Chris Johnson Drawing Trade Interest?
MARCH 28: The Titans have yet to find a trade partner for Johnson, and if their efforts continue to fail over the next few days, the veteran running back is “very likely” to be released next week, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
MARCH 19: Although there has long been a belief that the Titans may release Chris Johnson this offseason, a pair of March reports indicated the team was looking to trade him and that the veteran running back would be willing to restructure his contract to help facilitate a deal. That has resulted in an emerging trade market for Johnson, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who reports that while no move is imminent, multiple teams have “real interest” in the longtime Titan. ESPN.com’s Ed Werder is hearing similar rumblings.
As Werder notes, Titans general manager Ruston Webster said on The Midday 180 yesterday that there’s “no real timetable” for when the club needs to make a move. Johnson isn’t owed any workout or roster bonuses this year, so there are no potential deadlines looming that would force Tennessee’s hand. Still, clearing a chunk of the 28-year-old’s $10MM cap number for 2014 would give the club some additional flexibility.
Johnson, who has only missed one game in his six NFL seasons, has compiled at least 1,000 rushing yards in each of those seasons. In 2013, he posted 1,077 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns despite reportedly playing through a torn meniscus.
Raiders Sign Maurice Jones-Drew
2:04pm: According to Schefter (via Twitter), Jones-Drew is “officially a Raider,” having signed a three-year contract with the team.
8:26am: The Raiders are in the process of finalizing a contract with free agent running back Maurice Jones-Drew, according to multiple reports. Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com hears from two sources that the sides have agreed to terms and that the deal is just pending a physical. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the agreement isn’t quite official, but MJD and the Raiders are expected to agree on a three-year deal later today.
An agreement appeared to come together quickly after word broke yesterday that Jones-Drew would be visiting the Raiders today. A report earlier in the week suggested that the Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots were all in the mix for the veteran back, but the Dolphins agreed to sign Knowshon Moreno, and a separate report indicated that the Pats haven’t been in contact with MJD. As such, it looks like the Steelers and Jets, who both met with the former Jaguar earlier this month, were the Raiders’ prime competition to land him.
By signing with the Raiders, Jones-Drew will be joining the team he rooted for growing up — the California native still lives in the area. Oakland also re-signed Darren McFadden earlier in the month, but McFadden has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and will be on a one-year, prove-it deal. With Jones-Drew in the fold, the Raiders are hoping to replace the 2013 production provided by Rashad Jennings, who signed with the Giants. Unproven backs like Latavius Murray and Kory Sheets could also be in the mix for carries in Oakland.
Following an excellent 2011 season, in which he averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game, Jones-Drew was slowed by injuries in 2012. He appeared in 15 games in 2013, but underachieved for a subpar Jacksonville team, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, a significant drop-off from his previous career low of 4.2. Having turned 29 last week and accumulated more than 1,800 carries in his NFL career, the former second-round pick’s best days are likely behind him, but a modest bounce-back season in 2014 definitely isn’t out of the question.
With Jones-Drew and Moreno off the market, LeGarrette Blount represents perhaps the most appealing free agent running back still available. According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Blount flew into Pittsburgh last night for a Friday visit with the Steelers. Blount is also drawing interest from his old team, the Pats.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers Re-Sign Perrish Cox
FRIDAY, 1:51pm: The 49ers have officially announced their new deal with Cox, according to a team release.
TUESDAY, 12:01pm: The 49ers and free agent defensive back Perrish Cox have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). Cox had been eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, but the Niners decided not to tender him an offer, so the new agreement between the two sides will likely be worth the minimum, or something close to it.
Cox, 27, saw more defensive snaps in the postseason (83) than he did in the regular season (81), according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That increased playing time at season’s end may earn him a longer look in 2014, though he’s still not a lock to make the roster, given San Francisco’s depth in the secondary.
Cox has spent time with the Broncos, Seahawks, and Niners since being selected in the fifth round of the 2010 draft by Denver.
Redskins Sign Mike McGlynn
Free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn has signed with the Redskins, according to agent Michael Perrett (via Twitter). Terms of the deal aren’t yet known.
McGlynn, 29, has started 30 games, primarily at right guard, for the Colts over the last two seasons. He didn’t perform particularly well in 2012 or 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). Out of 81 qualified guards in PFF’s rankings, McGlynn placed 81st in 2012 and 73rd in 2013.
Before he agreed to sign with the Redskins, McGlynn also met with the Rams, Titans, and Packers since the start of free agency.
Broncos Re-Sign Winston Justice
The Broncos have re-signed backup offensive lineman Winston Justice to a one-year contract, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter). Justice had been an unrestricted free agent.
Justice, 29, was added to the Broncos’ roster as an insurance policy in September 2013 after Ryan Clady went down with a Lisfranc injury. However, the former second-round pick didn’t see much playing time, appearing in just 19 offensive snaps for the team in two regular season contests. Still, Justice has experience playing as a starter for the Eagles and Colts, so he’ll be a fairly reliable depth piece for the Broncos in 2014.
Fallout From DeSean Jackson’s Release
After weeks of trade rumors, the Eagles officially parted ways with DeSean Jackson today, releasing him after they couldn’t find a satisfactory deal. In the wake of the move and a report from NJ.com that suggested the team was concerned about the receiver’s possible gang ties, Jackson has issued a statement, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter details. It reads, in part:
“I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible.”
As Jackson works to clear his name and assuage the concerns of potential suitors, here’s a round-up of several links related to his release:
- At least four teams reached out to agent Joel Segal within a half-hour of Jackson being released, according to Schefter (via Twitter), who says talks are ongoing. Schefter added in a later tweet that the number of clubs inquiring on Jackson is now up to six and counting.
- It’s not entirely clear yet which teams are in the mix for Jackson, but several writers expressed a belief that the Seahawks will be in the mix (all Twitter links).
- Based on a conversation he had recently with a Redskins source, John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link) would be “shocked” if Washington pursued Jackson.
- Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer says not to expect the Panthers to pursue Jackson, but head coach Ron Rivera tells Jim Corbett of USA Today that his team might have some interest. “He’s an intriguing player and we’ll take a look at him,” Rivera said.
- The Chiefs don’t appear to be a serious contender for Jackson, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
- Given their track record of giving players second chances, the Bills could emerge as a candidate for Jackson, suggests Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.
- According to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter), the Eagles didn’t previously know about the contents of NJ.com’s report until this week. Albert Breer of the NFL Network and Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News both suggest (Twitter links) the NJ.com story didn’t make the Eagles decide to release Jackson, but it certainly accelerated the process.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com looks at the move from a financial perspective, estimating what sort of salary Jackson might be looking at on a new deal.
- A league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that the Eagles didn’t designate Jackson as a post-June 1 cut, so it’ll be a $6MM cap hit for the team this year.
- Florio also notes that wide receiver Mike Evans said today that he’ll be visiting the Eagles soon. Evans isn’t likely to be on the board at No. 22 for Philadelphia, but the Eagles’ apparent interest shows they’ll consider drafting a receiver.
Eagles Release DeSean Jackson
The Eagles have officially informed DeSean Jackson of his release, according to the team (Twitter link). In announcing the move, the Eagles said they carefully considered the situation before deciding to part ways with the standout receiver.
The announcement comes only about an hour after the publication of a piece by Eliot Shorr-Parks and A.J. Perez of NJ.com, which attempted to ascertain why trade rumors had surrounded Jackson throughout the offseason. According to the NJ.com duo, the receiver’s “bad attitude, an inconsistent work ethic, missed meetings and a lack of chemistry with head coach Chip Kelly” are all reasons why the team wanted to part ways with him. Additionally, the Eagles were concerned about Jackson’s “continued association with reputed Los Angeles street gang members,” according to Shorr-Parks and Perez. The entire NJ.com piece is worth reading, and likely helps explain why the Eagles apparently had no luck finding a team willing to part with even a mid-round pick for the 27-year-old.
Jackson’s release also comes on the heels of his best season on the field. Catching passes from Nick Foles and playing in Kelly’s offense, Jackson hauled in 82 balls for 1,332 yards and nine receiving touchdowns — all three marks represent career highs. The former second-round pick is still in the prime of his career and his upside will tantalize plenty of teams, as will the fact that he’s no longer connected to a $10.5MM base salary. As Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter), the lack of trade partners may have been more a result of that price tag than Jackson’s off-field question marks.
Still, taking into account today’s NJ.com report and the fact that the Eagles were concerned enough to release Jackson outright, teams will likely approach a potential signing with extreme caution. Although the 49ers, Seahawks, Jets, Raiders, Panthers, and Patriots were among the clubs identified as potential fits for the receiver over the past few weeks, many of those possible suitors sounded hesitant about acquiring Jackson even prior to this latest report.
Jackson had three years remaining on his contract, so his remaining bonus money will accelerate onto this year’s cap number for the Eagles, resulting in $6MM in dead money. The club creates $6.75MM in cap savings with the move.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Contract Notes: Staley, Wilfork, Brad Smith
A source tells Rand Gatlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) that the 49ers are mulling the possibility of reworking Joe Staley‘s current contract, which he has outplayed. Staley, who will earn a total of $3.4MM in 2014, has a deal that runs through 2017, so he doesn’t have a whole lot of leverage at this point, but Gatlin’s source suggest the Niners recognize they’d be wise to address the situation to avoid having the offensive lineman become disenchanted (Twitter link).
Here’s more on a few other contracts around the league:
- Ben Volin and Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe pass along the details of the first year of Vince Wilfork‘s new contract with the Patriots in a pair of Twitter links. According to the Globe duo, the contract includes $2.5MM in signing bonus and base salary money, a $300K weight bonus, a $200K workout bonus, a $500K bonus for spending one game on the 53-man roster, up to $1.4MM in per-game roster bonuses, and additional incentives of about $3MM. In total, by my calculations, the team should create at least $3MM in 2014 cap savings with the move.
- The Eagles recently restructured the contract for wide receiver Brad Smith, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. According to Caplan, the agreement reduced Smith’s cap number by $350K, but assured him $450K in guaranteed money.
- E.J. Biggers‘ new one-year contract with the Redskins is a minimum salary benefit deal, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The pact includes a base salary of $730K, a signing bonus of $65K, and a cap hit of $635K.
Texans, Manning Working On New Deal
10:24am: Ganguli has issued a correction to her initial report, tweeting that Manning hasn’t actually agreed to a pay cut yet. The Texans are working on a new agreement, says Ganguli.
9:46am: Heading into the final year of his contract, Danieal Manning won’t be a cap casualty, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (via Twitter), who says that the Texans defensive back has agreed to restructure his deal. Unless the new agreement tacks extra years onto the contract, Manning figures to take a pay cut to reduce his cap number.
Manning, 31, suffered a fractured fibula in October 2013, forcing him to miss 10 games. As such, the Texans could create some cap relief by reworking his deal to include playing-time incentives. Because the ex-Bear only appeared in six contests, incentives based on appearing in more games this season would be considered “unlikely to be earned,” meaning they wouldn’t initially be included on Houston’s cap. That scenario would give Manning a chance to earn back a chunk of his original salary if he’s healthy.
Prior to agreeing to restructure his deal, Manning was set to earn a $4.5MM base salary. Combined with a $1.5MM hit for a prorated bonus, his cap number had been $6MM.
According to Ganguli (via Twitter), armed with the extra cap room afforded by Manning’s pay cut, the Texans may pursue free agent safety Chris Clemons, who was drafted by Houston director of pro personnel Brian Gaine in Miami.
Eagles Sign Mark Sanchez
FRIDAY, 8:04am: The Eagles have officially signed Sanchez to a one-year deal, according to the team. As Mike Garafolo first reported (via Twitter), the contract will be worth up to a max of $4MM, with a base value of about half that amount. Rich Cimini tweets that the base value is $2.25MM.
THURSDAY, 6:50pm: The deal is done, league sources tell Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets that the quarterback passed his physical. It should only be a matter of time until we learn the contract details.
12:13pm: The Eagles and Sanchez have now agreed to terms, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), so it should just be a matter of time before the deal is official.
11:21am: After several reports earlier this week indicated the Eagles were strong frontrunners to land Mark Sanchez, the ex-Jet will indeed sign with Philadelphia today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports confirms (via Twitter) that “everything has checked out” for Sanchez, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. While Garafolo clarifies that the deal isn’t finalized yet, he says it’s just a matter of time (Twitter link).
Sanchez, a former fifth overall pick, spent four seasons as the Jets’ full-time starter before giving way to Geno Smith in 2013. While he set career-highs with a 56.7% completion percentage, 3,474 passing yards, and 26 passing TDs in 2011, Sanchez regressed in 2012, with those numbers dipping to 54.3%, 2,883, and 13, respectively. After missing the 2013 season with a shoulder injury, the 27-year-old was released by the Jets before receiving an offseason roster bonus.
Once news broke that the Jets would be cutting Sanchez, reports linked a handful of teams to the veteran signal-caller, with the Giants, Rams, Browns, and Titans among the clubs said to have some interest. However, subsequent reports downplayed the interest from many of those teams, leaving Philadelphia as the only clear-cut suitor for the former USC Trojan.
By signing with the Eagles, Sanchez will be replacing the man that replaced him in New York, taking over Michael Vick‘s role as Philadelphia’s No. 2 quarterback behind Nick Foles. Fellow USC product Matt Barkley will also be in the QB mix for the Eagles.
With Sanchez off the market, the list of quarterbacks still on the market looks fairly sparse. Josh Freeman is the most notable name in a group that also includes Matt Flynn, Rex Grossman, David Carr, and Dan Orlovsky.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.