Extra Points: Rice, Mariota, McQuillan
The July 4th holiday weekend is behind us, which means we’re inching slightly closer to the start of NFL training camps. As we continue to count down the days until the 2015 preseason gets underway, let’s round up a few odds and ends from around the league….
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk checks in on Ray Rice, noting that the running back still hasn’t drawn interest from NFL teams, eight months after his indefinite suspension was overturned.
- As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk observes, it’s odd that offsets are the holdup between the Titans and unsigned first-rounder Marcus Mariota, since the chances of offsets becoming relevant before the end of Mariota’s rookie contract are extremely slim.
- Most players who enter the supplemental draft don’t get picked, but former UConn tight end Sean McQuillan – one of seven prospects eligible for this Thursday’s draft – isn’t lacking for confidence, writes Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant. “First of all, I’m going to make it, and second of all, there isn’t a backup plan,” McQuillan said. “I’m confident I’m going to be able to do this thing. I’m prepared for this. I’m going to show them I’m athletic, I’m versatile, I can do a bunch of different things. I’m confident and I’m ready for this next step, so I haven’t thought about anything else.”
- In his list of the three most team-friendly veteran wide receiver contracts in the NFL, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap lists all AFC players: Julian Edelman of the Patriots, Emmanuel Sanders of the Broncos, and Antonio Brown of the Steelers.
- Former Auburn running back Onterio McCalebb started his career with the Bengals as a cornerback, but the team is trying him at wide receiver this summer, as Mark Inabinett of AL.com details.
Extra Points: Favre, Lynch, Raiders
Brett Favre is 45 years old and has been out of the NFL since retiring in 2011, but he told Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop he’s still capable of playing.
“I could make all the throws I made before, I just couldn’t throw it near as far, but that never matters anyway,” said Favre.
Despite the confidence he has in his abilities, Favre stated that he’s “not trying to start some he’s-coming-out-of-retirement deal.”
The former Falcon, Packer, Jet and Viking last played in 2010, when he appeared in 13 games and threw 11 touchdowns against 19 interceptions for Minnesota. The Rams tried to coax Favre out of retirement in 2013, ESPN reported, but the 11-time Pro Bowler declined their offer.
Here’s more from around the league:
- In an interview with Ashley Fox of ESPN.com, NFL executive Troy Vincent criticized the NFL Players Association’s recent propensity to drag appeals of league punishments through the court system. Pointing to the drawn-out cases of players like Adrian Peterson and Tom Brady, Vincent said, “Look at the amount of money being spent on legal fees for a handful of people. It’s millions and millions of dollars, and we’ve got players that are hurting. We’ve got young men who don’t know how to identify a good financial adviser. Men are in transition who aren’t doing well, and yet $8-10MM a year is spent in court fees about who should make a decision on someone, who in some cases has committed a crime.”
- Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch confirmed to Conan O’Brien on Monday night that he was contemplating retirement before the team gave him a new deal earlier this year, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “I mean, you know, in this game, you know, at this running back position, you don’t go that long,” Lynch said. “But, I mean, they put 12 (million dollars) in front of you for a year you start to think like ‘Yeah, maybe I can do this again.'”
- Second-year Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is impressed with his two newest targets, rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper and veteran Michael Crabtree. Regarding Cooper: “He is ridiculous in and out of his breaks,” Carr told 95.7-FM in San Francisco on Tuesday, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “His style of play is perfect for this league.” On Crabtree, Carr said, “He is a football junkie. He’s been a nice guy, a nice addition to our team.”
- Michael Johnson returned to the Bengals this offseason and will team with Geno Atkins to create an intimidating force along Cincinnati’s defensive line. While that reunion has fans in the Queen City excited, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com says the team’s coaching staff is also singing the praises of the man they expect to spell Johnson from time to time, particularly on running downs: Will Clarke. Clarke was on the field for just 64 snaps in last season, his rookie year, but he put on good weight this offseason and is clearly more comfortable in the Bengals’ scheme. He is expected to be an important part of the D-line rotation.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Largest 2015 Cap Hits By Team: AFC North
Before NFL training camps get underway next month, we’ll be taking a closer look at the top 2015 cap hits for teams around the league. We began our series last week by focusing on the NFC East and AFC East divisions, and looked at the NFC North yesterday. Today, we’ll head back to the AFC to examine the AFC North.
Listed below are the top 10 cap hits for the coming season for each of the four AFC North franchises, accompanied by some observations on the spending habits of those clubs. Let’s dive in….
Baltimore Ravens:
- Joe Flacco, QB: $14,550,000
- Ray Rice, RB: $9,500,000 (dead money)
- Lardarius Webb, CB: $9,250,000
- Marshal Yanda, G: $8,450,000
- Eugene Monroe, LT: $7,700,000
- Haloti Ngata, DT: $7,500,000 (dead money)
- Elvis Dumervil, OLB: $7,375,000
- Dennis Pitta, TE: $6,200,000
- Steve Smith, WR: $4,166,666
- Terrell Suggs, OLB: $3,950,000
Total: $78,641,666
The Ravens have a good chunk of money tied up in players no longer on the roster or coming off injury-plagued seasons. Health issues slowed Webb and Monroe in 2014, while Pitta’s career could be in jeopardy following the latest procedure on his hip.
Still, most of the players who have top-10 cap hits – at least those still on the roster – are among Baltimore’s top contributors. The club may have to address a number of the contracts near the top of the list after the season, if not before then, as Yanda is entering a contract year while Flacco’s cap charge soars to $28MM+ in 2015.
One contract the team already addressed in recent months was Webb’s, though it remains to be seen if the team will want to commit $9.5MM in cap room to him in 2016, with fellow cornerback Jimmy Smith set to count for $9.6MM. Another restructure may be necessary for Webb to stick around.
Cincinnati Bengals:
- A.J. Green, WR: $10,176,000
- Andy Dalton, QB: $9,600,000
- Leon Hall, CB: $9,600,000
- Geno Atkins, DT: $9,000,000
- Rey Maualuga, LB: $7,137,500
- Andre Smith, RT: $6,362,500
- Andrew Whitworth, LT: $6,200,000
- Vontaze Burfict, LB: $5,175,000
- Clint Boling, G: $5,100,000
- Carlos Dunlap, DE: $4,900,000
Total: $73,251,000
Few teams have managed their cap better than the Bengals in recent years, and their combined cap charge for their top highest-paid players is relatively modest compared to their division rivals. Not only does Cincinnati not have any dead-money players in its top 10, but the entire sum of the dead money on the team’s cap for 2015 works out to a minuscule $800K.
Despite their impressive cap management, the Bengals haven’t been able to make a deep playoff run, and typically Dalton is assigned the blame for the club’s postseason shortcomings. For now, his cap number is fairly modest, but his new contract is structured in such a way that the Bengals will be able to move on from him if they want to in future years, as his cap charge increases to the $15-17MM per year range.
Out of all 16 East and North teams we’ve examined so far, no club has a smaller No. 1 cap hit than the Bengals, with Green barely cracking eight digits. That figure could end up going even lower, since the star wideout is entering a contract year and is considered a strong candidate for an extension — a new deal might reduce his 2015 cap number, depending on how Cincinnati structures it.
Cleveland Browns:
- Joe Haden, CB: $11,700,000
- Joe Thomas, LT: $10,200,000
- Paul Kruger, OLB: $8,200,000
- Alex Mack, C: $8,000,000
- Desmond Bryant, DL: $7,000,000
- Donte Whitner, S: $6,750,000
- Tramon Williams, CB: $6,500,000
- Karlos Dansby, LB: $5,500,000
- Phil Taylor, DT: $5,477,000
- Andrew Hawkins, WR: $5,000,000
Total: $74,327,000
Like the Bengals, the Browns have avoided taking on significant dead-money charges, but Cleveland’s top-10 list is still rather unusual. Dominated by defensive players, the list features only three offensive players, and two of them are linemen.
The only offensive skill-position player on Cleveland’s list isn’t a quarterback — it’s Hawkins, whose contract is heavily front-loaded, since he was signed as a restricted free agent and the Browns didn’t want the Bengals to match his offer sheet. After sneaking into the club’s top 10 cap hits this year, Hawkins will see his cap number dip to $1MM in 2016.
Had we extended the list to a top 15, two other offensive veterans would’ve made the cut: wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and quarterback Josh McCown, who will likely be the team’s starter this fall.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
- Ben Roethlisberger, QB: $17,245,000
- Lawrence Timmons, LB: $12,566,250
- Antonio Brown, WR: $9,787,500
- LaMarr Woodley, OLB: $8,580,000 (dead money)
- Cortez Allen, CB: $6,981,000
- Cameron Heyward, DL: $6,969,000
- Heath Miller, TE: $5,666,666
- Troy Polamalu, S: $4,500,000 (dead money)
- Maurkice Pouncey, C: $4,296,000
- Shaun Suisham, K: $3,665,000
Total: $80,256,416
After a pair of 8-8 seasons, the Steelers bounced back in 2014 to win the division, but you wouldn’t know it to look at this list. Pittsburgh has committed more than $80MM in cap room to its top 10 players, more than any other club in the division, and there are some questionable names amongst those top 10.
Timmons is the league’s highest-paid inside linebacker, with a cap number way above the typical figures for the position; Woodley and Polamalu are no longer on the roster; Allen is coming off a disappointing season; and Suisham is the only kicker to rank among his team’s top 10 cap numbers in the division.
Despite all that, the presence of Pro Bowlers like Roethlisberger, Brown, and Pouncey salvages the Steelers’ list. Those players, along with Suisham, are among the league’s best at their respective positions, which makes it a little easier for the club to stomach some misuses of cap room elsewhere on the roster.
Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.
AFC Mailbags: McGloin, Richardson, Bengals, Jets
It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s start the day with some notes from the AFC…
- Considering the presence of Derek Carr and Christian Ponder, Bill Williamson believes the Raiders could shop quarterback Matt McGloin. If he ends up having a good preseason, another team could look to acquire the 25-year-old.
- Regardless of the play of Raiders running back Latavius Murray, Williamson believes Trent Richardson will make the team’s opening day roster.
- Coley Harvey would prefer to “wait and see” how the Bengals receivers perform before declaring that they need more depth at the position.
- Rich Cimini guesses that four running backs will make the Jets roster, an indication that Zac Stacy will be safe. As the writer points out, the team surrendered a draft pick for Stacy, so the organization will try to make it work.
- If Henry Anderson ends up starting on the defensive line for the Colts, Mike Wells says we can point to Kendall Langford‘s contract as a mistake.
Community Tailgate: Best FA Besides Evan Mathis?
We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This month, we launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Today, we’re asking PFR readers to weigh in on the top remaining free agents. Excluding talented players with legal troubles like linebacker Brandon Spikes and defensive end Ray McDonald, former Eagles guard Evan Mathis is universally regarded as the best player without a deal at this time. Beyond Mathis, however, there’s hardly a clear cut silver medalist.
Over the weekend, PFR’s Dallas Robinson put together his list of the best available remaining free agents. After Mathis, he ranked tackle Jake Long No. 2, citing the former No. 1 overall pick’s talent level while also acknowledging his frustrating injury history. Tight end Jermaine Gresham, who underwent back surgery in March to repair a herniated disc, comes in at No. 3 thanks to his pass-catching ability and history of solid blocking. One-time fantasy darling James Jones is ranked fourth even though he has yet to put up the kind of numbers that he did with the Packers in 2012. Defensive end Dwight Freeney, 35, has remained productive despite his age and lack of sack totals, and was ranked No. 5. Safety Dawan Landry, guard Rob Sims, defensive lineman Red Bryant, center Chris Myers, and offensive lineman Anthony Collins rounded out the top ten. Honorable mention went to notables such as defensive end Osi Umenyiora, running back Pierre Thomas, safety Bernard Pollard, running back Ahmad Bradshaw, and quarterback Michael Vick.
Long could definitely pay dividends for a team willing to roll the dice on a low-cost deal and one could hardly be slammed for considering him the most intriguing free agent after Mathis. After all, in 2013, Long graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the league with a strong 22.5 overall score, based on Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). However, he has torn his ACL in each of the past two seasons and in 2014, Pro Football Focus ranked him as just the No. 36 tackle out of 84 qualified players. Do you consider someone like Gresham, who was a focal point of the Bengals’ offense for multiple seasons, to be a better buy? Does that mantle belong to Freeney, who graded out as one of the best at his position in terms of pass-rush productivity? Or, would you cast your vote for someone else?
In the comment section below, let us know who you think is the second-best free agent on the board and why.
Minicamp Notes: Texans, Bengals, Browns, Lions
As minicamps break, beat writers love to write (and we all love to read) quick notes about players and position groups who are either surprising or disappointing us.
Here are a few links to some of the best stories and observations coming out of minicamps from around the league:
- The Texans minicamp has completed, and John McClain of the Houton Chronicle notes that Brian Cushing, Jadaveon Clowney, and Louis Nix all should contribute in 2015. McClain also picks Brian Hoyer as the best chance to start, although he writes that Ryan Mallett has terrific upside.
- The Bengals didn’t get immediate returns from A.J. McCarron after drifting him on Day 3 in 2014, but he is impressing the coaching staff this offseason. The team says he is developing into a starting-quality quarterback, according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. However, while he isn’t an immediate threat to take the starting job, the perennially underwhelming Andy Dalton could be on a shorter leash if the coaching staff has faith in McCarron.
- Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com gives her five takeaways from Browns’ minicamp, including the how good the offensive line and secondary should be, Josh McCown emerging as the clear starter at quarterback, Johnny Manziel still being a work in progress, and the lack of a go-to receiver on the roster.
- Two players on the Lions who might contribute more than expected are rookie runing back Ameer Abdullah and second-year defensive tackle Caraun Reid, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The team comes out of minicamp high on both players, as well as their secondary, but may add a veteran tackle at some point, according to Birkett.
Bengals Waive Pryor, Who Will Convert To WR
8:15pm: Pryor is converting to wide receiver, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk). Teams will be interested in Pryor’s services, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, as he has ideal size (6-foot-4, 233 pounds) and speed (sub-4.4 40-yard dash) to succeed at wideout.
Making Pryor’s position switch all the more interesting is a comment he made when he signed with the Bengals last month.
“If I can’t play quarterback, I can’t play football – I’m pretty much done,” Pryor said, per ESPN’s Coley Harvey (Twitter link).
Nevertheless, Pryor will try his hand at a new spot in hopes of extending his football career.
4:26pm: The Bengals have waived quarterback Terrelle Pryor, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter).
The 25-year-old Pryor joined the Bengals, his fourth team, in May and was hoping to win a backup job behind Andy Dalton. However, the ex-Ohio State star lost out to A.J. McCarron and Josh Johnson. With Pryor out of the picture, McCarron is likely to be Dalton’s primary backup, tweets Dehner.
Pryor has appeared in 14 games – all with the Raiders – since his NFL career began in 2011, combining for 12 touchdowns (nine passing, three rushing) and 12 interceptions.
North Notes: Steelers, Vikings, Bengals, Pack
A look at what’s happening in the NFL’s two North divisions:
- The Steelers’ defense isn’t going to be one whose linemen merely occupy opposing blockers. Instead, new coordinator Keith Butler is encouraging them to attack the football, writes Ray Frager of CSNBaltimore.com.“Coach Buts said early on, ‘I’m not going to hold you back. I want the linebackers to fend for themselves. I expect you guys to make plays for yourself,” lineman Cameron Heyward said. Heyward added that he’s excited about Butler’s philosophy. “I’m salivating. I can’t wait until the season starts.”
- The Packers have a breakout candidate in second-year wide receiver Davante Adams, who caught 38 passes during the regular season and added a seven-catch, 117-yard showing against Dallas in the playoffs. Head coach Mike McCarthy is excited about Adams’ output at minicamp. “Davante Adams, if you want a clear illustration and example of a first-year player taking a jump in his second year, you just saw it here the last four weeks,” McCarthy told the Associated Press. “Davante, if you wanted me to pick an MVP or an all-star (of the offseason), he would definitely be atop the list.”
- Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil wants more from third-year linebacker Barkevious Mingo, writes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. “He is going to have to compete for playing time on early downs. He’s going to have a role in our sub-packages,” said O’Neil, who did acknowledge that Mingo is the team’s best outside linebacker in coverage. Mingo’s role last year mainly focused on coverage, not rushing the passer, as he played through a torn labrum. Mingo has racked up just seven sacks since going sixth overall in the 2014 draft.
- Vikings safety Harrison Smith is under team control for just two more seasons, but he’s not thinking about a contract extension. “I’m really just focused on playing the best type of football I can. That stuff will work itself out,” Harrison said Thursday, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I’m happy to be here and happy to be a part of the Vikings, but all I’m thinking about right now is playing well in 2015.” Whether it’s with the Vikings or someone else, Smith is primed to cash in big if his career stays on its current course. Smith totaled a career-best five interceptions in 2014, giving him 10 in three seasons, and earned a spot on Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro team.
- Two of Harrison’s fellow Vikings defenders, end Brian Robison and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, expect to be ready for training camp in July after suffering offseason injuries, per the Pioneer Press’ Brian Murphy.
- Bengals wideout Marvin Jones impressed as an NFL sophomore in 2013, amassing 51 catches and 10 touchdowns, before missing all of last season with ankle and foot injuries. Healthy again, ESPN’s Coley Harvey writes that the 2012 second-round pick is returning to form. “You’re starting to see a play here, a play there of the old Marv, and the quickness, suddenness and explosiveness,” Bengals receivers coach James Urban said.
- The performance of backup quarterback A.J. McCarron in spring workouts greatly impressed the Bengals and helped convince them to release Terrelle Pryor on Thursday, writes Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “If he can do what he did here live, that will be the next step,” said quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese. Head coach Marvin Lewis expressed similar sentiment regarding the 2014 fifth-round pick and three-time national champion from the University of Alabama. “I’m pleased with his ability to handle the huddle, to handle the team. These nine practices have been awesome for him,” Lewis said.
- Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco heaped praise on second-year receiver Jeremy Butler, who stood out at the team’s minicamp. “He was incredible. He caught the ball extremely well,” said Flacco, according to the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson. “He’s just a big, strong body and catches the ball really well. It’s exactly what he showed last year in training camp, I thought, and he’s just coming out here and doing more of that.” Butler went undrafted out of Tennessee-Martin in 2014 and missed his entire rookie season because of a shoulder injury.
Community Tailgate: 6/18/15
We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This week, we’ve launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every day, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Today, we’ll be discussing the crop of top wide receivers who are eligible for contract extensions. Dez Bryant has received most of the headlines this week, but Demaryius Thomas is currently in the same situation as the Cowboys wideout, having received a franchise-tag tender that he has yet to sign. Meanwhile, both A.J. Green and Julio Jones are entering their fifth-year option season, making them eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016.
All four players could ultimately play out the coming season on one-year contracts and be franchised in 2016, but there’s a belief that once one of the four reaches a long-term agreement with his team, it will provide a template for the other three to negotiate their own deals. It’s just not clear yet what those extensions might look like.
While Calvin Johnson, Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., and others would have something to say about it, you could make a reasonable case that these four extension candidates are among the top five wide receivers in the NFL. Consider the following résumés:
- Dez Bryant: Has averaged approximately 91 receptions, 1,312 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns over the last three seasons, earning an All-Pro spot in 2014.
- Demaryius Thomas: His three-year averages (99 catches, 1,494 receiving yards, 12 TDs) match up favorably with Bryant’s, and he’s coming off a career year in which he racked up 111 catches and averaged more than 100 yards per game.
- A.J. Green: Has been a Pro Bowler in each of his four NFL seasons, and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of those seasons as well, despite being slowed by injuries last year. In 2013, his last fully healthy campaign, he totaled 98 catches, 1,426 yards, and 11 TDs.
- Julio Jones: Established new career highs with 104 receptions and 1,593 yards in 2014, earning his second Pro Bowl berth.
All four appear headed for huge paydays, but there’s plenty to debate and discuss. For instance: Will any of these player challenge Calvin Johnson’s seven-year, $113MM+ contract? Which of the four will sign first, and which will receive the largest deal? Which of the four would you want on your favorite team? Would you be reluctant to invest significant money in any of them? We want to hear from you, so head to the comments section to place your bets and voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to hearing what you have to say!
NFC South Notes: Glennon, Saints, Baker
The Buccaneers grabbed Tim Wright with their No. 1 waiver priority, but they were far from the only team to put a claim in on him. It turns out that nine other teams also submitted claims for the former Patriot. Besides Tampa Bay, the Jets, Bears, Falcons, Browns, Saints, Dolphins, Chiefs, Steelers, and Lions all tried to land the Rutgers product. In the end, however, the Bucs were able to add a player who roughly one-third of the league apparently covets. Here’s tonight’s glance at the NFC South..
- In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Matt Williamson identifies five teams that he thinks should consider trading for Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon, identifying the Cardinals, Bears, Bengals, Browns, and Giants as potential fits.
- A report from ESPN’s Outside The Lines alleged that Saints outside linebacker Ronald Powell was allowed to skate after two interactions with police, including one where traces of cocaine were found in the car he was driving. Meanwhile, agent Peter Schaffer told Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune that it is absurd to believe that police let Powell go after finding cocaine in his car and trashed the report. “As Ronald Powell‘s agent, I’ve had extensive conversations with him, and the ESPN report is a gross mischaracterization of facts and example of an absolute witch hunt,” Schaffer said.
- The Falcons corrected one of their biggest contract mistakes when they released Sam Baker, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap writes. While the contract did not carry guarantees, there was an virtual or effective guarantee, which meant that little could be recouped by releasing him. Fitzgerald initially expected Atlanta to try and negotiate Baker’s salary down, but they instead chose to cut him outright.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.