Bears To Sign M.D. Jennings
The Bears announced via Twitter that they have agreed to terms with safety M.D. Jennings on a one-year deal. Jennings started all 16 games for the Packers last season at safety.
Jennings was a restricted free agent this offseason but Green Bay opted not to tender an offer to their starting free safety. The 25-year-old registered 59 tackles and a sack in 2013 plus a fumble recovery for a touchdown early in the season against the Bengals.
FA Rumors: Broncos, Allen, LaFell, Redskins
According to a Denver Post report, the Broncos are considering free agent linebackers Jon Beason and Daryl Smith. However, the report surfaced yesterday before word broke that the team had agreed to sign Aqib Talib and scheduled a visit with DeMarcus Ware, so it’s not clear whether Denver still has interest. The team certainly does seem to be going all-in to try to take advantage of Peyton Manning‘s final years though.
Here are several more Wednesday morning free agency updates:
- The Bears don’t presently appear to be in the mix to sign veteran defensive end Jared Allen, sources tells Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com (Twitter link).
- While Julian Edelman explores the open market, the Patriots will be hosting another free agent receiver, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who tweets that Brandon LaFell will visit New England.
- Free agent cornerback Corey Graham is set to visit the Redskins, says Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Graham has also reportedly drawn interest from a pair of Washington’s division rivals, the Giants and Eagles.
- The Redskins are also hosting offensive lineman Bruce Campbell, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Lions will host free agent fullback Henry Hynoski on Thursday, says Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
- Free agent guard Shelley Smith is visiting with the Giants today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- The Bills have announced that free agents Chris Williams (OL) and Nolan Carroll (CB) will be visiting the team today, according to Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 (via Twitter).
- Free agent wide receiver Kevin Cone didn’t receive a tender offer from the Falcons and will now be an unrestricted free agent, says D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Defensive end Ronald Talley, who was eligible for restricted free agency, also appears to have gone untendered, having tweeted that he won’t be back with the Cardinals in 2014 (hat tip to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com).
NFC Rumors: Allen, Rams, Tillman, Costa
With the Broncos shifting their focus to DeMarcus Ware, Vikings free agent defensive end Jared Allen is talking with the Bears and Seahawks, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). More out of the NFC..
- Contrary to some reports, free agent defensive end Antonio Smith is not making a free agent visit to the Rams, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- The Rams decided not to make a tender offer to cornerback Quinton Pointer, an exclusive rights free agent, Thomas tweets.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter) would not be surprised to see the Panthers work to get in the game for free agent cornerback Charles Tillman. There was a lot of talk about Tillman reuniting with former coach Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay, but that’s probably off the table now that the Buccaneers have agreed to sign Alterraun Verner.
- Former Cowboys veteran center Phil Costa visited the Lions today and will meet with the Patriots on Monday, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Football Post. Costa, a 6-foot-3, 302-pounder from Maryland who has started 20 of 26 career games, started no games last season after the Cowboys drafted center Travis Frederick in the first round. For what it’s worth, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter) hears that the Pats visit took place yesterday.
- The Buccaneers were pursuing offensive tackle Rodger Saffold last weekend, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Had they signed him, he would have played left tackle in Tampa. Instead, Saffold is Oakland bound.
NFC FA Rumors: Cowboys, Seahawks, Lions
We’ve passed along word of all the free agents who have already found homes – old or new – but there are plenty of players still on the market. Let’s take a look around the NFC at some of the day’s free agent rumors….
- Now that Julius Peppers is an unrestricted free agent, the Cowboys have interest in the veteran defensive end, tweets Dianna Russini of NBC Washington. It would have to be a pretty inexpensive deal, given Dallas’ cap limitations.
- Jeff Sullivan of DallasCowboys.com (Twitter link) and Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com (Twitter link) both classify the Cowboys‘ interest in defensive lineman Henry Melton as strong, and Sullivan suggests there’s mutual interest. Melton will visit with the team and things could move quickly, according to the Dallas writers.
- Free agent receiver Jacoby Jones will visit with the Giants on Wednesday, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN. The Ravens are still discussing a potential return to Baltimore for Jones.
- The Seahawks are in talks with defensive tackle Tony McDaniel on a new deal that would bring him back to Seattle, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport also tweets that the Seahawks will meet with free agent tight end Jermichael Finley and wide receiver Taylor Price, while Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link) adds defensive tackle Jason Hatcher to that list.
- Meanwhile, former Seahawks receiver Golden Tate is visiting with the Lions tonight, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
- Schefter passes along word via ESPN.com colleague Michael Rothstein (Twitter link) that the Lions have interest in safety Chris Clemons. The Steelers were also originally mentioned as a suitor, but they’re almost certainly out of the mix now that Mike Mitchell is headed to Pittsburgh.
- In their pursuit of a tight end, the Lions are discussing a potential visit for free agent Scott Chandler, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
- The Panthers would like to retain free agent receiver Domenik Hixon, but the Bears are also in talks with him, reports Rand Gatlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter).
Bears Sign Lamarr Houston
6:44pm: Houston’s contract includes a $4.95MM signing bonus, and a $3MM roster bonus this year, according to Aaron Wilson (via Twitter). While he reports that the guaranteed money is at $12.9MM, other reports such as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune have the figure at closer to $15MM guaranteed (via Twitter).
3:19pm: Lamarr Houston reached agreement with the Bears on a five-year deal, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. The former Raiders defensive end gets $35MM in total.
Bears Release Julius Peppers
The Bears have opted to release veteran defensive end Julius Peppers, the team announced today (Twitter link). Assuming the move isn’t designated as a post-June 1 cut, it will create about $9.82MM in 2014 cap savings for the club.
The former second-overall pick of the Panthers joined the Bears before the 2010 season, tallying 37.5 sacks as a Bear. He has been to the Pro Bowl eight times (three times as a Bear), and been selected All Pro three times, most recently in 2010. Peppers is currently 17th on the career sack list, taking down the quarterback 118.5 times.
The 34-year-old pass rusher is now and a free agent, and only one year removed from a Pro Bowl appearance will look to add to his impressive career totals outside of Chicago.
FA Signings: Buccaneers, Colts, Bears, Bills
Among the big name signings flying around today, here are a few minor signings that might have slid under the radar:
- The Buccaneers have re-signed cornerback Danny Gorrer, according to Greg Auman of TampaBay.com (via Twitter). Gorrer has bounced around the league, playing for three teams in three years before landing with the Buccaneers in 2012.
- The Colts have agreed to a contract to retain safety Sergio Brown, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Brown has played the last two seasons with the Colts.
- The Bears have signed linebacker Jordan Senn, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Senn had played the last four seasons with the Panthers.
- The Bills have re-signed tight end Mike Caussin, according to Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News (via Twitter). Caussin has not played in an NFL game since 2011.
Bears To Sign Ryan Mundy
The Bears announced on Twitter that they have agreed to terms with free agent safety Ryan Mundy on a two-year deal. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter) first reported that it was close.
Mundy, who will be leaving the Giants, was said to be intrigued by having an opportunity to start in Chicago. It was a buyers market for teams at the safety position this offseason and Mundy was one of many attractive options.
Bears Re-Sign D.J. Williams
7:15pm: Williams got a $1.5MM with $100K of it guaranteed, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. He also gets a roster bonus of ~$23K per game.
4:01pm: The Bears and linebacker D.J. Williams have reached agreement on a one-year deal, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. The 11th-year veteran will immediately become the frontrunner to start at middle linebacker next season but he’ll face competition from Jon Bostic for the No. 1 slot.
Williams joined the Bears during free agency in 2013 on a one-year deal with a $900K base. Unfortunately, injuries got in his way – first in the preseason by a calf injury and then a season-ending pectoral injury that he suffered in the Bears’ sixth game last fall. In six starts last season, Williams recorded 39 tackles, including 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss. At the end of the season, the 31-year-old linebacker said his intent was to remain in Chicago in 2014, citing familiarity with defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.
Bears general manager Phil Emery recently offered up positive words about what he saw from the University of Miami product. “I saw a good football player. Saw a guy who has legitimately very good burst. Saw a player who has good instincts, gets around the ball and plays with a relentless style. We were not displeased with his effort. We were very pleased with where he was going and how he was progressing,” said the GM.
NFC Rumors: Sproles, Tuck, Suh, Watson
Let’s check on the latest miscellaneous notes from around the NFC….
- The Saints are set to cut Darren Sproles today, but they are still holding out hope on trading him, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. There are more than ten teams interested in the diminutive tailback if he’s cut free, so it’s conceivable that they could find a trade partner.
- Justin Tuck‘s exploration of the free agent market may end up with him returning to the Giants, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio hears that one team was willing to pay Tuck $3MM per year, but the veteran defensive end would prefer to remain in New York at that price.
- Talks have yet to start between the Lions and Ndamukong Suh on reworking his deal, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The thinking previously was that Detroit had to re-work the deal before the start of free agency but that’s not the case.
- Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson is likely to sign elsewhere at the start of free agency, a league source tells Mike Florio.
- The Bears would like to bring back cornerback/special teams player Sherrick McManis, but the Ravens, Eagles, and Falcons could be in play as well, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- With Donte Whitner set to leave the 49ers, San Francisco could turn to safety Ryan Mundy as a fallback, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- Free agent left tackle Jared Veldheer has fired his agent in order to hire his brother, James Veldheer, as his new agent, tweets Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910. Veldheer is expected to sign with the Cardinals.
- The Redskins are monitoring Kenny Britt, who could be had on a reasonable deal in a soft market, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. Of course, the Redskins’ likely deal with Andre Roberts lessens their need for Britt.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.