The Beat: Justin Rogers On The Lions
With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.
Now, we continue the series by discussing the Lions with Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. You can follow Justin on Twitter @Justin_Rogers and check out his stories here.
Zach Links: Marvin Jones was the best available wide receiver this year and the Lions pounced quickly to sign him. Do you think he’ll be targeted almost as much as Golden Tate this year? Will his five-year, $40MM contract be a good deal in the long run for the Lions?
It could be close, but I still expect Tate to be targeted at a higher rate, simply because he’s a bit more lethal on throws close to the line of scrimmage. That said, Matthew Stafford and Jones have developed chemistry rapidly, and the former Bengals wide receiver is truly a good fit in the Lions offense, offering a skill set that makes him a threat at all levels, including the deepest parts of the field.
A lot of people scoffed at $8MM per year for Jones, but it felt right at the time and seems like an even better value when you see the potential he has in the offense. Obviously time will tell, but I could see Jones catching 80 balls for close to 1,000 yards this year, and we all understand his potential in the red zone.
Zach Links: The Lions added some notable names at WR late in the offseason by signing Anquan Boldin and Andre Roberts. What does Boldin have left in the tank? Do you think that Roberts can get back to his old form? 
Justin Rogers: Based on the fact that he caught nearly 70 balls in San Fran last season, Boldin obviously isn’t running on fumes. He’s looked like a nice fit in the slot, giving the Lions’ nickel corners fits with the way he uses his thicker frame to box out the defender and create extra separation on routes across the middle.
The Lions have a lot of weapons, so they don’t need Boldin to be a focal point of the offense. Depending on the health of Eric Ebron, Boldin will be the fourth or fifth option in the passing game and catching 40-50 balls would be an upgrade from what the team has recently been working with at WR3.
Zach Links: Many expected the Lions to use their first-round pick on Taylor Decker and they did not disappoint when it was their turn at the podium in April. Do you expect Decker to shine right off of the bat or will he need some time to develop, as rookie left tackles often do?
Continue reading about the Lions..
Saints Release Hakeem Nicks
Hakeem Nicks‘ time with the Saints has already come to an end. On Monday morning, coach Sean Payton told reporters that Nicks has been released (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune). New Orleans signed Nicks less than two weeks ago.
[RELATED: Lance Moore Retires From Football]
Nicks, still only 28, spent the first five years of his career in New York with the Giants, enjoying the most productive stint of his career with the team. Posting consecutive seasons of 75+ receptions and 1,000+ receiving yards in 2010 and 2011, Nicks totaled 311 catches, 4,622 yards, and 27 TDs from 2009 to 2013. The Saints were the fourth NFL stop for the 28-year-old Nicks, who signed contracts with the Colts and Titans between his two Giants stints.
With the Colts in 2014, Nicks registered 38 receptions and four TDs. He was briefly a member of the Titans, but he did not crack their roster. All told, the 6-foot-1, 208-pounder has 92 appearances (67 starts), 356 grabs, 14.3 yards per catch, and 31 TDs on his stat sheet.
For New Orleans, the addition of Nicks came just one day after the team placed fellow wideout Vincent Brown on season-ending IR. Nicks was fighting for space in a crowded receiving corps that already includes Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, second-round pick Michael Thomas, Brandon Coleman, Reggie Bell, and Kyle Prater, as Roster Resource shows. Now, he’ll look for employment elsewhere.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Joey Bosa, Chargers
The Chargers and first-round pick Joey Bosa haven’t had any contact since July 28th, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Bosa stands as the only unsigned rookie in this year’s class and few expected his contract wrangling with the Bolts to go on for this long. 
As Schefter notes, Chargers greats Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Shawne Merriman also had prolonged contract negotiations with the team before ultimately signing their rookie deals. Of course, that was back when rookie contract holdouts were commonplace. Under the current CBA, rookie holdouts are much less frequent and even the trickiest ones seem to wrap up by the middle of the summer. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight for this stare-down between the Chargers and the Ohio State product.
Technically, the Chargers have until tomorrow to trade Bosa’s rights but one source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of PFT that it’s highly unlikely that any team retained enough rookie pool space to accommodate his contract.
Meanwhile, Bosa’s mother took to Facebook over the weekend with some interesting comments. “It bums me out for him so much,” she wrote. “Wish we pulled an Eli Manning on draft day.” Manning, of course, forced his way out of San Diego after being selected with the top pick in the 2004 draft.
It’s important to keep Bosa’s family in mind, Alex Marvez of The Sporting News tweets, since the defensive end comes from a wealthy household and doesn’t have any pressure to immediately collect on an NFL contract. In theory, Bosa could survive a year-long holdout in order to re-enter the draft pool next year. Of course, after a year away from football, it’s unlikely that he would go No. 3 or higher in the 2017 draft. Bosa will be ineligible to play this season if he doesn’t sign by the Tuesday after Week 10.
In order for Bosa to agree to offset language, agent Todd France reportedly wants the Chargers to pay the 21-year-old the entirety of his signing bonus (approximately $17MM) in 2016. San Diego, meanwhile, would rather wait until next March to dole out a “significant portion” of the bonus. At last check, the Chargers want to give Bosa roughly 61 percent of his signing bonus during this calendar year, which is the same payout schedule the Cowboys agreed to with fourth overall selection Ezekiel Elliott, who was Bosa’s teammate at Ohio State and went one pick after him.
Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.
Dolphins Waive/Injured CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
This offseason, there has been a bit of buzz in Miami around the addition of cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. The cornerback fell to the Browns in the seventh-round of the 2015 draft due to a torn ACL and a dislocated bone in his right knee. The Oregon product had not been on the field since the 2015 Rose Bowl, but the Dolphins believed that he could be an impact player and claimed him off waivers in April. 
[RELATED: Dolphins To Sign LB Danny Lansanah]
Unfortunately, the young athlete has suffered yet another setback and will not be suiting up for the Dolphins this season. The team waived/injured Ekpre-Olomu when he tore his other ACL in practice, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Dolphins weren’t the only team with high hopes for the 23-year-old. Before Ekpre-Olomu was claimed off waivers by Miami, the Saints, Bills, and Steelers all reportedly tried to claim him. Alas, he’ll have to wait until next season to give football another try. For the Dolphins, the news is unfortunate considering their lack of depth at cornerback.
To fill Ekpre-Olomu’s spot, the Dolphins have added fellow cornerback Al Louis-Jean.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lance Moore Retires From Football
Just days after signing with the Falcons, wide receiver Lance Moore has announced his retirement from the NFL, according to a press release from the team. 
Moore, who entered the league as a UDFA in 2005, played for three different teams during his ten year career, spending eight seasons with the Saints. During his time with the Saints, he recorded 346 receptions for 4,281 yards and 38 touchdowns. Moore tallied 389 career receptions for 4,816 yards and 44 touchdowns in his career.
Moore, who turns 33 later this month, auditioned for the Chargers recently before the team ultimately chose to sign James Jones instead. On Friday, the veteran reached agreement on a deal with the Falcons. Apparently, Moore had a change of heart over the weekend and opted to hang ’em up instead.
Moore was a favored target of Drew Brees‘ for years before he was released by the team in March 2014. In 2013, Moore’s receptions (37), receiving yards (457), and receiving touchdowns (two) were his worst totals since an injury-plagued 2009. Unfortunately, things didn’t pick up when he joined the Steelers. In 2014, he caught just 14 balls with Pittsburgh, matching his lowest total since his rookie year. Following that disappointing season, he asked for his release and then hooked on with the Lions. His performance was roughly the same there as he caught 29 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns.
We here at PFR wish Moore all the best in retirement.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Browns Name RGIII Starting QB
As expected, the Browns have named Robert Griffin III as their starting quarterback. RGIII, whose contract includes playing time bonuses, will start for Cleveland on Friday in the team’s preseason opener at Green Bay. 
“It’s time. Robert has earned the right to be named the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns,” coach Hue Jackson said in a press release. “Since he was signed back in March, Robert has made it clear through his actions that he is willing to do everything that has been asked of him to earn this role. Throughout this process he has gained the respect from his teammates, the coaching staff and the entire organization that is necessary for him to lead our offense and really the entire team. Pep (Hamilton) has done an outstanding job with that room to get us to this point so we can make this decision at what I feel is the optimal time which enables us to best prepare for the regular season. It’s now on Robert to show the organization and our fans that this is the right decision. Throughout the offseason program and training camp, Robert has shown improvement every day and we expect him to continue to ascend as he becomes more and more acclimated to the offensive system we will employ this season. I’ve been crystal clear on what we expect from Robert. He fully understands the responsibility and I feel he is ready to handle this role.”
With Griffin officially named as the team’s starter, the Browns can be expected to continue discussing trades involving backup Josh McCown. After the Cowboys struck out on free agent Nick Foles last week, they inquired on the veteran. The Browns reportedly want at least a third- or fourth-round pick for McCown and the Cowboys feel that the asking price is too steep.
Griffin is entering his fifth NFL season out of Baylor. Originally selected by Washington with the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, Griffin has appeared in 37 games with 35 starts. Griffin set NFL rookie records for passer rating (102.4), interception percentage (1.27) and rushing yards by a quarterback (815) en route to being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl selection. Starting 13 games in 2013, Griffin recorded a career-high 3,203 passing yards and became the fifth quarterback in NFL history to record 3,000 passing yards in each of his first two seasons. Unfortunately, things have petered out for Griffin since that point and he is hoping to get back to his old form with his new team.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Falcons Sign Dwight Freeney
SATURDAY, 2:42pm: Freeney’s Falcons base salary will be worth $1MM, Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 reports (on Twitter). His base was $970K last season with the Cardinals.
TUESDAY, 9:00pm: Freeney will earn $2MM “up front” and can score another $2MM via sack incentives, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Admittedly, that report is a little unclear, as it’s highly unlikely that Freeney has secured $2MM guaranteed.
TUESDAY, 3:21pm: The Falcons have agreed to sign Dwight Freeney, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The veteran defensive end chose the Falcons over the Bengals, Rapoport adds. 
Freeney, 36, worked out for the Falcons earlier this summer but the team decided to put him on the back burner as they evaluated other players already in-house. After tallying eight sacks in an abbreviated 2015 season, Freeney makes a lot of sense for Quinn & Co. and the team recently made him an offer to jump into their defensive end group. The Falcons are slated to start Vic Beasley and Derrick Shelby at defensive end with support from Adrian Clayborn, Tyson Jackson, and now Freeney.
Recently, former NFL head coach and current analyst Mike Nolan pushed the Falcons to sign Freeney to amp up their quarterback pressure. Last season, the Falcons finished with a league-worst 19 sacks. Now, Freeney is coming to Atlanta with an eye on adding to his 119.5 career sack tally.
The Falcons were also considering a reunion with O’Brien Schofield, but they might not need him after adding Freeney. Recently, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ran down the top ten teams most likely to sign Freeney and put the Falcons at the top of the list.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bills Sign Reggie Bush
SATURDAY, 9:45am: According to ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak (on Twitter), Bush’s one-year deal includes a $1MM base salary, a $375K signing bonus, and a $125K roster bonus. Overall, the veteran’s salary cap number will be worth $1.5MM.
MONDAY, 3:43pm: The Bills have officially signed running back Reggie Bush. The pact is a one-year deal laden with incentives, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal should be worth up to $3MM, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets.
[RELATED: Q&A With Bills Beat Writer Vic Carucci]
The Bills are in need of depth behind starter LeSean McCoy after Karlos Williams was hit with a four-game suspension for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. Fifth-round pick Jonathan Williams is also likely to be hit with a suspension after a DUI arrest. Bills coaches view Bush as an experienced vet with a similar running style to McCoy, which should allow him to hit the ground running in Buffalo.
Bush announced in February that he was intent on playing in 2016, though it was unclear at the time whether that feeling was being reciprocated back from any of the league’s 32 teams. Now, he has found his new NFL home.
Last year, Bush signed with the 49ers, but he played just five games before tearing his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. After finishing the year with a grand total of 28 yards, Bush says he has recovered from his injury and is ready for action.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Sign Leon Hall
SATURDAY, 9:35am: ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan tweets that Hall’s contract is actually worth $1.5MM, with up to $500K available in per-game bonuses. Furthermore, the veteran is only guaranteed $115K, allowing the Giants to easily get out of the contract.
THURSDAY, 8:43am: One of the biggest names left on the board in August has found an NFL home. Cornerback Leon Hall has signed with the Giants, the team confirmed via press release. Hall’s one-year deal can be worth up to $2MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
In New York, Hall will join a cornerback depth chart headlined by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and major free agent acquisition Janoris Jenkins. Hall will primarily offer support in the slot, allowing first-round pick Eli Apple to concentrate on playing boundary corner. Though, he’ll also be moved around a bit. The Giants believe Hall can play nickel, corner, and even safety in some packages and help offset the team’s inexperience in the secondary, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets.
Until today, Hall spent the entirety of his career with the Bengals, starting 105 games for the club since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2007. Even entering his age-31 season, Hall is still a capable contributor, though he’s mostly limited to the slot these days. Injuries have been a concern over the past few seasons, as Hall has suffered two torn Achilles since 2011, and underwent back surgery over the offseason.
Those health issues could be the reason Hall didn’t land a job until today, despite taking numerous visits with interested clubs. Hall met with or was linked to the Cardinals, Bengals, Falcons, Cowboys, and Dolphins at various points in the offseason. A reunion with the Bengals felt especially likely this week after first-round pick William Jackson III suffered a torn pectoral muscle, but that didn’t take place for one reason or another.
Before adding Hall, Trevin Wade was projected to serve as the Giants’ top slot corner. It now remains to be seen how he’ll fit in to the team’s plans going forward.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pigskin Links: Saints, Hall, Raiders, Coleman
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:
- From The Rafters says the Saints can be good this year.
- NFL Draft Report went back in time to revisit its scouting report on Leon Hall.
- The Inscriber Mag says DeAndre Washington is a name to remember in Oakland.
- Fantasy Pros discussed Tevin Coleman on this week’s podcast.
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.