Packers Sign Raymond Webber
The Packers have officially signed tight end Raymond Webber to a reserve/futures contract, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but it figures to be a minimum salary contract, likely without any guaranteed money included.
Webber signed in 2011 with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, and spent the season with the team on injured reserve. The Arkansas Pine-Bluff product has since spent time in training camps with the Jets and the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, but has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Extra Points: Verner, Flynn, Clowney, Farmer
Coming off his rookie contract, Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner is set to hit the open market next month, and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean believes it may be difficult for the Titans to lock him up before March 11 (Twitter link). According to Wyatt (via Twitter), there has been “little to no movement” in talks between the two sides so far, though they’ll likely meet at next week’s scouting combine. After snatching five interceptions and defending 23 passes in 2013, Verner will be in line for a nice raise on 2013’s $1.32MM base salary, meaning he could be looking forward to gauging his value on the open market.
Let’s round up a few more Thursday items from around the NFL….
- New Packers QB coach Alex Van Pelt praised Matt Flynn’s track record and indicated that he’s “excited to hopefully get him back in here,” according to Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Flynn is eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason.
- Texans safety D.J. Swearinger tells Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle that he keeps in contact with former South Carolina teammate Jadeveon Clowney, who is pushing hard to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. “He’s talking about, ‘Man, what’s the word [on the Texans’ pick]?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know. I’m going to try my best to do what I can to get you here,'” Swearinger said.
- In the second half of a two-part Q&A with Ray Farmer, Tony Grossi asked the new Browns GM about the importance of landing an elite quarterback, as well as discussing Farmer’s philosophy in approaching free agency and the draft.
- Cornerback Jabari Greer is taking yesterday’s release from the Saints in stride, as he tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. While Greer didn’t expect to be cut, he noted that “you can’t ever be surprised” by it, particularly when you’re on the wrong side of 30.
- Rick Spielman‘s long-term future as the Vikings‘ general manager may depend on his ability to find the team a solution at quarterback, an issue he’ll address this offseason, writes Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
Packers Rumors: Finley, Raji, Pickett
The latest on the Packers..
- Free agent tight end Jermichael Finley and his agent are optimistic that he’ll be cleared to play soon, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Meanwhile, Finley’s future with Green Bay remains uncertain. The Packers’ medical staff is conservative by league standards and did not clear safety Nick Collins after his C3/C4 neck fusion, a procedure that he is also believed to have also undergone. Given his past success and age (still only 26), Finley should pick up considerable interest around the league if he can show that he’s healthy.
- The Packers want an athletic, Dom Capers-style defense, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. With a push towards athleticism and versatile personnel, that could mean the end of B.J. Raji‘s time in Green Bay. Don’t be surprised if the Packers’ defensive linemen are closer to 290 lbs than the 330 that Raji and Ryan Pickett weigh, Rapoport tweets.
- The Packers could be getting ready to spend more on the open market than they have in recent years with about $30MM of cap room to burn, Rapoport tweets.
Packers Release Greg Van Roten
The Packers have waived offensive lineman Greg Van Roten, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Van Roten had been on the books for a minimum salary in 2014, with his free agency scheduled for 2015. The Packers won’t be on the hook for any dead money by cutting him.
Van Roten, who will turn 24 later this month, spent most of the 2013 season on injured reserve, having been placed on IR by Green Bay in mid-October due to a foot injury. He was active for the first three games of the Packers’ season.
The Pennsylvania alum will have to clear waivers before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency.
NFL Execs Weigh In On Michael Sam
As the world reacted to the news that the NFL might soon see its first openly gay current player last night, so did anonymous NFL club officials. The feedback from decision makers around the league was not nearly as positive as the general public’s.
Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans polled eight NFL executives and coaches, and the overwhelming consensus was that the announcement would hurt Michael Sam‘s draft stock. The redshirt senior from the University of Missouri is predicted as a mid- to late-round draft pick, but one NFL player personnel assistant told SI he doesn’t feel football is ready for an openly gay player.
“In the coming decade or two, it’s going to be acceptable, but at this point in time it’s still a man’s-man game,” the assistant said. “To call somebody a [gay slur] is still so commonplace. It’d chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room.”
Three general managers and one scout spoke on the condition of anonymity to The MMQB’s Peter King, with one GM saying his team had discussed the issue at draft meetings in recent days.
“First of all, we don’t think he’s a very good player,” the GM told King. “The reality is he’s an overrated football player in our estimation. Second: He’s going to have expectations about where he should be drafted, and I think he’ll be disappointed. He’s not going to get drafted where he thinks he should. The question you will ask yourself, knowing your team, is, ‘How will drafting him affect your locker room?’ And I am sorry to say where we are at this point in time, I think it’s going to affect most locker rooms. A lot of guys will be uncomfortable. Ten years from now, fine. But today, I think being openly gay is a factor in the locker room.”
The results were more positive today, as a legion of owners and coaches – each of whom were willing to put their names with their words – voiced their support for a potential gay player as a member of their team. Giants co-owners Steve Tisch and John Mara backed Sam loudly, in statements to TMZ and Conor Orr of The Star-Ledger respectively. Meanwhile, one team personnel executive told NFL.com columnist Judy Battista that he could see owners pushing their coaches and personnel staff “it’s OK” to draft Sam.
Other notable league personnel to come out in support of Sam include Bears GM Phil Emery, Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kraft’s coach, Bill Belichick, released a statement via the team’s website, expressing that he and the Pats pursue players “who can best contribute to our team and organization, regardless of the matters being discussed today.” The league also released its own statement in support of Sam and his efforts.
Stepping away from the issue of Sam’s personal life, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said he has a “pretty good feel” for the undersized Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year, projecting him as a third- to fifth-round pick.
“He’s an explosive kid who’s much better going forward than he is going backward,” Mayock told Philly.com’s Paul Domowitch. “His size would dictate he’s got to be a linebacker, but I don’t think his physical skill-set dictates that, and therein lies the rub.”
With the NFL scouting combine less than two weeks away, each team will have its opportunity to interview Sam with this historic news out in the public. Sam’s performance at the combine could go a long way in defining his draft value, which was murky even before his announcement — given his size and speed, there are questions about whether he’ll have a true NFL position. A strong showing at the combine, along with impressive interviews with NFL teams, should solidify his place as a mid-round pick, particularly given the outcry of public support from various owners and executives today.
We’ll have to wait until May to know definitively what sort of effect Sunday’s announcement will have on Sam’s draft stock. But if the Missouri alum has shown anything to us this far, it’s that he’s mature beyond his 24 years and ready for whatever life has to throw at him next.
NFC Notes: Seahawks, Ryan, Packers, Saints
Several players from the Super Bowl champion Seahawks had their 2014 salaries become fully guaranteed this week, notes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com in his latest update on teams’ cap space. Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril, and Kam Chancellor had their contracts for 2014 vest from partially guaranteed to fully guaranteed, according to Fitzgerald, who notes that Matt Ryan of the Falcons was among the other players in that boat.
Here’s more from across the NFC:
- Having drafted well and avoided bad contracts, the Packers will have significantly more cap flexibility this offseason than many of their NFC rivals, says Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- 13 players from the Saints‘ Super Bowl win in 2010 remain on the team’s roster, but as many of nine of those players could depart this offseason, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. As Triplett points out, four are unrestricted free agents, while five more are potential cap casualties.
- Compensatory picks for the 2014 draft won’t be announced for a few more weeks, and the Falcons‘ situation is murky, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. Based on projections by Craig Turner (via Philly.com), the Falcons could add as many as four compensatory picks, but may end up with just one or two, depending on where the cutoff is.
- The Redskins have hired former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams to their front office as a personnel executive, the team announced today in a press release.
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.
Extra Points: Carr, Smith, Iupati, Zook
One of the top quarterbacks in the 2014 draft, Derek Carr, told 95.7 The Game (audio link) that he is undecided about taking part in the Indianapolis combine. The signal caller out of Fresno State has consulted with his brother, former first overall pick David Carr, about the decision but has yet to reach a conclusion. Derek is unlikely to go first overall when the Texans pick in May, but he could be a first round pick if he impresses the right team. More from around the NFL..
- Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith saw his 2014 salary of $3.45MM become guaranteed today, cap expert Joel Corry tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). With that kind of financial commitment, it’s a virtual guarantee that he’ll be back with KC in 2014.
- There are several factors that could complicate a possible extension for 49ers guard Mike Iupati, explains Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Guards aren’t as valued as other positions and there could be a sizable gap that makes it unlikely that a fresh deal for Iupati will be a top priority for SF. Meanwhile, without an enticing offer, Iupati would probably be happy to hit the open market after the 2014 season.
- Earlier today the Packers announced their coaching staff for the upcoming season. Four newcomers have joined the staff while five others acquired new titles. Among the newcomers: former University of Illinois and University of Florida head coach Ron Zook, who will now be pitching in on special teams.
NFC East Rumors: Finley, Eagles, Redskins
Yesterday, we passed along word that Antrel Rolle has been recruiting Jermichael Finley in an effort to get the free-agent-to-be to join the Giants. However, Finley remains a Packer for at least a few more weeks, and agent Blake Baratz tells Paul Schwartz of the New York Post that working out a new deal to stay in Green Bay would be his client’s first priority.
“Right now he is a Packer and I know he would love to play his entire career there,” Baratz said. “For the next five weeks or so they have his exclusive negotiation rights. If it doesn’t work out in Green Bay for whatever reason then I believe there are a number of teams that could use a talent like Jermichael.”
While the Giants and other teams keep an eye on Finley’s recovery and wait to see if they’ll have a chance to sign him, let’s check in on a few more items from out of the NFC East:
- Roosevelt Barnes, the agent for prospective free agent OLB Mike Neal, tells Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com that he could see the Eagles having interest in his client if Neal doesn’t re-up with the Packers in the next month. “Philly would be a good spot for him,” Barnes said. “But we still have a little while to go before free agency.”
- The Redskins, who have opened contract negotiations with defensive lineman Chris Baker, will likely to seek to lock him up to a deal to the three-year, $3.3MM pact Kedric Golston signed a year ago, says Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
- While the Redskins have plenty of projected cap space for 2014 at this point, Keith McMillan of the Washington Post breaks down the numbers and estimates that the club will have to use a good chunk of that room to retain its own free agents.
NFC Notes: Shields, Ware, Bennett, 49ers
Among the Packers’ top priorities this offseason must be cornerback Sam Shields, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Shields won’t be easy to retain — he’ll be among the best cornerbacks on the market this offseason, and Dougherty believes he could fetch a contract that pays him $8.5MM per season. With new deals coming for Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, it may be difficult for Ted Thompson to navigate a deal for Shields and keep room open to fill out the roster. Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- DeMarcus Ware had said he would have a scope on his right elbow this offseason, but as of right now has no surgery scheduled, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Ware was already viewed as a potential cap casualty, as Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated notes, and this ongoing injury only adds incentive for the Cowboys to release him and save about $7MM on the cap in 2014.
- Michael Bennett reiterated that he is fully committed to trying to return to the defending champion Seahawks in 2014, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “We can go back and win a Super Bowl again with all these guys,” Bennett said. “It’s a business but I definitely want to be back.”
- The 49ers‘ priorities are holding strong this offseason, write Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. The team is trying to lock up quarterback Colin Kaepernick and head coach Jim Harbaugh to long-term deals, and still keep free agents Anquan Boldin, Donte Whitner, and Phil Dawson.