Ghee, Walker Agree With Chargers
The Chargers have signed both Brandon Ghee and Reggie Walker, according to Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter). The cornerback Ghee joins the team from the Bengals, and Walker was a backup linebacker for the Chargers in 2013. Both players have signed to two-year deals.
Walker, 27, made five starts in his first season with San Diego and racked up three sacks and 34 tackles. It was his most productive NFL season so far as he had just 25 tackles in his previous four seasons with Arizona.
Ghee, 27 in June, saw time in 10 games and registered five pass deflections and four tackles. The former third round pick has seen the field in just 23 contests for Cincinnati over the course of his career and will hope to see more burn with San Diego.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Vikings Sign Linval Joseph
WEDNESDAY, 10:10pm: More details from Joseph’s contracts, via tweets from Ben Goessling of ESPN.com: $6.6MM cap number in 2014, $4.6MM in 2015, $6.3MM in 2016, $6.85MM in 2017 and 2018. In addition to a $3MM signing bonus, Joseph will also receive a $2.4MM roster bonus.
TUESDAY, 5:04pm: Joseph’s deal with the Vikings will be worth $31.5MM over five years, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
4:36pm: The Vikings have signed defensive tackle Linval Joseph, reports Fox Sports 1 Senior NFL Reporter Alex Marvez (via Twitter). Joseph spent his first four years as a part of a star-studded defensive line for the Giants, and had expressed interest in returning to the team in 2014.
Joseph had become a hot name this offseason, being named as one of Luke Adams’ top free agents. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
No Deal Between Schofield, Giants
WEDNESDAY, 3:29pm: The Giants’ deal with Schofield is considered dead, writes the Star-Ledger’s Jordan Raanan.
1:51pm: The Giants’ deal with Schofield hasn’t necessarily been scrapped, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. However, the team may no longer be willing to pay him $8MM for two years, which could prompt the linebacker to look elsewhere (Twitter links).
1:35pm: The Giants’ deal with Schofield is now on hold, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports that the club has concerns about the linebacker’s physical, due to potential knee problems (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 5:04pm: The Giants agreed to terms on a two-year deal with linebacker O’Brien Schofield, reports Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The contract is worth $8MM. Schofield spent his four seasons in the NFC West, as a backup linebacker with the Cardinals and last year with the Seahawks.
Remaining Options At Cornerback
The Aqib Talib contract is the latest free agent signing that has shaken up the NFL landscape, leaving few options at cornerback and many teams with a need at the position. There are still some very productive players, and even a few big names on the market that could fill those needs. Here’s a brief roundup:
- Assuming Darrelle Revis gets cut by the Buccaneers, an assumption that seems safe at this point, he will become the top free agent left on the market. He could have many potential landing spots, and will most likely draw interest from the Patriots to replace Talib.
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was in negotiations to return to the Broncos, but the team has reportedly pulled their offer after signing Talib, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
- Tracy Porter is visiting with the Giants, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Porter was one of the few bright spots for the Raiders in 2013.
- Charles Tillman and Cortland Finnegan are both veterans that could be available for small money on short term deals. Tillman was thought to be a fit with the Buccaneers before Verner signed there. Finnegan has not drawn much interest so far.
- The Jets and Lions are both still in need of help at corner, and it would be risky to go into the draft without adding anything at the position.
Playoff Teams Interested In DeMarcus Ware
While it is already known that the Broncos are the front runners to sign DeMarcus Ware, 15 teams have called to express interest in the veteran pass rusher, including eight playoff teams, according to Rainer Sabin of DallasNews.com.
Ware is thought of as a very scheme versatile player, able to put his hand in the dirt and rush the passer as a 4-3 end or more naturally as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4. He joins Julius Peppers and Jared Allen as the most accomplished quarterback killers on the market. All three players will most likely command smaller contracts, but should be able to choose contenders to play for as they all chase a Super Bowl, something none of the three have been able to attain.
AFC West Rumors: Allen, Howard, Saffold
Jared Allen‘s first visit of his free agency will be with the Broncos, which was first reported by Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (Dan Hanzus of NFL.com credited him with the report). Allen could be a perfect fit for a team in need of a pass rusher, unless they somehow find a way to attract an even bigger name in free agency.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC West:
- Austin Howard is visiting with the Raiders, as reported by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The much improved right tackle failed to come to an agreement to stay with the Jets, and could play opposite the Raiders’ new presumed left tackle Rodger Saffold (unless Saffold is a very expensive guard).
- While the Raiders have already retained one running back, they may still be looking to add depth to their backfield. Ian Rapaport of NFL.com reports that the team also has an interest former Giant tailback Andre Brown (via Twitter).
- Kavell Conner is visiting with the Chargers, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The former Colts linebacker was a starter for much of his first three seasons in Indianapolis, but did not start a single game in 2013.
- Wide receiver Joe Morgan, who was non-tendered as a restricted free agent recently by the Saints, is visiting the Chiefs, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
- The Chiefs are interested in veteran inside linebacker Joe Mays, who coach Andy Reid selected in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.
Jets Interested In Maurice Jones-Drew
The Jets struggled on offense last season, and while most of the blame fell on rookie quarterback Geno Smith and an underachieving group of receivers, the team also found it difficult to move the ball on the ground. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that while the team is looking to upgrade its receivers, it also could look at improving at running back (via Twitter). One option he writes that the Jets are seriously considering is former Jaguar Maurice Jones-Drew.
Jones-Drew has struggled with injuries the past two seasons, but also dealt with offenses that were among the league’s worst. He is only a few year removed from toting the football all the way to the rushing title, amassing over 1,600 yards in 2011.
The 28-year-old workhorse does have over 1,800 carries under his belt, and has taken a beating in his NFL career. Jones-Drew is a reliable receiver out of the backfield, and can make an impact on third down both catching the football and protecting the quarterback. As veteran running backs such as Darren McFadden and Toby Gerhart have been signing cheap deals so far this offseason, albeit much less accomplished NFL players, Jones-Drew could make a difference sharing the tailback duties for the Jets with Chris Ivory.
Contract Tenders: Tuesday
Cam Johnson has signed his tender that should keep him with the Colts in 2014, according to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter). The linebacker was traded to the Colts from the 49ers last year.
Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reports that Buccaneers returner Eric Page has also signed his tender, but awaits for the deal to be made official (via Twitter).
While Johnson and Page signed their respective one-year deals, here are some other players from around the NFL who were not tendered and are now free agents:
- The Texans will allow three players to test free agency, as none of Bryan Braman, Terrell McClain, and Lestar Jean received tenders from the team, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
- Dezmon Briscoe did not receive a tender from the Redskins, reports Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (via Twitter). The 24-year-old receiver did not play in a game for the Redskins last season, but caught 35 passes for the Buccaneers in 2011.
- The Bills chose not to tender Thomas Welch, reports Mike Rodak of ESPN NFL Nation (via Twitter). The offensive tackle is now an unrestricted free agent.
- The Lions did not tender tight end Dorin Dickerson, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
- Safety M.D. Jennings was not tendered by the Packers, reports Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Twitter). Silverstein does leave open the possibility of the team still re-signing their starting free safety.
Falcons Release Tony Gonzalez
The Falcons have officially released future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The move is a technicality, because Gonzalez has already announced that he is retiring and will not return to the team in 2014. Gonzalez must not have turned in his retirement paperwork, and releasing him will free up $7MM, as his upcoming salary would have still counted against the cap until he retired.
P. Schrager of Fox Sports agrees that the only reason this move was necessary must have been due to Gonzalez not officially submitting the paperwork, but notes that the team would have had to pay him a $3MM roster bonus if he was still on the roster in a few days (via Twitter).
Vikings Re-Sign Joe Berger
The Vikings have re-signed Joe Berger, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). Berger was a backup lineman for the Vikings in 2013, and looks to rejoin the team in a similar role this upcoming season. The contract is reportedly a one-year deal, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter).