Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Titans have claimed linebacker Amarlo Herrera off waivers from the AFC South rival Colts, as Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com tweets. Herrera, an ex-Georgia Bulldog whom the Colts chose in the sixth round of last year’s draft, spent most of the season on Indianapolis’ practice squad. The 244-pounder appeared in three of the Colts’ games, though he failed to record any statistics. Herrera’s presence gives the Titans 89 players on their 90-man roster.
Bills Sign Tyrod Taylor To Extension
4:29pm: Taylor’s deal includes a $15.5MM bonus due next March, tweets Breer, who adds that it features base salaries of $12MM in 2017 and $13MM in 2018. That would give Taylor $50MM over the first three years of the contract and a chance for $42MM more during the latter three.
Tom Pelissero of USA Today offers more details (Twitter link), reporting that Taylor’s $27.5MM for 2017 is guaranteed for injury at signing. Further, Taylor’s $13MM salary for 2018 will become fully guaranteed that March. There are no guarantees beyond 2018 in the pact.
3:11pm: Taylor will make $9.5MM in 2016, then the Bills have a team option, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. If they pick it up, he gets $27.5MM in 2017 and the extension begins.
2:13pm: In a since deleted tweet, Taylor’s agent wrote that the deal is a five-year extension with a $92MM base that could reach up to $115MM though incentives (relayed by Albert Breer of The MMQB on Twitter).
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears the Bills have a $10MM buyout option after the first year and another out after the second year.
1:33pm: Taylor’s 2016 season is fully guaranteed, but after that there is a lot of “prove-it” in the deal, Rapoport tweets.
1:00pm: The deal can be $90MM if Taylor is retained for the full six years, according to Tim Graham of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). Theoretically, incentives could also push total compensation higher than $90MM. The deal, if fully maxed out, could be worth more than $100MM, per Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post (on Twitter).
12:51pm: Taylor’s Bills deal gives him $15MM/year,, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets. It’s a six-year deal which gives the Bills cap relief, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) adds. However, the deal will have some flexibility for Buffalo after two years.
The early word on this deal indicates that the two sides have landed somewhere in between their earlier “bridge deal” talks and a desire to remain together in the long term.
12:29pm: The Bills announced that they have signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a multi-year extension. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed. 
Starting for the first time in his career, Taylor proved himself to be a dynamic playmaker last year, throwing for 3,035 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games, completing 63.7% of his passes and tossing just six interceptions. He also provided plenty of value with his legs, rushing for 568 yards and four TDs. Taylor is just the third quarterback in NFL history to finish a season with a passer rating over 99 and over 40 yards rushing per game.
At one point, the Bills and Taylor were reportedly discussing a two-year “bridge” deal that would have afforded the Bills some protection if Taylor faltered. However, the negotiations changed course in recent days with the team suddenly willing to make more of a commitment to their QB.
The Bills have watched Taylor go from intriguing backup to bonafide starter in no time. In a press release, Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman credited Taylor for busting his behind in order to elevate himself to the next level.
“In order to take those steps it has to come from the player,” said Roman. “The player has to embrace the challenge of self-examination, self-awareness. He has done that A-plus, plus. I couldn’t be happier with his commitment to that process. He’s improving in every aspect of his game. I’m very happy with how he approaches his job.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Saints Likely To Sign Cortland Finnegan
Cornerback Cortland Finnegan is visiting the Saints, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. Barring anything unforeseen, he’s expected to sign today. 
[RELATED: Saints Release Hakeem Nicks]
Finnegan, 32, announced his retirement in March of 2015, but his hiatus from football did not last long. In November, the veteran signed on with the Panthers and wound up playing in five regular season games and three playoff games.
In 2013 with the Rams, Finnegan was one of the league’s worst cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. PFF ranked Finnegan 109th out of 110 qualified corners, with a grade of -19.7 in just seven games. He was a little better for the Dolphins in 2014, but still placed just 74th out of 108 corners, with a -4.4 grade in 2014.
The Saints are slated to start Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams at cornerback, as shown on Roster Resource, with Brian Dixon, Damian Swann, and Keenan Lewis in support. Finnegan could shake things up at CB and also impact Brandon Dixon and Tony Carter who are fighting to make the team.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Relationship Damaged Between Bosa, Bolts?
As the Chargers and Joey Bosa continue to slug it out, it appears that things are getting exceedingly ugly between the two sides. Now, Bosa feels that irreparable damage has been done to his relationship with the team, a source close to the player tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). 
The Chargers have not called Bosa’s camp back in nearly two weeks after his reps gave the team a proposal and Bosa feels personally disrespected by that. Furthermore, Bosa feels that public statements made by teammates such as Antonio Gates are part of a calculated effort to get the Ohio State product to report. Bosa finds those types of characterizations from some of his teammates to be “unfair” and not representative of the relationship he hopes to ultimately have with them.
When the two sides were at a stalemate in July, many assumed that the two sides would ultimately get a deal done after some wrangling. At this stage, it’s fair to wonder if Bosa’s contract impasse could drag into the regular season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Andrew Quarless Suspended For 2 Games
Free agent tight end Andrew Quarless has been suspended for two games for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Quarless, 28 in October, spent most of the 2015 season on the Packers’ injured reserve, though he was originally placed on IR with the designation to return. An MCL injury sidelined Quarless for about two and a half months, beginning in late September, limiting him to five games and just four receptions for 31 yards for the season.
The tight end underwent a procedure in early 2016 to drain fluid from his knee and the team subsequently shut him down for the year. While Quarless was on the shelf for most of the season, second-year tight end Richard Rodgers enjoyed a breakout campaign, hauling in 58 balls and racking up eight touchdowns.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cowboys Not Interested In Johnny Manziel
No surprise here, but the Cowboys are not interested in signing Johnny Manziel at this time, team executive vice president Stephen Jones said in a radio interview on Friday. 
[RELATED: Latest On Greg Hardy]
“No, there’s no chance,” Jones told CBS’ Tiki and Tierney (via Twitter links). “Obviously Johnny needs to get his hands around his life…He needs to do things that make him a good person off field before he can ever have chance of being successful in our league. I’m sure he’ll get another chance. But, at the moment, it certainly won’t be in Dallas.”
This offseason, the Cowboys watched Demarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, and Rolando McClain all get slapped with suspensions. Last year, the team dealt with the walking headache that is Greg Hardy, an experience that owner Jerry Jones did not enjoy. The Cowboys will surely continue to gamble on players when they feel it is a worthwhile risk, but nothing about Manziel screams “worthwhile” at this time.
With his recent history of off-the-field transgressions and possible substance abuse issues, football is probably the furthest thing from the minds of Manziel and those around him. Manziel gave up on playing football in 2016 and has shifted his attention to getting his life together with the hope of playing in 2017. Some reports had Manziel’s friends questioning whether he ever wanted to play football again, but the QB shot that notion down in a recent statement.
“I’m actually doing well. I have good friends around me supporting what I do and I try to support them in what they want to do,” the statement read. “I’m not saying I’m never drinking again, but for now just mostly being healthy. I’ve got a killer gym in my house and I can spend time working out. I’m interested in doing a lot of different things in my life — including football — but, right now, I’m just exploring options and waiting to see what the future holds.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pigskin Links: Titans, Dobson, Cruz
Here at Pro Football Rumors, we deliver up-to-the-minute news on NFL transactions and high-quality original analysis. Each week, we also feature some of the best blog articles from around the web in our regular feature, Pigskin Links.
We’re looking for interesting reads on all things football from blogs of all sizes. While PFR is dedicated to player movement, Pigskin Links is open to pieces on all areas of the game. If you would like to suggest your blog post (or someone else’s) for Pigskin Links, send us an email with the link and a brief synopsis at PigskinLinks@gmail.com.
Here’s this week’s look around the football blogosphere:
- Titans247 has some early takeaways from Tennessee’s camp.
- Brew City Sports Report predicted the NFC North in 2016.
- From The Rafters says Aaron Dobson‘s Patriots days should be numbered.
- The Inscriber says the Giants should move on from Victor Cruz.
- NFL Draft Report has identified a promising left tackle prospect.
- Fantasy Pros predicted the top ten RBs in FF.
- Total Sports Live evaluated Carson Wentz’s preseason debut.
- Nuts & Bolts wants to see these five WRs prove themselves.
- NFL Spin Zone pitted Jordy Nelson against Randall Cobb.
Got a great football blog post that you want to see featured in next week’s Pigskin Links? Email it to Zach or tweet it to him: @ZachLinks.
Bills, Taylor Discussing Longer Extension?
It appears that the Bills and Tyrod Taylor are no longer discussing a two-year “bridge” deal. Instead, Buffalo is looking to keep their quarterback for the long haul. The deal being worked on between the two sides could be as long as six years, according to Tim Graham of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). He adds that the Bills are “all-in” on their young signal caller and refers to the proposal as the “upcoming” Taylor deal, which implies that an agreement could be right on the horizon. 
[RELATED: Bills’ Shaq Lawson To Return In October]
Earlier this month it was reported that the Bills were talking about an extension that would tack on $35MM to Taylor’s contract, keeping him in place through the 2018 season. With a shorter resume than most standout quarterbacks, the Bills ostensibly wanted to see Taylor prove himself some more before giving him a long-term pact with significant guaranteed cash. For one reason or another, it seems that the Bills have had a change of heart and they are presumably offering enough money to make Taylor consider signing.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder emerged as a high-end dual threat during his 14 starts, finishing top seven among QBs in yards per attempt (7.99) and passer rating (99.4) in 2015. He also completed 63.7 of his throws and accounted for 24 touchdowns (20 passing, four rushing) against a paltry six interceptions. Further, Taylor led all QBs in yards per carry (5.5) and trailed only MVP Cam Newton in rushing yards (568).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Impact Rookies: Green Bay Packers
The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?
To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.
First Round – Kenny Clark, DL (UCLA, No. 27 overall)
Sometimes, even big men fly under the radar, as seems to be the case with this Bruins standout. Named his team’s MVP, he was a dominating force in the middle of the line, taking over starting duties as a sophomore. Well-respected by the staff and teammates, the co-captain preferred to not be in the limelight. However, NFL scouts saw him as a bright light on a dark night. 
In three seasons, Clark delivered 153 tackles with six sacks and 18.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. In his two seasons as a starter, he delivered 117 of those tackles in run force, posted a total of 28 hits for losses (assists and solos) while bringing down twelve other ball carriers for no gain. Twenty-four of those stops came inside the red zone, including seven on goal-line stands.
Clark has really come on strong in recognizing blocking schemes and it was rare to see him bite on misdirection or play action during his junior season. He has no problems taking plays from the chalkboard to the playing field, needing minimal reps to retain. He plays with very good awareness, taking advantage of his impressive arm length to keep blockers off his feet and legs. The UCLA product demonstrated that he picks up schemes quickly and he does well staying with the flow of the play to close on the ball.
Clark has a very explosive initial step with quick feet, good athleticism and balance for his size, along with the body control and low pad level to come off the snap and get an immediate advantage versus a lethargic offensive lineman. He flashes a strong, consistent hand punch, enough to consistently put the blocker up on his heels, driving with good leverage walking that lineman back into the pocket. He has that initial burst needed on movement and the suddenness to gain advantage when engaging double teams. He has good initial quickness coming off the snap and for a player of his size, that burst can surprise an offensive lineman.
Clark appears poised to show that he should have gone earlier than No. 27 in this year’s draft. Word out of Green Bay is that Clark will start at nose tackle in the base 3-4 and his skill set plus versatility will ensure that he sees plenty of time on the field as an NFL frosh.
Continue reading about the Packers’ rookies..
Latest On Greg Hardy
It’s mid-August and one of the league’s most talented defensive ends remains without an NFL team. To date, no club has been willing to take on the baggage that comes with signing Greg Hardy and few have even been willing to give the idea real consideration. Despite that, agent Drew Rosenhaus claims that there is a healthy market for his client that will result in a deal before long. 
[RELATED: Jerry Jones Reflects On Greg Hardy’s Time With Cowboys]
“There is some substantial team interest in Greg,” Rosenhaus, Hardy’s agent, told Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. “I do believe he will be signed in the near future by either a team that suffers an injury on the defensive line or a club that realizes it simply needs more talent on the defensive front.”
This summer, the Redskins and the Jaguars thought about signing Hardy but both teams 86’d the idea pretty quickly. The Redskins internally discussed Hardy (and likely leaked the news to gauge public reaction) but decided against adding the former Pro Bowler in the wake of linebacker Junior Galette‘s season-ending injury. The Jaguars, meanwhile, appear to be the only team to have actually auditioned Hardy, but they have ruled him out for the time being. Graziano hears that the Jaguars only worked out Hardy to see how he sounded in person and looked on the field in case they were to suffer an injury.
Teams know that signing Hardy will bring on a PR firestorm, but they are more wary of how the troubled defensive end could potentially poison the locker room.
“It’s not what happened in his past,” said one official whose team is not interested in Hardy. “It’s the way he reacted last year to everything that happened in his past that would concern me. If he’d been a model citizen and played at a high level, he’d still be in Dallas.”
For now, the former Panthers star is working out in Florida with NFL combine trainer Pete Bommarito while he waits for a call from a team in need.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.