Raiders Release Mike Brisiel
The Raiders have officially cut offensive lineman Mike Brisiel, the team announced today (Twitter link). Brisiel had three years remaining on his contract, and his release will leave the Raiders with $3.93MM in dead money on their books for 2014, creating a modest $1.38MM in cap savings.
After starting his NFL career by spending five seasons in Houston, Brisiel started 30 games for the Raiders at right guard over the last two seasons. The 31-year-old, who was in line for a base salary of $3.85MM, was rumored to be a cap casualty earlier this offseason, with one report suggesting he could be released if he didn’t retire. According to Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com (via Twitter), Brisiel’s agent has indicated his client intends to return for the 2014 season, so if that’s still the plan, it appears Brisiel will be playing for a new team.
AFC Notes: Chiefs, Patriots, Bills, Blount
Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Danieal Manning said signing with the Cowboys “would be fun,” since he grew up rooting for them. However, the free agent safety added that a team’s direction and opportunity to win will be determining factors in his decision on where to sign (Twitter links). That’s not to say that Dallas should be ruled out as a suitor, but it makes sense that Manning’s first two visits are to a pair of AFC playoff teams. Last night, we heard about his scheduled meeting with the Bengals, and today during his SiriusXM appearance, he confirmed that a visit to the Chiefs is also on tap (Twitter link).
Here’s more from around the AFC as the league’s free agent period enters its fourth week:
- Mike Reiss (Twitter link) passes along word from ESPN.com colleague John Clayton that free agent defensive end Will Smith is visiting the Patriots today. Smith, who was cut by the Saints earlier this offseason, indicated shortly after his release that he’d be open to playing in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.
- Speaking to WBEN in Buffalo, billionaire Donald Trump confirmed that he has been approached about the possibility of joining an investment group in a bid to buy the Bills. Suggesting that he’ll “take a look” at the possibility, Trump stressed that he wants to see the franchise remain in Buffalo, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com details.
- LeGarrette Blount’s new two-year deal with the Steelers includes a $150K incentive for reaching 800 yards rushing in 2014, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Steelers Sign Brice McCain
1:19pm: McCain’s contract with the Steelers is a minimum salary benefit deal with a $65K signing bonus, so it’ll count for $635K against the team’s cap, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
12:00pm: The Steelers have signed free agent cornerback Brice McCain, according to agent David Canter (via Twitter). ESPN.com’s Scott Brown reported earlier today (via Twitter) that McCain, who was cut by Houston last month, was visiting Pittsburgh.
McCain, who grabbed one interception and defended seven passes for the Texans in 2013, had the dubious distinction of ranking dead-last among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). While he was solid against the run and avoided taking penalties, McCain ranked as the league’s worst cover corner by a wide margin, according to PFF.
Nonetheless, the Steelers saw enough in the 27-year-old that they liked to bring him aboard. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, but it’ll likely be a minimum salary deal.
Chris Harris Signs RFA Tender
Broncos defensive back Chris Harris has signed his contract tender from the Broncos, according to Lindsay Jones of USA Today (via Twitter). As a restricted free agent, Harris received a one-year offer from the club worth $2.187MM, the amount of the second-round RFA tender.
Harris started 15 games at cornerback for the Broncos in 2013, matching his career-high with three interceptions and grading as an impressive ninth out of 110 qualified corners, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). The 24-year-old likely would’ve been in line for a first-round tender from the Broncos had he not torn his ACL in January. While that injury raises some question marks about Harris’ status for this summer and fall, the tear was only partial, and he’s said to be recovering well so far.
Assuming he plays out the 2014 season on his new one-year deal with the Broncos, Harris will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next winter.
AFC Draft Notes: Jets, Texans, Ravens
April is typically draft month for the NFL, but that’s not the case in 2014 — we’ve still got another five-plus weeks until this year’s three-day event gets underway on May 8. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t several rumors and reports floating around about teams’ potential draft plans. Here are a few of the latest items on AFC clubs:
- The Jets are intrigued by Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro, a team source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Amaro is scheduled to visit the Jets in the coming weeks, and Mehta suggests the tight end could be on the board when the club picks in the second round.
- It’s no surprise that the Texans‘ signing of Ryan Fitzpatrick wouldn’t affect the possibility of the team drafting a quarterback next month. However, it’s a little surprising that, even with Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, and T.J. Yates on board, head coach Bill O’Brien suggested the Texans could add multiple QBs in the draft (Twitter link via official Texans account).
- Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Florida State wideout Kelvin Benjamin, Utah cornerback Keith McGill, and Cal linebacker Khairi Fortt are making official pre-draft visits with the Ravens today, league sources tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Despite the fact that the Dolphins signed Knowshon Moreno and like Lamar Miller, the club has interest in adding another running back in the draft, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who says it could happen in the fourth or fifth round.
- A pair of teams announced pre-draft visits, as the Bills host Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer and Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas, while Ole Miss receiver Donte Moncrief and Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk visit the Steelers (Twitter link).
Bucs Sign Jorvorskie Lane, Josh Baker
10:48am: In addition to confirming the signing of Lane, Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com tweets that the team has also inked former Jets fullback Josh Baker to a deal. Lane and Baker will likely compete for the fullback roster spot vacated by Erik Lorig.
9:47am: Former Dolphins fullback Jorvorskie Lane has signed with the Buccaneers, according to agent David Canter (via Twitter). Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed, but it’ll likely be a minimum salary pact, giving Lane a chance to earn a roster spot.
Lane, 27, appeared in all 16 games for the Dolphins in 2012, logging 307 offensive snaps and playing a little on special teams as well. However, he didn’t earn a spot on the team’s regular season roster in 2013, and was cut last August. In 2012, Lane recorded 13 carries, primarily in short-yardage situations, and caught 11 passes out of the backfield.
Raiders Re-Sign Pat Sims
TUESDAY, 10:12am: Sims’ one-year deal, which includes a $250K signing bonus, has a base value of $1.45MM and can be worth up to $2MM, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com.
FRIDAY, 2:41pm: Free agent defensive lineman Pat Sims is returning to Oakland, according to agent Rick Smith, who announced (via Twitter) that Sims has signed a one-year deal with the Raiders.
Sims, 28, visited with the Titans earlier this month, but it seems he didn’t draw as much interest as he may have anticipated following his first season as a full-time starter. As the Raiders’ nose tackle, Sims recorded 53 tackles and a pair of sacks, and scored well in Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics as well (subscription required). The former third-round pick ranked 17th out of 69 qualified defensive tackles, grading especially well against the run.
When he returns to the Raiders for the 2014 season, Sims will be joining a revamped Oakland front seven that also features free agent signees LaMarr Woodley, Justin Tuck, and Antonio Smith.
Giants Re-Sign Mike Patterson
TUESDAY, 9:54am: Patterson’s contract is worth the minimum salary for one year, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
MONDAY, 1:37pm: In addition to officially announcing their signing of Zackary Bowman, the Giants have also announced a new deal for defensive lineman Mike Patterson (Twitter link). Like Bowman, Patterson had been an unrestricted free agent.
A longtime Eagle, Patterson joined the Giants for the 2013 season and assumed a part-time role for the team. In 413 defensive snaps, the former first-round pick logged 23 tackles and six quarterback pressures, grading especially well against the run, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Giants Sign Zack Bowman
TUESDAY, 9:53am: It’s a minimum salary contract for Bowman, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
MONDAY, 12:05pm: Bowman’s deal with the Giants is indeed for one year, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
12:00pm: After reportedly being close to signing with the Giants 10 days ago, Zackary Bowman appears to have finally reached an agreement with the team, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Dickerson reports (via Twitter) that the free agent cornerback will sign with the Giants. While terms of the deal aren’t known, Dickerson’s original story from a week and a half ago indicated it would be a one-year contract.
Bowman, 29, was an unrestricted free agent this offseason after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the Bears. After starting 12 of 16 games for the team in 2009, Bowman has mostly played a part-time role since then, though he did see seven more starts in 2013. The former fifth-round pick recorded 48 tackles and three interceptions in 2013, and received a slightly negative grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), in large part due to a poor showing against the run. Bowman’s -3.6 grade as a run stopper ranked in the bottom 10 among qualified cornerbacks.
For the Giants, Bowman will almost certainly return to a reserve role, assuming he makes the team. The club has already re-signed Trumaine McBride and added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond in free agency this month.
Patriots Re-Sign Ryan Wendell
TUESDAY, 9:50am: The initial NFLPA records for Wendell’s contract had a misprint, adding an extra zero to his annual roster bonuses, according to Field Yates of ESPN Boston. Rather than receiving annual $2MM roster bonuses, Wendell is eligible for annual $200K roster bonus, says Yates. As such, the two-year deal is actually worth significantly less than initially reported — it has a base value of $3.25MM ($850K guaranteed) and can be worth up to $4.55MM with incentives.
FRIDAY, 2:18pm: The Patriots have re-signed center Ryan Wendell, according to Tom Curran of CSNNE.com (via Twitter). Field Yates of ESPN Boston, citing NFL records, tweets that it’s a two-year, $6.85MM contract.
Wendell, 28, has started every one of the Patriots’ regular season contests over the last two seasons, and figures to enter 2014 as the team’s center. As I noted when I examined the free agent market for centers last month, Wendell had a poor 2013 season following a very good 2012. The Fresno State product ranked as the league’s worst pass-blocking center in ’13, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), and received a negative pass-blocking score from PFF in ’12 as well, even though he ranked fourth overall among centers.
While Wendell’s poor pass-blocking grades may be a cause for concern for Tom Brady and New England’s passing attack, it appears the team is confident enough in the veteran center to commit to him as the starter in 2014 and perhaps 2015.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links), the deal includes an $850K signing bonus, base salaries of $1MM in both seasons, roster bonuses worth $2MM in both years, and up to $1.3MM in playing-time incentives for 2015.