Minor Moves: Wednesday
We’ll keep tabs on Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Bills have placed linebacker Stevenson Sylvester on injured reserve with a torn patella tendon, ending his season, tweets ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak. Because Sylvester had four years of NFL experience, he didn’t have to pass through waivers before being put on the team’s IR list.
- The Raiders have waived-injured safety Jeremy Deering, replacing him on the roster with kicker Kevin Goessling, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
Earlier updates:
- After reporting earlier today that Eric Kettani worked out for the Jaguars, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post now says the team is signing the fullback, so his audition must have gone well. Kettani was cut by the Chiefs earlier this year. Wilson adds in a tweet that tight end Fendi Onobun, who will miss the season with a torn quad, has been waived-injured.
- The Broncos have waived-injured defensive end Greg Latta, according to Wilson (via Twitter). The Purdue product was one of more than a dozen undrafted free agents signed by Denver immediately following the draft.
- The Buccaneers have reduced their receiving corps by one, cutting ex-Titan Lavelle Hawkins today, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
- On the heels of acquiring Kenjon Barner from the Panthers, the Eagles have cut rookie running back David Fluellen, the team announced today (Twitter link). A roster move wasn’t necessary to make room for Barner, so Philadelphia now has one opening on its roster.
- Punter Blake Clingan has been cut by the Redskins, a source tells Tom Schad of the Washington Times (Twitter link). That leaves Robert Malone as the only punter on the club’s roster.
NFC North Links: Lions, Ponder, Packers
Roster construction is a collaborative effort in Detroit, but head coach Jim Caldwell acknowledges that general manager Martin Mayhew will have the final say on the 53 players the Lions carry into the regular season, as he tells Justin Rogers of MLive.com. If Caldwell were making the final decisions, he’d like favor production over potential, for one obvious reason.
“I’m in the business of winning games and winning games now,” Caldwell said. “So the most important thing to me is getting guys who can be in a position to help us win right now. There are other, businesses (and) positions within the organization that may look at it differently, but we have to look at it as coaches. We’re looking for the best guy to help us win, at this particular moment in time, and that’s what counts for us.”
Here’s more from around the NFC North:
- Although Christian Ponder has made comments indicating he’d be open to a trade, he clarified today that he’s not asking to be dealt by the Vikings. “As a competitor you want to be the guy out there playing,” Ponder said. “But I do feel like in the situation I’m in right now, I am getting better” (Twitter links via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press).
- Colt Lyerla was waived-injured by the Packers yesterday after tearing his MCL and PCL, but agent Vinnie Porter gets the sense that the team still has his client in its plans, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Assuming Lyerla clears waivers, he could spent the year on injured reserve and continue on with Green Bay next season.
- In a separate piece for the Journal Sentinel, Dunne explores whether or not there’s still room on the Packers for former first-round pick Nick Perry. The linebacker’s roster spot probably isn’t in jeopardy, but 2014 could be a make-or-break season for him.
- By signing Julius Peppers and having him make the transition from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker, the Packers are hoping the ex-Bear has a career renaissance similar to the one experienced by Charles Woodson when Woodson joined the Packers and began to play positions besides just cornerback. Andy Benoit of TheMMQB.com has the story.
Forbes Releases NFL Franchise Valuations
Forbes has unveiled its annual franchise valuations for all 32 NFL teams, with the Dallas Cowboys predictably sitting atop the list. According to Forbes, the Cowboys are worth $3.2 billion, making the club the second-most valuable sports franchise in the world, behind only soccer’s Real Madrid ($3.4 billion). Overall, the average NFL team is worth $1.43 billion, according to Forbes, up an impressive 23% from a year ago. That’s the most significant annual increase since 1999.
While Forbes’ figures shouldn’t be taken as gospel, they at least provide a general idea of the league’s most valuable and least valuable franchises, as well as a baseline for the sort of money owners would be seeking if they decided to sell their franchises. Here’s the complete list of Forbes’ franchise values:
- Dallas Cowboys: $3.2 billion
- New England Patriots: $2.6 billion
- Washington Redskins: $2.4 billion
- New York Giants: $2.1 billion
- Houston Texans: $1.85 billion
- New York Jets: $1.8 billion
- Philadelphia Eagles: $1.75 billion
- Chicago Bears: $1.7 billion
- San Francisco 49ers: $1.6 billion
- Baltimore Ravens: $1.5 billion
- Denver Broncos: $1.45 billion
- Indianapolis Colts: $1.4 billion
- Green Bay Packers: $1.375 billion
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $1.35 billion
- Seattle Seahawks: $1.33 billion
- Miami Dolphins: $1.3 billion
- Carolina Panthers: $1.25 billion
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $1.225 billion
- Tennessee Titans: $1.16 billion
- Minnesota Vikings: $1.15 billion
- Atlanta Falcons: $1.125 billion
- Cleveland Browns: $1.12 billion
- New Orleans Saints: $1.11 billion
- Kansas City Chiefs: $1.1 billion
- Arizona Cardinals: $1 billion
- San Diego Chargers: $995MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $990MM
- Oakland Raiders: $970MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $965MM
- Detroit Lions: $960MM
- Buffalo Bills: $935MM
- St. Louis Rams: $930MM
South Notes: Gonzalez, Jaguars, Panthers
Former Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez says he’s “happily retired,” and is settling into his new role as a CBS analyst, despite receiving calls from teams with interest in signing him, writes Bob Glauber of Newsday. Still, the 14-time Pro Bowler acknowledges that if a Super Bowl contender were to call him late in the season, it wouldn’t necessarily be easy to say no.
“The temptation would be there, but I don’t know what the gain would be,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve always wanted a ring. That’s been my main goal as a player over the last 15 years of my career. You’re really trying to get that ultimate goal. … But I’d be a mercenary to come in and get a Super Bowl ring, play with a team for, what, six, seven weeks? And even if I got the ring, it wouldn’t be the same as going through the fight with the team from the beginning to the end. I don’t think that will happen. The temptation will be there, but I’m 100% happy with my decision.”
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two South divisions:
- The Jaguars worked out former Chiefs fullback Eric Kettani this morning, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco tries his luck at predicting which 10 players will make up the Jaguars‘ practice squad to start the regular season.
- As David Newton of ESPN.com and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer write, the Panthers‘ decision to trade running back Kenjon Barner to the Eagles makes sense, considering Barner wasn’t a great bet to beat out Fozzy Whittaker and Darrin Reaves to earn a spot on Carolina’s roster. The Panthers will only receive a seventh-round pick if Barner spends four or more games on the Eagles’ active gameday roster this season, but that’s better than losing him for nothing.
- John McClain of the Houston Chronicle interprets J.J. Watt‘s public comments about a contract extension yesterday as a signal that the star defensive lineman is a little frustrated with how slow talks between his camp and the Texans are moving.
49ers Notes: Extensions, Harbaugh, Lloyd
As their new agreement with defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey exhibits, the 49ers are continuing their pattern of extending players whose leverage may be lacking due to injuries, their spot on the depth chart, or various other factors. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle points out (via Twitter) that the Niners locked up Alex Boone, Daniel Kilgore, and Ian Williams before those players became starters, and Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap notes (via Twitter) that strategy has allowed the club to create several team-friendly contracts and compile plenty of depth.
Of course, as Fitzgerald adds (via Twitter), the downside of signing players early to club-friendly deals is that when someone like Boone significantly outplays that contract, it can result in a stand-off like the one taking place between the team and the veteran guard right now. As we wait to see how the Boone situation is resolved, let’s check in on a few other Niners-related items….
- Based on conversations Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News has had with NFL sources – many of whom know Jim Harbaugh well – Kawakami says 80% of the people he has spoken to believe there’s a “strong chance” this will be Harbaugh’s last season with the 49ers. While that doesn’t necessarily mean the Niners will have a new head coach for the 2015 season, it means 2014 is a crucial year for Harbaugh and the team. Anything less than a Super Bowl win could end up resulting in “some very tense and possibly very unsatisfactory discussions” between the two sides during the offseason, says Kawakami.
- When Colin Kaepernick first signed his extension this summer, he said he hoped that by not pushing for every last dollar, he’d created some flexibility for the 49ers to sign or extend other players. Asked yesterday whether he wants to see the team use that added flexibility to sign Boone or anyone else in particular, Kaepernick declined to weigh in, suggesting it’s up to the front office to decide how to spend the club’s money. Eric Branch has the details and quotes.
- Veteran wideout Brandon Lloyd, who signed with the Niners this offseason, has a “real good chance” to make the regular-season roster, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds that the former Pro Bowler has bonded with Anquan Boldin. Lloyd didn’t play last season, but is only two years removed from a 74-catch season in New England.
Brian Hoyer Named Browns’ Starting QB
The Browns have named Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback heading into the regular season, the team announced today in a press release. First-round pick Johnny Manziel had been challenging the incumbent signal-caller for the No. 1 role in Cleveland, but ultimately couldn’t unseat Hoyer, at least for now.
“[Hoyer] was the clear leader from the beginning,” said head coach Mike Pettine. “We’ve maintained all along that if it was close, I would prefer to go with the more experienced player. Brian has done a great job in the meeting rooms and with his teammates on the practice field and in the locker room.”
Neither player has stood out during the team’s preseason games, as I pointed out yesterday when I asked PFR readers which QB would win the starting job. Manziel had the opportunity to win the job, with Hoyer coming off an ACL surgery and not exactly having much NFL playing experience himself, but the rookie didn’t appear ready to take over the starting role quite yet. For what it’s worth, over 75% of you correctly predicted that Hoyer would be named the Browns’ starter, though a portion of those voters believed Manziel should play instead.
According to Mike Freeman (via Twitter), the decision will be good news for most of the Browns’ locker room, since the majority of the club’s players preferred Hoyer. While the 28-year-old Ohio native can’t necessarily match Manziel’s upside – or popularity, he was solid last year before an injury derailed his season, leading the Browns to wins over the Vikings and Bengals before going down in his third start.
Minor Moves: Tuesday
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL, with additional transactions added to the top of the list throughout the afternoon and evening:
- The Colts added guard Andre Cureton, an undrafted free agent who was let go by the Cowboys last week, per Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). He takes the roster spot of kicker Cody Parkey, who was waived.
- Chargers defensive end Damik Scafe has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season, reports Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter).
- Linebacker Dom DeCicco has cleared waivers and reverted back to the Vikings’ injured reserve, tweets Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
- Receiver Shaq Evans, one of the Jets’ three fourth-round picks, has been placed on injured reserve, and will miss his rookie year after suffering a shoulder injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Players with no NFL experience have to pass through waivers before being placed on IR at this point, so it’s unclear if the Jets will actually make this move official until September.
Earlier updates:
- Defensive lineman Jibreel Black (Buccaneers) and quarterback Pat Devlin (Dolphins) have been removed from their respective teams’ injured reserve lists with injury settlements, according to ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, respectively (Twitter links).
- Nothing is official yet, but ex-Bears receiver and returner Eric Weems, who was just cut this weekend, is set to sign with the Titans, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Weems had been released by Chicago when the team signed Santonio Holmes.
- Although linebacker Jason Phillips was said to be recovered from the ACL injury that sidelined him for the 2013 season, he was cut by the Eagles today, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). Philadelphia’s first transaction since June, the move was made because the special teams ace wasn’t going to make the team and the Eagles wanted to give him a chance to catch on elsewhere, tweets Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Tight end Colt Lyerla, who suffered a knee injury during training camp, has been waived-injured by the Packers, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Per Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin (Twitter link), Green Bay intends to place Lyerla on injured reserve for the season if he clears waivers.
- It appears the Bills may be getting an early start on next week’s roster cutdowns. The team has opened a couple roster spots by waiving offensive lineman Edawn Coughman and wide receiver Kevin Elliott, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak (Twitter links). No corresponding signings to fill the two openings have been announced yet.
J.J. Watt, Texans Working On Extension
J.J. Watt would like to remain with the Texans as long as possible, telling reporters today, including Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, that it would be “great” to reach an agreement on a long-term extension with the team before the 2014 regular season begins.
“When you look around the league and you see a couple guys from the 2011 draft class get contracts, it’s just nice to see appreciation being shown,” Watt said. “With the new [CBA], I think one of the goals was to make guys earn their pay. No more big paydays up front. … When a team gives a contract after the third year, they’re saying, ‘We think you’ve earned this.’ And so, I don’t know if [the Texans] feel that way or not. But I sure hope I’ve put in all the work and I’ve put in everything I can do to hopefully earn it.”
While Watt may have downplayed the Texans’ interest in getting something done, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears the club has been “very engaged” in talks recently, and is making progress toward a new contract for the star defensive lineman. Having exercised their inexpensive fifth-year option on Watt for 2015, the Texans don’t need to rush to get anything done, but if they can lock up the league’s best defensive player at a reasonable rate, it certainly makes sense to do so as soon as possible. And as Watt noted, 2011 first-rounders like Patrick Peterson and Tyron Smith have already signed extensions, so that door has been opened.
Since entering the league as the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Watt has been a dominant force on the Texans’ defensive line, averaging more than 12 sacks per season, including 20.5 in 2012. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) paint a clear picture of the sort of elite defender Watt is, with the Texans lineman recording grades of +94.2 in ’12 and +99.8 last season. By comparison, the only other two 3-4 defensive ends to grade higher than +30.0 in a season during that span were Muhammad Wilkerson (+37.2 in 2012) and Calais Campbell (+34.1 in 2013).
Although there appears to be mutual interest between Watt and the Texans in a new deal, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle points out (via Twitter) that the front office has a policy of not negotiating extensions during the season. So if there’s going to be an agreement this year, it would likely have to happen by the night before the team’s Week 1 contest.
No Deal For Brett Keisel, Cardinals
4:12pm: A source tells Somers (Twitter link) that Keisel turned down the Cardinals’ invitation to visit Arizona – and possibly sign with the team – because he didn’t want to leave his family.
3:02pm: In spite of Keisel’s reported visit to Arizona, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears that the Cardinals are “very unlikely” to sign the veteran lineman (Twitter link).
12:41pm: Keisel is flying to Arizona today to take a physical, according to Somers (via Twitter). As expected, it looks like the former Steeler is high on the Cardinals’ list of targets.
8:47am: In the wake of Darnell Dockett‘s season-ending ACL injury, the Cardinals are expected to add a defender to help provide depth on the line, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic, who figures a move will happen soon (Twitter link). As Somers notes in a separate tweet, Frostee Rucker is expected to slide into Dockett’s role and should ensure there isn’t a huge drop-off among the starters, but depth could be an issue for the club.
Several Arizona reporters, including Somers (via Twitter), Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (via Twitter), and Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com, have pointed to veteran free agent Brett Keisel as a logical fit for the Cardinals. Keisel, a longtime Steeler, has a history with head coach Bruce Arians and defensive line coach Brentson Buckner, who both previously worked in Pittsburgh.
As our list of current veteran free agents shows, the Cardinals’ options for defensive linemen are limited. Former fourth-rounder Vaughn Martin and ex-Packers Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett are among the recognizable names in the bunch, but Keisel seems to be the best fit given Arizona’s needs. It’s not clear, however, what his salary demands are.
If Keisel’s asking price is too high for the Cardinals, the team could simply turn to one of its younger, cheaper, in-house options. However, considering the club is in win-now mode heading into the 2014 season, a veteran signing appears likely.
As for Dockett, since he’s a veteran player, he can be placed on injured reserve immediately without having to pass through waivers, so I’d expect the Cardinals to make that move in the near future.
Poll: Will Browns Start Hoyer Or Manziel?
Last night’s exhibition game against the Redskins was supposed to help the Browns’ coaching staff determine which quarterback would start for the team in Week 1, but neither Brian Hoyer nor Johnny Manziel did anything to impress. While third-stringer Connor Shaw racked up 123 passing yards on just nine passing attempts, Hoyer and Manziel combined for 22 pass attempts and only accumulated double-digit yardage (81).
Meanwhile, it was a single digit – namely, the middle one on Manziel’s right hand – that dominated most headlines, after the rookie gave the finger to Washington’s sideline in a moment of frustration. Speaking to Peter King of TheMMQB.com, head coach Mike Pettine indicated that incident probably wouldn’t be a factor in his decision on the team’s starting quarterback, but added “it will be dealt with.” As for his signal-callers’ performances, Pettine confirmed that the game didn’t make his decision easier.
“I don’t know,” Pettine said. “Neither guy really distinguished himself tonight, and we’ll have to go back and study the tape and figure out who to go with. I will lean on [offensive coordinator] Kyle Shanahan and [quarterback coach] Dowell Loggains quite a bit, because they’ve watched them every day.”
The team likes Hoyer, who was solid when healthy last season and has several years of experience as a backup on his résumé. But Hoyer has only thrown 192 regular-passes during his NFL career, so it’s not as if he’s all that more experienced than Manziel, who was drafted in the first round and figures to start sooner or later. Whether the rookie is ready to step in and play right away remains to be seen, and Pettine’s decision will ultimately depend on how far along the team feels Manziel is.
What do you think? Will the Browns play it safe and go with the veteran option in Hoyer, or roll the dice with the higher-upside option in Manziel?