NFC East Notes: Eagles, Kelce, Cowboys
Tonight’s glance at the NFC East..
- The Eagles want to keep Jason Kelce for the long-term, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. A league source tells Frank the Eagles and the center’s agent, Jason Bernstein, haven’t started contract talks but plan to fairly soon. It would be surprising if by the start of training camp, Kelce doesn’t have a long-term multi-year deal worth about $4.5-$5MM per year.
- The Cowboys‘ top priority this offseason should be fixing their disappointing defense, opines Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com. Their switch from the 3-4 defense to the 4-3 Tampa 2 scheme after the 2012 season wasn’t well thought out in Taylor’s view and the club doesn’t have the proper personnel for it. The Tampa 2 scheme requires a disruptive defensive tackle who plays on the outside shoulder of the right guard, a weakside linebacker who can make plays sideline to sideline, and a hard-hitting safety that can make receivers pay. Dallas, unfortunately, doesn’t have any of those by Taylor’s count.
- The Eagles signing of wide receiver Joe Anderson will have no bearing on what they do with free agents Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper, writes ESPN.com’s Phil Sheridan. Anderson was added for his special teams experience and his signing probably will have more of an impact on Brad Smith and Jeff Maehl than on Maclin and Cooper.
NFC Notes: Zastudil, Moss, Cowboys, 49ers
Cardinals punter Dave Zastudil signed a two-year extension with the team last month, and today Brian McIntyre provides the financial details for that contract (via Twitter). According to McIntyre, the deal will be worth $2.95MM over two years, with a $545K bonus, a 2014 cap hit of $1,252,500, and $450K in possible incentives.
Let’s check in on a few more items from around the NFC….
- Most recent Redskins rumors have revolved around the team’s negotiations with its defensive free-agents-to-be, but the club has also had talks with wide receiver Santana Moss about a new deal, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Moss has indicated that he’d like to remain in Washington.
- In a chat with readers, Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News said on Thursday that the Cowboys won’t be major players in free agency, but that the team will be active in reworking contracts over the next several weeks, with Tony Romo among the restructure candidates.
- Safety is a major area of concern for the Eagles this offseason, as Sheil Kapadia and Tim McManus outline at PhillyMag.com.
- Based on their recent free agent history, the 49ers are unlikely to be aggressive and make a big splash when the free agent period begins next month, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, who says the team is more likely to target players who fall through the cracks.
- Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com speaks to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com about the cap situations for the three contenders in the NFC West, the Seahawks, 49ers, and Cardinals.
Extra Points: Kluwe, Blackmon, Rogers
Clayton Halunen, the attorney for former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, says he’s upset with the club’s decision to retain special teams coach Mike Priefer before the conclusion of the investigation into his comments, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press details. The punter, who has been a vocal advocate for gay marriage, alleged that Priefer made a number of homophobic remarks in his presence. More from around the NFL..
- At a fan event, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said that at some point, suspended wide receiver Justin Blackmon will be back with the team, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. That falls in line with recent comments from Jags owner Shad Khan.
- The 49ers may ask cornerback Carlos Rogers to take a pay cut yet again, writes CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco. Money is fairly tight in San Francisco. The salary cap is expected to be in the $126-128MM range and the 49ers’ top 51 players currently under contract account for $121.2MM, according to a league source. The club has an additional $2.175MM in carryover of unused cap space from the 2013 season, but Rogers, Jon Baldwin, and others may have to take less to stay in SF.
- Newly-minted Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil is glad to have Barkevious Mingo on his squad. In fact, Buffalo’s former outside linebackers coach pushed the Bills to pick Mingo with the eighth pick in last year’s draft but he was off the board once Cleveland grabbed him at No. 6, writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. “I’m a big fan of Mingo. I’m looking forward to working with him. He flashes some on tape. He did a lot of good things. He’s obviously a young player. He’s got some things to work on, but we’re excited as a defensive staff to get him back here and start working with him,” said O’Neil.
- Albert Breer of NFL Network (via these five Twitter links) rightfully notes that the NFL salary cap isn’t set in stone at the $126.3MM estimate that came about in December. A number of factors, including TV money and the influence of the NFLPA, could drive that number closer to $130MM.
- Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter) expects the Cowboys to sign quarterback Mike Kafka. Dallas will need a QB to get through the offseason program while Tony Romo goes through rehab. Earlier today we learned that Dallas auditioned the former Northwestern signal caller.
NFC East Notes: RGIII, Morgan, Cowboys
Earlier today, our own Luke Adams ran down the free agent market for quarterbacks, starting with Michael Vick of the Eagles. Vick had a strong first month to the season but understudy Nick Foles eventually seized his opportunity when he fell to injury. The veteran is unlikely to return to Philadelphia and is confident that he’ll be starting somewhere to open up the 2014 season. The Jaguars, Texans, Browns, Vikings, Buccaneers, and Raiders are among the teams expected to seek a starting QB and he could have the opportunity to show that he still has plenty to give in the fall when he will have turned 34. More from the NFC East:
- New Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan says the adversity that he experienced with the Redskins and quarterback Robert Griffin III last season will help him improve going forward, writes Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. The topic of Shanahan’s relationship with RGIII came up in his interview with Cleveland on January 29.
- Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan would like to play for his hometown team again in 2014, but he’s not sure if the feeling is mutual, writes CSNWashington.com’s Tarik El-Bashir. Morgan was the Redskins’ leading receiver in 2012, hauling in 48 passes for 510 yards. Last season, however, the 28-year-old fell out of favor with then-coach Mike Shanahan and was deactivated twice. He finished with 20 receptions for 214 yards and zero touchdowns.
- The Cowboys auditioned quarterback Mike Kafka and former Arena League receivers Braylon Bell and Maurice Williams at a local high school, according to Rowan Kavner of DallasCowboys.com. Kafka, a fourth-round draft pick of the Eagles’ in 2010 out of Northwestern, spent time briefly with the Patriots and Jaguars last season but hasn’t played in a regular season NFL game since 2011.
NFC Notes: Shields, Ware, Bennett, 49ers
Among the Packers’ top priorities this offseason must be cornerback Sam Shields, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Shields won’t be easy to retain — he’ll be among the best cornerbacks on the market this offseason, and Dougherty believes he could fetch a contract that pays him $8.5MM per season. With new deals coming for Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, it may be difficult for Ted Thompson to navigate a deal for Shields and keep room open to fill out the roster. Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- DeMarcus Ware had said he would have a scope on his right elbow this offseason, but as of right now has no surgery scheduled, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Ware was already viewed as a potential cap casualty, as Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated notes, and this ongoing injury only adds incentive for the Cowboys to release him and save about $7MM on the cap in 2014.
- Michael Bennett reiterated that he is fully committed to trying to return to the defending champion Seahawks in 2014, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “We can go back and win a Super Bowl again with all these guys,” Bennett said. “It’s a business but I definitely want to be back.”
- The 49ers‘ priorities are holding strong this offseason, write Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. The team is trying to lock up quarterback Colin Kaepernick and head coach Jim Harbaugh to long-term deals, and still keep free agents Anquan Boldin, Donte Whitner, and Phil Dawson.
NFC East Notes: Bryant, Orakpo, Redskins
While the Redskins, Eagles, and Giants should all have a moderate amount of cap flexibility this offseason, no team in the NFL currently projects to be further over the 2014 cap than the Cowboys, as Jason Fitzgerald’s newest update as OverTheCap.com shows. With about $152MM in total commitments among their top 51 contracts for 2014, the Cowboys will likely have to clear $24MM+ in salary before March 11 in order to get under the cap. As we look forward to seeing Dallas’ moves over the next several weeks, let’s check in on a few other NFC East items….
- Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is eligible for unrestricted free agency a year from now, but it doesn’t sound like he’s thinking ahead to the possibility of testing the market. Asked by TMZ about his upcoming free agency, Bryant replied, “I don’t even think about leaving Dallas. I’m Dallas forever” (hat tip to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com).
- In his latest piece for the Washington Post, Mike Jones discusses Brian Orakpo‘s impending free agency, noting that some league insiders believe the linebacker will be seeking something in the $10MM per year range on a long-term contract. Responding to Jones’ column, cap expert Joel Corry tweets that Orakpo’s asking price figures to exceed $10MM annually and will probably be in the neighborhood of $30MM in guaranteed money. As Jones writes, the Redskins will certainly attempt to work out a multiyear deal with Orakpo, but may also consider using the franchise tag in order to put off a long-term commitment for one more season.
- The NFL’s offseason waiver system opens today, and it figures to be of great interest to the Redskins, according to Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com. The Redskins may not have their second overall pick, but they have the second overall waiver priority, meaning that when other teams start to release young players, Washington will essentially have its pick of those players on waivers.
Extra Points: Hatcher, Jackson, Mack
Cowboys free agent defensive tackle Jason Hatcher‘s best-case scenario might be to sign a club-friendly deal with Dallas, writes Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei. Although Hatcher’s breakout campaign in 2013, which included a career-best 11 sacks, may have been enough to land him a lucrative deal under different circumstances, his age (32) and past performance will likely limit his market. Before 2013, Hatcher’s career high was 4.5 sacks, and Pompei believes it will be difficult for Hatcher to match or surpass last season’s success.
Some other notes from around the league:
- Pompei notes that Steven Jackson is likely to remain with the Falcons. Jackson has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but Atlanta officials thought Jackson ran well when healthy and that his lackluster season was influenced by poor blocking from his linemen.
- Pompei also thinks it is highly unlikely that Browns free agent center Alex Mack will get the franchise tag because it would cost the Browns around $11MM. The tag for offensive linemen as a whole is driven by the salaries of offensive tackles, which explains why it would be so expensive to tag Mack despite the fact that no center made more than $5.5MM last year. Pompei believes Mack will become the highest-paid center in the game, but he does not give an opinion as to who he thinks may land him.
- In a pre-Super Bowl Twitter mailbag, Tony Grossi of ESPN.com tweets that it is unlikely the Browns will retain Mack, and he reaffirms his belief that Cleveland will use the franchise tag on safety T.J. Ward. Grossi said Ward himself expects the tag.
Extra Points: Cowboys, Saints, Bills, Roster Rankings
Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was sentenced to just 180 days in jail after he was found guilty of intoxication manslaughter, and Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News believes the team will try to bring him back for the 2014 season. The team will push for a ruling from commissioner Roger Goodell regarding a league suspension before the draft, in the hopes that their areas of need will be more clarified. Regardless of Brent’s fate, the Cowboys will need to boost their defensive line this offseason. For his part, Gosselin opines that Brent should move on to a different team, and open a new chapter in his life.
Some more notes from around the league:
- The Saints need to get younger at receiver, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. Marques Colston may only have a few years left as a productive player, and Robert Meachem and Lance Moore might not return to New Orleans next season. Adding big names to the receiving core via free agency is unlikely, as the Saints have proven they can succeed by pairing lightly-regarded players with quarterback Drew Brees.
- The Bills have added Pepper Johnson as defensive line coach and Fred Pagac as linebackers coach, according to a team statement. Johnson was on the Patriots coaching staff for the past 12 seasons, while Pagac spent the past seven years with the Vikings.
- Evan Silva of Rotoworld ranks each franchise by roster strength and identifies the top needs of each team. The Super Bowl participant Seahawks and Broncos come in at numbers one and three, respectively, while the 49ers, Patriots, and Saints round out the top five.
- Teams like the Chiefs, who will pick near the end of the first round in the upcoming draft, may benefit from the ever-rising number of declaring underclassmen, writes Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
Extra Points: London, Cromartie, FA Tryouts
During his State of the NFL presser this morning, commissioner Roger Goodell downplayed speculation about the possibility of the Rams moving to Los Angeles, but sounded more bullish about the city of London getting an NFL team. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), Goodell said that selling out three games for the 2014 season helped push London “further down the road” toward a franchise. Meanwhile, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets that, in his opinion, the question isn’t whether or not London will eventually get a team, but rather whether it will be via expansion or relocation.
- Jets head coach Rex Ryan indicated today that he hopes cornerback Antonio Cromartie regains his form in 2014, but didn’t commit to him being on New York’s roster for next season, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News details. Cromartie is owed a $5MM roster bonus in March and carries a cap number of nearly $15MM for ’14.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun passes along word of several free agent tryouts, reporting via Twitter that defensive tackle Torrey Davis auditioned for the Packers, linebacker Alex Hall tried out for the Cardinals, and wide receiver C.J. Akins worked out for the Panthers.
- Unsurprisingly, Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters today, including Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter links), that he’d like to bring back both of the team’s top two free agents, receiver Julian Edelman and cornerback Aqib Talib.
- As Russell Wilson prepares to play in his first Super Bowl, a handful of teams around the league are undoubtedly thinking about the opportunity they had to draft the third round pick in 2012. The Eagles are one team that came close to snatching Wilson off the board in the second round, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- In a pair of Dallas Morning News chats, Rainer Sabin explains why he believes the Dan Bailey contract extension was the right move for the Cowboys, while Kevin Sherrington argues that what the Cowboys call being “aggressive” with the cap is actually mismanagement.
Browns Interviewing OC Candidates
THURSDAY, 3:15pm: In addition to meeting with DeFilippo, the Browns are also interviewing Loggains for the OC job today, reports Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 2:13pm: The Browns will also interview DeFilippo on Thursday for their offensive coordinator opening, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
1:05pm: Shanahan has an interview with the Browns scheduled for Wednesday, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (via Twitter).
12:12pm: The Browns have finalized the hirings of several coaches within the last week, including a new defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and head coach. The team is still in the market for an offensive coordinator though, and appears to be eyeing a candidate who has missed out on two other OC jobs this winter: Kyle Shanahan. According to John Keim of ESPN.com, the Browns spoke to Shanahan this morning about their offensive coordinator opening.
Shanahan has had success in the past as the offensive coordinator in Houston and, more recently, in Washington. However, “numerous stories” about friction between Shanahan and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III may have affected his ability to land a new job, league sources tell Keim. Shanahan was in the mix for OC jobs with the Dolphins and Ravens in recent weeks, before both teams decided to go in another direction.
Gary Kubiak, Cam Cameron, Alex Van Pelt, and Dowell Loggains are among the other names to have surfaced within the last few days as potential OC candidates for Cleveland, but Kubiak was hired by the Ravens and Cameron and Van Pelt appear to be staying put at LSU and Green Bay, respectively. NFL Network’s Albert Breer mentioned last night (via Twitter) that Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo could also be in the picture, and adds today (via Twitter) that the Browns also have interest in Bill Callahan. While the Cowboys have said Callahan isn’t available, that may change now that Scott Linehan has joined the Cowboys’ staff, says Breer.