Extra Points: Bowers, Cowboys, Eagles
A second-round pick just four years ago, Da’Quan Bowers hasn’t generated much interest on the free agent market this offseason — or at least not much that has been reported. However, with veteran free agents no longer tied to draft pick compensation after May 12, the former Buccaneers defensive end may soon find a home.
According to Jayson Braddock of ESPN 97.5 Houston (Twitter link), Bowers is paying a visit to New Orleans to meet with the Saints this week. Previously, Braddock reported (via Twitter) that the 25-year-old had narrowed his options down to the Lions and Dolphins, so it’s not clear whether those teams remain in the mix, or if they’ve moved on.
As we wait for an update on Bowers, let’s round up a few more items from around the NFL….
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed today that restructuring Brandon Carr‘s contract is a priority for the team this offseason, but no work has been completed yet on that front (Twitter link via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News). Meanwhile, Jerry’s son Stephen Jones said that the Cowboys’ meeting with Orlando Scandrick and agent Ron Slavin was productive, but he wouldn’t say whether the two sides will reach a new contract agreement (link via Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com).
- The Eagles have announced in a press release that former Bears executive Dwayne Joseph has been hired as the team’s director of pro scouting, while Louis Clark has been promoted to senior director of pro personnel. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), who reported Joseph’s hiring earlier today, notes that the Bears tried hard to keep their associate director of pro personnel, but he chose to seek a better opportunity in Philadelphia.
- Offensive lineman Austin Wentworth, who joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and was cut earlier this month, must end his playing career because of blood clots in his leg, as he tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. While the 25-year-old is currently walking with a limp, and will have to wear a brace for the rest of his life, he’s expected to walk normally eventually, according to Tomasson. Wentworth is currently on Minnesota’s reserve/non-football illness list.
- Former Iowa State defensive end Cory Morrissey had agreed to terms on a three-year rookie contract with the Ravens as a UDFA, but ultimately decided to walk away from football instead, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun details.
- Elsewhere at the Baltimore Sun, Jeff Zrebiec takes a closer look at what this week’s roster moves and decisions mean for the Ravens.
NFC Notes: Cards, Cowboys, Washington
Claimed off waivers by the Cardinals last week, Alfonzo Dennard says he was surprised that the Patriots let him go, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. Still, he’s not upset about how things turned out.
“It was shocking, because I thought I did everything right,” Dennard said. “I guess they had other plans and I wasn’t in it. But I’m happy to be here with the Cardinals.”
Dennard, 25, was limited to just six games in 2014, having been plagued by shoulder and hamstring issues. He also saw his role reduced with the arrivals of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, and played in just 241 regular season snaps before landing on injured reserve.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Quarterback Phillip Sims, who was signed by the Cardinals on Monday, is there to be more than just a camp arm, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic tweets. Cards coaches are impressed with his arm and brain and he could compete for the No. 3 job in Arizona.
- Last week, La’el Collins got the first round draft pick treatment from the media after he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys. That was just fine with the Cowboys’ actual first round pick, Byron Jones, who was happy to fly under the radar. “For me it didn’t really matter where I go or where anybody else goes,” Jones said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. “I’m just here to work, here to do my job and that’s play cornerback for the Cowboys.“
- Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is taking on a larger leadership role with the team as he looks to sign an extension with the team, Mike Jones of the Washington Post writes. “I’m kind of the elder statesman in the room now, as weird as it is to say,” said the two-time Pro Bowler selection. “It’s kind of my role now. … I enjoyed that role as a senior at Purdue when we had a lot of young guys, so I kind of embrace that.” Kerrigan, who is coming off of a career-best 13.5-sack season, is entering the final year of his deal but indicated on Monday that contract talks between his agent and the team are “progressing well.” General manager Scot McCloughan also expressed optimism that a deal would get done.
- Former Washington tackle Tyler Polumbus recently had a tryout with the Falcons, Howard Balzer of USA Today tweets. Polumbus had been Washington’s primary right tackle for the last three seasons, but his services likely won’t be required in D.C. this year with No. 5 overall pick Brandon Scherff taking over at the RT position.
Cowboys Notes: Scandrick, Peterson, Carr
Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick has temporarily ended his boycott and is in Dallas meeting with team brass about his contract situation, Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram tweets. Scandrick is scheduled to earn just $1.5MM in base pay for 2015 and has been pushing for a new deal. Team EVP/COO Stephen Jones indicated late last month that he likely wouldn’t cave on the request, but today’s meeting could lead to a compromise between the two sides. Here’s more out of Dallas..
- In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News why the Cowboys passed on selecting a running back in this year’s draft. While from the outside it may seem like the Cowboys’ inaction is a sign that they’re happy with their stable of running backs, Sturm hears that’s not the case at all from people inside the organization. Sturm goes round-by-round from the first round all the way to the fifth round and explains that their top tailback targets were off the board at every turn.
- Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant told TMZ.com that he would love to play with Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, but he’s also not holding his breath. “The Vikings not lettin’ that happen, ’cause if they did, the league would know what would happen,” Bryant said. “That man is a monster.” Peterson, privately and publicly, has indicated that he would like to play for the Cowboys, but a trade to Dallas doesn’t seem terribly likely at this point for a number of reasons.
- Todd Archer of ESPN.com ran down the Cowboys’ options when it comes to Brandon Carr. Archer writes that although some people view Byron Jones as solid insurance for the Cowboys in dealing with Carr, it doesn’t really diminish how much he’s needed, especially in the wake of Morris Claiborne‘s injury.
Minor Moves: Monday Night
Given the rash of minor transactions that have gone down today, we’ll be keeping track of the rest here in a brand new post. The latest minor moves from around the NFL..
- The Dolphins announced that they have been awarded offensive lineman Donald Hawkins off waivers from the Cowboys, James Walker of ESPN.com tweets. To make room, offensive lineman Mark Asper has been cut.
- The Rams have signed two of their tryout players in long snapper Tyler Ott and wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez, Howard Balzer of USA Today tweets. The 27-year-old Rodriguez, who walked on the football team at Clemson, served with the U.S. Army between 2006 and 2010, in both Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Purple Heart during his service.
- The Bears claimed tight end Chris Pantale, who was waived by the Jets a few days ago, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Pantale’s first NFL contract came with the Jets when he was signed as a UDFA in 2013.
- The Jets, meanwhile, inked two tryout players from this past weekend in quarterback Jake Heaps and fullback J.C. Copeland, Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. To make room for both players, the Jets cut Greg Henderson and safety Demarkus Perkins (link).
- The Texans announced that UDFAs Jake Cotton and James Rouse (waived-injured) have been let go, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). Both players were signed as UDFAs by Houston earlier this month. In their stead, the Texans have signed Mack Brown, Corey Moore, and Joseph Treadwell, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
- The Raiders waived linebacker Braylon Mitchell, running backs Terrance Cobb and Gus Johnson, defensive backs Chance Casey, Vernon Kearney, and return specialist Jeremy Gallon (waived/injured), according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- The Steelers placed Nigel Crawford on waivers with a left squad designation, Wilson tweets.
- The Chiefs signed Georgia Southern center Garrett Frye as a UDFA, per the NFL’s transactions report, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
East Notes: Patriots, Brady, Dez, Eagles
The latest out of the East divisions…
- Given that Tom Brady is likely to be suspended for his role in the DeflateGate controversy, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com wonders if the Patriots are likely to add another quarterback to their offseason roster. As it stands, New England carries only Jimmy Garoppolo and Garrett Gilbert, both 2014 draft picks who have 10 pass attempts (all by Garoppolo) between them, behind Brady. Reiss floats the idea of the Pats signing a veteran backup such as Matt Flynn, while Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk tosses out Tarvaris Jackson, Jason Campbell, and Michael Vick as possible options.
- One other quarterback to add to that list (based purely on my speculation): Chargers backup Kellen Clemens, who played under Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels when both were with the Rams in 2011. If for some reason San Diego decided to release the 31-year-old Clemens — saving $1.5MM in the process — I’d imagine New England would at least take a look at him.
- Cowboys executive Stephen Jones reiterated that the club wants to hammer out an extension with Dez Bryant, but noted the difficulty in determining the fair market value. “I think a lot of people want to naturally assume it’s a Dez Bryant-Cowboy issue,” Jones told Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “I think it’s a bigger issue than that right now. There’s three or four young receivers in this league other than Dez that are going to be looking for long-term contracts.” As Machota notes, Jones was likely referencing Demaryius Thomas, A.J. Green, and Julio Jones, a trio of pass-catchers all in search of new deals.
- After the Eagles drafted receiver Nelson Agholor in the first round, fellow pass-catcher Riley Cooper isn’t guaranteed a starting job this season, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Cooper was good for just 577 receiving yards last season, and graded out as the league’s worst receiver among 100 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). With Agholor joining Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff, and Miles Austin as receiving threats, Cooper could see his role greatly reduced.
NFC Notes: Bears, 49ers, Saints, Falcons
New Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio believes 33-year-old Jared Allen, who’s shifting from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker, could be in line for a career renaissance.
“Like I told him, I think he can have a rebirth to his career here playing a little bit of a new position,” said Fangio, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. “But in the NFL today, you play more nickel than you actually play base. For some teams they play nickel 65 to 75 percent of the time. He’ll be playing his normal position then. So it’s not as drastic of a change as you might think.”
More production from Allen would be a welcome sight for Chicago, which had the third-worst defense in the NFL in 2014. Allen finished with just 5.5 sacks, the lowest total of an 11-year career that has seen him take down opposing quarterbacks 134 times.
Fangio is similarly hopeful about one of Allen’s fellow linebackers, Shea McClellin, adjusting well to his defense. McClellin, a 2012 first-round pick, has a meager 7.5 sacks during his first three seasons. Those years were spent shifting between defensive end and outside linebacker in the Bears’ previous 4-3 scheme. The 25-year-old will move to the inside of the linebacking corps as part of Fangio’s 3-4.
“I think he has a chance to be a good inside linebacker,” said Fangio. “We’re going to give him a full opportunity here and a full chance to learn the position so we can evaluate him and see if that’s a good spot for him.”
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- The 49ers’ defense lost multiple key elements during a chaotic offseason. Star linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland both retired, while defensive lineman Justin Smith is contemplating joining them. One important returning face is linebacker Aldon Smith, who’s ready to become the leader of their defense in a contract year. “It’s a role I’m comfortable with,” Smith said, according to CSNBayArea.com. “Obviously, losing guys who were here … someone steps up. And it’s something I have no problem doing.” Smith has a whopping 44 sacks in 50 regular-season games, but the four-year veteran’s career has been beset by off-field issues.
- The Saints are expected to feel the loss of elite tight end Jimmy Graham, whom they traded to the Seahawks earlier this offseason, but Mike Triplett of ESPN.com notes that the team’s offense might not drop off as drastically as some think. The Saints have fielded a top six offense every year during the Sean Payton–Drew Brees era, leading the league three times in yardage before Graham even got to New Orleans. In terms of weaponry, Triplett believes the additions of running back C.J. Spiller and wide receiver Brandin Cooks could help make up for the loss of Graham.
- Falcons superstar wide receiver Julio Jones is in line for a big contract extension, but there hasn’t been much progress on getting a new deal done. General manager Thomas Dimitroff didn’t provide an update on Jones’ situation on Saturday, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN (via Twitter).
- Randy Gregory, the Cowboys’ newly drafted pass rusher, is off to a good start at the team’s rookie camp. The second-round pick looked like more than just a speed rusher Saturday, showing off an array of moves and netting a would-be sack, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com
Rob DiRe contributed to this post.
Cowboys Sign La’el Collins
3:22pm: La’el Collins’ contract with the Cowboys has been altered, reports Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The total value of the contract has been reduced by $50,000 because of the 25-percent rule, which limits the year-to-year raises allowed for rookie contracts.
Collins’ deal will remained fully guaranteed with no offset, according to Pro Football Talk.
SATURDAY, 8:24am: The NFL has “disapproved” Collins’ fully guaranteed contract, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). However, there’s no need to panic if you’re a Cowboys fan; Wilson notes that the two sides will “tweak” the language before refiling the contract next week.
THURSDAY, 3:38pm: The Cowboys formally introduced Collins today at a press conference, as Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News tweets.
1:02pm: Collins’ deal with the Cowboys doesn’t include offsets, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSports.com (Twitter links). La Canfora adds that about 25 teams expressed some level of interest in Collins, who will have a chance to start at left guard this year in Dallas. That suggests that Leary’s days in Dallas could be numbered.
12:34pm: After paying a visit to Dallas yesterday to meet with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, La’el Collins is signing with the team, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter). Collins had reportedly been scheduled to fly to Miami to meet with the Dolphins, and had other teams trying to set up visits, but the former LSU lineman has instead decided to join one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
The news comes as a bit of a surprise, since Collins wasn’t expected to make a decision on his NFL destination until at least this weekend, and it’s not clear if he’s been officially exonerated yet by Baton Rouge police in an investigation into the death of Brittney Mills. Mills, believed to be an ex-girlfriend of Collins’, was shot and killed on April 24. She was pregnant at the time of her death, and while the child initially survived the incident, he also passed away earlier this week.
Baton Rouge police have maintained all along that Collins is not considered a suspect in the case, and a paternity test proved that he was not the father of the child. However, after all 32 teams repeatedly passed on Collins during last week’s draft, it appeared that those clubs would wait for a formal exoneration before proceeding on the undrafted free agent.
Still, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the Cowboys monitored Collins’ situation closely from the beginning, doing “endless homework” on him, and nearly drafting him a few times. So presumably the organization is confident in the former LSU lineman’s character. According to multiple reports, Dallas rolled the red carpet out for Collins during his visit, with Jones, Tony Romo, and several of the team’s offensive linemen in attendance. The Cowboys owner reportedly told Collins that the club wants to assemble “the greatest offensive line ever.”
Having paved the way for the NFL’s leading rusher (DeMarco Murray) in 2014, that offensive line is already perhaps the league’s best, and it’s not clear if there will be room for Collins in the starting lineup in 2015. Left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick, and right guard Zack Martin are all Pro Bowlers, while left guard Ronald Leary and right tackle Doug Free are solid veterans. Leary is heading into the final year of his rookie contract though, while Free doesn’t have guaranteed money on his deal beyond this season, so perhaps the Cowboys view Collins as a long-term replacement at one of those spots.
Collins had been viewed as a likely first-round pick before he was connected to a murder investigation. He and his camp had asked if he could enter the supplemental draft instead, but that request was turned down by the NFL. Multiple reports also suggested that Collins would sit out a year if he was selected on day three in the draft, opting to re-enter the draft pool in 2016, in the hopes of being picked much higher. Ultimately, since he went undrafted, Collins’ options were limited.
Because teams can only offer UDFAs minimum-salary contracts, Collins will be in line for a three-year deal worth about $1.65MM, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. That includes base salaries totaling $1.575MM, plus the team’s remaining bonus money for UDFAs. Collins’ contract will be fully guaranteed, per Rapoport (Twitter link), and he’ll be able to renegotiate it after two years.
The signing of Collins is the latest indication that the Cowboys aren’t afraid to take chances on players with off-field red flags. Already this offseason, the team has signed defensive end Greg Hardy – who now faces a 10-game suspension for a domestic violence incident – and used a second-round draft pick on Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory, who failed a drug test at the combine.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Tryout Notes: Ravens, Falcons, Cowboys, Steelers
The Ravens invited a handful of undrafted players in to their rookie minicamps to tryout for the team, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Among those players are USC safety Gerald Bowman (link), Rhode Island linebacker Andrew Bose (link), Maryland center Sal Conaboy (link), Eastern Kentucky fullback Channing Fugate (link), Maine defensive back Khari Al-Mateen and Maryland defensive end Andre Monroe (link). All links come via Twitter.
Here are some other tryouts from around the NFL:
- The Falcons have brought in Georgia State offensive lineman Tim Wynn for a tryout, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter).
- The Cowboys have added a receiver to their list of tryouts in Rice’s Dontay Moore, according to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (via Twitter).
- The Steelers have brought Akron cornerback Martel Durant in for a tryout to replace Mario Rowson, writes Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter).
Tony Romo Discusses Future, Organization, Collins
Tony Romo isn’t getting any younger, and the Cowboys’ recent moves could be indication that the team is loading up for one final playoff run. Three of the team’s moves have received particular attention: the selection of defensive end Randy Gregory and the signings of defensive end Greg Hardy and offensive lineman La’el Collins.
Whether these moves are successful remains to be seen. Regardless, the team’s franchise quarterback is a particular fan of the transactions, and he indicated that some of the signings could actually help extend his career. Michael Florek of the Dallas Morning News caught up with Romo at the Emmitt Smith’s Charity Invitational Dinner, and the veteran discussed his reactions to the moves. We’ve compiled some of the more notables quotes below…
On the Cowboys’ window to compete for a Super Bowl:
“I just think the way Jason and Stephen and Jerry have built this team over the last three or four years has been from the inside out and you’re seeing the benefits of that. We’re still going. This wasn’t a one-year, two — we’re building this for the next five, six, seven years to sustain and any time you get an opportunity to get a guy like Collins you should take advantage of that.”
On how long he can continue playing in the NFL:
“When you have a good offensive line like we do the thought definitely crosses your mind to ensure you do everything possible to play longer than maybe what you had envisioned. We’ll reassess that in a few years. My wife will tell you, I’m talking a little more long term than I maybe had been. So we’ll see.”
On the Cowboys’ signing of La’el Collins, and the rookie’s journey:
“There are different paths to where you want to go. His was not ideal, nor was mine. His was different than mine, I don’t pretend, but I do know what it’s like not to get drafted when you know you have an opportunity to and I couldn’t imagine if you were a first-round guy who had to go from that weekend.
“This doesn’t happen 20 years ago, simply because of the internet and social media and what could happen and the way it could be perceived. I feel bad. That’s the one area you have to watch in life is just the attacks. In the court system it’s innocent until proven guilty but in the social world it’s really guilty until you’ve shown everybody you’re innocent. He’s a classic example of that. You hurt for guys like this that take a big hit.”
On Collins’ ability to pick his destination:
“Very few people are afforded that. I feel lucky and blessed now. If you’re going to be a player … there are benefits to picking your team. We all want to go in the first round but that doesn’t happen. You can look at it anyway you want but it still ended up being a very good thing for him.”
Cowboys Add 14 UDFAs
The Cowboys’ ballyhooed acquisition of La’el Collins will overshadow the remainder of the team’s undrafted free agent contingent. But 14 additional players joined the would-be first-rounder in signing with the Cowboys, per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer.
- Synjyn Days, RB, Georgia Tech
- George Farmer, WR, USC ($55K of contract guaranteed; $15K signing bonus; $40K guaranteed base salary, according to the USA Today’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
- Antwan Goodley, WR, Baylor
- Deontay Greenberry, WR, Houston
- Ray Hamilton, TE, Iowa
- Nick Harwell, WR, Kansas
- Shane McDermott, C, Miami ($5K signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun)
- Daniel Quave, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette ($1.500 guaranteed signing bonus, per Wilson on Twitter)
- Joel Ross, CB, Appalachian State
- Tim Scott, S, North Carolina
- Jameill Showers, QB, UTEP
- Jason Wilson, CB, Central Michigan
- Ray Vinopal, S, Pittsburgh ($2K signing bonus, tweets Wilson)
- Lucky Whitehead, WR, Florida Atlantic