Anthony Spencer Rumors: Sunday
We learned earlier that free agent defensive end Anthony Spencer was set to visit the Rams today. However, that report turned out to be incorrect, as Spencer is in fact scheduled to visit the Giants today, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). New York has already signed Quintin Demps and Walter Thurmond over the course of the past 12 hours, and they are apparently now interested in bolstering their pass rush after the departure of Justin Tuck.
Although Rapoport suggests Spencer would be an “intriguing fit” for the Giants, others seem less convinced. ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweets that Spencer is a “poor fit” in the Giants’ 4-3 defense, and he cites Spencer’s age and recent microfracture surgery to conclude that New York should only sign Spencer if the cost is very low. Jordan Raanan of NJ.com also tweets that it may take time for Spencer to fully recover from his surgery.
NFC East Rumors: Kelly, Spencer, Giants, Britt
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer offers an explanation as to why the Eagles, traditional big-spenders in free agency, have not splurged on outside players this offseason, despite having $24MM in salary cap space. And it’s not just because the team has been burned in the past by ill-advised, big-money deals; it’s also about scheme. Rather than pursue the premier free agents on the market, the Eagles instead “targeted specific players they thought fit their scheme, could provide in-roster competition, and were versatile enough to help on special teams.”
Furthermore, as Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com writes, head coach Chip Kelly believes the team has spent heavily this offseason, but the Eagles spent the money to retain their own players and view free agents from outside teams as complements to the core of their roster. The strategy that Kelly and general manager Howie Roseman have followed adheres to the blueprint Roseman laid out last month, and it suggests the Eagles have turned a corner in the franchise’s approach to free agency.
Here are some more notes from the NFC East:
- We learned earlier today that Henry Melton will still visit with the Cowboys as planned, but Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News reports that “talks have heated up” with several teams. In a separate post, George writes defensive end Anthony Spencer will be visiting the Rams on Sunday. The Cowboys remain interested in bringing Spencer back if the price is right.
- Steve Serby of the New York Post believes the Giants are losing the offseason battle to their divisional rivals, but that was before the team landed Quintin Demps and signed Walter Thurmond.
- The Redskins may be throwing their hat into the Kenny Britt ring, with Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeting that the team is working on scheduling a visit with the receiver.
Henry Melton Rumors: Sunday
Henry Melton will visit with the Cowboys this week as scheduled, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Rapoport tweeted last night that Melton and the Seahawks were “deep in negotiations” and he wondered if Melton would make it out of Seattle without a deal in place.
As it turns out, Melton remains unsigned, and the Cowboys will bring in the big tackle with the hopes that he can anchor the middle of their defensive line. Joel Corry of the National Football Post tweets that Melton would be a good fit in Dallas as he is comfortable with the Cowboys’ defensive scheme, and Rapoport adds that Dallas’ defensive coaches want him (Twitter link).
If the Cowboys do land Melton, he would help replace Jason Hatcher, who enjoyed a career year in Dallas in 2013 before signing with the Redskins several days ago.
Anquan Boldin, 49ers Nearing Deal
MARCH 3: ESPN’s Ed Werder expects the 49ers to announce a new contract for Boldin within the next 24 hours (Twitter link).
FEBRUARY 26: Assuming the 49ers and Boldin come to terms on a new agreement, expect the money to be similar to the three, $17.5MM deal Reggie Wayne signed in 2012, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. According to Barrows, the question is whether Boldin will get two or three years.
Boldin is coming off a 2013 season in which he earned a base salary of $6MM, so it sounds like his new salary will be in the same ballpark. If his next contract is indeed structured similarly to Wayne’s, it could include a decent bonus as well — $6.5MM of Wayne’s $17.5MM total came in the form of a signing bonus.
FEBRUARY 23: Wide receiver Anquan Boldin and the 49ers are “closing in” on a deal to keep Boldin in San Francisco, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Although Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote several days ago that the two sides had not yet begun negotiations, it has been clear for some time that Boldin wants to stay with the 49ers and that the Niners want him back. Now, according, to Schefter, a deal is expected to get done.
AFC North Notes: Smith, Haden, Dalton
Now that the Ravens have signed Dennis Pitta to a long-term deal, Baltimore’s next biggest priorities are left tackle Eugene Monroe and middle linebacker Daryl Smith. Monroe could still receive the franchise tag before tomorrow’s 4 p.m. deadline, but even if the Ravens do not tag him, they are expected to continue to work towards a multiyear contract extension with him. Meanwhile, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com is “quietly confident” that the team will re-sign Smith, especially since they just released Jameel McClain.
Hensley adds that the bump in the 2014 salary cap makes it a little more likely that the Ravens can re-sign Jacoby Jones, but they will still not want to pay him more than $1-2MM. The team sees Jones as a returner, but if other teams see him as both a returner and receiver, those teams could offer him something closer to the $4MM he made last season. For a team that has a number of holes to fill–and Hensley added that GM Ozzie Newsome would not be afraid to sign some unrestricted free agents this season–Jones might be too much of a luxury item.
More notes from the AFC North:
- Several weeks ago, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that, despite the posturing of GM Kevin Colbert, the Steelers would not be able to bring back both LaMarr Woodley and Jason Worilds and that Woodley would be released. Although he does not deviate from that stance in his latest piece, he does add an interesting twist. He notes that, according to Pro Football Focus, Woodley graded out as a slightly better player overall in 2013 (when he played, of course) and as a significantly better pass rusher. Although Woodley’s significant cap hit and recent injury history probably means he is still the odd-man out in Pittsburgh, the PFF grades and the increased salary cap at least give reason for pause.
- Some of the Browns‘ top performers are eligible for free agency in 2015, and Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com believes that several of them will receive new contracts this season. He also hears that the team and Joe Haden are close to a new deal.
- Paul Dehner of Cincinnati.com looks at the Bengals‘ quarterback outlook for 2014. Although Andy Dalton is of course the unquestioned starter and the team is not likely to peruse the free agent market for QBs, Dalton’s rocky postseason performances and his entering the final year of his rookie contract make this a pivotal year for him and for his club. Dehner believes mid- to late-round QB prospects like Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger would be logical selections for the Bengals.
Bills Unlikely To Keep Jairus Byrd?
11:47am: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms (via Twitter) the portion of the earlier report that the Bills are unlikely to put the franchise tag on Byrd. He further tweets that the long-term deal that Byrd rejected would have made him the highest-paid safety in the league for a portion of the contract. However, Rapoport also tweeted that the Bills still want to re-sign their star safety, and that a deal could still be reached before free agency opens on March 11 (Twitter link). As Rapoport stated, “stay tuned.”
10:56am: Citing an unnamed source, Jeremy White of WGR 550 Sports Radio says the Bills are unlikely to retain free agent safety Jairus Byrd. White says it is unlikely the team will use the franchise tag on Byrd before tomorrow’s 4 p.m. deadline, and it is also unlikely the two sides will reach a long-term agreement before that time.
Of course, just because a player and a team do not reach a long-term deal before the deadline to use the franchise tag does not mean they cannot reach an agreement on a later date. However, Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 tweets that the Bills made a “substantial” effort to sign Byrd to a multiyear contract, and he also tweets that the team explored trades involving Byrd. The tone of those tweets and of White’s report suggests that Byrd will not, in fact, be back with the team. In a separate piece, Buscaglia confirmed this notion, saying that the two sides appear to be headed for a “parting of the ways.”
This news comes as quite a surprise, given that it was reported just over a week ago that the Bills planned to keep Byrd, and that if a long-term agreement could not be reached, the team would use the franchise tag on him. Earlier today, we read that the Bills have at least $25MM in space for 2014, which would make either option eminently feasible. The Eagles, Browns, and Falcons have all been named as potential landing spots for Byrd, who would be the best safety available in free agency.
AFC East Notes: Mallett, Byrd, Howard, Trades
Tom Brady is signed through the 2017 season, and the Patriots will be facing the same series of questions until that contract is up: should we draft his eventual replacement? Is the replacement already on the roster? Should we sign a veteran backup? Within the framework of those questions, Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald examines the status of current backup Ryan Mallett, who will be a free agent after the 2014 season.
There have been rumors that the Texans may be interested in Mallett, given his familiarity with the offense that Houston’s new head coach Bill O’Brien plans to install, and the Vikings might also have some interest. But despite Mallett’s potential and the fact that he has been mentored by Brady and Bill Belichick, his impending free agency might reduce the the return the Patriots could expect in a trade.
Further complicating the situation is the fact that, if New England were to take a QB in this year’s draft, that player’s rookie deal would expire at the same time as Brady’s. But with Mallett unlikely willing to wait until Brady plays out his contract before finally getting a shot, the Patriots probably have no choice but to trade him now or let him walk after this season. As such, the Pats will keep their eyes peeled for the next young quarterback to impress them the way Mallett did in 2011.
Some more notes from the AFC East:
- The Bills have nearly $25MM in cap space, and Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News examines how the team might utilize that flexibility. Most notably, Gaughan writes that Buffalo has enough space to retain Jairus Byrd, whether they bring him back on a long-term deal or put the franchise tag on him. GM Doug Whaley said the team will “go after” all of its own free agents, and Gaughan observes that the most significant of those free agents beyond Byrd are Scott Chandler and Dan Carpenter. The team could create even more cap space–about $3.1MM– with the expected release of backup quarterback Kevin Kolb. Right tackle Erik Pears is also in danger of being cut, and his release would save about $2.9MM.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com expects the Jets to re-sign tackle Austin Howard before free agency opens on March 11. He also notes that, with all their cap space–which will increase following the expected release of Santonio Holmes–the Jets will also attack the free agent market for quarterbacks and wide receivers. Cimini expects the team to pursue quarterbacks Michael Vick and Josh McCown and wideouts Golden Tate, Emmanuel Sanders, and Hakeem Nicks.
- James Walker of ESPN.com says it is “difficult to believe” that the Dolphins are seeking to trade Dion Jordan, Cameron Wake, and Mike Wallace, particularly since the team is in “win now” mode. We heard several days ago that Miami was shopping those players, rumors that the team quickly denied. Walker thinks the most “tradeable” of that group is Jordan, who had a difficult time finding a good fit on the Dolphins defense last year. However, Walker adds that Miami is not likely to give up on such a special talent after just one season.
Panthers Notes: Draft, Free Agency, Wharton
It’s been a busy week for the Panthers. They put the franchise tag on defensive end Greg Hardy, they saw longtime stalwart at offensive tackle Jordan Gross retire, and there are now reports that Steve Smith is distrustful of GM Dave Gettleman. Naturally, Panthers fans have a lot of questions, and David Newton of ESPN.com addresses some of the most pertinent ones in a recent mailbag:
- Newton clears up some confusion regarding the team’s cap space. Despite earlier reports that the team was $28MM under the cap prior to franchising Hardy, Newton notes that the number was actually closer to $24MM. However, even if the Panthers cannot work out a long-term deal with Hardy, his $12.5MM cap hit will still give them enough room to retain some of their own free agents–like safety Mike Mitchell–and to pursue mid- to low-level free agents from other clubs.
- Newton believes Carolina will target an offensive tackle either in free agency or the draft–or perhaps both–but if they pursue a free agent, it will not be a high-priced one. And if the Panthers do, in fact, sign a tackle in free agency, that would make it much more likely that they would address their other top offensive priority–wide receiver–with their first round pick (No. 28 overall).
- Nonetheless, Newton notes that if the Panthers have to choose between wideout and offensive tackle with their first pick, they will likely go with the tackle, as the class of wide receivers in this year’s draft is very deep.
- Finally, Newton does not believe Travelle Wharton will be back with the club in 2014. He observes that Wharton was brought in last season because of injuries to younger players who are expected to be healthy this season, and he adds that cap issues will also play a part in precluding his return.
Jets, Bucs, Bears Have Interest In McCown
March 2: McCown reiterated to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune that he would prefer to remain with Chicago “so long as an agreeable deal materializes.” Such a deal would of course include a raise over the $865K salary he received last season, but McCown is also seeking an opportunity to showcase his experience and leadership. McCown insisted, however, that he could accomplish those goals without being a starter. That could come as welcome news to teams like the Jets and Bucs, who are looking for a capable insurance plan and legitimate camp competition for their young QBs.
February 24: While McCown may be on the Jets’ wish list, the signal-caller will also draw strong interest from the Bears and Buccaneers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
February 23: The Jets are eyeing free agent QB Josh McCown, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. After his strong performance in relief of the injured Jay Cutler last year, McCown figures to have a number of suitors for his services when free agency opens March 11, and the Jets appear ready to throw their hat into the ring.
Although McCown has expressed his desire to stay in Chicago, and although the Bears have said they would do everything they could to fulfill that desire, teams in need of a backup QB or teams that have a questionable starter at the position could look at McCown as a solid veteran option. The Raiders, who have no clear long-term solution at quarterback, and the 49ers, who may have a need for a backup QB with Colt McCoy an impending free agent, have been named as potential landing spots.
The Jets, meanwhile, have high hopes for second-year QB Geno Smith but hope to have a more settled situation behind him in case he falters. Last year, David Garrard was never viewed as a realistic option when Smith struggled, and Matt Simms–who was the “official” backup–had even less experience than Smith. McCown would give the Jets a viable alternative if Smith consistently underperforms in 2014, and he at least would provide legitimate competition in camp.
AFC East Rumors: Jets, Wilfork, Dolphins
It’s been a fairly busy day at the Jets rumor mill. We learned earlier that the team is eyeing veteran QB Josh McCown, and they are also looking at RBs Ben Tate and Donald Brown, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York. More quick notes from the AFC East:
- Given defensive tackle Vince Wilfork‘s age, his recent Achilles tear, and the fact that his contract is up at the end of the 2014 season, Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald writes that the time is now for the Patriots to draft Wilfork’s replacement. Guregian notes that the Pats should target a big defensive tackle early in the draft, and although Florida State’s Timmy Jernigan and Notre Dame’s Louis Nix will likely be gone by the time New England picks with the No. 29 overall selection, there will be some quality options available. Such options include Minnesota’s Ra’Shede Hageman, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald, and Penn State’s DaQuan Jones.
- James Walker of ESPN.com notes that the Dolphins‘ bleak offseason could improve dramatically in the coming weeks. For the second consecutive year, the Dolphins will have a great deal of money to spend in free agency. With the salary cap expected to increase to $130MM, Miami could have up to $36MM in cap space, enough room to target their weaknesses on the O-line and in the secondary, and to re-sign some of their own free agents.
- Speaking of the Miami secondary, Walker does not see re-signing Chris Clemons as a priority. He notes that the Dolphins would like a more dynamic playmaker to pair with Reshad Jones.
- We rounded up some Buffalo Bills rumors here earlier today.