Chris Snee Announces Retirement
12:33pm: The Giants and Snee have officially announced his retirement in a press release.
“Chris is a pro’s pro,” general manager Jerry Reese said. “He played the game right. He was as tough and prideful as they come. We will miss him.”
11:11am: After we heard yesterday that veteran offensive lineman Chris Snee was considering the possibility of retirement, it appears he has made his decision, opting to end his playing career. A tweet from his agency and an Instagram update from teammate Antrel Rolle both indicate that Snee has decided to retire.
Snee, 32, was a second-round pick in 2004, and has spent his entire career in New York. The longtime Giant started a total of 141 games over his 10-year career, earning four Pro Bowl berths and being named an All-Pro following the 2008 season. Snee also won two Super Bowls with the club.
Hip injuries sidelined Snee for a good chunk of the 2013 season, and although he agreed to take a pay cut for the 2014 season in the hopes of returning to the field, he has been unable to get healthy. The guard has also been dealing with complications to his surgically-repaired elbow, which caused him to miss spring practices.
With Snee no longer in the mix, John Jerry and Brandon Mosley are candidates to play right guard on an offensive line that will feature multiple new starters in 2014. The club could also consider moving J.D. Walton or second-round pick Weston Richburg over from center.
Bills Sign Landon Cohen, Naaman Roosevelt
The Bills have done some roster shuffling early in training camp, announcing today that they’ve signed defensive tackle Landon Cohen and wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt. To make room on the roster for the new additions, the club has cut wideout Ramses Barden and linebacker Nathan Williams.
Of the four players, Cohen is perhaps the most notable, having been active for 14 contests in 2013 — 12 for Chicago and two more for the Cowboys. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Cohen posted a grade of -16.4, though most of that was a result of poor run defense — he rated as a slightly above average pass rusher, with nine total quarterback pressures. He figures to compete for a roster spot this summer.
Roosevelt, meanwhile, was waived by the Lions last week and returns to Buffalo, where he played his college ball and where he played with the Bills in 2010 and 2011. He’ll replace Barden, a longtime New York Giant, who didn’t play last season after grabbing 14 receptions in 2012.
NFC North Notes: Cutler, Bears, Packers
After inking a massive contract extension in January, Jay Cutler heads into the 2014 season having never been in a better position to succeed, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times. Cutler’s deal has been described as one where the team is paying for what they expect from him in the future rather than what he’s accomplished in the past, so 2014 will be the signal-caller’s first opportunity to prove that the Bears were right to commit to him.
Let’s round up a few other Monday morning links from around the NFC North….
- While the loss of Johnathan Franklin to a career-ending injury is an immense disappointment for both the player and team, running back is still an area of strength for the Packers, writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, noting that DuJuan Harris and the re-signed James Starks provide “uncommon depth” behind Eddie Lacy.
- Jordy Nelson is an extension candidate, but for now, his contract remains the most team-friendly on the Packers‘ books, in the estimation of Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. Fitzgerald identifies Sam Shields‘ new four-year deal as the least team-friendly contract for Green Bay, arguing that nearly every aspect of the agreement favors the cornerback rather than the club.
- ESPN.com’s team of beat writers has projected the 53-man rosters for each NFL squad, including the Vikings, Lions, and Bears, courtesy of Ben Goessling, Michael Rothstein, and Michael C. Wright, respectively.
AFC East Links: Bills, Patriots, Jets
After a summer hiatus, Peter King is back for the first of 48 straight weeks of his Monday Morning Quarterback column, and this week’s installment focuses on the Bills, the first NFL team to open training camp this summer. In addition to describing the scene in Pittsford, New York, King also speaks to quarterback E.J. Manuel, who says he “jumped out of [his] chair” when the club drafted Sammy Watkins in May and is looking forward to working with the rookie wideout and the rest of the offense this season.
Here’s more from around the AFC East:
- A league source tells ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio that the Bills franchise is expected to sell for at least $1.1 billion, well above the Forbes valuation of $870MM (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- After struggling a little on the defensive side of the ball last season, the Patriots restocked their defense this offseason, adding Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, and rookie Dominique Easley, among others. Howard Ulman of The Associated Press takes a look at the changes.
- As Dennis Waszak Jr. details in a piece for The Associated Press, the Jets haven’t really had a franchise quarterback on their roster since the days of Joe Namath. While Geno Smith may not be the likeliest candidate to fill that role, he’s excited about training camp and about trying to hold off free agent signee Michael Vick for the starting job, writes Laura Albanese of Newsday.
49ers Extend Joe Staley Through 2019
FRIDAY, 3:00pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) has the goods on Staley’s contract. The deal adds two option years for a total of $18.8MM and can be worth $23.2MM if he hits certain incentives. The Niners have to decide on Staley’s $6MM option for 2018 on April 1st, 2015 and will decide on the $4MM option for 2019 on April 1st, 2016. The base salaries for both years comes out to $4.8MM (link).
THURSDAY, 4:29pm: The 49ers have added two extra years to left tackle Joe Staley‘s contract, locking him up through the 2019 season, the team announced today in a press release. The offensive lineman’s previous deal ran through 2017.
“In today’s NFL, it is rare for a player to play his entire career with one team,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “With this extension, Joe will likely be a 49er for life. He is a three-time All-Pro and core member of our football team. His commitment and professionalism have been great assets to our team and our community. This extension reflects our philosophy of investing in our core players.”
Staley, who turns 30 next month, has started all 98 games he has played for the Niners since entering the league in 2007, and has been the team’s starting left tackle since 2008. The former first-round pick has made the Pro Bowl in each of his last three seasons, and has ranked among the top five tackles in football in each of the last two years according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), including first overall in 2012.
While the Niners have a number of other extension candidates to potentially address, including Vernon Davis, Alex Boone, Mike Iupati, and – as I discussed earlier this afternoon – Michael Crabtree, the team had been mulling reworking Staley’s deal for some time. The veteran tackle had been slated to earn just $21.65MM over the next four years, so his new contract will likely come with some bonus money up front. We’ll have to wait for the official numbers to be reported, but the club could also use the new agreement to reduce Staley’s cap hit for this year or next, in order to create some extra flexibility for those other players seeking extensions.
AFC Notes: Pats, Flowers, Raiders, Chiefs
The Patriots made a pair of roster moves today in advance of training camp, parting ways with two undrafted rookie receivers. According to a press release, Jeremy Johnson and Reese Wiggins were cut by the team, and will become free agents assuming they clear waivers. The cuts give New England three total openings on the club’s 90-man roster, so it shouldn’t be long before we get word on which players will be occupying those open spots.
Let’s round up a few more items from around the AFC….
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today (Twitter links), Brandon Flowers said he signed with the Chargers because he saw while he was with the Chiefs that the AFC’s other Wild Card team was close to being a legit contender. The veteran cornerback also downplayed the idea that he was a poor fit in Bob Dutton’s defense last year in Kansas City, pointing to injury woes instead as the reason for his 2013 struggles.
- Oakland City Council voted last night to approve the Athletics’ lease to remain at O.co Coliseum, but only if a handful of small tweaks to the agreement were agreed upon by the MLB club. Will Kane of the San Francisco Chronicle and Matthew Artz of the Oakland Tribune have the details on the latest developments, and how they could affect the Raiders.
- We haven’t heard any concrete updates lately on the progress made by Alex Smith and the Chiefs toward an extension, but Smith reiterated today that he loves the city, his coaches, and his teammates, and would like to get something done (Twitter link via Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star).
- The Jaguars committed twice as much guaranteed money this offseason to Zane Beadles as they did to any other free agent, prompting Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union to explore what kind of impact the team’s new offensive lineman will make.
- As was the case a year ago, Cameron Wake and Mike Wallace were once again Jason Fitzgerald’s selections for the best and worst contracts on the Dolphins‘ books (link via OverTheCap.com).
- The pressure will be on Eric Decker to produce like a No. 1 receiver for the Jets in 2014 and beyond, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post, who takes a closer look at the club’s top free agent addition.
Lions To Sign Garrett Reynolds
4:18pm: Offensive lineman J.B. Shugarts has been waived in order to clear a roster spot for Reynolds, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
11:26am: The Lions are signing free agent offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds, according to agent Chad Speck of Allegiant Athletic Agency (Twitter link). Reynolds was released by the Falcons back in February, and had drawn some interest from the Titans, Bengals, and Cowboys in the months since then.
Reynolds, who started 10 games for the Falcons in 2013, signed a two-year, $2.7MM extension with the club last offseason. However, the 26-year-old lost his starting job at right guard late in the 2013 season, despite grading as Pro Football Focus’ 31st overall guard (subscription required). For the Lions, Reynolds figure to compete for a roster spot and for playing time on the offensive line.
Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but a minimum salary pact – perhaps with some bonus money – seems likely. The Lions currently have a full 90-man roster, so a corresponding roster move will be required when the club makes the signing official.
A.J. Green Discusses Extension, Andy Dalton
While A.J. Green figures to eventually enter negotiations with the Bengals on a long-term deal, the fifth-year option for first-round picks ensures that it isn’t necessarily an immediate concern for the club. Having exercised Green’s option earlier this offseason, the Bengals locked up the star wideout through the 2015 season, meaning extension discussions may not heat up for another year or more.
As Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com details, Green acknowledged that the potential wait won’t bother him, and the receiver also discussed a potential extension for the guy throwing him the football, quarterback Andy Dalton. Here are the notable quotes from Green:
On Dalton and a possible new contract for the QB:
“We came in together. That’s my guy. He helped me where I am. I helped him and we took the Bengals to a different level. The Bengals were losing a lot before we came. I feel like we turned it around. … I know they know he’s the guy…I feel like they’re going to get something done before the season starts.”
On Dalton’s regular-season success and lack thereof in the postseason:
“A lot of people give him crap about not winning a playoff game, but we’ve made the playoffs the last three seasons. We’ve won 10 or more games (twice). Playoff games…we’re still young. I feel like we’re going to win them, it just takes time.”
On Green’s own contract:
“I think I’m on the backburner just because of the option. That’s fine with me. I don’t even look at it like that. I just go out there and play and my time will come. … It’s not surprising. Teams always want to wait. I’m fine with my option and my $10MM. I’ll take it.”
Extension Candidate: Michael Crabtree
While several players will likely sign extensions before hitting free agency in March, the current crop of wide receivers eligible to be unrestricted free agents in 2015 is impressive. Demaryius Thomas of the Broncos, Dez Bryant of the Cowboys, and pair of Packers wideouts – Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb – lead a talented group of pass catchers who will certainly cash in if and when they reach the open market.
One of the most intriguing names in the group is Michael Crabtree of the 49ers. Richard Sherman‘s arch-nemesis underwent surgery in the spring of 2013 to repair a torn Achilles tendon, and the injury ultimately sidelined Crabtree for a sizable chunk of the regular season — he didn’t return to the field until December.
In 2012, Crabtree enjoyed a breakout season catching balls from Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick, establishing new career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,105), and touchdowns (9). He was just as dynamic in the postseason, compiling 285 yards and three touchdowns through the air and helping San Francisco reach the Super Bowl, where he nearly hauled in a game-winning touchdown on the team’s final drive.
Had he continued to build on 2012’s success last season, Crabtree would be eyeing a contract extension that places him among the NFL’s highest-paid receivers, and would be challenging Thomas and Bryant to earn the largest contract among in the free agent wideout class of 2015. As is, the Texas Tech product may still be seeking such a deal, but his lost 2013 season clouds his value a little.
There’s no doubt that Crabtree, who turns 27 in December, has proven to be a talented and dangerous downfield threat, and is an important part of a 49ers offense whose passing game often struggled last year when he was sidelined. As Crabtree enters a contract year, the club should be interested in working out a new deal to ensure he remains in San Francisco catching balls from Kaepernick for years to come. But 2012 was the first and only season in which it all really came together for the former 10th overall pick, so the modest overall receiving numbers on his career résumé could hurt his leverage in contract negotiations.
A look at other contracts on the Niners’ books suggest that Crabtree could run into further roadblocks in negotiations. Vernon Davis and Alex Boone are among the players who have already taken a more active stance in pursuing new contracts this year, having skipped the club’s spring workouts and minicamp. As such, addressing those potential extensions may be a priority for the 49ers before they get around to entering serious discussions with Crabtree.
Additionally, the new deal signed by Kaepernick earlier this offseason was a fairly team-friendly one, with only about $13MM of the contract’s total $114MM value guaranteed at the time of its signing. While the structure of that extension may not have an impact on signings around the league, the Niners will have it in their back pocket when they negotiate extensions with other players, able to point out that the team’s leader was willing to make something of a sacrifice on his new contract.
While these factors will all come into play, none of them are significant enough to diminish Crabtree’s value significantly. The largest deals signed by receivers this offseason – Eric Decker‘s $7.25MM per year contract ($15MM guaranteed) and DeSean Jackson‘s $8MM per year deal ($16MM guaranteed) – should be a floor for Crabtree, barring another major injury or a disappointing 2014 season. The Niners pass-catcher may not find himself among the top five highest-paid wideouts in 2015 and beyond, but something in the neighborhood of Greg Jennings‘ current deal ($9MM annually, $17.8MM guaranteed) could make sense, and there’s certainly potential for something even bigger.
Ultimately, considering the club has other contracts to address and Crabtree is coming off an injury-shortened 2013 campaign, I’d expect the Niners to take their time negotiating an extension, unless they can lock up the wideout at a bargain price this summer. A full, healthy 2014 season for Crabtree would go a long way toward re-establishing his value, and could make the club even more confident to invest in him in the new year, either via a long-term extension or the franchise tag.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cowboys Sign Dallas Walker
The Cowboys didn’t waste much time filling the roster spot that opened up when the team released Kyle Orton yesterday. According to agent Angelo Wright (Twitter link), his appropriately-named client Dallas Walker has signed with the Cowboys. The tight end, whose signing was confirmed by the team, figures to be the 90th man on the roster when Dallas opens training camp next week.
Walker, 26, played his college ball at Western Michigan, going undrafted in 2012. After spending some time with the Georgia Rampage of the Ultimate Indoor Football League last spring, Walker signed with the Chargers, but was ultimately cut by the team in August before the regular season got underway.
Walker figures to be a long shot to make the Cowboys’ roster for the 2014 season, though Todd Archer of ESPN.com did point out earlier today that the team could use another blocker at the position. At 6’6″ and 235+ lbs., Walker has the size to contribute in that capacity.