No Long-Term Offer For Jason Worilds?
A report over the weekend suggested that linebacker Jason Worilds had rejected a long-term extension offer from the Steelers, which remained on the table and was unlikely to be improved by the club. However, a source tells Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that’s not the case, and that Worilds has not received a multiyear offer from the Steelers. According to Kaboly, there have been no real contract talks between the two sides since Worilds signed the club’s transition tag offer several months ago.
As Kaboly points out, it’s not unusual for there to be multiple different accounts on the status of contract negotiations while they’re in progress, and whether or not the Steelers have extended a formal offer, it’s clear that talks remain at an impasse. When Worilds first signed the one-year offer, which is worth nearly $10MM, it appeared as if the Steelers would want to reduce that cap number with a longer-term extension. Since then, however, the cap increased more than had been expected, and the club created additional savings by parting ways with LaMarr Woodley, reducing the need to get something done with Worilds.
As I pointed out back in May when we first heard that no progress was being made in negotiations between Worilds and the Steelers, the team may want to see more than one productive season as a starter out of the linebacker before committing significant years and money to him.
In 792 defensive snaps last season, his first as a regular starter, Worilds recorded eight sacks and 50 overall quarterback pressures. He graded well as both a pass rusher and a run stopper, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, which placed him 12th overall among 3-4 outside linebackers (subscription required).
AFC Notes: CJ2K, Steelers, Yates, Titans
New Jets running back Chris Johnson is now five years removed from a 2009 season in which he eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards with the Titans. He’ll turn 29 this fall, and is coming off a knee injury, but Johnson still believes he has enough left in the tank to make another run at that mark, as he tells Seth Walder of the New York Daily News.
“I’d just retire and not play anymore if I didn’t feel like I was still capable of being a 2,000-yard back,” Johnson said. “I know I have the ability.”
Another run at 2,000 yards may be aiming a little high for the former Titan, but the fact that Johnson feels as if he hasn’t lost a step should be encouraging for Jets fans hoping he’ll make an impact this season. Here’s more from around the AFC:
- The Steelers have swapped one undrafted free agent for another, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed running back Jordan Hall and waived cornerback Deion Belue. Belue signed with the Dolphins as a rookie free agent last month, then was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh after being cut by Miami.
- Although the Ravens have been “monitoring” T.J. Yates‘ situation for some time, there’s no guarantee that Baltimore will pursue the quarterback now that he’s been cut by the Texans, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Of the two linebackers who worked out for the Titans earlier this week, Quentin Groves is viewed as a better fit than Marvin Mitchell, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- Wide receiver Greg Little, who joined the Raiders after being cut by the Browns, was surprised that Cleveland waived him, since he had a “tremendous relationship” with the new coaches, he tells Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Of course, as Little acknowledges, the decision ultimately wasn’t in the hands of the coaching staff (Twitter links).
Jets Release Mike Goodson
The Jets have officially parted ways with Mike Goodson, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve released the running back. The announcement notes that the move was made with the “left squad” designation. As Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap observes (via Twitter), the club figures to use the fact that Goodson left the team to try to recoup some money from him.
Goodson, 27, only had seven carries and two receptions during his one-year stay with the Jets, but created plenty of headlines along the way. The former fourth-round pick was arrested last year on a weapons possession charge, received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, tore his ACL, and failed to report to the club multiple times, including for this week’s minicamp.
Although there were still two years remaining on Goodson’s contract with the Jets, none of his remaining base salary was guaranteed. As noted above, however, portions of his $1MM signing bonus were prorated over the next two years, and cutting the running back with a left squad designation is a sign that the team will try to recoup as much of that bonus money as possible.
Goodson enjoyed his best NFL season in 2010 with the Panthers, rushing for 452 yards and three touchdowns, as well as catching 40 balls out of the backfield. However, his on-field resumé isn’t impressive enough to outweigh his off-field troubles, so even when he gets healthy, there are certainly no guarantees he’ll get another shot with an NFL team.
Brandon Flowers Decision Expected Soon
Free agent cornerback Brandon Flowers will likely make a decision on his next team within the next three to five days, according to Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 Twin Cities (via Twitter). Flowers has been on the market since being cut by the Chiefs last Friday, and has reportedly received inquiries from at least 10 clubs.
Plenty of potential suitors have been linked to Flowers in recent days as rumors swirl about the Pro Bowler’s next destination, but many reports have downplayed teams’ interest. Yesterday, we heard that the Falcons and Redskins, previously believed to be among the possible favorites, aren’t in serious pursuit, while the Jets have yet to inquire. On Monday, the 49ers and Titans were all but ruled out as landing spots. And in Wolfson’s latest tweet, he notes that the Vikings appear to be a long shot.
One team whose interest hasn’t been significantly downplayed is the Lions, who were said on Monday to be “seriously considering” a run at Flowers. While that doesn’t necessarily make Detroit the frontrunner, it suggests the club remains in play. I expect they’ll have competition from a handful of other teams, but so far it seems that any other clubs making a serious effort to land Flowers have kept their intentions mostly concealed.
U.S. Patent Office Cancels Redskins Trademark
The United State Patent and Trademark Office has canceled the trademark on the Redskins name, according to Travis Waldron of ThinkProgress.org. According to the U.S. Patent Office, the name is “disparaging to Native Americans” and therefore can’t be trademarked under federal law, which prohibits the protection of offensive or disparaging language.
“I am extremely happy that the [Board] ruled in our favor,” plaintiff Amanda Blackhorse said in a statement. “It is a great victory for Native Americans and for all Americans. We filed our petition eight years ago and it has been a tough battle ever since. I hope this ruling brings us a step closer to that inevitable day when the name of the Washington football team will be changed.”
This isn’t the first time that the Redskins’ trademark protections have been rescinded — in 1999, the name was ruled offensive to Native Americans, but a federal court overturned that decision due to a technicality that, according to Waldron, the plaintiffs say has been fixed in this most recent case.
Practically speaking, if the decision is upheld, it will allow non-NFL outlets to sell merchandise bearing the Redskins’ name and colors, diluting the value of the name to the franchise. While it wouldn’t necessarily mean the team would have to change its name, it would provide a more compelling reason for owner Dan Snyder and co. to consider the possibility, since it would be costing the franchise money. Of course, before we reach that point, the ruling will likely go through a lengthy appeals process.
Steelers Sign Second-Rounder Stephon Tuitt
The Steelers have become the latest team to lock up their entire 2014 draft class, announcing today (via Twitter) that second-round defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt has signed his rookie contract.
Tuitt, 21, played his college ball at Notre Dame, racking up 19.5 sacks in his last two seasons with the Fighting Irish. As the 46th overall pick in last month’s draft, Tuitt will receive a signing bonus worth around $1.672MM, per Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com. The overall four-year value of his contract will be about $4.609MM.
I wrote yesterday that only 13 draftees remained unsigned, and since then, five more have been locked up, meaning just eight have yet to put pen to paper. Now that the Steelers have secured all their draftees, only five teams still have picks to sign.
Seahawks Sign Kevin Williams
WEDNESDAY, 9:00am: Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links) has the details on Williams’ contract, which includes a $250K signing bonus and a $1.5MM base salary ($250K guaranteed). The pact also includes $350K in per-game roster bonuses, making it worth up to $2.1MM.
MONDAY, 4:03pm: The Seahawks have formally announced the signing of Williams in a press release. In addition to Williams, the team also signed former Eastern Washington running back Demitrius Bronson, cutting quarterback Keith Price and defensive end Kenneth Boatright to clear room on the roster.
THURSDAY, 4:52pm: Williams’ one-year deal with the Seahawks will be worth in excess of $2MM, according to Werder (via Twitter).
4:44pm: The Seahawks have reached an agreement on a contract with free agent defensive tackle Kevin Williams, reports Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link via Adam Schefter). While terms of the deal weren’t immediately known, it’s a one-year pact for the longtime Viking.
Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio earlier this week, Williams suggested talks had been “picking up” for him lately and that he anticipated signing somewhere in time for training camp. The veteran defensive lineman, who will turn 34 later this summer, also visited the Patriots and Giants before signing with the Seahawks, and had been in talks about a return to the Vikings as well.
Although Williams is no longer the force he was in his prime, his durability has been remarkable — over the course of his 11-year career, the former ninth overall pick has only missed five regular-season contests. In 2013, Williams ranked as the 27th-best defensive tackle in the NFL among 69 qualified players at the position, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). He logged 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and even an interception.
For Seattle, it’s the latest move to help fortify a defensive line that lost multiple key contributors this offseason in Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, and Clinton McDonald, but retained free agents Michael Bennett and Tony McDaniel.
Jaguars Sign Blake Bortles
8:15am: There are no offsets in Bortles’ deal, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.
8:07am: The Jaguars have locked up the third overall pick from last month’s draft, announcing today that they’ve signed quarterback Blake Bortles. As a first-rounder, Bortles’ four-year rookie deal will also feature a fifth-year club option for the 2018 season.
“It’s awesome,” Bortles said of signing his contract. “It’s awesome to be able to kind of put this in the past. It’s a once in a lifetime thing, signing your first contract. It’s a cool feeling.”
The first quarterback selected in the draft, Bortles will receive a signing bonus worth in the neighborhood of $13.342MM, according to Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at Over the Cap. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union notes (via Twitter) that the entire amount ($20.65MM+) of Bortles’ four-year deal is guaranteed, though it’s not clear whether offsets are included in the agreement.
By signing Bortles, who currently ranks behind Chad Henne on the team’s depth chart, the Jaguars move a step closer toward locking up their draft class. Two of Henne’s and Bortles’ targets, second-round receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson, remain unsigned, as our tracker indicates.
Eric Wright To Retire
6:12pm: The 49ers announced that Wright has retired, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
3:49pm: Vernon Davis and Alex Boone weren’t the only players absent from the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp today. Eric Wright was also an unexpected no-show, with head coach Jim Harbaugh telling reporters, including Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter link), that the veteran defensive back was contemplating retirement. Now, Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link) confirms that Wright has indeed opted to end his playing career, and will officially file the paperwork to retire today.
Wright, 28, played for the Browns, Lions, Buccaneers, and Niners over the course of his seven-year NFL career, appearing in 92 games overall (81 starts). The former second-round pick was a full-time starter in his early years in Cleveland, enjoying arguably his best season in 2008, when he intercepted three passes, recovered three fumbles, and ranked as a top-10 cornerback according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).
Since signing a massive five-year deal with the Bucs in 2012 though, Wright has battled injuries and seen his playing time decline. In 2013, he appeared in just seven contests for the Niners as depth in the secondary. The UNLV product hadn’t been expected to play a major role for the club in 2014, but we’ll have to wait and see whether the team brings in another defensive back to compete for a roster spot in his absence.
Wright had been slated to earn a base salary of $855K in what would have been the final year of his contract.
Browns Cut Earl Bennett
5:49pm: The Browns will absorb $75K of Bennett’s $730K base salary, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
3:55pm: With Josh Gordon facing a lengthy suspension, the Browns attempted to bolster their receiving corps with a handful of modest free agent signings this offseason. However, one veteran wideout signed by Cleveland is already heading back to free agency. The Browns announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve terminated the contract of former Bear Earl Bennett, who inked a deal with the club just over a month ago.
Bennett, who spent several seasons with the Bears after being drafted by the team in the third round in 2008, was cut earlier in the offseason after Chicago tried and failed to find a trade partner. The 27-year-old hasn’t been a starting wideout since 2009, but posted decent numbers in part-time action over the last few years, catching between 24 and 46 balls for an average of 390 yards per season and 10 overall touchdowns from 2010-2013. However, it seems that the Cleveland brass saw enough this spring to convince them that Bennett wasn’t worth a longer look in training camp.
With Bennett no longer in the mix, the Browns should head into training camp with a group of receivers that includes Gordon and newcomers Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins, and Nate Burleson.