NFC Links: Saints, Seahawks, Lions
Let’s take a look at some notes from around the NFC on this Saturday morning…
- Taking a payout is never easy, especially for a 31-year-old veteran. However, Saints offensive lineman Jahri Evans understands that it’s part of the business, and he has no animosity over having to accept less money for this upcoming season. “It worked out in the end. You know, it’s part of the business, obviously. And I’m glad to be here,” Evans told ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett.
- Seahawks rookie Frank Clark recognized that his team was criticized for selecting him in the second round of this past year’s draft. A domestic violence arrest ended his career at the University of Michigan, but the organization was apparently satisfied with the defensive end’s character. Despite the backlash, Clark said he wasn’t affected by the negative press. “It didn’t affect me in no kind of way, because after the Seahawks drafted me I dedicated my game to them,” Clark told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I dedicate everything I did as far as on that field to them because I owe them a lot because No. 1, some people say they took a risk, I say they just gave me an opportunity to show what I can showcase and they had faith in me the whole time.”
- Undrafted offensive tackle La’el Collins ultimately signed with the Cowboys, but the rookie told Birkett (in a separate story) that he seriously considered signing with the Lions. “I talked to coach Caldwell briefly, like, a day after the draft,” Collins said. “First of all, he just wanted me to know he was here for me and that if I needed anything, I could talk to him or if I needed to talk to him, things like that…And honestly, I went on a visit to Detroit and I had a great talk with coach Caldwell while I was there, I had a great meeting with them. We connected in a big way. It was nothing but love and respect for him. I think he’s a great coach; I think they’re going to be a great team.”
East Notes: Bradford, JPP, Gachkar, Jets
After years of being proactive with their quarterbacks in the post-Donovan McNabb era, the Eagles are still at a crossroads with their projected starter.
Philadelphia extended Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick in the late Andy Reid years before re-signing Mark Sanchez this offseason. But Sam Bradford still sits in a walk year despite changing teams, and Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com analyzes the risks both sides take by standing pat and the benefits possible for each party.
Brandt estimates Bradford, with the huge caveat of whether the 27-year-old signal-caller makes it through the season unscathed, could be somewhat of a prize next offseason for a quarterback-needy franchise considering a market that as of now houses Russell Wilson, Philip Rivers and Eli Manning could be left with only Bradford with the cost of inking QBs on a perpetual rise. But despite Bradford having already earned a preposterous $65.1MM as the last No. 1 overall pick of the old CBA, the sixth-year veteran could be worth next to nothing with another season-ending malady, increasing the urgency to negotiate a deal with the Eagles before the season begins.
Although traded for 2013-14 starter Nick Foles, who has won almost as many games (14) in three seasons than Bradford has in five (18), Brandt notes there remains a remote trade possibility, and Andrew Kulp of CSNPhilly.com writes a Week 1 starting lineup featuring Sanchez is not beyond the realm of possibility. On the books for $12.99MM cap number, Bradford’s still in a solid position, with what could be a scant quarterback derby next March and the possibility of the position’s franchise tag skyrocketing to around $20MM next season, per Kulp.
Let’s look at some additional Eastern items this afternoon.
- Jason Pierre-Paul intends to play this season at around 265 pounds, notes the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. Weight’s served as a bit of an issue for Pierre-Paul since his dominant 2011 showing. The 2010 first-round pick hasn’t signed his franchise tender worth $14.8MM yet and hasn’t showed at the Giants‘ facilities for OTAs or minicamp, instead opting to train in his native Florida. Schwartz adds only a “remote” chance exists JPP and the Giants agree on a long-term deal by July 15.
- Special teams coach Rich Bisaccia and linebackers boss Matt Eberflus influenced Andrew Gachkar to sign with the Cowboys, along with Texas’ absence of a state tax, reports Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. Gachkar said his primary position will likely be strongside linebacker while playing under his former instructors at Missouri and with the Chargers, respectively.
- At the moment, the Jets‘ starting tight end is sixth-year veteran Jeff Cumberland, as Jace Amaro is listed as the H-back under Todd Bowles. But the Jets won’t wait around for the inconsistent Cumberland, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. Although the 28-year-old hasn’t exactly had proficient quarterbacks throwing to him, Cumberland rated as the worst tight end last season among players who garnered at least 25% of their team’s snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
- The Dolphins are likely to deploy Jeff Linkenbach as their starting right guard, offers James Walker of ESPN.com. Walker predicts the former Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts cog will beat out Billy Turner for the position. Possibly the most reported Evan Mathis suitor, Miami would be giving snaps to a sub-par guard in Linkenbach in this scenario. The sixth-year veteran’s last full season as a starter — 2011 in Indianapolis — produced some ghastly results, according to PFF (subscription required). Linkenbach hasn’t started more than eight games since.
East Notes: Bryant, Jackson, Bills
There’s a lot of talk about Cowboys rookies Randy Gregory and La’el Collins, but Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News feels that fourth round linebacker Damien Wilson could be a real sleeper in this year’s class. With the health history of Sean Lee and Rolando McClain, he could get a chance to make an impact too. Here’s more from the East divisions..
- Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News feels that Dez Bryant showed how much his Cowboys teammates and football mean to him when he showed up at Valley Ranch in the midst of his holdout. Of course, not everyone felt the same way and the wide receiver was criticized for many for what they perceived as a misstep in negotiating tactics. Bryant has averaged approximately 91 receptions, 1,312 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns over the last three seasons and is looking for a contract that reflects that.
- Speculation that the Bills could cut Fred Jackson has died down a bit, but the running back isn’t ready to take that for granted, as Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com writes. “We’ll see what happens with me getting cut or not,” the 34-year-old told WGR. “I’ll go out and do whatever I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. We’ve got to compete every year. This year is no different than any other year. I’ve got to go out and compete for my job.” The acquisition of LeSean McCoy has led some to believe that the veteran’s time is up in Buffalo, but Jackson doesn’t seem to think that his presence hurts his odds.
- Recently, fans have asked John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter) if he believes Washington will add another tight end. He believes that the team will do so, though he’s not sure which player it’ll be or when that addition will happen.
Largest 2015 Cap Hits By Team: NFC East
Earlier this month, I took a closer look at the top 2015 NFL cap hits by position, checking in on offensive players, defensive players, and special-teamers. Those lists revealed some interesting details about how teams around the NFL are delegating their spending for the 2015 season, with some clubs focusing heavily on certain sides of the ball or specific positions, while others spread out their cap room enough that they barely showed up on any of the top-10 positional lists.
Starting this week, we’ll shift our focus to those individual teams, examining each club’s top 10 cap commitments for the 2015 season. We’ll break it down by division, allowing us to make a few observations about each team’s largest cap numbers for the coming year.
First up? The NFC East. Let’s dive in….
Dallas Cowboys:
- Tony Romo, QB: $14,973,000
- Dez Bryant, WR: $12,823,000
- Brandon Carr, CB: $12,717,000
- Jason Witten, TE: $8,512,000
- Sean Lee, LB: $5,450,000
- Morris Claiborne, CB: $5,175,069
- Miles Austin, WR: $5,106,200 (dead money)
- Tyron Smith, LT: $5,039,000
- Orlando Scandrick, CB: $4,382,271
- Doug Free, RT: $3,980,000 (dead money)
Total: $78,157,540
Of the four teams in the NFC East, only the Cowboys have multiple dead money charges within their top 10 cap hits for the coming year. Unlike Austin, Free is still on the roster, but his previous deal voided after the 2014 season, leaving some dead money on Dallas’ books while the club signed him to a new contract. If we take into account Free’s new contract, which has a $3MM cap number this year, he’s counting for nearly $7MM against the Cowboys’ cap.
Elsewhere on the list, the Cowboys devote significant cap room to the positions you’d expect — quarterback, wide receiver, left tackle, and cornerback. There are no Russell Wilson-esque bargains in the East, where three of the four teams have their quarterbacks at No. 1 on their list of 2015 cap commitments. As such, it makes sense that cornerbacks would be high on each club’s list as well. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, their two highest-paid CBs have either had trouble staying on the field or haven’t been as effective as anticipated, given their price tags.
Bryant’s and Carr’s cap charges could change before the regular season begins, if the former reaches a long-term agreement with the club or the latter agrees to rework his contract.
New York Giants:
- Eli Manning, QB: $19,750,000
- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE: $14,813,000
- Victor Cruz, WR: $8,125,000
- Will Beatty, LT: $8,050,000
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB: $7,250,000
- Prince Amukamara, CB: $6,898,000
- Jon Beason, LB: $4,154,166
- Jameel McClain, LB: $3,400,000
- David Baas, C: $3,225,000 (dead money)
- Steve Weatherford, P: $3,075,000
Total: $78,740,166
The total cost for the Giants’ top 10 cap hits is nearly $79MM, higher than any other team in the NFC East. That figure is largely impacted by Manning’s cap charge, which is approaching $20MM as he enters the final year of his contract. The club could ultimately reduce that figure if Manning signs an extension this year, but it’s not a necessity.
What’s interesting about the Giants’ list is how many question marks there are here — of course, the team won’t get anything out of Baas, whose cap hit is made up of dead money, but there may be concerns about other players here too. A torn pectoral figures to keep Beatty sidelined until November, and Beason, Amukamara, and Cruz are among the players who are coming off serious, season-ending injuries, though they’re expected to be ready to contribute this fall. The Giants’ success this year may hinge significantly on whether those high-priced players are fully recovered.
Also worth noting: New York is the only team in the NFC East with a special teams player in its top 10 cap hits for 2015, as Weatherford sneaks onto the list.
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Sam Bradford, QB: $12,985,000
- Jason Peters, LT: $9,050,000
- Byron Maxwell, CB: $8,700,000
- Connor Barwin, OLB: $7,000,000
- Brandon Graham, OLB: $6,000,000
- Malcolm Jenkins, S: $5,666,666
- Lane Johnson, RT: $5,225,974
- DeMarco Murray, RB: $5,000,000
- Brent Celek, TE: $4,800,000
- Riley Cooper, WR: $4,800,000
Total: $69,227,640
One silver lining of the exodus of highly-paid veterans like DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Evan Mathis, and Jeremy Maclin? The total cost of the Eagles’ top 10 cap hits for 2015 is the lowest in their division, at just over $69MM, allowing the club to spread out moderate salaries to more players further down on the roster. While the Cowboys and Giants have multiple players with cap numbers exceeding $12MM, the Eagles’ second-largest hit barely surpasses $9MM.
The work the Eagles did this past offseason is reflected heavily on this list, as major free agent signings like Maxwell and Murray show up here. Even Graham, who has spent his career with the Eagles, can be considered a free agent addition since he talked to other teams before returning to Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, I was a little surprised to see Celek and Cooper, a pair of steady but unspectacular veteran pass catchers, crack the top 10 here. Younger, cheaper players like Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor may end up producing better numbers, but if Bradford is going to succeed in Philadelphia, he’ll likely need the veterans to chip in as well.
Washington:
- Trent Williams, LT: $14,230,393
- Pierre Garcon, WR: $9,700,000
- Desean Jackson, WR: $9,250,000
- Ryan Kerrigan, OLB: $7,038,000
- Robert Griffin III, QB: $6,719,713
- Jason Hatcher, DT: $5,203,125
- DeAngelo Hall, CB: $4,812,500
- Kory Lichtensteiger, C: $4,300,000
- Chris Culliver, CB: $4,250,000
- Stephen Paea, DT: $4,250,000
Total: $69,753,731
Like Philadelphia, Washington has some new additions show up on its list, and the money spent on Culliver and Paea reflects the team’s dedication to investing in and improving its defense. Still, the club’s top three cap numbers belong to offensive players, including a pair of wide receivers.
The fact that Washington is the only franchise in the NFC East without an expensive quarterback allows for a little more spending flexibility elsewhere, but the team’s QB situation is also arguably the shakiest in the division. One might wonder if it’s worth dedicating so much cap room to playmaking receivers like Garcon and Jackson, when it’s not clear which of Washington’s quarterbacks is capable of consistently getting them the ball.
As for the No. 1 player on this list, Williams is in the final year of his contract, so we could see his number reduced if he signs an extension. Either way, he’ll likely be much further down on next year’s top 10 list, if he’s on it at all.
Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post.
NFC Notes: Wilson, Cowboys, Galette
In an interview with North Carolina’s 99.9 The Fan (audio link), quarterback Russell Wilson may have given an indication that he’s comfortable with moving on to a new team if necessary.
“At the end of the day I trust the process,” Wilson said. “I know God’s going to take me and put me where he wants to have me. I hope that’s Seattle. I love it there, it’s a great place. But I’ve also gone through the ups and downs and been moved around before. I loved N.C. State and loved playing there and then having to go somewhere else [Wisconsin] and start new.”
Later on, Wilson said that he hopes that things will work out with the Seahawks. As the two sides continue to wrestle with what appears to be a sizable gap, however, that’s far from a certainty. Here’s more from the NFC..
- The Cowboys‘ stable of running backs has the unenviable job of trying to replace the production of DeMarco Murray this season. Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News has run down all of the candidates to step up and replace last year’s rushing leader in a five part series, ending today with a glance at Joseph randle. Randle was arrested twice in a four-month period, dating back to last October. Despite his questionable judgement off the field, he’s arguably Dallas’ best option on the field now that Murray is suiting up for a divisional rival.
- The Saints have a tough decision to make. On one hand, they’re probably eager to rid themselves of Junior Galette in the wake of the most recent allegations against him. On the other hand, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes, they’d face a big cap hit if they cut him. If the Saints drop Galette, they’d keep his cap number at $5.45MM for 2015 while dealing with $12.1MM in dead money against next year’s cap.
- Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams believes that the Rams D has a chance to be special thanks in part to some new faces, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes.
East Notes: Brady, Ted Wells, Dez Bryant
The weeks in the NFL’s calendar between June minicamps and the beginning of training camps are typically fairly quiet, but that’s not the case this week. All eyes will be on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the NFLPA tomorrow, as they make their case to arbitrator Roger Goodell for Brady’s suspension to be reduced.
According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (all Twitter links), Ted Wells will be among those at the hearing tomorrow, in order to take everyone through his DeflateGate report, and to provide his view on the AEI report that was critical of his findings. In addition to Goodell, Wells and Brady, NFLPA reps Tom Depaso and Jeffrey Kessler, along with NFL reps Jeff Pash, Adolpho Birch, and Kevin Manara, will be in attendance.
Here’s more on Brady’s appeal, along with other items out of the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Tom Pelissero of USA Today provides a breakdown of all the key facts you need to know for Brady’s appeal hearing.
- It’s time for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to open up his wallet and get Dez Bryant locked up to a multiyear extension, writes Matt Bowen of Bleacher Report. With the help of cap expert Joel Corry, Bowen pegs Bryant’s value at about $14MM per year and $35MM in guaranteed money on a long-term contract.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com gets some input from his fellow ESPN.com scribes and checks in on how several former Jets – including Percy Harvin, Nick Bellore – are doing so far with their new teams.
NFC Notes: Garrett, Vikings, Bears, Giants
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has spent much of his head coaching career on the hot seat, but that changed last season as Dallas finished 12-4 and won a playoff game. But Garrett, who recently signed a five-year extension with the club, says he never considered his contract situation last season. “I can honestly say to you that I never really thought very much about that,” Garrett told Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “What I do every day is I wake up and try to do everything I can to build the kind of football team that we all can be proud of.”
Let’s check out more from the NFC:
- Charles Johnson emerged as the Vikings’ main receiving threat down the stretch last season, and Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press doesn’t think the 26-year-old pass-catcher will remain anonymous to NFL fans for much longer. After failing to earn playing time with both the Packers and the Browns, Johnson came to Minnesota via a waiver claim, and after being inserted into the starting lineup Week 10, he totaled 25 receptions for 415 yards. The Vikings’ offense will look different in 2015 given the return of Adrian Peterson and the addition of Mike Wallace, but Johnson figures to retain his role as Teddy Bridgewater‘s No. 1 option in the passing game.
- Vic Fangio is a clear improvement at defensive coordinator for the Bears, but Matt Bowen of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the club has enough pieces with which Fangio can work. Antrel Rolle, Pernell McPhee, and Eddie Goldman were solid adds through free agency/the draft, writes Bowen, but the thought of Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston as stand-up outside linebackers is worrisome. Additionally, the veteran crop of corners behind No. 1 Kyle Fuller (Tim Jennings, Alan Ball, Tracy Porter) leaves much to be desired. Per Bowen, Fangio’s schematic prowess can cover up many personnel holes, but ultimately Chicago’s distinct lack of playmaking talent on defense may be its undoing.
- A pair of Giants prospects — offensive lineman Michael Bamiro and tight end Will Tye — are aiming to become the first NFL players who hail from Stony Brook University, as Barbara Baker of Newsday details. Bamiro stuck with New York on a futures contract following the 2014 season, while Tye went undrafted in May.
Sturm, Cowlishaw On Dez Bryant
Bob Sturm and Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News recently hosted a pair of digital chats with Cowboys fans, and Dez Bryant‘s uncertain contract situation predictably played a major role in those conversations. Sturm, after pointing out that an elite wide receiver generally does not offer the same type of value as an elite quarterback, left tackle, pass rusher, or corner, explains why Bryant is an exception to that rule and notes that owner Jerry Jones fully appreciates Bryant’s value to the franchise. As such, Sturm does not believe that Jones is panicking, and although the July 15 deadline to get a long-term deal worked out may be too close for comfort for Dallas fans, it is an eternity away for someone like Jones. Sturm still believes a deal will get done, and that it will probably happen right before deadline day.
There are some who believe that the Cowboys simply do not want to offer a long-term deal to Bryant, who has had some off-field concerns in his past. But Sturm’s comments regarding Jones’ love of Bryant belie that idea, and Cowlishaw believes the possibility that the Cowboys really don’t want to do a long-term deal with Bryant is very slim. Instead, even though there is a chance that a receiver like Demaryius Thomas, A.J. Green, or Julio Jones will break the bank before Bryant gets a new contract, thereby forcing the Cowboys to fall in line with a $100MM+ mega-deal, they appear willing to take that risk and just let the process run its course, confident in the knowledge that they will get a deal done in the end.
Sturm reiterates that no one really knows what Bryant’s demands are, or what the Cowboys are willing to offer. The last proposal that the Cowboys extended included a contract with a value of over $100MM but with just $20MM or so in guaranteed money, which would be less than market value for someone like Bryant. If Dallas has not bettered that offer–and it sounds as if the two sides might not have had substantive discussions in months–then public perception would certainly be on Bryant’s side. Ultimately, the Cowboys will probably have to raise the guaranteed money to the $30-35MM range, which would give him more guarantees than any receiver not named Calvin Johnson.
And reading between the lines, that appears to be how this stalemate will be resolved. Sturm applauds the hardline stance that the Cowboys have taken with Bryant, especially considering how willing the team used to be to hand out massive contracts to players like Marion Barber and Jay Ratliff, but they realize how valuable Bryant is to the franchise, and Bryant realizes that, for all of his talent, the current CBA climate does not offer him a great deal of leverage. So even if the next couple of weeks make Cowboys fans sweat a bit, the prediction here–not a bold one, to be sure–is that Bryant will be playing his home games in Dallas for the foreseeable future.
NFC Mailbags: Newman, Norman, Bucs, Reed, Cowboys
Our own Sam Robinson took you through some of the AFC Mailbags earlier today. Now to give the NFC some love, here are a few of the mailbags from that other conference:
- The Vikings have been going with youth across the roster, and the secondary has been no exception with Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes slated to start on the outside. However, the team also signed 37-year-old corner Terence Newman to bring a veteran presence in the secondary, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. Newman should take a little pressure of Waynes to be effective from day one.
- The Panthers will definitely put a lot of focus into extending Luke Kuechly, but David Newton of ESPN.com expects that to come next offseason. Josh Norman is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and after performing well for the team he should be a priority for an extension.
- Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com is guessing starters in his latest Buccaneers mailbag. He picks George Johnson and Jacquies Smith, Danny Lansanah as their third linebacker, and D.J. Swearinger over Chris Conte at safety.
- Kyle Van Noy and Theo Riddick are a pair of players that have uncertain roles for the Lions in 2015. Van Noy could earn a starting job at linebacker, but won’t see starter’s snaps due to the likely reliance on nickel and dime packages, according to Mike Rothstein of ESPN.com. Riddick will also likely be an afterthough at running back, but should have ample opportunities to catch passes out of the backfield and in the slot.
- With Jordan Reed‘s injuries, Washington could have used help at tight end either in free agency or the draft, writes John Keim of ESPN.com. While it is surprising, it means the team has confidence in Niles Paul, and believes contributions from the receivers and running backs catching passes could help them survive without Reed for some time.
- In our lone entry from a non-ESPN writer, Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News writes that with the versatility of Byron Jones and Corey White in the secondary, the Cowboys defense could give some very creative looks in 2015. Both players are nominally corners, but each has the ability to play safety as well, and that could let the team mix and match in the defensive backfield.
NFC Notes: 49ers, Cards, Cowboys, Bucs
Although the 49ers had a hectic offseason highlighted by the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh and surprise retirements of Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Chris Borland and Anthony Davis, newcomer Darnell Dockett is unfazed by the team’s troubles. The longtime Cardinals defensive tackle signed with the 49ers before Willis, Smith, Borland and Davis retired, but he’s confident the club will overcome an adverse offseason and find itself in the thick of what should be a highly competitive NFC West race in 2015.
“I’ve been in the division for so long, everybody’s aiming for the top teams, so I was getting a lot of criticism and people saying, `Oh, man, why’d you go to San Fran?’ and `Why’d you do this, everybody’s jumping ship? You should have went to Seattle,’ Dockett, 34, told the Associated Press.
“I’ve been playing in this league for so long, it don’t matter the players that depart the team. It’s all about the chemistry and things you build in July and August. Everybody’s got to play the game on Sunday.”
Dockett, who missed the 2014 season with a knee injury, expects to be ready for training camp next month. The three-time Pro Bowler is also excited to play for new coach Jim Tomsula.
“I’ve had the utmost respect for Jim throughout my career. After every game we met on the 50-yard line and always talked football,” Dockett said.
In other NFC news. . .
- Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington – whom the NFL suspended for four games in 2013 and all of 2014 because of multiple substance-abuse violations – is expected to miss time this year because of domestic-violence issues, but he told Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 that he’s “confident that something will work out.” Washington added that he’ll be ready for training camp in August.
- The Cowboys elected early in the offseason to place the franchise tag on star receiver Dez Bryant and let reigning rushing champion DeMarco Murray become a free agent. Those decisions led to acrimony between the team and Bryant, who still hasn’t signed his one-year franchise tender and only has until July 15 to reach a long-term deal with Dallas, and Murray’s departure to NFC East rival Phildelphia. However, if given the chance to reverse course, tag Murray and let Bryant hit free agency, the Cowboys wouldn’t do it, according to Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
- The Buccaneers will try to make first overall pick Jameis Winston’s transition from Florida State to the pros as smooth as possible. One method they’re exploring includes using “virtual reality” technology to help the quarterback, writes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.