AFC Links: Sanders, Dolphins, Verrett, Harvin
Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders posted career-high numbers while catching passes from Peyton Manning during last night’s game, racking up nine catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. But if offseason negotiations had worked out differently, Sanders could’ve been working with a different future Hall of Famer — Tom Brady. As Chris Wesseling of NFL.com details, Sanders, who signed an offer sheet with the Patriots as a restricted free agent in 2013, was interested in signing with New England during the 2014 offseason, but only at the right price. “Emmanuel loved it there,” said Sanders’ agent, Steve Weinberg. “He said, ‘Give me Danny Amendola‘s deal and I’m there.'” The Pats gave Amendola a five-year, $28.5MM deal in 2013, while Sanders ultimately scored just $13MM over three years with Denver. “New England was competitive throughout the process,” continued Weinberg. “Had they been aggressive from the beginning it would have gotten done, but, in this market, nobody knew what to do with the wide receivers.” Here’s more from the AFC.
- As Thursday’s trade deadline approaches, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald looks at several Dolphins who could shipped out for the right compensation. In Salguero’s estimation, offensive lineman Shelley Smith, receiver Brandon Gibson, and defensive end Dion Jordan could all be on the trade block.
- Chargers rookie cornerback Jason Verrett will visit a shoulder specialist next week to determine the severity of his injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports suggested (on Twitter) earlier today that Verrett could miss “significant time.”
- The Jets performed “extensive background checks” on Percy Harvin during the 2009 draft, according to head coach Rex Ryan, so the club feels as if it knows what it’s getting with the mercurial receiver, writes Anthony Rieber of Newsday.
- In a series of tweets, Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle documents the frustration of Texans receiver DeVier Posey, a 2012 third-round pick who seemingly isn’t a fit for Bill O’Brien’s offense. The 24-year-old hasn’t been active for a single game this season after suiting up for 25 contests during his first two years in the league. “I want to be there but this is what I’m asked to do, so this is what I have to do,” said Posey. “You get (frustrated) but you understand.” When asked if he thought he would return to Houston in 2015, Posey was unsure. “I have no idea,” he said. “I have no idea. It’s out of my control.”
Practice Squad Updates: Friday
We’ll keep track of Friday’s practice squad signings and cuts right here, with the most recent moves added to the top. Here’s the latest:
- The Patriots have filled the two openings on their practice squad, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed linebacker Ja’Gared Davis and wide receiver Jonathan Krause.
Earlier updates:
- The Cardinals have signed return specialist Solomon Patton, according to agent Hadley Engelhard (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times on Twitter). The former Florida Gator signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, but he was waived by the team earlier this week.
Cap Notes: Rice, Kerley, Trades
With the trade deadline approaching, it’s worth keeping an eye on which teams have cap room to spare and which clubs don’t have much flexibility to make moves. Before we get into that though, we have a couple notes on how a pair of players will affect their respective teams’ (or former teams’) caps. Let’s dive in….
- Because Ray Rice filed a grievance against the Ravens in an attempt to recoup his 2014 base salary, he’ll count against the cap for 40% of that disputed amount, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. Because Rice had been in line for a $3,529,412 salary, the cap charge for Baltimore works out to $1,411,765.
- Adam Caplan of ESPN.com adds another note on Jeremy Kerley‘s contract details, tweeting that the Jets wideout has $3.841MM in fully guaranteed money at the time of his signing, with an additional $2MM becoming guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2015 league year.
- As Albert Breer of the NFL Network considers whether there will be any deals of note before Tuesday’s trade deadline, he points out that 15 teams have less than $5MM in cap space, which could make it tricky to complete any sort of significant move.
- Breer goes on to add that there are six teams with more than $10MM in cap room: The Jaguars ($22.84MM), Browns ($19.06MM), Eagles ($16.31MM), Jets ($12.82MM), Titans ($11.86MM), and Patriots ($10.54MM).
AFC East Notes: Ayers, Brady, Jets, Pryor
Akeem Ayers finds himself in a much different situation with the Patriots than he with his previous team, the Titans. The former second-round pick apparently fell out of favor with Ken Whisenhunt and his coaching staff, but the 25-year-old is happy for a chance to contribute in New England. Via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald…
“I’m pretty much just happy to be here. Obviously, I wasn’t playing there, and I just happened to get in a good situation here,” Ayers said. “As I’m learning the playbook, I’m trying to simplify things as much as I can and the coaches are helping me out with that. We’re trying to keep things simple and try to learn to the best I can to play as fast as I can when I’m on the field.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…
- ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss believes Tom Brady will finish his career with the Patriots. However, based on the team’s previous handling of franchise players, Reiss warns that it isn’t a guarantee.
- While Bill Belichick has received some criticism for releasing veteran Tommy Kelly, Reiss points out that the veteran didn’t put forth much effort in the team’s preseason opener. The writer opines that Kelly wanted out and forced Belichick’s hand.
- Following an eight-win season in 2013, the Jets should have done a better job of addressing some of their weaknesses in free agency, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Entering the season with the league’s second-highest salary-cap surplus is an “embarrassing truth,” the writer opines.
- Among the Jets disappointments this season has been first-rounder Calvin Pryor. Coach Rex Ryan attributed the rookie’s struggles to a missed interception earlier in the season. “Probably started with the first game when he dropped that pick-six. But, he hasn’t had the impact necessarily that I think all of us had expected, but quite honestly, our defense has been played a little differently than maybe we had anticipated,” Ryan said (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “So, I think we’ve had to make some of those adjustments along the way. It hasn’t gone according to plan so to speak.”
Deal Between Pats, Branch On Hold
FRIDAY, 9:25am: The deal between the two sides still hasn’t been finalized. ESPNBoston.com’s Lee Schechter writes that the defensive lineman was spotted in the locker room, but Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald clarifies (on Twitter) that Branch still hasn’t signed.
Meanwhile, ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss suggests that the Patriots could wait a week to sign Branch. As the writer notes, if the team ultimately decides that Branch can’t help them this weekend, it’s make little sense to rush the process.
TUESDAY, 7:42pm: The Patriots are expected to sign free agent defensive lineman Alan Branch to help fill the void left by Chandler Jones‘ injury, tweets Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe. Branch was released by the Bills after he was arrested for a DUI in August.
Branch, 29, was signed to a three-year, $9.1MM extension in December of last year, which included a $3.1MM signing bonus. The former Cardinals second-round pick was set to earn $1.85MM in base salary in 2014, $875K of which was guaranteed for injury only, but Buffalo decided to part ways with him after his incident. Branch started 13 games for the Bills last season, and has started 47 during his career, racking up 112 tackles and eight sacks in total.
New England also acquired defensive end Akeem Ayers from the Titans earlier today.
AFC East Links: Wilkerson, Dolphins, Pats
As we look forward to a showdown of the AFC West’s leaders tonight, let’s shift our focus to the other side of the conference and round up a few items from out of the AFC East….
- While the Jets recently locked up wide receiver Jeremy Kerley through 2018, defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson is the more notable extension candidate on the roster. However, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report suggests that because the Jets can keep Wilkerson under control at a relatively affordable price through 2016 due to his fifth-year option and the franchise tag, the team may not be willing to offer significant guaranteed money at this point.
- The Dolphins could use a power running back, some help at linebacker, and a gunner on special teams, but it’s unclear if they’ll be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, if they’re even active at all, writes Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. If the Dolphins do decide to make a move, defensive lineman Jared Odrick looks like their most plausible trade chip, in Kelly’s view.
- Rookie running back David Fluellen and former Tampa Bay defensive end Scott Solomon had workouts with the Patriots this week, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio is one of five NFL executives identified by Greg Gabriel of the National Football Post as potential general manager candidates this offseason.
Update On Traded 2015 Draft Picks
The trade that sent Percy Harvin from Seattle to the Jets this past week was the latest example of a swap in which the draft pick involved in the deal is tied to a condition which will affect the value of that pick. In the case of the Harvin deal, the pick Seattle acquired reportedly can become a fourth-rounder if the wideout remains on the Jets’ roster beyond this season, but if New York moves on from Harvin in the offseason, the 2015 pick will be a sixth-rounder.
Considering we haven’t even seen Harvin suit up for the Jets yet, we’re nowhere close to knowing whether he’ll remain in the team’s plans for 2015, so that conditional pick remains very much up in the air. However, there are a number of other conditional picks whose outlook is much clearer. Here’s an update on several of the picks that could change hands in 2015:
Conditions met, or likely to be met:
- Dolphins acquired 49ers‘ seventh-round pick for Jonathan Martin: Martin had to make San Francisco’s opening day 53-man roster for this pick to change hands, which he did.
- Giants acquired Broncos‘ seventh-round pick for Brandon McManus. The deal required McManus to remain the Broncos’ kicker even after Matt Prater‘s four-game suspension ended for the Giants to acquire the pick, which he did.
- Ravens acquiring Cowboys‘ sixth-round pick for Rolando McClain: McClain needs to play in 50% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps for Baltimore to land this pick, and so far, he has played in about 81%, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Assuming he meets the criteria, the Ravens would sent their seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for the Cowboys’ sixth-rounder.
- Titans acquiring Cowboys‘ seventh-round pick for Lavar Edwards: Edwards must spend at least 10 games on the Cowboys’ roster for Tennessee to grab this pick, and so far he has been on the team for all but one contest. He’ll need four more games on the 53-man roster for the Titans to get the pick.
Conditions not met, or unlikely to be met:
- Packers won’t acquire Patriots‘ seventh-round pick for Jerel Worthy: Worthy had to make the Pats’ opening day 53-man roster for Green Bay to get this pick, but he was waived during preseason cutdowns.
- Panthers likely won’t acquire Eagles‘ seventh-round pick for Kenjon Barner: Barner must spend at least four games on Philadelphia’s 46-man game day roster for this pick to change hands. Considering Barner hasn’t even been on the team’s roster since the season began, this appears unlikely.
- Jaguars likely won’t acquire pick from 49ers for Blaine Gabbert: The Jags would’ve landed a pick if Gabbert started eight or more games in 2014. Unless Colin Kaepernick goes down with a serious injury in the team’s next game, this won’t happen.
For details on all of 2015’s traded draft picks, be sure to check out our complete list.
Patriots Acquire Akeem Ayers From Titans
WEDNESDAY, 8:08am: The Pats have officially announced the acquisition of Ayers, meaning he passed his physical. To make room on the roster, New England has waived linebacker Ja’Gared Davis (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 3:43pm: La Canfora clarifies (via Twitter) that the Pats sent a sixth-round pick to Tennessee in the deal, and receive a seventh-round pick along with Ayers.
3:32pm: The Titans and Patriots have reached an agreement on a trade that will send linebacker Akeem Ayers to New England, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). According to Wyatt, Ayers will have to pass a physical before the deal becomes official. Meanwhile, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (via Twitter) that only seventh-round picks are involved in the trade, so it sounds as if the price tag is minimal for the Pats.
Ayers, a former 39th overall pick, started 43 games for the Titans in his first three seasons with the club, but has seen his playing time significantly reduced this season under head coach Ken Whisenhunt and a new staff. Earlier this month, Ayers expressed some frustration with his new spot on the bench, as Wyatt detailed at the time.
“Just because I am not walking around here ticked off and tearing everything up doesn’t mean I am comfortable with my situation,” Ayers said. “I am not comfortable with not playing. I want to play. I am a competitor, and I want to compete. So just because I am not carrying myself a certain way doesn’t mean I don’t care. But there is a way to handle everything, and I’m trying to handle things the right way.”
While Ayers didn’t air his frustrations or ask for a trade publicly, it makes sense that both he and the team would have welcomed a deal. It’s not clear immediately how he’ll fit in with the Pats, but the team’s linebacking corps got a little thinner after Jerod Mayo suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6 against the Bills, so Ayers should provide some reliable veteran depth at the very least.
Assuming Ayers passes his physical, the Patriots will also need to make a corresponding move to clear room on their roster before the trade can be finalized.
AFC East Notes: Jones, Kerley, Bills
Maybe this is why the Patriots traded for Akeem Ayers. Chandler Jones missed practice today due to a hip injury and a league source says it’s expected that he’ll be sidelined for about a month, according to Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). Chandler is now the third member of the Jones family to be sidelined with a leg injury in 2014. Arthur Jones has been out of action with an ankle injury while brother Jon Jones, the UFC’s light heavyweight champion, had to postpone his August title defense against Daniel Cormier. On a positive note, Arthur could return on Sunday against the Steelers while Jon will return to the Octagon on January 3rd. More from the AFC East..
- The timing of the Jets‘ extension for Jeremy Kerley is curious given his recent slump and the arrival of Percy Harvin, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Still, it’s a good business move by the Jets, who are only on the hook for ~$5.4MM in guarantees. Cimini wouldn’t be surprised to see GM John Idzik extend other potential free agents like running back Bilal Powell and linebacker David Harris. The Jets would also like to lock up defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, currently signed through 2015, for the long term.
- Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com looked at what Ayers can bring to the Patriots.
- The Bills, who are without the services of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, made a play for Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs, leading to Denver promoting him to the active roster today, tweets Mike Klis of The Denver Post.
AFC East Notes: Patriots, Bills, Jets
The NFL’ s October 28 trade deadline isn’t nearly as monumental as MLB’s, as trades in the NFL simply aren’t common. Having said that, the Patriots have never been afraid to be active in the trade market. Over the years, they’ve shipped out veteran players like Richard Seymour and Logan Mankins, and acquired playmakers such as Randy Moss and Wes Welker. With the deadline less than two weeks away, will New England seek to add talent via trade?
The Pats made a deadline deal last season, acquiring defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga from the Eagles (along with a sixth-round pick) in exchange for a fifth-rounder. Tom Curran of CSNNE.com sees Bill Belichick & Co. being aggressive again this year, and believes the team could target linebacker and/or defensive end help. With the major injury to Jerod Mayo, and a minor back ailment nagging Rob Ninkovich, a move to bolster depth along the front seven would certainly make sense. It’s just my speculation, but the Pats might be moved to look for a running back, as well, in the wake of Stevan Ridley‘s season-ending injury. Here’s more from New England and the rest of the AFC East.
- Some league insiders don’t believe Percy Harvin has the temperament to play in the NFL, said Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on NBC’s pregame coverage. Sources tell Florio it was a surprise the Jets gave Harvin what amounts to a third chance to correct his attitude, after failed stops in Minnesota and Seattle. Despite his playmaking ability, Harvin probably won’t be offered a fourth chance at success if he flames out in New York, per the PFT scribe.
- Patriots cornerback Brandon Browner was suspended for the first four games of the season, meaning the ex-Seahawk couldn’t practice with his new team during that span. As Belichick told reporters, including Phil Perry of CSNNE.com, it might take a few contests before Browner feels completely comfortable. “He wasn’t able to participate on the field with the team for those four weeks but he was able to work out and be in meetings and keep up with the adjustments and game plan things that we put in from week-to-week,” said Belichick. “Now he’s had an opportunity to get back on the field and refine those skills — at game speed or practice/game speed that are important.”
- Injuries to both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller open the door for opportunities for Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown, writes Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. The Bills gave up a conditional fourth-rounder for Brown during the offseason, so it’s a bit of surprise he hasn’t been utilized thus far.
- The Jets didn’t play today, but Rich Cimini of ESPN.com passes along some thoughts on New York’s acquisition of Harvin, Geno Smith‘s development, and Quinton Coples‘ decreasing playing time.