AFC South Notes: Colts, Verner, Babin
One of the biggest question marks for the Colts this offseason is how the team will better develop Trent Richardson after a disappointing 2013 campaign. Since the team traded a first-round pick to acquire him, Richardson seems locked in to the top of the depth chart at least at the beginning of this season. Because of this, and the return of Vick Ballard from injury, Donald Brown and Ahmad Bradshaw will probably be searching for new teams in free agency, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. While they were arguably the Colts best running backs last season, they would most likely look for opportunities to start or split time elsewhere. Here are some other rumors from around the AFC South:
- While the Colts will have more than $30MM to spend, Wells does not see the team bringing a bunch of big name free agents this offseason. With new contracts for T.Y. Hilton and most importantly Andrew Luck on the horizon, much of that cap space will be saved for re-signing current players or cheaper free agents.
- Alterraun Verner has been thought of as a possible franchise tag candidate for the Titans, but Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean does not see that as a likely scenario, as the team is already paying Jason McCourty a little over $8.6MM per year. Verner’s franchise price is expected to be around $11.2MM, and together it would be too much to invest in one position. The team will continue to work on a long-term deal with Verner.
- Jason Babin is unlikely to be on the Jaguars roster next season at his current price tag of $4.225MM, but he is willing to renegotiate that figure to stay with the team, writes Michael Dirocco of ESPN.com. Babin was the Jaguars’ best pass rusher last season, totaling a team-high 7.5 sacks on the season.
AFC Notes: Martin, Bonuses, Colts, Kolb
In the wake of the publication of the Ted Wells report, Jonathan Martin’s agent Kenny Zuckerman reiterated to several reporters today, including ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link), that his client fully intends to continue his NFL career in 2014. Jim Harbaugh, Martin’s former coach at Stanford, believes that the offensive tackle should fare better in another team’s locker room, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee details. Meanwhile, Mike Garafalo of FOX Sports tweets that Martin’s camp will meet with the Dolphins as soon as next week at the scouting combine.
Richie Incognito‘s lawyer has publicly suggested that the Wells report is “replete with errors,” while Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald hears from a Dolphins source that offensive line coach Jim Turner is almost certainly done in Miami (Twitter link). There may still be more twists and turns coming in this story, but for now we’ll focus on a few other non-Dolphins items around the AFC:
- While it won’t affect teams’ salary cap figures, plenty of clubs are set to pay out deferred bonus money this weekend. The Patriots will pay Tom Brady $5MM of his signing bonus, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. Brian McIntyre reports (via Twitter) that the Chiefs and Dolphins will also pay out bonus money on Saturday, including $6MM to Tamba Hali and $5MM to Dwayne Bowe for Kansas City.
- With Trent Richardson and Vick Ballard set to return to the Colts’ backfield, it wouldn’t be surprising to see prospective free agent Donald Brown land elsewhere, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star.
- A history of concussions has placed Kevin Kolb‘s NFL future in doubt, and Bills coach Doug Marrone told WGR 550 today that he still isn’t sure if Kolb is planning to return to the team. ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak has the details. With a $1MM roster bonus owed to the quarterback next month, the Bills may end up releasing Kolb or restructuring his deal.
- Within his latest look around the NFL, Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei revisits the Browns‘ front office situation, providing details about Ray Farmer‘s GM candidacy with the Dolphins, Cleveland’s head coaching search, and Joe Banner‘s future job prospects.
- The Titans should try to re-sign cornerback Alterraun Verner, safety Bernard Pollard, and defensive end Ropati Pitoitua, but should be content to let wide receiver Kenny Britt and a few other free agents walk, suggests Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
Colts Waive Justin Anderson
The Colts have trimmed their roster by one, announcing today that they’ve waived offensive lineman Justin Anderson.
Since being drafted in the seventh round of the 2012 draft by the Colts, Anderson has yet to appear in an NFL game. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list in August 2012, and on Injured Reserve in August 2013. By releasing him, the Colts will erase his minimum salary from their books for the 2014 season. Anderson’s contract had been set to expire in 2015.
Colts Sign Henoc Muamba
MONDAY, 12:28pm: Muamba’s deal includes $107K in guaranteed money, according to Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter). As Brian McIntyre tweets, that’s the largest amount of guaranteed money included in any futures contract signed to date.
THURSDAY, 7:35pm: The Colts announced that they have signed former CFL linebacker Henoc Muamba. The first overall pick in the CFL’s 2011 draft worked out for multiple NFL teams in recent months, including the Ravens and Browns. Brian McIntyre (on Twitter) adds that Muamba also auditioned for the Broncos, Patriots, and Vikings.
Yesterday, the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced that they were releasing the linebacker to allow him to pursue an opportunity in the NFL. Terms of Muamba’s deal are not yet known. While I would think that the middle linebacker’s deal is a reserve/futures contract, it seems possible that he got more than the minimum salary based on the number of teams that showed interest in recent weeks.
Recently, the Chiefs landed another standout CFL import in wide receiver Weston Dressler, after he was let out of his contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kansas City inked Dressler to a reserve/futures pact.
Colts Sign David Sims
The Colts have added another player to their roster, signing safety David Sims, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter). While details of the contract haven’t been reported or announced, it figures to be a minimum-salary reserve/futures deal.
Sims, 27, appeared in 15 games for the Eagles during the 2012 season, including one start. However, he was cut by the team before the 2013 campaign. In Indianapolis, Sims may have a chance to earn a roster spot, considering the club has multiple defensive backs facing free agency, and didn’t have an elite secondary to begin with. The 5’9″ safety could also provide depth on special teams.
AFC South Links: Jaguars, Colts, Mitchell
Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com believes the Jaguars will select defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the third overall selection, adding that while quarterback remains an obvious need, internal team sources may believe that none of the top QB prospects are ready to start from day one. Clowney certainly presents a safe option, and would allow the Jaguars to wait until a later round to select a quarterback, ostensibly to pair with a veteran like Chad Henne. DiRocco’s opinion meshes with comments made by Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell, who indicated the team would not be beholden to drafting a quarterback with the third pick.
- Regarding Caldwell’s indication that the team has an internal consensus of the top five players available, DiRocco believes those players to be Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, Khalil Mack, and one of Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles.
- Defensive end Michael Johnson is an option for the Jaguars as they look to bolster their defensive line.
- The notion that the Colts’ hiring of Rob Chudzinkski is indicative of offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s performance last season is only partially true, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. While Wells believes the hire is more related to Chudzinski’s familiarity with Chuck Pagano, there is do denying that Hamilton’s run-heavy play-calling was widely panned last season.
- Colts running back Donald Brown is among the best bargains available at the position this offseason, according to OverTheCap.com.
- Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell will likely not be re-signed by the Texans, as they aim to find a more traditional 3-4 nose tackle, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com.
Colts Add Rob Chudzinski To Staff
The Colts have hired Rob Chudzinski as special assistant to head coach Chuck Pagano (link). Chudzinski, who was canned after one season leading the Browns, has eight years experience working with Pagano, primarily at the University of Miami (Fla.).
The addition could boost the potency of the offense. Chudzinski has a history of maximizing tight end talent, and the Colts have two young, talented tight ends in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, who went down in Week One with a season-ending hip injury.
AFC Links: Texans, Browns, Pats, Raiders
Asked today on the Dan Patrick Show (video link) if he believes he should be picked first overall in May’s draft, Jadeveon Clowney said yes, but former Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would go a different direction if he were making the call for Houston. Appearing on 610 SportsRadio in Houston (hat tip to Pro Football Talk), Phillips said he told Texans ownership that he believes quarterback Johnny Manziel is the best choice for the franchise.
“Those kinds of guys who can make first downs when you’re not supposed to, I think they give you something.” Phillips said. “I just think he makes plays that nobody else can make.”
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who has maintained that the Texans intend to take a QB with the No. 1 pick, tweets that, with so much of the process still remaining, the team doesn’t yet favor one of the top three (Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, or Blake Bortles). The club still has three months to decide what it’ll do with that top pick so in the meantime, let’s round up a few more updates from across the AFC….
- After the trade of Trent Richardson, running back devolved into the weakest position on the Browns‘ roster, and will need to be addressed this offseason, says Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.
- Noting that the Patriots typically spend as little as possible on a backup quarterback, Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston writes that it would make sense if the club selects a QB in the draft’s middle rounds, with Ryan Mallett a good bet to depart via free agency in a year.
- The Raiders announced four additions to their coaching staff today, including defensive backs coach Joe Woods, according to a team release.
- Mike Wells of ESPN.com discussed the Colts with former Browns scout Matt Williamson, who suggested that Indianapolis could use some help on the interior of the offensive line, as well as just about everywhere on defense.
South Notes: Falcons, Byrd, Bucs, Luck
Let’s round up a few Thursday morning items from around the NFC and AFC South divisions….
- In a piece for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, D. Orlando Ledbetter breaks down the Falcons‘ cap situation, and lists his top five free agent targets for the team, including safety Jairus Byrd, defensive end Michael Johnson, and center Alex Mack.
- ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure also identifies Byrd as an ideal fit for the Falcons, though he acknowledges that signing the Bills’ free-agent-to-be to a lucrative deal would mean investing a lot of money into the safety position.
- The Buccaneers have a significant need for a pass-rusher on the edge, according to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, who says the club needs to land a defensive end who can be “much more than rotation player” in either free agency or the draft.
- Jeff Fedotin of the National Football Post makes the case for why Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is the most untradeable player in the NFL.
AFC Notes: Wilkerson, Incognito, Colts
Muhammad Wilkerson was arguably the best player on the Jets last season, and even that may not truly be very “arguable.” In his third year, the defensive end led the team in sacks, and positioned himself for a big contract extension. However, extension talks may have stalled, meaning it could begin to resemble the Darrelle Revis situation from a few years ago, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post.
The Jets hold all the leverage in negotiations, because they hold Wilkerson’s rights over the next two seasons for a bargain price of $7.2MM, and if they franchise tag him after next season, they’ll still have him for the cheap price of about $19MM depending on the tag number. At the same time, Costello notes that the Jets’ goal is to get a long-term contract in place. Here are some other free agency notes from the AFC:
- While the Richie Incognito controversy last season will most likely preclude him from signing with the Dolphins, the free agent guard should still have suitors this offseason. One team that could use his services is the Raiders, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. The Raiders’ interior offensive line was unimpressive last season, struggling to find consistency at the guard positions. Raider offensive coordinator Greg Olsen coached Incognito in St. Louis in 2006-07, and stood up for the troubled lineman during the season when the allegations of bullying first came out.
- The Colts‘ number one priority this offseason should be re-signing their own free agents, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. He writes that Vontae Davis, Pat McAfee, and Antoine Bethea should be the first three players taken care of, before the team starts thinking about bringing in new pieces.
- Dane Fletcher is not one of the most notable free agents the Patriots have to worry about, and if the linebacker is looking for a bigger role, then he is better off leaving New England, writes Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com. While the Patriots don’t necessarily need him (he only played 209 snaps on defense in 2013), even with the assumed departure of Brandon Spikes, Curran believes the Patriots would welcome him back.