Saints Sign Josh Scobee
The Saints have reached an agreement with free agent kicker Josh Scobee, signing him to a contract, as Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune writes. Scobee himself first broke word of the deal in a Facebook post.
[RELATED: Saints release Marques Colston]
“Excited to announce that I’ve signed with the New Orleans Saints!” Scobee wrote. “Pumped for this opportunity!”
Scobee, 33, served as the Jaguars’ kicker for his first 11 NFL seasons, but was traded to the Steelers prior to the 2015 campaign to replace Shaun Suisham, who tore his ACL last summer. Scobee’s time in Pittsburgh only lasted four regular-season games, during which he missed four field goals (all from between 40-49 yards) and an extra point. He was cut last October and replaced by Chris Boswell.
After dealing with a hip flexor last season, Scobee is healthy now and signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with New Orleans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The deal comes about a month after the Saints brought in the longtime Jaguar for a workout.
While Scobee is currently the only kicker under contract with the Saints, the team has undergone plenty of changes at the position in recent years, and will likely bring in competition. One possibility is Kai Forbath, who finished the 2015 season as New Orleans’ kicker. A report earlier this week indicated that the Saints were interested in re-signing Forbath.
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Lions Re-Sign Tyrunn Walker
FRIDAY, 8:34am: The Lions’ contract agreement with Walker has been finalized, with the team announcing the signing in a press release.
THURSDAY, 12:23pm: A year ago, the Lions’ signing of defensive lineman Tyrunn Walker from the Saints was viewed as one of the more solid under-the-radar moves of the offseason. However, Walker’s first year in Detroit came to an early end when he suffered a broken fibula and landed on the team’s injured reserve list in early October.
As he recovers from that injury though, Walker is prepared to sign a new contract with the Lions, According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the free agent defensive tackle is en route to Detroit today, where he will take a physical and sign a new one-year deal with the club, assuming some contractual language gets finalized.
After signing a one-year, $1.75MM pact last year, Walker will get a similar deal this time around. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Walker’s new one-year contract will be worth $1.6MM, with a chance to max out at $2.25MM. It wouldn’t be surprising if the deal features per-game roster bonuses — because the Tulsa alum only appeared in four contests in 2015, only a quarter of his per-game roster bonuses would count against the cap.
In addition to nearing a contract agreement with Walker, the Lions are in talks to bring back Haloti Ngata, and Birkett expects him to re-sign (Twitter link). As Birkett notes, retaining those two defensive tackles would give the club the flexibility to focus on other positions in free agency next week.
Speaking of free agency, Birkett also reports that the Lions have tendered contract offers to all of their exclusive-rights free agents. The following players have received ERFA tenders, per Birkett:
- C Braxston Cave
- LB Brandon Copeland
- WR Corey Fuller
- S Isaiah Johnson
- DT Khyri Thornton
- RB George Winn
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Minor NFL Transactions: 3/3/16
Today’s round of minor transactions around the NFL is dominated by exclusive-rights free agents. ERFAs are players with less than three years of NFL experience, who don’t have a contract for 2016.
While these players are technically considered free agents, they don’t have any real freedom when it comes to picking their destinations — if their current teams want them back, all those clubs have to do is submit an ERFA tender (typically worth the minimum salary), which precludes those players from negotiating with any other teams.
Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
- The Bears have tendered a contract offer to ERFA wide receiver Josh Bellamy, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Bellamy saw a decent amount of playing time on offense, catching 19 passes for 224 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and was also one of the club’s top contributors on special teams.
- The Cardinals have assigned ERFA tenders to defensive tackle Josh Mauro and tight end Ifeanyi Momah, signaling that they want to bring back those players, the team announced today on its website. Momah missed the 2015 campaign with a knee injury, while Mauro was a depth piece on Arizona’s defensive line.
- The Titans have re-signed ERFA running back Antonio Andrews, the club announced in a press release. The move is classified as a re-signing rather than a simple contract tender because Andrews has already signed the offer. He figures to compete for a roster spot in Tennessee in 2016.
- The Buccaneers have assigned an ERFA tender to long snapper Andrew DePaola, agent Sean Stellato tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). DePaola has been Tampa Bay’s full-time long snapper since the start of the 2014 season.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Morris, Coughlin
Having signed Sam Bradford to a two-year contract extension, the Eagles don’t necessarily plan to put the quarterback position on the back-burner for the rest of the offseason. Head coach Doug Pederson acknowledged today that he and the Eagles will look into drafting a signal-caller, though he added it would probably be later in the draft, rather than with the No. 13 overall pick (Twitter links via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer).
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- Eagles general manager Howie Roseman on whether the offensive line will be a priority for the club this offseason: “It’s a priority today. It’s a priority tomorrow. It’s a priority next week. It’s a priority in April” (Twitter link via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer). It sounds like that’s a yes.
- Admitting that he doesn’t know what to expect as his first opportunity at free agency approaches, running back Alfred Morris says he’d be open to returning to Washington, but will have “no hard feelings” if the team doesn’t bring him back. Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com has the details and the quotes from Morris.
- Former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is sending an odd message by hanging around the team’s facility and using the gym twice a week, writes Gary Myers of the New York Daily News. Myers hear that Coughlin’s “hard feelings for the Giants came through loud and clear” during his head coaching interview with the Eagles in January, and adds that it’s time for the veteran coach to move on.
- Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will undergo surgery on his collarbone next week, sources tell David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Romo is believed to have made his decision on what kind of procedure he’ll have, but it’s yet known which direction he’s going.
Texans Cut Arian Foster
4:21pm: Foster was cut with a failed physical designation, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. As Wilson observes, that’s not a surprise, since the veteran back is still recovering from his torn Achilles.
9:47am: The Texans have officially released Foster, the team announced (via Twitter).
8:50am: Arian Foster‘s seven-year run in Houston will come to an end this offseason, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the running back has been informed the Texans are releasing him. Agent Mike McCartney confirmed the decision in a statement on Twitter.
“What a great RUN @ArianFoster had with the @HoustonTexans!” McCartney tweeted. “Thanks to the Texans & I’m personally excited what lies ahead for Arian!”
Foster, 29, accumulated 6,472 rushing yards during his seven years as a Texan, and that figure would have been even higher if injuries had not slowed him down over the course of the last three seasons. After earning three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2010 to 2012, averaging about 1,900 all purpose yards and 16 touchdowns in those seasons, Foster has been limited to 25 regular-season games from 2013 to 2015.
In 2015, Foster was slowed by a groin injury in training camp and the preseason, and later suffered a torn Achilles, landing him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. When he played, he was at his least productive, averaging only 2.6 yards per carry on 63 attempts. Still, if he recovers well from the Achilles injury, the Tennessee alum could have something left in the tank — he was a Pro Bowler in 2014, piling up 1,246 rushing yards in just 13 contests.
From a cap perspective, Foster’s release will create $6.625MM in savings for the Texans, leaving just $2.3MM in dead money on the team’s cap for 2016. At the scouting combine in Indianapolis though, general manager Rick Smith indicated that if the Texans were to cut their longtime running back, it wouldn’t be because of his salary.
“As it relates to all the free agent conversations, I’m never really going to tell you one way or the other what we are doing, but I will tell you this: his salary is not a reason why we would cut Arian,” Smith said last week.
Assuming Foster is healthy and continues his playing career, there are several teams that could be fits. Two that come to mind are the Broncos – who employ former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak – and the Jets, who have multiple running backs facing free agency and whose GM is former Houston executive Mike Maccagnan.
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Ravens Won’t Pick Up Chris Canty’s Option
The Ravens have let veteran defensive end Chris Canty know that they won’t be exercising their option to pick up the second year of his contract, according to the team’s official website. The move will ensure that Canty becomes an unrestricted free agent.
[RELATED: Ravens cut LB Daryl Smith]
“I called Chris to thank him for what he has done for the Ravens,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “He has been an impactful player for us on and off the field.”
By parting ways with Canty, the Ravens avoid paying him a $150K roster bonus next week, and will clear his $2MM base salary for 2016 from their books. In total, the move creates $2.15MM in cap savings, reducing his cap charge from $2.915MM to $765K. Having reworked Joe Flacco‘s contract and released linebacker Daryl Smith, Baltimore continues to carve out small chunks of cap room.
Canty, a 10-year veteran, joined the Ravens prior to the 2013 season, after spending his first eight years in the NFC East with the Cowboys and Giants. In three years with Baltimore, Canty started 23 of 35 games he played, registering 84 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. While his impact on the field wasn’t necessarily significant, the 33-year-old was a solid rotation player and a good presence in the locker room.
While Canty appears likely to sign elsewhere, it’s worth noting that last offseason, the Ravens cut the defensive lineman in February, only to re-sign him a few weeks later in March. As Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun tweets, Canty isn’t ready for retirement and wants to continue his career, so we’ll see what his market looks like.
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North Rumors: Harris, Newman, D. Smith, Ravens
Vikings guard Mike Harris is eligible to hit the open market next week, but he would prefer to get something done before Monday’s legal tampering period begins so that he can remain in Minnesota, as he tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
“My agent is working really hard right now, and I’m hoping I can get a deal before Monday,” Harris said. “I see myself in Minnesota for the rest of my career. That’s where I want to be. So hopefully we get the contract ready this weekend. I’m excited. It’s going to be a great season for the Vikings, and I want to be a part of it.”
Harris expects the Vikings to put a formal offer on the table soon, and a source tells Tomasson that it will likely be a two-year contract worth in the ballpark of $5MM. If Minnesota can get a deal like that finalized, it would be a great value for the team — Harris shifted over from tackle last season to become a full-time guard for the Vikes, and was ranked 23rd out of 81 qualified players by Pro Football Focus.
Here’s more out of the NFL’s North divisions, including one more Vikings-related item:
- Terence Newman is set to become the NFL’s oldest defensive back. Newman, who will turn 38 this year, wants to play another season, and all signs points to there being mutual interest between the veteran cornerback and the Vikings, Tomasson writes for the Pioneer Press.
- Although the Ravens released linebacker Daryl Smith today, the team hasn’t ruled out the possibility of bringing him back after he gauges his value on the open market, GM Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “We are not closing the door on the possibility of him returning to the Ravens,” Newsome said. “He deserves an opportunity to see his market value at this time.”
- As Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com details, safety Sean Richardson‘s future with the Packers – and in the NFL – remains unclear due to his neck injury. While Richardson is scheduled to become a free agent next week, his situation is unlikely to be resolved, since he still hasn’t been medically cleared to return.
- Whlie it would be great for the Browns if they can re-sign center Alex Mack, who opted out of his contract this week, the team shouldn’t devote a ton of resources to Mack if it means losing right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, writes Tom Reed of Cleveland.com. Of course, Reed notes that the ideal scenario would involve retaining both players.
Jaguars Release Chris Clemons
After releasing guard Zane Beadles earlier this afternoon, the Jaguars have also confirmed the release of a veteran player on the other side of the ball. According to a team release, Jacksonville has parted ways with defensive end Chris Clemons.
[RELATED: Jaguars release Zane Beadles]
Clemons will turn 35 in October and wasn’t productive in 2015, making him a logical candidate to be released this offseason. His three sacks were his lowest total since he became a starter in 2010, and a major step down from the eight he recorded in his first year in Jacksonville. Pro Football Focus ranked Clemons dead last among 110 qualified edge defenders.
Like Beadles, Clemons had no dead money left on his contract, so the Jaguars will clear his entire $4MM cap number for 2016 from their books. Between the two players, Jacksonville creates another $9.5MM in cap savings, adding to the team’s league-high cap room. The Jags now have a staggering $85MM or so in projected cap space, with the new league year around the corner.
While the Jaguars have maintained that they don’t expected to go wild in free agency, the team certainly has the flexibility to be serious contenders for virtually any player on the market. Bruce Irvin, Alex Mack, and Olivier Vernon are a few of the top-tier free agents who would be nice fits in Jacksonville.
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Jaguars Release Zane Beadles
The team with the most cap room in the NFL will pick up a little more, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who reports (via Twitter) that the Jaguars are releasing veteran guard Zane Beadles. John Oehser of Jaguars.com has confirmed the move (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Jaguars re-sign Chad Henne]
Over the Cap currently projects the Jaguars to have more than $75MM in cap room, so it’s not as if the club needs to create additional flexibility. Still, Beadles looked like one of the clearest release candidates on the roster, since the Jaguars can clear his entire $5.5MM cap hit for 2016 from their books by releasing him. The transaction should increase the club’s projected cap room to $80MM+.
Beadles, 29, inked a lucrative five-year contract with the Jaguars two offseasons ago, and has started all 32 of the team’s games at left guard since then. However, the former Pro Bowler hasn’t been overly effective since heading to Jacksonville from the Broncos. In 2015, Pro Football Focus ranked him 64th out of 81 qualified guards.
As Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets, the Jaguars are high on guards A.J. Cann and Brandon Linder going forward. Of course, armed with all their cap room, the Jags can also address the interior of their offensive line next week in free agency.
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Dolphins, Koa Misi Agree To New Deal
2:00pm: Misi and the Dolphins have now finalized an agreement on a restructured contract, tweets Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. According to Cole (via Twitter), the new deal won’t tack on any extra years beyond 2017.
11:55am: The Dolphins are nearing an agreement with Koa Misi on a restructured contract for the 2016 season, reports Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. The terms of the new deal aren’t yet known.
Misi, 29, played nearly 750 defensive snaps for the Dolphins in 2015, the most of any of the club’s linebackers. In 13 games, the former second-round pick recorded 77 tackles and one pass defended, and while his traditional stats weren’t overly impressive, he was viewed as a strong run defender by Pro Football Focus’ grades. PFF ranked Misi 22nd out of 97 qualified linebackers.
Still, Misi’s lack of playmaking ability (he had no sacks, interceptions, or forced fumbles in 2015), and his inability to stay healthy for a full season (he has missed eight games over the last two seasons) made him a candidate to be released this winter as the Dolphins explore potential upgrades at linebacker.
Misi had been in line for a $4.275MM base salary to go along with a $4.878MM cap hit for the coming season, so a restructured contract with the Dolphins would likely reduce both of those figures, while guaranteeing him a modest chunk of money up front.
Even if Misi returns to Miami on a new deal, the Dolphins are expected to bring in a couple new linebackers this offseason to compete for starting roles and to challenge Misi and Jelani Jenkins for playing time.
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