AFC East Notes: Bills, Ebron, Dolphins, Jets
Over the weekend, we heard that former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly has interest in being part of the team’s next ownership group, but Kelly isn’t the only Bills legend who wants to play a role in keeping the franchise in Buffalo. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk details, a group called the Buffalo Fan Alliance announced on Monday that former Bills wide receiver Andre Reed and kicker Steve Christie are members of its advisory board. The group’s goal is to raise between $100-170MM, which would serve as interest-free loan to the Bills’ new ownership group as a way to entice the new owners to keep the club in Buffalo.
Florio expresses some skepticism about how practical the idea really is and makes some good points, but at the very least, having big names like Kelly, Reed, and Christie involved in the process can’t be a bad thing for Buffalo football fans.
Here’s more from around the AFC East:
- We heard yesterday that UNC tight end Eric Ebron believes the Lions are a potential landing spot for him, and in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, he suggested that the Bills fall into that category as well. “Those are the two teams that I believe are the highest upon me,” Ebron said, according to Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. “Now are they telling the same things they are telling me to everybody else? I don’t know. But from my perspective and my point of view, those are the two teams that I believe if they could have signed me that day would have.”
- Alex Marvez of Fox Sports suggests (via Twitter) that free agent offensive lineman Daryn Colledge, who drew some interest from the Dolphins early in free agency, is a name to continue monitoring as a possible Miami target.
- Jamar Taylor, who was selected by the Dolphins out of Boise State in the second round of the 2013 draft, told Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman last week that there were times during his injury-plagued rookie season when he was seriously considering retiring from the NFL. However, he worked through that adversity and is looking forward to turning “a lot of heads” in his second season.
- The Jets are hosting Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas for a pre-draft visit today, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Steelers Exercise Cameron Heyward’s Option
TUESDAY, 7:59am: The Steelers have now made it official on Heyward’s option, exercising it and locking him up through 2015, tweets Burt Lauten, the team’s PR rep.
MONDAY, 2:53pm: Breer has issued a correction to his earlier report, tweeting that it was Cameron Jordan, not Heyward, who had his option exercised today. We passed along word on the Saints’ decision on Jordan earlier in the afternoon.
So while there’s nothing official on Heyward yet, the Steelers still have until May 3 to pick up their option on him, and appear likely to do so. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wrote earlier today that he viewed Heyward’s option as a “no-brainer” decision for Pittsburgh.
2:26pm: The Steelers have picked up their 2015 option on Cameron Heyward, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. It’s the latest in a string of fifth-year options for 2011 first-rounders that will be exercised in advance of the May 3 deadline.
Heyward, the 31st overall pick in the 2011 draft, became a starter for the first-time last season, appearing in 845 total defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The 24-year-old recorded a career-best 59 tackles and five sacks, as well as recovering his first career fumble.
The Steelers defensive end will be in line for a salary of $6.969MM for 2015. At this point, that money is guaranteed for injury only, though it’ll become fully guaranteed on the first day of the 2015 league year. Heyward will be eligible for unrestricted free agency following the ’15 season.
Minor Moves: Lions, Chiefs, Raiders, Colts
Our posts on minor transactions typically focus on smaller-name players and under-the-radar moves. There are plenty of those today, as players accept contract tenders and teams bolster their rosters with camp bodies in time for 2014’s offseason workouts. Let’s round up today’s transactions…
- Defensive end George Johnson has signed with the Lions, according to agent Brian Levy of Goal Line Football (Twitter link). Johnson has spent time with the Vikings and Buccaneers since 2011, though his regular-season playing time has been extremely limited.
Earlier updates:
- Free agent wide receiver Kyle Williams has re-signed with the Chiefs, as he announced today on Twitter. Williams, a former 49er, was claimed by Kansas City off waivers last fall, but tore his ACL in late November. He’ll likely continue to rehab and recover throughout the summer, so he’s not expected to have a major role for the Chiefs in 2014.
- The Lions have added a pair of cornerbacks to their roster, signing Aaron Hester and Nate Ness, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Hester was on the Broncos’ roster during the 2013 preseason, while Ness has bounced around among a handful of teams since going undrafted in 2009.
- Raiders safety Brandian Ross and tackle Matt McCants have accepted and signed their exclusive rights free agent tenders from the club, the team announced via Twitter.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports a number of RFA and ERFA tender signings, via Twitter, as follows: Colts cornerback Josh Gordy has signed his $1.431MM tender; 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite has signed his ERFA tender; Giants center Dallas Reynolds has accepted his ERFA tender; and linebacker Adrian Hamilton and safety Anthony Levine have accepted their ERFA offers from the Ravens.
Seahawks Acquire Terrelle Pryor From Raiders
The Seahawks and Raiders have reached an agreement on a trade that sends Terrelle Pryor to Seattle, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks will send a seventh-round draft pick to Oakland as part of the deal.
With newly acquired Matt Schaub expected to be the starter in Oakland, Matt McGloin backing him up, and the possibility of the Raiders adding another signal-caller in the draft, there was no room for Pryor, who was expected to be traded or released this week. A pick near the very end of the draft (247th overall) isn’t much compensation for the former Oakland starter, but it’s at least a small asset for the Raiders, and parting with that pick allowed Seattle to avoid fending off other suitors for Pryor in free agency.
One potential suitor for Pryor would have been the Seahawks’ division rivals and the Raiders’ rivals across the bay — according to Florio (via Twitter), the 49ers were also pursuing a trade for the 24-year-old, but lost out to Seattle. Presumably San Francisco wasn’t including a 2014 pick in its offer, given Pryor’s cost.
Pryor appeared in 11 games in 2013 for the Raiders, starting nine of them, but was underwhelming in those contests. Overall, he completed 156 of 272 pass attempts (57.4%) for 1,798 yards, seven touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He did add some value with his legs, racking up 576 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 93-yard score.
The Seahawks re-signed backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson earlier in the offseason, so he’ll likely compete with Pryor for the No. 2 job behind starter Russell Wilson. Jackson may have the upper hand in that competition, considering his 2014 salary of $1.25MM is fully guaranteed.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Brandt’s Latest: Fuller, Moncrief, Archer
Draft expert and former Cowboys VP of player personnel Gil Brandt shared a few draft updates this afternoon, via Twitter, so let’s jump in and briefly round up the highlights from the NFL.com veteran….
- Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller, who paid a visit to the Bills today, has had 15 visits or workouts with NFL teams so far, and has four more lined up this week with the Rams, Jets, Steelers, and Broncos.
- Brandt adds a slew of teams to the list of those who have worked out or hosted Ole Miss receiver Donte Moncrief so far, tweeting that Moncrief has visited the Buccaneers, Cardinals, and Panthers, and has worked out for the Bucs, Panthers, Colts, and Falcons.
- Having already visited the Dolphins, Patriots, Cardinals, and Colts, Kent State running back Dri Archer, is on to the Buccaneers and Jets this week.
- Colorado wideout Paul Richardson, who has put on a few pounds since the draft combine, has workouts or visits with the Buccaneers, Cowboys, 49ers, and Seahawks. It’s not entirely clear if those visits and workouts are still on Richardson’s schedule, or if they’ve already happened.
AFC West Rumors: Pryor, Alex Smith, Visits
After initially reporting that the Raiders would cut quarterback Terrelle Pryor today if they couldn’t find a trade partner, Alex Marvez of Fox Sports now says (via Twitter) that resolution will likely come Tuesday for the Raiders and Pryor. With Matt Schaub now in the fold and another QB potentially coming in the draft, Oakland is intent on moving on from the former starter one way or another.
Let’s check in on a few more items from around the AFC West….
- Alex Smith‘s agent, Tom Condon, has been engaged in discussions with the Chiefs about a new contract for his client, and Smith is happy to stay out of those negotiations, as Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star details. “My agent handles all of that, and that’s why you hire that guy to take care of that, so you can focus on football,” said Smith, who is entering the final year of his current deal. “It’s really not my place. I have a contract for this year.”
- The Broncos are visiting today and tomorrow with Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, sources tell Mike Klis of the Denver Post. As Klis writes, Mosley is viewed by many experts as the top inside linebacker in this year’s draft class.
- The Chargers hosted Stanford defensive end Ben Gardner for a visit today, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Meanwhile, the club also worked out Arkansas fullback Kiero Small, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Wilson adds that Small will move on to visit the Browns tomorrow.
NFC Notes: Clayborn, Falcons, Vikings, Lions
Although a number of teams exercised fifth-year options on 2011 first-rounders today, one player who doesn’t appear likely to have his option picked up is Adrian Clayborn of the Buccaneers, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. A source tells Florio that the Bucs aren’t expected to exercise the defensive end’s option, and also aren’t considering trading him to another team that would pick up the option. As such, it looks like the former 20th overall pick will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2014 season.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Jadeveon Clowney‘s visit with the Falcons will happen on Wednesday, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, running back Carlos Hyde will pay a visit to Atlanta on Wednesday as well, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). Hyde has also visited the Titans and Patriots, adds Pelissero (via Twitter).
- Kurt Coleman‘s new one-year contract with the Vikings is worth $900K, but none of that total is guaranteed, says Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
- The Vikings hosted North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin for a pre-draft visit last week, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Tomasson’s source suggests that Martin, who figures to be a second- or third-round pick, would be a nice fit in Minnesota.
- USC center Marcus Martin and Nebraska cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste both visited the Lions today, and Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com has details on the pair of prospects.
- The Seahawks also hosted a couple of prospects today — Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post says Washington State safety Deone Bucannon has a two-day visit with the club, while Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets that Fresno State wideout Davante Adams was also in Seattle.
Phil Costa To Retire
Less than six weeks after he signed a new two-year free agent deal with the Colts, center Phil Costa has been placed on the reserve/retired list, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Colts GM Ryan Grigson said today that “Phil feels it’s in his best interest to retire from the game,” tweets Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.
Costa, 26, was the Cowboys’ full-time starter at center in 2011, but missed most of 2012 with an ankle injury and transitioned into a backup role in 2013. The Maryland product signed a two-year, $2.7MM contract with Indianapolis in March and looked to be the favorite to take over as the Colts’ starting center in 2014, but the team will have to turn elsewhere.
Khaled Holmes looks to be the next in line at center as far as the Colts’ in-house options go. The club could also choose to address the position in the draft, or with a veteran free agent. Jonathan Goodwin, David Baas, and last year’s Indianapolis starter Samson Satele are among the players still on the market.
Bears Sign Josh Morgan
The Bears have added another receiver to their current group, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed unrestricted free agent Josh Morgan to a one-year contract.
Morgan, 28, spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers before moving on to Washington and spending two years with the Redskins. Morgan had interest in re-signing with the club this offseason, but that interest wasn’t mutual, as we heard last month.
Although Morgan started 15 games and grabbed 48 balls during his first year with the Redskins, he played a reduced role last season, hauling in just 20 passes for 214 yards and zero touchdowns. In Chicago, he’ll fight for playing time with a number of other wideouts – including fellow 2014 signee Domenik Hixon – behind starters Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.
Bengals Pick Up Option On A.J. Green
The Bengals have officially exercised their fifth-year option for 2015 on A.J. Green, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). The move will ensure that Green is locked up for the ’15 season at a cost of $10.176MM.
Since being drafted fourth overall in 2011, Green has developed into one of the NFL’s most dangerous receivers. 2013, Green’s third straight Pro Bowl season, was arguably his best year yet, as the 25-year-old established or matched career-highs in receptions (98), receiving yards (1,426), and touchdowns (11).
While the Bengals are believed to be engaged in discussions with Green’s camp about a long-term deal, the receiver indicated earlier today that he isn’t concerned with his contract situation at the moment.
“I don’t pay attention to that stuff,” Green said. “I’m still under contract. Like I say, my body of work speaks for itself. Whenever the time’s right, it’s right. That’s one thing I don’t get involved with. I just go out there and play the game and whatever happens, happens.”