tackle Roy Philon, releasing tight end Ifeanyi Momah.
- After working them out earlier, the Vikings have signed quarterback Pat Devlin and tight end Rashaun Allen to their taxi squad, according to Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (via Twitter). To make space on the unit, the team moved quarterback Chandler Harnish to the practice squad IR list and cut tight end Ryan Otten.
- Fullback Michael Zordich has signed with the Saints‘ practice squad, according to his agency, Tier 1 Sports Management (Twitter link).
- The Buccaneers are set to sign tackle Matt Patchan to their practice squad, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Eagles Sign Prosinski, Put Ryans On IR
4:40pm: The Eagles have officially announced the pair of roster moves.
4:19pm: The Eagles will officially place linebacker DeMeco Ryans on season-ending injured reserve after the team’s defensive leader tore his Achilles tendon during Sunday’s game against the Texans, GM Howie Roseman confirmed today. With the empty spot on the active roster vacated by Ryans, the team will sign former Jaguars safety Chris Prosinski, according to Roseman (Twitter links).
Prosinski, 27, spent the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Jaguars, starting nine of the 45 contests he played for the team between 2011 and 2013. He saw his role reduced this season, however, and has been shuffled on and off the roster during the season’s first two months. The former fourth-round pick worked out for the Eagles last week, and the team apparently liked what it saw during that audition.
While Ryans will land on injured reserve, an MRI on the Eagles’ other notable injured player from this weekend, Nick Foles, revealed that the quarterback won’t require surgery — he’ll remain on the active roster and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Injury Updates: Monday
Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston and Jaguars cornerback Will Blackmon have both officially landed on their respective teams‘ injured reserve lists today, though both those injuries were suffered in Week 8 games. Teams are still diagnosing injuries suffered by players in Week 9, so we’ll provide the day’s injury updates in the space below, with the latest items added to the top of the page throughout the day….
- As first reported by Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link), the Dolphins believe safety Michael Thomas‘ season is over due to a pectoral injury. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) and James Walker of ESPN.com have since confirmed that Thomas will be out for the year and that he should land on IR later this week. The loss of Thomas will have an impact on the Dolphins’ special teams and on the nickel package of a defensive unit that’s coming off its best game of the year.
- Although the Broncos feared that linebacker Nate Irving suffered structural damage to his knee ligaments, the initial diagnosis suggests he has a sprained MCL and should return this season, according to Jeff Legwold and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Still, Irving will undergo more tests before the team determines his potential recovery timetable.
- Head coach Chip Kelly confirmed today to reporters, including Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), that Nick Foles has a crack in his clavicle and underwent an MRI this afternoon. The Eagles signal-caller is expected to be sidelined for several weeks as his collarbone heals.
Lions Re-Sign Andre Fluellen, Cut Gorrer
After announcing a pair of roster moves earlier today, the Lions have made two more, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who tweets that the club has re-signed defensive tackle Andre Fluellen and waived defensive back Danny Gorrer.
With Nick Fairley sidelined for the time being, defensive tackle was an area Detroit needed to address, and the team did so by bringing back a player who has spent most of his six-year NFL career as a Lion. Fluellen, who was released by the club during preseason roster cutdowns, appeared in 170 defensive snaps for Detroit in 2013, recording three tackles, pressuring the quarterback five times, and recovering a fumble.
According to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (Twitter link), this is the eighth time Fluellen has been added to the Lions’ roster, by way of drafting, signing, or re-signing.
Bears Place Lamarr Houston On IR
A week after a sack celebration gone wrong resulted in a torn ACL, defensive end Lamarr Houston has been placed on injured reserve by the Bears, the club announced today (Twitter link). The Bears have promoted defensive end David Bass from their practice squad to replace Houston the 53-man roster, signing tackle Jason Weaver to fill the newly-opened spot on the taxi squad.
Houston, one of the offseason’s most notable free agent signees, is in the first season of a five-year pact with the Bears, and has a sizable chunk of guaranteed money owed to him for next season, so he’ll be back with Chicago in 2015. Still, it was a disappointing first year in Chicago for Houston, who was brought in to help replace departing defensive end Julius Peppers — the sack Houston was celebrating when he tore his ACL was only his first of the season.
Only three Bears defensive ends – Houston, Jared Allen, and Willie Young – had logged more than eight defensive snaps this season. Allen and Young figure to continue seeing plenty of action, particularly as pass rushers, but Bass and fellow reserves Cornelius Washington and Trevor Scott could have their roles expanded in Houston’s absence.
Lions Reinstate Mosley, Activate Van Noy
Heading into the week with two open roster spots, the Lions have moved quickly to fill those openings. According to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter), the team has reinstated defensive tackle C.J. Mosley from suspension, and activated linebacker Kyle Van Noy from off the injured reserve list.
Mosley, whose suspension came from the team rather than the league, was banned for two weeks, reportedly for an incident related to marijuana. Since the Lions had their bye in Week 9, the penalty only cost the defensive tackle one game — the club’s victory over the Falcons in London.
Meanwhile, Van Noy, the 40th overall pick in this year’s draft, has yet to make his regular-season debut for the Lions, having been placed on IR with the designation to return prior to Week 1. While an abdomen injury cost Van Noy a portion of his rookie season, and the club may ease him back in slowly, the BYU alum had initially been penciled in as a three-down starter for the Lions, so we could see him take on an increased role down the stretch. I identified Van Noy last week as one of the returning players for contending teams who could have an impact in the second half of the season.
Following the pair of transactions, the Lions now have a full 53-man roster.
Jags Place Will Blackmon On IR, Sign Fortt
The Jaguars have made a change to their 53-man roster, the team announced today, confirming in a press release that cornerback Will Blackmon has been placed on injured reserve. To replace Blackmon, the Jags signed linebacker Khairi Fortt from off the Bengals’ practice squad.
Blackmon, who re-signed with Jacksonville in the offseason, had been one of the team’s top three corners throughout most of the first half before breaking his finger in the team’s Week 8 loss to the Dolphins. The nine-year veteran remains under contract with the Jags for the 2015 season, so while his ’14 campaign may be over, he could still return to the club next year.
As for Fortt, the rookie is already playing for the third team of his young NFL career. After having been drafted by the Saints in the fourth round in May, Fortt was placed on IR with the designation to return, but was cut shortly thereafter, landing with the Bengals’ 53-man roster, and then Cincinnati’s practice squad. The 22-year-old has yet to make his regular season NFL debut.
Marcus Lattimore Expected To Retire
9:02am: Per Rapoport (Twitter link), Lattimore will meet with doctors today to figure out the reason for his knee soreness, with a decision on his future likely to follow. The running back isn’t believed to have suffered any structural damage to his knee last week during practice, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
8:37am: 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore is expected to retire from the NFL due to ongoing knee issues, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Caplan’s source doesn’t appear to be Lattimore’s agent, Michael Perrett, who tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that “no decision has been made” yet on his client’s future, but confirms that the running back is weighing his options.
Lattimore, who turned 23 last week, has yet to make his NFL debut, having been sidelined by injuries since being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by the Niners. This season, he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list, and only began practicing this past week. If Lattimore continues his comeback attempt, the team would have until November 19 to activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com had written yesterday that Lattimore would be “taking some time” to contemplate his future and decide whether to continue trying to get on the field. Lattimore practiced on Wednesday and Thursday last week, two years after suffering his second significant knee injury during his final year at South Carolina. However, he experienced some soreness and was held out of Friday’s session, prompting a source to tell Maiocco that the running back’s future was “up in the air.”
Whether Lattimore finalizes his decision to retire or takes one more shot at getting back on the field, we can probably expect some sort of official announcement in the near future.
Extension Candidate: Von Miller
Although they came into the season looking up at the defending-champion Seahawks, having been steamrolled by Russell Wilson and company back in February’s Super Bowl, the Broncos have since established themselves as 2014’s best team through eight weeks. At 6-1, Denver’s only loss came against those aforementioned Seahawks, and that was an overtime contest that could’ve gone either way. With solid victories against the Colts, Chiefs, Cardinals, 49ers, and Chargers also on their 2014 resumé, the Broncos head into the second half in pole position for the AFC’s top seed.
Everything is firing on all cylinders now for the Broncos, but at season’s end, the team will have several tough decisions to make. Impact players like wideouts Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker, tight end Julius Thomas, and cornerback Chris Harris face potential unrestricted free agency, and with about $108MM in salaries already on the books for 2015, the team may not have the flexibility to retain all its key players.
While those players whose deals expire at the end of the 2014 season will likely be Denver’s top priorities, the team also figures to address another important contract situation this offseason, with standout linebacker Von Miller eligible for an extension. Denver picked up its fifth-year option on Miller this past spring, meaning he’s under contract for a $9.754MM salary in 2015. However, it may be in both sides’ best interests to work out a longer-term agreement, one that locks up Miller for a few additional years and perhaps lowers his cap hit for ’15.
Two years ago, Miller was one of the league’s best defensive players in just his second NFL season, piling up 18.5 sacks and forcing six fumbles for the Broncos, earning himself a Pro Bowl spot and a First-Team All-Pro nod. 2013 was a struggle for Miller though, beginning with a six-game suspension for attempting to cheat a drug test and ending with a torn ACL that ended his year early. In between, the former second overall pick also recorded just five sacks in nine games and dealt with off-field legal issues.
As such, 2014 was an important year for Miller as the team assessed which soon-to-be free agents would be part of the long-term plans in Denver, and which were more expendable. So far, the 25-year-old’s play hasn’t left any doubt — the Broncos should do everything they can to lock him up. Through seven games, only Justin Houston of the divisional-rival Chiefs has more sacks (10) than Miller’s nine.
Of course, even in 2013, an apparent down year, advanced metrics suggested that Miller was far and away the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the league. Since he entered the NFL in 2011, Miller has ranked atop the list of qualified players at the position, and it hasn’t been close, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required). Miller’s grades of +48.2, +82.6, +42.8, and +26.4 have given him a double-digit margin over the runner-up in each of his four seasons, and have provided an indication of just how good he is against the run as well as the pass — his grade as a run defender has placed first among 4-3 OLBs in each of his four seasons.
There’s no question then that any team would love to have Miller on the field, and if he were a model citizen off the field, it would probably be just a matter of time until he signed one of the most lucrative contract extensions in all of football. But those off-field problems that have nagged Miller throughout his career figure to come up in contract negotiations, even if accounts out of Denver this season suggest that the Texas A&M product is developing into one of the Broncos’ leaders on defense. With the NFL facing increased public scrutiny in recent months, the league’s policies and penalties for off-field transgressions could become more punitive, and the risk of future suspensions for Miller might make the Broncos shy away from making a massive investment.
Still, it’s hard to downplay Miller’s on-field contributions. With the exception of J.J. Watt and perhaps a couple other players, no defender in the league has the sort of impact at his position that Miller does. Offseason additions like Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, and DeMarcus Ware have played a part in the Broncos’ improved defense this season, but Miller is the unit’s most valuable piece, and I’d be shocked if the club ever let him reach the open market, even if there are lingering concerns about his off-field conduct.
In order to re-sign players like the Thomases and Harris in the offseason, the Broncos may look to reduce Miller’s $9.754MM cap hit for 2015 by signing him to an extension that pushes some of that money back to future seasons. If the two sides do try to work something out this winter, recent contracts signed by pass rushers like Tamba Hali and Trent Cole could serve as a baseline for Miller’s new deal. Given his astronomical numbers, I’d expect a deal for Miller to exceed the $11.5-12MM annual salaries secured by those players and perhaps land in the neighborhood of contracts signed by Charles Johnson, Robert Quinn, or even Mario Williams.
Those three deals range from four to six years, at a rate of $12.5-16MM per season, with between $15-32MM in guaranteed money. Based on Miller’s history and the Broncos’ typical method for structuring contracts, I could picture the two sides agreeing to a deal for something in the neighborhood of five years and $70-75MM, with a fairly modest guarantee — perhaps $15MM or so. An offer like that would give Miller the opportunity to earn significant annual salaries while giving the team some insurance in case the veteran’s off-field issues resurface.
General manager John Elway and company aren’t likely to address Miller’s contract, or any others, until after the season, but these negotiations shouldn’t be overlooked, even as the team attempts to re-sign Peyton Manning‘s top receivers (Thomas and Thomas) and the defense’s best cornerback (Harris). Playing out the 2015 season with Miller on a one-year deal is a possibility, particularly if the team wants to see him continue to mature, but this winter could be the best time to hammer out a long-term contract from a financial perspective.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.