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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Extra Points: Dolphins, Murray, Oakman, Raiola

December 16th, 2014 at 10:27pm CST by Zachary Links

James Walker of ESPN.com previewed the Dolphins‘ 2015 offensive free agents, a group that includes tight end Charles Clay, guard Daryn Colledge, center Samson Satele, and running backs Knowshon Moreno and Daniel Thomas. It’s an interesting group, Walker writes, because most of these players were contributors or expected contributors until injuries shortened the season. Clay appeared to be in store for a big payday this offseason, but that no longer appears to be the case. More from around the NFL..

  • Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News wonders how DeMarco Murray‘s left hand injury might factor into his contract situation. The Cowboys star running back is set to hit the open market this offseason.
  • Baylor defensive lineman Shawn Oakman is strongly considering entering the 2015 draft, multiple sources tell Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports. Oakman led Baylor with ten sacks and recorded 18.5 tackles for loss in 12 games this season. Oakman might be playing his final game in a Baylor uniform on January 1st against Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl.
  • Lions center Dominic Raiola is not ready for retirement just yet, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The pending free agent says tha the still has more in the tank, even after 14 seasons. A second-round pick out of Nebraska in 2001, Raiola has played the last two seasons on prove-it deals, and the Lions will have to decide whether to bring him back for a 15th year this off-season.
  • A league source told Terry McCormick of 247Sports.com that veteran left tackle Michael Roos, who has spent his entire career with the Titans since being drafted in 2005, is open to the possibility of returning to the club and manning the right tackle spot. The 32-year-old saw some time on the right side in his first two seasons.

Audition Notes: Tuesday

December 16th, 2014 at 7:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Wide receiver Luke Tasker, the son former Bills receiver Steve Tasker, worked out for the Packers, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The younger Tasker, also a wide receiver, currently plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. We’ll keep track of today’s workouts and visits here..

NFC North Notes: Peterson, Lions, Hayne

December 15th, 2014 at 4:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFLPA formally filed its lawsuit on behalf of Adrian Peterson today, in the hopes of getting the Vikings running back reinstated from his suspension prior to the start of the 2015 league year in March. We’ve got plenty of Peterson-related updates to pass along in this afternoon’s round-up of NFC North notes, along with one item on the division-rival Lions. Let’s dive in….

  • As Jason Cole of Bleacher Report explains, Peterson’s camp wants the running back reinstated by March so that if the Vikings decide to cut him, he can be involved in the first wave of free agency — if he’s reinstated in April or later, Peterson’s leverage would be significantly reduced in the event that Minnesota approaches him about a pay cut.
  • The NFLPA’s lawsuit crafted on Peterson’s behalf is “a masterpiece,” according to ESPN.com legal analyst Lester Munson. However, as Munson points out, judges almost never overturn the decisions of arbitrators, so the suit is unlikely to change anything for the running back.
  • According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, the NFLPA attempted to reach a compromise with the NFL before Henderson issued his ruling — the NFLPA proposed that Peterson would sit out the rest of the season, but would recoup some of the $4MM+ in salary he has lost, and would be reinstated well before April 15. Needless to say, the league didn’t agree to those terms.
  • After paying a visit to the Lions last week, rugby star Jarryd Hayne is in town again today, and the team has expressed interest in signing him, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Agent Jack Bechta tells Birkett that “no decision is imminent, as we have to explore all options,” but it sounds as if Detroit could have interest in signing Hayne to the same sort of deal Carlin Isles signed a year ago — Isles, another rugby standout, joined the Lions’ practice squad in December, giving the team first shot at him for a reserve/futures contract at season’s end.

Injury Updates: Monday

December 15th, 2014 at 2:51pm CST by Luke Adams

With just two weeks left in the NFL regular season, injuries that may not have been long-term problems earlier in the year could now end a player’s season. We’ll keep tabs right here on the latest updates on the ailments that could prompt roster moves or significantly alter a team’s plans:

  • While several players will be placed on injured reserve lists this week, ending their seasons, one player will come off IR — Bills running back C.J. Spiller is expected to be activated from IR-DTR, though it’s not clear how much of a role he’ll have for Buffalo in Week 16, or if he’ll even play (Twitter link).
  • A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall suffered a mid-foot sprain, and Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that Marshall is expected to miss a week or two with the injury. While Marshall should return this season, fellow Denver linebacker Danny Trevathan won’t, according to Klis, who says Trevathan dislocated his left kneecap and will have to undergo surgery.
  • Lions right tackle LaAdrian Waddle partially tore his ACL yesterday and will miss the rest of the season, says Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • Eagles outside linebacker Trent Cole has a broken hand, and his status for the rest of the season is uncertain, a source tells Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
  • Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said today on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that running back DeMarco Murray will have surgery on a broken bone in his hand (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio). Providing specifics on the injury, Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com notes (via Twitter) that Emmitt Smith once missed a game after undergoing a similar surgery. It sounds as if Murray will be questionable for Week 16, but shouldn’t miss much – if any – time.
  • Key 49ers special teamer Kassim Osgood also broke a bone in his hand and likely won’t play in the club’s final two games, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
  • Chargers linebacker Donald Butler dislocated his left elbow and is a candidate for IR, according to head coach Mike McCoy, who says the club is exploring its options (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune).

Injury Updates: Sunday

December 14th, 2014 at 9:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’ll keep track of the latest injury news here, with the newest updates added to the top of the list…

  • Lions‘ right tackle LaAdrian Waddle left today’s game with a right knee injury, according to Josh Katzenstein of DetroitNews.com. Waddle’s teammates were not optimistic about the injury, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • Seahawks‘ left tackle Russell Okung was forced out of the matchup with the 49ers before halftime with a chest injury, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).
  • The 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention earlier today, and were down to their third string running back at times. We heard that Frank Gore was knocked out of the game with a head injury, which was diagnosed as a concussion, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News (via Twitter).
  • Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy hyperextended his knee, an injury that could end his season, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. With no chance of playoffs and the 2015 top pick in their grasp, keeping McCoy on the sidelines for the final two games could be the smart long-term decision for the team.
  • Washington lost two starters earlier today, with left tackle Trent Williams and quarterback Colt McCoy both leaving the game and not returning, reports Tarik-El Bashir of CSNWashington.com. Williams suffered a shoulder injury, while McCoy aggravated his neck during the game.

Earlier updates:

  • After having his right ankle taped during the first half of today’s game against the Broncos, Chargers receiver Keenan Allen had to be carted off the field during the second half, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. It’s unclear whether Allen re-aggravated his ankle ailment, or suffered a new injury.
  • Texans quarterback Tom Savage was limping after today’s game against the Colts, and will have an MRI tomorrow, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Savage, selected in the fourth round of this year’s draft, was filling in for Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is likely lost for the year. If Savage can’t go next week, Houston would presumably turn to journeyman Thad Lewis, who was signed less than a month ago.
  • 49ers running back Frank Gore is headed to the locker room after suffering an head injury while blocking in today’s game against the Seahawks, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link).
  • The Ravens’ secondary has been ravaged by injuries this season, and it appears as though they’ve lost a few more key defenders. Rookie safety Terrence Brooks‘ season is over after he suffered damage to his PCL and possibly his MCL on a kickoff today, while cornberback Asa Jackson‘s status is unclear after he injured his PCL, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Another AFC North team is down several players in its defensive backfield, as Browns corners Joe Haden (shoulder) and Joe Haden (concussion) were forced from today’s game against the Bengals, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
  • Starting in the absence of an injured Zach Mettenberger, Titans quarterback Jake Locker suffered what appears to a shoulder injury after taking a hit from the Jets’ Quinton Coples, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Charlie Whitehurst has taken over at QB for Tennessee.

Sunday Roundup: Suh, Tannehill, Manning

December 14th, 2014 at 12:41pm CST by Rory Parks

With Ndamukong Suh‘s free agency rapidly approaching, there is a general belief that he could be playing his last games in a Lions uniform. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, though, believes that Detroit would be foolish to let Suh leave. Birkett writes that although J.J. Watt is clearly the best defensive player in the game, Suh is not far behind him, and the Lions should pay him accordingly.

Birkett goes on to note that the Lions want to pay Suh like a dominant defensive tackle, whereas Suh’s camp believes Suh’s talent transcends positional descriptions and is therefore worthy of its own spot on the pay scale. The Lions chose to table extension discussions earlier this year, and although there was a wide gap between what Suh was demanding and what Detroit was offering at that time, Birkett believes it is not a gap that cannot be bridged (which is especially true given what Suh means to this talented Lions defense). If the Lions have to pony up a deal resembling Watt’s six-year, $100MM extension, Birkett believes the Lions should pull the trigger. Even if Detroit has to slap a $26.9MM franchise tag on Suh to preserve its exclusive negotiating rights until July 2015, he believes the team should not hesitate to do so.

With a salary cap that many project to increase by leaps and bounds in the near future, Birkett tweets that there will be room for mega-deals for both Suh and Calvin Johnson, and he adds (via Twitter) that the Lions not only should re-sign Suh, but that they will re-sign him. For what it’s worth, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that he is not convinced Suh will leave in free agency. He adds that the Lions are “very much in the mix.”

Now let’s look at a few more notes from around the league:

  • Citing an AFC source, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets that the Dolphins have no choice but to pick up Ryan Tannehill‘s fifth-year option for about $15MM. Former NFL agent Joel Corry adds (via Twitter) that there is very little risk in exercising that option, as it does not become fully guaranteed until the first day of the 2016 league year.
  • Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (subscription required) provides a list of the top 10 front office executives most likely to be promoted to general manager, and current Eagles VP of Player Personnel Tom Gamble is at the top of the list.
  • Citing ESPN’s draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., Adam Teicher of ESPN.com writes that the Chiefs should draft at least three wide receivers in the 2015 draft. Given that the team has several receivers near or at the end of their careers and a few unproven younger players on the roster, it is difficult to argue with Kiper’s assessment, though Teicher himself believes Kansas City should have addressed that void this year.
  • In a mailbag piece, Teicher writes that the Chiefs also need to address the offensive line, but unlike the wide receiver position, Kansas City has some internal options to improve the O-line.
  • We learned earlier today that the Broncos, even after the recent extension handed out to Chris Harris, will have enough cap room to retain both Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas.
  • Darren Wolfson of KSTP.com tweets that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is expected to file a federal lawsuit against the NFL tomorrow.

NFC Mailbags: Garrett, Panthers, Prater

December 13th, 2014 at 10:50am CST by Rob DiRe

It’s Saturday morning, and ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s take a look at some of the interesting notes from the NFC…

  • The Cowboys have been one of the surprise teams in the NFL this season, and head coach Jason Garrett has gone from all but fired to a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate. Todd Archer believes he has done enough this season to keep his job even if they miss the playoffs, but notes that nothing is set in stone with three games to go.
  • If the Panthers do not comeback to win the division, they will likely be staring at a very high draft pick this offseason, and David Newton believes that offensive tackle would be a top priority. However, if Alabama’s Amari Cooper falls to them, the team would have to consider taking him and putting him opposite Kelvin Benjamin to make a scary young pair of wideouts.
  • Ben Goessling looks at what positions the Vikings will target in the 2015 NFL Draft, and believes the team could focus on defense. He writes that they could benefit from an inside linebacker to play alongside Anthony Barr and Gerald Hodges, or a versatile safety to pair with Harrison Smith. They could also look for another cornerback, or even a running back or offensive lineman.
  • Washington has a number of problems in addition to their volatile quarterback situation, and John Keim believes the team will come into 2015 with two new starting safeties. He writes they should try to find a veteran free agent and also draft a safety capable of coming in and playing.
  • While the main focus of the Packers‘ mailbag is the chances of a rematch of their week one loss to the Seahawks, this time at Lambeau Field, Rob Demovsky also takes time to explain why the team is consistently signing players to the active roster but not activating for gameday. He notes that most of these signings go hand in hand with key players who are questionable with injuries.
  • The Lions have a number of decisions to make this offseason, but whether or not to re-sign Matt Prater will be one of the smaller yet no less significant choices. Mike Rothstein believes the team should try to keep Prater on a long-term deal.

Extra Points: Saints, Kromer, Patriots, Lions

December 12th, 2014 at 10:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints are known for pushing the limits of the NFL’s salary cap, and the club will have some tough decisions to make prior to the 2015 season, as Bill Barnwell of Grantland and Mike Triplett of ESPN.com outline. For his part, Barnwell classifies New Orleans’ offseason strategies as high-variance — when the team hits on free agents, the plan works, but when new additions struggle, the scheme fails. While Barnwell believes that the Saints will be in “salary cap hell” when Drew Brees‘ play begins to deteroriate, Triplett thinks it’s possible that the team continues with its current tactics, cutting players and restructuring contracts year-after-year in order to create financial relief. Here’s more from around the league…

  • In his latest notes column for NFL.com, Albert Breer looks at some potential general manager candidates, looks at the free agency case of Patriots safety Devin McCourty, and points to the Falcons head-coaching job as perhaps the most desirable position that could be available this offseason.
  • Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer isn’t considering resigning after revealing that he was the source for a story that painted Jay Cutler in a negative light, tweets Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com.
  • The Patriots worked out former LSU defensive back Delvin Breaux, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Breaux, 24, currently plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. As Reiss notes, New England could be looking at players to sign to reserve/futures contracts.
  • Rugby star Jarryd Hayne visited with the Lions today, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Hayne, who has also met with the 49ers and Seahawks, is trying to start his NFL career as a running back.

NFC North Notes: Peterson, Suh, Workouts

December 11th, 2014 at 12:42pm CST by Luke Adams

If Adrian Peterson is reinstated this season, Vikings ownership, GM Rick Spielman, and head coach Mike Zimmer will welcome him back, says Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune. However, for the running back to continue his career in Minnesota beyond this season, he will likely have to agree to take a pay cut, according to Hartman’s sources. Still, while there’s been plenty of speculation that the Vikes will simply part ways with Peterson prior to the 2015 season, that’s not necessarily the case — if the Pro Bowler is open to renegotiating his contract, there’s “no doubt” Minnesota wants to work something out and bring him back, per Hartman.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

  • If the Lions end up losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency this offseason, the team should at least have a few strong options to consider in the first round of May’s draft, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “There’s some good ones, some real good defensive tackles or nose tackle types coming out,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper said today during his first pre-draft conference call for 2015.
  • In addition to hosting safety DeJon Gomes for a visit, the Lions also worked out cornerback Brandon Ghee, along with wide receivers Skye Dawson and Colin Lockett, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (all Twitter links).
  • Per Wilson (via Twitter), the Vikings also brought in a handful of free agents for tryouts this week, and Minnesota’s list of participants includes several under-the-radar names. Wide receiver Jalil Carter, defensive tackle Moton Hopkins, defensive back Johnny Sears, safety Garrett Waggoner, and safety Ian Wild auditioned for the club.
  • The Bears made a pair of roster moves earlier today, signing fullback Montell Owens and placing linebacker D.J. Williams on IR.

2015 Salary Cap Projected At $138.6MM+

December 11th, 2014 at 9:35am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 9:35am: According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Facebook link), the NFLPA sent out a memo today to agents and contract advisors, expressing concern that the league is underestimating the cap’s likely growth for 2015. The union intends to issue its own projections in the coming months, based on “analysis of expected revenue.”

WEDNESDAY, 4:55pm: NFL team owners and executives attending the league’s annual labor seminar on Tuesday and the owner meetings in Dallas today have been informed that the 2015 salary cap for teams is currently projected to be $138.6MM, according to reports from Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link) and Jarrett Bell of USA Today. Bell indicates that execs were given a ballpark figure of $138-141MM, while Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) puts the estimated figures at between $138.6MM and $141.8MM.

The 2014 cap number for the league’s 32 teams is $133MM, so even an increase to about $138MM would represent a modest bump. But it’s worth noting that at this time last year, the projected figure for 2014 was $126.3MM — the actual ’14 figure ended up being nearly $7MM higher than that.

If 2015’s number exceeds these initial projections as well, it would fall in line with reports we heard way back in February and March. At that point, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com indicated that a cap number of over $140MM for 2015 seemed likely, while Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested a ballpark figure of $145MM.

We’ll have to wait until well after the Super Bowl to learn the actual figures, but it seems certain that the salary cap will continue its healthy rise. That’s good news for teams dealing with oversized contracts and an abundance of dead money, or teams that will need to extend key free-agents-to-be. The Broncos (Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Chris Harris) and Lions (Ndamukong Suh) are two clubs that could have an easier time retaining their prospective free agents with a significant bump to the cap.

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