Sunday Roundup: Panthers, Thomas, Levy
Let’s take a look at some notes from around the league on this Sunday afternoon:
- David Newton of ESPN.com passes along a couple of Panthers items. He believes an extension for Cam Newton will get done before the season begins, but both sides will wait until Russell Wilson signs his new deal before really moving forward. The ESPN scribe also expects an extension for Thomas Davis to happen at some point, but there is no real rush to get it done immediately.
- Although the Broncos have to seriously consider taking a quarterback with one of their ten draft picks, Mike Kiszla of The Denver Post does not see any of this year’s crops of signal-callers outside of Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota as a legitimate heir to Peyton Manning.
- Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes that Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians plans to give second-year quarterback Logan Thomas “a ton of work” this offseason. Most of Thomas’ reps will come with the second unit, but given that Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton are coming off injury, there should be opportunities with the first team as well.
- Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com believes the Bears will look to the draft for a wide receiver to complement Alshon Jeffery, and they will only turn to the free agent pool if they are unable to adequately address their needs with a rookie or two.
- Now that Ndamukong Suh is gone, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com believes DeAndre Levy might be the player to build around as the cornerstone of the Lions‘ defense.
- If Jimmy Smith were to hit the open market next offseason, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com believes he would be the best cornerback in the free agent class. But Hensley thinks the Ravens will either lock Smith up with a long-term extension or else put the franchise tag on him, as he is too valuable for the team to let go. Byron Maxwell‘s new six-year deal with the Eagles, which includes $25.5MM guaranteed and has an AAV of $10.5MM, would be a good benchmark for a Smith extension.
- David Moore of The Dallas Morning News says it is unlikely that Adrian Peterson will end up with the Cowboys, but given the unpredictability of owner Jerry Jones, it is too soon to dismiss the possibility altogether.
Brian Dixon Arrested
Saints cornerback Brian Dixon was arrested in Miami Beach early this morning for resisting arrest, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. As Florio writes, Dixon is charged only with resisting arrest, so it is unclear why he was being arrested in the first place. Dixon was pulled over while driving a moped.
The Northwest Missouri State product caught on with the Saints as an undrafted free agent last year, seeing action in all 16 games and recording 18 total tackles with one pass defensed and one forced fumble.
Dixon tweeted the following about an hour ago: “It hurts to know that I wasn’t causing no trouble and was fully cooperating.”
Bucs Notes: Carter, QBs, Clemmings
After their splashy acquisitions largely failed to live up to expectations in the past several seasons, the Buccaneers took a different approach to the offseason this year. Rather than swinging for the fences, as they did with players like Anthony Collins and Michael Johnson, Tampa Bay instead focused on solid players who might not have come with a big price tag, but who nonetheless have a familiarity with the Tampa 2 scheme and who can serve as capable building blocks for the team’s roster.
As Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune writes, new acquisitions Henry Melton, Chris Conte, Bruce Carter, and Sterling Moore all either played under head coach Lovie Smith in Chicago or are otherwise familiar with the Tampa 2 system. The Bucs hope that Carter in particular can become the driving force behind a rejuvenated defense, as he provides the coverage ability and play-making potential from the inside linebacker position that is often necessary for a Tampa 2 unit to thrive.
Let’s take a look at a few more notes from Tampa Bay:
- Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com offers a few predictions regarding the 2015 draft. He notes that the Bucs have done “an enormous amount of homework” on Jameis Winston, but they will not take Winston with the first overall pick unless they feel his off-field issues are completely behind him. Yasinskas says Marcus Mariota is still in play, and he would be a nice alternative if the club still has reservations about Winston.
- In the same piece, Yasinskas notes that Tampa Bay almost has to take an offensive lineman or defensive end with its second pick in the draft after it takes a signal-caller with its first overall choice. The needs at those positions are simply too great to ignore, Yasinskas believes. He thinks the Bucs will still sign a free agent offensive lineman and add another in the early rounds of the draft.
- Gil Brandt of NFL.com tweets that Mariota will work out for the Bucs next Tuesday, April 7, one week after Winston’s pro day.
- As Yasinskas pointed out, the Bucs may not draft Winston if they are not convinced his non-football problems are a thing of the past. But Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times writes that Smith is a big believer in giving second chances to players who have had off-field problems, and he would therefore not shy away from Winston. In the past year, the Bucs have strongly considered acquiring Richie Incognito, Greg Hardy, and Adrian Peterson, and when Smith was head coach of the Bears, he drafted Cedric Benson with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft and stood by Tank Johnson following Johnson’s legal troubles in 2006.
- Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com tweets that the Bucs are one of the teams with whom Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings has had a private workout.
Erin Henderson To Visit Jets
Free-agent linebacker Erin Henderson will visit the Jets, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). The 28-year-old Maryland product looked as if he was prepared to establish himself as one of the better linebackers in the league in 2013, when he posted 112 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions for the Vikings in just 14 games. He also graded out as the 19th-best inside linebacker out of 55 qualifiers in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Henderson struggled in pass coverage but was evaluated as an above-average performer in ever other facet of the game, turning in a particularly strong showing against the run.
However, as our Luke Adams wrote last week, Henderson has been arrested multiple times for DUI-related incidents, and he did not play at all in 2014 after his latest bout of legal issues. But his upside is still intriguing, and he has garnered recent interest from the 49ers and worked out for the Chiefs back in January.
He had a private workout in Arizona last weekend separate from the inaugural veterans combine, and representatives from a number of teams attended those workouts. It seems, then, that Henderson will get another chance to prove himself in the league, the only question is which club will be willing to take that chance. The Jets can now be counted as a potential destination.
East Notes: Ridley, Jets, Garcon
The Patriots under Bill Belichick have frequently utilized a merry-go-round of sorts at the running back position, leading to matchup confusion for opposing defenses and perennial consternation for fantasy owners. But out of all the backs to come and go over the years, Stevan Ridley is one of the more intriguing talents. Ridley had a breakout campaign in 2012, compiling 1,263 yards on 290 attempts (4.4 YPC) and crossing the goal line 12 times. He received fewer opportunities in 2013 but still played well, but in 2014 his season was cut short by a torn ACL and MCL that he sustained in early October.
The 26-year-old free agent therefore enters the free agent market as something of an unknown commodity, albeit one with a great deal of upside. As Christopher Price of WEEI.com writes, Ridley will likely have to accept a one-year deal to reestablish his value, but he could represent a steal for a team looking to plug a hole in its backfield. As we learned several days ago, Ridley is not likely to return to New England, and the Vikings and Cowboys have been rumored as potential fits. He is expected to make his first free agent visits this week, and he could simply be waiting for the Adrian Peterson situation to be resolved before choosing his next home.
Let’s have a look at a few more notes from the league’s east divisions:
- Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com passes along news on Patriots linemen on both sides of the ball. Although he does not hear that there is any long-term concern about Chandler Jones‘ health, the fact that Jones is still walking with the aid of crutches and is on more of a rehab track than a regular offseason workout track is worthy of note. Reiss also says that free agent guard Dan Connolly has not received a ton of interest from other clubs, so he and the Patriots–who were willing to let Connolly establish his value on the open market–are in a holding pattern. Without Connolly, though, New England’s guard depth looks fairly thin.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com believes new Jets head coach Todd Bowles is sending mixed messages with his statements regarding the team’s quarterback situation. While Bowles has said that it’s hard to get a feel for Geno Smith, he added that Smith will get the majority of first-team reps when training camp opens. Cimini believes it should be an open competition between Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
- Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com takes a look at whether there are players other than Marcus Mariota who would make Washington‘s No. 5 overall pick a hot commodity. Tandler believes Kevin White or one of the draft’s premier edge rushers could garner some interest from other teams looking to trade up.
- On the topic of young wideouts, Tandler believes that if Washington selects Kevin White or Amari Cooper with their No. 5 pick, the team could look to deal Pierre Garcon to a receiver-needy club either during the draft or in training camp.
Steelers Re-Sign James Harrison
3:28pm: Harrison’s two-year deal is worth $2.75MM, and includes a $500K signing bonus, tweets Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
12:45pm: The team has officially announced the deal (via Twitter). Kaboly says the fact that it is a two-year contract does not mean much (Twitter link). He notes that there is surely no guaranteed money beyond the first year of the deal, so the team could easily move on next season with no salary cap repercussions.
11:32am: James Harrison has decided to return to the Steelers, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, who reports that the two sides have agreed to terms. We learned yesterday that the five-time Pro Bowler and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year was deciding between the Steelers and Titans, and he has apparently chosen to remain in Pittsburgh. Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets that it is a two-year deal.
Harrison played the 2013 season in Cincinnati, but after an underwhelming stint with the Bengals, Harrison decided to call it a career. His retirement lasted for all of 18 days before his old teammates convinced him to rejoin their ranks. The 36-year-old, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent and even spent time on Baltimore’s roster in the early stages of his career, collected 5.5 sacks in 11 games for the Steelers last season.
Harrison has piled up a total of 71.5 sacks during his illustrious career, including a career-high 16 in that terrific 2008 campaign, which culminated in the Steelers’ sixth Super Bowl championship. He has also earned a reputation for being one of the dirtier players in the league, thanks to the number of illegal hits he has delivered over the course of his career. Harrison is no longer the feared pass rusher he once was, but he can still be useful in a limited role in clear passing downs. He will provide depth to a unit that has struggled to get to the quarterback in recent seasons.
Sunday Roundup: Big Ben, Bradford, Borland
As most of the sports world is fixated on the third round of the NCAA tournament, let’s take a look at a few notes from around the NFL:
- Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Ben Roethlisberger‘s new contract will not prevent the Steelers from making necessary signings over the life of the deal.
- Bears head coach John Fox is enthusiastic about the team’s recent signings, but he admits that his club has a lot of needs to address. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes, Fox prefers to be more active in the second wave of free agency rather than the first wave, when teams frequently overpay for a splash acquisition. Biggs expects the team to add at least one wide receiver, but that addition could come via the draft rather than the dwindling free agent market.
- Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com looks at where the Lions stand vis-a-vis their own free agents two weeks into the free agency period.
- Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com believes Sam Bradford will be the Eagles‘ quarterback in 2015, and possibly beyond.
- The Dolphins lead the league in dead money, according to James Walker of ESPN.com. The team has $23.7MM of this year’s cap allocated to players who will not help them this season.
- Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com looks at a few of the names the Chargers could target in the draft as they look to bolster their pass rush.
- The NFL is hosting the inaugural Veteran Combine today, which is “designated to showcase players who have already left college and many who have already played in the NFL to teams in an effort to be signed as free agents.” Although a number of prominent front office executives, like Steelers GM Kevin Colbert, are skeptical of the Combine’s value, all 32 teams are nonetheless doing their due diligence at the event. Kevin Bowen of Colts.com writes that the Combine has the Colts‘ interest, and Conor Orr of NFL.com tweets that Rick Spielman, Reggie McKenzie, and John Dorsey are among the top executives on hand.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com looks at the true value of all of the contracts signed in the second week of free agency.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Michael Crabtree
Two weeks ago, we compiled our top 50 free agent list. Since that time, almost all of the players on that list have either signed with a new club, re-signed with their original team, or retired. The most intriguing name remaining is Michael Crabtree, who checked in at No. 29 and who is still looking for a new home.
Last July, our Luke Adams examined Crabtree as an extension candidate. In that piece, Adams described Crabtree’s breakout 2012 campaign, in which he established career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,105), and touchdowns (9). Crabtree was just as dynamic in the postseason that year, compiling 285 yards and three touchdowns through the air and helping San Francisco reach the Super Bowl, where he nearly hauled in a game-winning touchdown on the team’s final drive.
But it has all been downhill from there for Crabtree. In the spring of 2013, the former Texas Tech star–who famously held out until October of his rookie season, thereby becoming the longest rookie holdout in 49ers history–underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, and he did not get back on the field until December. He ultimately played just five games in the 2013 season, catching 19 balls for 284 yards and a score.
2014 was a season that most 49ers fans and players would sooner forget, and Crabtree is no exception. He managed to stay on the field for all 16 games, but he caught just 68 passes for 698 yards and four touchdowns. Those are not especially poor numbers, especially in an offense that largely struggled, but they are not the sort of statistics befitting someone of Crabtree’s talents.
As a result, Crabtree, like a number of his fellow veteran wide receivers, has had difficulty generating much interest on the open market this offseason. He visited the Dolphins several days ago, and the Chargers and Washington have also been rumored as potential landing spots. The Dolphins, who recently traded Mike Wallace and who released Brian Hartline earlier this year, would appear to be a strong fit. At this point, though, it does not appear that anything is imminent.
Age, at least, is on Crabtree’s side. He just turned 27 in December, and he has proven that he can be a capable downfield threat when healthy. But it could be that teams simply do not believe Crabtree can ever be healthy enough to replicate his 2012 form. Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com opined (via Twitter) this morning that Crabtree is a descending wideout since the Achilles injury. Although that may be something of a harsh assessment, it is not a stretch to say that Crabtree was just as much a cause of the 49ers’ anemic offense last year as he was a victim of it.
As a result, he may have to settle for a one-year deal to prove himself. A team with an established quarterback and another quality receiving option or two may provide the ideal platform for Crabtree to showcase his talents, but at this point, it is uncertain whether a suitor like that is out there. So Crabtree, like Hakeem Nicks, will continue to hope for an opportunity to show that he has put his injury history behind him and can be the dynamic player of a few seasons ago.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Latest On Kroenke’s Inglewood Proposal
The March NFL owners meetings begin tomorrow in Phoenix, and as Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times writes, Rams owner Stan Kroenke is bringing finished schematic plans for his proposed Inglewood stadium with him. Kroenke’s proposal would put a futuristic, highly-interactive and highly-integrated stadium in Los Angeles, which has not hosted an NFL franchise in 21 years.
Of course, the assumption is that Kroenke, if he were able to build his $1.86 billion palace, would bring the Rams to LA. But there are complications. For one, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes, there are some in the league who want to “make returning football to Los Angeles a California solution — involving the Chargers and/or Raiders. Not the Rams.” The Chargers and Raiders joined forces last month and announced their plan to share a stadium in Carson.
Meanwhile, there has been progress in the efforts to build a new stadium on the riverfront in St. Louis, but as Thomas notes, the land acquisition and financing necessary for those plans to come to fruition are yet to be done. Kroenke, on the other hand, has already purchased the land in Inglewood, and while he is not quite ready to put a shovel in the ground, Farmer writes that the major pieces of the project are now fully drawn. It would take less than three years to build the stadium, and any team that relocates to Los Angeles could play in the Coliseum or Rose Bowl in the meantime.
One of the more interesting aspects about Kroenke’s proposal is that it is “two-team compliant.” Although Kroenke has enough money to fund the project on his own and does not need to partner with another franchise, the NFL believes Los Angeles is a two-team market and would like any stadium built in the area to be capable of hosting two clubs. Kroenke undoubtedly does not wish to share the wealth generated by a project for which he is assuming the risk by himself, but it is nonetheless an interesting twist in an already fascinating saga.
The league has said that no team would be allowed to relocate before the 2016 season, and it is unlikely that any vote to move a franchise–such a move would require support from three-quarters of the league’s 32 owners–would take place before the fall. But this week, what we have known for months will become even more clear: Los Angeles is primed to get an NFL team for the first time in over two decades, and while San Diego, Oakland, and St. Louis have all made progress in their efforts to keep the Rams out of Hollywood, Kroenke continues to lead the race.
East Notes: Hardy, Washington, Pats
The Cowboys‘ signing of Greg Hardy understandably raised a few eyebrows in this era of heightened scrutiny of players with histories of domestic violence. Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings called the signing a “shot to the gut,” and Dan Lebowitz, executive director of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University, wonders if the decision to allow someone like Hardy a path to redemption is compassionate or irresponsible.
Nonetheless, as Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News writes, even the most ardent critics of the Hardy decision realize that if the Cowboys did not believe Hardy could contribute on the field, he would not be there. Josh Brent and Joseph Randle would not be there. The Cowboys, who also signed Michael Sam to their practice squad last season, are not trying to be a vehicle for social dialogue, they are simply trying to build a better football team. And since Dallas is well-acquainted with the type of controversy that Hardy brings, their latest high-profile acquisition has a good chance to do just that.
Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:
- Washington‘s free agent acquisitions this offseason were generally greeted with more enthusiasm than last year’s class, and John Keim of ESPN.com looks at how the major signings of 2014 panned out and what to expect from them moving forward.
- Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com believes Washington, just like last year, will bring in a kicker to compete with incumbent Kai Forbath. But despite Forbath’s relative lack of leg strength, which manifests itself in opposing teams’ starting field position, Tandler does not see anyone unseating Forbath at this point.
- Given the departure of Vince Wilfork, the fact that Chris Jones and Sealver Siliga both underwent offseason surgery, and Dominique Easley‘s appearance on the injured reserve list in December, Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com expects the Patriots to further solidify their defensive tackle corps this offseason.
- Echoing sentiments that have been widely shared across the league, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News writes that this offseason has narrowed the gap between the perennial class of the AFC East, the Patriots, and the rest of the division.