WR Notes: Holmes, Burleson, Broncos
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes that that Jets will cut Santonio Holmes. Holmes has been a disappointment both on and off the field since coming to New York from Pittsburgh, and he would cost the Jets $10.75MM against the cap this year if he were to be retained. However, the Jets will save $8.25MM by cutting Holmes, and Cimini believes the team will use at least a significant portion of that money to bring in a new wideout. As our own Luke Adams wrote last week, the Jets “covet” the Steelers’ Emmanuel Sanders and the Eagles’ Jeremy Maclin, both of whom are eligible for unrestricted free agency.
It is a buyer’s market for receivers this year, with over 50 wideouts set to hit the open market. Some more notes on the wide receiver carousel:
- Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com writes that Nate Burleson would make sense for the Cowboys, given the imminent release of Miles Austin and the limitations of players like Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley. Archer believes Burleson’s skill-set, veteran leadership, and connection with new Cowboys’ play-caller Scott Linehan could add up to a nice complement to top receivers Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.
- Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com believes the Broncos will have to grab at least one receiver in the draft. Eric Decker and Andre Caldwell are both unrestricted free agents, but the Broncos will want to make sure they have enough money to pay Demaryius Thomas when he hits free agency after the 2014 season, and that will limit what they could give to Decker, Caldwell, or any other free agent receiver this season. As such, Denver will be left with only two receivers on the roster who have started an NFL game: Thomas and Wes Welker. For a team that uses a three-wide set about 70% of the time, that is simply not enough depth.
- Joe Kaiser of ESPN.com examines the chatter surrounding Anquan Boldin‘s return to the 49ers, all of which indicates Boldin will be back in the Bay Area next year.
- In a recent interview with Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, NFL Films’ Greg Cosell confirms the general consensus that Clemson’s Sammy Watkins is the best receiver in this year’s draft, but Cosell doesn’t stop there. He believes that Watkins is the best receiver available since the 2010 draft, when Julio Jones and A.J. Green were taken in the first round.
Corry On Pay Cut Candidates
In our previous post, we highlighted young stars entering their prime years and poised to land lucrative second contracts. At the other end of the spectrum, Joel Corry of National Football Post spotlighted five veterans who could be asked to take a pay cut:
- Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey – Will be 36 next season after playing just five regular season contests in 2013 (foot injury). Simply put, Bailey’s cost to the team is not commensurate with his diminished skills, as he’s scheduled to count $10.5MM against the cap next year.
- Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware – Dallas’ cap woes were detailed last week. At the top of the “To Do” list is Ware, who carries a $16MM cap number as a result of three restructurings. Bothered by an elbow injury which necessitated off-season surgery, Ware managed just six sacks in 2013. Corry says Ware has indicated he’s willing to go down that road again, “but a pay cut is a different story.” If the Cowboys release Ware, the team stands to gain approximately $7.4MM of cap room.
- 49ers running back Frank Gore – Not unlike catchers in baseball, running backs trend downward beyond age 30. Gore will be 31 in 2014 when he’s scheduled to count $6.45MM against the cap, though he’s considered an “old” 31 given his career workload and injury history. With a strong offensive line and dual-threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick entering his prime, it’s reasonable to think Gore’s production could be had for cheaper, be it in the form of Gore himself at a reduced rate or perhaps 2013 “redshirt” Marcus Lattimore, who is waiting in the wings.
- Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu – The soon-to-be 33-year-old has the NFL’s highest 2014 cap number among safeties (approximately $10.9MM), but Polamalu’s play has fallen off to the point where his reputation exceeds his performance. According to Corry, “A pay cut could be folded into an extension that lowers Polamalu’s cap number and ensures that he never plays with another NFL team.”
- Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork – Corry describes the veteran Wilfork’s situation as “precarious” because the final year of his five-year deal weighs $11.6MM against the cap. That number ranks second-highest on the roster behind Tom Brady, and the team has just under $3.9MM of cap room at present time. Wilfork has been a rock, but the Pats cannot afford to devote nine percent of the cap to a 32-year-old run stuffer coming off a torn Achilles tendon injury, especially with the team attempting to re-sign Aqib Talib.
Extra Points: Bills, Knighton, Eagles, Ravens
After we heard yesterday that New York State had appointed several members to a committee tasked with exploring the possibility of a new stadium for the Bills, team president and CEO Russ Brandon released a statement indicating that the franchise’s primary focus is on upgrading Ralph Wilson Stadium (link via The Buffalo News). Mike Rodak of ESPN.com also passes along several comments made by Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz on WGR 550, explaining why a new stadium might not be viable in the short term.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton reportedly intends to seek a new contract this offseason, but the odds of him receiving one aren’t great, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com.
- Wide receiver will be a position to keep an eye on in Philadelphia this offseason, as the Eagles decide whether they’ll bring back Jeremy Maclin and/or Riley Cooper. Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer takes an in-depth look at the position.
- Given the presence of new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and the high value the club places on special teams, free-agent-to-be Jacoby Jones has multiple reasons to consider a return to the Ravens, says Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com.
- While it won’t necessarily be anywhere near the top of the team’s to-do list this offseason, the Ravens should make an effort to upgrade their defensive line if they can, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk expects it to be a buyer’s market for free agent receivers this offseason, and thinks that the Patriots, among other teams, could benefit.
- Don’t expect much excitement from this year’s restricted free agent market, writes ESPN.com’s John Clayton, who says that this year’s class of restricted free agents is among the least impressive in recent memory.
- Anthony Kuehn of the Detroit Free Press takes an in-depth look at the Lions’ 22 free-agents-to-be.
Broncos Extend John Elway, Add GM To Title
The Broncos have extended their relationship with executive VP of football operations John Elway, signing him to a three-year contract extension, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. In addition to locking him up for three additional years, the Broncos have also added the position of general manager to his current title, says Klis.
Elway’s deal had been set to expire after the 2014 season, so the new agreement ensures that he remains under contract through the 2017 season. As for the new title, as Klis explains (via Sulia), Elway had already been tasked with making the final decisions related to roster-building, so being known as the GM doesn’t figure to change his responsibilities much.
Since assuming the role of executive VP of football operations in 2011, Elway has seen the Broncos compile a 34-14 record, including two 13-3 seasons, and earn a spot in this month’s Super Bowl. While that game didn’t turn out well for Denver, Elway’s tenure, which included the hiring of coach John Fox and the acquisition of future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, has been very fruitful for the franchise thus far.
Speaking of Fox, he appears to be the next one in line for a contract extension from the Broncos. According to Klis, the team is expected to work out a new multiyear contract with its head coach.
Terrance Knighton May Seek New Contract
Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton signed a two-year contract with the Broncos last offseason, which puts him another year away from free agency. However, after starting every game for the team in 2013, Knighton and his reps believe he has outperformed his deal, and they’ll be seeking a new agreement this offseason, a source tells Brandon Krisztal of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
Knighton, 27, earned a base salary of $1MM in 2013, to go along with $1MM in bonuses. For 2014, he’s on the Broncos’ books for a base salary of $1.5MM, with a $1MM roster bonus still to come. Presumably, if he were to negotiate a new deal this offseason, Knight would be seeking a sizable bump in annual salary, along with multiple additional years tacked on beyond ’14.
The Broncos have a little wiggle room under the cap for now, but have many key contributors facing free agency now, including Knowshon Moreno, Eric Decker, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Zane Beadles. Giving Knighton a raise could compromise the club’s ability to bring back some of those free agents, so we’ll have to wait and see if Denver can reach a compromise with its starting defensive tackle. Knighton was a major piece of the Broncos’ defensive line in 2013, recording 43 tackles to go along with three sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
Colts Sign Henoc Muamba
MONDAY, 12:28pm: Muamba’s deal includes $107K in guaranteed money, according to Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter). As Brian McIntyre tweets, that’s the largest amount of guaranteed money included in any futures contract signed to date.
THURSDAY, 7:35pm: The Colts announced that they have signed former CFL linebacker Henoc Muamba. The first overall pick in the CFL’s 2011 draft worked out for multiple NFL teams in recent months, including the Ravens and Browns. Brian McIntyre (on Twitter) adds that Muamba also auditioned for the Broncos, Patriots, and Vikings.
Yesterday, the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced that they were releasing the linebacker to allow him to pursue an opportunity in the NFL. Terms of Muamba’s deal are not yet known. While I would think that the middle linebacker’s deal is a reserve/futures contract, it seems possible that he got more than the minimum salary based on the number of teams that showed interest in recent weeks.
Recently, the Chiefs landed another standout CFL import in wide receiver Weston Dressler, after he was let out of his contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kansas City inked Dressler to a reserve/futures pact.
AFC Notes: Pats, Gaine, Browns, Harris
Earlier today, we rounded up several Monday morning items from across the NFC. Now, we’ll turn attention to the conference which has been on the losing end of five of the last seven Super Bowls, the AFC:
- The Patriots have a little over $8.5MM in dead money on their books for 2014, but the majority of that stems from Aaron Hernandez’s contract, as Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com outlines. The team continues to seek cap relief for Hernandez’s deal, but even if New England is unsuccessful in that endeavor, the dead money doesn’t cripple the club’s cap outlook, writes Yates.
- After failing to land the general manager job in Miami, former Dolphins assistant GM Brian Gaine is joining the Texans as the team’s director of pro personnel, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (via Twitter).
- While the Browns’ offensive line has remained “uncannily intact” for the last two seasons, the team has been stockpiling developmental players and could be in the market for three new starters in 2014, writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.
- Undergoing ACL surgery heading into his restricted free agency didn’t bode particularly well for Chris Harris’ stock, but the Broncos cornerback had no other ligament or cartilage damage and only a partial tear of the ACL, a source tells Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The injury may have cost Harris a first-rounder tender, but he should still receive a second-round tender from the Broncos, and his recovery looks promising.
- In a Ravens notebook, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun examines the team’s need at center, James Ihedigbo’s impending free agency, and the odds of the club rolling the dice on troubled free agent linebacker Erin Henderson.
AFC Notes: Talib, Welker, Edelman
Early indications are that free agent market for Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib will be “more robust” in 2014 than it was a year, ago, a league source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Talib returned to the Patriots in 2013 on a one-year, $5MM contract. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Albert Breer, Talib turned down a five-year deal in hopes of “cashing in afterward.”
Now is his chance.
Citing injury concerns, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss projected a three-to-four year deal for Talib with around $8MM per season and $12-14MM guaranteed. Talib totaled four interceptions and 13 passes defended in 2013, earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
Other notes from the AFC:
- Broncos receiver Wes Welker carries with him an $8MM hit against the cap in 2014, writes Florio.
- Should the two sides want to work out a new deal, there is little time to do so, as Welker’s $6MM in compensation becomes official in March.
- If no new deal can be reached, and the Broncos deem Welker too expensive, Florio names Patriots‘ receiver and Welker-clone Julian Edelman as a possible replacement.
- Florio even goes so far as to mention New England as a possible landing spot for Welker, but is quick to point out how ludicrous that would be, given Bill Belichick‘s recent comments regarding his former Pro Bowl slot receiver.
Poll: Who Faces Seahawks In NFL Opener?
One of the many perks of being Super Bowl champions, with the exception of last year’s Ravens, is hosting the following season’s opening game in primetime.
Though the official schedule for the 2014 season won’t be announced until April, we do know each team’s home and road opponents, which gives us some insight as to who might be heading to Seattle for the first of the league’s 256 contests.
Fresh off a 43-8 whooping in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Broncos could be an interesting choice for the opener. They opened the 2013 season as well, avenging a devastating loss in the divisional round to the Ravens with a 49-27 victory. The game was played in Denver because of a scheduling conflict with Baltimore’s MLB team, the Orioles. As you probably recall, Peyton Manning tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes.
For a rematch of the most recent NFC championship — one of the better games played during the 2013 season — the league could call for the division-rival 49ers to open against Seattle. Plenty of sparks flew the last time these teams played (cough, Richard Sherman) and the rivalry is developing into Bears/Packers and Steelers/Ravens territory.
One of the more memorable regular season games the past few years is the “Fail Mary” game between the Packers and Seahawks, the last game played with replacement referees. With Green Bay set to travel to the Pacific Northwest in the 2014 season, pitting two of the top teams in the NFC up against one another in the NFL opener would be a great way to kick off the season.
Lastly, there’s always a chance that the league and networks will schedule the Cowboys in a must-see primetime game. This is probably the most improbable of all the scenarios, but it’s not impossible. “America’s Team” continues to draw monster ratings year after year with the unpredictable Tony Romo under center, and their 2006 playoff matchup with the infamous bobbled snap by the aforementioned Romo remains one of the most exciting finishes in postseason history.
Back up your vote with a comment as to why you think a certain team should open its season with a trip to Seattle.
Which team will visit CenturyLink Field in the 2014 NFL opener?
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San Francisco 49ers 44% (596)
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Green Bay Packers 27% (363)
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Denver Broncos 18% (244)
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Dallas Cowboys 11% (150)
Total votes: 1,353
Extra Points: Incognito, Gross, Suggs, Pats
Executives and players who spoke to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report expressed confidence that Richie Incognito would continue to find NFL work going forward, but weren’t as certain about Jonathan Martin’s future. Lingering questions about Martin’s trustworthiness and mental health make him a bigger question mark around the league than Incognito, whose off-field question marks are at least more familiar for NFL teams.
“He’s not a good guy, but we’re not a league of good guys,” one GM said of Incognito. “There are some bad guys in football, but it’s football, not the Salvation Army. He can play, if the commissioner allows it, he’ll get another job.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- Several contracts around the league voided today, adding more players to the 2014 free agent list, as expected. In a series of tweets, Joel Corry and Brian McIntryre listed a few of the notable players whose deals voided, including Brian Orakpo, Brandon Meriweather, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, B.J. Raji, and Corey Webster.
- Another player whose deal was set to void today was Panthers offensive lineman Jordan Gross, who remains undecided on whether or not he’ll continue his career, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. As Corry notes (via Twitter), voiding Gross’ contract would result in $5.6MM of dead money on Carolina’s cap, so the team probably would’ve liked to push that deadline into March, if possible. It’s not clear yet whether the club managed to do anything like that though.
- The latest piece from Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report is chock full of interesting tidbits, including word that the Ravens still believe Terrell Suggs is a valuable asset, meaning the team is more likely to try to restructure his deal than to release him. Pompei also notes that many NFL team execs are happy this year’s draft was pushed back, since they’ll need that extra time to evaluate the record number of underclassmen among 2014’s class.
- While Michael Bennett, Anthony Spencer, and Jason Worilds are among the intriguing pass-rushing options in this year’s free agent class, Orakpo and Greg Hardy make up the top tier, writes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com.
- A day after looking at the Seahawks’ future, Joel Corry of The National Football Post turns his attention to what’s next for the Broncos.
- Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com provides a brief snapshot of every position on the Patriots’ offense, assessing whether or not the team will address each spot in free agency or the draft.