Patrick Peterson, Cardinals Nearing Extension
4:29pm: Significant roadblocks still must be overcome before Peterson and the Cardinals strike a deal, but the two sides have made progress, a source tells Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link).
3:42pm: The Cardinals and Patrick Peterson are close to reaching an agreement on a new long-term contract for the cornerback, sources tell Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Getlin adds (via Twitter) that there are still hurdles to clear before anything is official, but there’s a good chance the two sides will work something out soon.
Peterson, who turned 24 earlier this month, hasn’t missed a game during his three years with the Cardinals so far, earning Pro Bowl nods in all three seasons, as well as a spot on the NFL’s All-Pro squad twice. The former fifth overall pick has exhibited a knack for big plays since entering the league in 2011, returning four punts for touchdowns in his rookie season and producing 21 career turnovers on defense (12 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries).
If Peterson were to finalize a multiyear pact with Arizona, it would make him the first 2011 first-round pick to ink a contract extension, two years away reaching free agency. The Cardinals exercised their fifth-year option for 2015 on the standout cornerback earlier this offseason, ensuring that he’s already locked up for a salary of $10.081MM in ’15. Those fifth-year options have reduced the leverage of 2011 first-rounders in contract talks, but as we heard earlier today from Peterson and GM Steve Keim, it hasn’t stopped either side from actively pursuing a new deal ahead of the 2014 season.
Fellow star cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Joe Haden secured new contracts of their own this year, and as I wrote when I examined Peterson as an extension candidate in May, the LSU product will likely push to exceed the $14MM annual salary Sherman got on his four-year extension and the $22MM in fully guaranteed money that Haden received on his five new years.
Considering he’s still two years away from free agency and doesn’t have quite the same track record of elite play as Sherman and Haden, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), Peterson may be hard-pressed to top either player’s deal, but he has youth on his side, as well as his big-play ability. Any deal he signs should place him among the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks, albeit perhaps not at the very top of that list.
Lions To Table Suh Talks Until Offseason
The Lions have opted to table contract negotiations with Ndamukong Suh and his representatives until after the 2014 season, according to team president Tom Lewand (Twitter link via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com). Lewand remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached between the two sides in the offseason, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter), while GM Martin Mayhew says it was the team’s choice to put talks on the back burner (Twitter link).
Suh, 27, will earn a base salary of $12.55MM this season, but the prorated bonus money left on his contract increases his overall cap hit to about $22.41MM. Although an extension could’ve reduced that number a little, the Lions managed to make all their offseason moves without needing the added flexibility.
Postponing further extension discussions until after the season means Suh may have the opportunity to hit the open market, though the Lions will have a couple months between season’s end and March’s free agency date to work something out with the standout defensive tackle. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter), Lewand didn’t rule out the possibility of the team using its franchise tag on Suh. However, that would be a pricey and impractical move — as Brian McIntyre tweets, Suh’s franchise salary would be $26.7MM. In any case, trading the star defender isn’t something the club is considering, according to Mayhew (Twitter link).
Entering his fifth NFL season, Suh has established himself as one of the league’s top defensive linemen, having earned three Pro Bowl berths and two First-Team All-Pro nods. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) have ranked the former second overall pick among the NFL’s top four defensive tackles in each of the last two seasons, primarily on the strength of his ability to rush the passer. By PFF’s count, Suh racked up 72 total quarterback pressures in 2013, well ahead of any other DT besides Gerald McCoy.
With an extension for Suh now on the docket for the offseason, the Lions will face decisions on both of their starting defensive tackles at that point. The team declined its fifth-year option on Nick Fairley for 2015, meaning he’ll also be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March.
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Latest On Ben Roethlisberger
Steelers president Art Rooney II indicated last week that his team intends to postpone contract talks with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger until after the 2014 season rather than addressing the situation while Big Ben still has two years left on his deal. After initially suggesting he’d be happy to “concentrate on football,” Roethlisberger spoke to Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review at greater length this weekend about his current and future contracts with the team.
“Playing this year at my current salary, it’s kind of taking a hometown discount,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve played seven years on my current contract, which is the most of any (NFL) player or any quarterback. … It is kind of taking a discount compared to maybe where it could be compared to other quarterbacks.”
Although Roethlisberger didn’t express any discontent with what he perceives to be a “hometown discount,” he noted that he’ll have to “do what’s best for [his] family” when it comes to signing a new contract, which could indicate he’ll pursue an annual salary more in line with the league’s highest-paid signal-callers. The longtime Steeler has the league’s second-highest cap number for a quarterback in 2014, but the ’14 cash value of his deal ranks outside the top 10 QBs.
Addressing Roethlisberger’s upcoming extension negotiations, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wrote that the 32-year-old will inevitably make more than $20MM per year on his next deal, which the Steelers will have to realize is unavoidable. In La Canfora’s view, there’s no way that Roethlisberger won’t finish his career in Pittsburgh, and GM Kevin Colbert echoed that sentiment today while speaking to reporters, including Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link).
North Notes: Rice, Pinkston, Suh, Steelers
In an unsurprising decision, Ravens running back Ray Rice has elected not to challenge his two-game suspension and fine, allowing the three-day window to pass without an appeal, as Jamison Hensley details at ESPN.com. Given the reaction to Rice’s two-game ban, which was widely considered a light penalty by Roger Goodell and the NFL, it makes sense that the Ravens and the running back would accept the punishment without a fight.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two North divisions:
- The Browns issued a statement today along with the reps for Jason Pinkston announcing that the offensive lineman has not been medically cleared for football activities, which helps to explain why he has been absent from training camp thus far (link via Ohio.com).
- Although contract extension talks for Ndamukong Suh have dragged on longer than expected, Lions head coach Jim Caldwell remains confident that the two sides will reach an agreement, according to Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
- Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said today that his club is open to the idea of extending its four starters whose contracts will expire after the 2014 season, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- The Steelers are only paying about $5.68MM this year to their top three cornerbacks, and the performances from those players could go a long way to determining what sort of season the team has, writes Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- With tight end guru Norv Turner now running the offense, the Vikings expect a big year for Kyle Rudolph, which is why the team decided to lock him up to a long-term extension now, as Ben Goessling of ESPN.com explains.
Travelle Wharton To Retire
Veteran offensive lineman Travelle Wharton will officially announce his retirement this week, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Wharton isn’t currently on an NFL roster, after becoming a free agent in March, but he has spent nearly the entirety of his career with the Panthers.
Wharton, 33, entered the league in 2004 as a third-round pick, and immediately became a fixture on Carolina’s offensive line. Over the course of his 10-year career, he appeared in 115 games for the club, starting 111, primarily at left guard or left tackle. Wharton becomes the second veteran Panthers lineman to retire this offseason, and is expected to join longtime teammate Jordan Gross as a regular guest on Gross’ weekly TV show on the Panthers’ new channel, according to Person.
Having played his college ball at South Carolina, Wharton was keen on remaining in the Carolina area if he continued his career, though he had been mulling retirement for most of the offseason. Based on Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), the veteran ranked fifth among guards in 2013, including third among left guards, so he won’t be easily replaced for the Panthers, who will have multiple new starters protecting Cam Newton this season.
Redskins Sign Everette Brown
The Redskins didn’t waste much time filling the roster spot vacated when the team waived Brandon Jenkins over the weekend. According to John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Washington’s new 90th man is veteran defensive end Everette Brown, who has signed with the team.
Brown, who will turn 27 in August, was selected 43rd overall by the Panthers in 2009, and recorded 47 tackles, six sacks, and three forced fumbles for the team as a part-time player during his two years in Carolina. Since then, the Florida State product has seem limited regular season action with the Chargers and – most recently – the Cowboys.
As Zac Boyer of the Washington Times notes (via Twitter), new Redskins outside linebackers coach Brian Baker was on Carolina’s staff in 2009 and 2010 when Brown was a Panther.
Colts Waive Chris Rainey
8:17am: The Colts’ decision to cut Rainey wasn’t performance-based, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link), who says the running back was waived for violating team rules.
8:05am: The Colts have parted ways with running back Chris Rainey, waiving him this morning, according to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter). As several Indianapolis beat writers pointed out on Twitter, the timing of the move is unusual, since head coach Chuck Pagano raved about Rainey’s play just days ago.
Besides the fact that Rainey seemed to be impressing Pagano and the staff in the early stages of training camp, the Colts are also down a running back after losing Vick Ballard to a season-ending injury. As Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star tweets, the team intends to eventually place Ballard on injured reserve, but can’t do so until later in the summer due to a CBA technicality. Indianapolis recently signed Davin Meggett to help provide backfield depth, but it’s still surprising that the team would cut one of its incumbent backs at this point.
Rainey, 26, is a former Steelers fifth-round pick who joined the Colts last season and appeared in two games for the club, exclusively as a kick and punt returner. He’ll have to clear waivers before getting a chance to become an unrestricted free agent and sign with any team,
Texans To Sign Lawrence Sidbury, Quentin Groves
10:56pm: In addition to Sidbury, the Texans have agreed to sign linebacker and special-teamer Quentin Groves, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Groves had worked out for the Jets earlier this week, after previously auditioning for the Patriots, Redskins, and Titans. The 30-year-old, who has played for four teams in the last six seasons, saw limited action last year for the Browns, but recorded a pair of sacks.
9:19pm: It’ll be a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum, tweets Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com.
9:04pm: The Texans figure to add an outside linebacker to their roster shortly, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Lawrence Sidbury is expected to sign with the club.
Sidbury, a fourth-round pick in 2009, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Falcons. Although he was active in 48 games for the team, he played sparingly, totaling just 362 defensive snaps in those four years, along with occasional contributions on special teams. The 28-year-old signed joined the Colts in 2013, but was sidelined with a shoulder injury and landed on injured reserve.
Assuming the Texans finalize a deal with Sidbury, the team will have to cut a player to make room on the roster. Subsequently, the veteran linebacker will have a chance to earn a roster spot with the club for the regular season.
NFC Notes: 49ers, Panthers, Saints, Redskins
49ers GM Trent Baalke confirmed today that the team wants to extend the contracts of wide receiver Michael Crabtree and guard Mike Iupati, tweets Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Baalke added that he hasn’t decided when the time will be to stop negotiations if no deal has been reached, which suggests that discussions are ongoing. We’ve examined both Crabtree and Iupati as part of our Extension Candidate series.
Let’s round up a few more items from around the NFC….
- The last year of Kendall Hunter‘s contract with the 49ers will be a lost one, as an ACL injury has him ticketed for injured reserve, but Baalke would like to re-sign the running back next year if possible, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
- With running backs Jonathan Stewart and Tyler Gaffney sidelined, the Panthers intend to sign another player to join the backfield, according to head coach Ron Rivera (Twitter link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer). Per ESPN.com’s David Newton (Twitter links), Gaffney suffered a torn lateral meniscus tear in his knee and will miss the season.
- It’s a contract year for Mark Ingram and it might as well be for Pierre Thomas as well, according to Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune, who says it will be a pivotal season for the two Saints running backs.
- New Redskins coach Jay Gruden didn’t make much use of his fullbacks during his last three seasons in Cincinnati. However, he intends to work Darrel Young into the mix in Washington this year, explaining simply, “I didn’t have Darrel Young in Cincinnati. If I had him, I would have used him” (link via Joseph White of The Associated Press).
- Frank Gore is pulling for fellow NFC West running back Marshawn Lynch to get a new deal from the Seahawks as a result of his holdout, as he tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today.