Extra Points: Cason, Allen, Mariani, Hester
Three candidates have emerged to succeed Domonique Foxworth as NFLPA president, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Saints tight end Ben Watson, free-agent tackle Eric Winston, and free-agent safety Ryan Clark will make their speeches Wednesday before the 32 team representatives vote for a new president. More from around the NFL..
- In addition to cornerback Terrell Thomas, who was in for a visit today, the Panthers are also looking at corner Antoine Cason, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Garafolo figures that Carolina could sign one or both cornerbacks to boost their secondary.
- Defensive end Jared Allen is unlikely to sign with the Cowboys after visiting today, a source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Dallas became less likely for the veteran when the Cowboys agreed to sign fellow defensive lineman Henry Melton earlier this evening.
- The Chargers worked out former Titans wide receiver/kick returner/punter Marc Mariani, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Mariani has struggled to stay healthy in the past. The 26-year-old missed the entire 2012 season after snapping the tibula and fibula in his left leg and spent the entire 2013 season on Tennessee’s injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury in training camp.
- Top draft prospect Teddy Bridgewater met with the Texans, Jaguars, and Raiders after his pro-day workout at Louisville, tweets Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
- In a conference call with reporters, Chiefs GM John Dorsey said contract extension talks with Alex Smith are ongoing, tweets Herbie Teope of the Associated Press. Dorsey did not offer a timetable for a resolution with his starting quarterback. On the call, Dorsey went on to discuss the club’s near deal with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders who wound up signing with the Broncos, writes Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star.
- Rex Ryan and Jets GM John Idzik were at Florida State Pro Day to check out 6’5″, 240-pound wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin today, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- Safety Craig Steltz‘s one-year deal with the Bears is for the veteran’s minimum of $730K, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com (on Twitter). Steltz can also earn another $65K in roster bonuses.
- A source close to free agent return man Devin Hester tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN (on Twitter) that the former Bears standout is still in Atlanta and very much in the picture for the Falcons.
Cotchery Deciding Between Steelers, Panthers
So far this month, the only two rumors we’ve heard relating to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery suggested that the Steelers want to bring him back and that he was visiting the Panthers. So it’s appropriate that, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Cotchery’s decision on where to sign is between Pittsburgh and Carolina.
Cotchery, 31, has spent the last three seasons with the Steelers, and had his best season for the team in 2013, recording 46 receptions and 602 receiving yards. He also blew away his previous career high with a surprising 10 touchdown grabs. With Emmanuel Sanders headed to Denver, there’d likely be at least as many balls thrown Cotchery’s way in 2014 if he returned.
On the other hand, if Cotchery opted for the Panthers, he may become the team’s No. 1 receiver by default. So far this offseason, the club has released Steve Smith and seen Ted Ginn Jr., Brandon LaFell, and Domenik Hixon sign with other teams.
Cotchery, coming off a two-year, $3MM contract, left his visit with the Panthers today without a deal, which could be a sign that he’s leaning toward returning to Pittsburgh, but we’ll have to wait and see what he decides.
Panthers Sign Roman Harper
TUESDAY, 1:46pm: The Panthers have officially announced the signing of Harper, via a press release.
SATURDAY, 2:21pm: Roman Harper and the Panthers have agreed on a two-year deal, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). The deal will be worth $4.5MM and include a $1.5MM signing bonus.
The former Saint will help fill in the safety position that was vacated when Mike Mitchell signed with the Steelers earlier this week.
The 31-year-old Harper only started five games for the Saints in 2013, and became the odd man out when the team signed Jairus Byrd to pair with Kenny Vaccaro at safety.
NFC Notes: Britt, Panthers, Vick, Collins
At present time, the Panthers are devoid of an NFL receiving corps, having let go their top four receivers from a year ago. Now they’re in a position of desperation, as evidenced by the team’s interest in troubled, albeit talented, free agent Kenny Britt, as reported by Adam Schefter (via Twitter) and Pro Football Talk.
- Meanwhile, Panthers GM Dave Gettleman is starting to draw criticism over how he’s managed (or botched, according to pundits) the Panthers’ offseason. Both Eric Edholm of Yahoo and David Newton of ESPN put the magnifying glass over Gettleman’s decisions.
- In February, free agent Michael Vick was hopeful he would be a starting quarterback in 2014. Two weeks into free agency, he has yet to visit a team, let alone land a contract, writes Anwar Richardson of Yahoo Sports.
- Earlier this month, Bears defensive tackle Nate Collins signed a one-year deal worth $730,001, and the extra dollar is significant, writes Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. Because Collins will make more than the minimum, the Bears will have the opportunity to extend his contract prior to next year’s free agency.
NFC Notes: Kiwanuka, Melton, Peppers, Rams
A short while after the Giants signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, it was learned Mathias Kiwanuka took a pay cut, as reported by Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Kiwanuka sees his base salary decrease from $4.38MM to $1.5MM (with $700k roster bonus and $125k worth of incentives) and the team nets just over $2MM in cap space, according to USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The finagling created flexibility to add Rodgers-Cromartie, says NJ.com’s Jordan Rannan, who points out Kiwanuka signed a deal in 2012, restructured in 2013 and took a pay cut in 2014.
Other NFC news and notes:
- Bears free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton, visiting with the Cowboys today, is seeking a short-term, “prove-it” deal, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- Packers free agent acquisition Julius Peppers was a shell of himself last season and looked like an unmotivated player, according to anonymous evaluators quoted by Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Rams free agent safety Darian Stewart visited the Panthers on Monday, according to St Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Jim Thomas (via Twitter). However, Stewart was not offered a contract, says Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
- The Rams will not receive a compensatory pick for Cortland Finnegan signing with the Dolphins, but they will save $3MM in cap space, writes ESPN.com Rams reporter Nick Wagoner.
- The Lions interviewed Colorado WR Paul Richardson at the Combine and sent a personnel executive to his pro day in Boulder, according to MLive.com’s Kyle Meinke.
Panthers Re-Sign Jason Williams
The Panthers have re-signed linebacker Jason Williams, the team announced today in a press release. The release also confirmed the re-signing of defensive back James Dockery, which we first heard about last week.
Williams, 27, didn’t see any playing time on defense for the Panthers last season, but was a contributor on special teams, appearing in 11 games for the unit and recording six tackles. A former third-round pick, Williams will likely have a similar role in 2014 as a special teams player and a reserve behind the team’s starting linebackers.
Panthers Re-Sign James Dockery
MARCH 17: The Panthers have officially re-signed Dockery, the team confirmed today in a press release.
MARCH 12: The Panthers appear to have reached an agreement to re-sign James Dockery, according to a tweet from the defensive back himself (hat tip to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, via Twitter). “Can’t be happier to be signing back with the @Panthers,” Dockery tweeted. “Can’t wait to get back with our team and WORK!”
Dockery, 25, has seen part-time action on defense and special teams for the Panthers over the last three seasons, and was eligible for restricted free agency this winter. There were no reports suggesting the team extended Dockery an RFA tender, so I expect he’ll probably be back at the minimum salary instead. Terms of the deal aren’t yet known, however.
FA Rumors: Montgomery, Cotchery, Jones
A few free agent notes from around the league:
- The Broncos will meet with free agent center Will Montgomery, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Montgomery was released by the Redskins on Thursday. A seventh-round-pick by the Panthers in 2006, Montgomery had started 16 games in each of the last three seasons in Washington, and graded out as the 14th-best center in football by Pro Football Focus’ metrics. If Montgomery were to sign in Denver, current center Manny Ramirez would move to left guard to replace the departed Zane Beadles.
- Receiver Jerricho Cotchery will visit with the Panthers, writes Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. With the loss of both Steve Smith and Ted Ginn, the Panthers receiver depth chart is now headlined by the likes of Tavarres King and Marvin McNutt. Cotchery, 32, had 46 receptions for 602 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
- Receiver James Jones tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he would “love to play for the Carolina Panthers” (via TwitLonger).
- Having failed thus far to add to either its receiving corps or its defensive backfield, the 49ers likely won’t sign any name free agents, writes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.
FA Rumors: Weeden, Browner, DRC, Clark
Count the Cowboys among the teams with interest in Brandon Weeden following the signal-caller’s release from the Browns, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. According to Archer, even though the Cowboys believe Kyle Orton will return next season to back up Tony Romo rather than opting to retire, the team could carry three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster. Here’s more on a few free agents who either remain on the market or recently agreed to deals:
- Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network hear from Redskins sources that Brandon Browner hadn’t arrived at Redskins Park for his free agent visit as of close of business today (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link) hears that Browner remains in New England, attempting to hammer out a deal with the Patriots. We recapped the odd back-and-forth developments in the Browner story in an earlier post.
- Following Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie‘s visit with the Jets, the cornerback will meet with the Giants, assuming he doesn’t yet have a deal in place, reports Conor Orr of The Star-Ledger.
- The Panthers have showed interest in free agent safety Ryan Clark, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
- Wide receiver Steve Smith said on a conference call today that before he agreed to sign with the Ravens, the Chargers made him an offer and the Redskins and Seahawks also expressed interest (Twitter link via Joseph Person).
- B.J. Raji received interest from the Raiders and Chiefs before he agreed to re-sign with the Packers, tweets Ian Rapoport. I imagine it’s no coincidence that the general managers in both Oakland and Kansas City have roots in Green Bay.
Panthers Sign Mike McNeill
The Panthers have signed free agent tight end Mike McNeill to a two-year contract, reports David Newton of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The signing may signal the end of Ben Hartsock‘s time in Carolina, adds Newton (via Twitter).
McNeill, who turned 26 last Friday, hasn’t seen much action in his NFL stints with the Colts and Rams. In the last two seasons in St. Louis, he has played less than 200 total offensive snaps, recording five catches for 36 yards.