Minor Moves: Bengals, Raiders, Bears, Bucs
Tonight’s minor moves..
- The Bengals announced (via Twitter) that they have released Mississippi halfback Jeff Scott.
- The Raiders claimed tackle Emmett Cleary off waivers from the Buccaneers, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Safety Sean Cattouse (Bears), Steven Jenkins (Buccaneers), Lamont Bryant (Titans), Aaron Mellette (Ravens), and Adrian Hamilton (Ravens) all went unclaimed, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links).
- The Texans signed former North Carolina defensive tackle Tim Jackson, Wilson tweets.
- Texans cut tight end Chris Coyle and waived-injured defensive lineman Sullivan Grosz, Wilson tweets. Both Coyle, an Arizona State product, and Grosz, out of Cal Poly, were signed as undrafted free agents back in May.
- The Raiders cut David Gilreath, according to Wilson (on Twitter). The former Wisconsin wideout hooked on with Oakland earlier this month.
- The Cowboys removed former Illinois State tight end Evan Wilson from injured reserve with an injury settlement, Wilson tweets. The UDFA signed with Dallas in May and received a $2.5K signing bonus.
Cowboys Sign Demarcus Lawrence
WEDNESDAY, 8:11am: Lawrence formally signed his rookie contract with the Cowboys this morning, according to agent David Canter (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 8:24pm: The Cowboys expect to ink their lone remaining unsigned draft pick this week. Demarcus Lawrence is the last of the Mohicans amongst the Cowboys’ nine draft picks, but both sides believe that they’re on the cusp of completing his deal, writes Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
Lawrence’s agent has been out of the country, delaying the process, but the Cowboys believe his deal should be completed by the end of the week. For his part, the second-round pick out of Boise State says he’s not worried about being the only one left unsigned. He also made it clear that he’s not holding out for anything special, so it sounds like the delay is purely procedural. Lawrence is one of a dozen 2014 NFL draftees who have yet to sign their deals.
There will be significant pressure on Lawrence to perform in his freshman campaign. Lawrence was drafted to help fill the void left by the release of DeMarcus Ware and there will be added heat for everyone in the front seven thanks to the absence of Sean Lee.
Cowboys Unlikely To Sign Lee Replacement
There has been tons of speculation about who the Cowboys might sign to try and replace the injured Sean Lee, but it sounds like they’re prepared to stand pat and work with what they have for the time being. While he’s “not confident” in the in-house solutions the club already has, owner Jerry Jones told reporters that he’s not champing at the bit to make an impact signing at linebacker, writes Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.
“There is a good chance we will be able to stay within the personnel we’ve got, but I don’t want to preclude anything because a lot of the evaluation of where we are there is going on right now as well as when we get to training camp,” Jones said. “It also has to do with any circumstances that may come up away from the team. All of that is a given. If we had to play with the players we’ve got, I feel good that we could line up against San Francisco.”
There’s also the possibility – even if its a slim one – that Lee can be a quick healer and get back on the field late in the season. The veteran still hasn’t been ruled out for the season for that reason and because they don’t need a roster spot at this time. Right now, the Cowboys are using Justin Durant and Anthony Hitchens as possible replacements for Lee. They might have second thoughts about that plan down the line, but that appears to be the plan for the time being.
13 Draftees Still Unsigned
While a couple dozen mandatory offseason minicamps around the NFL are getting underway today, we’re still several weeks away from players reporting for training camps. That means there’s still plenty of time for members of 2014’s draft class to sign contracts with their respective teams. Still, for the most part, this year’s draftees won’t need to take those next few weeks to negotiate their deals.
After the Browns announced their agreement with Johnny Manziel and the Texans signed Xavier Su’a-Filo today, nearly 95% (243 of 256) of this year’s draft picks have been locked up by their new NFL clubs. 24 of 32 teams have totally locked up their draft classes, including the 49ers, who selected a league-high 12 players last month.
Since the new Collective Bargaining Agreement made rookie contracts so standardized, there’s little wiggle room for teams and players to push for better deals, and essentially no reason for players to hold out. Among the remaining unsigned players, five are first-round picks, six are second-rounders, and the last two are third-rounders, so in many cases the holdup can likely be attributed to haggling over offsets, guaranteed money, or the way in which that money gets paid. But as soon as a player was drafted, he essentially knew what his rookie contract would look like, based on his draft slot.
With the help of our tracker, here’s the full list of the remaining 13 unsigned draftees:
- Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (1.3)
- Justin Gilbert, CB, Cleveland Browns (1.8)
- Taylor Lewan, OT, Tennessee Titans (1.11)
- Ja’Wuan James, OT, Miami Dolphins (1.19)
- Dominique Easley, DT, New England Patriots (1.29)
- Demarcus Lawrence, DE/OLB, Dallas Cowboys (2.34)
- Joel Bitonio, OT, Cleveland Browns (2.35)
- Marqise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (2.39)
- Stephon Tuitt, DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (2.46)
- Bishop Sankey, RB, Tennessee Titans (2.54)
- Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (2.61)
- Billy Turner, OT, Miami Dolphins (3.67)
- Dexter McDougle, CB, New York Jets (3.80)
Minicamp Updates: Jets, Jags, Dolphins, Orton
The minicamps being held around the NFL this week are mandatory for players on rosters, but those aren’t the only guys in attendance. Many clubs are also auditioning non-roster players who are hoping to earn contracts and the opportunity to compete in training camp for a regular-season roster spot. Here are the latest updates from minicamps around the league:
- As Brian Costello of the New York Post notes in a pair of tweets, running back Mike Goodson isn’t in attendance at the Jets‘ minicamp, but the team does have six players in for tryouts, including ex-Steelers punter Drew Butler. Punter Jacob Schum, kickers Andrew Furney and Carson Wiggs, and offensive linemen Bruce Campbell and Ray Dominguez are also auditioning for the club.
- Long snapper Charley Hughlett, cornerback Junior Mertile, punter Kasey Redfern, and wide receiver Nathan Slaughter are trying out for the Jaguars, tweets John Oehser of Jaguars.com.
- Former Ravens offensive lineman Ramon Harewood is among five tryout players at camp with the Dolphins, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan. Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link) provides the other four names: Andy Wilder (P), Kevin Fogg (DB), Mike Farrell (OL), and Kevin Matthews (OL).
- As anticipated, Kyle Orton isn’t present at the Cowboys‘ facility today for minicamp, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
- Justin Houston, who is seeking a new contract, isn’t expected to attend the Chiefs‘ minicamp this week, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
- Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune breaks down what to watch at the Vikings‘ minicamp, while Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group and Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com do the same for the Raiders and Eagles, respectively.
Extra Points: Colts, Houston, Chiefs, Ryans
In his latest mailbag, John Clayton of ESPN.com writes that sub defensive packages are now the new normal in the NFL, as teams continue to add more versatile defenders on passing downs in an effort to stop high-powered offenses. Clayton labels the Seahawks as the “gold standard” in the sub department, pointing out that defensive linemen Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, paid $6.5MM and $4.8MM respectively in 2013, only “started” a combined five games, yet were key cogs on the league’s most dominant defense. He lists the Buccaneers, who added Michael Johnson in free agency, and the Texans, who drafted Jadeveon Clowney, as teams who could vastly improve in nickel and dime situations in 2014.
- Safety Jordan Pugh tried out for the Colts today, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The 26-year-old was a 2010 sixth-round pick by the Panthers, and spent the past two seasons with the Redskins.
- Justin Houston is looking for a contract extension with the Chiefs, and as such, head coach Andy Reid isn’t sure if the pass rusher will be attending minicamp, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I don’t know that,” said Reid. “I expect them all to be here and then whoever is here, we’re going to coach them. If they don’t show up, I understand the profession. I’ve been around it a long time and I just move on. That’s how it works. You coach who you have, and you coach them like crazy.”
- Speaking of the Chiefs, Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com examines the team’s defense in the wake of Brandon Flowers‘ release, and writes that defensive coordinator Bob Sutton might be part of the reason for Kansas City defensive woes. Sutton, whose scheme might have expedited Flowers’ departure, seemed unwilling to make adjustments in 2013 even when it was apparent his defense was flailing.
- Eagles middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans played 96% of the team’s defensive snaps last season, and defensive coordinator Billy Davis intends to reduce that number, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “We want DeMeco for the long haul this season, and so many times when you overwork a veteran — and he takes great care of his body — but it’s a lot of games,” said Davis. “I think we have more depth than we had and more experience and more people who can play versatile roles in the defense. I think it’ll help.”
- We learned earlier today that the Cowboys don’t expect Kyle Orton to show up for the team’s minicamp this week, and ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins says a team source has confirmed that view (via Twitter).
Cowboys Notes: Orton, Murray, Minicamp
The Cowboys officially signed first-round offensive lineman Zack Martin to his rookie contract earlier today, but there have been plenty of other headlines out of Dallas. Let’s dive in and round up the latest….
- This morning we heard that the Cowboys expected Kyle Orton to be in attendance at the team’s mandatory minicamp this week. However, that stance appears to have changed. Multiple sources informed Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com that the quarterback didn’t show up Monday for his scheduled physical, making him subject to a fine of nearly $11K. The Cowboys now no longer anticipate that Orton, who must take a physical before practicing, will attend camp this week, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com believes the Cowboys ought to cut their losses with Orton and release him. That would mean making Brandon Weeden the No. 2 quarterback behind Tony Romo and giving up the opportunity to recoup part of Orton’s signing bonus, but Watkins thinks it’d be the right move since Orton clearly doesn’t want to be there.
- While DeMarco Murray is entering the final year of his contract, the running back doesn’t sound like a man who wants to leave Dallas anytime soon. “I love Dallas. I love playing football there,” Murray said, according to Archer. “I love the fans. I love the organization. It’s great. I want to stay there as long as they will allow me.” The Cowboys aren’t currently in talks with Murray’s agent about an extension, notes Archer.
- In a photo gallery, the Dallas Morning News provides a number of subplots worth keeping an eye on at the Cowboys’ minicamp.
Cowboys Sign Zack Martin
The Cowboys have signed first-round pick Zack Martin to his rookie contract, according to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Now that they’ve locked up the offensive tackle, Dallas has just one unsigned draftee remaining — second-round edge defender Demarcus Lawrence.
Martin, the 16th overall pick, was something of a surprise selection last month, since Tyron Smith is locked in at left tackle in Dallas, and many observers believed the Cowboys would either select a defender or opt for the splashier pick in Johnny Manziel. Martin was considered one of the top offensive linemen in the draft, and ended up being the fourth tackle off the board, behind Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews, and Taylor Lewan.
Per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, Martin will be in line for a signing bonus of $4.842MM, with an overall four-year value of nearly $9MM. As is the case with all of this year’s first-round picks, Martin will also have a fifth-year option on his deal, which the Cowboys will have the opportunity to exercise to keep him under contract for the 2018 season.
Now that Martin has signed, only 16 draftees have yet to put pen to paper, including six other first-rounders.
Latest On Potential Holdouts
We won’t know for sure until the Niners‘ minicamp officially gets underway tomorrow, but based on his latest comments and a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, it appears that Vernon Davis won’t be present in Santa Clara. While Davis is one notable veteran who may be absent from his club’s minicamp in the hopes of negotiating a new contract, he’s not the only one. Rapoport (Twitter link) also has updates on a few more players who are believe to be unhappy with their current situations for one reason or another, so let’s round them up….
- Marshawn Lynch still hasn’t informed the Seahawks of his plans, says Rapoport. We heard last week that the running back is seeking a new contract and that the team is at least preparing for the possibility that he won’t be in attendance this week. The prospect of retirement was even mentioned, though I’d be very surprised if that becomes a real possibility.
- According to Rapoport, the Texans don’t expect Andre Johnson to attend the club’s minicamp. It’s not clear if Johnson wants a new contract — his frustration seems to be more a result of Houston’s poor 2013 season and concerns about the team’s direction heading into the ’14 campaign.
- Despite persistent rumblings that he wants to retire, the Cowboys anticipate Kyle Orton will be present at their camp. Per Rapoport (Twitter link), Dallas has long been optimistic that the No. 2 quarterback will show up because the team will look to recoup a portion of his signing bonus if he opts to retire. Privately, Orton continues to weigh the decision, according to Rapoport.
NFC Notes: Brent, 49ers, Foles, Bucs, Redskins
Josh Brent, who has been out of the NFL following his drunken-driving crash that resulted in the death of teammate Jerry Brown, was released from jail today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. We learned several weeks ago that the Cowboys have not ruled out re-signing Brent, who announced his retirement last summer. Dallas would need to answer several questions about Brent, ranging from the public perception of adding him to the roster, to his fit within the team’s new defensive scheme, before bringing him aboard.
More from the NFC:
- In his latest mailbag, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com posits that 49ers rookie Carlos Hyde will likely receive more work behind starting running back Frank Gore than will second-year player Marcus Lattimore, who is recovering from a major knee injury.
- While OTAs may not be the most game-like environment in which to practice, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is using the sessions to work on small improvements to his game, writes Martin Frank of USA Today. “My goals are to continue to move better. When I say that, I mean in the pocket, be more efficient, stay tight,” said Foles. “I like throwing the ball down field, so continuing to grow with my teammates on that, but being smart, find the check-downs early, not staying on a read too long.”
- In an extensive piece, Sports Illustrated’s Doug Farrar explains that Buccaneers hope to get rookie receiver Mike Evans in single coverage while the defense focuses on Vincent Jackson, and compares the duo’s potential usage to that of the Bears’ Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall.
- Despite his lackluster 2013 season, safety Bacarri Rambo is still in the Redskins’ plans, writes Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. “He’s got great ball skills,” said Washington head coach Jay Gruden. “He’s not afraid to tackle. He’s got to do a better job tackling. Obviously, we missed too many tackles as a group last year, not just him but everybody, so we think he’s progressing nicely.”