Panthers Attempting To Trade Steve Smith
TUESDAY, 11:57am: If the Panthers can’t find a trade partner for Smith, there’s a strong possibility they’ll cut him, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. If that happens, the Ravens and Buccaneers could be among the clubs pursuing the wide receiver.
MONDAY, 4:10pm: The Panthers are attempting to move wide receiver Steve Smith, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). However, as Rapoport notes, Smith’s age (35 in May) and 2014 cap number ($7MM) make a deal unlikely.
There have been hints this offseason that Smith’s tenure with the Panthers may be coming to an end. GM Dave Gettleman acknowledged last month that cutting ties with the longtime Carolina receiver was a possibility, and Smith didn’t appreciate the public comments. The two reportedly met last week to try to clear the air, but as the veteran becomes less integral to the team’s offense, some sort of move appears likely.
Cutting Smith or trading him would result in $9MM in dead money for 2014 rather than a $7MM cap hit for the Panthers. So if Carolina doesn’t want to keep Smith at that cap number, the team may look into restructure possibilities or consider designating him as a post-June 1 cut.
Contract Details: Weatherford, Snee, Shields
Giants punter Steve Weatherford accepted a pay cut to reduce his $2.025MM base salary for 2014, and Tom Pelissero of USA Today says (via Twitter) it was a $950K cut. However, Weatherford can make some of that money back, as he now has $350K available through incentives, rather than an initial $50K. Here are a few more details on contracts recently signed or restructured around the league:
- Weatherford’s new deal includes $1.1MM in compensation for 2014 with $150K in new guarantees, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSports.com. His cap number is $1.9MM.
- Chris Snee’s restructured deal with the Giants isn’t quite what was initially reported, according to Pelissero, who says the new contract features a $2MM base, $500K in per-game roster bonuses, and a $50K roster bonus (Twitter link).
- Pelissero has the specifics on Sam Shields’ four-year deal with the Packers, which includes a $2.5MM roster bonus next March (Twitter links).
- Darrin Walls avoided restricted free agency by re-signing with the Jets last week, and his two-year deal is worth $1.9MM, including a $350K roster bonus, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
- The new two-year deal for Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan includes a $400K signing bonus, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
Geoff Hangartner To Retire
2:24pm: The Panthers announced (via Twitter) that Hangartner has retired. Fellow O-Lineman Jeff Byers has also decided to retire.
11:10am: On the heels of Jordan Gross‘ retirement announcement, another Panthers offensive lineman has decided to call it a career, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. According to Person, guard Geoff Hangartner has decided to retire.
“I’ve known for a while I was going to retire. I knew when I came back this was going to be my last year,” Hangartner told Person. “It was a good way for me to end because I got to come back and play for a team I loved playing for and finish out with my buddies. Luckily we had some success, which made it even more fun. It was a fitting way for me to end my career.”
A longtime starter in Carolina and Buffalo, Hangartner’s 2013 season was derailed by injuries, but he appeared in part-time action in eight games with the Panthers. While his loss won’t be felt as deeply by the team as Gross’ departure, Hangartner is another player the club will have to replace for 2014. The 31-year-old’s decision to retire won’t affect the Panthers’ cap, as Hangartner hadn’t been under contract for ’14.
Texans Release Owen Daniels
The Texans have released one of their longest-tenured players, parting ways with tight end Owen Daniels, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (via Twitter). Daniels is coming off a fractured tibial plateau that sidelined him for most of the 2013 season.
Daniels, 31, has spent his entire career with the Texans since being drafted by the team in 2006. During his eight years in Houston, he has hauled in 385 passes for 4,617 total yards, and 29 touchdowns. However, his cap number for 2014, the last year of his contract, was an untenable $6.25MM. By releasing him, the Texans will create $4.5MM in cap savings.
Daniels suggested yesterday that he’s fully healthy after last year’s injury, and if that’s the case, he should draw interest from teams this week, particularly considering the lack of elite tight ends available. Given Daniels’ history with new Baltimore offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, the Ravens could be one potential suitor — the club just locked up Dennis Pitta to a long-term deal, but will likely lose Ed Dickson in free agency.
FA Rumors: McCown, Pettigrew, Giants, Cards
Free agency rumors are pouring in, with less than five hours until the market officially opens. Let’s round them up….
- Quarterback Josh McCown expects to get a deal done quickly once free agency opens, and has one or two specific teams at the top of his list, as he told SiriusXM NFL Radio this morning (Twitter link).
- The Lions continue to talk to tight end Brandon Pettigrew, but a deal before the deadline appears unlikely, so he should hit the open market, says Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
- Centers Evan Dietrich-Smith and Brian De La Puente appear unlikely to land with the Giants, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
- Expect the Cardinals to pursue free agent linebacker Mike Neal, tweets Mike Garafolo of USA Today.
- Free agent tight end Jeff King is highly unlikely to return to the Cardinals, says Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona (via Twitter).
- Cornerback Antoine Cason is drawing some interest, but he’ll likely wait until after the top-tier corners sign to find a deal, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.
- Emmanuel Sanders is among the names on the list of wide receiver targets for the Browns, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
- Since being released late last month by the Patriots, safety Steve Gregory has received some interest, and expects to sign after the bigger dominos fall, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.
- It looks like Bears cornerback and ace special-teamer Sherrick McManis will reach the open market today, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
Bucs, Michael Johnson Agree To Five-Year Deal
The Buccaneers have reached an agreement on a five-year contract worth $43.75MM for defensive end Michael Johnson, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link). Anderson reports that the deal, which can’t be finalized until 3:00pm CT, will include $24MM in guaranteed money.
Johnson, who I rated as this year’s fifth-best free agent, ranked behind only New England’s Rob Ninkovich last season in Pro Football Focus’ run grades for 4-3 defensive ends. After recording 3.5 sacks in 2013, Johnson doesn’t appear likely to ever again match the 11.5 sacks he posted in 2012, but that performance at least showed that he’s very capable of rushing the quarterback as well.
The Bengals free agent was expected to draw heavy interest from Minnesota, but the Vikings essentially removed themselves from the mix by re-signing Everson Griffen to a lucrative five-year deal. In fact, Griffen’s five-year contract looks like something of a blueprint for Johnson’s deal, as the Bucs will owe Johnson slightly more than the $42.5MM ($20MM guaranteed) that Griffen received from the Vikings.
Once Johnson is officially locked up, the Buccaneers will have two of the league’s premier run-stopping linemen under contract, pairing Johnson with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. According to PFF, no defensive tackle graded higher against the run than McCoy in 2013.
Multiple reporters had indicated yesterday and today that the Bucs were seriously pursuing Johnson, including Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Falcons To Sign Jon Asamoah
The Falcons appear to have a reached an agreement to sign free agent guard Jon Asamoah, according to John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (via Twitter). Middlekauff says that Atlanta will sign Asamoah for a deal worth about $4.5MM annually, and Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports is hearing the same thing (Twitter link).
Asamoah has been linked to the Falcons multiple times in the last few days, with a Saturday report indicating that the team was “extremely” interest in him, while a report yesterday suggested it’d be a “small upset” if the free agent guard didn’t land in Atlanta.
When I examined the free agent market for guards last week, I placed Asamoah in the first tier, speculating that he was more likely than fellow Chiefs lineman Geoff Schwartz to sign with a new team. While he didn’t play regularly for the entire 2013 season, Asamoah ranked 20th overall among guards, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).
Redskins To Sign Andre Roberts
9:43am: Roberts will sign a four-year deal worth about $16MM, with half of that money guaranteed, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
9:14am: The Redskins and free agent wide receiver Andre Roberts have agreed to a deal, a source tells Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com had reported earlier this morning (via Twitter) that the Redskins, along with the Browns, were among the teams interested in signing Roberts.
Since Roberts remains under contract with the Cardinals for at least a few more hours, nothing can be made official yet, but it sounds like the 26-year-old and the Redskins have an agreement in principle. It’s no surprise that Roberts will be heading somewhere besides Arizona, as he indicated last month that he thought there may not be “enough balls to go around” with the Cardinals. In that same interview, Roberts said he’d like to sign a four- or five-year contract, expressed a willingness to sign a one-year, make-good deal, so we’ll have to see what the terms look like on his new pact with Washington.
Roberts, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cardinals, had his best year in 2012, hauling in 64 balls for 759 yards and five touchdowns. With Roberts in the mix, it’s unclear if the Redskins will still consider other free agent receivers to whom they were linked, such as Kenny Britt and Andrew Hawkins.
Texans Cut Brice McCain
The Texans have released longtime cornerback Brice McCain, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). McCain had been on the books for a $1.75MM cap hit, which will be reduced to $900K in dead money, saving the club $850K in cap room.
McCain, who grabbed one interception and defended seven passes for the Texans in 2013, had the unfortunate honor 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.
Giants To Re-Sign Peyton Hillis
9:35am: Hillis’ deal is worth $1.8MM over two years, a source tells Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger (Twitter link).
8:28am: After filling in as the team’s feature back at times last season, Peyton Hillis will return to the Giants for the 2014 season, reports Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Hillis will ink a two-year deal with the team, perhaps as soon as today.
Hillis, 28, recorded 73 carries for 247 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Giants in 2013. His 3.4 yards per carry represented a career-worst average, but he’s likely to be no more than second or third on the club’s depth chart heading into next season. Andre Brown, who finished the 2013 season as New York’s feature back, is also eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, so the club will likely add at least one more player to the mix, whether it’s Brown or someone else.
The Giants are also reportedly close to re-signing cornerback Trumaine McBride and kicker Josh Brown, meaning the team could have a handful of new deals to announce very soon.