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Author: Luke Adams

Evan Mathis Rumors: Wednesday

By | at March 26, 2014 10:13 am

Earlier this morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Eagles have “made it known” that Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis is available in trade talks. According to multiple reports, Mathis is seeking a raise following a career year, and the Eagles don’t seem inclined to give it to him before the 2014 season begins. A few more details have trickled in on Mathis and a potential trade since then, so let’s dive in….

  • According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter), Mathis and agent Drew Rosenhaus broached the subject of a new contract to the Eagles prior to the combine, at which point the team countered with the idea of a trade. Mathis was subsequently shopped around in Indianapolis and since then, but there haven’t been many nibbles, tweets McLane.
  • The Eagles are seeking a third-round pick for Mathis, but may settle for a fourth, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). La Canfora adds that if the Eagles can’t get that sort of return, the club may just hang onto the veteran offensive lineman.
  • Alex Marvez of FOX Sports also tweets that Mathis could very well return next season, and notes that Philadelphia has given Mathis permission to pursue a trade. In that case, it may be Rosenhaus exploring his client’s value more than the Eagles doing so.
  • A source tells Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link) that Mathis has yet to consider the possibility of a holdout.
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Terrelle Pryor Likely To Be Traded Or Cut

By | at March 26, 2014 10:07 am

WEDNESDAY, 10:07am: The Raiders have received some trade feelers for Pryor, a source tells Alex Marvez (Twitter link). If no deal is reached, the team will likely cut the quarterback at some point in April, says Marvez.

MONDAY, 1:52pm: According to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter), Pryor’s trade request dates back to the Senior Bowl in January, well before the Raiders acquired Schaub.

12:19pm: The Raiders’ quarterback situation got a little more crowded last week when the team acquired Matt Schaub from the Texans. With Schaub expected to be the starter and Matt McGloin backing him up, there isn’t much room left for 2013’s part-time starter Terrelle Pryor. As such, the club appears likely to part ways with Pryor sooner or later.

According to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News (Twitter link), GM Reggie McKenzie said today that Pryor could be traded or released. Pryor’s agent has conveyed to the Raiders that his client would like a chance to earn a starting job, which won’t happen in Oakland, tweets Kawakami. There’s a little confusion about whether Pryor would prefer to be released or traded, but the Raiders GM intends to speak with the young quarterback within the next week or so to plan a course of action, tweets Kawakami.

As for the Raiders’ new top quarterback, McKenzie indicated that the team’s decision to restructure Schaub’s contract shows that Oakland wants more than a one-year relationship with the ex-Texan. However, the GM also didn’t rule out the possibility of drafting a QB early in May, telling Kawakami that the club is open to any position with its first pick (Twitter links).

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Schaub’s 2014 cap number for the Raiders is now in the neighborhood of $7.5MM.

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NFC East Notes: Garrett, Redskins, Giants

By | at March 26, 2014 9:27 am

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said last month that he’s not thinking about his contract situation, despite entering the last year of his deal. Following those comments, owner Jerry Jones stressed that 2014 is not necessarily a make-or-break season for Garrett, and he expressed that sentiment in stronger terms yesterday. Asked if the head coach must lead the Cowboys to the postseason this year in order to keep his job, Jones said he doesn’t look at it that way “at all,” according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • According to head coach Jay Gruden, no teams have contacted the Redskins about acquiring Kirk Cousins. Gruden indicated today he’s excited to have Cousins backing up Robert Griffin III , tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
  • Discussing Brian Orakpo, Gruden said he wouldn’t mind the linebacker playing out the 2014 season on his one-year franchise tag to see what he can do before the Redskins lock him up to a long-term deal (Twitter link via Jones).
  • The Giants added Rashad Jennings and re-signed Peyton Hillis in free agency, but with Andre Brown likely to sign elsewhere and David Wilson still recovering from neck surgery, head coach Tom Coughlin suggested today that the team will likely need to add another running back to be safe (Twitter link via Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post).
  • Coughlin, the NFL’s oldest current head coach, also said today that he feels great health-wise and feels like he can keep coaching beyond this season, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
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49ers Notes: Harbaugh, Gerhart, WR, Gore

By | at March 26, 2014 8:39 am

Jim Harbaugh was one of 16 NFC head coaches to meet with reporters in Orlando this morning, and few have had more eventful offseasons so far than the 49ers coach, who was linked to the Browns’ coaching job in February. Today, Harbaugh made it clear “that opportunity existed in someone else’s mind, not mine,” according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter). The Niners head coach added that he wants to be in San Francisco for a “very long time,” and that the Browns had “zero opportunity” to acquire him, in his view (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).

After discussing his own future, Harbaugh also touched on a handful of Niners-related topics, so let’s round up a few of his comments….

  • Harbaugh confirmed that the Niners spoke to free agent running back Toby Gerhart before he signed with the Jaguars, tweets Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.
  • The Niners like Quinton Patton, but still would like to add a potential No. 3 receiver, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who says Harbaugh made it clear the team is looking to augment the position. San Francisco has been linked to Julian Edelman and Emmanuel Sanders this offseason, among others.
  • Frank Gore is entering the final year of his contract, and the running back’s future with the Niners beyond that is uncertain. Said Harbaugh: “I really think Frank has three more good years. I truly believe that. But we’re in a game of taking it one year at a time, so…”
  • Harbaugh is checking out a few quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, says Barrows. The Niners coach has already looked at Eastern Illinois’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, and also wants to get a chance to see San Jose State’s David Fales and Fresno State’s Derek Carr.
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Bears, Jared Allen Agree To Four-Year Deal

By | at March 26, 2014 7:54 am

7:54am: Allen’s four-year deal is worth $32MM, but voids down to $24MM over three years, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), who adds that the contract includes $15.5MM in guaranteed money. The base salaries for the first two seasons are guaranteed, and the pact also includes a guaranteed roster bonus next March, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Those figures suggest the deal essentially amounts to two years and $15.5MM, giving the Bears some options after that point.

7:38am: The Super Bowl champions won’t be adding another veteran pass rusher to their roster after all. After initially appearing as if he was on the verge of an agreement with the Seahawks, Jared Allen will instead join an old division rival. The free agent defensive end has agreed to terms on a four-year contract to join the Bears, the club announced today (Twitter link).Jared Allen

For the Bears, it’s their second major free agent splash at defensive end so far this offseason — the club already added former Raider Lamarr Houston on a five-year, $35MM contract. In Houston, the Bears added an end more known for his run-stopping ability, but Allen will give the team an elite pass rusher to help replace Julius Peppers, who was released by Chicago earlier this month.

Allen, 31, remained productive and durable in 2013, recording 11.5 sacks in his last season with the Vikings. It was the sixth straight year in which Allen had started all 16 regular season contests for the team, and the seventh consecutive season he’d notched 11 or more sacks. The former fourth-round pick played well against the run as well, according to Pro Football Focus, whose metrics ranked him fifth overall among 4-3 defensive ends in ’13 (subscription required). Allen also appeared in 1,044 defensive snaps last season and wants to continue to play full time, which may have played a role in his choosing Chicago over Seattle. It’ll be interesting to see how the Bears manage Allen’s playing time in 2014 and beyond, as he enters his age-32 season.

In addition to the Seahawks, the Cowboys were also interested in Allen, though those two teams had limited cap flexibility to offer the veteran defensive end the sort of contract he was seeking. A report from a week ago suggested that Allen was looking for an annual salary close to $10MM, in the neighborhood of what DeMarcus Ware and Peppers received. As I noted at the time, the guaranteed money on Ware’s and Pepper’s deals varied significantly, so we’ll have to see what Allen’s new deal with the Bears looks like.

The Bears hadn’t had a ton of cap flexibility themselves before the team restructured Jay Cutler‘s contract this week to create an extra $4MM in 2014 space. As we’ve seen with plenty of other signings this month, including Jairus Byrd‘s $54MM deal with the Saints, $4MM+ is more than enough room to fit in the first year of a long-term contract if the team structures it creatively. Chicago’s preexisting cap space, plus the new $4MM, should be more than enough to fit in Allen and the club’s draft picks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Eagles Rumors: Mathis, Jackson, QBs, Draft

By | at March 26, 2014 7:36 am

DeSean Jackson has been the subject of trade rumors for several weeks now, but he’ll have some company going forward. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported this morning (via Twitter) that the Eagles have “made it known” All Pro guard Evan Mathis is available via trade. According to Rapoport (via Twitter) and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter), Mathis would like a new contract after a breakout year, and the Eagles aren’t inclined to give the 32-year-old a raise on his $5.15MM salary ($6.15MM cap number).

Eagles head coach Chip Kelly spoke to reporters this morning in Orlando and was asked about Mathis, Jackson, and several other topics related to the team. Here are a few highlights from the conversation (all links go to Twitter):

  • Kelly confirmed that he has spoken to Jackson and said it was a good conversation, but added that the Eagles will “always do what’s best for the organization,” according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. Kelly didn’t say at any point that the standout wide receiver wouldn’t be traded, though he did say Jackson hasn’t asked for a new contract, according to Bowen.
  • Asked why it took so long for him to talk to Jackson, Kelly said he hadn’t been following all the trade rumors and reports, says Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. As Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com notes, that explanation doesn’t really add up, but after being pressed on the issue, Kelly simply said, “I don’t have an answer for you.”
  • “I don’t think our offense has ever been predicated on one player,” Kelly said, when asked about how the offense could possibly be better off without Jackson.
  • Kelly hasn’t spoken to Mathis about the possibility of a new deal, but is very skeptical that the veteran guard would cause any problems for the team, says Mosher.
  • After losing Michael Vick in free agency, backup quarterback is a “position of need” for the Eagles, according to Kelly. Asked about Mark Sanchez, the head coach didn’t confirm the team’s interest, but said the ex-Jet is a “very good athlete” and has plenty of experience. As for starter Nick Foles, Kelly was adamant that Foles is Philadelphia’s franchise quarterback.
  • The Eagles will focus on taking the best player available in the draft, with Kelly stressing today that he doesn’t think the roster is necessarily set at any position.
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DeSean Jackson Rumors: Tuesday

By | at March 25, 2014 5:34 pm

There were plenty of DeSean Jackson rumors swirling yesterday as another busy NFL week kicked off, but we didn’t exactly move any closer to a resolution of the situation. As we wait to see whether the Eagles decide to trade, release, or keep their standout receiver, we’ll monitor today’s Jackson updates right here, with the newest items added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie had no interest in discussing Jackson in a press conference with reporters today, writes Sheil Kapadia of Philadelphia Magazine.
  • Late last night, Jackson posted an old photo of himself and Chip Kelly on Instagram, accompanied by the following caption: “Good to Talk to Big Chip today !! Say or hear what ya want !! The Picture speaks for itself !!”
  • While Jackson’s post hints that Kelly reassured the receiver that he wasn’t going anywhere, that’s not quite the case, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. A source close to Jackson tells Bowen that Kelly’s message was “don’t worry about anything and keep working hard and be ready for camp.”
  • Early this morning, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a piece suggesting Jackson’s days in Philadelphia are “all but over,” pointing to GM Howie Roseman‘s non-denials yesterday as the latest hint. However, McLane has since heard from a source close to the situation that Jackson, following his conversation with Kelly, has called a few teammates to tell them he’s staying.
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Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS

By | at March 25, 2014 5:00 pm

We’ve detailed how you can follow Pro Football Rumors on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or using an RSS reader to ensure that you receive all of our updates, 365 days a year. If you prefer to only receive news about your favorite NFL team, PFR has you covered. Below are links to our Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds for all 32 teams.

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AFC Notes: Titans, Browner, Clowney, Chiefs

By | at March 25, 2014 4:10 pm

The Eagles are considered the favorites to land Mark Sanchez, and it’s hard to determine which other teams may be a threat to Philadelphia for the signal-caller. The Seahawks have been ruled out as a destination, and reported interest from the Rams and Giants has been significantly downplayed. Now, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com suggests that another rumored suitor isn’t seriously in the mix, tweeting that the Titans don’t have interest in bringing Sanchez aboard. As we wait to see where the former Jet lands, let’s check out a few more notes from around the AFC….

  • Chris Johnson‘s future with the Titans remains in limbo, as Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean writes.
  • In a series of four tweets, Tom Pelissero of USA Today explains how Brandon Browner‘s contract with the Patriots works, complete with financial specifics.
  • Field Yates of ESPN Boston (Twitter link) has the details on the playing-time incentives in Michael Vick‘s new deal with the Jets. As Yates outlines, Vick can earn bonuses up to $1MM depending on whether he appears in 50% ($100K), 60% ($300K), 70% ($550K), 80% ($900K), or 90% ($1MM) of the Jets’ snaps.
  • Texans head coach Bill O’Brien plans to attend Jadeveon Clowney‘s Pro Day next week, and is looking forward to continuing the “good talk” he had with Clowney at the combine, tweets James Palmer of CSNHouston.com.
  • Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that he spoke to free agent receiver Jason Avant, but suggested there’s nothing there when it comes to the team’s interest in the former Eagle. Reid instead hinted that he and Avant may work together down the road, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links).
  • Chris Owens‘ one-year contract with the Chiefs is worth $800K, which includes a $730K base salary and a $70K workout bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. $80K of Owens’ base salary is guaranteed.
  • Fullback Jamize Olawale has signed his exclusive rights tender to remain with the Raiders, the team announced today (Twitter link).
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Jaguars Claim Bradie Ewing Off Waivers

By | at March 25, 2014 3:32 pm

The Jaguars have been awarded fullback Bradie Ewing off waivers, according to Brian McIntyre (Twitter link). Ewing had been cut by the Falcons.

A fifth-round pick in 2012 out of Wisconsin, Ewing has been limited by injuries in his two NFL seasons, most recently suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in September 2013. The 24-year-old appeared in just 14 offensive snaps for the Falcons last season before the injury, though he made the most of his limited action, catching a couple passes for 29 yards.

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