East Notes: McCown, Dez, Parnell, Bush
Josh McCown‘s free agent tour appears to have come to an end, and after drawing interest from the Bills, Jets, Bears, and Browns, the veteran quarterback has engaged in contract discussions with Buffalo, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. Carucci cautions that it’s not known how many other teams are talking to McCown about a potential contract, or if the Bills are the favorites to land him, but the club is very much in the hunt, and the signal-caller may finalize his new deal – with Buffalo or another club – by Friday.
For what it’s worth, Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 notes (via Twitter) that the Bills view McCown as an upgrade over Kyle Orton, and that the former Buccaneer is the club’s preferred target in this free agent class. While we wait to find out whether a deal with the Bills materializes as a result of Buffalo’s interest in McCown, let’s check in on a few more items from around the NFL’s two East divisions….
- As Monday’s franchise tag deadline nears, the rumors surrounding Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant continued to swirl today. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com passed along word – and a police report – about an incident that took place outside of a Walmart in Lancaster, Texas; Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk attempted to break down what this new info means; and Jason Cole of Bleacher Report suggested that sources close to Bryant believe the alleged video of that Walmart incident does, in fact, exist.
- Cowboys tackle Jermey Parnell should be a popular free agent next month, according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com and Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter links). When I examined the free agent market for offensive tackles earlier in February, I singled out Parnell as a player who hasn’t seen much action as a reserve in Dallas, but pointed out that he has been very good when he has played.
- In response to the Lions’ release of Reggie Bush, Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com explores whether the Patriots would be interested, and how Bush’s availability may affect the market for free-agent-to-be Shane Vereen.
- Nick Powell of NJ.com takes a look at whether or not the Giants will have interest in Bush, concluding that the former USC star could fit as a complement in the backfield for Rashad Jennings, particularly since Tom Coughlin is fond of veteran players.
East Notes: Wilson, Jets, Eagles
The Jets are not expected to bring cornerback Kyle Wilson back next season, sources tell Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday. The 27-year-old former first-round pick will become a free agent on March 10th. Wilson never fulfilled his promise during his time with Gang Green and was never able to develop into anything more than an average slot cornerback. Here’s a look at some items out of the AFC and NFC East..
- Reuben Frank and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com looked at cornerback Chris Culliver as a possible target for the Eagles. The Philadelphia native missed his third season after tearing his ACL but came back last year to start 14 games, and picked off four passes. Mosher likes the 49ers free agent as a cheaper alternative to Byron Maxwell and Frank think he’d be a good fit in Bill Davis’ scheme.
- Washington is in need of at least one cornerback capable of starting in 2015, and perhaps two, Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com writes. Luckily for new GM Scot McCloughan, there are plenty of talented corners available, including Maxwell, Culliver, Brandon Flowers, Kareem Jackson, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, and Davon House.
- Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News isn’t a huge Brandon Weeden fan, but he sees replacing him with another backup quarterback for the Cowboys as a low priority matter.
East Notes: Graham, Maxwell, Revis, McClain
Defensive end Brandon Graham will officially become a free agent next month, and while it’s likely he’ll leave Philadelphia, it’s not a foregone conclusion that the Eagles will fail to re-sign him, according to Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly. Per a team source, the Eagles “haven’t ruled out” Graham returning to the club next season. Mosher reported several weeks ago that Graham would look to secure $20MM in guarantees, and today noted that Everson Griffen‘s five-year pact with the Vikings could act as a starting point in negotiations.
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the East divisions…
- The Jets are expected to be one of the “primary suitors” for Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post. Last week, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net indicated that the Eagles could be the favorites to land Maxwell, and Costello adds that the two clubs may duke it out in free agency to land the 27-year-old. Per Costello, agents know the Jets are desperate to add secondary help, and may force New York to overpay to bring in corners.
- Continuing the subject of standout corners, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com takes a stab at assessing the value of Patriots CB Darrelle Revis, who isn’t technically a free agent yet but likely will be when New England declines his 2015 option. Patriots president Jonathan Kraft admitted earlier this month that Revis’ option was acting as a “placeholder” until the two sides can agree to an extension, and Reiss pegs Revis’ worth at five years, $80MM. PFR’s Luke Adams recently took a look at the Pats’ options regarding Revis.
- Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News profiles Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain, and projects that the 25-year-old will be retained on a short-term deal.
NFC East Notes: Locker, Bryant, Eagles
Reuben Frank and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com looked at Jake Locker as a free agent possibility for the Eagles. Mosher sees him as someone who could be a viable backup to Nick Foles or Marcus Mariota (if Philly can land him somehow) but would prefer keeping Mark Sanchez instead. Frank, meanwhile, isn’t impressed by Locker and writes that he has yet to do anything notable as a passer. More from the NFC East..
- Cowboys Executive Vice President/COO told Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that the team is “at peace and content” with the decision to franchise tag Dez Bryant, if necessary. If tagged, Bryant will earn a salary of ~$13MM rather than starting the lucrative, long-term pact he was hoping for.
- Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News took an educated guess at what the Cowboys will do with their pick at No. 27. Machota says Dallas should take the best edge rusher available, but Randy Gregory, Shane Ray, Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley, and Bud Dupree will likely all be gone by the time they pick. The next best thing, he writes, could be UCLA’s Owamagbe Odighizuwa.
- Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News writes that converted wide receiver Nate Orchard could be the Cowboys‘ answer at defensive end. At 6’3″, 250 (his measurements at the combine), Orchard is a tweener and maybe better suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme than an end in a 4-3. However, the Tampa 2 scheme that Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli favors relies heavier on speed than size.
- Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com looked at some players that Washington could target in the second round of this year’s draft. In no particular order, Tander highlights Missouri wide receiver Dorian Green-Beckham, Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, and Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt.
- The Eagles have selected 15 players in two drafts under Chip Kelly and there really hasn’t been a single player who came to Philadelphia with true character questions, Sheil Kapadia of Philadelphia Magazine writes. It’s possible that Kelly can roll the dice of guys with character questions now that he has established the culture he wants, but Kapadia doesn’t see him going that route.
- Washington won’t find a ton of quality safety options in the draft, John Keim of ESPN.com writes.
NFC Links: Cardinals, Fairley, Cowboys, Vikings
The Oscar’s were the big story this Sunday, but in case you missed any of the NFL tidbits that spread while you were rooting for your favorite movie of the year, here are some links surrounding NFC teams:
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a look at the Cardinals salary cap situation going into the offseason. He writes that the team should be all in on 2015, and could afford to take some risks to put them over the top.
- Cardinals running back Andre Ellington averaged only 3.3 yards per carry this past season under an increased workload, down from a fantastic 5.5 yards per carry as a rookie in 2013. The organization still believes he can be the focal point of the offense, but that he needs to get bigger and stronger in order to carry that load, writes Chris Wesseling of NFL.com
- The Lions had a very positive interview with defensive tackle Nick Fairley at the combine today, and expressed interest in keeping him in Detroit, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- In Cowboys’ news, Kevin Sherrington of DallasNews.com suggests that the team is not dependent on a Dez Bryant deal in order to move on with other roster moves this offseason, and his colleague Rainer Sabin writes that he does not expect the franchise tag to alter Bryant’s on-field performance if the Cowboys decide to use it on him this offseason.
- The Vikings’ front office has been looking closely at running backs in the combine, with plans to either supplement or replace Adrian Peterson depending on what happens this offseason, writes Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
- Washington executive A.J. Smith will not be returning to the team, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times who cites a Providence Journal report (via Twitter). Boyer notes that this isn’t a surprise, as team president Bruce Allen hinted at it when Scott McCloughan was hired as the team’s general manager.
NFC Notes: Peterson, Packers, Falcons, Dez
Refuting a portion of last night’s report from Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has in fact not asked for a trade. Cole had indicated that Peterson prefers to play for the Cowboys, but sources tell Tomasson that isn’t the case. Perhaps more interestingly, Tomasson reports that the Vikings have not approached Peterson about taking a pay cut from his 2015 $12.75MM base salary. The 2012 NFL MVP recently said he was “uneasy” about a return to Minnesota, but Tomasson writes that Peterson is willing to return to the club.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- The Packers have not yet begun talks with free-agent-to-be Tramon Williams, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. The 32-year-old cornerback is coming off a season in which he started all 16 games and earned $6.9MM. In a thin CB market, he’s near the top of the list of available options. But sources tell Demovsky that general manager Ted Thompson is more focused on retaining two other pending Packers FAs, receiver Randall Cobb and tackle Bryan Bulaga.
- The Falcons will enter free agency with more than $25MM in cap space to work with, and as GM Thomas Dimitroff explains to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the club is ready make upgrades. Specifically, Dimitroff noted that Atlanta could add several free agent pushers that would fit new coach Dan Quinn’s scheme.
- Dez Bryant is a prime candidate for the franchise tag, and while Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn’t expect the star pass-catcher to sulk if he is tagged, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk outlines how Bryant could turn the situation in his favor.
- The free agent receiver class will be exceptionally strong this offseason, leading Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times to examine how market factors could affect the Bears’ decision on Brandon Marshall.
NFC Updates: Beckham, Romo, Moore
After the Pro Bowl, offensive rookie of the year Odell Beckham attempted to elevate his already-astounding rookie season in NFL lore by saying he played with two torn hamstrings. But Giants GM Jerry Reese debates the validity of Beckham’s diagnosis, Newsday’s Tom Rock reports.
“I don’t know about that,” Reese told Newsday. “I think he’s trying to be a hero. I don’t think you can play with two [tears in your] hamstring and run fast like that. … I think our doctors would’ve caught that.”
Reese said Beckham would not have been permitted to play in the Pro Bowl with two torn hamstrings.
Despite playing on the outside at 5-foot-11, 198 pounds, Beckham managed to catch 12 touchdowns in 12 games while averaging more than 100 yards per contest. The LSU product did miss the first four games of the season due to hamstring issues, re-injuring himself multiple times before making his debut in Week 5. Obviously, everyone heals at their own rate, but Beckham being able to accomplish anything resembling what he did in his debut season doesn’t depict a torn hamstring. Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane tore his hamstring in November and missed the rest of last season. Then-Buccaneers wideout Mike Williams tore his in October 2013 and missed the rest of that campaign.
If Reese’s judgment is closer to correct than Beckham’s, the slight hit to the young receiver’s credibility will be offset by a healthier superstar in a corps dealing with a rehabilitating Victor Cruz (knee).
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones provided an expanded indication to how long Tony Romo‘s time leading the franchise will be, according to the DallasCowboys.com. Despite Romo entering his age-35 season, Jones is planning moves around the thought his quarterback will play until the end of the decade. “I feel very comfortable … with a five-year time frame,” Jones said via the team website. “When I say comfortable: I’m ready to make decisions based on him being our quarterback that far into the future.” Last year’s leader in QBR, Romo is now the league’s fifth-oldest starting quarterback, behind Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Carson Palmer.
- Jones also told the Cowboys site Romo he’s open to restructuring Romo’s contract, which has a $27MM cap hit this season. It more than doubles the Cowboys’ second-highest figure of left tackle Tyron Smith. “We haven’t ruled it out,” Jones told DallasCowboys.com about the possibility of restructuring. “When we did his contract, we thought at some point and time that we would be going to it.”
- A much younger quarterback won’t be offered a restricted free agent tender, putting his future in question. But Kellen Moore may have a chance to return to the Lions and be their backup quarterback, GM Martin Mayhew told the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. Veteran Dan Orlovsky is a free agent, and Moore, a 25-year-old undrafted free agent out of Boise State in 2012, completed 68.6% of his preseason passes in 2014.
Vikings Don’t Want To Trade Adrian Peterson
The Vikings have no intention of trading embattled running back Adrian Peterson, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), who reports that Peterson wants to play for the Cowboys. Minnesota is aware of Peterson’s wishes, says Cole, but they don’t plan on honoring his request.
Vikings management has made it clear that they want Peterson to return to the club in 2015, so they’ve clearly considered the potential backlash that would be associated with welcoming him back to the field (and decided it’s a worthwhile risk). Still, Peterson has indicated he’d be “uneasy” about returning to Minnesota because he feels the team wasn’t behind him during his recent ordeal. The 29-year-old Peterson is currently suspended until at least April 15.
It’s a fair question as to whether the Vikings want Peterson back if he won’t accept a pay cut — he’s currently scheduled to count $15.4MM against Minnesota’s cap next year, the highest RB cap figure by more than $4MM. I examined Peterson’s future with the team, including how the running back could exert his leverage over the club’s management, earlier tonight in the Vikings’ Offseason Outlook.
Cowboys Notes: Dez, Murray, Romo, Jerry
There’s been plenty of Cowboys-related news already this afternoon, as we learned that Dallas management is waiting to hear from free agent receiver Dez Bryant‘s agent, and that fellow free agent Rolando McClain is facing a four-game fine after a third failed drug test. Let’s take a look at some more notes from Big D…
- Bryant has made it clear that he won’t be pleased if the Cowboys use the franchise tag on him, and owner Jerry Jones also indicated that the franchise tag isn’t the optimal outcome. “I can tell you I’m not that excited about the franchise tag with Dez simply because I’d like to have our agreement and our business in place for a long time to come with Dez,” Jones told Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Dallas has until March 2 to use the franchise tag on Bryant, and then would have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term extension.
- Running back DeMarco Murray is also a pending free agent, and the Cowboys have an idea of what they’d be willing to pay the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year. But given how critical Murray was to the offense last season, Jones tells Archer that he will have some “serious flexibility” regarding Murray’s salary range.
- If Murray is re-signed, he’ll probably have a lighter workload in 2015, as Archer writes. Murray led the league with 392 carries last year, and Jones doesn’t believe it’s feasible for Murray’s snap count to be as high in 2015. Backup running back Joseph Randle has already faced legal trouble this offseason, however, while fellow RB Lance Dunbar is a free agent.
- The Cowboys will make decisions on their future with the idea that Tony Romo will be their quarterback for the next five years, Jones tells Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. Romo will turn 35 years old in April, so the five-year window might seem optimistic, but the veteran QB is signed through 2019.
Cowboys Waiting On Dez Bryant’s Agents
The Cowboys have not had any recent contact with superstar receiver Dez Bryant‘s agents, according to Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram (via Twitter). However, Hill writes that the team has already made a serious offer to keep the embattled touchdown machine.
The team is now waiting on Bryant’s agents to contact them regarding the offer in order to continue negotiations.
Hill writes that the team has given a number of offers already as this process has moved on, before Bryant changed agents in November. The team believed they were close to getting a deal done at that time (via Twitter).
Bryant and Roc Nation will take time to consider the offer before contacting the Cowboys and move forward towards getting a long-term deal finished. The Cowboys still hold some leverage in that they can use the franchise tag on Bryant to guarantee his presence on the team in 2015. Of course if they can get a deal done soon, they will have the option of using the franchise tag on DeMarco Murray.