Reiss: Despite Additions, Pats Should Keep Amendola
- Despite the receiver’s $6.8MM cap hit, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss believes the Patriots should hold on to wideout Danny Amendola. With the team acquiring a handful of new targets for Tom Brady, the writer wonders whether the organization would ask Amendola to take a payout for the second straight season.
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Patriots Work Out Minnesota Prospects
- The Texans and Patriots ventured to Minneapolis recently to look at some of the Gophers’ NFL prospects, Ryan Burns of scout.com tweets. The Texans’ contingent looked at the Gophers’ prospects last week, with the Patriots’ bevy of personnel making the trip earlier this week, per Burns. Cornerbacks Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun are also among Minnesota’s top draft-eligible players. According to Darren Wolfson of KTSP (on Twitter), the teams were scouting Murry, Boddy-Calhoun and Campbell.
Patriots Out On Nick Fairley; Saints Favorites
The Patriots will drop out of the running for defensive tackle Nick Fairley, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport adds that it’s an indication Fairley is expected to sign with the Saints.
While there’s no official word yet that Fairley and the Saints have a deal in place, New England and New Orleans were reportedly the only two clubs to formally meet with the 28-year-old. The Jets and Eagles had also been viewed as teams with interest in Fairley, who said earlier this week that he was still talking to the Rams as well.
A free agent a year ago, Fairley signed a one-year pact with the Rams, and was a rotational piece on the team’s talented defensive line in 2015, appearing in less than 40% of the defensive snaps. Although he wasn’t a full-time player and his counting stats were modest (29 tackles and 0.5 sacks), the former first-round pick graded out as a top-25 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus.
If the Saints do end up officially landing Fairley, the team will have to make at least one cap-clearing move to accommodate the signing. After the terms of the the club’s agreement with James Laurinaitis were confirmed today, the NFLPA now lists New Orleans as having less than $1MM in cap space, and that count doesn’t include the Saints’ deal with linebacker Craig Robertson.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pats Working Out WR Prospects
- The Patriots worked out speedy UCLA receiver Devin Fuller earlier this week, and also have a private workout with University of Houston wideout Demarcus Ayers, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links).
Patriots Sign Nate Washington
7:06pm: It’s a one-year deal for Washington, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter).
4:04pm: The Patriots officially announced the deal.
3:43pm: The Patriots are signing veteran free agent receiver Nate Washington, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Terms of the agreement between Washington and the Pats aren’t yet known.
Washington, 32, had been one of the more intriguing wideouts still available on the free agent market. While he doesn’t necessarily have the big-name appeal of players like Roddy White, Andre Johnson, or Marques Colston, Washington hasn’t seen his production fall off in recent years, and continues to perform well as a complementary target.
In 2015, his first and only season as a Texan, Washington played in 14 games, grabbing 47 balls for 658 yards and four touchdowns. As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter), spending a season in Bill O’Brien‘s offense in Houston will likely help Washington make the transition to the Pats, O’Brien’s old team. Reiss adds that the veteran worked out for New England last week.
The Patriots have been active this month adding pass catchers for Tom Brady. In addition to striking a deal with Washington, the team has also signed wideout Chris Hogan and traded for tight end Martellus Bennett. With Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and others already on the roster, it’s looking increasingly like there may not be room for Amendola and his $6.8MM+ cap charge, though that’s just my speculation.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots Looking At Su'a Cravens
- USC linebacker/safety Su’a Cravens will visit/work out for the Falcons, Panthers, Colts, Bills, Patriots, Saints, and Chargers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
Ryan Smith To Work Out For Patriots
- In total, Smith has six workouts and five visits on his docket, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post writes. In addition to the clubs listed above, Smith has private workouts with the Cardinals, Jets, Panthers, Patriots, and Ravens. On top of that, he has visits lined up with the Raiders, Steelers, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Vikings. At the combine, Smith turned heads when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds.
Patriots Instigated Chandler Jones Trade Talks
Speaking today to reporters, including Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians admitted he was “shocked” to learn that Chandler Jones was available, revealing that the Patriots instigated the trade discussions that led to a deal earlier this month. While Chandler has just one year left on his contract, Arians is confident he’ll remain in Arizona for a while: “When he hits free agency, we’ll have the dollars to make sure he stays.”
Roger Goodell Not Altering Deflategate Penalties
- Goodell confirmed that he received Robert Kraft‘s letter asking for the Patriots to get their draft picks back. However, after “considering his views,” Goodell has decided that New England’s Deflategate penalties won’t be altered, since the commissioner doesn’t feel as if new information has surfaced.
Details On Long, McLellin Contracts
- Shea McClellin, LB (Patriots): Three years, $8.95MM. $2.5MM signing bonus. $3.5MM guaranteed. $1MM salary in 2016 guaranteed. Annual $300K roster bonus. $100K workout bonus in 2016, $200K workout bonuses in 2017 and ’18. (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Chris Long, DE (Patriots): One year, $2.375MM. $1MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus. $625K roster bonus (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).