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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

NFC Notes: Delmas, Falcons, Panthers

February 18th, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles will be targeting safeties this offseason in an effort to upgrade their secondary, but veteran free agent Louis Delmas doesn’t appear to be on their wish list, according to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. A source tells Frank that the Eagles have “little interest” in the former Lion, who was released by Detroit last week, and that disinterest is likely related to Delmas’ health. While the 26-year-old free safety started all 16 games in 2013, he has had surgeries on both knees in recent years, and missed 13 of 32 regular season contests in 2011 and 2012.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • In a Tuesday news release, CBS Sports confirmed that Tony Gonzalez will be joining the network’s pregame studio show, replacing the departing Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe. The new job for Gonzalez essentially rules out a return to the field in 2014, meaning the Falcons will get $7MM in cap savings, as ESPN’s Adam Caplan outlines (via Twitter).
  • Noting that the Panthers haven’t really begun negotiating with any of their prospective free agents yet, ESPN.com’s David Newton says there’s no reason to get worked up about Cam Newton‘s contract situation, since he’ll get paid eventually, whether it happens this offseason or down the line.
  • The Cowboys will have to lock up wide receiver Dez Bryant and left tackle Tyron Smith at some point, and Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com believes a new deal for Smith should take precedence.
  • Following up on the latest Sam Bradford rumors, Andrew Cohen of OverTheCap.com breaks down the four scenarios for the Rams: Releasing Bradford, extending him with a pay cut, extending him without a pay cut, and standing pat.

Free Agent Rumors: Decker, Graham, Bell

February 18th, 2014 at 11:24am CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on Sirius XM Radio today, Eric Decker discussed his free agency and didn’t rule out the possibility of a return to the Broncos. However, the wide receiver’s comments suggested that Denver will likely just be one of the many options he’ll consider — Decker indicated that he’d “welcome a call” from the Broncos, but said he’ll need to make the decision that’s best for his family (Twitter link). The free-agent-to-be added that it’s not all about the money, and that he’ll be looking for a spot where he’ll have fun and enjoy going to work every day (Twitter link).

Here are a few more updates on free agents around the league:

  • While there has been no real progress in contract talks between Jimmy Graham and the Saints, expect Graham to immediately file a grievance to be considered a receiver if and when the team designates him as its franchise player, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • In a piece for CBSSports.com, Joel Corry examines the free agents who could be designated as franchise players for each of the league’s 32 teams, and also touches on Graham’s looming positional battle.
  • As both Corry and Robert Mays of Grantland point out, there’s a precedent for a positional grievance related to the franchise tag. In 2008, Terrell Suggs challenged his designation as a linebacker, contending that he spent more time at defensive end. Suggs and the Ravens ultimately compromised on the average of the two positions’ salaries. If Graham and the Saints were to reach a similar agreement, it would have to be considered a win for New Orleans, since Graham will likely be seeking top-five wide receiver money, according to Corry.
  • Justin Rogers of MLive.com attempts to project the cost of a long-term deal for Lions running back Joique Bell, who will be eligible for restricted free agency next month. Rogers concludes that a four-year contract that starts at around $3-3.5MM per year could make sense for both sides.

NFC North Notes: Raji, Vikings, Harper

February 16th, 2014 at 12:15pm CST by Rory Parks

ESPN Wisconsin’s Jason Wilde continues his position-by-position outlook of the Packers by delving into Green Bay’s defensive line and linebackers. With regards to the defensive line, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport recently reported that the Packers would try to remake the unit with smaller and more athletic players, which DC Dom Capers has historically preferred. If the team does go in that direction, it could simply let unrestricted free agents B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly, and C.J. Wilson–all of whom offer more size than speed or athleticism–find a new employer. The biggest name of that group, of course, is Raji, whose rejection of an $8MM/year offer last fall suggests that he is unhappy with his role in the Packers’ scheme and that he is ready to move on. In any event, Green Bay is looking at a great deal of turnover on the defensive line, and it remains to be seen if they will add depth to the unit via free agency, the draft–the Packers have used a high pick on a defensive lineman in each of the past two years–or both.

As far as their linebackers are concerned, the big question the Packers face is what to do with Mike Neal. Neal was a revelation in 2013, moving from defensive end to outside linebacker and thriving in that role. While that was good news for Green Bay last season, Neal, an unrestricted free agent, is well-positioned to receive a significant offer from another club this season. With 2012 first-round pick Nick Perry still an unproven commodity at this point–injuries have shrouded each of his first two years in the league–the Packers may have no other choice but to retain Neal, lest they face another season with Clay Matthews as the only legitimate play-maker in the linebacking corps.

More notes from the NFC North:

  • As noted by our own Rob DiRe last week, Vikings GM Rick Spielman wants to add another two picks to the team’s 2014 draft. ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling thinks the best way to do that would be for Minnesota to trade back from its No. 8 overall selection. Such a move would be especially tempting if the draft’s top quarterbacks are off the board at that point. Goessling adds that, even if the Vikings could not get a top-flight QB with the eighth overall pick, they would be wise to grab Clemson’s Sammy Watkins if he’s still available. Watkins could team with Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings, and Adrian Peterson to form a formidable group of offensive weapons.
  • ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein believes the top priority for the Lions this offseason is at wide receiver, a belief reinforced by the recent release of Nate Burleson. Tight end would also be a high priority, particularly if the Lions cannot re-sign Brandon Pettigrew. As noted last week, Detroit’s outlook at tight end beyond Pettigrew is uninspiring.
  • Although ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright opined last week that the recently-released Roman Harper would probably cost too much for the Bears to sign, he does note that Harper would still be a viable option if another team does not spend big on him.

Ndamukong Suh Extension Talks

February 15th, 2014 at 3:37pm CST by Rob DiRe

Ndamukong Suh‘s presence on the Lions’ roster comes with a hefty price tag of $22.4MM, which gives the team almost no flexibility to do anything else in free agency, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. In fact, he notes that even with the extra $11.5MM the team saved by releasing Louis Delmas and Nate Burleson, the Lions do not have enough cap space to sign all of the team’s prospective draft picks this May.

This is a huge problem for the Lions, but it is not unprecedented for the team. This current roster was built with cornerstone draft picks from the old CBA. With the team holding high draft choices, their top picks were able to negotiate big money contracts that could cripple an organization’s cap flexibility. The Lions were able to proceed smoothly in negotiating Calvin Johnson‘s contract extension, which made him the highest paid receiver in football, deservingly so. Then when Matthew Stafford approached the end of his rookie deal, his extension was negotiated in a similar manner.

Suh is the third piece to the puzzle, and McCosky writes that Lions president Tom Lewand would like to come to an agreement on another long-term contract to keep a top player in the mix for the long haul. Of course, Suh has just recently fired his agent, instead electing to join Jay-Z and Roc Nation Sports. Publicly, it is still unknown who will be negotiating his contract. Roc Nation has only one agent certified to negotiate a contract, and that agent’s only client is the Jets’ quarterback Geno Smith. Victor Cruz‘ brand is represented by Roc Nation, but his contract is handled by veteran agent Tom Condon.

McCoskey notes that Suh holds all the cards in this negotiation, because his mammoth extension is inevitable at this point. He will be the most highly paid defensive tackle in football. It is up to him whether or not he will work with the Lions and get the deal hammered out in the coming weeks, allowing the team to use the extra cap space cleared up this season to fill holes elsewhere on the roster and put together a team that can return to the playoffs in 2014.

Lions Re-Sign Dominic Raiola

February 14th, 2014 at 3:18pm CST by Luke Adams

FEBRUARY 14: Raiola’s new contract will pay him a $1.5MM base salary for 2014, along with a $250K signing bonus, reports Birkett (via Twitter).

FEBRUARY 7: The Lions have re-signed center Dominic Raiola to a one-year contract, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). After agreeing to a contract restructure a year ago that reduced his 2013 base salary to the veteran’s minimum, Raiola has received a “nice raise” this time around, according to Birkett.

Raiola, who turned 35 in December, has been a longtime mainstay of the Lions’ offensive line. With the exception of four 2008 contests, Raiola has started every single game in the last 12 seasons for the franchise, and appears poised to do the same in 2014. The Nebraska product indicated last month that he hoped to play a couple more seasons in the NFL, so it’s possible that this new one-year deal won’t be his last contract in the league.

While the specific financial details of the contract aren’t yet known, Raiola’s “nice raise” likely won’t be too drastic, since the Lions are already facing a cap crunch. As Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com detailed earlier this week, only three teams currently have less projected 2014 space than the Lions. However, Detroit can create some flexibility via cuts and restructures, and after re-signing Raiola, the team only has three 2013 starters still eligible for free agency, notes Birkett (via Twitter).

Lions Links: Burleson, Delmas, Free Agency

February 14th, 2014 at 1:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The two players the Lions released yesterday, wide receiver Nate Burleson and safety Louis Delmas, weren’t the most talented on the roster, but they were the “emotional centers” of their respective units, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. While Meinke acknowledges that the cap figures involved made the cuts inevitable, he adds that losing two of their locker-room leaders could negatively impact the Lions’ chemistry. Here’s more out of Detroit:

  • Even before the team waived Burleson and Delmas, wide receiver and safety were areas of need, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who explores a few potential options for the Lions as they seek reinforcements at those positions.
  • After relying heavily on Calvin Johnson in recent years, the Lions need to find a receiver who can not only complement him but perhaps be his eventual replacement, says ESPN.com’s Michael Robinson. Unfortunately, given the club’s cap issues, finding that receiver in free agency this offseason doesn’t appear likely.
  • The Lions’ need for a second receiver is also addressed by Dan Pompei in a piece for Sports on Earth, though Pompei addresses several other areas of concern for the club as well. Among them: Matthew Stafford‘s apparent regression, Ndamukong Suh‘s huge cap number, and the need for a culture change in Detroit.

Lions Waive Louis Delmas

February 13th, 2014 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

2:53pm: The Lions have some interest in bringing Delmas back at a reduced rate, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. However, the safety plans to test the open market first.

2:17pm: Shortly after word broke that the Lions were releasing wide receiver Nate Burleson, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com reports (via Twitter) that the team is making another cut. The Lions have also waived safety Louis Delmas, according to Twentyman.

Releasing Delmas clears another $6MM in cap space for the Lions, who seemed to have gotten slightly under the cap for 2014 by cutting Burleson. Delmas was on the books for a $6.5MM cap hit for ’14, but his $5.5MM base salary and a $500K roster bonus weren’t guaranteed, leaving the Lions on the hook for just $500K, the amount of the defensive back’s prorated signing bonus.

Delmas, who turns 27 in April, figures to attract the interest of teams looking to bolster their secondaries via free agency. He started all 16 games for the Lions in 2013, recording 64 tackles, three interceptions, and a pair of sacks. He also ranked 26th among NFL safeties using Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Still, the size of his next contract may be limited by lingering concerns about his knees. In 2011 and 2012, Delmas missed 13 games due to knee injuries.

Lions Release Nate Burleson

February 13th, 2014 at 1:00pm CST by Luke Adams

1:00pm: The Lions have confirmed they’ve released Burleson, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News (Twitter link).

12:44pm: Although they’ve yet to officially announce the move, the Lions have informed wide receiver Nate Burleson that he’ll be released today, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Burleson had one season remaining on his contract, so he’ll hit free agency a year early.

“It’s a hard decision for them to make, but I can’t blame them for making it,” Burleson said of the Lions, telling Birkett that he still intends to play somewhere in 2014 (Twitter link). Birkett believes that Dallas and Tampa Bay are among the possible landing spots for the 32-year-old receiver (Twitter link). It’s also possible that Burleson could re-sign with the Lions for a reduced rate, but according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link), that scenario appears unlikely.

Burleson’s contract with the Lions called for a $5.5MM base salary in 2014, with a prorated bonus of $2.03MM, making his overall cap hit $7.53MM. By releasing him, Detroit can wipe that base salary from their books, creating $5.5MM in cap savings. Having been projected by OverTheCap.com to be about $5.32MM over the 2014 cap at the start of this week, the Lions should sneak slightly below that threshold, with more moves to come.

In nine games (eight starts) for the Lions in 2013, Burleson grabbed 39 balls for 461 yards. As he hits the free agent market, Detroit figures to turn to either free agency or the draft to add at least one or two receivers to help complement the club’s superstar, Calvin Johnson.

Extra Points: Bills, Boldin, Brady, Browns

February 12th, 2014 at 10:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills would be smart to add some competition at quarterback and trading for Kirk Cousins could be one way for them light a fire under E.J. Manuel. Mike Rodak of ESPN.com looked at why a deal for the Redskins‘ No. 2 QB could happen, why it might not happen, and what it would take to get it done. More from around the National Football League:

  • Consistent with what we’ve been hearing this offseason, the 49ers want wide receiver Anquan Boldin back and the feeling is mutual, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
  • Would the Patriots ever trade Tom Brady? Bob Neumeier and Fred Toucher stopped by CSNNE.com (video link) for some friendly debate.
  • Andrew Cohen of OverTheCap wonders if the Browns‘ situation is really so bad despite their many question marks. The Browns have a tremendous talent in Josh Gordon and lots of cap room to work with this offseason.
  • The Bears announced that Pat Meyer has been promoted to offensive line coach, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
  • Veteran defensive tackle Vaughn Martin visited the Jets and Lions over the last two weeks and is fully recovered from the hernia surgery he underwent during last season, tweets Adam Caplan of SiriusXM. The Canadian has recorded 78 tackles and three sacks over the course of his NFL career.

Extra Points: Bills, Knighton, Eagles, Ravens

February 12th, 2014 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

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:

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