NFC Notes: Jordan, McDermott, Cowboys
Though Cameron Jordan‘s five-year, $55MM extension with the Saints compares favorably with Calais Campbell‘s long-term deal with the Cardinals, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap doesn’t believe that Jordan’s new contract will redefine the market for 3-4 defensive ends as did Campbell’s. While the two deals look especially similar at the back end, Fitzgerald writes that Campbell was handed more guaranteed money up front, and doesn’t have to worry about the type of per-game roster bonuses that are included in Jordan’s deal. Ultimately, 3-4 ends will still use Campbell’s deal as a starting point in negotiations, not Jordan’s, adds Fitzgerald.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- If the Panthers defense continues to produce at its current level, DC Sean McDermott could warrant consideration as a head-coaching candidate in the near future, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. After finishing last in DVOA in 2011 — McDermott’s first year on the job — Carolina has placed in the top 15 in the three years since, including a No. 3 finish in 2013.
- The Cowboys didn’t select a running back in April’s draft, but team executive Stephen Jones believes the club could find a back as the season progresses, naming the Patriots acquisition of LeGarrette Blount last year as an example, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Archer expects Dallas’ pro scouts to scour the trade and waiver market during the preseason in the hopes of adding another runner.
- Tackle Morgan Moses — once thought of as a potential first-round pick — ultimately slid until the third round of last year’s draft before being picked by Washington. And though the club selected Brandon Scherff with the fifth overall pick, John Keim of ESPN.com still sees a role for Moses, adding that the Virginia product could become a solid swing tackle at the very least.
NFC Mailbags: Washington, Glennon, Panthers, McClain
It’s Saturday, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s take a look at some interesting notes from the NFC…
- If DeSean Jackson struggles in 2015, John Keim could envision the wideout playing elsewhere in 2016. Washington selected Jamison Crowder in the fourth round, so they have young wideouts to move forward with. However, if the veteran produces, Keim could see the Pro Bowler sticking around.
- Pat Yasinskas believes Mike Glennon will spend this season with the Buccaneers, even if the quarterback has a good preseason and improves his trade value. The 25-year-old is a solid backup, and the writer believes the team would have already dealt Glennon if they had any intention to move him.
- With the Cam Newton deal wrapped up, David Newton would expect the Panthers to sign linebacker Thomas Davis to a new deal prior to training camp. Since Luke Kuechly will definitely be on the roster for the 2016 season, the writer believes the team won’t rush to sign the former Defensive Player of the Year.
- When asked why Rolando McClain took so long to opt for surgery, Todd Archer clarified that surgery is always a “last-case option.” However, the writer questions why the Cowboys linebacker hasn’t been at Valley Ranch for rehab.
NFC Notes: Flowers, Chester, Crowder
When a player enters the NFL out of college, an agent can be invaluable when it comes to preparing that prospect for the combine, negotiating marketing or endorsement agreements, and providing a credit line of income before the player earns his actual NFL income. However, as Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com notes, rookie contracts have become so predetermined that an agent isn’t all that necessary for negotiations.
In fact, one first-rounder, offensive lineman Ereck Flowers, negotiated his own rookie contract with the Giants, writes Brandt. Had Flowers hired an agent and been charged the maximum allowable 3% fee on his $14.4MM guaranteed contract, the fee would have worked out to $432K.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Before veteran guard Chris Chester signed a one-year contract with the Falcons, he received a two-year offer from the Eagles, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As Caplan notes, Chester will have a better chance of starting in Atlanta, with one or two interior line positions up for grabs.
- After a post appeared on Jamison Crowder‘s Instagram account this week accusing him of domestic violence, Washington and the NFL are looking into the situation. However, as John Keim of NFL.com details, Crowder’s agent, Tory Dandy, says the allegation is false: “His account was hacked. Jamison hasn’t hit anybody.”
- Cam Newton got a $22.5MM signing bonus on his new contract extension with the Panthers, but he won’t get that entire amount up front. Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets that $7MM of the bonus money is deferred until April 1, 2016, while the other $15.5MM is payable within a week of Newton’s signing.
NFC Notes: Crowder, Panthers, Seahawks
Rookie wide receiver Jamison Crowder, selected by Washington in the fourth round of this year’s draft, was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. As Marvez details, a since-deleted Instagram post appears to accuse Crowder of domestic violence (Twitter link).
“The Washington Redskins are aware of an off-field situation involving Jamison Crowder,” the team said in a statement to FOX. “We have been in touch with the NFL office and will continue to follow proper League protocol and assist them in any way we can to gather all of the facts. We will not be making any further comment at this time.”
As we wait to see what comes of the investigation into Crowder, here are a few other Thursday items from across the NFC:
- “The biggest thing it does for us is it gives us a fixed cost,” Panthers GM Dave Gettleman said of Cam Newton‘s new extension, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “And we’ve been very intentional and thoughtful about how we’re spending our money, and we’ll continue to do that. We’ve been planning for this.” As Person notes, the team has also been planning for a new contract for linebacker Luke Kuechly, which should happen eventually, and the Panthers want to extend linebacker Thomas Davis as well.
- Addressing Jermaine Gresham‘s visit to New Orleans, Saints head coach Sean Payton said the tight end’s meeting went well, and that he thinks Gresham could be a good fit (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune).
- The Seahawks announced a handful of promotions in their front office today, including elevating Scott Fitterer and Trent Kirchner to co-directors of player personnel. Both Fitterer and Kirchner drew interest from other teams this past winter, as Fitterer interviewed with the Eagles and Kirchner met with the Jets.
- Speaking of those Seahawks, Jason Fitzgerald of The Sporting News takes a closer look at the salary cap situation in Seattle, where the team must make decisions on a number of players eligible for contract extensions and one notable contributor (Michael Bennett) who wants to rework his deal.
- The Lions have moved Xavier Proctor from the defensive line to the other side of the ball, and will try him as an offensive tackle, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link).
NFC Notes: Newton, Jordan, Cards, Bears
Following up on the details we passed along earlier today on Cam Newton‘s and Cameron Jordan‘s new extensions, we have another pair of notes. Joel Corry of CBSSports.com clarifies (via Twitter) that while Newton’s $10MM option bonus isn’t technically guaranteed at the time of the signing, it’s practically guaranteed, since there’s essentially no chance the Panthers will cut the quarterback before picking it up. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Jordan received a significant signing bonus, worth $16MM, from the Saints.
Here are a few more items from across the NFC:
- The Cardinals signed defensive lineman Frostee Rucker to a one-year extension earlier this week, and Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com identifies three more defensive players who could be next in line for new deals. Weinfuss’ list includes safety Rashad Johnson, defensive back Justin Bethel, and cornerback Jerraud Powers.
- Asked about whether he expects Martellus Bennett to attend the Bears‘ June minicamp, head coach John Fox said he “can’t predict” the tight end’s intentions, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. Bennett, who wants a new contract, has been absent from the team’s OTAs.
- Having signed a $40MM deal to remain with the Packers this offseason, wideout Randall Cobb vows the new contract won’t change his approach or create added pressure, per Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com.
- According to an incident report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, former Falcons linebacker Prince Shembo admitted to kicking his girlfriend’s dog and considered fleeing the country after the animal’s death. The AJC’s Tyler Estep has the details.
Details On Cam Newton, Cam Jordan Contracts
More details are trickling in on Cam Newton‘s massive $103.8MM extension with the Panthers, as well as Cameron Jordan‘s new five-year extension with the Saints. We’ll round up the latest on the two NFC South mega-deals right here:
Newton:
- According to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), the cap numbers on Newton’s new deal are as follows: $13MM (2015), $19.5MM (2016), $20.166MM (2017), $21.5MM (2018), $23.2MM (2019), and $21.1MM (2020). Corry notes (via Twitter) that the deal includes a $10MM option bonus in 2016, with a $10MM non-exercise fee. The non-exercise fee is the amount that must be paid out if a player is kept on the roster without his option being picked up.
- There have been varying reports on the amount of the full guarantee in the contract. Albert Breer of the NFL Network suggests (via Twitter) that only $31MM is fully guaranteed. That would be the $22.5MM signing bonus, the $7.5MM roster bonus due later this week, and the $1MM base salary for 2015.
- As we passed along earlier today, however, Corry says the full guarantee works out to $41MM, which also seems to include his $10MM option bonus for 2016. Meanwhile, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets that $54MM is fully guaranteed, which would be the aforementioned amounts, plus Newton’s $13MM base salary for ’16.
- While we may have to wait for further clarification, my guess is that – while it’s possible only $31MM is fully guaranteed at the time of the signing – Corry’s $41MM figure is probably accurate. That $10MM second-year option may not be fully guaranteed at this point, but as Corry wrote in a piece last year, sometimes teams will guarantee future base salary, with that guarantee voiding or reducing after an option has been picked up — that approach minimizes or eliminates the risk of a player being cut before the option exercise period ends.
- One detail that everyone agrees on, which was reported at the time of the initial agreement yesterday, is that the total amount of guaranteed money – including injury-only guarantees – is $60MM.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap breaks down what Newton’s extension looks like in chart form, and also compares the deal to other notable quarterback extensions signed recently.
Jordan:
- While Jordan’s five-year, $55MM extension includes $33MM guaranteed for injury, just $23.96MM is fully guaranteed, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Facebook link). Jordan’s previous $6.969MM salary for 2015 had already been fully guaranteed, so that’s $17MM in new fully guaranteed money.
- When the agreement was first reported yesterday, it was noted that $5MM was available for Jordan in incentives — those are sack-related, according to La Canfora, though he doesn’t have details on the specific requirements.
- If Jordan’s play slips, the Saints could comfortably move on from this contract after two seasons, says La Canfora. In his view, the deal won’t be a point of reference when star lineman like Marcell Dareus and Muhammad Wilkerson are negotiating new contracts, though it may make a good comparable for a player like Cameron Heyward of the Steelers.
Panthers Sign Cam Newton To Five-Year Extension
WEDNESDAY, 7:53am: According to former agent Joel Corry (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio), $41MM of Newton’s new contract is fully guaranteed at the time of the signing, with a total of $54MM becoming fully guaranteed within the first 12 months of the deal.
TUESDAY, 4:07pm: Newton’s contract calls for a $22.5MM signing bonus, a $7.5MM roster bonus due on June 6th, and a $1MM salary for 2015, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The quarterback, in total, will earn $31MM in 2015.
3:46pm: Newton has officially signed his extension, the Panthers announced today in a press release.
3:35pm: As expected, the Panthers have reached an agreement on a new contract for quarterback Cam Newton, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). According to Rapoport, it’ll be a five-year extension for Newton worth $103MM. ESPN 730 in Charlotte first reported yesterday that the two sides were nearing a deal.
Per reports from Adam Schefter of ESPN.com and Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), the total value of Newton’s extension is actually $103.8MM, while Schefter tweets that the pact includes $60MM in guaranteed money. According to Rapoport, Garafolo, and Schefter (Twitter links), the contract features a payout of $67.6MM in the first three years, a mammoth figure that may represent the highest total ever for the first three years of an NFL contract.
If the entirety of Newton’s $60MM guarantee is fully guaranteed, it would be the highest figure in NFL history, narrowly edging the amount Ndamukong Suh received this offseason. However, we’ll have to wait for the specifics of the contract to be reported and confirmed before we know for sure how it will be structured, and whether or not some of the guarantees are for injury only. For now, Newton’s deal appears to be very similar to the five year, $103.75MM pact Matt Ryan received from the Falcons, which would make the Panthers’ signal-caller one of the NFL’s top-five highest-paid quarterbacks.
The Panthers and Newton had been expected to make every effort to work out a long-term arrangement at some point this offseason, but as of last week, negotiations had “barely gotten off the ground,” tweets Rapoport. Rapoport and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link) both indicate that things happened quickly over the last few days, with talks between the team and agents Bus Cook, Chitta Mallik, and Tony Paige intensifying over the weekend.
While Russell Wilson‘s contract talks have dominated the rumor mill in recent weeks, Newton is the other notable young quarterback who would be eligible for unrestricted free agency following the 2015 season without a new contract. The former No. 1 overall pick was drafted a year earlier than Wilson – in 2011 rather than 2012 – but the Panthers were able to secure him for an extra season beyond his rookie deal by exercising his fifth-year option for ’15. Newton had been on track to earn a salary of $14.666MM for the coming season.
Newton, 26, has earned a pair of Pro Bowl berths during his first four seasons with the Panthers and is coming off a 2014 campaign in which he threw for 3,127 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 14 regular season contests. Despite finishing the season with a 7-8-1 record, Carolina won the NFC South and defeated the Cardinals on Wild Card weekend, the first postseason victory of Newton’s career.
Although Newton’s career passing numbers are somewhat modest, he has provided plenty of value with his legs as well, rushing for 2,571 yards and 33 touchdowns in his four seasons. Additionally, his passing totals were likely stunted somewhat last year due to his mediocre receiving corps — Greg Olsen stepped up and had a career year at tight end, but the wideouts were headed by rookie Kelvin Benjamin and journeyman Jerricho Cotchery. With Benjamin expected to take a step forward in his second year and 2015 second-rounder Devin Funchess added to the mix, Newton should have a little more help going forward.
Outside of Wilson, other big-name quarterbacks whose contracts are set to expire after the 2015 season include Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Nick Foles. Of that group, Manning and Rivers are coming off veteran deals, so their negotiations will look a little different than Newton’s or Wilson’s. As for Foles, he’s finishing up his rookie contract, but his next deal will hinge significantly on how he adjusts with his new team in 2015.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Panthers GM, Coach On Cam Newton’s Extension
Earlier today, quarterback Cam Newton officially inked a contract that will keep him with the Panthers through the 2020 season. Carolina is thrilled to have its franchise quarterback locked up and Newton is also excited to have the deal done. When asked how he’s going to celebrate tonight, Newton told reporters, including Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter), that he’s going to enjoy some Lucky Charms and some milk. Here’s more on Newton’s new deal..
- Panthers GM Dave Gettleman says that his team has been very deliberate in getting finances in order so that he could pay Cam Newton and build around him, David Newton of ESPN.com tweets. In recent years, Gettleman cut high-priced veterans such as Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams in favor of low-cost free agents.
- Gettleman believes that Newton will take the team “to the promised land” that is the Super Bowl, David Newton tweets.
- The quarterback told reporters, including Person (on Twitter), that the contract won’t change his approach to the game, though he said he will be more mindful of the hits he takes.
- Gettleman said it took eleven days to get a deal done, Person tweets. The GM sent his first proposal to agent Bus Cook four days before the Ryan Tannehill deal was done.
- Panthers coach Ron Rivera said it was important to make sure that Newton knew the Panthers were committed to him, David Newton tweets.
Minor Moves: Tuesday
Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Titans have agreed to sign tight end Phillip Supernaw, waiving defensive tackle Lucas Vincent in a corresponding move, according to the team (via Twitter). Supernaw, who was cut by the Ravens in May, has spent time in Baltimore, Kansas City, and Houston during his NFL career.
- The Bills have signed former Patriots edge defender Michael Buchanan, waiving punter Spencer Roth to create a roster spot, tweets Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. Buchanan didn’t see the field much after drafted by the Pats in the seventh round in 2013, but the 24-year-old made the most of his limited playing time in his rookie year, picking up a pair of sacks and recovering a fumble.
- The Colts have made a change at the back of their roster, signing undrafted free agent defensive lineman Camaron Beard and waiving cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz, per a team release. Shabazz only lasted a few weeks with Indianapolis, having been signed by the club as a rookie free agent following the draft.
- The Falcons have added rookie linebacker Boris Anyama, who played his college ball at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, the team announced today in a press release. The signing gets Atlanta’s roster back up to the maximum 90 players.
- The Panthers have signed defensive back Jocquel Skinner, waiving tight end Kevin Greene, tweets David Newton of ESPN.com. Skinner became a free agent after being cut by the Buccaneers in April.
NFC Notes: Newton, Bucs, Packers
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) expects Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to top Ben Roethlisberger‘s $34.25MM in fully guaranteed cash at signing. Newton’s agent secured $38MM fully guaranteed at signing for fellow client Jay Cutler. Here’s more out of the NFC..
- Curious about Newton’s pending deal with the Panthers? Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer wrote up a FAQ about the pact, which will keep Newton under contract with the Panthers through 2020. Person notes that even though Newton’s deal is lucrative, it shouldn’t hamper the team’s ability to lock up star linebacker Luke Kuechly. That’s because GM Dave Gettleman cut high-priced veterans such as Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams in favor of low-cost free agents.
- The Buccaneers have a pair of long snappers on their roster already, in Andrew DePaola and rookie Courtland Clavette, but the team took a look at another one today, working out veteran free agent Brandon Hartson, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
- Don’t expect the Packers to take advantage of the post-June 1 designation by cutting any pricey veterans this month, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. As Demovsky notes, the club already made its major cap-savings moves, releasing linebackers A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones in February.