AFC North Notes: Burfict, Rice, Burleson, Steelers
Vontaze Burfict is barely into his second NFL contract, but he wants the Bengals to know that he already has deal No. 3 on his mind, writes Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. “I told Troy [Blackburn] I’ll be back in 2016,” Burfict said. “Obviously they trust me, and like I’ve said, I want to be a leader of the defense. We have great things to come for the next three years while I’m here.” If Burfict continues to perform at a high level, that next contract will be hefty, whether it comes from Cincinnati or someone else. More AFC North news:
- If Ravens running back Ray Rice were to have another domestic violence incident, it’s unclear whether he would face a lifetime ban under the league’s new policy, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Of course, the policy was put in place after (and in response to) Rice’s incident this offseason.
- With an impressive route and catch last night, veteran Nate Burleson may have sewn up his spot on the Browns‘ roster, writes Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
- It is possible the Steelers could carry as many as six wide receivers, though it is not likely, which means the players who don’t make the cut will probably be former Penn State teammates Justin Brown and Derrick Moye, writes Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Darrius Heyward-Bey projects to be Pittsburgh’s fifth and final receiver.
- After the way Isaiah Crowell ran against the Bears, the Browns will probably have to give him a roster spot since they’d never get him back on the practice squad, writes Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.
Bengals Sign Vontaze Burfict To Extension
2:37pm: The deal, which has now also been announced by the Bengals, has been slightly adjusted since the initial agreement, according to Adam Caplan, who says Burfict will earn $10.75MM in salary and bonuses in the first six months, and $12MM in the first two years of the pact (Twitter link).
AUGUST 27, 2:07pm: Burfict and the Bengals finalized the linebacker’s new deal today, according to agent Audie A. Attar of Paradigm Sports Management (via Twitter).
AUGUST 20, 4:38pm: The Bengals have agreed to a contract extension with Vontaze Burfict, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).
According to Caplan, Burfict will earn $9.75MM in salary and bonuses by March of 2015, and is set to take in $11MM over the first two years of the deal (via Twitter).
Caplan’s colleague at ESPN, Adam Schefter, reports that that contract is a three-year extension, keeping Burfict with the team through 2017. His total contract is now a four-year, $20MM deal that will pay him a salary of $7.6MM in 2014 (via Twitter).
Burfict was once considered an early first-round talent, but issues on and off the field contributed to a drop in his stock prior to the 2012 NFL Draft. He ran poorly at the combine and tested positive for marijuana, which contributed to him going undrafted and signing with the Bengals as a rookie-free agent.
The troubled linebacker has since turned his career around, becoming the star player he was once thought of. He led the NFL in tackles in 2013, and was the only member of the vaunted Bengal defense selected to the Pro Bowl.
Bengals Waive Six Players, Down To 75
The Bengals have taken six players off their active roster, reducing their player count to 75 in advance of this afternoon’s roster cutdown deadline. Per Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter links), here are the six players cut today by the Bengals:
- Kevin Brock, TE
- Jasper Collins, WR
- James Davidson, LB
- J.K. Schaffer, LB (waived-injured)
- Matt Scott, QB
- Lavelle Westbrooks, CB (waived-injured)
Bengals Cut Five Players
The Bengals have cut five players in advance of the 75-man roster limit, the team announced on Twitter. The following players were waived:
- Larry Black, DT
- Isaiah Lewis, LS
- Quinn Sharp, K
- Ryan Whalen, WR
CB R.J. Stanford had his contract terminated, meaning he is a free agent immediately. Cincinnati’s roster now stands at 81 — it needs to make six more cuts before 3pm tomorrow.
AFC Links: Keisel, Dolphins, Ravens, Atkins
Brett Keisel is excited to return to the Steelers, and the defensive end isn’t concerned about his role for this upcoming season. Instead, he’s focused on helping the team, particularly the rookies.
“To be back and to be able to hope to help lead some of these guys and help these guys turn into pros and accountable pros, I’m excited about it,” Keisel told Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“I’ve felt since about March, when I decided I still wanted to play football, that something would happen. I hoped it would be here, and for a long time … nothing happened, nothing happened. It was kind of weird like, ‘What am I going to do now?'”
So, after having started in each of his 110 games since 2006, will the veteran welcome a reduced role?
“We really didn’t get into that too much. They just said, ‘We want you back.'”
Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC…
- As Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno continues to get healthy, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald believes the player will climb up the depth chart. That could leave some of his teammates, including Daniel Thomas, on the outside looking in. However, the prospect of being cut is far from the 26-year-old’s mind. “I don’t really worry about it,” Thomas said. “I’ll just let whatever happens, happens and just go with it. It’s all I can do.”
- Considering the injuries in the Ravens secondary, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun says that the team “probably can’t afford to cut any corners” until the starters return to practice.
- Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins is expected to make his preseason debut on Sunday. After recovering from an ACL injury, some could be worried that the Pro-Bowler has lost some explosiveness. That does not include head coach Marvin Lewis, who told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com that “Geno looks like Geno.”
AFC Notes: McPhee, Hurns, Amaro, Mack
Ravens outside linebacker Pernell McPhee is a player to watch in tonight’s third preseason game against the Redskins, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun: “Healthy this year after having no surgeries this offseason — unlike previous years when he’s undergone groin and knee procedures — the Ravens’ outside linebacker has been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL this preseason with one sack and five quarterback hurries. McPhee appears to have recaptured his rookie form from 2011 when he finished second on the Ravens with six sacks.” Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jaymison Hensley points out that McPhee is in the final year of his rookie deal, meaning the Ravens should benefit from healthy, motivated player seeking a contract extension.
Here’s a roundup of more links from around the AFC:
- T.J. Graham is the Bills’ top “bubble” player, says ESPN’s Mike Rodak: “With six receivers already considered locks for the 53-man roster, Graham might need an injury to make the cut. However, he can make a strong push for a job with another team with a good outing Saturday. Graham saw more time with the first-team offense as training camp progressed, and with Sammy Watkins not expected to play Saturday, Graham should have chances to catch passes from starting quarterback EJ Manuel. The Bills will need to make a decision on Graham shortly after Saturday’s game. Would they release him early and allow him time to catch on elsewhere? Or do they hold onto him and try to get him back on their practice squad, now that he is eligible under the NFL’s new rules?”
- With Donald Stephenson facing a four-game suspension and Joe Mays injured, the competition for replacement snaps at right tackle and inside linebacker is something to watch in the Chiefs’ third preseason game, writes Terez Paylor in the KC Star.
- The Broncos are in need of a punt returner following the torn ACL suffered by Jordan Norwood. Isaiah Burse will get the first chance to claim the role, according to an AP story.
- The Jaguars used a pair of second-round picks on receivers, but undrafted free agent Allen Hurns has been the best rookie in camp, writes Hays Carlyon in the Florida Times-Union: “The question now isn’t if Hurns makes the 53-man roster. He’s a virtual lock, a difficult position for an undrafted rookie to work his way to after three games. . . Hurns has put himself in position to perhaps start opposite Cecil Shorts when the Jaguars open the regular season at Philadelphia on Sept. 7.”
- Jace Amaro is impressing Rex Ryan. Speaking about the rookie tight end, Ryan told the New York Post’s Brian Costello, “I told you guys he reminds me of [Mike] Ditka the more I see him. The kid gets better and better and better. That’s the thing you love about this guy.” Amaro had four catches and a touchdown last night against the Giants.
- Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack looked worthy of the No. 5 overall selection last night, according to Marcus Thompson II of the San Jose Mercury-News.
- Raiders running back Kory Sheets (Achilles) is out for the season. Sheets broke the news himself via Twitter. As a result, Latavius Murray will begin the season as the team’s primary kick returner.
- A pair of young veterans — Dontay Moch and Orson Charles — could be candidates for the Bengals’ practice squad, speculates ESPN’s Cole Harvey, who says “coaches have grown tired of the Charles experiment and are all-in on undrafted rookie free agent Ryan Hewitt.”
AFC Notes: Burfict, Watt, Howell, Patriots
Typically, when contract agreements are first reported, it takes just a matter of hours before those deals become official. But linebacker Vontaze Burfict, whose extension with the Bengals was reported on Wednesday, has yet to finalize his new contract with the club and has been missing from practice for the last three days with a stomach virus. According to head coach Marvin Lewis, it’s probably just a matter of time until the deal gets formally announced (link via Richard Skinner of Cincinnati.com).
“As you know how we believe it here, until the club and the player have signed off, it’s not signed off,” Lewis said. “I would guess we expect him to sign. Obviously the agent believes he has a deal, so, we didn’t release it.”
As we wait for official word on Burfict’s reported extension, let’s check in on a few other items from out of the AFC….
- Joel Corry of the National Football Post breaks down the numbers on the Burfict extension, explaining why the Bengals had leverage in negotiations and why the linebacker made out pretty well.
- In a separate piece for CBSSports.com, Corry takes a look at another extension candidate, J.J. Watt, writing that if Watt and the Texans are going to reach an agreement before the season gets underway, it will probably require the star defender – rather than the team – to relent a little.
- Colts safety Delano Howell has suffered another neck injury, but it shouldn’t be career-ending, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Wells, who says Howell spent part of the week in Minnesota meeting with a specialist.
- The Patriots would benefit if Isaac Sopoaga earns a spot on the Cardinals’ regular season roster, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com, noting that the offsets in Sopoaga’s contract would allow New England to free up $855K in cap space.
- The NFL’s changes to practice squad eligibility criteria mean that a few more Titans are candidates for spots on the squad, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. I outlined the rules relating to practice squads earlier today.
Kyle Cook To Retire
Former Bengals center Kyle Cook has decided to end his NFL playing career, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). The veteran lineman had been a free agent since being released by Cincinnati back in March.
Cook, 31, was one of the best interior lineman still available on the free agent market, as I noted when I examined notable veteran free agents earlier in the week. The Michigan State product had been the Bengals’ regular starter at center for the last five years, missing most of 2012 with a foot injury but playing all 16 games in each of the season from 2009-11 and in 2013.
Although Cook only played out half of the four-year extension he signed with Cincinnati back in 2011, he made out fairly well on that deal, earning base salaries of $2.5MM in 2012 and 2013 to go along with a $2.56MM signing bonus and $400K in workout bonuses. His release left the Bengals with $1.28MM in dead money on their cap for 2014.
With Cook no longer in the picture, the Bengals appear ready to hand the starting center job to fourth-round rookie Russell Bodine.
AFC North Notes: Burfict, Bengals, Keisel
Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton took to Twitter to congratulate teammate Vontaze Burfict on his new contract. “Congrats to @King55Tez on the extension! Well deserved! #whodey #letsroar.” The linebacker tacked another three years on his contract, keeping him in Cincy through 2017. Here’s more from the #AFCNorth..
- Burfict is now in the “show me” phase of his career after agreeing to a four-year, $20MM extension earlier today with the Bengals, writes Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. Once this deal ends for Burfict at the ripe age of 28, he’ll have more leverage when negotiating his third contract. Combine that with the steady increase in salary-cap money teams will soon have, and Burfict could really cash in on his next pact.
- In a piece for ESPN Insider (subscription required), Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders turned in his top ten impact rookies for 2014. While big names like Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney are on the list, day three offensive lineman Russell Bodine of the Bengals also made the cut. The former UNC center will be starting and must learn the intricate system of audible calls and line checks in Hue Jackson’s offense.
- Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review looks at what the signing of Brett Keisel really means for the Steelers.
Minor Moves: Sunday
We’ll round up today’s minor transactions here, with the latest news appearing at the top:
- To open a roster spot for tight end Kyle Auffray, the Raiders have cut kicker Kevin Goessling, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
Earlier updates
- To fill the roster spot vacated by Ott’s departure, the Patriots have re-signed tight end Justin Jones, according to Tom Curran of CSSNE.com (Twitter link). Jones, an undrafted free agent, had been released a week ago.
- Former Illinois receiver Steve Hull signed on with the Saints as a undrafted free agent just three months ago, but he has decided to end his playing career. Hull posted the news himself on his Instagram account.
- The Patriots have waived long snapper Tyler Ott, an 2014 undrafted free agent out of Harvard, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Veteran Danny Aiken is now the only LS on New England’s roster.
- The Bengals have waived OT Chandler Burden, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the Colts have cut running back Davin Meggett and signed running back Deji Karim.
- The Lions have signed linebacker Shamari Benton and waived linebacker Justin Jackson, reports Wilson (Twitter links).
- Wilson tweets that the Chiefs have cut Rokevious Watkins from the reserve non-football injury list.