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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Extra Points: NFLPA, Moreno, Contract Details

March 20th, 2014 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Newly-minted NFLPA president Eric Winston is just hours into his new role, but he sounds like he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“This union has always been about fighting,” Winston told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “It won’t change.”

Winston didn’t mince words when it came to the idea of expanding the NFL season from 16 to 18 games, telling Pelissero that the idea is “dead in the water.” He was less definitive when it came to the idea of playoff expansion, but he made it clear that the union will only be on board under certain conditions. Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Knowshon Moreno arguably had the most impressive 2013 campaign of any of this year’s free agent running backs, but his name hasn’t surfaced at all in the last nine days. That changed today, with word breaking that the Dolphins will have Moreno in a for a visit on Friday (Twitter link via Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald).
  • The Panthers continue to pursue free agent receivers, and will have Lestar Jean in for a visit tonight and tomorrow, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
  • The Buccaneers hosted free agent defensive back Chris Owens today, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. Owens also met with the Steelers this week, as we heard earlier this afternoon.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap has the full breakdown of many of the new contracts signed in recent days, including, but not limited to, Andrew Hawkins‘ four-year pact with the Browns, Scott Chandler‘s two-year deal with the Bills, James Starks‘ two-year deal with the Packers, Charlie Johnson‘s two-year contract with the Vikings, and Usama Young‘s two-year deal with the Raiders.
  • Jerricho Cotchery‘s deal with the Panthers is technically for five years, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun details (via Twitter). I imagine it includes three void years, similar to Roman Harper‘s new contract. Cotchery also received a $2.25MM signing bonus.
  • Wilson (Twitter links) also provides details on a pair of minimum salary benefit contracts, noting that fullback Jed Collins will get $710K from the Lions between his $65K signing bonus and $645K base salary. Safety Craig Steltz will get $795K from the Bears between his $730K salary and the $65K roster bonus for 2014.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

FA Rumors: Fitzpatrick, Ihedigbo, Underwood

March 20th, 2014 at 3:27pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Titans released Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, there was an expectation that it wouldn’t take long for the veteran quarterback to find work. Fitzpatrick remains on the market, but at least one potential suitor has emerged. According to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link), Tennessee’s division rivals, the Texans, are hosting Fitzpatrick for a visit today.

Let’s round up a few more Thursday odds and ends related to the free agents still available….

  • According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter), center Brian De La Puente finished his visit in Washington and is still considering multiple options, including the Redskins and Saints.
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that safety James Ihedigbo, repped by a new agent, has at least two other teams in the mix for him besides the Lions, who seemed to be close to signing him earlier this week. The Ravens appear to be one of those two, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun notes (via Twitter).
  • Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood is visiting the Panthers today, says Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). The receiver-thin Panthers already signed Jerricho Cotchery today, and it “looks promising” that they could add Underwood as well.
  • Richie Incognito, who is aiming to return to the NFL in 2014, believes the Raiders make “a lot of sense” as a possible destination, writes Michael Silver of NFL.com.
  • Free agent defensive back Chris Owens had a visit this week with the Steelers, tweets Aaron Wilson.
  • Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that the Broncos tried out free agent safety Jordan Pugh.
  • The Bengals have confirmed (via Twitter) that Louis Murphy visited the club today, which means the wide receiver left the meeting without a deal in place.

NFC Notes: Jackson, Saints, Ihedigbo, Vikings

March 20th, 2014 at 12:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles reportedly want at least a third round pick for DeSean Jackson via trade, but Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com believes that might actually be optimistic. This year’s draft is unusually deep, meaning that the asking price for picks will be exceptionally high. Clubs may also be concerned about how productive Jackson could be in their own offenses as opposed to Philadelphia’s system. Here’s more from around the NFC:

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Draft Rumors: Ebron, Bortles, Desir

March 19th, 2014 at 5:41pm CST by Zachary Links

North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron figures to be a popular man in the coming weeks and he told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he’s got at least four visits lined up for himself. Ebron, a Newark, New Jersey native, will check in with the Bills, Lions, Ravens, and Panthers in April. Here’s today’s latest draft rumors..

  • ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio said on air that the Texans, Jaguars, Browns, Raiders, and Vikings have met with Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles, according to Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal (on Twitter). The signal caller participated in UCF’s pro day this afternoon.
  • The Rams, Chiefs, Jaguars, Packers, Lions, and Bears attended cornerback Pierre Desir‘s pro day at Lindenwood University (Missouri), tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Desir recorded 25 interceptions over the course of his career at the Division II school.
  • The Browns worked out Clemson offensive lineman Brandon Thomas individually today, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.com. Pauline says Thomas is looking more like a top 45 pick at this juncture.
  • Lache Seastrunk says he has visits set up with Steelers and Bills, tweets Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. The Baylor running back posted the best vertical jump (41.5-inches) and broad jump (134 inches) of anyone at the draft combine in February.
  • San Jose State quarterback David Fales will meet with the Vikings this weekend, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter).
  • Middle Tennessee State guard Josh Walker will visit the Colts, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The standout lineman also has a visit with the Saints lined up.

NFC North Notes: Suh, Hester, Packers, Vikes

March 19th, 2014 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

On the heels of suggesting earlier this week that there was no rush to extend defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, Lions president Tom Lewand said today on WJR in Detroit that the team expects to meet with Suh’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, next week in Orlando at the NFL owners meetings (Twitter link via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com). While a Suh extension may not be urgent, it definitely should be on the Lions’ offseason checklist, and it looks like the two sides will take the first steps toward a new deal within the next several days.

Let’s round up a few more links from around the NFC North….

Lions To Sign Jed Collins

March 19th, 2014 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

10:58am: The Lions have agreed to terms with Collins on a one-year contract, says Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein adds (via Twitter) that it’s a minimum salary benefit deal.

8:48am: Fullback Jed Collins is visiting with the Lions today, and if all goes according to plan, the team expects to sign him to a contract, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. It was Birkett who first reported yesterday that the Lions were hosting Collins for a visit.

Only three other players in the NFL received more snaps at fullback last season than Collins, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). While he was used primarily as a blocker, the 28-year-old also got a few touches, compiling 15 rushing attempts and 14 receptions.

Lions GM Martin Mayhew suggested last month that he’d like to add a fullback to the roster, and his team and Collins look like a good match. A former Saints, Collins saw his old team sign Erik Lorig to a four-year deal yesterday, meaning there’s likely no longer room in New Orleans for him. As for the Lions, they brought in free agent fullback Henry Hynoski for a visit last week, but Hynoski ultimately ended up re-signing with the Giants.

Saints, Erik Lorig Agree To Four-Year Deal

March 18th, 2014 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

3:37pm: Lorig’s four-year contract is worth a total of $4.8MM, including a $1MM signing bonus and annual $40K workout bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who also tweets the annual base salaries.

11:20am: The Saints have agreed to terms with fullback Erik Lorig on a new contract, the team announced today (Twitter link via senior VP of communications Greg Bensel). Lorig will sign a four-year deal to play in New Orleans.

Lorig has spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Tampa Bay, appearing in 432 offensive snaps in 2012 and 391 in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 27-year-old occasionally catches balls out of the backfield, having hauled in 23 receptions over the last two seasons, but is used primarily as a blocker. According to PFF, he has graded slightly above average as a pass blocker and slightly below average as a run blocker.

New Orleans’ own fullback, Jed Collins, was eligible for restricted free agency, but didn’t receive a contract tender from the club. While a report last week suggested the Saints still had interest in re-signing Collins, it appears Lorig will replace him on the roster. Meanwhile, the Lions are hosting Collins for a free agent visit, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

NFC North Notes: Suh, Weems, Contracts

March 18th, 2014 at 11:50am CST by Luke Adams

At an appearance at the MGM Grand in Detroit, Lions president Tom Lewand suggested the team isn’t bothered by the fact that there’s no contract extension in place with defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh yet, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. While a new deal for Suh would open up some cap room for the Lions in 2014, the club never viewed an extension as an essential part of its free agency plans.

Let’s round up a few other items from around the NFC North….

  • The Bears have asked wide receiver and return man Eric Weems to take a pay cut, and will likely release him if he decides not to accept the cut, reports Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago. The team could create $1.1MM in cap savings by releasing Weems.
  • B.J. Raji‘s one-year contract with the Packers includes a $500K signing bonus, a non-guaranteed $3.1MM base salary, $300K in per-game roster bonuses, and a $100K workout bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune details the specifics of Charles Tillman‘s one-year contract with the Bears. It includes a $2.25MM base salary, a $500K signing bonus, $100K in workout bonuses, and $400K in per-game roster bonuses. The total guarantee is $750K.
  • The Lions‘ one-year deal for Vaughn Martin is a minimum salary benefit contract, including a $65K bonus, tweets Michael Rothstein. So Martin will earn $795K, while the cap hit for the team will be $635K.
  • Via Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press notes (via Twitter) that Jerome Simpson‘s new deal with the Vikings is worth $1MM — a $900K base salary, plus $50K in workout bonuses and another $50K in roster bonuses.
  • Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune examines some possible reasons why the Vikings haven’t addressed the linebacker position in free agency yet.

NFC Notes: Kiwanuka, Melton, Peppers, Rams

March 17th, 2014 at 7:44pm CST by Matt Feminis

A short while after the Giants signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, it was learned Mathias Kiwanuka took a pay cut, as reported by Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Kiwanuka sees his base salary decrease from $4.38MM to $1.5MM (with $700k roster bonus and $125k worth of incentives) and the team nets just over $2MM in cap space, according to USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The finagling created flexibility to add Rodgers-Cromartie, says NJ.com’s Jordan Rannan, who points out Kiwanuka signed a deal in 2012, restructured in 2013 and took a pay cut in 2014.

Other NFC news and notes:

NFC Rumors: Idonije, Clark, Penn, Spencer

March 17th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Defensive lineman Israel Idonije spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Bears before joining the Lions as a free agent a year ago. Now back on the market, Idonije appears to be considering a reunion with his old team. Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the veteran will be visiting with the Bears tomorrow, while ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright adds (via Twitter) that Idonije will be taking a physical in Chicago, and the club hopes to lock him up. While we wait for further developments on that front, let’s check in on a few other items from around the NFC:

  • Free agent safety Ryan Clark tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today that his agent continues to negotiate with the Redskins and that he has also received interest from the Ravens and Jets.
  • As of earlier this afternoon, free agent tackle Donald Penn was still in Washington, with the Redskins still working to sign him, says Ross Jones of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
  • Free agent defensive lineman Anthony Spencer left his meeting with the Giants today without reaching a deal with the team, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
  • The Lions hosted safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix for a pre-draft visit today, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Considered one of the top two safeties in this year’s draft class, Clinton-Dix could be a candidate for Detroit at No. 10.
  • The NFLPA will elect a new president to replace Domonique Foxworth on Wednesday, and Ben Watson of the Saints is a name to watch, tweets Albert Breer.
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