DeSean Jackson Updates: Monday
With most of this year’s notable free agents off the board, DeSean Jackson‘s release breathed some new life into the free agent market, and rumors swirled around Jackson and his potential landing spots for much of the weekend. Yesterday, we asked which club would eventually land the standout receiver, and you made the Raiders your pick, with the Redskins not too far behind. Do today’s updates and rumors reflect that result? Let’s dive in and round up the latest….
- ESPN’s Ed Werder jumps into the fray, saying there is no deal between the Redskins and Jackson, noting that he will continue meeting with the Redskins tomorrow as well as keep talking with other interested teams (Twitter link).
- A source close to Jackson says it’s a “done deal” between the Redskins and the receiver, tweets Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also chimes in, saying that while the two parties had a good meeting, Jackson has more visits lined up tomorrow, and a number of teams are still competing for the playmaker (via Twitter).
Earlier updates:
- Werder, who reported earlier (as we note below) that two mystery teams are believed to be deep in negotiations with Jackson, adds the Jets and Panthers to the list of clubs expected to be involved, and says the Patriots, Saints, and Packers are out (Twitter link).
- Jackson will visit the Redskins today, and the trip is expected to extend through Tuesday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds that the Raiders and Bills are also in the hunt.
- Peter King of TheMMQB.com thinks Redskins owner Dan Snyder and GM Bruce Allen will “put on the hard sell” to sign the former Eagle. King adds that Allen could include details in the team’s contract offer that would provide Washington some insurance in the event of any off-field incidents.
- On the other hand, Mark Maske and Mike Jones of the Washington Post write that the Redskins may not be willing to be break the bank for Jackson. The Post duo hears that while the team is “all-in” in its pursuit of the receiver, it has to be at the right price.
- According to ESPN’s Ed Werder (Twitter link), two teams who have yet to be publicly identified as having interest in Jackson are deep in talks with the receiver.
- Among the teams not expected to pursue Jackson: The Lions, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, and the Browns, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Jets Sign Jeremy Reeves
MARCH 31: Reeves received a three-year deal worth $1.53MM, with a league minimum salary of $420K for 2014, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
MARCH 28: The Jets have signed free agent cornerback Jeremy Reeves, the team announced today in a press release. The former Iowa State Cyclone will likely be in line for a minimum salary contract with a chance to earn a roster spot.
Reeves, who last played for Iowa State in 2012, went undrafted last year as he recovered from pectoral surgery. However, he was healthy enough to participate in the school’s Pro Day on Tuesday, posting a very impressive 4.29-second mark in the 40.
Texans Release Danieal Manning
4:00pm: The Texans cut Manning with the “failed physical” designation, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
12:12pm: The Texans have released veteran safety Danieal Manning, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The team had reportedly been working to get Manning to accept a pay cut to remain in Houston, but it appears the two sides couldn’t reach a compromise.
Manning, 31, suffered a fractured fibula in October 2013, forcing him to miss 10 games last season. Considering he was returning from a major injury and entering the final year of his contract, Manning’s 2014 cap hit of $6MM made him a potential cap casualty for the Texans. The team creates $4.5MM in cap savings with the move, and has already fortified the safety position by signing Chris Clemons and Kendrick Lewis this month.
Once the move becomes official, Manning will immediately hit the market, and could draw interest from teams still in need of some veteran depth in the secondary.
Browns Owner Talks Draft, Haden, Parcells
With a new GM (Ray Farmer) and head coach (Mike Pettine) in place in Cleveland, this year’s group of decision-makers looks significant different than the group that selected Barkevious Mingo sixth overall a year ago. One constant though is owner Jimmy Haslam, who spoke to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com and other Browns beat writers last week about the importance of this offseason and the draft for the franchise, and his long-term outlook for the team.
Here are a few notable quotes from the Browns owner:
On whether there’s a scenario in which he’d overrule Farmer or Pettine on a draft decision:
“Zero chance. We will have so many conversations between now and the draft about who we’re picking. Are we picking this position or that position? Who are the top three or four guys? We will be well planned out, so that, ‘Hey, here’s plan A. But if plan A doesn’t work, here’s plan B, and here’s plan C. That’s what getting ready is all about. That’s what Ray and his group are focused on, and we’ll all participate. Mike will play a key role in that, too.”
On whether the team might use the No. 4 overall pick on a non-quarterback:
“Yeah, I don’t think we’re compelled to pick a quarterback at No. 4. We don’t know that yet. The draft is May 8, so it’s still six, seven weeks, and Ray and his team and Pett and his team have a lot of work to do between now and then.”
On the importance of the 2014 draft for the Browns:
“We have three of the top 35 picks and 10 overall, so it’s exceptionally important that we do a good job in the draft and I think we’ve said that for the last year and this is an important free agency. We’ll know this time next year, but I think we feel good about the moves we’ve made in free agency.”
On potentially extending the contract of cornerback Joe Haden:
“Joe’s very important to the franchise and people forget, Joe’s only 24 years old, because he got out of high school a little early, got out of college three straight years and he’s very important to the franchise, and going forward we want to sign our really good players early if possible and Joe certainly exemplifies that.”
On whether he has an open line of communication with Bill Parcells:
“Yeah, but Bill’s not going to come work for us, okay? I know that’s what everyone’s angling at, but there’s other people that we talk to too who are knowledgeable in football that will share that too. Somehow the Parcells information just happened to hit the radar screen.”
Contract Details: Sanchez, McGlynn, MJD
Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun and the National Football Post has passed along the specific details on a few recent contracts, so let’s dive right in and round them up (all links go to Twitter)….
- Mark Sanchez‘s contract with the Eagles includes a $750K signing bonus, a $1.5MM base salary (guaranteed for $750K), and up to $1.75MM in playing-time incentives.
- Offensive lineman Mike McGlynn signed a two-year contract with the Redskins, and according to Wilson, it’s worth $2.7MM. That includes a $200K signing bonus, base salaries of $925K and $1.125MM, a $100K roster bonus for 2014, a $300K reporting bonus for 2015, and annual workout bonuses of $25K. McGlynn can also earn up to $750K in incentives each season.
- Maurice Jones-Drew‘s three-year pact with the Raiders has base salaries of $1.2MM (2014), $2.4MM (2015), and $2.4MM (2016). The rest of the $7.5MM contract is made up of a $1.2MM 2014 roster bonus, and annual $100K workout bonuses.
- The one-year deal Louis Murphy inked with the Buccaneers is a minimum salary contract that also features a $65K roster bonus and up to $300K in incentives.
- Winston Justice can earn up to $1MM in incentives on his new one-year, $1.175MM contract with the Broncos.
FA Notes: Patterson, Rogers, Fox, Hall
DeSean Jackson may be the biggest name on the free agent market these days, but he’s not the only potential difference-maker still available. Let’s round up a few of the latest news and notes related to a few other free agents still on the board…
- After missing out on a handful of cornerbacks earlier in free agency, the Jets are hosting ex-Dolphin Dimitri Patterson today, tweets Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
- Another free agent cornerback, Carlos Rogers, is scheduled for a visit with the Raiders today, tweets Colleen Dominguez of Fox Sports.
- The Chiefs are hosting free agent offensive tackle Jason Fox, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The 25-year-old ex-Lion struggled to stay healthy during his four seasons in Detroit.
- Former Ravens defensive lineman Bryan Hall worked out recently for the Rams, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if Chris Culliver’s legal troubles could prompt the 49ers to consider veteran free agent cornerback Champ Bailey.
Rams Sign Shaun Hill
MONDAY, 12:24pm: The Rams have officially signed Hill, the team announced today in a press release.
WEDNESDAY, 1:32pm: Hill’s one-year contract with the Rams is worth $1.75MM, with another $500K available in incentives, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
1:09pm: Hill has agreed to terms with the Rams, confirms Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
1:03pm: The Rams appear to be on the verge of locking up a backup quarterback, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Shaun Hill is expected to sign a one-year deal with the team. Hill had reportedly been deciding between signing with the Rams or returning to the Lions.
If and when he finalizes an agreement with the Rams, Hill figures to replace Kellen Clemens as Sam Bradford‘s primary backup. Clemens signed with the Chargers earlier this month, and Brady Quinn remains a free agent, leaving Austin Davis as the only other quarterback on the Rams’ roster. Given Davis’ lack of experience and Bradford’s ongoing recovery from ACL surgery, a veteran QB had been on St. Louis’ offseason wish list.
Hill, 34, has backed up Matthew Stafford in Detroit for the last several seasons, and didn’t throw a single pass in 2013. In his last extended run as a starter, in 2010, Hill performed respectably in 10 starts for the Lions, completing 61.8% of his passes for 2,686 yards, and a 16-12 TD-to-INT ratio.
Tim Shaw Announces Retirement
Former Penn State and Titans linebacker Tim Shaw has announced his retirement, writes Brad Emons of HometownLife.com. Shaw, who turned 30 last week, played six NFL seasons for the Panthers, Jaguars, Bears, and Titans after being drafted in the fifth round in 2007. He played his final regular-season game in 2012 for Tennessee, and was released this past September.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s a combination of me getting cut and me not getting picked back up,” Shaw said, in explaining his decision. “To be honest with you, the phone is not ringing. I still haven’t found a good reason why I got cut and why I’m not playing, so it just leads me to believe God has something else for me and I need to step away and move on. It’s just time. I feel right. I’m very blessed with my health. I just feel that I’ve been given so much that there’s just so much more to life than football. It’s just time to move on.”
In 2012, Shaw played 230 defensive snaps for the Titans and contributed on special teams as well. Overall, he recorded 43 tackles and a forced fumble in his final NFL season, making it the best overall performance of his six-year career.
AFC Notes: Pats, Dolphins, Zuttah, Titans
DeSean Jackson‘s release was the latest reminder that trades are tricky to work out in the NFL, even when it’s simply a matter of trying to swap a player for a draft pick. Player-for-player deals are even more difficult to finalize, but Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) has five suggestions for trades he thinks would benefit both sides, and four of them don’t include any picks. Among Yates’ suggestions: Ryan Mathews from the Chargers to the Titans for offensive tackle Michael Roos, and defensive lineman Jared Odrick from the Dolphins to the Patriots for offensive lineman Marcus Cannon.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- While it won’t have a real effect on teams’ cap situations for 2014, about $105MM in leaguewide deferred payments on bonus money are due today and tomorrow, tweets Brian McIntyre. As Yates writes in another ESPN.com piece, the Patriots are among the teams with a handful of payments owed, including $2.5MM each to offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer and cornerback Kyle Arrington.
- Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says he plans to speak to Dan Marino about a possible job within the organization, though he’s not sure yet what sort of role it would be, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- When the Ravens acquired Jeremy Zuttah in a trade last week, the team also worked out a five-year extension with the veteran center. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun now has the details on Zuttah’s new contract, tweeting that it’s worth $18MM with $6.5MM guaranteed. That includes a $3.5MM signing bonus, a $1MM guaranteed 2014 base salary, and $2MM of his $3MM 2015 base salary in guaranteed money. Wilson adds in a second tweet that the deal also includes playing-time and Pro Bowl escalators, and provides the full breakdown of annual base salaries and cap figures in two final tweets.
- The base salaries on Shaun Phillips‘ two-year deal with the Titans are $1.5MM (2014) and $2.55MM (2015), tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- The Titans are hosting several players for pre-draft visits today, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (all Twitter links). According to Wyatt, the players visiting the Titans include tight end A.C. Leonard, offensive linemen Kadeem Edwards and Demetrius Rhaney, and defensive back David Van Dyke of Tennessee State, as well as former Vanderbilt kicker Carey Spear, cornerback Andre Hal, and safety Kenny Ladler.
- Nearly three weeks after the free agent period began, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com resets the Browns’ roster, examining which positions still might be areas of need.
Jets Re-Sign Nick Bellore
As he tweeted yesterday, linebacker and special teams player Nick Bellore will be returning to the Jets for the 2014 season. Bellore, who received the $1.431MM restricted free agent tender from the team several weeks ago, has accepted that tender, and will be back on a one-year contract, the team confirmed today.
Bellore, 24, has spent the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Jets. Although he has only played 18 total defensive snaps during those three seasons, he has carved out a role as the team’s top player on special teams, leading the Jets in tackles on kickoffs every year since entering the league. Pro Football Focus has his tackle count at 41, while club’s press release has him at an impressive 75 — either way, his contributions for the unit are obvious, and are worth paying him $1.431MM next season, in the Jets’ eyes.