Browns Sign Patrick Murray
The Browns have signed kicker Patrick Murray, according to his agents at Schwartz and Feinsod (Twitter link). Murray was with the Buccaneers until he was waived in May. 
[RELATED: Browns Coach Hue Jackson On RGIII]
Murray spent last season on IR after the Bucs waived him with an injury designation. In his only year of action, 2014, Murray converted 20 of 24 field goals. Murray will now presumably enter into a kicking competition with Travis Coons. Cleveland has been looking into kickers this offseason following a year in which Coons saw four of his kicks blocked. Last month, the Browns claimed kicker Jaden Oberkrom off waivers from the Jaguars only to see the TCU product retire days later.
In other Browns news, former GM Ray Farmer recently opened about what he thinks went wrong with Johnny Manziel. Farmer placed a fair amount of blame on the former Texas A&M star for his actions but also said that the team was not prepared to deal with his level of celebrity.
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Breer On RGIII, Miller, Foles, Geno Smith
Some would say that RGIII is coming to Cleveland with baggage, but new Browns coach Hue Jackson wouldn’t agree. 
“I said this to all the players: Everybody’s slate is clean,” Jackson said, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. “You always want to give guys the benefit of the doubt coming in, and I have not seen, heard or felt any negativity out of him. That’s the only Robert Griffin I know. He’s been an ideal teammate, a hard worker, he wants to please his coaches and he’s followed directions. That’s all I know.”
Griffin started out red hot with the Redskins before injuries and in-fighting led to his downfall. Eventually, the Redskins found their new franchise quarterback in Kirk Cousins while Griffin was on the outside looking in. Because of the stop-and-start nature of the last few years, Jackson & Co. know that they have a lot of work to do when it comes to the Baylor product.
“I’m not gonna say he’s raw, but he is still developing. And most young quarterbacks are still developing,” Jackson said. “I’d give coach (Mike) Shanahan and his son a lot of credit—he came into the league and they fashioned an offense for him that worked for him. And I’d give him credit too, coming out of the Baylor system, without the traditional footwork you play with, he produced right away. Those guys were able to mesh together a great season, but all that is in his past. It’s about mastering the quarterback position now. Mastery of how to play the position is the key to his success.”
Here’s more from Breer’s column:
- Here’s an interesting twist to the Von Miller saga. As previously reported, if Miller opts to sit out the 2016 season, the Broncos will only be able to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on him and will not have the exclusive franchise tag at their disposal. Typically, a team that is able to pry a player away on the non-exclusive tag would have to forfeit two first-round picks to the former team. However, if Miller were to sit out, a union source tells Breer that the compensation price would drop from two first-round picks to a first and a third. I imagine that there are some teams that would at least consider forfeiting two first-round choices to land Miller, regarded as one of the best defensive talents in the game. If the price drops to a first- and third-round choice, I think that market opens up even more. Of course, any team that would sign Miller to an offer sheet would also be giving him a $100MM+ deal with significant guarantees.
- The Rams have yet to trade Nick Foles because they believe that his trade value could increase a bit once training camp begins, Breer hears. At that point, rival teams will have injuries under center and other clubs may find that their backups aren’t coming along as planned.
- While there is some feeling inside the Jets that they could get by with Geno Smith, many outside of the organization are skeptical. “I think they’ll struggle if [Geno is] the guy,” one rival defensive coach told Breer. “Too inconsistent, stares guys down, average at reading defenses, makes poor decisions. … Fitz is much smarter, more accurate, and a better leader.”
- Former Baylor coach Art Briles has been linked to NFL jobs in the past but it seems unlikely that he would be in the mix for a job right now following the program’s recent scandal. However, there are factors beyond those events that could keep Briles from getting a chance in the pros. “The big-picture stuff, he’s good at,” said one AFC scout. “The detail is why his offense would fail in the NFL. His offense at Baylor is not detailed—we’re gonna play tempo, we’re gonna play fast, and we’ll get you with our speed and just out-athlete you because our guys don’t have to think and your guys do.”
- Like the RGIII jersey swap above? Follow Pro Football Rumors on Instagram for more great pics.
NFC North Notes: Tulloch, Lions, Vikings
Linebacker Stephen Tulloch still isn’t sure whether he’ll be a member of the Lions going forward. “My gut is we’ve got to wait and find out. Couple more days. We’ll see,” Tulloch said (Twitter link via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press). The veteran was told in February he wouldn’t be part of the team, but he remains on the team’s roster today. The 31-year-old has spent the last five years with Detroit.
Here’s more from the NFC North:
- Charles Johnson has to fight for his spot on the Vikings‘ roster, but he is not to be counted out yet, Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune writes. While there’s something of a logjam at wide receiver, Johnson did show a lot when he became Teddy Bridgewater’s go-to guy late in 2014. Many have noted that the pressure is being turned up on Cordarrelle Patterson after the team selected Laquon Treadwell and Moritz Boehringer in the draft, but Patterson is unlikely to go thanks to his return ability. If Johnson can shine in the coming weeks, Vensel believes that the Vikes will find room for him behind Stefon Diggs, Jarius Wright, Patterson, and the team’s rookies.
- Giovani Bernard‘s new contract with the Bengals should bode well for Lions running back Theo Riddick, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Bernard, who agreed to a three-year, $15.5MM extension, is a more balanced tailback than Riddick, but the Lions back may offer more in the way of pass-catching value. Last season, Riddick caught 80 passes for 697 yards and three scores. Riddick can’t run like Bernard, so he probably won’t match him in terms of money, but the deal does give his agents a decent comp to work off of. Age is also working in the Notre Dame product’s favor as he only just turned 25 in May.
- On Wednesday, the Bears placed Manny Ramirez on the reserve/retired list.
Patriots TE Michael Williams Suffers Torn ACL
Patriots tight end Michael Williams tore his left ACL at Wednesday’s practice and likely will be placed on injured reserve, Jim McBride of The Boston Globe tweets.
[RELATED: Roger Goodell: Deflategate Settlement Unlikely]
Williams, an Alabama product, first came into the league as a 2013 seventh-round choice of the Lions. Unfortunately, he’s no stranger to a lot season as he suffered a hand injury early on in Detroit and was forced to sit out his rookie year. When he returned in 2014, the Lions made the surprising decision to switch him over to offensive tackle. In August of 2015, the Lions shipped Williams to New England and the Pats decided to move him back to tight end.
In his appearances last season, the Patriots also lined Williams up in the backfield and at wide receiver. In total, Williams saw time in 15 regular season games and made nine starts. He was targeted six times and recorded three receptions for 26 yards.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Rams Working On Extensions For Fisher, Snead
Contract extension talks for Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead are expected to pick up over the next couple of months, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News tweets. The Rams have been in extension talks with both men since late February. 
[RELATED: Rams To Formally Sign Jared Goff Today]
On the surface, news of extension talks are a bit surprising given the Rams’ lack of success under Fisher and Snead. In his four years at the helm of the Rams, Fisher’s teams have compiled a 27-36-1 record and have never gone .500 or better during an individual campaign. The Rams finished 7-9 last season during their St. Louis swan song, which was the third time they’ve won seven games under Fisher. However, after moving halfway across the country, owner Stan Kroenke apparently wants to ensure some stability going forward.
There’s no word yet on possible length or financial compensation for Fisher or Snead. Fisher is currently among the NFL’s highest-paid coaches at $7MM annually and almost certainly tops the league when it comes to dollars-per-win.
Prior to joining the Rams, Fisher experienced success atop the Titans organization, going 142-120 in 17 years and helping lead the club to six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl XXXIV berth to conclude the 1999-2000 season. Of course, the Titans lost that game, 23-16, to Fisher’s present-day employer, the Rams.
Snead, meanwhile, got his start as the pro scout for the upstart Jaguars in 1995. In 1997, he took the same position with the Falcons while also serving as their director of pro/player personnel. Prior to the 2012 season, the Rams hired Snead after parting ways with Billy Devaney.
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Rams To Sign No. 1 Pick Jared Goff Today
No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff is expected to sign his four-year contract with the Rams today, according to sources who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will be worth about $28MM, as his slot dictates. The Rams, as expected, have waited until June to sign players in their rookie class. 
[RELATED: Stedman Bailey Clears Waivers]
Goff, considered the most polished quarterback prospect in this year’s class by many analysts and observers, threw for nearly 8,700 combined yards and 78 touchdowns during his final two years in college. In 2015, he established new personal bests by completing 64.5% of his passes and throwing for 4,714 yards and 43 TDs.
While some experts the upside of No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz over Goff’s, our Rob DiRe ranked the Cal product as his No. 1 prospect at quarterback, writing that Goff’s “ability to work in a crowded pocket and deliver the football from unorthodox angles” is part of what makes him special.
After drafting a potential franchise running back last year in Todd Gurley, the Rams added another possible franchise player to their backfield in an attempt to fortify an offense that has frequently let down a talented defense in recent years. In their trade up to No. 1, the Rams received a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113), and a 2016 sixth-rounder (No. 177) in their deal with the Titans. However, the cost to acquire those three picks was steep — Tennessee got the Rams’ first-rounder this year (No. 15), two 2016 second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 45), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76), and first- and third-round picks for 2017.
With Goff now in the mix, the Rams will have some decisions to make at the quarterback position. The team currently has Case Keenum, 2015 third-rounder Sean Mannion, and veteran QB Nick Foles on the depth chart. Foles is reportedly unhappy about the Rams taking Goff and coach Jeff Fisher says that Foles probably won’t be in L.A. for long.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Bills Sign Boom Herron
The Bills announced that they have signed running back Dan Herron. To make room, the Bills released cornerback Julian Whigham. 
Herron spent time with Buffalo during the 2015 season when the team was ravaged by injuries in the backfield. Now, he could once again provide some depth as LeSean McCoy deals with a hamstring injury. Last year was a somewhat tumultuous year for Herron, who was waived off the Colts’ injured reserve at the beginning of the season. After working out for the Patriots, Herron latched on with the Bills, appearing in four games and registering 11 rushing attempts. Buffalo cut bait with Herron relatively quickly, but Indianapolis, once again the market for a back, claimed him off waivers in order to secure a reunion with the former Ohio State Buckeye. Herron didn’t play much down the stretch, and was let go during the restricted free agent tender period.
Herron auditioned for the rival Dolphins on Monday, but he left without the team making an offer. Miami planned on keeping Herron on their “just in case” list, but Buffalo was ready to scoop him up immediately.
Whigham was struggling in OTAs, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets. Whigham, a Syracuse product, was originally signed as a UDFA on May 2nd.
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Latest On Colts, Andrew Luck
7:23pm: Irsay would be “surprised” if Luck’s extension is not completed by the start of training camp, as Mike Wells of ESPN.com writes. Wells further reports that Irsay still believes the deal could be consummated as early as July 4.
12:05pm: The Colts and quarterback Andrew Luck are on track to complete a massive multi-year extension at some point in July, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The two sides have been talking since February about a deal that would likely make Luck the highest-paid player in NFL history. 
[RELATED: Why Arian Foster Is A Good Fit For The Colts]
Right now, Joe Flacco currently holds that distinction with a deal that pays him $22.13MM/year. Rapoport surmises that Luck’s deal could reach the $25MM/year mark, an expectation shared by others in football. As of this writing, Luck is slated to make $16.155MM if he plays out his fifth-year option in 2016. If no deal is reached, the Colts could retain luck with the exclusive franchise tags in 2017 and 2018 at estimated salaries of $25MM and $35MM. With those numbers in mind, Rapoport suggests that a three-year, $76MM figure may serve as the basis for negotiations.
In a surprising twist, Rapoport hears that Colts owner Jim Irsay originally wanted Luck under contract for ten years, which would effectively be a lifetime contract. However, the organization has since backed down from that timeframe and settled on a more realistic five-or-six-year offer.
The former No. 1 overall pick completed just 55% of his passes in his fourth season. Prior to that, however, Luck led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes in 2014. Since going 2-14 in the bridge year between Manning and Luck, the Colts posted three consecutive 11-5 seasons between 2012 and 2014. In 2015, the Colts went 8-8 as Luck spent much of the year on the sidelines.
In March, Irsay mentioned July 4 as a target date for getting a contract extension done with his star quarterback.
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Minor NFL Transactions: 6/8/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Redskins parted ways with tight end Michael Cooper, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter). Cooper made 19 career catches with the Hoosiers from 2012-15.
- Following the Panthers‘ signing of Mike Scifres on Tuesday, the team cut punter Michael Palardy, Wilson tweets. A UDFA in 2014, Palardy spent time with the Raiders and Panthers in his career.
- The Buccaneers waived rookie UDFA wideout Dez Stewart off their injury reserve with a likely injury settlement, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter).
- The Cowboys announced that they have signed former Olympian (and hopeful defensive lineman) Lawrence Okoye. In addition to the former discus athlete, Dallas signed linebacker Brandon Hepburn and tackle Bryan Witzmann, Wilson tweets. To make room, defensive end Caleb Azubike, linebacker Jerrell Harris and tackle Justin Renfrow were waived, Wilson tweets. A former Lions seventh-round pick in 2013, Hepburn has not seen action in a game but spent time with the Lions and Eagles in the past three years. He resided on Philadelphia’s IR in 2015. Okoye represented Great Britain in the 2012 London Summer Games, advancing to the event’s final round and finishing 12th.
- The Steelers cut pass-rusher Kevin Anderson and signed linebacker Mike Reilly, Wilson tweets. Originally a UDFA with the Browns in 2015, Reilly didn’t make the roster out of training camp and signed a subsequent reserve/futures deal with the Cardinals at this year’s outset. However, the Cards released him in May after signing its new crop of UDFAs.
Vikings Sign Harrison Smith To Extension
WEDNESDAY, 5:04pm: Smith’s deal actually appears to be worth more than initially reported, with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle noting (on Twitter) the fifth-year safety’s pact totals $56.53MM. The deal contains $28.58MM in guarantees, per Wilson. The contract is slated to slot Harrison on the Vikings’ next five salary caps at $7.28MM in 2017, $7.5MM in ’18, $10MM in ’19, $10.75MM in ’20 and $10.25MM in ’21, Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports (on Twitter). Only $500K is fully guaranteed to the now-27-year-old Smith on the third day of the 2019 league year, Vensel tweets.
MONDAY, 8:00am: The Vikings have signed safety Harrison Smith to a long-term extension, the club announced today. It’s a five-year deal worth $51.25MM, according to Andrew Krammer of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link), and the pact includes includes a $10MM signing bonus and $15.27MM fully guaranteed, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). With five years added to his present deal, Smith is now under contract for another six years on a deal that should keep him in Minnesota through the 2021 season.
Smith, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2015, will earn a base salary of $5.278MM in 2016 before his significant pay raise kicks in. With an average annual value above $10MM, the Vikings are paying Smith more than any other safety, putting him ahead of names like Jairus Byrd, Devin McCourty, and Earl Thomas.
The deal’s full guarantee of $15MM+ puts him in the middle of that pack for safeties, beating out Thomas’ $14.225MM true guarantee but falling short of McCourty’s $22MM and Byrd’s $18.3MM. In terms of total value and AAV, however, we have ourselves a new highest-paid safety in the NFL.
Referring to Smith as one of the “better safeties” in the NFL earlier this year, Vikings GM Rick Spielman acknowledged with a chuckle that calling him one of the “best” might increase his price. Pro Football Focus, at least, viewed the 27-year-old as the league’s best safety in 2015, ranking him atop the site’s list of 88 qualified players at the position, despite the fact that he only played 13 games. Among safeties, Smith ranked in PFF’s top 10 in terms of pass coverage, run defense, and pass rush grades. NFL executive Randall Liu (on Twitter) notes that Smith is only NFL player since 2012 with 300+ tackles (311), 5+ sacks (5.5), 10+ interceptions (12), and a 4+ interception/touchdown ratio.
It will be interesting to see how Smith’s new contract impacts contract talks in Miami between the Dolphins and safety Reshad Jones. Jones is reportedly mulling a season-long holdout if he does not get a new deal that puts him in the same class as Smith and the rest of the ~$10MM club. Jones had a career-year in 2015, compiling career-highs in tackles (135), passes defended (10), and interceptions (five). At the same time, strong safeties generally don’t get paid the way that free safeties do. Tyrann Mathieu and Eric Berry also surely took notice of Smith’s new deal this morning. New deals for either one of those players could strip the “highest-paid safety” mantle away from the Vikings star.
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