Extra Points: Byrd, Murray, Smith, Jets
Miscellaneous news and notes from around the league. . .
- Saints safety Jairus Byrd underwent “optional” back surgery to repair a disc issue, according to Katherine Terrell of Nola.com. While head coach Sean Payton downplayed the seriousness of the procedure, Terrell’s colleague Larry Holder is skeptical, especially since Byrd just inked a six-year, $54MM ($26.3MM guaranteed) deal.
- The Cowboys have acknowledged a contract extension for star receiver Dez Bryant is “a possibility,” but he’s not the only skill player on the roster in need of a new deal, as running back DeMarco Murray is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie pact. The Cowboys are a different team with Murray healthy, asserts ESPN’s Todd Archer, who considers what the team should reasonably be willing to pay to retain Murray’s services beyond 2014.
- Eagles first-round pick Marcus Smith is working exclusively at Connor Barwin‘s “Jack” (left outside) linebacker position, which enables him to learn multiple responsibilities while honing his technique, writes csnphilly.com’s Matt Allibone.
- Michael Wilhoite leads a group of 49ers linebackers vying to keep NaVorro Bowman‘s seat warm, writes Eric Branch on sfgate.com.
- Who says fullbacks are a dying species? More love from Pro Football Focus, who tabs Collin Mooney as the Titans’ “Secret Superstar.”
- With the departure of Antonio Smith, third-year defensive lineman Jared Crick has a chance to take on a more prominent role for the Texans, writes Dale Robertson in the Houston Chronicle.
- The Jets have $23MM in cap space, notes ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini, who also states the team views Kyle Wilson as a slot corner, “nothing more.” Meanwhile, Cimini hears from scouts that Dimitri Patterson, projected to start outside opposite Dee Milliner, is actually better suited in the slot.
- After losing Morocco Brown to the Browns, the Redskins have promoted Alex Santos to director of pro personnel, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (via Twitter). Santos has spent the last six years as a pro scout.
NFC East Notes: Manning, Freeman, Allen, Smith, Melton
After having arthroscopic knee surgery on April 10, Giants quarterback Eli Manning is participating in OTAs with no limitations. That’s two months ahead of schedule, notes Giants.com Senior Writer/Editor Michael Eisen, who quoted head coach Tom Couglin: “He’s so far ahead. When we started out I didn’t think I would have him for anything. We’re about two or three days into the phase two (when the offense and defense worked separately) and he’s running around. I’m trying to slow him down but he feels good. I’m not surprised at all.”
In other NFC East notes…
- Manning’s quick recovery expedited the release of Josh Freeman, and Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith says the quarterback’s mental deficiency has been the cause of his demise: “[Freeman’s] biggest problem in New York this offseason appears to be the same as his biggest problem in Minnesota last season: He struggles to learn the offense.”
- Eagles safety Nate Allen has had an up-and-down, four-year career, but he’s survived four defensive coordinators, the team is sticking with him and he’s projected to start alongside Malcolm Jenkins, writes Zach Berman in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Brad Smith‘s head was spinning when he joined the Eagles late in the season, but he earned a role as a core special teams player, writes Dave Spadaro on the team’s website.
- Sheil Kapadia of phillymag.com is keeping a diary Eagles practice observations. Among Friday’s notes: Mark Sanchez took all the second-team reps ahead of Matt Barkley, while veteran Smith and rookie Josh Huff were getting first-team reps in the slot with second-rounder Jordan Matthews absent.
- The Cowboys are taking it slow with free agent acquisition Henry Melton, who is recovering from ACL surgery, with an eye towards being at full strength for training camp, writes Cowboys staff writer Rowan Kavner. In the meantime, Tyrone Crawford could get work at three-technique.
Cowboys Notes: Lee, Bryant, Sims
In the wake of the reported sale of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion, the NFL world has been abuzz with speculation about what its marquee franchises may be worth. For now, only the Bills are available, but what might a team like the Cowboys be worth? Well, it’s a moot point, according to the team’s executive VP Stephen Jones (link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).
“All I can tell you is it doesn’t matter what’s the number, Jerry’s not selling,” Stephen said on 1310 AM in Dallas, referring to his father and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. “Only he can make that decision. It’s kind of fruitless to even discuss it.”
We can speculate all we want, and it should just be a matter of time before we get an idea of what the Bills will sell for, but it doesn’t sound like we’ll find out the Cowboys’ open-market value anytime soon. Here’s more out of Dallas:
- In addition to being a serious blow to the Cowboys’ defense, Sean Lee‘s injury is a reminder that huge contracts for players like Tony Romo, Brandon Carr, and Morris Claiborne could end up haunting the club, says Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News. As Sabin writes, the club hasn’t been shy about committing big money to injury-prone players, and it may end up backfiring in some cases.
- Dez Bryant is one of the next Cowboys in line for a big extension, and Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News says he’d be hesitant about paying Bryant like a top-five NFL receiver, though he expects the team to do it. Asked today during his aforementioned radio appearance if the Cowboys will extend Bryant before or during the 2014 season, Stephen Jones acknowledged that it’s “a real possibility,” per Machota.
- Former Cowboys linebacker Ernie Sims met with the Cardinals this week, and said on SiriusXM NFL Radio today that Arizona wasn’t ready to make a decision on him at the time, though he expects to hear back by Monday or Tuesday (audio link). Asked about the possibility of a return to Dallas, Sims said the team hasn’t reached out to him yet, which didn’t surprise him — although the veteran linebacker knows the system very well and has a “great relationship” with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, Sims recognizes the Cowboys are trying to get younger at linebacker.
Extra Points: Cowboys, Lee, Gase, Hester
The Cowboys are considering all options to replace linebacker Sean Lee. Well, not all options. You can count out veteran London Fletcher, who says he’s retired, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Besides, as Werder notes, his fans in Washington D.C. wouldn’t be too pleased with him if he went to Dallas. More from around the league..
- The union has been looking into the injury suffered by Lee, but there likely won’t be much said about the team’s role in it, writes FOX Sports’ Mike Garafolo. In theory, the union could charge the team with neglect if there were a clear, objective violation like the OTAs running longer than the allotted 90 minutes.
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com runs down his list of top coordinators on the rise and the Broncos‘ Adam Gase is at the top. The OC has been the NFL’s “it” guy for some time and even though it’ll be hard for his offense to replicate last season’s performance, he still figures to have tons of options in 2015.
- Newcomer Devin Hester is expected to give the Falcons‘ special teams a big boost, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think that one thing that I really enjoy at this point in time is the way he’s approaching it,” special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. “He’s approaching it like a pro. He’s not approaching it like, ‘hey, I’ve been there before.’ He knows and understands that this is a different team, and he’s working his tail off.”
The Importance Of June 1st
Many of the most important dates of the NFL offseason have already come and gone, but this Sunday represents another day that team executives around the league have circled on their calendars. Here’s a brief summary of why June 1 is important, and what we can expect starting next Monday, after that deadline has passed:
- As we explained in a PFR Glossary entry, players released or traded after June 1 count against the cap differently than players who were cut or moved earlier in the offseason, with teams able to spread the player’s dead money across multiple years. So we could see a handful of veterans released or dealt once June 1 is behind us.
- Several players were released earlier in the offseason and designated as post-June 1 cuts, meaning their cap hits will finally be reduced starting in June. Those players are LaMarr Woodley (Steelers; $8MM cap savings), Carlos Rogers (49ers; $6.6MM), Miles Austin (Cowboys; $5.5MM), Steve Smith (Panthers; $5MM), David Bass (Giants; $5MM), Daryn Colledge (Cardinals; $5MM), and Thomas DeCoud (Falcons; $3.4MM). Each of those teams was starting to approach the cap limit, so the new savings will give them the flexibility to lock up draft picks and possibly revisit the free agent market.
- Speaking of free agents, June 1 represents the deadline for teams to extend contract tenders to their unrestricted FAs. If a club’s former veteran player remains unsigned, that team can make him a one-year offer worth 110% of his previous cap number (minus workout and incentive payments). For former players who were on rookie contracts, the one-year tender is worth 100% of the player’s previous base salary. Players who receive these June 1 tenders have until July 22 to sign with another team — after that date, the player’s previous team retains exclusive negotiating rights throughout the season.
- Most free agents won’t receive tender offers, meaning they become free after June 1 to sign with any club without being tied to future draft compensation. As such, we’ll likely see an increase in veterans inking contracts, since teams will no longer have to worry that signing those players will reduce their chances at compensatory 2015 draft picks.
Details from Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.
Cowboys Rumors: Bryant, Lee, Hitchens
Many of the league’s top wide receivers – including Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Larry Fitzgerald, and Vincent Jackson – have signed deals in recent years that average at least $10MM and exceed $20MM in total guarantees. While Dez Bryant didn’t cite specific figures, he suggested to Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com that he thinks his next contract should reflect his place among the NFL’s best wideouts.
“Yeah, I deserve it,” Bryant said of a long-term extension. “I deserve it. I feel like I do. I put the work in, but I let that kind of stuff take care of itself. It is what it is. I let my agent talk about it and give me some feedback.”
According to Bryant, agent Eugene Parker has already engaged in preliminary talks with the Cowboys about a multiyear extension. The standout receiver is slated to earn a base salary of $1.78MM along with $250K in workout bonuses in 2014, the final year of his rookie contract.
Let’s check out a few more Cowboys items….
- Would Bryant accept a hometown discount to remain in Dallas? He was somewhat noncommittal in his conversation with MacMahon: “I’m loyal to the squad. I’ve always been. Me and my agent are going to talk about [a hometown discount]. We’ll talk about it. You know, this is big. This is life-changing. Like I said, I’ve done everything asked of me, and we’ll see what happens.”
- In a chat with readers at the Dallas Morning News, columnist Rick Gosselin pointed out that the next contracts for Bryant and offensive tackle Tyron Smith will likely be the biggest deals of their respective careers, so it’s not fair to expect them to accept discounts. Still, Gosselin expects Dallas to keep both players around, since they’re the “shining stars in [Jerry Jones‘] draft legacy.”
- The silver lining in the news of Sean Lee‘s torn ACL is that the linebacker didn’t tear any other ligaments in his knee, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). That means Lee can likely have surgery sooner, which advances the timetable for his recovery.
- As the Cowboys consider options to replace Lee, rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens admits that he may not be ready to immediately step up into the starting lineup (link via DallasCowboys.com). “It’s going to take time,” Hitchens said. “I’ve still got to get everything down. If we had a game tomorrow, no, but it’s a good thing we don’t. I have time to get better.”
Latest On Cowboys, Sean Lee’s Injury
OTAs are supposed to be non-contact, but it appears that no one told Cowboys first-round pick Zack Martin. The offensive guard out of Notre Dame collided with middle linebacker Sean Lee earlier today and the veteran suffered a potentially season-ending left knee injury. Footage from NFL Network shows the unfortunate play, but Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that Lee’s knee gave out before there was contact. In any event, the Cowboys will have a serious void to fill if Lee is out for an extended period of time. Here’s the latest out of Dallas..
- There’s no official word from the Cowboys yet, but league sources say Lee’s MRI confirms a torn ACL in his left knee which would cost him the 2014 season, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com.
- Contractually, there’s a lot on the line for the Cowboys and Sean Lee, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. The Cowboys gave Lee a $10MM signing bunus and guaranteed him $16MM, but they gave themselves some injury protection. The six-year deal has a maximum value of $51MM, but he’ll earn closer to $42MM if he can’t play in 80% of the team’s snaps in the coming years.
- After Lee went down, ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins ran down Dallas’ potential options for replacing him. Looking in-house, the Cowboys have fourth-round pick Anthony Hitchens and sophomore DeVonte Holloman to plug the hole. There are also options in free agency, including Ernie Sims, Rocky McIntosh, and Jonathan Vilma.
- If Lee is done for the year, Mike Chappell of the Indy Star (on Twitter) wonders aloud if the Cowboys could consider ex-Colts linebacker Pat Angerer. The last bit of news we heard on Angerer came in early April when he said that he had interest from several teams but wanted to make sure he’s 100% before taking free agent workouts.
Cowboys Notes: QBs, Malena, Crawford
With Kyle Orton seemingly leaning toward retirement, the Cowboys’ depth chart at quarterback could be awfully thin this season behind Tony Romo. Brandon Weeden would likely to slide into the No. 2 role, with Caleb Hanie in the mix as well. The Cowboys could have provided themselves with another insurance policy for a Romo injury and/or Orton retirement if they’d elected to select a quarterback a signal-caller in the draft, but as Todd Archer of ESPN.com notes, the team’s draft philosophy precluded that possibility at this point. Whereas a team like the Patriots has drafted quarterbacks as potential long-term replacements for Tom Brady, Dallas has been less inclined in recent years to draft a QB only to develop that player for another team.
Here’s more on the Cowboys:
- Texas A&M running back Ben Malena received offers from more than 10 NFL teams after going undrafted, including the Texans, Bengals, Redskins, Broncos, and Raiders, but ultimately chose to sign with the Cowboys, as he explains to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “I looked over their current situation,” Malena said. “They had high interest in me. I feel like I can really make this team. I feel like I can really be a contributing factor to help this team win championships.”
- In a photo gallery for the Dallas Morning News, Machota examines 10 questions the Cowboys need to answer as OTAs get underway.
- Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News takes a look at why many observers – and teammates – believe defensive end Tyrone Crawford could be the Cowboys’ breakout player in 2014.
- In a piece for Sports on Earth, Mike Tanier explains his “Hope Index,” which evaluates the optimism a team’s fanbase should feel based on its recent success and how sustainable that success looks going forward. The Cowboys didn’t make out so well in Tanier’s calculations, ranking 26th, just one spot ahead of the Jaguars.
Extra Points: Contracts, Vikings, Football In LA
In his weekly Sunday column, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe describes an interesting phenomenon regarding “offset language.” Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill was the first top-10 pick to have offset language put into his contract, language that allows a team to avoid paying the full balance of a player’s salary if the player is cut and signed by another team. Since the 2011 CBA essentially reduced all rookie contracts to little more than boilerplate, Volin notes that the issue of offset language is one of the few negotiating points left.
In exchange for the salary offset, the Dolphins converted half of Tannehill’s base salary into bonus money, and eight of the top 12 draft picks in last year’s draft had similar language inserted into their deals. Of the top picks in the 2014 class that have already signed, only Raiders‘ LB Khalil Mack and Falcons‘ OT Jake Matthews have offset provisions in their contracts, but more are sure to come. For your edification, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets a complete definition of the term “contract offsets.”
Now let’s have a look at some notes from around the league:
- Chargers GM Tom Telesco held an online chat with fans earlier this week, and a couple of interesting tidbits came out of it. For instance, Telesco addresses his team’s relatively conservative approach to free agency this season and writes that this year was more about re-signing core players than making a splash with players from other clubs.
- Albert Breer of the NFL Network touched on a couple of rookie storylines in a brief segment on the network’s Total Access program, noting that the Rams plan to start first-round pick Greg Robinson at left guard in his rookie season–much like the Ravens did with Hall-of-Fame LT Jonathan Ogden in Ogden’s rookie year–and the Cowboys will start Zack Martin at right guard.
- Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch lists 10 reasons as to why Sam Bradford remains the Rams’ best option under center.
- Breer also tweets that the Vikings will allow Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, and Teddy Bridegwater to get reps with the first team in the offseason, but they would like to go into training camp with an established depth chart.
- Tim Graham of the Buffalo News writes that, although Bills fans have been worried about the team’s potential relocation to Los Angeles for years, neither the Bills nor any other club in the league will be heading to Hollywood anytime soon. According to Graham, there are just too many political, social, and historical obstacles for Los Angeles to land an NFL team in the foreseeable future.
- Citing a league source, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that a new league policy concerning DUI infractions is on the horizon. Once the league and the players’ union iron out the last few details surrounding HGH testing, the NFL will implement the policy, which would impose a one-game suspension and fine for a first DUI offense. Currently, the league punishes first-time DUI offenders with a two-game fine; a suspension is not typically imposed until a player is convicted of a second DUI.
- Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune tweets that Mike Glennon definitely has a chance at starting for the Buccaneers this year, and will get his opportunity should Josh McCown get hurt or falter.
NFC Mailbags: Redskins, Rams, Panthers, Lions
It’s Saturday, and that means a fresh batch of mailbags from ESPN.com’s NFL writers. Let’s take a look at some from around the NFC…
- Trent Murphy was certainly a fallback option for Brian Orakpo, but that doesn’t mean Orakpo won’t re-sign with the Redskins, says John Keim. He adds that the smart move would be to keep both players.
- Rams‘ writer Nick Wagoner thinks the team will carry three quarterbacks, including Garrett Gilbert. He cautions that the rookie is not a lock to make the roster.
- The money that the Rams would gain from cutting Austin Pettis could be enticing, Wagoner says. Stedman Bailey‘s suspension might mean that Pettis is sticking around, though.
- Wagoner thinks the team will bring in a veteran linebacker, similar to what the team did last season with Will Witherspoon.
- The Panthers will definitely be adding players as they’re cut from other teams, writes David Newton. The writer says General Manager Dave Gettleman is “saving money under the salary cap for a rainy day.”
- The Lions could potentially keep six wide receivers on their 53-man roster, says Michael Rothstein. He lists Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate as locks and believes Jeremy Ross will find a spot. He says one of Kris Durham, Kevin Ogletree and Naaman Roosevelt will make the roster, as well as one of T.J. Jones and Ryan Broyles. His wild card for the sixth spot would be Corey Fuller.
- Rothstein doesn’t think the Lions should make a move right now for Asante Samuel. He adds that they could make a move for a cornerback eventually, especially if Chris Houston can’t return.
- Dwayne Harris‘ job is safe with the Cowboys, opines Todd Archer. Besides being a solid wideout, his skills on special teams make him a lock.