Quarterback Notes: Flacco, Brees, Manning
Despite what the Ravens may be saying, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio is convinced that Joe Flacco‘s new contract is simply about saving money. The team’s website published an article earlier this week stating that the extension was about winning, not money.
“We did not do a deal to gain cap room,” Newsome had said (via Florio). “We did a deal so Joe Flacco could be on this football team for the next six years.”
However, the quarterback basically admitted that the new contract was intended to create more cap flexibility.
“We’ve got a bunch of good players and we’ve got a great foundation already but with the way the deal was before I mean it might not have been this year but at some point there was gonna be a strain on what we could do and what kind of guys we could bring in,” Flacco said on PFT Live. “You don’t wanna see any of the guys on your team have to be let go because of some issue with the cap and I wanted to play here. I wanted to play here, I want to play here, continue to play here for a long time.”
Let’s check out some other notes regarding several of the league’s top signal callers…
- Considering the extra flexibility, Flacco would like to see the Ravens bring in some reinforcement on the offensive line. When appearing on PFT Live, the quarterback also seemed to hint that he’d prefer the team re-sign Kelechi Osemele. “The one thing is I would say we need to get our O-line solidified, see who’s going to be there for sure,” Flacco said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “We’ve got a couple guys, at least one guy who’s out in the open there, whether we’re going to get a contract done with him or not. So once we get those guys nailed down and see who they’re going to be, I think that’s the biggest part of a championship, as far as the offensive side of the ball.”
- Drew Brees‘ 2016 cap number will balloon to $30MM in the next several days, and Florio wonders if the 37-year-old will break the recent monetary records set by Flacco. A new deal may benefit each side, especially since the Saints will owe the quarterback $43.2MM if they tag him in 2017.
- Even if Brock Osweiler ends up leaving Denver, Mike Klis of 9 News can’t envision the Broncos bringing back Peyton Manning. Despite a successful four years with the franchise, the writer is convinced that it’s time to begin the “post-Manning era.”
Latest On Broncos
The Broncos have made an offer likely worth upward of $12.27MM per season to pending free agent quarterback Brock Osweiler, reports Troy Renck of The Denver Post. There’s no word on the length of the proposed contract, but the annual value would place Osweiler slightly above Nick Foles‘ $12.25MM per year. Foles, who signed a two-year, $24.5MM extension with the Rams last summer, is just 21st among quarterbacks in average salary.
Denver has until Monday to negotiate exclusively with Osweiler. If no deal is reached by then, the 25-year-old will be able to pursue offers from other teams as part of the NFL’s legal tampering period. Osweiler could then 
sign a contract with another club when free agency opens Wednesday.
The Broncos understandably have balked at paying a high price for Osweiler, who hasn’t garnered much playing time since they took him in the second round of the 2012 draft. The 6-foot-8, 240-pounder appeared in a career-high eight games and made his first seven starts last season, but he wasn’t particularly impressive. Osweiler’s numbers – 61 percent completion rate, 7.15 yards per attempt, 10 TDs, six picks – were unremarkable, and he didn’t take the field during the playoffs after a knee injury knocked him out of action in Week 17. Peyton Manning, whose foot injury originally opened the door for Osweiler in November, took the reins back and served as a game manager in all three of the Broncos’ postseason wins, including their 24-10 Super Bowl triumph over Carolina.
As for Manning, he remains undecided about his future. The soon-to-be 40-year-old is a lock to end up in another uniform if he elects to keep playing, as the Broncos have moved on from him, per Renck. The Broncos will make that official when they release the future Hall of Famer sometime before Tuesday. When that happens, the club will free up $19MM of spending space. In addition, the Broncos are considering restructuring the expensive deals of linebacker DeMarcus Ware, offensive tackle Ryan Clady and guard Louis Vasquez, Renck writes. As of now, that trio is set to occupy nearly $29MM in cap next season.
If the Broncos cut Manning and adjust the contracts of Ware, Clady and Vasquez, they’ll give themselves a better chance to keep priority free agents like Osweiler and stellar defensive lineman Malik Jackson. Renck reported Monday that Jackson and the Broncos were roughly $3MM per year apart on contract talks.
Guard Evan Mathis, who’s also unsigned, is contemplating retirement, according to Renck. The Broncos signed the two-time Pro Bowler last summer after the Eagles released him, and he ultimately started in 12 of 16 regular-season appearances. Mathis, 34, earned rave reviews for his performance from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked him third out of 81 qualifying guards.
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Latest On Broncos’ Quarterbacks
Brock Osweiler‘s received a substantial offer from the Broncos, James Palmer of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Previously stating they’d wait to negotiate with arguably the top free agent quarterback left on the market, the Broncos’ talks with the 2012 second-round pick have heated up in recent days, with Peyton Manning still undecided on whether or not he wants to continue playing.
However, Osweiler and the Broncos remain far apart on terms, according to the Denver Post’s Troy Renck (via Twitter). Renck adds that the team wants the fifth-year quarterback to return to Denver.
Although terms of Denver’s offer to Osweiler aren’t known, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report hears (video link) the Broncos aren’t willing to hit the $16MM-per-year benchmark that’s become the floor for veteran quarterbacks. Twenty such signal-callers average that per year, with the majority of the starters that don’t being on their rookie contracts.
Per Cole, the Broncos aren’t planning to commit that kind of money annually to Osweiler at this point, even if it’s on a short-term deal like the one the Eagles gave Sam Bradford.
An unrestricted free agent, Osweiler can begin talking to other teams March 7 as part of the legal tampering period. The Broncos don’t believe, according to Cole, that there’s a monster offer awaiting Osweiler on the market and that their sales pitch of quarterbacking a defending Super Bowl champion, with a historically dominant defense as a safety net, will be enough.
Cole also points out the Broncos are high on third-stringer Trevor Siemian and view him as a starter down the road. Of course, the seventh-round pick’s thrown just one NFL pass.
Despite reports of Manning’s retirement announcement being imminent, the soon-to-be-40-year-old passer hasn’t notified the Broncos of his intentions yet. Manning has a $19MM base salary that can be converted into cap space for the Broncos if he retires, or Denver is forced to release him. That $19MM salary becomes guaranteed March 9.
Manning, though, still has a physical looming as part of the five-year contract he signed with the Broncos in 2012. Manning doesn’t have to take it by Friday, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), only to notify the team he’s available for it on that date.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Latest On Peyton Manning
A weekend report from The Denver Post suggested that future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Peyton Manning was expected to announce his retirement soon, but the Broncos and Manning’s camp quickly refuted the notion that the signal-caller had made that decision yet. Agent Tom Condon reiterated that stance during an appearance on 104.3 The Fan in Denver on Wednesday.
“To tell you the truth, I know that Peyton has not decided,” Condon said, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
Although Manning may not have announced – or made – his decision, the winning quarterback of Super Bowl 50 made a lengthy speech at a fundraising event in Florida on Wednesday, and Jeff Darlington of NFL Media suggests, during an interview on PFT Live, that Manning sounded like a player who doesn’t want to call it a career quite yet.
“He did talk in present tense when he’s talking about his career,” Darlington said, per Smith. “He sounds like a guy who still wants to play. He does not sound like a guy who is a week away from retirement.”
As Darlington and others try to read between the lines to determine Manning’s outlook, the quarterback himself is “angry” about recent reports on his retirement and on an incident with trainer Jamie Naughright that occurred at the University of Tennessee two decades ago, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Manning has yet to publicly address the re-emergence of that story, but Cole hears from a source close to the QB that Manning feels as if he’s being pushed into retirement.
If Manning does want to keep playing, or if he postpones his retirement decision beyond next Tuesday, it appears extremely likely that the Broncos will cut him before his $19MM salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed on March 9th. In that case, the former first overall pick would have the freedom to sign elsewhere now or later, though it remains to be seen how aggressively other teams would pursue him.
According to Cole, the Rams, Texans, and Jets are among the clubs that might have interest in Manning if he opts not to retire and becomes available, but Cole classifies that interest as “tepid at best.”
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Franchise Rumors: Miller, Cousins, Norman
As we outlined shortly after Tuesday’s deadline, 10 NFL teams used their franchise or transition tags this year to secure at least the right of first refusal for potential free agents. While there’s no pressure on those players to sign those franchise or transition tenders anytime soon, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported earlier today that at least one or two players, including Bills tackle Cordy Glenn, could sign those tenders sooner rather than later.
Signing a franchise tender ensures that a player is guaranteed his 2016 salary, and prevents the team from rescinding the offer down the road. It also precludes the player from exploring the market to see if there are any teams willing to sign him to an offer sheet, but there would be nothing stopping the player from continuing to work on an extension with his own team, prior to the July 15th deadline.
As we wait to see if any franchised players sign their tenders today, let’s round up a few items of interest relating to this year’s group of tag recipients…
- Von Miller, the only player to receive an exclusive franchise tag before Tuesday’s deadline, is willing to take a “discount” on a long-term contract with the Broncos, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). As Breer points out though, it’s not clear whether Miller’s discount would apply to Ndamukong Suh‘s $19MM annual rate, or to Miller’s actual market value, which could exceed $20MM per year, according to rival executives. If the star pass rusher is only willing to accept less than his market value, that would still likely mean an average salary in the $18-19MM range.
- Washington‘s long-term contract offers to quarterback Kirk Cousins have exceeded $16MM per year, according to Breer (Twitter links). However, Cousins’ camp is aiming for an annual average closer to the franchise-tag salary ($19.953MM). Still, Washington’s starting quarterback plans on signing his tender and reporting to offseason activities while the two sides continue to work on a multiyear extension.
- Before the 2015 season began, the Panthers offered Josh Norman a five-year contract worth about $7.5MM annually, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Needless to say, Norman’s price has gone up significantly since then, with Person suggesting the veteran cornerback is seeking a deal that exceeds $14MM per year. Norman’s franchise-tag salary is $13.952MM.
West Notes: Rams, Manning, Kaepernick
The Rams placed the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson earlier today, and general manager Les Snead was certainly enthused that the NFC’s interception leader would be staying with the organization.
“Since we drafted Trumaine in 2012, he has developed into an integral part of our defense,” Snead told Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (via Twitter). “We look forward to having him with us this season and more to come.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC’s Western divisions…
- Recycling a theory he proposed in relation to the Calvin Johnson situation in Detroit, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Peyton Manning might want the Broncos to release him before he makes a retirement decision, since that would allow him greater freedom down the road in the event that he decides to continue his career.
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com explains why the Rams look like the most logical trade partner for the 49ers if San Francisco decides to grant Colin Kaepernick‘s agents request to seek out a deal for their client.
- Fresno State assistant – and former NFL defensive back – Ricky Manning Jr. is set to join the Seahawks as an assistant defensive backs coach, according to Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee (Twitter link).
- The Rams are also making a change to their coaching staff, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, who tweets that assistant linebackers coach Joe Bowden has been moved to an assistant special teams role.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Broncos Place Exclusive Franchise Tag On Von Miller
TUESDAY, 11:17am: The Broncos have officially filed the paperwork on Miller, assigning him the exclusive franchise tag, as expected, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
SUNDAY, 7:54pm: The seldom-used exclusive franchise tag appears to be set for deployment in Denver, with the Broncos preparing to place their top protection measure on Von Miller, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports.
Pushing to become the league’s highest-paid defender, Miller will not be permitted to negotiate with other teams as he would be if the Broncos were to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on the premier pass-rushing linebacker. Under the usual non-exclusive franchise tag teams use, other teams can negotiate with these performers but would have to surrender two first-round picks if they were to sign the tagged player to an offer sheet and the tagging team doesn’t match it.
Miller would be entitled to an average of the top-five salaries at his position — once the restricted free agent signing period ends on April 22 — if designated with the exclusive tag. The non-exclusive franchise tag for linebackers has been set at $14.129MM.
However, the Broncos may actually be getting Miller, who turns 27 in March, on their cap at a cheaper rate by using the exclusive tag. Renck and Pro Football Talk report this rarely used measure is currently slated to be worth $14.04MM for linebackers.
In Miller’s case, the Broncos aren’t taking any chances, with the Super Bowl MVP’s value to a pass rush-needy team potentially worth the two first-rounders.
The Broncos will have until July 15 to sign Miller to a long-term extension that will likely approach or perhaps surpass the deal Ndamukong Suh signed with the Dolphins last March. Suh earns $19.06MM on average and signed for six years and $114.38MM, but as Mike Florio of PFT points out, Suh’s deal was built on what the free agent defensive tackle could have earned on the open market. Miller’s will have his franchise tag figures — $16.95MM in 2017 in the unlikely scenario Miller’s tagged again for a 20% raise — factored into it.
But the Broncos have signed each of the three players on which they applied the franchise tag under John Elway‘s leadership. Ryan Clady, Matt Prater and Demaryius Thomas signed long-term extensions after being slapped with the non-exclusive tag in 2012, 2013 and 2015, respectively. Miller is a two-time first-team All-Pro and holds a higher standing in the game than those talents, however.
Justin Houston, who received the non-exclusive tag from the Chiefs last year, is the game’s highest-paid linebacker after signing a six-year, $101MM deal last July. Houston received $52.5MM guaranteed in signing his extension in Kansas City, and Miller will obviously push for a greater portion of his pact to be guaranteed.
With Peyton Manning‘s $19MM salary still on the books as of Sunday night, the Broncos have just $8.4MM of cap room. The 39-year-old quarterback’s deal, however, almost certainly won’t be on the Broncos’ books for 2016, and that $19MM would go to helping the team attempt to secure its preferred free agents.
Renck also reports the Broncos are still negotiating with Malik Jackson, whose asking price now resides at $14MM per season. The Broncos have reportedly offered the fifth-year defensive end a deal worth almost $12MM per season. Renck, however, reports the Broncos’ top offer to Jackson remains less than $11MM per season.
Now that Miller looks to be given the franchise tag, Jackson looks poised to hit the market.
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Free Agent Rumors: Rams, V. Miller, Hayes
The deadline for NFL teams to assign the franchise or transition tag to one of their players will arrive today at 3:00pm central time, so there will be plenty of interesting situations to keep an eye on over the next several hours.
One of those situations will be in Los Angeles, where cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins are both candidates to be tagged. While recent reports have suggested the Rams are leaning toward using their tag on Johnson, Rand Getlin of the NFL Network tweets that he firmly believes it will be used on Jenkins instead.
As I noted yesterday, the Rams may be incentivized to lock up Jenkins with a tag, since long-term contract talks with him don’t seem to be going well. Signing Johnson to a multiyear deal may be a more realistic proposition, so tagging Jenkins might give the team its best shot at retaining both corners.
Here’s more on pending free agents around the NFL, including one more who is expected to be tagged:
- While Von Miller still appears on track for the franchise tag, he and the Broncos have shown a commitment to getting a longer-term deal done eventually, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport reports that any multiyear extension for Miller would eclipse Justin Houston‘s six-year, $101MM pact, and Mike Klis of 9NEWS agrees, writing that the Broncos are offering $17MM+ annually. However, Klis points out that the team views Ndamukong Suh‘s $19MM-per-year contract as an outlier, and probably won’t be willing to go quite that high.
- Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, and Jason Cole of Bleacher Report are bullish on the free agent market for Rams defensive end William Hayes. Cole tweets that Hayes will be “in high demand,” while Garafolo tweets that the veteran pass rusher may nearly double his previous annual salary ($3.4MM).
- Appearing on PFT Live, Bengals cornerback Adam Jones said there have been “a lot of other teams” contacting his agent about signing him. Technically, of course, teams aren’t supposed to talk to an outside free agent’s representatives until the legal tampering period begins, but it’s widely acknowledged that clubs typically don’t wait that long.
- Paul Schwartz of the New York Post explains why the Giants won’t use their franchise tag this year on Jason Pierre-Paul, despite possessing a ton of cap room.
Latest On Malik Jackson
MONDAY: Contrary to Klis’ report of a contract offer worth ~$12MM per year for Jackson, the Broncos are slightly under the $11MM mark, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post. Further, while previous reports stated that Jackson is looking for $12MM annually, the number is closer to $14MM, per Renck.
SUNDAY, 5:59pm: The last known offer the Broncos extended to Jackson was worth approximately $10MM AAV, but the team has reportedly upped its terms for the fifth-year end. The Broncos have sent an offer for nearly $12MM per year to Jackson, according to Mike Klis of 9News.
That would make Jackson the second-highest-paid 3-4 end behind J.J. Watt‘s $16.66MM AAV accord, moving the ascending talent past Cameron Jordan and Calais Campbell, who each make $11MM AAV.
Cole notes Jackson seeks a deal worth at least $12MM per season, but according to Kils, the sides are still far apart. Signs continue to point to Jackson reaching the open market.
Categorized currently as a 3-4 end, Jackson’s proven a threat to pressure passers from three spots, and Klis puts the 26-year-old Jackson in the same potential earnings bracket as Marcell Dareus or Gerald McCoy due to his consistency rushing quarterbacks from the interior. Citing Jackson’s 49.5 quarterback sacks, hits and hurries combined in 2015 compared to McCoy’s 39.5 when fusing these stats and Dareus’ 20, Klis argues Jackson can pursue a contract commensurate with the top tier of 4-3 tackles and possibly earn $15MM annually. Dareus’ AAV number sits at $16.1MM, with McCoy’s residing at $15.9MM.
Although the Broncos have upped their offer, their limited cap space ($8.4MM before Peyton Manning‘s salary comes off the books, should he retire or be released) and notable other free agent commodities could make going much higher difficult.
SATURDAY, 1:49pm: The Broncos’ quest to keep Malik Jackson off the market continues, with Jason Cole of Bleacher Report hearing (video link) the Super Bowl champions “desperately” want to keep the fifth-year defensive end.
Despite not getting too far with Brock Osweiler yet, whom John Elway told media is not a franchise tag candidate as Von Miller is likely to receive the designation, Denver is working to keep Jackson from becoming one of free agency’s most sought-after players.
But Jackson’s agent, Jack Sharp, informed Cole his client currently plans to test the market to gauge the potential offers of other teams. Although Jackson, per Cole, still has interest in re-signing with the Broncos, he prefers to see what’s out there during the legal tampering period process, which begins March 7.
Cole reports Jackson is seeking a deal that pays at least $12MM per season. The Broncos’ top offer so far is worth $10MM AAV.
Denver already signed its starter at left end, Derek Wolfe, to a four-year, $36.7MM accord before its playoff run commenced. A 2012 fifth-round pick, Jackson’s been the more consistent player across his career, excelling at three positions in the past three years — 4-3 defensive tackle, 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 five-technique end — for the Broncos, respectively since breaking into the team’s rotation in 2013.
Elway did not rule out tagging Jackson, which would be worth $15.7MM, but that would mean signing Miller to a long-term deal by Tuesday. Given the Broncos’ recent history with franchise-tagged players signing extensions in July, this seems incredibly optimistic, especially considering Miller’s push to be the league’s highest-paid defender.
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Peyton Manning To Retire?
MONDAY: Manning is unlikely to make a retirement decision this week, according to James Palmer of NFL Network (Twitter link). Palmer also backs up various weekend reports that Manning will meet with Elway and head coach Gary Kubiak sometime this week.
SUNDAY, 8:16am: Mike Klis of 9News.com confirms that Manning and the Broncos will, in fact, meet next week, but according to Klis, a source close to Manning says that it’s unlikely the five-time MVP will finalize his decision on whether to retire at that time. No one expects Manning to play for the Broncos next season, of course; it is imply a matter of whether he will retire or if Denver will be forced to release him. In fact, Klis goes on to say that it’s possible a deal with Osweiler could be in hand the minute after Manning’s decision is known.
In a separate tweet, Klis says that the two sources that gave rise to the original Denver Post article reporting that Manning would acknowledge his intention to retire by the end of this week have since “disappeared from the story.”
SATURDAY, 7:50pm: Manning hasn’t informed the Broncos of his decision, and the the team expects to talk to him again this week, per Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
SATURDAY, 7:26pm: Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will acknowledge his intention to retire by the end of this week, sources tell Woody Paige of The Denver Post. Whether Manning retires or elects to return for his age-40 season, the Broncos are operating as if he won’t be part of their plans going forward, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports.
As Marvez writes, the Broncos are planning to use the $19MM of spending space they’ll have without Manning around next season as a way to pay some of their other players. Manning’s $21.5MM cap number and $19MM salary for 2016 will become fully guaranteed if he isn’t off the Broncos’ books by March 8, so the expectation all along has been that he’ll either retire or get his release by then.
If Manning does indeed walk away, he’ll leave the NFL as a two-time Super Bowl champion, and the league’s all-time leader in total wins by a QB (200), passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539). He also holds the record for most single-season TD tosses (55, set in 2013). Additionally, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1998 draft has racked up 14 Pro Bowl bids, seven first-team All-Pro selections and five MVP awards on the heels of a stellar career at the University of Tennessee.
The 2015-16 season campaign was the least productive of Manning’s pro career from a statistical standpoint, as he appeared in 10 
regular-season games and compiled his second-lowest completion percentage (59.8%) – not to mention personal worsts in touchdown passes (nine, against 17 interceptions) and QB rating (67.9). Manning was out of action for the second half of November and all of December because of a foot injury, but he relieved a banged-up Brock Osweiler in Week 17 and never relinquished the starting job. Manning worked in a game manager role during the postseason, when the Broncos’ defense dominated its way to wins over the Steelers, Patriots and Panthers en route to a Super Bowl title.
Prior to the Broncos’ playoff run, the December release of a documentary by Al-Jazeera America led to allegations of HGH use by Manning. In the documentary, ex-Guyer Institute pharmacist Charlie Sly claims the Indianapolis-based anti-aging clinic supplied Manning and his wife with HGH as he was recovering from a serious neck injury in 2011. Manning subsequently denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “complete garbage” and even threatening legal action.
That neck injury led to the end of Manning’s long tenure with the Colts, with whom he starred from 1998-2010. Manning was remarkably durable in that time frame, starting 16 regular-season games all 13 years and guiding the Colts to 11 playoff berths. After several years of playoff disappointment, Manning won the first Super Bowl of his career – a 29-17 triumph over the Bears – to conclude the 2006-07 season. The Colts got back to the Super Bowl one more time during Manning’s tenure, but they dropped a 31-17 decision to the Saints in February 2010.
After Manning missed the entire 2011 season, ending his streak of 227 straight starts (playoffs included), the Colts released him to pave the way for the Andrew Luck era. Manning then joined the Broncos on a five-year, $96MM deal in March 2012 and helped them to a sterling 38-10 regular-season record from 2012-14, throwing 131 touchdowns against 36 interceptions. Those three seasons ended poorly, though, as the Broncos went one-and-done in the playoffs twice and fell, 43-8, to the Seahawks in a disastrous Super Bowl XLVIII performance in between. Ironically, in Manning’s only subpar statistical season in Denver, the club finished atop the mountain, winning its third championship. The Broncos’ first two titles were won in the 1990s with current general manager John Elway at quarterback.
Along with Elway and his brother Eli Manning, who has also won a pair of championships, Peyton Manning is one of 12 QBs with multiple Super Bowl victories to his name.
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