NFC North Notes: Finley, Allen, Greenway
It was reported earlier that former Packers‘ Jermichael Finley was cleared medically by his personal doctor, but that does not mean that he will be cleared by team doctors anytime soon, writes Louis Bien of SBNation.com. With Finley in in free agent limbo after his injury, Bien notes that it could make sense for Finley to pursue the $10MM insurance policy that would go into effect if his injuries were too sever to allow him to return to the field.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:
- If Finley does prove himself healthy, he should have a number of options in terms of teams looking for playmaking tight ends. A healthy Finley would rank among the top remaining free agents. Additionally, he could be a fit with the Patriots according to Isaac Moore of Patriots.com, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report sees the Giants as a potential landing spot, and Nick Silverman of Rant Sports throws out the Raiders as a good match for his talents.
- New Bears‘ pass rusher Jared Allen is focused on proving he’s worth taking a chance on, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. “My motivation to be the best at what I do is a self-motivation,” Allen said. “It’s probably more of a fear of failing than it is necessarily thriving to be the best. I just want guys, when I leave this league, I want them to say, ‘He did it the right way, he gave everything he had, and not one day he was stealing checks.'”
- Vikings‘ star linebacker Chad Greenway is adjusting to new head coach Mike Zimmer’s defense, writes Brian Hall of Fox Sports North. Greenway was used primarily as a strong side linebacker under Leslie Frazier, but is practicing across all three linebacker spots under Zimmer. “This is the first chance, really, for me to learn something completely new,” said Greenway. “It’s been good. I go through the same growing pains as the young guys, as far as learning new stuff. Sometimes it’s even harder for me, because I have everything so ingrained over the years. It’s been great. It’s been a fun defense to start to learn, and we’ve just got to get good at it now.”
NFC North Notes: Finley, Neal, Packers, Lions
In a piece on the best remaining free agents, former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley tops the 10 players named by Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. Of course, as agent Blake Baratz tells Marvez, it’s not 100% certain that Finley will even return from his spinal injury and play in the NFL again. While we do expect the tight end to sign somewhere, he could file for the collection of a $10MM insurance policy if he opts not continue his playing career.
As we wait to see if the Packers express interest in bringing Finley back into the fold, here’s more from around the NFC North:
- Linebacker Mike Neal re-signed with the Packers early in free agency, but Green Bay wasn’t the only team interested in him. Neal tells Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that the Bears made him an offer, though he opted not sign with the Packers’ division rival. “In the long run, their offer, it wasn’t a bad deal,” Neal said of Chicago’s proposal. “The option for me to come back [to Green Bay] was better, in my opinion. I felt like this was a system that if I was kept in the same position, I could flourish in.” The Steelers also reportedly expressed interest in Neal before he re-upped with the Packers.
- Although there are questions about how long Ted Thompson will continue on in his role as Green Bay’s general manager, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com says Packers fans should hope that Thompson still has plenty of years left on the job. One person close to Thompson recently told Demovsky that he doesn’t think the GM will leave anytime soon unless the Packers win another Super Bowl, and that speculation about his retirement “got him going.”
- The Lions have promoted Rob Lohman to assistant director of pro personnel and expanded their scouting department, as Tim Twentyman details at DetroitLions.com.
Packers Notes: Raji, Peppers, Pickett
The latest out of Green Bay..
- Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji spoke to reporters, including Pete Doughterty of the Press Gazzette, about his disappointment in being unable to find a multiyear deal this offseason. Raji looked around but ultimately came back to Green Bay on a one-year deal.
- Julius Peppers hasn’t played a snap yet for the Packers but he’s already impressing teammates in Green Bay, writes Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel. “You obviously notice his athletic ability right off the bat,” said Hawk. “He’s 34 and runs like he’s 18. If ever there was a genetic freak put on this planet, it is Julius. He’s just a specimen. I have a ton of respect for how he works, too. What a great teammate just from Day 1. He’s a quiet guy that already knows what he is doing, so it is fun to be around a guy like him.”
- Free agent nose tackle Ryan Pickett told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that he’d love to return to the Packers if the opportunity presents itself. A late April report indicated that the Packers were in a holding pattern when it came to Pickett.
Extra Points: Titans, Chiefs, Graham, Ravens
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said earlier in May that his team suspected another club was targeting defensive back Lamarcus Joyner in the second round, which is why St. Louis traded up for him. However, while Fisher’s comments pointed to his old team – the Titans – as the team eyeing Joyner, Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report hears that Tennessee was always targeting a running back in the second round. There were a handful of backs the Titans liked, so they worked out a deal to move down even before the Rams moved up, says Pompei. The club ultimately grabbed Bishop Sankey 54th overall.
Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the NFL….
- The Chiefs worked out defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick this week, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The former seventh-round pick spent three seasons with the Pats before joining the Jaguars last season, and has started 15 of his 47 career contests.
- Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an extended look at the Jimmy Graham grievance hearing situation, identifying a few clubs that still could conceivably take a run at the free agent tight end, including the Browns and Packers. In Corry’s view, no matter the outcome of next month’s hearing on Graham’s position, he and the Saints are likely to work out a long-term contract.
- The Ravens will be on the lookout for potential post-June 1 additions to their roster, coach John Harbaugh confirmed today (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- Brandon Graham‘s name surfaced in a couple trade rumors this offseason, but the edge defender remains on the Eagles‘ roster, and takes solace in the fact that he’s still in Philadelphia, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer outlines. “They want me here, I’m still here, all the rumors and whatever it is, it’s just rumors,” Graham said. “I feel like if it was something they wanted to do, I’d be gone.”
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Packers Agree To Terms
The Packers have reached an agreement with first-round safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on his rookie contract, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). The 21st overall pick in the 2014 draft, Clinton-Dix becomes the 12th first-rounder to either sign or agree to terms with his new NFL club.
Clinton-Dix, 21, was the second safety to come off the board in this month’s draft, after Louisville’s Calvin Pryor. An Alabama product, Clinton-Dix racked up 88 tackles and seven interceptions in his final two years at Alabama before deciding to forgo his senior year and enter the 2014 draft.
By locking up Clinton-Dix, the Packers have now secured seven of their nine draftees, with just second-round receiver Davante Adams and third-round tight end Richard Rodgers still unsigned. According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, Clinton-Dix is in line for a signing bonus of about $4.384MM, while his overall four-year total will be approximately $8.338MM. The deal will also include a fifth-year team option for 2018.
Jermichael Finley Receives Medical Clearance
11:59am: Finley has a visit with a team lined up for Friday, Baratz also told PFT, though he declined to identify the club. Mike Florio speculates that it may be the Patriots, and also notes that even though Finley has been cleared by Dr. Maroon, he’ll still need to receive clearance from the doctors for any team that wants to sign him.
11:45am: Free agent tight end Jermichael Finley has received full medical clearance from Dr. Joseph Maroon, agent Blake Baratz tells Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Maroon was the doctor who performed spinal fusion surgery on Finley following injuries to his back and neck last season.
Finley, 27, met with the Seahawks early in the free agent period, but failed a physical with the team, and was believed to be a few months away from receiving clearance and signing anywhere. Now that he has been cleared, Finley, who was voted by PFR readers as the best free agent still on the market last weekend, should draw renewed interest, particularly if he’s no longer linked to future compensatory draft picks after June 1.
The Packers have talked about wanting to bring back Finley, and the Seahawks, who hosted the veteran tight end for an early visit, may still have interest. Other clubs that could use a pass-catching tight end and have at least a little financial flexibility include the Falcons, Bills, Giants, and Chiefs. It’s also never safe to rule out the Patriots as a potential suitor for any tight end.
Although his 2013 campaign was marred by injuries, Finley was one of Aaron Rodgers‘ top weapons in Green Bay in previous years, averaging 58 receptions, 717 receiving yards, and five touchdowns per season in 2011 and 2012.
NFC North Notes: Marshall, Lions, Packers
Although Brandon Marshall‘s new extension with the Bears was originally reported as containing $22.3MM in guaranteed money, not all of that money is fully guaranteed, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Only Marshall’s $7.5MM signing bonus and $7.3MM base salary are fully guaranteed, whereas the other $7.5MM – his 2015 base salary – is guaranteed for injury only at this point. In total then, Marshall’s new deal contains $14.8MM in fully guaranteed money.
Here’s more from around the NFC North:
- Following the team’s OTAs on Wednesday, the Lions hosted free agent defensive back Terrell Thomas for a visit, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News. Thomas, who also visited recently with the Patriots, posted solid numbers for the Giants in 588 defensive snaps last year, ranking 52nd out of 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). He also accumulated 67 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble.
- A contract extension for Ndamukong Suh would seem to be a win-win scenario for the defensive tackle and the Lions, since it would mean a payday for Suh and increased cap room for the team, which would allow Detroit to sign its top draft picks. The fact that a new deal hasn’t been struck yet has Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press questioning Suh’s “supposedly full-throated commitment to the Lions and doing whatever necessary to help them win.”
- While the Packers may be rolling the dice by signing troubled tight end Colt Lyerla, the club did its due diligence before making the move, says Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report. According to Pompei, three Green Bay front office executives interviewed Lyerla in person, and GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy both spent time with the tight end at the team’s rookie minicamp.
- Insider linebacker is the Packers‘ biggest remaining need, as Rob Demovsky writes at ESPN.com, citing Rivers McCown’s Insider-only piece.
Minor Moves: Steelers, Dolphins, Seahawks
Here are a few of the latest transactions from around the league, including several draft pick signings, waiver claims, and cuts, plus a new contract for a player who was cut by his old team earlier this month:
- Three teams parted ways with recently-signed undrafted free agents or players on reserve contracts, as the Steelers cut offensive lineman Kaycee Ike, the Dolphins dropped running back Cameron Marshall, and the Texans waived guard Kevin Forsch (all Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun). The Packers also waived linebacker Victor Aiyewa, per Wilson (via Twitter).
- Three players cut this week have been claimed off waivers, according to Wilson, who reports (in a series of three tweets) that tackle Michael Ola is headed to the Bears, defensive back Deion Belue was awarded to the Steelers, and receiver Kofi Hughes was claimed by the Texans.
- A couple more updates from Wilson: Luke Marquardt is now on the 49ers‘ injured reserve list (Twitter link), while Garrett Scott has been placed on the Seahawks‘ non-football injury list (Twitter link).
- Having been recently cut by the Seahawks, defensive back Jimmy Legree has signed with the Cardinals, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
Earlier updates:
- The Seahawks became the NFL’s fourth team to finishing locking up its 2014 draft class, announcing last night that fourth-round wide receiver Kevin Norwood and fourth-round linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis have signed their rookie contracts. The Saints, Chiefs, and Bears were the first three clubs to sign all their draftees.
- Sixth-round cornerback Brandon Dixon has inked his four-year rookie deal with the Jets, the team confirmed today in a press release. The 195th overall selection, Dixon is in line for a signing bonus worth about $103K an an overall four-year base value of around $2.324MM, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. The former Northwest Missouri State speedster is the 10th of 12 Jets draft picks to sign his contract.
- The Dolphins have signed former Buccaneers cornerback Anthony Gaitor, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The appropriately named Gaitor, a seventh-round pick in 2011, remains in the state where he also played his college ball, at Florida International.
Extra Points: Incognito, FAs, Finley, Patriots
In the wake of last year’s bullying scandal, Richie Incognito has predictably had trouble finding NFL work. As Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report writes, the offensive lineman’s reps have been contacting teams over the last few weeks and months, but there has been virtually no interest. Said one general manager: “He’s trying to get back in the game, but the door remains shut. No one trusts him.”
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- A pair of veteran free agents, offensive tackle Eric Winston and cornerback Drayton Florence, are expected to make visits next week to unidentified clubs with interest, reports Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. As Marvez notes, interest in unsigned veterans should pick up around the league next week, when June 1 passes and free agents are no longer linked to compensatory draft picks.
- A source tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com that Jermichael Finley‘s meeting with the Packers is a “formality.” The free agent tight end had previous plans to travel to Green Bay with his family, so he’ll check in with team doctors, but no medical clearance, contract signing, or even testing is anticipated, according to Demovsky’s source.
- The Patriots and the representatives for Aaron Hernandez have a June hearing scheduled to go before an arbitrator as the team attempts to recoup the former tight end’s signing bonus money, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
- General manager Jim Popp of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes confirmed today to Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports that former Bengals star Chad Johnson has received his work permit to play in Canada and is “at camp as we speak.”
- Following up on Chris Johnson‘s Twitter plea for the Jets to acquire Andre Johnson, Brian Costello of the New York Post takes a look at a few reasons why trading for the Texans wideout could make sense for the Jets, as well as several reasons why it may not work.
Extension Candidate: Jordy Nelson
Few teams consistently reward high-level play from homegrown talent like the Green Bay Packers. Draft picks that come in and play well usually earn a second contract and play out their primes in Titletown. And, by not waiting until the player’s contract expires, the team can avoid a bidding war with 31 other teams and negotiate exclusively with its talent. 
This was the scenario for wide receiver Jordy Nelson early in the 2011 season. A second-round pick in 2008, the Kansas State product totaled modest numbers in his first three years — 100 catches, 1286 yards, six touchdowns — before exploding for career highs (68-1,263-15) in the Packers’ 15-1 season. Green Bay signed Nelson to an incredibly team-friendly three-year, $13.35MM extension after four games, locking him up through the 2014 season.
Nelson fought through injuries in 2012, playing in 12 games and catching just 49 balls. But, proving he doesn’t need an elite quarterback to put up elite numbers, Nelson set career bests in receptions (85) and yards (1,314) in 2013, catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzien and Matt Flynn.
Now, with just one year left on his deal, Nelson is one of the Packers’ prime candidates for a contract extension. Right behind him — or along side — is fellow wideout Randall Cobb, who is still on his rookie contract, but we’ll get to him later.
In February, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport was told that signing Nelson to an extension is an important offseason task for the team.
In March, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that the team’s salary cap is in excellent standing, with plenty of room to extend Nelson and Cobb if and when they choose to do so.
Today, answering tweets from his readers, Demovsky said it would be a surprise if at least one of the two free-agents-to-be didn’t receive his extension before September. He also suggests that Cobb is a more vital re-sign, given his youth and a “budding star” status.
In a Facebook poll, the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Wes Hodkiewicz asked readers which receiver they’d choose to extend. 69 voted Nelson, 41 voted Cobb and 31 couldn’t get off the fence, voting for both.
Nelson’s not exactly old — he’ll turn 29 in a week — but the Packers have recently shown a willingness to walk away from wide receivers who might have seen their best years in the rear view. Case in point, Greg Jennings, whom the Packers let walk after seven incredibly productive seasons. Jennings got his payday in Minnesota, signing a five-year deal with a maximum value of $47.5MM ($18MM guaranteed).
After next season, Nelson will have been in Green Bay seven years, just like Jennings. Both are former second-round picks who were locked up to team-friendly deals in the midst of their rookie contracts.
According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers offered Jennings a contract averaging $8MM to stay in Green Bay once the free agency period started. Jennings chose Minnesota. During the season, with Jennings at his peak, the team reportedly offered $11MM/season, which Jennings turned down, far less than the $15 million AAV he was after.
Just last week, another division rival has helped set the market for receivers, with Chicago’s Brandon Marshall signing a four-year, $40MM extension with $22.5MM guaranteed. Will Nelson’s agent use Marshall’s extension to negotiate his client’s new deal? Will the Packers go the same route with Nelson they did with Jennings if the asking price is too high? Only time will tell, but all of Titletown — and especially its quarterback — will be watching.