AFC Notes: MJD, Harvin, Sanchez, Texans
The Jaguars are allowing Maurice Jones-Drew to hit the open market this offseason and the tailback says he has no problem with that, writes Ryan O’Hallaran of the Florida Times-Union.
“I’m fine with it,” Jones-Drew said. “I kind of figured that because we didn’t talk throughout the year. That’s part of the business. There’s no hard feelings. I gave everything I could to the organization. I appreciate them giving me that opportunity. Wherever I go next year, they’ll have a person ready to play at a high level.”
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Before Percy Harvin was sent to the Seahawks by the Vikings a year ago, there was some talk of a possible trade to the Patriots, the receiver confirmed to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “It flew around for a little bit, but I never really dug into it to see how much interest there was,” Harvin said. “I was working out and waiting for my agent to do all that work.”
- Should the Jets roll on with Mark Sanchez under center or find themselves a new quarterback? Many ex-Jets were asked that question along radio row this week and the consensus seems to be that they should look elsewhere, writes ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini. Former Jets linebacker Bart Scott thinks the Jets should go make a run at Matt Schaub, who could be cut loose by the Texans.
- Speaking of Schaub, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle continues to report that the Texans intend to take a quarterback with the first overall pick in this year’s draft (Twitter link).
- One of John Elway‘s best moves may have come years after he retired when he traded Tim Tebow and made way for Peyton Manning, writes Nancy Armour of USA Today. It’s safe to say things worked out pretty well for the Broncos as Manning will lead them in Sunday’s Super Bowl while Tebow is out of professional football.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
East Notes: Incognito, Edelman, Rolle
Neither Jonathan Martin nor Richie Incognito figures to play for the Dolphins in 2014, but Martin said earlier this week that he wants to continue his playing career, and Incognito conveyed the same sentiment today, tweeting, “I need a job.” Unlike Martin, whose agent will likely work with the Dolphins to find a trade partner, Incognito is a free agent this offseason, so he’ll be able to sign with any team willing to bet that his role in last year’s bullying scandal won’t be a locker-room distraction.
Let’s check in on a few more items from out of the AFC and NFC East…
- Asked by Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald if he wants to re-sign with the Patriots, Julian Edelman didn’t exactly vow to return at all costs, but his response (“Who doesn’t? It’s a great franchise”) did suggest a desire to remain in New England.
- With one year left on his contract with the Giants, Antrel Rolle doesn’t plan on going anywhere and would be open to discussing an extension, says Zach Braziller of the New York Post.
- Because of the schemes run by Chip Kelly, the Eagles may find it easier to recruit free agents on offense, writes Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com, who adds that Philadelphia could be a tougher sell for free agent defensive linemen.
AFC Notes: Welker, Bailey, Pats, Jaguars
Already this week, Peyton Manning and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie have addressed the possibility of retiring after the Super Bowl if the Broncos win. Wide receiver Wes Welker was the latest to be asked about that scenario, but the former Patriot quickly shot down the idea.
“Of course it would be a good way to end it, but I am still having fun,” Welker said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “I am still enjoying the game. I feel good, and as long as I am out there having fun, I will continue to play.”
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Champ Bailey told reporters today, including Lindsay Jones of USA Today (Twitter link), that cornerbacks his age either “retire, stink it up or move to safety.” Bailey is hoping he doesn’t end up doing any of those things in 2014.
- While the Patriots could have a couple candidates for the franchise tag this offseason in Julian Edelman and Aqib Talib, the team would have to make significant moves to accommodate an eight-figure, one-year salary for either player, says Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com.
- Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell spoke to Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union about what he took away from scouting last week’s Senior Bowl. According to Caldwell, defensive back and offensive line were areas of strength at the event.
- The Jaguars figure to target pass-rushers in the draft, and Virginia’s Brett Urban could be an option, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.
- With center Alex Mack and safety T.J. Ward facing free agency this offseason, the Browns will have to hope they don’t follow Mike Adams’ lead, writes Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. As McManamon notes, Adams won 28 games in five years with the Browns, then signed as a free agent in Denver, where he’s won that many games in just two seasons.
- Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald examines the free agent decisions facing new Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey in his first couple months on the job.
Patriots Notes: Wendell, Talib, Daly
The Patriots have already started their offseason process of improving their roster, and Zuri Berry of Boston.com ranked the team’s top 12 players set for free agency. The list is of course highlighted at the top with Aqib Talib and LeGarrette Blount. However, he has center Ryan Wendell as the Patriots’ third priority, ahead of bigger names such as Brandon Spikes and Julian Edelman. Wendell was far from an All-Pro center this past year, but Berry notes that the success the offensive line had as a group only raises the importance of bringing back their center at what is likely only to be a small raise. Other notes from the Patriots’ offseason:
- The list of Patriots’ free agents also includes both Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan, the tight ends who were pushed into starting roles due to the losses of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, noting that neither’s presence on the roster is guaranteed next year. The surprise thought from Berry is that the team could opt to pass on Edelman in favor of the much cheaper Austin Collie, who despite difficulty staying on the field, made a few big plays this season.
- Count Devin McCourty as someone who wants Talib back in New England, writes Jeff Howe of BostonHerald.com. “He’s been a key part,” McCourty said.“I hope he is back. That doesn’t just go for him. I hope a lot of our guys stay where we’re at, especially in the secondary. We have a good core, and I hope we can stay together as long as possible.”
- Brendan Daly was hired as a Patriots’ defensive assistant, according to Patriots.com. Daly has been a defensive line coachin the NFL since 2005, most recently for last year’s Vikings under Leslie Frazier.
AFC East Rumors: Pats, Fitzgerald, Dolphins
While Larry Fitzgerald has long been considered a logical trade target for the Patriots, there haven’t been many substantial reports over the years linking the Pats to the Cardinals receiver. However, Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com hears from a “very well-placed” source that New England had legitimate interest in acquiring Fitzgerald last offseason, sending out feelers to gauge the feasibility of such a move. As Curran writes, things likely didn’t progress too far, and it’s not clear if the Pats would still have interest in Fitzgerald, who is due a significant pay bump for 2014.
Here’s more from out of the AFC East:
- In his latest mailbag at ESPNBoston.com, Mike Reiss predicts that free agent receiver Julian Edelman will draw offers in the neighborhood of the deal Danny Amendola signed last year (five years, $28.5MM), with the Texans and Browns among the teams that could make it hard for the Patriots to re-sign Edelman.
- The Dolphins introduced new general manager Dennis Hickey at a press conference this afternoon, with Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald among the reporters passing along highlights. Some notable items from the presser: Owner Stephen Ross stressed that Hickey will have full control of the 53-man roster and that Hickey doesn’t “have to listen” if Ross tells him to draft, pursue, or play a specific player. Hickey added that the structure of the front office is “completely clear” to him and that he’s already spoken to the team’s medical and personnel staff about the team’s free agents (all four Twitter links).
- The Bills announced today that they’ve granted the Browns permission to interview defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. If Weaver is eventually hired by the Browns, he’d be the latest in an increasingly lengthy line of Bills coaches following Mike Pettine to Cleveland.
AFC Notes: Chris Johnson, Dolphins, Bills
Let’s round up a few Monday updates from around the AFC….
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (via Twitter) that Titans running back Chris Johnson will undergo a surgical procedure to repair a torn meniscus. Johnson remains under contract for now, but is a strong candidate to be released and hit the open market this offseason, so his health could be a significant factor in the next deal he signs.
- Despite Joe Philbin‘s 15-17 record to date, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross believes Philbin is the long-term answer as head coach, according to James Walker of ESPN.com, who notes that the organization’s confidence in Philbin was on full display during Miami’s GM search (Twitter links).
- While the Ravens ultimately passed on Kyle Shanahan and hired Gary Kubiak as their offensive coordinator, it sounds as if Shanahan made a favorable impression in Baltimore, tweets Albert Breer of NFL Network.
- Multiple former Bills coaches are already headed to Cleveland to join the Browns‘ staff, and Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone confirmed today to reporters, including Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter links), that Jeff Hafley and Brian Fleury will also be joining the Browns as defensive coaches.
- Although adding more receiving weapons for Tom Brady should be a priority for the Patriots, the development of the team’s young receivers is equally important, writes Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.
Patriots Notes: Amendola, Edelman, McCourty
The Patriots may cut Danny Amendola this offseason, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The Patriots are facing a difficult cap situation, with $127MM already committed to the team’s top 51 players, not to mention the dead money created by players that have already been cut. In order to alleviate some of their financial constraints, the Pats may elect to designate Amendola as a post-June 1 cut. If the team were to cut Amendola before June 1, the team would immediately take a $4.8MM cap hit. However, if they made Amendola a post-June 1 cut, they would take a $1.2MM hit in 2014, and a $3.6MM hit in 2015.
New England could then use some of the money they save on Amendola to pay free agent Julian Edelman, who emerged as quarterback Tom Brady‘s favorite target after the departure of Wes Welker and in the absence of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Amendola has had difficulty staying healthy throughout the course of his career, but he was able to parlay his flashes of excellence with the Rams into a five-year, $28.5MM free agent contract with the Patriots last March. Despite his continued injury problems in his first season with New England, he would generate significant interest if the Pats were to cut him. Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times tweets that the Ravens would likely take a good look at Amendola should he hit the open market again.
New England might also look to extend safety Devin McCourty to free up some more cap room. Christopher Price of WEEI.com notes that McCourty’s salary is due to take a significant hike for the 2014 season, from $920K to about $3.92MM. His cap hit would be an even larger $5.115MM. As such, Price writes that the Pats would do well do extend McCourty, whose strong ball skills and leadership in the secondary make him a valuable part of the team’s success. McCourty is entering the final year of his rookie contract and would be a free agent at season’s end.
Reiss On Browns, Quinn, Diehl, Pats
Front offices and coaching staffs continue to turn over throughout the NFL, including in New England, prompting ESPN’s Mike Reiss to give his take on several news items. Highlights:
- Turning down ostensibly prestigious, high-profile NFL jobs in fear of stigmatic repercussions is all the rage right now, but before the Dolphins’ convoluted GM search, the Browns were trendsetters. Before hiring head coach Mike Pettine, the team “circled back” on Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels only to be told, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ a second time.
- Browns CEO Joe Banner told reporters Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was reluctantly crossed off the list because the Browns did not want to wait until after the Super Bowl, as first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter).
- Reiss compared the recent retirement of Giants OL David Diehl to that of former Patriot OT Matt Light, implying Diehl’s loss could be more impactful than national perception indicates. Diehl was considered a heart-and-soul-type who brought leadership and dependability to the offensive line.
- Reiss spitballs that the retirement of longtime Patriots offensive line coach/assistant head coach Dante Scarnecchia could open the door for former Rutgers and Tampa Bay head man Greg Schiano to join the coaching staff. Bill Belichick’s relationship with Schiano is well-documented and the New England roster is filled with Rutgers products.
Dolphins Interviewing Nick Caserio For GM Job
SATURDAY, 8:41am: Caserio will continue interviewing with the team today, according to Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 12:38pm: The Dolphins officially announced (via Twitter) that they’ve completed their interview with Caserio.
11:56am: Unsatisfied with their list of general manager finalists, the Dolphins will interview Patriots director of pro personnel Nick Caserio today, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The news comes a day after one of the favorites for the job, Ray Farmer, withdrew his name from contention.
With Farmer out of the mix, Dolphins assistant GM Brian Gaine and Titans VP of player personnel Lake Dawson are believed to be among the finalists, with Bucs director of player personnel Dennis Hickey also potentially still in the running. The Dolphins were believed to be whittling down their list and approaching the final stage of the process, but by bringing in Caserio, it seems the team hasn’t finished adding to its list of candidates.
Multiple reports have suggested there’s some confusion or uncertainty among the Dolphins’ interviewees about how the power structure in the team’s front office would work, and Caserio has enjoyed plenty of success in his current role with the Pats, so it will be interesting to see if he’s open to leaving New England if the Dolphins decide he’s their man. Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post indicated yesterday that Miami is expected to make a hire next week.
Pats Notes: Blount, Wilfork, Mallett
The Patriots fell in the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row, in part because the offense was outgunned, as evidenced by the targeting of the likes of Austin Collie, Matt Slater and Matthew Mulligan. An NFC scout gave his take on the Pats’ anticipated plan of action when he spoke with Christopher Price of WEEI.com. The highlights:
- The scout credited the offense’s adaptability, but questioned its sustainability, citing a lack of high-caliber talent at the skill positions.
- The team would like LeGarrette Blount back, but will not overpay.
- When healthy, the offense has versatile, productive elements with the glaring exception of an outside speed threat to stretch the field vertically.
- The time is now to begin preparing for life without Vince Wilfork, who is 32 and ended the season on IR. Price posits the team could seek young, versatile interior players to facilitate hybrid flexibility.
- A “joker” type, pass-catching tight end could be sought in the draft.
- Backup QB Ryan Mallett is a wild card. Aside from his inexperience, it’s unknown to what extent the team trusts him, though he could hold trade value.