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South Notes: Weatherspoon, Colts, Saints

March 6th, 2015 at 9:07am CST by Luke Adams

As the 2015 free agent period inches a little closer, let’s check in on a few Friday mornings items from around the league’s two South divisions….

  • ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure tweets that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons reached an agreement on a new contract with linebacker Sean Weatherspoon very soon. Weatherspoon, who missed the entire 2014 campaign with a ruptured Achilles, is due to hit the open market next week.
  • Former Eagles offensive lineman Todd Herremans is paying a visit to the Colts today, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com (via Twitter). Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets that there are other teams interested in bringing in Herremans for visits, but Indianapolis is first on his schedule.
  • The Saints don’t plan to extend an RFA tender to defensive lineman Tyrunn Walker, a league source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. One of three potential restricted free agents for the club, Walker is still drawing interest from New Orleans, but the team would prefer to bring him back at a lesser rate. According to Triplett, running back Travaris Cadet and offensive tackle Bryce Harris may ultimately be in the same boat, with the cap-strapped Saints potentially unwilling to make an offer of $1.5MM+ to either player.
  • Greg Olsen‘s new deal with the Panthers is an extension that adds three new years from 2016 to 2018, but it will still have an impact on his 2015 cap hit. According to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), Carolina created $1.5MM in cap room with the move, reducing Olsen’s cap number from $7.8MM to $6.3MM.

Saints Restructure Jairus Byrd’s Contract

March 5th, 2015 at 8:36am CST by Luke Adams

After releasing running back Pierre Thomas yesterday, the Saints continue to inch toward getting under the 2015 salary cap, restructuring the contract for safety Jairus Byrd. Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the club has converted Byrd’s $6MM roster bonus into a signing bonus, creating $4.8MM in cap savings for ’15.

Before the restructure, Byrd had been set to count for $10.3MM on New Orleans’ books for 2015 — that figure included his $6MM roster bonus, his $2MM base salary, $2.2MM in prorated signing bonus money, and a $100K workout bonus. By converting the roster bonus into a new signing bonus, the Saints can spread the cap hit over the next five years, making it count for just $1.2MM per year. So Byrd’s deal now includes that $2MM base salary and $100K workout bonus for 2015, along with $3.4MM in total prorated bonus money, for a total cap number of $5.5MM.

Although restructuring Byrd’s contract is a start, the Saints still have a ways to go before they’re under the cap, and will have until Tuesday to make all their moves. Contracts for players like Junior Galette, Jahri Evans, Marques Colston, Ben Grubbs, and Curtis Lofton are among the others that figure to be addressed in some form or other.

On the second year of his six-year, $54MM deal with the Saints, Byrd will be looking to have a greater impact than he did in his first season with the team — the former Bill appeared in just four games for New Orleans in 2014 before being placed on injured reserve with a torn meniscus.

NFC Notes: Ryans, Mariota, Rolle

March 4th, 2015 at 10:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Cardinals GM Steve Keim is determined not to let emotions dictate his free agent decisions, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. “The problem is you can’t get too emotionally attached to players,” Keim said. “When the time comes to make another decision, you make a poor business decision and try to overpay for players that might not deserve it.” Here’s more from the NFC..

  • DeMeco Ryans is coming off of Achilles surgery, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter) expects him to stay on with the Eagles. However, Rapoport could see the two sides re-working Ryans’ $7MM salary before the start of the season.
  • There’s a limit to how many picks the Eagles (or any team) can trade, but the rules change once the 2015 draft opens, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. According the the league office, trades conducted before the draft begins can include draft picks in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Once the draft starts, trades can include picks from 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. If the Eagles want to make a deal for Marcus Mariota, they’ll have much more flexibility once the Bucs are officially on the clock at No. 1.
  • Pending free agents safety Antrel Rolle took to Twitter to let everyone know that he hasn’t had discussions with any teams yet, including the Giants.
  • D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution looked at players that the Falcons might be interested in adding in free agency, including Chiefs free safety Ron Parker, Titans defensive end Derrick Morgan, and outside linebacker Jason Worilds.
  • Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News looked at what the Cowboys defense has to seek out this offseason.
  • Cutting Pierre Thomas only makes sense if the Saints really plan to spend on a running back, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes.

Saints Cut Pierre Thomas

March 4th, 2015 at 5:30pm CST by Luke Adams

5:30pm: Agent Lamont Smith (on Twitter) says that Thomas has been officially let go.

3:17pm: The Saints have begun working their way toward getting under the salary cap for 2015, informing veteran running back Pierre Thomas that he will be released, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). When the move becomes official, Thomas won’t have to clear waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

When the Saints parted ways with Darren Sproles last March, the team re-committed to Thomas, signing him to a two-year, $4MM extension that spanned the 2015 and 2016 seasons. However, Thomas won’t play any of that new deal, which allowed the team to reduce his 2014 cap number. By cutting him now, the Saints will create $1.735MM in cap savings for 2015, carrying $800K in dead money on their books.

Thomas, 30, saw his 2014 campaign derailed by injuries and by an increasing workload for Mark Ingram, who received many of the carries that would have gone to Thomas in past years. Before he finished the season on injured reserve, Thomas ran for 222 yards on 45 attempts, both career-low totals. He did remain fairly involved in the passing game, however, grabbing 45 balls out of the backfield.

Plenty more moves will be coming for the Saints, who entered the day about $22MM above the 2015 cap, according to Over the Cap’s data. As for Thomas, he should be a fairly inexpensive signing this month for a team looking to add depth at the running back position.

49ers Sign Jarryd Hayne

March 4th, 2015 at 4:13pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY, 4:13pm: Hayne’s signing has been made official, and the NFL’s transaction wire lists him as a kick returner, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

MONDAY, 10:01pm: Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne announced on Monday night that he will sign with the 49ers, as Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post writes. Hayne received a $100K guarantee from San Francisco, an impressive sum considering that he’s never played American football before in his life.

“I’m going to be a San Francisco 49er,” Hayne said before putting on a 49ers hat.

49ers coach Jim Tomsula has a background in NFL Europe developing Europeans into NFL players, which helped push Hayne towards choosing SF. Agent Jack Bechta noted that his client also visited with the Seahawks and Lions and indicated that they also had a lot to offer in terms of their plan for developing him. Hayne’s game plan will be to contribute as a return specialist while also trying to make it as a running back. Despite his star status down under, Hayne is prepared to fight for a job and start out on special teams.

The Saints, Vikings, Broncos, Titans, Buccaneers, and Jets also showed interest in the 6-foot-2, 226 pounder.

Saints Shopping Curtis Lofton

March 4th, 2015 at 2:49pm CST by Luke Adams

The team with the most 2015 salary on its books is exploring ways to clear some of that salary and get under the cap before next Tuesday’s deadline, which means a veteran leader may be on the trade block. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Saints are shopping linebacker Curtis Lofton as a potential trade chip.

Lofton, 28, has been one of the most dependable and durable pieces on the Saints’ defense in recent years, starting all 48 regular season contests for the team since arriving in New Orleans in 2012. In 2014, he racked up 145 tackles to go along with a forced fumble. However, while his stats looked solid on the surface, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as a bottom-five inside linebacker, out of 60 qualified players.

Even for a potential suitor that wants to add Lofton as an anchor in the middle of its linebacking corps, his contract will complicate a trade. The former second-round pick is due a $4.5MM roster bonus on March 12, which is part of a $9.25MM cap number for 2015. The deal also runs through the 2017 season, though the following years are a little more affordable, with cap hits between $7-8MM.

If the Saints don’t find a trade they like for Lofton, it’s possible he’ll be back in New Orleans on a restructured contract, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com predicted last week. Converting his upcoming roster bonus to a signing bonus would give the club a little relief for the 2015 league year.

North Notes: Webb, Peterson, Langford

March 3rd, 2015 at 9:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The question was never whether the Ravens would approach Lardarius Webb about a pay reduction, it was whether he would take one, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. Hensley runs through the different compromises the two sides could reach and ultimately concludes that the Ravens’ best outcome will be for the two sides to find some middle ground. Even if Webb agrees to a pay cut, however, his contract will be an issue next offseason. Baltimore can gain $6MM of cap room by releasing the cornerback in 2016. More from the North divisions..

  • Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is scheduled to fly to Houston on Wednesday to meet with Adrian Peterson to discuss the embattled superstar’s future with the team, two people with knowledge of the plan told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Vikings GM Rick Spielman is also expected to make the trip to participate in what would be the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides in months.
  • Kendall Langford‘s visit with the Lions went well but he’ll continue visiting other teams, according to Nick Wagoner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter). The former Rams defensive lineman will visit the Jets next, followed by the Saints. Langford, who turned 29 last month, inked a four-year, $22MM deal with the Rams in 2012 but was cut late last month.
  • Vikings linemen Tom Johnson and Joe Berger both played for the minimum salary last season and both are seeking raises this offseason, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Johnson’s agent says that the Vikings are his client’s first choice, but he’ll be seeking a three- or four-year deal in “the right situation and right system.” Johnson, 30, finished second on the team last season with 6.5 sacks.

NFC South Notes: Ingram, Hardy, Winston

March 3rd, 2015 at 8:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Saints coach Sean Payton is making no secret of the fact that he wants to retain running back Mark Ingram, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate writes. “I spoke with him [on Monday],” Payton told Jennifer Hale of FOX Sports during Monday night’s broadcast of the Pelicans-Mavs game. “The good thing about Mark is that we’re real close with his agent. We work a lot with Joel [Segal]. Mickey will talk with him quite a bit. Obviously he’s someone that we want to keep. Hopefully we can do that.” Here’s more from the NFC South..

  • With his unrestricted free agency looming, Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy is scheduled to meet with NFL officials on Wednesday to discuss his domestic violence case, a league source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Although formal charges against Hardy were dropped, the NFL has been conducting its own investigation into the alleged incident, and may still issue a suspension.
  • League officials have requested that Hardy give them all relevant information from his domestic violence case, including photos showing the crime scene and the injuries to his former girlfriend, as Christine Brennan of USA Today writes.
  • Florida State star Jameis Winston is in Tampa today to visit with the Buccaneers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The visit will be “Glazer-centric” and involve a lot of conversation between the quarterback and the team’s owners. The meeting might be unprecedented as potential No. 1 picks never visit with the team holding the top pick this early, Schefter adds (link). Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter) adds that it is a one day visit for Winston and not a three-day trip as previously reported.
  • Tight end Niles Paul will be on the Falcons‘ radar, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com writes. Paul has played in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s scheme and would represent a solid addition at tight end without breaking the bank like Julius Thomas would. Former teammate Rex Grossman offered nothing but praise for Paul, who turns 26 in August. “He’s as tough as s—,” Grossman said of Paul. “He’s like the one guy in the locker room you do not want to pick a fight with. He’s just a tough wide receiver/tight end who shows up on special teams all the time.”

NFC South Notes: Orakpo, Falcons, Peters

March 2nd, 2015 at 10:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look at the NFC South..

  • Washington would like to hang on to Brian Orakpo, but they’ll have competition. There are at least four teams interested in the pass rusher, according to a source who spoke with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, and the Falcons are one of them. At present, Washington and the Falcons are regarded as the front runners.
  • It is unclear exactly where the Falcons and defensive lineman Corey Peters stand at this point, but there have been ongoing discussions between both parties, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. McClure expects agent Greg Linton to argue that Peters was more valuable than Tyson Jackson, who was brought in at $5MM per year to stuff the run but fell far below expectations. The Falcons, meanwhile, would probably want Peters at half the price.
  • Mike Triplett of ESPN.com looked at Saints restricted free agent offensive tackle Bryce Harris. The 26-year-old didn’t excel at the left tackle position, but he has played well in the past as a backup right tackle and an extra blocker in jumbo run packages. That role probably wouldn’t be worth the $1.5MM RFA tender, so they’ll probably seek to bring him back on a cheaper deal if they want to retain him.

Extra Points: Bush, Peterson, Skrine

February 26th, 2015 at 9:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Reggie Bush is available, but he’s not the answer to the Saints‘ problems, Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune writes. Bush was the very first draft pick Sean Payton’s nine-year tenure in New Orleans, but they’re probably prioritizing a new deal for the 25-year-old Mark Ingram instead.

The Saints remain saddled with the NFL’s worst cap situation at more than $21MM over, which makes adding a running back entering his age-30 season probably a non-starter.

In other news around the league …

  • Money is the overlooked factor in the drama between Adrian Peterson and the Vikings, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Peterson might be unhappy with perceived slights from the organization, but the reality is that he could earn $12.75MM with the Vikings in 2015 and it’s not clear if another team would pay him that much, especially after giving up whatever is necessary in compensation to the Vikings in a trade.
  • Wide receiver Kevin Dorsey, who was cut by the Packers last week along with tight end Brandon Bostick, has three more visits with teams scheduled for next week after meeting with the Patriots, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
  • Browns cornerback Buster Skrine is attracting plenty of interest from other teams, sources told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Serving as the No. 2 corner to Joe Haden on last season’s No. 8-ranked pass defense that didn’t get much out of No. 8 overall pick Justin Gilbert, the soon-to-be 26-year-old Skrine could command as much as $7MM per year, per Cabot, on the free agent market headlined by Brandon Flowers, Kareem Jackson and Byron Maxwell.
  • The Bucs hired Paul Spicer as assistant defensive line coach, per the Baltimore Sun’s Wilson on Twitter. A former Jaguars defensive end, Spicer previously served as the Jaguars assistant DL coach and played under current Tampa Bay defensive line coach Joe Cullen for the Jags.

Luke Adams and Sam Robinson contributed to this report

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