Extra Points: Rice, Russell, Daniels, Manziel
- Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears that a multi-game suspension for Ravens running back Ray Rice is likely, and one source says that the punishment will be “extremely significant.”
- Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell was sentenced to seven months in jail after pleading guilty to DUI, among other charges (Denver Post story here). Russell, who was arrested last July, served a suspension and returned to his job in September.
- Pro Football Focus tabbed defensive lineman Mike Daniels as the Packers’ “Secret Superstar.”
- In an “Offseason Notebook” piece, Adam Hoge of 670 AM/CBSChicago.com referenced an interview Bears GM Phil Emery did on the station in which he said former Canadian League star Chris Williams was the frontrunner for the team’s open kick returner job. Williams was signed late last season off the Saints practice squad, and Bears special teams coach Joe DeCamillis said he heard from members of the New Orleans staff who were disappointed to lose Williams, whom Emery believes has talent commensurate with mid-round draft picks.
- An anonymous executive envisions Browns rookie QB Johnny Manziel developing into a Jeff Garcia type whose mobility fits well in a West Coast, zone-blocking system, shares Dan Hanzus on NFL.com.
- Lions 2013 seventh-rounder Michael Williams is converting from tight end to offensive tackle, writes Dave Birkett in the Detroit Free Press. Williams (6-6, 270) was drafted as a blocking tight end and missed last season because of a broken hand.
- The agent for Dolphins fourth-round cornerback Walt Aikens, Daniel Frid, tweeted out a picture of the Liberty product signing his contract. Aikens had interest from a number of clubs prior to the draft. He met with the Colts, Packers, Bengals, Chiefs, and Buccaneers and worked out for Cowboys and Jaguars.
- The Dolphins brought in 36 tryout players for their rookie minicamp, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
NFC Notes: Marshall, Redskins, Bucs, 49ers
Under the conditions of Brandon Marshall‘s new contract with the Bears, the receiver will receive $22.3MM guaranteed, all coming in the next two years. That includes a $7.5MM signing bonus, a $7.3MM base salary for 2014, and a $7.5MM salary for 2015, says Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. As Biggs outlines, the deal also features annual $200K workout bonuses, and includes an escalator for 2017 if the Bears make it to the Super Bowl in any of the first three seasons of the contract.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- In addition to signing second-round linebacker Trent Murphy, the Redskins made a pair of minor moves today, signing free agent wideout Rashad Ross and waiving receiver Kofi Hughes (Twitter link). Ross was recently cut by the Chiefs, while Hughes had been signed earlier this month out of Indiana as an undrafted free agent.
- Mike Biehl, who has worked for the Chargers for the last 13 years, has joined the Buccaneers as the club’s director of college scouting, according to a team release. Said GM Jason Licht on the hiring of Biehl: “He’s coming from an organization that has been among the winningest and most successful in the NFL during his time there and whose foundation has been built around draft picks, which was important as we researched all candidates.”
- The 49ers‘ rookie minicamp will feature several local prospects, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who tweets that UC Davis tight end Taylor Sloat, Stanford linebacker Chase Thomas, and Stanford running back Anthony Wilkerson will participate.
- The Cardinals will audition Arizona State wide receiver Kevin Ozier at their rookie camp, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
AFC East Notes: Marshall, Jets, Pats
Linebacker James Morris is probably disappointed after being cut loose by the Patriots due to a failed physical, but he can’t complain about the paycheck. The Iowa product scored a $10K signing bonus and $10K in other guarantees, netting him $20K. Here’s more out of the AFC East..
- Brandon Marshall says that the trade sending him from the Dolphins to the Bears two years ago was a “career-saving” move, writes Adam L. Jahns of the Sun-Times. “The transformation started in my life before I was traded here,” Marshall said. “But I think it was career-saving. I don’t think I’d be sitting in this position talking about an extension. I probably wouldn’t even be having the success that I was having on the field in that environment (in Miami). It wasn’t right for me.“
- Jets free agent acquisition Michael Vick hinted again today that he’ll serve as Geno Smith‘s backup, writes Seth Walder of the New York Daily News. “Going through the competition with Nick, we knew both of us coming in that it was open competition and the best guy was going to win the job,” Vick said. “Pretty much cut and dry. This situation is different. It’s kind of unique. Even though it’s not an open competition, we’re both competing every day.”
- The Patriots tried out unrestricted free agent cornerback Terrell Thomas, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today (on Twitter). At last check, the former Giants reserve traveled to Oakland along with Justin Tuck in March.
North Notes: Ravens, Ebron, Bears, Haden
Let’s check in on the latest items from around the AFC and NFC North divisions….
- Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta shed some light on the Ravens‘ targets in this month’s draft, and Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com rounded up a few of his comments. According to DeCosta, he was disappointed that Baltimore didn’t have a chance to land tight end Eric Ebron, who he believes “has a chance to be a difference maker, Pro Bowl type guy.” The Ravens also liked safety Jimmie Ward and were hoping he might be there in the second round, but he was snapped up by the 49ers late in the first.
- ESPN.com’s team reporters are breaking down the offseasons for the clubs they cover, and the NFC North group published their recaps today. Rob Demovsky examines the Packers, Ben Goessling sizes up the Vikings, Michael Rothstein looks at the Lions, and Michael C. Wright weighs in on the Bears.
- With Brandon Marshall locked up, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune wonders which Bears might be next in line for contract extensions, noting that veteran linebacker Lance Briggs represents an interesting case — the longtime Chicago starter is entering the final year of his contract, but turns 34 this fall, so a long-term deal likely won’t be in the cards. Biggs’ mailbag piece also includes discussions about several other topics, including the Bears’ special teams, rookie minicamp, and receiving depth.
- Pat McManamon of ESPN.com provides a few specific details on Joe Haden‘s new contract with the Browns, listing the cornerback’s annual base salaries and workout bonuses.
NFC Notes: Suh, Witten, Falcons, 49ers
Speaking to reporters after practicing with his Lions teammates today, Ndamukong Suh attempted to reinforce the idea that he likes playing in Detroit and wants to remain with the team long-term, but his comments resulted in more questions than answers. As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press outlines, Suh alluded to having an opportunity on draft day in 2010 to be selected by a team besides the Lions, in the same way that Eli Manning pushed to land on the Giants rather than the Chargers.
“It is my choice. It is, for sure, my choice,” Suh said, when asked if he really had any say in which team selected him. “But like I said, that’s water under the bridge. I’m here in Detroit, I’m happy to be here in Detroit, I’m going to continue to play my heart out as I’ve always done and continue to do.”
Although Suh brought up the 2010 draft in order to illustrate his satisfaction with being a member of the Lions, it may have had the opposite effect, since it hadn’t been public knowledge that the defensive tackle even entertained the possibility of a Manning-esque move back in ’10.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- At age 32, Jason Witten is one of the oldest players on the Cowboys, but he said earlier this week that he hasn’t considered retirement at all, and doesn’t necessarily believe he’s in the final stages of his career. Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News has the details and quotes.
- Asked about Atlanta’s receiving duo of Julio Jones and Roddy White, Falcons owner Arthur Blank said that he’d like to see both players remain with the club for their entire careers, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Jones had his fifth-year option picked up for 2015, while White is entering the final year of his deal, so both players figure to discuss contract extensions soon. “We love Roddy, and Julio as well, so we’ll continue to work with them and their agents closely,” Blank said.
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along an interesting story from Tom Elliott of the St. Cloud Times about Bemidji State’s Zach Noreen, a basketball player who received a minicamp invite from 49ers GM Trent Baalke despite not having played a football game since 2009 in high school.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune and Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com have provided signing bonus info for the Bears‘ and Buccaneers‘ UDFA signings, respectively. We’ve updated our posts on those signings with those bonus amounts.
Checking In On Draft Pick Signings
Under old NFL Collective Bargaining Agreements, the time between the draft and the regular season represented a period of uncertainty for many rookies, with no assurances that contracts would get signed before training camps opened in the summer. However, the current CBA has expedited the process significantly, essentially locking in signing bonus and contract values by draft slot, meaning that deals are being completed faster than ever and holdouts are becoming a thing of the past.
With the help of our list of draft pick signings by team, here are a few details on which contracts have been finalized so far, and which ones still need to be signed:
- 139 draftees have signed, or at least agreed to terms, so far. Since 256 players were drafted in total, that leaves 117 who still have to sign.
- Although more than half of this year’s draft picks have been locked up, that ratio doesn’t extend to first-rounders. Only six of those 32 players have reached agreements with their respective clubs so far — Khalil Mack (No. 5), Anthony Barr (No. 9), Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 12), Kyle Fuller (No. 14), Brandin Cooks (No. 20), and Teddy Bridgewater (No. 32). There shouldn’t be any problems with the contracts for any first-round picks, but there are a few more details to negotiate for those players, including overall guaranteed money.
- Conversely, the deals for seventh-rounders are less complicated to work out, so it’s not surprising that 33 of 41 seventh-round picks have agreed to terms on their deals. Four of those eight unsigned seventh-rounders were drafted by the Rams, who have yet to sign any of their picks.
- The Saints and Bears made quick work of the draft pick signing period, having signed all of their 2014 draftees to rookie contracts already. The Chargers, Colts, and Giants each have just one player left to lock up.
- On the other hand, several clubs are taking their time to sign their draft picks, or at least are in no rush to announce those deals — in addition to the Rams, the Broncos, Bengals, Dolphins, and Browns have yet to ink any rookie contracts.
- To check out the pick-by-pick breakdown of signing bonuses and contract values for each draft slot, be sure to visit OverTheCap.com.
Extra Points: Marshall, Raiders, Falcons, Bills
After the Bears signed Brandon Marshall to a new three-year, $30MM deal, James Walker of ESPN.com looks back on the return that the Dolphins got by dealing him. Miami received a pair of third round picks that turned into cornerback Will Davis, tight end Michael Egnew, and receiver B.J. Cunningham. Davis received little playing time last year as a rookie, Egnew is a third-round bust after two seasons and may not make the roster in 2014, and Cunningham is no longer with the Dolphins. Needless to say, ex-GM Jeff Ireland could have positioned Miami better had he used those draft choices differently. Here’s tonight’s look around the NFL..
- Raiders owner Mark Davis says the team can come up with the necessary $400MM to build a stadium but he’ll need help, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He says if the project doesn’t happen, they’ll then evaluate other options, which presumably means moving. If the Raiders move, Los Angeles seems like a likely destination. Late tonight, Davis admitted talks are in the “eleventh hour,” writes Mike Coppinger of NFL.com.
- The Falcons want rookie Prince Shembo to do it all on defense, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The fourth round pick out of Notre Dame is muscular at 253 pounds and still boasts a decent 4.68 second 40-yard-dash.
- Whether or not there’s an opportunity to relocate the Bills from western New York, multiple NFL owners expect a Jon Bon Jovi-led group to bid on the team, tweets Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. Bon Jovi has a working relationship with Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
- Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel examines Demetri Goodson‘s attempt to transition from point guard to cornerback. The Packers sixth round pick didn’t play football for six years between his sophomore year of high school and first year at Baylor but excelled once he got there.
NFC Notes: Glennon, Crabtree, Jeffery, Eagles
Although a few trade rumors were swirling around Buccaneers signal-caller Mike Glennon prior to the draft, head coach Lovie Smith made it clear in speaking to reporters earlier this month that he views Glennon as the team’s quarterback of the future. In addition to making that view public, Smith has also been assuring Glennon of the same thing privately, according to the quarterback himself, who said today that the coach called him twice during the draft to assure him there was no truth to trade rumors involving him (Twitter links via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times).
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Jay Cutler’s extension last year with the Bears was viewed as the potential floor for Colin Kaepernick’s next contract with the 49ers, and as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com explains, Chicago’s new agreement with Brandon Marshall could also provide a blueprint for talks between Michael Crabtree and the Niners.
- Meanwhile, with Marshall locked up, the Bears figure to turn their attention to their other top wideout, Alshon Jeffery. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders what sort of deal the 24-year-old Jeffery may be in line for if the 30-year-old Marshall is worth $10MM per year.
- With the Eagles‘ 90-man roster now full, Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com takes a look at the club’s offensive depth chart, breaking down positional battles and the odds of several recent signees making the team. Over at ESPN.com, Josh Weinfuss takes a similar look at the Cardinals‘ depth chart.
- New Giants tight end Xavier Grimble tells Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link) that the 49ers, Falcons, Redskins, and Raiders were among the clubs who reached out to him after he went undrafted.
Brandon Marshall Announces Contract Extension
7:33pm: The financials of Marshall’s extension have been released, with the big-play wideout earning $30.1MM in new money, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Of the three year extension, $22.5MM is guaranteed, and Marshall will make $15MM in his first year of the new deal.
11:53am: Marshall’s extension has some “hidden” importance, says Dan Pompei on Sulia: “…the other aspect of [Marshall’s] value is his leadership. Marshall gets players together and runs offseason workouts both on the field and off…it would send the wrong message for the Bears to dole out all the money they have this offseason to players from other teams such as Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and others, and then re-sign their own players such as Tim Jennings, Charles Tillman, Jay Ratliff, Jay Cutler and others, and then not take care of one of their foremost leaders. This contract is about rewarding a great player, but it’s also about sending a message to the entire roster.”
11:20am: Bears receiver Brandon Marshall broke news of a three-year, $30MM contract extension on the television program “The View.” Marshall, who had one year and $9.3MM remaining on his five-year, $44.8MM deal, is now locked up for four years and $40MM ($23MM guaranteed), per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
Acquired from the Dolphins in March of 2012 for a pair of third-round picks, Marshall was the first big splash of GM Phil Emery’s tenure. The 30-year-old has rewarded the team’s confidence, establishing a rapport with Jay Cutler and posting two Pro Bowl seasons in which he totaled 218 receptions for 2,803 yards and 23 touchdowns.
NFC Notes: Marshall, Packers, 49ers
The Vikings will have the first opportunity to pitch their city as the host of Super Bowl LII in 2018, according to the team’s Twitter account. As NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport points out (via Twitter), that is exactly what the team was hoping for. Minneapolis hasn’t hosted a championship since 1992 and the construction of a new stadium may be enough to bring the game back to Minnesota. The Saints and Colts are also finalists for the bid.
Now, for more notes from around the NFC…
- Brandon Marshall will donate $1MM to the mental healthy community, the Pro-Bowler announced during his appearance on “The View” (via Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com).
- Marshall’s new contract will likely have an impact on future deals for Packers receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, tweets ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
- The 49ers have two starting-caliber nose tackles in Glenn Dorsey and Ian Williams and could very well trade one of them, writes Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. The team only plays the position on about 40 percent of their defensive plays, so they could move one of the veterans to acquire more draft picks. Barrows mentions Williams as being the most likely to be traded.
- Josh Johnson will have no impact on the 49ers cap room, writes Barrows in another article. The quarterback signed with the team last week, and because the player’s salary is not among the top-51 on the team, it will have no impact on the 49ers’ available offseason cap space.