NFC Rumors: Giants, Saints, Vikings, Lions
A few Monday afternoon updates on NFC teams:
- The Giants have some level of interest in Brandon Pettigrew, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). With Jimmy Graham franchised and Dennis Pitta extended, Pettigrew may be the top unrestricted free agent tight end of the offseason.
- Assuming Charles Tillman doesn’t re-sign with the Bears, the Panthers look like a potential destination for the veteran defensive back, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- The Saints brought safety Louis Delmas in for a visit after he was released by the Lions, but New Orleans doesn’t appear likely to sign Delmas, a source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
- Adding a veteran safety doesn’t look like a top priority for the Vikings, but it could be worth keeping an eye on Ryan Clark as a possible fit, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
- The Redskins have remained in contact with the reps for safety Mike Mitchell, says John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Keim adds that Kenny Britt and Andrew Hawkins are two potential WR targets to keep an eye on for the Redskins.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says the Lions will definitely sign a wide receiver and a safety in free agency, but it’s not clear yet which specific players the team will land (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk).
- As Lions GM Martin Mayhew suggested last month, while he’d like to have a new deal worked out with Ndamukong Suh by the time the 2014 league year begins tomorrow, he won’t consider it a setback if nothing is done, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Suh, who recently hired Jimmy Sexton of CAA to negotiate his next deal, has a cap number of $22MM+ for 2014 that the Lions would like to reduce.
NFC Rumors: Saints, Rams, Cardinals
As the Saints continue to cut players, fans are attributing the moves to the team trying to free up cap space for Jimmy Graham. Mike Triplett of ESPN.com doesn’t directly attribute the cuts to New Orleans trying to afford the All-Pro tight end, pointing out that most of the players (Darren Sproles, Lance Moore, Will Smith) have become part-timers at this point of their careers. He also adds that the team won’t use all of their savings on Graham and will likely pursue one or two free agents.
A couple of more notes from the NFC South…
- In the same article, Triplett mentions the possibility that the Saints might let center Brian de la Puente go. If that’s the case, Triplett believes Tim Lelito would be next in line at the position.
- Saints running back Mark Ingram wasn’t necessarily happy with all of the teams cuts, especially fellow back Sproles, writes Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Still, Ingram understands that this means a bigger role in the team’s offense.
- The Rams are expecting to be less active than other teams in free agency, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Of course, the team has said that previously, resulting in them spending potentially $175MM in 2012 and 2013.
- The Cardinals have reportedly offered Karlos Dansby a two-year contract worth between $10MM and $12MM, reports Kent Somers of AZCentral.com. Somers adds that Dansby is likely to test free agency.
- The Vikings are making cornerback their priority in free agency, sources tell Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Free Agent Notes: Pierre Thomas, Ravens, Bears, Giants
Miscellaneous news and notes, including free agent primers for the Bears and Giants:
- Malcolm Jenkins‘ tweet indicates Pierre Thomas won’t be back with the Saints, points out NOLA.com’s Larry Holder (via Twitter).
- The Ravens have made an offer to retain free agent receiver/returner Jacoby Jones, according to team insider Aaron Wilson (per Twitter).
- Ravens free agent cornerback Corey Graham “should have a healthy market,” according to Wilson (via Twitter). Graham, a 2007 fifth-rounder, broke in with the Bears, made a name for himself as a Pro Bowl special teams player and earned a two-year, $3.95MM deal with the Ravens in 2012. He played a more prominent role in Baltimore, where he started 13 games over two seasons and contributed as a productive sub-package defender, tallying 74 tackles, 12 passes defended and four interceptions. The team wants Graham back, but will be unable to compete if another team is willing to pay him like a starter, says Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
- The Bears will target defensive ends in free agency, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, who breaks down four groups of free agents the Bears will sift through: big-ticket targets (such as Michael Bennett or Everson Griffen); “budget buys” (similar to Matt Slauson, who signed an inexpensive one-year deal last year, started all 16 games and earned a four-year extension); cap casualties (veterans with “a little juice left,” as Biggs puts it); and the club’s own (most notably, Henry Melton, Charles Tillman and D.J. Williams).
- Expect the Giants to act quickly in free agency, says NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, who predicts the team will land a priority free agent, likely an offensive lineman, in a matter of days. Raanan cites recent history as an indicator, reminding the team signed Antrel Rolle on the first day of free agency in 2010, signed David Baas in two days in 2011 and added Martellus Bennett three days into the 2012 signing period.
NFC Notes: Umenyiora, Sproles, Smith, Rudolph, Dietrich-Smith
A handful of Saturday morning notes from around the NFC leading up to the opening of free agency:
- If Osi Umenyiora declines to accept a pay cut in Atlanta, a Giants reunion would be a possibility, writes Conor Orr of the New Jersey Star Ledger.
- Darren Sproles would be an “outstanding fit for the Bears,” writes Dan Pompei, who says the former Saint could replace Devin Hester and be a dynamic change-of-pace back the team has been unable to field behind Matt Forte. Additionally, Pompei notes the connection between Sproles and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, who was with Sproles in New Orleans.
- “Financially, it makes little sense” for the Panthers to release Steve Smith because the team would take a financial hit in each of the next two seasons, says ESPN.com’s David Newton. The writer thinks the decision isn’t so much about money as it is the effect in the locker room. If the veteran’s role is reduced, would he turn sour?
- The Vikings have $41MM worth of cap space to play with, and ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling thinks a chunk of it will go to Kyle Rudolph, who is scheduled to hit free agency next year but has said he wants to remain in Minnesota long-term. It could behoove the team to act now, as Rudolph could see his production (read: value) increase under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
- The Packers have expressed their desire to bring back center Evan Dietrich-Smith, says the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, who compares Dietrich-Smith’s free agent situation to Scott Wells‘ in 2012. Back then, the team thought they could let Wells negotiate with other teams and still retain his services, but they miscalculated and lost him to the Rams. The Packers are taking the same approach with Dietrich-Smith, who, coincidentally, has the same agent as Wells.
Extra Points: Saints, Bears, Gore, Eagles
Earlier tonight, franchise player Jimmy Graham tweeted that he’s “shocked and disappointed” about everything that’s happened in New Orleans this offseason. Graham is likely referencing the Saints’ decisions to cut offensive weapons Lance Moore and Darren Sproles. According to John Breech of CBSSports.com, there’s a chance the team could release running back Pierre Thomas as well. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeted that the decision to cut Moore and Sproles likely stemmed from the large cap numbers of Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs, Marques Colston, and Brodrick Bunkley.
Let’s look at some other news tidbits from this Friday evening…
- Lance Briggs expressed similar frustrations to Graham with the Bears‘ front office on Friday, saying that if he ran the team, he would “trade all the draft picks and bring my brothers back.” Briggs was presumably referencing players like Charles Tillman, Devin Hester, and Brian Urlacher. While Urlacher retired after last season, the team seems ready to cut ties with Hester and Tillman. It is widely expected that the Bears will also part ways with Julius Peppers due to the eight-time Pro Bowler’s huge cap figure.
- 49ers GM Trent Baalke has said that, considering Frank Gore “had a A++ season” in 2013, the team doesn’t feel it needs to restructure the five-time Pro Bowl running back’s contract this offseason, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
- Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks that the Eagles should pursue safety Malcolm Jenkins in free agency. McLane argues that the new free agent would be a better schematic fit for the Eagles than more prominent free agent safeties such as Jairus Byrd and T.J. Ward. He thinks the Eagles could also pursue the Panthers’ Michael Mitchell and the Dolphins’ Chris Clemons, among others.
- Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune (via Twitter) thinks that because of the departures of Sproles and Moore, the Saints will be looking for a return specialist this offseason. Duncan speculates that the team could address this void by targeting Devin Hester, New Orleans native Jacoby Jones, or perhaps even a prospect like LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham.
- Desmond Bryant, defensive end for the Browns, says he’s been medically cleared to play after a health scare, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com and Bryant’s personal Twitter account.
- Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group identifies six free agent offensive lineman that could interest the Browns, including San Diego’s Chad Rinehart and Kansas City’s Geoff Schwartz.
- Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody, whose contract situation is currently up in the air, has signed with Authentic Athletix NFL agent Peter Schaffer, according to a tweet by Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journalism. Cody had been previously represented by Athletes First.
- Ben Tate told Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston that he can become an “elite” running back next season. Tate has not been shy about his plans to test free agency and finally step into a starting role on another team.
- Darnell Dockett called free agent tackle Branden Albert his teammate in a tweet earlier today, according to Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride. While Albert’s response to the tweet, which was quickly deleted, deflected Dockett’s comments, it did not directly dispute the teammate comment.
Saints Release Lance Moore
3:38pm: The Saints have officially released Moore, according to the league’s transaction wire.
10:28am: A day after being involved in trade rumors, wide receiver Lance Moore is being released by the Saints, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Moore hinted at the news earlier this morning, tweeting, “Thank you New Orleans for an amazing nine years. Who Dat Nation, the best on earth!!!” The tweet suggested the team had told the veteran receiver he’d been cut or traded.
Moore, 30, had been one of the longest-tenured Saints, acting as a target for Drew Brees‘ for the last several seasons. However, Moore’s 2013 receptions (37), receiving yards (457), and receiving touchdowns (2) were his worst totals since an injury-plagued 2009. The decreased production, combined with the presence of 2013 fifth-rounder Kenny Stills and the team’s need to pay star tight end Jimmy Graham, contributed to Moore’s exit from New Orleans.
While there had been two years remaining on Moore’s contract, the Saints won’t be on the hook for a number of roster and workout bonuses owed to him in 2014 and 2015. Overall, the veteran receiver’s $5.069MM cap number for ’14 will be reduced to a dead money charge of about $2.538MM, creating $2.531MM in cap savings for the club.
As for Moore, he’ll immediately become an unrestricted free agent, joining a class that includes Hakeem Nicks, Eric Decker, Golden Tate, and Julian Edelman, among others.
Saints Notes: Strief, De La Puente, Jenkins
Already today, we’ve heard that the Saints are prepared to part ways with one of their longest-tenured players, Lance Moore. While we wait for official word on Moore’s release, let’s quickly round up a few more items out of New Orleans….
- Agent Ralph Cindrich tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (Twitter links) the Saints and his client Zach Strief have both expressed interest in a new deal that would keep the free agent offensive lineman in New Orleans. However, the team isn’t in position to make an offer yet, so Strief will hit the open market on Tuesday.
- In addition to Strief, free-agents-to-be Brian De La Puente (C) and Malcolm Jenkins (DB) are also expected to reach the open market next week, tweets Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk attempts to determine why Jimmy Graham hasn’t filed a grievance about his franchise tag positional designation yet. In Florio’s view, the delay can likely be attributed to Graham and the Saints negotiating a long-term deal to avoid a fight, or to Graham waiting to see if he signs an offer sheet with another club.
- Moore represents a tough but logical cut, Triplett writes in a piece for ESPN.com.
Contract Tenders: Saints, Colts, Cardinals
Players who have three years or less of NFL experience and no contract for 2014 continue to receive contract tenders from their current teams. For exclusive rights free agents, these tenders essentially represent the contracts they’ll be playing under in 2014, since ERFAs aren’t permitted to negotiate with any of the league’s other 31 teams. Restricted free agents, on the other hand, can accept these one-year contract offers, but will also have the freedom to negotiate with other suitors and perhaps sign an offer sheet once the free agent period begins.
Here are Thursday’s contract tenders from around the NFL:
- The Saints have extended a $1.431MM tender offer to safety Rafael Bush, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Since Bush is a restricted free agent and went undrafted, New Orleans wouldn’t receive any draft compensation if the 26-year-old signs elsewhere.
- The Colts extended tenders today to restricted free agents Josh Gordy and Joe Reitz, and to exclusive rights free agent Cam Johnson, says Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter). The two RFA tenders are expected to be worth $1.431MM, while Johnson’s tender will be worth the minimum.
- Nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu received a tender from the Cardinals and has signed it, tweets Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Ta’amu, who is recovering from an ACL injury, was an exclusive rights free agent.
- Earlier today, we passed along word of contract tenders made by the Bills and Browns.
Saints Shopping Pierre Thomas, Lance Moore
The Saints are shopping running back Pierre Thomas and wide receiver Lance Moore to other teams in trade talks, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). According to Schefter, New Orleans may also be open to the idea of moving running back Darren Sproles.
With a potential battle looming for Jimmy Graham, the Saints may be looking to create space to pay their tight end by clearing salary that’s currently committed to some of the team’s other offensive playmakers. Thomas is owed $2.9MM in total salary for 2014, while Moore has a cap number of about $5.07MM and Sproles is on the books for $4.25MM.
Although Moore is under contract through 2015 and may have the trickiest contract to move, Thomas and Sproles only have one year remaining on their respective deals. Thomas’ entire $2.9MM salary is currently non-guaranteed, which would make a trade very palatable for the Saints, though the team would have to find an interested suitor. The Saints reportedly reached out to Thomas and his agent last week to discuss the running back’s future, so perhaps the possibility of a trade was floated during that conversation.
NFC Notes: Eagles, Vikings, Saints, Panthers
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer dismisses recent rumors that have suggested the Eagles may be getting closer to parting ways with DeSean Jackson. While McLane acknowledges the team hasn’t been happy with all of Jackson’s off-field actions, the Inquirer scribe says that even if the Eagles got to the point where they wanted to part ways with the receiver, they “most certainly” wouldn’t cut him without getting anything in return. For now, Philadelphia has no interest in moving Jackson, according to McLane.
Let’s round up a few more items related to NFC teams….
- As Ben Goessling of ESPN.com details, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson sounds as if he’d like to see his team sign Michael Vick in free agency this offseason.
- While it’s possible that another team will make a run at Saints franchise player Jimmy Graham, it’s very difficult to imagine a scenario in which New Orleans lets its star pass catcher get away, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
- The Panthers may have interest in pursuing return specialist Devin Hester in free agency, but it will depend how their negotiations with Ted Ginn Jr. go, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
- Redskins safety and special teams captain Reed Doughty would like to re-sign with the team, but he doesn’t expect to ink a new deal before the free agent period begins on Tuesday, says Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com.