Chiefs Book De'Vondre Campbell Workout
- Minnesota linebacker De’Vondre Campbell will meet with the Cardinals, Falcons, Chiefs and Vikings soon, Goodbread tweets.
Paxton Lynch Meeting With Chiefs
- Paxton Lynch has a Friday meeting lined up with the Chiefs, according to Chris Boyle of The Daytona Beach News-Journal (via Twitter). The Memphis product has met with other teams, including the Cowboys, who plan on getting an additional look at him between now and the draft.
Chiefs Didn't Show Interest In RGIII As Backup
- Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports suggests the Browns were the only team with legit interest in RGIII, noting that teams in need of a backup like the Cowboys and Chiefs never engaged.
Roger Goodell Expects To Hear Chiefs' Appeal Himself
- Goodell expects to serve as the arbitrator for the Chiefs‘ appeal of their tampering penalties, adding that he’ll make sure that appeal happened before the draft if the team pushes for that.
Justin Houston Undergoes ACL Surgery
Standout Chiefs pass rusher Justin Houston may not be ready for the 2016 opener after undergoing a procedure to repair his ACL last month, the Chiefs confirmed today. As Adam Teicher of ESPN.com writes, Houston was having postseason arthroscopic surgery on his knee when his ACL was found to be “intact but not functioning.”
Houston’s ACL was fixed, but the expected rehab timetable from the procedure is 6-12 months. If his recovery lasts closer to six months, the 27-year-old could be ready to go in September, but if it’s closer to 12 months, his availability for the entire 2016 season may be in jeopardy. Per Teicher, head coach Andy Reid said today that the team is “hoping [Houston] will be able to play this season.”
One of the league’s top pass rushers, Houston inked a six-year, $101MM extension with the Chiefs less than a year ago, but was hampered by injuries in the first year of his new deal. After leading the NFL with 22 sacks in 2014, Houston still played very well in 2015, but totaled just 7.5 sacks in 11 games. The outside linebacker also showed some versatility by grabbing a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
The Chiefs did re-sign Tamba Hali earlier this month, and it’s possible 2014 first-rounder Dee Ford will be ready to take on a larger role in 2016. But without Houston, the team’s pass rush would take a significant hit.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chiefs Formally Appeal Tampering Penalties
Amidst this month’s free agent frenzy, at least one noteworthy story flew somewhat under the radar, with the NFL announcing on the first day of the 2016 league year that it had fined the Chiefs $250K and taken away two draft picks from the franchise – including a 2016 third-rounder – as penalties for tampering with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin prior to last year’s free agent period.
At the time, owner Clark Hunt indicated that the Chiefs intended to fight those sanctions, and Hunt has now confirmed to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star that his club formally filed that appeal. The franchise had five days to appeal the decision in writing, and did so.
“We’re in the very beginning process of that,” Hunt said. “We’ve not had a discussion with the league on the (timeline), but I’ll say from our standpoint, we would like it done by the draft.”
It’s not clear what sort of odds the Chiefs have of overturning some or all of the penalties handed down by the NFL, but Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets that he has heard the league “has pretty strong information” it gathered on the situation. The NFL alleged that the Chiefs were in direct contact with Maclin during the time leading up to 2015 free agency. Teams are only permitted to talk to player agents – not players themselves – during the legal tampering period, and can’t discuss free agents at all prior to that.
In addition to being docked a 2016 third-round pick, the Chiefs also lost a 2017 sixth-rounder as a result of the league’s ruling.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chiefs Sign LB Tautvydas Kieras
- The Chiefs tweeted the signing of linebacker Tautvydas Kieras, a native of Lithuania who attended Mississippi State. Kieras didn’t play college football there, however, instead starring in track and field. He set the school record in the discus.
AFC Contract Details: L. Miller, D. Johnson, Woods
Here are several of the latest contract details from around the AFC on recently agreed-upon and signed deals. All links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated…
- Lamar Miller, RB (Texans): Four years, $26MM. $14.5MM guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus. $3.5MM roster bonus due on March 16. $750K in annual per-game active roster bonuses in 2018 and 2019 (all Twitter links).
- Derrick Johnson, ILB (Chiefs): Three years, $21MM. $9.75MM guaranteed. $5.25MM signing bonus. $1MM in per-game active roster bonuses in 2017 (Twitter link).
- Al Woods, DT (Titans): Three years, $10.5MM. $5MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus. $250K in per-game active roster bonuses (Twitter link).
- Prince Amukamara, CB (Jaguars): One year, $5.5MM. $3MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. $500K in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter link).
- Rod Streater, WR (Chiefs): One year, $810K. $110K guaranteed. $10K signing bonus. $1MM in incentives based on touchdowns, catches, and yards (Twitter link).
- Kellen Davis, TE (Jets): One year, minimum salary benefit. $230K guaranteed. $80K signing bonus (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Jamell Fleming, DB (Chiefs): One year, minimum salary benefit. $40K signing bonus. $40K first-game 53-man roster bonus (Twitter link).
FA Rumors: Okung, Soliai, Weddle, Hayward
Free agent left tackle Russell Okung has an offer in hand from the Steelers, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link), while Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports (Twitter link) that Okung has no other visits planned at this time. Okung is just one of a few offensive tackles whom Pittsburgh has either met with or plans to meet with, including Ryan Harris and Chris Hairston. Kelvin Beachum, the Steelers’ left tackle for the past few seasons, remains unsigned, and is taking visits with other clubs.
Let’s dive into the latest free agent news…
- Former Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai will visit the division-rival Panthers, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Soliai, 32, was released by Atlanta on the first day of the free agent period after spending two years with the club. Carolina has already released defensive tackle Dwan Edwards, so Soliai could be a nice addition to the Panthers’ interior rotation.
- Another free agent defensive tackle — ex-Patriot Sealver Siliga — will take a meeting with the Seahawks, according to Garafolo (Twitter link). Siliga, 26 next month, was not offered a restricted free agent tender by New England despite appearing in 13 games for the club last season.
- The Seahawks will also meet with running back Lance Dunbar, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Dunbar was off to a nice start with the Cowboys in 2015, catching 21 passes out of the backfield in just four games before a torn ACL knocked him out for the remainder of the season. Seattle will be the second NFC West visit for Dunbar, who’s also met with the 49ers.
- Free agent guard Amini Silatolu will visit the Cardinals today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The former-second pick hasn’t been a full-time starter since his rookie season in 2012, but he’s only 26 years old, and could help fill in at guard if Arizona follows through on its proposed move of Jonathan Cooper to center.
- Eric Weddle is expected to narrow his choice to two teams soon, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The veteran safety is reportedly choosing between the Ravens, Steelers, Cowboys, and Raiders.
- Before agreeing to a three-year deal with the Chargers earlier today, cornerback Casey Hayward also drew interest from the Chiefs and 49ers, tweets Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
- Cardinals backup quarterback Drew Stanton said the Colts, Titans, Dolphins, and Cowboys all showed interest in signing him before he agreed to a new deal with Arizona, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Chiefs, Rod Streater Agree To One-Year Deal
John Dorsey and the Chiefs staff have finally landed a veteran wideout to pair with Jeremy Maclin. Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed wide receiver Rod Streater. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that it’s a one-year deal worth $4.8MM. It was reported this morning that the wideout was set to meet with the organization.
Streater wasn’t particularly productive for the Raiders over the past two seasons, making only ten catches for 92 yards in four games played. However, the 28-year-old shows flashes of brilliance through his first two years in the league, including a 60-catch, 888-yard, four-touchdown season in 2013.
There’s no denying that the Cheifs could use depth at the position. Besides Maclin, none of Kansas City’s wideouts finished in the top-70 of Pro Football Focus’ rankings of the league’s receivers. The team’s two other options, Albert Wilson and Chris Conley, combined for 52 catches, 650 yards, and three touchdowns last season.
The Chiefs had previously met with former Jets wideout Jeremy Kerley. Meanwhile, Streater had paid visits to both the Jets and the Patriots.