Sunday Roundup: Sims, ‘Skins, Clausen
Let’s swing around the league to round up some links this afternoon:
- Yesterday, we posted a tweet from Chris McCosky of the Detroit News indicating that guard Rob Sims wanted to reach an extension with the Lions, and today McCosky has published a full-length piece on Sims’ hopes to avoid free agency.
- Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com writes that the Redskins will probably carry nine offensive linemen this season (they carried eight in 2013), and he also examines the team’s punter battle.
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes that the 49ers have $5.725MM in cap space after the Colin Kaepernick extension, the Blake Costanzo signing, and the post-June 1 removal of Carlos Rogers‘ salary from the books. However, Maiocco writes that there is no indication the team is close to new deals with any players seeking extensions.
- Bill Williamson of ESPN.com believes Jonathan Baldwin has no chance of making the 49ers roster as a receiver.
- Head coach Marc Trestman says that the Bears‘ signing of Jimmy Clausen has nothing to do with the performance of Jordan Palmer, according to Blake Schuster of the Chicago Tribune.
- Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (subscription required) looks at five pressing questions facing the Rams this summer.
- Greg Gabriel of the National Football Post finishes his list of the top second-and third-round draft choices from last month’s draft to keep an eye on in 2014.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com, in response to a reader who wondered if Jets GM John Idzik did not pursue a No. 1 receiver this offseason because of the talent that could be available in the 2015 free agent class of receivers, writes that newly-acquired Eric Decker is, and will be, the No. 1 guy in New York. Cimini appears to imply that the Jets will not be active in the elite wide receiver market next season.
- Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com examines the Jaguars‘ salary cap situation in 2014 and how much of their $28.4MM in cap space they might roll over into 2015.
NFC Notes: Falcons, Shembo, Bostic, Sherrod
“Our sub defense is our base defense because we play it 65 percent of the snaps,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith tells Daniel Cox of atlantafalcons.com. And while defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s unit is multiple and versatile, he wants players to be dependable at one job first and foremost, particularly in the secondary: “I would like that back end to be set with guys that are really good at one position. I’d rather have a specific guy right now than a jack-of-all trades. When you get to the front, the jack-of-all trades really becomes a little bit more valuable because when you’re attacking protections…or going from 3-4 to 4-3, those looks, that’s where you want it to be a little bit more versatile.”
Here’s some more morning NFC links:
- ESPN’s Vaughn McClure relays brief quotes from Nolan on his defensive rookies, including fourth-rounder Prince Shembo, who will be used at inside linebacker despite playing outside at Notre Dame.
- Bears outside linebacker Jon Bostic struggled during his rookie season, but the team thinks the second-year pro will be better as the defense moves away from a base cover-2 scheme, writes Adam Jahns in the Chicago Sun-Times. “I feel a lot more comfortable this year, especially with all the changes to the defense,” said Bostic. “A lot of the changes that we did make, it’s a lot more natural for me. I can play how I’ve been taught literally from little league to high school to college to now. It’s back to playing how I used to.”
- Packers 2011 first-rounder Derek Sherrod, who went through the off-season program healthy for the first time, faces a make-or-break season after the team declined his fifth-year option, notes ESPN’s Rob Demovsky in his Saturday mailbag.
- The Seahawks starting linebackers — Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Malcolm Smith — will combine to make approximately$2.86MM in base salary next season, notes Todd Dybas of the News Tribune.
- “If you think [Redskins receiver] Santana Moss is a goner come September, think again,” says Rich Tandler of CSN Washington.
- The Rams are converting defensive lineman Mason Brodine, who spent two seasons on the practice squad, to tight end, per Joe Lyons of the Post-Dispatch.
Minor Moves: Chiefs, Raiders, Bears
Tonight’s minor moves..
- The Chiefs have signed former Troy quarterback and wide receiver Deon Anthony and former Richmond cornerback Justin Rogers, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). To make room, Kansas City waived defensive tackle Risean Broussard.
- The Raiders announced the signing of third-round offensive lineman Gabe Jackson, tweets Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. With Jackson in the fold, the Raiders have now signed all of their 2014 draft picks, as shown in PFR’s running list of draft pick signings.
- To make room for the newly-signed Jimmy Clausen, the Bears waived linebacker Lawrence Wilson, tweets Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. The former UConn standout has spent time with the Bears and Panthers practice squads but has yet to see the field in the regular season.
NFC North Notes: Rudolph, Greenway, Palmer
The latest out of the NFC North..
- Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is ready to talk extension with the team, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Rudolph, who signed a four-year, $3.9 million rookie contract in 2011, would become a free agent after next season if no extension can be reached by then. He missed the final eight games of 2013 because of a fractured left foot but he’s totally healthy heading into the 2014 campaign.
- The end might be near for Chad Greenway‘s time with the Vikings, but the team still values him, writes Dave Campbell of the Associated Press. The veteran linebacker restructured his contract this offseason, taking a $1MM pay cut in exchange for a fully guaranteed $5.5MM salary. Greenway will be a free agent after the season and if he doesn’t get back to his Pro Bowl form, he could wind up elsewhere.
- It may or may not be related to the Bears‘ signing of Jimmy Clausen, but Jordan Palmer didn’t participate in Tuesday’s OTAs, tweets Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. Jerron Johnson ran the No. 2 offense for the Bears in his stead.
- The Bears are high on Clausen’s intelligence and mechanics, tweets Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. They also believe that the Notre Dame product showed mental toughness by dealing with his struggles in Carolina and the drafting of Cam Newton.
Bears Sign Jimmy Clausen
The Bears have signed quarterback Jimmy Clausen, quarterback coach Steve Clarkson announced on Twitter. Clausen, 26, hasn’t played in an NFL regular-season game since his rookie year in 2010.
Last September, Clausen underwent shoulder surgery and he says that he’s feeling healthy and ready to contribute. “I’m still really young,” Clausen told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “I’m going into my fifth year in the league. I feel great. This is probably right now the healthiest I’ve been since my junior year in college, to be honest with you.”
Clausen indicated that he wanted an opportunity to be someone’s No. 2 quarterback to help set him up for a starting job down the line, and that’s exactly what Chicago could provide for him. The QB spoke with Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter links) and said that he would compete to be Jay Cutler’s first understudy but stopped short of any boastful projections.
The Bears already have three backup QBs in camp in Jordan Palmer, late draft pick David Fales, and practice squad holdover Jerrod Johnson. The signing of Johnson could indicate some level of dissatisfaction with the trio.
Since playing in 13 games (10 starts) in his rookie season with the Panthers, the former Notre Dame standout and longtime QB prodigy has barely seen the field. The Bears will have to cut someone in order to create space for Clausen but no such move has been announced yet.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Bears Sign Spurlock, Edwards; Cut Hixon
2:49pm: The Bears have officially confirmed the signings of Spurlock and Edwards (Twitter link). To clear room on the roster, the club has waived linebacker Tana Patrick and terminated Hixon’s contract with an injury settlement.
2:28pm: The Bears have two of the top receivers in the game in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, but may not have a ton of reliable contributors behind that duo on the depth chart. The team parted ways with Devin Hester and Earl Bennett this offseason, and newly-acquired free agent WR Domenik Hixon tore his ACL during OTAs. Given the need for additional depth at the position, the Bears will bring aboard a pair of receivers, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link), who reports that Micheal Spurlock and Armanti Edwards are signing with the club.
Spurlock, 31, has played for the Cardinals, Buccaneers, Niners, Jaguars, Chargers, Cowboys, and Lions since entering the league in 2006. The veteran wideout didn’t catch a pass during the 2013 season, but returned 22 punts and 15 kicks for Detroit. Spurlock had his most productive season as a receiver in 2012, when he split time between Jacksonville and San Diego, hauling in 23 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown for the year.
As for Edwards, the former third-round pick played quarterback at Appalachian State but has been used more frequently as a receiver and wildcat weapon when he’s seen the field in the NFL. In parts of four seasons with the Panthers and Browns, Edwards has compiled just six receptions for 131 yards.
Spurlock and Edwards both figure to compete for spots on the Bears’ regular-season roster.
Minor Moves: Vikings, Bears, Saints, Bills
A couple of more notable free agents have come off the board today, including cornerback Aaron Berry and center Jonathan Goodwin. However, there are also a handful of under-the-radar moves to round up. Here are Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- After being cut by the Browns on Friday, defensive back Julian Posey has been claimed off waivers by the Vikings, the club announced today (Twitter link). Another defensive back, Kip Edwards, was waived to make room on Minnesota’s roster for Posey.
- The Bears have signed undrafted free agent cornerback Al Louis-Jean, the team confirmed today (via Twitter). Louis-Jean, who played his college ball at Boston College before leaving early, auditioned for Chicago at last month’s rookie minicamp.
- Guard Mike Golic Jr. and linebacker Spencer Hadley, who both signed with the Saints last month, have been cut, according to Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune (via Twitter).
- Former Syracuse center Macky MacPherson has signed with the Bills, bringing the team’s roster to the maximum 90 players, tweets ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak.
NFC North Notes: Fairley, Packers, Bears
Pro Football Weekly’s 2011 scouting report of draft prospect Nick Fairley included notes such as “has underachiever tendencies” and “needs to be pushed and is not a self-starter.” Three years after the Lions drafted him 13th overall, motivation is still an issue for Fairley, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract because the team declined his fifth-year option. Why? “The Lions had grown weary of Fairley’s fluctuating weight and inconsistent play and saw this as a last chance to motivate their talented defensive tackle who’s shown far too few flashes of brilliance on the field,” according to the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. In response, Fairly has trimmed down approximately 25 pounds in an effort to have a strong season and increase his value on the open market.
Here’s some more news and notes from around the NFC North division, starting with another prominent defensive tackle:
- Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji accepted a one-year, “prove it” deal to return to Green Bay, in part, because he will return to his more natural nose tackle position, says Tyler Dunne in the Journal Sentinel.
- The Packers appear to be transitioning versatile defensive back Micah Hyde to safety in an attempt to get their best personnel on the field, reports Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Colt Lyerla will be one of the most watched undrafted free agents in the league this summer because his physical ability and impact potential is legitimate. Though his checkered past means he’s on a perilously short leash in Green Bay, the team is making a concerted effort to foster mutual trust and an environment in which Lyerla can develop without distraction, writes Dunne.
- Lance Briggs has the Bears’ weak-side linebacker job on lock, but the other two linebacker spots are question marks. ESPN’s Michael C. Wright thinks veteran D.J. Williams will man the middle with second-year flash player Jon Bostic will beat out Shea McClellin on the strong side.
NFC North Notes: Finley, Allen, Greenway
It was reported earlier that former Packers‘ Jermichael Finley was cleared medically by his personal doctor, but that does not mean that he will be cleared by team doctors anytime soon, writes Louis Bien of SBNation.com. With Finley in in free agent limbo after his injury, Bien notes that it could make sense for Finley to pursue the $10MM insurance policy that would go into effect if his injuries were too sever to allow him to return to the field.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:
- If Finley does prove himself healthy, he should have a number of options in terms of teams looking for playmaking tight ends. A healthy Finley would rank among the top remaining free agents. Additionally, he could be a fit with the Patriots according to Isaac Moore of Patriots.com, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report sees the Giants as a potential landing spot, and Nick Silverman of Rant Sports throws out the Raiders as a good match for his talents.
- New Bears‘ pass rusher Jared Allen is focused on proving he’s worth taking a chance on, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. “My motivation to be the best at what I do is a self-motivation,” Allen said. “It’s probably more of a fear of failing than it is necessarily thriving to be the best. I just want guys, when I leave this league, I want them to say, ‘He did it the right way, he gave everything he had, and not one day he was stealing checks.'”
- Vikings‘ star linebacker Chad Greenway is adjusting to new head coach Mike Zimmer’s defense, writes Brian Hall of Fox Sports North. Greenway was used primarily as a strong side linebacker under Leslie Frazier, but is practicing across all three linebacker spots under Zimmer. “This is the first chance, really, for me to learn something completely new,” said Greenway. “It’s been good. I go through the same growing pains as the young guys, as far as learning new stuff. Sometimes it’s even harder for me, because I have everything so ingrained over the years. It’s been great. It’s been a fun defense to start to learn, and we’ve just got to get good at it now.”
NFC North Notes: Finley, Neal, Packers, Lions
In a piece on the best remaining free agents, former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley tops the 10 players named by Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. Of course, as agent Blake Baratz tells Marvez, it’s not 100% certain that Finley will even return from his spinal injury and play in the NFL again. While we do expect the tight end to sign somewhere, he could file for the collection of a $10MM insurance policy if he opts not continue his playing career.
As we wait to see if the Packers express interest in bringing Finley back into the fold, here’s more from around the NFC North:
- Linebacker Mike Neal re-signed with the Packers early in free agency, but Green Bay wasn’t the only team interested in him. Neal tells Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that the Bears made him an offer, though he opted not sign with the Packers’ division rival. “In the long run, their offer, it wasn’t a bad deal,” Neal said of Chicago’s proposal. “The option for me to come back [to Green Bay] was better, in my opinion. I felt like this was a system that if I was kept in the same position, I could flourish in.” The Steelers also reportedly expressed interest in Neal before he re-upped with the Packers.
- Although there are questions about how long Ted Thompson will continue on in his role as Green Bay’s general manager, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com says Packers fans should hope that Thompson still has plenty of years left on the job. One person close to Thompson recently told Demovsky that he doesn’t think the GM will leave anytime soon unless the Packers win another Super Bowl, and that speculation about his retirement “got him going.”
- The Lions have promoted Rob Lohman to assistant director of pro personnel and expanded their scouting department, as Tim Twentyman details at DetroitLions.com.