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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Saints’ Colston, Hawthorne Take Pay Cuts

March 11th, 2015 at 10:29am CST by Zachary Links

Saints veterans Marques Colston and David Hawthorne accepted pay cuts today in order to remain with the team. Colston’s base salary will drop from $6.9MM to $1.445MM in 2015 and from $7.7MM to $2.65MM in 2016, according to Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune (via Twitter). Hawthorne base salary was cut from $2MM to $1.19MM in 2015 and from $4MM to $1.75MM in 2016, according to Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune.

Colston’s new deal with the Saints will save the team $3.2MM this year, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, he’ll receive $3.8MM in salary and bonuses this year. Word of Colston restructuring his deal first came in last week. Colston caught just 59 balls for 902 yards in 2014, the lowest totals of his career if you throw out an injury-plagued 2008 campaign.

Hawthorne was widely viewed as a possible cap casualty, but today’s news means he’ll stay in the fold for 2015 and possibly beyond.

 

NFC FA Visits: Knighton, Browner, Bush

March 11th, 2015 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

The start of free agency at 3:00pm central time on Tuesday opened the door for players to officially sign contracts with new teams. It also opened the door for teams and players to begin scheduling formal visits, so free agents can get a better sense of what to expect from their potential suitors. Early on Wednesday morning, we have a few updates on notable free agents meetings with NFC clubs, so let’s round them up….

  • Terrance Knighton, who said yesterday that he has essentially ruled out a return to Denver or a reunion with Jack Del Rio in Oakland, will visit Washington today, he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Washington has already added Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean-Francois to its roster, so signing Knighton would really solidify the team’s interior defensive line.
  • We heard last night that the Saints have interest in cornerback Brandon Browner, and Browner will make his first visit to New Orleans, followed by one to Washington, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. According to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link), the Ravens, Browns, and Jaguars also have interest in the former Pats corner.
  • Reggie Bush, who has received interest from a number of teams since being cut by the Lions, is visiting the 49ers today, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Saints, Patriots, and Eagles were cited in a Tuesday report as also being possible options for the veteran running back.

NFC Notes: Bradford, Eagles, Seahawks, Saints

March 10th, 2015 at 10:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Before the Eagles finalized their acquisition of Sam Bradford, there were other teams in the mix for the former first overall pick, says Peter King of TheMMQB.com (via Twitter). Per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), the Browns may have been one of those teams. However, no other club was willing to give up as much as Chip Kelly and the Eagles, who had eyed Bradford for weeks and believe he has the goods to be a franchise quarterback, according to Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com.

As we recover from what’s been a surprising and hectic day of action around the NFL, let’s round up a few more leftover NFC items….

  • Former Dolphins guard Shelley Smith, who was just cut by the team earlier today, already has a visit lined up with the Seahawks for Wednesday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Seattle is in the market for some interior line help after trading Max Unger and losing James Carpenter in free agency.
  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis acknowledged that the team will “obviously” look to add another tight end after trading Jimmy Graham, and added that he never asked Drew Brees to restructure his contract this offseason because it “wasn’t necessary for us” (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • The 49ers aren’t in the running for their own free agent cornerback Perrish Cox, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
  • Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link) suggests keeping an eye on linebacker Akeem Ayers as a potential free agent target for the Rams, and Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link) agrees that the club has interest.

FA Rumors: Carter, Helu, Gresham, McCain

March 10th, 2015 at 6:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent linebacker Bruce Carter is drawing interest on the open market, and he’ll first visit the Buccaneers, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). If he doesn’t sign with Tampa, he’ll head to Houston to meet with the Texans, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Here’s more from the free agent front…

  • The Buccaneers will meet with center Stefen Wisniewski, per Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Tampa just signed center Evan Dietrich-Smith last offseason so Wisniewski could be viewed as a guard.
  • Cornerback Tramon Williams will visit with the Saints tonight, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. The veteran CB is wrighing a return to Green Bay and has also drawn other interest.
  • Running back Roy Helu probably won’t be returning to Washington, per John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link), but he does have other suitors, including the Patriots, Raiders, and Jets (link).
  • The Patriots are interested in another free agent running back, C.J. Spiller, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, but their interest isn’t considered serious.
  • As we’ve heard earlier, the Raiders want to sign tight end Jermaine Gresham, Caplan (via Twitter) would be surprised if a deal doesn’t get done.
  • The Vikings were hoping to meet with cornerback Brice McCain, but he’s meeting with a mystery team and taking a physical, reports Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).

Seahawks Acquire Jimmy Graham

March 10th, 2015 at 5:41pm CST by Zachary Links

5:41pm: The trade is now official, according to the Seahawks’ website.

2:47pm: The deal has been agreed to, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Graham and a fourth-round choice will go to Seattle in exchange for Unger and a first-round pick.

The Saints have spoken to Seattle and at least one other team about a potential Graham trade, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

2:45pm: The Saints and Seahawks are working to finalize a trade that would send Jimmy Graham and a fourth rounder to New Orleans for Max Unger and a first-round choice, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Just minutes prior to Glazer’s filing, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Saints were shopping many of their players, including Graham.

Graham’s 2015 salary became guaranteed on the third day of the waiver period, which fell on February 4th. Now, after counting for just $4MM against New Orleans’ cap in 2014, the tight end’s cap number has jumped to $11MM for the coming year. The Saints, of course, are tight against the cap this offseason and have been making some tough choices regarding their veteran players. Dealing Graham would be the most surprising move of all, however.

Less than a year ago, Graham ended an uncomfortable stalemate with the Saints by agreeing to a four-year, $40MM deal. The deal includes another $9MM in 2016 and $10MM in 2017, meaning the annual cap hits going forward are $11MM, $12MM, and $13MM, respectively.

Graham was been the league’s most consistent and productive tight end from 2011 through 2013, averaging 90 receptions, 1,169 yards, and 12 touchdowns per season during that span. Last season, he continued the trend with 85 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Unger, 29 in April, played in just six games in 2014 due to injuries. In that short span, Pro Football Focus (subscription required and recommended) ranked Unger as the fourth best center in the NFL, placing him behind only Nick Mangold of the Jets, Travis Frederick of the Cowboys, and Rodney Hudson of the Chiefs. With 25-year-old guard/center Tim Lelito waiting in the wings, the center position wasn’t necessarily at the forefront of the Saints’ shopping list. Still, the trade gives the Saints a bit of cap relief while also giving them one of the very best centers in the game today.

Pats Rumors: Revis, Harvin, Spiller

March 10th, 2015 at 4:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The very latest on the Pats..

  • The Bills are also expressing interest in Pats free agent cornerback Darrelle Revis, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Ryan and Revis have a previous relationship, of course, and by most accounts the star cornerback enjoyed playing for Ryan in New York.
  • The Patriots are a team to watch when it comes to Percy Harvin, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport hears there’s a good chance that New England will be where he lands.
  • The Pats are still searching for playmakers, Rapoport tweets. They’ve inquired about C.J. Spiller possibly filling the Shane Vereen role.
  • The Saints are an early entrant into the Brandon Browner chase, but they have company, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets.

Extra Points: Hartline, Murray, Browner, Bush

March 10th, 2015 at 3:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest from around the league…

  • Brian Hartline‘s decision ultimately came down to the Browns and the Patriots, the receiver tells Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal (Twitter link). Hartline ended up signing a two-year pact with Cleveland yesterday.
  • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says the club wants to re-sign DeMarco Murray, emphasizing that Dallas is still in negotiations with its free agent running back (Twitter links via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).
  • The Panthers don’t seem to be showing much interest in edge rusher Derrick Morgan, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • The Titans have interest in cornerback Brandon Browner, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Browner isn’t expected to take a pay cut to remain in New England. Browner is receiving a lot of interest around the league, but he could still return to the Patriots, per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
  • Jahri Evans is still a candidate for release in New Orleans, and if the Saints do cut him, expect the Bills to be in on the veteran guard, says Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
  • Most observers expected free agent receiver Michael Crabtree to depart San Francisco, but the 49ers do have interest in re-signing him, according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 (via Twitter).
  • Having been cut by the Lions earlier in the offseason, running back Reggie Bush is considering a return to the Saints, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, the Patriots and Eagles are among the other teams in play for Bush.

Keenan Lewis Wants Guarantee Or Release

March 10th, 2015 at 3:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

If the Saints aren’t willing to guarantee the remaining three years of his contract, cornerback Keenan Lewis wants the club to release him, tweets Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. Per Triplett (Twitter link), Lewis is unhappy with the “team being broken apart,” apparently referencing the trade of Jimmy Graham earlier today.

The 28-year-old Lewis has three years left on his deal, with base salaries totaling $10.8MM. He’s a good player, but I’m sure not the Saints would be willing to guarantee the remaining years. It would probably set a poor precedent to allow a player to demand that his contract be tweaked because he doesn’t approve of the moves of the club.

Lewis, signed over from the Steelers two years ago, has started 16 games in each of the past two seasons, posting six interceptions.

Saints Open To Trading Jimmy Graham

March 10th, 2015 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have called around and are open to shopping many of their players, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Surprisingly, that list includes star tight end Jimmy Graham.

Graham’s 2015 salary became guaranteed on the third day of the waiver period, which fell on February 4th. Now, after counting for just $4MM against New Orleans’ cap in 2014, the tight end’s cap number has jumped to $11MM for the coming year. The Saints, of course, are tight against the cap this offseason and have been making some tough choices regarding their veteran players. Dealing Graham would be the most surprising move of all, however.

Less than a year ago, Graham ended an uncomfortable stalemate with the Saints by agreeing to a four-year, $40MM deal. The deal includes another $9MM in 2016 and $10MM in 2017, meaning the annual cap hits going forward are $11MM, $12MM, and $13MM, respectively.

Graham was been the league’s most consistent and productive tight end from 2011 through 2013, averaging 90 receptions, 1,169 yards, and 12 touchdowns per season during that span. Last season, he continued the trend with 85 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

NFC FA Rumors: Irving, Cowboys, Falcons

March 10th, 2015 at 11:04am CST by Luke Adams

The Cardinals are expected to lock up former Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon to a new contract once free agency opens, but the team has interest in adding two free agent linebackers, not just one, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport reports that Nate Irving could be that second linebacker, as the former Bronco is likely to visit Arizona this week.

  • The Cowboys have some interest in free agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie, tweets Rapoport. Cromartie has been almost exclusively linked to the Jets, but there’s no agreement in place between the two sides yet.
  • Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets that he has been told “repeatedly” that the Falcons aren’t real players for Brian Orakpo. However, Jones adds that Atlanta does appear to have interest in another Washington free agent, wide receiver Leonard Hankerson.
  • Running back Antone Smith has yet to hear a whole lot about his free agent status, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, who says (via Twitter) that the Falcons would like to bring him back. Smith has also reportedly drawn some interest from the Giants.
  • In the wake of the Saints‘ release of Curtis Lofton, there’s mutual interest between the team and Ramon Humber in getting a deal done to help bolster the inside linebacker spot, tweets Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com.
  • No longer a free agent, Randall Cobb told reporters today, including Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link) that he had five other offers when he decided to return to the Packers, and got a sixth after he had made his decision.
  • After offering him a contract, the Vikings remain in contact with quarterback Shaun Hill, who has yet to make a decision, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
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