Rams May Use Transition Tag On Trumaine Johnson
If the Rams can’t work out a deal with pending free agent cornerback Trumaine Johnson, they will look at the option of using the transition tag, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). Los Angeles has until March 1 to decide if it wants to use either the franchise or the transition tag on any of its free agents.
[RELATED: PFR’s 2016 Los Angeles Rams Offseason Outlook]
The transition tag — as explained in this PFR Glossary entry — entitles the player to either the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position or 120% of his previous year’s salary, whichever is greater (in Johnson’s case, the former would be the higher figure). For corners, the charge is expected to be around $11.7MM for 2016. Johnson would be free to negotiate with other clubs, and if he signs an offer sheet that the Rams decide not to match, Los Angeles would receive no draft pick compensation.
The 26-year-old Johnson appeared in 14 games last season (he missed two late-season contests due to injury), playing 906 defensive snaps. He defensed 17 passes and intercepted seven, one of which he returned he returned 58 yards for a touchdown in Week 13. Johnson, a former third-round pick, was also a darling of the advanced metrics, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 19 corner in 2015 — among free agent CBs, he came in fifth.
Johnson isn’t the only defensive back whom the Rams might look to re-sign this offseason, as cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod are also headed for free agency. Elsewhere on the defense, lineman William Hayes is set to hit the open market, but Thomas reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles is confident it can re-sign Hayes. We also heard earlier tonight that the Rams want to retain free agent linebacker Mark Barron.
The Rams will head into the offseason with more than $58MM in projected cap space, a number that was augmented by today’s release of defensive end Chris Long, linebacker James Laurinaitis, and tight end Jared Cook.
Rams Hope To Re-Sign LB Mark Barron
The Rams released two veteran defenders earlier today, parting ways with defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis (in addition to tight end Jared Cook), and now Los Angeles might use some of that newfound to cap space to retain another member of its defense. Per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Rams are hopeful that they’ll be able to re-sign linebacker Mark Barron, who is scheduled to hit free agency on March 9.
[RELATED: PFR’s 2016 Los Angeles Rams Offseason Outlook]
The title of “linebacker” is itself new to Barron, who was drafted as a safety No. 7 overall by the Buccaneers in 2012. Traded to the Rams prior to the 2014 deadline, Barron has spent much of his time with the club in a hybrid sort of role, but a decent chunk of his action has come as a linebacker (his transition to the position was chronicled by Wagoner last October). If re-signed, Barron will stick at weakside linebacker, allowing Alec Ogletree to move to the middle, per Wagoner.
In 16 games (12 starts) last season, Barron played 920 defensive snaps, the second-most among Rams linebackers (Laurinaitis was first), accruing 76 tackles, three forced fumbles, and one sack. Barron’s play was impressive according to advanced metrics as well, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 20 linebacker in the league in 2015.
Barron is heading for free agency because the Rams declined his fifth-year option, which, because he was a top-10 pick, would have entitled him to a 2016 salary equal to that of the transition tag figure at his position. The debate over what position Barron plays might have proven interesting, as Los Angeles may have argued that he is a safety — which would have netted Barron around $9MM — while Barron and his representatives likely would have fought for the linebacker moniker (and its ~$11.7MM charge).
Instead, Barron will enter the market eyeing a yearly salary far less than either of those figures. He should be especially affordable for Los Angeles, which after today’s cut now stands with more than $58MM in cap room, according to Over the Cap. But the Rams will need to use a decent chunk of that space if they want to re-sign their key defensive free agents, a list that includes corners Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins, safety Rodney McLeod, and defensive end William Hayes.
Rams Cut Chris Long, Jared Cook, James Laurinaitis
The Rams have confirmed the release of three veteran players, announcing in a press release that defensive end Chris Long, tight end Jared Cook, and linebacker James Laurinaitis have been cut. As vested veterans, all three players will become free agents without having to pass through waivers.
[RELATED: Offseason Outlook: Los Angeles Rams]
“This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league and it’s been an honor to coach them both. They’ve been the pillars of our defense for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates.
“Jared made an immediate impact when he joined the team in 2013. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow from the time I drafted him in Tennessee to seeing him set franchise records in St. Louis. Like Chris and James, he’s been a mainstay in the community and his contributions are commendable.”
Long, Cook, and Laurinaitis all had top-five cap hits for the Rams heading into 2016, making them logical release candidates — when PFR’s Zach Links previewed the club’s offseason earlier this week, he mentioned all three players as potential cap casualties.
Assuming none of the three veterans are designated as post-June 1 cuts, the Rams should create nearly $23MM in cap savings for 2016 with today’s moves, according to Over the Cap’s data. The trio will count toward the Rams’ ’16 cap for about $6MM in dead money.
Los Angeles had entered the day with upwards of $36MM in projected cap room already, per OTC, so the club should have a huge amount of flexibility in the coming weeks to re-sign its own free agents, including cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, safety Rodney McLeod, and quarterback Case Keenum, among others.
As for the three players who hit the market today, it shouldn’t take too long for Long, Cook, and Laurinaitis to find new homes. Cook and Laurinaitis have been regular contributors for the last several seasons in St. Louis, but perhaps weren’t producing enough to justify their increasing cap figures — on more modest deals, they’ll draw interest.
Long, meanwhile, has seen his last two seasons derailed by injuries, but he’s still only 30 years old. If he can get healthy, the former second overall pick should still have something left in the tank. From 2010 to 2013 – his last four healthy seasons – Long totaled 41.5 sacks, an average of more than 10 per year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Staff Notes: 49ers, Washington, Rams, Cowboys, Vikes
The latest coaching staff updates from around the NFL:
- The 49ers’ Chip Kelly is hiring Dana Bible as a senior advisor, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). Bible’s last NFL experience came as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 1998. He hasn’t worked since 2012, when he was an assistant at North Carolina State.
- Washington has hired Kevin Carberry as assistant offensive line coach and Shane Waldron as offensive quality control, Tarik El-Bashir of CSNMidAtlantic.com tweets.
- The Rams hired former Georgia tight ends coach John Lilly to the same position, sources tell Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- The Cowboys are hiring Michigan defensive backs coach Greg Jackson to coach the safeties while Joe Baker will coach cornerbacks, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
- The Vikings have named Brent Salazar their strength and conditioning coach, Chris Miller of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. Salazar was previously the Chiefs’ assistant strength coach for nine seasons. He’s replacing the fired Evan Marcus in Minnesota.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Offseason Outlook: Los Angeles Rams
Pending free agents:
- Tim Barnes, C
- Mark Barron, S
- Daren Bates, ILB (RFA)
- Benny Cunningham, RB (RFA)
- Cody Davis, S (RFA)
- Nick Fairley, DT
- Brian Folkerts, C (RFA)
- Cory Harkey, TE
- William Hayes, DE
- Janoris Jenkins, CB
- Trumaine Johnson, CB
- Case Keenum, QB (RFA)
- Rodney McLeod, S
- Brian Quick, WR
- Chase Reynolds, RB (RFA)
- Eugene Sims, DE
- Wes Welker, WR
- Greg Zuerlein, K
Top 15 cap hits for 2016:
- Chris Long, DE: $14,250,000
- Robert Quinn, DE: $11,157,373
- Nick Foles, QB: $8,750,000
- Jared Cook, TE: $8,300,441
- James Laurinaitis, ILB: $6,425,000
- Michael Brockers, DT: $6,146,000
- Greg Robinson, T: $5,804,754
- Rodger Saffold, G: $5,656,250
- Kenny Britt, WR: $4,850,000
- Lance Kendricks, TE: $4,500,000
- Tavon Austin, WR: $4,057,137
- Akeem Ayers, OLB: $3,300,000
- Todd Gurley, RB: $3,141,632
- Aaron Donald, DT: $2,764,500
- Johnny Hekker, P: $2,595,995
Notable coaching/front office moves:
- Offensive coordinator: Retained Rob Boras, who took over job during 2015 season.
- Offensive staff: Hired Bears WRs coach Mike Groh as WRs coach/passing game coordinator.
Draft:
- No. 15 overall pick
- Acquired second-round pick from Eagles in deal for QB Sam Bradford.
- Lost fifth-round pick after using it in 2015 supplemental draft on T Isaiah Battle.
- Owe seventh-round pick to Texans in deal for QB Case Keenum.
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $36.72MM
- Must exercise or decline fifth-year options for 2017 for WR Tavon Austin and LB Alec Ogletree.
- Approved for move to Los Angeles from St. Louis, became Los Angeles Rams.
- Reached agreement in principle with Chargers to share Inglewood stadium; Chargers will remain in San Diego for at least 2016.
- WR Stedman Bailey hoping for comeback after being shot in the head in November.
Overview:
Last season, for the first time since 2009, the NFC West was not won by the Seahawks or 49ers. Unfortunately for the Rams, however, it was the Cardinals that broke the trend. The Rams finished out the year 7-9 and even though they didn’t reach the postseason, there were some distinct bright spots.
The big story of the year, of course, was the emergence of running back Todd Gurley. Gurley, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2015 draft, had to be eased into live action due to the ACL tear he suffered in his final collegiate season. Slowly but surely, Gurley was given more and more of the workload and, by the end of the year, Gurley looked like one of the game’s brightest young talents. In total, Gurley rushed for 1,106 yards, becoming the third rookie in team history to rush for 1,000+ yards in a season, putting him in the same company as Jerome Bettis and Eric Dickerson. 
Of course, it wasn’t all roses. The Rams didn’t have a strong passing game to keep teams honest against Gurley, and the Rams’ star running back was seeing stacked boxes for much of the year. The Rams’ passing game suffered, in part, because of Nick Foles‘ struggles under center. Case Keenum took over the starting job later in the season – and is expected to keep it in 2016 – but he was also limited by the team’s porous offensive line. With an offense that couldn’t control the clock, the Rams’ injury-battered defense didn’t fare much better.
We’re still weeks away from the start of free agency but the Rams have already undergone plenty of change this offseason. Now that they’ll be making their home in Los Angeles, can the Rams win right off the bat and energize their new fan base?
Key Free Agents:
The Rams’ list of free agents is headlined by cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins, regarded by some as the second-best UFA cornerback this offseason, figures to draw a ton of interest if he hits the open market. In July, the Rams tried to talk extension with the cornerback, but he chose instead to bet on himself and it appears that gamble is about to pay off. In 2015, Jenkins played (and started) in 15 games, racking up 64 tackles, a career-high 15 pass deflections, and three interceptions.
Despite his impressive counting stats, Jenkins ranked as just the 26th-best cornerback in the NFL last year based on Pro Football Focus‘ metrics, putting him behind fellow UFAs Josh Norman, Sean Smith, Adam Jones, Casey Hayward, and teammate Trumaine Johnson. Then again, PFF has never been a big fan of Jenkins. In 2014, the advanced metrics cast Jenkins as a slightly below average cornerback with an overall score of -1.5 that placed him 50th out of 108 eligible cornerbacks. PFF had Jenkins at No. 61 among qualified corners in 2013 and No. 101 in his rookie year. Regardless of how the advanced stats view Jenkins, he appears to be in line for a big pay day at an average annual value of $7-8MM.
With Johnson also set to hit the open market, one has to wonder if the Rams are willing to invest significant money into both of their free agent cornerbacks. Right now, most onlookers expect the team to let one of the two talented corners go. Johnson earned an 82.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, placing him 19th among all corners in the NFL last season. Even though the advanced numbers have Johnson ranked ahead of Jenkins, conventional thinking hold Jenkins in higher esteem.
In December, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap predicted that Johnson will command a deal with a $6MM AAV, roughly $2MM less per season than Jenkins. The Rams have the cap space to bring back both players, but if they’d rather not devote big money to the position, they may be more likely to keep Johnson than Jenkins. With Lamarcus Joyner and E.J. Gaines in the fold, the Rams can afford to let one of the two go elsewhere.
On top of Jenkins and Johnson, the Rams have a third starter in the secondary due for free agency. Safety Rodney McLeod entered the league as a UDFA in 2012 and over the last couple of years, the Rams have watched him blossom into one of the NFL’s better safeties. Last year, the Rams assigned McLeod a second-rounder RFA tender, giving him a 2015 salary of $2.356MM. This time around, it’ll cost significantly more to retain him. The 25-year-old (26 in June) started all 16 games in 2015, totaling 81 tackles, 5 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and one interception.
Nick Fairley was expected to secure a hefty contract last offseason after a solid contract year with the Lions, but ultimately inked a one-year pact to join the Rams. The 28-year-old played in 15 games last season before being shut down, seeing time as a rotational lineman and playing slightly less than 40% of the club’s defensive snaps. The Rams are expected to discuss a new deal with Fairley, who is still reasonably young and productive (he graded as the league’s No. 24 interior lineman, per Pro Football Focus).
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein – a.k.a. Young GZ – is on an expiring deal. Will he be retained? After a year in which he made just 20 of 30 field goals, it’s far from a certainty.
It will also be interesting to see what the Rams do with veteran wide receiver Wes Welker. Welker didn’t make a huge impact during his time in St. Louis but he says that he intends to continue his career in 2016 “as long as I feel good and am having fun.” With a move to Los Angeles coming up, Welker’s name value could have some extra importance to team ownership.
Speaking of wide receivers, Brian Quick is set to reach free agency for the first time in his career. The former second-round pick has yet to live up to the hype, but the Rams could hold on to the 26-year-old (27 in June) in hopes that he’ll blossom in gold and blue.
Finally, Case Keenum is a restricted free agent and Rams GM Les Snead has already stated that he won’t be going anywhere. Still, the team has a big decision to make this spring. The Rams could use a second-round tender to hold Keenum, but with a number of teams looking for a QB, Los Angeles might want to give itself a bit of extra insurance. The Rams could hit Keenum with a first-round tender, which would almost certainly discourage any rival suitors from making a run at him, and wouldn’t cost much more. In 2015, the first-round tender was worth $3.35MM, versus the ~$2.36MM second-round tender.
Possible Cap Casualties:
With a team-high cap number of $14.25MM, defensive end Chris Long appears to be a very likely cap casualty for the Rams. Long, 31 in March, has appeared in only 18 games over the last two seasons, putting up a grand total of 4.0 sacks and 24 tackles. The Rams will save $11.75MM if they cut Long with only $2.5MM in dead money against the cap. Still, Long does seem open to the possibility of a pay cut to remain with the franchise as it moves to Los Angeles.
“Of course I’m open to doing something like that,” Long said in January. “It’s not about the money at this point for me.”
Nick Foles lost his starting job in 2015, and while he may ultimately have a chance to win it back, head coach Jeff Fisher has anointed Keenum as his projected starting quarterback for 2016. With an $8.75MM cap number for the upcoming year, Foles’ roster spot now doesn’t look entirely safe.
After acquiring the veteran quarterback from the Eagles last offseason, the Rams signed him to an extension in August, locking him up through 2017. That deal calls for a guaranteed $6MM roster bonus, to be paid on the third day of the 2016 league year, which falls on March 11. If the Rams are confident that Foles will not be in their plans going forward, it would behoove them to either cut bait or trade him before 3/11. His trade value is not terribly high right now, but depending on who you ask, the Eagles might be interested.
Tight end Jared Cook has yet to live up to his monster contract and with a cap number of $8.3MM looming, it might make sense for the Rams to bail out on his deal. Luckily for L.A., all of Cook’s guaranteed money has been paid, so he could be released with minimal salary cap ramifications. Over the last three seasons, Cook has hauled in 142 receptions for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns, but he does not offer elite production to match his high-end pay.
Cook has the fourth-highest cap number on the Rams this year and just behind him at No. 5 is linebacker James Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis isn’t necessarily pricey with a cap number of $6.4MM, but he does seem overpaid. Oft-injured offensive lineman Rodger Saffold carries a cap number of ~$5.65MM and could be on the chopping block. Dropping wide receiver Kenny Britt could alleviate the Rams of a $4.85MM commitment, but that would leave the team with even more question marks at the position.
Positions Of Need:
The Rams are saying that Keenum will be the main guy under center, but that’s probably not their ideal plan for 2016. Even if they roll with the soon-to-be 28-year-old, the Rams will have to figure out a better long-term solution at QB. Thanks to their middle-of-the-pack finish in 2015, the Rams likely won’t be in the mix for the likes of Jared Goff or Carson Wentz without a trade that moves them up significant from the No. 15 pick.
The free agent market at QB could be headlined by Sam Bradford, who is unlikely to receive the franchise tag from the Eagles. Bradford, who came to the Eagles in the trade that sent Foles to the Rams, struggled out of the gate in his first season in Philly, though he did play much better in the second half of the year as he grew more comfortable in Chip Kelly‘s offense. A reunion between the Rams and Bradford would make some sense, particularly because the veteran is already familiar with Fisher’s offense.
The open market could also feature the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kirk Cousins, and Brock Osweiler. All three quarterbacks are worth consideration for a team in need of a signal-caller, but they are not especially glamorous options for the L.A. market. Could the Rams instead make a play for one of the greatest QBs in the history of the game? Peyton Manning is, obviously, not what he once was, but he would represent a major splash for the Rams as they enter the nation’s No. 2 media market. Prior to the Super Bowl, it was reported that the Rams have discussed Manning internally. A few weeks after the big game, however, it sounds like Manning is more likely to retire than take the field again.
Aside from quarterback, the Rams will have to address the wide receiver position, especially since things will be fluid heading into the offseason. As mentioned earlier, Brian Quick is due to hit the open market and Kenny Britt could be cut loose without any real financial penalty. Even if one or both players return to the Rams, it’s clear that the team will have to add another receiver alongside the speedy Tavon Austin. Unfortunately for L.A., however, the wide receiver market isn’t very strong outside of Alshon Jeffery, and the Bears might lock him down in the next couple of weeks. Other free agent options include Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones of the Bengals and Jermaine Kearse of the Seahawks. If the Rams want to make a low-risk, high-reward type of addition, they could target Giants receiver Rueben Randle.
The Rams’ pass rush was weak in 2015 and they’ll have to address the front seven. That need only increases when considering that both Long and Laurinaitis are potential cap casualties. The Rams specifically need to address the linebacker position and it’s not clear if they’ll have the financial flexibility to land someone like Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin.
Gurley was deadly, at times, in 2015 , but he was bottled up in some games thanks to a mediocre offensive line. Starting interior linemen Rodger Saffold and Jamon Brown had to be placed on IR and left tackle Greg Robinson has been shaky. The Rams can be expected to target a guard this spring, but the club’s whole offensive line should be closely examined. If Rodney McLeod goes, the Rams will also have to figure out an alternative at safety.
Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:
The Rams picked up Michael Brockers’ option for 2016, worth $6.146MM. The Rams could seek to hammer out an extension with him that will keep him in Los Angeles in 2017 and beyond. As the Rams learned prior to the 2015 season when teams were buzzing with trade interest, Brockers will draw several eager suitors if he hits the open market.
Brockers, 25, has been a staple of the Rams’ defensive line since being taken with the No. 14 pick in the 2012 draft. The defensive tackle totaled just 32 tackles and 2.0 sacks in 2014 but he saw an uptick in 2015 with 3.0 sacks and 45 total tackles. For what it’s worth, however, the advanced metrics at PFF (sub. req’d) rated him as the 28th-best DT in the league last season. That put him in a virtual tie with 49ers lineman Arik Armstead who, by most evaluations, was underwhelming in his rookie season.
Overall Outlook:
The Rams love L.A. like Randy Newman, but will the city of Los Angeles love them back? The Rams will get lots of love upon making their L.A. return, but the honeymoon won’t last long if they can’t win.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
West Notes: Osweiler, 49ers, Chargers, Rams
Will the Broncos retain Brock Osweiler and install him as the team’s new starting QB in 2016, in the event that Peyton Manning retires? Running back Ronnie Hillman thinks so.
“It’s not my decision, but letting him go would not be too smart,” Hillman told SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter).
Of course, Hillman himself might not be back in 2016, considering he’s also approaching free agency. The 24-year-old is coming off his best season, but he has been up and down during his four years in Denver, and he didn’t make a real impact in the playoffs — he ran for just 54 yards on 32 postseason carries, including zero yards on five attempts in the Super Bowl.
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s West divisions:
- In a pair of pieces for the Sacramento Bee, Matt Barrows previews the decisions facing the 49ers in their offensive backfield this offseason, as the team looks to address its quarterback and running back situations. According to Barrows, the draft combine will provide a prime opportunity for the Niners to assess the QBs set to hit the market, along with potential draft targets.
- Mark Whicker of the Los Angeles Daily News is extremely skeptical that the Chargers will get the votes they need from the city of San Diego to approve a new stadium.
- The Seahawks, Chiefs, and Broncos are among the teams in great position to pick up extra picks for the 2017 draft, as Nick Konte of Over the Cap explains in his early look at next year’s compensatory picks.
- Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com wonders if Robert Griffin III might be a good fit in Los Angeles. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said last year that he likes the idea of having a mobile quarterback who can extend plays, which seems to apply to RGIII’s skill set.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
2016 Proven Performance Escalators
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure is projected to be $1.696MM in 2016. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2016 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
49ers: Gerald Hodges, LB
Bears: Marquess Wilson, WR
Buccaneers: William Gholston, DE; Mike Glennon, QB; Akeem Spence, DT
Cardinals: Andre Ellington, RB; Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S; Alex Okafor, LB
Chargers: Keenan Allen, WR
Colts: Sio Moore, LB; Hugh Thornton, G
Cowboys: J.J. Wilcox, S; Terrance Williams, WR
Dolphins: Jelani Jenkins, LB; Dallas Thomas, T; Dion Sims, TE; Kenny Stills, WR
Eagles: Bennie Logan, DT
Falcons: Kemal Ishmael, S; Levine Toilolo, TE
Jaguars: Josh Evans, S; Dwayne Gratz, CB
Jets: Brian Winters, G
Lions: Larry Warford, G
Packers: David Bakhtiari, T; Micah Hyde, S
Patriots: Duron Harmon, S; Chris Jones, DT; Logan Ryan, CB
Raiders: Mychal Rivera, TE
Rams: T.J. McDonald, S
Ravens: Ricky Wagner, T; Brandon Williams, DT
Saints: Terron Armstead, T; John Jenkins, DT
Seahawks: Luke Willson, TE
Steelers: Markus Wheaton, WR
Titans: Brian Schwenke, C
Washington: Jordan Reed, TE
West Rumors: L.A., Irvin, Bailey, Morgan
In a terrific piece for ESPN The Magazine and Outside The Lines, Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. provide an in-depth timeline for how the Rams‘ move to Los Angeles played out, describing the process as having turned into an “open war” among NFL owners, many of whom would have preferred to see the Chargers‘ and Raiders‘ Carson plan approved.
The story is chock-full of fascinating details, and is worth reading in its entirety. However, one of the most intriguing items relates to the Raiders — according to the ESPN duo, most team owners wanted to avoid having the Raiders return to Los Angeles, in part because there were concerns about Al Davis‘ burned bridges, and local gangs co-opting team apparel. Those reservations ran so deep, the report suggests, that some owners wouldn’t even consider the Carson proposal.
If that’s true, one has to wonder if the league will allow the Raiders to make the move to Los Angeles a year from now, if the Chargers are ultimately able to work out a deal to remain in San Diego, passing their L.A. option onto Mark Davis and the Raiders. It’s believed that the same deal agreed to by the Chargers would be on the table for the Raiders, but we’ll have to wait to see if that’s indeed the case.
Here’s more out of the NFL’s West divisions:
- It is believed to be “highly unlikely” that the Seahawks will re-sign or franchise Bruce Irvin before he becomes a free agent next month, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Assuming he does, in fact, reach the open market, Irvin is on track for a big payday, according to Florio, who suggests that the linebacker should easily surpass $10MM as teams prioritize pass rushers.
- Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said in December that wide receiver Stedman Bailey, who was shot in the head twice last fall, likely wouldn’t play football again. However, Bailey isn’t willing to call it a career quite yet. Although he acknowledges the health risks and says that he doesn’t want to risk further serious injury to his head, Bailey will try to “continue to live out my dream,” he says in a YouTube video (link via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).
- Former NFL wide receiver Josh Morgan accidentally shot himself with a loaded gun and was charged with misdemeanor reckless use of a firearm, according to TMZ Sports. Morgan, who was selected by the 49ers in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, spent seven seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/9/16
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves:
- The Steelers announced that they have signed offensive guard Cole Manhart to a reserve/future contract. Manhart originally signed with the Eagles as a UDFA out of Nebraska-Kearney in May 2015. After being released by the Eagles, he spent the 2015 training camp with the Saints, but he was cut in September of that year. Prior to his signing with Pittsburgh, his most recent stint was with the Raiders as a member of their taxi squad.
- The Panthers inked safety Marcus Ball to a deal, per Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune (on Twitter). Ball ended the season on Carolina’s practice squad.
- The Rams signed former Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Steelers cut wide receiver David Nelson, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Eagles cut Matthew Tucker with a non-football injury designation, Wilson tweets.
Eagles Haven’t Discussed Nick Foles Return?
On Sunday afternoon, it was reported that the Eagles were discussing a possible reunion with quarterback Nick Foles. However, according to one Eagles beat writer, that is simply not the case. The Eagles have not had internal talks about pursuing Foles, who is now a member of the Rams, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The buzz about a Foles return began less than 24 hours ago when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that new head coach Doug Pederson was interested in making that a reality. Schefter also heard that the Eagles will not use the franchise tag on Sam Bradford if the two sides cannot reach an agreement on a new contract. Berman hears that no decision has been made with regards to using the tag on Bradford. If the Eagles do use the tag on him, they’ll be on the hook for roughly $20MM in 2016.
Bradford, who came to the Eagles in the trade that sent Foles to the Rams, struggled out of the gate in his first season in Philly, though he did play much better in the second half of the year as he grew more comfortable in Chip Kelly‘s offense. Kelly, in his capacity as head coach/personnel executive, was responsible for bringing Bradford to the Eagles, but Kelly was fired before the end of the season. Pederson has taken his place on the sidelines and displaced VP of football operations Howie Roseman regained his authority over personnel matters and it would make sense that both men would want to hand-pick their own QB. However, things still appear to be fluid with regards to Bradford.
Pederson was on Philadelphia’s staff when the team drafted Foles in the third round of the 2012 season, and he served as Foles’ quarterbacks coach that year. Roseman, of course, was in charge of the front office during that period. Foles, for his part, was an abject failure in his first season with the Rams, completing just 56.4% of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns against ten interceptions in 11 games. He did, however, sign a two-year extension with the club prior to the beginning of the 2015 campaign, so he remains under contract through the 2017 season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.