Seahawks Sign Eric Winston
THURSDAY, 1:07pm: Winston’s one-year contract is worth just over $1MM, including a $60K signing bonus and a $100K bonus if he’s on the 53-man roster in Week 1, tweets Brian McIntyre.
TUESDAY, 11:56am: In addition to confirming the signings of Thomas and Winston, the Seahawks have also added wideout Randall Carroll to the roster, the club announced today in a press release. To make room for the three new additions, the Seahawks have waived cornerback Chandler Fenner and offensive guard Bronson Irwin, and placed receiver Taylor Price on their IR.
9:32am: The president of the NFLPA has found a job, as Eric Winston has reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the Seahawks, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The veteran offensive tackle confirmed the news himself, tweeting, “Season finally starts for me today! Looking forward to chasing a ring with the Seahawks!! Time go to work!”
Winston, 30, has been one of the league’s most durable linemen over the last few years, starting all 16 of his teams’ games in Houston, Kansas City, and – most recently – Arizona in each of the last seven seasons. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), the former third-round pick ranked as just the 69th-best tackle out of 76 qualified players last season. However, that may have been an aberration, considering Winston recorded consistently positive grades in every year leading up to 2013.
It’s not clear whether Winston will become a starter this season in Seattle and keep that streak alive, but as Tom Pelissero of USA Today notes (via Twitter), the Seahawks’ right tackle position is currently up in the air, following the departure of Breno Giacomini in free agency. Second-year player Michael Bowie and rookie Justin Britt are among the other contenders for the RT spot.
According to Pelissero, the agreement between Winston and the Seahawks just came together within the last couple days. Financial terms of the pact aren’t yet known. Additionally, by our count, Seattle had a full 90-man roster prior to reaching deals with Winston and Terrell Thomas, so a pair of corresponding roster moves should be necessary to make the two signings official.
NFC Notes: Harbaugh, Peterson, Packers
Asked about Alex Boone‘s holdout and Vernon Davis‘ near-holdout, as well as his own contract situation, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh took the opportunity to set the record straight regarding rumors about his deal with the Niners, in a conversation with Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
“I signed my 10th contract in the National Football League in 2011, so I understand contracts,” Harbaugh said. “I understand how contracts work, and what they are there for. I also know that I work at the pleasure of the San Francisco 49ers organization and at the pleasure of the York Family. And I am paid extremely well – which I am most grateful for – and I am very proud to be part of this organization. For the record, I have never asked to be the highest-paid coach in football. I have never asked to be paid like a Super Bowl-winning coach. I have never asked for more power. Nor has anybody asked for those things on my behalf, which anybody in this organization can attest to, and all the focus will be on the 2014 season and achieving our goals of the team.”
Harbaugh’s comments seem to be directly reference an early-June report which suggested that contract talks between the Niners and their head coach had reached an impasse. While further discussions may still be on hold, it doesn’t sound as if Harbaugh is unhappy with his situation, which figures to be addressed after the 2014 season.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Cardinals GM Steve Keim and cornerback Patrick Peterson both appear committed to working out a long-term extension sooner rather than later, with Keim indicating the team has had “great talks” with agent Joel Segal, and Peterson saying the two sides are in “pretty heated negotiations.” Still, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today writes, no template has been set yet for how to account for the 2015 options for 2011 first-rounders when negotiating their second contracts.
- After speaking to “key people” within the Packers‘ organization, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com came away more convinced than ever that general manager Ted Thompson has no plans to retire anytime soon.
- Peter King of TheMMQB.com takes a look at Jordan Gross’ somewhat surprising decision to retire after the 2013 season, and how the longtime Panthers tackle is transitioning into his post-playing career.
- The Vikings are bringing in prominent criminal attorney Ted Wells, who headed the report on the Dolphins’ bullying scandal, to work on settlement talks for the Chris Kluwe investigation, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Seahawks Sign Terrell Thomas
TUESDAY, 11:54am: The Seahawks have officially signed Thomas, per a team release.
MONDAY, 4:53pm: It’ll be a one-year deal for Thomas with the Seahawks, per Caplan (via Twitter).
4:32pm: The Seahawks have reached an agreement on a contract with free agent cornerback Terrell Thomas, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Caplan had reported earlier in the afternoon that Thomas was drawing interest from the team, while Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports added that he thought a deal was done (Twitter links).
Thomas, a former second-round pick, spent the first six seasons of his NFL career in New York with the Giants. However, he was sidelined for two of those years – 2011 and 2012 – after suffering consecutive ACL injuries. The 29-year-old returned to the field in 2013 and was active in all 16 games for the Giants, making seven starts and logging 588 defensive snaps, though he expressed concern in June that teams were wary about signing him because of his injury history.
By signing in Seattle, Thomas, who reportedly worked out for the Patriots and Raiders earlier in the offseason, will be reunited with his former head coach at USC, Pete Carroll.
Browns Notes: Hoyer, Cameron, Farmer, WRs
Jason La Canfora’s latest dispatch for CBSSports.com as he tours various training camps comes from out of Berea, Ohio, after his trip to Browns camp. Leading off his column, La Canfora explores the competition between Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel, writing that Hoyer has surprisingly looked faster and more nimble than the highly-touted rookie. While Manziel still has time to make up ground, everything that La Canfora has seen and heard so far suggests to him that Hoyer should keep his job as the starter heading into the regular season.
Let’s dive into the rest of La Canfora’s piece and round up the highlights….
- There have been extension talks between Jordan Cameron and the Browns, but the two sides aren’t close to anything. La Canfora hears that the Browns’ offers were in the $5-6MM per year range, so it’s possible Kyle Rudolph signing a deal worth about $7MM annually with the Vikings will help boost the team’s offer and accelerate discussions. According to La Canfora, Cameron admitted that he’d had a look at the numbers on Rudolph’s deal.
- La Canfora praised general manager Ray Farmer, who has installed a diverse collection of front office executives around him since being promoted to GM earlier this year. “We definitely made some changes,” Farmer said. “I think we have a good mix now. We added some folks – older guys who have a depth of experience – and guys that have a lot of history in this league. Those guys will be beneficial, as well as the young guys who are eager to grow and learn. So we are in a position where we can share ideas and learn together and hopefully improve the Browns.”
- Expect the Browns to be as active as any team exploring wide receiving options on the waiver wire this years, according to La Canfora, who adds that he wouldn’t be surprised if the team pursues Montreal Alouettes standout Duron Carter (the son of Cris Carter) once the CFL season is complete.
- In La Canfora’s view, the battle in the backfield between free agent signee Ben Tate and rookie third-rounder Terrance West will be much more competitive than the QB competition. If West continues to make strides in pass protection, he has the ability to make an impact immediately.
Lions Notes: Fairley, Houston, Suh, Leshoure
The big news out of Detroit yesterday was the team’s decision to postpone extension negotiations with star defender Ndamukong Suh until after the 2014 season. Despite the added uncertainty at the defensive tackle position now that contract talks with Suh have been tabled, the Lions don’t regret their decision to decline Nick Fairley‘s option for 2015, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes.
“Two totally different situations, two totally different players,” said general manager Martin Mayhew. “Neither one affects the other. They play the same position, that’s the only similarity between the two of them.”
Here’s more on the Lions:
- Mayhew tells Birkett that the Lions are “shopping for everything,” and are always talking to people around the league about possible trades or ways to upgrade their roster. The GM specifically identified the secondary as “a place we need to look.”
- As Birkett tweets, the Lions believe that Chris Houston, whom the team released earlier this offseason, is probably done, or at least won’t recapture his previous form, due to health issues. In the Free Press piece linked above, Mayhew acknowledges that the Lions could have approached the offseason differently if they’d known the extent of Houston’s health issues earlier.
- Birkett and John Niyo of the Detroit News both recapped the Suh developments from yesterday, conveying the idea that the Lions remain optimistic about getting a deal done, despite not being able to guarantee that the standout defensive tackle won’t hit the open market in March.
- Having slid down the team’s running back depth chart in recent years, Mikel Leshoure was asked on Monday if he’d prefer to move on if he isn’t getting regular touches for the Lions. “I feel like I’ll get a role somewhere,” LeShoure said, suggesting that could happen in Detroit or elsewhere. “So I’m going to think about that right now“(link via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com).
Minor Moves: Monday
We’ll round up the day’s minor transactions from around the NFL right here, with additional moves listed at the top of the page throughout the afternoon and evening:
- The Colts have waived WR Aaron Burks, tweets Craig Kelley of Colts.com.
Earlier updates:
- Guard Cody White and receiver Alan Bonner have been placed on the Texans’ injured reserve list after being waived/injured, tweets Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- The Bills have removed linebacker Darrin Kitchens from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement, reports Wilson (Twitter link).
- Rookie defensive lineman Kalonji Kashama has been waived by the Lions, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
- The Giants have replaced one offensive lineman with another, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, tweeting that the team claimed Mark Asper off waivers from the Bills and dropped Demarcus Love.
- The Browns have waived kicker Jake Rogers, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
- The Broncos now have three open roster spots after waiving tackle Aslam Sterling with a left squad designation, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- In addition to their move noted below, the Dolphins have also signed offensive tackle Tony Hills and waived wideout Gerald Ford, the club confirmed today (via Twitter).
- The Chiefs have signed South Alabama cornerback Damond Smith, the team announced today (via Twitter). By our count, Kansas City was already carrying 90 players, so a corresponding move figures to be made at some point today.
- The Raiders have filled the open spot on the roster by signing safety Jeremy Deering, who also returned kicks at Rutgers, says Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter).
- Former Buccaneers defensive back Anthony Gaitor has re-signed with the club, joining Michigan defensive tackle Jibreel Black as Tampa Bay’s new additions, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. Per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (via Twitter), undrafted rookies Brendan Bigelow (RB) and Quintin Payton (WR) have been waived to make room for the incoming players.
- The Browns have waived offensive lineman Chris Faulk, who was coming off a major ACL injury, according to Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald (via Twitter).
- Offensive lineman Michael Philipp, who signed with the Dolphins two months ago, has been cut by the club, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Jets Sign Jason Babin To Two-Year Deal
JULY 28, 5:50pm: Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap has more details on Babin’s contract: 2015 will be an option year, with the exercise date coming at the end of the 2014 league year. Babin’s 2015 base salary will be $1.35MM, and it can increase based on his performance.
JULY 27, 10:05pm: Babin will receive $3.25MM over two years, reports ESPN.com’s Field Yates (via Twitter). The veteran will have a base salary worth $1.1MM in 2014, with another $500K in roster bonuses.
JULY 23, 12:21pm: The Jets have officially announced their agreement with Babin, indicating that cornerback Lowell Rose has been cut to make room (Twitter link).
10:36am: After visiting the Jets earlier this week, veteran free agent Jason Babin has agreed to terms with the team, reports Kimberly Jones of the NFL Network (via Twitter). According to Jones, it’ll be a two-year deal for the former Jaguars edge rusher.
Babin, who turned 34 in May, played in all 16 games last season for the Jaguars, racking up 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended. However, after re-signing with Jacksonville in March, the former first-round pick was released by the team last month, making him an unrestricted free agent. While Babin has always been a fairly one-dimensional player, his value has declined as his ability to rush the passer has slipped from elite to simply above average.
With experience in both 4-3 and 3-4 defenses, Babin figures to compete for a roster spot and playing time at outside linebacker for Rex Ryan‘s team. The club’s projected OLB starters – Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples – and top reserve Garrett McIntyre all graded better against the run than as pass rushers last season, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).
Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but when Babin signed with the Jaguars earlier in the offseason, his three-year contract had a total base value of just $7.275MM with only $500K guaranteed. When I examined his free agent stock a couple weeks ago, I suggested that a salary in the $1.5-2MM could be about right for Babin — a deal that includes a modest base salary with several incentives may also make sense, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap tweets.
The Jets were believed to have a full 90-man roster, so a corresponding move will be necessary to clear room for Babin.
Patriots Claim Tyler Gaffney, Cut Josh Hull
4:39pm: In order to make room for Gaffney, the Patriots have cut linebacker Josh Hull, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Hull, primarily a special-teamer over the last few seasons, had signed with New England back in April.
4:20pm: Former Stanford running back Tyler Gaffney has become the first 2014 draftee to switch teams, having been claimed by the Patriots a day after the Panthers waived-injured him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). After Gaffney suffered a season-ending knee injury, Carolina had hoped to sneak him through waivers and move him to the injured reserve list, but the Pats stepped in to prevent that.
Prior to the final cutdown date in training camp, injured players with fewer than four years of service time cannot be placed on injured reserve until they pass through waivers, so the Panthers either had to hold onto Gaffney for a few more weeks or hope that he went unclaimed.
As Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk observes, the league’s so-called unwritten rules dictate that this type of waiver claim doesn’t occur often, but Bill Belichick and the Pats are no strangers to such a move. Two years ago, the club did the same thing when the Giants waived-injured tight end Jake Ballard, snatching him off waivers, much to the chagrin of Tom Coughlin. At the time, the Pats head coach dismissed the idea that there was anything wrong with the practice:
“I don’t know what unwrittens you’re talking about,” Belichick said. “Any time you put a player on waivers, you know there are 31 teams out there that can take him if they want him. We all know that. There is no secret about that.”
Jeromey Clary Accepts Pay Cut
Chargers offensive lineman Jeromey Clary has accepted a pay cut, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Clary’s base salary has been reduced from $4.55MM to $1.6MM, creating $2.95MM in cap savings for the club. It doesn’t seem that the veteran will be able to earn back some of that money via bonuses or incentives, but according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter), his salary is now fully guaranteed.
Clary, who turns 31 this fall, has been a full-time starter on San Diego’s offensive line for the six seasons, appearing in 93 games (all starts) over that time. Per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), the longtime Charger struggled last season playing primarily right guard rather than right tackle, recording a -20.8 grade for the season.
Currently on San Diego’s PUP list, Clary will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2015.
Extra Points: Ridley, Cameron, Freeney, Irsay
It’s been an up-and-down three years in New England for running back Stevan Ridley, who followed up a breakout 2012 season with a 2013 campaign in which he struggled with fumbles and ceded carries to LeGarrette Blount, among others. As he enters a contract year though, Ridley recognizes that he controls his fate and is looking forward to rebuilding his stock on the field, writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Per Howe, no negotiations have taken place between Ridley and the Patriots, so the 25-year-old back appears likely to reach free agency in 2015 — how much he earns on his next deal will depend in large part on how he performs this year.
Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from across the NFL:
- The Browns and tight end Jordan Cameron have discussed a possible contract extension, but aren’t close to getting anything done, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. As La Canfora observes, Kyle Rudolph‘s agreement with the Vikings could help bolster Cameron’s negotiating position.
- As Alex Marvez details in a piece for FOX Sports, Dwight Freeney’s Chargers teammates weren’t sure he’d be back in 2014 after tearing his quadriceps last year, but the veteran pass rusher is healthy and ready to contribute in the last year of his contract.
- Based on the buzz he’s hearing, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole (video link) expects Colts owner Jim Irsay to receive a longer suspension than the one doled out to Ray Rice, as well as a hefty fine.
- Retirement decisions like Sidney Rice’s and Travelle Wharton’s carry a bit more weight this year, since the NFL likely won’t fight the inclusion of recently-retired players in the pending concussion settlement, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
- There aren’t many team-friendly veteran contracts on the Panthers’ books, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, who reluctantly picks Nate Chandler as the club’s best deal, for its upside. Fitzgerald identifies Jonathan Stewart’s contract as Carolina’s worst.